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People are DESPERATE for a game with meat and depth like the old RPGs of yesteryear. There are too many games with more concerned with quicktime events and cinematics than there are with story and character development. The big publishers seem to think that fluff is enough, but a gamer cannot survive on fluff alone.
I think there are plenty of games with meat on them. The Witcher series has been excellent from a story telling perspective
With that said, Planescape: Torement has to be one of the most memorable games I've ever played. I still remember the Nameless One and Morte - and I haven't played it in ages...
The damn game actually made my cry. I remember that. Between what was happening and the music that accompanied it...
Damn, it's working me up even now!
Quick time events...
dear god grandpa... you are showing your age...
Is there another term for them?
Shitty annoying fucking stupid events is my preferred option
What I find a little surprising is that Dreamfall: Chapters [kickstarter.com] has a far harder time making money then those old RPGs. When it comes to storytelling in games The Longest Journey and Planescape Torment are almost always mentioned as one of the best examples, yet Dreamfall: Chapters, which is a sequel to TLJ, has only made 1.2mil so far, enough to get funded, but it took them 25 days, not a few hours. Guess there are a lot more old RPG gamers then adventure gamers around.
Dreamfall is no where near loved as much as torment. Dreamfall pretty much missed most gamers radar.
The Longest Journey and Dreamfall: Chapters are not remotely as well known as Planescape: Torment. Almost everybody I know has heard of Torment. It's mentioned constantly all over the place. This is the first time I hear of TLJ or Dreamfall.
QFT. And we ain't no spring chickens neither,
TLJ was a great game, but the sequel Dreamfall was terrible. Will Dreamfall: Chapters be as terrible as Dreamfall? Or as good as The Longest Journey. It was not something I wanted to bet money on.
I was never able to get into TLJ like I was with Torment.
I just could not connect with the character, or the world she seemed to live in.
I'll give it another try soon, because these comparisons are suggesting to me that I have really missed out on a gem.
I just found this [gog.com] which should go a long way. A good part of the reason I couldn't get into it was the horrible chicken-scratch handwriting font they used everywhere.
Actually, I just bought 'Eschalon Book I' for Linux a few hours ago out of pure curiosity, very surprised I was at the quality of this RPG. I'm gonna buy Book II and Book III when it arrives, I'm just overjoyed that the old style RPGs are still being made by a small company that cares.
Tides of Numenera was pimping Linux support also, so that's a good thing, thumbs up.
I have been playing CRPGs since the 1980's and some of the best ones I've played have been relatively recent. Fallout 3
You mean the worst game in the series, aside from that thing they made using the Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance engine?
Playing CRPG since the 80s and as the best you mention Fallout 3? Fallout 3 was prettier, but thats the problem, prettier is not better. Fallout 1 was better, Baldur's Gate was better, Planetscape:Torment was better. Hell, even the old TSR goldbox RPGs were better (Pool of Radiance, Champions of Krynn and my favourite Buck Rogers).
I loved Fallout 1 and 2, but just couldn't get into Fallout 3. The characters felt like cardboard cutouts, the music was nothing special compared to the atmospheric music of the previous two; I dunno, something just felt lost in the transition to 3D/Bethesda.
Having said that I've tried other Bethesda games like Oblivion and found that dull as well. Never tried Skyrim, though it sounds like it inherits similar problems as well. Yes I may be part of the minority for not liking Bethesda games, but at the same
That seems a bit like crowd sourceing a successor to the Lord of the Rings.
Getting the money is easy, but getting a product out, after all the time and all the dispersed talent, that does not suck in comparison to the original, that is a challenge
With the RPG dream team they have working on it and the fantastic new setting, I have faith that it'll turn out okay.
yes but i almost think i would like them to focus on wasteland and finish it quicker... if they have the extra time/resources?!
i will buy this when it comes out, i did back wasteland2
They are finishing wasteland 2. The writers and concept artists have nothing to do currently. Soon the graphics people will have nothing to do, then the programmers and so on. Large studios will happily lay off people between games as soon as their part is done. InXile is dedicated to not being like those large studios.
They explain why they are doing that in the kickstarter. They don't want to lay off their concept artists while they finish WL2 because they actually have 1.5 development teams.
Hell one of the perks for contributing decently in the kickstarter is that you get Wasteland2 as well.
exactly!! i wonder if one contributed "decently" in WL2 do they now also get Torment
I have pretty much zero concern that Torment: Tides of Numenera will be anything less than awesome. They did a Kickstarter for Wasteland 2 before this and Inexile have been very transparent about the development of that game and the early game play video looks great.
What made Planescape:Torment one of the best games ever wasn't something that would ever show in a gameplay video. It was the story and character development that kept you desperate to keep uncovering more. I think that was the only game I've ever played where I went straight through from Friday night to 3 am Monday morning with nothing but bathroom breaks and a snack or two. Not even Fallout was that good. I think part of the reason was that the story was a very personal struggle, and really got you emotionally invested in the outcome, rather than the standard "time to go save the world" plot.
It sounds like they're trying to head that direction again, but the only way to tell will be to play through... Definitely hoping they can do it, though.
Yeah, when I tell people to play it, I'm always a little stumped when they ask what makes the gameplay so good... frankly it isn't: it has a lot of bugs, the graphics are less than impressive, the controls are far from ideal, the magic system borders on useless, the combat is unchallenging, and NONE OF THAT MATTERS AT ALL.
The point of Torment isn't any of those things, the point of Torment is the chill that runs down your spine during conversations with Ignuus, the point of Torment is feeling you heart race as the Lady's shadow falls over you, the point of Torment is the soul crushing revelation of What Can Change The Nature Of A Man. None of those things make any sense in a 30 second demo, or even in a 30 minute demo.
My personal favorite discovery in Torment was the micro-story:
A man finds himself in a swamp, a hag standing over him cackling. He has no memory of how he got there, he has no memory of who he is.
The hag says "And what will your third wish be?"
Bewildered he asks "How can I have a third wish when I haven't had a first or second wish yet??"
The hag replies: "You have already had your first and second wishes and by their conditions I am not permitted to tell you what they were..."
The man thinks to himself, "Wel
Getting the money is easy, but getting a product out, after all the time and all the dispersed talent, that does not suck in comparison to the original, that is a challenge
Have a look at the team they've got signed on to it:
The only guy on their team who wasn't involved in Planescape: Torment is the project director.
It's like if million of voices screamed "shut up and take my money" at once.
Maybe then we need to make the science people "into a game". Hold on, before we get to shouting "dehumanized". While discouraging the practices of a certain specific game company, make what those guys do into a "sim(ulation) game". Pick your favorite doctor! Follow him as he dispenses medicine! Or works on a solution to a problem! "14% progress... 15% progress...". Count the lives saved/restored to health!
The graphics are "simple" in that top down 2D is an easy first level implementation.
But I bet someone w
However, at the same time, science projects and other genuinely helpful for humanity research projects struggle with their Kickstarters
I wouldn't be surprised if they struggled with their Kickstarters, since Kickstarter is exclusively for creative projects:
Everything on Kickstarter must be a project. A project has a clear goal, like making an album, a book, or a work of art. A project will eventually be completed, and something will be produced by it.
If you want to fund something with a nebulous goal, with the aim of helping someone, you make a donation, you don't pledge to a kickstarter. In a sense, donation-driven organisations are the oldest form of crowd-funding.
I think I'll wait for the reviews, I don't really know much of about the developer and the one game of theirs I've played didn't impress me. Maybe it was because they sucked at humor I dunno or maybe I'm just not the humors sort. Kickstarter is nice but you got to be careful any charlatan could promise you the moon and stars and deliver you nothing or worse a pile of shit.
I'm not really a huge kickstarter fan I've backed only two projects which were books by one of my favorite authors. Someone who had earne
My take is that about 50% of these Kickstarter Games will deliver on their promises to a reasonable degree. That is a great rate! Not only does that mean you pay the standard price for a good game, but these will be good games that would otherwise never have been made. Or to put it differently, a 50% chance of this working out is very, very reasonable at the price asked!
And hey, for us Aussies, we're paying about a third of the standard price, since Kickstarter doesn't discriminate based on region, whereas we're gouged hard for traditional software purchases. Not to mention, if you're careful about what you back, you'll probably avoid a lot of the 50% failures.
Actually, the $25 price point on the kickstarter for the game is less than 50% of the standard price, even in the U.S. where games are cheap. I suppose that's partially because literally half the sticker price of a AAA game goes to marketing.
Good point. And the while point of Kickstarter is that today you do not need the marketing, distribution, etc. anymore, as even single individuals can distribute large amounts of data at low cost. Time to cut out that slack, so People that are passionate about making good games can get them directly to people that are passionate about playing good games.
"but it seems like in some ways it's easier to kickstart these things than it is to get people to buy a published game that's already been through the development process."
The opposite is true, publishers stopped making games like this because the market was not deemed big enough so there's all this pent up demand because publishers thumbed their noses at the people who put them on the map.
Interplay had a few bad flops and went out of business even though they made some of the best classic games. Interplay
I think the problem with interplay was just they were too ahead of their time in a sense, many of the things the game industry has learned (dumbing down, storytelling) it was largely the non-game things driving mass market sales which kinda sucks. Since many older games were videogames first, story/action movie second. In modern games its the reverse.
The thing I'm a bit skeptical about is many of these people have been in the woods for a while (away from making those kinds of games) and I wonder if they s
Plus, I think a lot of people would much rather that 100% of the money went to the developer, and not the middleman leeches.
You know why I havn't pledged anything to help Dreamfall? Because they talked about making the third chapter years ago. It took years to go from Dreamfall to TLJ, and yet they still talked about publishing the third in the story for so long.
It's one of those cases where I feel like there is a less than even chance that pledging to it wouldn't increase the chance of the game getting finished. Planescape never went through that phase of publishers/writers/coders all saying "we're working on the next chapter"
It took years to go from Dreamfall to TLJ, and yet they still talked about publishing the third in the story for so long.
You can blame The Secret World for that. Originally Dreamfall should have been followed up swiftly by sequel, but Funcom apparently changed plans and moved all the staff to The Secret World MMORPG. For some reason they then still announced Dreamfall: Chapters, even so everybody was busy working on The Secret World. Then of course TSW got delayed quite a bit and took years to develop and once it was done Funcom decided to stop making single-player games all together, which is why the next Dreamfall is now d
It's worth pointing out that this is not set in the same setting as Planescape: Torment (i.e. Planescape).
Numenera is completely unrelated to D&D, at least flavor wise (it's made by Monte Cook, who was heavily involved in D&D 3rd Edition. I don't think he had any involvement with AD&D, including Planescape...).
Not saying this is a good or bad thing, just saying, so that people are aware.
"Yeah, but you're taking the universe out of context."


