text:
European Commission opens investigation into merger of Ahlstrom's European label and processing business and Munksjö, citing potential competition concerns in markets of pre-impregnated paper and abrasive paper backings
December 7, 2012
(press release)
– The European Commission has opened an in-depth investigation under the EU Merger Regulation into the planned combination into a new merged entity of Munksjö AB, a Swedish-based manufacturer of high value-added paper products, and the European label and processing business of Ahlstrom Corporation (ALP), a Finnish manufacturer of high performance materials. The two entities would be transferred to a new company, "NewCo", through a series of transactions. The Commission's preliminary investigation indicated potential competition concerns in the markets of pre-impregnated paper ("PRIP") and abrasive paper backings, where NewCo would have high market shares both in the European Economic Area (EEA) and worldwide. The decision to open an in-depth inquiry does not prejudge the result of the investigation. The Commission now has 90 working days, until 29 April 2013, to take a final decision on whether the transaction would reduce effective competition in the EEA.
Commission Vice President in charge of competition policy Joaquín Almunia said: "This proposed merger in the paper industry would remove a competitor from some markets which are already highly concentrated. The Commission needs to make sure that effective competition is preserved and prevent harm to customers, particularly when the only few available sources of supply are at stake."
Munksjö and ALP produce, among others, PRIP, a kind of decor paper ultimately used in the furniture industry; abrasive paper backings, used as inputs for producing abrasive products such as sandpaper, sanding discs and belts; and electrotechnical paper, used for insulation of high voltage submarine cables, transformers, motors and generators.
The Commission's initial investigation has shown that the proposed transaction would combine two leading suppliers of PRIP and abrasive paper backings, both in the EEA and worldwide. At this stage of the investigation, the Commission has concerns that the remaining competitors in both markets may not be able to exert sufficiently strong constraints on the behaviour of the merged entity. The removal of an important competitor may lead to a reduction of choice for customers and potentially an increase in prices for the products concerned.
The Commission will now investigate the proposed merger in-depth to determine whether these initial concerns are confirmed or not.
The transaction was notified to the Commission on 31 October 2012.
Companies and products
Munksjö is a Swedish-based manufacturer of high value-added paper products in several product areas (decor paper, PRIP, abrasive backings, electrotechnical paper, fine art paper, pulp, Spantex and thin paper). Munksjö is controlled by the Guernsey based investment fund EQT III Limited.
Ahlstrom is a Finnish manufacturer of high performance materials, divided in four business areas: building and energy, filtration, food and medical, label and processing. The proposed transaction only concerns Ahlstrom's European label and processing business.
Both Munksjö and ALP produce paper products in various segments. However, their activities overlap in PRIP, abrasive paper backings and to a minor extent in electrotechnical paper.
NewCo will not be controlled, either solely or jointly, by any of its shareholders.
Merger control rules and procedures
The Commission has the duty to assess mergers and acquisitions involving companies with a turnover above certain thresholds (see Article 1 of the Merger Regulation) and to prevent concentrations that would significantly impede effective competition in the EEA or any substantial part of it.
The Commission clears the vast majority of mergers after a one-month review, but if it has competition concerns it must open an in-depth investigation (Phase II review). The opening of a full probe does not prejudge its outcome.
There are currently three other on-going phase II investigations. The first one examines the proposed acquisition of Orange Austria by Hutchison in the field of mobile telephony (see IP/12/726). The Commission has until 21 December 2012 to reach a final decision. The second phase II investigation concerns the planned acquisition of TNT Express by UPS in the small package delivery sector (see IP/12/816), with a deadline set for 5 February 2013. Finally, in the third on-going phase II, the Commission investigates Ryanair's project to merge with rival Aer Lingus (see IP/12/921).The deadline here is 6 February 2013.
More information will be available on the competition website, in the Commission's public case register under the case number M.6576.
* All content is copyrighted by Industry Intelligence, or the original respective author or source. You may not recirculate, redistrubte or publish the analysis and presentation included in the service without Industry Intelligence's prior written consent. Please review our terms of use.


text:
Frank Underwood Joins Presidential Portrait Collection at National Portrait Gallery
The portrait will be on display from Wednesday through October
Joining the only complete collection of presidential portraits outside of the White House, a painting of Kevin Spacey as "House of Cards" president Frank Underwood was unveiled at the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery Monday night.
The portrait is a collaboration between British artist Jonathan Yeo and the D.C. museum.
Yeo, regarded as one of the preeminent portrait artists of his generation, has painted British Prime Minister David Cameron, actors Dennis Hopper and Nicole Kidman, and activist Malala Yousafzai, among others.
When the Smithsonian asked Yeo to contribute a portrait of Spacey to their collection, the artist visited the set of Netflix's "House of Cards" and was inspired by the impact of the show and Underwood's character on popular culture. Yeo and Spacey, supported by the museum's curators, decided that the subject should be President Underwood seated at the Oval Office desk, according to a Netflix release.
"When the Smithsonian's Portrait Gallery first approached Jonathan and me about a portrait of me -- the actor -- I wanted to see if Jonathan could unveil a fully rendered presidential portrait," Spacey said in a release. "It is a real honor to be exhibited at the Smithsonian and a thrill to see Frank take his place among the presidents in this historic setting."
The portrait unveiling comes as the Emmy-nominated show is about to launch its fourth season March 4.
"It is a great honor to see one of our most renowned series' characters immortalized in the National Portrait Gallery, alongside such esteemed presidential portraits," Netflix Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos said in a release. "We have watched as the character of Frank Underwood has taken hold in popular culture and this wonderful portrait by Jonathan Yeo is a fine testament to the impact of the character that Kevin Spacey has created."
The portrait will hang on public display at the National Portrait Gallery starting Wednesday, through October.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
St. Bonaventure is accredited by the Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Commission on Recognition of Postsecondary Accreditation. Other accreditations include:
St. Bonaventure's School of Business has joined an elite group, achieving accreditation of its bachelor's and master's degree programs in business from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).
Accreditation represents the highest standard of achievement for business schools, worldwide. Institutions that earn accreditation confirm their commitment to quality and continuous improvement through a rigorous and comprehensive peer review.
As a small liberal arts university, St. Bonaventure is particularly proud to have achieved accreditation from the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). Through the process of professional accreditation of schools, colleges and departments of education, NCATE works to make a difference in the quality of teaching, teachers, school specialists and administrators.
The School of Education is also accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) for entry-level programs in clinical mental health counseling and school counseling. CACREP accreditation provides recognition that a program meets or exceeds national standards.
Application forms, procedures and additional information
There are many ways to experience
St. Bonaventure for yourself
Learn more about the programs that interest you


text:
Fourth of July travelers clog area roads
ARENAC COUNTY — Traffic was backed up for miles and miles in and around Arenac and surrounding counties in Mid-Michigan, as the Fourth of July travelers hit the road after the weekend.
A car and motorcycle accident, happened on I-75 just south of the Worth Rd. overpass.
Injuries from the accident were non-life threatening according to Michigan State Police Sgt. Ron Taylor.
Traffic was backed up all the way past the M-61 exit, just outside of Standish.
There also was a reported accident according to Taylor in Alger at the intersection of M-33 and Maple Ridge Road.
It is not known if there are any injuries.
Please see our photo album on the home page for more photos.
Please review our community guidelines before posting
Please keep comments on topic and appropriate for all ages. Remember that people of all ages read our website. Those that are not appropriate will be removed. Please read our full community guidelines before posting.


