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Gone Girl Movie Trailer and Australian Release Date
New Gone Girl Trailer: More Affleck, NPH, and Mystery
The latest trailer for Gone Girl is here, and there's even more Ben Affleck. David Fincher's adaptation of Gillian Flynn's bestselling book tells us the story of Amy (Rosamund Pike), who goes missing and leaves her husband, Nick (Ben Affleck), as the main suspect. As Nick is examined and cross-examined to determine whether he really did it, he is also seemingly in on the mystery. Those recent posters offered some clues, while the trailer does too — why is a strange man (Neil Patrick Harris) hanging around? What are those clue envelopes left behind? Of course, if you read the book, you already know all these answers, but even if you know, it's pretty bone-chilling to see Fincher filling in the blanks for Flynn's incredible mystery. Whether or not the movie really has a different ending than the book remains to be seen, but I can't wait to see more when Gone Girl comes out Oct. 2.
Check out the first trailer:
And here's the first teaser:


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Yesterday the Colorado House passed four new gun control bills on voice votes. The official vote will happen on Monday.
There are a series of town hall meetings (see below) this weekend that you can participate in and let your voice be heard. You can also contact your representatives and let them know how you view the proposed legislation.
Here are summaries of the 4 bills. It is our position that none of these bills will have any significant impact on violent crime and will only infringe the constitutional rights of law-abiding citizens.
· HB-1224: Bans all magazines that hold more than 15 rounds.
· HB-1226: Bans armed self-defense on college campuses; expanding criminal safe-zones to all state college and university campuses.
· HB-1228: Imposes a Jim Crow-style gun tax on all purchases. This legislation has no limit on the amount the CBI could charge for a background check.
· HB-1229: Bans the private sale of firearms and institutes universal background checks / gun registration for all Colorado gun owners.
What can you do? We have some suggestions for you.
First – Please contact your State Representative TODAY, and politely remind them that you are watching how they vote. Urge them to vote NO on HB-1224, HB-1226, HB-1228 and HB-1229. Your State Representatives can be found here.
Second – There will be a series of Town Hall meetings starting today. Show up and let your voice be heard. Be respectful and polite while you exercise your First Amendment right to protect your Second Amendment right. Here is a list of the town hall meetings.
Cherry Hills Village:
Town Hall Meeting with Rep. Daniel Kagan
Cherry Hills Village Community Center, 2460 East Quincy Ave, Cherry Hills Village, Colorado 80113
Monday, Feb. 18, 2013 from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m.
Town hall Meeting with Representative Pabon and Senator Guzman
The Puppet House, 3156 W. 38th Avenue, Denver, CO 80211
Saturday, February 16, 9am-11:30am
Colorado Health Care & Immigration Reform w/ Senator Aguilar
First Universalist Church of Denver, 4100 E. Hampden Ave, Denver, CO 80113
Sunday, February 17, 12:30pm – 2:00pm
Fort Collins:
Community Conversation with Representatives Fischer and Ginal Senator Kefalas
Genoa Coffee & Wine, 2614 S. Timberline Road, #104, Ft. Collins, CO 80525
Saturday, February 16, 9-10am
Golden Town Hall Meeting with Senator Nicholson
Golden City Hall, 911 10th Street, Golden, CO 80401
Sat, February 16, 10am – 12pm
Town hall Meeting with Representative Young
North Range Behavioral Health Administration Building, 1300 North 17th Avenue, Greeley, CO 80631
Saturday, Feb. 16, 10:00 a.m. to Noon
Town hall Meeting with Representative Hamner
Leadville Colorado Mountain College, 901 South Hwy 24, Leadville, CO 80461
Saturday Feb. 16, 2013 from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Community Conversation with Senator Giron
Rawlings Library, 100 East Abriendo, Pueblo, CO
Saturday, February 16, 10:00am – 11:30am
Superior Town Hall w/ Senator Nicholson
Superior Town Hall Building, 124 East Coal Creek Drive, Superior, CO 80027
Saturday, February 16, 2pm – 4pm
Town hall Meeting w/Representative Reniston and Senators Ulibarri & Tochtrop
Ciancio's, 9650 Sheridan Blvd., Westminster, CO 80219
Saturday, February 16, 10:00am – 10:30am
Town hall Meeting w/Representative Kraft-Tharp and Senator Hudak
Covenant Village, 9153 Yarrow Street, Westminster, CO 80021
Saturday, February 16, 10:30am – 12:00pm
Community Conversation w/Senators Tochtrop & Ulibarri
Ciancio's, 9650 Sheridan Blvd, Westminster, CO 80219
Sat, February 16, 6:00pm – 6:30pm
Third – Contact your state and federal representatives and let your voice be heard. Here are two options that will allow you to accomplish this quickly and easily.
· NRA-ILA - Write your Representatives.
· Ruger – Take Action Now!
· Colorado General Assembly – Find Phone Numbers Here.
Get involved this weekend and let your voice be heard!
Centennial Gun Club

subset: commoncrawl


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The 50 Funniest People Now
Here they are: The 50 actors, stand-ups, TV hosts, Twitterers, radio personalities, septuagenarians and sports analysts making us laugh the most right now. In making this list, we took the "now" part seriously, and focused on comedians' recent work. That meant excluding some all-time greats who aren't very active as funnymen (or aren't doing their best work at the moment) in favor of people who are truly killing it out there these days.
By Nick Catucci, Meredith Clark, Jon Dolan, Andy Greene, Joe Gross, Joel Hoard, Halle Kiefer and Jody Rosen


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LONDON, Ont. - Most Canadians would probably admit to being caseophiles if they knew what it meant.
Caseophile is just a five-dollar word for cheese lover, from the Latin "caseus," meaning cheese, and although we're well behind countries such as France, where annual per capita cheese consumption tops 26 kilograms (57 pounds), Canadians still manage to put away more than 12 kilograms (26 pounds) of cheese a year each.
That's a lot of cheese.
Quebec is the biggest producer of cheese, followed by Ontario, but there are cheesemakers in every province who produced more than 137.7 million kilograms (303 million pounds) and more than 1,050 types of cheese in 2011, according to the Canadian Dairy Commission.
Cheddar and mozzarella account for 61 per cent of that production, with their manufacture dominated by large industrial firms. But more and more consumers are turning to specialty or artisanal cheeses made by small, hands-on producers.
"More Canadians are wanting to know where their food is coming from, learning more about it, so that is bringing a lot of interest to our speciality cheesemakers," says Debbie Levy of Mississauga, Ont. She is a graduate of the Cheese Education Guild, the first cheese school dedicated to cheese appreciation in Canada, and works for Dairy Farmers of Canada.
"Consumers want to learn about cheeses; they want to know about the milk source and how they're made."
Ruth Klahsen of Stratford, Ont., is one of those producers of artisanal cheeses. "I was a chef who had a mid-life crisis," she offers as the reason for starting Monforte Dairy 10 years ago, and she is passionate about her work, although she can't fully explain why.
"There's just always been something about ruminants and milk, it's beautiful, but I don't know other than that. There's just something about it that works for me."
Monforte makes about 30 kinds of cheese from cow, sheep, goat and domestic water buffalo milk. They are sold mainly at the dairy and farmers markets, but Klahsen also supplies high-end restaurants, opened the Monforte on Wellington restaurant in Stratford and has a Toronto store-front operation.
She agrees the artisanal market is small yet expanding, but fears the recent trade agreement between Canada and the European Union "will put the stop to that." The agreement would double the amount of European cheese allowed into Canada to around 30 million kilograms (66 million pounds) a year.
"I'm worried about the future," Klahsen says. "They are mostly French industrial cheeses, but they are done in an artisan style and they do a very good job. They can sell it in Loblaws for less than my cost of production."
Her first cheese was Toscano, made from sheep's milk. It is a firm cheese with a natural, coarsely textured rind and warmly coloured interior, somewhat related to Italian pecorino.
"We do a lot of cheeses that people can cook with, like halloumi and ricotta. But I also want cheeses that are good enough for people to sit down and eat."
Klahsen says there are always trends in cheesemaking and one of the latest is the use of ash.
It started about five years ago when a few chefs started using ashes from burned food, wood or hay on, in or to cook certain food.
"Now everything has ash on it," Klahsen says.
In cheesemaking, ash is used to form a natural protective coating and add a vein of flavour to a cheese.
"The ash reduces the acidity so it sweetens your curd; it ripens it up."
She says her customers will try new things "because we deal direct and we make them taste everything. They're up for the ride."
In Canada, cheeses are classified in one of six categories according to the moisture content. Most Canadian cheeses fall into the firm (cheddar and Swiss, for example), soft (brie, Camembert, feta) or semi-soft (mozzarella, havarti, Gouda) categories.
The other categories are hard, blue-veined and fresh, meaning cheese which has not been ripened. Bocconcini is an example of fresh cheese.
Goat cheese, or chevre, softens when exposed to heat but does melt in the same way many cow's milk cheeses do. It is used to make a variety of cheeses.
Sheep's milk has more fat and protein than cow's milk and because it is richer, it generally takes less sheep's milk to make a kilogram of cheese than cow's milk. Cheese made with sheep's milk tends to have a nutty and sweet flavour.
Water buffalo milk is primarily used to make variations of mozzarella.
Although many types of Canadian cheese have won international awards, the country is best known for cheddar.
"In the late 1800s, cheddar cheese was second only to timber in our exports," says Levy.
And in 1986, a Canadian cheddar was named the "world's finest cheese" at an international competition in Wisconsin.
To contact Susan Greer, email her at susan.greer(at)rogers.com.
Also on HuffPost


