text:
"Autonomous" [..] is neither a superset nor subset of "remote control".
True enough. But the car will need to be aware of local traffic laws including speed limits and yield to/stop for emergency vehicles and official traffic stops, which means there is communication of some sort going into the car to make it aware of those things. It will also at a minimum have some GPS-like feature to make it aware of where it is, both for navigation and to index that reference of local laws;
Suppose someone figures out how to interfere with those things and inject their own malicious commun
You could easily do this with human drivers at the moment. Fake uniforms and a fake Homeland Security 'terrorism spot-check' will get everyone playing nice and quietly and too scared to do anything to resist.
To err is human, to tear down a sidewalk at 55 miles per hour takes a computer.
Or alcohol.
Seriously, why wouldn't Police be allowed to pull over autonomous vehicles? Unless they are completely without flaw there's always going to be a few corner cases where there would be a legitimate need. Plus sometimes the police need to pull over a vehicle because a warrant has been issued for the owner of the car, but not directly related to the driving.
And what would be the point of pulling it over? Give it a stern reprimand before sending back on its way?
Unless the cop plans to either (1) Inspect it for malfunction/damage, or (2) Impound it, I don't see any reason to physically stop the vehicle. A properly tagged vehicle should provide all you need to issue a citation; no curb required.
Unless the cop plans to either (1) Inspect it for malfunction/damage, or (2) Impound it, I don't see any reason to physically stop the vehicle.
You're not a Toyota customer, are you?
There certainly may be a diminished need for traffic enforcement leading to fewer police cars on the road, but having cars completely ignore police and just driving on is going to cause problems in emergencies. The police do need to pull over supect passengers and vehicles for contraband such as drugs, child porn, illegal guns, etc. There are also observed crimes such as someone in the car waving a gun around in the car on the road. Then you do have the malfunction and damaged vehicles such as with the e
And what would be the point of pulling it over?
Child stuck in car.
Passenger needs medical assistance.
Bomb needs defusing.
Bridge out ahead, sensors not adequate.
Man, I wish I lived in the perfect world you do. It must be nice where nothing goes wrong, and nobody has any ill intent.
And what would be the point of pulling it over?
You are assuming that all a cop wants to do is issue a citation. Here are some more plausible possibilities, just off the top of my head:
1) There's an emergency up ahead, and police need to stop all the vehicles headed in that direction to prevent the emergency from escalating.
2) The vehicle is driverless, but not necessarily riderless -- i.e., the police need to rescue a kidnapping victim, or apprehend a wanted felon/terrorist (hey, it's the current buzzword), or search for narcotics, or...
3) You gave other reasons yourself (namely, inspecting it for malfunction/damage or impounding it). In those cases, a citation may not be necessary, but it might be necessary to remove it from the road because it presents a hazard to others.
4) What if it's not properly tagged?
Keep in mind, if the vehicle is autonomous, it probably won't be speeding, it probably won't run red lights or stop signs, it probably won't be driving recklessly (unless it has faulty sensors). Unlike with human-piloted automobiles, I think issuing citations for anything other than expired tags would be rather unlikely.
Good news is, since the vehicle is computer based, to pull the vehicle over the police would most likely have to issue a computer command, which could be logged, including date, time and identity of the police officer who issue the other. If it is related to a warrant, it could even be linked to court data.
Sure. But it's still an interesting question. It's illegal for a driver to speed or jump a red light or whatever, but if an automated car with 4 people in it does one of those things, who, if anyone, has broken the law?
The designer of the car broke the law, the vehicle is defective breaking traffic laws and needs to be impounded and the builder fined for endangering the public.
When a computer is a box sitting on someone's desk that computes figures and shows lights on a display there is no reason to restrict who can do what with machines and they should be open to hacking and modification. When they are connected to networks the burden goes up a bit and maybe code has to be signed or restricted to a safe API on top of a
The designer of the car broke the law, the vehicle is defective breaking traffic laws and needs to be impounded and the builder fined for endangering the public.
Is there a database of traffic laws? Who provides the data? Is the data correct?
Does the vehicle read road signs? Are the signs correct? Are they transiently obscured by a parked vehicle or a pedestrian?
Computers, even with perfect design and implementation, are still able to do the wrong thing. Garbage in, garbage out. (I can't fucking believe I have to write this on
Same problems humans face, too bad.
but you are wrong. A person can argue. A computer can't. Will you let the computer's logs be used in court? Here's a video of the missing sign, so the previous sign, showing 55 mph was still legally in effect. I've done the same to get out of a parking ticket when someone damaged the sign and it was missing. But the implication is that the car should have figured it out even if a human couldn't have?
Same for the humans, yet fines stand for them.
But they aren't. If there's a construction zone and someone puts the speed limit signs up wrong, you a
The question goes to the heart of the argument. If the average driver has a 1.5% chance of causing a collision, but an automated on 1% then clearly the automated vehicle is preferable (to over simplify somewhat). However if the 'designers' at GM are responsible for 20 million cars then they have no incentive to ever try and work, because merely by law of averages they're going to get screwed selling millions of cars a year.
A couple of months ago the brakes failed on my car and I narrowly avoided hitting two people. Now the thing is, my car had been at the shop to get the brakes checked and repaired about 3 weeks before that. Who is really at fault? In 3 weeks the auto shop can't really be liable for anything that happened to the brakes, but I had no indication there was a problem until I had a loud thunking sound, and no braking action (go go emergency brakes). Had I been a fraction of a second slower realizing what just happened, well, the law would have held me liable for hitting two people. Even though I would attempt to argue that I did due diligence on the brakes, and was braking from a safe distance (but when you're going 60 Km/h and your brakes fail it takes a moment to process what happened and what your solutions are,and what your fall back scenarios are going to be if the emergency brake doesn't work, and even then you're guessing just how quickly the emergency brake will stop you).
In your case, you're saying what we all know. All data is dirty, and no one thing is 100% tolerant of all possible input cases from the dirty data (in addition to all other failures that can happen on a device). Our legal systems don't really play nice with the real world statistical probabilities of random failures, or how you ascribe blame to something that isn't intentional. It would be most unfortunate if a data entry clerk from 20 years ago is held liable because they typed a speed limit into a database as 80kph rather than the intended 60.
I suppose in some ways it is similar to a national healthcare and medical malpractice problem. People die, all of us. Just as mechanical devices will eventually fail. If you individually mandate responsibility to service providers (drivers, mechanics, doctors) you end up with a much different system than if you collectivize the risk (think NHS in the UK). If the goal is a system that in general reduces accidents you need to move away from trying to assign blame on a case by case basis, and providers who consistently make mistakes can be dealt with internally- but you'll have to accept some sort of shared insurance system for the fact that accidents will happen. Whether that's manufacturers or operators who pay into it (or the government or points of sale or....) I don't know.
The vaccine example in the summary suggests the designer can be exempt from all liability - even for genuine defects introduced by them, no matter how or why. I dislike blanket immunity. When there is an arguable case for genuinely defective design AND it would be reasonable for the manufacturer to know this (not all defects are knowable/identifiable in advance, but that doesn't mean all are) then there should be no automatic immunity.
It may require a special court of experts to properly determine if it was
Seriously, why wouldn't Police be allowed to pull over autonomous vehicles?
I think the question isn't so much "would the police be legally allowed to do it" as "how would a policeman actually go about doing it"?
Will the car be programmed to watch for lights and a siren and pull itself over when it 'sees' them? Or would the policeman need to send a special "pull over" signal on a remote control? Etc.
I think the question isn't so much "would the police be legally allowed to do it" as "how would a policeman actually go about doing it"?
Will the car be programmed to watch for lights and a siren and pull itself over when it 'sees' them? Or would the policeman need to send a special "pull over" signal on a remote control? Etc.
If all else fails, why can't the occupant push the "Computer, please stop at the earliest safe location" button?
(Such a function will be present, as it will fit right in next to the array of "I have to piss/puke/shit IMMEDIATELY" button(s).)
Of course police can pull over an "autonomous" car, for a myriad of perfectly valid reasons both related to traffic safety and not.
And if the driver is asleep, and the car fails to stop on its own, someone gets a "fleeing and evading" citation/arrest/jail sentence like they would in any other road-going vehicle that fails to stop.
I don't understand why "can police stop an autonomous car" is even a fucking question. Seriously.
I don't understand why "can police stop an autonomous car" is even a fucking question. Seriously.
yup. and *how* to do it is not a question, either: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PG4INDu9kNs [youtube.com]
How do you pull a car over with no one inside?
Of course police will be able to pull over autonomous vehicles. They have to be able to. Vehicles must yield the right of way to emergency vehicles displaying the appropriate lights. As in, it's a fucking ambulance, pull over and stop moron.
And what should the police do if a defective vehicle is creating a hazard to others? Let it go because it's autonomous? Like the Washington state police couldn't PIT a woman going the wrong way down the interstate for 60 miles, someti
Where did it say nobody was inside?
What if it has a "go find a remote parking site and come back and pick me up at (insert time here)" feature?
(Yes, I know that part of that answer is "every valet parking company in the country sues the manufacturer", but you know someone's going to think of it. I did, years ago.)
They're automomous, at some point they're likely to be operating on their own.
But, either way, I'm sure at some point one of these things is going to arrive somewhere driving half way with a dead body because the driver died and there were no sensors to tell the car about the death.
I'm guessing that when cars get to the point where they can basically go on autopilot for portions of the trip that they'll also have some sort of software to tell them to pull over when law enforcement says to.
As for that driver
Does the Google vehicle travel by default in the left lane or the right lane? On a many lane road, ambulances will use whatever lane is clear, so pulling over may not be an issue. This behavior includes roads with only one lane both ways (welcome to Pennsylvania, where double yellow does not mean no-passing; sadly, I find myself increasingly supporting this, as the insanity of our roads seems to promote a 'liberal' interpretation of traffic laws). I swear our traffic engineers are the kids who flunked out o
send a cryptographically signed security API command, of course! what could possibly go wrong?
Seriously, why wouldn't Police be allowed to pull over autonomous vehicles?
Of course you have to give police the ability to stop these vehicles, if for no other reason than to avoid accidents or congestion. Not to mention the possibility of sending bombs or something.
But its not always that easy. When was the last time you saw a policeman pull over an Elevator? Or an Escalator. Or the unmanned shuttle trains such as at SeaTac Airport [youtube.com] or Morgantown WV Personal Rapid Transit [wikipedia.org].
Admittedly captured vehicles on their own tracks are not exactly the same as autonomous vehicles mixed wi
Let's be clear about a few things here:
The police will have the authority to pull over an autonomous vehicle. Even in a perfect libertarian utopia, the police will have the authority to pull over an autonomous vehicle.
Liability insurance on the first generations of autonomous vehicles will be insanely expensive.
These things might work great when they're new, but I shudder to think of what the ongoing certification process will requrie as they age. Cars are mechanical things. They break down. They fail i
Some government, maybe even China, could embrace Autonomous Vehicles and press the technology forward (as an Authoritarian regime can) and find it improves public safety immensely (China has a high mortality rate on a high accident rate), further revealing other great benefits to their society - while people continue to wrestle with it in the US, over concerns as stated above.
When I traveled around Europe on trains I was thrilled how carefree I could be about intercity travel and how fast and comfortable TGV/ICE can be. Then return to the US and arrive at the decision it is a backward country for dismantling most of its once far-reaching rail network in favor of a car (or two) for every adult - but that's how you get around, which means long trips are a major drag - you have to focus on the most tedius of activities for hours at a time - driving. Ugh. Autonomous Vehicles could alleviate some of this tedium.
I can see why in the US there is such resistance to autonomous vehicles: Small towns and counties depend on driver error, be it speeding, red light cameras, or stuff like that for revenue. An autonomous system means that everyone will be going the speed limit, so no tickets (and no chance at finding marijuana and thus earning a civil forfeiture prize) will be given.
This is sad because the US is the perfect place for autonomous vehicles -- most cities are too sprawled out for even buses to be reliable, much less light rail. So, vehicles that drive themselves would be ideal because it would allow long distances to be covered with vehicles packed in as much as their computer and mechanical systems would allow, compared to current driving conditions which depend on the driver's ability/reactions (or lack of when compared to a computer.) Even for people who don't own a car, it wouldn't be hard to have a Car2Go/Zipcar like service.
Even more ironic, with computer controlled cars, it would lesson the need for more and more highway improvements. Cars can be sped up or slowed down to allow vehicles in and out, they can be moved into lanes depending on their destination, and if there is a vehicle problem, it can be moved to the side of the road and traffic routed around it without putting the highway out of commission for hours on end. This would save a municipal area far more money than they ever would earn by speeding tickets.
I keep thinking this situation is exactly the same as the HDTV transition. It's inevitable, so the government just gives a deadline, hands out some coupons for free upgrades to your old technology, and then on Jan 1 2018 we're all on autodrive. If 100% of the cars on the road are robodrive, it takes a lot of the complexities out of it.
Except that will never happen. The important difference is that automakers don't want autodrive cars. It would mean dramatically fewer cars sold because individuals wouldn't
Yes the same china where a small kid was run over and Many people in China are hesitant to help people who appear to be in distress for fear that they will be blamed. High-profile law suits have ended with good Samaritans ordered to pay hefty fines to individuals they sought to help.
Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/international/watch_child_run_over_and_ignored_8fVgzdy3ipdh9NPDGEwlZL#ixzz1kWOR8hJr [nypost.com]
Then return to the US and arrive at the decision it is a backward country for dismantling most of its once far-reaching rail network in favor of a car (or two) for every adult
The US hasn't dismantled its rail system--it still has the biggest rail system in the world, bigger than the entire EU taken together (in terms of miles). However, the US railway system is mainly used for freight, while people mostly drive.
When I traveled around Europe on trains I was thrilled how carefree I could be about intercity travel and how fast and comfortable TGV/ICE can be
It's fast and comfortable, but it's also a boondoggle and heavily subsidized. It's also not particularly environmently friendly, since it displaces a lot of freight traffic to the roads and often has to operate far below capacity. And even with all those wonderful trains, say, Germans still own as many cars per capita as Americans.
When I traveled around Europe on trains I was thrilled how carefree I could be about intercity travel and how fast and comfortable TGV/ICE can be. Then return to the US and arrive at the decision it is a backward country for dismantling most of its once far-reaching rail network in favor of a car (or two) for every adult - but that's how you get around, which means long trips are a major drag - you have to focus on the most tedius of activities for hours at a time - driving. Ugh. Autonomous Vehicles could alleviate some of this tedium.
I have several observations to make here. First, there are a lot of people who admire European trains, but have no idea how those are paid for. Sure, it'd be nice to have a US train paid for by European taxpayers, like how European trains are funded, but it's a wee bit unrealistic. So then the US would be stuck paying for US trains with hapless US taxpayers. That changes the US-oriented cost/benefit for such projects.
Second, I find it terribly reprehensible to treat infrastructure projects like just another fad. I don't care that you think the US looks backwards for having such an advanced car-based transportation system. It should be, "Does this infrastructure project justify a reasonable estimate of its costs and benefits?" Not, "Uzbekistan has high speed rail so we should too."
Finally, rail projects even in those European countries are notorious for being poor return on investment. And current US projects are laughably bad even by such standards.
For example, it is routine for big high speed rail projects in the US to ignore maintenance and operations costs while grossly inflating ridership estimates. The same politicians who allocate large amounts of funds for construction won't provide for the costs of running that rail, effectively creating huge, long term money sinks for the state and local governments who end up running the system. That's the primary reason that Wisconsin and Florida backed out of high speed rail projects.
Another example, which no doubt will become epic in its extent of failure, is the California High-Speed Rail project. They got a bunch of bond money in the last election cycle and subsequently greatly increased the cost estimate for completion of the rail ($36 billion in 2009 dollars to $65 billion in 2010 dollars). That's a "bait-and-switch" and they have yet to break ground. It also builds poorly used segments first so that the money is spent in a grotesquely inefficient way.
At least, autonomous driving uses the primary strength of the US, it's well-developed road infrastructure and it plays well with what's already there. High speed rail is just a slow though comfortable plane. A lot of its advantage could be eliminated simply by putting in efficient security at airports.
But they're magically exempt from liability so fuck you!
Maybe we can get an autonomous congress at the same time, taking the worst part of government out of the equation - the politician.
People moving is just the start for autonomous vehicles. The real revolution will be in moving goods with little micro-movers.
Run out of milk? no problem, just order some on your fridge and it's at the front door in minutes. Want a hot dinner? Log into your local restraunt and order one to go.
Taxi services will be cheap, affortable, and accessable. Noone need own a car anymore. No need for a garrage or driveway infront of your house. No need for traffic lights, aproaching cars will just 'book' a timeslot through the intersection, narrowly avoiding collisions with safety, speeding the journey to and fro and saving energy as you don't need to brake and accelerate anymore.
Autonomous mobility is going to be truly revolutionary in the way we live.
yeah! when I was a kid I had a book from 1970 or so, describing how the year 2000 will be like. I don't remember most of it, but certainly people living in underwater cities of 70's design. you know, kinda like the the world we live in today, yes?
oh, and it had those robocars, too. I still remember the pic of a family playing cards while "being driven" along the highway. I also recall huge, efficient farms... but what I don't recall is the book going a whole lot into politics, the gap between rich and poor,
Eh, I'm not that excited about autonomous automobiles. I envision something more like Wall-e where people have so much automation that they become slobs. To some degree it already happened to the U.S. just from car culture. You no longer walk more than even a quarter mile a day. Your car sits just a few steps away in your home garage. The parking space is right next to the front door of the store or the office. Now all of your medical ailments are due to being in a chair for most of the day rather than using your body for what it was made for: to move yourself.
I'm not sure why we need this when we've had the solution for quite a while. One trip to Tokyo will make you realize what we've ignored for perhaps the last 100 years in America. Tokyo itself is designed like real-life Disneyland. If you go to Disneyland and walk around in the park, you'll notice that it isn't so bad. Why? Because the inside of the park was designed for people, not cars. Tokyo is exactly like this. The center of the city was designed for people without cars. Trains and subways take you everywhere and come regularly. Thirsty? There's a vending machine 5 feet away, a convenience store 50 feet away. The closest train/subway station? A 5 minute walk. Pedestrian bridges over particularly busy streets. Buildings have no parking because nobody uses cars.
What everyone thinks of Japan (besides the anime junk) is that it is a small tiny and crappy apartment with no living space. That's true, but it is only half of the story. Nobody takes a camera and shows you how long it takes to get to the closest convenience store, the closest market, the closest restaurant, or the closest train station. But it is all possible, with your two feet and public transit. Using a car in many ways is actually more inconvenient. As bad as the weather got, I didn't mind walking. In fact walking was more interesting. I could observe my surroundings. When I was driving, I was looking to protect myself. Sure, an autonomous car would change that, but there's more to this.
When you get on (a not so busy) train there, you're free to read/sleep/play around on your phone. They already have the conveniences we dream of with autonomous cars simply because their city was built around people and transit.
The strange thing is as busy as their city is, the actual living spaces away from the center of the chaos is quiet (as in no sound). Anywhere in the U.S. which is populated will have this incessant freeway/highway hum. It's annoying. Over there at worst you live next to a train station. The train itself isn't annoying, because they're all electrified and they don't blow their horns. Instead it's the stupid announcement message that the next train will be arriving soon...
As soon as you step outside of the hotel or apartment you feel alive. You see people walking around. You can see people from the street and look into shops and see other people. That doesn't work in United Suburbia of America. Drive by the strip mall and you can barely glance inside. Get out of your car and now you're in "car defense" mode. Walk to another store on the other side of the strip mall and get tired because the parking lot is just too damn big. That's ridiculous.
Since few people own a car, you wonder how they manage to buy large objects or transport things. The simple answer is they rent a car. Most people are called "paper drivers" because they get driving licenses but don't use them regularly. They just use it when convenient. Alternatively you can also have things delivered. Since people don't own their own cars, it is actually possible to work as a delivery man. You know...kinda how we solved distributing milk without refrigeration way back... (As a side note, I'm always confused why only Pizza is delivered in the U.S. but not other fast foods.)
Every time I come back to the U.S. I'm annoyed. I know our cities don't have to be this way. We don't need novel solutions like autonomous cars to satisfy the living needs of 80% of the urban population. We
Lets say a auto car thinks a small kid on who is crossing the road / fell down is some thing like a skunk and it just runs the kid over and keeps driving?
What if a auto car drives though a road that closed off as some one did not mark it as so in a data base?
Red light cameras and speed cameras who get's the ticket?
Fails to see a school bus red lights / stop sign?
it wouldn't be criminal liability if the car owner was operating autonomously in good faith, just liability.
I'd imagine a big-pocket company such as Google could offer blanket indemnity for all purchasers if it was sure that its product was very safe, i.e. it didn't think the autonomous cars would run over people very often. Same for traffic violations, they could offer to pay for any tickets if they were sure their systems were that good.
If they *didn't* offer any such indemnity, and if there's no law shie
I have a simple formula: if the autonomous cars cause fewer accidents (maybe weighted by severity in some way) than a similar model of cars driven by humans, they are good.
Why should autonomous cars have to be perfect, instead of just an incremental improvement over the norm?
The most important problem from my point of view is that the traffic laws don't always actually make sense. Near my house, there's a T junction about 20 meters from a red light. At the intersection, there's a stop line. They used to have a "do not block intersection" sign back at the T junction so that traffic could still turn down the side street. They've replaced it with a "stop here on red" sign. The intent seems to be to create two stop lines for the same red light. The actual law is largely ambiguous on this. It definitely doesn't address this particular situation, but it doesn't say that the town, _can't_ do it. Most people just completely ignore the sign. I just do what I always did before and I don't block the intersection when there's a red light. No-one seems to be able to tell if they're actually required to stop there and, if they do stop, if they have to stop like they'd stop at a red light, or it they have to stop like they'd stop at a stop sign, also, since the turn there is a right turn, and a right turn on red is allowed at a stop light in my state, is a right turn on red allowed there since it's not actually at the light?
So, the problem is the law. It's not logically and consistently written like computer code, it's always open to interpretation. There are many situations where you legitimately can't tell you've broken the law until you've gone before a judge and they've decided. And then, there are many situations while driving where you either have to technically break the law or stop traffic for hours. Consider a left turn at a light where there isn't a separate left turn signal. If the traffic coming in the other direction is continuous, they have the right of way and you can't turn left unless you move to the middle of the intersection, wait for the light to change, then turn. This is illegal. It's what everyone does in that situation and, 9 times out of 10, a police officer watching you do this won't even care. But, consider the situation from a legal point of view. If it's a turning lane, you can't legally change lanes at the intersection to go straight. You can't legally turn left until there's an opening in traffic, which could literally be hours in some places and times, but you can't legally just sit there either, because that's blocking traffic. Aside from that one, there's the fact that you're legally required to stay in a lane unless you're changing lanes, but I've been on a lot of multi-lane roads where the lanes haven't been marked, either because they were faded completely, or because they'd been removed for repainting (months before the repainting in some cases). Legally speaking, all the cars should be grouping into one lane in the dead center of the twenty meter wide stretch of road. That's insane. What everyone actually does is illegally estimate where the lanes should be and travel in them side by side. Then there's yellow and red lights. There are intersections where you cannot avoid running a red light. For starters, you don't know how long the green light and yellow light will last before the red. The guidelines for most states for the length of the lights don't even seem to take the speed limit and the width of the intersection into account and the guidelines often aren't followed anyway. Which means that there are many intersections where, even if the light changes to yellow _after_ you've crossed the stop line, you can't make it all the way across before the red light unless you're speeding. Also, where the intersection actually ends and you're no longer bound by the light is poorly defined both in law and in physical reality. Most people consider themselves clear when they can no longer see the light, but obviously that's at a different point depending on where the light is mounted. Stop lines are another issue. You have to stop at the stop line, but the stop line isn't always in the right place for you to actually see if there are cars coming. Often, you have to stop at the stop line, then move forward (sometimes quite a large distance), then stop again or do a ro
Your examples are cases where you don't understand the law - not where it is inconsistent. Let me explain:
Consider a left turn at a light where there isn't a separate left turn signal. If the traffic coming in the other direction is continuous, they have the right of way and you can't turn left unless you move to the middle of the intersection, wait for the light to change, then turn. This is illegal
No it is not. This is actually the correct thing to do, and my driving instructor practiced it with me several times.
Which means that there are many intersections where, even if the light changes to yellow _after_ you've crossed the stop line, you can't make it all the way across before the red light unless you're speeding.
It is legal to enter the intersection on the green/yellow and then exit after the red has changed. The law states that all other drivers must yield to the vehicle in the intersection. So you have the right of way, even after the light turns red. To make this clearer: Suppose you pull
> Simple questions, like whether the police should have the right to pull over autonomous vehicles, have yet to be answered
Police is driving autonomous vehicles that autonomously stop autonomous vehicles that catch the autonomous eye when local autonomous government needs to replenish its autonomous budget. We just have to watch those events unraveling with detached gaze from the passenger seat in the vehicle of life
The legal problems are solveable. We already have a whole insurance system in place to deal with auto accident liability. The only question is how much auto insurance will cost for driverless vehicles. Once there's some experience with them, insurance rates can be set.
The legal history of air bags is helpful here. When air bags were first developed, there were real worries that they might deploy when not needed and cause accidents. That's why air bag controllers have logging of the last few seconds, and why that data is collected and analyzed. It took a few years and a few thousand crashes to get that tuned properly. Now it's a non-issue.
There are many practical problems to be solved, especially for driving in congested areas. But most of those problems are known, and can be solved one at a time.
Never buy from a rich salesman. -- Goldenstern


