text:
When we first began building Market Samurai, one of our less sexy (but more ambitious) goals was to streamline the workflow of an internet marketer.
From keyword research at the beginning, to tracking rankings and results over time – all of this is available inside one streamlined workflow inside Market Samurai.
Well – except maybe one piece…
The one step that's missing is checking and purchasing domains – a vital step in setting up your site.
While Domain Samurai fills the domains gap, it still means you need to swap from one software application to another – and it's a time-consuming hassle that many Market Samurai users want to see gone!
Since the release of Domain Samurai, we've had countless people contact us via support requesting that we add Domain Samurai as a module to Market Samurai.
So today, we're doing just that.
From today, the Domains module will be included inside your copy of Market Samurai.
With the Domains module now available within Market Samurai, the entire internet marketing process – from website creation to monitoring – is streamlined again.
This means a faster workflow – no need to move between two separate applications when creating your website.
And The Domains Module is Free!
It always has been free, as part of Domain Samurai.
But now, just like the Keyword Research module, the Domains module is ALSO available for free inside Market Samurai.
This means all trial, paid and free (expired trial) Market Samurai users – and all Domain Samurai users – can access the Domains module inside both of these tools.
If you've already got a copy of Market Samurai, the latest update will give you access to the Domains module.
If you don't have a copy of Market Samurai, you can get your free trial (and free access to the Domains Module) here.
So What Happens With Domain Samurai?
Domain Samurai (our purpose-built domain name research software) was designed to find high-value New and Aged Domains.
The tens-of-thousands of domainers and internet marketers who are using it already for this purpose prove there is a need for a tool that focusses solely on domains.
So we will continue to promote and support Domain Samurai as THE tool for anyone searching for high-value New or Aged Domains that are perfect for SEO.
And we'll continue to do this for free – just as we always have.
(In fact – if you don't already have a copy of Domain Samurai, take a moment now to get your copy free here.)
But for people who are doing SEO daily, and want a suite of streamlined SEO software tools that speed up their research, analysis, tracking, publishing and targeted link building – for this role, Market Samurai is the right tool for the job.
We hope you enjoy using the Domains module inside Market Samurai!
Alex Green


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Compare cheap flights to China
Book cheap flights to China with Skiddoo and see China's top attractions like the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, and the Oriental Pearl Tower!
What to do in China
The People's Republic of China is a large East Asian country. China has a long and rich history that still influences and excites the world today. It also has huge popular cities like Beijing, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Shanghai, Xi'an, and Yangzhou.
Start your adventure in Beijing - China's capital and culture centre. Visit the landmarks like Tiananmen Square in Dongcheng District, which is surrounded by grand buildings, the Museum of Chinese History, and the famous Forbidden City. Love the Olympics? You should definitely stop by the National Stadium in Chaoyang District!
Travelling to Guangzhou is expected when you're in China. Stop by the Dafo Temple and the Taoist Temple. Make your way to the Guangdong Museum of Art for modern genres, and the high-tech exhibition of marine life in Guangzhou Ocean. If you're looking for a romantic spot or just somewhere beautiful to update your Facbeook profile picture, head straight to the stunning Million Sunflower Garden in Panyu.
Shanghai is China's most developed city. As you arrive, you'll instantly see the Oriental Pearl Tower. You can grab a bite to eat here, but the fantastic views are more than enough to delight anyone. After observing the view, observe their art next at the Shanghai Museum where there are English-speaking volunteers to give you a tour. Since the museum is free, start spending your Yuan and shop till you drop at Huaihai Road and Nanjing Road.
There are other great things to do in China, but you should complete your trip and climb the Great Wall of China!
When to visit China
The climates throughout the regions are diverse. But most travellers and locals say that October (autumn) is the best time to visit China for pleasant weather and less tourists. For cheaper rates, travel during low season from November to early March.
When packing, remember that China's seasons differ from ours: spring from March to May, summer from June to August, autumn from September to November, and winter from December to February.
All travellers to China are required to have a visa, and a passport that's valid for at least six months after your trip to China. You also need to provide proof of a return ticket to Australia or an onward ticket to another country. Ready your travel documents and be prepared with Smartraveler.
Travelling to and around China
You'll arrive in mainland China when you fly to Beijing, fly to Guangzhou, or fly to Shanghai. You can travel around the country by plane, train, and bus. Wander around the cities by bus, taxi, motorcycle taxis, subway, tram, and rickshaws.
Remember this Chinese proverb – "Be not afraid of growing slowly, be afraid only of standing still." After all, isn't one of life's greatest joys is discovering the world? Now let's book your flights to Hong Kong today!

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Revisie van auto-electronica
I am a new customer.
By creating an account at Apple-Service you will be able to shop faster, be up to date on an orders status, and keep track of the orders you have previously made.
I am a returning customer.
Password forgotten? Click here.
Copyright © 2020 Apple-Service FAQ | Conditions of Use


text:
We'll receive bug reports, as usual, and if the reported issues with fglrx can be worked around we'll be releasing maintenance versions as r2, r3 and so on.
We're using OpenSUSE's Build Service (OBS for short), and the packages are there already, so if you installed from OBS you should be able to update rather easily (hopefully, even with delta rpms ) - not all repos have been tested, so if you're on one of the unlucky ones to spot a packaging bug, please post on the bug tracker ASAP.
vegastrike-music and vegastrike-speech were unchanged so you don't have to update. "Updated" versions are there since r1 is the first official (non-beta) release.
You can look for the packages in OBS' search interface, or you can set up the repos from the urls below (which is the best way to get updates):
For the most popular linux distros (available in OBS), we have zypper/deb repos:
- OpenSUSE 11.1
- OpenSUSE 11.4 - (instructions)
- OpenSUSE 12.1 - (instructions)
- OpenSUSE 12.2 - (instructions)
- OpenSUSE Factory - (instructions)
- Fedora 15 (discontinued)
- Fedora 16 - instructions
- Mandriva 2009.1 (x86_64 broken atm - but you can try i586) - instructions
- Mandriva 2010.1 (x86_64 broken atm - but you can try i586) - instructions
- Mandriva 2010 (x86_64 broken atm - but you can try i586) - instructions
- Debian 5.0] (lenny) - (discontinued)
- Debian 6.0 (squeeze) - instructions
- Debian 7.0 (wheezy) - instructions
- Ubuntu 9.04 (jaunty) - (discontinued)
- Ubuntu 9.10 (karmic) - (discontinued)
- Ubuntu 10.04 (lucid) - instructions
- Ubuntu 10.10 (maverick) - instructions
- Ubuntu 11.04 (natty) - instructions
- Ubuntu 11.10 (oneiric) - instructions
- Ubuntu 12.04 (precise) - instructions
- Ubuntu 12.10 (precise) - instructions
- Ubuntu 13.04 (precise) - instructions
Notes for RPM-bsed distros (Fedora, openSuse)
Most RPM-based distros use yum or yum-compatible tools, so you just have to download the repo description into the proper path: "sudo wget {repository path}/{repo name}.repo -O /etc/yum.repos.d/{repo name}.repo" (for openSuse, it's /etc/zypp/repos.d). You'll probably have to browse the repository to find the "repo name" (it's not evident from the above links, derived from OBS project settings).
It should prompt whether to import the repo key next time you update metadata, with zypper refresh or yum update.
Other distros
If your distro is not on the list, source tar balls and data packages can be downloaded directly from sourceforge:
Instructions for building from source and installing data from the tarballs in your home folder would go like this, assuming you've downloaded the pertinent tarballs and dependencies already:
- Code: Select all
~$ mkdir vegastrike-0.5.1.r1
~$ tar xvjf vegastrike-src-0.5.1.r1.tar.bz2
~$ cd vegastrike-src-0.5.1.r1
~/vegastrike-src-0.5.1.r1$ mkdir build
~/vegastrike-src-0.5.1.r1$ cd build
~/vegastrike-src-0.5.1.r1/build$ cmake ..
~/vegastrike-src-0.5.1.r1/build$ make
~/vegastrike-src-0.5.1.r1/build$ cd ../../vegastrike-0.5.1.r1
~/vegastrike-0.5.1.r1$ mkdir bin
~/vegastrike-0.5.1.r1$ cp ../vegastrike-src-0.5.1.r1/build/{vegastrike,vegaserver,setup/vssetup,objconv/mesh_tool} bin/.
~/vegastrike-0.5.1.r1$ tar xvjf ../vegastrike-data-0.5.1.r1.tar.bz2 --strip-components=1
~/vegastrike-0.5.1.r1$ tar xvjf ../vegastrike-extra-0.5.1.r1.tar.bz2 --strip-components=1
~/vegastrike-0.5.1.r1$ tar xvf ../vegastrike-music-0.5.1.r1.tar --strip-components=1
~/vegastrike-0.5.1.r1$ tar xvf ../vegastrike-speech-0.5.1.r1.tar --strip-components=1
You can obviously skip the unpacking of the optional download packs.
Windows is up and ready. You can download from SourceForge download area.
Bug reports
Many distros (not all) have a vegastrike-debuginfo or vegastrike-dbg package you can use to install debugging info and provide better stacktraces for bug reporting - please, when reporting a crash-type bug, install that package and run vegastrike through gdb:
- Code: Select all
$ gdb --args vegastrike --debug=3 2>stderr.txt
(gdb) run
Segmentation Fault
(gdb) bt full
<paste this in your bug report>
Also include all information about which distro and platform you're running, GPU brand and model, driver versions, the output of the "glxinfo" command, the captured output of vegastrike itself (stderr.txt from the above commands), all of which could potentially include useful information for tracking down the bugs.


