text:
ARSC HPC Users' Newsletter 409, December 23, 2009
- Watch Those Compiler Wrappers!
- Using OpenMP with the PathScale and PGI Fortran Compilers
- Make and tar for Source File Management
- Floating Point Exceptions and the PathScale Compilers
- Holiday Greetings
- Quick Tip
Watch Those Compiler Wrappers![ By Ed Kornkven ]
It is typical for high performance systems to "wrap" their compilers so that site-specific options and libraries can be used invisibly to the user. For example, on Midnight, when compiling a Fortran+MPI program with the PathScale compiler, instead of using the PathScale compiler command "pathf90", we advise users to use the wrapper named "mpif90." The wrapper will make sure that the compiler can find the MPI header and library files without requiring the user to add any additional options. One can see what the wrapper is doing by adding the "-show" option, e.g.,
mpif90 -show
The situation is similar on the Cray XT5. Cray has long named their Fortran compiler "ftn" (and their C compiler "cc") and it is no different on Pingo. However, on the XT5, the name "ftn" wraps an underlying compiler, depending on the module that is loaded. So if the PGI environment is loaded, "ftn" will invoke the PGI compiler:
module load PrgEnv-pgi ftn -o a.out pgm.f90
That command not only invokes the correct compiler, it wraps it with path and environment settings. It is still possible to compile with the PGI compiler ("pgf90") but that is rarely advisable.
As an example of an effect of not using the wrapper, recently I was porting a program and Makefile to Pingo and forgot to change the compiler name to "ftn." All was fine until I wanted to profile the code with CrayPat. When I invoked the "pat_build" command to instrument the executable
pat_build -O apa a.out
I got this error:
ERROR: Missing required ELF section 'link information' from the program. >> Load the correct 'craypat' module and rebuild the program.
That message had me scratching my head for a while until I sought help from our able consultants. Moral: use the wrapped compiler for MPI codes on Midnight and probably always on Pingo.
Using OpenMP with the PathScale and PGI Fortran Compilers[ By Oralee Nudson ]
One interesting situation a user recently ran into while running her OpenMP program on midnight involved the program executing flawlessly when compiled with PathScale, but not picking up the thread identities when compiled with PGI.
As a test, I typed in the following simple.f90 program found in "Parallel Programming in OpenMP" written by Chandra, Dagum, et. al.:
% cat simple.f90 program hello Integer :: myid, nthreads print *, "Hello parallel world from threads:" !$omp parallel private (myid, nthreads) myid = omp_get_thread_num() nthreads = omp_get_num_threads() print *, 'I am thread ', myid, 'of ', nthreads,' total ' !$omp end parallel print *, "Back to the sequential world." end
Compiling simple.f90 with version 3.2 of the PathScale compiler gave me the expected results:
% pathf90 -mp -o simple simple.f90 % export OMP_NUM_THREADS=4 % ./simple Hello parallel world from threads: I am thread 0 of 4 total I am thread 1 of 4 total I am thread 2 of 4 total I am thread 3 of 4 total Back to the sequential world.
However, when I switched to a version (I tried a few) of the PGI compiler, the threads seemed to be created, but were unable to recognize their assigned task or the total number of threads running:
% module purge % module load PrgEnv.pgi % module list Currently Loaded Modulefiles: 1) voltairempi-S-1.pgi 2) pgi-7.2.2 3) PrgEnv.pgi % pgf90 -mp -o simple simple.f90 % export OMP_NUM_THREADS=4 % ./simple Hello parallel world from threads: I am thread 0 of 0 total I am thread 0 of 0 total I am thread 0 of 0 total I am thread 0 of 0 total Back to the sequential world.
This problem was quite puzzling. After some thought and discussion with my colleagues, I learned that the PGI compiler requires the inclusion of the "use omp_lib" statement within the Fortran program. After adding the use statement underneath the "program hello" and above the Integer declarations, the PGI compiled version of the program ran as expected. Problem Solved! :)
% pgf90 -mp -o simple simple.f90 % export OMP_NUM_THREADS=4 % ./simple Hello world from threads: I am thread 0 of 4 total I am thread 1 of 4 total I am thread 2 of 4 total I am thread 3 of 4 total Returning from the parallel world.
Make and tar for Source File Management[ By Lawrence Murakami ]
I have decided that including a tar rule in my Makefile is a good idea. In some cases I may create a Makefile just to have the tar rule. The following is my latest Makefile that creates a tar file by:
- finding all files in the current directory and any sub-directories
- removing the leading "./" characters from the names
- selecting the files I want included
- omitting some I don't want included
- then create the archive using the resulting file list.
.PHONY : tar tar : ; find . -type f sed 's ^./ ' \ grep 'f90$$\ Makefile\ README\ tester\ results\ hwk.txt$$\ ,v$$' \ grep -v "~$$" \ xargs tar -cvjf phys693-OpenMP-hwk.tbz2
The above rule includes all Fortran 90 source files, all the make files, README files, tester files, results files and all RCS archive files. It excludes temp files made by vi or kwrite editors. Note that the $ sign needs to be doubled to have make treat it as an ordinary character.
The files in this example exist in a set of subdirectories. With this rule in a Makefile in the root folder I can use "make tar" to package up all the source and some other important files and the single file can be transmitted to another machine. Any object files, temp files, compiled programs, or output data is not included. I can transfer this and compile on another computer.
Floating Point Exceptions and the PathScale Compilers[ By Ed Kornkven ]
In issues 376 and 377 of this newsletter, Don Bahls wrote a couple of helpful articles on how to debug floating point exceptions. In issue 377, he discussed the PGI -Ktrap compiler option for enabling floating point exception trapping without additional code modifications. Since the matter arose for a PathScale user recently, this is a follow-up article to show similar options for PathScale.
Like the PGI suite, PathScale compilers offer several options for choosing the appropriate balance between IEEE arithmetic standard conformance and high performance. Users should be aware that the default behavior for compilers (including PGI and PathScale) is not strict IEEE conformance, but "safe" optimizations that may not be strictly standard-conforming. One of those behaviors, as we are discussing here, is to disable floating point exception trapping. Rather than attempt exhaustive treatment of this subject, I will simply refer the interested reader to the PathScale Fortran options:
- -O and -OPT optimization options
- -OPT:IEEE_arithmetic=N
- -fno-math-errno
- -TENV:simd_Xmask=OFF
It is this last class of options that is our focus here. The "X" in the option name specifies a SIMD floating point exception mask that can be turned OFF, thereby enabling floating point exceptions in machines with SSE SIMD instructions (like the AMD Opterons on Pingo and Midnight). The options for disabling various masks and the exceptions they enable are:
- -TENV:simd_imask=OFF (traps invalid operation exceptions)
- -TENV:simd_dmask=OFF (traps denormalized operand exceptions)
- -TENV:simd_zmask=OFF (traps divide by zero exceptions)
- -TENV:simd_omask=OFF (traps overflow exceptions)
- -TENV:simd_umask=OFF (traps underflow exceptions)
- -TENV:simd_pmask=OFF (traps precision exceptions)
Revisiting Don's divide-by-zero example,
program exception real*4 a real*4 b call enable_exceptions() a=1 b=0 a=a/b ! with exceptions enabled the code should crash here. print *,"a=", a end program
we can compile with PathScale like this
pathf90 -TENV:simd_zmask=OFF -g exceptions.f90 -lm -o exception
and then execute, getting our floating point exception and core dump.
mg57> ./exception Floating exception(coredump)
Holiday Greetings
Your editors would like to thank our readers for reading, contributing and making suggestions for this newsletter. We write this to be a resource for our fellow HPC users, at ARSC and elsewhere, and it is important to us that our readers find it relevant and helpful. Over the past year we have received clarifications, follow-ups, insights and ideas for future articles and we want to both thank you and encourage continued feedback. Please receive our best wishes and blessings for a happy holiday season and a prosperous 2010.
Quick-Tip Q & A
A:[[ I have an input file with space and newline delimited ASCII input. [[ The first few lines have 1 to 5 values each, but the next several [[ thousand lines should all have 20 values per line. I recently found [[ a file that had the wrong number of values on one of those lines so I [[ need to start checking these files. Obviously, visual inspection is [[ not my preferred option. How can I do this check and find any lines [[ that don't have 20 values? There's got to be an easy way to do this! [[ # # We have many proficient awk users in our readership, and several of them # contributed awk-based solutions to this problem. Thanks to Jed Brown, # Ken Irving, Ryan Czerwiec and Scott Kajihara for sending us awk answers. # # Ken replied: # awk does this sort of thing pretty succinctly, e.g.: $ awk 'NF!=20' FILE or $ cat FILE awk 'NF!=20{print NR, NF}' are amoung the inumerable ways to do this. # # Ryan adds: # If you want to see the line numbers as well so you know where to look in the file for them, something like this will work. It displays line number, a colon, then the offending line: gawk 'NF != 20 {printf "%s:%s\n", FNR, $0}' file In your case, you happen to know the first few lines will fail the test, so you can exclude them if you wish: gawk '(NF != 20) && (FNR > 3) {printf "%s:%s\n", FNR, $0}' file For example will not consider the first 3 lines if that's how big your header is. # # Scott skips the initial lines like this: # The number of initial lines to skip (N) can be set in the loop in the BEGIN clause as the querent does not specify this. However, the following will print out the line (actually record) numbers of the errant lines as well as the actual lines: awk '\ BEGIN { for (i = 0; i < N; ++i) { getline; }; } \ NF != 20 { printf "%d: %s\n", NR, $0; }' \ filename # # and Jed's approach infers, rather than specifies the number of # initial lines to skip: # $ awk 'NR>5 && NF!=20 {print NR ": " $0}' file # # For extra credit, Jed suggests using find to process many such files: # $ find /path/of/interest -name '*.suf' -mtime -2 \ xargs -n1 awk 'NR>5 && NF!=20 {print FILENAME ":" NR ": " $0}' (with find, you could also use -exec awk ARGS '{}' \;) # # We also heard from some of our Perl users. Tom Baring's suggestion # was short-and-sweet: # perl -ne 'print "$. :$_" unless (m/^ *([^ ]+ +){19}[^ ]+ *$/);' file.txt # # and Derek Bastille added some extra bells and whistles: # #!/usr/bin/perl # This script checks for the number of values in a line # after a specified number of 'short' lines, each line # thereafter needs to have exactly N values. # vars $totalShortLines = 5; # total number of special lines $valsPerLine = 20; # each line needs this many values # loop-o-rama while (<>) { chomp(); if( $. <= $totalShortLines ) { # this is a short line print "[$.] Short Line => $_\n"; } else { @valueArray = split(/\s+/, $_); if( $#valueArray != ($valsPerLine - 1)) { # print error print "ERR: wrong number of values in line [$.] (" . ($#valueArray + 1) . " values) \n"; } } } Q: I need to generate some test data for a program I am writing. The input to the program is a list of integers. How can I generate all the permutations of a list of n integers? For example, for n=3, my generator would have an input of 3 and it would output something like: 1 2 3 1 3 2 2 1 3 2 3 1 3 1 2 3 2 1
[[ Answers, Questions, and Tips Graciously Accepted ]]
Current Editors:
E-mail Subscriptions:
Ed Kornkven ARSC HPC Specialist ph: 907-450-8669 Kate Hedstrom ARSC Oceanographic Specialist ph: 907-450-8678 Arctic Region Supercomputing Center University of Alaska Fairbanks PO Box 756020 Fairbanks AK 99775-6020
Subscribe to (or unsubscribe from) the e-mail edition of the
ARSC HPC Users' Newsletter.
Back issues of the ASCII e-mail edition of the ARSC T3D/T3E/HPC Users' Newsletter are available by request. Please contact the editors.


