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Global warming talk heats up, revisits carbon tax
WASHINGTON (AP) — Climate change is suddenly a hot topic again. The issue is resurfacing in talks about a once radical idea: a possible carbon tax.
On Tuesday, a conservative think tank held discussions about it while a more liberal think tank released a paper on it. And the Congressional Budget Office issued a 19-page report on the different ways to make a carbon tax less burdensome on lower income people.
A carbon tax works by making people pay more for using fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gas that produce heat-trapping carbon dioxide.
The idea was considered so radical that in 2009, when President Barack Obama tried to pass a bill on global warming, that he instead opted for the more moderate approach of capping power plant emissions and trading credits that allowed utilities to pollute more. That idea, after passing the House, stalled in the Senate in 2010 and has been considered dead since.
Even so, the Obama administration has no plans to push for a carbon tax now, said a White House official who spoke on condition of anonymity because there are no discussions about the issue.
The whole issue of climate change was virtually absent during the presidential campaign until Hurricane Sandy hit the East Coast. The devastating superstorm — a rarity for the Northeast — and an election that led to Democratic gains have shoved global warming back into the conversation. So has the hunt for answers to a looming budget crisis.
So the carbon tax idea has been revived by some on both the right and left and is suddenly appearing in newspaper and magazine opinion pieces and in quiet discussions.
"I think the impossible may be moving to the inevitable without ever passing through the probable," said former Rep. Bob Inglis. The South Carolina Republican lost his seat in 2010 in a primary fight, partly because he acknowledged that global warming exists and needs to be dealt with. Now he heads a new group that advocates a carbon tax and the idea is endorsed by former Ronald Reagan economic adviser Arthur Laffer.
The right-leaning American Enterprise Institute held an all-day discussion of it Tuesday. At the same time, the more liberal Brookings Institution released a "modest carbon tax" proposal that would raise $150 billion a year, with $30 billion annually earmarked for clean energy investments. Brookings senior policy fellow Mark Muro called it a "perfect storm" of science and politics.
The conservative Competitive Enterprise Institute is so concerned about a carbon tax that on Tuesday it filed a lawsuit seeking access to Treasury Department emails discussing the idea.
There's no question a carbon tax would stir huge opposition. A tax of $20 per ton of carbon dioxide emissions would add up to 9 to 10 percent to the price of gasoline and electric power, said Muro of Brookings.
Experts on all sides of the issue have watched climate proposals fail in the past. Congress is still split and many in the Republican party deny the existence of man-made climate change, despite what scientists say. Congress also on Tuesday blocked the European Union from imposing a tax on American airliners flying to the continent as part of an effort to reduce greenhouse gases.
Energy industry lobbyist Scott Segal said many utilities will fight a carbon tax. "The conditions are far from ripe for a carbon tax, if for no other reason than a carbon tax is a tax on economic growth."
But environmental advocates are seizing the moment, determined not to let the interest in climate change subside with the floodwaters.
On Wednesday, former Vice President Al Gore launches a 24-hour online talkfest about global warming and disasters. Another group, 350.org, headed by environmental advocate and author Bill McKibben, is in the midst of a 21-city bus tour.
Gore compared the link between extreme weather and "dirty energy" from coal, oil and natural gas to the links between cigarette smoking and lung cancer or the use of steroids and home runs in baseball.
"Mother Nature is speaking very loudly and clearly," Gore said in a phone interview from San Francisco. "The laws of physics do apply and when we put 90 million tons of global warming pollution into the atmosphere every day, it traps a lot of heat."
Climate change worries have had a high profile in New York, post-hurricane. Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who had not planned to endorse a presidential candidate, changed his mind after Sandy struck, throwing his support to Obama and citing climate change as an issue.
On Monday, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo in a news conference said he had seen extreme weather with Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee in 2011 and now Sandy: "I get it, I've seen this movie three times."
"Climate change is real, it's here, it's going to happen again," he said. "What do we do about it and how do we harden our systems, how do we make sure this doesn't happen with the fuel system again? How do we make sure it doesn't happen with the cellphone system? Wanna talk about chaos!"
Gore said he's been pushing a carbon tax for decades. But his idea is not to use the money to lower the deficit, but to reduce payroll taxes in a revenue-neutral way.
"We should tax what we burn, not what we earn," he said.
Princeton University climate and political scientist Michael Oppenheimer likes the attention the issue has suddenly gotten, but isn't optimistic that a solution will be struck.
"Given the paralysis in U.S. politics, I really wonder if we're up to the challenge," Oppenheimer said. "And regrettably, it might take more than one Sandy to get people awake."
Associated Press writers Deepti Hajela in New York and Jim Abrams in Washington contributed to this report.
The Brookings Institution's proposal for a carbon tax: http://bit.ly/QELU5s
The American Enterprise Institute on the economics of carbon taxes:
Bob Inglis' Energy and Enterprise Initiative: http://energyandenterprise.com/
Al Gore's Climate Reality Project: http://climaterealityproject.org/
The Congressional Budget Office report: http://1.usa.gov/SKrvrq
Seth Borenstein can be followed at http://twitter.com/borenbears


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Columns Retired Columns & Blogs |
Snobs, Slobs, & Marley's Ghost
As often as not, it ain't the heat—it's the stupidity. When confronted by the smattering of self-referential dilettantes, acrimonious Internut wannabes, and obsessive-compulsive types who suck the air out of our aural fun-house, I find myself overcome with the desire to program my phaser for CLIP.
Snobs and slobs, I calls 'em, O'Boyle. The snobs patronize you with the notion that spending a lot of money is the only way to achieve audio nirvana, and make little effort to hide their contempt for your slobbish blue-collar gear. The slobs, being of a reactionary, pseudo-populist bent, assert that it's all a fraud perpetrated by a cabal of esoteric snobs (see above) who intrigue to bewitch, beguile, and befuddle you with balderdash about how "they" can discern audible differences between amplifiers and speaker cables—and then proceed to brag about testing high-resolution gear with lamp cord as if it were a badge of honor.
I can't begin to divine what the agendas of such self-referential poseurs really are. But as a lifelong audio enthusiast, I find the peripheral sniping and dogmatic posturing of some high-end types to be unsettling in the extreme. Such is hardly the impression to leave with potential consumers, starved as they are for good, affordable hardware and software, because it makes it that much harder for us to preach outside of the immediate congregation. Or so it feels when trying to spread the good word about high-resolution audio. Rarely are we given a second chance.
Which calls to mind a disturbing scene from the classic 1951 film noir version of Dickens' A Christmas Carol, featuring Alastair Sim. Marley's Ghost beckons Scrooge to stand beside him before an open window, the night aglow with spectral menace. Scrooge is horrified to see all manner of spirits wailing helplessly about the figure of a homeless woman and child.
"Why do they lament?" Scrooge asks.
"Because they have lost their power to act for good in human affairs," Marley's Ghost replies with tremulous foreboding.
As an audio enthusiast, there is nothing more satisfying to me than to see that glint of recognition and enthusiasm well up inside a neophyte as she or he realizes the profound pleasures of real audio: that it can be every bit as satisfying an investment as a new Lexus or Rolex, yet needn't cost a fortune; and that the love of good music and the allure of high-resolution, high-value aural reproduction aren't antithetical pursuits.
High-resolution audio is fun, whether you're enjoying the solitary glow of a late-night Chopin recital or firing up some James Brown for a gathering of friends. Good sound—like good music, good wine, and good fellowship—is meant to be shared.
So why is it that, instead of sharing pertinent information with consumers looking to explore system synergy, we often end up debating how many angels can dance on the head of a pin. We end up debating the agony instead of promulgating the ecstasy, and in so doing squander an opportunity to reach out to new-minted MP3 devotees with lifelines to even better audio experiences. In the process, we marginalize our joyous little aural nook.
Which is why, inevitably, when a major media piece comes to the fore, the message is so muddled. In a recent New York Times "think piece," a vainglorious audiophile spoke in high-hat terms about his $11,000 speaker cables, while an outraged engineer portrayed "perceived differences" as so much snake oil. There was no discussion of system synergy, such as mating a warm preamp to analytical speakers (or vice versa) to achieve a well-balanced musical presentation; of the interactions of speaker cables with other tweaks and components when voicing a system; of the relationship of room anomalies to speaker performance; of how the thoughtful matching of components can be more telling than simply throwing a lot of money around.
All a neophyte would gather from this screed was a vague sense of excess and indulgence, rather than a clear sense of how you get what you pay for, and how to make the compromises work for you. This from a newspaper bursting with ads selling and articles about the priciest real estate and cost-no-object cars, furnishings, watches, wines, kitchenware, food, clothing, and sundry knickknacks.
Turning for succor to the earthly remains of the late Audio magazine, I recoiled in horror as an ill-informed, self-inflated critic was allowed to revel in the sound of his own voice while acting as an unwitting hit man, bashing away at an unsuspecting manufacturer's new solid-state integrated amplifier because it didn't sound as bright and edgy as the department-store model he'd been listening to for the past 15 years. Perhaps the assigning Pooh-Bah thought that publishing such a hard-hitting "negative" review would build credibility among the readership for "editorial integrity."
Which begs the question: Why create paper tigers when there are opportunities aplenty to focus anew on the pleasures of immersion in good sound? Why convey to potential devotees a muddled message that implies that this is some sort of exclusive club for the privileged few?
Let's minimize the posturing and concentrate on being inclusionary by sharing the joys of high-resolution audio. We professional listeners aren't all that different from first-time buyers, save that we get to enjoy extended conjugal visits with all of these way-cool toys. Ultimately, we're panning for gold, just like you—washing tons of sand through our shallow pans in the hope of discovering some nuggets of hi-rez, high-value gear we can wax enthusiastic about and accord a place of honor in our listening shrine.
Music is a healing force; we need to keep elevating the level of discourse lest we risk turning off the very people we should be working to attract.