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On Saturday, July 28th our Home Group from church went to the Gaylord Texan for the Murder Mystery Dinner Theater. We had a parents night out - thanks to all of our babysitters! It was so much fun, so much food (anything you can think of), and the show was great. Here are some pics from the big event!
15 hours ago


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There is something so glamorous about a bride, with a veil over her face, never mind the beautiful 1936 Cartier tiara on her head.... This tiara belong to Queen Elizabeth, and looks absolutely stunning on Kate! The diamond drop earrings were a gift from her family on her wedding day.
UPDATE: I have come to find out that the diamond drop in the earring, is actually shaped as an Acorn. The new Middleton symbol from their crest.
On the way to becoming the Duchess of Cambridge.
Getty images


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Cute little mini planter (without tray), for growing miniature house plants or for keeping artificial shrubs. The artificial flowers in the image are included with this mini-planter.
This product has been handcrafted by skilled artisans. The color shades, pattern and polish may vary slightly around the surface, since the painting is done free-style.
This is part of our Blue Pottery collection an age old craft of Jaipur, India that gets its name from the distinctive persian blue colour used to dye the ceramic. The art of making blue glaze pottery came to Rajasthan via Kashmir, their entry point to India.
Interestingly this one of a kind art form originated as a result of a Kite flying session when Sawai Ram Singh II consistently lost a kite battle to two potters who then told him they had coated their strings with the same blue & green glass that they used for their pots. Sawai Ram Singh II was so impressed that he invited the brothers to stay in Jaipur and teach this unique form of glazed pottery to Jaipurs craftsmen whose direct descendants are creating these magnificent products today !
The art uses a mix of powdered stone and glass borax gum & water to produce what is known as Egyptian paste which is then glazed and low fired which is what gives it its color and finally decorated with animal bird and floral motifs. Being fired at low temperature, it is fragile and easily chipped. Blue Pottery is Turko- Persian in origin, but today is widely known as one of the distinctive craft of Jaipur.
Note:Â The flowers, plant and background props in the images are only for illustration purpose, and not included as items for sale with the planter.
© 2015 heartforartonline.com All Rights Reserved | Privacy Policy | Terms and Conditions


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Also found in: Dictionary, Thesaurus, Acronyms, Idioms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia.
Related to dress: DRESS Syndrome
To apply medication, bandages, or other therapeutic materials to an area of the body such as a wound.
verb To apply protective and/or absorptive materials to a wound; as "To dress a wound."
clinical etiquetteProfessional comportment Medical practice The components of medical practice which, in addition to ethics and competence, define what it is to be a physician
Clinical etiquette
Bedside manner Avoid easy familiarity, be attentive of Pts needs, do not eat on rounds
Dress Conservative & appropriate
Grooming Clean, neat, unobtrusive
Language Respectful, at level of audience, non-use of vulgar vernacular or demeaning appellations, discretion regarding others' condition (JAMA 1988; 260:2559)
drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms,
A potentially fatal allergic reaction to an administered drug in which a nonblistering skin eruption is accompanied by fever, markedly elevated serum eosinophil levels, and, often, bone marrow, kidney or liver injury. Common causes include allopurinol, and anticonvulsant drugs (such as carbamazepine and phenytoin). Synonym: drug-induced hypersensitivity syndrome
Patient discussion about dress
Q. Why does it hurt so bad to move or even get dressed because of the fibrmyalgia? Some days I can't even move to get out of bed because I hurt so bad. Other days I hurt so bad that even trying to wear clothes hurts.
A. Hi! I saw your question and wanted to tell you that you need to try to move around a little. The more you sleep or lay around the worse it gets. You have to find your own way of moving and not moving. Walking is the best thing or swimming. Just moving around is good too depeending on pain level. Do too much or too little keeps you in pain. Moving around brings the pain down. Also, pain relievers help. Motrin or any NSAID will affect your kidneys and liver. But pain reliever is better.More discussions about dress


text:
Let me begin by telling you about the best baby shower I never went to. It was in honor of the daughter of a good friend who lived far, far away from most of us who knew her well. But she and her husband were, like all new parents, still in need of a great deal of baby-stuff.
And so her family gave her a "virtual" shower. Which I thought was effing brilliant. You send a gift. You don't have to go.
Those of you who have been on the tour undoubtedly know the obligatory torture known as the baby shower. You give up a Saturday to make polite chit-chat with semi-strangers, rehash childbirth memories, rhapsodize about how motherhood is the ultimate fulfillment, play silly games like guess the circumference of the new mom's belly, then ooh and ahh for the great unveiling of the gifts, some of which defy explanation.
All without benefit of cocktails.
Okay, I exaggerate. Don't get me wrong. I have nothing against motherhood. I'm a mom myself and have loved (almost) every minute of it. I had a mom of my own, and I loved her dearly. And, truth be told, I've played host to a number of baby showers myself. But if you've been to your share of these blessed events, you probably catch my drift.
So you can imagine my glee when I found out that new dads are getting into the act as well. The idea is that, since men are becoming more involved at home, wanting to play a bigger role in raising their families, they should inaugurate their new role with showers of their own.
They call them "diaper parties". Or Dadchelor parties. Or, alternatively, "diaper kegs."
Sigh. Bring on the beer bong.
Writing in the San Jose Mercury News on Sunday, Jessica Vardigan offered an inside look at the male answer to the baby shower: the man-guests bring boxes of diapers, and for their reward, they drink beer, play poker and watch TV sports with the daddy-to-be. According to the experts quoted in Vardigan's piece, the point is "to support the parent-to-be as he transitions into this new life passage."
"Men are much more involved in the baby world than they were even a generation ago, so cultivating networks with like-minded guys is just as crucial as it is for Mom, says Judy Levit, an Oakland marriage and family therapist.
"They don't talk about their feelings, but they know why they're there," Levit says of diaper parties. "If they're going to be up all night with the baby and changing diapers, they need guys they can talk to. If they're going to be supporting their wives, they need support."
Right. ABC's Nightline, too, tracked the new trend on Tuesday night with a piece about the send-off for an expectant, and soon-to-be-engaged, dad who decided to go big: he and his diaper-bearing buddies hopped aboard a party bus en route to a casino – for a blissful night of drinking, dancing and gambling.
Even the Life of Dad blog weighed in with a to-do list for putting together a dad-chelor party of one's own, complete with a list of suitable venues, party foods (Dorito pie, anyone?), cocktail recipes, and party games, such as "Drink With me, Elmo". I think it was a send-up. Or so I hope.
I do get the concept, really I do: Giving new dads a chance to bond over this life passage, where the expectant pop garners support from the other guys who have already been there. And clearly, I think we all could agree that these diaper parties are probably a lot more fun that the traditional baby shower.
But isn't there something here that's just a little bit off? For all our talk about changing gender roles, household equality, and involved parenthood, it seems that the diaper party is just as wrong as the traditional baby shower in that both reinforce the stereotypical gender roles we think we've left behind. Over here, we've got Lady Madonna, born to breed and keep a happy home. And over there, we've got the clueless, beer-belching Homer Simpson.
The other thing is, it's just not fair: we'd all rather drink beer and even watch football than drink punch and coo over nipple brushes.


