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Students given insight into world of manufacturing

Students at the event

Students at the event

Have your say

Students from Helenswood, ARK William Parker and The Hastings Academy were given an insight into manufacturing careers last Wednesday.

The Creative Café offered a unique environment for young people to meet and interact with potential future employers, including Bausch + Lomb, Collins & Hayes, Jaytec Glass, Photek, Stevens Rowsell and Tenn-outdoors.

Staff from local businesses devised activities to give young people an insight into their working lives. Students found themselves making contact lenses, designing cycle wear and furniture, costing laboratory equipment, designing hi-tec image intensifiers to support night vision and missile detection, and working out an instruction manual on how to assemble a spider made of sheet metal.

The event was organised by Culture Shift and Own Grown, and funded by Hastings Borough Council.

The next Creative Café focusing on the food, hospitality and leisure sector is planned for October. If your business would like to get involved, contact Own Grown on 01424 451795.

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    Find a Doctor > Dr. John E. Harris, M.D.
    John Harris

    John E. Harris, M.D.

    Vascular Surgery

    (Board Certified)
    Accepting new patients

    Offers My Health Online

    Palo Alto Center
    87 Encina Avenue
    Encina Building, Level 2
    Palo Alto, California 94301
    View Mapof 87 Encina Avenue, Encina Building, Level 2, Palo Alto. Opens in new window
    (650) 853-2975

    Professional Interests

    Vascular Surgery
    Abdominal aortic aneurysm, Aortic aneurysm, Carotid disease, Diabetic foot problems, Dialysis access procedures, Endovascular surgery, Limb preservation/ salvage, Marfan syndrome, Peripheral artery disease (PAD), Peripheral vascular surgery, Renal artery occlusive disease, Stroke studies, Venous insufficiency

    Additional Information

    Aortic aneurysms, carotid disease, peripheral arterial disease, open and endovascular therapies, venous insufficiency

    Spoken Languages

    Personal Interests

    Dr. Harris is married and has four children. He enjoys tennis, skiing and outdoor exploration.

    Physician Web Link

    Philosophy of Care

    I provide comprehensive vascular care, which may include interventional (both endovascular and open) and noninterventional treatment. I believe in patient education, which allows for personal involvement in choosing a treatment plan, based upon current best practice. I develop long-term relationships with my patients to treat their chronic vascular conditons.

    This physician directory is provided as a convenience to you. It is not intended as a recommendation, referral, or endorsement of any particular provider. Physicians are not employees or agents of Sutter Health or its affiliates. The information is submitted by each doctor and we make no guarantee or warranty as to the accuracy of the information. Sutter Health is not responsible for any loss or damage caused by your reliance on this information. You should verify the accuracy of the information directly with the physician's office.

    All doctors on this site are affiliated with Sutter Health's network of care - members of the medical staff of Sutter-affiliated hospitals, affiliated medical groups, and independent practice associations that participate in clinical initiatives. Doctors do not pay a fee to be included in this directory. If a physician ceases to fall within one of the categories noted, he/she would no longer be listed on the site. Doctors meeting your search criteria are presented in alphabetical order by last name, or by geographic proximity if a zip code has been used as search criterion.

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Deal with IT

Over the last year in this magazine, we've periodically discussed the divide between IT and AV professionals as they struggle to bring their respective 3/01/2009 7:00 AM Eastern

Deal with IT

Mar 1, 2009 12:00 PM, By Michael Goldman

Over the last year in this magazine, we've periodically discussed the divide between IT and AV professionals as they struggle to bring their respective niches together. For some time, on the technology side of the equation, the divide has been rapidly closing. After all, what new AV device doesn't possess some kind of IP capability anymore? The cultural, human element — well, that's another story. That process has been slower. Like many things, education is the answer, and educational opportunities for AV professionals seeking to walk through the IT door have been growing and improving in quality.

  Related Links

Audio Podcast: AV/IT broadcast Convergence
Bennett Liles talks with John Lopinto, Communications Specialties president, about the standards that guide the AV/IT/broadcast convergence...

InfoComm International, as usual, is leading the way with various offerings on IT issues, technologies, and techniques — including an InfoComm Academy Technology Manager course this year called AV/IT Integration for Technical Professionals. Course materials boil it all down to the fact that AV professionals are still doing what they have always done — designing and implementing AV systems — but they are now doing it in an IT world. Thus, much of what they teach in the course is highly technical: how to use various IP-based applications, how to test cabling, issues revolving around the quality of an AV signal and the IT bandwidth consumed by the signal, learning about IP addresses, and all of those ITish things.

The course also discusses strategies for determining client needs and improving communication among folks on both sides of the divide. Understanding this human element, I think, is central to any successful industry transition. The technology will always be there, but how to fit such technology — and new ways of doing things — into one's existing world, mindset, and experiences is a far more daunting challenge.

As we've been steadfastly doing the last year, SVC is playing its part in offering tools to assist your business in this transition. This issue, for instance, has a series of experts taking us inside the world of fiber and a look — among other things — at yet another sophisticated, networked, multimedia infrastructure at a major facility: the Benjamin Franklin National Memorial in Philadelphia. We're also forging ahead with our Networked AV and Residential AV Presents Connected Home enewsletters, and in the coming months, we'll have more webcasts in this category.

The publishing world is transitioning too, and as part of that transition, we are working hard to make SVC a multimedia brand with print and online tools. For example, we're launching our video player, SVC TV, on our website, starting with some product demos. Email me at michael.goldman@penton.com if you have educational video content you would like to see on SVC TV. Or send me your ideas about how we can help you navigate the way on this revamped and constantly evolving landscape.

Want to read more stories like this?
Get our Free Newsletter Here!
Past Issues
July 2015

June 2015

May 2015

April 2015

March 2015

February 2015

January 2015

December 2014


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  • Get regular, moderate exercise.
  • Eat a healthy diet.
  • Practice stress-reduction techniques.
  • Avoid excessive heat.
  • Avoid infections.
  • Get adequate rest.
  • Eat a Healthy Diet

    Doctors recommend eating a healthy diet. It should be low in saturated fat and rich in whole grains, fruits, and vegetables . The fiber in grains, fruits, and vegetables helps prevent constipation .

    Omega-3 fatty acids, found in fish oil, are sometimes recommended for people with MS. It is not clear if omega-3s are helpful for this condition.

    It is also important that you drink plenty of water. Aim for 62 ounces per day, about 8 glasses. Avoid drinks that cause dehydration , like caffeinated beverages.

    Practice Stress—Reduction Techniques

    Many people with MS notice that stress makes symptoms worse. Consider getting regular massages and participating in other stress reducing practices, such as meditation , yoga , and relaxation. You may also find it helpful to join a support group . These groups can provide emotional support for you and your family.

    Quit Smoking

    Smoking may worsen MS symptoms. It can make MS progress to a more severe form. If you smoke, talk to your doctor about your options for quitting. There are smoking cessation classes, online self-help programs, nicotine replacement products , prescription medicines, and many other options.


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Book Report: Railway images take me down the tracks

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columns Cottage Grove,Minnesota 55016
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Book Report: Railway images take me down the tracks
Cottage Grove Minnesota 7584 80th Street South 55016

I often receive books that make me think of old friends and relatives no longer here to enjoy them.

Whenever I receive a book by Jerry Apps, the Madison retired professor who writes novels and non-fiction about farms and farming, I think of my father, a frustrated farmer who would have enjoyed Apps immensely.

Recently I received a beautiful coffee table book that would have floored my old friend Art Hager, longtime Star Tribune photograph with whom I traveled a good deal on assignment.

He's gone now and he never got to see "Minnesota Railroads," by Steve Glischinski (University of Minnesota Press, $39.95).

Art loved trains and the romance of the rails.

One day he told me about his first trip to England. He said he didn't want to go and see "a bunch of old castles," but his wife insisted.

"And she didn't want to ride on England's trains, but it turned out OK after all," Art said.

"I really enjoyed it, especially when we rode to Edinburgh on the Flying Scot, the last steam-operated passenger train in the British Isles."

How'd you get your wife to go along?" I asked.

"I traded her a castle," he said wryly.

Anyway, Art would love Glischinski's new book, which is a photo album with a thorough text of Minnesota railroading from 1940-2012.

Glischinski has been taking photos of trains since he was knee-high to a Lionel and he's gathered in photos from other collectors about the rail yards, the maiden voyages of various famous local trains and their engineers and cooks and dining cars.

He does a fine job of explaining the near death of railroads and how suddenly they've come back with new track and new methods of transportation.

Many of the finest photos come from Star Tribune files.

I wouldn't be surprised if Art had shot some of them, but, unfortunately, names of newspaper photographers are not included. And Art, unfortunately, is no longer around to identify them.

I've been fascinated by the tragedy of the First World War, ever since I saw a snapshot of my father, age eight, clad in an Uncle Sam suit and top hat standing behind a wagon, with a saw blade hanging off the end.

The photo was taken on Armistice Day, 1918. Dad explained: "There was a big parade on Main Street in Whitehall that day and I marched behind the saw blade and banged on it with a hammer to celebrate the end of the war. That was the day the townspeople rounded up the German-American farmers near town and made them kiss our flag," he said not too proudly.

Ever since then I've been fascinated with the big battles at Belleau Wood, where the maps were provided by Whitehall's Harley Hopkins, of the battle of the Somme, and Passchendaele at Ypres called "wipers" by the British troops.

These are the topics that have drawn the most attention since the war's cessation in 1918.

Now comes "The Making of the First World War," by Ian E.W. Pickett (Yale, n.p.).

A British historian, Pickett looks behind the big battles at smaller, sometimes unnoticed events that tell us just as much about how the war transpired and was conducted, as the famous taxicab defense of the Somme and the horrors of trench warfare.

