text:
One case modder out there in the world has finally found a use, a true purpose, for the featureless square "houses" and "castles" young me inevitably built (and tore down) from my LEGO collection.
This particular PC is, indeed, made of LEGO bricks. Sure, the motherboard and processor and fans and the rest aren't made of LEGO, but they're slotted and held in by thoughtful brick placement. The maker claims that neither screw nor soldering, nor any drop of glue have found their way into this playful PC, and that, being made entirely of LEGO, it can be disassembled and reassembled at any time. (Though perhaps not easily.)
The addition of drilled air holes on the side keeps the crowded interior running cool. Alas, due to the fan's placement on the case top, it's probably extremely inadvisable to make a handful of LEGO PC cases and then snap them together into a monstrous wall. But that won't stop me from kind of wanting to.
Lego PC 1.0 [TechPowerUp]


text:
By Teachers, For Teachers
In the movie, "Wreck it Ralph", we are intrudced to the main character, "Ralph", a building-wrecking, perceived video game bad guy. After 30 years, Ralph decides that he is tired of his stereotype and attempts to jump to the good side of game land in order to change his image. Once there, Ralph teaches those around him some valuable lessons about judging people too quickly and our ability to change ourselves and in turn people's perceptions of us.
This Exclusive Video Writing Prompt helps students explore some prematurely conceived notions about people in certain professions as well as false impressions they may have about their peers. It also allows them to explore how they themselves may have been unfairly judged and how they overcame that obstacle.
Grades K-2: Picture yourself
Draw a picture of yourself as a movie character. Is your character good or evil? What does your character do? What is your characters name?
Grades 3-5:
In the movie clip, Ralph says, "It's hard to love your job when no one else seems to like you for doing it."
What kinds of jobs are out there that make others not like the people doing them?
What is something positive you could say about people in that profession?
Grades 6-8: First Impressions - Not Always Correct
Have you ever stereotyped or judged someone else too quickly, but once you got to know them better, found that you were completely wrong? Explain what happened (without using names) and what made you realize that your first impression of that person was wrong.
Grades 9-12: Breaking Down Stereotypes
In the movie clip, Ralph was stereotyped as "mean" even though he wasn't. Think about a time when you felt like you were stereotyped. In a minimum of 3 paragraphs, explain the situation including what stereotype you were placed in, how it made you feel, and if you did anything to break down that stereotype.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States. But did you know there are more than 50 types of heart disease? Heart disease is actually an umbrella term that includes a number of conditions affecting the structures or function of the heart, some of which are genetic, and many of which are the result of lifestyle choices.
Types of Cardiovascular Disease:
Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) is the most common form of heart disease. It occurs when the arteries supplying blood to the heart narrow or harden, which is known as atherosclerosis. CHD is usually the cause of heart attack, stroke, and peripheral vascular disease. Major risk factors include: high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, tobacco use, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, diabetes, advancing age, inherited (genetic) disposition.
Heart Attack – Also called "myocardial infarction," a heart attack happens when blood flow to the heart is severely reduced or cut off, due to the hardening and narrowing of the coronary arteries from the build-up of fat, cholesterol, and other substances, known together as "plaque." A blood clot forms around the plaque, blocking blood flow. This results in permanent damage or death of part of the heart muscle. The most common symptoms of a heart attack are:
- Chest pressure or pain
- Shortness of breath
- Pain or discomfort in the jaw, neck, back, arms or shoulder
- Feeling weak, lightheaded, or nauseous
Arrhythmia – "Arrhythmia" means your heartbeat is irregular. It doesn't necessarily mean your heart is beating too fast or too slow. It just means it's out of its normal rhythm. When the heart doesn't beat normally, it can't pump blood effectively to the lungs, brain, and other organs, causing them to potentially shut down or become damaged. You could have an arrhythmia even if your heart is healthy, as it can be a side effect of medicines that you are taking or a manifestation of an abnormality elsewhere in your body.
Heart failure is a serious condition that commonly develops slowly over time, and is the leading cause of hospitalization in people older than 65. Heart failure is a bit of a misnomer, since it does not actually mean the heart has stopped working; rather, the heart pumps weaker than normal, causing blood to move through the body at a slower rate and increases pressures in the heart. The weakened heart muscle has to work overtime to keep up with the body's demands, which can leave a person tired. Some of the symptoms of heart failure:
- Shortness of breath
- Difficulty breathing when lying down
- Swelling in the legs, ankles, and feet
- General fatigue and weakness
Congenital Heart Disease is a category of heart disease in which congenital heart defects are present at birth. Defects occur when the fetus is developing and may produce symptoms at birth or during childhood, while others aren't discovered until a person is an adult. Some causes of congenital heart defects are:
- Chromosomal abnormalities, such as Down syndrome
- Maternal viral infection in the first trimester of pregnancy
- Maternal drug or alcohol abuse during pregnancy, and certain medications such as Warfarin
Heart Muscle Disease (Cardiomyopathy) is a progressive disease that causes the heart to be abnormally enlarged, thickened and/or stiffened. Cardiomyopathy limits the heart's ability to pump blood effectively, and often leads to heart conditions like arrhythmias or heart failure.
While there is a wide range of heart and vascular conditions associated with cardiovascular disease, the good news is that many types of heart disease can be prevented with healthy habits. You can reduce your risk of certain types of heart disease, such as heart attack, coronary artery disease and peripheral artery disease by doing the following:
- Eating a low sodium diet
- Eating more fresh fruit and vegetables while limiting foods high in saturated fat
- Exercising at least 3 – 5 times a week for 30 minutes a day
- Stop smoking!
- Controlling your diabetes and high blood pressure
If you suspect you have heart condition, talk with a trained Emory Healthcare doctor, who can recommend or administer screening or diagnostic tests.
About Dr. Danny Eapen, MD
Danny Eapen, MD is an Assistant Professor at Emory University School of Medicine. Dr. Eapen specializes in preventive cardiology and adult heart disease. He pursued a degree in medicine from the University of Miami, Miami FL, and his internship and residency in Internal Medicine at Emory University School of Medicine. He also completed his research and general cardiology fellowship at Emory University.


text: I would like to convert my single existing hive to right-sized bees (I have never treated them with anything), but my hive sits in an apiary shared with other beekeepers whose hives are neither small cell nor treatment-free. Before I proceed, is there anything I should be concerned about? Would converting my hive incur any risks or problems (other than the work involved)? Thanks!


text:
OneLife Institute Second Sundays: Monthly Meditation & Potluck
February 10, 2019 @ 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
An event every month that begins at 5:00 pm on day Second of the month, repeating indefinitely
Meditation: 5-6pm Potluck Fellowship: 6-7 pm
Doors open at 4:45 pm
Oakland Peace Center
111 Fairmount Ave, Oakland
This is the building of the First Christian Church of Oakland, corner of Fairmount Ave and 29th St. Enter through the parking lot door.
OneLife is excited to launch a new offering! Second Sundays is a Monthly Meditation Circle and Community Potluck.
We meet the 2nd Sunday of each month. There will be a number on the door to text for late arrivals. Chairs provided, but feel free to BYO cushion, pillow, mat, etc. Please bring food that is easy to serve – there is no kitchen available. (It's okay to come for only meditation or only the potluck, or stay for BOTH!) All are welcome. No meditation experience required. Please contact us with questions about wheelchair accessibility.