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It Takes a Village to Raise Great Athletic Prodigies
Everyone loves watching sports – that is just a worldwide fact. One way or another, we are a fan of the athleticism shown in any given sport. It can be basketball, volleyball, football, any sport! Sometimes we are not necessarily a fan of the sport to start with, but suddenly we are die-hard fans just because of the marvel of a certain player or athlete. The Sports Techie community blog loves how tech helps not only train these youngsters but also delivers HD sport video clips and entire games right to your digital devices...Read More


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This is something I really wanted to wait and write a week or so heading into the draft, but I just need to get it off my chest. Obviously much of what I say here can be severely altered in the next few weeks due to off-season moves and rookie pro days, but that really isn't going to change my thinking too much.
The Pittsburgh Steelers need playmakers and they can't wait for the 3rd round of the 2013 NFL Draft to get them.
You have to go back to the 2008 draft to find a time when the Steelers selected a skill-position player in the first round. In 2012, the Steelers did not select a skill player until the 5th round and he's no longer on the roster. In 2011, they did not select a skill position guy until the 7th round.
The Steelers for years have sunk money into their defense and now with a franchise quarterback in his prime, it's time to show the offense some love. Look at this breakdown of how much money is contractually spent on defensive players versus offensive for the Steelers. It's a little mind-numbing, but not surprising.
League-wide, the Steelers rank 4th in terms of amount spent on defense and they rank 29th in the amount spent on offense. If you think in terms of money, the defense takes up $64.9 million while the offense takes up $45.2 million.
I'm not suggesting those should be more on a level of 50/50, but it's clear that this organization needs to stop wasting the talent of a pro bowl quarterback by surrounding him with second-tier talent.
Since 2008, the Steelers have drafted a defensive tackle, center, defensive end and guard with their first picks. Of that group, only Maurkice Pouncey has 'panned out' to this point and while there is still time for Cam Heyward and Ziggy Hood, that time is expiring quickly. Certainly David DeCastro will need another year or two before any judgment can be passed.
The bottom line is that the Steelers need to show Todd Haley and Ben Roethlisberger that they are willing to spend high picks on offense. Yes, the defense still needs to replace aging vets but the way this draft is shaking out, I like the depth of potential playmakers in the early rounds more than ever before.
The Steelers need to look into this direction sooner rather than later.
Marc Uhlmann writes for and co-owns www.steelcityblitz.com. Follow him on Twitter @steeldad and follow the website at @SCBlitz. He can be heard Mondays on Trib-Live Radio at 4pm ET talking Steelers.


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Foresight Archives
What: Foresight's Annual Brainstorming-Planning-Actionfest & Nanoschmoozathon Huge revolutions in technology are expected to show up in the next 5-to-30 years come hear what they are, how they'll change your life, and how to influence them.
Who: 200 of those most able to see what's ahead and consider what to do about it. As a group we have technical skill, entrepreneurial drive, financial resources, experience in effecting change, and the sheer pigheaded determination to make a difference.
When: April 26 evening through April 28, 2002. We'll start with a reception at 7 PM Friday and wrap up at about 5 PM Sunday.
Where: Palo Alto in Silicon Valley the birthplace of disruptive new technologies at the Hotel Crowne Plaza Cabaña
How: No passive listening the emphasis is on intense interaction.
Why: To plan the future of your career, your family, and your organization, you need to know what's coming.
Thinking about the coming changes even the positive ones can be intimidating when done solo. Join us as we take our annual group swim into the memepool of the future.
Come exercise your foresight muscle. There's nowhere to get a better view of the wild decades ahead.
Foresight Programs
Home About Foresight Blog News & Events Roadmap About Nanotechnology Resources Facebook Contact Privacy Policy
Foresight materials on the Web are ©1986–2020 Foresight Institute. All rights reserved. Legal Notices.
Web site developed by Stephan Spencer and Netconcepts; maintained by James B. Lewis Enterprises.


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Catasetum cernuum
Catasetum cernuum - Species Dictionary - Global : iSpot Nature - Your place to share nature. iSpot is a website aimed at helping anyone identify anything in nature. Once you've registered, you can add an observation to the website and suggest an identification yourself or see if anyone else can identify it for you.
Catalogue of Life
Plantae, Tracheophyta, Liliopsida, Asparagales, Orchidaceae, Catasetum, Catasetum cernuum


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The other day after I got home from my run (I use the term advisedly), I got a call from the local NBC affiliate asking for a quick interview on the overall impact of "girl power" in this year's Olympics. Within ten minutes, the reporter and her cameraman were on their way.
While dashing around the house trying to figure out what to wear — no white, no black, no patterns — and ruing the fact that I never mastered the art of applying makeup, I did some power thinking about what the so-called "year of the woman" means to those of us who have never done a cartwheel and who were always the last to be chosen for volleyball. (Both would be me.) And what I realized is that the Olympic Games are a good metaphor for a lot of what we call real life.
Wherein we find some real lessons, especially for us women.
Lesson one: You go for the gold, girl. First, there's the good old-fashioned inspiration of the goose-bump variety. Whenever a woman excels at anything, I'm inspired — even if it's not my field. Gabby or Missy or Kerri and Misty? Talk about motivation. And yet it's a message that goes far beyond the pool or the (faux) beach or the balance beam: set yourself a goal, work hard, try your darnedest and anything is possible: You never know what you can do until you take that leap of faith.
For all of us, there's joy to be found in getting into the Zen of it all, of being totally absorbed in our passions, whether it's poetry or pole vaulting. Put yourself out there, throw yourself into your dreams one hundred percent, and the message is this: you just might bring home the gold.
Lesson two: Fail well. Or maybe you won't: put yourself out there, give it your all — and you still might fall flat on your face. But even if you fail spectacularly, you still win. We write about this a lot: one of the surest indicators of future success is how good you are at failing. In fact, this year the New York Times reported on some cutting edge school programs based on something called the character strengths inventory that is proving that kids who move through failures with a mindset of looking at them as learning experiences are much more equipped for success in life. (Look no further than world gymnastics champion Jordyn Wieber, who failed to qualify for the individual all-around final yet came back to nail her floor exercises.)
Which leads to …
Lesson three: Take the risk. In other words, failure can often be the world's best teacher. First, there's the satisfaction of knowing that you've taken a risk and lived to tell the tale. And then there's this: That whole process of trial and error is likely to bring you closer to figuring out your own goals and how to get there. Maybe you'll learn from what you've done wrong and do it better the next time – or just maybe you can use that failure to rule things out. If you can see that failure for what it is, just one more step in the never-ending process we call life, you may well learn something that can propel you forward. Or, as psychologist Ramani Durvasula told us back when we were reporting our book: "You'll always get over a failure. But regret? It's not recoverable."
That risk-taking, the idea of allowing ourselves the courage to fail? It's especially important to today's women who are often navigating uncharted territory, especially in the workplace. As Elizabeth Gilbert once wrote, "We don't have centuries of educated, autonomous female role models to imitate here (there were no women quite like us until very recently), so nobody has given us a map."
And speaking of running without a roadmap …
Lesson Four: Dispense with the shoulds. That's Gloria Steinem's line, not ours. More in a bit. I was once asked for advice from a very earnest twenty-something who wanted to know what women trying to make their way into high-stakes careers should do. And my answer was this: I don't have any advice — not because I don't like to dish it out – but because there are no clear cut, one-size fits all answers. For us, I told her, it's all too new. And then I quoted Gloria Steinem, who once told a group of college women: "Dispense with the word "should." Don't think about the way women should fit into the world. Think about how the world should fit women."
Which brings us back to my soundbyte on the nightly news and perhaps the best lesson of all from the year of the woman. The reporter asked my take on those women who were owning the non-traditional sports like Judo and weightlifting, breaking through the stereotypes, and what I said was something like this: "Every time a woman does something a little above and beyond society's expectations, it opens doors for all of us. And I think that's fantastic."
I was overshadowed, of course, by an interview with a poised young tween in a leotard at a local gymnastics center. What she said she has taken away from this year's Olympics is the belief that women can do whatever they want, that they can do just as much as men can. "I'm motivated," she said, looking straight at the camera, "to do better than I think I can."
Girl power, indeed.