Pickett digs deeper and writes of a plumber who knew how to release the dikes in Belgium and flooded its plain, which made it impossible for the Germans to get to Dunkirk.

Had they arrived there they would have been able to cross the channel and do battle on British soil. Instead, the battles were confined to France and the stalemate that resulted in the loss of millions of life.

"The Making of the First World War" is history writ small, as history often is.


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Chicano Latino Coalition Banner

Mission Statement

To support the academic and occupational success of Chicano/Latino students, staff, faculty, and the community of the Southwestern Community College District. Our goals are to promote a spirit of collaboration to support and facilitate education and professional advancement. Additionally, highlight, celebrate, and promote Chicano/Latino accomplishments, and lastly to provide a forum for the discussion of issues affecting Chicano/Latino staff, faculty, and students.

Last updated: 12/4/2013 11:47:10 AM


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Southwestern's accounting program is designed to provide you with the fundamentals necessary to obtain an entry-level position in the field of accounting.  With your accounting degree, you will be prepared for entry-level jobs in private business, all levels of government, and public accounting firms.

According to the state of Iowa's occupational projections, bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing assistants are projected to have a huge number of openings in the next few years, due not only to job growth, but also to job replacement needs.  If you plan to transfer and earn a bachelor's degree, the associate of arts degree with an accounting major is recommended for your course of study.

Awards Available

Accounting:  Associate of Applied Science Degree

This program is also offered through SWCC's online/distance education department!

Accounting Degree Sheet

Potential Careers

  • Accounts payable/receivable clerk
  • Payroll accountant
  • General ledger accountant
  • Cost or tax accountant

 Upon completion of this program, students will be able to:

  • describe and illustrate accounting concepts and principles for sole proprietorships, partnerships and corporations.
  • identify the characteristics of sole proprietorships, partnerships, and corporations and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each.
  • prepare basic business forms and financial records for all types of businesses.
  • interpret the information typically found on the balance sheet, income statement, statement of owner’s equity or retained earnings statement and the cash flow statement.
  • apply the accepted accounting procedures for all levels of business activity and in all sizes of businesses from the small sole proprietorship to the large highly organized corporations.
  • illustrate the cost accounting system used by manufacturing enterprises including job order, process, and standard cost.
  • explain the flow of manufacturing costs through the production process – direct materials, direct labor and factory overhead.
  • utilize the accounting terminology related to cost accounting, tax accounting and payroll accounting.
  • perform payroll accounting including taxes and payroll records.
  • prepare federal and state taxes.
  • describe effective methods of establishing audit trails and internal controls.

Instructors Holly Booth or Joe Pastorino


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Jim Fowlie to Coach in Melbourne

By Stephen J. Thomas

MELBOURNE, Australia, November 10. JUST a couple of weeks back Canadian-born swim coach Jim Fowlie announced he and his wife Lynn were again leaving their homeland to return to Australia. Fowlie had held the position of head coach at the PacificSport National Training Center in Victoria for the past four years. It has now been confirmed that Fowlie will take up the newly created position of High Performance Coach of the Nunawading Swim club in Melbourne’s East in early December.

The Nunawading Club was rocked with the news early last month that its head coach Mark Thompson had been charged with several counts of sexual assault with a person under 16 and had taken leave from the club until the matter has been resolved. Leigh Nugent, the current National Youth Coach, and another former coach from the highly regarded club, had been filling in with the training duties in a squad that includes Athens Olympians Brooke Hanson and Melissa Morgan.

Fowlie left Canada in 1992 to spend a decade as a senior coach at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra, successfully guiding a number of leading Aussie swimmers including Todd Pearson, Bill Kirby, Adam Pine and Scott Goodman.

Since his departure from the AIS, Fowlie’s 25-year-old son John has followed in his father's footsteps and has proven a more than capable coach at Australia’s key swimming facility. John Fowlie was part of the Aussie World Champs team earlier this year and had particular success with breaststroker Jade Edmistone who took the gold medal in a world record time over the 50 distance in Montreal. He has also been nominated for Australian Coach of the Year alongside Denis Cotterell and Stephan Widmer. The honor will be announced this month.

Comments Off on Jim Fowlie to Coach in Melbourne

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*Don't worry--this address will not be sold or used for promotional purposes.


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Now Accepting PayPal and Google Wallet

E-mail a Friend

Want to tell a friend about "Billabong Women's One Love Crochet Triangle Top/Tie Side Bottom Set"? It's easy. Just enter the information requested below, click the "SUBMIT EMAIL" button, and your message is on its way.

*Don't worry--this address will not be sold or used for promotional purposes.


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Shop swimwear sizes 8 to 34 at Swimsuits for all Shop Aquabelle swimwear at Swimwuits for All
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Arrive to your swim class in style, but don't forget to include us in your water fitness routine. September marks the start of our Swim Strong Contest – so snap a photo of yourself during your water workout, capture your best swim moments and share them with us using #Aquabelle and #SwimStrongContest on Instagram or Twitter.

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Swinger Personals

Velvet Curtain - Event 10/12/13 - Texas - Ou Weekend At The Vc!
Texas - Ou Weekend At The Vc!
[All 43 Events List]
All you fans cum out and share in the hot rivalry!
10/12/13 DALLAS, TX
SLS Liaison:
Velvet Curtain
Velvet Curtain
Calling all you Jocks and Cheerleaders!!Everyone knows the Red River Rivalry is the Hottest College game in the nation and our fans are some of the wildest!! So cum out and show your team spirit and save $5 off our usual $40 Saturday night party!!

Please note: The attendee list here in no way represents all the guests that will attend the party, as we advertise in many mediums and websites.

The Velvet Curtain is Dallas' Premier On Premise Couples-Only Private Lifestyle Club for quality, discrete open minded adults. Membership is limited to couples and females wishing to expand their horizons and explore their fantasies with other like-minded people in a safe, no-pressure, discrete and fun environment.You will find our members to be some of the friendliest in the metroplex. We guarantee an environment that is safe and friendly through our exclusive membership process. We have the Hottest and most fun filled parties in elegant surroundings. Come Dance, Play or Just Watch!

Conveniently located near Downtown Dallas, The Velvet Curtain offers a lounge area for mingling, a spacious dance floor, a live DJ spinning the Hottest Dance music, Private and Group Playrooms and Big screen Theatre for special video presentations, all in a relaxed atmosphere. Our club is now all non-smoking and there is a designated lounge area for smoking.

All private events are BYOB/BYOSnacks, with Premium Setups provided!
Our events are open to mixed-sex couples, female-only couples, and single females. Check out our Coming Events tab for upcoming fun theme nights.

We are open every:
Friday from 8pm until 3am, $20/couple
Saturday from 8pm until 4am, $40/couple

Single Ladies are:
always FREE if arriving before 10pm, $10 if arriving later

All Events offer Valet Parking Including a Secured Guarded Facility For Your Car.

Facility Includes Lockers and an Upscale Dressing Area for Wardrobe Changes and Valuables

View the Texas - Ou Weekend At The Vc! forum
This event offers a discount to SLS Members
30 members are attending this event.
Click DALLAS Swingers to find local swingers

Events listed above are provided for informational purposes only. By accepting any discounts you agree that your attendance at the listed event is both voluntary and at your own risk. You understand and agree that neither Swinglifestyle.com/DashBoardHosting, nor its owners, directors and affiliates (collectively, "SwingLifestyle") control the events or the venues at which the events take place, and you hereby expressly release Swinglifestyle from any and all claims arising from, or in any way connected to, the foregoing. This agreement merges and supercedes all prior and contemporaneous agreements and/or representations between the parties relating to the listed events. This agreement shall be construed, governed, interpreted and applied in accordance with the laws of the State of Florida, and the parties consent to the sole and exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts of Florida for any and all issues arising out of, or related to, the terms of this agreement or your attendance at the listed events.


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August Events with Switched On: Holly Herndon (4AD, RVNG Intl.) and Patricia (L.I.E.S., Opal Tapes, Spectral Sound)

Tomorrow (August, 4th 2015) in Austin, TX Holly Herndon (RVNG Intl.) will be performing at The Parish.  Switched On is proud to be a co-presenter in the event along with Transmission Events.

From Red Bull Music Academy:
"Whether studying for her PhD at Stanford or spending all night in a Berlin techno party, Holly Herndon is obsessed with the intersection between mind and body and beat and technology. On releases like Movement and the Chorus EP, she tackles her complicated relationship with the internet, the NSA, Max/MSP software, and her own voice; creating a unique brand of cyber-pop that is equally beautiful and frightening, academic and dancefloor-ready."

Holly Herndon is considered to be at the fore front of electronic and experimental music. You may have caught her lecture for RBMA in Tokyo or read her interview on The FADER. Her music is a visionary experience that merges experimental sound design, techno, futuristic rhythms, vocal soundscapes, and fierce visuals to accompany.

See for yourself below...

Ticket Price: $15
Doors: 8PM

Austin, TX producer Corduroi opens. Check out them out here:
Pre-sale tickets are available to purchase HERE.

Facebook event HERE

This weekend on Saturday August, 8th we will be hosting a special in-store event with modular wizard and techno producer Patricia (Spectral Sound, L.I.E.S., Opal Tapes). Things get started at 6PM.
Check out his tunes HERE
He also gave a fantastic demo of the recently revived Moog modular:

Later that night XNOR MEDIA and Patricia will be going late night at Tamale House East, which operates as Mexican/Peruvian restaurant by day but has been hosting some of Austin's best  house and techno events at night
Also on the bill is Austin's own Oaxaca, The Viewer, Pagan Cops, and DJ Sets by Malika and Deep Creep.

Facebook event is HERE and official flyer is below!

Switched On in New York Times Blog

Switched On received an honorable mention in the New York Times blog as one of actor and synth enthusiast Jason Schwartzman's influences.
The actor and musician Jason Schwartzman, who costars in the film "The Overnight," out this weekend.

