text:
Diving & Marine Conservation Volunteering in Thailand - Monthly Updates
- Project Overview
- Additional Project Info
- Divemaster Course Add-on
- Monthly Updates
- Management Plan, Data & Reports
Conservation in Thailand - Monthly Update October 2011
We have moved!
On 1st October we officially moved into our new premises, an eco-resort named the Dawn of Happiness. Set amongst a tropical garden, the conservation team and volunteers have set up home in simple bamboo bungalows on the beach at Ao Nammao.
It has been a very rainy month here in Thailand, most of you will have seen the news reports about the flooding in Bangkok. Luckily, Southern Thailand was not affected by the floods and our projects continued without disruption.
Here is a summary of what the volunteers have been doing...
Diving Based Projects
Reef Check Survey
The volunteers are absolutely loving this survey! Linnea, our Marine Biologist, has been training everyone to identify species of fish and corals, then when the volunteers are ready, they get to participate to counting key species and collect vital data which they then enter into the Reef Check database.
Every dive, the volunteers have been coming back really pleased that they managed to identify even more species, often finding some rare or unusual critters, whilst learning new marine research techniques and refining their buoyancy skills.
We conducted 13 separate surveys during October at different sites both locally and around Phi Phi.
Conditions were varied during the month from rain storms, 2 metre waves with 1 metre visibility, to bright blue sunny skies, pond like seas and 20 metres visibility!
We found that blue-green chromis were the dominating fish species of the month, with over 4000 being counted at Koh See alone on 12th October!
On 19th October we conducted our first survey of Koh Bida Nai and found a variety of key indicator species, including an abundance of lunar wrasse.
It was sad to survey that at some sites the hard coral cover is between 0 -25% only, with the soft and leathery corals seeming to do a bit better.
In addition to the species we monitor, the divers got to see turtles, sharks, sea snakes and cuttlefish!
Project AWARE - Dive Against Debris Survey
During the month of October we cleaned the reefs and ocean surface at 10 different dive sites. Collecting a total of 12.6kg of trash.
We were happy to report that on two of the sites we surveyed, there was no trash to collect at all!
Around the middle of the month, we encountered a lot of debris floating on the surface, mainly polystyrene building debris. In fact, on the reefs we brought up a lot of building materials such as PVC piping and guttering so it seems that someone dumped their unwanted building materials in the ocean rather than disposing of it responsibly on land.
We found a very large fish trap that was too heavy to bring to the surface, so we removed the netting and left the framework. We also left two tyres from different sites as damsel fish had made it their home already, some sponges had attached and there were signs of anemone too!
Whilst collecting debris from the reef at Maya Nui, we were joined by 10 black tip reef sharks that swam around us for a little while!
Land Based Projects
Mangrove Regeneration
Our first mission this month was to move the mangrove nursery to our new premises. The volunteers rebuilt the nursery and set up the areas for the different species of mangroves that we grow.
Now that we had the nursery set up, we went out on two seed collection missions over the month. We collected a total of 531 seeds, which we planted in our nursery. Already they are growing and will be ready for planting by next month.
We returned to our Talan site to check on our saplings and to plant some more. We were delighted to see that the home grown saplings we had planted the previous week had survived the rains.
Our tree planting efforts this month saw us plant a total of 288 saplings, of three different varieties in two different sites.
Whilst out planting we saw a sea eagle and king fisher. This shows that our reforestation work is helping to provide a habitat for these beautiful birds, as well other animals and marine life. It always feels so great to see first hand the impact our hard work has on the local wildlife.
Beach Clean Ups
Our data collection surveys had particular importance over the past 2 months as we were involved in providing specific data for the Ocean Conservancy's 2011 Annual Report. This report is the world's only item by item, location by location snapshot of marine debris. By understanding what is out there, the world's environmentalists and governments can work together on finding solutions.
During October we conducted four clean ups at three different locations.
The first beach we cleaned was outside our new premises on Ao Nammao Beach. We wanted to let the locals know 'we are here!' and to show them what we do and the purpose of our project.
500 metres North of Ao Nammao beach is a shrimp farm and 500 metres south is a large hotel, so we were interested to see what we would find. We collected an astonishing 341kg of trash in just a couple of hours! We cleaned this beach again on 28th October, and we were delighted to collect only 33kg this time.
Now that we are based here, Ao Nammao will soon be the cleanest beach in the whole of Krabi!
The most interesting finds this month were 39 cigarette lighters and many shoes collected from Klong Muang beach!
We collected a total of 824.9kg of trash from beaches in October, with only 28.5kg being recyclable.
We are delighted that the Fisheries Department has received extra funding from the Government which has enabled them to employ full time staff. This does mean however, that our volunteers are no longer needed to help out.
So on 10th October we were invited to join a guided tour of the fisheries. We had a look at a variety of butterfly fish, surgeon fish and trigger fish and learned how to identify them. Some of the volunteers were invited to pet a stingray at the shoreline and we all watched as the fish were fed by the staff.
We have thoroughly enjoyed working with the fisheries department as a vital local resource in providing information on recreational and commercial fishing, aquaculture, habitat and species protection and repopulation.
School Project
The Thailand Teaching Project invited the Conservation Project volunteers to spend a day with the 50 children taking part in the 'Yes We Can' English Camp they organise each year.
Of course we jumped at the chance to educate yet another 50 youngsters on the important role they play in conserving their natural resources for the future.
As always, the volunteers did me proud! We started the day with introductions, then two of the volunteers, together with Punch, our local field co-ordinator, presented a bilingual slide show which took the children on a visual journey into the importance of adopting environmentally friendly practices.
We followed this with a trash clean up along the banks of the stunning Krabi River, where the children live and from which most of their parents make their living. We ate a picnic lunch in Thara Park, where the volunteers got to hang out and chat with the children, quickly becoming important role models for this next generation.
Afterwards, we headed back to the camp, where we played games with environmental messages, such as, pin the fin back on the shark, endangered species memory cards, a recycling game and we even took some scuba equipment with us so the kids could try breathing from a tank.
The day ended with a presentation of certificates and also we gave the children reusable water bottles as a prize.
This was an invaluable experience for the volunteers, who had an amazing time and saw first hand the importance of the work they do here.
Other Stuff...
We celebrated our 'new home' with a BBQ on the beach, watching one of the most spectacular sunsets I have ever seen.
Since then, we have set up a volleyball net, I have taught sunset yoga on the beach and Vishal has organised a beach cinema night. We are all so very happy to have such a beautiful location from which to work and relax after a hard day out in the field.
We have also gone 'super green' setting up a compost system, introducing a recycling station and system for the whole resort, rebuilding our tree sapling nursery, getting bicycles for the volunteers to use...everyday we think of new ways to reduce our carbon footprint.
The volunteers had many adventures this month and they did a lot of island hopping on their weekends, visiting Koh Lanta, Koh Jum, Koh Phi Phi and Railay.
It has been a very busy month and now we have settled in to our new premises the team and I are very excited about moving forward with our amazing projects.
The conditions were tough this month due to the rain, but once again, the volunteers have demonstrated an incredible commitment to making a difference in this world.
Keep it up everyone, because everything you do counts!
Ingrid Sprake
Conservation Director, Thailand
2nd November 2011


text:
New Theme: Discovery
Discover something beautiful—this is a Theme that was built with its name in mind. Welcome our newest theme Discovery. View the demo site to get an idea of how it handles your content.
Discovery's clear and beautifully proportioned architecture allows visitors to easily discover and explore content. Its polished details show a level of care equal to your own. This theme shows content with restraint and refinement.
Whether you're a blogger, photographer, or shop owner, Discovery gives your pages a polished structure so your work can shine.
This theme is also accented by a bold header image, which provides a compelling visual space to represent your brand or art.
We hope you enjoy this beautiful new theme. Give it a try today by logging in and selecting it from the Theme page. (Remember you can preview themes on your site as well as revert back to your older designs using your Theme History.)

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Newswise — March 6, 2014, Phoenix, AZ -- Scientific investigators demonstrated the conditional heating safety of a new spinal cord stimulation (SCS) lead designed to be compatible with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) across a range of clinical scenarios. The results presented in a scientific poster today at the 30th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Pain Medicine are expected to have implications for improved patient safety and access to MRI.
The radiofrequency (RF) field in an MRI causes a rise in temperature at the electrode of an implanted medical lead. Heating safety during MRI is complex and requires complete understanding of the MRI system, lead behavior and individual patient characteristics, study authors said. The confirmation of their model's ability to accurately predict RF electrode heating (i.e., temperature changes) in animals provides confidence in the ability to predict heating in patients, the authors said.
"This work was used to demonstrate safety for the first FDA-approved, full-body MRI, conditionally-safe SCS system," said lead study author Heather Orser, PhD, principal electrical engineer with the Neuromodulation business of Medtronic (NYSE: MDT), a medical device company based in Minneapolis that funded the study. "Approval of the system allows SCS patients safe access to the diagnostic benefits provided by MRI for scans of any part of the body."
The research team implanted leads and temperature probes in the spinal canals of anesthetized pigs, then scanned them in a 1.5T MRI system at multiple landmarks. The animal model simulations were then compared to animal electrode temperature measurements to confirm model accuracy.
Next, researchers sought to simulate the electromagnetic effects that occur due to variations in human morphology using several MRI coils. They performed simulations for hundreds of clinical lead paths in each human model, combining the results with lead characterization analyses to predict the temperature rise at the electrodes in the spinal cord for each patient situation.
While the rises in temperature varied significantly across 10,000 different patients, device scenarios and MRI scenarios, the resulting temperature predictions demonstrated that a lead designed for reduced RF heating produced temperatures below 43 °C for the full range of implant scenarios during 30 minutes of active scanning.
Poster 147 – Predicting MRI Radiofrequency (RF) Heating Risks in Spinal Cord Stimulation (SCS) Patients. CONTACT: Heather Orser, PHD, firstname.lastname@example.com
MEDIA CONTACTRegister for reporter access to contact details
30th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Pain Medicine


