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In less than a month, I begin graduate school so I don't know how much time I'll have to dig into my family's past, let alone blog about it. I'm thrilled beyond belief to be getting a masters in creative writing, but I know that this beginning will mean other things will end, maybe even this blog. Endings are always hard for me and make me feel guilty. But some recent ancestry news I received is easing my transition.While my third cousin was on a research/anniversary trip to New Orleans some weeks back, she found a Rosa Belle Ford listed as a student at Straight University. The name was in a college catalog archived at the Amistad Research Center. Because of the last name and the fact that Rosa Belle's hometown was noted as Ocean Springs, Mississippi, our ancestral home, my third cousin wondered if the woman was my kin. She wondered correctly. Rosa Belle Ford was my grand aunt. Other than seeing her name on some census records and a different cousin's recollection that she may have been a teacher, I knew nothing else about this woman, my grandfather's sister.
But it looks like my other cousin's recollections were also correct. Rosa Belle is listed in the 1914-1915 Straight University catalog in college preparatory to become a teacher. Now, 100 years after my great aunt began her professional training, I'm beginning mine. That has to be a good sign, or at the very least, a kiss from my ancestors.

subset: commoncrawl


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A few years ago you could buy one for £70K ! They are going up in value. To get real investment potential you need the whole marque to have the appeal. The 911 has been made in much larger volumes than the XJS/XK yet values for that are much greater than the equivalent Jaguar. Ferraris have an appeal beyond the car. Whilst the XJ220 was a great engineering masterpiece it never had the appeal of the F40 and I doubt it will ever "catch up"
Nice thread idea and we all need to give the marque a more up beat image if the values are to rise


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It's something called a protoplanetary disk likely a solar system just forming around a very young star. It's mostly dust and other material in the shape of a thin disk seen edge-on. It is denser than the surrounding nebula and blocks the light from behind, so the disk appears dark against the glowing gas of the nebula. It's something like what our solar system might have looked like billions of years ago when the Sun was just forming. Many of these objects have been observed by Hubble in the Orion Nebula.
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- Ferrari news
Both drivers start equal - Domenicali
Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali says both Fernando Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen will start on an equal footing and have to earn number one status at the team next season.
Raikkonen was confirmed as Felipe Massa's replacement at Ferrari on Wednesday, with the move marking the first time the team has run two world champions together since 1953. Having traditionally had a clear number one and number two driver, Domenicali said each driver has always started the season with equal opportunities and that next year it would be up to Alonso or Raikkonen to support the other once a clear title challenger emerged.
"Nothing will change in the way the team is run," Domenicali told the official Ferrari website. "Since the world began, our drivers have always started on equal terms. It's always been that way and always will. Then, during the course of the season, if the situation is such that one driver can help the other based on the points table, it's logical and right that it should happen. It's happened in the past and will happen in the future, as all drivers who have driven a Ferrari have demonstrated.
"It occurred at the time of [Juan Manuel] Fangio and [Mike] Collins and more recently with [Mika] Salo and [Eddie] Irvine, when the Finn gave up on his only chance of a win in Formula 1 to help his team-mate, as Raikkonen was helped by Felipe, before repaying the compliment and again with Felipe and Fernando.
Break from the norm
- The real unknown now is what happens to Alonso. He moved to Ferrari amid much fanfare in search of more world titles, having failed to add to his back-to-back successes at Renault. However, having been Ferrari's undisputed leader since 2010, suddenly there is a threat. Normally you would expect anyone coming in alongside Alonso to have a hard time getting the same backing from team, but there's a special affiliation with Raikkonen as he has achieved what Alonso hasn't: won the world championship in a Ferrari.
Click here for the full story
"As for the Dream Team, I'm not in the habit of dreaming with my eyes open, as it's not in my nature to do so. I would only say that the combination of Fernando and Kimi is the best one could have today in Formula 1, in terms of talent, experience, competitive spirit and the ability to move car development forward."
Despite having been the team leader over the last four seasons, Domenicali said Alonso would be happy the driver line-up had been strengthened. Asked about Luca di Montezemolo's previous comments that he didn't want "two roosters in the same hen house", Domenicali replied: "It brings to mind football fans who are scared of rival teams because they have so many strong forwards and so they hope they will fight each other for the ball…
"For anyone thinking that the choice of Kimi is somehow an anti-Alonso choice, I can put their minds at rest: at Ferrari, everyone knows the interests of the team come first and only then those of the individual. Fernando is a key asset for this team and he will be for a long time. I'm sure he is the first to be happy with a choice made to strengthen the group, because he is too intelligent not to realise that a stronger team can only be an advantage."


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Thursday, May 31, 2012
Trike Thursday...Straight Outta Belgium
Posted by MeanMike at 6:48 AM 0 comments
Labels: Danny Franssen, Trike
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Stretch Armstrong...
Just do it Bonesy!
Posted by MeanMike at 6:58 AM 0 comments
Labels: girl bikes
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
This Weekend...
Posted by MeanMike at 7:39 AM 0 comments
Labels: shows
Posted by MeanMike at 7:37 AM 0 comments
Labels: 750
Monday, May 28, 2012
Memorial Day...Remember
our veterans today, both living and deceased. These guys are the reason we are free! Thank a vet, buy him a beer, not just today, but all year long. And most importantly say a prayer for our fallen soldiers and their families.
Posted by MeanMike at 8:37 AM 0 comments
Labels: Memorial Day
Sunday, May 27, 2012
Sunday, Sunday, Sunday...
Posted by MeanMike at 12:00 PM 0 comments
Labels: 1320, Don Garlits, Shirley Muldowney
Showrod Sunday...Cool Old Pics
Posted by MeanMike at 11:58 AM 0 comments
Labels: showrod
Saturday, May 26, 2012
Posted by MeanMike at 9:38 AM 0 comments
Labels: ed roth
Friday, May 25, 2012
Congratulations Rangers...YOU SUCK!
JERSEY'S in the Cup! Hell yeah!
Posted by MeanMike at 10:47 PM 0 comments
Labels: NHL, Rangers SUCK
tIt's Friday...
Posted by MeanMike at 9:24 AM 0 comments
Labels: hookers and hot sauce, tits
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Trike Thursday...4 On The Floor
Posted by MeanMike at 7:55 AM 0 comments
Labels: It's 3 For Me
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Big Daddy Was A Snazzy Dresser
Posted by MeanMike at 7:21 AM 0 comments
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Peek A Boo...
Posted by MeanMike at 5:03 AM 0 comments
Labels: babes, i coulda had a V8
Monday, May 21, 2012
Sunday Afternoon...Yankees vs. Reds
Afterwards, we headed to Newark for some of the best Portuguese food around at Iberia's. Good times.
Posted by MeanMike at 10:35 AM 0 comments
Labels: good times, Yankees
Digger Monday...
'65 XLCH from the land of the rising sun. This bike was for sale awhile back.
Posted by MeanMike at 10:16 AM 0 comments
Labels: Digger, Ness, stolen pics
Sunday, May 20, 2012
Showrod Sunday...Awesomeness
Posted by MeanMike at 9:13 AM 0 comments
Labels: showrod
Saturday, May 19, 2012
Shovel Lovin' Saturday...
Posted by MeanMike at 9:09 AM 0 comments
Labels: biker babe, shovel lovin'
Friday, May 18, 2012
tIt's Friday...Flat Is Where It's At
But only when it has to do with engines.
Posted by MeanMike at 9:24 AM 0 comments
Labels: hookers and hot sauce, tits
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Thanks Buddy...
For making me miss my old dragbike! Sent in from Earsplitter Rob.
Posted by MeanMike at 10:51 AM 0 comments
Labels: biker babe, dragbike
Love Thy Fink...
Posted by MeanMike at 6:33 AM 0 comments
Labels: ed roth, shit I like
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
The Snow Queen
Posted by MeanMike at 6:22 AM 0 comments
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Hot Wheels...
Posted by MeanMike at 6:30 AM 0 comments
Labels: NY Auto Show
Monday, May 14, 2012
Digger Monday...Arlen's Silver Lady
This is the second re-do of this scoot after many owner's. Anyway, this scoot never really got the attention it deserved. If the Devil's in the the details, this fucker will rule in Hell. Split rocker boxes, tubular engine mounts, insane exhaust pipes, sealed cases with an open primary, etc. Some damn fine work indeed!
Posted by MeanMike at 9:46 AM 0 comments
Sunday, May 13, 2012
Showrod Sunday...Happy Mother's Day
Posted by MeanMike at 9:55 PM 0 comments
Saturday, May 12, 2012
Road Apples...
Posted by MeanMike at 7:24 AM 0 comments
Labels: biker babe, road apple
Friday, May 11, 2012
tIt's Friday...Two Is Better Than One
Posted by MeanMike at 7:03 AM 0 comments


