Japan’s Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Ministry will soon embark on a project to realize an “autopilot system” for automatic driving, a system for guiding motor vehicles on expressways without human assistance.
The system is expected to contribute significantly to such goals as alleviating drivers’ fatigue, preventing road accidents and easing traffic congestion. It would be for vehicles referred to as self-driving cars capable of sensing their environment and navigating by themselves, with people not required to perform any mechanical operation besides choosing their destinations.
With a view to making an autopilot system a reality in the early 2020s, the ministry will launch a study panel of experts this year, to start full-scale discussions about a self-steering vehicle control project.
The ministry envisages an autonomous vehicle system in which, after leaving your home, motorists would enter an interchange of a nearby expressway while manually operating their cars.
When pulling into the expressway’s lane exclusively for the autopilot system, the driving mode would change to “automatic driving” and input your destination into the system. Motorists would take their hands and feet off the steering wheel, gas pedal and brake.


The brainstem nucleus hypoglossus innervates the tongue which must contract rhythmically during respiration, chewing and swallowing. Such rhythmic discharges are due to network bursting mediated by AMPA receptor-dependent glutamatergic transmission. The contribution by hypoglossal motoneurons themselves to rhythmicity remains, however, unclear as they might simply express cyclic patterns produced by premotoneurons or, in analogy to spinal motoneurons, might participate to bursting due to activation of their N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors. Using patch clamp recording from hypoglossal motoneurons in slice preparations of neonatal rat brainstem, we observed that NMDA directly depolarized motoneurons to generate various discharge patterns. Most motoneurons produced transient bursts which were consistently restored by repolarizing membrane potential to rest. Fewer motoneurons generated either sustained bursting or random firing. Rhythmic bursts were recorded from XII nerve rootlets even when single motoneuron bursting required hyperpolarization. NMDA evoked bursts were blocked by the Ca2+ antagonist Cd2+, the gap junction blocker carbenoxolone, or Mg2+ free solution, and partially inhibited by tetrodotoxin or nifedipine. Under voltage clamp, NMDA-induced bursting persisted at negative or positive potentials and was resistant to high extracellular Mg2+ in accordance with the observation of widespread motoneuron expression of NMDA 2D receptor subunits that confer poor Mg2+ sensitivity. It is proposed that NMDA depolarized motoneurons with the contribution of Mg2+ insensitive channels, and triggered bursting via cyclic activation/deactivation of voltage-dependent Na+, Ca2+ and K+ currents spread through gap junctions. The NMDA-evoked bursting pattern was similar to the rhythmic discharges previously recorded from the XII nerve during milk sucking by neonatal rats.


and asexually reproduced a distinct and new variety of plant, other than a tuber propagated plant or a plant found in an uncultivated state.
Benefits of a Plant Patent A plant patent lasts for 20 years from the date of filing the patent application and gives the inventor the right to exclude others from asexually reproducing, selling, or using the plant so reproduced. This protection is limited to a plant under the following conditions:A living plant organism which expresses a set of characteristics determined by its single, genetic makeup or genotype, which can be duplicated through asexual reproduction, but which can not otherwise be "made" or "manufactured." Sports, mutants, hybrids, and transformed plants are comprehended; sports or mutants may be spontaneous or induced. Hybrids may be natural, from a planned breeding program, or somatic in source. While natural plant mutants might have naturally occurred, they must have been discovered in a cultivated area. Algae and macro fungi are regarded as plants, but bacteria are not. Plant Patent Vs Plant Variety Protection Act The United States Patent and Trademark Office or USPTO does accept utility applications for claims to plants, seed, genes, etc listed above. However, intellectual property protection for true breeding seed reproduced plant varieties is offered through the Plant Variety Protection Office.The Plant Variety Protection Office (PVPO) administers the Plant Variety Protection Act (PVPA), by issuing Certificates of Protection in a timely manner. The Act provides legal intellectual property rights protection to developers of new varieties of plants which are sexually reproduced (by seed) or tuber-propagated.
USPTO Plant Patents - What Defines Being The Inventor Because there are two steps which constitute invention in plant applications, there may be more than one inventor. An inventor is any person who contributed to either step of invention. For example, if one person discovers a new and distinct plant and asexually reproduces the plant, such person would be a sole inventor.If one person discovered or selected a new and distinct plant, and a second person asexually reproduced the plant and ascertained that the clone(s) of the plant were identical to the original plant in every distinguishing characteristic, the second person would properly be considered a co-inventor. If either step is performed by a staff, every member of the staff who performed or contributed to the performance of either step could properly be considered a co-inventor.
However, an inventor can direct that the step of asexual reproduction be performed by a custom propagation service or tissue culture enterprise and those performing the service would not be considered co-inventors.


She’s fast for her age! Older women and running culture Abstract In the 19th and early 20th centuries, running was the exclusionary sport of younger men. Women, particularly older women, were discouraged from participating in competitive running up until the 1970s. In seeking to understand the reasons for this interdiction, this study employs Foucault’s concept of discourse to explore the ways in which medicalized notions about the female body have mitigated women’s involvement in running from the early 1900s until present day. The paper begins with a targeted literature review that identifies relevant biomedical and moral discourses. Findings are then presented from in-depth interviews with four elite women runners over the age of fifty. The analysis of these participants’ accounts of their running histories reveal that while women runners have gained new freedoms, a discriminatory discourse remains, one that sexualizes and commodifies the female athletic body.
Keywords
This journal is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 Unported License.
EISSN 1923-1334
University of Victoria


Carefree Car Ownership Repairing vs. replacing a cracked windshield Many windshields have fallen victim to a stray pebble or stone flying at high speeds along the highway. Most minor damages can be easily fixed thanks to modern glass repair techniques, but even a small crack can grow over time, due to bumps or aggravation from the road, necessitating an entirely new windshield. Here are some car shopping tips on deciding whether you should repair or replace your damaged windshield.
The largest factors in determining the fate of your glass are the size and location of the damage, according to MSN.com. Cracks up to three inches in size can often be repaired easily and affordably by most auto shops. Some repair shops can handle cracks up to a foot long, which is still preferable to complete replacement.
Technicians repair the window by applying a clear resin that can be polished to match the windshield, according to CarMarket.com. The visual effect isn't perfect, but the resin will ensure that the damage does not spread to the rest of the windshield.
However, if the damage appears in the corner of the frame or is too large to be repaired, replacing your windshield is the only available option. Consult your auto dealer, repair shop or insurance company for specific information on your vehicle's damage.


Location: The Radiation and Biomolecular Physics Division of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Physical Measurement LaboratoryResearch Team Lead:
Lisa KaramSummary:
The National Institution of Standards and Technology was created in 1901 to address a need for common measurement standards across a spectrum of applications. Dr. Karam’s team is developing precise quantitation standards for medical imaging technologies such as Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scans. These standards are important for accurate medical diagnoses, and they have substantial implications for future drug development.


In the next fifty years, the percentage of people aged 65 and over is predicted to increase to roughly half the UK population, yet handset manufactures are still more concerned with jam-packing the latest features onto a device, often alienating silver surfers.
Many technology companies are turning a blind eye by ignoring the increasing and lucrative senior market. According to a mobile phone comparison site DialToSave, smartphones are aimed at tech-savvy youngsters and despite growing interest from older people, they are often perplexed by jargon like Android, Symbian and 3G HSDPA.
Richard Cappin of DialToSave.co.uk said, “mobile companies need to wake up fast to the potential of the 'silver buck.” He believe that if vendors tap into this demand, it could potentially lead to the world's first 'Silver Surfers Superphone.'
"The most frequent question I am asked, and always by older people, is which is the simplest phone that does all the snazzy stuff without the fuss.
The demand for an all-round easy-to-use handset could one day even lead to a superphone, rather than just a 'smart' one," added Cappin.
According to a study by mobileSQUARED, those over 55 are now the second-fastest growing Internet user group and 45-64 year olds are now the second largest group of all mobile phone users.
However, there are companies like Emporia, Doro and Binatone promoting handsets aimed at the elderly "but those are mainly for the visually impaired, the hearing impaired or those who have little dexterity," added Cappin.
The video below of Emporia Telecom illustrates the importance of why the mobile sector mobile needs to cater technology for the elderly in mind.
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What is Aerial Surveillance?
Aerial surveillance is the gathering of surveillance, intelligence and reconnaissance (ISR) data (usually visual imagery or video) from an airborne vehicle—such as a unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), helicopter, or spy plane. Surveillance aircrafts use a range of sensors (e.g. radar) to monitor their intended location via live streaming video, audio and recorded secure data.
Digital imaging technology, miniaturized computers, and numerous other technological advances over the past decade have contributed to rapid advances in aerial surveillance hardware such as micro-aerial vehicles, forward-looking infrared, and high-resolution imagery capable of identifying objects at extremely long distances. For instance, the MQ-9 Reaper, a U.S. drone plane (UAV) used for domestic operations by the Department of Homeland Security, carries cameras that are capable of identifying an object the size of a milk carton from altitudes of 60,000 feet, and has forward-looking infrared devices that can detect the heat from a human body at distances of up to 60 kilometers; even facial features from as close as five kilometers.
Aerial Surveillance Systems, Inc. (ASSI) was created in 2008 and has rapidly become a leader in this highly specialized industry. ASSI offers a variety of services from acquisition to modification and integration. ASSI is a turn-key full-service provider with significant global contracts in place and is able to fully integrate and deliver an ISR Beechcraft 350 within 120 days.


