Cluster comprises IBM's Opteron-based eServer 325 server and systems management software and storage devices that can run Linux and Windows operating systems.
IBM on Tuesday announced a prepackaged and pretested cluster that is powered by Advanced Micro Devices Inc.s 64-bit Opteron processor.
IBM, of Armonk, N.Y., is combining its Opteron-based eServer 325 server—which targets scientific and technical computing users—with systems management software and storage devices to offer a bundled package that can run Linux and Windows operating systems.
The new offering, which will be available later this month or in early December, is part of IBMs eServer Cluster 1350, which also includes bundles based on the companys BladeCenter blade servers and two-processor x335 and x345 systems using Intel Corp.s 32-bit Xeon chips.
Clusters comprise multiple servers tied together to create a supercomputing environment for users. In a related move, IBM last week announced that it was teaming with Corning Inc., the U.S. Department of Energy and the National Nuclear Security Administration to develop high-speed, optically switched interconnects for supercomputers. The $20 million, two-and-a-half-year project is aimed at increasing network bandwidth by 50 times while at the same time cutting the costs of supercomputers.
IBMs 325 systems, powered by 2GHz Opterons, give users a chance to run both their 32-bit and 64-bit applications on a single platform, which is important for mixed-use environments, said David Turek, vice president of IBMs Deep Computing unit.
"For many of these users, who have been left with a stark choice—you either run 32-bit or 64-bit—Opteron is an interesting bridge between the two," Turek said. "Its an attractive proposition."
AMD, of Sunnyvale, Calif., has pushed Opterons ability to run 32-bit applications as well as it does 64-bit applications as a key differentiator between it and Intels Itanium architecture. The 64-bit Itanium chip maintains a limited amount of backward compatibility, which means that it does not run the 32-bit applications as well as it does the 64-bit software.
With the latest Itanium 2 released this summer, officials with Intel, of Santa Clara, Calif., were promoting the companys IA-32 Execution Layer, designed to bridge that performance gap. Intel, which has pushed Xeon-based systems for 32-bit applications and Itanium for 64-bit computing, views the execution layer as a way of helping customers who want to move to 64-bit computing but still have older 32-bit applications running.
On Monday, Intel officials said that a software update from Microsoft Corp. that includes the execution layer for Windows applications has been delayed until the second half of next year. However, they said that Linux vendors, including Red Hat Inc. and SuSE Linux AG, both are incorporating the execution layer code in their offerings.
/zimages/3/28571.gifRead "MS Delay Hinders Itanium Software Upgrade."
Gordon Haff, an analyst with Illuminata Inc., said Opterons adoption path is mirroring that of the older Itanium technology.
"Theres a lot of interest in Opteron in [the high-performance computing space]; its nearly exclusively in HPC," said Haff, in Nashua, N.H. "Its a good performing chip, and thats pretty much what HPC [customers are] looking for."
While backward compatibility with 32-bit applications may make Opteron more attractive in the commercial space, HPC users are more interested in performance, he said.
Turek agreed. "The Intel name carries a lot of weight in the industry," he said. That said, HPC and technical computing customers tend to be among the early adopters of new technology.
"Theyre searching for the best technology without so much regard for the brand," he said.
The Opteron cluster offering includes IBM Cluster Management Software, which aims to avoid problems and speed up the resolution of problems that do occur by automating repetitive tasks and error detection.
Also included in the cluster package is a new Linux Cluster Install Tool, which automates much of the installation work, IBM officials said.
In the supercomputing interconnect project, Cornings Science & Technology Division, in Corning, N.Y., will create a prototype for an optically switched interconnect. IBM Research Labs in the United States and Switzerland will build the systems electronic control and monitoring circuitry.


Belying expectations, Prasar Bharti has earned only Rs 58.19 crore (Rs 581.9 million) as revenue during the Commonwealth Games last month.
The gross revenue earned by PB on account of telecasting/broadcasting of advertisements on Doordarshan channel and All India Radio during coverage of the Commonwealth Games is Rs 58.17 crore, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting S Jagathrakshakan informed the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.
While AIR earned Rs 2.18 crore (Rs 21.8 million), Doordarshan garnered Rs 55.99 crore (Rs 559.9 million) as revenue, he said. Prasar Bharati had earlier said it knew in advance that the recently concluded Commonwealth Games, for which Doordarshan was the official broadcaster, would not bring in huge advertising revenues.
as a result of luke warm response from advertisers.
Notably, DD was not allowed to air advertisements during the closing ceremony of the CWG Games following complaints that the opening ceremony had been shown deferred live to accommodate advertisements.
After a successful opening ceremony, DD had hiked ad spot rates for the closing ceremony to Rs 2.5 lakh for a ten second spot as compared with Rs 90,000 for the same in the opening of the CWG.


Marketers are employed in the public sector as well as the private sector.
Most people think of marketing as a strictly private sector activity, but the reality is people with sales and marketing backgrounds are hired by government agencies in a number of capacities. Government agencies at the local, state and federal level all employ marketing professionals in areas including, but not limited to, public relations, property disposal, bond sales and purchasing.
Almost all major government agencies have their own public-relations staff, and in many cases it is a stand-alone department with a public relations or media director and several support staff. Government agency PR departments are responsible for producing news releases, holding press conferences, and generally promoting activities of the agency, such as tourism or encouraging new businesses to move into the area.
Government agencies are constantly buying supplies, equipment and other property and selling off old equipment and property. The departments tasked with disposing of this government property often hire individuals with a background in marketing. Their job is to assist the agency in coming up with creative ways to sell or otherwise dispose of obsolete government property.
Most government agencies have to follow complicated regulations for purchasing supplies and equipment. In many cases, agencies can only buy from certain suppliers or can only buy goods within specific price ranges. Agencies often hire purchasing agents with marketing backgrounds to help them manage their purchases, including setting criteria for suppliers and establishing price ranges. Government purchasing agents must be very familiar with current purchasing regulations at their agency.
Local, state and federal agencies sometimes sell bonds to finance capital improvement projects in their jurisdictions. These agencies hire bond and securities marketing specialists to prepare bond prospectuses for investors, which detail the terms of the bond, and to organize marketing campaigns to sell the bonds. Bond marketing specialists also typically manage media relations for bond campaigns.
Browne, Clayton. "Are There Marketing Jobs in the Government?" Work - Chron.com, http://work.chron.com/there-marketing-jobs-government-22921.html. Accessed 24 April 2019.
What Is the Role of the Owner of the Supermarket?
What Does a Beer Rep Do?


MIDDLETOWN, NJ - The Middletown Township Public Library and the Township of Middletown are pleased to announce the appointment of Kim Rinaldi as Provisional Library Director, beginning on February 24, 2014. Ms. Rinaldi will earn a salary of $95,000.00 per year.
Ms. Rinaldi comes to the Middletown Township Public Library after having served as the Library Director of the Margaret E. Heggen Free Public Library in Washington Township, New Jersey. During her tenure in Washington Township, Ms. Rinaldi managed 26 employees and a $2.5 million annual budget. Ms. Rinaldi has also served as the Director of the Brielle Public Library and as a Senior Librarian at the Ocean County Library, Long Beach Island Branch in Surf City, New Jersey.
Ms. Rinaldi holds a Masters in Library and Information Science from Texas Women’s College and has extensive experience in library administration, budgeting and project management. Ms. Rinaldi is credited with outsourcing material cataloging and processing at the Margaret E. Heggan Free Public Library, reducing annual operating costs by $150,000.00. Ms. Rinaldi also managed a successful $2 million library building project.
Ms. Rinaldi is excited to begin her new position as Provisional Library Director and looks forward to working with the Board of Trustees, staff and residents to continue to make the Middletown Township Public Library a premier resource and destination of choice for the residents of the Township.


An eagerly awaited report from the World Health Organization (WHO) states that processed meats such as bacon and sausages cause cancer, and red meat likely does so too.
The France-based International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), part of the WHO, put processed meats on the top of their “things that cause cancer list”, grouping them alongside tobacco, asbestos and diesel fumes, for which there is “sufficient evidence” of cancer links.
Along the years, there have been many studies that linked processed and red meats with cancer (especially bowel cancer), but there were always some doubts floating about. Now, the 22-member panel analyzed animal experiments, studies of human diet and health, and cell mechanisms that could lead from these meats to cancer.
“These findings further support current public health recommendations to limit intake of meat,” Dr. Christopher Wild, who directs IARC, said in a statement.
The decision wasn’t unanimous though, and a “probably” still crept in to the report. Many studies show the links, both in populations of people and in tests that show how eating these foods can cause cancer, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) said in its report, released in the Lancet medical journal.
This could give you cancer. Photo by Niklas Rhose.
Most reports on the links between meat and cancer have been softened with some element of doubt, but the IARC uses clear and direct language in saying processed meat causes cancer. There are no phrases such as “may cause” in the report.
“Overall, the Working Group classified consumption of processed meat as ‘carcinogenic to humans’ on the basis of sufficient evidence for colorectal cancer,” the report reads. “Additionally, a positive association with the consumption of processed meat was found for stomach cancer. The Working Group classified consumption of red meat as ‘probably carcinogenic to humans’,” it added.
“The experts concluded that each 50 gram portion of processed meat eaten daily increases the risk of colorectal cancer by 18 percent,” the IARC said. “For an individual, the risk of developing colorectal cancer because of their consumption of processed meat remains small, but this risk increases with the amount of meat consumed,” said IARC’s Dr. Kurt Straif.
“Red meat refers to unprocessed mammalian muscle meat—for example, beef, veal, pork, lamb, mutton, horse, or goat meat—including minced or frozen meat; it is usually consumed cooked,” the IARC said in its report.
Red meat was included in a lower category, which means that while there is evidence for it causing cancer, there is still quite a lot of room for debate. But while processed meat seems to be decidedly bad for your health, not everybody is convinced about red meat.
The $95 billion U.S. beef industry has been preparing a retaliation for months, and they’ve been rallying numerous scientists to their cause – even some unafililiated with the meat industry.
“We simply don’t think the evidence support any causal link between any red meat and any type of cancer,” said Shalene McNeill, executive director of human nutrition at the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association.
For now, the takeaway seems to be this: you need to stop eating processed meat. They have a number of damaging effects, including elevating stroke risk, raising cholesterol and, of course – cancer. If you absolutely can’t give it up, then reduce it. Quantity does matter, and less is, while not ideal, better than more. The same goes for red meat – if you must have it, don’t have it every day. It’s not sustainable, it’s bad for the animals, and it’s bad for you.
We’re getting to a point where science is starting to understand what’s good for us and what’s not. Let’s make the science count, shall we?