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Georgia Louise Sutton
Georgia Louise Sutton, age 71, of Abilene, Texas (former resident of Sweetwater, Texas), passed away on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2012 at her residence. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 12, 2012 at Cate-Spencer & Trent Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Marcy Grun officiating. Burial will follow at Garden of Memories. Arrangements are under the direction of Cate-Spencer & Trent Funeral Home. Louise was born on Feb. 24, 1941, in Lawton, Okla. to Edgar Luther and Dora Bell (Leverett) Hawkins. She married James Edward Sutton, Sr. on Oct. 4, 1956 in California. She was Baptist and lived most of her life in Sweetwater. She worked as a waitress and shift manager for 76 Truck Stop for many years and also at a telephone answering service. She is survived by one sister, Mary Dyain Willham of California; six children, Virginia Mann of Abilene, TX, James (Bubba) Sutton, Jr. and wife Kathy of Abilene, Texas, Robert Sutton and wife Shelly, Raymond Sutton and wife Cindy, Barbara Sutton and Ronnie Sutton, all of Sweetwater, Texas; 21 grandchildren; 40 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, Edgar Luther and Dora Bell (Leverett) Hawkins; husband, James Edward Sutton, Sr.; grandson, Bo Broughton; great-grandson, Preston Sutton; and one brother, Luther Ray Hawkins. Pallbearers will be James Sutton, III, James Coe McClelland, Casey Sutton, Scottie Sutton, Cody Sutton and SFC Robert Dale (R.D.) Sutton.Honorary pallbearers will be Dusty Sutton and Nathan Alderson. Family received friends at the funeral home on Sunday, Nov. 11, 2012.

subset: commoncrawl


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The Society of Professional Journalists has named The Ithacan the Best Non-Daily Newspaper in the Country in its annual Mark of Excellence Awards competition.
The award is for calendar year 2011 (Spring editor in chief Libby Sile '11; Fall editor in chief Aaron Edwards '12). Papers submitted issues on or near three dates specified by SPJ. This year's issues submitted were published on March 3, October 6 and December 1, 2011. The Ithacan won First Place in SPJ's Northeast Region in March, and then went on to compete against the winners in SPJ's other 11 regions for the national award.
The award will be presented at SPJ's national convention in September in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. SPJ is the largest professional organization of journalists in the country.
Congratulations to all the editors and staffers who made this the most successful year in the paper's history.
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Ithacan Named Best in the Country
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$msg = ""; $myaddress = "sacha" + "@" + "sachachua.com"; $page = "2006.06.28.php"; $page_title = "2006.06.28"; $page_updated = "2006-06-2900:25:5900:25:59-0400"; $maintainer = "sacha" + "@" + "sachachua.com"; require_once "include/calendar.php"; require_once "include/planner-include.php"; require_once "include/header.inc.php"; ?>
Headlines for Wednesday:
|@0700 Meet Pranam and hitch a ride to IBM
|@1900 Social software and enterprise computing with Martin Cleaver et al
|@2100 FlashTO meetup
|Register domains
|Blog about Toastmasters goals
I can't count the conversations that have started because my laptop's smaller than usual, but I've enjoyed each of them. Today was no exception.
I passed by Tucows too early for my podcasting appointment with Joey de Villa and Gabriel Mansour, having for some reason thought it would be 4:00 instead of 5:30. I read a few articles in the lobby before deciding to head back to Graduate House in order to drop off my confirmation deposit. While waiting for the Dufferin bus back to the subway station, I worked on my laptop. (You _gotta_ love a city where I can do that and not be too worried about getting mugged!)
Someone remarked on the size of my laptop. He introduced himself as Doug and said that he'd seen me in the Tucows office. We chatted about Linux and BSD, DNS, his previous work, the book he was reading, and other fun stuff.
With Spadina drawing near, he suggested coffee. He was quick to explain that it wouldn't be a date thing and that he has a girlfriend - thoughtful of him to set me at ease! =) - but that he wanted to continue the conversation at some time because he thought that I was interesting. So yeah, it would be fun to introduce him to other geek friends...
Random Japanese sentence: 猫は生け垣を通り抜けた。 The cat got through the hedge.
Thanks to Gabriel Mansour, I was part of a fun podcast with Joey de Villa (Accordion Guy, Tucows). Joey and I chatted about the Philippines, tech, moving to a new country, Emacs ("For those of you listeners who haven't heard of Emacs, it's a text editor--" "It's a way of life!"), and other things. =) That was fun, particularly with Joey's totally cool audio setup complete with nifty microphones and a sound mixer.
It inspires me to do my own podcast, particularly as I'm interested in storytelling. I want to hear people's stories. Here's what I'm thinking of: three minutes to tell a story that illustrates something fundamental about you. Maybe it's about your purpose in life. Maybe it's about what you want to do. Maybe it's about one of your core values. What's your story?
What do I need in order to make this happen?
In terms of tools: I have a digital voice recorder that I just need to remember to keep well-stocked with charged AAA batteries. That can take care of real-life conversations for now, which is good because I can attach bios and pictures.
I'd like to be able to interview people over the Net and over phone, too. I should figure out how to record Skype conversations in order to take advantage of free US/Canada long distance (to phone) and free PC-to-PC calls. If I can't get that to work, I can use Gizmo or something like that instead, I guess. More of a hassle, though. As for phone... I don't know, maybe I'll get some kind of gadget later on.
In terms of stories: I need to start off with an introductory podcast, then I need to line people up for it. Maybe I can set once every two weeks as a nice goal? Podcasts don't have to be totally regular (that's what RSS is for!), but it might help. If I like the pace of two weeks, I might even be able to step it up to once a week.
I want to hear your story. Interested in being part of something like this?
On Technorati: podcasting, storytelling, story
Random Japanese sentence: テーブルに猫の足跡が付いている。 There are footprints of a cat on the table.
Keynote Speakers Advanced Club - Club #: 8600, Dist #: 60, Est: 04/29/2003 Meeting Time: 10:00 am, 2nd & 4th Saturday OPG / Mezzanine Level 700 University Avenue, Toronto, ON, Canada Club Status: Membership eligibility criteria required - Contact club
Experienced professionals and beginning speakers alike can benefit from Toastmasters' practical, face-to-face learning program. However, Keynote Speakers is designed for advanced speakers who have already given at least 10 Toastmasters speeches and received their CTM. You'll learn and practice in a friendly, comfortable environment with people who are on the same advanced level as you, and are there for the same reason you are — to become better communicators.
Hey! I can join this now! Might be awesome to be part of two clubs...
Random Japanese sentence: 赤ん坊は猫の尾でおもしろく遊んでいた。 The baby was amusing itself with the cat's tail.


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Kathy Sullivan: Chris Christie's bridge scandal will not go awayBY KATHY SULLIVAN
January 13. 2014 6:02PM
Well, Chris Christie's 2014 is off to a bad start.
The news that Chris Christie's appointee to the New York-New Jersey Port Authority had ordered lanes closed from Fort Lee onto the George Washington Bridge as retribution against a Democratic mayor who had refused to endorse the Republican New Jersey Governor has shaken the political world. The four-day closure caused massive backups, leaving some motorists sitting in traffic for hours. They also took place on the first day of school, creating problems for teachers, students and parents. There also were reports of delays by first responders.
Initially, Christie denied any involvement by his administration, reacting with his trademark sarcasm. When asked about the closures by New Jersey newspapers, he "dismissed questions about political retribution by joking that he moved the cones himself." He also tried to distract from the issue by attacking the nerve of Fort Lee to have the ramps, saying, "The fact that one town has three lanes dedicated to it, that kind of gets me sauced." This statement failed to take into account that folks from towns other than Fort Lee use the ramps. It is akin to saying no one other than Manchester residents would be hurt if Route 293 was closed. Residents of Bedford, Goffstown and other towns would be pretty "sauced" if their access to Route 93 was cut off.
Despite Christie's denials, it became evident that members of his team were not only involved, but that his deputy chief of staff, Bridget Kelly, was in on the planning. Emails released last week had her corresponding with a Christie-appointed Port Authority official while she was in line at a wake. How creepily Sopranos of it all, plotting political payback while waiting to pay one's respects. The day after the emails went public, the deputy chief of staff was fired, and Christie was telling the world how sad and humiliated he was by the whole thing.
Political analysts went into overdrive, issuing opinions as to what impact the scandal would have on Christie's presidential aspirations. Steve Duprey, the New Hampshire Republican National Committeeman, said, "In the long run, I think it's much ado about nothing."
I disagree. While Christie may not have been involved, it was his political appointees who dreamed up the stupid idea, implemented it, and were so dumb that they left an email trail behind. The employees of any office of any governor in any state should know that they work for the people of the state — all the people, not just the people who may or may not support the incumbent governor.
Inherent in that knowledge should be the notion that purposely doing anything to disrupt the lives of the people of the state is not comical or proper, but is instead very, very wrong. Chris Christie surrounded himself with appointees who never got that message. Instead, he handed the keys to his administration to political punks who used the resources of government to inflict whatever havoc they thought would be fun that day. That is why Chris Christie's inevitable nomination for President just took a very large hit: the incident goes to both his judgment and his failure to foster a culture of service to the public, as opposed to service to Christie.
Christie has a reputation for being an "it's all about me" type of guy. Just ask anyone from the Mitt Romney for President campaign. Christie's keynote address at the 2008 Republican National Convention talked all about himself, and little about Romney. He has a reputation as a bully, and revels in those moments where he publicly tongue lashes constituents or reporters. According to a 2010 New York Magazine article, he has an aide "whose job it is to capture these 'moments'…When one occurs, Christie's press shop splices the video and uploads it to YouTube…"
In December, The New York Times reported several instances of retribution against those who had disagreed with Christie. One can chalk a few incidents up to hard-nosed politics, but in Christie's case, it happens far too often.
The scandal also proves all political roads lead to New Hampshire. The state Republican Party executive director, Matt Mowers, was the regional field director in New Jersey who tried to get the Fort Lee mayor to endorse Christie. Mowers' boss at the time was Bridget Kelly. There will be a lot of questions for Mowers, such as, exactly what did he say to the mayor, and, was Mowers in on the planning discussion about how to retaliate against the mayor? At a time when the New Hampshire GOP should be focused on candidate recruitment, fundraising, and legislative priorities, Mowers will be distracted by the troubles in New Jersey.
Kathy Sullivan is a Manchester attorney and member of the Democratic National Committee. She was chairman of the state Democratic Party from 1999-2007.