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Author Notes: Lately, as I been laying in bed trying to sleep I've been pondering ways to use fresh mozzarella in more of a sauce like manner. I thought it might be good with a little anchovy in the background. I used burrata since I thought it might blend a little easier given the cream and curds. I love roasted cauliflower, seasoned simply with a little olive oil and salt but I thought I give it a whirl topped with concoction. Turned out pretty tasty! - melissav —melissav
Food52 Review: Grown-ups love cauliflower smothered in melty, gooey cheese too! Melissav's version is covered in a delicious smooth, creamy cheese sauce made using burrata -- mozzarella stuffed with cream and curds -- and flavored with anchovies and red pepper flakes. The cauliflower slices are a welcome change from florets. - Stephanie
—The Editors
Serves: 3, as a side.
large head cauliflower
ball burrata, about 7-8 oz.
anchovy fillets, rinsed
tablespoons olive oil, divided
tablespoon cream
pinch red pepper flakes
tablespoons panko
kosher salt
- Preheat the oven to 450.
- Rinse the cauliflower and remove the leaves and stem. Cut in half through the core. Slice each half into thin slices. Place the slices on a baking sheet, drizzle with olive oil and salt. Toss. Spread out so slices are in one layer
- Roast the cauliflower in the lower third of the over for about 20-25 minutes, until golden and carmelized. I usually flip after 15 minutes
- While the cauliflower is roasting, place a small fry pan over low heat. Add 1 TB olive oil, the cream, the anchovies and red pepper flakes. Let cook from 5 minutes, pressing on the anchovies with the back of a wooden spoon until they dissolve and infuse the cream and oil. Remove from heat and pour into a mini food processor.
- Place the buratta in the processor as well. Add a pinch of salt. Process until blended, it will still be a bit chunky. Taste for seasoning.
- Wipe out the small fry pan and return to low heat. Add 1 TB olive oil and the panko. Cook over low heat until the panko is golden.
- Remove the cauliflower from the oven and turn on the broiler.
- Push all the cauliflower together, so it is all up against each other. Spread the buratta mixture over the cauliflower and sprinkle with the panko.
- Place the pan back in the oven, second rack slot from the top. Broil until the cheese is melted and golden.
- This recipe is a Community Pick!
More Great Recipes:
Anchovy|Cauliflower|Cheese|Milk/Cream|Vegetable|Make Ahead|Fry|Serves a Crowd|Vegetarian|Side


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Emmanuel Arts Academy gears up for fall semester classes, which run September 9 – December 6 at Emmanuel College.
Students of all ages have the opportunity to learn through private or group instruction. Private lessons are available for all ages and levels of ability in piano, voice, guitar, drums, violin, brass and woodwinds, or music theory and composition. Group classes are in band, musical theatre/voice, and kids art exploration.
New this year is group band class for ages 8-18 to introduce students to the exciting world of concert band through instruction on traditional concert band instruments, including woodwind, brass-wind, and percussion.
The musical theatre/voice class for ages 6-16 covers basics in theatrical singing, voice production and technique, dramatic presentation, stage etiquette, dance movement and audition techniques.
The kids art exploration class for kindergarten – 5th grade covers art elements involving drawing, a combination of mixed-mediums as well as color pencils and watercolors.
All Emmanuel Arts Academy students have the opportunity to display their talent Fall Student Recital & Art Show on December 9.
Classes and private lessons are taught by Emmanuel College Music Department student instructors, affiliate instructors or Emmanuel faculty members. Prices vary by class and private lessons based on the level of instructor.
General registration is August 19 - September 6. Registration forms are available at www.ec.edu/artsacademy. For more information contact Dr. Deborah Stark at email@example.com or call 706-245-2870.
Emmanuel Arts Academy is a community extension of Emmanuel College
offering arts training for children, youth and adults throughout the year.
It strives to carry on the mission of Emmanuel College by
offering quality professional instruction through integration of faith in the arts.


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Cherryville travel teams � Tryouts will be Aug. 3 at the Cherryville Little League fields for the Cherryville Post 100 Bulldogs. Teams for 8-U, 9-U, 10-U, 11-U, 12-U, 13-U and 14-U. For more information, contact Mike Cook at 704-300-2718, email email@example.com
or visit post100bulldogs.com.
Gastonia-based travel team � A new 14-under travel team will hold tryouts on Aug. 6. Call 704-719-0602 for details.
Stephen Miss/BAC Academy � Session II: July 29-Aug. 2. Cost is $200 per camper per week. Cost is includes T-shirt and basketball at end of camp. Open to boys and girls ages 7-17. For more information, call 704-461-6800 or email email@example.com.
East Lincoln camps � Co-ed camp: July 22-25 for grades 2-8 from 8:30 a.m.-noon. Cost is $85 to pre-register and $95 day of the camp. Applications available at East Lincoln. Call Chip Ashley at 704-718-5136 or email firstname.lastname@example.com for more information.
North Gaston skills camp � One-day camp for ages 7-14 on Aug. 9 from 8 a.m.-noon at North Gaston High School. Cost is $25. For more information, email Lee Welch at email@example.com or call Travis McNair at 910-977-2466.
League sign-ups � Youth baseball: For ages 6-14 from July 15-27. Youth soccer: For ages 3-15 from July 15-Aug. 10. Youth girls volleyball: For ages 9-15 from July 15-Aug. 10. Adult soccer: From Aug. 1-Aug. 30. For more information on all leagues, call Gil Aguirre at 704-901, 2070, email firstname.lastname@example.com or visit cityofbelmont.org. Individual fees for baseball, soccer, volleyball: $50 in city, $75 out of city. Team fees for adult soccer: $275 in city, $325 out of city; individual: $35 in city, $40 out of city.
Soccer � Aug. 5-8 for ages 7-12 from 9 a.m.-noon. Cost for all camps is $45 for residents and $60 for non-residents. Call Cristy Busler at 704-824-4231 for more information.
Fall sport registration � Soccer (ages 3-12), baseball (6-12) and volleyball (8-15) registration will be taken through Aug. 3. There is a $50 fee ($75 for non-residents) and it includes other fees, uniforms and trophies. Call Cristy Busler at 704-824-4231 for more information.
Church Adult Basketball League � Deadline to enter is Aug. 24. Season tentatively starts on Sept. 16. There is a $350 team fee. Call Cristy Busler at 704-824-4231 for more information.
Youth soccer � Registration continues until Aug. 3 for ages 4-13. Register at the Mount Holly Citizens Center. Call 704-951-3006 for details.
Lacrosse Camp � Aug. 6-8 from 6-8 p.m. at Tuckaseege Park. For children in grades K-8. Email email@example.com for more information.


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WHITEVILLE � Brie Snipes and Jasmine Atkins scored 14 points apiece to lead visiting Graham past Whiteville 60-43 in the second round of the Class 3-A state playoffs for girls� basketball Wednesday night.
Kay Kay Wilson added 13 points for the 11th-seeded Red Devils (18-10), who jumped out to a 26-19 halftime lead.
LaDadias McMillan hit three 3-pointers and scored 14 points to lead third-seeded Whiteville (20-8). Jordan Ray chipped in 13.
Graham hits the road for the third consecutive playoff game when it meets No. 2 seed Jacksonville Northside in Friday night�s third round.
-- JORDAN-MATTHEWS 53, CUMMINGS 45: At Siler City, Aundrea Walker scored a game-high 22 points for visiting Cummings High School but the Cavaliers� season came to an end as Mid-State 2-A Conference rival Jordan-Matthews won the Class 2-A second-round game.
Sikeya Timmons added 11 points and Aliyah Cobb pulled down a team-high 13 rebounds for the Cavaliers (11-16).
Mylia Garner�s 21 points led the fifth seeded Jets (25-4), who face top-seeded Reidsville, another Mid-State 2-A Conference foe, in Friday night�s third round.
Class 4-A
At Charlotte, the season ended for Southern Alamance, which lost 58-37 at Charlotte Myers Park (29-0). The Patriots ended with a 22-6.
Class 1-A
At Graham, River Mill trounced Franklin Academy for the fourth time this season, winning 69-29 in the second-round game of the state playoffs as Daijah Faucette scored 17 points and Kena Brincefield added 16 points.
The second-seeded Jaguars (25-3) will stay home for Friday night�s third-round game against sixth-seeded Plymouth, which topped Ocracoke 56-26.
Kayla Burns provided 11 points for River Mill.
Catie Keal scored nine points for Franklin Academy (17-9).


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The David Leadbetter Golf Academy at Wailea Golf Club
The David Leadbetter Golf Academy has opened its first school in Hawaii at the Wailea Golf Club.
Recognized as one of the leading golf instructors in the world, David Leadbetter is often associated with his contribution to the successes of Nick Faldo, and continues to work with such leading golfers as Nick Price, Ernie Els, Justin Rose, Charles Howell III, Sean O'Hair, Tevor Immelman and Hawaii's own Michelle Wie. There are currently 30 full-time David Leadbetter Golf Academy locations in 14 countries spanning North America, Europe and Asia. Built on the lower slopes of Mount Haleakala, the Wailea Golf Academy offers one of the most intimate, private learning environments in the game of golf. Two teeing grounds, a chipping green, a practice green, and a fairway bunker round out this exclusive facility.
Reservations & Contact Information
Toll Free: 1.800 424 3542


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Find us on:
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) was originally established in 1950. The NINDS conducts and supports research and research training on the causes, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of neurological disorders and stroke. The Institute awards grants for research projects, program projects, and center grants; provides training support to institutions and fellowships to individuals in the fields of neurological disorders and stroke; conducts intramural and collaborative research; and collects and disseminates research information. Requests for information should be directed to the Office of Communications and Public Liaison.
Review Date: Tuesday, July 26, 2011
List reviewed web resources
The American Heart Association (AHA), a nonprofit, voluntary health agency funded by private contributions, is dedicated to the reduction of death and disability from cardiovascular diseases, including heart diseases and stroke. The AHA is one of the world's largest voluntary health organizations with about 2,200 community organizations in all States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. More than 3.7 million persons volunteer with the AHA to fight cardiovascular diseases, the nation's No. 1 killer and a leading cause of disability. Preventing heart disease and stroke is the first priority of the American Heart Association. In support of this goal, the AHA has contributed more than $1 billion to cardiovascular research since 1949. Public education programs to inform people how to reduce their risk of heart disease and stroke is another priority. The AHA also sponsors continuing medical education seminars and meetings throughout the year.
Review Date: Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Safe Kids Worldwide (formerly the National SAFE KIDS Campaign) is the first and only national nonprofit organization dedicated solely to the prevention of unintentional childhood injury--the number one killer of children ages 14 and under. We offer many educational materials for caregivers and children, including brochures, videos and posters, in both English and Spanish. Our complete resource catalog is available online at www.safekids.org or by calling (800) 289-0117.
Review Date: Wednesday, August 04, 2010
Note: Documents in PDF format require the Adobe Acrobat Reader®. If you experience problems with PDF documents, please download the latest version of the Reader®.
Language Assistance Available