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Welcome to Computer Science
Computer Science is applied to reason using both art and science. It requires the ability to communicate ideas through a combination of language and powerful technology. It is concerned with the interaction of man and machine, and man's conquest of the future through continuing developments in the application of computers to myriad and specialized problems.
The goal of the Department of Computer Science is to offer programs to a diverse audience:
- students interested primarily in computing.
- students interested primarily in applying to compute to some other field of study.
- students who wish to include computing as part of their general education.


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Pogba's header helps France defeat Nigeria, punch quarterfinal ticket
BRASILIA, Brazil (AP) — Paul Pogba scored with a late header to finally break Nigeria's stubborn resistance and Joseph Yobo added an own-goal as France won 2-0 to reach the World Cup quarterfinals on Monday.
Nigeria goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama had just made a superb save to tip over Karim Benzema's header, but he flapped at the ball from the ensuing corner and Pogba pounced in the 79th minute to nod in his first goal of the tournament. Pogba atoned for a scrappy first half in which he gave the ball away carelessly and placed a volley too close to Enyeama.
Scoring such a crucial goal will boost his confidence heading into the last eight against either Germany or Algeria, who played their match later. Yobo turned the ball into his own net in stoppage time under pressure from France substitute Antoine Griezmann — who made a big difference after replacing the ineffective Olivier Giroud in the 62nd.
At the final whistle, France's relieved players danced in front of their fans as dreams of another run to the final — just like in 2006 — moved a step closer.
France started slowly and finished strongly in the second round match. African champion Nigeria had a goal ruled out for offside in the 19th minute after Emmanuel Emenike poked home Ahmed Musa's cross from the left, but wasted a lot of second-half possession. After Griezmann came on, Benzema finally came alive in the 70th, opening up the defense after a clever one-two with the France substitute.
After Enyeama blocked Benzema's initial shot, his follow-up effort was hacked clear by Victor Moses. Video technology confirmed that the ball had not crossed the line. Nigeria chose a very audacious lineup with four attacking players and found a lot of space behind France's fullbacks, with right back Efe Ambrose causing problems with his overlaps.
Pogba's tendency to try and hit perfect through-balls worked against his team as he gave the ball away four times inside the first 10 minutes alone. He often seemed in two minds and this only slowed down the French attacks. France failed to show the attacking flair of previous games, with Giroud skewing a shot wide early on from the edge of the penalty area.
Giroud also appeared to elbow John Obi Mikel in an off-the ball incident, having done the same in last week's 0-0 draw with Ecuador after coming on as a second-half substitute. Two chances were missed late in the half. Fullback Mathieu Debuchy found space on the right side of the area in the 40th after collecting a pass from Mathieu Valbuena, but his attempt smacked into the back of a steward. Emenike saw his sharp drive from the edge of the area palmed away by France goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, with no Nigeria player near the loose ball.
Center back Raphael Varane added much composure to a nervous-looking France team and hurt himself heading away a cross before it could reach Emenike in the 53rd. With French nerves fraying, midfielder Blaise Matuidi was booked for a heavy challenge on Ogenyi Onazi, who was replaced by Ruben Gabriel in the 59th.
The atmosphere quieted at the Estadio Nacional in Brasilia, with the pockets of French fans watching silently on as Nigeria started to dominate possession. Coach Didier Deschamps then made a key change, taking Giroud off and bringing on Griezmann, freeing Benzema to play through the middle. But Nigeria continued to push forward, and Lloris did well to block a shot from Peter Odemwingie, who was Nigeria's most dangerous player making runs from deep.
Center back Laurent Kocielny made a vital interception to block Musa's dangerous cross from the right with a little more than 20 minutes left. Then, it was all France as Griezmann boosted the attacks with his mobility and technique, and he almost made it 2-0 with an effort in the 85th that Enyeama tipped over brilliantly. Instead, it fell to Yobo to inadvertently add France's second goal.
Here's how Les Bleus punched their quarterfinal ticket.
Live Blog World Cup Round of 16: France vs. Nigeria


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Most pregnant women stay away from medications that are deemed unsafe for the unborn child. But there are instances that it could not be helped and there is a need to ingest medicines prescribes by their physicians. Somehow, some pregnant women took Topamax while they were pregnant as seizure or migraine attacks became unbearable. It was found out recently that this drug is very harmful to unborn children. In a study, among 203 pregnant women who were taking Topamax, 4 children were born with cleft lip or palate. The manufacturers of this drug actually plead guilty to the case. It is no wonder though that a lot of women, who deem victimized by this drug, would like to file for a Topamax lawsuit, which is a type of product liability or defective product claim. If this happened to me and my baby is afflicted with cleft lip or palate because of the drug, I would do the same and sue whoever is at fault. But things do not work that way here on our side of the world. So if you are in the US, might as well fight for what you think is right and claim for damages. For more information, you might like to contact O'Hanlon, McCollom & Demerath – Personal Injury Lawyers – 808 West Avenue, Austin, TX. 78701 – 512-494-9949.
Seizure/Migraine, Topamax and Birth Defects
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Posted by Kaje at 14:57
1 comments:
- Topamax Lawyer said...
This is a great post about the risks of Topamax. If a pregnant woman, or woman who may become pregnant takes this medication, it greatly increases the chance that the baby will suffer from the birth defects cleft lip and cleft palate. The FDA has advised that women who are or may become pregnant not take Topamax for the safety of their child. Just something to be aware of – this can lead to tragic health risks if an unexpected pregnancy occurs. Regards, TL
- 20 May, 2011 21:33
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|Country Of origin:
|United States of America
Chicago native Yung Berg sat in the music industry background for the first half of the 2000s before his "Sexy Lady" jam blew up in 2007. At 15 years of age, he already had a record deal, signed to DMX's fledgling Bloodline Records, but his parents hastily pulled him out, sending him off to a military boarding school in Montana in 2001. After returning from school a few years later, he moved out to Los Angeles to get his career going again. In 2005, Berg jumped at the opportunity to work with Disturbing tha Peace member and Chicago rapper Shawnna as a hype man and as vocal/writing support in the studio. Soon, Berg was making bigger moves. He established his Yung Boss imprint, ghostwrote for other rappers, and his production team, Yung Bosses (of which he is a part with JFK and Rob Holiday), scored tracks for Eve, Juelz Santana, Memphis Bleek, and also Shawnna. When he sent the "Sexy Lady" single out to L.A. radio, it became a local hit. Labels were approaching the young rapper left and right with major deals, but he eventually settled with Epic Records. The six-track EP Almost Famous was released in July 2007. The hit single "Sexy Can I," a collaboration with singer Ray J, appeared before Berg's debut full-length, Look What You Made Me, landed in the summer of 2008. ~ Cyril Cordor~ Rovi