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The Emmet County Board of Supervisors Tuesday approved a subdivision of property owned by Art's Way Manufacturing to allow for the sale of two tracts, one to both the east and one to the west of the plant in Armstrong.
Dar Lewis, appraiser with the Emmet County Assessor's Office, said the minor subdivision did not require a public hearing. The Armstrong City Council had already approved the subdivision Monday night.
A Dec. 5 closing date is planned for the property which will remain in ag use.
In other business Tuesday, the board approved general and drainage claims.
The board also approved two utilities permits. One was to Ringtel Communications to install a buried 24-fiber cable on the county highway right of way on 570th Avenue between 210th Street and 230th Street in Sections 1 and 12 of Denmark Township. The other was to Iowa Lakes Regional Water of Spencer to install a 1.5-inch water service at 2171 440th Ave. in Section 3 of High Lake Township.
In the road report, county engineer Roger Patocka said he had met with Iowa DOT and Union Pacific officials regarding construction of a rail crossing in Wallingford. Patocka said the DOT indicated it didn't have the money for its 20 percent share of the project that would range from $70,000 to $100,000. The board also discussed other rail crossings, including Armstrong, Gruver and Estherville.
In the road report, Patocka said crews had been blading, burning ditches, putting up snowfence and working on equipment. He said the Riverview bridge had been poured and an approach contractor was coming this week.


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UPDATE: Liz (comment 18) & Kirsten (comment 32) have been randomly selected as the winners of this giveaway.
I don't believe every Christian in the world is supposed to adopt.
But I believe we are all called to do something to care for the poor and defend orphans.
One amazing way to do that is by giving financially or shopping a worthy cause.
The Adopt Shoppe has been a long-time advertiser on my blog, with the purpose of the shop to help bring one little baby boy home.
I'm happy to announce that is happening very soon! The Adopt Shoppe will be closing soon, so here's your last chance to help support a great cause.
From The Adopt Shoppe FB page: With our impending travel to Taiwan to pick up Maddox, I've decided to shut down my shop for an indefinite period of time on Saturday, August 25, 2012. We are still $2,000 short and I will still be taking orders in my shop through next Friday. They will be shipped out within 14 days of placing your order.
In celebration of one more orphan finding his forever home, today I'm giving away two $25 gift certificates to The Adopt Shoppe.
Beautiful freshwater pearl and hemp bracelets:
I love this inspirational print in the Shoppe:
Step into someone's story and make a difference today. Welcome Max home in the comments and that will be your entry!
This giveaway ends on Thursday.


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Check out this awesome infographic from PBS Food – share it with your friends on Facebook and Twitter to celebrate Julia's 100th birthday!
Julia Child
#CookForJulia – The Most Important Thing is Having Fun
Austin's own chef extraordinaire Paul Qui shares his tribute of Julia Child with PBS Food:
Julia Child pioneered food culture in the United States and opened the door for Chef's like me. I've learned to be fearless and determined in the kitchen and that the biggest hurdle is the fear of failure. But the most important thing is that cooking is about having fun.
About Paul Qui
Paul Qui has quickly made a name for himself as one of the next best chefs in the country. He began his culinary career in Austin, Texas at Uchi, a Japanese farmhouse dining and sushi restaurant, in 2003. He progressed to become Executive Chef at Uchiko and also founded East Side King, a series award-winning of food trucks. In 2012, Paul won Top Chef Season 9, the James Beard Award for Best Chef Southwest. Chef Paul is currently working on his latest concept, soon to be announced.
Celebrate Julia Child's 100th Birthday by sharing your favorite Julia Child memories and recipes here, on Facebook, or Twitter using the #CookForJulia hashtag!
Celebrate 100 Years of Julia Child!
Julia Child is a quintessential PBS icon and pioneer who opened up new worlds for a whole generation of Americans, showing them that cooking – even French food – is easy, enjoyable and within reach for all. In honor of what would have been her 100th birthday on August 15, KLRU is planning a 10 day celebration of special tributes, videos, and more to commemorate her life and memory.
Starting today on the KLRU blog, Facebook, and Twitter, we'll have special Julia posts and we want you to join in the fun – use the #CookForJulia to share your favorite Julia Child recipes, memories, episodes and more with your friends on Facebook or Twitter (and us, too!).
This is a nation-wide celebration that we're so excited to share with you in the Austin community – check out all the national buzz here and stay in touch because we'll be sharing a lot of Julia goodies in the next 10 days!


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Browse by Medical Category
Monday, August 30, 2010
Ability to gently collect neutrophils may improve understanding of immune response to serious injury
A team led by Massachusetts General
Hospital (MGH) scientists has developed a new microfluidic tool for quickly and
accurately isolating neutrophils -- the most abundant type of white blood cell --
from small blood samples, an accomplishment that could provide information
essential to better understanding the immune system's
response to traumatic injury. The
system, described in a Nature Medicine
paper that received advance online release, also can be adapted to isolate
almost any type of cell.
"Neutrophils are currently
garnering a lot of interest from researchers and clinicians, but collecting and
processing them has been a real challenge," says Kenneth Kotz, PhD, of the
MGH Center for Engineering in Medicine, lead
author of the study. "This tool
will allow a new range of studies and diagnostics based on cell-specific genomic
and proteomic signatures."
Part of the body's first-line defense against injury or infection,
neutrophils were long thought to play fairly simple roles, such as releasing
antimicrobial proteins and ingesting pathogens.
But recent studies find their actions to be more complex and critical to
both chronic and acute inflammation, particularly the activation of the immune
system in response to injury.
Studying patterns of gene
expression and protein synthesis in neutrophils could reveal essential
information about the immune response, but gathering the cells for analysis has
been challenging. Standard isolation
procedures take more than two hours and require relatively large blood
samples. Neutrophils also are sensitive
to handling and easily become activated, changing the molecular patterns of
interest, and they contain very small amounts of messenger RNA, which is required
for studies of gene expression.
Building on their experience
developing silicon-chip-based devices that capture CD4 T cells for HIV
diagnosis or isolate circulating tumor cells, Kotz's
team developed a system that gathers a neutrophil-rich sample from microliter-sized
blood samples in less than 5 minutes, reducing the risk of disturbing cells in
the process. To meet the requirements
for speed and precision, the researchers completely redesigned the geometry,
antibody-based coating and other aspects of the cell-capture module at the
heart of the device. The samples
collected were successful in revealing differences in gene and protein activity
relevant to the cells' activation
While the laboratory tests were
encouraging, samples from critically injured patients need to be handled and
processed in real-world clinical environments.
Through the efforts of study co-author Lyle Moldawer, PhD, of the University
of Florida College of Medicine, the devices were tested at six additional sites
participating in a major national study of the immune response to injury. Analyzing samples from 26 patients with serious
burns or other traumatic injuries revealed complex gene expression patterns
that shifted during the 28 days after injury, probably reflecting complex
interactions between various immune system components.
Ronald Tompkins, MD, ScD -- chief
of the MGH Burns Service, a study co-author and principal investigator of the
"Inflammation and the Host Response to Injury" initiative -- says, "This
technology has been widely implemented in our 'Glue
Grant Program,' with a major
impact. The ability to capture specific
cells in a routine clinical environment rapidly and accurately offers a
possible change in the paradigm of normal clinical diagnostics." The Nature Medicine study is part of the
National-Institute-of-Health-funded, large-scale collaborative research program
and involved its seven clinical sites and seventeen academic institutes across
the United States.
Kotz says, "Until now, it's been logistically impossible to study neutrophils
to the extent we have in this paper." He notes that their analysis of neutrophil
samples from trauma patients is the largest such investigation to date and
adds, "This technology -- which is much faster and gentler than current
approaches to isolating cells -- can be scaled and modified to capture just
about any cell type, and we're
working to apply it to other cell-based assays."
Mehmet Toner, PhD, director of the BioMEMS Resource
Center in the MGH Center
for Engineering in Medicine, is senior author of the Nature Medicine article. In
addition to Tompkins and Moldawer, primary co-authors are Aman Russom, Alan
Rosenbach, Jeremy Goverman, Shawn Fagan and Daniel Irimia, MGH; Wenzong Xiao,
Weihong Xu, Julie Wilhelmy, Michael Mindrinos, and Ronald Davis, Stanford
Genome Technology Center; Carol Miller-Graziano, Asit De and Paul Bankey,
University of Rochester School of Medicine; Wei-Jun Qian, Brianne Petritis,
David Camp, and Richard Smith, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory; Elizabeth
Warner, University of Florida College of Medicine; and Bernard Brownstein,
Washington University of St. Louis.
General Hospital,
established in 1811, is the original and largest teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School.
The MGH conducts the largest hospital-based research program in the United States,
with an annual research budget of more than $600 million and major research
centers in AIDS, cardiovascular research, cancer, computational and integrative
biology, cutaneous biology, human genetics, medical imaging, neurodegenerative
disorders, regenerative medicine, systems biology, transplantation biology and
Sue McGreevey, 617 724-2764, firstname.lastname@example.com
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MASON CITY - The Iowa Lakes men's and women's golf teams were in action Monday at the NIACC Spring Invitational held at the Mason City Country Club.
The Laker men finished third with a team score of 304. They were led by Ben Nath who finished one under par 71 and finished in second place. Brandon Klein and Austin Sweeney fired rounds of 76. Joe Dakken shot an 81 to round out the team scoring.
Non-counting score was Jeremy Wollenburg with an 83.
Iowa Lakes junior varsity team was in action and shot a round of 330. Blake Orton led the way there with an 81. Shawn Harmon shot an 82, while Nathan Kyle shot an 83. Ty Asa fired an 84 while non-counting score was an 86 by Michael Pace. One individual played for the Lakers with Josh Coleman shooting a 95.
The Laker women were also in action. Taylor Heinrichs led the way with an 88, Tressa DeBoer shot a 95, and Sam Mueller shot a 101.
"It was great being able to get a tournament round in," said Iowa Lakes coach Andy Soper. "It's been hard to get in a groove I feel like for the players being the weather the way it's been this spring.
"Today was a prime example, we played our round and when we got home there was about 2 inches of snow on the ground," he said. "Ben has done a great job this spring his two rounds have been 73 with a win and 71 with a second place. Taylor has also been playing well this spring. She has been working really hard and it's showing with her scores.
"We will keep working hard with next action for the women being the Region XI tournament," said Soper.
Next action for the Laker women is April 25-27 when they go to the Women's Region XI Tournament playing for a chance to go to Nationals. For the Laker Men, they will play Sunday at Brooks with a make-up meet.


