text:
By Matthew Heimer
Earlier this week, the Encore blog and MarketWatch columnist Robert Powell teamed up to pick our readers' brains, asking for your input about the best approaches to fixing Social Security. We'll be keeping that conversation going as the year goes on—and as Congress, presumably, renews the debate over whether and how to tweak the program's finances.
In the meantime, we've received a healthy wave of responses in our comments sections and via Twitter over the last 36 hours. Some readers had ideas for fixing Medicare, as well; we'll share those in a separate post. Here are some of the highlights so far, if you haven't joined the discussion yet, feel free to jump in. (Please note: Some of the comments cited below have been split up for organizational purposes; to see the responses in full and unedited see the comments sections here and here.)
One common theme from readers was one that's been kicking around Capitol Hill as well: Requiring workers to work longer to qualify for Social Security.
We need to continue the age ramp that started with the changes made under Reagan. People are going to live even longer in the future so simply continuing the age ramp forever would likely solve most of the issues. My generation had to see their retirement age adjusted, I see no reason why those generations that come after me don't have the same experience…
Another big factor would be to extend the years needed for full eligibility to 40 from the current 35 by also slowly but surely increasing that with age. —Gerhard Leuschen
You simply bump the retirement age by six months for every 5 year segment of time that you are from retirement. So the new retirement ages would look like this
Your Age New SS and Medicare retirement age would be
60-65 65.5(partial) and 67.5(full)
55-60 66(partial) and 68(full)
50-55 66.5(partial) and 68.5(full)
45-50 67(partial) and 69(full)
40-45 67.5(partial) and 69.5(full)
35-40 68(partial) and 70(full)
30-35 68.5(partial) and 70.5(full)
25-30 69(partial) and 71(full)
Please note that I am 28 years old and what I am proposing means that i would not be able to claim SS and Medicare benefits until I hit 69 (partial) or 71 (Full). – Ben Johnson
Raise the full retirement age to 70. Plenty of people live into their nineties today… we simply can't afford to have people living off the taxes of others for a third of their lives …
But LOWER the early retirement age to 60. We have a labor crisis as well as an SS crisis, and this will encourage older workers who have additional retirement resources available to go ahead and leave the job market, opening up those positions for other workers. Note: the Medicare eligibility age would also need to be lowered. It should always be the same as the SS early retirement age. Otherwise you'll still have people working "just to get the health insurance." – Name withheld
Other readers suggested reworking, or simply doing away with, the current system of cost of living adjustments (COLAs).
Compute annual benefit increases just as is done now. Then make a 40-year (40 isn't a magic number, but it's a number) forward projection. If the trust fund is in the black for that entire period go ahead and do the annual increase. If not, reduce the next level of benefit for each retiree to 99% of what was computed – but not lower than the current level. Do that every year. Base the next year's increase calculation on the benefit level actually paid. – Brad Spencer
Do away with the SS COLA entirely. Instead, increase the SS benefit payment by 100% of the original benefit amount at age 80, and again by the same amount at age 90, to account for health care and other costs that increase dramatically over time. This would shift limited resources to a smaller pool of older retirees who would be most in need of them. – Name withheld
Some folks wanted to see improvements on the revenue side – specifically, raising or eliminating the cap on earnings subject to the Social Security payroll tax. (Social Security taxes currently are collected on the first $113,700 of income.)
1. Raise the SS earnings cap ($250K? $500K)
2. Eliminate the carried interest loophole and classify this as earned income (and thus subject to SS taxes) – Nathan Behan
How about we go back to the way things used to be with SS taxes and make sure that at least 90% of all income (and we MUST include so called unearned income in this) is subject to FICA taxes. That would mean raising or eliminating the current ceiling on FICA taxes. — David Schwartz
@matthewheimer @marketwatch I would continue to have inc earners over the 104k contribute, expand full ret. age by 1 yr.
