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The TV-programming business in New Jersey is adding another competitor. Bethesda, Md.-based CloseCall America has signed a deal to be a distributor for direct broadcast-satellite operator DIRECTV in 14 states, including New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland. Not coincidentally, those states resemble the same market footprint over which Verizon is offering its new TV service called FiOS TV. Verizon so far has launched its TV service in Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania-and starting just last week, New Jersey. A subsidiary of MobilePro, CloseCall is a local telephone-service provider that typically competes with established carriers. Launched in 1999 and acquired by MobilePro in 2004, CloseCall offers an amalgam of telecommunications services including long distance, local, wireless and Internet service to residential and small businesses in the Mid-Atlantic states.
DETROIT (AP) — The company that runs the Dish Network is poised to become the nations leading provider of home satellite TV service after reaching a deal to acquire rival DirecTV from General Motors. EchoStar Communications is buying Hughes Electronics and its DirecTV subsidiary from GM for $25.8 billion. The deal came after News Corp. chairman Rupert Murdoch abruptly pulled a long-standing offer for Hughes off the table. The new EchoStar would control nearly all of the satellite TV market in the United States, but GM said in a statement that the new entity would have 17 percent of the total pay TV market while cable companies control 80 percent.

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Q As more hotels implement wireless high-speed Internet access, what is keeping them from leveraging that investment across other guest-facing applications? A The drawbacks are the cost of the wireless network and a lack of killer wireless applications to drive the return on investment. –Tom Litchford, industry manager, retail hospitality, Microsoft Wireless interoperability and how it ties back into the hotel property-management system. Projects get dead-ended because they are not perceived to be worth it. You have to be able to do it cost effectively.
For customers who want to store setpoint data for the machine on a centralized ODBS (Open Database Connectivity) database, Monforts offers the Q-soft central process control system software.
Theres no question that wireless has captured a big chunk of mind share. It both gets around structural problems associated with wiring buildings and, in the case of mobile wireless labs, allows schools to use their computer equipment most efficiently. Texas Instruments launched TI-Navigator, its wireless classroom learning system. TI Navigator lets teachers distribute class materials, assignments and quizzes from their PC to the students TI handhelds and gather back and analyze student answers and completed assignments. Navigator extends the usefulness of TIs handhelds beyond math and science classrooms. The company is actively working with English and social studies teachers and their national associations to develop additional applications. Wireless Generation is adding a version of the DIBELS (Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills) assessment to its roster of handheld observational assessment tools. DIBELS is the K-3 reading assessment most widely adopted to meet the requirements of the Reading First portion of NCLB. The handheld version eliminates paperwork and manual calculations and automates the extensive timing requirements involved in measuring fluency.

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Reportlinker.com announces that a new market research report related to the Car Parts industry is available in its catalogue.

At present, the retail market of Chinas car audio is still small in scale. However, along with rising in car owners requirement for improvement of car audio quality and in pursuit of individuality, Chinas car audio market has a huge development potential. Additionally, the scale of aftermarket car audio market in the developed countries amounts to 70% of the global market, and the large global car audio manufacturers also aim at aftermarket. We can say that the retail market of Chinas car audio is still in its initial stage. With the improvement of peoples income, changes in consumption concept, and rises in demand for auto at home, Chinas demand for high quality car audio will be increasingly strong. It is predictable that the proportion of Chinas aftermarket car audio will continue to rise and enter into a period of rapid development.

In China, where the retail market of car audio is still in the infancy, foreign brand products have taken up more than half of the market shares. Japanese products, mainly referring to host and speakers, account for 50%-60% of Chinas car audio market. Most of the Japanese companies, such as Pioneer and Panasonic, Sony, Alpine, Clarion, JVC and Kenwood, have built plants or SKD assembly lines in China. Euro-American producers like Philips and Siemens VDO, KICKER, Lifot, MT, JL, MA and Harman with their key products different from the Japanese ones have also taken up a handsome share of Chinas car audio market. U.S. products are better in terms of amplifiers and speakers, suitable for playing pop and rock music, while European brands that are well-known for their natural pure acoustic fidelity and nuanced designs place great emphasis on sound quality. The European and U.S products occupy 30% to 40% of Chinas car audio market. In the end, less than 10 percent of market is left for the Chinese local brands, mainly including Freeway, Supersonic, Ruisheng, Botu and Hangsheng. China car audio market will rise at a double-digit growth rate. With increasing maturity of auto market at home, Chinas consumers like Euro-American consumers will demand high quality car audio.

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Kudos to Jodie Gilmore for her article on home schooling in your August 22, 2005 issue (Keep the Home-school Fires Burning). Six of our seven grandchildren are home-schooled, and all are doing quite well. The oldest two will be high school seniors this fall and have already taken ACT tests, with one scoring a 31. Since the seventh celebrates his first birthday next week, his home-schooling adventure will have to wait awhile. Odessa, Missouri
UNION CITY — Roberta Maas wrote her first poem in kindergarten. She finished “Tom Sawyer” in the fourth grade and fell in love with “1984″ in junior high. She filled hundreds of pages with made-up stories. And she did it all from home. Roberta, now 15 and a freshman at James Logan High School, was home-schooled from kindergarten through the eighth grade. She had an active imagination and picked up new skills at a faster rate than her peers. When it came time for Roberta to go to school, her mother, Nancy, knew she didnt want her daughter in a public school classroom. The family couldnt afford private school, so Roberta was transferred out of her local school district, New Haven, into a home- schooling program in Hayward.
We hope that this decision will encourage home schoolers across the country. Relatively few states have restrictive home-schooling laws, and hopefully this decision, and the attention it brought to home schooling, will prove to be a significant step toward home-schooling freedom for everyone.

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SALT LAKE CITY–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Dec. 21, 1998– CARS(TM) Software Database Helps Audio Retailers and Insurance Companies Determine Accurate Car Audio Equipment Replacement for
In China, where the retail market of car audio is still in the infancy, foreign brand products have taken up more than half of the market shares. Japanese products, mainly referring to host and speakers, account for 50%-60% of Chinas car audio market. Most of the Japanese companies, such as Pioneer and Panasonic, Sony, Alpine, Clarion, JVC and Kenwood, have built plants or SKD assembly lines in China. Euro-American producers like Philips and Siemens VDO, KICKER, Lifot, MT, JL, MA and Harman with their key products different from the Japanese ones have also taken up a handsome share of Chinas car audio market. U.S. products are better in terms of amplifiers and speakers, suitable for playing pop and rock music, while European brands that are well-known for their natural pure acoustic fidelity and nuanced designs place great emphasis on sound quality. The European and U.S products occupy 30% to 40% of Chinas car audio market. In the end, less than 10 percent of market is left for the Chinese local brands, mainly including Freeway, Supersonic, Ruisheng, Botu and Hangsheng. China car audio market will rise at a double-digit growth rate. With increasing maturity of auto market at home, Chinas consumers like Euro-American consumers will demand high quality car audio.

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Finally, more than two dozen acts appeared in a 10-show series held in five cities across the country.
During any 6-month period, 9 million American adults suffer from a depressive illness. The cost in human suffering cannot be estimated. Depressive illnesses often interfere with normal functioning and cause pain and suffering not only to those who have a disorder, but also to those who care about them. Serious depression can destroy family life as well as the life of the ill person. Unfortunately, many people do not recognize that they have a treatable illness. Read this flyer to see if you are one of the many undiagnosed depressed people in this country or if you know someone who is. The information briefly presented here may help you take the steps that may save your own or someone elses life.
A study of 1,340 teenagers aged 13-17 found that 70 of them (5.2%) had clinically significant depression. Similar rates of depression have been recorded among adult Australians. The new survey, which was initiated by Professor Joseph Rey, Professor of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the University of Sydney, was reported in The Medical Journal of Australia. * making at least one suicide attempt in the past year;

