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A rare look inside one of the US Military projects that hopes to counter the threat of roadside bombs.
In a secluded section of Raleigh, North Carolina live 16 carefully selected recruits for a high-priority Pentagon project that could play a life or death role in Afghanistan.
None of them have any previous military experience, so their training is necessarily disciplined – if they get through the programme their work could pave the way for others, like them, who will be called on to make life-saving decisions in high-stress environments. As a result, nothing is left to chance. Their days involve intense physical and mental training to see if they are able to cope with the rigors of war.
Outside, a trainer introduced me to one recruit, Jimmy, who is outfitted with a telemetry vest, which can measure his physiological changes, such as heart rate, breathing, and skin temperature. It gives him an almost Olympian look, like an athlete whose every breath is measured by a team of coaches.
But you also get a sense that Jimmy gets a kick out of it. As he is ordered forward, he is panting and his tail is wagging with the enthusiasm of youth.
The good-natured black Labrador retriever is the Jason Bourne of dogs – part of a specialised Navy programme designed to select and train the most highly skilled members of his breed for a high-priority mission: finding improvised explosive devices (IEDs) on the battlefield. While prototypes of the dogs have already been deployed, research on Jimmy and his colleagues is part of a "2.0" version of the programmme, which is based on formal science studies being conducted here at North Carolina State University's College of Veterinary Medicine, and other universities.
Over the past six years, the Pentagon has spent over $18 billion trying to find ways to detect and neutralise roadside bombs – the leading killer of US troops in Afghanistan –by investing in everything from better mine detectors to newfangled devices that shoot beams of energy. But in North Carolina, a state that is home to a 300-year hunting dog tradition, everyone seems to agree on the best technology for the job.
In the lab, I'm introduced to Dakota, one of Jimmy's colleagues. In front of Dakota are two small containers, one scented with vanillin and the other with ethanol. Dakota, who is learning to signal when she detects a scent, is supposed to select the vanillin, a training aid that will later be switched to ammonium nitrate used in explosives. If she selects correctly, she'll be rewarded with a treat. She gets the first one right, choosing vanillin, misses the next two, but then got the fourth one right. At that point, she was averaging 50-50, which is not good, but she was still a beginner with time to learn.
Biting machine?
Though war dogs may be high profile these days – thanks in part to Cairo, the Belgian Malinois who accompanied Navy Seals on the Osama bin Laden raid – there were virtually no deployed military bomb dogs working on battlefields when the US invaded Iraq, and hadn't been for decades. After the Vietnam War, the military's working dog programme was handed over to the Air Force, which used them to patrol missile fields in the United States. Those dogs were used to being guided on leashes, living in air-conditioned kennels and working limited shifts: a far cry from a war zone.
That quickly changed with the arrival of IEDs and in 2007, 13 dogs – all Labs – were deployed with the Marines to Iraq and Afghanistan. When the dogs started finding bombs, Marines asked for more, and today there are some 600 dogs.
Whilst successful, they were all essentially prototypes for the next generation of bomb dog. "After we do all this science, we're going to rewrite the protocols," says Lisa Albuquerque, an energetic Navy official who heads the programme, known formally as the IED Detector Dog. "It's basically an upgrade to an existing model."
Her starting point was talking to the Marines who would ultimately use the dogs. She recalls asking a staff sergeant: "Do you want a dog that bites," to which he replied: "I have 13 heavily armed Marines, why do I need a dog that bites?" What they wanted, it turned out was a good-natured dog, hence the Labradors. From there, she began an extensive array of experiments with researchers at North Carolina State University, Duke University, and Oklahoma State, to develop the training and selection criteria that will make them the perfect IED detector.
Talking about dogs as a technology, like a rifle or a pair of binoculars, is part of what makes the Navy programme unique. "I think that a real key point is that the science and technology that the [Department of Defense] has funded [in the past] has never been about trying to optimise the dog," says Albuquerque, who spent 25 years as a military dog trainer. "It's all been about trying to make a sensor that's as good as a dog, and so our approach, which is really very unique, is saying, 'Wait a minute, for the near term, dogs are still going to be the best sensor.'"
Mind games
But smell is just one part of the Navy's dog programme – a large part of the effort is animal cognition. Brian Hare, who heads Duke University's Canine Cognition Centre, is interested in animals' inferential abilities, or the ability to reason and problem solve. Until recently, it was something that scientists thought was impossible.
Hare demonstrates his work with a video, showing Yaya, a great ape in Uganda, who is presented with a mental puzzle: a long plastic tube that is latched down and can't be moved. "At the bottom is the equivalent of a Peabody award," says Hare. "It's three peanuts."
The question is how would Yaya get the peanuts (and could I come up with a solution before she does)? In less than 10 seconds, before I could even venture an answer, Yaya has already solved the problem. She goes to her water dish, sucks some water into her mouth, and then spits the water into the tube, allowing the peanuts to float to the top. Pretty much all of the female apes, like Yaya, solved the nut problem the same way, according to Hare. "There's also a male solution to this problem," he adds. "Many of the male chimpanzees just peed in the tube."
Hare has extended these cognition tests to dogs. In one test, for example, Border Collies were shown several objects they know by name, such as tennis balls and Frisbees. The dogs then were told to fetch the "gazzer", a made up word for a toy car, the one object whose name they don't know. The dogs consistently fetched the toy car, which Hare attributes to the dogs reasoning that the "gazzer" must be the one object they didn't know: an example of inferential reasoning. "It's even scarier than that because there's evidence that dogs, after only two pairings of hearing the word out loud – no food rewards, no training, no nothing – remember the words for as long as four months," says Hare. "That's on the order of what human children do."
Just understanding that dogs are smart isn't enough, however. At North Carolina State University, Barbara Sherman, a specialist in animal behaviour, and David Dorman, a veterinary toxicologist, are focusing on coming up with tests that can predict which dogs will be the best bomb dogs, in the way that the SATs help predict which students will do well at college. Good attributes of a working dog might be factors such as intelligence and motivation. "Some of these factors we could try to measure directly, some we're not able to measure directly," says Dorman, who is wearing a red tie adorned with dogs. "It's very similar to our student situation."
The tests include seemingly simple tasks, such as how a dog reacts to climbing industrial stairs (many dogs don't like staircases you can see through to the ground), or measuring their reaction to gunshots. The researchers will also soon be testing the dogs in a new lab equipped with cameras, speakers that pipe in white noise, and odour sources. The room, which includes obstacles for the dogs to work around, will test to see which dogs work best on their own, or "off leash", and which can create a good spatial map – not something that has traditionally been looked for or rewarded in working military dogs – but could prove critical for bomb dogs.
But as researchers begin to understand more about the canine mind, there are also signs that, like humans, they are susceptible to conditions like Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. That means that on top of all of the intelligence tests, physical training and scent trials, researchers must also try to identify dogs that are resilient, even when faced with prolonged exposure to explosions and gunfire. For example, in one test, to measure "resiliency" in a war zone, the researchers study the dogs' reaction to the sound of a gunshot. Why is this important? "You might be less motivated to be an enthusiastic participant in hunting for olfactants if you're afraid you're going to be blown up," says Sherman.
If all goes well, the first 2.0 detector dogs will be deployed in Afghanistan early next year. The ultimate question, however, is whether these new and improved bomb dogs are more effective. Albuquerque says that for now, the best proof lies with the troops: When Albuquerque first spoke with Marines at the beginning of the programme, they were reluctant to even consider dogs. Their attitude quickly changed when the dogs started finding IEDs, and in a show of respect, early dogs in the programmme, like Cann, were named after fallen Marines (Cann was named for Staff Sergeant Adam Cann, a dog handler killed in Iraq; Cann, the dog, is now retired and living with a former Marine).
Marines, who once doubted the utility of the dogs, also now volunteer to carry provisions for the canines. "They're not carrying water because they like the dog; they'll leave the dog behind," says Albuquerque. "If they're carrying extra water, they believe in it and it works."
If you would like to comment on this article or anything else you have seen on Future, head over to our Facebook page or message us on Twitter.