text:
Longmont voters have a history. Given a five-year sales tax for streets, they pass it.
This November, they'll be asked for 10.
On Tuesday the Longmont City Council voted 6-1 to ask for a 10-year renewal of the tax this November. This year, the three-quarter cent tax is expected to generate almost $12 million and help secure another $4.95 million in state and federal grants.
Without an extension, the tax expires at the end of 2016.
Voters have renewed the five-year term every time it's come up since 1986. But city staff said a longer duration would help draw more grant money and allow better long-term plans. Right now, engineering services manager Nick Wolfrum said, any projects or grants that go past the sunset date have to show zero sales tax funding at that point, since the city can't guarantee reapproval.
"We can't match with local funding because we don't have any past 2016," Wolfrum said.
In addition, public works director Dale Rademacher said, the flood has put more long-term projects on the city's plate that a longer tax could better address.
The sole "no" vote came from Councilwoman Sarah Levison, who said a shorter tax gave voters more control and the city more flexibility if the rate ever needed to be changed.
"A lot of folks have already forgotten about the flood," she said, saying that a shorter term would be easier to pass. "I think people are looking at the dollars and cents in their pockets."
Councilwoman Polly Christensen said that while she could see Levison's point, a longer planning horizon made more sense.
"A five-year plan, even for an individual, is very, very short," she said.
"We're always going to need money for our streets," Councilwoman Bonnie Finley agreed. "A street tax has never failed in Longmont. If a longer tax will let us get more grant money, I'm in favor of it."
The council also reviewed what its street needs would be over the next 20 years. The update to the streets master plan covered $144.1 million in major corridor improvements and $42 million in intersection work, with three projects singled out as high-priority:
• Widening Hover Street from four lanes to six between the Diagonal Highway and Boston Avenue, for about $1.4 million.
• Widening Ken Pratt Boulevard to six lanes between Nelson Road and South Pratt Parkway, for about $3.5 million.
• Adding left-turn lanes to the northbound, southbound and eastbound approaches to the intersection of the Diagonal and Hover Street and adding another northbound through lane.
Contact Times-Call staff writer Scott Rochat at 303-684-5220 or firstname.lastname@example.com


text:
This website uses cookies to help you get the most out of your experience during your visit, and we can improve the content served to you by collecting statistical information. If you have allowed cookies in the settings of your web browser and you continue to use our website, you agree. For more information, please read our Privacy Policy.
‡ In these countries please contact our distributor
We are committed to ensuring that our employees work in a safe and healthy environment.
A healthy and safe working environment is essential to way that we work. The safety of our employees and those who work with us is given the highest priority at all times and we continuously monitor practices and conditions at all sites to ensure that we constantly improve.
Our Employee Assistance Programmes (EAPs) provide counselling, webinars and web tools, and other resources across many work and life topics.
Counselling can span from traditional counselling to financial, legal and everyday family assistance.
Ensuring that Smith+Nephew is a place where employees enjoy their work is important to us.
Our Camaraderie and Social Committees around the world are made up of volunteers at each site, who support the friendly atmosphere by developing a programme of fun social events for their colleagues.
Examples of activities organised by the committees around the world include quiz nights, site fitness clubs and sports tournaments, BBQs and cultural celebrations.
Every employee is offered eight hours of paid volunteer time each year.
Examples of volunteering initiatives around the world have included beach clean-ups in Costa Rica, volunteering at Food Banks in the US, building prosthetic hands for landmine victims in the UK, assembling care packages for families in need during Ramadan in the UAE, and supporting Operation Walk in Ecuador, Antigua and Guatemala to bring free total hip arthroplasty surgery to patients with severe arthritis.
Find your next challenge within Smith+Nephew's current available jobs
Our openings
◊ Trademark of Smith+Nephew


text:
The first South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival will take place today through Sunday in Grand Boulevard at Sandestin, located along South Walton�s picturesque Northwest Florida beaches.
MIRAMAR BEACH � The first South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival will take place today through Sunday in Grand Boulevard at Sandestin, located along South Walton�s picturesque Northwest Florida beaches.
This new charity wine festival will feature major wine industry partners and exciting wine celebrities from around the world.
Presented by Visit South Walton, more than 800 wines and a culinary village will enhance this year�s event. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation for children in need in Northwest Florida.
�We will have the best wines and an amazing culinary village, all in a stunning location to make this an incredible wine festival,� said Chan Cox, founder of other successful wine festivals in Northwest Florida and owner of Wine World located throughout Northwest Florida.
Peter Mondavi Jr. has a long history with Cox and will attend to formally christen the new festival.
�I am looking forward to helping you kick off the first annual South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival in Grand Boulevard at Sandestin,� said Mondavi, co-proprietor of Charles Krug-Peter Mondavi Family Winery.
Nationally and internationally well-known wine personalities and industry experts will provide festive entertainment and educational tastings for attendees.
There are dozens of confirmed winemakers participating in the festival including: Charles J. �Chuck� Wagner, owner of Caymus Vineyards; Koerner �KR� Rombauer III of Rombauer Vineyards; H�l�ne Garcin-L�v�que, owner of Chateau Clos L �glise; Pomerol and Joe Davis, Winegrower and Winemaker of Arcadian Winery, Lompoc, California.
The Culinary Village, featuring the Savor South Walton Culinary Pavilion, will showcase an array of food tastings, wine pairings, and access to the professionals who make these amazing wines and food.
Wine seminars are planned for those wishing for more focused and in-depth tastings. For those who enjoy the culinary arts, there will be cooking demonstrations and the latest in high-quality cookware, glassware and kitchen accessories.
In addition, a who�s who of Nashville songwriters will play and tell stories about the hit songs they wrote for the biggest stars in the music business, including Rascal Flatts, Faith Hill, Vince Gill and many others.
Festival partners include Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation, Visit South Walton Tourist Development Council, Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association, Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa, Wine World of Northwest Florida and Grand Boulevard at Sandestin.
For more information, including a list of attending winemakers and to purchase tickets, visit the website SoWalWine.com.
Schedule and ticket prices from the website SoWalWine.com. Click on Tickets link
Vibrant Rioja Exclusive Tasting & Food Pairing: $100
6 - 9 p.m.
Grand Park
Winemakers & Shakers: $30
4 - 6 p.m.
Wine World Destin
VIP Grand Tasting One Day Ticket: $150
11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Includes SATURDAY Grand Tasting
* Limited tickets
One Day of Grand Tasting:
1 - 5 p.m.
One Day of Grand Tasting:
1 - 5 p.m.
Two Days of Grand Tasting:
1 - 5 p.m.
April 27 - After-Party Party & Concert
7 p.m.
Culinary Village at North Park
Cost: $60
Tickets are non-refundable. Event presented rain or shine.


text:
Tagged: Raul Ibanez
7-1-10 PNC Park
The Phillies were in town today for game 1 of a four game series. Unfortunately for me, their fans travel well, and many arrived early for batting practice.
To make matters worse, the security ticket scanner, who only permits season ticket holders into the left field bleachers wasn't at his post. In fact, he didn't show up until 5:11, allowing a steady stream of Phillies fans and non season ticket holders to stroll on in and crowd up the bleachers.
I got my first ball during the Pirates' first group off the bat of Delwyn Young. He hit a ball that landed in the section directly next to the foul pole. I ran over as three other folks converged towards the back of the section where the ball had landed.
I realized though that the ball was rolling down towards the front row, so I quickly reversed course and ran down to the front row, where I picked up ball #1.
My second ball came from the next Pirates' group and off the bat of Lastings Milledge.
The ball bounced off the concrete and took a hop up into the rotunda. Several folks were frantically looking around, their heads swiveling hoping to pick up the ball. I knew exactly where it was. It had gotten caught up on the rotunda. I took off and ran up the lower ring of the Rotunda, and there it was:
Season: 272 balls (146 hit, 64 thrown, 26 device, 37 found)
Games: 42 games
Average: 6.48 balls per game
2010 Game Balls: 3
Career: 850 balls
Streak: 138 consecutive games attended with at least 1 ball snagged.
Attendance: 25,323


text:
Certified Audit of Circulations Becomes Subsidiary of ABC
By: Press Release | ABC
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. and WAYNE, N.J. (Nov. 6, 2012)— Members of the Certified Audit of Circulations (CAC) have voted overwhelmingly for CAC to join the Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC) as a subsidiary. With member approval of an acquisition agreement and amended certificate of incorporation, CAC will begin operating as a subsidiary of ABC before the end of the year.
Earlier this year, the ABC and CAC boards unanimously voted in support of the new relationship. Several industry executives and organizations, including the Local Media Association, publicly supported the effort. CAC then asked its members to consider the benefits for their organizations and the industry and vote, as required by its bylaws. Eighty-eight percent of the votes cast at a special CAC member meeting held on Nov. 2 were in favor of the acquisition.
ABC and CAC have a joint mission to provide credible, transparent media data to best serve U.S. newspaper publishers and media buyers. The new relationship will result in a comprehensive new central repository of audited newspaper data and additional service opportunities for CAC members.
"We are happy to see such a positive response from our members," said Mark Stoecklin, chief operating officer of CAC. "Our core services and mission aren't changing, but as a separate group within ABC, we will be able to offer members enhanced services, visibility and data. Together, we're going to help advance our membership and our industry."
ABC and CAC will now move forward with creating a comprehensive database that will offer unprecedented insight into print and digital circulation for nearly 2,000 daily and weekly U.S. newspapers. This data will be available to more than 1,000 newspaper advertisers and media buying agencies that are members of one or both organizations. ABC and CAC also plan to establish a set of industry-wide qualification guidelines and labeling standards that will ultimately provide advertisers a more cohesive data set to efficiently evaluate multimedia newspaper brands. CAC members will have access to ABC's services that extend accountability to other areas of newspapers' diverse brands, including inserts, readership studies, websites, mobile and tablet apps and social media networks.
"On behalf of ABC, I look forward to welcoming CAC members as part of the overall organization," said Mike Lavery, president and managing director of ABC. "This is a step forward for the industry, offering more services and visibility to newspapers and more data for their advertisers."
Both organizations anticipate reducing operational redundancies, streamlining service offerings, and aligning key audit rules for a more efficient auditing organization.
CAC will retain its independent brand through a separate board of directors, bylaws, audit statements and staff. Lavery will continue to serve as president of ABC as well as CEO of CAC. More details about the initiative are available on an ABC/CAC website.
About ABC
ABC is a forum of North America's leading magazine and newspaper publishers, advertisers and advertising agencies. The organization provides credible, verified information essential to the media buying and selling process. ABC maintains the world's foremost online database of audited circulation information and a growing array of readership, audience and website usage data. ABC's digital arm, ABC Interactive, is one of the world's leading independent auditors of websites and digital ad-based technology. To learn more, visit www.accessabc.com.
About CAC
Certified Audit of Circulations Inc. (CAC) was established in 1956 to provide an objective verification of circulation claims for the benefit of media accountability and transparency of advertising investments. CAC's not-for-profit forum provides a premier platform, which mandates no vested interest in the outcome of the audit findings. The company is governed by a board of directors representing national advertisers, advertising agencies and publishers. CAC is a premier, IFABC accredited, national auditor of paid and free print media. CAC is the nation's largest provider of market research and delivery verifications for the Yellow Pages industry.


