The new year isn’t quite here, but it’s around the corner, and General Motors has already gotten a running start at a company-wide resolution: reduce, then eliminate, all waste from manufacturing facilities.

Already, 55 GM plants send no waste at all to landfills. As much as possible, scraps and leftover materials are either recycled or reused, which accounts for 95% of the waste. The remaining 5% is converted into energy.

The goal for 2010 is to have 50% of all GM Manufacturing plants sending nothing to landfills, and the 55 plants are not only a good start, but proof that the goal is well within GM’s reach.

Want to do your part? Buying a fuel-efficient car is not only eco-friendly in itself, but also supports GM’s eco-friendly, waste-free initiative.

To learn more about the GM vehicles we have in stock, stop by our Riverside Chevrolet dealership. We proudly serve drivers and their families in Riverside, San Bernardino, Corona, and other neighboring communities. If we don’t already serve your family, we’d be glad to meet you and learn how we can help.

We’d love to answer any questions you may have. Please call us at 951.687.2020, or email: DuttonMotorCompany@gmail.com.

View our entire Dutton Motor Company inventory at www.DuttonMotorCompany.com

Orange County Diesel is offering K&N Filter Cleaning and Servicing products.

	Recharger Filter Care Service Kit (aerosol) A six-step maintenance system designed to clean any K&N Filtercharger® Air Filter. Restores air flow efficiency so your Filtercharger performs like new! Includes: 6.5 oz. Spray Oil & 12 oz. Filter Cleaner #99-5000
Recharger Filter Care Service Kit Same as 99-5000 except has squeeze oil bottle instead of spray can. Includes: 8 oz. Squeeze Oil & 12 oz. Filter Cleaner #99-5050
	K&N Filtercharger Oil K&N Air Filter Oil is the only oil specially formulated to work in combination with the cotton fabric in K&N Filtercharger® elements providing a superior air filtration system. When used as directed, it quickly penetrates the filter pleats, where it remains suspended in the cotton fabric. Saturation is maintained until the element is cleaned with K&N Air Filter Cleaner. 6.5-oz. aerosol can – Red #99-0504 12-oz. aerosol can – Red #99-0516 8-oz. squeeze bottle – Red #99-0533 .5-oz. pillow pack – Red #99-11312 1-gal. refill bottle – Red #99-0551 5-gal. pail – Red #99-0555
K&N Cleaner & Degreaser K&N Air Filter Cleaner is the only cleaner formulated to clean K&N Filtercharger elements. The use of any other cleaning solution can void the filter’s warranty, and quite possibly could damage the cotton material. K&N Cleaner works to dissolve the dirt build up and old filter oil, and can be washed away with water. Complete instructions on bottle. NOTE: Do not use on polished or anodized aluminum. 12-fl. oz. squirt bottle #99-0606 32-fl. oz. squirt bottle #99-0621 1-gal. refill bottle #99-0635 5-gal. Pail #99-0640
	K&N Sealing Grease K&N Sealing Grease provides an airtight fit around sealing surfaces on all types of air filter elements. It resists heat and will not melt or run off. K&N sealing grease is not to be used on clamp-on filter elements. 6-oz. squeeze tube #99-0704 1-oz. squeeze tube #99-0703

I’ve completely scrapped the experience system I was working on, it just didn’t feel necessary and I’d rather have each weapon funtion a certain way until upgraded at certain points in the game rather than let the player collect things to up their stats.

I replaced it with a shield stat, I’m still deciding whether the shield will be available to the player from the start (though it this stage it wouldn’t seem so). Basically the shield is a bubble, so when an enemy projectile (but not an enemy) comes into about 48 pixels of the player, it creates a little glowing dispersion in a circle around the player. The shield is bright green at max power and fades to red as it takes damage. The shield item can be turned on or off in the inventory.

I’ve added generic chest objects, you open the chest, a white glow spills out the top, the background music is turned down and a “fanfare” plays as the item slowly rises out of the chest. And then you go on your merry way feeling as though you’ve accomplished something.

I’ve changed the bat’s behavious slightly, to make them smarter. They no longer go through walls and they follow the player a little better. My pathfinding techinques didn’t work that well so I guess I’m back to square one, or I need to come up with something to do with them if they can’t get to the player. Hmm.

I’m going to add a flag that freezes all NPC’s, because at the moment, when the player enters a door bats can still hit them during the fade out.