subset: commoncrawl


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- Which psychology courses to do I have to take at a specific time (and when)?
- Is it true that some courses count both for my major and general education requirements?
- What if I fail or withdraw from a required course?
- Is it OK to take a required course as pass/fail?
- What is the best way to get into a course that is closed?
- How many credit hours do I need to graduate?
- Can I change advisors? How can I do so?
- Do I have to come for an advising appointment? Why?
- Do I need to complete general education requirements if I have an Associate's Degree (AA)?
- Which courses require professor approval prior to scheduling?
- Can I take Psychology courses at another university and apply them to my Willamette University Psychology Major?
- If I am planning on studying abroad, what Psychology classes should I take in residence at Willamette and when should I plan to study abroad?
- Do I need a minor?
- What discipline should I have as a minor?
- How many times can one retake a class?
- Can I get a job with a bachelor's degree in psychology?
- Where can I get information about graduate school in psychology?
- Where can I get help in choosing a career within the field of Psychology?
- How can I get research experience in psychology?
1. Which psychology courses to do I have to take at a specific time (and when)?
Aside from the prerequisites for some courses, there are a few courses that are taken by a psych major at set times. Below is a list:
- PSYC 300 Orientation to Major Program Internship (taken during the spring of your junior year)
- PSYC 498 Senior Internship in Psychology (taken during the fall of your senior year)
2. Is it true that some courses count both for my major and general education requirements?
Some courses do, but most do not. For example, the Psychology Department requires that your Natural Science Mode of Inquiry general education course be taken outside of Psychology. However, Psyc 252W, Research Methods and Analysis I is required for the major but also counts as a Writing-Centered course and a QA course. Psyc 253, Research Methods and Analysis II, completes the QA requirement.
3. What if I fail or withdraw from a required course?
You will need to retake the course.
4. Is it OK to take a required course as pass/fail?
It is permitted, but not recommended, particularly if you're considering going on to graduate school. Some graduate schools count a "pass" as a "C" in when calculating GPAs. Also, many people report lower motivation when taking a course pass/fail, which makes it less likely that you will pass the course.
5. What is the best way to get into a course that is closed?
First, it is good to get on the waiting list. Once classes start, don't assume, however, that you are next in line because the wait list is set up for online registration. The most important thing is to attend the first day of the class. The instructor can advise you on the likelihood of enrollment, and many give priority to those who attend the first day.
6. How many credit hours do I need to graduate?
Willamette University requires 31 credits for graduation, with no more than 10 credits received in a single department (internship credits are exempted from this limitation).
Our major is structured to require 9.25 credits in Psychology, including the major internship courses which together count as the senior year experience, plus one lab-based science course.
7. Can I change advisors? How can I do so?
Absolutely! When you've identified and talked with a faculty member willing to serve as your new advisor, complete the form available from the Registrar's office. Before selecting an advisor, you need to speak with that professor and be sure that he/she is able to take on new advisees. In some cases, the Psychology Department may need to transfer advisees from one advisor to another in order to best serve all students. Whenever possible, we will do our best to match student interests to those of the advisor.
8. Do I have to come for an advising appointment? Why?
Faculty members in other departments can give you permission to register, but we recommend that you meet with a Psychology Department faculty member to make sure that you are on track with the major requirements. We can also help you in graduate school or career planning.
9. Do I need to complete general education requirements if I have an Associate's Degree (AA)?
The Registrar's office makes decisions about what courses may be transferred for credit, including general education requirements.
10. Which courses require professor approval prior to scheduling?
If you have not had a designated prerequisite, you will need instructor approval.
11. Can I take Psychology courses at another university and apply them to my Willamette University Psychology Major?
Yes, but you need to get these courses approved before you take them to be sure you can get credit, and they need to be comparable to a course offered in the Psychology Department at WU. There is a limit of two courses that can be applied to your psychology major from other universities or colleges. In order to secure approval, submit a syllabus or detailed course description to your advisor BEFORE taking the course. Approval after the fact is not guaranteed.
12. If I am planning on studying abroad, what Psychology classes should I take in residence at Willamette and when should I plan to study abroad?
You should try to schedule your study abroad program for the fall of your junior year - that will enable you to complete Psych 300 in the spring of your junior year. This course is important for planning your senior year experience. You should also be sure to complete the Research Methods and Analysis sequence (Psych 252 and 253) while at Willamette. Following pre-approval from the Department, you may take one or two psychology courses while abroad. Note that the Department will not necessarily grant approval retroactively. The courses must be approved prior to be sure of credit. Approval after the fact is not guaranteed.
13. Do I need a minor?
Not necessarily, although many students find another area interesting enough to follow it through to a minor.
14. What discipline should I have as a minor?
Many disciplines complement Psychology well! Your best bet is to put some thought into what areas you might be interested in and chat with your academic advisor.
15. How many times can one retake a class?
Students can retake a class once without petition, but to take the class again the student must petition the Psychology faculty. It is rare that the Psychology Department supports a student's petition to retake a class for a second time, and this occurs only in exceptional circumstances.
16. Can I get a job with a bachelor's degree in psychology?
Yes, an undergraduate degree in psychology is very valuable and can lead you to careers in all sorts of areas. From public relations to social work to correction to journalism, psychology students find interesting careers in which their education is valued. The following website can help you explore career possibilities in psychology-related fields.
Another useful resource on using your psychology major is the following book that is available for perusal in the Psych Dept. Office (Smullin 220): Landrum, R. E., & Davis, S. F. (2004). The psychology major: Career options and strategies for success. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.
17. Where can I get information about graduate school in psychology?
Many careers directly in the field of psychology (e.g., clinical psychologist, school psychologist, social psychologist, experimental psychologist, industrial/organizational psychologist, biopsychologist) require graduate training. The American Psychology Association publishes a book titled, Graduate Study in Psychology, every year that lists detailed information about all the graduate programs (both Ph.D. and master's) in psychology across the country and can be searched by area of study, state, and other important criterion. There is a copy of this book in the Psychology Department office (Smullin 220) as well as in the Hatfield Library. The following websites can also help you explore graduate school possibilities as well.
Of course, you can also talk to any faculty member in the Psychology Dept. about graduate school. They have all been there at some point and have a lot of information!
18. Where can I get help in choosing a career within the field of Psychology?
Any of the Psychology faculty can help you with this. You might also want to speak with Nancy Norton in Career Services as she can point you to many valuable and interesting tools that can help you explore your interests, aptitudes, and the job market for many careers.
19. How can I get research experience in psychology?
Research experience is fun and valuable regardless of what kind of career you choose, although it is particularly important if you are interested in graduate school in psychology. Research opportunities can be obtained in many ways. The easiest way to find opportunities is to just approach a professor in the Psychology Department and ask about the possibilities. Here are some specific ways a student can obtain research experience.
Participate in Ongoing Research
Some professors have ongoing research and research lab meetings that anyone can participate in. You can get valuable experience talking about, thinking about, and doing research this way.
Independent Study
You can work with a professor on a new or ongoing project. The amount of credit you receive will be directly related to how much responsibility you assume for the project. This can range from running sessions and entering data to designing a study and analyzing the results. Students can participate in a research-related independent study at any time, but we strongly encourage the completion of our Research Methods and Analysis sequence first.
Research Assistant
There are times when Psychology Professors are working on their own research projects and can employ students as research assistants. These are paid work study positions. Although students are usually not as likely to be involved in the design of the research project, research assistants often gain valuable experience in data collection. Students are typically approached by specific faculty when research assistant opportunities arise, but it never hurts to ask!
Senior Experience
As part of our Senior Internship program, students have the choice to complete a research internship. This opportunity requires the student to conduct original research. Students must be seniors to complete a research internship.
Awards available to support student research
There are many opportunities for grants and awards that can support student scholarship. These programs require planning to apply, but many psychology majors have benefited from these opportunities.
WU Grants
Carson Grants, Lily Grants, & the Presidential Scholar Program are awards that can fund research that ranges from a summer project to a year-long senior project. Information on these are available from Student Academic Grants and Awards.
National Summer Programs
The APA Summer Science Institute is a 9-day-long summer research experience in psychological science that takes place at a different university each year.[http://www.apa.org/science/ssi.html]. The National Science Foundation has a summer program called "Research Experiences for Undergraduates" in which you spend several weeks collaborating with psychology faculty and graduate students at major research universities.


