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TV REVIEW: WWE Raw - October 19th, 2009
Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena, Jacksonville, Florida
Snoop Dog hosts the final Raw before Bragging Rights as Team Raw fall into disarray, Legacy fall apart and Triple H falls to John Cena in what might just be Cena's last night on WWE Raw.
Dissension in the ranks.
Snoop Dog rolls rides into town in a pink limo with Raw's newest Divas, Eve and The Bella Twins, in tow. After working up the crowd and announcing a couple of tonight's matches (as well as Cena/Triple H, we also get Orton/Dibiase and HBK/Jericho), tonight's guest host introduces your regular opening act, D-Generation-X.
Forgoing their usual 'Are you ready?' routine, Hunter and Shawn begin the final push towards Bragging Rights by taking a look at their opponents on Team Smackdown and mocking them one by one in a routine which only really becomes funny by the time they get to newcomers Drew McIntyre and Eric Escobar.
With the opposing team verbally dissected, the rest of Team Raw make their way to ringside and almost immediately start to argue amongst themselves; Cody Rhodes threatens to defeat Team Smackdown all by himself, Big Show threatens Cody, Mark Henry faces up to Show and Jack Swagger chimes in as well until Kofi Kingston, now completely devoid of his Jamaican accent, reminds everyone that they need to work together.
DX agree, though admit that they did see this coming and thus set up a test; a five-on-five tag team match in which, should any member of Team Raw eat the pin, they'll be replaced. MVP's music hits, he leads the Raw Job Squad to ringside, and Team Raw breathe a collective sigh of relief.
Five-on-five tag match: Cody Rhodes, Mark Henry, Big Show, Jack Swagger & Kofi Kingston vs. MVP, Chavo Guerrero, Chris Masters, Evan Bourne and Primo Colon
Following a match so short and forgettable your reporter couldn't remember who was on MVP's team, Cody Rhodes hits the Cross Rhodes on Primo only for Jack Swagger to tag himself in and take the pin.
Your Winners: Cody Rhodes, Mark Henry, Big Show, Jack Swagger & Kofi Kingston
Rather than being united in victory, the win only seems to divide Team Raw further, as they spend the next few moments taking turns in throwing each other out of the ring.
If I were you...
Backstage, Josh Matthews interviews Ted Dibiase about his victory over Randy Orton the previous week. Dibiase tells Matthews that he only did what Randy Orton himself would have done in the same situation. Orton, however, disagrees. "If I were you, I would listen carefully," he says, before telling Ted not to fight back when they compete next.
Non-title match: WWE Champion Randy Orton vs. Ted Dibiase
Less of an actual match, more of a well played-out angle, no matter what you call it this is fantastic stuff. With anger rising within, Ted Dibiase looks tormented and conflicted as he stands face-to-face with the Legacy leader, doing his best to show restraint as Orton continues to push and provoke him. Finally, Dibiase stands up for himself and pushes the WWE Champion to the mat. Yet this doesn't seem to go far in resolving his torment, as the former tag team champion simply stares and seethes even more, only for Orton to attack with the RKO and pick up the win.
A brilliant segment in which the crowds really got behind Ted Dibiase; surely a turn to the side of the good guys can't be far off?
Your Winner: Randy Orton
A Tribute to Captain Lou
Legendary WWE Hall of Famer Captain Lou Albano sadly passed away last week aged 76. Known for his interesting attire, which often consisted of a rubber band hanging from his cheek, his famed talent as a ringside manager and, of course, for playing such a major part in the Rock 'n' Wrestling Connection of the late 1980s which helped catapult the then-WWF into the global household name that it is day, Captain Lou was a truly beloved superstar. Taking a moment to remember him, WWE plays us a fitting tribute video.
The Obligatory Comedy Spot
You know how, every week, we get three obligatory comedy spots with the guest host? Well thankfully, the 'E decide to spare us, and squash all three into one.
Cameras find Snoop Dog chilling out backstage with Eve and The Bella Twins when Hornswoggle, back in his usual garb yet still sporting a DX shirt, shows up for no real reason. Naturally, wherever Hornswoggle goes, Chavo goes too. Guerrero complains about being constantly overlooked by the guest hosts, only to be interrupted by Jillian Hall, who demands a rematch for the Divas Championship before singing a song (assume it's one of Snoop Dog's. You'll have to forgive me, I might actually know who this week's guest host is, but I still don't know his work at all).
Finally, it wouldn't be the Raw comedy moment without Santino Marella, dressed as Charlie 'the' Brown. Santino declares that he wants to make amends for the last time the two met. Snoop Dog sends them all out, and we're lead to believe that he's lighting up some marijuana as a 'technical difficulties' graphic featuring Michael Cole with his arm around Hornswoggle appears on screen. Of course, this being a family-friendly show and all, it's revealed he was actually lighting some scented candles.
Returning back to the arena, Michael Cole sits with his arm around Jerry Lawler and an enormous grin on his mush. "We're actually live now," he laughs, "no more technical difficulties". Because apparently, Michael Cole can't tell the difference between the man he announces Raw with every week, and a leprechaun.
Triple H vs. John Cena
In what is build as potentially his last match ever on Raw, John Cena displays a valiant effort in a lengthy, dramatic bout with Triple H.
Building up slowly and working towards an exciting finale, both men work hard to deliver a very good television match which, to drag up an old cliché, has the fans on the edge of their seats as Cena and Hunter both kick out of one another's finishing manoeuvres. Unfortunately for the number one contender to the WWE title, the third pedigree proves to be too much, and Triple H walks away with the win.
Your Winner: Triple H
Up next, The Miz heads out to face some jobber who doesn't even get his name announced. Luckily for the Jobber with No Name, he's saved from a beat down by something altogether wonderful.
Marty Jannetty Returns
Just typing that line above made this reporter very happy indeed. Before The Miz can lock up with his hapless opponent, Snoop Dog appears on screen, flanked by Eve and The Bellas, who pout and pose as Mr. Dog announces that he was unhappy with comments The Miz made about Marty Jannetty on Smackdown. As such, Miz will now face Jannetty in a match.
Non-title match: United States Champion The Miz vs. Marty Jannetty
Though an enjoyable, basic little bout in its own right, this short affair is made all the more brilliant just for the sheer joy of seeing Marty Jannetty, even if he does appear to have aged pretty badly recently. Jannetty gets in some offence against the champion, including his trademark Flying Fist Drop, before The Miz finally puts the old-timer out of his misery thanks to the Skull Crushing Finale.
Your Winner: The Miz
Backstage, Chavo Guerrero has words with Jillian as the show heads to commercial.
Divas Championship match: Melina defends against Jillian (with Chavo Guerrero in her corner)
Melina defends her title in a short nothing match which serves no other purpose than to set up the next angle. The two girls battle for about a minute, with Chavo Guerrero running interference on the challenger's behalf until Hornswoggle, dressed in hip-hop attire, cuts him off, allowing Melina to take the win.
Your Winner and still Divas Champion: Melina
Afterwards, Chavo goes after Hornswoggle, only to be stopped in his tracks by Snoop Dog. The two circle, looking for a fight, and Snoop takes down Chavo with a spear before celebrating with Hornswoggle and several divas in a dance routine that goes on far too long.
Next Week's Guest Hosts
Are two NASCAR racers called Kyle Busch and Joey Logano. Again, never heard of 'em.
Main Event: Unified Tag Team Champion Chris Jericho vs. Shawn Michaels
All night long, fans have been anticipating another sure-fire classic between The Heartbreak Kid and The Artist Formerly Known as Y2J. Instead, what we get is an all out war between Team Raw and Team Smackdown.
With both men in the ring, Jericho dishes out some verbal abuse to Michaels before the rest of the Smackdown camp arrive on the scene and outnumber The Showstopper. Luckily for Shawn, back up isn't far behind as Team Raw head to ringside to level the playing field.
Triple H derides Jericho before a familiar cry of "excuse me!" interrupts proceedings. Yes folks it's Vickie Guerrero, who announces that as the official consultant to Team Smackdown, she won't allow anything to happen until Sunday, and that her boys will take their leave.
Hunter, however, has other ideas, and after declaring that the Raw boys don't work for Vickie, they lay into Jericho and his men as Raw closes with a wild brawl between the two teams.
Though Smackdown still remains far ahead of it's Monday night counterpart in terms of action and entertainment, Raw finally seems to be catching up, and tonight fought back with a very entertaining show. HHH and Cena delivered in the ring, the Cena/Dibiase showdown was intense and as for the appearance of Marty Jannetty, well, that just made me smile. There is little doubt in this writer's mind that Smackdown will counter with a show that is at least equally entertaining on Friday, but even if they don't, the winner in a war over the most entertaining show will pale in comparison to what is likely to be a very enjoyable battle for brand supremacy this Sunday at Bragging Rights.
Posted in: 2009,Bella Twins,Cena,Chavo Guerrero,Cody Rhodes,Eve,HHH,Jericho,Jillian,Kofi Kingston,Legacy,Marty Jannetty,Melina,Miz,MVP,Randy Orton,Raw,Shawn Michaels,Ted Dibiase Jr,WWE
TV REVIEW: WWE SMACKDOWN - October 30th, 2009
TV REVIEW: WWE RAW - October 5th, 2009
BOOK REVIEW: Hollywood Hulk Hogan - Autobiography
WCW The Great American Bash 1996
WCW Slamboree 1996 - PPV Review


