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Here's what we know about the efficacy of this popular hoof supplement.
Conditions such as chronic laminitis, cracked hooves, or dry, brittle feet incapable of holding shoes are a common and time-consuming problem for owners, trainers, and veterinarians. Biotin is a popular nutritional supplement administered to horses to promote and maintain the growth of healthy hooves and coats. But does it work?
"In the equine world, biotin is revisited every few years," explains Ray Geor, BVSc, PhD, an equine nutritionist, the Paul Mellon Distinguished Professor of Agriculture, and director of research at the Middleburg Agricultural Research and Extension Center, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. "It is rather frustrating because no new information is available to help owners decide whether or not they should be supplementing with biotin."
In this article The Horse presents an in-depth look at the current status of biotin supplementation in horses.
Biotin Basics
Biotin is a water-soluble B vitamin that plays an important role as an enzymatic cofactor in metabolism, meaning it is an inorganic complement to the enzyme reaction involved in metabolism. Horses, humans, and other mammals are incapable of synthesizing biotin. This vitamin must be obtained either through the diet or via the absorption of biotin that is synthesized by intestinal bacteria.
According to Carey Williams, PhD, equine extension specialist and assistant professor at the Equine Science Center at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, "Pasture is the number one source of biotin for horses. This vitamin is found in high concentrations in alfalfa, moderate concentrations in oat, barley, and soybean meal, and only in low levels in corn."
The amount of biotin required by horses remains unclear, particularly because the amount of biotin horses obtain from their feed varies between individual horses and groups of horses in particular geographic locations. Further, the amount of microbe-produced biotin in the hindgut (large intestine) that is absorbed and utilized by horses is also variable.
Biotin deficiencies are extremely rare in any species, and deficiency has not been reported in the horse.
Why Supplement with Biotin?
|Readily available
|Might not work
|Simple to administer orally with feed
|Because of the slow growth of hoof wall, it takes time to see any results
|If effective, it can improve hoof quality, and, therefore, the overall health of the horse
|The supplement industry is essentially void of any form of government regulation. Therefore, poor–quality supplements exist.
It was later found that biotin supplementation in humans might improve brittle nails and a variety of skin disorders. Enthusiastic extrapolations from these observations apparently led to the theory that if biotin can "treat" nail and skin conditions in humans, then it will also work on hoof and skin conditions in horses.
Evidence of Biotin's Effectiveness
Only a handful of studies have been performed in horses to determine the effect of biotin, and not one has been published in this millennium.
The most recent study was published in 1998 by a group of Scottish scientists from the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies at The University of Edinburgh. This experiment included four pairs of ponies that were apparently healthy and void of hoof capsular defects. The four ponies in the treatment group were fed 0.12 mg/kg of biotin–equivalent to approximately 60 mg of biotin per horse per day. After five months of biotin supplementation, the scientists observed a 15% increase in the treated ponies' hoof growth rates. The hoof capsule grew 35.34 mm in the treated ponies compared to only 30.69 mm in the control group.
Equally positive results were reported by South African researchers in 1992. This group found significant improvements in hoof hardness and growth rates in 24 riding horses fed 15 mg of biotin for 10 months.
"Not all studies on biotin report positive results," reports Williams. "After feeding 20 mg of biotin daily for nine months, no improvement in the rate of growth of the hoof was found in a Swiss study published in 1995."
When and How to Supplement
According to both Geor and Williams, horses that might derive some benefit from biotin supplementation include animals with dry, brittle hooves and cracked feet (e.g., quarter cracks), those that are shod frequently or that pull shoes often, horses with chronic, recurrent laminitis, and those with generally "bad" feet.
Current recommendations for biotin supplementation are based on the positive results obtained in the clinical studies in horses and extrapolations from results reported in other species, such as humans, pigs, and cows.
"I recommend that owners look for a supplement that will deliver 20 mg of biotin per day," advises Williams. "It is also important for owners to recognize that the results, if any, are not evident for eight to 12 months after initiating supplementation."
If owners are feeding more than one supplement, they should read the label of each supplement to determine the overall amount of biotin that the horse is receiving.
"Even though studies have shown that 60 mg of biotin is effective, a beneficial response has also been observed after administering only 15 to 20 mg per day," explains Williams. "More is not necessarily better."
Pros and Cons
Likely, the most important feature encouraging the widespread use of biotin is that it is extremely safe: no serious adverse events or toxicity have been reported in horses. Further, humans treated with up to 200 mg of biotin daily (equivalent to approximately 1,500 mg of biotin in a 1,100-pound horse) did not exhibit any signs of biotin toxicity. Biotin is readily available, it is stable, and it's simple to administer orally with the horse's feed. If effective, biotin supplementation can improve hoof quality and, therefore, it benefits the overall health of the horse.
On the other hand, biotin supplementation is expensive. Biotin supplements cost approximately 60 to 70 cents per horse per day, or about $200 per horse per year for biotin alone. While this price might not appear offensive to some, one must consider the total cost of all supplements and health products that the horse is receiving. The overall price tag can be daunting.
Aside from the fact that it might not work and can be, therefore, an unwise investment, biotin supplementation must be maintained for eight to 12 months before any positive effects might be observed, as Williams mentioned.
"The hoof grows from the coronary (coronet) band down to the ground–it takes time for the old hoof to be replaced by new, hopefully healthier, hoof wall," says Geor.
"One additional drawback to biotin supplementation, or any supplementation for that matter, is that the nutritional supplement industry is essentially void of any form of government regulation," explains Scott Weese, DVM, DVSc, Dipl. ACVIM, an associate professor in the University of Guelph's Ontario Veterinary College in Canada.
This lack of regulation permits the production of poor-quality supplements, including those that do not contain the amount of biotin that is listed on the label. A number of biotin supplements manufactured for human consumption have been evaluated by www.consumerlabs.com, a for-profit company dedicated to identifying quality health and nutritional products through laboratory testing. This company found several biotin supplements that did not contain the expected amount of biotin. While the company did not test any equine biotin products, there is no reason for owners to believe that biotin supplements produced for horses will be better-quality products than those produced for humans.
Biotin Buyers, Beware
In addition to the fact that nutritional supplements, including biotin, might not actually contain the type or amount of ingredient listed on the product label, other important concerns also exist.
"Nutritional supplements are not necessarily manufactured with the same degree of quality control as pharmaceutical drugs," says Weese.
As a result, nutritional supplements can be contaminated with other nutritional supplements during the manufacturing process, or the raw ingredients can be contaminated with harmful compounds such as heavy metals, herbicides, and pesticides.
While no known harmful interactions between biotin or any drugs have been found, and no toxicities have been reported, there is no reason to believe any supplement, including biotin, is universally safe. According to a recent article that Williams published, adverse events associated with herbal supplementation are an under-recognized and potentially serious problem in the equine industry.
"These days it is easy to oversupplement your horse." Says Williams. "Tack catalogs and supplement companies have hundreds of products available for every type of problem or ailment. Horse owners need to be careful when supplementing with more than one product. Some vitamins and minerals can be problematic–and potentially toxic–if administered doses exceed the recommended daily amount."
The Bottom Line on Biotin
"In my opinion, it may be unrealistic to expect that a small addition of biotin, or any supplement for that matter, will make a real difference in hoof quality," says Geor. "Alternatively, nondietary factors such as trimming, shoeing, and mechanical factors, perhaps in combination with biotin supplementation, may all contribute to improved hoof quality and rate of growth."
Despite its popularity, there is limited scientific "proof" that biotin actually impacts hoof growth, integrity, or any other quality pertaining to the hoof or skin. According to Geor, the type of research required to determine the true role of biotin in the horse is not likely to be performed.
"Evaluating the effect of a dietary supplement in horses is a challenging, time-consuming, and costly endeavor," states Geor. "Since a multitude of products are already available and widely used, product manufacturers are not likely to fund this type of study."
On a positive note, biotin is safe and there is some evidence that it can exert beneficial effects that have yet to be identified.
It is, therefore, the owner's or trainer's responsibility to decide whether there is enough evidence to confidently supplement with biotin.


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You've decided to buy a franchise. Now comes the hard part: picking a winner. That can take some serious study. Many franchise disasters could have been avoided had franchisees spent more time learning what a franchise entailed before plunking down what may have been their life savings.
Start by asking at least two competing franchisers for their offering circulars. These documents, called Uniform Franchise Offering Circulars (UFOCs), sometimes run several hundred pages and are laden with legalese. But they include a lot of useful data, from annual revenues per location to what's expected of franchisees. They also give names of former franchisees who no longer own a franchise.
Pay special attention to three-year percentage figures on franchise turnover. Anything double-digit could be reason for concern. Also read the section on litigation. Lots of lawsuits can signal a troubled system.
Next, compare prices. Besides the initial entry fee and royalties — the percentage of annual sales paid to the franchiser — check out what you'll contribute to shared services, such as advertising. Look at the costs for software rental, equipment maintenance, audit, administrative and similar services. Some franchisers require you to pay for training at their headquarters. Also check what you'd need for initial inventory and store-construction expenses and how much of a cash reserve you'll need to have in the bank.
All those costs should be considered when deciding whether a franchise is worth the money. While typical returns aren't stated in circulars, they can be calculated from the revenue and expenses disclosed.
Pay attention also to the size of the franchise system. Systems with fewer than 50 units may not have all the bugs worked out of the business model. That could require more business and operational skill from franchisees than a larger system.
Study the territory and customer base being offered. Does the franchise offer area exclusivity? If not, how many other identical outlets are already there?
The offering circular also contains the company's history and its management team, its financial statements, its processes for settling disputes and the risks associated with the franchise.
After narrowing the options, see the business in action by visiting several operating sites. Try to get a sense of what goes on, customer traffic, transaction size and other business operations. Talk to both current and former franchisees listed in circulars. Ask whether they would recommend their business, how many hours they put in, if it's been worth it and whether they have renewed their licenses. For ex-franchisees, the key question, of course, is "Why did you leave?"
If you don't totally understand what you're getting into, hire an accountant or other professional to advise you.
If you're working with a young franchise, you may have some bargaining power on your contract. You may be able to remove problematic conditions, such as gag rules that prevent disgruntled franchisees from complaining publicly; stipulations that the franchiser can change its policies unilaterally; and requirements that disputes be arbitrated in the home state of the franchiser.
While you're in your strongest position before you sign, a large, established franchise system isn't likely to make any changes to a contract.