text:
I'll admit it, even with all of my trepidation surrounding Jim Thome's one-dimensional abilities and power decline potential, I've gone on record as saying this is a good move for the team. For a low-risk contract, the roster will have a powerful pinch hitting option late in the ballgames against a large corps of right-handed closers in the American League. Remember, they lost 20 one-run games in '09. At the time it seemed curious. After all, the Twins had a plethora of left-handed hitters including a burgeoning righty-killer in Jason Kubel entrenched at DH, Thome's only realistic everyday playing option. It turns out, according to Kelly Thesier, the Twins front office was not necessarily targeting Thome at the time: "Smith admits Thome wasn't the ideal fit for the club, as they were seeking a right-handed bat who could play the outfield -- far from what Thome will give them." In truth, the market wasn't very friendly to find a player that fits that profile which led the team to Thome. Nevertheless, there remain several options available in potential minor league deals including the often injured Rocco Baldelli and the hacktastic but potent Johnny Gomes.
Without an obvious right-handed bat to assume the designated hitting duties against tougher lefties (read Sabathia comma CC), Ron Gardenhire's lineup might be a bit more creative. Neither Jim Thome or Jason Kubel have had much success in recent years facing southpaws. Kubel had shown a brief stretch in 2009 were he hit same-sided pitching well but still wound up hitting .243/.299/.345 in 164 plate appearances. Thome demonstrated a bit more pop last year (.409 slugging) so he might be the de facto candidate to DH unless the Twins acquire a right-handed platoon option in spring training.
Now that camp has officially starter, LaVelle E Neal has nine questions facing this year's Twins team.
Twins opening day starter, Scott Baker, told the Shreveport Times that he was feeling strong heading into spring training. A year ago, Baker experienced some tweaks in his shoulder which resulted in him missing some time towards the end of spring training and the start of the regular season. This season is different. Said the Twins veteran pitcher: "I feel like I'm right where I need to be. The more years you have under your belt, the better you know what it takes to get prepared for spring training and the upcoming season. I don't necessarily think you work any harder than in previous offseasons. You just become smarter about it."
This time last year the Twins were concerned over the shape that Jose Mijares was in. After an early outing in spring training in which Mijares appeared fatigued and winded following an inning of work, manager Ron Gardenhire quipped "He came back in a shape" suggesting that that shape might be oval. This year, things haven't changed much. Unable to get a visa to report to TwinsFest and skipping winter ball as well, the Twins are very interested to see what kind of condition their primary lefty out of the pen is in. Even with the off-season visa delays, LaValle E Neal was told by GM Bill Smith that the organization fully expects Mijares to be in camp on-time.
Over at Twinkie Town, Jesse Lund has a great Q&A with the Twins' assistant GM, Rob Antony. Lund covers a little bit of everything with Antony but one topic that is particularly interesting is Anthony shedding light on the Jacque Jones/Charlton Jimerson acquisitions and what it could mean for the Minnesota and Rochester outfields.
The excitement over Francisco Liriano's winter league performance has officially reached the mainland. Not that Ron Gardenhire is believing too much of the hype just yet. According to a story in USA Today, Gardenhire told reporters that "You just have to wait and see how he carries it up to here. It's one thing pitching down there and it's another thing pitching up here. But the reports are that he's really throwing the ball well. He could be one of those ace in the holes if he can come back and bounce back, keep his arm up and the ball down." His choice of using "arm up" is interested phrase because what this suggests is that it could mean that the manager (or more likely Rick Anderson) potentially endorses scap loading that Liriano practiced in '06. Reviewing his dominating outing on ESPN360.com, you'll notice that his throwing elbow is below his shoulder in the cocked position (as opposed to above it like he did in '06). Andrew Kneeland of Twinstarget.com put together a nice video compilation of his form and I left a fairly exhaustive explanation behind this phenomenon in his comment section, but in short, Liriano keeping his arm below his shoulder is far more beneficial towards his health but it seems that he has adapted to throwing with this new motion – one that may have struggled with in '09.
Now that the regular season is just around the corner, Joe Christensen documents some of Target Field's obstructed views however, this was covered extensively by BallparkMagic.com back in November of this past year. As a matter of personal experience, the first year the Twins played the Brewers at their then-brand spankin' new Miller Park, I grabbed tickets off of the Brewers website that were advertised as "obstructed view" in left field. How obstructed could the seats be, I thought? After all, it's a brand-new stadium. The correct answer was "very obstructed". I got to my seat only to find that a foul pole – one that spanned shoulder-to-shoulder on me -- was positioned less than six inches from my face and the edge of the bleacher seat. Forced to relocate to standing room only if I wanted to actually watch any of the game, I was furious about paying full retail for the ticket that was the equivalent to slapping a burlaps sack on my head as I entered the gate. Hopefully the Twins do not have anything this extreme but if they do, here's to hoping they have the common decency to not charge full price.
Finally: Welcome pitchers and catchers.


text:
updated - June 6, 2020 Saturday EDT
Labels declaring foods to be "gluten-free" will need to meet new standards set by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
The standards, announced on Friday, are designed to protect patients with celiac disease, an inflammatory condition of the intestine that is triggered by gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley and rye. It affects about 3 million people in the United States.
Under the new rules, any food bearing a gluten-free label must have less than .002 percent of gluten. The European Union and Canada have implemented the same gluten-free standards.
Food manufacturers have one year to comply with the rule. Labels that boast "no gluten," "free of gluten" and "without gluten" must also meet the standard.
"It's enormously important for these people to have as much variety to choose from as possible," Michael Taylor, the FDA's deputy commissioner for foods and veterinary medicine, said in an interview.
The FDA believes most foods with a gluten-free label currently meet the standard, Taylor said.
Gluten-free labeled foods have not previously subject to a legal standard, posing a danger for many celiac patients, said Francine Fazio, vice president of the Celiacs Resource Group, a support group for celiac patients.
"It's so hard to go through the aisles and buy foods that are safe and tasty," Fazio said. "Now we can buy food with confidence that's safe to eat, just like the general public."
Consuming gluten can cause nutritional deficiencies in celiac patients and lead to osteoporosis, stunted growth infertility, miscarriages, intestinal cancers and other health problems, according to the FDA.
Gluten is naturally present in wheat, rye, barley and hybrids. It is also sometimes present in vitamin and nutrient supplements, lip balms and some medications.
The FDA began examining potential regulations more than six years ago when Congress passed the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act, requiring the FDA to develop guidelines for gluten-free labels.
The agency proposed gluten-free regulations in 2007 but did not finalize them. The delay came from scientific assessments, interaction with the celiac community and a safety assessment to validate 20 parts per million as a safe cut-off level, Taylor said.
More than 95 percent of celiac patients go undiagnosed, according to the National Institutes of Health. And undiagnosed celiac disease can quadruple the risk of death, according to studies from the Mayo Clinic.
Partner : Best Product Reviews


text:
Kent State's School of Music Becomes 150th Institution Worldwide With the All-Steinway School Designation
Kent State University's College of the Arts recently celebrated the successful conclusion of its Steinway Campaign, raising $2.7 million dollars – enough to purchase nearly 70 new pianos. Generous gifts of donors such as the estate of Elizabeth Fennell, Audio-Technica U.A., the Kent State University Foundation Board, David and Carol Pulk, an anonymous donor and many others who sponsored the effort, enabled the college's Hugh A. Glauser School of Music to be designated as an All-Steinway School.
"The faculty and staff of the Hugh A. Glauser School of Music are dedicated to providing our students with the best opportunities to succeed," says Denise Seachrist, Ph.D., director of Kent State's School of Music. "Being an All-Steinway School is a significant way in which we can help our students achieve their goals. Through this designation, the School of Music visibly and aurally demonstrates its commitment to 'Excellence in Action' by providing our students and faculty with top-quality teaching and performing instruments which challenge and enhance our talent, learning and teaching."
All-Steinway Schools demonstrate a commitment to artistic and educational excellence by providing their students and faculty with the best equipment possible for the study of music. Attaining the designation emphasizes the value the university places in the future of music education and artistic expression.
"We are absolutely thrilled to have obtained this designation for the School of Music," says John Crawford, Ph.D., dean of Kent State's College of the Arts. "We are so appreciative to the many donors who helped make this happen."
A prestigious honor, the All-Steinway designation places Kent State in a select group of global institutions of higher education that exclusively feature Steinway & Sons pianos in their recital halls, faculty studios, practice rooms and classrooms.
For more information about Kent State's School of Music, visit www.kent.edu/music.


text:
We help you to consult and hire the best Supreme Court & High Court Bail Matters lawyers in West Bengal. Use filters to narrow your search and find the best advocate in West Bengal, whether its a family dispute or divorce lawyer, property lawyer, employment or labor court lawyer, criminal lawyer, recovery or cheque bounce lawyer, taxation or corporate lawyer, or a lawyer expert in any other field of law.
Practice Area : Criminal Law, bail matters, property dispute, docu...
City: kolkata
Practicing Since: 11 YearsVIEW PROFILE
Practice Area : Criminal Law, Civil Law, bail matters, debt recove...
City: bolpur
Practicing Since: 5 YearsVIEW PROFILE
Practice Area : Criminal Law, Civil Law, bail matters, divorce and...
City: asansol
Practicing Since: 7 YearsVIEW PROFILE
Practice Area : Criminal Law, consumer matters, bail matters
City: kolkata
Practicing Since: 5 YearsVIEW PROFILE
Practice Area : Civil Law, consumer matters, bail matters, motor a...
City: siliguris
Practicing Since: 10 YearsVIEW PROFILE
Practice Area : Criminal Law, Civil Law, consumer matters, motor a...
City: bolpur
Practicing Since: 3 YearsVIEW PROFILE
Practice Area : bail matters, arbitration
City: kolkata
Practicing Since: 12 YearsVIEW PROFILE
Practice Area : marriage registration, bail matters, Criminal Law,...
City: kolkata
Practicing Since: 6 YearsVIEW PROFILE
Practice Area : Criminal Law, bail matters, bail matters
City: kolkata
Practicing Since: 4 YearsVIEW PROFILE
Practice Area : Criminal Law, bail matters, consumer matters
City: kolkata
Practicing Since: 2 YearsVIEW PROFILE
Connect with our Legal Experts for assistanceTalk to an expert
Bail is considered to be the temporary release of a person whose trial is in process. It is done to back up the provision of freedom mentioned in the constitution of west bengal. Connect with Lawtendo today to hire best criminal law attorneys and avail legal services for bail related matters at our fixed charges.
INTRODUCTION: since west bengaln law follows the adversarial model of the justice system and strains upon the presumption of innocence until proven guilty, highly supports the freedom of an individual which proves useful against the unreasonable/unjustified detention of a person and works as a barricade against providing punishment before actual conviction. But the liberty of bail though comes under the article 21 of the constitution of west bengal encompassing the right to life and personal liberty is not absolute and thus comes with reasonable restrictions which are imposed by the state....
INDIAN CRIMINAL LAW AND PROVISION OF BAIL: though the term bail is not been defined under the criminal procedure code, 1973 it does make a distinction between bailable and nonbailable offenses. For the former one, an accused may obtain his bail in the police station while for the later offenses one has to approach a court for that matter. Section 436-section 450 of criminal procedure code, 1973 carries the provisions regarding bail and bail bonds in west bengal. The exact amount is not spelled out in the court and has been left to the discretion of the court from case to case basis. Also, section 498A of CR.P.C lays down the provision of anticipatory bail means securing you with a bail-in fear of arrest.
WHY LAWTENDO: when a person is arrested, he along with his family suffers through mental trauma already, being a common man there is a very thin chance that they know how to approach the court asking for the grant of bail. It becomes really hard to decide and approach a good attorney. With Lawtendo at the rescue, it becomes easy to solve this problem without any hassle in your own west bengal. Lawtendo maintains the panel of best criminal law lawyers in the west bengal who provide you with finest criminal law related services such as prosecution, defending a criminal matter, asking for a bail, application under section 498A of CR.P.C etc. in any case of criminal accusation for getting relief and bail contact Lawtendo today to hire a skilled attorney with prior experience in the field.


