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Nikola Pekovic had 27 points and tied a career high with 18 rebounds to power the Minnesota Timberwolves to a 94-87 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday night.
Derrick Williams had 17 points and eight rebounds and Andrei Kirilenko added 15 points and five assists in his return from a thigh injury for the Timberwolves, who won for the fourth time in their last 20 games.
Evan Turner scored 17 points and Jrue Holiday scored 16 after making his All-Star debut on Sunday for the 76ers, who couldn't come up with an answer for Pekovic in the paint in a rough and tumble game. Philadelphia has lost seven straight road games and has won just six times away from home all season, the third fewest wins in the NBA.
The Timberwolves never trailed, thanks in large part to Pekovic bulldozing his way through the Sixers big men. He dominated Spencer Hawes and Lavoy Allen, throwing an array of jump hooks, baseline spins and dunks at a Philadelphia front line that wanted no part of the hulking Montenegrin.
The Timberwolves led by as many as 19 points in the first half against a lifeless Sixers team that watched Holiday get into early foul trouble and Turner score just two points in the first 24 minutes. An exasperated Doug Collins tried to send a message to start the second half, sending Kwame Brown and Damien Wilkins out in place of Hawes and Allen.
Turner got going with 14 points in the third quarter and Philadelphia started to gradually chip away at the lead, pulling to 87-83 with 2:30 to play.
But Minnesota made its free throws down the stretch, overcoming a dreadful period of shooting in which the Wolves made just one field goal. But it was enough to beat the offensively inept Sixers, who missed 11 free throws to lose their third straight game.
Both teams have put together incredibly disappointing seasons to this point after starting with playoff aspirations. The Sixers made a trade for Andrew Bynum but have yet to get him in a game this season because of recurring knee issues. He said earlier this week that he still hoped to play this year, but he's still a week or two away from his first practice. By the time he gets back on the floor, the 76ers could be buried. They started the night four games behind Milwaukee for the eighth playoff spot in the muddled Eastern Conference.
The Sixers won't get any sympathy from the Timberwolves, who have played most of the season without Kevin Love (broken hand), Chase Budinger (knee) and Brandon Roy (knee) and have slogged through a multitude of other short-term injuries to fade from contention in the West. They staggered into the All-Star break with 16 losses in 19 games, a season of playing short-handed certainly catching up to them.
"We have a chance," Ricky Rubio said. "It's a small, small chance."
NOTES: The Timbewrolves made only one field goal in the fourth quarter. ... Only Sacramento and Washington have fewer wins on the road than Philly. ... Wilkins finished with 13 points. ... Pekovic stayed in Minnesota for the All-Star break rather than seek out the sun and the sand as so many of his teammates did. He went ice fishing on a nearby lake, and Collins went up to him before the game and playfully asked him why he wasn't invited. "I went to Arizona instead," Collins said


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Des Plaines mayor-elect young, not inexperienced
At 26, Des Plaines Mayor-elect Matt Bogusz already has earned many distinctions -- among them youngest mayor in the Northwest suburbs, and perhaps the youngest city leader in recent Illinois history.
Bogusz's swift political ascent has raised speculation about his political future.
He said this week he's always been eager to serve his hometown, which he started doing as a Des Plaines Library board member and a member of the city's Special Events Commission. He was elected 3rd Ward alderman at age 22.
Now, Bogusz is essentially chairman of the board for a $125 million corporation.
Tuesday's decisive election victory surprised some, though perhaps none more than Bogusz himself.
"We did not truly expect that," Bogusz said of his wide margin of victory.
In a three-man field that included a popular former mayor, Tony Arredia, Bogusz captured 55 percent of the votes. Suburban mayors reacted with amazement.
Elk Grove Village Mayor Craig Johnson recalled that when he was first elected mayor in 1997, veteran leaders referred to him as the new kid on the block.
"I was 37," said Johnson, now 53. "I was told I was the youngest mayor north of Springfield."
Bogusz is the youngest mayor in the 52-year history of the Northwest Municipal Conference, Executive Director Mark Fowler said.
"Even though he's young, he comes in with a tremendous amount of experience," Fowler said, explaining that Bogusz has good working knowledge of city budgets as chairman of the city's finance committee.
"Just having the energy that it takes to do the job, I think that's an advantage that he has. What he lacks in institutional knowledge, he makes up for in enthusiasm and really a go-getter attitude."
Des Plaines' role as one of the larger cities within the conference is significant to the agency's ability to influence state legislation affecting municipalities, Fowler said.
For the past two years, Bogusz, a college intern for state Rep. Elaine Nekritz, a Northbrook Democrat, has been serving on the municipal conference's legislative committee.
"Matt joins a long list of (Des Plaines) mayors that are active, not only regionally, but statewide," Fowler said. "They have been naturally looked at as a leader in the Northwest suburbs."
A leader early on
Even as a Boy Scout, Bogusz exhibited remarkable leadership qualities, veteran ABC 7 television reporter Paul Meincke recalled Thursday.
Meincke led a troop of Scouts on an 11-day backpacking trip in the New Mexico wilderness in 2004.
"Matt emerged very quickly as a natural leader," Meincke said. "He became the senior crew chief. He is a take-charge guy. … He's the kind of kid you look at and say, 'This guy is going to go places.'"
Bogusz earned his Eagle Scout rank and later became a director on the Northwest Suburban Council.
At Notre Dame College Prep in Niles, where Bogusz was student council president, Principal Daniel Tully, his government teacher, said it was obvious Bogusz was destined for a career in politics.
"He is articulate, organized, commands a great presence when he is in a room."
Bogusz helped found the school's debate team and won the Catholic Forensic League conference championship a few years in a row, Tully said.
"Matt's been a great success story and a great example of a don, which is our mascot."
Defying age
Bogusz's age was an issue throughout the campaign. His much-older opponents used the phrase "Matt wasn't born yet" as a punch line when speaking of their own accomplishments during candidate debates, and said he lacked the experience to lead a city of roughly 59,000 people.
Bogusz said focusing on his age backfired. "Every time they did it, I won votes," he said. "People like substance. They don't like petty politics. It's reverse ageism."
Neither Arredia -- at 75, almost three times Bogusz's age -- nor Alderman Mark Walsten returned phone calls requesting comment.
Bogusz said some voters didn't take him seriously because of his age when he first knocked on their doors, but that he won them over by listening.
"We were able to get support across all different age groups," Bogusz said. "Young families want to move forward, and the older voters were around and saw some of the hiccups of the previous administrations."
Bogusz, who said he spent about $35,000, was the only candidate of the three to use social media heavily to reach and engage voters, but he also used conventional methods, such as phone calls and mailers.
A savvy media professional, Bogusz showed he can play dirty by sending out an eleventh-hour mailer with the headline "Arredia Felon Tree" attacking the former mayor's political connections to people whose appointment Arredia's camp claims he had nothing to do with.
Bogusz defended the flier saying the information in it was sourced from newspaper articles and that throughout the campaign he tried to draw a contrast between himself and the politics of the past.
Ultimately, Bogusz said it was the boots on the ground that made the difference. He and 50 volunteers knocked on more than 30,000 doors. "We worked hard to earn the votes that we won."
He had the backing of former Des Plaines Mayor and now state Rep. Marty Moylan, who himself knocked on doors, made phone calls and distributed fliers contrasting Arredia and Bogusz.
"He's going to be a good mayor. He's got that determination," said Moylan, a Des Plaines Democrat. "Age shouldn't matter. It's about your record and your involvement with the community. He had a great ground game and a campaign organization."
Bogusz said he is optimistic he can build consensus among sometimes fractious council members.
"We're not always going to agree, but this council will be respectful of one another, and that's a priority of mine. We've got to compromise. We've got to work together, and we'll continue to move the city forward."
How he got hereMatt Bogusz's rise to the mayor's office in Des Plaines came after a few noteworthy achievements:
2004: Earned Eagle Scout rank
2005: Became student council president at Notre Dame College Prep
2006: Appointed to Des Plaines Special Events Commission
2007: Appointed Des Plaines Public Library board trustee
2009: Elected 3rd Ward alderman at age 22
2013: Elected mayor of Des Plaines, a $125 million corporation, at age 26

