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Cost, data quality issues still hobble CIOs' BI strategies
Data quality remains a top challenge for business intelligence. For CIOs, this should be the question: What's good enough for the task at hand?
Some headaches just never let up. When SearchCIO.com asked two business intelligence experts to talk about new BI challenges in these days of big data and cloud computing, two familiar albatrosses -- data quality issues and cost -- hovered at the top of the list.
"Regardless of big data, old data, new data, little data, probably the biggest challenge in BI is the data quality," said Bill Hostmann, a distinguished analyst at Gartner Inc.
BI veteran Boris Evelson considered the question from the vantage point of the decades he's spent in the field. "Data quality today is just as bad as 30 years ago," said Evelson, principal analyst at Forrester Research Inc. The barrier to fixing the problem of data quality is simple economics: "The hurdle is always expense," he said.
Regardless of big data, old data, new data, little data, probably the biggest challenge in BI is the data quality.
CIOs today might have a better understanding of data quality issues, and certainly there are more tools to help with data quality. Some argue that cloud-based BI products could help with cost, but our experts question the cloud's relevance to data quality. The never-ending challenge in data quality is that information is always changing: New systems come online, and new sources of data are tapped for BI. With big data, that can mean session logs, data from sensors, clickstream data and, as Hostmann put it, the "digital exhaust of social media."
In addition, data is not the only thing that's changing. As BI shifts from an effort controlled by the IT department to an activity practiced by users at all levels of the enterprise, what defines the quality of data also is a moving target. For CIOs, the question should be this: What quality of data is good enough for the task at hand?
"It doesn't matter what they, as the providers of information, think data quality is," Hostmann said. "What matters is the level of satisfaction of the person who is using that information to analyze or make decisions on the data. Their perspective is what counts."
What data quality means depends on who is asking the question, when they need an answer and how much they are willing to pay to get it. What people are realizing more and more is that a "single version of the truth" is an impossible dream, Evelson said. "It is totally relative and it is totally contextual."
Data quality satisfaction, surveyed and monitored quarterly
So, if data quality is relative and getting data to a point where it is acceptable for use remains a BI imperative, what should be the CIO's plan of attack?
Hostmann advises his clients to establish data quality metrics by surveying their enterprises' "thinkers and deciders" on data quality issues related to their BI programs. Gartner uses a simple survey tool that measures users' level of satisfaction with their BI data on several fronts (timeliness, relevancy, accuracy and consistency) as well as their ability to use the data to make business decisions. The results should be tracked quarterly because the definition of data quality, again, is always changing.
Getting the right business sponsor
The results of such a survey almost certainly will vary from business unit to business unit and turn up hot spots all over the enterprise. Here the question is this: Which data quality problems have the greatest effect on business strategy and objectives? "Now you are back to economics," Hostmann said. Deciding what to fix first, however, is not a job for the technologist. "That is something a business sponsor has to give you guidance on, another big challenge."
"IT does not own the data," Evelson said. Unlike almost any other enterprise application, BI by definition requires business ownership. The IT group can create a system to sort out the way a company defines a customer as complex as IBM, for example; but as to whether it's worth getting to the bottom of that relationship -- "Well, it is certainly not IT's job," he said. "That is a board-level decision."
'Precision' BI users and 'clueless' BI users require different tools
Broadly speaking, CIOs who survey their enterprises about data quality satisfaction will find themselves dealing with two types of BI consumer: Hostmann calls them "precision users" and "the clueless" (those who "don't know what they don't know"). Data discovery tools are a good and relatively inexpensive way to give clueless users a view of potential data relationships. "You can bring tons of information into memory spaces without building multidimensional databases, and let people explore," he said.
More about business intelligence strategies
Large data sets pose huge challenges for CIOs, but boost careers too
Why you need a formal data governance program, and how to get started
Precision users include people in finance departments or in industries that are heavily regulated. They know what they are looking for and can identify data quality problems. Fixing those problems is a negotiation, however. Fixing multiple definitions of the term customer, for example, might require reengineering the system of record -- and that again raises the issue of cost. "They have a valid point, but how much are they willing to spend to fix that?" Hostmann asked.
Even when the cost is justified, don't expect data quality issues to evaporate, Evelson warns. CIOs can be sure that CFOs, chief marketing officers and vice presidents of sales will have very different definitions of customer profitability, depending on their compensation packages. "And IT gets caught in the middle," he said. To repeat: Some headaches just never let up.
Let us know what you think about the story; email Linda Tucci, Senior News Writer.


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ESSEX, England, July 30 (UPI) -- Officials in England apparently do not feel that "the force" is with a woman who added Skywalker as her middle name.
Laura Matthews took Luke Skywalker's last name in 2008 as a joke and even began signing her name as "L. Skywalker" to reflect the change.
However, it wasn't all that funny when Home Office administrators rejected Laura Elizabeth Skywalker Matthews' passport application because of copyright issues.
When she signed her passport renewal form with her revamped signature, the Home Office told the 29-year-old it "will not recognize a change to a name which is subject to copyright or trademark."
"We have a duty to ensure the reputation of the U.K. passport is not called into question or disrepute," according to a Home Office spokesman.
Matthews had never encountered issues in the past because of her new John Hancock. "It's on my driving license, my bank cards, everything. Everyone else is happy with that signature apart from passport office," she told BBC News.
If Matthews wants a new passport, she may have to head to the dark side and go back to her old signature.


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I've just installed Linux Mint 13 (Cinnamon, 64big) and am enjoying it. However, my mouse (which has been reliable for years on Windows) is no longer accurate. It will skip around while I move it (Not a problem in normal usage, but irritating as all get out for small buttons or delicate copy/pastes)
I've played with the mouse settings (sensitivity/acceleration), but that didn't change anything. I'm using a Logitech G5 mouse.


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Three earthquakes shook North Texas over the weekend.
The U.S. Geological Survey confirms a magnitude 2.1 earthquake occurred Sunday at 10:41:09 p.m. The epicenter was located at 32.841°N, 96.930°W, southeast of Las Colinas Country Club along Carl Road and north of state Highway 183. There have been no reports of injuries or damage from the quake.
Sunday night's earthquake shook North Texas less than 24 hours after two other quakes were felt in the Metroplex.
The latest news from around North Texas.
The U.S. Geological Survey confirms a magnitude 3.4 earthquake occurred Saturday at 11:05:01 p.m., southwest of Las Colinas Country Club near North McArthur Boulevard and West Rochelle Road. That quake was followed by a magnitude 3.1 earthquake at 11:09:03 p.m at Loop 12/Walton Walker Boulevard, north of Interstate 30 in far West Dallas.
Seismologist and SMU professor Brian Stump said that he doesn't believe fracking or gas drilling are behind the recent earthquakes in North Texas.
"In [the] central part of the United States, where we're not in a big plate boundary, there are faults. Those faults ... relieve stress occasionally and I think that's what happened," Stump said.
Stump plans to study these quakes further and believes there may be a human connection to the quakes, though he's not exactly sure what it is.
"For one thing it may a sequence of natural events or be related to human activity. We still need to study to quantify the relationship," Stump said.
The earthquakes felt here are on the smaller scale, Stump adds, and he doesn't think they are strong enough to cause much damage.
North Texans who spoke with NBC 5 confirmed as much, saying only a few photos were knocked from walls and that their pets seemed mildly agitated at the time of the tremor.
The last North Texas earthquake to get a lot of attention was recorded on July 28, 2012 when a magnitude 2.2 quake was felt in Johnson County. The epicenter of that earthquake was between Cleburne and Burleson.