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The conventional wisdom is that “early adopters” are the ideal target for startups, to get business rolling. I see two pitfalls with any concerted focus on early adopters; first, the size of this group may not be as large as you think, and secondly, their feedback may lead you directly away from your real target market of mainstream customers.

The term “early adopters” relates to the people who are eager to try almost any new technology products, and originates from Everett M. Rogers' Diffusion of Innovations book. Early adopters are usually no more than 10%-15% of the ultimate market potential, and marketing to them is quite different from marketing to the mainstream.

The good news is these people will readily provide candid feedback to help you refine future product releases, and push towards new features, increased control, and interoperability. The bad news is that they hardly ever push towards simplicity and increased usability needed by the masses.

The result can easily be the classic startup death spiral, driven by a small but vocal portion of your market, for more and more features, when you can least afford it in time or money. Equally bad, implementation of input from a few early adopters can actually prevent your products from being adopted by the majority, as follows:

• Minimize value of usability features. Features you designed for average users, like wizards for configuration, and simple buttons to eliminate complex processes, will get no feedback, or removal recommendations. Early adopters like to see tricky and elegant details, rather than general usability.
• Increased control and flexibility. Product suggestions by early adopters often ask for increased user control over details of the technology. However, each increase in control that you hand over to the users also increases user interface complexity, and the opportunity for pitfalls for the average user.
• Emphasis on engineering robustness. Early adopters love the technology, sometimes to a fault. Technical issues like execution speed, file size, and memory usage are typical examples that always need further optimization. At some point it becomes compulsive engineering, rather than engineering to increase value for the average user.
• Higher product price. They want new features automating complicated but obscure tasks. These features will likely be used by only a tiny fraction of the entire user base, but increase complexity for everyone. Early adopters are normally less price sensitive, so may mislead you in finalizing your pricing model.

The dilemma that we all face is that the most valuable customers might be the least vocal (silent majority). The users who scream the loudest are usually a minority segment. The challenge of every business is to proactively seek out a cross section of core users and ask them for feedback, rather than responding to random noise.

I’m certainly not suggesting that you ignore early adopters. Simply recognize them as a specific and important small market segment, and treat them with respect. Early adopters have money, and if they like your product, they’re generally very vocal about it and provide invaluable word-of-mouth press. You need their evangelism and passion to get enough momentum to start attracting mainstream consumers.

So don’t be lulled into complacency by early adopters as your first customers. Temper your feedback assessments, product changes, and marketing strategy to the mainstream market. Ten percent of your projected market won’t make either you or your investors very happy.

Marty Zwilling

Sega's official street date for the PlatinumGames-developed action game Bayonetta isn't until January for North America and Europe, but some gamers have found the game already sitting on store shelves.

We've heard from tipsters here in the U.S. and in Europe—Switzerland, specifically—that the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions of the game have already shipped to retail and are waiting to be snapped up. Kotaku reader Bryant just snagged a copy at a Wisconsin Toys 'R' Us. We've reached out to some of our local retailers, even the ones that generally sell to us early, but have come up short.

You may have better luck, though, and may be able to secure a surprising Christmas or Hannukah gift for a friend if you do.

Yes, both versions appear to be regional, not import copies. Two good gets for a game that's not supposed to be released for another two weeks or more.

Thanks to Ivan and Bryant for the heads up. And have fun.

Send an email to Michael McWhertor, the author of this post, at .

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Nine Inch Nails (NIN) fans such as myself are fans because of the one thing Nine Inch Nails (NIN) does: They rock the house! Most folks who listen to the band know of songs that noone else could even do. Nobody comes close to the genre that NIN plays too, and that's, we old generation Xers!

As far as I can even tell, we old gen Xers are the only folks morose enough, and yet still alive enough, to enjoy watching folks who are so good at sounding down. Their music's beautifully sad too. Even in the case of ranking the number ten song as number ten, I simply can't say, which Nine Inch Nails songs I like best.

Top Ten Videos from Nine Inch Nails on YouTube number ten: The Perfect Drug

For as long as I've been listening to these folks I can tell you that I don't really make it a habit of learning names. That's what I leave to the devotees. Fans like myself are the folks in the art gallery saying: “I don't know anything about art. But I know what I like….but nobody recognizes Trent Reznor's name around Meadville, Pennsylvania.

Top Ten Videos from Nine Inch Nails on YouTube number nine: Eraser

Most of us fans feel as if we know this band. They've been in our radios, our heads, and our personal dramas for so long that we almost recognize them as family. Hard partying, raucous, and quarrelsome family they may be yet family they remain.