text:
Western blot analysis of extracts from various tissue using α-Smooth Muscle Actin Antibody (upper) and GAPDH (D16H11) XP® Rabbit mAb #5174 (lower). As expected, α-skeletal muscle extracts are negative for smooth muscle actin.
|Product #
|100 µl
|MW (kDa)
Product Information
|Western Blotting
Supplied in 10 mM sodium HEPES (pH 7.5), 150 mM NaCl, 100 µg/ml BSA and 50% glycerol. Store at –20°C. Do not aliquot the antibody.
For western blots, incubate membrane with diluted primary antibody in 5% w/v BSA, 1X TBS, 0.1% Tween® 20 at 4°C with gentle shaking, overnight.
NOTE: Please refer to primary antibody datasheet or product webpage for recommended antibody dilution.
From sample preparation to detection, the reagents you need for your Western Blot are now in one convenient kit: #12957 Western Blotting Application Solutions Kit
NOTE: Prepare solutions with reverse osmosis deionized (RODI) or equivalent grade water.
Load 20 µl onto SDS-PAGE gel (10 cm x 10 cm).
NOTE: Loading of prestained molecular weight markers (#13953, 5 µl/lane) to verify electrotransfer and biotinylated protein ladder (#7727, 10 µl/lane) to determine molecular weights are recommended.
NOTE: Volumes are for 10 cm x 10 cm (100 cm2) of membrane; for different sized membranes, adjust volumes accordingly.
* Avoid repeated exposure to skin.
posted June 2005
revised November 2013
Reprobing of an existing membrane is a convenient means to immunoblot for multiple proteins independently when only a limited amount of sample is available. It should be noted that for the best possible results a fresh blot is always recommended. Reprobing can be a valuable method but with each reprobing of a blot there is potential for increased background signal. Additionally, it is recommended that you verify the removal of the first antibody complex prior to reprobing so that signal attributed to binding of the new antibody is not leftover signal from the first immunoblotting experiment. This can be done by re-exposing the blot to ECL reagents and making sure there is no signal prior to adding the next primary antibody.
NOTE: Prepare solutions with reverse osmosis deionized (RODI) or equivalently purified water.
posted June 2005
revised October 2016
Protocol Id: 10
α-Smooth Muscle Actin Antibody recognizes endogenous levels of total α-smooth muscle actin protein.Species Reactivity:
Human, Mouse, Rat
Polyclonal antibodies are produced by immunizing animals with a synthetic peptide corresponding to residues near the amino terminus of human α-smooth muscle actin protein. Antibodies are purified by protein A and peptide affinity chromatography.
Actin proteins are major components of the eukaryotic cytoskeleton. At least six vertebrate actin isoforms have been identified. The cytoplasmic β- and γ-actin proteins are referred to as "non-muscle" actin proteins as they are predominantly expressed in non-muscle cells where they control cell structure and motility (1). The α-cardiac and α-skeletal actin proteins are expressed in striated cardiac and skeletal muscles, respectively. The smooth muscle α-actin and γ-actin proteins are found primarily in vascular smooth muscle and enteric smooth muscle, respectively. The α-smooth muscle actin (ACTA2) is also known as aortic smooth muscle actin. These actin isoforms regulate the contractile potential of muscle cells (1).
Explore pathways + proteins related to this product.
UniProt ID: P62736
Entrez-Gene Id: 59
Cell Signaling Technology is a trademark of Cell Signaling Technology, Inc.
XP is a registered trademark of Cell Signaling Technology, Inc.
Tween is a registered trademark of ICI Americas, Inc.


text:
Train Interlaken → Lucerne
Duration 01:51 - From NZ$67
- Departure station : Interlaken ost (Untere Bönigstrasse 5 3800 Interlaken)
- Arrival station : Luzern (Bahnhofplatz 1 6003 Lucerne)
Interlaken, the capital of adventure
Interlaken, the capital of adventure Interlaken is a popular Swiss town and well known destination in the Swiss Alps. The town is ideal for getaways to mountains and lakes of the region. The Jungfrau Magazine has a quote which sums up Interlaken "Nowhere are the Alps so near, so spectacular and yet so safe and accessible as in this Swiss region". The region has so much to do and to see that most people return year after year. Learn more about Interlaken
Lucerne, the gateway to central Switzerland
Lucerne, the birthplace of tourism Lucerne is famous worldwide for the beauty of its site. Nestled in lush hills on the banks of Lake Lucerne, it offers a unique panorama that stretches from the Righi to Pilatus. With its 60,000 inhabitants, is the eighth city of Switzerland. If we add to this figure the population of the city, built in conjunction with the city, the number of inhabitants is multiplied by three. Because of its size, its central location and its economic potential, Lucerne can be considered as the capital of Central Switzerland. Lucerne is one of the tourism capitals of the world, located in the heart of Switzerland and attracting more than 2.5 million visitors each year. Learn more about Lucerne


text:
Women wear thongs for a lot of reasons. However, the advent of the thong came about as the result of tight jeans. A low rise thong removed the embarrassment of unsightly panty lines, thereby preventing women from socially uncomfortable situations.
An Ideal Piece of Underwear
Wearing thong underwear can be likened to wearing flip-flops or leisurely wearing yoga pants. Again, the panty line is what you want to avoid. You can make this happen if you wear some of the most comfortable thongs on the planet, such as the undies made by Barely Undies. The company's low rise thong made of lace is the ideal piece of underwear to embrace, especially if you want to eliminate any notice of a panty line.
While comfort is an important asset when it comes to clothing, you also want to strive to look your best. As a result, there is an adaptability curve to wearing some types of thong underwear. However, you will not have this concern if you choose thongs from Barely Undies. Again, these are the most comfortable thongs available and also are feminine in style. The lacy look they display is just the right fashion to wear under casual clothes or jeans.
Higher Quality Thongs
So, if you are seeking the best women's underwear in this form of an undergarment, you can stick with the Barely Undies brand. Once you find the right retailer, you will discover that a thong of this caliber has a number of benefits.
Thongs are Sexy
For example, thongs are sexy. After all, if you canvassed a beach in regular panties, you would not be showing off your cheeks to their best advantage. A thong enables you to flaunt your sexiness. A low-rise thong enhances this effect.
Avoid Unwanted Attention
Again, it cannot be overstated that a thong gets rid of the panty line once and for all. It simply looks fashionably tacky to wear business casual attire with a tell-tale panty line. Every time you bend over, everyone notices that line. That type of attention can be avoided by wearing a thong.
A More Comfortable Way to Feel
Thongs are comfortable undies to wear when the supplier you choose specializes in this product. Barely Undies makes this commitment to its customers. Also, there are some other advantages with respect to comfort. For instance, when you wear a thong with skirts or loose shorts, it is much cooler. In addition, this style of underwear makes you feel sexier. You do not have this advantage when you are wearing other styles of undergarments.
An Ethereal Type of Effect
In addition, your significant other will like the look. Because a man is visual, he likes the message a thong conveys. The thongs from Barely Undies are definitely male-friendly. Also, the wearing of thongs says a lot about the wearer. A woman that wears lacy thong underwear wants to impress yet is mysterious. She wants her undergarment to have an ethereal type of effect.
A Sense of Freedom
What some people do not understand is that the thong style of underwear also offers a sense of freedom. If you are not wearing the undies for someone else, you are still wearing it for yourself. As mentioned earlier, it is a nice, casual way to wear underwear while still feeling less restricted.
How Thongs are Made
In order to fully benefit from wearing this type of undergarment, you need to also know how to wear it. Therefore, make sure the undergarment does not rise above your waist. Also change your thongs each day. Typically, thongs are made in three styles – the classic look, a G-string, and a tanga/samba design.
Traditional Thongs
Traditional thongs offer full cover in the front as well as a wide waistband. The material then narrows to a strip of about 1-inch, which goes between the buttocks. Alternatively, the waistband of a G-string is exceptionally narrow and displays a strip made of about one-fourth of an inch of elastic. The thong part of the panty is very thin. As a result, the material amounts to just a small triangle that is located in the front.
The Tanga-samba
A tanga-samba type thong is a hybrid of a panty and a thong undergarment. Undies of this type display material that covers the upper part of the rear and leaves the bottom exposed, thereby eliminating a panty line. The rest of the undergarment is designed in accordance with the preferred style, but generally features more coverage and a thicker waistband.
An Adjustment That Is Easy to Make
If you have yet to adapt to wearing thongs, you will find that the best women's underwear is notably highlighted by Barely Undies. Their thongs, which feature a traditional style, enable you to feel feminine and free at the same time. The comfort level is superb and the adjustment is therefore easy to make.
Why Wearing Thongs Is Better
After all, many non-thong wearers worry about the comfort of such undies. The idea of a piece of fabric wedged between the buttocks can be rather disconcerting. However, thongs, when well-made, are deemed to be one of the most comfortable of underwear styles. That is because the fabric doesn't bunch up, sag, or feel loose, as is often the case with regular styles of panties.
Why You Will Love Barely Undies
That is why you will love the comfort you will feel when you choose a traditional lacy thong from Barely Undies. You simply will not want to wear any other type of underwear once you have experienced this product. And you do not have to try out different types of materials, as the fabric used by the company offers the ideal level of comfort.
A Forgiving Material
In addition, thongs of this kind minimize the look of any excess skin, because the material is forgiving. This is the type of lingerie that you cannot help but like and appreciate. Not only do you feel sexier and more confident, you simply look better in tight and casual wear.
Explore the Advantages
So, if you want to explore the advantages of thongs, you only need to visit the Barely Undies website. After all, a picture says a thousand words. When you look at the design and attractiveness of these thong panties, you will no doubt make them your underwear of choice.