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As with all shopping websites, we collect personal information from you when you shop online at Boden.co.uk or Bodenusa.com.
We use this information to make your shopping experience as easy and enjoyable as possible. We need it to process your order, inform you of any delays or problems and occasionally to send you special offers and promotions.
The information we collect is:
Your name – so we know what to call you
Email address – so we can email your order confirmations, delivery delays, offers etc. You can unsubscribe here at any time. Please allow 10 days for your request to be updated across all our systems.
Shipping address – an obvious one
Telephone number – we'll only call if we have a delivery problem
Credit card details – we only ask for these when you place an order
Mobile number – so we can text you with details about your orders or where we have a question
We use the latest secure server technology to ensure this information is protected to the highest standards.
We use encryption to safeguard your credit card information and only accept orders from web browsers that permit communication through Secure Socket Layer (SSL) technology - this means you cannot inadvertently place an order through an unsecured connection. Most web browsers above version three support this security.
This encryption makes it virtually impossible for unauthorised parties to read any information that you send us.
The encryption technique we use is the highest standard available for e-commerce and certified by VeriSign, the world's most respected certification body for Internet firms.
Any personal information you provide to us is maintained on secure servers. We collect information when you register online or update your account, log-in, place an order, communicate online with our customer service representatives, opt-in to receive our emails, shop online, request a catalog, participate in a sweepstakes, contest, promotion or survey, or join our social networking sites. We may also collect information from you through our catalogs or other marketing material. This information may include, but is not limited to, your contact information (for example, your name, email address, billing and shipping addresses and phone number). If you create an online account, you also have the option of providing your product preferences and demographic information.
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Donor-advised funds are an increasingly popular philanthropic vehicle, used by charitably minded people to give away millions of dollars every year.
But questions exist about DAFs' effectiveness and the charitable intent of donors who give with these vehicles.
Vanguard Charitable, one of the country's largest DAF sponsors, recently examined 10 years' worth of granting by its account holders to answer these questions.
Pulling data from 2004 through 2013, researchers analyzed the granting patterns of more than 15,000 donors based on gender and generation makeup, balance and tenure of their accounts.
They also asked donors and numerous charities they supported their thoughts about giving with a DAF. Was philanthropy more strategic? Were donors and charities better giving partners?
Vanguard's study found the following about its account holders:
- 61% were male and female, 28% male only and 10% female only
- 31% were born before 1946, 44% were baby boomers, 13% Gen X/Millennials and 12% mixed
- 56% of donors used a DAF for the majority of their giving, while some 12% preferred to write checks
Vanguard said it granted 20.3% of assets to charity annually, but giving levels of individual accounts varied based on donors' individual strategies and goals.
It said account holders may prefer to give regularly in equal amounts to their favorite charities, while others do not give in one year in order to recommend a large grant for a major project in the following year.
The minimum grant from Vanguard Charitable is $500. Vanguard data showed that accounts with higher balances of more than $100,000 tended to recommend fewer but larger gifts to charity, while accounts with smaller balances made many smaller grants.
For their part, 63% of charities surveyed said they preferred many small grants — for one thing, a broad base of supporters lowers risk over the long term — while 37% preferred fewer but larger grants — big donors tend to be very committed to the charity's mission, and large gifts can be "game changers."
Vanguard data also showed that donors give to charities across the country and around the world.
Ninety-four percent of donors said they donated to the same charity more than once, 47% gave similar amounts every time they donated to repeat charities; and 22 charities in foreign countries received direct grants and many received grants through intermediary organizations.
In terms of interest areas, male-only account holders supported human services, education and religion; female-only account holders favored human services, education, and arts and culture; and male and female donors targeted education, human resources and civic causes.
Vanguard said that while the majority of grants supported general operating expenses, the majority of money does not. Very large grants are often restricted to enable the donor to monitor progress and meet goals for a specific project.
Vanguard found that its DAF account holders were both involved with the charities they supported and strategic in their giving. Seventy-three percent of donors were involved with the charities they supported, through volunteering, involvement with the board and the like.
Sixty-one percent of donors said they were strategic about their philanthropy when giving with a DAF by following a long-term plan that included a budget, investment strategy and appropriate time horizon to meet their current and long-term giving objectives
Finally, 79% of nonprofit organizations said they were completely or mostly satisfied with DAFs as a giving partner.
Just as donors see DAFs as a way to simplify and maximize giving, charities see how they can partner with DAFs to scale development activities while increasing reach, according to Vanguard.
Nonprofit organizations described donors who gave with a DAF as sophisticated, savvy, accountable, "high-capacity givers with extended funding cycles" and "steadfast partners."


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Laminate flooring Lysterfield South
Stylish, modern, traditional and rustic are some of the best ways to describe laminate flooring.
Laminate is a man-made product known mostly for its low price compared to other types of flooring. However, besides that, it has incredibly tough wear layer capable of taking significant amounts of damage. Laminate is also hard to scratch or burn, stain resistant and can even be made waterproof. This allows it to be used in kitchens and bathrooms without any trouble.
At FLOOR COURT we stock only the superior ranges and designer collections of commercial and residential quality laminate flooring. The product has a decorative layer of wood look print, finished with a high-quality surface grading making laminate flooring durable and comfortable.
Check out our Laminate products here.


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Peer-Reviewed Publications
Found 7 results[ Title]
Filters: Author is Moll, E K [Clear All Filters]
Seat belt syndrome in children: a case report and review of the literature." Pediatr Emerg Care. 2001;17(6):474-7."
Factors influencing pediatric injury in side impact collisions." Annu Proc Assoc Adv Automot Med. 2000;44:407-28."
Factors influencing pediatric injury in side impact collisions." J Trauma. 2001;51(3):469-77."
Development and validation of the injury severity assessment survey/parent report: a new injury severity assessment survey." Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 1999;153(4):404-8."
The danger of premature graduation to seat belts for young children." Pediatrics. 2000;105(6):1179-83."
Child occupant protection: a summary of current safety recommendations." Prim. Care Update Ob Gyns. 2001;8(4):141-148."
Child bicyclist injuries: are we obtaining enough information in the emergency department chart?" Inj. Prev.. 2002;8(2):165-9."


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Box office tallies. You hate them. All they do is cause movie fans to become armchair studio gurus and justify the continued production of horrible big-budget movies with inflated opening weekend grosses.
But what if we could rejigger the whole formula so that we had a much better idea of what makes a film "successful"? WE CAN!
At PopcornBiz we've come up with a proprietary new SABRemetric-style (see "Moneyball") moviegoing formula that makes the weekend box office numbers only a small fraction of how we statistically grade movies.
U.S. & World
We call it the PBCS standings.
Here's how it works: We've put together an actual formula that considers not just gross box, but also staying power, critical reception and the film's budget. Is it better than box office rankings? O HELLZ YEZ it is. We used MATH! For example, here are your weekend box office rankings, according to Box Office Mojo:
1. Lion King 3D - $22.1M
2. Moneyball - $20.6M
3. Dolphin Tale - $20.3M
4. Abduction - $11.2M
5. Killer Elite - $9.5M
6. Contagion - $8.6M
7. Drive - $5.8M
8. The Help - $4.4M
9. Straw Dogs - $2.1M
10. I Don't Know How She Does It - $2M
Can you believe that many people went and paid money to see "Abduction"? Me too! So here is what our weekend ranking looks like when we apply our formula:
1. Lion King 3D - 393
2. Moneyball - 247
3. Dolphin Tale - 169
4. The Help - 153
5. Drive - 125
6. Contagion – 68
7. I Don't Know How She Does It - 11
8. Killer Elite - 5
9. Straw Dogs - 3
10. Abduction - 1
See? Isn't that much better? The top three remain the same, largely because those movies earned well AND were praised by critics ("The Lion King," of course, is an outlier since it's a classic film being rereleased). But doesn't it put Taylor Lautner and his enormous neck precisely where they belong in the film hierarchy? I say yes. This kid is all kinds of handsome, and he's got a huge following thanks to the Twi-hards, but looking at these numbers it's clear that unless his dreamy six-pack is morphing into a snarling lycanthrope, folks—not even acritical teen girls--can't be bothered.
We have to confess to being stunned--STUNNED--by how well "Dolphin Tale" did. We hadn't even heard of it until two weeks ago, the lesson being never underestimate the allure of a dolphin with a robotic tail. Meanwhile, "The Help" continues to display great straying power, weeks after it surprised everyone with its strong opening, while big-budget dogs like "Killer Elite" get buried.
Do not question the PBCS standings. You will be mathematically thrashed if you do.
NEXT WEEK: "50/50" Runs the table, unless "The Lion King" keeps performing like a new release.


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Unlimited Coins, Cash and Energy Resources with Baseball Hero Hack
Unfortunately, we can't describe more about this game. We believe that you can identify the game by just see its game cover. If you still want to know about the game details, you can find it at Baseball Hero Hack (The game not the hack) on Google Play Store.
- Coins
- Cash
- Energy
- (.APK Installer) which can be accessed from your gadget
- User-friendly Interface (With Switch Button)
- Safe (Infiltrate the game with the console process)
- Clean files from virus
- Works on all Android devices without root
Baseball Hero Hack APK Screenshot
- Be sure to have the game on your phone!
- Download Baseball Hero Hack APK, install and open it from your phone
- Wait for the loading screen
- Add amount resources that you want
- Be sure to add the switch on besides the resources to activate the resource generator
- Execute the hack by press Generate!
- Wait the console process(It might took a minute to process the app)
- (It might took a minute in console process)
- The resources have been added to your account
Based from the result of the app, we can conclude that the game app is working. Some users may think about bragging the results to their rivals, they might do that. Acquiring all the money and also resources is getting almost a year, but with this app you can use all of your time and energy to finish first.
You should not use the app excessively. We certainly have tested that the app will sync with all the character. Baseball Hero hack does not have damage content plus it safe to use.


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Thank you for your interest in working for Icicle Seafoods. We're delighted that you'd like to join our team and help us bring the freshest seafood to market. We invite you to find out more about working with us—and apply online.Applying Online
Applying online for a job with Icicle is a fast, simple, convenient way to get your application in front of the right people. If there are no jobs available when you apply, we will keep your information accessible for one year in case our employment needs change in the future. Just click the link to complete our online application online—and please call or email us with questions.