Top Ten Videos from Nine Inch Nails on YouTube number eight: Burn

Sometimes I can remember times in my life where it was the music of Nine Inch Nails that altogether influenced me in a decision. I'm not exactly sure why I did as told…but I did. That tells me that Nine Inch Nails might have some skills in the area of getting a message across. I hope they get sponsored to the tune of millions and millions of dollars.

Top Ten Videos from Nine Inch Nails on YouTube number seven: Gave Up

Are there too many other real good Nine Inch Nails songs than this one? Well…just a couple. But you gotta admit that this one is a fun one too. If it were up to me I'd have it in number one. Oh. It is up to me. But I'm too lazy.

Top Ten Videos from Nine Inch Nails on YouTube number six: March of the Pigs

There is probably a party somewhere on earth being fueled in part by this very song at this very second at any given moment. How's that for a powerful statement?

Top Ten Videos from Nine Inch Nails on YouTube number five: Closer (Censored Version)

This song had to be in the top five for me. But the uncensored version would've ranked higher.

Top Ten Videos from Nine Inch Nails on YouTube number four: Head Like A Hole

There's not much more that a guy could say about Head Like A Hole other than it's fun, and funny, and kinda annoyed all at once as a song. I mean…what're they saying? Are they angry or aroused? Either way. It's a great tune.

Top Ten Videos from Nine Inch Nails on YouTube number three: Wish (Live)

They've really taken over the radio here. There's no turning back from NIN fandom now. Resistance is futile.

Top Ten Videos from Nine Inch Nails on YouTube number two: Down In It

Well NIN is nothing if not provocative. Didn't they just do a lovely job with this song?

Top Ten Videos from Nine Inch Nails on YouTube number one: Hurt

This song is so good, and so powerful that, after Nine Inch Nails did it, so did the legendary Johnny Cash. Both performances will steal your breath away and borrow your mind for a few moments. I'm glad you've found the Nine Inch Nails videos you were looking for because of me. You're welcome!

Source:
www.YouTube.com
Personal Fandom

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Orange County Diesel has K&N “Wrench-off” Oil Filters for any Diesel Truck application.

K&N Performance Gold® Oil Filters
Originally developed for demanding auto race applications, our premium automotive oil filter is rapidly becoming a favorite among consumers for its durability and easy removal. We’ve changed oil filters and several of our product development technicians are sportsman class drag racers. They insisted we offer an oil filter that corrected the “headaches” they experienced over the years changing oil filters.

Our Oil Filters Have Nuts
We have all been there: Whether it’s remembering where that disappearing canister tool is; or having oil leak all over your garage and yourself; or finally giving up and pounding a screwdriver through the filter just to get if off. Most of our canister type automotive and marine oil filters come with a 1” nut welded to the top of the canister so they can be easily wrenched-off with a standard tool. Most of our canister type motorcycle and ATV oil filters come with a 17 mm nut.

Heavy-Duty Construction for Extreme Conditions
To satisfy the demands of racers, our oil filter has many features over and above the requirements of most vehicles. We use thicker canister walls for extra strength and durability which reduces the risk of damage from loose rocks and debris. The heavy-duty construction will withstand higher oil pressures found only in racing environments without bursting. The drilled hole on the nut is for a safety wire attachment. Required for many types of racing, the safety wire prevents blown oil filters from falling on the track and representing a hazard to other race vehicles. This extra engineering offers peace of mind for consumers who want only the best.

High-Flow Rate
Our oil filters use resin impregnated cellulose filter media. This allows for higher flow rates while providing outstanding filtration. High filter flow rates are important in racing vehicles where heavier grade oil is used and the oil is pumped much faster than in a standard vehicle. When the engine is circulating oil at high GPM rates, the high-flow oil filter helps reduce the loss of pressure through the filtering process.

Compatible with the Latest in Synthetic Engine Oils
Our oil filters are ideal for high-end synthetic motor oil. Synthetic motor oil is said to offer improved flow performance at cold temperatures while providing superior protection against thermal degradation.

TECH TALK
Our Performance Gold Oil Filters use a cellulose media bound by phenolic resin surrounding a metal inner core that provides structural strength to reduce the risk of filter collapse. The resin is the “glue” that holds the media fibers together and at the same time keeps “pores” open by keeping the fibers apart. The resin is cured to full strength during the element manufacturing process. Phenolic resin systems are an excellent choice for the high temperature demands of oil filters.  Our filter includes an anti-drainback valve, when applicable, that prevents oil from draining back into the crankcase during engine shutdown. The anti-drainback valve is useful in situations where the filter is mounted horizontally which could allow backflow. We use rolled threads to help prevent stripping during installation or removal and an internally lubricated gasket provides a positive seal even after the filter has been removed and reinstalled.