text:
I intended to work on the next post in my series, Overlooked at the Oscars, Part 2 -- but I didn't feel like it. That's all. No good reason. Just didn't. (Ah, what a great example of pithy writing ...) Actually, I am in a dreamy mood, and this little post fits the bill tonight.
So I went to YouTube and found my favorite 7 minute, 49 second film, "Let's Face the Music and Dance." I call it that because it is a musical mini-drama which stands on its own within a movie. You don't even have to watch the movie, which is good, because Follow The Fleet (1936) is not my favorite Astaire/Rogers plot. It actually bores me to tears. But oh, the song by Irving Berlin, the fabulous dance at the very end ... It's worth sitting through the rest of the show, although thanks to modern technology (and YouTube poster, iumuggle *thanks!*), I don't have to. As a devoted Rogers/Astaire fan, I believe without doubt that this is the best work they ever did. That's hard to say, because "Cheek to Cheek" is so perfect; however, this is not just a dance. It's a film equivalent of a short story, with their partnership at its greatest. Pay attention at the beginning, because you will see a very young, platinum-blonde Lucille Ball. We also get to see one of Ginger's most gorgeous gowns, a bugle-beaded treasure of a costume. It's lovely, looks ethereal, and was so heavy that one of the sleeves whacked Fred across the face and really hurt! My friend and fellow blogger, Christian of Silver Screen Modiste (see the link to his marvelous blog in my sidebar blogroll), mentioned in one of his articles about Hollywood gowns that the dress weighed about 30 pounds. At this point in her life, Ginger doesn't look like she weighs a whole lot more than that!
I hope you have 7 minutes and 49 seconds to see the best at their best, with, I must say, the most sophisticated, dramatic exit of all the great dance endings they ever did!
Overlooked at the Oscars, Part 2 coming soon....


text:
1. Never Satisfied at Defibrillator
3rd Language Issue #4: Publication Launch & Group Exhibition, work by Amina Ross, Jory Drew, Ashley McClenon, Camille Laut, Emily Schulert, Hiba Ali, Ale-Ale, Jake Vogds, Joel Mercedes, Margaret Bo-Bo Dancy, Naqeeb Stevens, Oli Rodriguez, Olive Stefanski, Bow-ty, Sarp Kerem Yavuz, Stevie Hanley, and Tavia David.
Defibrillator is located at 1136 N. Milwaukee Ave. Reception Friday, 6-9pm. $10 suggested donation.
2. Clock Work Marilyn at Corbett vs. Dempsey
Work by Keiichi Tanaami.
Corbett vs. Dempsey is located at 1120 N. Ashland Ave. 3rd Fl. Reception Friday, 5-8pm.
3. Lucie Fontaine, Brendan Fowler, Gaylen Gerber, Autumn Ramsey at Night Club
Work by Lucie Fontaine, Brendan Fowler, Gaylen Gerber, and Autumn Ramsey.
Night Club is located at 2017 W. Moffat St. #1. Reception Friday, 7-9pm.
4. The Fictional Sciences at D Gallery
Work by John Wanzel.
D Gallery is located at 623 S. Wabash Ave. Rm. 717D. Reception Friday, 11:45am-12:45pm.
5. "M†…is for Murder at Peanut Gallery
Work by Corinne Halbert.
Peanut Gallery is located at 1000 N. California Ave. Reception Sunday, 5-9pm.
editors note: We have updated the name of the show at Night Club.
Latest posts by stephanieburke (see all)
- 10 Shows to See Friday After EXPO - September 17, 2015
- Top 10 Weekend Picks! (9/4-9/6) - September 3, 2015
- Top 5 Weekend Picks! (8/21-8/23) - August 20, 2015


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Often when designing reports you are required to apply the same formatting to multiple columns in one table or matrix. Since SSRS 2008 does not allow the developer to change the format of a column using Textbox Properties when multiple columns are selected, the developer must either:
· Change the formatting one column at a time
· Be familiar with the expression language.
Neither of the aforementioned choices are difficult, but maybe time constraints eliminates both as viable options. Therefore, I am going to share a quick tip that will help you format multiple columns quickly.
Let's assume that you have a report that looks similar to this:
If the requirements were to change the formatting of each TotalDue column to Currency you can quickly change all of them by using the following steps:
1. Using the Textbox Properties change the format to Currency for one of the TotalDue columns.
2. Once the format has been set, right-click on the column and choose Properties.
3. In the properties window locate the Format attribute and copy the value for that property.
4. Return to the table or matrix and select all the additional columns that require formatting.
5. Open the properties window again, ensuring that all the columns remain selected.
6. Paste the format value into the Format attribute.
7. Run your report and all the columns should be formatted.
Now all of your columns are quickly formatted. If you have another method to accomplish this please share it. If you have any questions or comments about this posting please email me at firstname.lastname@example.com.
Talk to you soon,
Patrick LeBlanc
Founder www.TSQLScripts.com and www.SQLLunch.com.
Visit www.BIDN.com, Bring Business Intelligence to your company.


text:
A recently published paper from the Heritage Foundation.
Each year for the past two decades, the U.S. Census Bureau has reported that over 30 million Americans were living in "poverty." In recent years, the Census has reported that one in seven Americans are poor. But what does it mean to be "poor" in America? How poor are America's poor?
For most Americans, the word "poverty" suggests destitution: an inability to provide a family with nutritious food, clothing, and reasonable shelter. For example, the Poverty Pulse poll taken by the Catholic Campaign for Human Development asked the general public: "How would you describe being poor in the U.S.?" The overwhelming majority of responses focused on homelessness, hunger or not being able to eat properly, and not being able to meet basic needs.[1] That perception is bolstered by news stories about poverty that routinely feature homelessness and hunger.
Yet if poverty means lacking nutritious food, adequate warm housing, and clothing for a family, relatively few of the more than 30 million people identified as being "in poverty" by the Census Bureau could be characterized as poor.[2] While material hardship definitely exists in the United States, it is restricted in scope and severity. The average poor person, as defined by the government, has a living standard far higher than the public imagines.
As scholar James Q. Wilson has stated, "The poorest Americans today live a better life than all but the richest persons a hundred years ago."[3] In 2005, the typical household defined as poor by the government had a car and air conditioning. For entertainment, the household had two color televisions, cable or satellite TV, a DVD player, and a VCR. If there were children, especially boys, in the home, the family had a game system, such as an Xbox or a PlayStation.[4] In the kitchen, the household had a refrigerator, an oven and stove, and a microwave. Other household conveniences included a clothes washer, clothes dryer, ceiling fans, a cordless phone, and a coffee maker.
The home of the typical poor family was not overcrowded and was in good repair. In fact, the typical poor American had more living space than the average European. The typical poor American family was also able to obtain medical care when needed. By its own report, the typical family was not hungry and had sufficient funds during the past year to meet all essential needs.
Poor families certainly struggle to make ends meet, but in most cases, they are struggling to pay for air conditioning and the cable TV bill as well as to put food on the table. Their living standards are far different from the images of dire deprivation promoted by activists and the mainstream media.
Regrettably, annual Census reports not only exaggerate current poverty, but also suggest that the number of poor persons[5] and their living conditions have remained virtually unchanged for four decades or more. In reality, the living conditions of poor Americans have shown significant improvement over time.
These are the people that the elites on the left are constantly making us feel guilty about. But keep in mind that it is very easy to avoid poverty in America (link no longer active). A person just has to make four decisions, as economist Walter Williams explains.
Avoiding long-term poverty is not rocket science. First, graduate from high school. Second, get married before you have children, and stay married. Third, work at any kind of job, even one that starts out paying the minimum wage. And, finally, avoid engaging in criminal behavior.
If you graduate from high school today with a B or C average, in most places in our country there's a low-cost or financially assisted post-high-school education program available to increase your skills.
Most jobs start with wages higher than the minimum wage, which is currently $5.15. A man and his wife, even earning the minimum wage, would earn $21,000 annually. According to the Bureau of Census, in 2003, the poverty threshold for one person was $9,393, for a two-person household it was $12,015, and for a family of four it was $18,810. Taking a minimum-wage job is no great shakes, but it produces an income higher than the Bureau of Census' poverty threshold. Plus, having a job in the first place increases one's prospects for a better job.
The Children's Defense Fund and civil rights organizations frequently whine about the number of black children living in poverty. In 1999, the Bureau of the Census reported that 33.1 percent of black children lived in poverty compared with 13.5 percent of white children. It turns out that race per se has little to do with the difference. Instead, it's welfare and single parenthood. When black children are compared to white children living in identical circumstances, mainly in a two-parent household, both children will have the same probability of being poor.
How much does racial discrimination explain? So far as black poverty is concerned, I'd say little or nothing, which is not to say that every vestige of racial discrimination has been eliminated. But let's pose a few questions. Is it racial discrimination that stops black students from studying and completing high school? Is it racial discrimination that's responsible for the 68 percent illegitimacy rate among blacks?
The 1999 Bureau of Census report might raise another racial discrimination question. Among black households that included a married couple, over 50 percent were middle class earning above $50,000, and 26 percent earned more than $75,000. How in the world did these black families manage not to be poor? Did America's racists cut them some slack?
In America, poverty is self-inflicted. But that doesn't mean that the Democrats don't help the poor to stay poor.
Democrats wants to raise minimum wage, which promotes higher unemployment among younger workers – and more dependence on government programs. They want to subsidize single motherhood and enact no-fault divorce laws, to destroy marriage. And they want to push gay history and green propaganda in the public schools, to diminish the economic value of a high school education. They don't want the poor to lift themselves out of poverty so that they are independent of government. Redistribution of wealth makes Democrats feel good about themselves – so they need the poor to stay poor. Democrats take money from the wealthy, causing them not to hire workers, and then give that money to the poor, so that they don't need to work for anything.