text:
Mac the Naw: Tips for ice fishing trips
Special to the Tribune
Hello fellow anglers. With frozen lakes, it has been a little quite in our local fishing area.
This is good news, though, if you like ice fishing, but remember that not all frozen lakes are safe to venture upon. Personally, I will not ice fish on a lake without at least 6 inches of ice on it. You may read in other fishing reports or see a television show on ice fishing that states, "as long as there is 3 to 4 inches of ice it is safe." I am here to say that is so not true.
Ice forms around the edge of lakes first, and then progresses to the center. Meaning the farther out you go, the less inches of ice. I do not want to deter anglers from ice fishing, but be smart. Now for your local report.
CAPLES LAKE: The lake had 24 inches of ice on it last weekend. Anglers are out ice fishing and doing well. Best areas are the dam and the spillway. A few anglers have hiked down to the Woods Creek area. Best baits are fresh water shrimp or night crawlers. Best lures to jig with are Kastmasters or small spoons like the Thomas Bouyant. With the warming weather, the lake get a little slushy in the afternoon. I have had my best luck fishing 10 feet off the shore with a white crappie jig. The Caples Lake General Store is closed for the season, but the resort is open for those that would like to ice fish in the morning and ski Kirkwood in the afternoon. Or vise verse. For more information call the Caples Lake Resort at 209-258-8888.
RED LAKE: The lake has about 30 inches of ice on it as of last week with 6 to 10 inches of snow on top. I fished with friends Deanna Lucier and Geary Ness from Minden, Nev. We jigged with Gold Kastmaster lures then switched to night crawlers. It was a tie on bait that worked best. After a good day of fishing we caught and released about 15 brook trout and kept two for dinner. I must say, though, this was the first time I have seen an angler use a chain saw to cut a hole to fish in. They made it through the thick of ice, and when the group left, they had a nice stringer of brook trout for their supper. Early morning was the best bite.
INDIAN CREEK RES: This is an example of where not to ice fish. Renee and I ventured up last Thursday to see if the lake had thawed out. As we reached the peak we saw that it had not. Also ran into the two Steves, Lightfoot and Brower, on their way out. Lightfoot told me there was a 2-foot opening next to the shore and the rest of the lake had about 3 inches of ice on it. Lightfoot also told me he saw where an idiot angler had ventured out on the ice. The angler must have gotten scared and jumped off quickly because Lightfoot could see the top of a small ice chest partially submerged where it was left on the lake. In all of my years fishing this area, I have never seen Indian Creek Reservoir frozen enough to ice fish. With our warming temperatures, the lake should thaw by next week. The road off Diamond Valley still had snow and ice on it, but was driveable. I would not recommend using Airport Road off Highway 89. In some spots the road never sees the light of day until spring and can be dangerous.
CARSON RIVER EAST FORK: The area from Hangman's Bridge just past Markleeville, Nev., to the state line is open to catch and release with special regulations. Artificial lures or flies only with a barbless hook. Above Hangman's Bridge is closed until the last Saturday in April. The Carson River Resort on Highway 89 is open for cabin rentals all year now. Within a short drive you can fish the river, cross-country ski or try a dog sled ride on Highway 88 in Hope Valley. For more information call 877-694-2229.
TOPAZ LAKE: After learning that Indian Creek was still frozen. Renee and I ventured up to see if Topaz Lake was thawed out. When we arrived it was only thawed about 5 percent along the North Shore, 10 percent along the East Shore past the campground area and the south end was 30 percent thawed. We fished on the South Shore for about two hours with no bites. We saw a few more anglers with the same luck we had, none, but we all enjoyed a clear beautiful day of sun. The Nevada Park boat launch was open, but you only had access to fish the immediate area with most of the lake frozen. When we left, the lake had thawed substantially. With our recent heat wave, I the lake should be relatively ice free by the end of this weekend. Due to excessive ice structure on the lake over the last few weeks the derby has not had many anglers come in. Results from week four of the derby were, two fish more than two pounds and three tagged fish were brought in. First place for biggest fish of the week went to Patrick Richards from Zephyr Cove, Nev., for a 3.12-pound catch. Second place was Greg Rondy from Wellington, Nev., with a 3.10-pound rainbow. For more information call the Topaz Lodge at 888-743-8740. It has great eats and good sleep. Sorry, sounds like a commercial, but its true.
Other good news is the days are longer, and we only have five weeks until we turn our clocks ahead. Hope to see you on the lakes. If you get a picture of your catch send it to firstname.lastname@example.com or drop it off at the Tribune office. If you have any questions in our local fishing world call the Naw Line at 775-267-9722. Good fishin' and tight lines.


text:
Emilia is not a morning person. I am also not a morning person, but as an adult I recognize that I don't have any choice in the matter of whether or not I get out of bed, and also I have coffee. Emilia is a child, and she doesn't drink coffee, so she's oftentimes – and read 'oftentimes' as 'pretty much almost always' – cranky in the morning. I would be sympathetic about this – as I said, I'm not a morning person myself, so I get it – except that her way of coping with mornings is to whine like a banshee. A sugar-jacked freak-banshee with no off button.
Mommmmeeee! I want toast! But no butter! NO BUTTER MOMMY! NO BUTTER! And don't make it warm! It's TOO WARM MOMMMEEEE! IT'S TOO WARRMMMM! OOOOH! WHY DO I NEVER GET TOAST THE WAY I LIKE IT?!?
She whimpers, heartbroken by the lack of unwarm, unbuttered toast in our house. WHYYYY, MOMMY? WHYYYY? I grip the counter and resist tossing the bread in the sink and/or hollering something about starving children in Africa.


text:
The advocacy group GLAAD has given the CW network high marks among broadcast outlets for its portrayal of gay and lesbian characters. Meanwhile, cable networks Showtime, ABC Family, TNT and HBO all were given a favorable rating by the group.
The number of gay and lesbian images on TV held steady this year. But the range of impressions continued to grow, with those representations increasingly presented in a matter-of-fact manner rather than as curiosities, GLAAD found in its annual Network Responsibility Index. But two-thirds of all gay-and-lesbian-inclusive hours showcased white people, the study found, prompting GLAAD to call for networks to recognize a broader diversity within the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.
"Americans expect to see their off-screen worlds represented onscreen, and today more than ever that includes LGBT people and families," said GLAAD president Herndon Graddick.
He pointed to the family of gay couple Mitchell and Cameron on ABC's Modern Family and to Emily, a teen who came out as a lesbian on ABC Family's Pretty Little Liars.
They not only indicate "growing acceptance of our community," Graddick said, "but have found praise from viewers and critics alike at a time when visibility and acceptance of LGBT people is at an all-time high."
Conducted for the sixth year by the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, the study tracked original prime-time programming on 10 major cable networks as well as the five major broadcast networks.
Behind broadcast front-runner CW (with gay-and-lesbian-inclusive hours at 29 percent), ABC and Fox swapped places from last year, ranking second and third place, respectively. NBC remained in fourth place. For the fourth year in a row, CBS held last place, the study found, with only 8 percent.
Among cable networks, former top-ranked MTV was placed with FX, TLC and USA as only "adequate."
But FX saw the biggest increase over last year, with its percentage of gay-and-lesbian-inclusive hours rising from 19 percent to 34 percent, thanks to programs like American Horror Story and Archer.
Among the highlights in transgender images this year, GLAAD cited Chaz Bono's appearance as a contestant on ABC's Dancing With the Stars. "His very candid appearance on the program taught many that transgender Americans deserve respect and acceptance," Graddick said.
Read more:
NBC's 'The New Normal' pilot available online
Kermit's no longer a fan of Chick-Fil-A


text:
I might as well get started early with making some cool and adorable chibi figures of your favorite Legend of Korra characters. To get started I will be showing you "how to draw chibi Naga,", step by step. Naga, is as you know a female polar bear dog that belongs to Korra and is her companion, guide, and only means of transportation. I really think that the creators did an awesome job with creating the new Avatar's companion. Next to Appa she stands no chance, but being how she is huge and incredibly loyal makes her one awesome friend. I was going to include the riders seat, but then I thought I would leave her with nothing on so a lot of fans could tackle drawing chibi Naga without any hassle. Well, that's about it. I hope you have fun. I will be back later with some more lessons for you all so stay tuned in. Peace out folks!
DragoArt members upload artwork and drawing tutorials! They are also allowed to leave comments on tutorials, profiles, etc. Many more features, as well; it's way better than just being a boring guest! Register Now!


text:
Base that allows the clamping section to offset for repeatable, precise angled cuts.
As a manufacturer of portable custom machine tools, Tri Tool offers a diverse line of special equipment for a broad range of specific applications. Machinery is available for fitting reclamation, weld crown finishing, boiler, and milling applications, chipless machinery for chipless cutting of tubes, to just name a few of the many options available to you with Tri Tool custom engineering equipment solutions.
The AdaptARC automated welding machines offer the most advanced orbital and linear pipe welding systems for the professional welder. Designed for durability and versatility, the AdaptARC system offers multiple processes for Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW), Gas Metal Arc Welding pulsed spray (GMAW-P) and short arc (GMAW-S), and Flux Core Arc Welding (FCAW).
The ILUC clamp series was developed to provide internal line up for welding of small-bore piping systems. This modular system allows for different configurations to fit a wide variety of applications. Available options include copper backing for root pass integrity, purge dams for TIG welding, and a pneumatic drive system for horizontal operations. For vertical use, an emergency brake system is actuated on loss of pneumatic pressure or electrical current preventing the clamp from dropping into the pipeline.
Tri Tool's Laser Dimensioning System (LDS) was designed to measure open-ended pipes using laser sensors as the measuring device.
The laser sensors measure displacement (position) against a target (surface of the pipe) without requiring contact with the surface.
At Tri Tool, we are the tool bit experts. With dedicated engineering and machine shop staff, we have created over 10,000 tool bit designs specifically geared to the alloy, coating, and wall thickness of the material being cut. Many of our standard bits can be used in other manufacturer's equipment, so you can still get the superior results you want.Should you have a special application which requires special bits, we will be glad to work with your specifications. You can fill out our on-line Tool Bit Design Form for fast service.
Tri Tool has led the way for over 40 years as an innovative pipe cutting beveling machine manufacturer to provide customers with the best equipment possible. Our wide range of tools, designed for ease of operation, deliver maximum performance to produce expert results and save you time and money.
Tri Tool, Inc.
3041 Sunrise Blvd.
Rancho Cordova, CA 95742
(800) 345-5015
(916) 288-6160 Fax
Backed by 45+ years of experience, Tri Tool is the industry leader in machining and welding equipment for pipes and tubes. Our years of expertise have cemented the Tri Tool commitment to precision, performance and people that customers in a wide range of industries rely on. Watch our great selection of videos on our pipe beveler, orbital welder, tube cutting machine and other portable milling machine lines to learn more about our products.
Base that allows the clamping section to offset for repeatable, precise angled cuts.
|There are no products
We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website. You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings.
This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.
Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.
If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.
More information about our Cookie Policy


text:
Promote Bands or Venues
Want an easy way to get more people to your shows? When it comes to music, no amount of words on a website will do the trick. What people need is to hear the music! Clubstr puts music on your show calendar to help promote all the artists on your shows.
Note: If you already have an account and want to add a venue or artist to your account, log in and return here. You'll see a link to add artists or venues to your account.
Clubstr Music Calendar Demo