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Harvard University is the most popular higher education institution on Facebook. It has 3.3 million "likes." This isn't surprising, it's one of the most famous universities worldwide and it's widely regarded as one of the best, perhaps the best.
But according to Lenny Teytelman, founder of ZappyLab, a company that makes apps for research scientists, about 3 million of those likes are probably fakes, or likes generated by fake Facebook users who are trying to make their Facebook accounts look legit by populating them with bogus interests.
Facebook said there were a number of different ways that a page can end up with millions of likes, and that did not mean they were fake. Harvard said it didn't pay for its likes: "Global interest in Harvard is validated by engagement across all our platforms. Social media is among the many tools we use to connect with the Harvard community and with many others interested in the teaching, learning and research at Harvard. The University did not pay for any of the 3.3 million likes on its official Facebook page."
Of course, Harvard is an international name and it is not unexpected that Harvard would attract likes globally. It's not improbable that all those likes could be real. Notably, Teytelman doesn't offer proof that the likes are fake — so let's take this with a pinch of salt.
Teytelman's claim is based on the fact many of the people who say they like Harvard live nowhere near Harvard. In fact, the most engaged Harvard fans on Facebook are from Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh. Dhaka is the notorious home of many click farms who sell fake likes for money.
So Teytelman decided to compare Harvard's Facebook fan base with some other institutions, and found this discrepancy (see chart above): Most universities have a few hundred thousand likes from people who live near their campuses — exactly what you'd expect. But the institutions that are most popular have millions of fans that live nowhere near the campus. Teytelman says he thinks Harvard's likes are probably fake:
... The most stunning example here is Harvard with 3.3 million "likes". Probably about three million of these are fakes. I just hope they did not pay for this, ... If the cost per "like" is similar to ours ($50-$100 per thousand), Harvard might have paid Facebook between $150,000-$300,000 for fake likes.
Of course, there is a tautology here: In order to attract millions of fans, by definition a huge portion of them will come from far away, not nearby. That doesn't mean they are fake.
Nonetheless, it raises a problem that many social media marketers have when they're trying to attract a large, high-quality audience of followers on Facebook: It's not easy to figure out which likes are legit and which are not.
Facebook is fighting a running battle against fake accounts on its network. (Facebook click farms control fake accounts in order to sell bogus likes to unsuspecting companies who are advertising on Facebook in the hopes of increasing their popularity.) Only around 1% of all Facebook accounts are "abusive," or fake, Facebook reported said in its last annual report. But Facebook has more than 1 billion members, so 1% equals about 10 million fake accounts, liking everything they see.
Low-quality likes from far away places is a problem on Facebook that primarily affects unsophisticated advertisers: If you run ads on Facebook indiscriminately, targeting anyone in any country, then you're likely to attract clicks from some pretty irrelevant accounts all over the globe. That may be what happened to Harvard — it doesn't necessarily have fake likes, just irrelevant ones. The reason Teytelman suspects Harvard's likes are fake is the Dhaka factor: "If the ads are not targeted and running all over the world, why would they skew to Dhaka, Bangladesh for 4/5 universities that clearly advertised (Oxford, Cambridge, Harvard, Univ. of the People)?" he tells Business Insider.
In a statement to Business Insider, Facebook said it was not clear that anything was wrong with Harvard's page:
There are many ways people find Pages to like on Facebook - from someone navigating directly to the Page to like it, to people seeing advertising campaigns, or from Pages appearing in Pages You May Like. Some Pages, including universities with an international reputation, often receive a large number of likes from people around the world and have fans that are dispersed geographically and demographically. These pages are often also featured in Pages You May Like and receive likes from people who aspire to attend or visit the university.
The other problem with running ad campaigns that have indiscriminate geographic targeting is that your ads are likely to show up in the news feed of a fake-like click farm. That click farm may be generating fake likes for another unsuspecting client. In order to make its army of fake accounts look real (so they don't get banned from Facebook), it will have those accounts click on things that real people might like — and clicking on other people's ads is one way to do this quickly. There's a great video explaining this weird phenomenon here.
Harvard did not advertise for likes, the institution tells us. But it did make a push to become the biggest university on Facebook back in 2011. Its president celebrated reaching the first 1 million likes with a video:
"We are so pleased to be the first university to hit one million Facebook fans," said Harvard's President Drew Faust in a thank you video (embedded below). "We're also so pleased that networks like this -- some grown here at Harvard -- are uniting millions more people all around the globe."
For comparison, Yale at the time had only 49,000 likes. Since then, Yale's page has become popular, too. That college now has 877,000 likes and its most engaged users are from Addis Ababa in Ethiopia — not well-known as Eli territory.
Harvard will probably survive its fake like problem. But the issue isn't trivial for companies that do a lot of marketing through Facebook: They can end up with hundreds of thousands of followers who are fake, or irrelevant. At that point it becomes impossible for the company to figure out how interested its real fans are in their posts — real fan engagement gets drowned out by noise.
Fake likes have a distorting effect on the perceived popularity of universities, Teytelman claims. The best example is the way Malaysia's Limkokwing University is somehow more popular — on Facebook, anyway — than Cambridge:

subset: commoncrawl


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There has been an explosion of interest in modern and contemporary art from Africa, and Bonhams 'Africa Now' auction remains at the forefront of the market as the only sale of its kind globally. Created by artists from a multitude of cultures, African contemporary art reflects the complex heritage of this dynamic continent and demonstrates tremendous potential for investment. Africa Now sales include the very best of post-war and contemporary art from across the African continent in various media including painting, sculpture, and drawing.
Of particular interest are works by artists including El Anatsui, Ben Enwonwu, Yusuf Grillo, Yinka Shonibare, Romauld Hazoumé, Malangatana, Skunder Boghossian, Bruce Onobrakepeya, and Cheri Samba, among many others.
To arrange a free and confidential auction appraisal or for further advice on buying or selling at auction, please contact the department.


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ONE NIGHT STAND to Screen in Vancouver 2/20 & Victoria 2/21!
ONE NIGHT STAND, a unique event broadcast, will be showing in Vancouver on Febraury 20th and Victoria on February 21st along with a Q&A with the Directors, Trish Dalton, a Canadian native, and Elisabeth Sperling a New Yorker.
This fast-paced, hilarious and entertaining film follows some of New York's top actors, including Cheyenne Jackson (30 Rock, Glee), Jesse Tyler Ferguson (Modern Family) and Rachel Dratch (Saturday Night Live), as well as teams of writers, composers and directors as they are given 24 hours to write, cast, compose, rehearse and perform four short musicals. At the end of the 24 hours, the musicals make their opening, and closing, night at New York City's Gramercy Theatre.
Tickets for ONE NIGHT STAND are available at participating theater box offices and online here.
Likened to "'A Chorus Line' meets 'Project Runway'" (BroadwayWorld.com), ONE NIGHT STAND directed by Elisabeth Sperling and Trish Dalton, captures the excitement, anxiety, camaraderie and sheer panic that lead to the final thrill of the finished performance. From the blank page to the live stage, ONE NIGHT STAND unveils the magic as these talented artists take the dare to create something from nothing.
Four teams consisting of composers, writers, directors and actors use props to inspire the musicals: a zoot suit worn by Richard Kind (Argo, Spin City, Mad About You) on a children's show in the 1970s inspires the "Islands" musical; a phobia pop-up book is the premise for "Multiphobia" and an 80s prom dress prop is used in "Dr. Williams" featuring Jackson, Ferguson and Roger Bart (Revenge, Desperate Housewives). Dratch brings her comedic timing to the fourth musical, "Rachel said Sorry."
Actors featured in the musicals include the aforementioned Bart, Dratch, Ferguson, Jackson and Kind as well as Mandy Gonzalez (Wicked, In the Heights); Capathia Jenkins (Newsies, Chicago, Nine); Theresa McCarthy (Queen of the Mist, Saturn Returns, Titanic); Nellie McKay (Home Sweet Mobile Home, Rumor Has It); Marnie Schulenburg (As the World Turns); Scarlet Strallen (Mary Poppins, The Witches of Eastwick); Tracie Thoms (Cold Case, Rent); Tamara Tunie (Law and Order SVU, Flight) Alicia Witt (Two Weeks Notice, Urban Legend) and Michael Longoria (Jersey Boys).
Get a preview of ONE NIGHT STAND below!
About The 24 Hour Musicals and The 24 Hour CompanyThe theatrical event "The 24 Hour Musicals," documented in One Night Stand, was organized by The 24 Hour Company to benefit the, The Exchange. www.24hourplays.comAbout The ExchangeThe Exchange is an off-Broadway theater company that specializes in new work. But it is not a traditional theatre company: it spends more than half its time and budget on selective programs that allow other companies and artists to develop original work. www.exchangenyc.org.
For more information on ONE NIGHT STAND, visit www.onenightstandthemovie.com


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(Reuters) - The U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency has been ordered by a federal arbitration panel to reimburse New Orleans for more than $10 million in wages paid to city emergency personnel after Hurricane Katrina.
FEMA is obligated to pay the Louisiana city $10.8 million to cover one-third of the salaries paid to police, fire and medical personnel during the four months after Katrina hammered New Orleans in 2005, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Civilian Board of Contract Appeals said in an August 29 decision reviewed by Reuters.
New Orleans had asked the CBCA, which resolves contract disagreements between executive branch agencies, to review a May 2012 determination by FEMA that it would not pay the first-responder salaries.
FEMA officials had previously said the agency would reimburse New Orleans for one-third of the regular pay of critical personnel so the city could avoid layoffs. But years later, a FEMA representative told city officials by email that agency protocol prohibited it from making such payments.
A FEMA spokesman had no immediate comment.
The CBCA arbitrators agreed with the city that FEMA policy did not bar reimbursement of regular pay incurred following a disaster. "In the aftermath of the devastation in New Orleans, the city was financially crippled and faced the prospect of bankruptcy, lacking cash reserves and population or commerce available to pay taxes," the decision noted.
FEMA said on August 28 that it has provided Louisiana with nearly $19.6 billion in recovery assistance after Katrina and Hurricane Rita, which also hit the state in 2005.
Editing by Kevin Drawbaugh and Eric Walsh


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Sunny Health & Fitness SF-T7723 Force Fitmill Manual Treadmill
Stay active and maximize your exercise with a powerful treadmill. The best treadmills make for a great piece of workout equipment at home or at the gym, providing a safe way to get your heart rate up and burn calories. Pick up the pace and get the most out of your workout routine with one of these treadmills, and explore the entire selection of cardio equipment and machines, including ellipticals and exercise bikes, to find what fits your lifestyle best.
Many of these Exerpeutic, ProGear and ProForm treadmills have space-saving designs that have compact footprints and take up as little space as possible in whatever room they're placed in, making them great for households that have to economize the space they have. Water bottle holders and reading racks provide easy ways to stay hydrated and multitask while exercising.
Keep track of your progress using an on-board LCD screen. LCD screens usually show data for time elapsed, distance walked, calories burned and other important exercise information, and some even have ways to program workout routines more effectively. Treadmills often include ports for playing music, so you can listen to your favorite tunes while getting into shape.