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Cameron: We Must Pursue Every Diplomatic Channel
Speaking before Parliament, British Prime Minister David Cameron said that every diplomatic channel must be pursued before the U.K. takes action in Syria, but the country should be prepared to act swiftly if the decision is made to intervene.
This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.
I ... to be true ... the gap to stretch the forest ... is how to respond to one of the West uses of chemical weapons ... in a hundred years ... the officers that we must do the right day and in the right way ... we must be shown to learn the lessons of previous conflicts ... we must pursue every Avenue to United Nations ... every diplomatic channel ... every option for securing the greatest post legitimacy ... of the steps that we take ... a limit to recognize the skepticism and concerns ... that many in the country look of off that Iraq ... beaks Trading Capri inconsistent me all the ways in which this situation ... of the actions we take ... us a very different ... we must ensure that any action if it is to be taken ... is proportionate ... legal and specifically designed to deter the use ... of chemical weapons ... we must see show any action so so call centers accompanied by ... a renewed effort to forge a political solution ... and relief humanitarian suffering ... in Syria ... but at the same time we must not let the specter of previous mistakes ... paralyze our ability to stand up for what is right ... we must all be so afraid of doing nothing ... that we end up doing nothing ... let me repeat again that will be no action without a father but ... in this House of Commons ... but on this issue Britain should not stand aside ... with the style caught in a strong international response ... when this paper pad to take decisive action in order to sell ... that is on today's prices of eyes and I commend it to the highs and the ...


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LOS ANGELES, Jan. 27 (UPI) -- Ben Affleck's "Argo" won the top motion picture prize at the 24th annual Producers Guild Awards in Los Angeles.
Affleck, who starred in and directed the film, along with George Clooney and Grant Heslov, also received the Darryl F. Zanuck Award for producing "Argo" at the Saturday award ceremony, The Hollywood Reporter said.
Affleck called the wins "incredible, exciting."
"Argo" has already won won two Golden Globes -- best drama and for Affleck's direction -- and has been nominated for seven Oscars, including best picture.
In other categories at the Producers Guild Awards, Disney's Wreck-It Ralph, produced by Clark Spencer, took the animation prize and Sony Pictures Classics' Searching for Sugar Man, produced by Malik Bendjelloul and Simon Chinn, won the best documentary award.


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15492 Beech Daly Rd
Redford, MI 48239
About Us
Beech Lanes offers a family friendly atmosphere, with features like sixteen well maintained lanes of fun, automatic scoring, bumper leagues and open bowling and much more! We are proud to be a member of the BLUE RIBBON BOWLING GROUP.
We also offer special fun filled bowling tournaments, adult birthday bowling parties, family reunion nights, office challenges, pizza bowling group parties and more. Book a day or night of fun at the Beech. Give us your ideas and we'll help from there!


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The last thing any automaker could want leading up to the launch of an exciting new model is images of the car wrecked against a concrete post. Unfortunately for Hyundai, this 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe was caught making its first entry into the destruction derby of automotive life in Korea. According to a translated version of the Korean website Luckyworld, the car was wearing a temporary plate when it smashed into the concrete barrier around a street light, leaving both passenger and driver in critical condition. Since we don't really know the circumstances of the crash, we're not willing to rule out this being not a temp plate, but a manufacturers plate, meaning the car could have been a non-salable tester. Which is why we're willing to overlook for the moment a lack of airbag deployment.
[Luckyworld via Carscoop]


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Tax season is here, and while it might feel nice to open a big refund check later on, you don't actually want a big refund. The Washington Post explains why in this video—using Peeps as an example.
Basically, when you get a refund, the government is giving you money that you didn't owe in taxes, but paid them anyway. Unfortunately, they don't pay you back with interest, which means you could have gotten more money by putting it into a savings account, investing it, or paying off debt that would have accrued interest.
So what should you do? As you go through your taxes this season, make sure your W-4 is up to date, and possibly enlist a professional for help. You won't get that victorious feeling of opening a big check, but you'll have more money total, which feels pretty nice.
Why You Don't Want a Big Tax Refund | Washington Post


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Laurie Penny launches her new book Bitch Doctrine: Essays for Dissenting Adults. Compiled and displayed as a manifesto for change, the essays here address issues of gender, feminism, and power – all inexorably a part of politics.
As the inalienable rights of marginalized peoples are under siege by the rise of conservatism in the western world, Penny lends her voice to the resistance, battling social and political injustice with dark humor and cutting wit. Penny critiques the rise of the alt-right, the US presidential election, women's gender roles, and tackles questions related to sex work, trigger warnings, rape culture, cyber-bullying, and much more.
Laurie Penny is an award-winning journalist, essayist, public speaker, writer, activist, internet nanocelebrity and author of six books, including Unspeakable Things (Bloomsbury 2014) and Everything Belongs To The Future (Tor, 2016). She is Contributing Editor of New Statesman magazine, a columnist for The Baffler, and writes for many other outlets including The Guardian, Time Magazine, Buzzfeed, The New York Times, Vice, Salon, The Nation, The New Inquiry, Tor.com and Medium. When she's not on the road, Laurie is based in London, UK. Read more at www.laurie-penny.com.


text: Blog 2015 Blog Posts in 2015 It Takes a Team 9-Dec-2015 What 21-year-old pregnant woman thinks her brain will start bleeding unexpectedly? Brenda Rodriguez was only five months pregnant when she suddenly lost consciousness. Luckily, her sister was there to call 911. She was transported by ambulance to Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center (PVHMC), and, once in our Emergency Department, the team discovered that she had a ruptured arteriovenous ... Read Full Article [+] Can Exercise Help Prevent Brain Decline as We Get Older? 4-Dec-2015 By Amy Newmark, PT, NCS PVHMC Physical Therapist Older people who are physically active might help protect themselves from small areas of brain damage that can affect their movement abilities just by getting off the sofa and moving more. A recent study published in March in the journal Neurology found that the most physically active seniors did not suffer a loss in their movement abilities, even ... Read Full Article [+] How to Enjoy a Happier, Healthier Holiday 25-Nov-2015 Nancee Perez, RD, a registered dietitian at Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center, shares a few tips on how to enjoy a happier, healthier holiday meal! Be active - maintain a normal workout routine as much as possible. Go for a walk after Thanksgiving dinner to keep the blood flowing and prevent the resulting fatigue that is often blamed on the turkey, but is actually from simple overindulgence. ... Read Full Article [+] A Woman Finds Peace in the Chaos of Cancer 19-Nov-2015 Julie Henderson had always been interested in Buddhism, and when she visited the Middle Land Chan Monastery in Pomona in 2013, she realized it was where she belonged. Through the practice of Buddhism – which she describes as a lifestyle rather than a religion – Julie, 68, learned to think positively, live in the moment and let go of hindrances. It's not a coincidence, she said, ... Read Full Article [+] Exercise During Breast Cancer Treatment - What are the Benefits? 15-Oct-2015 By Elizabeth Jimenez, PVHMC Cancer Nurse Navigator Exercise…the quintessential love-hate relationship. Oh how we could all reap its health benefits without having to lift a finger, but we all know the magic of exercise requires effort. Now what happens when you throw a breast cancer diagnosis, or for that matter any other chronic medical condition, in the mix? Well the love-hate ... Read Full Article [+] National Atrial Fibrillation Month 21-Sep-2015 By Debbie Keasler, RN, Director, Stead Heart and Vascular Center Atrial fibrillation is an irregular heartbeat that increases the risk of stroke and heart disease. Treatment involves medication and procedures such as cardioversion, ablation, pacemakers, or surgery. Atrial Fibrillation also called AFib or AF is a quivering or irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia) that can lead to stroke and other ... Read Full Article [+] Fruits and Veggies Matter More Month - Kale 17-Sep-2015 Why settle for iceberg lettuce that is lacks in nutrient density? You can get more "bang for your buck" with kale. First, you may ask, "what does nutrient dense mean?" Nutrient dense foods are foods that have a higher amount of nutrients in comparison to the amount of calories they provide. There are many nutrient dense foods out there, but none like kale. So, let's ... Read Full Article [+] Can Physical Therapy be as Effective as Surgery for Lumbar Spinal Stenosis? 16-Aug-2015 A recent study sought to answer this question, and found that physical therapy achieved similar results to surgery in the treatment of lumbar spinal stenosis. Lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) is a condition characterized by pain in the lower back and legs, and sometimes numbness and weakness of the legs. People with LSS often have limited standing and walking tolerance due to pressure on nerves as ... Read Full Article [+] Breastfeeding is the Best Feeding 7-Aug-2015 In recognition of National Breastfeeding Awareness month, held each year in August, Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center (PVHMC) honors each and every breastfeeding mother who walks through its doors, whether you're a patient, visitor or Associate of the Hospital. PVHMC empowers every mom and her baby's right to breastfeed, wherever and whenever there is a need. While many mothers ... Read Full Article [+] Where Does It Hurt: Swimmer's Shoulder 22-Jun-2015 Question: My right shoulder has been hurting during my swim workouts for the past few months. Recently, my shoulder has been aching almost all the time and seems to be aggravated by any reaching or lifting activity and wakes me up if I turn on my right side in my sleep. My shoulder no longer tolerates any swimming at all. I've been a swimmer for most of my life and don't want to give ... Read Full Article [+] The Truth About Colorectal Cancer Screening 17-Jun-2015 The American Cancer Society estimates that 152,820 people will be diagnosed in 2015 and that 50,830 will die from colon cancer in the United States yet people accept myths (though inaccurate) as common knowledge making the disease even more dangerous than it is. Some of the most common myths are that the screening is embarrassing, painful or that this is a disease that only older men get. ... Read Full Article [+] Piriformis Syndrome: A Pain in the Butt 26-Mar-2015 Piriformis Syndrome is literally a pain in the butt. It causes pain in the buttock area and may include pain or tingling in the back of the thigh and calf. The piriformis muscle is one of your hip rotator muscles and is located deep in the buttock area. It is adjacent to the sciatic nerve where the nerve exits from the pelvis on its way down the leg. In some people, the sciatic nerve actually runs ... Read Full Article [+]