text:
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Gerard Butler Dot Net! Today we celebrate eight years online and, fittingly enough, we also celebrating reaching the milestone of TEN MILLION hits this morning!
Thank you, thank you, thank you to all our visitors, contributors and partners who help to keep this site up-to-date and interactive! We cannot thank you enough for your support and contributions!
We look forward to many, many more years as Gerard's star continues to rise with projects like The Ugly Truth, Game, Law Abiding Citizen and Burns. Who knows what the future holds, but we know we will all enjoy the ride together!!!


text:
It goes without saying that you can return (part of) your order within 14 days upon receiving your parcel.For more information, please have a look at our Return policy.
After your parcel has been dispatched you will receive an email with a tracking number.
With this tracking number you can track the status of your parcel here:
For more shipment information please click here
Save your favourite items for later or share them with family & friends. Compare & Combine your favourite items and stay informed about their movements.


text:
Results tagged ' William Eckert '
Former Yankees executive Lee MacPhail, 95
Lee MacPhail, whose ties to the Yankees go back more than 60 years, died Thursday night of natural causes at his home in Delray Beach, Fla., two weeks after his 95th birthday. MacPhail had been the oldest living member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame, a distinction that belongs now to former Red Sox second baseman Bobby Doerr, 94.
Born Oct. 25, 1917 in Nashville, Tenn., Lee MacPhail was the son of another Hall of Fame executive, Larry MacPhail. They are the only father-son combination in Cooperstown. Lee followed in his father's footsteps by serving as a front office executive in baseball for 45 years.
"Baseball history has lost a great figure in Lee MacPhail, whose significant impact on the game spanned five decades," Hall of Fame board chairman Jane Forbes Clark said. "As a Hall of Fame executive, Lee developed one of the game's strongest farm systems for the New York Yankees before serving as American League president for 10 years. He will always be remembered in Cooperstown as a man of exemplary kindness and a man who always looked after the best interests of the game."
MacPhail began his career with the Yankees in 1949. He served as farm director and player personnel director for 10 years and built a system that resulted in the team winning nine AL pennants and seven World Series championships during his tenure.
"Lee MacPhail was a good man, and I had a great relationship with him for many, many years," Hall of Fame pitcher Whitey Ford said. "I was pleased to see him elected to the Hall of Fame because he was so talented at building winners. As farm director, he was integral in maintaining the Yankees' championship run."
MacPhail left the Yankees in 1959 to become general manager of the Orioles. In Baltimore, he laid the groundwork for the 1966 World Series championship squad that began a decade-long stretch of success for that franchise.
In 1965, MacPhail became the chief administrative assistant to newly-elected commissioner William Eckert. After being named Executive of the Year in 1966 by The Sporting News, MacPhail returned to the Yankees as general manager and served in that capacity from 1967 to 1973 before being elected president of the AL.
From 1974 to 1983, MacPhail oversaw expansion in Toronto and Seattle, helped develop the designated hitter rule and ruled on George Brett's famous pine tar home run in 1983. MacPhail was not popular with Yankees fans for that decision which upheld Brett's home run. Principal owner George Steinbrenner felt strongly that Brett had broken baseball's rule for how much pine tar could be used on a bat, but MacPhail ruled that the spirit of the rule was violated by negating the home run. The incident still causes debates today nearly 30 years later.
MacPhail resigned after the 1983 season but continued his work in baseball as the president of Major League Baseball's Player Relations Committee. He was elected to the Hall of Fame's board of directors in 1974, making him the longest-tenured member of the current board, and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1998 by the Veterans Committee.
"Lee was one of the nicest, most considerate general managers I ever dealt with," Hall of Fame executive Pat Gillick said. "And as president of the American League, he was one of the most professional individuals with whom I have ever worked."
No services are planned at this time. A memorial will be held at a date to be announced.
In lieu of flowers, the MacPhail family has asked that donations in his memory be made to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.
Here is the reading on Lee MacPhail's Hall of Fame plaque:
Leland Stanford MacPhail Jr.
One of the leading executives in baseball history, his name is synonymous with integrity and sportsmanship. As farm director and player personnel director of the Yankees (1949-58), helped build a system which yielded seven world championships. As Orioles general manager (1959-65), helped lay the groundwork for one of the game's most consistently successful franchises; and he later rejoined the Yankees in the same capacity. Served admirably as American League president (1974-83) before concluding his 45-year career as president of the Player Relations Committee. He and his father Larry form the first father son tandem in the Hall of Fame.


text:
Business groups around the state have released -- to much applause from the media -- a "California Financial Workout Plan." It's being touted as a "workout plan where taxpayers agree to
extend temporary taxes on the condition that state government fixes the underlying conditions that got
California in trouble."
While the desperation for a compromise between hardline Democratic and Republican positions on the budget is understandable, this plan isn't it. It fails both in revenues and reform, by embracing temporary tax cuts that by their nature don't offer the revenues the state needs and combining them with reforms that either don't address the state's crisis or would make it worse.
Let's look at each of the planks of the five-point plan.
U.S. & World
1. The plan seeks "constitutional spending controls... to ensure fiscal discipline.
Additionally, the state budget must include performance metrics so everyone knows if we're
getting our money's worth, along with multi‐year forecasts so we can see the long‐term impacts
of budget deals. In addition, lawmakers need to be required to spend more time reviewing the
effectiveness of programs and less time passing new laws."
REACTION: This is more of the same bad medicine that got California into its current mess. The California constitution already has more spending controls, rules and mandates than any other state constitution in the country. All these whips and chains have made the state -- and its budget -- unmanageable. Adding more controls upon existing controls is like building more rooms on the Winchester Mystery House. It will just make things worse.
A cynic might look at the business groups backing this and argue that some of California's biggest companies, having gone along with a system that has substituted democratic governance by elected officials for spending controls and formulas, are now trying to squeeze any remaining democracy out of the system.
2. Reforming the California Environmental Quality Act in the name of improving job growth, and saving and "fixing" redevelopment and enterprise zone programs, rather than eliminating them as Gov. Brown has urged.
REACTION: This shows the unseriousness of the workout plan. I'm no fan of CEQA, but environmental regulation is not at the heart of the budget crisis. And the enterprise zone and redevelopment programs have shown no demonstrated economic or jobs benefit to California. If you can't eliminate such corporate welfare, what can you eliminate?
A better approach would be stronger direct support to industries in which California enjoys advantages: technology, trade, aerospace. Money currently being wasted on enterprise zones or redevelopment agencies could be used for those purposes.
3. Pension reform that fixes abuses, along the lines of the Little Hoover Commission recommendations.
REACTION: California badly needs pension reform to prevent future budget problems. (The impact of unfunded obligations hasn't hit yet). But Californians also need retirement security, as the private sector retirement benefits wither. The way to do this is to design public pensions that are less generous but secure enough to include private workers. Here, the workout plan misses a big opportunity.
4. Realignment of local and state responsibilities along the lines suggested by the bipartisan good government group California Forward.
REACTION: The California Forward principles are good ones, but the devil is in the details here. One concern: that the business groups won't support giving local governments the power to tax to raise funds for the programs they manage, because that would be seen as a reversal of Prop 13. A realignment that doesn't give local governments the power to tax isn't a real realignment.
5. The business groups agree to support temporary tax extensions.
REACTION: The tax extensions would preserve rates that have been in place -- rates that weren't enough to balance the budget under the current system. So this grand workout plan preserves temporary tax extensions that aren't enough to balance the budget -- and are temporary -- while demanding reforms that don't address the state's real problems or, in the case of "constitutional spending controls", are almost certain to make things worse.
Back to the drawing board, business community.


