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DPS limits shooting from helicopters
Updated 10:33 pm, Thursday, February 21, 2013
State troopers will no longer shoot from helicopters at fleeing suspects, the head of the Texas Department of Public Safety said Thursday.
The announcement by DPS Director Steve McCraw during testimony before the state House Appropriations Committee came four months after a DPS sharpshooter in a helicopter killed two Guatemalan immigrants as he tried to disable a smuggler's speeding pickup near the Rio Grande Valley town of La Joya.
At the time, a nationally known use-of-force expert had questioned the policy, saying it was unusual and ineffective, and civil rights groups called for an end to such shootings.
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A DPS spokesman said Thursday that the changes "are not a reflection of the circumstances involving last year's officer-involved shooting in Hidalgo County," but McCraw's announcement came in response to a question about the men's deaths.
The decision to change the policy was made last week, McCraw said. The trooper who shot the Guatemalans did nothing wrong, he testified.
"I'm a firm believer they did exactly what they thought they needed to do and they looked at the totality of circumstances and were consistent with Texas penal code," McGraw said.
"But I'm convinced that now from a helicopter platform we shouldn't shoot unless (we're) being shot at or someone's being shot at," he said. "We should reserve that option, because, frankly we've had over 77 times police officers have been shot at from Mexico along that Rio Grande river."
The news of the policy change was welcomed by those who had been critical of DPS after the October shooting.
"We are relieved that Texas is ending this extreme practice, which no other southwestern border states have ever allowed," Terri Burke, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas, said in a statement. "We hope that this decision is a step, if only a small one, toward ending the culture of violence that pervades enforcement of border security in Texas."
In the days after the shooting, Hidalgo County District Attorney René Guerra had asked DPS to suspend the practice.
"It's the right thing to do - a sound change," he said Thursday. "The only reason they should shoot to kill or to disable is if a whole bunch of people are in danger."
The October shooting was only the sixth time a trooper in a helicopter has shot at suspects on the ground, according to DPS.
In interviews last summer, DPS officials said the ability to shoot out tires of fleeing narcotics traffickers was an important part of the agency's aggressive border enforcement strategy.
In the Valley, smugglers driving trucks full of drugs often break for the Rio Grande, leading police on dangerous chases. In maneuvers called "splashdowns," they drive into the river, where their cohorts are waiting in boats to collect the contraband.
McCraw said that in the moments before the October shooting, troopers thought the truck's driver was going to attempt a splashdown.
The truck was barreling down a dirt road toward two schools in the middle of the afternoon, McCraw said Thursday. Troopers thought the pickup's bed was full of drugs, not immigrants, he said.
"They made a determination that there was an immediate threat to the public and that deadly force was appropriate," McCraw said. "I can tell you this, they thought it was a drug load. In the end it was not."
Jeremy Roebuck contributed to this report


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Perpetual motion machine
A perpetual motion machine is a hypothetical isolated system capable of having internal motion indefinitely. Many attempts to build such a system have failed for a simple reason: disorder is always increasing (because of the fundamental uncertainty described by quantum mechanics), and a perpetual motion machine would defy that law.
A perpetual motion machine would try to use its initial energy to remain in motion perpetually. Because entropy is always increasing, even in closed (and isolated) systems, indefinite motion is impossible because an increase in the disorder of the system will inevitably disrupt the motion and require additional energy to "fix" it. The Second Law of Thermodynamics predicts that a perpetual motion machine in this sense is impossible, and none has ever been created.
An even less plausible type of perpetual motion machine would continue to perform work without new energy, thereby serving as an unlimited energy source. This is prohibited by the First Law of Thermodynamics.
Since both types of perpetual motion machine are flawed in both theory and in practice, they are clearly pseudoscience. Despite this, websites have professed to offer "free energy" devices for sale.[1][2][3]
The rejection of the possibility of a perpetual motion machine requires recognition that the Earth itself is not in perpetual motion, and that its instability is increasing, which is one of the many Counterexamples to an Old Earth.


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Arguably the greatest Dutchman to ever play in the Premier League, Dennis Bergkamp has left a legacy worthy of a statue at Arsenal.
Many people even to this day think that it was legendary Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger who signed Bergkamp from the Italian giants, however it was his predecessor Bruce Rioch who paid £7.5 million for the Dutchman's services.
In his first season with the North London club, Bergkamp played in the second striker role behind Ian Wright who was still seen as Arsenal's main goal-scoring threat.
Even though Bergkamp achieved a lot of success during his tenure with his first club Ajax, his time with Inter Milan was very frustrating. Fortunately for the Dutchman the Gunners were his saving grace. Initially struggling to adapt to the English game, Bergkamp would end his first season with Arsenal scoring 11 goals, which helped the London club qualify for the UEFA Cup the following season.
The appointment of Arsene Wenger as Arsenal manager prior to the 1996/97 season would prove to be a major turning point in the career of Bergkamp and also the club as a whole.
Realising the potential and the natural talent of his forward, Wenger opted to build the Arsenal team around Bergkamp. Due to this the Dutchman had much more of an influence than in his first season and created 13 assists as the Gunners finished third in the league, the club's highest finish since the Premier League formed.
The following season, Bergkamp became the focal point of Arsenal's attack, scoring 22 goals as the club won their first Premier League title, finishing a point ahead of Manchester United at the top of the table. The London club also celebrated F.A. Cup success that season by defeating Newcastle 2-0 in the 1998 final. The 1997/98 season was also a special one for Bergkamp on a personal level as he won the PFA Players' Player of the Year award for his achievements that season.
In a season full of success, Bergkamp was selected in the FIFA World Cup All-Star team for the 1998 tournament as the Netherlands reached the semi-finals. After an effective World Cup, Bergkamp returned to Arsenal in similar fashion and scored 16 goals in the 1998/99 season but unfortunately the Gunners surrendered their league and cup titles and finished the season without any silverware.
The next two seasons were equally as disappointing for the Dutchman and his club. Arsenal reached the UEFA Cup final in 2000 only to lose to Turkish side Galatasaray on penalties. The following season, the Gunners reached the F.A. Cup final but lost to domestic rivals Liverpool by two goals to one.
Success however, finally came for Bergkamp and Arsenal. In May 2002, Arsenal defeated rivals Manchester United at Old Trafford in the penultimate game of the season to lift the Premier League title for a second time. The Gunners also won the F.A. Cup again, defeating Chelsea 2-0 in the final. Earlier that season, Bergkamp scored a memorable goal against Newcastle.
In January 2003, Bergkamp reached a milestone when he scored his 100th goal for Arsenal in an F.A. Cup tie against Oxford United. That year Bergkamp also won his third F.A. Cup medal as Arsenal defeated Southampton 1-0 in the final, thanks to a goal from Robert Pires. That summer Bergkamp signed a one year contract extension with his beloved London club and it paid dividends as Arsenal became the first Premier League side to remain unbeaten in a season and thus regained the title in 2004.
The Dutchman signed a further contract extension prior to the 2004/05 season. Despite playing in the second striker role behind the prolific Thierry Henry, Bergkamp scored eight goals and created 13 as Arsenal won the F.A. Cup in 2005, defeating arch rivals Manchester United on penalties.
The following season would prove to be Bergkamp's last before retiring from football. Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was intent on winning the Champions League for a first time. Bergkamp was an unused substitute in the Champions League final against Barcelona. Unfortunately for Arsenal, Barcelona secured a 2-1 win over the North London club to lift the prestigious trophy.
Bergkamp's testimonial was held in July 2006. The game was played between Arsenal and Ajax at the Gunners new Emirates Stadium. The game included some of the greatest players, both past and present. Names such as Johan Cruyff, Marco Van Basten, Marc Overmars, Wright and Henry all took part in Bergkamp's last match. In 2013, it was announced that a statue of Dennis Bergkamp would be placed outside the Emirates Stadium to commemorate the success Arsenal achieved with the Dutchman in their team.
Bergkamp scored 120 goals in 423 appearances for Arsenal as well as providing over 100 assists for the club. He was also capped 79 times for his country the Netherlands, scoring 37 times. The legendary Dutchman is remembered for his technique and vision on the pitch and as stated previously, he is arguably the greatest Dutch Premier League player of all time.
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Patrice Bergeron scored the game-tying goal and then one of the Bruins' two shootout goals Monday night in a 3-2 comeback win against Toronto at TD Garden.
The Bruins had trailed 2-0, but rallied to earn the victory and a split of the home-and-home series with the Leafs.
Milan Lucic scored his first goal in 16 games and Tyler Seguin also scored in the shootout. For more here's my NHL.com recap.
Bruins coach Claude Julien called the win "gutsy" and was concerned about the team's weariness. So he gave the club off Tuesday and they'll host Montreal in a battle for first place Wednesday night at the TD Garden. The Canadiens may be a little weary because they play in Pittsburgh Tuesday night. The Bruins and Canadiens are tied atop the Northeast Division.
•This morning the Bruins announced the signing of a contract extension with defenseman Matt Bartkowski and a free-agent entry-level deal with former Minnesota-Duluth blueliner Chris Casto.
Bartkowski, who is in his third pro season, was called up to the Bruins and is minus-2 in two games. He signed a one-year extension. According to CapGeek.com, Bartkowski would've been an unrestricted free agent next summer.
Casto attended the Bruins' development camp last summer. With the Bulldogs this season, he put up 3-6-9 totals in 36 games. At 6-foot-3, 215 pounds, Casto is certainly a different-sized defenseman than ones the Bruins have signed out of college in the past.


