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Starting a Small Business can be challenging.But,it is worth the all efforts you’ve took when you see the profits and growth of your small business.If you are looking for starting your own business, then you need to decide on this before taking your decision. Becoming an entrepreneur is a dream for most people. However to be a successful entrepreneur, you need to face the risks and you also need to have self-confidence. Among all, you should take right decisions right time. However before starting your own business, you need to choose your path and select the business niche. Here is a guide for you which explains the most needed factors to decide before launching your own business.
Millions of people are desperate to escape the 9 to 5 grind. This is why starting your own business is one of the popular alternatives. You have to look for a business opportunity that turns you from an employee into a self-employed entrepreneur running your own business.
So, what are the Reasons for Starting your own business? Let’s discuss.
There are many good reasons why this can be a wise move.
Being your own boss means you can set your own hours. This can be very important if you have small children, or simply want to spend more time at home. Working from home can also save valuable time, if the alternative is spending two or three hours every day commuting back and forth to your work place.
Freedom is something that we all look for in our lives. Being your own boss gives you that valuable gift for the life called freedom. It sets you free from the limitations of being someone else’s paid employee. And by being your own boss also makes you responsible for your own future.
As a self-employed entrepreneur you are free to set your own working hours. You can establish your own work habits, create your own products, and choose what work you will do or will not do, drum up your own customers, and do what you have to do to make those customers happy. You are free to take every business decision for the sake of success!
Of course, working for yourself gives you the opportunity to make a whole lot more money. You will earn more than your monthly salary as a full time employee who works for others.
Most importantly, when you are self-employed you are free to set your own prices. This freedom will lead you to earn income as you desire. You will not have to answer to anyone other than yourself, your suppliers, and of course, the ever-present taxman, after you become successful.
How to get started with Your Own Business?
Now you know the reasons for starting a small business which is your own business. It is time to plan about starting your business. How to get started? Simply, there are Two Alternatives to be your own boss.
There are two obvious ways you can go about starting your own business. The first way is to quit your day job and launch full bore into your new business. We’ll call this the “All or Nothing Approach”.
Depending on your point of view, taking the All or Nothing Approach can be either an act of bravery or just plain irresponsibility. Unless you are independently wealthy, planning and timing are very important with this approach. That’s because once you leave your previous employment your source of income will be gone and you will have a limited amount of time to make your business work.
This approach can be very risky and kind of “sink or swim”. And you can sink pretty quickly without a source of income. This can be risky specially when you have kids or a family to take care of.
So, how do you plan your new business while you are in a full time employment?
You should plan the changeover to self-employment very carefully. Every situation will be different.
Consider the following as an example.
A person was able to step from his high paying job into a private consulting business because he spent the last few months of his employment developing leads and contacts within his industry. When he went on his own he had customers waiting in the wings. This was an opportunity to him to earn income even after leaving his full time job and leading more than double his income in the very first year.
But most of us are not so lucky. We do not have the quality leads or the specialized skills. Nor do most of us have the opportunity to use our present employment to build a launching pad of potential customers before we take off into the wild blue yonder of self-employment. Most of us are starting from scratch with a few vague ideas, a questionable set of yet-to-be-defined skills, and severely limited income. So our venture into self-employment had better take off within a few months or we’re likely to crash and burn.
That is why the Spare Time Approach is best for most new self-employed entrepreneurs.
The second way is to continue on with your current employment and develop a business on the side, in your spare time. We’ll call this the “Spare Time Approach”.
The Spare Time Approach is less risky. It lets you test your ideas, develop your skills, and build your business slowly. If you are unsure about the products or services you intend to sell, the Spare Time Approach lets you try out different product lines and see how well they fit in with your overall objectives. Often new entrepreneurs find that their first ideas are not realistic, or there is no market for the services they want to provide. Or they find they cannot charge enough to make any money providing the products or services they have chosen.
However this approach is low risky and you can leave your full time job when you are confident enough with your business, monthly income and potential success.
How to choose your products or business niche?
If you think of starting a small business then choosing a business opportunity that works for you is really important. You need to choose your product carefully. Like all new entrepreneurs, whether you take the “all or nothing approach” or the “spare time approach” you should be very tight-fisted with your limited resources.
– Talk to people who are already selling the product or service.
– Make sure the company provides on-going support for their product(s).
– Establish the credibility of the person or company providing the product or service.
– Make sure there are no hidden or unexpected costs (such as franchise fees) that will eat away your profits.
This applies whether you are looking at an online product or affiliate scheme, or a more traditional product or service aimed only at local customers.
A person produces Business Card Displays. The idea behind this product is that it provides new entrepreneurs the opportunity to set up an advertising service for local businesses. With this product, the entrepreneur creates a network of displays placed in high traffic retail outlets like grocery stores, hair salons, and bowling alleys. Then local advertisers can place their business cards in one of the compartments in the displays across the network. If someone browsing one of the displays sees a service they are interested in, they just take a card for future reference.
Sure, this is not everybody’s cup of tea. But for someone willing to put in a few months of hard work at the beginning, it is a pretty easy way to create a business that will return a handsome income for years to come.
And this manufacturer stands behind his product. He can show you examples of successful advertising networks where his displays are used. He will also provide testimonials and contact information from real people whom you can ask how well the product is working for them. And to top it off, he uses the product himself in a network of over 40 displays, and can provide hands-on information about how it actually works in a real-life situations.
This is pretty rare in the world of “business opportunities”. Many are run by “take the money and run” types who make wildly exaggerated claims about how successful you can be. But in many cases they have never actually made the idea work for themselves.
As any successful entrepreneur will tell you, your choice of products is crucial to your success or failure. Many products are simply bogus ideas with no hope of working. And many others are designed to produce maximum profits for their creators, and minimum profits for people like you and me who sell them. So no matter how hard you work, or how committed you are to being successful, if you choose the wrong product you will be operating with a millstone around your neck.
The above concept is still applicable if you choose to be a consultant in a specialized niche. Think of potential leads. Same time think of the area that you are expert of. Learn more about your niche. Be an expert of the subject.
After all you need to network. Networking is more important to attract more potential leads to your business.
Below are some of the entrepreneur interviews we had recently. Read their stories and learn their approach for success!
Previous Article Interview with Kilo M.O.E , Music Producer and CEO of O.M.G Entertainment, inc.
Thanks for the eye-opener. I am particularly in love with your “All or None” principle.
As entrepreneurs, we have to dedicate a chunk of our time to our business. This is a great guide for start-ups.


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A lot of people go to Walt Disney World with their minds set on meeting a certain few characters, and these are the characters that will consistently have the longest waiting times.
However, maybe you and your child(ren) aren't interested in meeting Mickey Mouse, or you weren't able to score that coveted Anna and Elsa FastPass and the standby line for Princess Fairytale Hall has reached all the way outside the building. Fear not!
There are plenty of character experiences to enjoy with typically lower wait times and they can be just as magical, if not more so!
Here's my list of my favorite character experiences that often go overlooked in the parks.
This spritely spirit meets daily behind the Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom (currently by the New Fantasyland walls during construction.) She gives AMAZING hugs and is an absolute joy to converse with!
Her line also serves as the line to meet the Tremaine family, as they alternate meeting times through the morning/mid afternoon, so check with her character attendant friend before you get in line so you know whether to stay that moment or come back in 15-20 minutes.
The moment you enter the Magic a Kingdom and walk into Main Street USA you have the opportunity to be magically whisked away to a magical book with a little bit of faith, trust and pixie dust! Tinker Bell LOVES to talk and will gladly share all about her adventures in Neverland with you.
You can be transported to her little meeting place by entering the Town Square Theater, and wait times are typically never over 30 minutes.
It's always delightful to fly with her.
These two are easy to miss because their meet and greet area is tucked away by the Splash Mountain exit near the Frontierland Train Station in Magic Kingdom. It's an absolute must for any Toy Story fan, as this is Jessie's only regular meet and greet area.
In this pic, I told Jessie if she ran away with me, she'd never have to hear that sad, sad Sarah McLachlan song from Toy Story 2 ever again.
While these two adorable friends have meeting places at both the Thotful Spot (next to the Winnie the Pooh ride) and Crystal Palace at Magic Kingdom, my absolute favorite spot to meet these two is in the United Kingdom pavilion at Epcot.
Their meet and greet area is tucked away in the very back of the pavilion so you'd totally miss it if you didn't know it was there! It's designed to resemble Christopher Robin's bedroom, and meet times usually begin in the afternoon and go until early evening.
Yes, I did dress up like Christopher Robin to go meet them. Don't judge me.
What's better than getting to meet characters? Getting to dance in front of Cinderella Castle with them!!
The Move It Shake It Dance and Play It street party kicks off at the start of Main Street USA and parks in front of the Castle 2-3 times daily. It's an opportunity to get silly with character friends and dance your tail off if you choose to do so!
Characters in the street party that come to dance with guests may include Baloo, King Louie, Phineas and Ferb, Stitch, and the Genie, all in colorful party garb. The music is a lot of fun, you get to help choose the song played at the end, and if you take a selfie and upload it to your Instagram with the hashtag #MoveItShakeItPics, you might just get featured on one of the float's big screens!
Baloo hugs are my absolute favorite. Don't tell any of the other characters I said that.
I want to meet the evil characters, evil queen, Maleficent, hook, Jafar, Cruella Deville, Cinderella’s mom and step sisters…..
These are great ideas. I will be sure to check out Tinker Bell with my daughter at next visit. Thanks Dustin!
I need a new Disney Prep School blog post!! They’re so helpful!
Great post! Any tips for how to interact with the characters? I never know what to say and just kinda stand there with a silly smile on my face.