text:
Training the brain one feel-good flick at a time
15 May 2013 , 1:09 PM by Bern Young
What could a US fighter pilot have in common with a 21-year old Cabarita guy who's trying to learn to walk and talk again?
The answer is neurofeedback.
This is the latest technique Sam Ford is using after becoming brain damaged during a horrific assault in Coolangatta three and a half years ago.
After seeing his story on Four Corners earlier this year, Nerida Saunders decided she wanted to try and help Sam.
Nerida is a psychologist and a neuroscientist based at Tweed Heads and has successfully used brain mapping and neurofeedback to treat ADHD, autism and other disorders.
"For Sam my greatest wish is that he can have a normal life again, I think that's going to take a long, long time, I'll be honest with you because there are some deep issues there."
"But in 12 months time I'd like to see his speech normal and also see that he has much more power in his movement."
Nerida's colleague, Rustam Yumash is taking this session with Sam today and he's using a feel-good Aussie movie and some custom-made computer software to re-train Sam's brain.
When Sam's brain is emitting the desired brain waves, he (or his brain) is rewarded with a bigger screen and a clearer picture. When the brain waves aren't right, the picture goes fuzzy and smaller. The theory is that the brain will continue to do whatever gives it the greatest reward, in this case a big screen and a clear picture.
"It's a slow process, it's not a miracle cure, it does involve a lot of sessions .. when the brain has had such a dramatic impact and had serious damage .. but even for the day-to-day living, if you have a little bit more stable brain and then you can improve it slowly, that's great, " Rustam says.
Sam's Dad, Mike says it's hard to know if it's because of these sessions or whether it's just natural improvement but Sam's definitely changed in the last six to seven weeks.
"He's just more positive in everything he does and he is talking a lot more, his pronunciation's way better. I suppose a combination of his speech therapy and his physiotherapy, his training and everything, he's getting fitter and the overall fitness is helping everything, maybe. Maybe, I don't know, we'll see."
Listen to the latest instalment on Sam's recovery below and to read and hear more visit the Life Journeys archive.
You can follow this conversation by subscribing to the comment feed for this post.
i too can atest to the incredible improvements of Neuro Feedback. I have sufferred from Traumatic Brain Injury over the last 25 years and have had more than 15 sessions with Nerida. My world has gone from shades of grey to bursts of colour and every day I am expriencing little improvements.m =
Posted by: leanne cane | 16 May 2013 at 02:11 PM
We can also atest to the benefits of neurofeedback as we have had several blocks of sessions with our daughter with Nerida, Rustam and their colleagues. She is a different child than she was on our first visit. We have seen dramatic improvements and will be coming back for more treatments in the near future.
Posted by: Kerri House | 17 May 2013 at 02:52 PM
The comments to this entry are closed.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Walt Disney World Resort Updateby Mark Goldhaber, staff writer
Update for December 17 – 23, 2012
Go directly to: News & Views | Join our Networks | Coming Soon | Refurbishment/Attraction Closures | Discounts/Promotions | Comments
News and Views
New Fantasyland opens | New Test Track debuts | Splitsville readies for December 19 opening | Next Generation technology starts its full roll out | All Disney Cruise Line ships to sail from Florida in early 2014 | Night of Joy lineup for next year announced | Construction update | Quick takes | Crowd Update
[Ed. Note: My apologies for the lack of an Update last week, and my thanks for the concern expressed by those who reached out to me following that. The media event and subsequent events in my personal life left me with nothing in my tank to handle writing last week, but I'm back this week. Expect shorter park updates than usual next week and the following week while I go on vacation with my family. Enjoy your holiday celebrations! – Mark]
New Fantasyland opens
"To all who believe in wishes and dreams, to all those who are young and young at heart, and to always believing that 'once upon a time' will end with 'happily ever after,' New Fantasyland will always be yours."
With those words, actress Ginnifer Goodwin (from ABC's Once Upon a Time) officially opened New Fantasyland on Thursday, December 6 at a celebration on the Cinderella Castle stage.
The festivities started an hour earlier in Belle's Village, as Goodwin and singer Jordin Sparks held a ribbon-cutting ceremony with Mickey Mouse and Disney Parks Chairman Tom Staggs with only the press in attendance. Day guests were held back by the central hub during the opening ceremony, to allow the media to get in and out of the area in front of the stage as necessary.
Disney Parks Chairman Tom Staggs, Mickey Mouse, actress Ginnifer Goodwin, and singer Jordin Sparks cut the ribbon to open New Fantasyland at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom. MousePlanet video by Mark Goldhaber.
During the public ceremony, Goodwin first introduced Sparks, who performed a medley of Fantasyland-related songs while Disney dancers and characters performed around her. Goodwin then returned and introduced Staggs.
During his remarks, Staggs stated:
"Walt Disney once said that 'Disneyland' and by extension, all of our parks, 'would never be complete as long as there's imagination left in the world." That was a promise that he made to all of you, our guests. At the same time, he was charging all of us at Disney Parks to stay true to our legacy, to continue creating experiences that bring our characters and stories to life, helping friends and families to make memories that last a lifetime. I think it's clear from the stunning work that's gone into every aspect of New Fantasyland that there's plenty of imagination left in our world, and I think Walt would be extremely proud of the thousands of cast members and Imagineers whose tireless efforts made New Fantasyland a reality."
Following Staggs, Goodwin then dedicated the new land.
Actress Ginnifer Goodwin, Disney Parks Chairman Tom Staggs, singer Jordin Sparks, and Mickey Mouse participate in a ceremony at the Cinderella Castle Stage to open New Fantasyland at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom. MousePlanet video by Mark Goldhaber.
As previously reported here, the newly opened expansion of the land includes the Enchanted Tales with Belle enhanced meet-and-greet experience, Be Our Guest Restaurant, Gaston's Tavern quick-service location, Bonjour! Village Gifts merchandise location, and Under the Sea ~ Journey of The Little Mermaid attraction. In addition, the Storybook Circus area is officially part of the expansion, though the area had previously been its own land, Mickey's Toontown Fair. That area now hosts the expanded Dumbo the Flying Elephant double-spinner attraction, the rethemed Barnstormer Featuring Goofy as The Great Goofini roller coaster, Pete's Silly Sideshow themed meet-and-greet, Big Top Souvenirs merchandise location, Casey Jr. Splash 'n' Soak Station wet play area, and the improved Carolwood Park Train Station. Still to come are Princess Fairy Tale Hall meet-and-greet in 2013 and the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train roller coaster in early 2014.
The new space is extremely well-themed, and the placemaking by the Imagineers is truly impressive. I plan to discuss the expansion some more in future articles, including a great video interview with the project's Creative Director, Chris Beatty.
At the media preview party in the Magic Kingdom's New Fantasyland on Wednesday night, December 5, months of preparations and weeks of promotion paid off as a dragon soared over the crowd, drawing oohs and aahs. We captured most of the flight on video, and then got a follow-up commentary from the man behind Disney's dragon promotion, Gary Buchanan. It appears that this was a one-night-only appearance for now. It worked so well, though, that it would be a shame not to have it make a return engagement. MousePlanet video by Mark Goldhaber.
More coaster track continues to be installed on the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train roller coaster. Photo by J. Jeff Kober.
New cutouts in the construction walls allow guests to "peek" through holes to view the construction in progress. Photo by J. Jeff Kober.
Paving stones are being installed along the walkways at new western Fantasyland Tangled-themed restrooms. Photo by J. Jeff Kober.
Rapunzel's tower at the new western Fantasyland restroom area is clearly visible from Frontierland along the Rivers of America. Photo by J. Jeff Kober.
The Yankee Trader is starting to emerge from its exterior refurbishment. The building sports a new, more intense blue color scheme. Photo by J. Jeff Kober.
New Test Track debuts
On the evening of December 6, the re-Imagineered Test Track was officially opened by Meg Crofton, President of Walt Disney Parks & Resorts Operations, U.S. & France, and Alan Batey, General Motors Vice President of U.S. Sales & Service during a Grand Opening "Ac-Celebration." The evening event featured pyrotechnics, plenty of food and drink, a DJ and dancers, and a performance by pop rock band One Republic.
"We're here to celebrate a reimagination of the future of transportation: Test Track Presented by Chevrolet," said Crofton. "This attraction is truly an exciting experience, and one that we couldn't have created without our great partners and General Motors."
"The reimagined Test Track attraction is a collaborative effort which showcases the best of Chevrolet design and truly the best of Walt Disney Imagineering by artfully telling an intimate automotive story that authentically reflects the personality and the values of Chevrolet design," noted Batey. "Now we together attached the best talent from our organizations to create the ride experience that will truly give Walt Disney resort guests a deeper look at an iconic global brand through a first-of-its-kind virtual experience in automotive design. The result is a truly unique experience that gives a genuine inside-the-studio look at Chevrolet's expressive design processes while providing guests the opportunity to truly create their own Chevrolet, which we hope—perhaps—will generate and inspire the next generation of automotive designs."
Disney Parks President of Operations Meg Crofton and GM Vice President US Sales & Service Alan Batey preside over the opening of the re-Imagineered Test Track at Walt Disney World's Epcot park. MousePlanet video by Mark Goldhaber.
The attraction features an all-new experience, from the pre-show through the ride itself all the way to the post-show. The attraction's focus is on the core design principles of capability, efficiency, responsiveness, and power. Guests design their own cars (with much more time and many more options in the standby queue than in the Fastpass queue), then get to see the performance of their creations as they ride through the attraction, getting a final summary of their vehicle's performance as they transition to the post-show.
The post-show includes the ability to create a commercial for your car, get photographed with your car, and drive your car in a simple driving game similar to a ramped-up version of arcade racing video game Pole Position. You can even email your commercials and photos home to share with friends.
While the attraction has a definite Tron-like feel to it, Imagineer Melissa Jeselnick stated that it was not an intentional choice. "It's really all about what's inside your imagination when you think about being inside a computer. This new story that we're telling is all about digital automotive design and testing, so we wanted you to be able to experience that virtual proving ground, and so I think some of those same glowing elements we might have in common with some other experiences that put you inside a computer, but it was not an intentional tie-in in the least."
We'll have more about the new attraction in a future story that will include video interviews with Tecla Rhoades, General Motors Director of Global Industrial Design, and with Jeselnick.
At Epcot, the Jammitors are doing their new Christmas show. Photo by Mark Goldhaber.
Meanwhile at the Disney's Hollywood Studios, Mulch, Sweat & Shears perform their Christmas show. Photo by Mark Goldhaber.
Disney's Hollywood Studios now offers a "Treasure Chest with Chocolate Cupcake" for $9.50 at a stand across from the entrance to Pirates of the Caribbean: The Legend of Captain Jack Sparrow. There are brown and pink chests, stereotypically for boy and girl pirates. Photo by Mark Goldhaber.
Splitsville readies for December 19 opening
The new Splitsville Luxury Lanes bowling alley hosted a media preview on Friday, December 7, to show off the look and feel of the newest tenant of the Downtown Disney West Side location that was previously home to the Virgin Megastore, the traveling Princess Diana exhibit, and Ridermakerz. The location has received a complete makeover and appears to be poised to grab a big share of the "rainy day activity" crowd among resort guests; it's got a good shot at becoming a hangout for locals, as well.
Senior Vice President Disney Sports Enterprises & Downtown Disney Ken Potrock, Splitsville co-founders Guy Reville and Mark Gibson, Vice President of Downtown Disney Keith Bradford, and Sports Goofy open Splitsville to the media. MousePlanet video by Mark Goldhaber.
Splitsville has 20 lanes upstairs and 10 lanes downstairs, with bars on both floors, balcony seating upstairs, lots of tables, pool tables upstairs, and a small shop downstairs. With music blaring throughout the complex, it definitely has a feel of a nightclub as well as that of a hip bowling alley. The lanes are set up in groups of four or six, and are separated throughout the location, helping to avoid the airplane hangar vibe that most bowling alleys feature.
There's a wide variety of food and drink, with everything from pizza to sushi, and you don't have to bowl to stop in for a meal. Check back with us for more on the location, including a video interview.
The traffic pattern for the Osborne Lights is different this year, with entry only from the far end of New York Street. This view of the San Francisco Street canopy is only available as you queue to enter the main display. You can exit here, but you cannot re-enter. Photo by Mark Goldhaber.
This year, the manger scene has been moved to the end of the building just before you enter the square at the end of the street. Photo by Mark Goldhaber.
At the former site of the manger scene, Santa Goofy holds forth at his meet-and-greet. Photo by Mark Goldhaber.
A Hidden Mickey seemingly floats in mid-air near the basketball hoop. Photo by Mark Goldhaber.
The lights and colors on the street are as wonderful as ever. Photo by Mark Goldhaber.
Send us your menu photos
Click on the "Dining" section from our Walt Disney World Guide to see our complete list of of the park restaurant menus from Walt Disney World. Please help us keep the menus up to date! Send photos or scans of park menus to firstname.lastname@example.com to help us keep our listings updated.
Next Generation technology starts its full roll out
Walt Disney World has begun rolling out its Next Generation initiative, and it appears that this time it is not just a test. RFID-enabled technology is up and running at all four theme parks. The theme park rollout follows a number of previous rounds of testing, as well as the completed rollout of RFID-enabled door locks at all Disney resorts. The resort rollout made all guest room keys RFID-enabled, and the large percentage of guests who have their park admission media attached to their room keys provides a huge installed base of potential users.
Turnstiles at all parks feature entry points for those using RFID-enabled media (including Key To The World cards) as we profiled during last year's test. It is expected that the cards will eventually be replaced by "Magic Band" wristbands, but have not had any confirmation of that yet.
Next Generation initiative RFID turnstiles are now in use at the Magic Kingdom. Photo by J. Jeff Kober.
This console in City Hall provides a place for guests using FastPass+ and other Next Gen tools to make changes and updates if they don't have a mobile device. Photo by J. Jeff Kober.
Themed Fastpass+ stations provide entry to the Magic Carpets of Aladdin. Photo by J. Jeff Kober.
Walt Disney World shoots a video to help explain the use of Fastpass+. Photo by J. Jeff Kober.
Select merchandise locations at parks and resorts are now sporting touch-to-pay sensors also keyed to the RFID cards, allowing guests to wave their room key card at a sensor to pay for their purchases. Purchases over $50 will require additional validation beyond the card with the use of a PIN to be entered onto a keypad at the sale location.
Fastpass+ is also in use this week, with guests pre-selecting attractions and experiences and having their virtual Fastpasses attached to RFID-enabled media for use at the attraction itself. It appears that the Fastpass+ system is actually using guests' room key/admission media cards for this rollout, rather than separate cards as in earlier tests.
At the same time, Disney is slowly rolling out access to a new section of the Walt Disney World website. Those seeing and clicking on a banner at the top of the site ("Experience the new Disneyworld.com. Switch Now! ") will see the new site, including a new My Disney Experience menu option at the top of the page. After setting up this section, users can access their reservations, plan their trip, and more.
One thing that hasn't worked well in our initial playing with the site is the option for the site to "Remember Me" when you log in. The site has not been completely stable as of yet, as well. Roughly half the time, the site does not bring up our dining reservations, and we were unable to perform an advance check-in for our resort reservation all day yesterday. This may or may not have been related to the fact that the Disney Vacation Club member site was down all day, as well.
The new website is matched with the new My Disney Experience mobile application that debuted a few months ago, though the linkage is not yet complete. The mobile app at this point does not have linkage to reservations and itineraries, and can not share plans with other members of your party. Still, the new website and the in-park RFID features represent a tremendous step forward in enabling guests to take control of planning their vacation.
New props are being placed for the yet-to-be-announced interactive Pirates of the Caribbean game. This interactive tiki is next to the egg roll cart. Photo by J. Jeff Kober.
These interactive props can be found across from the entrance to Pirates of the Caribbean. Photo by J. Jeff Kober.
All Disney Cruise Line ships to sail from Florida in early 2014
Disney's terminal at Port Canaveral will be a busy place in early 2014, as will its private island, Castaway Cay. For the first time ever, all four Disney Cruise Line ships will be based out of Florida. The Disney Magic joins the Disney Fantasy and Disney Dream in sailing from Port Canaveral, while the Disney Wonder sails from Miami. The Magic sails 3- and 4-night Bahamian cruises, adding two more days of activity each week at Port Canaveral and Castaway Cay. The Wonder sails three different itineraries, with a 4-night Bahamas cruise and two different 5-night Caribbean itineraries. The Bahamian itinerary and one of the Caribbean itineraries include a stop at Castaway Cay, keeping the island hopping even more.
The arrival/departure schedule at Port Canaveral will be as follows:
- Sunday – Dream
- Monday – Magic
- Thursday – Dream
- Friday – Magic
- Saturday – Fantasy
Tuesday and Wednesday will be the only days off for terminal staff.
The docking schedule at Castaway Cay will be:
- Sunday – Magic
- Tuesday – Dream
- Wednesday – Magic
- Thursday – Wonder
- Friday – Fantasy
- Saturday – Dream
This schedule leaves Monday as the only quiet day on the island.
For more information about these early-2014 voyages or to book a cruise, call Disney Cruise Line at (888) 325-2500, visit the DCL website, or contact your travel agent. MousePlanet's preferred Disney travel providers are Mouse Ear Vacations, Small World Vacations, and Get Away Today Vacations.
These familiar signs will be disappearing and/or changing by the end of the year as Kodak ends its long-time sponsorship with Disney. Perhaps now we can see the construction of the Mount Fuji attraction at Epcot? Photo by J. Jeff Kober.
Night of Joy lineup for next year announced
The lineup of performers has been announced for next September's Night of Joy event. The headline performance of the 31st annual event features a joint appearance by Steven Curtis Chapman and Michael W. Smith on the first night. Here's the full lineup:
Friday, September 6:
- Steven Curtis Chapman & Michael W. Smith
- Mercy Me
- Skillet
- Mandisa
- Matthew West
- Audio Adrenaline
- Moriah Peters
- We As Human
- City Harbor
Saturday, September 7:
- TobyMac
- Francesca Batistelli
- Newsboys
- Britt Nicole
- Group 1 Crew
- Building 429
- For King and Country
- Jamie Grace
Tickets go on sale in the spring.
Refurbishment is under way at Hurricane Hannah's at the Yacht & Beach Club. Photo by Mark Goldhaber.
Construction update
The following is a listing of interesting items from paperwork filed with Orange County in the last week:
Magic Kingdom:
- Pirates of the Caribbean – construction.
- Splash Mountain – construction.
- Swiss Family Treehouse – structural.
- Pecos Bill Cafe – fire sprinkler construction.
- Liberty Square – mechanical/valve replacements.
- Liberty Square drinking fountain – construction.
- Be Our Guest Restaurant – construction.
- Under the Sea ~ Journey of The Little Mermaid – construction.
- Barnstormer featuring Goofy as The Great Goofini – construction.
- Experience development - PC - Showset Package 1A.
- The Seas pavilion aquarium – installation of sulfur denite backwash line.
- Japan pavilion – construction.
- Entrance kennel building – low-voltage wiring.
- Explore parking lot – electrical.
- Disney's Hollywood Studios Twilight Zone Tower of Terror – construction.
Disney's Animal Kingdom:
- Anandapur bus – area development general construction.
- Kali River Rapids – irrigation.
- Kali River Rapids – construction.
- Gorilla building – construction.
Transportation & Ticket Center:
- Toll Plaza – mechanical.
- Woody parking lot cast gates – electrical.
- Chip & Dale parking lot cast gates – electrical.
- STOLport – phone lines.
- Typhoon Lagoon wave chamber – construction.
- Winter Summerland Winter Hole #8 – construction.
Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa:
- Wedding Pavilion – fabrication and installation of directional signage.
- Gasparilla Island Grille & Arcade – installation of overhead signage.
- Ivy Trellis Salon – contractor's general conditions.
- Cast gates – electrical.
- Fast arm gates – electrical.
- Disney's Polynesian Resort cast gates – electrical.
Disney's Contemporary Resort:
- Olympiad Fitness Center – contractor's general conditions.
- Teen pool – contractor's general conditions.
- Cast gates – electrical.
- Disney's Wilderness Lodge Hidden Springs pool – contractor's general conditions.
- Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground main docks on Bay Lake – site work.
Disney's Yacht & Beach Club Resorts:
- Hurricane Hannah's – graphics package.
- Stormalong Bay spa #3 – contractor's general conditions.
- Disney's Yacht Club quiet pool – contractor's general conditions.
- Disney's Beach Club Villas quiet pool – contractor's general conditions.
- Disney's Beach Club quiet pool – contractor's general conditions.
- Disney's Boardwalk Resort Boardwalk Joe's – marquee glass signs.
- Disney's Boardwalk Resort quiet pool – contractor's general conditions.
Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa:
- The Paddock Grill – electrical.
- Ranch House – general construction.
Disney's Old Key West Resort:
- Cast gates – electrical.
- South Point Road pool & spa – contractor's general conditions.
- Turtle Pond pool area – contractor's general conditions.
- Miller's Road pool – contractor's general conditions.
Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge:
- Animal service gate – electrical.
- Pool maintenance gate – electrical.
Disney's Coronado Springs Resort:
- Cast gates – electrical.
- Fast arm gates – electrical.
- Disney's All-Star Resorts cast gate – electrical.
Quick takes …
…Wi-Fi connectivity has now been rolled out at Downtown Disney, meaning that all guest areas at Walt Disney World now feature free wireless Internet access. All you need to do is accept the terms of service and away you go!
…If the standard Disney Gift Card just doesn't do it for you, you can now personalize your gift cards. You can upload your own photo and surround it with one of 10 borders for a special touch. In addition to solid-color borders in blue, navy, green, orange, red, or pink, you can also choose from one of four decorative borders. There is a blue Mickey Mouse border, a light blue Minnie Mouse border, a light blue "Celebrate" border, and a green-and-red "Holiday" border. Cards can be ordered online in set amounts from $25 to $500, and can be used like cash in most locations at Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, Adventures by Disney, Club Penguin, Disney's PhotoPass, DisneyMusicOnline.com, DisneyStore.com, and U.S. Disney Store locations. Cards can also be reloaded at many locations at Walt Disney World, Disneyland, and U.S. Disney Stores. Shipping is free when ordered online, but to receive your card by December 25 you must place your order no later than today.
…Don't forget that the Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade will be broadcast a week from tomorrow. Walt Disney World segments will be hosted by Nick Cannon and Maria Menounos, while Mario Lopez hosts the Disneyland segments. The parade will be broadcast from 10 a.m. to noon Eastern Standard Time and 9 to 11 a.m. Central, Mountain, and Pacific Standard Time. The show also airs on the American Forces Network around the world, and on the CBC Network in Canada. For more information, check out the special parade website. Disney is encouraging the use of the #DisneyParade hashtag for social media conversations.
…Epcot restaurant Bistro de Paris reopened on December 11 as "Monsieur Paul" with new decor and a new menu. The restaurant is decorated with mementos of Chef Paul Bocuse's culinary career, including his 48 straight years being awarded three Michelin stars for his Auberge du Pont de Collognes restaurant and his being named "Chef of the Century" by the Culinary Institute of America. The new name comes from the nickname used in the kitchen in the 1950s to differentiate Paul Bocuse from his father, Chef George Bocuse. Servers now wear white shirts, purple ties, and long black aprons instead of the tuxedos formerly worn at the restaurant, and the white linen tablecloths are gone as well. The restaurant opens at 5:30 p.m. for dinner each night. Reservations are available online or by calling the Walt Disney World Dining Line at 407-WDW-DINE (407-939-3463).
…If you've got a circus, you have to have clowns, right? Well, the Storybook Circus Giggle Gang is a trio of clowns named Chuckles Buffoon McMonkeyshine III, Whinny Horselaugh, and Snort. The trio will be joined by the Silly Saxtet musicians, and featured clown Wowzer. You'll only be able to see them at Storybook Circus in the Magic Kingdom's New Fantasyland.
Featured clown Wowzer performs for guests at Storybook Circus. Photo by J. Jeff Kober.
…The American Heritage Gallery at Epcot's American Adventure pavilion will receive a new display next year. Starting in March, a display of more than 40 pieces from The Kinsey Collection will feature art, documents, books, sculptures, and artifacts of African-American history dating back to the 17th century. There will be previews of the collection during African-American Heritage Month in February.
…Football quarterback Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints is launching a high school football academy called the Drew Brees Passing Academy and Tournament at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World from June 27-30, 2013. The academy is expected to attract some of the most highly ranked high school players in the country. Proceeds from the academy go to the Brees Dream Foundation, a charitable foundation established by Brees and his wife in 2003 to support cancer patients and families in need. More information on the academy will be available online.
…Congratulations to Adventures by Disney for being named World's Leading Luxury Tour Operator by the World Travel Awards, and for being named North America's Leading Tour Operator for the fourth straight year by the WTA. Also winning in the North America category was Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom as North America's Leading Themed Attraction and Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa as North America's Leading Resort. Disney Cruise Line also picked up more awards, as it received Editors' Choice nods from Cruise Critic for Best Shore Excursions and Best Inside Cabins (for the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy cruise ships).
…Walt Disney World cast members donated 35,000 toys this year for the Toys for Tots program run by the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve. In addition, Disney VoluntEARS gave 7,100 hours of their time to help administer the program, including registering families and sorting and packing toys. The program aims to ensure that every child has at least one present to open during the holidays.
…Registration for the featured events of the January 10–13, 2013, Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend are full, including the Goofy's Race and a Half Challenge, the full Marathon, and the Half Marathon. The Runner's World Challenge is also sold out. The Disney Family Fun Run 5K and the Stroller Walk Division of the 5K are sold out. The runDisney Kids' Races are 63 percent full (Thursday: dashes and Mickey Mile both less than 50 percent full, Friday: dashes 98 percent full and Mickey Mile 56 percent full, and Saturday: dashes sold out and Mickey Mile 51 percent full) and the Pasta in the Park Parties are 70 percent full (Thursday 60 percent, Friday 70 percent, Sunday 80 percent). ChEAR Squad is 63 percent full and the Race Retreat is 80 percent full. Space for the featured races may still be available through Team in Training and other groups with reserved spots.
…Registration for the featured events of the February 22–24, 2013, fifth annual Princess Half Marathon Weekend are full, including the individual and team Half Marathons, the Race Retreat and the ChEAR Squad Platinum Package. The Royal Family 5K is 58 percent full, the post-5K breakfast is 74 percent full, the runDisney Kids Races are 68 percent full (dashes sold out, Mickey Mile 51 percent full), and the Pasta in the Park Party is 74 percent full. ChEAR Squad is 76 percent full overall, with ChEAR Squad Gold 75 percent full and Silver less than 50 percent full.
…Registration is now open for the 2013 Expedition Everest Challenge. Individual registration starts at $105 per person and team registration start at $210 per two-person team. On January 30, those prices go up to $115 and $225 respectively, and they go up again on March 21 to $125 and $240, respectively. The related runDisney Kids Races for kids ages 4 to 10 has a $20 registration cost. Post-race party tickets start at $49 for adults (ages 10 and up) and $25 for kids (ages 3-9). Those prices go up to $59 and $30 on March 21.
…The MousePlanet Newsletter is here! The newsletter contains a recap of the week's articles (in case you miss a day), news that may have developed since the weekly Updates were published, and tips about what's happening at the Disney theme parks for the coming weekend. We'll also include a fun MouseAdventure bonus, such as an Eye Spy or a trivia question. To subscribe to our free newsletter, go to the MousePlanet main page and enter your email address in the top right box labeled "Join the MousePlanet Newsletter." Click Join, then fill out the fields in the registration page, including your first and last name. The Newsletter is free, but you must complete this registration to receive it, even if you may have signed up for one with us in the past.
Crowd update
Crowd information and forecasts are provided by TouringPlans.com, the website of the Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World, to help you better plan your trip to the Walt Disney World Resort. TouringPlans.com gathers wait time data from a team of in-park researchers and users of their Lines mobile phone application, and then predicts crowd levels for the next 365 days. Using a scale from 1 to 10, TouringPlans.com has a 90 percent accuracy of predicting the crowds to within 1 point, helping visitors prepare for their trips so they can "Do more. Wait less."
Join our networks
Don't keep it to yourself! Send us your news tips, rumors, and comments. Email Mark here.
Talk about these stories and more on our Walt Disney World discussion forum here.
Coming up
- December 18, 20, and 21. Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party.
- November 9 to January 6, 2013: Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights.
- November 16 to December 27: Festival of the Seasons at Downtown Disney.
- November 23 to December 30: Holidays Around the World.
- December 19: Splitsville opens at Downtown Disney.
- January 10–13, 2013: Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend.
- January 18–20, 2013: UCA/UDA College Cheerleading and Dance Team National Championship.
- February 2–3, 2013: UDA National Dance Team Championship.
- February 9–10, 2013: UCA National High School Cheerleading Championship.
- February 15–18, 2013: Twirl Mania.
- February 22–24, 2013: Disney's Princess Half Marathon.
- March 1–3, 2013: 2013 Contest of Champions Nationals.
- March 6 to May 19, 2013: Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival.
- March 9–10, 2013: 2013 UCA/UDA International All Star Championship.
- March 16–17, 2013: AmeriCheer / AmeriDance International Championships.
- April 27–28, 2013: Cheerleading and Dance Worlds.
- May 4, 2013: Expedition Everest Challenge.
- September 6–7, 2013: Night of Joy.
Refurbishments and Attraction Closures
Magic Kingdom
- Snow White's Scary Adventures – closed permanently for conversion to Princess Fairytale Hall.
- Be Our Guest Restaurant – now open.
- Enchanted Tales with Belle – now open.
- Gaston's Tavern – now open.
- Bonjour Village Gifts – now open.
- Under the Sea ~ Journey of The Little Mermaid – now open.
- Ariel's Grotto – now open.
- Splash Mountain – closed January 2 through March 19 for refurbishment.
- Main Street Bakery – closed January through early summer for conversion to Starbucks location.
- Liberty Square Riverboat – closed for refurbishment February 1–7, 2013.
- Princess Fairytale Hall – opens 2013.
- Seven Dwarfs Mine Train – opens 2014.
- Test Track – now open.
- Bistro de Paris – now reopened as Monsieur Paul.
- Boulangerie Patisserie – reopens in January in its new location.
- Fountain View Cafe – closed March through mid-summer for conversion to Starbucks location.
Disney's Hollywood Studios
- Pirates of the Caribbean: The Legend of Captain Jack Sparrow – now open.
Animal Kingdom
- No known refurbishments.
- Disney's Contemporary Resort – California Grill closed February 2, 2013, through late summer 2013 for refurbishment.
Water Parks
- Typhoon Lagoon – closed October 28 through January 5, 2013 for annual refurbishment.
- Blizzard Beach – January 6, 2013 through March 16, 2013 closed for annual refurbishment.
- Cirque du Soleil La Nouba – performs Tuesdays through Saturdays.
- Splitsville Lanes & Lounge – opens December 19.
Current Discounts & Promotions
Passholder room discounts through end of year
A Passholder discount is available for most dates through December 24. Passholders can book this discount through the day of arrival if rooms are still available. As with all discounts, rooms available at these rates is limited, and minimum length-of-stay requirements may apply for Friday or Saturday arrivals. No group rates or other discounts apply. Campsites, 3-bedroom Grand Villas, and standard rooms at Disney's Art of Animation Resort are not included. Discounts range from 20 to 35 percent and availability varies by date.
You can make your reservation through the Walt Disney World Passholder website or by calling (407) 939-7859 or your favorite travel agent and mentioning discount code Q5M. MousePlanet's preferred Disney travel providers are MouseEarVacations.com (link), Small World Vacations (link) and Get Away Today (link).
Room-only discount for January through early March
You can now can book a room-only reservation at select Walt Disney World resorts for 15-35 percent off of standard rates most nights from January 2 through March 7, except January 18-20. Reservations must be booked by December 31.
Guests can receive 35 percent off at all Deluxe and Deluxe Villas Resorts, except for Disney's Wilderness Lodge and the Villas at Disney's Wilderness Lodge, which both offer 25 percent off..
30 percent discounts are available at most Moderate Resorts, including Disney's Coronado Springs Resort, Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort, Disney's Port Orleans Riverside Resort, and Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort Cabins.
Guests can also get a 25 percent discount at Disney's All-Star Sports Resort, Disney's All-Star Movies Resort, and Disney's Pop Century Resort
Fifteen percent discounts can be had at Disney's Art of Animation Resort, family suites only. Standard rooms in the Little Mermaid-themed section are excluded. Also excluded are Port Orleans French Quarter Resort, All-Star Music Resort, 3-bedroom Grand Villas, and Fort Wilderness campsites.
The number of rooms available at these rates is limited. Minimum length-of-stay requirements may apply for Friday or Saturday arrivals.
You can make your reservation through the Walt Disney World website or by calling (407) 939-7661 or your favorite travel agent. MousePlanet's preferred Disney travel providers are MouseEarVacations.com (link), Small World Vacations (link) and Get Away Today (link).
Magic Your Way package discount for January through early March
You can now book a room-only reservation at select Walt Disney World resorts for discounts on room, ticket, and dining packages most nights from January 2 through March 7. Value Resort package discounts apply to Quick-Service Dining Plans, while Moderate, Deluxe, and Deluxe Villas Resorts all offer discounts on the standard Disney Dining Plan. Reservations must be booked by December 31.
Packages are available at all resorts except for the standard rooms in the Little Mermaid-themed section of Disney's Art of Animation Resort, 3-bedroom Grand Villas, and Fort Wilderness campsites.
The discount codes offer are Q8J (for Disney Visa cardmembers) and T64 (for Disney Visa cardmembers) for Value resorts and Q83 (for all guests) Q85 (for Disney Visa cardmembers) for all other resorts. We do not have word on the general-availability codes yet.
The number of rooms available at these rates is limited. Minimum length-of-stay requirements may apply for Friday or Saturday arrivals.
You can make your reservation through the Walt Disney World website or by calling (407) 939-7661 or your favorite travel agent. MousePlanet's preferred Disney travel providers are MouseEarVacations.com (link), Small World Vacations (link) and Get Away Today (link).
PhotoPass+ pre-arrival discount
Disney's PhotoPass service provides a discount on Disney PhotoPass+ pre-arrival packages. For $149.95 plus tax, Walt Disney World guests receive a voucher to exchange for a PhotoPass+ card upon arrival at the resort, a Photo Gallery CD with over 400 stock photos ($39.95 value), a unique code to create and order a photo CD upon return from their trip ($169.95 value), print packages at select dining locations ($29.95 value each), and digital photos from select attractions ($14.95 value each). Applicable taxes will be charged to all orders.
This special offer is only available from this link or by calling the Guest Support line at (407) 560-4300 before you arrive at Walt Disney World Resort. All sales are final, and not eligible for an exchange or refund.
The package may take as long as 14 days to arrive, and you must bring your voucher from the package to redeem it, so make sure that you order far enough in advance to allow your materials to arrive.
Attractions currently participating in the program are Space Mountain, Splash Mountain, Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin, Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, Rock 'n' Roller Coaster, Expedition Everest, and Dinosaur. Current participating restaurants are 1900 Park Fare, 'Ohana, Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show, Chef Mickey's, Cinderella's Royal Table, Tusker House Restaurant, Hoop Dee Doo Musical Revue, and Princess Storybook Dining at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall.
2013 Military Salute offers
From now through September 28, 2013, active and retired U.S. military personnel can purchase 4-Day Military Promotional Tickets with either the Park Hopper or Water Parks Fun and More option for $156 per ticket, plus tax (up from $138 last year), or with both the Park Hopper and Water Parks Fun and More options for $184 per ticket, plus tax (up from $165). No Base ticket is available with this offer.
These tickets expire after September 28, 2013. Blockout dates are December 24 to 31, 2012 and March 24 through April 4, 2013 at all ticketed locations, and July 4, 2013 at Magic Kingdom park only.
Eligible service members include active or retired members of the U.S. military including the U.S. Coast Guard, National Guard, and Reservists. Disney Military Promotional Tickets can be purchased at Shades of Green or at a participating military base (MWR/ITT) office. There is no tax charged for these tickets but they must be activated at a theme park ticket window. Tickets may also be purchased at Walt Disney World Park Ticket Offices and Guest Relations Offices where tax will be charged. Tickets may be purchased by active and retired military personnel for themselves and up to five additional family members or friends. One of the Disney 4-Day Military Promotional Tickets purchased on each occasion must be for use by the Eligible Service Member or spouse. This offer is for active or retired members of the U.S. military, including the National Guard, Reservists and the U.S. Coast Guard. Valid military identification is required. The tickets are non-transferable and may not be resold.
You may upgrade the tickets to Seasonal Passes or Florida Resident Weekday Select Passes (for Florida Residents), or Annual Passes, Premium Annual Passes, or Disney Premier Pass with credit toward the upgrade based on the actual price paid. The no-expiration option and other upgrades, such as additional days, are not available.
In addition, specially priced rooms are available to active and retired U.S. military personnel at select Walt Disney World resorts for stays most nights through September 28, 2013, except for November 24, 2012, December 23–31, 2012, and March 25 through April 4, 2013.
For complete information regarding Disney 4-Day Military Promotional Tickets and discounted resort rates, military personnel may call (407) 939-7830, visit the Walt Disney World website, or participating U.S. military base ticket offices.
Don't keep it to yourself! Send us your news tips, rumors, and comments. Email Mark here.