Google has announced that it will be shutting down its smart-messaging service Allo which it launched just over two years ago.
The decision comes after the company “paused investment in Allo” earlier this year, and brought its features to Messages — Google’s SMS-based messaging service for Android.
“Given Messages’ continued momentum, we’ve decided to stop supporting Allo to focus on Messages,” the company explained in the announcement.
Features such as desktop support, GIFs and Smart Reply have already moved from Allo to Messages.
“We’ve learned a lot from Allo, particularly what’s possible when you incorporate machine learning features, like the Google Assistant, into messaging,” Google also noted.
Allo will officially stop running in March 2019.
In the meantime, users are being encouraged to export their conversations and save their media before the app shuts down.
March 2019 is significant for another Google app. Inbox, the company’s smart email app, will also cease to function.


Was it a surprise to you that you were given the arts and culture position?
No, there is no surprise when you are a cadre of the ANC because you are deployed anywhere. You are given a five-year contract to do a portfolio and when you are finished, you wait for another one. At no stage do you have a say.
What qualities do you bring to the position?
People say to me you are a minister here but you can’t sing; how can you survive in the sector? It’s not about that.
If you attend some of the meetings of the ANC, you will see that I lead revolutionary songs. I know I can command a revolutionary song.
I will be working with stakeholders and cultural activists and we will be going on a journey together. We will bring our understanding and our connection with young people.
This is an area that is, by and large, filled with practitioners who are young, with hopes for the future and dreams.
What would be important would be to bring that strategic leadership to the sector, primarily to co-ordinate the endeavours that have been started by my predecessors.
What are the first things you will tackle?
On my first day I had a briefing on what has happened in the department and what we need to do. I immediately raised the issue that we are writing the true history of South Africa through the voices of its people, rather than through colonialists.
We need a single national monument where everybody who comes to South Africa will be able to understand our history. It has to be brand- new. No nation has come through what we have come through without that kind of recognition and national monument.
South Africa has a very rich history that needs to be taught properly. Things such as the Anglo-Boer War need to be taught fully, so that we would see that it was a South African war where everyone had a role. There is this strong feeling I have that it is important that we acknowledge all our history.
One thing we have to do is measure the contribution of arts to the big picture. Take for instance the yearly jazz festival in Cape Town. When people go there they talk about one aspect, which is tourism, but they forget that at the core it is arts and culture. They go there to connect spiritually with their needs. It is very important. I also want more people coming here to produce movies.
I see arts as helping a young democracy that is competing with old democracies. We are still finding our way. I want to see South Africans being given an opportunity to reflect on themselves on a yearly basis. Heritage is very important because this is where we are grooming our people to understand [our cultural history]. By identifying young people and giving them a chance to study, we are creating a reservoir for the future.
We must also find a way of promoting all our languages. Some of them are seen as being inferior, which is a mistake. We also have to develop our unofficial languages, such as that of the amaPondo. When we develop them we are saying: ‘We understand your culture, we know who you are and we want to see you prospering.’ It is a huge task.
Who do you listen to?
I do not have a favourite because my point of view is that of an internationalist, where I listen to music from around Africa – Senegalese and Congolese music – and the world. I particularly enjoy jazz and soul. When I sit down to reflect and take stock I listen to jazz, and on a really bad day it is soul music. I like Richard Nwamba’s African Connection [programme on SAfm]because it brings that music from across the continent. It’s a pity that it is only once a week; I would like to have it during the week too.
We need to take better care of our artists. They entertain us and they become our celebrities, but in the end they die in very difficult circumstances. We need to improve their lives. They helped us to attain freedom and they are creating a new South Africa. Look at kwaito, which was an initiative of young people without anyone guiding them.
Do the arts get enough financial support?
I still have to see the fullness of the sector, but I would probably want arts to have more concentration in the sector. I am not sure it would only be financial. If you go to other countries, arts and culture are the things that unite people. They play a big role, like with sports and recreation.
I am excited because of the potential that I feel we can unearth here. This is a junior department to others, but what can be more senior than leading a nation to identify itself? A nation that does not understand its soul is not worthy to be called a nation.
Are there limits to freedom of expression? What about The Spear painting?
One area that we really fought for very hard is what is contained in the Bill of Rights: people have to express themselves. When you do that, you would be responsible and not express yourself to incite violence. When it comes to The Spear I can’t say it is up to the minister to say what people must express. Whatever we do as a nascent demo-cracy, we must respect others.
I’m taking my point of view from the values of ubuntu, with the caring and sharing of Africans.
But other people have their own views.
Are you going to any shows this weekend?
I am going to the office as we speak for consultations, and I will still be doing that this weekend. Obviously I will be going to any events that I can, because you can’t be something that you do not understand fully. It is one of the perks.
We have become a crass, materialistic society to the detriment of our most important needs – our spirits and our emotions. We cannot continue that way, because we are missing that sense of belonging.


WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Treasury Secretary Jack Lew on Sunday warned Congress against manufacturing a crisis over federal spending in the months ahead, as looming deadlines set the stage for a repeat of the political deadlock which two years ago triggered worldwide financial market turmoil.
In coming negotiations with Republicans, who control the House of Representatives, Democratic President Barack Obama will focus on ways to create economic gains for the middle class over spending cuts, Lew said.
“We have already done a lot of deficit reduction,” he said in an interview on NBC. Lew spoke on four TV talk shows, setting out Obama’s priorities ahead of an expected showdown this fall.
By early November, Congress must raise the legal limit on the country’s borrowing authority or risk an unprecedented default on the government’s debt.
A debt ceiling showdown in August 2011 between Obama and congressional Republicans sparked wild stock market swings and cost the United States its top-tier AAA credit rating.
“We need to get the debt limit extended in a way that doesn’t create a crisis,” Lew said.
Republicans see the debt ceiling as the their best leverage in winning a deal with Obama that would cut federal government spending to lower the deficit.
Lew, who was Obama’s budget director in 2011, reiterated the president’s stance that he would not consider short-term spending cuts, nor would he offset defense spending cuts with reductions in other government programs.
“The president has made crystal clear, he’s not going to negotiate over the debt limit,” Lew said in an interview on ABC.
The debt ceiling is one of two fiscal deadlines facing Obama and Congress. By October 1, they must agree on a stop-gap measure to keep the government funded or face a shutdown.
Republicans have eyed this budget deadline as a way to roll back steep spending cuts for defense programs. But that is not an option, Lew said.
Congress is scheduled to leave town August 2 for a five-week recess.
Asked about the possibility of a federal response to Detroit’s recent bankruptcy declaration, Lew threw cold water on any chances the struggling city will get federal aid.
“Detroit is going to have to work with its creditors on this,” Lew told ABC.


Im definetely with some of the above posts when saying that they left the serious open ended. I knew up until then that this was supposed to be the final season but after seeing the last episode, I could see another see another season.
So lame that the show was cancelled…..I had so much fun copying the ideas of the shows writers for all the parties!
I am going to miss the Pakistani chick. What a body. Sweet dream!
I had NO idea the series was canceled!!! This blows!!!! Why do they cancel the good shows and keep the worst!?!?!?!?
So sad to see these characters say goodbye to these characters, this show had room to grow and to introduce more great actors.
Depressing I find out having to google this while watching the show, realizing this didn’t seem like a season finale…more like a forever good-bye.
This show is one of the Best they have made in a long time. It was a great ending,except that KT was ton down it made me cry. Couldn’t they just have remodled it honestly why do that and not give us a next season its messed up. UGH just sad to see it go. WE ALL LOVE YOU GREEK CAST!!!!
“Greek” was probably the most realistic portrayal of Greek life on college campus that I have ever seen. Those were the best years of my life and a lot of the stuff on the show paralleled my own experiences. But I guess ABCFamily is more interested in bitchy little teenagers and all their drama. “Greek” will be missed.
My wife and I made it a ritual to watch Greek together every week. We generally have different tastes when it comes to TV, but this was a great show that we both liked. The final episode was great, and they were wrong to cancel it. However, I have seen what happens when you take a show about school and take it to far (Saved by the Bell: The College Years). I guess it is good they didn’t go out like that. KT FOREVER!
I loved this show, Greek was one of my absolute favorite shows. I am really sad they decided to cancel it and I have no idea why. I hope the cast move on to other things that I will enjoy in the future.
I agree, as they could still show cappie and cassie..have them make visits etc…I think thye should continue it..
I thought it was a good ending saying goodbye.
I had suspected this was the final season when they said “The Final Semester” and that their was only 10 episodes instead of 20 this season.
Hi I just watched the series finale!
I lost Ugly Betty and that had some good times!


