The Good Bean Chickpea Snacks review

<div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVgZDbO7kdFPJxJQxu918CaDrW8ysKFjONufJ3s-pAVJatKlSnKCVrwddLQdirfdJTbIjvZeBXwUw4FmzJ85556ILj6WX9UAIr6qPTeAysnYyY1VaW2S8QV4XIrwxYe9DeG2mE92qUDKY/s1600/good+bean.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVgZDbO7kdFPJxJQxu918CaDrW8ysKFjONufJ3s-pAVJatKlSnKCVrwddLQdirfdJTbIjvZeBXwUw4FmzJ85556ILj6WX9UAIr6qPTeAysnYyY1VaW2S8QV4XIrwxYe9DeG2mE92qUDKY/s320/good+bean.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm a healthy and adventurous eater, I like to try new things.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Especially if it's healthy then I am all for it!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Especially if it's a snack.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Always like to have some kind of delicious snack in my purse whether I'm at work or going to be out most of the day.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It helps me keep on track with eating right.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am delighted to be doing this review for chickpea snacks from a company called </span><a href="http://www.thegoodbean.com/shop/" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Good Bean</a>.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've tried chickpeas before in hummus but not like this at all!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Wow, they are outrageously good.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Good Bean company uses a special kind of chickpea called the "Desi" chickpea, which has twice the amount of soluble fiber and a great source of plant protein.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Has low glycemic index and perfect for diabetics.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Did I mention they are perfect roasted?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">They give a great flavor with an added crunch to them.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u>Roasted chickpea snacks:</u></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u>Cracked pepper:</u></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u><br /></u></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDRfrSoJkdh1GgbTICMLrw1P7L2yGAZkUvc0_Q3PeVngDmQK9FD22fwvu8qwc4p-feQ03QVj38hnfGjxXDTWQ-C4gVD7UJyWDVdWQdf6xzm4arL1OHwVermc66eC4q_yzLn6FgzvjPHgE/s1600/good+bean+cracked+pepper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDRfrSoJkdh1GgbTICMLrw1P7L2yGAZkUvc0_Q3PeVngDmQK9FD22fwvu8qwc4p-feQ03QVj38hnfGjxXDTWQ-C4gVD7UJyWDVdWQdf6xzm4arL1OHwVermc66eC4q_yzLn6FgzvjPHgE/s320/good+bean+cracked+pepper.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u>Sea Salt:</u></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u><br /></u></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEdLlHll7Y8FWl45i-EFMzrLjy1GUryeBAyvsS_3gmzrD2eP1wQ39w-YAzOdxubmZ_6yZaDlq4d1B2W1HoZ9XVSUU7zcQfVGociHw2UOvjaYyS3eWk9OqN3elFiDMWwUKLk8Xvjwf7WDc/s1600/good+bean+sea+salt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEdLlHll7Y8FWl45i-EFMzrLjy1GUryeBAyvsS_3gmzrD2eP1wQ39w-YAzOdxubmZ_6yZaDlq4d1B2W1HoZ9XVSUU7zcQfVGociHw2UOvjaYyS3eWk9OqN3elFiDMWwUKLk8Xvjwf7WDc/s320/good+bean+sea+salt.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u>Smoky Chili and lime:</u></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u><br /></u></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ3pikcIAAAyFF9_UZYa2HVFBfnjfSSNQplRQEpdv7TP4jdoZ7HJY54cp68gXUIUpsJUWvjSLVH4p0RiAK53FAa3cCG1OFMN3bg5xd5SGrpy45iZkZ1logDxP3r_c2smqfAFLZbOyd90U/s1600/good+bean+smoky+chili+and+lime.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ3pikcIAAAyFF9_UZYa2HVFBfnjfSSNQplRQEpdv7TP4jdoZ7HJY54cp68gXUIUpsJUWvjSLVH4p0RiAK53FAa3cCG1OFMN3bg5xd5SGrpy45iZkZ1logDxP3r_c2smqfAFLZbOyd90U/s320/good+bean+smoky+chili+and+lime.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u>sweet cinnamon:</u></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhewO8iReSRdIDOwoWXdaTYFfealhw_VJ894IZ54EM1iVwzWHg7dBLbSeLCx3AymXYHyBOxDhGDZFmyVK9jpWyjEc6cfV6erLzbjNQETbWxiHj_4vwX8p5eNV_5I2_Q0oXNN0JciRRDfQ4/s1600/sweet+cinnamon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhewO8iReSRdIDOwoWXdaTYFfealhw_VJ894IZ54EM1iVwzWHg7dBLbSeLCx3AymXYHyBOxDhGDZFmyVK9jpWyjEc6cfV6erLzbjNQETbWxiHj_4vwX8p5eNV_5I2_Q0oXNN0JciRRDfQ4/s320/sweet+cinnamon.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u><br /></u></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Like I stated above, I've tried chickpeas before but not like this at all. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I never thought that they could taste great sweet as they do savory in hummus!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">First bite you get the crunch and then the delicious cinnamon sweet taste!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I also received their snack bars as well to review!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">These bars are made with no nuts at all!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">made from whole roasted chickpeas and pieces of fruit!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u>Facts:</u></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">All natural</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">NON GMO</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hexane free (used to extract protein)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">fair trade</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><u style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></u><u style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">flavors:</u></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u>chocolate berry-</u></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u><br /></u></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">decadent chocolate and berries makes the perfect tasty treat </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u><br /></u></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4yOI7Up0xmvREusojE7gIP340y7Js-bZt01GsJeQgH00UHPFPsP0WbFJi2KZn5aqNL6b_GSFllRo69-XSwSB82gJubJOaWJjaFLQu2P6EaYVDkKoJOIV7N_LmdUK1gtIqRSEu9q78Keo/s1600/good+bean+chocolate+berry+bar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4yOI7Up0xmvREusojE7gIP340y7Js-bZt01GsJeQgH00UHPFPsP0WbFJi2KZn5aqNL6b_GSFllRo69-XSwSB82gJubJOaWJjaFLQu2P6EaYVDkKoJOIV7N_LmdUK1gtIqRSEu9q78Keo/s320/good+bean+chocolate+berry+bar.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">fruit and seeds trail mix- </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">oops didn't snap a photo before I ate it!</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">roasted chickpeas, dried cranberries, pumpkin seeds. they sweeten the cranberries with pineapple juice! Yum!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><u style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">apricot and coconut-</u></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u><br /></u></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPQeYigsOfdmabMwdxGeRX61UX3ZpdNMHAHMnRXGw3g5goYRw_JANhDosKezD2t3ZpkIGruSEJTia7dWSN2qU-d7wWemqkB__iGwGeIdnE52DyFnznZzW2xWCf3K8vqa3F4zfiSz2GxE0/s1600/apricot+coconut.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPQeYigsOfdmabMwdxGeRX61UX3ZpdNMHAHMnRXGw3g5goYRw_JANhDosKezD2t3ZpkIGruSEJTia7dWSN2qU-d7wWemqkB__iGwGeIdnE52DyFnznZzW2xWCf3K8vqa3F4zfiSz2GxE0/s320/apricot+coconut.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u><br /></u></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Oh my god I am in love!</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This bar was amazing!</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's healthy, sweet and delicious!</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">crispy chick peas then the fruity taste of apricots with the decadent smoothness of white chocolate!</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yum!<br /><br />I am sad it's all gone,now I have to buy one!</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u><br /></u></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you are interested in their products check them out here online!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.thegoodbean.com/shop/">http://www.thegoodbean.com/shop/</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/chickpea.snacks">https://www.facebook.com/chickpea.snacks</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://twitter.com/thegoodbean"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">https://twitter.com/thegoodbean</span></a></div>