text:
Taking the risk out of trade
Trading partners rely on building trust. But few business leaders can afford to rely solely on trust when money is at stake. Bank guarantees provide trading partners with protections that cover virtually every phase of the transaction between buyer and seller. While these guarantees cannot ensure that both parties fulfill their contractual obligations, such as payments or deliveries, they do ensure that compensation is paid when the situation warrants it.
Typically, the terms that are to be secured by guarantees are defined once both parties have agreed on contractual arrangements and may be specific to that particular trade. Nordea will work with you to draft the appropriate guarantees when some of your obligations are to be secured.
Guarantee types
The most common bank guarantee types in an import transaction are:
- Payment guarantees: Secures the applicant's ability to fulfill its payment obligations to the beneficiary. Usually the guarantee will cover the entire value of the underlying contract, less any advanced payments made by the applicant.
- Guarantee for a missing bill of lading (letter of indemnity): Authorizes a transport carrier or its agents to release specified cargo to a consignee named in the bill of lading without the surrender of the original bill of lading.
- Customs guarantee: Issued in favor of customs offices as security for payment of customs duties by an importer.
The most common bank guarantee types in an export transaction are:
- Bid bond/tender guarantee: Usually issued for an amount up to 5% of the value of the tender. The purpose of these guarantees is to cover the risk that the company submitting a tender will not abide by its offer or deliver the required performance.
- Advance payment guarantee: Issued when the buyer/manufacturer pays the contract price or part thereof in advance and requires security for a refund if the merchandise is not delivered, or if the delivery is not in accordance with the contract.
- Performance guarantee: Secures the seller's/performers contractual obligations.
- Warranty guarantee: Covers the buyers after goods are delivered or work is completed during any agreed warranty period.
- Retention money guarantee: Ensures that the correct repayments are made if the applicant fails to meet its contractual obligations during the warranty period.
Standard guarantees
The texts are provided for reference and guidance purposes only. Any individual guarantee to be issued by the bank shall be separately drafted for the relevant case. The bank assumes no responsibility for the use by visitor's to the website of these guarantee texts. The texts are subject to Nordea's General terms for use of website.


