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After years of anticipation, Safeway has finally opened at the Homestead Square Shopping Center. The store, at 20620 Homestead Road, held a soft opening May 1 and opened its doors officially May 2 at 8 a.m.
The 55,000-square-foot store is open 24 hours and boasts familiar Safeway amenities, including a bakery, deli, pharmacy and floral, produce, meat, seafood and wine sections. The store also boasts a Signature Cafe and Starbucks. Unique to the store are more Asian, Indian and organic items, as well as 300 different choices of cheese, according to store management.
"It's a great match," said Wendy Gutshall, Safeway spokeswoman. "It's our first store in Cupertino, and we are very happy to be here. It has great proximity to surrounding businesses and De Anza College."
The May 1 soft opening also featured the Safeway Foundation donating $2,500 to the Cupertino Library Foundation.
Safeway officials, store management and Cupertino Mayor Gilbert Wong offered a few remarks. Safeway will fill a recent shopping void in the city.
Cupertino has been left without a traditional large-scale supermarket in the city limits since the PW Market saw all of its chains close in August 2010 and the Lucky on De Anza Boulevard closed in 2012. The Lucky site is now home to a 99 Ranch Market.
The new Safeway could also be the new go-to shopping destination for some residents in southern Sunnyvale. According to the Sunnyvale city manager's April 7 blog, the Safeway store on Hollenbeck Avenue is scheduled to close in early summer, leaving Sunnyvale with three Safeway stores, all of which are located on El Camino Real. Homestead Square Shopping Center is located at the southwest corner of De Anza Boulevard and Homestead Road.
The center is wrapping up its first renovation in 40 years, which began in 2010. When the makeover was pitched to Cupertino elected officials, developers from Sobrato Organization planned to knock down more than 95,000 square feet of space to build up 147,709 square feet for its tenants, including four new commercial satellite buildings and three new major tenant spaces.
Safeway now anchors the middle of the shopping center, with a new-look Michaels arts and crafts store nearby. A new Rite Aid was also constructed on the site and sits along Homestead Road. The former T.J. Maxx at the center moved into the old Mervyn's building at the Cupertino Crossroads Shopping Center in spring 2012.


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OTTAWA - The country's communications regulator is hanging up on telemarketers.
The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission says it will maintain the rules that prevent automated calling devices from contacting people who don't want the calls.
The Canadian Marketing Association had wanted the rules eased so businesses with existing customer relationships could make automated calls to people without having their express consent.
But the CRTC says the existing rules, designed to reduce undue inconvenience to Canadians, will stand.
The regulator has also tightened the rules, giving telemarketers 14 days to remove numbers from their calling lists when Canadians request to be placed on a business's internal do-not-call list.
The grace period used to be 31 days.
As well, telemarketers using automated calling devices will be required to say up front why they're calling.
Telemarketers will also have to make sure the contact information provided during a call remains valid for a minimum of 60 days.

subset: commoncrawl


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AT&T Offers Quick and Easy Mobile Interpretation Service
OREANDA-NEWS. June 25, 2012. Welcome to one of the simplest ways to communicate across different languages: AT&T On Demand Interpreter Powered by Language Line Services. With just two keystrokes on a mobile phone, callers can reach professionally trained interpreters in a matter of seconds – 24 hours a day, seven days a week, reported the press-centre of AT&T.
With the push of *4 ("I" for interpreter), the caller is directed to a voice recognition service and asked to "please speak the name of the desired language you need." AT&T On Demand Interpreter then rapidly connects with interpreters spanning more than 170 different languages. The service enables organizations to easily communicate with limited English-speakers in their most familiar and comfortable native languages.
AT&T* has teamed up with Language Line Services, a worldwide leader in over-the-phone interpretation and language services, to deliver this innovative solution.
Who Benefits
AT&T On Demand Interpreter is now available to federal government agencies as well as healthcare providers and businesses. By providing interpretation services on mobile phones, AT&T On Demand Interpreter is ideal for supporting first responders in emergencies, law enforcement officers, healthcare providers in hospitals and homes, businesses of all sizes, and virtually any organization with field personnel.
"In today's multicultural and global society, AT&T On Demand Interpreter helps to ease the difficulty of language barriers in everyday interactions. It connects callers on a meaningful level, allowing them to speak to one another through professional interpreters at any time, at a moment's notice," said Chris Hill, vice president, Advanced Mobility Solutions, AT&T Business and Home Solutions.
"Accurate interpretations are critical to effective decision-making in these organizations, helping daily operations run more efficiently and yielding better results for first responders, mobile healthcare, and national security," said Louis F. Provenzano, Jr., president and CEO of Language Line Services. "Language access in the U.S. has never been more important than it is today, as the country's growing ethnic minorities are projected to become the majority by 2042."
AT&T On Demand Interpreter Powered by Language Line Services is an add-on feature, subscribed to on a per-month, per-user basis. Available today, On Demand Interpreter joins the robust AT&T portfolio of mobility solutions for federal government agencies, healthcare organizations and businesses.
For more information, visit http://www.att.com/Interpreter.
*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.


text:
Sales & Support
Request A Quote - Email
Product Details:
Payment & Shipping Terms:
|Veneer Name:
|White Oak Veneer, Crown Cut
Main Products:
1. Amercian & European Species
Walnut, Cherry, Red Oak, White Oak, Yellow Poplar, Ash, Maple, Alder, Red Gum, Eucalyptus, Hickory, Sycamore, Lacewood, Beech, etc.
2. African Species
Zebrano, Ovangkol, Etimoe, Mahogany, Okoume, Rosewood, Sapele, Anigre, Bubinga, Macore, Movingui, Afrormosia, Wenge, Koto, Eyong, African Ebony, African Rosewood, etc.
3. Exotic Wood Veneer
White Ebony, Ziricote, Santos Rosewood, Okoume Crotch, Mahogany Crotch, Etimoe Pommele, Walnut Burl, Olive Ash Burl, Mappa Burl, Sapele Pommele, Ash Burl, Golden Burl, etc.
4. Asian Species
Ebony, Macassar, Amara, Teak, Paldao, Knotty Pine, Elm, Chinese Ash, Chinese Birch, Chinese Cherry, etc.
About Shunfang Veneer:
Specialized in wood veneers for nearly two decades, Jiashan Shunfang Woodworks Co. Ltd. is a premier manufacturer and supplier of a wide range of species for local and international markets.


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Winsted selectmen call for audit of Water and Sewer Commission
WINSTED >> Although the cash crunch hamstringing Winsted's town government dominated the Jan. 7 Board of Selectmen meeting, the Water and Sewer Commission faces its own financial uncertainty.
The meeting saw the Selectmen call for an audit of the Water and Sewer Commission, as well as testy comments from sitting commission members. The commission currently has no chairman, as Richard Nalette's reappointment was tabled until February by the Board of Selectmen. But commission member Tim Moran defended the board against accusations of stonewalling the Selectmen.
"To say we're not in communication and we're not trying to keep up with what's going on," said Moran, "I don't know where that information's coming from."
Moran said that he had asked former finance manager Henry Centrella to explain the commission's financial status for the past three years, but had not received a response. Centrella is on administrative leave and the town is searching for a permanent replacement, while the Selectmen and town manager Dale Martin deal with the cash crunch seizing town hall. The Water and Sewer Commission plays a role in that crisis, although the depth of that role is as yet unknown.
"We're all waiting for that audit," said Nalette.
Nalette's term as Water and Sewer Commission chairman expired on Jan. 1, but the Board of Selectmen did not vote on his reappointment to the commission at their Jan. 7 meeting. The seat will remain open in the meantime, and the question of reappointing Nalette to the commission has been tabled for the the second time. Additionally, Second Selectman Candy Perez proposed holding off on any appointments until the information was presented to the Selectmen, setting a deadline of Feb. 19.
However, the request for a full investigation of the commission's finances garnered bipartisan support, as two Democratic Selectmen and both Republican Selectmen spoke in favor of the investigation. Ken Fracasso, one of the board's two Republican Selectmen, questioned the wisdom of having King, King and Associates -- the town's current auditing firm -- lead the investigation, though, as BlumShapiro had already done the legwork. Martin noted that King, King and Associates' representative at the first meeting of the audit commission suggested an investigation into the Water and Sewer Commission's account.
"By their own admission," Perez said, "they've been asking for information for three years."
Perez noted that the commission's finances provide special problems, because of its independent nature. A charter change initiated in 1998 means that, as Perez said, "no one can tell the Water and Sewer Commission what to do" in terms of rates. Perez floated the possibility of restoring the Water and Sewer Commission's status under the supervision of the Selectmen as part of the proposed fixes.
"More importantly," Perez said, "we would like some advice from the town attorney with regard to how to restore authority for the board under the Board of Selectmen."
The same board, though, was criticized for a perceived lack of involvement. George Closson is listed as the Board of Selectmen's liaison to the Water and Sewer Commission, but Moran said that the Selectmen had not been given accurate information due to absences from the commission's meetings.
"The last time we had a liaison show up to a meeting, it was Karen Beadle," said Moran. "From reading the minutes of a meeting, you don't find out what happened."
Although Nalette is a Republican, Perez said the decision to not agree to reappoint him was not a partisan move. Moran said that party affiliation goes out the window when the commission meets as well, disposing of the political motivation. The commission is composed of two Republicans, two Democrats and one independent, and Moran noted that "politics are gone once you get on it, because you've got to deal with the state."
"The only politics involved is the charge that politics are involved," said Perez.
John Massicotte, another member of the commission, defended their actions. The commission was originally scheduled to meet on Jan. 8, but the meeting had not been posted on the lists of meetings at Winchester Town Hall.
"In the past five or six years I've been on the board," Massicotte said, "the only decisions we've made have been to better service our customers."
Reach Jason Siedzik at (860) 489-3121, ext. 321 or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RCjsiedzik. Follow us online at www.registercitizen.com or on twitter.com/registercitizen.


