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Obama's Afghanistan 'surge': diplomats, civilian specialists
WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama is planning a major "surge" into Afghanistan of diplomats and civilian specialists steeped in running elections, fighting corruption and battling narcotics trafficking as part of a counterinsurgency strategy to stabilize the country, current and former U.S. officials said on Wednesday.
Any effort to turn around the situation in Afghanistan, however, faces long odds. More than seven years after the ouster of the Taliban from Kabul, Islamic militants are resurgent, corruption is endemic and opium trafficking is an economic mainstay.
Obama's advisers have been debating how broad or narrow overall U.S. goals in Afghanistan should be — whether, for example, to limit the mission to counterterrorism, as opposed to the broader goal of building an Afghan democracy.
The White House strategy, which is nearly complete, also proposes an expanded role for the United Nations in coordinating disparate international reconstruction efforts, which have been criticized as wasteful and overlapping.
In giving a leading role to civilian specialists and to the U.N., Obama is making a sharp break from the Bush administration, which excluded both from early postwar efforts in Iraq after the U.S. invasion began six years ago.
One of the veteran U.S. diplomats headed for Afghanistan, former U.S. ambassador Tim Carney, was among the State Department officials briefly blocked from deploying to Iraq by then-Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld. Carney later become a public critic of the Iraq reconstruction effort.
Obama's strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan is due to be finished in time for a March 31 international conference in the Netherlands.
U.S. officials agreed to discuss the evolving approach only on the condition of anonymity, because Obama hasn't signed off on his advisers' recommendations.
Among the senior diplomats headed to Afghanistan is Francis Ricciardone, a former U.S. ambassador to Egypt and the Philippines, who also has extensive experience with Iraq, officials said. Ricciardone will be deputy to Army Lt. Gen. Karl Eikenberry, Obama's nominee for U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan.
Another former U.S. ambassador, Peter Galbraith, a veteran diplomat who's investigated conflicts in the Balkans and Iraq, is expected to be appointed by the U.N. as its No. 2 official in Afghanistan.
Obama last month ordered 17,500 more U.S. troops to Afghanistan this spring, but held off deciding on additional troops requested by U.S. commanders there.
Defense Secretary Robert Gates, at a Pentagon briefing on Wednesday, expressed concern about an "open-ended" military commitment.
"I've been very concerned about an open-ended commitment of increasing numbers of troops for a variety of reasons," Gates said. While declining to discuss the policy review in detail, he said of Afghanistan: "It's a difficult problem and trying to come up with new approaches and new initiatives that enhance our prospects for success is hard work, frankly."
A senior U.S. defense official said that Army Gen. David Petraeus, the head of U.S. Central Command, has been insisting that the so-called "civilian surge" be made a key provision of the new Afghanistan-Pakistan strategy.
He noted that Gates and Adm. Michael Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, also have been calling for an approach that harnesses the resources of the entire U.S. government, not just the overstretched military.
The civilian surge "will extend itself into other departments of the government," said the senior U.S. defense official, who requested anonymity because the strategy isn't final. "That's what the plan is."
Some experts are concerned, however, that the U.S. lacks the ability to launch reconstruction and humanitarian operations overseas involving large numbers of civilian officials and experts.
"The United States today manifestly lacks adequate civilian capacity to conduct complex operations — those operations that require close civil-military planning and cooperation in the field," said a December 2008 report by the National Defense University. "Current efforts to build a civilian response capacity for complex operations are unfinished and . . . the Obama administration needs to dedicate additional attention and resources to complete the task.
The study said that an office to oversee such civilian operations was created in the State Department in 2004. But it was "underfunded, understaffed, and unappreciated," and the military ended up having to fill numerous positions for which civilians couldn't be found.
On another issue, U.S. officials denied that the Obama administration is considering expanding missile strikes by drone aircraft against Taliban targets beyond Pakistan's tribal area to the adjacent province of Baluchistan, as the New York Times reported.
Some Pentagon officials, they said, want the administration to authorize strikes against Taliban leader Mullah Mohammad Omar and his top deputies, who are widely believed to be overseeing broad strategy from a safe haven in the provincial capital of Quetta.
However, the senior U.S. defense official and a State Department official said that top administration policymakers think that such strikes would enflame already serious political instability in nuclear-armed Pakistan. Extending U.S. missile strikes to Baluchistan, a move that top Pakistan military and intelligence officials oppose, "might be a price that is too high," said the senior U.S. defense official.
He said that the administration thinks that Pakistan should be pressed to close down the sanctuary that Omar and his confederates have enjoyed in Baluchistan.
Debate in Afghanistan: Can negotiations with Taliban succeed?
Obama orders as many as 17,500 troops to Afghanistan
U.S. Army captain learning new skills in war-torn Afghanistan
Why hasn't the U.S. gone after Mullah Omar in Pakistan?


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what's the best trip you've ever taken in the history of ever? I really wanna know.
'Cause here's my thing--
I've mentioned it before, but I'm kind of the Grinch at Christmas time. I hate hate getting stocking "fillers", or just "stuff". Stuff so my kids just have "something" to open. Plus I have to wrap it and I hate to wrap as bad as painting.
And we all know that's pretty big hatred.
So last year, I said to myself,
let's do a family vacation instead of just 'stuff'."
And so we did. And it was good. All 26 of us boarded a plane and hopped on a cruise ship.
Also, I only have like, 2, maybe 3, pictures of me that aren't photo bombed.
By the way, there was 24 hour ice cream. I calculated that there was 232 ice cream cones partaken of last week. Sick.

subset: commoncrawl


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The troubled eurozone looks poised to exit its long recession with new data yesterday showing that the region's two heavyweights, Germany and France, are bouncing back to growth.
The German economy, Europe's biggest, expanded by 0.7 percent in the second quarter of the year, the federal statistics office Destatis calculated.
Growth was driven mainly by domestic demand, with consumer spending and public expenditure both increasing. Investment was also up on the previous quarter, Destatis said in a statement.
Another contributing factor was the catch-up effect following the unusually long and harsh winter, the statisticians said.
Foreign trade similarly gave the data a boost, with exports rising faster than imports.
Compared with the year-earlier period, GDP grew by 0.5 percent in price, seasonally and calendar adjusted terms in the second quarter, Destatis said.
At the same time, France's economy has jumped out of recession, posting stronger-than-expected 0.5 percent quarter-on-quarter growth in April through June, its best result in two years. France's return to growth in the second quarter followed 0.2 percent contractions in the final quarter of last year and the first quarter of this year.
The expansion, which beat analyst forecasts, was largely thanks to improved domestic consumption, the national statistics agency INSEE said in a statement.
"This is the largest increase since the first quarter of 2011," it added.
French Finance Minister Pierre Moscovici welcomed the rebound in GDP, which he said "confirms the end of the recession in the French economy."
After earlier predicting that the economy would contract by 0.1 percent overall this year, INSEE said it now expects growth of 0.1 percent for this year, in line with government forecasts.
"The eurozone's two heavyweights bounced back with substantial growth in the second quarter," Berenberg Bank economist Christian Schulz said.
"Their growth, in combination with the much milder recession in the crisis countries, has dragged the eurozone out of recession since Easter," he said.
In both Germany and France, growth was driven by domestic demand, while trade was buoyant, but probably broadly neutral for overall growth, the expert said.
However, he added that while investment made a return in Germany, "it remained elusive in France, suggesting that France's bounce-back does not signal a return to persistent strong growth yet."
However, the Italian economy, the third-biggest in the eurozone, is still struggling.
Data released late on Tuesday showed that the economy shrank by less than feared in the second quarter, boosting hopes that the end of recession is in sight, but marked the eighth quarterly contraction in a row.
The official Istat data agency said the economy shrank 0.2 percent in the quarter, amid recent indicators that the recession is easing.
The latest shrinkage follows a 0.6 percent contraction in the first three months.
Meanwhile, the Netherlands remains in recession after its economy shrank a further 0.2 percent in the second quarter of this year, dragged down by a big jump in unemployment, the Central Statistic Bureau said yesterday.
The eurozone's fifth-biggest economy shrank for the fourth quarter in a row, but the contraction is lessening, the bureau said.
The economy slid 0.4 percent in the first quarter of this year. Compared with a year ago, the economy shrank 1.8 percent.


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(RNN) - Tim Pernetti is no longer the athletic director of Rutgers University, according to a source that spoke to ESPN.
Pernetti submitted his letter of resignation Friday morning.
During a press conference Friday, Rutgers University President Robert Barchi said he accepted the resignation in what he called a "mutual decision."
"I appreciate the positive things that Tim has done for the university, but I also recognize the gravity of recent developments in regards to the men's basketball program," Barchi said.
Barchi apologized to the student athletes affected by the actions of former Rutgers men's basketball coach Mike Rice after video of practices surfaced showing Rice and at least one assistant coach physically and verbally abusing players.
Rutgers fired Rice on Wednesday.
Barchi also addressed Rice's use of gay slurs during practice.
"I also appologize to the LGBTQ community, and all of us who share their values, for the homophobic slurs displayed on that video," Barchi added. "I personally know how hurtful that language can be."
A New Jersey native, Pernetti had been the school's director of athletics since February 2009. Prior to that, he was executive vice president of content for CBS College Sports Network and director of programming for ABC Sports.
Pernetti, 42, played tight end for Rutgers from 1989 through 1993.
The video went public on Tuesday, but Pernetti received it in November. He did not fire Rice after an internal investigation, but Rice was suspended three games and fined $75,000. He also underwent mandatory anger-management therapy.
"In connection with the incidents involving former basketball Coach Mike Rice, as was the case with all other matters which I handled on behalf of the University, I always tried my best to do what is right," Pernetti said in his letter of resignation.
Pernetti said he was "responsible for the decision to attempt a rehabilitation of coach Rice" after the school decided to terminate his contract.
"As you know, my first instincts when I saw the videotape of Coach Rice's behavior was to fire him immediately," Pernetti said in his letter of resignation.
Barchi said he did not watch the video when it first surfaced, but relied on a "summary description" of the video from Pernetti when he approved of Rice's original punishment.
Barchi said he watched the video for the first time Tuesday evening and that it was "much more abusive and pervasive" than he suspected.
"If I had to do it again, I would have asked for that video," Barchi said.
Assistant coach Jimmy Martelli resigned on Thursday. The videos showed Martelli also verbally and physically abusing players.
Barchi said in a statement Wednesday that he had supported Pernetti's decision to suspend and fine Rice when he found out about the incident last year.
Barchi is expected to appoint an interim athletic director "in the coming days."
Copyright 2013 Raycom News Network. All rights reserved.