industry_corpus2: Travel & Geography


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Flap Jack Drizzle brings you an indispensable condiment for everyone’s breakfast table. Kids love it. It will turn any adult into a kid again. Our unique flavored syrup contains no high fructose corn syrup, and makes the perfect gift for the holidays or business deal.
Pair it with a local pancake mix like Buchanan’s, Cobia Creations, or Lehi Roller Mills and you have the perfect, local Utah breakfast.
Best stuff ever! I use it pancakes, bacon, sausage, ham! It’s a must try.
Can never get enough. It goes on everything and is much better than traditional maple.
This is seriously the best syrup to put on anything! I don’t even like pancakes, but adding this to pancakes makes me love pancakes! Seriously the best stuff ever!
Flap Jack Drizzle began in 2012 by Kent Swanson. Kent’s delicious recipe has quickly become a Utah favorite. In 2016, Flap Jack Drizzle was named one of Utah’s “Best of the Best” in by theslcfoodie.com.
This entry was posted in Food and tagged Food, syrup on May 22, 2017 .

industry_corpus2: Hospitality & Catering


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A teacher from Clark High School got the surprise of a lifetime by Miracle Mile Shops and Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino.
Ashley Nebe was honored with a makeover at Dollheads Blowdry and Extensions Bar, a $500 shopping spree and tickets to "Vegas! The Show" for her work to better educate southern Nevada students.
In true Las Vegas style, the gifts were delivered by a showgirl and twin performers from the show.
Her photo was also displayed on the huge electronic billboard outside the Miracle Mile Shops on the Las Vegas Strip.
Nebe works in Clark High School's English Department and worked to pilot Common Core State Standards.
One of UNLV’s most prominent fundraising events will expand to four days in 2013.
The 39th annual UNLVino will span four days from April 18-21. Organizers say the wine festival will showcase an array of international beverages including wine, beer and spirits.
UNLVino’s $350 wine-lovers “passport” package – includes admission to all four tastings, a savings of more than $100.
The Luxor Hotel and Casino is inviting teachers to experience two Strip experiences for free starting in September.
Educators will get complimentary admission to Bodies and Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition every Tuesday from September 4 through October 2. Teachers must present a school ID, paycheck stub or homeschool letter to any Luxor box office. The tickets are limited to one visit.
Regularly priced tickets are $32 for adults, $30 for seniors and $24 for children 4 to 12 years old. The exhibitions are open daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Bodies is a unique view of the human body with more than 275 items on display. Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition includes more than 300 authentic artifacts from the ship.
Students and teachers from Chaparral High School got a chance to see "Le Reve – The Dream" at the Wynn Las Vegas Tuesday.
Wynn Las Vegas and the producers of "Le Reve" gave the students and teachers the complimentary tickets because of their dedication and perseverance throughout the school year. The group included members of the swim team. The team continued to compete despite the fact it had to forfeit every competition because it didn’t have enough members.
Theater students were also at the special showing. The students continued to put on productions even after their budget had been cut. The tickets were handed out last month during Teacher Appreciation Week. The group was able to meet the cast members before taking a group photo.
A Strip shopping mall will be hosting kids from two local high schools to show them how a major shopping center works.
Miracle Mile Shops will have students from Canyon Springs High School in North Las Vegas and Rancho High School in Las Vegas job shadow top executives. The job shadow is part of the Communities In Schools of Nevada’s mission to empower students to stay in school so they can achieve in life.
The students will take part in the job shadow Thursday. The management team of the shops and managers at some of the mall retailers will show them what a typical day is like. All the students are part of the Fellows Academy which is run by Communities In Schools of Nevada. Students in the academy are partnered with a CISN site coordinator that helps them address any stumbling blocks to attending classes. They also take classes focusing on character building, goal setting and career exploration.

industry_corpus2: Subject Education


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Dynamic Tool & Design, Inc. is pleased to announce the completion of a 17,000 square foot addition to our Menomonee Falls facility. Dynamic Tool & Design, Inc. has now grown to a 51,000 square foot facility, manufacturing molds for the packaging, personal care and medical markets. The addition of the new Technology Center provides capacity for in-house sampling and training.
“Customers rely on Dynamic to help them develop new and improved products, and the TechnologyCenter has expanded that capability. High quality prototyping is our forte, so with mold making and molding facilities under one roof, part changes happen quickly and efficiently”, explains Dave Miller, President of Dynamic Tool & Design, Inc.
The Technology Center houses five molding machines ranging from 80 tons to 650 tons (two are multi-shot capable) which allow for in-house sampling and mold qualification. The Technology Center also enhances in-house training for mold operation and mold maintenance.
Floor space and other resources have been set aside to provide for turnkey projects. “A customer can have a press shipped to Dynamic and we will build and install a mold in that press, sample, debug and qualify the entire project. We then ship it to the customer ready for production. This is especially valuable to customers since they need not expend their manpower and machine time with these processes”, explains Tom Andrews, Operations Manager.
To schedule a tour of the new TechnologyCenter, contact Vic Beradi at 262-783-6340.

industry_corpus2: Manufacturing


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The season for political messaging is in swing, but how can politicians – especially those running highly competitive races for mayor or alderman – break through?
A newly refined plan would hike Illinois’ $8.25 minimum wage to $15 by 2025.
There’s a new restaurant trend emerging across the U.S., and it’s not a new type of food.
Ask Geoffrey: How Does Edens Expressway Stay Billboard-Free?
Most Chicago-area expressways are littered with billboards. Why not this one?
There’s been a lot of talk in Chicago about police reform and a police code of silence.
Chicago aldermen are caught up in some questionable or unscrupulous behavior.
Paris Schutz and guests discuss the week's news.

industry_corpus2: Politics & Administration


text: Emerson’s Humor magnetic note pad and magnet – The pad has printed on it Men are from Mars, Women are from Visa!. The magnet says Thas’s right…The check is in the Mall!. There are 50 sheets of paper in pad and measures 7 x 4.5 inches. Comes with a bonus ceramic tile magnet is 1.75 inch square.

industry_corpus2: Others


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Snowfall north of Louisville has increased in intensity approaching the noon-day hour as Indiana Department of Transportation’s yellow plow trucks head back to their unit locations for a shift change. INDOT drivers have been on their assigned routes for 12 hours. All anticipate returning to their trucks at midnight when noon-shift drivers call it a day.
A full contingency of mechanics and support personal are also on 12-hour shifts.
The Falls City Subdistrict reports continuous plowing along all snow routes. Highways are snow covered in the Sellersburg area. They are snow-packed at Corydon. Many should be considered hazardous.
According to one shift foreman, “It’s been a long night. It’s cold. But the snow is easy to push off the pavement.
A dry snow, INDOT has had little trouble clearing roadways. But the heavier snowfall means snow routes are going to be re-covered before plow trucks make return passes.
For updates, monitor http://facebook.com/INDOTSoutheast and http://twitter.com/INDOTSoutheast, or access INDOT’s TrafficWise Traveler Information Service at http://indot.carsprogram.org.

industry_corpus2: Transportation


text: Join Now — You can start today to begin earning income as soon as possible. When you join, you'll be an official "Independent Watkins Consultant," with complete flexibility over how you build your business and how much effort you put in. You'll get free access to our extensive training website, webinars, podcasts, and other support. We'll even set you up with a FREE informational website like this one, and you can immediately begin building your business from your home or small retail shop right here in Coldstream at a pace that's right for you.


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"A white family is likely to have about six times as much wealth than a black or Hispanic family coming out of the recession."
— Alicia Menendez on Sunday, April 27th, 2014 in comments on ABC's "This Week"
By Julie Kliegman on Sunday, April 27th, 2014 at 4:02 p.m.
Alicia Menendez appeared on ABC's "This Week" on April 27, 2014.
ABC’s This Week spent much of their show Sunday discussing race issues, from affirmative action to racist comments allegedly made by Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling to economic disparity.
During a roundtable segment on the difference between the middle class in the United States and Canada, Fusion reporter Alicia Menendez argued that differences in wealth aren’t just generational, they’re racial.
"We also know that there is a racial component to this, that a white family is likely to have about six times as much wealth than a black or Hispanic family coming out of the recession," she said.
PunditFact finds her ratio correct.
Menendez pointed us to an April 2013 report from the Urban Institute, a nonpartisan social policy think-tank. The institute measured mean wealth by race. Using 2010 data from the Survey of Consumer Finances, the Urban Institute looked at assets including cash savings, homes, retirement accounts and subtracted any debt.
The Urban Institute concluded that, post-recession, for every $1 an average black or Hispanic person has in wealth, an average white person has $6. That’s up from 1983, the farthest back the study goes, when the ratio was 5-to-1.
Thomas Shapiro, a Brandeis University social policy professor who studies the wage gap, said the 6-to-1 ratio is correct, but represents the lower end of the wealth gap range researchers have come up with.
At the higher end of the spectrum, Pew Research cited a 20-to-1 ratio in 2011. They took median wealth from the Census Bureau’s Survey of Income and Program Participation 2009 data. So the data varies by survey used, year and measure of average (mean vs median).
There’s debate among economists and social scientists about which ratio is the most accurate. Darrick Hamilton, an urban policy professor at The New School, said the Census Bureau surveys more low-income families, while the Survey of Consumer Finances oversamples high-income families where minorities aren’t as well represented.
Overall, any ratio from 6-to-1 to 22-to-1 could be considered an accurate measure of the wealth gap, Shapiro told us.
Menendez said, "A white family is likely to have about six times as much wealth than a black or Hispanic family coming out of the recession." A study from the Urban Institute supports her statistic. Other research shows an even wider gap, further proving her point that race is a factor in U.S. wealth.
Menendez's statement is accurate, and might even understate the issue. We rate her claim True.
Published: Sunday, April 27th, 2014 at 4:02 p.m.

industry_corpus2: Finance & Economics


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Village of Tinley Park issued the following announcement on Jan. 19.
The Village Board approved the appointment of Leasha Cooper to Accountant II. Cooper is a CPA and graduated from the University of Illinois. She has more than 20 years of experience in the accounting field in many roles, including accountant, controller and auditor. Congratulations to Leasha Cooper!