No issue is more critical to the study of crime and delinquency than the
issue of measurement. At the heart of this have been ongoing debates
over the relative advantages and disadvantages of self-report measures
of delinquency. While it is widely accepted that crime rates increase
during adolescence to a peak close to 17 years of age, findings from
self-report measures of multiple cohorts from the National Youth Survey
show declining trends in delinquency regardless of age. Various
researchers have debated the reasons for these discrepant findings,
including period effects, testing effects, and changing content validity
of delinquency measures to name a few. The present paper engages in
these debates and augments previous findings in two ways: 1) by using
multi-level modeling to account for the presence of missing time points
in longitudinal designs, treating these missing data as latent variables
in multivariate outcome models, and 2) by relaxing the classical
assumptions of independent errors and equal variances of these errors.
One of the key benefits of multi-level modeling is that it utilizes all
available longitudinal data even if a respondent misses a time point,
thereby letting researchers assess the effects of sample attrition
across waves of longitudinal data collections.
(Return to Program Resources) Updated 05/20/2006


Preparedness
Preparedness activities increase a community’s ability to respond when a disaster occurs. The National Incident Management System (NIMS) defines preparedness as "a continuous cycle of planning, organizing, training, equipping, exercising, evaluating, and taking corrective action in an effort to ensure effective coordination during incident response."
This preparedness cycle is one element of a broader National Preparedness System to prevent, respond to, recover from, and mitigate against natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters.
Typical preparedness measures include developing mutual aid agreements and memorandums of understanding, training for both response personnel and concerned citizens, conducting disaster exercises to reinforce training and test capabilities, and presenting all-hazards education campaigns.Unlike mitigation activities, which are aimed at preventing a disaster from occurring, personal preparedness focuses on preparing equipment and procedures for use when a disaster occurs, i.e. planning.
Preparedness measures can take many forms including the construction of shelters, installation of warning devices, creation of back-up life-line services (e.g. power, water, sewage), and rehearsing evacuation plans. Two simple measures can help prepare the individual for sitting out the event or evacuating, as necessary. For evacuation, a disaster supplies kit may be prepared and for sheltering purposes a stockpile of supplies may be created. These kits may include food, medicine, flashlights, candles and money.


The standard limit on FDIC insurance is $250,000 perdepositor and $250,000 for certain retirement accounts per FDIC-insuredbank. This means that the combined total of your savings, checking andother deposit accounts in a single bank covered by the FDIC is insured onlyup to $250,000 of the total value and $250,000 for certain retirementaccounts.
However, you are, in effect, insured for up to $250,000and $250,000 for certain retirement accounts in every FDIC-insured bankthat you have deposits with. Keep in mind that deposits made in separatebranches of the same bank are not considered separately insured and areaggregated up to the insurance limits.
The FDIC insures only deposit accounts. The followingchart shows what's covered and not covered by FDIC insurance at anFDIC-insured bank such as First CornerStone Bank.


How to be my friend I've read much about how to raise children with additional needs, but nothing about being a good friend to their parents. People struggle to relate to parents in my position, but I'm not sure why. Maybe it's hard to understand without direct experience? If so, this may help:
1. Don't
tell me you "don't know how I do it".
Unless you have similar experiences to mine, you have no idea what I do each day. I already know that. It's isolating, and it doesn't help to remind me. In truth, some days I don't know how I do it either, but I have no choice. All that stands between my children and a world that struggles to understand them is me. I am not a saint. I have no more powers, skill or patience than the next person. I cope because I have to.
2. Persist.
I have many limits on my time. I cannot leave my children with someone untrained or unfamiliar. I cannot alter their routine without notice. I will drop you at the last minute if there's an issue at home. I can't talk on the phone without constant interruption. I rarely have time to shop for your birthday or cook you a meal. You find this annoying, even upsetting, and so do I. Please don't interpret my silence or unreliability as a rejection of our friendship. I don't mean to offend, but if you want to see me, you'll have to do most of the running. That's just how it is right now.
3. Ask
me how I am.
I'm good at raising my kids. In fact I'm
regularly told by "professionals" that I'm knowledgeable, super competent,
should write a book, etc. That's great, but don't be fooled into thinking I
cope that well with everything. I have prioritised what is crucial; the rest is
far messier. I was asked, once, by a paediatrician how I am coping . The fact it occurred to her to ask was so unusual,
and thoughtful, it made me cry. So please ask, because oddly, people hardly
ever do. I will often be fine. But sometimes I'm really not, and the silence
makes me feel like I can't tell you that.
4. Don't
pity us.
However difficult this is, I love my children. I wouldn't change one single aspect of them. Not one. They are unique and beautiful people. Our difficulties are caused not by them, but by living in a world that is not designed for them. They are not disabled and they do not need a cure. You miss so much when you fail to see this. I will be very angry, very quickly, if you make no effort to understand them.
5. Be
my friend.
Your lives, struggles and happiness are important to me. You may feel your complaints are trivial in comparison, but that's not how I see it. Tell me your stories. Let me join in. You are not imposing on me, you are giving me another world, another connection to bring me out of myself. I can't be your friend if you don't treat me like one.
I hope that helps you to understand parents like me. We have additional needs too, it would seem.


“Breathing Square” Illusion
Start by watching the demonstration on the right. In particular track the blue shape obscured by the orange squares.
After one cycle you
You can change the gap size manually. You can also change the transparency of the occluders and you may find a setting where one can “switch” between the breathing perception and a constant square size. Further controls are self-explanatory.
Usually, we are remarkably adept at detecting and identifying surface boundaries despite incomplete optical information. However, in “breathing illusions”, rigidly rotating surfaces appear to pulsate or deform, even though a straightforward process of geometrical interpolation across space would reconstruct the veridical surface boundary. It is generally believed that such nonrigid outcome depends on a failure to apply a rigidity constraint across spatiotemporal discontinuities (more: Bruno 2001).
The present phenomenon seems related to “motion binding”.
Shiffrar M & Pavel M (1991) Perception of rotation through apertures. Z Exp Psychol: Human Perception and Performance 17:749–761
Bruno N (2001) Breathing illusions and boundary formation in space-time. In: Shipley TF, Kellman PJ (eds) chapter 17, 531–556 (ISBN-13: 978-0444505064) [PDF]
Created: 2009-06-08


Adam Serwer flags a trend from the latest Gallup poll that should give Democrats pause. While Democrats has retained support from blacks, support among Latinos has collapsed:
Serwer rightly flags the declining support as a sign that Republicans managed to win the immigration debate: they've criticized and obstructed Democratic attempts to pass an immigration overhaul, then turned around to blame Obama for failing to take action. Conservatives also have used Arizona's immigration law as a sign that Republicans are willing to take action. According to the Immigration Reform Law Institute, an anti-immigration group, political candidates in at least 12 states have promised to introduce state laws similar to Arizona's. Even if Latino voters don't approve of such measures, the GOP efforts also have succeeded in highlighting the Democrats' seeming inaction on the issue.
This trend isn't likely to send Latinos into the arms of the GOP in this year's elections, but it could convince them to stay at home instead of voting for Democrats. It also raises the question as to whether the GOP could end up winning back at least some Latinos in 2012 if Obama fails to pass a comprehensive overhaul during the next Congress.
It would have to be a significantly different faction of the Republican Party, of course—a Chris Christie or Mike Bloomberg type of alternative, rather than someone from the anti-amnesty camp. Yes, it will be difficult for any Republican to distance him or herself from the nativism that has flourished once again on the right. But given the number of times that the Democrats failed to deliver on their promises for immigration reform, disillusionment also runs deep. The Democrats will have an even tougher time passing significant immigration measures after the midterms, given the flood of GOPers expected to take office. As a result, there could be more room for Republicans who can break from both the GOP's right flank and the Democrats on the issue.
After all, George W. Bush managed to do as much, using his moderate stance on immigration—including a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants—to win over Latino voters. After his overhaul failed to pass Congress, Latinos ended up fleeing back to Democrats. But Democrats shouldn't take it for granted that they'll stay loyal to the party, if they, too, fail to pass meaningful immigration reform by 2012.


Booster Shot How well do those energy drinks work? Page 1 )16 oz./220 calories Touts: Vitamins B-3, B-6, and B-12, taurine, ginseng, carnitine, guarana, caffeine. Warns: Of nothing. Tastes: Tart and vaguely fruity. Like Alka-Seltzer in Kool-Aid. Effects: I guzzle a can on the way to take an 8-year-old boy to play in the park. I quickly realize that 16 ounces of anything fizzy is a lot to ask a moving stomach to digest. Other than bloat, I discern no effect, as I'm run ragged in no time. I do play Hoop Fever at the nearest arcade and score a ridiculous 74 points, besting the day's previous mark by 29 points.
Verdict: My concentration and shooting groove were great. As for energy, well, there wasn't much. Sicher predicts that in a few years, only drinks from the larger beverage companies (Pepsi, Coca-Cola, Red Bull, Hansen's) will emerge from the current glut. It'll be a shame if that's the case, considering the mediocre offerings from Pepsi and Coke. 8.3 oz./110 calories Touts: Vitamins B-3, B-5, B-6, and B-12, taurine. Claims: The farm. "Improves performance, especially during times of increased stress or strain, increases concentration and improves reaction time, stimulates the metabolism." Warns: "Avoid while playing potentially harmful contact sports." No, I made that up. Tastes: Sweet, fizzy, acrid. "Like corn syrup that burns" is one friend's accurate assessment. Effects: Endows me with some verve that, per usual, dissipates when I start the push-ups. There's no endurance in these cans. To test the claim of "increased stress" I play Boggle while watching Family Guy and emerge with wildly varying scores. My stomach feels sour and a headache brews.
Verdict: Beats a trip to the emergency room, but I'm surprised this little can holds half the domestic market, considering how blah it is. The taste, while distinct, isn't exactly pleasant, and the energy it provides is fleeting. 16 oz./200 calories Touts: Vitamins B-3, B-6, B-12, and C, taurine, ginseng, inositol, caffeine, L-carnitine. Warns: "Consume responsibly—limit 3 cans per day. Not recommended for children, pregnant women or people sensitive to caffeine." Tastes: Like subdued Mountain Dew, with a now-familiar vitaminy edge. Effects: I see this everywhere, so I assume it's popular—but it has almost no noticeable effect on me. When I do push-ups, my body protests early, as when it's asked to run on too much sugar. In playing pickup basketball, I melt quickly. The thought hits me that perhaps I've acquired a resistance to vitamins and sugar water. On the other hand, the Boggle scores are among the best of any drink tested.
Verdict: A moderate disappointment, considering the bitchin' claw marks on the can. I can't figure out why I seem immune to this, and two other drinks called Energy Pro and Hansen's—all the spawn of Hansen's, the second-largest U.S. energy-drink manufacturer. I recently met an Iraq war veteran (who knows from stimulants) who buys this stuff by the case. Me, I can't see it, although a fair flavor and a lack of ill effects make it a borderline drink. 16 oz./260 calories Touts: Vitamins B-6, B-12, and C, folic acid, selenium, zinc, taurine, inositol, ginseng, guarana, creatine, grape seed extract, L-carnitine, L-arginine, caffeine. Claims: "Super energy supplement." Warns: "Not recommended for children, pregnant women or people sensitive to caffeine." Tastes: Sweet, mildly fizzy, with a hint of grapefruit. Effects: It does offer some extra kick first thing in the morning: My arms move faster even when drying myself off after a shower. When I type, my fingers move quickly and with precision. My heart seems to pound too hard during push-ups. I feel alert but distractible. Boggle scores are high; Hoop Fever scores disappointingly mediocre.
Verdict: What I'd reach for if falling asleep at the wheel. Not ideal if you need focus or fine motor skills.MYSLATE Sam Eifling is an itinerant freelance writer and editor.
Illustration by Mark Alan Stamaty.


