বৃহস্পতিবার, ৩১ মে, ২০১২

Great Little Moments...????: SPECIAL: Online Volunteer and ...

Whenever I saw some individual (or organisation) initiated any volunteer or charitable drive, it will put a smile on my face as I believed that such initiative will improve somebodies' live, some where, some how. That's what make the world a better place to live.

Recently, I've chanced upon a site by a gentleman called Keith Gilabert whom are the founder of Keith Gilabert Foundation. Focus of this foundation is on providing self-help, inspirational and motivational guidance through Education and Cancer Research.? Following are the extracts from the sites of what they do in the respective research:


EDUCATION for Children:

Keith Gilabert Foundation is committed to:?

- Strengthening the profession by recognising and rewarding outstanding educators, and by expanding their professional leadership and policy influence.
- Attracting, developing, motivating and retaining the best talent to the teaching profession by means of comprehensive, whole school reform.
- Stimulating creativity and productivity among young people and adults through programs that encourage learning as a lifelong process.
- Building vibrant communities by involving people of all ages in programs that contribute to the revitalisation of their community and to the well-being of its residents.

CANCER RESEARCH:
Keith Gilabert Foundation is committed to:
- Advancing and supporting basic and applied medical research?especially in the areas of cancer and rare diseases?and recognising and rewarding outstanding scientists in these areas.
- Supporting basic health care programs to assure the well-being of community members of all ages.

For more details, feel free to access the site through the links above.?

On the same note, like to share the following quotes of mine:?

Happiness is when we can make a difference on others' lives by creating a better world!

Cheers!

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Powerful Angels blast Yankees for 8th straight win

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) ? Dan Haren stood at his locker and tried to run through all of the Los Angeles Angels' superlatives in his head, from those two tape-measure homers to several sparkling defensive plays ? and his own stellar pitching, of course.

Haren feels like the Angels are putting together a highlight reel during each night of their eight-game winning streak, and he's grateful to watch it from the mound.

Albert Pujols and Mark Trumbo homered, Haren pitched into the eighth inning, and the Angels extended their longest winning streak in nearly three years with a 5-1 victory over the New York Yankees on Tuesday night.

"We're being who we are, and this is who we expected to be coming out of spring training," said Haren, who won at home for the first time this season.

Rookie Mike Trout hit a run-scoring triple and made two jaw-dropping defensive plays for the Angels, who have won 11 of 15. After a rough start to a season of high expectations, Los Angeles (26-25) is above .500 for the first time since opening day.

"We're on a good roll now, and we've got to ride this as long as we can," Trumbo said.

Pujols hit a two-run shot for his 453rd career homer in the third inning, breaking a 34th-place tie with Carl Yastrzemski on baseball's career list. Trumbo followed up his game-ending shot Monday night by putting a solo shot deep into the fake rock pile behind center field at Angel Stadium in the sixth inning, a drive estimated at 443 feet.

Howie Kendrick also had a run-scoring single for the Angels, who hadn't won eight straight since July 2009. They haven't won nine in a row since 2005.

"When you're not swinging the bat, you're going to look dead," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "We probably looked dead for a month. (Showing) life is just a by-product of starting to swing the bats."

Haren (3-5) gave up eight hits with seven strikeouts and no walks, coming through with a strong start after the Los Angeles bullpen had to pitch nine innings in relief of injured ace Jered Weaver during Monday's 9-8 victory. After a four-game losing streak, the three-time All-Star has won two straight starts in overwhelming fashion, with 21 strikeouts and no walks in 16 innings.

Andy Pettitte (2-2) yielded nine hits and five runs over seven-plus innings in another solid start for the Yankees, but his teammates couldn't counteract the Angels' plate power and defensive prowess.

Trout and Peter Bourjos also made spectacular outfield catches on long drives by Nick Swisher, slamming into the wall to rob him of extra-base hits in the second and seventh innings. Bourjos tracked down yet another long drive by Swisher in the eighth, making the catch on the run to strand two New York runners.

"What are you going to do, man?" Swisher asked. "I swung the bat super well, and didn't have anything to show for it. They've got some track stars out there in center and left. Maybe I need to start hitting it to right. Keeping us to one run is pretty impressive."

Swisher had a run-scoring single when he wasn't getting robbed by the Angels' young outfielders, but the Yankees lost their second straight after a five-game win streak.

"It's pretty hard to say you're going to see an outfield that fast," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "Their defense was what kept us from scoring runs tonight. ... I thought our guys did a good job to give us a chance."

Ernesto Frieri struck out Robinson Cano with the bases loaded to end a hair-raising ninth inning. The Colombian right-hander recorded his 24th and 25th strikeouts in 12 hitless innings since the Angels acquired him on May 3, but Frieri also issued two walks with one out. After Trout made a diving catch in left, Frieri hit Alex Rodriguez to load the bases before fanning Cano.

Derek Jeter went 2 for 4 with a walk on the 17th anniversary of his major league debut with the Yankees, who passed the midway point of a nine-game road trip. The captain leads the AL with 70 hits, including 20 multihit games.

Pujols' two-run shot in the third inning was his fifth homer in eight games, his seventh in the past 14 days and his eighth of May. The three-time NL MVP has followed up his homerless April with a taste of the ferocious power Los Angeles expected to get from its $240 million investment, including 23 RBIs in his last 23 games.

Torii Hunter played right field and went 1 for 4 with a sixth-inning single in his first game since leaving the Angels on May 14 to deal with his teenage son's arrest in a sexual assault investigation. The veteran outfielder missed 15 games.

NOTES: After struggling with his control earlier in the season, Haren has walked one batter in 22 2-3 innings over his last three starts. ... Pujols' homer was his first off Pettitte in 25 career at-bats. ... Ivan Nova takes the mound for the Yankees in Wednesday night's series finale. The Angels go for the sweep behind Ervin Santana.

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Marla Sokoloff?s Blog: Why Make Parenting a Competition?

Aren't we all "mom enough?" Isn't being a good parent "enough?" Sokoloff blogs in response to TIME's recent breastfeeding cover.

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Wealth Is A Journey, Dividend Stocks Can Take You There ...

?


Fad diets and fad investing plans rarely work. They are primarily designed to separate you from your money and make the seller wealthy. Real wealth is built with sweat equity and a sound financial plan. For most people fortunate enough to be born in the U.S., or any other industrialized country, they have access to the two main ingredients to achieve financial success: 1. Opportunity and 2. Time.

Unfortunately, very few people are able to take advantage of the situation enough to even build a secure retirement. The formula to building wealth is rather simple - spend less than you earn and invest the difference. Implementation is where many people come up short. With the right focus and some positive feedback, building wealth can be much easier than shedding the spare tire around your mid-section. Here's how to do it...

Have A Plan

Many people are putting money into various retirement vehicles, but they haven't taken the time to envision how it is all going to come together and ultimately if it will be enough. We often will spend enormous amounts of time planning every detail of our vacation, but I have no idea what our estimated income or expenses will be when we retire.

As the old adage goes, ?Everyone has a plan ? failing to plan is planning to fail.' Retirement planning does not have to be complicated, but not doing it will complicate your retirement. To help you start the planning process, take a look these FREE retirement calculators (Retirement-Calculator.xls (Excel) or Retirement-Calculator.ods (Libre/Open Office)).

Use Time To Your Advantage

Time is your most valuable wealth building asset. Everyone is born with it. Few realize its importance until they lose most of it. The asset is so valuable it can't be bought. As a value/dividend investor, I have learned that time can cure many mistakes and provide enormous investment leverage.