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It’s normal to feel uneasy about pruning, because once you cut it, it’s GONE! If you’re unsure about when/how to prune your plants or shrubs, it’s hard to commit to it at all.
Tools- You gotta have the right tools to get the job done. A few we recommend are a pruning saw, loppers, a good quality hand pruner, and pruning shears.
Techniques- Thinning, the most common technique, removes branches in dense situations, allowing the sun to get in and do its duty. Shortening, which is trimming branch ends to stimulate new growth, helps increase blooming and gives shrubs a peppy new look. Shearing helps shape a plant by cutting the outside layer of leaves, which is how topiaries get their shape. Pinching, which is exactly how it sounds, is simply pulling off old blooms to make room for new ones to grow.
Times- Crape Myrtle – Late winter/early spring, just prune any branches that are crossing, rubbing, or growing inward. Fruit Trees – Winter/late Spring, or after they’ve flowered. Azalea – Prune after flowering ends.
Fruit Trees- Keep canopy thinned out with 3-5 main branches in center. Avoid pruning in Spring. Make sure to cut off dead branches.
Crape Myrtles- Stay away from “crape murder”, which is cutting crapes off with a straight line. Try to trim 1-2’ off of the tops of the trees and thin.
Hydrangeas- If a hydrangea blooms on old wood, you need to prune after flowering season (late summer or fall). If hydrangea blooms on new wood, it can be pruned in late spring/early winter.

industry_corpus2: Agriculture & Fisheries


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Jessica Wilson has a Bachelor of Laws and a Postgraduate Diploma of Legal Practice from Bond University. She was admitted to the Roll of Solicitors in the Supreme Court of Queensland on 8 October 2012 and is also admitted to practice as a solicitor in the High Court of Australia.
Jessica is passionate about helping clients to achieve the best results possible. She prides herself on being able to connect with clients and offer them sound advice to reassure them and guide them in what is usually one of the most stressful times in their lives. She takes a practical approach with clients and discusses all options available to them to find a lasting solution to their family law matter.

industry_corpus2: Law & Justice


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For the Launcher has to be installed .NET Framework. The following link will lead you to a web installer, which will install .NET Framework on your computer.
done in the Aerosoft Launcher (that will automatically open after the installation is completed).
install as many times as you want.
What is sent to Aerosoft servers?
serial number and the product number. Nothing more.
information on what is installed.
What do you do with the data sent to your systems?
never share the information with anybody.
Why are we using the activation system?
the new activation system will also be acceptable.
What if I've got a problem, can't install anymore etc.
ourselves on our customer support and dedication to customers and this has not changed.
Will this be used for boxed releases as well?
many systems you will notice the new system. In these cases we'll assist you.
Will the activation be used for all products?
developers who use us as publisher.
Will this be used for products already released?
If there are big changes in a product we might use it, but that seems not very likely.
What is Aerosoft goes out of business?
Won't happen, but in the worst possible case we can just make an unlock application available.

industry_corpus2: Computing & Telecommunications


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Search and compare available, short-term properties in Oahu to find your perfect vacation rental.
We believe finding a vacation rental in Oahu should be easy and not take hours of searching and scrolling. We’ve designed VacationRenter from the ground up to help travelers find the perfect rental faster and easier.
There are 6,358 vacation rentals near Oahu for all manner or mood of travel, availability of time off, and size of budget. So, if you are hoping for an affordable Oahu vacation, you can find 10% rentals under $135/night. Or if you are willing to splurge on a luxury vacation in Oahu, there are 636 between $712 and $18,533/night. Whether you are sleeping by yourself or with a significant other, or are travelling with a group of 205 there are short term home and apartment rentals in Oahu to fit your Hawaii vacation needs. The most popular types of short-term rental homes in Oahu are apartments, houses and private rooms. Oahu has been a frequently searched travel destination this year and continues to grow in popularity. VacationRenter offers a wide selection of vacation rental availability from leading travel sites like VRBO (Vacation Rentals By Owner), Homeaway, Booking.com, and many more. Search your travel dates to find available Oahu vacation homes for your trip.


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Mr Chow foremerly held the same post in MediaCorp and SingTel.
The Board of Orchard Parade Holdings announced the appointment of Lucas Chow Wing Keung as Chief Executive Officer.
Mr Chow has been a Director of the Company since 1 June 2008. Based on the recommendation of the Nominating Committee, the Board has considered Mr Chow’s background and is of the view that Mr Chow is suitable for the position of Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director.
Mr Chow, 58, will oversee matters relating to the Group’s business strategies and direction, corporate plans and policies and the general management of the Group, according to a Orchard Parade Holdings report.
He was a former CEO of MediaCorp and SingTel.

industry_corpus2: Film & Entertainment


text: My understanding is that you have a case of SABLE (stash aquired beyond life expectancy). Almost every knitter I know suffers from this malady. I think we must contract the virus when we touch that first skein of merino. Lovely yarn, would Tuesday Morning not have it if you visit again? I am sure the daughter will be pleased with the Potato Chips.


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Carmen Small wins her first race with Cylance Pro Cycling after joining the team this past month in Bend,OR. Starting in Smith Rock, stage 1 made its way to McKenzie Pass. The peloton had 90 miles to cover on stage one with a mostly flat profile before ending with a summit finish in McKenzie Pass. “The race was a bit of time to establish itself with the strongest riders waiting for the base of the climb to assert themselves,” Said Director Hilton Clarke.
A break established itself eventually and maintained a smaller gap as they peloton came through Sisters. Once the race hit the climb the break was absorbed and a Krista led peloton was reduced quite a bit. Krista’s efforts set up Carmen for the stage 1 win as well as the QOM and Yellow Jerseys, her first victory with the team.
Next up is the stage 2 time trial in Prineville, OR, and event that Carmen is the reigning national champion in.

industry_corpus2: Sports


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The Fund invests primarily in an global portfolio of energy stocks.
Investors should note the concentration risk of investing in energy stock, currency exchange risk, equities risk, volatility risk, and general investment risk.
The Fund aims to provide long-term capital growth by investing primarily in a global portfolio of energy stocks, which include major oil companies, energy services, natural gas infrastructure companies and oil and gas exploration and production companies, as well as companies developing alternative energy sources. The Fund focuses on reasonably priced companies with above-average production volume growth and earnings, cash flow and asset value growth.

industry_corpus2: Power & Energy


text: Laura and Elliott had both the ceremony and reception at the stunning Hales Hall, the colour scheme was palest pinks, soft peaches and neutral shades with muted toned foliages worked through adding definition. Laura wanted a traditional shower bouquet which cascaded down, the flowers were arranged tightly together giving a stunning, opulent style, flowers including Peonies, blowsy roses, Lisianthus, subtle scented Freesia, Gyp, with myrtle foliages mixed through, touches of twigs were worked amongst the flowers adding a rustic touch. The bridesmaids had a smaller, simpler version than the bridal bouquet linking in beautifully, the buttonholes were a delicate warm champagne ‘Vendella’ rose with peach Lisianthus nestled in at the base of the rose backed with subtle toned foliages. For the ceremony the main wall behind the table has wall boxes which were dressed with lots of trailing ivy and flowers in pale pinks, peaches and neutral tones. The top and centre box were dressed with blooms with the other two just having trailing ivy rambling down for a ultra natural style, the side boxes were then dressed with just trailing foliages adding to the beautiful natural look, giving the ceremony area a gorgeous romantic look. The ceremony table had a beautiful long and low design full of blowsy blooms cuddled together giving an massed, compact style, this design was then moved onto the top table for the meal and to be enjoyed during the evening celebrations. Cute bunches were attached onto the sides of the chairs up the aisle, tied on with rustic natural twine tied in a neat knot with the ends left long to trail down. The table centres were a cluster of three varied sized vases, the tallest had a chapel candle in, the medium had a summery tied bunch in and the smallest had a small cluster of fluffy white gyp. The three vases were placed in the middle of each guest table, the warm glow from the candle adding a beautiful, romantic glow during the meal.


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We are much honored that you are here.
Please send us your message below including your comments, suggestions and any other information you want to pass on to us and to our Founder and Spiritual Leader, Rev. Dr. Dee Adio-Moses.
We will surely get back with you as quickly as we can. You are very special to us.
Our office hours are based on Eastern Time in the United States, Monday thru Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.


text:
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industry_corpus2: Gaming


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The Edinburgh Steiner School was founded in 1937 on qualities of care, attention and respect which remain central to the school community today.
All Steiner Schools strive to embody this ethos. They are non-hierarchical, with major decisions being taken by the College of Teachers, a group of experienced teachers who meet once a week in the evening to discuss the running of the school. A management group (which is part of the College of Teachers) ensures that decisions are properly implemented. Because every teacher has contributed to the decision-making process, they are committed to upholding the outcomes. This presents a strong example of a close-knit working community to our pupils.
Relationships between teachers, pupils and parents are positive and caring within a strong community in which each family and child can find a place. As a result, many children who have not flourished at other schools settle easily into this supportive environment.
As often as possible, we come together as a whole school community to celebrate key seasonal festivals. At Michaelmas, for example, children from each class help to prepare a meal which we then share together.
Each week there is a Friday Market on the school grounds, during which pupils and parents can browse and buy from the various stalls, as well as catch up with one another.
Our Spring Fayre and Christmas Market are both opportunities to invite the wider community to visit us and share song, food and the crafts produced by our talented staff and parents.
The Tuesday Notice is a fortnightly newsletter for parents, staff, and friends of the School.
We accept short notices from those people who have a direct connection with the School. They are published at the School’s discretion. Submissions are by donation to Growing Spaces – the school’s ambitious campus development fund.
Notices must be submitted using the form below, via email or by handing in at the School Office. Please aim to submit requests by the Friday before publication.
The Edinburgh Steiner School is a member of the SWSF, a membership organisation for all the Steiner schools and independent Steiner Early Years settings in the UK and Ireland. Each year Class 5 pupils from a large number of Steiner Schools from across the UK come together for a three day Greek extravaganza – the “Steiner Olympics”.


text: Nursery School is a stand alone nursery which provide education and care mainly for 3 and 4 year olds on a part-time or full-time basis. They normally operate from around 8.30 to 4.30 pm on a school term basis. Wrap around care, lunch cover can be provided. Providing quality early learning and care.