text:
Jack Vanderburg and Stephen Smith are staying close to home.
They were two of four Frenship athletes to sign national letters of intent Wednesday during the first day of the early signing period for spring sports. Both will head just down the road to Texas Tech, Vanderburg for golf and Smith for baseball.
"It's a great program," Vanderburg said. "They're always good at golf, they're always pretty much ranked in the top 25. I just feel that's where I need to be."
Vanderburg has been a star on Frenship's golf team, leading the Tigers to three consecutive appearances in the Class 4A state golf tournament. He is currently ranked second in the state among Class 4A individual golfers after having been named first team all-state for the past two years.
Vanderburg will be a fifth-generation Red Raider, continuing a family legacy that stretches back to 1928.
Smith is one of two Tiger baseball players who signed Wednesday. He has been stellar for Frenship over the past three years, batting a jaw-dropping .442 in his junior campaign.
A force on the mound and off, Smith also helped his team as a starting pitcher, earning an impressive 2.27 ERA last season. After being named second team all-state and the District 3-4A Player of the Year in 2012, Smith will be a key signee in Tech's recruiting class.
"I just wanted to stay at home, play in front of my family, and hopefully help Tech win," Smith said. "I know it's going to be difficult, getting used to this pitching in Division I, but I'm looking forward to going there and trying to help out."
Kyle Rutherford, another leader on the Tiger baseball team, signed to play for New Mexico State University next year. He has been a commanding force on the mound for Frenship over his career.
Rutherford put up an impressive junior season, finishing with a 5-2 record and a 3.67 ERA, including a no-hitter against Hereford, on his way to earning a selection as a first-team starting pitcher for District 3-4A. Rutherford struck out 47 in 42 innings for the Tigers, adding depth to the Aggies pitching staff in the future.
The final Frenship Tiger, Amber Bowman, committed to Hardin-Simmons University on Wednesday morning to play volleyball. She was the leader of the Tiger squad in 2012, pushing her team to a win in the District 4-4A championship. Bowman was recently named a first team all-district selection while also earning academic all-state honors.
"I hope to really be a presence at the net, play as hard as I can and give it 100 percent," Bowman said.
Wednesday was the first day of the early signing period. Other athletes who were expected to sign national letters of intent were:
� Katy Boren, Cooper, signed to play basketball at Angelo State.
� Bridget Rampy, Cooper, signed to play basketball at Lubbock Christian.
� Bailey Wipff, Coronado, signed to play basketball at Angelo State.
� Sisters Lizzy and Suzzy Dimba are expected to sign letters on Monday to play basketball at Abilene Christian University.
To comment on this story:
• 766-2166
• 766-8700

