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In today's edition of the Friday Files, we're looking at everything from pension reform in Tallahassee to health care in Ethiopia.
Let's start with the pensions and salaries, where Gov. Rick Scott wants to shake things up.
Some of that is sorely needed.
The DROP program, where top administrators suck up hundreds of thousands of dollars in so-called "retirement" money — without actually retiring — has turned into a national joke.
It also seems prudent to bring the state's retirement system into the 21st century in terms of both employee contributions and costs to taxpayers.
Still, some of this talk sounds more like civil-servant bashing than reform. And it's high time some of these worker-bashers got their facts straight.
Florida does not generally overpay its workers. In fact, the Legislature's own policy-analysis division determined just last year that the average state worker earns less than his counterpart in the private sector.
And the average salary? About $35,000. Hardly extravagant.
Not only that, Florida spends less on state workers — in terms of both payroll expenditures and employees per resident — than most every other state in the U.S., according to the Department of Management Services.
There are absolutely examples of waste and excess in government jobs. Heck, this very newspaper is often the one to expose such things!
But beware of the tyranny of the anecdote.
Because the majority of government workers are hard-working civil servants who aren't paid particularly well and haven't had a raise in three or more years.
So anyone who's trying to demonize them as the enemy not only lacks class — but also the facts.
Free speech, my …
Sentinel reporter Mark Matthews had a great piece in Thursday's paper about the business interests that financially supported Democrat Suzanne Kosmas — only to quickly cut checks to her successful GOP opponent, Sandy Adams, after Kosmas lost.
Among those backing whoever's in office at the time: the National Beer Wholesalers Association and Florida Power & Light Co.
That's certainly their right. Still, these kind of cover-all-bets donations blow a cannonball-sized hole in the lame attempts to portray corporate campaign donations as "freedom of speech."
Companies that give to both sides of a race aren't doing so because they care about any sort of lofty issues for society at large. They're trying to make down payments on politicians — investments that often pay off.
A finger-wagger's debt
That last item wasn't a knock at Adams. She was simply the newest benefactor of a warped system that benefits those on both sides of the aisle.
This item, however, is.
Did you see that Adams finished her campaign more than $100,000 in debt?
Now, campaign debt isn't terribly unusual. But in this particular case, Adams spent a large part of the campaign accusing Kosmas of reckless spending — specifically of ringing up debt.
In one ad after another, Adams slammed Kosmas for racking up debt that "our children will have to pay for."
And all the while, Adams was racking up debt herself?
Now to be fair, our children aren't paying off Adams' campaign debt.
Instead, as the paper noted, Adams is relying upon the special interests — staging "debt relief" parties where those who crave legislative favors can drop off checks.
Much, much better.
We're no Ethiopia!
And finally, if there were an award for coming up with bad examples, Florida State Sen. Joe Negron would win.
Apparently the Stuart Republican grew tired of hearing people complain about health-care woes in Florida during a budget meeting this week. So he admonished the fretters to "stop the self-flagellation" and suggested that Florida should actually earn kudos for not treating the poor like underdeveloped countries. "I don't think they have a KidCare program in Ethiopia or India," he said,
Really, Senator? That's where we are in this state? Reduced to boasting that we have better health care than Ethiopia?
What's next — touting that we're more industrialized than Haiti? More democratic than Cuba?
Hey, maybe there's a new state slogan in it for us: "Florida — several steps up from Zimbabwe."
Scott Maxwell can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com or 407-420-6141.


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LOS ANGELES, Dec. 13, 2012 — Marcus Landry's huge night wasn't enough for the Reno Bighorns, who fell to 2-4 on the season after losing to the Los Angeles D-Fenders 113-102 Thursday night.
Landry had a game-high 31 points, going 7-12 from the three-point line. Garrett Temple had a season-high nine assists and Sacramento Kings' assignee Tyler Honeycutt grabbed eight rebounds.
The Bighorns got off to a hot start, making 10 three-point field goals in the first quarter. Reno led 63-58 at halftime, but was outscored by L.A. 33-18 in the third quarter. The third quarter proved to be the difference as the Bighorns didn't take the lead again.
Los Angeles Lakers' assignee, Darius Johnson-Odom, led the D-Fenders with 28 points and nine assists. Forward Gary Flowers added 21 points and blocked five shots.
The Bighorns will face the D-Fenders again this Saturday at 6:30 p.m. Fans can catch the game on Youtube.
Reno will return home on January 4th against the Sioux Falls SkyForce.

subset: commoncrawl


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Weston & Victoria's yard
westonism in Albuquerque, NM
Some of the garden Space around our property in Albuquerque. Even the weeds are pretty.
Back Yard Flower Close-ups Front Yard Garden Large (5,000 - 10,000 sq ft.) Side Yard
Comments / Questions
I love it! We both love weeds as much as flowers, and leave many of them growing in the gardens and around the pond. We're trying to get the ground ivy and wild strawberries to take over where there is still lawn left. We're on Webshots too, usernames jannetie and eaglewings1111.
Add Comment or Question
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I am getting kind of antsy to have another dog join the family. Our house is just a house without a happy canine, and it is really, really quiet here when I'm home alone. I never felt alone before when Buu was here to keep me company, and I don't like the feeling! We found two dogs that we would like to adopt, but we haven't heard back from the rescue yet, and I emailed over a week ago. It's kind of silly to get hung up on two dogs I haven't even met in person, but I am getting such a good vibe from their pictures that I will be heartbroken if this doesn't work out. Have you ever pinned your hopes on something that seems a bit irrational?
Check out my current contests! See the Contest Widget on the Sidebar to enter!
Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews to share new additions to our library. Click here to learn more about it.
New Arrivals at the Café:
Quantum Coin by E C Myers
London Eye by Tim Lebbon
City of Dark Magic by Magnus Flyte
Born To Be Wild by Patricia Rosemoor
Heroman Vol 1 by Stan Lee, Bones, Tamon Ohta
Love, Suburban Style by Wendy Markham
Days of Blood & Starlight by Laini Taylor
The Marriage Mistake by Jennifer Probst
The Rancher's Unexpected Family (Harlequin Romance) by Mackenzie, Myrna
Dark of the Moon by Barrett, Tracy
Collected by Madison, Shawntelle
A great big thanks to the publishers for their continued support!
What did you get? Please leave links and share!


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Howdy, I have a question regards my website. Next week 30 000 users are going to hit my website at once and it will timeout. I want to put a message asking users to come back later and explain the problem (too many users at once). My site is a PHP/mySQL site on Linuz/Apache. I have a .htaccess file that usually deals with errors and I wass wondering if adding to this would cover me for 5++ errors (like 503, 509).
For example:
ErrorDocument 400 https://www.mysite.co.uk/page-not-found.php
ErrorDocument 403 https://www.mysite.co.uk/page-not-found.php
ErrorDocument 404 https://www.mysite.co.uk/page-not-found.php
ErrorDocument 500 https://www.mysite.co.uk/server_down.html
ErrorDocument 501 https://www.mysite.co.uk/server_down.html
ErrorDocument 503 https://www.mysite.co.uk/server_down.html
ErrorDocument 509 https://www.mysite.co.uk/server_down.html
I'm confused that if mysite is downdue to demand can I redirect the user to a page that (although light in size) is actually on that domain (i.e. www.mysite.co.uk)
Is this the right thing to do or do I need a subdomain?
More bandwidth is needed unless this is a temporary peak in demand


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NEWS: New Age Festival 2014 add more names, including Natives and Glamour Of The Kill!
June 11th, 2014
Another batch of names have just been added to Bridgwater's one-day New Age Festival, with the latest additions including Natives, Glamour Of The Kill and more. You can check out all of the new names joining the bill along with an updated poster below:


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Up for sale is an ?as new? Winston GVX-SELECT 7?6? 3wt 4pc rod. I purchased it recently and have only lawn cast it (no fly) once for about five minutes. A very nice rod ? a little bit faster than the Winston IM6/WT series. This rod is all graphite (no boron fibers in the butt section). The warranty card has not been filled out and is intact. In addition to the card, there is also a receipt from the Winston authorized dealer. The rod retails for $545. I am selling it for $495 plus 17.50 USPS insured Priority shipping. Send PM with e-mail address for pictures.
Thanks Dave