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Denise became Chief Communications Officer of Michigan Medicine in March 2014. Here she leads a team of 35 people responsible for public relations, marketing, social media, digital arts and web presence.
Prior to joining Michigan, Denise was president and CEO of the Communication for Social Change Consortium, a US and UK-registered non-profit organization working globally to apply communication to public health and other global development issues including AIDS, malaria, food security and malnutrition.
Gray-Felder has more than 35 years of multi-faceted communication, marketing, management, and issues management experience, with proven leadership in positively addressing social issues facing people living in poverty. She has worked in both the for-profit and not-for-profit sectors focusing on high-level strategic media placements, developing and implementing advocacy campaigns, reputation and risk management, organizational positioning, culture change, labor and employee communication, policy communication, and community engagement in more than 40 countries. As the founding president of the Communication for Social Change Consortium, she was an inspirational leader and successful advocate.
Prior to launching the CFSC Consortium, Denise was vice president of administration and communication for the Rockefeller Foundation for 9 years. There she oversaw budgets exceeding $200 million for work in communication and policy, research and learning, facilities, Bellagio Conference Center, information technology, finance, human resources and comptrollers. In this role she excelled at managing teams, cost containment, obtaining and supporting special interest grants, and managing special projects.
Prior to the Rockefeller Foundation she worked for 16 years in AT&T public relations in progressively responsible management positions. She was hired as an assistant manager for Michigan Bell media relations and had advanced to director of AT&T General Business Systems at the time of her resignation. Her work at AT&T included speechwriting for the office of the chairman, serving on the labor negotiating team, human resources communication, global media relations, issues management, employee communication, government relations communication and advocacy. She holds a BA in journalism from the University of Michigan and a MA in broadcasting from Wayne State University, as well as a certificate in global marketing from the U-M Ross School of Business Executive Program.
In her former corporate positions at Michigan Bell Telephone Company, American Bell and AT&T, Gray-Felder handled a broad portfolio of strategic communication, reputation management, special events and issues management activities - including media relations for Michigan Bell Telephone Company's role in the 1980 Republican National Convention (held in Detroit), AT&T's role in the 1984 Olympic Games (Los Angeles), the launch of AT&T's first computer, and media relations for the break-up of the Bell System.
Gray-Felder has been a communication and business school adjunct professor at several colleges and universities in the United States, Rwanda, Colombia, Jamaica, Canada, Europe and Singapore and has produced numerous book chapters, reports, learning CDs, publications, newspaper and magazine articles. A former newspaper reporter, magazine editor and broadcast producer, Gray-Felder is a frequent and accomplished speaker on communication for development and global communication challenges.


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(CNN) - Former Vice President Dick Cheney said in an interview broadcast Sunday that the Justice Department's decision to review waterboarding and other enhanced interrogation techniques is politically motivated.
Cheney said he opposes the decision by Attorney General Eric Holder to ask a former prosecutor to review CIA interrogations of high-profile terrorism suspects.
Cheney made clear he believes President Obama directed Holder to launch the review because the president is feeling pressure from left-wing Democrats. Cheney said the review will undermine the willingness of CIA personnel to conduct necessary operations.
"I think it's a terrible decision," Cheney said on "Fox News Sunday." "It's clearly a political move. There's no other rationale for why they're doing this."
He criticized Obama for allowing a review considering the president previously said that CIA operatives involved in the interrogations would not be prosecuted. "I think he's trying to duck responsibility for what's going on here, and I think it's wrong," Cheney said.
Updated: 2:43 p.m.
Now why would anyone want to investigate the interrogations? Could it be that Mr Cheney allowed, authorized and actively promoted these illegal tactics? I'm sure this is one of many war crimes relative to the Bush administration that he does not want investigated. The master of sophistry is at it again!
What a low life!
Pam in Oregon
But I guess hiding the atrocities you implemented ISN'T political, right Cheney?
Cheney's just scared that his evil past will catch up to him. Yes the CIA should be investigated. No one is above the law. He needs to do some time behind bars.
I'm totally shocked to hear such argument from the republicans. If they think it's okay to subject prisoners to torture and get away with it, what moral justification will they have to question roque states from torturing prisoners? what make these states rogue is that they think it's okay to torture.Does that make america a rogue state? stop disturbing other countries with your 'rule of law' doctrine if you think it is difficult to uphold it. If torture is that effective and okay, then you should withdraw your forces from afganistan and iraq and allow the talibans to keep torturing their people. what will become of the u.s government? TALIBANS!
Sadaam used enhanced techniques, we bound people and through them off of 10 story buildings. There is no moral equivalence to waterboarding, except for altruistic hippies.
Are we a country of laws, or not? Those that want to win at the cost of any and all principles can unequivocally be considered "unprincipled". Is that what we want to become as a nation?
I've noticed that a very high percentage of us that have served in the military – and are offering comments – are offended, if not enraged, in our former leadership's complete lack of respect for national and international laws and treaties.
Ethnocentricism, racism, and nationalism are again beginning to run rampant in this country, particularly among those that have never traveled abroad. Are we once again burdened with a reincarnation of the likes of Joseph McCarthy and his ilk? Are we to see "convoys" of fat guys in pickups and camo posturing on our streets?
Ignorance drives the minority – self respect drives the rest of us.
On Sept.11th most of the hijackers didn't know the full plans. Most terrorists are not told what they are doing, especially when they will die, for fear they will not go through with it.
That is why torture does NOT work, they are the 'workers', not the planners of terrorism!!!
Wake up Gang. Our resourses have been attacked all over the world, not just 911. Considering the enemy we are dealing with and how they treat prisioners (remember Dan Pearl) I don't think we are harsh enough. Why should we be the only nation to follow laws no one else follows. Ask the families of 911 if they care about water-boarding.
This country has far greater problems to solve or is this a side show to take our attention away from Health Care, Exc.pay,etc.?
can he point to ONE instance where these techniques work or provided "valuable" information without revealing national secrets? i imagine he could be vague about at least one occurrence, can't he??? he also stated that he is okay with the use of these methods even if they maybe illegal...
Why wasn't Dick this vocal when he was serving WE, The People?!
Of course it is political. Everything in Washington is politics. No President before this one has ever sought to prosecute people for policies during the previous administration. And the Bush Presidency was certainly not the first time an administration has implemented controversial policies. Look back in history and almost every President has done something. So why now? Obama is not an idiot. He is aware of the can of worms he is opening. So why is he doing this? Is it a smokescreen perhaps? There is doubt these actions are unprecedented.
I still find it very telling that the member of the administration who had actually served in the military, who had actually defended this nation on battlefields and who had led troops into war–Colin Powell–was the voice of reason decrying torture. Torture is torture, regardless of what you call it. Anyone who has a loved one serving this nation on foreign soil should be furious at the cavalier manner in which Chenny, Gonzales and any number of administration lackies threw aside the treaties of which the US is a signatory. When we torture, we place our troops in a more direct threat of torture. How can we demand treatment better than what the Bush-Cheney administration inflicted? This is not political. This is about how we, as a nation, stand by the rule of law.
It's about time.
Look – the focus here shouldn't be on the politics. Yes, we understand that it makes a lot of people feel good to grind their Cheney and Bush axes but the fact is that you're judging people who did the dirty work that had to be done post 9/11 and you're judging them by today's standards. I think everyone needs to keep in mind how this nation felt on 9/12 and what we asked those people to do for us. This stuff has all gone to the Justice Dept before which declined to prosecute anything. As someone has already pointed out, we know the Justice dept "isn't political" so there must have been some valid reasons why prosecutions were declined.
All this fuss because someone made drill noises at a bad guy we caught in Aghanistan – really? By the way, this administration still supports rendition of people to places like Egypt and Saudi Arabia – talk about speaking out of both sides of your mouth...
Talk about the pot calling the kettle black. cheney is a national and global disgace.
Rule of law and the upholding of our principles as a nation evidently means very little to Dick Cheney and those of his ilk. And to invoke the lack of further attacks after 9/11 as a defense for the entire debacle in Iraq is laughably invalid, kind of like claiming that pulling over more speeders in Oklahoma prevented the next Timothy McVeigh.
I feel some of you are not paying attenton. These people your are so set on protecting, were planning on killing you ,your mother and your children. I for one am very thankful this did not happen ,becasuse the people that were in charge kept us safe.I also think God none of you were in charge.Because you can not see beyond your stupid nose You are acting like an ingrate.Obama is also on the ingrate list,.
When I was growing up I was taught that the difference between Us (U.S.) and Them (dirty rotten commies) was that They believed that the ends justified the means. We were better than that. We would never lower ourselves to the likes of Stalin or Hitler or Pol Pot.
Bush/Cheney changed that.
The Republican Playbook
Accuse the other side of doing what you are doing!
Adolph is dancing like a cat on a hot tin roof. Get him President Obama! Size him up for pin stripes. Haliburton, secret oil meetings. Bring it all out for the people to see.
All you people who claim that people from the previous administration are war criminals and should be investigeted please show me the law that says waterboarding is torture. Yes torture is illegal – but there is debate on if the adhanced interrogation techniques used were turture. Until that is determined the investigation is a waste of time and money. Of course wasting money is what the current administration seems to do best.
Another thing the Dems should remember is they wont hold the White House forever. Investigating prior administrations like this could be precedent for the same thing to happen to them. And if you think the Chicago style politics they are playing is completely legel – your dreaming.
The Chaney administration did NOT prevent more attacks on our once wonderful country. The terrorists killed over 4,000 of our troops just in Iraq, and here at home, in our country, they were able to destroy thousands of families, and finally, they were able to destroy our economy. That's protecting us from further attacks?
So was investigation of a sitting president for an extramarital affair. I wonder which one of these is really more important to sniff out and correct – in terms of the American people. Duh. Cheney, get lost. You are an evil man.
Cheney, Bush, Rove and all the other crooks and scoundrels belong in Jail; I guess that why he objects to a further investigation into the illegal activies they all were party to.
In the meantime, American citizens rights of privacy are taken away daily under the guise of National Security. How many American Citizens were involved in planning or carrying out 9/11 ?
It is time we tell our Government that the Patriot Act should apply to foreigners, not American Citizens. Stop collectiong data, reading our e mails, listening in on our telephone calls.. Tne NSA, CIA FBI and DSA need oversight.
More lies and distraction from Cheney. He's obviously trying to cover his own tuckus. He's guilty of a crime and knows it. Curious as to how much his 'blind trust' portfolio has grown from 2001-2009...