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In the earlier part of this century, New Jersey had a large problem with rabies in dogs. In 1939, the worst year for dog rabies, 675 dogs and four humans died of rabies. In 1942, a rabies program consisting of mass vaccination of dogs, and pick-up of stray animals was initiated. As a result of these efforts, New Jersey experienced its last case of canine rabies in 1956. In 1960, the first case of rabies in bats was detected in New Jersey. Presently, 2% to 5% of all New Jersey bats submitted to the state laboratory for testing are positive for rabies.
In 1997, a New Jersey man was diagnosed with rabies. He had removed bats from his house and may have been bitten by a bat in the process. This was the first human case of rabies since 1971, when a man was bitten by a bat and received partial treatment with the previously used rabies vaccine. The current vaccine, unlike the previous vaccine, has never failed when administered properly.
New Jersey is facing another challenge from rabies. Raccoon rabies has spread throughout the state.
In 1977, rabid raccoons were first detected in West Virginia. It is believed that rabies was present in raccoons imported from Florida into West Virginia by hunters in the 1970s. The disease then spread to other raccoons after they were released. Once raccoon rabies was established in West Virginia and Virginia, it spread at a rate of approximately 25 to 50 miles per year into Maryland, Washington, D.C., Delaware, and Pennsylvania. This rabies epizootic spread into New Jersey through Warren and Hunterdon counties in October 1989. The raccoon rabies epizootic now extends throughout New England and as far west as Ohio, and south into North Carolina. Note: an epizootic is a term used to denote an epidemic of the disease in an animal population).
All areas of the State of New Jersey, including urban centers, have been affected by this rabies outbreak. Suburban areas in which raccoons, people and pets are in close proximity have had the highest number of cases.
Wild animals, particularly raccoons, foxes, skunks, groundhogs and bats, are most likely to be infected with rabies. Although raccoons are the most frequently infected animals in the current rabies outbreak, other animals are often bitten and infected by raccoons. Wild animals with rabies do not always display signs of illness and can be perfectly healthy in appearance. Avoid all contact with bats, particularly sick or downed ones. All bites and scratches from these animals should be washed out immediately and receive prompt medical attention. If possible, wild animals that have been exposed to humans or domestic animals should be captured and tested for rabies.
Make sure that all garbage is stored in animal-resistant containers, as raccoons and other wild animals love to feast on your leftovers. Do not leave leftover pet food outdoors as it will attract raccoons. Make sure outbuildings are secure from invasion by raccoons and skunks looking for a cozy place to stay. Chimneys should be capped, as raccoons like to den in chimneys.
Steps should be taken to exclude bats from houses and other structures by sealing the openings they use. This should be done during the winter (November-March) when bats have left for hibernation. The entry points are often near the roof edge such as under the eaves, soffits, and bands around the chimney. A variety of materials can be used to seal openings including 1/4 inch hardware cloth, fly screening, sheet metal, wood caulking, expandable polyurethane, or fiberglass insulation.
Yes, unvaccinated domestic animals can contract rabies from wild animals and transmit the infection to humans. There are safe and effective vaccines to protect dogs, cats, horses, cattle, and sheep against rabies. You can get your pet vaccinated at a private veterinarian's office or at a municipal-sponsored rabies clinic (call your municipal clerk to ask about rabies clinics held in your area). Unvaccinated pets or livestock that has had contact with a known or suspects rabid animal must be euthanized to avoid the risk of coming down with rabies, or placed in strict isolation from humans and other animals for a period of six months until it is certain that the animal is free of rabies.
Raccoons are very good at spreading rabies. When rabid raccoons enter an area, many other types of animals acquire rabies from raccoons. From 1989 through 2000, over 4,300 New Jersey animals were found to have rabies as a result of the raccoon rabies epizootic. Although 77% of these animals were raccoons, 14% were skunks, 4% were cats, 2% were foxes, and 2% were groundhogs. Twelve other species of animals were also diagnosed with rabies.
An oral rabies vaccine for raccoons in a fish-flavored bait, called V-RG, has been tested in southern New Jersey and shown to be effective. This vaccine has recently been approved for general use by the United States Department of Agriculture and could be used by municipalities to reduce or control the spread of rabies in raccoon populations. However, state review and approval is needed to purchase this vaccine and its use would not replace traditional rabies control measures, such as domestic animal vaccination and animal control activities.
If a dog or cat bites a human, the animal must be observed for ten days to see if symptoms of rabies develop. This is necessary even if it has been vaccinated, as very rarely, vaccination fails to protect an animal and it develops rabies disease. At the longest, a dog or cat can have rabies virus in its saliva for only 2-3 days before it develops rabies symptoms. Therefore we know that if a dog or cat remains healthy for at least 10 days after it bites someone, it could not have had the rabies virus in its saliva at the time of the bite. If an animal does not have virus in its saliva, it cannot transmit the disease through a bite.
Yes - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has been conducting studies on the viral shedding period of ferrets infected with different strains of rabies virus. Results of these studies have shown that the viral shedding time for ferrets is very short, similar to that of dogs and cats. In light of this data, the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services recommends that a 10-day observation period be utilized in the event a ferret bites a person. However, because of their propensity to bite, the Department discourages the keeping of ferrets as pets in households with small children. There are several well documented reports of ferrets attacking and severely biting infants. Anyone owning a ferret should take extra precautions to ensure that the animal does not bite anyone.
Squirrels, mice, and other small rodents have only very rarely been found to have rabies, and have never been known to transmit rabies to humans or other animals. In general, postexposure treatment is not recommended after a bite from one of these animals unless it is unusually vicious or appears obviously ill. Groundhogs are the only rodents that are likely to be infected with rabies virus in areas where raccoons are commonly found to be rabid.
Blood testing of suspect rabid animals is not a reliable method of diagnosis for rabies. The only sure method for determining if an animal has rabies is to remove a piece of its brain and look for the presence of the rabies virus under the microscope with a special fluorescent antibody test technique.
Rabies virus infection most commonly occurs when a rabid animal bites an individual. Rabies can also occur when infected saliva from a rabid animal contaminates an open wound (one which was bleeding within the past 24 hours), a scratch or skin abrasion, or a mucous membrane.
In addition to saliva and the salivary glands, tissues and fluid of the central nervous system (i.e., brain and spinal cord) contain high amounts of the virus. Virus is rarely found in other body organs and fluids.People cannot get rabies by just petting an animal or even by getting saliva contaminated with rabies virus onto their intact skin. In order for them to get rabies, the virus must come in contact with a recent wound or break in the skin or the virus must get onto their mucous membranes (such as into the eye or mouth). However, any physical contact with a bat is considered a possible exposure to the rabies virus and should be carefully evaluated for post-exposure rabies treatment. Bats have such tiny teeth that a bite may go undetected.
4. Coma - 0-14 days
5. Death, or extremely rarely, recover
There is no known effective treatment for rabies once symptoms develop. Rabies can be prevented if rabies immunoglobulin and vaccine are given shortly after exposure to the virus. This is called rabies post-exposure treatment.
Rabies post-exposure treatment is no longer the painful process that it used to be. The current vaccines are much safer and more effective than the previously used vaccine. Postexposure treatment begins with a dose of rabies immune globulin administered partially around the wound, if possible, and partially in the gluteal region. This is followed by a series of 5 vaccinations given over 28 days. This vaccine has been extensively used for over fifteen years with very few significant side effects. The vaccine is given in the upper arm, instead of the stomach.
The chances of getting rabies depends upon the type of exposure (such as bite) and where on your body the exposure occurred. In general, penetrating bite wounds to areas of the body with a rich nerve supply is the highest risk. Studies have shown that not all bites from rabid animals result in infection with the rabies virus. However, since there is no treatment for this disease once symptoms begin, it is recommended that all persons exposed to a known or suspected rabid animal should receive rabies post-exposure treatment. Immediately washing the exposed area with water and soap is also an important factor in helping to prevent infection.


