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Q | Do I need to be concerned about the expiration date of eggs? * Eggs that carry an expiration stamp should be used within seven days after that date or thrown out (quality and freshness diminish rapidly after the expiration date). * Eggs should stay fresh for a few weeks after you purchase them.
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In addition to providing the industrys best veneers and aesthetics to the top cosmetic dentists in the field, MicroDental and the MACVENEERS team are absolutely committed to partnering with them to take their practices to the next level, said Fred Walke, CEO, MicroDental Laboratories. We provide valuable benefits that no other lab can — from pre-qualified leads through our Referral Program to customized marketing materials and co-marketing programs to increase awareness and elevate the image of their practices. We know that helping each of our clients helps to further the industry as a whole. The VIP-only MicroDental Public Relations Marketing luncheon (Thursday, May 18th during the AACD Scientific Session from 12:30 p.m. - 1:45 p.m.) will provide strategic insights and practical knowledge on how to successfully raise the public profile of and grow a cosmetic dentistry practice. Featuring a luncheon keynote address from Andrew Getsey, founder of Atomic Public Relations, a top national PR firm, lectures from leading marketing professionals, key clinicians, and a representative from InStyle, the countrys leading style magazine, the luncheon will cover best practices in public relations, advertising, web marketing, direct mail and more. MicroDentals annual party is always a highlight at AACD, and this year is no exception. On Friday, May 19th, MicroDental and MACVENEERS will be hosting the White Party at San Diegos hottest downtown nightclub, Thin. Doors open at 9 p.m. for this white attire only event for VIP dentists and select guests. Attendees are encouraged to dress to impress.
SEATTLE — Dr. Rhys Spoor, DDS, FAGD, an international expert in Aesthetic and Restorative Dentistry, has been selected by his peers as one of the Top 10 Dentists for Cosmetic Dentistry in the Puget Sound region, as published in the January 2006 edition of Seattle magazine. The rankings are based on dentists who received the most votes. In addition, all dentists were verified as being in good standing with the Washington State Department of Health.
They can provide either comprehensive preventative, cosmetic, or emergency care, or specialize in a single field of dentistry. This report covers the scope, size, disposition and growth of the industry including the key sensitivities and success factors. Also included are five year industry forecasts, growth rates and an analysis of the industry key players and their market shares.

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Cisco readies high end storage switch Cisco, already among the market leaders in storage switching, is expected to introduce as soon as April a 528-port Fibre Channel device designed to help companies consolidate their storage area networks (SANs) and avoid oversubscribing ports on smaller switches. Cisco declined to comment. The switch, which is in beta test, features 13 slots and 4Gbps Fibre Channel ports. It tops Ciscos current high end offering, a 224-port device, and surpasses McDatas 256port Intrepid 10000 Director. Like Ciscos other Fibre Channel switches, it is expected to support not just Fibre Channel, but other protocols such as iSCSI and Fibre Channel over IR It also will support intelligent storage services such as virtualization, sources say. The desire to get away from oversubscribing current switches could be a powerful selling factor, observers say.
Cisco Systems latest Gigabit Ethernet switch is designed to work inside Hewlett Packards blade servers, the companies have announced. That helps customers save data center space. The companies began co-development last summer; the to-do list includes additional integration of systems management software and storage.

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If you are seeking relief for a medical condition, you probably want to find a health care professional-such as a physician, nurse, psychiatrist, psychologist or social worker-who is trained and experienced not only in hypnosis but also with your particular symptom or ailment. Always seek people who have had the maximum training possible in the area in which you are seeking help. Remember, it is your mind they will be working with. Finding a qualified hypnotherapist isnt that hard. Many health care professionals licensed in other fields practice hypnosis, so chances are good that your health care professional can give you a referral. Two major organizations that are recognized as having high professional standards are The American Society of Clinical Hypnosis (ASCH) and The Society of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis (SCEH). Both can provide the names of qualified practitioners in your area:
Case examples exemplify the technique. Address for reprints: Julie H. Linden, Ph.D., 227 E. Gowen Ave., Philadelphia, PA, USA E-mail: jhlinden@cs.com
Hypnosis is a medium or modality through which you may become more alert to your own thoughts and feelings. But its not all that different from being absorbed in thought, or reading a book. With hypnosis, you are far more open to suggestion, at least, to suggestions compatible with what you are motivated to achieve. It is a form of intense receptive concentration. Accordingly, hypnosis often is used to modify behavior and overcome phobias and bad habits-it can help you make changes that youve been unable to make otherwise. Questions notwithstanding, hypnosis seems to be an effective modality for many people. In fact, a National Institutes of Health (NIH) panel has endorsed its use for the relief of various types of chronic pain. As a relaxation technique, hypnosis can help reduce your stress. Its also used to relieve phobias, lessen anxiety, break addictions and to ease symptoms of conditions such as asthma or allergy. Using hypnosis can help patients control nausea and vomiting from cancer medications and morning sickness, reduce bleeding during surgery, steady the heartbeat and bring down blood pressure.

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Making Money: An Insiders Perspective on Finance, Politics, and Canadas Central Bank, by John Crow. Etobicoke, Ontario: John Wiley Sons Canada. 2002. Cloth, ISBN: 0470831804, $25.50. 256 pages. The first part deals with the domestic role of monetary policy and the progressive elaboration of a coherent central banking policy in Canada. This part starts with a historical account of the role of the Central Bank of Canada since its creation in 1934. Then, the author develops an interesting chapter about the proper role of a central bank for financial stability by looking at the Canadian experience regarding bank supervision, settlement management, systemic and liquidity crises, and the lender-of-last-resort operation. The Central Bank of Canada never has been directly involved in the supervision of banks, and John Crow is rightly unhappy with this situation: “The Bank and what it knows cannot be ignored in supervisory decisions regarding financial institutions” (p. 77). The second part of the book analyzes the Canadian experience concerning foreign affairs. The most interesting part concerns exchange rate matters. Canada has a long tradition of a flexible exchange rate regime. The author shows the importance of communicating with financial market actors to limit disruptions in the exchange rate, but he also recognizes that the willingness to be transparent can lead “to confusion instead of clarity” (p. 120).
One deal lags while a second scales back dramaticallyTwo deals announced early this year to pump pension-fund money into Southland homebuilding are still lagging, and one of them has been scaled way back.The Building Industry Association of California, which announced it was close to finalizing a similar agreement with some large East Coast-based pension funds in late January, still hasnt put the program in place. But one of its key representatives originally projected the fund could raise as much as about $250 million. That estimate has since been reduced.