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TAIEX gains on electronics
The TAIEX yesterday closed up 16.98 points, or 0.22 percent, at 7,738.64. Turnover was NT$83.35 billion (US$2.87 billion).
Smartphone vendor HTC Corp (宏達電), chip designer MediaTek Inc (聯發科) and handheld device camera lens supplier Largan Precision Co (大立光) brushed off pressure from lower-than-expected sales reports last month to help lift high-priced electronics stocks. Largan rose 0.54 percent to NT$742, while MediaTek rose 3.1 percent to NT$312 and HTC gained 1.63 percent to end at NT$281.
Innolux revenues increase
Innolux Corp (群創), the nation's biggest LCD panel maker, yesterday said revenue rose 2.4 percent to NT$44.32 billion last month, from NT$43.28 billion in November last year, thanks to increase in shipments of PC and TV panels.
That brought the company's total revenue in the fourth quarter of last year up just 0.04 percent to NT$129.6 billion from NT$129.55 billion in the third quarter.
Last month, Innolux shipped 13.23 million units, up from 12.82 million units in November. Last quarter, shipments shrank 5.5 percent to 38.45 million units from 40.71 million units.
AUO showcases new TV panel
AU Optronics Corp (AUO, 友達光電), the nation's No.2 flat panel maker, yesterday said it was showcasing a 56-inch high-resolution OLED TV panel jointly with Japanese electronics company Sony during the annual Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The screen is the biggest flat panel with ultra-high-definition technology of 4kx2k.
AUO also said revenue dropped 5.4 percent last month to NT$32.06 billion from NT$33.9 billion in November last year, after shipment of PC and TV flat panels dropped 3 percent month-on-month to 10.38 million units.
In the fourth quarter, revenue slipped 3.3 percent to NT$99.41 billion, compared with NT$102.78 billion in the third quarter.
Green Energy sees revenue fall
Green Energy Technology Inc (綠能科技), the nation's biggest solar wafer maker, yesterday said revenue fell 3.7 percent to NT$740 million last month, from NT$768.72 million in November last year.
Green Energy blamed the decline on an increase in lower-priced solar module business.
Last year, Green Energy said its revenue halved to NT$9.84 billion, from NT$18.6 billion in 2011.
Jinli posts record revenue
Jinli Group Holdings Ltd (金麗集團控股), which runs two apparel and shoe brands in China, yesterday said its consolidated revenue last year marked its highest level ever at NT$3.85 billion, up 17.36 percent from a year earlier.
However, consolidated sales last month dropped 47.15 percent year-on-year to NT$405.27 million, as the comparison basis in December 2011 was relative high because of the earlier Lunar New Year holiday in January last year.
Ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday next month, Jinli maintained a bullish outlook on sales this month because of strong seasonal demand, it said in a statement.
Yulon unveils new car in China
Taiwanese automaker Yulon Group (裕隆集團) will unveil its new high-end vehicle, the Luxgen CEO, in China this year, a group executive said on Tuesday.
The car will debut at a price of 418,000 yuan (US$67,150), more than the starting price of a Mercedes Benz, which is 340,000 yuan, according to Yulon Group president Chen Kuo-jung (陳國榮).
NT dollar gains ground
The New Taiwan dollar rose against the US dollar yesterday, up NT$0.017 to close at NT$29.110.


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"We only have what we give"
Palestinians who are helping to build a future for Palestine
I was involved in social media by raising awareness and promoting campaigns to an audience of over 60,000 people… knowing that my few hours a week were reaching such a wide audience provided me with a lot of confidence. My time at Interpal was extremely rewarding.
Volunteer – Communications Team


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Cops on Camera Update
A Maryland judge has thrown out the first of three assault charges against two police officers who were caught on tape beating student John McKenna after a 2010 University of Maryland basketball game. The judge said "there was not enough evidence" to show the officers were engaged in first-degree assault. Second-degree assault and official misconduct charges remain.
We might argue about whether dropping those charges was the right call. What we know for certain is that before the tape surfaced, McKenna was the one charged with assaulting officers and a police horse. A good samaritan's cell phone video was the only thing standing between justice and the student being branded a criminal and thrown in jail.
The lesson should be clear. Citizens recording police encounters can reveal truths the police might prefer to hide. Evan Banks and I made a short video detailing the incident (among others) and the importance of protecting the right of bystanders to record the police.


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I've been playing with this laser cutter at work and as I'm only etching the surface of what this tool can do, I'm getting really happy with some of the results I get.
I've found a workflow that works pretty nitely while working on this project.
- Google image search for an image of interest (tree), activate "Search Tools" and filter on size:large and color:black&white.
- Import the image on in Pixlr (Photosh or any other image editing tool will do just as good)
- Crank up the contrast until you have only pure blacks and whites
- Bring into Illustrator
- Trace image (vectorize)
- Make correction
- Check for path duplicates (somehow Illustrator seems to generates dups when image tracing), delete dups manually, or use the layer pane to identify and bulk delete
- Load up your laser cutting machine, make it do what it does
- Sand, varnish, hang.


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Home >> Course Descriptions >> College of Education
Practicum in School Administration II
Three semester hours.
This course focuses on the application of administrative tasks in an internship field-based experience. The course requires the development of an action research plan for change based on a need linked to a campus improvement plan. The course requires one hundred (100) hours of field work completed under the direction of a university professor and a school supervisor. Assignments include the implementation of techniques and styles of administered behavior in at least three different levels by the completion of both practicums I and II. Prerequisites: Master's degree in Educational Administration or equivalent and EDAM 5335.
Home - General Information - Student Services -
Academic Undergraduate Regulations -
Undergraduate Degrees - Academic Graduate Regulations -
Graduate Degrees - Course Descriptions - Faculty -
Appendix A - Appendix B - Appendix C - Appendix D


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$6.5M Gift Establishes Laboratory at UC San Diego for Regenerative Ophthalmology
New lab at Shiley Eye Center will investigate biomedical advances to reverse vision loss and blindness
A $6.5 million gift from a grateful patient will create the Richard C. Atkinson Laboratory for Regenerative Ophthalmology in the department of ophthalmology at the UC San Diego Shiley Eye Center. The new lab will investigate cell replacement therapies, tissue engineering and other biomedical advances to reverse vision loss and blindness. Work conducted at the lab will utilize novel stem cell approaches that are consistent with the vision of the newly created Sanford Clinical Stem Cell Center at UC San Diego, which was announced in late 2013.
"This significant gift will provide UC San Diego the foundation for innovation as researchers at the Shiley Eye Center employ a multi-disciplinary approach that integrates ophthalmology, vision research, bioengineering, neurosciences and stem cell biology," said UC San Diego Chancellor Pradeep K. Khosla.
The donor chose to name the laboratory in honor of Richard Atkinson, former University of California president and UC San Diego chancellor, for his lasting impact not only on UC San Diego, but also on the entire UC system. A professor emeritus of cognitive science and psychology, Atkinson served as president of the UC system from 1995 to 2003. Before becoming president, he served for 15 years as chancellor of UC San Diego. He is a former director of the National Science Foundation.
The UC San Diego department of ophthalmology at the Shiley Eye Center is the only academic eye center in the region offering the most advanced treatments across all areas of eye care. World class clinicians, surgeons, scientists and staff are dedicated to excellence and providing the best possible patient care to prevent, treat and cure eye diseases. The center's research is at the forefront of developing new methods for diagnosis and treatment of eye diseases and disorders.
Goals for the new Richard C. Atkinson Laboratory for Regenerative Ophthalmology include:
- Restoring vision and regenerating diseased tissue in glaucoma, macular degeneration and other eye diseases;
- Storing and archiving surgical and other specimens including adult stem cells; and
- Integrating biomedical engineering approaches into vision therapies.
Many of the most difficult to treat eye diseases result from the loss of nerve cells, such as retinal ganglion cells in glaucoma and other types of cell such as photoreceptors in macular degeneration. Other problems that patients face with eye disease, from scarring to surgical healing, may be greatly improved by novel cell or tissue treatments. Cells derived from patients provide an unprecedented opportunity to uncover the underlying causes of eye disease and to test treatments on the way to human trials.
Robert Weinreb
Overseeing the research activities at the new Richard C. Atkinson Laboratory for Regenerative Ophthalmology will be clinician, surgeon and scientist Dr. Robert N. Weinreb. He is chairman and distinguished professor of ophthalmology at UC San Diego, director of the Shiley Eye Center, director of the Hamilton Glaucoma Center and holds the Morris Gleich Chair of Glaucoma. Weinreb has served as president of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (2002-2003), president of the World Glaucoma Association (WGA) (2004-2006) and President of the American Glaucoma Society (2007 - 2009). He graduated from Harvard Medical School and completed his residency and fellowship at the University of California, San Francisco.
"This gift will enhance our vigorous engagement in discovery and translational research," Weinreb said. "It reaffirms the UC San Diego Shiley Eye Center as a groundbreaking scientific and clinical hub, committed to improved treatments and the prevention and cure of blinding eye diseases in our community and around the world."
For nearly 30 years, philanthropic support from generous individuals, foundations and corporations has provided the UC San Diego department of ophthalmology at the Shiley Eye Center with valuable resources for patient care, research, education and community service. With private support, the facility will continue to revolutionize eye care treatment and provide cutting edge medical therapy to all those afflicted with debilitating vision disorders. To learn more, visit the Shiley Eye Center website or call 858-534-8017.