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Privacy Protections for Medical Information in Government, Research, and Public Health Records (California Medical Privacy Series)
Copyright © 1994-2019 | Privacy Rights Clearinghouse | Posted: Mar 01 2013 | Revised: Oct 11 2017
Medical information collected for public health purposes
Medical information collected for national security purposes
Medical information gained through government records requests
Medical information disclosed for research purposes
Medical information disclosed to receive a public benefit, discount, or license
It's common to think about your medical information only within the context of your own health care. However, medical information can circulate well beyond treatment while still falling within the protection of the law. Alternatively, there are many situations where health privacy or other privacy laws will not apply. This guide covers some of the less obvious protected and unprotected uses of medical information, including:
public health reporting,
national security,
public records,
health and medical research, and
government benefit, discount, and license programs.
2. Medical information collected for public health purposes
The primary federal law that protects the privacy of medical information is the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). In California, the Confidentiality of Medical Information Act (CMIA) offers additional protections. Both HIPAA and California law attempt to balance individual privacy rights with the need to protect public health.
Public health authorities (such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Food and Drug Administration, and your state and local health departments) and other government agencies (such as law enforcement) monitor disease and health safety issues. They also intervene on behalf of the public in certain situations, for example, epidemics, outbreaks of food-related illness, and natural disasters. To carry out their functions, they need access to individual medical information.
a. Types of public health reporting
i. Mandatory reporting
There are times when health care providers are required by law to report health and medical information. Federal and state government agencies need this information to monitor community health at local, state, and national levels. In addition, agencies use the information to monitor and measure the effectiveness, accessibility, and quality of available health services.
Under federal law, some examples of mandatory reporting include: births and deaths; child or elder abuse; treatment of gunshot or knife wounds; industrial accidents; and data required for public health surveillance, investigations, or interventions. 45 CFR § 164.512(b)(1)(i)
The California Department of Public Health website links to several lists of mandatory Reportable Diseases and Conditions in the state.
If you are interested in the history of mandatory public health reporting, see Appendix A of the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) publication, Mandatory Reporting—Balancing Patients' Rights with Public Health Interests.
ii. Permitted (or notifiable) reporting
There are times when covered entities may disclose information without your authorization to support public health surveillance. Officials request that healthcare providers report information so they may detect unusual occurrences of diseases, monitor trends, and evaluate the effectiveness of interventions.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) publishes the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) about health and behavioral trends and statistics. The CDC website has more information on the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System, which enables public health agencies that range from local to international to share what's reported about notifiable diseases. This helps public health officials to monitor, and ideally, to prevent the spread of diseases in this category. The current and historic list of notifiable (permitted) diseases to be reported is here.
One example of public health reporting for health surveillance is disease registries that provide epidemiological data such as the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program. It collects cancer data from around the U.S. in order to:
estimate regional cancer trends and mortality rates;
identify unusual appearances of or changes in certain forms of cancer in population subgroups;
produce current information on clinical presentation (what makes a cancer identifiable) and modifications in therapy and their effect on survival; and
promote studies to identify when cancer control interventions, such as recommended screening practices like a colonoscopy, prostate exam, pap smear, or mammogram, may or may not be effective.
A public health disclosure of individual health information may also occur when a health care provider is legally authorized to notify individuals at risk of contracting or spreading a disease or condition. For example, an individual who tests positive for HIV will be asked for names of others whom he or she might have exposed to the disease. The provider will notify those individuals. 45 CFR § 164.512(b)(1)(iv)
Under California law a physician who reports a patient's positive HIV test results to someone she believes is the patient's sexual partner, or with whom she believes the patient has shared needles, may not be held liable for the disclosure. Cal. Health & Safety Code § 121015
b. Does the law protect your health information when it is used for public health purposes?
The answer is that it really depends on whom your health care provider shares the information with. The notice of privacy practices you receive from your health care provider will inform you that the provider does not need to get your written permission to disclose your information for public health purposes.
If the public health authority that receives your information is also a covered entity, the HIPAA Privacy Rule will apply. 45 CFR § 164
If it is not a covered entity, the public health authority's data practices will be subject to whichever laws, regulations, and policies apply to it. For example, if the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) receives information on salmonella cases from health care providers, the laws and regulations governing the FDA's privacy and security practices will apply rather than HIPAA. 21 CFR, Part 21
Unless specific rules and regulations govern the privacy practices of a public health authority receiving your information, the only privacy protection built into public health reporting is the minimum necessary standard. In other words, covered entities are supposed to limit the information they disclose to public health authorities to the minimum amount necessary to accomplish the public health purpose.
Health care providers may develop their own policies and procedures for the minimum necessary information required for a specific purpose. Examples of mandatory disclosures where the "minimum necessary" may apply are:
births and deaths (reported to state vital statistics agencies);
gunshot wound treatment (reported to law enforcement);
suspected child and elder abuse (reported to law enforcement and social welfare agencies);
industrial accidents (reported to CalOSHA); and
certain poisonings, abortions, cancer cases, and communicable diseases.
45 CFR § 164.514(d)(3)(i)
When a public health authority requests information—for example to monitor a disease outbreak or investigate a food or product safety issue—it determines the minimum necessary information it needs. 45 CFR § 164.514(d)(3)(iii)(A)
c. Public health reporting and health information exchange (HIE)
The 2009 Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH Act) requires health care providers to begin implementing electronic health record systems (EHRs) and start meeting public health reporting requirements electronically. 42 U.S.C. § 139 w-4(o)(1)(A)(i)
This information may include laboratory, immunization, and syndromic surveillance reports. Syndromic surveillance means using real-time medical data to anticipate the outbreak of a disease and mount a public health response, even prior to an actual diagnosis. One example is Influenzanet, a Europe-wide system based on voluntary reports of the presence or absence of flu symptoms on the internet. Among other things, it allows for early warnings of flu trends and enables people to take precautions.
Electronic health information exchange (HIE) makes it easy to collect large amounts of data. As it becomes easier and more efficient to collect and share health information, public health organizations will likely have unprecedented access to population health data. With this access, the organizations may have the opportunity to use data in new ways.
With HIE, public health organizations may also be able to enhance their existing data uses, such as:
addressing disparities in population health and in health care delivery—for example, between urban and rural health care delivery, or differences by race, ethnic group or income level;
improving care for chronic diseases like cardiovascular disease, asthma, and diabetes;
improving public health surveillance in ways such as better monitoring of flu epidemics and verifying whether vaccines are working;
improving monitoring of priority public health issues such as cancer screening (for example, measuring the impact of mammograms, colonoscopies, and prostate exams on disease rates) and diabetes (tracking individually identifiable lab results for blood sugar and kidney function, which is already being done with syndromic surveillance reporting in New York City, and in a number of other statewide or county level programs);
expanding disease registries to produce better statistical information (for example, for screening and managing chronic diseases like diabetes and AIDS);
communicating public health alerts.
As electronic reporting generates more data, public health organizations and private researchers may start asking for more access to the information. For instance, public health agencies may want to expand the lists of mandatory and permitted reportable information and expand access to this information.
If, or when, this happens, the question arises as to whether these agencies must publish notices of any proposed changes in the Federal Register and solicit public comment. Because the reporting regulations are already codified, modifying them should require public notice and comment. 45 CFR § 164.512 (Unfortunately, the Federal Register is not the most user-friendly document or website, so you may want to periodically ask your health care provider if and how her reporting requirements have changed).
3. Medical information collected for national security purposes
Regardless of whatever laws protect the privacy of health information, the U.S. government may access any information it deems necessary to protect the security of the nation. Two laws passed in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks codify the government's authority to access any and all information needed to carry out its mission: the Patriot Act (Public Law 107-56, 115 Stat. 272 (2001) and the Homeland Security Act (Public Law 107–296. 116 Stat. 2135 (2002). The Patriot Act reduces (some would say eliminates) restrictions on law enforcement requests for health records, as well as communications records, including email and phone records. Section 215 of the Patriot Act gives the FBI director authority to apply to the secret FISA (Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act) court for an order that a person or entity produce "any tangible things (including books, records, papers, documents, and other items) for an investigation to protect against international terrorism or clandestine intelligence activities." The Homeland Security Act created the Department of Homeland Security. The Act gives the department's secretary the authority to conduct the investigations necessary to preventing foreign and domestic terrorism, and to access the information needed to do so. These acts and their broad powers override the privacy protections of lesser laws, like HIPAA.
4. Medical information gained through government records requests
The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) is the federal law that allows individuals to request access to government records. 5 U.S.C, § 552 There are nine exemptions to FOIA, including one for medical records: "personnel and medical and similar files the disclosure of which would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy." 5 U.S.C. § 552(b)(6) This means that if a government agency has your medical records because, for example, you are a patient at a Veterans Administration hospital, or you participate in an AIDS study at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the agency may not release your records to a FOIA request from anyone other than yourself. If someone else makes the request (for example, a reporter or media organization) and it is denied and goes to court, the court must balance the public interest in disclosure against your personal privacy interest.
California's Public Records Act (Cal. Gov't Code § 6250, et seq; also known as the Brown Act) is similar to FOIA. It too exempts medical records held by government agencies from disclosure requests. The Brown Act incorporates California's patient-physician privilege law (Cal. Evidence Code §§ 990–1007), the Confidentiality of Medical Information Act (Cal. Civ. Code §§ 56–56.37) and the HIPAA Privacy Rule (45 CFR § 160 and Subparts A and E of § 164). As with FOIA, even with the medical records exemption, the agency or court deciding what information may or may not be released must balance individual privacy against the public's right to know. To learn more about the California Public Records Act, see The People's Business: A Guide to the Public Records Act, published by the League of California Cities.
5. Medical information disclosed for research purposes
