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A new business version of Evernote is now available in Australia, following its launch in the United States and six other countries in December. Evernote officials said at the launch event in Sydney today that Evernote Business gives IT managers control over a piece of cloud-based software commonly installed by their employees.
It answers "a request from those users who bring their own device and bring their own applications into work," said Evernote's director of market development for APAC, Linda Kozlowski.
"They wanted to have it more sanctioned at work. They wanted to be able to use it more officially at work.
"But of course the barrier to that is then you have CIOs and CTOs" asking how to manage the information and how to maintain control of the organisation's data, she said.
Bring Your Own Apps: where mobility and cloud meet the enterprise
BYOD 101: What are BYOD and the consumerization of IT?
Evernote does not build software for heads of IT, according to Evernote's chief operating officer, Ken Gullicksen.
"We don't approach things as CIO down, but instead focus on the end users, who are typically the ones to bring Evernote into the workplace," he said.
"We do have the administrative and security features in there because we don't want to sneak it in, we do want the IT guys to be comfortable for it to be brought in."
IT managers' main concern with Evernote had been data ownership, Gullicksen said.
"We have not had a lot of issues with IT guys being unfriendly to Evernote," Gullicksen said. "They've not necessarily embraced it and brought it in, but they've kind of allowed it to be brought in."
However, data ownership "really was a significant issue," and Evernote sought to solve that problem by adding business notebooks to the software.
"If you put something in a business notebook, it belongs to the business. If you put it in a personal notebook, it belongs to you. It's really up to the employee to put things in the right place."
In addition, only the administrator can permanently delete a note inside a business notebook, he said.
"It gives [business managers] really clear ownership and actual custody of the data so if somebody leaves, the data stays behind."
Evernote does not data mine users' notes for marketing or any other reason, said Kozlowski. Also, a company's data remains its own even if it cancels its subscription, she said. Data can be exported into any format, she said.
Evernote plans to enhance the software's security by adding two-factor authentication "in the relative near term," Gullicksen said.
"The DNA of our company is security," Kozlowksi said. Several of the company's founders came from a security company. "We do have redundancies [and] everything you would expect of our company of our size that stores the type of information we do."
However, Australian businesses seeking to keep their data in Australia may need to look elsewhere. All user data stored in Evernote data centres is located in California, United States. Evernote's support team is also based in California, but will work during Australia business hours.
While acknowledging that some Australian enterprises have raised data sovereignty concerns with cloud, Kozlowski said it's less of a worry for smaller businesses, which are the most common users of Evernote.
"It's something we've been asked by different countries at different times," Kozlowski said. "We try to do what's best for the customer experience while making sure the data is protected."
The Australian market
About 30 Australian customers have signed up for the business version ahead of launch, Gullicksen said. He couldn't name the organisations but said they were mostly small businesses of under 100 staff, as well as a few local government bodies.
"The interest in Evernote Business relative to the population of Evernote users in Australia has been quite a bit higher than elsewhere in the world," Gullicksen said.
Evernote officials said the company has 800,000 users in Australia, with an estimated two-thirds of that base using the note-taking app in the workplace.
Gullicksen said he sees a particularly strong "entrepreneurial culture" with many small Australian businesses. Kozlowski added that strong broadband and smartphone penetration are also driving Evernote's growth Down Under.
Evernote eventually wants to reach large enterprises with its software, Gullicksen said. In the US, the company has started to sign up small groups within larger enterprises, he noted.
More features, partners incoming
Evernote Business costs about $10 per month per user, compared to $5 a month for the premium version. Evernote also offers a free version of its software for the basic consumer.
The business flavour includes administrative and collaboration tools not found in other versions. In addition, each user in a business can upload 2GB of data per month, an upgrade from 1GB monthly in the premium version.
Evernote is looking at adding more extensive version controls, Gullicksen said. While Evernote can automatically update attached documents in a shared note to the most recent version, the software currently does not store previous versions or show who has made changes to the file.
Gullicksen said new Evernote partners, focusing on business users, plan to announce extensions soon. For example, LiveMinutes and UberConference will bring real-time collaboration tools to the mix, he said.
Evernote may eventually integrate Evernote with Salesforce.com, he said.
"It's a very logical use case," he said. "We've had a lot of requests for that. We're looking pretty hard [at it]. It's not a question really of we want to do it. It's how do we do it in a way that the user experience of using the two together is really great."
Follow Adam Bender on Twitter: @WatchAdam
Follow Computerworld Australia on Twitter: @ComputerworldAU, or take part in the Computerworld conversation on LinkedIn: Computerworld Australia


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On Super Bowl Sunday, Punxsy Phil makes his call: Six more weeks of winter
PUNXSUTAWNEY, Pa. — This morning, I looked down and noticed something — I was wearing a press pass. Now, I know that it's part of my job to wear one, but it's not all that often — at least not in these parts — that I actually need one.
We're a pretty small town, and most places my reporters or I go, we're familiar faces who don't need a specific credential to show it. But today? Well, today is different.
Today is Groundhog Day, and our little town has been transformed into a booming metropolis for the day. And while I'm usually pretty recognizable here in Punxsy, today I'm just another face in the crowd, so to speak.
From my experience, most reporters see Groundhog Day as a once-in-a-lifetime sort of assignment, but I see this day through a completely different lens than most out-of-towners — a much more familiar lens.
Many of those reporters pick up their press passes and parking passes from the Groundhog Club's Inner Circle members and start asking logistics questions about directions and parking. I pick up my parking pass and wonder if I couldn't make the trek up the hill to Gobbler's Knob blindfolded.
Other reporters wonder about the details of Phil's story in hopes of writing a neat lead. I grew up learning the customs behind Phil's big day in school. Of course, that was back before the local school district canceled classes in commemoration of Groundhog Day.
Still others will try to fight their way to the front of the crowd surrounding Phil at The Knob to get a good look at the animal celebrity. Meanwhile, I linger toward the back of the huddle taking it all in and putting one less body between our photographer and the Prognosticator of Prognosticators himself. (Besides, if I want to see Phil up close and personal and spend some time with him, all I have to do is swing by his summer home — the Punxsutawney Memorial Library — any other day of the year.)
So, is Groundhog Day familiar to me? Of course it is. But I'm still a reporter, and I'm here to share the facts:
• As is appropriate for such a holiday, weather was the topic of discussion in the crowd at Gobbler's Knob throughout the morning, as light rain showers came and went throughout the early morning hours in the area. Still, the pre-game show went on, with Phil's dancers, Thunder Conductor Dave Gigliotti and their friends keeping the blood flowing with on-stage activities.
• Special guests at The Knob this year included a district attorney from Ohio who accused Phil of a poor prognostication last year, citing cold temperatures and a lack of an early spring in his evidence. Mike Gmoser was on hand Sunday morning to offer up his apology to Phil — a punishment deemed upon him by Jefferson County Judge John Foradora at the Groundhog Eve Banquet on Saturday night. The banquet's featured speaker — The Weather Channel's Jennifer Carfagno — was also in attendance, and she brought along other Weather Channel staff, including last year's featured guest, Jim Cantore.
• At 7:15 a.m., the members of Phil's Inner Circle began the official ceremony with their annual "Trek to Gobbler's Knob," working their way through the crowd to take the stage by Phil and his stump. When they reached the stage, they greeted the crowd and introduced themselves in the moments before Phil's first appearance.
• Jeff Lundy, Fair Weatherman and the Inner Circle's vice president, placed the two scrolls on Phil's stump at 7:20 a.m., paving the path for Phil's co-handlers, Ron Ploucha and John Griffiths, and Groundhog Club Inner Circle President Bill Deeley to bring Phil out for all to see.
• At 7:22 a.m., the crowd started cheering Phil's name to draw him from his slumber, and after Deeley did the ceremonious taps on Phil's door, he was pulled from his abode — though he did put up a bit of a fight, seeming to want one more "snooze" before the big moment.
• At 7:23 a.m., Phil was officially introduced to the crowd, as Deeley met him at the stump for the prediction — whispered in Deeley's ear in Groundhogese.
• At 7:25 a.m., the precise moment the annual announcement is to be read, Lundy orated the scroll of Phil's choice: "A Super Bowl winner I will not predict; but my weather forecast, you cannot contradict. Why that's not a football, but my shadow I see. It's six more weeks of winter, it must be!"
So, those are the facts. But there's so much more to the Groundhog Day puzzle than just the facts. Facts alone certainly don't explain why tens of thousands of people gather in the midst of winter — unseasonably warm or not — to hear Phil's speech.
So many gather here to get up close and personal with this tradition I've been surrounded with my entire life. Familiar? Yes, but that doesn't mean I'm any less amazed by it.
This morning, an estimated 30,000-plus (though higher numbers were thrown out as possibilities) came together in a town of less than 6,000 to have a little bit of fun. I was in their midst as a reporter, yes, trying to take it all in and deliver the facts.
But more than that, I was among them taking it all in to recharge my recollection of just how special this event is.
Those reporters crowded around Phil? Our beloved hog sees their front pages once a year. Here in Punxsy, he's been in the news all month as he and his closest friends made their preparations for The Weather Capital of the World's biggest day.
I'm a reporter, so I'm giving you the facts here on Groundhog Day 2014. But if I stop at the facts, I really, really think that I'm selling this story short.
This hog? He's something special. This day? It's something special. And I'm not the only one who thinks so.
In closing her remarks at the banquet Saturday night, Carfagno told those in attendance that Groundhog Day was "contagious."
It's contagious. It's fun. It has a once-in-a-lifetime sort of feel each and every year. And that's exactly why stopping at the facts doesn't quite tell the whole story of Groundhog Day 2014.