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2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee: New GrandPosted in Project Vehicles on August 1, 2010
The '11 Jeep Grand Cherokee fills the silhouette of a crossover SUV.
And rightly so, because that's exactly what it is. We can't deny that it's certainly the most capable vehicle in that class. But what exactly does that mean and how capable is it really?
Jeep enthusiasts typically refer to the different Jeep models by acronyms (CJ, TJ, ZJ, WJ, and so on). Images of and info about the '11 Jeep Grand Cherokee surfaced over a year ago, but there was never an official acronym issued, until now. Unfortunately, the new acronym is about as unnoteworthy to the Jeep enthusiast market as the '11 Grand itself. The new Grand is still a WK, even though it shares more with the Mercedes M-Class than it does with the '05-'10 Grand Cherokee. Long gone are the days when the Grand Cherokee was a twin solid-axled enthusiast Jeep that enjoyed copious amounts of aftermarket attention in the form of lift kits, rocker guards, conversions, and so on. Much like its Mercedes counterpart, the '11 Jeep Grand Cherokee seems too sophisticated for such frills. But don't let its sophisticated side fool you into thinking it can't go off-road in stock trim.
We recently had a chance to get behind the wheel of the '11 Grand Cherokee on- and off-road in Moab, Utah. For the first time ever the next generation Grand Cherokee is less capable off-road than its predecessor-at least in our opinion. The pendulum seems to have swung more to on-road performance. But even though the new WK is the most refined Grand Cherokee ever offered, it's still able to tackle more difficult trails than the average WK buyer would ever consider attempting.
The '11 Grand is the first application of the 290hp flexible-fuel all-aluminum 3.6L Pentastar V-6. The new engine features an 11-percent improvement in fuel economy over the previous six-cylinder, delivering up to 23mpg. That's up to 500 miles per tank of fuel in the next-gen WK.
The 5.7L Hemi V-8 returns as an option and maintains the 7,400-pound trailer tow capability when properly optioned. The V-6 is rated to pull 5,000 pounds.
The new-gen WK is available with three different 4x4 systems, Quadra-Trac I, Quadra-Trac II, and Quadra-Drive II.
Quadra-Trac I uses a single-speed transfer case that delivers full-time four-wheel drive without any switches or levers to pull. Think of it as the street T-case. This is what most vehicles in the crossover category consider good enough.
Quadra-Trac II implements a push-button two-speed transfer case that uses a variety of sensors to determine if there is tire slip. When tire slippage is detected, as much as 100 percent of available torque is instantly routed to the axle with the most traction. We found that in some cases traction is not enough to move the Jeep forward without a little more throttle.
Quadra-Drive II utilizes the Quadra-Trac II transfer case and ups the ante with a rear electronic limited-slip differential (ELSD). The system instantly detects tire slip and smoothly distributes engine torque to tires with traction. The vehicle can also anticipate low traction and adjust in order to proactively limit or eliminate tire slippage. If you plan on using the Grand Cherokee off-road more often than the typical user you'll want the Quadra-Drive II system.
New to the Grand Cherokee is the optional Quadra-Lift air suspension system which features five manually- and automatically-controlled height settings. Normal ride height (NRH) provides 8.1 inches of ground clearance. Park mode lowers the Jeep 1.5 inches from NRH for roof rack loading and easy ingress and egress. Aero mode lowers the Jeep .6 inches below NRH; it is controlled by vehicle speed and adjusts for improved performance and fuel economy. Off-road I lifts the vehicle an additional 1.3 inches over NRH for added height in clearing obstacles. Off-road II lifts the Jeep 2.6 inches over NRH for a maximum of 10.7 inches of ground clearance.
In addition to the Quadra-Lift air suspension, the all-new Selec-Terrain traction control system lets the driver choose the off-road setting via a control dial in the center console. Selec-Terrain is not available for Grands with Quadra-Drive I, but is standard with Quadra-Trac II and Quadra-Drive II. This feature electronically coordinates up to 12 different powertrain, braking, and suspension systems, including throttle control, transmission shift, transfer case, traction control, ride height, and Electronic Stability Control (ESC).
The Sand/Mud setting allows traction control and Quadra-Lift to operate with sensitive response to wheelspin. Torque is also tuned for optimal performance. This is a good setting for an unsure driver in sandy or muddy conditions. It keeps you out of any major trouble by aggressively controlling wheelspin. In this setting, ride height is set to Off-Road I.
Even though it wasn't really designed for it, the Sport mode was by far the most fun to drive off-road. It's the best setting for an experienced driver looking for rally-car-like performance. We were able to lay the Jeep out sideways in loose corners with plenty of wheelspin. This setting lowers the suspension .6 inches, however we found it best to manually override the system and bump the clearance up to the Off-Road I setting. This combination gave us the clearance, wheelspin, as well as the ride we wanted off-road.
The Auto setting is a good choice for a new or unsure driver. It allows the Jeep to automatically adapt to any on- or off-road situation. It won't allow much tire slip so it's perfect for your mom, who doesn't want to mess with buttons and switches.
The Snow mode adjusts traction for best performance over snow- and ice-covered roads. It also forces the transmission to start from a dead stop in Second gear to avoid tire slip.
Rock mode raises the Quadra-Lift suspension to the maximum height. The differentials and throttle coordinate to provide low-speed control. For us, this was more of an emergency mode. If we were (or we expected to get) high-centered we'd roll the controller to Rock. Because this setting fully inflates the suspension, it caused some jarring over the rough stuff. It was not all that comfortable so we used it as little as possible.
Bottom Line
One of the German journalists on the trip commented that in his country they really didn't need off-road capability. There was no place to use it. On the street he thought the '11 Grand wallowed through corners and handled poorly.
We focused more on off-road capability for our testing. And although we were impressed with some of the technology, we're still left with a crossover vehicle that really doesn't belong in the hands of an enthusiast Jeep buyer. With things like hill decent control, a multi-mode 4x4 system, and four-wheel independent air-ride suspension the new generation WK is more refined than the old WK, or any Grand Cherokee for that matter. It's more street friendly and has more interior appointments. Off-road the new traction control system is less aggressive than the old system. The new Quadra-Drive II has one less limited slip differential to work with and it shows during articulated climbs. The old WK traction capability exceeded its ground clearance capabilities. You could literally drag and destroy the body and underside of the Jeep through anything as long as a couple of tires were on the ground. This new generation WK is better balanced. Its traction capability matches the ground clearance that's available.
- Road-focused refinement with off-road capability
- Numerous cool interior gadgets
- Tow capacity of a 1/2-ton truck
- Not as capable off-road as the previous generation
- Multiple T-case and air-suspension settings can be confusing
- Too refined and complex to be a true enthusiast Jeep


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The NFL trade deadline has come and gone, with only one noteworthy deal, so the rosters now are essentially set. What is the most glaring issue remaining for a contender and will it hold that team back?
Packers' running game still leaves much to be desiredIf one trade would have made more sense than any other, it would have been the Green Bay Packers' acquisition of a running back. Not necessarily Steven Jackson or DeAngelo Williams, two players who probably merit more money and more attention than Green Bay needs to give. Instead, as the team tries to at least provide Aaron Rodgers with a little relief, the Packers could have used someone to alleviate the void left by Cedric Benson's injury.
The team added Benson for a reason, and it proved to be a good one, particularly since James Starks and Alex Green aren't exactly lighting it up. I still believe the Packers can manage once Rodgers gets onto a more consistent roll, but the addition of a solid weapon in the running game wouldn't have been a bad thing at all.
Lack of protection will derail Cardinals' postseason hopesDespite their recent skid, the Arizona Cardinals are still in the thick of the playoff race in the NFC. However, their issues at offensive tackle likely will keep them from earning a seat at the postseason table.
The Cardinals have given up more sacks than any team in the entire league and I don't see how they correct this issue with their current personnel. Their defense is definitely capable of winning a few games on their own, but I don't think they will be able to pile up enough wins to reach the postseason.
The Patriots and Ravens have major hurdles to overcomeTwo AFC contenders immediately jump to mind.
The New England Patriots are ranked 28th in passing yards allowed. They are not very good in the secondary. They utilize a bend-but-don't-break philosophy, hoping to hold teams to field goals in the red zone. This method has worked to a degree, but even with the addition of Aqib Talib, I don't think this will change their secondary's performance much. However, this deficiency in the secondary won't hold them back in the end, mainly because of their offense and strong front seven.
The Baltimore Ravens' biggest weakness is their run defense. They are ranked 30th in rushing yards allowed. This is due to a number of factors, none of which has to do with the injury to Ray Lewis. The play of their defensive line has been the problem. The biggest issue is Ravens D-linemen are not holding their ground or knocking back the offensive line. Injuries to defensive linemen Haloti Ngata and Ma'ake Kemoeatu, as well as cornerback Lardarius Webb, have hurt. If Baltimore can't return to better health in the second half of the season, the problem won't get fixed. I still think the Ravens will get to the playoffs, but they won't go far with this problem.
Pressure might be too much for Matt Ryan, FalconsThe undefeated Atlanta Falcons are looking good for that coveted No. 1 seed in the NFC, even with the Chicago Bears looming just one game back. If the road to New Orleans runs through that soulless dome in Atlanta, that's great news for Matt Ryan ... or is it?
Much has been made of Ryan's elevated play in 2012, but there's been at least as much noise about Ryan's career failures in January. No matter what accolades and awards he gets for this regular season, Ryan knows it's meaningless unless he can get his team to the Super Bowl. If the Falcons are indeed the No. 1 seed, their fans in the stands (and on local sports radio, and in the papers, and in the streets) won't just be hoping for success -- they will expect it. That's a tough standard for a talented QB getting deeper into his career without a signature run through the postseason. Don't believe me? Ask guys named Elway, Marino, Peyton & Romo. Home-field advantage is nice, but it also raises the stakes for the QB who's supposed to win.
Oh, by the way, I'm still not sold on the Falcons' running game.
Lack of consistency on offense will be the Bears' undoingThe Chicago Bears' offense still isn't consistent. Jay Cutler is having a worse season statistically than Cam Newton, but no one has noticed because the Bears' defense is so dominant.
Despite the addition of Brandon Marshall, you don't know what you are going to get on a week-to-week basis from Chicago's passing game. That will catch up to the Bears eventually.