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Heli-Skiing: Where We've Been and Where We're Going
"No Turning Back" brought the WME film crew to Niseko to participate in and film Japan's very first heli-op expedition. In the spirit of celebrating 65 years of ski culture and transformation, we took a look back at where heli-skiing came from, and how it has evolved over the years.
Before the second half of the 20th century, as in before there were heli-skiing operations, it was a very different endeavor when it came to accessing skiing in all the pristine, snowy peaks of the world. The price of that powder was usually a multi-day, self-supported, often exploratory expedition. For today's booming scene of heli-skiing operations around the globe, powder enthusiasts can thank a few enterprising and ambitious Austrian skiers who left post-World War II Europe for North America with empty pockets, big dreams and a love of the mountains.
"It felt so great to get to North America, I was so happy when I got my ticket, you have no idea," says Mike Wiegele, founder of Mike Wiegele Helicopter Skiing in British Columbia's (deep and snowy) Bugaboos. Upon his arrival in Canada from Austria at age 21, Wiegele headed straight for the Rockies, and set out to find an ideal location to start a ski touring business and make a name for himself in the ski world, eventually ending up as head of the Lake Louise Ski School. "I met Hans Gmoser [fellow Austrian and founder of Canadian Mountain Holidays] right away. We did a lot of exploring on foot, we didn't have access to helicopters," says Mike. "I explored valleys and glaciers, and I was looking for just the perfect place for a ski touring business."
Gmoser, who had begun a successful ski and climbing guide business himself in the interior mountains of British Columbia, happened to have a regular client in the early 1960's who worked as a geologist and flew in helicopters for jobs. The client, Art Patterson, suggested during one trip that they try using helicopters and cut out all the walking up the mountains. "Hans thought it was ridiculous – why pay to go up a mountain when you can walk for free?" said Rob Rohn, GM of current day CMH and a heli ski guide. But he gave it shot, with a makeshift lodge for the first trip of some draughty, abandoned plywood shacks up in the Bugaboos.
It quickly became clear that as a business, helicopter accessed skiing might just catch on, so a base lodge was going to be needed. Gmoser, who had a loyal clientele, had the first lodge built and funded by some of his guests, according to Rohn. "Hans was very frugal," remembers Rohn. "He was even against indoor plumbing in the new lodge at first – but he was finally convinced that if people were paying the kind of money needed to heli-ski, they'd expect indoor plumbing." Gmoser's operation quickly gained traction, and commercial heli-skiing was born.
Inspired by Gmoser's work, Wiegele decided that instead of just a ski touring business, the places he knew of in the Bugaboos might work great for helicopter skiing as well. "The heli-ski that Hans started in 1965 was so well-received, I thought I would do that too," he said. However, Mike still hadn't settled on the perfect place in the mountains. "I had met my wife, and we did a lot of exploring together. We would explore the Cariboos, and we would walk in one, two days, climb a mountain for a day, ski one run, and walk back out. Then the week was gone!" said Wiegele.
By 1970, he was ready to promote a trip, but, according to Wiegele, no one signed up. "So I went in anyway, with some other ski instructors, and my wife!" Still, he was not ready to give up. The next year, he signed up five guests. Wiegele had also met Warren Miller during a stint in California, and he decided to write to Miller, telling him he should come up and make a movie.
Miller, intrigued, sent one cameraman to film Wiegele and his first guests (ever), with the request to deliver blue sky, sunshine, and powder. And it promptly snowed for the next three days. The group could not go out. But on the evening of the fourth day, the sun came out, and Wiegele insisted they keep skiing and film the whole evening. The snow was so deep and shots so beautiful, Miller was thrilled, and Mike Wiegele Helicopter Skiing was finally on its way.
"Warren was my supporter from the beginning – he really motivated and helped people like myself," says Wiegele. "If it were not for Warren Miller that winter, my career in it would have been over! But after that we grew, and we were able to make a meaningful business."
The demand for the delights and adventure of helisking grew exponentially, and eventually, many other heli ski operations sprang up not just in western Canada but around the world, in places as far flung as Japan, India, South America and Alaska. But the heart of heli-skiing still lies in western Canada with the original visionaries. "Hans was an incredibly humble man. He couldn't believe he became as successful as he was, and he always viewed himself as mountain guide first. He had a heart of gold, and the business was never about getting rich, but building an experience.," said Rohn.
Today, both operations are well-established and highly respected in the heli-skiing world. In addition to supplying memorable powder days to thousands of guests, environmental standards and stewardship of the wilds they play in are high on the list for CMH and Wiegele. "We want to be decent people, and decent to the wildlife," says Wiegele. "All our guests from all over the world appreciate it." Wiegele's has helped the University of Calagary and University of Kamloops in wildlife studies. CMH declared in 2004 a plan to be the leading sustainable tourism operator in North America, and has won several awards for environmentally responsible tourism.
The two companies have found themselves in the position to promote their values and protect what is important to them, thanks to one thing: passion for powder. "The skiing we have here is unmatched! I looked for it for ten years!" says Wiegele, gleefully. "Every day is the best day."


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Barcelona superstars Lionel Messi and Andres Iniesta could have joined Scottish side Rangers on season-long loan deals during the 2004-05 campaign, according to excerpts from Graham Hunter's Barca book recounted on Goal.com.
The thought of the Barcelona duo plying their trade at Ibrox sounds like the kind of thing normally reserved for the world of Football Manager, but it came closer to reality than you might think.
Rangers manager Alex McLeish asked his assistant Jan Wouters to enquire about the availability of any of Barcelona's young talents back during the 2003-04 season.
At the time Messi and Iniesta were beginning to make names for themselves in Spanish football circles, and the Catalan club were considering whether to send them out on loan to gain first-team experience.
Wouters knew Henk ten Cate, Barcelona boss Frank Rijkaard's assistant, and asked about Messi, but Rijkaard's assistant thought the Argentinian starlet was probably still to young to stand up to the rigours of Scottish football.
Instead, ten Cate advised Rangers to make a formal loan offer for Iniesta, a player tipped to be 'a world beater' by ten Cate.
McLeish said: "Ten Cate and Jan Wouters had chats about us taking Messi on loan, but the guidance from Henk was that he was probably too young and possibly too slight to get benefit from Scottish football.
"We caught them just in the middle of that process of working out what they wanted to do with Messi, but during the discussions Henk said to Jan that we should do ourselves a favour and take Iniesta on loan instead."
The Scottish side attempted to do just that towards the end of the 2004-05 season, but the Spaniard had just scored in a high-profile pre-season game, and Barcelona decided against loaning him out after all.
Messi was just beginning to make a name for himself, dominating Barcelona youth teams games, and the 18-year-old was on the cusp of the first team. Iniesta would have been a 21-year-old on the fringes of the first-team set-up.
The remarkable story is told in the updated version of Graham Hunter's Barcelona book, Barca: The Making of the Greatest Team in the World.
The critically acclaimed book details the origins of the great Barcelona team of the last half a decade, and the rise of Messi and Iniesta to their current level as world-class players.
Do YOU want to write for GiveMeSport? Get started today by signing-up and submitting an article HERE: https://www.givemesport.com/writeforgms


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Video of NYPD Trying To Stop Skateboarders Goes Viral
There's a video on YouTube of police in NYC that's been getting a lot of buzz. Every year there's an event called The Broadway Bomb where thousands of skateboarders shoot down eight miles of Manhattan streets. The authorities are not amused.