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Norms Byrd, interior designer and artist, has been elected president of the San Diego chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers for the 2008-2009 term, which begins Oct. 1. Byrd has more than 21 years of experience in commercial and residential interior design, including five years as an independent contractor to Kachay Homes of Rancho Santa Fe where she designed interior architecture, cabinetry and detailing for custom homes.
Literally and symbolically, Interior Designs is about interior and exterior designs. Its form parallels its content: it is divided into four major sections, each with approximately twenty chapters of between one and four pages. Instead of relying on plot, Jaffe writes short passages to illustrate various aspects of design, primarily the architecture of houses. In these passages the narrator describes all the houses she has lived in, none of which she has occupied for more than three years. In the section entitled The First House, the narrator and her husband, a rabbi, look for a new house. Instead of finding the right house, the right house seems to find them (throughout the novel structural components such as doors and windows are personified). The new house also has light shining from more than one direction, an entry for proper greetings and farewells, and a sense of solidity, all of which make the narrator feel infinite. Upon moving to the house, the narrator considers philosophical questions concerning fate, luck, guilt, and desire. These questions are exemplary of the novels themes–in every chapter of the novel, some aspect of exterior design is portrayed literally to illustrate metaphorically human emotions or philosophical issues. Sometimes the metaphors are a bit too obvious, and occasionally the narrator intrudes to explain them lest they slip past readers. For example, when looking at a house she decides against, she says all except one structural flaw is amendable. The minor flaws in the house are like little and medium-sized mistakes we all make in life–they were not irrevocable. For the most part, however, Jaffe has a wonderfully poetic style; remarkably enough, despite the lack of plot, the novel moves forward at a quick pace. The idea that you cant go home again recurs throughout the novel, but the implication is interestingly reversed, suggesting that to return to an earlier phase in ones fife would be to backslide. Textual and symbolic circular patterns develop in the novel that integrate the chapters with the text as a whole and that unite individuals with others and in a spiritual sense with the universe. Entertaining, witty, and full of philosophical insights, Interior Designs explores ways to find and maintain personal and spiritual peace.
The cushion effect As with fashion, interiors follows similar basic rules. Think of furniture as your capsule wardrobe, soft furnishings as your accessories. You dont buy a new sofa every year, but why not treat it to the equivalent of a new scarf/hat/pair of gloves. Dune cushion, from pounds 22 (in silk and cotton), at Capella Design (0845 148 0015).

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Norms Byrd, interior designer and artist, has been elected president of the San Diego chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers for the 2008-2009 term, which begins Oct. 1. Byrd has more than 21 years of experience in commercial and residential interior design, including five years as an independent contractor to Kachay Homes of Rancho Santa Fe where she designed interior architecture, cabinetry and detailing for custom homes.
The cushion effect As with fashion, interiors follows similar basic rules. Think of furniture as your capsule wardrobe, soft furnishings as your accessories. You dont buy a new sofa every year, but why not treat it to the equivalent of a new scarf/hat/pair of gloves. Dune cushion, from pounds 22 (in silk and cotton), at Capella Design (0845 148 0015).
Sterling Ruby, Marc Foxx, Los Angeles Sterling Ruby is a cool name, a drag queen name, a British spys name. I dont know him, and hadnt heard of him before I saw his show at Marc Foxx. That doesnt matter because his show, Interior Designer, which looks at sexuality, namely transgendered people, and flirts with theoretical schizophrenia, requires only sympathy for his observations and the art he makes. Four delicately scratched and key carved Formica laminate monoliths, each 7 x 4 x 4 are at the center of Interior Designer. Their tinted surface has dirty spots, handprints, chips, and evidence of handling. They recall the laminate prefabs in the displays and dressing rooms found in department stores. In their material and dimension they suggest–and maybe desire to be–video booth jack off chambers.

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BUTCH FELKER Mayor Butch Felker, right, leaves the office of District Attorney Robert Hecht with his attorney, Mike Francis, after Fridays meeting.
Power of attorneyPower of attorney, also known as durable medical power of attorney, is a legal mechanism that empowers a designated person to make medical decisions for a patient should the patient be unable to make the decisions due to incapacitation.

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[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] War is traumatic, not only in terms of physical injuries but psychological ones as well. The veterans presently returning from Iraq and Afghanistan have experienced hand-to-hand combat, blast injuries, traumatic brain injury, etc. In addition, they have experienced severe stress, loss of comrades, family separation and breakup, loneliness, etc. It is not a surprise that we face a near epidemic of depressive disorders with our returning troops. Hopefully, a better understanding on our part can be of help in their recovery. We owe them no less!
Finally, more than two dozen acts appeared in a 10-show series held in five cities across the country.
Asking a few simple questions about mood and life enjoyment during a routine exam can pinpoint women who might be suffering from depression and set the stage for further evaluation and treatment. Because depression is much more common in women, ob.gyns. are more likely than other primary care providers to encounter depressed patients. The illness strikes 1 in 4 women, but only 1 in 10 men. Despite its prevalence, up to 50% of depression goes unrecognized, contributing to the continuing high level of morbidity associated with the condition. Diagnosis. Several factors play a role in the onset of depression. Serotonin and norepinephrine deficiencies can cause some symptoms. Last year, depression was linked to genetic factors as well. And environmental dynamics, like exposure to violence, neglect, abuse, or poverty, can also play a part.

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Wilbur explained that while there are typically an array of outstanding and appealing concept cars [a.k.a., cool cars] shown by the major OEMs, more often than not these cars and trucks experience an ignominious disappearance as they do the show circuit before being inventoried [or worse]. A reason this is the case is because the nature of major OEMs is that theyre ordinarily interested in volume, not variety. And concept cars are niche vehicles almost by nature, and niches are places the majors visit all too infrequently. So ASC is intending to build a plant in North America–the site is to be selected in 06–that is dedicated to niche vehicle production for OEM customers. Wilbur said the plant will be about 500,000- to 600,000-f[t.sup.2] and will employ from 450 to 800 people. Based on two shifts, Wilbur reckons the annual volume will be 50,000 units. Of that number the plan would be to make five or more different vehicles–not the same platform with different top hats, but totally distinct vehicles, even for different OEMs–on the same line. To do this, they would deploy what Wilbur called humination, a play on human and automation, all of which is to say that this would be a people-centric, low-investment tooling approach to production. Given that many a cool car has been built in a garage, this approach makes sense.–GSV
Mild, sunny Bay Area weather can be deadly for children and pets locked in parked cars, Stanford University researchers have found in the first study to examine car temperatures in cooler weather. “There are cases of children dying on days as cool as 70 degrees Fahrenheit,” lead author Dr. Catherine McLaren, clinical instructor in emergency medicine at Stanfords School of Medicine, said in a statement. Collaborating with a meteorologist, McLaren and other physicians measured the rise in temperature inside a parked car on 16 different sunny, clear days in Fremont.
FAST CARS, COOL RIDES: THE ACCELERATING WORLD OF YOUTH AND THEIR CARS Amy Best London: New York University Press 2006, 256 pp, AUD 37.95 ISBN: 0814799310 The rich stories that emerge from this case study, of how one group uses one commodity, will interest those who are fascinated by the intricacies of youth culture, and consumer culture; those who crave more depth in explanations of why modern society is so car dependent; or, are curious about how to explain social practice by bringing together multiple forms of data, from individual interviews through to market research and historical accounts of place. Best provides a fascinating and in-depth ethnography of youth car cultures at San Jose, Silicon Valley in the US. This work offers insights into the protocols, purposes and performances that occur within several car-dependent youth scenes: including moving slowly while cruising, moving fast while racing, and building vehicles (and identities) at auto shop class. In and out of these situations, Best explains how young people use cars to negotiate between their desires and the boundaries they experience: such as police surveillance and control, family rules and responsibilities, and managing financially. The author provides critical accounts of the less tangible boundaries which operate within youth car cultures: gender relations; notions of ethnicity, history and community; contests over place; the forces of auto marketing; industrial, population and economic change; and, mechanisms of class reproduction.

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Cancer patients are being offered a morale boosting treatment to combat hair loss. Patients undergoing chemotherapy at North Tyneside Hospital are being given a new scalp-cooling treatment which constricts blood vessels and helps prevent hair falling out. The scalp cooler was funded by Northumbria Healthcare Trusts charitable development group.
The Topeka Capital-Journal regrets the error.
Number of Manchester United players tested by the UK Sport drugs unit on Thursday. Cristiano Ronaldo, Ryan Giggs and Carlos Tevez were chosen at random; it is not thought any are using hair-loss products (see Bad Week), but they may have had hairdryer treatment from their manager last week.