subset: commoncrawl


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½ cup toasted slivered almonds
1-1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1/3 cup butter, melted
1/3 cup almond paste
¾ cup sugar
3 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla
5 eggs
Chocolate-Covered Almonds for Garnish
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a food processor, pulse nuts until finely ground and mix with graham cracker crumbs and melted butter. Press into bottom of a 9 or 10-inch springform pan. Refrigerate while you prepare the filling.
Process almond paste and sugar until finely ground. Add cream cheese and vanilla and mix well. Add eggs one at a time and mix until smooth.
Pour filing into crust and bake for 50 minutes. Turn off oven and let cheesecake sit there for 10 more minutes. Cool in pan on rack for 1 hour. Refrigerate. Remove sides before serving and top with chocolate-covered almonds if desired.
Almond Lover's Cheesecake


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Current Problems
Currently, Swine Farms have continuous problems with foul odors, ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, excessive flies and high quantities of manure. Due to these problems, there is an increased stress on the animals and unpleasant and unsanitary working conditions for farm personnel. These conditions may lead to fines and penalties, community complaints and a bad reputation.
Our Process
The NCH Probiotic SystemTM uses the farms existing water system to clean through your facility infrastructure. This system improves the decomposition of pig manure by beginning the digestion process immediately, reducing cleaning time and saving on water and labor costs.
Using the farms existing sprinklers adds several benefits. It decreases the hydrogen sulfide and ammonia levels, therefore reducing the foul odors. It reduces unsanitary conditions, which can attract flies and it promotes a less stressful environment.
Case Study
Two identical barns, containing 1000 hogs each with a waste put underneath (40' x 200' x 10') had high levels of Ammonia and Hydrogen Sulfide.
One of the barns was treated daily, with the biological solution and the other barn was left untreated for comparison.
The Ammonia and Hydrogen Sulfide levels were reduced by 90% in the barn treated for 6 weeks.
Advantages vs. Alternatives
- Fully programmable and self-contained hands free operation, 24/7
- May supplement mechanical, physical, and chemical pest control options
- May lower labor costs


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Sweetcorn cakes with rice wine vinegar dip (the recipe for the sweetcorn cakes? Don't worry - it's in the book coming out soon.)
What an amazing idea - why go out to a comedy club when you can bring it to your own front room? I loved the idea of the last comdey night back in September - comedy doesn't get more intimate than all being in the same dining room - much more down to earth. Who needs a stage? So this time round, asked if I wanted to help out at this one I jumped at the chance.
When I was asked for menu ideas I thought along the lines of the last one where the food was a 'joke' - nutty soup, gnocci gnocci who's there, Stinking bishop & Wensleydale (Wallace & Gromit's fave cheese of course) & custard pie. What fun. But how to follow that?
Curry in a hurry - plantain curry
Driving between Lechlade and Blockley early on a foggy Monday morning in the middle of November (Lakes by Yoo looked just like you'd slipped in to a Tarkovsky film - delicious) I drove past a pub advertising a curry night - 2 for £10 and remembered my curry in a hurry. Adam still wants to do a rhyming menu one day.
This one was plaintain curry that Ms M had made the day before - is much better the next day when the flavours have developed. Last time she had made it with banana and served in the skin (comedy - banana skins?). This time she tried it with plaintains. Because they are firmer it doesn't break down so much - better texture. This is a proper curry - takes a long time to make - but is so worth it. Unfortunately some of the guests couldn't make it to the evening due to snow affecting trains, so there were a few left to try. Lucky us! Real curry like this is such a world apart. What was that curry book again?
Moules in minutes - Thai style mussells with sweet potato wedges
But what could we do for a starter?.... I rolled through some other rhymes as I left the fog bank behind and the late autumn sun lit up the Cotswold hills. What about Meals in minutes >>>>> Moules in minutes. In the end we swapped it round so the moules became the main course. I had recently done a thai night, so still had the thai flavours alive and found this recipe. Mussells and chips? You can't beat a classic. I've still got this thing about sweet potato either grilled or chips after barbecuing them for the first time back in the summer. So these went in the aga earlier in the day so we could have the heat later in the evening for cooking the plaintains.
Next time I do the thai me up thai me down salad I'll dry salting the carrots and mouli first to take off some of the water before adding the dressing. Live and learn!
A nice cup of brie
The cheese course was easy. I'd been wanting to try the cup of brie since January when I made the truffled macaroni bries. We went for this recipe. Rich, but seriously tasty. St. John's sourdough made the perfect accompaniment. It's true what they say about it - it's awesome. So need to try sourdough. Hopefully find time next year.
Brie came from Borough market - this was the real deal. Forget trying to do this with supermarket cheese.
English breakfast - black pudding with fried egg, ketchup & OJ
Dessert? Totally stumped. Couldn't think of any more rhymes - what rhymes with dessert or pudding? There is my 'Dessert Warefare' idea - but I'm saving that for another day. Then again pudding... pudding.... black pudding?
I remembered this post from the British Larder last year, and how similar it was to our age old family Jul Kake recipe.
Christmas was a big cooking time in our house back in the day and when it came to Christmas cake, mum's Guiness cake was all very well, but if only for the marzipan and icing - the actual cake, I could either take or leave it. Leave it more often (sorry if you're reading this :') ). No - it was the Norwegian Jul Kake which I saved myself for - chocolate, creamed coconut and eggs layered with biscuts, dried fruits, nuts.... oh and fruit jelly sweets. We have Norwegian family friends and had spent Christmas over there when I was 5 and Adam 3 months in 6ft of snow. This chocolate Jul kake sure warms you up after hours of snowplay!
Tradionally we would layer these up in a 1/2 lb loaf tin so it looks nice and neat - but here it was just mixed all in one and rolled into a 'black pudding'.
What do you have with an english breakfast? Fried egg (aka fried egg sweets), a glass of OJ (aka orange sorbet - link to recipe here) and ketchup (aka raspberry coulis). Fun - no?
It's the real eggs in it that make the difference.
See more from the evening on Ms Marmitelover's blog post.
In London at Christmas Eve - why not try out the original Underground Restaurant? - http://www.wegottickets.com/event/92917
Oh yes - one last thing. That rice wine vinegar? Home made apparently. What an amazing flavour!


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Hemachandra, the 2nd runner up of the singing show Sa Re Ga Ma Pa in 2005 recently got engaged to Sravani Bhargavi, another leading playback singer. These two people happened to go around with each other for quite some time now. Though their engagement was hushed up and it was taken care of privately, Hema has announced their wedding date. The grand wedding is scheduled to take place next year on Valentine's Day.
Hemachandra emerged as a singer from the reality show, Sa Re Ga Ma Pa, where he was one of the finalists. He happens to be the cousin of Karunya. Since then this young vocalist has rocked the Tamil and Telugu film industries with his awesome voice and rocking numbers. He has worked in films like Billa, Shaakti, Theenmaar, Khaleja and many more. He even composed the music of Ride another Telugu venture, for which he was awarded the Best Debut Music Director in the Cine Maa awards.
Sravana on the other hand is a person engaged in a number of works like dubbing, radio jockeying, a playback singer as well as a lyricist. It is thus no surprise as to why the young female touched the heart string of Hemachandra.
Mention your wishes to these sweet couples as comments here


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[pm_sendtonews pkey=dUJAs610]
Suzann Pettersen collected her 12th LPGA Tour title on Sunday, but despite the win she remained No. 3 in this week's women's world rankings.
She did close within one average point of No. 2 Stacy Lewis and within three average points of No. 1 Inbee Park.
Park, Lewis and Pettersen were again followed by No. 4 Na Yeon Choi, So Yeon Ryu, Karrie Webb and amateur star Lydia Ko.
Shanshan Feng and Catriona Matthew inched up one place apiece to eighth and ninth.
Matthew did so on the strength of her win on the Ladies European Tour on Sunday. I.K. Kim tumbled two places to No. 10.
Paula Creamer maintained her position in 11th and was again followed by Jiyai Shin, Cristie Kerr and Ai Miyazato.
Lizette Salas jumped three to No. 15 and that pushed Yani Tseng down one to 16th.
Angela Stanford remained No. 17, while Hee Young Park fell two to 18th.
Mika Miyazato and Karine Icher closed out the top 20 again this week.
The LPGA Tour heads to France in two weeks for the fifth and final major, the Evian Championship, where Park won by two strokes last year.