— Allen Dembski (@adembski99) January 31, 2013
Why not eliminate the cap on the individual's contribution, so high income earners continue to pay a percentage of their income t the program. Keep the cap in place, in so far as the employer's matching contribution so it doesn't amount to an additional tax on the employer. Also make all governmental employees become part of the system as well. – Mike Wachsberg
Last but hardly least, some readers argued for more radical shifts from the current paradigm, letting people opt out from the system, or even phasing it out entirely for younger workers.
@matthewheimer @marketwatch option to opt out but you still pay 2% towards social security for everyone else. Helps businesses and people
— Steven Northrup (@slnorthrup) January 30, 2013
SS as we currently treat it should be phased out for people just entering the work force or with fewer than 10 quarters [of] participation in the program, and replaced with a required, mandated retirement savings by people with earned income. Employers would still contribute to SS to fund the insurance aspect, but employee contributions (no less than 10% of earned income per year) would go entirely to retirement savings like a 401(k) or IRA. The employee could choose whether to use tax deferred or Roth type vehicles for savings … One would only receive SS in retirement if earned income during the working years plus the accumulated savings were insufficient to adequately support one during retirement. – John Doudna
Give people who are 70 or older and choose not to claim their SS benefit a tax credit, to encourage the people who can afford to forego it to do so… Create a new formula that would permit retirees to opt to take a lower SS benefit payout that would be tax free (Roth SS, if you will). – Name withheld
I would propose closing it down over the next 20 years and replacing it with a mandatory 401k/ira style account held personally and directed by the individual. It would reinvest capital into the economy and give everyone a fighting chance at capital appreciation. — Pete Effinger
@matthewheimer @marketwatch anyone under 45 gets no Soc Sec but all their money back. Those over 55 no change. 45-55 get sliding scale.
— Morgan Mix (@mmix224) January 30, 2013
I recommend you allow me to opt out of Social security and or Medicare, which will reduce the burden on the system when I reach retirement age. In exchange for my choice in forever never receiving the government's assistance the government will discontinue my portion of FICA, continuing to collect the employer portion. Additionally the government will uncap the contribution amounts to both 401k and IRA (both trad. and ROTH) contributions annually. Means testing for those who remain in and uncap salaries subject to the FICA tax for those remaining enrolled and increasing the FRA to 70 for anyone under 50. Problem solved. – Jonathan Smith


text:
2010-10-20 / Events & Calendar
Thisweek's Calendar of Events
The following is a list of public meetings and special events for the coming week. Readers should know that meetings are subject to change without notice. THURSDAY, October 21 •Amityville Village Board of Appeals Meeting: 7 p.m., 21 Ireland Pl. , Amityville. For further info., call 264-6000.
You must be an online subscriber to view this story.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
- $5.97
FREE Shipping for Club Members
Director Garry Marshall follows up his surprise hit VALENTINE'S DAY with this all-star ensemble film featuring a cast that includes Robert De Niro, Michelle Pfeiffer, Hilary Swank, and Ashton Kutcher.