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I've been avoiding this all season, but now we hit the 7 game mark....
Can we make the playoffs?
The way the D is playing, it gives us a legitimate chance to win every game. Let's examine our three losses. One tends to learn more in defeat than victory.
Giants: It exposed our greatest weakness, Offensive Line. We haven't faced an elite Pass rush since, so we don't know how much this unit has improved in pass protection. We took 3 sacks last night, against a beast like Cameron Wake. We can't run the ball either. Are last games run averages are inflated because of Jay's scrambles. 3.5, 3.3, 3.9 are Forte's averages in the last 3 games. Not exactly awe inspiring.
Seahwaks: This is the only game were our defense laid an egg, a game in which Briggs missed time. Also, the defense had played 2 tough games with a lot of snaps (Giants, Panthers), because of atrocious offensive production. So we need this unit to remain healthy, and for the offense to at least stay on the field enough to avoid gassing our star players, who are all older. The Tampa 2 D is of the bend but don't break variety, which means a lot of snaps for the D, which tends to gas them.
Redskins: The game that Jay lost. Our defense did everything it could to win that game. Cutler tried harder. It had the same feeling of the 06 superbowl, with Rex playing for the other team.
So their you have it, the three most glaring weaknesses in the Bears. Off-Line, Jay's indisputable ability to lay an egg, and the lack of depth at D.
Dare we drink the Kool-Aid?
The way I see it:
vs Eagles: A tough one, but we have Marrinelli who faced Vick in Atlanta when he was at Tampa. We aren't going tos top him, buthopefully we'll slow him down some. Our D is based on very good Tacklers, and Peppers has faced off against Vick in the past as well. Those huge arms of his hopefully will help contain him when he rolls left. But it will be up to our O to show up for this one. The Eagles defense has CBs who like to cheat a lot, which is an explosive mix with Jay Cutler. We need his best game of the season for this one. 33% of W
@ Detroit: We have to win this one. If we can't beat them, we don't deserve the playoffs. It's that simple. 75% of W
vs New England: A Belichick defense led against Jay Cutler...I foresee planty of Interceptions. Our Defense will be truly battle tested, similar to the Eagles game, as the two most prolific offenses come a knocking. 33% of W
@ Minnesotta: This is a tough one. The crowd noise could be a factor if the team hasn't quit the year by then. But our D should be enough against a bad O, and their mediocre D should allow us some leeway. 66% of W
vs Jets: Both teams have suspect QBs. Both teams have good Ds. Both teams have eeked out wins they shouldn't have. But we have home field advantage, and I'll take my Bears in December against a USC QB. 50% of W
@ Green Bay: I don't see us winning that one. Sorry. Lambeaus is a big advantage, and the division will probably be up for grabs by then. 33%
The way I see it: We have to win the Detroit and Viking games. We ahve a chance towin the Jets game. I don't think we can win all the games against opportunistic defenses and elite offenses like the Pats and Eagles, or against a division rival on the road like the Packers. If we're truly a playoff team, we should eek out at least something out of them.
According to those win probabilities, we should earn 2.9 more Wins. A 10-6 record or a 9-5-1 record ought to eek out a WC, a 9-7 will come down to tiebreakers. 10 wins will depend on the tiebreaqker with the Pack.


text:
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PMW Bulletins
Mother of 4 terrorist murderers chosen by the PA to launch statehood campaign
by Itamar Marcus and Nan Jacques Zilberdik
Sept. 18, 2011
Mother of 4 terrorist murderers
chosen by the PA
to launch statehood campaign
by Itamar Marcus and Nan Jacques Zilberdik
The Palestinian Authority chose the mother of 4 terrorist murderers, one of whom killed seven Israeli civilians and attempted to kill twelve others, as the person to launch their statehood campaign with the UN. In a widely publicized event, the PA had Latifa Abu Hmeid lead the procession to the UN offices in Ramallah and to hand over a letter for the UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon.
, Sept. 9, 2011]
[PA TV News, Sept. 8, 2011]
The official PA daily reported that she launched the UN campaign last week, and noted that she is the "mother of seven prisoners and of the
(Martyr) Abd Al-Mun'im Abu Hmeid." However, the paper did not mention that 4 of her imprisoned sons are murderers.
Palestinian Media Watch reported last year that
Abu Hmeid then had 4 sons in Israeli prisons
who were each serving between two and seven life sentences, a total of 18 life sentences. At that time she was in the news because the PA Minister of Prisoners' Affairs, Issa Karake, decided to honor her with an award, "the Plaque of Resoluteness and Giving... inscribed with the names of her four sons who are imprisoned."
The PA minister explained then why the mother of 4 murderers of Israelis deserves such honor:
"It is she who gave birth to the fighters, and she deserves that we bow to her in salute and in honor."
The four sons are serving a total of 18 life sentences for the following crimes:
Nasser Abu Hmeid
- 7 life sentences + 50 years - commander in Fatah's military wing the Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades in Ramallah. Convicted of killing seven Israeli civilians and 12 attempted murders.
Nasr Abu Hmeid
- 5 life sentences - Member of terror faction of Fatah, Tanzim, and convicted of involvement in two terror attacks and arms dealing.
Sharif Abu Hmeid
- 4 life sentences - a member in one of the brothers' units carrying out terror attacks against civilians and soldiers.
Muhammad Abu Hmeid
- 2 life sentences + 30 years - involvement in terror attacks.
A fifth son,
Abd Al-Mun'im Muhammad Yusuf Naji Abu Hmeid,
the one referred to as "Martyr," was a member of the military wing of Hamas, Izz A-Din Al-Qassam Brigades, and planned and carried out the ambush and murder of an Israeli intelligence officer.
PMW has not been able to determine for which crimes the rest of the sons are imprisoned.
The following are the reports about the mother of the terrorists launching the PA statehood campaign:
PA TV News interviews Abd Al-Mun'im Wahdan, a member of the "Palestine - the 194th state" national campaign:
"We of the 'Palestine - the 194th state' national campaign [calling for] a Palestinian state with full sovereignty on the territory of Palestine, send a delegation from institutions, organizations, and popular factions. This delegation was headed by Um Nasser Abu Hmeid -
this fighter woman, who is the mother of seven prisoners and the mother of the heroic
(Martyr) from the [military wing of Hamas] Izz A-Din Al-Qassam Brigades.
This campaign included a letter in which the people demand that the UN recognize Palestine as a state with full sovereignty, like the other countries."
[PA TV (Fatah), Sept. 8, 2011]
"The 'Palestine - the 194th State' campaign has embarked on its national activities in support of realization [of the appeal to the UN] in September and obtaining UN membership for the State of Palestine, by conveying a letter to the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon, via his representative in Ramallah. The campaign started out opposite the UN building in Ramallah, with the participation of a number of heads of factions and national forces, representatives of official and popular institutions, independent personalities, and members of trade unions. Hajja Latifa Abu Hmeid, mother of seven prisoners and of the
(Martyr) Abd Al-Mun'im Abu Hmeid, handed the letter to the representative of the UN Secretary General in Ramallah."
Al-Hayat Al-Jadida
, Sept. 9, 2011]
"[In a procession which set off] yesterday from opposite the Cultural Auditorium in Ramallah in the direction of the UN representative office in Ramallah, the 'Palestine - the 194th State' national campaign was inaugurated... when Latifa Abu Hmeid, known as the 'mother of the prisoners', handed over a letter addressed to UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon, via his representative in Ramallah... She was chosen [for this] because she is a symbol of Palestinian suffering as a result of the occupation's (i.e., Israel's) policy... She is the mother of prisoners Muhammad Abu Hmeid and his brothers Nasr, Nasser, Sharif, Basel, Islam and Jihad. She is prevented from seeing her sons who are sitting in the occupation's prisons."
, Sept. 9, 2011]
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text:
How well do you know the Code? Think you can spot violations the original installer either ignored or couldn't identify? Here's your chance to moonlight as an electrical inspector and second-guess someone else's work from the safety of your living room or office. It's your turn to identify the violation.
Hint: Disappearing act
Find the Answer
In this photo, we see a PVC pipe secured to a pole. The PVC pipe itself has not been damaged by sunlight since it is constructed to be "resistant to sunlight effects" in accordance with 352.100. The clip, on the other hand, has been severely damaged by the effects of being in the direct rays of the sun for a prolonged period of time. The clip has become very brittle and has cracked almost completely through.
Hint: Disappearing act
This is a violation of 300.6(C), which requires nonmetallic raceways, elbows, couplings, fittings, supports, and support hardware to be made of material approved for the condition they are placed. These items shall also comply with 300.6(C)(1), which states "where exposed to sunlight, the materials shall be listed as sunlight resistant or shall be identified as sunlight resistant." The material that the clip was made of is clearly not sunlight resistant.