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Is the person youre hiring really someone you can trust? Many employers are turning to background checks to find out. But checks have their own set of rules, and if they arent followed, an employer can find itself in a good amount of trouble. Sue Bendavid-Arbiv, the national chairwoman of the labor and employment practice group of Arter Hadden in Woodland Hills, California, offers guidelines. Though state laws vary, Californias legislation is considered a bellwether, so Bendavid-Arbiv gives it extra prominence here. Employers should give employees advance notice that the employer reserves the right to conduct a background check–and investigate matters like an individuals prior employment history, personal references, educational background, and other relevant information. If HR wants to go further and ask for credit reports and criminal-background checks, that should also be included in the policy.
Less than a decade ago, only 51 percent of employers conducted background checks on applicants, according to research released this month by the Society for Human Resource Management. Today, 96 percent of employers do so, and the practice is as prevalent among small and medium-sized companies as it is among large companies. As technology develops, background checking may become even easier for employers, particularly as more record holders create Internet-friendly databases that employers can refer to easily. For example, the Social Security Administration is piloting an Internet program that enables same-day or next-day verification of a persons name and Social Security number. This in turn could open up new channels of background checking, since Social Security numbers can serve as a gateway to other vital information.
The Bureau of Justice Statistics released a report on improving criminal history records for background checks.

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Contributions were received from the following members and friends from September 2004. Greater PSA Development Fund Everett Barlow and Verle Barlow Pauline Sweezey-Fredrickson, Hon PSA, FPSA (Benefactor gifts for 2004 AND 2005) General Operating Fund Thomas Devine Theron Holden, FPSA Jacob Mosser III, FPSA
From the Editors Desk Wayne Hanway, executive director of the Southeastern Public Library System of Oklahoma, writes: “Your articles and editorial comment about gifts from Wal-Mart and Sams Club in the November LAD have me thinking that you really should come out and visit us sometime.

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YOU HEARD about the puppies the neighbors dog had, and you just wanted to go over for a look. But the next thing you know you are cradling your new puppy while you walk the aisles of the pet supply store buying everything you need to make him, safe, happy, and well- fed. I always tell people when they adopt a puppy to expect the first night home with him to be the worst night they will ever spend with him. Most puppies start out life with littermates, and they are used to having company all the time, especially at bedtime. That first night home with you will be your puppys first night not sleeping on a puppy pile, and it can take some time for him to get used to sleeping alone. The best thing you can do for your puppy on his first night is to start him out right — sleeping in a crate.
Last Chance for Animals and Carole
Raphaelle Davis, actress (”Sex the City,” “Angel,” “Veronica Mars”) and
author of “The Diary of Jinky, Dog of a Hollywood Wife,” is getting her
Hollywood dog-loving friends together to protest Puppy Mills and encourage
dog adoption on the biggest puppy buying day of the year. Richard Belzer,
Actor (”Law Order: Special Victims Unit”) and his adopted dog, B#233;be, is one
of the celebrities scheduled to show his support. There will also be
testimonials from citizens with their dogs who have been duped by puppy
stores into buying a sick puppy.

“We will be in front of Posh Puppy, a new pet store in Beverly Hills,
encouraging people to ADOPT - Dont Buy! and to educate the public on puppy
mills. Stores like Posh Puppy in Beverly Hills and Encino, The Puppy Store
in West Hollywood, Puppy Me in Sherman Oaks and the recently scrutinized
Pets of Bel Air all get their dogs from puppy mills (mass breeding
facilities known for their squalid conditions). California Law states that
breeder information must be available to a would-be buyer. All you have to
do is go and take a look at those breeding facilities — I havent found a
single case where the breeder hasnt actually been a puppy mill. There are
over 2 million puppy mill puppies sold every year in this country. These
facilities will continue to flourish and breed animals that are prone to
severe health problems, genetic defects and behavioral issues unless we put
a stop to the source of the problem; puppy sales from pet stores and the
Internet. These puppies sell for between $1000 $4000. The best way to
get a happy and healthy puppy? ADOPT - Dont Buy! Save a life,” stated
Chris DeRose, President Founder, Last Chance for Animals.
For media interviews call:
Eileen Koch Company
310-441-1000
Eileen@eileenkoch.com

For all other information, call:
Lisa Beal
LCA Campaigns Director
310-271-6096 x27

new puppy

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As dean of campus ministry and a religion teacher at Paramus Catholic High School in Paramus, N.J., Joe Wilson spends his entire day with teenagers. And teens spend more time with media than they do with their families, he said. Thus it doesnt take a genius to know that one of the best ways to reach this age group is by using the media they love–movies, videos, the Internet and music downloaded onto iPods. That does not mean showing 12 hours of The Lord of the Rings trilogy or the entire Harry Potter video opus, he said. Rather, by selecting significant clips from these and other films popular with youth, teachers can elicit faith themes and spark discussion.
WITH THE RELATIONSHIP warming between media giant The Walt Disney Co. and film maker Pixar Animation Studios, is it too early for investors to get excited about a new distribution partnership? Maybe. But Disneys new Chief Executive Robert Iger and Pixars fearless leader Steve Jobs sure seem to make a better match than the previous Michael Eisner/Jobs combo that allowed the companies relationship to turn cold. Made by Apple Computer Inc., Jobs other company, the newest version of the iPod plays downloadable music and videos, including television shows produced by Disneys network affiliate ABC and short films by Emeryville-based Pixar.
FAIRFAX, Va. — Tubearoo, Inc. (Pink Sheets: TUBR), with its mission to become one of the worlds largest Internet video networks for users to view, upload, and share Internet video, today announced that its Tubearoo.com Internet videos are now available in mp4 format and are compatible with video-capable iPods. A billion dollar network of products, accessories, and services has emerged from the popularity of the iPod, and Tubearoo is excited to connect to this market, said Paul Medvedev, Tubearoo, Inc. President and CEO. This new Tubearoo.com feature enables users to download videos in mp4 format that is directly compatible with iPod, with no further file conversion required.

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AIRLINE INDUSTRY INFORMATION-(C)1997-2005 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD Budget airlines and the entry of Poland into the European Union have increased the number of visitors to Auschwitz, the former Nazi death camp. According to Antoni Stanczyk, director of the tourist section of the Auschwitz-Birkenau memorial and museum, more than 370,000 people visited the camp during the first six months of the year, compared to 240,000 for the same period in 2004.
NEW YORK — As the economy cools, companies are starting to shrink their travel budgets — a move likely to put further strain on struggling airlines. Hotels, car-rental agencies and restaurants, which along with airlines employ roughly 4 percent of U.S. workers, will also feel the pinch. So far, travel bookings are holding up. But corporate travel managers are taking a more active role in keeping on-the-road spending in check: — Employees are increasingly being asked to provide an economic rationale for their trips.
Business Editors Budget Travel is widely known as the best source for practical travel information, said Michael Silberman, acting Editor in Chief of MSNBC.com. This co-branded section combines the best of MSNBC.coms news with Budget Travels highly regarded travel content to become a great destination for smart and timely travel information on the Internet. Arthur Frommer is the best in the business and we look forward to working with him and his daughter Pauline.

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By Janet Cromley No joke - a good belly laugh, or even the anticipation of laughter, appears to benefit the bodys hormones. Researchers at Loma Linda University, in Loma Linda, Calif., and Oakcrest Health Research Institute, in Yucaipa, Calif., discovered this in a study of 32 healthy men. Half were instructed to view a one-hour humorous video of their own selection. The other half simply sat in a room with an assortment of magazines.
> The first of Michael Hanekes films to be reissued on DVD in the wake of the success of Hidden(the boxset of his first three features is coming soon) is the one with which, in 1997, he finally made international cinema-goers sit up and take notice. Or walk out in disgust. A Brechtian exercise in provocation, its an essay on screen violence and audience complicity, which consists wholly of the sadistic torture of a holidaying middle-class Austrian family by two smiling, unfathomable psychotics, as cold, cruel and cunning as the film itself.