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The expression, 'Timing is everything' couldn't have been more appropriate to the hockey career of Joe Motzko. After starring with the St. Cloud State University Huskies, where he led the team in scoring and earned MVP honours in his senior year, Joe was signed as a free agent by the Columbus Blue Jackets, joining the NHL club during the 2003-04 campaign. But while spending most of the time in the AHL, there was light on the horizon when the Anaheim Ducks picked up Motzko, Mark Hartigan and a draft pick from the Blue Jackets in return for Curtis Glencross, Zenon Konopka and a draft choice on January 26, 2007. Little did Joe (or anyone else) realize how bright that light on the horizon would be!
Motzko finished the season with the AHL Portland Pirates. Figuring his hockey season was over, Joe was prepared to pack his skates and head home when he got a call to report to Detroit, as the Ducks may be in need of his talents. Joe made his Duck debut on May 20 in a 2-1 overtime win over the Red Wings, and even got himself on the scoresheet, drawing a holding minor in the third period.
After crossing the Canadian/U.S. border at International Falls, where the customs agent was so incredulous that the big blue case contained the Stanley Cup, she insisted on seeing for herself, hockey's 'big prize' continued on to Bemidji, Minnesota, home of Joe Motzko.
Bemidji is a First Nations word meaning 'lake with cross waters,' and it couldn't be more appropriate, as the Mississippi River crosses Lake Bemidji, and the town of Bemidji is near the source of the 'Mighty Mississipp'' as it snakes it way through the heartland of the United States on a 2,552-mile journey to the Gulf of Mexico.
In the afternoon, Motzko made a requisite stop at Slim's Bar and Grill, stopping long enough for the locals visiting the favourite watering hole to experience the Stanley Cup, then left straight for a local rink where, for two hours, Joe signed autographs while the Stanley Cup posed for pictures.
A large sign out front of Slim's notified locals 'SEE JOE MOTZKO WITH STANLEY CUP', and that's where the evening ended. On a good night, Slim's hosts 20-25 guests, but the lure of the Stanley Cup, returning to Bemidji with Joe Motzko, brought out a capacity crowd of revellers anxious to see hockey's greatest reward. At 1AM, the Stanley Cup made its exit with Motzko, got one last hoist and kiss, and was off on its next adventure.
Ducks' rookie Ryan Carter had the Cup next, and for an account of his day in White Bear Lake, Minnesota (and a special sidetrip he made while there), you'll need to join us here Friday for another chapter in the Stanley Cup Journal.
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About IsntYour2125
A few years ago the same thing happened to the band Cradle of Filth. Or at least it looked like it. On the bands web page they had embedded YouTube video of the bands songs. But all of them got blocked. If it wasn't for the videos of them on YouTube i never would have bought albums and shirts of them. They don't get radio play and i don't watch TV. Way to shoot your own foot off. The so called 'illegal' sharing of music videos on YouTube has introduced me to more bands than MTV or radio ever would have. Music industry gets more money from me due to YouTube.


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Senior point guard Dellena Criner was named one of four candidates in Region 7 and one if 52 national candidates for the 2009 NCAA Division I State Farm Coaches' All-America Basketball Team, the Women's Basketball Coaches Association and State Farm announced Tuesday.
The State Farm Coaches' All-America Team selection committee will review these 52 candidates and cut the list to 40 finalists on Thursday, March 25. The 40 finalists will all be in the running for selection to the 10-member State Farm Coaches' All-America Team.
Criner is one of four candidates in Region 7, along with Shanavia Dowdell of La Tech, Jene Morris of San Diego State University and Morgan Warburton of the University of Utah.
Criner ended her career at Nevada as the all-time leader in games played (124) and the all-time leader in steals (271). She is second on Nevada's all-time list in free throws made (551), third in assists (374) and fourth in scoring (1,629). She also served as a team captain this season.
Criner led Nevada in scoring in three out of her four seasons at Nevada including averaging 14.7 points per game this year. This season she was named WAC Defensive Player of the Year for the second straight season and was also named to the All-WAC First Team for the third consecutive year. Criner is a four-time WAC Player of the Week, a three-time WAC All-Defensive Team selection, a two-time WAC All-Tournament Team honoree, a two-time Nugget Classic MVP and was the 2008-09 WAC Preseason Player of the Year.
During her career, Criner recorded 79 double-digit scoring games, 23 20-point games, three 30-point games, and three double-doubles including two this season. This season Criner helped lead Nevada to an upset victory over #7 Louisville, a program-record seven game win streak to open conference play and the Pack's first-ever appearance in the final game of the WAC Tournament. She was also named one of 30 national candidates for the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award.
Criner, who is majoring in accounting, is scheduled to graduate in May.


text: This course provides an introduction to the theory and practice of welding. The primary process will be the use of oxy-acetylene welding and cutting of carbon steel materials. MIG, TIG and STICK processes will be introduced. An emphasis is placed on personal and equipment safety. This course is for beginners, hobbyists and is the course required in the Facilities Service Maintenance Operator Certificate.


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We are seeking applicants for the position of lead research technician at the Boston-Area Climate Experiment (BACE). This is a full-time position based at the BACE site in Waltham, Massachusetts (approx. 9 miles from Boston). The successful applicant will maintain the BACE and conduct and assist with ecological research at the site. S/he will be responsible
for maintaining a well-organized research environment, maintaining and organizing lab records, equipment, and supplies, analyzing experimental data and presenting results, helping to coordinate activities of undergraduate researchers, troubleshooting problems, ensuring that safe research practices are followed in the lab and in the field, and performing other assigned duties. The technician will work occasional odd hours and weekends as dictated by field or lab work schedules, and will sometimes work outdoors in inclement weather. The technician will spend about 70% of their working hours outdoors.
The position is open immediately (pending paperwork at Purdue), with an
immediate start preferred.
Applicants should have an educational background (bachelor¹s or
preferably M.S.) that includes coursework in ecology or environmental
science. We would be particularly interested in candidates with previous
experience as a technician in plant ecology labs, experience working on
outdoor experiments that simulate climate change in natural or managed
ecosystems, experience working with large datasets, managing student
employees, and/or working in old-field ecosystems of the northeastern
United States. The initial appointment will be for a period of six
months, with a one-year extension of the position contingent upon
satisfactory performance. Further extensions will depend on performance
and future funding. Salary will be commensurate with experience. The
technician will be employed by Purdue University (an equal access/equal
opportunity university), but will be based in the Boston area, with
little or no travel to Purdue.
For more information on the experiment, see the BACE website.
|Application Deadline: N/A
|Potential applicants should email Jeff Dukes (jsdukes[at]purdue.edu) a statement of interest and resume (or CV) with contact information for two or more references, using the subject line "BACE technician." Applications will be considered as they are received.


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Submission + - What MP3 players are available? (google.com) 5
I have to get a new MP3 player. For years I've been using a Sony Walkman after winning one at work. I used it every day to block out the cubicle sounds, especially the humming of the fans. (I have noise-blocking earbuds.) It saw frequent use it at the gym. I also used it when biking, so an external speaker is critical. Last week it got wet and despite my best efforts (I'm an Electrical Engineer) it did not survive.
I don't want to get an iPod because of their attitude towards slave labour. iTunes is also something I want to avoid because it's a closed format that doesn't work under Ubuntu.
Sony's... well, we all know what Sony's been up to lately. You also had to use Windows Media Player to make playlists — Rythmbox, Banshee, and other Ubuntu players couldn't create the propietary format. I could drag-and-drop music but that was it.
It seems like all the brick-and-mortar retailers carry are iPods and some junky low-end disposable models that barely passed quality control. I had to return a Polaroid player because it was unusable.
I've had bad luck with Archos products as well, with a battery on my Archos 7 dying after about 6 months. It doesn't have to be an all-singing, all-dancing pony. I want music. I don't have a cell phone, nor do I plan on spending several thousand dollars over the next three years to get an MP3-capable cell. In fact, because of the rules at work, it shouldn't have a camera in it. Nor will I be able to use any streaming audio features at work.
I've looked at the Anything but iPod website, but none of the players they recommend are available anymore. There are a few from Amazon retailers but few, if any, will ship outside of the US.
What players would you recommend? It's got to be something that's rugged enough to take a fall, has an external speaker for biking, and work under Ubuntu. Cost is a secondary concern, my main goal is to have a nice machine that does its job well.