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Calvin Johnson looks completely healthy for Lions camp
Detroit Lions receiver Calvin Johnson recently was voted the No. 2 player in the NFL behind Peyton Manning by his peers, according to the NFL Network. But Johnson's importance to the Lions' offense is so crucial that among his own team his ranking should go well beyond No. 1.
It's hardly a surprise to say that Johnson is good or that he is the key cog in the Lions' attack. But, as training camp approaches and anticipation ramps up over promising young players like Eric Ebron and Theo Riddick and concern grows over Matthew Stafford's progress, it should not be forgotten how important it is for Johnson to have a good camp and come out of it healthy.
The Lions' scoring offense ranked 13th in the NFL last year with an average of 24.7 points per game. But in the games Johnson missed at Green Bay and at Minnesota, the offense struggled greatly and scored a combined 22 points.
The good news is that Megatron is on the mend. He had minor surgeries on a finger and a knee after the season, and the team has been cautious with his offseason work. He looks completely healthy and his teammates are glad for it.
"I think for his health it's nice to have him back and working at full strength," center Dominic Raiola said. "I just feel good and I'm so happy for him because the guy's so tough and it's hard to get him out of there. He'll play through anything and for him to be healthy and out there right now and being out there with the team, that's big-time."
Carlos Monarrez writes for the Detroit Free Press, a Gannett affiliate.


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Training Rooms
Training Room Fees (explanation)
Renters of the Division of Personnel & Labor Relations (DOPLR) facilities who are Executive Branch employees of organizations covered under the DOPLR Cost Allocation Plan (CAP) are not required to pay fees for rentals. If you are not a CAP covered employee, you are required to pay for DOPLR services.
The CAP identifies, accumulates and distributes allowable direct and indirect costs under grants and contracts, and identifies the allocation methods used for distributing costs. Most Executive Branch Departmental employees are covered under the DOPLR CAP, however there are exceptions. Examples of those that are not covered under the CAP are: employees of the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation, the Court System, Legislative Affairs, Offices of the Governor and Lt. Governor, University of Alaska and federal employees who supervise DMVA staff.
All persons reserving a room must acknowledge the terms and conditions of use and sign a Rental Agreement before the reservation will be confirmed.
Training Room Fees (Non DOP CAP renters only, see explanation above)
- $165.00 for a FULL-DAY (A full-day is 8:00 am to 4:30 pm)
- $82.50 for a HALF-DAY (A half-day is either 8:00 am to 12:00 pm or 12:00 pm to 4:30 pm)
By signing a DOPLR Training Room rental agreement, you acknowledge that you are responsible for fees if you and/or your agency are not covered under the DOPLR CAP.
- 30 chairs
- 13 tables (72" by 24")
- 70 inch Multimedia TV Monitor
- Computer for presentations
- State Network connection
- Conference phone: 465-1824
- One set of whiteboard markers are provided.
- One set of easel markers are provided.
- We do not supply training materials such as easel paper, pens, or highlighters.
How to Reserve the Room
- Contact Training & Development Client Services at 907.375.7700 or email@example.com.
- Depending on availability, your room will be tentatively reserved. You will receive an email with the Terms and Conditions of Use, and a Rental Agreement to sign.
- Once you have acknowledged the Terms and Conditions of Use and returned the signed Rental Agreement, your reservation will be confirmed.


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Correcting Birth Defects of the Hands
Most birth defects of the hand—from syndactyly to short, missing or deformed fingers or abnormalities of the nerves, blood vessels or tendons—can be significantly improved with surgery.
Our hand surgeons are specially trained and highly experienced not only in the delicate techniques required to correct these defects but also in working with infants and young children.
In common conditions such as syndactyly, where two or more fingers may be fused, the surgeon will cut the connecting tissue to separate the fingers. He or she will then graft skin from other parts of the body to cover the area that was fused. This surgery, however, is more complex if the bones are fused as well.
Following the surgery, the infant or child should have a full range of movement and a virtually normal appearance. (In some cases, the grafted skin is a slightly different color than that of the rest of the hand.)
Hand surgery can effectively treat or significantly improve other types of birth defects of the hands as well. As each child and each defect is unique, a hand surgeon can discuss your child's specific case with you in more detail.


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FBI Investigates High-Speed Trading
Probe Centers on Whether It's Insider Trading When High-Frequency Traders Act on Information Others Can't See
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is probing whether high-speed trading firms are engaging in insider trading by taking advantage of fast-moving market information unavailable to other investors.
The investigation, launched about a year ago, involves a range of trading activities and is still in its early stages, according to a senior FBI official and an agency spokesman. Among the activities being probed is whether high-speed firms are trading ahead of other investors based on information that other market participants...


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WavePlus SOC
WavePlus 32xx is a family of the Home Gateway processors from the Waveplus Technology Co, LTD.
WP3200 integrates MIPS R3000 32-bit 75..100MHz processor core with 4Kb instruction cache, 2Kb data cache and MMU with TLB, two 10/100Mbit Ethernet MAC and one 10Mbit Ethernet PHY. Besides Ethernet WP3200 also provides USB 1.1, two full duplex UARTs, one at 921600 baud and another at 115200 baud, 16 GPIO pins and PCMCIA-like interface which provide the connctivity to the WavePlus WP1200 WiFi solution.
The WP3206 offers designers a simple, lightweight processor. Like the WP3200, the WP3206 operates at a user-selectable frequency of 75 or 100MHz and features 8K instruction/2K data caches. Also WP3206 integrates one 10/100 Ethernet MAC with MII, one UART, 16 GPIO pins and a glue logic to connect a WiFi interface.
WP3210 integrates a 75/100/125MHz R3000 core, 5-port Ethernet switch and supports a 32-bit, 33MHz PCI bus.
WP3211 integrates a 75/100/125MHz R3000 core and 5-port Ethernet switch.
Devices based on the WP32xx
- AboCom FW100, BM200
- Edimax BR-6104WG_c
- Edimax EW-7505APL
- OvisLink RS-1000 Bandwidth Firewall Manager
- Pheenet BM-104 Bandwidth Managing Router
- Repotec RP-SR634 Dual Wan Broadband Router
- Sharetech LB-2210
- Shenzhen Allwins Tech Co.,Ltd R-2204P/R-2104P R-2204P/R-2104P
- Zonet ZSR1104WE Wireless IEEE802.11g/b Access Point Router 4port Intergrated Switch (ZSR1104WE)
- D-Link DI514 DI514
- Fiberline WG6K, Wireless Broadband Router (WP3210)
and many others
Linux support
# cat cpuinfo system type : WavePlus WP3200 processor : 0 cpu model : R3000 V0.3 BogoMIPS : 99.32 wait instruction : yes microsecond timers : no tlb_entries : 64 extra interrupt vector : no hardware watchpoint : no VCED exceptions : not available VCEI exceptions : not available ll emulations : 0 sc emulations : 0 # uname -a Linux (none) 2.4.18-mips #24 Tue Sep 23 13:01:48 CST 2003 mips unknown
Unfortunately, there is no Linux sources for this SoC in the public access at the present time. A complaint by GPL Violations is in progress.


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Young Labour Connecting With Communities
Young Labour Connecting With Communities
Young Labour is starting 2013 with a bang by travelling the country to connect with local community groups. A diverse van full of Young Labour members will be stopping in a number of towns across New Zealand to support and learn from local communities.
"This year's Clarion Tour will start in Auckland on the 18th of January and work it's way down to Wellington ending on the 25th," said Andreas Triandafilidis, a Clarion Tour veteran. "We will be using that time to put our Labour values into action; to work people and organisations that deal with poverty, conservation, and other community issues on a daily basis."
This isn't the first time that Young Labour has organised a Clarion Tour. Previous tours were held in the summers of 2004 and 2011 and involved activities such as cleaning a local Plunket centre, making food parcels, and gardening at an emergency housing complex.
"Young Labour is really excited about getting out on the road and offering some - if you'll excuse the pun - 'young labour' to community groups who are in need of a helping hand," said Shayne Misselbrook, Young Labour President.
"We will be supporting foodbanks in West Auckland, planting trees in Hamilton, cleaning up parks in Mana, and helping a number of other worthy causes. We will also be blogging our progress and experiences along the way on our website clariontour.co.nz"
The Clarion tour is named after the famed Clarion Cycling Club, which consisted of a group of dedicated British political activists who rode around the English countryside in the 1890s talking about their vision for a better and fairer society.
Young Labour hopes that the week-long adventure, now just three days away, will once again help bring attention to the excellent and important work that various community groups do every day.
As Clarion Tour participant Soraiya Daud said, "We are ready to get our hands dirty and help those who have consistently supported their fellow New Zealanders and worked hard to their build communities in tough times. It's the right thing to and I look forward to being a part of our 2013 service tour."
Find out about previous Clarion
Tours and follow the progress of the 2013 Clarion Tour at


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The ever entertaining rivalry between Knicks owner James Dolan and Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov is starting to get a bit ridiculous. Last Thursday (I'm delayed on these posts because I am on vacation) it was announced that James Dolan has joined the board of Live Nation. I have no idea why or how they would allow him on this board as he is a bumbling idiot but he is now on it. This is funny because, the New Jersey Nets are set to open up their new arena, the Barclays Center, in 2012. The owner of the Nets of course is Mikhail Prokorov. The same man who infuriated Dolan with the infamous Nets poster near Madison Square Garden and the competition for both LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony. It is speculated that Dolan will try to use his new board membership to attempt to limit the amount of Live Nation events occuring at the Barclays Center. Whether he succeeds or not is a different story but I think it is quite funny how Dolan and Prokhorov are taking their rivalry outside the NBA into the business world. I am eagerly awaiting news on how Prokohorov will retaliate to this. Whatever he decides to do, I promise you it will be entertaining.
Follow @tarmosino