HIPAA and the CMIA both address how medical information may be shared and used for research purposes. However, different laws will apply when research is conducted on human subjects because of the ethical concerns it raises.
a. HIPAA
HIPAA requires researchers to obtain authorization to use your identifiable medical information for research purposes. You must give your signed permission stating that the researcher may use your information, but only for a specific project described in the agreement and only until the project's stated expiration date.
Researchers may obtain a single authorization for both "conditioned" research (where treatment in a clinical trial is conditioned on receiving your authorization) and "unconditioned" research (research not related to treatment). An authorizations may be for a specific study, or it may encompass a range of future research projects. Any authorization you are asked to sign for future projects must adequately describe the nature of the research that will be undertaken.
You may have additional protections when researchers use your identifiable information, but it will depend on specific regulations governing the agency responsible for the data. For example, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ—a part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services) funds and oversees a great deal of health research by public and private organizations. AHRQ, its contractors, and its grantees may only use identifiable data for the specific purpose to which you have consented. 42 U.S.C. § 299c-3(c)
Your medical information may be used for research without your consent in the following situations:
The medical information has been de-identified according to HIPAA standards. This means that 18 specific identifiers have been removed—including name, Social Security number, photos, and unique characteristics. When information has been de-identified according to this standard, there are no limits on how it may be used and disclosed. 45 CFR § 164.514 However, there is nobody certifying or monitoring whether the standard has been met.
It is a limited data set, meaning that most identifiers are removed. However, a limited data set may still include dates of admission or discharge from a hospital; dates of medical treatment; date of birth and death; age (including 90 or older, which would limit the population pool from which the data could be re-identified); and a five-digit ZIP code, along with state, county, city, or precinct, but not your actual street address. The researcher and your health care provider—but not you—must also have a written agreement that covers all permitted uses of the data. 45 CFR § 164.514
An Institutional Review Board (IRB) (an independent ethics board; although it depends on where the research is being conducted, an IRB is usually composed of medical faculty at the research institution) or Privacy Board has determined that the project presents minimal risk to privacy, that procedures are in place to protect identifiable information, and that the research could not be done without identifiable information. 45 CFR § 164.512(i)(1)(i)
See the HHS publication Research for more information on how the HIPAA Privacy Rule applies to research.
b. CMIA
California's Confidentiality of Medical Information Act (CMIA) allows disclosure of individual medical information for bona fide research purposes to public agencies, clinical investigators (including those conducting epidemiologic studies), health care research organizations, and accredited public or private nonprofit educational or health care institutions. The CMIA prohibits disclosure beyond the purpose of the research in any way that would reveal the identity of a subject. Cal. Civ. Code § 56.10(c)(7)
c. Research on human subjects
Research that is conducted on human subjects is another matter. Separate federal regulations govern biomedical and behavioral research ethics. These include The Common Rule and the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) regulations on protecting human subjects. The Common Rule, 45 CFR § 46(A); the FDA regulations are at 21 CFR §§ 50, 56
The Common Rule came into being primarily in response to the revelation that African-American men were the unwitting subjects of the federally funded Tuskeegee Experiment, conducted from 1932–1972 by the U.S. Public Health Service to study the effects of syphilis. The study monitored 600 low-income African-American men, of whom 400 were infected with syphilis, for 40 years. They were never told they had the disease, and were not treated with penicillin when it became available in the 1950s. After the existence of this study was revealed, public outrage and political embarrassment finally forced the Public Health Service to end it.
Research on human subjects now requires authorization and informed consent. In other words, you must sign an agreement and have the information you need to understand the research project. In particular, you must understand the risks and benefits of the project.
An informed consent agreement must tell you:
the purpose of the research;
the procedures involved;
alternatives to participation (for example, is there a non-experimental drug or treatment available for the condition being studied?);
all foreseeable risks and discomforts, including physical injury, and possible psychological, social, or economic harm, discomfort, or inconvenience;
possible benefits of the research to you and society;
how long you are expected to participate;
a contact for answers to questions and in case of a research-related injury or emergency;
that participation is voluntary and there are no consequences or possible loss of any benefits you are entitled to receive if you do not participate;
your right to confidentiality; and
your right to withdraw at any time without consequences.
An IRB, also known as an independent ethics board, may waive one or more of these requirements if it would make the project impractical or impossible to do. An IRB may also waive a requirement if it does not apply to a particular project.
The California Attorney General's Office has an Experimental Research Subject's Bill of Rights that replicates the federal informed consent requirements. Also see Cal. Health & Safety Code § 24172
If you ever consider participating in a medical study or clinical trial, you may want to read more about how your information may be used and any rights you have. HHS has a publication on the Common Rule as it applies to research titled Federal Policy for the Protection of Human Subjects ('Common Rule'). Fifteen government agencies, including the departments of Veterans Affairs, Defense and Education have signed on to the Common Rule; the CIA, Homeland Security and the Social Security Administration are also bound by the Rule although they have not signed on.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) compares the HIPAA research requirements to the HHS and FDA regulations for the protection of human subjects: How Can Covered Entities Use and Disclose Protected Health Information for Research and Comply with the Privacy Rule? The University of Southern California also has a publication titled Informed Consent in Human Subjects Research.
d. Precision Medicine Initiative
In his 2015 State of the Union address, President Obama announced the Precision Medicine Initiative (PMI). The project's goal is to advance the treatment and prevention of disease and change the medical practice model of "one size fits all" to individually targeted designer medicine. The first step is to build a nationally accessible electronic archive by 2020 that includes individual whole-genome sequencing, behavioral and environmental data, and all electronic health records of 1 million or more Americans who volunteer to participate.
The research that will be based on this data requires participants to consent to its use by researchers in both the public and private sectors, which will most certainly include drug and medical device manufacturers. This will mean changing current regulatory schemes that exist to protect health privacy and uses of health information. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is working with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to bring the Common Rule (see 5c, "Research on Human Subjects," above), a decades-old rule originally intended to protect research participants, more in line with PMI participants' desire to be active partners in advancing modern medical science. The PMI is intended to drive innovation, while also building public trust that the technologies and treatments it develops are safe and effective, and that the highest standards of privacy and security are in place. Given the quantities of personal and medical data involved, and the emphasis on allowing data to flow freely and quickly to qualified researchers, it is hard to envision just how the PMI will maintain privacy and security.
In any case, participants will be asked to voluntarily give up the limited protection of their PHI that HIPAA and the CMIA afford. They will consent to extensive characterization of their biologic specimens—cell populations, proteins, RNA, and DNA—as being, for example, susceptible or resistant to certain diseases or conditions, either by themselves or in combination with other factors. The data could also include whole-genome sequencing, although at a cost of $1000 per person, the first round of PMI funding—$215 million—is unlikely to cover it (assuming that Congress funds the PMI at all). Behavioral data (records of mental health and substance abuse treatment) and environmental data (which may mean a participant's exposure to known toxins, such as chemicals used in dry cleaning or in beauty salons) will be open to researchers, and all new, PMI-generated data, along with pre-existing data, will be linked to participants' electronic health records.
An important aspect of the PMI will be pharmacogenomics, the study of how our genes affect our response to drugs, since a major goal of the initiative is to optimize the usefulness of drugs in the treatment of diseases. Research will be focused on delivering the most appropriate and effective drug, in the right dose, to the right patient. Doctors will certainly be interested in the outcomes of pharmacogenomics research, and pharmaceutical companies will be no less interested. In fact, they will undoubtedly be involved in the research and will have access to patient-participants' complete medical, genetic, behavioral and environmental data. It would seem to go without saying that clear restrictions on the uses of personally identifiable data by profit-making research entities (as well as hybrid research entities that include profit-making companies), that include auditing and enforcement, be in place before the PMI starts collecting data and making it available.
The possibility of more effective treatment of many chronic and fatal diseases by changing the research and treatment paradigm is something to raise everyone's hopes. There seems, though, to be considerable risk of privacy getting lost in the excitement about the treatment breakthrough possibilities and the seismic shift in the way medicine is practiced that the PMI portends. PMI research envisions public-private partnerships. In view of that collaboration, it is very important to prevent participants' medical and genetic information from being exposed to the ruthless and insatiable world of commercial data mining.
6. Medical information disclosed to receive a public benefit, discount, or license
Many public agencies offer discounts and special benefits to disabled individuals. These might include transit passes, hunting and fishing licenses, and state park admission passes, among many others. To qualify, an applicant generally must fill out an application that summarizes (sometimes from a checklist, sometimes in writing) the impairment that entitles him or her to a discount or service, and he or she must have a licensed health or behavioral practitioner sign to certify the claim.
Some California benefits, for example to receive a disabled parking placard, require additional descriptive information about the qualifying disability from a health care practitioner as part of the application.
a. Information you provide to a California state agency
As long as the information is provided to a state agency, it is protected by California's Information Practices Act (IPA). Cal. Civ. Code § 1798 et. seq. This act protects personal privacy by limiting how much information an agency can collect, maintain, and distribute. It gives you the right to review your personal information in state agency records, request changes to inaccurate or irrelevant information, and obtain an accounting of who has accessed the information. The IPA allows anyone other than yourself very little ability to access your personal information.
b. Information you provide to a local government agency
The IPA does not apply to local government agencies. If you apply for a disability-discounted transit pass for your local public bus service, the privacy of your medical information depends on the city or county's general privacy policy, or the policy of the agency itself—if it has one.
c. Information you provide to a private business or nonprofit
If you apply to a private business or nonprofit for a benefit or discount based on a disability, the privacy of any medical information it collects from you depends on the policy of the company or organization, unless other laws apply. If you must give up medical information to obtain a benefit or discount, it is always a good idea to ask what privacy protections apply to the information, if any.
7. Additional Resources
Federal laws and resources
Office for Civil Rights
The full text of the Privacy Act of 1974 is available here.
California laws and resources
To find the full text of California laws, visit California Legislative Information.
California Confidentiality of Medical Information Act (Cal. Civ. Code §§ 56-56.37)
California Information Practices Act (Cal. Civ. Code §§ 1798 -1798.78)
California Department of Public Health: Reportable Diseases and Conditions
California Health Benefits Exchange: Covered California

