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Integrated Science Institute /
Magnetic Resonance in Medicine /
Yankeelov, T.E. (Thomas E.), Cron, G.O. (Greg O.), Addison, C.L. (Christina L.), J. Wallace (Julia), R.C. Wilkins (Ruth), Pappas, B.A. (Bruce A.), Santyr, G.E. (Giles E.) and Gore, J.C. (John C.)
Comparison of a reference region model with direct measurement of an AIF in the analysis of DCE-MRI data
Magnetic Resonance in Medicine , Volume 57 - Issue 2 p. 353- 361
Models have been developed for analyzing dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE)-MRI data that do not require measurements of the arterial input function (AIF). In this study, experimental results obtained from a reference region (RR) analysis are compared with results of an AIF analysis in the same set of five animals (four imaged twice, yielding nine data sets), returning estimates of the volume transfer constant (Ktrans) and the extravascular extracellular volume fraction (ve). Student's t-test values for comparisons of Ktrans and ve between the two models were 0.14 (P = 0.88) and 0.85 (P > 0.4), respectively (where the high P-values indicate no significant difference between values derived from the two models). Linear regression analysis indicated there was a correlation between K trans extracted by the two methods: r2 = 0.80, P = 0.001 (where the low P-value indicates a significant linear correlation). For v e there was no such correlation (r2 = 0.02). The mean (absolute) percent difference between the models was 22.0% for Ktrans and 28.1 % for ve. However, the RR parameter values were much less precise than the AIF method. The mean SDs for Ktrans and v e for the RR analysis were 0.024 min-1 and 0.06, respectively, vs. 0.002 min-1 and 0.03 for AIF analysis.
Keywords Arterial input function, Contrast agent, DCE-MRI, Reference region, Tumor pharmacokinetics
Persistent URL dx.doi.org/10.1002/mrm.21131
Journal Magnetic Resonance in Medicine
Yankeelov, T.E. (Thomas E.), Cron, G.O. (Greg O.), Addison, C.L. (Christina L.), Wallace, J, Wilkins, R.C, Pappas, B.A. (Bruce A.), … Gore, J.C. (John C.). (2007). Comparison of a reference region model with direct measurement of an AIF in the analysis of DCE-MRI data. Magnetic Resonance in Medicine, 57(2), 353–361. doi:10.1002/mrm.21131
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Quality customer service and advances in technology have been keys to success.
When an independently owned retail company stays in business for 30 or 40 years, it's an impressive feat. For those fortunate enough to hit the 50- or 75-year milestone, there's reason to celebrate. However, when a company not only survives—but also thrives—for more than 100 years, it is doing something truly special.
And because of Smyth's 100-plus-year history, its customers garner many benefits.
In addition to working with new designers, Smyth has a long-standing relationship with some of the most notable designers. "We get the cream of the crop from designers such as Tacori and Lagos, which are very desirable brands that want to do business with us." And while Smyth is the go-to place for engagement rings and wedding bands, there is something for all occasions, tastes and budgets.
Smyth represents the third-generation in his family to be involved in the business, while Karl Getschel represents the fourth-generation. "Having four generations involved in a family business is very unusual. We all bring different perspectives to each decision we make, but at the end, we are a unified voice," says Smyth.
That happiness Carroll mentions is something customers will notice—whether they are long-time customers or it's their first time at Smyth. The jewelry store owners advise that—no matter the retail business—it's imperative to create an experience, one where customers are greeted by a friendly and easy-going associate who listens, asks questions, and shows you around.
"I always have a great experience here when buying, and perhaps more importantly, post purchase. All the salespeople are always extremely helpful and professional," says one reviewer. "Kim made us feel like we were working with a friend," adds another.
Despite its success, Smyth Jewelers is not one to rest on its laurels. "We've been successful by being able to adapt to changes in the industry," says Getschel. In addition to changing styles and tastes in jewelry, some of the most significant changes in the industry—like most industries—has been the result of evolving technological advances. Smyth says he still has his grandfather's diamond scale on his desk—where a diamond was placed on one side, and weights on the other until the scale was even—but recognizes that today's digital scales are more accurate, quicker, and more efficient.
Technological advances have also been important when it comes to engraving. While Smyth offers all types of engraving, laser engraving can now be done on anything from a wooden cutting board to a sterling bowl, crystal stemware, or on the inside of a wedding band. Laser engraving is much faster and less expensive than engraving done in the past. "This allows the customer to personalize the gift and make it just that much more special," Smyth says.


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Home Tags U.S. Navy
Tag: U.S. Navy
Boeing Receives Second U.S. Navy Contract for F/A-18 Service Life Modification
Armada International - July 3, 2019
Boeing has received a one-year contract, which also includes a one-year option for 2020, to continue modernizing the U.S. Navy's F/A-18 fleet under the Service Life Modification (SLM) program. The $164 million contract for FY19 funds the standup of a second SLM line in...
Mercury Systems receives $16M in DRFM Jammer Orders from U.S. Navy
Mercury Systems, Inc. announced it received an additional $16 million in follow-on orders against its previously announced $152 million 5 year sole-source basic ordering agreement (BOA) to deliver advanced Digital RF Memory (DRFM) jammers to the U.S. Navy. The orders were received in the fourth quarter of the Company's fiscal...
Arnold Defense awarded U.S. Department of Defense Contract worth up to $74.3 million
Armada International - June 12, 2019
Arnold Defense, the world's leading supplier of rocket launchers, has been awarded a $53.8 million contract for the delivery of 2.75-inch rocket launchers and sub components to support the U.S. Navy, Army and Air Force, along with foreign military sales to Australia. Recently announced...
Airbus Helicopters selects Pratt & Whitney PW206B3 engine to power H135
Armada International - March 28, 2019
Airbus Helicopters announced its selection of the Pratt & Whitney PW206B3 engine to power the Airbus H135 IFR-certified helicopter the company is proposing for the U.S. Navy helicopter trainer replacement. Company officials made the announcement at the 2019 Heli-Expo industry trade show in Atlanta....
U.S. Government approves release of Boeing EA-18G Growler to Finland
Boeing and the U.S. Navy have received U.S. Department of Defense approval to offer the EA-18G Growler to Finland. Previously only Australia had been authorized to purchase the airborne electronic attack (AEA) aircraft. Boeing and the Navy have offered the Growler and F/A-18 Super Hornet...
U.S. Navy orders next group of P-8A aircraft; 19 jets support world-wide customers
Armada International - February 10, 2019
The U.S. Navy has awarded Boeing a $2.4 billion production contract for the next 19 P-8A Poseidon aircraft. The contract includes 10 aircraft to add to the current inventory of P-8As in the U.S. Navy fleet, all five jets currently under contract for Norway...
Leonardo: TH-119 helicopter performs first flight, ready for US Navy
Armada International - January 15, 2019
Leonardo is pleased to announce it successfully completed the initial flight test of the TH-119 IFR training helicopter. The TH-119 is Leonardo's bid to replace the U.S. Navy's aging fleet of TH-57 Sea Ranger training helicopters, a variant of the successful AW119, manufactured in...
Viasat's MMT proves Battlefield Ready during 2018 Saber Strike exercise
Armada International - October 9, 2018
During the recent Saber Strike 2018 exercise, which was intended to build readiness across U.S. Army and NATO coalition forces, Viasat Inc., a global communications company, proved its Multi-Mission Terminal (MMT), known to the United States Department of Defense as the AN/TSC-241, is battlefield ready, and can help warfighters and first responders rapidly communicate during...
Rockwell Collins awarded to provide MUOS SATCOM-capable airborne radios
Armada International - September 28, 2018
Rockwell Collins has been awarded the first long-term contract with the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) to supply Mobile User Objective System (MUOS)-capable airborne radios and ancillaries for DoD platforms including fixed and rotary-wing aircraft, ships and ground installations. A five-year agreement through the...
U.S. Navy Awards Boeing $805 million MQ-25 Contract
Armada International - September 3, 2018
Boeing will build the U.S. Navy's first operational carrier-based unmanned aircraft, the MQ-25 aerial refueler, through an $805 million contract awarded on the 30th of August. Boeing was awarded the engineering and manufacturing development contract to provide four aircraft. Boeing plans to perform the MQ-25...