When you are young time is your friend. It allows to recover from mistakes. It educates you and provides you with valuable experiences. However, time is a double-edged sword that can also work against you.


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বুধবার, ৩০ মে, ২০১২

cdwenterprise.com CDW ? Computers, Hardware, Software a ...

cdwenterprise.com CDW ? Computers, Hardware, Software a?

Posted on May 29 2012 by admin

CDW ? Computers, Hardware, Software and IT Solutions for Business

The information technology products, expertise and service you need to make your business successful. Fast shipping, fast answers, the industry?s largest in-stock inventories, custom configurations and more.

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মঙ্গলবার, ২৯ মে, ২০১২

Blog Archive ? Adhere Bodily Fitness Through Test Rowing Machine ...

rowing machineWorkout is about the some particular sports hobbies that requires all of the body is substantial muscles. It can be a fantastic aerobic exercise exercise routine, in the same vein as being cross-country ski, and its a good low-impact sporting activity on your important joints. Rowing is definitely life-long activity which nurtures great health, imagination and additionally spirit .

Rowing is an extremely common for lots of universities or colleges throughout He uk while the rowing machine reviews, and also certain American america?s. Rowing may well be an decidedly strenuous workouts which really can be truthfully scored. You are unable to ever in your life master often the on the inside rower, nonetheless you can easily quantify ones recovery every occasion you are probably trying. Rowing is just one of persons sports?like polo or just squash?that can be looked at as a vintage pasttime, sort of 19th-century relic that the bodybuilders battle with contemporary charter boats combined with race fans clothe yourself in blazers and additionally hay limits. But in certainty, days hold evolved.

Rowing can be a pace sport activity found in narrow down hardwood or even blend cruises, while the sportsperson is situated upon a dropping hold across the water level and thus encounters backwards, utilizing oars running for the reason that levers of an additional category to push these boat. This can be completed on just the waterway or alternatively relating to the beach. Rowing serves as a total body workout despite the fact that at first it appears that it is deemed an chest muscles athletic activity. Despite the fact that pectoral muscular strength is very important, the effectiveness of that rowing cerebrovascular accident is from the actual supports. Rowing is always one of the few exercise equipment that will strengthen the trunk.

Exercising through rowing equipment may be a whole activity that would be satiating, fulfilling to carry out and an account balance of physical exercise amazing benefits. Rowers really are graded being among the most in shape regarding pro athletes. For the reason that rowing operates the hip and legs, tummy, back, as well as biceps.

Health experts advise that for three to five days of the week 20-60 or so minutes associated with cardio workouts could be taken on. Having your possess waste fitness equipment at your house makes them objectives very easy to produce. Physical exercise and even vigor have proven to be alluring personality together with study shows that suit many people manage anxiety much better, happen to be omitted by way of job more infrequently, end up being more committed and also are additional beneficial through oriented towards enhance together with challenges in the office..

Inside of Rowing is undoubtedly very attempted as an effective solution to customary exterior rowing, in a similar manner the fact that the running machine has developed into a regular health and fitness center replace an outside path. Backyard swimming contains an affordable injury risk, is best and additionally consumes fat laden calories, however not in to the same exact extent due to the fact balanced rowing. At the problem, stationary bikes really do not supply you with most of an upper body workout.

Usual utilisation of the H2O rowing machine reviews in an fully extended moment will enable you to melt off all of the calories from fat, nevertheless there is a lot of motion involved. In addition to the rowing machine assists you to build up lean muscle mass as well as lean body mass need more calorie intake to hold it again in that direction, our body could make use of the caloric intake amassed to secure the situation.

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Nine New 'Les Miserables' Photos Arrive Online

It's been more than two months since Hugh Jackman tweeted the first image from "Les Miserables," and our excitement for the movie has only grown in the time since. USA Today has nine new pictures of Tom Hooper's musical adaptation, and they give us a good idea of what the various eras of the story [...]

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সোমবার, ২৮ মে, ২০১২

Forcing the FCC to Act on Conservative Talk Radio | MyFDL

MyFDL readers will remember my talking last year about why we need to Occupy Radio.?? Walking into any radio station during normal business hours and demanding to see their public files is an empowering way to understand that WE the PEOPLE own the radio airwaves, and that radio stations must serve our needs in order to get a license to broadcast.

Still, while it?s educational and it?s shed light on how much money political ads are pouring into stations? coffers, it has done nothing to alter the imbalance we find on Talk Radio all over the country.?? (Better than 90% of the nation can ONLY hear Right Wing Talk on their radio dials.)

But now, with the help of staff and volunteers at Media Action Center Wisconsin, we have launched an action which the FCC cannot ignore.

May 22,? Media Action Center Wisconsin released results of the Scott Walker Recall Talk Radio Monitoring Project.? We revealed that Clear Channel Radio?s WISN and Journal Communications? Radio WTMJ are each giving supporters of Scott Walker and the GOP?about $70,000 in free airtime every day over the air, and virtually nothing to the Democrats.

Tom Barrett supporters cried foul, and demanded comparable time from the stations, citing the little known FCC regulation, the quasi-equal opportunities doctrine, or ?Zapple.?? The stations failed to comply,?so May 24th, I filed a formal complaint with the FCC on their behalf.

We are asking the FCC to immediately order the stations to comply with comparable time rules and give 80 minutes daily to Tom Barrett supporters throughout the remainder of the election.

The FCC has already responded, and are reviewing it now.? They will try to answer this immediately, but acknowledge the case ? and its implications for talk radio are ?huge.?

That?s implications for Rush Limbaugh, for Glenn Beck, for Sean Hannity, for ALL talkers, not just those in Milwaukee.? (This will impact the 2012 campaigns; look for a Constitutional showdown on this one, folks.)

But the FCC tends to sweep such things under the rug, and I need your help to prevent that from happening!

Right Wing Talk Radio needs to be put in its place;? this is our very best shot.? Please help us make it count.

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Adoption Mama: Thirty-Three

Yesterday was my birthday...I turned 33.? It doesn't seem possible that another year has come and gone.? It feels that with each passing year time somehow speeds up.? I would like to know how to?slow it down for a bit.? The kids keep growing, getting bigger, smarter, older.? Sometimes I feel I am just grasping for the time that flies by, trying desperately to make sure that I am not missing out on things with them.?

It was a simple birthday, but just being with the kids brings me happiness.? Mark and I went out to dinner (by ourselves) and he bought me a Larson's banana cake.? Yum!? I got a new lens for my camera, and some nice gift cards and a pedicure (thank you mom)!?

My birthday always falls around Memorial day weekend.? I couldn't help but remember all the Memorial day weekend BBQ's we had for my birthday at Grandy and Papa's property.? Baked beans, corn on the cob, rides on the ATV, croquet, flying kites.? Family.? I never dreamed that those Memorial day bbq's would end.? I guess I assumed they would go on forever.? Naive...I know.? It's just another family experience that grieves my heart because I can't duplicate it?for my children.? I can try...and I do to make things special, unique and fun, but I can't provide 5 acres, 20 family members and all the things that go with it.? Things change and sometimes change is difficult.? I guess I am just stuck a little in the past wanting for things that can never be again, and feeling guilty?for not fully appreciating what I had when I had it.? I was thankful last night when we went over to Grandma and Grandpa's house (Mark's parents) to roast hot dogs and marshmallows on their new fire pit.? It was just so nice to be around family.? I think my heart just needed that.?