text:
Items: 4x4 white card blank, DCWV Mat Stack, Turquoise glitter, Black Stazon, Clear Sparkle embossing powder, Inkadinkado Flourish Stamp, glue and foam pads.
Wednesday, 29 September 2010
Moving Along with the Times - Challenge #65
Just a quick post with my entry for the MAWTT challenge. This week was a 'To Do List' and you had to use at least 3 items off the list. My card uses 2 different patterned papers (both DCWV), glitter (don't think I ever make a card without a bit of sparkle lol) and heat embossing. My card has a dual purpose as it's also an acceptance to a wedding invite, that reminds me better start looking for a dress! Unfortunately it doesn't show in the photo but the RSVP is on an acetate on top of the card.
Saturday, 25 September 2010
Crafters Companion - Beatrix Potter
I'm like a bus....no posts for ages and then several all at once..lol. This is my entry for the Crafters Companion Beatrix Potter challenge. I have been treating myself to far too many new crafting goodies recently so haven't yet been able to buy something from the Beatrix Potter range so I have used the free download from the Crafters Companion website. Decoupage really isn't my thing (I'm a Stampaholic) but I have had a go as it was included in the freebie and would really love to know what you think.
Beatrix Potter Entry
Items: Beatrix Potter Winter Wonderland freebie download, blue pearlescent card, navy card, scalloped circle nestabilities, snowflake punch, glossy accents, pale blue liquid pearls, fiskars edge punch, silver rickrack, clear and midnight fine blue glitter
Blog Hop - The Stamp Man
Head on over to The Stamp Man Challenge website as there is a blog hop where you win prizes at each of the design teams blog.
Saturday, 18 September 2010
Crafters Companion - Challenge 4
Ooh I have been busy this week, I have managed to make a couple of cards! I was able to kill two birds with one stone as I was planning to make an 'Aunty' card for baby Elliot to give my Sister-in-Law and then having read the latest challenge was able to use the sketch and my new Popcorn Bear stamp set :)
Challenge 4 Entry
Items: Popcorn Bear Stamp Set, Memento Tuxedo Black Inkpad, My trusty ProMarkers, Magenta Stickles, Sakura Gelly Roll Pens, Aunt stamp from a Woodware set, Nestabilities, Cuttlebug Happy Birthday Embossing Folder, Ribbon from my stash, silver pink and navy card from my stash and a square white card blank.
The other card I made was a 'Sister' card, not sure if it's an easel card, sidestep card or quite what it is as I didn't use a template but instead scored, folded, and cut until I came up with this:
Items: Sugar Nellie Stamp, DCWV Late Card Stack, Sakura Pens, Stickles, Woodware flower punches, Martha Stewart half daisy edge punch, stick on gems,nestabilities, ProMarkers and a plain A5 white card blank.
Wednesday, 15 September 2010
I've made some cards :)
OMG! It's been nearly a month since my last post but I have been really busy. I've been on holiday to Norfolk and Wales but I have still had time to make some cards for a competition in Cardmaking and Papercraft. I didn't get time to enter all the categories as I had to keep an eye on Elliot who kept escaping from his ball pit. Pictures below...
...and the little pest himself (mid escape)
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text:
20 U.S. Code § 6965 - State applications
§ 6965.
State applications
(a) SubmissionNo State educational agency shall receive any payment under this subpart for any fiscal year unless such agency submits an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing or accompanied by such information, as the Secretary may reasonably require. Each such application shall—
provide that the educational programs, services, and activities for which payments under this subpart are made will be administered by or under the supervision of the agency;
provide assurances that payments under this subpart will be used for purposes set forth in sections 6961 and 6967 of this title, including a description of how local educational agencies receiving funds under this subpart will use such funds to meet such purposes and will coordinate with entities carrying out other programs and activities assisted under this chapter, and other Acts as appropriate;
provide an assurance that local educational agencies receiving funds under this subpart will coordinate the use of such funds with entities carrying out programs and activities assisted under part A of subchapter I of this chapter;
provide assurances that such payments, with the exception of payments reserved under section 6964(e) of this title, will be distributed among local educational agencies within that State on the basis of the number of immigrant children and youth counted with respect to each such local educational agency under section 6964(b)(1) of this title;
provide assurances that the State educational agency will not finally disapprove in whole or in part any application for funds received under this subpart without first affording the local educational agency submitting an application for such funds reasonable notice and opportunity for a hearing;
provide for making such reports as the Secretary may reasonably require to perform the Secretary's functions under this subpart;
(7) provide assurances—
that to the extent consistent with the number of immigrant children and youth enrolled in the nonpublic elementary schools or secondary schools within the district served by a local educational agency, such agency, after consultation with appropriate officials of such schools, shall provide for the benefit of such children and youth secular, neutral, and nonideological services, materials, and equipment necessary for the education of such children and youth;
that the control of funds provided under this subpart for any materials or equipment, or property repaired, remodeled, or constructed with those funds shall be in a public agency for the uses and purpose provided in this subpart, and a public agency shall administer such funds and property; and
that the provision of services pursuant to this paragraph shall be provided by employees of a public agency or through contract by such public agency with a person, association, agency, or corporation who or which, in the provision of such services, is independent of such nonpublic elementary school or secondary school and of any religious organization, and such employment or contract shall be under the control and supervision of such public agency, and the funds provided under this paragraph shall not be commingled with State or local funds;
provide that funds reserved under section 6964(e) of this title be awarded on a competitive basis based on merit and need in accordance with such section; and
provide an assurance that the State educational agency and local educational agencies in the State receiving funds under this subpart will comply with the requirements of section 6320(b) of this title.
(b) Application review
(1) In general
The Secretary shall review all applications submitted pursuant to this section by State educational agencies.
(2) Approval
The Secretary shall approve any application submitted by a State educational agency that meets the requirements of this section.
(3) Disapproval
The Secretary shall disapprove any application submitted by a State educational agency that does not meet the requirements of this section, but shall not finally disapprove an application except after providing reasonable notice, technical assistance, and an opportunity for a hearing to the State educational agency.
(Pub. L. 89–10, title III, § 3245, as added Pub. L. 107–110, title III, § 301, Jan. 8, 2002, 115 Stat. 1725.)
LII has no control over and does not endorse any external Internet site that contains links to or references LII.


text:
The fifth and newest Type 45 Destoyer, HMS Defender, is due to enter Portsmouth Harbour for the first time at 9.30am on Wednesday morning. The penultimate ship of the class to arrive, she will anchor up overnight in the Solent tomorrow evening, and should be visible from Southsea seafront.
Very nice ships, all with great names (well, except Duncan maybe!), but still too few of them – even just two more might have really made a difference. With Daring, Dauntless AND Diamond all away on deployments at the moment, and Dragon preparing to leave later this year, the operational tempo for escort ships is clearly creaking at the seams. It does seem a waste to use ships that were designed to provide area defence for 60,000 ton carriers chasing pirate Dhows.
History has shown that to keep one ship on station on deployment, you need four ships. Ships are normally in one of four states – on deployment (or transiting), working up, shaking down or in refit. Given that the average deployment to the South Atlantic or east of Suez lasts 5 to 7 months, working up and FOST can take the same kind of time frame, and comprehensive refits can take around 18 months, we can see quite easily that six ships will not be enough to everything that we want them to do. The bizarre thing is that everyone knows it, even amateur analysts such as myself. The Admirals definitely know it, but aren't allowed to say so as it would embarass the politicians.
Such a procurement strategy does seem strange, when only a couple of weeks ago the Army managed to keep the vast majority of its tanks, which are only – on average – used once in a decade, and then in nothing more than an armoured brigade level. Destroyers and Frigates are like infantry battalions – on a never-ending deployment cycle that has no slack. Sure, ships cost money, but lack of ships when it matters can cost a whole lot more.
The other problem is one of strategy. What exactly do we want the Type 45's to do? In conception, and in armament, they are powerful area defence Destroyers, with a very capable anti-air and missile system, and a very powerful radar fit. Is it a good use to send them patrolling? Granted, any military asset should be able to perform basic functions specific to its service in the short term – witness gunners and sappers, for example, operating as infantry in Northern Ireland. But it seems that the Type 45's are very much written into the escort deployment roster. Things do seem to smack of short-termism.
Once the Type 45 programme has been delivered, attention shifts to the imminent arrival of the Carriers, in whatever shape or form that takes, and then the crucial Type 26 programme of future Frigates.
Related articles
- HMS Dragon breathes fire as she fires her first Sea Viper (rnzngunners.wordpress.com)
- Queen's Diamond Jubilee fires off in Portsmouth (telegraph.co.uk)


text:
Excel Workbook For Dummies
Table of Contents
Author Information
Excel Workbook For Dummies is specially designed to give you the hands-on experience you need to start using this great program with confidence and efficiency. This guide is packed with hundreds of exercises that walk you through the ins and outs of Excel at your own pace. You'll have all the tools you need to:
- Enter spreadsheet data
- Format, modify, and print your spreadsheet
- Copy and correct formulas
- Create date and time formulas
- Use math, statistical, lookup, and logical functions
- Chart spreadsheet data
- Add graphics to the spreadsheet
- Manage and secure your data
- Perform what-if analyses
- Generate pivot tables
- Publish spreadsheets as Web pages
- Add hyperlinks to spreadsheets
- Take advantage of Macros and Visual Basic Editor
Included is a bonus CD-ROM full of useful features, including sample files for all exercises in the book, a variety of important Excel tools, worksheets, and templates for financial planning, and a trial version of Crystal Xcelsius to get you started making progress and becoming an Excel expert!
Note: CD-ROM/DVD and other supplementary materials are not included as part of eBook file.