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Massively-multiplayer role-playing games have spawned few things more ridiculous than businesses created for the sole purpose of playing said games for their customers. Traditionally known as "gold farmers," they allow players to pay real world money for in-game credits and other amenities, rather than earning their own rewards.
It was bound to happen eventually, but at least one such company--IGXE--has already announced that it's set up shop to offer its services to
misguided interested players of Star Wars: The Old Republic.
The service is called SWTOR Credits (after the official in-game currency). Even though The Old Republic doesn't officially release to those without early-access until Tuesday of next week, IGXE is already claiming "massive orders from fans," and only "a limited number of cheap stock" currently available.
A cursory view of the SWTOR Credits store reveals a description of the program. It's not a very good sales pitch, but makes for a chuckle-worthy read. Here's an unedited snippet:
If you consider PVE and Raids, you need to have some good weapons and the armors, and the people become more interested to get you in the group. They realize that you can damage more. Regarding crafting, you have to have the best materials to make the best equipment. If you are unable to have the best equipments, it becomes difficult for you to be a great crafter on your server. Even you are a talented one, the only one hit can take you down and you lose.
Naturally, the other, more popular perspective is that if you're paying someone to play your game for you, you're doing it wrong.
Star Wars: The Old Republic officially launches on December 20 for PC.


text:
As nursing homes and assisted living facilities downsize, many elderly residents and adults with disabilities are increasingly being displaced.
Adult foster care places those individuals with families, who are screened and trained to help care for their needs.
June Nelson helped found such a program in Eau Claire and her family has cared for two women since 1975. "Ginny and Vivien have lived with us for 30 years as of last June," says Nelson. "They had to teach me everything. We all had to learn how to communicate with each other."
Organizers say the range of needs is as diverse as the families who care for them. "We see it as a great resource, a great option for people to live fairly independently, but with that service and support that they might need," says Dale Tickler, Eau Claire County's coordinator.
For more information on the adult foster care program, contact your county's department of human services. That number for Eau Claire County is (715) 831-5713.


text:
Russia drops Botkins, 3-0, in SCAL opener
From staff reports
The Botkins Trojans dropped their league opener Tuesday in a 3-0 defeat to the Russia Raiders in a Shelby County Athletic League varsity volleyball match at Russia.
Tuesday's match scores were 25-19, 25-21 and 25-19.
Allison Guckes led Botkins with 32 digs Tuesday. Denise Schwartz had nine kills, and Jocelyn Counts tallied nine assists.
The loss gave Botkins a 2-3 overall record with a 0-1 mark in SCAL play this season.
The Trojans will resume their season next Tuesday with a home SCAL match against Jackson Center.
Follow high school volleyball coverage from the Wapakoneta Daily News on Twitter using the hashtag #wdnVB


text:
Since only one person will win your fantasy football league this year (and let's be honest, it's probably not you), it's never too early to start going for moral victories. Best Team Name is the unofficial runner-up award to Winner of the League. A good team name will make someone laugh, but a great team name will last forever. Here are some options you can steal, it's ok. Or just adjust the pun to your liking.
Skittles: Taste Dwayne Bowe – An ode to candy and the Chiefs' Wide Receiver
Whatcha Talkin' Bout Hillis? – Do you have the "I can't believe I am putting stock in a white running back" blues? Get behind Peyton Hillis and old television shows.
Arian Foster Children – This would require a photoshopped picture of a bunch of German children without parents, all getting hugged by the Texans' running back
Henne Nut Cheerios – If you have Chad Henne on your team, you obviously have a sense of humor. Let your team name reflect just that.
I'm a Man, I'm Forte – Even more appropriate if you have any Oklahoma State players on your team. Drafted Matt Forte? Give an ode to one of the greatest rants in sports history. Also acceptable for Matt Forte owners: W.D. Forte
MJD: The Champagne of Backs – Maurice Jones Drew has a lot in common with Miller Genuine Draft. Initials, Not Elite (but thinks they are) and both are short.
Brady Gaga – The biggest names in their respective industries collide here.
ConVicks – Drafted Michael Vick, Plaxico Burress and all of the other former inmates in the NFL?
Steve Breastonlargement – Newly acquired Chiefs' WR Steve Breaston owners will get more laughs out of this than points out of him, potentially.
He Went to Jared – Own the Vikings defense? This one may be a bit of a stretch, naming your team after a player on a defense.
What's your team name this year? Think it should be on the list? Leave a comment below.
Kyle Ayers is a contributing writer for CBS Local


text:
It's art precisely because it has no practical use. Meanwhile, driving a mid-sized car or turning on an incandescent lightbulb is an environmental sin, characteristic of our ordinary lives, for which the NYT never tires of shaming us.
We talked about this art work last month: here.
Here's the rock's Twitter feed: "I'm going to sleep like a rock tonight..." etc. etc.