Cast List
John Debney - Composer/"Hocus Pocus"
Garry Marshall - American Director/Producer, BEACHES
Garry K. Marshall - American Director/Producer, BEACHES
Gary K. Marshall - American Director/Producer, BEACHES
Gary Marshall - American Director/Producer, BEACHES
Charles Minsky - DOP
Chuck Minsky - DOP
Leslie E. Rollins
Carla White
Diana Pokorny - Producer, INKHEART
Carol Hemming
Michael Bigger
Nina Paskowitz
Ronnie Spector - Pop Singer/Phil's Wife
Dean A. Zupancic
Julianne Jordan - Music Supervisor, THE ITALIAN JOB (2003)
Lisa Scoppa
Joseph "Neeko" Abriol
David H. Venghaus
Rod Ortega
Jerry Decarlo
Tania Ribalow
Katherine Fugate - Writer, CAROLINA
Vivian Baker
Jay Vinitsky
Sean Flanigan
Chris Jordan - Special Effects Technician
Tracey Levy
Sian Richards
Jon Taylor
Mia M. Neal
Robert Vetica
Ashley Hollister
Halle Berry - Oscar winning actress, MONSTER'S BALL
Jon Bon Jovi - American Rock Musician/Actor, NO LOOKING BACK (1998)
Marvin Braverman
Robert De Niro - Oscar Winning Actor/Director/Producer
Robert DeNiro - Oscar Winning Actor/Director/Producer
Hector Elizondo - Puerto Rican American actor
Cary Elwes - Actor/In USA
Carla Gugino - American Actress/"Son In Law"
Katherine Heigl - American actress, 27 DRESSES, KNOCKED UP, GREY'S ANATOMY
Cherry Jones - Actress of Stage and Screen
Barbara Marshall - Actor
Kathleen Marshall
Lori Marshall
Jack McGee - Actor/"Cool As Ice"
Alyssa Milano - Television actress, CHARMED, WHO'S THE BOSS, MELROSE PLACE
Larry Miller - American comedian, television actor
Sean O'Bryan
Sarah Jessica Parker - American actress, SEX AND THE CITY
Michelle Pfeiffer - American actress, SCARFACE, DANGEROUS LIAISONS
Yeardley Smith - Actor/"We're Back"
Penny Marshall - American Film and Television Actress/Director, BIG, LAVERNE
Christine Lakin - Actress
Hilary Swank - Oscar-winning American actress, BOYS DON'T CRY
Til Schweiger - Actor, BEWEGTE MANN
James Belushi - American Actor/Director, brother of John
Jim Belushi - American Actor/Director, brother of John
Claude Conrad - American Actor/Director, brother of John
Jessica Biel - American Actress, ULEE'S GOLD (1997)
Sarah Paulson - American Actress/ LEVITATION
Sandra Taylor
Drena DeNiro - Actress
Ashton Kutcher - Actor
Beth Kennedy - Actor, JEROME (1998)
Sofia Vergara - Star, BIG TROUBLE (2001)
Lily Marshall-Fricker
Charlotte Marshall-Fricker
Tom Hines - Actor
Abigail Breslin - Actor, SIGNS (2002)
Ryan Seacrest - TV host
Rob Nagle - Actor
David Valcin
Seth Meyers - American actor
Josh Duhamel - Actor, LAS VEGAS
Joseph McIntyre - Actor/Singer/Former New Kids On The Block member
Joey McIntyre - Actor/Singer/Former New Kids On The Block member
Joe McIntyre - Actor/Singer/Former New Kids On The Block member
Common - Chicago-based Rapper/Songwriter
Ross Ryman
Patrick Reale
Earl Rose - Composer (Music Score)
Stephanie Fabian
Amare Stoudemire - Basketball player
Jake T. Austin - Actor, YANKEE IRVING (2006)
Jake Szymanski - Actor, YANKEE IRVING (2006)
Nat Wolff - Actor, NAKED BROTHERS BAND
Ludacris - Rapper/actor
Christopher Bridges - Rapper/actor
Chris "Ludacris" Bridges - Rapper/actor
Zac Efron - Actor in HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL
Patrick Collins - Actor
Russell Peters - Comedian
Samuel Mitchell
Vanessa Mendoza
Greg Wilson
Shea Curry
Katherine McNamara
Lea Michele
Denise Violante
Michael Mandell
Matt Walker - Actor
Joey Sorge
Anna Kulinova
Wedil David
Anna Aimee White
Serena Poon
Jaclyn Miller
Peter Allen Vogt
Sam Marshall
Kendra Jain
Nicole Sobchack
Jackie Seiden
Fiona Choi
Mary Marguerite Keane
Amber Bela Muse
Kal Parekh
Lillian Lifflander
Mara Davi
Cassidy Reiff
Julia Randall
Christian Fortune - Actor
Tatyana Disla
Chealy Phoung
Alexandra Rose Guthy
Norman Bukofzer
Benjamin McGowan
Jon-Christian Costable
Juliette Allen-Angelo
Johnny Debrito
Pat Battle
Susan Silver - Actor, ;
Emily Moss Wilson
Bob Weston - Actor
Lucy Woodward
Stephanie Alexander - Actor
Rylie J. Neale
- Format: DVD
- Color Format: (unknown/unconverted)
- Genre: Christmas
- Rating: PG-13 (MPAA)
- Release Date: May 2013
Related Categories:
Movies > Comedies
Related Keywords:
Romantic Comedy
More Details
"[I]t's the kind of marzipan movie that can sweetly soak up a holiday evening." - 12/16/2011 Entertainment Weekly
"With its recipe of universal themes, wise words, romantic moments and familiar faces, NEW YEAR'S EVE is a wilfully sweet confection..." - 02/01/2012 Sight and Sound


text:
Arthur L. Nielson has been named county chairman of the Republican Party at the annual Lincoln Day dinner held Monday evening in Cortez. Mrs. Pat Tipton of Cortez was named Vice Chairman and Jerry Koskie of Lewis was name Secretary Treasurer.