From Schwartzman:
“It’s a synthesizer store in Austin. I was just in Austin and went there straight from the airport, and then stopped there again on my way back to the airport. They have beautiful synthesizers — new and old. Most music stores, there’s kind of a feeling that you shouldn’t ask to play anything. But Switched On is very for the people and everything is plugged in and armed, so anyone can play anything at any time.”

One of the many great things about operating a store front such as Switched On is the interesting people that come through to visit us. Glad we can help to inspire such a broad community of talents. Thanks Jason!

Read the full article HERE

NMASS 2015: June 11th-13th at Salvage Vanguard Theater

Switched On is proud to be a sponsor of this years NMASS

NMASS stands for New Media Art and Sound Summit and it is exactly that. Three days of electronic and experimental performances, sound installations, film screenings, and a synth meet!

NMASS takes place at the Salvage Vanguard Theater (2803 Manor Rd, Austin, TX 78722)
Tickets are $40 (3-day pass) and can be purchased in-store at Switched On or directly through the NMASS site HERE.

Switched On Arturia Clinic

Switched On is excited to announce that Arturia will be in-store to demo and discuss their diverse line of devices. Arturia will also be giving away a BeatStep sequencer and controller to a lucky attendee!
Also available to demo will be the upcoming BeatStep Pro edition with expanded connectivity, more steps, and many other features.
Date: May 21, 2015, 4pm-6pm
Arrive anytime and it is 100% free.
Parking is on the west side of the building.
Join the Facebook Event.
The clinic will focus on the following devices:
A modern classic and fully featured analog mono-synth.
(MiniBrutes are now discounted to $399 new as well!)
A compact follow-up to the MiniBrute. Features semi-modular patchbay and a sequencer.
An intuitive sequencer and controller for MIDI, USB, and CV/Gate application.

New Arrivals: April 23, 2015

Here are some of this week's new arrivals. All photos are click through links to the product pages. Please feel free to contact us with any questions.

Moog Sub 37 Tribute Edition

Also make sure to check out the new firmware release for the Moog Sub37 expected to be out later this Spring.

Korg MS-20M + SQ1 Sequencer

Korg Arp Odyssey

Mutable Instruments Peaks

4MS Shifting Inverting Signal Mingler, 4MS Quad Pingable LFO, 4MS Quad Clock Distributor

Oberheim Matrix 6

Yamaha DX7

Fender Chroma Polaris

Switched On 5th Anniversary Party & Synthesizer Meet

Switched On is turning 5 years old! So we are having a party. Come celebrate with us!
You can also join the Facebook event HERE
6pm-9pm Synthesizer Meet-up.
9pm-12am Records, drinks, and good times.
Switched On invites you to bring your synthesizer of any format or era. Keyboards, modular, effects, rarities, etc. As always, we want to help encourage and facilitate an environment for music technology and sound. Interesting effects, controllers, or computer aided workflows are also encouraged. Meet and talk shop with the community of musicians, producers, sound designers, and DJs. Show off what is lurking in your studio and share ideas.
If you are a manufacturer, maker, do it your selfer, hacker, bender, tweaker: Please bring something you have created!
*Bring your own: power strip, stand, and headphones!
Switched On will be holding a raffle at 11:11 PM. Prizes include a Moog Werkstatt, Moog MiniFooger, and a Korg Drum Machine.
Complementary refreshments in the form of Moscow Mules will be provided. Courtesy of Main Root & Titos Vodka!
Vegan snacks brought to you by our neighbors Counter Culture will be available as well.
FREE & All ages
6:00 P.M. - Midnight
Arrive early and stay late.

The Rare Waves Grendel RA-9 Grenadier

Switched On is now stocking the Rare Waves Grendel RA-9 Grenadier. The Grenadier is the third incarnation of the Grendel series, starting with the Drone Commander (2 oscillator droney synth design), the formant filter in Eurorack format, and now the RA-9 Grenadier. The Grenadier is by far the most feature rich and unique thus far. The Grenadier is a single oscillator tabletop synthesizer with a triple bandbass filter bank, a built-in sequencer, and lots of connectivity. Like all Rare Waves devices it is made extremely well and has loads of character. Get all of the details and order HERE.

Check out the Grenadier in action...

Teenage Engineering Now in Stock!

The extremely powerful, portable, and loveable Teenage Engineering OP-1 (seen above) is back in stock at Switched On. The OP-1 is the all-in-one portable synthesizer, sampler and controller. with additional features like a built-in FM radio and an assignable G-force sensor for motion controlled effects, there is quite nothing like it. Its modular architecture enables endless sound possibilities without making the workflow complicated or distracting. The compact design and real physical interface makes it inspiring to create music, no matter who you are or how experienced you are. Read more and purchase HERE.

Also included in our order was the Teenage Engineering OpLab Musical Experiment Board and the FM Antennae accessory. The Oplab is a "musical experiment board" that allows you to interconnect all of your electronic musical instruments and music software, and use them all together to create your music. Connections include MIDI, DIN SYNC (24ppq for legacy devices), USB, and CV/GATE. Read more and purchase the Teenage Engineering OpLab HERE.

For those using the OP-1's built in FM radio in remote areas Teenage Engineering offers an attractive antennae design to enhance reception. Read more and purchase the Teenage Engineering FM Antennae HERE.

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Be Cool, Be First: Does the Quest for Original Activation Concepts Come at the Expense of What’s Right for the Brand?
By Matt Kiernan | Aug 27th, 2015 | Real Time, sponsorship activation, Wearable tech, Internet of Everything, 3D Scanning, 3D Printing, Wearable Technology, Coca-Cola EKOCYCLE, Optus Clever Buoy, Monty's Magical Toy Machine, VB Cricket Watch

All marketers are seeking that ‘first’, that innovative use of technology that is going to garner awards and make their brand, their agency, or themselves famous. In this quest for originality,...

Rightsholders’ Sponsorship Proposals: Counting What Counts
By Chris Pinner | Aug 27th, 2015 | Rights Holders, Future of Sponsorship, Sponsorship Measurement, Sponsorship Value, Sports Sponsorship Measurement, brand sponsorship, Measurement, sponsorship contracts, rights, Rightsholder Proposal

As everyone who works client-side in sponsorship knows, rightsholders’ sponsorship proposals tend to be very generic; all about the same old rights and outputs, rather than ideas and outcomes. As...

Moving Social Media Measurement in Sponsorship from Vanity to Value
By Chris Pinner | Jul 14th, 2015 | Sponsorship, Digital marketing, Sponsorship consultants, Social Media, Digital, Social Era of Sponsorship, social sponsorship, social, Digital Innovation, Sponsorship Measurement, Sponsorship Value, Sports Sponsorship Measurement, Sports Sponsorship Effectiveness, Measurement

Closing the Telegraph’s Business of Sport article on ‘The importance of social media in sport’, Synergy CEO Tim Crow says rightsholders “need to focus less on selling price and impressions...

Valuing Rugby World Cup 2015 Sponsorship: A 5-Step Guide to Sponsorship Event Measurement
By Chris Pinner | Jul 14th, 2015 | Sponsorship, Rugby, Heineken, Rugby World Cup, Rugby sponsorship, Rugby World Cup 2015, Sponsorship Measurement, Sponsorship Evaluation, Sponsorship Metrics, Sponsorship Value, Sports Sponsorship Measurement, Sports Sponsorship Effectiveness, Measurement, Rugby sponsorship consultants

It's not long now until Rugby World Cup 2015 kicks-off and sponsors start to see a significant return on investment... …at least that's what they hope. If you already know whether their...

GertBox at this stage, i'd warmly welcome Jon Walters with a ticker-tape reception #THFC

25 mins 43 secs ago

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The World's Leading Watch Retailer 'Turns Back Time' For Daylight Saving Time

NEW YORK, Oct. 30, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- TOURNEAU, the world's leading retailer of luxury timepieces for more than a century, will turn back time this weekend in accordance with Daylight Saving Time, which takes place at 2 a.m., Sunday, November 3. At TOURNEAU, the arduous task of updating the massive watch inventory at more than 30 stores nationwide, will begin Saturday morning when close to 1,000 TOURNEAU watch professionals will change thousands of timepieces from the 100 brands carried throughout the retailer.

To celebrate the semi-annual time change, TOURNEAU invites watch owners and fans to visit the stores for a complimentary time reset and cleaning. Valuable timepieces require a skilled hand to advance time forward and certain complicated timepieces need to be reset with professional care to prevent damage.

While Daylight Saving Time is one of the busiest for watch repair, TOURNEAU strives to assist watch owners in keeping their timepieces looking sharp all year. In fact, TOURNEAU has the largest factory authorized service center in the United States and includes a fully staffed service department in every store. TOURNEAU also offers complimentary estimates for all domestic repairs.

TOURNEAU invites the media, watch owners and enthusiasts to visit any of the more than 30 store locations nationwide to witness the detailed process of "turning back time."

Established in 1900, TOURNEAU is the leading retailer of luxury watches in the United States, offering more than 100 world-famous brands, including Rolex, Patek Philippe, Cartier, Vacheron Constantin, Jaeger-Le Coultre and Breguet in more than 8,000 unique styles. The company also sells Certified Pre-Owned timepieces and watches under the TOURNEAU brand name. TOURNEAU is known for its extensive selection and unparalleled customer service.

About Daylight Saving Time
Historically, Benjamin Franklin first created the idea for Daylight Saving in 1784 in his essay "An Economical Project". The idea was not fully adopted by the U.S. until 1966, wherein the time was dictated to "spring forward" one hour at 2:00 am each spring, and "fall back" one hour each fall. Certain territories, including Hawaii, Arizona, and Alaska do not honor the time change.