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members only showDon't miss my members only show on Saturday 15th June at 12-1pm EST:)
kisses Read More »
So, let's start. My name is Arianna or just Ari (as for friend:D) I live in a capital of Latvia. I'm here looking for an emotional support and someone who really want to know me in the way I am in a real. I like to travel, doing sport, explore new unknown things for me and I'll be happy if you will help me with that!I like intelligent men who really knows how to spoil girls;)I live role play games and always happy to try some new role! Let's make something i never did before.
My mind full of fantasies I'd like to share only with you. I love experianced men and I'd like to make your dreams come true;) Can't wait to know something new with you.
Feel free to ask me about any fetish you would like to see! I'll try to do my best to make it for you, because to serve somebody is my fetish;)
TWITTER - @AriannaAriesf4f. I love to know as much fetishes as i can handle. If you want to share any your fetish with me feel free to talk to me about it! I'll try to do my best to make your dream come in reality and enjoyed it with you;)I love all kinds of role play games but let's play according to the rules of site.
Twitter - @AriannaAriesf4f! Add me to favourite and subscribe on my notifications to catch me online! Also I like to present gifts. Look after my Lists and blogs - all information about discounts will be there or in my chat room! Check my deals out or if you want to have custom gift (free minutes) for single tip I'll make it for you! Please, don't send me empty requests because I can ban for it. Be polite and patient in my room. I always turn my requests on so don't be shy to get know each other better:)
Ass to Mouth, Breast Play, Cuckolding, Cum Eating, Face Sitting, Legs, Nipple Play, Slaves, Sugar Daddy, Teasing
Boss / Secretary, Dirty Talk, Doctor / Nurse, Flight Attendant/Pilot, French Maid/Client, Master / Slave, Service Worker/Housewife, Student/Teacher


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Get the Skinny! This is just part of the article. Want the complete story, plus a host of other cutting-edge articles to make your job easier? Login or sign up!
- Separate POS logins. If you have more than one person at your service desk, have each log in and out of the point-of-sale (POS) system and maintain their own cash drawer in order to track accuracy.
- Open and close with the same amount of cash each day. If the register drawer or POS is over or under your daily amount, you'll discover which employees can count, who needs training and who's potentially stealing.
- Know who on your team can delete and void service tickets. One of the easiest ways to steal cash is to delete or void a cash ticket after the service and pocket the money. Cash drawer overage might be a sign that this, in fact, is happening.
- Own a safe! Keep a regular balance of petty cash with a record of your expenses. Small business owners tend to leave cash in drawers, tip jars and treatment rooms, which may promote theft and makes it easier to lose.
- Count your products first. Then look to see what the POS system has listed on your shelves. Inventory will take longer, but it will definitely be more accurate.
- Keep all the inventory in your POS system. Sundries, retail, back bar and tools should be accounted for when they're ordered, checked in, and either sold or checked out for use.
- Model the process. As the owner, if you're taking money out of the drawer, products off the shelf or using the back bar for personal use, it sets a bad example.
- Call your bank. Ask for better merchant service fees or shop online for more competitive rates. The extra and hidden fees can really accumulate.
- Review utility bills and look for savings. Understand each charge on your invoice, and ask for additional information when needed. Our waste disposable company was charging more than $200 to come into the garage, and pick up the trash and recycling. We saved more than $2,400 a year by walking it out to the sidewalk.
- Save money by paying down debt and/or transferring it to a credit card with a lower interest rate. Have one credit card for business expenses and charge everything possible to that card. For example, American Express Business Card points can be used to pay for hotel and airfare when attending advanced training classes. You're buying product, supplies and equipment anyway, so why not benefit from the travel perks?
Founder and owner of the San Francisco Institute of Esthetics and Cosmetology since 2002, Deedee Crossett is an industry pioneer for raising the bar of undergraduate education for cosmetologists and estheticians. She can be reached at www.facebook.com/deedee.crossett and Twitter @DeedeeCrossett #10things.
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The 21-year-old has long been linked with a move to Camp Nou, but the Premier League champions are increasingly confident that they can outbid the Primera Division leaders
By Greg Stobart
Manchester City want to make Brazilian superstar Neymar a €57 million marquee summer signing as they prepare to battle with Barcelona for the forward's signature.
City directors Ferran Soriano and Txiki Begiristain held talks with the Neymar's representatives at Wembley on the night of England's friendly against Brazil on February 6.
|Luiz Alberto Moura | Goal.com Brazil
Neymar has long insisted that he is willing to stay at Santos until after the World Cup. The club are understandably willing to keep hold of a player of his undoubted talents, but also because he will be key to their marketing strategy in 2014.
Of course, Neymar is earning a considerable amount from sponsors himself. Eleven of them, to be precise, including underwear, shampoo and mobile phones. He also has a range of his own products, such as pillows, mugs and school notebooks. Indeed, 92% of his gross income comes from endorsements, with his Santos salary contributing just 8%.
Brazilian newspaper Diario de Sao Paulo suggested that Neymar earned £40m in 2012, while his father, Neymar Silva Santos, has stated that his son's earnings will supported the next five or six generations of the family.
That came six weeks after City director of football Begiristain flew to Sao Paulo for initial talks with Brazilian club Santos over a big-money move for Neymar.
Santos hope to keep the 21-year-old until after the 2014 World Cup in Brazil but are braced for summer bids, with Spanish giants Barcelona also long-term admirers of the player.
As exclusively revealed by Goal.com in January, Barca have deployed right-back Dani Alves as a secret weapon to lure his compatriot to Camp Nou, something which the player himself recently confirmed.
And reports of a multimillion pre-contract deal between Barca and Santos refuse to go away, despite constant denials from all parties.
City, however, remain hopeful of striking a deal to bring one of the hottest properties in world football to the Etihad Stadium.
The Premier League champions are looking for a marketable stellar signing and are also keeping tabs on Cristiano Ronaldo's contract situation at Real Madrid – though the Portuguese himself stated that it would be very difficult to join the club due to his ties to United.
But Neymar appears a more likely possibility, not least because Begiristain has a strong relationship with the Brazilian's father.
City also believe they have the financial muscle to outbid Barcelona both in terms of transfer fee and wages as the spiky relationship between the two clubs continues to simmer.
The Catalan giants are concerned that Soriano and Begiristain, former executives at Camp Nou, are looking to use their inside knowledge to target young players in the Blaugrana squad.
Now the two clubs are preparing to go head to head for Neymar, who has scored 70 goals in 133 games for Santos.
He is also the star of the Brazil national team having netted 17 times in 28 international appearances.


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Brace yourselves, I got a lot to say today.
Hilda is the reason for my pin-up obsession. I can't believe I forgot about her! But now she's like a long lost friend and I can't get enough. I shall now keep my eyes out for Hilda merchandise. I will be searching flea markets, antique stores, as well as the Internet for anything I can find.
I think this beautiful buxom country girl is a perfect role model!


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Thanks to a wonderful company named VIDLIT, I am SO proud to announce the "World Premiere" of the video for, "Please Don't Eat Sushi, Love Mom!" That's right! It's a short little movie about my letters!
But wait! There's more! The narration was done by yours truly, and yes, my mother. She was nice enough to actually come into a recording studio and read 5 of her very own letters. (Though she still didn't find anything funny about any of them. The sound engineer was in stitches throughout.) I was going to ask Edie McClurg to play the voice of my mom, but realized that old adage about the truth being stranger...
Check it out! Tell your friends and family!
Acting Workshops
3 years ago


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Lighting Artist – Digital Domain Vancouver
Location: Vancouver, BC
The Lighting Artist will light shots and sequences and may participate in some Look Development. The Lighting Artist will work within the lighting and rendering pipeline to see shots through from start to finish.
Principal Duties and Responsibilities:
• Create photorealistic CG lighting that meets all technical and aesthetic standards for the project
• Complete tasks within production deadlines while being largely self-directed
• Be able to troubleshoot common rendering and lighting technical issues, including ray tracing render optimization
Education, Experience and Skills Required:
• A wide range of experience and skills that can be used to resolve complex issues in creative and effective ways
• 3+ years experience creating photorealistic lighting for live-action feature films in Maya and
• Renderman, Mental Ray or Vray
• Experience with Katana and/or Arnold a plus
• Extensive experience in a wide range of CG Lighting techniques and technical methods
• Experience with HDRs and image based lighting
• Ability to troubleshoot and debug common rendering issues
• Python or C++ experience in production is ideal
• Must have excellent communication and organizational skills
To apply for this position please select Vancouver from the drop down location menu and submit an application at http://careers.digitaldomain.com/application.php?job_id=10_2_0074
Digital Domain Recruiting Lighting Artist, Digital Domain hiring, Digital Domain VFX, Digital Domain Jobs, Animation Jobs, VFX Jobs, CG Jobs, 3D Jobs, CGI, Jobs, Recruiting, Recruitment, Digital Domain Recruiting, Digital Domain Recruiting Lighting Artist


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Appetite changes
Cancer and its treatment can cause changes in your eating habits and your desire to eat. Not eating can lead to weight loss, and this can cause weakness and fatigue. Eating as well as you can is an important part of taking care of yourself. Treatment-related side effects like pain, nausea, and constipation can also cause loss of appetite. Managing these problems may help you eat better.
What to do
- Eat several snacks throughout the day, rather than 3 large meals.
- Avoid liquids with meals, or take only small sips of liquids to keep from feeling full early (unless you need liquids to help swallow or for dry mouth). Drink most of your liquids between meals.
- Make eating more enjoyable by setting the table with pretty dishes, playing your favorite music, watching TV, or eating with someone.
- Be as physically active as you can. Start off slowly, and increase your activity over time as you feel stronger. Sometimes a short walk an hour or so before meals can help you feel hungry.
- Keep high-calorie, high-protein snacks on hand. Try hard-cooked eggs, peanut butter, cheese, ice cream, granola bars, liquid nutritional supplements, puddings, nuts, canned tuna or chicken, or trail mix. (See the table of high-protein foods under "Tips to increase calories and protein" in the section " Once treatment starts.")
- Review the tips on adding calories and protein to foods in the "Once treatment starts" section, and include these in meals and snacks throughout the day.
- Eat your favorite foods any time of the day; for instance, if you like breakfast foods, eat them for dinner.
Nutrition for the Person With Cancer During Treatment
- Benefits of good nutrition during cancer treatment
- Cancer and cancer treatment affect nutrition
- Before treatment begins
- Once treatment starts
- Managing eating problems caused by surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy
- For people with weakened immune systems
- How to cope with common eating problems
- Appetite changes
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Fatigue
- Mouth dryness or thick saliva
- Mouth or throat pain or sores
- Nausea
- Swallowing problems
- Taste and smell changes
- Weight gain
- Nutrition after treatment ends
- To learn more
- Recipes to try during cancer treatment
Last Medical Review: July 15, 2015 Last Revised: July 15, 2015
American Cancer Society medical information is copyrighted material. For reprint requests, please see our Content Usage Policy.