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Who can relate to coming home after a long day in work and trying to come up with something for dinner?
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We picked up some more party tips at this adorable Upsherin bash.
Messing with tradition? Join Estie as she cooks a Syrian dish with Poopa Dwek.
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FRAMINGHAM – A U.S. Marine Corps veteran, Dawn Dellasanta said she was shocked by the lack of knowledge she had about military and veterans benefits - and thought others must be, too.
That thought by Dellasanta, borrower services specialist for the Framingham Public Library, led to the opening of the Veteran's Resource Center at the Christa McAuliffe Branch Library on Saturday.
"Somebody came in and gave me a book on veteran's benefits, and I couldn't believe how little I knew," said Dellasanta. "I realized there needed to be more out there."
The new center will have a rotating collection of books, as well as books on laws that pertain specifically to veterans.
In addition, the center has a dedicated computer that has veterans resources pre-loaded on it, such as links to federal veterans services, newspapers of the various military branches, and local veterans services.
There is also another digital screen that will display local events of importance to those who have served in the military.
"There is a need for a place where veterans can be together," said Dellasanta. "Our hope is to become a hub for veterans. Our motto is look here first."
The Veteran's Resource Center officially debuted on Armed Services Day, and the Framingham Public Library held a Salute to Veterans on Saturday.
The events included a talk on the role of combat dogs, a flag-raising ceremony and a 21-gun salute.
The keynote speaker was Larry Kirby, a World War II veteran who served in the Marines and saw the U.S. flag raised at the Battle of Iwo Jima. In his book, "Stories of the Pacific," he tells stories of the war, including the iconic raising of the flag on Mount Suribachi by six Marines.
"I didn't do anything," said Kirby, 92. "I'm not a hero, but I was among them. At that time, I didn't know I was witnessing history. At the time, all it meant to me was we took the hill. Iwo Jima was as bad as it gets."
Kirby said his original company had 230 soldiers. That number fell to 72. After being combined with another unit with heavy losses, only 11 survived.
In all, Kirby said he lost 22 close friends during the five-week battle to capture Iwo Jima from the Imperial Japanese Army, friends he remembers daily.
"Every day since then ... I think of those 22 young Marines who were my buddies," said Kirby. "I visit those 22 buddies every day in my head. I loved those men the way only a man can love another man. I loved them as brothers. I trusted them with my life as they trusted me with theirs. A month from now, I'll be 93 and they'll still be 18, 19 and 20 years old. I visit them every day and thank them because I'm in their debt."
Norman Miller can be reached at 508-626-3823 or firstname.lastname@example.com. Follow Norman Miler on Twitter @Norman_MillerMW or on Facebook at facebook.com/NormanMillerCrime.


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In modern-day English, an "amateur" is someone inexperienced in a particular pursuit; a person who performs a hobby without professional skills. (You know this already, unless your vocabulary is, let's say, amateur.)
It's a word often used with a jeer. It's not a label most of us wear with pride. We'd rather be professionals, specialists, gurus, experts — the words we scatter across our LinkedIn profiles, praying people will take us seriously and see us as successful.
But the word "amateur" dates back to 1784, with its roots in French and Latin. What it originally meant was "lover." It was used to describe someone enthusiastic and passionate about a pastime, with no negative connotation and with expertise rendered irrelevant.


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Last night was the second episode, of the new season, of Basketball Wives. Things are status quo…the new girls are trying to cause just enough drama to get camera time while not alienating everyone right off the bat, Shaunie is barely around (she's too busy producing), the only thing the women like to talk about are one another, and Suzie is clawing her way up the "popular" ladder.
Shaunie, Tami, and Evelyn meet up to discuss the recent fight between Evelyn and Jennifer. Evelyn touts her two friends as good mediators. Tami believes that Jenn just doesn't get it, while Shaunie thinks Jenn understood but didn't want to "punk out." As far as Evelyn's concerned, Jenn is lucky she didn't get punched in the face. All the ladies are trashing Jenn, but Tami and Shaunie are trying to be much more objective than the outspoken Evelyn. While all the ladies agree that Jenn has definitely found her voice, Shaunie thinks she is more reserved around her friends, while, doing more trash talking in the media.


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Forgot. Recently Trump wanted to get those untrustworthy Canadian dairy farmers and loggers. He claims they are ripping the USA off. The US-Canada NAFTA trade, while not ideal for anyone, actually favours US industries and financiers quite a bit. Our trade surplus from exporting to the US has dropped massively. The amount of raw material product going south is still big, but also still wobbly, and hardly an amount that it is endangering any US industries. Milk? Cheese? Grain? Sorry, a drop in the bucket. America is mainly feeding itself, aside from a small amount of novelty imports.
Raw log lumber. As usual, we're almost giving it away. It's no longer a gigantic cash-cow. Plus, America is reforesting and looking better in the forests all the time. We're just killing ours for peanuts, and not selling it 'cut' for added value.
So anyway, we were very bad, helping to build houses with cheap logs. Suddenly, yesterday, Trump's threatening profile turned into a glorious new chance for NAFTA re-negotiations. We might be good again. It's all reality TV.
If he really wants to revamp trade, how about bringing back millions of manufacturing jobs? None of which Canada took in the first place. We aced a lot of our jobs too. Damn, we'll ask him to throw some extra jobs our way if he will ever seriously confront globalization.
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The excessively hirsute among you looking to derug yourselves are pointed in the direction of Veet for Men Hair Removal Gel Creme, which is attracting some enthusiastic reviews down at Amazon.
You are, however, advised to read the instructions before applying, especially the bit about the gel not being suitable for "intimate parts".
Ali Muhabarakah, purportedly a member of the secret police in Damascus, explains why in his five-star review: "Excellent product. Most prisoners confessed within five minutes of the first application. Can recommend."
One "Lee" elaborates:
Possessing as I do a genital cluster that bears an uncanny resemblance (and indeed aroma) to Chewbacca's armpit, I decided to purchase this product. Upon applying the creme to my tassel and conkers, I was taken aback by a sudden and disturbing gasping noise, followed by a sound that I can only describe as the horrific howlings from Satan's own Hell Hound, Cerberus. As I whirled around to view the source of the noise, I perchanced to glance in the bathroom mirror, and, seeing my own mouth stretched agape in a terrible rictus of agony, I deduced the sound was coming from me.
"Foxhole1971" chips in with:
As a reformed member of the Vietcong and survivor of numerous F4 Phantom Napalm strikes, I can say with confidence that the Yanks used the wrong ingredients for their incendiary devices.
I applied a small dab of this product onto my gentleman's sphericals and the searing pain was immediate, intense and will cause me flashbacks for the rest of my life. My poor swollen glands now have a blue hue and I fear they will never recover.
Had Colonel Kilgore and his dogs used this against my brave communist brothers we would have surrendered immediately.
And there's plenty more where that came from. Regular readers will, of course, be reminded of the legendary Oxo Tower reviews, and the passionate online reception for Katie Price and Peter Andre's A Whole New World. ®


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With the I LOVE NATURE range, CALIDA has created a true innovation in the field of sustainability: the compostable range made from TENCEL® MICRO fibres. Natural, eco-friendly and functional. Soft against the skin, temperature-regulating, fast-drying and odour-minimising.
The Daily Functionwear line embodies high-quality functional underwear made from exclusive materials. The Functionwear series is the right fit for any requirement – whether for work or leisure, day or night. Feel good around the clock – that's greatness born in Switzerland.