It’s way too cold out there to get those last minute gifts!! Why not stay in the comfort of your own home while being able to cross everyone off on your Christmas list at the same time!! Shop www.OCDiesel.com!

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COLUMBIA, Md., Dec. 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Renewable fuels provider New Generation Biofuels Holdings, Inc. (NasdaqCM: NGBF) (“NGBF” or the “Company”) today announced that it has closed its previously announced registered offering of 1,926,250 shares of its common stock (the “Shares”), par value $0.001 per share (“Common Stock”), and warrants (the “Warrants”) to purchase 577,875 shares of Common Stock (the “Offering”). The Shares and the Warrants were sold in units (“Units”) at a price of $0.80 per Unit, with each Unit consisting of one share of Common Stock and a Warrant to purchase 0.30 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price of $0.90 per share. The warrants have a term of five years and will not be exercisable for six months. The Units will not be issued or certificated and neither the Units nor the warrants will trade on any exchange or be listed for quotation on any market.

The gross proceeds of the offering were approximately $1.54 million and net proceeds, after deducting the placement agent's fee and estimated offering expenses payable by NGBF, were approximately $1.304 million. The Company expects to use proceeds from the offering for general corporate purposes, including working capital and capital expenditures such as the costs associated with the expansion of its production facility in Baltimore, Maryland. Jesup & Lamont Securities Corporation acted as the placement agent in this transaction.

NGBF offered the securities described above pursuant to a registration statement previously filed and declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). A prospectus supplement related to the Offering was filed with the SEC on December 11, 2009.

About New Generation Biofuels, Holdings, Inc.

New Generation Biofuels is a renewable fuels provider. New Generation Biofuels holds an exclusive license for North America, Central America and the Caribbean to commercialize proprietary technology to manufacture alternative biofuels from plant oils and animal fats that it markets as a new class of biofuel for power generation, commercial and industrial heating and marine use. The Company believes that its proprietary biofuel can provide a lower cost, renewable alternative energy source with significantly lower emissions than traditional fuels. New Generation Biofuels' business model calls for establishing direct sales from manufacturing plants that it may purchase or build and sublicensing its technology to qualified licensees.

Forward Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements concern our operations, prospects, plans, economic performance and financial condition and are based largely on our current beliefs and expectations. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to be materially different from any future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements The risks and uncertainties related to our business include all the risks attendant an emerging growth development stage business in the volatile energy industry, including, without limitation, the risks set forth under the caption “Risk Factors” in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008 and in subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Media Contact: Phil Wallis ph: (321) 363-5113
Or pjwallis@newgenerationbiofuels.com

IR Contact: John Baldissera ph: (800) 368-1217

Or:

Rob Schatz ph: (212) 370-4500

Or:Rob@wolfeaxelrod.com

SOURCE New Generation Biofuels Holdings, Inc.

Clarke, who won the Bafta Rising Star Award earlier this year, said it was at
school that he decided he wanted to be an actor – although he couldn't
remember who he played in his own nativity play.

The 34-year-old, who also wrote and starred in films Kidulthood and Adulthood,
was taking part in a project for the Sky Movies Christmas Channel, which
will broadcast the school nativity on Christmas Eve.

He said: ''It's great to be back, although it's quite weird obviously.There
are kids here that I went to school with their mums, dads and uncles, and
there are teaching assistants still here that looked after me when I was
five or six.''

Clarke said he was hoping to inspire children who might already be thinking
about going into the performing arts.

He said: ''It's good to let kids that don't even know that they want to do the
profession get an insight into what it might be like.

''When I was that age I wanted to do it and I didn't even know what it was. I
didn't have anyone to come back and make it fun. Hopefully it will inspire
them even if they don't know how or when.

''Not even just the kids who want to be an actor, maybe there's a power hungry
kid in there that wants to be a director and who was wondering, 'how did he
make everyone shout and jump? I want to do that!' If I can help inspire them
then all good in the hood.''

On his own school days' acting experience, he said: ''I was in a nativity but
I don't remember it at all … I was in Oliver Twist too. I wasn't Artful
Dodger or Oliver or anyone, I was an urchin, but I made sure I stole the
show. I remember thinking I didn't look urchiny enough and tearing my shirt
up to make sure I looked a bit poorer.''