In this next year it is really a goal of mine to purposely slow down.? To not be running from activity to activity.? And while I know that their will always be a therapy or appointment, I am looking to weed out all the unimportant time wasting activities from my life.? I am planning to continue to implement organizational skills and de cluttering our home.? I guess overall I just want my life to be simpler this coming year.?

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রবিবার, ২৭ মে, ২০১২

What You Need To Know About Garden Workshops

Article Directory :: Home & Family Articles

When you have garden workshops, there are many innovative ways and ideas to make these outdoor sheds uniquely functional and customizable. These can be done to match up with your time, effort and budget along with the home and garden environment as well as the weather conditions in your place. There can be several reasons why homeowners need to have such sheds. They can be used as additional storage space, work area or a combination of both functions. You will have plenty of spaces to keep your stuff while getting things done easily without interruptions.

Garden workshops can have different design, size and type of material used during the construction. They can have the best quality while serving the practical purpose of having outdoor sheds. Finding the suitable one can be a bit tricky because these sheds may vary from each property and also with the needs of each and every homeowner. There can be similarities but not to the extent that they are one and the same for every garden structure. And as a homeowner, this is not what you want. You need to have something unique and that you can be proud of.

If you are planning to construct garden workshops, you may be in doubt if you can finish the project because you don't have much of the required skills. There is no need to worry about this. The web offers lots of information from the skilled DIY workers and you can learn from this at no cost at all. It is a step-by-step process that you have to start by reading different articles, browsing various styles, understanding the different types of materials used to identifying the necessary tools required to complete the whole process.

You need to spend significant amount of time and effort to know and understand everything regarding garden workshops. You can find downloadable shed plans that you can check for yourself and see how each specific structure looks like after it is fully built. Everything is laid out so it will be easy for you to understand and figure things out even if you don't have the building experience. Sooner or later, you will develop the construction skills and you will be able to build bigger and complex outdoor sheds.

For those who love to take the risk, garden workshops are a great way to test your attitude and intelligence. You will be able to manage your time, set limitations and be inventive in order to have functional and unique outdoor sheds. You will be able to avoid the possible pitfalls of having the so-called information overload while making the right decisions before and during the construction of the garden sheds. If you need to ask questions, don't hesitate. Also, have someone to work along with you. The experience of building these sheds is enjoyable and rewarding. You will also have something to do on a lazy weekend and be a productive homeowner.

For those who love to craft or those who want to have places for their hobbies, having garden workshops is an option. Find quiet and peace in these outdoor sheds. Visit my site to learn more about the garden structures and how they can work well for you.

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Viper Networks and Aequitas Energy Executives Reviewing Final Agreement Details Over Memorial Weekend

DETROIT, May 25, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Viper Networks, Inc. (Pink Sheets: VPER), is pleased to announce that the chief executives of both companies, Aequitas Energy, Inc. and Viper Networks respectively, are slated to review final agreement documents tomorrow Saturday May 26th, in hopes of reaching final agreement for the Company to acquire thirty percent (30%) of the energy reseller company based in New Haven, Connecticut.

Final contract documents were forwarded to Aequitas executives by Viper Networks attorneys late Friday afternoon. After contact was made by each party early this evening, both company presidents agreed to review final contract terms on Saturday in hopes of concluding this important agreement before the Memorial holiday on Monday.

Please note the Company is displaying a 'temporary' corporate site at www.vipernetworks.com.

The Viper Networks, Inc. logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=12434

Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements ??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" as that term is defined in Section 27A of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Statements in this press release which are not purely historical are forward-looking statements and include any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. Such forward-looking statements include, among other things, the development of new business opportunities, zero operational impact and projected costs, future operations, revenue, profits, gross margins and results of operations. Actual results could differ from those projected in any forward-looking statements due to numerous factors. Such factors include, among others, the inherent uncertainties associated with new projects and development stage companies. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release, and we assume no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Although we believe that any beliefs, plans, expectations and intentions contained in this press release are reasonable, there can be no assurance that any such beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions will prove to be accurate.

CONTACT: Investor Relations:          Heritage First Capital (Orlando)          Scott Gibson, Direct # 407.444.5959
Source: Viper Networks, Inc.

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Review: Salt & Straw - - Portland Food and Drink

Salt & Straw Ice CreamWhen I was growing up, on hot summer days dad used to get everyone into the car and head out to Lancaster, California to pick fat juicy cherries and sweet peaches from the old orchards. We?d make a day of it, hiking in ?The Devil?s Punchbowl1?, having a burger at some roadside dive and driving home tired and happy, the smell of ripe fruit playing harmony with the music on the car radio. I remember one year Dad had to swerve when a car pulled in front of us and the trays of overripe strawberries flew through the air. When he eased to the shoulder of the road and yanked open the door on the old VW bus, it looked like someone had been horribly disemboweled on the back seat.

The next day we?d run out to the back porch, and he?d pull out the old hand-cranked wooden ice cream freezer, packing it with ice and rock salt shaken out of big paper sacks. All of us would take our turn, arms aching, trying to keep the cold metal cylinder spinning as the ingredients inside transformed into the magic of creamy, velvety ice cream. Gathering around as he removed the dasher, the cold cream would drip off and we?d all try to catch it with paper cups. While it set up in the freezer, Dad started the barbecue, and he and I would grind meat for hamburgers, carefully shaping them with a gentle touch. After they were eaten, fingers slick from buttery corn, cold bowls would be passed around the back porch, and there would be silence broken only by the slow scraping of spoons.

Dad was ahead of his time. All these years later I remember him making multiple batches, trying to get the flavors balanced just right. A man way ahead of his time, when the strawberries were especially good, he?d make freezer sorbet with cracked black pepper and a dash of vinegar.

Sitting with him in the kitchen while he made the batter, tasting, adjusting, and then seeing how the tastes changed again as it was frozen, I learned how difficult it is to adjust the recipe, especially as the flavor of ingredients changed intensity from year to year. He?d let me experiment with little batches, and I?d do my best to come up with new ideas. I wasn?t up to the task, as I always wanted to use my favorite foods; abalone, lobster and clam ice creams just don?t work.

Memories of those warm Sundays have drifted through my dreams ever since Salt & Straw Ice Cream opened on Alberta Street last year. Now with a second place on NW 23rd, lines are queuing at the door for good reason.

What sets Salt & Straw apart? It?s not only a step into the past when batters had a much higher percentage of milk-fat, but even more importantly, the balance achieved within the panoply of ingredients. Take a look at the current list of flavors:

Salt & Straw Alberta

Alberta Store

  • Pear and Blue Cheese
  • Sea Salt & Caramel Ribbons
  • Double Fold Vanilla
  • Chocolate and Gooey Brownies
  • Strawberry Balsamic and Black Pepper (be still my heart!)
  • Cinnamon Snickerdoodle
  • Coffee and Cocoa Nibs
  • Almond Brittle and Salted Ganache
  • Banana and Spicy Monkey Caramel and Walnuts

That?s just the regular flavors. Here are the seasonal:

  • Arbeguina Olive Oil
  • Dandelion Sorbet & Edible Wildflowers
  • Rhubarb & Toasted Anise Crumble
  • Honey Lavendar
  • Sweet Heat Apricot, Wheat Ale & Candied Peppers
  • Black Currant Sorbet

There is a lot that can go wrong with these combinations. I was a bit nervous about the pear and blue cheese, but once I tried it? crumbles of Rogue?s Crater Lake Blue and Truitt Brother?s pears? need I say more? Now I just throw caution to the wind and order a random flavor. Sweet heat Burnside Brewing Apricot Wheat Ale with candied Scotch bonnet peppers is a hot August afternoon on a cone. The classic combination of strawberries from Oregon Hill farms, honey balsamic from Honey Ridge Farms, and black pepper from Pohnpei made me flash back to a gelato I had in Rome. Cinnamon Snicker Doodle is made with Red Ape cinnamon from a spice company in Eugene which donates part of the proceeds to save the orangutans in Sumatra where the cinnamon is harvested ? no guilt ? I do it for the orangutans.