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This article is more than 1 year old
Emulex gets feeble IBM backslap
Not certification, not OEM deal
Emulex has announced a cross-licensing deal with IBM that it says should accelerate joint IBM-Emulex customers' integration of its converged network adapters with IBM servers. This somewhat half-hearted endorsement is neither IBM certification nor an OEM or reseller deal.
In contrast IBM is using QLogic 8100 CNAs in some of its rack and tower servers.
IBM's supporting quote for Emulex is less helpful than the one it issued for QLogic.
Doug Balog, VP for modular development at IBM Systems and Technology Group, said in the statement: "The agreement underscores IBM's commitment to innovation with ecosystem partners and is consistent with our drive towards industry interoperability to provide clients the ultimate choice."
Alex Yost, another VP at IBM's Systems and Technology Group, enthused about IBM shipping the QLogic CNA: "The QLogic 8100 Series CNAs complement the new generation technology by offloading all FCoE protocol processing to the adapter, freeing up CPU cycles for even faster application performance and increased server Virtual Machine (VM) support.
"With this generation of no-compromise IBM BladeCenter servers, customers can benefit from highly virtualized systems with record levels of performance and scalability and more flexible provisioning of enterprise resources through a single 10GbE network."
Stifel Nicolaus analyst Aaron Rakers says that Emulex has 14 CNA design wins. However, only four of these are for FCoE. The point is that Emulex's silicon used for FCoE separately delivers 10Gbit/E and iSCSI as well as FCoE. The actual design wins are six for 10Gbit/E NICs, four for 10Gbit/E iSCSI, and four for FCoE.
The chip has what Emulex calls vEngine (virtual engine) technology and software keys ramps it up from 10Gbit/E to iSCSI or FCoE functionality. Emulex hopes server vendors will sell this key idea for incremental upgrade revenue.
A Rakers research note says Emulex "focuses on avoiding the 1:1 FC HBA to FCoE CNA replacement paradigm with incremental opportunities in 10GbE NICs and iSCSI CNAs... today's typical I/O deployment consists of four redundant 1Gb IP ports for NAS and LAN traffic, potentially four iSCSI storage ports, and four redundant FC ports for SAN connectivity.
"This means that (today) Emulex only addresses two slots (four ports; dual-channel HBAs) currently. (But) With its CNA strategy, the company believes it can address all of those slot opportunities under the paradigm shift associated with 10Gbit/E I/O deployments."
Emulex reckons it will get a boost in interface card shipments as customers upgrade to 4-core and 8-core Nehalem EX servers, starting later this year or early next.
It claims it has the only full server hardware offload technology in its chip. All this, together with the software key upgrade feature, means that the lack of specific FCoE design wins should not be taken as a negative.
Rakers suggests by implication that it would also make sense for Emulex to acquire Server Engines, its independent supplier of 10Gbit/E technology, as a way of securing supply and improving margins. He points out that QLogic has bought NetXen, a 10Gbit/E technology supplier.
Emulex has apparently won a 16Gbit/s Fibre Channel HBA design win.
It is a shame for Emulex that IBM has not embraced its CNA technology more enthusiastically. Given that IBM uses QLogic CNA technology and that NetApp is selling both Brocade and QLogic CNA products, Emulex begins to appear as something of a wallflower at the FCOE server and CNA supplier party. ®


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Tired of giving all your money away to large corporations that have little connection to your community? There is a very simple way to ensure that your local dollars stay local: By shopping at local businesses.
Several community economic studies show that for every $100 spent at a small, local business, $60-$70 stays within the community as those dollars go towards local payroll, local business support services, local charities and local taxes.
That same $100 at a large chain store? Only about $15-43 stays within the local community. Buying online at a big out-of-state web company? Virtually none of that money stays in Denver.
Just as there is an effort take money out of the big banks and depositing it in local banks and credit unions, there is an effort to support local businesses over the the corporate retail and online behemoths like Wal-Mart and Amazon. It's those small businesses that are in many ways the fabric of our community. They provide our neighborhoods with character and contribute their money locally. And even if you're purchasing items for out-of-town friends and family, many businesses have shipping services.
We here at Capitol Hill Books have provided hundreds of dollars over the years to local non-profit organizations from the money generated by our red carts, as well as contributing books and other items to various charities and events.
And it's not just our store that survives because from our loyal, local customers. There are numerous small businesses all over the Denver area that rely on community support. So be sure to check out the 3/50 Project and Mile High Business Alliance web sites for more information about supporting the local businesses you cherish.