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


David Brown - Pensar. The Infrastructure People.
David joined Pensar in 2012, bringing his specialist power industry expertise. As the Director of Pensar Power, David has over a decade of valuable practical and technical experience in electrical communications project development, management and delivery.
Through his leadership of our highly skilled and cohesive Power team, David instills our core values of quality, innovation and customer service and his integrity is reflected in the strong relationships he builds with clients and stakeholders.
David joined Pensar in 2012, bringing his specialist power industry expertise. As a Director of Pensar and General Manager of Pensar Power, David has over a decade of valuable practical and technical experience in electrical communications project development, management and delivery.
Through his leadership of our highly skilled and cohesive Power team, David instils our core values of quality, innovation and customer service and his integrity is reflected in the strong relationships he builds with clients and stakeholders.


So What if Volatility ETN/ETFs are Growing—Where are the Problems?
It's clear that the volatility ETN/ETFs have begun to dominate the VIX Futures market. What isn't clear is whether it matters. Volatility isn't a commodity like gold or corn that is physically limited, so future position limits don't seem applicable. When the price of VIX futures is attractive, more can be created—and appropriate hedges put in place. But are these hedges distorting the overall market?
The recent term structure doesn't appear to be totally out of whack with the comparable period in November 2010.
The chart below shows the relationship between the VIX index and the 7th-month VIX future (M7), with the green M7-VIX line showing the difference between the two.
Compared to the 40 point negative difference in 2008 the current VIX vs M7 relationship looks pretty pedestrian.
Is it a problem that Volatility ETN/ETFs now do most of the trading on the VIX Futures Market?
Volatility ETN/ETFs have known trading patterns. Their prices are based on daily future rolls (selling nearer months and buying further out months) in order to preserve a constant time maturity. Can this knowledge be exploited to game the market against the ETN/ETF providers?
Will the overall growth of the VIX futures market cause problems?
The analysts over at IndexUniverse did a nice job of piecing together a rough estimate of the ETN/ETFs impact on the market, but the CBOE posts historic VIX futures data (price, volume, open interest) from the beginning of tracing in 2004 and I have a spreadsheet that enables me to analyze that data. The chart below shows open interest on first (M1) and second month (M2) VIX futures during the first half of 2011.
The red M1 open interest shows a big step up once a month when the previous M2 futures become the M1s at futures expiration. After the jump up the open interest on the M1s drops as the ETN/ETFs sell them and buy the M2s. You can see the green M2 line increasing and the M1 dropping. The blue line above is the combined open interest of the two—giving a reasonable measure of the overall short term VIX futures open interest. Notice that the open interest for the M1 and M2 contracts doesn't drop below 20,000 contracts. This number has been relatively consistent since Mid 2010 and represents the institutional and retail business that isn't locked into the daily roll cycle. In the first half of 2010, these 40K contracts were about 40% of the overall 100K in short term open interest.
Barclays' introduced the first Volatility ETNs, the short term VXX and the medium term VXZ in January 2009. This next chart shows short term VIX futures open interest in the era of the volatility ETN.
Credit Suisse's halt to TVIX share creation on February 22nd, 2012 (horizontal black bar on chart), doesn't seem to have slowed things up. The CBOE's March 6th announcement that they have reached a record open interest of 280,000 VIX futures contracts (including all their volatility futures) is not surprising.
Clearly, the volatility ETN/ETFs (see Volatility Tickers for the full list) are on a huge growth spurt. Their volumes now dominate the VIX futures market—but so what? It wouldn't be the first time broad retail acceptance of a product overtook the institutional/commercial market (e.g, computers). Yes, they have a characteristic monthly pattern, but the term structure doesn't show any sign of that demand distorting the prices—I would expect a bump in the M2 prices if that was the case.
Credit Suisse at least is feeling the growing pains, but so far Barclays and ProShares (the other rapidly growing fund provider) aren't complaining.
I don't see any evidence that SPX options are behaving strangely. I understand that shifting $50 million or more a day to rebalance an ETN with a billion dollars in assets is not a trifling thing, but compared to the $10 trillion market cap of the S&P 500 this feels like a tempest in a teapot.


There are few opportunities for Deerfield's theater students to see the work of peers at other schools. However, this April, the Acting Tutorial Class will attend the third annual Interschool Student One Act Festival.
A group of theater students at Phillips Academy Andover started this day-long festival. Currently eight schools including Hotchkiss, Exeter, and St. Paul's participate. In its first two years, the festival was held at Andover, but this year it will be at Choate for its convenient location.
The festival begins with workshops on different elements of drama and theater. In the evening, each school performs a ten minute one-act play led by a student director.
Camille Coppola '10 will be leading a workshop on a concept she learned at an acting program this past summer.
In planning this year's schedule, Mr. Reese was adamant about attending the festival. (In the past two years, it was impossible to attend due to other events.) He feels it is important for the artists to interact with other schools just as athletes do.


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Die Deutsche Rentenversicherung Mitteldeutschland betreut in Sachsen, Sachsen-Anhalt und Thüringen rund 2,0 Millionen gesetzlich Versicherte und zahlt rund 1,5 Millionen Renten aus. Sie ist eine selbstverwaltete Körperschaft des öffentlichen Rechts und mit ihrem Haushaltsvolumen der größte der 14 Regionalträger der Deutschen Rentenversicherung.

Ihren Sitz hat die Deutsche Rentenversicherung Mitteldeutschland in Leipzig, weitere Hauptstandorte sind in Erfurt und Halle (Saale). Sie untersteht der Rechtsaufsicht des Sächsischen Staatsministeriums für Soziales und Gesellschaftlichen Zusammenhalt.

Der Regionalträger erbringt alle Leistungen der gesetzlichen Rentenversicherung und steht in derzeit 29 Auskunfts- und Beratungsstellen und 6 Sprechtagsorten in ganz Sachsen, Sachsen-Anhalt und Thüringen als persönlicher Ansprechpartner für Versicherte und Rentner zur Verfügung.

Am 30. September 2005 entstand die Deutsche Rentenversicherung Mitteldeutschland aus dem Zusammenschluss der Landesversicherungsanstalten Sachsen, Sachsen-Anhalt und Thüringen.

Geschäftsführer ist Jork Beßler, stellvertretende Geschäftsführerin ist Nicola Wenderoth.

Aufgaben und Leistungen

Versicherung und Rente
Die Aufgaben und Leistungen der gesetzlichen Rentenversicherung ergeben sich direkt aus dem Sozialgesetzbuch. Der Leistungskatalog der gesetzlichen Rentenversicherung umfasst unter anderem die Zahlung von Renten. Die Deutsche Rentenversicherung Mitteldeutschland erledigte im Jahr 2021 rund 101.700 Rentenanträge und zahlt laufend circa 1,53 Millionen Renten. Darüber hinaus werden auch Betriebsprüfungen bei Arbeitgebern durchgeführt und versicherungsrechtliche Sachverhalte wie etwa Kontenklärungen, Rentenauskünfte und -informationen und Beitragsverfahren bearbeitet.

Leistungen zur Teilhabe
Der Regionalträger erbringt auf Grundlage des § 9 Sozialgesetzbuch VI Leistungen zur Teilhabe. Diese umfassen medizinische Rehabilitation, Leistungen zur Teilhabe am Arbeitsleben und ergänzende Leistungen. Im Jahr 2021 wurden rund 98.600 Anträge auf medizinische Rehabilitation und sonstige Leistungen sowie etwa 39.800 Anträge auf Leistungen zur Teilhabe am Arbeitsleben erledigt.

Auskunft und Beratung
Die Gewährleistung einer unabhängigen, kompetenten und kostenfreien Auskunft und Beratung der Versicherten, Rentner und Arbeitgeber gehört zu den Aufgaben der gesetzlichen Rentenversicherung. Mit ihren 29 Auskunfts- und Beratungsstellen und 6 Sprechtagsorten in Sachsen, Sachsen-Anhalt und Thüringen hat die Deutsche Rentenversicherung Mitteldeutschland ein dichtes Beratungsstellennetz. Telefonisch steht der Regionalträger am kostenlosen Servicetelefon (0800 1000 480 90) für Informationen rund um das Versicherungs-, Rehabilitations- und Rentenrecht sowie zur zusätzlichen Altersvorsorge und zur Grundsicherung zur Verfügung.

Auch können sich Kunden online unter www.deutsche-rentenversicherung.de/Mitteldeutschland informieren und den umfangreichen eService nutzen.

Mit der Jugendkampagne "Rentenblicker" unterstützt der Regionalträger seit 2007 Lehrer im Unterricht mit kostenlosen Klassensätzen an Arbeitsheften und Broschüren sowie – auf Anfrage – auch mit Referenten. Das Bildungsangebot informiert über die gesetzliche Rentenversicherung und sensibilisiert für eine frühzeitige zusätzliche Altersvorsorge.

Kernstück der Initiative ist das Internetportal www.rentenblicker.de, das 2021 modernisiert wurde: Jugendliche, Lehrkräfte und Eltern finden seitdem alle Informationen zu Rente, Reha und Altersvorsorge nicht nur in detaillierten Beiträgen, sondern auch in kurzen Videos. Darüber hinaus informiert das Angebot auch auf den Social-Media-Kanälen Instagram, Facebook und YouTube.

Rente und Ausland
Werden rentenrechtliche Zeiten in einem EU-/EWR-Mitgliedsstaat oder Vertragsland geltend gemacht, ist in der Regel eine Verbindungsstelle eines Regional- beziehungsweise Bundesträgers zuständig. Die Deutsche Rentenversicherung Mitteldeutschland ist Verbindungsstelle für Rentenangelegenheiten mit den Ländern Bulgarien und Ungarn. Von den rund 9.320 Renten, die der Regionalträger im Jahr 2021 in 27 Staaten der Welt zahlte, wurden rund 9.230 Renten nach Bulgarien und Ungarn gezahlt.

Ausbildungs- und Studienmöglichkeiten
Die Deutsche Rentenversicherung Mitteldeutschland bietet jungen Menschen Ausbildungsmöglichkeiten zum/zur Sozialversicherungsfachangestellten sowie Studienplätze in den dualen Studiengängen "Bachelor of Laws – Sozialversicherung", "Bachelor of Laws – Management Soziale Sicherheit" und "Bachelor of Laws – Sozialversicherungsrecht – Schwerpunkt Prüfdienst".

Organisation

Selbstverwaltung
Die Deutsche Rentenversicherung Mitteldeutschland ist eine Körperschaft des öffentlichen Rechts mit Selbstverwaltungscharakter. Selbstverwaltung bedeutet, dass die Selbstverwaltungsorgane – die Vertreterversammlung und der Vorstand – paritätisch mit Vertretern der Versicherten und der Arbeitgeber besetzt sind. Die Mitglieder dieser Organe werden aller sechs Jahre im Rahmen von Sozialwahlen gewählt. Am 31. Mai 2023 finden die nächste Sozialwahl statt.

Vertreterversammlung
Die Vertreterversammlung setzt sich aus je 15 Vertretern der Versicherten und der Arbeitgeber zusammen. Sie beschließt unter anderem die Satzung und den Haushaltsplan, nimmt die Jahresrechnung ab und wählt die Mitglieder des Vorstandes sowie den Geschäftsführer und die stellvertretende Geschäftsführerin. Vorsitzender der Arbeitgebergruppe in der Vertreterversammlung ist Sven Nobereit, Vorsitzende der Versichertengruppe ist Annett Haase.