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Nicole Janok
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text:
Update: Two men suffer minor injuries when bus swerves to avoid crash

Douglass Dowty | By Douglass Dowty | The Post-Standard
Email the author | Follow on Twitter
on January 25, 2008 at 5:15 PM, updated January 25, 2008 at 9:39 PM
Rural Metro medical workers transport a passenger from a Centro Bus to an ambulance after a collision on the corner South Salina Street and West Genesee Street in downtown Syracuse.

Syracuse, N.Y. -- Two men were taken to local hospitals after a Centro bus swerved to avoid a two-car crash this evening near Clinton Square in downtown Syracuse.

A black Dodge crashed into the rear driver's side of a white Chevrolet about 5 p.m. at North Salina and James streets.

A Centro bus on North Salina Street swerved to avoid the cars, causing two passengers to fall out of their seats, said Lt. Joe Cecile.

Both men were taken by ambulance to University Hospital. One complained of neck pain and the other hit his head, Cecile said.


text:
Update: Ex-Seneca County sheriff guilty of misconduct

John Stith, The Post-Standard By John Stith, The Post-Standard The Post-Standard
on August 22, 2008 at 4:05 PM, updated August 22, 2008 at 4:10 PM

Waterloo, NY -- Jurors in Seneca County Court today found former Sheriff Leo Connolly guilty on two misdemeanor charges of official misconduct.

Leo Connolly, former Seneca County sheriff

Those charges accused Connolly of attempting to retalitate against two people who had criticized him on an Internet site. He was accused of using his office to try to pin false criminal charges on those critics.

Connolly was acquitted on one other misconduct charge, and on one count each of perjury, offering a false instrument for filing and falsifying business records.

Connolly is scheduled to be sentenced Oct. 16. He remains free on bail until then.

The trial began two weeks ago. Jurors had been deliberating since Thursday afternoon.

A grand jury report last fall accused members of the sheriff's office of retaliating against civilians and co-workers, shirking their duties to watch exotic dancers, drinking on the job and running up personal expenses on the taxpayers' dime.

Four of Connolly's deputies were also charged, and his former undersheriff, James Larson, pleaded guilty to theft and misconduct charges earlier this year. Larson drew a 21-month sentence.

The case was prosecuted by Ontario County District Attorney R. Michael Tantillo, brought in as a special prosecutor. Tantillo called 30 witnesses against Connolly. The trial started two weeks ago.

Defense lawyer Robert Napier of Rochester called no witnesses, contending that prosecutors had not proven their case.


text:
Cayuga and Onondaga county fire departments responding to Sennett garage fire

Charley Hannagan | By Charley Hannagan | The Post-Standard
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on March 23, 2011 at 6:38 AM, updated March 23, 2011 at 8:27 AM

Sennett, NY -- Firefighters from Cayuga and Onondaga counties are responding this morning to a garage fire on Freeman Road in Sennett.

The call reporting a fire in an attached garage at 7709 Freeman Road came in at 6:21 a.m., according to the Cayuga County 911 center.

The Mottville and Sennett fire departments are at the scene.

We'll have more information as it becomes available.


text:
Cayuga County firefighters head downstate to help clean up after Irene

Douglass Dowty | By Douglass Dowty | The Post-Standard
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on August 28, 2011 at 9:45 AM, updated August 28, 2011 at 10:17 AM

Cayuga County, NY -- Fourteen Cayuga County fire departments are deploying to the the suburbs of New York City to help with clean up from Irene.

The storm hit New York and Long Island overnight, sending water gushing into streets and downing trees and power lines. Once a hurricane, Irene was downgraded to a tropical storm by the time it hit the state.

Cayuga's volunteer firefighters will go to Nassau and Suffolk counties, on Long Island, as well as Rockland County, west of the Hudson River. Each department will be deployed for at least 72 hours, working in 12-hour shifts.

Here are the departments and their deployments:

• Auburn, Aurelius and Owasco Fire Departments will deploy Suffolk County with swift water rescue capabilities.

• Port Byron and Locke, will each send an engine company to Suffolk County for fire-related emergencies.

• Fleming #1 will also send a truck company to Suffolk County.

• Fleming #2, Poplar Ridge, Moravia and Sempronius will deploy four storm emergency fire units to Rockland County to assist in storm-related efforts.

• Fair Haven, Weedsport, Throop and Union Springs Fire Departments will deploy four storm emergency fire units to Nassau County to assist in storm-related efforts.

Cayuga County's emergency operations center was opened overnight, and will remain open until all units have returned home, a news release stated.


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A handful of Syracuse area school districts submit teacher evaluation agreements to New York State

Maureen Nolan, The Post-Standard By Maureen Nolan, The Post-Standard The Post-Standard
on July 02, 2012 at 4:00 PM, updated July 02, 2012 at 5:00 PM

Six local school districts are among the relative few that handed in their teacher and principal evaluation agreements by noon today, according to the New York State Education Department.

Auburn, Fayetteville-Manlius, Jamesville-DeWitt, Onondaga, Solvay and Tully are among 164 districts statewide that submitted their agreements by noon, Education Commissioner John B. King Jr. said in a news release. There are roughly 697 districts around the state.

Administrators and unions in Syracuse, the biggest district in the region, were still working on their agreements early today but came to terms and submitted theirs electronically at 4:30 p.m., district spokesman Michael Henesey said.

School districts are under state orders to reach agreements with their teacher and principal unions on new systems for evaluating their job performance. King set a July 1 deadline for districts to submit their signed agreements to the state, but there is no penalty for missing that deadline.

The penalty comes later. Governor Andrew Cuomo set a deadline of Jan. 17. If a district does not have an agreement in place by then, it will forfeit an increase in state aid, Cuomo has said.

Contact Maureen Nolan at 470-2185, or @MaureenNolanPS


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Three taken to hospital after head-on collision on Wolf Street

Christopher Morin, of Big Red Towing, prepares to tow a bus that was involved in an accident Tuesday on the 1200 block of Wolf Street. Michelle Gabel | (Photo by Michelle Gabel |
Sistina Giordano | By Sistina Giordano | The Post-Standard
Follow on Twitter
on March 12, 2013 at 2:17 PM, updated March 12, 2013 at 2:51 PM

Salina, NY -- Three people were taken to hospital after a head-on collision on Wolf Street, Onondaga County sheriff's deputies said.

Around 9:45 a.m., deputies and rescue crews were called to the 1200 block of Wolf Street to investigate a head-on collision involving an A & E Transportation School bus and an SUV.

Linda A. Franks, 53, of 6004 Lisi Gardens was traveling southbound on Wolf Street in a Ford Edge SUV when she suffered from a medical condition causing her vehicle to drift into the northbound lane, deputies said.

Franks' vehicle hit a school bus driven by Shonda Page, 40, of 432 Ostrander Ave., carrying one passenger Monica Mayes, 30, of 706 Spring St., deputies said. No children were on board the bus at the time of the accident.

Franks, Page and Mayes suffered minor injuries in the collision. They were all taken to Upstate University Hospital for non-life threatening injuries.

Everyone was wearing a seat belt and no tickets were issued. An investigation is ongoing, deputies said.


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- $

The Bandit Series 700 Crankbaits feature a unique weight transfer system and nose design. The unique weight transfer feature provides improved casting and retrieval. When cast, weight is transferred to the lure's tail area – greatly reducing wind resistance as the bait "torpedoes" on longer casts. The weight then shifts to the nose on retrieval, causing the lure to dive quickly – keeping it in the deeper strike zone longer. The unique nose design enhances easy cranking and produces a tight action. All Bandit Lures are guaranteed to run true right out of the box.

Bandit Length Weight Dive Depth Class Series 700 3" 7/8oz 14-18ft. Floating
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0 Available Colors Sign up for Bandit Crankbaits news and updates.

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Customer Reviews Back to Top

Comments: another newer Bandit that just doesnt do it for me. I fished this in a farm lake where we whacked em on the DD22 and SK Series 6. Not a damn thing on the Bandit 700.

From: Meatwad: bummin on bandit

Comments: There is a reason the colors have not been updated... THEY CATCH FISH!!! try some of the colors you think you would catch fish on, and throw this bait. You will catch fish!!

From: Officer Farve

Comments: This is one of my favorite deep diving cranks.  The flat head seems to act as part of the lip, allowing the lip to not be ridiculously huge.  It has nice action and has produced some nice fish for me.  As I have written in my other "bandit" comments, I hate the color patters.  They are so plain and do not seem to have been updated since the 70's.  I like the Chart Shad, out side of that, terrible.  I will say in the 250 - some nice new patterns.  Also it seems there are other new color options in the other sizes that look good too. Update these colors and I would buy more of these.  LOVE the action - great durable lure. HATE the colors.  Spring is almost here

From: Pete: Cleveland, Ohio

***Note: If you have questions about this product or need assistance with an order please email your questions to info@tacklewarehouse.com


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The Story Behind Red Cross’s Twitter Faux Pas

This is a guest post by Wendy Harman, Director of Social Media for the American Red Cross.

wendy harman

Sean’s note: After watching the Red Cross’s perfect handling of a social media faux pas by one of their employees, I asked Wendy to write a guest post explaining how they approached the situation. It seems to me that so many social sector organizations worry about ways social media can hurt them and I’m impressed by the way the Red Cross just demonstrated that the real issue isn’t about technology, but about the attitudes of the people using it.

By Wendy Harman

Late last Tuesday night, a small slip of a finger caused a mistweet from @RedCross.

Several hundred followers of the American Red Cross Twitter account who were awake at the time immediately responded – some with wonder and laughter and others with concern.

I was not awake. My ringing phone woke me a little after midnight.  I didn’t answer but did wake up and see my blackberry had “blown up” with emails and Twitter DMs. The phone call was from Jackie Mitchell, head of Communications and Marketing at our Chicago chapter, and she had been alerted about the mistweet from @PRSarahEvans.

