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Press Release: Georgia Department of Public Health
ATLANTA – Once known as the state with the second most obese child population in the nation, Georgia now ranks 17th nationally, according to a new report by the Data Resource Center for Child and Adolescent Health. The analysis of data gathered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics will be formally released on April 16, signaling a significant improvement in the health of Georgia's children.
Funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration, Maternal and Child Health Bureau, the report provides an analysis of physical, emotional and behavioral child health indicators in combination with information on family context and neighborhood environment.
Researchers examining most recent data from 2011 conclude Georgia ranks 17th in the nation for childhood obesity, third in the nation for prevalence of overweight children and 10th nationally when combining both factors - a significant change from 2007 when Georgia ranked second nationally in childhood obesity, 17th in overweight children and third nationally when combining both factors. The report reveals a 5 percent drop in the number of obese children in Georgia.
"I'm encouraged at the numbers," said Brenda Fitzgerald, M.D., commissioner of the Georgia Department of Public Health, who oversees Gov. Nathan Deal's anti-childhood obesity campaign, Georgia SHAPE. "We must stay the course in Georgia to improve the lives of our state's young people."
Georgia SHAPE, the Georgia Student Health and Physical Education Act, passed during the 2009 Georgia legislative session, began with a requirement that each local school district conduct an annual fitness assessment for all students in grades one through 12 enrolled in Georgia public school physical education classes taught by certified physical education teachers (about 1 million children). Georgia SHAPE has grown to become the nation's largest network of partners, government agencies and professional athletic teams committed to improving the health of Georgia's young people by offering assistance and opportunity to achieve a greater level of overall fitness. To address the need, beginning in September 2011, this group of SHAPEsetters identified the challenges:
· Poor diet and lack of physical activity contribute to the rise in childhood obesity
· Only 52 percent of middle school students and 43 percent of high school students in Georgia currently meet the CDC recommendations for physical activity
· More than 44 percent of Georgia's middle school students and 39 percent of high school students watch television for three or more hours on a school day
· Only 17 percent of high school students in Georgia consume five or more servings of fruits and vegetables a day
· In 2008, Georgians spent $2.4 billion on the direct medical costs of obesity and lost productivity from disease, disability and death
· In Georgia, obesity-related hospitalizations of children aged 2-19 years increased 338 percent over the 11-year period from 1999 to 2010
"Georgia SHAPE focuses on teaching healthy habits to our children, lessons that will serve them for a lifetime," said Gov. Nathan Deal. "We're delivering real solutions to the obesity epidemic by promoting nutritious eating and physical activity."
Georgia SHAPE begins with FitnessGram - a tool evaluating five different parts of health-related fitness, including aerobic capacity, muscular strength, muscular endurance, flexibility and body composition using objective criteria. The FitnessGram report is delivered confidentially to families and aggregate results are reported to create a true snapshot and highlight areas for improvement.
"FitnessGram tells us where we are, but this new report reveals how we compare," Fitzgerald said. "Georgia SHAPE, however, tells us that what we're doing to mobilize and unite Georgia efforts is how we'll win this battle to regain the health of all of Georgia's children. They're our future."
Learn more about Georgia SHAPE at: www.georgiashape.org.
Learn more about the Data Resource Center for Child and Adolescent Health at: www.childhealthdata.org.
About the Georgia Department of Public Health
The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) is the lead agency in preventing disease, injury and disability; promoting health and well-being; and preparing for and responding to disasters from a health perspective. In 2011, the General Assembly restored DPH to its own state agency after more than 30 years of consolidation with other departments. At the state level, DPH functions through numerous divisions, sections, programs and offices. Locally, DPH funds and collaborates with Georgia's 159 county health departments and 18 public health districts. Through the changes, the mission has remained constant – to protect the lives of all Georgians. Today, DPH's main functions include: Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, Maternal and Child Health, Infectious Disease and Immunization, Environmental Health, Epidemiology, Emergency Preparedness and Response, Emergency Medical Services, Pharmacy, Nursing, Volunteer Health Care, the Office of Health Equity, Vital Records, and the State Public Health Laboratory. For more information about DPH, visit www.dph.ga.gov.
About Georgia SHAPE
Georgia SHAPE is an exciting initiative to improve Georgia's future, beginning with our state's most vital and important asset — our young people. We know all children can benefit from knowledge of their current health-related fitness levels, along with a capacity to develop and implement strategies for personal improvement. Under the leadership of Georgia Governor Nathan Deal, Georgia SHAPE is a network of partners, agencies and athletic teams — including the Atlanta Falcons and the Atlanta Braves, the Georgia Department of Public Health, and the Georgia Department of Education — all committed to improving the health of our young people by offering assistance and opportunity to achieve a greater level of overall fitness. For more information on Georgia SHAPE, visit: www.georgiashape.org.
About the Child and Adolescent Health Measurement Initiative
The Data Resource Center for Child and Adolescent Health is a project of the Child and Adolescent Health Measurement Initiative (CAHMI) supported by Cooperative Agreement 1-U59-MC06980-01 from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB). For more information on CAHMI, visit: www.cahmi.org.


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Group A: Poland, Greece, Russia, Czech Republic.
Group B: Netherlands, Denmark, Germany, Portugal.
Group C: Spain, Italy, Republic of Ireland, Croatia.
Group D: Ukraine, Sweden, France, England.
Then A plays B and C plays D in the quarters. With top of group A/2nd B v top of Group C/2nd D for the semi.

subset: commoncrawl


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Would you donate to a charity that supports people's outings to strip clubs and casinos? How about a charity that pays for people's tobacco and alcohol purchases?
Those types of expenses currently are allowed through the state's Electronic Benefit Transfer - more commonly known as EBT - debit card, which grants welfare recipients access to cash and food stamps.
While many people in need are using public assistance honestly, there are people abusing your tax dollars, and there's nothing authorities can do about it - unless the Public Assistance Integrity Act makes its way into the books.
The act would prohibit welfare recipients from using EBT cards to buy items such as cigarettes, alcohol and lottery tickets. It also would prevent ATM withdrawals from places such as liquor stores, casinos and night clubs.
We have no problem with cash assistance since it can help people buy essential items that food stamps don't cover, such as paper products.
But there's no way it should be legal to use taxpayer dollars for tobacco, gambling and alcohol. Those aren't essential to helping someone get back on their feet. In fact, these habits can turn into vices that prohibit people from achieving their full potential. Some senators argued the act was unfairly targeting the poor and said they wanted statistics for how often it happens. We say it doesn't matter how often it happens. That answer should be never, and it should be illegal. This act doesn't target the poor, it targets people who abuse taxpayer dollars.
This act is a no-brainer. Last year, the bill passed the Senate 56-3, but Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver failed to allow action on the bill and it died in committee.
According to Associated Press reports, it has better chances this year because of a federal law that now requires states to restrict how the cash portion of social services is spent, or they lose 5 percent of funding for the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families program. That's a $125 million risk next year for this state. So why would we hurt the people in our state who need help so people who misuse the system can continue abusing taxpayer dollars?


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José Ángel Labari Ilundain, who publishes under his initials Jali, was born in Pamplona and is a graduate in Fine Arts from the University of Barcelona. He is an artist for the daily Diario de Navarra and also active as a graphic artist. Since 1997, he has contributed to fanzines and magazines like Amaniaco, La Comictiva, Mala Impresión and La Guía del Cómic.
He formed the collective Los Muñecos de Fimosis with Ricardo Peregrina and Valentín Ponsa, with whom he made works like 'Necrópolis' and 'Enciclopedia Ilustrada del Professor Perez Pucio'. Later credits include 'Billete de Ida al Espacio' (Ediciones Amaniaco, 1998), 'Igor Mortis' (Undercomic, 2000), 'El Niño Miope' (Ediciones D2ble D2sis, 2002) and 'A Berta le Atormenta la Tormenta' (Ediciones D2ble D2sis, 2003). He is also a contributor to Tapa Roja since 2003.


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Course Details
Course Description
About The Instructor(s)
For additional course information, First Class requirements, syllabus, etc., check the About The Instructor(s) section for a link to a Faculty Website.
Session, Dates: 1 (01/13/2014 - 05/03/2014)
Days: M W F
Time: 02:00 - 02:50 pm
Location: Moon Campus
Room: Hale Center 104
Seats Available: 25 Seats
Credits: 3
This course is designed to focus on the planning and managing of events, meetings and conventions and will cover the basic techniques and processes behind event planning and meeting management. Emphasis will be given on specific technical, financial, operational and implementation skills, identifying the legal and strategic requirements and impact of each on business. Event planning and meeting convention managment will delve deeper into the process that surrounds the student's particular venue and event choices. This course seeks to introduce students to a more specialized area of study focusing on meetings, conventions, and exhibition planning. In-depth analysis of event planning and meeting and convention management will provide students with an understanding of managerial strategies while embracing a functional and operational context which is transferable to every sector of the hospitality industry. Furthermore, the importance of engaging with external stakeholders will be explored and key post event strategies will be addressed.
Ersem Karadag, Ph.D.
Professor of Hospitality and Tourism
Sport Management
412-397-6381 phone
412-397-2217 fax
Massey Hall 311
For additional course information, First Class requirements, syllabus, etc., check the About The Instructor(s) section for a link to a Faculty Website.