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This Black and Gold Classic Cultured Marble Urn by MacKenzie Vault is a memorial urn for ashes. Many people choose this urn for its color and also its durability and permanence. Made of stone, resin and color pigments, this cultured marble urn is proudly made in the USA.
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Womens Timberland 6" Premium Shearling Collar Boot - Dark Purple
Style #: 538369
Dark Purple
Add some wintry flair to your classic style with the new 6" Premium Wool Collar Boot from Timberland! The 6" Premium Wool Collar Boot features a waterproof nubuck leather upper with seam-sealed construction to keep your feet dry regardless of the weather, plush shearling collar, cushioned EVA midsole for all-day comfort, and rugged rubber lug outsoles for exceptional traction and support. Available at select stores and online at Journeys.com!
- Waterproof nubuck leather upper provides protection to keep feet dry and comfortable in any weather
- Leather lining and footbed for comfort and durability
- Lace closure with rustproof hardware for long-lasting wear
- Additional laces included
- Plush shearling collar for a comfortable fit around the ankle
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For three generations Timberland has built a reputation for making rugged outdoor gear. In 1973, we introduced the first Timberland waterproof leather boot, setting new standards for craftsmanship, durability and protection for the outdoors. Well-crafted, dependable and authentic, it stands as a symbol for everything Timberland makes. Whether it's for men, women or kids, Timberland gear is built with a passion for the outdoors that's reflected in our commitment to the environment - to get you outdoors comfortably. And confidently.


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Now Featuring
You asked for it: the 2X now shows up to 4 front (or rear) targets in 4 windows.
Stalker DSR 2X -
|Download the Stalker 2X brochure in PDF
Download the complete Stalker 2X Specifications SheetIncluding Microwave Specifications, Display Messages,
and Remote Control Functions
REACT Application DownloadsACIRemoteMntClient.zip
Additional Information
(Call for a Password to Access These Documents)
Recommended Bid Specifications
Factory Owner's Manual
VSS Installation Manual
Florida Certificate of Approval - Stalker 2X
|Using your Stalker 2X Video
Stalker 2X from Applied Concepts on Vimeo.
|Installing your Stalker 2X Video
Installation from Applied Concepts on Vimeo.
May 18, 2011 - Stalker Radar's new Dual Zone mode allows the officer to simultaneously monitor the speeds of ALL targets in the direction he is looking (either front or rear).
PLANO, Texas, May 18, 2011 ? The addition of Dual Zone mode (simultaneous opposite zone and same lane zone), on a single antenna, presents the officer with a clearer picture of traffic speeds leading to better speed enforcement. The new Dual Zone feature is available exclusively on Stalker?s top of the line Stalker 2X traffic radar.
Stalker Radar's new Dual Zone technology takes full advantage of the Stalker 2X antennas' direction-sensing ability as well as fully utilizing the radar's display to present speed data on up to four targets simultaneously, four targets with the front antenna or four targets with the rear antenna.
The 2X Dual Zone's capability distinguishes it from competitors' moving radars: the 2X can monitor two zones from a single antenna. With the 2X, an operator can simultaneously monitor front same and front opposite or rear opposite and rear same Target Zones. No other police speed enforcement radar on the market has this patent-pending feature.
Sound complicated? It really isn't. Once you drive it you'll see how intuitive the controls are and how the 2X's automatic functions allow the operator to drive the patrol vehicle, rather than manipulate the radar.
Think of the Stalker 2X as two independent radar units operating through a single, 5-window display. Conventional moving radars can only monitor two vehicles in one Target Zone. The Stalker 2X can monitor four vehicles in one or two Target Zones. The 2X's 5-window display contains two strongest target windows, two faster target windows, and a single patrol speed window. One Target Zone is displayed in each set of strongest/faster windows. Any combination of one front and one rear Target Zones can be monitored, for example front opposite direction and rear same direction.
In Dual Zone mode, one antenna can simultaneously monitor targets in both target zones in its radar beam. All other radar monitor only one target zone at a time.
When in stationary mode, all four Target Zones can be simultaneously monitored. Dual Zone Mode is also available while stationary, the chief advantage being that each of the two Target Zones uses a separate set of strongest/faster windows.
Stalker's 2X traffic speed enforcement radar sets the standard for enforcement versatility and user-friendly technology.
The Stalker 2X's ergonomic remote control allows the operator full control of the radar without having to manipulate display panel controls. Its true Doppler tone reflects the target speed rather than patrol vehicle's speed. Operators learn to judge target speed from the Doppler tone without diverting attention from the roadway ahead. And when a target is locked, the 2X voice enunciator confirms: 1) the target's position relative to the patrol vehicle, 2) whether the radar is in stationary or moving mode, and 3) the target's direction relative to the patrol vehicle. For example, "Front, stationary, closing."
Stalker Radar is the World Leader in Speed Measurement. Law enforcement organizations, professional sports teams, and manufacturers around the globe requiring state of the art speed measurement applications look to Stalker Radar products for the utmost in quality and value.


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According to a Dallas Morning News report from earlier this afternoon, we can finally exhale—Roy Oswalt has signed with the Texas Rangers.
Ken Rosenthal reports that Texas will pay Oswalt $5-6 million, pro-rated for the amount of time he spends with the team. This is a good deal for both Oswalt and the Rangers: Oswalt gets to make a run at a World Series ring as a member of one of the best teams in baseball, and the Rangers get a decent replacement for Neftali Feliz, who will miss at least a month with elbow inflammation. Jon Heyman says Texas expects Oswalt in the bigs by late June.
Oswalt pitched well enough last year with the Phillies, but a balky lower back landed him on the disabled list twice and kept him from being ready to pitch at the start of this season, so it's unclear what kind of pitcher the Rangers will get here. If any team can maximize Oswalt's remaining abilities, though, it's the Rangers. They've got Nolan Ryan and Mike Maddux around to mentor, and they've turned cast-offs like Colby Lewis into valuable major-league pitchers. Despite playing half their games in the bandbox at Arlington, they've recently sported some of MLB's best rotations.
What's more, Oswalt is an avid hunter and just purchased 3,000 acres in Mississippi which he plans to turn into his own personal hunting camp. So Texas was probably a better fit than Boston or Philly.
Rangers sign Oswalt [Dallas Morning News]


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November 17, 2011
Show up in PINK for the Occupy Movement today!
Find an action near you
Download our printable sign &
wear it to Occupy Watch Melanie speak from OWS:
Share your photos and video
Read our statement: Why is CODEPINK Part of the Occupy Movement
Read: What does war have to do with the 1%?
Gift an action toolkit
to someone you love
Dear CODEPINKer,
In the past 48 hours we have Resisted eviction, Reclaimed public space, and Recreated the beautiful community that formed to Occupy Wall Street on September 17th. Stepping back into the empty park together on Tuesday night, it was hard to believe that only two months had passed since we first took Liberty Square. In that time, I've never been prouder to be PINK! Whether marching for Healthcare not Warfare, occupying the super-committee hearings, leading a teach-in, or helping to create safe spaces for women's participation , you, the roseroots activists, continue to inspire me with your energy and initiative.
Today I will join with my PINK sisters and tens of thousands of friends and allies to celebrate this victory and help build an even bigger, brighter movement! Will you join me and stand in solidarity with OWS? The OWS day of action Resist, Reclaim, Recreate will culminate in a festival of light as we mark the two-month anniversary of the #occupy movement.
Help shine a light on economic justice by participating in an action near you!
Brighten your protest by downloading and printing out our Power to the Peaceful! sign on pink paper and pinning it to your t-shirt or coat.
And don't forget to post your photos and video from your actions so we can witness the PINK solidarity from around the country!
Illuminating change, Melanie and the CODEPINK Team:
Alli, C.J., Farida, Gayle, Janet, Jodie, Kristen, Lisa, Nancy, Medea, Rae, Rosie, Sanaa, Sharon, and Tighe
PS: I'm thrilled to announce the launch of our new site, www.womenoccupy.org -- a new way for women to connect, share what we've learned, and get involved in the movement!
CODEPINK is a women-initiated grassroots peace and social justice movement working to end U.S. funded wars and occupations, to challenge militarism globally, and to redirect our resources into health care, education, green jobs and other life-affirming activities. The name CODEPINK satirized the Bush Administration's color-coded, fear-mongering "security" alert system that has since been phased out. CODEPINK is a lively call for the people of the world to "wage peace." More...


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WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A chemical in some plastic food and drink packaging including baby bottles may be tied to early puberty and prostate and breast cancer, the U.S. government said on Tuesday.
Based on draft findings by the National Toxicology Program, part of the U.S. National Institutes of Health, senior congressional Democrats asked the Food and Drug Administration to reconsider its view that the chemical bisphenol A is safe in products for use by infants and children.
The chemical, also called BPA, is used in many baby bottles and the plastic lining of cans of infant formula.
The National Toxicology Program went further than previous U.S. government statements on possible health risks from BPA.
It said: "There is some concern for neural and behavioral effects in fetuses, infants and children at current human exposures." The findings expressed concern about exposure in these populations, "based on effects in the prostate gland, mammary gland, and an earlier age for puberty in females."
Rep. John Dingell, a Michigan Democrat and chairman of the House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee, said the draft cast doubt on the FDA's position that BPA was safe.
"I hope the FDA is willing to reconsider their position on BPA for the safety of our infants and children," he said.
The National Toxicology Program said laboratory rodents exposed to BPA levels similar to human exposures developed precancerous lesions in the prostate and mammary glands, among other things.
"The possibility that bisphenol A may impact human development cannot be dismissed. More research is needed," the agency said.
Bisphenol A is used in the production of polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins and can be found in food and drink packaging as well as compact discs and some medical devices. Some dental sealants or composites contain it as well.
The National Toxicology Program expressed "negligible concern" that exposure of pregnant women to BPA causes fetal or neonatal death, birth defects or reduced birth weight and growth in babies. It also had "negligible concern" that exposure causes reproductive problems in adults.
The American Chemistry Council industry group said the conclusions confirmed that human exposure to bisphenol A is extremely low and noted no direct evidence that exposure adversely affects reproduction or development in humans.
In Canada, the Globe and Mail newspaper said the Canadian health ministry was ready to declare BPA a dangerous substance, making it the first regulatory body in the world to reach such a determination. The newspaper said the ministry could announce the decision as soon as Wednesday.
Environmental activists long have warned about health concerns regarding the chemical. They praised the draft findings of the National Toxicology Program, which cited more potential worries about the chemical than did a panel of experts that advised the program last year.
"NTP's decision corrects the scientific record. It reflects a significant body of science showing that BPA may play a larger role than previously thought in a host of common health problems," Anila Jacob of the Environmental Working Group said in a statement.
Editing by Alan Elsner and Maggie Fox
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.