I deleted the mistweet and then began texting with Jackie:

  • ME: Trying to think of something funny to say to clear it up
  • JACKIE: Hmmm. Maybe “Rest assured. The Red Cross is sober and we’ve confiscated the keys.”
  • ME: Thank you – that’s good.

So, I published Jackie’s pitch-perfect idea, and then watched and responded until 4am as thousands of tweeters continued to react to this silly mistake. By morning, it was clear that the public was standing behind us, saw the humor, and embraced our response. I posted the whole story to our corporate blog once I got to work on Wednesday morning, and the rest is history – it was already a viral story and many people actually found the mistake and response charming enough to pledge donations to the Red Cross because of it.

Before Tuesday evening I had been a casual fan of the mistweet. I’ll admit it – I have found it hilarious when stuffy corporations and Congressmen make this mistake.  I’ve watched a handful of them and each time their stuffy response seems to fan the flame of humiliation. So, I knew the stuffy answer wasn’t the right answer.

Prior to taking this job I was a plain old member of the blogging community (that’s all we had then), so I try to always put myself back in the shoes of the social community as I go about my duties. If I were outside of the organization, I’d find this gaffe hilarious, not because I wish harm on the Red Cross or because I think their services were hindered, but for the same reason I might chuckle if a friend trips on a crack in the sidewalk. It’s unexpected and therefore fundamentally funny to see a normally quite serious humanitarian organization tweet about craft beer using the lyrics to a popular song.  So, my immediate thought when I saw our mistweet was to address it with an equally unexpected reaction – lighthearted humor and acknowledgement.  After all, this wasn’t a purposeful message gone wrong and it wasn’t about the mission of our organization. Our Twitter account just tripped on the sidewalk, and instead of throwing a temper tantrum about tripping, we acted like any self-aware person would: we dusted ourselves off, looked around to acknowledge the trip with those who caught it, and had a chuckle with them. Our response to the mistweet assured those initially concerned that we were not injured – i.e. that nothing had changed about our ability to continue as the premier humanitarian organization we are – and that it was ok to laugh at this anomaly and maybe even identify with and empathize with our humanity a little bit more than before.

Every time I see a nonprofit or company using social tools, my brain reminds me that there’s no such being as nonprofits and companies – there’s only a network of people doing work under the same name with the same goals. Social media belongs to real humans doing a very human activity – connecting with one another over shared interests. We’re honored that our mission can serve as a shared interest and that our community allows us to be part of their conversations and activities.  In turn, our goal as an entity is to provide value and to empower people to get help and give help with these tools.

One Comment

  1. Louise says:

    I, too, like to see the humans underneath a corporate account and then cut them some slack.

    One of my favorite twitter accounts is a shoe manufacturer that tweets really, really, REALLY bad limericks, @NaotUSA. Who says social media has to be stuffy?


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 Taekwondo - Uniting the World through Martial Arts

Become a Correspondent
- TaeKwonDo Times Wants You! -

We need correspondents to send us global news on tournaments, seminars, and events around the world. Our magazine seeks articles and essays from martial artists everywhere to publish in our international magazine and online at www.taekwondotimes.com. Becoming a correspondent offers you great benefits, giving you press access into tournaments, seminars, and more. To learn more about becoming a correspondent for our magazine, visit www.taekwondotimes.com and download a correspondent application!
In addition to your resume & passport photo, please also send two character references contact information, including name, address, email, and phone number.

Click to download Correspondent pdf
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text:
Sony prices PS4 below Xbox One

NO HOLDS BARRED:：Sony drew cheers at the E3 expo when it said the PlayStation 4 did not require an always-on Internet connection and would run second-hand games

Wed, Jun 12, 2013 - Page 15

Sony Corp on Monday priced its latest PlayStation 4 (PS4) console US$100 lower than the new Xbox One by rival Microsoft Corp as competition for gamers’ pockets intensifies ahead of the year-end holidays and gift-giving season.

Sony said it would sell the latest PlayStation model for US$399 late in the year shortly after Microsoft announced a US$499 price tag for its first new Xbox in eight years and said it would go on sale in the US in November.

Sony also drew cheers from the audience at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) in Los Angeles, California, when it said the PS4 would run second-hand games and did not require an always-on Internet connection.

Microsoft had earlier elicited groans from video game players when it announced restrictions on used games for the Xbox One and said players had to log onto the Internet for authentication.

“The PlayStation 4 won’t impose any new restrictions on used games,” Sony Computer Entertainment America president and CEO Jack Tretton said, as the audience whistled and applauded.

Microsoft and Sony hope the consoles will attract new fans and retain users who are increasingly playing games on smartphones and other mobile devices, gradually eroding the US$66 billion video game business. Both firms are also offering more entertainment options.

The Xbox 360 is currently the best-selling gaming console in the US, but global sales are almost on par with the PlayStation 3. The new Xbox and PlayStation are both pricier than the US$300 Wii U that Nintendo Co Ltd launched late last year, but which has sold poorly, partly because of a dearth of new gaming titles.

Nintendo was expected to announce new games for the device at the E3 yesterday.

Sony did not give details about original programming content for the PS4, but said new game titles would include Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag by Ubisoft and Kingdom Hearts III by Disney Interactive Studios and Square Enix Holdings Co Ltd.

“It’s a very compelling price ... given the entertainment PS4 will provide to gamers,” Sony Computer Entertainment president and CEO Andrew House told the E3 event.

The Xbox One is costlier than the current Xbox 360 and includes a Kinect motion sensor for hands-free game playing. Microsoft also announced several exclusive game titles, including a rendition of Minecraft and a new installment in the popular Halo franchise, which will be released next year.

The device will go on sale in 21 countries, including Britain, before the year-end holidays, the company said. Yusuf Mehdi, an executive at Microsoft’s interactive entertainment unit, did not set any sales targets for the new Xbox.


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Fri, Oct 04, 2013 - Page 8

The reunification issue

On Tuesday, the Chinese Communist Party celebrated the anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China (PRC). For some of its spectators, the anniversary marks the victorious conclusion brought about by Mao Zedong (毛澤東) during the vicious civil war fought more than 60 years ago. However, for many other viewers, the anniversary is a stark and unfortunate reminder of the ousting of Chiang Kai-shek (蔣介石) and his supporters as they relocated to Taiwan. In light of the celebrations, the overarching question of reunification between China and Taiwan lingers.

The 64th anniversary of the PRC is a celebration of Mao and his accomplishments. Immediately after Mao established his government, he set out to reunify China. However, Mao was stymied by then-US president Harry Truman who ordered the US Seventh Fleet to the Taiwan Strait — halting Mao’s plan of an amphibious assault on Taiwan. Decades later, as Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) stood solemnly on the famed Tiananmen Square acknowledging the past accomplishments of the victorious revolutionary deeds of Mao, Taiwan remains a democratic and independent nation, a sobering reminder of Mao’s failure.

Even as steps are taken to resolve one of the most contentious legacies left by Mao, many still have mixed emotions regarding reunification. Heated debates abound over the most significant bilateral accord since the landmark Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) — the service trade agreement which would allow each side to invest in each other’s service sectors.

Democratic Progressive Party lawmakers, who represent a significant number of the population, earlier last month sought to boycott a review of the service trade agreement. The party’s concern is that the agreement — which some observers view as China’s carrot-style approach toward reunification — may have an adverse effect on the local job market. A concern not without merit, it highlights anxieties over steps toward reunification.

Perhaps a more striking example of how reunification remains a pertinent issue can be seen in a piece penned by former American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) chairman Nat Bellocchi. In the opinion piece published on Monday (“Beijing threatens freedom in Taiwan, Sept. 30, page 8), the former AIT chairman argues that Xi is engaged in ideological warfare, seeking to eradicate Western values and is a threat to the freedom of Taiwan.

Whether the Chinese president is actually engaged in ideological warfare lies outside the scope of this discussion. However, that discourse surrounding Taiwan’s reunification with China and its implications continues to emerge as a constant theme is evident.

Chinese leadership will continue to seek new ways in which to resolve one of Mao’s most contentious legacies. Conversely, people in Taiwan — many of whom identify themselves as Taiwanese — will seek to secure their ethnic identity, traditions, customs and political values. Succinctly stated, reunification between China and Taiwan is far from devolving into an inconsequential relic of the Cold War. The issue lingers to this day.

Mycal Ford

Greater Kaohsiung

Stop cruel rabies tests

I am writing to ask that the Council of Agriculture halt plans to give rabies to beagle puppies. The proposed experiments are cruel and unnecessary. Rabies research can and should be conducted without harming animals.

If the experiments go ahead, these unfortunate animals will have to endure the severe effects of the rabies virus, which include anxiety, confusion, painful muscle spasms, paralysis and death. Instead, the council should be working to determine whether current rabies vaccines are also protective against this strain of the virus.

Non-animal laboratory procedures can address this issue quickly, without killing any animals.

Please end plans for these cruel experiments on puppies.

Mme Rousseaud


text:
 DPP membership falling - Taipei Times
Tue, Feb 01, 2011 - Page 3　News List

DPP membership falling

EXODUS:Since Tsai Ing-wen became party chairperson, DPP rosters have fallen from 484,000 to about 148,000, mostly because of a crackdown on ‘phantom members’

By Vincent Y. Chao  /  Staff Reporter

The number of registered members of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) is falling to record lows this year, raising serious financial worries for the party, local party officials said yesterday.

Membership at the DPP’s Taipei, Greater Tainan and Greater Kaohsiung chapters — three of its largest — would drop 90 percent from last year when the final numbers are released later this month, they said.

By yesterday’s midnight deadline, only about 3,500 party members, or about one-tenth of registered members, had paid their party dues, DPP Tainan branch director Tsai Wan-chuan (蔡旺詮) said.

In Taipei, chapter director Chuang Ruei-hsiung (莊瑞雄) said only 4,300 had paid the NT$300 fee, about 11 percent of the total number registered. Similar stories were being reported in Greater Kaohsiung and New Taipei City (新北市).

