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Are you looking for the best Medigap insurance in Bacliff, TX? We can help you find affordable and quality Medicare Supplemental Insurance in Texas. You can either call 888-602-5343 or enter your Zip Code above and fill out the form. We will help you find the best Bacliff, TX Medigap insurance options.Buying Medigap, or Medicare Supplemental Insurance, is the key for many people over age 65 to be able to afford to use their Medicare coverage. Medigap is a separate policy that is sold by private insurance carriers that adhere to Texas laws.
For the most part, Medigap covers co-insurance, co-payments, and even includes medical coverage if faced with an emergency when traveling outside of the United States. Older Medigap plans also covered deductibles, though those were mostly phased out in 2010. Medigap covers costs seen in Medicare Part A and Part B Plans. Medicare Advantage plans are also available though not in conjunction with Medigap benefits. Likewise, be aware that it is illegal to sell a Medigap holder Medicare Savings plans.
The reason people in Bacliff, TX buy Medigap is to cover where an individual’s money will fall short. Buying a Medigap policy will require monthly premiums in addition to Part A and Part B Plan premiums. Though, the fact is that there are still ways to save on Medigap coverage.
For one, apply for policies while in the first 6 months of your Medicare Part and Part B plan policies. During this period, guarantee issuance is extended to anyone over the age of 65 within the first six months. It means that there are no denials or increases in premiums because of pre-existing conditions, based upon past medical history, or current medical problems that spring up.
If an individual waits they may pay higher rates and fees for extending past the deadline. It is better to shop around and compare quotes and do so during the open enrollment period. The majority of Medigap insurance plans are standard and demarcated by letters A through N. Each plan covers benefits but have added benefits. For instance, part D covers prescriptions.
That means that while cheap Medicare Supplemental Insurance plans A through G charge higher premiums, costs that are out-of-pocket are not as expensive as for Plan K through Plan N. Those carry lower premiums and like benefits but at the trade-off of costing more at the time of service.
Employer Retiree Benefits
The next way to save money beyond following the open enrollment dates is to find out if a former or present employer has a Medigap policy of its own. In general, these will be less costly than an individual policy that you buy on your own. Though, the warning and word to the wise is to carefully consider if the company is financially stable or not.
Whenever purchasing many types of Medicare plans, you actually cancel the old policy before instating the new policy. That is not the case where Medicare A and B are concerned. The reason, recall, is that inexpensive Medigap insurance is meant to fill the gaps of conventional original Medicare policies.
It requires still being covered under Medicare. The other benefit is to know when shopping around that the policies are the same whether you buy with Humana or Aetna or BlueCross BlueShield, for instance.
What is worth looking at is the reputation of the health insurance company, the quality of the coverage they offer, and the credit worthiness rating of the insurance company. The reason to look at the credit worthiness of the company offering up the insurance is to ensure that they are likely to have the money to pay out benefits and claims as agreed in the policy paperwork.
In addition to looking for insurance carriers that have an A or greater rating in the creditworthiness area, it is important to find out about the customer service and the customer satisfaction ratings of the companies you are comparing as well. It pays to have the company that pays claims within a timely manner, without a heroic effort on your part or the part of your doctors.
Otherwise, you will spend time having to contact the Texas insurance department or commissioner to file official complaints to get the claims paid within the acceptable two-month window. All of the Plan C Medigap coverage will be the same as that same plan from another insurer. Look at service quality and price. Look at comparing insurance company offerings to locate a cheap medicare supplement insurance plan in Bacliff, TX .
You will also need to look for separate prescription drug coverage, which is designated by Medicare Part D. This will add in an additional premium in addition to other costs. The key is that the majority of people who qualify for cheap medicare supplemental insurance are 65 and older, and look for their Medigap during open enrollment.
In addition , the other requirements stipulate Medicare Part B and Part A participants are eligible. Once you choose a inexpensive Medicare Supplemental insurance policy it is as if it is written in stone and can not be altered.
To be eligible for cheap Medicare Supplemental insurance plans in Bacliff, TX apply for coverage offered by insurers within your state. All policies are available in each state, though most states will have one single policy available for Medicaid plan holders.
Everyone at age 65 and older and who is also enrolled in the Medicare Parts A and B is eligible to purchase a supplemental plan. It is advisable to decide on a plan during the 6 months of open enrollment to pay the most favorable policy premiums. When comparing costs during the open enrollment, it means pre-existing conditions are not factored into the pricing for the premiums. It is the hands-down best way to save money on a Medigap Supplemental plan in Bacliff, TX .
Always find out the Texas laws prior to shopping. They can vary a bit, though it is important to recall that the policies are uniform across states. Use online free quotes searches to find all of the options available to you. Narrow it down based upon credit worthiness of each of the insurers, along with their quality of care and their speed of paying out claims.
More Texas Cities We Cover:
More Tips About Bacliff, TX Medicare Supplemental Insurance
Many folks are ready to give up just before they even commence buying for health insurance coverage. There are so many strategies obtainable, all with diverse alternatives, that can turn into very puzzling to the typical person. Luckily there are authorities that can support you. Go through the suggestions in this report for help on getting overall health insurance policy.
When searching for inexpensive insurance coverage make sure you get rates from all available alternatives. Every single provider has distinct costs depending on your history. The best wager to ensure that you save the most income is to examine charges. With that getting stated, make sure you are comfortable with the option you make and the variety of protection you obtain.
When taking into consideration a overall health care insurance coverage plan from your employer, be positive to check if your prescriptions are even now protected in the coming year. The supported brands and kinds of medicine can fluctuate from year to 12 months. Also, often choose a generic manufacturer if achievable. Also be positive to see if there are any discount rates such as having your prescriptions despatched by means of mail.
Dental insurance policy is something that can prove to be extremely useful. Purchasing dental insurance policies suggest that when you need a cleaning or something else completed at the dentist, a proportion will be paid for. If you have youngsters, dental insurance coverage is a should, simply because the price of going to the dentist can get really high.
Seem for a overall health insurance policy prepare with wide coverage. This is particularly critical if you like to vacation. Insurance coverage organizations with smaller sized protection can make it difficult to uncover a doctor need to you be exterior of your standard residing spot. Broad coverage involves several a lot more medical professionals and hospitals, so it is a have to for tourists.
Check to see if your medical professionals settle for the insurance policy that you are thinking about purchasing. You need to be in a position to discover a listing of hospitals and medical doctors who accept the insurance policies you are fascinated in.
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If you never have a credit card, question if you can pay for your pet overall health insurance coverage with a debit card, by verify, or by having monthly payments deducted from your examining or personal savings account. Just as with human overall health insurance policy, you may get a low cost if you can pay for many months or a year in advance.
Contemplate the details you have just read through and use it to your look for for overall health insurance. With all the distinct strategies offered it would be easy to become baffled without support. Use the tips whilst shopping and do not give up until you have the appropriate program that fits your needs.


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Nacho Mama’s Towson Drag Brunch
Sunday: February 10th, 11am-2pm
Join us on SUNDAY February 10th at Nacho Mama’s TOWSON for our next Drag Brunch!
We will be serving an ALL YOU CAN EAT Buffet created especially for the Drag Show!
Great music, Great Performers, Great Food & Drinks and Great Fun!
Live Music in Towson
Join us every Thursday evening for live music in Towson.

domain: artistic


Education crisis forces Leung to axe Apec summit trip
Chief executive cancels flight to Apec meeting in Russia to deal with controversies over national lessons, property rules and mainland permits
Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying cancelled his trip to tomorrow's Apec leaders' summit in Russia to deal with the controversies on his own doorstep.
Leung must defuse the turmoil over national education, as well as decide on a scheme to restrict sales of new homes to Hong Kong buyers. He also has to deal with the issue of the influx of visitors after the relaxation of permit rules for residents in Shenzhen and five other mainland cities.
News of the cancellation came nine hours before he was due to fly to Vladivostok last night. It is the first time a chief executive has not attended the summit since the handover. Financial Secretary John Tsang Chun-wah will take his place.
A government source said Leung decided to stay in the city to monitor developments in the growing crisis over the introduction of national education.
Since last Thursday, protesters have laid siege to the government headquarters in Admiralty. And the Federation of Students, a group of student unions at eight tertiary institutions, plans to boycott classes next Tuesday. Leung's decision came as Anna Wu Hung-yuk, head of the Committee on the Implementation of Moral and National Education, said the panel may consider options that included scrapping the subject.
A government source said Leung was also busy hammering out details of the "Hong Kong property for Hong Kong residents" scheme, which will impose bans on non-locals buying new homes at designated sites.
It was one of the 10 measures announced by Leung last Thursday to cool the property market.
Michael Choi Ngai-min, one of Leung's core housing advisers, said the scheme should be applied to one or two sites out of the six that will be sold by tender between October and December.
Meanwhile, Shenzhen authorities announced two weeks ago they would offer multiple-visit permits for Hong Kong to the city's 4.1 million non-permanent residents from last Saturday. Beijing, Tianjin , Shanghai, Chongqing and Guangzhou, also relaxed rules on single-entry permits to visit Hong Kong.
The changes angered Hongkongers concerned about the impact of mainland visitors on the city's infrastructure.
Leung announced on Friday no entry permits from any of the six cities would be issued in the next 21 days. The source said: "Announcements on both the property and permit schemes are likely in the next two days."
But one group was unhappy at Leung's decision not to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation meeting.
The chief executive pledged on Tuesday he would convey the demands of survivors and relatives of victims of the Manila hostage crisis to Philippine President Benigno Aquino at the summit.
Lee Ying-chuen, a survivor of the bus siege, felt Leung had deceived them. "The situation in Hong Kong will not see any big changes in one day," she said.
"If he insists on not withdrawing the national education curriculum, then what is the point of him staying in Hong Kong?"