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The SEC recently charged a coal company and its founder for false disclosures, the operators of a global pyramid scheme that preyed on Asian and Latino communities, and two in separate cases who engaged in insider trading on information they received from their wives.
Also, the agency charged Transamerica advisors with overcharging clients.
SEC Charges Inside Traders Using Wives' Info in Two Separate Cases
Two men were charged by the SEC in separate cases for insider trading on information they had gotten from their wives.
Tyrone Hawk of Los Gatos, Calif., overheard work calls made by his wife, a finance manager at Oracle Corp., regarding Oracle's plan to acquire Acme Packet Inc. Hawk's wife also told him that there was a blackout window for trading Oracle securities because it was in the process of acquiring another company.
However, according to the SEC, Hawk went ahead and bought Acme Packet shares before the acquisition was announced in February 2013, and reaped approximately $150,000 by selling after the stock price rose 23% on the news. Without admitting or denying the allegations, Hawk agreed to pay more than $300,000 to settle the SEC's charges.
In an unrelated case, the SEC charged Ching Hwa Chen of San Jose, Calif., after he acted on confidential information in mid-2012 that his wife's employer, Informatica Corp., would miss its quarterly earnings target for the first time in 31 consecutive quarters.
During a drive to vacation in Reno, Nev., Chen overheard business calls by his wife, who previously advised Chen not to trade in Informatica securities under any circumstances. But the temptation proved too much for Chen, who, once they returned from the trip, set up positions in the stock that would make money if the stock price fell.
Informatica's shares dropped more than 27% after the news of the earnings miss hit. Chen profited by nearly $140,000. Without admitting or denying the allegations, Chen agreed to pay approximately $280,000 to settle the SEC's charges.
Coal Company, Founder Charged on False Disclosures
Dickson Lee, the founder of L&L Energy Inc., was charged, along with his company, for making false disclosures about who was running the company.
Lee went to great pains to make it appear as if L&L had a professional management team at the helm, when in fact he was in sole control of the company and its actions. L&L, headquartered in Seattle but with all its operations in China and Taiwan, was purportedly being run by Lee's brother as CEO, with a woman as CFO, according to the company's annual report in 2008. However, Lee himself was the only one in charge and the woman had turned down his offer to be CFO the month before. In the next three quarterly reports in 2009, Lee continued to misrepresent the CFO position as being occupied by the woman who had declined the job, even going so far as to provide an electronic signature supposed to be hers. However, she never signed any public filings during this time, nor did she authorize her signature to be used.
She confronted Lee in mid-2009, but he went ahead and kept up the deception, to the company's board of directors and in the company's 2009 annual report. He even certified falsely that all fraud involving management had been disclosed to the company's auditors and audit committee.
Lee even managed to get the company listed on the NASDAQ by falsely stating that all required Sarbanes-Oxley certifications had been accurately made.
The SEC has also issued a settled cease-and-desist order against Shirley Kiang, L&L Energy's former audit committee chairwoman, finding that she played a role in the company's reporting violations by signing an annual report that she knew or should have known contained a false Sarbanes-Oxley certification by Lee. Kiang has neither admitted nor denied the charges.
The SEC is seeking disgorgement and financial penalties against L&L Energy and Lee as well as an officer-and-director bar against Lee, as well as preventing him from practicing as a CPA before the agency. Its investigation is continuing.
Lee is also the target of a parallel criminal indictment being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney's Office in the western district of Washington.
Pyramid Scheme Perpetrators Charged, Assets Frozen by SEC
The SEC has charged the perpetrators of a global pyramid scheme that preyed on Asian and Latino communities, and frozen the assets in the case.
According to the SEC, three entities, controlled by "Phil" Ming Xu, a resident of Temple City, Calif., are collectively operating under the business names WCM and WCM777. They are posing as multilevel marketing companies in the business of selling third-party cloud computing services, which can include website hosting, data storage and software support. The entities are based in California and Hong Kong.
WCM and WCM777 have raised more than $65 million since March 2013 by falsely promising tens of thousands of investors that the return on investment in the cloud services venture would be 100% or more in 100 days. WCM and WCM777 sell their products exclusively to investors and have no other apparent sources of revenue, and claimed that investor money would be used to build out cloud services or to incubate high-tech companies.
While investors were told they would receive "points" for making investments or enrolling other investors, points that would be convertible into equity in initial public offerings of those high-tech companies their money would help launch, instead Xu and the WCM entities used the money to make Ponzi payments masquerading as investment returns to some investors. They also spent investor funds to buy up two golf courses and a warehouse, vacant land, and several single-family homes. They played the stock market with investor cash, and made other related investments through intermediary companies, such as an oil and gas offering. Some of the money also found its way to a rough diamond jewel merchant in Hong Kong and another unrelated company affiliated with Xu.
The SEC has obtained asset freezes and the appointment of a temporary receiver over the assets of WCM, WCM777, and several other entities named as relief defendants for the purpose of recovering money from the scheme in their possession. In addition, the agency's request for an order prohibiting the destruction of documents and requiring the defendants to provide accountings was granted.
Transamerica Advisors Fined for Improper Fees, Overcharging
St. Petersburg-based Transamerica Financial Advisors was fined by the SEC for improperly calculating advisory fees and overcharging clients.
According to the SEC, the firm offered breakpoint discounts designed to reduce the fees that clients owed to the firm when they increased their assets in certain investment programs and permitted clients to aggregate related account values to get the discounts.
But Transamerica failed to process all client aggregation requests, and also had conflicting policies on whether representatives were required to pass on to clients the savings from breakpoint discounts. As a result, the firm overcharged certain clients by failing to apply the discounts and failed to have adequate policies and procedures to ensure that the firm was properly calculating its fees.
Failures in processing aggregation requests occurred since 2009, and the firm was first told about them by SEC examiners in 2010 after examination of a branch office. The firm did give refunds to the clients of that branch office, but never executed the firmwide review recommended by the examiners.
That meant that in 2012, when examiners were at the firm's headquarters, they found that Transamerica was still failing to aggregate some related client accounts. The problem was firmwide and, in fact, Transamerica had conflicting policies throughout its branch offices on whether the firm required its representatives to provide breakpoint discounts to advisory clients.
Transamerica has agreed to settle the SEC's charges. As a result of the agency's investigation, the firm reviewed client records and has reimbursed 2,304 current and former client accounts with refunds and credits totaling $553,624 including interest. The firm has also agreed to pay an additional $553,624 penalty.
Additional settlement terms require the firm to retain an independent consultant to review its policies and procedures pertaining to its account opening forms, fee schedules, and fee computation methodologies as well as the firm's account aggregation process for breakpoints.


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Will Morris: Greene County sheriff rides into sunset-- maybe
Judges, movie stars, pro basketball players, and congressmen have all felt the sting of law enforcement when speeding through Greene County. Recently, five-term Sheriff William Morris, the man who made enforcing the speed limit a source of revenue– and controversy– announced his retirement.
Weary of battling the Greene County Board of Supervisors, Morris says he may run for supervisor himself. Since being elected in 1983, Morris has struggled to fund a department that has grown from four deputies when he took office to 14 today. But the battles with the board of supervisors continue.
Arresting one board member's son on charges of wife beating and another's brother for a DUI probably didn't help Morris' relationship with the board or with the county's good ole boy network. Nor did chasing a supervisor who might have been illegally hunting. Nor, perhaps, do his blunt characterizations that the BOS is a place to see "how much money can you put in your pocket."
In 2001, when the supes cut his budget, Morris ordered his deputies to stop ticketing cars without the county decal and to write tickets under state instead of county code so the fines would go into state coffers.
"I would do it again in a heartbeat if pushed by this board," says Morris.
Morris' first love was a gym he opened in Charlottesville in the mid-70s. He also worked as a special events deputy in Albemarle, though he lived in Greene County, where his parents were born.
Morris decided to run for sheriff after driving through Stanardsville and seeing dozens of cars blocking the streets and people drinking. "The game warden had been beaten up, and I wondered why nothing had been done," says Morris, who likens Greene County in the early '80s to "the wild, wild west."
Much to his surprise, he won, and nearly 20 years later, he says proudly, "I'm leaving the county in much better shape."
And the sheriff denies the perception held by many Charlottesvillians that the county is a speed trap. "You don't get a ticket for going 60," he says. "You've got to be flying."
Age: 59
What brought you here? I moved to Virginia in 1970 from Baltimore. I got tired of city life, the rat race.
What's worst about living in Greene County? Too much gossip. Everyone knows your business, or they think they do.
Favorite hangout? My gym in a garage next to my residence.
Most overrated virtue? Righteousness. It's ignored all week except Sunday mornings for an hour or two.
What would people be surprised to know about you? I do not have a woman in my life at this time.
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? I'd be more patient and tolerant, especially with myself.
What accomplishment are you proudest of? Professionally, being elected sheriff five times. Personally, winning the International Powerlifting Federation World Masters powerlifting championship last year in South America.
What do people find most annoying about you? I'm a hard, tough negotiator who does not bend or give up easily.
Whom do you admire? John Wayne
Favorite book? Margaret Mitchell's Gone with the Wind
What subject causes you to rant? The Greene County Board of Supervisors (three out of the five) for their ignorance of law enforcement and the operation of a sheriff's office, and their refusal to properly fund it.
What thrills you about life in the 21st century? You can do or become almost whatever you want with a little effort.
What creeps you out about life in the 21st century? Federal spending. Billions go to make Israel and other countries safe when we're not safe, and billions are spent on the space program when people are starving, don't have health insurance, and can't get an education.
What do you drive? A 1997 Ford pickup
What's in your car CD player right now? Rolling Stones
Next journey? I have about 11 months left in my current journey. Next, I'd like to write– I'm not sure what– or set a world record powerlifting.
What's the most trouble you've ever gotten in? About five years ago, when a deputy failed to make service on a civil paper, the lawyer who issued it took me to court. I was found guilty and fined $25. The judge threw out the case on appeal.
What do you regret? Not getting the opportunity to finish my education, and not getting into law enforcement in my 20s instead of my 30s.
Favorite comfort food? Rocky Road ice cream
What's always in your refrigerator? Vegetables my mother canned, cheese, orange juice, yogurt.
Must-see TV? Sports, especially boxing, pro football, and track and field.
Favorite cartoon? I never watch cartoons. It would be a waste of my time.
Describe a perfect day. A good night's sleep, a slow day at the office with no court, go home, have a productive workout, and afterwards, a good home-cooked meal by my mother, a good movie, no phone calls from my office, and finally, a good cigar and glass of red wine.
Walter Mitty fantasy? As an understaffed, overworked, and under funded small-county sheriff, I have to cope with reality so much that I don't have the time or inclination to slip into fantasy.
Who'd play you in the movie? Ray Liotta
Most embarrassing moment? When I took the Virginia State Compensation Board to court for additional deputies in 1985-86 and found out the attorney general's office represents the compensation board.
Best advice you ever gave? I tell each new deputy that anyone who speeds or breaks the law in Greene County will be arrested, positively no exceptions.
Favorite bumper sticker? "Don't be silly, re-elect Sheriff Willy" from my second bid for sheriff in 1987.