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Speed Mentoring Events at National Small Business Week
Register now for events in Seattle, Dallas, St. Louis, Pittsburgh and Washington, D.C.
WASHINGTON – Small business owners and entrepreneurs will have the opportunity during National Small Business Week, June 16-21, to participate in dynamic speed mentoring sessions to help start and grow their small businesses.
During the speed mentoring sessions, entrepreneurs will be partnered with an experienced mentor from the U.S. Small Business Administration's resource partner network including Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs), SCORE and Women's Business Centers (WBC).
The conversation-style sessions will allow participants to offer advice to each other. Topics will range from access to capital, marketing, exporting, to government contracting and sharing best practices for a woman-owned small business.
The speed mentoring sessions are intended for entrepreneurs that run the gamut from high growth start-ups to established main street small businesses. Ultimately, the mentor exchanges will result in an information exchange on starting or growing a business and dialogue on strategies used to stimulate business growth from personal experiences.
The locations, dates and registration for the speed mentoring sessions are:
• Seattle – June 17 http://2013nsbwseattle.eventbrite.com
• Dallas – June 18 http://2013nsbwdallas.eventbrite.com
• St. Louis – June 19 http://2013nsbwstlouis.eventbrite.com
• Pittsburgh – June 20 http://2013nsbwpittsburgh.eventbrite.com
• Washington, DC – June 20-21 http://2013nsbwdc.eventbrite.com
Deadline for all registrations is June 12, 2013.
Every year since 1963, the U.S. Small Business Administration takes the opportunity to highlight through National Small Business Week the impact of outstanding entrepreneurs, small business owners, and others from all 50 states and U.S. territories. This year's events will be held
June 16-21, in Seattle, Dallas, St. Louis, Pittsburgh and Washington, D.C. offering tips, tools and trainings for small businesses to start, succeed and grow. In addition to in-person events, small business owners can participate in online-only panel discussions on hot topics like social media and business financing starting daily at 4pm ET. All events, in-person and online, will be streamed live on www.sba.gov/smallbusinessweek. Also visit this site for a full schedule of events and additional information. The event hashtag is #SBW2013.
The U.S. Small Business Administration's participation in this cosponsored activity does not constitute an express or implied endorsement of any cosponsor's, donor's, grantee's, contractor's or participant's opinions, products, or services. All SBA programs and cosponsored programs are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis. Reasonable arrangements for persons with disabilities will be made, if requested at least 2 weeks in advance, by contacting email@example.com. Cosponsorship Authorization #SBW2013.


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Cannibal polar bears have left many open mouthed after a slaughterous beast was caught on camera with the bloody carcass of a polar cub swinging from its jaws.
A cannibal polar bear dragging the body of its own kind across the Arctic Tundra was caught by environmental photojournalist Jenny Ross in the northernmost part of Norway.
Polar bears will usually eat seals, but when hungry, the mammals will feast on larger animals, becoming vicious cannibal polar bears if necessary.
Jenny Ross said the cannibal polar bear had killed the bear in the same way as it usually kills a seal, through repeated savage bites to the head.
The polar cub's blood glints orange in the Arctic light, as the cannibal polar bear carries the cub in its black jaws, sloping off to feast on his brutal snack later.
Watching Ross approach on the boat, the cannibal polar bear reportedly stood aggressively over his predatory prize, "asserting control over it and conveying 'this is my food'."
Speaking of her encounter with the cannibal polar bear, she told BBC News. "This type of intraspecific predation has always occurred to some extent,"
"However, there are increasing numbers of observations of it occurring, particularly on land where polar bears are trapped ashore, completely food-deprived for extended periods of time due to the loss of sea ice as a result of climate change."
Her assertion at the American Geophysical Union (AGU) meeting that cannibal polar bears are eating each other because of climate change has provoked outrage among some. It comes in the wake of the final episode of BBC Document Frozen Planet which focusses on climate change.
The Telegraph blog piece headlined its article with "The BBC: less trustworthy, more dangerous than a cannibal polar bear"pointing to an article by Christopher Booker "The BBC and Climate Change: A Triple Betrayal." It asserts that BBC's responsibility towards accuracy and impartiality has been betrayed by its coverage of climate change.
However the shocking pictures taken by boat in Olgastretet, a stretch of water in the Svalbard archipelago, have traditionally been covered with ice year round. Now large straits are covered in water.
Polar bears usually use the ice as a platform on which to hunt seals, and now polar bears have gone looking for alternative sources of food, says Ross.
"On land, they're looking for human garbage and human foods; they're starting to prey on seabirds and their eggs"
"None of those alternative foods can support them, but they are seeking them out.
"Predating another bear is a way to get food; it's probably a relatively easy way for a big adult male. And it seems that because of the circumstances of the loss of sea ice - that kind of behaviour may be becoming more common."


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With 15 bushels of corn and dishes filled to the brim with mountain barbecue, Mills River's first Sweet Corn Festival kicked off on Saturday afternoon at the Mills River Community Center.
MILLS RIVER -- With 15 bushels of corn and dishes filled to the brim with mountain barbecue, Mills River's first Sweet Corn Festival kicked off on Saturday afternoon at the Mills River Community Center on School House Road.
Carolina Spring Band played bluegrass music as natives, newcomers and passersby joined together at the center for dinner and music.
Outside, Dr. Sow Sew and Clipper de Clown offered princess, pirate and camouflaged face painting while the Rev. Randall Boggs from Mills River Presbyterian Church prepared himself to be re-baptized in the dunk tank.
Alyssa Scotts, 25, and Charlie Johnson, 27, of Asheville said they were just driving through town when they decided to see what all of the "corn fest" signs were about.
"We just followed the signs here, and it's awesome," Scotts said.
The two said they were excited when they found good food and music.
Delores and Richmond Meadows, Mills River natives, said they came out to support their community and the center.
"I helped the original group of men when we started grubbing the old brush off of here with swing blades and axes and stuff in 1950," Richmond Meadows said. "I helped build this building."
When Richmond Meadows was 9 years old, he said, he helped clear the land around the center when it was being made into a youth center.
"For some years, it hadn't been used," Meadows said. "This is the biggest crowd I've see over here in a long time."
"It is good to see it being put to use," his wife added with a smile. "I am glad to see it get some use. They use to hold the teen canteen here with square dance and stuff."
Jollene Austin, president of the Community Development Association, said the turnout was awesome.
"The people that are here I've never seen before," Austin said, adding that it was a good sign. "We have food for 300, so when it's gone it's gone."
Reach Bindewald at email@example.com or 828-694-7890.