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When it was introduced earlier this month, Apple's iPhone 5 drew a disappointed reaction from the digirati. It wasn't a revolutionary reworking of the phone that forever changed the smartphone business five years ago, but rather an incremental tweaking of its most familiar features.
The collective "meh" in the tech press didn't do much to stifle interest, though. The iPhone 5 sold out of its initial pre-order allotment in less than an hour, and the usual lines were snaked around Apple Stores when it went on sale today.
After spending much of today with my white, 64-gigabyte model, it's safe to say that early adopters are going to be happy with their purchase. The iPhone 5 is a case of a product being greater than the sum of its parts. If you're hesitant about buying one because of what appears to be tepid specifications or a lack of in-your-face innovation . . . don't be. With a few exceptions, Apple has refined the iPhone 5 to the point that it's nearly the iPhone you'd always hoped it would be.
The 5 is imminently recognizable as an iPhone, but with a slightly bigger screen, a little thinner and a little lighter. Except for the display being 4 inches, a half-inch bigger than every iPhone since the 2007 original, the front looks almost identical to the two previous models. Apple kept the width of the device the same, so it feels almost identical in your hand.
But there are some significant design changes. The case now features an aluminum back. On the white model, it's "raw" aluminum, while the black model has a jet-black coating on it. There are already online reports that this coating scratches, revealing the aluminum underneath, so you may want to stick with the white version – or get a case on a black one, posthaste.
The larger, 1,135-by-640-pixel display provides enough space for a fifth row of icons on the home screens. That sounds trivial, but if you have lots of apps it's an interesting exercise to decide just which ones get a favored spot on the initial home screen. (In my case: Facebook, Find My Friends, Netflix and Speed Test.)
The screen is noticeably brighter than my old iPhone 4, which also had a so-called "retina" display, and the colors are more vivid. Video looks great on the iPhone 5, and the fact that its longer screen brings it closer to the aspect ratio used for movies helps.
Be aware, though, that app developers will have to tweak their software to take advantage of the space. Those apps that aren't end up being "letterboxed" – centered, with black bars filling in the empty space. This is most irritating with apps designed to play video. For example, neither the Netflix nor the Showtime Anytime apps have been upgraded. Get with the program, guys!
Apple touts the iPhone 5 as having a processor and graphics adapter that are twice as fast as the iPhone 4S, and indeed this is one zippy and responsive phone. You wait for almost nothing on this device – apps launch quickly and games play smoothly. I'm a fan of the zombie-blasting title Dead Trigger, and it plays like butter.
The phone connects to faster, 4G LTE networks for AT&T, Sprint and Verizon. For me, this is the iPhone 5's most important feature. You may feel like your current smartphone's 3G connection is good enough, but trust me: Once you've used an LTE connection to view complex Web pages, stream video or use data-intensive apps, you can't go back. I'm getting download speeds of between 25-40 megabits a second at my house, compared with 3 Mbps on my iPhone 4. Combined with the faster processor and graphics of the iPhone 5, the entire experience of using a smartphone becomes turbocharged.
For those who want numbers to go with the anecdotes: Geekbench 2's benchmarks put my iPhone 5 at 1646. PC Magazine ran similar tests and declared it to be the fastest smartphone on the planet. By contrast, Samsung's Galaxy S III clocks in at 1451.
The iPhone 5's camera has also been upgraded. It's still packing 8 megapixels, like the 4S, but there are tweaks that make a big difference. It has, for example, much better low-light sensitivity, so night shots that would have been indistinct and blurry are much improved. It also comes with the built-in ability to take panoramic shots in a dead-simple manner – just shoot and move, and the camera automatically takes multiple images and splices them together.
The iPhone 5 comes with iOS 6, Apple's latest mobile OS, which has lots of nice touches – and a few serious downsides.
There are features for which most iPhone users have long pined – the ability to attach an image from within an email, an easy way to mute incoming messages and calls, the ability to respond to a phone call with a text message. There are numerous and welcome interface tweaks, such as moving the Bluetooth on/off switch to the top level of Apple's Settings screens. Finally, there are new features like Passbook, which lets you manage movie tickets, boarding passes and other important, transaction-related documents.
But chances are by now you're aware that two popular apps are gone – the YouTube viewer and the Maps app that relied on Google Maps. While there's no Apple-supplied YouTube viewer (Google's released its own excellent YouTube app for iOS) , Apple has supplied its own Maps application. It is, to be charitable, a mixed bag.
The Maps application brings turn-by-turn directions to iOS, combined with 3D mapping effects. While I've used this only on a limited basis so far, the directions were accurate and, on the iPhone 5, the graphics are beautiful and actually quite useful. They give a decent sense of place to your navigation.
But the Maps have serious downsides. They're not as detailed in terms of points of interest, and there are no walking or public transit directions. They also contain numerous errors – see theamazingios6maps.tumblr.com for the most egregious ones – and visual distortions.
If Siri – the voice-recognition-based personal assistant also found on the iPhone 5 – is considered beta, then the Maps app is an alpha. Still, for basic navigation, it gets the job done.
If you're a current iPhone user or want to become one, I can recommend the iPhone 5 without reservation. It's an excellent smartphone and a pure joy to use.
If you're on the fence between this device and a state-of-the-art Android phone, like Samsung's Galaxy S III, your decision may not be so clear-cut. The S III has a bigger screen, is also fast, and because you can add memory to it at a lower cost, can be a better value than the iPhone 5. It's also much more customizable.
But no one puts all the pieces together as well as Apple. If you want a device that's fast, fun to use, beautiful to hold and behold, and isn't hard to figure out, then the iPhone 5 is the best smartphone you can buy.


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A federal grand jury has indicted members of a San Francisco Bay Area street gang on charges that they participated in a string of armed robberies and then bragged about the crimes on social media.
The United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of California said in a statement on Thursday that the grand jury had returned a 21-count superseding indictment against seven members of the Landry Crew, an Oakland gang that is affiliated with the larger Money Team gang.
Starting in 2012, the gang members conducted a number of armed robberies of Rite Aids, Safeway and Walmart stores as well as home-invasion-style robberies, authorities said.
The indictment says the Landry Crew boasted about their crimes on Facebook, Twitter and other social media sites. Some of the gang members took photos of themselves after their crimes rolling around in cash and stolen items.


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The Most Overproduced Celebrity-Rich Rap Video of the San Francisco Mayoral Race
We can blame this one on Silicon Valley, folks. The outfit San Franciscans for Jobs and Good Government, an independent group led by Silicon Valley "angel investor" Ron Conway and propped up with Sean Parker's cash, has released this take on MC Hammer's "2 Legit 2 Quit" to support the campaign of San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee.
It features the real MC Hammer — no expense spared! — along with Will.i.am, Giants closer Brian Wilson, ex-mayor Willie Brown, other San Francisco sports people, the dorks who run Twitter and YouTube and others, all dancing like morons because of this politician, Ed Lee.
This is the end result of some of the richest members of one of the richest areas in the country pooling their money into a political messaging vehicle. This is what they made.
My my my, music hits me so hard,
Newsom left and they put him in charge,
Thank you, for blessing me,
and the rest of the city with Mayor Ed Lee
Got us all sayin' "Run Lee Run"
Only five-foot-five but he gets (bleep) done
So tell them other candidates to find a bus pass,
Unless you ridin' with us…FEAR THE MUSTACHE!


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Thank you Jain!
9 comments:
- AnonymousNovember 17, 2008 at 10:14 AM
Oh Mari! Thank you so much, you are so kind. There is a smile on my face!ReplyDelete
This is especially nice coming from you! Thank you so much!ReplyDelete
Thank you so much Mari! You are so kind to me...always have been!ReplyDelete
What a lovely surprise...
Can I send it right back to you?
Mari, you are such a sweet heart! Thank you so much! I am honored.ReplyDelete
Hi Mari,ReplyDelete
Thank you so much for your lovely award - how kind of you to think of me.
I'm so pleased you have started a blog and will regularly pop in.
mary you deserve 1001 awards, you got all the talent wrapped up in one little place!ReplyDelete
Congratulations on your award, could not have gone to a more deserving blogger. Thank you for passing on to me. I am honored. ClariceReplyDelete
Mari, how fun to read that Jain awarded you this blog! You deserve it! Then I read further on and see that you have also awarded it to me...WOW! Thank you very much - you are so kind.ReplyDelete
Mari, congratulations on getting this award. And I can't thank you enough for passing it on to me. I feel so honoured!ReplyDelete


