text:
Avalanche goaltending quandary: sign or trade?
What do you think, good folk: should the Avalanche's next starting goalie come via free agency, or should they try to make a trade for someone younger and potentially more promising via trade?
I'm kind of torn myself how to answer that. While I'm a big proponent of adding pieces through free-agency if you can – because it doesn't cost you "assets" from the roster, just money – I'm not really all that wild about the goalies available this year. I'm saying this with the proviso that I don't believe Ilya Bryzgalov will be an Av.
Yes, money could change his mind, but there is a lot of talk that Breezer wants to play for a big-city Eastern team like the Flyers – a town with a lot of media attention and a good team.
I personally don't think the Avs are going to go anywhere near some $5-6 million-per-year type of offer on any goalie on the market. Maybe I'll be proven wrong, but as I see and hear it the plan is still to rebuild from within and add around the margins. Before anyone gets really upset by that, did anyone think Dwayne Roloson would help lead the Lightning into the conference finals this year? Anybody think Michael Leighton would help take the Flyers to the Cup Finals last year?
We've just seen too many goalies come out of nowhere the last few years, then become declared the next Big Thing, and then they're a backup a year later. So while I'm certainly of the belief that goalies are hugely important on any team, I just don't think you go out and give any free-agent goalie a 5-year, $25 million deal in today's modern game unless you really, really think you've got a sure thing.
I might go that high for a Bryzgalov, but probably not if I'm a GM. He was terrible in the playoffs against Detroit, first off. Yes, he's a very good goalie, but that showing against the Wings kind of soured me on him somewhat.
Tomas Vokoun? The numbers have been good, but I don't know. Something just smells like "retread, too old" with him. He's been in the league for a while now and while he has shown the ability to have nice saves percentages, he's never made a major difference in his teams' ability to even make the playoffs.
Josh Harding? The Minnesota Wild goalie missed all of last season with a knee injury. Risky.
Jean-Sebastien Giguere? Too many miles, sorry. Marty Turco? No thanks. Chris Osgood? Pass.
If the open market doesn't suffice, that leaves the trade market. Want to go for someone young and promising? It's going to cost. Jonathan Quick or Jonathan Bernier in L.A. – wouldn't be cheap. Cory Schneider in Vancouver? Would be even more expensive.
But here's what I see, IF the Avs want to go for a young promising goalie: they trade a decent roster player and the No. 11 pick. That would probably be more than fair. Maybe a Galiardi and the pick for Bernier? Maybe David Jones and the pick? Maybe Kyle Quincey and the pick?
The Avs do have a young, promising goalie already in their system – Calvin Pickard. But the kid is only 19 and had a pretty decent season in Seattle last year in junior. But it's going to be a couple years, at least, before the kid is a realistic possibility. But we're probably talking about four or five, probably, before the kid really gets enough experience to blossom in the NHL. Goalies just take time to develop.
If the Avs want to go for Vokoun, I probably only offer a three-year, $10 million deal. Something like that. You just can't lock yourself into really long-term deal on a 35-year-old guy with no history of real winning.
Then again, the Avs can NOT go into next season hoping Brian Elliott is going to be the answer. Peter Budaj, we know, won't be back. They've got to make a move on a new goalie. Yeah, I still believe they had their guy in Craig Anderson and gave up on him too quickly. They've got to address his loss finally now.
How to do it is the question.