subset: commoncrawl


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A Bracelet That Charges Your Phone?
Can a bracelet that charges your phone also be stylish? James Kerman, founder and CEO of QDesigns, shows Tanya Rivero how the Q Bracelet works on Lunch Break. Photo: QDesigns
This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.
... can there be a sexy solution to the decidedly un sexy problem of ... recharging while one company Q designed think ... they've found the shape of a stylus bracelet ... they can also charge or primate think they have the answer James Hernan founder and CEO of two designs ... is here to tell us about the Q ... Bracelin James thank so much for being with that view ... this is a simple call I have to say it is very silence ... and you are saying that it actually charges the phone as well ... yet aam that's exactly what it does not isn't working explains sure no problems of basically it's like a normal great so they may wear ... as a fashion accessory that has at its function functionality from the inside the rechargeable lithium ion batteries ... battery was charging devices so basically as a weapon that Andrade and Apple in future models yet on Apple's lightning conductors will of the Macquerie SP which works with majority of ... of of the funds to rank very sector to millions with this Bracelin your phone guys like ... it often happens in use he'll ... often openly ... think so yes and finance your phone in a phone begin charging you need to charge the bracelet separately you do you needed chores abrasive supper supper Leon in charge quite quickly ... on the also the Bracelin charges your phone discusses the wall charger ... speaking on the I phone ... and was really awesome is that you can actually sing is the phony good tax and spray it looks good when I comes in different colors it comes in and gold town of Silverton on ... the Mac black and brass plaque I love that it comes in different sizes to get on the small medium large events and mediums mauled small fits usually most females and Adam and ... large ... for larger breasts very very close now on if they were hearing alot about wearable device isn't that what ... inspired you to create this ... shirt on going on now what the body was a spot in my phone just kept going and I to monetary Rumble peach are durable Peak's my phone ... when a solution I can just wear ... on that really interesting was happening in the wearable space and in your seeing he'll ... unbelievable growth than adoption really ... on ... and I think I think what's happening is that really there's an industry recruiting set for early adopters really tacky staff but others companies like ours key she designs ... the very you know saying hey you wanna wear your credit is not the wearable you're wearing it so better be fashionable and they won't break the bank rate how much of the smell actually out that twenty percent off I now know was that the pre orders of seventy nine ninety nine ... and on the road on spring to retell is that ninety nine dollars so for now we get them in time for Christmas you the ... signs dot co ... de Faust Radel James thank you so much I think you guys are really on to something it's critical that not waterproof beret what is this a


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The Oster Classic Beehive Blender gets rave reviews from owners posting to Amazon.com, who praise its retro styling and overall simplicity. They say it makes good smoothies and is a reliable performer. In hands-on tests, the Oster Classic Beehive blender fares well when compared with other inexpensive blenders. Reviews are mixed on the Oster Classic Beehive blender's ability to crush ice for making frozen drinks, and all agree that it's loud. For better ice crushing, reviewers point to the Breville Ikon Hemisphere BBL600XL (*Est. $200), but that blender costs more than three times as much and gets mixed reviews overall.
We found the best reviews of the Oster Classic Beehive at one foodie magazine, where editors extensively test appliances and compare them with others in the same price range. We also found the Oster blender compared with others at The Wall Street Journal and Money magazine, and we found more than 100 owner-written reviews at Amazon.com.