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By Brendan Conway
Bill Nygren, manager of Oakmark Fund (OAKMX), isn't having the line that active fund managers are hampered by the last few years' market volatility, high-speed trading or other modern boogeymen.
Asked by an audience member at the Morningstar Investment Conference whether it's more difficult to be a fund manager today than in the past — a theme in the conference's opening panel — Nygren argued it's actually easier. The junior analysts his company hires are "definitely" smarter than recruits were when he started out. But that's not the defining factor, he explained.
"One of the things that has changed is the time horizon of investors," Nygren said. "Investors might be smarter than 20 or 30 years ago, but they are focused on such a different time period than what we are looking for. I've seen sell-side reports [where they argue,] 'It might take more than two quarters for the good news to start coming out.'" He chuckles.
"[Ours is] 5 to 7 years. [So] there's actually less competition for cheap stocks today than when I started in the business," he said. "Indexing, the percentage of momentum investors, very short term events — I think is higher than ever. [It] makes it easier for a long-term value investor to do well."


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Stock Sector Monitor 2.34
Stock Sector Monitor 2.34 is a personal desktop financial program that allows users to monitor over 200 stock industry sector groups and over 7,000 public companies listed on the NASDAQ, NYSE, and Amex. It was last updated January 2013 with the latest version, 2.34.
This program lets you easily find daily top gaining and losing stocks in each sector. Sectors are broken down along the left-hand side of the program in an easy-to-understand layout. The program lists each industry as well as all of the sectors within each industry. Each company's ticker symbol and name are provided along with key statistics such as current quote, percentage change and more. Quotes can be exported by clicking on the "File" tab at the top. Companies can be added or deleted from each sector by selecting "Edit." Investors can also create their own groups if they desire. Users can click "Show" to access a given security's chart, news, or reports. If you click any of these options, a separate window to Yahoo! Finance will pop up in your Internet browser with more detailed information.
This is an updated version and has a free 10-day trial. After that the program will cost $49.95, which may not be worth it for some investors. It is a useful program, however, to get an overview of each company and compare its performance to its industry or sector peers.
Stock Sector Monitor 2.34
System Requirements: Windows 2000/XP/Vista/7
Size: 838.32 KBs
Price: Free 10-day trial. $49.95 to purchase.
Bernard Hall from OH posted over 4 years ago:
IS $ 49.00 the final price for this software or a rental charge by year or month. ? I AM A MEMBER OF AAII. email@example.com
Steve Goodman from TX posted over 4 years ago:
Do I need to subscribe to an update service to use this tool?
Jaclyn from IL posted over 4 years ago:
$49.95 is the price to own the program indefinitely as far as the company has stated thus far but of course that could change. If it did, I don't think it would be apply to individuals who purchased the program at the stated price.
Steve - the program did not indicate that you need to subscribe to an update service. Ashkon Software created this program. The link to their site:


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2013 Essential Guide to Multichannel Marketing
2013 Essential Guide to Multichannel Marketing
The 2013 Essential Guide to Multichannel Marketing—everything you need to know about multichannel marketing, all in one spot. Read on for insight.
Editor's Note: 'Channel Strategy
Call it what you will, multichannel is about strategy.
Hot List: Marketing Gets Holistic
4 elements of a truly multichannel marketing strategy.
Touchpoints: Traditional Marketing Gets Charged Up
These marketers in healthcare, higher learning, and real estate still rely on traditional media—but are electrified by the connectivity of digital channels.
Q&A: Adam Sarner, Research VP, Gartner Inc.
Gartner Inc.'s lead analyst in CRM and marketing automation, Adam Sarner, leads a life of multichannel exploration.
Channeling the Customer
Multichannel data can help crack the code on identifying target audiences and their preferences.
3 Data Do's and Don'ts
Bravo Media LLC and Citrix Systems Inc. share three major data do's and don'ts.
Marketers Sound Off: Trends to Watch
Multiple Channels, One Customer Relationship
The real power of a cohesive omnichannel marketing strategy is its ability to bolster engagement and build customer loyalty.
Here Comes Big Content
Marketers need an agile content supply chain to keep fresh content coming.


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By Staff Sgt. Julie Weckerlein
Special to American Forces Press Service
Aug. 5, 2007 - From firefighters to aircraft mechanics to squadron commanders, a group of U.S. Air Force airmen are mentoring and training their Afghan National Army Air Corps counterparts here in the Afghanistan's capital. It's a job like no other, said Master Sgt. Michael Stoller, a vehicle maintenance craftsman from Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, who's been deployed here for almost a year.
"This job is definitely more exciting than the work I do back home," he said. "I got here and had to start things from scratch to build up their maintenance shop from nothing. It's extremely rewarding to look around and see how far they've come since then."
In nearly a year's time, Stoller, along with other airmen, helped the Afghans build up a logistics and transportation area with a state-of-the-art vehicle maintenance facility. They also now have equipment to sustain their transportation fleet, which includes cars, trucks and emergency vehicles.
"When I showed up here, they pretty much had a box of wrenches, and that was it," he said. "Yet these guys really know their jobs. Most have been mechanics for more than 20, 30 years. They just needed the resources. I realized my mission was to try to get them equipped to do their jobs and to help them wherever needed."
Stoller said the relationship he's developed with the Afghan maintainers has left a lasting impression on him.
"Sure, there is a bit of a language issue," he said, "but we've overcome it. We work together, share tea together. Some of them were working in sandals, so I gave them some of my boots. I consider these guys my friends, so I want to see them succeed."
That type of camaraderie is common among the mentors and Afghans, and its value is not lost on either group.
"We work like one team," said Lt. Col. Abdul Shafi, commander of the Afghan National Army Air Corps senior aircraft maintenance engineer operations group. "[The mentors] help us with any problems. We are learning a lot. My idea is that we have a good future, and I feel that one day, we will have a very strong air corps."
Shafi's senior aircraft maintenance advisor, Capt. Ronald Stencel, said he also feels confident for the Afghan's air corps future.
"They are all very committed over here, very professional airmen," said Stencel, who is deployed from Dover Air Force Base, Del. "Many are well-educated from air universities. Every day, they take more and more ownership of their mission and resources, and it's very rewarding to watch that happen."
Other Air Force mentors are helping in different areas of the base, too. Air Force medical officers assist with training in the base's medical clinic while U.S. Air Force firefighters help build up the Afghan air corps's firefighter squadron. Another airman mentors at the base's front gate.
"The other day, one of the [Afghans] told me to go away [back to my office], that guarding the gate was his mission," said Tech. Sgt. Mark Slonecker, security forces mentor from Fort Dix, N.J. "I felt good when he said that. That tells me he's taking pride in his work, that he's getting the bigger picture."
Brig. Gen. Jonathan George, deputy commanding general of Combined Security Transition Command Afghanistan, said he is not surprised by the success of the airmen mentors.
"As a commander, I expect our airmen to rise to the occasion," he said. "However, there is a tremendous satisfaction to see the courage and professionalism of the airmen working over here. There is a common bond in the fraternity of airmen and air power, and our airmen are building very strong relationships with the Afghan air corps."
(U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Julie Weckerlein is a journalist assigned to U.S. Central Command Air Forces Public Affairs.)
Sunday, August 05, 2007
U.S. Airmen Mentor Afghan Air Corps Counterparts
Posted by Raymond Foster at 11:31 PM
Labels: afghan, afghanistan, air force, army, u.s. air force
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A CHANCE conversation with her husband two months before his sudden death helped Rachel Croft the day she had to decide to donate his organs.
The couple had been discussing a recently deceased acquaintance and organ donation when Damien, who was a donor on his driver's licence, said: ''They're no good to you when you're dead''.
Damien, 47, had an anaphylactic reaction to an insect bite while driving a truck on the F3 in March, 2011.
The stepfather of two ended up in John Hunter Hospital on life support but without brain function, a rare situation in which organs are viable, and Ms Croft agreed to donate his organs.
Mr Croft's family did not agree and it has hurt Rachel's relationship with them since.
That is why Ms Croft, of Bonnells Bay, said it was important for people to discuss their wishes.
''If it hadn't been for that conversation I'm not sure I could have made the decision,'' she said.
''It's not about just speaking to your spouse, people need to let their family know.''
Ms Croft is among those encouraging people to talk with their families for Donate Life Week.
John Hunter Organ and Tissue Donation Service staff members will be at Gloria Jeans outlets this week to encourage people to have a ''conversation over a cuppa''.
With his death Damien Croft saved four lives through the donation of his liver, kidneys and pancreas and two of his heart valves are held in stasis.
''I think it's great that there's four families out there that didn't have to bury their loved ones,'' Ms Croft said.
''It was the right thing to do but it's not an easy thing to do.''
Organs are only viable for transplant in a unique set of circumstances, yet despite this, only about one in two families in the situation agree to donation.
Among the lucky ones was Graeme Martyn, of Charlestown, who received a heart transplant in 2000.
Now 62, Mr Martyn had a major heart attack at age 31 that rendered his heart useless by age 50.
He was being kept alive by an electronic device for months before a heart became available.
''It's scary to think you've got to wait for someone to die to get a second chance in life,'' he said. ''I don't know how you can thank someone for such a gift.''
The transplant has allowed the father-of-two to watch his four grandchildren grow, climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge, complete the City to Surf and become a grey nomad.
''I just feel extremely lucky.''