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Frustrating, that's what it is. I started covering Foster Friess — albeit unknowingly — in 2007. So, to see that our postmeridian and matutinal media mavens, our profound political pundits, our fulminating famous frothy photonic philologists haven't even gotten to square one … well, it's frustrating oh YOUR behalf.
fake cowboys are nothing new in American popular culture
… that Friess' $3 million dollar baby, The Daily Caller is on a media jihad to destroy MediaMatters, just as they have engaged in several other media "hits" — a vile practice that generally dates back to Karl Rove and the Blogosmear taking out Dan Rather over "proportional spacing" — but no media outlet bothers connecting the dots.
There was a purpose to hypertexting the more obscure words above: it is obvious that the news community will need to be spoon-fed, so I'll spell out the terms for you in instances so clear that even the New York Post* can get it. (Nothing I can do, however, to render it in the Post's obviously preferred submission format, crayon on Big Chief paper tablet. Sorry.)
[*Ha ha, just kidding. The New York Post would never DARE run this story. Oligarchy Über Alles, and all that, old sport.]
Hell, Lawrence O'Donnell even put up Friess' stock-broker-in-cowboy-drag picture from his self-fantasized image of himself as a "cowboy" on his 'personal' website.
Yeah, when you've got maybe $250 million (maybe more or less, since it's all in stock with Friess Associates, which his son now runs), you can buy yourself a spread in the Grand Tetons (French for "Big Tits") near Jackson Hole, Wy0ming, the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar and the antler arches in the Jackson town square.
2010 header on his web site
And you can hold 70th Birthday Parties like you were Jay Gatsby, handing out $70,000 checks to your guests' favorite charities as party favors, and then wallow in the praise, claiming that "Jesus Christ is my CEO" (although his CEO seems to have never told Mr. Tom Gene Mix Autry Rodgers about Matthew 6:2). Oh, and you can pay two bloggers to run your personal blog "The Campfire" full-time.
If you don't at least suspect that Foster's fake mea culpa this morning* was ghost-written by one of his amanuenses, you aren't thinking critically. Fine for a blog reader; deadly for media – whether "new" or traditional.
[* As of 1:42 PM PST, a blank screen appears stating "This Page No Longer Exists." Kind of a shock to the Memeorandum crowd, considering it's the top story right now. SUNDAY: it's back. This was begun on 17 February.]
But let me lay out something that all this "religious freedom" cant is masking: Here's Foster's (probably self-submitted) bio from a board that he once served on (The Templeton Foundation, 2001) [emphasis added]:
Mr. Foster Friess Founder of firm that manages approximately $7 billion in equities including the Brandywine mutual funds. A graduate of the University of Wisconsin in 1958, Foster is past president of the Council for National Policy which networks leaders in the U.S. committed to a strong national defense, traditional values, and the free enterprise system. He also founded the Life Enrichment Foundation whose giving is focused on replicating proven, faith-based, inner-city entrepreneurial ministries.
Now, that leads me to my first "encounter" with Friess:
fake cowboys are often seen on television
Cheney heads to Utah for a private speech on Friday
By Thomas Burr The Salt Lake Tribune
Updated 2:33 PM- WASHINGTON _ Vice President Dick Cheney* will speak to a super-secret,conservative policy group in Utah on Friday during his second trip to the state this year. Cheney will address the fall meeting of the Council for National Policy, a group whose self-described mission is to promote "a free-enterprise system, a strong national defense and support for traditional Western values." The organization — made up of few hundred powerful conservative activists — holds confidential meetings and members are advised not to use the name of the group in communications, according to a New York Times profile of the group….
[* It should be noted that Dick Cheney is Friess' neighbor in the Millionaire Acres clot of the powerful and wealthy around Jackson Hole, as is Cheney's former chief of staff, Neal Patel, who, with his partner, Tucker Carlson, met Friess for lunch and walked away with $3 million in financing for The Daily Caller.]
Mitt Romney was in attendence:
Romney was asked tough questions about why he allowed Massachusetts to pass a law allowing same-sex couples to marry and the state's judges to perform the ceremonies. Romney said that he was bound to abide by the state law but took numerous steps as governor to fight for the traditional family.
as well as the editor of the Deseret News, Salt Lake's second-largest newspaper, wholly-owned by the Mormon Church:
Vice president Dick Cheney won't be the only headliner speaking to a secretive conservative policy conclave this weekend. The editor of the Deseret Morning News, former Republican state chairman Joe Cannon, is also on the marquee at the influential Council for National Policy. Though Cannon is a former lobbyist and brother of Congressman Chris Cannon, his attendance in his new role as a journalist at the meeting closed to news media sends up red flags, ethicists say…
Where's our boy?
And then the Salt Lake Tribune found Foster Friess trying his corn pone "Aw shucks" routine on the Tribunereporter, Robert Gehrke (to whom, kudos):
The Council for National Policy is a shadowy group comprising leaders in the family values, national defense and "decency" movements, dubbed "Sith Lords of the Ultra-Right" by the liberal blog DailyKos. Members are told not to discuss the group, reveal the topics discussed in the closed-door meetings, or even say whether or not they are members of the organization.
"You're not supposed to be here," said a grinning Foster Friess, who was pleasant but steadfast in his unwillingness to talk about the group. An attempted interview with Phyllis Schlafly, founder of the Eagle Forum, was interrupted when a volunteer stepped in front of Schlafly and advised her she didn't have to talk to reporters and guided the conservative matriarch by the arm to her next event…
The decision has also been reported in an unsigned article by WorldNetDaily, a conservative online news service. "Not only was there a consensus among activists to withhold support for the Republican nominee, there was even discussion about supporting the entry of a new candidate to challenge the frontrunners," the article said. According to the Salt Lake Tribune, WorldNetDaily's editor, Joseph Farah, attended the larger CNP gathering.
Joseph Farah, Moderator
Joseph Farah — long-time CNP member — of WorldNetDaily was there and this is what WND reported (without byline) after the CNP meeting (so you can probably guess who either wrote the piece, or phoned it in to WND staff):
Perhaps the most surprising development in the meeting was the floating of an idea to recruit yet another [presidential] candidate to enter the fray. Among the more intriguing names mentioned was billionaire Foster Friess, a major Republican contributor and philanthropist who lives in Jackson, Wyoming.
Limbaugh (l.) celebrates the 1993 release of his book
See, I Told You So, with ghost-writer Joseph Farah (r.)
OK. Let's skip back even further, to this investigative report by Skip Porteous from 2000:
On October 9, 1999, the secretive Council for National Policy (CNP) held its fall meeting in San Antonio, Texas. Governor Bush was invited to address this influential group. This time precautions were taken to see that no information leaked to the press.
Founded in 1981, under the inspiration of the Rev. Tim LaHaye, and funded by some Texas billionaires, the little-known CNP exists as a networking vehicle for right wing leadership. CNP meetings enable members to become acquainted with one another and plan short-term and long-term strategies. Morton Blackwell, CNP's executive director, stated that the rules governing the meetings are designed "to allow open, uninhibited remarks from our speakers" (emphasis added).
These remarks are "off the record and not for circulation…" CNP meetings are, in fact, "closed to the media and the general public," […] Members are issued special badges which are emblazoned with holograms. Uniformed guards posted at the doors carefully scrutinize each person entering the meeting hall.
The organization's "confidential" membership is a virtual Who's Who of the religious and political right wing in the United States. Among the approximately 500 members are: Senator Jesse Helms; Congressmen Dick Armey and Tom Delay; Rich DeVos of Amway; the Rev. Jerry Falwell; Oliver North; Beverly LaHaye; Phyllis Schlafly of the Eagle Forum; the Rev. Donald Wildmon of the American Family Association; James Dobson of Focus on the Family; Gary Bauer, formerly of the Family Research Council, and recent presidential candidate; the Rev. Pat Robertson of the "700 Club" and Christian Coalition; Ralph Reed; and Christian Reconstructionist Rousas John Rushdoony.
Now, the payoff:
CNP Members and Santorum endorsers
(click link for new tab/window and link
NOTE: each line is a SEPARATE link)
* NOTE: I do not know if the Lefevers are related, but it seems too intriguing a coincidence to ignore. CNP has been in business long enough for generational switchover. Also note that Phyllis Schlafly of Eagle Forum is not listed as endorsing, but TWO Eagle Forum state affiliates ARE: Cathie Adams (TX) and Penny Pullen (IL).
Additionally, Tim LeHaye, who FOUNDED CNP endorsed Newt Gingrich in the SAME week, channeling dead CNP member (and his boss when CNP was founded) Jerry Falwell.
And so forth.
Obviously there is NOT a perfect one-to-one correspondence between the signatories and known CNP members … but there doesn't have to be. The incredible number of members across a decade and more IS meaningful, and its implications are crucial to understanding the Friess kerfuffle and the Santorum surge.
Lawrence O'Donnell on MSNBC used this "cowboy fantasy" shot
from Friess' website on his show the other night. This blog used
the same shot in 2010, or two years ago….
There is very little doubt that the whole "anyone but Mitt" conclave involved the CORE leadership of CNP, and Foster Friess is NOT a mere lone wolf "billionaire" here. And, the modus operandi (extreme secrecy, etc.) is the SAME.
He's a spokesman (aspirin between the knees and all) for a sub rosa movement ofttimes called "Dominionism" and to IGNORE this at this point constitutes journalistic malpractice. 'Nuff said.
An extensive database is here, preserving several lists (pre-internet) of FOIA documents that listed CNP membership going back to the 1980s.
At least, Gentle Reader, you may calm the chills that you might feel running up and down your spine with the sure knowledge that you KNOW MORE ABOUT THIS STORY and Foster Friess now than ANY MAJOR NATIONAL MEDIA OUTLET.
And that is some small measure of comfort.
"Cowboy Jesus" who seems to be their
actual object of worship and veneration
You can find out a wealth of additional information by starting here (with an index of articles at the bottom of the page).
A writer, published author, novelist, literary critic and political observer for a quarter of a quarter-century more than a quarter-century, Hart Williams has lived in the American West for his entire life. Having grown up in Wyoming, Kansas and New Mexico, a survivor of Texas and a veteran of Hollywood, Mr. Williams currently lives in Oregon, along with an astonishing amount of pollen. He has a lively blog His Vorpal Sword. This is cross-posted from his blog.
A writer, published author, novelist, literary critic and political observer for a quarter of a quarter-century more than a quarter-century, Hart Williams has lived in the American West for his entire life. Having grown up in Wyoming, Kansas and New Mexico, a survivor of Texas and a veteran of Hollywood, Mr. Williams currently lives in Oregon, along with an astonishing amount of pollen. He has a lively blog, His Vorpal Sword (no spaces) dot com.