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About Red Monkey
Everybody knows "water" is just another name for "towel juice." Why, when I squeeze my towel, I can sometimes get a whole cup and a half. That's more than I ever get out of a lousy apple.
They really should have known better.
The defense based on the idea that the hiker logo is very small compared to the Bent Paddle logo is a weak defense. The idea seems to be "Since hiker is small and paddle is big, the consumer would reason that it's a Bent Paddle beer, not a Long Trail beer."
But you could easily shoot back with "Because they are on the same can, consumers are just as likely to think that Bent Paddle beer itself is made by Long Trail." Or they might think "Long Trail beers are made by Bent Paddle."
But according to WMS Gaming, a computer that has been programmed to perform some new task becomes a new machine, apparently in much the same way that a player piano loaded with "The Entertaininer" is different machine from a player piano loaded with "Moonlight Sonata."
There is some logic to this. Even a computer is a set of smaller machines that cooperate to do something. Even a single one of the millions of FETs in a computer is really a "current controlling machine." The dashed box that defines the machine can be very small or very large, and is to some extent arbitrary.
First of all, binary code has nothing to do with numbers. It has to do with states. Whether combinations of states have meaning is a matter of convention. By way of analogy, the English alphabet is really a 26-ary code.
Asking if a binary code is a "description, explanation, or illustration is like asking if a set of letters amounts to a "description, explanation, or illustration." Maybe it does or maybe it is pure gibberish.
Part of the ongoing move to privatization. Taking care of prisoners has already been privatized. Why not collecting the people to put into the prisons in the first place? There is an opportunity here for some serious vertical integration.
Lyric sites actually perform a useful service for people who don't have really sharp hearing.They enable them to fully enjoy the music in a way that is on par with those that are not similarly disabled. Not everyone has the cognitive power to extract the words of a fast moving rap in real time.
Perhaps proprietors of lyric sites should spin their offerings this way. It would be a PR disaster for a music publisher to try to shut down a site that is only purporting to provide services to the hearing-impaired community.
The supply of content from a given creator remains finite. It is its distribution that has become easier. Since the original argument to the copyright commission presupposed infinite supply, it has no real relevance here.
Furthermore, the original argument was a rebuttal of the idea of perpetual copyright, not copyright of a finite term.
Is the supply of content really unlimited? A given author can only produce so much in one lifetime. How is this conceptually any different from the earth having only so much oil?
You don't need an amendment about business method patents. For one thing, nobody seems able to define them clearly. Most such patents are obvious anyway. If an examiner can't knock them out on obviousness grounds alone he really shouldn't be an examiner.
In your strawman, the examiner could just say "burgers are prior art, most people like to sell stuff to make money, therefore it would have been obvious to sell the burgers."
If you already have a patent on the burger, a claim that adds the extra step of selling your burger makes no difference because by definition, you already have the right to exclude others from making, using, and selling your burger.
Wait, isn't the amygdala associated with feelings of fear? Does that mean people who are more sociable are more fearful? But many unsociable people complain they are "afraid" of striking up a conversation. Very strange.
Oh, OK.
They pretty much have to or the client will be very mad. A TM going generic is bad news, although it's good in a way because it means you must have been pretty successfull
"The domain itself is still unique and the brand is still unique. So does the trademark really even matter?"
A trademark would matter. If you had one one "advertising.com", you could block a confusingly similar mark like "advertise.com".
What are you talking about? Generic trademarks aren't enforceable. What's absurd about that?
" Why does it matter if someone with a clearly inferior product calls theirs kleenex too?"
It matters because after awhile, people start thinking anything labelled "kleenex" is inferior. When they see your superior kleenex, they think "ugh, I remember last time I blew my nose with that stuff...".
So how do you feel about the FCPA? That's the one that says if a US corporation bribes a foreign official in a foreign country, it's punishable in the US, even though the actual bribery took place outside the US, and even though that country may not have had a law against it. Would you vote to repeal based on your reasons above?
I don't think so. In Article VI, treaties stand on equal footing with the constitution. The purpose of mentioning treaties in Article VI is so a state can't just say "Hey, this treaty conflicts with my state law, so I'm ignoring it".
Actually I think courts are not supposed to enforce things that are unconstitutional anyway, but the defendant still has to go through the trouble of proving that a particular law is unconstitutional (and face the risk of failing to do so). The statute removes this burden so the defendant doesn't have to do all that.
"Yes, because that's what it's all about - suing for $$$"
You say that with such disparagement. But what else can you do? The dual social goals is to discourage carelessness and to try to put the victim in a position he would have been had the carelessness not occurred. Since you can't rewind time, the best you can do is give the victim $$$. If you have any other ideas on how to achieve these two goals, the world would like to hear them.
Public humiliation only achieves the first goal, but not the second. (On the other hand, neither do $$$, but it's the best anyone has come up with).
Actually, blue, it is not the monthly travel that is unlimited, it is the number of times you can enter and exit the subway in one month. Since travel itself takes time, the amount you can travel per month cannot be infinite.
It's not altogether clear that New Yorkers are necessarily subsidizing your travel at some point. I think it would depend on the mean cost per subway stop, the number of stops you traverse, and the cost of your ticket. If you use up your 90 rides by going only one or two stops, you may actually be subsidizing riders who buy one ticket and spend all day on the subway.
"In the US, citizens own the roads"
Really? I guess if a citizen has an ownership interest in a road as tenants-in-common he should be able to sell that ownership interest to someone else.
Does anyone want to buy my ownership interest in the Brooklyn Bridge??


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ABN AMRO Inc. Fuji Securities Inc.
BMO Nesbitt Burns Corp. Goldman, Sachs & Co.
BNP Paribas Securities Corp. Greenwich Capital Markets, Inc.
Bank of American Securities LLC HSBC Securities (USA) Inc.
Bank One Capital Markets, Inc. J. P. Morgan Securities, Inc.
Barclays Capital Inc. Lehman Brothers Inc.
Bear Stearns & CO., Inc. Merrill Lynch Government Securities Inc.
CIBC World Markets Corp. Morgan Stanley & Co. Inc.
Credit Suisse First Boston Corp. Nomura Securities International, Inc.
Daiwa Securities America Inc. SG Cowen Securities Corp.
Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. Salomon Smith Barney Inc.Dresdner Kenilworth Benson UBS Warburg LLC
North America LLC Zions First National
Is it possible to retroactively add web sites to web.archive.org?
In brief, when researching many vicsims one comes across numerous sites which seem half-baked to a particular purpose. Sometimes they are memorials, sometimes seemingly ignored corners of big university sites, sometimes — rarely — actually recognized companies that anyone would remember from the 00's. Such as Enron.
Because the target audience of those to be suckered into psychologically falling for the Red Herring would probably be 3 figures, given that so few people are pursuing this avenue of research, and those that are would have enough checks and balances in place to be cautious enough to see through it.The logo 'Andersen' does the psychological work of implying and creating a company, perhaps involved in 'scandal'.
Flabbergasted wrote:Some weeks ago I was browsing fakeologist.com and had a look at abirato´s 9/11 bullet list.
A thought:
It takes more than abstaining from killing people to make a psyop "legal". So, if psyops are "mostly legal" (and perhaps they really are), then it would be interesting to look into how and to whom they are submitted for pre-approval. Are psyops considered a special type of drill authorized by law? For example, can the New York State Office of Emergency Management legally authorize a psyop with MSM coverage, vicsims and actors playing relatives?
(I sent this same message to abirato by private message on April 18th)
abirato wrote:I doubt any of these organizations are authorizing anything.
Flabbergasted wrote:Hi SCS,
Good to have you onboard. You seem to place fairness and objectivity in the high seat.SacredCowSlayer wrote:Finally, if you or any members have a legal question I'll be glad to answer (where appropriate of course) as best I can.
Since you are inviting legal questions (free of charge, I hope ), I was wondering if you had any input regarding the question of legality of psyops which was raised here:
Cantor Fitzgerald, proving itself more prescient than its competitors, identified the benefits of e-commerce early on and rolled out a product and division last year called eSpeed. eSpeed is ultimately an electronic alternative to the inter-dealer broker as it offers Cantor's banking clients the option of offloading large bond transactions online.
Chris Ferreri, head of IT strategy for Garban, acknowledges the fear emanating throughout the broker community, a growing sense of doom. "My first answer to them is that I'm not sure how electronic trading impacts the broker a year from now,"[/quote]Cantor, realizing earlier than most the ways in which online matching engines would change the fixed-income arena, reportedly poured $200 million over the past three years into developing eSpeed, and went so far as rolling out the division in a direct public offering. One might say that Cantor is leaving nothing to chance. Representatives at eSpeed did not return numerous phone calls.
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Farm Science Review
exhibits, fertilizer application by airplane, and research to fight corn blight. Visit fsr.osu.edu for more ... corn and soybean combines, tillage, nutrient and lime applications, and drainage installations. The ... resources management practices. The Gwynne is home to a natural stream, wetland, ponds, windbreak plantings, ...
Chow Line: How to handle diabetes during the holidays
helps our waistlines, but also helps us manage other health conditions such as diabetes and heart ... help you enjoy the holidays while managing your diabetes: Cut stress and stay active. Stress causes our ... Tracy Turner I was recently diagnosed with diabetes and am not sure how to manage my disease as ...
What can we learn from Bangladesh about climate change?
Development Economics. Her research includes how saltwater encroaches on soil and drinking water, making it ... a recent article on our CFAES Stories website. Chen studies climate change and migration in Bangladesh as ... Chen's co-researchers, standing on an eroding embankment, or polder wall, in Bangladesh. The homes of ...
Awards and recognitions
Read more here and here. Tech commercialization award Katrina Cornish, Ohio Research Scholar and ... research discoveries and for the role the faculty member played in translating those discoveries into ... in Michigan, including by bringing the largest graduate student delegation to the event. Research ...
CHAIRE Inaugural Research Symposium
We are excited to annouce our first research symposium! Please join us for a day filled with ... human-animal interactions research. This is a free event and all interested in the area of human-animal ...
Have your hay, and eat it, too
tell you the nutrients your herd could be lacking, and can help you set up a strategic feeding plan. ... This plan could include supplementing with other feeds to provide the vitamins or nutrients your hay ... nutrients," Wiseman said. "The most important part is knowing what you have in your hay now and knowing what ...
Ohio Commercial Pesticide Recertification Conference- Dayton- 2020
Information Categories Offered Agricultural Fertilizer Recertification Training Interstate Reciprocity Exams ... license. If you do not have a current pesticide license, please visit our New Applicator page. Check In: ... meet the five hours required for an Ohio commercial license. Agricultural Fertilizer Applicator ...
Media Advisory: Ohio State food safety center to hold food safety forum Nov. 14
Tracy Turner Media Advisory What: The Center for Foodborne Illness Research and Prevention (CFI) ... Centers for Disease Control and Prevention "This kickoff event celebrates our new status as a center at ... the food safety work being conducted by Ohio State faculty and researchers. Attendees engaged in food ...
Converge on 'Wicked Systems Problems' Nov. 18 in Columbus
program, its flyer says, "will explore the application of transdisciplinary research and system approaches ... to solve grand challenges in our food, water, and energy systems"—challenges that include, for ...
Grape and Wine Analysis Workshop
feature Dr. Gary Gao, Professor and Extension Specialist, and Research Assistant Ryan Slaughter, along ... Scheduled for the workshop are Enology Program Manager Todd Steiner, Viticulture Outreach Specialist Dr. ... Maria Smith, and Enology Lab Manager Patrick Pierquet. OSU South Centers is located at 1864 Shyville ...