The Sky Movies Nativity will be shown on Christmas Eve at 6pm on Sky Movies
Christmas Channel.

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The Glass Steagall Act (not Glass Stiegel Act, as some misspell) was setup over 70 years ago by the United States Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. The Glass Steagall/Glass Stiegal Act was repealed 9 years ago in 1999 by President Bill Clinton. Some of the current financial problems in the United States in the mortgage industry could potentially be in part due to the repeal of the Glass Steagall Act. This has caused numerous financial advisors to look into the repeal Glass Stiegel Act.

Stiegel History of the Glass-Steagall Act repeal:

According to Forbes magazine, the formation of the Glass-Steagall Act arose in 1933. It was formed by Congress shortly after the stock market plumetted in 1929 while there was bank collapse across the United States (source). Essentially, the Glass Stiegel Act “separated investment and commercial banking” and may have potentially “hindered the establishment of financial services firms that can equally compete against each other” (source), which led to the repeal of the Glass Steagall Act.

Glass Stiegel Repeal Information: Did the Glass Steagal Repeal Destroy the American Economy?

The Glass Steagall Act helped compartmentize the U.S. financial industry in an effort to prevent future collapses and failures of U.S. banks such as what happened in the '30s. With the repeal of the Glass Stiegel/Glass Steagall act, the door was opened for a repeat of the pre-Glass Steagall Act era.

Stiegel History: Repeal of the Glass-Steagall Act

According to PBS Frontline, it took decades to repeal the Glass Stiegel Act. The Glass Steagall Act was finally repealed in 1999 after what Frontline calls “12 attempts in 25 years,” with “Congress finally repeal Glass-Steagall, rewarding financial companies for more than 20 years and $300 million worth of lobbying efforts. Supporters hail the change as the long-overdue demise of a Depression-era relic” (source).

Steagall Repeal History: Why the Glass Steagall Act Was Necessary:

One of the reasons the Glass-Steagall Act was important for the financial security of the United States was because of bank speculation, much like what is happening in the current subprime mortgage crisis in the U.S. Back in the 1930s, many American banks were said to be dangerously speculative. Many banks, in the hopes of reaping financial rewards, took large risks, thus endangering the entire financial market. The Glass-Steagall Act was created to prevent such speculation on behalf of the banks.

Do we need to undo the Glass Stiegel repeal? Only time will tell as the current Bush administration battles the financial crisis in the United States. A new form of the Glass-Steagall Act may be necessary to revive the U.S. markets.

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hi MG. after sleeping off the hangover from friday night (in case it’s not obvi, don’t drink that often), i am late to the inglourious party over here. but not shocking as it may be, i had to comment here mr. sielger after seeing your twitter, i downloaded it.

The game is superfun awesome.

The scalps were the funniest, most hilarious, light hearted, and *least* important part of the film. it’s a tactic for the Apache Warrior. Remember, Shoshana Dreyfus never met or heard of the basterds. not once. That said, my friend:

*French Cinema Can Save The World, Part Deux*

1. i downloaded the app, it’s a fun game. i like collecting nazi scalps. i can get more than you. i’ll show you sometime..

1.5 a reason to love Inglourious Basterds is not really about scalping nazis. it’s a film swimming in 4 of the worlds most magically connected languages, separated by war. nazi scalps are a minute small teeny tiny reason why inglourious basterds is a masterpiece

2. The original b-movie has a lot more focus on violence. Tarantino turned it into a classic WWII pic. When inglourious basterds receives accolades most ppl will immediately want to write this it off as jew / nazi porn. Shortly before D-Day (Lt. aldo raine calls it “the armada”) we really did deploy some basterds into french territory to cause chaos. Not Jews, and not what the movie implies, but that’s historical fiction.

3. the historical accuracy (borman, goebbels, all of the film references to riefenstahl, lillian harvey – all accurate etc) blended with complete infusion of all literary rules of historical fiction makes it one of the best WWII pics of the last 30 years. In the real world, hitler would never have been to france. He never went, but once, for one hour. Many of the flaws in the original plot to kill hitler (operation valykrie) were fixed in inglourious basterds – this time hitler was going to die, there were at least 4 different ways it was guaranteed.

4. french cinema can save the world!!!!!!!!!