text:
The Eye Centre needed a new logo design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 95 designs submitted by 43 freelance designers.
We are looking for a professional image, but at the same time local and approachable for our opticians practice
The Eye Centre
We are a small independent opticians with quite a modern image called "The Eye Centre". The logo can have optical images like glasses, eyes etc, but this is not essential - it can be more abstract. The name the "The Eye Centre" can be part of the logo or just have an image with The Eye Centre beside / below it. We would like to use 2-3 colours max, but any colour scheme will be considered. The logo should look equally well on stationery, website and shop front.
It should suggest a professional image, but at the same time local and approachable
- Simple rather than complicated image
- Avoid similarities to http://www.visionexpress.com/ and http://www.specsavers.ie
Find out how a design contest works or learn more about our logo design services.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
January 14, 2020
Election Security, School Surveillance and Ransomware
This week, Governing's Future of Security takes a look at the latest developments in election security, ransomware and the growing use of surveillance tools, such as facial recognition, inside of public schools.
January 13, 2020
The Biggest Issues to Watch in 2020
State legislatures will have a lot on their plates. They'll deal with issues in wildly differing ways. We set the context for the 2020 session with an overview of abortion, election security, housing, immigration, net neutrality, pensions, pre-emption, recession fears, redistricting, vaping, and workforce.
January 7, 2020
Government's Mixed Success with Financial Modernization
The financial system for any major organization is complex and that includes state and local government. Efforts to expand the capabilities of finance through new technology can lead to different results as these two examples show.
February 5, 2018
Geeks Come to the Government's Rescue
The organization some refer to as "the Peace Corps for geeks" has launched a major effort to improve the way people apply for benefits.
January 1, 2018
15 Years Later, REAL ID Act's Vision Will Finally Become Reality
After years of fighting the post-9/11 law that added security standards for ID cards, states seem to be on board. It's going to cost them, though.
December 15, 2017
As Artificial Intelligence Grows in Government, Experts Urge Caution
The technology certainly has benefits, but some say they could be outweighed by its drawbacks.
November 29, 2017
4 Ways to Modernize Data
Take these steps and usher in a new era of better services.
October 23, 2017
Government Technology's Complicated History
The public sector has been notoriously slow to embrace technology. Is that finally changing?
September 11, 2017
As a 9/11-Inspired Emergency Network Nears, Some States May Go Rogue
The government is building a nationwide network that helps first responders communicate better during emergencies. To succeed, most states must opt in.
August 22, 2017
Drowning in Data, Cities Turn to 'Citizen Scientists'
Governments have more data than they have the manpower to handle. Some recruit volunteers to help analyze it all, but they're far from being experts in data.
July 26, 2017
IT Department? In Small-Town Governments, They Rarely Exist.
Many cities and towns are struggling to keep up with the latest technological advances. But in a few places, their bigger peers are willing to help.
June 6, 2017
Decentralizing Government's IT
Florida wants to cut its technology costs. But is the state going about it all wrong?
May 15, 2017
Are State Ethics Rules Keeping Up With Social Media?
One state legislator's legal battle showcases how outdated laws can hamper citizen engagement -- and get officials in trouble.
April 1, 2017
The Cyberthreat to Government That's Lurking in the Shadows
Many public employees use unsanctioned software on work computers. It poses serious security risks.
March 29, 2017
Letting the Little Guy In: How Ohio Expanded Its IT Expertise
The state revamped its procurement system so that it's not missing out on smaller, innovative firms anymore. The new process is already catching fire in other states.
February 27, 2017
One Way to Save Money, Reduce Fraud and Employ People Faster
New Mexico has a unique program that combines behavioral economics and predictive analytics.
January 1, 2017
Can School Buses Close the Digital Gap?
Districts are experimenting with ways to get every student access to high-speed Internet. Right now, millions don't.
December 5, 2016
Are New York's Unprecedented Cyber-Regulations Necessary?
The state is on track to enacting first-in-the-nation rules about how banks respond to cyberattacks. Some say they're misguided.
November 23, 2016
Cities Closely Watching Chicago's Version of a Fitbit
The city is installing sensors that could reveal a lot about the best way for governments to use smart technology.
October 13, 2016
Artificial Intelligence: The Next Big Thing in Government
The White House just released a report on the future of artificial intelligence. Some governments are already using A.I., but it could have a far wider impact.
September 1, 2016
3 Ways Governments Are Fighting Hackers
Agencies are broadening a few conventional tactics to prevent cyberattacks.
August 11, 2016
Words of IT Wisdom From Silicon Valley to Governments
Palo Alto's city manager wants governments to rip up the IT rule book to make better investments.
July 28, 2016
High-Speed Police Chases Go High-Tech
Technology is transforming the way police fight crime, making it safer for not only officers but also criminals and innocent bystanders.
June 20, 2016
Dot-Govs Get a Much-Needed Facelift
Several big cities are decluttering and redesigning their government websites to make them easier to use.
May 23, 2016
4 Reasons Data Analytics Often Fail
It's one of the hottest trends in the public sector, but it's not easy to succeed with data.
April 29, 2016
CIOs Fear Mass Exodus of Government IT Workers
States are not only anticipating a wave of retirements but also trouble filling the vacancies. How are they preparing?
March 28, 2016
Know CPR? New App Sends Alerts When Someone Nearby Needs It
It shows how technology can come to people's aid -- sometimes faster than government.
March 9, 2016
Hackers Hold Police Files Hostage for Ransom
The growing threat of cybercrime has exposed just how vulnerable police departments are to it.
February 10, 2016
The Private Tech Sector Goes Public
More companies than ever now offer digital services and tools designed specifically for government. Here are a few.
February 5, 2016
As Water Utilities Move Online, Hackers Take Note
America's power grid has gotten a lot of attention, but water utilities are increasingly vulnerable to cyberattacks.
January 13, 2016
Broadband Adoption Reaches a Standstill in Tech-Savvy Seattle
Even one of America's most connected cities is struggling to get everyone online.
January 1, 2016
Can Technology Help Prevent Drug Overdoses?
Massachusetts has begun using data analytics to predict where they might occur.
December 9, 2015
Can Cars That Park Themselves Reduce Traffic?
New England's most densely populated city is testing a new way to alleviate congestion and free up more space for public transit, pedestrians and bicyclists.
December 1, 2015
Making Government Transparency More Transparent
In their quest to make public records requests easier, faster and cheaper, some governments are publishing them online for anyone to see.
November 11, 2015
The Sometimes Sad State of Voter Registration in America
Automatic and online voter registration have proven to increase voter rolls and save money, yet many states are still using paper.
November 7, 2015
States Are Slacking on Cybersecurity
A recent audit finds California's efforts are woefully inadequate. And that's the good news.
October 29, 2015
States Seek Upgrades for Decades-Old Medical Technology
Most have avoided upgrading the systems that run our biggest health-care program themselves. But some are looking to outsource.
October 14, 2015
Instead of Fighting, Some Cities Team Up With Airbnb and Uber
While many places try to regulate or ban sharing-economy companies, a few are taking advantage of them to improve their emergency preparedness and transportation options.
September 9, 2015
Can Yelp Help Government Win Back the Public's Trust?
The popular review site is giving public employees a place to directly engage with citizens. Whether that improves services or trust remains to be seen.
September 1, 2015
The City That Incorporated Social Media Into Everything
In Roanoke, Va., Facebook, Twitter and all their social-network cousins have a home in every government agency.
August 12, 2015
States Start Restricting Police License Plate Readers
Critics say the now-popular technology needs to be regulated, but cops worry too much regulation will hurt their ability to fight crime.
August 12, 2015
The (Hidden) Cost of Open Data
For all of its advantages, cost isn't always one of them. But there are ways to keep them down.
July 1, 2015
Government Apps Are Popular, But Are They Useful?
What may seem like a great way to engage citizens may not be as effective as cities would like.
June 10, 2015
311 Upgrades Make It Cheaper to Connect With Citizens
Some cash-strapped cities shut down their 311 services during the recession. But they can actually save cities money.
June 1, 2015
Advice for State CIOs: Make IT Interesting
New CIOs need to learn the importance of marketing technology to leadership.
May 13, 2015
A Cautionary Tale for Any Government IT Project
How did Los Angeles spend more than $1 billion to buy an iPad for every student and instead end up losing its leader and being investigated by the FBI and SEC?
April 16, 2015
The Payoffs of Financial Transparency
Most cities are failing to tell their fiscal stories well or at all. New York and Chicago, though, offer models of true transparency.
April 15, 2015
Have Non-Lethal Weapons Reduced Deadly Police Force?
Many departments have been using them for decades, and the technology for some recently improved.
April 1, 2015
New Apps May Make Giving and Getting Government Aid Easier
Mobile technology has made a belated but much needed debut in human services.
March 11, 2015
States Turn to Technology to Calculate Prison Sentences
Human error and outdated technology have miscalculated thousands of prison sentences and cost some states millions of dollars.
March 1, 2015
States Use Big Data to Nab Tax Fraudsters
Technology has made it easier for people to commit tax fraud and for governments to catch it.
February 11, 2015
A Security Dilemma for Smart Devices
Wireless-connected devices offer financial benefits for local governments, but they come at a price.
February 1, 2015
Tardy Transit? Tweet About It
Transit agencies are finally catching up to the private sector's use of social media to improve their systems and increase the public's trust in them.
January 14, 2015
Governments Making It Easier for Citizens to Know the Law
Once tightly controlled by commercial publishers, legal codes are becoming more accessible online, thanks to the open data movement.
January 1, 2015
The Growing Data Gap
As data-driven services and programs have grown, so has the data disparity between the rich and the poor.
December 8, 2014
4 Tech Trends Changing How Cities Operate
A recent survey reveals how local governments are using technology (both new and old) to engage citizens and improve performance.
December 1, 2014
Open Data's Hidden Value
States and localities can profit from it, and it's time to start talking about how.
November 10, 2014
5 Tech Issues Every Governor Needs to Know
A recent survey of state CIOs shows how governments can modernize and run efficiently.
November 1, 2014
Drones Take Off, But Regulations Remain Grounded
Everyone from Hollywood to state and local governments want in on the action.
October 13, 2014
First Responders Left in the Dark on Public Safety Network
The people who would actually use the first nationwide public safety wireless communications network have largely been left out of its creation, possibly hurting its effectiveness.
October 1, 2014
States Approach Federal Data Breach Law with Caution
With 47 different state laws on what companies are supposed to do when they become victims of cyberattack, is it time for federal legislation?
September 4, 2014
Can Body Cameras Really Reduce Police Use of Force?
Ferguson police are the latest of more than 1,000 departments to wear body cameras, which are proven to reduce officers' use of force and citizens' complaints against cops.
September 1, 2014
Coming Soon to a Government Near You: Cloud Computing
Can a model procurement agreement speed the adoption of cloud computing?
August 11, 2014
Utah Leading the Mobile-Friendly Government Movement
Most state and local governments in the U.S. are stuck in a desktop world with websites and services that don't work on smartphones and tablets. But not Utah.
August 1, 2014
Texting 911: The Tech Is There but Cities Aren't Ready
Only 100 emergency call centers out of more than 6,000 across the country are capable of receiving and responding to text messages.
July 14, 2014
Why Are Governments Stuck in the Stone Age?
Cloud computing is a cheaper, more reliable way to manage electronic records than hard drives or paper -- yet a recent IRS scandal shows how governments at every level are slow to change their ways.
July 1, 2014
A Quick Way to Build a Wireless Network
Local governments are using mesh networks to stay connected during outages, offer high-speed Wi-Fi and breach the digital divide. But it's not perfect.
June 9, 2014
Can Phone Apps Rebuild Trust in Government?
Some cities think the key to getting citizens to trust in and see the value of government again is developing civic technology that's proven to work.
June 4, 2014
Beyond Congestion Pricing: Reducing Traffic Problems by Changing People's Commuting Habits
A company called Urban Engines works with city transit authorities to figure out better ways to use existing infrastructure and to craft incentives to change people's transportation behaviors and reduce congestion.
June 1, 2014
NYC's Simple Plan for Reducing IT Fraud and Waste
After losing hundreds of millions of dollars, the city is starting to clamp down on IT contractors to make sure taxpayer dollars are being spent wisely.
May 12, 2014
The Cable Merger's Biggest Loser: Municipal Broadband
If the feds allow two of the biggest cable companies to combine, municipalities would lose even more power to create high-quality, low-cost publicly owned broadband services for their citizens.
May 1, 2014
Santander: The Smartest Smart City
The Spanish city is embedded with more than 12,000 sensors to help the government operate as efficiently as possible. It's changing the way Europe thinks about cities.
May 1, 2014
The United Arab Emirates: A Rising Star in E-Government
How the small Middle Eastern country jumped from 49th to 28th in online service delivery should have state and local CIOs in the United States paying close attention.
April 7, 2014
A New Way for Schools to Pay for Technology
The federal program that funds technology in schools spends about $600 million on outdated tools like pagers. The FCC wants to reform it, but how that happens is subject to political debate.
April 1, 2014
Small Cities Struggle to Battle the Rise in Heroin Abuse
There's a whole new generation of heroin addicts in rural areas and smaller, struggling cities, which have few resources to fight the epidemic and its affects.
March 17, 2014
Why Is Government Still Using Windows XP?
Many state and local governments are still using the soon-to-be obsolete operating system, and the upgrade transition is proving very slow and costly.
March 10, 2014
Delaware Seeks to Stem the Shortage of Cybersecurity Workers
Facing a national shortage of experts able to battle the growing number of cyberthreats, Delaware's new initiative to boost its cybersecurity workforce could be a model for other states.
March 7, 2014
Seniors Create Their Own Communities in Cities
More and more seniors are creating naturally occurring retirement communities, forcing cities to rethink zoning laws and how they provide services.
March 3, 2014
Google Glass Now for Public Transit
Utah tests the state's appetite for wearable technology as part of an overall strategy to try to better serve mobile users.
March 1, 2014
Is the Cost of 311 Systems Worth the Price of Knowing?
311 systems have revolutionized the way cities gather information, allowing them to tackle small problems before they get too big. But running them can be extremely costly.
March 1, 2014
Gentrification's Not So Black and White After All
Despite complaints about well-educated white people buying up houses in low-income minority neighborhoods, recent studies show that gentrification often helps the original residents.
February 27, 2014
Is That Streetlamp Watching You?