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Globe-Trotting Grad Enlists World's Help to Solve Rubik's Cube
It may take a village to raise a child, but it takes a whole planet to solve a Rubik's Cube.
A recent college grad took a trip around the world after graduating, like a lot of people yearn to do. His trip was different, though, because he got one person to move a Rubik's Cube one spot in order to help him solve it.
That's a whole lot better than being approached by a tourist asking for directions back to the hotel, don'cha think?
The grand total? Fifty-four men, 30 woman, one monkey and one snake in 11 countries helped him figure it out. See what can happen when we all work together?


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Starting MSRP from * $46,800
New 2019 Chevrolet Tahoe at Terryville Chevrolet
Discover the new Chevrolet Tahoe, available to buy or lease today at Terryville Chevrolet. On this page, you will find the 2019 Tahoe vehicles that are currently available to buy or lease at our Terryville dealership, be able to see the exterior color options, view photos, and more. If you have a question about this new Tahoe or any other new or used vehicle at Terryville Chevrolet, please give us a call at (860) 516-4100, and our friendly staff will be happy to assist you.


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truTV's "Hardcore Pawn" Scores 2.7 Million Viewers
Breakout Hit Ranks as Ad-Supported Cable's #1 Program in Timeslot with Key Demos
Despite heavy primetime competition, truTV continues to strike gold this week. Last night, the breakout hit Hardcore Pawn brought in 2.7 million viewers in Live + Same Day, which is +5% ahead of the show's July 10 season premiere. Hardcore Pawn was especially strong among truTV's targeted adult and male demos, ranking as ad-supported cable's #1 program in the 9 p.m. timeslot with adults 18-49 (1.2 million), as well as with men 18-49 (678,000).
Hardcore Pawn also delivered exceptional time-period growth. Compared to the same date/time last year, the show's deliveries were up by +43% among total viewers, +19% among adults 18-49 and +7% among men 18-49.
Produced by Zodiak USA, Hardcore Pawn takes viewers behind the scenes of the immense American Jewelry & Loan, a family business owned by third-generation pawnbroker Les Gold. Working with Les are his son, Seth, who is being groomed to eventually take over the store, and daughter, Ashley, who thinks Seth isn't ready for the top job. Hardcore Pawn is executive-produced by Natalka Znak, Mike Gamson, Claire O'Donohoe and Richard Dominick.
Show Page: http://www.trutv.com/shows/hardcore-pawn/
Twitter - #HardcorePawn


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We believe all pipeline incidents can be prevented. We back up that belief with vigilance, hard work and an abundance of caution.
Explore our commitment to pipeline safety on land and water.
PLEASE NOTE: The objects and terrain presented in this experience may not be to scale.
While our new enbridge.com website is almost universally mobile-friendly, this particular interactive experience is best experienced in a desktop or laptop environment. Enjoy!
Safely. First. From the get-go
When it comes to fueling the quality of people's lives, safety and reliability are built in to our energy infrastructure – and they're in place long before we begin to build and operate any of our systems.
Safe Systems 24/7/365
An overview of our approach to pipeline safety.DOWNLOAD THE PDF
Regular aerial patrols
We regularly fly all of our 27,000 km (17,000 miles) of crude oil and liquids pipelines—watching out for potential issues, including excavation or third-party activity near our pipelines that might pose a risk to safety.
Meticulous selection of pipeline routes
We plan all routes in consultation with landowners, First Nations, Metis and Native Americans, neighboring communities, environmental groups and regulators. We propose routes chosen to minimize the impact on the land, the environment and wildlife.
Preventing third-party damage
We communicate regularly with our neighbors about our systems, projects and operations, to make sure they know how to stay safe around our facilities, pipelines and distribution systems. This helps to reduce third-party damage, one of the leading causes of pipeline leaks.
Regular ground patrols
We regularly patrol pipeline rights-of-way, continuously monitor our emergency hotlines, and respond to any potential problems along our rights-of-way.
Call/Click Before You Dig programs
Buried utilities deliver important services we all rely on—such as electricity, water, cable and data, as well as oil and gas transportation and distribution. To protect public safety, and the systems that deliver these key services, one-call and online programs exist across the United States and Canada for anyone planning to dig, whether it's construction excavation or landscaping activities like planting trees or building fences and decks.
Pipeline monitoring
We monitor our entire pipeline network around the clock, 365 days a year, from our dedicated pipeline control center.
Specially trained staff, working with sophisticated computer monitoring systems,
keep a close watch over the operation of our pipeline network to keep it running safely and reliably.
Computerized monitoring systems
Specialized monitoring systems continually analyze pressure, temperature, and other important information from thousands of points along our pipelines.
Technology goes deeper
We use GPS and advanced imaging technology to confirm the depth and exact locations of our pipelines and to detect ground movement.
From the outside in
Enbridge is testing promising new external leak detection systems to add to our toolkit. These include sophisticated devices that use sensitive acoustic sensing to "listen" for leaks. We've led industry partnerships to test innovative leak detection methods, including vapor-sensing tubes, fiber optic cables, and hydrocarbon-sensing cables.
The gold standard in pipelines
The safety of our pipelines starts with the best steel and the best-made pipe—the gold standard when it comes to pipelines.
Learn more about our partnership with EVRAZ.
Better, safer pipelines
Delivering energy safely is a science that's becoming increasingly sophisticated.
We engage leading experts in the field to advance and refine inline inspection technology. This includes supporting the research, development and testing of new tools and technologies.Explore our Innovation section
Safety Is Built In
We start with precisely manufactured pipe that is carefully selected and tested. Corrosion-inhibiting coatings and cathodic protection are built right in to every project.
We incorporate special design requirements and construction techniques, such as Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD), in areas like water crossings. We inspect every weld joint using ultrasonic or X-ray testing before the pipeline is laid.
Our preventative pipeline maintenance video
Enbridge's ongoing preventative maintenance program includes regular examinations of our pipes, using our in-line inspection tools, and preventative maintenance digs—some of which may happen in your area. Our focus on prevention is one aspect of our multi-pronged approach to safety.
Healthy pipelines
Maintaining the fitness of our pipes is key to ensuring a safe network. We've never experienced an internal corrosion failure on our mainline network, and we employ multiple measures to ensure pipeline fitness, including:
- Robust pipeline coatings to curb corrosion;
- Regular monitoring and inspections;
- Cathodic protection—applying a low electrical current to the steel in the pipeline—to protect against corrosion;
- Enforcing stringent quality standards—for viscosity, density, temperature and other factors—for every batch of oil entering our pipeline network;
- Maintaining a high flow rate on our transmission lines to minimize corrosion;
- Injecting chemicals into the oil in our lines to neutralize corrosion; and
- Regular inline cleaning with specialized tools.
Focused on prevention
We are focused on preventing incidents before they occur, and ongoing pipeline inspections play a key role in our prevention strategy.
We complete an average of more than 200 in-line inspections annually on our pipeline and distribution systems. These inspections allow us to monitor the physical condition of the pipelines from the inside out, using sophisticated tools to gather the information we need to keep our systems healthy and in excellent condition.
Hydrostatic testing
We hydrostatically test all new pipelines prior to putting them into service.
Each pipe section is filled with water and subjected to 1.25 to 1.5 times the maximum allowable operating pressure to ensure the strength and structural integrity of the pipe, welded joints, valves and fittings.
As with all our activities, we conduct hydrostatic testing with a focus on protecting the safety of our neighbors and the public, our employees and the environment.
Learn more about our hydrostatic testing procedure.
Pipeline monitoring in action
Jeremy Ward's phone rang at 10:37 p.m. on Friday, April 17, 2015. One of Enbridge's pipeline inspection providers, Pure Technologies, was calling.READ JEREMY'S STORY
Jeremy Ward's phone rang at 10:37 p.m. on Friday, April 17, 2015. One of Enbridge's pipeline inspection providers, Pure Technologies, was calling.
That afternoon a local Enbridge pipeline maintenance crew and a team from the inspection company had retrieved a SmartBall tool from Line 21, which carries crude oil from Norman Wells in Canada's Northwest Territories to Alberta. The tool had traveled inside a segment of the pipeline over the previous number of days, its acoustic sensors listening for any telltale sounds that could indicate a tiny leak.
"It's never going to be good news when you get a late-night call after you've pulled an inspection tool," says Jeremy, who is a member of the team that manages and monitors the health of Enbridge's pipelines. "Whenever we retrieve a tool, the vendor takes a quick look at the data, to see if there's anything that jumps out as needing urgent attention. That's why they were calling. They had found what looked like signs of a leak."
Within minutes, Jeremy had informed his boss and then contacted the Control Centre Operations in Edmonton, and by 10:47 p.m., ten minutes after the call from Pure Technologies, Enbridge had shut the line down.
What followed over the next few days was a race against time involving nearly two dozen people to determine the exact location where the SmartBall had heard something and to get a team on the ground to investigate.
By Saturday morning the team had identified a 2 km (1.2 mile) stretch of pipeline about 415 km (260 miles) south of Norman Wells. A crew flew to the location and did an aerial and ground search. They found no signs of a leak.
"At the same time other members of the team were back at the office, reviewing data from previous inline inspections, including from a different tool we'd pulled from the line on the same day, to see if they could find any other evidence to help us refine our search," says Jeremy.
Over the weekend, based on more detailed analysis of the data, the ground team searched six specific nearby locations along the pipeline. Still no evidence of a leak.
"While this was all happening, the controllers in Edmonton were watching the pressure in the pipeline," Jeremy says. "It held steady, which is a good sign that there are no leaks and the system is intact."
Even with this positive news, Enbridge proceeded with caution. For three more days, as the investigation progressed, it kept the line shut down. On Wednesday, April 22, Enbridge safely restarted Line 21.
"At the end of it, after we'd gone through all the procedures, it turned out to be a false alarm," Jeremy says. "Some people might look at that and say it was a waste of effort, but I don't think so. That's our approach to safety. We weren't going to restart that line until we'd run down every lead and considered every possibility to confirm it was safe."
Jeremy Ward
Program Manager, Pipeline Integrity
Pipeline inspections in action
Walter Kresic, Enbridge's VP in charge of monitoring and managing the health of our liquids pipelines, talks about in-line inspections, one of the important tools we use to keep our systems in excellent condition.READ WALTER'S STORY
In 2014 we completed 205 in-line inspections across all our systems, sending sophisticated tools through our pipelines to check on their condition from the inside. But what does an inline inspection involve?
"On our crude oil pipeline systems the process of doing an inline inspection involves dozens of people," Walter says. "From field personnel and our control center operators to the extended teams who oversee the health of our pipelines and the external partners we work with to continually refine and improve the sensitivity and accuracy of the tools we use to ensure our systems are in top shape."
While each in-line inspection is unique, a typical one is planned months in advance. Before we run our inspection tools through a section of pipeline, we must first run other tools to clean and prepare the pipe so it is ready to be scanned from the inside out.
Only then can an in-line inspection take place. The tools, which use ultrasound or a technology similar to that found in a medical MRI scanner, is introduced to the pipe and is propelled along by the oil flowing through the system.
"The oil on our systems moves at between 2.5 and 5 miles (4 and 8 km) per hour, about as fast as a person walks, so it can take days or even weeks for an in-line inspection tool to travel along the pipeline. All the while it is scanning the pipe from the inside, collecting and storing a huge amount of information about the condition of the pipeline on a millimeter by millimeter basis," Walter says.
"Further down the line we retrieve the tool and download the inspection data. Our expert engineers and external specialists then pore over this data, completing a preliminary review within hours to quickly identify anything that requires immediate action, followed up by a deeper analysis over the following weeks and months, to identify and locate features within the pipeline that require closer attention over the longer term."
All told, Walter says, a typical inspection, from when we first start planning to when we have completed the run through the pipe, analyzed the data and passed along our findings to the pipeline maintenance teams, costs millions of dollars and takes approximately 12 months.
Each in-line inspection is a big, complex job involving many people and lots of resources," says Walter. "Across Enbridge we've done nearly 700 of them in the last three years because it's an important part of how we keep our pipelines in great shape and operating safely.
Walter Kresic
Vice President of Pipeline Integrity
Emergency response readiness
While our primary focus is on preventing incidents from occurring, it's also important to be prepared. We hope we never have to respond to a pipeline leak—but if we do, we're ready.LEARN MORE
Special techniques are used for crossing bodies of water—including overwater pipelines,
in-water pipelines and tunnelling under the river bed itself.
Intelligent, remotely controlled valves
Isolation valves, which control or stop the flow of crude oil, are a key piece of pipeline safety equipment. We monitor our pipeline system 24/7/365, and we can remotely close a valve immediately on detection of a potential problem—with full closure within three minutes of activation.
Intelligent Valve Placement
See how we use isolation valves in a variety of situations to control the flow of crude oil and liquids in our pipelines.
Horizontal Directional Drilling
We use horizontal directional drilling to minimize disturbance and increase the safety of our systems when we lay pipelines beneath large rivers or sensitive crossings.
Underwater inspections
As with surface examinations, our high-tech in-line inspection tools examine the pipe inch by inch, from the inside out.
In special cases, like our Line 5 Straits of Mackinac underwater crossing, we also use specially trained scuba divers and remotely operated submersibles to thoroughly examine the pipe's exterior and its immediate environment.
Safety in the Straits
In northern Michigan, we take special precautions to ensure the continued safe and reliable operation of Line 5 as it crosses under the Straits of Mackinac.
Our suite of safety measures includes regular inspections (including inline tools, expert divers and remotely operated vehicles); diligent, 24/7 monitoring;
and proactive maintenance to support the Line 5 crossing's extraordinary design and construction standards.
Water: Respecting every drop.
Learn more about our approach to water protection and usage.


