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Saturday, March 31, 2012
Dragon Boat Racing ? A Well-known Company Team-building ...
[unable to retrieve full-text content]Dragon Boat Racing ? A Well-known Company Team-building Occasion. Posted on March 30, 2012 by trevorjersey75. Its correct that money issues a great deal to retain greatest workers and to create excellent output from them. Nevertheless ...
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Video Game Review: Assassin's Creed: Revelations | The-Mirror
By: Adam Shaw ?New York
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'ASSASSIN'S CREED: REVELATIONS'--This is the cover of the video game "Assassin's Creed: Revelations." The CNS classification is O--morally offensive. The Entertainment Software Ratings Board rating is M--Mature. (CNS photo/Ubisoft)
?Inspired by historical events, this work of fiction was designed, developed, and produced by a multicultural team of various religious faiths and beliefs.?
The above line may seem an unusual introduction to a video game. Yet anyone who has played any of the predecessors of the ethically illiterate ?Assassin?s Creed: Revelations? (Ubisoft) will understand exactly why the developers decided to cover their, er, backsides once again.
?Revelations? is the fourth major installment in this pseudohistorical series, and is a direct sequel to the third entry??Assassin?s Creed: Brotherhood??which will go down in history as one of the most anti-Catholic video games ever created. A game, that is, in which every member of the church hierarchy is presented as vicious, corrupt, or downright evil, set in a world where cardinals walk around half-naked and engage in orgies, and where the pope is marked as a legitimate target for assassination?by the player.
?Revelations,? however, is much less of an attack on religion than its elder brother, perhaps because the main setting is the Islam-dominated Constantinople of 1511. The developers would not be the first media group to enjoy bashing Catholicism, but then wax respectful?or, perhaps, timid?when Muslims step up for their turn.
As played for review on the Xbox 360, this latest installment continues to focus on the adventures of modern-day Desmond Miles, who, using a machine called the ?Animus,? can access memories of his freedom-fighting ancestors: Altair ibn-La?Ahad and Ezio Auditore da Firenze. By doing this, he hopes to defeat the modern successors of the ancient Knights Templar (how very Dan Brown!) who, it seems, are chasing him.
Although parts of the game takes place in Desmond?s modern-day world, or in Altair?s 12th- and 13th-century Holy Land, the majority takes place in Ezio?s Renaissance-era Constantinople, having moved forward?in more respects than one ?from the medieval Italy of the previous title.
With a lessened anti-religious sentiment, tighter (if unoriginal) gameplay, and crisp new environments for the gamer to explore, it might seem that the latest entry would be a ?Creed? Catholics could potentially support. Unfortunately, however, this iteration ruins itself by advancing and supporting some of the most hypocritical characters to ever (dis-)grace a video game.
Characters ramble inanely, and in haughty tones, about fighting for ?freedom? and on behalf of ?the people.? Yet one of the first missions involves the player using Ezio?s persona to pickpocket passersby. And humble soldiers?drawn, presumably, from the ranks of the unfortunate and the oppressed?have their throats ripped out by trained killers on a regular basis.
Although dispatching opposition forces is an all-too-common element of gaming, it is (thankfully) rare to find the player being encouraged to slay his or her adversaries in such an unprovoked, indiscriminate and bloodthirsty way, and to have death portrayed with such obvious relish.
That this sequential slaughter should be tricked out as a sort of ethical quest, complete with the hit men offering forms of absolution to their victims as the latter expire, will only make it more repugnant to gamers of faith.
Although it?s by no means as blasphemous as its predecessor, the heedless approval of butchery that underlies ?Revelations,? and the slow-motion death sequences by which such mayhem is accompanied, make this one statement of faith to which no believer will want to subscribe.
Also available on Playstation 3 and Microsoft Windows.
The game contains sacrilegious incidents, frequent, excessively gory violence, some mild sexuality, a few uses of profanity, and occasional crude and crass language. The CNS classification is O?morally offensive. The Entertainment Software Ratings Board rating is M?Mature.
Shaw reviews video games for Catholic News Service.
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Toshiba Portege R835-P88
In a world where ultrabooks are hip and happening, ultraportables can seem like yesterday's news. The Toshiba Portege R835-P88 ($849.99 list) is the latest version of a model that's been around for years. It weighs a third of a pound more than the average ultrabook. It has an old-fashioned optical drive instead of a newfangled backlit keyboard. It also costs less than virtually all ultrabooks and runs faster than any of them?and yeah, an optical drive can still come in pretty handy sometimes. For portability, performance, and value (especially at street prices markedly below its $850 list), the Portege R835-P88 is what we said its R835-P50X predecessor was 11 months ago: the epitome of what an ultraportable should be, and an easy successor to last year's model as an Editors' Choice in the category.
Design
The R835-P88 weighs 3.2 pounds on PC Labs' scale?more than the 2.9 pounds of the Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (Thunderbolt) ($1,299 direct, 4 stars) and numerous ultrabooks, though actually an ounce less than our Editors' Choice ultrabook HP Folio 13 ($1,048.99 direct, 4 stars). Its magnesium alloy chassis is a handsome dark blue, accented by chrome (plastic) screen hinges.
The screen feels solid, less flexible or flimsy than that of Toshiba's 2.5-pound ultrabook models such as the Portege Z830-S8302. It's a glossy 13.3-inch panel with the usual 1,366 by 768 resolution; vertical viewing angles are narrow enough that you'll find yourself adjusting its tilt, but horizontal angles are sufficiently broad and brightness and color are fine.