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Rock musician Billy Idol once said, "Rock isn't art, it's the way ordinary people talk." The conversation will be flowing when The Sunset Villains and American Babies perform at Montgomery County Community College's MontCo Rocks concert on Saturday, Sept. 28, at 8 p.m. at the Science Center Theatre, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell.
"This is the first year for the concert," said Michael Kelly, the show's director and MCCC's Music Technology and Music Business Instructor. "It will be a bi-annual event, and we decided to kick it off during MCCC's 'America's Music' film and lecture series."
To get the ball rolling, Kelly went to the MCCC student body, through his classes and an online Facebook poll, to find the right artists.
"I was made aware of American Babies through MCCC student James Hamilton in my music history class," said Kelly. "Jim is the brother of Tom Hamilton (founder of Philly band Brother's Past and American Babies), and has performed with the group. I immersed myself in their songs, and I was extremely pleased that students were tuned into this band."
When it came to the opening act, Kelly already knew the students had made a great suggestion.
"The Sunset Villains is one of the great bands David Ivory is producing, that I was well aware of, and they came up on a short list of student favorites as well."
Kelly said there is just one main reason for MCCC to present Montco Rocks.
"It's fun," he put simply. "There are other reasons of course, but that was the first one. And to tell you the truth, the choices are slim to none seeing bands out here unless you go to a bar, and there you have the age restriction."
Unlike area pubs, this show at MCCC is for all ages. Kelly said, if you can stay up until 11 p.m., it's a show you will enjoy.
"It's a chance to hang with your friends in a familiar place, see two incredible bands that usually only come as far as Philadelphia, with great music they had a hand in choosing, all for about third of the cost of the same experience downtown" he said.
While this will be the first Montco Rocks of the series, the hosting of contemporary and pop music at MCCC is nothing new.
"I started combing through old copies of 'The Montgazette' from the 1960s and 70s and found that the school paper was full of music reviews about albums, shows and concerts that the students were into at the time," said Kelly of his research for the show. "The idea to bring this tradition back to the campus and the community was born, with the idea that it would reflect the kind of music experience the students were looking for, and making the concert itself a classroom experience, as well. I mentioned this idea to David Ivory as well, who remembers coming to Montco to see the band 'Gentle Giant' and told me he'd be interested in hosting the event," Kelly said.
MCCC students are helping to make the production possible, too.
"My Music Business class is helping with the marketing and social networking aspect, and students in my Music Technology and Sound Recording classes will be able to get hands on experience knowing what it's like to produce a live show," said Kelly.
The concerts will be filmed by the college's Communication Arts Production Group and available on local media, including Destination Arts, David Ivory Presents, Channel 35 MIND TV and Montco Radio for area residents.
MCCC adjunct Sound Recording Instructor and Grammy-nominated Producer David Ivory will host the show, in conjunction with MCCC's Office of Cultural Affairs, Office of Student Leadership and Involvement and Montco Radio.
Tickets for the show are just $10. The show is open to the public and will be held at MCCC's Science Center Theater, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell. For tickets, call 215-641-6518 or visit www.mc3.edu/livelyarts.


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|MySQL Conference and Expo April 14-17, 2008, Santa Clara, CA
Last March Macromedia released Flash MX with a compelling new vision for the product: the animation and design software would henceforth be groomed as a rich Internet application platform. Accordingly, some heavy changes were made to the authoring environment. Macromedia added an extensible library of user interface widgets, known as the Flash UI Components, for quickly creating common GUI applications. (Previously, Flash developers were expected to bake all UI in their own ovens.) Java developers accustomed to working with Swing or Visual Basic developers used to a drag-and-drop environment will appreciate this critical step in the direction of rich application development for the Web.
Flash UI Components are actually a specific example of the more general Flash MX component architecture. A component in Flash MX is a reusable, packaged module that adds a particular capability to a Flash movie. Components can include graphics as well as code (as do the built-in Flash UI Components), so they're neat little bundles of self-contained functionality that you can easily drop into your projects. For example, a component can be a radio button, a dialog box, a preload bar, or even something that has no graphics at all, such as a timer, a server connection utility, or a custom XML parser.
From a technical point of view, a component is Flash MX's version of Flash 5's smart clip, which is a movie-clip symbol that allows its variables (or "clip parameters") to be set via a GUI in the authoring tool. Flash MX components are typically subclasses of the built-in MovieClip class, but they're not required to be. As such, they have all the properties and methods of MovieClip, plus their own properties and methods. (For the uninitiated, a MovieClip is Flash's basic content container, something like a DHTML layer in a web page.)
So the answer to "what is a Flash MX component?" depends partly on your point of view. From a traditional Flash point of view, components are effectively ready-made movie clips that you install and drag into your movies. From a programmer's point of view, components are customizable building blocks that can be added to an application visually or programatically and then wired into the application's logic and data.
Flash MX components are Macromedia's effort to provide visual programmers with a drag-and-drop development environment, much like Microsoft Visual Basic. Using components you can create a user interface visually in the Flash authoring tool and then easily hook that interface up to routines that perform some action. Figure 1 is a screenshot showing the creation of a fill-in form with checkbox, listbox, and pushbutton components.
The component architecture is fully extensible. If you're an advanced Flash developer, you can create your own components and distribute them as binary files for other Flash developers to install. The extensible component architecture allows Macromedia to update the capabilities of Flash MX by shipping new component sets, without requiring an updated version of the core authoring tool. Some developers also use components to distribute code-only libraries such as basic game classes or data-handling utilities. While the use of components for code distribution is common practice, the jury is still out on whether it is the best practice. Flash MX does not impose a strict policy on code distribution. Code can be distributed in a component, in a .as file included in other .fla files, in a runtime or author-time shared library, or in a .swf file that is dynamically loaded at runtime. The distribution method you choose will depend on your situation.
Chapter 14, "Movie Clip Subclasses and Components" and Chapter 16, "ActionScript Authoring Environment," of ActionScript for Flash MX: The Definitive Guide describe how to create components and explain how components work under the hood. You can also check out Macromedia's online technotes:
Of course, the best way to learn about components is to try them out. The following sites all have plenty of components free for download:
You'll need the "Extension Manager" to install components (which are distributed as .mxp files). You can get the Extension Manager at the Macromedia Flash Exchange.
Here are resources to learn how to use components to create a GUI application:
Colin Moock is an independent Flash platform expert with a passion for networked creativity and expression. He has been researching, designing, and developing for the Web since 1995.
O'Reilly & Associates recently released (January 2003) ActionScript for Flash MX: The Definitive Guide, 2nd Edition.
Return to the Web Development DevCenter.


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First Insurance sponsors Shidler College of Business student awards and mentorship eventUniversity of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
Shidler College of Business
More than 400 Hawaii business professionals and students from the University of Hawaii at ManoaShidler College of Business attended last night's 47th "Business Night," at the Hilton HawaiianVillage sponsored by First Insurance of Hawaii. For the past three years, First Insurance of Hawaii,Ltd. has sponsored "Business Night," investing well over $75,000.
"We are truly grateful for First Insurance Company's continuous support of Business Night. As aresult of their support, this continues to be a first-class event enjoyed by business professionals andstudents alike," said V. Vance Roley, Dean of the Shidler College of Business. "We couldn't askfor a better partnership."
First Insurance of Hawaii, Ltd. has also supported the College's Internship and CareerDevelopment Office through internship placement and hiring of Shidler College of Businessstudents. In 2007, First Insurance established the $1 million First Insurance CompanyDistinguished Professorship to support the College's effort to recruit and retain faculty of thehighest caliber.
Since 1961, Business Night has matched students one-on-one with business professionals for anevening of learning and sharing. It is the College's premier student event, organized by ShidlerCollege of Business student, staff and faculty.
This year's event featured Shidler alumnus Eddie Flores, Jr., president and CEO of L&L Drive—Innand L&L Hawaiian Barbecue Restaurant Chain, as keynote speaker.Approximately $47,600 in cash awards was presented to top students in various fields of business.
All awards were donated by companies in Hawaii. See below the list of student awards andcompany sponsors.
Tony Lau -Special Junior in Accounting$1,000 - Hawaii Association of Public AccountantsOahu Chapter
Khang Dang -Outstanding Junior in Accounting$1,500 - Ernst & Young LLP
Megumi Sasada -Special Senior in Accounting$1,500 - Ernst & Young LLP
Yinen Huang -Special Senior in Accounting$1,500 - KPMG LLP
David Kwon -Special Senior in Accounting$1,000 - Grant Thornton LLP
Xiao Li Yao -Special Senior in Accounting$1,000 - Hawaii Association of Public Accountants - Oahu Chapter
Jami Johnson -Outstanding Senior in Accounting$1,500 - Hawaii Society of Certified Public Accountants
Tony Lau -Outstanding Junior in Finance$1,500 - Actus Lendlease
Long Trinh -Outstanding Senior in Finance$1,500 - First Hawaiian Bank
Mark Mendes -Outstanding MBA Student in Finance$1,500 - Bank of Hawaii Corporation
Feng Wu -Outstanding PhD in Finance$1,500 - Finance Factors
Jonathan Honda -Outstanding Financial Analyst$1,500 - American Savings Bank
Matthew Ching -Outstanding Student in Financial Planning$1,500 - Financial Planning Association
Jaime Uota -Special Senior in Marketing$1,500 - Eddie Flores, Jr./L&L Drive Inn
Brian Aeder -Outstanding Junior in Marketing$1,500 - Enterprise Rent A Car
Erenst Anip -Outstanding Senior in Marketing$1,000 - Hawaiian Telcom
Lauren Kam -Outstanding Student in Human Resources Management$1,000 - Society of Human Resource Management Hawaii Education Foundation
Ivy Yeung -Outstanding Student in Human Resources Management$1,000 - Hawaii Employers Council
Christopher Jones -Outstanding Senior in Management$1,500 - Central Pacific Bank
Travis Harada -Special Senior in Technology$1,000 - BAE Systems
Anh Nguyen -Outstanding Senior in MIS$1,500 - Oceanic Time Warner
Kyle Izumigawa -Outstanding MBA in Technology$1,500 — Anonymous Alumnus
Andrew Kinder -Outstanding Senior in International Business$1,500 - Servco Pacific, Inc.
Parichat Suwansapap -Outstanding MBA Student in International Business$1,000 - Frank Boas
Adrian Pieron -Outstanding Student in Entrepreneurship$2,000 - KTA Super Stores in honor of Koichi & Taniyo TaniguchiKhang Dang
Outstanding Junior -$1,500 - Hideo Noguchi International Scholarship Fund in the Center for Japanese GlobalInvestment & Finance
Tamlyn Toyama -Outstanding Senior$2,000 - Alexander & Baldwin
Timothy Ruel -Outstanding Master of Accounting Student$1,500 - Deloitte & Touche LLP
Katie Donovan -Outstanding MBA Student$2,000 - Hawaii National Bank
Monica Tse -David Bess Leadership Award$2,000 - Chris Helm
Adina Wakayama -Dean's Service Award$1,000 - Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Hawaii
Bryan Doyle -Dean's Spirit Award$1,000 - First Insurance Company of Hawaii
Sophia Yunis -Dean's Professional Development Award$2,000 - Financial Executives International


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Submission + - Little health risk seen from Fukushima's radioactivity (nature.com) 2
gbrumfiel writes: "Two independent reports show that the public and most workers received only low doses of radiation following last year's meltdowns at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Japan. Nature reports that the risks presented by the doses are small, even though some are above guidelines and limits set by the Japanese government. Few people will develop cancer as a result of the accident, and those that do may never be able to conclusively link their illness to the meltdowns. The greatest risk lies with the workers who struggled in the early days to bring the reactors under control. So far no ill-effects have been detected. At Chernobyl, by contrast, the highest exposed workers died quickly from radiation sickness."