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Summer Hours Begin: Central Library will close at 6 pm on Thursdays and will be closed Sundays until September. Enjoy your summer!
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I've known three pairs of people now, who have been a kidney donor and a recipient to that donated kidney. I know bits and pieces of their stories, more from the donor's perspective than the recipient's. In each case, the donor knew instinctively that she was meant to give her kidney, and each time, she was sure she would be a "match" to the recipient, which in fact she was. So I was intrigued to read this moving account of journalist colleagues, who grow to be friends and eventually "kidneys-in-law" (their humor,) when Martha McNeil Hamilton donates her kidney to Warren Brown for transplant. It was poignant and illuminating to learn, from Brown's perspective, the difficulties he lived with prior to the transplants. (Previously, his wife donated a kidney to him. Unfortunately, it didn't work for Brown's body.) Brown and Hamilton each describe growing up in a segregated South—she, a white female, and he, a black male. As colleagues at the Washington Post, they moved beyond the segregation of their youth, to develop a strong friendship over the years. Both were journalists at the Washington Post during and after 9/11, so part of their story covers how they dealt with the stress of post 9/11, in the news media world, in addition to the health crises and personal challenges they faced.
Posted by Christine Hann at 09/22/2012 02:39:12 PM
Books for: Kids, Teens & Tweens


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Bike riders will have a new reason to visit the Jasper County Historical Museum, as the museum installed a new bike rack and bench over the weekend thanks to a donation by Barb and John Starrett.
"We started it (the bench and bike project) last fall," Jasper County Museum and Historical Society Director Audrey Rex said. "We had a newsletter that we sent out, (and) we have a wish list in the back of our newsletter. Barb contacted me after she noticed an ad for a bike rack (and) maybe a park bench. She thought it was the perfect way of having a memorial for their daughter and son-in-law, Judge Thomas and Karen Brown.
Rex also said both were bike riders and Barb thought placing the new bike rack and bench near the farm structures would be a perfect memorial for them.
To make the bike rack and bench stand out, it was painted red, and was placed in a ideal location.
"There is a nice shady spot with the trees there and it is close to places to eat," Rex said. "We are hoping it gets used quite a bit."
She also said the museum is looking to hopefully host bike riding events in the future, but with the bike rack and bench being less than a week old, it is just in the initial stages.
Because of the donation, the museum was able to start the process of installing the bike rack and bench, and it was no easy task.
"One of my board members looked into park benches," Rex said. "There are a lot of (websites) online, and she found Pirate Rock. It was a company out of, I believe, Cherokee. It is Iowa based. She called and asked to send samples and they sent samples, (which) are a really sturdy metal."
One of Rex's early concerns about the bench was shipping. A product like a bench is heavy, and that will cause shipping to be an issue, but being an Iowa-based company, The shipping was reasonable, but that was not the only reason why she decided to use the company.
"This company, also being that they're in Iowa, painted the bench suited to our climate," Rex said. "They already know it well. I liked that idea too."
The next step on the installation was finding a company to pour the concrete.
"We called around to get bids on the cement," Rex said. "Jerry Keenan (won) the bid, and (we found) out that Jerry is a neighbor of the Starrett (family). They watched Jerry grow up, basically. So it all worked out really nice that they knew Jerry."
This was the first time Rex had experienced an installation of a bench, which she found fascinating.
"It was a brand new experience for me," Rex said.
The memorial plate on the bench is quite different than the rest of the memorial plates typically found in Jasper County.
"I am a bike rider and I rode on several of the trails and I have stopped at all the park benches that had memorials, thanking somebody that donated to the bench or a memorial,' Rex said. "They are basically plaques put on the bench. Talking with this company, they suggested the memorial be recessed into the bench metal. That way it can't be taken off as easy, plus it looks really nice."
Staff writer Matthew Shepard may be contacted at (641) 792-3121, ext. 425, or at email@example.com.


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Having seen off all domestic competition this year – nailing a Lonsdale Belt outright in the process – British and Commonwealth welterweight champ Frankie Gavin can now set his antennae on scaling further up the world ratings.
The 147lb division might have the deepest talent pool in world boxing but the 28 year old Brummie southpaw patently has the tools and talent to flourish within it. This Saturday evening, England's sole world amateur champion breaks fresh ground as a pro by squaring up to African competition, accommodating Ghana's useful Joseph Lamptey in a second defence of his Commonwealth crown at the First Direct Arena in Leeds.
On Monday, boxing writer Glynn Evans caught up with the increasingly focussed and fired up midlander to discuss the weekend's fight and his plans and much more
Below is a question and answer with Frankie Gavin.
Q: Your last fight, a clear points win over Manchester's David Barnes at The Copper Box, must have left you with conflicting emotions. It wasn't a fight or a performance to leave the spectators or the media drooling but victory brought you permanent custody of the Lonsdale Belt. How do you reflect on that night?
FG: Watching the tape back it was a bit boring. To be fair to myself, I was pressing, trying to force the fight. It was me who was performing like the challenger, not Barnes. I started quite well but then allowed myself to drop down to his level and I weren't happy with that.
'Barnsey' didn't really come to win so really I should've got him out of there, set a higher pace, forcing him to throw then catching him big with my counters. Still, first and foremost, I'm a winner. I'd always, always prefer to win bad than lose trying to look good.
A lot said I'd not even get to British level after I had a couple of bad performances back-to-back against Young Mutley and Curtis Woodhouse so getting the Belt for keeps was a big plus. That's another goal achieved, retaining the Commonwealth belt again was another. My ultimate goal is to remain undefeated. Q: 2013 has been a busy year for you. Saturday's fight representing your fourth championship fight of the year, enabling you to keep the tools sharp and stay out of mischief!
FG: The mischief days are gone, mate, seriously. I'm a family man now with two kids. I've grown up and settled down. Even between fights, I try not to have too long out of the gym otherwise you pile on the pounds.
Even without a fight date, I love training and learning with Tom. He's a real anorak, a real student of the game, always watching tapes from Britain and overseas then getting me to study stuff, new moves or techniques. No pair in Britain has a better, more trusting relationship than we do. Q: Lonsdale Belt secured, are you likely to vacate your British title? Who at domestic level could stoke your juices?FG: I'll not be vacating simply to give others a chance. I'll only give it up if something better is offered to me. In the meantime, I'm quite happy to defend against the likes of Glen Foot, Bradley Skeete and, particularly, Lee Purdy, to keep myself busy. I've proven beyond question that I'm number one in Britain and I'm quite happy to put a loss on their records.
I'm so competitive, hate losing so much, that I can get up for every fight. Anyway, I have to train very hard just to make the weight. In 12 round championship fights, you can't risk taking short cuts in prep, otherwise you'll risk getting found out in the later rounds at title level. I hate losing far too much to allow that to happen. Q: Provided you come through safely against Joseph Lamptey on Saturday night, the next logical step would be a European title challenge to Italian veteran Leonardo Bundu. What was your take on his 12th round stoppage of Matchroom rival Lee Purdy at the ExCel Arena last Saturday?
FG: There's no doubt Bundu's a very good fighter. His fitness is phenomenal for a 39 year old. He negotiated a rough patch then started to do what he should've done from the start, outboxing Purdy from the outside.
But you've got to say that Purdy made it far too easy for him. He just marched forward in straight lines, trying to throw hard shots. He walked on to everything, was continually caught by the same punches, same combos, round after round. It's no good shaking you're head, beckoning the other fella in, pretending you're not hurt, eating punches. If I was Purdy's coach, I'd have been very disappointed with him.
Bundu's not a massive puncher. He only got the stoppage because Purdy was shattered. If I fought Bundu, he'd have to come onto me because I'm a bit taller and I'd not be daft enough to trade with him, unless it was on my terms. He's off balance a lot so there's a good chance you could him over. I'd be very confident. Q: In what ways have you developed as a fighter over the last 12 months and in which areas do you expect to further develop in 2014?
FG: Physically, I've improved massively. My strength has developed phenomenally. I do the 300 Circuit, six exercises, 50 reps of each. I always set myself time limits. At the start of the year it was taking me 25 minutes to complete the circuit. Now I can do it in 14. Also, I've taken at least a minute off each mile when I'm running. I used to just plod to lose weight. Now I'm running for a purpose, to increase my cardio. I run further and I run faster.
In 2014, I want to continue improving all my times, reps and lifts in training. As I'm getting older, I'm getting more mature both physically and mentally and I'm now near my peak. Next year, I also want to get in better quality sparring. Q: On Saturday you make a second defence of your Commonwealth title against Ghana's Joseph Lamptey. No African features on your 17 fight pro slate. Did you encounter many as an amateur? Stylistically, how do they differ?
FG: I stopped a Nigerian when I won the Commonwealth Games gold medal in Melbourne and I also beat another African in the Commonwealth (Federation) championships. The African lads tend to be naturally strong and they've generally had a tougher upbringing which makes them very hungry. They can also be very cocky and confident. I once fought a South African who just talked the whole way through the fight!
But technically they're a long way behind us. They don't train like we do. Our coaches and facilities are far, far superior. Q: Challenger Lamptey has a modest record but has won five on the spin with four of those wins by stoppage. He's also coming down from light-middleweight, having challenged for the Commonwealth belt in that division. What have you been able to find out about him?
FG: I've caught a few clips of him on You Tube. He doesn't seem as tall as me but he seems typically tough and strong. TV can be deceiving but he looks nowhere near as quick as me. Like a lot of Africans, though he's orthodox stance, he's pretty unorthodox and awkward. He seems to like to take breathers so, every time he misses, it's important that I put it on him, make him pay. In training, we've focussed far more on what I can do than what he can. My fights are always more down to me doing my thing, than stressing about the other fella. Q: With the Lonsdale Belt secured, might it be difficult to get up for this mentally? Lamptey's decent but doesn't have a great record and whether you stop him very early or completely school him for 12 rounds, it's unlikely you'll get huge props when you win. Might you underestimate him?
FG: No chance. If I get this wrong, my career goes pair shaped. If I lose to Lamptey, no way am I going to win a world title. It'd take a huge rebuild and time's not on my side.
Once the first bell goes, he'll be coming at me, trying to stop me feeding my kids in future. I'm not going to let that happen. I'll put everything on the line until there's absolutely nothing more to give, to make sure I win every fight. Q: You enter as a huge favourite. What would represent a successful night's work for Frankie Gavin on Saturday night?
FG: Last time I stunk the joint out against Barnes so this time it's crucial that I set the First Direct Arena on fire, regardless of how good or poor the opponent proves to be. I'll be looking to start off fast, put Lamptey in his place early, then get him out of there. You don't get paid overtime so the sooner I stop him the better. Q: ou're presently ranked fifth to WBA champion Marcos Maidana, third in line for WBO king Tim Bradley and ninth to IBF boss Shawn Porter. It's probably a blessing that the WBC don't rate you, given their champion is Floyd Mayweather!
Provided you win on Saturday, what would constitute an ideal 2014 for Frankie Gavin? Which of the world champions are you most keen to target?
FG: By the end of next year, I'd like to have the European title and be on the cusp of a world title, if not world champion already. Ideally, I'd like to face a few jaded American names to get my profile out there.
If the money was the same for each of the champions, I'd most like to face Maidana. That may sound mad as clearly he's the hardest puncher. But Devon Alexander handled him pretty easily and he's nowhere near as awkward as me. My footwork is second to none and I'd not let Maidana get close.
On my game, there's no reason why I couldn't beat any of 'em......once Floyd retires
December 17, 2013
© 2000 - 2011 Knockout Entertainment Ltd & SecondsOut.com