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Friday 25 May
Wildscreen with Photo Story Panda Award judge, Britta Jaschinski
Climate change is likely to affect the amount of nutrients that koalas obtain from their main food source, Eucalyptus.
Elevated carbon dioxide levels increase plant growth but reduce the protein levels and increase the amount of tannins in the leaves, causing possible malnutrition and starvation if the koalas are not able to meet their nutritional demands.
Droughts and bushfires, to which the koala is particularly vulnerable, are also increasing in frequency and severity due to climate change.
Climate change refers to man-made changes in our climate. It is often also called 'global warming', as one of the most well-known effects of climate change is a steady rise in the Earth's temperature (1).
Other effects include sea levels getting higher, ice melting at the poles, and extreme weather events like hurricanes and droughts becoming more common (2). Many animals are also struggling to survive as their habitats change (3).
Climate change is caused by an increase in the amount of gases in our atmosphere that trap heat. These gases occur naturally and ensure the Earth is maintained at a life-supporting temperature, in a process called 'the greenhouse effect'. However, human activities that burn fossil fuels like coal and oil are increasing the amount of these gases in our atmosphere, causing the Earth to warm to abnormal levels (2) (4).
Scientists are predicting that climate change will cause a mass extinction of many species of plants and animals. As ice melts in the Polar Regions, polar bears and emperor penguins are losing vital habitats, the ocean is also becoming more acidic which is killing many corals. Species that live or breed on low-lying remote islands, like marine turtles, are threatened by rising sea levels and extreme weather, and many plants, which cannot move to find new habitats, are disappearing from parts of their range, due to drought and higher temperatures (3).
It is too late to reverse many of the effects of climate change. But to limit the damage done by climate change many countries have pledged to limit the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Renewable energies, such as wind, tidal and solar energy, are being developed so that we do not need to keep burning fossil fuels (1) (5).
You can help tackle climate change by:
Although each action may be small, if many people make small changes it will add up to make a big difference (6) (7).
Traditionally, climate change refers to any long-term change in normal weather patterns caused by a process that adjusts the climate, such as a volcanic eruption or a cyclical change in solar activity. (1)
However, the term 'climate change' now usually refers to man-made changes in the climate that have occurred since the early 1900s. Climate change is often interchanged with the phrase 'global warming', as the principal way in which humans are affecting the climate is through the release of heat-trapping greenhouse gases into the air (4).
The Earth's climate has changed throughout history. In the last 650,000 years there have been seven cycles of glacial advance and retreat. Most of these changes are attributed to very small changes in the Earth's orbit changing the amount of energy the Earth receives from the sun (4).
Changes in the modern climate show a discernable warming trend that can only be partly explained by natural causes (5). The overwhelming majority of scientists agree that this is due to rising concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere caused by human activities. The current human-induced warming trend is of particular significance as it is occurring at an unprecedented rate (1).
Earth-orbiting satellites and other technological advances have enabled scientists to see the big picture, collecting many different types of information about our planet and its climate on a global scale. Studying these climate data collected over many years reveal the signs of a changing climate (4).
Just as the world's most respected scientific bodies have confirmed that the Earth is getting hotter, they have also stated that there is strong evidence that humans are driving the warming (2).
Scientists agree the main cause of climate change is human activities which magnify the 'greenhouse effect' – a natural process in which gases in the atmosphere warm the Earth by trapping heat that is radiating towards space (2) (4).
A layer of greenhouse gases, including water vapour and smaller amounts of carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide, act as a thermal blanket surrounding the Earth. This absorbs heat and warms the surface to a life-supporting average of 15°C. As energy slowly escapes out of our atmosphere, some of it is absorbed by the greenhouses gases, which warms the Earth further. Although these gases are present naturally, human activity is increasing their concentrations, thereby exacerbating the greenhouse effect (4).
Carbon dioxide (CO2) is the main greenhouse gas of concern. A finite amount of carbon is stored in fossil fuels, the sea, living matter and the atmosphere. Without human influence there is a fine balance in the amount of carbon in these stores, but when humans cut down trees or burn fossil fuels, they release extra carbon into the atmosphere (4).
Warming caused by man-made emissions of greenhouse gases also increases the amount of water vapour in the air by boosting the rate of evaporation from the oceans and elsewhere. This amplifies the warming effect, as well as the amount of rain and snow falling to Earth which can lead to extreme weather patterns (4).
The greatest source of man-made emissions is the burning of fossil fuels (2). As the world's population grows, more people are burning fossil fuels for energy. By driving cars, heating our homes with oil, gas, or electricity from coal-fired power stations, we release greenhouse gases into our atmosphere. In 2005, burning fossil fuels sent about 27 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere (8).
Food production also leads to the burning of fossil fuels. Land must be cleared for farming, which often contributes to deforestation. Food is also often transported across the world to reach distant markets, meaning fossil fuels are burnt in the process. Fertiliser production for crops and methane gas emitted by livestock also contributes to emissions.
Scientists estimate that forest loss and other changes to the use of land account for around 23 percent of current man-made carbon dioxide emissions (9). This is because forests are a natural 'sink' of carbon dioxide. By harnessing the sun's energy, plants absorb carbon dioxide from the air as they grow, turning the carbon molecules into the building blocks of their trunks, branches and leaves. But when forests are cleared or burned, their stored carbon is released back into the air, contributing to global warming (9).
Animals and plants unable to adapt to a rapidly changing climate are seriously threatened by climate change. Scientists predict that man-made climate change could contribute to a mass extinction of wildlife in the near future.
Climate change will leave many species without any suitable habitat. Others may be forced to migrate long distances to find hospitable surrounds. Climate change is also causing some migratory species, including many birds, to leave their wintering grounds for breeding areas earlier in the year, leading to competition with resident species for food and nesting areas (3).
Species on remote islands occupy a particularly precarious position in the face of climate change. With an already restricted range, these species are unable to travel to find new suitable habitat, making them extremely vulnerable to extreme weather events such as hurricanes and drought. For example, the hawksbill turtle is at risk of rising sea levels and increases in storm activity, which will destroy its nesting habitat. Rising air temperatures may also result in turtle populations developing a skewed sex ratio, as sex is determined by the temperature at which the eggs are incubated (3).
The loss of sea-ice and ice-sheets is adversely affecting species from both poles. In the Antarctic, the decline in the extent of the pack-ice will result in the loss of emperor penguin breeding habitat, while reduced ice cover means less krill, a vital source of food for many Antarctic species. In the Arctic, the polar bear uses sea-ice as a platform from which to hunt its seal prey. But warming temperatures are reducing the availability of this vital habitat, causing many bears to forage on the mainland where food is more difficult to find (3).
The impacts of climate change are certainly not restricted to the Polar Regions, however, with species from tropical regions also struggling in the heat. Even slight rises in ocean temperatures can lead to coral bleaching, which leaves coral weak and vulnerable to harmful diseases. The environmentally sensitive staghorn corals, which comprise around 160 species, are already exhibiting signs of significant declines (3).
The sedentary nature of plants makes them particularly vulnerable to climate change. A prime example is the quiver tree from the Namib Desert in southern Africa, which is disappearing from northern parts of its range due to drought stress (3).
While climate change is the most serious threat to the survival of many species, some are benefiting from a changing climate. Warmer climates and changes in rainfall levels are opening up previously inhospitable habitats to many species, including those described as 'generalists'.
But while most of these invasive species do no harm in their new environments, a small number do disproportionate harm and are thriving at the expense of those species adapted to a narrow range of environmental conditions, unable to quickly adapt to the changing climate. Combined with global trade and transport networks, which are often blamed for the introduction of non-native animals, the threat of invasive species is likely to result in a huge environmental and economic cost.
Climate change is already having many discernible effects on our natural environment, meaning some of the impacts of climate change are irreversible. Even if greenhouse gas emissions are substantially reduced, the long lifespan of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere means that we cannot avoid further climate change (2).
Current scientific evidence indicates that the effects of climate change will only remain manageable if global temperatures rise by no more than 2ºC above pre-industrial levels. For this to happen, worldwide emissions must peak by 2020 and be cut to 50 percent of 1990 levels by 2050 (2) (5).
If we do not soon take drastic action to reduce our emissions, climate change will cause more and more costly damage and disrupt the functioning of our natural environment, which supplies us with food, raw materials and other vital resources. This will negatively affect our economies and could destabilise societies around the globe, as well as cause permanent damage to our planet's biodiversity.
Most countries have responded to climate change by becoming parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), an international treaty that aims to stabilise greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that prevents dangerous human-interference of the climate. Many countries are also heavily investing in clean energies, such as wind, tidal and solar energy, to reduce their dependency on fossil fuels (5).
Climate change is a huge challenge for the planet, and requires action by all levels of government, but there are many things that you can do to reduce your own energy consumption:
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Replaced by Outsourcing -- What's a Geek to Do? 1166
"Here comes the obligatory South Park reference:
- Perform Network Vulnerability Assessment
- ?
- Profit! (Sell Outsourced product)
I wouldn't even dream up the above situation, except that when the assessment was done, all results were hidden from me. The company presented the results not to the geeks that can interpret them, but directly to the executives that still think 'Clippy' is a great product.Label anyone who is responsible for network security as the risk, and get them fired.
I'll also note, because people will ask me anyway, if there were other problems. In my year on the job, there was only 1 network intrusion: Welchia, which was contained in twenty minutes. Anyone familiar with Welchia will know that it is no easy task. I was never reprimanded for anything. In fact, I received a 12.5% raise only two months ago for job performance.
I doubt what they did was illegal, but it's bad business at best. Here is a group of network security geeks, who get other network security geeks fired, so they can increase their bottom line.
I'd like to hear comments from folks this has happened to, and what did you do as a result?"


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November 12, 2013
Students and businesses throughout Washington County and the surrounding communities have long recognized the value of a machining certificate earned at Blinn College's A.W. Hodde, Jr. Technical Education Center.
Now the credentials of Blinn's top-notch Hodde Center staff will be nationally recognized after four members completed certification with the National Institute for Metalworking Skills (NIMS), Inc.
With a stakeholder base of more than 6,000 metalworking companies, NIMS has developed skills standards in 24 operational areas covering the breadth of metalworking operations, ranging from entry to a master level. To earn certification, instructors must meet both performance and theory requirements.
Instructors Terry Winkelmann, Brisco Humes, Herb Dabelgott and Hodde Center Director David Yeager each earned certification after spending weeks reviewing NIMS terminology, processes and safety standards. Certification included written and skill exams that totaled approximately 40 hours of testing. MIC Group helped fund Blinn's certification efforts.
Hodde Center students will now have the opportunity to be NIMS certified at the same time they earn their Blinn College machining certificate, qualifying them for employment opportunities throughout the nation.
"If our students move out of state, they may move to an area of the country where employers aren't familiar with Blinn College and its outstanding reputation, but NIMS is the national standard," said Megan Costanza, dean of Workforce Education. "For the rest of their lives, students who complete our machining program will have a certification that means something to every employer across the country."
The Hodde Center is now one of just four sites in the state with NIMS-certified instructors. Next year, the facility will be considered for NIMS certification. If successful, it could become just the second site in the state certified for courses in which NIMS instructors can earn their credentials.
"That would allow us to hold statewide and nationwide training, not only for community colleges but for industry as well," Costanza said.
The Hodde Center's machinist course includes approximately 280 hours of training, including 200 hours of hands-on experience with mills and lathes. Machinists use specialized tools to make or modify metal and plastic parts by cutting away excess material in much the same way a woodcarver cuts away wood to form a specific shape or design. The Hodde Center course covers mathematics, precision measurement, blueprint reading and manual operation of mills and lathes.
The 12,000-square foot Hodde Center was built in 2009 to provide local training for a quality, viable workforce in Washington and the surrounding communities. Its staff works in cooperation with local businesses to provide a well-trained workforce that strengthens the local economy. For more information on the Hodde Center and its course offerings, call 979-830-4443 or visit www.blinn.edu/blinntec.