New technology makes it possible to turn ordinary streetlamps into data-gathering networks. But is it too much of a good thing?
February 10, 2014
Why Do Some Governments Struggle to Make Online Services Viable?
Recent audits reveal how poor strategic planning leads to lost opportunities for governments that are looking for new ways to deliver services at the lowest cost possible.
February 5, 2014
Can Mayors Really Be Robin Hood?
Several mayors have promised to tackle income inequality, but some cast doubt that cities can make a difference.
February 1, 2014
Should Cities Run Subways Later to Attract Young Professionals?
Late-night transit options may make a city more attractive to younger generations, but running trains around the clock has its drawbacks.
January 17, 2014
PHOTOS: Can Streetcars Revive the Glory Days of Urban Transit?
Once America's most popular form of urban transit, streetcars practically disappeared but have returned to cities with a vengeance.
January 13, 2014
Can Government Avoid Technology Failure?
HealthCare.gov is another reminder of the ongoing problems government has with technology. But success and innovation are possible, says an expert.
January 1, 2014
Breaking Down the Barriers to Affordable Housing
With homeownership at its lowest level in decades, the demand for rental housing is high -- and so are the rents.
December 3, 2013
As Landline Phones Disappear, Some Voice Concerns
Not only are landlines more reliable during disasters, rural residents and the elderly are concerned about the new generation of phone services that will likely be less regulated.
December 1, 2013
Boston Mayor Blogs His Way Out of Office
Outgoing Mayor Tom Menino, who was in office for 20 years, has launched what may be the first-ever transition blog to help his successor succeed.
November 5, 2013
From School to Home to Work, Governments Struggle with Financial Policies for Tech Devices
Many school districts pay for students to bring iPads home and many government agencies allow employees to use their personal devices for work. But issues like who pays for devices when they break, get lost or stolen are unclear.
October 2, 2013
El Paso Teaches New Urbanism to Architects, Engineers
Hoping to reinvent the sprawling city, El Paso officials decided to teach the development community the importance of new urbanism. Now, other cities are following in its footsteps.
October 1, 2013
Can (and Should) States Regulate the Internet?
Doing what Congress failed to do, California became the first state to require websites to let minors delete what they post on social media. But the new law has already ignited a heated debate.
September 12, 2013
The Rise of Cities and the Mayors Who Run Them
With the feds and states more marginalized than ever, cities -- and the mayors who run them -- are growing stronger.
August 29, 2013
Broadband: Public Officials Want More Government Participation
A Governing survey shows strong support for government-run fiber networks, but it's less clear how they will get built.
August 15, 2013
New Orleans' Dwindling Ferry Service
Funding cutbacks have reduced both the number of ferries that cross the Mississippi River and the schedules of those that remain, leaving commuters with few options.
August 8, 2013
Are Police and Fire Department Mergers Catching On?
As the cost of public safety continues to rise, some cities are thinking the once unthinkable: merging police and fire agencies into one.
August 1, 2013
Crime, Not Debt, is Detroit's Biggest Problem
Two powerful women in Detroit are pushing hard for the city to focus its resources on fighting its high violent crime rate, which, in 2012, was five times the national average.
July 31, 2013
City Taxi Systems Struggle with Change
Calls for reforming city taxi services are getting louder just as new technologies are making it easier to get a ride.
July 18, 2013
Do Parking Minimums Hurt Housing Affordability?
Some cities think they do, and are moving to change parking mandates to encourage more affordable apartments.
June 28, 2013
Is Big Data Just for Big Cities?
Small and midsize cities are behind in harnessing data to make a city run smarter. Dubuque, Iowa, is bucking that trend.
June 19, 2013
Post-Bloomberg: Will Innovation in NYC Dry Up?
A new report gives the next mayor of New York City a set of innovative reforms that have proven effective and scalable in other cities.
June 12, 2013
Do Cities Need a Chief Resilience Officer?
The Rockefeller Foundation is awarding $100 million to cities willing to create chief resilience officers to prepare for and recover from disasters, which have increased in frequency and intensity due to climate change.
May 15, 2013
Bike Lane Battles Heat Up
Cities like San Francisco and Chicago are running into resistance from drivers as they try to meet demand for more bike lanes.
May 9, 2013
Cities Ramp Up Data Projects
Better ways of using data can speed up solutions to urban issues. But a number of traditional problems stand in the way.
May 2, 2013
How the FCC Could Shape a Mobile Data-Driven Economy
The direction the agency takes under its next chairman will have major implications for governments, for growth and for innovation.
April 30, 2013
Complete Streets Policies Surge in Popularity
A new report says 488 states, counties and cities now have a plan that calls for streets that are "safe for all users of all ages and abilities."
April 30, 2013
Preservation Tax Credit and Local History in Danger
The historic tax credit, which has helped preserve thousands of old buildings in cities across the country, is at risk of being eliminated.
April 2, 2013
The Benefits of Drones, Police on Pinterest, and a Successful IT Consolidation
News you should know about government and technology.
April 1, 2013
Tom Menino, Boston's 'Urban Mechanic' Mayor, Will Not Run for Re-Election
After five terms, the city's longest-serving mayor will leave office at the end of the year.
March 28, 2013
What Makes Grand Rapids So Grand?
The Michigan city is rebounding, and its secret to success includes partnerships and a regional agenda.
March 5, 2013
Cloud Computing in Texas, Chief Innovation Officers and Cyberthreats
News you should know about government and technology.
February 14, 2013
Is It Time to Revive Boarding Houses?
Over time, single room occupancy hotels became the housing of last resort for the poorest and most troubled segment of an urban population and have all but disappeared.
February 5, 2013
Transparency, Social Media and Gun Safety
4 ways technology can help make guns safer, 5 up-and-coming social media sites and more.
February 4, 2013
The Mayor Had Chutzpah
Ed Koch, the lively, contentious mayor of New York City who died at the age of 88 on Feb. 1, left an indelible mark on the city where he lived and worked for most of his life.
January 31, 2013
U.S. Cities Consider Capping Parking Spots
Cars are being kept out of popular pedestrian areas worldwide and the movement is coming stateside.
January 28, 2013
When Will the U.S. Build Another Subway?
High construction costs have made it virtually impossible to build new subways. But we still need them.
January 22, 2013
Chattanooga's Internet Rise
Chattanooga, Tenn., has leapt to the forefront of cities with ultra high-speed broadband and has accomplished the feat in a surprisingly old-fashioned way.
January 15, 2013
New Funding Model Needed for Urban Parks
People love parks, but building a new urban park is expensive. It's why so many cities rely heavily on public-private partnerships to build today's urban parks.
December 10, 2012
San Jose Council Member Explains How City Fixed Its Pension System
San Jose has had its share of political troubles, from bribery to corruption, but nothing compared to the ticking pension time bomb.
December 3, 2012
Spotlight on Walkable Neighborhoods Gets Brighter
New policies and reports buttress economic and social importance of high-density cities.
November 30, 2012
The Great Convention Center Bailout
With convention attendance down 40 million people from a decade earlier, why are cities pouring money into building and expanding facilities?
November 21, 2012
Tired of Service Cuts, California Cities Raise Taxes
Have cities reached the limit when it comes to cutting services? That seems to be the case in California where voters passed 71 percent of local tax and bond measures.
November 12, 2012
11 Cities in Massachusetts Band Together to Solve Urban Ills
Can a collaborative network help 2nd tier cities?
October 31, 2012
Casino Developers Court Cities
The latest market for gaming isn't in the suburbs anymore; it's downtown, where developers are retrofitting existing buildings and changing the casino as we know it.
September 28, 2012
DIY Urbanism Makes Creative Use of Public Spaces
As the economy continues to take big bites out of arts and city planning budgets, this bottom-up approach is changing the look of some cities. Are governments ready to embrace these grassroots ideas?
August 31, 2012
Tree Population Falling in Cities
Despite their aesthetic, economic and safety benefits, trees are disappearing from city sidewalks. Why?
July 31, 2012
Saltville, Virginia: A Company Town Without a Company
In 1971, the Olin chemical company pulled out of Saltville, leaving the tiny town to fend for itself.
June 29, 2012
Chicago Brings Participatory Budgeting to the U.S.
Participatory budgeting, which started in Latin America, lets citizens determine spending priorities.
June 20, 2012
As Newspapers Shrink, Public Officials Worry
Recent cutbacks in daily print schedules will leave communities less informed.
May 31, 2012
With Americans Driving Less, What Will Happen to the Parking Lot?
Cities are finding creative uses for these environmentally unfriendly spaces.
April 30, 2012
City Hall Buildings Fall Victim to Local Budgets
The upkeep and restoration of older city halls often become casualties of budgets squeezed by the Great Recession.
March 30, 2012
Railroad Park Unites Birmingham, Alabama
The park, which is part of a trend of turning urban, industrial spaces into green space, pairs a functional railroad with an amphitheater, walking trails, grassy lawns and more.
February 29, 2012
Better Zoning through Breaking Old Codes
Form-based codes have emerged as a powerful tool for city planners who want to stop the sprawl that's resulted from bad zoning rules.
January 31, 2012
Restored Streetcars Now Desirable
To the delight of many, old streetcars are being restored to their former glory and put back into transit service in New Orleans, Philadelphia and Portland.
January 31, 2012
Springfield, Mass., Wants to Become a Resurgent City
And it's looking to tap the secret of other cities' success in the post-manufacturing age.
January 1, 2012
Blame Phone Apps for Graffiti's Reemergence
Technology has spurred a renewed interest in street art. Cash-strapped cities are combating the costly problem with smartphones.
December 30, 2011
Legislative Issues to Watch in 2012
These nine topics will shape debate in state legislatures in 2012.
November 30, 2011
The Trouble with Pedestrian Malls
Once popular, these car-free zones are slowly disappearing from the urban landscape.
November 30, 2011
Cybercrime Hits Small Towns
As more public employees use social media, mobile devices and cloud computing, cyberattacks are becoming a bigger concern. Is small-town America prepared?
October 31, 2011
Pensions Threaten to Sink Cities
Pension problems at the state level have been grabbing headlines for some time, but many experts believe the real trouble is at the local level.
September 30, 2011
Quincy, Mass., Rebuilds from Scratch
The city is clearing land to rebuild its downtown using a unique business model that some say could be a game changer.
August 31, 2011
Houston's Green Revolution
America's oil capital embraces the sustainability movement.
July 29, 2011
Urban Areas Defy Crime Trends
Despite the recession, which usually spurs a rise in law-breaking, violent and property crimes have dropped for the fourth year in a row. How can this be?
June 30, 2011
America's One and Only Personal Rapid Transit System
Morgantown, W.Va., is the only place in the world where riders can hop into cars and travel from point to point without stopping at other stations along the way.
June 30, 2011
Manufacturing Returns to Cities
Small urban manufacturers offer economic benefits to cities and could flourish with federal policy support.
May 31, 2011
Drivers Battle with Bikers for Road Space
When New York City replaced a car lane with a bike lane, it exposed the tricky problem of adding another form of transportation infrastructure to a city.
April 29, 2011
Cities' Access to Fresh Food Worsens
Higher maintenance costs in urban areas have led to a serious lack of grocery stores for city dwellers. States and cities are working on ways to get them back.
March 31, 2011
Seniors and the City
Most experts agree little is being done to make cities more age-friendly, but some cities are taking steps.
February 28, 2011
Motorists and Light Rail Struggle to Share the Road
City motorists need to remember that streets aren't just for cars anymore.
February 25, 2011
Players in Wisconsin's Union Turmoil
The battle over public sector unions in Madison has thrust state legislators into the limelight. Meet some of the players in this slideshow.
February 3, 2011
South Carolina Columnist Wins Award for Public Service Journalism
Cindi Ross Scoppe, a columnist with The State, South Carolina's largest daily newspaper, is the recipient of the eighth annual Hal Hovey-Peter Harkness Award, presented by Governing for outstanding coverage of state and local government.
February 1, 2011
A Tour of New York City's Croton Water Filtration Plant
This photo gallery spotlights New York City's first and only water filtration plant, which will sit below a golf course in the Bronx.
February 1, 2011
The Rust Belt Has Arrived
Interest in cities that have fallen on hard times in the Midwest and Northeast brings new cachet to living and working in the Rust Belt.
January 1, 2011
Philadelphia's Open-Door Immigrant Policy
Immigrant populations remain a key source of economic development for inner cities.
December 23, 2010
8 Issues to Watch in 2011
These topics will capture the attention of state legislators in 2011.
December 1, 2010
The Nation's Evolving Cyber-Security Issue
Are states shoring up their defenses enough to protect critical data and computer infrastructure?
December 1, 2010
America's Oldest Town Hall Meeting
The 267-year-old tradition is alive and well in Pelham, Mass.
December 1, 2010
Managing Cities' Growing Volunteer Pools
Cities are using new grant money to install 'chief volunteer officers.'
December 1, 2010
Slideshow: The Oldest Town Hall Building in America
Only Pelham, Mass., can lay claim to having the oldest town hall in continuous use for town meetings.
November 1, 2010
Could Renting Be the New American Dream?
Renting and returning to urban living -- where energy costs are lower -- could be in the offing.
October 7, 2010
Can Boston Call the 'Big Dig' a Success?
The mega infrastructure project was supposed to make the city a less congested, more livable place to work and live. It has succeeded.
October 6, 2010
Local Governments Consider Privatizing Public Libraries
Cities in California and elsewhere look to save money by outsourcing public library services.
October 1, 2010
Problems in Preserving a City's Downtown District
Downtowns, the soul of every city, are hanging on.
September 10, 2010
Online Tool Calculates Transportation Costs
A new online tool calculates average transportation costs, shedding light on the affordability and sustainability of a community.
September 2, 2010
Harrisburg Edges Closer to Bankruptcy
The city of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, moved closer to bankruptcy after announcing it is broke and will miss a bond payment.
September 1, 2010
Dallas Covers Highway with Greenery
Cities are increasingly decking highways with piles of greenery and new development.
August 23, 2010
Budget Cuts Hit State Libraries
Public libraries aren't the only ones being targeted by budget cuts. State libraries, which serve as resources to legislatures and executives, are also just as vulnerable.
Libraries Lose More Than Time
Hammered by budget cuts, some libraries must cut more than just hours.
A Desire for More Streetcars
More than half a century after the streetcar's heyday, this transportation mode is poised to make a comeback.
June 1, 2010
The Gentrification Effect
Does the return of a neighborhood mean its culture and the poor have to leave?
May 25, 2010
Suburban Streetcar Desire
While researching the the streetcar's current popularity, the term "streetcar suburb" didn't mean much to this editor until he realized he lived in one.
Muni Threat: Cities Weigh Chapter 9
The economic slump is forcing debt-laden municipalities nationwide to consider filing for bankruptcy.
From Canals to Computers
Water power from Holyoke, Mass.'s surrounding canals will eventually power an $80 million high performance computing center.
Free Light Rail Rides
Portland, Ore., struggles to keep fare-free service alive.
Empty Lot Syndrome
Cities explore temporary uses for vacant lots.