The Good Bean Chickpea Snacks review

I'm a healthy and adventurous eater, I like to try new things. Especially if it's healthy then I am all for it! Especially if it'...

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Staff Electrical Design Engineer (PCB, Analog, Digital) (#109036)

<font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size:10pt;"> <div><b>Position</b>: Staff Electrical Design Engineer<br> <b>Location</b>: Milpitas, CA <br> <b>Duration</b>: Full time<br> <br> <b>Job Description</b>:<br> <b>Responsibilities:</b></div> <div>Metrology Product Development</div> <div>(1) Determine specifications for metrology equipment subsystems.</div> <div>(2) Design and develop subsystems including Mixed signal PC Boards, system interconnections, AC and DC power supply systems and power budgets, Electro-Optical detectors and components, electromechanicl controls, test fixtures and equipment. FPGA firmware capability is a plus.</div> <div>(3) Create documentation of systems, subsystems, interconnections, calibration methods, test methods, theories of operation for subsystems, error budgets</div> <div>(4) Prepare and document design reviews for all phases of subsystem development</div> <div>(5) Support the building, testing, validation, and fielding of new metrology systems for the semiconductor industry.</div> <div>(6) Manage projects or portions of projects involving some or all of the above activities.<b> <br> <br> Preferred Qualifications:</b></div> <div>Masters or PHD in Electronic Engineering, Engineering Physics, or Physics</div> <div>1 ) Several years experience and positive track record developing complex equipment involving measurement and automation sub-systems.</div> <div>2) Experience with mixed signal electronics, optical detectors, electro-optical components, optical measurement systems, electro-mechanical control systems,  data acquisition systems, computer systems, and integration of sub-systems into equipment.</div> <div>3) Ability to take technical ownership of and make  significant technical contributions to the development of key metrology product subsystems used to make precise optical measurements involving lasers, advanced light sources, electro-optical detectors, control of precise moving mechanisms, power distribution, and system interconnections.<br> <br> Excellent oral and written communication and an ability to work productively in a collaborative team environment are essential.<br> <br> <b>Minimum Qualifications:</b></div> <div>Doctorate (Academic) with at least 2 years of experience.</div> <div>OR</div> <div>Master's Level Degree with at least 4 years of experience.</div> <div>OR</div> <div>Bachelor's Level Degree with at least 5 years of experience.<br> <br> Kindly send your resumes to<font color="#1F497D"> </font><a href="mailto:sivaram.bose@kla-tencor.com"><font color="blue"><u>sivaram.bose@kla-tencor.com</u></font></a></div> <div><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></font></div> </span></font>

Staff Electrical Design Engineer (PCB, Analog, Digital) (#109036)

Position : Staff Electrical Design Engineer Location : Milpitas, CA Duration : Full time Job Description : Responsibil...

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Senior Electrical Design Engineer (PCB, Analog, Digital)(#109037)

<font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size:10pt;"> <div><b>Position</b>: Senior Electrical Design Engineer<br> <b>Location</b>: Milpitas, CA <br> <b>Duration</b>: Full time<br> <br> <b>Job Description</b>:<br> <b>Responsibilities:</b></div> <div>1) Define specifications for PC Boards, power supplies, cables, system interconnections, detectors, precise mechanism controls, and other metrology system components.</div> <div>2) Develop designs for PC boards including circuit design, schematic capture, management of layout fabrication and assembly through outside resources, testing, debugging, and documentation of the design.</div> <div>3) Conduct design reviews for all aspects of subsystem (e.g PCBoard) development including reviews of requirements, concept, final design, layout, and documentation.</div> <div>4) Design and documentation of system cables and interconnections.</div> <div>5) Work in a collaborative team environment to develop, test, deploy, and support key components of advance optical metrology equipment utilizing light to make precise complex measurements of wafer properties according to project requirements.</div> <div> </div> <div><b>Preferred Qualifications:</b></div> <div>Doctorate (Academic) OR Master's Level Degree with at least 2 years of experience. OR Bachelor's Level Degree with at least 3 years of experience. </div> <div>1) Experience with all aspects of PC board design.</div> <div>2) Experience with specification of cables and interconnections.</div> <div>3) Experience with optical detectors and electro-optical components.</div> <div>4) Capability to read, write, and interpret programs for FPGA an CPLD chips is a plus.</div> <div>5) Ability to work productively in a collaborative team environment to develop key subsystems for complex equipment to exacting requirements on aggressive schedules.</div> <div>6) Clear written and oral communication  and a willingness to produce quality documentation of designs, and methods are essential.<br> <br> <b>Minimum Qualifications:<br> </b>Doctorate (Academic)<br> OR<br> Master's Level Degree with at least 2 years of experience.<br> OR<br> Bachelor's Level Degree with at least 3 years of experience.<br> <br> Kindly send your resumes to<font color="#1F497D"> </font><a href="mailto:sivaram.bose@kla-tencor.com"><font color="blue"><u>sivaram.bose@kla-tencor.com</u></font></a></div> <div><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></font></div> </span></font>

Senior Electrical Design Engineer (PCB, Analog, Digital)(#109037)

Position : Senior Electrical Design Engineer Location : Milpitas, CA Duration : Full time Job Description : Responsibi...