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Court orders to drag out Abrar`s body
Published: 18:51 6 November 2019 Updated: 20:54 6 November 2019
Naimul Abrar Rahat, Photo: Collected
A Dhaka court has ordered to drag out the body of Residential Model College student Naimul Abrar Rahat (14) from the grave for autopsy.
Dhaka Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Aminul Haque's court has made the order on Wednesday. The court has ordered it to investigate after assembling the cases filed by Abrar’s father and police over unnatural death. In addition, Mohammadpur Police Station OC has been asked to submit a report to the court after investigation by December 1, 2019.
Abrar came to see the anniversary of the Kishore Alo held at the Dhaka Residential Model College ground last Friday. He got seriously wounded after being electrocuted. Immediately, two specialists doctor(FCPS)at the emergency medical camp, gave him primary treatment at the ground. He was then taken to a private hospital- Universal Medical College Hospital in Mohakhali, and then the doctor on duty declared Abrar dead.
- Lawyer fought for Nusrat voluntarily
- Nusrat murder: Principal Siraj among 16 to die
- Important aspects of Nusrat murder case
- Rifat murder
HC grants bail to Minni
- Abrar murder: Amit, Toha on 5-day remand
- US-Bangla cabin crew placed on 2-day remand
- Minni’s bail petition to HC again
- Khaled put on 7-day remand
- 9 addl judges appointed to HC
- Abrar murder case hands over to DB
- Abrar murder: 10 accused remanded for five days
- Samrat lands in jail!
- Razakar Musa gets death penalty
- Rule issued on setting up breastfeeding corners
- Cop seeks remand for Casino Selim

domain: law


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Houzz is the new way to design your home.
3,574 striped walls Contemporary Staircase Design Photos
I love how the stripes make the entryway look like a giant box of Neapolitan ice cream! The detail where the stripe continues onto the rise of the stair is brilliant
I love the striped walls! i hate the carpet up the stairs!
This would be nice in black and white stripes
traditional design and made it into something else. A book about the history of Chelsea shows this house with striped wallpaper. Favreau took that concept and gave it a twist, expanding the stripes and rotating them as horizontal lines.
Domiteaux + Baggett Architects, PLLC
a code-compliant handrail and their solution on the far wall, to me, seems rather inelegant.
Like contrasting wall covering on back walk
Wall treament for stairs
feature wall and stair treads
mdf on walls in stairwell
stair wall treatment
Line decor on wall...Design on the wall...like wall applic...Back wall....Feature wall...striped wall...wall-mount banister...Wall Color
Northern VA and Washington D.C. LED Outdoor Lighting Professional
Enlightened Lighting is a full-service design, installation & maintenance company for LED outdoor lighting. We seek to create a stunning exterior lighting design for every customer, every time.
Angelini and Associates Architects
House on Heather Way
Leslie Goodwin Photography
Entry - Staircase
what is the grey pain on the wall?
what color is the grey paint on the back wall?
Loud wall paper with fun runner
Contrast between wall and stair carpet
cool stairs basement wall and carpet, like dark floor and gray and white walls too
Cool wallpaper to replace the birds. One wall then
stripe is cool. so is gray paint
(either a rug or a painted treatment) and a wallpapered or colorfully painted accent wall are good options.
Installed in the Hollywood style, this runner follows the shape of the stair. The black and white striped carpet was stapled underneath and around the nose of each tread.
Fabulous wallpaper and a striped runner transform a lackluster hallway into something extra special. I'd like to take a cup of tea right here on the stairs — wouldn't you?
Kevin Vallely Design
How did you finish that board wall upstairs?
Do you possibly have more pictures of this staircase from the 2nd story? I would like to see how is the board wall finished upstairs? Thank you
It continued as a screen wall all the way to the ceiling of the roof.
The lines. The stripes. The materials
Slatted wood wall as room divider.
b+g design inc.
is wallpaper whats on the walls?
Please tell me what kind of floors these are. Also, what is on the walls? Thanks.
Frameless glass/ Nickel stringer/ upholstered wall
Stairs (STEEL FLAG-Blued Diamond Plate with Rust White Corrugated Steel Stripes)
MS- walls are neat. Like the stairs but with guide wires vs glass KS like the glass
John Senhauser Architects
Tucson Residence Kitchen
guardrails, and lighting for the residence – essentially everything except the furniture. The home is loosely defined by a series of thick, parallel walls supporting planar roof elements floating above the desert floor. Our approach was to not only reinforce the general intentions of the architecture
What material is on the walls on this photo? Thanks!
wall art like a frozen textile - reinforced by stair art


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It’s Also Your Story
You know the Christmas Story of angels, a young couple, an unplanned pregnancy, an exhausting journey, the birth of a child in a stable, heavenly hosts, shepherds, magi, a frightened king and a harried escape to a foreign land. Indeed, you know it so well that you probably can talk about all the ways it truly is Good News about a Great Joy of how God has come to us as one of us in the most personal way possible – to share the love we absolutely need, but can never get on our own. But here’s the thing that truly makes the Christmas Story so astounding. Even though it’s a cosmic event that touches all of creation, it’s also your story because it changes everything about everything for you.

domain: literature


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Top Dental Insurance in Dike Iowa
We are the leading Discount Dental Plan Company in Dike
Reduce Costs Plus Your Grin Using These Dental Treatment Concepts in Dike Iowa
Can you spend considerable time considering your the teeth? You should, since folks observe your the teeth more than you may be thinking. In case your dental care online game requires recommendations, this article will assist you to. We've compiled a list of dental treatments recommendations to offer you the most brilliant smile possibly.
Floss, floss, floss! Positive every person brushes their the teeth like they're designed to, but what number of them really floss. Flossing washes the spot between your tooth exactly where food could get caught and microorganisms can distributed. This may also avoid the beginning of achievable bacterial infections that can occur in the event you don't floss.
If you believe your tooth must be whitened, you need to schedule a scheduled appointment with the dental professional. Your dental office will give you advice regarding how to remember to brush and floss your the teeth proficiently and advise some products you can utilize. In some cases, owning your teeth cleansed by your dental practitioner is going to be ample to make them seem brighter.
Once you purchase toothpaste, you need one particular with fluoride be it normal or not. This may build tooth strength. Powerful pearly whites in the end are healthful kinds.
Make sure you change your tooth remember to brush on a regular basis. Change at the very least every single three or four several weeks. Even if the toothbrush still appears to be new, the bristles are most likely frazzled. A well used brush will not be as effective as newer toothbrushes. Swapping your toothbrush regularly is an important part of your dental health.
You shouldn't just brush the types of surface of your tooth. It's crucial that you remember to brush the gums too, getting under them to clear out something which is there. Teeth cavities which can be beneath the gum line are the most detrimental for that reason, you need to do everything you can to wash this region.
Do you know that the series that you simply take in your food items in can play a role in whether or not you create teeth cavities? Having sugary meals like food by yourself is much worse for your tooth, than if you eat the wedding cake after a meal. Don't try to eat sweet food items by yourself, constantly take in them other meals.
To prevent critical and feasible long term harm to your pearly whites, by no means utilize them for any activity apart from biting the foodstuff which you try to eat. You operate the potential risk of chipping or cracking your tooth any time you make use of teeth to open up a package, take something which is caught up or split open nutshells.
There are plenty of methods to better your teeth's well being, but one is vital. Which is preserving semi-annual appointments with the dental professional. These appointments are employed to clean your pearly whites and conduct examinations. If fragile areas are located inside your pearly whites, your dental practitioner might fill up these regions to present your the teeth a lot more protection.
Soon after being familiar with ways to take care of your tooth, you should certainly apply several alterations. Permit the tips become your information, and offer oneself the look you typically wished for. Keep discovering what you are able, plus your the teeth will look better and better after some time.
We are the leading Discount Dental Plan Company in Dike, Iowa servicing all of the following zip codes: 50624

domain: medical


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The Huskers have another commit to add to the fold.
Tampa (Fla.) Jefferson three-star tight end Justin McGriff was supposed to play for Scott Frost at UCF. He committed to the Knights back in May, but decommitted earlier today.
Well, he will still get the chance to play for Frost. The 6-foot-5, 210-pound McGriff announced his commitment to Nebraska moments ago on Twitter.
Props to McGriff for incorporating the phrase 'laboriously deliberating" into a commitment tweet.
McGriff joins four-star safety C.J. Smith and three-star JUCO wide receiver Jaron Woodyard as commits for the Huskers under Frost.
Here is Nebraska's current 2018 class.