text:
SLO Handbook
City College of San Francisco is committed to the assessment of student learning outcomes as a part of our culture of continuous quality improvement (CQI). Or, as stated in the College's mission, "To enhance student success and close equity achievement gaps, the college identifies and regularly assesses student learning outcomes to improve institutional effectiveness."
To support City College of San Francisco's mission:
Student learning outcomes and assessments are ongoing, systematic, and used for continuous quality improvement.
Dialogue about student learning is ongoing, pervasive, and robust.
Evaluation and fine-tuning of organizational structures to support student learning are ongoing.
Student learning improvement is a visible priority in all practices and structures across the college.
- Learning outcomes are specifically linked to program reviews.
SLOs are learning outcomes that we expect students to receive after they have completed a class, program, degree, or path of study at City College. SLOs are measurable cognitive, psychomotor, or affective skills or knowledge acquired by students as part of the overarching goals of a course, program, or counseling unit. Courses, instructional programs, and counseling programs have SLOs.There are three kinds of outcomes at CCSF: Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs), Student Service Outcomes (SSOs), and Administrative Unit Outcomes (AUOs),
Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs) (for courses, instructional programs, counseling, and workshops). Example: after students have completed this workshop, they will be able to identify appropriate and relevant scholarship opportunities.
Student Service Outcomes (SSOs) (for additional services provided to students such as transcript procurement, registration, and financial aid). Example: students can easily access transcripts and receive them in a timely manner.
- Administrative Unit Outcomes (AUOs) (for services provided to faculty, staff, vendors, external organizations, etc. to produce an environment of learning for our students)
More about SLOs
SLOs exist at multiple levels within the college, including specific course outcomes, broad program outcomes , and overarching institutional outcomes. Student learning outcomes are crafted with alignment as a goal. In other words, course SLOs should directly connect or "map" to program outcomes (PSLOS) and/or outcomes in a General Education area (GELOS), if applicable. Program outcomes, both credit and noncredit, should align with the College's Institutional Learning Outcomes (ILOS). Student Service Outcomes are also crafted to align with many learning outcomes at the college.
All areas of the college, including administrative service areas benefit from setting outcomes they want achieved by their work (outcomes that those they serve will achieve). Thus "outcomes assessment" (rather than just SLO assessment) is the language we use to describe all levels of our efforts across the college.
For more information on assessing SSOs and AUOs, please refer to the handbook chapter covering these topics. The rest of the handbook is focused on SLOs.
At City College, responsibility for college-wide efforts on outcomes assessment resides in the Institutional Development Division, led by the Associate Vice Chancellor of Institutional Development. SLO Coordinators at the college report to the Dean of Institutional Effectiveness in the Office of Research and Planning. However, using the assessment of learning outcomes to improve teaching and learning is a joint responsibility of faculty, administrators, and staff. Everyone has a role to play.
At the course and program level academic departments are responsible for identifying student learning outcomes, assessing the results, and making decisions about what actions to take once the results have been analyzed. These efforts are facilitated by Department Chairs that have the contractual responsibility to coordinate the efforts of discipline faculty in the establishment and assessment of student learning outcomes and the use of outcomes assessment results for course and program improvement.Together, departmental faculty should decide the best way to assess outcomes, either through shared assessment tools or the coordination of different assessment tools. Individual faculty members, both full and part-time, have a contractual professional responsibility to contribute to the overall SLO efforts of the department.
All Student Service Professionals on the campus are responsible for assessing outcomes in their service area. Like above, Department Chairs (where they exist), along with Directors, and unit managers are responsible for coordinating assessment and ensuring effective participation in the student service outcomes assessment continual improvement process.
The Executive Leadership Team at the College drives the assessment processes of AUOs. Administrators use service area outcomes to guide the formation of annual goals and objectives, many of which directly relate outcomes in the service area. Annual goals and objectives are also informed by the annual College Priorities developed by the Board of Trustees. Administrators are responsible for supporting faculty and other individuals employed in departments and other units in their assessment efforts and for ensuring compliance with accreditation expectations. This responsibility includes ensuring opportunities exist for faculty and departments to receive training in the development and assessment of student learning outcomes; creating structures where the results of assessment can be reported; and for fostering institutional dialogue.


text:
COVID-19 Assistance Information - Click here
Prosperity Home Mortgage, LLC. Leadership Team
COVID-19 Assistance Information - Click here
President and CEO
Tim Wilson
President and CEO
Tim Wilson is responsible for managing strategic business development, operations and sales for Prosperity Home Mortgage, Long & Foster Settlement Services, and Long & Foster Insurance Agency, Inc.
Tim joined Long & Foster following a 22-year career in various roles at Wachovia and World Savings. His last position at Wachovia was executive vice president and director of wholesale lending, a role he held from 2007 to 2009. Prior to that, he served as group senior vice president of national loan operations for World Savings; general manager of the loan department in the Northwest; national sales support manager for Oakland, Calif.; division loan manager for the Midwest division; region loan operations manager in Texas; division loan operations manager in New York; and loan representative in Kansas City.
Tim has a long career in banking and lending and has served on a variety of committees and special projects related to mortgages and financing, including his former role as chairman of the Real Estate Services Providers Council, Inc. (RESPRO).
Wilson has a bachelor's degree in political science from Washburn University in Topeka, Kan. He is married with five children.
SVP, National Operations & Credit Risk
Brenna Dutton
SVP, National Operations & Credit Risk
As Senior Vice President of National Operations and Credit risk, Dutton brings over three decades of experience in lending operations, from quality control and credit risk to underwriting and processing. She spent the majority of her career at George Mason Mortgage, where she worked closely with the organization's former CEO Gene Merrill. She credits Gene with inspiring her pro-sales approach to mortgage operations, which protects the company's credit risk while remembering that production is key to success.
SVP, Administration
Becky Helvey
SVP, Administration
Becky Helvey has more than 14 years of experience in the mortgage industry. She is an expert in reporting, analysis and project management.
In her current role, Becky is responsible for leading and managing the mortgage technology training, business intelligence and back-office support functions of Prosperity Home Mortgage. She helps set the vision for training of the sales, operations and management teams, assists in the development of reporting methodology and manages the company's equipment inventory. She also acts as a liaison between the corporate office and field offices in relation to company policies, on-boarding of employees, technology needs and more, and serves on committees within the company as needed, including compliance and executive credit.
Prior to joining Prosperity Home Mortgage, Becky worked with Prosperity Mortgage Company, a joint venture between The Long & Foster Companies and Wells Fargo. She also worked with World Savings, Wachovia and Wells Fargo in many positions, including as a loan processor, real estate appraiser, loan officer, underwriter, business analyst and director of business performance consulting for mortgage. She earned her bachelor's in history from Brigham Young University in 1998 and her Master's in business administration from Georgetown University in 2012.
SVP, National Sales Manager
Randy Krout
SVP, National Sales Manager
Randal J. Krout is president of sales at Prosperity Home Mortgage, LLC. In his role, he is responsible for ensuring customer satisfaction, increasing the company's mortgage volume and market share, and improving overall profitability. Randy has more than 26 years of experience working in strategic positions in some of the highest rated financial institutions.
Randy previously worked as the president at Prosperity Mortgage Company, a joint venture between The Long & Foster Companies and Wells Fargo. He also worked with Wells Fargo Home Mortgage as senior vice president, responsible for all operations and sales efforts in the eastern half of the United States, and at Freddie Mac as vice president of sales, managing sales activates in the eastern half of the country. Randy began his career at World Mortgage as a retail loan representative, eventually advancing to senior vice president and senior division manager of World Savings.
Krout received his bachelor's degree from Rutgers University in Camden, N.J. He is married and has three children.
SVP, Controller
David Lipscomb
SVP, Controller
David Lipscomb is the senior vice president of finance, controller and corporate officer for Prosperity Home Mortgage, LLC. He joined Prosperity Home Mortgage in June 2013 and is responsible for all aspects of finance & accounting, treasury, including warehouse line management, and business risk and controls areas of the company. His focus is delivering financial, operational and regulatory compliance.
With over twenty years of experience focused in the consumer lending space, David is a seasoned financial executive with industry leading experience encompassing financial & management reporting, analysis and planning, Big 4 and boutique consulting services, governance risk & controls, business process redesign, project & program management and mortgage operations. He joined Prosperity Home Mortgage from Baron Cameron & Co, LLC, a boutique consulting firm to the mortgage industry which he founded and was CEO. Previously, David has worked at KMPG in the CFO Advisory practice, at FNMA as Director of Single Family Loan accounting and finance systems and at GMAC Residential and Wells Fargo Home Mortgage in various Financial roles of increasing responsibility.
David is certified public accountant. He earned his Bachelors of Business Administration with an Accounting major from Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Washington and his Masters of Business Administration from California State University at Long Beach.
SVP, Capital Markets
Justin Messer
SVP, Capital Markets
Justin Messer is the senior vice president of capital markets for Prosperity Home Mortgage, LLC, bringing more than nine years of experience to the company. In his position, he is responsible for new product development, interest rate risk management, and loan pricing, trading and servicing. He also manages the company's quality control, mortgage post-closing processes and investor relations.
Before joining Prosperity Home Mortgage, Justin worked with Prosperity Mortgage Company for three years, which was a joint venture between The Long & Foster Companies and Wells Fargo. Before that he served as a head trader for Quicken Loans. Justin received his bachelor's degree in German and economics from University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Diverse Segments Manager
April Alexander
Diverse Segments Manager
April Alexander is Prosperity Home Mortgage's regional diverse segments manager.
April has 22 years of experience in the mortgage industry and is responsible for community development and lending. At Prosperity Home Mortgage, she focuses on increasing growth and production to first-time home buyer, low to moderate income and ethnic minority buyers by managing special programs such as Bond and Down Payment Assistance programs and through national trade organizations. She is Prosperity Home Mortgage's resident Bond and Down Payment Assistance program specialist for the nine states in which the company does business.
Prior to joining Prosperity Home Mortgage, LLC, April worked with Prosperity Mortgage Company, a joint venture between Long & Foster and Wells Fargo. She joined the company in 2004, and has previously served as area manager for Southern Maryland. She also worked at GMAC Mortgage and CITI Bank as a branch manager. She earned her bachelor's degree from Marymount Manhattan College. Originally from New York, she has been a Maryland resident for 26 years. She is married with four children and loves physical fitness, football and soccer.
Area Sales Manager
Robert Frazier
Area Sales Manager
Robert Frazier is the Area Manager of Prosperity Home Mortgage, LLC in the Baltimore and Eastern Shore area's bringing more than twenty years of experience to the company. In his position, Bob manages mortgage consultants and assistants, growing production with qualified sales people and quality loans. He specializes in coaching and mentoring sales staff.
Before joining Prosperity Home Mortgage, Bob worked with Prosperity Mortgage Company for three years, which was a joint venture between The Long & Foster Companies and Wells Fargo. Before that he originated loans for Trident Mortgage Company in the greater Philadelphia area. He studied at Kutztown University of Pennsylvania. Bob currently resides in Newton Square with his wife Joanne, son Bobby, daughter Grace and his dog Ruby. When he isn't spending time with his family, you will find Bob on the golf course.
Area Sales Manager
Dave Rotell
Area Sales Manager
Dave Rotell is the area manager for Prosperity Home Mortgage, LLC, leading the company's mortgage sales in the Northern Virginia and southern Maryland regions, as well as in West Virginia. He has 25 years of experience in the mortgage industry.
Dave is in charge of his area's growth and development for sales production, customer service, compliance and business management. He has a history of increasing sales production and successfully executing strategic business development initiatives, and he's known as a dynamic executive sales and support leader.
Prior to joining Prosperity Home Mortgage, Dave worked with a number of mortgage and banking institutions, including Golden West Financial, Wachovia and Prosperity Mortgage Company. Originally from New York, he received his bachelor's in economics from Syracuse University's Maxwell School.
Area Sales Manager
Kevin Hull
Area Sales Manager
Kevin Hull is the area manager for the Richmond, Roanoke and Hampton Roads regions of Virginia for Prosperity Home Mortgage, LLC. He has more than 30 years of experience in the mortgage industry.
In his position, Kevin manages the mortgage consultants and assistants throughout the Richmond, Roanoke and Hampton Roads regions of Virginia and specializes in government lending, sales training and Virginia Housing Development Authority. Prior to joining Prosperity Home Mortgage, Kevin spent 18 years with Prosperity Mortgage Company, a joint venture between The Long & Foster Companies and Wells Fargo. He also worked as a branch sales manager with Beach Fed Mortgage and National City Mortgage.
Kevin earned his bachelor's in business management from George Mason University in 1981. He is a lifelong resident of Virginia and has lived in Virginia Beach for the last 25 years. In the few hours he does not devote to mortgage lending, he enjoys skiing, paddle boarding and riding his motorcycle.
Area Sales Manager
Mark Metaxas
Area Sales Manager
Mark Metaxas is the Delaware Valley area manager. In this capacity he is responsible for the Philadelphia, Delaware and interior New Jersey markets. He has been in the mortgage industry for 35 years and has served in a variety of roles with industry leading organizations.
Mark founded First American Mortgage in 1996. This company established itself as a leader in the Philadelphia market place. He joined Prosperity Home Mortgage in 2015.
Mark attended Colorado College and spent three years in the US Army prior to entering the Mortgage Industry. He is married with 3 daughters and enjoys spending time with his grandchildren, golf, hunting and fitness.
Area Sales Manager
Ryan Dailey
Area Sales Manager
Ryan Dailey is the area manager for Montgomery County, Washington, D.C and the Southern Maryland region. Ryan has been a part of the Prosperity Mortgage Company /Prosperity Home Mortgage family since 2005. He learned the business from the ground up, starting as an assistant to a mortgage consultant. He quickly became a junior mortgage consultant then a senior where he has originated over 700 million dollars in loans since 2007.
In his position, Ryan has the background and experience to oversee the mortgage consultants and associates in his area and is in charge of increasing the area's growth and development. He is very familiar with the area having worked in seven offices in both Montgomery County and DC, where he earned his way into three President's and five Chairman's Clubs.
Ryan is a lifelong Washingtonian and currently resides in Dupont Circle. Ryan graduated from Penn State University with a BS in Finance. He enjoys traveling, working out and exploring new restaurants in the city. Ryan is a huge fan of his Nittany Lions and the Washington Redskins.
Area Sales Manager
Brad Dinkel
Area Sales Manager
With over 17 years in the realty-affiliated mortgage business, Brad Dinkel knows the power of the independent real estate company, and over these years, he has enjoyed working with four of the best – Watson Realty, Allen Tate, Long and Foster and Fonville Morisey. For the various mortgage companies, Brad has served in several capacities including Operations, Sales Team management, VP of Secondary Market, Investor Relations, Credit Risk Development and Account Executive sales, in addition to being a nationally recognized top producing loan officer. Through management counseling, strategic planning and community visions, Dinkel has been able to work with both mortgage operations and sales to align directly with the needs of borrowers and Real Estate Agents in the purchase business.
Dinkel has been sought out as an industry advisor and his contributions have been recognized by awards in several local and national publications including Loan Originator Magazine, Elevate Magazine and Future Leaders of Charlotte Business. He has received the Five Star Service Award six times from 5 Star Professional Research.
With his focus always on the customer first, Dinkel has led his teams and co-workers to some of the highest per-person productivity and market share numbers in the industry. A proud dad to an amazing eight-year old daughter, Dinkel is a native of Raleigh NC.
National Sales Support Manager
Ron Wivagg
National Sales Support Manager
Ron Wivagg is the national sales support manager for Prosperity Home Mortgage, LLC. He has been in the mortgage industry for 23 years.
In his current position, Ron is responsible for product development, sales strategy and marketing, and specializes in each of those areas. Prior to joining Prosperity Home Mortgage, he spent four years with Prosperity Mortgage Company, which was a joint venture between The Long & Foster Companies and Wells Fargo. Prior to then, he worked for World Savings, Wachovia and Wells Fargo in the roles of national sales manager, regional manager and mortgage consultant.
Ron holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Pittsburgh, the city in which he was born. He has been married for 22 years and has four children.