In case you missed it, the initials ICYMI stand for the first five words of this sentence. In the event you have, indeed, missed it (ITEYH, I, MI has not taken off yet for some reason), it’s most likely because you’re not on the Internet much, particularly Twitter, where individuals and outlets deploy it every few seconds to bring links to the attention of others who may not have seen them. The New York Times now even has a section at the bottom of its app called “In Case You Missed It” with articles from previous days.
While the extended phrase has been used in conversation for a long time, the shorthand betrays an anxiety central to the Internet epoch. There is simply too much readable, viewable and listenable data for anyone to stay abreast of, as a humor piece, “I’m All Caught Up!” by Nick Mickowski in McSweeney’s, playfully suggested.
We used to receive media cyclically. Newspapers were published once (or sometimes twice) a day, magazines weekly or monthly. Nightly news was broadcast, well, each night. Television programs were broadcast on one of the major networks one night a week at a specific time, never to return until a rerun or syndication. Movies were shown first in theaters and on video much later (or, before the advent of VCRs, not until a revival). There were not many interstices, just discrete units — and a smaller number of them.
Now we’re in the midst of the streaming era, when the news industry distributes material on a 24-hour cycle, entire seasons of TV shows are dumped on viewers instantaneously, most movies are available at any time and the flow of the Internet and social media is ceaseless. We are nearly all interstitial space, with comparatively few singularities.
The cumulative effect is overwhelming for both producers of content and its consumers. Those who put out work, understandably, want to make sure it’s not lost on whatever site is hosting it, let alone in the social media blizzard of “must read” links, one-off jokes and other self-promotion. When the home page of a website refreshes every couple of hours (or minutes), there aren’t a lot of conspicuous ways to showcase older material except through the referrals of Twitter, Facebook and the like.
Pre-Internet, we accepted that media had a mayfly’s life span: Yesterday’s news was yesterday’s news, and that was it. If you were the creator of it, you made peace with the notion that people either saw it or didn’t when it appeared, and you moved on; there was no alternative.
If it lingered in the public consciousness, it was because of its durability, not repeated reminders. Content had finite endings and deaths, not asymptotic approaches and long-term vegetative states from which resuscitation is always an option.
Now, with just about every airing of a much greater number of shows obtainable at any moment, there is no excuse for missing one — and, therefore, a more urgent compulsion to catch up, in case you missed it.
Today, both the outlets and the individuals who are responsible for the work are aware that they have a limited window in which their content can go viral and outlive its short stay on a home page. When it fails to do so, as, by definition, almost everything must, it may seem to them like a disheartening screen-age Zen koan: If an article about deforestation is published but no one clicks on it, did it actually exist?
Hence ICYMI. In an earlier time, the full verbal formulation meant that the recipient was supposed to see something of a certain degree of importance (a note, an email), and the sender was gently reminding you of its oversight.
Now, the very shortening of the phrase is a byproduct and acknowledgment of the velocity of information against which its attached link is racing. The implication is that you probably have not seen it, and it’s not necessary to your existence, but the sender would like to bring it to your attention anyway, please. It serves as a call of desperation as much as an announcement: Can you hear my whisper in these howling winds? In fact, ICYMI is often used as the second or third attempt to link to something (which suggests the content is not taking off organically) as a means of excusing the repetitive promotion.
Even the Twitter account for President Obama, one of the few people who can assume that his actions are never missed by the world, occasionally uses ICYMI, especially to highlight achievements the White House may think are undervalued by the public, such as job growth and the Affordable Care Act.
Elissa Strauss, a columnist for TheWeek.com and a freelancer for a number of other Web publications, said that a financial incentive also drives Internet content creators who post their work multiple times (she said she typically “triple tweets” each of her articles).
Given the near-infinite accessibility of digital media, it suggests that what Walter Benjamin called the unique, mystical “aura” of an object of art in his seminal 1936 essay, “The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction,” greatly diminished by the reproductive technologies of his time, is completely eradicated by ours.
Live performances may be the last place to locate any sense of aura. Mr. Benjamin saw various reasons for optimism in the diminution of the aura. Reproduction, he posited, could emancipate us from cultlike reverence toward art and make us keener, more politicized critics. But nowadays it’s passé to note that, during live events, people are often staring into their reproduction-friendly phones, perhaps a redirected form of ritual obeisance.
At least they can probably find a video or photo (maybe one they shot themselves) of what they were at later, in case they missed it.
Coming Soon: Sign up to receive our NYT Living newsletter, a weekly roundup lifestyle news from the Style, Travel, Food and Home sections delivered to your inbox.


Widow Of Pulse Nightclub Gunman AcquittedNoor Salman was found not guilty of charges of obstruction and providing material support to a terrorist organization.
'It Still Hurts, It's Still Very Raw': Ceremonies Mark One Year Since Massacre At Orlando's Pulse Nightclub, Worst Mass Shooting In U.S. HistoryA rally was held near the historic Stonewall Inn in Greenwich Village Monday night to honor the victims of the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando a year ago.
Sheriff: Disgruntled Former Employee Kills 5 In Orlando Workplace ShootingOrange County Sheriff Jerry Demings said police received a call about an active shooter around 8:03 a.m. at Fiamma Inc., a business that makes awnings for recreational vehicles.
Fugitive Wanted In Fatal Shooting Of Orlando Police Sgt. CaughtThe Orlando Police Department tweeted Tuesday night that 41-year-old Markeith Loyd is in custody.
$60,000 Reward Offered For Suspect In Fatal Shooting Of Orlando OfficerA massive manhunt is underway for 41-year-old Markeith Loyd, who police say is wanted in the shooting death of Master Sgt. Debra Clayton.
Knicks Lose Porzingis Late, But Beat Magic 106-95Derrick Rose tossed in 19 points and reserve center Willy Hernangomez added 15 points to lead the New York Knicks to a 106-95 win over the Orlando Magic at Madison Square Garden on Thursday.


NEW YORK — Television retailer QVC has made aggressive plans to keep shoppers watching — instead of mall-hopping — on Black Friday, an event it has traditionally ignored.
The leading network for TV shoppers promises special deals and a healthy dose of new items for sale starting on Thanksgiving night. Program host Dave James plans to stay awake for 28 hours of telethon-like coverage.
The day after Thanksgiving is traditionally the biggest shopping day of the year, called “Black Friday” because it’s key for many businesses to go in the black, or turn a profit. QVC, which competes with ShopNBC and the HSN home shopping network, has not wanted to get caught up in the frenzy and has always treated it as just another day for its sales pitches, said Doug Rose, the network’s vice president of programming and marketing.
“This year, and we’ve been planning on this for many months, we really expect to join the fray with the other retailers,” Rose said.
QVC is hoping for a “Black Friday” of its own. Hurt by the same recession that affected other retailers last year, QVC’s fourth quarter revenue in 2008 was down 8 percent from the previous year. So far this year revenue has been essentially flat, although the value of the items that QVC is selling is down slightly.
The network generally offers one “special value” item to customers each day. For “Black Friday” coverage, which starts at 8 p.m. EST on Thanksgiving, there will be three.
Every hour, there will be a specially priced offer, and there will be five hours of gifts that have never been available before on the network, QVC said.
Rival HSN, which has also been flat in sales this year, mailed one million gift guides for the first time to people who have bought things through the network in the past. It is also offering specially-priced items over the Thanksgiving weekend, although that’s not a shift from what it has done in the past.
HSN also had a “Get Ready for the Holidays” programming theme for the first week of November, for people who wanted advice on cooking and decorating. HSN has a little more than half QVC’s sales domestically.
James, a former radio disc jockey, said the closest thing he’s come to his upcoming 28-hour marathon is hosting radiothons for about half the time. He said he’s working with a nutritionist to prepare him for the ordeal.
He’s convinced his family to have an early Thanksgiving dinner and hopes the turkey will let him have a long nap before he goes to QVC’s Pennsylvania studio.
“There’s going to be coffee — a lot of coffee,” he said.


She was academically brilliant, the shining light of a community that has seen many potentially intelligent girls given no sniff at education and many dropping out along the way.
Then she got a lifeline. UCC had only ten successful applicants for their Bachelor of Science (BSc.) in Chemistry program. To get more students, a special entry process was initiated. She applied, passed the exams and gained admission.
But for UCC’s inability to meet their required number of intake, an educational system that recognises only students who come out with flying colours in exams would have deprived Ghana and the world such a gem.
With this story and painful experience, she lived everyday longing for the opportunity to be part of an educational system with no barriers and one that is patient enough to bring the worse of student to the level of academic excellence their potentials and desire can get them to.
This is the story and vision that gave birth to Ghana’s first and West Africa’s second Open University- Laweh Open University.
The University was established in the year 2014 as an open supported learning institution to offer certificates, diplomas, degrees and postgraduate Programmes. LAWEH is a global partner of Franklin University and Open University of Tanzania.
Speaking at the inauguration of the school’s 11 Member Governing Council, Prof Goski Alabi who is a member of the Counsel indicated that education should be the right of every individual and failure to pass exams at one stage should in no way be the end of the road for people who desire to move further.
According to her, all over the world, the Open University System has been adopted as the way to removing the barriers to education, give people the freedom to learn at their own pace and convenience and come up better equipped to compete in this competitive world.
She indicated that the days of writing remedial exams over and over are over. She urged student to take advantage of the Open University because structures have been put in place to ensure that even the student with the worse result comes out of the institution prepared and equipped to succeed.
The 11-member Governing Council is chaired by Dr. Kingsley Fletcher (HRM Nene Drolor Bosso Adamtey I). The members are Professor Vincent Ado Tenebe- Former Vice-Chancellor, National Open University of Nigeria, Professor J. S. Y. Kuma – Vice Chancellor of University of Mines and Technology Tarkwa, Professor Con. Eng, Tolly S.A Mbwette, Former Vice Chancellor, Open University Tanzania, Professor Joshua Alabi- Former Vice-Chancellor UPSA , Professor Goski Alabi- Dean of centre for International Education and Collaboration UPSA.
Others are Ms. Mavis Ekua E. Kwainoe- Legal Practitioner and Lecturer, UPSA, Professor Jemison Kurasha- Dean of Business school, Open University of Zimbabwe, Dr. Joshua Mallet- Director of Centre for Distance Learning and Open Schooling (CENDLOS), and Professor Jonathan Mbah- Director of Research and Planning- AUU.