"Liquid Equivalent" the Key How Much Water in the Snow? Observed liquid-equivalent precipitation across the U.S. for the seven-day period ending 7 a.m. EST, Feb. 25, 2013. (Image credit: NOAA/Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service)
You likely have heard of the old rule of thumb that "ten inches of snow melts to one inch of water."
While that's not always true for any given storm in any given location, (at warmer temperatures, as few as 4 inches of snow can melt to produce one inch of water) the general principle applies when considering drought relief.
Above is a plot of observed liquid-equivalent precipitation (rain + melted snow) for the seven-day period ending Monday morning, Feb. 25. This plot contains liquid-equivalent from Winter Storm Q and from the early stages of Winter Storm Rocky.
Below is a model depiction of liquid-equivalent for the three-day period beginning Monday morning.
RPM model forecast precipitation for the three-day period beginning 7 a.m. EST on Monday, Feb. 25.
Note that despite the significant snow from one or both systems, that would melt down to just 1 to 2 inches of liquid equivalent in most of the Great Lakes, Ohio Valley and central Plains. However, parts of Oklahoma had already received over 2 inches of liquid by Monday morning with another 2 inches potentially in the forecast.
In much of the Upper Midwest and northern and central Plains, less than 0.5 inch of liquid equivalent precipitation will end up having fallen from these two systems.
Meanwhile, repeated bouts of heavy rain are occurring from the central Gulf Coast into the Southeast, missing the primary Plains drought area, but beneficial for a stubborn area of drought that has persisted since Fall 2010. In fact, so much rain has fallen that flooding has become a concern in parts of this region.


Studies have shown that bullying is a predictable psychological behavior; ts effects are significant and ripple through well into adulthood.
Social media is now both an avenue for hateful acts and a trigger for suicide, and the age-old question still stand: is it nature, or nurture?
[Source: Online Counseling Degrees]


Abstract:The financial services industry is undergoing one of the most tumultuous times in its history and the consequence has been a precipitous decline in the public‟s trust in the industry and in its leadership. This article provides an overview of the construct of trust, describes why crisis events erode trust, and offers guidelines for how to rebuild trust following a crisis. Using the principles of crisis leadership as a backdrop, the article demonstrates the significance of integrity, positive intent, capability, mutual respect, and transparency on the trust building process.


When a building receives EPA’s ENERGY STAR, the certification decal contains the year in which the certification was received. Similarly, buildings included on the ENERGY STAR registry of certified buildings and plants are listed with the year they received the award.
Certification decals may be displayed indefinitely on qualified buildings. However, recipients of the ENERGY STAR are encouraged to continue benchmarking their buildings’ energy performance and re-apply annually to keep their certification current.


IN 1971, President Nixon sought to forestall single-payer national health insurance by proposing an alternative. He wanted to combine a mandate, which would require that employers cover their workers, with a Medicaid-like program for poor families, which all Americans would be able to join by paying sliding-scale premiums based on their income. Nixon's plan, though never passed, refuses to stay dead. Now Hillary Clinton, John Edwards and Barack Obama all propose Nixon-like reforms. Their plans resemble measures that were passed and then failed in several states over the past two decades.
From "I am not a Health Reform," by David U. Himmelstein and Steffie Woolhandler, professors of medicine at Harvard and the co-founders of Physicians for a National Health Program.


Rhode Island's plague of cigarette tax evasion by those looking to capitalize on the Ocean State's demand for cheap smokes appears to continue. That is the takeaway from recent announcements by the Rhode Island Division of Taxation, which in the last month has reported two separate instances of busts allegedly involving sellers of cigarette packs that do not bear the state's tax stamps.
This week, the Division of Taxation announced the conclusion of a two-month investigation by the Rhode Island State Police into illegal gambling, during which two convenience stores were discovered to have been "involved in the illegal sale of fraudulent and forged stamped cigarette packs."
Last month, the Division announced that the State Police had "arrested three men on charges involving [non-payment of] the cigarette tax." The Division confirms that "charges against one of the men included importing cigarettes with intent to evade taxes."
As of the beginning of this year, Rhode Island's cigarette tax was the second-highest in the country at $3.46 per pack, whereas neighboring Massachusetts clocked in at 9th place at $2.51 per pack.
That, some say, may explain the appeal of smuggled cigarettes or cigarettes bearing forged or fraudulent tax stamps to smokers within the state, and why tax evasion remains a potentially attractive, albeit illegal, activity.
Rhode Island Democratic Rep. Robert Phillips has introduced legislation that would cut the state's high tobacco tax by $1 per pack, arguably reducing the incentive to purchase such cigarettes and providing a rationale for smokers from states like Connecticut (where the tax rate is lower, but still among the five highest rates in the nation) to visit Rhode Island and stock up on smokes.
Thus far, that legislation seems to have attracted little support, despite reports of alleged tax evasion like those over the last month.


Anaerobic digesters (methane recovery) Docklands has the capacity to collect animal manure from livestock operations such as farms, dairies and abattoirs and recycle it into a valuable energy source. We use anaerobic digesters (sometimes known as ‘biodigesters’) as a way to recover biogas (methane and carbon dioxide) from animal manure. This in turn produces electricity while reducing the methane emissions which contribute to global warming.
In the process, anaerobic bacteria break down organic material and produce biogas as a waste product. It’s actually a process that occurs naturally in nature and we achieve it through the use of airtight digester tanks. This not only recycles the waste effectively but also controls odours.
Please contact us for details of our methane recovery service.


Mediating Asymmetrical Conflict Avdelning/ar: Publiceringsår: 2002
Språk: Engelska
Sidor: 69-91
Publikation/Tidskrift/Serie: Mediterranean Politics
Volym: 7
Nummer: 1
Dokumenttyp: Artikel
Förlag: Routledge, part of the Taylor & Francis Group
Sammanfattning This article examines the characteristics of asymmetrical conflicts and obstacles to negotiation and mediation. Four barriers are elaborated upon: (a) enduring unilateral actions, (b) contested recognition and leadership status, (c) existential and identity-based framing of conflict and (d) conflicting interpretation of implementation. Consequently, intervention in asymmetric conflicts poses a tremendous challenge for international mediators. To gain legitimacy is particularly troublesome since there often exists a huge discrepancy in the expectations of mediation between strong and weak parties. The empirical case of Norwegian and American mediation is analysed as pure and principal mediation. The conclusion is that the two types of mediation do not directly address the question of the asymmetrical nature of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In sum, international mediation is a double-edged instrument in asymmetrical conflicts - particularly principal mediation, as it may produce counterproductive results.
Disputation Nyckelord Law and Political Science Förhandlingar Internationell politik Övrigt Published
ISSN: 1362-9395


Don't worry if the garden bed looks skimpy when you plant it. Consider ultimate sizes before you buy plants. This is especially important with trees and shrubs, which may overgrow windows, power lines or views. A tree will be only a few feet tall when you buy it, but varieties such as the Colorado blue spruce at left typically grow up to 50 feet high and 20 feet wide.


Across the Corn Belt, a Frost Advisory was in effect early Thursday in parts of the eastern Dakotas and northwestern Minnesota, where Thursday morning low temperatures generally ranged from 30 to 40°. Meanwhile, a band of generally light rain stretching from Upper Michigan to near the Iowa-Missouri-Nebraska triple point is slowing fieldwork but benefiting drought-stressed pastures. On the Plains, cool weather prevails, except for a return of above-normal temperatures to Montana’s High Plains. From the southern High Plains to southeastern Nebraska, rain is boosting topsoil moisture for newly planted winter wheat and aiding drought-stressed rangeland and pastures. In the South, mild, mostly dry weather favors crop maturation and fieldwork, including harvest activities for a variety of summer crops. In the West, temperatures are rebounding to above-normal levels, especially across the northwestern half of the region. Cool conditions and a few showers linger in the southern Rockies. During the next few days, active weather will continue in the vicinity of a cold front. Showers will be especially numerous along the slow-moving tail (southern portion) of the front, where 5-day rainfall totals could reach 2 to 4 inches in parts of Oklahoma and Texas. Locally heavy showers will also develop in the vicinity of the Gulf Coast. In the Midwest, however, rainfall totals will be generally less than an inch. By early next week, rain will begin to surge northward across the Southeast, where 1 to 2 inches can be expected. In contrast, dry conditions will prevail into next week across the northwestern half of the Plains and much of the West. During the weekend, heat will temporarily return to the northern Plains and upper Midwest. Early next week, however, chilly conditions will return to the Plains and Midwest. Looking ahead, the 6- to 10-day outlook calls for below-normal temperatures from the Plains to the Appalachians, while warmer-than-normal weather will be confined to New England and the West. Meanwhile, below-normal precipitation across the northern and central Plains and the West will contrast with wetter-than-normal conditions from the Mississippi River, eastward.