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SYRIA, LEBANON, BOSNIA AND KOSOVO

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font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style><![endif]--> <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6N85uL-EQWhyl2XxfBcOzqOcJRYhZjke8Cc9J9hmbaI6V8vYVqQe7KYQ6DwopCFTG4HTahFy8C5wyoh9HM9xzfOxgADnO6Rvpn8y0MbDjeAaj_AO3C9M0vJJCGyDJQ_OnTfUao6JuLig-/s1600/manpad2_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6N85uL-EQWhyl2XxfBcOzqOcJRYhZjke8Cc9J9hmbaI6V8vYVqQe7KYQ6DwopCFTG4HTahFy8C5wyoh9HM9xzfOxgADnO6Rvpn8y0MbDjeAaj_AO3C9M0vJJCGyDJQ_OnTfUao6JuLig-/s320/manpad2_edited-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">SYRIAN ISLAMISTS MEET HIZBALLAH HEAD-ON – TAKE IN ARMS FROM BOSNIA, KOSOVO</span></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 183.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">                                  </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">SUNNIS VERSUS SHIITES</span></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Hizballah allegedly has transferred 1,000 fighters to the SYRIAN district of Homs who are a red herring to distract attention from six new major developments in the SYRIAN civil conflict - revealed here by debkafile’s military and intelligence sources:</span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br />1. Contrary to reports of Hizballah attacks on villages in the Homs region, the thousand Hizballah militiamen have moved in to defend the predominantly Shiite villages of the area whose population is loyal to Bashar Assad. They are there to relieve the SYRIAN army of the burden of defending these Shiites against rebel attack.<br />Hizballah has also undertaken to guard Shiite holy shrines in SYRIA.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">2.  The Muslim factions of the SYRIAN revolt have received their first heavy weapons consignments, mostly Kornet and Fagot anti-tank missiles. Their improved armaments account for the new edge they display in battles with Bashar Assad’s army, although reports of their conquests are much exaggerated.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">3.  These arms are coming from two sources: radical Islamist organizations in BOSNIA and KOSOVO, some of them associated with al Qaeda – at least ideologically. It is hard to say who is organizing and bankrolling the new weapons sea route to SYRIA. According to one theory, it is the ALBANIAN mafia. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">(See: </span><span style="color: blue;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">THE AL QAEDA FACTOR IN ALBANIA, </span></b></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2013/01/the-balkans-organized-crime-radical.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2013/01/the-balkans-organized-crime-radical.html</a>)</span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="266" mozallowfullscreen="mozallowfullscreen" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/EjcAjqcI04I?feature=player_embedded" webkitallowfullscreen="webkitallowfullscreen" width="320"></iframe></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></b></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">4. For the first time, SYRIAN rebels are taking in arms unsupervised by any of the WESTERN or ARAB agencies involved in the SYRIAN revolt.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">5. Most of the incoming weapons are destined for the Islamist Jabhat al-Nusra, the rebel faction identified with al Qaeda.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">6. The Jabhat al-Nusra, newly armed with hardware from BOSNIA and KOSOVO, have pushed across the border into LEBANON, our sources reveal, and are harassing Hizballah in its home bases in the Beqaa Valley. Night after night in the last ten days, small bands of Islamist fighters, weighed down by heavy loads of rockets, are attacking Hizballah strongholds and isolated guard and watch posts and ambushing military vehicles.</span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%;">Both are designated terrorist groups by the UNITED STATES government.</span></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%;"><br />The SYRIAN conflict has indeed spilled over the border into LEBANON. It is also turning more and more into a sectarian confrontation between extremist Sunnis and radical Shiites.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Via DEBKA<i>file</i> </span>

SYRIA, LEBANON, BOSNIA AND KOSOVO

SYRIAN ISLAMISTS MEET HIZBALLAH HEAD-ON – TAKE IN ARMS FROM BOSNIA, KOSOVO                                   SUNNIS VERSUS SHIITES Hizball...

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Eight Ways to Maximize Your Cover Letter's Power

<br /><div class="ArticleHeadline" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-top: -30px; text-align: left;"><div class="cbmsnArticleImage" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/nf/ar0t36xmpvw9s1tknf.gif" /></div></div><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;" /><div class="ArticleContent" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;">Like peanut butter and jelly or bacon and eggs, résumés and cover letters go hand-in-hand. Although both pieces are valuable on their own, they pack the most punch when served together. But while all job seekers know the importance of a well-organized résumé, many don't understand the power of a strong cover letter. In addition to reinforcing key skills and experience, a cover letter demonstrates your desire to work for the employer and the specific ways in which your expertise can benefit the firm. More importantly, it helps differentiate you from other job seekers and provides incentive to contact you for an interview. Even if composition isn't your forte, you can still create a killer cover letter.<br />Here's how:<br /><br /><b>1. Know your stuff.</b> |<br />Before you begin writing, learn as much as you can about the potential employer. Visit the firm's Web site and scan industry publications to familiarize yourself with recent news about the company, such as quarterly earnings, and to learn about future plans, like expansion into new markets. The more you know about an organization, the better you can tailor your cover letter to the firm's needs.<br /><br /><b>2. Personalize it.</b><br />Never begin a cover letter with "Dear Sir or Madam" or "To Whom it May Concern." Correspondence with generic salutations often signal to potential employers that you lack the initiative to locate the appropriate contact. If a job listing does not include the name of the hiring manager, call the company's receptionist and explain the position you are applying for to see if he or she can help you fill in the blank.<br /><br /><b>3. Start stro</b><b>ng.</b>A good cover letter begins with a powerful opening paragraph. Your goal is to briefly describe how you heard about the position and why you're interested in it. Skip cute introductions: "Teamwork is my middle name" or "I am smart as a whip," for example. A "catchy" opening can appear stilted and insincere and offers little, if any, value to the piece.<br /><br /><b>4. Offer an enticement.</b><br />The body of the letter should expand upon -- not simply repeat -- the key points in your résumé. Highlight those skills and experiences most relevant to the job opening and provide concrete examples of how you can benefit the company. For example, if you are applying for a management position, share how turnover within your department decreased by 20 percent during your tenure. Or communicate how your attention to detail and ability to adapt quickly to new environments allow you to deliver first-rate client service.<br /><br /><b>5. Be bold.</b><br />In addition to expressing gratitude for the hiring manager's time and interest, close your letter by outlining your next steps. Be proactive by stating when you will contact him or her to follow up. Doing so is a great way to reinforce your enthusiasm for the job. However, don't forget to include a phone number or e-mail address where you can be reached in case the firm wants to get in touch with you first. In addition to following best practices, you'll want to avoid common pitfalls when composing your cover letter:<br /><br /><b>6. Getting ahead of yourself.</b><br />Focusing on matters such as expected salary and title can come across as presumptuous and untimely. Wait until you have secured a meeting and become better acquainted with the hiring manager to mention these topics.<br /><br /><b>7. Goofing the proof.</b><br />Our company's research consistently shows that one or two typographical errors are enough to discourage a hiring manager from calling you back. Utilize your computer's spell-check function, but also ask friends and family to double-check your work. You don't want a small mistake to call your professionalism or attention to detail into question.<br /><br /><b>8. Forgetting the format.</b><br />If you submit your application via e-mail, make sure to prepare the file as a plain text document so it is universally compatible. Remove all formatting enhancements, such as underline or boldface, and replace bullets with asterisks or dashes. If you fail to do so, your recipient may receive a bowl of alphabet soup. Also, paste the cover letter into the body of an e-mail to save hiring managers the worry of corrupt or unreadable attachments. Some job seekers spend hours assembling a résumé and only a short amount of time on the accompanying note. Submitting a thoughtful and well-written cover letter, however, can help you outshine your competition and get you one step closer to an interview.</div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />

Eight Ways to Maximize Your Cover Letter's Power

Like peanut butter and jelly or bacon and eggs, résumés and cover letters go hand-in-hand. Although both pieces are valuable on their own, t...