The keyboard, as mentioned, isn't backlit but offers a first-class layout, with dedicated Home, End, PgUp, and PgDn keys plus Ctrl and Delete in their proper lower left and top right corners, respectively. Its typing feel is snappy and sure, if a little shallow. The touchpad works smoothly, its twin buttons giving just the right amount of tactile feedback.
Features
On the right side of the R835-P88's chassis, next to the DVD?RW drive, are headphone and microphone jacks, a USB 3.0 port, and an Ethernet port. On the left are VGA and HDMI ports and two USB 2.0 ports, one an eSATA combo port with Toshiba's "sleep and charge" functionality for recharging handheld devices without turning the laptop on.
Bluetooth and WiMax are absent, but the R835-P88's 802.11n Wi-Fi worked fine in our tests and Intel Wireless Display (WiDi) is on hand for users who want to zap audio and video to an HDTV set equipped with a Belkin or Netgear adapter. Toshiba preloads the system's spacious 640GB (550GB free out of the box), 5,400-rpm hard drive with a slew of house-brand utilities and a scanty 30-day trial of Norton Internet Security.
The diminutive speakers above the keyboard pump out pleasant enough audio, but were occasionally drowned out during our tests by the Toshiba's cooling fan?inaudible during routine productivity work, the latter grew noticeably loud during strenuous exercises such as our graphics benchmarks.
Performance
While most Intel Core i5 ultrabooks we've seen use a low-voltage (17-watt) processor running at 1.6GHz, the R835-P88 ultraportable boasts a standard-voltage (35-watt) Core i5-2450M chip running at 2.5GHz. Teamed with 6GB of RAM, it delivers performance that not only bests those flyweights, but even edges Core i7 ultrabooks like the Toshiba Z830-S8302 (1 minute 59 seconds in our Handbrake video encoding test, versus 1:46 for the R835-P88) and Lenovo IdeaPad U300s (4:25 in our Photoshop CS5 image editing test, versus 3:55 for the R835-P88).
The R835-P88's PCMark 7 score of 2,313 is only middling, because it has a hard drive instead of one of the SSDs that PCMark 7 adores. But its other benchmark numbers are thoroughly competitive with other ultraportables such as the Lenovo ThinkPad X220 and Panasonic Toughbook CF-S10, leading the field in Handbrake and tying the Lenovo X220 in Photoshop. The only reality check came in our gaming tests, where its Intel HD Graphics 3000 integrated graphics predictably fell short of playable frame rates?plus or minus 21 frames per second in Crysis and Lost Planet 2.
The R835-P88's 66Wh battery will get you through a whole day's work: Though shy of the 9 hours 26 minutes of its predecessor, the R835-P50X (not to mention the 11 hours of the big-batteried Acer TravelMate 8481T-6440), it lasted a solid 8:40?longer than any ultrabook we've tested?in our MobileMark 2007 rundown test.
We've made it clear in other reviews that we're fans of ultrabooks, but the Toshiba Portege R835-P88 is an eye-opener: Almost light enough to forget it's in your briefcase, it delivers ultrabook-beating performance plus the convenience (even if you only use it occasionally) of an onboard optical drive plus the appeal (even if it's mostly due to a hard disk instead of SSD) of a bargain price. At the very least, it's worth keeping our ultraportable category on the books so we can give it an Editors' Choice.
BENCHMARK TEST RESULTS:
COMPARISON TABLE:
Compare the Toshiba Portege R835-P88 with several other laptops side by side.
More laptop reviews:
??? Toshiba Satellite C655-S5542
??? Toshiba Portege R835-P88
??? Toshiba Satellite P775D-S7144
??? Sony VAIO VPC-EH35FM/B
??? Alienware M18x
?? more
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warwick2811 ? Blog Archive ? Acne arises at just pretty no matter ...
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This entry was posted on Friday, March 30th, 2012 at 7:19 pm and is filed under Journal. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
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Friday, March 30, 2012
Home Staging Tips - Sue Martin Real Estate
Check these before and after options for staging your home for sale at my YouTube Channel!? While you?re there, check out some of the virtual tours for homes for sale in the Fenton area!? Enjoy.
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Sue Martin is the #1 Realtor in the Fenton area and longtime resident.? She is committed to providing the Fenton community with first-class real estate services. With over $300 Million SOLD in career sales, consistently ranked in?St. Louis' Top 10 Realtors, and a Top?Realtor for?St. Louis' largest real estate company, Coldwell Banker Gundaker, Sue and her team have the experience and market knowledge to help you accomplish your real estate goals in any market.? Whether you are considering buying a home, selling a home or both, we know?the Fenton?area inside and out.? For more information and lots of resources about buying and selling a home visit www.SueMartinTeam.com
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Source: http://www.suemartinteam.com/Blog/Home-Staging-Tips
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Thursday, March 29, 2012
Chinese firm surpasses Exxon in oil production
NEW YORK (AP) ? A big shift is happening in Big Oil: An American giant now ranks behind a Chinese upstart.
Exxon Mobil is no longer the world's biggest publicly traded producer of oil. For the first time, that distinction belongs to a 13-year-old Chinese company called PetroChina. The Beijing company was created by the Chinese government to secure more oil for that nation's booming economy.