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Model #OMB-36R
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Powder coat paint is a quality paint finish made by electro-statically applying powder paint to steel and then baking it in an oven. This results in a super-smooth and durable finish.
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Round Cafe Table with Mesh Base Dining Height
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This product is a part of OFM Mesh Base Cafe Tables
There are 4 products in the family


text:
The newest Tomb Raider game will get a major feature update next week, when developer Crystal Dynamics adds online multiplayer support for Lara Croft And The Guardian Of Light. There's just one little catch.
The online co-op patch for Lara's downloadable game is only coming to the Xbox 360 version next week, on October 27. The same update for the other versions of Guardian of Light released on PlayStation 3 and PC will be "coming later," according to the developer.
Crystal Dynamics told Kotaku last month that it didn't want to ship its online cooperative component with a "sub-par experience" when explaining the delay for the long-promised feature. Lara Croft And The Guardian Of Light owners will receive the first of the game's downloadable add-on packs for free in penance.


text:
Pele, Franz Beckenbauer, Iker Casillas, Alessandro Del Piero, Luis Figo, Homare Sawa and Lucas Radebe. Seven footballing legends who wrote their own chapters in the FIFA history books at various tournaments and whose exploits will live long in the memories of their fans.
Sit back and enjoy courtesy of FIFA.com and FIFA TV as these superstars take you through their greatest memories – from Pele's incredible FIFA World Cup™ debut in Sweden in 1958 through to Iker Casillas' emotional triumph with Spain at South Africa 2010
Take a trip back through 15 different FIFA tournaments courtesy of this Video of the Week and marvel at this magnificent seven!


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Drug information provided by: IBM Micromedex
If you will be taking this medicine for a long time, or in high doses, your doctor should check your progress at regular visits. This is especially important for elderly people, who may be more likely than younger adults to develop serious kidney problems if they take large amounts of this medicine for a long time.
Check with your doctor:
Do not take any of the combination medicines containing aspirin for 5 days before any surgery, including dental surgery, unless otherwise directed by your medical doctor or dentist. Taking aspirin during this time may cause bleeding problems.
Check the label of all over-the-counter (OTC), nonprescription, and prescription medicines you now take. If any of them contain acetaminophen, aspirin, other salicylates such as bismuth subsalicylate (e.g., Pepto Bismol) or magnesium salicylate (e.g., Nuprin Backache Caplets), or salicylic acid (present in some shampoos and skin products), check with your health care professional. Using any of them together with this medicine may cause an overdose.
Stomach problems may be more likely to occur if you drink three or more alcoholic beverages while you are taking aspirin. Also, liver damage may be more likely to occur if you drink three or more alcoholic beverages while you are taking acetaminophen.
Taking certain other medicines together with acetaminophen and salicylates may increase the chance of unwanted effects. The risk will depend on how much of each medicine you take every day, and on how long you take the medicines together. If your medical doctor or dentist directs you to take these medicines together on a regular basis, follow his or her directions carefully. However, do not take any of the following medicines together with any of these combination medicines for more than a few days unless your doctor has directed you to do so and is following your progress:
The antacid present in buffered forms of these combination medicines can keep other medicines from working properly. If you need to take a buffered form of this medicine, and you are also taking one of the following medicines, be sure to take the buffered acetaminophen and salicylate combination medicine:
If you are taking a laxative containing cellulose, do not take it within 2 hours of taking this medicine. Taking the laxative and this medicine close together may make this medicine less effective by preventing the salicylate in it from being absorbed by your body.
Acetaminophen and salicylate combinations may interfere with the results of some medical tests. Before you have any medical tests, tell the person in charge if you have taken any of these combination medicines within the past 3 or 4 days. If possible, it is best to call the laboratory where the test will be done about 4 days ahead of time to find out whether the medicine may be taken during the 3 or 4 days before the test.
For patients with diabetes:
For patients taking one of the products that contain caffeine:
If you think that you or anyone else may have taken an overdose of this medicine, get emergency help at once. Taking an overdose of a salicylate may cause unconsciousness or death. The first symptom of an aspirin overdose may be ringing or buzzing in the ears. Other signs include convulsions (seizures), hearing loss, confusion, severe drowsiness or tiredness, severe excitement or nervousness, and unusually fast or deep breathing. Signs of severe acetaminophen overdose may not appear until 2 to 4 days after the overdose is taken, but treatment to prevent liver damage or death must be started within 24 hours or less after the overdose is taken.
Portions of this document last updated: May 01, 2020
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text: "A legendary figure. . . . Mitchell's reportage is so vivid, so real, that it comes out like fiction of the highest order." —Chicago Sun-Times"A poetry of the actual, a song of the streets that casts a wide net and fearslessly embraces everything human. . . . This is reporting transformed into literature, news that stays news. . . . His work is so rich and generous and funny that it ought to stay in print forever." —San Francisco Examiner"Mitchell's darkly comic articles are models of big-city journalism. . . . His accounts are like what Joyce might have written had he gone into journalism." —Newsweek


text:
Even though you might have to salvage the boxes from your local grocery store, and they'll probably be emblazoned with Rice-A-Roni and Chiquita Banana logos, you can still ensure the next time you move is a classy affair with these upscale rolls of fake leather strap packing tape. Swanky.
Each 98-foot roll is printed with a photorealistic leather strap with a buckle every few feet. So for just $11 you can make your new neighbors think you're actually from high society and have come to gentrify their neighborhood. And that stack of boxes you don't bother unpacking for the first six months will instead look like a pile of antique trunks in the corner of your new place, so you can throw a housewarming party without being completely embarrassed.


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In the same way that we have grown the Jesus Calling(r)brand through deluxe editions and multiple versions in different trims and design, so we will grow Jesus Always. This first proposed ancillary product is intended to also grow our Comfort Print line, where we repackage books between a normal size and the large deluxe print. The content will all be the same as the original Jesus Always, but will be typeset at a slightly larger size for an easier, more comfortable read for aging eyes.
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text:
The SLENZ Project
Walk-through demonstrates the
emperor does have clothes …
but shows where reworking/enhancements needed
Practising in the Birth Centre .. "midwife" Petal Stransky
and "mother-to-be", Tere Tinkel (Picture Terry Neal)
Working for months on a project – especially in a virtual world, where one does much of the work alone even if in a team, and where one's own "creations" sometimes become sacrosanct – you often get to a stage where you can't see the wood for the trees as self-criticism and objective analysis take a holiday.
The result is that the objectives of a project are sometimes lost or buried and you believe the emperor is clothed when in fact he is only partially clad, or his clothing is unfinished. In a virtual world education setting this can mean the student misses out or has difficulties learning and the tutor-facilitator is left frustrated and wondering why the lesson did not work and learning objectives were not filled.
To avoid these problems the SLENZ Project recently commissioned John Green (pictured right), an expert in online learning and senior lecturer in information sciences with the School of Information and Social Sciences, at the Lower Hutt-based Open Polytechnic New Zealand, to walk-through the SLENZ Project's Foundation Learning and Midwifery pilot builds and programmes on the island of Kowhai in Second Life.
Teaching since 1981 and online since 1999, Green has presented details of his research in online learning in the UK, US, Canada, Mexico, Thailand, Australia and New Zealand. He also has taught other teachers to teach online at other institutions and advised international universities regarding eLearning.
His walk-through of the two builds, Foundation Learning, being led by Merle Lemon (SL: Briarmelle Quintessa) of Manukau Institute of Technology, and Midwifery, being led by Sarah Stewart (SL: Petal Stransky), of Otago Polytechnic, although not critical of the programmes as a whole, resulted in a number of recommendations for changes to various facets of the builds and programmes.
"John Green's walk-through was extremely useful and provoked thoughtful discussion among the team members," the joint project leader, Dr Clare Atkins (SL: Arwenna Stardust), said. "He gave us an independent opinion on how we might enhance both the builds, which encouraged us to articulate why we had done things in certain ways, and, of course, pointed out things that needed correcting.
"This was another layer of the process which allows us to make changes and enhancements to improve the student experience," she said.
Green recommended five "top critical changes" for each programme.
For the Midwifery pilot (pictured at top) these were:
1. Purposeful activities must match clear objectives.
2. Students should understand questions before going in world so that their observations can be more focused.
3. There are not enough clickable objects to be consistent with with the richness of the requirements of the activities.
4. Student reporting should be centralised for the sake of both student and teacher.
5. Some of the writing and multimedia appears to be more affectation than instructive.
For the Foundation Learning pilot (pictured below) his top recommendations were:
1. Lack of sound/predominant "motorway noise" type sound (ed note: ambient wind sound?) is very disturbing.
2.Video does not work for me.
3. Blue for go on buttons is not intuitive on Hyperdome Console.
4. The adoption of correct body language, voice tone and eye contact in Activity 4 is best done by videoing a real life role play since the SL interface is not good enough to provide this successfully. These may well be played back in SL if needs be for student comment but I think it is best for this final stage to be "real".
5. Welcome notecard is not about the students; it is for marketing SLENZ and should be removed/moved elsewhere.
Filed under: Distance education, Education, Education in Second Life, Education in virtual worlds, Second Life, SLENZ Project, Virtual Worlds | Tagged: Dr Clare Atkins, John Green, Manukau Institute of Technology, Merle Lemon, Open Polytechnic of NZ, Otago Polytenic, Sarah Stewart, SLENZ Project | Leave a comment »