text:
Maintaining Electronic Partitions Part of School's Annual Inspection
In 2001, then-Governor George Pataki signed into law a measure that required all New York State schools to install new safety devices on all moving partition walls used in school gymnasiums and auditoriums. The legislation was designed to prevent accidental deaths and serious physical injuries.
This new law will help to ensure the physical safety of New York's children and prevent future tragedies from occurring in our schools," Pataki said at the time.
Legislation was introduced following the accidental death of 9-year-old Deanna Moon in 1991 in her Melville elementary school in hopes of preventing such a death from happening again. Deanna was killed after being crushed by a gymnasium partition door. It was later found that the teacher tampered with the mechanism jamming a jump rope into the safety device.
In 2001, 12-year-old Rashad Richardson was killed after being crushed by an automatic partition in his Ithaca school gymnasium showing the need for the law to be enacted, which it was soon after his death in 2001.
As stated in the law, all electrically operated partitions and room dividers in schools and educational institutions are required to be equipped with safety devices which, subject to standards established by the commissioner of education, stop the motion of such partitions and room dividers upon the presence of a body in front of the leading edge of such partition or divider, as well as in the stacking area.
There are three main types of electronic partitions: electronic folding partitions, which are large, extremely heavy doors that are hinged at each panel; electronic coil walls, which are predominately found in auditoriums and run with a track both on the floor and ceiling; and electronic divider curtains, which roll or fold up to the ceiling and are mainly used to divide gymnasiums, classrooms or auditoriums into different areas.
These electronic partitions have to comply with New York State Education law and New York State Education Department regulations. The State Education Department has required two emergency stop safety switches on new partitions since the 1991 accident.
Senator Carl Marcellino is currently seeking an amendment to the legislation that clarifies that schools must use a licensed maintenance person to service the doors annually. Senator Marcellino and Senator James Seward are putting the bill in the state Senate and Assemblyman Jim Conte will do so in the Assembly.
"The tragic deaths of two young people resulted in a law that would prevent similar accidents from happening ever again. If these partitions and their safety devices are not properly maintained and serviced, we could easily witness another horrific injury or death of one of our students. A simple amendment to the 2001 law would ensure that the steps we took eight years ago were not in vain. I look forward to this legislation passing as soon as possible," said Marcellino.
A recent study, which was completed by Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, said "injuries to American children during physical education classes increased 150 percent from 1997-2007" and stated that the increase has less to do with lively gym programs, but more to do with a lack of adult supervision, a decline in school nurses and larger class sizes.
"Children got hurt by running into equipment or having contact with structures or other persons," said Lara McKenzie, the study's senior author.
This study, which was based on hospital records, stresses the need to make gym class safer. The required safety devices on the electronic partitions help reach that goal.
Like any other school safety issue, the state education department is required to make sure these doors are in working order and that the individual school districts adhere to the law. This amendment would clarify that regularly scheduled maintenance must be performed by a trained professional and the cost would be picked up by the state, not the individual school districts. The law allots additional state building aid to school districts for the costs of purchasing safety devices for electrically operated partitions and room dividers.
After the law was put in place, approximately 5,500 dividers were retrofitted with the safety technology required by the law. The issue has become getting these schools to comply with the regulations, which require staff training and annual maintenance, in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.
The design of the SafePath system, which is manufactured in the United States and distributed by Gym Doors Repairs Inc., a Long Island-based company, begins with control stations at both sides having to be operated simultaneously on opposite ends of the partition. Once activated, the SafePath System surrounds both sides of the partitions with invisible protection zones, which form a blanket of coverage that when intruded halts operation and sounds an alarm. Coverage spans the entire length of the partition, packing area and final closure. It is a no contact design.
The average annual cost to maintain the system is approximately $400 and the parts are guaranteed in some contracts when the system is maintained properly. The initial cost of installing the system is approximately $4,000.
According to the manufacturer, many systems on Long Island are not properly maintained on an annual basis by a certified technician.
According to Garden City Superintendent Dr. Robert Feirsen, "Garden City Public Schools utilizes a company which periodically inspects the existing partition doors. Every effort is made to ensure that the doors are operating in a safe manner."
Garden City district officials thank Senator Carl Marcellino for proposing the annual inspection amendment to the current legislation and encourages New York State to provide the necessary funding for implementation of an annual partition door inspection program.
There have been two deaths in New York State and one in New Jersey as well as many reported and unreported injuries from these partitions when they were not properly maintained. Unmaintained or uninspected electronic panels contain components that become deteriorated or become loose and dangerous as many of the components are overhead and over 20 feet high. Strict qualifications help ensure proper maintenance procedures are followed.
In March 1973, a 12-year-old New Jersey resident was killed during gym class, in addition to New York's two fatalities of Deanna Moon and Rashad Richardson.
The electronic partitions were always unattended when these accidents took place and were sometimes rigged to save time. It takes three-minutes to completely extend or stack the partitions, as they move slowly due to their size.
The question becomes, what entity is in charge of enforcing this law and ensures that the schools are having the required maintenance done.
According to Carl Thurnau, coordinator of Facilities Planning for the New York State Education Department, maintaining the buildings within a school district is not the same as maintaining a house.
"When you build a house, you get a Certificate of Occupancy (CO) and if you never change anything in the house, you never need another CO and never have to see another building inspector again. That CO is good for the life of the house unless you put an addition on," explained Thurnau. "This is not how it works in public schools. We have an annual fire and safety inspection and an annual CO is issued. Every school gets inspected by a certified code enforcement official every 11 months. Over the course of a decade, doing it 11 months, schools get inspected in every season of the year. You will see problems that crop up in the summertime that might not over the wintertime. Within the last year or year and a half, we have updated our fire and safety inspection process to make sure that the fire inspectors are looking for the documentation [which is provided by the school district] that the partitions are being maintained. The school district is obligated under the regulations to maintain the partitions and keep records of the maintenance."
In New York State, a certified code enforcement official is an individual who has taken the appropriate training courses through the NYS Department of State. "School districts are entitled to hire any individual who is a certified code enforcement official to complete the inspection," said Thurnau. "The school district has the manual and the information and provides that to the inspector."
Thurnau explained that if a school did not provide the documentation, the district would have failed that portion of the inspection and the State Education Department would be notified and would follow up with the school district.
In addition to the obvious risk of injury or death, if an annual New York State Fire and Safety Inspection deems the system unsafe, penalties include having the partitions disconnected, after 30 days on non-compliance, a Certificate of Occupancy might be lifted and insurance companies may drop coverage.


text:
New security video shows a Florida woman tearing up the inside a fast food restaurant in St. Petersburg, because Florida woman don't care. Florida woman just does what she wants.
Monday, the seriously unlucky employees at a McDonald's uploaded security camera video of that unruly customer on LiveLeak.com (NSFW).
In the video, the woman, wearing just a thong, began yelling at the counter and threw the computers and tray tables. She then went into the kitchen area and attempted to topple the refrigerator. When she failed, she threw everything inside onto the floor.
For the piece de resistance, she helped herself to the ice cream machine and guzzled it down like Cheez Whiz, grabbed some french fries and finally vacated the store.
Police say the rampage started because an employee turned down the woman's offer for oral sex.
The woman, later identified as 41-year-old Sandra Suarez, a mother of two, told Tampa Bay's WTVT-TV she had a bipolar episode and couldn't remember what had happened. Doctors say she was not intoxicated at the time of the incident.
The employees who aired the video have all been fired. The store manager says they uploaded the video without his permission and "violated his values."