text:
Abbott sets off for trucker's view of highway
Opposition Leader Tony Abbott is getting a trucker's view of the Pacific Highway upgrading project as he spends two days driving from Brisbane to Terrigal, on the New South Wales central coast.
Mr Abbott drove the truck out of the Rocklea markets in Brisbane earlier today and will head down the coast on the highway he says is still a "goat track" from the 1970s.
He has told the ABC he has had a truck licence for more than a decade as part of his work with the local rural fire brigade.
"Last year I upgraded to a heavy combination, partly because that would help me to drive the bulk water carrier at the local fire brigade but also partly because I thought that it would be useful to be able to highlight the parlous state of our roads," he said.
"If this Government gets re-elected, the carbon tax will go on heavy transport. So, I guess it's politically helpful and also socially useful."
Mr Abbott says he wants to highlight the state of the road and the economic cost of neglecting such a critical piece of national infrastructure ahead of the Christmas tourist season, when traffic loads double on the highway.
He is promising a Coalition government would provide more than $5.5 billion to complete the dual carriageway on the Pacific Highway.
"We want to add $2 billion to what the Government's put forward and if we spend the extra $2 billion, we're very confident that we can get the Pacific Highway duplicated from Newcastle to the Queensland border well within the current decade," he told ABC 702's Adam Spencer.
"At the moment there's deadlock because the Commonwealth is trying to insist the states put in half the money. The states are saying 'no', we want to keep to the 80-20 funding formula that the Federal Government gave to the previous state Labor governments.
"We're saying, look, let's end the argy bargy, let's end the blame game, let's spend this extra $2 billion and get the job done because it will save lives and boost our economy."
He says the New South Wales Government is "enthusiastically in favour" of the plan.
"They want this work to be done urgently for obvious reasons. Everyone wants it to be done. It's just that the Federal Government, I regret to say, is playing politics over this road," he said.
Mr Abbott says the money will be diverted from funding for the Parramatta-to-Epping railway line.
'Empty stunt'
But Infrastructure and Transport Minister Anthony Albanese has dismissed the drive as an "empty publicity stunt".
"Having abandoned the 2016 commitment first made by the Howard government, the Federal Coalition now don't have a date for completion," he said in a statement.
"They also have no idea where the extra funds for duplication will come from that will be a result of delay into the next decade."
Mr Albanese says the Federal Government's commitment to fix the highway is "unwavering".
"Right now, more than 1,700 workers are onsite upgrading 73 kilometres of this road," he said.
"Compared to the former Howard government's record of just $1.3 billion over 12 years, Federal Labor has already invested $4.1 billion in the highway and set aside our share of the funding required to complete its full duplication."
Mr Abbott is due in Coffs Harbour this afternoon.


text:
Talgov Release: ENERGY STAR and natural gas appliances help save energy and money
February 13, 2013
To encourage energy efficiency and stimulate the local economy, the City of Tallahassee will double its existing rebates on certain ENERGY STAR and natural gas appliances purchased locally starting tomorrow, February 14. The program was approved by the Tallahassee City Commission at its regular meeting this afternoon.
This incentive applies to qualifying purchases made locally between February 14 and April 30. The full amount of the rebate will be credited toward the customer's City of Tallahassee utility bill.
"Once again, the City of Tallahassee has decided to 'double down' in regard to customer satisfaction," said City Commissioner Scott Maddox, lead commissioner on the City's Financial Viability Target Issue Committee. "I expect that the double rebates will be extremely well received by area customers, contractors and vendors."
"This reflects our strong commitment to conservation by helping customers save energy, water and money, while preserving vital resources for the future," said Commissioner Andrew Gillum, who also serves on the on the Financial Viability Target Issue Committee. "In addition to contributing to lower utility bills, it provides assistance to local businesses and contractors during these challenging economic times."
Qualifying purchases include the following ENERGY STAR-certified and natural gas appliances:
Appliance: New Rebate (Amounts reflect double rebate)
Dishwasher: $80
Clothes Washers: $200
Refrigerators: $150
Freezers: $80
Pool Pumps (variable speed): $400
Air Conditioner/Heat Pumps: $700
Solar Water Heaters: $900
Water Heaters (heat pump style): $600
Heat Pumps (water source style): $1500
Natural Gas Furnaces: up to $1400
Natural Gas Water Heaters: up to $1350
Natural Gas Ranges: up to $400
Natural Gas Clothes Dryers: up to $400
Natural Gas Fire Logs: $100
Natural Gas Grills: up to $200
Natural Gas Pool Heaters: up to $900
Purchases of energy-efficient products or renewable energy systems for the home may also be eligible for federal tax credits. Qualifying equipment includes solar thermal and solar Photovoltaic (PV) systems, geothermal heat pumps, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, water heaters, insulation, windows, roofs and biomass stoves. For details, search online for Federal Tax Credits for Energy Efficiency 2013.
For City rebate information, forms and instructions, please visit the Natural Gas Rebates page or the ENERGY STAR Appliance Rebates page, ENERGY STAR Air Conditioning/HVAC Rebates page or Solar Water Heater Rebates page, or call 891-4YOU (4968).


text:
US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) members may vote as soon as next month on a proposal to overhaul regulation of the US$2.5 trillion money-market fund industry, according to a person with knowledge of the matter.
The SEC's five commissioners are expected to receive a formal proposal next week prepared by staff in the agency's investment management division, according to the person, who is not authorized to speak publicly about internal planning. Commissioners typically spend at least a month reviewing staff proposals before voting on them, the person said.
"It's premature to talk about next steps before the commissioners have had an opportunity to review an actual proposal and give it some thought," John Nester, an SEC spokesman, said on Friday in an e-mailed statement.
SEC Chairman Mary Schapiro has faced opposition from the fund industry and within the commission as she seeks changes to restore investor confidence shaken by the 2008 credit crisis. Schapiro told the Senate Banking Committee on Friday that she envisions a system in which money funds either allow net asset values to float or hold capital and restrict withdrawals.
Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke have echoed Schapiro's view that the system leaves money market funds, once seen as among the safest of investments, open to runs that could impact broader credit markets.
US money funds held a combined US$2.5 trillion in assets on June 20, according to the Investment Company Institute, a Washington-based trade group. The largest funds include JPMorgan Prime Money Market Fund, Fidelity Cash Reserves and Vanguard Prime Money Market Fund.
The US Chamber of Commerce has led the fight against the changes sought by Schapiro, blanketing a Washington subway station adjoining SEC headquarters with ads questioning the need for a rules overhaul and releasing a study this week suggesting that even proposing changes could roil markets.
Republican SEC Commissioners Troy Parades and Daniel Gallagher have joined Democrat Luis Aguilar in questioning the need for some of the provisions Schapiro has described, such as the floating net asset value.
Schapiro must secure the votes of at least three of the five commissioners to release a proposal for public comment.
Concern over money funds grew after the September 2008 collapse of the US$62.5 billion Reserve Primary Fund, which fueled a broader run at the height of the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression in the 1930s. The run calmed after the Treasury Department temporarily guaranteed money-fund shareholders against losses and the Fed began buying fund assets at face value to help them meet redemptions.