The annual heart fund drive got underway last week with a luncheon at the Pony Express Restaurant Friday. At this time, the volunteer chairmen in the county received materials for the drive and made final plans. Among those attending were Mrs. Jean Johnson, Mrs. Betty Tibbits and Mrs. Margaret Wedell.
Saturday, Feb. 17 is the final day to register for the Dolores to Dolores Snowfari. Anyone desiring to go on the Snowfari can contact Guyrene Ward.
Marge Bowden returned to work on Wednesday following a weeks absence due to a bout with the flu. Her daughter, Betty, has been sick with it too.
Tommy Becher is working at the Dolores High School this week.
Mrs. Mae Chadwick is staying with Tade Garbareno while she is convalescing with a broken leg. Margaret Nielson visited with her on Sunday afternoon.
Mrs. Mildred Denby entertained her bridge club Thursday evening. Winners were Margaret Nielson, high, Bossie McEwen, low and Dotty Smith, who was a guest, won bingo
Ernie Nunn recently slipped on a step at his home and fell, breaking a bone in his hand.
Callie Lofquist entertained with a pinochle party at her home on Saturday evening with the following guests present, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Cline, Mr. and Mrs. Jim Porter, Mr. and Mrs. Chuck Lee, and Hazel Smith. Homa Cline won high for the women and Chuck won high for the men.
Mr. and Mrs. Don McQuaid along with the Newell Musgraves from Hotchkiss, are expected home at the end of this week. They have been vacationing in Guatalajara, Mexico.
Bert Lincoln is attending Pima College in Tucson, Arizona at night taking a course in electronics, generators, alternators and auto wiring. He is working at Neils Detroit Diesel, Inc. during the day and is doing very well from all reports.
Saturday evening dinner guests at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Jack Kinkade were Mr. and Mrs. Curt Carlson and Mr. and Mrs. Don Ripley.
Mary Akin enjoyed dinner on Sunday at the home of Mr. and Mrs. D. J. Wilson. After dinner they all went to visit with Tade Garbareno who is home now from the hospital but will be confined to her home for awhile with her leg in a cast.
Leo Barholomew was confined to Southwest Memorial Hospital for three days last week with bronchial pneumonia. He was released on Friday.
Ruth Becher hosted her bridge club on Thursday evening with Vaughna McClain winning high, Hazel Smith winning low and Carolyn Nunn winning bingo.
Margaret Nielson and Hazel Smith were in Farmington on Monday.
About twenty young people attended the MYF Valentine Party on Sunday evening at the Methodist Church.
Mr. and Mrs. Corky McClain and Brent spent Tuesday in Grand Junction. On Wednesday Corky and Vaughna and John and Dotty Smith enjoyed dinner in Durango.


text:
|Version 40 (modified by 13 years ago) (diff),
Removing the magic
The "magic-removal" branch aims to make several sweeping changes to the Django codebase, removing warts that Django has accumulated over the years. Most changes involve the database API and removing some of its unneeded magic, and other changes involve improving the framework's simplicity and usability.
These changes will be integrated into the next Django release, 0.92.