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J.C.H. Mounsey London SW13
ON BEAUTY. Zadie Smith. 2005. Read by Peter Francis James. 16 cds. 18 hrs. Penguin Audio. 014-305800-2. $44.95. Cardboard; content, author, reader notes. SA* Smith portrays the ratified air of academic life and its internecine rivalries with an awesome wit. The faculty meetings are hilarious! Narrator James rises to the challenge, making this an auditory delight. This takes the listener into the despair of a marital break-up and explores the sensitive issue of cultural norms of feminine beauty. In Kiki, she offers the gift of a woman who defies the self-hatred such norms provoke. Wide in scope and original. Nancy Chaplin, Libn., VCCW, Goochland, VA
epoch has recognised that there are things pleasing to contemplate independently of the desire we may feel for them. He has no preconceived definition of beauty. Beauty and art were not always so closely related as today: beauty belonged originally to nature, not to created things. This book is therefore a history of Beauty and not a history of art (or of literature or music. Somewhat ironically, however, ideas of beauty are here mainly illustrated by works of art and not, for example, by loaves of beautifully made bread or beautifully laid brick walls. Images and textual selections work together to show that there is no absolute concept of beauty in things or men but criteria shaped by different eras and places.

Total Beauty Centre

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Health is a measure of quality of life that is difficult to define and measure. In the 1940s, the World Health Organization (WHO) defined health as a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. At the first International Conference on Health Promotion in Ottawa, Canada (1986), the Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion built on the WHOs concept and further defined health as a resource for everyday life. a positive concept emphasizing social and personal resources, as well as physical capabilities. Good health enables one to function independently within a changing environment.
Health: A report on health spending released by the Global Forum for Health Research finds that although global health research exploded from $30 billion to nearly $106 billion between 1990 and 2001, investments in lower- and middle-income countries remain inadequate. In 2001, 48% of health research was supported by the private for-profit sector, 44% by the public sector and 8% by foundations and other private not-for-profit groups. Globally, the US made up nearly half of all health research investments. Japan–the second-largest investor–spent 13% of the total, the UK constituted 7%, Germany 6% and France made up 5% of the total. The report also finds that the rise in diseases like SARS and HIV/AIDS has bridged some of the gap between high- and low-income countries, leading to a globalization of many health research efforts. Source: Global Forum for Health Research

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(ProQuest Information and Learning:. denotes formula omitted.) The first way MCOs game their participating chiropractors is by holding them to either an arbitrary maximum number of treatments or a maximum number of treatments that comes from internal proprietary data. We have all heard from some colleague who has been reprimanded, put in a more restrictive provider tier or even removed from a panel because his or her average number of visits is higher than the MCOs average. I heard this from a colleague who only had five patients, with an average of nine visits per patient. I started thinking about this from a statistical standpoint. For example, if an MCO says it finds that its doctors have an average of six visits per patient, then would having an average of nine visits be out of line? If the way one compares the doctors average to the MCOs average is to say, “nine is larger than six,” the answer is clearly that the doctors average is larger than the MCOs. However, this is not proper statistically because the doctors average is for a sample, and that is being compared to the MCOs population. Sample data cannot be directly compared with population data.
Donald Quacks Up (Disney Interactive: Leslie Oren, 818/553-3923)

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Colorado shrink wrap Weve witnessed the journey of the shrink-wrapped “Millennium Holiday Tree” from Woodland Park to Washington, D.C., for the Dec. 13 tree lighting ceremony on the Capitol grounds. What you may not know is that even more shrink-wrapped products from Colorado are heading for Washington.
Source: Financial Times

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E-commerce affiliate network software vendor iMediation SA yesterday showed off improvements to its iChannel offering, outlining the technologys restructuring around the XML (extensible markup language) standard. The preview comes the day before one of the Paris, France-based companys first customer, entertainment retailer HMV, goes live with an affiliate network based on iChannel. The transaction module handles the back-end processes, building the customer-facing virtual page templates using an XSL (Extensible Stylesheet Language) processor to convert the XML documents into browser-displayable HTML documents. The module also tracks buyers paths through e-commerce transactions for use with the relationship component. It communicates to i2000, which in turn interacts with transaction statistic and affiliate information and product catalogue databases.
ATLANTA–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Oct. 7, 1999– Alliance Offers Merchants Advanced Monitoring and Tracking Capabilities To Manage and Measure Success of Online

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Credit CardCredits cards are a relatively recent development. The VISA Company, for example, traces its history back to 1958 when the Bank of America began its BankAmericard program. In the mid-1960s, the Bank of America began to license banks in the United States the rights to issue its special BankAmericards. In 1977 the name Visa was adopted internationally to cover all these cards. VISA became the first credit card to be recognized worldwide.The banks and companies that sponsor credit cards profit in three ways. Primarily they make money from the interest payments charged on the unpaid balance, but they also can make money by charging an annual fee for the use of the card. The income from this fee, which is typically only $50 or $75 per customer per year, can be substantial considering that the larger companies have tens of millions of customers. In addition, the sponsors make money by charging merchants a small percentage of income for the service of the card. This arrangement is acceptable to the merchants because they can let their customers pay by credit card instead of requiring cash. The merchant makes arrangements to participate in a credit card program with a merchant bank, which in turn works with a card-issuing bank. The merchant bank determines what percentage of the total purchase value has to be paid by the merchant to the card-issuing bank. The amount varies depending on the volume and type of business, but in general it is between 1-2%. A percentage of that amount is kept by the merchant bank as a transaction-processing fee. For companies like American Express which sponsor cards, the processing fee may be significantly higher. Furthermore, sponsors may generate income by leasing credit card verification equipment to merchants (especially if the merchants can not afford to purchase the equipment themselves.) Finally, sponsors may profit by charging service fees for late payments.
Although this is not strictly an investment-related enquiry, I have made a New Years resolution to sort out my general finances and wish to change my credit card provider. I am paying a high APR on my current card and was hoping you could tell me which cards are currently offering the best rates.
The average American household with at least one credit card carried a credit card balance of $7,564 in 1999. In 1990 the typical American household with at least one credit card had a credit card balance of $2,985. Seventy eight million of the 105 million households in the United States had at least one credit card last year. The 1999 average annual percentage rate on all bank credit cards was 17.11 percent. The revolving balance of credit card debt totaled $580 billion in 1999. That figure included $490 billion on bank credit cards and $90 billion on store credit cards. Americans charged more than $1 trillion on their VISA, MasterCard, Discover and American Express cards during 1999. There were 506 million VISA, MasterCard, Discover and American Express cards in circulation in the United States last year. There were another 800 million debit and credit cards in circulation.

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I just read Don Jewells newsletter column: Atomic Clocks–So What? Thanks for introducing the subject without all the quantum electronics heebie jeebie. I think it helps clarify it to the world. Manager, GPS Clocks, The Boeing Company

Grandfather Clock

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Rishel, of Cherry Hill, NJ, began trading in these notes 11 years ago and claims he is “currently” the only world money dealer specializing in water transportation. The roots for this passion may stem from both his fathers naval career and his father-in-laws fishing career.
This money revolution can also be viewed on a larger canvas; for those effects in everyday settings are reflections of changes at a global level. The myriad of transactions on global money markets, as Alan Roberts emphasises in this section, overwhelm the capacity of central banks to stabilise the flow. Mobile capital courses around the globe, seeking only a temporary (profitable) haven. This capital surge is one of the costs of globalised industry. And we need only glance at the news over the last three months or so to know of the pain for our Asian neighbours of the withdrawal of this global capital from their shores. Most likely this is a pain we will all come to know. It is the strongest expression yet of a new phenomenon: a crisis of global money. Money is everywhere, and we increasingly do not know what stands outside of it. Politics is overwhelmed by it–under the name of economic rationality. The future of the nation is even hung around quick money fixes like casinos. Our relationships increasingly are mediated by it. So, too, is our sense of who we are. As our lives and social institutions are increasingly defined by money, our sense of commitment towards the other person–whether in our locality or on a broader canvas–diminishes. The anonymity of money allows distance from others to conceal our unavoidable social being as well as core moral obligations. This is the context for the last decade of global tax wars. Nations have sought to develop at the expense of other nations by offering tax havens to capital. They pursue development at the expense of the development of others. And within nations, tax avoidance and evasion is another expression of a growing indifference towards others. The coming federal election will have two main thrusts for conservative policy: the rejection of justifiable claims by indigenous Australians on the one hand, and a `debate over tax reform on the other which barely conceals a tax grab in support of ever widening social divisions. In the hands of the coalition the `tax debate and the Wik debate stand in for the dissolution of all social compacts except one: that shaped by the dominance of rampaging money. In this section aspects of these issues are taken up. John King discusses the assumptions behind the tax debate and how these conceal options which are then ignored. Alan Roberts takes up the question of the so-called Tobin tax which was proposed to control speculative global capital and has re-emerged because of the crisis in Asia. Ted Wheelwright runs through the issues of concern relating to the Multilateral Agreement on Investment which threatens to put the seal on the capacity of sovereign nations to control their fate in the face of global capital and Brent Howard analyses some of the meanings of tendencies for us to become a `nation of shareholders. All four articles address the emerging realities of economy in the era of globalisation.
Every day about 465 million dollars are printed in the United States!! Paper money is made at The Bureau of Engraving and Printing in Washington, D.C. and Fort Worth, Texas. Dollar bills are printed on paper made from a secret blend of cotton and linen. Red and blue silk threads are mixed into the paper as it is being made. Look closely and you will see them. This paper is so strong, it will last about 18 months and can be folded about 4000 times without tearing. Paper money is made by Intaglio printing, which is very hard to counterfeit (copy). First a design is engraved into a metal plate. Then ink, made from a secret recipe, is spread over the metal. Next, a machine presses the paper onto the metal plate to create a copy of the design. As many as 32 bills can be printed on a single sheet of paper.