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Posted by Editoress on 05/17/08
Canada Cup #1 DH Preview - Bromont, Quebec
Our man on the course, Larry Ireland, has ridden the new downhill course at Bromont, and reports his impressions:
The course here at Bromont for the first Canada Cup of 2008 is fresh cut, loose and short. Riders are loving the new track despite the fact that it is slightly more than inconvenient, being on the back side of the mountain with little to no amenities.
The upper section is flowy singletrack on established trails, making it hard pack, fast and holding up quite well. The main technical feature on this course is a double rock slab step-down into a slippery off-camber rock face, where lines happen to be changing run to run. Rider after rider has slid their way sideways down it and ended up tangled in the catch fencing. As soon as riders clear this section, they are looking at an extremely fast in and out of the woods run to the finish.
The lower sections are fresh cut from about one third of the way down, and massive holes are starting to appear in the loose, loamy turns at the bottom. Small wooden jumps and erosion backfills are making some corners extremely difficult to carry speed through. The final exit from the woods is a large ditch gap to a flat landing on a fireroad, and into some muddy snow melt. Hopefully, some more thought is put into this section before the World Cup in August.
The final start list for the downhill will not be available until tomorrow mid-morning, because riders are still registering (and can register in the morning), however, we are told that there will be a sizable international field starting. The racing starts at Noon EDT, with the Elite categories expected to go off sometime after 2:00 pm EDT.
The weather is also in a state of flux, with today's great sunny conditions rapidly being replaced by wind and cooler temperatures. The forecast is for rain tomorrow.
|Return to Canadian Cyclist homepage | Back to Top


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Customized high pressure pump stations and water spray pump stations, pump systems and water treatment systems for underground mining.
Water hydraulic components and fluid-systems, such as Press Controls, Press Drives, Pressurized Water Systems and Descaling Systems for various industries.
Hauhinco high pressure plunger pumps are designed for continuous operation in a wide range of water hydraulic applications.
Hauhinco has a complete water hydraulic valve product line and can deliver anything from a single valve to complete press controls (manifolds, valve blocks).


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The Girl Next Door
Katie Holmes Opts For ĹQuiet Approachĺ To NYC Fashion Week
Access Hollywood
By Associated Press
New York, N.Y. -- Katie Holmes and her business partner and stylist Jeanne Yang joined the New York Fashion Week frenzy last season with a show at Lincoln Center, only to leave it behind this time around.
It wasnĺt all the people, or even the paparazzi, that drove them away. It was their own clothes. Their look, which they describe as one of careful artistry and potential heritage pieces that women will keep a lifetime, is a little too quiet for all the splash, they said.
ôWe wanted to tell the full story behind the frivolity,ö said Yang, adding: ôItĺs a quiet approach.ö
Holmes and Yang sat down at a hotel on the opposite side of Manhattan with a handful of fashion journalists on Thursday, the opening day of fashion week, to walk them personally through 15 looks Holmes called their favorites.
Katharine Hepburnĺs practical-yet-chic look of the 1940s, Donna Karanĺs use of the shoulders and back as erogenous zones, Halstonĺs glamorous sportswear and Chanelĺs mastery of seaming and studs were all in their minds as they built the pieces and outfits.
ôWeĺre not trying to be trendy ů but weĺre trying to make high-quality pieces youĺll wear over and over again,ö Holmes said.
Holmes was wearing an A-line shirtdress in the blue-and-black plaid that was dominant in the collection, while Yang wore one of the slouchy blazers that has become a key piece for the label, founded in 2009.
For fall, theyĺll offer a peplum top with a suede waist band and maxi skirt in the same plaid. Holmes suggested that outfit for a dinner out. Swap the shirt for a tank top for brunch and a blouse to go to the theater. Yang said she hoped a customer would ôfeel smartö in a white cashmere-silk boucle sweaterdress with a strip of white silk at the hem.
Holmes, meanwhile, was partial to the baggy suede caramel-colored pants that hit just above the ankle, worn with a bow-neck blouse in a deep shade of lipstick pink.
The duo made a point of noting that 70 percent of production of Holmes & Yang happens in New York and the other 30 percent in Los Angeles.


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EntrepreneurKing needed a new logo design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 89 designs submitted by 34 freelance designers.
Faredango.com is an online travel site that i have two ideas for that i might do with it possibly a travel site to buy travel tickets or a site to compare tickets like bookingbuddy.com.. i am open for anything on creation... be creative and open for colors and more.. looking forward to designs.
Love To hear One if you have one
Desired Color Scheme:
Open For Colors
Desired Style:
open to anything web 2.0, technoish, whatever just be creative
Accepted File Formats:
Standard Web Formats (.jpg, .gif or .png); Vector Formats (.eps, .pdf or .ai); Layered Formats (.psd or .tiff)
be creative be fun be great be a apart of something great.
Find out how a design contest works or learn more about our logo design services.


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Massey Ferguson BB720X
Single Spindle Rotary Cutters
- America strong
Made in the USA with no short cuts - just high-strength steel and quality parts that provide dependable performance year after year
- Quick cleanup
Unique smooth, sloped decks are easy to clean and reduce all that build-up of debris and trapped water that can eventually damage a cutting deck
- Stump the stumps
For added driveline protection, stump jumpers come standard on all models
- Bull through brush
Built for tough brush cutting, our rugged and reliable BrushBull™ mowers are available in standard-, medium-, and heavy duty models
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Choose from widths up to 84" to match your cutting task - our single spindle mowers come with a 3-year gearbox warranty, one of the best in the industry
|Working Width (in)
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|Cat 1&2
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Pool Drained After Womans Belly Button Ring Gets Caught in Drain [VIDEO]
I have freaked out whenever my belly button ring gets caught on my belt, I cannot imagine it getting stuck in a drain! It took Colorado firefighters an hour to rescue a woman whose belly button ring was caught in a pool drain at a water park. They even had to drain the pool!
Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy


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Today I get to do something that is my absolute favorite part of my job as Scrapbook Update's editor. I get to tell all of my readers about a very talented woman who I believe has a lot to contribute to the scrapbook industry. Her name is Melissa Stinson, and she is not only talented, she is also Scrapbook Update's newest Contributing Writer.
Melissa has been a dedicated scrapbooker for 13 years, and is also an avid photographer. Her scrapbooking, a combination of orderly paper & photo elements and more organic embellishment arrangements, can only be called eclectic because of the way that it combines various different style elements.
Although this may be the first time that you've heard Melissa's name, it won't be the last. She was just named to the design team at Counterfeit Kit Club Challenge, and has several other (still-secret) design gigs coming up in the near future.
Melissa, who lives in Alabama with her husband, is definitely a scrapbooking geek girl. She calls herself "scrappyjedi" online, combining her love of scrapbooking with her love of all things Star Wars, Dr. Who and Stargate. She even has a geek job, as a software engineer. Oh, and don't even think about getting in between Melissa and her patterned paper: She also has a second degree black belt in Taekwondo.
At Scrapbook Update, Melissa will serve to bring to the table more of a consumer voice on industry issues – an important perspective in an industry that is ultimately catering to consumers. She'll also be writing product reviews, and has a great eye for spotting trends that she'll share with our readers.
We're very excited to welcome Melissa to Scrapbook Update! If you'd like to learn more about her, you can visit her personal blog or follow her on Twitter. If you'd like to contact Melissa, she can also be emailed at email@example.com.
Want to stay up-to-date on all the latest scrapbook news?