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Michael Jackson's Doctor Appeals Involuntary Manslaughter Conviction
Michael Jackson's jailed doctor has filed an appeal in connection with his November 2011 involuntary manslaughter conviction.
Lawyers for Conrad Murray claim in court documents that there were multiple legal errors during Murray's trial. Specifically, the lawyers argue there was insufficient proof that Murray administered to Michael the dose of the powerful anesthetic propofol that claimed the King of Pop's life. Michael died in June 2009 at the age of 50.
If his conviction is upheld, Murray's attorneys want his four-year sentence reduced.
Meanwhile, jury selection concluded Monday in Los Angeles in a trial stemming from a wrongful death lawsuit brought by Michael's mother against concert promoter AEG Live. Katherine Jackson is suing the company, which was behind the singer's aborted This Is It tour, for 40 billion dollars. She claims AEG contributed to her son's death by hiring Murray.
Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio


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A half-dozen East Hampton High School teams are eyeing the postseason, foremost among them Claude Beudert's undefeated golfers, though they'll have to wait until next spring for that sport's conference and county championships.
The 12-0 golfers finished up last week with an 8.5-.5 win over Shelter Island on the Bonackers' home course at the South Fork Country Club in Amagansett. Ian Lynch, the junior number-one, led the way with a 35-to-43 win over Jay Card, who had bested Lynch 41-43 when they played on Shelter Island.
Lynch can also boast of having carded East Hampton's all-time low score, a one-under-par 33, which he shot in a recent crucial match at Southampton, a win that enabled East Hampton to clinch its eighth straight league title and the program's 12th in the past 14 years.
Beudert said during last Thursday's outbracket girls tennis match between East Hampton and Mount Sinai (a match that East Hampton was to win 6-1) that his number-two, Cameron Yusko, was a finalist in Channel 12's student-athlete of the week contest. The six-year varsity veteran was certainly worthy, said Beudert, who nominated him. "He has a 98.7 unweighted grade-point average, he's a great community-minded kid, and he's a three-sport athlete. He's been all-league for us three times and all-conference twice. A quality kid, all around."
Golf's all leaguers this season were Yusko, Lynch, and John Pizzo, said Beudert, "though we won't know about all-conference until the spring. My m.v.p. is Ian, the coach's award is going to Cameron, and Matt Griffiths is my most-improved. He and Andrew Winthrop really filled in well this year."
Turning to cross-country, whose girls and boys teams continue on the upswing, boosted by Bill Herzog's junior high program, Diane O'Donnell has two potential all-state competitors in Ashley West, a senior, and in Dana Cebulski, a ninth grader.
In a recent Northeast invitational meet at Brown University, Cebulski placed fourth among 215 entrants in the 5K varsity race in 19 minutes and 24 seconds, "a very good time," according to O'Donnell, who added that West could well have finished in the top 10 too, but, because of an aggravated calf muscle strain, had to pull out after having run two thirds of the way.
West, herself, who was seen biking in front of the high school last Thursday, said she was rehabbing the muscle with the school's trainer, Randi Cherill, and was confident she'd be ready for the state qualifier meet that is to be held Friday, Nov. 4 at Sunken Meadow State Park.
Things continued to go swimmingly, as well, for John McGeehan's girls swim team, who defeated Hauppauge 96-74 at the Y.M.C.A. East Hampton RECenter last Thursday.
Posting career bests were Bonac's 200 medley relay team of Marina Preiss, Mikayla Mott, Carly Drew, and Maddie Minetree, who won in 1:57.84, and the 200 freestyle relay team of Preiss, Mott, Morgan German, and Minetree, who won in 1:45.81.
Recording season-bests were Mott, who won the 200 individual medley in 2:21.14; Minetree, who won the 50 free in 25.93; Preiss, who won the 100 free in 55.57, and German, who placed third in the 50 free in 27.32.
Moreover, Lydia Florio 'pr'd' in the 100 breaststroke, placing third in 1:19.24, and Caley Serin, who was fifth in the 200 free in 2:49.51, also had a personal record.
In addition, Haley Ryan placed second in the 500 free in 6:41.76.
The 4-1 girls were to have had home meets earlier this week with West Babylon and West Islip. The League III championships are to be held at Hauppauge High School on Nov. 4. The county meet is to be held at Suffolk Community College-Brentwood on Nov. 12.
Getting back to the aforementioned tennis match versus Mount Sinai (East Hampton being the 16th seed, Mount Sinai the 17th), Michelle Kennedy, the first-year coach, reported that Abby Okin, the eighth grader who plays first singles, suffered the sole loss that day, at the hands of Daniella Stefanucci, who won 7-5, 6-3.
Carly Grossman, at two, defeated Rebekah Lester 6-2, 6-0; Phoebe Gianis, at three, defeated Erika Mavi 7-6 (8-6), 6-1, and Margaux Eckert, at four, defeated Alexa Mani 6-1, 6-0.
In doubles, East Hampton's first team, Jess Bono and Daniella Dunphy, who as a result of placing third in the recent division tournament had been named to the all-county team, won 3-6, 6-4, 6-4; Caitlin Walsh and Sydney Sanicola won 6-1, 2-6, 7-5, and Gillian Neubert and Bryce Slater won 6-2, 3-6, 6-4.
Playing in the county tournament, Bono, a senior, and Dunphy, a sophomore, won a first-round match, defeating a Bay Shore entry 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 before losing to the top seeds in the quarterfinals.
On the volleyball court, East Hampton's boys team, with Thomas King sitting out, defeated Huntington in four on Oct. 17 to improve to 8-1 in league play.
"It was a big game for Huntington, which needed it to make the playoffs," said East Hampton's coach, Dan Weaver.
L.B. Lownes, who usually alternates with Trevor Shea playing opposite the opponent's setter, moved to outside hitter, King's position, and "had some big kills," said Weaver.
King was to have missed Monday's match at league-leading Eastport-South Manor as well, though Weaver said he thought the team, which he said had been practicing jump pass serve returns and defensive positioning, had a good shot.


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Eau Claire North graduate Sam Hurt excelled for the Huskies on the football field and the basketball court but baseball is his true love.
"I love how it's an outdoor sport. In the summer you get the nice weather," says Sam. "And then just being with all the teammates. I just found the passion for it over football and basketball."
"Growing up playing three sports with him, it's really been an honor playing with him," says teammate Adam Faanes. "He makes everyone better on the team, through his leadership and how he plays the game."
Sam is predominately a shortstop but has also proven himself as a closer on the Pizza Hut Legion team.
"I feel like I've really grown as a player, from playing multiple positions. You get a different perspective on the game itself," says Sam.
"We know when he comes in on the mound in the 7th or 9th inning, we have confidence for him to shut the game down for us and pecker up for the win," adds Faanes.
Already a Wisconsin Baseball Coaches Association All-State player, Sam was just named an American Legion All-Star and will play at Miller Park on August 18th...Sam's hard work has paid off.
"Making the most of all your opportunities, whether it's during the game or in the cage. Or just taking batting practice, just really stressing do what you try to do in a game," comments Sam.
And Sam isn't done yet, he will play for one of the top Division 2 schools in the country next year at Madison College.
"He's got the talent to play there," says Legion coach Mark Faanes. "He's got the arm, he's got the speed, he's got the bat. Sam's gonna do just great."
"I'm just so excited for the competition, I just can't wait to see what the next level has to bring for talent wise," says Sam.


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Online auction site eBay has matured, but it's still a great way for savvy sellers to earn extra income. Take advantage of the site with these seven tips.
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Talented teen paints for Papa's
Alicia Censabella is excited to be expanding her artist's repertoire to include painting in the impressionist style because it allows her more freedom to paint with softer lines and include human figures.
Censabella is only 14 years old and can already speak about art like a professional.
Censabella has been taking art classes at the Nancy Stephen Gallery and School of Art in East Greenwich since she was 5 and has been able to grow into a talented artist.
"My parents put me in [the class] and I really liked it," said Censabella.
She explained that when she was in the children's classes, she was able to try a variety of art projects. But now she is at an older level and has been able to focus on her love of painting.
"I stuck with painting," said Censabella, adding that she also sketches sometimes. "It's easier to draw with paint."
The young artist truly dedicates time to her craft. Censabella takes classes year-round, a one-hour class once a week during the school year, and five hours of classes four times a week during the summer.
"This is the only camp I do," she said with a smile.
Censabella says the time it takes to complete a painting varies. Her most recent piece, an impressionist style portrait of two people in an embrace, took her three days, or 15 hours of class time.
Censabella's parents, Rob and Theresa, are impressed with the art their daughter can produce. They even have a large landscape she painted of a lake in Colorado above their mantel.
"I'm so incredibly proud of her. I know she gets no artistic ability from me," said Rob, who added that he is blown away by every painting he sees. "It's unbelievable every time."
Rob also believes painting has helped his daughter in other areas of her life.
"The attention to detail has really helped her," he said.
Also benefiting from Censabella's talent is Paul Silva, the owner of Papa's Ice Cream on West Shore Road.
The Censabellas have been regulars at Papa's since their daughters were very young.
"We always look forward to our Papa's," said Ron.
"We usually always come for opening day and closing day," said Theresa, adding the family visits every few weeks.
When she was in elementary school, Censabella painted a picture of an ice cream cone for Silva. He was impressed and began to ask Censabella when he would receive his next painting.
"It became a running joke between us," explained Silva.
About two weeks ago, Silva received his next Censabella original – a painting depicting the Papa's Ice Cream building at sunset. The painting is now sitting behind the counter at Papa's.
"I was blown away by it," said Silva.
"He was really shocked," said Censabella.
Censabella normally works off of photographs, which she did for the Papa's painting, but takes artistic liberty with details such as the sunset.
Although she has been studying art for over nine years, Censabella still has the opportunity to try new things. For example, she can now paint using a pallet knife, something she has only done twice.
"It was fun. I don't usually do that," said Censabella.
She started painting using acrylics but has since moved on to oils.
"You have to be really good at acrylics before you use oils," explained Censabella.
Despite her love of painting, Censabella doesn't think she will make art her life. The Toll Gate High School freshman is looking forward to starting high school and thinks she will study marine biology in the future.
But she will always keep art on the side.
"Right now, I am just doing it for fun. I don't want it to be my main thing," said Censabella.
The teen may spend a lot of time in the art studio, but she also does gymnastics, enjoys student council, and is interested in playing volleyball at Toll Gate.