Building a multicultural real estate practice may feel like a daunting task for any single agent. That’s one reason many global agents prefer to specialize in a particular niche market. Still, their efforts often rely heavily on building strong networking relationships with other key professionals.
That’s why this issue of Global Perspectives focuses on the “people” aspect of multicultural real estate. By this, we don’t mean your clients and prospects. Rather, we’re referring to the various professionals who, like yourself, help clients ultimately reach the closing table.
Inside this issue you’ll find tips and insights on two key aspects of building your team:
Within your brokerage. Consider partnering with one or more agents to develop a deep pool of talent, capable of standing out in any global market. This is a common strategy in any real estate practice, but can make even more sense for a multicultural real estate group.With other real estate professionals. Having a strong network of legal, financial and other experts is important for any agent. But with global transactions, a solid referral network often plays an especially critical role in connecting with clients and resolving unique transaction challenges.Additionally, we recognize the importance of expanding your global team without expanding your budget. Check out our helpful tips for extending your efforts with several free and low-cost resources.


The authors present 3 cases of childbirth-related psychosis in youngwomen to illustrate an interpersonal psychodynamic pattern that maycontribute to such reactions. In each instance, the woman is the submissivepartner in a symbiotic relationship with her husband and/or mother. Thebaby's presence threatens the symbiotic equilibrium of these relationshipsand leads to the dominant partner's overt or covert aggression against thewoman, which precipitates the psychosis. A personal or family history ofpsychosis may increase the woman's vulnerability to becoming psychotic inthis situation.


Scale model tests at Texas A&M University were conducted as part of this study to investigate the bridge failure mechanism. A 1:15 (lab:prototype) scale model of a typical, simple-span highway bridge deck was subjected to wave attack. Wave height, period, and storm surge elevation were varied in the lab.
The laboratory tests showed that properly scaled waves can move bridge decks off their pile caps when the surge level is near the elevation of the bridge decks. The decks progressively move in the downwave direction in response to individual waves until the decks fall off the pile caps. It was also noted during these laboratory experiments that the downwave width of U.S. bridge decks can interact with the wave phase for some wave and water level conditions to cause spatially-varying loads (particularly uplift) which impart a moment. These moments may be a critical aspect of bridge deck response.
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Equitable Charges and Rent Charges are charges which indicate that there are payments due from the landowner to the chargeholder. In the Okanagan region often these charges are placed on lands by private utilities at resorts (for example: Big White, Silver Star or Apex Ski Resorts) to secure the payment of utility fees to the resort. In other circumstances there are used to enforce payments to a local homeowners association (for example at Sunset Ranch Golf Course).
Although these charges impose ongoing financial obligations on the landowner, unlike mortgages Equitable Charges and Rent Charges are not (usually) discharged on closing as (similar to strata fees) they represent the security interests of ‘service providers’ to the land. Much like a Buyer would wish to review strata bylaws, these charges MUST to reviewed prior to subject removal, as the additional financial obligations imposed need to be understood by the Buyer.


Objectives This study describes 5-year follow-up results of catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF).Background Long-term efficacy following catheter ablation of AF remains unknown.Methods A total of 100 patients (86 men, 14 women), age 55.7 ± 9.6 years, referred to our center for a first AF ablation (63% paroxysmal; 3.5 ± 1.4 prior ineffective antiarrhythmic agents) were followed for 5 years. Complete success was defined as absence of any AF or atrial tachycardia recurrence (clinical or by 24-h Holter monitoring) lasting ≥30 s.Results Arrhythmia-free survival rates after a single catheter ablation procedure were 40%, 37%, and 29% at 1, 2, and 5 years, respectively, with most recurrences over the first 6 months. Patients with long-standing persistent AF experienced a higher recurrence rate than those with paroxysmal or persistent forms (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.9, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.0 to 3.5; p = 0.0462). In all, 175 procedures were performed, with a median of 2 per patient. Arrhythmia-free survival following the last catheter ablation procedure was 87%, 81%, and 63% at 1, 2, and 5 years, respectively. Valvular heart disease (HR: 6.0, 95% CI: 2.0 to 17.6; p = 0.0012) and nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy (HR: 34.0, 95% CI: 6.3 to 182.1; p < 0.0001) independently predicted recurrences. Major complications (cardiac tamponade requiring drainage) occurred in 3 patients (3%).Conclusions In selected patients with AF, a catheter ablation strategy with repeat intervention as necessary provides acceptable long-term relief. Although most recurrences transpire over the first 6 to 12 months, a slow but steady decline in arrhythmia-free survival is noted thereafter.


Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/2123/7121
Title: Media Discourse and the “Truths” of Gender, Culture and Violence Authors: Barnard, MerrynSociology & Social Policy
Issue Date: 2010 Abstract: Indigenous Family Violence (IFV) became the subject of a highly politicised and mediatised debate during 2006 – 2007, culminating in the Northern Territory National Emergency Response Act. This thesis investigates how the “truths” of IFV constructed in mainstream media positioned a legislation (which breached anti-discrimination laws) as a legitimate political action. Four critical discourse analysis tests were conducted on 48 newspaper articles to examine the impacts of media “truths” on mainstream “social knowledge”. Despite some counter-discourse, the majority of articles constructed family violence as an Indigenous-specific issue, arguing it was “accepted” and “tolerated” in Indigenous culture and communities. The critical perspectives of Indigenous individuals were (largely) de-legitimised or silenced within the articles, reducing the debate to discursive contestation between non-Indigenous (white) perspectives. This thesis reveals that a more egalitarian and inclusive society will be achievable if the perspectives of minority subjects can be equally incorporated, rather than silenced, within media debates. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/2123/7121 Department/Unit/Centre: Sociology & Social Policy Appears in Collections: Sociology and Social Policy Honours Theses
Items in Sydney eScholarship Repository are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.


Application/Category Sponsored by
Sunscreen potions, self-tanners and bronzing dusts proliferate as northern regions cycle into summer. Some consumers want a tanned, summer glow to their skin, while others demand safeguarding from UV radiation as skin cancer cases continue to rise worldwide.
Regardless of the season, photoaging and UV protection are key concerns in our industry. As one expert explained, the realization that sunscreen actives are a core reality behind the vast hype of antiaging is a recent phenomenon. While proving UV protection is a daunting task, as a recent lawsuit in California reminds us, the sun care market continues to grow with new combinations of raw materials and sun actives.


Practices to control ammonia emissions associated
with livestock production can be applied to animal housing, manure
and compost storage areas, and land where manure is applied. This
document provides an overview of control practices for each situation,
highlights their advantages and disadvantages, and allows producers
to make informed choices after evaluating production and economic
aspects of their operations. Note that not all practices that control
ammonia emission will result in odor control and vice versa, even
though ammonia is certainly associated with livestock production.
Do you want to address ammonia emissions for your


I'm pedalling down the driver's lane of the dual carriageway with Jermaine Stewart blaring in my ear at 8.30am. But this isn't one of my anxiety dreams about losing control and being late for work. It's the very real – and far more enjoyable – experience I'm having with Bike Train, an innovative, volunteer-run project which operates group rides between central Brighton and Sussex University, along the notoriously busy A270.
"The idea came from the critical mass events I'd attended with my eight-year-old daughter," founder Duncan Blinkhorn tells me as we breeze past a bus stop of bemused onlookers. "I realised what a safe space you can create on the roads when you are many."
So, with a handful of other volunteers, he launched the scheme in April 2010 to offer daily "trains" at peak times, with participants cycling two abreast, taking up one vehicle lane – "we don't intend to hold up other road-users, but we do intend to be an assertive presence" – in a sociable, safety-in-numbers formation.
Every ride – they've hosted over 400 so far – is accompanied by at least two trained marshalls, a big, bold sign, and some irresistibly funky tunes blasting out from a bike-mounted sound system. "Passenger" numbers range from four to 20, with an average of eight.
There is a cycle path along most of the 3.5-mile route, but it breaks up at several points – including the hair-raising Vogue gyratory, where riders must negotiate three fast-filtering traffic lanes – and at others becomes dangerously exposed, such as the Coldean turn-off where teacher Jo Walters was fatally struck by a van last July.
"The current provision is a disgrace," shouts Blinkhorn over the traffic. "It's no wonder people feel too nervous to ride on this road, despite its convenience for two universities, several schools and businesses, and the forthcoming Falmer Stadium."
"Our aim is to reclaim road space for cyclists, in a positive and perfectly legal way," he continues later. "We use a fun, 'just do it' approach to draw attention to serious issues about the need for wider bike lanes and raising safety measures above the bare minimum."
"There are typically 50,000 journeys made on this route each day, of which just 2% – around 1,000 – are by bicycle. We'd like to see that increasing to 10% – around 5,000."
Other ambitions include holding more rides to special events – there was a 100-strong convoy for Lewes bonfire night last November, while 50 cycled to the Springwatch festival at Stanmer park last weekend – and expanding to school runs. "The council has expressed a cautious interest in this, and we reckon motorists would be more respectful towards children," says Blinkhorn.
He's referring, no doubt, to the moment when a frustrated bus driver toots at us to get a move on. Panting at the back on my knackered Barracuda, I'm afraid it's yours truly who is holding us up.
Nevertheless, I'm in high spirits when we reach our destination, quite blown away by this devoted bunch of locals who head out in all weathers, every weekday, to encourage car-free commuting. They're helping cyclists of all ages and abilities – from foreign visitors unused to riding on the left, to accident victims who've lost their confidence – to feel safe, supported and empowered.
Theirs is the only daily scheme of its kind, yet at the opposite end of the country, a similar initiative is in action. Staveley Biketrain operates monthly rides in rural Cumbria, where cyclists encounter rather different challenges – not so much busy highways as unlit country lanes, and, let's face it, a higher likelihood of heavy rain.
"We don't have music, but we do bring powerful lights and puncture repair kits," says Alistair Kirkbride, who co-runs the five-mile trips between Staveley and Kendal, and Staveley and Windermere. Journeys in both directions depart at 8am and 5.15pm, attracting a small but enthusiastic gang of pedallers.
"We're determined to show people that cycling is a viable way of getting to work," enthuses Kirkbride. "One woman even gave her car up after trying the commute with us."
It's just one example of how these two projects, though small and run on shoestring budgets, are having powerful consequences, both for individuals and the cycling community as a whole. They're practical, sociable, visible and audible, and prove that biking to work can be an exhilarating joy, instead of an early-morning nightmare.
Could you start a bike train in your area?