text:
|Version 87 (modified by moo, 14 years ago) (diff)
Welcome to XCache
XCache is a fast, stable PHP opcode cacher that has been tested and is now running on production servers under high load. It is tested (on linux) and supported on all of the latest PHP cvs branches such as PHP_4_3 PHP_4_4 PHP_5_0 PHP_5_1 PHP_5_2 HEAD(6.x). ThreadSafe/Windows is also supported. It overcomes a lot of problems that has been with other competing opcachers such as being able to be used with new PHP versions.
submit/view bugs | Forum | XCache Administration demo | XCache Coverage Viewer demo | SvnGraph
This Tracking system is open for everyone to provide patches, bugs, docs.
- You can do anything here but with login after register.
- Write your thought and doc on this wiki
- File your ideas/features at ticket system.
- and file bugs you found/submit patch at ticket system.
- Join the XCache Forum, get or give help there, pointing new users to the tutorials
- 20061111
- XCache 1.1.0 (unstable) The careful step to 1.2.
- XCache 1.0.3 (stable) Stability + OS Compatiblity fix.
- made Win32AutoBuilds? to build 1.1-dev
- 20061105
- fixed SvnSnapShots build to make log file for .bz2
- added php 5.2.0 and updated 6.0-snapshot in Win32AutoBuilds?
- 20061019
- XCache 1.1-rc2 (unstable) merged many fixes from trunk since rc1. this will be the last rc if there's no critical problem. see ChangeLog
See more: OldNews?
Lastest Releases
- 1.0.x, stable, bugfixes
- Release-1.0.3: Stability + OS Compatiblity fix.
- 1.1.x, unstable, features
- Release-1.1.0: The careful step to 1.2.
- 1.2.x, devel, features (full 5.2 support, also fix 5.1 support)
See more: ReleaseArchive
I'd still CallForTesters to make XCache run on more system. It would help a log to report problems.
Other downloads
- Win32AutoBuilds?
- Read instructions in GettingSource
- SvnSnapShots
Users' Documentation & FAQ
- Introduction: What/Why? is XCache?
- Faq Frequently Asked Questions
- FeatureList: Most if not all features inside XCache
- XcacheRedist: OS Distros that support XCache
- InstallFromSource: Get/Install/Setup? XCache from Source package
- InstallFromBinary: Binary Installtion. Win32 supported.
- PhpIni: Explain the xcache ini settings. Also give you info about php.ini
- XCache Api: New php script functions introduced by XCache
- Testing Xcache: this document will describe how XCache is tested.
Users' Articles/Discussions?
Discussions that might help you.
- Discussions
- Pro Feedbacks
- Con Feedbacks
- Benchmarks
Users' HowTos
Using Trac
- WikiFormatting -- the Trac syntax on this wiki, try it out in the SandBox
- ShellExample -- Writing examples on shell. see also WikiProcessors
- TracGuide -- Bundled Trac documentation
- TitleIndex -- a complete list of pages on this wiki
Developers' Document
Documents for developers and those interested in php compiler.
- DevelModuleList: List of modules inside XCache.


text:
MEXICO CITY (AP) — A construction magnate's preppy son is forced to drive one of Mexico City's battered green buses, while his spoiled sister waits tables at a cantina in a miniskirt and non-designer shoes. Their credit cards have been canceled, their BMWs and mansion seized.
The Mexican riches-to-rags movie, "We are the Nobles" has opened to packed theaters in a country with one of the world's widest income gaps — and a love for laughing at misfortune. More than 1 million people showed up in the first week to see the story of an impresario who fakes a government raid on his riches to teach his children the value of work.
Only a Hollywood blockbuster featuring Bruce Willis and DreamWorks' latest 3D animation beat it at the box office last weekend, the second-biggest opening for a domestic film here in more than 10 years.
"Latin America is a region where middle class is very small," said writer and director Gary "Gaz"Alazraki. "So I thought if you want to capture the mood of the public with cinema, that's the first place to look, the contrast between rich and poor."
In the movie, patriarch German Noble's eldest son spends his days at daddy's company dreaming up big ideas, such as mixing the world's largest rum and Coke in Mexico City's storied Aztec Stadium. His daughter is engaged to a failed businessman and aspires to open a restaurant on her father's dime. The youngest is a hipster who preaches against capitalism, even as dad pays his private college tuition — until he is expelled for sleeping with a professor.
After surviving a heart attack and getting a second chance at life, Noble decides to stage a raid on his Beverly Hills-like home.
"Can someone please explain why they are confiscating all our stuff, as if we were in Venezuela?" the agitated daughter, Barbie, demands to know in the Mexican equivalent of Valley speak.
"They discovered fraud," German Noble tells her.
"Jesus Christ," she answers in English.
People like the fictitious Nobles appear on any ritzy corner of the city, where Mexico's carefully coiffed, wearing the highest fashions, can be seen stepping from the running boards of their enormous SUVs, their bodyguards lurking outside as they go for a workout or pedicure. They have been to the best schools in the world and the finest malls in Texas, but never to one of the city's ubiquitous, crowded marketplaces or a street-food stand.
"I haven't seen the archetypes of urban Mexico portrayed on the big screen so well in a long time," said Oscar de los Reyes, an expert on cinema and society at the Technological Institute of Monterrey.
It's not surprising that the social contrast is playing big in the cinema. In Mexico, 10 percent of the people held nearly 40 percent of the wealth in 2010, according to the Economic Commission for Latin America. The world's richest man, Carlos Slim, holds more than 6 percent himself. While Americans look up to the rich, believing they too could be among them one day, the dream is mostly unattainable in Mexico, where upward mobility is smaller and slower.
Videos and tweets displaying the arrogance of Mexico's privileged class periodically go viral.
One video, recorded by a passer-by, shows two rich girls, dubbed "the Ladies of Polanco" after one of Mexico City's most exclusive neighborhoods, shoving, slapping and insulting a traffic cop who pulled them over suspecting they were drunk. In another clip drawn from surveillance cameras a man in an affluent suburb beats up the valet of his luxurious apartment building for not providing a jack to replace a flat tire on his Porsche.
Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto's daughter reacted to people who laughed at one of her father's campaign gaffes by tweeting that they were "a bunch of idiots who form part of the proletariat and only criticize those they envy," causing a national uproar. The tweet disappeared and Pena Nieto apologized.
Alazraki said he was trying to capture the behavior behind Paulina Pena's tweet in his film, whose hashtag is (hash)WelcomeToTheProle.
He acknowledges he comes from the very society he is lampooning. His father, Carlos Alazraki, is an influential advertising businessman behind several presidential campaigns and publicity for Slim's restaurants and phone company. When he was younger, Alazraki has said in interviews, all he cared about was having the prettiest girlfriend and going to the hottest club. After attending film school at the University of Southern California, he now pities people who stay inside the bubble of Mexico's rich.
"It's very interesting to see our characters transform," said Luis Gerardo Mendez, who plays eldest son Javi Noble. "You get to see on one side how this group of people spends so much money, and on the other end, the everyday jobs people have to do to survive. People who think there is no racism here, there is. It is called classism."
The script was inspired by the 1949 film "The Great Madcap" by surrealist Luis Bunuel, in which a rich man wasting his money and life is fooled into thinking he lost his fortune. It leads his family members to take low-paying jobs as seamstresses, shoe shiners and carpenters.
The three Noble offspring end up working as a bus driver, a waitress and a bank teller.
"What is your biggest problem?" Javi asks a fellow bus driver.
"There is this chick from my town who says that her child is mine and she wants me to send her money. But she can't prove it. So, until I send her money, she will send her cousins with sticks and machetes…"
"For that, you need bodyguards," Javi tells him.
Barbie, meanwhile, ends up falling for her nanny's nephew, a youth she once teased for being poor.
When he tells her that he used money her father loaned him to open a stand selling pirated CDs, she scolds him: "Did you know that drug traffickers run those informal CD shops … Seriously, you are only fostering crime in this country."
He becomes enraged.
"The criminals are your little friends," he says. "Don't tell me you don't know about the two friends who were at your most recent party. The politician's sons. Haven't you seen the videos? Everyone did. If you are really worried about your country, don't feed them, don't invite them to your parties, don't get on their yachts."
Moviegoers said they find a lot of reality in the humor. Arturo Lopez, who works in construction, said he has friends like the Nobles.
"Here, your social status depends completely on what you have," he said at an exclusive movie theater in high-end Polanco. "It's really ugly, but there are many people like that."
Maria Larios, a nurse, paid a third of the luxury theater's ticket price to see the same film in the middle-class neighborhood of Santa Maria La Ribera.
"This is real," Larios said. "There are people who are very picky and stuck-up. When the roles are reversed, it changes them, brings them down to earth."


text:
Speaking to the Wall Street Journal today, Steve Jobs announced that Apple's AppStore is doing very well indeed, totting up some 60 million downloads from the site so far.
In monetary terms, the downloads come to around £30 million, with the revenue of the downloads split between Apple and the app developers 30/70. If this continues, Apple stands to bank at least $360 million a year in new revenue from the AppStore.
"Who knows, maybe it will be a $1 billion marketplace at some point in time," said Jobs in the interview. "I've never seen anything like this in my career for software."
Kill switch
Something that also came out in the interview is that Jobs has the ability to get rid of any undesirable software from the iPhone, as code embedded in every handset routinely checks Apple's website, theoretically feeding back info about what is on the phone to Apple.
Speaking about this, Jobs does say that even though the technology exists, it is merely there as a precaution, cryptically stating: "Hopefully we never have to pull that lever, but we would be irresponsible not to have a lever like that to pull."