Vorstand
Der Vorstand besteht aus je neun Vertretern der Versicherten und der Arbeitgeber. Er verwaltet die Deutsche Rentenversicherung Mitteldeutschland und vertritt sie gerichtlich und außergerichtlich. Außerdem erlässt er allgemeine Richtlinien zum Beispiel für die Verwaltung, legt das Vermögen an, stellt die Jahresrechnung beziehungsweise den Haushaltsplan auf und entscheidet über Baumaßnahmen, bestimmte Personalangelegenheiten sowie Beschaffungen, die eine festgelegte Wertgröße übersteigen. Vorsitzender der Arbeitgebergruppe im Vorstand ist Detlev Lehmann, Vorsitzende der Versichertengruppe ist Susanne Wiedemeyer.

Geschäftsleitung
Die Deutsche Rentenversicherung Mitteldeutschland hat einen Geschäftsführer und einen Stellvertretenden Geschäftsführer. Geschäftsführer seit 1. August 2017 ist Jork Beßler. Stellvertretende Geschäftsführerin ist seit 1. November 2021 Nicola Wenderoth.

Dienststellen
Die Deutsche Rentenversicherung Mitteldeutschland arbeitet nach dem Regionalprinzip. Der Hauptsitz ist in Leipzig, weitere große Standorte sind in Erfurt und in Halle (Saale). Insgesamt ist die Deutsche Rentenversicherung Mitteldeutschland an 35 Standorten in ganz Sachsen, Sachsen-Anhalt und Thüringen mit Auskunfts- und Beratungsstellen und Sprechtagsorten präsent.

Entstehungsgeschichte

Organisationsreform in der gesetzlichen Rentenversicherung
Zum 1. Januar 2005 wurden durch das "Gesetz zur Organisationsreform der gesetzlichen Rentenversicherung" (RVOrgG) alle Rentenversicherungsträger – die Bundesversicherungsanstalt für Angestellte (BfA), die 22 Landesversicherungsanstalten (LVA), die Seekasse, die Bundesknappschaft und die Bahnversicherungsanstalt – unter dem Namen "Deutsche Rentenversicherung" zusammengefasst. Ziel war es, einen einheitlichen Versichertenbegriff zu schaffen und Bürgernähe, Wirtschaftlichkeit und Effektivität in der gesetzlichen Rentenversicherung zu verbessern. Im Zuge der Organisationsreform erteilte der Gesetzgeber der Deutschen Rentenversicherung die Vorgabe bis zum Jahr 2010 die Verwaltungs- und Verfahrenskosten um insgesamt zehn Prozent zu senken.

Fusion
Die Deutsche Rentenversicherung Mitteldeutschland entstand am 30. September 2005 aus dem Zusammenschluss der Landesversicherungsanstalten Sachsen, Sachsen-Anhalt und Thüringen. Grundlage für ihre Struktur ab dem 1. Oktober 2005 bildete das bereits 2003 erstellte Rahmenkonzept zur Fusion. Zur Entwicklung einer gemeinsamen Unternehmenskultur wurde ein gemeinsames Leitbild erarbeitet und implementiert. Sowohl Kunden- und Serviceorientierung, als auch Kostenbewusstsein und Mitarbeiterorientierung sind als wesentliche Grundsätze der Unternehmensphilosophie im Leitbild verankert.

Haushalt
Die Deutsche Rentenversicherung Mitteldeutschland hat mit 30,4 Milliarden Euro (2021) den größten öffentlichen Haushalt unter den Regionalträgern. Haupteinnahmeposten sind mit rund 14,1 Milliarden Euro die Beitragszahlungen, gefolgt von rund 9,3 Milliarden Euro aus dem Finanzverbund innerhalb der gesetzlichen Rentenversicherung und rund 7,0 Milliarden Euro aus dem Bundeszuschuss. Größter Ausgabeposten sind mit rund 29,7 Milliarden Euro die Rentenzahlungen inklusive der Krankenversicherung der Rentner. Weitere Ausgaben sind mit rund 463,8 Millionen Euro die Leistungen zur Teilhabe. Mit Ausgaben von 287,1 Millionen Euro entfällt weniger als ein Prozent des Haushalts auf Verwaltungs- und Verfahrenskosten.

Weblinks

 www.deutsche-rentenversicherung-mitteldeutschland.de
 zukunftssicherer.de – Ausbildung und Studium bei der Deutschen Rentenversicherung Mitteldeutschland
 Ausbildung und Studium bei der Deutschen Rentenversicherung Mitteldeutschland, PDF
 Geschäftsbericht 2021, PDF
 Barrierefreie Version: Geschäftsbericht 2021, PDF
 Geschäftsbericht 2020, PDF
 Barrierefreie Version: Geschäftsbericht 2020, PDF
 Geschäftsbericht 2019, PDF

Siehe auch
 Sozialversicherungszentrum Leipzig: Zum Hauptsitz der DRV Mitteldeutschland in Leipzig
 Kaserne Möckern: Zur Geschichte des Hauptsitzes der DRV Mitteldeutschland in Leipzig

Foto-Impressionen der Zentrale Leipzig

Literatur

 Vorgänger-Institutionen

Einzelnachweise

Mitteldeutschland
Behörde (Leipzig)
Körperschaft des öffentlichen Rechts (Deutschland)
Gegründet 2005

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Brogue shoe recently re-introduced by Loake and based on their original '70's model. Made in England with leather upper sole and lining using tradional Goodyear welted construction.
First, I have to thank Jonathan for his great advise and his customer service! The shoes fit perfectly fine for me in size 8 F. I got Loake's Bedale boots in 7.5 G. The Bedale boots are pretty roomy so I wasn't sure which size to choose. But sizing up a half was perfect. I also tried the Royals in 8.5 but they were definitely to large, I was slipping around, even with thicker socks. My usual shoe size is about EU: 42.5 and UK: 8.5 and USA: 9 for Adidas. My Clarks Desert Boots are size 42 UK: 8G. Hopefully this description helps other customers to chose the right size. The shoes themselves are pure beauties! Shiny polished leather upper, a leather sole which is of course a bit slippery at the beginning. But they are totally soft; I ain't got no blisters while wearing them the first time! A definitely recommendation to buy these wonderful shoes!
Hi Gerald, thanks for all three of your reviews. Shoes can be tricky when it comes to sizing. We are always happy to give advice based on our experience of wearing what we sell.
Beautiful shoe. A pure classic. Perfect with a suit or sta prest. The quality of Loake shoes make them worth every penny.
The classic one, got a pair there, they still do the business with ivy shirt and sta prest.


text:
Q: Play 2.0 "management" console commands I'd like to create some custom commands to manage my play 2.0 application (similar to Django's management commands), so I can run things like play import-data <data>.
This seems to be something one would do by writing SBT commands (like Play's own), but specific to the particular project and with access to a project's resources (models etc.)
Being fairly new to Scala, and new to both Play and SBT, I cannot get my head around how to do this, and particularly the dependency management that is involved.  The SBT plugin documentation is very nice, but it seems to assume I want to create standalone, published plugins, rather than ones that depend on the main project.
Does anyone know of a walkthrough for something similar, or have any specific suggestions for how "management commands" could otherwise be implemented?

A: To begin, you could take a look at the existing Play's sbt-plugins: https://github.com/playframework/Play20/tree/master/framework/src/sbt-plugin/src/main/scala

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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text:
Best Of SA
SA Current Events
San Antonio Current
Screens » Film
by Kiko Martinez
Under the "Basic Information" section of Johnny Luna's Facebook page, I can only assume the San Antonio filmmaker is being facetious when he describes himself as a "comedian, locksmith, husband, father, musician, film maker [sic]" and then goes on to admit he "suck[s] at all of them."
Now, I've never seen one of Luna's stand-up performances nor have I watched him interact with his family. I'm unaware of what instruments he plays and have never once called him after locking my keys inside my vehicle. As far as I know, he's George Carlin, Cliff Huxtable, Bob Dylan, and the most efficient man armed with a slim jim all rolled into one.
What I can objectively comment on, however, is Luna's first feature film Amounting to Nothing, a comedy of mistaken identity, which is now on DVD after a short run through the festival circuit. As sarcastic as Luna is trying to be in his Facebook profile, he might be onto something with his self-criticism of his talent as a director and writer. Never mind the poor film, sound, and music editing, the blatant overacting, the mediocre camerawork (learn how to frame a shot, for Christ's sake) and the indie's overall amateur production value — it's Luna's abysmal script and confounding directorial choices that make Amounting to Nothing live up to its ironically unfortunate title. Most ironic of all: the movie won the Best Script in a Feature award at Houston's UnderDogs Film Fest in August.
If lead actor James Ponce had been given even slightly humorous or creative material to work with, his character might've had more than just sparse appeal. Instead, Luna delivers a collection of nitwit skits revolving around jokes about rape and blowjobs, the obese and elderly, and racial slurs and stereotypes (jiggaboo, really?).
In one insufferably long, drawn-out gag, Ponce's character is repeatedly sprayed in the face with pepper spray rendering him sightless. If only I could've been so lucky.
★ 1/2
Amounting to Nothing
Dir. and writ. Johnny Luna; feat. James Ponce, Carmen Ivette, Johnny Luna, Tommy Muñoz
$15 DVD
placetobproductions.com
underdogs.com
Additional Screens Slideshows
30 Most Glamorous Moments at Woodlawn Theatre Deco Gala
10 Female Disney Villains That Rival Abuela at Her Scariest
Batman's Bike, A Traveling Pianist and Other Cool Stuff We Saw at SXSW Yesterday
Meet the 17 Artists Repping San Antonio at SXSW 2018
© 2020 San Antonio Current


Nine-year-old Gage Cave and 12-year-old Kaden Cave stand with more than 200 pounds of food they donated for the 4-H Barn Stompers Club on Monday in the Student Life Office.
NORTH EAST, Md. – There is a continual need of the student food pantry at Cecil College, and members of the 4-H Barn Stompers Club of Cecil County came to the aid this week with a large donation. The Barn Stompers held a food drive this month to tackle food insecurity within the county.
Hearing of the need of Cecil College students, the club delivered more than 200 pounds of food to the Cecil College Food Pantry on Monday. Among the donations were cans of Spam, tuna fish, ready-to-eat soups, and much more.
"We heard there were people in the county that did not have anything to eat. We felt that we needed to do something to help," said 12-year-old Kaden Cave, who delivered the food to the North East Campus of Cecil College with his brother, nine-year-old Gage Cave.
The Barn Stompers raise money by cleaning stables at Fair Hills Stables in addition to other fundraisers. Part of this money was used to purchase more food.
Donations can be dropped off in the Veterans Library or Student Life Office (Room 114, Technology Center) on the North East Campus, as well as at Elkton Station.