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Your donations will go towards our work in the world
One of the corner-stones of our work is providing free PWS diagnoses to families in countries where this is not usually available. IPWSO underwrites approximately 60 diagnoses a year providing families with the information they need, the support and management of this unique syndrome.
The laboratory we use is in Vicenza, Italy and part of B.I.R.D, the Bachirotto Institute of Rare Disorders. The process is simple; a blood-spot on a piece of blotting paper sent to the laboratory is enough to provide results.
IPWSO translates material into many different languages. Our "Medical Alerts" booklet is available to download in 16 different languages. Other translations are on our Family Care page. Translations are so important to families where there are no PWS Associations and little support in the way of information, knowledge or management skills. IPWSO provides this material, and ongoing one-on-one support wherever needed.
Maybe you would just like to make a donation towards our work, in memory of a loved one. This is one of the nicest ways to remember a person by - knowing that your contribution will go to help others in countries where families are desperate for help.
IPWSO provides scholarships to its international PWS Conferences every three years. Applications are accepted from across the board - professionals and parents alike, allowing those who might not have been able to attend, access to a network of professionals and a huge resource of information
Donations can be made through our "iDonate" site with a selection and choice of amounts, or monthly donations. In this day and age, IPWSO has become reliant on the generosity and good-heartedness of its donors. We appreciate your generosity and whole-heartedly thank you!
If you prefer to donate via another method, please contact us for details our bank account


text: If you already own or intend to purchase HDTV equipment in the near future, use this forum to ask questions or comment on issues that you have come accross. HDTV equipment includes satellite receivers, decoders, televisions, cables, etc. You may also use this forum to discuss about HDTV programming available through Star Choice, Bell ExpressVu and other Canadian content providers such as cable operators.


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This is the first of a series of articles that will be published on the annuity space. Subsequent articles that will dive deeper into different trends discussed in this article will be released over the next few weeks.
Many financial advisors are still seeing the insurers with which they do business raise prices, decrease benefits and features, discontinue products and, in some cases, even exit the business. Despite the somewhat steady growth of the US economy in early 2012, the global economic outlook looks less certain. And, unfortunately, an extended period of historically low interest rates and increased pressure on insurer profitability looks more certain. These concerns will continue to have a negative impact on annuity writers and will send companies in search of sustainable, yet profitable, product designs. As a result, we expect to see an ongoing revamp of products, features and investment options during the remainder of 2012 and into 2013.
For an advisor, agent or wholesaler in this environment, this means there is a heightened need to understand not only what product suites your providers are offering, but also to understand the changes that competitors are making to those product suites and how they affect your clients and their financial decisions. At Ernst & Young, we have identified five trends that we believe will significantly impact the annuity and retirement landscape over the next 12 to 18 months.
#1. Continuing change and innovation in the variable annuity space. During the first quarter of 2012, Hartford Life announced that it will no longer sell variable annuities. This follows the exit of Sun Life, Genworth and ING in 2011, and the scale-back by MetLife throughout 2011 and 2012. Consequently, distributors are now very sensitive to the possibility that a company may not offer variable annuities in the future.
Product trends in 2012 continue to focus on restructuring living benefits on variable annuities. Some companies have decreased the withdrawal percentages (the amount of the income base that a policy owner can withdraw each year) and bonuses, increased the charges or made the investment options more restrictive. Others have introduced new, less-competitive benefits and pulled the richer ones from the market.
Source: Ernst & Young's Retirement Income Knowledge Bank®
Insurance companies continue to look for new ways to de-risk, such as managing volatility within the funds or even buying back certain benefits. Recently, Lincoln Financial introduced a new series of investment options, called LVIP Protected Asset Allocation, that use a short equities-futures strategy to reduce the volatility of returns. Earlier this year, Transamerica filed a prospectus that offers to buy back, with a cash bonus, particular in-force non-annuitized guaranteed minimum income benefits (GMIBs) that it had previously sold. Another company, Achaean Financial, customized its IncomePlus+ immediate variable annuity for insurers to offer to certain GMIB owners. These buy-back programs will help reduce the insurer's long-term risks and the ongoing accounting issues associated with in-the-money GMIBs.
#2. Fixed indexed annuities lead the way in new product development across the industry. The majority of companies that have not participated in this market before have either recently entered it or are assessing an indexed annuity entry approach. For example, both Hartford and Genworth, two companies that recently exited the variable annuities market, have joined the fixed indexed annuities market. Many other variable annuities carriers also view the fixed indexed annuities marketplace as a way to generate growth in their businesses in a less risky way to manufacture retirement income products. In some cases, their established distribution networks are also valuable assets to a market-entry strategy. In addition, traditional fixed annuity carriers are considering whether the additional complexity of offering fixed indexed annuities products is offset by the increase in the competitiveness of the credited rate when compared against those of traditional fixed annuities and bank CDs.
The increase in fixed indexed annuities market entrants has led to greater innovation and better choice in the fixed indexed annuities market. Guaranteed lifetime withdrawal benefits (GLWBs) have grown in prominence and complexity on fixed indexed annuities, with more than 20 companies now offering a GLWB on its fixed indexed annuities. Fixed indexed annuities writers are able to offer a slightly richer GLWB for a slightly lower cost than variable annuities writers due to the lower volatility in the account value of the base contract. New benefit design that merges the index and rollup features has recently hit the market. Companies continue to search for more efficient uses of capital, with some companies modifying the features and/or limitations of their GLWBs to eliminate large reserve strains similar to the variable annuities market.
#3. Super mutual fund wraps: Contingent deferred annuities back on track. Contingent deferred annuities have been developed and touted as a solution to wealth management firm issues around the incorporation of variable annuities into managed money programs. Typically, these firms face infrastructure, administrative capability and cost issues when trying to wrap a variable annuity into a managed solution for their retail clients. Contingent deferred annuities can help overcome such difficulties and help protect against longevity risk. These products usually provide guaranteed lifetime income payments, even if an investment account is exhausted through allowable lifetime withdrawals and/or poor investment performance. The investment account contains the covered assets, typically mutual funds or managed accounts. The covered assets are not owned by the insurance company but remain under the control of the contract owner. The products operate very much like GLWBs on variable annuities. However, contingent deferred annuities have faced both regulatory and tax hurdles, and they continue to face some issues that may delay their mass deployment in the market.
The potential size of the contingent deferred annuities market is significant and attractive to the insurers that would underwrite the solutions. But it remains to be seen whether contingent deferred annuities can be effectively marketed and sold in a market where many buyers would not otherwise consider a variable annuity.
#4. Location, location, location (or product, asset and taxation) for income allocation models. Annuities will play a more significant role in retirement planning exercises and in client portfolios in the post-financial crisis environment as demand continues to grow for efficient ways to meet desired outcomes and to maintain those outcomes during volatile markets. Because the risks in retirement are different from the risks an investor may have faced while accumulating retirement assets, the optimal solutions are different, and retirees will need help understanding and evaluating the differences. Retirement portfolio theory is in its infancy and appears to be focused on outcomes rather than investment returns, which we view as a positive development. These outcomes may be efficiently achieved by combining investment products, insurance products and annuities (including a single-premium immediate annuity, an immediate variable annuity and variable annuities or fixed indexed annuities with a guaranteed minimum withdrawal benefit). The resulting portfolio models create an optimal mix of product categories based on a client's financial situation and can be adjusted to help meet individual retirement goals and maximize the sustainability of retirement income over a client's lifetime.
#5. Encouraging a qualified longevity insurance solution. Encouraging a qualified longevity insurance solution is part of a broad bipartisan effort on the use of annuities to help fund retirement. Technical regulation is necessary to clarify the treatment of a longevity annuity under the required minimum distribution rules. The broad policy is to have self-managed assets in a 401(k) plan to age 85, with guaranteed income thereafter. This may be the precursor to mandated annuitization, as well as to lowering 401(k) deferral by limiting risk.
It is clear that the insurance industry will continue to focus on the safety of annuities and the unparalleled levels of guaranteed income that they offer for clients in retirement. However, the industry needs to continue to innovate so that product lineups remain vital and sustainable in light of global economic uncertainty with less-than-confident consumers. All of this looks like a lot of change to those in the industry. To clients, it will be a challenge to make informed decisions. The demands on financial advisors to help clients understand the products available to them today, the value of what they may already hold in their portfolios and the way to think about the value of annuities going forward will certainly be high. Advisors who meet these demands head-on will earn and retain their clients' trust.
Over the next few weeks, we'll dive deeper into the continuing change and innovations in each of the areas that we've just discussed. Next month, we'll cover the variable annuity space and how some of the innovation to maintain the product in a company's lineup may make for simpler conversations and, in some cases, may require new ways to talk about the guarantees.
See also:


text:
J. Cole
Let Nas Down (Remix)
Overige artiesten:
Freedom or jail, clips inserted
A baby's being born same time a man is murdered
The beginning and end, so far as rap goes
It's only natural, I explain my plateau
And also what defines my name
Yeah, long live the idols, may they never be your rivals
Pac was like Jesus, Nas wrote the Bible
Now what you're 'bout to hear's a tale of glory and sin
No I.D. my mentor now let the story begin
I ain't mad at you, young king, this unsung song is haunting
Along comes a one son called a offspring
The Earth spins, my Old Earth grin, sung a church hymn
She birthed in September, took my first wind, again, the Earth spins
I jumped in my first Benz, fled out, lead out
Screams got in the game and took bread out
The nerve of these niggas, weak flow, yo Cole let's murder this sequel
Freedom or jail from Fayetteville to QB though
Cause back when I was young there was massive niggas
But I passed them niggas, just being nasty nigga
Military hat, fatigue pants sagging, Henny'd up
Execs asking will he live to see his own release date happen
Straight off the corner with the armor, arm and hammer
But I had a appeal, I was a charmer
Yet still being my mama's son was my biggest honor
This shit was just kinda just a hobby in my project lobby
We was trying to be the Queensbridge Cosby's
But the street life robbed me of that, so I had to put it in raps
And who could I ask for help? Older niggas was getting mad
But that's the gift and the curse, that's the good and the bad
At least you got Jay, but he already one of the greats
And it's hard for the great to tell somebody how to be great
Nigga I tried and niggas threw that shit right back in my face
They took my cosign, but they ain't let me EP their tapes
And when they joint tanked, that's when they point blame
So point blank, young Cole, you won't be the same
The first album freedoms and them fourth album pressures
A big difference between 'em but I get why you said it
Radio records are needed, I just wanted it to bring the warning
Global warming to that cold world you was breathing
That's some advice I never got
If I don't sell another record, I'll just steady rock
While you was writing down my rhymes I was just trying to show you
That if you say what's on your mind, you can stand the test of time
Now I'm playing Born Sinner loud, saw you live, rock the crowd
Like wow, you made your nigga Nas proud
So you ain't let Nas down
It's just part of the game, becoming a rap king, my nigga
You ain't let Nas down
How that sound? Here the crown, pass it to you like nothing, nigga
You ain't let Nas down
Long live the idols, may they never be your rivals
Slick Rick was like Jesus, G Rap wrote the Bible
Now what you're 'bout to hear's a tale of glory and sin
Large Professor's my mentor, that's how the story end
Lyrics licensed by LyricFind