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Our friend, Ottawa photographer Blair Gable, is a member of the CanvasPop Pro Community and shares his insights and behind-the-scenes goodies right here on our blog.
Micah is the frontman for the group Fall of Knowledge and is rebranding himself as a solo artist. This video and still show how we shot one particular setup. We were running so many lights that we blew the circuit breakers twice trying to figure out what power grid we needed to run the lights from!
I'm still wrapping up this project but will have more info on my blog soon—stay tuned!
Follow … Read more


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Hail was reported in areas across the Southland Friday amid winter storm warnings for Southern California that included snow levels as low as 3,000 feet and the closure of the Grapevine.
The 5 Freeway was closed in both directions from Parker Road to the Kern County line at about 4 p.m., according to the California Highway Patrol, which reported heavy snow.
As of 9:30 p.m., police escorts were leading drivers off the road. There were about 500 cars waiting in either direction, according to CHP. Moving the drivers off the thoroughfare could take up to two hours, officials said, at which point CHP will reevaluate whether to reopen the Grapevine Friday night.
Local news from across Southern California
The Grapevine was still shut down as of 11 p.m.
The CHP reported 20 to 30 vehicles involved in separate but related crashes on the northbound 5 Freeway just north of Gorman School Road at about 4:30 p.m., as seen in the picture below. Four people were taken to the hospital with minor injuries, officials said.
The Los Angeles County Fire Department responded, a spokesman said.
Weather Page: Interactive Radar | Send Us Your Storm Photos
Stranding drivers for some two hours Friday, the closure of the main route between Los Angeles and the Central Valley came after Southern California experienced scattered hail and snow Friday. More precipitation was expected.
"It still looks like we are going to be dealing with some heavy amounts of snow in and around the 4,000-foot level. That's where we have winter storm warnings in effect," said NBC4 forecaster Elita Loresca. "Down in the 3,000-foot level is where we have winter weather advisories."
Hail also was reported in the Brea area of Orange County at 10 a.m. Friday, and then seen elsewhere later in the day, including in Redondo Beach and at NBC4's Burbank studios.
The Southland will continue to see cold and windy conditions Friday, and winter weather advisories and winter storm warnings are in effect at least until Saturday morning, Loresca said.
In anticipation of snowstorms in the northeast region of the United States, LAX officials reported that five airlines have cancelled 63 arriving and departing flights to the following airports: New York (JFK), Newark, N.J., (EWR) and Boston (BOS).
Passengers flying to that region have been advised to check with their airlines to confirm any flights before heading to the airport.
More widespread showers will occur through Friday evening, and residents above elevations at 4,000 feet can expect 6 to 10 inches of snow, Loresca said.
Cold temperatures are expected to continue through the weekend, and dry conditions will return as temperatures warm into the low- to mid-60s by early next week.


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Not into it AT ALL
It's a bit sucky that I feel that way, but it is what it is. I have no motivation whatsoever to fast. I'm not good with fasting but this year, unlike others, I started with literally no intention to even try. I can't say I feel bad other than just wishing I wanted to participate like other Muslims and wanting to belong to the community a little more. But in the end, I don't want to fast and I just don't belong in any real way.
My husband and his mom are fasting at home and I just eat with the kids and take care of them. I keep a bit of appetite to be with them but there's big fat zero festive atmosphere. It's less than any year. I think my husband's mom might have been helpful for that but it hasn't. I imagine that her first Ramadan away from Egypt doesn't leave her feeling festive. She made a lot of traditional desserts the first week but I don't really like them and neither do the kids so it's like the month started with a downer.
She has been going to teraweeh every night and my daughter goes to jumah every week with her. At least that's good.
How is everyone else doing? Hope all is well :)


text: Help! film The second Beatles' feature film is a comedy adventure, which follows the exploits of the group as they attempt to escape the clutches of an evil mysterious cult. Will The Beatles survive being eaten by tigers, being shrunk, gassed, blown up, or kidnapped? The film was directed by Dick Lester and combines the Beatles' own sense of humour with antics from a leading cast of actors including Leo McKern, Eleanor Bron, Victor Spinetti and Roy Kinnear. The film includes a host of classic tracks such as Ticket To Ride, You're Going To Lose That Girl, and the title track, Help! (These are all featured on the soundtrack album). Help! has been regarded by many as a parody of contemporary Bond films, complete with power crazy despots, mad inventors, and a caper through exotic locations including the Bahamas and the snowy mountains of Austria. It has also been credited as being the forerunner to contemporary rock musicals and pop videos. TzvpJHjUaNE Video of TzvpJHjUaNE The Making Of Help! It was good to make Help! and it's a nice film. It's funny. It's a very period film now. We just took it all very lightly, we'd had a laugh - and in the snow, all the snow scenes were cos the lads wanted a holiday, they were fed up working. PAUL Help! - 1s Preview Video of Help! - 1s Preview Help! The Beatles at home, from the film Help! Video of The Beatles at home, from the film Help! The Beatles At Home, From The Film Help! Scene from Help! Video of Scene from Help! Scene from Help! Scene from Help! Video of Scene from Help! Scene from Help! Filming "Help!" on Salisbury Plain Posing with Eleanor Bron during shooting for the film "Help!" Ringo is painted red for the final scene in the film "Help!" Shooting a Palace scene for the film "Help!" The closing scene from the film "Help!" Performing the song "You've Got To Hide Your Love Away" in the film "Help!"


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Running on Ethanol
The oil companies REALLY don't want you to know how ready your current car is for E85. Cars have been designed to be ethanol resistant since the early 90s. The cars that are currently on the road are suited for running E50 (50% gas, 50% ethanol) with NO modifications. I have been running ethanol in my 95 Toyota Celica GT for over 5000 miles. I have seen no problems and think that more people should be more aware of the benefits to using ethanol. E85 is simply a superior fuel to standard gasoline. It truly is 110 octane and SIGNIFICANTLY increases horsepower. I have also only seen a very slight decrease in average MPG which leads me to the conclusion that the combustion of ethanol is actually more efficient then the simple BTU comparison. Higher octane leads to much faster acceleration, which causes the car to reach cruising speed quicker. This means that the engine is able to idle sooner than it does running pure gasoline and idling uses less fuel. For cars with a manual transmission, like my car, drivers are able to take this a step further by shifting into neutral. I find myself coasting in neutral a lot. Also, ethanol performs better at highway speeds (80MPH+) and no reduction in fuel economy is noticeable. Ethanol is a reasonable option for the present, and any talk of flex fuel vehicles is just Detroit trying to get you to buy a new car that you don't need. I also can't believe that the car companies haven't made all their cars FFVs yet and say that they will reach this goal in a couple years. Running cars on ethanol is relatively simple to engineer and requires the fuel injectors run on a slightly different program that slows the timing of the injectors slightly. Why must it take years to program something so simple?


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PESHAWAR: A suicide bomber blew himself up in Gulshan Colony, Peshawar, killing 15 and leaving 22 injured, Express News reported on Friday.
The Hussaini Madrassa in the area was the target of the blast. The interior of the madrassa was destroyed. There were around 40 people inside the madrassa at the time of the blast.
The madrassa has the capacity to hold up to 80 people. People inside the madrassa were preparing for Friday prayers at the time of the blast.
A rescue operation was conducted. The injured were shifted to a nearby local hospital and security forces sealed the affected areas.
President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Chief Altaf Hussain condemned the attack.
Police sources said the bomber was shot at when he tried to enter the madrassa through the main entrance along with his two accomplices. The bomber managed to enter the madrassa through a second gate and blow himself up, while the other two escaped. The bomber reportedly intended to reach the prayer leader, however, the leader wasn't present at the scene.
The bomber was reportedly 22 years old. Police officials gathered body parts for further investigation.
The Bomb Disposal Squad said that the bomber's vest was packed with six kilogrammes of explosives.
No one has claimed responsibility for the attack as yet.
The Jafri Alliance announced a three day mourning against the attack.