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Woodworking 3100 NW 101st Street, Suite A, Urbandale, IA 50322
Martin Woodworking Machines
WOODWORK after Women and Dog by Marisol

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By Barbara Hollingsworth COUNCIL GROVE - Rose Marie Wallen turned the small gray stone in her hand.
I found the article You Can Make Millions From Your Hobby (Fun Money) in the April issue very interesting. My husband and I were able to turn our hobby into our business about five years ago. The best part is, we enjoy our work every day, and we are literally able to take our children to work with us. One of the most appealing aspects of our business is the annual tour we host. In 2002, we took U.S. rail fans on a 10-day tour of the Grand Scale railways in the United Kingdom. What a wonderful time we had! This October, we will also be hosting our second Grand Scale Convention. The convention is a great way for people interested in the hobby to meet and visit with others. We have vendors and guest speakers available. Everyone has a great time in a relaxed atmosphere. And everyone gets to play trains. So yes, one can make a living with their hobby. And, like us, you can make wonderful friends and have a great time. Plus, with our business, we spend much more time with our children, and they are literally seeing the world with us. All in all, a great way of life. I would recommend it to anyone!

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WHERE DO you rank in the hobbyist hierarchy? Rookies boast little more than a paper bag in the closet stuffed with wrapping paper tubes, rolls of ribbon and not-so-sharp scissors. More advanced hobbyists dedicate an entire desk or a corner of the home office to their favorite pastime, whether scrapbooking or model ship building. Elite hobbyists-at-heart give over whole rooms to their passions.
We have five copies to give away to What Investment readers. Send your name and address to hosborne@ ccpleemail.co.uk or to the address on page 5 and you will be entered into the draw.

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CHICAGO — In the midst of the low-carb craze, a new study suggests that by eating lots of carbohydrates and little fat, it is possible to lose weight without actually cutting calories — and without exercising, either. The study was small, consisting of just 34 overweight adults who either ate the recommended diet for three months; ate the recommended diet and exercised regularly; or ate pretty much what they usually eat. Many doctors dispute whether people can lose weight without reducing their food intake, and at least one questioned the studys accuracy.
Need another reason, to stay lean? People who are overweight in middle age are 35 percent mere likely to be diagnosed with Alzheimers or other dementia in later life, says a study of more than 10,000 members of the Kaiser Permanente medical care program who were followed for 20 to 30 years. These who are obese in middle age are 74 percent more likely to eventually have dementia. The link between weight and dementia remained after scientists factored out high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, heart disease, and stroke–all of which may contribute to dementia.

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Camp Columbia in the diocese of British Columbia is showing a substantial loss because of weaker than anticipated attendance. Deficits are threatening the camps future. The diocese is calling for input from its parishes on the camps future.
Dayhike a variety of trails with just a daypack. On some Base Camp Trips, pack animals carry most of your gear, food, and equipment to and from a backcountry camp, leaving you to enjoy the peace and serenity of the great outdoors. On others, campgrounds, huts, or other accommodations serve as a headquarters from which you make your daily explorations in the surrounding area. Americas Tropical Paradise: St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands. February 28-March 6. Simply beautiful. The Caribbean is 50 feet from our cottage door and a tropical national park stretches out behind us. Traveling in safari vehicles to white-sand beaches and trailheads, well snorkel among tropical fish, coral reefs, and sea turtles and hike in the warmth of St. John. Meals not included in trip fee. Leader: Gary Skomro. Price: $775; Dep: $100. [99421A] Spring Dayhikes in Joshua Tree, Joshua Tree Park, California. March 7-13. Join us for an early-season conditioner among the giant Joshua trees and odd-shaped boulders in one of the U.S.s newest parks. Well drive each day to trailheads for moderate hikes. Leader: Lucy Henderson. Price: $520; Dep: $100. [99422A],
What is camp? This is a question asked of many of us, both by others and ourselves. It is an important question. If we are to be successful in making the public more aware of the opportunities available for children at our camps, we need to clearly articulate what camp is.The second event that led me to this topic was a conversation I had at an American Society of Association Executives meeting in Washington. A person who had read an article I wrote several years ago and I were talking about all of the different associations represented at the meeting. He asked what field ACA considered itself part of. When I told him we were in the child development field, he was surprised; however, after he remembered the experiences he had in camp, he quickly agreed with me.The whole purpose of this column is to encourage you to think in terms of the child development experience that occurs at your camp. In fact, ACAs entire public awareness initiative is built around that concept. What we expect ACA to become in the next five years is also directly related to having camp recognized as the child development experience we know it to be.

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The World Wrestling Federation was just the beginning for Vince McMahon JELL-O. KLEENEX. WHILE THESE seem like diverse products, they have one significant thing in common. Their market dominance led to the specific brand name taking over the entire identification of the product they represent. No one says gelatin of tissue. Most use the high-profile monikers, no matter what the competitive brand may be. The public has Vince McMahon to thank for that.
The Capital-Journal HOLTON — Hayden might have enjoyed the best day of wrestling its program has ever seen Saturday at the Class 4A regional meet at Holton. It would be hard convincing the Wildcats otherwise. Hayden picked up five state qualifiers at the meet, going 4-for-4 in the crucial consolation semifinal round. Even though the Wildcats finished 11th in the team standings, coach Kevin Guesby couldnt have been more pleased with his teams showing.

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Drafted into the U.S. Army at the time of the Korean War, Arthur
Frommer landed in Berlin rather than Korea. His sense of wonderment
at being able to travel Europe - then scarcely visited by Americans -
was the inspiration for a tiny guidebook he wrote for his fellow GIs
“GIs Guide to Traveling in Europe.”Returning to the travel topic that launched his career, Frommer
recently introduced Budget Europe, an editorial section of the Web
site devoted to money-saving bargains and budget travel advice for
enjoying Europes most popular destinations. The most notable feature
of the Budget Europe section is its e-newsletter, which has gained
popularity and nearly 30,000 subscribers in a few short weeks. Each
issue of the bi-weekly publication delivers five money-saving
articles about budget-priced travel to Europe including discount
airfares, hotels, car rentals, vacations packages, and travel advice.
Frommers fans will also enjoy the entertaining and often opinionated
articles provided by Frommer himself and the Editors of Arthur
Frommers Budget Travel Magazine, focusing on budget travel to Europe
- all archived on the site - including Restaurants of Rome, London on
a Budget, No Culture Shock in Warsaw or Plock, Ich Bin Ein Berliner,
I Wish, Bargain Rates on Cyprus, and Getting a Low-Cost Air Fare to
Europe.
Business Editors Budget Travel is widely known as the best source for practical travel information, said Michael Silberman, acting Editor in Chief of MSNBC.com. This co-branded section combines the best of MSNBC.coms news with Budget Travels highly regarded travel content to become a great destination for smart and timely travel information on the Internet. Arthur Frommer is the best in the business and we look forward to working with him and his daughter Pauline.