text:
What is this "microcode?"
Wikipedia defines microcode as: "a layer of hardware-level instructions or data structures involved in the implementation of higher level machine code instructions in central processing units, and in the implementation of the internal logic of manychannel controllers, disk controllers, network interface controllers, network processors, graphics processing units, and other hardware. It resides in special high-speed memory and translates machine instructions into sequences of detailed circuit-level operations. It helps separate the machine instructions from the underlying electronics so that instructions can be designed and altered more freely. It also makes it feasible to build complex multi-step instructions while still reducing the complexity of the electronic circuitry compared to other methods. " [1]
AMD microcode support
Supported CPU families: 10h (Barcelona), 11h (Turion x2 Ultra), 12h (Llano), 14h (Bobcat), 15h (Bulldozer)
Emerging the required package
For microcode to work with AMD, first emerge sys-kernel/linux-firmware:
root # emerge linux-firmware
Kernel configuration
Now, run:
root # reboot
The new microcode will be loaded after the next reboot.


text:
Tagged: Brennan Boesch
Hey, we're not so bad! Yankees survive, raise eyebrows in April
A weak lineup full of holes. A shoddy pitching rotation. One or two strong arms in the bullpen. No Derek Jeter, no Alex Rodriguez, no Mark Teixeira, and no Curtis Granderson.
No faith; no belief.
The mentality of most Yankee fans on Opening Day was, to put it mildly, not good. The Bombers bombed on April 1, losing in convincing fashion, 8-2, to their most hated rivals, the Boston Red Sox; a bad loss on their home diamond to begin the season. But after a couple of games they started to get it right, and here we are a month later, the Yanks looking at a 17-10 record – in second place, and just two games out of first.
Get some faith. Start to believe.
As usual, a few storylines have enveloped the first month. First, and probably most important…
Mariano Rivera is back & better than ever
On May 3, 2012 Mariano Rivera's future looked bleak. After suffering a torn ACL on the warning track shagging fly balls in Kansas City, the "hammer of god" watched the majority of last year from the sidelines. With the veteran, 43-year-old closer's future in question, he opted to return in 2013.
And boy, has he made his comeback mean something thus far.
Rivera slammed the door 10 times in the month of April and upon sealing last night's 5-4 victory over the Astros has 11 saves for the year. The best part of it all: he is 11-for-11 in save opps.
Mo has been his usual, perfect self.
I attended Sunday's 3-2 win over the Blue Jays, and sat in the right field bleachers above the Yankee bullpen. When Rivera got up to start warming, readying himself to enter the game and eventually close the game, he received a huge ovation – even before he customarily ran out of the 'pen.
Expect this to be a recurring theme all season, given the announcement of his retirement at the end of 2013. Not to mention other teams have (and will) go out of their way to send Rivera off in a respectful manner. And it's all well-deserved.
What can you say? He is bigger than the game.
Low-scoring affairs and one-run wonders
For a team beat up, battered and bruised, the Yankees have obviously been able to keep their collective heads above the proverbial water. However, it hasn't exactly been easy to do. Of their 17 wins this year, there haven't been too many blowouts; not a lot of huge wins.
Aside from a 14-1 thrashing of the Cleveland Indians back on April 9, the Yankees have played in some incredibly tight ballgames. Three of their last four wins have been one-run victories, and their two previous wins before those last four victories were decided by just two runs: a 5-3 win on April 25 and a 6-4 win on April 26 – both over the Blue Jays.
It would be nice to have a few more of those 14-1 type games, and see the Yankees put some runs on the board. Yet it's not as if the formula isn't working, because the Yanks are 10-1 in games decided by two runs or less this season – which is good for the best in the bigs in games of that kind.
If nothing else, they're becoming battle-tested in close games, which down the stretch will help them.
Robinson Cano still swinging a hot bat
A power outage was anticipated when the Yankees lost Nick Swisher (24 home runs in 2012) and Russell Martin (21 home runs in 2012) – that of course went with temporarily taking away all the power numbers Curtis Granderson, Alex Rodriguez, and Derek Jeter provided.
But the one constant power player in the lineup is Robinson Cano.
Last night Cano clubbed his eighth home run of the year, which put him at 185 taters for his MLB career, tying him with another Yankee warrior – Paul O'Neill – for 17th place on the all-time Yankee home runs list.
O'Neill, by the way, who is NOT portraying Ted Danson's character Sam Malone in a Cheers remake.
In any event, Cano is carrying the offense; lighting up the scoreboard on the Yankees' side in most of these games in the early going. His sweet swing keeps getting sweeter and his defense continues to be top-notch. There's no doubt his RBI count is going to climb higher and higher, and his average will be significantly over .300 throughout the course of the year.
Having Cano on your side is almost the same as playing a game of doubles in tennis, and having a brick wall as your partner. And the Yankees have that brick wall.
CC Sabathia sharp (but twice not sharp)
I'll be the first to admit I was a little bit worried (and dejected) when CC Sabathia got absolutely shelled in Game 4 of the ALCS last year, the big ace losing the final game of the Yankees' season to the Detroit Tigers. My worries were well-founded and even multiplied when I found out he wasn't pitching at 100% and needed surgery in the offseason on his pitching arm.
Then Opening Day happened: four earned runs on eight hits, four walks and five Ks in only five frames to a loss to the Red Sox.
Not very encouraging to see, but as usual he turned it around. He won his next three starts, beating the Baltimore Orioles, the Arizona Diamondbacks, and the very team that slaughtered him in the playoffs last year, the Tigers.
Then came Sabathia's last two starts.
The big man was once again shellacked, this time by the Tampa Bay Rays. In seven abysmal innings he let up five earned runs – three of which were served up on home runs. He hit a batter, walked two, and in his only good stat of the night, struck out eight.
His fastball was flat, he was hanging his breaking ball, and needless to say it wasn't pretty.
Things seemed to be going in the same direction in his last start vs. the Blue Jays: a dead fastball and bad breaking stuff. He turned it around though, and battled back to actually pick up a win in one of the most valiant efforts of this young season.
Sabathia went 4-2 in April, and believe it or not, this marks the first time in his career he's picked up four victories in the first month of the season. I think it only proves that Sabathia is so good that even when he isn't doing well, he's doing well.
We'll see how everything carries over on Friday when he toes the rubber vs. Oakland in his first start in the month of May.
Injury bug still chomping away
There's an old saying about foul weather: when it rains, it pours. And coming into the season without Jeter, Teixeira, Granderson, and Rodriguez, the Yankees were short-handed enough.
So it rained, right? Well. Then it poured.
Francisco Cervelli and Kevin Youkilis became two more bruised Bombers, Cervelli fracturing his hand behind home plate on Saturday and Youkilis out with a bulging disc in his back. What hurts even worse is the fact that both players were doing a fine job offensively in a lineup that clearly needs not only effective hitters but more specifically, right-handed bats – Cerv and Youk both being right-handed hitters.
The front office's hand was forced because of these particular injuries: catcher Austin Romine was called up from Triple-A Scranton to supplant Cervelli, and as announced after last night's game, the Yankees traded for infielder Chris Nelson, acquiring him from the Colorado Rockies for a player to be named later. Nelson was obviously moved to aid in Youkilis's absence.
Youkilis was placed on the 15-day disabled list, but Cervelli was put on the 60-day DL. Anymore of these injuries happen, the Yankees might need to start pulling fans out of the bleachers to play.
"You know where the outfield is? Great! Here's a glove, go stand out there."
Making a splash
The day after Opening Day is always an off day. I'm not sure I quite understand why, but as long as I can remember, it always has been. On the off day this year, I was covering a girls' lacrosse game when my dad called me. It turns out he met Vernon Wells while doing some work at his job.
A very impromptu meeting – nothing major; according to my dad, he just said hi to him, didn't bother him too much.
The day after his meeting with my dad, Wells hit a home run and he's been raking ever since. So far the veteran outfielder has smacked six home runs and he's batting .298, which isn't bad by any means. In fact, it's quite a pleasant surprise, and Wells is a reason the Yankees are in such a good position right now.
I'll go ahead and just say it: Wells is doing…well.
Then there's Travis Hafner, who also has six long balls and 17 RBIs. The lefty-hitting slugger known as "Pronk" or "Project Donkey" is helping make up for whatever power was lost to free agency during the offseason.
Brennan Boesch isn't jumping off the page as much as Wells or Hafner, but for what it's worth, he's making contributions to the team when needed. The same can probably be said about Ben Francisco, but in fairness he had a home run last night that narrowly crept over the wall in left field, his first dinger of the year.
If one of them can be as heroic as Raul Ibanez was last year, I think I can safely say we'll all be happy. However, the four of them are sure as heck a step up from anything Andruw Jones did last year.
April wasn't a bad month for the Yankees.
What do ya got, May?