text:
You will find informative articles and information about antique shops and shows.
Read the June 6th Issue of Renninger's GuideWritten by Dexter Renninger
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Published in Renninger's News
Dexter Renninger
Dexter Renninger is the web designer for Renninger's Promotions. He also works in online marketing and social media management.Website: www.renningers.net
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text:
Designed with Thermowarm Touch technology to maintain core temperature and maximise performance, these advanced tights feature hollow core polyester to effectively trap heat and create an insulating layer of warmth. This fitted silhouette is styled with an abrasion resistant wide waistband and flat-lock seams for comfort. Mesh rear knee panels add breathability while wide cuffs are designed to stay in place.
Designed with Thermowarm Touch technology to maintain core temperature and maximise performance, these advanced tights feature hollow core polyester to effectively trap heat and create an insulating layer of warmth. This fitted silhouette is styled with an abrasion resistant wide waistband and flat-lock seams for comfort. Mesh rear knee panels add breathability while wide cuffs are designed to stay in place.
How much are delivery costs?
We charge flat rates per address, depending on the delivery method and total weight of order. Rates (incl. VAT) are as follows:
UK Delivery
Standard Delivery £3.95 (2-3 working days)*
Express Delivery £5.95 (1-2 working days)
Saturday before 9am from £14.50
Saturday before 1pm from £10.50
Orders placed after 12pm will be processed and posted the next working day.
*Free standard postage on orders over £100
Please note: Some items may incur additional postage charges due to their size and weight. This will be displayed at the checkout stage of your purchase. Example products: Umbrellas, golf clubs, hockey sticks, racquets, snooker/pool cues, skis/snowboards, table tennis tables etc.
European/International Delivery
European Zone 1: Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, Republic of Ireland (0-2+kg - £14.95, 3-5 days delivery)
European Zone 2: Austria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, San Marion, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey (0-2+kg - £14.95, 3-5 days delivery)
European Zone 3: Bulgaria, Corsica, Croatia, Portugal, Romania (0-2kg - £15.95, 2+kg - £34.95, 3-5 days delivery)
European Zone 4: Azores, Greece, Madeira, Sardinia, Sicily (0-2kg - £15.95, 2+kg - £44.95, 3-5 days delivery)
European Zone 5: Andorra, Canary Islands, Gibraltar (0-2kg - £15.95, 2+kg - £54.95, 3-5 days delivery)
European Zone 6: Balearic Island, Cyprus, Iceland (0-2kg - £19.95, 2+kg - £64.95, 3-5 days delivery)
European Zone 7: Malta, Vatican City (0-2kg - £19.95, 2+kg - £74.95, 3-5 days delivery)
International Zone 1: Belarus, Belize, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Liechtenstein, Macedonia (0-2kg - £38.95, 2+kg - £79.95, 5-7 Days Delivery)
International Zone 2: Japan, Samoa, Singapore, Thailand (0-2kg - £39.95, 2+kg - £120.95, 7-10 days delivery)
International Zone 3: Cambodia, Christmas Islands, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia, Papua New Guinea (0-2kg - £90.95, 2+kg - £278.95, 7-10 days delivery)
International Zone 4: Argentina, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Brazil, Chile, Jordan, Kenya, Mexico, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Sri Lanka (0-2kg - £44.95, 2+kg £156.95, 5-7 days delivery)
International Zone 5: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Burkino Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Costa Rica, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Falkland Islands, Faroe Island, French Guiana, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guinea, Indonesia, Jamaica, Mauritania, Mauritius, Montenegro, Monserrat, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Netherlands Antilles, Saint Helena, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Pierre and Miguelom, Saint Vincent and Grenadines, Senegal, Seychelles, Turkmenistan, Turks & Caicos Islands, Venezuela, Virgin Islands (British) Virgin Islands (U.S) Zambia, Zimbabwe. (0-2kg - £108.95, 2+kg - £281.95, 5-7 days delivery)
International Zone 6: Canada, Saudi Arabia, USA (0-2kg - £19.95, 2+kg - £64.95, 5-7 days delivery)
International Zone 7: Australia, Bermuda, China, Egypt, Hong Kong, New Zealand, UAE (0-2kg - £15.95, 2+kg - £74.95, 7-10 days delivery)
Click & Collect
We offer a Collect in Store option at our checkout page. Once your payment is processed and your order is ready to collect we will send you a 'Ready For Collection' email, which you should show or print and bring into store store along with valid photo ID e.g. Driving License or Passport. We aim to process collect in store orders the same day where possible. Please however do not attempt to collect your order until you have received the 'Ready For Collection' email.
We keep orders for 14 days and after that we'll return the items to stock and issue you with a refund, through the same method of payment that was used when your order was placed. If you can't pick up within 14 days, we can sometimes extend the holding period, please call our Customer Servie Team who can help you with your request on +44(0)141 221 3322
The Collection Point is located in our Outdoor Department on the first floor. Please be aware that you must be in receipt of your 'Ready For Collection' email before you arrive to collect your item(s).
Should you change your mind and wish to have your order shipped, please contact our customer service team via email firstname.lastname@example.com or by phoning +44(0)141 221 3322 quoting your order reference number. Please be aware that you are liable to pay a postage charge if you decide to have your item shipped.
Our address for collecting your order is:
Greaves Sports Ltd
23 Gordon Street
How long does delivery take?
The Delivery Time depends on what you're buying.
Standard Delivery: 2 business days
Express Delivery: 1 business days
Personalisation: + 2 days. Adding a name, number, badge or flag to your product takes around 1 - 2 days, so if you add a personalised product to your bag, your full order will take 1 - 2 days longer than the delivery timings you are used to.
Orders placed after 12pm will be processed and posted the next working day.
During sale and promotion periods delivery might take a little longer than you're used to.
Public Holidays
Please note that our warehouse is closed on the following date(s):
Monday 2nd April 2018
Monday 7th May 2018
Monday 28th May 2018
Monday 16th July 2018
Monday 24th September 2018
Tuesday 25th December 2018
Wednesday 26th December 2018
Orders placed on, or the day before one of these dates will have an extended delivery time.
Delivery Rules & Restrictions
Orders are shipped on business days only. Business days are Monday to Friday, excluding national holidays in the United Kingdom
Royal Mail Delivery
If your order has been dispatched with Royal Mail you can track your order at https://www.royalmail.com/track-your-item This site will require you to enter your 13 digit tracking number from your email confirmation that we send you. If you are having difficulty in using this then please call our online department on 0141 221 3322 and we will be able to track your order for you.
Alternatively, you are able to contact Royal Mail customer services on 08457 740 740. If you have missed delivery on a parcel Royal Mail will leave a missed delivery notification card with you and you will have to visit your local delivery office to collect your parcel. Please take a form of identification with you. Royal Mail will hold your order for up to 4 days before they return your parcel to us.
Parcelforce Delivery
For orders dispatched via Parcelforce you can track your order at https://www.parcelforce.com/track-trace by entering your 14 digit tracking number from your email confirmation that we send you. If you are having difficulty in using this then please call our online department on 0141 221 3322 and we will be able to track your order for you. To contact Parcelforce customer services call 0344 800 446.
If you miss delivery from Parcelforce they will leave a missed delivery notification card with you and you will have to visit your local collection office or indeed re-arrange delivery on your parcel. Parcelforce will normally attempt delivery the next working day automatically if you were not at home on their first visit.
Missing Parcel
If your parcel does not arrive, please contact Royal Mail or Parcelforce using the tracking services above. Alternatively contact customer services on
Royal Mail - 08457 740 740 | Parcelforce - 0344 800 446
If you are having difficulty in using this then please call our online department on 0141 221 3322 and we will be able to track your order for you.
In the event you need to return an item, you will find instructions on the invoice which we send out with your order.
Step 1
Fill out the necessary details on the back of the invoice stating the reason for return and whether you require a refund or exchange. To download returns form click here
Step 2
Package up parcel and use Returns label which can be downloaded and printed here
UK Customers - Please send goods back to the address below.
Non UK Customers - Please send goods back to the address below using recorded mail as we cannot be responsible for goods lost or delayed in transit back to us. Download and Print the Returns label here
Step 3
Or Return goods to our store at 23 Gordon Street, Glasgow, G1 3PW
Returns Department
23-25 Gordon Street
United Kingdom
You may cancel your order any time within fourteen (14) working days from the day you receive the goods. However please note that you will be responsible for the cost of returning the goods to us. If a refund is payable to you we will process the refund as soon as possible, and, in any case within 30 days of the day of cancellation.
Please note that you have a legal obligation to take reasonable care of the goods while they are in your possession. If you fail to comply with this obligation, we may have a right of action against you for compensation. This applies to all goods that are returned.
In all cases the items must be returned in their original condition including any packaging. For example shoes must be returned in their original boxes, items of clothing such as jerseys / shorts must be returned with their tags and in any bags / packaging they were dispatched in. All goods are inspected upon their return to us as per above.
If you have received a free gift with your purchase and wish to return the item you paid for, for a refund, you must also return the free item received. If the free item is not returned, we will refund the value of your purchase minus the full value of the free gift.


text:
MILPITAS, CA-October 8, 2010, SanDisk Corporation (NASDAQ: SNDK), the global leader in flash memory cards, will host a conference call on Thursday, October 21, 2010 at 2:00 PM, Pacific Time, to discuss its third quarter financial results. To listen to the conference call, please dial 719-325-4827 at least 10 minutes before the call commences. The dial-in password is 9488738. After the market closes on October 21, 2010 and prior to the conference call, SanDisk will publish its third quarter 2010 financial results press release via Business Wire.
The conference call will also be on listen-only mode webcast and it can be accessed live from SanDisk's website at www.sandisk.com/ir. A replay of the webcast will also be made available, on-demand, following the conclusion of the conference call.
SanDisk Corporation is the global leader in flash memory cards, from research, manufacturing and product design to consumer branding and retail distribution. SanDisk's product portfolio includes flash memory cards for mobile phones, digital cameras and camcorders; digital audio/video players; USB flash drives for consumers and the enterprise; embedded memory for mobile devices; and solid state drives for computers. SanDisk is a Silicon Valley-based S&P 500 company, with more than half its sales outside the United States.
Jay Iyer


text:
Just when you thought it could not get any worse, J.C. Penney one-ups itself.
Third-quarter same-store sales plunged 26 percent, bringing the two-year trend to a new low since CEO Ron Johnson started transforming the retailer into "America's Favorite Store." The company reported traffic has been consistent this year (down between 11 percent and 12 percent).
Yes, consistently bad, that is.
Conversion rates — changing shoppers into buyers — are also down. Gross margins missed because with a 26-percent decline in same-store sales, more clearance is unavoidable.


text:
The American Cancer Society cares about your privacy and protects how we use your information. Your information will help us better serve your needs and the needs of your community, and we do not sell your information to third parties. For questions about our privacy policy, please visit www.cancer.org.
Help | Legal & Privacy | State Fundraising Notice | About ACS | Print This Page | Event Manager Log In
In the United States, call for cancer information: 1.800.227.2345 Copyright © All content and works posted on this Website are owned and copyrighted by the American Cancer Society, Inc. All rights reserved.


text:
Application Development for Mobile Computing
Fujitsu brings together proven enterprise-level data infrastructure, enterprise mobility middleware and cutting edge mobile application development.
Covering iOS, android, Windows Mobile, Blackberry OS and Symbian requires an extensive skills set and resources for all popular mobile platforms.
Fujitsu's approach is based on teamwork and collaboration, rapid and early delivery to customer, and emphasis on interactive design sessions. Some projects successfully implemented include:
McDonalds Store Finder App (built for iOS platform)
PC Finder App (for University of South Australia, using Android)
Service Link Field Force Automation System (built using Windows Mobile)
FAST has established a team of skilled software architects, designers and developers to handle the full development lifecycle, from requirement through to innovative and "future-proof" business intelligence solutions.