Occasional diarrhea is a common occurrence. Most people will experience an episode of diarrhea at least once or twice a year that will disappear in a couple of days.
Luckily, there are many foods to eat that may help a person reduce the symptoms of diarrhea. There are also some foods to avoid when dealing with a bout of diarrhea, and some additional home care tips to consider.
Anyone who is experiencing persistent diarrhea should see a doctor, as a person may become dehydrated over time.
Diarrhea is a bowel movement that is more liquid than solid or has a loose texture. It is a common problem and may occur a couple of times each year. Diarrhea will usually last no more than 3 days.
Soft, bland foods, such as toast, will help to absorb excess water and ease the symptoms of diarrhea.
People with chronic digestive conditions, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or Crohn's disease, may experience diarrhea more regularly.
A person's diet is crucial if they are experiencing diarrhea. Some foods might help relieve symptoms of diarrhea while eating other foods can make diarrhea worse.
While recovering from diarrhea, a person should eat bland, simple foods that are easy to digest and will help absorb some water from the stool.
These foods may be especially helpful on the first day of dealing with diarrhea. Eating many small meals throughout the day can help keep the digestive system from becoming overworked.
Probiotic foods, such as yogurt and kefir, may help in some cases, but in others, probiotics may irritate the digestive system even more.
Probiotics aid digestion by improving the balance of good and bad bacteria in the gut. However, dairy products can irritate the digestive system, so a person may wish to try non-dairy sources of probiotics, such as miso or sauerkraut.
Liquids are also vital to recovery. People with diarrhea must drink plenty of water throughout the day and should drink an additional cup of water after every loose bowel movement.
Drinking plenty of water helps prevent dehydration and flush any toxins out of the body.
Soup broth will help to replace minerals and electrolytes lost because of diarrhea.
Spicy ingredients can act as irritants in the digestive system. This is why people dealing with diarrhea should stick to bland foods, as they pose the least risk of agitating the digestive system.
It is not advisable to eat foods high in fat or oil when recovering from diarrhea. Added fats and oils from frying can be difficult for the sensitive digestive system to process and will likely make symptoms worse.
A person can try eating boiled or steam vegetables and lean proteins instead.
Sugars that pass into the colon may disrupt the already sensitive bacteria there, making diarrhea worse. This includes fruit juices and high-sugar fruits.
People with diarrhea should also avoid artificial sweeteners, as some can have a laxative effect.
It may also help to avoid too much fiber. Fiber helps keep the digestive system active. Usually, this is a good thing, but when the body is trying to recover from diarrhea, fiber may make symptoms worse.
Soluble fibers, such as the pectin found in apples and bananas, can actually help a person recover from diarrhea, but a person should still try to limit their intake at least for the first day of symptoms.
Many people experience diarrhea after drinking alcohol. Furthermore, some types of alcohol can be more likely to cause diarrhea than others. Learn more.
Carbonated or fizzy drinks should be avoided, as they can irritate the digestive system and make the symptoms of diarrhea worse.
Caffeinated beverages, such as coffee, tea, and soda, may overstimulate the digestive system and make symptoms worse.
Carbonated drinks may also irritate or contribute to other symptoms, such as bloating and cramps. People should also avoid alcohol while dealing with diarrhea.
While many sports drinks contain electrolytes that may help with dehydration, they often contain added sugars or artificial sweeteners. Coconut water or electrolyte-enhanced water are good alternatives.
In addition to following a diet that will help relieve diarrhea, there are several other remedies a person can take to make a swift recovery.
Other diarrhea treatments include bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto Bismol) and Ioperamide (Imodium). These drugs can help relieve occasional cases of diarrhea and may be helpful to have on hand in a medicine cupboard.
Pepto Bismol and Imodium are available for purchase over-the-counter or online.
People with diarrhea should also ensure they get enough rest, as putting the body in stressful situations while dealing with diarrhea may make matters worse.
Limit physical activity while diarrhea symptoms are presenting, as strenuous activity may put the body at a greater risk of dehydration.
Hydration is also vital when managing diarrhea. Drink plenty of water throughout the day.
Click here to learn more about treating diarrhea.
Blood or mucus may appear in the stool in more serious cases of diarrhea. This is often accompanied by a fever and requires a visit to the doctor as soon as possible.
Untreated diarrhea can also lead to serious complications, including dehydration. A person with severe diarrhea may require hospitalization and intravenous electrolytes.
Anyone experiencing a fever of higher than 102°F or severe abdominal pains should visit a doctor.
Parents or guardians should carefully monitor any children with diarrhea. If symptoms do not clear up with 24 hours, they should call the doctor for guidance.
Any additional symptoms should be reported to a doctor as soon as possible for diagnosis and treatment.
Many cases of diarrhea last only a few days and respond well to home treatments. Eating a simple diet, increasing fluid intake, and using over-the-counter medications as necessary can help reduce symptoms quickly.
In cases where the body does not respond to these treatments after 2 or 3 days, a person should visit their doctor for diagnosis and treatment.
Johnson, Jon. "What foods to eat if you have diarrhea." Medical News Today. MediLexicon, Intl., 19 Nov. 2018. Web.


NEW YORK, Sept. 29, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- As previously announced, WebMD Health Corp. (NASDAQ: WBMD) will be holding its Annual Meeting of Stockholders on Thursday, October 1, 2015. At that meeting, WebMD is seeking stockholder approval of, among other things, a 1,700,000 increase in the number of shares available for grant under its 2005 Long-Term Incentive Plan. In connection with seeking such approval, WebMD announced today that it is making a commitment that none of the 1,700,000 additional shares will be used for grants to members of WebMD's Board of Directors or to WebMD's executive officers (as defined under SEC rules), except in the case of a new hire who joins WebMD as an executive officer.
Investors can access a live audio webcast of the Annual Meeting at www.wbmd.com (in the Investor Relations section) beginning at 9:30 a.m. (ET) on Thursday, October 1, 2015. A replay of the webcast will be available at the same web address.
All statements contained in this press release and the related presentation at WebMD's Annual Meeting of Stockholders, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements, These statements speak only as of the date of this press release, are based on our current plans and expectations, and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual future events or results to be different than those described in or implied by such forward-looking statements. Information about these matters can be found in our Securities and Exchange Commission filings and this press release is intended to be read in conjunction with information contained in those filings. Except as required by applicable law or regulation, we do not undertake any obligation to update our forward-looking statements to reflect future events or circumstances.


SocialDevCamp Chicago is a weekend long conference and hackathon about the social web. It’s the event for social app developers, mobile developers and designers. SocialDevCamp is a weekend of discussions on social platforms, apps, APIs, mobile experiences, and new media.
This starting on Friday, August 26th, and is taking place at the DePaul University Main Auditorium, located at the DePaul University Student Center 225o N. Sheffield Ave. Check here for a map and this event is part of a paid registration, for look at the details here.
Speakers at SocialDevCamp include Keynote and Featured speakers such as Peng Ying, Developer Programs Manager, Google, Matt Wilbanks, Social Media Specialist at Rackspace Hosting, Dan Sinker, Head of Knight-Mozilla News Technology Partnership, Chris Courtney, Mobile Product Manager, at Tribune Media Group, Alexis Ohanian, Co-Founder of Reddit, and Brett Keintz, Product Manager at Groupon.
There is also another "unconference" portion of SocialDevCamp where attendees can actually vote on which ones they want to see at certain times based on a lineup of potential speakers and professionals in their given field.
There is also a hackathon party taking place as part of Social Dev Camp which starts the competition at Noble Tree Coffee and Tea on Friday, August 26th at 7:00pm. Developers and Designers are welcome to compete to build a social related app in 36 hours using the tools of their choice and possibly win big prizes.
From the SocialDevCamp Web site it seems that there is quite a lineup of activites taking place, including announcing the winner of the best application using public transportation data, a competiton called "Apps 4 Metro Chicago", which uses city data for the app in a partnership with the Metropolitan Information Center of Chicago.
As described on SocialDevCamp Web site, "the collaborative is working with community organizations and local businesses to offer 200+ data sets and $50,000 in prizes during the coming months for the creation of applications improving the lives of millions of residents". Find out more about Apps 4 Metro Chicago here.
Another event for mobile developers to develop and learn about new technologies and compete for prizes across different categories is the AT&T Mobile App Hackathon.
Competition categories are based in the language you feel most comfortable. There will also be developer support from Sencha, Apigee, RedFoundry, PhoneGap, AppMobi, and Microsoft's Windows Phone 7. There will also be several speakers and discussions offered during the course of this event.
This AT&T Mobile App Hackathon takes place in the Morningstar building in Chicago, so be sure to RSVP and register for a team here.