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Think Inside the Box
Before the new year, I had a chance to speak with Cisco about a contest they're holding for developers around their Cisco AXP technology (http://www.cisco.com/web/solutions/axpdev/gs.html). AXP stands for Application Extension Platform, which is a development API and service module that runs within the Cisco Integrated Services Router. In a nutshell, AXP allows you to integrate your own business logic directly onto Cisco routers in your network and data centers.
AXP is a Linux-based environment, allowing you to develop applications in C/C+, Python, and Java. Web service support and SSH services are also included. Additionally, the platform supports multiple applications, each running within their own virtual machine to sandbox them, and maintain security.
The motivation for AXP was the success Cisco has had in the past with integrating partner software components, such as those from Tibco for instance, directly onto their routers. With that success, there has been more focus on bringing other services and applications into the network through network infrastructure and appliances. The advantages of placing applications directly on the router, particularly those that require network services, are:
-There is one place for patches, support, installation, and so on.
-You get great customer traction. For instance, there are more than 5 million of these routers deployed, representing 88% market share.
-There's no need to deploy additional servers or dedicated appliances; you more than likely have Cisco routers in your network/data center already.
"Think Inside the Box" Contest Information
The AXP contest (see http://www.cisco.com/web/solutions/axpdev/index.html), which is open world-wide, was launched in mid-October, and phase one ends on February 27, 2009. Cisco is looking for developers who have unique applications currently running outside the router, who wish to integrate with the router via AXP. In general, the contest targets application developers, Linux experts, system integrators, as well as those in the network and IT space.
Team sizes can be up to 3 developers, and to get started, simply fill in the proposal template online. Cisco is using a weighted judging criteria for finalists to enter the second phase. Those teams will be eligible to build their AXP applications, where all back-end infrastructure will be provided with remote development support. Development is a 90-day phase, and the final judging will be done by an independent set of judges from all over the community, via a transparent process.
Three grand-prize winners receive prizes of $50,000, $30,000, and $20,000 respectively.
Additionally, Cisco does not gain the rights to your contest app; you maintain ownership of the IP. In general, Cisco is looking for contest entrants to be creative and innovative. There are code samples to illustrate how AXP works, and to spark creative thought, and videos to show how existing applications are solving problems in unique ways. With excellent support community, a free and open SDK, a free VM image to get started with little configuration, and an excellent library of code to use, you'll get a running start.
Cisco and partners have done over 18 months of work so far with AXP, which is an 100% open SDK. When AXP was launched, Cisco did so with 8 vendors and 11 applications, and that list is growing. Examples of existing AXP applications include those in healthcare and medical imaging, financial services and banking, VOIP services, FAX services, and so on. Take a look online for more.
Note: I don't work for Cisco, and I'm not associated with the contest in any way. I just heard about it, thought it was cool and interesting, and decided to share it. And remember, if you happen to win one of the prizes, don't forget who told you about the contest ;-)
Happy coding, and good luck!


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Prosecutor Huang Chao-kuei (黃朝貴) posted a message on his Facebook page on Sunday, saying that tens of thousands of migrant workers, mostly from Indonesia, had inconvenienced passengers and visitors at Taipei Railway Station, where they gathered to celebrate the end of Ramadan.
Huang's posting was immediately blasted by commentators and netizens, but he denied any racist intent. However, his posting was just another example of the numerous little things — be they a look, a gesture or a careless comment — that take place every day in Taiwan and expose the divisions that lie beneath the veneer of Taiwanese society.
Our society is mature enough to understand that racism and discrimination are intolerable.
The image of a harmonious society is a myth. That is because, while Taiwanese are proud of their diverse culture — and have promoted it as one of the country's appeals — the nation has never been as friendly to foreigners or the island's indigenous people as it thinks. If it had, there would not be comments like Huang's, which was not unusual and only aroused so much comment because the man was bold or stupid enough to post it on the Web. Nor would Filipino workers have been harassed after the death of a Taiwanese fisherman in May triggered diplomatic tensions between Taiwan and the Philippines. There would also not be the whispers in many neighborhoods that the increasing number of children from cross-cultural families, especially where the mother is from Southeast Asia, might hurt educational competitiveness.
Taiwanese have traditionally been less hostile to people from Western countries than to those from Asia, but that has not stopped them from making Western foreigners feel uncomfortable as well.
Taiwan is not the only nation that is having to rethink itself because of immigration. A recent article in Time magazine outlined the changing demographics in Australia and the efforts to reshape identity in a nation where 26 percent of its population was born overseas and five Asian countries — China, India, Vietnam, Malaysia and the Philippines — ranked among the top 10 countries of birth.
The Australian government has recognized the urgency to change, with the ruling Labor Party saying in a white paper (Australia in the Asian Century) that the country is entering a transformative period in history as its identity gradually shifts from a European one to an Asian one. The percentage of the immigrant population born in Europe has dropped from 52 percent in 2001 to 40 percent in 2011.
Similar changes have also been taking place in Taiwan, where about one of seven newborns and at least one in 10 elementary-school students are from cross-cultural marriages. This trend has been apparent for more than a decade. However, our government has chosen to ignore the demographic change and, as a result, it has never seriously addressed its immigration policy.
One might ask whether there is a need for a strict immigration policy, given that Taiwan has one of the lowest birthrates in the world and has trouble filling job vacancies in the manufacturing and long-term care industry. However, if the nation was to adopt a friendly immigration policy, it would have a lot of work to do first. There are many issues that would have to be addressed, such as the differing needs of migrant workers, expatriate white-collar workers and foreign spouses, along with policies for language, social welfare and education.
Politicians have rarely addressed racial issues except for policies involving Aborigines. With changing demographics, racial politics is almost guaranteed an important role in the future.
Taiwan should learn from the experiences of Western democracies in promoting multiculturalism, because this is one task in which the nation cannot afford to fail.


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Admitting that she's somewhat of a "workaholic," Kerry Shannon, finance director for Henderson County Public Schools for the last 14 years, says she's ready to put down her spreadsheets and travel the world a bit with her husband when she retires later this month.
Admitting that she's somewhat of a "workaholic," Kerry Shannon, finance director for Henderson County Public Schools for the last 14 years, says she's ready to put down her spreadsheets and travel the world a bit with her husband when she retires later this month.
Describing her husband, Gary Droghini, as an Italian French-Canadian from Montreal, Canada, Shannon says she's been working hard to learn French in anticipation of a trip to Canada once she hands over the financial reigns to her replacement, incoming Finance Director Bernie Sochia.
Shannon and her husband, a talent and development manager at Coats North America in Laurel Park, also are looking forward to a trip to Ireland in 2014, where they honeymooned 10 years ago.
"I've had a lot of good moments over the years," Shannon said about working in the school system. "I just appreciate being able to have the opportunity to do something for the students and teachers."
Assistant Superintendent Bill Parker said Shannon is "a quality person who is very capable in her job" and "doesn't shy away from difficult tasks, always keeping the students' best interest in front of all decisions. She also is quite the stage actress which, at times, kept those of us around her entertained."
She is "capable, contentious, trustworthy (and) candid," Parker added. "She has managed Henderson County Public Schools' finances impeccably."
It can be difficult to maintain a connection with teachers and students as an employee who's not involved in the day-to-day operations at any particular school, but instead is responsible for the finances of the district as a whole, operating from the central office on 4th Avenue in Hendersonville.
For that reason, "When the school board has its visits to the schools (every month) — those times give me a lift," Shannon said. "Those are the high spots."
During school visits, Shannon can see the results of her hard work on the faces of teachers and children.
"We try not to get ourselves too removed from the students and teachers," she said. "They are our ultimate customers, but sometimes it's like trying to see the forest through the trees."
Shannon said the 2010-11 school year was particularly hard from a financial standpoint, when the county requested that schools cut their budgets by 7.5 percent.
"It was tough," she said. "But one of the things I am most proud of is that we were able to save teachers' jobs, despite the fact that 80 percent of our budget goes to salaries and benefits. We have managed our budget so that we have had very few layoffs compared with other school systems. We were careful with our money and were able to use the state funds in the most efficient manner possible, to conserve local funds. I'm proud of that.
"For the amount of local funds spent on public education in Henderson County, the taxpayers are getting a big bang for their buck, in my opinion," Shannon added. "I am amazed at the professionalism, work ethic and dedication of our teachers, administrators and support staff at Henderson County Public Schools."
Originally from Kentucky, Shannon came to North Carolina to attend Wake Forest University.
"I liked it so much, I stayed," she said. "I lived in Winston-Salem for about 19 years, then, after a few years in Fayetteville, moved to Western North Carolina in 1995."
Shannon said she's always had an affinity for finance.
"I suppose I have always been good at numbers and I must admit that I really enjoy working with them," she said. "In a world that is so full of grey areas, to me numbers are always black and white and never lie to you. I find that comforting."
Superintendent David Jones said Shannon always wants to "make sure that everything is done correctly and that appropriate resources are provided for the benefit of our students. She has worked to ensure that we make the most out of the funds we have received" from the state.
"It has been wonderful working with Kerry," he added. "She is a great finance officer, but she is also a great person who has a delightful personality."
Jones said Shannon is "a perfectionist. She wants to make sure that everything is done correctly and that appropriate resources are provided for the benefit of our students... She has been a very valuable employee and her contributions have helped our school district be recognized as one of the best in the state of North Carolina."
As for Shannon's future, in addition to travel she plans to focus on her biggest hobby: acting.
"I began acting in high school at the Jenny Wiley Theatre, a professional theater in my hometown of Prestonsburg, Ky.," she said. "Since moving to Western North Carolina, I've appeared in several productions, mainly in Asheville at the Asheville Community Threatre, but also in Hendersonville at the Hendersonville Little Theatre and the Grace Centre."
Shannon also plans to spend more time with her husband and two stepsons — Richard, 21, who just finished his junior year at Vanderbilt University, and Matthew, 18, who will be starting his freshman year at the University of South Carolina this fall. Shannon met her husband 13 years ago while attending the Vision Henderson County leadership development program.
After being diagnosed with breast cancer in late 2010 and undergoing chemotherapy and radiation treatments, Shannon said she is "doing great" now.
"But going through something like that gives you a new perspective and makes you realize how precious each day is," she said. "So I decided it was time to start concentrating on other things besides work... I'm feeling really good. I'm trying to enjoy life."