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Easier money. More of it. And without the wait.
A proposed overhaul of Missouri's job-creation incentives could make it easier for many businesses to qualify for state incentives. Some also could receive more aid than under Missouri's existing programs. And for a lucky few, the new program could be like winning the lottery - they could choose to take the cash up front, instead of getting incremental payments over the coming years.
The proposal is called Compete Missouri. It's backed by Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon and passed the Missouri Senate last week on a bipartisan vote.
But it faces an uncertain future in the Missouri House as a special legislative session continues this week. Republican House leaders are skeptical about scrapping Missouri's current way of doing things and giving Nixon's administration greater flexibility over the state's business enticements.
The Compete Missouri proposal may comprise the most substantive change in the 174-page bill passed by the Senate, but it has largely been overshadowed by a debate over proposed tax incentives intended to transform Lambert-St. Louis International Airport into an international cargo hub.
Senators stripped from the bill $300 million of the original $360 million of tax credits earmarked for the so-called Aerotropolis. But an analysis by the Department of Economic Development shows that the same warehouses and manufacturing facilities targeted by the stricken Aerotropolis tax break may be able to receive just as much money - and perhaps even more - under the Compete Missouri proposal that remains in the legislation.
Officially, state economic development director David Kerr supports all parts of the legislative package equally. Besides Compete Missouri and the air export tax credits, Kerr says Missouri stands to benefit in the long run from proposed incentives for computer data centers and science and technology companies.
"I believe Compete Missouri is the one part of this package that gives us the tools that will help us create and grow jobs immediately," Kerr said.
House leaders seem inclined to delete Compete Missouri.
The legislation "is basically getting rid of all the programs that have been set up over the last couple decades in the state, rolling them all into one giant package, and handing that package to the governor in the form of Compete Missouri and giving him a blank checkbook to do whatever he wants for economic development in this state," said House Majority Leader Tim Jones, R-Eureka..
"I think that's the largest piece of central planning and expansion of government that I have ever seen, and I'm a little shocked that some of the folks who were filibustering earlier in the week in the Senate simply sat down and let that bill go through," Jones added.
The Compete Missouri proposal would end six existing business development incentives and three job-training programs and replace them with a single program using a standard set of definitions to offer a variety of incentives.
Compete Missouri is largely modeled on the existing Quality Jobs program, which was created six years ago. Its incentives would be based on the number of jobs a business adds or retains. Like under Quality Jobs, a business would have to cover at least half the premium of its employees' health insurance policies and pay them a decent wage.
But that's where the details begin to diverge.
Under Quality Jobs, businesses must pay their employees a wage at least equal to the average in that county or the state, whichever is less. To qualify for the maximum amount of state incentives under Quality Jobs, businesses might have to pay wages equal to 140 percent of the average salary.
Under Compete Missouri, the required wage to qualify would be lowered to 90 percent of the county or state average. Kerr said that change was proposed because Missouri is missing out on too many companies, particularly outside the metropolitan areas, whose wages are just a tad below average.
Compete Missouri also would be more readily available to smaller businesses. To qualify, most businesses would have to create at least 20 new jobs while those in "targeted industries" would need to add just 10 jobs. The department's targeted industries list is fairly broad, covering "advanced manufacturing," "energy solutions," "biosciences," "health sciences and services," "information technology," "financial and professional services" and "transportation and logistics."
Quality Jobs sets an eligibility threshold of 10 jobs only for "technology" businesses, 20 jobs for other businesses in rural areas and 40 jobs elsewhere.
The maximum incentives available to businesses also would be higher under Compete Missouri than Quality Jobs, though Kerr notes many businesses currently receive a bundle of tax breaks from the state's various programs that could be comparable in total value to Compete Missouri.
The difficulty, he said, is that some of Missouri's current programs are so complicated and outdated that they have lower participation rates.
Compete Missouri also would give the department a new alternative to provide upfront cash to businesses, instead of the normal five-year stream of incentives that starts flowing only after they have hired employees. That option would be contingent upon legislators placing money in the annual budget for that purpose.
The total amount of money available for Compete Missouri tax credits would gradually rise from $111 million this year to $141 million in the 2014 fiscal year and thereafter. That's roughly equal to the $143 million annual cap from five of the existing programs targeted for elimination.
Whereas Missouri has not come close to reaching its current tax credit caps, economic development officials believe the revamped program will prove more popular.
Compete Missouri also contains a new requirement that was essential to its passage in the Senate. It prohibits any incentives if their cost to the state is projected to exceed the net tax revenues the state would receive over 10 years as a result of the business project.
Because of those taxpayer protections, state Sen. Jason Crowell, R-Cape Girardeau, dismisses the concerns of House leaders about granting too much discretion to the governor's economic development officials.
After the bill was revamped in the Senate, Crowell changed from critic to supporter. As the bill now stands, "I think we're in a position to where this is a net positive to the taxpayers," he said.
David A. Lieb has covered government and politics for The Associated Press since 1995.


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In the first of a two part exclusive video, Franklin Templeton bond star Michael Hasenstab reveals his preferred emerging markets and explains why he expects greater volatility ahead for China.
Hasenstab says the Chinese currency should appreciate in value over time, provided the country is able to manage its economic reforms successfully. If it doesn't, the currency could endure significant weakness through capital flight, he warns.


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Division of Humanities
Division of Humanities
The Division of Humanities has requested the following:
A ceiling projector for computer and video. A document camera or built in overhead projector at desk for transparencies. This is for Rome, F-153. Don't know about other sites. The technology in the new Cartersville building is ideal. To date, I have had only 1 major issue and it was resolved fairly timely. If not resolved, I would have had to move classrooms handled quickly and efficiently. I would like to add that combination VCR/DVD's would be a welcome relief at Rome, Marietta, and UWG. For my class, I am constantly showing concert/recital excerpts and the VCR/DVD machine would make the lectures run more smoothly.
Continue to update the older sites with newer technology -this would be beneficial. Sometimes travel to other campuses with older technology limits technology use in class. The tape decks in the lab need checking as they don't appear to be recording since the renovation. The computers in the back appear to be working and are a great help. Wish there could be some kind of universal log on for students who forget their username and password and just need to log on for something in class.
Status: 2/12/09


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Never miss a deal, always be up to date -
The most important events and product news
with the MUSIC STORE Newsletters!
free with orders starting at 199 € (within Finland)
The Allen & Heath Xone:DB range exploits the potential of digital mixer technology to bring you maximum DJ creativity. A key element is what we believe to be the highest quality and most sophisticated FX engine in the DJ market.
Originally developed for the iLive pro touring system and rated by some of the best ears in the business, the FX algorithms have been painstakingly optimised for DJ use. The first mixer to get the new FX engine was the Xone:DB4 - an unapologetic monster of a mixer with an FX engine on each channel.
Now the Xone:DB2 captures the essence of DB4 in a stylish, accessible, affordable format.
Nice comfy mixer! Feels so much better to mix with than all the DJM mixers. EQ isolators are great!
Use thistogether with 2* Xone K2 controllers, and this is the best setup i can imagen. All buttons and knobs just feels good, nothing more to say. Hands dawn for this mixer and Allen & Heath!
Excellent mixer, high Assembly quality and ergonomics. EQ isolators provide tremendous opportunities for information and it sounds great. A joy to work, use together with xone k2 and traktor pro. Effects and drivers are updated on the official website without problems. It is a pity that the bag is not included.
Konstantin. Russia
Every month we are giving away a shopping voucher among all submitted reviewers worth 500 EURO!
Congratulations to the winner of December: Michael Rauser, Heilbronn (DE)
The winner from the previous month (November): Martin Reinert, Siegburg (DE)
You can rate this product if you like. By rating this product you will be automatically entered into our monthly shopping voucher giveaway!