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Pine Woods Snake
Scientific name: Rhadinaea flavilata (COPE 1871)
* Currently accepted name
* scientific names used through time
- Dromicus flavilatus – COPE 1871
- Leimadophis flavilatus – ALLEN 1932
- Rhadinaea flavilata – CONANT 1958
Description: Average adult size is 10-12 inches (25.4-30.4 cm), record is 15.75 inches (40 cm). Adults are slender, and yellowish-brown to reddish. The lips are whitish-yellow, and there is a thin dark line that runs through the eye to the corner of the jaw. The belly is uniform whitish-yellow. The scales are smooth and there are 17 dorsal scale rows at midbody. The pupil is round. Juvenile coloration is similar to adults.
A. Top of the head
B. Underside of the head (chin and throat)
C. Elongated scales below the tail (subcaudal scales) are typically divided
D. Front (face view) of the head
E. Side of the head
F. Smooth scales
Range: In Florida, the Pine Woods Snake occurs throughout most of the peninsula south to around Lake Okeechobee, and in isolated populations in the central panhandle. Outside of Florida, it occurs in isolated populations along the coastal plain from North Carolina to eastern Louisiana.
Habitat: Uncommon, found in pinelands, hardwood hammocks, cypress strands, bayheads, and barrier islands.
Comments: HARMLESS (Non-Venomous). The Pine Woods Snake does not bite when handled. It has fangs in the rear of its mouth, which are used to subdue its prey, primarily small lizards, salamanders, frogs, snakes, and insects. The Pine Woods Snake is a terrestrial burrower. It is occasionally found under rotting logs and leaves, but most often under the bark of dead pine trees. However, it is also found in areas where pine flatwoods habitat has been lost to urban development and all that remains is slash pines scattered among houses. This species has been found under pine straw that accumulates on the roofs of houses. It lays small clutches of eggs, and 5 inch (12.7 cm) long young hatch in the summer months.
Comparison with other species: The Brown Snakes (Storeria dekayi), Florida Brown Snake (Storeria victa), Redbelly Snake (Storeria occipitomaculata), Rough Earth Snake (Virginia striatula), and Smooth Earth Snake (Virginia valeriae) lack together a thin black stripe through the eye and the yellowish lips.


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I got off work this morning listening to Chris Browns latest joint: I Can't Win! The song is definitely a plea to Rihanna. But a plea to do what? He mentions how she loves the "bottle" referring to her drinking…he mentions the yelling and her unwillingness to compromise..yet let's it be known he still loves her. When I heard the song I knew the first thing the blogs would report on is the lyric mentioning the "bottle" but how would they speak on it?
Do I believe based off what she has allowed the public to see that drinking/smoking are at an all time high…I absolutely do! And to be honest watching Chris do his recent interviews (and the fact he has a medical marijuana card lol) he seems high too much for my liking as well as smoking cigarettes (do they even realize they are singers smh)!
Yet I will say we SEE Rihanna doing it often because she allows us too see. The first thing I have learned as minister is when people don't even attempt to hide the problem they are SCREAMING for someone to help them. But who is the person God has called forth and GRACED with the anointing & patience to see the mission through? We know everyone got tired with Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, & that's just recent superstars! This picture right here says soooo much!
Now here we are watching Chris & Rihanna rekindle their friendship/love affair and people are talking publicity stunts! Wow! As for Rihanna she is sitting at what I believe to be the pinnacle of her career (are their any more records to break), and she has perfected this good girl gone bad image! Needing more publicity is not needed! Going to court with Chris has NOT benefitted her one bit with album sales/single sales but it has changed the minds of some of my closets friends who refused to have anything else to do with his music/career. And yes that's crazy but it's their right. What did Chris have to gain…the one woman he loved with every fiber of his being. I don't think she maneuvered her way back into his life…in her time she decided she wanted it again. He could have easily said NO! If she had a drinking problem before…he already knew that! He didn't have to break up with Kae to be her friend we all know that.
Chris NEVER thought he would do to a woman what he watched his step dad do his mom..but it happened! I'm sure he denied that even existed in him…but it happened and it doesn't even matter why! Rihanna same way…I'm sure she never saw herself "as her father" and yet she find herself with those same issues! So who is praying for them vs waiting for her to be found dead, or some tragic ending as his dad speak of! I was raised watching my mother/2aunts/die early due to alcoholism! They were all physically abused by their mates and they all denied they had a problem! Another commonality they watched as their father beat their mother and vowed to NOT go through the same thing yet all became victims! And my two uncles both hit on their girlfriends at some point! Yet I (who once smoked & drank one day said that's enough)! How though…I have my life to Christ! And EVERYTHING CHANGED!
When you have a coping mechanism that seemingly works for you it's hard to replace it with SOMEONE YOU CAN'T SEE…cause Faith seems to distant!
Is Chris a changed man when it comes to his temper…I believe so when it comes to Rihanna, but all around he still working on it…but it took tragedy for him to see he had a problem! I'm praying it doesn't take that for Rihanna to see it! Honestly I don't think Rihanna is attempting to hurt Chris…it's herself that she's destroying! In the Oprah interview when she was talking about her dad she spoke about EVERYTIME a guy got to a certain point in her heart she would shut down and break it off! She didn't want to be loved…(watching her parents relationship) and in her eyes when she let go the one time she let go it was with Chris then boom '09 happens! And NO her issues are NOT Chris's fault..it just brought back to the forefront of why she protected herself in the first place!
Why do I even care? Heck why does any of us? One I'm a Taurus like Chris..loyal to a fault! And stubborn! Also anywhere I put my MONEY I pray (cause itS a seed)! And I like to see how that seed is growing! I'm an unapologetic Lakers fan through and through lol and I am vested in each player! It's not my business but yea it's my business to pray over my investment! And if its in public view then I can speak on it! But I will be careful of this because this tongue is POWERFUL! I love these kids and want Gods Will for them both! We see Chris support system in full view, the question becomes who is Rihanna's?
Let me start the ball rolling…I'll be her support! Prayer works!


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READ about Piers Morgan's long career in journalism here.
On Thursday evening, Piers Morgan heated up "The Grill" with one of his favorite guests, welcoming back former Speaker of the House, Newt Gingrich.
Having visited with Morgan nearly a dozen times, Gingrich's candor and insight have made him one of the host's favorite sparring partners, in the process helping to secure him his own hosting gig as part of CNN's upcoming "Crossfire" reboot.
One night after Dr. Sanjay Gupta joined Morgan to discuss medical marijuana in advance of the re-air of his documentary "Weed," the "Piers Morgan Live" host asked Gingrich for his stance on the polarizing topic of pot:
"I think you have to be very careful what you are describing," Gingrich began, "and under what circumstances and if it's a rare unusual case, I think that's one thing. If it's the general legalization, I think that's a huge mistake."
As the conversation turned to political leaders, Morgan asked the "Crossfire" co-host if he would support Chris Christie as a Republican presidential candidate come 2016:
"If he wins the nomination I would enthusiastically support him..." Gingrich started, before Morgan cut him off.
The host explained he was asking whether Gingrich would support Christie as an initial candidate, not simply as the GOP nominee:
"No I'm not going to support any one person. There are a number of great candidates that will run," said Gingrich, forever the politician. "I certainly endorse the idea Chris Christie should consider running and that he would he be a very formidable candidate and that he strengthens and broadens the Republican party by representing a blue state."
Watch the clip for more of Morgan's interview with Gingrich, and for the next edition of "Piers Morgan Live," watch CNN every night at 9.
» Follow "Piers Morgan Live" on Twitter
» Follow "Piers Morgan Live" on Instagram
Newt, FYI, Cannabis is safer than what the govt currently allows, so why would general legalization be a huge mistake? Here's the science! FACT Marijuana is less addictive and less harmful than Caffeine, let alone Alcohol and Tobacco; (3 Scientific Studies)
BTW, Dr Henningfield is a former NIDA Staffer;.
Addictiveness of Marijuana – ProCon.org.
Could there be any more huge of a mistake than the current" war on some drugs"?
Cannabis is illegal because it creates work for attorneys.
Every US president for the last 20 years has smoked it. Alcohol et al affects your brain.
The current laws should be called the create gangs and drive by shootings act, and maximize drug use act. When your Pope bans a book, it becomes a number 1 best seller...with cannabis it is much worse: they see the government is lying about cannabis (and everything else) and assume the government is lying about hard drugs too...and Clinton, Bush and Obama and nobody else (except the ones the attorneys got hold of) were not held back by cannabis use.
For a history guy, it seems you learned nothing from Al Capone and prohibition...
And I actually like you on most stuff, but Chris Cristy feels like a Democrat; maybe Ron Paul is right, we have a one party system and a fight over which half will have power: Dem or Repub....
I think Newt Gingrich is a HUGE MISTAKE. Just a big buffoon and a lot of hot air. He is a waste of time.
Parents so concerned about their children smoking weed that they'd ruin it for people who aren't their children shouldn't be allowed to be parents.
Chris Christie I dislike you! I don't think you will make a great president. Newt Gingrich I agree we need to be very careful, The last thing we need to do is raise a bunch of lame brains. We all know that pot can affect ones drive to complete simply tasks.We do not want to become a nation of pot heads.
I heard since pot was legalized in Colorado you can't go anywhere without having to smell it. I like the idea of legalizing it for medical reasons.