Record low and negative interest rates in developed economies are fueling a ravenous search for yield that is forcing pension funds and other conservative institutional investors out of their comfort zones and into risky emerging markets, according to fund managers and analysts.
The reason for this has little to do with the attractiveness of EM investments. On the contrary, EM economic growth is at its lowest level since the 2008/09 financial crisis while the prospect of a U.S. monetary tightening creates the potential for financial turbulence.
The force propelling pension funds and insurance companies into unfamiliar EM investments is simple. If they stay at home, their investment returns are at risk of falling short of their liabilities.
"If you require, say, 5 percent a year in order to cover your insurance or pension liabilities, that is not available from developed market (debt) obviously," said Colm McDonagh, head of emerging market fixed income at Insight Investment.
Brett Diment, head of emerging market debt at Aberdeen Asset Management, also sees a diversification into EM debt by pension and insurance companies. "We are seeing a broader group of investors looking at the emerging market debt asset class, including some insurers and pension funds that have not looked before."
Much of this search for yield takes place behind the scenes, but it is not restricted to developed markets, where an estimated $1.7 trillion in bonds were offering negative yields last month. South Korea's state-run National Pension Service (NPS) announced this week that it would pour more than $40 billion into overseas equities and bonds over the next five years.
The NPS, which manages $483 billion and is the biggest investor in the Seoul market, had "no choice" but to look abroad for returns, according to the Korea Times, because domestic interest rates are low and set to fall further.
Paolo Batori, global head of EM fixed income strategy at Morgan Stanley, foresees a fundamental shift in market dynamics. He said about 5 percent, or $80 billion, invested by insurance companies and pension funds in European government bonds would be switched into EM fixed income. Such an increase would roughly double the current exposure of such companies to emerging markets.
Mr. Batori uses the experience of Japanese life insurance companies after Japanese government bond yields declined in the aftermath of the financial crisis to reinforce his forecast. From the first quarter of 2009 to the third quarter of last year, Japanese life insurance companies increased their investments in foreign assets from just over 15 trillion yen to nearly 35 trillion yen as their search for yield intensified.
But where in EM should yield refugees from Europe go? In one sense, there is plenty of potential; emerging market countries account for around 40 percent of global GDP but only 14 percent of the global government bond market by value. And differences in yield are stark.
"In aggregate, (local currency emerging market debt) yields 6.5 percent — just above the average for the last five years, and a full 1.25 percentage points above the level preceding the May 2013 taper tantrum," said Denise Prime, an investment manager at GAM.
"With former safe havens looking so unappealing, local-currency emerging market debt is an attractive option for fixed-income investors," she added.
But, of course, yields such as these do not come without risk. One of the biggest concerns is that when the U.S. Federal Reserve tightens its monetary policy — though the timing for this is uncertain — funds could exit EM assets in favor of enhanced returns in the U.S.
The most vulnerable EM countries in such a scenario would be those that run hefty current account deficits and are therefore reliant on external financing. Such risks have been so well telegraphed that fund managers generally pursue a highly selective approach to EM assets.
One of the strategies deployed by investors to mitigate the risks of a strong dollar is to fund investments not by borrowing U.S. dollars but euro, which has depreciated or stayed steady against many EM currencies. In 2014, local EM currency bonds returned an average 7 percent against the euro and have returned 7.3 percent this year so far, according to Ms. Prime.
In a separate category, a large but relatively untapped opportunity lies in China. Some $1.5 trillion of the $4 trillion global market for EM local currency bonds is located within China's domestic market, accessible to foreign investors only through a tightly controlled quota system.
But for those investors able to access allocations, the returns can be attractive because of the higher interest rate environment in mainland China. The China Universal Enhanced Bond Fund, for example, returned 13.12 percent in 2014, according to China Universal, a Chinese asset manager.
"We are definitely seeing increasing interest from European investors, both retail and institutional, who are hunting for yield in a world that is not really delivering their return targets," said Christopher Gunns, a managing director at China Universal.
But, he notes that Chinese domestic debt stretches the comfort zone for some European investors. "Among the institutional investors there are two things at play; a conservative risk budget competing with a need to generate returns."


Two bedrooms home on a corner lot. Two car detached garage. Nice covered front porch. Seller will not complete any repairs to the subject property, either lender or buyer requested. The property is sold in AS IS condition. Offer must have earnest money as a Cashiers Check to the Listing Agency with buyer name as the remitter. Need pre-approval or proof of funds documentation with initial offer. No exceptions. This property is eligible for the Freddie Mac FIRST LOOK Initiative through 4/8/2019 . Homestead Exemption and Assessments unknown.


"When it comes to fantasy sports and betting on NASCAR races, there's nothing wrong with it," Gaughan said.
"I wanted to go all in on gambling last year," NASCAR executive Steve O'Donnell said.
"We have so many people that are linked to the cars. I think the integrity is a big piece to it," O'Donnell said.
Nevada's effective monopoly on sports betting ended last spring, when the Supreme Court ruled the ban should be lifted. Casinos in seven other states — Rhode Island, Delaware, Mississippi, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and New Mexico — now accept wagers on sports. The list is expected to grow by next year with numerous states considering bills.
And there's already a hitch that could slow bets: NASCAR this season has decided for the first time to strip drivers of victories if their cars are deemed illegal. There will be a roughly 90-minute inspection after the race and the winner will not be deemed official until the process is completed. Will fans really want to linger around the pay window another couple of hours just to cash in a ticket?
"The state's risk manager will delay any payout until NASCAR releases the official order of finish," Kirk said. "Our casinos will receive an email reminding them of NASCAR's new procedures the week of Daytona."
The betting lines supplied by William Hill are set: Kevin Harvick and Kyle Busch are 5-1 favorites to win the 2019 Cup series championship. 2018 champ Joey Logano checks in at 7-1. For Sunday's Daytona 500, Harvick has 15-2 odds, Logano is at 8-1 and Brad Keselowski is also at 8-1 to win "The Great American Race."
"The rules are in place," Hensley said, "but you can't legislate human behavior."


The day Jeff Deardorff has been waiting a lifetime for has arrived.
Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft begins today and, by all expectations, Deardorff shouldn't have to wait long for his phone to ring.
The most pessimistic of scenarios would have him being taken in the fifth round. The most optimistic is a first round selection. Most likely, though, the call could come sometime during the second or third rounds.
Baseball America has projected Deardorff, who graduated from South Lake High School Friday, as the 54th overall pick, which would make him a second round choice.
Deardorff, though, isn't getting into guessing games about where, or even if, he is going to be taken.
"I have no idea," he said, about where he would be drafted. "People have said a lot of things, but I don't want to say anything in case it doesn't happen."
South Lake baseball coach Mike Crawford, though, thinks Deardorff will reach his long-time goal.
"His goal in life is to play pro ball," Crawford said. "The team that gets him will be extremely fortunate. They will be getting a kid with a great work ethic and a love of the game.
"He is not going to give 110 percent, he is going to give 120 percent. He is a kid who not only can beat you with his bat, but with his speed and with his glove."
Deardorff, who played third base for South Lake High School this year and was an outfielder before that, has been the object of desire by pro scouts this spring. Early this year, more than 20 scouts were showing up at games and practices to watch Deardorff's skill at the plate, his smooth fielding ability and his strong arm.
Deardorff, who played for the U.S. Junior Olympic team last summer, finished this season with a .463 batting average, 8 home runs, 31 RBIs, 31 runs scored and 22 stolen bases.
He starred this weekend at the Florida Athletic Coaches Association's All-Star Games, and also has attended three or four workouts recently, including ones with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and New York Yankees.
The Montreal Expos, who have eight of the first 52 picks in the draft, also have shown a lot of interest as have the Milwaukee Brewers, Pittsburgh Pirates, Cleveland Indians, Boston Red Sox, Cincinnati Reds, Houston Astros, Chicago White Sox and Arizona Diamondbacks.
"I saw where he is being projected between the first and fifth rounds. That is great when you consider all the collegiate players like (FSU's) J.D. Drew are also in there. I think he is going to go reasonably high. I think he will definitely go before the fifth round," said Crawford.
Deardorff, who is an early baseball signee with the University of Miami, is just thankful that the day finally has arrived.
"It's a little bit of a relief," he said. "I can get all of this out of the way and go out and play for a job."


Aylesbury’s new deputy area commander has been getting stuck in to his new role and says he’s determined to make himself ‘approachable’.
Chief inspector Neil Kentish joined Thames Valley Police less than a month ago after serving in the Metropolitan police force for 14 years.
And though the role is still very new to him, he has praised his team and says he wants to find out what issues matter to people in Aylesbury.
He said: “I have a very positive team and they genuinely care about what they do.
“The people of Aylesbury already have confidence in the force so it’s about maintaining that confidence, tackling anti-social behaviour, understanding the local community and alleviating people’s concerns.
During his time with the Met, chief insp Kentish – who lives in Milton Keynes with his wife and children – was one of the first neighbourhood officers to patrol White Hart Lane in Tottenham, London.
He says one of the reasons behind the move to Thames Valley was that he wanted a ‘challenge’.
And he’s already noticed a ‘refreshing’ difference with how things are here in Bucks.
He said: “I was sat in a coffee shop in the town centre the other day in my uniform, and people were coming up to speak to me and engage with me. It makes a refreshing change!


Two UAE orders for military helicopters and guided bombs capped a remarkable year for procurement in which the Emirates became the largest foreign purchaser of US defence equipment, a Pentagon agency said.
The UAE, which has peacekeepers in Afghanistan, awarded Sikorksy Aircraft a US$171 million (Dh628m) contract for 14 UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters, which are used for tactical transport.
Separately, the US defence security co-operation agency, a unit of the Pentagon, said last week it had notified Congress of a potential sale of enhanced guided bomb units, parts, training and support to the UAE for about $290m.
The same agency said in November that in the last fiscal year the UAE became the largest foreign purchaser of US defence equipment with sales of $7.9bn, ahead of Afghanistan ($5.4bn), Saudi Arabia ($3.3bn) and Taiwan ($3.2bn).
The spending included orders for munitions for the UAE’s F-16 fighter jets as well as a new Patriot defensive missile system and a fleet of corvettes for the navy.
The UAE purchases have been fuelled by a quadrupling of oil prices in the past decade and by continuing regional tensions, including those involving Iran, the US and Israel over the Islamic republic’s nuclear programme.
The helicopter deal will require Sikorsky to configure the aircraft to UAE specifications and should be completed by the end of 2012.
The main contractors for the second deal announced last week are Lockheed Martin and Raytheon, the Pentagon agency said.
A number of deals could be announced this year as the UAE fills gaps in its defence system.
“The Government is still very active and there are a few things it needs to close here,” Mr Kahwaji said. Those include contracts for C-17 and C-130 military transport aeroplanes, advanced trainer jets and the French Rafale fighter jet.
The advanced trainer jet contract with Alenia Aermacchi of Italy was expected to be announced at the Dubai Airshow in November but was postponed because of unresolved issues surrounding the production of parts in the UAE, Mr Kahwaji said. “There are a lot of technical issues that go into these contracts and they can get very complicated,” he said.