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Schow overly optimistic on post-COVID Alberta economy
By Cole Parkinson
Westwind Weekly News
While no one knows when the pandemic will pass, Cardston-Siksika MLA Joseph Schow is optimistic about how Alberta will bounce back.
With politicians heading back to the legislature next month, Schow is excited to get back to work and start moving past the pandemic.
"We are going back to session here in the month of February, so we should expect that to last into the late spring, possibly even into the summer depending on how many bills the government decides to bring forward. As deputy house leader, I had an opportunity to kind of be part of those conversations to a degree and I'm looking forward to a lot of great pieces of legislation and continuing to keep promises that we made to Albertans," he said at the Municipal District of Taber's regular meeting on Jan. 11.
While Schow is preparing to head back to Edmonton, he's been busy around the riding talking to consistent. The main topic continues to be the pandemic and Schow understands the continued concerns being brought forward.
"I've also had the chance, leading up two this meeting here, to visit with a number of constituents. I believe what the most pertinent issue on everyone's mind right now which is the COVID-19 pandemic and steps going forward," continued Schow. "I have heard from lots of my constituents already with concerns about the government's approach, things being seen and needing to be evaluated, certain pieces of data that are or not being released, and looking forward to some of your questions on that."
One of the biggest issues continues to be economic recovery when the pandemic ceases. Schow though sees plenty of opportunity for Alberta once that does come to fruition.
"To me, it's making sure we have the economic recovery that we're projected to have in this province. We are set to lead the country in economic recovery over the next couple of years. A number of financial institutions have projected that and we are certainly on that course. What that requires is a workforce and it requires the availability of new people entering the workplace to help supply those new and emerging investments with the workforce they need. That's why I have been very excited about what the future holds for the province of Alberta," he added. "The price of oil is going up. It's certainly can be a bit rocky at times, but very positive trends there. Between the investment and hopefully us getting out of this pandemic sooner than later, I think there's a very bright future for the province of Alberta and the country of Canada in 2022."
Another portion of that comes down to strengthening the workforce and providing incentives for people to work in Alberta. A concern was raised from council around commercial driver licenses. They said the new mandates leave the agriculture sector vulnerable.
"A couple of things that I am seeing that are a bit concerning. One is the requirements for commercial drivers licenses," explained Coun. Brian Hildebrand. "I foresee an issue with maintaining enough drivers available to fill positions for transportation, particularly in the ag sector. The procedure to get a driver's licence is becoming very onerous, especially for a lot of the ag workers. It's expensive and as soon as they get a license, they are very susceptible to poaching from other industries. That's quite a concern for farms and agricultural transportation."
Hildebrand continued to touch on issues around workers that had to leave the country due to the pandemic.
"The other agricultural workforce situation that I am seeing is there are a number of workers that left the country when the November restrictions came in place. Trying to get out of the country prior to those travel restrictions. Here in January, we are going to have more in the middle of the month," he continued. "I'm rather concerned about some of our migrant, and even citizen workers, that have connections. Whether it be Kansas, Texas, or Mexico. A number left for the winter because of the restrictions and I'm very worried that a portion of them will not come back."
Schow responded by explaining why changes to commercial driving licenses were needed.
"So, the first one with regards to the driver training. I have said this a number of times — this MELT (Mandatory Entry-Level Training) program is one that we have to implement to some degree. It's an international standard and given the vast majority of our trade goes south of the border to send trucks down and bring them back, we do need to have this training program. The last I head, I know the U.S. has changed some of their requirements, so that might have an effect on our program, but I think one of the unintended consequences that you so wisely addressed was the idea of poaching," stated Schow. "You're looking at a former Class 1 driver. I can tell you as a Class 1 driver my main priority was stability for my family. Now, I didn't drive Class 1 for a very long time and ended up going with Class 3, but I can tell you that if I get a Class 1 and have an opportunity to do some seasonal work here and in spring and the fall, or get a full-time job — I'm going to take the full-time job. My job was to help feed my family and pay my share of the bills. I can't fault people for looking at those opportunities that are more consistent in their lives."
Schow though did touch on the fact it leaves many in the ag industry vulnerable.
"With that said, it puts the ag industry in a really difficult spot because the cost of obtaining a Class 1 drivers license now is, to a degree, prohibitive. We are looking some programs that might enable people to get their Class 1 driver's licenses with some financial assistance. I have talked to a number of ag producers in the area, and I represent Picture Butte, Vulcan County, and Cardston County, and come their respective seasons, it gets very busy there and the demand for drivers is huge," he said. "We'll continue to look at that because we cannot put ourselves in a situation where come harvest we don't have the drivers or we push our drivers beyond what I think would be legal or reasonable limits."
Schow also responded to the comments about workers leaving the country.
"In terms of migration, a lot of those rules are federal and they may drive people out of here. We have an absolute requirement to make an environment here in the province of Alberta that is conducive to new people coming into the province and working. We have started that by recognizing trade credentials from other provinces and jurisdictions. Now, that doesn't necessarily apply to temporary foreign workers, but there are a lot of pieces here we have to work with to make sure we are not strained for workforce come when we need it most."
"The workers who are travelling out of the country, a lot of them are citizens. In fact, most of them are citizens," replied Hildebrand.
Another topic brought forward was around housing and how that is another factor to bringing workers to the area.
"We've talked about ensuring the workforce and in the ag world we often have folks who are entering a workforce. Or that those skill level job that they want to be involved with and therefore they ned housing. So the government recognizing housing being important, but we're seeing a lot of the housing projects end up in the cities. But rurally, that becomes a big issue as well," stated Deputy Reeve Tamara Miyanaga.
Despite some of these concerns, Schow was still optimistic about Alberta's future.
"I would argue the situation in Alberta is better than other jurisdictions in the country."


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Return to press releases
Chemical company fined after worker suffered burns
7th April 2022 9th April 2022
Robert McBride Ltd was sentenced today for safety breaches after a 31-year-old worker suffered 13 per cent superficial burns to his right arm and hand following the ignition of flammable vapours at the company's site in Hull.
Beverley Magistrates' Court heard that on 21 August 2017, a batch of hairspray was being mixed in a 10,000 litre stainless steel mixing vessel. Flammable vapours were created within the mixing vessel as a result of heating.
Ethanol was pumped directly into the vessel via pipework from an external storage tank. Other constituents (liquid and powder) were added to the vessel via a manway lid on the top of the vessel. The mixing process then required the addition of heat via an integral steam coil within the vessel.
As the worker was adding powders into the vessel via the lid using a metal scoop, flammable vapours leaving the vessel via the lid ignited, briefly engulfing his upper torso.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found there was an extraction system at the lip of the manway lid to remove vapours from this area, but it was not adequate to prevent a build-up of a flammable atmosphere. The ignition source is likely to have been a spark from the metal scoop, or static electricity build up on the workers clothing.
Robert McBride Ltd of Hornscroft Park, Kinswood, Hull pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 6(1) of the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations (DSEAR) 2002. The company was fined £480,000 and ordered to pay costs of £13,441.80.
Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector David Stewart said: "Dutyholders should carry out a DSEAR risk assessment in areas where there is a potential for the creation of explosive or flammable atmospheres in order to identify adequate control measures."
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain's national regulator for workplace health and safety. We prevent work-related death, injury and ill health through regulatory actions that range from influencing behaviours across whole industry sectors through to targeted interventions on individual businesses. These activities are supported by globally recognised scientific expertise. hse.gov.uk[1]
More about the legislation referred to in this case can be found at: legislation.gov.uk/ [2]
HSE news releases are available at http://press.hse.gov.uk[3]
Please see the link below to the page on HSE's website that is the best guide to doing it the right way:
DSEAR Regulations – Fire and explosion (hse.gov.uk)
Press release, Prosecution HSE inspector David Stewart, Robert McBride Ltd


Meet Dr. Jessica Barron, a caring cosmetic dentist bringing smiles to Thornton, CO!
Dr. Barron holds a DMD from Boston University, and brings a decade of experience in treating patients of all ages in a family friendly environment. Whether bringing the kids in for their regular 6 month check up, or coming in for some cosmetic dentistry, such as veneers, Dr. Barron will make your treatment comfortable and top notch.
Dr. Barron enjoys spending her free time with her husband and 3 children, in the outdoors playing and enjoying the wonderful atmosphere that Colorado has to offer.
Dr. Jessica Barron truly loves being a dentist. She understands the importance of tailored dental care and a comprehensive approach to dental health. Each patient is unique and Dr. Barron believes dental care should reflect that. Her friendly and compassionate approach to family and cosmetic dentistry will make coming to the dentist fun and something you look forward to!
Contact us today to schedule an appointment with Dr. Barron!


Consider this seaside resort for your next vacation.
Just south of Tokyo lies Kamakura, a seaside resort town that's as known for temples and beaches as it is for good restaurants and interesting marketplaces. Here, we list down several of the coastal retreat's up-and-coming establishments, which even the locals are excited over.
Open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for lunch, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m for afternoon coffee, and 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. for dinner (last order is at 9:30 p.m.).
Despite being a relatively new player, locals have already fallen in love with Umizoi no Kikori Shokudo (Zaimokuza, Kamakura City), a restaurant known for their charcoal fire and smoked dishes. They also have a lot of set menu and bowl menu meals made from local ingredients like Kamakura vegetables, Misaki tuna, Shonan shirasu. Another must try: the charcoal baumkuchen.
Open 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. (last order is at 2:30 p.m.) and 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. (last order is at 9 p.m.) daily except Mondays and second and fourth Tuesdays.
If seafood isn't your thing, Bistro Ampersand (Omachi, Kamakura City) offers local dishes with a French flair. Enjoy a serving of Kamakura vegetables with cocotte, a small French pot dish. The lunch set, which allows you to choose an appetizer, a main dish, and a dessert, is available starting from ¥3,024.
Open from 10 a.m. until sundown daily except Tuesdays.
Find the perfect souvenirs at ANDT KAMAKURA (Zaimokuza, Kamakura City), a Hawaiian luxury-themed store that deals with miscellaneous goods and indoor plants. Look for their handmade plant hanger and earrings purchased from the island itself.
If you love getting sweets as souvenirs, go to AaH bit (Zaimokuza, Kamakura City). The confectionery sells sweets without additives, white sugar, and wheat. Instead of sugar, they use apple honey, which falls low on the Glycemic Index, and doesn't increase blood glucose levels. Their delicious and healthy sweets are popular among people, including athletes.


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The New Worker's Songbook Songwriters' Workbook for New Worksongs! v2 by Tor Lukasik-Foss with DodoLab
Submitted by Giles Lane on June 24, 2011 – 9:19 pm
Download A4 | US Letter PDF 880Kb Read Online
About : Created by Hamilton (Canada) artist and musician Tor Lukasik-Foss as part of DodoLab's New Worker's Songbook project, this publication is a simple graphic guide to writing and performing your own work song. The project was first developed in collaboration with the Workers Arts and Heritage Centre (Hamilton) followed by collaborations with The Print Studio (Hamilton) and SACY (Sudbury Action Centre for Youth).
Tor Lukasik-Foss (Tiny Bill Cody) is an artist, writer, musician and performer interested in the ways in which art becomes a public language or a publicly shared experience. His visual work employs the idioms of conventional sign making, and is frequently designed for site-specific purposes. His performance work explores the notion of the public concert, and tries to deliberately tamper with the relationship between the performer, the stage, and the audience.
DodoLab is an art and design based program that employs experimental and adaptive processes to spark positive change and resiliency. We work collaboratively with a diversity of emergent thinkers/doers to imaginatively and critically repurpose familiar tools of the social sciences, marketing and activism to engage with the public in public. Our focus is the complex relationships between people and their surroundings and how communities define, and are defined by, their environment. DodoLab puts the creative process at the heart of confronting social and environmental challenges.
Made with *** bookleteer.com ***