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OKLAHOMA CITY (JR) — GMX Resources has increased its credit line with Local Oklahoma Bank. The money will be for drilling one well per month in east Texas to the Cotton Valley zone at 10,000 feet. GMXs borrowing base was increased to $10 million at New York prime rate, making an additional $3.7 million available for borrowing for the development plan. GMX expects that the review will result in additional funding assuming production and drilling results continue as planned and commodity prices do not decline significantly, said Ken L. Kenworthy Sr., GMXs chief financial officer.
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Lawyers need courage and compassion as personal virtues. But lawyers may need these virtues in ways that they had not imagined when they first entered the Bar. Statistics about lawyers are alarming. I have read that 40-50 percent of disciplinary cases involve lawyers who are suffering from an impairment, usually an addiction to alcohol or drugs. I have read that lawyers are twice as likely as other Americans to have an addiction, depression, suicidal tendencies, or stress anxiety. To be more concrete, I have read that 10 percent of Americans suffer from an addictive, emotional, or mental impairment. By contrast, these same sources estimate that 20-25 percent of lawyers suffer from an impairment. If this is true, it means that in Oklahoma at least 2,000 lawyers are practicing who are impaired. Two thousand lawyers who likely do not realize that they need to be courageous and compassionate toward themselves. Lawyers need courage to say, “I am an alcoholic,” or “I am addicted to drugs.” Lawyers need courage to say, “I am emotionally exhausted by my divorce,” or “I am overwhelmed with grief at the death of my child,” or “I am debilitated by too much work.” Once lawyers are courageous with themselves, they can be compassionate to themselves by seeking assistance to address these burdens. But not all lawyers individually will either have the insight or the courage to face the fact that they are suffering from an impairment. In those instances, their fellow lawyers must have the courage to speak the truth to the impaired lawyer. Fellow lawyers must not turn away from the impaired lawyer in the ill-advised hope that all will be OK somehow. Fellow lawyers show compassion for an impaired lawyer not by ignoring the lawyers impairment but by helping that lawyer to get needed assistance. Moreover, by acting with courage to assist an impaired lawyer, fellow lawyers can often prevent serious harms from occurring either to the impaired lawyer or to the impaired lawyers clients. Once harm occurs to clients, fellow lawyers have the obligation to report the impaired lawyer to disciplinary authorities for misconduct. Where can a lawyer with an impairment, or fellow lawyers desiring to assist, go for help? Since 1985, the Oklahoma Bar Association has supported the Lawyers-Helping-Lawyers Committee. For 12 years, the volunteer members of this committee have provided confidential, immediate responses to those who call for help. Volunteer members arrange a meeting to discuss the situation and to offer suggestions for further treatment — be it counseling, admission to a treatment center, or joining a 12-step program. Volunteer members will serve as a sponsor to meet with the impaired lawyer as often as necessary to get the lawyer on the road to recovery. Lawyers-Helping-Lawyers has the goal of recovery, not discipline. Beginning in January, the Oklahoma Bar Association committed $18,000 to match $18,000 provided by the Oklahoma Attorneys Mutual Insurance Co. to hire a part-time director for the committee. As described by the Lawyers-Helping Lawyers Committee, the director will develop treatment plans, conduct counseling sessions, make lawyer evaluations and referrals, maintain a 24-hour hotline, coordinate the activities of the committee volunteers and develop educational programs for the Bar about impairment. In addition, the director will identify professionals from other disciplines who have the skills and the desire to work with lawyers suffering from an impairment. This year is the first year that Lawyers-Helping-Lawyers has had a staff member devoted to its tasks. While the arrangement at present is only for a one-year trial period, Lawyers-Helping-Lawyers is hopeful that the trial period will convincingly show the need for a full-time director on a permanent basis beginning in 1999. Lawyers-Helping-Lawyers has acted with courage and compassion to face an issue that has not received the attention that its seriousness deserves. Lawyers are suffering; clients are at risk; the profession bears the stigma of attorneys who commit misconduct while impaired. For ourselves, our clients, and the profession, we, the organized Bar, need to say, “We, my brother and sister lawyers, are human. We are impaired. Let us show courage and compassion for one another.” To reach the Lawyers-Helping-Lawyers Committee, call 1-800-364- 7886. Drew Kershen, the Earl Sneed Centennial Professor of Law at the University of Oklahoma College of Law, welcomes your comments and contributions. You may reach him by phone at 325-4699 or by mail at the University of Oklahoma College of Law, 300 W. Timberdell Road, Norman, OK 73019-5081.
Thanks for the kind words, Mike, but us, say something bad about attorneys? Na. never. The fact attorneys have shammed the gun industry out of millions with frivolous lawsuits, mis-represented the 2nd Amendment constantly, sued gun makers for wrong doings perpetrated by criminals who used firearms illegally, all must be a terrible mistake on their part and all easily explained away. But I understand that to generalize is always a bad idea and there must be at least one attorney who doesnt fit the category, and if so, will you write in? Of course, attorneys also wrote the Constitution, so they cant all be bad, right? But hey, before you go, did you hear the one about the attorney and the shark who, woops, sorry. It sorta slipped out. Editor
Lawyers, it seems, have discovered public relations, and it delights them to no end. When they write a press release, they dont have to prove anything they say. When their press release lands on an editors desk, the editor sees a hot little local story. Railroads, as a rule, dont comment on cases under litigation, so the story goes totally unchallenged even if the editor takes the time to ask for comment. Even if the railroad did try to comment, how can you keep on top of situations over tens of thousands of miles and respond promptly enough to meet an editors deadline? Taint easy, and the lawyers know it. An old dodge among lawyers is to harp constantly about irrelevant points to make a witness look bad. For example, a friend witnessed a crime. On the witness stand, the defendants lawyer pelted her with questions about exactly how many feet she was away from the road, the sidewalk, the nearest stop light and on and on. When she didnt have the distance down to feet and inches, he bellowed that she didnt even know where she was that day, so why should a jury believe her? By focusing on totally irrelevant or only slightly relevant points, the lawyer distracts from the real issues. And if lawyers can get away with that in a courtroom, just think how far theyre willing to stretch in a press release.

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SEOUL, Dec. 20 Kyodo North Korea has asked the United States to provide childrens clothing in return for allowing the U.S. to continue joint recovery of remains of U.S. soldiers believed to have died during the 1950-1953 Korean War, a chief U.S. negotiator in talks with North Korea said Monday. Alan Liotta, deputy director of the U.S. Department of Defense Prisoner of War and Missing Persons Affairs, said the North Korean side made the demand at talks on remains recovery operations for next year in Berlin last week. Liotta said North Koreas linking humanitarian assistance to continuing recovery operations caused the Berlin talks to end without reaching any agreement on technical issues such as the timing and procedures for recovery work next year, but he hopes talks will resume in January.
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Are you a mother looking for the must-have looks in childrens clothes? Spring fashions in fun colors from the Big Enough clothes line have arrived. This exclusive spring collection is available for toddlers through pre-teens. The clothes line has subdued shades for girls and muted tones for boys. Mothers can mix and match pieces of clothing from the Big Enough line, based on European-inspired designs.

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The romance novel lifestyle of a private investigator is pure fiction, much like the books in which they live. Private investigators today are more likely to be working for defense attorneys on homicide cases or extracting evidence from a computer than sitting in a dimly lit bar downing club sodas asking the bartender if they know a gal named Ginger. Meanwhile, more attention is being paid to ethics in an industry that has sometimes lacked professionalism. Locally, several retired law enforcement detectives have opened their own private detective agencies and say they have the background and experience to be successful private eyes. Owen Deatrick formed Dynasty Consultants in 2002 after retiring in 1999 with 28 years in law enforcement, all of them with the Lansing Police Department. His firm handles a variety of a criminal defense investigations, plus insurance fraud and background investigations.
Private Investigations

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FRAME OF REFERENCEAmong the many specific concepts the student of physics must learn, perhaps none is so deceptively simple as frame of reference. On the surface, it seems obvious that in order to make observations, one must do so from a certain point in space and time. Yet, when the implications of this idea are explored, the fuller complexities begin to reveal themselves. Hence the topic occurs at least twice in most physics textbooks: early on, when the simplest principles are explainedand near the end, at the frontiers of the most intellectually challenging discoveries in science.
EMPLOYEE REFERENCESAlthough seeking references has a number of benefits for the prospective employer, providing references can be a complicated issue for the current or former employer. As Olga Aikin pointed out in People Management, companies that provide references have a duty both to the employee who is the subject of the reference and to the prospective employer who is the recipient of the reference. Giving a negative reference may expose the company to legal liability if the former employee does not get a desired job and decides to sue for defamation or slander. But providing a falsely positive reference or failing to disclose potentially damaging information can leave the company open to legal liability as well.AVOIDING LEGAL LIABILITY WHEN PROVIDING REFERENCES
Perhaps more than any other specialists in the information science professions, archivists are encountering a myriad of changes brought about by a global information society, digital technology, and by the democratization of governments, institutions, and consumer advocacy.A primary reason for the dramatic impact electronic access has on reference service in archives and manuscripts is related to the philosophical/theoretical differences among professionals about the nature of archives collections, their organization, and their use. Where one comes down on the side of purpose, provenance, access, and users influences greatly the approach to reference service. The author of one paper quotes Carolyn Heald, saying, “In the area of reference and user services, archivists are particularly recalcitrant, lagging behind their library companions by more than 100 years” (p. 37).While Reference Services for Archives and Manuscripts is very timely, one might ask about its intended audience and need. Wont most practitioners be familiar with the descriptive accounts of services and technological developments in the field? Probably not - if Cohen is correct. Cohen says that archival reference is entering into uncharted waters when dealing with computer files on the Internet. She is correct in saying, “If such a practice becomes widespread, the repository will be a changed place, necessitating a new relationship between archivists and researchers who have no face-to-face contact.” Indeed, the papers in this collection indicate that the repository is already a changed place - and many more changes are in store for all but the most recalcitrant of the gate keepers.

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PhotographyIt has long been known that certain substances, when illuminated, undergo permanent visible changes. In the early part of the nineteenth century, these materials were sometimes used to make photogenic drawings, for example,

The first known photograph, made in 1826. It shows the courtyard outside the room of Joseph-Nic#x00E9;phore Niepce.

FOCUS ON PHOTOGRAPHY (2007; $44.95), by Hermon Joyner and Kathleen Monaghan. Davis Publications. Focus on Photography is an excellent textbook for use with middle- and high-school students. It provides an introductory overview of the history and development of photography. Chapters include discussions of black and white photography, digital photography, portraits, action photography, photorealism, architecture and water landscapes, landscapes, animals and still life. Each chapter contains a career profile, telling the story of a photography professional. The concluding Handbook chapter contains useful information about general darkroom safety, darkroom and enlarger basics, film development basics, enlarging papers, contact sheets and making enlargements. Also included is an excellent glossary of terms.–J.J.H.