domain: news


Red Wing City Council moved Monday to extend the expiration date of its negotiations with Charter Communications for a new franchise contract from February to June 14.
Negotiations have been slow going, said city administration. But there has been some progress Council member Lisa Bayley said.
Meanwhile, the council authRed Wing City Council orized city administration to begin negotiating a cable franchise with Hiawatha Broadband Communications.
Cable franchises are not exclusive, city administration noted.
Red Wing City Council Monday reappointed Teresa Cheberiak to the Charter Commission. Meanwhile, the council tabled former Council member Carol Duff's nomination to the Advisory Planning Commission; former Mayor John Howe made the nomination.
Council members said they wanted the new mayor -- to be elected Feb. 8 in a special election -- to approve the appointment before they ratify it.
Recreation Joint Powers Board
Red Wing Council member Peggy Rehder will replace Mike Schultz as the council's representative on the Red Wing Recreation Joint Powers Board. Rehder's peers on the council voted her on to the post.
In other news:
- City Council approved a variance request for Anderson Home Services to operate a scrap and salvage service at 2411 Old Zumbrota St.
- The council also approved a variance request for S.B. Foot Tanning Co. to build a two-story leather drying room onto the company's building at 1875 Bench St.
Monday's Red Wing City Council meeting lasted two and half hours. All council members were present.
-- compiled by Jon Swedien, staff


Verdict & Conclusion
Not surprisingly is that the benchmark results for the Zotac GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mini is just a shade below that of the GTX 1050 Ti OC Edition.
When you are buying an entry level graphics card, even if its the NVIDIA 10 series, you are not going to expect blazingly fast performance. However, the 1050 Ti Mini managed to get through our tests on ultra high settings and display resolutions of at 1920×1080.
This little compact card will fit in nearly all systems, and still provide you with decent performances.


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Clark, Charles T.. (1895) Opdycke tigers, 125th O.V.Ia history of the regiment and of the campaigns and battles of the Army of the CumberlandColumbus, O., Spahr & Glenn,MLA Citation
These citations may not conform precisely to your selected citation style. Please use this display as a guideline and modify as needed.
Opdycke tigers, 125th O.V.I [electronic resource] a history of the regiment and of the campaigns and battles of the Army of the Cumberland,
by Charles T. Clark ... pub. by direction of the 125th O.V.I. association.
|Main Author:||Clark, Charles T.|
|Published:||Columbus, O., Spahr & Glenn, c1895.|
|Topics:||United States. Army. Ohio Infantry Regiment, 125th (1862-1865)|
|Regions:||United States - History - Civil War, 1861-1865 - Regimental histories. | United States - History - Civil War, 1861-1865 - Regimental histories - Army of the Cumberland.|
HathiTrust Digital Library (Opens in a new window)

domain: library


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Hamburger Bahnhof is a former train station in Berlin, Germany on Invalidenstraße in the Berlin-Tiergarten district opposite the Charité. Severely damaged during World War II, it has not been used as a station since then. (North-bound long distance trains from Berlin now leave from Berlin Hauptbahnhof, the former Lehrter Bahnhof, which is just 400m to the south-west.) It found a new use in 1987 as the Museum für Gegenwart.
The station was built according to Friedrich Neuhaus’ plans in 1846/47 as the starting point of the Berlin-Hamburg railroad, it is the only still existing terminus building in Berlin from the late classic period, and counts as one of the oldest station buildings in Germany.over 6 years ago

domain: history


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- House overwhelmingly approves $16 billion cash infusion for VA overhaul
- Obama admin to blame for HealthCare.gov woes, $840M cost: GAO
- Al Gore’s climate-changers at EPA hearings foiled by cool temperatures
- Army’s 3-D printed bombs will create ‘a whole new universe’ of deadly capabilities
- Hamas calls on Hezbollah to join in fight against Israel
- Senators to FIFA, others: Don’t reward Putin with the World Cup in 2018
- U.S. condemns shelling of U.N. school in Gaza
- Obamacare shoots premiums up by 88 percent in California
- Chicken pox outbreak puts illegal immigrant facility on lockdown
- Obama to Republicans: ‘Stop just hatin’ all the time’
REDSKINS 2013: Ryan Kerrigan a mainstay after two NFL seasons
Question of the Day
In just two seasons, outside linebacker Ryan Kerrigan has become entrenched as a mainstay of the Redskins. He's started every game. He's amassed 16 sacks, intercepted two passes, scored two touchdowns. It took him about no time to become a vital cog. He had an interception for a touchdown in his debut.
What made him so good so quickly?
"Have you seen him?" backup outside linebacker Darryl Tapp said, casting a glance in Kerrigan's direction. "The man is like 6-4, 260. He can run with the running backs, he can tail off and cover wide receivers. He can rush the passer. There's not too many things he can't do. He keeps working. He never comes to work thinking he knows it all. He's a special player."
Many things go into building staying power. One of them is not whiffing on draft picks, on finding the special player in any slot.
The Redskins maneuvered themselves into position to pick Kerrigan at No. 16 in the 2011 draft. That's a spot where you can still get a standout, though it isn't as easy as when you pick higher. Making the right pick in the middle portion of the first round is crucial.
Washington got Brian Orakpo, Kerrigan's bookend, with the 13th pick in 2009. Two years later, it scored again with Kerrigan.
A defensive end at Purdue, Kerrigan was a unanimous All-American and the Big Ten defensive player of the year as a senior. The Redskins thought he could easily slide into an outside linebacker spot in their 3-4 scheme, and they've been proven correct.
"He's probably way ahead of the curve," said Bob Slowik, the Redskins' linebackers coach. "He just keeps getting better. I think he'll make an even bigger jump this year than he did as a rookie."
Kerrigan grew up in Muncie, Ind. He followed the Colts and quarterback Peyton Manning and saw firsthand what a successful NFL franchise did for the entire region.
"Colts fans just popped up by the thousands in Indiana as Peyton Manning did his thing in Indianapolis," Kerrigan said.
One of his goals, he said, is to do the same thing in D.C.
"When I was drafted here, I took it upon myself to be someone to help turn the franchise around," Kerrigan said. "[The team] has done a good job of bringing in the right personnel, not just players but coaches and support people, to help lay the foundation for a successful franchise for years to come. I hope I can continue to be a part of that. I'd certainly like to think I'm someone who is going to be with this franchise for a long time. I love it here. I love the fans. I love the vibe associated with the Redskins. I hope I'm one of the pieces that stays here a long time."
The Redskins have no objection to that. Though he has a long way to go to catch teammate London Fletcher and his 240-game streak in terms of durability, Kerrigan has shown plenty of that in his brief career in addition to his considerable skills. He knows skill is only part of the equation. Good fortune has something to do with it, too.
"You also have to stay motivated," Kerrigan said. "You see some guys get a big contract, and maybe lose a little motivation once they get some money. You have to keep doing what got you to that point. I was motivated coming out of the draft. I knew I had to play outside linebacker and I accepted the challenge. I'm proud of the way I adapted to it, but there's still a long way to go, and that's what keeps me motivated."
Orakpo doesn't think his pass-rush partner will ever have any issues with motivation. Orakpo played in the Big 12 at Texas and acknowledges he didn't know much about Kerrigan when the team made its pick in 2011. Kerrigan made a quick and positive impression.
"We feel like we make a fierce combination together," Orakpo said. "I think he's going to be doing this for a very long time. He's not going to be no one-hit wonder type of guy. He's a guy who is going to be a force around this league for a long time. A lot of people have already taken notice."
Mike Shanahan is entering his 20th season as an NFL head coach. That's a lot of draft picks, a lot of chances to make the right pick and a lot of chances to make mistakes. Chances are pretty good he'd take Kerrigan again.
"You can count on him," Shanahan said. "He's very durable and intelligent. You never have to worry about his work ethic or his weight. So he's kind of like a coach's dream, to be honest with you. You'd love to have a whole football team of Ryan Kerrigans. That's what you're looking for, and I think you'll see him get better and better as time goes on."
© Copyright 2014 The Washington Times, LLC. Click here for reprint permission.
About the Author
Washington Times sports editor Mike Harris has more than 30 years experience in the business as a reporter, columnist and manager. He’s covered a wide variety of events including two Olympics, horse racing, auto racing, professional and college sports. E-mail him at firstname.lastname@example.org and follow the section on Twitter @WashTimesSports.
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20 gadgets that changed the world


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Still struggling with what to call my 31 day series if I do it. Do you know I did a 31 day series in December and in May, and now October is basically here, and I don’t know what to do, well I know what to do, but I don’t know how to name it in a way that you’ll understand what I am doing.
The Hamilton Cast recording is out, and I need to have that music. Have I ever mentioned how much I love Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Mind? I’m sure I have, but how can you ever tire of hearing that? I remember hearing not gonna give up my shot when he shared it with “Twitterrico” for like maybe an hour back in 2011 or so. I used to run an LMM fan blog with a friend, back in the day and he used to read it! Good times, anyway – It’s so great hearing how everything has come full circle for him. It is an amazing album, especially if you care for music. Maybe you’d like to listen to it first? Then you should go see it. I bet you never knew you could enjoy history this much!
Autumn starts back going to drs. First appt is on Sunday. Yes Sunday.
I used to have a regular feature in my old blog called odds n ends, but that is when I used to talk a great deal more about my life stuff. It was nice seeing it again.