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Sunday School meets at 9:00 AM every Sunday during the school year, except the first Sunday of the month. Children return to the morning liturgy during the Peace and participate in the Eucharist. All children 3 years old or older are invited to join us.
Similar to the main liturgy, Sunday School gathers with songs, hears and responds to the stories of Scripture, and prays together.
Click here for a Sunday School Update
Outside of Sunday School, children and youth participate in the Eucharist through bringing the gifts to the altar, lighting and extinguishing candles, and decorating the church for different seasons.


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Team Honda Muscle Milk Press Release:
Team Honda Muscle Milk's Trey Canard will line up on the gate this Saturday for round 13 at the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis, MO. Canard returns to racing aboard his factory Honda-prepared CRF450R, having recovered from a broken arm sustained Thanksgiving weekend while preparing for the 2014 Supercross season.
"I'm really looking forward to getting back out there and racing with all these guys each week," said Canard. "Since getting back on my bike and training for motos, everything has gone smoothly. I've been riding a lot at home in Oklahoma, and the Honda team came out and did some testing with me last week. I feel really good and my CRF450R is working awesome. However, I expect it will take a little while to get up to full race speed, but I will give 100 percent effort regardless."
"We are excited to see what Trey can do at the remaining five rounds of the series," said Team Honda Muscle Milk Manager Dan Betley. "Trey has made a lot of progress in a short period of time since getting back on his bike. He's an incredibly focused and determined racer, and I think it won't be long before he's mixing it up with the front-runners."
For more information: www.powersports.honda.com


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Pakistan fans need Indian sponsor to get visa: Home Ministry
The Home Ministry has declared that only those Pakistani fans who have an Indian sponsor can acquire a visa to come and watch their cricket team play in India.
Any Pakistani cricket lover who wants to visit India to watch the upcoming limited over Indo-Pak cricket matches will have to have an Indian sponsor to get a visa as 12 Pakistani spectators had gone missing after the 2007 bilateral series.
The Home Ministry has made it mandatory for each Pakistani cricket fan intending to witness the forthcoming cricket series beginning December 25 to have a local sponsor to get visa.
The decision has come as 12 Pakistani men, who came to India to watch the last India-Pakistan bilateral cricket series held in November-December 2007, did not return home and are yet to be traced.
"There will be no relaxation of visa rules for the cricket fans. We cannot compromise our security as it is our prime concern. So, whoever seeks visa, has to name a local sponsor," a Home Ministry official said.
There will be no cap on the number of visas to be issued for the Pakistani cricket lovers and whoever fulfils the prescribed criteria and becomes eligible to get visa will get it.
The visa applicants will also have to attach a copy of the ticket purchased to watch the series that would comprise three ODIs and two Twenty20 Internationals between December 25, this year and January 6, next year.
The ODI matches will be played in Chennai, Kolkata and New Delhi and the Twenty20 games in Bangalore and Ahmedabad.
All Pakistani cricket fans, who came to watch the 2011 World Cup semi-final in Mohali, had returned home.
However, the 12 Pakistani, who came in 2007, are still to be traced.
Having an Indian sponsor was not mandatory for those who came five years ago.
Pakistani-American terrorist David Headley during his interrogation had said that many Lashker-e-Taiba activists had carried out recce of vital installations in Delhi, including the National Defence College after having secured visas for the Indo-Pak cricket matches in 2007.
In its last bilateral cricket series, Pakistan played against India three test matches -- in Delhi, Kolkata and Bangalore -- and five ODIs -- Guwahati, Mohali, Kanpur, Guwalior and Jaipur in 2007.
Home Ministry officials said any Pakistani cricket lover intending to watch more than one match in India would be wel come to do so provided he or she fulfils the visa obligations. Currently, a Pakistani citizen can get visa for three cities.
However, if the new India-Pakistan visa regime comes into effect before the cricket series begins, visa for five cities can be given.
The new visa agreement, signed by then Indian External Affairs Minister S M Krishna and Interior Minister Rehman Malik in Islamabad on September 8, eases curbs on issuing visas to traders, elderly people, tourists, pilgrims, members of civil society and children.
The Home Ministry will soon discuss with governments of Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Karnataka, Gujarat and the Delhi Police on various security related issues in the venues and how to ensure fool-proof security during the matches.
A number of high-level Pakistani dignitaries are expected to come to India to watch some matches.