text:
The Monroe Institute® serves as the core of a research affiliation investigating the phenomenon of human consciousness and making related information available to the public. TMI's Research Division seeks to support, promote, and engage in rigorous and ethical research practices and affiliations, thus creating a multi-vocal forum for the cross-cultural, experiential, experimental, and theoretical study of consciousness. Service to the community is our primary goal. As such, TMI Research Division welcomes and encourages public involvement and feedback regarding our endeavors.
The Monroe Institute has a rich history as being one of the leading research and education institutes dedicated to the study of human consciousness. As such, TMI's Research Division exists for a variety of purposes, including but not limited to:
- The search for and investigation of various tools and techniques for assisting program participants in the achievement of profound and evocative altered states of consciousness, including techniques for helping to "psycho-integrate" or make meaning of these experiences in a way that results in happier, healthier, more personally productive lives.
- The establishment and facilitation of coordinated research efforts into the study of human consciousness using interdisciplinary approaches.
- Promoting the belief that research efforts into the study of consciousness are most meaningful when they have practical applications and provide something of value to contemporary culture.
- Making the results of studies available to the general public (both those coordinated by or in collaboration with TMI and also those conducted by our non-affiliated colleagues in the field).
- Providing a forum for dialogues between researchers and practitioners regarding various subjects pertaining to consciousness research, including the ethics of research, visions for the future of the field, experiences using specific types of methodologies, and so on.
- Encouraging our colleagues to join us in a new approach to the "business" of consciousness research, specifically the adoption of "copyleft" practices in which an intellectual barter system and sharing of knowledge replaces secrecy and control of information.
Please consider participating in TMI research, by enrolling in one of our educational programs and/or submitting a research proposal.
Thinking Qualitatively: TMI's Methodological Focus
Over the last several decades, TMI researchers and others interested in the investigation of the effects of binaural beats on human consciousness have primarily focused on the use of quantitative methodologies—for example, laboratory experiments and numerical methods such as statistical modeling. Such studies have been done with the intent of uncovering the physiological correlates of these altered state experiences and/or getting an overview of how binaural beat technologies influence the behavior and psychology of specific populations.
For example, past quantitative studies have suggested that:
» Children with ADD who listened to special binaural beat patterns in combination with amino acid supplementation improved much faster than those who used amino acid supplementation alone (Van Der Schaar, 2009).
» Adults listening to simple binaural auditory beat stimuli during a 30-minute vigilance task improved performance and reported positive changes in mood associated with the task (Lane, Kasian, Owens, & Marsh, 1998).
» Bariatric patients undergoing general anesthesia who were exposed to specific binaural beat combinations during surgery required significantly (1/3) less analgesia than those who listened to a blank tape (Lewis, Osborn, & Roth, 2004).
Thanks to these important studies, we now have much more insight into and information about the physiological and behavioral implications of binaural beats on consciousness. While TMI will most certainly continue to encourage and support further quantitative investigations such as these, the feeling has become that it is time for TMI to shift its research focus to include more qualitative approaches to the study of human consciousness.
The purpose of this article is to first explain what is meant by "qualitative inquiry" and then to consider how the techniques of this particular methodology can help to further the goals of TMI as a research and education institute specifically, and the field of consciousness studies in general. It is also intended to give researchers and practitioners interested in collaborating with TMI an overview of the philosophy and foci that underlie the TMI Research Division's initiatives. Finally, this article will look into the future, considering the potential outcome and significance of this shift in research focus.
What is Meant by "Qualitative Inquiry?" In contrast to quantitative forms of research (which focus on quantities), qualitative inquiry is interested in the qualities of the phenomenon being studied. To this end, the qualitative researcher:
- Focuses on gathering information pertaining to the research participant's subjective (first-person) experiences through the use of investigative techniques such as open-ended interviews, observation, participant-observation, and the like.
- Seeks data that is rich in contextual detail—such as the participant's emotional experience, relationship with others, personal mythology, and so on.
- Is not concerned with trying to achieve absolute objectivity through controlled experiments. In fact, qualitative researchers often intentionally use data-gathering techniques that require a certain amount of relationship building between the researcher and the research participant.
- Takes note of the words, metaphors, symbols, memes, etc. used by the participant within his or her narratives and utilizes them as a means of uncovering the deeper significances that the subject of study holds for the research participant.
- May not know in advance what he/she is looking for or how the research will unfold, but instead allows the research design to shift according to the data and/or circumstances that arise. Despite this flexibility, however, qualitative research methods also adhere to an internal structure or set of "rules" that guide and frame the study.
- Aims to make data available to the public by way of a research report (or commensurate product) that provides a complete and detailed description of the findings. This includes a thorough explanation and critical analysis of the means by which the data was gathered, analyzed, and interpreted.
- Strives to achieve the highest level of ethical rigor, paying close attention to concerns regarding the rights and welfare of all research participants. The qualitative researcher strives to become educated on the ethical implications specific to each and every study that is undertaken.
In short, qualitative inquiry seeks to uncover and provide detailed descriptions of research participants' first-person experiences regarding a given subject, including the significance and meanings that they themselves give to these events. While a quantitative study might set out to answer the question, "How many Gateway Voyage® participants report having an out-of-body experience during the program?", a qualitative researcher might pose a question such as "What is the experience of Gateway participants who report having an out-of-body experience during the program?" Qualitative research does not seek to find absolute knowledge or predictable facts about a given phenomenon; rather, its goal is to enrich our understanding of the human condition by illuminating and paying respect to the unity and diversity of our inner experiences.
TMI's primary goals for research
Having now defined qualitative methodology, the question to be discussed is, "How can this form of inquiry help us to achieve the goals of The Monroe Institute and perhaps even some of the goals of the field of consciousness studies as a whole?"
The TMI website describes the institute's overall mission and goals as such:
The Monroe Institute provides experiential education programs facilitating the personal exploration of human consciousness. Your first highly experiential trek, the Gateway Voyage, takes you on an incredible six-day intensive adventure with like-minded explorers. Participate in the evolution of human consciousness; join us and realize your own true destiny!
Over the last 30+ years, tens of thousands of people have attended the Institute's residential and outreach programs, and millions have benefited from our educational materials. The Institute admits students of any race, color, creed, and national or ethnic origin.
The Monroe Institute also serves as the core of a research affiliation investigating the evolution of human consciousness and making related information available to the public. The Institute is devoted to the premise that focused consciousness contains definitive solutions to the major issues of human experience and a greater understanding of such consciousness can be achieved through coordinated research efforts using an interdisciplinary approach.
The results of such research efforts are meaningful only if there are practical applications—something of value for our contemporary culture. As a nonprofit 501(c)(3) educational and research organization dedicated to the exploration of human consciousness, the Institute proposes to introduce, at all levels of human endeavor, abilities that will constructively change humankind's direction and destiny.
Within this overall statement, four primary "goals" stand out as the crux of TMI's ultimate mission. These are outlined below, along with a discussion of some possibilities for how qualitative inquiry can help to forward TMI's research and education objectives. While not intended to be the final word on where our research initiatives and collaborations might take us, the following is intended to ignite fresh ideas and to help researchers and practitioners interested in participating in TMI research projects to think qualitatively.
Goal #1: "The Monroe Institute provides experiential education programs facilitating the personal exploration of human consciousness."
First and foremost, TMI's primary goal is to investigate and provide techniques and technologies intended to help individuals enter into deep and meaningful altered states of consciousness and, through the exploration of inner and outer worlds, achieve insights leading to personal growth.
Based on the reports of our program participants, this is an area in which the institute already excels, and what has made TMI a leader in the field of consciousness exploration for the past 30+ years. Using a multi-dimensional approach of combining audio-guidance technologies with other sensory-information techniques (i.e.: sitting in a darkened room), social-psychological conditioning tools (i.e.: group sharing and support), and educational curriculum (in which new cognitive, "consciousness expansion" skills are learned), our program participants report experiencing extremely positive expanded states of awareness. Anyone interested in getting an idea of the effects of TMI programs on the lives of our graduate program participants should read Cam Danielson's (2008) two-part study entitled, "The Benefits of Long-Term Participation in TMI Programs."
In considering how qualitative research methods can help us improve and deepen our abilities to assist our participants with entering into and making meaning of altered states of consciousness, a couple of possibilities come to mind as worth considering:
• A Focus On Language
As mentioned, qualitative inquiry places great importance on the ways in which language (both spoken and written) reveals an individual's relationship to the subject of study. For example, a qualitative researcher investigating the question, "What is the experience of Gateway participants who report having out-of-body experiences?" might make note of the words, metaphors, and symbols that a research participant chooses to use in order to describe and relate the experience. For example, someone might say, "Leaving my body was like being pushed through a wall of translucent Jell-O." Seeming contradictions in the language a research participant uses are equally important, as in a statement such as, "It was as if there was two of me and one of me all at the same time." Additionally, the researcher might decide to pay close attention to words relating to feelings and memories, such as, "I was scared and excited," "It reminded me of my first time jumping off the dock at my grandparents' lake house," and so on.
It has been said that just as human beings create language, so too does language create human beings and their relationship to the world. The power of language to organize our thoughts and experiences is significant. Given this, it is interesting to note the ways in which word choice—both the words chosen by the participant and those used by the facilitator/researcher—can help or hinder an individual's experience within altered states.
The following anecdote gives an example of this: During the Guidelines graduate program, program attendees have the opportunity to go through a "Personal Resources Exploration Program" or "PREP" session, a personalized, self-created, focus-level journey that uses TMI sound technology and the voice of a facilitator to help the individual move into progressively deeper states of consciousness. PREP sessions are conducted with the participant lying on a flotation mat in an isolation booth while hooked up to physiological monitors that measure skin potential voltage, skin temperature, and galvanic skin response. Throughout the process, the PREP session facilitator, speaking to the participant from the control room through a microphone, offers occasional "prompts" to help the experience along—for example, asking the question, "What does Guidance tell you?"
After having all this explained to her during the pre-PREP session interview, one of our participants politely requested that in her session we use the term "Higher Self" rather than "Guidance." For her, the word "Guidance" implied that the information was coming from outside of her, and therefore did not jive with her personal belief system. Instead, she asked that we use the term "Higher Self," which to her implied that any information she received would be coming from within her. Because this latter perspective was in alignment with her personal belief system, she was able to move more easily into and within an altered state. While hearing the word "Guidance" likely wouldn't have ruined her experience, using language that she was more ideologically aligned with (and therefore more comfortable with) meant that there was one less "boundary" to be overcome in her movement from one state of consciousness to another.
Given the power that language has to direct our experience, our choice of words is important. In addition, just as significant is acknowledging areas in which our language lacks the words to articulate certain "ineffable" states of being. Where our language is unable to describe experience, we are left with areas of silence. TMI founder Bob Monroe was an advocate of attention to language, and even created words to articulate concepts that have no direct representation in the English language (for example, "rote"). Furthermore, as an international organization, we are privileged to have individuals from all over the world attending our programs. It is likely that we have much to learn from our brothers and sisters from non-English speaking cultures in regards to what words and concepts exist in other languages for which English has no equivalent.
Finally, a researcher or practitioner might take a look at the metaphors used by research participants in their narratives and consider what this implies about their relationship to the phenomena they describe. In their book, Metaphors We Live By, the linguists Lakoff and Johnson (1980) considered how the language with which we are raised both reveals and creates our unconscious beliefs about the world. They argue that this is particularly true of the metaphors we use to describe inner experience. As an example, they point to the metaphor of "The Mind is a Brittle Object," as being reflective of how we view the mind and its psychological states. Phrases such as "His mind snapped," "Her ego is very fragile," and "The experience shattered him" reveal an unconscious belief that the mind is inflexible and frail; that it must be carefully controlled and protected for fear of being destroyed. Obviously, a belief such as this, whether conscious or unconscious, is not at all conducive to entry into altered states.
Similarly, we can look at the wide variety of metaphors that we use to relate to the mind and consider their implications for the study of consciousness. Is the mind a computer? Is it a filter? Is it a doorway? If it is a "doorway," what does that mean exactly? If a doorway takes us from "here" into "there"—where are "here" and "there" in this case? No one metaphor is necessarily more or less correct than another, but each frames the experience of the mind in slightly different terms.
And so on and so forth. Pertaining to qualitative inquiry, here at TMI we are very interested in research that considers the ways in which an awareness of language constructs (or the lack of constructs to relate certain experiences) helps or hinders individuals entering into and integrating altered state experiences. Qualitative researchers might therefore ask questions such as,
» "What language constructs reoccur in research participants' narratives?"
» "What might these language choices reveal about their relationship to consciousness?"
» "How might specific language choices help them to move more easily into altered state experiences?
And, for that matter,
» "What might this information reveal to us about the nature of human consciousness in general?
In what other ways can qualitative research methods help us improve our abilities to assist individuals in entering into and making meaning of altered states of consciousness?
• Active Listening and Dialogue
One of the functions of TMI Research Division is the search for and investigation of new methods of facilitating altered state experience. To this end, the various data gathering techniques that qualitative research methods offer (such as open-ended interviewing and participant-observation) can assist in this process by providing researchers with strategies for recording individuals' feedback about their experiences with various techniques and technologies that we choose to investigate, thus helping us decide through first-person reports which complementary methods to include in our programs.
While it is certainly interesting and important to investigate how certain technologies and techniques influence the physical brain and/or other physiological processes, at this point in time our primary interest is how these states of consciousness are subjectively experienced by our participants. For our purposes, the efficacy and potentials of new technique or technology are determined by asking questions such as,
» "Does this method of altering consciousness provide something of value—for example, insight or experience that an individual would typically not be able to achieve in an 'ordinary' state of awareness?"
» "Does this new technique or technology result in beneficial and paradigm-expanding experiences, opportunities for introspection, for personal meaning making, and so on?"
» "Does it add something of value to our community as a whole, whether experiential or intellectual?"
Finally, we are always trying to keep ourselves informed of what kind of experiences our program participants are seeking—for example, what they desire from an expanded state of awareness. In this way, too, qualitative data gathering methods can help us serve our participants better, providing opportunities for open-ended dialogues regarding their needs and wishes.
Goal #2: "The Monroe Institute also serves as the core of a research affiliation investigating the evolution of human consciousness and making related information available to the public."
The TMI research philosophy is that a study is not complete until the final report (or commensurate product) has been shared with the public. The final stage of a research project therefore involves asking questions such as, "What is the best vehicle for relaying the findings to the public?" and "What will make this information interesting and digestible to both the layperson and the non-layperson?"
This latter question is particularly important. It is our belief that information should be shared in a way that makes it comprehensible to the largest group of people possible, not just an elite few with a specialized background and vocabulary. While not to negate the importance of quantitative reports, few laypeople people have an interest in wading through pages and pages of statistics. When it comes to making the results of research available and, perhaps more importantly, digestible, to the widest population possible, qualitative approaches offer some extremely user-friendly interpretive techniques. These include narrative genres of various kinds (such as ethnographies, biographies, and case studies) and also the inclusion of mixed-media visual art forms (such as film, computer-generated images, and fine art techniques). TMI has recently launched a project entitled "Gift Notes" in which our educational program participants are given the opportunity to contribute thoughts about their altered state experiences at TMI via audio recording. After compiling a variety of these "testimonials," Martin Taylor, a talented filmmaker at the Australia-based company, Whitedot Films, will pair excerpts of these audio recordings with music, symbols, and imagery, creating a series of visually stunning and emotionally meaningful film vignettes intended to capture the essence of our program participants' experiences.
In this way, qualitative methods provide a means of interpreting and disseminating insights into the human condition through a variety of thought-provoking and creative media forms.
Goal #3: "The Institute is devoted to the premise that focused consciousness contains definitive solutions to the major issues of human experience and a greater understanding of such consciousness can be achieved through coordinated research efforts using an interdisciplinary approach."
To quote TMI's former executive director, Paul Rademacher, "Our current research vision is as much about creating a new community as it is about research itself." The study of consciousness is a tricky one—perhaps the trickiest of all subjects of inquiry, for, as it has been said, the human mind is the only thing in existence trying to understand itself, and in this way, the study of consciousness is a lot like trying to find your way through a hall of mirrors. Or perhaps like the dog chasing its own tail.
The question of what consciousness "is" and how it "works" is currently being approached from multiple perspectives. Philosophers, neuroscientists, psychologists, anthropologists, theologians, spiritual leaders, and practitioners of all kinds are all investigating questions regarding the nature and functions of consciousness through the specific lenses of their particular disciplines. At one end of the continuum are the materialists who argue that mental phenomena can be reduced to being a product of matter. According to this perspective, consciousness is not "real" in any independent sense but is instead the byproduct of physico-chemical processes. On the other side of the debate are the subjective idealists who, at their most extreme, regard mind as primary and matter nothing more than an illusion created by mind. In the middle are those who maintain that consciousness is the result of both physical and nonphysical properties, thus leading to the "problem" of (and resulting plethora of explanatory theories about) how these two phenomena "link up" to create subjective experience.
Given this wide variety of perspectives and philosophical claims, it is not surprising that each of us involved in the study of consciousness comes to it with our own biases, ideological standpoints, and political agendas. That we have preconceptions and even an ontological stake in the outcome of our investigations is unavoidable. And, in fact, one could make the case that this "baggage" is necessary to our investigations, for without some sort of baseline standpoint from which to source, we have no way to orient ourselves to a phenomenon or to create an internally consistent system of meaning from which our investigations can launch and take flight.
At the same time, we at TMI Research maintain that no one approach to the study of consciousness will suffice. We believe that only a multi-disciplinary, multi-voiced, multi-theory approach that includes open dialogue, collaboration, and a sharing of knowledge amongst colleagues (both professional and nonprofessional and from the many diverse areas of consciousness research) will provide true opportunities for gaining insights into the mystery of human consciousness. Our research vision therefore includes an emphasis on a professional model that we believe will be a fruitful alternative to the traditional research mindset. If the "old" research model is the "copyright approach"—which typically involves an attitude of secrecy and control of information in order for professional and financial gain—then what we are aiming for is a "copyleft approach," in which information and intellectual discovery is shared freely and openly with our peers in the field. Part of the function of the Research Division is to seek opportunities to initiate an "intellectual barter system" or sharing of knowledge between colleagues, allowing all of us to make greater strides and discoveries than ever before. We are particularly interested in encouraging, promoting, and participating in mixed-methods research projects that bring together qualitative and quantitative investigators, allowing the strengths of each methodology to pick up where the other leaves off. We are highly optimistic as to where such collaborations might bring this field of study.
Goal #4: "The results of such research efforts are meaningful only if there are practical applications—something of value for our contemporary culture. … [T]he Institute proposes to introduce, at all levels of human endeavor, abilities that will constructively change humankind's direction and destiny."
A lot of words in this statement are open for interpretation. For example, what specifically do we mean by "human endeavors"? What constitutes "constructive change"? While defining each and every word within these goals is beyond the scope of this particular essay, discussing the meanings and implications of these and other terms would be an interesting conversation for our community to have some day. However, for the purposes of considering how qualitative inquiry can help us achieve this particular goal, the focus will be placed primarily on what we at TMI consider to be "practical knowledge" and some examples of what kind of research foci could fall into this category.
Within the TMI Research Division, our current working definition of "practical knowledge" goes something like this:
Practical knowledge is knowledge that can be used to further human endeavors in ways that are applicable to everyday life and that ultimately leads to constructive personal and social change and the resolution of problems and difficulties.
In other words, rather than knowledge for knowledge's sake, we are interested in knowledge that can be used towards the positive fulfillment of day-to-day life and culture. One of the primary questions that we are therefore asking ourselves as we move forward is, "What kinds of knowledge are the most socially and personally useful and how might qualitative methodologies help us get there?
There are infinite answers to this question. The following are a couple of ideas that have crossed our minds:
• How personal experiences within altered states influence participants' relationships with the world around them.
One critique of qualitative methodology is that it tends to shed light only on the experience of an individual or small group of individuals, thus making it limited as a knowledge-gathering device. However, the kind of qualitative inquiry that we at TMI Research Division envision not only looks at the experience of the individual, but, just as importantly, also considers how a research participant's experience of a given phenomenon influences the lives of those around him or her. So, for example, a researcher studying the effects of attending TMI's Gateway Voyage might ask questions such as:
» "What happens after participants leave the program?" » "What kind of relationship does that individual have with the world after this kind of deep consciousness exploration?" » "Have we at TMI fulfilled our function of assisting in the psycho-integration of these experiences, thus helping program participants become more connected to their lives and interpersonal relationships back at home, rather than making them feel socially alienated and environmentally disconnected?
In the qualitative phase study of his mixed-methods study investigating the long-term benefits of participating in TMI graduate level programs, Danielson (2008; 2010) not only researched the experience of participants in TMI graduate programs, but, just as importantly, investigated how the results of these experiences "show up" in the participants' interactions with others back at home. In addition to his research participants' first-person experiences, his research sought to shed light on,
[H]ow an individual achieves results, brings out the best in others, establishes a vision or direction for them self and others, enhances their own development, acts with integrity and courage, and improves organizational systems (which can include family and community systems) (2008, p. 48).
So, one way that qualitative inquiry can help us achieve our goal of finding "practical knowledge" (again, here defined as "knowledge that can be applied to human endeavors that are applicable to everyday life and that ultimately leads to constructive change and the resolution of problems and difficulties") is by encouraging research that considers how explorations of consciousness influence the research participants' relationships with other human beings, with their environment, and so on. It is our feeling that inquiry into the subjective realms of experience should include data gathering techniques that move back and forth between inner and outer worlds, between the subjective experience of the individual psyche and the experiences of those whose lives are affected as a result of these explorations.
Another way in which qualitative research can lead us towards the achievement of practical knowledge is through an exploration into:
• How a re-relationing takes place between the individual and the contents of his or her consciousness during and after altered state experiences.
Here, I'll again return to Lakoff and Johnson's (1980) suggestion that the metaphor of the mind as a "brittle object," reveals a general sense of dis-ease that many people feel in regards to consciousness in general. While motivated in part by his own curiosity regarding the "extraordinary" states of awareness that he had been experiencing, TMI founder Bob Monroe was also driven to by a desire to provide a safe space for individuals to explore the realms of consciousness without fear or judgment. His dream was realized—TMI program participants consistently report an increase in self-awareness, personal healing, and trust in the contents of consciousness after attending TMI programs. At TMI, we are on a mission to change the metaphor; to provide experiences that shift the belief that the mind and/or consciousness is a fragile entity that must be tamed and controlled to one in which consciousness is seen and experienced as friendly territory in which practical knowledge about inner and outer worlds can be achieved and utilized for the betterment of self and world.
Our research goals reflect the importance of this mission. While not value-free by any means, qualitative inquiry gives great respect to the lived experience of the individual in all its quirkiness and seriousness, its contradictions and logic, its mundane aspects and the peak experiences that punctuate our lives. Because it records rather than measures, qualitative methodologies do not seek "norms" or predictability, but rather have at the core a desire to illuminate the equal unity and diversity of human experience. Rather than attempting to define "normalcy" through statistical analyses, qualitative inquiry pays respect to the multi-varied narratives as they are related and then considers what this new perspective offers us for future thought and/or action.
Concluding Thoughts and Considerations Concerning the Future of Consciousness Research
As mentioned, the proposed research initiatives that I have outlined above are not intended to be the final word on where our in-house and collaborative research projects might take us. The possibilities are unlimited, and we are happy to consider projects of all types and participant sizes. [For more on research collaborations with The Monroe Institute and research proposal guidelines, please click here.]
In conclusion, in addition to the various individual research projects that we will be undertaking over the next decade and beyond, we at TMI Research Division see our current research focus and practices as being an experiment itself. Looking at it from a meta-perspective, we consider this new research direction to be an experiment in methodologies, in knowledge-generation through collaboration, in business practices, and, perhaps the sum of all these things, an experiment in "human beingness" as viewed through the lens of consciousness and altered state experiences. What will we learn when these multiple elements and the diversity of experience and experiment are brought together? What new insights into the nature of human consciousness might be revealed as a result?
It remains to be seen where this research vision will bring us in five years, in ten years, in twenty years, but we at TMI are tremendously excited and optimistic about the possibilities. We hope that you will join us in this experiment and in the conversations to come. VIEW RESEARCH ARTICLES
Researchers interested in collaborating with TMI should submit a proposal based on the following guidelines and considerations.
Danielson, C. (2008). Program benefits study 1.
Danielson, C. (2010). Program benefits study 2.
Lakoff, G. & Johnson, M. (1980). Metaphors we live by. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Lane, J. D., Kasian, S. J., Owens, J. E., & Marsh, G. R. (1998). Binaural auditory beats affect vigilance performance and mood. Physiology & Behavior, 63(2), 249-252.
Lewis, A. K., Osborn, I. P., & Roth, R. (2004) The effect of hemispheric synchronization on intraoperative analgesia. Anesthesia & Analgesia, 98, 553-556.
Van Der Schaar, P. J. (2009). Attention and learning deficit disorders: Impressions ofcombined treatment with amino acids and Hemi-Sync, TMI Journal, Winter issue.
Frequently Used Terms at TMI
There is continued discussion within the field of consciousness studies regarding the nature and meaning of "consciousness." At one end of the continuum are those who argue that consciousness is not "real" in any independent sense, but is the result of material (neurological, physico-chemical) processes. On the other side of the discussion are those who regard mind/consciousness as primary and matter as an illusion created by the mind. Then there are those who maintain that consciousness is the result of both physical and nonphysical components, and that the really important question is how these two independent substances "link up" to create our inner experience. In addition to these three generalized positions exists a variety of nuanced opinions and perspectives regarding the phenomenon of consciousness.
While acknowledging that even within The Monroe Institute community no two individuals are likely to agree on an exact definition, at TMI we typically use the term "consciousness" to refer to the subjective, inner life of an individual that is comprised of a series of integrated mental and spiritual experiences, such as thoughts, feelings, ideas, perceptions, knowledge, memories, and even aspects of the self that potentially go beyond one's experience of a single lifetime, such as what might be described as an individual's "life force" or "soul." While the Institute's motto is that "We are more than our physical bodies," we remain committed to an open and continuing inquiry into the many possibilities and perspectives provided by our colleagues in the field.
In contrast to the "copyright" model, which implies an attitude of secrecy and control of information in order for professional and financial gain, "copyleft" is a research and business practice in which information and intellectual discovery are shared freely and openly with one's peers in the field. Copyleft practices are motivated by the belief that the sharing of knowledge and resources amongst colleagues is the key to making greater (and faster) discoveries within a given field of research. The passion for knowledge, rather than ego inflation and financial gain, is the primary force behind the copyleft ethos.
Recommended links regarding copyleft and copyleft-type research and business practices:
Kolata, G. (2010). Sharing of data leads to progress on Alzheimer's [Electronic version]. The New York Times, August 13, 2010. Retrieved September 29, 2010 from: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/13/health/research/13alzheimer.html?_r=1&scp=2&sq=alzheimer's%20research&st=nyt--
"Lewis Hyde on intellectual property and the commons in the United States." On the Media, National Public Radio, aired September 24, 2010. Retrieved September 29, 2010 from:www.onthemedia.org/transcripts/2010/09/24/05
Wikipedia. "Copyleft." Retrieved September 29, 2010, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copyleft Leadbeater, C. (2009). We-Think: Mass innovation, not mass production. London: Profile Books. http://www.amazon.com/We-Think-Mass-innovation-mass-production/dp/1861978375/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1285776075&sr=1-1
Intellectual Barter
The term "barter system" implies a system of exchange (sometimes formal, sometimes informal) through which goods and/or services are traded (without the use of money) for commensurate goods and/or services. In an "intellectual barter system," ideas, resources, time, or any combination of these things are the primary commodity of exchange, allowing for the sharing of a body of knowledge amongst colleagues in a research community.
The term "research" implies the use of one or more rigorous, systematized methodological techniques (qualitative, quantitative, or mixed methods) used to gather, analyze, interpret, and report upon data regarding a particular subject of study. This data is typically intended to culminate in insight and/or the advancement of knowledge into questions concerning a given field or discipline. Research projects can include pilot studies, longitudinal studies, single participant studies, multi-participant analyses, meta-analyses, and so on.
A "researcher" is an individual trained in one or more methodological techniques that provide a systematized means of gathering, analyzing, interpreting, and reporting upon data intended to provide insight and/or an advancement of knowledge regarding a particular subject of study. A researcher can act independently or on behalf of an organization with which he or she is associated. The term "researcher" can include practitioners and educators of various kinds who utilize the results of this research within his or her professional practice.
"Rigor" in research (for example, "methodological rigor") generally refers to disciplined inquiry that carefully follows a given methodology's formalized guidelines for the gathering, analyzing, interpreting, and reporting of data. Each research methodology follows its own internal set of rules and guidelines. A rigorous researcher seeks to first familiarize him or herself with these rules and guidelines, and then conduct his or her study in accordance with this structure throughout the research process. Within a research context, "rigor" also implies the use of critical thinking (the constant questioning of one's assumptions), attention to ethical considerations (in regards to the welfare of one's research participants, one's colleagues, and the accuracy of the data itself), a grounding of the research in the relevant literature, and the culmination of the data within a well-considered report that provides insight into and/or knowledge regarding a specific subject of inquiry.