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Visit the FoxSoccer.com website and you certainly can't miss the news that Fox Soccer Channel will begin its Champions League TV coverage on August 18, 2009. The first thing you see on Fox's website is a landing page featuring a clock counting down the number of days until the first Champions League match on Fox. You're then faced with the option of going directly to the FoxSoccer.com homepage or visiting the Champions League front page.
Clicking on the Champions League front page link takes you to a page that looks very similar to the FoxSoccer.com homepage except that the photos, videos and news are all focused on the Champions League. There's nothing too interesting there right now, but I'm sure as soon as the Champions League begins, there'll be more reasons to return.
In the meantime, it's interesting to view how Fox builds up to its launch of the Champions League coverage, which is a big deal for them and a big deal for us. It's crucial that Fox Soccer Channel comes out with a quality package both online and on TV as ESPN has spoiled us the last few years with their quality coverage.
More shall be revealed soon. We still don't know who'll be playing in the August 18th Champions League play-off game, but we'll find out who that'll be after the third qualifying round for the Champions League ends on August 5.


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I am native Hungarian, born and raised in Hungary. I completed high school as well as my bachelor's degree in Hungarian. I am fluent in Hungarian as well as in English, where I completed a Masters of Business Administration degree. Hello, I am a native Hungarian speaker, born and raised in Hungary. I spent the first 20 years of my life in Hungary, mainly in Eger and Budapest. I have moved to the US 6 years ago, and have been living here ever since. I have tutored several people in the past on basic communication skills, Hungarian grammar, and specific individualized requests. If you are loc [more]


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White House
Obama proposes assault-weapons ban, other controls on guns
President Barack Obama pledged Wednesday to put the full weight of his office behind the nation's most aggressive gun-control plan in generations as he hopes to decrease the number of mass shootings and acts of random violence that occur every day in America.
He proposed banning assault weapons, limiting ammunition magazines to 10 rounds, requiring background checks on all gun purchases, penalizing those who buy guns from unlicensed dealers, hiring 1,000 more school resource officers and spending millions more on training, research and counseling.
The sweeping package – much of which needs approval from a divided and often uncooperative Congress – came a month after a slaughter at an elementary school in Newtown, Conn., left 26 people, including 20 young children, dead.
In an emotional midday speech at the White House complex, a somber Obama recalled the innocent Americans who've been killed in a string of mass shootings: at a movie theater last summer in Aurora, Colo.; at a Sikh temple a few weeks later in Oak Creek, Wis.; at a shopping center last month in Clackamas, Ore.; and at a university in Blacksburg, Va., in 2007.
He told a roomful of crime victims, activists and lawmakers that 900 more people had been shot to death in the 33 days since the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre.
"While there is no law or set of laws that can prevent every senseless act of violence completely, no piece of legislation that will prevent every tragedy, every act of evil, if there is even one thing we can do to reduce this violence, if there is even one life that can be saved, then we've got an obligation to try," Obama said, standing near four young children who'd written him letters after the Newtown shooting.
As he closed, he told the audience that the parents of one of the slain children in Newtown had given him a painting by their daughter. Her name was Grace and she was 7. The painting now hangs in his private study.
When the president spoke, it was in a tone that was quiet, but determined. Some in the room held back tears, but a few in the audience cried softly.
Obama's announcement set off a fierce debate on Capitol Hill, where Republicans and some Democrats oppose changes that they fear would chip away at the Second Amendment right to bear arms.
Leaders of the Democratic-led Senate expect to begin debate in two weeks, though some bills may not even get a vote in the Republican-run House of Representatives.
House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, released only a brief statement from an aide.
"House committees of jurisdiction will review these recommendations. And if the Senate passes a bill, we will also take a look at that," spokesman Michael Steel said.
Some Republicans struck a conciliatory tone, suggesting that school safety and mental health services might be addressed, but other expressed blunt opposition.
"President Obama is targeting the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens instead of seriously addressing the real underlying causes of such violence," said Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, who's a rising star in his party and possible 2016 presidential candidate. "Rolling back responsible citizens' rights is not the proper response to tragedies committed by criminals and the mentally ill."
Freshman Rep. Steve Stockman, R-Texas, said he'd "seek legislation barring funds to enforce the orders. I will seek legislation to cut White House funding should the president issue and enforce such orders. I will support legal efforts to overturn the orders in court."
If all that fails, Stockman said, he'd seek to impeach the president.
The United States has more firearms than any other nation – 270 million, according to the international Small Arms Survey, an independent research project at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva. Background checks to purchase firearms have soared in the last month, after potential buyers became worried about possible new restrictions.
In a statement Wednesday, the politically powerful National Rifle Association accused the president of "attacking firearms and ignoring children."
"The NRA will continue to focus on keeping our children safe and securing our schools, fixing our broken mental health system and prosecuting violent criminals to the fullest extent of the law," the group said.
During his first term, Obama avoided the contentious subject of gun control, an issue that was unlikely to win him political points or bring him legislative success.
But since the Newtown massacre – which he describes as the worst day of his presidency – the president has embarked on a risky move. While he doesn't have another election to worry about, he's decided to spend political capital on gun control at the start of his second term, even as other hefty and controversial items beckon, including an immigration overhaul and a host of fiscal issues.
White House officials say the package of "common-sense proposals" is aimed at taking guns out of the hands of those who shouldn't have them, getting "weapons of war" off the streets, making schools safer and offering more mental health services. The new proposals will cost an estimated $500 million. Administration officials said they didn't know how many lives would be saved if the measures were enacted.
In addition to proposing legislation, Obama signed 23 executive actions that don't need congressional approval. Some lawmakers complained that he was making an end run around them, though the actions are modest.
They include making it easier for federal and state agencies to make data available to the national background-check system, launching a national campaign for safe and responsible gun ownership, reviewing safety standards for gun locks and gun safes, and nominating a director to fill a years-long vacancy at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
"As important as these steps are, they are in no way a substitute for action from members of Congress," Obama said.
A Pew poll released this week showed mixed reactions to many of the president's proposals. But Republicans, Democrats and independents overwhelmingly support background checks for private sales, preventing people with mental illness from buying guns and having more police officers in schools.
The recommendations came after Vice President Joe Biden spent the month after the Newtown shootings speaking to more than 200 organizations, including gun control groups, gun owners, religious leaders, law enforcement organizations, the medical community and child advocacy groups.
"No one can know for certain if this senseless act could have been prevented, but we all know we have a moral obligation . . . to do everything in our power to diminish the prospect that something like this could happen again," Biden said.
Local officials and activists who've been waiting for years for presidential action touted the proposals.
Philadelphia Mayor Michael Anthony Nutter, the president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, commended Obama for his "bold vision." Dan Gross, the president of the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence, called Wednesday "a momentous day."
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, perhaps the most visible champion of limiting access to guns – who hasn't shied away from criticizing the president for not pushing the issue hard enough – said, "Today, it's clear that the president and vice president heard us. . . . The vast majority of Americans support common-sense gun regulations, and clearly the White House was listening."
Sandy Phillips, whose daughter, Jessica Redfield Ghawi, was among 12 people killed during the shooting spree in an Aurora, Colo., theater last summer, echoed the mayor's sentiments after attending the White House event.
"It is the first time our politicians are caring and listening to us," she said.
David Lightman and Maria Recio contributed to this report.