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Lines steady at many precincts as voting nears end
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Duval County's supervisor of elections says between large early and absentee voting and the crowds at polling places in the first half of Election Day, he expects a turnout of 80 percent or more.
As of 5 p.m., that number was 65 percent.
The line began forming outside Fort Caroline Christian Church at 5:30 a.m., with lines reported at most Jacksonville precincts when the doors opened.
"I wanted to be one of the first ones to get my vote in," Jane Baulk said. "Sorry I didn't do it earlier."
Voters and campaign workers carried umbrellas against a steady rain that started just before the polls opened Tuesday.
Channel 4 received isolated reports of issues -- mostly ballot scanners not working -- but they've all been fixed quickly. Election workers allow voting to continue, the ballots cast while the scanners are down were placed in sealed envelopes to be counted at the end of the day. Voters who cast ballots during that time are invited to come back at 7 p.m. to watch their votes being counted.
Two precincts went dark when the power went out in part of Riverside that also affected St. Vincent's Hospital. One of those precincts continued to vote by flashlight, but the other had to close for about one hour until the power was restored.
Other voters didn't get word that their precinct had changed as Duval County consolidated from 256 to 198 voting sites this year. To confirm where you should vote, each county's supervisor of elections website allows you look up your precinct by entering your address.
Crowds picked up again during lunch hour, and were expected to grow after 5 p.m., when many people will head to vote after getting off work.
Election officials said most voters were informed about what was on the ballot and predictions of three-hour waits caused by people having to read descriptions of all 11 constitutional amendments never materialized.
At Green Cove Springs City Hall, voting was also going smoothly and wait times were only about 10 minutes for much of the day.
"Haven't really had any great reports of huge lines," said Chris Chambless, Clay County's supervisor of elections. "I think it's just consistent and steady throughout the day."
Chambless said voter turnout as of 6 p.m. was about 70 percent. He was expecting between 80 and 85 percent voter turnout for the county.
"Clay County is very fortunate to have a strong voting population. So, no, I'm not surprised," he said. "Of course, Fleming Island is really strong. Just about every single polling location in Fleming Island is in the high 60s and 70s percentile right now. So it's going to be strong."
The record for voter turnout in a presidential race in Clay County was 87 percent in 1992. Republican turnout Tuesday in the county was outpacing Democrats by nearly 3 to 1.
In St. Johns County, Supervisor of Elections Vicky Oakes said about 25 percent of registered voters had voted Tuesday as of about 6 p.m. Add that to the 49 percent who voted early or absentee, and St. Johns County's turnout was at about 74 percent.
State officials say about 40 percent of registered voters -- more than 4.5 million people -- had voted either by mail or in person before Election Day. Officials say 43 percent of those voters were Democrats and 39 percent were Republicans. Long lines of voters snaked outside many polling precincts before early voting ended Saturday.
In Duval County, about 44 percent had voted going into Election Day, and Supervisor of Elections Jerry Holland expects an 80 percent turnout when the day is over. The early and absentee vote will be tallied first when the polls close -- results expected about 7:30 p.m. Votes from the precincts counted as they close -- which won't be until the last person in line casts a ballot.
"Does make for a long day, but we do get a break," said a precinct volunteer at the precinct at Hendricks Avenue Baptist Church.
Holland said because of the length of the ballot and choice of three languages on the ballot in South Florida, he doesn't expect all of Florida's vote to be reported until about 2 a.m.
Florida is poised to play a crucial role in picking America's next president. Florida has 29 electoral votes in Tuesday's election and both President Barack Obama and Republican Mitt Romney have worked hard for them.
Copyright 2012 by News4Jax.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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Concerns like invasive species and recreational boating are usually on the docket. But now, following Hurricane Sandy, this should be a more muscular committee.
When the city puts money into development projects, it often involves development corporations that broker plans coming from City Hall. The city is good at getting things done with private sector help, perhaps due in part to Mayor Bloomberg's business acumen.
The waterfronts in our city need help, and not just those in Manhattan. It is now time for this committee and the rest of city government to focus on Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island. Jamaica Bay was hit very hard by Sandy, and the waterfronts Committee should have this on their agenda at their next meeting. The good news is that the committee has some strong city Council voices as members, such as Eric Ulrich and Peter Vallone, Jr.
Jamaica Bay is important to this city for a number of reasons. It runs alongside the country's most storied airport (much to the chagrin of residents), it is home to many species of birds, and the bay itself is special to New Yorkers. I, for one, grew up fishing and crabbing in this bay.
Then there were the lean years, when the numbers of fluke and all kinds of fish were decreasing. But they are thriving again, and the waterfronts should be strong and reflect that. The businesses around the bay matter.
This is where Koo seems to be the most concerned. His background is in the private sector. "A great deal of future plans are the development stage," Koo explains. "This is a bigger job now. We didn't meet as much in the past, but now it is different."
One could say that Koo, who is a Republican-turned-Democrat, was given a chairmanship as a sign of good faith from the City Council. But he brings a lot of experience from the business sector, and he comes from a very important district in Flushing.
The importance of Koo being chair of this committee is that he is from Queens. Following Sandy, this committee needs the Queens delegation to be front and center, since a lot of the new development will hopefully be there as well.
It's Math!
Remember when President Barack Obama said that Mitt Romney's economic plan was not feasible because it did not add up mathematically?
The statement was debatable, but it could it be used in the contract stalemate between the mayor and the United Federation of Teachers (UFT) over evaluations. Without a deal by late January, the city's schools could lose $250 million. That is a lot of math.
For years Bloomberg has taken on the union as a way to improve public education and take responsibility for the results. A recent ad by the union criticizes Bloomberg for taking a "his way or the highway" approach. How was the situation before it was "his way?" It was not much better.
The ad includes the mayor's appointment of Cathie Black as chancellor, which was a mistake on the mayor's part. But the UFT might still be upset over the idea that the mayor is a big fan of charter schools, like many people who want public education to render better results.
The UFT and the mayor (along with Chancellor Dennis Walcott) are not far away from a deal on how to evaluate teachers, but it appears that union president Michael Mulgrew does not agree that they are close.
The problem is that the union may be losing the support of parents who are tired of waiting for public education to improve on its own. They want bad teachers fired, not transferred. They want that $250 million in their public education system to hire more teachers and have smaller class sizes.
The mayor does not have a dog in this fight. He will leave office next January. He cares about the results, but his life will be fine whether your child is educated or not. He is taking on this battle because he sees it as right, not because it benefits him.
Both sides have increased the political hyperbole in the last few weeks, and that makes this process lengthier and less productive. Both sides need to remember that the school system would be badly disadvantaged without that money.


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Comedy Central has tapped The Daily Show's Larry Wilmore to replace Stephen Colbert, the network announced Friday.
Wilmore, who serves as The Daily Show's "Senior Black Correspondent," will headline his own show called The Minority Report. The half-hour show, executive-produced by Jon Stewart, will take over The Colbert Report's timeslot starting in January.
Fall TV Scorecard: Find out what's renewed and what's canceled
In April, CBS picked Colbert to replace David Letterman as host of The Late Show. Colbert will succeed Letterman sometime in 2015. In the meantime, he will continue as host of The Colbert Report until the end of the year.
Wilmore, 52, also serves as an executive producer on the new comedy Black-ish, which ABC ordered to series on Thursday. The Emmy winner is also known for his work on The Bernie Mac Show and The Office.
Watch Wilmore's work on The Daily Show here. Do you think he'll be a good replacement for Colbert?