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Click on a logo to see what our clients have to say about us.
trucking consultants
KSM Transport Advisors (KSMTA) exclusively serves the trucking and logistics segments of the transportation industry. Our services focus on carrier profit improvement by enhancing margins, gaining efficiencies and driving down operating costs.
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Our carrier profitability assessments and trucking consulting services are designed to be self-funding, provide a thorough analysis of the current situation and create a roadmap so the identified issues can be quantified, prioritized and pursued.
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Our trucking products are designed to support and improve carrier profitability, and are used within our assessments and implementations to provide the intelligence and strategies for change and action.
We have worked with several consultants over the years, and KSM Transport Advisors (KSMTA) is truly a cut above the rest. While many consultants will try to "strong arm" you into buying into their recommendations, KSMTA most certainly doesn't operate that way. In fact, I felt as though they became a fully integrated part of our team. They are able to leverage their industry experience and tools to deliver options that are well thought out, quantified, and most important, can be realistically implemented. They offer real-world solutions to real-world problems.
One example is their maintenance assessment. We felt confident about how we handled our maintenance practices, but they showed us innovative ways on how we could improve even further. The report they compiled contained metrics and analyses that were both thorough and easy to understand. We were so impressed that we engaged them to help us implement their solutions. I would recommend KSMTA to anyone who is interested in driving down their maintenance costs in order to maximize profits.
Averitt Express, Inc.
Working with David Roush has been an invaluable experience. David worked with us in the details of our business, but also guided us at a higher, strategic level. In both instances, TransCorr was led in a better direction. David's experience in the trucking industry is vast, and he used that knowledge to help us in many different business scenarios. With KSM Transport Advisor's (KSMTA) help, we have been able to improve our LH/Mile by $0.14 within 12 months. And with David's guidance, we were able to more strategically develop a new market.
In addition, David is extremely personable and easy to relate to. He's been a reliable person to converse with for quick questions or for longer strategic discussions. I have greatly enjoyed the experience working with David and KSMTA and I look forward to continuing working together.
Michael Kuebler, Director – Business Intelligence
We called on KSM Transport Advisors (KSMTA) to evaluate our company's recruiting strategy. We did not believe we were properly configured to achieve the performance benchmarks we'd outlined for ourselves, and needed assistance with improving our core recruiting methods to ensure we were bringing in the right people.
KSMTA brought decades of experience to the task and continues to play a large role in helping us to strengthen our recruiting group. The firm made several site visits and offered a series of recommendations regarding the metrics, advertising, and other tools we were implementing to attract new hires. In the past month alone, we've seen a 10 percent increase in seated trucks. Moreover, our new hires have been a great fit for our firm. I'd highly recommend KSMTA to anybody who wants to improve their driver recruiting results.
Chip Watkins, President, Transportation Division
Watkins Associated Industries
Boyd Bros. hired KSM Transport Advisors (KSMTA) to evaluate our freight network. We had purchased and implemented TMW's IDSC Netwise® software, but our use of the software was sporadic, and thus so were the results.
We do not use a lot of consultants as we have had several negative experiences in the past. Our experience with KSMTA was very positive.
We have implemented a systematic weekly and monthly review of our freight network based on the best practices shared with our team by KSMTA. We have integrated KSMTA as an integral part of our go-forward network design to ensure we continue to maximize our operating margins.
I highly recommend KSMTA and their Freight Network Assessment as a high value project that delivers real-world insights and solutions.
Richard Bailey, President
Boyd Bros. Transportation, Inc.
Our company engaged the services of KSM Transport Advisors (KSMTA) after our board of directors determined that key ingredients to improving our overall operating performance were missing. KSMTA's challenge was to help our company create a business plan that was attainable, sustainable and would allow us to achieve our profit goals.
KSMTA hit the ground running. They visited every company location, conducted a complete review of our business plan and our existing resources. They asked critical questions about our revenue models and our personnel needs. They examined what our competitors were doing and looked at how federal regulations were affecting our business. They were proactive, results driven and impressed us with their knowledge of the freight industry.
Ultimately, they determined our company was heading in the right direction, but helped to sharpen our focus and make sure that our business model was both strategically and statistically sound. They met their deadlines, were competitively priced and were considerably more engaged than other consultants we've work with. We continued to work with David and KSMTA on various follow-up projects, and I would recommend KSMTA to any industry leader who is interested in improving operational efficiency.
Chip Watkins, President, Transportation Division
Watkins Associated Industries
Our company, Kane is Able, had experienced significant change in our operations as the result of adjustments to the recession, as well as undergoing cultural change as the company transitions from a family-operated company to a company with non-family professional management. Additionally, we had made some management changes and I was assigned to "right the ship."
Fundamentally knowing that a strong foundation is critical to success and anecdotally experiencing a multitude of "system" issues, I hired KSM Transport Advisors (KSMTA) to complete their Systems Assessment. I felt comfortable from the start as the proposal was professional and thorough with a well-defined process and very specific deliverables.
The onsite team exceeded our expectations with a strong focus, organized methodology, and instantly apparent expert knowledge combined with industry experience on the carrier side. Our team was highly involved at the operation, administrative, and IT levels; daily briefings kept our leadership in the loop and provided short-term wins as well as made our system and use of the system world class.
Our team was in unanimous agreement that this was a great investment and I would recommend KSMTA and its Systems and Assessment to any carrier who would like to better understand how to configure their systems immediately and in to the future.
Steve Buckman, Vice President Operations
Kane is Able, Inc.
I recommend David Roush and his team at KSM Transport Advisors. Young's Plant Farm, Inc. sells plants to large retailers and utilizing our private fleet, we ship our plants directly to store locations.
David evaluated our entire operation and has provided us a playbook that we are implementing to take our transportation department to the next level. David is incredibly effective and is great working with the younger generation.
Bryan Young, Owner/CAO
Young's Plant Farm, Inc.
Bestway engaged David Roush and KSM Transport Advisors (KSMTA) to evaluate our freight network and it was a very positive experience.
KSMTA delivered exactly what they promised and more. Their entire approach was professional and designed to deliver maximum value with minimal effort on our part. They quickly understood our unique and proprietary concepts and issues and "dialed" them into their analysis and presentation. We learned more about the profitability of our customers and lanes in a day and a half with their team than we had in all the time prior to the visit.
The solutions resulting from their work were easy to understand and actionable as promised. We began immediate implementation resulting in a nice increase in our rate per mile. Our rate per mile has increased nicely as a result of this process, and our operating ratio has declined accordingly. That increase far exceeded our investment in the project.
Terry W. Croslow, COO/CFO
Bestway Express, Inc.
In today's highly competitive truckload industry, regulatory concerns, driver turnover issues, and a generally soft economy are impacting carriers' profitability. We turned to KSM Transport Advisors (KSMTA)'s Freight Network Assessment (FNA) to better equip ourselves to manage through these challenges. KSMTA's data-driven work products and processes support and leverage the power of the TMW IDSC Netwise® Technology.
KSMTA team members went above and beyond in helping us understand how to use advanced analysis to improve our overall operational efficiency. They analyzed every aspect of our revenue stream to allow us to close profitability gaps and find new revenue opportunities. They even provided us with an in-house analyst to manage the FNA technology until one of our own people was fully trained to do the job.
We were impressed with how well KSMTA's people understood the truckload industry. They instilled us with confidence as they guided us through the analytical process. On top of their experience, the KSMTA team members were great to work with – humble, willing to roll up their sleeves on our behalf, and completely focused on our success.
Matt Anderson, Senior Vice President, Sales & Marketing
Landair Inc.
Our initial goal was for KSM Transport Advisors (KSMTA) to provide an overall analysis of our entire truckload freight network, provide specific deliverables for the project, and to make recommendations for future improvements. Having worked with KSMTA on previous projects, we were very confident that they would bring the same level of enthusiasm and expertise to the network analysis project. We were not disappointed.
The team from KSMTA brought real-world industry experience and a proven track record of success to our project. Their approach is very systematic, thorough and results-driven. We continue to refine our processes and overall approach to our freight network management based on the systems and logic implemented through our engagement with KSMTA. We began to see positive results from the very beginning, and a favorable trend has continued during the six months since launching the project. I would recommend KSMTA to anyone who is interested in analyzing their freight network in order to drive improvements in yield and margin.
Danny Crooks, Vice President, Corporate Transportation
Averitt Express, Inc.
We hired KSM Transport Advisors (KSMTA) at Decker Truck Line in April of 2012 to provide guidance with increasing our profitability through freight network improvements. The ROI on that investment has been outstanding.
David Roush and the KSMTA team continue to support us three years later and we've added their services to all sectors of our over the road fleet. We've seen very substantial improvements on a wide array of key performance indicators affecting our operating ratio.
His team is knowledgeable, accessible, and just overall great to work with. I would recommend KSMTA to any carrier looking to improve their operating ratio, regardless of fleet size or sector.
Reggie Grave, Director of Sales & Account Management
Decker Truck Line, Inc.
When our company engaged the services of KSM Transport Advisors (KSMTA) we had completed an acquisition, but we did not have the opportunity to perform an in-depth evaluation of the freight network. The initial goal was for KSMTA to provide an overall analysis of our entire truckload freight network, provide specific deliverables from the project, and to make recommendations for future improvements.
We made strategic decisions regarding certain segments of this fleet – including where to hire drivers and which markets to grow. We turned to KSMTA to provide the analysis and support to confirm our thoughts, assure this effort would be successful by providing a plan for attaining our objectives within a given timeframe, and provide follow-up measurements to report progress. They responded timely with tools and analysis that supported this effort.
We continue to refine our processes and overall approach to our freight network management based on the systems and logic implemented though our engagement with KSMTA.
I would recommend KSMTA to anyone who is interested in analyzing their freight network in order to drive improvements in yield and margin, and ultimately overall profitability.
Terry A. Wallace, President
Transco Lines, Inc.


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The after match
Trailer [IT]
by Enrico Maria Artale
Samuel is a young man born and grown up in difficult and violent conditions who has already spent several years in and out of prison. After yet another spell in jail, the surveillance judge, responsible for the treatment of detainees, has enrolled him in a program of rehabilitation on a commercial farm. His supervisor is the social worker Vincenzo, who, following the death of his wife, is struggling to restore some balance to his life: he divides his time between his job, a teenage daughter and his role as coach of the local rugby team. Samuel has trouble adapting to the rules of the farm and his relationship with Vincenzo proves problematic from the outset. A former professional rugby player, Vincenzo senses the young man's potential for the sport and persuades him to try his hand at scrums, place-kicks and tries. The first training sessions are a failure. Samuel does not get on with his fellow players and knows nothing of the mentality of the "team game." The tensions and misunderstandings between Vincenzo and Samuel do not lessen and the bond that the young man forges with Flavia, the coach's daughter, only makes things worse. As the days pass, however, Samuel realizes he has found new and healthy stimuli in sport, a possibility of redemption thanks to the oval ball and a new life in the understanding with his teammates and in Flavia's love.


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Taco Thursdays: El Gallo Azteca, Staten Island
Searching for great tacos around the five boroughs with Sara Markel-Gonzalez.
This week we go back to Staten Island, where I've been exploring Victory Boulevard in the next few Staten Island trips, searching for the best tacos. El Gallo Azteca was the first stop, and all I can say is it's going to be tough to beat. While I only had two types of tacos—their famous lengua taco, and a taco al pastor—I was able to see the beauty of how, sometimes, a few simple ingredients can become so much more. Corn tortilla, meat, onion and cilantro. A squeeze of lime, a splash of salsa. Not much to it, so it seems—but a good taco is magical.
The lengua, ($3.00) sliced in thin rounds, was unbelievably tender and meaty, tasting like a great slow-braised cut of beef but softer. The warm tortillas, the tender meat, the crunchy onion, the fresh cilantro, and some spoonfuls of spicy salsa combined to make each bite more enjoyable than the last. Every ingredient was important, and every ingredient was as simple as it could be. It was a taco that I was sad to finish. But the next taco was almost as good.
The reason that this taco al pastor ($2.00) was special is that the spiced pork meat was chopped in very small pieces: some of those were caramelized, dark, and crunchy; some were soft and spicy. Although I didn't see any pineapple, there was a definite layer of sweetness as well as salt and spice from the marinade. These are not small tacos, and two of them can be a whole meal. But again, I was sad to see the end.
If El Gallo Azteca is any indication of what Victory Boulevard has in store, than we are in for some tasty Taco Thursdays.
Taqueria El Gallo Azteca
75 Victory Boulevard, Staten Island NY 10301 (map) (718) 273-6404