text:
How can it not suppress wages? Do you really think Joe Programmer will earn less if three other companies want to hire him, or if those three companies collude together to not hire each others' employees?
They have a demonstrably anti-competitive agreement between purchasers of a service to make each seller only able to deal with one of the purchasers, creating a monopsony. Textbook macro basically argues that the effect of a monopsony is that the only buyer in the market now has basically complete control of the terms of any agreement with the seller, because the seller's only option is to not sell his product.
Another way of describing this: Imagine you work for Amazon. Without these agreements, you have these options:
1. Accept a 3% raise to continue working at Amazon.
2. Accept a 25% raise to go work for Google.
3. Not work at all and be unemployed or at least accept a massive wage cut.
With these agreements your options now are:
1. Accept a 3% raise to continue working at Amazon.
2. Not work at all and be unemployed or at least accept a massive wage cut.
This is inherent in these kind of agreements. There's no need to prove intent.
The agreement was not to reach out and poach others' workers. It wasn't to refuse to hire them. You still had the option of getting a 25% raise to go to Google, all you have to do is apply to Google.
The agreement didn't reduce the options available to people, it just made it so the engineer had to take the first step, the recruiter wouldn't call you to entice you.
The agreement was not to reach out and poach others' workers. It wasn't to refuse to hire them. You still had the option of getting a 25% raise to go to Google, all you have to do is apply to Google.
The agreement didn't reduce the options available to people, it just made it so the engineer had to take the first step, the recruiter wouldn't call you to entice you.
With the exception of my first job and one time that I relocated, every job I have ever had was offered to me when I wasn't even looking for work. I am confident that my next job will probably be offered to me by an ex-coworker, a friend of a friend, or someone else who knows I will be an asset their company and has enough money or interesting enough work to entice me away from my current employer. My current employer did the exact same thing so it wouldn't catch them by surprise. If you aren't constantly worried that your employees are going to jump ship, it is either because you are compensating them very well or you have crap employees.
If you are doing things right, by your 30s employers will be coming to you not the other way around. If there are agreements out there stopping companies from reaching out to me with job offers that would certainly reduce my opportunities.
Also consider the horrendous difficulty of getting through automated HR scanner processes [consumerist.com]. You have to win Buzzword Bingo, and then you have to be matched to a position the company is actively looking to fill.
That's a nerve-wracking experience in the best of times; however, if you've got somebody inside the company actively tracking your application status and staying on the HR people not to let it fall through the cracks, that's a big benefit to your sanity and your chances of successfully landing a new
Me too. I've not had to do a serious job hunt for a long time; technical people of a certain level are in relative demand compared to other skillsets.
The practice of poaching employees to acquire needed skillsets, and employees benefitting from higher salaries as a result of this competition, is an old and honorable practice in the tech industry. This is an attempt to undermine competition and so the libertarians here should be cheering for the plaintiffs to win....anything else is inconsistent with a fre
I was somewhat surprised when the wind direction changed in my case. Not 5 years ago, I was scrambling, applying for jobs that paid peanuts, etc. These days, I get 3-5 emails/calls/etc. from recruiters per week, offering a lot more than I'd ever thought of making 5 years ago -- and I'm "happily" employed at the moment. I'm 29 now, so I guess I beat your assertion by a year
The agreement was not to reach out and poach others' workers. It wasn't to refuse to hire them. You still had the option of getting a 25% raise to go to Google, all you have to do is apply to Google.
The agreement didn't reduce the options available to people, it just made it so the engineer had to take the first step, the recruiter wouldn't call you to entice you.
Assume this is true: people still got paid less because Google didn't call them and offer the 25% raise.
To come at it from a different angle: why did the companies discuss and agree to this, if not to save money? If they want to argue that it was *only* to reduce turnover
Wait, so now the law is that colluding to reduce workers' wages is only illegal if there's no possible way around the collusion?
That's new information. Thanks.
I know Google is fond of buying up companies but I was not aware they had bought ALL of them.
Because otherwise your whole argument falls to pieces when you realize that someone can leave Amazon/Google/Apple and work at ANY OTHER COMPANY. Often with VC funding paying huge salaries. So in what way does a gentleman's agreement not to poach drive down wages?
Furthermore, the agreement was not to SEEK OUT employees of those other companies - they can always move between companies of their own volition. So in
The case evolves around a comment made by Appleâ(TM)s late-CEO Steve Jobs to Palmâ(TM)s CEO: âoeWe must do whatever we can to stop cold calling each otherâ(TM)s employees and other competitive recruiting efforts between the companies.â
Copied directly from the article. No logic needed. No need to prove intent because It's right there in the comments at the core of the entire case.
I do agree that these whiny millennials could do the normal thing and occasionally look for other options and therefore lost nothing, but the law does not look favorably on anticompetitive practice, so that statement is pretty much all they needed.
After receiving documents produced by Defendants and interviewing witnesses, the DOJ concluded that Defendants reached "facially anticompetitive" agreements that "eliminated a significant form of competition . . . to the detriment of the affected employees who were likely deprived of competitively important information and access to better job opportunities." DOJ Complaint against Adobe, et al. ("DOJ Adobe Compl."), Harvey Decl. Ex. A, at 2, 14; DOJ Complaint against Lucasfilm ("DOJ Lucasfilm Compl."), Harvey Decl. Ex. D, at 2, 15, 22; CAC
112. The DOJ also determined that the agreements "were not ancillary to any legitimate collaboration," "were much broader than reasonably necessary for the formation or implementation of any collaborative effort," and "disrupted the normal price-setting mechanisms that apply in the labor setting."
It might be difficult to prove the INTENT of the "no poaching" agreement was to suppress wages. Unless any of the defendants were stoopid enough to refer to such in emails or other discoverable documentation.
What other purpose could "no poaching" agreements possibly have? Their only purpose is so a company does not have to pay a salary high enough and/or create a work environment good enough to keep the employee from leaving.
It might be difficult to prove the INTENT of the "no poaching" agreement was to suppress wages.
The legal standard for civil cases is on the "preponderance of the evidence", i.e. the proposition is more likely to be true than not. If it transpires before the court that the intent of the "no poaching" agreement might have been promoting gentlemanly conduct in HR, might have been based on the belief that employees become more productive the longer they have been in a team, but probably was to drive down wages, then the judge must rule in favour of the plaintiff.
Of course you cannot simply think of a hyp
I'm sure the people protesting in SF will be glad to hear that the Googlers are, in fact, underpaid.
...Or do they simply have circumstantial evidence? For, if the companies got into a pact via a "gentleman's agreement" - an agreement not written down on paper and not recorded in speech anywhere, potential employees will have a tough time proving their case.
Disclaimer: I support Google, Apple and their ilk.
Not. Looks like things haven't changed in generations.
My grandpa moved from the east coast to the west coast back in the 50s because of non-poaching agreements in the aircraft industry.
Years ago when I was doing jobbie work I found out that the job shops in the Detroit Metro area had a similar agreement not to hire people working for other job shops. It was a kind of a "Don't piss in your neighbors backyard" thing. Turns out a lot more companies are doing this in a lot more places than you might guess. Can anyone say "slave labor?". This kind of thing starts out in the board rooms and propagates down to the hiring floor, not the other way around. This is a very revealing insight into
Every year the HR people would make presentations to us about how they got together with HR people from other big engineering companies in the valley and decided upon job descriptions and pay and benefits packages, and by the way decided that the COL raise this year would be X%.
My coworkers, most of whom were oblivious to the big picture, would cheer at the annual pay raise and I would grumble about the salary fixing that they were proudly presenting.
I wonder if I can get in on the class-action suit...
Machines that have broken down will work perfectly when the repairman arrives.