text:
Save to your city mapMaze is Gordon Ramsey's Michelin star restaurant in London's Mayfair. With a fusion of taste and style, of French and Asian influences, the menu will never fail to surprise or delight.
Happening at Maze
Looks like there's not enough activity around Maze to show here today.
Popular things to do near Maze
London's well-known Bond Street is admired throughout the world for its el...
Carluccio's is an authentic Italian restaurant chain with 70 locations acr...
Selfridges & Co
Selfridges & Co is a chain of high end department stores in the United Kin...
In Oxford street you'll find a large Marks & Spencer. The department store...
10 mentions
10 - 13 Grosvenor Square, West End
London, W1K 6JP United Kingdom
Restaurant Soho House


text:
Operation Watchful Eye III: How ...
Newsource at 5 (Sept. 26)
Operation Watchful Eye III: How Georgia Keeps Up With Sex Offenders
by Grady Newsource September 26, 2018
OCONEE COUNTY, GA — Oconee County is wrapping up a statewide effort to reverify where all registered sex offenders live and work. The initiative, Operation Watchful Eye III, was enforced by the Georgia Sheriff's Association.
Grady Newsource reporter Caroline Elliott rode along with officers as they completed their routine check-ups and gathered data.
"We have a small fraction of sex offenders that live in our county," Lt. Deanna Smith said. "Just a month ago we were at 18; we lost two sex offenders they moved out of the county. So now we're at 16, which is relatively small in comparison to the counties around us."
Smith has kept up with Oconee County's sex offender registry for almost two years now, and she says Oconee County is home to a small number of sex offenders.
According to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, there are nearly 600 registered sex offenders in a 25-mile radius from the University of Georgia. Barrow County alone has 140 registered sex offenders. Athens-Clarke County has 129.
Caroline Elliott
Operation Watchful Eye
Why Don't You Know This? UGA Students Showcase Knowledge of Government
Workout at Athentic Brewing Company Shows Creativity, Community Focus During Pandemic
"May I take your order?" Kimberly Wise asked the group after they finished ...
Grady Multiplatform Journalist April 4, 2021
All-Seeing Eyes: Surveillance Tech is Getting More Efficient
For some, it comforts them to know that if someone in their community commits ...
Grady Capstone Journalist March 18, 2019
Coming Home: One Man's Journey to His Roots
One Oglethorpe County worker is proof that home is where the heart is. Josh ...


Here are some shocking facts: One person gets injured every 10.3 minutes in a Missouri car accident. One person is killed in a car crash in Missouri every 11.1 hours.
Even the best drivers get in Missouri car accidents now and then. Regardless of the care or caution you take when you get behind the wheel, car accidents can happen in a split second. When an accident happens because another driver made a serious or catastrophic mistake behind the wheel, you pay the consequences.
Car accidents in Missouri have the potential to result in severe injuries, significant property damage, and missed work. The costs of a Missouri auto accident add up quickly. According to data from Missouri state and local authorities, car accidents in Missouri caused 51,060 people to be injured and 786 fatalities in 2011 alone. The estimated cost of these crashes was $3.2 billion.
There are serious consequences to a Missouri auto accident. The toll it takes on your body is devastating.
Thank you for ordering sdf.
We hope you find the information in this book useful and informative. For more information or to contact our office, please visit www.PriceRandle.com or call toll free: 1-877-573-HURT (4878).
You will receive a link to the report in an email being sent to the address you provided.


text:
ANALYSIS/COMMENT/RESEARCH
ANNOUNCEMENTS/REPORTS
BOOK REVIEWS/PUBLICATIONS
Contribute Manuscripts
Spring 2004, Vol. 15, No. 2
Spring 2004, Vol. 15, No 2
Book Review: Measuring Bias on Television
Barrie Gunter (1997). Measuring Bias on Television. (Luton: University of Luton Press). v + 186 pp. ISBN 1-86020-526-7. $31.00 (paper). References and index.
This is another specialized volume, with a basic focus on the question of bias and impartiality. It is much more than a methodological text, and covers the literature thoroughly-there are nearly 500 citations in the reference section. As such, it is well-focused, and provides a great deal of well-organized data as well as well-argued propositions. The eight chapters include "Defining the issue," "Perspectives on determining impartiality," "Cognitive aspects of bias: output perspectives," "Evaluative aspects of bias: output perspectives," "Cognitive aspects of bias: subjective audience perspectives," "Cognitive aspects of bias: objective audience perspectives," "Evaluative aspects of bias: audience perspectives," and a short concluding chapter on "Television: the future and bias." Although-and perhaps because-many of its examples and much of its data come from the United Kingdom, it should be of particular use to scholars in the United States.
The above article was published in Media Ethics , Spring 2004 (15:2), p. 33.
The Graduate School of Journalism at the University of California, Berkeley
Endicott College School of Communications
Duquesne University, Communications and Rhetorical Studies
The Institute of Communications Research at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Universidad de Navarra Facultad de Comunicación
The Arthur W. Page Center for Integrity in Public Communication, The Pennsylvania State University
The Kegley Institute of Ethics, California State University, Bakersfield
The Silha Center for the Study of Media Ethics and Law, University of Minnesota
The Moody College of Communication, University of Texas at Austin
© 2019 mediaethicsmagazine.com


text:
REDD+: Stakeholders seek emergency declaration in Nigeria's forest management
Participants at the just concluded meeting organised to validate Nigeria's strategic document for the implementation of Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation (REDD+) have called on the Federal Government to declare national emergency in the forest sector.
Participants at the Nigeria REDD+ Programme event in Abuja
The group of multi-sectoral experts, who gathered in Abuja from Wednesday, April 14 to Thursday, April 15, 2021 during an event hosted by the National Secretariat of REDD+ to brainstorm on the future of forest management, said the call was necessary to help the nation reverse from her current pathway of economic destruction and seek other sustainable livelihood sources.
Even more alarming to the participants was the shocking revelation that Nigeria has already exceeded its emission target by 6MtC02 nine and half years earlier.
Speaking at the occasion, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Environment, Mr. Abel Enitan, told the stakeholders that in a bid to finalise this preparatory phase of the programme, it becomes imperative to validate the National REDD+ Strategy to reflect the nation's true circumstances and national ownership.
The PS, who was represented by the National Coordinator of the REDD+ Programme, Dr. Moses Ama, said REDD+ forms part of the country's long-term strategic plan for climate change mitigation, and will help to drive the growing investment in green economy, stop forest loss and degradation as well as expand the extend of forest cover in the country.
"It is our goal to ensure that through the REDD+ Programme, our forest ecosystem services are properly valued and paid for through appropriate policies and measures that will trigger new climate-smart investments, ensure ownership, attract benefits to incentivise and coordinate emissions reduction across sectors, generally contributing to the overall socio-economic development of the country," he said.
Other members, who spoke at the parley, raised several issues bordering on community participation, weak institutions, low investment, security, and trust on the part of government to ensure that REDD+ is fully implemented across the country.
The consultant who compiled the REDD+ strategic plan, Mr. Atah Anthony, urged Nigerians to be more intentional about environmental protection to reduce the increasing impacts of climate change on sustainable economic growth.
"The impacts are obvious," he said. "And for us to respond appropriately, we need high level policy intervention as well mobilisation at local level."
Atah described REDD+ as the most credible platform to address the issues of deforestation and degradation in the country.
He advocated for the effective use of land, institutional capacity, and private sector investment to scale-up the success story of REDD+ in the country.
In his remarks, Mr. Odigha Odigha, who is famously known as the chief priest of the REDD+ family in Nigeria, expressed satisfaction at the level of progress achieved since the introduction of REDD+ in Nigeria.
He described the strategic document as a means to an end in the implementation of REDD+ project.
"The first issue we need to deal with as far as climate change is concern is the REDD+ programme," Odigha disclosed.
The event was concluded after the stakeholders critically reviewed and adopted the new document which they all alluded to as best reflecting the nation's climate realities.
By Etta Michael Bisong
REDD+ Nigeria
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text:
package com.cyrus.zhihudaily.models;

import com.google.gson.annotations.Expose;
import com.google.gson.annotations.SerializedName;

import java.util.ArrayList;
import java.util.List;

/**
 * 来自网络的详细新闻结构体
 * <p>
 * Created by Cyrus on 2016/10/15.
 */

public class NewsDetailData {

    @SerializedName("body")
    @Expose
    private String body;
    @SerializedName("image_source")
    @Expose
    private String imageSource;
    @SerializedName("title")
    @Expose
    private String title;
    @SerializedName("image")
    @Expose
    private String image;
    @SerializedName("share_url")
    @Expose
    private String shareUrl;
    @SerializedName("js")
    @Expose
    private List<Object> js = new ArrayList<>();
    @SerializedName("ga_prefix")
    @Expose
    private String gaPrefix;
    @SerializedName("images")
    @Expose
    private List<String> images = new ArrayList<>();
    @SerializedName("type")
    @Expose
    private Integer type;
    @SerializedName("id")
    @Expose
    private Integer id;
    @SerializedName("css")
    @Expose
    private List<String> css = new ArrayList<>();

    public String getBody() {
        return body;
    }

    public void setBody(String body) {
        this.body = body;
    }

    public String getImageSource() {
        return imageSource;
    }

    public void setImageSource(String imageSource) {
        this.imageSource = imageSource;
    }

    public String getTitle() {
        return title;
    }

    public void setTitle(String title) {
        this.title = title;
    }

    public String getImage() {
        return image;
    }

    public void setImage(String image) {
        this.image = image;
    }

    public String getShareUrl() {
        return shareUrl;
    }

    public void setShareUrl(String shareUrl) {
        this.shareUrl = shareUrl;
    }