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seth_pronology needed a new print or packaging design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 33 designs submitted by 11 freelance designers.
Hello, I am the COO of a digital post-production house called WheresMyMedia (http://www.wheresmymedia.com). We are a small company, so often times we find ourselves "wearing many hats". Specifically, I designed our media kit, but I am not a graphic artist. I am looking for someone who is visually talented to improve upon what we already have, and design a corresponding folder.
I like the content of our kit, the names of our products, our logos, and creative vision.
Accepted File Formats:
ai, psd
Please do not change our logo or the names of our products. We are looking for pictures and graphics that better enhance the nature of our services.
We need the graphics to look sleek and polished (READ: not look like a COO/client operations person did it)
Please email me at email@example.com so I can send you our current media kit.


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It's a pretty safe bet that the iPhone will be getting an NFC chip sometime soon. Though Near Field Communications haven't found a lot of customer adoption yet, merchants are getting prepared for it. Perhaps the biggest piece of the puzzle that's missing is Apple. If Tim Cook takes the stage and tells the world about how easy iPayments (or whatever they call them) are, then NFC will have officially arrived.
Some recent signs are pointing to 2012 as possibly being the year that Apple makes that leap and adds an NFC chip to the iPhone. Additionally, there are hints that we may even know who Apple is partnering with for its mobile payments.
Last week at Macworld, an app developer raised some eyebrows by pushing NFC capabilities in his iPhone app. When asked why he would bother doing this, the developer said that he had no knowledge of hardware but had spoken to iOS engineers who are "heavy into NFC." He said that he was confident enough in Apple's adoption of NFC that he was willing to stake his app's development on it.
In a separate incident, a rep from Mastercard's Paypass NFC system said "I don't know of a handset manufacturer that isn't the process of making sure their stuff is Paypass ready." When asked whether that list includes Apple, the rep may as well have confirmed it:
"Um, there are… like I say, [I don't know of] any handset maker out there. Now, when we have discussions with our partners, and they ask us not to disclose them, we don't."
That sounds like someone who's trying to brag as much as he can without breaking an NDA (non-disclosure agreement). Of course it's possible that this was some clever gaming of reporters to garner buzz, but we'd say there's a good chance that Paypass will be partering with Apple for the iPhone 5.
Of course Verizon famously blocked Google from allowing its Google Wallet NFC payment system on the Galaxy Nexus. Carrier politics are always an issue, but Apple is another story. Wireless providers need the iPhone on their networks, and Apple knows it. That's not a guarantee that they will allow an Apple NFC payment system on the next iPhone, but negotiating power is in no short supply in Cupertino.
via 9to5Mac and Fast Company


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Brian Green (author of The Elegant Universe) just posted this photo on his Facebook wall with the following description:
An action shot from Saturday's Origins Symposium, shows the civil way scientists debate. On the right, that's Bill Nye ("The Science Guy") restraining Neil Tyson, as I offer my perspective.
There's probably some context that would make this make sense, but really, just seeing three of our generation's most iconic scientists screwing around like kids is enough to put a big fat grin on your face. Okay, guys, now get back to work and fix our planet, please. [Facebook]


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A Labour Party politician, Ciara Conway, has called it "barbaric" that women have to travel to Great Britain to have abortions. She blamed successive Governments that had "no appetite" to face up to the Supreme Court ruling made 20 years ago.
Conway said she would prefer if the Labour Party had legislated for the "X Case", in accordance to their pre-election promise, instead of setting up a review group.
The "X Case" became infamous internationally. A suicidal 14-year-old girl was raped and became pregnant. She was prevented, by the High Court, from leaving Ireland to have an abortion.
The Supreme Court overturned that ruling which meant abortions in limited circumstances were also but it was not legislated for. In 2010 the European Court of Human Rights called for Ireland to clarify in what cases abortion in Ireland is allowed.
Conway told the Irish Examiner "My own personal preference would have been that we would have legislated for it. But that's not the case so I am prepared to wait and to see what way the review group will report back."
She said she plans to wait for the group's findings to be released instead of voting for a the opposition motion due in Parliament next week.
The Labour Party politician believes legislation in Irish Parliament, rather than a referendum.
"The reality is that thousands of women every year have abortions and they have them in the UK. And they have them on their own, without support with very little follow up," she said.
Conway and Anne Ferris, also a Labour Party politician, are the only Government members who have joined a campaign group called Action on X Alliance. The group is made up of academics, NGOs and oppositions TDs.
She said "It's very difficult as a professional to know how to advise or how to give information, it's unclear for people."
Conway spoke of the "fear and worry" women go though. She said "I was 20 when I got pregnant. I was in my final year in college. Everybody has this feeling of 'oh my god how am I going to tell my parents' and it's a huge anxiety," she said.
"I chose to have my daughter and I'm very happy and delighted with my decision. But not all women or girls could do that. I think we should be allowed to have that choice. In terms of being a human being, I think it's just barbaric to think that we would send people over the water.
"It's an Irish solution to an Irish problem."


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Welcome to the Drake University School of Education. As the chief administrator, I have the privilege of leading 70 faculty and staff who are dedicated to prepare world-class teachers, counselors and administrators. How do we accomplish this? We offer over 60 endorsement and 14 degree programs for undergraduate and graduate students that want to become leaders in the community.
In the SOE, we offer a breadth of learning opportunities for individuals in all stages of their career. Whether you are an undergraduate student looking to teach, a graduate student looking to advance on the salary grid – we have a program for you. Are you a professional looking to change career paths? Are you a current teacher looking to add an endorsement? We offer continuing education courses and degree opportunities for anyone looking to take the next step. We offer courses in all formats to meet the needs of our students. We offer classes on nights and weekends, online and blended format, and traditional classroom instruction.
We are proud to manage Head Start in five central Iowa counties with services to over 1,000 infants, toddlers and their families. Head Start is a comprehensive child development program aimed at increasing the school readiness of young children in low-income families.
With another $500,000 award from the Iowa Legislature, we will support Science, Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) activities for teachers and students in over 150 schools. To prepare more STEM educated teachers, we offer Iowa's first STEM Endorsement as an optional addition to an elementary education major.
We are a unique and powerful unit of a highly successful university. We currently reach over 9,000 individuals in our full time and part time programs. School of Education graduates hold leadership positions in 67% of the school districts in our state.
Finally, I want to share the message that "Momentum is Building". This is the year that we hope to reach our goal to begin construction of a new 4-story building in the center of campus. Take the next step…come see what we have to offer you.
Dean Janet McMahill
2016-2017 Drake University Graduate and Professional Programs Catalog