domain: hobby


- FIFA Soccer 12
- Sub Genre:
- Release Date (US):
- September 27th, 2011
- Release Date (UK):
- September 30th, 2011
- Online Players:
- EA Canada
- EA Sports
- RP [Rating Pending]
- PSU Rank:
- 0 of 1167 Games
- PSU Rank on PS3:
- 0 of 0 Games
- Additional Information:
- Also on Xbox 360
About FIFA Soccer 12
FIFA Soccer 12 brings to the pitch the game-changing new Player Impact Engine, a physics engine built to deliver real-world physicality in every interaction on the pitch. Experience the way real-world players challenge each other for the ball, win possession, and test each other physically. Enjoy an infinite variety of natural and believable outcomes in every collision. Players feel more resilient, push and pull during the fight for possession, and recover from light challenges more easily.
- PSU Review Score
- Avg. user review score:
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FIFA is reborn with an all-new defense system and physics engine that puts complete control in the player's hands. It's not just an evolution in soccer games; it's a revolution in sports games.
- Defense is finally fun
- Realist physics engine
- Depth of game modes
- A.I. is a bit off
- Random glitches
- Some new features need time to evolve
Releasing a game every year is a mighty challenge for a developer, especially if it’s a sports game that has no campaign or story to differentiate the annual installment. There’s always the risk that the game will grow stale without any substantial tweaks to the gameplay or modes, but there’s almost an equal risk of disenfranchising devoted fans if a studio goes too far too fast. EA Sports released an outstan...
FIFA Soccer 12 News
The servers for FIFA 12 aren’t great. Ask anyone who plays FIFA 12 on a regular basis, including us, and they’ll tell you that since the game launched back in September 2011 it can be a bit a gamble whether you actually get to play a game online or not. When the servers are up and runni...
EA Sports’ ubiquitous footie outing FIFA 12 has scored another number one on the U.K. All Format Charts, no doubt spurred on by the on-going Euro 2012 tournament. The highest new entry this week came in the form of Grasshopper Manufacture’s zombie killing Lollipop Chainsaw, which deb...
EA Sports has unboxed the debut trailer for FIFA 12’s upcoming UEFA Euro 2012 expansion. For those unaware, the UEFA add-on will be released on April 24, and features over 50 European National teams to pick from in addition to all eight stadiums to be featured in the tournament. It’ll...
Footie sim FIFA 12 has scored its sixth consecutive week at the summit of the U.K. All Format Charts, it has been confirmed. Elsewhere, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 manoeuvers into second place, booting The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim down to third and Just Dance 3 to fourth. Battlefield 3 rounds o...
Critically acclaimed footie outing FIFA 12 has held its position at the summit of the U.K. Charts for a fifth consecutive week, the latest Chart-Track data has confirmed. The game also reached another milestone this week, becoming the U.K.’s highest grossing sports title ever released. Skyr...
Footie outing FIFA 12 has scored its fourth consecutive week at the top of the U.K. All Format Charts. The week ending January 14 saw the EA Sports title fend off competition from Just Dance 3 and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, which sat in second and third place, respectively. Meanwhile, Battle...
Electronic Arts’ FIFA 2012 has maintained its lead on the U.K. All Format Charts, a position it has held for three weeks. Military shooters Battlefield 3 and Modern Warfare 3 continue to slug it out in second and third place, respectively. Meanwhile, Just Dance 3 struts its stuff at four...
Electronic Arts’ FIFA 12 has seen off Skyrim to take pole position on the U.K. All Format Charts for the final two weeks of 2011. Bethesda’s acclaimed fantasy RPG took the Christmas crown a few weeks back, but was quickly booted off by EA’s footie sim, which claimed the number o...
U.K. sales of footie outing FIFA 12 are currently surpassing those of Pro Evolution Soccer by a ratio of 25-1, publisher Electronic Arts has said. The game went on sale in the region late last month and moved 3.2 million units in one week, debuting at the top of the U.K. All Format Charts in the pr...
Xbox 360 racer Forza 4 has overtaken FIFA 12 to claim the top spot on the U.K. All Format Charts following its launch last Friday. The racer’s launch booted EA Sports’ footie sim down to second place, with Just Dance 3 entering at number three, RAGE falling to four and Pro Evolution Soc...
FIFA Soccer 12 Features
Sports game aficionados had a lot to enjoy in 2011, with longtime series staples like Madden NFL, FIFA, and NHL getting relatively substantial updates. As EA Sports rolled out another soccer (football) game with its FIFA Soccer 12, we were amazed at the changes to the core mechanics just like we...
Sports fans are almost as loyal to their favorite team as fanboys are to their favorite console. New York Yankees fans think their team can always show the Boston Red Sox a thing or two around home plate, while Tottenham fans are always protective of their North London team. So when a sports gam...
The gameplay isn’t the only part of FIFA 12 getting more than a typical yearly facelift. The career mode is set to give diehard fans greater depth than any previous installment, and with new features like player morale and opinion factoring into the transfer equation, the development team ...
Any game that gets an annual release is bound to fall victim to that overly-simplistic-updates-fatigue. This is often the case with sports games, and fans of the reigning king on the pitch, the FIFA series from EA Sports, know this frustration all too well. So when Aaron McHardy, gameplay produc...


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This modern Loft is in the prime area of Central. It is an ideal location for brands to host a private sale.
With an inviting entrance, there is plenty of natural light and a beautiful atmosphere. With refined windows, this venue is filled with a beautiful light. The interiors here are unique with wooden floors and white walls. This venue offers basic amenities including air-conditioning and an elevator, which can accommodate a variety of private sales.
Situated close to creative art galleries and high street retailers, this venue is well-located for brands and startups.

domain: design


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Made by a 100-year old company in Japan, this festive, multicolored and very adhesive washi paper tape is semi-transparent. Use it for decorating or wrapping packages. Set of 5. 11 yards per roll, each approx. 1"W.