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Montana GEAR UP Mission Statement
Montana GEAR UP believes that postsecondary education is possible for all Montana students, regardless of economic background. Montana GEAR UP supports schools, students, and their families to increase students' college and career readiness through academic preparedness, postsecondary planning, and financial aid knowledge so that they may succeed in their education beyond high school.
Goals & Objectives
GOAL 1: Increase the academic performance and preparation for postsecondary education of GEAR UP students
Objective 1.1 - Increase student academic performance in mathematics
Objective 1.2 - Increase student demonstration of academic preparation for college
GOAL 2: Increase the rate of high school graduation and enrollment in postsecondary education for GEAR UP students
Objective 2.1 - Increase graduation rates of GEAR UP students from high school
Objective 2.2 - Increase enrollment rates of GEAR UP students in postsecondary education
GOAL 3: Increase GEAR UP students' and their families' knowledge of postsecondary education options, preparation, & financing
Objective 3.1 - Increase student knowledge of available financial aid and the costs and benefits of pursuing postsecondary education
Objective 3.2 - Increase family knowledge of available financial aid and the costs and benefits of pursuing postsecondary education
"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world" Nelson Mandela


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Amway reports record sales of $11.8B
Ada-based Amway has reported record sales of $11.8 billion in 2013, an increase of $500 million over sales in 2012.
Amway, a privately held company, said the numbers include revenue from direct selling operations, as well as its other business holdings and marks increases in sales for the last seven consecutive years.
In a joint statement from Amway Chairman Steve Van Andel and Amway President Doug DeVos, the company said its independent distributors are the driving force behind the sales revenue, supported by 21,000 employees worldwide.
Amway distributors are in more than 100 countries and territories, with China being the company's largest single market in terms of sales volume.
Nutrition products continued to be the largest seller for Amway, led by its Nutrilite protein powder and Nutrilite Double/Triple X supplements.
Mike Cazer, Amway chief financial officer, said the company has launched Nutrilite Memory Builder protein powder, which Chinese consumers are "absolutely in love with."
Other recent product launches included Truvivity by Nutrilite, described as a "patented moisture-enhancing system that leverages the company's scientific expertise in nutrition and beauty," and a new line of weight-management products called Nutrilite Bodykey.
Sales also were strengthened by a continuing global introduction of the Amway Artistry Youth Xtend skincare products and an Artistry Ideal Radiance "brightening line."
Cazer said China is known for its air and water pollution problems, and Amway has products in the home environment filtering market now, too.
In late 2012, the company introduced in China its eSpring home water purifier system.
"ESpring is the world's best-selling home water treatment system," Cazer said.


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Interior, Canterbury Cathedral
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* Nearly 20,000 images of artworks the museum believes to be in the public domain are available to download on this site. Other images may be protected by copyright and other intellectual property rights. By using any of these images you agree to LACMA's Terms of Use.
Interior, Canterbury Cathedral
Albumen print
Image: 8 1/2 x 6 1/2; Mount: 14 1/2 x 11 1/2
The Marjorie and Leonard Vernon Collection, gift of The Annenberg Foundation, acquired from Carol Vernon and Robert Turbin (M.2008.40.848.9)
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National e-waste legislation to keep hardware costs lower
A congressional caucus studying e-waste could recommend national legislation that vendors say would cost data center managers little to nothing compared to disparate state and local regulations.
A U.S. congressional caucus has met twice in the past month to determine if the growing e-waste problem could be solved by national legislation, which server vendors support over state or municipal regulations.
The E-Waste Working Group, as it is called, formed as environmental groups and some U.S. congressmen came to feel that there should be a federal law on the matter. The federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that more than four million tons of e-waste, some of it with toxic ingredients, hit landfills each year.
"I think people recognize that there needs to be a federal program," said Rep. Mike Thompson (D-CA), one of the four congressmen in the group. "That's the one thing where there seemed to be agreement. I'm guardedly optimistic about that."
If e-waste is not disposed of properly, it could harm the environment and people. Some states have varied regulations regarding the disposal and reuse of e-waste, and Congress is starting to wake up to the problem, but oversight in the U.S is still weak compared to Europe, where continent-wide regulations have passed regarding the manufacture and disposal of e-waste.
Major server manufacturers would probably prefer no legislation at all, but federal regulations, as opposed to local ones, enable them to standardize equipment takeback programs. If legislation on electronic waste is varied state to state and city to city, manufacturers could pay more to recycle products, and the cost could trickle down to end users.
David Douglas, Sun's vice president of ecoresponsibility, said national legislation would work best and similarly to the Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) directive in the European Union (EU), which says responsibility for e-waste rests on manufacturers.
"If we were having to deal with local regulations and local disposition facilities in every state, to deal with every state's nuanced costs, that would clearly involve cost to our basic equipment," he said.
David Isaacs, Hewlett-Packard Co.'s (HP) director of government and public policy, said the company's goal is always to get as much resell value out of the equipment it is taking back from customers.
"Our goal, our approach is how we can make that cost as small as possible while still doing the job and meeting our goals," he said.
That, of course, would be beneficial to data center managers. Many of them are already paying for third-party waste management firms to get rid of their old hardware. Jaime Man, IT director of Health Care Excel in Indianapolis, doesn't ship equipment off to his third-party waste management firm, Recall, until it's practically useless.
Tom Joseph, facilities manager at Time Warner Cable in Herndon, Va., agreed.
"We pretty much use them until we burn them up," he said. Joseph added that incremental increases in his hardware costs wouldn't make that much difference but that "on the larger scale (for the company) it would."
Let us know what you think about the story; e-mail: Mark Fontecchio, News Writer


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2018 Stampede X
An 80HP EFI engine precision-tuned to explore and dominate. An unrelenting suspension system that keeps you comfortable all day long, and a driving experience designed to make an off-road journey feel like a ride in your pickup. Fully customizable, fully reliable and ready to take on any challenge.
- 846cc Twin-Cylinder Liquid-Cooled EFI 80HP Engine
- Automatic Transmission
- On Demand AWD
- Independent Suspension
- 2-up Seating
Color: Electric Blue
** Prices and specifications may change without notice.


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SAN JOSE — The man accused of driving into an East San Jose Wal-Mart store and attacking shoppers last weekend had a strikingly similar incident in December when he crashed into a San Jose gas station while allegedly high on meth, court documents reveal.
Haamid Ade Zaid, 33, described by police as a Seaside resident but who has more recent ties to San Jose, was being prosecuted for a string of other allegedly drug-fueled crimes in Santa Clara County's drug court at the time his crash into the Wal-Mart grabbed national headlines.
Zaid is scheduled to be arraigned Thursday in connection with the melee Easter morning when, while reportedly high on drugs, police said he attacked four people with a blunt object inside the Story Road store.
His previous scrapes with the law include an October arrest after he allegedly threw a chair through a window of a Santana Row pub while allegedly high on cocaine, according to court records. That was preceded by an incident from two years ago when, while allegedly high on meth, he called police to report a burglary at his San Jose home. But according to court records, Zaid was experiencing a bout of drug-induced paranoia that resulted in his arrest on multiple drug charges including illegally growing marijuana.
Attorney Jeffrey L. Kaloustian represents Zaid in the pending cases and said it is likely, but not certain, that he will also take on the Wal-Mart case. He declined to comment on his client's legal troubles.
"There's nothing I want to say about that," Kaloustian said.
Meanwhile, Zaid remains in Santa Clara County Jail on $200,000 bail after he was booked on multiple felony counts of assault, hit and run, being under the influence of illegal drugs, and resisting arrest for the Sunday incident. All of the victims are expected to recover.
Zaid, who according to police reports is a mechanic, has been involved in other incidents that authorities say were fueled by drug use.
According to police reports, on Dec. 16 Zaid was driving a black Lexus sedan near Meridian and Hillsdale avenues when he ran a red light, broadsided a vehicle and kept driving down West Capitol Expressway until he reached a Chevron station near the Highway 87 overpass. Police say he lost control while trying to turn into the station and "crashed through double pain (sic) glass door," destroying several merchandise stands inside. Miraculously, no one was injured.
Officers at the scene found a "pink crystal" substance on Zaid and later a plastic bag filled with it. According to the report, Zaid admitted to "snorting meth" earlier in the day.
The crash paralleled the start of what happened at Walmart, where police and witnesses say Zaid was speeding his Cutlass Salon in the parking lot and pinballed off two cars before plowing through the front of the store. But Sunday's incident veered when after crashing, Zaid reportedly got out of his wrecked car, picked up a nearby object some described as a metal bar, and started hitting patrons. An employee approached him and pleaded with him to stop, and Zaid instead clubbed him in the head, police said, causing him to be hospitalized.
Zaid was stopped when onlookers tackled him and held him down until police arrived.
On Oct. 10, police were called to Rosie McCann's Irish Pub in Santana Row after witnesses reported that Zaid threw a chair through a window and ran away. When police caught up to him, reports say, he "said he was going for a jog."
Zaid has also faced a string of misdemeanor charges encompassing illegal drug use and traffic infractions like driving on a suspended license.
Two cases about 18 months apart illustrate how Zaid's purported meth abuse made him susceptible to erratic behavior and paranoid delusions. On July 8, 2011, he called police to his Laurelei Avenue home to report burglars inside. Officers found no evidence of a break-in but did find an illegal marijuana grow, and after continuing to insist that the burglary happened and later saying that he had been set up, he was arrested and eventually charged with being under the influence of narcotics.
On Jan. 21 he again called police and claimed people were breaking into his house, according to police reports. Officers say Zaid shuffled around the house, hardly acknowledging their presence.
When the officers tried to restrain him to perform a search, he broke away and ran around. He soon gave up and he was placed in a patrol car on suspicion of resisting arrest and being under the influence.
"I asked the suspect if he smoked anything today," Officer Christopher Proft wrote in his report. "The suspect said, 'Meth.' "
Contact Robert Salonga at 408-920-5002. Follow him at Twitter.com/robertsalonga.