Meh. I really didn't find anything remotely funny about this one or even what Jerry and Joel Hodgson were talking about.
Now THIS episode was damn funny. I have been a big fan of Bob Einstein since his days on Bizarre, Super Dave as well as his time on Curb Your Enthusiasm. You could tell that they were having a lot of fun shooting this one. I'd be okay with him returning back to Comedians In Cars in the near future.
I haven't watched this series in a while since other things seem to have taken priority. Just plain forgot about it. So, it was kinda nice to be able to go back and see a wealth of new episodes to pick and choose from. I immediately went to this one because of Michael Richards (Kramer from Seinfeld fame). This episode is unusual because of the run time which clocks in under just 20 minutes. Average episode time is around 10 minutes. Do, we get double the fun and it shows. Everything here is great. The Chess story was fascinating to watch as Michael tells it to Jerry who is hanging on every word. A lot of great funny moments that suddenly gets very real when he talks about his On-Stage meltdown 7 years ago. Even though that was in the back of my mind, I didn't think they would even go there. I'm glad they did, because you can see and hear the remorse in his eyes and voice. Overall, I would say this is one of my favorite episodes so far. Just seeing them together is making me want to bust out and do a Seinfeld marathon, something I haven't done in probably 7-8 years.
I can't believe it was seven years ago now. Wow.
Anyway, this just popped up. Enjoy!
I watched a couple of episodes back to back and it was damn funny. Both Sarah Silverman and David Letterman were great. I'd love to get to hang out with Sarah. She has always been super funny and watching her with Jerry is just more proof that she would be a great one to talk to. David was just as great too. Love hearing him reminiscent about old comedians as well as certain jokes from years ago. I never really care what car they open with, but this one in particular with David was funny, especially the back story involving Paul Newman. Definitely check out both episodes. Well worth the time invested in them.
Jerry meets with the head of Crackle... who happens to be Hitler's son-in-law.
Hahaha. That was pretty good. Ya know, he may be playing a Network Bigwig, but underneath it all, he's playing Kramer and I love it for that very reason. The fact that you have Jerry sitting right across from him makes it better and just makes me want to bust out the entire Seinfeld DVD set right now.
I miss me some Kramer, buddy.
Picked a random episode to watch and settled on Jay Leno's turn on the show. I didn't expect much from this as I'm not what you would call a fan of Leno in the sense that I don't follow what he is doing. I think his stand-up can be very funny, but my impression of him is largely based on The Tonight Show, which I just couldn't get into at all as I was more on Team Letterman. So, yeah, kinda went into this episode with the mindset of "show me what you got" mentality. Surprisingly, he was damn funny. The show is great when you get a comedian that is 'on' with his or her sole objective to make Jerry laugh and Jay knocked it out, repeatedly. He was making me laugh a lot. I'd definitely re-watch this episode for sure. Consider my mind blown at the fact that this was Jay's first cup of coffee.......ever! In real life or on the show. How does someone that has been around as long as Jay and in the profession that he is in, never have coffee? Think about it, late nights, doing your show, writing material and you need something (caffeine) to keep you awake and going until you complete whatever task you are doing. Jay's reaction to his first sip of said coffee was priceless. "This is gross".
Followed up the Jay Leno episode with another random pick and went with Tina Fey. This episode was the exact opposite of the Leno one. It wasn't bad. It's just that it was more about conversation and less about cracking each other up. I like Tina and I'd like to have a beer with her someday and have the same kind of conversation depicted in this episode.
I purposely posted here just to ruin your day.
You did.... I'm P*ssed, can't you tell?
Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee: The Lost Episodes.
I admit it took me a few seconds to recognize Larry David', even though really, who else would it be?


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In this article, we'll discuss Rihanna's dating life, net worth, age, birthday, family & relationship information, facts, and biography.
Who is Rihanna dating right now?
Rihanna is dating ASAP Rocky.
She makes a lot of money from his various singing concerts, music shows, and business ventures. The singer has a net worth of $1. 7 billion.
Networth: $1.7 Billion
Salary: Not known
Primary Income Source: Singer
Rihanna – Biography / wiki
Rihanna is a popular Barbadian and American Fashion Designer, Singer, Businesswoman and Actress. After signing with Def Jam in 2005, she released her first two studio albums, Music of the Sun and A Girl Like Me, both of which were inspired by Caribbean music. Evan Rogers brought her to the US to make demos. She was raised in a well-settled Christian family. She attended Charles F. Broome Memorial Primary School. After releasing her debut album, Music of the Sun, in 2005, she had a big breakthrough with her second album, Good Girl Gone Bad, which featured the #1 hit "Umbrella."
Full Name: Robyn Rihan Fenty
DOB: 20-Feb-88
Birth Place: Saint Michael, Barbados
Country: Barbados
Ethnicity: Black, White, Mixed, Biracial and British Descent
Hometown: Saint Michael
Lives in: Los Angeles, California
Nationality: Barbadian and American
Occupation: Fashion Designer, Businesswoman, Singer, and Actress
Age and Birthday
She is currently 34 years old. Her date of birth was February 20, 1988. She was born on a Saturday.
Birth location and Hometown
Rihanna place of birth is Saint Michael, Barbados. Her hometown is Saint Michael.
Rihanna Boyfriend, Dating and Family
She has been in relationships with a lot of people, including Chris Brown, Leonardo Dicaprio, J.R. Smith, and Negus Sealy. Ronald Fenty is a warehouse supervisor and Monica Braithwaite is an accountant. Her half-sisters are named. Her brothers are named Rorrey and Rajad. Ronald and Monica Braithwaite are the parents of the singer.
Marital Status: In Relationship
Boyfriend: ASAP Rocky
Children: Unknown
Height and Physical Appearance
Career and Education
She and her dad used to sell clothes in a street stall. She started singing when she was seven years old. Chris Brown ended his relationship with her after he was involved in a domestic dispute.
Career Facts
Years Active: 2003 – Present
Debut: Music Video: Music of the Sun (2005), TV Series: Las Vegas (2005), Film: Bring It On: All or Nothing (2006)
Famous Role: Peter Berg in Film Battleship (2012)
Education Qualification: Graduate
School/High School: Charles F. Broome Memorial Primary School, Barbados
College/University: The Combermere School, Barbados
Her songs include "Only Girl (In the World)," "All of the Lights," and "We Found Love." She won her firstGrammy Award for "Umbrella" in 2008, then won two more for "Run This Town" in 2010.
Zodiac / Sun Sign: Pisces
Compatible Sign: Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn
Element: Water
Opposite sign: Virgo
Sign Duality: Passive
Sign Modality: Mutable
Zodiac Sign Gemstones: Amethyst
Birth Flower: Primrose
Birth Stone: Amethyst
What is Rihanna famous for?
She is famous for being a Fashion Designer, Businesswoman, Singer, and Actress.
When is Rihanna's birthday?
Her date of birth is on February 20, 1988.
What is Rihanna's current age?
Her current age is 34 years .
What is Rihanna's nationality?
Her nationality is Barbadian and American.
How tall is Rihanna in real life?
Her real height is 1.73 m.
Is Rihanna married?
She is in a relationship and not yet married.
How much is Rihanna worth?
Estimated net worth of $1.7 Billion.
Tabitha Swatosh
Korean Singer | Singer
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Abstract: Abstract In this paper, we analyse how a migrant population that is both expanding and changing in composition has affected the composition of Swedish neighbourhoods at different scales. The analysis is based on Swedish geocoded individual-level register data for the years 1990, 1997, 2005, and 2012. This allows us to compute and analyse the demographic composition of neighbourhoods that range in size from encompassing the nearest 100 individuals to the nearest 409,600 individuals. First, the results confirm earlier findings that migrants, especially those from non-European countries, face high levels of segregation in Sweden. Second, large increases in the non-European populations in combination with high levels of segregation have increased the proportion of non-European migrants living in neighbourhoods that already have high proportions of non-European migrants. Third, in contrast to what has been the established image of segregation trends in Sweden, and in an apparent contrast to the finding that non-European migrants increasingly live in migrant-dense neighbourhoods, our results show that segregation, when defined as an uneven distribution of different populations across residential contexts, is not increasing. On the contrary, for both European migrants from 1990 and non-European migrants from 1997, there is a downward trend in unevenness as measured by the dissimilarity index at all scale levels. However, if segregation is measured as differences in the neighbourhood concentration of migrants, segregation has increased.


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Tag: Amy Chan
Hong Kong's rule of law is not static? You can say that again
by Tim Hamlett 15:15, 19 November 2022 15:56, 19 November 2022
Local lawyers and judges have for many years enjoyed the opportunity – at the ceremonial opening of the Legal Year – to tell us all how lucky we are to have them. This is always marked by assurances from sundry legal bigwigs that the rule of law is vital to our stability and prosperity, alive […]
Two Hong Kong court spectators jailed for sedition over critical comments about magistrate in protest case
by Almond Li 16:19, 27 October 2022 16:19, 27 October 2022
Hong Kong court to hear if law against inciting others to cast invalid votes is constitutional
by Peter Lee 18:38, 9 September 2022 18:38, 9 September 2022
Elderly woman accused of sedition over alleged court disturbance clapped after magistrate warned against it, court hears
by Almond Li 07:55, 7 September 2022 09:42, 7 September 2022
Preacher and elderly woman plead not guilty to sedition over allegedly disturbing court proceedings
Hong Kong man jailed for 5 months over selling fake tickets for boy band Mirror's concert
by Hillary Leung 00:00, 17 August 2022 19:53, 16 August 2022
Ex-organiser of Hong Kong Tiananmen Massacre vigil jailed for 15 months over banned 2021 commemoration
by Candice Chau 15:30, 4 January 2022 19:19, 4 January 2022
Hong Kong court is urged not to engage in 'trial of speech'
by Candice Chau 15:40, 2 December 2021 15:45, 2 December 2021
Ex-chief of Hong Kong's disbanded Tiananmen Massacre vigil group pleads not guilty to incitement charge
by Candice Chau 14:19, 5 October 2021 15:06, 5 October 2021
Hong Kong court orders barrister who organised Tiananmen vigil to remain in custody
by Kelly Ho 18:02, 9 July 2021 18:02, 9 July 2021