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On Being Human. The Importance of Writing More Engaging Emails
Join us for a free webinar with DJ Waldow – author, speaker, blogger, podcaster, and former Digital Marketing Evangelist at Marketo — and learn how to make your email (and other marketing) more HUMAN and engaging.
In this webinar you will:
- See examples of robotic emails
- Learn what makes an email "Human"... and engaging
- See tons of amazing examples of people friendly marketing
- Be thoroughly entertained
and learn several very actionable takeaways!


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Health care guide to debt limit battle
Congress's most recent spending battle left the health industry with some nicks and scratches, but it's leery of having to hand over even bigger savings in the next battle looming two months from now.
From hospitals to doctors to insurers to drug makers, industry players are expecting they'll come up in the mix as lawmakers search for ways to pay for another deal to avert sequestration and increase the debt limit.
Story Continued Below
Some of the biggest ideas for cutting health care spending got pushed to the side when President Barack Obama and Congress turned their attention to cutting a smaller fiscal cliff deal. But now, Republicans say they'll insist on real spending cuts in the debt limit-sequestration fight. And if Obama continues to resist big entitlement changes, the health care industry could be in for another round of cuts.
"In many ways, we're kind of in the same place as before but there are just different drivers in relation to this cliff," said Rick Pollack, executive vice president at the American Hospital Association. "A lot of the same issues are likely, unfortunately, to raise their head again."
Here is a guide to what's at stake for the health care industry in the next round:
Doctors are breathing somewhat easier now that Congress has averted dramatic cuts in their Medicare payments for another year — and paid for it without seriously docking them elsewhere.
Physician groups feared lawmakers would fund the "doc fix" by eliminating a part of the health care law that boosts Medicaid payments for primary-care services up to Medicare levels for two years. Medicaid is notorious for paying doctors low rates — typically about two-thirds as much as Medicare pays — which is one reason the program's low-income patients have trouble finding doctors who will treat them.
Instead, lawmakers pieced together a smorgasbord of savings that cut payments to hospitals and other providers. But that doesn't mean they won't return to the idea when the hunt is on for entitlement savings.
Temporarily increasing Medicaid payments was intended to improve access to care for low-income patients. But with a nearly $12 billion price tag, the measure offers lawmakers a source of savings if they so choose.
Doctors also worry that lawmakers might dip into funding for medical training, an idea that has been backed by Obama and his 2010 deficit-reduction commission.
As the single largest funder of graduate medical education, the government could save a lot if it reorganized and sliced down some of the program's payments. Consolidating spending on graduate medical education into a grant program would save $70 billion over the next decade, according to the Congressional Budget Office.


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London, England (CNN) -- Tori Amos has been entertaining audiences for nearly two decades with her blend of insightful and melodic compositions allied to a gutsy and theatrical delivery.
She is one of many musicians who clearly have a special bond with their instrument. This apparently led her to declare once that she preferred her piano to people.
Was this true? Asked CNN's Becky Anderson when she spoke to Amos on Connect the World.
"Sometimes," she said before adding "most people, but not all people."
Amos is well known for tackling some of the major life themes in her work musing on love, sex and religion, and her new album "Midwinter Graces" finds her in familiar territory. A traditional Christmas album it is not.
"My father wanted me to do this for a long, long time," Amos said. "But I wanted to do something that was more inclusive of different cultures and beliefs."
Amos says the album was influenced by the pianist George Winston who she discovered when she was "running around LA in the 1980s." Winston, she said, released albums called "December" and "Winter into Spring" where, "he did a twist on some of the songs we all grew up with."
Religion played a central role in Amos's upbringing -- her father was a Methodist minister in North Carolina -- and her idea of a god is still evolving.
"I'm more inspired by the idea of a creator and the native American tradition has really influenced me into opening and expanding the idea of what that is."
Amos has long been a campaigner for women's rights and in 1994 she co-founded the anti sexual assault organization RAINN (Rape Abuse and Incest National Network).
"The good news and the bad news," she said, "is that we've had over one million calls and the people there are highly trained and help people across America."
Sexual violence is something that Amos has had to contend with herself. She said a British psychologist working at the Cedar Sinai hospital in Los Angeles had "helped me for ten years to work through things."
Happier times arrived for Amos when she became a mother in 2000, when she gave birth to Natashya. It was "the missing piece of the puzzle for me," she said.
Her daughter's birth "literally kicked out any kind of negativity or self-abuse that I was holding onto," she said.


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Phased Retirement for Faculty
Summary Plan Description
A. Introduction
The following description is of a phased retirement plan for regular faculty of Clark University. The faculty member will enter into an agreement with the University to retire at a specified date in the future, and to reduce overall workload during the phased period of one semester to three years. The specific terms of an agreement will be arranged between the individual faculty member and the Provost, to the mutual agreement of both parties. It is anticipated that specific agreements for individuals will differ.
B. Establishment of the Plan
This Summary Plan Description sets forth the provisions of the University's Phased Retirement Plan for faculty, established by Clark University as of September 1991. Funding for this plan is provided from the University's general operating funds.
C. Eligibility
Participants must be tenured faculty with ten years of service at Clark University who have attained age 59. A year of service is defined as two semesters of full-time employment, including semesters of sabbatical leave and leave for pregnancy, but excluding other leaves of absence.
D. Salary
Salary in the first year will be 50-70% of full-time salary. Annual increases for phased retirees will be equal to the average increase for full-time faculty in their rank.
E. Work Responsibilities
In no case is it expected that the overall workload will be less than half that of a full-time faculty member. The teaching load shall be 40-60% during the period for phased retirement. Non-teaching responsibilities will be determined my mutual agreement of the faculty member and the Provost prior to the commencement of the individual phased retirement agreement.
F. Benefits
Faculty will be eligible for full benefits except sabbatical leave, life, and long-term disability insurance. The University's contribution to TIAA/CREF and Social Security shall be based on actual salary paid.
The University's contribution to the faculty member's health insurance plan will be equal to that for full-time faculty. If an individual is restricted by the health insurance carrier from continuing enrollment in their current health insurance plan, the University will allow its regular contribution toward another plan. If the faculty member is no longer eligible for one of the University's health plans and not eligible for Medicare, then he/she may:
- Convert to the non-group, direct pay, bill-at-home plan (if provided by the carrier), with the University contributing its regular contribution to the plan, or
- Take advantage of the Consolidated Omnibus Reconciliation Act (COBRA) option and remain in one of Clark's regular health insurance plans for up to 18 months, after which time convert to the non-group, direct-pay, bill-at-home plan (if provided by the carrier), with the University contributing its regular contribution to the plan.
Continued eligibility for any health insurance plan is subject to the policies and practices of the carrier.
G. Application for Participation
An eligible faculty member must apply to the Provost for participation in the phased retirement plan. The terms of each phased retirement agreement are subject to the approval of the Board of Trustees of Clark University.
H. Plan Administration
The Chief Human Resources Officer at Clark University, (508) 793-7294, is the Administrator of this plan and is responsible for performing duties required for the operation of the plan. The Administrator may designate in writing other persons to carry out duties under the plan.
I. Plan Year
The plan year is September 1 through August 31 of each year. Records for each participant are maintained on a calendar year basis.
J. Requests for Information
Requests for information and questions concerning eligibility, participation, or other aspects of the operation of the plan should be in writing and directed to the Administrator of this plan.
K. Amendment and Termination
While it is expected that this plan will continue, the University reserves the right to modify or discontinue the plan at any time. The University may also delegate any of its powers and duties with respect to the plan, or amendments, to one or more officers or other employees of the University. Any such delegation shall be set forth in writing.
Any discontinuance or modification of the plan cannot adversely affect the benefits accrued by the participants prior to the date of discontinuance or modification.
L. Statements of ERISA Rights
Participants in the Phased Retirement Plan are entitled to certain rights and protections under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). ERISA provides that all plan participants shall be entitled to:
- Examine, without charge, at the Administrator's office, all plan documents, including all plan documents filed with the U.S. Department of Labor such as annual reports and plan descriptions.
- Obtain copies of all plan documents upon written request to the Plan Administrator. The Administrator may make a reasonable charge for the copies.
- Receive a summary of the plan's annual ERISA report to the Internal Revenue Service. The Plan Administrator is required by law to furnish each participant with a copy of this summary annual report.
ERISA sets forth the duties of the people who are responsible for the operation of the Phased Retirement Plan. The people who operate this plan have a duty to do so prudently and in the interest of the plan participants. No one, including the University, may discharge or otherwise discriminate against participants in any way to prevent them from obtaining benefits to which they are entitled under the plan or exercising their rights under ERISA.
If an application for benefits under the plan is denied in whole or in part, the participant must receive a written explanation of the reasons for the denial. Participants have the right to have the Administrator review and reconsider denied claims on eligibility, participation, or other aspects of the operation of the plan. Under ERISA, participants may take steps to enforce these rights. If the Plan Administrator's responsibility is not discharged according to the terms of this plan or if a participant is discriminated against for asserting ERISA rights, he or she may seek assistance from the University States Department of Labor, or may file a suit in federal court.
Contact the Plan Administrator if you have any questions about this plan. If a participant has any questions about this statement or about rights under ERISA, he or she should contact the nearest area office of the United State Labor-Management Services Administration, Department of Labor.