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Do you still play Rock Band on a regular basis? Are you a Green Day fan? Then you should pick this up - it's as simple as that. For $60 you get 47 songs, including Green Day's three biggest albums (Dookie, American Idiot and 21st Century Breakdown) plus a few filler tracks for good measure (notable singles from Insomniac, Nimrod and Warning). A tad pricey, but the sheer playability of these songs makes up the difference for those who always want more Green Day.
Securing Dookie was honestly a make or break scenario. It's the band's most popular album and if it weren't here in its entirety, there wouldn't be much of a game in the first place. So, with it and the other two biggest albums covered, most Green Day fans will feel satisfied with the setlist… as long as you weren't hoping for something pre-Dookie, as in Kerplunk or 39/Smooth. They're 100% missing due to [intensely boring legal reason]. And from the sound of it, there'll be no DLC to fill out that back catalog, though we can hold out hope for something from Rock Band 3's weekly DLC offerings. Probably not pre-Dookie, but maybe some leftovers from the middle albums.
The good news is the songs that are present are a total blast to play. Green Day is nothing if not frenetic and energetic, and it comes through in the note charts, especially on hard and expert. Hell, if you love playing bass or drums, consider picking this up even if you're not a huge fan of the band, as the tracks are challenging in an intensely fun way, not a frustrating, "why would they do this to me" manner as some songs have been in the past. There are also vocal harmonies on select songs, so you can have a little Armstrong/Dirnt crossover action with friends who prefer to sing.
All in all, Green Day is a far better fit for Rock Band's mechanics than the Beatles, regardless of your feelings towards either group. The attitude, appearance and sounds all gel with Rock Band in a way last year's Beatles game never could.
However, even with the strength of the music it's hard not to notice the lack of - I hate to say "effort," but that's essentially what it is – that went into the presentation. It's not as bare bones as the laughable AC/DC release, but it's so far from Beatles that you can't help but feel somewhat cheated. Instead of elaborate, custom-made visions that synch up with the songs or venues that tie in very well with the setlist, we get a bar, a big venue and then an even bigger venue, none of which really line up with the band's career to the degree that we'd expect from Harmonix.
Examples: The Dookie-era venue is a dive bar, meant to convey the band's Gilman Streetbeginnings. The problem is that Dookie is a major-label release that sold 15 million copies, was heavily featured on MTV and received near-constant radio play from 1994 to the present day. It makes no sense to have them slumming it with songs that made them millionaires. Similarly, when you flash forward to the American Idiot time period (skipping nearly 10 years of the band's existence), they're decked out in eyeliner and the black/red outfits that go with that album, yet the setlists include shoehorned songs from Insomniac (1995), Nimrod (1997) and Warning (2000). It's not a huge problem, but for a developer that prides itself on knowing music, these seem like bizarre oversights.


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TOKYO - North Korea's underground nuclear test shows it is making big strides toward becoming a true nuclear power. But the test also may reveal key clues the secretive nation might have hoped to hide about how close, or how far away, it is from fielding a nuclear weapon capable of striking the United States or its allies.
Hoping to capitalize on a rare opportunity to gauge North Korea's nuclear capabilities, intelligence and military officials around the region are scrambling to glean data to answer three big questions: how powerful was the device Pyongyang tested, what sort of device was it, and what progress does the test indicate the nation has made.
North Korea hailed Tuesday's test as a "perfect" success, saying it used a device that was stronger and more advanced than those in its past two attempts. Add that to its successful rocket launch in December and the threat of a North Korea ready to strike at the United States, which it sees as its arch-enemy, would appear to be more real than ever.
But just how close is it?
The main thing intelligence officials want to figure out is what kind of device was used. Was it a plutonium bomb, like the ones it tested in 2006 and 2009, or one that used highly enriched uranium?
James Acton, an analyst with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, said North Korea's plutonium stockpile is small and it would be difficult and expensive for the North to produce more. But a test using highly enriched uranium, which is cheaper and easier to produce, would raise the threat that North Korea can expand its nuclear arsenal quickly.
"A highly enriched uranium test would be a significant development," he said. "Unfortunately, we don't yet have any evidence as to the device's design yield or whether it was made from plutonium or highly enriched uranium."
Finding that out is a race against time.
Joseph De Trani, former head of the National Counterproliferation Center, predicted U.S. intelligence would determine the size and composition of the nuclear device in one to three days based partly on radioactive elements released into the environment.
"Highly enriched uranium is something that degrades quickly, so you would have to collect within a 24-hour period," especially because the traces from an underground explosion will be minimal, he said.
Neighboring Japan may provide some of those answers.
Its fighter jets were dispatched immediately after the test to collect atmospheric samples. Japan has also established land-based monitoring posts, including one on its northwest coast, to collect similar data.
But experts caution such monitoring doesn't always work because test sites can be sealed to prevent tell-tale leaks. They also note that North Korea has proven it has the ability to mask its tests quite well.


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Plan Like a Pro with This Ultimate Party Drinks Calculator
When deciding what party drinks to serve and how much you need, check out this easy party drink calculator.
How much wine do I need for my party? How much beer do I need? You'll need to make a couple of decisions about beverages before you can decide how much to buy. For your gathering, would you prefer to serve wine and beer with an assortment of nonalcoholic choices? Or do you intend to offer a full bar with mixed drinks and specialty cocktails? Especially for casual gatherings, serving only wine, beer, and nonalcoholic choices is perfectly acceptable and may be the preferred approach. Most guests will find a satisfying option, and for the hostess, a limited alcohol selection simplifies planning and allows you to match beverage choices to your menu. This simple guide helps you decide how much liquor and nonalcoholic drinks you should have to satisfy your party guests. Plus, get our free take-along chart to help you make smart decisions when you're shopping for party drinks.
When shopping for your party, include these beverages on your list:
- White wine
- Red wine
- Beer
- Water: mineral and bottled
- Soft drinks: lemon-lime, diet lemon-lime, cola, and diet cola
Customize the list to suit your guests' preferences or to match a theme. For example, you may want to include a sparkling wine for a special celebration or focus on specialty beer choices for guests with sophisticated palates. Also, provide nonalcoholic choices, such as bottled water, juices, lemonade, iced tea, soft drinks, or nonalcoholic beer and wine.
Offering a Full Bar
Obviously, hosting a complete bar will require more thought and investment. If you already have a home bar, you may have a foundation of spirits, mixers, and accents. You'll need to review your home bar inventory to avoid duplicating purchases (a small bottle of bitters or vermouth goes a long way) or skimping on party favorites.
For a full party bar, include these elements on your list:
- Wine: red and white
- Beer
- Bourbon
- Gin
- Rum
- Scotch
- Tequila
- Vodka
- Water: mineral and bottled
- Soft drinks: lemon-lime, diet lemon-lime, cola, and diet cola
- Tonic
- Club soda
- Juices: orange, cranberry, and tomato
Besides these basics, if you're making a signature cocktail or know guests' favorite drinks, add the appropriate ingredients to your shopping list.
Editor's Tip: If you plan to offer a full bar, make sure you have the necessary tools and appropriate glassware, as well as drink ingredients, to mix and serve a variety of cocktails.
Check Your Guest List
When it comes to knowing how much you need, the number of guests is the primary determining factor.
If you know your guests' preferences on drinks (beer, wine, spirits, or soft drinks), you can calculate what you need accordingly. If you're unsure about guests' preferences, purchase a mix of beverages with some to spare. Ask your beverage retailer if you can return unopened bottles. Even if you can't return them, most unopened bottles will keep well long after the party so you don't need to be concerned about waste. If you entertain frequently, you may want to shop in quantity to get discounts on large purchases
To help you with the calculations, we've made the party math simple. Our free Beverage Quantity Guide, available below, offers shopping recommendations for each item you'll need based on guest count. Whether you have six guests or 50, the chart lists how much of each beverage item you'll need. It also provides separate information for wine-and-beer-only parties and for parties that offer a full bar.
If you want to make your own estimates, start with these party assumptions.
- Nonalcoholic beverages: Assume guests will drink two servings in the first hour and one for each additional hour of the party. If the weather is warm, expect guests to drink a bit more.
- Wine: One 750-milliliter bottle of wine provides five to six glasses, depending on your pour. During a party, plan one bottle for every two guests.
- Beer: Estimate that guests will drink about 12 ounces (one bottle) every half hour to hour during the party.
- Cocktails: Allow 1-1/2 ounces of liquor for each drink. A 750-milliliter bottle (fifth) makes about 16 drinks. Figure about a quart of mixer for every three guests.
Remember, not every guest will want every option you offer. Our Beverage Quantity Guide is an easy tool to get the right mix for most parties.
Stock Party Supplies
Besides the beverages, you'll also need accompaniments and accessories such as ice, garnishes, glasses, and napkins. Add these items to your shopping list to ensure your party is well-stocked with all the essentials.
Buy ice. You'll need 1-1/2 to 2 pounds of ice per guest to keep beverages chilled. Fill coolers with ice if you don't have room in the freezer. Keep them conveniently near the drink stations or bar. Be sure to keep ice for glasses separate from ice used to chill bottles and cans. When planning your party, here is a good estimate of how much ice you'll need:
- 6 guests = 10 pounds
- 12 guests = 24 pounds
- 25 guests = 50 pounds
- 50 guests = 100 pounds
Purchase or rent glasses. Whether you're using glassware or disposable cups, expect guests to use multiples. Start with these estimates:
- 6 guests = 16 glasses
- 12 guests = 30 glasses
- 25 guests = 75 glasses
- 50 guests = 150 glasses
Editor's Tip: Reduce the number of misplaced glasses by offering wine or cocktail tags. Purchase wineglass charms, or make your own with wire and a cardstock name tag. Cut the cardstock into a shape that suits your party. Punch a hole and thread the wire through the hole. Write a name on the tag and wrap the wire around a wineglass stem. This technique can also work for some beer glasses. For cocktails, glue or tie a tag to a cocktail stirrer, and place in the drink.
Remember cocktail napkins. Even if you're only serving food at the table, cocktail napkins protect furniture, mop up minor splashes, and keep guests' hands clean. Plan for the following number of napkins.
- 6 guests = 24 napkins
- 12 guests = 48 napkins
- 25 guests = 100 napkins
- 50 guests = 200 napkins
Choose your garnishes. Especially if you're offering a full bar, you'll want accents to add the finishing touches to mixed drinks. If you're only offering beer and wine, consider including slices or wedges of citrus fruits, such as limes and oranges; they're a pleasing addition to certain beer selections. Consider these popular options:
- Oranges
- Lemons
- Limes
- Cherries
- Pineapples
- Green olives
- Cocktail onions
- Fresh herbs, such as mint, basil, or rosemary
Follow these tips to make planning drinks for your party an easy and stress-free party-planning experience.