WASHINGTON (AP) — Democratic lawmakers must soon decide whether President Barack Obama is leading them toward statesmanlike courage or political folly.
Obama used his first State of the Union speech Wednesday to push nervous Democrats to forge ahead on health care, despite voters' worries and opposition from newly strengthened Republicans. Sharpening his focus on the economy, he offered a hodgepodge of tax breaks and other incentives to create new jobs.
For Republicans, Obama blended a mix of overtures and digs. But he mainly addressed fellow Democrats, who still can enact his agenda if they overcome fears fueled by events such as last week's stunning GOP victory in the Massachusetts Senate race.
That setback may have cost Democrats their filibuster-proof Senate majority, Obama said, but "we still have the largest majority in decades, and the people expect us to solve some problems, not run for the hills."
He accepted partial blame for the deep troubles facing his health care push, but he implored lawmakers to finish the task rather than yield to public opposition.
"The longer it was debated, the more skeptical people became," Obama told the joint session of Congress and a nationwide TV audience. But health care problems will continue for millions, he said, and "I will not walk away from these Americans, and neither should the people in this chamber."
House and Senate Democratic leaders are scrambling to see if they can salvage the ambitious health care package, which Republicans almost universally oppose. Obama's pep talk was a call to arms, but he offered no new strategies for overcoming the steep parliamentary and political hurdles they face.
The president devoted most of his 65-minute speech to job-creation proposals, such as eliminating capital gains taxes on small business investment and extending tax breaks for businesses to invest in new plants and equipment. But those proposals also face uncertainty in Congress, where Senate Democrats say they may need a selective, piecemeal approach to win enough votes.
Obama said Republicans share a responsibility for governing, and he proposed meeting with their House and Senate leaders monthly. But his olive branch seemed brittle at times.
Without naming George W. Bush, he pointedly noted that the previous administration left him a big deficit and a deeply troubled economy. For good measure, Obama said the United States killed more al-Qaida terrorists in 2009 than in 2008.
Obama rebuked the Supreme Court for a recent decision that "reversed a century of law to open the floodgates for special interests" and foreign corporations to make unlimited campaign contributions. At that, conservative Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito made a dismissive face, shook his head in disagreement and seemed to mouth the words "not true" as the president spoke.
Republicans in the House chamber generally greeted such remarks with stony gazes and smirks. The statements they issued as soon as Obama finished — or even before he finished, in some cases — were equally icy.
"We had hoped to hear a new commitment to keep his promises to govern from the center, change the tone in Washington, and work with both parties in a bipartisan way to help small businesses create jobs and get our economy moving again," said House Republican Leader John Boehner of Ohio. "Unfortunately, the president and the Democrats in charge of Congress still aren't listening to the American people."
Vice President Joe Biden, appearing in an interview Thursday morning on NBC's "Today" show, described Obama as upset with the way his program has been handled in Congress.
"One of the things that's most frustrating to him," Biden said, "is the obstructionist ways of the United States Senate, on the part of the Republicans, requiring 60 votes, a supermajority, for virtually every single, solitary initiative we've had. Now that we have 59 votes, it's time for everybody to start taking responsibility."
Obama has the luxury of waiting until 2012 to seek re-election, while all 435 House seats and a third of the Senate seats are up for grabs this November. Some Democrats most nervous about the election are urging the administration to slow down, especially on the health care issue that has dominated Congress's attention for months.
Obama gave them no comfort. "Change has not come fast enough" for millions of Americans, he said. "We must answer history's call."
At the same time, however, the president tried to give Democrats some political cover on other sensitive issues, such as the bank bailouts that angered many voters.
"We all hated the bank bailout," he said. "I hated it. You hated it. It was about as popular as a root canal."
The president also tried to chip away at GOP talking points.
"Let me repeat, we cut taxes," he said, citing his administration's tax cuts "for 95 percent of working families."
Republicans are quick to note that the deficit has soared during Obama's year in office, and proposals such as the health care overhaul would impose new taxes on high-end medical insurance policies, among other things.
In their post-speech commentaries, several Democrats ignored nearly all of Obama's remarks except those aimed at creating jobs, the biggest issue on voters' minds.
"His focus was right where it belongs: on jobs and the economy, and on reforming the financial sector," said Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich. "He acknowledged his own mistakes, and he avoided pointing partisan fingers."
Michael Steele, chairman of the Republican National Committee, was less charitable.
If Obama is serious about improving the economy, Steele said, "he will give Republicans a seat at the table. If not, then we know that this is just more spin, arrogance and a refusal to listen to the American people."


Hi. Does Asus ever plan to update the intel and nvidia display drivers on the UL30VT laptop? The only downloadable drivers from the Asus website are at least 3 years behind and new features for both graphics chips have been released since then. I sent a message to Asus but no response was given.
Intel and Nvidia will not allow the user to download the new drivers directly.
problem is the drivers won't install. states something about your notebook needs custom drivers from the manufacturer due to customized this that or the other.


Do you remember the game from this fragment of box art? Leave your answer in the comments! For those curious as to what last Friday's Remember This game was, it was Afro Samurai. Pow!
"...it was Afro Samurai. Pow!"
Damn you Lien. DAMN YOU.
Oh wait, I know! The blue ending to Mass Effect 3!
FIFA World Cup South Africa?
Seeing as it hasn't been added yet... The Dig?
For an actual guess: Lost Planet?
One of the SSX games?
One of Dynasty Warriors Gundam games?
I wanna say Mirror's Edge.


COUNCIL BLUFFS — The Marshalltown Community College baseball team built a nine-run lead and held on to salvage a split against NJCAA Division I No. 12 Iowa Western in Saturday’s Iowa Community College Athletic Conference doubleheader.
MCC won the nightcap 12-10 after Iowa Western claimed the opener 8-4.
The Tigers (19-29, 8-14) scored seven runs in the first inning of game two, sending 13 batters to the plate. The frame was highlighted by a Snayder Ruiz two-run single, and a Kaleb Hanks two-run triple. Ruiz finished game two with three RBIs while Hanks and Diogen Ceballos each drove in two. Jose Mieses, Ceballos and Adam Barrett had two hits apiece, both doubles for Ceballos, as the Tigers rapped out 12 hits in the victory.
The Reivers (40-14, 19-3) got seven runs back between the fourth and fifth innings to pull within two, but MCC came back with three in the sixth. The Tigers needed them all, as Iowa Western plated three in the bottom of the seventh.
Barrett tossed 3 1/3 innings on the mound, giving up five runs (two earned) on six hits, three walks and two strikeouts to earn the win. Greg Glass struck out the only batter he faced for the save.
Luis Duran was the only Tiger with multiple hits in game one, as John Magnuson drove in two runs. Juan Carlos Gonzalez took the loss on the bump, giving up eight runs (four earned) in five innings pitched on six hits, walked another five and fanned three.
Both teams close out the regular season today with another doubleheader. First pitch between the Tigers and Reivers is slated for noon.


4 NICE LOTS READY TO BUILD YOUR DREAM HOME or MULTI UNITS. INCLUDES LOTS 5, 6, 7, & 8. EACH LOT CAN BE SOLD SEPARATELY OR CAN BE SOLD AS A PACKAGE WITH ALL 4 LOTS. DEVELOPERS, THIS IS A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY TO SELL YOUR HOMES! LOTS ARE IN FRONT OF NICELY MAINTAINED HOMES. BUYER AND BUYERS AGENT TO VERIFY ALL PERTINENT INFORMATION.


Sponsored by Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.), the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) of 2019 would reauthorize the program at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency through 2024 to assist firms with rebuilding or retrofitting diesel engines. The objective is for those updated engines to be able to comply with pollution standards.
The Environment and Public Works panel advanced the measure to the floor of the Senate by voice vote. Carper, the panel’s ranking Democrat, had initially authored the bill more than a decade ago with former Ohio Sen. George Voinovich (R).
“With today’s vote, we’re one step closer to making sure this bipartisan tradition, imagined and incepted by my dear friend Sen. Voinovich, will continue to boost economic growth and encourage environmental progress,” Carper added. Voinovich died in 2016.
Co-sponsors of the bill include committee Chairman John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), as well as Republican Sens. Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma, Dan Sullivan of Alaska and Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia, along with Democratic Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island, Cory Booker of New Jersey, and Kirsten Gillibrand of New York.
Senate floor managers have yet to schedule a floor vote for the bill. In March, a bipartisan group of House lawmakers unveiled their version.
“This is a critical piece of legislation that helps address the climate crisis and makes our diesel cars and trucks more fuel efficient,” said Rep. Doris Matsui (D-Calif.), a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, sponsoring the House version.
EPA is tasked with distributing DERA grants. It announced that it anticipates awarding about $40 million in competitive grants for its clean diesel funding assistance program. The agency cautions that older diesel engines emit higher amounts of pollution.


"The Echo" (2008) She landed another small role in this Jesse Bradford horror movie about a cursed apartment building.
"Cold Case" (2009) In an episode of the CBS procedural, Linton plays a female pilot in WWII in flashbacks (with Michael Learned playing the character in modern times).
"A Smile as Big as the Moon" (2012) This ABC "Hallmark Hall of Fame" movie stars John Corbett as a special-ed teacher.
"Serial Daters Anonymous" (2014) Linton played a fashion columnist who jilts her cheating fiancé at the altar and then embarks on a vengeful dating spree to out other cads.
"Cabin Fever" (2016) Linton teamed with writer-director Travis Z to play shades-wearing Deputy Winston in a remake of the Eli Roth horror film.
"Intruder" (2016) Linton scored a rare starring role in Travis Z's thriller about a cellist under siege by a home invasion.
"Rules Don't Apply" (2016) Linton nabbed another small role as an aspiring starlet in Warren Beatty's film about the chauffeur of reclusive billionaire Howard Hughes. It probably didn't hurt that one of the movie's producers was billionaire former banker Steven Mnuchin.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Linton married in a small ceremony on June 24, 2017 at Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium in Washington, D.C. President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were in attendance.