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domain: entertainment


text:
Cats, like humans, can become diabetic. The approach to treating the symptoms is not that different than treating diabetes in humans. Feline diabetes is treatable and only requires a cat owner to take a little more time and effort with his or her kitten. The cause of diabetes is actually when sugar, or glucose, is found in the blood. The level of blood sugar in the body or the animal is kept under control by hormone insulin, which the pancreas produces. When the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin, diabetes is to blame.
Symptoms of Feline diabetes
The symptoms of feline diabetes will vary. The most common symptoms include an increase in urine and an increase in thirst. Other symptoms of feline diabetes include a loss of appetite, weight loss, and a poor coat. An increase in thirst is easy to detect, as you can easily notice the water dish empty throughout the day.
If you don’t get your cat treated for feline diabetes immediately, the cat will eventually become inactive, vomit on a regular basis, and eventually fall into a coma. On the other hand, if you get the diabetes treated in time, your cat will lead a normal and healthy life. Keep in mind that treatment doesn’t happen overnight – it takes time and dedication.
I can live a long life with treatment!
Overweight cats have a tendency to get feline diabetes. If your cat is overweight, make sure to put your kitty on a diet immediately for his or her overall health and to prevent diabetes. Your veterinarian can give you recommendations of how to get your cat’s weight down.
Cats that have feline diabetes should be given food at the same time every day. They should be prevented from going outside as well. If your cat has diabetes, you’ll need to give him insulin shots once or twice or a day. Once your veterinarian checks your cat, he or she will tell you how many shots and how much insulin you need to give your cat. Other diabetic cats respond well to carbohydrate-restricted diets. Although diabetic cats have been successfully managed with both types of diets, some cats respond better to high-fiber diets and others to low-carbohydrate diets.
Cats with feline diabetes are usually given insulin
Before you give your cat his insulin shot, you should always make sure that he has eaten first. If he hasn’t eaten and you give him a shot anyway, he could end up with a hypoglycemic shock. This can also occur from too much insulin as well. A hypo can be really dangerous, and should be avoided at all costs.
If you have to give insulin shots to your cat due to feline diabetes, you should always keep a watchful eye on him after you have administered the shot. After your cat has been on insulin for a period of time, your vet may reduce the amount of insulin. Even though he may have to stay on insulin the rest of his life, he will lead an otherwise healthy life.
Most diabetic cats require insulin injections administered under their skin twice daily. The injections can be given at home, preferably at the same time each day. Your veterinarian will show you how to give these injections, which are not painful for your cat. Because each is different, the proper type of insulin, dose, and frequency of administration needs to be determined by your veterinarian.
What to look our for in your cat that has diabetes
At home, you'll need to be constantly aware of your cat's appetite, weight, water consumption, and urine output. It is important to feed a consistent amount and type of food at the same times each day, so that you can be aware of days that your cat either does not eat or is unusually hungry after the feeding. Additionally, since water consumption is highly variable from one cat to another, monitoring your cat's water consumption for a few weeks will allow you to establish what is normal for your cat.
Urine output can be roughly estimated by determining the amount of litter that is scooped out of the litter box. This is less accurate if more than one cat uses the litter box, but changes can still be meaningful. Any significant variation in your cat's food intake, weight, water intake, or urine output can be a sign that the diabetes is recurring and immediate veterinary care is needed.
A cat with diabetes can live a long time
If your cat develops feline diabetes, don’t despair. With a good, healthy consistent diet and the consistent monitoring of insulin, your cat can live and thrive. A cat with feline diabetes needs to be watched and monitored more than a cat that doesn’t have diabetes, but is worth the effort!
I know that there are a lot of cat lovers out there, including myself, who adore their feline pets. Cats are slowly making their way to being a top pet. But, it seems as if our feline friends always get second billing to dogs. I guess we can’t really take our cats on walks (although some cat owners do), but they are fun with tons of personality. They are also very low maintenance in terms of care and less expensive than dogs.
Below are the top 8 reasons why cats are great pets!
1. Cats are low maintenance
Cats are great because they don’t require as much maintenance or attention as dogs. They are independent and are completely happy to play by themselves (when they aren’t napping). You can leave some toys around, some food out and leave for the day and not worry about them.
2. Cats do have big personalities
Cats are excellent companions and each cat has their own quirky or funny habit. They can be silly at times and they often enjoy curling up on your lap and purring. Your cat won’t come running and knock you or your company over when they drop by. If your cat isn’t into your friends, well, they will just ignore you and if they are, your friends will probably get a lick and some serious purring. No dog lover could shun that!
Don’t mind me while I read the labels!
3. Cats groom themselves
Cats are also the cleanest of animals as they clean themselves daily. No grooming is needed which saves time and money. And if you have an indoor cat, you never have to worry about your cat getting muddy, dirty or having fleas. Have you heard of an indoor dog?!
4. Cats are great pets for children
Taking care of a pet can help a child learn to become more responsible. A cat makes a perfect choice for children because they tend to take care of themselves. As long as they are given sufficient food, love and water they will remain happy. They are a great first pet for children.
5. Cats don’t ever require a ‘cat poop bag’
Cats use a littler box to eliminate which is easy to maintain and manage. If your cat wakes up at five a.m. to go to the bathroom, he or she can do so on his own. A dog usually requires an owner to get out of bed and go outside if there isn’t a backyard. Of course, you need to clean the litter box, but twice a day is more than sufficient and easy.
6. Cats can do tricks
Cats are very smart animals so they will quickly learn what you like them to do just from a tone of voice or gesture. And cats can do tricks if you put in the time to train them. My cat, Sammy, can open the door. I have met other cats that flush toilets. They are smart and love to show off.
7. Cats are inexpensive pets
Cats are much less expensive than dogs. They require fewer veterinarian visits and in general are very healthy, especially if you have an indoor cat. You don’t ever have to pay for a dog walker, groomer (unless you have a long-haired cat) or doggy day care.
8. Cats don’t eat as much as dogs
Most cats are content with a little wet food in the morning and dry food out all day. They don’t tend to be as hungry as dogs and therefore the ‘food’ bills are less expensive. If a cat owner leaves for the day, he or she doesn’t have to worry about his cat starving. Just leave out some dry food (a healthy choice of course).
There are so many reasons why we love our cats. Of course, the most important, is they bring us joy and love. Don’t get me wrong; I love dogs! I just think cats get second billing and they are equally fun and as loving as dogs!
I’m sure most dog owners know that it is really important to feed your dog a good, high-quality food. A high quality dog food can sometimes be slightly more expensive, but in the long run, your dog will be in better health, look better and you will cut down on your veterinarian bills. It’s easy to overlook the importance of dog food but it is essential to pick the right one for your dog.
Of course, you also need to make sure your dog drinks plenty of fresh water and should be fed a good quality dog food in the right amount for his or her breed and body type. Always follow the guidelines on the dog food package for recommended feeding amounts.
Choosing a good quality dog food
The first challenge in choosing a dog food is picking one that has a good overall quality. The quality of food that is essential in your dog’s food is that it is human grade. Human grade means that the dog food is good enough for us to eat (but I don’t recommend it!); many commercial dog foods are made from ingredients that aren’t desirable for our consumption.
I love my healthy dog food!
Many dog food companies try to provide balanced proportions of vitamins and minerals for the maximum benefit to your dog. Although you may see that many brands of dog food have almost identical labels, a reputable dog food company will provide an explanation for each supplement and how it benefits your dog.
Learn to read the labels on the canned food
Always read the label to see what proteins, vitamins and minerals are being provided to your dog. Try not to use the store brand dog food they as they are usually not as high in nutrition.
The primary ingredient in dog food should be a meat-based protein, not corn meal, flour or corn gluten meal. A better quality dog food results in a healthier coat and fewer digestive problems.
The best dog food is made from human-grade ingredients like meat, whole grains and vegetables.
Types of dog food
There are many varieties of dog food to choose from. The three most popular types of dog foods are dry, semi-moist and canned products. Check the color of your dog food. Usually dog food made from natural ingredients will have soft earth tones and contain no preservatives, artificial colors and flavors.
Raw dog food is becoming more popular. More and more veterinarians recommend feeding your dog with raw dog food. They feel that this is the best choice and is the healthiest food for your dog. After all, you've never seen your dog enjoy commercial dog food the way he enjoys a good meaty bone.
A raw food diet can be more costly than traditional dog food and it might not be feasible for you to if you don’t have the time to cook. However, if you have time and a little extra money to spend on raw food, your dog will probably love it.
All natural dog food
Many natural dog foods contain only fresh, natural and wholesome ingredients for your dog. Not only are the protein ingredients digestible, but the carbohydrates in the dog food are digestible. Natural dog food has 100% nutritional value which is important for healthy strong dogs. Chicken, egg and fish are generally the type of protein that is provided in natural dog food. There are also ingredients in natural dog food that really help the health of your dog’s skin and also your dog’s coat. One of the main draw backs of natural dog food is that it has a shorter shelf life and may spoil before it is used so just be mindful of how much you buy at one time.
Dried dog food
A good high quality dry dog food will work out to be more economical than the generic brands even though they cost more per pound. Many dog owners like dry food for its convenience and easy storage. The cheaper dry dog foods are made from soybean, corn or rice, while many premium dry dog foods are made with all-natural, human-grade ingredients. Again, make sure to read the labels.
With so many different healthy dog foods on the market, it should be fairly easy to find one that you like for your dog – price and quality- and that your dog loves to eat! As always, if you are unsure of what type to buy, ask your veterinarian as he or she knows your dog best.
If you are a dog lover and/or have never owned a dog in your life, there are so many reasons to add their lovely, fun personalities into your home. They teach you how to take care of someone else, bring you joy, compassion and another pal. I know some new dog owners worry about the costs of bringing a furry friend into your life. Well, not to worry, there are ways to save money on your new housemate.
Make sure to adopt a dog
I am always an advocate of adopting a dog; there are so many dogs waiting for a new home. And you are not just saving a dog’s life, but adopting from a shelter or rescue group can be very inexpensive. If you compare adopting a dog to purchasing a new dog, your adopted dog usually has received its shots, been examined by a veterinarian and neutered. Some shelters and /or adoption agencies have the dog's health records and life history from its previous owner which can also give you a history of any medical costs that might exist. And, above all, you have given this new dog a new lease on life.
Sales and Price Comparison
Treat a dog as you would yourself (or like me) when you buy groceries or anything that could add up. Make sure to check sales for pet items and comparison shop. You can find coupons in the mail and/or visit the big retailers such as Pet Smart or Petco to get great deals. Both Petco and Pet Smart are also on-line retailers and will send you coupons if you sign up for their newsletter. The savings really help.
While I always recommend going for a higher brand of dog food, you don’t have to feed your dog excessively. It is not good for them and can be costly. Make sure to feed your dog according to his or her weight and activity level. If you buy your dog food in bulk, it will usually lower the costs. Even if you spend a little more money on healthy dog food, your dog will eat less of it and be more satisfied. And, of course, the healthier your dog eats, the less expensive your veterinarian bills will be and the overall health of your pup will be improved.
Goodwill and/or Surplus Stores have Items for Dogs
I’m sure you’ve donated gifts, clothes or other items to Goodwill or other surplus stores in your life. Well, next time you are there, see if you can purchase toys for you dog. Even the local Salvation Army is a good place to pick up a leash or simply some fun toys for your pooch. You can also use different items around your home to fix a bed for your pup and make toys that are simple for your dog and not expensive. Most dogs are not too picky and are simply happy for your companionship.
While there are many different types of pet insurance on the market, you should think ahead and purchase insurance to avoid big, unforeseen costs. You can ask your veterinarian for recommendations and/or friends with dogs. Veterinary bills can get expensive so a monthly or quarterly payment could be a great long term investment for you and your dog. Think of it as our health insurance and how much (it usually) saves us in the long term.
The most important thing you can do for your dog is to provide him or her with a lot of love and companionship. Dogs are not picky and you do not need to break the bank just to bring this new furry friend to your home.
Redbox is taking the pet world by storm! Not only are they offering the wonderful Shelter Me on DVD today, but they are also donating all the proceeds to the Ellen DeGeneres’ Pet Foundation from April 23rd thru April 29th. How great is that!
Shelter Meis a wonderful film that celebrates shelter pets with positive and uplifting stories that show how people’s lives are improved when they adopt ‘shelter’ pets. It tells the moving stories of how shelter pets are helping war veterans cope with PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). Filmmakers also go inside a women’s prison, where inmates train shelter dogs to become service animals for people with disabilities. And we see the journey of two stray dogs, from the day they are picked up on the streets and brought to a shelter until the day they become beloved family pets.
As I mentioned above, all proceeds from SHELTER ME rentals between April 23rd through April 29th will benefit Ellen DeGeneres’ Halo Pet Foundation, whose mission is to enhance the well-being of pets and the people who love them. This unprecedented partnership will help to raise funds to help shelter pets and educate people about rescue.
One moving episode shows how shelter pets are helping returning war veterans cope with PTSD.
“We’re honored to support the Halo Pet Foundation and everything they do to promote the well- being of pets and their owners,” said Anne Saunders, president of Redbox. “We hope all pet lovers take the opportunity to watch ‘SHELTER ME’ this week, and in the process, help us contribute to this important cause.”
SHELTER ME, which was produced and directed by award-winning filmmaker Steven Latham (NOVA: Saved by the Sun, TED: The Future We Will Create), is about second chances, hope, helping others and making a difference – and about how dogs are truly man’s best friend.
About Halo, Purely for Pets
For over 25 years, Halo, Purely for Pets® has created holistic pet products of uncompromising quality. Halo believes nutrition is the single most important factor in the quality of a pet’s life. Halo offers natural pet food, treats, supplements and grooming products - including the award- winning Halo Spot’s Stew, Dream Coat and Liv-a-Littles treats. Ellen DeGeneres – a long time Halo customer – became a part-owner of Halo in 2008. HALO’s natural dog food, natural cat food, treats, supplements and grooming products are available at Pet Supplies Plus, PETCO, Whole Foods Market, your local pet specialty and natural food store, and online at http://www.halopets.com.
About Halo Pet Foundation
The Halo Pet Foundation’s mission is to enhance the well-being of pets and the people who love them. Inspired by our love for animals, we strive to help pets and their families live longer, happier, healthier lives together. Specifically, we seek to educate people on responsible pet ownership, eliminating animal abuse and reducing the overpopulation of uncared for pets. One hundred percent of every donation to the Halo Pet Foundation is granted to animal welfare groups – all operational expenses are covered by Halo, Purely for Pets.
Please make sure to rent this movie today and tell a friend. Not only will you see a great film, but you could just save yet another rescue. SHELTER ME can be found at Redbox here: Click Here To Rent