Module Note
2011
(Revised from original 2011 version)
Investor Demand
Abstract
This conceptual note describes a series of cases on the investor demand approach to investment strategy and management. The cases demonstrate how and why securities market dislocations are driven by non-fundamental demand. I use the cases to progressively build a decision making framework for active investing in public markets. This note serves as an extended guide to the ideas in the cases, and is aimed at instructors forming their own course in Behavioral Finance or Investment Management.
Keywords: Investment;
Citation:
Greenwood, Robin. "Investor Demand." Harvard Business School Module Note 211-101, April 2011. (Revised from original April 2011 version.)


Description
[Excerpt from authors]Background The growing AIDS epidemic in southern Africa is placing an increased strain on health systems, which are experiencing rising steadily patient loads. Health care systems are tackling the barriers to serving large populations in scaled-up operations. One of the most significant challenges in this effort is securing the health care workforce to deliver care in settings where the manpower is already in short supply.


Immunohistochemical Evaluation of Inflammatory Mediators in Failing Implants
Yrjö T. Konttinen, MD, PhD / Jian Ma, DDS / Rejo Lappalainen, PhD /Pekka Laine, DDS / Uula Kitti, DDS / Seppo Santavirta, MD, PhD / Olli Teronen, DDS, PhD
PMID: 16642902
It was hypothesized that peri-implant tissue around loosening dental implants may contain cytokines with a potential to regulate osteoclasts. Peri-implant and/or gingival samples from loosened implants, chronic periodontitis (CP), and normal controls (n = 10 samples in each group) were analyzed using immunohistochemical staining to observe tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-a), interleukin 1-alpha (IL-1a), IL-6, platelet-derived growth factor A (PDGF-A), and transforming growth factor alpha (TGF-a). These cytokines were found in foreign-body giant cells, macrophages, fibroblasts, and epithelial cells. TNF-a, IL-1a, and IL-6 were increased (P < .05; unpaired t test) in peri-implantitis and CP, whereas PDGF-A and TGF-a were not. In conclusion, cytokines with a potential to activate osteoclasts were found in both peri-implantitis and CP, but the cytokine profiles differed in that IL-1a was the most prevalent cytokine in the former and TNF-a was the most common in the latter. These cytokines may contribute to peri-implant bone loss/loosening by stimulating formation and activity of osteoclasts and might be an amenable target for local therapies with cytokine modulators. (Int J Periodontics Restorative Dent 2006;26:135–141.)


Standard Inventory - Furnishings Property Owners Should Include
Guests choose furnished apartments and holiday homes for several reasons. Perhaps the most important reason guests choose this type of accommodation is for the typically wide range of domestic facilities and features included. It means the guest is able to carry on their usual domestic routines and really enjoy the accommodation.
As a property manager or holiday home owner, providing a comprehensive inventory is not only good for ensuring happy customers and repeat business but it also makes financial and safety sense.
For example, providing an ironing board ensures that clients don’t iron clothes on the dining table using a bath towel underneath. Similarly providing plastic storage containers will ensure that crockery or pots are not placed in the freezer.
Rent-A-Home provides a suggested standard inventory which we recommend as the minimum inventory of furnishings for corporate accommodation and for holiday rentals. Property managers may find the appropriate inventory may vary for a unique holiday rental property or luxury city apartment and property managers should use their discretion and judgement to provide appropriate inventory.
Tips for maintaining your inventory of furnishings and ensuring longevity and reduced risk of damage or injury include among other things:
- regular cleaning - regular maintenance - protective covers or dust protectors - instructions for usage - insurance for valuable or sentimental items - record of inventory in a welcome/arrival folder
Suggested Standard Inventory for a Furnished Property.
Lounge/ living room
- Television – at least 51 cm diameter screen. - Lounge suite – 3 seat sofa and sofa beds preferred - Side table and lamps - Stereo/ music player - VCR, Cable TV (e) - DVD (e) - Computer/ Internet facility (e) - Display cabinet - Coffee table - Prints / Art work
Dining Room
- Dining table - Dining chairs - Side board/ Servery (e) - Place Mats - Prints / Art work
Kitchen
- Set of pots and pans, plus wok and oven baking dish - Crockery: plates, bowls, side plates, cups/mugs* Super strong non chip - Glassware: drinking glasses; wine glasses - Cutlery: knives, forks, spoons, teaspoons* - Utensils: Chef knife set, spatula, tongs, wooden spoons, bottle opener, can opener, potato peeler - Electricals: refrigerator, dishwasher, microwave, toaster, kettle - Serving dishes oven proof and suitable for the table - Salad bowls or mixing bowls - Chopping board (wooden or plastic), colander, baking trays - Storage containers e.g. Tupperware - Tea pot/ pouring jugs, coffee plunger - Linen: tea towels, cleaning cloths and sponges - Bin – foot pedal operated - Wine glasses, champagne glasses, vase, decanter, ice bucket (e) - Full dinner setting (e) - Vase x 2 - Fruit Bowl - Salt & Pepper Shaker - Serving Platter - Superior electrical equipment for luxury homes: bread maker, pressure cooker, jaffle maker, coffee percolator, electric fry pan (e)
Bedroom
- Bed mattress with ensemble mattress or base - Two pillows for each sleeping space (ie Queen size bed 4 pillows) - Mattress protector and pillow protector - Linen: fitted sheet, flat sheet, quilt/ doona cover, additional pillow cases and blankets - Bedside table and bedside lamp - Alarm clock (in main bedroom) - Clothes drawers - Clothes hanging space - Waste paper bins - Prints / Art work
Bathroom
- Shower and or bath - Vanity unit /sink - Linen provided by commercial linen service: towels, bathmat, hand towels, face towels* - Waste paper bins Laundry and Other Items
- Iron - Ironing Board - Vacuum - Mop - Bucket - Dust pan - Telephone handset and prefer line available (local call connection available) – Protel or other service - Ashtray - Extension cord - International plug adaptor - Small toolbox containing at least: screwdriver set (essential) Notes:
- * denotes one must be available for each occupant - all items must be in good condition and in working order - e denotes executive standard properties


Obama's re-election could very well mark a shift in American attitudes toward a more expansive role for the government,
says economist Edward Glaeser at
Bloomberg . Indeed, a more
European role for government.
But two characteristics peculiar to America hold such change back, according to Glaeser: our political institutions and our racial diversity. The checks and balances built into our Constitution and our non-proportional form of representation prevent a strong, centralized welfare state from emerging. At least very easily. And our ethnic diversity, a veritable rainbow
compared to northern Europe, undermines the sense of public solidarity required to
implement a broader welfare state.


To investigate the contributions of amacrine cells (AC’s) to red-green opponency, a linear computational model of the central macaque retina was developed based on a published cone mosaic. In the model, AC’s of ON and OFF types receive input from all neighboring midget bipolar cells of the same polarity, but OFF AC’s have a bias toward M-center bipolar cells. This might arise due to activity-dependent plasticity because there are midget bipolar cells driven by S cones in the OFF pathway. The model midget ganglion cells receive inputs from neighboring AC’s cells of both types. As in physiological experiments, the model ganglion cells showed spatially opponent responses to achromatic stimuli, but they responded to cone isolating stimuli as though center and surround were each driven by a single cone type. Without AC input, L and M cones contributed to both the centers and surrounds of model ganglion cell receptive fields. According to the model, the summed AC input is red-green opponent even though individual AC’s are practically unselective. A key prediction is that GABA and glycine depolarize L OFF and M ON central midget ganglion cells; this may be reflected in lower levels of the chloride transporter KCC2 in their dendrites.


by George Ball
October closes with Halloween, the most misunderstood holiday, due to its roots not in horror but in rain. Just as seed is the first and the last—the seed and the fruit—so too are rains the alpha and omega of the growing season. Only after the dry heat of summer and early fall—unique to Western civilization, including the Mideast—do the rains (or snow) finally fall and prepare the earth for surviving winter and providing seed with the soil from which it can grow in spring.
The demons emerge on Halloween to show us, ironically, their marginal, subordinate status, and their submission to the rule of the natural, agricultural laws we must follow. They taunt us as we proceed at our work, to remind us that we must persist. Halloween is amusement, pure and simple.
Perhaps its peculiar contemporary mode (“trick or treat!”) foreshadows the vulgarization of Christmas, when the children have the tables turned on them; they are scrutinized, measured and subjected to greater or fewer gifts at least in Santa’s traditional form. But, no matter: Halloween exists to mark not only the agricultural calendar in our collective memory but also the return of the rains of autumn and the moisture to the soil.
If you are fascinated by the alpha and the omega that distinguishes the world’s great religions, you need look no further than seed.
While rain contributed to the evolution of plants it lacks the vivid quality of illustrating literally not only “the first and the last”, but also time itself. The seeds of flowering plants seem like the seconds of the earth’s cosmic clock—an endless flowering followed by the ticking and tocking of seeds fruiting, ripening and variously covering the expanse of our planet’s land surface.
Indeed, mankind invented the calendar to organize and regulate seasonal sowing cycles which, in turn, are caused by the earth circling the sun.
If seeds are the seconds, annuals are the minutes, vines are the hours, perennials the days, shrubs the months, and trees the years: a perpetual clock devised by the proverbial invisible watchmaker.
However, seeds—like seconds—are unique. Only brief and ephemeral moments contain the acts that change everything in our lives, from World War I to falling in love. Indeed, seeds remind me of the “alpha and omega” as figuratively expressed in the Judeo-Christian tradition. We plant them, as well as eat them. We transform them into bread, the staff of life. Seeds do not take energy—they give it. As tools for survival, seeds are perfect, as long as you store them carefully (water destroys them and mice love them).
Happy Halloween!