This document explains the changes in the branch.
How to get the branch
Play with it! The branch is available via Subversion at http://code.djangoproject.com/svn/django/branches/magic-removal .
Models support properties
Status: Done
Unlike before, properties are supported on models.
from django.db import models class Person(models.Model): first_name = models.CharField(maxlength=30) last_name = models.CharField(maxlength=30) def _get_full_name(self): return "%s %s" % (self.first_name, self.last_name) full_name = property(_get_full_name)
Model class and Field classes renamed/relocated
Status: Done
Difference: Import is from
django.db.models instead of
django.core.meta. This is easier to remember.
from django.db import models class Person(models.Model): first_name = models.CharField(maxlength=30) last_name = models.CharField(maxlength=30)
Database connection relocated/renamed
Status: Done
The connection is now available at
django.db.connection. This is easier to remember, clearer and more consistent.
from django.core.db import db cursor = db.cursor()
from django.db import connection cursor = connection.cursor()
Backend-specific functions, if you should need them, are available at
from django.core import db db.quote_name('foo')
from django.db import backend backend.quote_name('foo')
Also, the various backend functionality has been split into three separate modules for each backend --
creation.py and
introspection.py. This is purely for performance and memory savings, so that basic, everyday Django usage doesn't have to load the introspective functionality into memory.
Interact directly with model classes, not with magic modules
Status: Done
Import the model class directly from the module in which it was defined. No more
django.models.* magic.
from myproject.people.models import Person p = Person(first_name='John', last_name='Smith') p.save()
This also removes the need for the
module_name parameter.
Access table-level DB API functions via model classes, not with magic modules
Status: Done
All "table-level" functions -- ways of retrieving records tablewide rather than performing instance-specific tasks -- are now accessed via a model class's
objects attribute. They aren't direct methods of a model instance object because we want to keep the "table-wide" and "row-specific" namespaces separate.
from myproject.people.models import Person p_list = Person.objects.get_list() p = Person.objects.get_object()
This doesn't work from an instance.
p = Person.objects.get_object(pk=1) p.objects.get_list() # Raises AttributeError
Override default manager name ("objects")
Status: Done
If a model already has an
objects attribute, you'll need to specify an alternate name for the magic
class Person(models.Model): first_name = models.CharField(maxlength=30) last_name = models.CharField(maxlength=30) objects = models.TextField() people = models.Manager() p = Person(first_name='Mary', last_name='Jones', objects='Hello there.') p.save() p.objects == 'Hello there.' Person.people.get_list()
Custom managers, and multiple managers
Status: Done
You can create as many managers as you want. When necessary (such as on the admin), Django will use the first one defined, in order.
If you define at least one custom manager, it will not get the default "objects" manager.
class Person(models.Model): first_name = models.CharField(maxlength=30) last_name = models.CharField(maxlength=30) people = models.Manager() fun_people = SomeOtherManager()
Added a more powerful way of overriding model methods, removed hard-coded _pre_save(), _post_save(), etc.
Status: Done
Proper subclassing of methods now works, so you can subclass the automatic
save() and
delete() methods. This removes the need for the
_pre_delete() and
_post_delete() hooks -- all of which have been removed. Example:
class Person(models.Model): first_name = models.CharField(maxlength=30) last_name = models.CharField(maxlength=30) def save(self): self.do_something() super(Person, self).save() # Call the "real" save() method. self.do_something_else()
You can even skip saving (as requested in #1014).
class Person(models.Model): first_name = models.CharField(maxlength=30) last_name = models.CharField(maxlength=30) def save(self): if datetime.date.today() > datetime.date(2005, 1, 1): super(Person, self).save() # Call the "real" save() method. else: # Don't save. pass
New API functionality: Overriding table-level functions
Status: Done
You can override any table-level functions, such as
get_list() or
get_object(). Do this by creating a custom
models.Manager subclass and passing it to your model.
from django.db import models class PersonManager(models.Manager): def get_list(self, **kwargs): # Changes get_list() to hard-code a limit=10. kwargs['limit'] = 10 return models.Manager.get_list(self, **kwargs) # Call the "real" get_list() method. class Person(models.Model): first_name = models.CharField(maxlength=30) last_name = models.CharField(maxlength=30) objects = PersonManager()
If a manager needs to access its associated class, it should use
self.klass. Example:
class PersonManager(models.Manager): def get_fun_person(self): try: return self.get_object(fun__exact=True) except self.klass.DoesNotExist: print "Doesn't exist."