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Smokeout help available The American Cancer Society, the El Paso County Department of Health and Environment and Memorial Hospital are presenting free “Getting Ready to Quit” programs on Thursday as part of the Great American Smokeout.
The things some people will do for a white Christmas.

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CHRISTMAS BUREAU - The Christmas Bureau will accept individuals and families from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. today, Tuesday and Wednesday at the Sweet Building, S.W. 6th and Topeka Boulevard.
Christmas, the most anticipated day of the holiday season, is not only a special time for family gatherings, but its also a special time for sharing. While the season is filled with joy, cheer and celebrations, many of us take the time to help the needy and show appreciation for those who have enriched our lives with their kindness. For many, there is nothing more special than homemade treats to show that you care. They can be inexpensive to create, and you can add your own personal touches. On the following pages are some examples of Christmas treats that you and your family can enjoy making and tasting. Caramel-Nut Popcorn
JUST another 30 days or so to Christmas. Why do we do it to ourselves?

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Sondheim: Passion Original Broadway Cast (EMI Angel CDQ 7243-5- 55251-2) Passion is effectively a “musical” without songs. Passion feels through-composed, though much of it is not sung or underscored. Passion is stream of consciousness, dream-like in its narrative flow. Passion is at once the most febrile and effulgently lyrical of Stephen Sondheim. All of which might just explain why it appears to have divided even the fully paid-up members of his appreciation society. Perhaps the most notable aspect of this show is the degree to which it has refined the relationship between that which is spoken and that which is sung. Passion is songful. Like the emotions it chronicles, this “rhapsody” on the power of unconditional
The Good, the Bad and the Queen, Damon Albarns latest act of musical reinvention, enters the chart at No 2 and is evidence of the Gorillaz mans genuinely questing musical spirit; may The View prove to have a similarly far-sighted outlook.
PETER MULVEY Friends House Concerts, Luckett house, 7 p.m. today, $10, 329- 1644 While he strums in the intimate comfort of the Luckett house living room, where he last performed in November, the grittier aspects of Peter Mulveys artistic life come bleeding out. The singer- songwriter, with a penchant for ambitious, creative fretwork, spent time busking in Dublin, Ireland, then in daylong sessions in the subways and streets of Boston. Milwaukee-based Mulvey is a well-rounded artist who studied theater in college before beginning his successful music career.

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But she was let off with a strong warning instead of a two-year ban after it was discovered that her coach, Scott Volkerts, was responsible.
announced that the world championships will be staged every two years, instead of four, from 2001. The short-course world championships will also take place every two years from 2000.

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Memorials are a part of most cultures. The District of Columbia abounds with many and sets a standard for all. For example, the Vietnam Memorial has been particularly effective in its “closure” function for so many who were touched in some way by the casualties in that less than successful campaign. But not all memorials are in big cities. There are memorials in most every city and village in the United States.Melbourne began to assume a prominent military role in our society during WWII. It was the site of one of several air stations built to train young Naval Aviators to fly fighters from aircraft carriers. Opening in the fall of 1942, it graduated hundreds of Navy carrier pilots, flying the early F4F fighter and then the more capable F6F. Graduates went on to the carriers in the Fleet, contributing in many ways to the winning of the War. The station closed as a military training base following the war and was turned over to the City of Melbourne by the federal government. It has become an impressive civilian airport.While training the hundreds of fleet pilots, 63 commissioned officers and two enlisted men were killed at Melbourne. The City has not forgotten those who did not make it to the battlefield. CDR William Bamett was one of the trainees at Melbourne. Later in life, he and his wife returned for their retirement years. Knowing the community and the wartime history of the air station, Barnett launched a campaign to create a memorial park that would recognize not only those that lost their lives at Melbourne but others who had contributed to our national military heritage. he found a sympathetic supporter in retired Army COL Edwin Palmer, who is a member of the Melbourne City Council. Together they were able to gain approval of the project and with much volunteer labor, including that from city employees, the park became a reality.
In East Berlin in 1990 a young English-speaking man turns up in his German grandmothers flat with a piece of the Wall which has just been pulled down. Shes less than pleased to see him, and reluctant to tell him about the past. Her life-story is presented in short scenes interspersed with vignettes from another scenario set in Bethlehem. Here, in 2006, another wall, the Israeli security barrier, is going up, provoking different divisions, and more memories. Adding to the complexity of the narrative, the two tales are presented by a company of actors in the rehearsal room. Tense and sometimes painful revelations are interrupted by often inconsequential intrusions from present-day life, a parking meter, cups of tea and snatches of news. Lichtenstein demands a lot of the tight ensemble company playing the actors playing the characters, one of whom, as Eva the grandmother, has to span 50 or more years. Vivien Parry plays the actress struggling as much with her own passions as with the repressed emotions of the elderly lady, switching to a younger self as her grandson probes for the truth. He may have been expecting benign loss of information but scarcely the distortion of the events which, perhaps to preserve her sanity, his grandmother has stored. Wit, humour and resilience surface in these memories, sensitively handled in Terry Handss beautiful production. Were made thoroughly familiar with the works mesmerising opening aria, a musical thread running through Memory like a trickle of water. Indeed the director-pianist of the company of actors seems more obsessed with playing notes than with giving them.

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Daimler-Benz yesterday decided not to let its German rivals leave it in the dust in super-luxury cars, approving plans to go ahead with production of a limousine to compete with Rolls-Royce. As Volkswagen and BMW reached a settlement on taking over Rolls brands, Daimlers management board gave the go-ahead for production of the Maybach, which it has previewed at auto shows for the past year. “With the positive decision for the production of the Mercedes- Benz Maybach, we are underscoring once more our claim to represent the absolute top in every market segment,” said Daimler chief executive Mr Jurgen Schrempp.
Limousine has diverse meanings, from an inhabitant of the region around Limoges, once called Limousin, and which in the 18th century was looked at askance as home to “an old barbarous French, formerly brought into this country out of France”. The OED overlooks the limousine which was a cloak worn by the driver of a cart whose passenger section was shielded from the elements - hence the vehicle itself and all those gaudy, dark- windowed successors which could house nine cows.

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The Womens Wellness Center located in the Sue and Bill Gross Womens Pavilion at Hoag Hospital promotes integrative medicine, a holistic approach to healthcare that takes into account body, mind and spirit. At the Sue and Bill Gross Womens Wellness Center, health care is being elevated to an entirely new and unparalleled level through a unique and state-of-the-art program. This comprehensive program will encourage women to be active participants in their health care through screenings, assessment, diagnosis, treatment, prevention and education. The goal of the Womens Wellness Center is to promote healthy living and healthy aging. The centers team will be led by a medical director, Jolanta Lukawski, M.D., who is specially trained in womens health issues and integrative medicine. The team will be composed of a physician, a nurse practitioner and ancillary staff that will provide comprehensive care. Womens Wellness Center patients will receive a personal consultation that includes a complete health assessment and disease risk profile. Through early disease and risk detection, prevention and education, the center will work with women to develop an individualized strategy for a healthier life.
Holistic Health Center 1437 Springdale Drive
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In traditional HR thinking, there are salary budgets and then there are benefits budgets. But in what might be the leading edge of a trend, 17 percent of the companies surveyed recently by Mercer Human Resource Consulting say they are lowering their 2003 salary increases–or are considering doing so–to offset health-care cost increases. Employers are now “taking a holistic view of reward programs, says Philadelphia-based Mercer consultant Steven E. Gross. “Two years ago, companies operated in silos: they made independent decisions for salaries and benefits,” Gross says. But as the economy weakened, profits flattened, and health-care costs made double-digit jumps two years in a row, companies began to rethink that approach. Gross says the trend will grow in the years to come. “This year, 17 percent are saying, This is on the table. Three years ago, you would have gotten under 5 percent.”