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On my personal blog, I just posted a lengthy article reminiscing about my experiences working for CompuServe in the early 1990s. I decided not to duplicate it here as I'd prefer to maintain a single link to the article. To view the article, please follow the below link:
CompuServe MemoriesJuly 11th, 2009
Why I Don't Have a Palm Pre YetJune 16th, 2009
June 6th was the launch date for the Palm Pre, the heavily hyped new smartphone from Palm and Sprint. What I really want in a phone is something that matches the elegance and simplicity of the user interface on Apple's iPhone, but still includes a physical keyboard and multitasking capabilities. The Pre appears to be a very close fit, almost certainly much better than the Windows-mobile based HTC Touch Pro that I bought last year.
I definitely tend to be an early-adopter on new gadgets, so it certainly wouldn't have been surprising if I had run out to buy a Pre last weekend. In fact, I would have very much liked to have made that purchase. Unfortunately, I'm already a Sprint customer and, as I mentioned earlier, I purchased a new phone last year. Because of this, I am not currently eligible for upgrade pricing, which means that any phone purchased now would cost me considerably higher than the new or upgrade eligible customer pricing, which, of course, is the pricing that Sprint and Palm are advertising publicly.
I am, of course, under a 2-year contract with Sprint that was a necessary condition for the purchase of my last phone. I completely recognize the validity and legality of that contract and that it is the underlying reason why I am not eligible for upgrading without a price penalty. My purpose in this post is not to argue that my situation is somehow unfair or that I am being denied an entitlement. I never had any expectation of being able to upgrade early and I don't believe that there is anything unethical, much less illegal, about the system.
What I do question pretty strongly is whether or not the current business model used by the cell phone industry is a correct one in today's marketplace. Particularly since Apple has turned the smartphone into a much more mainstream product with the iPhone, the industry has entered a phase of extremely rapid growth and enhanced competition with frequent introduction of new models with desirable new features. I strongly question whether customers are going to continue to be willing to accept a system that requires a 2 year wait between upgrades.
I had initially started thinking about this as subject for a blog post after getting into a Twitter discussion of it during the day of the Pre launch. I got busy with other things and didn't find time to start working on it until later. In the meantime, this became a very hot subject generating a lot of coverage both in blogs and the mainstream press after Apple announced the third-generation version of the iPhone and AT&T revealed that the lower pricing would not be available to current iPhone owners that are still under contract. This is a change from the approach taken with the last version of the iPhone, which was offered at the new-customer price to owners of the previous version, regardless of contract status.
The central idea behind current business model used by the cell phone industry is that the carriers subsidize a portion of the purchase price for the phone in exchange for the customer committing to a service contract, generally for 2 years. If the customer chooses to switch carriers before the contract is up, he/she is obligated to pay a fairly substantial fee to buy out the contract. Most carriers offer the customer the option of a smaller discount on an a new phone half way through the contract. After the contract expires, the customer is generally eligible to again get the same subsidy offered to a new subscriber.
The contract system eliminates a lot of the need for carriers to expend much effort in customer retention, outside of the discounted phones offered at the end of the contract. This likely saves the companies a lot of money, but is also almost certainly the biggest contributor to the industry's reputation for poor customer service. I have found that no matter which of the big cell phone carriers is mentioned, it doesn't take long for someone to start telling stories about their horrible experiences.
It is in the best interest of the cellular carriers for most phones to have non-subsidized prices that are prohibitively high for most people since, otherwise, it is a safe bet that most people would forgo the contract. This would make it much easier for customers to switch carriers at will and, thus, would greatly increase the cost and effort that the companies would have to expend towards retention. I have little doubt that this would dramatically improve the quality of the customer experience, but it might or might not have a negative impact on profitability.
The big question is whether or not the non-subsidized prices really reflect the true cost of a cell phone or if they are kept artificially inflated by the cell phone manufacturers as a result of the subsidy-based sales model. I admit that I have no direct knowledge, but my educated speculation is that the subsidized prices are probably more realistic. The non-subsidized prices for phones (especially smartphones) simply seem way out of proportion with the pricing for other portable electronics. In most cases, those prices are pretty close to what you would pay for a full-featured laptop computer and considerably higher than netbooks, stand-alone PDAs, or portable media players, any of which would seem more comparable technology.
The most obvious direct comparison would really be between the iPhone and the iPod Touch, which is basically an iPhone without the cellular radio or camera. The pricing information for the 16GB version of the new iPhone 3GS has indicated that it costs $199 fully-subsidized (the price widely advertised), $399 for customers 1-year into their 2-year contract, or $599 un-subsidized. The suggested retail price of the 16GB iPod Touch is $299 and it can be found in the $260-$275 range if you shop around. I can certainly see where the added features of the iPhone would justify a higher price, but does it really make sense that they would double it?
In all fairness, my instinct looking at those numbers is that the $399 price offered after 1-year is probably the most realistic one. While I suspect the price on the iPod Touch is also a bit inflated (it doesn't really have direct competitors), it really does look like the $199 price probably brings in a pretty thin profit margin, if there is any at all. The same is probably true with the similarly priced Palm Pre, although it does also have somewhat lighter specs, including only 8GB of memory. Even if the subsidies do push the prices down below the actual cost of the phone, I can still see justification for why the carriers might want to subsidize even for existing customers still under contract in order to prolong their contract and help to ensure loyalty.
I think that they might want to look to the satellite TV business as a possible example. I've been a DirecTV customer for a number of years and they also use a system of contracts and subsidized equipment. The big difference from the cellular business, though, is that DirecTV lets current customers upgrade their equipment (such as going to a DVR or hi-definition) at the fully subsidized price no matter how far they are into a contract. The one catch is that doing so will reset their contractual start date to the date of the upgrade. This helps to accommodate any need that the customer might have to move up to something better or different, while also pushing further back the date at which he/she might be able to switch to a competitor.
I do imagine that the cellular industry would probably prefer to stick with the current fairly customer-unfriendly system for as long as possible, but I do seem some recent signs that they may very well be changing their approach. The recent publicity over AT&T's prices for iPhone upgrades hasn't been very good for them, even if they are pretty clearly within their rights. A fan base as loyal as the more vocal iPhone owners, particularly when they are so willing to spend more money to make sure they have the latest and greatest, really does need to be cultivated and protected. Policies that seem to directly target those loyal customers may not be in the company's best interest, even if they appear to be the most financially prudent on the surface.
Another interesting development is Sprint's recent introduction of the Sprint Premier loyalty program. Customers that have achieved high longevity (10 years or more) or have one of the higher-end service plans (priced over $69.99/month, a fairly common price point for a smartphone with both a voice and data plan) are automatically enrolled in that program. While the program offers a number of smaller benefits, the big one is that those customers are eligible for the fully-subsidized upgrade price at the end of the first year of a 2-year contract. While Sprint's recent issues with customer retention probably made this more necessary for them, it still is a pretty clear acknowledgement that higher-end customers are increasingly unwilling to wait 2 years between upgrades.
HTC Touch Pro from Sprint DelayedOctober 8th, 2008
It appears that the release date for the HTC Touch Pro from Sprint has been pushed back from October 19th to November 2nd. My employer is associated with Sprint's Employee Value Program (EVP), which started taking pre-orders on the phone last week. I placed an order with them right away and just received an email informing me of the availability date change. Since the EVP program is essentially a mechanism for the company to reward their largest business customers, it is pretty unlikely that the phone would be available from the consumer mail-order or the Sprint stores earlier.
I did a little searching online and found this very long thread on the PPCGeeks discussion boards in which quite a few other people confirm from a variety of sources that November 2nd is now the expected release date. There is some discussion that Best Buy stores might get an exclusive on the phone one week earlier, although there is also a fair amount of speculation that the stores may have simply not yet gotten around to changing the release date.
Hopefully the date won't slip any further and I will have my new phone some time during the first week of next month. I've already ordered several accessories (8GB micro-SD card, cradle, extra charger and sync cable, and a car kit) so I hopefully will be well prepared once it arrives.
Never heard of Slate Tablet PCs?October 2nd, 2008
I came across an odd post by Jason D. O'Grady entitled Would you buy an all-screen notebook computer? on the in the "Apple Core" blog at ZDNet. This really short post centered on the proposed concept for the second-generation OLPC, which is expected to have a lower screen that can be used as a virtual keyboard (with haptic feedback) instead of a physical keyboard. O'Grady then went on to provide a poll asking if readers would be willing to buy an all-screen notebook.
The strange thing about this post was that there was absolutely no mention of slate Tablet PCs and UMPCs. O'Grady was instead treating the idea of an all-screen notebook as if it were a completely original and radical idea as opposed to simply a new example of something that has existed for several years. The poll question only had "yes" or "no" options and didn't even have the obvious "I already have one" as a choice.
This was posted on an Apple-centered blog, which is almost certainly the key explanation for this. Slate notebooks to date have mainly been Windows-based (although there are a few Linux models out there too) and Apple focused bloggers have a definite tendency to pretend that the Windows world essentially doesn't exist, particularly when it comes to innovative features that haven't shown up in Apple products. I'm even a tad surprised that the OLPC caught this author's attention considering that it isn't an Apple product.
The no-keypad design of the iPhone and iPod Touch has also generated a fair amount of posts and articles from Apple bloggers and journalists that seem to suggest that the concept was completely new or that only cite the Apple Newton as a precedent. Of course, there have been numerous slate PDAs and phones in the Palm OS and Windows Mobile world for years, but I guess they don't really count since they aren't Apple products.
I really don't have anything against Apple (I actually recently got my wife a MacBook), but the extremely myopic viewpoint of some Apple enthusiasts has always been an irritation to me.
T-Mobile G1 – The First Google Android PhoneSeptember 23rd, 2008
The big news in the technology press today is the announcement of the T-Mobile G1, the first cell phone to run Google's open-source Android operating system. It is an intriguing product and it looks to me like Android could turn into a major player in the cell phone business, although I can't say that I'm ready to jump on board just yet.
Generally, I like the design of the phone itself. It is made by HTC and, in a number of ways, it resembles the HTC Touch Pro, which I've previously mentioned as my most-likely next phone. I suspect that the combination of a large touch-screen and a slide-out keyboard is going to be a pretty common and popular design among those of us that aren't as enamored with the iPhone's touch-only interface. I've seen a few comments online complaining that the G1 isn't the most aesthetically pleasing phone to come along, but I generally think it looks ok. Admittedly, it does seem to be designed more for functionality than as a style accessory, though.
While the screen shots and descriptions of Android look pretty good, my immediate impression is that this is definitely a very immature platform and I just can't see jumping on board before it becomes a bit more established. Today's announcement actually did a pretty good job of hammering that home as they openly admitted that such features as Microsoft Exchange and stereo Bluetooth support would not be available at launch but could be made available later via third-party applications. With the open-source nature of Android, I would bet on those features becoming available sooner rather than later, but it is anyone's guess as to how long it will really take as well as how soon those features will have the stability and maturity of their equivalents on other platforms.
Sometimes, I am interested in being an early-adopter on new technologies and platforms, but I do also have to look at utility as well. The G1 is a pretty attractive product and I suspect that Android could have a significant future. The way that the cellular industry works with the subsidized phones in exchange for extended contracts, I expect that it will be at least 2 years before I give Android any serious consideration.
HTC Touch Pro – Probably My Next SmartphoneSeptember 10th, 2008
My current contract with Sprint expired at the beginning of this month, meaning that I am now eligible for the best-available discounts on an upgrade for my aging Palm Treo 700P. Over the last few months, I have been looking at a number of cell phone options and have largely settled on the HTC Touch Pro as my next phone.
I have been a long-time Palm OS user, so I admit that it is with a little bit of trepidation, and even sadness, that I make plans to switch to a Windows Mobile device. The simple truth, though, is that development on the Palm OS has essentially stalled for several years and it is now severely behind in almost every aspect. While updated versions from either Palm (which is promising a new, compatible OS) or Access (which ended up with ownership of the code base) or both are promised in the next year or so, these are still vaporware and I just don't see continuing to live with yesterday's technology while waiting around. I do hope that I can ease the transition just a bit by getting StyleTap to allow at least some of my old Palm OS applications to still run.
While the HTC Touch Pro has been available outside the US for a while, it has only been available here as an expensive ($800 or more), unlocked GSM import that would work on AT&T or T-Mobile, although not always with full compatibility with the highest-speed networks. Fortunately, the first official US version of the phone was announced today for availability via Sprint on October 19th. Their press release describes it as follows:
HTC Touch Pro: HTC Touch Pro is a professional workhorse that enables mobile professionals to easily balance their professional and personal lives. Along with the features available on HTC Touch Diamond, HTC Touch Pro adds a five-row, slide-out QWERTY keyboard for easy data entry, expandable storage capabilities with a microSD card slot (1 GB card included) and a business card scanner application to automatically capture and convert business card information to contacts using the built-in 3.2 MP camera/camcorder. Additionally, with Windows Mobile 6.1, users have access to security and device management capabilities desired by most business customers when used with Microsoft's System Center Mobile Device Manager solution. HTC Touch Pro will be available Oct. 19 for $299.99 with a two-year contract and after a $100 mail-in rebate.
The price really sounds right to me for a fairly high-end phone and its availability through Sprint is appealing as I've been satisfied with their service over the last couple years and I'm happy to avoid the hassles involved with changing carriers and porting my number.
Here are a few of the key points about this phone that appeal to me over some of the key competitors in the same basic category:
- Keyboard: Every time I have purchased a portable computing device that did not have a keyboard (i.e. Palm VII, Palm LifeDrive, TabletKiosk eo v7110), I have replaced it within a year or so with one that did. At some point, I feel like I have to accept the lesson and stick with what works best for me. If Apple had an iPhone with a slide-out keyboard, I'd give it some serious consideration, but that just doesn't exist now. This is also the reason why I immediately sparked to the Touch Pro instead of the otherwise nearly-identical Touch Diamond.
- Large touch-screen: I really like the approach of retaining a large, VGA-resolution touch-screen via the use of a slide-out keyboard. Sure, it adds a little bit of bulk to the phone (the Touch Pro is still smaller than my Treo), but I feel it is worth it to avoid compromise. This is a big reason why I have decided against Palm's latest Windows Mobile Treo models, despite otherwise impressive feature sets.
- Price/Network: As I said, I've been happy with Sprint and am willing to accept another contract in order to get the much lower subsidized price. While conceptually I like the SIM card approach used on GSM phones, it didn't make much difference to me back when I had AT&T (or Cingular) and I don't think it would matter much now. I just don't need to switch phones often (especially at the unsubsidized prices) and I very rarely travel outside the US, something I don't anticipate changing in the next 2 years.
- Overall feature set: Right now, the Touch Pro is pretty close to being the top-of-the-line for Windows Mobile phones and it really does seem to be the one model out there on any OS that seems to have just about every feature that I want.
Since the phone won't be available for a little over a month, I do still have some time to look around at other options as well as to see if anyone announces something else that might be a better fit. I pretty strongly suspect, though, that this blog will start featuring postings about my experiences with my new Touch Pro come mid-October.
Tablet PC and Over-sensitivitySeptember 9th, 2008
I'm definitely a big fan of the Tablet PC concept. Both of the UMPCs that I have used as my primary laptop computers over the last few years have had touch-screens and Tablet capabilities, so I am very aware of the value of those features. I suspect it to be a feature that I will look for whenever I purchase laptops or UMPCs for myself going forward.
As useful as Tablet PC functions are, I also know that they haven't really caught on all that widely. It still isn't a top-priority for most people when picking out a laptop and the number of models that feature it are still fairly low. I do think they are starting to become a bit more mainstream thanks to the sudden surge in popularity for touchscreens in the wake of the iPhone, but there is still quite a way to go.
This has led to a justifiable paranoia within the Tablet PC user community about the future of the feature. While I do think it is a concern that is based in reality, it also can result in some occasional major over-reactions. The case in point was a posting by lead engineer Steven Sinofsky on Microsoft's Windows 7 Developer's Blog that included the following quote during a discussion of features being considered for modularity:
Some examples are quite easy to see and you should expect us to do more along these lines, such as the TabletPC components. I have a PC that is a very small laptop and while it has full tablet functionality it isn't the best size for doing good ink work for me (I prefer a 12.1" or greater and this PC is a 10" screen). The tablet code does have a footprint in memory and on the 1GB machine if I go and remove the tablet components the machine does perform better.
This is a basically harmless, and completely reasonable, statement. Certainly, there is no reason to have the Tablet PC components in place on a computer that doesn't need them. Obviously, this should apply if the necessary hardware (a touch-screen or active digitizer) isn't present, but I can understand Sinofsky's point that one might even want to remove all or some of the features when you do have the hardware. To be honest, I don't really use the inking features on my Vye S37. The screen real-estate is very small and the touch digitizer just isn't overly well suited for it. I love having the touch screen as a navigational tool, but that doesn't really require that all the other Tablet features be active.
Sinofsky's fairly mild comment generated a minor uproar in the Tablet community, in what generally struck me as a knee-jerk reaction. This quote generated rather intense responses from very communitybloggers such as Lauren Heiny and James Kendrick, among others. Both Heiny and Kendrick are bloggers that I respect very much and their articles are worth reading, as are the rather varied and sometimes heated responses in their comment sections. Sinofsky even responded directly in the comments section of Heiny's article, basically saying that he was reading too much into it.
I'm not going to rehash those articles or the responses (I do recommend going and reading through them) here as the discussions do go down an interesting path. The one point I really want to comment on is that I worry that this reaction might be falling a bit into "boy who cried wolf" territory. At their root, these articles responding to Sinofsky's posting seemed to be keying off of a concern that the Tablet features may be deemed unnecessary and ultimately dropped from later versions of the OS. The problem is that Sinofsky never even remotely hinted at that in his statements. He wasn't talking about features that can or should be cut from the OS and he never said that the Tablet features weren't useful. He simply, and rightfully, pointed out that usage scenarios vary and Windows should be flexible enough to adapt.
I think that evangelism of the value of Tablet PC features is something that is still needed, but I worry that the message can be blunted some by overreacting to what should be pretty much non-controversial statements. This isn't the first time that I've seen prominent members of the Tablet PC community go on the defensive like this and I tend to think this kind of thing is a lot less useful than articles that work hard to explain the value of the features.
Windows and PerformanceAugust 31st, 2008
Microsoft recently launched a blog dedicated to the engineering of Windows 7, the current code-name designation for the next major release of the OS. Earlier this week, they put up a post that introduced the team's approach to performance, an issue that I believe to be a vital concern regarding the future of Windows.
For the most part, I don't subscribe to the fairly harsh criticism that some have leveled at Windows Vista since its launch early last year. I installed it both on my home desktop computer and my UMPC right after its public launch. I have never given serious consideration to going back to Windows XP on my desktop system (which I have even upgraded to the 64-bit version of Vista) and even stuck it out on my under-powered TabletKiosk eo v7110 UMPC until I eventually upgraded to the must faster performing Vys S37. I think the improvements in the overall user interface and feature set (particularly when it comes to Tablet PC functionality) do make Vista a worthwhile upgrade.
That said, I do also very much feel that the overall performance of the operating system falls short of what it should be. I don't have any huge complaints about the performance on my pretty heavily souped-up desktop system, but it definitely is pretty sluggish on the Vye and I'm certainly well aware that it would be much snappier with XP and that I'm unquestionably making a choice to compromise performance for features. On the old eo, it was really pushing the edges of tolerability and I suspect that I probably would have eventually gone back to XP had I not just upgraded altogether.
Most of the Microsoft blog post was a high-level overview of the key factors involved with performance optimization (memory, CPU, and disk utilization; start-up, shut-down, and stand-by/resume speeds, base systems, and disk footprint) and is a decent read if you aren't already highly familiar with all these concepts. I think the most interesting part of the post, though, was the following quote regarding the overall issue of feature trade-offs versus performance:
On the one hand, performance should be straight forward—use less, do less, have less. As long as you have less of everything performance should improve. At the extreme that is certainly the case. But as we have seen from the comments, one person's must-have is another person's must-not-have. We see this a lot with what some on have called "eye candy"—we get many requests to make the base user interface "more fun" with animations and graphics ("like those found on competing products") while at the same time some say "get rid of graphics and go back to Windows 2000". Windows is enormously flexible and provides many ways to tune the experience. We heard lots on this forum about providing specific versions of Windows customized for different audiences, while we also heard quite a bit about the need to reduce the number of versions of Windows.
I think that these are completely valid points, but I am left with some uncertainty about whether or not they are yet coming at this subject from quite the right perspective.
I do recognize that there are a lot of differences in individual needs, but I also hope that Microsoft remembers that Windows is, in fact, an operating system. In the constant need to add lots of new features and capabilities to the system in order to justify both the upgrade charges and the promotional push behind major new releases, it does often feel like there is an attempt to bundle too many features that stray quite a bit away from the core role of an OS. Photo galleries, music/video players, video editors, and other similar applications all are becoming pretty major components of Windows (as well as Mac OS and major Linux distributions) and I can't help but feel this is all leading to a serious loss of focus.
The concern about the number of versions of Windows strikes me as a situation where the company frequently tries to apply a marketing solution to what should be a technical problem. I absolutely agree that they need to reduce the number of versions of Windows. In fact, I think there should only be two current versions of the OS: Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008. I think Vista has been hurt quite a bit by the confusion over all the different "editions" of Vista and which features are in which version.
For Windows 7, I think Microsoft's goal should be to have only a single version of the OS that includes a robust system to allow the end user to easily add or remove features based on his/her needs and system capabilities. The installer should do an on-the-fly hardware evaluation and identify a "best fit" feature set for any given system. I also think they should spend some time carefully designing an installation wizard that would essentially interview the user to help determine a recommended configuration based on what features the user is likely to actually use. It should also be easy to later add or remove features as the user's needs change or as hardware is upgraded or removed.
Finally, I think they need to start backing away from the overall bundling concept. I recognize that a lot of the reason for the various editions of Vista was to try to avoid the view that one is paying for unneeded features, such as Media Center for an office workstation or Remote Desktop for the typical non-networked home PC. I simply think they picked the wrong approach. What Microsoft needs to do is to recognize that the ubiquitously connected nature of PCs today makes an ala-carte solution for features such as these both feasible and probably preferable. Basically, everyone should get the same core functionality and then should be allowed to pick and choose, and pay separately, for these types of add-on features.
I really believe that Microsoft needs a bit of a shake-up in their overall focus and marketing approach for Windows if they are going to get past the shortcomings that seriously crippled the Vista launch. While it was reassuring to read on their blog that performance issues are a key focus for the next version, I'm discouraged by the suggestions that they may not really be deviating much from the basically failed approach that they took with Vista.
Microsoft Updates Anti-Piracy System on Windows XP for Some ReasonAugust 27th, 2008
Yesterday, Microsoft announced a number of updates to the anti-piracy features of Windows XP Professional (as well as Tablet and Media Center editions). They indicated that Windows XP Home was not included since it apparently isn't pirated as often.
This announcement was made via a post to their Windows Genuine Advantage Blog, which described the updates in some detail. In addition to some routine validation updates intended to detect more pirated keys, they also apparently made a number of more substantial changes to the user-experience on non-validated systems as well as some changes to make future updates more automatic. The post summarized the reasons for the update as follows:
I'm excited about how this release balances our goals of providing a great experience to those who have genuine Windows and at the same time creating a compelling experience for those who have non-genuine copies to get genuine Windows.
The various items in this update seem that they might have made some sense as anti-piracy measures if they were part of the out-of-the-box product or included as part of a major service pack (such as the recently released Service Pack 3), but they seem like a colossal waste of effort as a basically optional update to a product that is officially discontinued at this time.
In all their paranoia about piracy, I really wonder if anyone at Microsoft actually did any analysis into the likely return on this investment. Do they really believe that enough people will somehow have their minds changed about using pirated copies to generate enough additional income from new licenses to justify the cost of developing, testing, and deploying these updates? This seems especially unlikely when the update is optional and, presumably, could probably be uninstalled (or at least defeated by reinstalling the pirated copy of the OS) if the new nag screens are too bothersome.
I've worked in the software industry long enough to know that piracy is a real concern and I do understand why company's like Microsoft keep looking for better ways to deal with it. I do also think that many companies get seriously carried away in that effort. Microsoft's current operating systems (and other software) have enough problems that it really seems that there should be far more important tasks for their developers to be focusing on than this.
My Inventory of Computer EquipmentAugust 26th, 2008
I figure this is a good time to give an inventory of my home computer equipment. I'm only listing personal stuff here, not my work computers. I'm also only listing the items that are in active use currently. We have quite a bit of older equipment in closets or on shelves around here as well.
1. Home-built Desktop PC: I haven't purchased a desktop computer for over 10-years. Instead, I build my own system from individual parts, occasionally upgrading when the pricing and my needs dictate. My current system has an Intel 2.13GHz Core 2 Duo processor, 3GB of memory, 1.5TB of hard disk space (spread across 4 drives), NVIDIA GeForce 8600 GTS video card, and a Creative SoundBlaster X-Fi sound card. The OS is Windows Vista Ultimate 64-Bit.
2. Vye S37: This is my every-day laptop. It is a mini-tablet UMPC with a 7-inch touch-screen, a nearly full-sized keyboard, 250GB hard drive, and 2GB of RAM. It is running Windows Vista Ultimate 32-bit. I've written several previous articles about this device on the previous version of this blog.
3. Apple MacBook: This is primarily my wife's laptop computer, although I do use it occasionally as well. This is the newest computer in our collection, having just purchased it a few weeks ago after the power supply died on her old HP laptop. I've never been a big fan of the Mac OS, but we felt that it might fit my wife's needs much better than Windows. So far, she has been very happy with it.
4. HP EX470 MediaSmart Home Server: This unit is our primary backup and centralized file storage device. We also use it as a media server. This system runs Microsoft's Windows Home Server OS and I have upgraded it from its stock configuration of 500GB hard disk space and 256MB of RAM to 2.25TB of hard disk storage and 2GB of RAM.
5. Palm Treo 700P (Sprint): My current cell-phone/PDA is the latest in a series of Palm OS devices that I have owned. I am nearing the end of my current contract with Sprint and will be eligible for the best upgrade rates on a new phone starting September 1. I'm starting to evaluate options for new phones (a topic for another article) and probably am ready to finally move away from the Palm OS.
6. Sony Playstation 3: Although I do use the PS3 for some game playing, it was actually purchased primarily because it is generally the best currently available choice for a Blu-Ray video player. The PS3 is located in the upstairs bedroom and is also used to stream music up there from the home server.
7. HP OfficeJet 7410: This is an "all-in-one" color ink-jet printer that also works as a scanner, copier, and fax machine. A big motivator for purchasing this particular printer was that it has built-in wi-fi networking. That let us put the printer up in the bedroom (out of easy reach of our preschooler) and still send print jobs to it from the desktop computer downstairs as well as from any of the laptops. While it is now a somewhat older, discontinued model, it still works pretty well for us.
8. D-Link DIR-655: This router is the centralized networking device for our home network. It is a fairly new wireless router that includes draft 802.11n high-speed networking. The desktop PC and home server are both directly connected to the router, while the laptops, PS3, printer, and our DirecTV HD-DVR are all set up to connect to it wirelessly. The router is connected to a DSL modem with service from DSL Extreme with 6000/768Kbps download/upload speeds.