OCEAN CITY -- Gov. William Donald Schaefer began saying goodbye yesterday but made it clear there was life and fight in the old man yet.
In a rambling, hourlong speech at the Maryland Association of Counties' annual summer convention, Mr. Schaefer spoke his mind on a broad array of topics, including London Fog Corp.'s plant closings in Maryland, his problems with the legislature and, of course, politics.
In a barely veiled reference to Prince George's County Executive Parris N. Glendening, the Democratic gubernatorial front-runner, Mr. Schaefer warned officials about election-year "rhetoric" and "promises" made by gubernatorial candidates.
He also dropped two nuggets of "news." The first was that he is initiating a study of state government's taking over full operation of the Circuit Court system. The other was that the state has finally met the goals the legislature ordered for recycling trash.
In one of his last major speeches before leaving office in January, Mr. Schaefer offered grandfatherly advice on the importance of public service, poked fun at himself and took shots at the news media.
At one point, which he described as "the nostalgic part," he warned the audience that he had "a lot of things" on his mind.
And, in Mr. Schaefer's classic stream-of-consciousness style, he let the audience of state, county and local officials know exactly what was on his mind.
He seemed keenly aware of his own political mortality, calling himself an "old man" and peppering the speech with references to the past. And yet, as he nears the end of his second and last term as governor, he also put the message out that he was far from retiring and would take an active role in this year's elections.
Mr. Schaefer even half-kiddingly suggested that he might seek public office again, saying, "I'm over running -- for the present."
But his speech took a somber turn by the end, when he concluded his remarks by singing the first line of "So long, It's Been Good to Know You."
In announcing a 17-member commission to study the possible state takeover of the Circuit Court system, Mr. Schaefer touched on an issue that has long been a high priority for local officials because of the burdensome costs of maintaining and operating the courts.
The commission -- which will report to the governor Oct. 15, in time for the recommendations to be dropped in the lap of the next governor -- will be headed by retiring Del. Timothy F. Maloney, a Prince George's County Democrat widely viewed as a legislative and fiscal wizard.
The annual cost of a takeover has been estimated at about $40 million for the court system's operations budget statewide. The capital costs of new construction and repairs would add "a couple of hundred million" dollars if the commission also recommended a state takeover of that responsibility, Mr. Schaefer said.
As for recycling, another subject dear to those in local government, the governor said the state had surpassed its legally required goal of recycling 20 percent of all solid waste by the end of 1994. All 23 counties and Baltimore have met the goal, and the statewide recycling rate is now 26 percent, he said.
Once the business of announcements was over, Mr. Schaefer praised his staff, department heads and the programs they have initiated, and his press secretary, Page W. Boinest, whose last day working for the governor was yesterday.
"One thing I'm sorry for -- a great team, a great team will fall apart," the governor said as his administration nears an end and appointees seek employment elsewhere.
In singling out his Cabinet members, Mr. Schaefer praised Mark L.Wasserman, secretary of economic and employment development, for his efforts abroad and for his more recent negotiations with London Fog, which announced Friday that it would close three plants in the state and eliminate 700 jobs.
Though he had high praise for Mr. Wasserman, the governor took a swipe at the company, bemoaning the loss of jobs.
"This did not have to happen," he said, holding up a copy of The Sun's article on London Fog. "This one makes me mad."
Mr. Schaefer said that of the three plants, "only one plant had to close," and he indicated that there was a glimmer of hope that something might come of continued negotiations.
Another regret, he said, was that the state's budget deficits -- brought on by the recession and the economic downturn during his second term -- forced him to raise taxes. That, he said, was one of the campaign promises he made in 1986 that he was not able to keep.
He acknowledged in his remarks that "in certain areas of the state I know I was not exactly the most popular man," but he said in an interview later that news reports of his unpopularity were "horse manure."
He was responding -- or not responding -- to the question of whether he would endorse any gubernatorial candidates in the primary or general elections and whether he thought such an endorsement would help or hurt the candidate.
Mr. Schaefer would not say whether he would throw his support behind a candidate.
There is speculation that he might get behind U.S. Rep. Helen Delich Bentley, a Republican, in the general election. Mrs. Bentley, who is ahead in polls by a 4-1 margin over her competition for the GOP nomination, said yesterday that she would not seek Mr. Schaefer's support but would not say whether she would seek his endorsement in the general election.
Mr. Schaefer said his nod "could make a difference" in a close race.
One candidate who could get the governor's endorsement in the Democratic primary is state Sen. American Joe Miedusiewski of Baltimore, who was encouraged to run by Mr. Schaefer. The governor would not endorse him yesterday but said he considered him a viable candidate.
Mr. Schaefer did not mention Mr. Glendening by name but made oblique references to him in his remarks and in the later interview.
He cautioned the local officials to look closely at "promises" made by candidates, particularly in light of the state's tight budget. Mr. Glendening has been criticized by opponents for making at least $200 million in promises in return for political support and endorsements.
Mr. Schaefer also dismissed "this whole baloney of cutting government" as a way to increase spending for certain zTC programs. "Where you gonna go" for the cuts? he asked.
One candidate's "promise" -- made by Mr. Glendening to Montgomery County officials -- that the governor called "impossible" to fulfill is full state funding of Social Security payments for teachers, librarians and community college employees.
The state stopped making those payments when it cut state aid to local jurisdictions by $147 million in the fall of 1992 as a way out of the budget crisis. The cuts caused a sharp rift between Mr. Schaefer and Mr. Glendening, who, unlike other county executives, criticized the governor harshly at the time.
Montgomery County benefited the most from the Social Security program.


As a wrestler, she was a risk taker. Lita wasn't afraid to dive off the top rope or out of the ring. Her carefree wrestling style eventually caught up to her in the form of injuries, but the WWE fans loved her for it. Although Lita was known for being a tremendous athlete, the picture above shows just how incredibly attractive she was as well. Her body looks amazing in this picture, and the purple bikini seems to be a perfect fit.


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Q: WSO2 ESB Managment Console - Change header Is there a way to change the "WSO2 ESB Management Console" header text from "Management Console" to something else for ex "MC PROD 1" or something else.
We would need that sicne we are running several WSO2ESB instances and it's sometimes confusing to know on what server we are logged in to.

A: For your requirement, you can change the context of the url of each instances. that is in the carbon.xml, default is     <WebContextRoot>/</WebContextRoot> . Where you can provide descriptive strings to identify the diffrent nodes.
eg:     <WebContextRoot>/esb</WebContextRoot>
<WebContextRoot>/as</WebContextRoot>

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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home / STARTicles / Things Are Looking Up For a Tax Extenders Deal
Startup Step: Set Up the Books
Things Are Looking Up For a Tax Extenders Deal
posted by: Kate Harrington
Back in November we wrote about what small businesses should be keeping an eye on as tax season nears.
Each year, tax extenders – temporary tax breaks that Congress can choose to renew annually – are a big part of tax preparation for businesses. Unfortunately, they fluctuate each year, and Congress doesn't always release details about how much a business can deduct for the tax year until the last minute. This year, Congress attempted to not leave things until the very last minute, and has agreed on an extender deal – although you could argue that agreeing on bill in mid-December is the very definition of last-minute. While it has not yet been signed into law as of this writing [President Obama did, in fact, sign this bill on December 18], the deal could bring good news for businesses if the President does sign it.
The bill includes 52 extenders, among them: research & development credit, Section 179 deductions, and bonus depreciation. It also makes many provisions permanent, and provides guidance for the laws that will phase out over time or expire.
Mike Kelley, a CPA/ABV, and CVA with Wheeler Fairman & Kelley Certified Public Accountants in Austin, Texas, says some of the most important provisions of the bill that was recently passed by the House are permanent rules for Section 179 expensing at $500,000 per year, and the research and development tax credit.
Sec. 179 applies to business purchases, and includes both new and used items. For 2014, the limitation per individual for Sec. 179 was $500,000, and it gets phased out after acquiring $2 million in property. That meant small business owners could "deduct the full costs of up to $500,000 on most depreciable assets that have less than a 20-year life, such as a new or used computer, equipment, vehicles, furniture, and more," according to Entrepreneur.com.
If a bill isn't passed into law, that amount would go down to $25,000 on January 1. Should the bill be signed into law, it will keep Section 179 at higher limits and index the deductions for inflation in the future. Most importantly, that deduction would become permanent.
Here is a quick example of how Sec. 179 might work for a business owner: if a business buys a computer for $1,000, Sec. 179 lowers that business' taxable income by $1,000 in the year the computer is purchased. Without Sec. 179, only the annual depreciation of the computer, not the full cost of the computer, would be an expense in the first year. On a five year depreciation schedule that amount would be $200 per year. The business owner could only expense $200 of the computer in the first year, which would make taxable income $800 higher than it would have under Sec. 179.
Changes to the research and development credit mean that the credit is not limited by the alternative minimum tax, or AMT. The AMT allows the government to limit deductions to a set amount. It's a way to ensure that wealthy taxpayers can't use loophole to avoid paying taxes.
The AMT is a parallel tax system that Kelley says most people aren't aware of, because it doesn't affect them. According to the Tax Policy Center, the AMT sets a floor on total tax liability. Taxpayers whose income exceeds the AMT exemptions must calculate both regular tax and AMT liabilities, and pay the higher amount.
What does that have to do with the research and development credit? Some tax credits are limited to that AMT "floor" – the research and development credit was one of them. If the new bill passes, the credit will no longer be limited by the AMT floor, Kelley says, and that means business owners will be able to use more of the credit.
Bonus Depreciation
Kelley says it's also significant to note that the bonus depreciation will phase out over the next 5 years: 50% for 2015 to 2017, 40% in 2018, and 30% in 2019.
While a business has to have a net income to take Section 179, so it cannot be taken during loss years. A bonus depreciation, however, can be used during a loss year without limitations on income or dollar amount, although it can only be used on purchasing new assets.
Bonus depreciation got started after the dot-com bust as a way to prompt businesses to buy new assets and stimulate the economy. When you buy new business-related items like computers, desks, or other equipment, you can write off half of that in the year you placed the new item in service.
"This gives businesses a framework from which to make decisions on a prospective basis and not guessing what Congress will do," Kelley says. "Many, many small businesses will benefit from this bill."
Kate Harrington (email me)
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WELCOMING guests back to Quest Toowoomba has been a milestone eight months in the making for Cynthia Rice.
After the award-winning Margaret St hotel was left cosmetically damaged from the biggest fire the CBD had experienced last June, the 50 guests who booked into the popular hotel for night were a new beginning of sorts for Mrs Rice.
The inferno which razed Amigo's Bar and Grill and Adrenalin Climbing Gym the night of June 13 caused about $5 million damage to the towering property two years after it opened.
A melted balloon on a window pane has been kept as a memento of the inferno, and has been put on display in the front foyer.
"We are so happy to welcome everyone back," Mrs Rice said.
A brick wall kept the flames from reaching the hotel but radiating heat melted windows and buckled steel and the balconies as 52 firefighters fought to control the blaze into the early hours of June 14.
The 90 guests were safely evacuated within minutes of the internal alarm sounding.
Mrs Rice said resident manager Angela Fowler did an exceptional job helping guests evacuate and find alternative accommodation.
"There was significant external damage particularly as the fire came up and over the brick wall and impacted a lot of our rooms and balconies mostly.
"The curtains all melted, air-conditioning units and wiring all melted, some pipes and soft furnishings."
She said the re-opening would give more short-term accommodation options in Toowoomba.
"During the restoration period, both Quest Toowoomba and the Burke and Wills Hotel were out of action, drastically limiting CBD accommodation options for visitors," she said.
"The former Church of Christ building is of significant cultural value to the local community, representing part of Toowoomba's history while having a wonderful aesthetic."