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> Two cheques for pounds 2,500 each were handed over yesterday as the first grants from the Lister Trust in a new scheme to award excellence in sailing. One went to the 18-year-old Ben Ainslie, the youngest competitor to be selected to represent Britain in sailing at the Olympics. The other went to Andy Cassell who, with crew Kevin Curtis and Tony Downs, are European and world champions in paralympic sailing.
Steve Pettengill, of the United States, sailed into Charleston, South Carolina yesterday to take second place in the 27,000-mile BOC Challenge. Pettengill, sailing Hunters Child, completed the voyage in 128 days, four hours, three minutes and nine seconds. The Frenchman, Christophe Auguin, won in 121 days, 17 hours, 11 minutes and 46 seconds.
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While interviews are a way to evaluate an applicants humanistic skills, there are physical therapy programs that do not incorporate this into their admissions process. Some programs do not feel that the interview has good reliability, validity, or predictive value for academic success. Although minimal, there is research that shows the interview is, in fact, an accurate predictor of clinical performance. In addition to the literature being sparse in this area, there is concern as to the reliability of the interviews. Therefore, this study had 2 purposes: (1) to use applicant interviews and other preadmission factors to differentiate between good and poor clinical performance and (2) to assess the interrater reliability of group interviews. A retrospective analysis of 118 graduates from a baccalaureate physical therapist program was performed. The following preadmission data were used: overall grade point average (GPA), science GPA, GPA within the last 60 hours of course work, interview score, and previous work experience. The following postadmission data were used: physical therapy GPA and overall clinical performance scores. Based on clinical performance, the students were divided into equal quartiles for analysis. The authors utilized analysis of variance, Bonferroni adjustment, and Tukey post hoc analyses. The results revealed that only interview scores and physical therapy GPA were significant in relating to clinical performance. The authors concluded that a reliable and valid preadmission interview may be a good predictor of clinical performance. Based on these findings, the authors are currently weighing the interview score as 40% of the total admission process in their physical therapy program.
Business Editors Texas Health Choice, L.P. (TXHC) today announced that it will no longer offer its Medicare+Choice product, Golden Choice, in the Dallas/Ft. Worth market, effective January 1, 2002.

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Martial arts expert Steve Bindon told yesterday how he severed three fingers when a Samurai sword demonstration went horrifically wrong. Steve, 19, grabbed the razor-sharp blade by mistake as he “fought” with another karate expert at an Air Show in Fairford, Glos. “The guy I was with had the sword over my head,” he said. “I misjudged it and grabbed the blade.”
Italy won the sixth World Karate Cup on Sunday by taking four gold medals, three silvers and four bronzes, France finished second and Britain third in the four-day competition in Manilas Cuneta Astrodome in the Philippines.

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EMPLOYEE REFERENCESAlthough seeking references has a number of benefits for the prospective employer, providing references can be a complicated issue for the current or former employer. As Olga Aikin pointed out in People Management, companies that provide references have a duty both to the employee who is the subject of the reference and to the prospective employer who is the recipient of the reference. Giving a negative reference may expose the company to legal liability if the former employee does not get a desired job and decides to sue for defamation or slander. But providing a falsely positive reference or failing to disclose potentially damaging information can leave the company open to legal liability as well.AVOIDING LEGAL LIABILITY WHEN PROVIDING REFERENCES
FRAME OF REFERENCEAmong the many specific concepts the student of physics must learn, perhaps none is so deceptively simple as frame of reference. On the surface, it seems obvious that in order to make observations, one must do so from a certain point in space and time. Yet, when the implications of this idea are explored, the fuller complexities begin to reveal themselves. Hence the topic occurs at least twice in most physics textbooks: early on, when the simplest principles are explainedand near the end, at the frontiers of the most intellectually challenging discoveries in science.

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LBS. (IN THEATERS) Robert De Niro gained 60 pounds to make Raging Bull. Christian Bale dropped 63 pounds for his role in The Machinist. But the all-time titan of movie makeovers is actor Carmine Famiglietti, who shed more than 170 el-bees for Lbs., the story (which he also cowrote and coproduced) of an obese everyman who changes his body to save his life. and to take his shirt off at the beach. Acclaimed at the Sundance Film Festival, Lbs. is now playing in select theaters.
MEN IN BLACK (PG) Theres a new golden rule in Hollywood: If you want to guarantee a major box-office movie hit, make sure you first sign up former Fresh Prince Will Smith. After Bad Boys and then Independence Day, charismatic Will helps make it a deserved hat-trick of blockbusters with this years most entertaining helping yet of special effects-driven sci-fi which makes The Lost World seem positively.well, prehistoric.
LIANE CASSAVOY freelances from her home in Brookline, Massachusetts.

Movie Times

Youve heard of the Costa del Sol, celebrating the sun; and the Costa de la Luz, extolling light; but may I recommend the Costa da Morte, the Coast of Death? This little-known coastline comprises the westernmost stretch of Spains north shore, from the grubby port of La Corua to the end of the world - better known as Finisterre. Either way, it is an evocative name for a remote and dangerous coast. A coast which, four years ago this month, suffered its worst shipwreck when the tanker Prestige split and sank 250km off-shore, spilling around 65,000 tons of oil. An estimated 300,000 seabirds died and fishing grounds were closed - threatening the livelihood of the regions fishermen. So how is the region now? When we arrived in the small port of Camelle, the morning after a fiesta, it was clear that life revolves around fishing again. All the tiny boats in the harbour were decked out in flags and greenery and the port area was strewn with the detritus of its fishing industry - nets, lobster pots and ropes. The women, too, are directly involved in the industry, we found later, selling the days catch from little trolleys around the village. Away from the sea, the small-scale industry continued, with little fields of corn cobs, cabbages and potatoes, where people toil in the fierce sun and rain.
Glacier Computers next generation forklift and fixed-mount rugged computer is the GX-1200. Equipped with a 1.2 GHz Pentium processor, the GX-1200 is a natural progression for the current line of harsh-environment computers offered by the company. It offers custom-integrated, dual-diversity antennas designed for unmatched RF coverage, and is able to withstand the vibration and shock of a forklift installation. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

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You can almost see the over-saturated colors of this epic, especially when the blood of unsuspecting characters runs down dark paneled wood walls. The body count would almost be as high as in real life, though the consequences would be a bit more permanent. And the irony of Tarantino–known for his use of GM vehicles in his movies, especially Chevrolets and Cadillacs–and Weller–the half-man, half-machine cop in a post-apocalyptic Detroit choked with 6000 SUX sport sedans and Taurus police cars–working together on this project is almost too much to endure. Tarantinos penchant for framing characters in doorways, having minor characters deliver their dialog off-camera, and having at least one scene shot from inside a car trunk are tailor-made for an auto industry feature film. This unconventional story telling format is well suited to an industry that thinks of itself as linear and logical, but often is anything but coherent. In fact, Tarantino could use the retrospective tone found in Reservoir Dogs, the non-linear approach of Pulp Fiction, and the chapter-by-chapter format of the Kill Bill series in one movie. It would take a deft hand to keep the story flowing and the audience from becoming totally confused, but there can be no doubt the effect would be as close to real life as you could get without actually sitting through a series of mind-numbing meetings that reduce relatively simple concepts to nearly impenetrable complexity. However, the effect would keep fans coming back to determine the importance of each plot twist, and trying to ascertain just what each character actually contributes to the proceedings. And industry employees might find that their spouses and children are much more sympathetic toward–and scared of–them than ever before as they watch mindless arguments about product cadence and market psychographics morph into cartoon violence. Though its doubtful theyll ever understand why their relatives in the industry chuckle and laugh out loud as another character is caught in his own web of intrigue and dispatched with cruel efficiency. Now, thats a movie Id pay to watch. By Christopher A. Sawyer, Executive Editor, csawyer@autofieldguide.com
LIANE CASSAVOY freelances from her home in Brookline, Massachusetts.

Movie Times

Hinckson, the sites target audience is composed of urban professionals who are interested in pop culture and entertainment.
Rugged beasts Not the big new jobs, those 40,000, airconditioned, four-wheel drive monsters with front tyres as tall as us and rears like houses, but the old ones, the little grey Fergies (Fergusons), the big - by the standards of the times - blue Fordsons, the high orange Nuffields, the familiar red Massey Fergusons, the Internationals, the David Browns and the venerable old, green, single cylinder Field Marshals. Along with the less common breeds, such as Allis and Turner Yeoman, these all dated from the days when farms and their fields were formed around men and animals rather than machines. These tractors could be housed in barns and turned through gates that horses and carts had used. You still see them sometimes, abandoned by the edge of a wood or half out of a ditch, sad old beasts seemingly beyond recovery.
A designer of contemporary area rugs offers some pointersContext. Where is the rug going to go? And what will be around or on top of it? Your answers determine the size, shape, texture, and design of the rug you select. Think about the rug as part of the total look of the room, says Simon. “I recommend getting your furniture first and then the rug. Its easier and usually less expensive to make the rug work with the furniture than to make the furniture work with the rug.”If you like patterned area rugs, try to envision how much of the pattern will be obscured by your sofa. If furniture will cover up most of the rugs design, theres no need to worry about getting a rug with a pattern.