text:
Sell-side analysts often undertake stock analysis to give their opinions of whether they believe that shares should be bought, sold, or held. Using ratings provided by analysts to Zacks Research, we can see that the current average broker rating on shares of Acco Brands Corporation (NYSE:ACCO) is currently 2. This consensus rating uses a number scale from 1 to 5. A low number between 1 and 2 indicates a Buy or Strong Buy. A 3 rating would represent a Hold, while a 4 or 5 indicates a Sell rating. After a recent check, we can see that 3 sell-side analysts have rated the stock a Strong Buy or Buy, based analysts polled by Zacks Research.
When it comes to trading stocks, even veteran investors are prone to making mistakes. Investors will often get bombarded with stock tips touting the next breakout star. Following these tips without fully looking into the situation can wind up being a huge mistake. If even one person knows about the next big stock, chances are many other people already do as well. Getting in too late on a stock that has already made a move can leave investors wondering what went wrong. Taking the time to properly research any stock investment may be a good way to eliminate costly impulse buys. Just because a stock has been running hot doesn't mean it will continue to go higher in the future.
Sell-side Wall Street analysts will commonly offer stock price target estimates. Many investors pay close attention to where the analysts project the stock moving in the future. After a recent scan, we can see that analysts polled by Zacks Research have set a consensus price target of $15.5 on shares of Acco Brands Corporation (NYSE:ACCO). Price target estimates can be calculated using various methods, and they may be quite different depending on the individual analyst. A fully researched analyst report will generally provide detailed reasoning for a specific target price prediction. Some investors may track analyst targets very closely and use the information to complement their own stock research.
Taking a quick look at the current quarter EPS consensus estimate for Acco Brands Corporation (NYSE:ACCO), we can see that the most recent level is sitting at 0.35. This EPS projection uses 4 Sell-Side analysts polled by Zacks Research. For the previous reported quarter, the company posted a quarterly EPS of 0.08. Covering analysts have the tough job of following companies and offering future estimates. These estimates are often closely followed on the Street, and earnings beats or misses revolve around these projections. Sometimes these predictions are extremely close to the actual reported number, and other times they may be way off. When a company posts actual earnings numbers, the surprise factor can lead to sudden stock price fluctuations. If a company meets and beats estimates and posts a positive earnings surprise, the stock may see a near-term bump. On the other end, a negative surprise may send the stock in the opposite direction. Many investors will choose to trade with caution around earnings releases and wait to make a move until after the major activity has subsided.
Zooming in on recent stock price action for Acco Brands Corporation (NYSE:ACCO), we note that shares are trading near the 12.55 level. Investors will often follow stock price levels in relation to the 52-week high and low levels. The 52-week high is presently 13.75, and the 52-week low is sitting at 10.55. When a stock price is getting close to either the 52-week high or 52-week low, investors may track activity to watch for a move past the established mark. Over the last 12 weeks, shares have seen a change of -4.92%. Heading further back to the start of the year, we note that shares have seen a change of 2.87%. Focusing in closer to the last 4 weeks, shares have seen a change of -4.2%. Over the past five trading days, the stock has changed 5.91%.
Receive News & Ratings Via Email - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.


text:
Why an Auction?
The auction is a unique and powerful system. It creates a form of competition that cannot be duplicated by private treaty. Auctions are used internationally to exchange assets in a manner that is mutually beneficial for the buyer and the seller. Each bid reinforces the true market value of the property. These affirmations of value encourage other participants to continue the bidding process. Inside each of us is the strong desire to win.
Traditionally, the buyer satisfies this need by negotiating with the seller to reduce the price. But, we all know that getting a buyer or seller to act is a difficult thing to accomplish. With an auction, the buyer can only win if he or she out bids the other bidders, right now.
Auctions accelerate the process of selling any property by compressing the marketing period. It brings together all interested parties at the same time to complete the sale. Offers and counter-offers, and the frustrating, slow negotiation process are swiftly turned into an exciting, urgent bidding match by serious prospective buyers. Auctions bring all interested parties into one place at the same time for the single purpose of determining who will pay the most for the property. Excitement and motivation are present at auctions. Auctioneers apply continuous motivational pressure to gain every dollar available.
This sense of excitement works to create the psychology of an impending sale. Consequently, all interested parties are compelled to make a decision, and make it now.
The terms of the auction are set by the seller. All buyers bid based on a common set of terms and conditions. The seller remains in the driver's seat throughout the process.
When the sale is over, there will be a signed contract to purchase with a deposit check, and the closing will be set for 30 to 45 days or less from the auction date. The simple principle of the time value of money ("time is money"), dictates that a thousand dollars received today is worth more than the same thousand dollars received next year. Also, auctions can increase a sellers liquidity and reduce holding costs significantly by quickly terminating on-going expenditures such as interest, taxes, insurance and maintenance.
Auctions can also effectively control the costs of promotion and advertising of the property. It is no secret that there is a certain amount of the price of a property that must be set aside for advertising and promotion if an effective sale is to be achieved. Because an auction can effectively determine when a property will sell (date of the auction), a seller can afford to effectively attack the marketplace. By using signage, print media, the internet, TV, radio and direct mail, a media blitz can be developed that will target a multitude of prospective buyers. A well advertised auction can pull more prospective buyers in to inspect a property in a short period of time (urgency) than a conventional listing period that too often extends to a year ... or even more. Consider traditional methods. If the system is not working why do things the same way? If you have time to wait and you don't have to sell your home, the traditional method is for you. If you need to sell quickly and need to generate as much interest in your property in the shortest amount of time, THIS IS FOR YOU.
Norma Center & Associates
RE/MAX Greater Atlanta Auction Group NC&A #3565


text:
By SAMIRA JAFARI
Associated Press Writer
EVARTS, Ky. (AP) - Her husband died underground a year ago, but to Mary Middleton, every day feels like May 20, 2006.
It's the day her prayers at a tiny church failed to save him. The day she became a widow and a single mom. The day that sparked grief so intense, she still cries at the mention of his name.
"I still can't accept that he's gone," said Middleton, whose husband, Roy, died with four other Harlan County miners in an explosion at the Kentucky Darby mine.
"If it wasn't for my kids, I'd just as soon not live," Middleton said.
Two miners, Jimmy Lee, 33, and Amon Brock, 51, died at the scene of the explosion. The other three victims - Middleton, 35, Paris Thomas Jr., 53, and Bill Petra, 49 - died from carbon monoxide poisoning and smoke inhalation while trying to escape. A sixth miner, Paul Ledford, survived the blast, though he suffered permanent damage to his lungs from smoke inhalation.
Federal and state investigators concluded that the improper use of a cutting torch ignited the underground methane explosion.
Much has happened since the explosion: the widows aired their mine safety concerns with congressmen and state legislators, leading to an overhaul of Kentucky's mine safety laws; the mine operation was abandoned and the operator, Copperhead Mining Co., was fined $336,000 by the federal government for safety violations.
Meanwhile, an attorney for the widows says wrongful death lawsuits, seeking insurance and other benefits, will be filed against the coal company.
Despite all that, the widows feel little consolation. The approaching anniversary of the explosion only draws feelings of sadness and exhaustion.
None of the widows interviewed for this story had immediate plans to mark the day of the disaster.
"I want to go on top of a a mountain somewhere and say, 'I can't do this anymore,"' said Tilda Thomas, widow of Paris Thomas Jr. "You know, I can't stand this stuff any more."
The women said they never anticipated months of protesting and lobbying for mine safety reform in the moment they became widows, but that's how they spent much of the past year.
Less than two weeks after the explosion, the women protested state investigators' closed-door interviews with witnesses. They stood their ground when officials from the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration kept their interviews private, as well.
And, despite 2006 federal and state legislation that improved mine safety, the widows demanded even stronger laws to protect coal miners.
A strengthening of Kentucky's mine safety law passed after the January 2006 Sago disaster in West Virginia and took effect July 12. But following the Darby explosion, the widows pushed for more. This year, the law was revised to require inspectors from the Office of Mine Safety and Licensing to double their visits to underground coal mines from three to a minimum of six per year. It also requires at least one member of every underground crew to carry a methane detector.
When the bill appeared to be on the verge of dying without action, the women rallied at the Capitol rotunda.
"That to me was the pivotal moment," said Tony Oppegard, a mine safety lobbyist and attorney for four of the five Darby widows. "They turned their grief into something positive, trying to make the mines safer."
However, he said that achievement did little to heal them.
"To call it a consolation, I don't think that's the correct term," he said. "There's nothing out there to really console them."\
Pain pushed two widows, Melissa Lee and Tilda Thomas, to leave the state.
Lee, widow of Jimmy Lee, left Harlan in November for Speedwell, Tenn., and plans to start working as a pet groomer again.
The most outspoken of the widows, Lee thrust herself into advocacy within weeks of the explosion, publicly criticizing mine safety officials, especially those from MSHA.
In those days, the mother of four said she couldn't return to work or move away, but time and memories forced Lee to consider big changes. The tipping point, she said, was fielding criticism and threats from anonymous callers against her family for being so vocal.
"I moved due to the fact of all the phone calls and negativity I was getting over being an advocate," she said. "There were threatening phone calls."
Except for a few photos, she left behind her husband's belongings, she said. His clothes, his favorite recliner - it all stayed in the old house.
"It's still like it was when Jimmy was there," she said. "I get panic attacks when I'm in that house."
Thomas moved to Salt Rock, W.Va., in hopes of finding peace.
The lifetime homemaker said she planned to spend May 20 doing something she missed out on last year - celebrating her grandson's birthday. The day for 2-year-old Paris will be bittersweet, she said.
"A few weeks ago, I opened my eyes and thought, 'Oh God, it's May,"' she said. "I'm here in West Virginia, but I cry everyday."
The women, all mothers, said the hardest part about getting on with their lives was trying to fulfill the roles of their husbands.
"That's been one of the toughest things, knowing that I have to make all the decisions," said Priscilla Petra, a school teacher and mother of two.
She worries about how her 11-year-old daughter will miss out on having her dad around.
"I wonder can I raise her the way she needs to be without him?" she said. "When it's prom night, her dad won't be there for that or to walk her down the aisle or hold his first grandbaby. It's something she's going to face."
She added: "I don't really think there will be closure for me."
Their children give them a reason to cope and try to be strong, to move past the hurt.
Middleton said her daughters are the reason she makes herself get out of bed and try acccept her husband's death. This month, she finally put a down payment on his headstone and she tries to limit her tears to mornings, when her girls are in school.
"It was starting to bother my little one," she said of her 8-year-old.
But the disaster has tested Middleton's faith, and she knows it's going to take a long time for her to overcome it.
"In church they say God has something special for me," she said. "But how can He have something special for me when one of the people so special to me was taken away?"
(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)