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Punk gets rocked at the WWE Elimination Chamber: Rock is Champ!

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><img alt="Former MMA competitor and professional wrestler, Carter Lee, breaks down the Rocks victory at WWE's Elimination Chamber. " src="http://media.washtimes.com/media/community/viewpoint/entry/2013/02/18/rock1_s640x427.jpg?73b8e21685896c3f2859310aaa5adb253919b641" /><br /><br /><div id="mainimage" style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="small caption" style="font-size: 11px;">Photo: WWE.com The Rock victorious at Elimination Chamber</span></div><div class="full left byline mb mt" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 5px; color: #666666; float: left; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 10px 0px; padding: 3px 0px; width: 1060px;">Monday, February 18, 2013 - <a href="http://communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/behind-links-mixed-martial-arts-mma/" style="color: #164a6e; padding: 2px 2px 2px 0px; text-decoration: none;">Behind the Links of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA)</a> by <a href="http://communities.washingtontimes.com/staff/carter-lee/" style="color: #164a6e; padding: 2px 2px 2px 0px; text-decoration: none;">Carter Lee</a></div><div class="full left byline mb mt" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 5px; color: #666666; float: left; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 10px 0px; padding: 3px 0px; width: 1060px;"><div style="color: black; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px;"><strong>HOUSTON,</strong> February 18, 2013 — On January 27, 2013, The Rock returned to the squared circle and defeated CM Punk to win the WWE Championship for the eighth time and for the first time since 2002. The two had their rematch last night at the WWE pay-per-view, Elimination Chamber, live from the New Orleans Arena, in New Orleans, LA.</div><div style="color: black; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px;">The first time these two combatants met, it was a good match but not a great one. What made it exciting was the history that it presented. The Rock returned to the title scene after a decade-plus hiatus, and CM Punk held the Championship for 434 days. Lacking was continuity and chemistry between the two competitors. This rematch was much better than their former contest, and the best we are going to get out of these two competing together.</div><div style="color: black; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px;">This was one of those matches where the crowd significantly added to the atmosphere, split down the middle; one could hear a “let’s go Rocky” chant immediately followed by a “CM Punk” chant.</div><div style="color: black; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px;">The match was a seesaw battle leading up to the climax of the main event. Punk was able to deliver his trademark finisher, the GTS (Go to Sleep), and pinned Rock for a certain three count; but there was no ref to count the three mark and make it official. The referee was injured a few moments earlier and was sent flailing to the outside of the ring after he got caught between Punk and Rocky.</div><div style="color: black; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px;">The two continued to battle, both competitors taking their turn of near falls but missing the three count by milliseconds.  Each time, the rival would kick out of the others attempt at victory. In the end, Punk got rocked; the Rock caught CM Punk with the Rock Bottom, slamming Punk to the mat. Rocky pinned the former champion for the victory and retained the WWE Championship.</div><div style="color: black; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px;">Between becoming the Champion, and the anticipated upcoming release of his sure to be hilt film <em style="font-style: oblique;">GI Joe: Retaliation </em>(co-starring Bruce Willis), The Rock has been on fire and has received great media attention. The road of success continues for the Brahma Bull as he is now set to headline Wrestlemania 29, and will defend the Championship against number one contender, John Cena. Minus the Championship being in play, this is a rematch from last year’s Wrestlemania, where the Rock defeated Cena. That match is five weeks away, leaving fans salivating for the match. As for last night; Rocky has millions, <em style="font-style: oblique;">upon millions</em> of fans asking yet again; <em style="font-style: oblique;">do you smell what the Rock is cooking?</em></div><div class="mce_image_container" style="background-color: #efefef; border: 1px solid rgb(235, 235, 235); color: black; float: left; margin: 10px; padding: 3px; width: 272px;"><a href="http://communities.washingtontimes.com/multimedia/image/wrestlemaniajpg/" style="color: #164a6e; padding: 2px 2px 2px 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://media.washtimes.com/media/community/image/2013/02/18/wrestlemania_t268.jpg?7f6c82c4e3ebc52dbf2e980dcc8631719b6d5f11" style="border: 0px;" width="268" /></a><div class="mce_image_caption" style="background-color: #ebebeb; clear: both; font-size: 10px; line-height: 18px; padding: 3px 0px; text-align: center; width: 272px;">Wrestlemania promo photo via: Associated Press</div></div><div style="color: black; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px;"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Full Card Results</span></strong></div><div style="color: black; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px;">Alberto Del Rio defeated the Big Show to retain the World Heavyweight Championship.</div><div style="color: black; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px;">Antonio Cesaro defeated the Miz via disqualification to retain the United States Championship.</div><div style="color: black; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px;">Jack Swagger won the Elimination Chamber match, making him the number one contender for the World Heavyweight Championship against Alberto Del Rio at Wrestlemania 29.</div><div style="color: black; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px;">The Shield (Roman Reigns, Dean Ambrose & Seth Rollins) defeated Ryback, John Cena and Sheamus.</div><div style="color: black; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px;">Dolph Ziggler defeated Kofi Kingston.</div><div style="color: black; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px;">Kaitlyn defeated Tamina Snuka to retain the WWE Divas Championship.</div><span style="color: black;"><br /><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br /><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br /></span></div>

WWE Punk gets rocked at the WWE Elimination Chamber: Rock is Champ!

Photo: WWE.com The Rock victorious at Elimination Chamber Monday, February 18, 2013 -  Behind the Links of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA)  by  Car...