text:
The San Diego Fair (originally the Del Mar Fair) has released the vendors with their crazy foods. Like last year, I am planning on trying as many as I can. Now, what am I going to try?
• Porkabello Kabob (bacon-wrapped, Gouda-stuffed portabello on a stick)
• Caveman Turkey Club (One pound of bacon wrapped around an extra large turkey leg)
• Manly Gourmet (two pieces of bacon wrapped around sausage stuffed with mushrooms, artichoke and smoked mozzarella)
• Meat Lovers Hot Dog on a Stick (deep-fried, beer-battered, bacon-wrapped hot dog)
• Baconshrooms (deep-fried, bacon-wrapped mushrooms)
• Half Pound Meat-On-Meat Dog (quarter-pound, all-beef dog wrapped with a quarter-pound of bacon)
• Porky Poppers (bacon-wrapped stuffed jalapeños)
Gingerbread House on the Avenue:
• Cookie Dough on a Stick
Chicken Charlie's on the Concourse near AgriFair:
• Deep-Fried Cereal
• Deep-Fried Pork Chops
• Deep-Fried Peanut Butter and Jelly
Del Mar Diner in Plaza de México:
• Buffalo Chicken Sliders: served on Hawaiian Bun, shredded lettuce, tomato and ranch dressing
• Chicken Fried Steak on a stick/mashed potatoes with Country-style sausage gravy
• French Fries with country-style gravy
• Deep-Fried Chili Asteroid: Award-winning homemade chili & cheese, deep-fried in a hush-puppy batter
• Flying Saucer Sopés: Deep-fried tortilla cake, topped with homemade chili, cheese, sour cream and green onions
• French Toast sticks with syrup dipping sauce
• Pie Fries: Deep-fried pie crust strips with strawberry preserves on the side
• Deep-Fried Tang
Pignotti's Pasta near O'Brien Hall and the Skyway:
• Bacon Pasta on a plate or in a bread bowl
• Bread Bowls (fill them with pasta or antipasto salad)
This is just a sampling of what's being offered. But I do believe that I will have to try the Pie Fries and everything from the Bacon-A-Fair.
I need to have a check up with my doctor before and after I do this.


text:
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Cyndi Howells, her book and site for my blog
Cyndi Howells of Cyndi's List wrote, Planting Your Family Tree Online (How to Create Your Own Family History Web Site), pub. in October 2003 and I have referred to it a lot lately. I remember ordering it even before it was available to the public, and had to wait a few weeks before it was actually shipped. My great intentions to have a Web Site were forming in my mind, and I thought the book would solve all my unknowns of how to do it. Unfortunately, It was right about that time that I was going full steam ahead with discoveries found through Google, so soon, any Web Site of mine would have to wait. I wanted my research to be absolutely completed and perfect before I posted anything for the world. Well we all know, that never happens. Time marched on, and now we are in the world of Blogs. Hum, the nice little unopened book remained in my bookcase until a week ago. And it has been so useful the past several weeks.
Even though her index doesn't list the word blog, she does cover topics that have helped me.
Example Chapters:
Leave a Trail for your Cousins to Follow
Find a Home for Your Web Site
Select the Contents for Your Genealogy Web Site
Enhance Your Web Site with Extras (such as photographs, scanned documents and links.
Check Your Work and Give Your Site a Trial Run
Publicize Your New Web Site
Very nice book Cyndi, and one way I decided to publicize my site was by putting it on her site. So my new blog is one of the first submitted for November 2009. Why not visit her new entries are at: http://www.cyndislist.com/new1109.htm
3 comments:
- Barbara Poole said...
What a surprise to see this this morning, it was scheduled to be posted Thursday, and here it is a day earlier. Anybody know how that happened?
- November 4, 2009 at 7:17 AM
- Deb said...
Barbara....I just noticed the date on it as well & thought ???? Weird! Sorry, can't help you as to why it did that.
Anyhoo, I used to have my own genealogy web site, that is until Yahoo decided to stop offering that service. And I've been kinda throwing the thought around of putting another one up. Though it came out pretty good, I wasn't exactly 100% happy with it. I was wondering how well you liked Cyndi's book. Does she give a lot of good tips & such?
Later, Deb
- November 4, 2009 at 11:03 AM
- Barbara Poole said...
Deb, thanks for writing. I heard about Yahoo not offering that service. Last year they did away with Briefcase, which I really liked and used a lot.
Cyndi's book is good and I've gotten good information, but it isn't written for a blog, just for a web page, and it was written in 2003. I got the picture icon copied from Amazon, and saw that the book was really inexpensive. Why not see if a library has it.
- November 4, 2009 at 3:32 PM


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Privacy policy
Distribution network
NEW parameters on PrimeLab: ID162: Hyd. Perox. HR / ID163: Dissolved Oxygen
Over 50 different parameters with over 100 methods of measurement
Comfort and Precision
Unlike pool testers, test strips and comparators with which one (more specifically, the human eye) performs a measurement point of view, with the photometer is an electronic calculating the measurement result. The reagents with offset (depending on parameters) water sample is placed in a cuvette (16 mm or 24 mm) into the shaft of the photometer. On the menu of the parameter to be tested is selected and a set of customers. On the device display all further steps are displayed. Appears at the end of the test the results and any corrective measures, if you have set the ideal areas.
The built-in Bluetooth * technology in conjunction with the "PrimeLab Desktop Assistant" * allows you and to them are related customer information very easy to manage data and develop your own recommendation system. You can also run on the PC and the remote control so that PrimeLab the entire menu. You can get through this interface for software updates and / or upgrades (for the measurement of additional parameters).
Depending on the operating parameters of the pool i.d. Photometer PrimeLab with tablet reagents, liquid reagents, powder packs or pre-filled cuvettes of Pool-id or established pool i.d. partners.


text:
The Beach Diplomats, a team got together by Chris Carney whose roster included a former Olympic decathlete from Ghana, Kofi Sekyiamah, wound up winning the Gurney's Inn beach volleyball league's finals last Thursday, coming back to best top-seeded Air and Speed 17-21, 21-16, 21-14.
"It was great volleyball," said Kathy McGeehan, the league's founder and girls volleyball coach at East Hampton High School, who in the summertime works as a fitness instructor at Gurney's Spa in Montauk.
As for the 10-team 4-on-4 league, co-sponsored by Diplomatico Rum of Venezuela and Gurney's, the first organized beach volleyball here apparently in 25 years, McGeehan (who played then with the Blender Beach Bombers at Amagansett's Atlantic Avenue Beach) said that "for the first year it went really well."
Dr. George Dempsey, whose team was swept by the Beach Diplomats in one of that evening's semifinals — Air and Speed cruised to a 2-0 win over Shelter Island in the other — said that Air and Speed and the Beach Diplomats were "the two dominant teams here this summer."
The former University of California at San Diego player, who is a general practitioner in East Hampton and whose son, Pierre, and daughter, Mariah, played with him on Team Dempsey, said, in answer to a question, that he thought he was the eldest competitor in the league, "and, unfortunately, I play like it."
The final was, as aforesaid, hard-fought, for Air and Speed had on it Dan Weaver, who has coached East Hampton's boys volleyball team in recent years, and his successor, Josh Brussell, and two former high school players, Summer Foley and Jon Jamet. Besides Sekyiamah, the Diplomats numbered Jessie Libath, a former Bonac star, Beth Crowley, and Jack Behan.
Weaver and Brussell served out Air and Speed's win in the first game, with Behan erring several times going down to the wire. The Diplomats broke a 16-16 tie in the second, winning the final five points.
After Foley had served an ace to Crowley, Behan got the ball back for the Diplomats when his shot hit the line, a sideout that put the ball into the hands of Libath, who served out the set.
"It was pretty much Kofi setting Jessie [for thunderous kills] in the middle in the last game," McGeehan said. "Air and Speed missed some crucial serves, and once he was moved into the middle Jessie overpowered them."
Earlier in the season, Sekyiamah said the Diplomats were "the team to beat," and while they finished the regular season as the runner-up to Air and Speed, he was proved right.
Air and Speed's chances would undoubtedly have been greater had Kim Valverde, an All-American honorable mention libero when she played at East Hampton High School, not had to go back to college. She's playing at Hillsborough Junior College in Tampa, Fla., this year, though McGeehan said she was out for the moment, following a concussion she'd suffered in a collision.