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There are 139,834 open source projects under way on SourceForge, the popular open source hosting site. Five years from now, only a handful of those projects will be remembered for making lasting contributions--most will remain in niches, unnoticed by the rest of the world. For every Linux, Apache, or MySQL, dozens of other open source efforts fizzle out.
That's a dilemma for the many companies that are expanding their use of open source. Corporate developers and other IT professionals must get better at divining the winners and ignoring the losers. The wrong picks can lead companies down a rat hole of support problems and obsolete software.
Good bets for the next round of open source innovation include the Mule enterprise service bus, Alfresco content management system, and Spring framework for Java applications. But what about the 139,831 other options?
One promising project on the bubble is OpenVista, software for managing health records and health care operations. OpenVista has a few things going for it: a strong code base, pressing demand, and a company bent on commercializing it. Yet OpenVista shows how leadership fissures that a proprietary software company might work through can become deep rifts in open source projects.
OpenVista was posted on SourceForge on June 6. It wasn't a big surprise; the posting had been promised several times by Medsphere, a company founded to commercialize OpenVista. But things unraveled quickly. In three weeks, Medsphere sued co-founder and CTO Steve Shreeve, who was responsible for the posting. In a complaint filed in Superior Court of Orange County, Calif., Medsphere charged that Shreeve and his older brother, Scott, Medsphere's chief medical officer at the time, had breached their fiduciary duty as directors, violated confidentiality agreements, and caused the company to suffer $50 million in damages. CEO Ken Kizer and board members contend that the Shreeves should have held a meeting before posting OpenVista to review what code would be released.
Steve Shreeve responds that parts of the source code had been released two times previously without any meetings with the CEO or board of directors. "I'm the largest shareholder in the company," he fumes. The Shreeve brothers were fired in June after the blowup, saying they were only taking steps that are commonplace in nurturing an open source project, like creating a foundation around it.
Kizer argues the suit "is not about open source code. It's about corporate governance." He maintains the Shreeve brothers, after a falling-out with Kizer, tried to use open source as a cover for launching a separate venture. Steve Shreeve denies such an intent.
Now, without the Shreeves, Medsphere is again planning to launch OpenVista on SourceForge. Kizer's hope: "This will be a big event in health care, and a community will be attracted to OpenVista."
But Steve Shreeve thinks Medsphere has burned a bridge, destroying that intangible element of trust that
leads people to work on open source projects, as paid contributors, volunteer coders, or interested users offering vital suggestions. "How is any open source developer going to have a shred of confidence to work on this?" asks Shreeve. "How can they convincingly say they've released the code when they're suing me over its release?"
If building open source code requires tactful leadership, short lines of communication, and trust among team members, then OpenVista comes to the open source market with one hand tied behind its back. But those aren't the only factors businesses must assess. A review of successful open source projects, and insights from those who've led and implemented them, reveal common themes and metrics that can be used to measure a project's potential for success.
This story was updated Feb. 26.


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If you're looking for a product with a sophisticated look and compact design that can print photo lab quality at a great value you need look no further than the PIXMA iP2702 Inkjet Photo Printer.
This stylish machine fits almost anywhere while you easily print beautiful, borderless5 photos up to 8.5" x 11", pages off the web through Easy-WebPrint EX6 or documents all with amazing quality. This is made possible thanks to its FINE Cartridges which contain pigment black ink for laser-quality text and dye ink for smooth, natural photos. The ChromaLife100+ system enables your photos to last up to 300 years when using genuine Canon ink and paper and stored in archival-quality photo album3. Printing and automatically correcting your photos has never been easier thanks to Auto Photo Fix II which can be accessed through the popular EasyPhoto-Print EX software. So you can make the most out of your photos and easily print as many as you want!
Color - 4800 x 1200dpi Print - Photo Print - Desktop


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Provost & Academic Vice President
Online Forms Provided by the Office of the Provost
- The forms are provided in a Microsoft Word, Excel, or PDF format, allowing the users to enter information into the document and save the file to a hard drive.
- Some portions of the forms are locked. You cannot access those portions.
- If you have difficulty accessing these documents, contact the Provost Office by phone at (309) 298-1066 or by e-mail at firstname.lastname@example.com.
Agreement for General Services (Division of Academic Affairs)
Consolidated Annual Report
Curriculum Approval
Offering Letter Templates & Instructions
Personnel Documents & Forms
- Academic Support Professional Job Description (Word)
- ACE Sheet (Excel)
- Administrative Personnel Performance Evaluation Forms (Division of Academic Affairs) (Form 1) (Form 2)
- Counteroffer (Excel)
- Deferred Compensation (409A) Election Form (Pay Spread)
- Faculty Summary ACE Workload Report
- Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) Application -- Please contact Academic Personnel at (309) 298-2216
- FMLA Serious Health Condition Form
Job Description Template and Instructions (Word)
(Replaces PAA Job Description Form)
- New Employee Procedures (Word)
- Personal Data (Word)
- Personnel Budget Change (Word)
- Personnel Change Form
- Position Announcement -- Please use the job templates in Interview Exchange
- Principal Administrative Position Exemption (Word)
- Request for Approval: Outside Employment (pdf)
- Request for Leave without Salary (Word)
- Request for Parental Leave (Word)
- Salary Adjustment Request (Word)
- Statement Concerning Your Employment in a Job Not Covered by Social Security
- Summer DBS Form (Excel)
- Supplemental Payment Request (pdf)
- Tuition and Fee Waiver -- Current Administrative Employees and Faculty (Word)
- Tuition and Fee Waiver -- Retired Administrative Employees and Faculty (pdf)
- Web-Based Course Initial Development Compensation (Word)
- Web-Based Course Major Revision Compensation (Word)


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Sure, it's only October, but the lottery opens Friday for the 94th annual Christmas Tree Lighting celebration at the White House.
James Taylor, Chance the Rapper, Kelly Clarkson and gospel singer Yolanda Adams will perform at the holiday party to light the National Christmas Tree on the White House Ellipse on Dec. 1.
Free tickets will be awarded through an online lottery, which opened at 10 a.m. Friday and closes at 10 a.m. Monday.
Winners will be notified Oct. 27. To enter the lottery, visit the National Christmas Tree Lighting website.
If you can't get tickets to the show, you can still catch it on TV -- the Hallmark Channel will broadcast the lighting Dec. 2.
Reese Witherspoon hosted last year's lighting ceremony, which also featured actress and singer Bellamy Young of ABC's "Scandal;" Crosby, Stills and Nash; Fall Out Boy; Trombone Shorty; Andra Day and Miss Piggy.
The White House Christmas tree lighting has been a tradition dating back to 1923. President Calvin Coolidge was the first president to light a tree on the White House Ellipse, a 48-foot fir tree decked out with 2,500 electric bulbs. The tree switched to LED lights in 2007.
And the tree itself has changed over the years. The tree that had been used as the National Christmas Tree since 1978 was felled by high winds in February 2011. Its replacement was planted a month later and lit for Christmas 2011, but died the following spring due to complications from transplant shock.
The current tree, a Colorado blue spruce, was planted in fall 2012 and has been used for the lighting ever since.


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Ever wanted to join the Mindcrack Server? Today is your lucky day!
Over the last year, gamer-controlled streams have visited the worlds of Kanto and Johto, and today developers Jason "Guude" Boulderfist and Joe Hills bring you to the world of Mindcrack!
Joe and Jason collaborated on the overall concept and control scheme for Mindcrack Cam and worked closely to integrate and test their portions of the project.
Joe wrote the website you see here, including the code to handle authentication and validate your button presses.
Jason wrote the code to pull from the command queue, apply trigonometry to turn those commands into coordinates Minecraft can process, and execute the teleport commands that move the camera.
What you see today is only the beginning! Jason and Joe have much more planned, and can't wait to see how you play!