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Review It's the dead of night, and you're driving along a deserted and gloomy mountain pass with only the low drone of your engine for company. Out of the corner of your eye you spot a rickety old timber shack at the side of the road. You pull over and the engine goes quiet. All around you, a dark, insidious mist gathers, creeping through the tall pines from every direction.
Darkening, the mist howls through the trees
A cut above the rest
You pause. You're desperately low on ammo. You know there's a chance there could be some pistol rounds inside, or maybe even a spare battery for your flashlight. But every instinct tells you not to get out, not to leave the safety of your car, not to venture into the dark. Welcome to the nightmare world of Alan Wake.
It's a dilemma you'll face many times when playing Remedy Studios' Xbox 360 exclusive. And it's a fitting one too, given that it's the hallmark of the many pulp psychological thrillers that influence it.
The greatest source of inspiration is revealed early on. If the premise alone doesn't convince you - the eponymous hero is a writer taking a secluded break with his wife to overcome a severe bout of writer's block - then the opening credits surely will. Its sweeping panoramic flight over pine covered mountains is identical to that of The Shining. And Bright Falls, the game's fictitious New England fishing port, could be the setting for any one of a dozen Stephen King books.
But this is not unadulterated homage. Unsurprisingly, there are references to New England's other famous Gothic sons: Poe and Lovecraft. And, present throughout the game, there are televisions showing a series called Night Falls, which bears more than a passing resemblance to The Twilight Zone.
We really took a shine to this game
Sponsored: Ransomware has gone nuclear


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Google is being investigated by the Internal Revenue Service for shifting $1 billion into offshore subsidiaries.
The IRS is reportedly wanting information from Google about its offshore deals after three recent acquisitions, including its $1.65 billion purchase of YouTube, Bloomberg reported.
Google, owner of the world's most popular search engine, has cut its worldwide tax bill by about $1 billion a year using a pair of strategies called the "Double Irish" and "Dutch Sandwich," which move profits through units in Ireland, the Netherlands and Bermuda. Google reported an effective tax rate of 18.8 percent in the second quarter, less than half the average combined U.S. and state statutory rate of 39.2 percent.
U.S. & World
News from around the country and around the globe
However, there's nothing illegal in companies using the "Double Irish" and "Dutch Sandwich" techniques, or shifting profits to other countries to avoid paying taxes in the United States. Phamaceutical and tech companies frequently use the techniques because patents and copyrights can easily be sent to tax havens such as Bermuda, the Cayman Islands of Switzerland -- often to company units without employees or offices. Google is also in good company: Cisco Systems, Facebook, Microsoft and Forest Laboratories (maker of popular antidepressant Lexapro) also do the same thing.
"We are considered a large case company, which means we are under a continuous audit by the IRS so of course they would be reviewing our treatment of all acquisitions," a Google spokesperson told the Guardian.
The big story here is that several companies are sitting on $1.375 trillion in their foreign subsidiaries where they pay no federal income taxes. These companies want a tax holiday to bring these profits to the United States, but so far the Obama administration isn't playing that game -- and doesn't seem sympathetic to another corporate tax break.
Google aside, what we find interesting is that Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook's founder and chief executive, said he didn't have a problem paying higher taxes to benefit the country -- so why isn't he the first one stepping up and saying his company will no longer use these tax havens to avoid paying U.S. taxes?


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Miami wants Wright's testimony out of allegations
CORAL GABLES, Fla. (AP) -- Former Miami quarterback Kyle Wright's testimony to the NCAA is part of the reason the Hurricanes want the case against their athletic department dismissed.
In the motion filed last week with the NCAA's Committee on Infractions, Miami cited six allegations that Wright helped investigators substantiate in a February 2012 interview. But Miami contends that because some of the questions were asked by now-retired NCAA investigator Rich Johanningmeier, at least some of Wright's testimony should not have been included in forming the notice of allegations that the Hurricanes received in February.
Wright, according to Miami's motion, "acknowledged receiving those benefits only after Johanningmeier asked him specific questions regarding the benefits" that the former quarterback received from convicted felon and one-time Hurricanes booster Nevin Shapiro.
And the NCAA, Miami contends, only learned about those benefits - including a trip to a Snoop Dogg concert in 2005 and an overnight trip to the Bahamas - because of the deposition that Shapiro attorney Maria Elena Perez conducted of former Miami equipment-room staffer and Shapiro confidant Sean Allen in December 2011.
That was one of the depositions Perez conducted as part of Shapiro's bankruptcy case under subpoena power while receiving payment from the NCAA for the work performed. The NCAA does not have subpoena power, and has said it struck all the information collected from Perez's depositions of Allen and former Shapiro business partner Michael Huyghue from the notice of allegations against the Hurricanes.
Miami does not believe the NCAA has stricken enough.
"Since Allen was the only witness to those benefits (and Huyghue denied providing any such benefits when he was (impermissibly) deposed), the logical inference is that the enforcement staff never would have asked (Wright) about those benefits had they not improperly received the information from Allen," reads Miami's motion to dismiss.
Wright did not respond to messages seeking comment.
The Associated Press has learned that Wright, a Miami quarterback from 2004 through 2007, appears several times in the notice of allegations against Miami. Wright is one of 48 players the NCAA said received "VIP access and beverage service" from Shapiro at Miami nightclubs between 2002 and 2009. He was also one of 38 players the NCAA said was entertained at Shapiro's home, one of 18 who received invitations to bowling-alley outings from the former booster, and one of seven who dined with him at a Benihana restaurant.
Wright, also according to the notice of allegations against Miami, received at least $1,824 in impermissible benefits "in an effort to secure signing with Axcess Sports," an agency Shapiro was aligned with.
Miami released a redacted copy of the motion to several attorneys last week as well, though the copy actually sent to the NCAA referred to players by name, not "Student 1," which is how Wright was identified in the publicly available motion.
However, Wright is the only person linked to all six allegations that Miami said "Student 1" substantiated with the NCAA.
Miami doesn't only want the Wright interview expunged because of how the information that went into Johanningmeier's questions was obtained, but also because the Hurricanes say NCAA investigator Brynna Barnhart "misled the university as to the circumstances surrounding" Wright's interview.
Miami said it was not told that Wright met with the NCAA until more than two months after his interview, even though the Hurricanes had been present in some way for virtually every interview conducted after the investigation became publicly known in August 2011, when Shapiro's claims were published by Yahoo Sports.
Wright is not among the dozens of athletes listed in that article as having received impermissible benefits from Shapiro.
Barnhart told Miami that Wright "reached out" to Johanningmeier, according to the motion to dismiss. But when interviewed by an attorney for Miami, Wright told the school that in "no way, shape or form did I reach out to the NCAA."
Wright is also quoted in Miami's motion to dismiss as having told the Hurricanes, "I live and work a normal job just like everybody else, and really the last thing I wanted to do was, you know, have my name mixed up in this and have my family's name mixed up in this."
Miami contends that Wright's testimony - and why it remains part of the case - should have been addressed in The Cadwalader Report, which the NCAA ordered in January after realizing the scope of the relationship between Perez and investigators.
"Based upon our review, it is our opinion that the current assertions in the U. Miami Investigative Record are not based on evidence that is derived, directly or indirectly, from the depositions of Mr. Allen or Mr. Huyghue," said the report from attorney Kenneth L. Wainstein, who led the external probe.
Wright, from Danville, Calif., was a five-star recruit but struggled at times in his college career. He finished his four Miami seasons with 38 touchdown passes and 31 interceptions.
Shapiro is serving a 20-year prison sentence for masterminding a $930 million Ponzi scheme. Miami has already missed three postseason football games because of the scandal, and school officials have said repeatedly that self-imposed sanctions like those and a scholarship reduction mean the Hurricanes have been penalized enough.