text:
The Zen has been discontinued. If you're looking for something new, check out the best three-season tents for 2020.
Historic Range: $59.95-$144.95
Reviewers Paid: $79.00-$150.00
4-star: 6
3-star: 1
2-star: 0
1-star: 0
This has been a solid tent. I've used it for solo hiking. I haven't had it out in extreme conditions, but it has kept me dry during some rain showers. Ventilation hasn't been a problem but most of the camping I've done has been fair weather.
I've since upgraded to a freestanding tent which makes drying a tent at home much easier. With the hoop-style tents, you can't pitch (not easily anyhow) in your garage to let it air out and for cleaning. However, set up and breaking it down is super easy. Takes just a few minutes.
The zippers sometimes stick a little, but if you're careful, you can avoid it.
For the price, this is a terrific tent. User friendly, light weight, good features, and quality materials and construction.
Design: 3 season hoop-style
Sleeps: 2
Ease of Setup: very easy
Weight: <5lbs
Price Paid: $100
The Good: Lite wt. Easy set up. Quality zippers. Great rain fly coverage. Very stable in wind.Great vestibule.
The Bad: Shock cord lost elasticity after two summers of use.
Not recommended for winter use. Could be lighter for long backpacking trips. A little crowded for two people.
Design: Three season
Sleeps: 2
Ease of Setup: good
Weight: 5lbs
Price Paid: $135
I've used this tent since 1999 or 2000 on several kayak trips (six days on the Au Sable in Michigan), National Parks (Isle Royale twice, Glacier just last month) and it has always been great. Kayaking I used it as a solo tent with plenty of room for gear. Backpacking I love the light weight and both my wife and I shared the tent with no problems. We are both under 5'8" though.
The only negative I have about the Zen is the fact that is is not free standing. The last few nights in Glacier we had some pretty rocky sites and the stakes would only go into the ground a few inches. Luckily we didn't have any wind so it was no problem. Overall a great little tent.
Design: Three season non freestanding
Sleeps: 2
Ease of Setup: Easy setup
Weight: Approx 4 pounds
Price Paid: $119
A great tent to be sure, however weighing in at 5 lbs 2 oz add a footprint for protection and you're at 5 lbs 10ozs... heavy by backpacking standards for one person, but if you're looking for room, and ease of use with awesome zipper mechanisims that gilde like butter this tent's for you, breathable, stout in winds, it's a great 3-season tent and if you are hiking with a companion you can't beat this tent.
Design: staked
Sleeps: 2
Ease of Setup: easy
Weight: 5 lbs 2ozs packed weight
Price Paid: $150
I love this tent! I got this at a super discount clearance price, and wasn't expecting a whole lot, but was very surprised. The two pole design is so easy to set-up, and it's no problem in the darkest of night. It fits two people snugly or one person and a dog. It collapsed on me in a few surprise storms, so be sure to use guy lines in wind and rain. I literally left this tent set up in my backyard in Montana all last winter and quickly wadded it up when I moved. I didn't get around to unpacking it for a few months and expected to find mildew and all sorts of funk, but nothing, it was still in perfect usable condition. The fabric might not be as strong as other higher priced tents (I got a small hole in the floor my first night in it), so take a repair kit if you're backpacking, but a few holes are well worth the savings. The condensation has proven minimal compared to other tents I've had.
Design: Three-season lightweight backpacking
Sleeps: 2
Ease of Setup: Super Easy
Weight: 5 lbs?
Price Paid: Clearance $79
Purchased my Zen from Campmor and I can't complain about the quality of the tent. I use it on a lot of solo kayaking trips. I've had it on the Buffalo River in rain, hail and even remembered how to find the fetal position one time in a lightning storm. Great tent for summer star gazing w/o the fly. The only drawbacks are: #1 This tent isn't free standing and needs to be staked out good to get it to stand tight. #2 Don't expect to look out through those fly windows and see what's sniffing around.
Design: 3 season backpacking/kayaking
Sleeps: 1
Ease of Setup: moderate
Weight: light
Price Paid: $120
I have taken this tent hiking in the Idaho Sawtooth Mountains and a week-long trek in Yellowstone. Very satisfied with the performance. Withstood a severe downpour without any leaks. My only complaint is the tent stakes. I replaced them with a better set after my first outing. I would highly recommend this tent. Great value for the money.
Design: three season
Sleeps: 2
Ease of Setup: As easy as connecting dots
Weight: 4 lbs
Price Paid: $110
Excellent tent for what it is designed for (3 season). Fly started to leak after 2 days of rain. Reseal before 1st use. Set up quickly, reasonably tight, good room. Highly recommend as a value tent.
Design: 3 season
Sleeps: 2
Ease of Setup: VERY Quick and easy
Weight: 4 1/2
Price Paid: $119
A bombproof little tent. Lots of space inside. Breathes great. Eclipse windows work awesome. Hardcore lightweight tent especially when a heavy 4 season tent is not needed. Fly has nice features w/ integrated vestibule. Expedition-proven Kelty gear.
Wolf Jaws
"Get Some"
Design: 3 season 2 hoop ultralight tent
Sleeps: 2
Ease of Setup: easy
Weight: 4lbs 12oz pack weight
Price Paid: $120
Great little tent. Packs small, doesn't weigh much, but is well put together. Has traveled on my bike and on my back with ease. Sleeps 1 with lots of room, or two close friends. Warm on a sub-30 night backpacking in the Shenandoahs and cool (without fly) on a 85+ night on a bike trip down the C&O canal. Haven't been in heavy rain, but light showers are no problem. Vestibule is small, but serves to keep a few things out of the rain.
Design: 3 season hoop
Sleeps: 2
Ease of Setup: Very easy, very quick.
Weight: 4.5 lb
Price Paid: $120
I do much backpacking, bike touring, and canoeing...this tent is perfect! It sleeps me and plenty of my gear (which doesn't say much because I'm only 5'6")...It sleeps 2 closely with an ample amount of gear at your feet...Great tent...I give it four stars!
Design: 3.5 Season; 2 Person; Freestanding
Sleeps: 2 (closely)
Ease of Setup: Extremely easy to setup...only 2 poles and not too many stakes. The clips make it easy to get the fly on/off.
Weight: Just over 4 pounds
Price Paid: 115 - 120 dollars
Outstanding tent. I bought this tent for many reasons...reputation, price and features, I haven't been disappointed. I do a lot of camping/hiking (Scout master) and didn't want multiple tents, this one suits me fine. I'm 6'2" and fit nicely with my gear, 2 people would require good friendship. At just over 4lbs and being a small bundle it fits easily on any pack. The advertisements don't do it justice. You can't beat it for the price...even if it cost more!
Design: 3 Season
Sleeps: 2
Ease of Setup: Extremely easy set-up and stowage.
Weight: 4lbs 3oz
Price Paid: $149.99
Found mine on sale so it was an even better buy. I love the full length screening and full coverage rain fly. Seems tend to "drip" with rain so you should seam seal them or tape them over.
Two adults in the tent would be a squeeze but in winter it would help hold heat.
Adequate ventilation in summer with no fly; hot with it on.
I am 6' 1" and have plenty of stretch room.
All round, a good tent for the money and an excellent first backpacking tent. I would recommend it to virtually anyone.
Design: 3 Season
Sleeps: 2
Ease of Setup: Excellent; even in the dark!
Weight: 4 Lbs 2 Oz
Price Paid: $115
A fantastic tent for 3 seasons. Sets up easy, doesn't let in any rain, and just looks nice. The vestibule is big enough for all of your stuff to keep dry, and there is extra room in the tent with two to let your food bags sleep with you when the coons come a knockin'. I am actually getting another tent because I want to try out winter camping, but I'm quite satisfied with this one.
Design: 3 season lightpacking
Sleeps: 2
Ease of Setup: easy as pie
Weight: 4 lbs 3 oz
Price Paid: $120