The trend, if replicated in the party’s other local chapters nationwide, would mean that overall DPP membership could drop to its lowest in two decades, down from a high of 544,000 in 2006.

The drop in membership rosters is the latest in a five-year-trend that began in 2006, when former chairperson Lin I-hsiung (林義雄) resigned from the party and former president Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) became embroiled in financial scandals.

The development was confirmed by DPP spokesperson Cheng Wen-tsang (鄭文燦), who said the Jan. 22 decision to remove members’ votes in the party’s nomination mechanism played a part.

However, he said the party had looked at both sides of the issue when it made the decision and denied the decrease in members would undermine the DPP’s image, especially as it heads into the presidential election.

DPP lawmakers told the Taipei Times they did not find the trend “too alarming,” as the reforms “were legitimate.”

“The people who believe in the party will continue to do so,” DPP Legislator Chen Chieh-ju (陳節如) said.

Since DPP Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen’s (蔡英文) election to the post in 2008, party rosters have dropped from 484,000 to about 148,000, mostly as a result of crackdowns on “phantom members,” party sources said.

The DPP has not published exact membership numbers since 2009.

Phantom members, or people who are signed up by politicians to manipulate the primaries, were also the reason why the DPP congress voted on Jan. 22 to eliminate the party member vote in favor of solely using telephone polls in the nominations.

The backlash has nevertheless been strong, especially among grassroots members, party -officials said, as party members are unhappy with losing their vote.

“I think there is a growing distance between the party and our base supporters … which is at least partly responsible for the declining numbers [in Tainan],” Tsai Wan-chuan said.

As a result, local chapters have been forced to think of new ways to raise money, Tsai Wan-chuan said.

DPP officials said they did not expect the final numbers to be compiled until after the Lunar New Year holidays, as the dues are paid via convenience stores and bank transfers.

Tsai Chi-chang (蔡其昌), another DPP spokesperson, was more optimistic, saying the party would likely rebound next year, when more members accept the revisions and sign up to vote in the local delegate elections.

Meanwhile, former DPP Presidential Office secretary-general Chen Shih-meng (陳師孟) launched a challenge to the nomination revisions, calling on an independent arbitration committee to determine whether it violated the party charter.

This story has been viewed 2586 times.

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 Super PACs now bigger than the candidates in US - Taipei Times
Wed, Feb 22, 2012 - Page 7　News List

Super PACs now bigger than the candidates in US

SCARY NUMBERS:Super PACs and other groups had to disclose how much they raised and the identities of their donors in reports filed with the FEC on Monday

AP, Washington

An unmistakable dynamic is playing out in the money game among US Republican presidential candidates: New “super” political action committees (PACS) are growing more powerful than the campaigns they support.

For two of the Republican front-runners, their supportive super PACs raised more money and have more cash left in the bank than the candidates’ own campaigns. Helping their efforts are major financial gifts from wealthy business executives, whose contributions can be essential to the groups’ continued operations.

Mitt Romney-leaning Restore Our Future and Newt Gingrich-supportive Winning Our Future raised a combined US$17 million last month and spent nearly US$24 million during that same period. That financial strength allowed the groups to splash the airwaves in key primary states with millions of dollars in TV ads.

The proliferation of new super PACs continues to underscore how the groups, which can raise and spend unlimited sums, are influencing the race.

The groups’ fundraising last month offers a periodic behind-the-scenes glimpse into the identities of the rich supporters who will help elect the next president, along with details on how the millions of dollars they donated have been spent.

Restore Our Future, which had US$16 million cash on hand, has been boosted by more than two dozen repeat donors. Winning Our Future, which had US$2.4 million in the bank, is largely supported by casino mogul Sheldon Adelson and his wife.

Meanwhile, Romney’s presidential campaign raised US$6.5 million last month and had US$7.7 million left over for his presidential bid, while Gingrich’s campaign raised US$5.5 million during the same period and had about US$1.8 million in cash remaining.

The super PACs, as well as other groups supporting other candidates and the individual campaigns, were required to disclose how much they raised and the identities of their donors in reports filed with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) by midnight on Monday.

Those reports provided a snapshot of fundraising for US President Barack Obama’s early campaign and for Republican candidates as they battled during important primary elections last month.

During the month, Republican candidates Gingrich and Rick Santorum had briefly surged ahead of Romney, but trailed the former Massachusetts governor in fundraising. Since then, Santorum, a former Pennsylvania senator, has climbed remarkably in polls while Gingrich’s support has eroded just as stunningly following the former House of Representatives speaker’s disappointing showing in Florida’s primary.

Restore Our Future has been a boon for Romney, who has benefited greatly from the group’s TV ads attacking Gingrich in particular. Such ads were purchased thanks to the financial help of repeat donors, including Marriott International chairman J.W. Marriott Jr, who has given the super PAC US$750,000 to date.

The super PAC also reported new donors, including Hewlett-Packard chief executive Meg Whitman. Romney mentored Whitman, recently an unsuccessful candidate for California governor, during the 1980s at Boston-based Bain & Co, the private equity firm Romney headed.

Whitman’s US$100,000 check to Restore Our Future came days after she joined Romney at a celebration of his victory in the New Hampshire primary.

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text:
 Sexual harassment suit against Prada dismissed - Taipei Times
Sun, Oct 28, 2012 - Page 4　News List

Sexual harassment suit against Prada dismissed

PRADA SUES FOR DEFAMATION:Rina Bovrisse told the ‘Japan Times’ the company had described female workers as ‘aged, ugly, fat, bad teeth, disgusting and not cute’

A Japanese court dismissed a sexual harassment and unfair dismissal suit against fashion house Prada after management told a female worker to lose weight and keep in shape.

Rina Bovrisse, 38, who also claimed a Prada human resources manager had branded her “ugly,” said she would appeal the case and that the ruling by a female judge at Tokyo District Court was unacceptable.

Bovrisse was demanding that Prada pay her ￥58 million (US$728,000) for emotional distress.

“This decision by the judge allows sexually harassing comment to be made at the workplace, like ‘you must lose weight,’” she told local journalists on Friday, after the case had finished.

“In a word, my impression about the ruling is that this is preposterous,” she said.

Bovrisse, a Japanese national married to a Frenchman, alleged that Prada Japan had pressured a number of female employees into resigning by describing them as “aged, ugly, fat, bad body shape, bad teeth, disgusting and not cute.”

According to Bovrisse, the firm told her through a human resources manager to change her hairstyle, lose weight and ensure that she fits the “Prada look.”

Prada officials had admitted having asked her to lose weight and told her that as a senior retail manager overseeing 40 stores in Japan and two in Guam and Saipan, keeping in shape was essential, the Japan Times reported.

Presiding judge Ayako Morioka, however, dismissed the case saying that Bovrisse had failed to establish her claim that the fashion house had called her “ugly.”

Rather, the judge said, the firm had the right to dismiss her as she may have damaged the brand’s image by telling the media that the company had called her ugly.

Prada has a pending countersuit against Bovrisse, claiming defamation.

“There was no rationale to believe the core of the information [that she gave to the Japan Times in 2010] was true,” the judge said.

The court acknowledged that the human resources manager had told her the firm wished her to lose weight, but, while the comment was inconsiderate, it should not have caused distress so severe that warranted the seeking of compensation, the judge ruled.

The Japan Times, the nation’s main English-language newspaper, said yesterday it had published an article in March 2010 on Bovrisse’s claims.

After the ruling, Bovrisse told reporters that the judge in June had yelled at her and promised to rule against her, when she declined the court’s recommendation to settle the matter out of the court, the Japan Times said.

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Barea, Ibaka interested in ACB in case lockout persists

Puerto Rican international star JJ Barea revealed that he has ACB in his mind in case the lock out drags for a long time.

According to one of the player’s quotes: “I guess my plan B would be Spain.” Barea would only consider playing in Spain, but stressed out that he hopes it doesn’t have to come to that.

In any case, Barea would be a perfect match for ACB as he has always excelled in FIBA competitions.

Another player who said he would consider a return to ACB is Serge Ibaka who started his career there.

As the, soon to be, Spanish international stated to ACB website: “If there is a lockout, and there are not many complications to play in ACB, I would return (to Manresa) to play.” said Ibaka and went on to say “I would prefer to play to stay in shape rather than stay idle.”

Some days ago Andrei Kirilenko also stated his wish to play in ACB.


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/// Netflix Renews ‘Orange is the New Black’ Before Season One Debut

June 28, 2013  |  Variety

In a serious showing of confidence in the program, Netflix has renewed dramedy “Orange is the New Black” for a second season before the first has even bowed on the streaming platform. “Jenji and her team have produced a phenomenal series and we’re eager to get a second season to our viewers,” said Cindy Holland,… Read more

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Event | 2011 Boryeong Mud Festival | 23rd July 2011

Have you heard of the Boryeong Mud Festival (보령 머드 축제) in Korea? The Boryeong Mud Festival is an annual festival that the city of Boryeong hosts during the summer and the festival has attracted over 2 million visitors to Boryeong so far. It’s a fun event, and we, the TalkToMeInKorean staff, are going to go there on the 23rd of July, 2011 as well! We’ve prepared a round trip bus for you, so we hope some of our listeners can accompany us to Boryeong!