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Wednesday was a crummy day. My friend Becky, who apparently thought so, too, summed it up perfectly:
"OK, this day could just end now and we'd all be better for it."
No kidding. I couldn't have said it any better, myself. In fact, by the time I collapsed into my recliner and spotted her post on Facebook, I'd had my fill. You know, "Check, please?"
My Wednesday began with an awkward encounter with one of my offspring in our upstairs hallway. I may have been bleary-eyed but easily recognized the unmistakable shape of a cell-phone concealed in a T-shirt, being carried by said-offspring. (The rule in my house from the get-go has been that cell phones and other such devices are to be charged in my bedroom overnight, eliminating any natural temptation to text with friends all night long.)
"Hand it over," I said, yawning.
I admired his effort but mostly resented the fact that I was being forced to dispense consequences before consuming tea or even peeing. It's ridiculous, but I digress.
"You'll get it back tomorrow."
One helping of adolescent angst later (stir in one perimenopausal mama for a truly memorable moment), and the day was off to a great start.
Then I learned that Noah still hadn't found his winter coat. Say, have any of you seen it? No, really. It's a black Columbia, adult small. Gosh, and to think I was so pleased with that purchase.
I hate shopping, but when I do, I bargain-hunt. I recall that I managed – between coupons and good timing – to snag it for about 50 percent off its original price. If you know what brand-named outerwear goes for, these days, you'll understand why I did a jig over that one. And Noah conveniently lost it during a cold-snap. Shoot.
Then, after school, just to spice things up, Holly surprised us all when she knocked her big brother to the living room floor.
"Holly, why'd you do that?" I asked, trying to keep a straight face. Usually it's Noah I'm lecturing, about wrestling a little too enthusiastically with her. He was laughing, too.
"I wanted to say goodbye to Posey (our cat) before soccer practice but Noah wouldn't let me near him so I grabbed him by the shoulders and pulled him off," she said, shrugging and wincing. Nice.
When I returned to the kitchen to finish washing the dinner dishes after sorting out the ruckus in the living room, I glanced outside at the our toddler-esque big-red-dog, Jake, and found him curiously licking the metal railing by the back door. Seriously?
It was a mere 10 degrees, 10 below zero with the wind-chill. Jake's as sweet as he can be, but he possesses about as much sense as young Flick – a friend of Ralphie's who famously got his tongue stuck to a metal flagpole one bitterly cold day in "A Christmas Story."
For example, last Wednesday he puked something red and scary (on the living room carpet, of course). Upon closer inspection, I discovered it wasn't blood, just the lower part of his once dashing red bandanna, which, apparently, he'd chewed off and swallowed. Seems we failed to entertain him and he took it out on his bandanna. The proof was in the pudding, as they say.
Not to be outdone, Posey puked on the runner in the kitchen immediately after I hauled Jake back inside. "Make it stop!" I thought. I couldn't help but laugh as I watched him zip out of the kitchen like a hit-and-run driver.
Nothing tragic happened on this day, of course, but it did remind me of one of my favorite picture books, Judith Viorst's "Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day."
Yeah, some days are like that.
Here's hoping, dear Becky, that next Wednesday is better for both of us.
Update: Found, one winter coat, by Noah's soccer teammate who discovered that it had accidentally been placed (by Noah) in his soccer bag. Yay!
• Jennifer DuBose lives in Batavia with her husband, Todd, and their two children, Noah and Holly. Contact her at email@example.com.
Tales from the Motherhood: Just one of those days
Mid-week melodrama leaves one mom wishing for the weekend
Wednesday was a crummy day. My friend Becky, who apparently thought so, too, summed it up perfectly:


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Insphere Insurance Solutions, Inc. (http://www.insphereis.com)
today announced it has made changes to its senior management team. The
company has added R. Scott Donovan as Executive Vice President, Chief
Financial Officer, Michael Burson as Senior Vice President, Sales and
appointed Mark H. Smith as Executive Vice President, Chief Agency
Officer and Steven J. Hatem as Senior Vice President, Sales.
Mark H. Smith, Executive Vice President and Chief Agency Officer (Photo: Business Wire)
Insphere Insurance Solutions is a distribution company focused on
meeting the insurance needs of individuals (including the senior
market), families and small businesses. The Insphere portfolio includes
highly rated life, health, senior, long-term care and retirement
insurance products from recognized carriers.
"I am extremely pleased to announce these changes to Insphere's senior
management team," said Kenneth
J. Fasola, President and Chief Executive Officer of Insphere
Insurance Solutions. Each of these individuals are well respected,
insurance-industry veterans who will play important roles for the
company as we focus on expanding our field force and gaining additional
market share through the development of new distribution channels under
the Insphere Insurance Solutions brand."
Smith has been given an expanded role with Insphere and now serves
as Executive Vice President, Chief Agency Officer. Mark directs sales as
well as all aspects of Insphere's business strategy," said Fasola.
Donovan is new to the management team and will serve as Executive
Vice President, Chief Financial Officer for Insphere," said Fasola.
"Scott is a talented leader with more than 30 years of industry and
finance experience. He understands this business, our direction and will
help us take advantage of potential opportunities to accelerate growth
at Insphere."
Prior to joining Insphere, Donovan served as Executive Vice President of
Odyssey Reinsurance Corporation and Executive Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer of Odyssey Re Holdings Corp.
"Also new to Insphere is Mike
Burson who will serve as Senior Vice President of Sales. Mike spent
more than 30 years with New York Life Insurance Company and has
extensive experience recruiting and developing talent in a field agency
environment," said Fasola. "Mike is a natural fit in our organization
and we will leverage his deep understanding of the agency business model
in an effort to expand the distribution capacity at Insphere."
"We have also expanded the responsibilities of Steve
Hatem, who has been a highly respected leader in our field hierarchy
for many years. Steve will now serve on the management team as Senior
Vice President of Sales," said Fasola. "In their new roles, Mike and
Steve will partner with Chris Mason, Senior Vice President, Life Sales
and Agency Distribution who directs the sales strategy for life
insurance as well as managing Insphere's field offices in the Pacific
Northwest. This team will direct the implementation of programs aimed at
driving net manpower growth and increasing agent productivity in all
lines of business."
About Insphere Insurance Solutions®
Insphere Insurance Solutions, Inc. is a distribution company that
specializes in meeting the life, health, long-term care and retirement
insurance needs of small businesses and middle-income individuals
(including the senior market) and families through its portfolio of
highly rated products offered by recognized national and regional
insurance carriers. Insphere is an authorized agency in all 50 states
and the District of Columbia with approximately 3,000 agents nationwide.
For more information, please visit www.insphereis.com.
Some of the matters discussed in this news release may contain
forward-looking statements regarding HealthMarkets, Inc. (the "Company")
and/or its Insphere Insurance Solutions, Inc. ("Insphere") business that
are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Such
forward-looking statements are intended to be identified in this
document by the words "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect,"
"intend," "objective," "plan," "possible," "potential" and similar
expressions. Actual results may vary materially from those included in
the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results
to differ materially from those included in the forward-looking
statements include, but are not limited to, national health care reform
legislation, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial
condition and results of operations; changes in government regulation
that could increase our costs or otherwise impact the way we do
business; failure to comply with extensive state and federal
regulations, which could subject us to fines, penalties and suspensions;
state and federal regulations which could impede our ability to obtain
effective leads and adversely affect our business; compliance with
restrictions on customer privacy and information security; a rapid
reduction in the size of the in-force block of the Company's health
benefits plans, which could result in a reduction in premium revenue and
underwriting profits that might not be replaced fully by our other lines
of business; loss of business to competitors; failure to recruit and
retain productive agents, which could prevent Insphere from competing
successfully; changes in our relationship with membership associations
and/or changes in association product benefits; negative publicity
regarding our business practices and about the health insurance industry
in general; the Company's inability to obtain funds from its insurance
subsidiaries, which may cause it to experience reduced cash flow, which
could affect the Company's ability to pay its obligations to creditors
as they become due; failure to accommodate redemption requests by agents
participating in the ISOP, which could result in dissatisfaction and
attrition among agents; a decrease in the value of our investments;
adverse securities and credit market conditions, which could have a
material adverse affect on our liquidity or our ability to obtain credit
on acceptable terms; failure of the Company's insurance subsidiaries to
maintain their current insurance ratings or sufficient statutory capital
and surplus to continue to write business; failure to accurately
estimate medical claims and health care costs; the need for the
Company's insurance subsidiaries to increase reserves due to inadequacy
of reserves maintained for current and future claims; litigation or
settlements thereof, which may result in financial losses or harm our
reputation and may divert management resources; financial, managerial
and operational challenges presented by acquisitions, divestitures and
other significant transactions; uncertainties relating to the long-term
success of Insphere, which is a relatively new business, including, but
not limited to, the ability of Insphere to maintain satisfactory
relationships with insurance carriers and agents; certain risks faced by
Insphere related to its relationships with non-affiliated insurance
carriers including, but not limited to, the risk that in any particular
market, carriers could terminate their contracts with us (or refuse to
contract with us), demand lower commissions or take other actions,
including litigation, which could adversely affect our business; failure
of our information systems to provide timely and accurate information;
our reliance on outsourcing arrangements, which could subject us to risk
and may disrupt or adversely affect our operations; the inability to
retain key executives or appropriately manage succession could adversely
affect our business; and the other risk factors set forth in the reports
filed by the Company from time to time with the Securities and Exchange
Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/multimedia/home/20121203006409/en/
[ Back To Insurance Technology's Homepage ]


text:
Introducing the new DailyWorth Get Out of Debt Guide, a vital component of building net worth.
Standard get-out-of-debt advice usually tells you to first calculate how much you owe, add up your balances and make a plan for paying it all back.
That's not a G.O.O.D. idea.
We're not talking about cutting back and going on a money diet. We're talking about rebalancing your life so you ditch debt and build wealth.
When you're in debt, that's a sign that you're living a life you can't afford. To get your life and your money back in balance, the first step is:
Start Living a Debt-Free Life (Now)
- Get a piece of paper and break down elements of the In-Debt Lifestyle:
Habits that lead to debt. People that lead you to overspend. Lies you tell yourself ("It's on sale"; "I'll pay it back"). What you feel is "normal." ("We have to have a big wedding.")
- Now, on a separate piece of paper, imagine the Debt-Free Life:
Having money to save each month. Being honest with friends. Enjoying life without sacrificing priorities. Saying no and feeling comfortable.
This week, practice one aspect of the G.O.O.D. life.
Penny for your thoughts. What would your debt-free life require?
photo source: avecjasmine's shop on etsy