    public List<Object> getJs() {
        return js;
    }

    public void setJs(List<Object> js) {
        this.js = js;
    }

    public String getGaPrefix() {
        return gaPrefix;
    }

    public void setGaPrefix(String gaPrefix) {
        this.gaPrefix = gaPrefix;
    }

    public List<String> getImages() {
        return images;
    }

    public void setImages(List<String> images) {
        this.images = images;
    }

    public Integer getType() {
        return type;
    }

    public void setType(Integer type) {
        this.type = type;
    }

    public Integer getId() {
        return id;
    }

    public void setId(Integer id) {
        this.id = id;
    }

    public List<String> getCss() {
        return css;
    }

    public void setCss(List<String> css) {
        this.css = css;
    }

    @Override
    public String toString() {
        return "NewsDetailData{" +
                "body='" + body + '\'' +
                ", imageSource='" + imageSource + '\'' +
                ", title='" + title + '\'' +
                ", image='" + image + '\'' +
                ", shareUrl='" + shareUrl + '\'' +
                ", js=" + js +
                ", gaPrefix='" + gaPrefix + '\'' +
                ", images=" + images +
                ", type=" + type +
                ", id=" + id +
                ", css=" + css +
                '}';
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Q: Which API should I use for extracting info from an image? I am trying to extract informations from images but since I never did anything like that I don't know which API I should use.
All images are like this one below:
Example Image
First off, I would an API that would let me programatically cut the image like this:
Cut Image
As you can see, I removed some of the upper and lower (the last line of Pokèmon that were partially covered) part of the image.
After this, I should begin with the extracting process. What I need to extract are the Pokèmon info (Name, CP and possibly the icon).

A: A possible way to extract the info from the image is the Text Recognition API. This API lets you extract textual information from a picture. Implementing this correctly could also make cropping the image obsolete.
This tutorial should get you started. If implementing it similar to the tutorial, you should be able to get all the info in your screenshot in a textual form.
You can then extract the infos you need and throw away the rest. e.g. get a collection of all the existing pokemon and look for an occurence in the screenshot.


text:
class GoalAssociation:
  def __init__(self,associationId,envName,goalName,goalDimName,aType,subGoalName,subGoalDimName,alternativeId,rationale):
    self.theId = associationId
    self.theEnvironmentName = envName
    self.theGoal = goalName
    self.theGoalDimension = goalDimName
    self.theAssociationType = aType
    self.theSubGoal = subGoalName
    self.theSubGoalDimension = subGoalDimName
    self.theAlternativeId = alternativeId
    self.theRationale = rationale

  def id(self): return self.theId
  def environment(self): return self.theEnvironmentName
  def goal(self): return self.theGoal
  def goalDimension(self): return self.theGoalDimension
  def type(self): return self.theAssociationType
  def subGoal(self): return self.theSubGoal
  def subGoalDimension(self): return self.theSubGoalDimension
  def alternative(self): return self.theAlternativeId
  def rationale(self): return self.theRationale

  def __str__(self): return self.theEnvironmentName + ' / ' + self.theGoal + ' / '  + self.theGoalDimension + ' / ' + self.theAssociationType + ' / ' + self.theSubGoal + ' / ' + self.theSubGoalDimension + ' / ' + str(self.theAlternativeId)


text:
Q: how to convert .docx / .doc file to .pdf using php only I want to convert ms-word file(.doc,.docx) to .pdf or .html file without losing style and image on word file.
                   $filenamearray = explode('.',$filename );
                        $doc = new Docx_reader();
                        $doc->setFile($item);

                        if(!$doc->get_errors()) {
                            $html = $doc->to_html();
                            $plain_text = $doc->to_plain_text();
                            $myfile = file_put_contents("$filenamearray[0].html", $html.PHP_EOL , FILE_APPEND | LOCK_EX);

                        } else {
                            echo implode(', ',$doc->get_errors());
                        }

Above solution i tried but giving me only html without style and image.i want .html or .pdf same as .doc .docx file.

A: This is not an easy task and your rate of success will largely depend on the complexity of your word document.  If only basic style elements are used (bold, italic, underline, color) you could use the HTML add on to FPDF.  Any more complex elements would require a translation function to FPDF.
I assume you need this for template purposes, may I suggest directly programming your page layout in FPDF.  You can create custom tags for layout which can be used in a WYSIWYG editor.
You will lose some of the flexibility compaired to a Word document, but that loss does not outweight the ease of setting up standard FPDF.  But again, your best way to go will depend on the functionality you need and your end-goal.  I suggest taking a look at the possibilities with FPDF.  It's a great script and can make PDF's lightning fast!


text:
Q: Hibernate doesn't save entity I'm really new to hibernate and try to understand how it works. But know I faced with the problem.
First of all, I have such mapping:
@Entity
public class Author {
    @Id
    @GeneratedValue(strategy = GenerationType.IDENTITY)
    private long id;
    private String name;

    public Author() {
    }

    public long getId() {
        return id;
    }

    public String getName() {
        return name;
    }

    public void setName(String name) {
        this.name = name;
    }
}

But then, when I tried to save this entitye with session.save(), hibernate showed me error like
Exception in thread "main" org.hibernate.exception.ConstraintViolationException: could not execute statement
Caused by: org.postgresql.util.PSQLException: ERROR: null value in column "id" of relation "author" violates not-null constraint
 Failing row contains (null, hello!).

So I decided to notice, why hibernate doesn't increment the id automaticy and recognized that POSTGRESQL doesn't suppert annotation GenerationType.IDENTITY. So I changet it to the GenerationType.SEQUENCE. The error was gone, but entity wasn't saved.
So here's hibernate.cfg.xml
<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<!DOCTYPE hibernate-configuration PUBLIC
    "-//Hibernate/Hibernate Configuration DTD//EN"
    "http://www.hibernate.org/dtd/hibernate-configuration-3.0.dtd">
<hibernate-configuration>
  <session-factory>
    <property name="connection.url">jdbc:postgresql://localhost:5432/hibernate?useSSL=false
      &serverTimezone=UTC</property>
    <property name="connection.driver_class">org.postgresql.Driver</property>
    <property name="dialect">org.hibernate.dialect.PostgreSQL9Dialect</property>
    <property name="connection.username">postgres</property>
    <property name="connection.password">4122</property>
    <property name="hibernate.current_session_context_class">thread</property>
    <property name="hibernate.hbm2ddl.auto">update</property>
    <mapping class="hibernate.entity.Author"/>
    <!-- DB schema will be updated if needed -->
    <!-- <property name="hibernate.hbm2ddl.auto">update</property> -->
  </session-factory>
</hibernate-configuration>

Here's HibernateUtil.java
public class HibernateUtil {
    private static SessionFactory sessionFactory;

    private static SessionFactory buildSessionFactory() {
        StandardServiceRegistry standardRegistry = new StandardServiceRegistryBuilder()
                .configure("hibernate.cfg.xml").build();
        Metadata metadata = new MetadataSources(standardRegistry).getMetadataBuilder()
                .build();
        SessionFactoryBuilder sessionFactoryBuilder = metadata.getSessionFactoryBuilder();
        return sessionFactoryBuilder.build();
    }
    public static SessionFactory getSessionFactory() {
        if(sessionFactory == null) {
            sessionFactory = buildSessionFactory();
        }
        return sessionFactory;
    }
}

And here's the Main.java, where I call the hibernate functions:
public class Main {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        try(Session session = HibernateUtil.getSessionFactory().openSession()) {
            Transaction tx = session.beginTransaction();
            Author author = new Author();
            author.setName("hello!");
            session.save(author);
            tx.commit();
            System.out.println(session.get(Author.class, 1L));
        }
    }
}

After program execution it prints me null and there is no entity in database:

If you know, what can be the problem, please tell me. I'd really apreciate it!

A: I think the reason is setter for id missing:
public long setId(long id) {
    this.id = id;
}


Dr.Yoshida at the Space Transportation Propulsion Research and Development Center for Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) outlines his work on the application of TURBOdesign-1 to improve the performance of compact impeller and diffuser of a Rocket Pump.
The application of CFD codes in the turbomachinery blade design process, even if inverse design methods such as TURBOdesign-1 are employed, play an important role in highlighting loss mechanisms in presence of viscous effects. In addition they can be used to provide estimates of the overall design characteristic including efficiency and head variation with flow rates. Increasingly CFD codes are relied for qualitative assessment of noise in fans and cavitation in pumps.
Manufacturing System of Hydraulic Parts using TURBOdesign-1 within the Ebara Corporation.
Application of TURBOdesign-1 for the development of an in-line type hydraulic turbine for micro power generation.
TURBOdesign-2 is an Aerodynamic design code for application to turbomachinery blades; the software is based on a 3D viscous transonic inverse design method. TURBOdesign-2 has been developed mainly for the design of turbomachinery components such as transonic fans where shock and boundary layer interaction effects are significant.