text:
Why Wealthy Chinese Are Giving Up U.S. Green Cards
An American passport can be a costly accessory-with U.S. citizenship come U.S. taxes. The WSJ's Wei Gu explains why some wealthy Chinese are instead taking advantage of offers to become citizens of cash-strapped European countries and wealthy Asian cities.
This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.
... the ... the Chinese opting out of a US passport where's the next best place to gal I'd ever con joining me now is column this week to ... the Gateway at you you're reading this column then and thinking and DirecTV channel ... in China and a few score to the U S passport was like winning the lottery ... but that's no wonder that RIM ... now has become alive than eighteen thousand rich Chinese ... recently the most the mold switches has been in kind that solution call it the beverage type call ... he said he has given up his us Popplewell us haven't residency ... and no one in his family now has that possible ... our U S passport or US come now accidents and ... so there is some Atom visas to adapt ... to the politically at home to some problems of people criticizing why we're having an American represented after the People's Congress ... the Dalzell not the business and financial considerations this well ... it was not to mention I did hear us that if in one of the few countries around the world that really highly taxed ... as citizens no matter where they live ... so um if not the U S where they opting ... for a foreign passport where ... so the first generation Chinese tycoon ten years ago they wanted to go to North American countries because that's seen as a very ... strong Poste or does he have one superpower but nowadays people aam Wolfpack go about it hope you cope with just one affording possible it should be able to do this debt companies outside China ... as the rest of the high comp example ... they can do to some small I'm and directs them coz I'm not ... a people actually want a different lifestyle and they wanted to allow that advocating the stuff in the key increasing that Singapore and Hong Kong ... so the the very popular the problem is it's becoming too popular at ... the Singapore actually made it almost impossible to do the Inpex melodies that ... have funded ratio and Hong Kong also tied to was this but not to mention I mean as a few countries that they're really trying to make money off one aspect of an Inside Chris right not too long ago that way for the European countries facing with farewell property and tum mile ... is attacking Chinese so if Chinese people if anyone buys an apartment in suppress the kid that that's right so it's not too high compare with the price is being ... trained and now began to come in a residency but that's still very different from a possible because the economy needs to be trouble with that but that gets them to the clean sea sky and that it cannot thank ... you so ... what is and isn't yet mean you talked a little bit about if you're fortunate to come to be at wanting to a foreign passport ... but what is there is a bad in the past and been driven by a really security isn't a big stinky something is really wrong in China I'll be speaking go there and at least it was that way in Hong Kong ... was at the same in China and what what's motivating people to really want a foreign passport ... yet there are few things I think you were worried about it the safety of the assets and he also attended by the time of plenty an indication and I can see the eve ... of the things the slowly changing as well ... I think people need to be realistic about what costs and benefits of a foreign passport ... so wins handily beat the vegetable can be realistically expelling what expects applying from the US to pick them up ... I and if they actually come to some crimes ... candy actually hyped up roller Baretta ... I think though that things have people into taking to produce consideration as well ... as it takes aim