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The State Demographics branch of OSBM is responsible for producing population estimates and projections. The annual estimates of the population of North Carolina counties and municipalities are used in the distribution of state shared revenues to local governments. County and state population projections, available by age, race (white/other) and sex, are used for long range planning.
To produce these estimates and projections, the unit develops and enhances complex mathematical computer models, and collects and reviews a variety of data from federal, state, and local government sources. It annually surveys North Carolina municipalities for annexation data, municipalities and counties for selected institutional data, and military bases for barracks population data. As a member of the Federal State Cooperative Program for Population Estimates (FSCPE), the unit collects and examines data for the Census Bureau and reviews Census Bureau estimates and methods.
State Demographics is committed to data dissemination through the Web. Over fifty years of annual county and state estimates and projections data are provided. The most recent municipal estimates are also highlighted. Additional detailed projections data are available upon request electronically or, occasionally, in paper form.
For full census data and other socioeconomic data, see Census Home and Log Into North Carolina
National Federal State Cooperative Program for Population Estimates
The objective of this program is to develop estimates of the population of counties using uniform procedures largely standardized for data input and methodology.
Population and Budgeting
OSBM's has a legislative mandate for creating official demographic estimates for statewide budgeting.


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Gallatin Fairgrounds Foundation Annual Fundraiser A Live And Silent Auction
Join the Gallatin Fairgrounds Foundation at their annual fundraiser on Friday, February 7th! It's a Mexican Fiesta in the Fairgrounds Building #3 followed by a live and silent auction beginning at 5:30pm.
Comstock Lode will be performing too!
Tickets available at the Fairgrounds Office, Sassy Sisters on East Main or call 406.582.3270 or 406.581.3909


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GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) – Amtrak trains are running again between Denver and western Colorado now that tracks damaged by last month's flooding have been repaired.
California Zephyr trains that left Chicago and the San Francisco area on Friday are scheduled to make stops in Fraser, Granby, Glenwood Springs and Grand Junction on Saturday.
Passenger trains haven't been able to travel through those communities and others in Utah since Sept. 11 because of heavy rain and flooding in the Moffat Tunnel west of Denver. The trains traveled through Wyoming instead.
Besides making travel easier, resumption of the service means that train passengers can once again enjoy the scenery through Glenwood Canyon.
(© Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)


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The Texas Progressive Alliance January 14, 2013
The Texas Progressive Alliance is digging in for another long legislative session as it brings you this week's roundup.
Off the Kuff has interviews with SD06 special election candidates Sylvia Garcia and Carol Alvarado.
BossKitty at TruthHugger is just appalled that the whole story isn't addressed, Of Course It's Not Just Guns.
Cut taxes, create a structural deficit, cut education and the safety net which results in a surplus. Rinse and repeat. WCNews at Eye on Williamson wants to make sure everyone hasn't forgotten the past, Do you remember how we got here?
As early voting began, Brains and Eggs had the most comprehensive coverage of the special election to replace the late Mario Gallegos in the Texas Senate. A post on the protest at TransCanada, two posts on Sylvia Garcia's aggressive campaign against Carol Alvarado, a post on the candidate who boycotted one of the debates, and a post critical of the exceptionally lame media coverage of the election highlighted a busy week.
Over at TexasKaos, lightseeker gives you the skivvy on the educational funding issue including the latest lamebrain schemes from our Republican leaders. Check it out at : Texas Education-The Same Old Fools In Charge Part 2.
Neil at Texas Liberal posted that a grave with a view of traffic would be a fitting end to an urban Houston life.
CouldBeTrue of South Texas Chisme wants you to know that Rick Perry has doubled down on corporate greed and Tea Party crazy.
Texas History for the Week of January 13 – 19
|January 13
|Future scalp hunter enlists in army (1847)
|"Red Fox of the Big Thicket" arrested for the first time (1939)
|Rival cities cooperate to open gigantic airport (1974)
|English noble dies in drunken debauch (1885)
|January 14
|Former governor Alan Shivers dies (1985)
|War effort proceeds as huge Texas base is activated (1942)
|Governor urges Texans to make sacrifices (1865)
|Alianza Hispano-Americana founded (1894)
|January 15
|Texas Memorial Museum opens (1939)
|Governor grasps at federal straw to stay in office (1874)
|Company chartered to build road from Houston to Austin (1841)
|Confederate veterans create orphanage (1867)
|January 16
|Prussian mapmaker retires from General Land Office (1899)
|Historian Joe B. Frantz born (1917)
|Church organized in Swedish community (1897)
|A Prussian lens on South Tejas (1860)
|January 17
|Mexican Federalists declare independence at Laredo convention (1840)
|First appearance of Popeye (1929)
|Barbara Jordan dies (1996)
|A Connecticut Yankee in Texas (1821)
|January 18
|Texas historian and author born in Cincinnati (1817)
|Marshall University chartered (1842)
|Populist farmer elected president of Texas Farmers' Alliance (1887)
|Scandal purges body politic (1971)
|January 19
|German school chartered in Austin (1858)
|Huge state park opened to public (1991)
|Waterloo approved as nl ofew capita Texas (1839)
|Mosqueda robs railroad, becomes hero (1891)
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MEM Tuition, Expenses, and Financial Aid
Tuition and Expenses
Estimated Cost for Typical Full-Time MEM Student
All tuition and college-related expenses are estimates and subject to change. Personal expenses will vary based on individual life style.
|Estimate of one term expenses
|Health Insurance:
|Room & Board:
|Books & Supplies:
|Personal Expenses:
Need-based financial aid is available.
Degree Duration
The MEM degree is typically completed in 4 academic terms plus one summer internship. A student who enters in the fall term usually completes the program 15 months later near the end of the following November.
Tuition for the 2017–2018 academic year is set at $17,156 per term. Tuition is the same whether the student is enrolled in 2, 3, or 4 courses.
Summer Internship Budget
Most MEM students choose to work on their Master of Engineering Management Project (ENGG 390) during the summer term. Students must enroll for ENGG 390 in the term in which they do their internship. If a student is not enrolled in any other courses while completing ENGG 390, a partial tuition charge, set at 15% of full term tuition ($2,573 for Summer 2018), is assessed. A student may not enroll in ENGG 390 when also enrolled in more than one other course in that term. Students should also budget off campus living expenses for the summer.
Health Insurance
Students without their own hospital insurance must purchase a Dartmouth College hospital insurance policy for approximately $2,700 per year. See Dartmouth College Health Service for details.
Financial Aid
Need-based financial aid is available to all eligible full-time students (international and domestic). All awards are contingent upon continued satisfactory performance and academic progress. Applicants should submit their financial aid application materials (see below) by the deadline for the Round in which they are applying (Round 1 – January 15, Round 2 – March 15).
Partial Tuition Scholarships
Full-time MEM students (domestic and international) are eligible for partial tuition scholarships. Assessment of need is based on the PROFILE application. Awards are made annually on an academic year basis.
The MEM program is a professional program where students take classes, but are not required to conduct research (unlike MS and PhD programs). Most professional programs (including the MBA, MD, and JD degrees) offer little or no financial aid. Our MEM program is pleased to be able offer partial tuition scholarships to students with need.
US MEM students are eligible to apply for federal Stafford Loans, federal Perkins loans, and DELC Loans through the Dartmouth Financial Aid Office. Application for educational loans requires submission of the "Free Application for Federal Student Aid" (FAFSA) form (which may be downloaded from fafsa.ed.gov) and the Dartmouth Graduate Financial Aid application form. For more information, please visit Graduate Arts & Sciences Financial Aid Web site.
International students who are unable to secure loans in their home countries may want to explore options offered by Prodigy Finance, which has provided loans to numerous international students in Dartmouth's MEM program.
Hourly Teaching Assistantships and Other Employment
Teaching assistantships may be available to well-qualified students. A teaching assistant is paid hourly to assist with grading, problem sessions, and/or lab work. Assignments are made on a term-by-term basis. Other limited hourly employment is also available to qualified students.
Normally work is limited to no more than 12 hours per week during academic terms and 40 hours per week between terms and during off-terms. The 2017–2018 hourly rate of pay is $15. Hourly employment may not exceed a total of 40 hours per week from any and all College sources.
Named Fellowships
Endowed named scholarships and fellowships, established through the generosity of alumni/ae, friends, foundations, and corporations, are awarded to engineering students with financial need who have demonstrated academic ability and show promise of contributing to the engineering profession.


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Sharon Stone stuffed in 2006 movie turkey list
The Wicker Man also roasted
Sharon Stone's legendary charms failed to wow the movie crowds during 2006, with Basic Instinct 2 taking just $5m at the domestic box office, Variety reports. Given that the movie cost $70m to make, it rated as the biggest flop of the year.
Also included in the magazine's list of celluloid shame are All the King's Men ($7m revenue - $55m outlay), Poseidon ($60 million - $121m) and The Wicker Man ($23m - $40m).
Of the ill-advised latter, Variety explains:
Fans and even the original film's director were vocally dismayed by plot tweaks in Neil LaBute's remake of the 1973 cult horror pic that included swarms of killer bees and that had the film's lead (Nicolas Cage) turn into a pill-popping madman. As for tapping new auds, the $40 million film faced the dilemma of not fitting neatly into either the horror or thriller genre. And Cage's mopey face didn't make for titillating marketing. Warner Bros. tried to protect it by not screening for critics, to no avail.
Unsurprisingly, Ridley Scott's A Good Year makes the list, despite the presence of Oz hardman Russell Crowe. The "light-hearted romp", Variety notes, "was not an obvious sell to Crowe's male fans and failed to capture the females". ®
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