text:
Are You Prepared For The American Retirement Disaster?
There's a disaster just waiting to happen in America.
No, I am not talking about a natural disaster, government collapse or anything like that. In fact, this is a subtle, slow-moving type of disaster that will catch many off guard. Even more will choose to ignore the clear signals until it's too late.
I first noticed the faint signs of the pending American disaster on one of my many trips to the Deep South. I enjoy driving, even prefer it to flying. Visiting small towns, tasting the local cuisines and hobnobbing with the locals makes any journey nearly as much fun as the destination.
What caught my attention is the growing number of elderly folks working at Starbucks, Walmart, fast-food restaurants and other entry-level places of employment. I know these jobs are usually staffed by young to early middle-age people just starting out or starting over.
In fact, one McDonald's I visited did not appear to have a single worker under 70 years of age. Now, don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with continuing to work long after retirement age. However, this work should be only what you love to do and by choice.
What happened to retirement being a time of relaxation, travel and being able to do what you want, when you want?
I think it's clear that most elderly workers in fast food environments are not flipping burgers because they like the atmosphere and want to get out of the house.
I am very afraid that this trend will soon become the norm across the nation. This is the pending American retirement disaster.
Just what caused this pending disaster? Over the past 30 years, there has been a shift from employer-controlled and funded pension plans to self-directed employee funded plans. While built on the idea of fairness and the do-it-yourself ethic, this change has been disastrous for the average American worker.
According to research done by Fidelity Investments, nearly 4 in 10 retired households can't cover their monthly expenses. The research went on to reveal that 50% of Americans have less than $25,000 in total savings (not counting pension plans or primary residence). About 28% have less than $1,000 saved.
Remember, we are talking about people who have access to employer-sponsored retirement plans. If you add in the more than one-third of Americans who don't even have access to employer retirement plans, it paints a very grim picture.
Millions of underfunded and often financially illiterate baby boomers are slated to take the step into retirement over the next few years. This increase in the number of retirees may easily overwhelm the available minimum wage positions and force many into unexpected poverty or subsistence-level lifestyles. This in turn could be disastrous to the American economy.
What can be done to avert America's retirement apocalypse?
As a free-market proponent, I am usually averse to government meddling in the economy. However, in this case, some regulatory changes are needed to soften the coming crisis.
Ronald O'Hanley, Fidelity's president of asset management, suggested in a recent Forbes magazine article that default savings rates be lifted from 3% to 6%, saying that even 6% is too little and the goal should be 10% to 15% if you include employer matches. He also advises that automatic annual increase programs are the single most effective means of triggering employee increases.
How can a personal retirement disaster be prevented?
While these suggestions make sense, it all boils down to individuals not saving enough and not earning enough on their savings to fund a proper retirement. With the cost of living increasing and inflation potentially on the horizon, the truth is, it's very difficult to earn enough with traditional income investments like bonds, CDs and Treasurys to have a well-funded retirement. This is particularly true if you didn't start early or are not fortunate to have a solid employer matching program.
Action to Take –> The first step in avoiding having to struggle in your golden years is to increase your financial literacy. Read all you can on saving, investing and money management.
Secondly, follow a solid investing plan. But that's easier said than done — especially considering the returns on savings accounts, Treasurys and your typical S&P 500 stocks.
That's why we recently launched a brand-new newsletter, High-Yield PRO. This isn't your basic investing newsletter, and it isn't for your everyday investor. It's for people who want to get serious about building their nest egg. The analyst behind the ideas, Elliott Gue, has an excellent track record of finding growth and high dividend yields in international stocks, 20%-yielding option trades and underpriced dividend growth stocks that most investor miss.
[Note: To learn more about High-Yield PRO, click here.]
If you haven't put the time and effort into thinking about how you'll invest for your retirement, it's not too late. There are plenty of options out there. But the longer you wait the more sacrifice it will take to achieve your retirement goals. And while we can't personally stop the pending American retirement disaster, we all can control what happens to each one of us during our retirement years.


text:
Same-sex couples rushed to Michigan county clerk's offices Saturday to get hitched a day after a judge overturned the state's constitutional ban on gay marriage, and several hundred managed to do so before an appeals court reinstituted the ban, at least temporarily.
The order by a federal appeals court in Cincinnati came after Glenna DeJong, 53, and Marsha Caspar, 51, of Lansing, were the first to arrive at the Ingham County Courthouse in the central Michigan city of Mason. DeJong and Caspar, who have been together for 27 years, received their license and were married by Ingham County Clerk Barb Byrum.
"I figured in my lifetime it would happen," Caspar said. "But now, when it happens now, it's just overwhelming. I still can't believe it. I don't think it's hit me yet."
Similar nuptials followed one after another, at times en masse, in at least four of Michigan's 83 counties. Those four — Oakland, Muskegon, Ingham and Washtenaw counties — issued more than 300 marriage licenses to same-sex couples Saturday.
Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette filed an emergency stay request Friday after Friedman's decision. Earlier Saturday, the court had given the plaintiffs in the case, April DeBoer and Jayne Rowse, until Tuesday to file a response to Schuette's request for a stay. That order made no mention of staying Friedman's order until Wednesday.
A similar situation arose in Utah, where a federal judge ruled in favor of gay marriage in December and denied a stay of his ruling. But the stay was ultimately granted by the U.S. Supreme Court after more than 1,000 couples were married.
"Given the experience in Utah, we expect our request for stay to be granted," said Joy Yearout, a spokeswoman for Schuette.
"To allow a more reasoned consideration of the motion to stay, it is ordered that the district court's judgment is temporarily stayed until Wednesday, March 26, 2014," stated the ruling from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.
A U.S. appeals court on Saturday placed a temporary hold on a federal judge's ruling that struck down Michigan's ban on gay marriage that was adopted by voters in 2004.
The judge said he was relying upon "the enduring principle that regardless of whoever finds favor in the eyes of the most recent majority, the [constitutional] guarantee of equal protection must prevail." He found that the ban violated the right to equality of a lesbian couple, April DeBoer and Jayne Rowse, both nurses in Detroit hospitals. He did not rule on their separate claim that the ban violated their right to "due process."
Although the outcome in this case followed a string of rulings by other federal trial judges striking down other states' bans, Judge Friedman's ruling was the first in that series which followed a full courtroom trial. The other decisions have come on pleas for temporary or preliminary rulings, based primarily upon legal arguments.
This was the first full-scale trial since the Supreme Court's decision last June in United States v. Windsor, finding unconstitutional the federal Defense of Marriage Act's ban on federal marital benefits for gay and lesbian couples. Although the Windsor decision expressly avoided ruling on the validity of same-sex marriage bans, as such, the reasoning of the majority in that ruling has been cited repeatedly by federal judges since then in dealing with state laws or constitutional provisions against such marriages. Judge Friedman, too, relied upon that reasoning.
Instead, the state urged the judge to respect the results of a 2004 election in which 59 percent of voters said marriage in Michigan can only be between a man and a woman. Conservative scholars also questioned the impact of same-sex parenting on children.
But experts testifying for Rowse and DeBoer said there were no differences between the kids of same-sex couples and the children raised by a man and woman. And the University of Texas took the extraordinary step of disavowing the testimony of sociology professor Mark Regnerus, who was a witness for Michigan.
After the U.S. Supreme Court intervened in Utah, Gov. Gary Herbert ordered state agencies to hold off on moving forward with any new benefits for the hundreds of same-sex couples who married during the three-week window until the courts resolved the issue. Agencies were told not to revoke anything already issued, such as a driver's license with a new name, but were prohibited from approving any new marriages or benefits.
Utah made clear it was not ordering agencies to void the marriages, but that their validity would be decided by the Denver-based 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.