This holiday season, be sure to remember the cannabis connoisseur (or relative newbie) with legal marijuana or a related product. With legalization, both medical and recreational, the law of the land in many places, there are more opportunities than ever to satisfy your stoner friends and family with great cannabis and various cannabis products.
Marijuana Politics is here to help you out with some shopping tips that will help you find the perfect gift for your cannabis-loving friends and family. We have compiled some unique businesses that can help you find the perfect gift for the cannabis community members on your shopping list. There is a movement to turn the Black Friday shopping "holiday" into Green Friday, so please consider supporting a marijuana entrepreneur this Friday and throughout the holiday season.
Friendly reminder: Oregon dispensaries can provide up to 7 grams of cannabis flower to adults over the age of 21 while an Oregon Medical Marijuana Program (OMMP) patient or caregiver card is needed to purchase other marijuana products and items, such as concentrates or cannabis-infused edibles.
Rip City Remedies is one of the longest-running dispensaries in Portland and that experience shows in how they relate to, and care about, the cannabis community. Two doors down from Salt & Straw, this dispensary makes a great location destination as the Division Street area is a happening locale of great food, drink and various attractions.
The folks at Rip City Remedies have been great allies to the Oregon cannabis legalization movement and have long demonstrated compassion for Oregon's patients. The staff is tremendously friendly and will welcome you warmly into store.
Green Friday specials include: $20 quarters; 2 cannabis joints for $5 from Mindful Organics; specials with Truly Pure and Looking Glass Extracts through dailyleafdeals.com. See the full menu here.
10 am to 10 pm on Green Friday.
Panacea has already garnered tremendous press by giving 10% of proceeds to social justice causes. This type of behavior is not only the right thing to do, but has proven to be good marketing for this great dispensary. Supporting great causes has been a foundation of Panacea's since its inception and the owners have continued to make supporting important social justice issues a part of the business.
The folks who started Panacea are social justice advocates, growers, and medical cannabis enthusiasts. Dispensing cannabis has been a way to bring their passions together. They are truly committed to racial and economic justice and supporting LGBT elders.
But don't have to support Panacea just because you want to support social justice causes. You can purchase great strains like Strawberry Satori or Silvertip for the supreme quality of the strain. The fact that your hard-earned dollars support a good cause is just a byproduct.
Panacea's big sale item will be $20 quarters of Charlatans' Web grown by WildFire Farms on Green Friday, while supplies last. They will also feature gourmet soap made by Panacea staff member Megan, whose company is Clean Wit Industries, and works by local Artist Justin Potts.
The Greener Side offers great products, special deals every Tuesday, discounts to veterans and they host vendor days twice a month to allow patients and customers to get key knowledge from the source of the cannabis and products. They even take the time to give to charity as they organize the Oregon Cannabis Classic Golf Tournament to benefit the Oregon Chapter of the Multiple Sclerosis Society. Chelsea and Joseph, the mom-and-pop owners of this establishment, sought out a way to do good work for a good cause while also representing the cannabis industry in the positive light it deserves and the Oregon Cannabis Classic was born.
This family-owned dispensary treats the entire cannabis community as family and the compassion and care shows. From Blue Magoo to Super Silver Haze, the Greener Side has great strains that will satisfy anyone on your shopping list.
20% off all accessories; buy three for the price of two on all topical products (including soaps, lotions, soaking salts); buy four for the price of three on all concentrates and free gift with every purchase of an 1/8th of flower.
Check out the menu of products here.
Living and breathing the farm to table model, Oregrown has proven to be a model dispensary that provides great products and service. The establishment is pure class. A truly great cannabis destination, Oregrown is conveniently located in the heart of downtown Bend, less than two blocks from Deschutes Brewery and Brother Jon's Alehouse. You can stop by and hop into the Patagonia store close by as well. Always on the cutting edge of the cannabis industry, Oregrown offers cannabis flights that come in custom jars and boxes, allowing you to give a truly unique gift.
In a hurry? You can order ahead and have your products ready for pick-up. Visit Oregrown and you will quickly see why it was voted "Best Marijuana Dispensary" by the readers of Source Weekly. Check out the full menu of products here and cool Oregrown gear here.
What you may not know about Oregrown are that owners are working hard on behalf of the industry to improve cannabis laws and regulations, at all levels of government. The proprietors generously contributed to the Measure 91 legalization campaign and haven't stopped working towards rules and regulations that will work for Oregon, and the nation, while always remembering the importance of reducing criminal penalties.
FunkyPiece.com is a boutique online smoke shop founded on simple principles: the business model is to offer unique products at low prices, with fast shipping and tremendous customer support thrown in. Amazing, American-made glass hand pipes, water pipes and bubblers are available and overall, the selection of glass items is truly incredible. If rolling papers are your thing, or preferred by a buddy on your shopping list, FunkyPiece.com has just about every brand of papers available, from Elements to Raw to Zig Zags, to just about every paper in-between. Grinders, storage devices, and other cannabis paraphernalia products are available. Variety is the spice of life, so FunkyPiece.com strives to have at least one new product available everyday. If you are on a budget, there are always special clearance sale items available as well.
Shipping is just $5 on all orders made anywhere in the United States! All orders are discreetly packaged and shipped. Of course, all items are for legal use only.
SOURCEvapes was fittingly founded on April 20th to provide innovative, affordable vaporizers with impeccable customer service; a practice that they have continued since 2013. In May 2014, SOURCEvapes the SOURCE orb personal vaporizer, starting what the company deems the "Double Coil Revolution". SOURCEvapes has been on the cutting edge of vaporizer technology ever since and hasn't looked back. The company went on to develop SOURCE ghost, the first 3-in-1 True Dry Herb Vaporizer and SOURCE terra Technology Atomizers, a full ceramic heating element that uses ceramic to heat products, rather than exposed coils.
With different atomizers and colors to choose from, SOURCEvape allows users to find a style that fits their personality and vaping preferences, particularly for the flagship SOURCE orb 3 vaporizer. There are eight different SOURCE orb 3 atomizers to choose from, including three quartz atomizers and two SOURCE terra atomizers, so users can completely personalize their SOURCE orb 3 experience. SOURCEvapes provides a truly unique vaporizing experience that will satisfy the biggest connoisseur, while also user-friendly enough so vaping newbies won't be intimidated.
Las Vegas-based SOURCEvapes has been leader in the industry and bringing high-quality vaporizers to the market since 2013. The very extensive product line consists of concentrate vaporizers, herb vaporizers, and accessories. To ensure the purest taste SOURCEvapes products are made with the finest materials and are sold at an incredibly competitive price-point. All of SOURCEvapes products are covered by a no-hassle warranty that allows you to return products within 30 days, but with SOURCEvapes' expertise, you, or your gift-recipient, will sure to be satisfied by the experience. Enter your email to #ExperienceTrueTaste and get $5 off of your next purchase.
Use coupon "BLACKFRIDAY2015" to receive 40% off of select products this Friday and "CYBERMONDAY2015" for 30% off select products as well as buy one get one free deals on orb slim travel kits.
Zamnésia, the largest online seedshop, is a bit like stepping into the future, even though the company has been around since 2003. With over 1,000 cannabis seed varieties and more than 3,000 various products on the site, Zamnésia is a testament to how far the cannabis industry has come and provides a glimpse into a new world of personal freedom and liberty across the globe.
Zamnésia's seedshop carries the top marijuana strain genetics from companies such as Sensi Seeds and Greenhouse seeds while also carrying everything needed to consume the cannabis you produce. With an extensive inventory of bongs, vaporizers, grinders, papers and a huge array of cannabis paraphernalia products, you are sure to find something for that special stoner in your life, including yourself. Of particular interest may just be the Arizer solo vaporizer, a sleek and discreet vaporizer that is one of the best on the market.
Zamnésia is holding a special Black Friday sale and other monthly deals, doing its part to turn the shopping day into Green Friday and you can even get a 5% discount by liking the site on Facebook. To ensure privacy and that you can surprise any recipient of Zamnésia products, the company pledges to take the necessary precautions to protect your personal information and ship discreetly.
This holiday season think beyond the typical pipes, stash boxes and weed-scented gifts. Give the stoner in your life something that'll not only help enhance their high, but also aids in recouping after a big hit, O-puff.
O-puff is a brand of portable, recreational oxygen, which helps smokers relax and unwind and recover from late nights, altitude + pollution and more.
With its super light-weight packaging, O-puff canisters make great stocking stuffers for smokers. Each canister consists of 95% pure oxygen, which can be inhaled through the nose or mouth. It does NOT contain cannabis or any cannabinoid derivatives, but it is a natural pairing for cannabis consumers. Proponents of oxygen swear that some oxygen will increase energy levels, improve endurance during exercise and ease the discomfort of headaches and hangovers.
Just a few hits of O-puff helps top off energy levels and increase focus and mental clarity, when needed. And whether the cannabis consumer on your list is an everyday smoker or just a casual toker, who doesn't need a boost in focus and mental clarity every now and again?
Check out O-puff's website, on Twitter @OpuffO2, on Facebook and on Instagram.
Cannabidiol (CBD) has recently started getting more and more recognition for its health benefits. Dr. Sanjay Gupta took the story of CBD mainstream recently and more and more people are seeking out CBD in cannabis strains and as a natural supplement.
Dixie Elixirs, a leader in cannabis-infused products, has branched into the CBD realm with Aceso. Dixie Elixirs urges you to give the perfect gift, give the gift of health!
Aceso, whose name is derived from the Greek Goddess of the healing process, brings the power and benefits of cannabinoids to another level, allowing more people to find a whole plant formula that will optimize their health. The first in the Aceso line of products will be "Wellness" for general well-being; "Calm" to help alleviate mild anxiety; and "Soothe" to ease everyday aches and pains. All products have been developed using a specific ratio of ingredients in a proprietary cannabinoid formulation, as well as other synergistic compounds, delivered in a carefully measured, single serving oral spray or powder for fast, effective and efficient delivery of health benefits. Following the first three formulations, Aceso will bring its "Sleep" product to market which has been formulated with a specific ratio of compounds to deliver a more restful night's sleep.
Basically, Aceso is designed to soothe pain, assist in sleep, calm nerves and basically help people perform at their best. As the company states, "we know that health is the foundation of happiness and that wellness is a lot more than not being ill." No you won't get high, but the company encourages CBD supplements to become a part of your daily supplement routine.
The website goes live tomorrow and sales start on Black Friday!
Check out Aceso on social media via Twitter @myaceso and Facebook.
Aceso urges you to give the perfect gift, give the gift of health!
Therabis, an ailment-specific all natural CBD supplement for Dogs, has been developed by Dixie Elixirs through a collaboration with a 30-year veterinarian to alleviate separation anxiety and itching while helping joint mobility and flexibility. The mission of Therabis is to foster the unconditional love between pets and families, which is grounded in the belief that strengthening that bond enhances the human condition. The company urges you to give the gift of health to the canine in your life!
Therabis intends to bring the amazing healing power of hemp to the pet market by combining key cannabinoids with other all-natural ingredients, allowing pet owners to address pet health issues with an all-natural solution. Therabis will come in size and pet-specific pre-measured portions, which can be added to any pet food product. Flavored with a blend of all-natural ingredients, Therabis is designed to deliver benefits from the very first time your beloved dog uses the product.
Therabis has been scheduled for clinical trials at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine as well as field trials in over a dozen hospitals in New York. This is exciting research that has the potential to greatly benefit our furry friends that give us such unconditional love and enriches our lives!
Check out Aceso on social media via Twitter @TherabisPet and Facebook.
See www.therabis.com to harness the power of hemp for your dog.