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Whether it's simply unblocking a toilet, fixing a leaking pipe, completely reroofing a home or installing a new or replacement hot water service, we do it all. When it comes to plumbing, being proactive is key to avoiding costly repair bills.
Unfortunately, we've come across many clients that have let their minor plumbing problems develop into major ones because they simply didn't contact a professional plumber. At the first sign of a plumbing problem, it's crucial you call our plumbers to assist.
Need a Professional Licensed Plumber in Seabrook for General, Maintenance or Roof Plumbing? We offer:
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text:
High blood sugar levels (hyperglycemia) occur when your
blood sugar (also called glucose) is higher than your body needs to function
normally. High blood sugar levels can cause both immediate and long-term
Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a
life-threatening blood chemical (electrolyte) imbalance that develops in a
person with diabetes when the cells do not get the sugar they need for energy.
As a result, the body breaks down fat instead of glucose and produces and
releases substances called
ketones into the bloodstream.
People with
type 1 diabetes and some people with type 2 diabetes have an increased risk for
DKA if they do not take enough insulin, have a severe infection or other
illness, or become severely dehydrated.
Symptoms of diabetic
ketoacidosis include:
Severe diabetic ketoacidosis can cause difficulty
breathing, brain swelling (cerebral edema), coma, or death. Prompt medical
evaluation and treatment are needed if symptoms of diabetic ketoacidosis are
Treatment involves giving insulin and fluids through a
vein and closely monitoring and replacing electrolytes.
Your risk of
complications increases if your blood sugar levels are
often above your
target level. Persistently high blood sugar can damage
blood vessels and nerves.
If your episodes of high blood sugar levels are occurring
more frequently, a visit to your doctor is needed.
Last Revised:
April 25, 2012
Healthwise Staff
Medical Review:
William H. Blahd, Jr., MD, FACEP - Emergency Medicine & H. Michael O'Connor, MD - Emergency Medicine
This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.
To learn more visit Healthwise.org
© 1995-2012 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.