1. Date: July 23rd (Sat), 2011

2. Maxium number of participants: 14 people
We will close RSVP when the first 14 people pay their participation fee.

3. Participation fee: 10,000 won (transportation + lunch + water: all included)
– Round trip transportation by coach (between Seoul and Boryeong)
– Lunch box
– Water

4. The fee doesn’t include: shower, locker, personal expenses (for using water sports or some special facilities), traveler’s insurance

5. You will need : swim suit and extra clothes (Please note that your swim suit or clothes can be disclored.) + toiletries + sun block

6. RSVP in the event page and wire your fee to:

Korean Back Account: (10,000 won)
– Bank: 우리은행 (Woori Bank)
– Acct Holder: 김현정 (Hyeonjeong Kim)
– Acct No.: 1002-136-381314

PayPal: (10 US dollars)
[email protected]

7. This is a single-day trip.
Participants will meet at 6:50 AM at exit #3 of Jonggak Station in Seoul and arrive back in Seoul at 8:20 PM.

Please note that
1. Since the bus driver will lock up the bus and won’t be around, it’s recommended to use a locker (KRW 500~5,000) rather than putting your stuff in the bus.
2. Using the shower facility will cost you 2,000 won. But if you want to use hot water, it will cost you 5,000 won.

Click here and check out more pictures from the Festival!

Looking forward to traveling with you!

  • 乨奕

    온재 재가 한국에 온 것입니다 …

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Pauline-Lim/741795374 Pauline Lim

    아 내 이름 보령이다!ㅋㅋ
    말레이시아에 있는 보령이는 보령에 가지 못해서 너무 아까워요!ㅋㅋㅋ
    다음에 꼭 한국보령에 가보고 싶어요!

    다들 재밌게 놀어세요!^^

  • Andy

    oh no!! I’m going on the 16th July!! I return to the UK on the 23rd!! My korean is very poor. Have fun at the festival :)

  • Mollye

    It looks totally AWESOME! Something else i’ll do one day ^^


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More thrills with midway discounts at the 2011 Iowa State Fair

July 19, 2011
Toledo Chronicle, Tama News-Herald
DES MOINES -"Nothing Compares" to the heart-stopping thrill rides and entertainment on the Midway at the 2011 Iowa State Fair. With a variety of amusement savings packages, Fairgoers can enjoy even more rides. The Fair is set August 11-21.

Fairgoers can save big at the Midway by planning ahead for this year's Fair. Purchase a set of five Midway tickets for $13; each ticket is good for one ride. For an even bigger day of Midway excitement, purchase a Mega Pass wristband for just $25. It includes unlimited mechanical rides any one Fair day from open to close, including weekends. These Midway special savings must be purchased by August 10 and are available while supplies last at <> or the Iowa State Fair Ticket Office, as well as statewide Walgreens and Des Moines area Hy-Vee stores.

The Iowa State Fair welcomes back Belle City Amusements for 11 days of twists, turns and thrills that are guaranteed to delight Fairgoers of all ages. Experience a view of the entire midway with 6-8 of your closest friends while 100 feet above the ground at the top of the Giant Wheel. "Nothing Compares" to the kid-friendly rides at the Fair. Young Fairgoers can experience age-appropriate thrills on two mini coasters, take a spinning carousel ride, soar through the air on the Yo-Yo Swings and more.

For more heart-pounding entertainment, try the thrill rides in their new location, west of the Varied Industries Building. New this year, the Area 51-Scare Zone will be on site to test Fairgoers level of thrill. The haunted attraction will send Fairgoers into a neon-green trailer for a variety of amusement and freights while inside. The Crazy Mouse rollercoaster returns sending riders speeding down a zig-zagging track while simultaneously spinning each car around in a complete circle. Fairgoers' thrills will reach new heights with the other returning rides Sky Scraper, Ejection Seat, Turbo Trampoline and Climbing Experience. Ride costs may vary.

"Nothing Compares" to the Iowa State Fair set August 11-21, 2011. For more information, call 800/545-FAIR or visit <> .

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2010 grows more difficult for Democrats

In the Senate, even Democrats Christopher Dodd, left, of Connecticut and Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada are considered vulnerable to GOP challengers in their states.

Associated Press

In the Senate, even Democrats Christopher Dodd, left, of Connecticut and Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada are considered vulnerable to GOP challengers in their states.

WASHINGTON — An already difficult situation for Democrats in Congress is worsening as the 2010 political season opens.

To minimize expected losses in next fall's election, President Barack Obama's party is testing a line of attack that resurrects George W. Bush as a bogeyman and castigates Republicans as cozy with Wall Street.

Four House Democrats from swing districts have recently chosen not to seek re-election, bringing to 11 the number of retirements that could leave Democratic-held seats vulnerable to Republicans. More Democratic retirements are expected.

Over the holiday break, another Democrat, freshman Rep. Parker Griffith of Alabama, defected to the GOP. "I can no longer align myself with a party that continues to pursue legislation that is bad for our country, hurts our economy, and drives us further and further into debt," said Griffith.

In the Senate, at least four Democrats — including Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada and five-term Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd — are in serious trouble. The party could also lose its grip on seats Obama held in Illinois and Vice President Joe Biden long occupied in Delaware.

Going into 2010, Democrats hold a comfortable majority in the House and an effective 60-40 majority in the Senate, including two independents who align themselves with Democrats.

But they face an incumbent-hostile electorate worried about a 10 percent unemployment rate, weary of wars and angry at politicians of all stripes. Many independents who backed Democrats in 2006 and 2008 have turned away. Republicans, meanwhile, are energized and united in opposing Obama's policies.

The one thing that heartens Democrats is that voters also don't think much of the GOP, which is bleeding backers, lacking a leader and facing a conservative revolt.

House Democrats began an ad campaign in December assailing Republicans for opposing legislation restructuring federal financial rules and recalling the final days of the Bush presidency, when the economy tanked.

"Remember? We all know we should never let this happen again," the ad says.

A top Democratic priority is minimizing losses among nearly four dozen seats the party now holds from moderate-to-conservative districts that Republican John McCain won in the 2008 presidential race.

The most vulnerable in that group include Democratic Reps. Mary Jo Kilroy in Ohio, Harry Teague in New Mexico, Frank Kratovil in Maryland, Tom Perriello in Virginia and Travis Childers in Mississippi.

Reps. Bart Gordon and John Tanner, both of Tennessee, were in that group until they chose to retire. So was Griffith, before he switched to the GOP. Retirement announcements from Reps. Dennis Moore of Kansas and Brian Baird of Washington put two more Democratic seats in swing-voting districts on the GOP's target list.

Democrats insist that Gordon, Tanner, Moore and Baird are leaving for personal reasons and are not the first ripple in a wave of retirements akin to 1994 when 28 Democrats chose not to run, and Republicans won control in part by winning 22 of those seats.

Republicans don't agree.

"Democrats are beginning to see the writing on the wall, and instead of choosing to fight in a difficult political environment, they are taking a pass and opting for retirement," said Ken Spain, a spokesman for the House GOP's campaign arm.

The GOP will be defending at least a dozen open seats because of retirements, with several lawmakers leaving the House to run for higher office.

The situation for Democrats in the Senate is nearly as grim.

Democrats crowed after six Senate Republicans — four from swing states Florida, Ohio, Missouri and New Hampshire and two from GOP-leaning Kansas and Kentucky — announced retirements.

Spirited GOP challenges are now expected in all six states, and Republicans say they are optimistic they can retain the seats.

Reid, who is seeking a fifth term, is faring poorly in surveys in a hypothetical matchup with Nevada GOP chairwoman Sue Lowden, one of several Republicans competing for a chance to challenge him.

Dodd, the Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee chairman who has taken heat for a discounted VIP mortgage loan he got from a subprime lender, has been consistently behind potential GOP challenger Rob Simmons in Connecticut polls.

2010 grows more difficult for Democrats 01/02/10 [Last modified: Saturday, January 2, 2010 10:04pm]
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Health line

Briefs: Pomegranates, tomatoes, dark chocolate and tea may protect skin

Protect skin from sun: grocery shop

Dr. John La Puma suggests protecting your skin from the sun by ingesting pomegranates, tomatoes, dark chocolate and tea. On, the author of ChefMD's Big Book of Culinary Medicine notes that the antioxidants in those foods "can migrate to upper layers of your skin, bolstering resistance to ultraviolet damage." But you still need to use sunscreen with an SPF rating of at least 15 to protect you from UVA and UVB rays.

Poll: Most favor death to disability

About 52 percent of Americans say they would rather die than live with a severe disability, according to a survey commissioned by, a Web site to improve how people with disabilities live. The survey asked, "Which would you choose: Living with a severe disability that forever alters your ability to live an independent life, or death?" According to the survey, 63 percent of people age 35 to 44 chose death over severe disability, versus 50 percent of people age 55 to 64 and 56 percent of those 65 and older.

Sound may help limit bone breaks

Researchers are borrowing from the study of earthquakes and seismology to develop a monitoring system that uses sound waves to check for tiny cracks that form in bones and can lead to stress fractures. The technology could prove valuable in protecting soldiers, athletes, dancers and the elderly from stress fractures in their feet, legs and hips.

Memory loss, fatty diet are linked

Researchers from medical schools in South Carolina and Arizona have linked memory loss to a diet high in saturated fat and cholesterol, which in other studies has led to high obesity rates. This memory loss is associated with inflammation in the brain. The study suggests that as humans age, memory may be preserved and brain functions improved by restricting that type of diet.

Prehypertension predicts later woes

Prehypertension during young adulthood is common and is associated with coronary atherosclerosis, according to researchers from the University of California, San Francisco. They analyzed blood pressure measurements of 3,560 adults ages 18 to 30 over the course of 20 years. Nearly 20 percent developed prehypertension (systolic blood pressure measurement of 120 to 139 mmHg, or diastolic blood pressure 80 to 89 mmHg). Young adults with prehypertension were more likely than those with lower pressure to have calcium in their coronary arteries later in life. Coronary calcium is a marker of atherosclerosis — commonly, hardening of the arteries — a predictor of heart attacks and strokes.