5. language is more dangerous than your sharpest knife

6. in the script (i own the script – mock me later) the scalping is hilarious, described as “peels off like a banana peel” – it’s the most fun part of the film, for sure. That’s why it’s a friggin great game. But it’s not why the movie is great.

7. and lastly, the reason they are scalped, and their shoes are removed, is to demean the nazi and spread fear. So i hope the app has an update soon, as tossing boots could be fun too.

ok, now i’ll drink my coffee. spending the day with Donnie Donowitz and Hugo Stieglitz. not kidding.

Ben Bernanke named TIME's person of year?
I know that Time magazine is full of progressive's but I had no idea that it's editors were so stupid when it comes to economics? The Federal Reserve is a private corporation that
lends money to our government with an interest rate! Thank God (that's OK, I know the people at Time don't believe in God) that Ron Paul's HR-1207 (a bill to audit the FED) has passed the house. Because the FED (Federal Reserve Bank) is neither federal, nor do they harbor any reserves. It is a private corporationthat "lends" money to our government at an interest rate. Which is where all your income tax money goes…to service the INTEREST on the national debt. Nowhere else. Not for roads or bridges or anything that would benefit We The People. GET IT? Oh. you don't? Read some more. The value of the dollar has declined by over 90 percent since the creation of the Federal Reserve in 1913.
Did the Fed really cause this loss of savings, insurance policies, retirement funds, and
purchasing power? The answer, emphatically, is that with the cooperation of government, the
Fed has indeed destroyed the dollar’s value.
In January 1993, National Geographic magazine published an article entitled “The Power of Money.” Written by Associated Editor Peter T. White, it presented a very clear explanation of how the Fed operates. White asked a
Fed official where the organization had obtained $100 million it had just used to purchase some securities. “We created it,” said the Fed employee. “It’s money that didn’t exist before.” He
matter-of-factly admitted that no limit existed on the Fed’s ability to create money out of nothing.
In 2006, China and Hong Kong accounted for more than 50 percent of the increase in the amount of Treasury debt sold to the public.
In 2008, their share had fallen to 22 percent as the U.S. government increased its public debt by a record $1.2 trillion.
In the first half of THIS year, China and Hong Kong acquired only 9 percent of the more than
$800 billion worth of Treasury bonds that were sold.
And in June, China became a net SELLER of U.S. Treasury notes and bonds!

Hope everybody's got their beef jerky and ammo store up!
Oh, great job Ben.

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Choosing a name for your new baby is a very big deal. Names are forever and making sure you pick one that you, and your child, will be happy with, is extremely important. There are a few considerations when choosing your baby's name that should not be overlooked. Here are some tips for choosing the right name for your baby so that you and your child are happy with the decision.

Say it out loud. Always say the names you are considering out loud. Don't just say the first or middle name you are considering, but say all three names together. You might find out the names do not flow well, or sound completely different from what you thought they would when said out loud. For instance, Amanda Lynn looks like a great name on paper. When said out loud, however, many ears actually hear “A Mandolin.” While this may not bother some parents, others might not want the possibility of their daughter being called a stringed instrument. Say the names out loud and carefully consider what they sound like.

Consider the initials. Make sure that you write out the names you are considering in full name form, as well as in initial form. You have to be careful with initials, particularly in the age of text messaging. Frank Alan Grainger becomes “FAG,” and Allison Serenity Smith becomes “ASS.” In regards to text messaging, Oliver Michael Gibson becomes “OMG,” text message speak for “Oh My God.” While you may not be able to avoid all instances of initials spelling something or becoming a text message code, write out the initials just to be sure you are okay with what they create.

Say it to other people. Unless you are dead set on keeping your baby's chosen name a secret, tell other people the names you have picked out. Everyone will have a different opinion, and others' opinions certainly don't have to be the same as yours. If when you tell your brother you plan to name your daughter Ruby, and he immediately laughs and comments about how he and his friends used to call his classmate Ruby, Boobie, thanks to her early physical maturity, you might think twice about your plan. Of course, just about any name can be transformed into a ridiculous nickname by a child's peers, but hearing other perspectives might make you reconsider a choice.

Watch the trends. Be careful when choosing to name your child something trendy. If you are okay with your child being one of seven “Kaitlins” or “Jacobs” in her or his class at school, the go for it! But if you want your child to be unique with his or her name, be careful about using trendy or popular names. Check the most popular name lists before you consider your names if you want a more unique name.

Check the meaning. If the meaning and background of a name is important to you, be sure to do your research on the origins of the name you are considering. In addition to noting the true meaning of the names, you may also consider the “urban legend” meaning. The name “Damian” for instance is oft believed to mean “of the devil,” thanks to popular culture and the power of rumors.