text:
Your home is one of the most important investments you have, and protecting this investment is your roof.Tell Me More
At MAS Roofing we use exceptional products in order to install superior quality roof systems.Tell Me More
Many options are available, including internal grids, and unlimited exterior colors and 3 woodgrain interior colors.Tell Me More About Replacement Windows in Goose Lake, Iowa
Do you need an estimate on siding and/or gutters please call us for a competitive estimate today.Tell Me More About Siding Upgrades for Goose Lake, Iowa Homes
Flat roofing systems offered at competitive prices and unrivaled craftsmanship
Gutters are both a stylish and functional addition to any structure.
We offer a prompt and professional service that gets your roof repaired as quickly as possible.
We offer stress-free financing options for homeowners
We proudly offer shingle and steel roof installation
We are the areas top window replacement company
MAS Roofing, Siding, & Decking Inc.
3198 W. Lily Creek Rd.
Freeport IL, 61032
Phone: 815-235-7883


text:
Last night's Survivor: South Pacific began with Christine joining Semhar on Redemption Island. She's down, but not out, and both women are confident about their potential second chance after the duel.
At Upolu, Mikayla tells Coach she was blindsided by Brandon, and guess who just happens to interrupt their conversation? Why it's mini-Russell Hantz himself! I assume that he is going to apologize to Mikayla for his lies, but instead he opts for a side hug from Coach. Brandon never planned to come on the show and play the game like his uncle. He wanted to be a hero not a villain. Oops!
The Upolu tribe receives two invitations to attend the duel. Coach requests to go, and Stacey wants to join him. Ozzy and Elyse are the witnesses from tribe Savaii. During her week on Redemption Island, Semhar has found time to braid her hair. I almost didn't recognize her. Right away, Christine tells Jeff Probst she was voted off the main island because of Coach's disdain for her (true) after she called him a temporary player.


text:
Honor the Heroes of the Game, Preserve Its History, Promote its Values & Celebrate Excellence Everywhere
Share your pictures, videos, and stories from your visit to the Pro Football Hall of Fame on our social media. We might even feature you in one of our promotions!
Keep calm and celebrate your favorite team with this Line of Scrimmage Tee from VF!