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Brian France Speaks On Panel About Driving Social Change Through Sport
by Official Release On Tue, Nov. 13, 2012
NASCAR Participates In Beyond Sport United At Yankee Stadium
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Nov. 13, 2012) — At the Beyond Sport Summit in London, in the days leading up to the Summer Olympics, NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France spoke passionately about his sport's efforts to drive sustainable behavior amongst millions of fans through the NASCAR Green platform. Today, he joined National Basketball Association (NBA) Commissioner David Stern on a panel at Yankee Stadium entitled Beyond Sport United: Sports Teams for Social Change.
The conversation centered on how teams and leagues can use their resources to engage with their communities in a more sustained, impactful way. The commissioners also discussed how community engagement and philanthropic efforts can also benefit teams and leagues' objectives across departments and enterprises.
"The mission of Beyond Sport is critically important," said France. "I look forward to collaborating with our friends from other sports to find ways that we can work together to galvanize our respective industries in an effort to make a substantive impact on the lives of local communities and fans of sport throughout the world."
In May 2012, NASCAR became the last founding member of a coalition of leagues that includes Major League Baseball (MLB), the National Football League (NFL), the National Hockey League (NHL), Major League Soccer (MLS), the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA), as well as the NBA. The leagues are part of Beyond Sport's wider global network to promote, develop and support the use of sport to create positive social change.
"Beyond Sport United is an event born out of the idea that professional sports teams, as heroic brands with historic resonance, have the profound ability to be hubs of positive influence and resource within their communities," said Nick Keller, founder of Beyond Sport. "What impressed me at our London event was how much of what NASCAR was doing to drive social change here in the U.S. resonated with a global audience. I look forward to seeing that same dynamic in action at Yankee Stadium today."
The day consisted of panels and workshops that strive to identify ways that specific social issues can be addressed by sports teams, leagues, and their partners. The conversation also focused on the business and organizational benefits of community engagement and social responsibility.
In addition to France, NASCAR was well represented at the event throughout the day through a range of other activities. Among them:
· NASCAR Hall of Famer and The NASCAR Foundation Board Member Rusty Wallace joined a Players Panel to explore how teams and leagues have supported, and can better support, players in their philanthropic work. Moderated by Mike Greenberg from ESPN, the panel also included Mark Teixeira (World Series champion and founder of the Mark Teixeira Charitable Foundation), Derrick Brooks (former Super Bowl champion and founder of Derrick Brooks Charities), Aimee Mullins (Paralympian, actress, fashion model and activist) and Swin Cash (WNBA Champion and Olympic Gold Medalist).
· Dr. Michael Lynch, NASCAR's managing director of green innovation, participated in a breakout session called Sustainability & Environment: Innovation, Efficiency and Creativity. Joining Dr. Lynch was Rich Sotelo, vice president, operations, San Jose Sharks and Todd Reeve, CEO, Bonneville Environment Foundation.
About NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, Inc. (NASCAR) is the sanctioning body for one of North America's premier sports. NASCAR races are broadcast in more than 150 countries and in 20 languages. In the U.S., races are broadcast on FOX, TNT, ABC/ESPN/ESPN2, SPEED, MRN Radio, PRN Radio and SiriusXM Satellite Radio. NASCAR fans are among the most brand-loyal in all of sports, and as a result more Fortune 500 companies participate in NASCAR than any other sport. NASCAR consists of three national series (the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, NASCAR Nationwide Series, and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series), four regional series, and one local grassroots series, as well as three international series. Also part of NASCAR is Grand-Am Road Racing, known for its competition on road courses with multiple classes of cars. NASCAR sanctions more than 1,200 races at 100 tracks in more than 30 U.S. states, Canada, Mexico and Europe. Based in Daytona Beach, Fla., NASCAR has offices in eight cities across North America. The next NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race, the Ford EcoBoost 400, will air November 18 on ESPN at 2 p.m. ET. For more information and a complete schedule, visit www.nascar.com. Follow NASCAR on www.facebook.com/NASCAR or on Twitter: @NASCAR
About Beyond Sport
Beyond Sport is a global organization that promotes, develops and funds the use of sport to create positive social change across the world. It does this through a range of programs, services and events, including the Beyond Sport Summit and the Beyond Sport Awards. Beyond Sport also offers industry-leading consultancy services, and has worked on a consultancy basis with global brands and organizations. On 13th November, Beyond Sport will once again stage Beyond Sport United at Yankee Stadium with the backing of its Founding Supporters – Major League Baseball (MLB); Major League Soccer (MLS); NASCAR, the National Basketball Association (NBA); the National Football League (NFL); the National Hockey League (NHL); and the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). Sports teams from around the world will come together at Beyond Sport United to explore and develop their own role within their communities.


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Quarterbacks (3)
Ben Roethlisberger, Bruce Gradkowski, Landry Jones
Running Backs (4)
Le'Veon Bell, Jonathan Dwyer, Isaac Redman, Larod Stephens-Howling
Fullbacks (1)
Will Johnson
Wide Receivers (6)
Antonio Brown, Emmanuel Sanders, Jericho Cotchery, Markus Wheaton, Steve Breaston, Reggie Dunn (KR/PR)
Tight Ends (3)
Heath Miller*, Matt Spaeth, David Paul, David Johnson
Offensive Line ( 8 )
Mike Adams, Ramon Foster, Maurkice Pouncey, David DeCastro, Marcus Gilbert, Max Starks, Kelvin Beachum, Joe Madsen
Defensive Ends (4)
Brett Keisel, Ziggy Hood, Cameron Heyward, Nick Williams
Nose Tackles (2)
Steve McClendon, Alameda Ta'amu
Outside Linebackers (5)
Lamarr Woodey, Jason Worilds, Jarvis Jones, Chris Carter, Adrian Robinson
Inside Linebackers (4)
Lawrence Timmons, Larry Foote, Stevenson Sylvester, Vince Williams
Cornerbacks (5)
Ike Taylor, Cortez Allen, William Gay, Terry Hawthorne, Curtis Brown
Safeties (4)
Troy Polamalu, Ryan Clark, Shamarko Thomas, Robert Golden
Specialists (3)
Shaun Suisham - K
Brian Moorman - P
Greg Warren - LS
* May start year on PUP list.
I actually like the mix of talent on this team. Hopefully the team can stay a little healthier this season and the OL will have a chance to gel in front of Ben. The rookies brought in on D look to add quality depth and at times with JJ, hopefully make some splash plays. Without injuries, I expect the Steelers to return to double-digit form and compete with the Bengals for the division title.


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CSR welcomes the 2011 class of Summer Research Institute (SRI) students
Twenty-one students representing eight universities, including Stevens Institute of Technology, Jackson State University, Norfolk State University, Rutgers University, State University of NY - Binghamton, University of Hawaii, University of Miami, and the University of Puerto Rico have arrived to the Stevens Institute of Technology campus in Hoboken, NJ to participate in the CSR's eight-week intensive summer research program. The maritime security focused program is led by a team of CSR researchers and educators and runs from June 6 to July 29, 2011.
Students participating in this year's program have been organized into two research teams, the Sensor Technologies team and the Consequence Assessment team. Each team has been given the collective challenge of utilizing sensor technologies and plume modeling forecasts to assess the potential impacts of a radiological dispersion and oil spill in the New York Harbor.
The SRI students have the unique opportunity to collaborate with CSR researchers and with each other to conduct hands-on research in the field and in the university's Maritime Security Laboratory. Students also engage in highly-relevant lectures by homeland security experts and maritime industry representatives. This summer's guest speakers have included Dana Goward, Director Marine Transportation Systems Management, USCG, Nick Pera, US Navy Chief Systems Engineer, Richard Larrabee (Ret. ADM), Director of Port Commerce, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ), and Jeanne Lin, Deputy Director, Borders and Maritime Security Division at DHS S&T.
The student teams are responsible for providing weekly presentations on their research activities and will be responsible for preparing final research reports and posters.


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STL Wolverine
- Member for
- 7 years 32 weeks
Recent Comments
|7 years 19 weeks ago
|Worst Christmas ever
When I heard it was Hoke, I had that feeling of utter disappointment similar to when you think your getting a great present and you get socks and underwear. Based on Brandon's comments about pay and defense I expected a proven top quality coach. Clearly Brandon only cares about the coach being a Michigan Man (Bo man). I hope Hoke is successful because there are no other Michigan Men after him.
|7 years 19 weeks ago
|Watch the pay package
If the annual salary is ridiculously high, then Hoke probably was plan A and Brandon overpaid. Perhaps on purpose.
|7 years 25 weeks ago
|Don't think RRod will sign 2 yr extension
He still has 3 years on his original contract.
|7 years 25 weeks ago
|posted from iPhone
I can't imagine another program taking RR and all his defensive assistants after the last two years at M. Their resumes don't look real appealing right now.
|7 years 25 weeks ago
|If I was Denard I would leave
If i was Denard and Harbaugh is the coach, I would leave and head to a spread program, burn my redshirt and then have two years to perform. His stock is crazy high, he has proven he can be a QB, and there is little chance Harbaugh uses him the same way.
|7 years 29 weeks ago
|Offensive tempo
It seems to me that our offense is more successful when running at a very fast tempo. This was the case in early games and when down by multiples in the second half. I have felt the offense is a little slow on the first couple possessions. I think if this offense scores early to start it can hurt the morale of opposing defenses, whereas a three and out to start strengthens their morale.
|7 years 29 weeks ago
|Fake field goal
I don't think Penn State was backing off when they faked the field goal late in the game. Joe Pa did not want Denard on the field.
|7 years 29 weeks ago
|McGloin is a RS Soph
2.5 years of sitting the bench to learn the offense and develop can mean a lot. Also, he is a former walk-on, so JoePa saw enough to award a scholarship.
|7 years 31 weeks ago
|Receiver sounds better
I'd rather rather see Denard get a quick pass as a receiver where he could take off or pass it forward as the CBs pull up to tackle. I would think most CBs would give him a big cushion on the LOS.
|7 years 31 weeks ago
|Home vs. Away
If Alabama is the home team, does that mean their season ticket holders will get most of the tickets?
|7 years 32 weeks ago
|posted from iPhone
If stipends were being paid it would reduce one of the competitive advantages Michigan has in recruiting. The value of a Michigan degree is far greater than the value of degrees from other institutions because of the quality of education, access to alumni, and even starting salaries upon graduation. If other universities could compensate by paying recruits then the value would equalize over time.