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10 best plays from NBA All-Star Game (VIDEOS)

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /><div class="asset-metabar-wrap" style="clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px; margin: 20px 0px 23px 70px;"><div class="asset-metabar" itemprop="author" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Person" style="border-bottom-left-radius: 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px; border-top-left-radius: 3px; border-top-right-radius: 3px; border: 1px solid rgb(230, 230, 230); display: table-cell; margin: 20px 0px 0px; width: 888px;"><div class="asset-metabar-ribbon asset-metabar-ribbon-sports" style="background-position: -72px -42px; float: left; min-width: 90px; width: auto; z-index: 100;"><h4 class="asset-metabar-ribbon-title asset-metabar-ribbon-title-sports" style="background-color: #eb1e00; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4) 1px 1px 2px; color: white; font-family: 'Futura Today Bold', arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-weight: normal; height: 12px; line-height: 11px; margin: 2px 0px 0px -3px; padding: 6px 10px; text-transform: uppercase;"><a class="asset-metabar-ribbon-link" href="http://www.usatoday.com/blog/gameon/" style="color: white; text-decoration: none;">GAME ON!</a></h4></div><span class="asset-metabar-author asset-metabar-item" itemprop="name" style="float: left; font-size: 12px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 14px; margin: 6px 0px 5px; padding: 2px 10px; position: relative;">Adi Joseph, USA TODAY Sports</span><span class="asset-metabar-time asset-metabar-item " style="border-left-color: rgb(225, 225, 225); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; color: #999999; float: left; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; line-height: 14px; margin: 6px 0px 5px; padding: 2px 10px; position: relative;">3:17a.m. EST February 18, 2013</span></div></div><div class="asset-double-wide double-wide" itemprop="articleBody" role="main" style="color: #222222; float: left; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 10px; position: relative; width: 600px;"><div class="article-metadata-wrap" style="float: left; height: auto; margin: 0px 30px 0px 60px; position: relative;"><div class="article-metadata" style="position: relative;"></div></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;">Forget Saturday's slam dunk contest. The NBA All-Star Game was where the highlights lived.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;">Sunday's game was a showcase for dunks, passing and ball-handling, with Chris Paul and LeBron James leading the way. The <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/allstar/2013/02/17/chris-paul-kevin-durant-all-star-game/1927287/" style="color: #1990e5; text-decoration: none;" title="http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/allstar/2013/02/17/chris-paul-kevin-durant-all-star-game/1927287/">Western Conference won 143-138</a> behind Paul's 20 points, 15 assists and four steals, but both sides produced highlights.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;"><b>THE BIG MOMENT: </b><a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/2013/02/18/kobe-bryant-lebron-james-nba-all-star-game/1927339/" style="color: #1990e5; text-decoration: none;" title="http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/2013/02/18/kobe-bryant-lebron-james-nba-all-star-game/1927339/">Kobe shuts down LeBron in fourth quarter</a></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;"><b>GAME: </b><a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/allstar/2013/02/17/chris-paul-kevin-durant-all-star-game/1927287/" style="color: #1990e5; text-decoration: none;" title="http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/allstar/2013/02/17/chris-paul-kevin-durant-all-star-game/1927287/">Paul leads entertaining contest as West emerges</a></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;">Here are our 10 favorites:</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;"><b>L.A. confidence, y'all:</b></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;"><b><br /></b></div></div></div><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/pTfhGMHaiTs?feature=player_embedded" width="640"></iframe> <br /><br /><br /><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;">Paul to Kobe Bryant to Blake Griffin. If you wanted a unification of the Los Angeles NBA teams, this was it. Bryant had a big passing day, finishing with eight assists. And we all knew Griffin could fly.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;"><b>LeBron James will alley-oop forever:</b></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;"><b><br /></b></div></div><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/zZvgm3ABdk0?feature=player_embedded" width="640"></iframe> <span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">The man can jump. The first was better than the second, with him delivering a quick pass to Dwyane Wade who returns the favor in transition. But the second, on a lob from Carmelo Anthony, was almost as nasty. The lesson: Don't even bother defending James in a fast break. It won't work.</span><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"><br /></span><br /><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;"><b>Chris Paul will embarrass you with his handles and passing:</b></div><div class="embed" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px; max-width: 560px; padding: 20px 0px 0px 60px;"><object height="315" style="max-width: 100%;" width="560"><embed wmode="transparent" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/EadpXkWqd3w?hl=en_US%26version=3%26rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="560" height="315" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></object></div><div class="embed" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px; max-width: 560px; padding: 20px 0px 0px 60px;"><object height="315" style="max-width: 100%;" width="560"><p style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px; font-size: 14px; font-family: arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); ">A day after Bryant joked about playing with Chris Paul, he showed what they could do together. Well, Paul showed it. The stutter-stepping ball-handling is impressive enough, but then he finds Bryant streaking with no problem. Paul is a perfect fit for All-Star Games and had nine assists in the first half.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px; font-size: 14px; font-family: arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><b>Tony Parker will embarrass you with his handles, too:</b></p><div class="embed" style="max-width: 560px; padding: 20px 0px 0px 60px; "><object height="315" style="max-width: 100%; " width="560"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/NHE1KB1r0sY?version=3&hl=en_US&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="560" height="315" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></object></div><div class="clearfix"></div><p style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px; font-size: 14px; font-family: arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); ">Oh, Chris Bosh. First, the Miami Heat star was strangely chosen to start the game in Rajon Rondo's place because it was Heat coach Erik Spoelstra's choice. Then he<a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/gameon/2013/02/17/chris-bosh-airball-miami-heat-nba-all-star-game/1926867/" title="http://www.usatoday.com/story/gameon/2013/02/17/chris-bosh-airball-miami-heat-nba-all-star-game/1926867/" style="color: rgb(25, 144, 229); text-decoration: none; ">airballed his first shot</a>. Then Paul dribbled it between his legs. Then Tony Parker later did the same, though not quite as nastily.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px; font-size: 14px; font-family: arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><b>Big men have handles, too:</b></p><div class="embed" style="max-width: 560px; padding: 20px 0px 0px 60px; "><object height="315" style="max-width: 100%; " width="560"><embed wmode="transparent" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/IR9tCLzw-hE?hl=en_US%26version=3%26rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="560" height="315" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></object></div><div class="clearfix"></div><p style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px; font-size: 14px; font-family: arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); ">Joakim Noah likes to call himself a point-center, and he has the dribbling skills to merit that tag. Here, he crosses up Zach Randolph because Zach Randolph can't handle this. That's a 6-11 guy showing off that nasty crossover. It may not be Paul-level, but it's easier to dribble when you're only 6-0.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px; font-size: 14px; font-family: arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><b>Dwight Howard hit a three-pointer:</b></p><div class="embed" style="max-width: 560px; padding: 20px 0px 0px 60px; "><object height="315" style="max-width: 100%; " width="560"><embed wmode="transparent" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/84UIsz6Rtw4?hl=en_US%26version=3%26rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="560" height="315" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></object></div><div class="clearfix"></div><p style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px; font-size: 14px; font-family: arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); ">There doesn't need to be much more said about this. But <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/gameon/2012/12/01/dwight-howard-three-pointer-lakers-nuggets/1738823/" title="http://www.usatoday.com/story/gameon/2012/12/01/dwight-howard-three-pointer-lakers-nuggets/1738823/" style="color: rgb(25, 144, 229); text-decoration: none; ">here's his last three-pointer made</a>.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px; font-size: 14px; font-family: arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><b>Old friends are still friends:</b></p><div class="embed" style="max-width: 560px; padding: 20px 0px 0px 60px; "><object height="315" style="max-width: 100%; " width="560"><embed wmode="transparent" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/4X-Q1LC3MB8?version=3%26hl=en_US%26rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="560" height="315" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></object></div><div class="clearfix"></div><p style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px; font-size: 14px; font-family: arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); ">James Harden and Russell Westbrook used to play together for the Oklahoma City Thunder. Then Harden was traded to the Houston Rockets. Now they don't play together. So they made up for lost time quickly when getting off the West bench, with Harden throwing a lob in late transition to Westbrook, who threw it down with authority.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px; font-size: 14px; font-family: arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><b>"That's a surprise, sneaky dunk right there":</b></p><div class="embed" style="max-width: 560px; padding: 20px 0px 0px 60px; "><object height="315" style="max-width: 100%; " width="560"><embed wmode="transparent" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/n8WYvjALwT8?version=3%26hl=en_US%26rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="560" height="315" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></object></div><div class="clearfix"></div><p style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px; font-size: 14px; font-family: arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); ">We're not sure what TNT's Reggie Miller meant with that comment, but it seems to fit Jrue Holiday's slam dunk in the first half. Holiday is a surprise, sneaky player, after all, a guy not many casual fans would name as one of the NBA's best point guards but a guy who definitely belongs in the conversation.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px; font-size: 14px; font-family: arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><b>Kevin Durant should be in the dunk contest:</b></p><div class="embed" style="max-width: 560px; padding: 20px 0px 0px 60px; "><object height="315" style="max-width: 100%; " width="560"><embed wmode="transparent" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/5b-lLQLPimU?version=3%26hl=en_US%26rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="560" height="315" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></object></div><div class="clearfix"></div><p style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px; font-size: 14px; font-family: arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); ">We all know Durant is a great scorer and shooter, but don't forget about his dunking ability. Bryant found him in transition, and the results were spectacular. His reverse slam here is pretty awesome. Durant had 19 points to lead all scorers.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px; font-size: 14px; font-family: arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><b>Maybe Tyson Chandler should be, too:</b></p><div class="embed" style="max-width: 560px; padding: 20px 0px 0px 60px; "><object height="315" style="max-width: 100%; " width="560"><embed wmode="transparent" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/3gZD2mULoMA?hl=en_US%26version=3%26rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="560" height="315" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></object></div><div class="clearfix"></div><p style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px; font-size: 14px; font-family: arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); ">We didn't expect this one. The Knicks center is known for his defense, and while he has thrown down many great alley-oops in his past, he's rarely regarded as an elite dunker. But he had to jump out the gym to catch this lob, and he threw it down with no problem. NBA players are good athletes.</p></object></div><div class="embed" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px; max-width: 560px; padding: 20px 0px 0px 60px;"><object height="315" style="max-width: 100%;" width="560"><br></object></div></div>