PetroChina announced Thursday that it pumped 2.4 million barrels a day last year, surpassing Exxon by 100,000. The company has grown rapidly over the last decade by squeezing more from China's aging oil fields and outspending Western companies to acquire more petroleum reserves in places like Canada, Iraq and Qatar. It's motivated by a need to lock up as much oil as possible.
The company's output increased 3.3 percent in 2011 while Exxon's fell 5 percent. Exxon's oil production also fell behind Rosneft, the Russian energy company.
PetroChina's rise highlights a fundamental difference in how the largest petroleum companies plan to supply the world as new deposits become tougher to find and more expensive to produce.
Every major oil company has aggressively pursued new finds to replace their current wells. But analysts say Western oil firms like Exxon Mobil have been more conservative than the Chinese, mindful of their bottom line and investor returns. With oil prices up 19 percent in 2011, they still made money without increasing production.
PetroChina Co. Ltd. has a different mission. The Chinese government owns 86 percent of its stock and the nation uses nearly every drop of oil PetroChina pumps. Its appetite for gasoline and other petroleum products is projected to double between 2010 and 2035.
"There's a lot of anxiety in China about the energy question," says energy historian Dan Yergin. "It's just growing so fast."
While PetroChina sits atop other publicly traded companies in oil production, it falls well short of national oil companies like Saudi Aramco, which produces nearly 8 million barrels a day. And Exxon is still the biggest publicly traded energy company when counting combined output of oil and natural gas. PetroChina ranks third behind Exxon and BP in total output of oil and natural gas.
PetroChina is looking to build on its momentum in 2012.
"We must push ahead," PetroChina chairman Jiang Jiemin said in January.
PetroChina has grown by pumping everything it can from reserves in China, estimated to contain more than 6.5 billion barrels. It drilled thousands of oil wells across vast stretches of the nation's northern grasslands. Some of those fields are ancient by industry standards, dating close to the beginning of China's communist government in the 1950s.
The commitment to aging fields distinguishes PetroChina from its biggest Western rivals. Exxon and other major oil companies typically sell their aging, low-performing fields, or they put them out of commission.
PetroChina also has been on a buying spree, acquiring new reserves in Iraq, Australia, Africa, Qatar and Canada. Since 2010, its acquisitions have totaled $7 billion, about twice as much as Exxon, according to data provider Dealogic.
Several other Chinese companies have become deal makers around the globe as well. Total acquisitions by Chinese energy firms jumped from less than $2 billion between 2002 and 2003 to nearly $48 billion in 2009 and 2010, according to the International Energy Agency. More times than not, the companies are paying above the industry average to get those deals done.
It's making some in the West nervous.
In 2005, for example, CNOOC Ltd., a company mostly owned by the Chinese government tried to buy American oil producer Unocal. U.S. lawmakers worked to block the deal, asking President Bush to investigate the role the Chinese central government played in the process. Chevron Corp. eventually bought Unocal for $17.3 billion.
"There's a resistance to Chinese investment in (U.S.) oil and gas," Morningstar analyst Robert Bellinski says. "It's like how Japan was to us in the 1980s. People think they're going to take us over. They're going to buy all of our resources."
That's unlikely to happen. It doesn't make economic sense to export oil away from the world's largest oil consumer.
But the Chinese could make it tougher for Big Oil to generate returns for their shareholders. China's oil companies have been willing to outspend everyone and that drives up the price of fields and makes it more expensive for everyone to expand.
"You now have to outbid them," says Argus Research analyst Phil Weiss. "If you can't, you're going to have access to fewer assets."
Longer term, Chinese expansion globally will bring benefits to the U.S. and other economies. By developing as many oil wells as possible ? especially in Africa, Iraq and other politically unstable regions ? China will help expand supply.
"Frankly, the more risk-hungry producers there are, the more oil will be on the market, and the cheaper prices are," says Michael Levi, an energy policy expert at the Council on Foreign Relations.
Despite its swift expansion, PetroChina and other Chinese companies still have much to prove to investors, analysts say.
PetroChina's parent, China National Petroleum Corp., for example, has spent millions of dollars in Sudan to provide highways, medical facilities and shuttle buses for the elderly. Oil companies typically don't do that. All of that increases the cost of business and minimizes the returns for shareholders.
In 2009 and 2010, PetroChina's profit margins for its exploration and production business were only about two-thirds that of Exxon Mobil's. Its stock price has climbed less than 1 percent, in the past year, compared with a 3.7 percent rise in the stock of Exxon Mobil Corp.
"You have to ask yourself: What is the purpose of PetroChina?" Bellinski says. "It is to fuel China. That's it. Although they're a public company, I'm very skeptical that they have any interest in shareholder value creation."
___
Follow Chris Kahn on Twitter at http://twitter.com/ChrisKahnAP
___
AP Business Writer Elaine Kurtenbach contributed to this story from Shanghai.