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The range of home health care services a patient can receive at home is limitless. Depending on the individual patient's situation, care can range from nursing care to specialized medical services such as laboratory work-ups. You and your physician will determine your care plan and services you may need at home. At-home care services may include:
physician care
A physician may visit a patient at home to diagnose and treat the illness(es). He or she may also periodically review the home health care needs.
nursing care
The most common form of home health care is some type of nursing care depending on the patient's needs. In consultation with the physician, a registered nurse will set up a plan of care. Nursing care may include wound dressing, ostomy care, intravenous therapy, administering medication, monitoring health of patient, pain control, and other health support.
physical, occupational, and/or speech therapy
Some patients may need help relearning how to perform daily duties or improve their speech after an illness or injury. A physical therapist can put together a plan of care to help a patient regain or strengthen use of muscles and joints. An occupational therapist can help a patient with physical, developmental, social, or emotional disabilities relearn how to perform such daily functions as eating, bathing, dressing, and more. A speech therapist can help a patient with impaired speech regain the ability to communicate clearly.
medical social services
Medical social workers provide various services to the patient, including counseling and locating community resources to help the patient in his or her recovery. Some social workers are also the patient's case manager - if the patient's medical condition is very complex and requires coordination of many services.
care from home health aides
Home health aides can help the patient with his or her basic personal needs such as getting out of bed, walking, bathing, and dressing. Some aides have received specialized training to assist with more specialized care under supervision of a nurse.
homemaker or attendant care
While a patient is being medically cared for in the home, a homemaker or attendant can maintain the household with meal preparation, laundry, grocery shopping, and other housekeeping chores.
Some patients who are home alone may require a companion to provide comfort and supervision. Some companions may also perform some household duties.
volunteer care
Volunteers from community organizations can provide basic comfort to the patient through companionship, helping with personal care, providing transportation, and/or helping with paperwork.
nutritional support
Dietitians can come to a patient's home to provide dietary assessments and guidance to complement treatment.
laboratory and x-ray imaging
Certain laboratory tests, such as blood and urine tests, can be performed in the comfort of the patient's home. In addition, portable x-ray machines allow lab technicians to perform this service at home, if needed.
pharmaceutical services
Medicine and medical equipment can be delivered at home. If the patient needs it, training can be provided on administration of the medication or use of the equipment, including intravenous therapy.
There are companies that provide transportation to patients who require transportation to and from a medical facility for treatment or physical examination.
home-delivered meals
Often called Meals-on-Wheels, many communities offer this service to patients at home who are unable to cook for themselves. Depending on the patient's needs, hot meals can be delivered several times a week.
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text:
Three Points: Liverpool vs. Southampton
LIVERPOOL, England -- Three observations from Liverpool's 2-1 win vs. Southampton to kick off their Premier League campaign.
1. Same old Liverpool?
It was a striker's goal: scrappy, scruffy and significant. Daniel Sturridge didn't make particularly clean contact when the chance came his way, but he did enough to guide Raheem Sterling's header over the line. One point became three, an uncertain start to life after Luis Suarez became a winning beginning to the season. It was a poacher's effort, and in a way, Liverpool pilfered the points.
The home side did have more pressure and more possession, but they could have been 2-1 down when Steven Davis was granted a wonderful chance to put Southampton ahead. They could have been pegged back to 2-2 when Morgan Schneiderlin struck the bar and Shane Long should have converted the rebound. Instead, they have a 13th victory in their last 15 league games.
In keeping with many of their previous wins, it was an eventful, nerve-wracking affair. There have been other matches where Liverpool have seized and lost the initiative, others where their powers of recovery and team spirit have been apparent and others where players have delivered in crucial moments. They continue to make for entertaining viewing.
Then again, perhaps it should be no surprise that little has changed: They may have spent more than 100 million pounds and made eight signings this summer, but the core of the team was the same. Each of the midfielders and attackers who started was at Anfield last season. The only difference, of course, was that Suarez was missing. And even then, he ensured he would be absent from the moment he bit Giorgio Chiellini during the World Cup, not when he finalised his move to Barcelona.
2. Southampton ease into new era
Wholesale change can backfire, and while Southampton were unable to stop many of their top players from leaving, manager Ronald Koeman was probably wise to only select four debutants in the starting 11. Anfield is not the place to parade a side full of strangers, but a Southampton team with a mix of old and new almost procured a point.
Florin Gardos, the Romanian centre-back who was signed as Dejan Lovren's replacement, is not fully fit. Saphir Taider, loaned from Inter Milan, and Long, bought from Hull, began on the bench. The 12 million pound forward should have equalised in his cameo, somehow heading wide from a few yards instead.
Yet Southampton did score one goal thanks largely to an arrival. Dusan Tadic's talent was highlighted by his defence-splitting flick that led to Nathaniel Clyne's emphatic leveller. With a marked preference for his left foot and evident skill in possession, the Serbian winger looks a gifted addition. His fondness for exaggerating contact may make him unpopular with opponents -- it also brought Liverpool's new right-back, Javier Manquillo, a caution -- but he also has the skill to trouble defenders.
Of the other newcomers, Ryan Bertrand made a competent start at left-back. The former Liverpool target did not venture forward as often as Luke Shaw used to, but this was not the fixture in which to display his attacking instincts.
In goal, Fraser Forster had no chance with Sterling's goal, though a subsequent parry from the winger was rather less convincing. As Artur Boruc, the first choice for the past two seasons, is infamously eccentric, it made sense to bring in a less volatile character.
In attack, Graziano Pelle has the physique to replace Rickie Lambert; the Italian target man is similarly strapping. It remains to be seen, however, if his prolific goal scoring will be confined to Dutch football. He scored 55 times in 66 games for Koeman's Feyenoord but was never as potent in his homeland.
3. Lovren the leader
While much of the 75 million pounds Liverpool received for Suarez has been spent on attack-minded players, their most important addition may not be charged with making up the 31-goal, 12-assist shortfall that resulted from the striker's move to Barcelona.
Former Southampton defender Lovren was the only one of Brendan Rodgers' buys to start. Adam Lallana and Lazar Markovic are injured, Rickie Lambert began on the bench and Emre Can stayed there, Divock Origi has been loaned back to Lille and left-back Alberto Moreno was not ready to feature. Each will in time, but for now, Lovren appears to be the pivotal acquisition.
Indeed, had anyone been unaware, it wouldn't have been immediately apparent this was his competitive debut. The Croatian looked the leader and not the newcomer in the back four, taking responsibility and talking, communicating with clear body language and appearing an assured figure. His passing was crisp and accurate, his general demeanour that of a man who belongs in a Liverpool shirt.
Given Liverpool's defensive difficulties last season, his poise was especially auspicious. The problem was that the addition of one centre-back did not immediately add solidity. Lovren capitalised on their past problems at the back, scoring Southampton's winner at Anfield last September. When Saints defender Clyne pierced the Liverpool defence Sunday, Lovren was blameless; perhaps Martin Skrtel, his central-defensive colleague, could have gotten across quicker to cover. Nor was Lovren at fault when Schneiderlin rattled the bar. Nevertheless, it was a sign that Liverpool's defence is not watertight just yet.
Lovren has displaced the more cumbersome Mamadou Sakho, whose alliance with Skrtel proved too flawed at times last season. The objective for Rodgers is to construct more of a frugal defence after leaking 50 goals last season. Without Suarez and with Lovren, Liverpool probably won't score as many goals this season, but if they concede fewer, it may not matter. But that remains an "if."
Richard Jolly covers the Premier League and Champions League for ESPN FC. Twitter: @RichJolly.
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And you shall tell your son on that day, "It is because of this that God acted for me when I left Egypt" (Exodus 13:8)
Many of the mitzvos in parshas Bo relate to Pesach, remembering the Exodus and reenacting it in a fashion. Here, we are specifically instructed to tell the story of the Exodus, especially (but not exclusively) to our children. In fact, it is still a mitzvah to tell over the story of the Exodus even if one is all alone on Seder night. (In verse 3, Moshe tells the people to remember the day they left Egypt – even in the absence of others to whom to relate it.) The reason we do so much to commemorate and recall the Exodus is that it was the seminal event in the formation of the Jewish people; on that day, God took us out of Egypt to serve only Him.
This mitzvah is fulfilled at the Seder, specifically in the portion called Maggid. (The words Maggid and Haggadah come from the Hebrew word meaning to relate or to tell.) At the Seder, we drink four cups of wine, corresponding to the four terms used in the Torah to refer to our redemption, and we are obligated to explain the significance of the korban Pesach, matzah and maror (Passover offering, unleavened bread and bitter herbs). The section of the "Four Sons" uses our verse here and others to describe the ways in which different personality types might pose their questions and the proper way for us to respond to each.
The "this" in our verse refers to the matzah, maror and, in the time of the Temple, the korban Pesach. As the Haggadah discusses, this is how we know that the obligation to relate the Exodus is on the Seder night. As Rashi explains it, "Because of this – i.e., because I fulfill His mitzvos, such as this (korban) Pesach, matzah and maror."
This mitzvah applies to both men and women in all times and places. It is discussed in Talmud Pesachim on pages 116a-b. The halachos of the Seder can be found in the Shulchan Aruch in Orach Chaim 472. This mitzvah is #157 of the 248 positive mitzvos in the Rambam's Sefer HaMitzvos and #24 of the 77 positive mitzvos that can be fulfilled today as listed in the Chofetz Chaim's Sefer HaMitzvos HaKatzar.