text:
WMC News Brief: Liberal Mags Lose Readers, MD to Recognize Same-Sex Marriages, Spain Eases Abortion
February 25, 2010Hate Sells: Why Liberal Magazines Are Suffering Under Obama 2/23/2010 Vanity Fair: Ideologically driven magazines tend to thrive on feelings of anger and disenfranchisement. It may not be until 2013 and the inauguration of President Palin that left-wing publications attain their former heights. Maryland Attorney General: State To Recognize Same-Sex Marriages 2/24/2010 Christian Science Monitor: Maryland's attorney general said Wednesday that the state should immediately start recognizing same-sex marriages performed elsewhere, a decision that is certain to draw quick legal or legislative challenges. Pro-Choice Catholics Welcome Liberalization Of Abortion Laws In Spain 2/25/2010 RH Reality Check: Spain's senate voted to ease the country's restrictions on abortion. In doing so, they rejected the opposition of the Catholic bishops and the Vatican over access to safe and legal abortion in that country. Tony Kornheiser Suspended From ESPN Two Weeks For Hannah Storm Remarks 2/23/2010 Los Angeles Times: ESPN announced a two-week suspension of Tony Kornheiser on Tuesday afternoon, not exactly swift, but a reprisal nonetheless for remarks about the way ESPN co-worker Hannah Storm presented herself on ESPN television. ABC News To Cut Staff In 'Transformation' Of News Division 2/24/2010 Associated Press: ABC News said Tuesday that it plans to substantially cut its staff as part of a "fundamental transformation" of the news division at the Walt Disney-owned US television network. Pentagon Moves To Lift Ban On Women Serving Aboard Submarines 2/23/2010 Star Tribune: The Pentagon has moved to lift a decades-old policy that prohibits women from serving aboard Navy submarines, part of a gradual reconsideration of women's roles in a military fighting two wars whose front lines can be anywhere. Sen. Debbie Stabenow Blazed A Trail For Women - In Politics And In Life 2/24/2010 Lansing State Journal: We may take it for granted that a woman can hold a prominent seat on a panel as powerful as the Senate Finance Committee. But when Stabenow first ran for public office in 1974, such an achievement was unheard of. The Female Senators' Last Stand: Fight To Win Health Reform, Or A Massacre For Sure 2/25/2010 RH Reality Check: As the New York Times put it on Tuesday, "Mr. Obama and Democratic leaders should fight to win [the battle for healthcare reform]." Well, I say the Democratic leaders on the front line of this battle should be the 13 Democratic female U.S. Senators. It Takes One Bad Abortion Clinic... 2/24/2010 Salon: A 2009 investigation found that "the death toll from preventable medical injuries approaches 200,000 per year in the United States." So why are we hearing about one clinic on Philadelphia? Because one of the services the clinic provided was abortion. Saving Holds Key To Women's Empowerment 2/25/2010 BBC: Sri Lankan women are being encouraged to take more control, not just of their savings, but of the way the microcredit system is actually run. Women in Israel: Are Certain Rights at Risk? 2/25/2010 Jewish Exponent: It's time to admit that Israel faces an emboldened movement against women's equality, and not just a series of isolated incidents. Abortion Ban Shouldn't Set Amalia's Fate 2/24/2010 Guardian: The case of the pregnant woman denied cancer treatment in Nicaragua is a cruel reminder of the impact of the abortion ban. Pregnancy: Some Depression Relief, Without Drugs 2/24/2010 New York Times: Up to a quarter of all women suffer from depression during pregnancy. Now a new study suggests that acupuncture may provide some relief during pregnancy, even though it has not been found to be an effective treatment against depression in general. Women 'Putting Looks And Health At Risk By Using Old Cosmetics' 2/25/2010 Telegraph: The make-up 'time bomb' includes smelly and discoloured lipstick, mascara and eye pencils that can be a magnet for germs. Favourite beauty essentials all have a "period after opening" indicator denoted by an open pot with the number of months of safe use written inside. Keri Putnam To Oversee Sundance Institute 2/24/2010 Variety: Putnam has been appointed executive director of the Sundance Institute, repping a new approach for the job that oversees all aspects of Robert Redford's nonprofit. The Women History Forgot 2/24/2010 Guardian: Women of Change is a documentary shot by young people in west London about influential figures who shaped their communities. Ice Dancer Kim Carries Weight Of Skating-Mad South Korea 2/25/2010 Kansas City Star: Kim Yu-Na must stay on her feet to thwart the upset hopes of familiar foe Mao Asada of Japan — a rivalry amplified by the historic animosity between their countries.