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I bet Da'Rick Rodgers gets called right after the draft by the Benglas
I bet Da'Rick Rodgers gets called right after the draft by the Benglas
7th rd pick- Reid Fragle. OSU
This is a pretty good pick. Former TE turned tackle, he has tons of potential.
Witty signature.
Bengals next 7th round pick:
T.J. Johnson C South Carolina
Last edited by Reds Fanatic; 04-27-2013 at 07:26 PM.
Arise and walk, come through. A world beyond that door is calling out for you. Arise and walk, come through. It's calling out for you.
I absolutely love the Hunt pick. Zimmer will make this kid very good.
In the minority here, but I am not a fan of the Bernard pick. I have watched a lot of video of him and he doesn't look very fast to me. Shifty, but not fast.
Overall great draft, though.
Seriously, I would like the Bengals to bring in Tebow. John Skelton, Josh Johnson, and Zac Robinson are your options if Andy Dalton gets hurt. I have more trust in Tebow than any of those guys.
Hugs, smiling, and interactive Twitter accounts, don't mean winning baseball. Until this community understands that we are cursed to relive the madness.
I am not in love with this draft.
I thought the Eifert pick was ok. It was more of a luxury pick than addressing a major need. In a draft where you needed to address RB, LB, and S taking a TE in the first is a gamble.
I really liked the Bernard pick. I like his explosiveness over the likes of Lacy. Lacy is too similar to BJGE and you also have to wonder if he benefited greatly from playing behind a pro oline in college.
I don't understand the Hunt pick. It reminds me too much of the Jerome Simpson pick of a few years ago. Again when you haven't addressed the major needs taking a flier in the 2nd round is risky.
Reports on the S from Georgia is that he is ready to start. I like that. I did like the Burkhead pick as well as the two OLmen taken. If Hawkenson can back up three OL spots I like that.
Overall I wish the Bengals had been more aggressive in moving up to get players they liked. They have been aggressive in trading but they like to trade down instead of up. The reality is don't be afraid to trade up to get a guy you like, especially when you consider that your not going to keep all 8 draftees on your roster.
I thought the draft got derailed a bit after the first two rounds. Williams was not one of my five best safties in this draft, and I liked Sharmarko Thomas better (who went to the Steelers several picks later). I don't know if anyone taken after that will even dress let alone play this year. I think we really wanted Khaseem Greene, who went the pick before our fourth round choice. I would have liked Greene or LOVED to get Lattimore in the 4th round, and wished we would have made a run at Kevin Reddick, Da'Rick Rogers, Miguel Maysonet or one of the QB's as undrafted FA.
All in all, I really like what we did in the first two rounds, especially given who was on the board at that time, and that's the most important part of the draft. If Williams becomes a starter then this will have been a good draft. If he doesn't, it will be OK. Like I said, a solid B from me.
Go BLUE!!!
Separately, at this point (and of course this is likely to change based off of what actually happens during the season) it looks like LB, S, and C may be our biggest needs heading into next year's draft.
However, if Dalton regresses this year with all the new weapons, all of that may get scrapped for a first round QB.
Go BLUE!!!
While I understand the frustration of watching Houston exploit a favorable matchup, in the end they scored 20 points, or 6 points below their season average.
The problem was they held the Bengals to only 13 points. Without an extra pass catcher and a home run threat to scare the defense with, Houston's d-line could just bear down on BJGE and Dalton.
Both in the playoff game and in the total season, it was really the offense which couldn't come through when necessary. I really think Eifert will fill a bigger role than any safety or MLB they could have drafted would.
Board Moderators may, at their discretion and judgment, delete and/or edit any messages that violate any of the following guidelines: 1. Explicit references to alleged illegal or unlawful acts. 2. Graphic sexual descriptions. 3. Racial or ethnic slurs. 4. Use of edgy language (including masked profanity). 5. Direct personal attacks, flames, fights, trolling, baiting, name-calling, general nuisance, excessive player criticism or anything along those lines. 6. Posting spam. 7. Each person may have only one user account. It is fine to be critical here - that's what this board is for. But let's not beat a subject or a player to death, please.


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Alastair Cook and James Anderson nominated for ICC Player of the Year award
England's Alastair Cook and James Anderson have been nominated for the ICC Test Cricketer of the Year award.
Last Updated: 03/12/13 2:31pm
Australia captain Michael Clarke - who the pair will face in this week's second Ashes Test in Adelaide - South Africa's Hashim Amla, India captain MS Dhoni and Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara are also nominated for the prestigious Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy.
Anderson, Amla and Clarke are also nominated for the Test Cricketer of the Year alongside Dale Steyn of South Africa and the Indian duo of Ravichandran Ashwin and Cheteshwar Pujara.
Both Sangakkara and Dhoni also feature in the shortlist for the ICC ODI Cricketer of the Year, which also includes the Pakistan duo of Saeed Ajmal and Misbah ul-Haq, as well as the Indian pair of Shikhar Dhawan and Ravindra Jadeja.
England batsman Joe Root has been nominated in the The ICC Emerging Cricketer of the Year shortlist alongside New Zealand's Trent Boult, India's Cheteshwar Pujara and Mitchell Starc of Australia.
The Twenty20 International (T20I) Performance of the year sees Sri Lanka spinner Ajantha Mendis being shortlisted alongside Pakistan fast bowler Umar Gul and New Zealand batsmen Martin Guptill and Brendon McCullum.
Edwards, Shrubsole nominated
England pair of Charlotte Edwards and Anya Shrubsole are nominated in the Women's ODI Cricketer of the Year alongside last year's winner Stafanie Taylor, New Zealand captain Suzie Bates, Australia's Meg Lanning, South Africa's and Dane van Niekerk.
England's Sarah Taylor Taylor, Bates and Lanning also feature in the short-list for the ICC Women's T20I Cricketer of the Year, along with West Indies duo of Shanel Daley and Deandra Dottin.
Ireland's Kevin O'Brien and Ed Joyce, Scotland's Kyle Coetzer of Scotland and Nawroz Mangal of Afghanistan are the nominees in the ICC Associate and Affiliate Cricketer of the Year award.
The ICC selection panel was chaired by former India captain and current chairman of the ICC Cricket Committee Anil Kumble. The panel also includes Alec Stewart, Catherine Campbell of New Zealand, Waqar Younis of Pakistan and Graeme Pollock of South Africa.
England's Graeme Swann was named in the Test team of the year along with Anderson and Cook.
Alastair Cook (Eng, captain)
Cheteshwar Pujara (Ind)
Hashim Amla (SA)
Michael Clarke (Aus)
Michael Hussey (Aus)
AB de Villiers (SA)
MS Dhoni (Ind - Wicketkeeper)
Graeme Swann (Eng)
Dale Steyn (SA)
James Anderson (Eng)
Vernon Philander (SA)
12th Man: Ravichandran Ashwin (Ind)
The one-day team of the year is:
Tillakaratne Dilshan (SL)
Shikhar Dhawan (Ind)
Hashim Amla (SA)
Kumar Sangakkara (SL)
AB de Villiers (SA)
MS Dhoni (Ind, captain and wicketkeeper)
Ravindra Jadeja (Ind)
Saeed Ajmal (Pak)
Mitchell Starc (Aus)
James Anderson (Eng)
Lasith Malinga (SL)
12th Man: Mitchell McClenaghan (NZ)
Watch the second Ashes Test between Australia and England from Adelaide - coverage starts on Wednesday at 11pm on Sky Sports 2


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Potluck Ham Tortilla Stack Recipe
5 1 1
"This recipe was in a cookbook my mom gave me when I got married," recalls Eileen Stegall of Omaha, Nebraska. "I have added a few of my own touches. When I take it to a potluck, I always get requests for the recipe."
Recommended: 62 Quick Recipes to Cozy Up to This Winter
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- 3 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened
- 2/3 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup Italian salad dressing
- 1 medium green pepper, finely chopped
- 3 green onions, finely chopped
- 1 can (4-1/4 ounces) chopped ripe olives, drained
- 1/3 cup pimiento-stuffed olives
- 8 flour tortillas (10 inches)
- 2-1/4 pounds shaved deli ham
- In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese, mayonnaise and Italian dressing until smooth. Stir in green pepper, onions and olives.
- Spread about 1/2 cup over one tortilla. Top with a seventh of the ham. Repeat six times. Top with remaining tortilla. Cover and chill overnight. Cut into wedges. Yield: 20 servings.
Originally published as Ham Tortilla Stack in Quick Cooking January/February 2004, p43
Reviews forPotluck Ham Tortilla Stack
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Reviewed Mar. 28, 2010
"I have made this several times and have been asked for recipe each time. I made it for my nephew wedding reception and gave the recipe at least six times. I made it for my sons wedding reception and was asked how i had time to make such a fancy dish. Icut the stacks into 1 inch sq. and placed ona platter with frilly tooth pick.platter"


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After an extended silence, we finally have some indication that Dragon Quest X is coming to the west. A French retailer has listed the Wii U version of the game, marking our best bet at getting the game since it was announced for Japan in 2011.
Amazon France (via Joystiq) listed the game, but still uses Japanese screenshots. Dragon Quest X is set to release in Japan on March 30, but so far Square Enix has not mentioned plans for North America or Europe. A retail listing in Europe means an announcement could be on its way.
Even if an announcement comes soon, though, we may have to wait a while for it to reach us. Dragon Quest games tend to take roughly a year between the Japanese release and their US counterparts. Shacknews will update as more information becomes available.


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I don't wear sunglasses that often. One reason being, its often not sunny where I live, and I think I have pretty nice eyes so I don't really cover them up too much.
My favorites are Aviators and I think Ray Bans know for making them but theirs Gucci and my favorite Dior Homme as well. Their probably my favorite but I rarely wear them, had a knock-off pair a year ago but they broke.
For some reason I never really liked the Versace sunglasses, I found them a little tacky, with the huge Medusa heads of the sides, too flashy for me to wear. I like more of a classic and simplistic look to sunglasses.