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Represented by:
Barnaby Marsh, D. Phil.
Executive Vice President, Strategic Initiatives and Managing Director, Philanthropic Leadership Network
Barnaby Marsh oversees strategic initiatives, philanthropic outreach, strategic program initiatives and the communications department of the John Templeton Foundation. He also works to develop innovative practices in philanthropy. At the request of the late Sir John Templeton, Dr. Marsh created the Templeton Philanthropic Leadership Network, a group of international leaders in business and philanthropy who are seeking novel ways to address philanthropic challenges.
Before joining the Foundation, Dr. Marsh held a range of private-sector positions in management consulting, investment banking, and risk assessment. He is a summa cum laude graduate of Cornell University and attended Magdalen College, Oxford, as a Rhodes Scholar. Dr. Marsh earned his D.Phil. for a thesis on the economic, psychological, and biological aspects of risk-taking, and has held academic fellowships at the Hebrew University, the Smithsonian Institution, the Max Planck Institute, and New College, Oxford.


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Wednesday, March 14, 2018
Best Dystopia [Diverse] (Nominations Needed)
This poll is from our Year of Diverse Polls, and as such it can't includes authors who are cishet white men. Please adjust your nominations accordingly.
The world is in ruins. Or maybe it's not in ruins but there's just something a little off. Or maybe it's perfect, but the price is the torturous misery of a single innocent child. Or maybe there's some ham handed analog for racism that's going on between the white kids' strange methods of dividing themselves up by SAT vocabulary words. In any case it's a dystopia, and it is doing its literary work to hold up a twisted mirror to our own society.
The Rules:
1- As always, I leave the niggling to your best judgement because I'd rather be inclusive. If you feel like J.K. Rowling writes dystopia, I'm not going to argue. (Though you might need to "show your work" to get anyone to second your nomination.) If you think Pern is a dystopia, nominate it. I won't be enforcing any rules about it being future Earth or anything.
2- Since dystopias are a setting, they can be for a single book, a series, or several series.
3- You may nominate two (2) dystopias. Two is the number of nominations. Neither one nor three shall ye nominate. And four is right out. I will NOT take any dystopias beyond the second that you suggest. (I will consider a long list to be "seconds" if someone else nominates them as well.)
3- You may (and should) second as many nominations of others as you wish. So stop back in and see if anyone has put up something you want to see go onto the poll.
4- Please put your nominations here. I will take dystopias nominated only as comments on this post. (No comments on FB posts or G+.)
5- You are nominating WRITTEN DYSTOPIAS, not their movie portrayals. CGI is making the Insurgent movies pretty fun to look at, but if you find the books to be a little contrived, you shouldn't nominate them.
6- No more endless elimination rounds. I will take somewhere between 8-20 best performing titles and at MOST run a single semifinal round. So second the titles you want even if they already have one. (Yes, I guess that would make them thirds, fourths, etc...)
69 comments:
The Brown Girl in the Ring by Nalo HopkinsonReplyDelete
The Big Bah-Ha by C.S.E. CooneyReplyDelete
Archivist Wasp by Nicole Kornher-StaceReplies
Second Archivist WaspDelete
The Broken Earth Trilogy by N K JemisinReplyDelete
The Book of Phoenix by Nnedi OkoraforReplies
Who Fears Death by N. Okorafor fits here too.ReplyDelete
The Giver by Lois Lowry
It's just non-cishet white man, right? So any variation of any one qualifier fits?Replies
Best - Octavia Butler - Xenogenises seriesReplyDeleteReplies
The Lion of Senet, Jennifer FallonReplyDelete
The Medair Duoligy, Andrea K Host
Earthseed series (Parable of the Sower) by Octavia E. ButlerReplyDelete
Oryx and Crake (just the first book of the trilogy tho)ReplyDelete
The People of Sand and Slag by Paolo BacigalupiReplyDelete
Winter of Fire by Sheryl Jordan
Never Let Me Go - K IshiguroReplyDelete
The Handmaid's Tale - M AtwoodReplies
Oryx & Crake - Margaret AtwoodReplyDelete
Lagoon - Nnedi Okorafor
Obernewtyn by Isobelle CarmodyReplyDelete
The Natural Way of Things by Charlotte Wood
The Newsflesh universe by Mira Grant.ReplyDelete
This comment has been removed by the author.ReplyDelete
1Q84 - Haruki MurakamiReplyDelete
Handmaid's tale - Margaret AtwoodReplies
How about Don't Bite the Sun/Drinking Sapphire Wine by Tanith Lee as one dystopia. I wanna think some more on a second one.ReplyDelete
The Six Duchies of Robin Hobb's Farseer Trilogy are, I think, grim enough to qualify for this. (They're also one of my favorite settings in spec fiction.) Also, Cixin Liu's Three-Body Problem series.ReplyDelete
The Scorpion Rules by Erin BowReplyDelete
The Handmaids tale by Margaret Atwood
All the Birds in the Sky by Charlie Jane AndersReplyDelete
Station Eleven by Emily St. John MandelReplies
Lord of the Flies- William GoldingReplyDelete
Never Let Me Go- Kazuo IshiguroReplies
The Fifth Sacred thing - StarhawkReplyDeleteReplies
Second The Fifth Sacred Thing.Delete
The Testament of Jessie Lamb, By Jane RogersReplyDelete
Only Ever Yours, by Louise O'Neill
I'll add to all the seconds for Broken Earth and Handmaid's Tale.ReplyDelete
Battle Royale by Koushun Takami. Both the novel and the manga were incredible.ReplyDelete
The Last One by Alexandra Oliva.ReplyDelete
Newsflesh series by Mira Grant.
The Fifth Sacred Thing StarhawkReplyDelete
Oryx and Crake Margaret Atwood
1. Invitation to the Game by Monica Hughes
2. The Hunger Games trilogyReplies
Second Hunger GamesDelete
Unwind, by Neal ShustermanReplyDelete
Divergent (the series, not just the first book. The way that Divergent directly challenges and complicates the ubiquitous and troubling pattern in dystopian YA of acting as though a much higher average standard of living isn't worth the tradeoff of not being able to choose your own job doesn't really become clear until the second book, and it's got the most functional model of resistance of any of the popular ones).
Oryx and Crake - Margaret AtwoodReplyDelete
Facing the Storm -Jennifer Brooks
Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins
The city of ember - Jeanne duPrauReplyDeleteReplies
Second City of EmberDelete
The Holdfast Chronicles by Suzy McKee Charnas - a truly disturbing set of books.ReplyDelete
Peace fire by Amber Bird.ReplyDelete
Near future dystopian featuring wearables and shifty corporations.
Memoirs of a Survivor - Doris LessingReplyDelete
"The Broken Earth Trilogy" by N K JemisinReplyDelete
And "The Sudden Appearance of Hope" by Claire North


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Optical Eyewear
Momentum collection - Back to the essentials
Puristic, linear frame design for an all-around stylish look
Optical EyewearMomentum collection - Back to the essentials
Puristic, linear frame design for an all-around stylish look
Inspired by the optics of a clock, the Momentum collection features an enchantingly clear, simple design. Reduced to the essentials, it showcases Silhouette's hallmark iconic minimalism. The matte surfaces of the temples segue seamlessly into a glossy edge. The timeless style is reminiscent of a piece of fine jewelry. Each model features precious metal edges in various colors. The masculine palette includes all shades of brown, gray, blue and black. The collection includes 12 models, each with earpieces adorned by a decorative ring.
The lenses of the optical eyewear are produced with the utmost precision at Silhouette's in-house Lens Lab in Austria. Their technical prowess is a testament to Silhouette's innovative spirit. The frames in the Momentum collection are crafted from titanium, combining quality with lasting design. Made for everyday wear, these models feature new hinge technologies developed by the premium eyewear manufacturer itself. The new Pin-cision hinge mechanism was inspired by traditional clock-making, embodying perfect precision, 100 % made in Austria.
This impressive eyewear features Silhouette's signature lightness and comfort. Without leaving pressure marks, they accompany their wearer throughout the day, for vision without boundaries. Thanks to their puristic style, the models from the Momentum collection adapt individually to the wearer's face, transcending short-lived trends through timeless allure.
Starting in January 2019, the Momentum collection is available in five different models for women. These feature stylish, subdued colors in combinations from Rose Gold/Highland Gray and Gold/Siena Red, to Rhodium/Heather Violet, Rose Gold/Desert and Silver/Côte d'Azure Blue. Men have the choice of seven models in the colors Ruthenium Skyline, Rhodium/Sonic Blue, Silver/Pacific Blue, Ruthenium/Cohiba Brown, Titanium/Iceland Black, Golden Dome and Rhodium/Monaco Red.