I could spend a lot more words discussing each flavor, but there isn?t much point, as these things are highly subjective. Just keep a few things in mind. The ice creams here aren?t the sugar bombs you may be used to; you?ll probably find this a good thing. If you try one and you don?t like it, don?t write off Salt & Straw. Try something else. Their most popular flavors are the Blue Cheese & Pear and the Salted Caramel. I thought I?d love the latter, but I didn?t, however the first made my toes curl in a good way. O Magazine raved about the Arbequina Olive Oil combination. While I appreciated the subtle grassy peppery flavor, a friend just thought it was greasy. Also, think about how different scoops will combine. Remember, this is high fat stuff, so it tends to be soft and flow together.

The staff is very patient, but do the people in front of me really need to try six flavors when the line behind them winds around the corner? I think not. I?d leap over the case and suffocate them, face down in Dandelion Sorbet.

Salt & Straw makes their own cones, and has floats, shakes, sundaes and a full line of breakfast pastries, cookies and desserts which are baked in-house. I have not tried them, as everyone knows that type of thing is fattening.

Single $3.75, double $5.75, Kid?s $2.75, Pints $8. Floats/shakes/sundaes $5 ? $6.75

2035 NE Alberta St., Portland ? 11am ? 11pm daily.

838 NW 23rd Ave, Portland ? 7am ? 11pm daily.

SaltandStraw.com

1If you are really nice, someday I will tell you the story of me, a troop of Girl Scouts, and skinny-dipping at Devil?s Punchbowl.

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Small Business Commissioner Standing up for Small Business ...

The NSW Small Business Commissioner, Yasmin King, is standing up for small businesses when it comes to proposed WorkCover reforms.

The Commissioner has filed a submission with the Parliamentary Inquiry into the NSW Workers Compensation Scheme, and has raised a number of concerns regarding the Scheme and made suggestions designed to improve the Scheme in order to create a climate in which small businesses are encouraged to create employment, rather than seeing the creation of jobs as a financial and regulatory burden.

NSW employers pay Workers Compensation Scheme premiums estimated to be between 20 and 60 per cent higher than equivalent employers in competitor states. Any further premium increases will further impact on the competitiveness on NSW businesses.

?It is essential that this Inquiry into the NSW Workers Compensation Scheme makes serious recommendations for a major overhaul which will align it more closely with its Queensland and Victorian counterparts and which will allow the NSW small business sector to remain competitive,? Ms. King stated.

?Small business operators want safe workplaces. It is critical that any changes to the Scheme do not impact on workplace safety, however if the financial and regulatory burdens of the Scheme are not addressed, NSW employers will simply decide that creating more jobs, or maintaining current jobs is not financially viable,? said Ms. King.

One of the key problems with the Scheme is the definition of ?worker?. This is particularly problematic because the changing nature of the workforce is resulting in more independent contractors in the State?s workplaces. Many small business operators employ independent contractors as it enables them to manage peaks and troughs in demand. These independent contractors, whilst considered as such for tax purposes, can instead be deemed as ?employees? under the Workers Compensation Scheme.

?There is a complete lack of clarity for small businesses in the determination of what is an independent contractor. To expect businesses to understand what seems to be a black art of how this is determined is completely unfair,? Ms. King stated

The Commissioner has identified a number of additional areas of concern to small businesses:

  • ensuring employers of older workers are not disadvantaged by having to pay higher premiums ??especially in today?s economic climate where people are staying in the workforce longer, and in fact?where there is growing demand for older workers to continue to use their vast experience; and?there is a level of frustration with lack of transparency and accountability of the medical system in?relation to WorkCover claims.

?Workers compensation/WorkCover issues are some of the concerns most consistently raised with me by small businesses and they are disillusioned by the current system. I will continue to advocate for a Workers Compensation Scheme in the State which maintains workplace safety but which reduces the compliance, and financial and regulatory burden on small businesses in NSW,? Ms. King concluded.

Small businesses with queries regarding the Work Cover Inquiry are encouraged to contact the Office of the Small Business Commissioner on 1300 795 534.

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Book Review - Cracking the Codes | The Critical Architect

By: The Critical Architect
Date: 05/25/12 11:00 AM

Critical Architect Review: Cracking the Codes ? An Architect?s Guide to Building Regulations

Author: Barry D. Yatt | ISBN 0-471-16967-6 | Wiley & Sons ? 1998 | NCARB Monograph Series

Publishers Description

(From NCARB website)

Book Cover for Cracking the CodesAlthough building codes and standards are often seen as obstacles to design excellence, NCARB?s newly published monograph, Cracking the Codes, makes them accessible by promoting a sound understanding of regulatory issues?without overwhelming the reader with minutiae.

  • Monograph chapters move through each stage of the planning process to identify and consolidate the basic regulatory requirements that must be addressed.
  • The monograph covers zoning ordinances and covenants, as well as rules related to accessibility, historic preservation, environmental quality, and consumer protection, among other critical issues.
  • Information is extensively cross-referenced to make topics easy to find. A uniform methodology is applied to each regulatory issue.
  • Unique feature: a two-part quiz. Either quiz may be taken in any order. The first quiz covers chapters 1-6, and the second quiz covers chapters 7-12. Quiz #2 meets the Texas requirement for one hour of instruction in issues related to barrier-free design.

Author
Barry D. Yatt, FAIA, CSI, is an associate professor at The Catholic University of America?s School of Architecture and Planning.

Continuing Education and Cost Information
Monograph and two quizzes:
$325 ($225 for current NCARB Record holders)

340 pages
8 PDUs and 8 AIA LUs in health, safety, and welfare (HSW) and Sustainable Design (SD) per quiz

?

Critical Architect Review

With one of my State Registrations looming, I found myself to be short a couple of Continuing Education Units (CEU?s) and began searching for some credits that I could pick up quickly.? Like a moth to a flame I sometimes find myself drawn to pour more money into the NCARB cartel, so I started searching their website and came across ?Cracking the Codes? by Barry D. Yatt, FAIA, CSI.

?This looks pretty good,? I said to myself as I read through the description. The book is divided into two sections, each worth 8 CEU?s. ?Fantastic! That will put me over the top with extra credit to be applied for next year? I said with a boastful tone as if I had just managed to use my unique prowess to discover some dark secret known only to a select few.

I swallowed a little vomit as I entered my credit card information for the $325 (non-member) price. My brain quickly ran through the numbers to determine that even with this extraordinary cost I will still be saving money by not being a member of this insidious organization.

The book itself is very well written. ?Mr. Yatt does a fine job of explaining the rationale and origins of building codes in general. In addition, he is able to convey how to use that information in everyday architectural practice. This is no easy feat for something as mind-numbing as ?Building Codes?. When I purchased the book, it was my hope that the author would be able to present such historical information in a way that wouldn?t make me fall asleep? and Mr. Yatt did just fine.