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Shopping for a latex or memory foam mattress can lead to indecision. How do you know which material will be right for you? With GhostBed blend of memory foam and latex, you can enjoy the benefits of both.
The GhostBed mattress comes with a great 20 year warranty and has a positive customer service track record — not to mention super fast delivery. This bed is also on the less expensive side compared to many of its other direct to consumer mattress peers. During this GhostBed review, keep in mind that we will be talking about the basic version of their mattress. They also sell a more premium version called the GhostBed Luxe, which features advanced cooling technology. Let’s take a look at the major pros and cons of purchasing the classic GhostBed mattress.
The price point is enticing: The GhostBed currently runs only $695 for a queen, making it one of the less expensive options of its type. If you are not in a position to drop a thousand dollars on a new mattress, you can still get a lot of the benefits of a latex and memory foam mattress with the GhostBed.
You’ll stay cool all night: One of the GhostBed’s biggest draws is its reputation as one of the coolest sleeping bed in a box models. From their temperature conscious outer cover to their “cool burst technology” latex, this brand takes their heat retention reduction seriously.
There aren’t multiple firmness options: Many direct to consumer mattress brands let you choose from multiple firmness options so you can get the best sleep possible for your sleeping style. With the GhostBed, you will get a 6-7 out of 10 on the firmness scale, which is a common firmness level.
Motion transfer and edge support aren’t its strong suits: If you are a very light sleeper, or if it is important to you to feel supported near the edge of the bed, the GhostBed might not be for you.
The GhostBed may not be the height of luxury or technology, but it’s a cost effective and comfortable mattress that is also built to last. If you are mattress shopping on a budget and it’s important to you to pick something you can rely on for a long time, the GhostBed mattress is a solid option.
2 Inch Gel Memory Foam Layer: The fact that the memory foam here is gel is another reason the GhostBed won’t sleep hot. The memory foam layer contours to the body, ensuring pressure points are cradled and supported. This specific blend of gel memory foam is proprietary, meaning you won’t find it used in any mattress besides the GhostBed.
7.5 Inch Core Foam Support Layer: The bottom later of the GhostBed mattress helps give its shape better integrity and lends overall support to the bed. This base is made of a high density polyfoam.
The mattress cover is a viscose and polyester blend material. This can be a detraction for those who prefer organic cotton or other less synthetic materials. However, the mattress cover does not detract from GhostBed’s superior coolness, and your sheets will cover the polyester material anyway. The cover is thin and stretchy, so it won’t block airflow or bunch up as you change positions in the night.
As you first lie down on the GhostBed, you’ll feel a nice springy quality because of the top latex layer. Once your weight begins to sink into the mattress a bit more, you will notice the sink of the memory foam layer supporting your hips and shoulders. The GhostBed is an average firmness — a 6-7 out of 10.
The GhostBed bed is on the firm side, making it an excellent choice for back sleepers. You should not experience too much sinkage with this bed. Expect to feel like you are being supported enough that you’re resting more on top of the bed than in it.
The top layer of latex helps give this bed a springy, bouncy feeling on contact. There is a little less responsiveness here than in other mattresses because of the memory foam, though. You’ll love this bed if you enjoy the feeling of your mattress conforming to your body. But you won’t get that “stuck” feeling that entirely memory foam mattresses can produce.
Motion transfer is a bigger deal to some people than to others. The GhostBed mattress performs a little worse than average in motion transfer tests, but it will never be as bad as an old, springy mattress. You might feel your partner moving around at night, so consider how light of a sleeper you are to determine how important motion transfer is to you.
One of the GhostBed’s claims to fame is its superior temperature control. This is due to a few different factors. First, the top layer of latex is aerated for better airflow. Second, the proprietary gel memory foam layer is designed specifically with coolness in mind. Third, the thin material used for the mattress cover also promotes the circulation of cool air around the bed.
Edge support is one area where the GhostBed does not perform well. If you are sleeping near the edge, you may feel less stable than you’d like. Edge support is not a bit decision influencing factor for most mattress shoppers, because the average customer doesn’t need the edges of their bed to be particularly sturdy.
The GhostBed mattress will come in a box, and may give off some smell during the unboxing period. This is totally normal, and your bed will not retain a permanent smell after this brief off gassing period of a few hours or days.
★★★★☆ “Took a couple weeks to get use to but I love it. It was extremely firm when we got it and I don’t particularly like firm mattresses but my husband needed it for his back. After about a week I had to put my memory foam mattress topper back on and now I sleep so good, and its still firm enough for my husband. Love the free pillows we got, super soft and comfy. So far it was a great purchase.
This is an ideal mattress for people who have a tendency to sleep hot and want a cool, breathable mattress. GhostBed has put a lot of thought into making their bed one of the coolest on the market.
Because of the GhostBed’s medium to hard firmness, it is optimal for back sleepers. That doesn’t mean that side or stomach sleepers could not enjoy it, however. They may just find that this mattress is a little on the firm side for them.
Another great thing about the GhostBed is that it is very durable. The GhostBed’s parent company Nature’s Sleep has been around for quite a while, and their 20 year warranty shows that they stand by their product to perform well for a very long time.
The GhostBed offers a great warranty and a 101 night trial in addition to free shipping. They are known for ultra fast shipping, so you can buy your GhostBed mattress today and expect it to ship tomorrow.
f you are on the fence about the GhostBed and need an inexpensive mattress, you will probably be impressed by this bed’s comfort and quality.
Interested in the GhostBed Mattress?


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When I selected the Camino as my 2016 hike, it was by process of elimination. Hiking while I’m healthy is very important to me, but most of the long-distance hikes on my bucket list were off-limits after what had been a rather Lymey spring: I didn’t have the strength for long resupplies, high altitude trails would tax my bartonella-infected bone marrow, and I wasn’t in a hurry to hike a remote trail and find myself reenacting Escape from the High Sierra (Part I or II).
And so, I chose the Camino, where I knew I was likely to carry a light backpack, stay at low elevations, and be near other walkers. I was thrilled about the excuse to travel overseas, but I wasn’t tremendously excited about walking the Camino. I realized that doing so was a privilege — but I also thought of it as a confidence booster after the bad combination that was the PCT and Lyme, rather than an adventure in its own right.
While preparing for the trip, I read Camino trip reports and guidebooks, none of which made me especially enthused and some of which, like this scathing review, made me wonder whether I’d made a mistake in planning to walk the historic pilgrimage route.
Rereading that review now is actually trying because of how much it seems to me that the author missed the point. My Camino — a squiggly yellow arrow of six different routes forming a continuous footpath from Lescar, France, to the Spanish coast, and then back to Santiago — was absolutely awe-inspiring. It was different, special, magical, humbling, and absolutely transformative, in the way no other hike since my thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail has been for me.
I’m looking forward to sharing my impressions and favorite memories of the pilgrimage here.


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Welcome on Saône Plaisance, licence-free houseboat rental company for your holidays on the water in Burgundy.
Why not visit the Franche-Comté on the Saône starting from Savoyeux or Burgundy from Louhans on the Seille on one of our licence-free houseboats?
Contact us and take advantage of our exclusive promotions on the Internet.
or reach us by phone at +33 3 84 67 00 88.
Our team remains at your disposal to meet your expectations in the best possible way. Have a look at our information brochure here.


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It’s been fairly hot and humid these past several weeks but it cooled off substantially yesterday and last night, I was able to go to bed with my bedroom windows wide open. It felt great to sleep in the cool, dry air. So much so that I really didn’t want to get up for work this morning, but as usual, I dragged myself out of bed before my alarm went off at 5:30 AM.
Lots of stars out at 5:45 AM when I headed out to the car. I don’t know why I don’t always notice that, but this morning, perhaps, the sky was so clear and clean and there was little surrounding ambient light, that the stars just kind of jumped out at you. Pretty cool!


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Its your time to stand out!
Are you considering volunteering but are unsure whether it would be worthwhile? St Helens Council Public Health team have created a number of volunteering opportunities to really boost your CV. Our volunteering opportunities aim to help you to develop transferable skills, for you to use wherever your future may take you.
What skills could you develop? What are the benefits for you?
If volunteering in an area related to health and wellbeing isn't for you, don't worry. There are many other volunteering opportunities for young people in St Helens take a look at the related pages and useful links section on this page to explore what is on offer!

industry_corpus2: Health & Medicine


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Chronic muscle and joint pain is one of today’s most common sources of discomfort and debilitation. The vast majority of people experience chronic muscle or joint pain at some point in their life. At these times, life can become increasingly difficult and uncomfortable.
Thankfully, effective natural treatments are available. The experienced specialists at Bovaird Health Clinic in Brampton make use of state-of-the-art shockwave technology to cure chronic pains in as little as 72 hours. Our unique extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ECST) device has been effective in treating up to 95% of all chronic pain conditions. Shockwave therapy sessions are short and non-invasive, usually no more than 5-10 minutes in length. They provide successful relief of chronic pain and quickly restore mobility.
A shockwave is a very short, yet very intense, burst of energy traveling in a wave faster than the speed of sound. Shockwaves force new blood flow to the area, stimulating the body to repair damaged tissue on its own after just 5-6 treatments. It takes about 3 months for the tissue to repair itself fully. Once the repair process has been completed, pain will no longer be present. The basic technology behind extracorporeal shockwave therapy has been used succesfully for decades, on millions of people worldwide. Experience the benefits of shockwave therapy at Bovaird Health Clinic in Brampton and get it covered under Chiropody, Chiropractic or Physiotherapy services.
Interested in Shockwave Therapy Treatments?
Get started by requesting a Free Consultation with our Physiotherapist, Chiropractor and Chiropodist.