text:
In a documentary soon to appear on Showtime, "The World According to Dick Cheney," America's most powerful and destructive vice president woos history by growling yet again that he was right and everyone else was wrong.
R. J. Cutler, who has done documentaries on the Clinton campaign war room and Anna Wintour's Vogue war paint room, now chronicles Cheney's war boom.
"If I had to do it over again," the 72-year-old says chillingly of his reign of error, "I'd do it over in a minute."
Cheney, who came from a family of Wyoming Democrats, says his conservative bent was strengthened watching the anti-Vietnam war protests at the University of Wisconsin, where he was pursuing a doctorate and dodging the draft.
"I can remember the mime troupe meeting there and the guys that ran around in white sheets with the entrails of pigs, dripping blood," he said. Maybe if he'd paid more attention to the actual war, conducted with a phony casus belli in a country where we did not understand the culture, he wouldn't have propelled America into two more Vietnams.
The documentary doesn't get to the dark heart of the matter about the man with the new heart.
Did he change, after the shock to his body of so many heart procedures and the shock to his mind of 9/11? Or was he the same person, patiently playing the courtier, once code-named "Backseat" by the Secret Service, until he found the perfect oblivious frontman who would allow him to unleash his harebrained, dictatorial impulses?
Talking to Cutler in his deep headmaster's monotone, Cheney dispenses with the fig leaf of "we." He no longer feigns deference to W., whom he now disdains for favoring Condi over him in the second term, and for not pardoning "Cheney's Cheney," Scooter Libby.
"I had a job to do," he said.
Continuing: "I got on the telephone with the president, who was in Florida, and told him not to be at one location where we could both be taken out." Cheney kept W. flying aimlessly in the air on 9/11 while he and Lynne left on a helicopter for a secure undisclosed location, leaving Washington in a bleak, scared silence, with no one reassuring the nation in those first terrifying hours.
"I gave the instructions that we'd authorize our pilots to take it out," he says, referring to the jet headed to Washington that crashed in a Pennsylvania field. He adds: "After I'd given the order, it was pretty quiet. Everybody had heard it, and it was obviously a significant moment."
This guy makes Al Haig look like a shrinking violet.
When they testified together before the 9/11 Commission, W. and Cheney kept up a pretense that in a previous call, the president had authorized the vice president to give a shoot-down order if needed. But the commission found "no documentary evidence for this call."
In his memoir, W. described feeling "blindsided" again and again. In this film, the blindsider is the éminence grise who was supposed to shore up the untested president. The documentary reveals the Iago lengths that Cheney went to in order to manipulate the unprepared junior Bush. Vice had learned turf fighting from a maniacal master of the art, his mentor Donald Rumsfeld.
When he was supposed to be vetting vice presidential candidates, Cheney was actually demanding so much material from them that there was always something to pick on. He filled W.'s head with stories about conflicts between presidents and vice presidents sparked by the vice president's ambition, while protesting that he himself did not want the job.
In an unorthodox move, he ran the transition, hiring all his people, including Bush senior's nemesis, Rummy, and sloughing off the Friends of George; then he gave himself an all-access pass.
He was always goosing up W.'s insecurities so he could take advantage of them. To make his crazy and appallingly costly detour from Osama to Saddam, and cherry-pick his fake case for invading Iraq, he played on W.'s fear of being lampooned as a wimp, as his father had been.
But after Vice kept W. out of the loop on the Justice Department's rebellion against Cheney's illegal warrantless domestic spying program, the relationship was ruptured. It was too late to rein in the feverish vice president, except to tell him he couldn't bomb a nuclear plant in the Syrian desert.
"Condi was on the wrong side of all those issues," Cheney rumbled to Cutler.
Cheney still hearts waterboarding. "Are you going to trade the lives of a number of people because you want to preserve your honor?" he asked, his voice dripping with contempt.
"I don't lie awake at night thinking, gee, what are they going to say about me?" he sums up.
They're going to say you were a misguided powermonger who, in a paranoid spasm, led this nation into an unthinkable calamity. Sleep on that.


text:
This Raven is hand crocheted using black acrylic yarn. It is stuffed using poly-fiber fil and has black safety eyes!
From the top of his head to the bottom of his tail he stands 3 inches tall!
This is a MADE TO ORDER item. It will take 3-5 days to crochet.
This is a smoke free home!
If you have any questions or would like a customized order please message me!
Have a great day!
3-5 business days
Buyers are responsible for any customs and import taxes that may apply. I'm not responsible for delays due to customs.
Just contact me within: 14 days of delivery
Ship items back to me within: 21 days of delivery
But please contact me if you have any problems with your order.
Because of the nature of these items, unless they arrive damaged or defective, I can't accept returns for:
Buyers are responsible for return shipping costs. If the item is not returned in its original condition, the buyer is responsible for any loss in value.
For Polymer clay items, please be aware that prolonged exposure to water can damage the item! Also since it is clay try not to drop as it may crack or break!
DO NOT USE METAL EAR NUTS ON EARRINGS! IT WILL PULL THE STUD AWAY FROM THE EARRINGS! (Unless item arrived with them💕)
For Crochet items made with Acrylic yarn, when it is exposed to heat it can stretch and damage the fibers! If you must wash the item then please hand wash and let air dry! Cotton yarn made items are durable to heat and will not melt but I would still recommend hand washing and air dry also
For Resin items, Please lightly wash with a damp cloth.
Every Jewelry item ordered comes in a cardboard jewelry box. If you order more than one and they both fit in one jewelry box then only one box is sent unless another is requested. Each box is wrapped in colorful tissue paper!
Crochet items ordered do come wrapped with colorful tissue paper.
All of my earrings are made using Stainless Steel (Also known as Surgical Steel). Some may have the option for titanium!
This makes them Hypoallergenic and safe for prolonged wear!
My ball chain necklaces are also Stainless Steel!
Every listing states what metal/material is used also!
Yes! But please message me prior to purchasing so I know! I also have a listing already set up for 3-day Priority Domestic Shipping and all you have to do is add it to your cart along with the item(s) you want to purchase.
Please keep in mind this is just the shipping time and not the actual creating process time! Every listing states my time frame for creating your items :)
I'm so sorry to hear that! Truly! That completely sucks!
1.) did you put metal ear nuts on?
If so please remove them! Clay is not easy to glue to! The pressure/force of sliding a metal ear nut on and off of the stud repeatedly will pull the earring away from the clay! The best to use is the rubber/plastic ear nuts provided!
2.)glue simply can wear down
The glue that I use for my jewelry is E6000. This is an industrial strength glue that is highly recommended for jewelry making. But just like any other glue it can break down after awhile.
4.)PLEASE try and prevent dropping! It is after all clay!
5.) How to repair them!
Remove residual glue, lightly sand, dab E6000, and gently press stud onto glue!
I would LOVE to make a wholesale order for you!!❤❤❤ please message me!!!


text:
Harvard and Bryant will meet for the first time Wednesday at 3 p.m. (Gil Talbot).
The Storyline
The Harvard men's lacrosse team will step away from Ivy League play to host Bryant at Soldiers Field Lacrosse Stadium Wednesday, March 20 at 3 p.m. The game was originally scheduled to be played Tuesday, March 19 at 7 p.m. but was postponed due to weather affecting the region.
A live video stream featuring Ben Altsher on the call will be available during Tuesday's game through GoCrimson.com by clicking here.
Last Time Out
The Harvard men's lacrosse team took a two-goal lead into the fourth quarter, but a 4-0 run put Brown over the top as the Bears stole a victory from the Crimson Saturday night, 11-9.
Devin Dwyer broke a 7-7 tie in the third quarter off a feed from Peter Schwartz and found Ryan Stevens for a score less than one minute later, putting the Crimson in front 9-7 heading into the final frame. Brown's Kylor Bellistri netted the equalizer with 9:06 remaining, however, and the Bears tacked on two more scores for the final two-goal margin.
Dwyer finished the night with four points on two goals and two assists. Alex White also scored two goals while Stevens added a goal and an assist.
Harvard won 19-of-24 face offs and dominated the X thanks to a 15-of-20 performance by Rick Molé. Gabriel Mendola was 4-of-4 on face offs and was credited with a career-high 10 ground balls.
Scouting Bryant
Bryant dropped a 17-15 decision to Albany on Saturday to fall to 0-6 on the year. The defending NEC champion, Bryant is coming off a 14-4 season in which it went 1-1 against Ivy League foes.
The Bulldogs are averaging just 8.67 goals per game while allowing opponents to score 10.90 goals per contest. Bryant has been stellar at the face off X, winning 67.2 percent of the draws, and is clearing at an 82.0 percent clip.
Alex Zomerfeld (10g, 6a) leads the team with 16 points while Colin Dunster (7g, 4a), Peter McMahon (3g, 8a) and Mason Poli (7g, 4a) have each added 11. Kevin Massa has taken every face off for the Bulldogs and is 92-of-137 at the X.
Tom Carey has seen the bulk of the action in goal and sports a 9.21 goals against average and a save percentage of 51.4 percent. Gunnar Waldt has also been between the pipes and owns a 13.54 goals against average with a save percentage of 43.9 percent.
Inside the Series
Tuesday's game will mark the first meeting ever between Harvard and Bryant.
Up Next
Harvard returns to Ivy League play this weekend with a contest at Dartmouth Saturday, March 23 at 1 p.m.
Facing Off
Senior Rick Molé had a career day at the face off X against Brown, winning 15-of-20 draws while collecting four ground balls. Molé, who entered the year having taken just 32 face offs in his career, has won 52.3 percent of the face offs he has taken this season.
Staying Grounded
Junior Gabriel Mendola set a career-high with 10 ground balls at Brown. He is the first Crimson to recorded double-digit ground balls since Keegan Michel did so on April 10 of last season with 10 against Quinnipiac.
Young Gun
Freshman Devin Dwyer currently ranks 10th in the Ivy League with 16 points and is sixth in the conference with nine assists. Dwyer has recorded at least one point in each of Harvard's games this season and has tallied multiple points in the team's last four outings.
Getting Defensive
Freshmen Robert Duvnjak has started four games for the Crimson on defense and entered the week ranked fourth in the NCAA with 2.5 caused turnovers per game. Duvnjak made his collegiate debut against UMass and registered four caused turnovers, then added four more as Harvard defeated Georgetown.
Duvnjak's 10 caused turnovers are seven more than any other member of the Crimson while his 11 ground balls ranks second on the team.
White Hot
Senior Alex White registered a hat trick in each of the Crimson's first two games and is currently second on the team lead with 12 points (9g, 3a) from the midfield. White entered the season with 31 career points (19g, 12a) after having played in 41 of Harvard's 42 games over the previous three seasons.
Player of the Week
Goalkeeper Harry Krieger was named the NEILA Player of the Week on March 11 after recording 12 saves in Harvard's 8-6 win over Georgetown. Krieger turned away five shots in a clean fourth quarter to preserve the victory after allowing just two goals in the first half. The senior is the first Crimson to earn the award since Daniel Eipp took home the honors on March 27 of last season.
Sharing the Wealth
12 different members of the Crimson have combined to score 44 goals this season. Alex White leads the way with nine scores on the year, while Devin Dwyer has added seven. Daniel Eipp and Peter Schwartz have each tallied six goals.
Home Field Advantage
Harvard is 13-5 at home under Chris Wojcik '96, The Frisbie Family Head Coach for Harvard Men's Lacrosse. This includes a 6-3 mark in Harvard Stadium and a 7-2 record at Soldiers Field Lacrosse Stadium.
Hats Off
2013 Hat Tricks
Career Hat Tricks
CLASS Act
Jason Gonos has been named as one of 20 candidates for the 2013 Senior CLASS Award. To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence – community, classroom, character and competition.
Gonos has anchored Harvard's defensive unit for the last three years, but even more impressive than his play on the field has been his work within the community. In November, he organized the Crimson's involvement in Lacrosse Mustache Madness which raised $6,979 for the HEADstrong Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to the fight against blood cancer. Gonos has also spent time working with Happy Helpers for the Homeless in his home state of Maryland, helping to feed and clothe the homeless in Glen Burnie, Md.
To read Gonos' full Senior CLASS Award bio, click here.
In the Spotlight
The Crimson will play twice in front of a national television audience in 2013 beginning with its March 30 meeting with Duke. The game, which will be aired live on NBC Sports Network, will be played under the lights of Harvard Stadium at 7 p.m. The Crimson will also be featured on ESPNU when it takes the field at Princeton Friday, April 19 at 6 p.m.
Watch Live Online
Harvard has announced that for the first time ever, each of the Crimson's nine home games will be available either through live or on-demand streaming. Eight of the nine will streamed live through GoCrimson.com while the Crimson's nationally televised matchup with No. 13/14 Duke will be available for on-demand viewing shortly after its completion.
A full season pass can be purchased for $59.95 while single event subscriptions will be offered for $9.95. The full season pass will give fans access to each of the eight games streamed live as well as access to the on-demand archive for all nine home contests.
Click here to purchase your subscription today.