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April 11, 2016 | 1 Comment
MetroLink Work Scheduled April 11-15
By Matthew Hibbard
MetroLink passengers in Illinois are encouraged to allow extra time for their commutes this week as maintenance work on the MetroLink system may result in delays for some Red Line passengers.
To accommodate crews, Red Line MetroLink service will end at the College MetroLink Station and a Shuttle Train will transport passengers to and from the Shiloh-Scott MetroLink Station during the evenings of April 11 through April 15. During the early mornings from April 12 through April 15, MetroLink will operate on a single track between the College and Shiloh-Scott Stations.
On Monday through Friday (April 11-15) from 8 p.m. until end of service, regular Red Line MetroLink service will end at the College Station. Passengers who normally park at the Shiloh-Scott Station are encouraged to park at College Station to avoid delays after 8 p.m.
Eastbound passengers traveling to the Shiloh-Scott Station will need to get off the Red Line MetroLink train at College Station and board a Shuttle Train to continue their trip to the Shiloh-Scott Station. Eastbound passengers traveling from College Station to the Shiloh-Scott Station may experience delays of 5 to 10 minutes.
Westbound passengers at the Shiloh-Scott Station will need to board a Shuttle Train and ride to College Station where they can transfer to a westbound Red Line Westbound passengers traveling from the Shiloh-Scott Station to College Station may experience delays of 20 to 25 minutes.
Blue Line MetroLink service will not be impacted.
On Tuesday through Friday (April 12-15) from the beginning of service until 5:30 a.m., MetroLink will operate on a single track between the College and Shiloh-Scott MetroLink Station.
Red Line MetroLink trains will operate between the College and Shiloh-Scott Stations, and passengers will not need to board a Shuttle Train to travel to or from the Shiloh-Scott Station.
Red Line MetroLink passengers may experience delays of 5 to 10 minutes.
View all posts by Matthew Hibbard
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Tag Archives: Heidi Rice
Romance Readers Who Want a Great Movie Recommendation…Apply To These Two Books
Sitting down to a movie, either in your home or in a theater, should be filled with anticipation. (Public domain image via Pixabay)
I guess like my reading, I am VERY picky about the movies I watch. For most films, I'm happy to read spoilers because I don't like horrible surprises (says the woman who buys her own Christmas presents and tells her husband, "Honey, I absolutely LOVE what you got me!"). With a strong aversion to violence against women, I also use websites like Kids in Mind to give me a heads up when something horrible is embedded in a film so I can take a potty break or go make popcorn. (And screw you, Downton Abbey, for NOT giving me any inkling about what was going to happen to Anna. You're dead to me.)
Wanting a feel good movie that reaffirms your faith in humanity or is inspired by the books you love is probably a fairly popular trait, but sometimes finding a recommendation you can trust is difficult. I went to a college known for its film program and while many of my friends studying that discipline didn't necessarily wear all black and chain smoke, they were universally fascinated by the most obscure and depressing films, bandying about terms like "schadenfreude" and "jingoism". Even now, when I listen to NPR film critics talk about the latest deep movie that thinking people should go out and see, half the time they are fascinated by the "dark underbelly of humanity" and discuss the lingering despair that follows you out from the theater while you are desperately drying the tears from your face.
Oh my. That's not what I want.
Movie Bliss: A Hopeless Romantic Seeks Movies to Love by Heidi Rice (Harlequin, January 6, 2014)
Enter the queen of category romance, Heidi Rice, who somehow, while pumping out dozens of great romances for Harlequin, has also managed to have a full-time career as a film critic and a mother (how many arms does she have?). Perhaps sharing my sense of despair, she has admirably assembled a host of movies which appeal to the romantic in her recent book, Movie Bliss: A Hopeless Romantic Seeks Movies to Love. While every movie she reviews doesn't necessarily have a love story as the central theme, each one nevertheless strikes a strong cord in the area of relationships, and that's really what we armchair psychologists dissecting our heroes and heroines like, don't we?
Rice, utilizing the snappy British slang that makes her American fans smile while we enjoy her heroine's witty comebacks, divvies up movies into the following categories (please note that all movie links will take you to the film's page on the Internet Movie Database for more information):
Oldies That Are Awesome (i.e., fabulous TNT classics like It Happened One Night, It's a Wonderful Life, On the Waterfront, The Apartment, etc.)
Cartoon Capers, But Not Just for Kids (i.e., movies that have you borrowing someone's pre-teen to take to see Beauty and the Beast, The Princess and the Frog, Up, Toy Story 3)
Rom-Coms R Us (i.e., gems like When Harry Met Sally, Pretty Woman, It's Complicated, The Proposal, Silver Linings Playbook)
Joys For the Boys (and the Girls, Too) (i.e. enough action for him, enough romance for her in films like Public Enemies, Cowboys & Aliens, Skyfall, Rush)
Offbeat But Right Up My Street (i.e., doesn't look anything like a romance but you love it anyway such as Julie & Julia, The King's Speech, The Artist)
Big Is Beautiful, Bold Is Even Better (i.e. those epic films where you can't keep popcorn in your mouth because your jaw keeps dropping open, like Gone with the Wind, The Last of the Mohicans, Brokeback Mountain, Australia)
Like everything Heidi Rice writes, I loved this book (it's nice to know my affinity for her is not limited to fiction). Witty, informative, candid and occasionally self-deprecating, Rice's prose makes you feel like your knowledgeable best girlfriend is giving you a run down on all the movies you should see to wear your "romance lover" badge proud and loud. I adored her glossary (I had never heard the term "dick-flick" but I guarantee I'm going to use it at least three times this weekend). Explaining the difference between Harlequin KISS heroes and Harlequin Presents heroes, and then applying those terms to various movies, was sheer genius to help me understand the tone of the film. I especially liked that her subject matter ran right up to the end of 2013, so a few of the films are recent releases, giving the book a real currency I appreciated.
Writing a film review actually has some of the elements of the book talks we librarians utilize when doing reader's advisory. Give the hook, but don't give away the ending; compare it to a similar more well-known work so people have an idea what it's about; and convey your enthusiasm for the story since that's often contagious. Heidi Rice never gives away the farm in terms of the plot, but she tantalizes you with enough detail that you are reading in one hand and queuing your watchlist with the remote in your other hand! I actually found quite a few movies I hadn't seen that I assure you I will be watching in the upcoming long winter nights.
Did I mention the best part? No? Well, this informative, fun book is only $.99 – no joke! So run out and get personalized recommendations to satisfy the romantic in you.
Pride, Prejudice and Popcorn: TV and Film Adaptations of Pride and Prejudice, Wuthering Heights, and Jane Eyre by Carrie Sessarego (Harlequin, January 6, 2014)
One area that Rice stays clear of is the sinkhole of book to film adaptation, a particular pet peeve of mine. I firmly believe the motion picture industry exists solely to ruin books for me, so when it comes to my favorite classics, you have one testy woman on your hands if you open with this conversational gambit! Also by Harlequin is the hilarious, yet oh-so-informative, Pride, Prejudice and Popcorn: TV and Film Adaptations of Pride and Prejudice, Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre by Carrie Sessarego.
It was startling to find out that the author and I clearly had been separated at birth. I, too, continue to reread Jane Eyre each year and have since I was a pre-teen, getting something different out of it as I've grown and matured. I also didn't understand what the fuss was about with Pride & Prejudice until I realized that it was all in code (and I had read about the constraints of the Regency period) and what people were saying versus what they were feeling were two different things. Finally, I also possess a virulent hate for all things Wuthering Heights and do NOT understand what all the blather is about since Heathcliff is a first-class dick and I want to shove Cathy down a flight of stairs.
My usual mantra, but now I'll have to reconsider watching some of these adaptations after reading Sessarego's hilarious (and informative) work.
Yet, using prose so funny I found myself laughing out loud late into the night, Sessarego accomplishes the impossible – she actually has me thinking about watching some of the adaptations I've avoided like the plague due to their lack of faithfulness. Probably this is due to her masterful approach to the material. With each work, she begins by delivering the improv version of Cliff Notes, boiling down the material to it's essence and helping the reader understand all the plot nuances you've might have forgotten if it's been a while since you read the book. Then she covers the TV and movie adaptations, indicating the year, actors, director, etc. and rating them on a star system with oodles of details about how they stayed true to the book or veered away (and if it worked or not). Extremely helpful was when she made clear that the writing had ruined the script but a particular actor totally embodied the character the way a reader would enjoy. Her "Final Scorecard" at the end of each section highlights a summary of the "best of" the adaptions (i.e. "Best Mr. Darcy" "Best Rochester" etc.) and she even has a terrific "Special Features" section with tantalizing little bios of the original book authors – and trivia and a music playlist!
Since this excellent (and much needed) book is a mere $.99 as well, I'm thinking that fans of these books are fools if they don't run out and buy this puppy for immediate consumption. Honestly, this book would make a terrific basis for a themed party (or series of them) with English grad students, best girlfriends or even a fun English class (don't think I won't be pitching it to my English teachers on Monday) since it still manages to delve into the core of each book in order to determine if the adaptation met the objectives of the original work. Sessarego blew me away with her wit and insight, so much so I'm hoping she has another media criticism book in the pile so I can look forward to visiting with her on a different topic.
Enjoy your romance – the mystery of love and relationships that reminds us why it is good (and sometimes painful) to be human – in book and on film. With guides like Heidi Rice and Carrie Sessarego steering us to good films, we can't go wrong.
Tags: Australia, Beauty and the Beast, Brokeback Mountain, Carrie Sessarego, Charlotte Brontë, Cowboys & Aliens, ebook, Emily Bronte, Gone with the Wind, Harlequin, Heidi Rice, It Happened One Night, It's a Wonderful Life, It's Complicated, Jane Austen, Jane Eyre, Julie & Julia, Movie Bliss, nonfiction, On the Waterfront, Pretty Woman, Pride and Prejudice, Pride Prejudice and Popcorn, Public Enemies, review, Rush, Silver Linings Playbook, Skyfall, The Apartment, The Artist, The King's Speech, The Last of the Mohicans, The Princess and the Frog, The Proposal, Toy Story 3, Up, When Harry Met Sally, Wuthering Heights
Categories Nonfiction, Review
Courtney Milan fans have probably already purchased The Countess Conspiracy, the third book of her The Brothers Sinister series, but in case you haven't, this full-length novel is only $3.99 on Amazon since its publication on December 17th, and hopefully will stay at that great price for a little while. With a hero who is a brilliant rake promoting scandalous revolutionary scientific theories and the heroine the woman to whom those theories actually belong, this is bound to have plenty of conflict and tension (sexual and otherwise).
Fans of Karen Marie Moning's urban fantasy Fever series should be aware that the seventh book in the series, Burned, is available for pre-order with a July 22, 2014 publication date. Because of the enormous popularity of these books, be warned that even the ebook price is steep at almost $12 (but that's still a bargain since the paper version will be in hardcover format).
Yet another summer release to plan for re: beach reading is the next Kate Daniels book by the powerhouse writing team of Ilona Andrews. Magic Breaks will be available as of July 29th, so check your vacation dates to make sure you are somewhere you can get a copy at midnight to begin reading the next installment of this amazing urban fantasy series.
Also falling under the category of "series books I will cheerfully pay full price for" is Darynda Jones' next book in her Charley Davidson series, Sixth Grave on the Edge, which will be released May 20th. This urban fantasy series starring the hilarious and irrepressible Charley – who happens to be an irreverent grim reaper helping departed souls get to the other side – and her love interest, Reyes (the sexiest Son of Satan you're ever going to meet), is always alternately funny, hot, and heart-stopping. I'll be posting an entry on the whole series in honor of Darynda doing a workshop for my local Romance Writers Association chapter (woo-hooo PLRW Chapter!) For fans who would like an autographed copy of the hardcover version, Darynda has announced on her website that she has made arrangements through Author, Author, so if you order before the end of April, you can get the autographed book right around the release date.
Cat Johnson has quite a following for her hot military romance series, Red, Hot & Blue, and it was wonderful to read recently on the Samhain publishing blog that the next book, The Commander, features the leader of all those sexy, Special Ops guys we've seen find their HEA. Not only is this older hero in his forties, but he finds love with a sexy, older woman who is fifty and a single mom. It's about time! The Commander comes out on New Year's Eve and won't take any prior knowledge of the series to enjoy it (she always writes these so you can pick up any one of them with no difficulty).
Gena Showalter recently blogged about her uber-enthusiastic reaction to the cover reveal of her latest Angels of the Dark paranormal series and – holy crap! – we can see why she loves it. Burning Dawn is now available for pre-order with a release date of April 29, 2014 and please note that the paperback version is significantly less right now than the Kindle version if you are open to the format you receive it. This series features violent angels on the brink of darkness who each find a woman who helps them find meaning in their fight for goodness and light – so good!
Harlequin's partnership with Cosmo has produced their high quality (and successful) Red Hot Reads line and fans are eating up these steamy contemporary romances. To add to the success of such incredible stories like Cake by Lauren Dane and Ripped by Sarah Morgan, we can now add category romance superhero writer Heidi Rice whose story, 10 Ways to Handle the Best Man debuts on January 14th so pre-order now. Since it's Rice, you'll get a guarantee that you'll want to be one getting handled by her hero, I promise!
If you've been intrigued by Harlequin Presents multi-author Sicily's Coretti Dynasty series, you'll definitely want to enter their contest to win all the books in this extremely successful series featuring a wealthy Sicilian family with more than the usual amount of scandal and vendettas to go around. Just leave a comment on the post about what you are most looking forward to in 2014 before January 6th for a chance to win!
The always wonderful blog TheBookPushers is clearing their shelves and offering a giveaway for readers who might be interested in some of their themed bundles of books. From contemporary to historical, erotic to New Adult, there's something here for everyone, so comment before January 1st on what bundles look interesting to you to see if you could win!
Nalini Singh Psy-Changeling fans should be sure to take a look at her website in order to enjoy her bonus stories for Heart of Obsidian, which are now up on her story page. Keep in mind that newsletter subscribers got an incredible Christmas present from Singh this year, a bonus epilogue to her amazing novella, Declaration of Courtship, starring the hunky dominant SnowDancer lieutenant Cooper and his shy mechanic Grace, now mated and going to the celebration of their alpha's mating (so it's post Kiss of Snow). Such a great epilogue (be warned, you'll go out and re-read Declaration of Courtship again – I did!)
Speaking of great presents, Ilona Andrews have put out a new, fully re-edited version of their Curran stories (specific scenes from the Kate Daniels novels told from the hero, Curran's perspective) and are offering it to fans for free on their website for a time, available in all ebook formats, for devoted fans. No new stories as of yet, but it makes for a great read.
It's not too late to give something to the reader in your life and what do they want more than uninterrupted reading time? Trust me, nothing. Smart Bitches, Trashy Books have a fantastic downloadable free gift certificate that you can make out for the reader in your life offering them a certain number of minutes (30, 60, and 90 minutes are the options and remember you can give a ton of the certificates to add up to whatever amount you want) devoted solely to their reading, all in a very attractive certificate form bound to appeal to romance readers. Show your romance reader how much you love them by offering them this particular gift for the New Year!