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UMass outlasts Richmond in OT
Guarino notches game-winner, No. 15 Minutewomen top Spiders
RICHMOND, Va. -- A pair of overtime draw controls led to a pair of UMass goals including Tanner Guarino's game-winner in the second half of the extra period giving the No. 15 Minutewomen a 15-14 victory at Richmond on Friday in the Atlantic 10 opener for both teams. In the first half of OT, Guarino won the draw control allowing UMass to set up a goal by Jesse O'Donnell. The Minutewomen again won the draw control to start the second half of OT where Guarino's tally served as the decisive goal.
UMass improves to 10-1 overall and 1-0 in the Atlantic 10, while Richmond falls to 4-6 overall and 0-1 in league play.
The Minutewomen led by two goals late in the second half before the Spiders were able to tie the game thanks to a pair of Sam Stevenson tallies. With 6:04 to go, Stevenson brought the Spiders within a goal, while her fifth goal of the day tied the game with 38 seconds left in regulation.
After Richmond won the ensuing draw control, UMass took possession off a turnover with 15 seconds to go calling timeout. The Minutewomen were unable to get off a shot forcing the overtime period.
Guarino's draw control to start the first half of overtime allowed UMass to control possession for the bulk of the three-minute period. O'Donnell notched her fifth goal of the day with 28 seconds to go putting UMass up 14-13. The Spiders tied the game at 14-14 thanks to a Hayley Ross goal with one second to go.
In the second half of overtime, Danielle Pelletier controlled the draw allowing UMass to take a timeout and again hold possession. Guarino rung up the game-winner with 21 seconds remaining. Richmond again won the ensuing draw control, but Houlis picked up a groundball of a Spider turnover with two seconds to go allowing UMass to hold on for the win.
The game featured six ties and UMass unable to take more than a three-goal lead during the game.
A Katie Ferris goal with 22:25 to go in the second half put UMass up 10-7, but the Spiders answered back 17 seconds later and then made it a one-goal game just over a minute after that.
From there, each team traded goals until the late two-score flurry for the Spiders to force overtime.
Richmond outshot UMass 35-to-28 for the game and held an 18-to-14 edge in draw controls. Thanks to Houlis's five groundballs, the Minutewomen held an 18-to-11 advantage in that category over the Spiders.
Ferris added two assists for a game-high seven points. O'Donnell's five goals marked a season high, while Guarino, Nina Sarcona, Lauren Terracciano, Pelletier and Sam Rush each scored for the Minutewomen.
Stevenson's five goals led Richmond followed by three goals from Caitlin Fifield and two from Mary Flowers. Victoria Roebuck made seven saves in the loss.
The win marked the 12th consecutive league win for UMass over the last three seasons.


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Premier League: Michael Laudrup 'snubbed Champions League club' to stay at Swansea
Michael Laudrup has revealed he turned down the chance to manage a Champions League club to stay at Swansea.
Last Updated: 18/07/13 8:32pm
The Dane's future has been a hot topic after an impressive debut season in which he masterminded a ninth-placed finish and Capital One Cup glory - the first major trophy in the club's history.
Paris Saint-Germain and Monaco were reported summer suitors but though Laudrup refused to talk specifics, he admitted he had rejected high-profile approaches to stay in south Wales for at least another season.
"I've never been close to leaving because I said I would stay this season; it's important to us," Laudrup told Sky Sports News.
"We still have to consolidate this team, this club and a promise is a promise - that's why I'm here.
"Yes, it's true, there were some approaches from big clubs as well, even from Champions League clubs, but I said I was going to stay here."
Laudrup had warned Swansea chiefs the club would have to strengthen to build on last season's success.
And he has signed seven new players - including striker Wilfried Bony for a club-record £12million fee - as well as securing the stay of Villareal midfielder Jonathan de Guzman on a season-long loan.


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Volunteers give back for day of caring
Running paint brushes over walls and dressing room fixtures of Mercy Unlimited, Wapakoneta Electric Department and Public Works Department employees donated their time Saturday to a national Day of Caring effort by the United Way.
The group donated their time last year as well. Last year, they found themselves working at the downtown Wapakoneta thrift store but repairing flood damage then.
"It's a good day," Tony Hunt said as he volunteered with painting and light construction work. "We have all kinds of talents and we might as well put them to use."
The volunteers crammed themselves into Mercy Unlimited's dressing rooms to complete work there and hammered away, making various improvements throughout the building.
"We're trying to give back to the community," Joe Hower said. "We're helping out however we can."
Hower said it is part their volunteer work on behalf of the Public Workers Union.
In all, 21 projects were completed by volunteers throughout Auglaize County on Saturday.
Auglaize County United Way Executive Director Randy Fisher said they mobilized 300 volunteers for projects in every community in Auglaize County.
"They painted, built wheelchair ramps, cleaned gutters, and served as big brothers or big sisters for the day," Fisher said. "There was something for just about every skill set."
The work was done for United Way's 20 partner agencies or their clients, with each agency able to submit a project to be considered.
Some of the volunteers were individuals wanting to give back to the community in which they live, others were groups or organizations, or even representatives of businesses that work with the United Way.
"It's all volunteer driven," Fisher said. "It gives us an opportunity to match volunteers wanting to give back to the community with projects that need to be done."
Fisher said many of the agencies have a lot of projects that need done but don't have the time, manpower or resources to do them.
The work volunteers do can save thousands of dollars. Last year, volunteers contributed more than $35,000 worth of labor on just the one day through the projects they completed.
"We sincerely appreciate the entire community offering support and coming together for something like this," Fisher said, "to stand together to make the community a better place to live."


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Difference between revisions of "Kangaroo Island"
Revision as of 04:44, 19 April 2007
Kangaroo Island [1] or K.I. is an island off the coast of South Australia, it takes about 45mins to reach the island via ferry. The island is a few hundred kilometers accross.
Kangaroo Island is an unspoilt island 15km from the shores of the Australian mainland. It is remarkable for its wildlife and its untouched woods which have been growing here for thousands of years. Many species which Australia is famous for can be found here like Kangaroos, Wallabies, Koalas exotic birds and some which you might not expect to be found here like penguins and seals. There are plenty of opportunities to see those creatures from a nearby distance since most of them seem to be used to human guests. It might be surprising that Kangaroo Island was separated from the mainland only 9000 to 10000 years ago. Due to the separation from the mainlang some animals have evolved differently,e.g. the Kangaroo Island kangaroo. Human population can be traced back 16.000 years from now since stone tools and aboriginal campsites have been found in the early 1900s. European settlement started in the early 1800s.
There are only two big settlements on Kangaroo Island:
Get in
There are two ways to get to Kangaroo Island:
By ferry
Sealink operates ferries from Cape Jervis to Penneshaw on Kangaroo Island. Tickets can be booked calling 131301 or on http://www.saelink.com.au. It is necessary to book in advance. A one-way ticket is around 40 australian dollars. Saelink runs an office in Adelaide (440 King William Street, phone:08-8202 8688) which can arrange coach transfer to Cape Jervis, car rental and accomodation. Ferries usually depart in the morning (9am) and in the evening to the island.
By air
Regional Express operates 30min flights from Adelaide to Kingscote Airport (13km away from the biggest city) on Kangaroo Island. Shuttle transport to Kingscote is available, Bookings can be made phoning (08)85532390. A one way ticket is about 80 Australian dollars. Visit http://www.regionalexpress.com.au/ for more details.
The locals enjoy a non-vocal form of communication while driving accross the island. It is common place for the drivers of vehicles travelling in the opposite direction to lift a finger from the steering wheel and wave as they drive past. It's considered polite to do the same, the people are quite friendly.
Get around
Getting around can be difficult unless you don't bring your own car with you. However, there are plenty of tour options which can be booked in Adelaide and on the islands. (1day to 3day tours)
By car
If you hire a car on the main continent be prepared that some companies deny taking the hired car to the island. However, Hertz and Budget are the only two operators who offer car rental on Kangaroo Island. Both have offices in Kingscote and Penneshaw. It's a good idea to book in advance if you plan to visit Kangaroo Island during school holiday since availability of cars can be very limited. Be prepared to pay around 70 Australian Dollars per day. (depending on the type of car) Be sure you have plenty of fuel left before you start your trip since petrol stations are limited and mostly close down before 6pm. Roads are good, there is no need for a 4WD car. Cars can be rented from Budget (call 08/85533133, 24h available) or Hertz. Petrol is usually more expensive than on the mainland.
By bus
There is a shuttle service between Kingscote, American River and Penneshaw. Booking is necessary, there is no taxi service on the Island.
By bicycle
Bike rental is available though it should be considered that the island is large (155km long) and appropriate fitness is surley necessary.
There is plenty to see on Kangaroo Island, on a one-day trip you will only get a glimpse of what this island has to offer. Most tour operators in Adelaide usually offer 2-day tours but four to five days give you enough time to fully explore the island. If you have only one day your tour should cover at least stops at following destinations:
Souvenir shops can be found in Kingscote and Penneshaw. General stores selling food and drinks can be found here as well. If you are going to camp in the remote islands of the island it is better to buy ahead here since shops are rare and expensive (usually limited to camp sites and resorts selling a few things) especially in the west of the island.
Restaurants and Cafes are limited to Penneshaw and Kingscote and some small Cafes along the way on the south coast.
There 28 vineyards spreading throughout the island. Variaties grown are Chardonnay, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir and Shiraz.
Accomodation ranges from basic hostel rooms, B&B to hotels in the two bigger cities. Camp sites are avialable as well. See Kingscote and Penneshaw for more details.
Stay safe
Kangaroo Island is a pretty safe place but care should be taken when going around the island by car. Don't drive at dusk and dawn or night since wildlife is most active at this time of day. None of the car rental services cover damage caused by collision if any animals so be extremly carful. Road conditions are good - most roads are sealed - though some tourist locations can only be reached on unsealed roads which can be particulary hard to drive. Unsealled roads are often made with an ironstone top which can be very treacherous.
Get out
Once again there are only two options to get back to mainland Australia from K.I. either the ferry which is capable of carrying cars, trucks and buses. Or by plane from the airport.
There is an internet terminal in the public library as well as in the Ozone Seafront Hotel in Kingscote.