text:
Those in the Western world are receiving information about the war between Russia and Georgia that essentially is one sided. We deplore Russian actions in Georgia which were excessive, but understand the reasoning behind their actions. We offer views of several
Russians as reported in the St. Petersburg Times;
The following views were given to Irina Titova:
Lyudmila Shkrylyova, 19, journalist student:
"As a person from a military family, I'm absolutely against the war and I want th war to be over as soon as possible. However, I think Russia was ight to send its troops to help South Ossetia and Russian peacekeepers in the region to deal with Georgian aggression. It was done legally…As for the Georgian attack on South Ossetia, I think it was a very well-planned provocation and and as a journalism student, I'm very disapponted by the misinformation in the western media about the conflict.. The experts say that such misinformation is in the interest of thee Republican candidate for the American presidency(John McCain). therefore, they (Western media) support (Georgia) in all possible ways."
Irina Arsenteyeva, Manager
"I think it's very hard to know objectively what is happening in South Ossetia in order to be 100% sure about it, one probably has to go there. On thee whole it was Georgia who attacked first, but honestly I don't know the reasons why. I think George was wrong. At the same time, I can entertain the thought that the Russian side could also be doing something not correctly enough… As for Russia sending its troops to South Ossetia, i think Russia just didn't have any other choice, in both military and diplomatic terms. As for the way the Western mass media covers the conflict, it is the usual story, as the Western media usually covers the events in Russia not objectively but from one point of view. That is because a strong Russia is not in the interests of the West."
Nikolai Voznyuk, 67, pensioner
"It's very sad what's happening in South Ossetia. I'm very sorry for South Ossetia's people. Russia was right to send its troops to South Ossetia because it needed to defend the peacekeepers and civilians who are mainly Russian citizens. As for the Western media coverage of the conflict, it's part of the information war, and a apart of the attack on Russia. The conflict is in the interests not only of Georgia but also of the United States who wants to surround Russia with radars, dictate its policy and want to have a unipolar world."
It is interesting that Russian people are picking up the Russian government concerns about building by the United States of missile bases on its border.