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Commentary & Opinion
Editorial, Opinion Piece Discuss Issues Related to Routine HIV Testing
July 6, 2009
A recent directive to streamline the HIV testing consent process in Massachusetts as well as consent forms "no longer hav[ing] to accompany test specimens to the lab," are bringing "the state closer to a CDC recommendation that clinicians provide HIV screening on an opt-out basis," according to a Boston Globe editorial. "The opt-out provision is at the heart" of legislation sponsored by state Sen. Patricia Jehlen (D) that would end the states requirement of written consent for HIV testing "and instead have healthcare providers inform patients verbally that the test is planned but that they can decline it," the editorial states, adding, "The Jehlen bill would help destigmatize HIV testing itself" (7/6).
Separately, an opinion piece in the Detroit Free Press -- by David Share, medical director of the Corner Health Center and senior associate medical director of health care quality at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Sandro Cinti, a clinical assistant professor in the Department of Internal Medicine at the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor -- supports a Michigan bill (HB 4583) that would eliminate the written informed consent requirement in that state and replace it with a pamphlet and an informational opt-out form. Share and Cinti write of the current requirements, "These extraordinary precautions provide no protection, are not needed, and distract patients and health care professionals from other services and treatments that have the potential to improve patients' well-being," adding,"Routine HIV testing should be encouraged for early diagnosis and treatment of HIV infection" (Share/Cinti, 7/2).
Back to other news for July 2009
This information was reprinted from kff.org with permission from the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily U.S. HIV/AIDS Report, search the archives, and sign up for email delivery. © Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.
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text:
I just found this game and after poking the Alpha for a bit, found it enjoyable enough to pre-order. Love the more "slow immersion" setup of the beta. HOWEVER, ran into a very annoying bug.
Right after I beat the third "Easy Goat Dungeon" (Thousand Cuts, Vince's Something, and the BAAAADlands) and being assigned the Banker quest and getting all the puzzle packs and whatnot, I am constantly being given the message:
"You just reached your maximum gold capacity. Go spend some money, or find a way upgrade the bank."
Aside from the typo in that message (Should be "find a way TO upgrade the bank"), my gold from that point on seems frozen. I can spend it, but none is deducted from my total. That message quoted above is just displayed again and I have the same amount of money. I also cannot gain any more money after going and doing other dungeons.
I have tried this in two separate kingdoms with the same results. Chrome and Firefox. Have tried closing the browser and trying again, to no avail.
Any ideas? I would really like to keep playing this wonderful game.


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SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) — Crude futures finished higher Friday, ending the month with a gain of about 3% as traders watched negotiations in Washington and supply risks in the Middle East, and looked for hints on demand prospects from the latest global economic data.
Oil for January delivery CLF3, +0.00% tacked on 84 cents, or 1%, to settle at $88.91 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.
Based on the front-month contract settlements, futures prices added 0.7% for the week and climbed 3.1% for the month. The January contract was 0.7% higher for the week and 2.5% higher for the month.
"We still have a distance to run regarding resolving the fiscal cliff, but the market seems to view the current negotiations as one of the likely many inevitable hiccups in the path to resolution sometime in December," said Matt Smith, a commodity analyst at Schneider Electric in Louisville, Ky. See Commodities Corner: Any fiscal cliff deal will do for oil, gold.
"Combine this approval of further U.S. sanctions on Iran and a Chicago PMI showing expansionary conditions again, and crude is having a positive yet moderate end to the week," he wrote in an email.
Oil rallied 1.8% on Thursday on optimism over a potential resolution to the fiscal cliff — the automatic tax increases and spending cuts that would begin in January. Read: Oil ends loss streak on cliff talk, economic data.
• The Tell: Market news and analysis
• | Canada section
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House Speaker John Boehner on Friday said there is a stalemate between Republicans and President Barack Obama's administration. He also said Obama's proposal of $1.6 trillion in new tax revenue and less than $400 billion in spending cuts wasn't "serious." See: There is a 'stalemate' on debt talks, says Boehner.
In the Middle East Friday, Syrian rebels battled regime troops south of the capital, and Internet and telephone lines were cut for a second day, according to the Associated Press.
Also Friday, the U.S. Senate voted to tighten sanctions on Iran, targeting its energy and shipping industries, the AP reported. "The tightening U.S. sanctions on Iran may well spark rhetoric from them to stoke animosity," according to Smith.
Out of all the current issues in the Mideast, "Egypt is the one currently in focus" with the draft constitution presented Friday to the president, he said. The draft constitution, approved by Islamist allies of President Mohammed Morsi early Friday, fueled protests in the nation, the AP reported.
"Again, all these issues in themselves are not a direct threat to oil supplies, but escalation in any of the pockets of geopolitical tension is a going concern, keeping markets on tenterhooks," said Smith.
Weighing the data
Meanwhile, oil traders also digested the latest global economic data.
U.S. consumers cut their spending for the first time in five months in October. Read: U.S. consumer spending drops in October
The Chicago PMI, meanwhile, inched into expansion territory in November. See: Chicago PMI inches into expansion territory.
In the euro zone, a reported showed unemployment for the currency bloc rose to 11.7% in October from 11.6% in September, while in Germany, retail sales slumped 2.8% in October. Read more in Europe Markets.
"I think the market has looked beyond the [European Union] unemployment rate and German retail sales," said Smith. "The ebb and flow of sentiment regarding the fiscal cliff is the current culprit" for oil's moves.
Elsewhere in the energy complex, December gasoline US:RBZ2 closed down nearly 3 cents, or 0.9%, at $2.76 a gallon. Prices, based on front-month contract settlements, rose 0.7% for the week and were flat for the month, though the December contract itself was up about 5% from its Oct. 31 settlement.
December heating oil US:HOZ2 finished unchanged at $3.04 a gallon. Futures prices saw a weekly loss of 1.3% and monthly decline of 1%.
The December contracts for the oil products expired at the close of Nymex trading.
January natural gas US:NGF13 closed down 9 cents, or 2.4%, at $3.56 per million British thermal units. It tumbled 4% Thursday after data showed an unexpected buildup in natural-gas stocks.
Futures, based on the front-month contract settlements, fell 8.7% for the week and were down around 3.5% for the month.


text: Preferred by some of today's most popular professional tennis players, Dunlop Tennis continues to raise the bar of innovation through their wide range of tennis racquets. Dunlop's revolutionary new iDapt system will change your tennis game for the better, allowing you to choose specs that work best for your playing style. Dunlop Biomimetic frames are constructed with 100% premium Aerogel enhanced graphite and features Dunlop's new Biomimetic technologies. Used by Tommy Robredo, Dominika Cibulková, and other ATP and WTA Tour players, Dunlop tennis racquets represent player-oriented tennis technology at its finest.


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UH Manoa College of Education alumna receives two prestigious Filipino American AwardsUniversity of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
College of Education
Sponsored by Filipino Image Magazine, the TOFA project was initiated in 1990 and has gained positive recognition from the governments of the United States, Canada, and the Philippines. "The global recognition from TOFA gave me the opportunity to meet face- to-face with illustrious physicians, lawyers, accountants, military men and women, and civic-minded citizens who have enhanced the positive and dynamic image of Filipinos throughout the world," Martin said.
The 2007 Chicago Filipino American Hall of Fame inductees include 23 outstanding individuals who promote positive images of the Filipino and demonstrate innovative civic responsibility through their field of interest or profession. More than 1,000 guests and dignitaries attended the event, including Philippine ambassador to the U.S. Willy Gaa.
Martin said she was overwhelmed, humbled, and immensely grateful on being selected. "This prestigious award, in turn, is for the UH Mānoa College of Education, especially Dr. Ann Bayer, my doctoral chair," she added.
Martin earned her Ed.D under Bayer's guidance in 1990 from Curriculum Studies, formerly the Curriculum & Instruction Department. "I'm not surprised to learn of Aida Martin's national recognition as I remember her passion and determination as a doctoral student to make a contribution to the Filipino American community and to education," Bayer said. "It was an honor to work with her."
For more information, visit http://www.filamimage.com/2007_TOFA/amartin.html.
For more information about the UH Mānoa College of Education, visit http://www.hawaii.edu/coe/.
For more information, visit: http://www.filamimage.com/2007_TOFA/amartin.html


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As a family, you have a lot more concerns. Taipei City is really expensive compared to the rest of the country. You get to live in a crappy run down gongyu, expensive parking if you need a car, no elevator. The best places like Da'an park or Tianmu impossible to live nearby unless you are rolling in cash. You'll never be able to afford to buy a house in Taipei city on a teacher's wages.
Or you could live in the outskirts in a new place with twice the ping,security, parking, garbage disposal for the same or half the price. Or you could live in a house in the countryside with a semblance of nature and fresh air and a yard for the kids. You can actually buy your own house, even if you are a teacher. You can afford to own and run a car which is really handy when you have kids and you can get around the island proper.


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I have to admit it — I am not a fan of November.
The days are gray, growing colder by the minute, and it is the time of year I have to give in to wearing shoes and socks. Right now my toes are screaming. I think I am also walking a bit funny.
It is April each year, no matter how cold, that I take off the socks and shoes and put on the sandals. My personal thing is I don't put the socks and shoes back on until November. Even as the days grow cooler in the fall, I tough it out.
I just don't like my feet enclosed in shoes. I should be living in the Southwest, but the Midwest is where my heart is, so it is what it is.
I have written before of my love to have my toes free. I was in a local store the other day, and a woman came up to me and was surprised to see me in shoes. We laughed. I told her I felt like a failure for giving in to the elements of nature.
I also feel cheated this fall. Is it ever going to stop raining?
What a dismal October we had. I love fall. It's what I live for, but this year, my walks through Krape were cut short by the elements. Yuck. Winter is getting near.
I did buy a new pair of shoes last week. My friend Gina and I hit a shoe sale in Madison. It is the first pair of shoes I have purchased in three years.
I hate breaking in new shoes, too. I wore them to work the other day. As I stepped lightly, not wanting to get a blister, I was once again reminded how much of a pain shoes are to wear. Can you tell that I am a casual person at heart?
I think of the days my mother returned home from teaching school each day, kicking off her pumps and rubbing her aching feet from standing before a class all day long. I told myself then that shoes were evil. I have been wearing sandals ever since.
I have a shoe tree at home. Actually, it is a CD stand, but I use it to store my shoes. I'll admit it — it is full, mostly with sandals.
The other day, I had to rearrange the shoes for the winter months. My favorite winter shoe has been placed at the top, but off to the side is a lone pair of sandals, my favorite. It is a reminder that comfort is not far away. After all, April is a mere five months away.
Jane Lethlean is a freelance writer for The Journal-Standard. She can be reached at email@example.com.