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All Transport
Towards a Self-Driving FuturePresentation, slides, speech,
19 December 2016
Adapting Transport to Climate Change and Extreme WeatherResearch Report, Policy Insights,
15 December 2016
Automation of the Driving Task: Some Possible Consequences and Governance ChallengesPresentation, slides, speech,
6 December 2016
Human Factors, User Requirements and User Acceptance of Ride Sharing in Automated VehiclesPresentation, slides, speech,
6 December 2016
Assessing the Impacts of the Road Safety Remuneration System in Australia: A RIA Case StudyDiscussion Paper,
1 December 2016
Transport Models as Climate Policy Evaluation ToolsPromotional Publication,
9 November 2016
ITF Brings Transport Policy Expertise to COP22 Climate ConferenceMedia Release,
7 November 2016
Charting Pathways to Decarbonise TransportPromotional Publication,
3 November 2016
Viegas welcomes UN High-level group's Sustainable Transport reportMedia Release,
31 October 2016
Income Inequality, Social Inclusion and Mobility: SynopsisPolicy Brief,
13 October 2016
National Issues in the USA in Economic Development, Mobility, and Income InequalityDiscussion Paper,
13 October 2016
Balancing Financial Sustainability and Affordability in Public TransportDiscussion Paper,
13 October 2016
Is Congestion Pricing Fair?Discussion Paper,
13 October 2016
Perspectives for Integrating Housing Location Considerations and Transport Planning as a Means to Face Social Exclusion in Indian CitiesDiscussion Paper,
12 October 2016
How Equitable is Access to Opportunities and Basic Services Considering the Impact of the Level of Service?Discussion Paper,
12 October 2016
Housing Plus Transportation Affordability Indices: Uses, Opportunities, and ChallengesDiscussion Paper,
12 October 2016
2016 Summit Highlights in PicturesPromotional Publication,
9 October 2016
Regulating Transport: The Possible Role of Regulatory Impact Assessment in Swedish Transport PlanningDiscussion Paper,
29 September 2016
New Mobility Solutions for Liveable CitiesMedia Release,
26 September 2016
Competitive Tendering in Local and Regional Public Transport in the NetherlandsDiscussion Paper,
18 September 2016
Deregulation, Franchising, Outsourcing and Corporatisation in Local Public TransportDiscussion Paper,
18 September 2016
Policy-makers forum: how should governments around the world prepare for automated vehicles?Promotional Publication,
6 September 2016
Sustainable and Inclusive Transport: KOTI Seminar ProceedingsResearch Report,
5 September 2016
Transdev joins Corporate Partnership BoardMedia Release,
5 September 2016
Transdev s'associe au Comité de partenariat d'entrepriseMedia Release,
5 September 2016
Las soluciones de movilidad compartida mejoran el acceso al trabajo, los servicios sanitarios y la educación. Resumen ejecutivoPolicy Brief,
4 July 2016
Shared mobility solutions improve access to jobs, health services and educationMedia Release,
4 July 2016
Las soluciones de movilidad compartida mejoran el acceso al trabajo, los servicios sanitarios y la educaciónMedia Release,
4 July 2016
Les solutions de mobilité partagée améliorent l'accès à l'emploi, aux services de santé et à l'éducation. SynthèsePolicy Brief,
4 July 2016
Les solutions de mobilité partagée améliorent l'accès à l'emploi, aux services de santé et à l'éducationMedia Release,
4 July 2016


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This Blog focuses on Ancestor Stories, both the stories themselves about my family's ancestors and discussions of where they come from and how to prepare and share them. These stories may be non-fiction or fiction – we will always tell which is which, of course. Also see my KINNICK blog and The HOMEPLACE Series Blog, left sidebar, scroll down.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
MyHeritage.com's Top 100 Genealogy Sites
13 comments:
Congratulations Bill!ReplyDelete
- AnonymousMay 12, 2010 at 1:31 PM
We think he's doing great stuff!ReplyDelete
You are both very kind, thank you! It is very inspiring to work with such neat colleagues!ReplyDelete
And another show of appreciation coming your way. Thanks Bill.ReplyDelete
Congratulations Dr. Bill!ReplyDelete
Congratulations - you deserve it!ReplyDelete
Thank you each for the additional pressure to keep it up.... I was about ready to cut back... Not really! Must forget that thought now! It truly is a labor of love. ;-)ReplyDelete
Congratulations, Bill!ReplyDelete
Great! Congrats to you Bill!ReplyDelete
- AnonymousMay 13, 2010 at 3:44 AM
Awesome! Congrats!!!ReplyDelete
Congratulations, Bill!ReplyDelete
Congratulations Bill! If there was a special award for extending congrats to others you certainly would have earned it!ReplyDelete
Thank you, each. It was very interesting. There were lots and lots of lesser know blogs where there were no "congratulations" messages. It was a pleasure to bring a little spark to a few of those eyes, as well. I like to carry my storytelling message to as many places as possible. Everyone can use a little sunshine! ;-)ReplyDelete


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Your Money: That daily Americano doesn't earn you interest
I've never denied the fact that I am a numbers geek through and through. I enjoy numbers and I think they are fun and powerful. To illustrate this point, I wanted to share a few of my favorite concepts. Give these some thought, play around with them, and most definitely, share them with your kids and your friends! Why do I think numbers are powerful? Four words: time value of money. This may not be the simplest of concepts to illustrate, but once you get it, it will change the way you think about little purchases. Time value of money basically means that if you save money now, it will grow in future years because of compound interest. If you have $100 now, and it earns 5 percent interest, that $100 will become $1,000 or more in 50 years. That may not seem like a big deal, but if you can save $1,000 each and every year for those same 50 years, you will have saved $50,000 in cash, but that $50,000 will be worth more than $200,000 because of the interest you can earn along the way.Think it's too hard to save $1,000 per year? That's the equivalent of going out to dinner once a month, purchasing a fancy coffee a few days a week or eating lunch out twice a week. Not all that challenging when you break it down. So, the next time you are deciding between grabbing lunch at the local pizza place or brown-bagging it, how nice would it feel to have $200,000 cash ready for you in retirement?More powerful to consider, try sharing this strategy with your kids. If they can start a Roth IRA when they start working around age 16 and contribute $5,000 that year and for their next 50 years, they will have over $1 million when they are 66. Sure, it's hard to get a kid to look that far ahead, but it's worth a shot and at least you can say you tried. If you do happen to catch their attention, they will most certainly thank you later. My dad had this conversation with me when I was 10, and I assure you, it was a life-changing conversation.Want another trick to share with your kids? Grab some paper and a pencil and try the double-a-penny trick. Start with one penny on day one, double it on day two to two pennies; day three it becomes four pennies, and so on. How much do you think it will be worth in 30 days? I'm not going to post the answer here, but I will post a demonstration on my website in case anyone wants to check out the answer. Trust me, it will shock you.There is power in knowledge, and that most certainly extends to numbers. Play around with these concepts and you will see that a little savings can go a long, long way. Michele Knight, owner of Knight Accounting & Technology, is a CPA and QuickBooks ProAdvisor based in Dillon. For more info and to contact her, visit http://www.cpamichele.com.
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Estimated Cost of Attendance – Online Undergraduate Students 2019 – 2020 Academic Year
Online Undergraduate Students Estimated Cost of Attendance
In 2003, the University of Illinois Act was amended (110 ILCS 305/25) to include a four year tuition guarantee for new undergraduate students who enrolled beginning with the 2004-2005 academic year. The purpose of the undergraduate guaranteed tuition program is to provide a high degree of certainty about tuition costs for students and families. The plan applies to all undergraduate students enrolled in a baccalaureate degree program on one of the three campuses of the University. The plan treats every student as part of a cohort defined by the date of entry to the University. Each cohort is guaranteed an unchanged tuition schedule for four years. Click below for your tuition rate based on the semester you were first admitted to the University of Illinois at Springfield.
- Guaranteed Tuition Rate: Summer 2019, Fall 2019, Spring 2020
- Guaranteed Tuition Rate: Summer 2018, Fall 2018, Spring 2019
- Guaranteed Tuition Rate: Summer 2017, Fall 2017, Spring 2018
- Guaranteed Tuition Rate: Summer 2016, Fall 2016, Spring 2017
- Guaranteed Tuition Rate: Summer 2015, Fall 2015, Spring 2016
- Non Guaranteed Tuition Rate