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The new Doctors DentalMate has a suggested retail price of $6.99.
Dental FlossDental floss is a thin filament used to remove debris caught between teeth and between teeth and gums. In 1994, Americans used more than 2.5 million miles of dental floss, the equivalent of circling the earth more than 100 times.
Dental bleaching.

Toronto Dentist

I reached through the bars
An amendment that would similarly restrict gun sales online, however, was declared out of order. (Half the House Judiciary Committee didnt turn up to vote, including chairman Henry Hyde.) Microbrews are apparently more deadly than AK-47s. Bottoms up.
ow-priced real estate and an easier pace of life convinced Tim and Lisa Wilk to choose Topeka over Denver and Grand Junction, Colo. Car dealer Ed Bozarth offered to transfer Tim Wilk, 38, an automotive technician, to one of his dealerships. The Wilks picked Topeka because they said they believe the community offers a better lifestyle for less money. This spring, they bought a three-bedroom, two-bath house at 2631 S.E. 32nd for $119,500. The house has nearly 1,800 square feet; a two-car garage; and a big yard for their son, three dogs and a cat.

Raleigh real estate

Scott Burnett, licensed partner, Realtor and office administrator for the Jerry Long Real Estate Group at RE/MAX Associates of Topeka, has earned the nationally recognized e-PRO certification, a designation that is held by less than 1 percent of real estate agents nationwide. Burnett joined the Jerry Long Real Estate Group in March 1999. His primary responsibilities are general office management and client care, coordination of property showings, maintenance of current listing inventory, contracts pending and closing activities. Burnett is also actively involved in the creation of marketing and promotional materials. He attended Penn Valley Community College in Kansas City, Mo., and the University of Missouri-Columbia.
Marilyn Willms Marilyn Willms — has joined the Tom Lane Team as a Realtor associate, along with Tom Lane, Sharon Markley, Michele Loeffler, Wayne Wischropp and John Lane at Realty Executives of Topeka.

Larchmont Real Estate

WAS THAT a date. or not?” Gone are the days when a man and a woman meeting over a drink knew the outing was undoubtedly a first date. With lines blurring between the platonic and the romantic, defining what constitutes a first date has become a guessing game, as maddening as catching a gnat with chopsticks. The various intentions behind a first date, from finding a mate to bedding a casual-sex partner, has forced many singles to define exactly what it is.
When the previous statement on foreign exchange was discussed at the Accounting Practices Committee we were of the view that the statement should include a definition of the date of the transaction due to the confusion surrounding this concept. We consulted with our legal colleagues and were informed that, if an order was placed for goods or services, the date the order was accepted was the date of the transaction. We attempted to get this entrenched in the statement but failed at the APB level. After much confusion, it was generally agreed that the cost of the inventory in the above example would be R65O if no cover contract was entered into or if cover was taken but hedge accounting was not permitted. It was also generally agreed that if cover was taken and hedge accounting was permitted, the cost of the inventory would be R6oo (the spot rate at the date the deal was made) plus RS (being the cost of the premium attributable to the inventory, i.e. Ri5-Rio) or R6o5. Then along came AC 133 with its embedded derivative in a host supply contract concept. It stated that if the deal was done in a currency that was not the currency of one of the parties to the transaction and the product subject to the transaction was not routinely bought and sold in the currency in which the transaction was entered into, there was an embedded derivative in the contract that had to be separated from the host contract. In the above situation, the embedded derivative would have been a liability of R45 (R6,6o - R6,is). The only way that could understand this concept was to see the embedded derivative liability as an expression of sadness that the deal was entered into in dollars and not in Rand. If the Rand went the other way, it would have been an asset, i.e. an expression of happiness. (A banker once asked me jokingly if he could lend money to a company based on the value of its embedded derivatives in its supply contracts!)
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Women were more honest than men - of 32 who found wallets, 23 handed them in, while only 29 out of 48 men did so.
1. A cowhide leather wallet printed with the Louis Vuitton logo. Features room for four credit cards, plenty of space for notes and a handy purse for coin storage. This is the ultimate accessory for the fashion- conscious label man. Available from Louis Vuitton, pounds 140 (020-7399 4050). 3. A treated leather wallet from Marlboro Classics which wont discolour in the rain. Holds six credit cards and has a pocket for money or keys. Its stamped on the front with the Marlboro logo and lined with calico. A practical and hard-wearing buy that should last for years. Available in black and brown from Marlboro Classics, from pounds 50 (020-737 98150).

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This annual report on purchasing issues in the NHS (price L49 from Graver Boot Associates tel: 01246 583440) is being published at a critical time for the health service: as well as the end of the internal market, the coming year is likely to see increasing consolidation of health units and more trusts handling their supply management independently. It also looks at responses to the millennium bug, benchmarking issues and the use of the Internet.
Four key obstacles that hamper supply chain improvements:
Knifemaking made easy! Jantz Supply is your source for knifemaking supplies. We offer kits with preshaped, finished blades, handle materials, rivets, soldering kits, files, tools and equipment for knifemaking, leather supplies for sheaths and other projects, complete line of polishing wheels, compounds, machinery, hot and cold bluing equipment, gunsmithing tools every shooter can use, abrasives and other hard to find items. Visit by web, in person or shop our 80 page catalog. $5.00.

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REAL WORLD GOLF Format: PlayStation 2 Price: 34.99 (69.99 with GameTrak) Release date: Out now Its not exactly like being Tom Cruise in Minority Report manipulating virtual reality, but it works remarkably well, and the taut cord offers a tactile response lacking from the broadly similar EyeToy system. The latest release for the GameTrak, Real World Golf, allows you to pitch and putt your way round five unlockable courses rendered in basic but effective 3D. A tutorial introduces you to the principles of golf and once you get the hang of timing your swipe, it really feels like you can control where the ball is going. The only slight cop-out is when it comes to putting;
Nintendo is gearing up for the global rollout of its Game Boy Advance. The first of the handheld consoles to appear outside Japan will launch into the US this summer. Peter Main, executive vice-president, sales and marketing, Nintendo of America, said: “Our existing portable system, Game Boy Color, remains the fastest-selling video game platform in America. Game Boy Advance will set brand new records.” Copyright: United Business Media Ltd.

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The ABC network sitcom Home Improvement first aired on September 17 1991 and ran for eight seasons through May 1999. During only its second season the show was renewed for three additional seasons an unusual decision in the television industry. Based on the stand-up comedy routine of its star Tim Allen (born Timothy Allen Dick in 1953) Home Improvement initially reflected Allens love of power tools cars and Sears department stores as well as mirroring his own family situation. Allen portrayed Tim Taylor the host of cable TVs “Tool Time.” His wife Jill was portrayed by Patricia Richardson. More than just comedy though Home Improvement epitomized the concerns of the largest generation in history the baby boomers.The Taylors were a representation of the average American family of the 1990s and their struggles although treated with light-hearted humor reflected the struggles of the shows demographic. In the main three fundamental concerns of the boomer generation were examined on a weekly basis–relationships family and the search for spirituality.
For years, Remodeling magazines annual “Cost vs. Value Report” has offered comfort to homeowners investing hefty dollars into home improvement projects. The high payback on the most popular rehabs - kitchens and bathrooms - has even been the catalyst to spur some homeowners to remodel. They felt confident that if they did good work, theyd get back most of their funds. Does this mean that homeowners should stop renovating? Hardly, especially when they have a distinct vision of how they want their home to look and function - and if they have the funds. But decreasing numbers suggest greater caution: - Never overimprove. Take the value of your existing home, add in the cost of your potential improvements and be sure the new sum doesnt exceed the value of comparable neighborhood homes.
The program is targeted to homeowner occupants who live in the City of Milwaukee in an area bounded by the Menomonee Valley, West Layton Avenue, Lake Michigan and South 51st Street. Call (414) 643-7913.

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THE bookies arent taking any bets on the Christmas No1 this year - because theyre so sure it will be the X Factor winner again. For the last two years, X Factor boss Simon Cowell has released the winners single on the Monday before Christmas. In 2005 Shayne Ward went straight to No1 - and last year it was Leona Lewis. A William Hill spokesman said: “X Factor has wiped out a national Christmas institution.”
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The English Golf Union has been awarded pounds 650,000 from the National Lottery towards the construction and development of the teaching academy at its National Golf Centre at Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire.
institute next March in Florida. The Faldo Golf Institute by Marriott in Orlando will consist of a nine-hole course, a 27-hole putting facility and one of the largest practice areas in the United States.