domain: pet


Duration: 29 days (July 28 - August 25 2015) and 35 days (August 28- October 1 2015)
In the 70s and 80s the idea of using Mn-nodules as a metal resource created commercial but also scientific interest in the deep sea ecosystem. Inter alia the scientific and industrial cumminity was interested in the question, how commercial mining might impact this unknown realm?
Scientist in Germany thought about a strategy to investigate how to simulate such an impact to see how quickly the deep sea environment might recover from the disturbance. To investigate this, they choose an area 7° south of the equator offshore Peru to perform a larger scale disturbance experiment. Subsequently, they monitored the decolonization of the seafloor over 7 years. The experiment itself happened in 1989, with the last investigation in 1996 during SO106. Now, 26 years later (during SO242 with the ‘New' SONNE) the same area will be investigated with much more sophisticated technology than was available before.
The international team will consist of scientists and technicians from Belgium, Germany, Portugal, Netherlands, Norway and the United Kingdom.
- Habitat characteristics: Detailed investigations of sampling / measurement / experimentation sites;Large scale mapping performed during leg 1
- Benthic and hyperbenthic community characteristics: Focus on small size classes (micro‐, meiofauna) and megafauna; Macrofauna addressed at leg 1
- (Bio‐) geochemical processes and rates: Focus on upper sediment layer and in situ measurements; sampling of deeper sediment layers at leg 1
- Benthic foodwebs & energy transfer: Fate of fresh organic matter (remineralization, incorporation, transfer)
- Bioaccumulation and Ecotoxicology: Incorporation of contaminants, physiological/ molecular responses
Technology used during the cruise:
Leg 1 aims for very detailed acoustic and visual mapping, using the AUV Abyss. Sediment samples will be taken with TV-MUC and GC, to investigate the geochemical differences and long term changes between disturbed and undisturbed area and the comparison of the new findings with previous data.
Biological sampling with the TV-guided multi-corer (TV-MUC), box corer and EBS as well as detailed image analyses of the living fauna will be used to compare the ‘state of the environment' and the recovery compared to the findings 26 years ago.
During Leg-2, the ROV will be the main working equipment for highly targeted sampling and in-situ experiment at the seafloor. The international team will consist of scientists and technicians from Belgium, Germany, Portugal, Netherlands, Norway and the United Kingdom.


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In this paper, we tackle the problem to achieve k-coverage of a target indoor space with obstacles, that is, any point in the target monitoring area has a line-of-sight to and is located in the sensing range rs of at least k sensors. We propose heuristic algorithms for computing a deployment pattern achieving the k-coverage in an arbitrary 3D target space with stationary and mobile obstacles, while minimizing the overall deployment cost. For the case with only stationary obstacles, we propose a greedy algorithm that puts sensor nodes one by one on a grid point of the deployable area in the descending order of the cost-performance value (i.e., how many monitoring points are covered by putting a sensor at the deployment point per unit deployment cost). In order to extend the algorithm for the case with a mobile obstacle, we define mobile k-coverage that guarantees k-coverage of a target space for arbitrary position of a mobile obstacle, then provide a sufficient condition for the mobile k-coverage: the half-sphere of radius rs centered at a monitoring point bounded by the vertical plane containing the point includes at least k sensor nodes. Based on this condition, we propose a heuristic algorithm that puts at least one sensor node in each π over k+1 spherical wedge for each monitoring point. With the proposed algorithms, we have computed the sensor nodes position in an existing indoor environment and confirmed that the obtained WSN deployment in the real space accurately achieves k-coverage.


16 October 2007 - 12:12Upside Down Racing League
Ah sigh, another of my brilliant ideas appears to have been had independently, further encouraging me to finally start writing them down.
Modern race cars (Formula 1 and Indy cars in particular) have wings and tunnels providing downforce, to increase traction. In fact, so much downforce that they could actually drive upside down. So why not an upside down racing league, or URL? Probably a big oval track with some kind of half-loops as ramps to get started. Such a track would be expensive to build, but seems to me to be completely plausible. The cars would have to be designed for this of course, as things like oil pumps are not usually built to run upside down. I remember reading in Popular Mechanics years ago about the twin-rotor helicopter that would be able to fly upside down, limited only by the oiling system. And obviously many piston powered airplanes can do it. It would also be hard on the drivers to sit upside down like that lap after lap. Perhaps cars would be designed to have the driver upright with the wheels above him.
I’m sure there would be a market for such racing. One problem is that everyone wants to see crashes at a race. The crashes on this track might be spectacular, but I envision the track being over water or a net or something to reduce deaths. And the crashes wouldn’t multiply–any car losing speed would just fall out of the way, leaving no debris on the track. But I still think it would be really cool to see and be technically challenging to the competitors. Hard to imagine much spin-off technology to street cars though.
And this would be much more feasible than my new idea for upside down sailboat racing….
1 Comment | Tags: idea


text:
For 60 years, Sugarloaf has been a cornerstone of Eastern skiing. With some of the most diverse and challenging terrain anywhere east of the Rockies, the mountain commands a devoted following of "Sugarloafers" who spread the gospel of the ‘Loaf around the globe with the ubiquitous triangular sticker. This summer Sugarloaf rocked the eastern ski world with an announcement of a massive terrain expansion that will make it the largest ski area in the East. The first phase of the expansion, a huge, 270 glade called Brackett Basin, will open this winter.
• 1/24-1/28: White White World Week
• 4/14-4/17: 23rd Annual Bud Light Reggae Fest
With 2,820 vertical feet, Sugarloaf’s terrain is legendary in the East. In the coming seasons the resort will open a second peak with more than 650 acres of patrolled sidecountry terrain that will double its inbounds terrain and add a whole new chapter to the fabled story of Sugarloaf.
While Mainers love their wild blueberries and freshly trapped lobsters, nothing stokes them more than wild shreddin’ on fresh powdah on one of Sugarloaf’s 139 trails. In recent years, the ‘Loaf has hosted park shoots for East Coast film company Meathead Films and their annual Reggae Fest is one the right coast’s premier events.

domain: geography


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text:
September 2013 - Norwegian Epic to Europe - Western Mediterranean
A typical cruise, bUt excursions were challenging. You just can't see much with your time. Too much time spent on the bus to get from point a to b. They shouldn't really book multiple city tours on one excursion. Too much traffic and not enough bathroom to accommodate all the tourists. The cities are flooded with thousands dog people at once with the big ships!