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Base model gets more powerful engine.
Editor: J.P. Vettraino
$20,205 Base Price MSRP
$32,684 As Tested MSRP
Model Lineup: Chevrolet Uplander LS ($20,205); Uplander LS LWB ($23,208); Uplander LT LWB ($27,405)
Standard Engine: 3.9-liter ohv 12-valve V6 with vvt
Engine Options: 240-hp 3.9-liter ohv V6 with vvt
Standard Transmission: 4-speed automatic
Transmission Options: 4-speed automatic
Basic Warranty: 3 years/50,000 miles
Assembled In: Doraville, Georgia
Model Tested MSRP: Chevrolet Uplander LT LWB ($27,405)
Standard Equipment: air conditioning, rear air conditioning, second-row captain's chairs w/armrests, power windows, power rear vent windows, power locks, remote keyless entry, cruise control, tilt steering, AM/FM/CD/MP3 system, power driver's seat, overhead rail system, DVD entertainment system with two infrared headphone sets, OnStar tele-aid system with one-year subscription, antilock brakes, front-row side-impact airbags, power sliding passenger-side rear door, rear window defroster and wiper, brushed aluminum roof rails, carpeted floor mats
Options As Tested: Premium Seating Package ($1,350) includes leather surfaces for first and second row, power front passenger seat and front seat heaters; six-CD changer ($295); Preferred Equipment Package 2LT ($1,945) includes rear parking assist, driver side power sliding door, dual second-row side-impact airbags, deluxe instrumentation w/driver information center, leather-wrapped steering wheel w/audio controls, brushed aluminum sport luggage rack w/side rails, dual zone manual air conditioning, removable overhead storage console, color-key carpeted floor mats all rows; XM satellite radio hardware ($199); Cargo Convenience Center rear storage bins ($385) remote starter ($190); two additional infrared headphones ($75); second-row utility tray ($75)
Standard Safety Equipment: StabiliTrak electronic stability control system, ABS, daylight running lamps, OnStar tele aid system
Optional Safety Equipment: front and second-row side-impact air bagsDestination Charge: $765
Uplander comfortably seats seven, with a choice of individual captain's chairs or a two-place bench seat in the second row. And it takes care of its passengers in a well-designed, nicely finished interior. The base LS model offers a high level of standard equipment, including a subscription to GM's OnStar tele-aid service. StabiliTrak electronic stability control is now standard on all extended-length passenger models. A removable hard drive called Phatnoise is available that allows the onboard entertainment system to play or display everything from MP3 music files to family photos to video games to the latest movie releases.
Uplander's main shortcoming has been a lack of performance, but Chevrolet addressed this last year by offering a new, 3.9-liter V6 with 240 horsepower. For 2007, the weak 3.5-liter V6 has been dropped from the model line and the more potent 3.9-liter is standard. With the optional towing package, Uplander is rated to pull up to 3,500 pounds.
Chevrolet would be happy if you thought of Uplander less as a minivan and more as a blunt-nosed SUV crossover. Uplander's pouty snout was calculated to suggest this. Regardless, the Uplander is the best minivan Chevrolet has ever offered.
The Chevrolet Uplander LS ($23,208) comes with fabric upholstery, air conditioning front and rear, power windows and locks, tilt steering column, a rear-window defroster and wiper, dark-tinted rear glass, power rear vent windows, OnStar, and a CD player with MP3 capability. Its second-row seat is a two-place bench, and its third-row seat splits 50/50 to increase passenger/cargo flexibility. The LS comes standard with StabiliTrak.
Uplander LT ($27,405) comes with a power driver's seat, second-row captain's chairs, a power sliding door on the passenger side, and a single-screen DVD entertainment system with two infrared headphone sets. LT comes in three trim levels: 1LT, 2LT and 3LT. The 3LT package ($5,645) adds XM Satellite Radio and PhatNoise Mobile Digital Media along with many other features.
Options include a remote starter ($190), Cargo Convenience storage bins ($385), XM Satellite Radio ($199), traction control ($195), roof rails ($180), chromed wheels ($650), a 6CD changer with MP3 playback ($295), and the towing package ($25). The Premium Seating Package ($1,350) adds leather surfaces for the first and second row, power front passenger seat and front seat heaters. The Convenience Package adds a power sliding rear door on the driver's side combined with a 115-volt power outlet and rear park assist ($720).
Safety features include the mandated front airbags. Four-wheel anti-lock brakes (ABS) come standard. StabiliTrak electronic stability control is optional on the short-wheelbase LS, standard on other models. Traction control is optional. OnStar comes standard with a one-year subscription, which features automatic notification when airbags deploy, a great safety feature. Side-impact airbags are optional. All-wheel drive, which Uplander offered through 2006, is no longer available. Curtain-style head-protection airbags are not available.
Fleet buyers can choose E85 flex-fuel (up to 85 percent ethanol) capability as a no-cost option. StabiliTrak can be deleted for credit. Also available is a long-wheelbase cargo van ($22,105).
Walk Around
Chevrolet claims the Uplander's innovative styling combines the best attributes of vans with the bold look of a sport-utility vehicle. This is accomplished, according to Chevrolet, with a long hood and a large, chromed-ringed grille sporting a big Chevy bow tie. In profile, wide roof pillars and bold, flat-spoked 17-inch wheels are supposed to reinforce the SUV look. Gray molding covers the rocker panels and connects the lower bumper plastic front and rear, which are designed to look like skid plates.
We're not sure about any of this SUV stuff, because to us the Uplander looks like a minivan with a prominent, slightly awkward snout. It won't fool many people. In virtually every respect the Uplander is a minivan, with the many advantages minivans offer, including a low step-in and load lift heights compared to the typical SUV.
One thing that impresses during an Uplander walkaround is the overall quality of its assembly and finish. The seams on our test vehicle matched precisely and consistently, and the paint had a thick, deep luster with very little orange-peel effect. It was among the best we've seen from Chevrolet and as good as any other minivan currently offered, including those known for their build quality.
Few absolutely must have power sliding side doors, but they're something we like and are handy in a number of situations. GM actually invented power doors years ago, so it's a bit perplexing that those on the Uplander seem a little slow to open, close and lock (as are Nissan's). Perhaps GM's engineers designed the operating mechanism with safety foremost in their thinking. More likely, they were responding to cautionary intervention from corporate liability attorneys. We were also struck by the lack of any power liftgate assist, despite Uplander's overall high level of standard equipment.
With the recent demise of the Pontiac Montana, Uplander is one of three minivans offered by GM's various brands. It shares its engine, transmission, chassis and general dimensions with the Buick Terraza and Saturn Relay. There are slight styling differences, to be sure, and each division has its own rational as to why its minivan looks like it does and why it will appeal to a certain type of buyer. Whatever the thinking behind each might be, price differences among the four are negligible when comparably equipped. (The base Relay, a long-wheelbase model, is priced between the short and long versions of the Uplander LS; the Terraza is the top of the line.) The choice among brands could come down to satisfaction with a particular dealership or lot location, which dealer is willing to cut the best deal, or, most likely, which styling you like the best.
Inside, the Chevy Uplander stacks up well against its competition. Interior finish and materials are surprisingly good, considering some of GM's efforts just a few years ago. Plastics are generally rich in touch and appearance, and while other media have bashed the fake wood trim, we find it as good as that in cars that cost considerably more. Uplander's instrument panel doesn't try to get cute. It's clean, straightforward design is efficient and easy to get comfortable with.
The instrument binnacle prominently features a large tach and speedometer. The dials are sharp and legible, and trimmed with a thin chrome ring that adds a classy touch. Window, mirror and lock switches are located in the driver's armrest, right where we like them. Lights are on the dash, next to the steering column; wipers on a stalk to the right. There are redundant audio controls on the steering wheel hub.
The center stack is particularly well done. Audio controls sit above the climate controls, also as we like them, and the knobs are not only big, but pleasant to touch. There's a pair of pull-out cup holders and a swing-out storage bin at the bottom. There's also a folding utility table between the front seats with more cupholders and indents to keep phones or glasses handy without allowing them to slide off.
While the cabin is good, it's hardly perfect. The glove box door feels a bit flimsy; the same applies, more so, to the bins behind the front seats. These are well designed, with secure storage for headsets and discs, but they feel cheap. The front fan moves a ton of air, but it's quite loud at full bore. Perhaps most annoying is the view through the rear-view mirror. It's noticeably restricted by the rear-seat headrests, with a relatively narrow scope.
Our Uplander LT had second-row captain's chairs, which are amply spacious and comfortable for good-sized adults. The third-row bench will be no problem for kids through age 15 or 16, even on long drives, but access to the third row is not the best. The pathway between the individual second-row seats is narrow, hampered further by the folding utility table. For access from the outboard side, a one-button mechanism folds the seatbacks forward and slides the entire seat toward the front. That said, it doesn't make climbing in back much easier than walking between the second-row seats.
The interior roof rail system mounts storage bins, DVD screens and lighting under the headliner in modular fashion. It also holds the optional, removable PhatNoise hard drive, which is one of the coolest things going in minivans.
PhatNoise adds a second video screen to the single-DVD entertainment system and a wallet-sized 40-gig hard drive that slips into the overhead rail system. That's enough storage space for 10,000 audio files in virtually any format, or 40 feature films in the MPEG format. PhatNoise has a voice-browsing feature that allows the driver to cycle through menu offerings with buttons on the steering wheel hub. A USB port allows photographs to be loaded directly from a digital camera. Moreover, the PhatNoise hard drive is easily removed and attached to a PC, to be loaded with whatever an Uplander owner chooses. The system was improved last year with pre-loaded promotional content, including TV shows from Nickelodeon, music from eMusic, audio books from Audible and video games from Capcom.
The available onboard inflator generates enough pressure to inflate just about anything. It's integrated into the left-side trim behind the third seat. On the right, there's a standard 110-volt plug that allows Uplander to operate small appliances without a separate power inverter.
The optional Cargo Convenience center has its advantages. It can keep certain items out of site, and holds plenty of groceries without allowing them to slide. Yet it's not very deep, and it raises the load height for larger items a good eight inches.
Driving Impressions
Chevy Uplander comes standard with a big 3.9-liter V6 with variable valve timing that delivers 240 horsepower. That's strong power, placing it between the 244-hp Honda Odyssey and the class-leading 266-hp Toyota Sienna. In torque, the three are closer, however, and torque is what you feel when you accelerate from an intersection. In short, the Uplander should keep up with the quickest in the class.
GM continues to take pushrod-overhead-valve engine technology to new heights. Uplander's 3.9-liter V6 is the first cam-in-block engine with fully variable valve timing. This technology delivers a nice, broad power curve, with lots of acceleration-producing torque at all engine speeds.
The 3.9-liter engine gets an EPA-estimated City/Highway 17/25 mpg rating, comparable to the Honda and Toyota, which both rate 19/26 mpg. Uplander's 25-gallon fuel tank translates to an impressive 625 miles between fill-ups, while the other two have smaller 20-gallon tanks.
The engine is aided by first-rate performance from the automatic transmission. GM makes some of the best automatics anywhere, and while the Uplander's has four speeds (compared to five in some competitors), it responds quickly and appropriately to the driver's commands via the gas pedal. Shift quality (smoothness) is as good as it gets.
Uplander's handling, however, is reminiscent of old-school GM. This is no doubt by design, because GM is perfectly capable of building vehicles with a more contemporary ride-handling balance. In other words, Chevy thinks Uplander buyers want a soft ride, and to get it they'll tolerate side-to-side sway in any corner taken faster than parking-lot speed. We prefer more responsive handling and don't mind putting up with a little road vibration as the price of it. Uplander's steering has too much power assist for our taste, and it feels numb. While the ride is soft, the suspension can also be loud and clunky on rough surfaces. Uplander simply does not respond as crisply as some other minivans, though some drivers may prefer the softer ride.
StabiliTrak, GM's electronic stability control, helps prevent skidding in corners in wet or slippery conditions. Uplander's anti-lock braking system works great. The computer keeps the brakes precisely at the point of lockup without any shuddering through the pedal, and stops the vehicle as quickly as possible while leaving the driver control of the steering.
The Chevrolet Uplander is sold on the basis of its value. Fit, finish and build quality rank with the best in the class. Uplander is easily Chevrolet's best minivan yet. Its styling doesn't do much for us, and it falls short when it comes to ride and handling. However, the big 3.9-liter V6 delivers strong acceleration performance.
J.P. Vettraino filed this NewCarTestDrive.com report from Detroit.
Top Cars