text:
Rx drug information, pharmaceutical research, clinical trials, news, and more
Condition(s) targeted: HIV Infections
Intervention: Raltegravir plus Darunavir/ritonavir (Drug); Raltegravir plus Darunavir/ritonavir (Drug)
Phase: Phase 1
Status: Completed
Sponsored by: St Stephens Aids Trust
Official(s) and/or principal investigator(s): Marta Boffito, Dr, Principal Investigator, Affiliation: St Stephen's AIDS Trust
The study aims to help us understand if the HIV drugs darunavir (taken with ritonavir) and
raltegravir will affect each other when they are given at the same time.
The purpose of the study is to assess the pharmacokinetics (how a drug is absorbed,
distributed and eliminated from your body) of darunavir and ritonavir when these are taken
with and without raltegravir.
The duration of the study will be up to 50 days plus a screening visit which will take place
up to 4 weeks prior to the start of the study, and a follow up visit which takes place 1-2
weeks after the last dose of study medication.
Subjects will continue to take 2 of their usual drugs (those called nucleoside reverse
transcriptase inhibitors - NRTI) throughout the study.
For the first 21 days subjects will take their usual NRTI plus raltegravir 400mg twice
daily. After this, subjects will also receive either:
Group 1) Darunavir/ritonavir 800mg/100mg once daily AND raltegravir 400mg twice daily or
Group 2) Darunavir/ritonavir 800mg/100mg once daily AND raltegravir 800mg once daily
Subjects will take this regimen for 14 days. Subjects will be randomly allocated to either
Group 1 or 2. You will have an equal (50/50) chance of being allocated to Group 1 or 2.
Official title: Plasma and Intracellular Pharmacokinetics of Once Daily Darunavir/Ritonavir and Twice and Once Daily Raltegravir in HIV-infected Subjects
Study design: Allocation: Randomized, Endpoint Classification: Pharmacokinetics Study, Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment, Masking: Open Label, Primary Purpose: Treatment
Primary outcome: Steady state plasma and intracellular concentrations of darunavir/ritonavir once daily with and without raltegravir and raltegravir twice and once daily
Secondary outcome:
Safety and tolerability of darunavir/ritonavir and raltegravir when co-administered to HIV-infected subjectsAssociation between genetic polymorphisms in drug disposition genes and drug exposure
Association between genetic polymorphisms in drug disposition genes and drug exposure
Detailed description:
The integrase inhibitor raltegravir has shown to a potent new agent for the treatment of HIV
When raltegravir and darunavir/ritonavir have been combined in the Benchmark studies, they
provided an excellent virological response in highly experienced patients.
Darunavir once daily use is increasing due to patients' preference for once daily regimens.
Raltegravir has not shown any pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic relationship and doses of 100
to 400 mg twice daily have shown similar virological responses. This may be due to
intracellular drug accumulation.
However, data on the use of darunavir/r plus raltegravir once daily and on raltegravir
intracellular concentrations are not available.
Whether raltegravir is efficacious when administered once daily is unknown. However,
concentrations higher the IC95 of 33nM have been associated to a favourable virological
Therefore, we would like to investigate the plasma and intracellular pharmacokinetics of
darunavir/ritonavir and raltegravir when co-administered once daily in order to provide
further data to support the use of these agents once daily, patients' preferred dosing
Pharmacogenetics holds promise in HIV treatment because of the complexity and potential
toxicity of multi antiretroviral drug therapies that are prescribed for long periods. Thus
far, few candidate genes have been examined for a limited number of allelic variants, but a
number of confirmed associations have already emerged.
From a public health perspective, as antiretroviral medications become increasingly
available to racially and ethnically diverse populations worldwide, understanding the
genetic structures of each population may allow us to anticipate the impact of adverse
responses, even in groups that were not represented in drug registration trials.
The existing literature on pharmacogenetic determinants of antiretroviral drug exposure,
drug toxicity, as well as genetic markers associated with the rate of disease progression
underline the recent advances which occurred in the past few years.
However, it is expected that larger-scale comprehensive genome approaches will profoundly
change the landscape of knowledge in the future. Additional studies are needed to assess the
implications for long-term responses to antiretroviral agents.
For this reason we plan to collect a single blood sample from each participant in our
intensive pharmacokinetic studies, such as this one, in order to be able to investigate the
association between genetic polymorphisms in drug disposition genes (such as those encoding
for cytochrome P450 isoenzymes or transmembrane transporters) and drug exposure. A candidate
gene approach will be utilised to examine loci of interest. This procedure will provide
potentially important information on genetic influences on plasma drug concentrations and
give insight into how to improve the management of HIV-infected patients by individualising
therapy. These studies will not be powered for genetic associations but will enable us to
build a data base of genotype-phenotype. Prospective genetic studies would need to be
planned based on these preliminary data.
Minimum age: 18 Years.
Maximum age: 65 Years.
Gender(s): Both.
Inclusion Criteria:
Subjects must meet all of the following inclusion criteria within 28 days prior to the
baseline visit:
1. The ability to understand and sign a written informed consent form, prior to
participation in any screening procedure and must be willing to comply with all study
2. Male or non-pregnant, non-lactating females.
3. Between 18 to 65 years, inclusive.
4. Documented HIV-1 infection and plasma HIV RNA at screening visit below 400 copies/mL.
(Note retesting of screening viral load is allowed).
5. Women of childbearing potential (WOCBP) must be using an adequate method of
contraception to avoid pregnancy throughout the study.
6. CD4 count > 100 at screening (Note retesting of screening CD4 count is allowed).
7. Receiving an antiretroviral regimen including two NRTIs and an NNRTI or a boosted
protease inhibitor or an integrase inhibitor, without any history of virological
failure (history of drug switches is allowed only if the reason was
tolerability/toxicity/convenience of dosing).
8. Agrees not to change regimen, outside the study recommendations, from baseline until
end of the treatment period unless this is medically indicated as decided by the
treating physician.
Exclusion Criteria:
Subjects who meet any of the following exclusion criteria are not to be enrolled in this
1. Any serious or active medical or psychiatric illness which, in the opinion of the
investigator, would interfere with subject treatment, assessment, or compliance with
the protocol. This would include any active clinically significant renal, cardiac,
hepatic, pulmonary, vascular, metabolic disorders or malignancy.
2. Have a body mass index (BMI) >35
3. Presence of any current active AIDS defining illness (Category C conditions according
to the CDC Classification System for HIV Infection 1993) with the following
• Stable cutaneous Kaposi's Sarcoma
4. Clinically relevant alcohol or drug use (positive urine drug screen, with the
exception of cannabinoids) or history of alcohol or drug use considered by the
Investigator to be sufficient to hinder compliance with treatment, follow-up
procedures or evaluation of adverse events. Smoking is permitted, but tobacco intake
should remain consistent throughout the study.
5. The use of disallowed concomitant therapy (See Concomitant Medication and treatment,
section 5. 2).
6. Females of childbearing potential without the use of effective non-hormonal birth
control methods or not willing to continue practicing these birth control methods for
at least 14 days after the end of the treatment period.
7. Previous allergy to any of the constituents of the pharmaceuticals administered in
this trial.
8. Subjects with clinical or laboratory evidence of significantly decreased hepatic or
renal function (as determined by the principal investigator).
9. Exposure to any investigational drug or placebo within 4 weeks of first dose of study
St Stephen's Centre, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London SW10 9NH, United Kingdom
St Stephens Centre, Chelsea & Westminster Hospital, London SW10 9NH, United Kingdom
St Stephens Centre, Chelsea & Westminster Hospital, London SW10 9NH, United Kingdom
Starting date: June 2009
Last updated: January 12, 2010
All Rights reserved - Copyright DrugLib.com, 2006-2017


text:
Email Address is required
Invalid Email Address
Invalid Email Address
In today's market, it is imperative to be knowledgeable and have an edge over the competition. ACI members have it…they are engaged, informed, and stay up to date by taking advantage of benefits that ACI membership provides them.
Read more about membership
Learn More
Become an ACI Member
Founded in 1904 and headquartered in Farmington Hills, Michigan, USA, the American Concrete Institute is a leading authority and resource worldwide for the development, dissemination, and adoption of its consensus-based standards, technical resources, educational programs, and proven expertise for individuals and organizations involved in concrete design, construction, and materials, who share a commitment to pursuing the best use of concrete.
American Concrete Institute
38800 Country Club Dr.
Farmington Hills, MI
Phone: 1.248.848.3700
Fax: 1.248.848.3701
Staff Directory
Email Support
Feedback via Email
Phone: 1.248.848.3800
Home > Publications
ACI produces hundreds of documents dedicated to improving the design, construction, maintenance, and repair of concrete and masonry structures. ACI documents are developed in numerous types and formats.
Learn more about ACI technical committee documents »
What is an ACI Standard?
Standardization is the most rigorous consensus process used by ACI. It provides the widest input and highest overall quality assurance for a document.
Read more about ACI Standards and the process used to create them »
How can I get involved?
The main purpose of ACI technical committees is to disseminate information through publications within the scope of a committee's mission.
Join an ACI Committee to get involved »
These publications provide resources for program participants preparing for ACI Certification exams. Each package contains the source documents(s) from which the exams are derived, along with study questions, checklists, and information about the ACI Certification program.
Learn More About Certification Documents »
These practice-oriented tools are intended to raise the competence level of concrete producers, contractors, technicians, engineers, and others.
Learn More About EDUCATION DOCUMENTS »
These large documents typically include resources beyond that of a typical technical committee document. Reference Manuals often include expanded charts, tables, figures, and examples.
Learn More About Handbooks and MANUALS »
Get digital access to over 300 of the most used ACI technical committee documents with the ACI Collection Online.
Try searching our:
International Concrete Abstracts Portal
View Popular Documents in the ACI Store
ACI produces two bi-monthly technical journals – the ACI Materials Journal and the ACI Structural Journal. Edited for professional and technical personnel in engineering, construction, design, research, manufacturing, and education, each journal contains technical, archival papers. Journal subscriptions are available as are individual articles from each journal.
Concrete International is the monthly magazine of ACI for professionals interested in concrete. The magazine features articles contributed by industry respected authors on current and developing practices in concrete technology, design, and construction; provides news and information on new products and practices; provides answers to frequently asked questions about concrete design and construction practices; issues updates on ACI news and events; and more.
ACI Symposium Volumes are usually compilations of peer-reviewed papers from a seminar, session or forum at an ACI convention or other conference.
Learn More About Symposium Volumes »


text:
PixelCounter necesitaba un nuevo diseño de impreso o envases y lanzó un concurso de diseño en 99designs.
Un ganador ha sido elegido entre 66 diseños de 16 diseñadores freelance.
We are about to start building an online configurator for the KavanaghCustoms RT guitar (see http://www.kavanaghcustoms.co.uk/rt). What we require is a starting point: a beautiful glossy image in Photoshop of the guitar face-on.
As you will see, there is already a poor vector image of the guitar at the head of the page. Please don't use this for reference, instead refer to this image for inspiration:
That's it! High-resolution images of the guitar can be found here:
and a (very poor quality) outline image of the guitar's exact dimensions can be seen here:
All entires will of course receive feedback and rating as long as the brief has been read!
**COMPETITION EXTENDED by popular request to allow extra time for designers. As an additional incentive we will now also be offering a second-place prize of $100 - we won't be using the runner up's image in the configurator but intend to use it as a desktop background for work computers so widescreen variations would be appreciated, although not required unless you become the second-place winner.
The KavanaghCustoms RT is a solid-bodied gigging guitar.
What we require is a shiny and web 2.0 illustration of this guitar similar to this image:
It should be a front perspective on a diagonal angle (with the neck towards the upper right corner of the image), and should be of the KavanaghCustoms RT guitar (see
http://www.kavanaghcustoms.co.uk/rt and
http://www.kavanaghcustoms.co.uk/ga…html#thert for images, and download high-resolution images from http://www.kavanaghcustoms.co.uk/ou…mpetition/ and a dimensionally-correct template http://www.kavanaghcustoms.co.uk/ou…mplate.jpg - although this image is of a very poor quality).
The image should also include a reflection on the 'floor' of the image (see the first link in this description for an example of this), and should be of the Candy Apple Red (it is metallic) version of the guitar although you are welcome to submit versions of both the red and black options if you feel it will support your entry.
We intend to use your work to develop an online configurator to allow visitors to design and order their custom guitar online so the final artwork must be provided as a well-strctured and easily-edited Photoshop or Illustrator file for easy modification by ourselves later on.
The image must accurately portray the guitar itself and include the headstock logo, but the image must be developed from scratch, not modified from the photographs available and must look similar to the example offered at the begining of this description.
Items which will be changeable in the final configurator will be the guitar colour, hardware colour (black as shown, or chrome or gold) pickup combination, and fingerboard material, please bear this in mind.
You are welcome to include user interface examples in your design if you wish (and this will greatly help wish us chosing the winner), although it is not essential.
The winning designer may yet be asked later on to provide further artwork to reflect the other options available (as additional jobs with similar pay to the prize money offered on this competition).
- A beautiful and glossy Web 2.0-type image of the RT guitar in Candy Apple Red (this is the metallic red guitar in the potographs in the links above) suitable for using as the basis of our online custom configurator.
- If you wish, also an example of your artwork modified to show the black version of the guitar although this is not essential.
- This should be no larger than 850px wide.
- Inclusion of how you forsee the user interface (menu system) for choosing different custom options on the guitar in the configuration system is a bonus but is not essential.
- Befitting with the rest of the KavanaghCustoms website.
- Ideally the guitar should be at an angle with the neck pointing upwads towarsd the top right corner of the image, with a reflection on the 'floor' of the image.
- "Photoshopped" versions of the photographs - this artwork must be created from scratch.
- Images of other guitars or variations in the design of the guitar: the guitar is already designed.