domain: travel


text:
Willowood Valxtra (Hexaconazole 5% + Validamycin 2.5% SC) 500 ml
Chemical composition: Hexaconazole 5% + Validamycin 2.5% SC
Dosage: 400 ml/acre
Method of application: Spray
Spectrum: Rice:Sheath Blight and Blast
Compatibility: Compatible with most chemicals
Frequency of application: Depends on pest incidence or severity of disease.
Applicable crops: Rice
Extra description: Hexaconazole is a triazole fungicide for paddy sheath blight disease while Validamycin is an antibiotic fungicide used in managing sheath blight disease in rice & all crop
Special Remark: The information offered here is for reference only and depends exclusively on soil type and climatic conditions. Always refer to product labels and accompanying leaflets for complete product details and directions for use.

domain: agronomy


text:
When Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landed on the moon, I was glued to my parents' black and white television set, space obsessed. It was predicted back then that travelling to the moon would be commonplace by 2000 and I assumed that I, too, would one day roam the Sea of Tranquillity.
Clearly that's not how things panned out. Until recently that is, when my boyhood hopes were reignited by the Alma project, a collaboration between NASA and the European Southern Observatory to erect 64 dishes in Chile's Atacama desert and so create the world's largest radio telescope.
When I then read that NASA tested robot vehicles in the Atacama's "Valley of the Moon" because of the landscape's similarity to the lunar surface, my mind was set. I was going moonwalking. All I had to do was find someone willing to indulge my fantasy, which is how I ended up, on the eve of the full moon, at the Explora Hotel in Chile's San Pedro de Atacama oasis.
The Atacama is among the driest places on earth, an "absolute desert" where rainfall has yet to be recorded. Visibility is exceptional. You can see volcanic peaks up to 120 miles away and the clear skies and absence of artificial light make this one of the world's great astronomical centres. But at 15,750 ft above sea level, altitude sickness is a real concern.
Temperatures oscillate wildly - up to 115F but as low as -3F at night - and when a cloud drifts across the sun, they can plummet 30F in minutes. Atacama's lakes are home to the rare James's flamingo, and in winter the birds are occasionally frozen where they stand overnight and have to wait for the lake to thaw the following morning before they can fly away.
The Explora, my temporary Atacama home, is a delightful oddity - a luxury designer hotel that feels more like an ideal base camp. It's a perfect choice if you want to spend all day experiencing the wilderness and then return to a chilled pisco sour, a long soak in a huge bathtub and soft, luxurious bed linen.
The cooking is particularly impressive. With the altitude and strenuous activities firmly in mind, menus are heavily influenced by the Montignac diet and guests are discouraged from mixing proteins and carbohydrates. Fresh ingredients are flown in daily from Santiago and the lamb comes from Patagonia.
Explora's attention to detail and pioneering spirit permeates the hotel, so that while it boasts four beautifully landscaped infinity swimming pools, each with its own sauna, guests don't lounge around reading and sipping cocktails. Instead, urged on by Explora staff to get the most out of the desert, you find them (old and young) climbing volcanoes, trekking canyons or riding horses across sand dunes. Or rather you don't, because you rarely encounter other people on your excursions. Or hear anything except for the wind and your own footsteps.
Within hours of arriving, I headed to the Valley of the Moon to catch it in the magic hour before sunset. The first of its minor valleys appeared to be covered with a blanket of snow. It felt disconcerting to be basking in the dry heat, while gazing out over a cold wintery floor that crunched underfoot. Snow in the middle of a desert? I picked up a handful. It was warm, and not snow, of course, but volcanic mineral salts that leach from the earth, their moisture evaporating quickly in the sun.
At the far end of the valley, beyond a series of clay igloo-shaped mounds thought to have been built in 800BC, I climbed through a crack in a splintered crag to see a huge, sweeping curved valley, with strange orange and brown pinnacles like some vast alligator's spine. Farther on, I negotiated a series of sepia sand dunes before coming upon rock formations that resembled a Hokkaido painting of a stormy sea with crashing foamy waves.
Anticipating a vivid orange sunset and curious to get a keener sense of scale, I began climbing a nearby peak. As I clambered towards the summit, the wind began picking up, blowing sand in my face. When I reached the top, I discovered why. I was standing on top of a gigantic dune, facing a strong uphill gust. With the lure of the sunset now diminished, there seemed little else to do but charge down the steep hill at full pelt, secure in the knowledge that if I stumbled, the sand would break my fall.
Each successive valley looked entirely different and the only constant features were the absence of any vegetation and the wind whistling across the terrain. I have never seen such a range of landscapes or extraordinary rock formations in one place. If going on holiday is about getting away from it all, then wandering through the Valley of the Moon is - genuinely - like being on another planet.
As the sky had apparently been extraordinarily clear the night before, it was disappointing that when the moon eventually limped out, it was overcast. Later, my mood deepened as I realised that I wasn't the only one heading for the Valley. En route, we passed cars parked in deserted spots, rocking gently from side to side, which says something for the romantic allure of the full moon. My guide, Jorge, took one look at the cars and drove me to a desolate spot, which at first glance appeared to be a frozen lake.
I wandered out, alone, into the darkness. The silence was punctuated by eerie sounds. I had been warned to expect gunshot-like reports - actually rocks cracking and releasing stresses exerted by the extremes in temperature - but not the strange rumbling noises beneath me. Or the sound, behind my right shoulder, of chains rattling and then dropping to the ground. Was someone out there? Every time I heard the rattling, I stopped. And every time I stopped, so did the rattling. I half expected Magwitch to leap out at me.
Then I realised that sound was me sinking, ever so slowly, into the rumbling sand. Despite Jorge's earlier assurances to the contrary, it felt as if I really was walking across a frozen lake and was about to fall through. On I struggled towards the black hills and jagged rocks silhouetted against the sky, past a series of dark, cracked craters and what appeared to be mammoth mole hills.
By now, the sense of isolation was palpable. As I turned to look at the moon, I saw the most beautiful sight of all - countless bright crystals of gypsum caught in the moonlight. Glistening white ahead of me, they were like some terrestrial Milky Way scattered in the velvety darkness.
Captivated and sleepy, I made my way back, content, after all these years, to have fulfilled a childhood dream and "played among the stars" and roamed my own terrestrial sea of tranquillity.
Book direct (00562 206 6060) or through tour operator Abercrombie & Kent (0845 070 0614; www.abercrombiekent.co.uk), which offers a 12-night Totally Chile itinerary, including four nights at Explora en Atacama, four nights at Explora en Patagonia, along with two nights in Santiago and two nights in Santa Rita Vineyard. Prices start from £3,990 per person, including international flights, full board (b & b only in Santiago) and all activities at both Explora hotels.


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Publisher: Washington & London., M. Walter Dunne, Publisher.: 1901.
Edition: Universal Classics Library Deluxe Edition.
Seller ID: 9606
Condition: Good. Bookplate. Boards lightly rubbed and corners bumped. Gilt top and uncut fore and bottom edges lightly soiled. Text is square and tight with loosening at front gutter.
Frontispiece of Francis Hals' portrait of Descartes. Translated from the original texts, with a new introductory essay, historical and critical by John Veitch, Professor of Logic & Rhetoric in the Univ. of Glasgow. Introduction by Frank Sewall. View more info