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I. INTRODUCTION This study empirically examines person-to-person transactions within the Internet market known as eBay. In this virtual market of unseen participants and products, buyers and sellers face the risks of repudiation, as the counter party may deny the agreement after the fact. Buyers assume risks associated with lack of seller integrity and asymmetric information about the particular product, as the buyer is typically required to send payment before the seller ships the product. In addition, for many eBay transactions, the cost of enforcing a contract is high relative to the transactions value, resulting in a practical absence of legal enforcement. (2) By providing a history of trade execution information, eBay benefits market participants by reducing information asymmetries while achieving substantial transaction cost economies. Market participants relate personal experiences, which eBay uses to calculate a numerical reputation measure for each user. Market participants, in turn, can use this reputation measure to assess counter party risk and adjust bidding behavior accordingly.
The following paper represents the current state of research into the use and usage of the Internet for marketing purposes by small medium sized enterprises (SMEs). The paper discusses how the research was established, its design and development, and sets out the operational parameters addressed. It also identifies the factors that SMEs view as critical to the success or otherwise of their development of a web presence. The explosion in both content and usage of the Internet has in no small way been fueled by the business community. This paper represents the current state of work in progress, at Bournemouth University Business School researching the use and usage of the Internet for marketing purposes by small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). It seeks to identify the answer to three key questions: * What is the main driver for an SME to develop a web site * What are the main, identifiable marketing benefits and drawbacks of a Web presence for an SME
Business Editors The Internet Marketing Edge launches its 10 step method to successfully selling on-line. This book will give you the edge on Internet marketing guaranteed or your money back.

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Determining your specific health insurance needs and choosing a plan that is best for you and your family–and your pocketbook–can be a daunting task but its a necessary one. Without insurance, one serious illness or accident could wipe you out financially. Married or single, children or no children, health insurance is simply one of those necessities of modern life that you must have in order to protect yourself. But it is very important that people investigate whichever club, association or organization is offering the insurance plan to insure that it is solvent and reliable. A Commonwealth Fund study notes that such plans have a long history marred by financial instability and even fraud, and that licensing requirements that are often less stringent than those imposed on traditional insurers mean the plans have a greater risk of becoming insolvent when claims suddenly or unexpectedly exceed their ability to pay them. You can contact an insurance agent-perhaps the agent who provides your car or home insurance-or research various companies by contacting their sales departments or reading about them on the Internet. Your state probably has an insurance commission or department that can provide a list of insurers (look the government listings section of your phone book); some agencies even provide information on the number of complaints filed against specific companies. (For information specific to various insurers as well as about your rights as a consumer, see Resources section at the end of this article.)
HEALTH INSURANCE OPTIONSIn recent years, many health insurance providers have begun offering plans for small businesses, even those with 15 or fewer employees. In some states, businesses are required to provide health insurance if they employ more than five workers. The type of coverage a business needs depends upon its work force. For example, a company with a work force consisting primarily of married people with dependent children will need more comprehensive coverage than a company with a mostly unmarried, childless work force. Many plans can be specifically tailored to the needs of a companys work force. For example, firms whose employees work at computers may wish to provide eye care as part of their health insurance plans, while other firms may find that employees would value a fitness program.Many insurance companies offer computer models that enable small businesses to determine the most economical insurance plan given the previous years health care expenses. Another option that can reduce premiums is pooling insurance with other small businesses through trade associations or other organizations. Experts note that business owners may find it helpful in comparing different plans to ask the providers for references to other small business clients. Even though health insurance coverage can be expensive for small businesses, plan costs are tax deductible. In addition, providing such benefits can help smaller companies compete with larger ones to attract talented employees and can act to reduce employee turnover. It is important to note that, under the terms of the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA), all businesses that employ more than twenty people and offer a group health insurance plan must give employees the option of continuing coverage at their own expense for a limited period of time when they lose eligibility for company-provided benefits.Health insurance is also important for self-employed persons. Health care costs increase dramatically every year, and individuals need to protect themselves against the expense of an unforeseen illness, injury, or accident. But according to Lenore Janecek in her book Health Insurance: A Guide for Artists, Consultants, Entrepreneurs, and Other Self-Employed, between 27 and 37 million Americans have no health insurance, and another 60 million have inadequate coverage. About 60 percent of the working Americans who lack health insurance are employed by small businesses.
Its becoming increasingly expensive for small businesses in Alaska to provide health insurance benefits to employees. Offering good health insurance benefits is one of the best ways companies can ensure their employees loyalty. Gretchen Boone, director of Gold Creek Child Development Center in Juneau, said thats the reason she offers health insurance. Unfortunately for many small businesses, health insurance is difficult to afford and employees oftentimes cannot buy insurance on their own; however, this doesnt mean that there are no options. By understanding the health insurance problem, exploring the types of insurance available, finding out what their employees want, and selecting an option within their benefits budget, even small employers may find a way to offer health coverage to their employees.

health insurance plans

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Need another reason, to stay lean? People who are overweight in middle age are 35 percent mere likely to be diagnosed with Alzheimers or other dementia in later life, says a study of more than 10,000 members of the Kaiser Permanente medical care program who were followed for 20 to 30 years. These who are obese in middle age are 74 percent more likely to eventually have dementia. The link between weight and dementia remained after scientists factored out high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, heart disease, and stroke–all of which may contribute to dementia.
CHICAGO — In the midst of the low-carb craze, a new study suggests that by eating lots of carbohydrates and little fat, it is possible to lose weight without actually cutting calories — and without exercising, either. The study was small, consisting of just 34 overweight adults who either ate the recommended diet for three months; ate the recommended diet and exercised regularly; or ate pretty much what they usually eat. Many doctors dispute whether people can lose weight without reducing their food intake, and at least one questioned the studys accuracy.
FREE! Customized, easy-to-follow, meal plans designed just for you. FREE! Detailed, mistake- proof, easy-to-follow, weekly shopping lists that take the guesswork out of meal planning. FREE! Insider advice from our certified fitness trainers, nutritionists, and registered dieticians keeping you up-to-date on every new diet trick, innovative weight loss shortcut, cellulite remover, spot-reducer, exercise device, and state-of-the-art research breakthrough.

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Perennials In The Landscape 2554 Lincoln, Blvd., #1058, Marina Del Rey, CA 90291-5082
Landscape

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This means that virtually all of the centers will be able to provide Enhanced 9-1-1 services, said W. Mark Adams, NENAS executive director. It also means that call location is at risk at a small percentage of sites. NENA says 100 percent of call centers are compliant for basic 911 service - that is, the pre-E-911 system of taking directions by voice from callers.
PinnacleHealth Systems two hospitals in Harrisburg each have two emergency rooms: the emergency department and the basic emergency department. Apparently, some emergencies are worse than others. Especially when a rising number of people use emergency rooms as their primary sources of medical care. When some patients dont pay their bills, emergency room rates go up for everyone, including insurance companies. And those companies pass those rates along to their customers. Employers often end up footing the bills. Thus, many hospitals find themselves in a bit of a conundrum. Community, nonprofit hospitals must take every patient who comes through their doors. When patients are uninsured and cannot or will not pay their hospital bills, the hospitals raise their rates.
CONTINUING EDUCATION Upon completion of this article, the reader will be able to:

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BRAINSTORMINGThere are three critical factors that determine the success of a brainstorming effort. First, the group must strive to produce a large quantity of ideas, as this increases the likelihood that they will happen upon the best possible solution. Second, the group must be certain to withhold judgement of the ideas as they are expressed, since the negative thinking of one group member can make others less willing to participate and thus derail the whole process. Third, the group leader must create a positive environment for the brainstorming session and channel the creative energies of all the members in the same direction.In his book Thinkertoys, Michael Michalko outlined a series of steps that should be followed in setting up a brainstorming session.

Select the problem to be addressed, defining it as specifically as possible.
Choose suitable participants for the group. Ideally, the group should consist of six to twelve participants from diverse areas of the company, including non-experts as well as experts. They should be flexible thinkers and independent personalities. They should also have a positive attitude about the brainstorming process, as well as a genuine desire to improve the performance of the company. It may be helpful to include one member who has the power to make decisions about the problem being addressed, as long as that person understands the brainstorming process. Everyone present should be a participant rather than an onlooker.
Choose a suitable environment. Brainstorming requires a comfortable, unthreatening environment to work effectively.
Select a group moderator. This person should have strong interpersonal skills as well as a good understanding of the process. The moderators duties include planning the meeting ahead of time, preparing and distributing an agenda, employing various creativity techniques to get membersideas flowing, and keeping the group focused on the problem at hand. If the discussion should become stagnantperhaps because members have trouble overcoming their disciplined ways of viewing the problemit is the group moderators job to get it moving.
Select someone to record all the ideas generated by the group, possibly on large wall sheets or a chalkboard. Sometimes it is helpful to record the flow of ideas in graphic form rather than creating a linear list.
During the brainstorming session, meanwhile, participants should keep in mind the following:
The aim of the session is to generate a large quantity of ideas. Self-censorship is counterproductive. A brainstorming session is successful when the sheer quantity of ideas forces participants to move beyond preconceived notions and explore new territory.