Renamed DoesNotExist exception
Status: Done
Instead of
people.PersonDoesNotExist, it's
from django.models.myapp import people try: people.get_object(pk=1) except people.PersonDoesNotExist: print "Not there"
from path.to.myapp.models import Person try: Person.objects.get_object(pk=1) except Person.DoesNotExist: print "Not there"
Removed SilentVariableFailure exception
Status: Done
Old behavior: Any exception that subclasses
django.core.template.SilentVariableFailure fails silently in the template system.
New behavior: Any exception that has a
silent_variable_failure attribute fails silently in the template system.
django.core.template.SilentVariableFailure no longer exists.
Automatic manipulators
Status: Mostly done, with some quirks left
from django.models.myapp import people m1 = people.AddManipulator() m2 = people.ChangeManipulator(3)
from path.to.myapp.models import Person m1 = Person.AddManipulator() m2 = Person.ChangeManipulator(3)
Renamed 'class META' to 'class Meta'
Status: Done
class META within models should now be
class Meta. The latter is nicer on the eyes.
Moved admin options to 'class Admin'
Status: Done
Instead of
admin=meta.Admin in the
class META, all admin options are in an inner
class Admin.
class Person(meta.Model): first_name = meta.CharField(maxlength=30) last_name = meta.CharField(maxlength=30) class META: admin = meta.Admin( list_display = ('first_name', 'last_name') )
class Person(models.Model): first_name = models.CharField(maxlength=30) last_name = models.CharField(maxlength=30) class Admin: list_display = ('first_name', 'last_name')
get_object_or_404 and get_list_or_404 now take model classes, not modules
Status: Done
get_object_or_404(polls, pk=1)
get_object_or_404(Poll, pk=1)
Model methods no longer automatically have access to datetime and db modules
Status: Done
Formerly, each model method magically had access to the
datetime module and to the variable
db, which represents the current database connection. Now, those have to be imported explicitly.
def some_method(self): print datetime.datetime.now() cursor = db.cursor() cursor.execute("UPDATE something;")
import datetime from django.db import connection # ... def some_method(self): print datetime.datetime.now() cursor = connection.cursor() cursor.execute("UPDATE something;")
Moved "auth" and "core" models to django.contrib
Status: Done
See http://groups.google.com/group/django-developers/browse_thread/thread/276d071a74543448/7d4b1c40c2d53393
- Old:
- New:
- Old:
- New:
- Old:
- New:
- Old:
- New:
django.contrib.contenttypes.models("Packages" will most likely be removed in the future.)
Moved Session model and middleware from core to django.contrib
Status: Done
The location of the session middleware has changed.
- Old:
- New:
Make sure to update your
MIDDLEWARE_CLASSES setting, if you're using sessions.
Also, the
Session model has moved from django/models/core.py to django/contrib/sessions/models.py. If you're accessing the
Session model for some reason, note that location change.
Changed the parameters you pass to generic views
Status: Done
Because there's no longer a concept of
module_name, the "info_dicts" passed to generic views no longer accept
"app_label" and
"module_name". Instead, pass the parameter
"model", which should be your model class.
These examples assume models live in
info_dict = { 'app_label': 'blog', 'module_name': 'entries' }
from myproject.blog.models import Entry info_dict = { 'model': Entry }
Changed template names in generic views
Status: Done
Because there's no longer a concept of
module_name, generic views no longer create templates based on the
module_name. Wherever they used
module_name, they now use
model_name, a lowercase version of the model name.
Note that
app_label remains the same.