text:
it's a beautiful 226 9mm and i can't keep my hands off it. just thought i'd share.
Printable View
it's a beautiful 226 9mm and i can't keep my hands off it. just thought i'd share.
Well.............where tha' hell are the PICTURES????:smt076
Congrats dude!!! :smt1099
Welcome to the SIG cult, my friend! I love my P226 (40), have some fun with and let us know how it shoots for you!
And give us a look!
here's a quick photo
i found it at Bass Pro Shop. it was previously a CHL class weapon, and was a CPO weapon with fewer than 200 rounds through it. best part, they put it out about 30 minutes before i happened to show up. paid $525 for it. i was planning on going with an SW99, but this was my dream 9mm and i just couldn't pass up on such a deal.
You bought a Sig 226 over a SW99...you just gave yourself one fine Christmas gift. :smt023
Congratulations, nice buy. The P226 is one of the finest autos ever made, you did well.
took it for a little spin today at the dfw gun range. i love it. i was shooting side by side with a couple of friends shooting a Glock 17 9mm and a Glock 19 9mm, as well as a Glock 23 .40 cal. all i can say is that the kick on this gun is negligible. the heavy steel frame absorbs all the recoil compared to the lighter glocks. man o man am i in love with this gun. just got done stripping, cleaning, and oiling it. can't wait to get back out there. i highly recommend this to anyone considering a 9mm. well worth the extra cash.
For a high capacity nine, it just doesn't get much better than the P226.
Better recoil absorption by the heavier frame gun. It also shot better than the Glock (or I did, I should say, using the Sig). A curious thing I find is that the difference between steel framed guns and glocks reduces as the gun gets bigger. My G 34 does not have more noticeable recoil for me than a steel framed gun such as the CZ 75. But I do notice the difference in the smaller guns. I would love to get a 226, perhaps an Equinox, and I may do so in 07 if my budget can stand it.
I think you got a good deal on your gun.