Game (VIDEOS) NBA All-Star 10 best plays from NBA All-Star Game (VIDEOS)

GAME ON! Adi Joseph, USA TODAY Sports 3:17a.m. EST February 18, 2013 Forget Saturday's slam dunk contest. The NBA All-Star Game was wher...

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Downton Abbey Watch: Endings

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><img alt="Downton Abbey" src="http://timeentertainment.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/970_ent_downtonabbey_0218.jpg?w=360&h=240&crop=1" /><br /><br /><div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em;">Is that the sound of the <em>Downton</em> theme music, with no dog butt to welcome us in? It must be a very special two-hour episode—which is a promise that pays off in the Season 3 finale. (The episode aired in the U.K. as the 2012 Christmas Special.) “Special” means a lot happens and <strong>spoilers follow here. </strong></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em;">Seriously, you’ll have to wait months and months for another new episode after this one, so don’t you want to watch it before you read?<strong> Again: Spoilers. Big ones.</strong></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em;">So, a year has passed, as years tend to do at Downton. The family is headed up to <a href="http://topics.time.com/scotland/" style="color: black; text-decoration: none;">Scotland</a> for a ten-day journey to the Highlands, via the cutest train ever, to visit the Flintshires, Cousin Shrimpy and Susan and Rose. There’s a new maid with a glint in her eye, Jimmy and Thomas coexist in an uneasy truce, and—<em>drumroll, please</em>—Mary is eight months pregnant.</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em;">The Flintshires’ home, Duneagle Castle, is a straight-up Cinderella dealio, but clearly all is not well between Shrimpy and Susan. There’s also a foul mood downstairs at Duneagle, where the staff is very solemn; you know it’s bad when Miss O’Brien meets a kindred spirit, Susan’s maid Wilkins, who is even more unpleasant than she is. Also, if you couldn’t already tell that this episode takes place in Scotland, here comes a bagpiper, just circling the dining table in his bagpipe-y way. At dinner, Edith is told to invite her editor Michael Gregson (who just so happens to be in the area on a fishing trip), and the family looks forward to the Gillies’ Ball, a dance that’s a highlight of the Scottish social calendar.</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em;">Cousin Shrimpy tells Robert that he’s been sent to a distant post somewhere in the Empire, later revealed to be Bombay. Susan is dreading it—particularly because the couple isn’t getting along in the first place, and if they bring Rose it’ll be even more of a problem, because Susan and Rose are at each other’s throats too. Mary gives Edith a hard time about Gregson visiting, and she’s proved right when he shows up: he dressed in tails, so it’s clear he didn’t just come to fish. Or at least not in a stream, know what I’m saying? Gregson admits to Edith that he, in fact, did come to try to get on her family’s good side, even though Edith reminds him that—even if he loves her—the facts of his <a href="http://topics.time.com/marriage/" style="color: black; text-decoration: none;">marriage</a> cannot change. Mary teases Matthew about being nice to Gregson and inviting him hunting, but Matthew assures her that he knows she’s really a nice person too because he’s seen her naked. (Oh, is that how that works?)</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em;">On the hunting-trip day, Robert and Shrimpy go out in their Sherlock Holmes deerstalkers and kill a stag, so they get to have a picnic by the Loch with the ladies, but Matthew and Gregson have less luck so they agree to go fly-fishing the next day. So many beautiful landscapes! Is this an ad for the Scottish tourism bureau? (Don’t they already have <a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/donnad/stop-what-you-are-doing-and-look-at-ponies-in-swea" style="color: black; text-decoration: none;">ponies in sweaters</a>?) Gregson confides in Matthew about his wife, who he says doesn’t even recognize him anymore. Matthew is sympathetic but he can’t encourage Edith to get involved in something that can’t lead anywhere. He thinks that Michael should use the ball to say good-bye to Edith.</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em;">(<strong>WATCH</strong>: <a href="http://newsfeed.time.com/2012/12/22/watch-man-makes-gingerbread-replica-of-downton-abbey" style="color: black; text-decoration: none;">Man Makes Gingerbread Replica of Downton Abbey</a>)</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em;">Meanwhile, back at Downton, Carson does his best to get the house staff to clean every inch of the estate while the family is gone, but you know what they say happens when the cat’s away. Tom Branson and Isobel Crawley and baby Sybie and Isis the dog are the only family members who have stayed behind, so much of the upstairs-downstairs dynamic is shifted, particularly because the new maid—Edna, already causing trouble—has her eye on Tom. Every time they’re alone in the same room it’s just wince-worthy bad-news-tempty-harlot-blurgh-blurgh-go-away-blurgh. It’s not just that Edna is incredibly forward (she dines alone in a pub, which is daring on its own, and she doesn’t even pretend she didn’t do it to run into him) but that she makes Tom feel like he belongs back downstairs, like he’s not a member of the family. She’s a real PUA, it seems, <a href="http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=neg" style="color: black; text-decoration: none;">negging</a> him with accusations that he’s ashamed until he finally agrees to eat dinner with the servants. (Isobel doesn’t help matters: even though she promised to keep an eye on Tom, she tells him that he shouldn’t be so eager to please the family that he acts awkwardly with the staff.)</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em;">A new salesman, Jos Tufton, comes to Downton with an order for Mrs. Patmore, He gets a taste of her cooking—and she gets a taste of his flirting. Tufton tells the staff about an upcoming fair in Thirsk and they all want to go, except Mr. Carson, who knows they won’t be able to have fun with him there. Mrs. Patmore bought a new outfit so Ivy is sure she has a “fancy-man,” and she’s right: Mrs. Patmore shows Mrs. Hughes the flirty note Tufton sent her about squiring her about the fair. It’s the 1920s version of sexting!</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em;">Dr. Clarkson and Isobel have been spending a lot of time together and commiserating about the medical life, since Isobel is the widow of a doctor and understands Clarkson’s life. They decide to go to the fair together too.