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Brown Sues to Block Property Tax Rip-Off
San Diego—Continuing his fight to stop scams against homeowners, Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. today filed suit against two brothers who "ripped off homeowners" seeking help in reducing their property tax assessments.
The brothers billed tens of thousands of homeowners throughout California nearly $200 each for property tax reassessment services that were almost never performed and are available free of charge from local tax assessors.
"These scam-artists ripped off thousands of homeowners for property reassessment services readily available free of charge," Attorney General Brown said. "This lawsuit seeks to end the deception and blocks these companies from continuing to scam homeowners."
Brown's suit, filed in San Diego County Superior Court against brothers Sean and Michael McConville and their businesses, "Property Tax Reassessment" and "Property Tax Adjustment Services," seeks an end to the scam and at least $2.5 million in civil penalties. The suit contends that these companies:
• Made and continue to make untrue and misleading statements with the intent to induce consumers to purchase products and services in violation of Business and Professions Code Section 17500 and 17537.9;
• Distributed solicitations implying a government connection, approval or endorsement in violation of Business and Professions Code Section 17533.6;
• Distributed solicitations that appear to be billing statements in violation of California Civil Code Section 1716; and
• Engaged in unfair competition in violation of Business and Professions Code Section 17200.
These Southern California-based companies targeted tens of thousands of Californians looking to lower their property taxes with mailers that read like government billing statements, featured official-looking logos and demanded hundreds of dollars in payments for reassessment and reassessment appeal services. The statements warned homeowners that if payments were not received by the "due date" they faced late fees or would have their file marked "non-responsive" or "ineligible for future tax reassessments."
Brown contends that neither company adequately informed consumers that they were not a governmental entity, the solicitations were not a bill, purchase of the services was not required and services were available free of charge from county assessors.
Additionally, few, if any, of the property tax assessment services homeowners were billed for in 2008 were completed.
These companies continue to solicit California homeowners and have recently sent out mailers with due dates of May 26, 2009.
Last week, the Ventura District Attorney's Office charged one of the brothers, Sean McConville, with 20 felony counts for criminal conduct stemming from his property tax reassessment operations.
To avoid becoming a victim, homeowners who believe their property value has declined and they are paying too much in property taxes should:
• Never pay money for something they did not ask for; and
• Avoid a middleman and instead contact a local county tax assessor's office for a free property value reassessment.
Homeowners who believe they have been victimized by this or any other property tax scam should contact the Attorney General's Office at:
• http://ag.ca.gov/contact/complaint_form.php?cmplt=CL ;
• 1-800-952-5225; or
• P.O. Box 944255 Sacramento, CA 94244.
This lawsuit follows the property tax scam alert Brown issued on February 12, 2009. Since taking office Brown has made protecting homeowners a top priority. In the past three months alone, Brown has:
• Obtained a guilty plea from a woman who operated a sophisticated Los Angeles-based loan scam;
• Announced the arrest of two loan modification scam artists that operated a company called Foreclosure Freedom responsible for conning vulnerable homeowners out of thousands of dollars;
• Sent perpetrators of a San Bernardino-based foreclosure scam engineered by the First Gov company to prison;
• Issued a warning about scam artists using forged letterhead to con homeowners into paying for non-existent loan modification services.
• Stopped a massive statewide scheme that unfairly overcharged thousands of Californians for shoddy and home repair work; and
Today's complaint is attached.


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Round Diamond Ref. ID1057
1840 € excl VAT
2208 € incl VAT
Carat :
0.66 Ct
Shape :
Round brilliant
Certificate N° GIA :
Fluorescence :
Estimated delivery time : 2 Weeks
Free shipping for France, Monaco and EEC countries.
30-day money back guarantee
Payment by Credit Card, Paypal, Bank Transfer or Cheque
Payment on delivery 35% at the order and balance upon reception


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The Los Angeles Aqueduct was Built with the Help of Holt's Caterpillar Tractors
The Los Angeles Aqueduct was constructed during 1908-1913 to transport water via a concrete-lined tunnel from the Owens River to Los Angeles, California. The Caterpillar tractors hauled rock, cement, supplies and other machinery from the railroad to the Los Angeles Aqueduct. Loads weighed as much as 50 tons and the machines traveled up to four […]Read more


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Study Says It's Cheaper to Buy Than Rent
I saw a story that's bound to gladden the heart of real estate agents everywhere. Apartment owners, I'm not so sure.
The story from AOL says it's cheaper in the long run to buy a home than to rent. In fact, the story says buying is 44 percent cheaper than renting, and it holds true in all of the 100 largest metro areas in the country. You read right - 44 percent cheaper.
Where Sioux Falls fits in the story doesn't say, but declining mortgage rates, I'm sure, have a lot to do with it.
Of course, many, many people who bought their homes at what turned out to be the wrong time are upside-down, and home ownership has driven many of them into bankruptcy.
I'm certainly no economist, but if we were deciding what to do, I would investigate further.


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or make 4 interest-free payments of fortnightly with More info
If youre looking for bold and exciting design, the Born To Be Rad Print answers the call. Set in bold and black and white with a whimsical font and speckled background, this print is sure to inject playful energy into your living space.
Born To Be Rad comes unframed so you can customize it with a frame that suits your style and taste. This print will make a fun and stylish addition to any room!
Available in A4, A3, A2 and A1
A4 - A3 printed on high quality 250 GSM white gloss card stock
A2 - A1 printed high quality 160 GSM white matt art film
We take the greatest of care when posting prints and posters, to ensure that they are delivered to their new home in perfect condition.
All A4 prints are packed in plastic protective pockets with boxboard and are sent in a rigid envelope for extra protection.
All A3, A2 and A1 prints or posters are rolled up carefully and posted in mailing tubes for protection.
Prints will be sent using Australia Post eParcel. Shipping is flat rate of $9.95. All domestic (Australian) orders of $150.00 AUD or over, will be shipped free of charge.
If you require your products urgently, please contact us at: firstname.lastname@example.com before placing your order (or as soon as possible after) to arrange express shipping.
Prices are exclusive of GST, which will be added to the total value of your order, at the final stage of checkout.
We make every effort to ensure that the images and descriptions of our products are accurate. We cannot, however, be liable for differences in color or appearance that may be attributed to variations in calibration of your computer monitor or handheld device.
This product hasn't received any reviews yet. Be the first to review this product!


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The US Congress did pass the mental health parity bill. AOTA has an author on a bill at the federal level to make occupational therapy a lead in opening cases in the home health context.
OTAC was able to get Blue Cross to reverse reimbursement reductions last spring (2008) after they initially proposed 50% or more reductions in reimbursement for OT services. After OTAC met with the Blue Cross executives, they permanently reversed the reimbursement reductions. These successes support the notion that advocacy works.
OTAC is presently working with the group Autism Speaks to get a bill authored that will cover OT services to children with autism and Governor Schwarzenegger has called a special session for after the elections to solve the continued budget crisis. The Legislature is required to respond to this call and plans to convene either Friday, November 7 or Monday, November 10. The Governor estimates that the budget deficit is between $5 and $8 billion, while legislative leaders are estimating it could be as high as $10 billion.
—Jane Dressler, J.D., OTR/L


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Light switch not working? Sink won't drain like it used to? Be sure to let us know!
We can resolve most any maintenance problem quickly and professionally. Click the button below to access our Maintenance Request reporting system. Simply enter the "Secret Passphrase" found in your Rental Agreement to gain access.


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A set of six 10-15 minute video modules for adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa covering human reproduction, pregnancy prevention, STIs including HIV/AIDS, unwanted sex, and unsafe abortion. Accompanying discussion guide outlines role plays, discussions, and group activities to help young people explore the issues raised in the video and develop the skills and confidence to build caring relationships, communicate effectively, and avoid unwanted sexual activity.
Available in PAL and NTSC formats. (For NTSC format, please email email@example.com)
Developed in collaboration with the Family Planning Association of Kenya and Deutsche Stiftung Weltevölkerung, adapted into Swahili with input from Tanzanian partners.


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The most popular page on our website is the New Arrivals page and is frequently bookmarked by our regular customers. New items are added daily. Check it out now!
Chef Knives To Go offers unmatched selection of kitchen knives! We are committed to bringing you unique knives and sharpening stones from a wide range of makers from around the world.
Stay Sharp!
CKTG is at heart a small business so the service is personal. They are one of the rare companies that actually dispatch the order the same day as receiving it and provide tracking information. It is great to deal with an individual by name and it�s evident that they take pride and love in what they do.
Had a problem with one of the products and they went out of their way to resolve. I would highly recommend dealing with this company. It�s nice to find a company who cares and they will get me as a return customer.
Mark is great at answering questions for knife nuts of all levels. His service is second to none. Really appreciate the time he puts into every email as well as the free forum he hosts.
Great experience working with Chef Knives to Go. Quick delivery, and they are great about returning emails. I'm actually waiting on my second knife from them. I'm sure there will be more to come.
Loved the instructional videos on the website.
Great service and quick shipping. Best selection of Japanese knives around. I recommend this site to all of my fellow culinary professionals!
Top quality service. None better.
Always the best. Quick shipping, description matches what is delivered and the price, you can't beat them. I always come here to order anything I might need for the kitchen and I am never disappointed.
I ordered several Christmas presents from Chef Knives To Go. Everything arrived as promised and all who received gifts from there were happy with them.
As always, the shopping experience at Chef Knives to Go was excellent. Fast, free shipping, great website description of the product, and the confidence instilled in me because I know that if there are any problems the good people at Chef Knives to Go will help me work it out.
My go to company for kitchen gear. Awesome selection of knives and tools. Super fast shipping. Never had a problem and questions about all products are answered quickly. Great customer service.