'When Travis hollered, I was definitely flattered,' Kanye West's DJ says of getting the drummer's call.
It's been nearly a year since Travis Barker performed with a DJ, but now, he's getting ready to hit the road again, this time with Kanye West's main man behind the decks.
Barker will be teaming up with turntablist A-Trak — West's touring DJ — for a run of shows, scheduled to kick off March 9-10 at Hollywood's Roxy Theatre. The gigs will mark the first time he's performed live with a DJ since the death of his partner DJ AM in August. But, as Barker told MTV News earlier this month, he had always considered working with Trak on a project of some sort. And after the two jammed a bit last year, both men knew they had to take their show to the stage.
"I had met A-Trak last year at Coachella, but I had seen a set of his at Avalon in Los Angeles maybe four years ago, with AM," Barker told MTV News. "He was a guy who I always wanted to work with in some way. So I gave him a call."
"When Travis hollered, I was definitely flattered. We started by jamming once, back in the fall, just came over to the studio, and we did, like, one hour of jamming, which we thought was maybe a half an hour," A-Trak added. "I just started playing records and scratching, and he was playing on top, and it went really, really naturally. It was very fluid. And we stopped and looked at the watch, and it was like, 'Oh, we've been playing for an hour and didn't even realize it.' And I think that solidified for both of us in our minds that we could do this pretty easily."
The duo will perform versions of each other's remixes (they've reworked tracks for everyone from Eminem and Soulja Boy Tell'em to MSTRKRFT and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs), plus new material they've been working on in Barker's Los Angeles studio. Or, at least, that's the plan right now.
"It's going to be a mix of everything," A-Trak said. "We're still kind of rehearsing it, but I think it's going to be some songs people recognize, some of the remixes Travis has done, some of my remixes. Just kind of mix it up."
Barker said the duo plan to start small, with the pair of shows at Hollywood's Roxy Theatre, before taking the show wide. Additional shows will follow later in March in Las Vegas, Austin's South by Southwest and Miami.
"Our first shows are at the Roxy, and then South by Southwest will probably be a little bit bigger," Barker said. "The Winter Music Conference in Miami will probably be a little bit bigger. But the first ones will be really intimate."
"We might do a run of side shows in health clubs and saunas," A-Trak laughed. "Just set up in the steam bath and play. It was an idea we had yesterday."
Tickets go on sale Thursday. The show will kick off with Rob Roy and Kid Sister before Barker and A-Trak take the stage.


Graciousness might not seem like the most important thing in defining the success of a nation, but it is paramount for Mr Lim Siong Guan, the Institute of Policy Studies' fourth S R Nathan Fellow for the Study of Singapore.
Having served 37 years in the civil service, five of which as its head, Mr Lim said that based on his experience, there are four words to describe what Singapore needs in order to be a successful and sustainable nation state - "gracious society, Smart Nation".
He said: "We are a First World economy, but I don't think we can say that we are a First World society.
"We need to think about how to not just do good for ourselves, but also for future generations.
"We need to think about what kind of society we aspire to be."
He was speaking yesterday at the launch of his book, Can Singapore Fall? Making The Future For Singapore, which is a compilation of three lectures he delivered between September and November last year.
Mr Lim said that while thinking about the lectures, he came to the conclusion that to succeed and avoid "social decay", Singaporeans needed to think about the kind of society they aspired to be.
"You might not agree with me or my conclusions but my real desire is to get Singaporeans talking and debating," he said.
The aim of the lectures and the new book was simply "to get Singaporeans to think", he added.
"It is about thinking why we do things. We might all stand on the left when on the escalators, but are we doing it because we are afraid of being punished, or do we do it because we want to make moving easier for others," Mr Lim said.
He urged Singaporeans to create a gracious society and to build a culture of innovation, excellence and outwardness.
Education Minister Ong Ye Kung, who helped launch the book at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, said Mr Lim was his mentor.
"Everywhere I look in public service, Mr Lim has left an indelible mark," Mr Ong said.
Mr Janadas Devan, director of the Institute of Policy Studies, said the lectures by Mr Lim last year had the highest number of attendees among all lectures delivered by S R Nathan Fellows.


Bob "Bus Bob" Krause, 59, of Waikiki, an Oahu Transit System bus driver, died at home. He was born in Bremen, Germany. He is survived by parents Hans Krause and Sonja Aiwohi, brother Ralph and sisters Lorraine Kinnamon and Charmaine Moniz. Celebration of life: 2 p.m. Friday at Outrigger Canoe Club Waikiki. Additional celebration of life: 4:30 p.m. on weekend of May 4 and 5 at Kaneohe Yacht Club. Call 831-345-3628 for information. Updated service information for an obituary published April 20.


Robert E. Gates, 65, Altoona, passed away Friday at UPMC Altoona.
Known as Flip, he was born in Massachusetts, son of the late Patricia Gates. He married Cindy Thompson.
Surviving are his wife; two daughters: Heather Cramer (Laramy) of Coalport and Jessica Gates of Altoona; two sisters: Cheryl McKeen in Florida and Carol Martin of Indiana, Pa.; his mother-in-law, Joan Thompson; an aunt, Sandy Martin in Tennessee; and a granddaughter, Anna Cramer.
Bob served in the U.S. Marine Corps as a lance corporal. He retired from the Altoona Hospital Police Department with 38 years of service and also worked part-time for the Williamsburg Police Department. He was a member of Wehnwood United Methodist Church.
Friends will be received from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, Feb. 11, 2019, in the Leslie E. Axe Funeral Home, 1520 Fourth St., Altoona, and from 10 to 11 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2019, at the Wehnwood United Methodist Church. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2019, at the church, with full military honors. Interment will be at Canoe Creek Cemetery.
In memory of Bob, memorial contributions may be made to the Central Pennsylvania Humane Society, 1837 E. Pleasant Valley Blvd., Altoona, PA 16602.


At a “Street Speakout Against U.S. War & Racism,” organizations representing struggles against U.S. imperialism on the Korean peninsula, the Philippines, Iran, and Central and South America, as well as here in the U.S., gathered on the United National Antiwar Coalition’s national days of action. These marked the 16th anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan on Oct. 7.
Organizers from the International Action Center, BAYAN-USA and Anakbayan — all members of the International League of Peoples’ Struggle and UNAC — initiated this rally at a metro stop at Vermont and Wilshire. They gathered names for petitions and invited rail riders to join the fight to end all U.S. wars feeding racism, poverty and repression both here and abroad.


UCLA quarterback Josh Rosen's hot streak continued on Saturday, as he threw for 329 yards and five touchdowns in a 56-23 win over Hawaii at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California.
Since trailing 38-10 at halftime against Texas A&M in the season opener on Sept. 3, Rosen has looked like one of the nation's best quarterbacks.
Over his past six quarters, Rosen has thrown for 710 yards and all nine of his touchdowns. The junior has yet to throw an interception in 84 pass attempts.
Per ESPN Stats & Info, Rosen became the first Pac-12 quarterback to have a game with at least 300 passing yards, five touchdowns and a completion percentage of at least 85 percent in 20 years.
It's felt like just a matter of time before Rosen has his breakout season for the Bruins. He came to UCLA with otherworldly hype as a 5-star recruit and top-ranked pro-style quarterback in the 2015 recruiting class, per Scout.com.
A shoulder injury limited Rosen to just six games in 2016, but he's shown no lingering effects through two starts this season.


Super Bowl LIII will be played between the New England Patriots and Los Angeles Rams on Sunday. The Super Bowl will start at 3:30 p.m. PST.
The Rams advanced to the Super Bowl following a thrilling, 26-23 overtime win against the New Orleans Saints. It marks the franchise’s fourth trip to the Super Bowl and its first since the 2001 season when it lost to the Patriots in Super Bowl XXXVI.
The Patriots are making their third straight Super Bowl appearance. They defeated the Atlanta Falcons two years ago in Super Bowl LI, but fell to the Philadelphia Eagles last year. They defeated the Kansas City Chiefs, 37-31, in overtime of the AFC championship game to play in the Super Bowl this year.
The game marks Tom Brady’s ninth Super Bowl appearance. The Patriots quarterback has led the franchise to five Super Bowl wins during his 19-year career in New England.


Lynn Blake, left, teaches two hospital employees CPR at the VVMC Safety Fair. Blakeâs passion for educating Eagle County residents came from her own Sudden Cardiac Arrest, which a bystander provided CPR and saved her life. She was just 27 at the time.
On Valentine’s Day 2007, Lynn Blake was embarking on a new job in Vail Village when she had a rude awakening. The 27-year-old suffered sudden cardiac arrest. Fortunately for her, someone trained in CPR stepped forward and kept her heart beating until emergency personnel arrived with a defibrillator. If someone dropped in front of you unconscious, with no notable pulse, would you know what to do? Some 325,000 people die every year of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) in the United States. And, contrary to popular belief, it strikes people of all ages. “I did not know a thing about cardiac arrest. I didn’t know what it was,” Blake said. Now she knows firsthand about sudden cardiac arrest. The more she found out, the more she wondered why more people weren’t educated about SCA, the leading causes of death in the U.S. Just a few months after Blake’s sudden cardiac arrest, area pro biker Mike Janelle, in the prime of his life, died of SCA.”It’s a lot more common than people realize,” Blake said. Yet, she found, “no one’s really educating people about cardiac arrest.” That’s why she founded the Starting Hearts Foundation, partnering with the Vail Valley Medical Center and area emergency services. Starting Hearts is a non-profit dedicated to saving the lives of SCA victims, through communitywide CPR and AED (Automated External Defibrillation) education and access. “Vail Valley Medical Center embraces Lynn’s mission,” said Doris Kirchner, CEO and president of Vail Valley Medical Center. “VVMC is in the business of saving lives, and Starting Hearts can have a direct impact on that mission by engaging the community to help recognize and react to SCA appropriately.” Community key to saving lives Nearly 60 percent of cardiac arrests are witnessed. Most people know to call 911. But if that’s all you know about saving someone from SCA, the victim’s chance of surviving is slim. It is estimated 95 percent of cardiac arrest victims die before reaching a hospital if they do not receive shock treatment, such as from a defibrillator. That is why the response of bystanders is so critical to saving lives. Yet, Blake found the vast majority of people aren’t trained in CPR or using an AED. CPR classes tend to be taken only by those in jobs that demand the skill. Even if a layperson struggles to find a nearby course, it is difficult, Blake explains. Finding an AED is no easy task either. To address these issues, Starting Hearts acquired a decommissioned bus, and created the HeartRod, a mobile CPR/AED training unit, sponsored by Vail Valley Medical Center. Now, Blake, a certified instructor, travels to community events, Eagle County Schools and businesses teaching CPR and AED classes. “People aren’t going to come to me; I need to be able to go to them,” Blake said.Blake also created the event “All You Need is Heart,” which will take place on Feb. 14 at The Sebastian in Vail. The event focuses on personal heart health, including more than $1,200 worth of heart screens such as EKG’s, ultrasounds and cholesterols test. There are also feature presentations on endurance sports and the affects of high altitude, overcoming life’s challenges and savings lives in Eagle County. The event is $150 per person and is a fundraiser for Starting Hearts Foundation. Save more livesStarting Hearts will launch the ambitious “Save More Lives” campaign. “Our goal is to annually educate 25,000 people in Eagle County,” in CPR and AED, Blake said. As part of the campaign, Blake decided to apply the type of lessons every child has grasped. “If you ask anyone what to do if they catch on fire, they’d respond, ‘stop, drop and roll.’ Starting Hearts came up with a similar unforgettable message for SCA: ‘Call, push and shock.'” Dr. Lawrence Gaul is the Starting Hearts medical director. He was the cardiologist who treated Blake when she came into the Vail Valley Medical Center during her cardiac arrest episode. “It’s simple,” Gaul said, explaining Call, push and shock. “Call 911. Do rapid compressions in the middle of the chest and shock the person. When someone has a cardiac arrest the most important thing needed is shock.” That’s why, over the next year, the Save More Lives campaign will focus during on placing portable AEDs in strategic public places around Eagle County so anyone can find the nearest AED in emergencies.When Dr. Gaul traveled to Monaco for a medical conference, he was surprised to see this tiny country filled with street signs everywhere pointing to the nearest AED. By 2015, when the World Cup arrives in the Vail Valley, Dr. Gaul and Starting Hearts hope to have AEDs similarly available.To Blake, it is most rewarding when someone comes and tells her one of the classes she taught made a difference. There was the lady who took her class and was able to remove an object stuck in the throat of her choking grandchild through CPR. And the little girl who took one of her courses through the Youth Foundation and went home and practiced CPR with her family. “I encourage everyone in this community to get involved and participate in the Save More Lives campaign,” Blake said. “If everyone gets involved, we really can do it.”To participate in Save More Lives, find out about CPR and AED classes or to donate, contact Starting Hearts by emailing lynn@startinghearts.org or calling 970-331-3983.