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Designed and built to the classic Peter Teal design.
Since Peter Teal made the first set many years ago, the classic Wool Blending Hackle has been widely copied. We've worked closely with Peter to re-create his original design, and even making a couple of minor improvements along the way. As such we're confident that we can offer the best hackle on the market today. Great for blending combed tops both natural and synthetic to produce your own unique blends.
We only use hardwood from sustainable sources for our equipment, not only the hackle but across the entire Wingham Equipment range. Two parallel rows of tines give a working width of 40cm and are securely set into the unit, 3mm thick and produced from harden steel stock. It's rare for these tines to be bent, but to ensure you get years of use from your hackle we've included a tine straighter, just to be sure. Each set also comes with a protective top piece to guard against any damage when not in use. Finally we include a three-hole diz to draw off your blend once completed.
Note: The hackle is designed to be used clamped to a table in order to provide a solid base to work with. We don't include the clamps as the additional weight would mean you'd end up paying a lot more for postage. Steel "G-Clamps" are available from any high street DIY store. Alternatively there a two pre-drilled holes at either end of the base unit if you would prefer to screw the hackle straight to the table.


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Traces of anthrax were discovered at a remote postal facility for the U.S. Supreme Court Friday, the latest in a series of anthrax-by-mail attacks targeting government agencies and media outlets. Bush administration officials say they are working hard to find the source of the anthrax powder. But there has been criticism of the way the administration has handled the anthrax scare.
The administration's homeland security director, Tom Ridge, sought to reassure local officials from the around the country meeting in Washington Friday that the anthrax threat is under control. "We are under attack from a different kind of enemy who is using different kinds of weapons, weapons designed to [cause] fear and weapons designed to panic and disrupt," he said. "We are not going to let them get away with that. We'll find them, we'll get them, and then working with you over the months and years ahead, we'll develop an even stronger prevention mechanism and an even stronger response mechanism."
At the White House, presidential spokesman Ari Fleischer told reporters that the anthrax found last week in a letter to Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle was not necessarily the work of a foreign government as some experts have speculated. He said the lethal dose of anthrax contained in the letter could just as easily have been produced by a microbiologist in a sophisticated laboratory.
Meanwhile, postal workers around the country are growing increasingly concerned about the spread of anthrax through the mail. Postal union officials in New York and Miami were urging that some facilities be closed so that both workers and buildings could be tested for anthrax. Judy Johnson, a postal union official in Miami, said, "If you delay our testing, we are as good as dead, which has already been proven in Washington."
While the Bush administration's foreign policy team has been getting generally high marks for its handling of the war on terrorism, the administration's approach on dealing with anthrax has gotten mixed reviews.
Administration officials have at times given conflicting statements about the anthrax mailings and have been criticized for not moving sooner to protect postal workers from possible exposure. As commentator Joseph From said on this week's "Issues in the News" program here on VOA, "The scare is obviously serious. A lot of people have been panicked by it, particularly people in the post office. And the Bush administration has stumbled on this and quite badly. There has been a lack of coordination. We have had conflicting stories from the FBI, from the health authorities."
Even some experts on bio-terrorism admit they were taken by surprise by the anthrax attacks. C.J. Peters is with the Center for Biodefense at the University of Texas. Interviewed on NBC television, he said, "None of us believed that you would have such a lethal powder that would go out in an envelope. We always thought that that would be disseminated in an air conditioning system or as a release into the environment, which I think makes an important point. When you think you know what the terrorists are going to do, you are making a big mistake."
But Mr. Peters also believes that the administration's response to the anthrax scare has been measured and reasonable. "I think we are better off than we were three or four years ago," he said, "but it is very difficult to prepare for something like this. The massive logistical problem of treating people with antibiotics if there were thousands of people exposed is a tremendous problem."
Despite concerns about the administration's handling of the anthrax scare, a new poll indicates that more than three in five Americans still have confidence that the government has taken adequate steps to protect the public from biological terrorism.


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The Internet Society Nominations Committee is now inviting nominations for candidates to serve on the ISOC Board of Trustees.
In this year’s election cycle one Trustee will be elected by ISOC Organizational Members, one trustee by ISOC Chapters, and two will be selected by the Internet Engineering Task Force.
The Trustee positions are 3-year terms that will begin mid-year 2018 and expire mid-year 2021.
The Board of Trustees provides strategic direction, inspiration, and oversight to advance the Internet Society’s mission of preserving the open, global Internet.


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The good: The all-wheel-drive system on the 2008 Subaru Impreza WRX helps the car hold the corners well. The navigation system has impressive graphics and a complete points-of-interest database. The stereo has the most tweakable equalizer we've ever seen in a car.
The bad: Bluetooth cell phone integration doesn't seem to be available, and the Impreza WRX's fuel economy is mediocre for a small car.
The bottom line: Except for fuel economy, the 2008 Subaru Impreza WRX works well as an all-purpose car. But if you want something more tightly tuned, wait for the STi version.
Subaru's WRX gained cult popularity among video gamers and drivers who wanted racing performance on a budget. We tested out the newest iteration, the 2008 Subaru Impreza WRX, and have some bad news: the WRX has matured. Oh, it still has rally handling, a screaming engine, and a scoop on the hood for its intercooled turbocharger. But its refined body style will make it fit right in the corporate parking lot, and even the Subaru Forester has a hood scoop.
The first thing we noticed about the new WRX were the sides, which look an awful lot like they were stripped off of a BMW 3 series and shortened. Yes, it's that smooth flame-surfacing, broken up only a little by the beltline and a rib.
The WRX lives in a middle ground between the standard Subaru Impreza and the highly tuned Subaru Impreza WRX STi, with a short detour to the Subaru Outback, part of the Impreza line. Despite its mature look, this new WRX mostly delivers on the performance expected of it. It also shows Subaru's direction in cabin electronics, with a really nice-looking navigation system and a stereo that true audiophiles can appreciate.
Test the tech: Turbo testOn our first run out in the 2008 Subaru Impreza WRX, we felt the power of the intercooled and turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine. Acceleration is good below 2,500rpm, but above that it becomes incredible as the turbo spins up and the car gets its peak 224 horsepower. So we thought it would be interesting to run some acceleration tests starting with and without the turbo wide open.
For the first test, the car was launched from just over 1,000rpm. With the clutch engaged, we stomped the accelerator and held the gears until 6,000rpm before upshifting. The car behaved very well, with no wheel spin and no tendency to pull to either side. Our time to 60mph on this run was 7.02 seconds.
For fast launches, we would prefer a close ratio gearbox.
On the second run, we revved the car up to 5,000rpm before dropping the clutch. Again, the car was very well-behaved, with no wheel spin. We upshifted at high rpms again. Because of this transmission's wide gear bands, we could hold second gear all the way up to 55mph, but it also had a significant rev drop on the upshifts. Our time for this run, with the turbo blowing fast from start, was 6.75 seconds, .27 faster than the low rpm start.
Finally, we let the driver modulate the accelerator, without trying to launch from a specific tach reading. For this run, we got our best time of 6.45 seconds. While starting with the turbo running at full speed achieved a better time than launching from idle, the car performed best when the driver was allowed to find the sweet spot of rpms, power, and gear.
In the cabinAs we would expect from the sporty version of the Impreza, the WRX includes sport seats for the driver and passenger. These seats have fixed headrests and a sculpted look that goes well with the general interior theme. The dashboard curves in to meet the center stack, somewhat like the cabin of the Subaru Tribeca. The interior also has a clean look, with few buttons marring the curving surfaces. The stack is particularly simple, only hosting HVAC controls, vents, and an LCD for the navigation and audio systems.
Subaru includes an information pod at the top of the dashboard, which shows temperature, time, and fuel economy, among other things. With the navigation option present, the LCD also shows trip computer functions, with more detail than shown in the information pod. The LCD trip computer also has an analog display that shows three animated dials indicating such things as average and instant fuel economy.
The map resolution and general graphic quality are first-rate.
The navigation system impressed us with its next-generation graphics. We've seen few navigation screens that looked this good, from the high-resolution maps to the 3D route guidance graphics. But it doesn't show enough street names, making navigating by the map difficult. The interface is very good, with a touch screen and buttons along the bezel for selecting maps, destination entry, and the audio system screens.
Beyond its pretty graphics, the navigation system stood out as one of the best we've seen because of its complete points-of-interest database, including retail establishments, and its usefulness in planning complicated trips. For each place or address you enter, you can choose to make it a waypoint or the final destination. With the waypoints, you can change their order, delete some or all, and easily enter new ones, all from a convenient list screen.
On the lower part of the LCD's bezel is a button labeled Tilt. This button lets you set an angle for the LCD, something we didn't find particularly useful, or open it up completely to reveal a disc slot. This single-disc slot handles MP3, WMA, and RedBook CDs, as well as DVDs. Yes, when the car is parked, you can actually watch DVDs on this LCD. There is also a composite video jack alongside the RCA jacks in the console, letting you plug in an MP3 player, video game, or other video device. XM satellite radio is also available. The onscreen interface makes it easy to find and select music from MP3 and WMA CDs, and satellite radio.
The in-dash disc player also handles DVDs.
Our WRX had six speakers and a subwoofer, an arrangement we're seeing in many cars these days. But what makes this audio system stand out is the equalizer and surround sound settings. The equalizer is tweakable to an insane degree, letting you actually choose specific frequencies to level up or down. You can also choose from presets for specific music genres. Although we appreciate flexibility, the equalizer is a little overboard--we would have liked an extra set of controls that let us set bass and treble levels. The surround settings also offer quite a few options, letting users choose Movie, Music, Matrix, or Dolby Pro Logic.
The upshot of all these sound options is very good audio quality. More speakers and a pumped-up subwoofer might have done the complex settings more justice. Music sounded good through this system, but not spectacular. If we had spent a few days tweaking the equalizer settings, we might have got it more to our liking, but as it was, we didn't hear highs or bass that really stood out.
Because not all the specifications on the 2008 Subaru WRX are out, we're not sure if Bluetooth cell phone integration will be offered. If it is, it will most likely be a dealer accessory.
Under the hoodAlong with its international rally success, the WRX became popular as an affordable sports car. The 2008 WRX doesn't let the model down, but it isn't a great leap forward, either. The 2.5-liter intercooled and turbocharged four-cylinder engine is similar to the previous year's model, although peak 224 horsepower is reached sooner, at 2,800rpm. We were impressed by this engine's smooth power as the turbo wound up--we didn't feel a sudden turbo bump in the acceleration.
Although similar to the previous year's engine, peak horsepower now comes in earlier at 2,800rpm.
The five-speed manual transmission is also a carryover from the 2007 model. We have mixed feelings about this transmission. Because of its wide ratios it doesn't make for particularly fast launches--a short throw close ratio gearbox would do better. But since you can go from 5 to 55mph in second gear, you can keep it in second while negotiating winding mountain roads, without having to shift up to third. We ran it over the Panoramic Highway, above Stinson Beach north of San Francisco, taking it through compound S-turns with signs suggesting 15mph, finding we could let the revs wind up on the straightaways, then brake and take it through the corners, all without shifting. In our driving, we found that all the performance lies in second and third gears--fourth and fifth are for saving gas on the freeway.
Handling is a big part of the WRX's repertoire, but we weren't all that impressed by the steering response. The wheel has some looseness about it, but the all-wheel-drive compensates well enough. In our hard cornering, we never felt the tires break free, although we did feel the car drift a little. We were disturbed a bit by the body roll we felt in the corners. The WRX could use a little more reinforcement in that area.
The steering on the WRX isn't as tightly tuned as we would like.The EPA gives the 2008 Subaru WRX 19mpg in the city and 24mpg on the highway. In heavy city traffic, we dropped below 19mpg, but our overall observed average was 20.8mpg. These numbers could probably be improved by a sixth gear, allowing better economy at freeway speeds. The WRX hasn't been rated for emissions yet.