text: I am doing a class/presentation/module on cultural immersion for a visiting Executive MBA class from the U.S. Basically, I am trying to un-package India for them and it is a fascinating exercise. What do you focus on? Values, food, music, bargaining? There are many good books on Indian culture including A.L. Basham and India Unveiled. Been reading a lot. Have about ten slide presentations and will probably show them about five in the three hours that I have. Also doing interactive stuff.


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X-Force Debuts in U.S.
STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN — X-Force's line of fitness equipment designed for negative-accentuated training made its U.S. debut in March at the IHRSA 2009 conference in San Francisco. The strength training machines feature a weight stack that tilts to 45 degrees when an individual initiates a positive stroke. When the exerciser shifts to a negative movement, the weight stack automatically tilts back to the vertical. The Swedish company said this negative-accentuated approach creates greater muscle stimulation for added strength, since the weight load increases in the negative phase.
E-mail Program Launched
CORNELIUS, NC — Retention Management launched a new prospect e-mail program as part of its member communication service. An expansion of its automated e-mail services, the program provides clubs with the tools to increase sales traffic, according to the company. The program includes an easy-to-use Web interface to create text or HTML prospecting e-mails. It also includes follow-up with guest traffic, lead lists and former members. In addition, e-mails sent through Retention Management's certified systems are designed to get past spam filters.
ClubCount Takes Off
AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND — In March, Les Mills International introduced its new ClubCount software at IHRSA 2009 in San Francisco. The Web-based program allows club operators to track group fitness class attendance in real time and gauge participation levels over time. It also lets operators see which instructors and classes are the most popular, a feature that can help guide programming decisions.
Three Million Fitness Balls Recalled
WASHINGTON, DC — The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with EB Brands, Yonkers, NY, announced last month a voluntary recall of 3 million fitness balls sold under the Bally Total Fitness, Everlast, Valeo and Body Fit brands. When overinflated, the fitness balls can unexpectedly burst while in use, causing the user to fall. EB Brands has received 47 reports of fitness balls bursting, including reports of a fracture and multiple bruises.
The recall involves rubber fitness balls sold in 55-, 65- and 75-centimeter diameter sizes in various colors and with a pump and inflation instructions. Advertised as "burst-resistant," the fitness balls were sold in department stores and by fitness retailers nationwide from May 2000 to February 2009 for between $15 and $30.
Consumers should call EB Brands at (800) 624-5671 or visit the company's Web site for more information.
Spin Fitness Acquires Bodyblade
VENICE, CA — SPIN Fitness (Mad Dogg Athletics, Inc.) now has the exclusive distribution rights for the Bodyblade core strengthening tool product line. Combined with the online retail presence, distribution relationship with Star Trac and global reputation in the fitness industry, SPIN Fitness will expose the Bodyblade system to millions of new users, company officials said. SPIN Fitness said it plans to roll-out new products and education to enhance the experience for the nearly one million people that already use the Bodyblade.


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Biological organisms have a nifty trick, where they can grow uniform materials into three dimensional shapes by limiting growth in certain areas. As some cells expand, others don't, causing the object to warp in three dimensions. Now researchers have applied that same theory to gel sheets, and developed a way of transforming them between flat planes and 3D shapes.
The technique has been dubbed halftone gel lithography — the scientists used an ultraviolet sensitive thin polymer sheet, and exposed it to differing levels of light. The areas exposed would become crosslinked, and not able to expand when placed in water. Thus, areas that were illuminated would stay stationary, and the ones less so would shift and expand when soaked.
By mimicking printmaking, the researchers used halftone patterns, exposing the gel to dots of light of varying size and shapes. By strictly controlling these, a number of shapes were able to be developed, including spheres, saddles and cones. Simply soak it, and it achieves the shape, and then dry it and it'll return to flat. The researchers hope this technique could help with creating a new type of tissue engineering, or an alternative form of 3D printing.
Image: A halftone printing method is used to program the growth of a flat sheet into a sphere through a pattern based on the Peirce quincuncial map projection (shown in the background). Gel images: J. Kim, J.A. Hanna, M. Byun, C.D. Santangelo, R.C. Heyward; Background Map: NOAA's Office of Coast Survey Historical Map & Chart Collection.


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In honour of Vanuatu's 30th Independence Day celebrations this weekend, it only seemed appropriate to feature an alumni of our Vanuatu program. Cynthia Thomson, volunteered in Vanuatu in 2006. Since then, she has remained engaged with YCI, through the Alumni Mentorship Program. She also represented YCI at the World Youth Bank Open House in 2007. Read on to learn more about what she's up to now.
Name: Cynthia Thomson
YCI Project: Emua, Vanuatu – Youth Skills Summit, Summer 2006
Why volunteer? I volunteer because I like to use my skills to help others.My passion right now is educating people about climate change and the steps we can take to mitigate it and adapt to it.
How did it all begin? I was sitting in a Methods of Geographical Research class during my third year at the University of Ottawa and I asked a classmate of mine, who was about to graduate, what she was doing after graduation. Her answer was volunteering with YCI in Costa Rica. I immediately pulled up the website and looked at places they offered to volunteer. I originally thought of going to Guyana because of its proximity, but having always had a fascination with Pacific islands I thought,"If I'm going to do this, I'm really going to do this." That night I told my dad that after graduation I was going to go to Vanuatu. I don't think he believed a word I said. A year and a half later I was sitting on an airplane destined for Vanuatu.
Most memorable YCI moment: Really, I have to chose just one? One of the fondest memories I have is the truck ride home from Emua to Port Vila at the end of our project. Our group had ups and downs but we had become very close by the end of our stay. At one point we were all in the truck, the wind blowing through our hair, smiles from ear to ear, the ocean to our right, the lush green landscape to the left. Everyone was silent, processing the previous five weeks. It was a really good moment.
What are you up to now? I recently completed an MA in Climate and Society. As part of my research I traveled to Fiji and the Cook Islands with the Red Cross Climate Centre to study the effects of natural climate variability and climate change on the Pacific region. After graduation, I began working on climate change and food security issues. Currently, my interest lies in climate change adaptation strategies at a very small scale.