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Song info
"Bubble Gum Blues" Videos
[Verse 1: Ab-Soul]
Just dropped a four, I'm sleepin' (true)
I don't even know how I do this
Know your bitch wanna come with me
I've got pull around here, we can go swimming
Ain't no love for these fuck boys
You can save all that noise
You row your boat up shit's creek
I roll with adults that pack toys
[Verse 2: Short Dawg]
And y'all lack poise
Your paper thick, still I'll take your chick
You can't wait and trick
Comin' out the pocket like Kaepernick
Flow tight, still I make it fit
It's all love 'til the haters switch
And I'm slow mo'
Gettin' so throwed that I'm pacin' it
I'm on that Indiana Jones
Cups double like clones
Pistol black as my ancestors
We don't ride with that chrome
[Verse 3: Ab-Soul]
She on my head like a hairdresser
But we ain't at the salon
So sad, my credit bad, cause she won't leave me alone
Stay a step ahead like a StairMaster in 3004
Smoke that OG and that Master
[Verse 4: Short Dawg]
Police dogs in my dope
Got these freaks piled at my show
First she chose me, then I smashed her
Told her if it happens naturally, then it won't be a disaster
My niggas know that I'mma grind 'til we four-deep in that Casper
[Verse 5: Ab-Soul]
My niggas know that I'mma ride until my ghost float in the sky
You niggas hustling backwards, for better or for worse
It's a gift and a curse, we makin' money off of bad words
Get money, fuck bitches, yo fresh, you pick
[Verse 6: Short Dawg]
Hm, countin' my green, or get in between?
I can do both, I proved it
They see the Coupe I'm in
Ain't no reason for these niggas to pretend
If money is the root, call me Kunta, then
Used to have the two for tens, discount on them stones
I'm pissed off, in my zone
Got him dismounting the throne (it's on)
My game wild, I'm from a 'hood where you can't smile
I'm just here to make change, pal
And I brung soul like James Brown
[Verse 7: Ab-Soul]
And it's a man's world
Got my hands all over another man's girl
Ain't that a bitch, yeah, life is such
The minus and the plus, don't place me with the average
You know I'm hazardous as Ks in pre-K classes
It's straight madness
Pumping gas and dropping matches with your daughter in the baby seat
Can you imagine it?
It's no conspiracy, every Soul Tape's fabulous


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Kessy, Ross Claim Gold Medals in Thailand
B.J. Hoeptner Evans
Manager, Communications
Phone: (719) 228-6800
E-Mail: email@example.com
@USA_Volleyball - @USAV Beach – USAV Facebook
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Oct. 28, 2012) – The U.S. women's beach volleyball team of Jennifer Kessy and April Ross won their third Thailand Open title on Sunday in Bangsaen, the final event on the women's 2012 FIVB Beach Volleyball SWATCH World Tour.
Kessy (San Juan Capistrano, Calif.) and Ross (Costa Mesa, Calif.), seeded No. 2, beat Russia's No. 3 Evgenia Ukolova and Ekaterina Khomyakova, 21-17 21-19 in 44 minutes in the first ever United States-Russia final in women's FIVB World Tour history.
In the bronze medal match, the U.S. team of Nicole Branagh (Orinda, Calif.) and Lauren Fendrick (Carlsbad, Calif.), seeded No. 7, fell to Brazil's No. 5 Agatha Bednarczuk and Barbara Seixas de Freitas, 19-21 21-19 15-9 in 56 minutes.
Kessy and Ross played all six previous editions of the Thailand Open in Phuket, the first one in 2006 with different partners. They won gold in 2008 and 2009 and finished second last year.
Overall they have collected 10 gold, 11 silver and nine bronze medals in 71 events on the World Tour. The pair won bronze at the Grand Slam in Rome this year and silver at the 2012 Olympic Games in London.
"Winning silver at the Olympics was great, but we really wanted this medal," Kessy told the FIVB. "We were desperate to win here. We won gold in every year we played together, but this year we left it 'til the very end."
Ross added, "It was tough. We fought against the weather here and we reached the final the hard way, through the losers' bracket, but we did it."
Ross dedicated her medal to her grandfather who passed away a couple of days ago.
The Russian team did not get a lot of chances against Kessy and Ross. They trailed the whole first set and had a small lead in the second set at 12-10; but gave that away quickly. Ukolova and Khomyakova managed to save one match point at 20-18; but Kessy finished the match with a cross-court spike.
The bronze medal match featured great rallies and excellent defense by both teams. Fendrick and Branagh came back from a four-point deficit to win the first set. The Brazilian team took a lead again in the second, but the Americans tied it at 16-16. Agatha and Seixas enforced a tiebreak in the end.
In the tie-breaker, the Brazilians took a lead from 3-3 and claimed their first medal on their second match point: 19-21 21-19 15-9.
Fendrick and Branagh, who teamed up for the first time in international competition, were left with fourth place. Branagh has won the event with Kerri Walsh in 2010 and finished second in 2007 (with Elaine Youngs) and 2008 (with Tyra Turner). Fendrick also finished fourth in Thailand in 2009 with Ashley Ivy.


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Although international economic treaty news has lately been peppered with more stories about better-known trade deals like the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), there is another treaty that has been generating just as much discussion and, in some cases, animosity.
The treaty in question is the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), intended to be an agreement between the European Union (EU) and Canada. Unfortunately, while negotiators announced that they had reached an agreement on CETA back in October 2014, it has been stuck in the approval phase ever since.
During this phase, sometimes called the "legal scrubbing" phase, the text of the agreement is translated into all the relevant languages, pored over by legal and political experts, and modified slightly to ensure minimal loopholes resulting from variances in the language.
Public sentiment in several EU states, however, has been growing increasingly hostile to the treaty, and EU officials have been forced to continuously extend this period in an effort to improve public sentiment and ensure successful ratification of the agreement.
Unfortunately, those efforts have not been going entirely according to plan. Just as the European Union believed it had reached a point where ratification would be assured, Romania announced that it would not ratify CETA as a response to Canada's refusal to lift certain visa requirements on Romanian nationals.
Romania is upset about Canada's decision to require Romanian and Bulgarian citizens to obtain visas before visiting Canada given that citizens of every other EU state can enter the country without one. As a result, a Romanian government official (who asked to remain anonymous) told the press that Romania would "veto" the CETA ratification.
Similarly, the government of a French-speaking region of Belgium, called Wallonia, has also indicated its refusal to ratify CETA. This is despite the fact that the Belgian cabinet has already approved the EU-Canada free trade treaty. Wallonia's reluctance to ratify the agreement could cause Belgium to back away from the agreement. Without Belgium's approval, the agreement may fall apart.
The European Commission is worried that without the approval of Belgium and Romania, CETA may fail to obtain ratification. These developments put the EU into an area of international treaty negotiation that it has not previously explored, and the long-term legal and political consequences are uncertain. It may also add fuel to the fire of the "Brexit" movement in the UK, where a growing number of people wish to have the nation exit the EU entirely.
Under normal circumstances, the ratification of the CETA treaty should have concluded by 2016 or early 2017. At this point, it is uncertain when or if the treaty will ever be ratified.