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Graduate School of Business, Stanford University, 655 Knight Way, Stanford, CA 94305, USA. ztormala@stanford.edu
When people seek to impress others, they often do so by highlighting individual achievements. Despite the intuitive appeal of this strategy, we demonstrate that people often prefer potential rather than achievement when evaluating others. Indeed, compared with references to achievement (e.g., "this person has won an award for his work"), references to potential (e.g., "this person could win an award for his work") appear to stimulate greater interest and processing, which can translate into more favorable reactions. This tendency creates a phenomenon whereby the potential to be good at something can be preferred over actually being good at that very same thing. We document this preference for potential in laboratory and field experiments, using targets ranging from athletes to comedians to graduate school applicants and measures ranging from salary allocations to online ad clicks to admission decisions.
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National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine 8600 Rockville Pike, Bethesda MD, 20894 USA


Many analysts have advocated using commodity prices as a guide for monetary policy. A necessary condition is that changes in commodity prices are good predictors of future aggregate price changes. This paper examines that proposition. It shows that while commodity prices can help produce more accurate inflation forecasts, the amount of improvement is small.
Amanda L. Kramer
(804) 697-8606


In Our Experience: Recommendations by Prisoner Rape Survivors to the National Prison Rape Elimination Commission is a publication derived from the first Prisoner Rape Survivor Summit conducted by Stop Prisoner Rape. Participants pointed out the vulnerability of certain individuals (physically and/or mentally disadvantaged; youthful offenders; smaller individuals; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or questioning) and the legal responsibility of the criminal justice system to provide a safe and humane environment. Their recommendations emphasized the importance of classification, housing assignments, staff training, and the role of authorities in preventing and investigating sexual assaults to ensure the fundamental dignity and safety of incarcerated persons.
Posted
Thu, Aug 30 2007 11:01 AM
by
CC Pro


Purée This article relies largely or entirely upon a single source. (August 2012)
Purée and (more rarely) mash are general terms for cooked food, usually vegetables or legumes, that have been ground, pressed, blended, and/or sieved to the consistency of a soft creamy paste or thick liquid.[1] Purées of specific foods are often known by specific names, e.g., mashed potatoes or apple sauce. The term is of French origin, where it meant in Old French (13th century) purified or refined .Purées overlap with other dishes with similar consistency, such as thick soups, creams (crèmes ) and gravies—although these terms often imply more complex recipes and cooking processes. Coulis (French for "strained") is a similar but broader term, more commonly used for fruit purées. The term is not commonly used for paste-like foods prepared from cereal flours, such as gruel or muesli; nor with oily nut pastes, such as peanut butter. The term "paste" is often used for purées intended to be used as an ingredient, rather than eaten.
Purées can be made in a blender, or with special implements such as a potato masher, or by forcing the food through a strainer, or simply by crushing the food in a pot. Purées generally must be cooked, either before or after grinding, in order to improve flavour and texture, remove toxic substances, and/or reduce their water content.
Contents
Common purées [edit] Common purées include apples, plums, and other fruits smashed or mashed for their juice content.
Baba ghanoush (eggplant) Bisque (shellfish) Champ Ful medames (fava beans) Hummus (chickpea) Legume soups such as pea soup, bean soup, lentil soup Purée Mongole (a mixed pea and tomato soup) Pimento (olives) These fruits and vegetables are often served as purées:
Apple Arracacha Carrot Cassava Pea Potato Pumpkin Rutabaga Squash, buttersquash, etc. Sweet corn Tomato Pickles See also [edit] References [edit] [edit] Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Purée


This core value has been carefully re-examined and re-affirmed in the strategic planning process. Despite the escalating scholarship needs of today’s students, Swarthmore is committed to maintaining its need-blind admissions policies and to meeting families’ demonstrated need. But what does this require today and what might it mean as we plan for the future? Strategic Directions articulates the following objectives:
• Raise funds specifically for financial aid to increase endowment support and expand to meet anticipated future needs. • Promote the liberal arts locally, nationally, and internationally with renewed vigor, affirming that Swarthmore’s commitment to access is essential for the best liberal arts experience.


A group of experts has developed a checklist and flow diagram called the CONSORT Statement. The checklist is designed to help authors in the reporting of randomised controlled trials (RCTs). This systematic review aims to determine whether the CONSORT Statement has made a difference to the completeness of reporting of RCTs. Reporting of RCTs published in journals that encourage authors to use the CONSORT Statement with those that do not is compared. We found that some items in the CONSORT Statement were fully reported more often when journals encouraged the use of CONSORT. While the majority of items are reported more often when journals endorse CONSORT, the data only showed a statistically significant improvement in reporting for five of 27 items. No items suggest that CONSORT decreases the completeness of reporting of RCTs published in medical journals.
None of the evaluations included in this review used experimental designs, and their methodological approaches were mostly poorly described and variable when they were described. Furthermore, evaluations assessed the completeness of reporting of RCTs within a wide range of medical fields and in journals with a wide variation in the enforcement of CONSORT endorsement. Our results do have some limitations, but given the number of included evaluations and the number of assessed RCTs, we conclude that while most RCTs are incompletely reported, the CONSORT Statement beneficially influences their reporting quality.


Industry-wide changes are causing automotive dealers, manufacturers and suppliers to take a close look at how to most effectively and efficiently market to customers. IBM® EMM solutions help automotive marketers acquire new customers, streamline marketing processes, and build ongoing relationships with existing customers throughout their ownership life cycle.
Boost car sales and repeat purchases through timely relevant marketing messages. Leverage customer intelligence and rich analytics to better understand needs, wants and behaviors. With this understanding, automotive companies can determine the most effective and relevant communications for each individual over time. Leverage detailed customer behavioral data to deliver targeted marketing promotions, messages and offers across channels. As a result, your customers feel like you have created a unique experience especially for them. Increase marketing velocity through automation, best practices and collaboration. Streamline the end-to-end marketing process. IBM can enable you to create marketing programs with targeted offers and place relevant marketing messages about new makes, models or timely service options. Synchronize, coordinate and measure marketing efforts across channels - TV, radio, web, print and dealer's communications. Develop targeted cross-sell and up-sell campaigns for aftermarket services. Manage lead qualification, enrichment, distribution and maturation, and the feedback loop on leads shared with dealers. Automate dialogs that drive customer purchases and the car ownership life cycle with acquisition and retention initiatives to drive new model sales. Better predict when a customer is likely to purchase a new vehicle, so the company knows when to initiate a dialog around a new purchase, perform overall segment migration analysis; and identify customers whose lifetime value indicates it is time to migrate them to a higher priced brand.


Bright Nights Community Forum: Talking Through Depression - What We Know about Effective Psychotherapy for Mood Disorders This event was held on January 26, 2010 at Downtown Library: Multi-Purpose Room Research has shown that "combination treatment," both medication and therapy, is most effective for treating depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders. However, with many different evidence-based therapy treatments currently in use, it can be difficult for a patient to know which mode of therapy would be the best fit for their particular needs.
Heather Flynn, Ph.D., Asst. Professor and Director of Psychotherapy Services for the UM Department of Psychiatry, and member of the UM Depression Center, will present a brief overview of the latest research on evidence-based pscyhotherapy treatments. This will be followed by a discussion with panelists from the UM Depression Center including Joseph Himle, Ph.D., M.S.W., Assistant Professor, UM Department of Psychiatry and School of Social Work, and Todd Favorite, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, U-M Department of Psychiatry and VA Medical Center. They will be joined by Bruce Gimbel, M.D., from the St. Joseph Mercy Health System Department of Psychiatry. The discussion will include questions from the audience.


3707 W. Maple Rd Suite 201 Bloomfield Hills, MI 48301-3212 Phone: 248-644-2701 ext 3336 Email: prudentecon@yahoo.com
Two graphs, demonstrating the relationship between key events, such as increasing the national debt ceiling and the rising price of gold.
Click a thumbnail to view full-size image.
A growing national debt causes a weak dollar, strong Euro, high gold and oil prices. Increasing the Federal Funds rate did not strengthen the dollar from 2004-2006. This disproves modern Economic theory.
Click a thumbnail to view document.
This graph demonstrates that tariffs have an immediate and profound impact on equity markets. Markets discount future earnings and tariffs represent a tax on those earnings.
Click a thumbnail to view document.


Discover how to use essential oils including application methods and cautionary tips.
People want to know how to make essential oils for various reasons. Essential oils can be highly beneficial to people in many ways. Although people can make their own essential oils, they need to have at least a rudimentary working knowledge of aromatherapy and herbology.
5 popular essential oils for hair growth recipes with mixing instructions and precautions.
Explore essential oils for acne prone skin that are the most effective with an example recipe.
Can essential oils really be beneficial for weight loss? Explore recent diet fads.


The influence of the clinically depressed state on personalityassessment was evaluated by comparing self-report personality inventoriesof patients while clinically depressed and at follow-up 1 year later. Theauthors examined two groups from the National Institute of Mental Health(NIMH)-Clinical Research Branch Collaborative Program on the Psychobiologyof Depression: Clinical Studies--patients whose symptoms had completelyremitted and those who had not recovered. The clinically depressed statestrongly influenced assessment of emotional strength, interpersonaldependency, and extraversion. Assessment of rigidity, level of activity,and dominance did not change after symptomatic recovery.