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Cinnamon has several health benefits. When added to oatmeal or baked into a scone or sprinkled into coffee or tea, it's a great source of manganese, fiber, iron and calcium. It's believed to help with anti-clotting abilities, help stabilize sugar levels for those with Type 2 diabetes, lower bad cholesterol, and fight infections.
None of these reasons, though, are why kids and young adults are encouraging their friends to eat a teaspoon of cinnamon without water. The cinnamon challenge, in which has one person challenges another to eat a teaspoon of cinnamon without water in under a minute, is sweeping the Internet. Often, the one posing the challenge will make a bet, and some unsuspecting friend or frenemy can't resist what they think will be an easy five bucks. Other people, however, know exactly what will happen and do it anyway.
This video shows what usually happens when someone tries to eat the cinnamon. Videos like these are plastered all over YouTube and a website called CinnamonChallenge.com. A search for "cinnamon challenge" on YouTube resulted in 5,340 videos. (Warning: Someone drops the F-bomb at the end of the video.)
You may be wondering if there are any dangers associated with the cinnamon challenge. Well, there's the danger of making an absolute fool of yourself, allowing your friends to video it and put it on online, and then having a future possible employer find the video and think, "This one's not so bright. I don't think I want to hire her."
What about health dangers? According to Healthcare Professional Homepage, there may be some.
- If the cinnamon gets inhaled instead of swallowed or spit out, it could cause severe chest pain.
- Choking could occur if the dry powder gets caught in the throat.
I couldn't find any information about anyone suffering long-term health problems from the cinnamon challenge, and there don't seem to be any reports of any deaths. Still, it seems like a bad, possibly dangerous idea. If your kids start talking about taking the cinnamon challenge, you should probably discourage it.
Also on MNN: Can the cinnamon challenge kill you?


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We already know Turner Motorsport enjoys a bit of the ol' hot drifting blond, but what's its like to drive the Turner 2011 Continental Tire Series Championship-winning E92 M3 Race Car, sans blond? Let's see.
In the season two finale of Tuned, Matt Farah goes to Monticello Motor Club to meet the Turner Motorsport race team, who've showed up with two cars. Their 535-horsepower, Frozen M3 street project car, and the M3 race car — the same one driven by Bill Auberlin and Paul Dalla Lana.
Obviously, on the track, horsepower is far from everything. But how important is having your street car tuned by a company that goes out and wins races every weekend? Let's find out.


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Area veterans were honored during State Senator Joseph Addabbo's fifth annual Veterans Barbecue on Saturday, August 24.
Last year, Addabbo, the ranking Democrat member of the Senate's Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs Committee, welcomed over 125 veterans and their families to the barbecue outside his Howard Beach district office. This year, the senator brought in and thanked over 70 veterans for their dedicated service.
"This is just our small way of saying, 'Thank you for your service,' not only to our local veterans, but also to their families," Addabbo said. "All nobly served our country in years past, and of course, many are currently still doing so in Afghanistan and Iraq."
Addabbo and his staff reached out to various Queens chapters of the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Catholic and Jewish War veterans and Vietnam veterans to be their special guests for the outdoor barbecue event.
"We should show our veterans that we appreciate their dedication and commitment not just on Veterans Day, but every day of the year," Addabbo said.


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Friday, August 5, 2011
MiM Mailbag: Third year med school schedule as a mom
My son will be two when I start my M3 year, and he's never spent the night away from me (at my school, surgery is the only rotation with overnights). I was thinking about starting with the lightest rotations and working up to surgery last, so my schedule won't vary wildly every few weeks. But does anyone have any suggestions as far as how it will affect him? (or just tips on how to maximize our time together? Or how to ease the transition from him having a mostly stay at home mom to having me be gone a lot more?)
4 comments:
- AnonymousAugust 5, 2011 at 4:29 PM
Wow! We had overnights on Surgery, Medicine, OB/GYN, ER, Medicine Sub-I... Most of the major rotations, actually. Now that I think about it, I'm glad I finished this before I had kids because yes, it's hard!ReplyDelete
- momoftwoanddocAugust 5, 2011 at 9:09 PM
we had overnights on everything too. It will be an adjustment, but you will be okay! truthfully, i'd pick the order with what you think you want to do in the first half of the year. i.e., if you are debating between med and peds, i might request ER, med, peds, as your first 3 so that you get your feet wet with something else, and then get exposed to the things you'd seriously consider.ReplyDelete
I'm a current M3 with a 3y/o. I'd echo the above comments. We have overnight call in most rotations, but so far it hasn't been a problem. Although I don't think that as an M1 and M2 I was anything close to a stay at home mom. I picked my schedule so that the two specialties I was really interested in where back to back in the first semester. I started with somethin I was not interested in so that I had a rotation where I could learn how to be a third year without quite as much pressure. Finally, I put a rotation with really great hours and no call in Nov-Dec so that I would have more flexibility for Thanksgiving, Christmas and my son's birthday. My only other minor consideration was putting internal med at the end of the year so that it would be fresh for step 2. In reality, I don't think it really matters in the long run. You can debte the pros and cons of each schedule type forever. Instead, just have a great time learning about medicine. You will balance motherhood at every step along the way. That's the advantage of having kids before school. I've never know any other way.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousAugust 12, 2011 at 10:41 PM
I had 3 kiddos by 3rd year. I started with surgery as my first rotation and got it over. Granted my kids were 7,5, and 3 at that time. My husband was great to bring the kids to eat dinner with me at the hospital. I would call and tell them good night. Trust me they will survive...now mine are 17, 15, and 13 and no worse for the wear. I think it is much more difficult for mom than the kids!ReplyDelete
Good Luck!!


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What Should You Do If Your Cheating Friend Asks To Cover Up For Them
When a friend cheats on their partner and expects you to cover up for them, you will have to make a difficult choice of saying yes or no. What will you do?
Each one of us think of ourselves as cheating experts- that we know why people cheat, what of a person gets cheated on, and how to handle cheaters once they're caught. But, when a friend of yours is cheating on their partner, you are confronted by an infidelity scenario that is decidedly not hypothetical. Things get cloudier, murkier, and more complicated. Your friend's image becomes altered in your eyes. So, what does one do when a cheating friend is asking you to lie on their behalf? Would you allow the push to the acceptable boundaries of healthy friendship or would you put your foot down? Image Courtesy: Getty
It's sketchy to drop a dime if your buddy is cheating. Not that what they are doing is right but you don't want to take the matters in your hand. They probably would suffer the consequences for their behaviour. And while you don't want to cover up for their infidelity, you don't necessarily want to let out their dirty little secret. Image Courtesy: Getty
When your friend is cheating, confront them about their shady behaviour. Tell them that you don't approve of their choice and that it's uncool. As a friend you must encourage them to resolve the situation by either ending the relationship or by coming clean in front of their partner. Image Courtesy: Getty
You've done your part when you have confronted your cheating friend. What they do further is wholly their choice. But, even if they choose to overlook your advice and keep on cheating on their partner, you must not get everyone involved. Keep it to yourself. Image Courtesy: Getty
For the love of God and the trust people put in relationships, don't be an accomplice to your cheating friend. If they ask you to cover up for them, tell them up front that you are uncomfortable about the whole thing and that you'll not lie for them or aid them in their philandering ways. Image Courtesy: Getty
Pressing your friend for details won't help. You can simply let them know that you are disappointed in their behaviour and explain to them why you are against infidelity and wouldn't want to cover up for them. Image Courtesy: Getty
Just shut-up. You have had your say; you can't do anything more. Things like "You know this will only end in heartache" won't help because probably deep down your friend already knows it and is actually doing this particular reason only. Image Courtesy: Getty
Infidelity is a personal subject and however disapproving you may find it, don't be angry at your friend. Also, don't judge them. The feeling of bitterness in friendship may make it difficult for you to remain calm but you have to do it so that you can put some sense in your friend. Image Courtesy: Getty
When your friend openly tells you that they are cheating on their partner, your friendship will change in some way. You feel strongly about infidelity, and while you support your friend you may need to distance yourself from their behaviour. Image Courtesy: Getty
All possible measures have been taken to ensure accuracy, reliability, timeliness and authenticity of the information; however Onlymyhealth.com does not take any liability for the same. Using any information provided by the website is solely at the viewers' discretion. In case of any medical exigencies/ persistent health issues, we advise you to seek a qualified medical practitioner before putting to use any advice/tips given by our team or any third party in form of answers/comments on the above mentioned website.