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/chinese-firm-surpasses-exxon-oil-production-084944346.html
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Angry Birds maker buys Finnish gaming studio
[ [ [['Afghan security forces and police killed three', 3]], 'http://yhoo.it/H9BcJE', '[Related: Bales\' wife on his alleged shooting: \'He would not do that\']', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['looking for fireworks between the opposing camps', 16]], 'http://yhoo.it/GSvEsj', '[RELATED:\?It?s going to be a circus\?: Activists begin protests outside Supreme Court]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['entirely respectable way to put off the searing constitutional controversy', 8]], 'http://yhoo.it/GE6jSh', '[RELATED: Obama\?s health care law passed 2 years ago, but where are we now\?]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['Witnesses said the gunman pulled up on a black scooter', 7]], 'http://yhoo.it/GzwOIW', '[Related: New York police tighten security at Jewish sites]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['test Zimmerman for alcohol or drugs', 11]], 'http://yhoo.it/Gzn6VF', '[Related: White House says Trayvon Martin is local issue]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['entirely respectable way to put off the searing constitutional controversy', 12]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/tea-party-activists-defy-rain-to-rip-obama-health-care-law-slideshow/', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/a/p/us/news/editorial/4/31/431f2f4f7ed388d5bc5557b0a76267fa.jpeg', '450', ' ', 'Reuters/Jonathan Ernst', ], [ [['associated with such a small earthquake', 4]], 'http://yhoo.it/GTco9z', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/a/p/us/news/editorial/0/b4/0b493c1a47b6e3f97f8f48a2b251d7d4.jpeg', '630', ' ', 'AP Photo/Carrie Antlfinger', ], [ [['Fox News host Geraldo Rivera sparked outrage', 3]], 'http://yhoo.it/GKMVTk', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/a/p/us/news/editorial/2/7c/27c7367bc512d233ae1790b320a5e92c.jpeg', '630', ' ', 'AP Photo/John Minchillo', ], [ [['The charges signed against Bales include', 1]], 'http://yhoo.it/wZT5zV', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/a/p/us/news/editorial/7/a0/7a07c51b2aa0f39b1a23355046d13870.jpeg', '512', ' ', 'AP Photo/DVIDS\, Spc\. Ryan Hallock\, File', ], [ [['George Zimmerman, if I had a son', 6]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/thousands-protest-fla-teen-death-1332387124-slideshow/', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/os/152/2012/03/22/d761a49f3fcc99080a0f6a70670053cd-jpg_150905.jpg', '500', ' ', 'AP Photo/John Minchillo', ], [ [['Mohamed Merah', 10], ['prosecutor Francois Molins', 5]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/four-dead-in-french-jewish-school-shooting-1332173151-slideshow', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/cv/ip/ap/default/120321/2012_03_21t151508z_425380421_gm1e83l1sqs01_rtrmadp_3_france_shootings_raid.jpg', '630', ' ', 'REUTERS/Jean-Paul Pelissier', ], [ [['Shortly after he wrapped up his victory remarks', 2]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/4-straight-romney-wins-washington-gop-caucus-1330835515-slideshow/', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/a/p/us/news/editorial/3/e9/3e9b0082c3c3111dcc19e3527ae94cc7.jpeg', '500', ' ', 'AP Photo/Steven Senne', ], [ [['best understands the problems of average Americans', 2]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/4-straight-romney-wins-washington-gop-caucus-1330835515-slideshow/', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/a/p/us/news/editorial/3/e9/3e9b0082c3c3111dcc19e3527ae94cc7.jpeg', '500', ' ', 'AP Photo/Steven Senne', ], [ [['Group for Historic Aircraft Recovery', 7]], 'http://yhoo.it/GB2RVy', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/os/152/2012/03/20/photo-1332257995646-4-0-jpg_171722.jpg', '630', ' ', 'AFP', ], [ [['xxxxxxxxxxxx', 11]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/russian-grannies-win-bid-to-sing-at-eurovision-1331223625-slideshow/', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/a/p/us/news/editorial/1/56/156d92f2760dcd3e75bcd649a8b85fcf.jpeg', '500', ' ', 'AP', ] ]
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Source: http://news.yahoo.com/angry-birds-maker-buys-finnish-gaming-studio-105940285.html
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Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Shell evacuates workers near North Sea leak
[ [ [['Afghan security forces and police killed three', 3]], 'http://yhoo.it/H9BcJE', '[Related: Bales\' wife on his alleged shooting: \'He would not do that\']', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['looking for fireworks between the opposing camps', 16]], 'http://yhoo.it/GSvEsj', '[RELATED:\?It?s going to be a circus\?: Activists begin protests outside Supreme Court]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['entirely respectable way to put off the searing constitutional controversy', 8]], 'http://yhoo.it/GE6jSh', '[RELATED: Obama\?s health care law passed 2 years ago, but where are we now\?]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['Witnesses said the gunman pulled up on a black scooter', 7]], 'http://yhoo.it/GzwOIW', '[Related: New York police tighten security at Jewish sites]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['test Zimmerman for alcohol or drugs', 11]], 'http://yhoo.it/Gzn6VF', '[Related: White House says Trayvon Martin is local issue]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['entirely respectable way to put off the searing constitutional controversy', 12]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/tea-party-activists-defy-rain-to-rip-obama-health-care-law-slideshow/', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/a/p/us/news/editorial/4/31/431f2f4f7ed388d5bc5557b0a76267fa.jpeg', '450', ' ', 'Reuters/Jonathan Ernst', ], [ [['associated with such a small earthquake', 4]], 'http://yhoo.it/GTco9z', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/a/p/us/news/editorial/0/b4/0b493c1a47b6e3f97f8f48a2b251d7d4.jpeg', '630', ' ', 'AP Photo/Carrie