text:
You don't have any saved vehicles!
Look for this link on your favorites:
Once you've saved some vehicles, you can view them here at any time.
Bob Tyler Toyota is pleased to offer this fantastic-looking 2014 Chrysler 300 S in billet silver metallic clearcoat and beautifully equipped with WE DELIVER! DO BUSINESS WITH US FROM THE COMFORT AND SAFETY OF YOUR HOME! 100% SANITIZED!, PET FRIENDLY, MANAGERS DISCOUNTED PRICING, SPRING BREAK SPECIAL, SURROUND SOUND, and SUBWOOFER! WE DELIVER! DO BUSINESS WITH US FROM THE COMFORT AND SAFETY OF YOUR HOME! 100% SANITIZED!, PET FRIENDLY, MANAGERS DISCOUNTED PRICING, SPRING BREAK SPECIAL, SURROUND SOUND, SUBWOOFER, 10 Speakers, 19 x 7.5 Cast Aluminum Wheels, 1-Year SIRIUSXM Traffic Service, 1-Year SIRIUSXM Travel Link Service, 4-Wheel Disc Brakes, 8.4 Touch Screen Display, ABS brakes, Air Conditioning, AM/FM radio: SiriusXM, Anti-whiplash front head restraints, Audio Jack Input for Mobile Devices, Auto-dimming Rear-View mirror, Automatic temperature control, Brake assist, Bumpers: body-color, CD player, Compass, Delay-off headlights, Driver door bin, Driver vanity mirror, Dual front impact airbags, Dual front side impact airbags, Dual-Pane Panoramic Sunroof, DVD-Audio, Electronic Stability Control, Four wheel independent suspension, Front anti-roll bar, Front Bucket Seats, Front Center Armrest, Front dual zone A/C, Front fog lights, Front reading lights, Fully automatic headlights, Garage door transmitter, Garmin Navigation System, Heated door mirrors, Heated front seats, Illuminated entry, Knee airbag, Leather Shift Knob, Leather Trimmed Sport Bucket Seats, Low tire pressure warning, MP3 decoder, Occupant sensing airbag, Outside temperature display, Overhead airbag, Overhead console, Panic alarm, Passenger door bin, Passenger vanity mirror, Power door mirrors, Power driver seat, Power passenger seat, Power steering, Power windows, Quick Order Package 22G, Radio data system, Radio: Uconnect 8.4 CD/DVD/MP3, Radio: Uconnect 8.4N CD/DVD/MP3/NAV, Rear anti-roll bar, Rear reading lights, Rear seat center armrest, Rear window defroster, Remote keyless entry, Remote USB Port, Security system, SIRIUS Satellite Radio, SiriusXM Traffic, SIRIUSXM Travel Link, Speed control, Speed-sensing steering, Speed-Sensitive Wipers, Split folding rear seat, Steering wheel mounted audio controls, Tachometer, Telescoping steering wheel, Tilt steering wheel, Traction control, Trip computer, Variably intermittent wipers.Recent Arrival! 18/27 City/Highway MPGAwards:* 2014 KBB.com 10 Most Comfortable Cars Under $30,000Reviews:* Big car, big engine, big performance, rear-wheel drive, distinctive style, take-charge road manners, comfort, handling and luxury, yet without the sometimes sky-high prices associated with premium European sports sedans. Here it is: The 2014 Chrysler 300. Source: KBB.com* Exceptionally smooth and quiet ride; satisfying V8 power; upscale cabin; lots of features; top crash test scores; satisfying sound systems; available all-wheel drive. Source: Edmunds* Classic design has been redefined in a way only Detroit could imagine. An integrated rear spoiler pays homage to its tail-finned 1950s predecessors. A raked-back windshield and forward leaning fascia create improved aerodynamics with an aggressive stance. And tailored finishes of the iconic grille, LED headlamps and taillamps give the Chrysler 300 a look unlike any other. Available Bi-Xenon HID headlamps also provide a confident look at the road ahead, producing three times more light than halogen headlamps. Every detail in the Chrysler 300 is designed to steer you towards refinement. Premium finishes and soft-touch materials give dramatic depth to interior surfaces. The instrument panel celebrates classic American design, with LED-backlit gauges both casting a sapphire-blue glow and adding clarity to readouts. The acoustic properties of the cabin reduce outside noise and increase interior peace. The standard Uconnect System is Detroit know-how and intuitive technology on display. This 8.4-inch interactive touchscreen display allows y
Our goal is to ensure accurate presentation of information; however, all inventory listed is subject to prior sale, so a vehicle shown may be displayed as an example model or be currently in transit or production. Because of the abundant possible combinations of vehicle models, colors, trim levels, etc.-the pictures on this website may not match the vehicle exactly. All information pertaining to these vehicles should be independently verified through the dealer. Tax, title, license, registration, and $899.50 Dealer Doc fee are not included in our online pricing.
While great effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information on this site, errors do occur so please verify information with a customer service rep. This is easily done by calling us at (850) 418-6406 or by visiting us at the dealership.
**With approved credit. Terms may vary. Monthly payments are only estimates derived from the vehicle price with a 72 month term, 5.9% interest and 20% downpayment.
*Number of views in last 30 days
† Based on 2014 EPA mileage ratings. Use for comparison purposes only. Your actual mileage will vary depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle.
With a large and exciting new inventory to browse through, the only difficult thing about shopping at Bob Tyler Toyota is choosing which of our eye-catching vehicles you want to drive home. If you're looking for a great deal, we have the Toyota Tacoma for sale, the Toyota Camry for sale, and the Toyota Corolla for sale, along with many other affordable options.
Search our new and used inventory to find a vehicle that marks off all of the boxes on your checklist. Use the filters to make sure the only options you see are the ones that fit your needs. Don't forget to browse our certified pre-owned inventory.
You don't have any saved vehicles!
Look for this link on your favorites:
Once you've saved some vehicles, you can view them here at any time.
(850) 478-9999Call Now
7201 Pensacola Blvd • Pensacola, FL 32505Get Directions
Open Today! Sales: 8:30am-8pm
Open Today! Service: 7am-7pm
Open Today! Parts: 7am-7pm
Phone: (850) 478-9999http://maps.google.com/?q=7201%20Pensacola%20Blvd%2C%20Pensacola%2C%20FL%2032505


text:
I made a passing comment under Max Alekseyev's cute answer to this question and Pete Clark suggested I raise it explicitly as a different question. I cannot give any motivation for it however---it was just a passing thought. My only motivation is that it looks like fairly elementary number theory but I don't know the answer.
OK so one problem raised in the question linked to above was "prove there are no solutions to $3^n-2^m=41$ in non-negative integers" and Aleksevev's answer was "go mod 60". It was remarked afterwards that going mod 601 or 6553 would also nail it. For example, modulo 6553 (which is prime), 3 has order 39, 2 has order 117, but none of the 39 values of $3^n-41$ modulo 6553 are powers of 2 modulo 6553.
My question (really just a passing remark) is:
Is there an integer $t$ such that the equation $3^n-2^m=t$ has no solutions in non-negative integers $m$, $n$, but for which there are solutions modulo $N$ for all $N\geq1$? (By which of course I mean that for each $N\geq1$ the equation is satisfied mod $N$ for some integers $m,n\geq0$ depending on $N$; I am not suggesting that $m$ and $n$ be taken modulo $N$ or are independent of $N$).
This for me looks like a "Hasse principle" sort of thing---in general checking congruences doesn't give enough information about solvability of the polynomial in integers and there are many examples of such phenomena in mathematics. As exponential Diophantine equations are harder than normal ones I would similarly expect the Hasse Principle to fail here, but others seemed to be more optimistic.