Golf Pro

H UNTING As a human activity, hunting is magnified in its significance by a deceptively simple feature: the evasiveness or resistance exhibited routinely by prey. Because of the behavioral challenges that it presents, hunting has had far-reaching consequences for key aspects of human social, psychological, and cultural life. Since the mid-1960s, for example, anthropologists have argued that hunting may have been a powerful and fundamental force shaping the very nature of cooperation and sharing among early humans.One such claim involves what the behavioral ecologist Bruce Winterhalder calls the risk reduction hypothesis. The failure rate of hunters is notoriously high. Even among experienced, highly skilled subsistence hunters who pursue big game animals, any one hunt is much more likely to result in failure than in success. Studying the Hadza of Tanzania in 1993, the anthropologist Kristen Hawkes reported that when hunting big game, Hadza men failed to make a kill 97 of every 100 days that they hunted. When a large game animal is killed, it often represents a windfall in excess of what any one hunter and his or her immediate family can consume. These circumstances promote reciprocity and sharing among hunters. By sharing the meat provided by a successful kill, a hunter effectively buys insurance against failure in future hunts. When, in the future, he or she fails to kill prey, other successful hunters with whom meat has been shared previously will reciprocate and provide meat to the unsuccessful hunter. The science writer Matt Ridley argues that the cooperation and reciprocity associated with hunting may help constitute the basis of systems of moral and ethical culture. In short, hunting is an activity that promotes cooperation and sharing because it entails the pursuit of a highly valued resource, access to which is unpredictable and risky.
Camilla Parker Bowles backed fox hunting by riding with the Duke of Beaufort Hounds, which is also a favourite with the Prince of Wales.
Is your credit union on the hunt for a new core processing system? If so, be aware that nobodys going to make it easy for you. In fact, sometimes theyll do quite the opposite. If vendors arent going to tell you what you want to know, who is? You are, but youll have to do a little digging. Dont accept proclamations at face value. Unearth some skeletons. And never lose sight of the way you want to serve your members, because thats why youre looking for a core processor in the first place.

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All I had to do was take the psychological test, and I was in. “Do you ever have black, tarry bowel movements?” one of the questions asked, and I wavered, sure my answer would mean everything to New York Life. “Yes,” I decided, which couldnt have been the only reason I flunked. My father was disappointed and I ashamed. And now I think my failure was a kind of insurance-the best I ever fell into-against doing such work. Ever since, Ive tried to live my life so that living would be its own annuity, in its own time. Abet in the dark, the beneficiaries always in doubt.
Our company is divided into four core business groups, representing the standard and surplus lines marketplace. Put them together and you have a rich portfolio of solutions for independent retailers, enabling them to compete effectively in the market.
Brian Duke recently joined ABD Insurance and Financial Service, a risk management and employee benefit service provider. The companys new managing director. Dukes position will entail increasing business production and improving client services. He has served as an account executive at an independent broker in the Bay Area and he began his insurance career in 1986 as a claim adjuster with Aetna Casualty Surety. Pixar Animation Studios recently appointed Susan Decker to the companys board of directors. Previously the chief financial officer and executive vice president of Yahoo!, Decker has also worked as the global director of equity research for Donaldson, Lukin Jenrette, where she managed equity research. She then received the designation of Chartered Financial Analyst in 1989 and she was appointed to the Financial Accounting Standards Advisory Council by the trustees of the Financial Accounting Federation to serve from 2000 to 2004. She earned a bachelors degree in science and economics from Tufts University and later amasters degree in business administration from Harvard Business School.

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TOTAL Office Centre (M) Sdn Bhd (TOC), a one-stop office supplies distributor, opened its third store in Cheras recently. At the launch, Regina Loo, general manager of TOC, said, `TOC offers a complete assortment of over 6,000 office items under one roof. The opening of this
OFFICE SUPPLIESDespite the growth of technologies that supposedly herald the impending arrival of the paperless office, offices in todays business environment would still be decidedly incomplete without paper, pens, file folders and other traditional office tools. Although their cost is small when purchased separately, in the aggregate they amount to a substantial portion of office expense. Small business owners should thus make sure that they pay attention to office supply costs and keep all receipts of such purchases, since office supplies are a legitiimate business deduction for tax purposes. PROCUREMENT OPTIONS In recent years, office superstores and catalogue supply houses have emerged as the most efficient and inexpensive way to purchase various types of supplies. The average client of these superstores is the small- to medium-sized business, as well as the home office market. The convenience of being able to find virtually any office supply at one location is one of the primary reasons for the increased popularity of the superstores. In addition to convenience, these stores and catalogues offer merchandise that is very competitively priced since they are able to purchase their goods at bulk rates. Some of these savings are usually passed along to small business customers, especially if the stores are operating in a competitive environment.

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% of total Top 500 sales
> Sunset Books says that about half of the home improvement titles it sells fall into the home decorating and design category, a number that has doubled since a decade ago. Five of Sunsets 15 best-selling how-to titles specifically address home decor: Decorative Paint Faux Finishes, Ideas for Great Garden Decor, Ideas for Great Home Decorating, Ideas for Great Window Treatments and Curtains, Draperies Shades.
Story and photographs ATCHISON - Whether its the old or the new in home decor that a shopper wants, the partnership of Lintiques and Parker House fills the bill.

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David Sandison, picture editor of The Independent on Sunday, was the runner-up in the Photo Essay category of the Nikon Press Awards.
Photography might just be the best way to capture New York Citys snappy charms. Certainly from the late 1930s to the early 1960s, photographers such as Diane Arbus, Weegee and Richard Avedon made their reputations by getting out and about on the citys busy streets, immortalising whatever they saw. Christened the New York School, these snappers always worked in a democratic vein, interested in everyone, no matter if it was a couple kissing in a cinema or two children pulling faces on a sidewalk. Michael Hoppen Gallery, London SW3, Thur to 7 Jun