text:
Finding Dory 16 Guest Kit with Tableware and Helium Kit includes 16 dinner plates, dessert plates, cups, forks, spoons, invitations, 20 lunch nakpins, 2 solid table clothes, 2 balloon weights, 1 disposable helium tank, 30 assorted latex ballons, 1 curling ribbon, and 1 box of 24 candles. Please Note: This item can be shipped via Standard shipping only. This item is not available for international orders, APO or FPO orders. Helium Tanks can only be shipped to a street address in the 48 Contiguous United States and cannot be shipped to Alaska, Hawaii or Puerto Rico. We apologize for any inconvenience. This item is NOT returnable. Read More
You Save %0 OFF
Would you like to personalize your item or add it to your cart as-is?
Orders placed by 2pm CT usually ship same day.
This product has no reviews.


text:
China Arrests Anti-Corruption Blogger 113
quantr tips this news from Bloomberg: "A Chinese journalist who posted allegations of corrupt dealings during the privatization of state-owned assets has been formally arrested on a defamation charge, his lawyer said. The Beijing People's Procuratorate approved Liu Hu's arrest on Sept. 30, lawyer Zhou Ze said by phone yesterday. Liu, who worked for the Guangzhou-based New Express, had been in detention since Aug. 24, according to Zhou. Liu's arrest adds to evidence that the government is stepping up a crackdown against people who go online with revelations of official malfeasance. At the same time that the Communist Party has vowed to get tough on corruption, authorities have targeted outspoken bloggers and announced that people who post comments deemed defamatory could face as much as three years behind bars."


text:
Safely move and store your most expensive AV equipment with Safco's Scoot Flat Panel Cart. The sturdy steel cart holds up to 42" (diagonal) monitors and rolls easily on four casters. Adjust the height range 7 1/2" for the best view for your audience. The roomy locking lower cabinet has an adjustable shelf inside to accommodate equipment of all sizes. The black powder-coat paint won't chip or scratch. A detachable side pocket holds your important papers and files.
Key Features
- Holds up to a 42" monitor
- 7 1/2" height range offers a good view for any audience
- Plenty of storage space in locking cabinet
- Material: Heavy-gauge steel
- Finish: Black powder-coat paint
- Casters: Four 4" casters (2 locking)
- Weight Capacities: Flat Panel Mount - 80 lbs.; Top Shelf - 150 lbs.; Middle Shelf - 100 lbs.; Pull-Out Shelf - 10 lbs.; Inside Shelf: 75 lbs.
- Width: 39 1/2"
- Depth: 27"
- Height: 68"


text:
Searching for James William Kimble, b
Searching for James William Kimble, b. 1825 in AL, probably NW corner of State. Appears on Colbert Co., AL 1870 Census as Kimbal and 1880 Hardin Co, TN census as Kimbell. Family came from NC to AL, probably around 1800. Eventually migrated SW into MS and crossed the Mississippi river to settle in St. Francis County, AR. I would like to know where J.W. (probably James William) died and is buried. He probably died about 1900 somewhere near Selmer, TN.
Surnames: KIMBLE
Viewed: 1023 times


text:
Getting around is getting easier
Published 7:20 am, Thursday, February 14, 2013
Mass transit services throughout the region are returning to normal, nearly a week after a historic blizzard shut them down.
The Greater Bridgeport Transit District, which also serves Stratford, Fairfield, Monroe, Shelton and Derby, has most routes back in operation, with some deviations due to the storm.
The GBT Access Service, which provides door-to-door rides to medical appointments expects to return to normal operation this morning, according to a bulletin on the bus line's web site.
The Route 1 bus that normally runs between the University of Bridgeport campus to the Dock Shopping Center in Stratford is carrying passengers from the downtown bus terminal. Service to the Seaside Park and UB neighborhood is still cancelled, officials said.
The Route 5 bus that runs between Black Rock and downtown is still out of service while the streets it uses are cleared. Two other routes that begin in the Success Park neighborhood-- the 13 Central Avenue and the 17 Boston Avenue are also not running until snow removal finishes, the web site states.
Metro-North Railroad is reporting good service Thursday morning on its New Haven line, including its New Canaan, Danbury, and Waterbury branches.
The state Department of Transportation reported delays on I-95 southbound between exits 25 and 22 in Bridgeport and Fairfield, and on the Merritt Parkway southbound in Fairfield just before 7 a.m. The DOT indicated that road conditions are good and that the congestion is due to heavy traffic volume.


text:
posted by Thom Holwerda on Mon 15th Oct 2007 21:11 UTC, submitted by Rahul
"When Red Hat announced its upcoming Linux desktop at its annual summit in May, the company predicted the Red Hat Global Desktop would be out by September. Now, delayed a bit, the new desktop Linux will be appearing in November, company executives are saying. The delay was caused, Gerry Riveros, Red Hat senior product marketing manager for enterprise Linux, said in an exclusive interview with DesktopLinux.com, by Red Hat's desire to support Intel's full PC hardware platform lines."


text:
4. Michigan
Michigan had 122.2 complaints per 100,000 people, putting it in fourth place for the number of identity theft complaints. It's a big increase in complaints over the 2011 report, when it ranked 13th place overall. The state also had a high number of fraud complaints related to prizes, sweepstakes and lotteries, and telephone and mobile services issues. Equifax said people who find fraudulent accounts should reach out immediately to banks or creditors to ask them to stop reporting the issue to the agency. The request should trigger an investigation.