Business Insider magazine has made a wonderful interactive map of the U.S. featuring the most famous book set in that particular state, and it's gotten a few of them on my to-read list for sure! Check out your favorite states while pondering what people who've never visited are gleaning about your home.
Harry Potter fans have always been annoyed that you can't easily buy ebook versions of the series via retailers due to J. K. Rowling's restrictions on them, but now Amazon users can purchase the whole series via the author's Pottermore business and have them delivered in the proper file format right to their Kindle! For $57.54, this is actually a great deal for all seven books (over 4000 pages of Harry). With almost every possible format (I didn't see iBooks, but pretty much every other reading app is an option), once purchased you can send your books to any and all your reading devices. Fans of the series who find the hardcover books too heavy for their bubble baths (What? It's just me?) may want to indulge in the super cool collector's paperback version which forms a fantastic image designed by artist Kazu Kibuishi when placed together.
Virna DePaul's excellent Bedding the Wrong Brother novel is currently available for only $.99 and fans of friends to lovers have a lot to love in this story about a young woman who has been good friends to one twin brother while crushing on the other. After an ex tells her that she's tepid in the sack, she asks her friend to help her hone her technique but ends up with her crush instead – a man who has interpreted her easy way with his brother and stiffness with him as disinterest. He decides to seize the opportunity to "tutor" her in the ways of the bedroom while convincing her she's everything he could ever want, but her feelings of inadequacy when combined with her long-standing feelings for him might get in the way of any happiness they could have.
If you expected Santa to bring you a Kindle and his lines got crossed, you should know that Amazon is offering some pretty good deals where you can order one, paying only 25% of the cost up front (and they send it to you!) with reasonable installments spread out over the next year. I've also seen some great deals on the 2nd generation iPads and iPad Minis (Apple is on the third generation as of the latest release) on QVC and HSN, with installment plans and deep discounts available as well. If you're looking for some basic apps, video and a great ereader, one of these deals might be useful. For romance readers, so many books are only available in ebook form, or the cost is so much lower, I definitely feel that purchasing a device could potentially pay for itself over a couple years for an avid reader. Just a thought!
Royal watchers and fans of movies like The Prince and Me are loving Megan Mulry's Unruly Royals series, especially when you can get the books at a great discount. Right now, If the Shoe Fits, the second book in the series is on discount for only $2.99 for the ebook edition. When a modern playboy Earl becomes fascinated by a no-nonsense American not interested in his fast lifestyle, our hero finds himself having to dig deep for meaning in the hope of charming a woman who just might be everything to him, if he can get her to see beyond his reputation.
Happy reading and have a book-filled New Year in 2014!
Tags: 10 Ways to Handle the Best Man, Amazon, Angels of the Dark, Bedding the Wrong Brother, bonus stories, burned, Burning Dawn, Business Insider magazine, Cat Johnson, Charley Davidson, Cosmo RedHot Reads, Courtney Milan, Curran stories, Darynda Jones, Declaration of Courtship, ebooks, famous book by state, Fever series, Gena Showalter, giveaway, Harlequin Presents, Harry Potter, Heart of Obsidian, Heidi Rice, If the Shoe Fits, Ilona Andrews, iPad, J. K. Rowling, Karen Marie Moning, Kate Daniels, Kindle HD, Magic Breaks, map, Megan Mulry, Nalini Singh, older hero, paperback collector's edition, Pottermere, Psy-Changeling series, reader time gift certificate, Red Hot & Blue series, Sicily's Coretti Dynasty, Sixth Grave on the Edge, Smart Bitches Trashy Books, the brothers sinister, The Commander, The Countess Conspiracy, TheBookPushers, Unruly Royals, Urban Fantasy, Virna DePaul
December Read-a-Thon: 'Tis the Season To Be Tempted by Aimee Carson Puts One Naughty Girl and a Very Good Guy Under the Tree This Season
'Tis the Season To Be Tempted by Aimee Carson (Entangled: Indulgence, November 22, 2013)
I cannot believe this is the last one of the novellas from Entangled's 'Tis the Season bundle! *sniff* I was super worried that with the first three being so awesome, maybe I was going to be disappointed with Aimee Carson's novella – after all, I haven't read anything of hers before so she was a bit of a wild card. After Kate Hardy's Scrooge-turned-Santa hero, Heidi Rice's playboy-meets-uptight-British-workaholic, and Amy Andrews' Drunk-Kindergarten-Teacher-Falls-For-Sexy-Soldier, how could anyone live up to the high bar set by these fabulous authors? Especially someone whose work I really don't know?
Well, THAT'S something that will be changing considering how hot and funny 'Tis the Season To Be Tempted is. Any author who manages to work ice tongs into a sex scene – and makes them wicked hot – is deserving of my admiration!
Wes Campbell is exhausted and a little depressed that he's spent New Year's with a client rather than anyone he actually cared about. He just wants to rest on the plane and gear up for even more work the next day. Facing the realization that his life is pretty bleak – no real family, a failed "perfect" marriage, and nothing but his business to occupy his time – is painful to say the least. Then the sound of someone's voice drifts to his first class seat and Wes' world fills with color, because that panicked voice belongs to the one woman who was always off limits, the perpetual rebel and younger sister of his best friend and college roommate, Evie Lee.
Evie is convinced that, after the year she's had, it's all too likely that she is going die a fiery death on this plane and no amount of gin and tonics seem to soften the reality. When she hears a deep male voice ordering the flight attendant to go easy on the alcohol, she's unsurprised to see Wes, aka "Harvard," her brother's bossy best friend. He's been a thorn in her side forever, managing to witness all her humiliating moments growing up. It's been a decade since she's been home to see her affluent parents who would have loved their daughter to go to an Ivy League school or at least marry someone like Wes, but Evie's career putting a now-highly successful band on the map isn't worthy of their admiration. With all this liquid courage, a little flirting with Wes might exactly what she needs to take her mind off her impending death, right?
While it's the heroine who wears Hello, Kitty underpants, there is something far more sexy about the male version, don't you think?
OMG, two terrific characters who are still wrestling with some inner doubts and vulnerability – Evie in that her breakup and job change have undermined the success she created for herself on her own terms and Wes in that his work and his life are not as fulfilling as they are supposed to be and he knows something is missing. That something is clearly Evie, and the heat between these two is smoking; their historical sparks have obviously been hiding that chemistry. Any author that can make Hello, Kitty underpants and hotel food implements sexy is a tremendous talent, and Aimee Carson's writing is detailed, funny and hot – a terrific combination. 🙂
Just like the other outstanding authors in this collection, Carson's novella feels like a longer work because it is so packed with emotion. A bargain at $.99, the bundle with all four of these fabulous holiday stories at $2.99 is an outstanding bargain and an affordable stocking stuffer for your favorite romance reader (or a great way to use that bookseller gift card you received). My happiness centers on the fact that I get to race out and buy more Aimee Carson books (I've already put a bunch on my "to-read" shelf on Goodreads) so my time with this great author is only beginning. Merry Christmas to me (and you)!
Tags: 'Tis the Season bundle, 'Tis the Season To Be Kissed, Aimee Carson, Amy Andrews, Christmas, Entangled Publishing, Heidi Rice, Ivy League, Kate Hardy, New Year, Novella
Categories Contemporary Romance, Holiday, Novella, Review
December Read-a-Thon: 'Tis the Season To Be Kissed by Amy Andrews Continues Entangled's Fabulous Holiday Novella Streak
'Tis the Season To Be Kissed by Amy Andrews (Entangled: Indulgence, November 15, 2013)
I have seen a lot of publishers churn out holiday books and novellas and (we all know) that while there could be some great titles in the bunch, a few of them are bound to be mediocre. With that in mind, my respect for Entangled has grown with leaps and bounds as every one of these 'Tis the Season novellas are utterly fantastic! You've heard me wax ecstatic over Heidi Rice's book yesterday and Kate Hardy's book the day before that, so please add my appreciation for Amy Andrews to that list of admired authors.
The best present to me is that, while I've got a few of Amy Andrews' books on my "to-read" list, I hadn't yet indulged in her writing, so this novella was just the kick in the pants I needed to shunt a few of her novels up the ladder in my Kindle queue. Absolutely sweet was her Acknowledgements page at the end of this novella where she thanks Entangled's Heather Howland and Liz Pelletier for all the help she received to convert her language from Andrews' native Australian patois to a version of English which would match her American characters. Their team effort succeeded, as 'Tis the Season To Be Kissed doesn't take a single misstep, delivering two terrific characters, a snowstorm, and sexual tension so powerful it provides its own fireworks when our hero and heroine decide to ring in the New Year.
When our novella begins, Tamara is well aware that she's reaching a new level of pathetic being three sheets to the wind by 9 am on the morning of New Year's Eve, but she has good reason. Her best friend lent her the family Vermont cabin (and left the eggnog) and since Tamara can't figure out how to build a fire without matches, she's bundled in her coat and several layers with the theory that enough eggnog will keep her from freezing to death. Sadly, it's also got her feeling quite morose about the state of her love life, which has been populated with losers this last year and turning thirty makes that experience a little more painful. With a raging snowstorm outside and reports of teenage looters on the television, tipsy Tamara panics when she hears someone on the porch clearly rattling the knob. Yet, she's ready to defend her friend's domicile, albeit with a golf club.
Blizzards are always better when you have a hot male body to snuggle in front of a fire with. (Public domain image courtesy of Pixabay)
Sergeant Luke Jackson thought that he had left ambushes behind when his plane took off from Afghanistan 36 hours ago, but after he tackles the parka clad burglar wielding a mean putter he realizes that his attacker is a pixie-haired, slightly drunk woman. As her layers strip off after he manages to get a fire going so neither of them will freeze, he's more and more fascinated with her. Listening to her drunken rambles about the men she's dated, he's actually grateful that they were all impatient assholes since Tamara is available now – and Luke is beginning to think that settling down into something more serious might be exactly the New Year's resolution he needs. Convincing her to throw out her usual ten date timetable is going to be a challenge, but it's nothing this soldier can't handle.
Luke's military service is alluded to but not belabored in this 55 page novella, yet do not worry that his character is underdeveloped. This delicious sergeant with his six-pack of abs and cleft chin is just as good on the inside as he is handsome, so I guarantee you'll be in love with him by the fourth page after his appearance. Tamara is experiencing a very understandable crisis at the age of 30 and having her best friend's sexy younger brother appear isn't helping her libido dilemma, particularly when her head is very clear about the need to settle down. She's funny and earnest, especially when drunk, and I liked that she had good reasons behind her principles and that Luke immediately respected them, even when he was determined to shorten her timetable in his own case.
'Tis the Season Bundle by Heidi Rice, Kate Hardy, Amy Andrews and Aimee Carson (Entangled: Indulgence, December 9, 2013)
Like the other books in this series, 'Tis the Season To Be Kissed manages to read like a longer novella and at only $.99 is an utter bargain deserving of immediate purchase. You'll be seeing plenty of New Year's Eve fireworks with this great story by Amy Andrews on your e-reader! Please note that all four novellas in this series are actually available as a bundle for only $2.99, and since I've established over the last few days that the three I've read so far are fabulous, it's only mathematical literacy to realize that you should get the bundle to get the fourth story (to be reviewed tomorrow) for free.
Tags: 'Tis the Season To Be Kissed, 'Tis the Season to Get Lucky, Afghanistan, Amy Andrews, Entangled Publishing, Heidi Rice, Kate Hardy, Luke, New Year, New Year's Eve, Novella, Tamara, Tis the Season to Kiss Santa, Vermont
December Read-a-Thon: Heidi Rice Shows Us What Lucky Looks Like in 'Tis the Season to Get Lucky
'Tis the Season to Get Lucky by Heidi Rice (Entangled: Indulgence, November 1, 2013)
What does "getting lucky" look like in a holiday novella? How about a sexy playboy with a heart of gold, a soaking wet British achluophobe (fear of the dark), and a department store closed for Christmas where you can have anything you want? Exactly.
This fantasy is exactly what every salivating reader gets with Heidi Rice's fabulous novella, 'Tis the Season to Get Lucky, and it's worth way more than the $.99 price tag since 1) it's packed with vivid detail and a startling amount of emotion and 2) it's Heidi Rice, people, and she's awesome.
Kate Braithwaite's long distance boyfriend has just dumped her via email so she trudges to the office she's called home for the past six months (through a horrifying rainstorm) to remind herself why she left England behind. Doing PR for one of the premier stores in Manhattan has been a dream come true, but even Kate realizes how pathetic she is being the only person at work besides the security guard on Christmas. Thankful no one can see her, she exchanges her soaking wet clothes for a way-too-small elf costume and decides to try and be productive. At least she works more than the no-show playboy son of the owner who draws a massive salary and never comes to work.
Ryan Sinclair is in fact "at work" that day, and is busy pondering over what appear to be slutty elf dolls actually meant for children, when one (very sexy) elf startles him so much that he tackles her. This British beauty has a face to match her luscious body, but her frosty demeanor and workaholic attitude make her undesirable, or so he tells himself. Until the rainstorm which has become a blizzard kills the store lights and suddenly Katherine (he likes that better than Kate) is shaking, showing a vulnerable woman under the bitchiness. Over the course of a snowstorm which traps them in the store, these two people discover that the other person is not at all what they imagined…and that a Christmas blizzard may have deposited much more than snow on their doorstep.
Okay, this is Heidi Rice, a superhero in the world of category romance (way to go, Entangled!) and she delivers her usual brand of hot, sexiness wrapped in a hero and heroine who seem like a total mismatch but are really very similar under the skin. Kate has (understandable) abandonment issues and Ryan has worked to insure his daughter never, ever feels abandoned. I honestly could not believe that this novella was listed at 57 pages – if you told me it was closer to 100 pages, I would have believed you with the emotional evolution experienced by the characters between its covers. Does it move quickly? Of course, it's a novella, but that doesn't mean this story is anything but quality writing. Don't move until you check out such classics of this author's like Surf, Sea and a Sexy Stranger and/or Cupcakes and Killer Heels! They are the reason I love Heidi Rice and you'll understand the minute you read them. 🙂
Movie Bliss: A Hopeless Romantic Seeks Movies to Love by Heidi Rice (Harlequin E, January 6, 2014)
Yet despite my being a fan, I only just managed to realize that her author bio clearly states that Rice also works as a movie journalist in her spare time. I was extremely excited to see on her blog that she has a movie guide specifically for romance lovers coming out in early January, Movie Bliss: A Hopeless Romantic Seeks Movies to Love. Seriously? Even better, it's about 150 pages of recommendations AND it's also only $.99. Whaaa??? Color me having pre-ordered it (and maybe my blog readers will get some movie reviews peppered in here since we all enjoy great films that make our HEA a visual reality, don't we?).
Remember that 'Tis the Season to Get Lucky is part of the same Entangled series as yesterday's 'Tis the Season to Kiss Santa by Kate Hardy, so you now have two reasons to take a look at these great books. With all the busyness and running around of the holidays, these books are exactly what you need to take a mental time out for yourself and do something just for you.
Tags: 'Tis the Season to Get Lucky, Christmas, England, Entangled Publishing, Harlequin, Heidi Rice, Kate, Kate Hardy, Manhattan, Movie Bliss: A Hopeless Romantic Seeks Movies to Love, Novella, Ryan, Tis the Season to Kiss Santa