Antlfinger', ], [ [['Fox News host Geraldo Rivera sparked outrage', 3]], 'http://yhoo.it/GKMVTk', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/a/p/us/news/editorial/2/7c/27c7367bc512d233ae1790b320a5e92c.jpeg', '630', ' ', 'AP Photo/John Minchillo', ], [ [['The charges signed against Bales include', 1]], 'http://yhoo.it/wZT5zV', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/a/p/us/news/editorial/7/a0/7a07c51b2aa0f39b1a23355046d13870.jpeg', '512', ' ', 'AP Photo/DVIDS\, Spc\. Ryan Hallock\, File', ], [ [['George Zimmerman, if I had a son', 6]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/thousands-protest-fla-teen-death-1332387124-slideshow/', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/os/152/2012/03/22/d761a49f3fcc99080a0f6a70670053cd-jpg_150905.jpg', '500', ' ', 'AP Photo/John Minchillo', ], [ [['Mohamed Merah', 10], ['prosecutor Francois Molins', 5]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/four-dead-in-french-jewish-school-shooting-1332173151-slideshow', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/cv/ip/ap/default/120321/2012_03_21t151508z_425380421_gm1e83l1sqs01_rtrmadp_3_france_shootings_raid.jpg', '630', ' ', 'REUTERS/Jean-Paul Pelissier', ], [ [['Shortly after he wrapped up his victory remarks', 2]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/4-straight-romney-wins-washington-gop-caucus-1330835515-slideshow/', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/a/p/us/news/editorial/3/e9/3e9b0082c3c3111dcc19e3527ae94cc7.jpeg', '500', ' ', 'AP Photo/Steven Senne', ], [ [['best understands the problems of average Americans', 2]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/4-straight-romney-wins-washington-gop-caucus-1330835515-slideshow/', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/a/p/us/news/editorial/3/e9/3e9b0082c3c3111dcc19e3527ae94cc7.jpeg', '500', ' ', 'AP Photo/Steven Senne', ], [ [['Group for Historic Aircraft Recovery', 7]], 'http://yhoo.it/GB2RVy', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/os/152/2012/03/20/photo-1332257995646-4-0-jpg_171722.jpg', '630', ' ', 'AFP', ], [ [['xxxxxxxxxxxx', 11]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/russian-grannies-win-bid-to-sing-at-eurovision-1331223625-slideshow/', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/a/p/us/news/editorial/1/56/156d92f2760dcd3e75bcd649a8b85fcf.jpeg', '500', ' ', 'AP', ] ]
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Source: http://news.yahoo.com/shell-evacuates-workers-near-north-sea-leak-092302681.html
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Adoptive placement question - Adoption.com Forums
It can work! One of our foster placements that went on to be adopted had a similar situation happen. About a couple months after they moved in with their new family, the dad had a great job offer out of state. He was doing some "commuting" at first, would go out there for a couple weeks, then come home for a weekend. The wife stayed behind so the kids could finish out the school year, and they still hadn't sold their house.
If the team approves moving the kids, and having a local worker continue the visits/check-ins, you will most likely have to still come back to your home state/county for the finalization. But I don't know, maybe they can even have that done in your new state? It might depend on the originating state.
Contact the kids' SW and let them know what is going on. I imagine, they will not want to move the kids just because you will be moving. That would not be good for the kids.
Good Luck!
Source: http://forums.adoption.com/foster-parent-support/401638-adoptive-placement-question.html
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Monday, March 26, 2012
Financial Advice UK: Debt Management and Common Debt ...
Getting into an uncontrollable debt management situation is now much easier in the UK as a result of the numerous economic factors that have conspired to hit consumers up and down the country in the wallet. Debt management companies are helping consumers fight back.
When it comes to debt management, there are numerous mistakes that are commonly made but could easily be avoided in terms of avoiding substantial financial arrears in the first place. Being in debt is a very stressful experience and often involves being pressured on a monthly basis by numerous creditors. As such, many consumers with substantial debt management problems opt to use a debt consolidation loan in order to make their arrears much more tangible and manageable. When it comes to entering debt in the first place there are certainly some faux pas that are best avoided.
Debt Management - 10 Crazy Debt Avenues
As it?s now not even very difficult to end up in debt nowadays as a result of the profound debt management problems being experience by consumers up and down the country, a report on Yahoo! Finance points to some of the more ill-advised, or just plain crazy, ways to wind up in debt:
??????? Calling bank and asking for the biggest overdraft available without even contemplating the financial ramifications if the application is successful. Debt management is crucial to staying in the black and this certainly isn?t the way to go about it.
??????? Apply for every credit card that drops through your letter box. An over-reliance on credit has been the primary catalyst for the debt management crisis that has its steely grip on consumers across the UK.
??????? Taking out mortgages that you can?t afford. Many people have been bitten through coming off fixed rate mortgages and it is folly to enter into a mortgage that isn?t financially viable for you. The loser here will inevitably be your debt management plans.
Debt management in the UK is a cause for concern for millions of homeowners and consumers across Britain and many will utilise schemes such as a debt consolidation loan or seek expert debt management advice from financial specialists in order to get their monetary situation back within their control.
Source: http://www-financial-advice-uk.blogspot.com/2012/03/debt-management-and-common-debt.html
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Sunday, March 25, 2012
Suncast C2800G Utility 2 Door Wall Cabinet ? ? Bathroom ...