text:
Aisha Price scored three goals in each of the Crimson's first two games (photo courtesy Gil Talbot).
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – The Crimson will begin a stretch of seven games in Princeton, N.J. with the Princeton Invitational Feb. 11-12. Harvard faces Bucknell and No. 20 Princeton during the first day of action, before finishing the invite with Villanova and Colorado State.
The Crimson (1-1) is led by senior co-captain Devan Kennifer and junior Aisha Price, who each tallied hat tricks at last week's Iona Invitational. Kennifer, a returning first-team All-Southern Division honoree, led Harvard in scoring (76 g) and steals (81) a year ago. The Crimson has brought back 99% (329-of-332) of its goal scoring from last season, including its top three in Kennifer, Monica Zdrojewski (60 g) and Aisha Price (54 g).
Last Time Out
The Crimson found itself down early against Iona in the opener before storming back with six fourth-quarter goals, but ultimately fell, 15-14, to the host Gaels. In the second match of the day, Harvard easily got past Villanova, 13-1, to exit the invite with a 1-1 mark. Devan Kennifer led the Crimson with nine goals and seven steals, while Aisha Price added six goals and four assists. Freshmen Ariel Dukes and Jasmine Griffin split time in goal, as Dukes registered seven saves against Iona and Griffin stopped nine shots versus Villanova.
Weekly Awards
A trio of Harvard women's water polo players took home Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) Southern Division awards this week. Devan Kennifer was named the Player of the Week, while Monica Zdrojewski and Victoria Frager were chosen as the Defensive Player of the Week and Rookie of the Week, respectively.
The Bison (0-0) opens its season with Harvard Feb. 11 at 9 a.m. Bucknell returns its top two goal scorers from 2010-11, when the Bison went 13-18 overall. Senior Hallie Kennan led Bucknell with 55 goals to go along with 32 assists last season, while Julianne Valdes added 47 scores and 38 helpers.
After tying the first ever meeting between Harvard and Bucknell in 1986, the Bison have gone on to win 16-of-29 meetings in the series history.
No. 20 Princeton
The Tigers (0-0) are also beginning its season against Harvard. Princeton, which finished 2010-11 with a 20-11 record and in fifth place at last year's CWPA Eastern Championship, returns first-team All-Southern Division honorees Katie Rigler and Brittany Zwirner. Rigler led the Tigers with 56 goals during her freshman campaign and Zwirner had a team-high 52 steals along with 36 goals and 22 assists.
Princeton has won the last 10 meetings with Harvard and leads the all-time series 26-1, dating back to 1984.
Sunday's contest between the Crimson and Wildcats will be the second matchup of the season between the two squads, as Harvard controlled Villanova, 13-1, at the Iona Invitational Feb. 4. The Crimson benefited from a balanced scoring attack which featured eight Crimson players finding the back of the cage, including four with multiple goals. Aisha Price scored three times, while Kennifer, Victoria Frager and Shayna Price contributed two goals apiece.
Harvard leads the all-time series against Villanova, 14-2, dating back to 1994. The Crimson has won the last 11 meetings since 2000.
Colorado State
The Rams (0-5) have had more than two weeks off after opening the season at the Michigan Kick-Off against a group of highly ranked squads. Colorado State, which received a vote in the CWPA poll Feb. 8, held its own in the pool against No. 3 UCLA, No. 9 Indiana, No. 11 Michigan and No. 18 UC-San Diego, but fell in each of its five matches during the event. Senior Amber Bryan led the Rams throughout the Michigan Kick-Off, tallying 12 goals in five games. Junior Shelby Schaefer and sophomore Stephanie Weed are Colorado State's defensive leaders, as each has seven steals this season.
Sunday's meeting will be the first ever between the two schools.
Next Up
Harvard will be back in Princeton, N.J. for three more games at DeNunzio Pool during the MAAC/East Challenge Feb. 25-26. The Crimson squares off against Wagner, Iona and Villanova, for a third time this season, during the tournament.


text:
These gorgeous pictures of football referee Claudia Romani will steal your heart
Mira Rajput steps out in style in a short floral dress for girls night out, see pictures
Meet the PM of Finland Sanna Marin, a complete fashionista
New loved-up picture of Hardik Pandya and Natasa Stankovic goes viral...
The "Bom Diggy Diggy" girl Sakshi Malik is a true diva in real life!
These bewitching pictures of Riya Sen you simply can't miss!
Alluring pictures of Ruhi Singh you surely can't give a miss!
These Bollywood before-and-after VFX effects pictures will blow away your mind
Pictures of Sherlyn Chopra shake up the internet
See more of: Ana de Armas
See more of: Ana Leticia


text:
WSCC offers Direct Deposit for financial aid and institutional refunds.
Disbursed means WSCC uploads direct deposit file to WSCC's bank and checks are printed and mailed. All recipients receive an email notification via Senators Mail when their refund is processed.
Financial Aid refunds are only processed for recipients who meet all financial aid eligibility requirements including attendance. Students must attend all classes or be subject to federal repayment policies.
Refunds (financial aid and institutional) are normally processed every Tuesday and Thursday and disbursed every Wednesday and Friday once a semester begins.
Students may view their attendance status at the beginning of the semester through MyWS.
Students may currently "create a refund profile" through MyWS to receive their refund electronically (direct deposit).
To create a refund profile:
At the time when a check cycle is processed, students who have created a refund profile will have their refunds processed electronically. For students who have not created a refund profile, their refund will be issued in a paper check and mailed to their permanent home address on file in Admissions. Once a refund has been processed (electronically or check), students are notified electronically through Senators Mail (not eLearn). Students are encouraged to monitor their Senators Mail regularly.
Click here to learn how to setup and receive text messages concerning your refund.
Upon notification of the return, WSCC will issue the refund in the form of a paper check in the next check cycle and mail it to the student's permanent home address. In addition, students will be notified through Senators Mail if their electronic refund is returned for any reason. The student must correct the account information in their refund profile before future refunds may be direct deposited. WSCC staff does not have access to student bank account information or student refund profiles.
Checks returned to WSCC by the U. S. Postal Serviceas undeliverable and no forwarding address will receive an e-mail notification through Senators Mail. Checks not disbursed within 10 business days are voided.
A lost check may be reissued after 14 business days (excluding holidays) upon presenting an Indemnity Bond (completed, signed, and notarized) to the Morristown Cashier's Office. Upon receipt of the Indemnity Bond, the Cashier's Office will place a stop payment on the lost check and submit a check request for a reissue. The reissued check will be mailed.
Print an Indemnity Bond or pick one up from any campus Cashier's Office.


text:
What happens when you take a salvaged US Navy jet engine out of a Banshee fighter jet and stuff it into a '67 Mustang fastback? You get "The Krispy Kritter," and it's for sale!
Yes, somebody put a vintage 1960s drag Mustang with a jet engine so big it takes up over half of the length of the car on Craigslist.
The car was built by Ted Trischler near the Heinz plant in Pittsburgh. Bought new as a body-in-white '67 fastback, Ted cut through the middle to make room for the Westinghouse J34 jet engine. The front axle came from a '39 Plymouth, the brakes from a '58 Buick, the shocks are aircraft struts, and the chute and throttle controls were designed for a Starcraft boat.
All of this information was put up by Pittsburgh car show Open Throttle 360 on one of their recent episodes.
They admit that there isn't much reliable information about the car's on-track performance, but the last time The Krispy Kritter was up on Craigslist, the owner claimed the car had hit 308 miles an hour.
No price was listed on the current Craigslist listing, but when it went up for sale late last year the price was $30,000.
I can't think of a single cooler Mustang for sale right now anywhere in the world. A jet engine/vintage racer combo is pretty much impossible to beat.
You can see the whole Craigslist ad right here when it gets taken down.
Photo Credits: Craigslist