Compiled from Times staff, wires

Briefs: Pomegranates, tomatoes, dark chocolate and tea may protect skin 07/21/08 [Last modified: Monday, November 1, 2010 4:33pm]
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Autism rates rise and disorder now affects 1 in 88 children, CDC says

Federal health authorities have significantly raised their estimate of the prevalence of autism in children, concluding in a new study of 8-year-olds that 1 in 88 has some form of the disorder.

The analysis, based on a review of tens of thousands of health and school records in 14 states, was released Thursday by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It is the latest in a series of studies showing autism rates climbing dramatically over the last decade. The previous estimate was 1 in 110.

While the new numbers are sure to fuel debate over whether a growing environmental threat is at work, researchers said the data suggest that rising awareness of the disorder, better detection and improved access to services can explain much of the increase, and perhaps all of it.

Dr. Daniel Geschwind, an autism expert at the University of California at Los Angeles, said he was initially surprised by the size of the increase — 25 percent in just two years.

"But when I looked at what seems to be driving it, it made total sense," he said.

He and other experts said vast differences in the rates among states included in the study are almost certainly a reflection of social and cultural factors that influence who gets a diagnosis.

"Public awareness has gone up and case identification has gotten better," said Dr. Young-Shin Kim, an autism expert at Yale University.

Nobody knows what causes autism, and there is no blood test, brain scan or other biological marker. It is diagnosed by its symptoms — social and communication difficulties starting in early childhood as well as repetitive behaviors or abnormally intense interests.

Autism rates have exploded since the 1990s as the definition expanded to include milder cases, efforts to identify the disorder intensified and publicly funded services became more widely available.

In response to rising public concern, the CDC set up a network of surveillance sites across the country. Researchers did not examine any children but instead periodically scoured health and special education records of hundreds of thousands of 8-year-olds in search of the signs of autism or an actual diagnosis.

In its first analysis, using data from 2000, it estimated that 1 in 150 children had some form of the disorder. By 2006 it was 1 in 110.

The latest estimate of 1 in 88, based on 2008 data, is already being touted as evidence that autism is an epidemic and that something in the environment is driving it.

"Autism is now officially becoming an epidemic in the United States," said Mark Roithmayr, president of the advocacy group Autism Speaks, who used the occasion to call for more government funding for research and treatment.

In all, the CDC identified 3,820 children as having some form of autism, out of 337,093 children in its surveillance area.

Though the overall rate was 1 in 88, it varied considerably among the 14 sites, from 1 in 47 in Utah to 1 in 208 in Alabama. The rates also varied by race, with prevalence at 1 in 127 for Hispanics, 1 in 98 for blacks and 1 in 83 for whites.

Such differences have long been a feature of the CDC numbers. The latest numbers, however, show the geographic and racial gaps narrowing.

Prevalence studies that rely on records are inherently limited, said Kim, the Yale autism expert.

In a study published last year, her research team attempted to screen all 55,000 children in a suburb of Seoul, South Korea, and found that 1 in 38 met the current definition for some form of autism.

Two-thirds had never been identified with autism or any other disability and, though they often struggled socially, they were in regular classrooms.

Had the researchers used the CDC methodology, Young-Shin said, they would have missed all of those cases.

Young-Shin and many other researchers see the boom in diagnosis as a positive step, a chance to bring help to children who would have been missed in the past.

But the Korea study also served as evidence for some researchers that the definition left too much room for interpretation.

Autism rates rise and disorder now affects 1 in 88 children, CDC says 03/29/12 [Last modified: Thursday, March 29, 2012 10:10pm]
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Florida Governor Scott wants 'competitive environment' for cancer treatment, including at Tampa's Moffitt

In a move that could have large implications for the state's scientific research centers, Gov. Rick Scott has sent strongly worded letters to the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research and two other cancer research facilities warning them they can't make money from expanding their brands if they want to continue to receive state funds.

Scott's letters to Tampa's H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, the University of Miami's Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center and the Shands Cancer Hospital in Gainesville say that organizations receiving state biomedical research funds "may not franchise their name or brand to other private entities" and "may not receive royalties or other remuneration from other entities in exchange for use of their name or brand."

The letters are part of Scott's larger goal to create a statewide funding policy for cancer research centers, Scott spokesman Lane Wright said in an email. The letters, dated May 10, note that Sylvester and Shands each received $7.5 million from the Legislature this fiscal year. Moffitt received $5 million.

A former chief executive of the for-profit HCA hospital chain, Scott has previously expressed concerns that government-owned hospitals have unfair advantages over for-profit and nonprofit hospitals.

The letters extend this concern to nonprofit cancer research centers. Scott told the facilities that he wanted "a robust and competitive environment" in the area of cancer treatments and "a fair and balanced playing field for all institutions."

As "requirements" for future funding, Scott gave three conditions: not franchising the center's name, not receiving royalties for such branding and reporting any partnership to the Department of Health.

When contacted about the letter by the Miami Herald, the cancer centers responded cautiously. UM said it "is deeply grateful for Gov. Scott's commitment to cancer research and treatment. We look forward to joining the state's other cancer centers in working with the governor to improve cancer care for all Floridians."

Shands officials said they have had a "positive discussion" with Scott's staff and "are continuing to work toward our common goal of making Florida a destination for the latest in cancer research and care."

Moffitt officials said they look forward to meeting with the governor, adding: "As the only Florida-based National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center we have a unique role to reach out to doctors, hospitals and health organizations around the state to fulfill our legislative intent to serve as a statewide research institute and to perform a statewide function."

Most state health care experts generally consider Moffitt the most aggressive of the three in expanding its Tampa base. In South Florida, Moffitt has alliances with Broward Health and Baptist Health South Florida.

A spokeswoman for Broward Health, the public hospital system in northern Broward County, said the hospitals pay Moffitt a fee that "covers things such as access to expert clinicians and a wide variety of sub-specialists and opportunities for partnerships on educational offerings. Broward Health does not pay them for branding or franchising."

Baptist spokeswoman Amanda Gonzalez said the South Miami-Dade system participates in Moffitt's Total Cancer Care Program "for research, but do not have any sort of paid licensing agreement."

Florida Governor Scott wants 'competitive environment' for cancer treatment, including at Tampa's Moffitt 07/09/12 [Last modified: Monday, July 9, 2012 10:21pm]
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Bucs Q&A with Glazer

PHOENIX — Ten years ago, the Bucs were fresh off their Super Bowl XXXVII victory over the Raiders when the NFL owners meetings convened at the Arizona Biltmore.

It was a time for back slaps, toasts and clinking glasses. But a decade has passed, and the Bucs have not tasted another playoff victory. They are still wandering the proverbial desert, a five-year postseason drought that for their fans has been as hard to swallow as sand.

Team co-chairman Joel Glazer was back at the scene of his prime Tuesday, seated on a patio at the Biltmore, but with a very different outlook.

"I don't know how to describe how it feels," Glazer said of the five-year playoff absence. "It rips you apart on the inside. Every fan feels that way."

For 30 minutes he talked about the Bucs, from the first year of coach Greg Schiano to the decision not to offer quarterback Josh Freeman a contract extension.

As has been the case in the past, Glazer said ownership takes full responsibility for the Bucs' lack of success and slumping attendance that has led to local TV blackouts of home games.

"There's no question we have to take responsibility," Glazer said. "Not being in the playoffs for five years, there's no question that is a contributing factor. So we have to get it right on the field, and we're committed to doing that and determined to doing that, and I'm optimistic about this upcoming season. I feel good about our football team."

Here are excerpts from the interview:

What do you think of the Bucs' performance (7-9) in the first year under Schiano?

We had our ups, and we had our downs, but overall I was pleased with Greg in his first year. He came in, had to put together an entire staff, had to make an adjustment going from college to the NFL. Then, boom, right into free agency, right into the draft, not a lot of time to settle down. But I think he did a tremendous job with the players, earning the respect of people around him, working well with (GM Mark Dominik) and then getting into the season. When the season ended, I was excited about getting to the next season right (away) as I've been in a long time.

Do you believe Josh Freeman is a franchise QB, and if so, why haven't you begun negotiating an extension?

The headline is it's his last year on his contract, but it's not that simple … and there are options. You saw with the Ravens (and QB Joe Flacco), it all worked out for them (Flacco signed an extension after winning the Super Bowl in February). You've seen (extensions) done too early, too late. … I think the important thing is that Josh is focused about what happens on the field. … We have a lot of confidence in Josh Freeman.

Is there added pressure on Dominik to win this year?

No one can't stand not winning more than myself or any member of my family. Then when you look at the situation, everybody is getting judged every year. I go into the (owners) meetings and there are eight or nine new head coaches. It's a demanding business, and the patience is small, at best, these days in the National Football League. We're no different. I think people in our organization put that same pressure on themselves.

You've mentioned the economy as a reason Raymond James Stadium doesn't sell out. How much of it can be attributed to losing?

Do we take responsibility? Absolutely. We also take the responsibility to fix it and put it on the right course and deliver another championship. That's what we're dedicated to do.

Do you support bold moves by Dominik and Schiano to pursue Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis?

Our view always is, if you can do something to make the team better, we're supportive. The circumstances, what you're giving up for the future, those are all factors. If there's something our coach and our general manager think it would be wise for the franchise, no matter who it is, we're always going to be open and supportive because our goal is winning.

What do you make of the poor attendance that led to blackouts?

We've got great fans in the area. The economy is still difficult. That hasn't changed overnight. … It's incumbent upon us to put a team on the field this community can be proud of, and they will respond. I have no doubt.

How concerned are you about the litigation by former players involving concussions?

The health and safety of our players and throughout football is paramount. We're doing everything we can. We're spending a lot of time in every meeting talking about what can be done to make the game safer.

How is your father, Malcolm? (He had a stroke in 2006.)

He's a tremendous person. He fights and always has a great attitude.

See the full Q&A at bucs.tampabay.com.

Bucs Q&A with Glazer 03/19/13 [Last modified: Tuesday, March 19, 2013 11:25pm]
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