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michele Archive
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Explore Our Hotel
Contemporary hotel with breakfast included and free Wi-Fi, close to top London attractions
Holiday Inn Express® London - Limehouse hotel sits near the Thames River in a historic part of London close to major attractions. It's less than 5 minutes' walk from Limehouse DLR station, where trains travel to central London in about 20 minutes and to the O2 arena and London City Airport (LCY) in less than 30 minutes.
Whether you want to explore the Tower of London, shop at Westfield Stratford City or see a popular band at the O2 arena, you can get around easily via public transport. You're right next to London's East End, a vibrant area with shops, restaurants and art galleries, and Bethnal Green's V&A Museum of Childhood.
Business guests have a direct 30-minute link to the ExCeL centre, and the art deco Troxy theatre and concert venue is just seven minutes' walk away. Back at the hotel, two naturally lit meeting rooms can host up to 30 people, and you can have a working lunch catered. The Business Centre is open until midnight, and your delegates will appreciate the free Wi-Fi, available throughout the hotel.
Start the day with an inclusive Express Start Breakfast buffet of scrambled eggs, sausages, baked beans and continental items. An airy lobby bar serves drinks and a selection of sandwiches.
- Black-out Shades
- Rollaway Bed/Cot Available
- Crib Available
- Iron/Ironing Board
- In-Room Heating and A/C Controls
- Extra Bedding Available
- Sofa Bed/Sleeper Couch
Bathroom/Personal Care
- Private Bathroom
- Bathroom Amenities Available
- Hair Dryer
- Separate/Walk-in Shower
- Separate Vanity Area
In-Room Features
- Coffee Maker
- Tea Maker
- Flat-screen TV
- Work Desk with Lamp
- Desk-level Electrical Outlet
- Cable/Satellite
- Premium Channels
- Direct-dial Phone
- Phone with Voicemail
- Electrical Adapters Available
- Windows Open by Guest
Added Value
- Connecting Rooms Available
- Complimentary Coffee/Tea Supplies
- Breakfast Buffet Included
- Off-site Restaurant Delivery Available
Hotel Bars & Lounges
Help yourself to a hot breakfast at the Holiday Inn Express London-Limehouse. Unwind with a beer in the bar, and buy snacks from the vending machines.
Location: First Floor Reception area
Hours of Operation: 11:00 AM - 2:00 AM
Business Services
- 3 Meeting Room(s) Available
- On-Site Business Center
- Printer
- Copier
- Scanner
- Office supplies available
Internet Access
- Free High-Speed Internet in all Rooms
- Wireless Internet service is free for all IHG® Rewards Club members
Housekeeping & Laundry
- Daily Housekeeping
Added Value
- Wake Up Calls
- Storage Space Available
Hotel Details
469-475 The Highway
London, E1W 3HN
United Kingdom
Check In: 2:00 PM
Check Out: 12:00 PM
Check-in Age: 18
Parking + -
- Daily Parking: 15 GBP
Accessibility + -
- Public Entrance
- Guest Rooms
- Elevators
- Public Restrooms
Accessible Hotel Areas
Pet Policy + -
- Service Animals Allowed
- Guide dogs allowed.
Facility + -
- Smoke-Free Facility
- Number of Floors: 7
- Total Number of Rooms: 150
- Number of Non-Smoking Rooms: 150
- Number of Accessible Rooms: 6
- Connecting Rooms Available
Languages + -
Languages Spoken by Staff
- Arabic
- English
- German
- Hindi
- Polish
- Romanian
Credit Cards + -
- American Express
- Visa
- MasterCard
- Diners Club
- Carte Blanche
- Discover
- Business Advantage


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BRATgirl needed a new logo design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 34 designs submitted by 16 freelance designers.
Looking for a logo to use on Butler Regional Area Trader (BRAT) website and printed material. View http://www.ButlerBRAT.com.
None. (~Bringing the Butler Community Together Online)
Desired Color Scheme:
Open (colorful)
Desired Style:
Accepted File Formats:
Standard Web Formats (.jpg, .gif or .png); Vector Formats (.eps, .pdf or .ai); Layered Formats (.psd or .tiff)
Butler Regional Area Trader (BRAT) is a local online advertising agency for local residents/businesses for classified ads as well as business ads. I'm looking for a logo to use on the website and printed materials.Â
View current basic start-up site at http://www.ButlerBRAT.com for more details, but looking to change site with another contest - in the future (colors subject to change).
(Since most advertising/marketing materials with "BRAT" logo will appeal to females - I'm interested in also seeing options with "BRAT Girl" integrated into to the logo in a simple drawing/Mary Lynn Blasutta-inspired way.)
Find out how a design contest works or learn more about our logo design services.


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|Home >> Course Descriptions >> College of Arts and Sciences
|Computer Integrated Manufacturing
|Three semester hours.
Programmable automation applied to manufacturing systems. Sensors and data acquisition. Continuous and discrete control system design and analysis. Computer control of manufacturing processes and integration. Communications through local areas networks. Prerequisite: SENG 3310. Course fee: $35.
Home - General Information - Student Services -
Academic Undergraduate Regulations -
Undergraduate Degrees - Academic Graduate Regulations -
Graduate Degrees - Course Descriptions - Faculty -
Appendix A - Appendix B - Appendix C - Appendix D


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I believe you were near one of the old Spring Houses the foundation of one of them. I used to be into the occult when I was younger, and did indepth study on that place. Rehmeyer does not haunt Rehmeyer's Hollow. I have only spoken with two people "who by the way were not superstitous" who didn't believe there is a God or Devil. They described what they have seen to a T. Very few people have seen or even drawn the 9. And are actually alive to say so. The reason why that place is very evil is the actual 6th is down there. After they looked at it and ran back to their car, thorn bushes literally sprang up and blocked their way. The one broke his ankle and was cut up pretty bad by the thorns. The other had gashes in his leg where he had to gauze them up. After that night they do believe that evil exists, and their visual description matches with the few occult scholars drawings or diagrams of it. Anyways, I equate what your curiousity in going there is like....
A person granted permission to run through a maximum security prison (The Hollow), only eventually the prison guards randomly hit switches to different cells, and it literally is like a worse form of russian roullette. Hopefully, you make it to the good exit.
Anyways, I will add this post from another older site of what I've been saying for awhile now.
-I am being honest about The Hollow. I used to be facinated by it when I was younger. Visited it several times, until I almost "stayed there" if you know what I mean. I have jogged the length of it now adays, but will make sure I am out of there before sundown.
1) There are numerous evil spirits down there of all different types.
2) The actual "6th" is located there.
3) Many people have died down there within the last 9 decades whether by humans or the nethers.
4) It is not a place to taunt spirits or be curious about in passing.
5) Worst time to go there (Full Moon - when the gate is widest or any of the 9 for that matter) and as there is a full moon and a complete fog where you can't see 2 feet in front of your car. Not a place to be in that moment. Spirits tend to travel with the mist.
I don't go down there to jog anymore, but to very rarely with my kids eat a picnic lunch. Daytime around noon. That is about it.
You can email me, and I will give you every reason in the book not to search for those things.
I'm sorry but I don't quite understand what you mean by the "9" or the "6th"? I dont mean to sound stupid but i definitely plan on visiting this place but I'm not exactly keen on being Shanked by any ghost (and/or any "number" haha)
If you could explain that would be so appreciated.


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4 Easy Tips to Promote Your Online Weed Content
According to Search Engine Watch, there are 7 reasons why and how content becomes viral. These include content that is capable of triggering emotions, positive sentiments like the Ice Bucket Challenge, and the natural tendency of people to share great ideas.
But virality is not the only measure of online content success. Your online weed content, for example, does not have to be seen and loved by everyone. As long as your target audience responds to your content positively, you may not think of it as a virus but you can think of it as a job well done.
Of course, getting there needed some work. So if you are looking for a way to promote your weed blog or your specific article we have some tips for you to try.
How to Promote Your Online Weed Content
1. Targeting Smaller Community Sites
Remember what we said about reaching your target audience? The beauty of going after smaller community sites like Reddit or Quora is that you can catch an active, focused audience, awesome for niche niche blogs.
But note, this may sound easy but you can not forget the addition of value to the community. This means you must establish yourself as an authority. In this case, an authority in weeds.
Try to help and actively participate. That means posting questions and maybe even promoting other people's work. When community members are concerned about your contribution, they will start following you, which is your cue to start sharing your content.
2. Consider Paid Promotion
Some channels like content recommendation platforms work for those who want to reach a wide audience. If you want to be an online grass content to stand out, you should promote social networking sites and / or social bookmarking.
With the sponsored Facebook post or Twitter tweets being promoted, you get the option of actually selecting the people you want to view your content. This promotional channel will allow you to appear as you want. You can target by age, work, location, and even marital status.
For those with limited marketing budgets, this is also a cost-effective option. You can adjust your bids as low as $ 1 / day. This means you do not have to spend a lot of money just to get your eyeballs to your weed website.
3. Working with Influencer
Business Dictionary defines influencers as individuals that can influence other people's purchasing decisions. They can do this because of their authority (real or perceived), knowledge, position, or relationship.
If you can establish relationships with influencers in your niche and get them to share your content, you automatically gain access to their followers. If you are an influencer yourself (see what we say about building authority), this becomes a mutually beneficial partnership. Your consolidated audience clearly means increased exposure for both parties.
Well, if you're still working to become an influencer, maybe you could ask to be a contributor on their site. If it is a blog about weed brownies, you can write related posts or do a video review of pots brownies.
4. Try Retargeting
An easy way to promote content is retargeting. If you are not familiar with this concept, it means making visitors who have read one or more of your posts and lured them back to your weed website.
This is usually done with advertising. Tagged visitors will be shown a banner ad that may persuade them to check your site again. Retargeting can also be done with email marketing.
If you submit a newsletter, you can use social media targeting and provide exclusive content to your existing customers.