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"What an interesting assumption."
Comments on standard of living??
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Comments on standard of living??
December 13, 2009, 09:31:43 PM »
DH works for small, but well-known firm in fairly small town. Several of DH's colleagues live in extremely large homes, live extremely high-maintenance lifestyles, and make sure entire town knows it. We prefer a more modest (and honestly, tasteful) approach. I cannot tell you how many times, in casual conversation, it has come up that DH works with these people and the person to whom I'm speaking says, "Oh. Your husband works with
? They have a
really nice house
." Read: You must be loaded, too.
Mind you, my husband makes a very nice living; we simply do not care to advertise that. Retirement and our children's educations are a bit more important than keeping up with the Jones. However, as a partner, he/we know exactly what others make, and it is not enough to support the aforementioned lifestyles. In addition, we also know from the horses' mouths via workplace conversations that these lifestyles are exceptionally financed & said partners are so in debt it is questionable as to if (not when) they will retire.
How on earth does one respond to such intrusive (and maddeningly incorrect) assumptions?
Re: Comments on standard of living??
Reply #1 on:
December 13, 2009, 09:40:20 PM »
Unless there's more that missing from the context, I wouldn't even respond to these sorts of comments. It's possible that you are reading too much into them - to me, it sounds more like a way to say "I know these people too - we have a mutual friend/acquaintance!" rather than digging for information about your financial standing.
You can say something like "yes, we were over there last weekend for dinner - how do you know them?", or "oh, I've never visited them at home, DH just has a professional rel
with them." Or a non-committal "uh huh."
I also don't think it's necessary to know how the partners can (or can't) afford their lifestyles - their money, their business. This wouldn't affect how I'd answer the person I was talking to at the time.
Posts: 2484
Re: Comments on standard of living??
Reply #2 on:
December 13, 2009, 09:50:41 PM »
I would just say "that's nice, hey have you tried the new gilded bean dip? It has real gold flakes in it."
It's your life, how you live it is of no concern of theirs (well, serial killing aside). Just ignore what the gossip-geese are saying and they should drop it before long.
NE Florida
Posts: 5143
the Patron Saint of Judgmental Statues
Re: Comments on standard of living??
Reply #3 on:
December 13, 2009, 09:56:21 PM »
"Yes, isn't their house beautiful? Have you had any bean dip yet? It is terrific!"
Re: Comments on standard of living??
Reply #4 on:
December 13, 2009, 10:10:05 PM »
Good points, ladies. Normally, I would accede that I was looking too far into it. (I have a history of that!)
However, there is a lot more to it that would be too much to detail (in short, the partners in question tend to be well beyond showy in manner and speech), but it suffices to say that there is absolutely no doubt as to the fact that my financial status is being evaluated as I speak (it has happened
time, with utter awe, when the occasion arises, going on five years now). Basically, I abhor being evaluated according to my perceived means (I, not my pocketbook, am the person with whom you would be associating, should we pursue this rel@tionship).
This is a very small town, not unlike the Twilight Zone, and unfortunately, everyone is in everyone else's business. It is to the point that if you don't play along, you simply don't play, and I have reached that point. I just find it very annoying that someone else's lack of restraint results in me becoming viewed as something I am not (ie- extraordinarily wealthy or in-debt-up-to-my-eyeballs). I forget the name of the poster that mentioned being egged on to purchase a Mercedes, but I cannot tell you how many times my DH has been harassed by educated,
for his choice of car (9-year-old domestic with a Kelly Blue Book value of less than $2000, last we checked). His fed-up response has finally become: "Oh. That thing? It's paid for. Can you say the same?"
I agree that I have no place divulging others' financial information (although, knowing the bankers here, I'm surprised it's not on a billboard somewhere), and would never do so.
Out of curiosity, do you really think I could make the gilded bean dip comment & get away with it??
Anyway, thanks for your responses & for letting me get it off of my chest.
Last Edit: December 13, 2009, 10:29:56 PM by moimoi
Posts: 5143
the Patron Saint of Judgmental Statues
Re: Comments on standard of living??
Reply #5 on:
December 13, 2009, 10:22:23 PM »
Sounds like a save up money and retire far away sort of place to me.
Re: Comments on standard of living??
Reply #6 on:
December 13, 2009, 10:24:18 PM »
Oh, Miss Veronica, don't you doubt that that is in the long-range plan!
Posts: 5563
Etiquette is making others feel special
Re: Comments on standard of living??
Reply #7 on:
December 13, 2009, 10:41:17 PM »
I feel your pain. People ARE doing calculations in their head. My life has been rather strange this past year and I've been spending money that I've saved many years for, that with a rather substantial inheritance I can sustain for a short period a really radical lifestyle, while maintaining the majority of my funds.
My friend who is a best selling author, and now also financially independent, told me to lie to people when I took my 8 month trip to Europe. So I told people I worked over the internet. What really sunk the point home that I should not let people know I could afford to take the time off- On the plane over I was seated next to a very sweet couple who were both 20 from England. I started to tell them my plans- Travel through Europe for a year, I had not yet came to the point where I was going to add that I would work from the computer (the lie) when the woman exclaimed for the entire plane to hear- "YOU MUST BE LOADED!"
Eventually though, I did have to let the people I became close to know that I wasn't really working, and I could see their minds start to calculate. Since I've been home and bought a house in a really good neighborhood and still don't have a job, you should hear the comments- "really? most people get jobs then buy houses", "how did you buy a house without a job?"
And truthfully, I can't blame them. I know my mind calculates things automatically. If it didn't I might not be able to do this
So my advice, keep bean dipping. You might on occasion drop the line, "well, people do have different values and spend their money differently ..."
Posts: 6104
Re: Comments on standard of living??
Reply #8 on:
December 13, 2009, 10:59:23 PM »
Meet new people.
There are a wide variety of people that I know, some of whom are rather well off, some of whom are stupid rich and I've never heard such comments, so it's quite possible to meet people who don't really care how much you make or how in debt you are or how tasteful your home is.
edit to add: And MadMadge, I'm suprised at the assumptions of your wealth based on your travelling. I took 6 months off and travelled and I am not independently wealthy by any stretch of any imigination. I saved money through grad school by being very, very frugal. It's amazing how much you can save when you drop your housing standards. Plenty of people travel for long periods of time with very little money.
Last Edit: December 13, 2009, 11:02:37 PM by Deetee
Posts: 5563
Etiquette is making others feel special
Re: Comments on standard of living??
Reply #9 on:
December 13, 2009, 11:04:06 PM »
Yeah, but I'm 40 not 20, and didn't travel like a 20 year old.
Posts: 12441
Re: Comments on standard of living??
Reply #10 on:
December 13, 2009, 11:16:27 PM »
I stumbled across something that helps when people think I should buy something expensive. Tell people how much you love what you do have.
Buy a new Mercedes? Why would I want to do that? I love my car.
Live in the X neighborhood? Why? We have everything we could want where we are. Imagine the stress of moving, and then having to fill up all those empty rooms we wouldn't use anyway. I'd miss the warmth of my house.
What to do about people that think you make a lot more than you do? I don't know. I might drop a hint about people living in debt, but I don't know small towns. Haven't any of these people read The Millionaire Next Door?
Re: Comments on standard of living??
Reply #11 on:
December 14, 2009, 07:04:40 AM »
I do know that there are other people out there: this is the fourth town that I've lived in as an adult. It is, however, the first small town I've lived in where such an emphasis is put on appearances- no, make that spending. In other places, it was the manner in which you conduct yourself that made you acceptable company. Here, a lottery winner's (new & improved) wife is one of the queen bees, and she makes Joy Turner on "My Name is Earl" look like Emily Post, although I will agree that she dresses slightly better than Joy
Last Edit: December 15, 2009, 06:10:42 AM by moimoi
Mind your PeasNCues!
Posts: 7036
Re: Comments on standard of living??
Reply #12 on:
December 14, 2009, 07:11:40 AM »
Are we sure these people are in debt? Not living within their financial means? Pretentious and show-offy? My mother lives in a nice house. She likes nice things. She can afford it by giving up in some areas of her life and rebudgeting in others.
I guess what I am saying is that I see a lot of assumptions going around here as well as judgements on people who have nice/large houses.
Yes, they have a nice house. How is commenting on it making a judgement on anyone else? All I see it people acknowledging a fact that they made an investment into nice property. I think you might be reading something into comments that isn't there, OP.
Even if it is, a bean dip response would be appropriate.
That being said, I live in a crummy little 1 bedroom apartment. I could afford more, yes, but I am saving up to buy myself a small, but nice house. I'd hate to think that when I do, people are going to be assuming I live outside my means or that I am show-offy.
'I shall sit here quietly by the fire for a bit, and perhaps go out later for a sniff of air. Mind your Ps and Qs, and don't forget that you are supposed to be escaping in secret, and are still on the high-road and not very far from the Shire!' -FOTR
Posts: 5298
Re: Comments on standard of living??
Reply #13 on:
December 14, 2009, 07:32:16 AM »
Any kind of hint or speculation as to the possible indebtedness of others is a really bad idea in a small community where news spreads fast. It could cause terrible damage not only to the other partners but possibly also to the business as well. I think the OP is quite right not to have said or hinted anything about the matter so far.
I do think that a response along the lines of "Oh yes, they do have a lovely house don't they" is probably the best way to go, and if the person they are talking to continues to question the OP about the other partners' living circumstances then similar bland statements can be made. "Yes it is a lovely car...Yes I understand that it is eight bedrooms...Oh quite, it is a huge hottub with solid gold taps which seats 28... " and so on. If they ask about the OP's own standard of living then I'd agree with the posters who suggest replies along the lines of "Oh we're happy as we are...with our house...such a nice reliable old car..." etc.
Mind you, I can understand the OP's feelings about such questions being asked. It must be very difficult, especially in a small town.
NE England
Re: Comments on standard of living??
Reply #14 on:
December 14, 2009, 08:56:58 AM »
Thanks, ladies. Yes, PeasNCues, there is no doubt as to the indebtedness. When one speaks constantly of their purchases (and their cost!), their 100% financed, interest-only mortgage plus HELOC of over 1-million (I suppose they're proud of it, but I consider it poor judgement), the "fact" that they don't get paid enough, wife becoming plastic, and picking up "freelance" work to pay down their debt. While I've heard couple in question speak of their purchases, trips, cost, etc as though it were appropriate cocktail conversation to the majority of the town, only the firm members are "privileged" to the truth.
I do own a nice house. I have nice things. I have close family members who have far nicer & larger homes than I. Some have worked hard, saved, & made good decisions & others are completely freaked out in the current economy, because all they have is debt. I read somewhere that one should "act your wage". There is no excuse for someone to be making upwards of 300k a year & complaining that there isn't enough money. Not only that, but their debt puts the firm's assets at risk, as well.
As I said earlier, I am not reading too much into this. One of the details I chose not to speak of earlier was being asked, "Why do the Joneses live at x and you live at y? You must be saving a whole lot of money." I thought, I am
saving some
money, and I am
not spending a whole lot
of money, but I replied as mechtilde had suggested, "We're happy where we are."
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Exelon Nuclear officials and Byron School District officials are at odds with each other and the Ogle County Supervisor of Assessments over the value Byron Generating Station.
Both filed appeals last week of the 2012 assessment set in October for taxes payable in 2013.
Ogle County Supervisor of Assessment Jim Harrison said the appeals of the $499 million assessment were filed Nov. 12. Two parcels comprise the site of Exelon's nuclear power plant on North German Church Road south of Byron.
Exelon's appeal sets the plant's 2012 value at $296 million, while the school district's appeal says the plant is worth almost 2 and 1/2 times as much or $731 million.
The Byron School District is one of 11 taxing bodies which receive real estate taxes from the plant.
In 2012 the school district received more than $17 million in tax revenues of the more than $30 million paid by Exelon for the plant.
Other taxing bodies which receive taxes from the nuclear plant include Ogle County, Rockvale Township, Oregon School District, Oregon Park District, Byron Fire District, Rock Valley College, Byron Public Library District, Byron Museum District, Byron Forest Preserve District, and Kishwaukee Community College.
Exelon's assessment would generate a total tax bill of more than $18 million next year, while the school district's figure would mean the taxing bodies would share $46 million.
Harrison said that he received two appraisals of the plant in September and considered both of them when setting the 2012 assessment.
"I took some elements of both," he said.
Harrison said he also considered the current assessments of the Exelon's Braidwood and LaSalle nuclear plants when setting the value.
The assessment of Braidwood, considered Byron's "sister" plant is set at $470 million, and LaSalle's value is $500 million.
Harrison said the Ogle County Board of Review will hear the appeals in late January.
A four-year agreement between the taxing bodies and Exelon for the plant's assessment expired at the end of 2011.
The agreement, approved in November of 2010, set the assessed value of the nuclear plant at $450 million for 2008, $460 million in 2009, $470 million in 2010, and $480 million in 2011. Besides setting the plant's value, the agreement settled a lawsuit and numerous tax appeals filed between 2005 and 2008.
The value of the Byron Generating Station has frequently been disputed throughout the history of the facility.
Commonwealth Edison, which then owned the plant, filed its first tax in 1989 when the assessment was more than $1 billion.
The following year, the affected taxing bodies formed the Ogle County Intergovernmental Agency Board to fight the tax appeals.
The first multi-year agreement, approved in early 1998, set the assessments for 1997-2004 at $471 million and settled a decade of lawsuits and tax appeals.
Construction of the Byron Generating Station began in 1975. The first reactor started producing electricity in 1985 and the second went on line in 1987.