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In the latest episode of Sylvia's Mini Maker Show, she's at it again with this classic MiniPOV build and persistence of vision demonstration.
Today we'll be building the awesome MiniPOV kit by Adafruit, available in the Maker Shed. It's your own little persistence of vision display in the palm of your hand. Lets go!
For this build we'll need:
- Mini POV kit
- Soldering iron
- Rosin core solder
- A multimeter (good for checking continuity)
- A USB to serial adapter (if you don't have a serial port on your computer)
- A vice or helper hands (not required, but really handy!)
- Flush wire cutters
The MiniPOV is a great build for beginners because of the low part count and simple assembly. It comes complete build instructions and lots more!
First things first, get yourself a clear workspace with plenty of light, and start soldering in the parts according to the build instructions. Make sure to bend the leads a little after putting it in so that it won't slide out when you flip the board over, and once each component is soldered in, be sure to wear some eye protection and clip those leads as flush as possible.
When it's time to do the serial connector, make sure to put lots of solder on its leads, as the connector sticks out like a handle and these connections are the only thing holding it to the board! Also try to make sure and only connect the serial cable by holding the metal of the connector, not the board itself!
For your little ATTiny chip, its legs are bowed out a bit, so there's a trick to getting it into the socket: first make sure you're free of static charge (touch some grounded metal, computer case, door handle or maybe your little brother or sister) then on a nice flat surface, carefully bend all the pins in a little till they look about parallel. Then match up the notch on the chip to the notch on the socket, and push it in.
For the battery wires, I highly recommend putting a blob of hot glue where they meet the board so they don't break off from moving it around. (This happened to us twice!) Once your wires are in and your batteries are loaded, flip the switch and you should see blinkies!
Now setup the AVR loader software for your operating system according to the guide. Once you've got it up and running, it's time to make something new for the POV to display.
My dad hacked together a cool little web app for making messages or graphics that outputs a binary array you can paste directly into the code. Once you've hacked your 1s and 0s, it's time to compile and upload! This can all be a bit tricky to get right, but once you get the hang of it, you'll be AVR programming like a pro.
When the upload finishes, you can start experimenting! Try attaching your MiniPOV to a bicycle wheel and give it a spin. Maybe try some long exposure photos, moving it around in different fun shapes or patterns while the shutter is open, or attach it to a spinning toy you can twirl around and amaze your friends with!
So, how does this all work anyways? It's easy!
Imagine a single slice of your list of 1s and 0s, made into holes and dots respectively on a strip of paper (which by the way, used to be how binary information was stored!) If you shine a light through it, you can see that the 1s allow the light through, while the 0s remain dark. By then quickly switching to the next slice of the picture over time, we're only missing one last piece of the puzzle. To get the whole picture, all we have to do is move the slice to the next position in space at the right time sequentially, and our brains do the rest of the work by piecing the whole picture together from the afterimages! That's persistence of vision! Aren't brains great?! No wonder zombies are after them!
There's lots more you can do with it as well, like change out the red LEDs for another color like blue, green or red, attach a sensor to switch the scroll direction, or change the firmware and make it into a strobe or anything else you can dream up. because it's a micro controller you can make it do almost anything!
That's it for this episode, remember to experiment with your own designs, respect your soldering iron and get out there and MAKE something!
In the Maker Shed:
MiniPOV kit
8 thoughts on "Super Awesome Sylvia builds the MiniPOV"
great job sylvia!
That was very well made. I could totally see you hosting a kids' science show.
Sylvia, I suggest that you look up Jeri Ellsworth (if you don't already know of her). Her accomplishments are quite inspirational! I think you'll appreciate her work.
Why is it that half the posts now are just glorified advertisements for the Maker Shed?
Comments are closed.
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A colorful collection of local and international talent is flooding into Seldovia for the 14th annual Seldovia Arts Council's Summer Solstice Music Festival, filling the small town with dance, music, workshops, art and performances.
The festivities start today, kicked off with the traditional jam session from featured artists on the M/V Tustumena, departing from Homer to Seldovia at 11:45 a.m.
"We have quite an eclectic mix (of performances and workshops) this year and there is sure to be something for everybody to enjoy," said Susan Mumma, the festival's founder.
Friday and Saturday evening concerts begin at 6:15 p.m. at the Susan B. English School Commons. Performers include Okaidja & Shokoto, a dance and drumming ensemble from Ghana who promote world peace through teaching youth about cultural diversity; Ashu, an internationally awarded saxophonist who first played at age 10, his classical pianist accompaniment Amy Briggs; and a local bluegrass band named Billygoat made up of Jen Warren, Kirby Corwin, Chris Lillo, Jeff Snedgen and Kari Hendrich.
Upon arrival from the musical ferry ride today, festival-goers are invited to a "meet and greet" with artists at the Linwood Bar and Grill at 5 p.m. At 8 p.m. the Open Mic begins at the Susan B. English School Commons and is open to anyone who wants to share a talent.
A Songwriter's Workshop taught by professional songwriters Inna Rivkin, Jon Crocker, Kevin Worrell and Lou Nathanson will be presented from 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. on Friday at the Seldovia Sea Otter Community Center.
On Saturday an 8 a.m. yoga class will be offered at the Sea
Otter Community Center, followed by a Song Circle held at Amon's Coffee Shop at 10 a.m.
Twelve different educational workshops, including Kazuu instruction by Elliott Sussman, a Dance and Drumming of Ghana class by Okaidja and Shokoto, a Piano Techniques class by Amy Briggs and a Celtic Music class with Jon Crocker and Trina Uvaas will be presented between 1 p.m.-4 p.m. on Saturday at the Susan B. English School Commons.
"The workshops themselves are worth coming over for. Even if you only come for a day … it is a really important part of the festival," said Mumma.
Throughout the weekend local and invited artists with En Plein Air will be set up in various locations around town, painting impressions of Seldovia.
Sunday offers a gospel sing at 1 p.m. hosted at the Dancing Eagles B&B.
Mumma encourages festival-goers to bring their instruments and take advantage of the spontaneous musical jam sessions around town.
Tickets are purchased at the door, a two-day pass is $49, $15 for teens. A single-day adult pass is $25 and $8 for teens. Without a festival pass workshops are $5 per day. Children 12 and under attend all workshops and concerts free.
For more information, visit seldoviamusicfestival.info.
Seldovia Arts Council's Summer Solstice Music Festival
Various locations in Seldovia
Thursday through Sunday
Events include an open mic, artist meet and greet, dance, music and art workshops, and a wide variety of concert performances
Two-day pass: Adult $49, Teens $15
Day pass: Adult $25, Teens $8
Workshop fee (for non-ticket holders) — $5 per day.
12 and under attend all workshops and concerts free.


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EM Growth Provides Tailwind for Automation Companies
Many of our emerging market posts focus on global top-down developments and macroeconomic shifts, as these provide tailwinds or headwinds to companies around the world. Equally important to our research process is our identification of long-term secular themes that may help sustain a company's prospects, in spite of more challenging economic conditions. One growth theme we have focused on for many years is the growth of automation. Below, our Non-U.S. Industrial Sector Head Paul Ryndak shares his thoughts on future opportunities in automation, drawing on insights from his recent travels to Japan and China. -Nick Niziolek, SVP and Co-Portfolio Manager
One of the investment themes we are most excited about is automation. The days of Henry Ford's assembly line are long gone, replaced by automated conveyor systems and robots that do much of the heavy lifting, including welding, painting, lifting and gluing windshields onto the car. We believe a number of factors will support the future growth prospects for automation companies, including the rapid expansion of automation within emerging economies, specifically China.
Recently, I met with the management teams of several automation companies in Japan and one consistent theme they discussed was the opportunity for growth in China. Later that week, I visited three automotive production facilities in China with outstanding degrees of automation.
We believe that China will continue to seek out automation solutions as a way to enhance profitability and global competitiveness. The tremendous growth of the Chinese auto industry has led many auto manufacturers to build new production facilities with teams of robots and other highly advanced automation features.
There are many other reasons that companies in China are seeking opportunities to automate. Labor costs are rising quickly, providing incentive for manufacturers to be more productive and contain costs. Also, the technical and quality requirements for manufacturing cars, phones and other electronics is increasing, requiring more precision. This precision can be more readily accomplished with automated processes and equipment.
When people think of automation, robotics typically comes to mind. This isn't surprising, given the increasingly important role that robotics play, not only in auto manufacturing but also in a range of other industries, such as component manufacturers. We believe the expanded use of robots provides significant investment opportunity for automation companies, especially those with business strategies focused on China. At only 213 robots per 10,000 employees, the robot density in China's automotive manufacturing sector is low, compared to 1091 in the U.S. and 1562 in Japan.
In both China and the developed markets, we believe the expansion of collaborative robots is one of the most promising areas of growth within robotics. Unlike industrial robots (such as those that are typically used in auto plants) that need to be contained and separated from humans for worker safety, collaborative robots have features such as sensor-based systems that allow them to work safely next to humans. The continued development of collaborative robots provides exciting applications in light manufacturing and assembly processes, and further expands the market opportunity for robot manufacturers.
In addition to robot manufacturers, we have also identified opportunities in automation companies that manufacture sensors and motion controls, automated machine tools and the computer programming that controls the machine tools, and software programs that control the automation workflow. As manufacturing capacity increases in places like China, we expect the trend of automation to accelerate, providing more opportunities for automation companies and investors alike.
Our investment approach marries our identification of secular growth themes with comprehensive fundamental research. In the case of automation companies, the pullback in Japanese equities earlier this year brought the valuations of select companies to attractive levels that do not fully reflect the long-term growth potential we see.
The opinions referenced are as of the date of publication and are subject to change due to changes in the market or economic conditions and may not necessarily come to pass. Information contained herein is for informational purposes only and should not be considered investment advice.
The information in this report should not be considered a recommendation to purchase or sell any particular security. The views and strategies described may not be suitable for all investors. As a result of political or economic instability in foreign countries, there can be special risks associated with investing in foreign securities, including fluctuations in currency exchange rates, increased price volatility and difficulty obtaining information. In addition, emerging markets may present additional risk due to potential for greater economic and political instability in less developed countries.
18020a 0814C


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Following this morning Ocean City Mayor's Prayer Breakfast, People For the American Way president Michael Keegan issued the following statement:
Retired Lt. Gen. Jerry Boykin was on his best behavior at this morning's Ocean City Mayor's Prayer Breakfast. That's not surprising given the heightened media scrutiny and promises by Mayor Rick Meehan that Boykin would not say anything inflammatory. However, that does not excuse Ocean City officials – Mayor Meehan in particular – for providing a platform to a man who travels the country spreading bigotry and divisiveness.
Boykin himself makes no secret of his views. He has proudly said, 'Let me tell you something, I am intolerant.' 'And you'll find plenty of that if you look me up on Google,' he continued.
It's important to note that Boykin is not the first controversial speaker to be featured at the Ocean City Mayor's Prayer Breakfast. Three years ago, the headliner was none other than Maury Davis, a convicted killer-turned-pastor and anti-Islam activist. At a recent conference held at his church in Nashville, Davis called Islam a "cancer." This raises questions about the type of speakers that Prayer Breakfast director Bruce Spangler is featuring in Ocean City and why the event has the imprimatur of Ocean City's Mayor.
Mayor Meehan and other Ocean City officials took pains to say that the event was in no way sponsored or endorsed by the city. But with a name like "Ocean City Mayor's Prayer Breakfast" it's understandable why reasonable people would find that confusing at best. Ocean City officials should avoid future confusion and controversy by disassociating themselves from the event and removing the Mayor's imprimatur from the title.