Small hearts can sometimes conceal big challenges, especially when it comes to congenital heart defects. As the mother of a baby born with this condition, I know firsthand. My son, Jonah, was born July 19, 2009, with numerous heart defects. A pulse-ox screening is what alerted the nurses and physicians that something was seriously wrong with our newborn. He was immediately flown to Arkansas Children’s Hospital, where he underwent several open-heart surgeries before succumbing to his defects Aug. 6, 2009. Nearly one in three infants who die from birth defects have a heart defect. We could potentially save these tiny lives if more emphasis is placed on assuring newborns are appropriately screened for heart defects before being discharged from the hospital. By using a test called pulse oximitry, we can detect low oxygen levels in the blood — a significant indicator of heart issues in babies.
Rep. Kim Hammer, along with Rep. Charlene Fite and Rep. Andy Mayberry, has filed a bill that can help our young ones live longer and fuller lives. The bill is HB 1468, and it will require screenings for critical congenital heart defects by a pulse oximitry test that can pinpoint critical or possibly life-threatening heart conditions that might otherwise be missed. This simple, non-invasive test could significantly improve the outcomes for hundreds of Arkansas babies born with heart defects.
I encourage the state Legislature to help give our children a healthy start in life by ensuring newborns are screened for congenital heart defects using pulse oximitry. So many young lives depend on it.
Wendy Cox
Cedarville


Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act
Key Action: Interim Final Regulation
The Department's EBSA published joint interim final regulation on October 7, 2009 together with the Departments of Health and Human Services and the Treasury. The interim final rules provide guidance and clarifications regarding GINA's statutory provisions.
Key Concerns and Issues Addressed
The interim final regulation provides clarification regarding GINA's prohibition against discrimination in group premiums based on genetic information, its limitations on genetic testing, and its prohibition on collection of genetic information.
Background
GINA expands the genetic information protections included in the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). HIPAA prevents a plan or issuer from imposing a preexisting condition exclusion provision based solely on genetic information, and prohibits discrimination in individual eligibility, benefits, or premiums based on any health factor (including genetic information).
GINA provides that group health plans and health insurance issuers cannot base premiums for an employer or a group of similarly situated individuals on genetic information. (However, premiums may be increased for the group based upon the manifestation of a disease or disorder of an individual enrolled in the plan.) GINA also generally prohibits plans and issuers from requesting or requiring an individual to undergo a genetic test. However, a health care professional providing health care services to an individual is permitted to request a genetic test. Additionally, genetic testing information may be requested to determine payment of a claim for benefits. There is also a research exception that permits a plan or issuer to request (but not require) that a participant or beneficiary undergo a genetic test. Additionally, GINA prohibits a plan from collecting genetic information (including family medical history) prior to or in connection with enrollment, or for underwriting purposes. An exception is included for incidental collection, provided the information is not used for underwriting.


Rep. Sam Graves (R-Mo.) is sponsoring H.R. 6575, the Medicare Audit Improvement Act of 2012, with co-sponsors Billy Long (R-Mo.), Todd Akin (R-Mo.) and Adam Schiff (D-Calif.). The bill would provide guidance for medical necessity audits that include requiring physician validation for medical necessity denial of a claim, establish a limit for medical record requests, improve recovery auditor transparency and restore due process rights, improve auditor performance by implementing financial penalties, and permit denied inpatient claims to be billed as outpatient claims when appropriate, according to a letter AMA sent to Graves.
“While the AHA has zero tolerance for real fraud and abuse, these recovery auditors are paid contingency fee payments, a potential conflict of interest, leading to concerns that they focus on claims and services that have the highest likelihood of error, in order to increase their fees,” the letter states. “Hospitals are experiencing a significant number of inappropriate denials amounting to hundreds of thousands of dollars in unjust recoupment payments for medically necessary care. According to AHA data, hospitals are successfully overturning RAC denials 75 percent of the time.”
Text of H.R. 6575 is available at congress.gov.


This study revealed that the Igbo people, residing in the southeastern part of Nigeria, use mushrooms for food and medicine. On the average, each respondent consumes 8.64±3.70 species of mushrooms. Over 95% of the respondents consume edible mushrooms because of the taste, 86% use them as substitute for meat and fish, while 36.36% use some mushrooms for medicinal purposes. Pleurotus tuberregium, Termitomyces robustus, and Daldinia concentrica are used in ethno medicine among the Igbos.


I blog often about the importance of food journaling. It wasn't until I started journaling that I was really able to get a grip on my nutrition and make the changes necessary to lose weight. Journaling forced me to be accountable for what I was eating and how much I was eating.
The days of consuming a 6 oz filet mignon pan fried in a tablespoon of butter (472 calories) were replaced by my handy George Foreman grill and a 3 oz petite filet (185 calories).
I typically hear alot of moans and groans when I tell people they'll need to weigh and measure foods. The good news is that after a while, it becomes fairly simple to eye-ball portions.
In the meantime, here are a few guidelines you may find useful, courtesy of Cara Regas (MA, ATC, ACE certified), a strength and conditioning coach at Fitness Quest 10:
Grains
1 cup of cereal flakes - The size of a fist
1 pancake/ waffle - A compact disc
½ cup of cooked rice, pasta - ½ of a baseball or an ice cream scoop
1 slice of bread - A cassette tape
Potato - A computer mouse
Fruits and Veggies
Apple, pear, banana - A baseball
1 cup mixed fruits - A tennis ball
1 cup cooked veggies - A fist
1 cup raw veggies - A rounded handful
Dairy
2 oz low fat cheese - 2 domino's or 6 dice
1 cup Low fat/ fat free milk or yogurt - A fist
Meat and Beans
3 oz fish, 1 chicken breast, ¼ hamburger patty - A deck of cards or palm of hand (no fingers)
2 Tbsp Peanut Butter - A ping pong ball
½ cup cooked legumes - An ice cream scoop
Train hard; stay strong.
Peace.
Susan
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Authors: Jiao S, Hsu L, Berndt S, Bézieau S, Brenner H, Buchanan D, Caan BJ, Campbell PT, Carlson CS, Casey G, Chan AT, Chang-Claude J, Chanock S, Conti DV, Curtis KR, Duggan D, Gallinger S, Gruber SB, Harrison TA, Hayes RB, Henderson BE, Hoffmeister M, Hopper JL, Hudson TJ, Hutter CM, Jackson RD, Jenkins MA, Kantor ED, Kolonel LN, Küry S, Le Marchand L, Lemire M, Newcomb PA, Potter JD, Qu C, Rosse SA, Schoen RE, Schumacher FR, Seminara D, Slattery ML, Ulrich CM, Zanke BW, Peters U Abstract: Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have successfully identified a number of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with colorectal cancer (CRC) risk. However, these susceptibility loci known today explain only a small fraction of the genetic risk. Gene-gene interaction (GxG) is considered to be one source of the missing heritability. To address this, we performed a genome-wide search for pair-wise GxG associated with CRC risk using 8,380 cases and 10,558 controls in the discovery phase and 2,527 cases and 2,658 controls in the replication phase. We developed a simple, but powerful method for testing interaction, which we term the Average Risk Due to Interaction (ARDI). With this method, we conducted a genome-wide search to identify SNPs showing evidence for GxG with previously identified CRC susceptibility loci from 14 independent regions. We also conducted a genome-wide search for GxG using the marginal association screening and examining interaction among SNPs that pass the screening threshold (p<10(-4)). For the known locus rs10795668 (10p14), we found an interacting SNP rs367615 (5q21) with replication p = 0.01 and combined p = 4.19×10(-8). Among the top marginal SNPs after LD pruning (n = 163), we identified an interaction between rs1571218 (20p12.3) and rs10879357 (12q21.1) (nominal combined p = 2.51×10(-6); Bonferroni adjusted p = 0.03). Our study represents the first comprehensive search for GxG in CRC, and our results may provide new insight into the genetic etiology of CRC.


Dr. DeMarree's research lies at the intersection of attitudes, social cognition, and the self. Projects examine (a) the mechanisms by which primes impact judgments and behavior, including their impact on the self, and meta-cognitive factors influencing priming effects; (b) the role of self-variables, such as self-affirmation and self-confidence, in persuasion; (c) predictors of attitude strength, and in particular subjective ambivalence, and (d) self-strength, or the factors predicting the durability and impactfulness of self-views.


[en] Taking into account the close antigenic relationship between bovine herpesvirus 1 (BoHV-1) and caprine herpesvirus 1 (CpHV-1), a live attenuated glycoprotein E (gE) negative BoHV-1 vaccine was assessed in goats with the aim to protect against CpHV-1 infection. Vaccine safety was evaluated by intranasal inoculation of two groups of goats with either a gE-negative BoHV-1 vaccine or a virulent BoHV-1. The length of viral excretion and the peak viral titre were reduced with the gE-negative vaccine. To assess the efficacy, two goats were inoculated intranasally twice 2 weeks apart with a gE-negative BoHV-1 vaccine. Four weeks later, immunised and control goats were challenged with CpHV-1. A 2 log(10) reduction in the peak viral titre was observed and the challenge virus excretion lasted 2 days more in immunised than in control goats. These data indicate the safety and the partial efficacy of a live attenuated gE-negative BoHV-1 vaccine intranasally administrated in goats. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.


While describing a Congressional Budget Office report that projects government spending on healthcare programs will "more than double over the next decade," David Morgan of Reuters writes:
Medicare, the federal healthcare program for the elderly, accounts for about half the projected growth, with Medicaid at roughly one-third and the remainder attributed to new federal subsidies to help lower income Americans purchase insurance under President Barack Obama's 2010 healthcare overhaul.
Far from being limited to "lower income Americans," these new federal subsidies established under Obamacare will be given to individuals with incomes up to 400% of federal poverty guidelines. Using the 2011 poverty guidelines, this means the subsidies will go to households with annual incomes up to $55,590 for a family of three, $89,400 for a family of four, or $104,680 for a family of five.
For comparison, the median household income in 2011 was $49,445.


by Lambert Schneider and Martin Cames - This report explores a sectoral crediting mechanism (SCM) for developing countries in a post-2012 UNFCCC climate regime. The report explores how a SCM could be implemented in practice. Different options for designing a SCM are identified and their advantages and disadvantages are discussed. Based on this analysis of options, a consistent policy framework for the introduction of a SCM under UNFCCC is proposed. The report focuses on a bottom-up approach where developing countries make proposals for implementing a SCM which are subsequently reviewed and agreed internationally. The report aims at facilitating the negotiation of such a mechanism under the UNFCC. Schneider, L. and M. Cames (2009). "A Framework for a Sectoral Crediting Mechanism in a Post-2012 Climate Regime." Report for the Global Wind Energy Council Berlin, May 2009.