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Tourists and residents of Big Coppitt Keys, Fla., had their early Sunday morning activities interrupted by a naked man running in traffic chanting "I'm king of the world!" Would you be surprised to learn his coronation involved LSD?
Police say Richard Gervasi, 43, of Pennsylvania was arrested after not just jumping into traffic outside Bobalu's, but lunging at the officers who responded. After a first hit from a Taser, Gervasi reportedly pulled the electrodes off and kept rocking. Officers tased him again, putting him on the pavement, but Gervasi got up and started walking away when the third Taser arrived and he was handcuffed.
Gervasi reportedly had been drinking and doing LSD. Maybe he was just looking for his lost shaker of "salt." [KeysNet via Miami New Times]


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An intriguing title, I may say. But you have to read til the end to understand.
As all of you now know, today is our First Year Anniversary :) We are not in Manila and we are running low on funds so we didn't plan on doing anything special. We just went to mass together with our "foster family", watched the 130pm showing of Ratatouille (which is not really for kids, as most kids were kinda bored during the movie) while we munched on refillable popcorn (notice we didn't have lunch, hehe), brought Kuya J home coz he had to work, fed the Kois at the Park and then watched the Minor League Baseball at the Municipal Stadium. Watching the game is a first time and it is a bummer that SJ Giants was losing 7-1 at Seventh inning, so we decided to not finish the game.
On our way to the Stadium, Joaquin and I were having a conversation that went:
J: Where are we going Ninang?
Me: We are going to watch a baseball (I pronounced it as basebelle on purpose) game.
J: Ninang!!! It's not basebelle!!! It's baseball!!!
Me: Ah okay, basebelle!
J: Baseball!!!!
And we continued to quiz him with other words (truck, candy, bank etc etc), and it was so funny we almost got him annoyed heheh. Anyway, we got home at 7pm, ate dinner from yesterday's party and we have been just lounging since then.
What about my title?
I woke up this morning and read my text messages. One came from Clarice, our wedding coordinator. I told Ane that she greeted us. He said someone texted him too, asking him to answer his phone... it was from a certain Clarisse. I thought why would Clarice text him too, ayt? I read the text he received and this transpired:
Me: Eh ibang Clarisse naman yan eh. (this is a different Clarisse)
Him: Sino ba sinasabi mo? (Who are you talking about?)
Me: Si Clarice natin, may iba pa ba? (Our Clarice, is there anyone else?)
Him: Meron, pero ang tawag ko "Baby" (Yes there is but I call her "Baby").
**note for mitch, magkaibang tao sina Clarisse at CLARICE, mwehehe...
And then he was laughing that very funny laugh. My dear husband can be pretty comedic, huh? Of course he was just kidding! ;) I know that one factor this relationship didn't feel like a year has passed already is that he can make funny moments out of serious ones without too much of an effort. I love him dearly for that. I usually fall into a pit of sadness (without reason!) and he is always there to pull me up and keep me sane.
I love you, Ane! We have a lifetime to go! :) xoxoxoxox


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Joe Paterno, former football coach of the Penn State Nittany Lions, died this morning shortly after 10 am ET in State College, PA after experiencing serious complications from his lung cancer treatment. Paterno's 46-season, two national championship legacy was tarnished in November with allegations that assistant coach Jerry Sandusky had molested children during Paterno's tenure. Paterno had recently told The Washington Post that he was overwhelmed by the scandal and didn't "want to do something to jeopardize what the university procedure was." One of the most beloved college coaches of all time, Paterno's legacy had been untarnished before the Sandusky scandal, marked not only by a high winning percentage, but a high graduation rate that topped out at 85% in 2009.
Joe Paterno, 85, Dies in State College [ESPN]
Legendary Penn State coach Paterno dead at 85 [CNN]


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Free and low-cost health insurance for you and your family
Healthfirst is a not-for-profit managed care organization, sponsored by some of the most prestigious and nationally recognized hospitals and medical centers in New York. Our mission is to provide high-quality, low-cost health care insurance to individuals and families in our New York service areas. We offer this through a variety of government-sponsored health insurance programs, including New York State's Child Health Plus, Family Health Plus, Medicaid, and Medicare Advantage.*
Established in 1993, Healthfirst has a unique hospital-sponsored business model, which allows us to reinvest in the not-for-profit and public health care system by returning the financial savings from our operational efficiency to our hospital sponsors.
Healthfirst strives to meet the needs of the diverse communities we serve through close provider partnerships and strong community involvement. We are one of the fastest growing health insurance and free health care providers in New York and New Jersey with over 900,000 members and thousands of providers.
Contact Healthfirst today to get the answers you need. You can also come in to one of our community offices. Each office is fully staffed with representatives who can answer your questions – in many different languages – about our health insurance plans and programs, whether you are a member or not.
*Healthfirst's wholly-owned subsidiary, Healthfirst Health Plan of New Jersey, Inc. (Healthfirst NJ), provides coverage to qualifying individuals and families living within our New Jersey service areas through Medicare Advantage plans and NJ FamilyCare/Medicaid.


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When you ask what's new at the Jersey Shore, the answer will most likely involve Long Branch.
Long a popular spot for surf, sun and shore fun, the town, with its cutting-edge residential beachside condos, premier shops and restaurants at Pier Village, has created a buzz all along the northern shore.
Although it's one of the ritziest spots at the beach, with Avenue (an upscale restaurant), Avenue Nuit nightclub and Le Club beach club, there's plenty to do even if you don't have deep pockets.
During the summer, there are free weekly outdoor concerts and movies under the stars and year 'round historic sites, parks, shops and restaurants that offer something for every interest. Long Branch is also home to the New Jersey Repertory Company that presents new plays and classics.
One special spot is Seven Presidents Oceanfront Park, named for the U.S. presidents who vacationed here. The park comprises 38 acres and offers an ocean beach, swimming, fishing, boating, volleyball plus a boardwalk.
For excellant accommodations try the Ocean Place Resort & Spa or Cedars and Beeches Bed & Breakfast.


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The Future of Scientific Knowledge Discovery in Open Networked Environments: A National Symposium and Workshop
The Future of Scientific Knowledge Discovery in Open Networked Environments:
A National Symposium and Workshop
Washington, DC, March 10-11, 2011
The Symposium is free and open to the public, but advance registration is requested. Please RSVP to Cheryl Levey firstname.lastname@example.com.
Board on Research Data and Information
in collaboration with
Computer Science and Telecommunications Board
National Academy of Sciences
[ Summary ] [ Meeting Agenda ] [ Steering Committee Members ]
Digital technologies and networks have enhanced access to and use of scientific data, information, and literature significantly, and also have great promise for accelerating the discovery and the communication of knowledge both within the scientific community and in the broader society. This is particularly the case for scientific data and information that are openly available online. Scientific knowledge discovery in open networked environments, referred to in this proposal as computer-mediated or computational scientific knowledge discovery, may be defined as a research process that is enabled by different digital computing technologies such as data mining, information retrieval and extraction, artificial intelligence, distributed grid computing, and many other automated methods. Together, these technological capabilities are supporting the emergence of computer-mediated knowledge discovery as a new paradigm in the conduct of research.
A symposium and workshop will be convened in Washington, DC to bring together key stakeholders in this area for intensive and structured discussions in order to obtain a better understanding of the state-of-the-art and future trends in the study of computational scientific knowledge discovery in the open online environment and to develop a range of options for future work in this area. Specifically, the project will be performed pursuant to the following statement of task:
1. Opportunities and Benefits: What are the opportunities over the next 5-10 years associated with the use of computer-mediated scientific knowledge discovery across disciplines in the open online environment? What are the potential benefits to science and society of such techniques?
2. Techniques and Methods for Development and Study of Computer-mediated Scientific Knowledge Discovery: What are the techniques and methods used in government, academia, and industry to study and understand these processes, the validity and reliability of their results, and their impact inside and outside science?
3. Barriers: What are the major scientific, technological, institutional, sociological, and policy barriers to computer-mediated scientific knowledge discovery in the open online environment within the scientific community? What needs to be known and studied about each of these barriers to help achieve the opportunities for interdisciplinary science and complex problem solving?
4. Range of Options: Based on the results obtained in response to items 1-3 above, define a range of options that can be used by the sponsors of the project, as well as other similar organizations, to obtain and promote a better understanding of the computer-mediated scientific knowledge discovery processes and mechanisms for openly available data and information online across the scientific domains. The objective of defining these options is to improve the activities of the sponsors (and other similar organizations) and the activities of researchers that they fund externally in this emerging research area.
A one-day symposium with invited expert speakers will be held to address tasks 1-3 above. This will be followed immediately by a one-day workshop to address task 4, based on the discussions of tasks 1-3 at the symposium and on the expertise of the invitees. A steering committee for the project will help to organize the symposium and workshop, and a rapporteur will prepare a summary report from the workshop, which will be published at the conclusion of the project. The workshop report will synthesize the contributions of the experts and is expected to result in an authoritative and high-level review of the most promising and effective research opportunities in this area. Both the slides from the symposium proceedings and the symposium webcast will be posted on the National Academy of Sciences' website.