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100 One-Night Reads: A Book Lover's Guide
By: and
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You must be logged into Bookshare to access this title. Learn about membership options, or view our freely available titles.
- Synopsis
- Readers everywhere know that nothing soothes the spirit like sinking into a really good book. If you're one of that happy band, you'll quickly recognize the authors of this inspired reading guide as kindred spirits. Here David and John Major have chosen one hundred books that can each be delightfully consumed in one quiet evening. Covering categories from fantasy to fiction, history to humor, mystery to memoir, this addictive volume features books to match all your moods--by both celebrated writers and gifted unknowns, including: * Russell Baker * Willa Cather * Raymond Chandler * F. Scott Fitzgerald * Graham Greene * Edith Hamilton * Dashiell Hammett * Helene Hanff * Ernest Hemingway * Patricia Highsmith * Shirley Jackson * Henry James * W. Somerset Maugham * Mary McCarthy * Walter Mosley * Vladimir Nabokov * Patrick O'Brian * Barbara Pym * Phillip Roth * Vikram Seth * Isaac Bashevis Singer * C. P. Snow * Dylan Thomas * Evelyn Waugh * Edith Wharton * Laura Ingalls Wilder * Virginia Woolf Each selection contains an entertaining discussion of what makes the book special, from an adventurous writing style to a unique sense of humor. The Majors also share insights about the authors and literary anecdotes, as well as recommend other gems on a similar subject or by the same author. A literary companion to relish and refer to again and again, 100 One-Night Reads is a masterpiece in its own right!
- Copyright:
- 2001
Book Details
- Book Quality:
- Publisher Quality
- Book Size:
- 313 Pages
- 9780307480897
- Related ISBNs:
- 9780345439949
- Publisher:
- Ballantine Books
- Date of Addition:
- 06/17/10
- Copyrighted By:
- David C. Major and John S. Major
- Adult content:
- No
- Language:
- English
- Has Image Descriptions:
- No
- Categories:
- Nonfiction, Reference, Literature and Fiction
- Submitted By:
- Bookshare Staff
- Usage Restrictions:
- This is a copyrighted book.
Other Books
- by David C. Major
- by John S. Major
- in Nonfiction
- in Reference
- in Literature and Fiction


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On Thursday it was announced that Michael Shank Racing used an illegal engine in the Ford that took third place at the Rolex 24 last weekend. The car was piloted by Ozz Negri, John Pew, Justin Wilson, Marcos Ambrose and A.J. Allmendinger. Grand-Am handed down it's biggest penalty ever, fining MSR $30,000 and deducting 30 points from each driver and from the team. Fans were disappointed about the infraction, and several of them took to Twitter to voice their displeasure. What do you think about the penalty? Was it too stiff, or not hard enough? Comment below.
Michael Shank Racing gets penalty for Rolex 24: What's the buzz?
Disqus Comment


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Lynda.com Faq
Can I go directly to lynda.com to view the tutorials?
No. You MUST connect through the UIS login with the link "LOGIN TO LYNDA.COM" on the On Demand Technology Training page. This link will authenticate you as a UIS individual and provide you access to all tutorials.
Is there a short URL to remember for the UIS lynda.com training materials?
Browse to go.uis.edu/lynda. This is the primary access point and support page for the UIS lynda.com pages.
Who can access the lynda.com training materials?
Anyone with an active UIS NetID and password can access the lynda.com training materials.
Do I need to recreate an account at lynda.com?
No. All you need to access the courses is your UIS NetID and password.
How do I know if I am logged in?
On the landing page, it will state "Hi, [your name]". More importantly you will be able to access all video tutorials on the lynda.com site.
Can I access lynda.com through a wireless network connection?
Yes, you can connect through UIS Wireless or off campus with a wireless connection.
How many people can be logged in to lynda.com at the same time?
UIS has an unlimited site license. This means there is no restriction on the number of simultaneous users.
Can I access the tutorials from off campus?
Yes. You access the tutorails the same way as if you were on campus. If you are having trouble make sure you are using your UIS NetID (in lower-case) as your login, instead of using your full UIS email address. Also make sure to use your ACCC common password (always in mixed case); the same password you use to login to Webmail.
Do we have access to the full library or just the "free sample training"?
Everyone at UIS has access to the full library of the lynda.com tutorials once you login with your UIS NetID and password.
How do I track my progress?
Based on the license agreement with UIS, the lynda.com system does not track individual usage. If you choose to use the free service it is your responsibility to track your progress.
I do not have QuickTime installed on my computer, how can I view these tutorials?
QuickTime is required in order to view the tutorials. It is a free download and can be installed from the following link. If you are on campus you may need to speak with ITS if you are not able to install the plug-in onto your work machine. Download the free QuickTime player.
I was kicked out of my training session because it "timed-out", why?
That would happen because the UIS Bluestem authentication does indeed time out. Simply login again (close your browser and re-launch it if you have to and login again) and at least once every hour open a new window and run another Bluestem-authenticated application, like Webmail (webmail.uis.edu) and click on it just so your Bluestem authentication does not time-out because of perceived inactivity.
What are the minimum machine requirements for using lynda.com?
Operating systems: Microsoft Windows XP SP2, Microsoft Windows Vista, Macintosh OS X, Linux
Apple QuickTime 7.5 or above
Internet connection with sufficient bandwidth
Screen resolution 1024×768 is minimum


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HHS releases a report on premiums in the health Exchanges.
Document Excerpt
This report summarizes the health plan choices and premiums that will be available in the Health Insurance Marketplace. It contains new information, current as of September 18, 2013, on qualified health plans in the 36 states in which the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will support or fully run the Health Insurance Marketplace in 2014. Plan data is in final stages but is still under review as of September 18 and may be revised in HHS systems before being displayed for consumers, so this information is subject to change. This analysis also includes similar information that is publicly available from 11 states and the District of Columbia that are implementing their own Marketplace. This report focuses on the plans with the lowest premiums in each state, as consumers are expected to shop for low-cost plans. Nearly all consumers (about 95%) will have a choice of 2 or more health insurance issuers (often many more) and nearly all consumers (about 95%) live in states with average premiums below earlier estimates.
Link http://aspe.hhs.gov/health/reports/2013/MarketplacePremiums/ib_marketplace_premiums.cfm


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Creating Family Literacy Focus Initiatives
Family literacy programming has a long history in public libraries. Family literacy @ your library probably started when a children's librarian carefully selected a familiar storybook, gathered children and parents in a semi-circle, held the book so everyone could see the pictures, assumed her best storybook reading voice, and read the book from beginning to end. The children were drawn in by the words and images, the parents treasured the peace and quiet, and the librarian knew that she was reaching, engaging, and teaching her youngest patrons and their parents.
Family literacy, as a national movement, emerged in the late 1980's in response to the 1983 release of the seminal report A Nation at Risk (http://teachertenure.procon.org/sourcefiles/a-nation-at-risk-tenure-april-1983.pdf, National Commission on Excellence in Education). The report noted that the best predictor of a child's success in school was the mother's level of education (i.e. grade level completed). Educators and policy makers agreed that the best way to help children succeed in school was to improve the parents' literacy level. An even better idea was to make school success a family issue. As family literacy programs sprang up across the country a national, four component model emerged. This new model included children's literacy activities from play to print, adult literacy instruction (1:1 tutoring or small group instruction), family time where parents and children learned and played together, and finally, parenting classes.
In January 2010, ALA and ALA 2009-2010 President Dr. Camila Alire launched the Family Literacy Focus, an initiative to encourage and inspire families in ethnically diverse communities to read and learn together. ALA's five Ethnic Affiliates received funding to develop sustainable and replicable library-based family literacy programs that emphasize oral and written traditions and promote reading, writing, and storytelling.
The ethnic affiliates are the American Indian Library Association ( AILA), the Asian/Pacific Americans Library Association ( APALA), the Black Caucus of the American Library Association ( BCALA), the Chinese-American Library Association ( CALA), and the National Association to Promote Library and Information Services to Latinos & the Spanish Speaking ( REFORMA).
In June 2010, at ALA's Annual Conference in Washington, D.C., the five Ethnic Affiliates showcased their projects and shared their products. The Affiliates built websites with project resources, program models, and family stories; developed manuals, toolkits, bibliographies, and interactive databases; created press releases, and bilingual print and digital brochures; designed posters, banners, book bags, pens, and notebooks.
Since the program was launched the following are some of the events and achievements of these programs have produced:
The Initiatives
Dai Dai Xiang Chuan (Bridging Generations, A Bag at a Time)
Chinese-American Library Association
CALA's FLF project, Dai Dai Xiang Chuan – Bridging Generations, a Bag at a Time -- is designed to improve intergenerational literacy, cultural awareness, and life skills for immigrant families and families with adopted children from China and Chinese speaking countries. Public libraries in Cleveland, San Francisco and Indiana and the Miami (Ohio) University Library participated in the project. Each library created five themed bags based on the interests, needs, and resources of their community.
Dai Dai Xiang Chuan is a pun on generation and bags – while the words are written differently in Chinese, they are pronounced the same. All of the themed bags focused on traditional Chinese activities and celebrations including holidays and festivals, cooking, exercise, health, and the arts. The bags included books, DVDs, recipes, flash cards, and craft materials and instructions.
Families participated in story time, dragon boat racing, model building, and other cooking and craft activities. Dai Dai Xiang Chuan also included a Showcase Day where participating families shared their favorite Dai Dai literacy.
- Download Poster (.jpg)
- Visit Dai Dai Xiang Chuan Web page
Noche de Cuentos
REFORMA: The National Association to Promote Library and Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish Speaking
As part of the FLF initiative, REFORMA awarded five NOCHE DE CUENTOS mini-grants to honor their oral tradition, bring generations together, and build strong literacy skills.
Half Moon Bay Branch, San Mateo (CA) County Public Library helped fifth graders create and share family storybook albums on Noche de Cuentos.
National National City (CA) Public Library and the Libros Chapter of REFORMA, San Diego hosted three Noche de Cuentos evenings featuring storytelling performances and music and dancing, and an intergenerational literacy activity .
Charlotte Mecklenburg (NC) Library (CML) hosted two well-attended events, a storytelling performance and an informal storytelling evening where participants told their own stories.
Salinas (CA) Public Library invited abuelitas (grandmothers) to tell their life stories. Their oral life histories will be published and the book will be available at the library as a public record of the event.
REFORMA's central Texas chapter, El Corazon de Tejas and the Mexican American Cultural Center hosted community-wide events featuring local writers and speakers.
Reading is Grand!
Black Caucus of the American Library Association (BCALA)
BCALA's "Reading is Grand" focused on the grandparent-grandchild relationship. Increasingly, African American grandparents are responsible for raising and educating their grandchildren.
The "Reading is Grand" kickoff event was held at the Whitney Young Branch of the Chicago Public Library. The afternoon event featured author , historian and storyteller Irene Smalls. Ms. Smalls shared her own lively family stories and read from her books, My Pop Pop and Me; My Nana and Me. Following the reading, grandparents shared their family memories with the younger generation. Grandparents and grandchildren worked together on a journal especially for their family stories. Each participating grand-family received a book to add to their home library.
Talk Story
A joint project with the American Indian Library Association and the Asian/Pacific Librarians Association
AILA and APALA pooled their FLF funds to develop Talk Story: Sharing Stories, Sharing Culture. Talk story is a Hawaiian term referring to an informal style of conversation where a person shares a story while others corroborate or add to it as it is being told.
The AILA/APALA initiative is designed for families in Native or Asian Pacific communities, but can be adapted for any ethnic group. Participating libraries included the Carson Public Library, Carson, Calif.; Lincoln Public Libraries, Lincoln Neb.; Queens Library, Flushing N.Y.; Tuzzy Consortium Library, Barrow, Alaska; and the Laguna Public Library, Laguna, N.M.
AILA/APALA's Talk Story's focuses on a celebratory literacy event at the library with a structured storytime and followed by informal storytelling. Storytimes include a theme, recommended books, and craft activities. AILA and APALA created bibliographies of quality children's and young adult books written by Asian American or American Indian/Alaskan Native authors. The program stressed the importance of reading to children and included tips for choosing and reading books.
Additional Information
The American Dream Starts @ your library
Office for Diversity, Literacy, and Outreach Services
Visit the ODLOS Intersections blog for stories from the field.
For more information, please contact the ALA Office for Diversity, Literacy, and Outreach Services; (800) 545-2433, ext. 4294,
or email firstname.lastname@example.com