industry_corpus2: Automobiles


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Wilmington, DE- Delaware State Police Major Crimes Unit detectives have arrested a 29 year old Wilmington man and charged him in connection with an incident in which a digital camera was placed in a women’s bathroom at an area restaurant in March.
After an extensive investigation, which included multiple interviews and the examination of evidence, detectives were able to positively identify Luis Eduardo Lopez, 29, of Wilmington, as the subject who placed a digital camera in the women’s bathroom of the Moe’s Southwest Grill located at 4717 Kirkwood Highway, Wilmington, in March of this year. The camera was subsequently discovered by an employee of Moe’s and was turned over to troopers.
Detectives arrested Luis Lopez, a former employee of Moe’s, at his residence this morning, Tuesday, July 12, 2016, without incident. He was then transported to Troop 2, Glasgow, where he was charged with five counts of Invasion of Privacy. Lopez was arraigned at JP Court 11 and released on $10,000.00 unsecured bail.


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Many companies using mobile advertising have noted that when they used SEM content that referenced locations in their area, their mobile advertising yielded a greater client response. If you are employing mobile SEO material, keep in mind the target audience in your area and how to make a presence on their mobile devices.
Social media is a far-reaching communication tool, but if you examine LinkedIn or Facebook, you’ll likely see content regarding people or places in your area. Inputting keywords into your social media that are related to your region or adding the location to your updates can help you gain more of a local client base.
When you upload graphics, you probably perform the traditional on-page techniques, namely optimization using competitive keywords. But like with social media, don’t forget to add a location; this can be used to bring more traffic to your web marketing material.
You might also be contributing to online forums or posting blogs or articles. Even if you remember to incorporate all your regular SEO techniques, once again, don’t forget to include the location you are referencing in your writing or updates. Forums and the like serve as communities of people—communities that you want your local presence to be a part of.
It likely sounds redundant at this point, but adding long-tail keywords to your landing page that pertain to your community or localized work area, especially if you are a small or local business, can help your standing in organic searches, especially if people are using GPS as a part of their searches. When they punch in these specific keywords, your content can be better matched to their search, causing your presence in online rankings to rise.


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Aicardi-Goutières Syndrome, a form of Leukodystrophy commonly known as AGS, is a genetic disorder that mainly affects the brain, immune system and skin. AGS is one of more than 50 known Leukodystrophies. Leukodystrophies are a group of rare, progressive, genetic diseases that affect the brain, spinal cord and often the peripheral nerves.
Each type of Leukodystrophy is caused by a specific gene abnormality that leads to abnormal development or destruction of the white matter, or myelin, of the brain. The myelin sheath is the protective covering of the nerves. The nervous system cannot function normally without myelin. Each type of Leukodystrophy affects a different part of the myelin sheath, resulting in a range of neurological problems.
The mutations of seven different genes are associated with AGS. These seven genes include TREX1, RNASEH2A, RNASEH2B, RNASEH2C, SAMHD1, ADAR1, and IFIH1.
Aicardi-Goutières Syndrome is listed as a rare disease by the Office of Rare Diseases of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Aicardi-Goutières Syndrome affects less than 200,000 people in the US population. This neurological disease occurs in all populations worldwide, although it is almost certainly under-diagnosed. As of 2014, roughly 400 cases of AGS were known, and just over 120 cases had been reported in medical literature so far.
How does AGS affect the individual?
Usually within the first year of life, individuals affected by Aicardi-Goutières Syndrome (AGS) experience an episode of severe brain dysfunction (encephalopathy). This can typically last for several months. During this phase of the disorder, symptoms can include inconsolable crying, extreme irritability and feeding difficulties. Affected individuals may develop intermittent fevers in the absence of infection (sterile pyrexias) and may experience seizures. Over time, individuals with AGS slowly lose their ability to function due to the loss of previously attained milestones.
Many affected by AGS also show evidence of slowed growth of the brain and skull. As a result, many develop an abnormally small head size (microcephaly). In this phase of the disorder, white blood cells and molecules associated with inflammation can be detected in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). CSF is the fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord (central nervous system). These abnormal findings are consistent with inflammation and tissue damage in the central nervous system.
The encephalopathic phase of Aicardi-Goutières Syndrome leaves permanent neurological damage that is usually severe. Medical imaging reveals deterioration of white matter in the brain (leukodystrophy). Most people with AGS have profound intellectual disability. They also have significant neuromuscular problems including muscle stiffness (spasticity), involuntary tensing of various muscles (dystonia) especially in the arms, and weak muscle tone (hypotonia) in the trunk.
About 40 percent of people with AGS have painful, itchy skin lesions called chilblains. Chilblains usually develop on the fingers, toes, and ears. These puffy, red lesions are caused by inflammation of small blood vessels. They may be brought on or made worse by exposure to cold. Vision problems, joint stiffness, skin mottling and mouth ulcers may also occur with this disorder.
As a result of the severe neurological problems usually associated with AGS, most people with this disorder do not survive past childhood. However, some affected individuals who have later onset and milder neurological problems may live into adulthood.
Although there is currently no cure for AGS, the symptoms can be managed to ensure the best possible outcomes. With proactive, comprehensive medical care the symptoms of ALD can be managed and give the individual the best quality of life possible.
How do you get AGS?
AGS is a genetic, or inherited, disorder. It is also classified as an autosomal recessive disorder. This means that if both parents are carriers of the disease, each child they conceive will have a 1 in 4 chance of developing AGS.
When both parents are carriers of a specific mutated gene, such as those for AGS, their children have a 25% chance of being affected by the disease, a 25% chance of neither being a carrier nor affected, and a 50% chance of being an unaffected carrier, just like their parents. See illustration below.
Could other children in the family also have AGS?
If both parents are carriers of AGS, each child has a 1 in 4 chance of being affected. To determine if other children in the family are affected by or carriers of AGS, it is best to consult with your genetic counselor or your child’s physician.
AGS is difficult to diagnose since many of the symptoms are similar to those of other disorders. Diagnosis is made based on the clinical symptoms of the disease. Characteristic brain abnormalities that can be seen in an MRI brain scan can also help in diagnosis.
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), taken using a “spinal tap,” can also be tested for increased levels of a specific immune system cell (a lymphocyte), which indicates a condition known as chronic lymphocytosis. These cells are normally only elevated during infection, so that lymphocytosis without evidence of infection can be used as an indicator of AGS. CSF may also be tested for elevated levels of a substance known as interferon-gamma, which can also support a diagnosis of AGS.
What are the different forms of AGS?
There are two forms of the syndrome: an early-onset form that is severe, and a late-onset form that has less impact upon neurological function. Most newborns with Aicardi-Goutières Syndrome do not show any signs or symptoms of the disorder at birth.
No matter what form of AGS an individual is diagnosed with, optimal care is of timely importance. The Leukodystrophy Care Network (LCN) was established to provide individuals with the best quality of care at specialized centers across the country.
For more information and to find a Leukodystrophy Care Center nearest you, please visit the Leukodystrophy Care Network page.
The early-onset form affects about 20 percent of babies affected by AGS. They are born with a combination of features that include an enlarged liver and spleen (hepatosplenomegaly), elevated blood levels of liver enzymes, a decrease in blood platelets (thrombocytopenia), and abnormal neurological responses. Their jittery behavior and poor feeding ability mimic a congenital viral infection.
Babies with later-onset AGS begin having symptoms after the first weeks or months of normal development, which appear as a progressive decline in head growth, weak or stiffened muscles (spasticity), and cognitive and developmental delays that range from moderate to severe.
Is there a treatment for AGS?
Although there is currently no cure for AGS, symptomatic treatment is beneficial.
With proactive, comprehensive medical care, affected individuals can avoid unnecessary suffering and complications to have the best quality of life possible. For more information, visit the Leukodystrophy Care Network page.
Depending upon the severity of symptoms, children may require chest physiotherapy and treatment for respiratory complications. To ensure adequate nutrition and caloric intake, some infants may require special accommodations for diet and feeding.
Seizures may be managed with standard anticonvulsant medications. Children should be monitored for evidence of glaucoma in the first few months of life, and later for evidence of scoliosis, diabetes, and underactive thyroid.
There are some clinical trials going on for Aicardi-Goutières Syndrome aimed at finding new methods for treating and ultimately preventing or curing AGS. To learn more click here to see a list of clinical trials for AGS.
Thank you to Kristen Malfara from The M.O.R.G.A.N. Project for the content provided on this page.