Sports Academy has found “The Mamba Mentality.” The 96,000-square-foot training facility in Thousand Oaks announced a partnership with Kobe Bryant.
The 96,000-square-foot holistic athletic training facility in Thousand Oaks announced a partnership with former Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant on Monday morning.
The deal includes rebranding the 2-year-old facility MAMBA Sports Academy and a new logo.
The deal was announced Monday with a minute-long video in which Bryant described Sports Academy as a place "where we evolve and have fun."
"This is where we become better members of our team, our family and our community," Bryant said, "and ultimately, the best version of ourselves."
With the Conejo Valley Unified School District closed last month due to the Hill and Woolsey fires, Sports Academy opened its doors to the community, providing a "safe haven" for displaced children.
Opened in 2016 by Chad Faulkner, Sports Academy has everything from basketball and volleyball courts to a sports medicine practice to an Esports training ground and yoga studio on its six-center facility off of Ventu Park Road.
Everyone from local children on a break from school to Los Angeles Rams players like Todd Gurley have used the facility in its short history.
Before he was a Los Angeles Laker, Lebron James joined Kevin Durant and Paul George to watch a youth basketball event at Sports Academy last year.
Bryant, who lives in the Orange County, was also introduced to the facility through youth basketball.
Bryant published a coffee table book, “Mamba Mentality: How I Play,” earlier this fall.
The five-time NBA champion retired in 2016 as the NBA’s third all-time leading scorer. The Lakers retired his Nos. 8 and 24 last year.
Bryant won an Academy Award earlier this year for his “Kobe Bryant’s Muse” documentary film. He also has other projects on the new ESPN+ platform.


It's our longest ever edition of Football Weekly - but you know what they say, size ain't everything.
AC Jimbo has Barry Glendenning, Sean Ingle and Philippe Auclair in the pod to discuss a stonking weekend of football, as Manchester United claimed their 19th league title, Manchester City won the FA Cup and West Ham said goodbye to Avram Grant as they were relegated from the Premier League.
Abroad, we hear from Sid Lowe about Uefa's decision to not charge Sergio Busquets with racism or any other naughtiness, while James Horncastle tells us about poor Sampdoria's fall from grace.
We also get up to date with Lille's attempts to seal the French Double and salute all of those kindly ex-pros who flew to Chechnya to play a friendly after Craig David had warmed up the crowd.
Plump up a cushion, have a listen, and post your feedback on the blog below.


You cannot overestimate the mood of paranoia, hilarity and madness that pervades Westminster. Normal looking MPs seem to have messages branded on their foreheads: "tennis court repairs", "wife's tampons", like Hawthorne's scarlet letter.
I bumped into a Labour member. "I'm forming a support group called MPs Anonymous," he said. "We'll stand round in a circle and say: 'I'm an MP, but I am determined not to relapse.' "
In the chamber, members still went through the bowing and scraping, "with your permission, Mr Speaker" routine, as if he mattered. I haven't found an MP who doesn't think Michael Martin should go, but Labour doesn't want a byelection and the Tories don't want the next Speaker elected by a Labour majority.
MacKay made his way down Millbank, the latter-day Via Dolorosa that leads to the 24-hour news studios. With his weird complexion and bulging eyes, the poor fellow looked like a kipper that had been smoked before it was dead. "I was advised to do it [by the fees office]," he said. The fees office, which approved so many of these bizarre claims, seems to have been run on the lines of an East End used car dealership. "If you got cash, I can knock the VAT off, mate ... Now this is a lovely motor. Don't worry about the blood on the back seat, we can clean that up for you."
MacKay's interviewer seemed puzzled. "You said that you had a friendly conversation [with Cameron]. But he's told the media that he is very angry."
MacKay: "Well, it was friendly within limits." What a fabulous euphemism for gibbering rage and hatred!
In the chamber things were even more lunatic. Up for debate was discrimination against transgender people and whether they would be protected as well as transexuals. No, I don't know either. But Vera Baird (she tried to claim Xmas decorations) took it seriously. The voice of Sir Patrick Cormack thundered out: "God preserve us!"
Up in Derbyshire, Gordon Brown was trying to launch an election campaign. He still doesn't realise how dreadful things are. He is in denial. To misquote Pam Tillis's country hit: "You can call him Tutankhamun, the king of denial." He finally announced that Elliot Morley – £16,800 over 20 months for the phantom mortgage – had been drummed out of the Brownies. But what was hypnotic was the grin – like Dracula's chilling smile, it is back. It will never go away!


Virtuoso’s Luxe Report surveyed 1,071 of its advisors and found travelers are increasingly looking to personalize their trips with staged photo shoots, private helicopter transfers and more.
The hotel offers 276 rooms, five distinct dining experiences, 14 venues for meetings and events, and more. Check it out.
New legislation following the death of a puppy onboard a United Airlines flight and a number of new flights lead this week’s air travel news agents should keep on their radar. Take a look.


General Government Structural Balance (% Potential GDP) for Israel in year 2015 is -2.845 %. Data are on a national income accounts basis. The structural budget position is defined as the actual budget deficit (or surplus) less the effects of cyclical deviations of output from potential output. Because of the margin of uncertainty that attaches to estimates of cyclical gaps and to tax and expenditure elasticities with respect to national income, indicators of structural budget positions should be interpreted as broad orders of magnitude.
This makes Israel No. 49 in world rankings according to General Government Structural Balance (% Potential GDP) in year 2015. The world's average General Government Structural Balance (% Potential GDP) value is -0.89 %; Israel is 1.96 less than the average.
In the previous year, 2014, General Government Structural Balance (% Potential GDP) for Israel was -3.52 % General Government Structural Balance (% Potential GDP) for Israel in 2015 was or will be 19.18% less than it was or will be in 2014.
In the following or forecasted year, 2016, General Government Structural Balance (% Potential GDP) for Israel was or will be -3.59 %, which is 26.29% more than the 2015 figure.


After competing many times, local artist Ann Iungerich and her husband, David, decided to share some lessons learned Saturday in an ice-sculpting workshop.
The concept was more sculptors might make for a better competition.
"We've done a lot of research and tried to figure out what's what. That was why we decided to have a workshop - what few little secrets we know, we're willing to share that with others," Ann explained.
Ann and David Iungerich taught the half dozen participants how to chop away at the ice, just using wood chisels.
"Over the years, we've learned that just wood chisels work the best for us," Ann said. "We don't bring any power tools. We just have different various sharp chisels and that's what we use."
There's typically six to eight teams each year, and the Iungerichs are hoping this workshop will expand involvement and break down the barrier for people who may be interested in competing themselves.
Although she is an artist in many other mediums herself, Ann says she had never sculpted ice before her first year. After a friend suggested she try it, Ann said, "Sure!"
"I'm always up for a new adventure," Ann said.
But even as an artist herself, she said it was a little scary to start.
"It was a little bit intimidating, because we didn't know exactly how to do what we were doing, and yet it was exhilarating to watch, to take the blocks from nothing," she said.
Ann says she competed that first year with her husband and her son. David said he was skeptical at first.
"I initially said no. She talked me into it, 'cause I had no clue, I'm not very artsy," he said. "After that, we got hooked. It's a blast."
Alex Vance, a fan of Iungerich's, decided to come to the workshop because she loves her work.
"I'm an Ann Iungerich fan, so I follow her," Vance said. "Then she said: 'Here! Try it!' And now my hands are cold and I don't know what i'm doing. But it's fun!"
For those intimidated by the ice and the chisel, Ann Iungerich has some advice: "Sometimes I feel like we let fear rule our lives. Just jump in and try it. What's the worst that could happen? You could fail! Big deal, so what. It's just for fun. Just be part of a team and enjoy it."
For those who could not attend, a Facebook live of the event was filmed and Iungerich said they may upload it to YouTube. Iungerich also advised: "Google ice sculpting or search YouTube and look at videos, how other people do it."
For her and her now-skilled family of ice sculptors, "we just kind of, by trial-and-error, figured something out," she explained.
The Media Logic Radio's Ice Sculpting Competition will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in downtown Fort Morgan. Iungerich said they usually provide the theme several days in advance, and encouraged anyone interested to get involved.