text:
Train Toulouse → Toulon
Duration 4h50 - From NZ$35
- Departure station : Toulouse matabiau (64, Boulevard Pierre Sémard BP 35203 31079 Toulouse cedex 5)
Take in the Myriad colors and flavors of France's southwest
Toulouse, the capital of Midi-Pyrénées region Toulouse is a French city located in the South West of France in the Midi-Pyrénées region. The region is well known for its sunny climate and gastronomy. As for Toulouse, the capital of the Midi-Pyrénées region, is a city with an exceptional heritage. From its beautiful private mansions, churches, museums and landmarks, the pink city, as it is also known (Ville Rose in French) will charm you. Toulouse is France's 4th biggest city and as such is home to over 400,000 inhabitants. The city which can be easily reached from Paris of Bordeaux is also a well-known university town and the European aeronautical capital. Did you know that Toulouse is the iconic capital of Rugby. Its flagship team is Stade Toulousain, which is one of the most successful clubs in Europe with eighteen league titles in France, three cups of France and four cups of Europe. Learn more about Toulouse
Toulon, between sea and mountains… Between sea and mountains, come to discover the pleasant city of Toulon, in southeastern France. Facing the Mediterranean sea, Toulon is the largest french military harbour, but it is also an attractive city where you will have a lot to do and see. Learn more about Toulon
Book your journey from Toulouse to Toulon From NZ$35 NZ$57
Practical information
Reviews & ratings
Overall appreciation
No reviews for this product yet


text:
a linkfest! remember those?! (~_^)
Mexican skeleton gives clue to American ancestry – "Naia's mitochondrial DNA reveals genetic signatures in common with modern Native Americans, despite her very different skull shape. 'You can never exclude that Native Americans have more than one group of ancestors,' says Chatters. But his team's data, he points out, are consistent with the idea that Native Americans evolved from Siberian ancestors…. The new DNA results indicate that the very different skulls of modern Native Americans have evolved on North American soil." – see also jennifer raff.
Ancient faeces reveal origins of Puerto Rican natives – "DNA isolated from 1,600-year-old fossilized stools suggests migration from the Andes."
An excess of X-chromosomal diversity in Africans – "'Results show that X/A diversity is similar within each continental group but notably lower in European (EUR) and East Asian (ASN) populations than in African (AFR) populations.'" – @dienekes'.
Religiosity is negatively associated with later-life intelligence, but not with age-related cognitive decline – from stuart ritchie et al. – "Religious belief was negatively associated with intelligence in old age. Neither religious belief nor attendance was related to cognitive decline."
The relationship between Microcephalin, ASPM and intelligence: A reconsideration – "At the population-level IQ and Microcephalin correlate significantly (.790 and .847). Microcephalin significantly predicts population differences in IQ. Microcephalin significantly predicts infectious disease burden. Vice versa in the case of Microcephalin. Microcephalin increased disease-resistance allowing access to new cognitive niches." – from woodley et al. – h/t lars penke!
Problems with the theory of fluid and crystallized intelligence and What racial differences are wholly environmental? – from elijah.
Woodley leads with an abstract – "'The Victorians were Still Cleverer than us: Expanding the Dysgenic Nexus'" – @dr. james thompson's blog.
Processing speed and ageing: Elliot Tucker-Drob – also @dr. james thompson's blog.
Molecular genetic contributions to socioeconomic status and intelligence – "21% of the variation in education, 18% of the variation in socioeconomic status, and 29% of the variation in general cognitive ability was explained by variation in common SNPs (SEs ~ 5%). The SNP-based genetic correlations of education and socioeconomic status with general intelligence were 0.95 (SE 0.13) and 0.26 (0.16), respectively. There are genetic contributions to intelligence and education with near-complete overlap between common additive SNP effects on these traits (genetic correlation ~ 1). Genetic influences on socioeconomic status are also associated with the genetic foundations of intelligence. The results are also compatible with substantial environmental contributions to socioeconomic status."
Longevity Gene May Enhance Cognition – "Mice with the KLOTHO gene variant lived longer and were smarter."
Short men are likely to live longer because they carry the 'longevity gene', scientists reveal – short japanese men… "The so-called 'longevity gene' FOXO3 has been proven to enhance lifespan in animal tests but has never before been linked to variations in height in humans. A new scientific study, the largest of its kind and involving more than 8,000 aging American-Japanese men in Hawaii, conclusively showed a direct connection between short height and long life. FOXO3, they found, leads to smaller body size during early development and a longer lifespan overall. Short men were also more likely to have lower blood insulin levels and less likely to get cancer." – h/t eddy elmer!
"Squid Ink" and Heritability, Changeability, and Cultural Shifts – A Quickie – from jayman.
Why the Japanese Think Westerners Smell Bad (Well, One Reason) – "These results show a very strong association between someone with the ancestral allele which results in wet earwax, and strong body odor." – from razib.
The Most Feminine Country in the World – feel sorry for staffan!
The Creativity of Civilisations – "A part of the variation in 'civilisational accomplishments' is certainly due to the different regional evolution of ability. Nonetheless, *holding ability constant*, it looks like scale effects also account for a big part of the variation." – from pseudoerasmus.
Cooperation in Ethnically Diverse Neighborhoods: A Lost-Letter Experiment – "We find strong support for the negative effect of ethnic diversity on cooperation. We find no evidence, however, of in-group favoritism." – h/t rene bekkers!
Amorality of selected countries – "What Jonathan Haidt terms 'WEIRD' societies (read the modern West) tend to the least judgmental, followed by East Asia and the more European nations of Latin America, with sub-Saharan African and Muslim countries the most morally righteous (!). Descartes wept." – from the awesome epigone.
The coerced consensus – "What is going on in academia when demonising and silencing your opponents has become so acceptable? It's not just climate change. The nature-nurture debate is also policed by zealots, although less so than in the 1970s when any mention of genes and behaviour led to accusations of fascism…. Truly, the old joke is becoming ever more true: what's the opposite of diversity? University." – from matt ridley.
Stanford scholar shows Koreans and Americans tackle moral dilemmas using different brain regions – very small sample size, but… "Korean participants showed greater activity in brain regions associated with intuition, approximation and emotions: the putamen, the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and the postcentral sulcus. Han posits that Korean participants consciously controlled their initial emotional reactions (such as disgust) to reach a decision that protected the largest number of people. In contrast, Americans took longer to ponder dilemmas that involved physically harming particular people. They also relied on brain regions associated with conflict management and, to a lesser degree, novelty: the anterior cingulate cortex and the frontopolar cortex. Han hypothesizes that Americans are exposed to socio-personal conflict more often than Koreans, whose society values social harmony over the expression of individual desires."
bonus: Exclusive: Found after 500 years, the wreck of Christopher Columbus's flagship the Santa Maria – h/t charles mann!
bonus bonus: Orangutans Share Their Future Plans with Others – "The apes can draft a plan and communicate it with their troop." – ruh roh.
bonus bonus bonus: Whales Can't Taste Anything But Salt – presumably they take salt on their popcorn! (~_^)
bonus bonus bonus bonus: 'Biggest dinosaur ever' discovered
(note: comments do not require an email. orangutan forward planning! (~_^))