But there is one major flaw with this publication that didn?t occur to me when purchasing. In addition, the NCARB website (intentionally?) makes no reference to probably the most important fact about this book:

It was published in 1998, and is intimately tied to the 1997 Uniform Building Code (UBC) as well as BOCA, and the yet to be published International Building Code (IBC).

This conveniently undisclosed fact would probably have made me look elsewhere. Despite my urgent need for gaining a couple of extra CEU?s.

While the general, historical knowledge contained in the book is interesting and has value, the commentary is so intertwined with these specific building codes that the entire book is now completely obsolete. If the author had more foresight to omit references to specific code sections, and focus instead on the historical significance and applications of the code, the book would have had a longer shelf life. As it stands, the book is only as good as the current (1997) Building Code remains in effect.

In the last 14 years, the UBC & BOCA have been completely replaced with the IBC. Which itself has undergone extensive revisions and alterations since the draft copy was introduced and to which this publication references extensively.

Of course, old timers like me have the ability to weed through the obsolete references and take with us the essence of the thought. However the newer generations of Architects may not be as familiar with this context and may even be led astray. How embarrassing it might be for one of these young lads to approach a more senior Architect and ask to see current copy of BOCA for study?

In the final analysis, ?Cracking the Codes? should have been discontinued 10 years ago (at least). Its continued sale on the NCARB website only illustrates how NCARB is nothing more than another corporate profit machine hiding from the IRS under the guise of ?non-profit? status. If they actually cared about Architects, or their continuing education, they wouldn?t be peddling outdated educational material. Because to do so proves that their only motivation is ?profit.?

I want to make it clear that the fact that the book is outdated is not the fault of the author. Had I purchased this book back in 1998, I would have easily given this book a full Two Thumbs Up.

Unfortunately, neither time nor building codes stand still and since this book is now completely outdated, I must reluctantly give it ? Two Thumbs Down.

?

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Five New Inductees Named for Alabama Business Hall of Fame

May 25, 2012 - Filed under: Awards & Honors, Events | Tagged: College of Commerce & Business Administration

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. ??Five distinguished business leaders will be inducted into the Alabama Business Hall of Fame Thursday, Nov. 1 in Birmingham at the Cahaba Grand Conference Center.

The reception will begin at 5:30 p.m. and the induction ceremony and dinner at 7 p.m.

The five will be the 39th class of inductees.

?Each of these business leaders has certainly left their mark on their community, their state, in fact the world,? said Dr. J. Michael Hardin, dean of The University of Alabama?s Culverhouse College of Commerce and Business Administration. The College?s board of visitors founded the Alabama Business Hall of Fame in 1973.

?Each inductee has demonstrated hard work and vision in their chosen fields, from banking to finance and insurance to construction and engineering.?

The 2012 inductees are Richard Anthony, 66, of Birmingham, retired chairman of the board of Synovus; John A. Caddell, 82, of Montgomery, chairman of the board, Caddell Construction Company; T. Michael Goodrich, 66, of Birmingham, former chairman and chief executive officer of BE&K; James S. Holbrook Jr., 67, of Birmingham, chairman and chief executive officer of Sterne Agee Group Inc., and Dr. Grace E. Pilot of Mobile, co-founder of Pilot Catastrophe Services Inc.

The hall honors the names and accomplishments of more than 130 men and women who are some of the state?s most distinguished business leaders.

?The history of the Business Hall of Fame reaches back to 1973 and honors the names and accomplishments of some of the state?s most distinguished business leaders, people such as George Washington Carver, William Albert Bellingrath, the late Mildred Westervelt Warner and William H. Blount,? Hardin said.

To be eligible for selection, a person must have brought fame and honor to the state of Alabama. He or she should have made a significant impact on the development of community and state by promoting the free enterprise system and entrepreneurship; by demonstrating civic leadership, and by their philanthropy and humanitarianism toward their fellow citizens.

Nominees must be retired for three years or more or be at least 65. A continuing list of nominees is maintained, and each year new names are added for consideration. Nominations from anyone are welcome.

For ticket information to the Alabama Business Hall of Fame, or to purchase tables, contact Diane Harrison, director of alumni and corporate initiatives at the Culverhouse College of Commerce, dharriso@cba.ua.edu, 205/348-2930.

Here are brief biographies of the 2012 inductees:

Richard E. Anthony

Richard E. Anthony, Retired Chairman of the Board and CEO of Synovus

Richard E. Anthony, 66, was chairman and chief executive officer of Synovus Financial Corp., a regional banking company headquartered in Columbus, Ga., with banking offices in Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, Florida and Tennessee.

He received his bachelor?s degree in finance from The University of Alabama and his master?s in business administration from the University of Virginia. His banking career began at AmSouth Bank where he served as executive vice president. As a co-founder of First Commercial Bancshares in 1985, he helped lead the company?s expansion into Birmingham, Tuscaloosa, Montgomery and Huntsville, using its Jasper community banking presence as a foundation.

Anthony was president of First Commercial Bancshares when it merged with Synovus in 1992. He became vice chairman of Synovus in 1996, overseeing Synovus? banking operations. In 2003, he became president and chief operating officer, then taking over CEO responsibilities in 2005. In 2006 he was named chairman and CEO. His service at Synovus concluded in April 2012, when he retired as a board member.

His leadership responsibilities at Synovus covered a tumultuous period of financial stress, and he led the company through two major capital raises, a dramatic restructuring, and a successful spin-off of Total Systems Services, its credit card processing subsidiary.

Civic affiliations have included: president, Birmingham Kiwanis Club; captain, Monday Morning Quarterback Club; Leadership Birmingham; Leadership Alabama; The University of Alabama; The University of Alabama President?s Cabinet; the Culverhouse College of Commerce and Business Administration?s board of visitors; director of the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama. He also led the United Way Campaign in Columbus, Ga. and was chairman of the Columbus Chamber of Commerce.

Anthony served on the board of directors of the American Bankers Association, the Financial Services Roundtable and Total Systems Services Inc.

John A. Caddell

Chairman of the Board, Caddell Construction??

John A. Caddell, 82, of Montgomery, was president and chief executive officer at Blount Construction and later founded Caddell Construction where he serves as chairman of the board.

Caddell Construction is a major player in domestic and international markets, including U.S. diplomatic facilities, federal courthouses, high-tech research and development centers, prisons, hospitals, airports, hotels, power plants, manufacturing facilities, military barracks and an even longer list of unique specialty projects.

He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in building construction from the Georgia Institute of Technology and attended Harvard Business School?s AMP Program, the University of Virginia Advanced Management Program, and the Top Management Briefing Course-American Management Association. He also attended Officer Engineer Technical School, USAF Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, and served two years in the United States Air Force.

Caddell began his construction career as an estimator with Blount Construction in 1952. He was promoted to vice president of Blount in 1963, and he assumed duties of president and CEO from 1969 until 1983. Under Caddell?s leadership, Blount was responsible for some of the largest and most challenging projects in the world and attained a position of international prominence.

He established Caddell Construction Co. Inc. in 1983, which has since emerged as one of the most respected general contractors in the nation. Caddell Construction has completed more than $7 billion in public and private projects and received multiple national honors from construction industry peers. Caddell has become a premier contractor for U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide, including the U.S. Embassy in Beijing, and it is among a handful of U.S. general contractors with the sophisticated management and technical systems to effectively direct this type of especially challenging project.

Caddell Construction was recently ranked by the Engineering News Record?as the 88th largest U.S. general contractor; the 28th largest U.S. design and build prime contractor; and among the top 30 ?Green? contractors nationwide.