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If you are a fellow USPTA member, you already know this, but if you are an instructor, a parent keeping an eye on your child's improvement or a player with a consistent stroke problem, it may be time to think outside the box. Tennis can be enjoyed being played in different ways, there is more than one way to correctly play tennis. Here are two examples of what I mean; the first is a tactical issue and the second mechanical.
When I was in New England I taught a junior player Brian from the time he was ten until he left for college. Brian began playing USTA tournaments in the 12 and under division and kept it up into the 18's. Brian had an exceptional one handed backhand, both topspin and slice. The problem arose when he entered into the 16 and under division; the kids were getting stronger resulting in harder serves. Brian was having a rough time hitting the topspin backhand on return of serve, due to the pace and kick, the ball was always up around his shoulders. The slice return was never a problem except for the fact the opponents knew that an attacking return would not be coming from that backhand return side. If I had him backup he could generate more pace but that only led to giving up court space to the other half of the court. The answer was a third backhand. So, we worked on a two handed backhand for return of serve only. With the two handed he could move in and drive those shoulder high serves back with the power hand behind the ball. There is nothing wrong with three backhands.
When Brian was in college he and I teamed up for some memorable doubles tournament wins. [I'm not stupid when picking partners; young, fast and talented is always good.] Brian went onto college on a tennis scholarship and the last I knew he was working as a teaching pro in New England.
Currently, one of my students here in Florida is a sweet, smart fourteen year old named Emma, she is new to tennis. Emma started karate at the age of four, which helps in certain areas, but tennis is her first sport involving a ball. Most people just beginning with balls in sports find the judgment of distance, ball speed and spin difficult, Emma is no different but making constant progress. When we began working on basic ground strokes I noticed after a few sessions that the two handed backhand was looking so much better form wise, the forehand was not improving and erratic. After a brief discussion with Emma's mom I decided to go to a two handed forehand. The forehand has improved dramatically. There have been many great players who have hit with both hands on both sides, let's not forget Monica Seles. The new forehand keeps Emma's body lined correctly and generates more power and she can see improvement.
The point here is there is more than one correct way. If you need three backhands, do it. If you need to hit two hands on both sides, do it. Don't be afraid to think outside the box!!
Go to http://onlinetennistraining.com for my book "Winning Tennis Strokes", the Member site and get my book free and great deals through my affiliates.
Play Well- Have Fun!
Views: 22
Agree, Bill. I offer my students all of the basic strokes, not just whatever is the latest trend. I want them to know all of them and be able to use the appropriate one when necessary, like selecting tools from a tool box.
Very interesting idea, having a two hander for returns and then one hander slice and top.
© 2020 Created by Mark / The Mayor. Powered by


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In the late 1980s, the computer systems industry embarked on a perilous but thrilling white-water journey of change that left many previous giants upset or beached on the rocks, while young, unknown companies emerged from the chute as celebrities. In retrospect, the undercurrents of change seem clear, but, at the time, the level of confusion was tremendous. Hewlett-Packard's successful navigation through this treacherous passage is attributable to many factors, including its new approach, called strategic market modeling (SMM), which HP's computer systems organization used to generate and test alternative business strategies both for itself and for competitors.
The computer systems industry (traditional mini-computers and mainframes) in the late 1980s was already experiencing the impact of powerful desktop PCs and workstations when it was hit from a different direction by the growing acceptance of Unix and open systems. For HP, while the emergence of commercial Unix represented a tremendous opportunity, it was also a threat. Unix had been a popular computer operating system among scientists and engineers for many years, due to its portability across different platforms and its networking features. It began to penetrate the commercial market, as MIS managers introduced Unix into their departments for the same reasons. But Unix was only a small part of a larger technology shift to the "open systems" that have subsequently revolutionized the computer industry. Open systems have meant the standardization and interchangeability of components, with companies leveraging each other's R&D investments, resulting in great economies of scale for computer customers.
HP managers hoped that Unix would thaw the minicomputer marketplace, where most customers were already frozen into one or two proprietary vendors, primarily IBM or DEC. Market shares between vendors seldom changed by more than 1 percent per year. Even though HP had only a 6 percent market share in the very large commercial minicomputer market, HP managers viewed the proprietary HP 3000 business as a success; it was highly profitable and growing in excess of 15 percent per year. The introduction of a competing Unix offering, the HP 9000, would cannibalize this business.
This problem was compounded by the fact that if HP were to sell both product lines to information technology directors around the world, the same sales force would have to do the selling. HP could not have two sales representatives calling on the same customers and recommending two different solutions.


text: Share: December 2, 2013 Forests Invasive pests and pathogens threaten the health of Northeastern forests. Cary Institute ecologist Gary Lovett has spent his career investigating the impact that species like the hemlock woolly adelgid and beech bark disease have on Catskill Mountain ecosystems.Now, thanks to new funding from the F.M. Kirby Foundation and the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, Lovett will be leading an initiative to communicate actionable knowledge about forest invaders to policy makers and land managers. The goal: bridging the science and policy divide and protecting Northeastern forests.Lovett is planning a series of workshops that will bring together forest scientists and economists, to distill current information on the ecological and economic impacts of forest invaders. Policy advisors will shape this analysis into a white paper with policy-oriented objectives. A communication campaign will connect findings broadly to media outlets, forest managers, and decision makers.The effort is being done in collaboration with the Science Policy Exchange, a regional consortium of research institutions that includes: the Cary Institute, Harvard Forest, the Hubbard Brook Research Foundation, the Ecosystems Center of the Woods Hole Marine Biological Lab, Syracuse University, and the University of New Hampshire. Share: Feature Lovett leads forest policy initiative › December 2, 2013


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The Topfield 5010 earns top spot in our affections for its all-round ability and versatility. The eye-catching black casing houses a twin-tuner PVR that comes with an optional 160GB or 250GB hard disc.
It's compatible with the full range of DiSEqC levels (and USALS too) and has capacity for 5,000 channels and 50 satellites. You can record two channels at once and also play/display MP3 files and JPEG files. Good picture and sound quality and quick scanning ability make the Masterpiece a delight to use.


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General Information
How to Request Mediation
The Mediation Process
General Information
1. What is the Foreclosure Mediation Program?
The Foreclosure Mediation Program was created in 2008 in response to the record number of foreclosure cases filed in our courts. In foreclosure mediation, a neutral third party (mediator) helps the homeowner and bank try to reach a fair, voluntary, and negotiated agreement. During mediation, the homeowner will meet with a mediator and a representative of the bank to try to reach an agreement.
2. Who are the mediators?
Foreclosure mediation specialists are Judicial Branch employees who are trained in mediation and foreclosure law. They have knowledge of different community-based resources and mortgage assistance programs that may be able to help homeowners. Most of the mediators are lawyers with many years of mediation experience. Mediators do not represent either party and cannot give legal advice.
3. How do I know if I am eligible for foreclosure mediation?
You are eligible if (a) you are the borrower (the person who signed the note secured by a mortgage on the property), (b) you are an owner-occupant of the property, (c) the property is your primary residence, (d) the property is a 1, 2, 3 or 4 family residence in Connecticut, and (e) your case is a mortgage foreclosure with a return date on or after July 1, 2008. If you are not a borrower, but you meet all other requirements for eligibility, you may be able to participate in the program if you are a permitted successor-in-interest. You are a permitted successor-in-interest if (1) you are a defendant in the foreclosure action, (2) the foreclosure action has a return date on or after October 1,2015, and (3) you are either (a) the spouse of a deceased borrower, and you became the only owner of the property because it was transferred to you from your spouse's estate or because of the way you held title to the property with your deceased spouse; or (b) the spouse or former spouse of a borrower, and (i) you became an owner of the property because it was transferred to you as a result of a decree of divorce or legal separation, or a settlement agreement that was a part of either decree and (ii) you and all borrowers have consented to the release of nonpublic personal financial information by the plaintiff/mortgagee, if any, that is in its possession.
Certain religious organizations may also be eligible for the program.
Homeowners who do not meet these requirements could be referred to the Foreclosure Mediation Program by a judge.
4. Can I participate in the Foreclosure Mediation Program if a foreclosure case has not been filed?
No. There must be a mortgage foreclosure case filed in order to participate in the Foreclosure Mediation Program. However, until that time, help may be available from the agencies and programs listed on the court Notice of Community-Based Resources. Find information and schedules for Judicial Branch's Foreclosure Volunteer Attorney Program here.
5. If my case involves the foreclosure of a tax lien or condominium lien, can I participate in the Foreclosure Mediation Program?
No. Cases filed to foreclose a condominium or tax lien are not eligible for the program.
6. Do I need a lawyer to take part in the Foreclosure Mediation Program?
You do not need a lawyer. Both self-represented parties and parties represented by a lawyer are able to participate in the Foreclosure Mediation Program.
7. Is there an application fee?
No, there is no application fee for the Foreclosure Mediation Program.
8. Am I required to participate in the Foreclosure Mediation Program?
No. A homeowner does not have to participate in mediation. However, mediation is mandatory for the bank if a homeowner files a Foreclosure Mediation Certificate (JD-CV-108) asking to participate, and is eligible.
9. Do I need to come to court on the return date?
No, you do not need to come to court on your case's return date. The return date is a date the court sets to keep track of deadlines for other activity in a case. For more information on common legal words, visit our Common Legal Words page.
10. How can I find out what is happening in my case?
Once you file an Appearance (JD-CL-12) in your case, you will be mailed or emailed a copy of any document filed by a party in the case. You will also receive notices from the Court. You may sign up for email updates here.
In addition, you may look up your case by your last name or your case's docket number on the Judicial Branch's Civil / Family Case Look-up website. For cases with return dates on or after January 1, 2014, you may also look up your case by the address of the house.
How to Request Mediation
11. How do I apply for the Foreclosure Mediation Program?
To ask for mediation, you must file an Appearance (JD-CL-12) and a Foreclosure Mediation Certificate (JD-CV-108) within fifteen (15) days of the return date listed on the summons. You will receive these court forms when you are served with the foreclosure paperwork. They also are available online at the Judicial Forms website or at any Superior Court clerk's office or Court Service Center.
12. If I did not file the Foreclosure Mediation Certificate within 15 days of my case's return date, can I still participate?
Yes, but you must get the court's permission first. You must file a Motion for Permission to File a Foreclosure Mediation Certificate Later than 15 Days After Return Date (JD-CV 96, Part I), a Foreclosure Mediation Certificate (JD-CV-108), and an Appearance (JD-CL-12). If a judge grants your motion, you will be able to take part in the Foreclosure Mediation Program.
13. If I participated in mediation before, but mediation was terminated, can I ask to come back into mediation?
Yes. You can file a Foreclosure Mediation Petition for Reinclusion (JD-CV-136). If the judge grants your petition, you will be able to take part in the Foreclosure Mediation Program again.
The Mediation Process
Changes in the law in 2013 for the Foreclosure Mediation Program created a new premediation process for cases with return dates on or after October 1, 2013.
14. After I am referred to the Foreclosure Mediation Program, when will I meet with a mediator?
First, your bank must send you and the mediator a package of financial forms and documentation within 35 days of the return date on your summons. When you receive the package, you should carefully fill out the forms and gather the documentation that your bank is requesting. Bring this information to your premediation meeting with the mediator, which will be held about 2 weeks later. You will receive a notice from the court of the date and time of the meeting.
15. What is premediation?
Premediation is where you meet with a mediator that has been assigned to your case. The mediator may want to schedule more than one meeting. A representative of the bank is not present at premediation meetings.
The mediator will listen to any background information you can give, including what happened that made you unable to pay the mortgage, your efforts to work with your bank, and whether or not you want to try to keep your home.
The mediator will also look at your completed financial forms and documentation and may ask you make corrections to the forms or provide more information. The mediator will talk about options that might be available through your bank, and may refer you to state and local agencies for additional help.
When your forms and documentation are done, the mediator will help you deliver them to your bank or its lawyer, and will file a premediation report that says whether mediation with your bank will be scheduled.
16. Do I have to participate in premediation?
Yes, if your case's return date is on or after October 1, 2013, you asked for mediation, and were eligible, you must participate in premediation.
17. How long does premediation last?
Premediation usually ends 84 days after the return date listed on your summons, but it may end sooner if your paperwork is done before that deadline. In some cases, a judge may enter an order that extends the premediation period.
18. What if, after premediation, my mediator does not schedule mediation with my bank?
If you wish to continue with the Foreclosure Mediation Program, you may file a Foreclosure Mediation Petition for Reinclusion (JD-CV 136) explaining your reasons why. For example you may have had a change in your financial situation or you may think that the mediator made a mistake or misunderstood the facts.
19. If mediation with my bank is scheduled, who must attend the mediation sessions?
All borrowers must attend the first mediation session. A borrower is a person who signed the note for the mortgage on the property.
If a borrower is represented by a lawyer, the lawyer and all borrowers must attend the first mediation session. After that, the borrower's lawyer may appear without the borrower if the borrower is available to participate by speakerphone.
If a borrower is not represented by a lawyer, after the first mediation session, only one borrower must attend, as long as the other borrower is available to participate by speakerphone.
The bank's lawyer will be present at each mediation session. A representative from the bank must participate in the mediation session by speakerphone if that representative is not physically present.
In some cases, the mediator may allow a party who has a disability or significant hardship to participate in the mediation by telephone.
A borrower's spouse who lives in the property, but did not sign the note for the mortgage, may come to the mediation sessions. But, before the spouse can be in the mediation sessions, the other borrowers who are there must agree in writing to the spouse being present, or they must agree to the disclosure of personal information to the spouse that is not publically available.
20. Where are the mediation sessions held?
Premediation meetings and mediation sessions are usually held at the Judicial District courthouse where the foreclosure case was filed. You should check the court notice you receive, which will tell you when and where the meeting or session is scheduled.
21. What do I need to bring to the mediation sessions?
You should bring the forms and documentation that you completed in premediation and that were delivered to your bank. You may also wish to bring any updated financial information, including paystubs and bank statements, and any other information suggested by the mediator.
22. Is mediation confidential?
No, mediations are not confidential. By law, the mediator must file a report at the end of premediation, and after each mediation session that is held. These reports become part of the public court file. However, your personal financial information is not part of the public court file, and cannot be given to anyone without your permission.
23. What if I disagree with something in the Mediator's Report or I want to add something that wasn't in the report?
You may file a Supplemental Information by Party form (JD-CV-133) if you want to add something or if you disagree with information in the report. You must file this form no later than five business days after receiving the Mediator's Report.
24. How long does mediation last?
The mediation period ends on the earlier of 7 months from your case's return date or 3 mediation sessions. However you may ask the Court to extend the mediation period by filing a Motion for Modification of the Mediation Period (JD-CV-96, Part II).
25. What issues are talked about in mediation?
In mediation, you talk about all issues of the foreclosure including finding ways to keep your home (reinstatements, repayment plans, loan modifications) as well as graceful exits from your home (sales, short sales, deeds-in-lieu of foreclosure) and assignment of law days and sale dates.
26. Does this mean I won't lose my house due to foreclosure?
Participation in the Foreclosure Mediation Program does not mean that you will be able to stay in your house. The Mediation Program slows the foreclosure down so you can work with the bank and the court to see if you can find a way to keep your house. It does not stop the foreclosure unless you reach a settlement. You must respond to the foreclosure case after the mediation ends, and you may still lose your house to foreclosure.
27. What rules apply to the Foreclosure Mediation Program?
The Foreclosure Mediation Program is governed by section 49-31k through 49-31r of the Connecticut General Statutes. Uniform Foreclosure Mediation Standing Orders also apply.
28. Who should I contact if I have more questions about the Foreclosure Mediation Program?
If you have questions about the Foreclosure Mediation Program, please contact Nancy McGann at 860-263-2734 ext. 3067, or email her at email@example.com.