text:
Robert Stawell Ball
Irish astronomer
Sir Robert Stawell Ball (1 July 1840 – 25 November 1913) was an Irish astronomer and author of several popular books.
|This scientist article is a stub. You can help Wikiquote by expanding it.
- The problem that first demands solution is to discover the disruptive agent which would be potent enough to rip the Cloghvorra Stone from its parent bed, to bear it down the valley for miles, and to cast it on the mountain side.
- The Cause of an Ice Age, London, 1891, p. 3
- The Planet of Romance
- Name for hypothetical planet nearer the Sun than Mercury
- The Story of the Heavens, London, 1893, p. 122
- The moons of Uranus seem to have got a twist.
- Star-Land, London, 1895, p. 227
- The intrinsic brightness of the Sun is fully 5,000 times as great as if the whole surface were formed of the molten steel just issuing from the Bessemer converter.
- The Story of the Sun, London, 1906, p. 103


text:
Robin van Persie has enjoyed the praise he's received this week - and now he wants to earn more plaudits.
The Arsenal captain produced a match-winning brace against Sunderland last weekend just three weeks after celebrating a century of goals for the Club in front of the Emirates Stadium crowd.
Van Persie is back on home soil this Sunday and another warm welcome is guaranteed. The Dutchman admits he has been humbled by the fans' support.
"It's nice to hear," he told Arsenal.com. "I read all the comments - I take the fans very, very seriously and I think they're great.
"It's wonderful to know people like what you do. I think people can see that I'm passionate about what I am doing and that I love the game, so it's a big compliment and I love to hear those things.
"But we still have a long way to go and a lot of things to prove – it's still early in the season so my aim is just to keep things going and move from strength to strength."Copyright 2017 The Arsenal Football Club plc. Permission to use quotations from this article is granted subject to appropriate credit being given to www.arsenal.com as the source


text:
Brother Typewriter GX-6750 Ribbon Cartridges
Simplyink carries ribbon supplies for your Brother GX-6750 typewriter. You can rely on Brother ribbon cartridges to produce crisp and clear prints on your Brother Typewriter GX-6750. Make Simplyink your one-stop-shop for all of your typewriter needs, and buy with confidence.
Looking for a Great Deal?
We should be carrying compatible supplies for the Brother Typewriter GX-6750 shortly. sign up for our newsletter and receive notifications and coupons once a month.
Order Status |
My Account |
Contact Us |
Customer Service |
About Us |
Payment Methods
Terms of Use | Shipping Policy | Refund Policy | Privacy Policy | Email Policy | FAQ Page
|Shopping Cart : Order Status and Tracking
|© 2017 Simplyink ® All Rights reserved


text:
Date and Time:
December 2, 2013 -
2:30pm to 4:00pm
Event Location:
Smith Hall Room 320
What are the expectations for the PhD examination? What are the best ways to prepare for it? Join PhC graduate students and History faculty from different fields for a discussion designed to demystify the examination process and offer tips for successful preparation and exam performance.
*Open to History graduate students and faculty


text:
Your home is your most valuable asset. It's where you feel safe and secure. It's where you create cherished memories. We help you rebuild your home and your life. Contact us immediately for 24-7 emergency support for any of our services.
AAA Restoration Company is a proud member of the 1-800-BOARDUP family of national emergency responders and owns the South Atlanta and Nashville franchises of 1-800-BOARDUP. Our highly trained BOARDUP Managers are also seasoned loss advisors who will help you navigate the difficult process of recovering from your emergency.


text:
Quality CareFind out why Mayo Clinic is the right place for your health care. Make an appointment.
Meet the StaffFind a directory of doctors and departments at all Mayo Clinic campuses. Visit now.
Research and Clinical TrialsSee how Mayo Clinic research and clinical trials advance the science of medicine and improve patient care. Explore now.
Visit Our SchoolsEducators at Mayo Clinic train tomorrow's leaders to deliver compassionate, high-value, safe patient care. Choose a degree.
Professional ServicesExplore Mayo Clinic's many resources and see jobs available for medical professionals. Get updates.
Give to Mayo ClinicHelp set a new world standard in care for people everywhere. Give now.
Mayo Clinic offers appointments in Arizona, Florida and Minnesota and at Mayo Clinic Health System locations.
Subscribe to Housecall
Our general interest e-newsletter keeps you up to date on a wide variety of health topics.
At Mayo Clinic, we take the time to listen, to find answers and to provide you the best care.
Mayo Clinic in Minnesota has been recognized as one of the top Orthopedics hospitals in the nation for 2016-2017 by U.S. News & World Report.
Ankle surgery may be an option when more-conservative treatments don't relieve ankle pain caused by severe arthritis. Severely damaged ankle joints may need to have the bones fused together or even replaced with an artificial joint.
Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission.
Check out these best-sellers and special offers on books and newsletters from Mayo Clinic.
Any use of this site constitutes your agreement to the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy linked below.
A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. "Mayo," "Mayo Clinic," "MayoClinic.org," "Mayo Clinic Healthy Living," and the triple-shield Mayo Clinic logo are trademarks of Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.
We comply with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here.