Discussions of the relative merits of ideas should not be undertaken as they are voiced, for they slow the process and discourage creativity.
Create an environment in which seniority and rank are suspended so that all participants feel equal and encouraged to be creative. Participants have to feel free to share the full range of their ideas, however impractical they may seem at first glance, for a brainstorming session to be successful.
Use conversational devices to enliven group discussions if the session begins to lag in energy and enthusiasm. For example, a brainstorming team might try to look at a problem or issue from the perspective of a specific third party, such as a famous celebrity or businessman.

Want to make your practice better? Get your staff in on the act. Looking for ways to attract new patients or reactivate former ones? Reduce operating costs? Increase the dispensing of prescription sun wear or tinted contact lenses? A brainstorming session with your staff may provide some answers. In his classic text on the subject, “Applied Imagination,” Mr. Osborn states four ground rules for success:
AbstractThe term “brainstorming” is used in popular speech, as are trademarked brand names such as “Kleenex,” “Band-Aid,” and “Jello.” Paul Mongeau and Mary Claire Morr remind us that “brainstorming” is also a “brand name” coined by Alex Osborn to refer to the approach he developed for idea generation. Although many people use the term generically, group facilitators should be aware of its specific meaning and the research which demonstrates, contrary to popular belief, that brainstorming is an inferior method of generating ideas! However, their criticism of the research alerts us to some of the more subtle aspects of Osborns method and offers some pointed suggestions for facilitating idea generation.

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Task force will study needs, offer answers. It was just one highlight in a day full of events on the child- care front. Taking the opportunity that news afforded, Mayor Joan Wagnon announced members of Topekas Child Care Task Force at a press conference at the MCCC Tuesday morning. Surrounded by members of that 21-person task force, Wagnon said the group would attempt to identify child-care problems in the community and examine possible solutions. “This is what mayors do — convene groups, solve problems and point to the importance of taking care of problems,” she said. Wagnon, who has an extensive background in child care and issues surrounding children, pointed out that not only is the problem a challenge for parents, but it also can be an economic development issue for the city. City Councilwoman Fran Lee, who is on the task force, agreed child-care dilemmas affect communities at many levels. “I think the measure of a society and our city is how they care for the youngest and the oldest,” she said. After announcing the task force formation at 11 a.m., Wagnon got down to business with the first task force meeting from 5:30 to 6:45 p.m. That meeting, which 19 of the 21 members attended, was an overview of some statistics gathered by city official Scott Heidner and by Donette Satterlee, Shawnee County Health Agency. Members took the opportunity to outline some of the top issues. One of the challenges faced by the group is how to attain accurate figures of how many day-care openings there are in Shawnee County. Using ERC information, Heidner reported there are more than 830 family day care and day-care centers offering care for children ages newborn to school age. Of those, about 44 were for children newborn to 1 year, and 58 were for children 1 year to 18 months. Using demographic information and the statistic reported by Kids Count Data Book, a publication by Annie E. Casey Foundation, that 73 percent of children under age 6 have parents who work, Wagnon determined that about 9,000 children in Shawnee County need some kind of day care. Part of the difficulty in getting a handle on the situation is that many children are in unlicensed or unregistered home day-care situations, or are cared for by relatives or parents who work different shifts so one can be home with children at all times. At the end of the meeting, task force members agreed: There is a day-care shortage in the area, particularly for infants and toddlers; some regulations may impede the opening of day-care centers; there isnt an adequate supply of labor to work at day-care centers; and centers have closed for a variety of reasons, including money, staffing, transportation and insurance. Wagnon and other members stressed that no one is suggesting regulations of day-care facilities be eliminated. “I didnt hear anybody say get rid of the regulations — were just saying get rid of the stupid stuff,” Wagnon summarized. City Councilman Jim Gardner also announced the third task force meeting will be a public forum from 7 to 9 p.m. Feb. 4 at the City Council Chambers. Anyone interested in child-care issues is invited to attend. The forum will be televised on Channel 4. Speakers will be limited to five minutes and asked to provide a written summary of their comments to the task force. Task force members are as follows:Reva Wywadis, home day-care provider; Jeff Scott, former Kinder Care director; Fern Rosenberg, United Way of Topeka; Darrell Dibbern, city fire marshall; Shirley Norris, Kansas Association for the Education of Young Children and former licensing specialist at Kansas Department of Health and Environment; Pete Doll, executive director of the YMCA; Nancy Jones, Building Blocks of Topeka; Donette Satterlee, Shawnee County Health Agency;Laurie Pigg, ERC Resource and Referral; Anna Stock, Kaw Area Technical School; Jeff Wagaman, parent at Menninger; Michel Philipp Cole, parent; Debbie Davis Symsek, parent; Erma Officer, parent; Jim Gardner, City Council; Fran Lee, City Council; Jim Olson, Community Resources Council; Joyce Resnick, Topeka Area SRS; Dr. Glenda Bower, Capper Foundation; and Marsha Sheahan, Chamber of Commerce.
The importance of quality child care cannot be stressed enough. Yet oftentimes, families with children with behavioral problems lose their access to child care. Their children are repeatedly rejected from child care facilities, only to be bounced from one to the next without anyone ever trying to understand why the children behave as they do. A social worker by training, Gilgoff has been executive director of CCIS since its inception in 1993. Prior to her current position, she worked with Lehigh Valley Child Care for more than 12 years. Gilgoff has special interests in issues related to poverty and young children with special needs. PP: How did Child Care Information Services (CCIS) get started?
Child Caring

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The Public Health programme 2003-2008 is a key strategic tool for the development of health policy within the EU. The programme provides the means to support actions in areas where the EU can make a difference, the ultimate goal being to contribute to a high level of physical and mental health and well-being throughout the EU. The programme is open to institutions, associations, organisations and bodies in the health field.
Get a shot in the arm If you cant remember the last time you got a tetanus shot, you might want to celebrate next weeks National Public Health Week with a visit to the El Paso County Department of Health and Environment, 301 S. Union Blvd. The department is offering free tetanus shots to adults next week, April 3-7. A tetanus booster is recommended every five to 10 years for adults.

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I. INTRODUCTION This study empirically examines person-to-person transactions within the Internet market known as eBay. In this virtual market of unseen participants and products, buyers and sellers face the risks of repudiation, as the counter party may deny the agreement after the fact. Buyers assume risks associated with lack of seller integrity and asymmetric information about the particular product, as the buyer is typically required to send payment before the seller ships the product. In addition, for many eBay transactions, the cost of enforcing a contract is high relative to the transactions value, resulting in a practical absence of legal enforcement. (2) By providing a history of trade execution information, eBay benefits market participants by reducing information asymmetries while achieving substantial transaction cost economies. Market participants relate personal experiences, which eBay uses to calculate a numerical reputation measure for each user. Market participants, in turn, can use this reputation measure to assess counter party risk and adjust bidding behavior accordingly.
Business Editors The Internet Marketing Edge launches its 10 step method to successfully selling on-line. This book will give you the edge on Internet marketing guaranteed or your money back.
Many of the old rules and limitations no longer apply to this new form of marketing, which seeks to talk with, rather than at, the reader. At last count, the Internet links some 46,318 computer networks at sites in 91 countries worldwide. More than half (27,614) the networks are in the United States; not surprisingly, some 20% of these are in California. According to the Internet Domain Survey, conducted in January 1995 by Net Wizards, some 4,852,000 host computers were linked to the Internet. The greatest percentage of these computers were being used in business (27%) and education (23%). The Internet Society estimates an average of 10 users per host. Total users on the net are approaching 50 million, with another million or so getting connected monthly.