text:
Micci's Details
My Recent ReviewsMore Reviews Post Review
Micci's Likes
Sweet girl who is ready to explore your world ;) Are you ready for new experience together? Of course we need to spend more and more time to open each other's worlds an minds. What do you say?
My Fantasies
I enchant you with the fire inside me the way that you won't get rid of seductive thoughts about me an our time together;) You would ask for more and more. I will give thousands of hot thoughts where sex is possible. What would you say?
My Obsessions & Desires
I love spanking, when guy bite me, choke me. love when guy control my orgasm
Additional Info
Great mind and soft manners are always great turns on. I love gentlemen with sense of humor, love men who know what they want. Such men turn me on and I become open to new things.
Special Info
My glance and smile will make your day better ;) And you would love to come and look at it more and more, I promise.
My Fetishes
Breast Play, Legs, Nipple Play, Paddling/Spanking/Whips, Piercings and Tattoos, Spanking, Stockings/Panty Hose, Teasing
Micci's Wishlist
Micci has setup a wish list at our authorized sex toystore. If you purchase an item from the wishlist it will be sent discreetly to Micci!
Your personal information (name, address, etc.) will not be visible to the performer; nor will you be able to access the performer's information.
Micci's Awards
Model name
Login or Sign up to review this photo.
Be the first to review this photo
Add Photo to List


text: There are several resources to help you research companies and service providers so you don't become a victim of unscrupulous people or groups. By Kimberly Lankford, Contributing Editor August 2, 2011 It seems that every day I hear about someone being ripped off by scam artists. Are there some good resources to help protect myself against scams?There sure are. Scam artists continue to use a wide variety of tactics to separate you from your money, and they've been especially busy taking advantage of the economic downturn (see The Top New Consumer Complaints for details about this past year's biggest problems). But you have several resources available to help you check out a company or an adviser before you become a victim or to help you file a complaint if you have a problem. Sponsored Content A good place to start is with your state, county or city government's consumer protection office (see the Consumer Action Web site for links), which is often affiliated with the state attorney general's office. The Web sites of these agencies often have databases that allow you to look up complaints against all kinds of businesses; you can also file a complaint to warn others of your problems. The agencies' staffing levels vary widely, but some will investigate your complaint and may even help you get some money back. The consumer protection agencies surveyed by the Consumer Federation of America received more than 252,000 complaints last year and obtained more than $208 million in restitution and savings for consumers. These agencies can also let you know about other agencies that might license or regulate specific types of business in your area, such as a state contractor's licensing board. The Better Business Bureau is another good place to look up companies. The BBB assigns letter grades, from A+ to F, based on a business's complaint history, whether the company has responded and worked to resolve complaints, and whether the business holds the appropriate licenses, among other criteria. You can also file complaints with the BBB, which will often work with the company to help resolve your problem. Advertisement You can check out investments and advisers with your state securities regulator. The Fraud Center of the North American Securities Administrators Association also has many great resources to help you avoid becoming a victim. You can look up a broker's or a brokerage firm's licensing, background information and disciplinary history through Finra's BrokerCheck Web site; research investment advisers through the Securities and Exchange Commission's Investment Adviser Search. To search for a financial adviser who holds the Certified Financial Planner credential, go to the CFP Board of Standards Web site, where you can also see whether an adviser's CFP credential is up to date, find out about any disciplinary action, or file a complaint against a CFP professional. For more information about how to pick a financial adviser, see How to Spot Trouble With a Financial Adviser. Contact your state insurance department to see whether there have been any disciplinary actions against an insurance agent or company, or to file a complaint. You can find contact information for the state regulators at the National Association of Insurance Commissioners Web site. You can also check out an insurer's complaint record at the NAIC's Consumer Information Source, which is a great resource to learn about the type of complaints an insurer has received and how it stacks up against other companies. For identity-theft resources and information, or to report ID theft, see the www.ftc.gov/idtheft Federal Trade Commission's ID Theft site. You can also find alerts about online and e-mail scams at the FBI's cyber threats page. Got a question? Ask Kim at email@example.com.


text:
Peralta's legs, Anderson's arm key D-backs' win
Outfielder triples, steals home in seventh; righty strong against Rockies
PHOENIX -- David Peralta made two of the most exciting individual plays in baseball Friday night. And he did them in the span of a couple minutes.
With the D-backs up two runs in the seventh, Peralta motored around the bases after hitting a ball into the right-field gap for an RBI triple. After his second extra-base hit of the night, Peralta electrified the crowd of 21,782 with a play the D-backs haven't made since Aug. 19, 2007.
Peralta timed the throw from Rockies catcher Michael McKenry back to reliever Rex Brothers and bolted for home.
Brothers leaped for the lobbed throw but couldn't come down with it cleanly. Peralta slid safely into home.
"[Players on the bench] just told me, 'Do it, do it. Don't be afraid. Do it,'" Peralta said. "I'm like, 'OK, I'm going to do it.'"
Said McKenry: "I just tossed it on back without truly paying attention."
Peralta said he had never stolen home before at any level, so Friday was a special first for him as he scored the D-backs' final run in a 5-3 series-opening victory against the Rockies at Chase Field.
The pair of Peralta-produced seventh-inning runs secured the victory for rookie Chase Anderson (7-4), who continued the hot streak he has been enjoying on the mound.
Anderson pitched six strong innings, giving up only one run -- a solo homer to McKenry. Anderson otherwise befuddled the Rockies, striking out six batters, walking one and scattering four hits.
"It's huge, especially to get the team off on the right foot, just to go out there and do my job, get the team deep in the game and let the hitter's take care of the rest," Anderson said.
The biggest trouble Anderson ran into on Friday came when he was at the plate. He was jammed by a ball he hit in his first at-bat, hurting his thumb.
Manager Kirk Gibson said he was worried Anderson would not be able to work his curveball after the injury, but said after the game that he threw some good pitches the next inning.
"I don't know if he was being coy about that," Gibson said, "but he got jammed pretty good and did a good job getting through that."
Anderson had an early cushion to work with thanks to his catcher. Miguel Montero gave the D-backs a 3-0 lead in the first inning with a three-run homer -- his 12th of the season and first since June 28.
"[Rockies pitcher Tyler Matzek] throws him kind of a hanging breaking ball his first at-bat with a couple guys on, and he picks up [Mark] Trumbo," Gibson said. "He's really done a good job of that this year."
Anderson handed his bullpen the lead after leaving the game after the sixth inning, and the first few relievers picked up the slack. Oliver Perez, Evan Marshall and Brad Ziegler combined for two scoreless frames, giving the game over to closer Addison Reed in a non-save situation.
Reed struggled, giving up a triple to pinch-hitter Brandon Barnes, who scored on an infield single by Corey Dickerson.
With the lead down to three runs, things got tricky.
Reed threw a wild pitch, and Dickerson took off for second. Montero corralled it but threw the ball into center field, allowing Dickerson to take third. Dickerson came around to score on a single, and after another hit, the Rockies had the tying runs on base.
Against Charlie Blackmon, though, Reed settled down, striking him out to end the game.


text:
Events >
Weekly Civic Hack Night
Interested in helping San Francisco? You have found the right place!
Join neighbors, government employees, designers, coders, students and more! Our weekly hack night is focused on civic tech and making government services better in San Francisco. We hack/build and learn together every Wednesday evening.
- Contribute to the betterment of San Francisco
- Build your own portfolio of work or work on someone else's cool project
- Meet new (and different!) people
- 6:00p regular doors open, socialize and eat dinner
- 6:30p welcome remarks and project pitches
- 7:00p start hacking, new member orientation,
- 8:00p more hacking
- 9:00p keep on hacking
- 9:30p doors close and lights out


text:
Sicario: Day of the Soldado R
Play Trailer
In Sicario: Day of the Soldado, the series begins a new chapter. In the drug war, there are no rules - and as the cartels have begun trafficking terrorists across the US border, federal agent Matt Graver (Josh Brolin) calls on the mysterious Alejandro (Benicio Del Toro), whose family was murdered by a cartel kingpin, to escalate the war in nefarious ways. Alejandro kidnaps the kingpin's daughter to inflame the conflict - but when the girl is seen as collateral damage, her fate will come between the two men as they question everything they are fighting for.
DetailsDrama , Action/Adventure
2 hr. 3 min.
Opened June 29th, 2018
Rated R for strong violence, bloody images, and languageCastBenicio Del Toro, Josh Brolin, Isabela Moner, Jeffrey Donovan, Manuel Garcia-RulfoDirectorStefano SollimaWriterTaylor Sheridan


text:
This poster, produced for the Tropentag 2016 conference, shares results from a 2015 pilot project that measured aflatoxin B1 levels in dairy cattle feeds in low-input cattle farms in Senegal. Continue reading
Category Archives: ILRI
Better dairy cattle breeds and better management can improve the livelihoods of the rural poor in Senegal
Research on dairy cattle breeds in Senegal shows that combining best livestock genetics with improved animal management practices can result in significantly increased household benefits. Continue reading
Determinants of use of breeding technologies in dairy cattle farms in Senegal
This is a poster about a study in Senegal to identify household level characteristics that could have influenced the uptake of artificial insemination (AI) and use of cross-bred or exotic cattle breeds in the last 5 years. Continue reading
Lotta Lassilla discusses her MSc project in an interview at MTT, Finland.
Lotta Lassila is working on her Masters' thesis within the Senegal Dairy Genetics Project. Lotta focuses on predicting milk yield from Test-Day milk records collected from indigenous, exotic and crossbred dairy Cattle in Senegal. Continue reading
Patrick Ngono Ema discusses his PhD project in an interview at MTT, Finland.
Cameroonian Patrick Ngono, 35, is working as a PhD student in the FoodAfrica WP2 researching cattle breed productivity in Senegal. His objective is to identify the most suitable cattle breeds for Senegalese smallholders. Read an interview about his work Continue reading
Projet Sénégal Génétique Laitière – vidéo des actualités
Regardez une vidéo décrivant les activités principales du projet Sénégal Génétique Laitière. Le projet vise à améliorer la sécurité alimentaire et nutritionnelle au Sénégal par une meilleure utilisation des races bovines laitières (pures et croisées). Continue reading
Position Announcement (Database Manager)–closed
Position Announcement : Database Manager – Senegal Dairy Genetics The Interstate School of sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Dakar (EISMV) aims at contributing to economic growth, poverty reduction and food security of its member and non-member states through Research and Development activities, and expertise in the areas of animal production and animal health. http://www.eismv.org A … Continue reading


text:
iPod Touch 2nd Gen CPU Faster Than iPhone 3G's | All Apple News - 0 views
thanaads Thanaads Noo on 25 Nov 08The iPhone 3G might steal the show with 3G network features, but the 2nd Generation iPod Touch is prepped with a faster processor. Handheld Games Corp, developer of Games for the mobile platform, reported to Toucharcade that the performance of the 3D game TouchSports Tennis on iPhone 3G was noticeably different from that on iPod Touch. To Games consistently, device-specific optimizations have been added to the 3D game.