text:
100% Free
Sign up for free and get access
to our high performance VPN servers
100% Free
Enjoy our HTTP Proxy services directly from
your browser without additional software
Because we want to offer a service of excellence and bring freedom to all. This service is aimed at the millions of people who complain every day for their freedom, security and privacy.
In order to offer you VPN, HTTP Proxy, and SOCKS Proxy services, we need to reduce proprietary software costs, so all software used is free but safe and used by large companies.
Our servers have monthly costs, but if you want to support this cause you can make donations, regardless of the amount, all help is welcome!
Next-generation Intel processors guarantee our servers high performance.
SSD disks ensure high read and write performance rates.
Our servers are ultra reliable and we have permanent monitoring systems to guarantee 99.9% availability.
On the Support page you will find all the information to configure all the services we offer. If you do not find the required information please contact us, we will respond as soon as possible.
Our VPN, HTTP Proxy, Proxy Socks and Webproxy services have a permanent 1 Gbps network connection.
Whether you are an occasional or demanding user, we guarantee traffic without any restrictions.
Download Torrents and file sharing services safely and anonymously without any interference from your Internet Service Provider.
All our services are free and unlimited.
After you register and subscribe to any service you will receive the authentication data with instructions for setting up on your devices.
All our services are protected by Military Class Encryption to protect your data and your privacy.
All of our servers are located in strategic locations across three continents, America, Europe and Asia and have unlimited bandwidth. Our services, VPN, HTTP Proxy, Proxy Socks and Webproxy are based on secure technologies with Military Encryption Class to give you all the security you need.


text:
Live Women's Spring/Summer 2014 Fashion Show
Louis Vuitton will conclude the Paris Fashion Week with another stunning show at the prestigious Cour Carrée du Louvre.
With this live broadcast, witness once again how Marc Jacobs has continued to define the House's fashion universe.
Make sure to follow Louis Vuitton's official social media pages for additional insider content.


text:
Turkey hunting decoy is not magic
turkey hunting decoy this and turkey hunting decoy that. The best turkey hunting decoy is not magic. It is a tool to be used as part of a larger plan, and a solid plan is what you need to consistently score on mature toms. I am going to dumb it way down to try help as many people as I can punch a tag this spring.
Where do I set my turkey hunting decoy?
You set it where the turkeys want to be. You find that spot with ears and eyes, and you find it a day or two before you hunt. Notice I did not say your own eyes and ears. The telephone gives you access to many sets of eyes, and you should use it. Someone needs to see the birds in the same spot a couple days in a row. When you pattern the birds you can kill them without decoys and calls, but pack your turkey hunting decoy for the best show in the woods. Don't be running all hilly-nilly in the woods to find the birds either, you need to observe them from a distance to be effective. This first tip is the best one I can give you. Find where the birds want to be, and then slide in and kill them on the first set.
Why did the bird answer and not come in to my turkey hunting decoy?
How would I know? Why does a teenage girl act like she does? Some questions are better left unanswered. What I can tell you is that is just was not his day to die. You need to find a bird that does not have tomorrow on his calendar, and you will never know if he is that bird until he is dead on the ground. Point is that some days it will happen and some days it will not, and you can not make it happen. If you try to force the issue, I consider that major pressure. Excessive calling or aggressive pursuit can bugger a tom for many days. If you have a ton of spots to hunt, you can go mach 50 and not worry about it, but if you are hunting a small flock on limited acreage, let them go. Rethink your plan and try agin tomorrow in a different spot, or different time of day. They will only come to your turkey hunting decoy when they want to.
Is today a good day to take my turkey hunting decoy hunting?
Weather is one of the least talked about variables in decoying turkeys. You can kill turkeys in the rain, but the amount you can work the birds depends heavily on the weather. My best days afield always happen on third consecutive day of nice weather. The third day of sun, average temps, and low winds are the days I hit the field with my turkey hunting decoy. The toms are more likely to 'finish', and smack my fakes on the third nice day. You catch them in a better mood, and they are just plain more fired up. If you only have a couple kitchen passes for this spring, or want to pick one day to introduce someone new to the sport, pick that 3rd nice day.
If you only have a couple days to chase the big black birds of spring or fall make them count. Try to pick the best wether to be afield with your turkey hunting decoy, but if you do your homework you can score in crap weather over a turkey hunting decoy as well. Just remember the real reasons you are out there afield with your turkey hunting decoy, and half the goal of the hunt is accomplished.
There is nothing magic about calling or decoying turkeys. If you can scout the birds immediately before your season, wait for the some nice weather, and have some patience, your success will go way up. Obviously there is a lot more to it, but if you only change your plans to factor in these few tips, and grab the best turkey hunting decoy, you will bag more birds. Good luck to you and I hope your turkey hunting decoy gets slapped in the face soon.


text:
Michael K. Tucker
Michael K. Tucker is executive vice president and general counsel for Avis Budget Group. In his position Mr. Tucker is responsible for the legal affairs of the Company, including management of its franchising and other contracts, litigation, government relations and information security.
Prior to joining Avis Budget Group, Mr. Tucker was in private practice serving as managing partner at the law firm of Tucker Associates, and of counsel to the law firm of Lowe & Savage, where he represented private and public entities, handling corporate, securities, finance and commercial transaction matters. His long tenure as a corporate attorney includes service as division general counsel with Tyco International, Ltd. Mr. Tucker also served in senior legal positions with General Electric Company, including division senior counsel of GE Transportation and senior vice president and general counsel of GE Capital International Services. Before working as a corporate attorney, Mr. Tucker was a member of the law firms of Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll, Bingham Dana LLP, and Csaplar & Bok.
Mr. Tucker received his Juris Doctorate degree from Boston University and a bachelor's degree from Cornell University.


text:
I'd call this another reason to go Mac, except that Apple also cooperated with NSA in accessing customer activities. Second look at Linux?
Microsoft has collaborated closely with US intelligence services to allow users' communications to be intercepted, including helping the National Security Agency to circumvent the company's own encryption, according to top-secret documents obtained by the Guardian.
The files provided by Edward Snowden illustrate the scale of co-operation between Silicon Valley and the intelligence agencies over the last three years. They also shed new light on the workings of the top-secret Prism program, which was disclosed by the Guardian and the Washington Post last month.
The documents show that:
• Microsoft helped the NSA to circumvent its encryption to address concerns that the agency would be unable to intercept web chats on the new Outlook.com portal;
• The agency already had pre-encryption stage access to email on Outlook.com, including Hotmail;
• The company worked with the FBI this year to allow the NSA easier access via Prism to its cloud storage service SkyDrive, which now has more than 250 million users worldwide;
• Microsoft also worked with the FBI's Data Intercept Unit to "understand" potential issues with a feature in Outlook.com that allows users to create email aliases;
• In July last year, nine months after Microsoft bought Skype, the NSA boasted that a new capability had tripled the amount of Skype video calls being collected through Prism;
• Material collected through Prism is routinely shared with the FBI and CIA, with one NSA document describing the program as a "team sport".
These aren't so much new revelations as they are explanations of earlier ones. From the first exposure of the NSA surveillance programs, we knew that Microsoft (and Apple) facilitated in some way the NSA's access to information passing through its servers and programs. At first, the reports claimed that the Internet companies provided direct access to their servers, which later details demonstrated was either an oversimplification or flat-out exaggeration. The Guardian says in this report that Microsoft and others denied providing a "back door" into those communications, but that's not exactly true. They denied providing a back door into the servers themselves, but offered highly nuanced explanations about just about every other possibility.
This explanation also suggests that the NSA didn't tap directly into the servers. Instead of grabbing the data at the unencrypted hub, Microsoft set up the NSA to decrypt communications as they passed through the backbone. If Microsoft gave the NSA access to the servers, it probably wouldn't need the decryption keys. Moreover, the issue of encryption access isn't new. The government has been wrangling with Microsoft for years over that issue, arguing that national security required the government to be able to decrypt communications when necessary. That's what Microsoft meant in this response:
Privately, tech executives are at pains to distance themselves from claims of collaboration and teamwork given by the NSA documents, and insist the process is driven by legal compulsion.
In a statement, Microsoft said: "When we upgrade or update products we aren't absolved from the need to comply with existing or future lawful demands."
We're still back to the issue of how much surveillance the American people will tolerate. This is just the nuts and bolts of how it worked. Until Congress can exercise effective oversight over the NSA — which will require administration officials to stop lying about it — nothing will have changed. Except, of course, that the Russians have started using typewriters rather than computers.


text:
2mm Shimmer Gray Leather Cord
Item Description
- Item: Z005058
- Price: $2.19
Sold individually.
0 Available
As low as $1.75 per item!
|Volume Discount
|1 - 3
|4 - 9
2mm Shimmer gray leather cord. Very durable leather made in India. Perfect to hang a charm, pendant or cha cha. Try combining with our silver plated tubes for a unique look! Sold as 1 meter (approximately 3 feet) per unit. Please note, if purchasing more than 1 meter it will come as individual units not as a continuous piece. Cut leather cannot be returned.


text:
Podium Instructions
There are multimedia instructions podiums in almost all of the classrooms at the Center for Innovation and Technology. Some of them are set up the same way as podiums in the Professional Development Center at the Bradenton campus. Others contain SMART boards at the podium and they are called "SMART Sympodiums." The basic contents of the podium are the same:
- Computer with internet connectivity
- laptop connection
- DVD player
- mounted LCD projector
Select which podium you will be using to get instructions on its use.