Caddell served as president and board member of the Montgomery Chapter of the Associated General Contractors and was a member of the Montgomery AmSouth Bank board of directors. He is a Lifetime Board Member and past president of YMCA and a member of the Montgomery Area Committee of 100. He has also served as a member of the board of the Alabama Baptist Foundation, the Montgomery Area United Way, and the advisory board at Auburn University at Montgomery, the advisory board for Georgia Institute of Technology, and the board of trustees at Samford University.

In 1998, he received the Distinguished Alumni Center Achievement Award from the Georgia Institute of Technology College of Architecture. He was selected by the Alabama Associated Builders and Contractors as the 2004 recipient of the Cornerstone Award for outstanding contributions to the construction industry; followed by election from the Associated General Contractors of Alabama to their Hall of Fame in 2005.

In 2010, he received the Frank Plummer Memorial Arts Award for outstanding support and contributions to the fine arts from the Montgomery Business Committee for Fine Arts.

T. Michael Goodrich

Former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, BE&K?

T. Michael Goodrich, 66, of Birmingham, was chairman and chief executive officer of BE&K, a top engineering and construction company headquarters in the Birmingham. The company is now part of Houston-based construction giant KBR. BE&K provided engineering and construction services to large complex industrial and commercial projects throughout the world.

During Goodrich?s tenure as CEO, the company had major offices in Wilmington, Del., Birmingham, Raleigh, N.C., Houston, Texas, Helsinki, Finland, St. Petersburg, Russia, and Kwidzyn, Poland.

Goodrich graduated from Tulane University with a civil engineering degree in 1968, and he received his law degree from The University of Alabama in 1971.

He serves on the board of directors of First Commercial Bank, Synovus Financial Corp., and Energen Corp. Following his service at BE&K, Goodrich started an investment management company, Goodrich Management Co.

Goodrich received the NOVA award by the Construction Innovation Forum and the Excellence in Construction Cornerstone Award by the Associated Builders and Contractors.

He is a longtime supporter of the Boy Scouts of America and served on its national board since 2001 and was chairman of the Greater Alabama Council in 2000. He is a former president of the Associated Builders and Contractors and a member of the National Academy of Construction. He is a member of Leadership Birmingham and Leadership Alabama.

He has been active with the Birmingham Civil Rights and Eisenhower Fellows. He is a member of the President?s Council at The University of Alabama and the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Goodrich served as a captain in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 1971-1972, and is a member of the Alabama Academy of Honor and the Alabama Engineering Hall of Fame.

Goodrich is a member of South Highland Presbyterian Church where he has served as an elder and a deacon.

James S. Holbrook Jr.

Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Sterne Agee Group Inc.

James S. Holbrook, Jr., 67, of Birmingham, is chairman, president and chief executive officer of Sterne Agee Group Inc. He has remained at the helm of the investment bank for 22 years since the consolidation of its securities firm, Sterne, Agee & Leach Inc. with First Birmingham Securities Corp., the company Holbrook operated from 1970-1990.

Holbrook has kept the company?s headquarters in Birmingham, providing economic sustainability and employing more than 400 residents of the city and suburbs and more than 500 statewide. The company employs 1,300 people and operates across the United States.

Holbrook began his affinity for the investment world after receiving his Bachelor of Arts degree in business and finance from The University of Alabama. His first role was in the Public Finance Group at R.W. Knight & Company in 1966.

Throughout his career, he has served on the board of governors for the National Association of Securities Dealers (now FINRA), and was vice-chairman of the National Business Conduct Committee. During that time Holbrook also served on the Corporate Finance Committee, the Sanctions Guidelines Committee, the Statutory Disqualifications Committee and the Executive Committee.

At one point, he served as chairman of the District No. 5 Business Conduct Committee. Holbrook is also a member of the SIFMA Regional Firms Committee and Management Roundtable.

Holbrook?s civic involvement includes The University of Alabama President?s Cabinet, the Alabama Business Hall of Fame board of directors, past chairman of the board of visitors of the Culverhouse College of Commerce and Business Administration, and a member of the Commerce Executive Society. In 1999, Holbrook was made Honorary Member of Beta Gamma Sigma, the honor society at The University of Alabama serving business programs accredited by AACSB International.

To encourage the growth and development of the business community, Holbrook serves on the board of directors and the executive committee for the Birmingham Business Alliance and, in 2008, served on the board of trustees for the Birmingham Regional Chamber of Commerce. He also is a member of the Alabama Council of Economic Education board, and he serves on the Robert E. Reed Gastrointestinal Oncology Research Foundation corporate board.

He has been a long-time member of The Newcomen Society, Alabama chapter and Toqueville Society, as a partner of United Way.?

E. Grace Pilot

Co-Founder, Pilot Catastrophe Services Inc.

?E. Grace Pilot of Mobile is the co-founder of Pilot Catastrophe Services Inc. and also serves as the secretary and treasurer. She has been active with the company in various capacities since its inception in 1983.

Pilot was born in Choctaw County, and she is the third eldest of 10 children. She is an active and past member of many organizations including the Alabama Baptist Children?s Home, American Society of Women Accountants and is an honoree of the Alexis de Tocqueville Society Award given to members who show exemplary leadership in the United Way and the community.

In 2005, Pilot was honored by Beta Sigma Phi as the First Lady of Mobile for her ideas and commitment to others through her daily acts of love, friendship and generosity.

The E. Grace Pilot Private Foundation supports her efforts to create a positive change in the communities which she lives and contributes to causes of eternal value. The Foundation provides financial support primarily in the areas of education, community needs and Christian ministry.

She has served as special adviser to the president of Howard Payne University in Brownwood, Texas and has been a generous benefactor to this university. In 1994, Howard Payne University honored her with the highest honor given by a university with an honorary Doctoral of Humanities degree. In 2010, ?Grace Chapel,? on the campus of Howard Payne University, was named in her honor.

Pilot and her late husband, Walter D. Pilot Sr., founded the Pilot companies, working from their home the first years of business. It now has grown into the nation?s largest catastrophe adjusting firm. Today, Pilot Catastrophe Services Inc. employs thousands of employees in and outside of Alabama with the corporate office in Mobile and offices throughout the country.

Pilot is the proud mother of five children, 16 grandchildren and one great grandchild. She is a member of Luke 4:18 Fellowship Church.

The University of Alabama, a student-centered research university, is experiencing significant growth in both enrollment and academic quality. This growth, which is positively impacting the campus and the state's economy, is in keeping with UA's vision to be the university of choice for the best and brightest students. UA, the state's flagship university, is an academic community united in its commitment to enhancing the quality of life for all Alabamians.