text:
April 11, at 7:00 PM
Room 5240, University of Wisconsin Law School
I don't know Lukianoff, but Schweber is always great fun to listen to.
April 11, at 7:00 PM
Room 5240, University of Wisconsin Law School
Ann -
Is this an actual debate? If so, what is the resolution to be debated?
Or is this just another symposium/panel discussion with the wrong name?
Oh yeah, let's get all jiggy with that, shall we?
I can only imagine the entertainment value of listening to a legal theorist debate the opposite side of the issue from someone from FIRE, one of the truly courageous, anti-PC, pro-actual-free-speech organizations in America today.
Sigh. How is it these folk keep turning up on the Wisconsin campus. Is this the place where all the dinosaurs go to die?
Paul, almost all campuses in America are the same. They almost all have speech codes. How it happened is beyond me. They want a lock on speech. Perhaps it was the Maoism of the 60s, or their taking of the communist side during Vietnam. Some have argued that it comes out of the Peace Movement's relationship with the Amish and their interest in shunning those who don't have the politically correct viewpoint. Many think that the Amish are peaceniks. Maybe so in terms of actual arms but they raised psychological warfare to a terrifying new pitch within their communities. Being shunned for years by an entire community can't be too much fun.
Lukianoff is good. He's youthful and sharp and has a lot of fun when he speaks. I can't imagine that he will lose. He wins every debate he enters. 300 like that, and we could hold off the enemy until reinforcements arrive to save western civilization which has been under almost continuous attack on campuses since the 1960s.
At this point Fire is just about the only organization left to talk in terms of legal rights for students.
Is this post proof of the right wing nut Althouse, or the clueless liberal Althouse?
On the right wing side of the ledger, she's insufficiently outraged that those awful, evil FIRE folks are even invited to the campus the way all correct thinking progressives should be.
On the left wing side of the ledger, she praises the opponent Prof. Schweber, so presumably that makes them both rabid lefties.
Judging from this review of Schweber's text on the first amendment, I'm having trouble conceiving where there would be disagreement between Schweber and Lukianoff.
Maybe it will just be a lovefest and not a debate.
I suppose Schweber might argue that FIRE is pursuing false conflicts and that their cases don't reflect real infringements on speech. But being at UW, it's hard to imagine that Schweber can honestly argue that the PC impulse within the academic world hasn't gotten out of control and has a chilling effect on dissent, debate and contrarian viewpoints being expressed by students and faculty.
That FIRE finds more support from the right than the left doesn't show that FIRE is biased, rather I think it illustrates the intellectual bankruptcy amongst some on the left. FIRE should be supported across the political spectrum, unfortunately they aren't.
XWL seems to be the only one who is paying attention--there are two people in this debate and what they will be debating may not be a topic that everyone seems to associate with "liberal academia".
So, if you want to learn, feel free to show up. But don't go for the low-hanging fruit--it just might fall and crack on your head!
Shadowfox -
I think I'm paying attention, hence my original question.
I'd still like to know what the resolution or proposition to be debated is (if any).


text:
Treatment of active
tuberculosis (TB) in children is usually different
from treatment of TB in adults. In children younger than 4 years, TB is more
likely to spread beyond the lungs (extrapulmonary TB). It is also harder to get from children a
sputum sample that grows TB bacteria.footnote 1 So the doctor may assume that a child is infected with the
same type of TB bacteria as the person who most likely infected him or
In general, TB treatment in children usually begins with 3 medicines
instead of 4 because:
Children with TB usually take isoniazid, rifampin, and pyrazinamide
for 2 months. Treatment then continues for at least 4 more months with
isoniazid and rifampin. Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) also may be recommended during
TB treatment if the child is not eating a good diet or isn't getting enough
Directly observed therapy (DOT) is usually done to
make sure that the child takes all of the medicine.
Additional medicines taken for a longer time may be needed for
A child taking ethambutol to treat a TB infection should have his or
her vision checked every month.
American Thoracic Society, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Infectious Diseases Society of America (2003). Treatment of tuberculosis. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, 167(4): 603-662.
ByHealthwise Staff Primary Medical Reviewer E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine Specialist Medical Reviewer R. Steven Tharratt, MD, MPVM, FACP, FCCP - Pulmonology, Critical Care Medicine, Medical Toxicology W. David Colby IV, MSc, MD, FRCPC - Infectious Disease
Current as ofNovember 18, 2017
Next Section:
Previous Section:
Current as of:
November 18, 2017
Healthwise Staff
Medical Review:
E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine & R. Steven Tharratt, MD, MPVM, FACP, FCCP - Pulmonology, Critical Care Medicine, Medical Toxicology & W. David Colby IV, MSc, MD, FRCPC - Infectious Disease
PeaceHealth endeavors to provide comprehensive health care information, however some topics in this database describe services and procedures not offered by our providers or within our facilities because they do not comply with, nor are they condoned by, the ethics policies of our organization.
Health Information Library
This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Learn how we develop our content.
To learn more about Healthwise, visit Healthwise.org.
© 1995-2018 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.
© 2018 PeaceHealth. All rights reserved.


text:
By Ben Levisohn
Herbalife (HLF) has fallen this morning, even as Pershing Square's William Ackman said he had decreased the amount of Herbalife shares he had sold short and replaced them with long-term put options that will also profit if the stock falls.
The main benefit, according to the Wall Street Journal: a smaller short position makes the company less susceptible to a squeeze. Ackman still believes that Herbalife is destined to plummet. In his letter to investors–via the Journal–he wrote:
"We believe it is only a matter of time before the Company is shut down and prosecuted by regulators," he wrote, later saying he had not seen "a less attractive risk-reward ratio than a long investment in Herbalife common stock at current levels"
D.A. Davidson's Timothy Ramey notes that the new position seems "at odds" with Pershing Square's goals. He writes:
If it truly still believes the go-to-zero thesis, and Mr. Ackman writes in his letter that he does, then it makes no sense to put a time element into this trade. He now needs to be both right on the go-to-zero thesis and right on the timing. On one thing we do agree – Pershing Square has significantly reduced the risk of unlimited losses, but has increased the certainty of a total loss of the original $1 billion short position as the puts expire worthless. The counterparty to his trades indeed has a winning hand.
The market, however, clearly hasn't taken it that way, as Herbalife's shares have dropped 4% to $70.21. Direct seller Avon Products (AVP) has fallen 1.2% to $20.67, while nutritional-product retailer GNC Holdings (GNC) has declined 1.6% to $53.81.


text:
Animals Apawthecary Herbal Ear Rinse is a safe, all-natural, highly effective herbal pet ear care product for dogs and other animals. Animals Apawthecary Herbal Ear Rinse helps fight bacteria, fungi and mites as it flushes away excess ear wax, dirt, and other debris from the outer ear.
A natural, herbal ear care product for your animals.
Helps fight bacteria, fungi and mites as it flushes away excess ear wax, dirt, and other debris from the outer ear.
May help reduce the need for unnecessary antibiotics by keeping the ears clean and healthy.
Formulated with organic and/or ethically wildcrafted herbs.
Alcohol free.
Available in a 4oz plastic squeeze bottle.
Herbal Pet Ear Care Product Ingredients
A highly effective, soothing combination of purified water, natural cider vinegar, whole leaf aloe vera juice, vegetable glycerin USP, witch hazel extract, certified organic goldenseal root, Calendula flowers and olive leaf. Alcohol free
How to Use Animals Apawthecary Herbal Pet Ear Care Remedy
Squeeze a small amount into ears and gently rub to distribute. You may then use a cotton pad to help distribute herbal remedy and remove dirt and wax. To minimize possible contamination of product, avoid contacting eye or nose with dropper tip.
About Animals Apawthecary Herbal Pet Ear Care Remedy
All herbal remedies are formulated by leading veterinarian herbalists who are intimately familiar with the needs and sensitivities of dogs and cats and ferrets. The herbs used are selected from the highest quality certified organic or sustainable wild-harvested North American sources in the world.
No posts found


text:
Impact Racing Helmet Dryer
Dry Your Helmet Without Damaging Your Helmet LinerA must have to increase the life of your helmet and reduce the amount of moisture setting in your helmet to increase comfort between rounds in a day or before storing. Impact Racing has developed a portable and effective way to dry the inside of your helmet. The Impact Racing Helmet Dryer can be placed on any level surfaced plugged in and put to work. The Helmet Dryer circulates a constant low velocity ambient air throughout the helmet. Do to there being no heating element the Helmet Dryer can be ran for long periods of time without damaging the inner liner of your helmet. Features
Narrow Results
Filter By
Impact Racing Helmet Dryer
Helmet Dryer
Ships Today
FREE Shipping
Lowest Price Guarantee


text:
I got over 3,000 views in one day. One day. One. Day. ONE. DAY. Asdfghjkl;'.
Just. Oh my gosh, thank you so much! I know my busiest days are on Fantage events but 3,000+ views? That's crazy! I normally get 300-700 views per day. Thank you so much anyone and everyone who visited!:D
I now have over 220,000 blog views. This is amazing. I've always wanted my blog to get big since I started blogging but didn't think it would get this popular. Just ohmygosh thank you so much!
Also, I've gotten over 100 blog followers. Thanks!
I've made this blog banner and it would help me out if you guys used it(:

You can copy + paste that where HTML is permitted^^
My goal is to get 300,000 views sometime this year. Maybe before summer? Hmmm…
Thank you guys so much for visiting, commenting, advertising, and even for just looking at this post.