</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em;">At the fair, Branson, Alfred, James and Thomas compete in a tug-of-war. Insert gratuitous shot of Morris dancers. James puts some money on the 10-to-1 odds for the Downton team to win, demonstrating that an earlier reference to his ability to get money pretty much confirms he’s a gambler. He spends his winnings on booze and giving Ivy and Daisy (now, apparently friends) money for games—and generally flashing his cash everywhere. Totally drunk, he wanders off into an ominous tunnel, where he’s set upon by two muggers. Thomas shows up, and takes the beating. Dr. Clarkson asks Isobel if she ever thinks of marrying again, but she says that she likes her life the way it is, especially with friends like him. It’s unclear if she’s really that oblivious, and before they can say more, Jimmy runs up and tells the doctor to come quick because Thomas is hurt.</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em;">On the carousel, Edna pretends she needs Tom to steady her…and “Eagle Eye” Hughes sees it all. She also spots Mr. Tufton, who’s like Dick Van Dyke in <em>Mary Poppins, </em>only instead of loving to laugh, he loves to flirt—even kissing a random girl. When they get home, Mrs. Patmore tells Mrs. Hughes that Tufton wants to get married, Mrs. Hughes said she saw him flirting—and Mrs. Patmore admits she’s relieved to have a reason to get rid of him. Meanwhile, Edna walks in on a shirtless Tom changing. She doesn’t leave when he says she should go, instead asking him to have lunch—and then kissing him and leaving before he answers. SHE IS THE WORST. UGH.</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">(<strong>VIDEO: </strong><a href="http://www.time.com/time/video/player/0,32068,1367801530001_2103829,00.html" style="color: black; text-decoration: none;">Highclere Castle: Inside the Real Downton Abbey</a>)</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em;">Back in Scotland, the night of the big party has arrived. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IY_bhVSGKEg" style="color: black; text-decoration: none;">Let’s go to the ball!</a></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em;">Susan won’t let Rose wear a fashionable dress—even though a princess has one just like it, she thinks it’s slutty—but Shrimpy overrules her decision. It’s so fun to write about princesses and balls. <em>Princess! Ball! Princess! Ball!</em> Mr. Molesley shows off his skills, doing a little jig alone in the corner. Typical Mr. Molesley. Rose is making her way through the little silver goblets of punch with quite some speed, and Cora warns her that it’s quite strong. O’Brien finds out that Wilkins spiked her punch—and she’s happy to know she needn’t have any loyalty to the other maid, whose job she clearly wants to steal—but Mr. Molesley drinks it in one gulp and gets totally wasted. Typical Mr. Molesley. Anna, who got dance lessons from Rose, gets a chance to show off her reeling skillz. Bates can’t dance because of his leg, but he does a great job at gazing at her adoringly while violins soar.</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em;">Michael breaks the news to Edith that he hasn’t convinced Matthew to be on his side, but she pulls a total Edith move and refuses to take no for an answer. (That ended badly before but she can’t get left at the altar by a man who can’t marry, so maybe not such a terrible idea?) Shrimpy tells Robert that he’s not just uphappy because of Susan: he failed to modernize Duneagle the way Robert did for Downton, so he’s out of money and will have to sell. Robert realizes how lucky he is to have Matthew as a son-in-law. But Mary isn’t feeling so hot. She tells Matthew she’s going to go home before the rest of the family, but he should stay so the rest of them get to enjoy their vacation. Susan and Cora have a chat about babies, and it’s clear that Susan judged Sybil and Mary’s choices—but now that Rose is a teenager she understands what Cora went through, and Cora is sympathetic because Rose reminds her of Sybil. They arrange for Rose to live at Downton while Susan and Shrimpy are in India.</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em;">(<strong>MORE</strong>: <a href="http://entertainment.time.com/2013/01/03/a-proper-talk-with-actor-jim-carter-downton-abbeys-mr-carson-talks-to-time/" style="color: black; text-decoration: none;"><i>Downton Abbey’</i>s Mr. Carson Talks to TIME</a>)</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em;">The staff back at Downton gets ready for Mary’s early return. Getting ready includes Jimmy thanking Thomas and saying they can be friends, and Mrs. Hughes firing Edna. Mrs. Hughes and Branson have a heart-to-heart about it and she tells him he shouldn’t be ashamed of his new life, and that Lady Sybil would have been proud. Which makes Tom—and, let’s be honest, us—cry. Way to put a stop to that nonsense, Mrs. Hughes. But when Mary gets off the train, she doesn’t come home: she goes straight to the hospital.</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em;">She’s in labor! Shortly after, Carson gets the call: Lady Mary and the baby are both doing well! Matthew races home from Scotland! Mary is holding the baby, his son and heir, his dearest little chap! Matthew gets to hold the baby! They’re happy! She’s tired but also happy! They’ve done their duty to the estate! There’s finally an heir! They’re all dancing jigs like drunken Mr. Molesleys! Matthew is sure Mary is going to be a great mother, because his Mary is so nice even if Edith’s version of Mary isn’t! Happy, happy, happy! The others are back and the house waiting to see them! Matthew speeds back in his cute car to give them the good news!</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em;">But:</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em;">A car races in the other direction! As Robert reminisces about the entire plot of <em>Downton Abbey</em>, Matthew’s car lies overturned in a ditch. You maybe knew this was coming if you heard any casting news for Season 4, but it’s still a shock. And there he is. Matthew. Under the car. Blood on his head. Empty eyes. Mary, in the hospital, not knowing what has happened, holds the baby.</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em;">Seriously.</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em;">That’s the end of the episode. And of Matthew. There’s only one thing left to do.</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em;">BE SAD FOR MONTHS AND MONTHS UNTIL THE NEXT SEASON.</div><span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></div>