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Sipapu Ski and Summer Resort is New Mexico’s fastest growing ski resort. Located just 20 miles southeast of Taos and two hours north of Albuquerque, Sipapu offers family-friendly fun for all levels of skiers and snowboarders. Family-owned and operated since 1952, Sipapu is home to New Mexico’s longest ski season and is well known as the first resort to open and last to close in the state. It also offers the best deals in the Rockies. The resort is surrounded by the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and Carson National Forest, and features over 40 trails, six lifts, and three terrain parks. On-site amenities include slope-side lodging, a full-service ski shop, ski school and the mountain restaurant, the Riverside Cafe.
To contact Sipapu Ski & Summer Resort’s public relations department or to schedule an interview with a resort representative, please contact Director of Communications Kim Oyler at koyler@mcp.ski.
If you need fact sheets, mountain stats, or content to support your article or segment about Sipapu Ski & Summer Resort contact Director of Communications Kim Oyler at koyler@mcp.ski.
If you need photography to support your article or segment about Sipapu Ski & Summer Resort please contact Director of Communications Kim Oyler at koyler@mcp.ski.

industry_corpus2: Travel & Geography


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Brad M. is drinking a Bittersweet Hophony by Southern Range Brewing Co.
Earned the Thanks For Stopping By! badge! Earned the Bar Explorer (Level 60) badge!
Earned the Middle of the Road (Level 24) badge! Earned the Hopped Up (Level 3) badge!
Earned the Thanks For Stopping By! (Level 2) badge!
Earned the Thanks For Stopping By! badge! Earned the Middle of the Road (Level 82) badge! Earned the Find the Source (Level 7) badge!
Earned the Photogenic Brew (Level 21) badge! Earned the I Believe in IPA! (Level 65) badge!
ryan w. is drinking a Bittersweet Hophony by Southern Range Brewing Co.


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LOFPLEAT CP filter cartridges are high efficiency, high performance filter elements. Constructed with a large surface, melt-blown polypropylene media they provide a high dirt holding capacity with low initial differential pressure.
Eaton’s absolute rated LOFPLEAT CP filter cartridges are suitable for a wide range of process applications, including RO prefilters, chemicals, wastewater and many more.

industry_corpus2: Petrochemicals


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Please do take care in completing correct information. It may take longer to process your claim if the information is incomplete or inaccurate.
Once the form is submitted, claims specialist will be in touch with you within 24 hours.


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Walkers are recommended to use the OSNI Discoverer series, scale 1: 50 000, which covers all Northern Ireland. In addition, OSNI Activity maps are available at a scale of 1:25 000 for the more popular areas for outdoor pursuits, namely Sperrins; Mournes; Upper Lough Erne, North Coast and and the Glens of Antrim.
For details on the range of OSNI paper maps and to purchase online, visit the OSNI Paper Products section of their website.


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Living the Dream Cottage is a newly renovated luxury beach home that has a distinct modern beach cottage feel. Check it out!
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located on a quiet street in Santa Rosa Beach, just a couple of blocks from the Beach! This home features 5 bedrooms and 4 baths with an amazing private pool. Check it out!

industry_corpus2: Real Estate & Construction


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It's true that social interactions can be smoothed if people follow the same rules.
It's also true that social interactions can be smoothed if people assume good will on the part of other people they're interacting with, rather than making up other kinds of stories about them, such as that they are trying to be insulting or superior.
For example, a person can assume that someone means well but came from another culture where the politeness rules differ. A person can educate themself about other cultures' politeness rules and then use that knowledge to refine the stories that they make up about other people's behavior.
I think it's usually easier for a person to change the stories they make up about other people than to change other people's behavior. So if a person is getting upset partly because they are making assumptions that someone else is being rude or arrogant or self-important, changing the story they're making up might help them feel less upset.
In other cases, the behavior might bother them even if they know there are possibly good-will or legitimate reasons for it. Changing the stories might not help with that.
And sometimes the evidence becomes overwhelming that a person does intend to be insulting or does feel superior, in which case assuming good will might be counterproductive.
1) When a person doesn't say "Thank you" to a compliment, they might come from a culture with different rules about compliments or might be uncomfortable about what they were complimented on. It might not be because they are feigning humility.
5) If a person corrects another person, they might come from a culture where correcting a person is a sign of respect for that person. Maybe they are not trying to show the person up up as stupid.
8) If a person shares their medical diagnosis, this might be an act of trust on their part, rather than an attempt to excuse themselves from following the rules. It might be part of an apology. Some people, when they apologize, start by explaining what led to their actions, and don't mean by the explanation that they should therefore be let off the hook for bad behavior.
9) If someone makes plans and doesn't show up, there might have been an emergency that prevented them from showing up. If someone is late, they might not be very good at estimating how much time it takes them to get somewhere.
15) If someone is sitting in the corner, maybe it's because they are disabled and that's where the host put a chair for them. Maybe it's because they are temporarily taking a break from the conversation. It's not necessarily because they think they're too important to make a social move.
18) If someone uses a calculator to figure the tip, maybe they find arithmetic difficult, or maybe they are from a culture that doesn't include tipping so they aren't used to it. It doesn't necessarily mean they are cheap.
20) If someone replies tersely to an electronic communication, they might be trying to show respect for another person's time (assuming that the person gets lots of e-mail and trying to minimize the amount of effort required to process the e-mail). They aren't necessarily being hostile.
plymouth just posted a fascinating metaphor in one of my friends' friends-locked posts.
Social groups are hollow spheres - everyone's on the edge and noone is in the middle. That's the theory I came up with a few years back to explain the fact that all my friends seem to think they're on the fringes somehow. I guess you could say there are different shells to the spheres and some people are in the inner shells and some in the outer shells. Kinda like atoms. People are electrons. Nobody is at the nucleus.
( ) Are you generally happy?
( ) Do you “enjoy” your job?
( ) Do you have time for hobbies?
Also, many people who scored "low" on the meme's "fortunate" scale said they were quite satisfied with their lives and thought they were very fortunate, thank you.
"This is the Google side of your brain"
I find it interesting that the USA Today article doesn't make the connection between the usefulness of search engines and the aging of the population. More often than before, words and facts I used to know temporarily go missing. If I'm at my computer, I can look 'em up again.


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St. Catherine of Siena 4.3 mi.
St. Edward Campus Ministry 5.8 mi.
St. Peter the Apostle 6.1 mi.
San José Catholic Church 6.3 mi.
St. Ignatius, Martyr 6.3 mi.
Nuestra Senora de los Dolores 8.4 mi.
Our Lady of Guadalupe 8.8 mi.


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Mom's a big help with shopping for your wedding dress. How can you help her if she needs a makeover?
Unless you're still 18 years old, perky and cellulite-free, you probably have an idea of how the old aging process goes. Mothers of the bride, in particular, have had several extra decades to get behind the times in terms of fashion and fitness. After all, they've devoted countless hours to career and raising happy, healthy children. The everyday chaos of life often results in an inattention to fashion, until they one day realize that they're still sporting a hairdo and duds better suited for an entirely different decade. Also, pesky pounds often creep on slowly and steadily, and are much harder to get off than they were to put on.
For pretty much anyone involved in a wedding -- not just the mother of the bride -- impending nuptials are an excellent motivation to get back in the swing of modern fashion, makeup, hair and physical fitness. Still, you don't want to insult your madre by suggesting she have a makeover. So, unless she specifically addresses the issue, you'll have to find another way to nudge her in the right direction.
For example, casually mention that you're hitting the style counter at your local mall for a free makeover because your cosmetics are woefully out of date. Ask her to come along and then look for an opportunity to suggest that she has a little fun playing with the products, too! This is the perfect opportunity to encourage her to sport flattering, up-to-date eye colors, or the stylist can teach her how to play up her best features and minimize skin imperfections.
If her hair is lovely, but the style is begging for an update, make sure to point out cute hairdos that would flatter her face, bone structure and physique. This is a cinch to pull off when watching TV or thumbing through a bridal magazine. Or, after you've had highlights, straightening or other treatment done, strut your stuff and show her how fantastic your mane looks. When she exclaims in wonder, hand her a card and tag along on her appointment for moral support.
If physical fitness is an issue, ask your mom for back-up as you try to lose those last pre-wedding pounds. Set a schedule by which she can speed walk with you a few times a week, or set dates to prepare nutritious meals in healthy portions.
She'll probably solicit your help during her mother-of-the-bride dress and jewelry shopping excursions. Consult on the color, cut and fabric that will be the most flattering for her frame. Reassure her that she doesn't have to stick with dowdy, understated colors if she doesn't want to. Bright is absolutely fine, although she should coordinate with the groom's mother, so that they don't show up wearing the same shade. She also might need assistance picking a gown appropriate for the time of day and season. A formal gown might sound look like a dream, but for an afternoon wedding it is all wrong.
She may not turn into a Brooke Shields lookalike, but chances are that a few simple updates will increase her self-esteem and confidence. As much as your wedding is about you and your beloved, it's also a golden opportunity to let those who raised and supported you shine, too. And really, is there anyone better to share the spotlight with?