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And a great "thought" at that. Thank you Adam!!!AdamMY wrote: ... it seems [like a] good idea ... one thread under the Teaware Artisans forum titled "Ask the Artisans" Where people can ask the artists questions regarding pottery that they would like to know.
Just a thought.
So, feel free to ask our artisans of TeawareArtisans questions pertaining to their craft that you would like directed to the group at large.
This topic is Stickied, so you will always find it right at the top of TeawareArtisans.


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You'e never seen this type of severe cruelty before! Sexy chicks that get punished with a nice dose of ass spanking! Red, raw and throbbing is what these horny ladies end up with! Too bad for them, I guess next time they'l think twice before being so disobedient! Watch all the facial expression of these bad girls as they receive the hardest punishments ever!
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Shift Days: M-F and every other Sat and Sun; Shift Hours: 8 to 16:30 M-F and every other weekend 15:30 to Midnight
Set your sights on a role making a real difference in the healthcare system. We're looking for a self-motivated Patient Registration Representative to join our team. We have a relentless focus on driving results for our customers and enabling them to invest more into patient care; in turn, this allows us to continue to grow our company and your career.
The Patient Registration Representative will be responsible for accurate and timely patient registration utilizing medical systems. This person will assign ICD-10 and CPT codes relative to patient registration. The Patient Registration Representative will utilize facility medical necessity tool to verify appropriate diagnosis and coverage criteria. This work will need to be performed according to established policies and procedures. The associate will provide exceptional customer service to physicians, patients, family members and all other medical professionals.
In addition to the day to day responsibilities, this person will actively participate in quality improvement and innovative change processes as well as departmental meetings and educational offerings.
The successful candidate must have demonstrated experience handling patients with efficiency and accuracy to broad customer base.
Your day to day role may include:
- Perform registration and basic insurance verification, ensuring collection of 7 critical data elements necessary for proper patient identification and billing.
- Identify and update patient demographic information on ADT system as defined by departmental policy and procedures.
- Interpret physician orders for appropriate testing or admission criteria.
- Coordinate patient admission needs and beds assignment to facilitate timely patient placement.
- Identify non-participating Insurances or Out of Networks plans; takes necessary steps to inform patients and physicians regarding options, including but not limited to canceling appointment.
- Obtain Insurance Card copies or validate insurance information via electronic medical record, transfer information, or insurance eligibility tool.
- Provide courteous and accurate patient and hospital information with way finding instructions for patients, families, visitors, and ancillary areas.
- Prepare documents for imaging/scanning into electronic patient record.
- Explains processes and forms to patients prior to securing signatures and ensures that all documents are properly
signed and witnessed as required. - Assemble and disassemble patient charts or departmental documents according to department policy.
- Copying and or faxing documents to ancillary areas or physician offices.
- Maintain inventory control of forms and paper supplies needed in area.
- Assist with all possible account resolutions pertaining to patient balances.
- Perform all other duties and projects as assigned.
You Have:
- High school diploma or GED required
- Experience with customer service
- Computer savvy with experience navigating between multiple systems simultaneously
- Must have MS Office Experience and excellent typing skills
- Must have a high degree of customer service skills in order to communicate effectively with patients, visitors, physicians and care teams
- Must demonstrate problem-solving abilities and high attention to detail
- Must be able to stand, walk, sit and move freely for extended periods of time
- Must be able to work in a patient care environment with exposure to infection or contagious disease
It would be great if you also have:
- Experience working in a healthcare environment
- Completed a Medical Terminology class
- Certification in healthcare access preferred
We offer:
R1 is changing healthcare by infusing operational discipline and proprietary technology in hospital financial processes. We are an industry leader; we are the only independent organization with a comprehensive service and technology offering for hospital revenue cycle management, and we have achieved leading outcomes for our customers.
- A strong financial performing, growing organization that will keep you on your toes with new ideas, changes and opportunities to learn and grow in abundance.
- A culture of excellence, driving customer success so they can focus on improving patient care and on giving back to the community.
- A Total Rewards package which may include such things as: competitive compensation package, the ability to choose from a comprehensive benefit program mostly funded by R1 that includes medical, dental, vision, flexible spending accounts, commuter benefits, life and disability insurance, along with work life balance programs including paid time off for personal time, illness and volunteering, and we offer a retirement savings plan and continuing training and development and so much more!
Sound like you? Let's talk!
About R1:
R1 is a leading provider of revenue cycle management services and Physician Advisory Services to healthcare providers. We are the largest independent end-to-end revenue cycle provider and have the longest operating history in the revenue cycle industry. R1's objective is to be the one trusted partner to manage revenue so providers and patients can focus on what matters most. Our distinctive operating model and values includes people, processes, and sophisticated integrated technology/analytics that help customers realize sustainable improvements in their operating margins and improve the satisfaction of their patients, physicians, and staff. We are dedicated to transforming the commercial infrastructure and patient experience in healthcare.
To Apply to this Job, Please go to the website address given in the source.
Source: http://www.indeed.com/viewjob?t=Patient+Registration+Representative&c=RCM&l=Racine,+WI&jk=0428206d164966e9&rtk=1cup1k0ik200m000&from=rss


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49th International Mathematical Olympiad Team
Canada's Olympic "mathletes" at the Fields Institute
Six of Canada's top minds in high school mathematics will be in training at Wilfrid Laurier University from June 27th in preparation for the 49th International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO), which will be held in Madrid, Spain, from July 10-22, 2008.
The Send-off Reception and an interactive demonstration will take place at the Fields Institute, 222 College Street, Toronto, on June 27th, starting at 11:00 am. The team will be attending a special IMO Training Seminar at Wilfrid Laurier University from June 27 to July 9.
Attending the Send-off Reception will be representatives from the Ontario Ministry of Education, the Spanish Consulate, sponsors from both the public and private sectors, the Fields Institute, Wilfrid Laurier University and the Canadian Mathematical Society (CMS).
"These six students have demonstrated the exceptional problem solving skills and creativity that is essential to compete against the very best at the international level," said Dr. Tom Salisbury, President of the Canadian Mathematical Society, the organization responsible for the selection and training of Canada's IMO team. "They represent the best of our students and will be excellent ambassadors for Canada."
The Canadian IMO team members - including four from Ontario and two from Alberta - were selected from among more than 200,000 students in grades 7-12 who participated in local, provincial and national mathematics contests. While in Madrid, they will be pitting their skills against more than 540 of the world's best math students from nearly 100 countries.
The 2008 Canadian IMO team consists of Yan (Cynthia) Li, Dr. Norman Bethune Collegiate Institute, Scarborough, Ontario; Alexander Remorov, William Lyon Mackenzie Collegiate Institute, North York, Ontario; Jonathan Schneider, University of Toronto Schools, Toronto, Ontario; XiaoLin (Danny) Shi, Sir Winston Churchill High School, Calgary, Alberta; Chen Sun, A.B. Lucas Secondary School, London, Ontario; and Chengyue (Jarno) Sun, Western Canada High School, Calgary, Alberta.
"Congratulations to these students. The IMO, as an institution, reminds us not only of the creativity of mathematics, but also of its internationalism. The Olympiad competitors will meet students from all over the world, some of whom will become their lifelong friends," said Dr. Barbara Lee Keyfitz, Director of the Fields Institute. "We are thrilled to host the send-off at Fields."
The 2008 Canadian IMO Team Leader is Dr. Felix Recio, Senior Lecturer, University of Toronto; the Deputy Team Leader is Mr. Yufei Zhao, a Canadian IMO gold medalist in 2005 and an undergraduate student at Massachusetts Institute of Technology; and the Deputy Leader Observer is Ms. Lindsey Shorser, a graduate student and lecturer, University of Toronto.
Since 1981, Canadian students have received a total of 16 gold, 35 silver, and 61 bronze medals at the IMO. Last year's team won one silver medal and three bronze in Hanoi, Vietnam.
Six area students will be joining the team for the first part of the training at Wilfrid Laurier University in hopes of becoming future math Olympians.
Media Contacts | ||
Dr. Graham P. Wright Executive Director, Canadian Mathematical Society (613) 562-5800 ext 3528 cell: (613) 290-3046 firstname.lastname@example.com |
Ms. Emily Baillie Communications Officer, Fields Institute (416) 348-9710 x 3024 firstname.lastname@example.com |