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Quiz! Test Your Among Us Trivia!
Quiz! Test Your Winter Holiday Knowledge!
Are You a Grinch Quiz?
Quiz! Test Your Knowledge On COVID-19 Fact...
Quiz! What is your Christmas Spirit?
Quiz! Test Your Among Us Trivia!
Quiz! Test your Minecraft Knowledge!
Quiz! May the Fourth Be With You Star Wars...
Quiz! Animal Crossing: New Horizons Trivia!
Who's That Pokémon?! Galar Region Quiz!
Quiz! How Well Do You Know DC Comics?
Quiz! Test Your Trolls World Tour Trivia!
Quiz! Which Holiday Movie Are You?
Quiz! Test Your Frozen Trivia!
Quiz! Which Toy Story Character Are You?
Quiz! What Is Your Favorite School Subject?
Quiz! Test Your Knowledge On COVID-19 Fact...
Quiz! Test Your Knowledge on Mental Health
Online Safety Quiz!
Quiz! How Healthy Are You?
Quiz! What New Summer Sport Should You Try?
Big Farm
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Kids articles that relate to the topic of town. Articles about town
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Marvel isn't ready to let go of their death grip over all of your money — next stop, the small screen. Rumor has it the comic book heads are eyeing television to expand the Avengers universe.
Deadline reports that this new series' "connection to the Avengers franchise would be light as the project is expected to be set in the universe and feature some of its themes and feel, but may not include any characters from Joss Whedon's blockbuster." So no, you're not going to get Chris Evans on a half-hour adventure to find unobtanium for the financially challenged orphanage.
On the other hand, this could mean a S.H.I.E.L.D. show dedicated to the espionage and defense network tasked with regulating supers across the globe, as Deadline hints that this program could be a "high concept cop show." Fingers crossed for the Marvel Universe equivalent of Reno 911.


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Librarian named in SI article on OSU football program speaks
Ronald Keys accused of writing papers for players
The reference librarian at the center of the latest Sport Illustrated expose on Oklahoma State University is speaking out.
Ronald Keys is accused in the latest article of writing papers for players while working the reference desk at the university library.
Former defensive player Fath Carter says in the article, "I have no idea why he did it, all we knew was that if you wanted a paper done, you called Keys… his name was infamous."
"Infamous? Wow. He doesn't know why I did it. So it tells you right there, I wasn't doing it for the money," Keys told KOCO.
Keys said he wasn't doing anything for the athletes that he wouldn't have done for any other student.
"Did they come over to the library? Yes. Did I show them how to use the database? Yes. Did I show them how to use Microsoft Word and other software available to them to write better papers? Yes. Did I write the papers for them? No," Keys said.
Keys thinks the former players accusing him of wrongdoing have an axe to grind and likely have a medical condition.
"Resentment, rage, anger, broken dreams -- I actually observed the deterioration and their cognitive skills over the time I worked with them. If they would do a medical study on some of those athletes, they're going to find a lot of them are suffering from some serious brain disorders," Keys said.
Keys left the university in 2005 and said given the amount of time that has lapsed, there's no way those players could accurately remember what happened.
"That's what I'm saying, so now, eight, nine, 10 years later, (there's) no telling what they'll say," Keys said.


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National Day of Unplugging Wants You to Power Down for 24 Hours
Could you survive 24 hours without checking your phone, email or social networks? A movement has been making the rounds online that encourages people to take a digital detox for 24 hours starting at sunset on Friday, March 23.
The National Day of Unplugging — which is in its third year — runs from sundown Friday, March 23 to sundown, Saturday, March 24. With 66% of people claiming they are addicted to the Internet, the day was designed to get people back to re-connect with family, friends and oneself, away from technology.
"Shut down your computer," the pledge states. "Turn off your cell phone. Stop the constant emailing, texting, tweeting and Facebooking to take time to notice the world around you. Connect with loved ones. Nurture your health. Get outside. Find silence. Avoid commerce. Give back. Eat Together. "
The movement — which was developed by a Jewish organization called Reboot — gets its roots in Judaism's Sabbath tradition, where people unplug for 24 hours starting each Saturday. Nearly 1,200 people have signed the pledge via Causes.com.
Recently, more than 200 people attended Reboot's SXSW Unplugging Party, shutting off their cell phones and putting them into sleeping bags in the middle of the 2012 SXSW Interactive Festival — one of the most plugged-in places in the world.
"Technology overuse takes an immeasurable toll on our ability to give time to the things that are most important in our lives," Tanya Schevitz, communications manager for Reboot, told Mashable. "We can then use that time to be present and engaged in the moments that are happening around us and build meaningful, in-person connections."
Some people have been powering down for an extended period of time over the past few years. In fact, Jennifer Rauch, a communications professor at Long Island University, recently spent six months with no computer or cellphone. She now teaches a course in which she requires her students to give up their devices for a day.
Meanwhile, Caribbean nation St. Vincent and the Grenadines is challenging travelers to leave smartphones, tablets and other gadgets behind as a part of their new digital-detox vacation package, complete with a guidebook explaining how to function on a trip without tech, and a life coach.
"We often seem to forget that we once survived without Facebook, Twitter, mobile phones and the Internet," Schevitz said. "The National Day of Unplugging gives us permission to unplug and recharge ourselves for just 24 hours. Everything will still be there when we return."
However, plugging in isn't all about shutting off from the outside world — a lot of good can come from staying connected. From keep up on social good initiatives such as KONY and Movember to just staying in touch with friends and loved ones through the web and social media, some might argue that unplugging could actually further isolate you from the world.
Would you be able to go 24 hours without technology? Which device would you miss most? Let us know in the comments.
Image courtesy of iStockphoto, courtneyk


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Our focus is to identify genetic factors that cause or modify monogenic and complex diseases. Learning about the cause of a disease helps to understand, or to start to study, the subsequent disease processes and aims to develop more effective diagnostics and eventually preventive or therapeutic strategies. We use traditional linkage analyses as well as association studies either by a genome-wide approach or by testing candidate regions/genes.
In the field of monogenic diseases we are particularly interested in skeletal and neuromuscular disorders and lamin B receptor associated traits. However, the tools are also applicable for families who were referred from clinical departments and suffer from a wide spectrum of genetic traits. The identification of the underlying genetic causes assists physicians in predicting recurrence risk and prognosis of the particular trait.
Complex traits are harder to elucidate but highly relevant for public health.The traits we are working at, type 2 diabetes and hypertension, affect more than 10 % of the population and are major risk factors for cardiac attacks, stroke, renal failure, and others. Highly sophisticated technologies such as the Affymetrix 500k chip set or the Illumina Sentrix HumanHap300/550 type with 500,000 SNP markers facilitate genome-wide association studies and promise higher resolution and probably also higher power than the traditional linkage scans with microsatellite markers.
To increase the power, we try to lower the genetic heterogeneity by recruiting patients from isolated or founder populations where fewer genetic variants contribute to the gene pool and thus also to the pathogenetically relevant sequence variants.
For statistical analyses, we developed the software tools easyLINKAGE and easyASSOCIATION allowing straightforward genetic analyses by users without huge experiences in statistics such as postdocs and medical doctors (like ourselves).
It is exciting to hunt down the genes but also to continue on the path studying their function. We perform our studies at the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics and in our lab at the institute. For experiments in other fields we collaborate with people specialized on those topics.