These examples assume models live in
- Old:
- New:
Moved admin URLconf to shorten its path
Status: Done
- Old:
- New:
Database table-name changes
core_sessions table to
django_sessions. To change, execute this SQL in your database:
ALTER TABLE core_sessions RENAME TO django_sessions;
Change subclassing syntax
Status: Not done yet
Database lookup API changes
Status: Not done yet
See DescriptorFields, rjwittams' proposal on the API changes.
Namespace Simplification
Status: Not done yet
See NamespaceSimplification for details.


text:
Like many social-media analyses, the idea for this one originated on a social platform. In this case it was Twitter, the most accessible, easy, and free-wheeling of them all and hence a great place to exchange information and opinions.
Tweets (and other social and online postings) have immense business value, in particular as a "voice of the customer" information source about products and services and also about politics, family, and just about every other aspect of our daily lives. Their subjectivity -- they voice opinions and not just facts -- is what makes them particularly valuable.
How do we get at this business value, at sentiment especially, and how do we make sure we're doing it reasonably well? You do need software to get a complete picture of the online universe. There are dozens of tools on the market, some very good, some not so strong.
Accuracy, as measured by precision, recall, and relevance, is essential.
I'll suggest a few simple tests that can help you assess the precision (proportion of cases correctly classified) of tools you may be considering, focusing on Twitter sentiment analysis.
One of my tweeple, @Pythonner (a.k.a. David Nadeau) posted a lookout, Twitter + sentiment analysis, nicely integrated:
http://www.tweetfeel.com/. The Tweetfeel tool from Conversition does make it easy to view Twitter-message sentiment via what the company characterizes as "real-time Twitter search with feelings using insanely complex sentiment analysis."
Accurate automated sentiment analysis is insanely difficult given the complexity of human language and expression. As expert systems pioneer Edward A. Feigenbaum observed, "Reading from text in general is a hard problem, because it involves all of common sense knowledge."
Text is full of subjectivity. There is no text-analysis problem harder than correctly parsing attitudes, opinions, feelings and emotions.
Five Tests
My first test is sentiment classification for someone who has recently died.
Tools trip easily on that one. Tweetfeel is no exception, as seen in a search on Elizabeth Edwards.
The tweet, "ummm I feel totally @#$%!... elizabeth edwards lost her battle with cancer??? omg!!!!! how sad" is NOT, as rated by Tweetfeel, negative.
The folks from Conversition did make clear, "TweetFeel is intended as a quick, fun tool. It's a 'give back to the community' application."
Prompted by another of my tweeple, @yehaskel (a.k.a. David Yehaskel), I'll offer four more tests, essentially quick and easy ways to trip up (most) Twitter sentiment tools but also good starters for any evaluation of the more capable tools on the market, albeit not available for open trial.


text:
Dutch's needed a new t-shirt design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 68 designs submitted by 17 freelance designers.
Leadership Fellows 2011
We are looking to design t-shirts that are unique, creative, and catchy for a leadership program.
We are designing t-shirts and hoodies for 25 - 35 yr-olds who are involved in a leadership development program. We want the t-shirt to capture the vibe of the program -- being creativity, maintaining a strong community, and having fun together.
We are looking for a cool design that could be used for the t-shirts and hoodies as well as logo for the program more broadly.
We would like two different designs for the front and back of a t-shirt we will make. We envision an original fun logo on the front, either center or left breast, and a larger design on the back of the shirt (however, we are open to other ideas!).
We want the logo to incorporate the letters "LF 2011" and/or "Leadership Fellows 2011". We are very open to creativity with the logo in terms of how either LF 2011 or Leadership Fellows 2011 is incorporated.
Some activities/events that have been important to shaping the LF community, include the following:
(1) Pants off dance off (one idea would be to show the evolution of someone taking their pants off in a dance off, similar to the evolution of man)
(2) Good touch, bad touch (i.e. when you are facilitating team building activities, someone could touch you normally aka "good touch" or sketchily aka "bad touch")
(3) Leadership development activities (name games, human knot, blob tag, debriefs, etc.)