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Hotel Andre Gill
At only a 10 minute walk from the 'Busabout' pick up and drop off point, Hotel André Gill is a charming, quiet, clean, family-run establishment located at the heart of Montmartre.
Perfect for those travelling on a budget, our two-star hotel can be found on Andre Gill Street, a little side street off of Martyrs Street, famous for its atmosphere, restaurants, bars, cabarets and concert halls (Michou, Madame Arthur, Le divan du Monde, La Cigale).
Ideally located, we're just a few steps away from the Sacré-Coeur Basilica and Place du Tertre and we're less than five minutes from the lively Pigalle district, the Moulin Rouge and Grands Boulevards (Galeries Lafayette, Printemps). It's not far from here to Champs Elysées and the Eiffel Tower.
The attractive paintings of Montmartre which decorate our hotel are the works of local artists on Tertre Square.
Guests have a computer room, a TV room with DVDs, a microwave and a fridge at their disposal.
Some of the guests may enjoy breakfast or even an aperitif in a pretty private courtyard full of flowers. We really are a simple, charming hotel in an excellent location.
All the facilities you require are around the corner, such as supermarkets, laundry and shops and they will all be pointed out to you by our friendly staff!
Availability & RatesTo view availability and prices please select dates and click 'Update Dates'
Hotel Facilities & Policies
- 24 Hour Reception
- 24 Hour Security
- Free Breakfast
- Cable TV
- Credit Cards Not Accepted
- Elevator
- Free City Maps
- Free Internet Access
- Free WiFi
- Hair Dryers
- Internet Access
- Luggage Storage
- Shuttle Bus
- Taxes not included
- Tours/Travel Desk
- Vending Machines
Cancellation PolicyThis property has a 2 day cancellation policy. Failure to cancel within this time will result in a cancellation charge equal to the first night of your stay.
Must-Read Hotel InfoThis property has specific Terms & Conditions.
Please note that a visitor�s tax of �2 per person per night is not included in the price and shall be added to your balance upon arrival.
We do not accept credit cards on arrival as payment.
We have a 48hr cancellation policy. Cancellations are only accepted via email. Late cancellations and no-shows shall be charged the equivalent of the first two nights accommodation.
Special Cancellation conditions from the 10th to the 30th June 2016: Please note that any cancellations must be notified directly to the hostel at least 7 days in advance of your scheduled arrival date. In the event of a no-show, the total amount of your accommodation will be charged to your credit card. If you cancel any individual night of your reservation, then the deposit for that night will not be refunded or transferred.
DirectionsShow MapHide Map
We're situated in Montmartre Village, just two minutes from metro station Pigalle/Abbesse. The address is 76 rue des Martyres. Rue Andre Gill is a dead-end.
From Beauvais Airport:
There's a shuttle bus going to Paris. It stops at Porte Maillot. From there take metro line 1 going in the direction of Chateau de Vincenne. Switch lines at Charles de Gaulle Etoile and take line 2 in the direction of Nation. Get off at Pigalle station.


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Ellen Macadam (left) and Emily Henderson (right) have led Harvard to a 26-14 record in their senior season (Harvard Athletic COmmunications).
The quest for a second-straight Ivy League North Division title continues as Harvard welcomes archrival Yale to Soldiers Field for a pair of conference doubleheaders Sunday and Tuesday. The Crimson will also be recognizing seniors Ellen Macadam and Emily Henderson in a pregame ceremony Sunday. The second annual Friends of Jaclyn Day has been rescheduled for next Sunday against Dartmouth.
Celebrating Seniors
This year, the Crimson featured two four-year starters who have helped Harvard to two Ivy League North Division titles, a 105-75 overall and 54-23 Ivy League record and have totaled five All-Ivy selections between them.
Senior second baseman and co-captain Ellen Macadam has played in 173 career games and is Harvard's all-time leader in career runs scored with 124 and is two runs shy of breaking the single-season mark of 39. Her 202 career hits are the most in team history, and her 56 hits this season rank sixth in team annals. She is also second in team history in career doubles with 42, seventh with 16 home runs, fourth in RBI with 91, third in total bases with 313 and third in steals with 53.
Senior outfielder and co-captain Emily Henderson has seen action in 163 games in her career at Harvard. Her 28 stolen bases as a freshman ranked 19th in the nation and stands as the highest single-season total in Harvard history. She ranks second all-time in school history with 56 career steals and ninth in school history with 81 career runs scored. She enters Sunday's games with 106 career hits, 115 total bases and a .254 career batting average.
Last Time Out
Harvard faced off against local foe Boston University in its final non-conference contest, dropping a 5-3 decision Thursday at the BU Softball Field. Jane Alexander, Whitney Shaw and Olivia Piccione all drove in a run each for the Crimson.
About the Bulldogs
Yale currently sits in third place in the Ivy North Division standings, just a game behind second-place Dartmouth. The Bulldogs split a doubleheader against Wagner in their last action, taking Game 1 handily by a 9-1 score. Yale features a balanced lineup with six players holding batting averages over .300. Meg Johnson leads the team with a .346 mark, while Jennifer Ong leads the team in hits (42) and doubles (15). Christy Nelson has team-high totals of five home runs and 25 RBI. Chelsey Dunham has done the lion's share of the pitching this season and brings a 10-10 record and 2.87 ERA into the series.
Lauding Lange
After a stellar showing in seven games last week, freshman third baseman Kasey Lange received Ivy League Player and Rookie of the Week accolades. For the week, Lange posted an impressive .591 batting average, collecting 13 hits, six runs, four doubles, three home runs and 18 RBI in seven games played. She also slugged 1.182 for the week and had a .593 on base percentage while playing error-free third base.
Crimson Statistical Leaders
Batting: Macadam, .418; Lange, .402; Regan, .369; Scott, .348
Slugging: Lange, .730; Macadam, .664; Scott, .609; Shaw, .534
On-base: Macadam, .463; Lange, .446; Scott, .439; Shaw, .414;
Runs: Macadam, 37; Lange, 25; Regan 23; Heritage, 17
RBI: Lange, 48; Shaw, 26; Macadam, 21; Scott, 20; Zumbro, 18
Home runs: Lange/Macadam, 7; Shaw, 6; Scott, 5
Steals: Heritage, 13; Macadam, 10
ERA: Ricciardone, 1.92 (98.2 IP); Brown, 2.00 (143.1 IP)
Record: Brown, 16-6; Ricciardone, 9-5
Strikeouts: Brown, 239, Ricciardone, 70
Next Up
Harvard takes on Dartmouth in a home-and-home series next weekend with hopes of clinching its second straight Ivy North title.