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This is a basic breakout board for FTDI's popular FT232RL USB-to-UART IC. The FT232RL features an integrated internal oscillator and EEPROM.
VCCIO (output Vcc) can be tied to 3.3V on this board by setting its switch. If you need an interface to 5V logic, simply set the switch to VCC which will tie the VCCIO pin to the 5V from USB.
This board comes assembled with IC and micro-USB connector as shown. It does not come with a micro-USB cable or any header pins. Use the option checkboxes below to add a cable and/or a strip of header pins to your order.
Be aware that micro-USB connectors are a little on the fragile side. The connector is soldered on the board not through it like mini-USB or full-size USB connectors are. Take care when plugging in your micro-USB cable.
If you would prefer a board with a mini-USB connector, consider the USB UART Click which also uses the FT232RL, or the more advanced FTDI Click which uses the FT2232H dual-channel UART/SPI/I2C interface converter.


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Top 10 reasons why you overindulge
Excuses – we've all got them when it comes to making healthier food choices. Any of these ring true for you?
1. Because it's a holiday
We applaud Joey for the creative repurposing of maternity pants as "Thanksgiving" pants. But if your planned binge involves specialized clothing, you may want to rethink […]


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Better Homes and Gardens Editors is the author of 'Better Homes and Gardens Perennial Gardening', published 2010 under ISBN 9780470878446 and ISBN 0470878444.[read more]
You can find lots of answers to common customer questions in our FAQs
View a detailed breakdown of our shipping prices
Learn about our return policy
Still need help? Feel free to contact us
View college textbooks by subject
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With our dedicated customer support team, you can rest easy knowing that we're doing everything we can to save you time, money, and stress.


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Smart AppLock v3.5.0
Great privacy protection tool for Android. Lock your SMS, Mail, Photo, Contacts...
Do your friends always borrow your phone to play games? Do you concern your private data in some android applications may be read by people you do not want?
Smart AppLock helps you out!
Smart AppLock is a light app protector tool to protect your privacy in mobile apps.
The cute lock is designed upon Android system level, to provide fully protection to your privacy. After you set a list of protected apps, there will be lock pattern or password protection when the protected apps starting.
- Lock your app accurately and smartly
- Good at performance and power-saving
- Kinds of beautiful lock types
- Also can be used as a Parental Control tool
Welcome to feedback to www.thinkyeah.com!


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Most of the times, when working with Github, you will want to see the differences between the current local copy of a file and the previous commits. One of the easiest ways to see it visually would be to make use of the gitk command and give the file name as the argument. e.g.
gitk filename
Thats all. This command would open up a neat little window and show you all the changes that were made to this file across different commit and lets you compare it with the version in your current working directory. Oh, and do remember to include the relative path before the filename. Standard convention.
Signing Off


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Rails Rumble is an annual 48-hour web developer challenge. This site is a showcase of some of the many applications that were developed during contests past and present. Only the apps that are still online are listed.
For more news and information, please visit the blog or peep our tweets.
Looking for something specific? Use the filters to search the archive.
Splendid Bacon
Project management for hackers. Project management doesn't have to be complicated. Splendid Bacon assumes that you can trust your colleagues and makes sure that you have a sane number of projects. This is project management for the 99% of us who ...
Created by k33l0r, jcxplorer, akonan
Simple, but powerfull event organization and management. We give you the only and ultimate tool to finally take care of your private meeting and every task, that relates to it. Stop doing everything by yourself, let your friends help you.
Created by tasiu, Bonias, tastypl, lechu
(For a quick functionality demo: http://boarrd.com/dashboards/welaika) Boarrd is a hosted, higly customizable, do-it-yourself status board giving you a quick & fancy look at all the indicators that matter mostly to you, your company or your team. ...
Created by stefanoverna, matjack1, namuit, knick
Language Exchange
Foreign Language Exchange Your friends would like to help you practice that new language you've started to learn, but they don't know what words you know. NextLang solves this by integrating flash card reviewing with one-on-one online chat. The c...
Created by pwnall, uShadow, hypermunkee, yayalice
Care of Me
We are Linking Paths and La Personnalité and Care of Me is the result of our participation at the Rails Rumble 2010. It was built in 48 hours. This app sends reminders to the people you care of, using simple phone calls. You can use it to remind the...
Created by aitor, molpe, salicio, maxkuri
Airport Atlas
Find food, shopping, restrooms, power outlets, and places to relax (i.e., take a nap on that long layover) in airports around the world -- and don't forget to sign in and add your favorite places, too.
Created by bscofield
Welcome to Jamibia! Do you play? Jamibia is a place where you can show yourself, meet other musicians and jam along with them. Jamibia is a social network centered around jam sessions. Musicians can register and ad jams, so their followers can see ...
Created by oriolgual, txus, , josepjaume
Space Shippers
A casual game putting the player in the boss-chair of a newly started shipping company. Space-shipping, that is.
Created by koppen, RSpace, rud
White Board HQ
WhiteboardHQ will be your headquarters to manage your personal, business and event to-do lists while managing your project priorities. With an easy to use interface you will be able to create custom views to quickly keep track of where your many proje...
Created by rayonrails, ,
Where is this place? Get a picture and try to guess the place!
Created by pellegrino, RamonPage, tapajos, viniciusteles


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Toshiba has issued its second battery recall in less than a month. This particular announcement focuses on the Satellite A100, A105, and Tecra A7 models. The number of laptops affected is relatively small (Toshiba estimates the recall at 1,400 units), but the description of the recalled product as stated by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is ominously familiar: "Rechargeable lithium-ion batteries containing Sony cells used in Toshiba notebook computers."
Toshiba's larger recall in late July affected 10,000 batteries was also related to the use of Sony cells in the affected batteries. In both cases, Toshiba is replacing the affected batteries for free and has set up a page with additional information on the battery recall program.
Sony's decision to recall 9.6 million batteries last year was meant to remove all potentially defective products from the market and to give the manufacturer all the information it would need to remedy the problem. Although these Toshiba recalls don't necessarily indicate the beginning of a similar crisis, it would seem that Sony has yet to completely correct the issues plaguing its lithium-ion battery production.
Laptop sales have yet to be significantly impacted by ongoing battery problems, as laptop sales continue to drive growth in the PC market. There are concerns that the issue could damage perception of laptop safety, however, particularly if manufacturers continue to issue recalls every few months alongside videos of exploding laptops that appear on YouTube (see one at the bottom of this page).
If you own one of the affected laptops you should send in your battery immediately, but if you're looking for general tips on caring for your laptop battery/prolonging overall battery life, check out our article on the topic just last week. Proper care and maintenance don't offer protection against the type of flaws behind the recalls Toshiba and Sony have announced, but the way in which you care for a system battery can have a significant impact on its longevity and ability to maintain a charge.


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As evolutionists struggle to come up with any credible family tree showing how they evolved with apes from a common ancestor, we have today released our Creation Tips Chart of Human Evolution from a biblical Christian point of view. This simple chart shows how modern humans have come from the first male and female on earth. Print out copies to share with your family, Sunday school, and Christian school teachers and parents. Frame a copy and hang it on your wall and you'll never be short of a conversation starter when visitors arrive.
I am not sure why the ladies had 'bob' hair style for a while!!!!!!
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Chart of Human Evolution
Posted by Bro. Jeff Hallmark at 7:36 AM
Labels: Mankind
1 comment:
- filcon said...
many thanks for the chart and info of human evolution. it is the answer to science, "missing link" and it is only in the bible the story of first human beings were adam and eve. i am going to write a blog of the same evidence about it. Praise God!
- November 15, 2010 at 6:19 PM
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Baltimore Behavioral Health Inc. says it has handed over some documents demanded by the federal government as part of an investigation into alleged shortfalls in the retirement plan at the West Pratt Street mental health clinic.
Employee tax records were provided Monday, the day before a scheduled hearing in federal court on the matter, according to a court filing. The U.S. Labor Department sued BBH and chief executive William "Kris" Hathaway in October, alleging that they had failed to comply with two administrative subpoenas issued in May.
The clinic said Monday in court papers it had turned over employee W-2 forms. It also promised to produce "all remaining documents" sought by subpoena and to continue giving its retirement plan administrator, Lincoln Financial Group, permission to provide documents to the government.
An attorney for the clinic said the dispute over the documents is now resolved. "We settled the matter so no hearing was necessary," Jay Miller wrote in an email. Miller, a BBH board member, did not respond to a request for additional information.
Labor Department spokeswoman Joanna Hawkins declined to comment.
The federal inquiry began last December, about two weeks after The Baltimore Sun reported that two former employees at the nonprofit clinic had discovered unexplained shortfalls in their retirement accounts.
In July, BBH's admissions director sued her employer in federal court, claiming the clinic "diverted and stole" thousands of dollars from employees by failing to deposit payroll deductions in their retirement and disability plans. That case is pending; the clinic hasn't responded, according to court records.
A nonprofit company founded in 1997, BBH has received more than $65 million over the past five years in government payments, largely from billing the Medicaid program for the poor and disabled. It specializes in treating patients with both mental illness and drug addiction.
The clinic was the subject of a Sun investigation last year that revealed unusually high Medicaid billings and detailed the nonprofit organization's control by Hathaway and several family members who earned six-figure salaries.