Choosing your baby's name is a big decision. Whether some of the factors above bother you or not, it is a good idea to at least think about a name very carefully before deciding for sure it is right for your baby. After all, your little one has a lifetime to live with whatever name you ultimately choose.

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Buick has announced that there will be a four-cylinder model of the entry-level Buick LaCrosse CX.

It will be a 2.4L engine with 182 hp and 172 lb-ft of torque. This engine is already used in the Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain. With this engine, the car will get 30mpg on the highway and 20mpg in the city. These figures aren’t official though, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) still has to confirm them.

The engine will be matched with a six-speed automatic transmission.

Pricing starts at $26,995, including delivery, which is $840 less than the V6 equipped model. The car will be on dealer floors sometime in the first quarter of 2010.

Source: Autoblog

The unfortunate news has come out that General Motors (GM) will be shutting down Saab operations immediately after unsuccessfully attempting to find a buyer for the Swedish brand. 3,400 people will be let go and a 1,100 worldwide dealer network will dissolve.

This is the harsh reality of how greed can destroy something so great! Saabs were cars with character. Turbocharged and efficient Swedish machines. Like Volvo, they too emphasized a great deal on safety, except they liked their cars to be sporty and perform as well.

GM purchased Saab, adding it to an already vast portfolio where it just wouldn’t fit in. The deal was fueled by money-hungry execs, who took the small guy (Saab) in and milked whatever value he had left in him, while leaving him with no clear strategy or vision. All they could offer him were platforms which didn’t add any value to the brand and a re-badged GMC Envoy. Thanks for nothing GM! R.I.P. Saab!

I keep two other blogs.

The Gateway Men’s Chorus blog is designed for fans of the chorus.

The Webster University blog is a one-year experiment intended to keep prospective students, parents, and concert patrons aware of what’s up in our little building.

Please do take a look!

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Call 337-984-1462 or email bbowen@courtesyautomotive.com for your VIP appointment!

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In a war in which everyone must pick a side, Mohammed regrets his choice.

“I'm stuck,” he said one day last week, huddled beneath a tattered blanket to ward off the winter chill. “I don't know what to do. I don't know where to go.”

Such cases are a major reason the United States and its allies are planning significant investments in programs aimed at using jobs and other incentives to peel Taliban fighters away from their cause.

“This touches every part of McChrystal's plan,” said British Maj. Gen. Richard Barrons, who arrived last month to lead NATO's reintegration efforts. “I am absolutely convinced it can be done, and that the time is right. This is an opportunity the Afghan people aren't going to get again. Most of them realize that, and are keen to take it now.”

Fighters deceived
Mohammed, thin and balding at 36, first picked up a Kalashnikov in the late 1980s when Soviet troops still occupied Afghanistan, and like many of his countrymen he has hardly stopped fighting since. For the past eight years, his enemy has been the Americans.

But this summer he was feeling exhausted by war, and he wanted to return to his native Afghanistan after years of living among insurgents-in-exile in Pakistan. One night in August, he tricked his commanders into believing he was traveling to Afghanistan to attack a U.S. base, and ended up defecting along with five of his brothers and their father. He thought the decision would give his family a fresh start.

“Now my children ask me why we can't go back to the way it was when I was fighting,” he said, saying his family lived better while on the Taliban payroll. “I don't have an answer.”

The men who recruited Mohammed to the government's side said they feel sorry for him, and for the dozens of other insurgents they have persuaded to stop fighting this year through promises they knew to be false.

“We have nothing to offer these people,” said Haji Jan Mohammed, director of the government's reconciliation program for Nangarhar and Laghman provinces, in Afghanistan's volatile east. “We don't get any kind of assistance from the central government, so we promise them jobs but there are no jobs, and we promise them land but there is no land.”

Most of the experts who served on advisory panels in 2007 to evaluate vaccines for flu and cervical cancer had potential conflicts that were never resolved, the report said. Some were legally barred from considering the issues but did so anyway.

In the report, expected to be released Friday, Daniel R. Levinson, the inspector general of the Department of Health and Human Services, found that the centers failed nearly every time to ensure that the experts adequately filled out forms confirming they were not being paid by companies with an interest in their decisions.