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Don't count on it. The Department of Defense (DoD) still holds out hope that they will be able to pass a financial audit by 2017, but the Government Accountability Office's (GAO) testimony to Congress last Friday doesn't hold out much hope. In testimony entitled “Improved Controls, Processes, and Systems Are Needed for Accurate and Reliable Financial Information,” the GAO paints a grim picture of the DoD's efforts to put in financial reporting systems to pass an audit and know where its money is going.
All the other large federal departments have passed this audit since it became a requirement in the late 1990s. But the DoD, with its parochial three services, has not been able to put in a standardized system to know how much money it has and where it is going.
The GAO comments on how this affects all aspects of the DoD's work and that they find the lack of accountability around weapons systems and their logistics exceptionally frustrating. From the testimony:
Long-standing and pervasive weaknesses in DoD's financial management and related business processes and systems have (1) resulted in a lack of reliable information needed to make sound decisions and report on the financial status and cost of DoD activities to Congress and DoD decision makers; (2) adversely impacted its operational efficiency and mission performance in areas of major weapons system support and logistics; and (3) left the department vulnerable to fraud, waste, and abuse….
DoD invests billions of dollars to acquire weapon systems, but it lacks the financial management processes and capabilities it needs to track and report on the cost of weapon systems in a reliable manner. We reported on this issue over 20 years ago, but the problems continue to persist. In July 2010, we reported that although DoD and the military departments have efforts underway to begin addressing these financial management weaknesses, problems continue to exist and remediation and improvement efforts would require the support of other business areas beyond the financial community before they could be fully addressed. [Emphasis added.]
DoD also requests billions of dollars each year to maintain its weapon systems, but it has limited ability to identify, aggregate, and use financial management information for managing and controlling operating and support costs. Operating and support costs can account for a significant portion of a weapon system's total life-cycle costs, including costs for repair parts, maintenance, and contract services. In July 2010, we reported that the department lacked key information needed to manage and reduce operating and support costs for most of the weapon systems we reviewed – including cost estimates and historical data on actual operating and support costs. For acquiring and maintaining weapon systems, the lack of complete and reliable financial information hampers DoD officials in analyzing the rate of cost growth, identifying cost drivers, and developing plans for managing and controlling these costs. Without timely, reliable, and useful financial information on cost, DoD management lacks information needed to accurately report on acquisition costs, allocate resources to programs, or evaluate program performance.
Notice that the GAO mentioned that they wrote a report about this 20 years ago. This testimony is festooned with footnotes where the GAO cites report after report they have issued over the past 20 years in monitoring the problem. These reports have a similar, bizarrely optimistic theme: The DoD has screwed up or made little effort to fix this problem, but we are hopeful that they now may have their act together and finally put in an accounting system that works, and we hope that the leadership will make sure that it is done.
The reports usually end with a prediction that the DoD won't make its deadline to pass a financial audit unless there is much diligence by the civilian leadership of the DoD. And the deadline is missed.
This problem has been with us for decades, and in the late '90s and early 2000s, there was an effort to do something about it. There was an effort late in the Clinton administration to start reconciling transactions with documentation in the DoD. They audited $7 trillion in transactions over the years and found that they could not justify $2.3 trillion spent. The Congress took an interest in this and started having hearings. Rep. Christopher Shays took a special look at this and began to pressure the DoD in hearings to get control of their finances. His efforts were smashed when his chairmanship was taken from him by then Majority Leader Tom “the Hammer” Delay, because Shays was also looking at campaign finance reform. I remember thinking at the time that Shays' tough look at missing DoD money would also have had something to do with the loss of his chairmanship and its oversight function.
In 2001, while I was also looking at DoD finances, I was approached by a Defense Finance and Accounting Services (DFAS) accountant, Jim Minnery, who was troubled by what he was seeing and was in trouble for trying to reconcile the money paper trail. Minnery was in a key position to see how the lack of internal controls and the lack of a paper trail cause millions of dollars to be written off without knowing where the money went. He was a CPA who had a 20 year career in the private accounting sector and a former Marine. He joined DFAS and was in its working capital fund group. He found that DFAS was writing off DISA's (Defense Systems Information Agency) cross disbursements (disbursements between agencies) and not matching it with the Treasury books and doing it without documentation.
Minnery was unable to get DFAS to show him the documentation (vouchers) for these write-offs and he was told that the paperwork was “inadvertently” discarded. Minnery went on a two-year mission from 1997 to 1999 to find the vouchers himself. He found that over $400 million was unmatched and that at least $180 million could not be reconciled. This meant that the money was spent and taken off DISA's liabilities without any paper trail on what the money was spent.
His thanks by his DFAS bosses was to be harassed and reassigned. After he had tracked down some of the money, the DFAS office in Pensacola responsible for the documentation of the write-off “solved” the problem by creating a bogus journal entry. Minnery was taken off as team leader, and the problem, according to the bureaucracy, is “solved.”
Minnery, out of total frustration, went to the DoD inspector general's hotline to file a complaint. After losing his first letter, they finally investigated and found that he was right about the loss of money, but that it wasn't intentional and there wasn't a cover-up. He also filed a separate complaint when $2 billion showed up on DISA's books from nowhere, and his bosses didn't care. The inspector general's response was that they could not investigate his complaint because the financial tracking systems were too messed up to follow the paper trail – it was unauditable.
I helped Jim to put his information together and get it out to the press. He had many stories, including a piece on the CBS “Evening News,” but the Pentagon just shrugged its shoulders, and the Congress wasn't interested in following up a report while we were marching toward war in Afghanistan and later Iraq.
A disillusioned Minnery wrote in a letter to the Federal Times:
Year after year the Department of Defense financial managers have told Congress that they are not there yet but they are getting better. I caught on to the broken record fairly quickly within a couple of years of going to work for the Defense Finance and Accounting Service. It was around 1997 when we were talking about getting a clean audit opinion in 1999 per President Clinton's directive. It was a joke to most of us who knew the status of the Defense Department's finances. It will take at least the length of time mentioned in the June 10  article, “Pentagon Finance Reform Is 8-Year Effort.”
… I came to the Defense Finance and Accounting Service with 20 years experience, a CPA license and two masters degrees. I took a proprietary interest in my customer and tried to analyze and reconcile accounts as I had in the private sector in order to produce accurate financial statements. I was rewarded for my efforts with a demotion and no opportunity for advancement. The customer and the Defense Finance and Accounting Service apparently did not appreciate my efforts. Oops, they did not want me to reconcile those accounts. And I thought they would appreciate my expertise!
In 2006, Jim was still fighting the good fight to try to explain why the system didn't work to a McClatchy Newspaper reporter:
Even basic accounting procedures fail. Minnery said some systems make it impossible to match checks that have been written to the bills that were being paid. “Their systems can't keep track of who they've sold stuff to, who owes them, who they owe,” he said.
Another factor that has evolved over the decades is a decentralized system that records the same part with a multitude of different multi-character codes, and difficulties ensue with any cross-service transaction because their ordering codes differ as well. “The Navy has a set (of codes), the Army has a set, the Air Force has a set,” Minnery said. “They don't have the same number of digits and they can't match each other.”
In the same 2006 article, longtime defense watcher Winslow Wheeler had realistic take on the problem:
“We don't know how badly managed it is,” said Winslow T. Wheeler, director of a military reform project at the Center for Defense Information. “It's not that DoD flunks audits, it's that DoD's books cannot be audited. DoD aspires for the position where it flunks an audit. If this were a public company, it would have gone belly up before World War II.”
Time warp up to last Friday when the GAO told the Congress the rest of the bad news:
Without adequate financial management processes, systems, and controls, DoD components are at risk of reporting inaccurate, inconsistent, and unreliable data for financial reporting and management decision making and potentially exceeding authorized spending limits. The lack of effective internal controls hinders management's ability to have reasonable assurance that their allocated resources are used effectively, properly, and in compliance with budget and appropriations law.
… However, DoD has made significant improvements to the FIAR [Financial Improvement and Audit Readiness] Plan that, if implemented effectively, could result in significant improvement in DoD's financial management and progress toward auditability, but progress in taking corrective actions and resolving deficiencies remains slow. While none of the military services has obtained an unqualified (clean) audit opinion, some DoD organizations, such as the Army Corps of Engineers, DFAS, the Defense Contract Audit Agency, and the DoD Office of Inspector General, have achieved this goal. [Since the 1990s, only the DoD's own auditors and investigators have made this goal!]
Improving the department's financial management operations and thereby providing DoD management and the Congress more accurate and reliable information on the results of its business operations will not be an easy task. It is critical that the current initiatives being led by the DoD DCMO [deputy chief management officer] and the DoD comptroller be continued and provided with sufficient resources and ongoing monitoring in the future. Absent continued momentum and necessary future investments, the current initiatives may falter, similar to previous efforts.
Because of the Department's complexity and magnitude, developing and implementing a comprehensive plan that identifies DoD's internal control weaknesses will not be an easy task. But it is a task that is critical to resolving the long-standing weaknesses and will require consistent management oversight and monitoring for it to be successful.
To the degree that these business systems do not provide the intended capabilities, DoD's goal of departmentwide audit readiness by the end of fiscal year 2017 could be jeopardized.
Minnery has since retired and left the DoD. I have, on occasion, asked him for advice and if he would like to do a Solutions column based on his knowledge. He just throws up his hands in disgust and futility because he is not sure the problem can ever be fixed. After all the threats and harassment he had to endure to do the right thing, I don't blame him.
Pass a financial audit in 2017 – 20 years after Minnery and his colleagues wondered if they could fix the system by 1999, and Shays tried to find the missing $2.3 trillion in lost transactions. The GAO states that there must be a continuity in the DoD leadership until then to push the recalcitrant military services to find their money. After looking at this for over 30 years, I wonder if there should be a priesthood developed, similar to an idea to protect nuclear waste over the ages, to see if this bureaucracy can ever right itself, in 2017 or beyond, and find its money.
The solution? Minnery had it right. He told me from the very beginning that fixing the accounting systems at the top won't work because it was the lower-level transactions, checks and balances, such as weapons contracts and contractor logistics that needed to be accurate and accounted for. “Garbage in, garbage out,” he told me, because he had to just accept the numbers given to him by each agency even when he knew that there was not an accurate check of costs and payments at this basic level.
So, in order to pass the higher financial level audits, we need to look at how the procurement contracts are priced, executed and reported. And that is where the real bait and switch goes on by the contractors and their fellow travelers in the DoD bureaucracy and the Congress.
I will be doing a series of columns in the next few weeks on this basic lower-level problem – how we price our weapons and know how much they should cost, will cost or did cost. It is an issue that will take you deep in the weeds of military procurement, but it is the building block of whether we will ever get control of the Pentagon's money. It is especially important because there will be a push to cut somewhere in the DoD budget this fall and the true pricing of contracts could save billions of dollars. Obviously, this administration thinks it is important – they just created a director of defense pricing in the DoD.
The stakes have never been higher (and our need for your support has never been greater).
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domain: finance