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Rose overcomes late mistake at Congressional
BETHESDA, Md. (AP) Justin Rose got his mistake out of the way early and won the Quicken Loans National in a playoff Sunday over Shawn Stefani.
Tied for the lead on the 18th hole, Rose tried to hit through the trees and put it into the water. He atoned for the mistake by making a 15-foot bogey putt and got into a sudden-death playoff when Stefani made bogey on the 17th hole.
In the playoff, Stefani punched out from the trees and repeated Rose's mistake by hooking his shot into the water. Stefan made double bogey, and Rose won with a par.
Both finished at 4-under 280.
It was Rose's first win since the U.S. Open last summer at Merion. Congressional made it feel like he won another U.S. Open.


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GCH CH Tobil's Storm Warning at Sunrise
Before we give you today's results we want to tell you about Friday's Birmingham Kennel Club show. The seven dogs that BIS judge Dr Alvin Krause considered were the German Shorthaired Pointer, GCH CH Ehrenvogel Achy Breaky Heart, the Scottish Deerhound, GCH CH Highlander's Celtic Carrol CGC, the Samoyed, GCH CH Tobil's Storm Warning at Sunrise, the Welsh Terrier, GCH CH Shaireab's Bayleigh Maid of Honor, the Pug, GCH CH Hill Country Tag I'm It, the Standard Poodle, GCH CH Luminary Black Velvet Bejeweled With Pearls, and the Cardigan Welsh Corgi, GCH CH Legacy Legend's Cutting Edge.
GCH CH Shaireab's Bayleigh Maid of Honor
Dr Krause's BIS was the Sammie, Toby. His RBIS was the Welsh Terrier, Jennie. It was the first AKC BIS for Toby and breeder/handler Cathy Short. Congratulations to Cathy and owners Jerry & Sue Morgan.


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Finally a Met, Centeno only working harder
Young catcher taking advantage of opportunity to gain valuable experience
NEW YORK -- Juan Centeno was about to head home to Puerto Rico for the offseason.
Triple-A Las Vegas had been eliminated from the Pacific Coast League playoffs, so Centeno figured his season was over. As he sat in the airport in Las Vegas waiting for his flight to board, the catcher received a call from his manager, Wally Backman, who told Centeno he wasn't going home. He had been rebooked on a flight to New York.
After seven seasons in the Minor Leagues, Centeno was heading to the Major Leagues for the first time. The Mets selected his contract from Las Vegas on Sept. 9.
"I've been working hard to get here," Centeno said. "Now that I'm here, I'm just going to keep working harder to try to stay."
Centeno said he called his father immediately after finding out he was heading to the Mets. His father has always been instrumental in his development, so Centeno wanted him to share in the excitement right away.
The 23-year-old, whom the Mets drafted in the 32nd round of the 2007 First-Year Player Draft, had started the season with Double-A Binghamton. But after just six games, he was promoted to Triple-A.
In 67 games with Las Vegas, Centeno hit .305 with a .346 on-base percentage and 28 RBIs. Defensively, he threw out 56 percent of baserunners trying to steal on him.
Now that Centeno is in the Major Leagues, his playing time is likely to be minimal.
After the Mets traded John Buck to the Pirates on Aug. 27, Travis d'Arnaud became the team's starting catcher, and the Mets are hoping he holds that role for years to come. So for now, they want to see him behind the plate as much as possible.
d'Arnaud's playing time in the Minor Leagues this season was dramatically reduced after he suffered a broken bone in his left foot in mid-April. d'Arnaud missed about three months of the season, so his time in the Major Leagues now is critical to his development for the future.
The Mets' backup catcher is Anthony Recker. Centeno is the last catcher on the depth chart, so his playing time will likely be slim for the final weeks of the season.
"We're going to try to get [Centeno] a game or so," Manager Terry Collins said. "We want to see as much of Travis as we can, because as we look forward, as we look to 2014, he's the guy."
Centeno understands the team wants to see d'Arnaud behind the plate. This opportunity still offers crucial experience, and at some point, he will get the chance to play in his first big league game.
"I want to play. I know the situation," Centeno said. "I'm just going to keep working hard, and when I get my chance, do my best."


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U.S. prosecutors are still investigating JPMorgan Chase's "London Whale" trading scandal for potential criminal wrongdoing, according to people familiar with the probe, in a sign that an expected $700 million regulatory settlement may not put the issue to rest for the largest U.S. bank.
Federal prosecutors in New York and FBI agents are piecing together the events that led JPMorgan to restate its 2012 first-quarter earnings and eventually reveal more than $6 billion of losses from enormous bets a group of London-based traders made on illiquid credit derivatives, according to several sources.
News of the continuing criminal investigation was first reported by Reuters on Tuesday. Meanwhile, a source told Reuters the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission approved its portion of the civil settlement in a split vote.
The investigators are focusing on whether people inside the bank had more detailed knowledge about the potential losses than the bank had expressed in its early public statements about the matter, the sources said.
(Read more: JPMorganexpects to settle Whale probes)
Two former bank employees—Javier Martin-Artajo and Julien Grout—have already been charged with trying to hide some of those losses by deliberately giving inaccurate values to the sophisticated securities involved in the trades. Authorities are trying to determine whether Martin-Artajo and Grout and others working with them had felt pressured to minimize the losses, the sources said.
Bruno Iksil, the trader whose large bets earned him the nickname "London Whale," has signed a cooperation agreement with prosecutors and has not been charged with any wrongdoing.
JPMorgan has said its previous statements have been truthful regarding the events related to the London Whale trades.
"Our senior executives said what they believed to be true at the time," Mark Kornblau, a bank spokesman, said on Tuesday.
The news of the continuing criminal investigation into the bank's actions underscores the extent of legal and regulatory troubles facing JPMorgan and its chief executive, Jamie Dimon.
(Read more: )
JPMorgan is facing probes by various government agencies into areas that include possible bribery in hiring practices in China, and potentially fraudulent sales of mortgage securities.
Following the "Whale" scandal, Dimon faced a bruising battle with some shareholders to retain his chairman title and has since been under pressure to improve the bank's relationship with regulators.
In a memo to employees on Tuesday, Dimon said the bank is braced for more legal and regulatory scrutiny in the coming weeks and months. He outlined a series of steps JPMorgan has taken to improve operations, including devoting "unprecedented" resources to fix its risk, legal and compliance operations. Dimon said he has also begun meeting personally with regulators to improve relationships.
JPMorgan has added 4,000 staff to its control group since 2012—three quarters of them this year—and increased spending on those efforts by about $1 billion. The bank's control group includes risk, compliance, legal, finance, technology, oversight and control and audit functions.
"Never before have we focused so much time, effort, brainpower, technological power and money on a single, enterprise-wide objective," Dimon said in the memo, which was reviewed by Reuters.
Settlement talks
News of the criminal investigation comes after a source said on Monday that the bank was nearing a deal with regulators, including the SEC, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and the Federal Reserve, to settle their probes into the "Whale" scandal for at least $700 million.
In a split vote late last week, the SEC approved its portion of the settlement with J.P. Morgan, according to people familiar with the matter. Mary Jo White, the SEC chairman, and Daniel Gallagher, an SEC commissioner, both recused themselves. Most votes by the commission are unanimous.
White withdrew because JPMorgan was among her clients when she worked as a defense attorney at Debevoise & Plimpton. Gallagher's former firm, WilmerHale, also did work for JPMorgan.
(Read more: My client's agovernment pawn: Lawyer for 'Whale' trader)
It is too early to say whether any additional charges will be brought or whether the bank itself will face any criminal liability. But federal prosecutors did not participate in settlement talks between the bank and its regulators, sources said.
"The Justice Department is saying, 'We don't want to buy a pig in a poke. We want to know what the scope of the issues are before we say you're done, we have no more business with you on this issue,'" said Samuel Buell, a professor at Duke University Law School.
'Whale' probe
The U.S. attorney in Manhattan, Preet Bharara, at an August press conference announcing the criminal complaint against Martin-Artajo and Grout, said his office was continuing to investigate the trading losses. On Monday, a federal grand jury in Manhattan indicted the two former JPMorgan traders.
Martin-Artajo, who supervised Iksil, is charged with conspiracy to commit fraud, falsify books and records, and make false statements to the SEC. Grout is facing similar charges.
U.S. prosecutors say the two deliberately reported inflated values for Iksil's derivatives positions to try to hide the losses they were suffering from higher-ups in the bank.
Both men are living in Europe and federal authorities aim to extradite them to New York for trial. Martin-Artajo's lawyer recently said he would fight extradition from Spain. Grout's lawyer said in a statement emailed to the press on Tuesday, "We look forward to his vindication."
The ongoing criminal probe leaves JPMorgan in a position similar to the one in which the embattled hedge fund SAC Capital Advisors found itself last spring when it agreed to pay more than $600 million to settle an insider trading case brought by the SEC, only to find itself facing similar criminal charges months later.
Just as with the London Whale regulatory investigation, federal prosecutors did not take part in the settlement talks Steve A. Cohen's SAC Capital had with the SEC.
—By Reuters