The report found that 64 percent of the advisers had potential conflicts of interest that were never identified or were left unresolved by the centers. Thirteen percent failed to have an appropriate conflicts form on file at the agency at all, which should have barred their participation in the meetings entirely, Mr. Levinson found. And 3 percent voted on matters that ethics officers had already barred them from considering.

The inspector general recommended that the centers do a far better job of screening. In a reply, the agency’s new director, Dr. Thomas R. Frieden, agreed.

“Since the period covered in this review, C.D.C. has strengthened the financial disclosures and conflict-of-interest process by instituting improved business processes and realigning responsibilities and oversight,” Dr. Frieden wrote.

As numerous medicines have been pulled from the market in recent years, worries have grown that experts may be recommending medical products — even ones they know to be unsafe — in part because manufacturers are paying them.

As a result, government agencies, medical societies and medical journals have become increasingly insistent that experts disclose potential conflicts. And while the experts invariably insist that they have done so, government audits routinely find large gaps between these disclosures and the experts’ actual income from consulting.

Congress tightened the rules on outside consulting after similar conflicts were found among members of advisory panels to the Food and Drug Administration. But little attention has been paid to the potential conflicts of advisers to the C.D.C., even though that agency’s committees have significant influence over what vaccines are sold in the United States, what tests are performed to detect cancer and how coal miners are protected.

Most of the advisers identified by Mr. Levinson had either a job or a grant from a company or other entity whose interests were affected by the committees’ discussions, and a considerable number also owned stock in such companies, the report said.

Representative Rosa DeLauro, a Connecticut Democrat who said she had long been a supporter of the C.D.C., said: “That is why I am so concerned about this report issued by the inspector general exposing serious ethics violations within the C.D.C. All members of the federal advisory committees, whose recommendations direct federal policy, should be without conflict of interest.”

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If you're like most people, then your digital library is constantly growing. With high speed internet becoming commonplace among all households, it's no surprise that the hard drives of millions of computers are filling up at an astonishingly fast pace. While some may think that they need to delete movies and other digital files once their hard drive becomes full, there is another solution that will allow you to keep all of your files, no matter how large, while still expanding your digital library. The Western Digital 160GB 2.5-inch Passport USB Hard Drive, Model: WDXMS1600 has all of the major features that you will need to safely expand your digital library.

Main Product Features:

Within this portable hard drive, you will be able to enjoy superior storage capabilities, without having to worry about a confusing set-up or lengthy installation processes. One of the best features of this hard drive is its ability to simply plug-in the hard drive to any computer and instantly begin saving your files.

This is a great hard drive for those who need to transfer large files from one computer to the next. With no installation CDs to deal with, you do not have to be a computer genius to use this hard drive. After you have plugged in this hard drive all of the software that is needed for it to work is instantly downloaded onto the computer.

Since this hard drive is powered by a simple USB bus, you will not have to connect it to an external power outlet. This is truly a portable hard drive. Since this hard drive only weighs 0.23 pounds it is easy to carry around with you.

If you have a Windows computer, you are able to utilize the WD Sync Software. How this software works is it allows you to save all of your data and easily transport it with you. If you take files from your home computer and then take them to your work computer to alter, add or view the files you will be able to reconnect this hard drive to your original computer where the software automatically updates the files on your home computer.

The Google Software is a great addition to this hard drive. You are able to easily search and manage your files within this product, as well as simplify web searching. And with 5400 RPM you will be able to sift through your files much faster than traditional 4200 RPM computers.

Product Price:

This hard drive, which works for both Windows and MAC computers, demands an average price of only $200.

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Orange County Diesel carries all of aFe Superstock IRF and aFe OEM Panel replacement filters!

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• 90% airflow increase* / 65% more dust-holding capacity**

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Questions? We’re the Diesel Experts…

That’s right beginning February 2010 Quadzilla will be releasing an App that allows you to use your iPhone/iTouch with your Adrenaline module!!

The iQuad!

The Adrenaline is known as one of the most feature rich, most powerful and safest engine control systems available. With Quadzilla’s USB capabilities, overloads of data and unmatched user defined control, the Adrenaline is in a league of its own. We will admit however that our data displays and controllers were not quite as develop as our engine system. By utilizing the iPhone/iTouch platform we now have the absolute best display system ever introduced to the performance world.

The iQuad works without changing a thing on the Adrenaline! Quadzilla has developed a specialized wireless module that give you the needed link between your Adrenaline module and your iPhone/iTouch. Then you simply download the iQuad App for free and you are good to go! Now with iQuad you get all the great features and functions of the Adrenaline, but now in high resolution color!