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Pirates again?
DUNEDIN, Fla. — It feels like Groundhog Day around here. Two home games in the past seven days and only Pittsburgh as the visitors. But, hey, the sun is out, there's only a handful of clouds in the sky and there's no long drive home when this game is over.
Blue Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi held court for roughly 15 minutes with us scribes before the game, discussing a wide variety of topics: the fifth spot, left field, manager John Gibbons only being signed through this year, thoughts about Casey Janssen, the upcoming season and B.J. Ryan. I'll be throwing together a few short items for the Web site on the scrum, and I'll put some of what I don't use on here after the game.
Until then, you'll just have to stay on the edge of your seat (honestly, none of it was earth-shattering news) and be content with today's lineups:
PITTSBURGH (5-11) at TORONTO (5-11)
at 10:05 p.m. ET at Knology Park
Nyjer Morgan, CF
Andrew McCutchen, LF
Chris Gomez, 1B
Xavier Nady, RF
Ronny Paulino, DH
Neil Walker, 3B
Brian Bixler, SS
Raul Chavez, CF
Josh Wilson, 2B
PITCHING: RHP Ian Snell
David Eckstein, SS
Alex Rios, RF
Vernon Wells, CF
Scott Rolen, 3B
Frank Thomas, DH
Matt Stairs, LF
Lyle Overbay, 1B
Aaron Hill, 2B
Gregg Zaun, C
PITCHING: RHP Roy Halladay
What do you guys think about the Jays' lineup today? I have a feeling that could potentially be a preview of Opening Day's order. Gibbons seems to like Rios-Wells in the Nos. 2-3 spots, and he's talked about using Stairs ahead of Overbay in the Nos. 6-7 holes. Gibby also hasn't been committed to using Thomas as the cleanup hitter, meaning he could slip to fifth easily.
More later…
7 Comments
If this is a kind of "preview" of the opening day lineup, I think it's interesting that Gibbons' is thinking of batting his lefties consecutively. Wouldn't that make it easier for opposing managers to simply drop in their lefty specialist when those guys are due up?
Also, I'm surprised that Rios might be the #2, considering his power numbers. I thought Rolen might work in that spot because he hits both lefties and righties well.
I dunno. Just my thoughts….
HEM: True, but keep in mind that Overbay bucks the traditional trend. He's a better career hitter vs. LHP than righties.
The more I think about it the more I would like to see Hill put in the two hole while sliding everyone down a notch. Rios is the best hitter and best hitters hit third. Wells if back to his old self is a good cleanup guy plus you wouldn't want to hide his baserunning skills behind Thomas. Wells is easlily flip flopped with Rolen and if Thomas doesn't pick it up early this year you can bench him for Stairs while improving your D in left with Johnson full time.
Hill is ready to be a two hole guy
I think JOhnson is doing better than Stewart this spring in batting…with that Johnson should definately win the job at Rf…not only is he batting better but he has better defense too and has more of a hustle, i would consider that his speed might exceed Stewarts too since Stewart is no longer in his prime years…
It looks like everyone has beat me to the punch. I don't like the lefties back to back, even if O-bay's numbers are a little better against lefties. Also, I agree with rmatty – Hill has got to be a number 2 guy. He is so consistent it's crazy. The question then is can you flip-flop Hill/O-Bay in the number 2 slot depending on if it's a lefty/righty starter without messing with their rhythm. As much as I like Wells, I don't think he should be our #3 hitter anymore. Rios has surpassed him offensively. Finally, as a casual observer this spring, I can't say that I've noticed much of a difference between Stewy or RJ, so my preference would be to go with Reed for his defense, but either should bat 9th to take advantage of their speed as the order flips around.
My lineup would be.
I don't think Hill is suited for the two-hole. In 2007, he didn't display any of the necessary skills of a two-hole hitter: speed, on-base skills, and contact skills. His OBP in 2007 was only .333, while he whiffed ******** 102 times (and we all know Hill isn't fast). Another thing of interest is that he grounded into double play 21 times, the ultimate rally killer.
Hill for some reason changed his approach at the plate in 2007, trading contact for power (he was a great contact guy in 2006). Hill needs to show that his on-base and contact skills aren't lost because of his new-found power, to be able to fit into the two-hole.


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Dungeon Defenders
From Superhot to Hotline Miami: Here's the complete Nintendo Indie World roundup
Here's what you might have missed during Nintendo's Indie World showcase.
Dungeon Defenders videos
Dungeon Defenders headlines
Trendy Entertainment suing Ark: Survival Evolved studio over non-compete clause
Dungeon Defenders studio Trendy Entertainment has filed a lawsuit against Studio Wildcard claiming its former creative director Jeremy Stieglitz blatantly ignored a non-compete clause by 'secretly' joining the Ark: Survival Evolved developer.
Civilization Revolution and Dungeon Defenders are March's Games with Gold titles
Civilization Revolution and Dungeon Defenders are free for Xbox Live members in March, Microsoft has announced. Starting March 1, the Side Meier's title will be free for Xbox Live Gold members through March 15. Come March 16, the game will be replaced with Dungeon Defenders. More information is available via Major Nelson.
Trendy Entertainment exposé claims studio is a harsh, mismanaged, sexist, work envorinment
Dungeon Defenders developer, Trendy Entertainment, is apparently not a very fun or nice place to work, according to an expose on Kotaku.
Humble Bundle with Android 5 is live
Humble Bundle with Android 5 is live and includes six games and soundtracks such as: Beat Hazard Ultra, Dynamite Jack (no soundtrack available), Solar 2, and NightSky HD. If you pay more than the average, you'll also get Super Hexagon and Dungeon Defenders. All are playable on PC, Android, Mac, and Linux, and the charities […]
Humble Bundle 7 out now, chockers with great games
The latest Humble Bundle includes some big-name indie games as well as a copy of Indie Game: The Movie.
Dungeon Defenders celebrates first birthday with free DLC, sale
Dungeon Defenders is one year old this week, so here's a present: an entirely free DLC pack.
Vita version of Dungeon Defenders scrapped, says Trendy
Trendy Entertainment has announced it's decided to cancel the Vita port of Dungeon Defenders. According to a poston Trendy's forum, the developer said it believes Vita is "a very capable platform," but ultimately, it "decided to divert those resources to other pursuits." "We can't talk about these at the moment. In fact, you may not […]
Dungeon Defenders blends RTS and tower defence with new 'Summoner' class
Trendy Entertainment has revealed a new class for Dungeon Defenders that pulls traditional real-time strategy elements into the tower defence title – The Summoner.
IndieRoyale debuts May Hurray Bundle with Dungeon Defenders and more
Head on over to IndieRoyale to take advantage of its latest fine offer: The May Hurray Bundle includes Dungeon Defenders, Containment: The Zombie Puzzler, Data Jammers: FastForward, Brainpipe – A Plunge to Unhumanity and Weird Worlds: Return to Infinite Space, on a variety of platforms. The gem of the collection, action RPG Dungeon Defenders, has […]
Dungeon Defenders: Quest for the Lost Eternia Shards part 3 out on PC
Trendy Entertainment has released part three of Quest for the Lost Eternia Shards for Dungeon Defenders. In Part III: Aquanos, players will traverse the underwater ruins of the fallen metropolis Aquanos where you must recover the yellow Eternia Shard. The DLC contains two new missions, a new PvP area called the Shipwreck Graveyard, water-themed weapons, […]
Enter the Dungeon Defenders map contest and you could win some cool prizes
Trendy Entertainment's hosting a map making contest for Dungeon Defenders. Prizes range from map inclusion into the Ranked & Open mode with $1,000 in cash and a Dungeon Defenders prize pack – to be decided -for first place. Second place nets $500 and a DunDef pack, third place walks off with $250 and a DunDef […]
Dungeon Defenders now on Mac, F2P this weekend on Steam
It's already been on PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, iOS and Android, but now Dungeon Defenders is finally available for Mac.
Dungeon Defenders Mac and Eternia Shards expansion land March 15
The second Quest for the Lost Eternia Shards DLC will be available on Steam March 15, according to Trendy Entertainment, as well the Mac version of the core title, which was noted as a slight delay by Joystiq.
Dungeon Defenders sees 1 million paid downloads
Dungeon Defenders has seen 1 million paid downloads throughout Steam, PSN and XBLA since it first launched last October, publisher Reverb has told Joystiq. "It is tremendously successful franchise," CEO Doug Kennedy told the site. "We have lots of plans to support it both with DLC and additional add-ons for the franchise." More DLC is […]
No Dungeon Defenders PC DLC for console versions, move is "unfeasible"
Trendy Entertainment has confirmed it has no intentions to bring over the existing DLC content for the PC version of Dungeon Defenders for the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions.
Saturday Shorts: Saints Row Heavy, Dungeon Defenders, sales
Below the break you will find snippets of news regarding some nice sales going on, along with mod tool information, and the ability to pre-load and get Heavy with Saints Row: The Third. In other words, the shorts post today is a bit Steam-centric.
Dungeon Defenders PC pulls 200,000 sales
Since its major platform release in mid-October, the PC version of Dungeon Defenders has generated 80% of its sales.
Dungeon Defenders 7.06 update adds features, tweaks balance
The latest update to Trendy Games' action-RPG title makes a slew of minor changes to game features and balancing along with squishing bugs that might have crept in with the free Halloween DLC. Full update notes below. Dungeon Defenders is out now via PC download, XBLA and PSN.
Dungeon Defenders free Halloween DLC on Steam
Owners of tower-defence action-RPG download title, Dungeon Defenders can nab two new DLC packs from Steam for a limited time. The DLC is Halloween-themed and today is Halloween, so the "limited time" may be very limited indeed.
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Dungeon Defenders latest
From Superhot to Hotline Miami: Here's the complete Nintendo Indie World roundup
Trendy Entertainment suing Ark: Survival Evolved studio over non-compete clause
Civilization Revolution and Dungeon Defenders are March's Games with Gold titles
Trendy Entertainment exposé claims studio is a harsh, mismanaged, sexist, work envorinment
Dungeon Defenders celebrates first birthday with free DLC, sale
Dungeon Defenders blends RTS and tower defence with new 'Summoner' class
IndieRoyale debuts May Hurray Bundle with Dungeon Defenders and more
Dungeon Defenders: Quest for the Lost Eternia Shards part 3 out on PC
Enter the Dungeon Defenders map contest and you could win some cool prizes
Dungeon Defenders Mac and Eternia Shards expansion land March 15
No Dungeon Defenders PC DLC for console versions, move is "unfeasible"
Tuesday Shorts: Grease, Beyond the Labyrinth, Kinect for the elderly, Dungeon Defenders
Wednesday Shorts, part 3 – Street Fighter turns 20, FFXIV, Halo: Reach art
Rein: NGP a "pretty huge deal" for all gamers, not just PlayStation fans


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We believe behind every great project is a great team. So, we are thrilled to have played our part in the success of CBRE and owner Brookfield Properties selling of Newport Tower in Jersey City for a record $377.5 million, the biggest price tag NJ has ever seen for an office property.
While REA has grown into many areas of design and branding over the past decade, one of the lines of business it continues to be passionate about is it's Investment Sales business. For close to 15 years we have been setting the high water mark on the key marketing tool for selling large real estate assets the Offering Memorandum. While REA's competitors service this same market, we promise and deliver on a non – standard, non template driven product that exemplifies smart modern design.
"We are constantly looking at inspiration from every corner of the design world"
We cherish our long-standing relationships in the Investment Sales community and congratulate CBRE and Brookfield for this breakthrough accomplishment.
Be on the lookout for REA's new IPAD product that will roll out in 2012.