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This is a very interesting map of the IPv4 address space. Following image shows a visualization of BGP routing data taken from the Routeviews project. Here, 1-dimensional IPv4 address space is mapped into a 2-dimensional image using a 12th order This means that CIDR netblocks always appear as squares or rectangles in the image.
Each pixel in the original 4096 x 4096 image represents a single /24 network containing up to 256 hosts. The pixel color shows the size of the route advertisement covering that space ranging from /8 (purple) to /32 (red). Black represents space without a route and grey indicates reserved space.
(Fig: Map of the IPv4 address space)
You can order this map as a full size poster from project home page. I'm going to ask some one to get this cool map in our data center monitoring facility 😀 Note that most large corporations and government holds large IPv4 address space. I guess with the IPv6 we don't have to worry about allocation problem as it is a much larger address space that allows greater flexibility in assigning addresses.
=> Visit original project page : MAPS OF ROUTVIEWS BGP SNAPSHOTS [measurement-factory.com]


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BURLINGTON, Vt. – For the second year in a row, the UMBC men's track and field team earned a second-place finish at the America East Outdoor Track and Field Championships as the two-day meet came to a close, Sunday at Vermont's Frank H. Livak Track and Field Facility.
The Retrievers scored 165 points, trailing only conference champion Albany who gained 208 points. Maine (124 pts.), Binghamton (108 pts.), and meet-host Vermont (87 pts.) rounded out the top-five.
In the women's standings, the Great Danes made it a sweep by scoring 195.50 points. Vermont (142.50 pts.), Binghamton (131 pts.), UMBC (129 pts.), and New Hampshire (107 pts.) completed the top spots.
Following the meet, the UMBC men's coaching staff, led by head coach David Bobb, was named the America East Men's Coaching Staff of the Year. In addition, senior Dennison Long (Greenbelt, Md./Eleanor Roosevelt/FIU) and junior Mercedes Jackson (Huntingtown, Md./Huntingtown) were each named the Most Outstanding Track Performer of the Meet with Jackson also winning the women's Coaches' Award for gaining the most points of any individual female athlete.
Long earned two individual gold medals on the day as UMBC won a total of ten events on the day. The senior sprinter swept the 100m and 200m dash events for the second consecutive year, matching his conference record time of 10.37 in the 100m race and then winning the 200m event with a meet record time of 21.12. In addition, Long teamed with senior Trae Proctor (Brandywine, Md./Thomas Stone), freshman Afees Abolurin (Baltimore, Md./Milford Mill), and sophomore Randolph Patrice (Baltimore, Md./Liberty) to win a silver medal in the 4x100 with a combined time of 41.62.
A day after breaking the conference record in the 110m hurdles, Proctor did it again in the finals, winning his third career gold medal in the event with a time of 14.01. In the 100m hurdles, freshman Madeline Entwistle (Potomac, Md./Walt Whitman) placed ninth and jumped into the Retriever top-ten with a career-best time of 14.89.
Jackson, meanwhile, won her ninth career America East gold medal by claiming the 100m dash for the first time in her career. The junior bested the field with a season-best time of 11.60 in the finals as she tries to reach the NCAA Championships for the second straight year. Jackson also gained a silver medal in the 200m dash with a top season time of 23.58. She also led off in the final event of the meet, the 4x400 relay, as the Retriever team of Jackson, senior Kirsten Jones (Brentwood, Tenn./M.L.K. Magnet), junior Paulette Fogle (Washington, D.C./Bishop McNamara), and senior Deborah Adelola (Lanham, Md./Bladensburg) won gold with a time of 3:48.20.
In the first women's track event of the day, Jackson worked with freshman Mercedes Tillman (Waldorf, Md./North Point), sophomore Marie Yuille (Bowie, Md./Oakland Mills), and Young to take second and set a new school record with a time of 46.19.
Adelola also won her first career individual gold medal, outrunning the field in the 400m run as the Retrievers went 1-2-3. The senior posted a career-best time of 55.84, the second-fastest time in school history, while Yuille and Jones took home the silver and bronze medals, respectively. Yuille also set a new career-best with a time of 56.20 to move up to fourth in the Retriever record book.
Fogle also garnered a silver medal in the 400m hurdles after breaking her own school record with a personal-best time of 1:00.36. Junior Mary Katherine Kulp (Vestal, N.Y./Vestal) also set a new PR with a time of 1:02.63 to place fourth with classmate Briana Young (Bowie, Md./Elizabeth Seton) two spots back in sixth (1:03.36).
In the men's event, junior Charles Bolinger (Bowie, Md./Eleanor Roosevelt) broke his PR for the second straight day to finish sixth and jump up to third in the UMBC record book with a time of 54.59.
The UMBC distance team picked up two individual gold medals as senior Andrew Smith (Chadds Ford, Pa./Garnet Valley) won the 800m run, completing the season sweep after winning the indoor event in February, and classmate Jake Albino (Hampton, N.Y./Minisink Valley) claimed the 1,500m title. Sophomore Andrew Keresztes (Port Jefferson, N.Y./Port Jefferson), the 2013 champion in the 800m run, placed fourth in the event.
The three runners also combined with sophomore Nick Johnson (Olney, Md./Sherwood) to win the 4x800 relay with a new school record time of 7:34.11.
In the women's 800m run, senior Cody Mezebish (Westminster, Md./South Carroll) snapped her own school record with a time of 2:09.99 to earn a silver medal. Sophomore Sarah Daly (Lake Orion, Mich./Lake Orion), meanwhile, placed fourth in the 1,500m run with a new personal-best time of 4:33.74 to leapfrog Mezebish for the third-best time in program history.
Senior Shioma Obemeata (New Rochelle, N.Y./Iona Prep/St. Francis) won his second career America East gold medal, and first outdoor top prize, by taking the triple jump title with a career-best leap of 14.97m (49'1.5"). Classmate Dosu Teyibo (Silver Spring, Md./Barrie) earned a bronze medal with a top career jump of 14.52m (47'7.75").
Junior Alisha Beeman (Bridgeport, Conn./Bunnell/Hartford) placed fourth in the high jump by clearing 1.65m (5'5") while recording a career-best leap of 11.27m (36'11.75") to finish eighth in the triple jump and grab the fifth spot in the Retriever record book.
In the shot put, senior Yao Adantor (Laurel, Md./Reservoir/Morgan State/Maryland) and sophomore Nneoma Edokobi (Rockville, Md./Richard Montgomery) each gained silver medals in the respective competitions. Adantor recorded a top toss of 16.12m (52'10.75") while Edokobi's best heave of 13.32m (43'8.5") moved her up to fourth in school history. Sophomore Jennifer Nelson (Plainfield, Conn./Plainfield) also registered a career-best in the event with a toss of 12.20m (40'0.5").


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Whether you are trying to lose weight or get back into shape, there is probably a phone app to help.
But are those apps sharing personal information?
A San Diego privacy group says many of those apps are selling personal information they collect from users.
"You have to make money somehow," said Kim Gough with Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, "Many of these free applications will then sell your information to third-party advertisers."
Collecting data on websites is nothing new. Everyone from Facebook to Google use profiles to market products and services to their users. But few people know their health and fitness apps may be doing the same thing.
"I think the majority of them don't have a clear understanding of what the app is doing in terms of their personal data and how it is being utilized," said Gough.
Privacy Rights Clearinghouse studies 43 popular apps. Nearly 72 percent of the apps presented medium to high risk regarding personal privacy. According to the PRC, free apps were the most likely to sell or collect personal data.
The privacy group says app developers need to do a better job disclosing their privacy policy.
"I think we'd like to see the developers of the apps just have a little more transparency," said Gough, "say we are gathering this data on you and this is what we're doing with it."
Privacy Rights Clearinghouse has created a fact sheet on its findings.