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Don't be intimidated to make falafel from scratch. Once you read the recipe, you will see its fairly simple. So go ahead and get cooking to celebrate Israel's Independence Day.
I like to serve falafel with warm pita (or even a wrap), sliced tomatoes, hummus and tehine.
Note: a cooking thermometer is needed for this recipe
Falafel, Parve, Serves 6
Ingredients for this Kosher Recipe for Falafel
1 1/4 cup dried chick peas
2 cloves garlic
1 medium onion, finely chopped
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
1 tsp fine sea salt
3/4 tsp. ground cumin
1/2 tsp. ground coriander
1/2 tsp. black pepper
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
6 cups vegetable oil (for frying)
To Start:
Soak chick peas in cold water to cover by 2 inches in a bowl at room temperature for 12-24 hours. Drain and rinse well.
Puree chick peas with garlic, onion, cilantro, parsley, salt, cumin, coriander, pepper, baking powder and cayenne pepper in a food processor until mixture is smooth (about 2 minutes).
Spread puree in a 15 x 10 inch baking pan and set on a counter to dry, uncovered, for one hour.
Scoop 2 tablespoons of the puree onto a wax paper-lined tray, then press and pat with your fingers into a 2 inch wide patty. Make a small dent in the center of the patty with the tip of your pinky finger (to help cook evenly). Continue, arranging patties in one layer on wax paper.
Heat about 1 inch of oil in a 5 quart heavy pot until thermometer registers 340 degrees. Working in batches of 4-6, gently drop patties into hot oil to fry for 2-3 minutes, turning occasionally until golden brown. Using a slotted spoon, transfer cooked falafel patties to a paper towel lined platter to drain. Be sure oil returns to 340 degrees between batches.
Falafel may be served warm or at room temperature, as a side dish, an appetizer, or even a main dish.
***For a low fat alternative, place falafel patties on a lightly greased baking sheet and spray them with oil. Bake at 375 degrees until golden.
This delicious falafel recipe is from "The Best of Lottie's Kitchen" cookbook. To read more about Lottie's Kitchen in Jerusalem click here.


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NOTE: When communicating online, your Marine's privacy is as important as Operational Security. Please respect YOUR Marine's privacy!
In September 2010, Julie, a mom on the Marine Parents message boards, posted an interesting request to other message board members: to help her rescue her son's company's dog.
Her son's squad was anticipating the end of their deployment, and they were worried about the fate of the huge Afghan wolfhound that had become the squad's protector.
The Marine mom decided to try to bring home the dog that brought her son and his company so much joy.
She quickly learned that it was going to be a difficult and expensive task. However, over the course of two months and 124 posts on the "Kujo" message board thread on MarineParents.com, the mom gathered enough support and raised $3,300 to have Kujo brought back to the states and adopted by a family in Texas.
Kujo now lives with his new family and loves it. He runs and plays on the family's 56 acres in Central Texas, and he also brings smiles to the faces of children he visits at local elementary schools.
Julie says she is trying to arrange a visit between Kujo and her son when he comes home for leave.
This story is just another example of what the support of your Marine Corps family can do!
Click here for more information.
We hope this week's edition of our email newsletter has been useful for you and your family. If there are topics you would like us to address, or if you have other suggestions for the newsletter, please contact us.


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Ties are an important wearing complementary in the gentleman's wardrobe, because of this reason it is very important accessory for men, especially men suits. Staples the selector on the go, you'll find the different types of design, which is usually some function and fashion reasons fluttered to the mix and fluttered. Depending on the style and wearing reason, ties are used different forms like striped, classic, colored, and also polka dot and pin dot.
Not only are other bold design offered in the market place, the ever-popular pairing a checkered shirt with striped against tie now looks like a tough task. Is the classic neck wear and geometric solids/scarf patterns for any enterprise environment, and then some of them will serve you, but you can add intrigue and a team that can be worn with a suit and shirt, but without having to worry about too much patterned ties. The skill of tie selection is mixing and matching patterns.
Polka dot ties are the types of tie that is suitable almost all types of casual or business wearing to have a different and attractive look. It creates a contrast chic especially with other patterned wearing pieces. The pattern is absolutely critical when it comes to rate. Therefore, tie pattern range, with the interval pattern in your suits and shirts must generate significantly contrasts. Therefore, a polka dotted tie against a particularly good windowpane shirt (larger spaced polka dots with larger controls), but is fine with checkered shirt, a striped shirt or small may go well to match. In summary, a polka dotted tie to match the shirt the following model.
Plain shirts that the most versatile shirt in men wardrobe, is taken into consideration; provided that the correct color scheme, a shoe is perfect with any solid shirt silk tie as follows. A polka dot tie wearing with wide narrow striped shirt becomes a natural complement and more spaced polka dots creates a shirt perfectly contrast the narrow lane. Similarly to the above situation, (and with the fact that a completely different pattern type) a polka dot tie and checkered shirt with small width, in a good way is the opposite.
What is the perfect time for polka dot tie wearing? From the most formal occasions a dropped silk tie kit can be installed almost anywhere. Whether you are on a business or a wedding or get a night, this tie will constitute an example to you. The important thing is to choose the correct color for the right event. Whether it's day job, an important meeting or a presentation if you wear your tie to maroon, gray, yellow or green silk ties both in a professional environment is extremely important to create the feeling of a sense of trust and proximity helps!
The colors such as blue, grey and burgundy can be suitable for business environment and the official can work more to have an experienced look. But also with color and lilac, yellow, or green silk tie, you can also choose to prefer social areas to have an attractive appearance. a mustard yellow or green silk tie, ,while being an ideal supplementary for autumn or winter season weddings, for spring or summer wedding, lilac, pink or light blue cotton silk polka dot tie might work.
During the day, or when you go out tonight with friends on the weekends, almost colorful polka dot tie with suit, shirt or shirt and pants with the bag hook will work with your to communities. The important thing is that the rest of your community with patterned silk polka dot admired is coordinated. As a general rule, a pink shirt a blue or gray tie, rolling, red, pink, burgundy or navy blue shirt will solve a tie in the best way. An alternative to silk polka dotted tie, over the last few years become increasingly popular knitted silk tie is a tie. Knitted silk tie and incoming aesthetics (tie the ends of the frame) and textural variations (knitted fabric), a polka dot knit silk tie, ideal for an evening out or a date night will appear!
Pin Dot Ties
Polka Dot variant of little pickle is called pin dot tie, and the gentleman's formal wear's locker is welcome. Unlike the dotted silk tie silk, needle silk threads dotted tie pattern, consists of narrow intervals. Pin Dot silk Ties are usually more formal polka dotted depends on and works for almost any environment. And what will work with a needle tie shirts. In general, has a wider-spaced pattern shirts, a tie pin-point will create a good contrast with the narrower range in contrast to polka dot tie wearing. Given the versatility of plain shirts, color-coordinated ties have been taken into consideration, any solid shirt with a pin dot tie perfectly matched. Color coordinated shirt and tie combinations you can find more information here. A wider range of striped shirts, pin-point tie complements perfectly the narrow ranges. This is in contrast to the polka dotted tie instance (wider spaced polka dotted tie when paired with striped shirts are narrow).