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If you haven't seen this post by Ashley Miller, it's a must-read. Ashley, you see, is in love. She's found a guy she's just crazy about and she took him home to meet the family for Thanksgiving. And now her father has disowned her as a result. Because her boyfriend is black. I'll paste just a bit of it, all quotes from Ashley's stepmother, who delivered the news by phone:
I'm sorry to be doing this over the phone, your father has forbidden me from seeing you in person. I'm sorry, he just cannot support your lifestyle anymore, he will not be speaking to you again, he asked me to tell you…
Your father wants you to know that he still loves you. But you've gone too far…
Your lifestyle is just not OK with him, he has bent as much as he will bend. He has bent so much and you haven't bent at all…
We're not telling you what to do. If you love him, you should be with him. But I'm going to stand by my husband, just as you some day, if you get married, will stand by yours. We both love you, he's just not going to talk to you. Maybe, in a long time, he might change his mind, but I don't think so. I think it was too much.
I read this first thing when I woke up on Monday and it hit me like a punch to the gut. I don't know why I'm shocked by this. I know I shouldn't be. But I still am. I think it's because it's just so foreign to my own experience. This is the same thing that made me become a gay rights activist, seeing so many friends go through similar things with their family because they're gay, and it being just so incomprehensible to me. I simply cannot imagine that I could bring anyone home, of any gender or race or religion or anything else, and have my parents be anything but accepting — and that includes my fundamentalist stepmother. If I were gay and I came out of the closet and brought home a man, I can't imagine they would be anything but supportive and loving.
My stepmother would be disappointed, of course. She'd think I was committing a sin, just like she did when I lived with a woman for several years. But she never treated Kris badly. She brought her into the family and treated her like a daughter, never showing anything but kindness. She prayed about it, I'm sure. She wished that we would get married, I have no doubt. And she'd do the same thing if I were gay or brought home a woman who was black or Muslim or anything else. And because I'm so close to my father, the idea of losing him to something like this is is just inconceivable to me. I can only imagine how painful it would be, and is already for so many. And it just makes me sad.
But it also brings to mind counterpoints, instances where the opposite happened even when I thought the worst would happen. I think I've told this story before, but I'll tell it again. One of my oldest and dearest friends was Mr. Conservative growing up — chairman of the Michigan Young Republicans in high school, chairman of the MSU College Republicans in college, worked for Jack Kemp's campaign, became a fundraiser for conservative causes and was very well connected in conservative politics. One day when we were in our late 20s, he called me and told me he was gay.
I know his parents very well. In high school and beyond, they were like a second set of parents to me. And they were a bit of an odd couple, his father very conservative and straight laced and buttoned up and his mother a free spirit who died her hair strange colors and gave off an earth mother kinda vibe. So I asked him, many years later, how his parents took his coming out. I assumed that this mother had taken the news well (in fact, she was the one who told Jeff that he was gay and drew it out of him) and his father had not. The story he told me was quite surprising.
He told his mom that he was really worried about telling his dad. She suggested that he write him a letter and pour his heart out, tell him everything, and then give him a few days to process it and call him. So that's what he did, writing a very long letter explaining when he knew, how he knew, how he had tried so hard to cover it up and deny it even to himself for so long and that now he had to be himself no matter the consequences.
His dad got the letter and immediately went into a state of depression for several days, moping around the house and not talking to his wife or to almost anyone else other than for business. She tried to give him his space and not push about it, but after several days of this she finally decided they needed to talk about it. She told her husband that he couldn't act this way, that this is still their son and they need to love him no matter what. And what he said in reply stunned her and me and Jeff and probably everyone else too.
He said, "I'm not upset for the reason you think I'm upset. I read that letter and it broke my heart, not because Jeff's gay — I couldn't care less about that. But because he has been struggling with this and punishing himself for it and living a lie and being terrified to tell us or anyone else. And if only we had known about it, we could have helped him avoid all of that. We could have made this so much easier for him. But I obviously made him feel like he had to cover it up out of fear. And I feel like I have failed him as a father. And that's killing me."
And she said, "I think you need to tell Jeff that." And he did. And they moved on with their relationship not only intact but stronger. Just thinking about that again brings tears to my eyes. It's such a powerful counter-example to what Ashley is going through, but it doesn't do anything to change the reality that there are still people who think like that. And they are causing incredible pain and suffering, all of it completely unnecessary.


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- Peter Joseph Directs Official Black Sabbath Music Video featuring The Zeitgeist Film Series.
- Zeitgeist: Moving Forward has US Broadcast Premiere via FreeSpeechTv.
- Zeitgeist: Moving Forward passes 21,000,000 Views via single You Tube Post.
- Peter Joseph finishes Season One of his Online Web Series: "Culture in Decline"
- The Zeitgeist Film Series noted in "The Top 10 Films that Explain Why the Occupy Movement Exists
- The Zeitgeist Film Series noted in "A Movie Guide to Occupy Wall Street"
- Peter Joseph Satirized on Juice Media: "Rap News " | Featured on Russia Today


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Today, the 82,000 strong Seychellois population continues to reflect its multi-ethnic roots. Traditionally, the islands have attracted a broad diversity of peoples from the four corners of the earth that has included freed slaves, European settlers, political exiles, adventurers, traders of Arab and Persian origin as well as Chinese and Indians.
Practically every nation on earth has been represented in this melting pot of cultures, each one contributing its special influence to today's vibrant yet tranquil society.


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When I was at the meetings, I was dealing mainly with a mass of sociopaths... Its so easy to think someone new is a new creation.. They are not, they are a sociopath... I forget that anyone in the room is prison material. I forget this until its to late. If I allow them to play me, I get played.
I have to remember, they are all sociopaths, all the women included. Now I remember. The rule is, if you want a girl friend, go outside the meetings, back to the real world.
Ive toughened up, and learned a great deal. However, its a rough place, those meetings..
If you man enough, you get the women of your dreams; its that simple. Intellectual sensitivities mean nothing in those halls... "One has to remember".
I think as a man heals, he begins to see women differently, there not that tough or strong.. Men have power over them... They like a man to be a man... They are not interested in why a man is not a man.
Its a tough world. I wish it was not. Its unbelievable.
ITs sad when people are sadistic and pathological, and your only role in there life is for amusement and nothing else. If this be the case, one must leave. And leave they will. One must take God with them...


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State Map for
Cement Masons & Concrete Finishers
Looking to move? Some states have more opportunities for this type of work than others.
Orange states have an above average share of this career in their workforce.
Blue states have a below average share of this career in their workforce.
For detailed state-by-state info, see employment and wages from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
National Outlook
Nationwide, new job opportunities for cement masons and concrete finishers are less likely in the future.


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Several new studies focusing on heart health confirm that following certain dietary guidelines is crucial for preventing heart disease, one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Many, if not most, of these deaths could be avoided with appropriate diet and lifestyle changes.
High amounts of sodium (salt) and added sugars in processed and packaged foods are believed to be among the main culprits for the dramatic rise of the disease over the past few decades.
High sodium levels in the blood stream are a cause for high blood pressure, which, in turn, is a risk factor for heart disease and stroke. Decreasing sodium intake could prevent thousands of deaths annually, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Consuming sugary foods and beverages also apparently adds to the risk of heart disease. A recent study on the health effects of added sugars in sodas, cakes, candy, and other sweetened foods found that participants were more likely to develop heart disease as their percentage of total calorie intake from sugars went up. In fact, those whose diet included more than 25 percent from added sugars almost tripled their risk.
According to the CDC, most of us consume way too much of both ingredients.
On average, Americans have a daily sodium intake of about 3,400 mg, significantly above the recommended limit of 2,300 mg, and more than twice the amount considered adequate, which is about 1,500 mg.
An estimated 16 to 20 percent of total daily calories in the typical American diet come from added sugars, according to the CDC. Curbing consumption could reduce calorie intake from nutritionally deficient sources and help prevent diseases associated with overweight and obesity, including heart disease.
Unfortunately, trying to make such reductions may prove difficult for consumers because the sources of sodium and sugars are not always easily identifiable. Even items that don't taste especially salty or sweet may still have high sodium and/or sugar contents.
Nutrition experts recommend to carefully read food labels. If the sodium amount per serving is 5 percent daily value or less, it is a low-sodium product. Everything over 20 percent daily value is considered high.
Because sugars are not required nutrients, there are no official limits or guidelines available. The Institute of Medicine (IOM) recommends that consumption should not exceed 25 percent of daily calories, an amount some experts still consider excessively high.
The best way to lower the risk of heart disease may be making gradual improvements to your meal plans by adding more fruits, vegetables and other fresh ingredients, while limiting or eliminating processed items as much as possible.
Another recent study on the subject revealed that a so-called "whole diet approach" that focuses on increased consumption of healthful foods can be more effective than, for example, being too concerned with fat content. Diet plans like DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) or the Mediterranean-style diet seem especially helpful in this regard.
Like with most other diet and lifestyle-related health problems, it is unlikely that we will alter the current trends anytime soon. But better education and willingness to overcome ingrained preferences could eventually move us in the right direction.
Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter and Google+
Timi Gustafson R.D. is a registered dietitian, newspaper columnist, blogger and author of the book "The Healthy Diner – How to Eat Right and Still Have Fun"®, which is available on her blog and at amazon.com. For more articles on nutrition, health and lifestyle, visit her blog, "Food and Health with Timi Gustafson R.D." (www.timigustafson.com).