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Nearly every construction project has had its share of spectators and “Monday morning quarterbacks” who offered advice on everything from what type of concrete to use and what would be a better design. It wouldnt be so bad, except that, it seems, every second person in that building is an engineer and definitely has opinions on how to do things. “When we started this, I warned them that they had better do a good job, because you know how rubberneckers are,” says Doug Adkins, the authoritys asset manager who has taken on the role of project manager for the $520,000 remodeling job. “Every engineer that comes by will want to see how its done and compare that work with others.” The remodeling, the first major reconstruction of the Oklahoma City building since it was erected in 1969, involves constructing 12 offices to house 15 people, as well as adding two restrooms and bringing the others into compliance with the Americans with Disability Act. A separate $200,000 project, now under way, will improve and computerize the buildings mechanical system. A parking lot also is being added between the building and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. Remodeling the building is more than just putting up walls to add offices. First, the work must be done while the 75 employees are working, often talking on the telephone in the midst of a jackhammer banging loudly only a few feet away. Second, the overall size of the building was not changed — only the inside space and use of that space. Architects from Michael Mahaffey and Associates, also of Oklahoma City, redesigned the ground floor space — which contained nothing but a couple of small restrooms, a small kitchenette area and the authority board room. With deft design, the restrooms were enlarged and nine offices, a large custodial storeroom and a small conference room were added, while still leaving space for the authoritys board to meet. “We had a lot of wasted space down here,” notes Assistant Director Holly Lowe. “But they had added all this without sacrificing any room for spectators when the board meets.” A conference table was designed so that all authority members and staff could meet and still face the audience, often numbering into the hundreds. A computerized sound system and audiovisual system was added so that the room could be used for presentations when not used by the board. The sound system is integrated into the conference table, which has inlaid microphones that connect to a central mixer. “When we have the media (the press) come in to film or tape our meetings, they can tie into the computer to get their feeds,” Lowe explains. “It will be a lot easier on them.” This isnt the only thing that was changed. “We also have a small conference room (glass-enclosed) so if the authority needs to have an executive session, they can do it without going upstairs or forcing the audience to leave,” Lowe says. “With the windows, people can watch and see what they are doing, although they cant hear any of the discussion. “Used to, if we had four people meeting in here for a confidential conference, they took up the whole room; nobody else to meet down here. With this small conference room, a small meeting can take place, even if there a board meeting or a major presentation going on.” While most of the work going on is done using building construction technology and methods, there was one bit of work that required bridge engineering. Under the original plan, there was no ceiling on the board room. Glass walls on the second floor allowed spectators to look down on the proceedings. That opening also led to skylights in the room. “We changed that into a conference room,” Lowe says. “We used bridge engineering to put in the floor to make sure it would be sturdy enough to hold all the weight that well be putting on it.” Work on the remodeling is expected to be completed within a month. The February board meeting is scheduled in the remodeled quarters. Since August, the board has met elsewhere. The remodeling job wasnt undertaken lightly. “When this building was completed, we had about 35 employees. Now we have 75 or 76 people in here,” Lowe notes. “We expanded a little a few years ago, but nothing major.” What brought many of those extra people to the authoritys headquarters is the construction going on to extend the Kilpatrick Turnpike in Oklahoma City and the Creek Turnpike in Tulsa while adding a spur to H.E. Bailey Turnpike toward Norman. “We have temporary employees, more consultants and more contractors employees here than weve had in the past,” she notes. “Since we have so much construction going on (about $650 million worth), we felt it was important for the contractors to have people close to use. Besides that, just trying to keep up with the paperwork on projects of this magnitude is difficult. Our payments alone probably have increased sixfold to 10-fold.” That means people have been squeezed into places that werent meant to house workers. Most of the single-person offices now have two occupants and one, probably the most extreme, has five occupants with the filing cabinets in the hallway. When the major highway construction is completed, the headquarters work force probably will revert to a more normal size, Lowe says. “Well probably have 50 to 55 employees here when the turnpike extensions have been completed. Thats what the new space is designed for. Well still double up in many spaces, but it wont be as crowded as it is now, which means that probably the quality of our work will increase dramatically.” The remodeling is designed to house 55 employees, Lowe adds. “When we finish this, well probably end up saving a lot of money,” Adkins says. “First of all, this is the first time that the agency has spent any money on something like this. Whens the last state agency youve heard of that put off enlarging its space for 30 years?” The heating, air conditioning and security system around the building also is expected to pay for itself in less than eight years. As it is now, the thermostats must be adjusted manually, but the new system will be computerized, keyed to the outside ambient temperature. “This way, the system can turn itself on 30 minutes early so that its comfortable when employees arrive for work,” Adkins says. “It also shuts itself off 30 minutes before closing so that when everyone leaves, the system will be off.” It also will have localized thermostats, which means that only the portions in use will need the air conditioning or heating system. “Not too long ago, we had a thunderstorm on a Friday evening that shut off the system,” notes Adkins. “Since no one knew about it, it remained off until we came in Monday. Because it was the middle of summer, the temperature in here was unbearable and we had to send people home until we got the temperature down.” The new system will automatically notify Adkins if something goes wrong. “If that happens, well know to come in and take care of the problem before we have those extreme working conditions again.” Bill May is the editor of TransPort One, a publication of the Journal Record Publishing Co. covering Oklahomas multimodal transportation system. You may reach him by phone at 278-2837, by fax at 278-2877 or by e-mail, bill.may
In addition to the 3 destroyed aircraft, there were 4 engine-related dollar value Class A mishaps in FY07. This brings the total number of engine-related Class A mishaps to 7 in FY07, versus 6 in FY06. While this is obviously not an improvement, statistically speaking, we are still tracking very closely to last years performance.
Name a manufacturing industry more important to the worlds great industrial economies than automotive. I really dont think there is one. Look at the numbers of people employed in automotive manufacturing-in all tiers, right down to the small job shop. Look at the range of skills involved in the automotive field-PhDs, machinists, assembly-line workers, trades of every sort.Some rather soft-headed chappies wish to maintain that automotive companies arent really manufacturing companies-theyre in the business of making money, or marketing, or whatever. Nonsense. Automotive companies manufacture automobiles and sell them-hopefully at a profit. Marketing, finance, customer service, etc., are all important, but are ancillary to the challenging task of producing a vehicle someone wants to buy. Success in this tough field depends first and foremost upon doing a good job of building a good car.In this issue of Manufacturing Engineering, we present articles on the efforts underway at Detroits Big Three to become flexible, to be more efficient, and to introduce lean methods on the factory floor. The troubles of the Big Three have been trumpeted to the heavens, and theyve been publicly flogged for many sins. Well, our articles demonstrate that the sinners have repented, and are trying to change their ways. Whether theyll succeed is for time to reveal.

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Consider adding a legal service plan to your employee perks A recent study found that three lawsuits are filed every second in the United States. That means most people are more likely to be involved in some sort of legal action over the next year than to be hospitalized. And, many of those people will be your credit unions employees. Employers struggling with a tight job market are learning that providing legal services as a benefit is a low-cost, low-hassle incentive for prospective and current employees. The plans cost $10-$16 per month for full family coverage and rarely increase in cost no matter how many employees use the services.
They argue that, if marijuana, cocaine, heroin, and other drugs were legalized, several positive things would probably occur: (1) drug prices would fall; (2) users would obtain their drugs at low, government-regulated prices, and they would no longer be forced to resort to crime in order to support their habits, (3) levels of drug-related crime, and particularly violent crime, would significantly decline, resulting in less crowded courts, jails, and prisons (this would allow law-enforcement personnel to focus their energies on the “real criminals” in society); and the drug production, distribution, and sale would no longer be controlled by organized crime, and thus such criminal syndicates as the Colombian cocaine “cartels,” the Jamaican “posses,” and the various “mafias” around the country and the world would be decapitalized, and the violence associated with drug distribution rivalries would be eliminated. By contrast, the anti-legalization camp argues that violent crime would not necessarily decline in a legalized drug market. In fact, there are three reasons why it might actually increase. First, removing the criminal sanctions against the possession and distribution of illegal drugs would make them more available and attractive and, hence, would create large numbers of new users. Second, an increase in use would lead to a greater number of dysfunctional addicts who could not support themselves, their habits, or their lifestyles through legitimate means. Hence crime would be their only alternative. Third, more users would mean more of the violence associated with the ingestion of drugs. These divergent points of view tend to persist because the relationships between drugs and crime are quite complex and because the possible outcomes of a legalized drug market are based primarily on speculation. However, it is possible, from a careful review of the existing empirical literature on drugs and violence, to make some educated inferences.
IN the ever-changing world of business, legal intricacies are common. In fact, it is becoming ever more complex, making it challenging for executives not equipped with adequate legal knowledge. Providing solutions with an in-depth analysis of legalistic approach is one of the trainings given to graduates with legal degrees. Realising this, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysias (UKM) Faculty of Law, in collaboration with the Centre for Educational Extension (PKP) of UKM, offers a Master in Business Law (MBL). The programme is to fulfil the legal disparity of the executives in meeting the challenge of solving legal problems in an increasingly complex and dynamic international business environment.

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The new toner cartridge has been engineered to produce as many as 8,800 pages per cartridge — approximately 2,000 more pages than the 98A toner cartridge. This offers a significant cost-per-page advantage for customers. HP estimates, that, in addition to reducing shipping and inventory costs for businesses purchasing toner cartridges, a third fewer empty cartridges will be generated with the 98X, lowering administrative costs and providing an environmental benefit. Each 98X toner cartridge, like all HP cartridges, will be shipped with a prepaid UPS shipping label so that the user can send the empty cartridge back to HP for recycling. HP recycles up to 95 percent of each toner cartridge it receives and has recycled more than 12 million cartridges since 1990. “Were proud to make these announcements, the result of which, we believe, will lower the cost of printing to provide savings that will go directly to a users bottom line,” said Doug Johnson, marketing manager for HPs LaserJet Supplies Operation. “The maximum-capacity cartridge complements our strong family of toner cartridges by offering users the high-volume printing and superior print quality necessary in todays workplace.”
Clearcase[R] high capacity color toner cartridges are suited for use in Xerox[R] Phaser[R] 6250, Konica Minolta(TM) magicolor(TM) 3300, Epson AcuLaser[R] C4100, and Brother[R] HL-4200CN office color printers. Units incorporate clear cartridge that enables end users to visually assess quantity of toner remaining in cartridge. OAKLAND, N.J., March 8 — Media Sciences International, Inc. (AMEX:GFX), leading independent manufacturer of solid ink and color toner cartridges for office color printers, today announced the launch of Media Sciences Clearcase[R] newly manufactured, high capacity cartridges for use in Xerox[R] Phaser[R] 6250, Konica Minolta(TM) magicolor(TM) 3300, Epson AcuLaser[R] C4100 and Brother[R] HL-4200CN office color printers. These new products are the first independently manufactured, new-build, office color toner cartridges featuring chip technology.

Toner Cartridges

LIVERMORE — Cleanup crews from the Environmental Protection Agency contained a mercury spill Thursday that ended up in a carport and a gutter in a Livermore neighborhood. About 3 p.m. Wednesday, authorities received reports of metallic beads in the gutter in front of the 900 block of Olivina Avenue, said Glen Haendel of the Livermore Fire Department. Richard Martyn, an on-scene coordinator for the EPA, said that the thousands of beads were roughly the size of pinheads.
Unglamorous as it may be, your guttering system drains hundreds of gallons of water away from the walls, windows and foundations of your house, protecting it from damp and rot. An essential feature of the structure of your home, they require a balance of practicality and aesthetics. For a guttering system to outshine your neighbours, go for copper guttering. Its a joy to behold, developing a patina as it ages. It requires no painting and is immune to rusting, so it lasts indefinitely - but it is the most expensive choice. Whichever system you choose, maintenance must include regular clearing. Leaves and debris from the roof slopes can cause blockages and overflows. Sectional systems may also require attention to the seals. Check the warranty that applies to your chosen system (expect 20 years minimum) and ensure that you are offered at least a one- year coverage on labour contracts.