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The Paradise Rock Club Gets A Face Lift
September 20, 2010 by Sally Feller
Filed under Daily Music News, New England Music, Staff Insider
Let Me Introduce You To The All New Paradise Rock Club
Sally Feller
Originally opening its doors in 1977, the Paradise Rock Club has been treating locals to amazing music for over thirty years. In case you don't believe me based on that one sentence, U2 performed their first show in the U.S. at the Paradise. Who else is on the list of legends to play at the Paradise? How about AC/DC, REM, The Police, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, INXS (swoon), Cheap Trick, Phish, Chris Isaak, Rage Against the Machine, The Pixies, Elvis Costello, and Tom Waits.
Of course, there have been some amazing new bands in the limelight at "the dise." The Paradise has hosted Kings of Leon, Stereophonics, Dresden Dolls, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Liz Phair, Ray Lamontagne, and a whole slew of bands you've seen reviewed on your favorite site (that would be TWRY, of course), including Young the Giant, The Subways, Crash Kings, Of Montreal, and Mew, to name a few. Every night of the week, the Dise offers up great acts, both up-and-coming and well-known national acts.
So when a Boston institution like the Paradise closes its doors—even temporarily—you can feel the pain like an arrow in the heart. It's a dark world in which to exist. However, the updates and renovations to the Paradise were well worth the suffering of Bostonians and Allstonians (non-locals, the Paradise actually lives in the little area just outside of Boston called Allston, which primarily houses students from Boston University and a few Boston College kids).
What's changed in the place, you ask? Where the bottom floor of the club used to be a bit tight during a sold-out show, the Dise knocked down the separating wall between the club/stage and the merch area and added another bar. The whole floor is opened up and way more comfortable, even during a sold-out show. The upstairs area of the club was basically a ring around the venue with additional standing room and two bars. You stand up and around the sound boards and can get a pretty decent overhead look of the stage, without that crammed in feeling you used to feel on the floor. The top level hasn't changed, but remains a bit of a respite from the occasional shoving on the main floor (depending on the band, crowd, etc.).
I was lucky enough to score a pass to see Young the Giant at the Paradise on the night the club re-opened their doors to the public. The show was completely sold out and never once did I get that stuffy, panicky, shoved-into-a-sardine-can feeling you often get at these small live music clubs with too many people. The floor was open, the lines to the bars seemed to run smoothly with the addition of the bar where the merch area once lived.
If you're in the Boston area or are visiting our lovely city sometime, definitely show your support for live music and small local venues by heading over to the Paradise. You'll have a fantastic time, trust me!
View all the upcoming shows at the Paradise


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Senior women's cross country/track & field standout Jennifer Klugh was honored today at Liberty University's Convocation, as she was named the 2013 Rock Royer/Mac Rivera Award winner, the University's highest athletics honor. The annual award was presented to Klugh by Liberty University Director of Athletics Jeff Barber and Manuel Rivera, brother of Mac Rivera. In 1975, the Rock Royer/Mac Rivera Award was established to honor the top graduating senior student-athlete at Liberty University who best exemplifies the standards and lives of both of these great Christian men. Rock Royer was Liberty's first football coach in 1973. Mac Rivera was a member of Liberty's basketball team from 1972 until 1975. Both Rock Royer and Mac Rivera tragically died at a young age, with Royer dying in a plane crash and Rivera passing away after a fall. This award encompasses more than just athletic ability. It recognizes the Liberty University graduating senior student-athlete who has maintained an exemplary testimony on the playing field, in the classroom and among the student body. "If I were asked to make a short list of athletes that I have coached over 40 years who were the best examples of what it means to be a Surrendered Christian Athlete, Jenn Klugh would most certainly make that list," stated head cross country/track & field coach Brant Tolsma. "She exemplified Christ in her dedication, humility, love for others, joy, peace and basically all the fruits of the spirit. I truly feel blessed to have worked with Jenn and it was a great joy to have had that opportunity." A native of Centerburg, Ohio, Klugh graduated with a bachelor's degree in mathematics with teacher licensure in May 2012, maintaining a 3.40 undergraduate GPA. She is currently working toward a master's degree in secondary education and currently owns a 4.0 GPA during her graduate studies. Klugh has earned numerous academic honors during her career, including six appearances on the USTFCCCA All-Academic Team, three Big South All-Academic Team honors and four Big South Presidential Honor Roll notations. Klugh was additionally voted the Big South Scholar-Athlete of the Year for 2010 women's cross country and earned a spot on the 2011 VaSID Academic All-State Team. During the summer of 2011, Klugh went to Zimbabwe on a missions trip with Athletes in Action. That same year, she served on the kitchen staff at Kamp Kanakuk in Branson, Mo. Klugh has also been active in the Lynchburg community, volunteering along with her track & field teammates at the Virginia Ten Miler and fall festivals, family reading activities and field days at local elementary schools. Klugh wrapped up her collegiate athletic career in style, qualifying for the 2012 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championship. She became the first Lady Flame to reach the NCAA meet in cross country since Heather Sagan in 2001. Klugh finished as a 10-time Big South individual champion and an 18-time All-Big South honoree, including cross country, indoor track & field and outdoor track & field. She owns four school records, the cross country 5K (17:18.72) and 6K (20:35.78) and the indoor track 3K (9:44.62) and 5K (16:48.32). The indoor 5K mark is also a Big South Conference record. The Buckeye State native was a three-time Big South Women's Cross Country Runner of the Year, a two-time Big South Women's Outstanding Track Performer and a 12-time Big South Athlete of the Week. This award has now been presented for 39 years. Klugh is the 44th recipient of the Rock Royer/Mac Rivera Award and the seventh women's track & field athlete to win the award. She is the first women's track & field athlete to be honored since Arlene Zelinskas in 2007 and the first distance runner to do so since Heather Sagan in 2002.
Rock Royer Award 1975 - Sling Patterson (Football) 1976 - David Neff (Football) 1977 - Scott Goetz (Football)
Mac Rivera Award 1977- Paul Dalton (Men's Basketball)
Rock Royer/Mac Rivera Award 1978 - Gary Avila (Wrestling) 1979 - Dave Anderson (Football) 1980 - Karl Hess (Men's Basketball) 1981- David "D.J." Hertzler (Football) 1982- Sharon Snodgrass (Women's Basketball) 1983 - Bill Gillespie (Football/Men's Track & Field) 1984 - Rick Seilhamer (Wrestling) 1985 - Sue Andrew (Women's Cross Country/Track & Field) & Dave Bream (Baseball) 1986 - Ron Starner (Men's Soccer) 1987 - Pam Wilder (Women's Basketball) 1989 - Kathy Guetterman (Volleyball) 1990 - Lynn Attwood (Cross Country/Track & Field/Women's Basketball) 1991 - Craig Holiday (Wrestling) 1992 - Mike Coleman (Men's Basketball) 1993 - Theresa Bream (Volleyball/Women's Basketball) 1994 - James Downey (Football) & Matt Hildebrand (Men's Basketball) 1995 - Todd Setsma (Men's Golf) 1996 - Ryan Werner (Men's Track & Field) 1997 - Michael Prettyman (Men's Track & Field) 1998 - Ben Anderson (Football) 1999 - Jarrod Everson (Football) 2000 - Elena Kisseleva (Women's Basketball) 2001 - Andrea Wildrick (Women's Track & Field) & Nathan Day (Men's Basketball) 2002 - Heather Sagan (Women's Cross Country/Track & Field) 2003 - Collin Mascagni (Men's Soccer) 2004 - Tatiana Tkachuk (Volleyball) 2005 - Sam Gado (Football) & Danielle McNaney (Women's Track & Field) 2006 - Sonia Rodriguez (Women's Soccer) & Phillip Thompson (Baseball) 2007 - Arlene Zelinskas (Women's Track & Field) 2008 - Allyson Fasnacht (Women's Basketball) 2009 - Beth Bennett (Softball) 2010 - Chris Rocco (Football) 2011 - Zach Duke (Football) 2012 - Jesse Sanders (Men's Basketball) 2013 - Jennifer Klugh (Women's Cross Country/Track & Field)
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