CONTACT: Bill Gerdes, UA Media Relations, 205/348-8318, bgerdes@cba.ua.edu
SOURCE: Diane Harrison, 205/348-2930, dharriso@cba.ua.edu

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US poised to vet possible arms for Syrian rebels

FILE - In this Saturday, April 28, 2012 file photo, the ship "Lutfallah II" believed to be carrying three containers of weapons, is docked at a Lebanese navy base, in Beirut, Lebanon. Struggling to obtain weapons, Syria's rebels appear to be shifting tactics to smaller-scale guerrilla tactics like roadside bombs and hit-and-run attacks as the regime chokes off the main smuggling routes into the country. AP interviews with security officials, rebels and arms dealers in neighboring countries indicate that individual units of anti-regime fighters scrape by haphazardly for weapons, with almost no central organization and little means to get arms heavier than automatic weapons and rocket-propelled grenades into the country. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla, File)

FILE - In this Saturday, April 28, 2012 file photo, the ship "Lutfallah II" believed to be carrying three containers of weapons, is docked at a Lebanese navy base, in Beirut, Lebanon. Struggling to obtain weapons, Syria's rebels appear to be shifting tactics to smaller-scale guerrilla tactics like roadside bombs and hit-and-run attacks as the regime chokes off the main smuggling routes into the country. AP interviews with security officials, rebels and arms dealers in neighboring countries indicate that individual units of anti-regime fighters scrape by haphazardly for weapons, with almost no central organization and little means to get arms heavier than automatic weapons and rocket-propelled grenades into the country. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla, File)

In this image made from amateur video released by the Shaam News Network and accessed Wednesday, May 23, 2012, purports to show Syrians chanting slogans during a demonstration in Idlib, Syria. (AP Photo/Shaam News Network via AP video) TV OUT, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS CANNOT INDEPENDENTLY VERIFY THE CONTENT, DATE, LOCATION OR AUTHENTICITY OF THIS MATERIAL

(AP) ? As one diplomatic effort after another fails to end more than a year of brutal violence in Syria, the Obama administration is preparing a plan that would essentially give U.S. nods of approval to arms transfers from Arab nations to some Syrian opposition fighters.

The effort, U.S. officials told The Associated Press, would vet members of the Free Syrian Army and other groups to determine whether they are suitable recipients of munitions to fight the Assad government and to ensure that weapons don't wind up in the hands of al-Qaida-linked terrorists or other extremist groups such as Hezbollah that could target Israel.

The plan, which has not yet been finalized, reflects U.S. frustration that none of the previous efforts ? including diplomatic rhetoric from the United Nations and the multinational Friends of Syria group, and special envoy Kofi Annan's plan for a cease-fire ? has even begun to nudge President Bashar al-Assad from power. The vetting would be the first tiny step the U.S. has made toward ensuring that the Syrian opposition uses the weapons to fight Assad and not to turn it into a full sectarian conflict.

The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the subject, stressed that the United States, which is already providing non-lethal aid to Syria's political opposition, is not supplying military assistance to Assad's foes.

The administration's position remains that adding more weapons to the conflict is a bad idea and will only fan the fire of instability.

"We don't think that adding fuel to this fire is the right way to go," State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said.

"Our decision is to support the civilian opposition in nonlethal ways," she said. "There are other countries who have made other decisions. That's their sovereign decision to make. We've made our decision."

But she added: "We are obviously consulting with various states about the decisions that we've made, that they've made."

Privately, officials say that as conditions continue to deteriorate, it would be irresponsible not to weigh in with Arab countries such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and others such as Turkey that have indicated interest in arming the rebels.

By some accounts, those nations already have begun to ship weapons with tacit U.S. agreement. In Turkey, private businessmen have begun funneling weapons into Syria.

Libya's new rulers, fresh from their own revolution that toppled longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi, have pledged support for the Syrian rebels, but actually transferring weapons is tricky. Last month, Lebanese authorities seized a ship carrying rocket-propelled grenades and heavy-caliber ammunition, possibly bound for Syrian rebels.

The fighters' attempts to bring in heavier arms that could change the course of the 15-month-old uprising so far have been stymied at every turn, even by countries sympathetic to the revolt. All are wary of being drawn into the fight

The rebels have cast a wide net, contacting weapons dealers in Bulgaria, Greece, Georgia and Azerbaijan.

Without some type of U.S. vetting as to who should receive such shipments, the Obama administration and some of its European allies fear that weapons might be used against Western interests.

While the "main" Syrian opposition is not aligned with al-Qaida, the chance that weapons might fall into the wrong hands in an unstable environment like Syria is "always a concern," said a senior intelligence official.

Al-Qaida has established a limited operational capability in Syria and is responsible for several attacks on Assad targets, the official said. He said analysts believe the goal is to "sow further chaos" and advance an extremist agenda.

The official would not comment on any military aid that might be given to the rebels by U.S. allies.

Yet he and others acknowledged the situation is growing more dire.

AP interviews with security officials, rebels and arms dealers in countries neighboring Syria indicate that individual rebel units have to scrounge for weapons. They have no central organization and no import routes for anything heavier than automatic weapons and rocket-propelled grenades.

It is into this mix that the U.S. may soon be inserting itself.

Washington's supplies of communications equipment and medical supplies to opposition members it has approved are already under way, Officials said that those supplies can now be easily augmented with weapons from other donors.

"Smuggling lines are smuggling lines. We use the same donkeys," said one, pointing out that the routes are essentially the same for bandages as they are for bullets.

___

National Security Writer Anne Gearan and Intelligence Writer Kimberley Dozier contributed to this report. Elizabeth Kennedy contributed from Beirut.

Associated Press

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Hack Politician and Son Arrested for Political Hack [Hackers]

55-year-old Mayor of West New York, NJ, Felix Roque and his son Joseph, 22, were arrested today for allegedly hacking the website www.recallroque.com that was set up to rally support to recall the politician. More »


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Love::Teaching - My Data on Relationships ? Neutral Isn't Enough

School?s out. All 120 of my 8th grade reading students have moved on to summer, and then high school. We did an awful lot of fantastic stuff this year, and I got to know a TON of great kids, but now that school is out there are 6 I can?t stop thinking about. Six out of 120 who I think I let down ? and I have the data to prove it.

All teachers have students they instantly click with and those with which they have to work to build hard-won relationships. But for me, seeing 120 students a day, there was a third category this year ? a few students I spent 9 months with but never really got to know at all. We smiled at each other, they showed up on time, turned in there work, and left at the bell. I wasn?t worried about them. They seemed to be doing well enough. These are the kids I let down.

When talking about relationships in schools it is mostly a discussion of gut feelings ? a contrast to the mountains of hard data that we accumulate in every school year. But at the end of this school year I saw a convergence of these two things. We bookend our year by taking the Scholastic Reading Inventory to get a general idea of whether our students have a minimal, basic, proficient, or advanced reading level for their grade. As you can imagine, by 8th grade most have a fairly steady reading level. If they began the school year as advanced readers, they left as advanced readers. If they came in as basic readers, they left as basic readers. This year, in my classes, nearly 20% of students raised up a band (most from basic to proficient), which is great, but 5% moved down a band.

This upsets me, of course. No teacher wants any of his or her students to leave the school year without moving forward. But the real lesson I learned analyzing this data wasn?t from the numbers, it was from the names. The students who moved down were the students I would describe as ?ok? ?nice? ?fine?? they were the kids I didn?t know.? The kids I hadn?t formed a true relationship with, the ones I never found extra time for, were the ones I let slide.

My goal for next school year is not to be neutral with anyone. Not to be satisfied with a mutual smile and nod relationship. I?ve always known the importance of building positive relationships with kids, but this year it has become obvious to me that a general positive feeling towards all my students isn?t enough. I need to know and enjoy them all as individual people to give them the best school experience possible.

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Bellagio robbery foiled: Thief loses wig in $155,000 attempted heist

Bellagio robbery that wasn't. Two thieves sprayed a blackjack dealer at the Bellagio casino in Las Vegas with mace and tried to steal $115,000 in casino chips. One was tackled and caught. The other escaped.

By Ken Ritter,?Associated Press / May 23, 2012

The "Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas" sign is seen in Las Vegas, Nevada. A $115,000 robbery of the Bellagio casino failed when one of two thieves was captured.