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To the delight of her many fans, Korean contestant Dami Im won Australia's X-Factor last night.
The 25-year-old signer was born in South Korea and moved to Australia at the young age of 9. The Sydney Morning Herald notes that Im was teased because of her accent when she arrived in Australia and now suffers from shyness.
Luckily, her humble personality was loved by many. In fact, The Guardian has named Im "the least annoying winner in Australian reality TV history."
But before she won the love of the public, Im first won over the judges during her audition piece. Though the judges admit to having low expectations, they were blown away when Im belted out Mariah Carey's "Hero" and were quick to give her a standing ovation.
At one point during "bootcamp", Im was sent home for forgetting the lyrics. However, a contestant dropped out and she was able to return to the show and and gain her victory.
The Guardian explains that Im quickly became a fan favorite and for good reason.
Not only was Dami the season's strongest singer, most consistently exciting performer and most stylish coathanger, but her quietly confident and reserved personality was a stark rejoinder to the usual excitably hammy reality show contestant. Finally, here's someone who can belt out Purple Rain while wearing lace dragon wings and getting doused in water, and still casually act like it's no big thing.
Im proved to be quite the entertainer. From crazy outfits to outrageous performances, Im clearly became the one to watch.
Last night, with a hand over her mouth in shock and joy, Im sank to her knees when she was announced the winner. Of course, her achievement was not without difficulties. Im was immediately met with twitter comments all generated towards her race. News.com.au reports that some claim Im was not worthy of the title because "it's not Australian X Factor if an Asian wins." Luckily, even more fans rose to her defense.
And what else can silence the viewers who claim Im was not worthy of the title? Maybe the fact that Im's song already rose to the number one spot on iTunes in less than 24 hours.
Experts are claiming that Im has a good shot at being the first Asian-Australian popstar and we're waiting anxiously to see when this happens.


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Chapter XLIV.—Of Meletius 445 Bishop of Antioch.
It becomes us now to speak of Meletius, who, as we have recently observed, was created bishop of Sebastia in Armenia, after the deposition of Eustathius; from Sebastia he was transferred to Berœa, a city of Syria. Being present at the Synod of Seleucia, he subscribed the creed set forth there by Acacius, and immediately returned thence to Berœa. When the convention of the Synod at Constantinople was held, the people of Antioch finding that Eudoxius, captivated by the magnificence of the see of Constantinople, had contemned their church, they sent for Meletius, and invested him with the bishopric of the church at Antioch. Now he at first avoided all doctrinal questions, confining his discourses to moral subjects; but subsequently he expounded to his auditors the Nicene creed, and asserted the doctrine of the homoousion. The emperor being informed of this, ordered that he should be sent into exile; and caused Euzoïus, who had before been deposed together with Arius, to be installed bishop of Antioch in his stead. Such, however, as were attached to Meletius, separated themselves from the Arian congregation, and held their assemblies apart: nevertheless, those who originally embraced the homoousian opinion would not communicate with them, because Meletius had been ordained by the Arians, and his adherents had been baptized by them. Thus was the Antiochian church divided, even in regard to those whose views on matters of faith exactly corresponded. Meanwhile the emperor getting intelligence that the Persians were preparing to undertake another war against the Romans, repaired in great haste to Antioch.
The name has been written Melitius thus far, but is found as Meletius from this point, and through Bk. III. Cf. Euseb. H. E. VII. 32.
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Stephen Foster
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Stephen Collins Foster (July 4, 1826 – January 13, 1864), known as the "father of American music", was the pre-eminent songwriter in the United States of the 19th century. His songs, such as Oh! Susanna, Camptown Races, My Old Kentucky Home, Old Black Joe, Beautiful Dreamer and Old Folks at Home (Swanee River) remain popular over 150 years after their composition.
- Oh I come from Alabama with a banjo on my knee,
I'm going to Louisiana, my true love for to see
It rained all night the day I left, the weather it was dry
The sun so hot I froze to death; Susanna, don't you cry.
Oh, Susanna, don't you cry for me
For I come from Alabama,
With my banjo on my knee.- Oh! Susanna, W.C. Peters & Co. (1848).
- Gone are the days when my heart was young and gay,
Gone are my friends from the cotton fields away,
Gone from the earth to a better land I know,
I hear their gentle voices calling "Old Black Joe."- Old Black Joe, Firth, Pond & Co. (1860).
- Beautiful dreamer, wake unto me,
Starlight and dewdrops are waiting for thee;
Sounds of the rude world heard in the day,
Lull'd by the moonlight have all pass'd away.- Beautiful Dreamer, Firth, Pond & Co. (1862).
- The head must bow, and the back will have to bend,
Wherever the darkey may go;
A few more days, and the trouble all will end,
In the field where the sugar-canes grow.
A few more days for to tote the weary load,—
No matter, 't will never be light;
A few more days till we totter on the road:—
Then my old Kentucky home, good-night!- My Old Kentucky Home. As quoted at Anthology of American Poetry, by George Gesner, (1983).
- The day goes by like a shadow o'er the heart,
With sorrow where all was delight;
The time has come when the darkies have to part:
Then my old Kentucky home, good night!- My Old Kentucky Home. Reported in Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. (1919).
Old Folks at Home[edit]
- Sadly I roam,
Still longing for de old plantation,
And for de old folks at home. - All up and down the whole creation,
Sadly I roam,
Still longing for the old plantation,
And for the old folks at home. - All the world is sad and dreary,
Everywhere I roam.- As quoted at Family Book of Best Loved Poems, by David L. George, (1952)
Quotes about Stephen Foster[edit]
- Today I would choose Stephen Foster as an underrated composer. His music has been played so often that it is easy to forget how powerful, poignant and uniquely American it is.
- Betty Allen, quoted in "Judging Composers: High Notes, and Low", The New York Times (March 22, 1987)
External links[edit]
- Levy Sheet Music Collection at The Johns Hopkins University Digital copies of Foster's music are in Boxes 67-70
- Full reprint of 1908 book, The Melodies of Stephen C. Foster, contains sheet music and lyrics to over 150 Stephen Foster songs
- Stephen Collins Foster - American Dreams (includes a midi collection)
- Simple music and lyrics, chronologically
- Stephen Foster Memorial
- Online Song Sketchbook of Stephen Foster Handwritten draft texts for sixty-four songs
- Extensive Foster site
- Recommended books on Foster
- Myths about Foster
- Stephen Foster - The Musical
- Recording of "Old Folks at Home" at the 1955 Florida Folk Festival; made available for public use by the State Archives of Florida
- Florida State Parks Website for the Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park in White Springs, Florida
- A Stephen Foster Collection Songs with sheet music & midis, biographies etc.


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Foxborough, MA – The New England Revolution climbed into the playoff picture in emphatic fashion on Sunday, thrashing the Philadelphia Union, 5-1, at Gillette Stadium.
New England opened the scoring 20 minutes into the affair when Kelyn Rowe fired a low shot past Zac MacMath from distance.
Philadelphia managed to pull one back five minutes into the second half when Danny Cruz collected a pass from Conor Casey, went around Matt Reis and slipped a shot into the back of the empty net.
But the Revs ran away with the match from that point on, exploding for four goals in the span of 15 minutes.
The go-ahead goal came in the 58th minute when Juan Agudelo's shot was turned into the net by Union defender Amobi Okugo.
Rowe then completed his brace in the 65th minute with undoubtedly the goal of the match as the Revolution midfielder uncorked a blast that nestled into the upper corner from 30 yards out.
Diego Fagundez struck in the 71st minute with New England's fourth and Agudelo wrapped up the affair two minutes later to complete the rout.
The win sees New England (10-9-6) move into a tie with the Houston Dynamo for fifth place in the Eastern Conference with 36 points apiece, two points shy of fourth-place Philadelphia (10-8-8).