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Since it's wholly new to me, I'm trying to see as much of the surrounding northern Mississippi area as my schedule allows. So just for grins, this morning I got in my car and drove the opposite way I normally drive on the street at the end of my block (pretty daring, huh?).
Lo and behold, this little guy--College Church--is located down the road, less than one mile from my house. I don't have the words to describe how much I love old churches and graveyards (did you know that graveyards are adjacent to churches, while cemeteries are plots of land where the deceased are buried?).
"Events of interest include the encampment of these ground by Union troops of General Grant and General Sherman, and the marriage of author William Faulkner. The church is thought to be the model for some settings in Faulkner's novels. The church cemetery contains a number of unmarked Union soldiers' burial sites. The Session's original minutes, dating back to the 1835 organizations meeting, are safeguarded in a local bank."


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Georgia health officials have announced that 21 schools have gotten grants to help fight childhood obesity.
The grants total $87,000 and come from the Georgia Department of Public Health and the Governor's SHAPE initiative. The schools include elementary, middle and high schools throughout the state.
Twelve schools got up to $5,000 to implement physical activity and nutrition plans, while nine others got $3,000 to develop plans. The money will also be used for training and technical assistance.
Health officials say children are more physically active if their schools schedule and promote physical activities. Georgia ranks third in the nation for overweight and obese children.
SHAPE is a statewide initiative that brings together the government, philanthropic, academic and business communities to fight childhood obesity in Georgia.


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Target Optical, a growing division of Luxottica Retail, is seeking a Doctor of Optometry at our NEW location in Naples, FL.
As an affiliated Optometrist, you:
- decide the optometric care and services you provide to your patients
- set your own professional fees
- keep associated patient revenues for your professional services
- pay a nominal rent
Luxottica provides you:
- a furnished office
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- well -equipped exam lane(s)
- an online scheduling
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- OneSight associated opportunities
This is a terrific opportunity for an OD looking for engaging work in a fashion forward and fun environment. We are committed to making eyes happy as well as fostering a unique practice environment.
Message Tiffany Smith by email firstname.lastname@example.com.
Visit http://doctors.luxottica.jobs/ Let us know how we can make this opportunity work for you!


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The Buzz at Eastleigh
Posted by jonathanfryer on Sunday, 24th February, 2013
A coachload of London Liberal Democrats went down to Eastleigh yesterday, where we found the by-election headquarters a hive of activity; apparently nearly 500 volunteers from all over the country went through the doors during the day. I don't remember such a positive buzz about a by-election since the early days of the Liberal-SDP Alliance, but the difference in the level of professionalism between now and 30 years ago was striking. Arriving helpers were immediately divided and labelled into canvassers, deliverers and clerical, and people were genuinely asked what they preferred to do, rather than just being told, as if so often the case at such times. The warehouse space being used was large enough to have a number of different activities going on at the same time, while printers continued to churn out new literature. That literature itself was of a far higher quality than has sometimes been the case and presented the LibDem candidate Mike Thornton — a respected local councillor — as a man of the community who will do all he can to represent the areas interests at Westminster. So it was a pleasure to deliver it, even in the freezing cold and flurries of snow. Unusually, every single councillor in the constituency, at local and county level, is LibDem, but that almost embarrassing dominance does not mean the by-election is going to be a walkover. The Party is still languishing at between 10 and 12 per cent in the national opinion polls and has been the subject of negative publicity recently, including over former MP Chris Huhne's resignation and trial. Nonetheless there are a good number of dayglo poster boards up around the constituency and local opinion polls suggest the LibDems and Tories are neck and neck. UKIP is also going to poll well (though not well enough), with Labour trailing badly in fourth place. Of course we won't know the actual result until after the count, but Mike Thornton deserves to win and both the number and enthusiasm of party helpers out and about in the constituency bode well for the Party's health.


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TIFF To PDF Converter 6.8 - Detailed description page
TIFF To PDF Converter is a perfect convert tool designed to convert TIFF into PDF files, which can helps you convert your photos, drawings, scanned and faxed images into Acrobat PDF documents.TIFF To PDF Converter provides powerful functions and Settings include set the page size, orientation, margin and layout of the output PDF document; as well as change its properties, security setting, watermarking, bookmark, and viewer options. The interface of TIFF To PDF Converter has been designed to be user-friendly and can be easily operated by anyone. All a user needs to do is click on the menu and all the options of the program are available to you. All conversions can be done easily and smoothly..
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Recent Changes: improve
Install Support: Install and Uninstall
Supported Languages: English
Additional Requirements: all system
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Why is This Column Different From All Others?
Most of you are probably expecting five short observations on things in the world around me. I hope you are used to disappointment, because you are in for it.
Much like the disappointment that comes with being in an airport while forgetting both my cell phone charger and my headphones. The first lapse in memory will force me to spend a weekend not speaking to those I am trying to reach. The second one will force me to spend a flight speaking to those I am trying to avoid. I didn't even plan on plugging my headphones in to anything. I was just going to wear them. If my neighbor notices the dangling headphone cord, so be it. It's what they get for arriving late enough to have a middle seat.
I wrote a column for two and a half years about looking at stuff around me and reporting what I saw. Kind of the little brother urging you to look out his side of the car. But after graduating college, things have slowly begun to change. But not in the airport. I'm still sitting here avoiding people, just like I was a half hour ago.
Observational Humor used to be about college, but I felt a bit sheepish writing about something I was no longer part of. So I started writing about working life, but that's no fun at all. When you tell someone that you write college humor, they say, "Parties, rock!†When you tell someone that you write office humor, they say, "Excuse me, Irving, may I borrow your stapler? I seem to have used up the last of my staples while putting together my painfully boring life.â€
When I started to write this column, I was left at a crossroads. And not the kind that has Britney Spears trying to act (whew). My crossroads involved me making a decision. So I finally made one: I bought a new pair of headphones from the airport's Overpriced Random Things Depot. Actually, I bought two. I wanted mini headphones, and you could only get those "free†with a twelve-dollar pair of big headphones. The Depot also carries the big headphones without the mini headphones, priced at six dollars.
Equipped with headphones, I started thinking about what to write this week. I could give you a riveting expose on white out or the dress code or the gradual change from water coolers to soda machines or something else that your parents might enjoy reading. Or I could write about whatever I felt like, on a week-to-week basis, and just try to be as entertaining as possible. The decision was much easier than whether or not to blow twelve bucks on headphones.
The problem that decision creates is if interesting things happen around me often enough to write about. Interesting things that I can write about here, anyway. There's all sorts of interesting stuff that goes on between people I know that you wouldn't really care about. Like when John asked Patricia out, and she turned him down because she wanted to date Patrick, and then everyone made fun of her because her name was Patricia and so she shouldn't date someone named Patrick. This is an example of something that would not make a good column.
Living in New York and having a keen sense of perception helps. Which is much healthier than living in New York with a keen sense of smell, since that would prevent you from ever leaving your apartment. I enjoy looking at the things around me, thinning them out into bite size pieces, and serving them to my readers like the tiny bag of pretzels and the 5 ounce cup of Sprite that will keep me full all the way to Los Angeles.
Little things like this should provide me with both hunger pains and countless weeks of column material; the world is full of things that make for funny anecdotes. Like the guy who just sat down next to me and is letting his kid run around touching people.
A lot of people have written to me asking if I could make my columns longer, and I have traditionally told them to go pound. So it is possible that none of them are reading this, since they are all busy pounding. But if they have not yet begun to pound, or perhaps they finished their pounding early, they might be reading this after all. I hope that my new format did not disappoint any of them.
Unless they are the guy with the weird kid who keeps touching me. I hope he gets dissapointed constantly.


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The Wigwam, Litchfield Park
A trip to remember is only made better when you find that perfect place to unwind at the end of the day. After all, half the experience of enjoying vacation is where you end up staying. And you better believe Arizona delivers on some incredible places that help make it a highlight to your trip.
Ever stay the night on a real dude ranch? From luxury resorts to rustic mountain cabins and even magnificently restored vintage travel trailers, Arizona has as many authentic and amazing places to stay as there are exceptional destinations to explore. Arizona's resorts are some of the best in the nation, offering the perfect respite from your busy life. And one thing's for sure, no matter where your accommodations are, you'll surely find incredible scenery and exciting things to do nearby.
Have a particular city or type of stay you're looking for? Find the perfect place, or learn a bit more about Arizona's options for lodging with the menu below.
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text: My name is Andrew. I like to make music. I just started a computer science course this semester in college and the course requires me to learn Java. I joined this forum because I need a lot of help with Java programming and I figured there are some experts that are lurking somewhere around here.