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Part two of two. For part one on advances in treatment and the changing face of people with HIV and AIDS, go here.
Complicating the situation is the current recession. Funding cuts to programs that support people living with HIV are in the latest New York City budget, including a $1.3 million cut in the HIV/AIDS Services Administration's rent assistance program,. The city also cut HIV prevention and health literacy for seniors, HIV/AIDS Communities of Color and money for the Injection Drug Users Health Alliance.
The New York state budget has instituted a ceiling on payments to Certified Home Health Care Agencies that serve people with special needs, including those with HIV/AIDS. The budget also includes a cap on the Medicaid pharmacy benefit and a policy change that gives the state authority to deny coverage on certain drugs.
Just this month, the federal government reduced the Housing Opportunities for Persons With Aids program by $2 million and, as Congress has yet to pass a budget that would reauthorize funding for the AIDS Drug Assistance Programs.
Aging with AIDS
The cuts come as agencies confront the rise of HIV/AIDs among the elderly and soon to-be elderly.
Comorbidity -- other illnesses surfacing and existing simultaneously with HIV/AIDS -- is common for someone living with HIV, either as a result of the weakened immune system or as a side effect of the antiretroviral mediations. Heart disease, osteoporosis, diabetes and cognitive dysfunction are some of the conditions that can surface. Depression is twice as common among people living with HIV, particularly older adults, than with the general public, as is a higher incidence of substance abuse.
Nausea, diarrhea, fatigue, lipodystrophy (a redistribution of fat in the body), elevated cholesterol levels, neuropathy and kidney disease can all be side effects of the medication.
"Is it HIV or is it aging?" James Masten asks in his recently published book Aging with HIV: A Gay Man's Guide. The answer is not always evident and may require research and reflection.
Masten also addresses the "triple threat" that gay men over 50 who are living with HIV have to face: homophobia, HIV/AIDS and ageism. There is stigma at every turn.
Aging means changing, said Masten, and adapting to those changes is key, along with self-care and reestablishing a network of friendship and community. Embrace life, he counsels, and keep it simple.
Schaefer highlighted a number of recent successes for folks aging with H.I.V., including City Council support for sensitivity training for health and human service providers, and for senior center leadership staff, to counteract stigma and discrimination . The city also awarded SAGE (Services and Advocacy for GLBT Elders) a contract to open the first lesbian and gay senior center in New York starting in January 2012.
HIV/AIDS at 30: Grieving and Moving Forward
"The fact that we are dealing with H.I.V. and aging issues is a huge advancement in itself," said Schaefer. "Twenty years ago we weren't speaking of living with HIV in people 50, 60 and 70."
As Masten writes in his book, "The 1980s and 1990s were a holocaust for gay men."
The tragedy of those years still deeply affects those who lived through it.
Unacknowledged emotions -- such as grief, stigma, survivor's guilt and shame --are barriers to optimal aging with HIV," said Masten. "They prevent the adaptation of self-care strategies and aid in the creation of a shrinking life." Optimal aging, Masten suggests, involves rediscovering how you want to live your life.
For Jim, pleasure comes from being an activist. "I'm a late bloomer in terms of doing advocacy, putting in that effort, meeting with politicians," he said. "Even if every campaign is not a success, being able to expend my energy in that way instead of becoming depressed and escaping by diving into some type of addiction -- which will just kill you faster -- makes me feel like I have some control and that I'm contributing to what will be a positive outcome."
The day he was diagnosed with HV, Ethan had an insight that there would be love and support for him as he walked through this. Going forward into his future, he finds the issue is often, "Can I accept that love and support?"
Keith enjoys his 14-year-old poodle, his family and friends, and volunteering at a meditation center. And, he said, "not a day goes by where I don't have gratitude, for everything in my life, but especially just to still be alive. Every moment, whether great or difficult, I am just content to still be able to experience. It really can't get any better."


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Anonymous claims to have hacked the United States' State Department website and captured a database, which has now been published on the Internet.
The data dump by the hacktivists contains the names and email addresses of State Department consular and careers staffers and in some cases, their phone numbers and date of birth.
Usernames are also found in the database dump. Searching state.gov and other sites shows that several email addresses and other data match State Department staffers in the United States and legations around the world.
This includes a senior officer whose name also features in one of the leaked US State department cables published by Wikileaks.
The hack doesn't appear to have been very hard to accomplish, as the hacktivists said "F.Y.I all of this data is viewable using a few terminal commands, it's just sad that ANY part of the database basically can be publicly viewed by anyone. Information is free, as we always say."
Revenge for the arrests by authorities of several members of the Lulzsec group appears to be the motive for the hack, along with the suicide of online activist Aaron Swartz, who faced a lengthy jail term after releasing copyrighted legal texts on the Internet, according to a statement accompanying the data dump:
"Our reasons for this attack are very simple. You've imprisoned or either censored our people. We will not tolerate things as such. You don't see us going around censoring everything that is inappropriate or we do not like. Basically, you tried to put an end to us and you got owned, there's nothing more you can say or do.
"You took away Topiary, Avunit, Neuron, Pwnsauce, lolspoon, Aaron Swartz shall we go on? Heck you think this makes us weak? We are only growing stronger because of the fact that you are forcing us to revolt. When the lions roar you will hear them. And when it's feeding time you'll be our dinner.
"Aaron Swartz this is for you, this is for Operation Last Resort."
iTNews has contacted the US State Department for comment and will update the story when we receive it.