text:
- Polaris music Festival
- Champex Ice Hockey Challenge
- Ice Skating Disco
- Swatch Free Ride Tour
- Wellbeing - spend a relaxing day at Nevai Elemis Spa in Verbier
- Helicopter ride - escape to some of the Europe's best off-piste skiing after a magnificent helicopter ride and enjoy an original and challenging descent on one of Verbier's fantastic slopes
- Alpine Zoo - visit the Alpine Zoo Les Marécottes in nearby Salvan
- Adventure Park - discover Evionnaz the largest Adventure maze in the world
- Water Park - spend a full day of fun at Le Bouveret Water Park or Swiss Vapeur Park
- Lausanne - take a day trip to Lausanne and discover many museums, including the Olympic Museum and the Hermitage Foundation and the cathedral
- Market - visit Aosta which hosts a huge market every Tuesday
- Skiing - a common ski pass allows you to tour all the way from Verbier to La Tzoumaz, Nendaz, Veysonnaz, to Thyon and back
- Winter hiking - enjoy the beautiful scenery which Verbier offers. It has 25 km of signed trails that start at the resort
- Biking - discover Verbier's Bike Park
- Dogsledding - explore the countryside from within a dog sled
- Airboard - enjoy the thrill of speed sledging on a big air cushion.
- Horse-riding - discover the beautiful scenery on horse back
- Cross country skiing - find a 6-km trail at an elevation of 2200 m, with a panoramic view that will take your breath away
- Skating - indoor skating rink (30x60m)
- Medran Park - Open all year round
- Cinéma de Verbier - Open all year round
- Saint- Bernard, Musee et Chiens - Open all year round
- Verbier Galerie du Hameau - Art Company - Open all year round
- Coskun Gallery (Post-war and contemporary art) - Open all year round
- Art Gallerie and Jewelry workshop - Open all year round
GMT + 1 hour
French and German is spoken in Switzerland. French is the predominant language in Verbier.
CHF (Swiss Francs)
Travellers cheques are widely accepted for exchange or purchase in major cities, but in more rural areas, visit a bank to exchange them for Euros. Major credit cards are widely accepted here and ATM access is widespread. Exchange currency only at authorized outlets such as banks and hotels, and exchange only what you think you will spend in the country. Coins cannot be reconverted on departure. Save all receipts from any currency exchange transaction. You may be asked to produce them when you exit the country, and they are required if you intend to reconvert local currency.
In restaurants a service charge is built into menu prices. However, it's customary to round up amounts when paying the waiter or waitress if you're happy with the service. This means that you might hand the server CHF 50 for a CHF 47 meal. If you're paying by credit card, hand the server a cash tip of up to 5%. For Taxis as in restaurants, round up or add 5% when you're happy with the service. Tips to your chalet staff are entirely at your discretion.
Travel documents are your responsibility. In general you should have: a signed, valid passport that will remain valid for at least 6 months beyond the completion of your trip. Your passport must have enough blank pages (excluding amendment pages) available for entry and exit stamps issued when entering and exiting immigration points. Visas are required for certain nationalities and you are strongly advised to check your status allowing plenty of time for visa application. EU nationals are only required to hold a valid national ID card.
The nearest airports to Verbier are:
- Geneva (167km)
- Zurich (290km)
- Lyons (296km)
- Milan (265km)
Switzerland's winter temperature range is -2 °C (28 °F) to 7 °C (45 °F), with the snow remaining in the Alps until around April. The alpine climate is cold and visitors should wear warm, waterproof clothing at all times when outdoors during the winter. Hats and gloves are also essential to prevent frostbite. Sunglasses or ski goggles are also necessary to reduce the glare of the sun on the snow.
It is advisable to contact your doctor before you travel if you have any specific health concerns and imperative to take out appropriate travel and medical insurance. Winter sports involve a high degree of risk and you should be in good health and carry adequate medical insurance in case of winter sports accident, including cover for air ambulance.
Electrical service in Switzerland is supplied at 220-240 volts/50 hertz.
- Traffic from the RIGHT has right of way, except at roundabouts or if their road has a white line across it.
- You should always be carrying in the car your Passport or national ID, driver's licence, the car insurance papers and ownership (rental) papers.
- National speed limit on motorways is 120 km/h, on open roads 80 km/h and in towns 50 km/h.
- In Switzerland you pay an annual motorway tax, even if you're only using the motorways for an hour or two. A vehicle sticker, or vignette, must be displayed on the windscreen by all vehicles. Of course, if you don't need to use a motorway you don't need to pay, although it's difficult to cross the country without doing so.You can for example buy them in Switzerland from customs offices at the frontier or service stations, garages and post offices.
- There are strict laws concerning drinking and driving. Anything over 0.08 per cent and you could face anything up to imprisonment.
- Snow chains are recommended to be carried everywhere in Switzerland during winter, and if you do not carry and fit them when conditions demand the police can prevent you continuing your journey.


text:
a place for zinesters - writers and readers
Interviews with Social Outcast, MDC, Warpath, Food Not Bombs, stuff on being queer, community programs that arn't helpful, animal rights and more
Views: 18
Albums: Warfear zines 1992 - 1995
Join We Make Zines
Welcome toWe Make Zines
Sign Upor Sign In
349 members
692 members
369 members
77 members
1 member
Ist preference given to distros and zines. Rates and details are here. Limited space. Very Low Cost!
© 2017 Created by Krissy Ponyboy Press.
Powered by
Badges |
Report an Issue |
Terms of Service
Please check your browser settings or contact your system administrator.


text:
So I've got my new MOW flightsuit, and my RIT Pearl Gray dye. Getting ready to do the deed for my RotJ Boba. I'm guessing RIT Pearl Gray at the recommended concentration is too dark for RotJ. For those of you who have used this color of dye, did you add less dye to the water?
Also, has anyone used a pinch of brown to their gray dye bath to add that slight tint of brown that may (or may not?) show in the jumpsuit?


text:
Despite starting out with a stormy Friday night, last weekend's Homecoming and Family Weekend was a fun-filled time shared by all – students and their families, alumni, faculty and staff.
But even a stormy start can't discourage RWU spirit. Many of the events held last Friday through Sunday saw record attendance, bringing together the campus community and returning alumni for this annual tradition.


text: It's one of the hot subjects of the season: the russian federation has decided to nominate Maxim Kovtun to the national team for the Euros in Zagreb, leaving Menshov at home. Kovtun is young and talented but he only finished 5th at the nationals and his experience in seniors is close to zero. Menshov is a veteran and this season showed solid performances in all the events he took part of. He won the bronze medal at russian nationals. If the decision was up to you, who would you chose and why?


text:
'Golisano's offer is expected to be worth more than $50 million, taking into account the team's projected $23 million in losses this season and a $22.9 million loan taken out on the construction of its arena. The Sabres also are estimated to owe $7 million to several unsecured debtors.'
Golisano signs deal to buy bankrupt Sabres
March 13, 2003 Submitted by
Via: AP


text:
i drew this with pencil, then photoshoped one night. No idea if ill ever make it due to going to school, but i thought i would post it. enjoy! (((well i drew one of them, then created the other two later!)))
i drew this with pencil, then photoshoped one night. No idea if ill ever make it due to going to school, but i thought i would post it. enjoy! (((well i drew one of them, then created the other two later!)))
Looks great man! SWG style =D
SWG Mandos look so much better on paper than in game. Looks awesome
Seeing as your the red guy, who are the two flanking you?
Great job dude.
Has anyone attempted to make that suit yet? The armour design looks simple enough.
I gunna be starting it, most likely tonight...since I'm off for the next three days. I'm moving down to Florida to start school at full sail for film. But my Boba will be no good in Florida, I'm sure there is a lot of other Bobas down there, and I will be embarrassed with my half a**ed Boba standing next to theirs!
Plenty of Mercs down there in Florida who can help you with your custom =)
well i started it!
I started with the WOF Jango template for the chest pieces and added a piece for the top.
Just cut out of the sheet.
Now molded into shape and some damage added...I have both chest pieces and the stomach cut, shaped and one layer of silver. I will post some more pictures later.
When I was at WalMart picking up paint and materials for the gun I started thinking that I want something on my back. Not a jet pack, their kinda over rated now a days. So i figured I will have some kind of pack or something. So I grabbed this container to work with. It will need a lot of work!
For the gun I decided to use the maverick again. I am gunna mod it with a scope, and a small non-working stock kinda looking like on the e11. I feel the maverick would be a little powerful to be held with one hand, and there isn't really anything to hold on to under the rotating part.
I have a few layers of black on the gun already...
Excellent start so far!
ok heres a few update photos
When i was painting the armor, silver got misted onto the gun, it looks more like a metallic paint was used...i think it looks great! I am still working on the stock or "handle" for under the for under the barrel.
I'm gunna merge the galaxies with the Dred Priest armor. I'm gunna have the cylinders on the stomach plate, and the bandoleer on the left shoulder.
Well i thought i would dry dirtying the "metal" under the paint, but i'm not sure thats gunna work out know. The dark spots are showing up through the red. I am only on the second layer, so will she what happens with two more layers!
I think it looks great so far. Keep the pics coming.
Here is an almost finished piece.
I misted black over it to dirty it up, and make it a darker red.
This is what i want to do to my maverick.
Looking preety good bro!
Lookin very good Makan!
i was bored again...photoshop
Looks good so far I'm working on making mine over into swg style also
What exactly IS SWG style? I mean, what's the difference?
Nice picture, can't wait to see it in action!
Mando Armor
It's different from Jango's and Boba's entirely. The thigh armor is a more square than Jango's, and the two-piece knees and shoulder bells are clearly not the same, ect, ect...
i havent done much progress, i got called into work last night, and they want me in again to night...overnights are killers!!!
I know what SWG is, I played the 30-day trial
Okay, cool, looks like what MY mando will look like. Sort of 'heavier' armor.


text:
Meg Whitman as HP CEO: Obvious choice or obvious disaster?
Former eBay chief executive, current HP board member, replaces Leo Apotheker in top spot. Read more.
HP confirms layoffs at Palm unit
HP has started laying off workers associated with last year's billion-dollar acquisition of Palm, as it closes down the mobile device business it planned to base on Palm's webOS. The news comes almost exactly a month after HP announced a sweeping reorganization and refocusing of its business. Read more.