internet niche marketing software

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Wild birds and rabbits are the new name of the game on restaurant menus. Peter Owens tracked down the source in Central Otago. In the 186Os and 187Os game birds were released in the North and South Islands and on Stewart Island by publicly funded acclimatisation societies. Duck flourished and have continued to be the main game bird in New Zealand ever since. And with the exception of the rapid demise of grouse, other game birds have also remained. Pheasant was shot in the high country, as well as partridge, but not in large numbers and not often.
Ready at Dawn Creates Video Games for Handheld Devices Its not all fun and games at Irvine video game developer Ready at Dawn Studios LLC. Workers zip around its new 17,000-square-foot office on Razor scooters.
Published by Canongate Books on 6 July

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To plan a special event (business functions, social events, weddings, etc.) at Balboa Park, call the Office of Special Events at (619)685-1331 or (619) 235-5900 (weddings only). Many sites are available, including garden settings, a theatre, outdoor pavilions and meeting/social areas ranging from 1,100 to over 12,000-square-feet.
Pike National Forest and several other recreational areas are closed to the public. Call 636-1602. Barr Trail, from the trailhead in Manitou Springs to the summit, including access to Barr Camp All other trails on Pikes Peak, including the Crags, Devils Playground, Elk Park and Bottomless Pit

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Some 8.4 million Americans in 2006 were victims to identity theft. Currently, prosecutors can seek only restitution for the direct financial losses a victim experiences; the law does not expressly permit prosecutors to obtain restitution for the time and money victims spend resolving the problems that arise as a result of identity theft. The impact of identity theft is not limited to direct financial loss. Victims are often faced with a bad credit report and spend a significant amount of time regaining their financial health, fixing, monitoring and disputing credit reports, as well as clearing other charges with banks and individual creditors.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) report on National and State Trends in Fraud Identity Theft January–December 2003 says the FTC received over 500,000 consumer fraud and identity theft complaints. It should be noted that this number just represents the reported number of incidents. The September 2003 FTC Identity Theft Survey report concluded that approximately 9.91 million Americans were victims of some form of identity theft in 2003. The study also estimated the financial cost to victims at $5 billion, and the total hours victims spent resolving the theft at 297 million. Department of the Navy (DON) personnel are not at higher risk than the average American for having their identities stolen. But the DON is taking steps to further protect the identities of Navy personnel. Section 208 of the E-Government Act of 2002 requires that all federal agencies perform Privacy Impact Assessments (PIAs) on their information systems. This requirement is for identifying only the privacy impact on the public, not the federal employee. Going a step further than the Act requires, the DON is conducting PIAs on information systems to identify the privacy impact on civilian and military personnel.
The fee-based program provides a benefit ranging from $2,500 to $10,000 per occurrence, and provides a personalized approach to working with policyholders who have been the victim of a fraud.

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Ray: Your battery has acid reflux, Joel. You need Prevacid. Tom: The blue-green powder you are seeing is the corrosion that results when the acid in the battery meets the lead and copper of the connector. I happen to have a Ph.D. in chemical engineering, Joel, so I can tell you precisely what is happening here. The H2S gas from the battery combines with the PB and CU of the clamp and the O2 in the air, and produces H2SO4 (sulfuric acid), hydrogen and a blue-green version of Aunt Jemima pancake batter. Ray: What is the chemical formula for Aunt Jemimas?
EISAI AND Janssen Pharmaceutica have launched a consumer education program to promote awareness of gastroesophageal acid reflux disease, or GERD, for which they co-market the proton pump inhibitor Aciphex. Events will feature science educator and GERD sufferer Sylvia Branzei, author of the book series and national touring exhibit Grossology, as well as Stephen Brunton, MD, a professor of family medicine at the University of California, Irvine. Physicians in each market will moderate events. Brunton narrated a VNR that was distributed to local broadcasters. The market for proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) is worth nearly $13 billion, with someone using a PPI medication in roughly one-quarter of U.S. households. An estimated 60 million Americans suffer heartburn at least once a month, and more than 25 million suffer episodes daily.

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Business Editors Health/Medical Writers Bravo(TM) pH Monitoring System complements full
Ray: Your battery has acid reflux, Joel. You need Prevacid. Tom: The blue-green powder you are seeing is the corrosion that results when the acid in the battery meets the lead and copper of the connector. I happen to have a Ph.D. in chemical engineering, Joel, so I can tell you precisely what is happening here. The H2S gas from the battery combines with the PB and CU of the clamp and the O2 in the air, and produces H2SO4 (sulfuric acid), hydrogen and a blue-green version of Aunt Jemima pancake batter. Ray: What is the chemical formula for Aunt Jemimas?

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Credit Scores and Credit Reports Author: Evan Hendricks Publisher: Privacy Times, Inc. (2005) ISBN 0-9645486-3-1 An example is Hendricks intriguing discussion of missing credit limits on the credit reports of cardholders of Capital One and other companies. Instead of the credit limit being reported, the highest balance ever carried is reported as a de facto “credit limit.” This has the effect of lowering some customers credit scores by making them appear more “maxed out” than they actually are. For example, someone with a $500 credit limit who charges $90 would have an acceptable 18% (90/500) credit utilization ratio. However, if their $500 limit is not reported but, instead their $151 “highest balance” is substituted for it, the credit utilization ratio increases to 60% (90/151), which can cause a persons credit score to plunge. The difference is significant because credit utilization ratios account for 30% of a persons credit score in the Fair Isaac Corporation (FICO) scoring model. Credit Scores and Credit Reports is organized into 23 chapters that are extensively laden with Web links to and quotes from legislation, Congressional debates and testimony, and media reports about credit reports and related topics. Especially interesting are the stories of real people whose lives were disrupted by erroneous credit reports and instances of identity theft. Hendricks draws heavily from testimony provided by victims as well as research conducted by the Federal Reserve Board, the Consumer Federation of America, and other reputable sources.
Today I began to think of the things I wish I had done during my lifetime but apparently never will. I suppose one might call it a wish list, and you probably have one, too. The beginnings of my list, although I didnt realize it at the time, undoubtedly date back to when I was in high school, and teachers began to challenge us in unique ways. Other teachers exposed me to music and art, but after many years taking piano and cello lessons, plus hours spent drawing and painting, I realized my artistic talents were woefully inadequate.

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E-commerce today is enjoying the fastest growth rate of any business sector because, among other things, it is fast, convenient and cost-effective! Consider just a couple of examples I heard a consultant from Arthur D. Little present recently on CNBC: 1) A typical banking transaction, which costs one dollar, will only cost one cent when conducted over the Internet! 2) A typical brokers transaction, which costs $150, will only cost $6 when conducted over the Internet!
A review of the marketing literature in both the traditional (offline) and new era (online) environments was undertaken to compare and contrast marketings role in both types of organisation. Insights derived from this review formed the basis for a series of in-depth interviews with leading marketing professionals in Ireland. The paper draws conclusions regarding the overall effect of the Internet on marketing. In particular it notes that, while marketing has evolved into an all-encompassing role in the organisation, the marketer remains the focal actor. The paper looks to a future with two distinct kinds of marketer and highlights the importance of retaining the traditional commitments of marketing practice. The Internet is a significant global medium for communications, content and commerce. It is a powerful tool for building relationships with all of a companys communication targets. It is cheap, immediate and repeatable. With appropriate technology it can be personalised and is measurable. Building one-to-one relationships with customers online provides marketers with the ability to cut through the clutter that is characteristic of traditional marketing activities such as TV/radio and newspaper advertising, PR and outdoor, ambient media.

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MORE homes are set for a facelift as part of regeneration plans. Gateshead Council has submitted an application for planning permission to carry out major works to homes in Watt Street, Telford Street, Hedley Street, Stephenson Street, Saltwell Road and Whitehall Road, in Bensham. Coun David Napier, right, cabinet spokesman for housing, says: This is a huge programme which will benefit thousands of local residents.
The alliance with Ace will help it supply its stores with more products, say Sodimac officials. Terms were not disclosed. An Ace company official says the deal will allow Sodimac to compete with The Home Depot.
Homeowners looking to refurbish their houses but unwilling to use expensive credit cards to finance it will soon be served by a new, locally based loan company specializing in home improvement loans. American First Mortgage Source Inc. will open Feb. 1 at 504 W. Mission Ave., in Escondido. Jess Chinchillas, founder of the company, recently returned to the county after serving as vice president for The Money Store, a Sacramento-based home lender. The home improvement loan is secured by a lien on the subject property, he added. Since the average home improvement loan is smaller than other kinds of home equity loans, but has just as much paperwork, the points charged are usually proportionally higher, he added.

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