Suncast C2800G Utility 2 Door Wall Cabinet
Suncast C2800G Utility 2 Door Wall Cabinet
Editor?s Rating: 
List Price:$ 59.99
Sale Price:$ 50.00
outdoor cabinets
Product Description
SUNCAST Storage Trends Two-Door Wall-Hung Cabinets store chemicals, cleaners and other maintenance supplies.Corrosion-resistant storage cabinets have durable resin construction that is completely maintenance free. Includes one adjustable shelf. 100-lb. capacity overall. 50-lb. capacity per shelf. Cabinet doors can be locked for security. Snaps together without tools. Ships unassembled.
Details
- Durable resin construction
- Easy snap together assembly
- 1 adjustable shelf
- Lockable doors
Click here to get More info and see Over 100 customer reviews
What is the different between outdoor and indoor TVs?
The temps in my area in summer of high 90?s to low 100?s with moderate humidity, winter temps in 50?s. I?ve checked prices for outdoor TVs on line and the price is twice an indoor one.
The outdoor TV will be encased in a wooden cabinet with doors and will not be exposed to rain.
outdoor cabinets best answer:
Answer by Minnie
?What is the different between outdoor and indoor TVs??
Price and location.
TOP 5 bestselling product about outdoor cabinets
Get more infomation about Graco Car Seats
Find More Outdoor Cabinets Articles
Tags: Product Description, best answer, outdoor cabinets kidco, supplies.Corrosion-resistant storage cabinets, List Price, Get more infomationRecommended Reading
Source: http://www.bathroomtv.org/outside-tv/suncast-c2800g-utility-2-door-wall-cabinet
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Saturday, March 24, 2012
Marshall Made the Coolest Dorm Room Fridge Ever [Video]
Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/d-JNyCv0vg0/
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Improve Business Performance with Risk and Compliance ...
Date: April 17, 2012
Time: 4:00 PM BST / 17:00 CET / 11:00 AM ET
Recent research with over 500 global organisations shows a positive correlation between effective governance, risk and compliance and financial performance. This research showed that in many cases investment in risk programs could be self-funding or generate positive returns.
These findings are consistent with Software AG's experiences working with existing customers including BBVA, BT and Centrica to automate their enterprise risk management initiatives. Now you have the unique opportunity to hear directly from one of those clients about their experience implementing a successful risk and compliance management program.
BT Openreach, the vital provider of UK communication network infrastructure, needed to move from a manual document-oriented system to a sustainable system that would work across organizational silos. Working with Software AG, Openreach correlated governance requirements and audit trails to its key business process and then implemented automated controls and monitoring.
The result: more reliable compliance, lower costs and no more operational surprises.
Learn from BT Openreach's experience. Attend this webinar to see how to:
- Identify gaps or overlaps with regards to controls regime
- Improve the effectiveness of risk management
- Minimise the burden on the business
- Increase stakeholder confidence and buy-in
- Reduce the cost of controls
Who should attend?
Anyone involved in Risk, Compliance, Financial Controls, or Internal Audit interested in getting better results from their business processes.
The webinar will be recorded and a PDF of the slides will be sent to everyone who registers.
Register here:
http://www.softwareag.com/special/webinars/grc/index.html
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Friday, March 23, 2012
Engadget Primed: Camera metering explained
Primed goes in-depth on the technobabble you hear on Engadget every day -- we dig deep into each topic's history and how it benefits our lives. You can follow the series here. Looking to suggest a piece of technology for us to break down? Drop us a line at primed *at* engadget *dawt* com.
Is learning how to meter with your camera really necessary? With all the intelligent models out today, who needs it, right? Well, you may, depending on the type of killer photography you hope to produce. When it comes to the person behind the camera, there are a few types of photographers. First, there's the photog who just wants to snap away, not terribly concerned about how their photos turn out -- or, at the very least, not interested in knowing how to alter the camera. If this describes you, that's fine -- the latest-and-greatest compact cameras may be your cup of tea. But then there's the amateur shooter who desires a better understanding of how their cameras determine exposure, and if you fit into this category, this piece should be right up your alley.
Metering is not a subject you can easily master, let alone explain entirely in an article of this length, but we can give you an idea of how it all works. I consistently see the faces of my workshop students glaze over as I wax rhapsodic about the wonders of metering, but I also notice wry smiles from time to time, which shows me the wheels are turning -- they begin to realize all the things they can do if only they can conquer this aspect of photography. However, comprehension and applied mastery are two separate balls of wax. Putting what you learn to practice is the start, and you can improve over a number of months, but true metering control in any situation requires years of practice.
So for our 2012 pre-apocalyptic installment of Primed, we'll break down the world of camera metering, giving you a bit of history, dissecting the main components, describing what your camera wants to do and telling you what the future may hold. By the end, you'll have a better understanding of this vital photographic topic... either that or you'll be in a nice deep sleep.
Note: Check out our recent Primed articles on aperture and image sensors to add to your metering knowledge. 
Metering is not a subject you can easily master, let alone explain entirely in an article of this length, but we can give you an idea of how it all works. I consistently see the faces of my workshop students glaze over as I wax rhapsodic about the wonders of metering, but I also notice wry smiles from time to time, which shows me the wheels are turning -- they begin to realize all the things they can do if only they can conquer this aspect of photography. However, comprehension and applied mastery are two separate balls of wax. Putting what you learn to practice is the start, and you can improve over a number of months, but true metering control in any situation requires years of practice.