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Westwood makes Villa move
Ashley Westwood has compared himself to Michael Carrick after the former Crewe captain signed a four-year contract at Aston Villa.
Last Updated: 31/08/12 10:03pm
Ashley Westwood has compared himself to Michael Carrick after the former Crewe Alexandra captain signed a four-year contract at Aston Villa.
The 22-year-old has put pen to paper on a deal which will keep him at Villa Park until the end of the 2015/16 campaign.
Westwood helped Crewe gain promotion to League One last season and is now relishing a crack at proving himself in the Premier League, where he could come up against Manchester United's Carrick.
After making the move for an undisclosed fee, he said: "I see myself as a Michael Carrick-type of player, someone who stays out of the limelight and keeps it simple, retaining the ball and laying it off to team-mates.
"From the conversations I've had with the new manager (Paul Lambert) I think that will fit in perfectly here.
Massive club
"He said to me that he's looking for younger lads to work with him, step up and lift this club to the next level and I'm really looking forward to the challenge.
"This is a fantastic football club, a massive club and I can't wait to get started really. It's a bit surreal right now but I'll get out training with the lads tomorrow morning and take it in my stride."
Westwood - a product of the Crewe Academy - is Villa's seventh signing of the summer.
Lambert said: "Being captain of his football club at 21 years of age, I think that says a big thing about Ashley's quality, the responsibility he has taken on his shoulders and his temperament.
"He's also a terrific prospect for this football club - a real, real talent.
"He's had a really good grounding at Crewe and he will fit in with what we're looking to do here. He's a good player and he'll do fine."


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I was 25 years old. I was a devout, born-again Catholic who went to charismatic prayer meetings and prayed in tongues.
And I despised myself. To my core.
Every night I prayed, "Please, Jesus, please make me like girls. Please."
I did psychotherapy, hypnosis, aversion shock therapy and group therapy, and was prayed over to have this demon exorcised from me.
One night, as I was going out to the bathhouse for the umpteenth time (you can see how effective all that therapy was), I stopped dead in my tracks, in the middle of a gas station.
"I can't take this. If I don't do something, I'm going to kill myself."
The burden of failure, the double life, were just too much to bear. So I decided: I would take a year off from religion. Just a year, to see how it felt.
Instantly, a thousand-pound weight was lifted off my shoulders. I smiled so big it hurt.
A few weeks later, I stood on the sidewalk, watching the Chicago Gay Pride Parade. At the end, people joined in. I watched them. More and more joined in. I watched. And I stepped off the curb.
My heart pounding, I marched the rest of the route, noticing some friends and co-workers along the way.
"Well, I guess I've come out," I thought.
I had, and never went back in. And never went back to religion.
I can't say life has been a breeze since then (I hate all the gay movies that end with someone coming out, as though that solves all your problems), but I didn't kill myself and I've marched in many Pride marches since, usually with ACT UP.
It's a great feeling.
Off the sidewalks, into the streets!
Mark Milano is the publications manager at ACRIA and the editor of its quarterly international HIV prevention, treatment and policy publication, Achieve_, as well as its other publications._


text: When I'm Sixty Four song When I get older, losing my hair Many years from now, Will you still be sending me a valentine, birthday greetings, bottle of wine? If I'd been out till quarter to three, Would you lock the door? Will you still need me, will you still feed me, When I'm sixty four? Ooh You'll be older too. Ah, and if you say the word, I could stay with you. I could be handy mending a fuse When your lights have gone. You can knit a sweater by the fireside, Sunday mornings, go for a ride. Doing the garden, digging the weeds, Who could ask for more? Will you still need me, will you still feed me, When I'm sixty four? Ev'ry summer we can rent a cottage In the Isle of Wight if it's not too dear. We shall scrimp and save. Grandchildren on your knee; Vera, Chuck and Dave. Send me a postcard, drop me a line, stating point of view. Indicate precisely what you mean to say, yours sincerely, wasting away. Give me your answer, fill in a form, Mine forevermore. Will you still need me, will you still feed me, When I'm sixty four? Ho! Released 1 June 1967 Recorded 6–21 December 1966,EMI Studios, London Genre Pop, music hall Length 2:37 Label Parlophone Writer Lennon–McCartney Producer George Martin Please note the text from Wikipedia is imported without editing or authentication. When I'm Sixty Four (Sgt Pepper) When I'm Sixty Four (YSS) ©1967 Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC. All rights reserved. Used by permission.


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Bernard Gallay Grenada - Office & People
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If you would like more information on anything you've seen or have questions about buying or chartering a yacht from this company, simply fill in the contact form below and someone from the appropriate office will be in contact as soon as possible.
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Just 'Sign In' and we'll auto-complete these forms for you.


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FLA 22-560 Soft Form Elegant Wrist Support Brace, R
- Description
- Size Chart
- Reviews
Model 22-560
Size Chart
Questions that are on Your Mind
Q: Can you help me with sizing?
A: You can view the size chart here: size chart
You will need accurate measurements, so first learn how to measure.
You will need accurate measurements, so first learn how to measure.
Q: What is compression? What is the difference in compression?
A: You wear compression stockings to improve blood flow in your legs. Compression stockings gently squeeze your legs to move blood up your legs. This helps prevent leg swelling and, to a lesser extent, blood clots.
Q: What does mmHg mean?
A: mmhg stands for "millimeter of mercury", a way to measure pressure. The higher the number, the tighter the garment will squeeze and the more compression it provides.
Q: How can we wash the garments? And with which soap or detergent?
A: We recommend to hand wash in warm water and air dry. You can use mild soup of the washing solution that we provide such as the jobst jolastic, hosiery mate washing solution, sigvaris liquid washing solution etc. See our full washing instructions.
Q: What is the difference between open toe and close toe?
A: There is no therapeutic difference between open and closed toe socks. The choice is yours, whichever is more comfortable.
Q: What is opaque?
A: Opaque is a thicker material that provides great coverage and your skin will be far less visible. Usually worn in winter because of the thickness.
Q: What is sheer?
A: Sheer is a thinner, dressier material. Customer usually like these because they can use them as dress socks for work or church.
Q: Do I get compression at the toe area?
A: No. Compression begins at the ankle and gradually lessens as it goes up the leg. This reduces pooling in the legs and helps the veins return blood to the heart.
Q: Will a thicker material give me more support than the sheer material?
A: No. The compression provided is measured by mmHg and is the same no matter the material. The choice of material is up to you, whichever is more comfortable.
Q: If I get pantyhose will I get more compression than with a knee-hi?
A: No.
Popular Accessories
Sigvaris Rubber Gloves $6.20