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Coffman Cove, Alaska's best kept secret on Prince of Wales Island. Prince of Wales is 140 miles by 45 miles, of pure majestic land. Prince of Wales is the 3rd largest island in the US after Kodiak Island of AK, and the Big Island of Hawaii. The Shoreline is 990 miles of Rock cliffs. There are more roads on Prince of Wales Island than the entire coast line of the Gulf of Alaska. Coffman Cove is located on the Northeastern Coast of the Prince of Wales Island. Coffman Cove is north of the Dixon entrance and the Canadian border. We have great access to camping, biking, hiking, kayaking, or canoeing. You may find a Lake, Stream or beach and possibly have it all to yourselves.
A state-owned seaplane base is available. There is a boat harbor and launch ramp. Services include; overnight lodging with meals provided, cabin rentals, guided fishing charters & stream fishing, vehicle rentals, out door recreational rentals, oyster sales, B&B's, gas station, liquor store, general convenience store, take-out food, welding, construction & contracting, and a public library. Our library is within walking distance of the harbor, very convenient for visitors.
Recreational fishing along shore, and in nearby streams is very admirable. Luck Lake offers a nice beach for camping with an amazing surrounding for kayaking, canoeing, swimming along with prime trout fishing. Eagle Creek, Luck Creek, and Log Jam Creek produce exciting stream fishing for tourists. Sweetwater Lake provides a fun adventure by kayak, canoe, or small boat through a lagoon that leads into Barnes Lake. Forest Service cabins available for overnight paddlers at both lakes. Tour the Honker divide canoe trail through peaceful radiant land. Accommodating board walk leads to Hatchery Creek Falls, with breathtaking views of Mother Nature.
Access to Coffman Cove by paved road through the National Tongass Rain Forest has increased the economic vitality. The town served for decades as a base for loggers. The closing of Ketchikan Pulp Co. in 1997 compelled residents who stayed to find other economic niches.
The town was named by Lt. Comdr. A.S. Snow, USN, after Lt. Dewitt Coffman, in 1886. The town has about 200 residents and can be accessed by two roads, boat, float plane, or ferry. Coffman Cove was founded as a logging camp in the 1950's, but the economy is now centered mostly within tourism. The town has been incorporated since 1989. Coffman Cove is the only small community on the north end of Prince of Wales Island that is paved.


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As an American, I am proud of Olympic Gold medalist Claressa Shields' feat in women's boxing at the Olympics — but as a woman who has suffered traumatic brain injury, I am deeply concerned that her win will encourage other young women to pursue this dangerous, potentially life-altering sport.
There is no question that repeated blows to the head cause changes in the brain — even when the head is protected by gear meant to soften the blows.
The NFL has come under fire recently because of the link between football-incurred concussions and greatly increased risk of Alzheimer's and other cognitive and memory problems. The league currently faces lawsuits from more than 2,000 former players who believe their injuries have caused irreversible brain damage.
I sympathize with those players. In 2003, I took a bad fall, slamming the back of my head to the floor and losing consciousness briefly. Although early MRIs showed no sign of damage, a recent brain scan showed that one side of my frontal lobe had shrunk slightly.
My doctors believe the changes occurred as a result of my brain slamming against the inside of my skull — which is what happens whenever the head rapidly accelerates and then stops or reverses direction from hitting a hard object, shaking, being jerked forward in a car accident or being hit. Once the first injury occurs, medical evidence suggests that any subsequent injuries, even minor ones, are more likely to cause severe damage.
So why is it we should celebrate encouraging young women to punch each other repeatedly, risking not just broken ribs, cuts and bruises, but serious trauma to their brains? The same, of course, can be said for men.
Boxing is a brutal sport, one whose sole purpose is to hurt the opponent while avoiding being hurt yourself. Even football has other goals — advancing a ball down the field — which relies on passing, running and kicking, not just brute force.
There are other reasons to oppose boxing for women. Many feminists see the decision to include women's boxing in the Olympics as a step forward in recognizing equality. These same feminists want to see women in military combat. Their ultimate goal is ignoring any differences between men and women, even when those differences are biologically rooted.
For millennia, women have played an important civilizing role in society. No society has ever existed in which women were the warriors. Males are larger, more powerful and driven by testosterone to be more aggressive than females. Women are life-givers — not life-takers.
Yes, there are exceptions. Women do commit murder — though they are far less likely to engage in random or stranger killing than men — and their murder rate is 10 percent that of males.
I'm sure that there are some women who could do well on the battlefield. And no doubt Shields could defeat many bigger men in the ring.
But is more violence and aggressiveness something we really want to encourage in our species? Is there no evolutionary advantage in having half the population play a gentler, more nurturing role that tempers the aggressive tendencies of the other half of our species?
Whatever glory Shields and other boxers earn in the ring will be paid for by future generations of women — and men — who are hurt by following their example.
Instead of welcoming women into boxing competition, the Olympic Committee would serve society better by eliminating the sport altogether.


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Responsible driving saves lives. What you do when you get behind the wheel impacts your safety, those you love...
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News | November 29, 2012
Update Set in San Francisco About Curiosity Mars Rover
Rumors and speculation that there are major new findings from the mission at this early stage are incorrect. The news conference will be an update about first use of the rover's full array of analytical instruments to investigate a drift of sandy soil. One class of substances Curiosity is checking for is organic compounds -- carbon-containing chemicals that can be ingredients for life. At this point in the mission, the instruments on the rover have not detected any definitive evidence of Martian organics.
The Mars Science Laboratory Project and its Curiosity rover are less than four months into a two-year prime mission to investigate whether conditions in Mars' Gale Crater may have been favorable for microbial life. Curiosity is exceeding all expectations for a new mission with all of the instruments and measurement systems performing well. This is spectacular for such a complex system, and one that is operated so far away on Mars by people here on planet Earth. The mission already has found an ancient riverbed on the Red Planet, and there is every expectation for remarkable discoveries still to come.
Audio and visuals from the briefing also will be streamed online at: http://www.ustream.tv/nasajpl .
For more information about the mission, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/mars and http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl .
News Media ContactVeronica McGregor/Guy Webster 818-354-9452/ 818-354-6278
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.
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Dwayne Brown 202-358-1726
NASA Headquarters, Washington


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Drawn to Webster
Apr. 10, 2013
ST. LOUIS, April 10, 2013 – When the sixth annual Kinematifest opens its doors on
April 19, it will be more than just a small indie festival where college students
show their home-made animation. Instead, it will be a chance for the community to
see the next wave of animation, and for the students to jump-start their careers.
Just ask Leah Bend-Latham, a 2010 graduate of Webster's animation program in the School of Communications and one of the founders of Kinematifest. Bend Latham, who currently is working as an Editorial Production Coordinator for the upcoming Disney animated feature, "Frozen," credits her work on the Webster festival with helping her career take off.
"When I was a student, we wanted an opportunity to celebrate our work and the work of students from all reaches of the globe - so, we made one," said Bend-Latham. "Through my years with Kinematifest, we coordinated master classes and keynote speeches from Disney, Pixar, Dreamworks, Sony, and New York Institute of Technology. Producing Kinematifest every year was one of the most difficult and definitely most rewarding experiences of my Webster University career."
Kinematifest will be held April 19 and 20 on Webster's main campus in Webster Groves. It is open to the public. The submitted films will be screened on Saturday, April 20, but the weekend will include a number of educational sessions, including a workshop and screening with Academy Award winner John Canemaker who's film "The Moon and the Son: An Imagined Conversation" won both an Academy Award and an Emmy in 2005.
"Animation is hot, video games are hot and comic books are hot," said Chris Sagovac, assistant professor and animation program facilitator. "Everything we do in the animation program contributes to those industries and no one else in the region can compete."
Because of the program's growing reputation, he has seen the number of students in it grow from 18 to 50 in the past four years. Alumni of the program now work at Disney, Dreamworks, Sony, Industrial Light & Magic and Stereo D and are putting their animation skills to work for such major blockbusters as "The Amazing Spiderman," "Transformers: Dark of the Moon," "Madagascar 3," and "The Avengers."
As a result of this success, Kinematifest has grown as well.
The festival showcases student work to help raise interest in animation and interactive media and allow students to have their work critiqued by professionals.
"Kinematifest has grown so much in the past three years since I first became involved," said Amanda Taylor, student director of the festival. "We are giving students from all over the world a chance to submit their work, get some festival play and get their name out there – this year we have more than 60 submissions from all over the world."
"It's truly become an international festival," said Sagovac. "We'll be showing work from not only here at Webster University but also students from Australia, Croatia, Vienna and even the Czech Republic."
By hosting the festival, students can see what their peers are doing. The festival also helps students get real-life experience in editing and improving their works before they are screened at the festival, Sagovac said. Plus, students will get a chance to meet those who currently work in the industry.
Bend-Latham said that the hands-on experience in the animation industry helped her figure out how to begin her career.
"I had a tenacious vision of where I wanted to be when I graduated and Webster gave me the freedom to build my opportunities," she said. "Through leadership opportunities and internships, I realized what I really wanted to do was to become an animation producer and Webster put me on the right road to get there. When I graduated, I had the real experience and confidence to shoot for the moon and I landed right where I always dreamed of being."
Shanese Williams also graduated from the program in 2010 and she agreed that the animation program helped her in her current role as Asset Technician at Legend 3D, one of the largest 3D stereo conversion studios in the United States. Legend 3D has worked on a number of feature films including "The Amazing Spiderman," "The Smurfs" and "Green Lantern."
"The animation program helped me get to where I am now by not being too narrowly focused," said Williams. "Some enter school thinking they know exactly what they want to do, but after four years they leave with a passion for something new thanks to the wide range of classes. The flexibility of the animation program ultimately gave me the skill-set and confidence that was needed to adventure out and begin my current career path."
Although Amanda Taylor is busy planning this year's festival, she also has her eye on what she will do when she graduates.
"I will be graduating next year if all goes according to plan and I want to get a job working on video games," she said.
The festival will help Taylor network in her future career field by featuring a panel by local video game developers from Six3Six studios. In addition to this session, attendees will be able to learn more about mobile application development and also traditional animation in addition to a number of networking events.
For more information on the event schedule, visit the festival's website.