Downton Abbey Downton Abbey Watch: Endings

Is that the sound of the  Downton  theme music, with no dog butt to welcome us in? It must be a very special two-hour episode—which is a pro...

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New restrictions on painkiller prescriptions take effect Saturday | syracuse.com

<base href="data:" class=""><div style="color: black; text-align: left; " class=""><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); display: inline !important; float: none; " class=""><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'Helvetica Neue'">Syracuse, N.Y. – Central New Yorkers with prescriptions for Vicodin and other painkillers containing hydrocodone will not be able to get them refilled starting Saturday unless they go to their doctor for a new prescription.</font></span><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 10px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); " class=""><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'Helvetica Neue'">The change is required by the state's new I STOP law, designed to address the <a href="http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2012/05/the_troubled_path_to_painkille.html" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; " class="">epidemic</a> of prescription painkiller abuse and addiction sweeping Central New York and the rest of the nation.</font></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 10px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); " class=""><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'Helvetica Neue'">Hydrocodone will become classified as a schedule 2 drug Saturday. That means refills will no longer be allowed for hydrocodone prescriptions. Even people holding hydrocodone prescriptions authorized for more refills won't be able to refill them starting Saturday.</font></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 10px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); " class=""><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'Helvetica Neue'">"What we've been doing is warning our patients that they will need a new prescription the next time," said Selig Corman of the Pharmacists Society of the State of New York.</font></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 10px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); " class=""><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'Helvetica Neue'">Hydrocodone is a type of drug known as an "opioid." Opiods can create intense feelings of euphoria or well-being. They are synthetic versions of opiate drugs such as morphine and heroin, derived from the opium poppy. Hydrocodone is usually combined with other drugs such as acetaminophen. Some of the popular brand-name prescription drugs containing hydrocodone include Vicodin, Lortab and Tussionex.</font></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 10px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); " class=""><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'Helvetica Neue'">Dr. Brian Johnson, director of addiction medicine at Upstate, said patients are often prescribed enough hydrocodone after surgery to last them several months, when they should only get enough for a few days.</font></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 10px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); " class=""><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'Helvetica Neue'">The number of prescriptions written in Central New York for the two most popular prescription painkillers — hydrocodone and oxycodone — soared between 2007 and 2011, according to the state Health Department. <br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; " class="">Hydrocodone prescriptions increased more than 50 percent, from 181,993 in 2007 to 274,293 in 2011, while oxycodone prescriptions jumped by nearly 90 percent, from 64,755 in 2007 to 122,415 in 2011.</font></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 10px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); " class=""><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'Helvetica Neue'">Also starting Saturday, Tramadol, a prescription muscle relaxant drug, will become classified as a schedule 4 drug as part of the I STOP law. Brand name versions of the drug include Ultram, Ultacet and Ryzolt. There are no limits on how much Tramadol can be prescribed now. Under the new classification, doctors will only be allowed to prescribe a 30-day supply of Tramadol with five refills. People with prescriptions for Tramadol issued before Saturday can get them refilled as long as the prescription is not more than 6 months old and the number of authorized refills does not exceed five.<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; " class=""><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; " class="">Johnson of Upstate is happy about the changes. "It has to do with raising consciousness of how addictive these drugs are," he said.</font></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 10px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); " class=""><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'Helvetica Neue'">Patients are often incorrectly told Tramadol is not addictive, then they end up in detox programs, Johnson said.</font></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 10px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); " class=""><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'Helvetica Neue'">The new restrictions may create problems for some chronic pain patients and their doctors, said Dr. Joseph Catania of the New York Spine and Wellness Center, a pain management practice with offices in North Syracuse and DeWitt.</font></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 10px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); " class=""><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'Helvetica Neue'">Catania said he agrees with the law's intent to curb diversion and abuse of painkillers. "But this prevents a medical office from using some judgment to determine the required follow up visit," he said.</font></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 10px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); " class=""><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'Helvetica Neue'">Patients who are stable and only need to see their doctor every several months now will have to schedule office visits monthly, he said.</font></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 10px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); " class=""><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'Helvetica Neue'">"This is going to create a flood of patients into the medical community who may not have that type of routine access to care," he said. "It will impact all of us in how we take care of patients."</font></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 10px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); " class=""><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'Helvetica Neue'">Under the new regulation, doctors can prescribe 90-day supplies of hydrocodone for chronic pain patients.</font></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 10px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); " class=""><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'Helvetica Neue'">The prescribing changes are just the first of several provisions in the I STOP law designed to overhaul the way prescription drugs are distributed and tracked in New York. The law will require doctors beginning Aug. 27 to consult an electronic prescription database when they are prescribing controlled substances. The database, being developed by the state, will include information about controlled substances – drugs regulated by federal law -- dispensed by pharmacies on a real time basis. The intent of the database is to prevent "doctor shoppers" from obtaining prescriptions from multiple physicians.</font></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 10px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); " class=""><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'Helvetica Neue'">The law also will eventually mandate that all controlled substances be prescribed electronically.</font></div><div class=""><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'Helvetica Neue'"><br class=""></font></div></div><a href="http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2013/02/new_restrictions_on_painkiller.html" class=""><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'Helvetica Neue'">http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2013/02/new_restrictions_on_painkiller.html</font></a><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; color: black; text-align: left; " class=""><br class="webkit-block-placeholder"></div>

New restrictions on painkiller prescriptions take effect Saturday | syracuse.com

Syracuse, N.Y. – Central New Yorkers with prescriptions for Vicodin and other painkillers containing hydrocodone will not be able to get the...

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