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Secure your booking now and get the lowest and best price for your apartment. It will only take 2 minutes!
trust pilot
Estepona is one of the most popular towns on the Costa del Sol. It boasts a microclimate with over 325 sunny days a year and a rich culture and history, which makes it an enjoyable holiday destination all year round—from archaeological digs to golf courses, along with long stretches of fine sandy beaches and suburb restaurants. There are also lots of sports and cultural activities on offer.
It is only 15 minutes away from the bustling Puerto Banús and Marbella and Sotogrande town centres. Málaga airport is 50 minutes away. We can arrange a transfer if notified beforehand.
Book now and get 20% off. Special offer available just in friendlyrentals.com. Final rate already published. This rate is not refundable.
Luxury 1 Bedroom Apartment: Capacity 1-3 Adults; 1 Double Bedroom, Bathroom and 1 Sofa Bed.
This superb apartment forms part of our beachside complex. The photographs show a selection of pictures from various apartments available; each apartment may vary slightly in size, but they all have the same features. You will be allocated a specific apartment of the requested size when you arrive.Every apartment has sea view.Our 25.000 m2 beautifully landscaped, fully equipped resort is right on the beach. Come and enjoy a truly unforgettable experience.
This bright luxury beachside apartment has a modern, fully equipped kitchen and terrace with sea views. Its design combines several aspects of typical Spanish life. It has a phone, satellite TV, radio, flat-screen TV, safe, air conditioning, desk, marble floor, full bathroom with amenities and hair dryer, minibar, electric water heater, free Wi-Fi internet, free parking, reception and rooms for all kind of events and celebrations.
There are also high-quality sporting facilities, including paddle tennis, tennis, volleyball, gym, children's area and seven golf courses within 7 km of the resort. We offer far more than just sun and beach during your stay.
Small Pets (max.12kg) 10€/day, allowed on request
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CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) Clemson record-setting receiver DeAndre Hopkins is heading to the NFL and skipping his final season of college.
Hopkins said on Twitter on Thursday that while he enjoyed his time with the Tigers, he is ready for the next level. Clemson athletics spokesman Tim Bourret confirmed that Hopkins is making himself eligible for the NFL draft in April.
``It is tough to leave because this is my home, this is the place I wanted to play since I came out of the womb,'' Hopkins said in statement from the school. ``But, I feel it is best for me and my family to take my talents to NFL at this time.''
Hopkins had a been a solid performer his first two seasons, but broke out in a big way this past fall with a school record 1,405 yards receiving on 82 catches. His 18 touchdowns were an Atlantic Coast Conference record.
He closed his college career in impressive fashion with 13 catches for 191 yards and two touchdowns in a Chick-Fil-A Bowl victory over LSU. Hopkins made a sliding, 26-yard catch on fourth-and-16 to keep the Tigers game-winning drive alive in the 25-24 win.
Hopkins play this season has him going in the late first-round in several NFL mock drafts, projections apparently too good for him to pass up.
``It's been one hell of a ride tiger nation but I'm takin my talents to the next level (tag) nfl,'' Hopkins tweeted.
Hopkins spoke with Clemson coach Dabo Swinney several times before making his decision.
``I fully support him,'' Swinney said.
The coach said Hopkins would make an exceptional NFL player.
``He has the best hands and ability to catch the ball in traffic I have seen in a long time,'' Swinney said.
Hopkins established Clemson career records with 27 touchdown receptions, 12 100-yard receiving games and 3,020 total reception yards. He is second in total receptions with 206 for his 39 career games. The 191-yard game in the Chick-fil-A Bowl was his sixth 100-yard game of the year, tying the Clemson single season mark. He caught at least one pass in each of his last 36 games to tie Jerry Butler's (1975-78) record.
Hopkins also tied the Clemson mark for touchdown receptions in a game with three on two occasions this year, once against Ball State and once at Duke. Twice he scored three touchdowns in under nine minutes.
On Wednesday, ACC player of the year Tajh Boyd chose to return to Clemson instead of jumping to the NFL. The Tigers still feature former All-American wideout Sammy Watkins, who'll be a junior next fall.


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Biomass boilers and biomass heating guidance, tools and template documentation to help develop and install biomass heating systems
The production of heat currently accounts for almost half of the UK's carbon emissions. Using biomass materials (such as wood, straw, or energy crops) as a fuel to produce heat, hot water or to raise steam for space and process heating could significantly reduce this as biomass fuels have far lower net carbon emissions than the fossil fuels from which the majority of the UK's heat is produced.
The documents on this page give guidance on the technology, help you assess the potential for biomass heating on your site, and offer advice on procurement, installation and operation of biomass heating systems:
Tools, guidance and case studies were produced through the Carbon Trust Biomass Heat Accelerator project in 2012 and were correct at the time of publication.
Initial assessment tool (XLS): This tool allows you to make an initial economic assessment of a proposed biomass plant based on site information
Decision support tool: This design tool helps you to assess the optimum size of biomass boiler and heat storage and the control strategy for a proposed biomass system
Fuel supply map woodfueldirectory.org, a searchable database of biomass fuel suppliers
Biomass heating - A practical guide for potential users (CTG012): overview guide for potential users of biomass heating equipment covering details of the technology, fuel and plant operation. It also covers procurement and operation from initial feasibility through to full commissioning, and key steps and considerations in the biomass implementation process
Contracting guide (CTG073) gives guidance on contracts for biomass installations
Fuel procurement guide (CTG074) provides advice on setting up a biomass fuel supply
Health and safety guide published by the Combustion Engineering Association.
Overview of the Biomass Heat Accelerator (CTC809) 2012 report summarises findings and outputs from the BHA
The 2005 Biomass sector review (CTC512) identified the significant contribution that solid fuel biomass heating could make to the UK's low carbon heating targets
Template documents to help guide the development of your biomass heating system. These resources have been prepared with input from some of the UK's leading experts in biomass heating technology. They are provided for general guidance purposes only. The Carbon Trust recommends, and these resources assume, that prospective users will take advice on their specific needs and circumstances from professionals in the field, including not only technical consultants and installers, but legal, planning and others as required.
Template request for proposal (RFP) sheets (PDF)
Guidance to help ensure that site developers request appropriate information from prospective installers/suppliers
Template contract for Supply of Biomass Fuel (DOC)
Guidance Notes for Biomass Supply (PDF)
Template contract for Supply of Heat Energy (DOC)
Guidance Notes for Supply of Heat (PDF)
Template Operation and Maintenance Agreement (DOC)
Guidance Notes for Operation and Maintenance Agreement (PDF)
Template Services Agreement (DOC)
Guidance Notes for Services Agreement (PDF)
*Contracts - legal disclaimer
For the avoidance of doubt, these documents are in a non-binding, recommended form. Their intention is to be used as a starting point for negotiation only. Individual parties are free to depart from their terms and should always satisfy themselves of the regulatory and commercial implications of their use. If any user has concerns or queries about the form of this document we recommend that the user seek independent legal advice. The Carbon Trust accepts no liability for any loss, direct or otherwise, arising from the use of all or any part of these documents.
We also offer:
See our services to find out how we can help your organisation cut energy costs and gain a competitive edge in a challenging economic climate.


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Challenge your team's creativity, project management and teamwork skills in designing and building a cascading series of lifesize actions from recycled materials.
Big actions – big impact!
Team dynamics and human resource management are put to the test in the planning phase as the design is divided into small segments, requiring both human and physical resources to be divided into smaller working groups. The build and testing phases require co-ordination not only between teams, but between distinct technical skills and project management strategies as the teams face their ultimate challenge – does each component function and does it connect with the next to create a cascading series of cause and effect?
Once completed the first team sets off their Chain Reaction, which in turn triggers the next team's creation, and so on until a giant Chain Reaction has been completed around the room.
You can choose to add a competitive element where teams are awarded points based on innovation and function resulting in a winning team.
A highlight video of your Chain Reaction can be viewed with colleagues, friends and family as a reminder of the event enjoyment and collaborative company success.
Learning and development outcomes
Chain Reaction is fast becoming the ultimate team building event requiring proficient project management skills to design and build an intricate sequence of reactions. These ultimately lead to an exciting finale where all the creations are joined together to achieve a spectacular common goal.
Use this challenging team building activity to develop excellent teamwork and project management skills while stimulating creativity and innovation.
Chain Reaction emulates a real life project as teams are constrained by limited time and resources. Drawing on their problem solving, creativity and communication skills teams must work together effectively in the design phase to create a realistic scope. Will ambition overtake ability?
Love this event? Limited on time and space – check out Chain Reaction – Table Top!


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|not drawn by friend's kid but it fits
A friend reports that his four-year-old son recently drew a picture of T. Rex who is saying, "Hey, ixyouws me!" (Hey excuse me).
You parents out there experience this stuff all the time, but this tickles me pink.
Another reader sent a link to a stellar story by Tim Gautreaux in The Atlantic: "Attitude Adjustment."
It also has kids in it.


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Frozen Head State Park
Frozen Head State Park and Natural Area encompasses more than 24,000 acres of wilderness area and is named for a 3,324-foot peak in the Cumberland Mountains, the top of which is often shrouded in ice or snow in the winter months. The impressive entrance leads visitors into a vestige of densely forested, unspoiled mountain splendor — once common throughout the Cumberland Plateau.
In 2006, the park replaced the aging CCC fire tower at the summit of Frozen Head with an observation deck. There is scenic seven-mile trail leading to the observation deck. The observation deck rises just above the treeline and allows for a 360-degree view of the surrounding terrain. The Great Smoky Mountains and the Tennessee Valley span the eastern horizon. Walden Ridge— where the Tennessee Valley meets the Cumberland Plateau— is visible to the south.
Fifty miles of backpacking and day-hiking trails provide wildlife viewing opportunity. Many of the trailheads are located near the park office, with lesser-used trailheads located at Armes Gap and just off Highway 62 to the south. Most of the trails are open only to hiking, although mountain biking is allowed on the Lookout Tower Trail, which leads to the summit of Frozen Head.
There are 20 primitive tent campsites within the park.
For more information, please contact the park directly at 423-346-3318.