Covered or lined stents originally developed for the treatment of peripheral artery obstructive disease following balloon angioplasty have become a key tool in the clinician’s arsenal for minimally invasive peripheral therapies. Treatments include a wide range of vascular disease and lesions, aneurysms, dissections, failed PTA, stenosis, trauma, occlusions and fistulas.
Gore's VIABAHN® Endoprosthesis, the next generation vascular endoprosthesis, is an easy-to-use device which allows clinicians to reline patients' arteries to improve blood flow. The GORE® VIABAHN® Endoprosthesis deploys from the tip to the hub. The endoprosthesis is a self-expanding, nitinol stent lined with an ultra-thin ePTFE graft, and can be inserted percutaneously through the groin or upper thigh. This delivery method can reduce a patient's hospital stay to as little as one day.


While the Iron Is Hot: Six Ways to Capitalize on Crises This paper discusses how business leaders can take advantage of this rare opportunity to make lasting improvements in the structure and operation of their organizations and to rethink how they perform as leaders. Based on direct feedback captured during a recent study of CEOs and senior executives of global corporations, these imperatives encourage leaders to avoid the risk of "backsliding" and capitalize on crises.


By Koki Muli It was an interpretation of the Constitution, which is final and precise and aims to safeguard the supremacy of the Constitution. While relying on Schedule 6 of the Constitution for clarity; its core point of reference was the substantive provisions of Article 89 of the Constitution.
It didn’t aim to change or alter the content of the Constitution; it instead upheld it. The Constitution provides that Kenya shall have 290 constituencies, which if the High Court had not upheld, would have meant an amendment to the Constitution.
This ruling restores further confidence that the Judiciary will remain steadfast in its functions and uphold the supremacy of the Constitution and the rule of law. Although, there are a few people who may not be satisfied with the outcome of the ruling; it is important to note that, the High Court addressed itself to the fundamental questions touching on its core mandate of interpreting the Constitution.
In this regard, it has set the framework for interpreting the law, allowing express and clear provisions to retain their meaning thereby guaranteeing the letter and the spirit of the Constitution.
Kenyans are becoming very litigious because of our newly found confidence and trust in the Judiciary; we want to resolve all our conflicts, disputes and disagreements in the courts. We can’t do this because it will bog the Judiciary down.
While the Constitution guarantees all of us the right to fair trial and our day in court, we must be careful not to become vexatious and frivolous litigants. Therefore, the Judiciary must firmly put a stop to unnecessary litigation.
Of the three organs of the Government, the Judiciary seems to have taken the lead to provide strategic and even political leadership; for indeed, it was the Chief Justice who categorically stated that the Judiciary will fight in the trenches of reform to stand firm and ensure leaders who fail to meet the threshold of leadership integrity as set out in Chapter Six of the Constitution, are not allowed to run for public office.
He has promised the Judiciary will weed out individuals who do not meet integrity and leadership standards.
Seems that there is no ambiguity regarding what the leadership of the Judiciary believes in; all the other courts must tow the line and end impunity and restore judicial integrity and clarity – the Judiciary should never again cede its power to interpret the law and guard the Constitution.
The Judiciary interprets, applies the law and resolves disputes and ensures the respect of the rule of law and equal justice for all. It is key guardian of the Constitution and the protector of human rights.


You just bought your new home and the buying process with the Realtor, mortgage company and escrow service are all in motion. Packing is well under way and you have determined what you can live with over the next few weeks rather than packing everything in boxes. You have a closing date and everyone in the family is excited. Everything is a go, or so you think.
The exact date of escrow these days can sometimes shift by a day, a week or even several weeks. Where does that leave you? You presumably already have provided a moving date at the current residence, the utilities have been scheduled for disconnection and switched to your new location, items you use daily are in boxes and the moving company has been prepaid to show up on a predetermined day. Now, the moving date has been delayed a few weeks, the movers cannot show up on your new date, you lose your moving deposit, and you find yourself in transition — between homes — needing temporary storage.
This exact scenario took place with a family who had contracted with a traditional moving firm. Escrow was set to close and the move scheduled for the following day. The problem? Escrow was delayed with no confirmed date provided, leaving this family in limbo.
Devastated, the family called PODS, to store everything until the new home closed, then had the PODS containers delivered to their new address.
Moving can be stressful on families during this hectic time. If you are not exact on your date, or the date changes, PODS can accommodate moving and storage needs on your timeframe, leaving you in control of the move.
Tips to remaining flexible during a move:
Expect the unexpected. A closing escrow date is never guaranteed until you have signed all documents and are officially presented with keys to your residence.
Plan ahead when packing your home. Label each box clearly and keep a list of items in each box. If you need to retrieve items this will help to streamline efforts.
Do not pack items you may need to use on a daily basis. Items to hold out until moving day include personal hygiene, medications, at least one week of clothing, phone books and a folder with all moving records.
Stay connected. Leave your home computer connected until the actual moving day to allow for important communication.
Let there be light (and heat). Allow for overlapping services with electric, gas and other utilities to avoid shut-off while you are still in residence.
(Steve Yapp has been a franchise owner of PODS — Portable On Demand Storage — for Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties since May 2005. For more information, call 644-6503, or visit the Web site: http://www.pods.com/ventura.aspx.)


This excerpt taken from the C 10-K filed Feb 22, 2008.
While the major risk factors are described individually on the following pages, these risks often need to be reviewed and managed in conjunction with one another and across the various businesses.
The Chief Risk Officer, as noted above, monitors and controls major risk exposures and concentrations across the organization. Specifically, this means looking at like risks across businesses (risk aggregation) and looking at the confluence of risk types within and across businesses (risk convergence).
During the course of 2007, including in the fourth quarter, Risk Management, working with input from the businesses and Finance, provided enhanced periodic updates to senior management and the Board of Directors on significant potential exposures across the Citigroup organization arising from risk concentrations (e.g., residential real estate), financial market participants (e.g., monoline insurers), and other systemic issues (e.g., commercial paper markets). These risk assessments are forward-looking exercises, intended to inform senior management and the Board of Directors about the potential economic impacts to Citi that may occur, directly or indirectly, as a result of hypothetical scenarios. These exercises are a supplement to the standard limit-setting and risk capital exercises described later in this section, as the risk assessment process incorporates events in the marketplace and within Citi that impact our outlook on the form, magnitude, correlation and timing of identified risks that may arise. In addition to enhancing awareness and understanding of potential exposures, these assessments then serve as the starting point for developing risk management and mitigation strategies.


Stuart Popham, Vice-chairman EMEA Banking at Citigroup gave a guest lecture to students at the University of Glamorgan this week.
The lecture ‘Professions: fit for the future?’ explored the role of professions within financial and professional services in an increasingly digital, urban and global market. He compared the percentages of people worldwide who had a mobile phone compared to those who had a bank account.
He suggested that in the near future people would be able to apply for a credit card or bank loan on an ATM – and be issued with the credit card there and then! His lecture was focused on the need for future professions to take on board the changing nature of doing business – particularly in relation to the increased digital, urban and global market.
Stuart considered a number of key skills as being necessary for the professions of the future – skills that were over and above being a subject knowledge expert. These included the need for good communication skills – written and oral; offering value for money for the service; and providing balanced advice – being honest and realistic without worrying a client or over dramatising (or under dramatising) a situation.
Donna Whitehead, Head of Law, Accounting and Finance at Glamorgan said, “Listening to someone of Stuart’s calibre and experience speak is a fantastic opportunity for our students.”


Environmental tax reform: efficiency and political feasibility Abstract: Although market-based environmental measures like uniform CO2 taxes reach a given standard at minimal cost, they do not prevail in real world policies. An effciency oriented environmental policy fails, as it involves a redistributen of pollution rights, resulting in a strong and generally effective opposition of the groups that forego economic rents. The present paper analyzes the tradoff between efficiency and political feasibility of several CO2 tax and reimbursement schemes, using a computable general equilibrium model of Switzerland. The simulation results indicate that a policy combining a uniform CO2 tax with differentiated labor subsidies preventing intersectoral redistribution is a better solution for the tradeoff than the presently existing tax schemes in various countries.
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Filed under: Boomer's Health A broken toe is a common injury that most often occurs when you drop something on your foot or stub your toe.
In most cases, a broken toe can be immobilized by taping it to a neighboring toe. But if the fracture is severe — particularly if it involves your big toe — you may need a cast or even surgery to ensure that your broken toe heals properly.
Most broken toes heal well, usually within four to six weeks. Less commonly, depending on the precise location and severity of the injury, a broken toe may become infected or be more vulnerable to osteoarthritis in the future.
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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has required prevention-based food safety plans – called Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points, or HACCP plans – for seafood-processing companies since 1997 and for juice companies since 2002.
Plans for seafood and juice focus on how to prevent contamination rather than how to respond to it, unlike other food safety regulations.
In these written plans, domestic and foreign seafood and juice processors must identify biological, chemical and physical hazards that could result in unsafe food reaching consumers. The hazards include improper temperature control and use of contaminated water.
Once risks are identified, companies must define and implement ways to minimize or eliminate the chance of contamination.
These plans are key to guiding food safety practices in seafood- and juice-processing facilities.
Seafood products, such as oysters and sushi, are often consumed raw and are more likely to make people sick.
In the decade before prevention-based safety plans were required for juice companies, juice was linked to at least 15 outbreaks in the U.S., according the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Children were victims in many of the outbreaks.
In 1996, apple juice contaminated with E. coli sickened 60 people in the U.S. and Canada. Half of the victims were under the age of 5, according to the CDC.
The 1996 outbreak along with others raised concerns among public health officials and consumers, prompting additional safety regulations for juice.
“Some things have definitely improved, but the one thing that has dramatically improved is the awareness of things that can go wrong and how to prevent them,” said Dr. Steve Otwell, a professor at the University of Florida’s Aquatic Food Products Program and the National Coordinator for the Seafood HACCP Alliance.