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THE EDITORS EGSX SHELF The Wall Street Lawyer: Professional Organization Man? by Erwin O. Smigel. Indiana University Press, 1969, 386 pages, clothbound $8.50, paperback $2.95. Those redoubtable bastions of conservatism, the Wall Street law firms, are not as impervious to change as they may sometimes seem. This conclusion, based on ably documented evidence, runs throughout Professor Smigel's new study of this genus of the legal profession. The first edition of his book, published in 1964, had been well reviewed by lawyers themselves and established the author as an authority, not of the law, but of how lawyers organize themselves and the impact of their organizations on the attorney himself. Professor Smigel is chairman of New York University's department of sociology. The Wall Street law firms are of widespread interest in H&S, not only because clients throughout this country and abroad retain them from time to time, but also because they are the prototypes of large firms in other cities. While New York has eleven firms with 100 or more attorneys, there are nine firms that big elsewhere, including three in Houston and two in Chicago. For the most promising young lawyers fresh out of law school, the large, prestigious Wall Street firm is still the place to go, according to Professor Smigel. It is not simply a matter of money; many young lawyers today are concerned with civil rights, for doing something in a social sense. To attract and hold such concerned people, Smigel finds, "The large firms are giving time off in which to work with the black and unrepresented." According to Smigel, the most socially significant change in Wall Street law firms is the tremendous lessening of discrimination—especially toward Jews. He cites one firm in which today one-fourth of the partners are Jewish, where in 1957 there were no Jewish partners at all. Negro law school graduates are in great demand, but they are difficult to find. The author observes a trend toward democratization of staff, along with a paradoxical formalization of administration. Formalization is seen in increasing division of labor; with growth and complexity comes specialization and committees. Democratization is evidenced in the fact that it takes less time to become a partner now, and the junior associate has more client contact than before. Personality is not considered as important as it once was. One partner told the author, "You no longer have to be gorgeous." Evidently the Wall Street lawyers have toned up their flexibility, or what Dr. Alexis Carrel, the prolific writer on medicine, once called the "adaptive functions," so as to be in trim for the ferment forecast for the 1970s. Up the Organization: How to Stop the Corporation from Stifling People and Strangling Profits, by Robert Town-send. Knopf, 1970, 202 pages, $5.95. A winner has earned the right to be critical of the routine way many others play the game in which he has excelled. Robert Townsend is an imaginative old pro in business management, proved by his record as chairman and chief executive officer of Avis Rent A Car, and elsewhere in the corporate world. He is critical with a vengeance, and his humor carries a sting. This book is a collection of short, specific items of advice, principles, warnings and rules—many of them exaggerated and irreverent. On the positive side, the author states specifically what company managers should do in order to develop an efficient outfit in which people pursue their ego and development needs in harmony with company goals. A humanist, he believes that people want to work and achieve; he rejects the old notion that most employees must be whipped, threatened and conned. To liberate the energies of everyone in the organization, he would do away with many wasteful trappings that merely inflate stuffed shirts, such as reserved parking spaces and posh stationery. He would cut down the vast salary gap dividing the top dogs from the rest of the pack who do the work. He would throw out rigid policy manuals and rigidity of working hours. In general, he would free energetic, intelligent people to do their best without being shackled by organization rules written for unmotivated wage-slaves. Up the Organization has become a best-seller because it says what thousands of people have sensed should be said about big organizationitis, and because it comes from a man who has made it in business management. A healthily subversive book. King: A Critical Biography, by David L. Lewis. Praeger, 1970, 460 pages, $7-95- A man truly "overtaken by events," Martin Luther King in his short and tragic career epitomized the great issues of mid-century America. He had all the credentials for the idealist-leader best equipped to cope with chaos: magnetism, intellectuality and a formidable talent for stirring the masses with words. This biography, blessedly free of the preachiness and self-serving bias typical of the rash of new books on "the cause," is invaluable equally as a profile of King and as a straightforward history of the civil rights movement. A new minister with a new congregation, King became a champion of black rights almost by accident. In the first landmark struggle of the movement, King was elected to head the Montgomery bus boycott of 1955, selected because he was a newcomer to town and consequently unknown as a troublemaker to the white establishment. From then on he was swept up by events, a procession of headlines: the sit-ins, the Freedom Rides, Albany, Birmingham, St. Augustine, Selma and the March to Montgomery, the March on Washington, Chicago and the first inroads on Northern type segregation. In the process, of course, he did make enemies, arousing the ire of black militants, who considered him too timid; frightening the timid black middle class, which considered him too rash; arousing the jealousy of other leaders of civil rights organizations. It is a measure of the book's worth that King and his associates are presented as human beings with human frailties and not as Christlike messiahs as propagandized by an uncritical banner waver. This is a down-to-earth portrait that enhances its subject. •
Object Description
Editors' book-shelf
Books -- Reviews
H&S Reports, Vol. 07, (1970 summer), p. 11
|Originally published by: Haskins & Sells
|Copyright and permission to republish held by: Deloitte
|PDF page image with corrected OCR scanned at 400 dpi
|Deloitte Digital Collection
|Digital Publisher
|University of Mississippi Library. Accounting Collection
|Date-Digitally Created


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|Praying for Divine Appointments, by Chris Yarzab
A creeping death sweeps over the mission of many churches in our time because, quite simply, prayer meetings have ceased.And beneath the death of prayer, at a deeper level, lies the death of a real belief that only Jesus literally saves people. Faith in Christ as sole savior has precipitously declined in mainline churches. But such faith is the mother of prayer, and prayer is the mother of mission.From volume one of Bruner's Matthew: A Commentary, commenting on Matthew 9:35-10:4. Emphasis in the original.