REUTERS/Las Vegas Sun/Steve Marcus/Files

Enlarge

A hapless bandit lost his wig, sunglasses and $115,000 worth of casino chips when security wrestled him to the floor during a botched weekend heist at a posh Vegas Strip resort, authorities said Monday.

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Two men attempted to rob the Bellagio on Saturday night by spraying a blackjack dealer and others with a caustic eye-burning chemical, police said.

With the distraction in the air, Michael Q. Belton snatched up nearly two dozen high-value chips and took off for the door, according to a police report.

The man who sprayed the noxious gas escaped, but Belton was tackled to the floor and held until police arrived.

IN PICTURES: Famous art heists

Belton struggled at first, according to the police arrest report, but then suddenly stopped fighting back against casino employees and surrendered.

He dropped 23 red, white and blue chips, valued at $5,000 each, police said.

"How long am I going away for?" Belton asked detectives during a recorded interview following his arrest, according to the report.

Investigators said Belton, of southern California, told them he needed the money because he is unemployed and his grandparents are ill.

He told police he didn't know the man who got away. Bolton told investigators he responded to an Internet posting for a job repossessing cars. But he said when he reached Las Vegas, the man who posted the job ad said he wanted him to help another man rob the Bellagio.

Belton was held Monday on $60,000 bail at the Clark County jail pending an initial court appearance Tuesday on felony robbery, conspiracy and burglary charges. It was not immediately clear whether he had a lawyer.

Officer Jose Hernandez, a department spokesman, said the investigation was ongoing and Belton would not agree to a jail interview.

The suspect who got away apparently did not take any chips as he fled. Police said all chips were recovered, and casino officials say they sustained no financial loss.

Authorities said they were still searching for the second man in the heist, which they said was recorded by casino security cameras. The video was not made public.

No serious injuries were reported.

The last bandit to make off with casino chips from the Bellagio, in December 2010, was sentenced to three to 11 years in state prison for armed robbery and assault with a deadly weapon. Anthony Michael Carleo wore a motorcycle helmet as he waved a gun and made off with $1.5 million worth of chips. He was arrested trying to redeem a $25,000 chip.

He was sentenced to an additional six to 16 years for another armed robbery at another Las Vegas casino.

He blamed addictions to drugs and gambling.

___

Associated Press writer Michelle Rindels contributed to this report.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.

RELATED: Famous art heists

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Nokia axes Skype client on Lumia 610, claims user experience wasn't 'up to par'

Nokia axes Skype client on Lumia 610, claims user experience wasn't 'up to par'

It took nearly a full month, but Nokia has finally been convinced that Skype is indeed incompatible with low-memory Windows Phones. In reaching out to a spokesperson, the company confirmed to us that it has decided to yank the official client from the Marketplace on the Lumia 610. The device -- which utilizes a scant 256MB of RAM -- originally allowed the service to be downloaded despite Skype's claims that 512MB was the minimum amount of memory required for the app to function properly. The internet phone service, as it turns out, was correct: Nokia, stating that the user experience is "workable" but not "up to par with Nokia's and Skype's expectation," has pulled the plug on any future downloads. Users who managed to snag the app before it disappeared can still enjoy (or hate, depending on your experience) it on their Lumia 610, but until Skype is able to lower the memory restrictions, it looks like everyone else is out of luck. Head below for the full translated statement.

Continue reading Nokia axes Skype client on Lumia 610, claims user experience wasn't 'up to par'

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Pancreatic cancer may be detected with simple intestinal probe

ScienceDaily (May 21, 2012) ? By simply shining a tiny light within the small intestine, close to that organ's junction with the pancreas, physicians at Mayo Clinic's campus in Florida have been able to detect pancreatic cancer 100 percent of the time in a small study. The light, attached to a probe, measures changes in cells and blood vessels in the small intestine produced by a growing cancer in the adjoining pancreas.

This minimally invasive technique, called Polarization Gating Spectroscopy, will now be tested in a much larger international clinical trial led by the Mayo Clinic researchers. The preliminary study suggests it may be possible, one day, to use a less invasive endoscope to screen patients for early development of pancreatic cancer.

The findings are being highlighted in a special address by Mayo Clinic gastroenterologist Michael Wallace, M.D., at the international Digestive Disease Week 2012.

The pancreas is notoriously hard to reach and see due to its very deep location in the abdomen, surrounded by intestines. The study investigators theorized that there may be changes in the nearby "normal appearing" tissue of the small intestine which is much more accessible.

"No one ever thought you could detect pancreatic cancer in an area that is somewhat remote from the pancreas, but this study suggests it may be possible," says Dr. Wallace, the chairman of the Division of Gastroenterology at Mayo Clinic in Florida. "Although results are still preliminary, the concept of detection field effects of nearby cancers holds great promise for possible early detection of pancreatic cancer."

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most deadly of human tumors. It is only curable in 5 percent of cases, and even when it is surgically removed, 70 percent of patients have a recurrence that is fatal, Dr. Wallace says. There are no ways currently to detect the cancer early enough to cure a substantial number of patients, he says.

Pancreatic cancer is now usually detected through an imaging scan, followed by an invasive biopsy. Tumors found in this way are usually at an advanced stage.

In this study, the Mayo Clinic physicians tested a light probe developed by their long-time collaborators at Northwestern University.

The light, attached to a small fiber-optic probe known as an endoscope, measures the amount of oxygenated blood as well as the size of blood vessels in tissue near the duct where the pancreas joins the small intestine. Because a growing tumor requires a heightened supply of blood, normal tissue in the vicinity of the cancer reveals evidence of enlarged blood vessels and changes in the amount of oxygen within the blood.

Such "field effects" from cancer can be measured in other areas of the GI tract, says Dr. Wallace. "With this technology, others studies have shown that cancerous polyps can be detected more than 11 inches from the polyp itself. Early studies are evaluating if esophageal cancers can also be detected remotely," he says.

The probe acts "a bit like a metal detector that beeps faster and louder as you get close to cancer," he says. The researchers are measuring within six to 10 inches of the pancreas in the small intestine immediately next to the pancreas.

Dr. Wallace and his team tested the probe on 10 patients who were later determined to have pancreatic cancer, and on nine participants who did not have pancreatic cancer.

They found that testing both measures -- blood vessel diameter and blood oxygenation -- detected all 10 pancreatic cancers. But the probe was less precise (63 percent accurate) in determining which of the healthy volunteers did not have pancreatic cancer.

"There is room for improvement in this instrument, and our group is working on that," he says. "If the studies confirm the early results, it would make the pancreas accessible to a much simpler upper endoscope and that would be a real advance in the treatment of pancreatic cancer."

Patients now often undergo an endoscopic examination of the upper intestine to search for the cause of heartburn or stomach pain, Dr. Wallace says. An endoscopic probe could be easily outfitted to explore for evidence of pancreatic cancer in patients at heightened risk, he says.

Mihir Patel, M.D., a gastroenterologist who worked with Dr. Wallace on the study, says that despite of intense research, we haven't been successful in significantly improving the overall survival associated with pancreatic cancer in the past several decades. That's because we haven't been able to detect the cancer early enough. Developing a technique to screen the patients and detect pancreatic cancer at an early stage would be a potential breakthrough. In our preliminary data, this technology has shown to hold similar potential.

The study's co-authors include Vadim Backman, Ph.D., a professor in the biomedical engineering department at Northwestern University and Hemant Roy, M.D., a gastroenterologist at Northwestern University.

The study was funded by the National Institutes of Health and Mayo Clinic.

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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Mayo Clinic, via Newswise.

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