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The Mayfield Education & Research Foundation has awarded three grants totaling $158,800 to researchers at universities and medical centers throughout the Midwest. The grants, which target hydrocephalus, pediatric brain cancer, and stroke, were awarded through a competitive process during the 2017 grant cycle. They were announced by William Tobler, MD, Mayfield Foundation Chair.
Principal Investigator Bonnie Blazer-Yost, PhD, and Co-Principal Investigators Daniel Fulkerson, MD, and Paul Territo, PhD, at the School of Science at IUPUI and Indiana University School of Medicine received $59,318 to develop an effective pharmaceutical treatment for hydrocephalus.
Hydrocephalus occurs when an abnormal amount of cerebrospinal fluid collects in the brain’s ventricles. It may result from trauma, infection, tumors, or as a birth defect. It is a common reason for brain surgeries in children. Today, the only treatment for hydrocephalus is brain surgery. This study will utilize MRI imaging in animal models of hydrocephalus to determine whether interfering with the processes responsible for the production of cerebrospinal fluid could be effective for treatment of the disease in a safe manner.
Principal Investigator Robert Lober, MD, PhD, and Co-Principal Investigator Thomas Brown, PhD, at Wright State University Boonshoft School Medicine and Dayton Children’s Hospital received $48,500 to study the role of genes in new treatments for the deadly pediatric brain tumor DIPG (diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma). The project aims to identify critical molecular mediators of DIPG treatment resistance and to understand how gene expression affects tumor growth and treatment resistance.
DIPG is a terminal form of childhood cancer. There is currently no surgical intervention, and clinical trials have been unsuccessful and ineffective. The researchers seek to gain a new understanding of preferential gene repression at critical loci as the foundation for studying ways in which treatment is resisted. Their goal is to bring about a new paradigm of therapies based on tumor gene expression patterns.
Principal Investigator Shahid Nimjee, MD, PhD, and Co-Principal Investigators Zhong-Lin Lu, PhD, Robert Hamlin, DVM, PhD, Cameron Rink, PhD, and Jay Zweier, MD, at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center received $51,000 for cardiovascular research for pre-clinical stroke therapies.
Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the Western world. Current therapies require treatment within a few short hours of symptom onset and frequently result in bleeding complications. This research aims to develop novel anti-platelet drugs that prevent and/or lyse occlusive thrombi to improve patient outcomes following a stroke.
Mayfield Education & Research Foundation research grants are awarded once a year. Grants are selected for their potential to spark a fire of success in further research and funding. Over the past five years, Mayfield Foundation grantees have leveraged their initial data into millions of dollars in awards from federal funders.


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When you think about drug addiction, you likely think about addiction to such substances as cocaine, heroin, meth or prescription painkillers. But there is an over-the-counter drug that can be just as addictive -- cough syrup.
According to an article on Drug Free Homes, cough syrups that contain codeine and DXM (Dextromethorphan) are dangerous. Codeine, an opiate, and DXM, a psychoactive drug, are highly addictive. And since cough syrup is easy and cheap to buy, it is the drug of choice for many addicts.
"DXM can be very dangerous if abused, especially if mixed with other drugs," Mary Rieser, Director of The Atlanta Recovery Center Drug Rehab in Georgia, told TransWorldNews. "If taken frequently, it is addictive, and many of our callers stated that once addicted, they had a hard time walking by the medicine counters in grocery stores, the cravings for it are so great."
Cough syrup has similar effects to those of marijuana -- hallucinations and euphoria. But it has downsides that marijuana does not have, such as depression, dizziness, high blood pressure, impaired judgment, nausea and panic attacks.
Cough syrup can also be deadly -- you could overdose on the syrup alone. It also reacts with other medications, such as, according to Drug Free Homes, "'non-drowsy' antihistamines, SSRI antidepressants and the Yohimbe herb; they can produce a deadly cocktail."
Treatment for cough syrup abuse is similar to alcohol and some drug abuse -- stopping the use of the substance, along with counseling. Depending on the depth of the abuse, there could be withdrawal symptoms.


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If you're in need of commercial snow removal in Little River, South Carolina it's important you contact our snow and ice removal team asap. There's no question ice dams, icy roads and driveways can be very dangerous. Our Little River commercial snow removal professionals are here to keep you and your family safe. We have worked in very hazardous conditions, and experience with commercial snow removal in Little River. In some climates, removing snow from the streets to a different location is the only way to keep streets navigable.
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Are you looking for commercial snow removal services in Little River, South Carolina area? Visit our ice and snow removal services page to find all that we provide, including our Little River emergency services.


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For all that’s changed about consumer technology—and the garb worn by businesspeople attending trade shows—the vibe of this CES isn’t much different from those of the far more recent editions I’ve attended. Among the highlights: discussion of VCRs (then known as VTRs) and video cameras (compact by 1980 standards, bulky and bulbous by ours), an early compact-disc demo, a glimpse at Magnavox’s Odyssey game console, and a Toshiba rep showing off an intriguing home video format (LVR), which the company never shipped.
Toward the end, there’s also an extended clip of Jaws 2, which you can feel free to fast-forward through. But stay turned for the bonus item: a 1980 segment of ABC’s 20/20 about how pre-MTV videos, distributed on laserdiscs, were going to save the recording industry. Even then, its executives were whining about how consumers weren’t paying for music.


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One of my biggest disappointments is that so many places that we visit don’t allow photographs. There are so many things that I wish I could capture so I could save the image forever. I wanted so badly to photograph the Royal Palace, the armory, El Prado (and all the masterpieces I saw there), El Escorial, the GIANT library in the monastery. But I couldn’t. Everywhere I turned there was a sign saying “No foto’, a security guard yelling “No foto”, Curra or Lydia (the API directors) telling us “no foto”. But yesterday, when I was exploring the royal palace, I realized I had forgot my camera and I was so disappointed. Although I knew I couldn’t take photos inside, I could have captured the amazing stonework and sculptures outside. After the day ended, I realized that I didn’t need the camera to remember the moments I had that day. I wrote down in my travel journal all the details I could remember (almost 4 pages) and can still visualize it fresh in my mind. This is because instead of looking at the magnificent views through a lens, I was looking with my eyes. I was truly taking in the breath-taking scenes of Madrid with my own two built-in lenses and because of that, I will remember it even more. From now on, the artificial lens will be used only once I know that I can remember a scene or a building or an image without the documentation because I’ve truly LOOKED at it with my eyes.
Living in Madrid, even for just a few days, has made me realize that sometimes you don’t know what’s going to happen, you can’t always plan, and sometimes you just need to learn through trial and error. I was mad the first day I was here because I spent 11 Euro on lunch (the cheapest we could find with our limited time for lunch–which happens at like 3 o’clock here), especially when one of my friends told me she bought fresh bread and cheese at the market for only 3. So then I learned that there are cheaper options for lunch (thank goodness). I was also a little shocked when my dinner arrived last night and it was portioned to feel 1/4 of a person. After talking with the waiter and my friends, I learned that my plate was called a “Ración” which is meant to be ordered with a few other raciones to be shared with a group. We made up for our meager dinner by going to a tapas bar late last night called “El Tigre”. We were always taught that tapas were small plates. Maybe they are/will be elsewhere but here the tapas were a whole plate of food enough to give me two meals. And with the purchase of a tapa, came a drink of our choice. I chose my first Spanish sangria and it was delicious. For only 6 Euro, I think that was the best deal anyone can ask for. I learned that personal space is non-existant here and that when you back away from a Spanish person who is speaking to you, it’s really rude. And that not everyone on my trip has the same goals, desires, reasons for coming that I do. Learning to live in another country where the culture is so different (time of day people eat, portions of different foods, personal space [or lack of it]) takes a lot of trial and error.
Even in just two days I’ve already felt more confident than I did when I first arrived. I feel like I know the center of Madrid really well (from La Plaza Mayor, through La Puerta del Sol, to El Parque de Buen Retiro) and I would feel okay if I was a little lost, because there are a lot of central points that I can find my way back to and from there find the Hotel Regina. My Spanish has started to come without so much time thinking. When me and Emily’s keys broke today, I marched right up to the front counter and without even thinking about it, I told her that our keys were not working in the door to our room and that we would like some assistance. I also spit out our room number (128) without thinking about that either–numbers always give me a difficult time. I’m happy that I am at least not so shy with my speaking and that I am beginning to become more confident in myself. I cannot wait until I get to Granada and I can speak with my host family all the time. Always remember to look at life through your own biological lenses before the artificial one.
your blogs are great, Jen!! Interesting about tapas… as you know here in America, Tapas means small portions! I googled it and wikipedia has it as a small meal with some exceptions in Spain.. Wikipedia says… Tapas (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈtapas]) are a wide variety of appetizers, or snacks, in Spanish cuisine. They may be cold (such as mixed olives and cheese) or hot (such as chopitos, which are battered, fried baby squid). In select bars in Spain, tapas have evolved into an entire, and sometimes sophisticated, cuisine. In Spain, patrons of tapas can order many different tapas and combine them to make a full meal.
It is fatal to know too much at the outset: boredom comes as quickly to the traveler who knows he’s route as to the novelist who is over certain of his plot.