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Calcarea sulph (calcium sulphate)
Ideal for Colds, Sore throats, Acne
Cell Salts stimulate the body's natural healing mechanisms to satisfy mineral imbalances. In his biochemic theory, Dr. Schuessler, the discoverer of Cell Salts, states that deficiencies in these minerals are the source of common health problems and the Cell Salts derived from these minerals give the body what it needs to treat illness and be well.
Cell Salts can also be added to your or your child's water bottle and sipped throughout the day. Follow dosage guideline above for every 8 ounces of water. Hyland's Cell Salts give families the flexibility and assurance of safety to treat minor health issues quickly and effectively. Cell Salts will not react with other medications and can complement a healthy living plan. Remember to follow all label directions.
Homeopathic Ingredients: Calc sulph 6x HPUS
Inactive Ingredients: Acacia Gum, Lactose N.F.
* The uses for Hyland's products are based on traditional homeopathic practice. They have not been reviewed by the Food and Drug Administration.


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Great travel photos from around the world
A spellbinding - albeit brief - journey to the ancient city.
In the last four years river cruising in Europe has gone on an expansion spree that has delivered ships mainly for the traditional major rivers in Europe...
There are many strange tourist destinations in this world. Thanks to global warming, you can now land a seaplane on lakes forming on icebergs drifting...
My first memories of China as a small child were of rice-paper scrolls hanging on the wall in my local library. Two fire-breathing dragons flanked some...
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The week in review
Most clueless board: The Commonwealth Transportation Board. In late June, VDOT's own engineers peg the cost of building the Western Bypass as $436 million, nearly double the previous estimate. CTB was seemingly blissfully unaware when voting in July to "fully" fund the controversial road. Sean Tubbs of Charlottesville Tomorrow has the story.
Latest Landmark buzz: Rob Schilling reports that cash-strapped internet titan Halsey Minor says he's going to partner up with 2011 Hotelier of the Year Tom Dixon to finish the skeletal downtown landmark– once details with the Federal Deposit Insurance Company and the hotel's bankruptcy are sorted out.
Latest additions to the ACC: Once composed mainly of universities in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and Maryland, the ever-swelling Atlantic Coast Conference siphons off two Big East schools– Pittsburgh and Syracuse– to make a 14-school conference.
Latest UVA tuition hikes: The Board of Visitors okays increases of 6.5 percent for each of the next two years.
Latest football funding: UVA athletic department wants a $13 million, 78,000-square-foot practice building so players won't have to get too wet or cold, the Progress reports.
Best growth industry: UVA Health System profits 50 percent over last year, increasing earnings by $62 million for a net income of $180.4 million, Ted Strong reports in the DP.
Lengthiest murder sentence: Orange school teacher Brenda Canosa gets 23 years in prison for the first-degree shooting of her estranged husband, Bob Canosa, an Orange sheriff's investigator. The accused entered an Alford plea in June and claims she doesn't remember the slaying.
Latest alleged child porn possessor: Albemarle police charge Michael McGrew II, age 27, with five counts.
Worst hazing: Seven Radford University students from Tau Kappa Epsilon are indicted for hazing and supplying alcohol to a minor in the death of Samuel Harris Mason, 20, of Chesterfield County, who was found dead last October with a blood alcohol level of .48. The Roanoke Times has the story.
Latest McIntire Park transportation project: City Council accepts a $414,000 federal "enhancement" grant for a pedestrian bridge over the railroad tracks that would link the bisected park, NBC29 reports.
Fewest minority supervisors? Charlottesville's public works department has 102 African-American workers– 35 percent– but only eight supervisors– 16 percent– are black, according to Virginia Organizing, which sent speakers to the September 19 City Council meeting to ask for a strategy to fight the "systematic racism" in the city's personnel practices, according to a release.
Worst dog-ate-my-homework scenario: Charlottesville parents of 6th through 12th graders learn that they could be on the hook for $1,100 if the tablet computers the school system is handing out to students get lost or stolen.
Least surprising arrest report: UVA Police sends out a report September 20 listing four arrests over the weekend, all for driving under the influence.
Greatest pumpkin story: Tyro resident William Layton sets out to beat his own big pumpkin record of 1,138 pounds, but his massive gourd is felled by five inches of rain and starts rotting from the inside, Erin McGrath reports for the Nelson County Times. Layton estimates the giant thing weighed 1,180 pounds, and he vows to grow again next year.
Most fecally funky: The Department of Environmental Quality deems parts of the Rockfish River "impaired" after eight years of monitoring it because of the high E. coli bacteria levels, the Nelson County Times reports. The reason, according to the DEQ, is that livestock and wildlife are using the stream for a toilet so the bacteria are "directly deposited."
Headline that sounds most like a hoax: "PETA is getting into the porn business" is offered by WINA. The Virginian-Pilot broke the story that People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals plans to use graphic nudity on a new .XXX domain website to promote animal rights and a vegan diet.
3 comments
"Latest football funding: UVA athletic department wants a $13 million, 78,000-square-foot practice building so players won't have to get too wet or cold, the Progress reports."
How about, so that they can effectively compete with their peer institutions? How about so they can effectively recruit against their peer institutions? How about so that the other sports (baseball, lacrosse, track, etc) have a place to train when there are thunderstorms and they're not ALLOWED to train outside? I bet your own Stephanie Garcia would have liked having an indoor facility like this available to her when she was still competing for Virginia.
But no, the article has to be written in such a way as to make the football players look like babies. How pleasant of you.
Peer institutions? Last I looked Western doesn't have training center. Careful how you use the word peer.
um, you get scholarship to play a game? you need to practice an outdoor sport inside? how about a $13 million medical research grant. BTW UVA football is a joke anyway


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With so many video games released every month, it can be hard to tell which titles are worth your time, and which are worth a pass. The Ars Gaming Outlook is our attempt to pick out just a few of the most interesting games coming up in the next month and tell you what's great about them so you can keep them on your radar.
Diablo III
I doubt I have to tell most of you reading this why Diablo III is going to be the breakout gaming hit of May. With nearly 12 full years separating this sequel from Diablo II, the weight of the expectations on Blizzard's latest are almost unbearably heavy. If you had a chance to check out the beta, you know the gameplay formula is still the click-heavy, sword-and-sorcery affair the series is known for, but with enough new classes, abilities and little touches to keep things fresh. I'll be particularly interested to see how the game's controversial real-money auction house affects both the player dynamics and the gameplay balance for those who decide they want to pay to win.
Max Payne 3
I got to play a quick single-player demo of this at PAX East, and I was a bit upset that the dark, noir-ish feeling of the first two games in the series seems to have been replaced with a story that's torn straight out of a bad Grand Theft Auto knock-off (though the developer on hand promised me that darker, broodier sensibility comes through later in the game). That didn't really diminish the fun of constantly flying through the air in slow-motion "bullet time," picking off enemies that are practically frozen in place before huddling behind the next bit of cover. I remember one particularly exciting section involving a slow motion dive down a long arena staircase that felt like it took at least 15 seconds.
Pixeljunk 4am
Less a game and more an interactive music and visualization creation suite, Pixeljunk 4am is one of the most inventive uses of the PlayStation Move controller I've yet seen. You drag in various tracks from off-screen with a flick of your wrist, then push, pull and twist them to get the sounds and images syncing exactly how you want. The game also has a bunch of online sharing options to broadcast and show off your mixing skills live to viewers across the Internet.
Retro City Rampage
Take a little bit of old-school Grand Theft Auto, a dash of Back to the Future, and a heaping helping of the NES Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles game, and you might have something close to approximating the craziness Retro City Rampage. This indie love letter to the simpler days of pixelated destruction has been garnering all sorts of awards and accolades on the convention circuit for years now, and for good reason—its simply a ridiculous amount of fun to play. This one doesn't seem to have an official release date yet, but the official web site is still promising we'll see it next month. It's been on the circuit for a while, and we're hoping against hope that the May 2012 release date can actually be met.