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Killzone: Shadow Fall - Cruiser and Hanger Map Impressions & Strategies
We spend some time with Killzone: Shadow Fall's free, new maps and break down the best ways to dominate these diverse battlefields.
We spend some time with Killzone: Shadow Fall's free, new maps and break down the best ways to dominate these diverse battlefields.
We have everything you ever wanted to know about the exciting world of loading screens.
We meet the composer of the Killzone series, Joris de Man, and dive deep as he tells us about his process, his inspirations, and other interesting facts.
We report from Gamescom, the biggest game show in the world! Check out our show floor report and new footage of Little Big Planet 2, and win all of the ...
What's the best game of 2009? Find out!
Find out our platform award winners in the Best of 2009 Awards!
Find out our special achievement winners in the Best of 2009 Awards!
GameSpot UK's Luke Anderson takes a look at the latest 3.0 update for Sony's PlayStation 3.
Find out how the music behind Killzone 2 came to life.
It's an audio special on this week's Start/Select as we meet the biggest names in music and sound effects. We also talk you through the multiplayer in Red Faction: Guerrilla, ...
Flash and thunder hit Killzone 2.
Killzone 2. GameSpot editors battled it out with fellow gamers.
Killzone 2 DLC: Steel & Titanium Pack. Team defends a position with sentries and rifles.
Killzone 2 DLC: Steel & Titanium Pack. Taking out an enemy squad.
Killzone 2 DLC: Steel & Titanium Pack. Taken out by a passing sign.
Killzone 2 DLC: Steel & Titanium Pack. Taken out while hopping between cars.
After a long wait, Killzone 2 has finally taken the PlayStation 3 by storm. Hear the inside story of its development from one of the game's producers.
Kevin VanOrd invades the Helghast home planet in this review for Killzone 2.
Helghast beware, this starting block will prepare all new recruits for the Killzone 2 invasion.
We give you our final thoughts on Killzone 2, as well take a magical journey with Little King's Story. Plus we chat with some top tournament players for their tips ...
Part 2 of the making of Killzone 2.
Check out the new games coming out the week of February 22.
The Making of Killzone 2 - Part 1.
In this episode of Start/Select, we talk to the composer of Killzone 2 and discuss the games, trends, and potential downfalls of the games world in 2009.
A bolt gun sticks an enemy to the wall in Killzone 2.
Taking a bunker by force in Killzone 2.
Enemy ship takes down a friendly carrier in Killzone 2.
Providing AAA support in Killzone 2.
Destroying RPG teams in a mech in Killzone 2.
Dueling a tank with a mech in Killzone 2.
Multiplayer: snatching propaganda in Killzone 2.
Multiplayer: assaulting an objective and killing a flying bot in Killzone 2.
Multiplayer: holding a bridge by force in Killzone 2.
Kevin VanOrd, Chris Watters, and Andre Segers discuss their first encounters with Killzone 2.
Check out the hit response trailer for Killzone 2.
We take you on a quick tour of Sony's games and game-related items on display at CES 2009.
Of course, the action in Killzone 2 has to be compelling as well.
Scrutinize the gunplay action in Killzone 2, as seen at CES 2009.
When you put all of these elements together, you get something spectacular.
Explore the various environments you'll experience in Killzone 2, as seen at CES 2009.
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AJ Applegate hates showing up to her job cleaning pools. Her boss only hired her so he could perv out on the roundness of her ass all day long. And it wakes all her time away from what she'd rather be doing: hanging out with her boyfriend so he can stuff that thick booty full of cock. When Mr. Sins catches her playing with her pussy on break, he decides that throwing it deep in her little asshole is the best way to get what he paid for! Collapse
Available formats
Niche & Categories


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Woman's body, woman's right: a social history of birth control in America
Grossman, 1976 - Social Science - 479 pages
Geburtenlegung / USA / Geschichte.
What people are saying - Write a review
We haven't found any reviews in the usual places.
Toward Womens Power
Sexual Revolution
Birth Control and Social Revolution
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Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
ABCL abortion accepted American argued arguments attack attitudes BCFA became birth control birth rate birth-control clinics birth-control movement birth-control organizations birth-rate campaign capitalist cause cent Charlotte Perkins Gilman Comstock law conception condoms continued contraception created doctors economic effective eugenic eugenists example Ezra Heywood fear female feminism feminist free lovers Goldman groups hereditarian Himes human husbands Ibid ideology important individual infanticide Journal labor League liberation male Malthusian Margaret Sanger marriage married ment moral Moses Harman mothers National Neo-Malthusianism nineteenth century Norman Himes orgasm over-all pamphlet physicians Planned Parenthood political poor population control population-control poverty PPFA practice pregnancy problems produced professional programs propaganda prostitution prudery purity race race-suicide reformers repression reproductive sex radicals sexual intercourse sexual revolution social-purity advocates socialist society standard sterilization theory tion tradition vaginal Victorian voluntary motherhood woman women's rights World wrote York


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Perplex Dimensions is a new kind of vision of how a game is... influenced by the famous Half-Life 2 mod and after standalon game "Dear Esther" Perplex Dimensions wants to be a really good project that represents the style. Perplex Dimensions doesn't just purpose a real good environments to explore, is a new kind of psychologically and tense game purpose... the objective is more than an enjoyable experience... "We don't want you play the game... we hope you live this"
This is the demo of Perplex Dimensions developed by HeXentic Games under the global GameJam
Only registered members can share their thoughts. So come on! Join the community today (totally free - or sign in with your social account on the right) and join in the conversation.


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Here it is! This is the final clue to the series theme! Have you figured it out yet? I tried to drop some heavy hints in this episode!
Be sure to check out the pages of our generous sponsors for this episode, especially if you saw something in the show you liked:
Swarovski Optik (the optics I've been using for years)
Princeton University Press (my favorite nature publisher and sign up for updates on their cook BirdGenie bird call identifier app that's coming)
South Texas Nature (because birding the Rio Grande Valley is a must do)
Alamo Inn (my favorite place to stay when birding the Rio Grande Valley)
If you are enjoying the series, please consider sharing an episode on your social media outlets. And remember, kids, birds shown in the first seven episodes have all been digiscoped by both Clay and me and are a clue to the series theme! If you correctly guess the series theme, you are entered into a drawing for a Swarovski spotting scope. Please read over the contest rules before entering.
All entries that deviate from the contest rules will be disqualified. The winner will be announced in the eighth episode airing on June 26, 2014. To make sure you do not miss an episode, subscribe to the Birdchick YouTube Channel.
Contest Rules (To make sure you do not miss an episode, subscribe to the Birdchick YouTube Channel. )
1. All entries for the Swarovski STS spotting scope need to be emailed to email@example.com and must include the answer, your first and last name, mailing address and phone number (in case I need to contact you regarding shipping).
2. You can guess the theme more than once, but only ONE correct entry per person will count in the drawing. (You should probably watch a few episodes before you guess).
3. All entries guessing the series theme must be received no later than 11:59pm Central Time on June 23, 2014.
4. The winner of the Swarovski spotting scope will be chosen at random and the decision of the judges is final.


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New Obama cliff offer moves needle
President Barack Obama and House Speaker John Boehner made significant progress Monday toward a fiscal cliff deal, as Obama's new offer on tax rates moved the two sides closer to an agreement.
But questions remained over whether Boehner could sell the key points to Republicans at a pivotal meeting Tuesday. The progress is fragile, and the next 24 hours are critical as lawmakers from both parties and interest groups on all sides weigh in.
Story Continued Below
(PHOTOS: Fiscal cliff's key players)
Senior Republican aides described the latest offer as a positive step but said the speaker has rejected the president's counteroffer as "unbalanced."
The president's $2.4 trillion proposal marks the first time that he has given ground on income tax rates. He would raise rates on household income above $400,000 — up from $250,000 — as part of a plan delivered Monday to Boehner, according to a source familiar with the talks.
Obama made another important move in Boehner's direction by addressing the speaker's demand for an equal amount of spending cuts to new revenue — a concession that could prove instrumental in reaching a final deal, although the speaker's aides are disputing the White House claim of a dollar-for-dollar match.
Obama proposed $1.2 trillion in new revenue, down from his previous offer of $1.4 trillion. And he offered $1.2 trillion in spending cuts, including $400 billion in entitlement savings — an increase of $50 billion.
( PHOTOS: 12 Republicans resigned to higher taxes)
Boehner is seeking $1 trillion in new revenue, in part by raising tax rates on income above $1 million, and $1 trillion in entitlement cuts.
The president's proposal is not a final offer, but the White House views it as something that should get the two sides close to a deal because they have met Republicans more than halfway on spending and halfway on revenues, the source said.
But Boehner and other top Republicans have already rejected the Obama offer as inadequate, and they disputed some of the savings that the White House was counting in its dollar-for-dollar ratio on spending cuts versus new revenue.
"Any movement away from the unrealistic offers the President has made previously is a step in the right direction, but a proposal that includes $1.3 trillion in revenue for only $930 billion in spending cuts cannot be considered balanced," Boehner spokesman Brendan Buck said in a statement. "We hope to continue discussions with the President so we can reach an agreement that is truly balanced and begins to solve our spending problem."
Republican aides said the total savings are actually lower than $930 billion because Obama is seeking $50 billion in new infrastructure spending and $30 billion for extending unemployment benefits.