The Mayfield Nature Preserve is home to the Mayfield-Gutsch Estate, and they take pride in their gardens. In 1971, Mary Mayfield-Gutsch left the Estate to the City of Austin for use as a park. There are several volunteer gardens to see, along with a few lily pad ponds and an old dinner bell that hangs from an archway in the stone wall.
This entry was posted in Photography and tagged Bell, Flowers, Garden, Lily Pad, Mayfield Nature Preserve, Mayfield Park, Mayfield-Gutsch Estate, Photography, Turtle, Walking.


Shridhar is ResellerClub's business head and leads all business activities and initiatives. He has been steering the team since inception and has helped the company grow from a start-up to the world's most popular platform for domain names.
Shridhar most likely wins the longest distance traveled award at HostingCon 2012, traveling 20 hours from India to Boston. We sat down with him at the conference to hear the latest on ResellerClub.
today," said Shridhar. "From a domain registration standpoint, we're one of the largest wholesale focused registrars. We are always in the top five fastest growing registrars."
Growing quickly, ResellerClub is beginning to focus on hosting products, including shared hosting, reseller hosting and launching VPS and dedicated servers.
Part of their growth is also international, expanding to different parts of the world.
"We've seen tremendous amounts of growth in India, it's a buzzword," said Shridhar.
From a percentage standpoint, the U.S. is still one of the strongest markets out there in terms of absolutes, but ResellerClub is seeing traction in China, Turkey, Brazil and Russia as well.