text:
|Members List
|Today's Posts
|Mark Forums Read
|Photo Gallery
|Politics, Government, or Religion Chat Bring your flamesuit!
greatlakes4x4.com is the premier Great Lakes 4x4 Forum on the internet. Registered Users do not see the above ads.
|Thread Tools
|Search this Thread
|March 24th, 2010, 01:41 PM
Catch the wave
WSJ: Your Medical Records Aren't Secure
Your Medical Records Aren't Secure
The president says electronic systems will reduce costs and improve quality, but they could undermine good care if people are afraid to confide in their doctors.
By DEBORAH C. PEEL
I learned about the lack of health privacy when I hung out my shingle as a psychiatrist. Patients asked if I could keep their records private if they paid for care themselves. They had lost jobs or reputations because what they said in the doctor's office didn't always stay in the doctor's office. That was 35 years ago, in the age of paper. In today's digital world the problem has only grown worse.
A patient's sensitive information should not be shared without his consent. But this is not the case now, as the country moves toward a system of electronic medical records.
In 2002, under President George W. Bush, the right of a patient to control his most sensitive personal datafrom prescriptions to DNAwas eliminated by federal regulators implementing the Health Information Portability and Accountability Act. Those privacy notices you sign in doctors' offices do not actually give you any control over your personal data; they merely describe how the data will be used and disclosed.
In a January 2009 speech, President Barack Obama said that his administration wants every American to have an electronic health record by 2014, and last year's stimulus bill allocated over $36 billion to build electronic record systems. Meanwhile, the Senate health-care bill just approved by the House of Representatives on Sunday requires certain kinds of research and reporting to be done using electronic health records. Electronic records, Mr. Obama said in his 2009 speech, "will cut waste, eliminate red tape and reduce the need to repeat expensive medical tests [and] save lives by reducing the deadly but preventable medical errors that pervade our health-care system."
But electronic medical records won't accomplish any of these goals if patients fear sharing information with doctors because they know it isn't private. When patients realize they can't control who sees their electronic health records, they will be far less likely to tell their doctors about drinking problems, feelings of depression, sexual problems, or exposure to sexually transmitted diseases. In 2005, a California Healthcare Foundation poll found that one in eight Americans avoided seeing a regular doctor, asked a doctor to alter a diagnosis, paid privately for a test, or avoided tests altogether due to privacy concerns.
Today our lab test results are disclosed to insurance companies before we even know the results. Prescriptions are data-mined by pharmacies, pharmaceutical technology vendors, hospitals and are sold to insurers, drug companies, employers and others willing to pay for the information to use in making decisions about you, your job or your treatments, or for research. Self-insured employers can access employees' entire health records, including medications. And in the past five years, according to the nonprofit Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, more than 45 million electronic health records were either lost, stolen by insiders (hospital or government-agency employees, health IT vendors, etc.), or hacked from outside.
Electronic record systems that don't put patients in control of data or have inadequate security create huge opportunities for the theft, misuse and sale of personal health information. The public is aware of these problems. A 2009 poll conducted for National Public Radio, the Kaiser Family Foundation and the Harvard School of Public Health asked if people were confident their medical records would remain confidential if they were stored electronically and could be shared online. Fifty nine percent responded they were not confident.
The privacy of an electronic health record cannot be restored once the contents are sold or otherwise disclosed. Every person and family is only one expensive diagnosis, one prescription, or one lab test away from generations of discrimination.
The solution is to insist upon technologies that protect a patient's right to consent to share any personal data. A step in this direction is to demand that no federal stimulus dollars be used to develop electronic systems that do not have these technologies.
Some argue that consent and privacy controls are impractical or prohibitively costly. But consent is ubiquitous in health care. Ask any physician if she would operate on a patient without informed consent.
There is no need to choose between the benefits of technology and our rights to health privacy. Technologies already exist that enable each person to choose what information he is willing to share and what must remain private. Consent must be built into electronic systems up front so we can each choose the levels of privacy and sharing we prefer.
My organization, Patient Privacy Rights, is starting a "Do Not Disclose" petition so Americans can inform Congress and the president they want to control who can see and use their medical records. We believe Congress should pass a law to build an online registry where individuals can express their preferences for sharing their health information or keeping it private. Such a registry, plus safety technologies for online records, will mean Americans can trust electronic health systems.
Privacy has been essential to the ethical practice of medicine since the time of Hippocrates in fifth century B.C. The success of health-care reform and electronic record systems requires the same foundation of informed consent patients have always had with paper records systems. But if we squander billions on a health-care system no one trusts, millions will seek treatment outside the system or not at all. The resulting data, filled with errors and omissions, will be worth less than the paper it isn't written on.
|March 24th, 2010, 08:08 PM
Catch the wave
This is the Federal Government we're talking about. The same federal government that routinely has very high level security breaches, allows random folks to attend an invitation only formal state dinner, routinely somehow allows contractors to possess secure/classified information on non-approved laptops, and/or take them out of secure facilities where they are stolen from vehicles, etc, etc, etc.
Never mind the fact that they aren't at all even considering building these systems with measures to allow for the patient to control their own destiny, or give consent.
|March 24th, 2010, 10:37 PM
German cars are hot
Join Date: 11-05-05
Location: West Bloomfield
Posts: 11,450
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
My OB/GYN has an all electronic office. I had a long talk with him about his data security practices since I am an Information Security Manager, and what he didn't say was he was sending my records to either the insurance company or the government. He sends the billing company a medical description code of the service he performed for billing. He is going to email me tomorrow so I will ask him if he's sharing my info with uncle sam.
Most offices have the patient files in unlocked cabinets. The records are no more secure than a rock and a window.
|March 25th, 2010, 07:35 PM
Catch the wave
If I recall correctly, one of the the last federal breaches involving a contractor, his stolen laptop and data he should not have had in his possession in the first place numbered in the tens of thousands - and potentially is easily foreseeable to be in the millions.
I've seen how a regional Government manages information, and builds systems - and one of the better ones at that. Let's not forget who we're talking about here. Let's also not forget, that when the private sector creates the problem they are held liable. The Government at every level is virtually never held accountable, let alone liable.
|March 25th, 2010, 08:15 PM
November 7, 1958 - July 22, 2011
Join Date: 07-29-07
Location: Belleville Mi
Posts: 4,727
iTrader: (1)
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tony Dick, I mean Weiner, say's your a liar
|March 26th, 2010, 10:55 AM
Catch the wave
wonder if a video of him stating that will be upheld in federal tax court...
never mind, I don't really wonder that at all.
|Thread Tools
|Search this Thread


text:
Posted by David Cooperstein on February 1, 2011
Hot on the heels of our new blog platform, Forrester has launched The Forrester Community For CMO & Marketing Leadership Professionals focused on the key business challenges that senior marketer professionals face every day. The community is a place for marketing executives to exchange ideas, opinions, and real-world solutions with each other. Forrester analysts will also be part of the community, helping facilitate the discussions and sharing their views.
The community is open to all interactive marketers, whether you're a Forrester client or not.
Here's what you'll find:
I encourage you to become part of the community:
Click here to go to The Forrester Community For CMO & Marketing Leadership Professionals, and bookmark it for easy reference. See you in the community!


text:
Hi friends
I was tasked upon by my teacher to recite a formula during our Kathina Ceremony to transform our vihara into an Uposatha Hall for a day. I would be glad if anyone can provide me with the original Pali text with english translations as the romanized text I have with me is what I translated directly from Thai itself.
It goes (note that it may not be the actual spelling):
Sunatu me bhante sangho, yati sanghassa pattakallam. Sangho imam viharam uposatha garam samman neyya esa yathi.
Sunatu me bhante sangho, sangho imam viharam uposatha garam samman nati, yassa yassa mato kamati. Imas sa viharassa uposatha kharassa sammati. Sodun hassa, yassa nagga kamati, so bhaseya.
Samma to sanghena, ayam viharo uposatha garo kammati sanghassa; tassa matunhi, evamme dang dharayami.
Great help is appreciated.
With metta
Dhammakamo Bhikkhu


text:
Activity: Waverunner Rental edit
Departs from: Harbour Town Yacht Basin
July 20, 2017 at 3:30pm (1 hour)
All waverunners must have at least one rider who is at least 18 years old with a valid driver's license. Additional riders must be at least 6 years or older.
Choose the Safari to take a guided tour through the creeks and marshes of Hilton Head's surrounding islands. Your ticket out of the riding area!


text:
The award-winning The Alzheimer's Project reaches millions, continues to provide educational resourcesOctubre 1, 2009
Critics and viewers agree: The Alzheimer's Project documentary series is television worth watching. The four-part film series, co-presented by HBO Documentary Films and NIA/NIH in association with the Alzheimer's Association, Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund, and the Geoffrey Beene Gives Back Alzheimer's Initiative, has reached millions of viewers, won a Television Critics Award for Outstanding Achievement in News and Information, and garnered two Emmy® awards for nonfiction programming.
The Alzheimer's Project promises to enhance public awareness and understanding of research and care related to Alzheimer's for some time to come. Offered free to millions of viewers by HBO and other participating television service providers when it debuted on May 10-12, 2009, the documentaries can now be viewed free on the HBO Web site, YouTube, and iTunes. The HBO site offers a wealth of free educational and outreach resources, including supplemental videos and a video glossary, as well as links to NIA and other research and support organizations. The 15 supplemental films posted to the HBO site provide a more in-depth look at research, while another 18 supplemental films geared toward the scientific community are hosted on the Alzheimer's Research Forum Web site.
"Our goal was to make The Alzheimer's Project available to audiences on their own terms and in their preferred medium, so they could view the presentations at their own pace," said John Hoffman, vice president of HBO Documentary Films. DVDs of the four centerpiece films and selected supplemental films are available to the public, as is a companion book developed by the researchers, focusing on scientific discovery in the field.
The collaborators sought to bring viewers into the laboratories and clinics of some of the nation's leading researchers, as well as into the lives of those living with or caring for someone with the disease. "The Alzheimer's research community welcomed the opportunity to collaborate with HBO, seeking to raise new awareness and understanding of this devastating disease," says Richard J. Hodes, M.D., director of the National Institute on Aging, the component of the National Institutes of Health leading the Federal Alzheimer's disease research program. "There is a compelling story to tell of scientific discovery, of research advances and challenges, and of the human faces behind the disease."
Outreach began even before the films premiered, when some 6,000 free screening kits containing DVDs of all four films and outreach materials were sent to community organizations in all 50 states. Many NIA-funded Alzheimer's Disease Centers (ADCs) hosted special public screening events, along with discussion groups including Center scientists. Most ADCs have also posted links to The Alzheimer's Project on their Web sites.
One unique aspect of the project is its outreach to a whole new audience: kids. One of the four main films— the Emmy-winning "GRANDPA DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM?" WITH MARIA SHRIVER—tells the story of children and teens who are coping with a grandparent suffering from the disease. Maria Shriver, First Lady of California and a self-described "child of Alzheimer's," provides commentary and delivers valuable "lessons" for the kids. Community screenings of this film have been held at Boys and Girls Clubs, YWCAs, and YMCAs.
The Alzheimer Project's other major films are: THE MEMORY LOSS TAPES, which won an Emmy award for its chronicling of the experiences of seven people living with Alzheimer's; Emmy-nominated MOMENTUM IN SCIENCE, the story of scientific discovery that takes viewers inside the laboratories and clinics of 25 leading scientists and physicians; and CAREGIVERS, focusing on the lives of five people caring for their loved ones with the disease. The series producer was John Hoffman; the executive producers were Sheila Nevins and Maria Shriver.
For more information
For more information about The Alzheimer's Project and to view the films, visit www.nia.nih.gov/Alzheimers/HBO or www.hbo.com/alzheimers.
The Alzheimer's Research Forum hosts 18 short films that provide additional perspectives on, and in-depth scientific discussion of, a broad range of topics in Alzheimer's disease research, beyond the material broadcast by the main Alzheimer's Project.
Also recommended: Inside the Brain: Unraveling the Mystery of Alzheimer's Disease, a new animated video now available on the ADEAR Web site. The 4-minute captioned video shows the progression of Alzheimer's disease in the brain and the impact on brain cells. Inside the Brain is a companion to Alzheimer's Disease: Unraveling the Mystery, which is available to view, download, or order from the ADEAR Center.
Page last updated: Febrero 26, 2015


text:
Test your knowledge, and learn more about depression with this health quiz.
15 signs that it's more than just the blues
From your diet to your medication to your mindset, here are 13 culprits of low libido.
Eating healthier doesn't mean tossing your favorite recipes in the trash. Here are 10 easy ingredient substitutions for healthier cooking and baking.
Banish belly rolls for good with these easy moves to sculpt strong, sexy abs
Avoid these 8 hard-on-your heart foods.