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Modern technologies in Poland
MAXAM supplements its machinery park and optimises drilling and blasting works using the state-of-the-art Atlas Copco drill rigs equipped in HNS (Hole Navigation System).
January 28, 2016
The GZD Siewierz quarry in southern Poland is gearing up for leaner production with a SmartROC T35 that has cut noise levels and energy consumption by half.
The dolomite quarries of the Brudzowice mining area keep Poland's wheels of industry turning. They feed the construction sector with road base and aggregate, supply agriculture and fertilizer material and provide flux for iron and steel smelting.
Dolomite, which is classified as both a mineral and a rock, is excavated in the south of the country where many copper and coal mines are also located. Here, some 35 km from the town of Katowice in southern Poland, an Atlas Copco SmartROC T35 has been put into operation at the GZD Siewierz quarry. It is on a mission to boost productivity in blasthole drilling, lower the cost of extraction and improve the operators' working environment.
"We introduced the SmartROC T35 because we needed to make savings in our drilling operations. Compared with our older equipment we can reduce running costs by 50 percent," says, Zbigniew Tomsia, President of Górnicze Zakłady Dolomitowe S.A., which owns and runs the quarry. He continues: "The SmartROC T35 has been tailored to our needs. It has modern solutions including a silencing kit which was important for us in order to improve working comfort." The GZD Siewierz quarry has a yearly output that varies from one million up to 1.9 million tonnes. The production capacity can reach 2.5 million tonnes if demand is high. The quarry features six excavation levels with various dolomite types at each level.
A key factor in the company's decision to upgrade the fleet and invest in "state-of-the-art equipment", as Tomsia describes it, was the possibility to obtain financing for energy efficient equipment. "We were able to demonstrate to our bank that a minimum of 20 percent energy savings could be made by introducing the SmartROC T35, which benefits the environment," he says. "The operation-per-meter ratio is phenomenal. We achieve a fuel consumption of 0.38 litres per meter drilled, or 12.89 liters per hour." This is equal to a 50% reduction in fuel costs.
"Another advantage is the online machine monitoring," he adds. "We can carry out a full analysis and read out how many holes have been drilled on any given day, how long the drill rig has been in operation, the distance it has covered and the engine hours.
"Due to the environment we have also had a new dust collector system installed on the drill rig," adds Tomsia. The company has a long-standing relationship with Atlas Copco dating back to 1997 when the first ROC D7 drill rig was purchased.
The newly introduced, SmartROC T35 features automatic feed alignment and rod handling systems as well as GPS. It is equipped with 45 mm drill rods and 76 mm drill bits. The rig achieves a penetration rate of 1.52 m per minute on benches 10–14 m high with a burden and spacing of 2 m x 2.5 m.
Before purchase of the SmartROC T35, operator Ireneusz Borówka visited a quarry in the Czech Republic to evaluate the drill rig's performance and comfort. "There's a lot of space in the cabin and the two multi-purpose joysticks are very useful," explains his shift partner and second operator, Marek Borówka. "Every button is multifunctional which means I can use the same joystick to add drill rods while drilling and then switch to control actuators.
"The air conditioning system also does the job and is highly efficient when the ambient temperature is high and the air is moist, preventing the rig windows from fogging up. In addition, the silencing kit has reduced noise by 50 percent and makes the drill rig comfortable to work with. Now we can actually hold a conversation when standing nearby."
While 60–70 percent of the quarry's dolomite becomes aggregate for the construction of roads and buildings, Tomsia emphasizes the challenge of seasonal demand. The quarry is currently supplying more dolomite to chemical plants and manufacturing fertilizers and this winter expects to be supplying the steel industry. "This means that flexible, low-cost production is essential," he says, "and this is why it is important to increase efficiency. The new SmartROC T35 is helping us to achieve that goal."
Epiroc operated under the name "Atlas Copco" until January 1, 2018.
Surface drill rigs Quarrying Surface and Exploration Drilling division SmartROC T35 Customer story 2016 International


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by Terry Taylor
New research offers hope for extending the timeline for collecting samples suitable for DNA profiling in sexual assault cases.
©iStockPhoto.com (see
reuse policy). Image is used for illustrative purposes only and person depicted is a model.
DNA profiling plays a major role in sexual assault cases, but it has a significant shortcoming: Using the current standard DNA profiling method, many jurisdictions require the collection of evidentiary samples within three days of the assault. After that, it may become difficult to obtain a usable DNA profile of the male suspect.
What if we could extend the window of time for collecting evidence?
We know that sperm cells are found in the female reproductive tract for seven days after ejaculation or longer. Researchers are testing a hypothesis that may extend the length of time in which DNA profiling is possible in sexual assault cases.
Dr. Jack Ballantyne, professor of chemistry at the University of Central Florida in Orlando and an internationally recognized expert on DNA profiling, believes that real evidence is being lost because of some jurisdictions' adherence to the three-day window.[1] Ballantyne believes that new techniques may make it possible to collect samples for as long as five to six days after a sexual assault and still do viable analysis.
A DNA profile is a set of numbers that represent regions, or loci, of variable, repeated DNA sequences. Short sequences of DNA that repeat a number of times are known as short tandem repeats (STRs). The number of times a sequence repeats varies from person to person and, except in the case of identical twins, this variability can be used to tell people apart. STR analysis is a forensic technique that develops and distinguishes DNA profiles by evaluating these regions.
Most DNA is located in the nucleus of the cell. Within the nucleus, DNA is divided into long, tightly coiled pieces called chromosomes. Humans have 23 pairs of chromosomes. Of these, 22 pairs are autosomal chromosomes (or autosomes), which are not involved in determining a person's sex. The other pair are sex-determining chromosomes. There are two types of sex chromosomes — X chromosomes and Y chromosomes. Women have two X chromosomes; men have one X chromosome and one Y chromosome. See
Figure 1: Human Chromosomes.
STR analysis is traditionally performed on autosomes because the manner in which they are inherited results in a higher degree of variation than Y chromosomes and thus produces profiles that have far stronger statistical power.[2]
See "STR Analysis"
The standard DNA profiling technique of using STR analysis, however, has shortcomings. One, as mentioned above, is that it is difficult to obtain a DNA profile using STR analysis more than three days after a sexual assault.
A second shortcoming of current DNA profiling techniques is the inability to get a male profile when — in evidence collected after an alleged sexual assault — female cells vastly outnumber the available sperm cells. In such cases, the amount of the female's DNA is so great compared to the male's DNA that the female DNA swamps the process and laboratory analysis is extremely difficult.
See "New Technologies Promise Better Future Results"
An approach that has shown promise in solving both of these difficulties is called Y-STR analysis, based on the male Y chromosome. An NIJ-funded pilot study of Y-STR DNA profiling by Ballantyne and his colleagues offered hope for a solution to the problem of analyzing postcoital samples collected more than three days after the incident.[3] His team was able to obtain complete Y-STR profiles on samples collected as many as five days after coitus and a partial profile at six days.
Y-STR analysis also helps solve the swamping problem because it is selective for Y chromosome DNA, which has little overlap with female DNA. As long as the quantity of male DNA is sufficient, the amount of female DNA present is not a problem.
Ballantyne is quick to caution that Y-STR profiling "cannot supplant autosomal DNA profiling." Y-STR profiles do not have the statistical power of autosomal STR profiles and therefore do not carry the same power to discriminate among individuals. In many cases, scientists are unable to obtain a DNA profile based on Y chromosome DNA, and only a few Y-STR systems are currently available for use.[4]
The likelihood of obtaining an autosomal DNA profile, however, is small in several situations:
Ballantyne and his colleagues continue their work to increase the number of Y-STR systems, but other than adding more Y-STR loci to the analysis, little can be done to change Y chromosome DNA's relative lack of power to distinguish individuals — the greatest weakness of this type of DNA profiling.
Still, Y-STR profiling is sometimes the only option available.[5]
Because their pilot study involved collection of postcoital samples from only three consenting male-female couples, Ballantyne and his team plan to add statistical power to their experimental evidence with a new NIJ-funded study that will include 150 consenting male-female couples. His co-principal investigator is Dr. Patricia M. Speck, associate professor of nursing at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Nursing in Memphis.
"Given the variables in the collection of samples, we don't know what we can do and with whom," Speck explained. The large study aims to expand knowledge about the limits of DNA profiling in sexual assault cases. The study will examine the impact of a number of factors — from sampling timeline to menstruation cycle — on the ability of investigators to obtain a DNA profile. To ensure rigorous, uniform methods, qualified forensic nurses will collect all samples. After the couples have abstained from sexual intercourse for 10 days, they will engage in unprotected intercourse, and vaginal samples will be collected at 4, 7 and 9 days, with each collection following a new unprotected coitus episode. The collection process will also include a cervical sample because sperm cells live longer in the cervix than in the vagina, where they are quickly eliminated.
Participants in the study will also be asked questions about their menstrual cycle, general health background and various social indicators. To help answer questions about the effects of menstruation on DNA collection, participants will be divided between women whose sample collection comes before menstruation and women whose menstruation has started between the episode of intercourse and the sample collection.
"The variables are complex and potentially confounding," Speck said. An open question is whether estrogen protects from injury. "Knowing this could be important to testimony about injury in a sexual assault case because where the woman is in her menstrual cycle at the time of the event could play a role in whether she is physically injured."
According to Ballantyne, another possible aim of the study will be to document exactly when autosomal DNA analysis fails. At seven or nine days, the current consensus is that there is no hope for an autosomal STR profile. "If we successfully obtain a Y-STR profile with a sample collected seven or nine days later, we can perhaps use the expertise we have gained to also tease out an autosomal profile," Ballantyne explains. "We'll be more certain whether or not it should be a routine matter to collect samples more than a few days after the assault. For example, if the study shows that more than 50 percent of the samples yield a reportable DNA profile after four days, it would have important policy implications. It won't be just a report in a scientific journal."
Speck agrees: "This study could have the effect of changing the timeframe for bringing victims in, or it could confirm cutting off sample collection earlier." The important thing is to develop interventions that will help victims. "The bottom line is," she said, "we want to take rapists off the street."
NIJ Journal No. 267, Winter 2010NCJ 233285
Terry Taylor is a senior science writer and editor at Palladian Partners, Inc.
Back to the top.
Next article: Minimizing the Risks of Hazardous Materials: The CBRN Standard.
[note 1] The three-day window may be in part due to the jurisdiction's protocol, the laboratory's protocol or both.
[note 2] For each of their 22 pairs of autosomes, children inherit one autosomal chromosome from each parent. The autosomes the child receives, however, are not identical to their parents' autosomes — before a parent passes on his or her autosomes, each pair goes through a process called recombination, which randomly shuffles that pair. The mixed autosome produced by that process is what gets passed on to the child from the parent. In the mother, the X chromosome pair also goes through recombination, just like autosomes, and the mixed X chromosome is passed on to the son or daughter. Because men only have one X chromosome, recombination does not occur and they pass their X chromosome on unchanged to their daughters. Similarly, because men only have one Y chromosome, it is passed unchanged to their sons.
[note 3] Mayntz-Press, K., L. Sims, A. Hall, and J. Ballantyne, "Y-STR Profiling in Extended Interval (≥ 3 Days) Postcoital Cervicovaginal Samples,"
Journal of Forensic Sciences 53 (March 2008): 342-348.
[note 4] A collection of Y-STR markers or Y-STR loci (see sidebar, "STR Analysis") must be discovered and validated as useful before it can be used as a Y-STR system for DNA profiling.
[note 5] In addition to its usefulness in sexual assault cases, investigators might be able to identify a disaster victim using the Y-STR profile of a close male relative.
National Institute of Justice, 810 Seventh Street, NW, Washington, DC 20531