So for our 2012 pre-apocalyptic installment of Primed, we'll break down the world of camera metering, giving you a bit of history, dissecting the main components, describing what your camera wants to do and telling you what the future may hold. By the end, you'll have a better understanding of this vital photographic topic... either that or you'll be in a nice deep sleep.
Note: Check out our recent Primed articles on aperture and image sensors to add to your metering knowledge.
Continue reading Engadget Primed: Camera metering explained
Engadget Primed: Camera metering explained originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 23 Mar 2012 12:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | | Email this | Comments
Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/h-0EzrHjEXw/
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Thursday, March 22, 2012
Snooki?s Scary Life as a Mom, Google Chrome Style [Watch This]
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Jennifer Lawrence fires up "The Hunger Games"
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Jennifer Lawrence earned an Oscar nomination for playing a tough young woman in a gritty drug drama, but as she becomes a role model to young girls in her latest film "The Hunger Games," the actress wants to clean up her act.
Lawrence, 21, is no stranger to Hollywood after being thrust into the spotlight with a breakout performance in 2010 indie hit "Winter's Bone," which yielded the young star rave reviews and an Oscar nod for best actress.
She went on to play Mystique in 2011's "X-Men: First Class," expanding her fan base into a mainstream comic book film, and her latest role as Katniss Everdeen, the lead in "The Hunger Games," will likely send her fame skyrocketing even more. In fact, as the movie heads to theaters on Friday, it already has.
"I'm now a role model for young girls, so my language has to change a lot," Lawrence joked with reporters recently.
"I know that would change a lot of decisions work-wise personally ... as far as my next roles, because there would be young girls watching what I'm doing and emulating."
"The Hunger Games," based on the first book of a best-selling science-fiction series from author Suzanne Collins, sees 24 children sent to fight to the death in an annual televised event watched by the nation of Panem, a futuristic America.
When Katniss' younger sister is picked to participate, which would lead to certain death, Katniss volunteers in her place, thus beginning a series of events in which she rebels against Panem officials and becomes a beacon of hope for the oppressed.
Coming to the role of lead heroine Katniss Everdeen as a fan of the books herself, Lawrence knew her performance would be scrutinized, and her challenge was finding a fine balance in making the role her own while staying true to Collins' creation.
"I wish that I was much more like (Katniss) than I actually am. I think the hardest part about her was that in the books, she doesn't know how to get people to like her ... at the same time, you don't want to watch somebody for two hours that you don't like," explained Lawrence.
WINNING THE "GAMES"
The decision to cast Lawrence as Katniss came as an easy one for director Gary Ross, who drew parallels between the young actress and the 16-year-old book and movie heroine.
"She's brave, strong, self-confident, she knows who she is ... she's very clear, there isn't a great filter. Jen will kind of say anything, all of which can describe Katniss," said Ross, who called Lawrence's talent "unique in her generation."
The "Hunger Games" sees Lawrence put in several different situations as Katniss. She grows up in the desolate woodlands around her home, travels to the excessively opulent capital of Panem, and fights for survival in the Games arena.
To get into the physical shape of Katniss, who has spent her life hunting with a bow and arrow in the wilderness, Lawrence began free-running, combat training, climbing, doing yoga and most importantly, archery.
"It was exhausting, especially toward the end when we had six-day weeks for a month ... the adrenaline is real, the screaming I volunteer in fighting. Afterward, your heart's still pumping," said the actress.
Lawrence found herself developing different relationships for her character Katniss, including her friendship with Liam Hemsworth's Gale, romance with Josh Hutcherson's Peeta and finding a mentor figure in Woody Harrelson's Haymitch, which she found particularly interesting.
"(Katniss) was always very hard on Haymitch and making fun of him but I love Woody so much that it almost didn't come across that way, and there were some scenes where we ended up finishing each other's sentences and laughing together, so she kind of softens Haymitch a little sooner," said the actress.
Lawrence's co-stars shared anecdotes of the actress' quirky humor off-screen and her captivating on-screen talent.
"She's extremely funny, not what you'd exactly expect when you think about an Academy award-nominated actress. She just says whatever pops into her mind, and you've got to ... be ready to field whatever she throws at you next," said Hutcherson.
For Lawrence, fame has brought the responsibility of being a role model, and it has also come with perks. The young actress said she finally realized she had made it when a roller coaster in Mexico was turned on just for her at an amusement park.
"Walking down the red carpet at the Oscars was incredible and unbelievable, but it wasn't until I was sitting on a Batman roller coaster at Six Flags ... that I realized I really have a blessed life," she said.
(Reporting By Piya Sinha-Roy)
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/jennifer-lawrence-fires-hunger-games-184148678.html
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Wednesday, March 21, 2012
politico kattie: salvatore ferragamo Self Improvement Spirituality ...
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Day Trading Training & Course | zeeol.com - another news portal
Why Beginners Need a Day Trading Course Is Online Trading a thought in the back of your face?
It is vital for someone which includes never traded before to enroll in a day trading course prior to getting started. The market is usually a place where you should understand what you are doing. You will surely lose your dollars if you enter the market unprepared. Per day trading course will educate you all of the things that you need to know before starting.
The concept of online daytrading is very simple. You buy stocks low cost during the day and sell the when they rise later from the day. You can make enough money if you locate the ropes of trading. Two examples are during buying and selling. In buying, you may wonder how low is low enough when it?s in selling, you may want to know how long can you wait several price.You will get answers to these questions by experience, however, you could save money and time by searching for a day trading course. You must find a profitable day trading system from the course.