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157 members14 Likes
Ocal Yilmaz has not received any gifts yet
Hello Ocal,
I am leaving in Cinco Ranch looking for play, I am available and we can discuss the schedule, I had a partner playing every day and he is gone, my level I think is same than yours and we can meet in the court or drop me an email at glaucoi2707 (at) yahoo.com
Hi, I'm Mark, the founder of Tennisopolis, the world's largest and most active tennis network. Please share Tennisopolis with your friends by supporting our Facebook page. Click here for a Guide to Meet Tennis Partners.
Have a look at our introduction page which will help you navigate the massive network which now has over 40,000 members and 600 local tennis groups.
Also, I recommend that you upload a profile pic; it can be of anything, but people with pics meet more players.
Friend me,
Mark, The Mayor of Tennisopolis
© 2019 Created by Mark / The Mayor. Powered by


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Saturday 30 Nov 2019, 16:30 - ends at 18:42
Please Note: A booking fee of £1 will be added to the transaction. Genesis Members do not pay any booking fees
Access Our disabled access lift is currently out of order. If you have any access requirements please call our Box Office.
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Science Education
The computer will randomly pick the name of one of the elements. Use the clue to discover which element the computer picked. Be careful! Each incorrect letter you guess causes the atom man to decay. Find the element's name before the atom man decays completely!
Other games based on the Table of Elements are available.
This page is maintained by Steve Gagnon.


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3 responses to "Family Photos"
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CHEYENNE, Wyo. — A legislative committee will look at changes to requirements that local governments publish legal and public notices in newspapers.
Cities, towns and counties are required to publish a variety of public records in their local newspapers. Those include salary listings, notices of public meetings, requests for contract bids, bills and other information.
Local governments can spend tens of thousands of dollars a year on the mandated advertising costs.
You have free articles remaining.
Local government officials say they could save money if some of the notices could be published digitally instead of in the newspapers.
But press and open-government advocates argue that local newspapers provide better public access to the information and that notices keep people informed about what is being done with their money and resources.


text: WERQ® w/ Kylee Monday, February 4, 2019 5:30 PM 6:30 PM 17:30 18:30 Google Calendar ICS WERQ® Dance Fitness: Join Kylee for the wildly addictive cardio dance class, WERQ! WERQ (pronounced "work") is the fiercely fun dance fitness workout based on pop and hip hop music created by one of KC's own. Wear workout clothes and gym shoes to this hard-to-find ultimate fitness experience. Expect to SWEAT and burn around 500-900 calories each hour of WERQ! Our classes are in a fun & friendly, low-pressure environment & all dance and fitness abilities are welcome. You don't have to have any dance background to WERQ it. Are YOU ready to WERQ?


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A top level delegation from South Ayrshire Council has visited British Airways' engineering operation at Prestwick Airport to see at first hand the important work being carried out at the facility.
[Pictured: Brian Queally, Manager of the British Airways Maintenance Glasgow (BAMG) Prestwick operation, David Anderson, Chief Executive South Ayrshire Council, Councillor Bill McIntosh, Leader of South Ayrshire Council, Bill Armstrong, General Manager British Airways Maintenance Glasgow (BAMG).]
Councillor Bill McIntosh, the Leader of South Ayrshire Council, David Anderson, Chief Executive and Mark Hastings, Enterprise Manager toured the hangar, part of a unique engineering project to carry out specialist work on British Airways' fleet of Airbus aircraft.
The Prestwick operation, which celebrated its first anniversary earlier this year, is the first project of its kind within British Airways and is the first time in its 45 year history that British Airways Maintenance Glasgow has established a satellite operation outwith its principal operating base at Glasgow Airport.
The facility now has a workforce of 40 and has completed work on 52 aircraft in the 15 months since it opened.
Councillor Bill McIntosh said: "This is a very inspiring project which has great potential. Having only been established within the last year it just shows what can be achieved through sheer hard work and determination. Securing existing jobs, expanding and giving a boost to our local economy is a great thing."
Brian Queally, the Manager of the Prestwick facility said: "We're delighted that this important delegation gave so much of their time to see for themselves what we do here.
"We look forward to working with the Council and other local agencies in the future.
"When I was appointed to run the project, one of my senior managers in London said he wanted this facility to be 'the epitome of lean-ness and continuous improvement'.
"That is exactly what we're trying to achieve."
Already the facility is looking to extend its remit with work to carry out safety checks on the rudders of Airbus aircraft that come into the Prestwick hangar.
He continued: "The aircraft are on the ground anyway, so it makes perfect operational sense to use that down time to carry out rudder checks, which have to be done in any case.
"Every one of the guys, many of whom are local, who came at the start of the project volunteered to be here.
"So they're determined to prove that the decision was the right one, not only by excelling in the work we do, but in contributing to how we do it by suggesting ways in which we can work more efficiently and operate seamlessly between shifts."
"We may be the most recent and perhaps unique engineering project BAMG has undertaken, but we are committed to making it a success and maintaining the reputation for excellence that BAMG has built up both within the aviation sector and amongst the wider engineering community in Scotland and beyond."
South Ayrshire Council is a Founder Member of the Elite Ayrshire Business Circle.


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This post series will provide the latest updates and news for Visual Studio Team Services and will be a great way for Azure users to keep up-to-date with new features being released every three weeks. Visual Studio Team Services offers the best DevOps tooling to create an efficient continuous integration and release pipeline to Azure. With the rapidly expanding list of features in Team Services, teams can start to leverage it more efficiently for all areas of their Azure workflow, for apps written in any language and deployed to any OS.
New features released in August 2016
Fall is upon us but the sun is always shining for Team Services users. In August, users got treated with a host of exciting Team Services updates - a major redesign of social coding with Git (new pull requests UI, comments with markdown and emoji, auto complete pull requests), a new clone in Git Tower option, a host of build and CI enhancements and updates in Agile tools and testing.
New navigation – get around Team Services faster
A new Team Services navigation offers a more efficient way of browsing around the various hubs within Team Services, so you can get to where you want in fewer clicks than before
Using Team Services with Jenkins gets easier
With the new improvements in the Jenkins tasks in Team Services, it has become even easier to perform common scenarios such as:
- Use Jenkins to validate your Team Services pull requests
- Use Jenkins continuous integration for your Team Services Git repository
- Use Jenkins to test or deploy your Team Services build
- Download Jenkins build artifacts for use in a Team Services test, build, or release
Copying/uploading files to deploy to Linux gets simpler too!
Updates in Team Services now make it easier to copy files over SSH during CI and CD. The following guides are great pointers on enabling deployment to Linux from Team Services/TFS.
- Deploy an Azure Red Hat Linux VM running Apache Tomcat.
- Deploy an Azure Ubuntu Linux VM running Apache Tomcat.
If you prefer uploading files via FTP, the new FTP upload task will make it easier to do so as part of a build.
Track requirements quality right on the team Services Dashboard
It is now easier to link your automated tests to requirements and use Dashboard widgets to track the quality of each requirements you want to track.
Team Services build pool gets .NET Core agent and more
The hosted build pool has been updated with new Xamarin versions and a .NET Core agent.
New extensions for Team Services
See the extensions monthly roundup for a preview of Definition of Done, Personas and Product Vision extensions.
Inside Team Services – Summer Interns and Package Management
See what three awesome interns are doing to improve the Package management experience in Team Services.


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Welcome to the AbsoluteWrite Water Cooler! Please read The Newbie Guide To Absolute Write
Questions that come up quite often on the Tech Help forums. Please check here first (and use the forum search tool) before starting a new thread.


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August 12, 2013
History professor Derek Hoff wins book award
Submitted by Danielle Schapaugh
Professor Derek Hoff has won the 2013 Pacific Coast Branch Book Award from the American Historical Association-Pacific Branch for "The State and the Stork: The Population Debate and Policy Making in U.S. History," published by University of Chicago Press, 2012. The award is given annually to recognize a best first book in history.
The American Historical Association-Pacific Coast Branch presented the award, which carries with it a prize of $750, at its annual conference Aug. 10 in Denver.
"The State and the Stork" examines how influential Americans from Jefferson to Reagan have thought about, and crafted public policies in response to the dramatic growth in the population of the United States throughout the nation's history. It shows that today's widespread celebration of population growth in the U.S. is a relatively recent phenomenon, dating only from the new conservative economics and culture wars of the 1960s and 1970s.
Last fall, Hoff was interviewed by about 15 radio stations across the country in support of "The State and the Stork." Hoff also placed an editorial, "The False Alarm over U.S. Fertility," in the April 17 edition of the New York Times.
"It's good to see this important issue finally being discussed again in the mainstream media," Hoff said. "I was contacted out of the blue by the New York Times, which was fun — and it's always nice when an academic book gets noticed."
Among other reviews, The Journal of American History wrote that "this book will reward readers with many new insights into the course of modern American history. It demonstrates the author's considerable talents in the fields of intellectual, policy, and political history." Choice declared that "'The State and the Stork' has remarkable breadth, relating hundreds of thinkers' ideas to the shifting center of opinion and terms of the debate about whether rising population will lead to a declining standard of living — pessimistic Malthusianim — or spur improvements." And Times Higher Education concluded, "In his excellent book 'The State and the Stork,' Derek Hoff examines the ways in which economists, demographers, social scientists and politicians in the U.S. have traced patterns in Malthus' domain. Hoff's is . . . an assured guide through two centuries of Malthusian wrangling."
Hoff teaches a range of classes in modern U.S. political and economic history at K-State, including a class on the history of conservatism. This fall he will offer HIST 547, Economic History of the United States from 2:30-3:45 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Read more on "The State and the Stork" website or link to Hoff's editorial in the New York Times.