Gutter Protection

If theres one truth in decorating, its that the most inviting homes are ones that express the owners unique sense of style. Here are some tips and projects that will help give your home a special, personal touch. BRING OUTDOOR FURNITURE IN: Old-fashioned metal garden furniture is just as appealing and functional inside the home as it is outside. Try planting a garden chair in front of a vanity to use as a charming seat, or bring a plant stand into a powder room to hold bath accoutrements. ENLIVEN THE SMALL SPACES: Vintage wallpaper is a decorators secret tool for enhancing overlooked household nooks, such as closets, alcoves and shelves. The lively patterns are usually only available in limited quantities, but you need just a modest amount to make a big impact.
% of total Top 500 sales
Meeting the core consumers need for replenishment items remains key, but dollar stores are working to address the desire for a little fashion that all consumers exhibit in these style-besotted times. For example, said Cindy Mazza, Dollar Generals dmm of household products, the chains customers can refresh their bathrooms by adding decorative and other fashion towels and mats that Dollar General offers. With the range of product available today, dollar store customers can combine replenishment items with a limited number of discretionary purchases. For example, a shopper might purchase some functional pieces in fashionable styles and colors and combine them with candles to enliven a tired room. “They can buy accessory items, update a look and provide fashion at a reasonable price,” said Mazza. Outdoor patio decorations and other seasonal items are strong at Dollar General, as are picture frames and art, wall boarders, shelves and sconces, candles and accent furniture. Lamps are coming on strong as well. For 99 Cents Only Stores, silk flowers, decorative linens, candles, mirrors and pictures frames all are doing well, in no small measure because the retailer continually updates the selection and style, said Eric Schiffer, president. The home decor category remains a small one for 99 Cents Only, but its growing. Take candles, for instance. “Years ago, we had the religious candles. Then two or three years ago, we added decorative candles and aroma therapy, and weve really done well.”

Patriotic Wall Decor

Dentistry For Babies There are some areas of dentistry that constantly change, and there are other things you simple cannot tell people often enough. Dental care should begin during pregnancy. A healthy mother means a healthy child, and proper prenatal nutrition is just as essential to the formation of teeth as it is to the formation of muscles, bones and brain cells. Many obstetricians now recommend that their pregnant patients take vitamins with flouride added. It can be shown that children who had this added protection in the womb have fewer cavities (dental caries) than children who did not.
MPS FROM all sides called for an urgent statement on the state of NHS dentistry. As revealed in The Independent, dentistry is close to collapse, with complaints rising from patients who cannot find a health service dentist. MPs BACKED legislation to set up a Disability Rights Commission, which would represent the interests of the disabled. Andrew Smith, the Employment minister, said the Bill was “historic and long overdue”.
SOUTH JORDAN — Ultradent Products Inc. will partner with the Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, the AAPD Foundation and the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University to endow a fellowship institute. Ultradent has more than 600 employees.

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SUNNYVALE, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Jan. 27, 1999–Global Cash Access (GCA), the countrys largest provider of cash access services to casinos, is preparing a first quarter 1999 roll-out of QuikCash(TM), a stand-alone credit card cash advance terminal that also offers POS debit to gaming patrons. A touch screen interface replaces the traditional keypad, making the process easier for customers and resulting in faster transaction time. The terminals utilize a client-server platform that is faster and more reliable than the former mainframe system, and they are smart-card ready. Unlike the magnetic strip technology prevalent in this country, embedded computer chips facilitate transaction processing in smart cards. International patrons use smart cards almost exclusively, and the technology soon will predominate U.S. cash access cards as well. Manufactured by Hypercom Corporation (NYSE:HYC), the terminals are Y2K compliant and offer customizable screen messages.
Sten Corp., based in Minneapolis, said Monday its Sten Financial Corp. has completed the acquisition of substantially all of the assets of Cash Advance LLC, based in Salt Lake City. Terms were not disclosed, although the transaction involved a combination of cash and seller financing. In addition to its payday lending business, Sten Corp. operates a chain of fast-food, drive-through restaurants under the Burger Time name and provides contract manufacturing services.
MEMPHIS, Tenn.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Feb. 12, 1997–Concord EFS, Inc. (NASDAQ:CEFT) announced today it has entered into an agreement in principle with Comdata Corp. to provide cash advance transactions at Concords ATM network at truckstops across the United States. The agreement provides for the automation of cash advances for approximately 500,000 drivers at Concord ATMs. Currently these drivers carry a standard Comchek card to receive cash advances at truckstop fuel desks. Drivers can receive both cash advances (Comdatas “Cash-On-Card” product) and payroll services (Comdatas “Express Cash”) from the Concord ATMs.

Cash Advance Loans

Maria E. Dennison is moving to Kansas from Mississippi Maria E. Dennison, 37, of Biloxi, Miss., is the new circulation director at The Topeka Capital-Journal. Dennison, who starts Monday, comes to The Capital-Journal from The Sun Herald, of Gulfport, Miss., where she was circulation retention and marketing manager. She worked for nearly four years at The Sun Herald, which has a daily circulation of 46,000 and a Sunday circulation of 52,000.
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This handy guide will tell you which drugs do and dont cause dryness and other eye problems. Do any of these medications sound familiar? Premarin, Trimox, Synthroid, Lanoxin, Hydrocodene with APAP, Prozac, Vasotec, Zantac, Albuterol, and Coumadin. If so, its clear why. According to the 8th edition of the Pill Book (Bantam Books, 1998), theyre the top 10 of the leading 20 prescribed drugs in the United States. Many of our older, presbyopic patients are taking at least one of them. Its wise to know which drugs do and dont have eye effects, including problems with dry eye and contact lens wear. Lets take a look at the top 20 drugs.
The Ranger medic (military occupational specialty 91B) provides advanced trauma management across the operational spectrum in which the 75th Ranger Regiment is employed. Ranger medic duties, both in combat environments and in training, medical training, professional progression, and medical assets in the Ranger battalion are detailed. Ranger medic training management tools and techniques are discussed and illustrated. The role of the combat lifesaver, force modernization, and interoperability issues facing the medical team are discussed. The Ranger medic is a capable special operations tactical medic. The Ranger medic (military occupational specialty [MOS] 91B) is the tactical medical provider for the 75th Ranger Regiment, the U.S. Armys elite light infantry. Through training, leadership, and experience, he becomes one of the most effective combat medics in the U.S. Army. He is capable of performing across the operational spectrum of 75th Ranger Regiment employment, providing advanced trauma management in the worst of conditions. This article is based on a presentation to the U.S. Army Special Operations Command (USASOC) Surgeons Conference in December 1998. Within Special Operations Forces (SOF), the Special Forces Medical Sergeant MOS 18D is the epitome of the SOF medic. The force structure, selection, training, retention, and employment issues are well developed for the 18D medic, because the nearly 700 18Ds form the bulk of SOF medics. The other SOF medics, which include the 91B Ranger medic, the 91B flight medics of the Task Force 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, U.S. Air Force flight medics, and Navy Sea, Air, Land independent duty corpsmen, do not have the same refined program. There are approximately 56 91Bs within the Ranger regiment, who represent a small fraction of SOF medics. This small number of Ranger medics provided an opportunity for the development of a Ranger medic training and career progression plan.
As I was completing my residency at Childrens National Medical Center, I, as many of my third-year colleagues, found myself wondering, where to go from here? Everything in our previous experience had been laid out in precise order, like check boxes waiting to be completed. Completing residency was the last check box on the list. We now had choices–fellowship, primary care, advocacy, etc. Enter Information Technology (IT). I can honestly say that, if I had been seriously considering a clinical job offer, I would probably be working in a clinic somewhere today. The lack of job, however, opened me to trying something new and different. When I heard about the informatics position, in which I would be able to help create a new computerized order entry system at Childrens, my hospital, I listened. and accepted the offer. Flash forward to Day One. My first day working in IT was definitely an experience to be remembered. I did not have to arrive at work until 8 am! I was able to sleep in! I actually had an office (cubicle) with my own phone and a laptop! As a resident, we had a lounge/classroom and had to vie for phone and computer usage wherever we went. In IT I had my own phone number and could give my new extension to whomever and could receive direct calls and messages.

Pill Dispenser