text:
VATICAN CITY — The apostolic palace's frescoed Clementine Hall became the stage for a mini-Bavarian festival today to celebrate Pope Benedict's 85th birthday.
A small band played "oompah" music and ten children dressed in traditional outfits swirled, stomped and clapped as they performed the Schuhplattler before the pope. They were part of a large delegation of Bavarian bishops and 150 government representatives from the region who came to greet the pope and celebrate his birthday.
The pope's brother, 88-year-old Msgr. Georg Ratzinger, also attended the festivities as well as representatives from the Lutheran church and the Jewish community in Bavaria.
The children presented the pope with white flowers and a Maypole covered with colorful ribbons. They also recited a German birthday poem.
The government delegation presented the pope with gifts of a wooden crucifix sculpted by a well-known 18th-century Bavarian woodcarver and a large Easter basket filled with traditional cakes, dark bread, ham and painted eggs.
Take a look at our video coverage of the pope's milestone birthday:
And here's the Vatican's coverage from the morning Mass:


text:
Views: 1075
Coming out atheist was never a problem for me as I live in the UK. My wife thought long and hard before coming out to her family in New York. Luckily, they have all accepted her change of heart, even though they do not necessarily agree with it.
This is the kind of situation where we have to take a few deep breaths and pause. It's like when Michelle Bachmann was calling for investigation of congressto see who might be "Anti-American". In addition, Bachmann supports a "National Registry of Atheists and Gays". "
"Well Duh! Don't you think people should know who is living near them? How would you feel to find out after moving into a new home that the Neighbor on the left is an Atheist and the one on the right is Gay?
Bachmann is much scarier than the crackpot "Pastor Mike" with a blog. Bachman has millions of supporters in the US.
I remember when, during the early AIDS era, Jerry Farwell called for locking gays up in concentration camps, and the "Moral Majority" was ascendant. He also wanted a registry of gays, but I don't think he mentioned atheists.
Christianity, and these particular christians, are full of hate. They say, and do, dangerous things. How many christians stand up and say "Im ashamed to be in the same category as Bachmann and her fellow travelers"?
It might well be...
I can't seem to access the blog anymore - I get a "invited reader only" page so can't see the "Lou Cipher" reference. It may well be that Mr. Alucard may have gotten us good again...
You mean ... we were ALL BORN ATHEIST?!? In the immortal words of Snagglepuss, "Heavens to Mergatroyd!"
of course, not to mention the eggs and semen, when i think of all the atheists ive killed, it brings tears to my eyes.... but loren, isn't it god that washes out half of the fertilized eggs, if so he shud make his own list.
seriously, this brings to mind the question, if god wanted a list, why cant he do it himself? and if we are here with god given free will to be tested by god, isnt it interference in gods plan to even talk of a list of atheists. hmm, im beginning to wonder if christian NUT Mike is really an atheist.
© 2019 Atheist Nexus. All rights reserved. Admin: The Nexus Group. Powered by


text:
Edward Snowden says email released by NSA is "incomplete"
WASHINGTON -- Edward Snowden says he repeatedly raised constitutional concerns about National Security Agency surveillance internally, but an NSA search turned up a single email in which Snowden gently asks for "clarification" on a technical legal question about training materials, agency officials said Thursday. Snowden later called the official release of the email "incomplete."
Snowden, a former NSA systems administrator whose leaks have exposed some of the agency's most sensitive spying operations, called himself a patriot in an interview this week with NBC News' Brian Williams. He said he felt he had no choice but to expose what he considered illegal NSA surveillance by leaking secret details to journalists.
NSA officials have said he gained access to some 1.7 million classified documents, though it's not clear how many he removed from the Hawaii facility where he worked as a contractor.
Asked by Williams whether he first raised his qualms with his bosses, he said, "I reported that there were real problems with the way the NSA was interpreting its legal authorities."
On Thursday, NSA released the email they said Snowden appeared to be referring to, which the agency says is the only communication from Snowden it could find raising any concerns. It was dated April 8, 2013, three months after Snowden first reached out to journalists anonymously. Former NSA chief Gen. Keith Alexander said the agency could find no one to whom Snowden voiced concerns verbally either.
In the email to NSA's general counsel's office, Snowden questions an NSA document showing the hierarchy of governing authorities, which appeared to put executive orders on par with federal statutes.
"I'm not entirely certain, but this does not seem correct, as it seems to imply executive orders have the same precedence as law," Snowden said in the email. "Could you please clarify?"
An unidentified NSA lawyer began his reply, "Hello, Ed," and told Snowden he was correct: Executive orders cannot override federal law.
In an email to The Washington Post, Snowden called the official release of the email "incomplete," the newspaper reported late Thursday.
Snowden said it did not include his correspondence with NSA compliance officials and concerns he had raised about "indefensible collection activities." He repeated claims that he had shown colleagues "direct evidence" of programs that they agreed were unconstitutional, the newspaper said.
"If the White House is interested in the whole truth, rather than the NSA's clearly tailored and incomplete leak today for a political advantage, it will require the NSA to ask my former colleagues, management and the senior leadership team about whether I, at any time, raised concerns about the NSA's improper and at times unconstitutional surveillance activities," Snowden wrote in response to questions from the Post. "It will not take long to receive an answer."
Snowden told the Post in December that he raised his concerns face to face with colleagues and supervisors for more than six months. Beginning in October 2012, he said, he brought his concerns about widespread agency surveillance to two superiors in the NSA's Technology Directorate and two in the NSA Threat Operations Center's regional base in Hawaii, the newspaper said Thursday.
In the NBC interview - conducted in Moscow, where Snowden now lives outside the reach of pending U.S. criminal charges - Snowden said the reply he got to his email was "more or less, in bureaucratic language, 'You should stop asking questions.'"
In fact, the lawyer's email to him concludes, "Please give me a call if you would like to discuss further."
No specific surveillance program was discussed in the email.
Even if Snowden had complained in detail about the programs he leaked, it's far from clear that anything significant would have happened. The programs had been blessed by congressional oversight committees, deemed legal by executive branch lawyers and were widely supported in the NSA. The Obama administration changed them after public outcry as a result of the classified material Snowden took and gave to journalists.
But U.S. officials say Snowden's assertions that he repeatedly tried to raise concerns internally before opting to leak are not accurate.
"There were and there are numerous avenues that Mr. Snowden could have used to raise other concerns or whistle-blower allegations," White House spokesman Jay Carney said Thursday. "The appropriate authorities have searched for additional indications of outreach from Mr. Snowden in those areas and to date have not found any engagements related to his claims."
Secretary of State John Kerry told CBS News earlier this week that Snowden had "damaged his country very significantly, " and called on him to "man up and come back to the United States."
Snowden also claimed he was trained as an undercover spy, an allegation that national security adviser Susan Rice denied.
American Civil Liberties Union lawyer Ben Wizner, Snowden's legal adviser, called the email issue "a red herring," and insisted Snowden "raised many complaints over many channels."
He added, "The problem was not some unknown and isolated instance of misconduct. The problem was that an entire system of mass surveillance had been deployed - and deemed legal - without the knowledge or consent of the public."


text:
Next Episode of Hollyoaks is
Hollyoaks is a British soap opera, first broadcast on Channel 4 on 23 October 1995. It was originally devised by Phil Redmond, who had also devised the Channel 4 soap Brookside. The programme is set in a fictional suburb of Chester called Hollyoaks, and features a large cast of characters primarily aged between 16 and 35. Beginning with a cast of just seven major characters in 1995, the serial now has approximately 50 main cast members. Hollyoaks has a high cast turnover in comparison with other British soaps; as of May 2014, just fifteen characters have spent 5 years or longer on the show. The programme, which is currently the UK's youngest television soap opera, has won 28 British Soap Awards, 11 Inside Soap Awards, one TRIC Award and one National Television Award; at the 2014 British Soap Awards, Hollyoaks won Best British Soap for the first time, breaking the 15 year draw between rival soaps EastEnders and Coronation Street. It is also popular around the world. (source: en.wikipedia.org)
Greg Wood(Trevor Royle)
Karl Collins(Louis Loveday)
Charlie Wernham(Robbie Roscoe)
Gillian Taylforth(Sandy Roscoe)
Jeremy Sheffield(Patrick Blake)
Jared Garfield(Nathan Nightingale)
David Kennedy(Dirk Savage)
Kai Owen(Pete Buchanan)
Ben Richards(Ben Bradley)
Nikki Sanderson(Maxine Minniver)
James Sutton(John Paul McQueen)
Jamie Lomas(Warren Fox)
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text:
In my daily maintenance routine I tend to throw an emerge -uav world against the sabayon trees and see what packages can be bumped. I also check http://www.gentoo-portage.com to see what is new. In this routine 90% off all things I bump for Entropy it is done manually writing each emerge -av command by hand.
Since I trust Gentoo developers for doing a good job within their own little expertise and interest, I kinda trust each package bump makes sense. If it is either some revision bump because there was some LD flags to respect, a fix for –as-needed or simple another minor thing I just bump them. Even though on the binary end this would not make any difference for the user experience I just do it.
However this workflow sometimes leads to some stupid breakages because somebody thought it was a great idea to bump some lib that in fact is there for a reason. Some things in the Portage tree simply are there because some, or maybe one, of the atoms in the tree need them. There are numerous examples I ran into lately but here is one off them:
In my daily routine, some while back I bumped net-libs/enet. Not a big deal really. However this seemed to break games-action/supertuxkart and my tools could not detect this breakage. Otherwise I would obviously reverted this update. I went looking into some history and I realized that only games-action/supertuxkart ,games-rpg/egoboo and games-puzzle/enigma actually need net-libs/enet within the Portage tree, so why was this package bumped anyway? Not because it was needed for one of its parent atoms , no, because some user on the gentoo bugzilla requested this atom (remember only needed so far by 3 atoms) to be updated because "there was a newer version". http://bugs.gentoo.org/325809 (just an example, do not shoot anybody for this!)
Somebody requested without any motivation this package to be updated and without question this was done. This all leads to atoms currently in Portage to mall function, fail to compile, etc. Later this all was corrected by Gentoo QA team where they slotted the enet version.
So what happens next is that users notice this when they install one off the games and it doesn't work? They file a bug to Sabayon, or a Gentoo user files a bug to the Gentoo bugzilla. A bug wrangler needs to check the bug is valid enough and assign it to a herd/maintainer. The maintainer then discovers the unwanted enet bump and got to do all the work to block the newer version. All that kinda work because somebody thought it would be nice to bump a library/piece off software.
If users request such a version bump do not be scared to ask for a motivation.
It is nice to be bleeding edge, but really uncool to fall off the cliff just to look cool.