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An organization's safety climate and supervisors' safety-enforcement behaviors are significantly related to employee underreporting of work-related accidents, according to research supported in part by the Society for Human Resource Management Foundation.Specifically, employees whose supervisors consistently enforced safety behaviors and who were employed in organizations with a positive safety climate were less likely to engage in accident underreporting."These results may benefit HR and safety professionals by pinpointing methods of increasing the accuracy of accident reporting, reducing actual safety incidents, and reducing the costs to individuals and organizations that result from underreporting," said Dr. Tahira M. Probst, a professor at Washington State University in Vancouver, Wash., and the author of the report.Probst used modeling and survey data collected from 1,379 employees in 35 organizations. Together, the organizations represented a wide range of industry sectors, including manufacturing, construction, transportation, mining, pulp and paper processing, health care, food processing, and distribution. The average industry injury rate of the participating organizations was 5.33 per 100 full-time equivalent workers, which is higher than the latest national average across all industries (3.4).Each year, approximately 3 million U.S. workers are injured on the job, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
Although the exact extent of the phenomenon varies, researchers have found that between 50 percent and 70 percent of employees did not report accidents and injuries to supervisors and that up to 68 percent of all workplace accidents and injuries are not captured in national injury surveillance systems set up by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the BLS. Probst found that the number of accidents reported by employees was significantly lower than the actual number of accidents experienced. Specifically, the average number of accidents reported (1.47 per employee) across organizations was significantly lower than the average number of accidents experienced (3.43 per employee).
Research examining why employees fail to report on-the-job injuries to their employers have yielded many potential explanations, such as that underreporting may be influenced by demographic and attitudinal characteristics such as age, tenure, fear of reprisals or loss of workplace perks and pay incentives, fear of job loss and individual beliefs regarding accidents and injuries as an occupational hazard.Other research has indicated the importance of an organization's safety climate. A company's safety climate includes:
Probst found that organizational safety climate was significantly related to the number of employee accidents and that positive perceptions of the safety climate were related to fewer employee accidents. She also found that employees in organizations with a poor safety climate engaged in more accident underreporting than employees in organizations with more positive safety climates. "First, if employees lack safety training or if safety communication is poor, then they may not know what constitutes a reportable incident or how to correctly report it to the organization," she said. "Further, if management is perceived as devaluing safety, employees may, correctly or not, assume that their company doesn't want to hear or know about injuries when they occur. Additionally, punitive safety systems may serve to encourage underreporting by making rewards and punishments contingent upon safety outcomes rather than safety behaviors."
Probst argues that safety leadership is related to employee safety compliance. She defines two different types of supervisory safety leadership, based on recent research: transformational safety leadership, which is concerned with "idealized influence, inspirational motivation, intellectual stimulation and individualized consideration," and transactional safety leadership, which involves an exchange between the leader and his or her subordinates, whereby the leader "provides resources and rewards in exchange for motivation, goal or task accomplishments (i.e., positively reinforcing appropriate behaviors and disciplining inappropriate behaviors)." The study found that employees who indicated low levels of transactional supervisor enforcement of safety policies not only experienced more accidents at work, but also engaged in more underreporting compared to employees who had stronger supervisor enforcement of safety policies. Additionally, among organizations with a poor safety climate, the relationship between supervisor safety enforcement and accident underreporting was stronger and the highest levels of underreporting occurred among employees who had poor supervisor enforcement and were employed in organizations with a poor safety climate. "There are theoretical reasons to expect that employees whose supervisors are lax in enforcing safety policies may themselves be more likely to be lax in reporting injuries to their supervisors," said Probst. "Active transactional leaders closely monitor the behaviors of their subordinates and take proactive steps to guide appropriate employee behavior. Because accident reporting is a compliance-driven behavior, supervisors who are higher in transactional safety leadership (and therefore, place greater focus on proactive error management) can be expected to provide their employees with greater extrinsic motivation for engaging in these appropriate reporting behaviors."Finally, Probst found that the influence of one's supervisor carries more weight than the company safety climate on an employee's decision to report an accident or injury."Whereas the safety climate may be viewed in light of the formal policies, supervisors serve as the 'interface' between the organizational-level safety climate and the employee's experience of how those policies are enacted on a day-to-day basis," she said.
The results of the research suggest that safety climate and supervisory enforcement behaviors are both important to determining not only whether employees experience accidents at work, but also whether employees are comfortable bringing safety concerns and incidents to the attention of their supervisor in order to address the root causes of the problem. She offered three recommendations for HR and safety managers:
"Moreover, they speak to the importance of supervisors providing regular feedback (both positive and negative) in response to observed employee safety behaviors."Roy Maurer is an online editor/manager for SHRM.
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Federal guidelines dictate changes in Minnesota students' school lunches which will provide more fruits and vegetables and smaller meat and calorie portions.
Minnesota students will be heading back to school in a few weeks where they'll find some changes on their lunch trays.
New federal guidelines dictate more fruits and vegetables, smaller portions of meat and protein and fewer calories. St. Paul School District lunch director Jean Ronnei has spent the summer pouring over recipes with her staff dietitians. Ronnei says they're looking for meat alternatives, less sodium, no trans fat and controlled portions of meat.
She says the guidelines offer as many fruits and vegetables as the students want, but limit starches. The Minnesota Department of Education has been working with school districts this summer on ways to convince students to eat healthier. Minnesota Public Radio News (http://bit.ly/O6d7My ) says the strategy includes offering a wide variety of fruits and vegetables.


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Adding nothing to the news for years!
And what is "multi"touch?
All I see is a big touch screen.
especially because they got the dimensions off. Everyone knows that you measure the dimension of a screen as a line across its diagonal.
This allows all kinds of funky advertising, switching from a 32 inch display to a 34 inch wide screen will actually reduce your viewing area while increasing the amount you have to pay.
Except that content is going widescreen as well. When you're watching widescreen material, your "32 inch display" is effectively the size of a 29 inch widescreen. Jumping to a 34 inch widescreen will actually increase your viewing area by a third—more than the diagonal measurement would imply.
You can use this handy calculator [displaywars.com] to compare screens for yourself.
Marketing. An 18' screen is easier to visualize for the general public than a 72 ft^2 one.
A very long stick with a rubber
You'd better stay away from my multitouch surface!
I'm still waiting on LCARS-style panels in my home - that can be purchased relatively cheaply - so I can control all of my stuff from a panel. Lights, etc., whatnot.
I think it wouldn't be terribly difficult. You'd need a touch screen obviously, and you can sell them in standard sizes. Perhaps some kind of wireless schema where it can communicate with more complex appliances like televisions and heating/cooling systems. Ideally though, it would be able to work with even older homes (i.e. how some dimmer swit
Can anyone extrapolate screen size to see what year this will happen:
Frank's 2000" TV [youtube.com]
Easy. Just swipe a display from a football stadium.
I'm just wondering how many DX11 Radeons [slashdot.org] it will take to run it. Maybe 6?....
Need I remind everyone?
http://games.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=09/09/09/1843218 [slashdot.org]
18 feet of bacterial boogie.
Call me a troglodyte I don't mind. I remember the first CADAM systems that came out in the 80's that used light pens to select things on the screen. It was exhausting after an hour or so.
Maybe I don't get it but I think touch and gesture has the same problem: it's tiring after a while. I suppose on small devices and fun things it has it's place but the mouse will never go away for real work.
Not that I do any real work but if I did I'd use a mouse.
It's true that you're not going to work 40+ hours a week holding your hands up to a wall. But brainstorming sessions and meetings will probably benefit from this. I think multi-touch and large screen interactive displays definitely have a utility, but we're going to have to explore its limitations over the next few years. Like speech recognition, it will probably find niches before it finds widespread acceptance.
Woha... at least it's stable and sure not to fall over.
What? Read TFA? I haven't even read TFS.
Yes, I'm not from the USA. Why?
"18 Foot Multitouch Wall and New Multitouch Tech Hit the Streets"! I hope no one was crushed underneath!
Atmel makes some great microcontrollers, but their recent record of delivery is very poor and it has hurt their reputation. In particular, Atmel announced the XMEGA range of AVR micros years ago, but they repeatedly failed to become available: see AvrFreaks [avrfreaks.net] for just one of many discussions on the topic. A limit subset of the range is just becoming readily purchaseable now.
There are various theories about why Atmel has had such delays in producing the XMEGAs: upper management turmoil, the distraction of a takeover attempt by Microchip, the change to being fab-less, and serious bugs in the early XMEGA production efforts.
I hope I'm wrong, but I wouldn't be too surprised if these new chips aren't physically available for a long time.
OK. So they build this really big projection touchscreen. And then they divide it into sections because they don't have an application that can use it effectively.
That indicates a failure of imagination. But it's really just a PR device for the Hard Rock location in Vegas. It's not something anyone uses regularly. So its interface has to be trivial.
What could you usefully do with a touchscreen that big usable simultaneously by multiple people? Intelligence analysis? Maybe. But there's an inherent bias in something like that towards short-attention span behavior, which may not be a good thing in analysis. Trading platform? Might work; those guys already have too many screens. But they don't move their windows around much; they have many screens because they need their data to be in expected places. Architecture? Look at, yes; show to clients, yes, actually design, no. That's more likely to be one guy with a modest size touchscreen driving a wall-sized display.
I could see this as a management tool for a MMORPG, where the staff is trying to run a world, but the consequences of errors are low.
How about retail stores? You could apply it basically anywhere to give customers a good way to look up products based on some criteria and/or point them in the direction of the product(s) they want. Also, think about any kind of store where the products have a high degree of customization. Clothing stores would be an amazing demonstration of this technology almost exactly as it is in the demo. Drag some clothes around to make outfits on the screen rather than spending nine years waiting for your goddamn gir
Laboratories, museums, schools, libraries, web cafes, fast food outlets, movie kiosks, airport check-in, interactive art displays, elevators, bathroom stalls (with sanitiser), phone booths, subways or anything that needs large numbers of temporary computers in one spot?
Once the price of these start to creep down, something like this could be generic, ubiquitous hardware for all manners of information, transaction, and advertising. it could occupy any empty, flat space, and it's way cooler than that sm
Experience varies directly with equipment ruined.


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I have two questions:
I am having my duct work moved inside conditioned space. The bedroom lines are being moved inside a closet ceiling. Does this flexduct need to be covered with drywall and framed with 2x4's?
next question.
I noticed the other day that there are two flex ducts running right across the attic furnace, touching the furnace's metal casing. This seems to be a fire hazard, but it's been that way for years. What is recommended distance flex duct needs to be away from furnace. I'd like to get this taken care of at the same time.
Home is in North Carolina.