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When the Mowing Gets Rough
When it comes to cutting the tough jobs — those jobs with tall strands of thick grass, weeds and even small trees — the flail mower steps to the plate. Such heavy-duty cutting tasks would normally stall the most powerful deck mowers, so these jobs call for the token flail mower that can be found in most grounds managers' sheds.
By definition, a flail mower uses banks of flails (or "knives") instead of blades. A flail is a short piece of metal that operates by beating the grass (flailing it) and breaking it off. At high speeds, the job is done quite efficiently.
"Just by their nature, flail mowers have a tendency to minimize the bunching and the lumping of cut material," said Jerry Sechler, vice president of sales for Hector, Minn.-based Loftness US Attachments. "The rotor is spinning at a pretty good rpm."
Standard Loftness models, which fit on skid steers and on rear-mounted, three-point-mount tractors, go through material up to 1 inch in diameter at a speed of 2,190 rpm. "That can be anything from grass to vines, sumac and cattails," added Sechler.
Flail mowers are typically mounted on heavy tractors, stopping short of being able to cut anything woody larger than young saplings or small limbs. Some flail mower heads, such as Tiger Corporation's attachment for its Saber Tooth boom mower, can cut limbs and trees up to 4 inches in diameter. Cutting heads are the rotary or drum type, and may be mounted on an articulated arm or boom and placed at the front or back of the tractor or the side. Some cutting head attachments are available mounted on the arm of an excavator.
Boom attachments are available in various sizes to match a variety of jobs. Using a boom allows the operator to reach over culverts or other obstacles to mow steep hillsides or other overgrowth such as tree limbs or brush. Booms can be found to attach to the rear or side of the tractor.
As with other types of mowers, flail models are matched to the job usually based on size. With most other mowers, the size is measured in deck width; for flail mowers, the size is measured by the width of the rotor (or drum). Drum widths generally range from 48 to 102 inches. Depending on the manufacturer, sets of knives vary per foot of drum length. Triple-gang flail mowers, with two side attachments and one rear attachment, offer the widest swath for the largest jobs, from more than 200-inch widths to just under 300 inches.
The power requirement for flail models is another factor. According to a 2004 university extension report written by Graeme R. Quick, former adjunct professor of Agriculture and Biosystems Engineering at Iowa State University, flail mowers require the most power when compared with other mower types. This, in turn, will determine the size of tractor needed.
Tractors can be either the rubber-tired or track variety. The recent proliferation of rubber-tracked machinery has been favorable for flail usage.
"Flail cutters have been around for a long time," said Sechler. "But with the advent of skid steers having rubber tracks, you now find more interest in these attachments. What rubber tracks give you is more versatility on golf courses and other places where you don't want to disturb the ground as much as you'd do with wheels or a steel track. That lends itself to using flail mowers even more so."
The cut from a flail mower is very distinctive and different from that of a rotary mower. The flails are often Y-shaped, or sometimes a half-Y, giving the mowed grass a combed or ridged appearance. Flail heads are available as rough, fine and smooth cuts. This too depends on the end usage — the fine or smooth knives are ideal for large-scale cutting for jobs such as golf course rough or large, upscale lawns or even soccer fields. Control of cutting height may depend on the tractor's three-point hitch, although some models have an adjustable rear roller to control height, which normally ranges from 0 to 6 inches.
There's more to using flail mowers than just tackling young jungles.
Highway mowing and park maintenance crews often use flail mowers because they are less likely to throw objects during cutting.
"Using a flail mower minimizes any bunching and doesn't throw anything to the left or to the right," said Sechler. "So, if you're cutting in an area where you don't dare throw things out into the street or highway, or out into the fairway or up against a building, then you would use a flail."
On a flail mower, the knives are free-swinging as they rotate around the horizontal axis, catching the cut material in a cylindrical hood, though the basin can also be angular. Some hoods are curved and claim to have better suction, thereby discarding trimmings virtually where they were cut, just behind the forward-moving machine. Loftness models feature rotors with reverse rotation, which picks material up and off the ground as the skid steer travels forward, cutting as it goes.
The lowered likelihood for thrown objects because of a contained and limited trajectory allows operators to mow in areas with heavy trash and where there might be large numbers of bystanders.
Flail mowers can also handle wet grass better than most rotary mowers because the discharge area runs the full width of the machine. Operators have also used some flail mowers for closer cutting of fine lawns by reversing the drums, positioning blades to swing forward at the bottom and up in the front, though this is not possible or recommended for all models.
Other uses for flail mowers include removing thatch and jobs involving turf renovation. Joe Marsh, past president of Environmental Care, Inc. noted on www.progardenbiz.com, "If you must renovate a large turf area occasionally, use efficient equipment to do the work. An excellent technique is to use 40-hp tractors with turf tires pulling 6-foot flail mowers equipped with slicing knives. This unit will do the verticutting while 6-foot aerifiers pull the 6-inch-long plugs."
In May 1999, a field mechanic working at a vineyard near Napa, Calif., was crushed by the rear wheel of a farm tractor as he repaired a three-point, hitch-mounted back flail mower. The employee died. Almost exactly a year later, at the same location, a tractor operator's coattail was caught in the spinning driveshaft that drove a PTO-driven three-point mounted flail mower. He was more fortunate than the previous accident victim, living but suffering fractures to the arm that was pulled in, as well as a dislocated elbow.
Such incidents involving flail mowers are easily preventable when specific measures are followed. Consider the following tips from the University of California's Research and Extension Centers when using flail mowers:
Before using the equipment, inspect the flail mower for damage or disrepair and make sure all shields and guards are securely in place, including the power take-off shaft guard.
Make a visual inspection of the area before starting. Note uneven surfaces, or large ground depressions that may be sinkholes or contain large rocks.
Allow no one on the machine other than the operator when the machine is in motion.
When operating the machine on a hillside, allow no one to remain down slope while the flail mower and/or tractor is in motion.
Never allow the machine to coast downhill with the transmission in neutral.
When working with the machine in unfamiliar territory, heavy brush and trees, or areas of poor visibility, the operator should enlist the assistance of an observer on the ground. The observer should be especially careful to stay clear of the machine and any falling trees or limbs.
Never back up without looking to the rear first.
When parking, set parking brakes, lock transmission, let blade down, leave in full float position, turn off switch and remove key.
Long-arm flail attachments present another potential safety issue — proper balance. In England and Ireland, concerns about the stability of tractors powering large side-arm flail cutters have prompted manufacturers to help operators stay safe and keep within the law. Manufacturers such as Spearhead Machinery, Bomford Turner, Renault Agriculture and Michelin have devised equipment and formulas, such as support wheel systems and proper weight distribution figures, to overcome ballast problems.
Solutions have come in the form of ballast-correcting combinations of tractor weight and tire size and type. When operating side-arm attachments, always check with the manufacturer to ensure the driving tractor is adequate for proper ballast, and that the tires are capable of the specified load.
Tracy Powell is a freelance writer who resides in Jeffersonville. Ind.
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One of the most inspirering kiteboarders passed away yesterday, Poul died with the kite in his hand at an age of 88.
Poul who turned 88 in february was riding his 8m kite a well windy day at his homespot "Sydvestpynten" near Copenhagen a few km from his house. He came in to shore with the kite a 12 when his heart stopped beating. He died happy the way he wanted at his favorite spot after a great day of kiting - after a long great and very active life around the ocean with his friends.
His life was truly inspiring, I clearly remeber when he took up kiteboarding around 2001 or 2002 and thereafter spending almost every day riding, always with a smile and wanting to chat.
He showed the direction of how to live a great and active senior life and many funy memories remain.
Thanks Poul!
http://kitesurferen.dk/index.php/entry/ ... -gaet-bort


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Blink Tears
Lubricating Eye Drops For Mild Moderate Dry Eye
0.50 fl oz
Active Ingredient: Polyethylene Glycol 400 (0.25 %). Inactive Ingredients: Boric Acid, Calcium Chloride, Magnesium Chloride, Potassium Chloride, Purified Water, Sodium Borate, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Chlorite (OcuPure Brand) as a Preservative, Sodium Hyaluronate.
Instill 1 or 2 drops in the affected eye(s) as needed. Retain this carton for future reference.
Other Info
Advanced Medical Optics, Inc.
Santa Ana, CA 92705
Safety Warnings
For external use only. To avoid contamination, do not touch tip of container to any surface. Replace cap after using. Do not use if solution changes color or becomes cloudy. Stop use and ask a doctor if: you experience eye pain, changes in vision, continued redness or irritation of the eye, or if the condition worsens or persists for more than 72 hours. Keep out of reach of children. If swallowed, get medical help or contact a Poison Control Center right away. Use only if tape seals on top and bottom flaps are intact. Use only if AMO safety seal on bottle is intact.