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Tolkien Gateway talk:Community Portal
I don't know where else to place this, so I do it here:
The newest skin 'dusk' I find very nice, but I saw that the screen is far too small in width when I was working on J.R.R. Tolkien's Family Tree. So, making it a bit bigger might be a clever thing to do. Moreover, on the Main Page there are references to links on the left (which is fine with the regular skins), whereas all the links in the dusk skin are on the right!
Have a look: Dusky Family Tree
--Earendilyon 10:38, 8 February 2006 (EST)
- Hehe, ya that skin wasn't designed by me, I just uploaded it testing the different skins. Dusk really isn't made for a wiki our size and is meant for more of a blog style with small amounts of text. I really need to get a decent skinned created because this default one we are using is just too bland, I'd really love to see something that fully integrates with the Tolkien theme. Unfortunately my CSS/PHP/creativity skills are lacking so it's easier said than done. Unfortunately the skin is made to fit a fixed size thus expanding it would ruin the whole header image there, yet another aspect of that skin I dislike. The wiki skins definitely needs to be something that expands with the browser and resolution to provide maximum viewing for those larger monitors. But it is a good example of how powerful CSS/PHP can be with the wiki software and we can really twist this site into anything we want. --Hyarion 11:26, 8 February 2006 (EST)
Alphabetical Links
Is it possible to get a more encyclopedia-like listing under the heading 'the encyclopedia'? I mean, like what they print on the spine of the seperate volumes: Aa-Bl, Bk-Ce etc. In this case it would be: A El - Eld, Eld - Kin etc; this should be done automatically, of course, if possible. It's now such a long, bare list.
Also, I'd like to see the heading 'the author' back.
--Earendilyon 16:21, 14 February 2006 (EST)
- Thanks for the input. I agree with you that the bare small list that takes up so much room is not something that should stay for long. I like the idea of having Aa-Bl, etc, although it's not possible to do that dynamically so it would be something we'd have to change manually, but at least it would take up some space there. Another thought I had is something like A - Ardamir, Aragorn... Then B - Bag end, Bilbo.... And just list the first article or two next to the letter, similar to what Encyclopedia of Arda does. I definitely would like to see 'the author' (as well as all the old links) links back but I think for the moment we should work on improving those articles prior to linking them from the main page. This way people don't see those few links and assume that is our entire collection. Thanks again for the input. --Hyarion 19:10, 14 February 2006 (EST)
Wikipedia portal:Middle-earth
Do you guys know this portal? It's meant to organize all Wikipedia articles on Tolkien. So, now's the existentialist question: what are we here for? Why are we here? Does this Wiki add anything to Wikipedia's portal?
--Earendilyon 08:58, 15 February 2006 (EST)
- Great question! I think in the near future as a community it would be nice if we could come up with sort of a mission statement about what we really do want to accomplish. I know in the back of my head I think Wikipedia has done a great job, but they probably only have 1% of the content that is actually out there. Wikipedia being not Tolkien specific they simply cant have an entire article for every edition of every book published by Tolkien, or information about his relatives, and articles delving deeper into the mine...works of Tolkien. Look at Wookipedia, almost 25,000 articles! Arda is much more complex and has been around a lot longer, we can't let the Star Wars nerds beat out us Tolkien fans. :) But as of the present we already have quite a lot more articles than Wikipedia's Tolkien section, albeit their's are being updated quicker I think we have our eyes farther out into the horizon. Do you have any suggestions for answers? --Hyarion 19:00, 16 February 2006 (EST)
- I think the biggest task we're facing at the moment is to get more people involved in this; at this moment, only you and I are frequently adding to it (and I'm 'just' fixing dead links mostly). Have you considered mailing around a bit to get more attention to this Wiki? --Earendilyon 03:02, 17 February 2006 (EST)
- I've tried quite a few different things: searching google for "tolkien links" and going to hundreds of sites and emailing them manually to exchange links with us, unfortunately a lot of them were just dead ends. I've also tried posting links in forums but it's hard to not look like I am simply advertising the site. The linking that has helped the most has been at wikipedia ironically enough, because so many websites mirror the content from there, they mirror our links, search engines are also helping quite a bit. Hopefully word of mouth (or text of fingers?) will help as well as we gain more content. Another thought I had is seeing if any of the current Tolkien Encyclopedia websites would like to merge with us but I don't think we are to that point yet. We have had a few people in the past who edit quite a bit but unfortunately after a couple days they become burnt out and stop. Any suggestions? I think the best offer we can give people is to make sure they know this is not just one person's site as it is true for most websites out there, but the community's. As the popularity grows I would like to have a board of people who make the final decisions and the community would vote as a whole on topics, no one person would 'own' the site. Thanks again for your thoughts. --Hyarion 11:26, 17 February 2006 (EST)


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- Become the official 1v1 Champion of Conquer Club for 2014!
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This is one of 8 satellite tournaments for The Championship - 1v1. You may only join 3 satellite tournaments to remain eligible for The Championship - 1v1.


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Forum:Wikia Interlinking
Hello, I am creating a sort-of GTA fanon site to create my own characters, but would also like to tie in with characters from canon, specifically character and organization pages on this site. How would I go about creating a template that would be able to do this. For example the SW Fanon wiki and it's easy to use Template:Sw template that links to Wookiepedia. Thanks very much in advance, any help would be appreciated
Nevermind, I figured i tout thanks anyway - LokiHavok


text: Everyone's favorite canine film series continues with this installment following five chatty pups as they venture to Egypt in search of a mythical jewel that was once the treasure of Cleocatra's collection. Upon learning that the famed Cat's Eye jewel is hidden somewhere in Egypt, Rosebud, Budderball, B-Dawg, Mudbud, and Buddha set out on the adventure of a lifetime. But they're not the only ones racing to procure the Cat's Eye, because a treacherous feline named Ubasti seeks to harness the gemstone's power to gain the ultimate advantage in the eternal war between cats and dogs. Perhaps with a little help from a friendly camel named Cammy and an artful orangutan named Babi, our four-legged heroes can track down the Cat's Eye first, and prevent a true catastrophe from disturbing the balance in the animal kingdom.