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Prof. Sang-Jin Han(President of Joongmin Foundation) has been selected as "Sociologist of the Month" by the prominent scholarly journal Current sociology. As a bi-monthly journal published by experts in sociology, Current sociology is one of the official journals of the "International Sociological Association" (ISA). It was first published in 1952 by Sage Publications and is the most cited sociological journal with the longest history.
Details on the selection of Prof. Sang-jin Han as the "Sociologist of the Month" can be found on Current sociology site below.https://www.facebook.com/CurrentSociology/photos/a.340442032705502.76907.337522709664101/1255200391229657/?type=3


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War Within War
There are many ways to read the latest war in Lebanon. It may rightly, for instance, be seen as a proxy war, a nasty skirmish at the margins of a strategically bigger struggle. Like those cold war subconflicts in Africa, Indochina, and Central America, it pits adversaries equipped, ideologically inspired, and goaded by more powerful patrons. In this case, the patrons, waiting in the wings to see how their weapons and tactics performed, and hoping to frighten their bigger foes while limiting losses to themselves, are Iran and America, each using a pampered, martially minded client to defend against perceived threats to their interests in the region.
For America's leaders, Hezbollah represents not just the long arm of Iran's Islamic Republic, a hostile Shia power which has, since its inception, funded, trained, and armed the Lebanese Shia group. It also represents a form of what George Bush has taken to calling Islamic fascism. In other words, making war against Hezbollah is seen as a natural adjunct to the wider war against Islamist terrorism. Defeating it can only be good for America, and good for the vaguely defined cause of holding the Middle East within the international system that American power has for so long underpinned. So it is that America lent its diplomacy not to stopping the fighting as soon as possible, but to providing an umbrella for Israel to "finish the job" of crushing Hezbollah.
To Iran's leaders, and particularly to the current administration of religious conservatives whose main support base lies with such ideologically zealous institutions as the security services and Republican Guard, Hezbollah is more than a like-minded organization deserving of support. It is also a watchdog for the Islamic Republic's perceived mission of protecting itself, and the wider region, from American domination. Hezbollah's soft-spoken and charismatic leader, Hassan Nasrallah, has himself indicated that Iran sees his party, and especially its rocket arsenal, as a deterrent against possible Israeli or American aggression aimed, for instance, at disabling Iran's nuclear program.
Hezbollah serves another Iranian goal, too. Its example of determined resistance to Israel and passionate support for the Palestinian cause rallies fellow Muslims to the notion of confrontation with, rather than accommodation of, the "forces of international arrogance." This model defuses, to some extent, the growing tension between the Sunni and Shia branches of Islam, as exemplified by the turmoil in Iraq. In this way, it reinforces Iranian pretensions to wider Islamic leadership, to the detriment of "soft" rivals such as Saudi Arabia.
Yet just as plausibly, the fighting can be seen as having been simply another round in the far older struggle between Israelis and Arabs. It fits well into the mold. As long ago as the early 1950s, "fedayeen" groups (meaning those who sacrifice themselves), often representing nonstate actors such as the Muslim Brotherhood, launched pinprick raids on the nascent Jewish state, which responded with…
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An Under-the-Floor-Mounted Conveying Solution
Central Minnesota is home to vast rolling prairies and lush forests, the perfect market for a guy like Dean Virnig, who along with his wife Lois launched Virnig Manufacturing, Inc., in 1989. Although Virnig Mfg. began as a weld shop working out of a garage on the family's 5-acre lot in Pierz, MN, Dean quickly filled a lucrative niche when he developed a line of skid-steer loader attachments and dump trailers. Word spread quickly throughout the region, and the company has grown by leaps and bounds. What began in a little garage with a few welding machines has blossomed. As Virnig Manufacturing approaches its 25th anniversary, it now resides in 40,000 sq. ft. of manufacturing space spread over two buildings in Rice, MN, and boasts 46 employees.
A Workhorse Laser-Cutting Machine
"In 2010 our business picked up a head of steam coming out of the recession," says Virnig, "and we hit the wall with our plasma-cutting machine capacity. So we outsourced some of the cutting to our local steel supplier (McNeilus Steel, in Dodge Center, MN). When McNeilus also became backed up with plasma work, it processed some of our material on its laser-cutting machines. We immediately noted the improved edge quality and dimensional accuracy, and more importantly realized dramatic improvement in weld fitup. That made downstream assembly operations much more efficient. So, early in 2011 I began to investigate acquiring our own laser-cutting machine."
A year later Virnig made the leap, investing $1 million in his automated Bystar setup. "The benefit of cleaner cut parts, improved accuracy, less—or no—post-cut edge cleanup, improved fitup and a cleaner shop—no fumes, like you get with plasma—has made the investment easy to justify," Virnig says.
A peak underneath the Bystar cutting table reveals the shuffle-drive conveyor. It completely covers the underside of the cutting machine, and frees the operator from having to remove parts from the trays that come standard with the machine.
Conveyor Brings Material-Handling Efficiency
Taking his automated laser-cutting cell to the highest level of throughput and productivity, Virnig specified the setup with the conveying system underneath the machine—below grade. "When we started shopping for a laser-cutting machine, we saw one that featured a conveyor under the cutting table, and we really liked the concept," says Virnig. "But the machine we saw did not fit as well in our building layout as did the Bystar's footprint. Our fab shop is long and skinny, 70 by 200 ft."
Virnig combined the best of both worlds by customizing the Bystar and adding a shaker conveyor underneath, digging out a pit to make room. The conveyor captures all of the parts, scrap and slag that fall through the table, he says. It moves everything to an elevating conveyor that carries the material up and out of the pit and deposits it into a bin. The operator periodically goes to the bin to pull out the parts, while the machine's automation setup picks up the remaining skeletons from the cutting table and any remaining parts.
The underground conveyor is a shuffle-drive unit from Mayfran International. It completely covers the underside of the cutting machine. "The Bystar comes standard with trays that capture cut parts, and operators would have had to periodically remove the parts from the trays," says Virnig. "Using the Mayfran conveyor to capture the parts and move them to the bin avoids this labor-intensive step."
Lights-Out Lasering
The conveyor also helps support lights-out cutting on the Bystar.
Laser-cut parts—some of which are formed in press brakes—route to one of several manual weld booths at Virnig. "Fitup tolerances with the laser-cut parts are as tight as 0.002 in.," says Dean Virnig. "That's a vast improvement from the 0.05-in. tolerances we were getting with plasma, and results in as much as a 10-percent decrease in weld time."
"At the end of the night shift each Monday to Thursday evening, the operator will load material onto the storage tower and we'll run the machine unattended from 1:00 to 5:00 a.m.," says Virnig, "four days per week. Knowing that the conveyor's design prevents any material from getting into its working mechanisms helps give us the confidence that there won't be any problems. And, we make sure we schedule sheet nests for lights-out operation that won't give us problems with part tip-up. We can't run everything lights-out."
Each nested sheet typically takes about an hour to cut, so after 4 hr. of lights-out cutting there will typically be four sheet skeletons stacked on the unload table for the operator to deal with. And, four sheets' worth of parts in the bin have to be sorted. Parts then route to several manual weld booths in a 30,000-sq.-ft. production building adjacent to the fab shop.
"Here we see fitup tolerances as tight as 0.002 in.," says Virnig. "That's a vast improvement from the 0.05-in. tolerances we were getting with plasma, and results in as much as a 10-percent decrease in weld and assembly time."
Welcome Laser-Cutting System Number Two
Even running lights out, Virnig finds the shop maxed out in terms of processing steel. Rather than turn again to outsourcing, he installed, just this past August, a second laser-cutting machine. This time he "upped the ante," he says, and went with Bystronic's state-of the-art BySprint Pro 3015 (also with a 6000-W CO2 resonator, and with a maximum sheet size of 1500 by 3000 mm).
The BySprint Pro features upgraded piercing and cutting technology, and significantly greater acceleration pierce-to-pierce, which Virnig believes will really pay off when processing its more hole-intensive sheet nests. Maximum acceleration is 12 m/sec.2 (compared to 3 m/sec.2 with the Bystar 4020), and maximum velocity is 140 m/min. (85 m/min. with the Bystar). "We'll leave the nests with fewer pierces and that require fewer non-cutting moves to the Bystar," Virnig says.And yes, Virnig also equipped his newest laser-cutting machine with a Mayfran shuffle-drive conveyor underneath and an elevating conveyor to move material up and out to a bin. He again notes that "since the operator doesn't have to empty part drawers, he'll be able to tend to both cutting machines." MF
See also: Bystronic Inc., Mayfran International, Inc.
Related Enterprise Zones: Automation, Fabrication, Safety
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Can you believe we're on day 9 of the giveaways? Christmas is right around the corner! Yesterday we gave away 2 super fun design packs from Loralie Designs. Each winner will receive one pack, either the Bee Happy design collection or the Bee Happy II design collection. The lucky winners are (drum-roll please)…
Judy A & Lawana W!
Congratulations to the winners! Watch your inbox for an email announcing your win or send your mailing address to email@example.com. Thank you to everyone that commented yesterday.
Now onto the fabulous giveaway today! One lucky winner will receive a prize pack from Clover! This includes a rotary cutter cradle, a set of basket frames and much more.
Use the prize pack to make a last minute gift, or give it away to one of your favorite sewists. If you're in need of last minute inspiration, check out the Dec/Jan issue of Sew News. You'll find stocking patterns to help you deck the halls and a variety of quick gifts, including a fabulous infinity scarf. These projects and many more can be found on the Dec/Jan issue page. Visit today to find a fun project to give away or keep.
Now to win the Clover prize pack all you have to do is answer the following question:
What's your favorite holiday to celebrate?
Comment below with your answer. One winner will be chosen and announced tomorrow on the CME blog. Thanks for reading the Sew News blog and happy sewing!