Having a degree is not essential in day trading. While at home, even in pajamas, you?re able to do day trading. To be successful in stock investing and only work when you?d like to, you have to go on a day trading course so as to get a grasp about the principles and practice of day trading investing. You can choose from the various courses offered online.
It might really be advantageous should you home study courses on day trading investing. When you enroll in your home study course, it will be easy to work at your own pace, therefore you won?t have to get caught up with a class. If you take towards the course quickly, you then don?t have to wait for all others to catch up with you. Also, you do not have to revise your schedule when you go on a home study course.
When day trading futures, these courses will likely show you that ?fantasy trading? or watching this market and pretending to trade is not a waste of time since it will enable you to practice day trading without money risk. It will hone your instincts and educate you several things such as watching for trends and timing.
Decide on a day trading course carefully online. Research first if said course will provide you all the skills you want to do successful trading. Also, browse for student testimonials an internet-based reviews. The course really should be worth your time and money. Just keep in mind that it truly is foolish to do daytrading without knowledge and correct training.
For more information about trader psychology vist our website.
Related posts:
- Online Day Trading Stocks, Exactly how It All Goes
- Forex Trading Methods That Perform ? Knowing the ?Fundamentals?Forex Trading GuidelinesA Forex Trading Method For NewbiesThe Fantastic Positive aspects of Automated Forex TradingThe Significance of Knowledge Forex Trading Risk
- Newbies Guide to Getting Starting in Trading
- After Hours Trading Work
- Education and learning in Trading, Your Way to Riches
Source: http://www.zeeol.com/day-trading-training-course.html
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Tuesday, March 20, 2012
How Hospital Gardens Help Patients Heal
Image: Illustration by Shaw Nielsen
To get an inkling of what a well-designed hospital garden can mean to a seriously ill child, watch the home video posted on YouTube last August of Aidan Schwalbe, a three-year-old heart-transplant recipient. The toddler is shown exploring the meandering paths, sun-dappled lawn and gnarled roots of a branching shade tree in the Prouty Garden at Children?s Hospital Boston. ?He loves to be out in the garden feeding the birds and squirrels,? wrote Aidan?s grandmother in an August blog entry. ?They will all weigh 30 lbs. each by the time we leave here!?
The garden that Aidan loves?with its vibrant greenery, shaded places to sit and walk, and small, half-hidden animal sculptures that fascinate visitors of all ages?is ?one of the most successful hospital gardens in the country,? says Clare Cooper Marcus, an emeritus professor in landscape architecture at the University of California, Berkeley.
Dismissed as peripheral to medical treatment for much of the 20th century, gardens are back in style, now featured in the design of most new hospitals, according to the American Society of Landscape Architects. In a recent survey of 100 directors and architects of assisted-living residences, 82 percent agreed that ?the design of outdoor space should be one of the most important considerations in the design.? But can gardens, in fact, promote healing? It turns out that they often can. Scientists around the world are now digging into the data to find out which features of gardens account for the effect.
Common Sense Put to the Test
The notion that the fresh breezes, dappled sunlight and fragrant greenery of a garden can be good for what ails us has its roots in ancient tradition and common sense. But a much cited study, published in 1984 in the journal Science by environmental psychologist Roger Ulrich, now at Texas A&M University, was the first to use the standards of modern medical research?strict experimental controls and quantified health outcomes?to demonstrate that gazing at a garden can sometimes speed healing from surgery, infections and other ailments.
Ulrich and his team reviewed the medical records of people recovering from gallbladder surgery at a suburban Pennsylvania hospital. All other things being equal, patients with bedside windows looking out on leafy trees healed, on average, a day faster, needed significantly less pain medication and had fewer postsurgical complications than patients who instead saw a brick wall.
Esther Sternberg, a physician and neuroimmunologist at the National Institute of Mental Health, calls Ulrich?s work ?groundbreaking.? At the time, studies showing that loud sounds, disrupted sleep and other chronic stressors can have serious physical consequences were only just beginning. ?In 1984 we all took it for granted that hospitals were noisy, smelly, disorienting mazes,? says Sternberg, who details the history in her book Healing Spaces: The Science of Place and Well-Being. ?But it hadn?t occurred to us that stress could affect a patient?s healing?or that we could do anything about that.?
Fortunately, as the evidence implicating hospitals as major engines of stress builds, the stack of data suggesting that gardens and planted alcoves can encourage healing has grown, too. ?Just ?three to five minutes spent looking at views dominated by trees, flowers or water can begin to reduce anger, anxiety and pain and to induce relaxation, according to various studies of healthy people that measured physiological changes in blood pressure, muscle tension, or heart and brain electrical activity.
Indeed, the benefits of seeing and being in nature are so powerful that even pictures of landscapes can soothe. In 1993 Ulrich and his colleagues at Uppsala University Hospital in Sweden randomly assigned 160 heart surgery patients in the intensive care unit to one of six conditions: simulated ?window views? of a large nature photograph (an open, tree-lined stream or a shadowy forest scene); one of two abstract paintings; a white panel; or a blank wall. Surveys afterward confirmed that patients assigned the water and tree scene were less anxious and needed fewer doses of strong pain medicine than those who looked at the darker forest photograph, abstract art or no pictures at all.
Source: http://rss.sciam.com/click.phdo?i=81b65882f3b3e074487563ce0caa22c9
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