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Tag Archives: 47 Foot
Coast Guard 47 Foot Motor Lifeboat Compilation
Here's another one
Check out the one that North Shore Waterman Doug Maxfield posted a couple of weeks ago-
This one was released yesterday-
Provincetown, Mass. – The National Motor Lifeboat School conducts training with Coast Guard Station Provincetown Nov. 11-12, 2010.
This is the first time the National Motor Lifeboat School has conducted training on the East coast.
U.S. Coast Guard Video by Petty Officer 3rd Class James Rhodes.


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NZTrio signed off for the year with the familiar mix that these musicians do so well. It was a well-proportioned banquet, with Spanish for starters, followed by a touch of contemporary from both sides of the Tasman, and ending with a main course of solid Dvorak.
Joaquin Turina's Second Piano Trio must be the group's most rewarding Iberian investigation to date. The piece may have been conservative for 1933 but its frank melodiousness was irresistible. It took only a few bars for the players to draw us into Turina's world, hypnotised by his wafting two-bar phrases. Occasionally, one was taken offguard by fluttering muted strings or a wash of Debussian piano chords.
The ultimate reward was a big-hearted, sun-soaked Finale.
Turina's sunshine was countered by the wintry gloom of Gordon Kerry's Im Winde, another of the group's generous nods to Australian composers. Pianist Sarah Watkins introduced the piece as cool, quite dark and perhaps a little moody; the musicians brought this out but, despite some effective scurrying in the strings, it was somewhat icebound.
NZTrio has every right to be very proud of its latest commission, Alex Taylor's burlesques mecaniques, and they delivered it accordingly.
The young composer's prologue (marked "dark and seedy") introduced a line-up of wittily skewed dances, setting off in skittish ragtime. The most alluring was a spanner in which Ashley Brown's "habanera" cello held its ground against clustering rhythmic distractions.
Tumbledry, thanks to Watkins, offered a few seconds of boogie-woogie fury, and yet gas/sisyphus dispensed airier beauties over malevolent stalkings.
Some jaded concertgoers may approach Dvorak's Dumky Trio with a certain steely acceptance. How-ever, there was no need for such when, after interval, NZTrio responded to its charms with such punch and vitality, setting the big dance moments of the first movement in the conviviality of a tavern.
Elsewhere, when Dvorak waxes sentimental, the musicians gauged it perfectly, with some breath-stopping silky string chords.
NZTrio is playing in Wellington tomorrow night, with an amended version of this programme.
What: NZTrio
Where: Loft at Q, Sunday


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Çanta by Krane
Krane was founded by Ken Chow, a Canadian menswear designer who graduated from New York's FIT. After graduation, he interned with Marc Jacobs and Alexandre Plokhov of Cloak. Started in Toronto in 2004, Krane has rapidly captured the hearts of urban professionals around the globe. Krane Design combines the practicality of vintage uniforms with details from modern industrial design in pursuit of forward, functional, innovative and individualistic everyday accessories. Old School traditional tailoring techniques meet technology and a new stylistic design attitude in delivering essential items that acknowledge the thoughts and aspirations of the contemporary man.


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|2013-05-26, 08:33
|Link #461
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Age: 33
My complaint about JC is more the way they cut huge chunks of science side stories in Index II. I'd rather they include everything *and* some filler than have it be 100% source material but 1/3 of it is missing... so their approach for Railgun is fine by me! If they had taken the Index approach they would have tried to squeeze Sisters, Demonstration, and LA City into 12 episodes.
|2013-05-26, 09:29
|Link #462
Spherical Cow
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: In a vacuum
Age: 29
Inaccurate comparison.
Index had tons of material to go through. Railgun had only a fraction of the amount that Index had so it's not a question about different artistic direction so much as it's a victim of circumstances.
Then I know people people would claim that they don't mind waiting for material to be Animated so long as it's done right, well then let me as you this-
...Hows that new season of Full Metal Panic coming along *troll* ?
|2013-05-26, 14:47
|Link #463
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Age: 33
Your FMP example actually supports my approach better: would you have rather they wait until this Misaki arc has finished before starting the current Railgun season [eliminating the need for anime-orginial content and allowing for a faster pace], but at the risk of sharing the same fate as FMP (where by the time the LN story arc completed, they had missed their chance at another anime season?).
|2013-05-26, 15:53
|Link #464
Spherical Cow
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: In a vacuum
Age: 29
Index doesn't need fillers because it has enough material- And people WANT to see those material. You think stopping at Vol 11 is a good idea when one of the best arc is just around the corner? Come on, know the demand of your fanbase.
You yourself are using an avatar from that arc.
Also, just because you drag something out does not automatically make it better- Case in point the Nanoha third season.
|2013-05-26, 19:49
|Link #465
Season 3
Join Date: May 2013
Location: California
This is why I want to hear Index III announcement. But since we just heard that the Index movie is coming out August 28, 2013, we will probably hear from J.C. staff around then about the third season then, because it will probably largely raise sales. I hope that after that we see Railgun III (Sogiita, Misaki, and others).
And Index is about sticking to an already excellently written Light Novel.
Railgun from the beginning has been more of a creative adaptation that has (improved the manga) with each adaptation... well with first season and so far with the second season. Railgun cares a lot more about stretching out the emotional impact and therefore wants to put in these scenes that show these painful happenings. While Manga chapters have to be big hits each week, Anime that are 24 episodes long, have a lot of episodes to impress viewers, especially if people are really looking forward to seeing them. Railgun really has a completely different feel from Index. Personally, I like both. But don't Railgunize Index or Indexify Railgun. They're both fine as they are: even though I appreciate
|2013-05-26, 20:27
|Link #466
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2006
The Railgun manga is monthly (not weekly!) and they have a lot and lot of page in each chapter to work with. Also, they don't have to worry about it getting axed.
In manga, the feeling you get from the Sister arc is "dark and desperate" while in anime it is more like "dark, hope and friendship" the mood you get from both versions are completly different.
Basically, both Anime and Manga did good to present the story but with different feeling for anime and manga version. I, however, perfer the manga version more because I think it's already perfect with it overall atmosphere presented.
Last edited by Marina2; 2013-05-26 at 20:39.
|2013-05-26, 21:49
|Link #467
Season 3
Join Date: May 2013
Location: California
|2013-05-27, 14:06
|Link #468
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
ITEM designs:
Woah, woah.. What happened here?
Did she found the Bust Upper?
I mean seriosly..
othersSorry; dynamic content not loaded. Reload?
|2013-05-27, 17:00
|Link #471
Season 3
Join Date: May 2013
Location: California
I mean episode 9 is called Ability Router/ AIM stalker for god sake. J.C. staff being really subtle I suppose.
Also, no one mentioned her hair yet...? It's a different color completely...
|2013-05-27, 17:12
|Link #472
Join Date: Jan 2009
Age: 28
My only complain is.... Kinuhata's hair doesn't looks like her manga and novel version.
Rikou's hair color is like that of Itsuwa, always changes from black to brown/purple and then back to black in the novel illustrations... .____.
Oh well, thats Haimura's fault since it wasn't until latter she got color illustration despite Kamachi said it was black in her description from the novels.
|2013-05-27, 17:16
|Link #473
Season 3
Join Date: May 2013
Location: California
So... do you guys think we'll see Daihasei in season 3 and Gunha vs. Mikoto and... Railgun SS 2?
|2013-05-27, 17:28
|Link #474
Level 5 Railgun Stalker
Join Date: Sep 2012
|2013-05-27, 18:04
|Link #475
Season 3
Join Date: May 2013
Location: California
After seeing Misaka fly in episode 1 with Kuroko's help and hearing all of the references to liberal arts city... I'm kind of sure we'll see it this season. I had a post beforehand, but I put it in the wrong place so it was modded
|2013-05-29, 03:42
|Link #476
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Future Railgun S episode titles:
08. ITEM 09. AIM Stalker 10. Meltdowner 11. Vending Machine 12. Tree Diagram
( source: http://yaraon.blog109.fc2.com/blog-entry-16536.html )
11. Vending Machine - GUTS, GUTS and MORE GUTS!!
(but seriously now, what are the chances it is going to be Gunha and not just Touma / Mikoto interaction near vending machine?)
|2013-05-29, 04:42
|Link #478
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
11. - (unless it's with guts), it will be introduction to Touma (chapter 31)
12. - chapter 32 and 33, where she learns that the project was not stopped
after that -
chapter 34-35 - she goes suicidal mode and Touma decides to step in, I bet the episode title will be "Iron Bridge"
in Index anime, Iron Bridge scene took 1 and half episode!!! and another half was the part before that which explains how he got involved -> 2 episodes.
chapter 36-38 - Touma / Accel fight - without all the extra scenes and flashbacks, it took 1 whole episode in Index anime, with it, it could easily take 2 episodes.
chapter 39 - cooking with Saten.
If they don't rush it, 13-14 Iron Bridge, 15-16 fight, 17 - epilogue, 18-24 - beach episodes
|2013-05-29, 04:50
|Link #479
Season 3
Join Date: May 2013
Location: California
I like the fact though that they gave the entire episode name vending machine. I was looking forward to that exchange between Touma, Misaka, Kuroko. I'm excited for this. Also, I really doubt they would have time for Gunha at all.
They'll introduce Gunha with more Misaki in season 3. That is probably when we will see Gunha animated But they should him perfectly. His cape is just awesome and I love his GUTS!!!!!!!
I think this pacing looks pretty darned good from what I see now.
What I am looking forward to the most by far is that bridge scene.
I can't wait for their lines to change on that bridge scene. The lines in the railgun manga were much better than the lines in the Light Novel or in the Index Manga. So this should be excellent. This was pretty my favorite part in the Sisters arc: this, or when Touma stood up and Misaka, Misaka Imouto, and Accelerator all looked back and got chills running down their spines. The best parts are coming in about a month... month and a half.
You say 2 episodes for the bridge. That would make me die of happiness lol, but I don't really see that. And was it really 1.5 in the Index anime... I didn't remember that. It seemed really well done (going to be improved majorly here, I hope), but I didn't remember it being that long.
Anyway though, ITEM for 3 episodes is going to be absolutely amazing. I can't wait!!!
|2013-05-29, 07:43
|Link #480
Non-toxic Mikoto lover.
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Poland
Age: 27
I'm more than sure Railgun is is going to be perfect for me.
I just hope they'll include Accelerator's flashbacks which were added in the volume edition of the Railgun manga and won't rush things.
|Thread Tools