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Some Tri-State airports to receive federal grants
Courtesy: MGN
WASHINGTON D.C. (WEHT) – US Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao announced that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will award $986 million in airport infrastructure grants for airports across the country, including Evansville Regional and Huntingburg.
"This significant investment in airport improvements in Indiana will fund construction and rehabilitation projects that will help maintain high levels of safety in U.S. aviation," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao.
The following airports will receive grants:
Anderson Municipal/Darlington Field, $89,550 – to update the Airport Master Plan Study.
Tri-State Steuben County, $296,000 – to remove obstructions.
Evansville Regional, $1,980,480 – to rehabilitate a taxiway and improve the terminal building.
Fort Wayne International, $2,779,650 – to reconstruct an apron.
Gary/Chicago International, $587,628 – to rehabilitate a taxiway.
Indy South Greenwood, $118,513 – to conduct an environmental study.
Huntingburg, $6,927,088 – to extend a runway.
Indianapolis International, $300,000 – to conduct a miscellaneous study.
Indianapolis International, $2,091,219 – to build a taxiway.
Kokomo Municipal, $83,700 – to rehabilitate a runway.
White County, $220,320 – to extend a runway.
Jasper County, $527,583 – to buy land for approaches.
South Bend International, $2,870,269 – to rebuild a taxiway and conduct an Airport Master Plan Study.
Terre Haute Regional, $855,000 – to build a taxiway.
Indianapolis Executive, $1,453,500 – to extend a runway.
The following Kentucky airports will also be receiving grants:
Lake Barkley State Park, Cadiz- $150,000 – grant funds will be used to improve the Runway 02/20 safety area.
Bowman Field, Louisville–$562,500 – grant funds will be used to install airfield guidance signs.
Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International–$5,538,862 – grant funds will be used to rehabilitate Taxiway S.
Fulton Airport–$216,000 – grant funds will be used to remove obstructions.
Rough River State Park, Falls of Rough- $300,000 – grant funds will be used to rehabilitate an aircraft parking area.
London-Corbin Airport-Magee Field- $1,403,934–grant funds to rehabilitate Runway 06/24.
Louisville Muhammad Ali International–$15,026,036– grant funds will be used to rehabilitate Taxiway C and reconstruct Taxiway G, rehabilitate lights for Runway 17R/35L and Runway 17L/35R and provide noise mitigation measures for public buildings and residences and acquire land for noise compatibility.
Kyle-Oakley Field, Owensboro -$359,500 – grant funds acquire land for a protection zone for Runway 05.
Owensboro-Daviess County Regional- $1,152,240 – grant funds will be used to rehabilitate Runway 18/36, Taxiway C and D and an aircraft parking area.
Barkley Regional, Paducah- $2,296,605 – grant funds will be used to construct a terminal building.
Lake Cumberland Regional, Somerset– $212,000–grant funds will be used to acquire snow removal equipment.
Williamsburg-Whitley County, Williamsburg- $63,869 – grant funds will be used to improve airport drainage.
(WEHT)- The Jasper Police Department announced that they arrested 57-year-old Patricia Wright Saturday for reportedly stealing a sweatshirt.
Officers responded to a report near a McDonalds on the north side of Jasper and located Wright outside of a Dollar Store. Authorities say the sweatshirt Wright was wearing still had store tags on it.


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Bond coins or not: once an economy dollarizes there is just no going back, history seems to suggest
Home » FEATURES » Economics » Bond coins or not: once an economy dollarizes there is just no going back, history seems to suggest
By Perry Munzwembiri on January 3, 2015.	No Comments
February 2015 will mark six years since Zimbabwe adopted the multi-currency monetary system, commonly referred to as dollarization. The move was in response to the chaotic hyperinflationary period that had defined the Zimbabwean economic environment for almost a decade prior to February 2009. Most Zimbabweans still are haunted by the memories of that era when Zimbabwe`s then legal tender, the Zimbabwe dollar effectively lost its usefulness as a medium of exchange, store of value, unit of account and means for deferred payments- all considered features which give any monetary currency its value.
Looking through history, it's interesting to note that there has not been any economy that has reverted back to its local currency once it has dollarized. Panama-widely considered as the closest the strategy of dollarization has come to being successful; Ecuador and El Salvador all still use the US dollar many years after dollarizing. The logic behind dollarizing is that the government would be aiming to reduce its inflation whilst reaping the economic benefits of "co-opting" another country`s currency.
However, the effectiveness of this strategy is debatable. Looking at the Latin American countries that have dollarized, their economies still lack notable economic development compared to their peers who have not dollarized. Some scholars have argued that for dollarization to be effective, it must be accompanied by fundamental macro-economic reforms as well as transformations in financial and banking institutions. Evidence shows however that, in the short term, partial dollarization-whereby a country continues to use discretionary monetary policies in maintaining control over their economies- or full dollarization is efficient in reducing high inflation.
Consider Ecuador, which dollarized its economy following a severe economic crisis in 1999. At the height of that crisis, Ecuador`s local currency, the Sucre went from an exchange rate of 7,000 to one against the dollar, to 25,000 to one. Following the approval of the Economic Transformation Act, which prohibited the Ecuadorian government from printing the Sucre, and paved the way for the declaration of the US dollar as the country`s official currency, hyper-inflation was curbed and there was rapid economic recovery. However, the benefits were short-lived, as in the period after the dollarization, Ecuador still continues to be characterised by poverty and high disparities in income. The financial system continues to be vulnerable due to the limits that dollarization places on the central bank`s flexibility of policy responses to crises. The climax of Ecuador`s economic challenges perhaps came in the form of a political crisis that eventually triggered the downfall of its then President, Jamil Mahuad.
Similarities can be drawn between Ecuador`s experiences and those of Zimbabwe since 2009. Zimbabwe`s record breaking inflation was reined in, and the economy grew like it had been shot on steroids in the years immediately after dollarization, though this positive GDP growth appears to have lost steam in recent years.
Zimbabwe too like El Salvador, Panama and Ecuador has found out that adopting the world`s most powerful currency is no stroll in the park. For one, there is less of sovereignty as the central bank cannot effectively use its monetary policy to respond to local economic challenges. Another possible pitfall could be brought about if the US dollar depreciates significantly, against other major currencies, as has happened in the past thereby undermining its importance to the international financial system. Such an event would be catastrophic to economies that have dollarized. A growing American trade deficit could also potentially harm dollarized economies. So why is it difficult for an economy to revert back to its domestic currency once it has dollarized?
The answer lies in whether the locals can again manage to trust their local currency again. For Zimbabwe, as has been witnessed with the slow uptake of the recently unveiled bond coins, many locals still harbour reservations as the memories of the losses they suffered when the Zimbabwe dollar was suddenly demonetised, are still fresh in their minds. Nowhere is this better epitomised than in virtual currency, Bitcoin`s meteoric rise and fall from grace. Money largely remains intertwined with the confidence factor. And small things like being backed by a country or countries, being recognised by other countries, being minted by a stable government and having a physical form one can touch and feel, still do matter.
Of course, in addition to people`s confidence in their local currency, there are other critical issues that influence the decision to reintroduce a previously demonetised currency. Factors such as sufficient asset reserves to back that currency as well as the scale of production activity in the country all weigh in on that decision. Talk has been doing the rounds in Zimbabwe, that the introduction of the bond coins is a precursor to full re-introduction of the Zimbabwe dollar by the country`s government. Whether this is true or not, it is prudent to note the apparent lack of confidence Zimbabweans have in any deviation from the current multi-currency system and the fact that there has been no economy that has successfully reverted back to its local currency once it has dollarized. This seems to imply that for Zimbabwe, the reintroduction of the Zimbabwe dollar, by whatever name they choose to call it, still remains implausible. Assuming a rational government of course!
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Zimbabwe: FDI Follows the Path of Least Resistance
Zimbabwe missing Africa's dawn
Billion Dollar Diamond Fields, Basins and Politicized Economic Blueprints