text:
Dallas Botox Offers at NLI Med Spa
In the 1980s, Botox was being studied and used primarily for medical purposes because it benefit clients who had problems with migraines, muscle spasms, tremors, and excessive sweating. However, over a decade ago Botox became FDA approved as a cosmetic treatment to soften and smooth facial lines and wrinkles.
NLI Med Spa offers Botox treatments to those looking for a quick way to rid years from their appearance. The best part about Botox is that there is no downtime and results reveal almost immediately. Unlike plastic surgery where it costs the big bucks, is very risky, and requires a recovery period, Botox is an instant-gratification type of treatment.
How Does Botox Work?
Botox treatments work by using a very fine needle to inject the Botox solution into your targeted muscles. The entire treatment is provided by a certified medical professional. Once injected, the Botox protein is able to prevent certain nerve endings from reaching specific muscles. When this happens, your muscle is forced to relax–which causes your features and wrinkles to soften, revealing smooth and youthful results.
Types of Botox Treatments
As a cosmetic treatment, Botox is able to treat:
- Forehead lines
- Crow's feet
- Between the brow wrinkles
Botox Dallas at NLI Med Spa
NLI Med Spa purchases Botox directly from its manufacturer, Allergan. Allergan ensures that the Botox you receive is FDA approved and designed to be the safest and effective possible. NLI Med Spa also offers Botox treatments provided by expert medical professionals in a luxury medical spa setting with prior consultations to assure that you receive the results you desire. To learn more about NLI Med Spa or Botox Dallas treatments, please call 214.252.7800.
Louis J. Silberman is the CEO and Co-Founder of National Laser Institute, the pioneer of the medical aesthetics training industry and one of the largest educators in the country.


text:
Special Offers
Sodium Hydroxide
Sodium Hydroxide is Lye, which is widely used in food processing. It is commonly used for: wash fruits and vegetables, chocolate and cocoa processing, caramel color production, poultry scalding, soft drink processing, thickening ice cream. Foods processed with lye include olives, lutefisx, hominy/grits, corn nuts, 100 year eggs, pretzels, and German lye rolls.
In the benecos foundations, Sodium Hydroxide is neutralized in the end of manufacturing process.


text:
Still the most famous man-made waterway in the U.S., the Erie Canal changed the face of commerce and the lives of countless Americans in the early 19th century. Completed in 1825, the Canal was then coined the Eighth Wonder of the World, and went through two additional expansions over the next 75 years to meet growing demand. Once the pivotal conduit for bringing produce to market from Lake Erie to the Hudson, the Canal is used primarily for recreation today. Many thriving communities along its banks still tell the story of its illustrious past and can be explored by boat, car or on foot. The eastern end of the Canal's corridor is a mere three-hour drive north of the city, but connects visitors to a unique world where past and present meld together to tell a fascinating story of American ingenuity, vision and progress. Interesting venues and communities dot the entire 363-mile long expanse of the Canal, including these must-see, historical locations.
Erie Canal Village
Rome, N.Y.
Construction of the Erie Canal began in the small city of Rome, which was earlier the site of colonial Fort Stanwix, utilized during the French and Indian War to protect trade routes through its waterways. Today, a visit to Erie Canal Village in Rome will give you access to three historical museums, The Erie Canal Museum, The Harden and The New York State Museum of Cheese, which all tell the story of the Canal and early commerce in Upstate New York. Constructed as a recreation of a 19th century settlement, the Village also includes slice-of-life structures representative of that time, such as taverns, blacksmith shops, ice houses and Victorian homes.
Boonville Black River Canal Museum
Boonville, N.Y.
Built to connect the Erie Canal to the Black River, the overland Black River Canal was an astounding accomplishment, with elevations over a thousand feet high running uphill and 70 locks. The southern section linked together Rome and Boonville. The Museum houses a rich array of artifacts from the Canal era and features exhibits, theatre productions, lectures and a full-scale canal boat replica.
Chittenango Landing Canal Boat Museum
Chittenango, N.Y.
The site of the completion of the Oswego Canal, historical Chittenango provides a glimpse into daily life during the Canal era. The Museum features boat building workshops and bicycle rides throughout area towpaths, complete with a lecture series about canal building and natural history. Completing the picture is the locale's ode to Wizard of Oz author and local son, L. Frank Baum. The Wizard of Oz theme permeates the village and even features a yellow brick road.
Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site
Fort Hunter, N.Y.
A canal aqueduct built at Schoharie Crossing in 1841 encompassed elements of all three Canal eras of expansion and development. Current-day Schoharie features a historic site tracing the roots of the Erie Canal, the three eras of building and their impact on both the local area and the nation. Buildings and other structures dating from all three eras, such as Putman's Lock Stand, which holds an exhibit on Erie Canal stores, can be experienced by visitors as can remnants from 18th century Fort Hunter.
Corey Whelan is a freelance writer in New York. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.


text:
Sue De Pasquale
The 1987 Sophie Kerr Winner
After earning her master's in journalism at Columbia University in 1988, with a concentration in magazine journalism, Sue De Pasquale went on to work in publishing at Johns Hopkins University. She served as editor of Johns Hopkins Magazine from 1994 through 2006, during which time the magazine won numerous gold medals for excellence in writing from CASE (Council for Advancement and Support of Education) and was honored as the Sibley Magazine of the Year in 1998.
In spring 2006, she left Hopkins to launch her own editorial consulting business, specializing in launching new magazines and re-thinking existing ones, primarily for colleges/universities and non-profits. She is currently involved in editing and/or consulting for about a dozen magazines, including Hopkins Medicine Magazine (which won top honors among medical school magazines from AAMC in 2010) and University of Maryland School of Law Magazine.


text:
Video: Best of MOMIX tours Israel this July.
Most of the choreographers I've interviewed here in Israel are, of course, Israeli. But since I've been freelancing more as a dance writer, I've had some great opportunities to interview choreographers from abroad whose companies are touring to Tel Aviv.
MOMIX is the next major dance troupe which will travel through town, and a few weeks ago I enjoyed a lively Skype conversation with the company's founder, Moses Pendleton. After sorting through a half-hour's worth of worthy material – a difficult task when your interview subject is thoughtful, well-spoken, and quite witty – I wrote "Momixian Fantasy," which was published the Jerusalem Post on June 25, 2009.
* * *
Momixian Fantasy
'You never know when you're going to be attacked by an idea," says choreographer Moses Pendleton. Israeli audiences will get to see several of Pendleton's highly original ideas when his Connecticut-based company, MOMIX, tours Best of MOMIX to Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Haifa and Beersheba in July. The program is, according to Pendleton, "a compilation of several highlights from several programs put together like a rock music album."
Few dance companies can pull off a greatest hits show – but MOMIX can. Over its 29-year history, the company has produced a string of works that are not only successful but wildly inventive. Best of MOMIX features eye-catching excerpts from Lunar Sea, Opus Cactus, Momix in Orbit and the company's latest creation, Botanica.


text:
The Federal Communications Commission yesterday accused five wireless service providers of obtaining duplicate payments from a federal fund for low-income consumers. The FCC wants the companies to repay the extra money and, in addition, to pay $14.4 million in fines.
The wireless providers allegedly violated rules of the Lifeline program, which has helped people afford basic telephone service since 1985. It was expanded to cover pre-paid cell phone service in 2005 under former President George W. Bush.
"The violations involve thousands of consumers who had more than one Lifeline subscription from the same provider, resulting in duplicative support requests and payments," the FCC said. "In each case, the carrier knew or should have known, based on its own internal data, that the consumers were ineligible under Lifeline program rules. ... To protect the integrity of the Lifeline program, the Commission's rules prohibit, among other things, Lifeline service providers from requesting and/or receiving support for consumers who already receive Lifeline service."
The proposed fines are as follows: $4,806,381 for Icon Telecom; $4,573,376 for TracFone Wireless, Inc.; $2,203,977 for Assist Wireless, LLC; $1,586,545 for Easy Telephone Services d/b/a/ Easy Wireless; and $1,234,456 for UTPhone, Inc.
The companies were each issued a "Notice of Apparent Liability (NAL)," and have the right to appeal the decision.
The fines are calculated according to a framework allowing for "(1) a separate forfeiture of $20,000 for each unlawful payment request seeking USF (Universal Service Fund) support for ineligible Lifeline subscribers; (2) a $5,000 forfeiture per ineligible subscriber; and (3) an upward adjustment of three times the total duplicate USF support payments requested and/or received," the FCC said.
"The fines in these cases are purposely large," Acting FCC Chairwoman Mignon Clyburn said in a statement accompanying the decision. "However, I want to ensure adequate deterrence without harming the legitimate service these providers bring to their subscribers. Accordingly, I have instructed the Enforcement Bureau to carefully consider the companies' responses to these NALs."
The commission has been overhauling the Lifeline program since 2010, resulting in the elimination of 1.1 million duplicate subscriptions and savings of $2 billion over three years.
In case you were wondering, the FCC announced its decision just before the government shutdown last night. The commission's website is now offline.
UPDATE: TracFone has told Ars that the disputed charges involve "less than $8,000" and fewer than 850 people out of a total of 4 million Lifeline customers.
"We will respond to the FCC at the appropriate time," a TracFone statement said. "However, we do not believe that our conduct violated any rules or that the proposed FCC action is warranted. We believe that we have the most sound program in the industry when it comes to wireless Lifeline. TracFone has been a leader in both innovative wireless Lifeline services and in preventing program abuses. We have proposed many reforms to prevent waste, fraud, and abuse of Universal Service Fund resources. Some of those proposals were included in the FCC's 2012 Lifeline rules. And TracFone continues to propose additional fraud prevention measures, including a ban on in-person distribution of handsets associated with Lifeline services. Our goal at TracFone Wireless has always been to do whatever it takes to clear up any such issues as expeditiously as possible. We will have no additional statement on this matter until we submit our response to the FCC."


text:
Looking to harness the full power of Twitter to drive traffic to your WordPress site? When used effectively, Twitter can help you find new users, expand your content reach, and bring traffic to your site. In this article, we will show you the most wanted… Read More »
10 Most Wanted Twitter Hacks and Plugins for WordPress
Posted on by Editorial Staff