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Unfortunately, I just had to return to my downtown office after a mid-day meeting in Walnut Creek. Crossing the Bay Bridge at 3pm was pure torture. IT'S WINDY AS HELL!!! Berkeley, TI & Crissy were clearly windy, and there were strong whitecaps as far as I could see.
Hope everyone else has a good time. I hope you appreciate the sacrifice I'm makeing for the team and that one of you will return the favor soon.


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Russian rocket takes three astronauts and Sochi Olympic torch to space
Russia has sent the Olympic torch into space with a three-man crew that blasted off to the International Space Station three months before the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi.
The torch, unlit for safety reasons, was part of the payload of a Soyuz spacecraft that lifted off from the Russian-leased Baikonur launch facility in Kazakhstan.
Crew members Mikhail Tyurin of Russia, Rick Mastracchio of the United States and Koichi Wakata of Japan are to arrive after a six-hour flight at the orbiting outpost 450 kilometres above Earth.
Two Russian cosmonauts are to take the torch out on a space walk on Saturday - the first time an Olympic torch is to be carried into open space.
Olympic torches were brought along on US space shuttle voyages before the 1996 and 2000 Games.
Decorated with a Sochi 2014 logo and a colourful snowflake design, the rocket lifted off on schedule from the Russian-leased facility in Kazakhstan.
The torch is to be returned to Earth on Monday to continue a 65,000-km relay culminating with the start of the Olympics in the Black Sea resort city of Sochi on February 7.


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PHILADELPHIA — Because he's physically limited by a knee injury, because until this week he was contractually limited in his team-oriented workouts, Nerlens Noel's involvement with the 76ers had been nil.
Friday, Sam Hinkie saw the 19-year-old Noel in the gym at PCOM. Then the Sixers' general manager saw him carrying on with reporters. Then Noel even cracked a smile. Hard to believe, right? Considering his situation?
"I've prepared myself. I'm doing the job," Noel said. "Even though I'm not playing, I'm learning."
It seems like the Sixers — as has been Hinkie's M.O. since his arrival in May, and in his hire of Brett Brown as his head coach — have a plan. In this instance, it's with Noel. The 6-11 rookie center, who might not debut with his new team until December, said he's "at the seven-month point" in his recovery and rehab following corrective ACL surgery on his left knee.
And by most estimates, Noel is learning — not only how to adjust from the college ranks, going from Kentucky to the NBA, but also how to be ready when the time comes for him to finally take the floor.
It wasn't until this week that Noel, who signed his rookie contract, could participate officially in team-sanctioned activities or work out in team facilities. It didn't take long for Noel to earn internal praise.
"He's been working really hard," Hinkie said. "All of our training staff has been impressed from when he was in Alabama (rehabbing) to when he got here. He's been here a couple weeks. He was just in the weight room outside my office this morning, going at it and trying to get himself as prepared as he can be."
Said Evan Turner: "I haven't seen Nerlens yet. I saw him block a lot of shots at Kentucky. That's something that can win championships."
Most around the NBA consider Noel, the sixth overall selection in June's draft, a steal at that slot. But with it came the baggage of having to wait until possibly midseason to get the Boston native into form. For the Sixers, a team with a plan of contending not this season but next, Noel made sense.
So for now, putting on a Sixers jersey for the team's media day was a thrill. It'll be similarly exciting when Noel travels with the team, maybe even accompanying them on their two-game European preseason jaunt at the end of next week.
"I want to be around these guys," Noel said. "I want to learn what the NBA lifestyle is. It prepares me for when I do come back. I think it's crucial to start now, learning about my teammates and start the bonding now and the brotherhood. … You need that to be a championship team at an elite level.
"It is tough, but I came to that realization that I wouldn't be playing. I'm staying focused, making sure I'm supporting these guys, that I'm stepping up and making sure I'm around these guys and building the chemistry. It starts right now."


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The first two spending tests for the new Volusia County Council involved about $50,000 in decisions Thursday that didn't resolve themselves unanimously.
The first two spending tests for the new Volusia County Council involved about $50,000 in decisions Thursday that didn't resolve themselves unanimously.
First came $20,000 — money for the Daytona Regional Chamber of Commerce to attract a second annual softball event starring Major League Baseball players at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.
Then came $30,000 — money to sponsor more than 20 organizations around the county like Crime Stoppers of Northeast Florida, the Council on Aging and the Halifax Health Foundation.
Considering the council also agreed Thursday that it couldn't afford pay raises for its employees, some members weren't thrilled about spending the money.
Two new members, County Chair Jason Davis and District 1 representative Pat Patterson, said they couldn't support the first issue — the softball money.
"I'm struggling with this," Patterson said. "I think maybe all the chambers should be involved in it, and maybe they should be putting up the money. I really can't support the $20,000."
"It's not a giveaway, it's an investment," District 2 Councilman Josh Wagner argued, "and I see it as a very wise investment."
The softball event is Brawl at the Beach, a tournament and home-run derby held in December. Its big draw was St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina, along with his brothers Bengie and Jose and others. The event was a fundraiser for Molina's Foundation 4 charity.
But it didn't raise as much money as hoped. The event was advertised over only a few weeks, and chamber president Larry McKinney said even if people saw the advertising, many didn't believe pro players would come to Daytona. They were partly right; originally, the event was advertised to feature former Cardinal Albert Pujols (who had surgery), and current Cardinals Carlos Beltran, Rafael Furcal and Jon Jay. Those players didn't show.
About 900 people bought tickets to the event, while the chamber had set a goal of 2,400. Afterward, the chamber was about to send Foundation 4 a check for $3,800, well short of what McKinney said would bring the event back to Daytona in future years.
The county's extra $20,000 will make up that shortfall.
One person in the audience was vehemently against it. After McKinney displayed a brief Powerpoint presentation on the event, Morton Culligan of DeBary came to the podium waving his tax bill, saying, "This is my Powerpoint."
"Nonprofit organizations don't get these," he said of the bill. "They don't pay taxes, and a lot of taxpayers are sick of paying their bills . . . Is the government in the baseball business?
"Voting for these worthless extravagances is an insult to the taxpayer and a disgrace to the community," Culligan said. "I ask you to stand for the taxpayers and against the tax takers."
McKinney said the chamber will be raising more private money this year than last because it has several more months to do it. He promised he wouldn't be back asking for more money in the future. (By way of full disclosure, The News-Journal is a private sponsor of the event.)
The $20,000 amount was within the spending limit County Manager Jim Dinneen could've authorized without council approval, but he said he brought it for a vote because it's a policy decision.
"I don't use that kind of authority when I think it's a policy call by the council," he said. "This isn't me buying a widget."
But he also said the idea fit with the council's recent emphasis on building sports as a tourism and economic generator. In addition to future softball events, Molina is opening "Molina Impact Training" in an 8,000-square-foot space in Port Orange, with three employees and future expansions planned in Florida, McKinney said.
"To me, when they said they were going to bring the jobs on top of the event, (a financial incentive) is in keeping with what the council's done for years," Dinneen said.
Davis, before his no vote, asked McKinney for an analysis of how much money the event generated for Volusia, but the chamber hasn't done one.
McKinney said next year's event could feature "10 or 11 of the top names in baseball in the country," including one recently retired future Hall of Famer who's from Volusia County. But he didn't identify former Atlanta Braves third baseman Chipper Jones by name.
Later, when the council discussed $30,000 in sponsorship for organizations around Volusia, Patterson said he couldn't support that spending, either. And citizen Culligan was back at the podium, asking the council to keep organizations' hands out of taxpayers' pockets. He suggested anyone who wants county money should pay a $1,000 fee to apply.
"It just does sound a little hypocritical of us to spend this money," Davis said, considering the lack of pay raises. Wagner, while he said he agreed that employees deserved more pay, said the pay issue shouldn't influence every vote.
"I don't want this raise thing to keep getting thrown in our face," Wagner said. "This is a separate issue . . . We're supporting organizations so we don't have to provide a service that a lot of them are doing."
The council then agreed to pay sponsorships for events that have already happened, and table the rest until after a workshop on the funding.