Overall we are looking to make t-shirts and hoodies that are creative, catchy, and fun, so let the juices flow!
As an FYI, we are handcuffed by our school and are not allowed to include the name of the institution.


text:
$100,000 To Be Won At NHMS
Think Nationwide Drivers will have a heavy foot this Independence Day weekend? If money drives competition, then the answer will be YES. NASCAR is launching its annual Dash 4 Cash competition, giving one talented driver a shot at winning $1 million dollars this summer…and fans can get a big cut of the prize money.
The first pile of cash will be given out at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on July 12.
Here's the rundown: the fastest four full-time Nationwide drivers at Daytona's July race will qualify for the 2014 "Dash 4 Cash". The following weekend, the show comes to New Hampshire. This is where it gets fun and lucrative. The four Nationwide drivers will have a race within a race. The best finisher of the four will drive away with $100,000.
Want in? Good. Fans can sign up for a "Dash 4 Cash" sweepstakes. Four lucky fans and a guest will receive an all-expenses paid trip to the final D4C event at Iowa Speedway August 2nd. The four fans will be randomly paired with the four eligible D4C drivers for that race, and the fan whose driver wins the D4C award will also go home with a check for $100,000.
It's that simple. A couple minutes online, the right driver, and some free time in August to visit Iowa are all you need to participate in Nationwide's big cash giveaway.
Think about it: the race turns into a giant ATM machine and you can celebrate just like you won the race. Last year, Brian Vickers took home the fat wallet and Pam Nabors, a fan from California, won $100,000. Her life changed in the span of one race. Yours can, too. On second thought, don't sign up … if your name is on the list, we have less chance of winning ourselves!


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Last night's South Park took Randy Marsh and the rest of the town's parents to the blocky world of Minecraft, the unavoidable indie sensation that played a key role in the plot.
That meant we got to watch Randy Marsh learn something new, which is always a treat, especially when he's learning about something as conceptually silly as Minecraft. "I don't get it." "That's because you're thinking like a dad." (Clip above.)
You can watch the whole episode right here. (Sorry, non-North Americans—regional restrictions might prevent you from accessing the show online.)


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This is an activity about the THEMIS (Time History of Events and Macroscale Interactions during Substorms) magnetometer and its ability to reveal many different types of disturbances in the Earth's magnetic field. Learners will work with vector... (View More) data using THEMIS XYZ plots to complete two student worksheets: Activity A analyzes data to determine if the Earth's magnetic field is slowly weakening, and Activity B analyzes data to determine whether the Earth's magnetic pole is moving. This is activity 19 in Exploring Magnetism: Earth's Magnetic Personality. (View Less)
This is a lesson plan for an activity to introduce several terms scientists use to discuss Earth's magnetic field. Learners will explore a website, read about the main features and regions of the Earth's magnetosphere and its functioning within the... (View More) Sun-Earth system, and compile a lab book in which to keep notes about Earth's magnetosphere, space weather, and magnetometer data. This resource is Activity 12 of Exploring Magnetism: Magnetic Mysteries of the Aurora. (View Less)
This is a lesson to introduce the Kp index, a common numerical indicator of magnetic storminess. Learners will access and analyze Kp index plots of magnetic storm strength and determine the relative frequency of stronger versus weaker magnetic... (View More) storms during years of maximum solar activity. This resource is activity 13 from the Magnetic Mysteries of the Aurora teachers guide. Internet access is required for this activity. (View Less)
This is an activity about changes in the Earth's magnetic field during magnetic storms. Learners will construct a soda bottle magnetometer, collect data, and analyze the results to detect magnetic storm events. The operation of the student-created... (View More) instrument can be directly related to THEMIS (Time History of Events and Macroscale Interactions during Substorms) display measurements. In this activity, learners should ideally collect data over the course of an entire month. This is activity 17 in Exploring Magnetism: Earth's Magnetic Personality. (View Less)
Materials Cost: $1 - $5 per group of students
This is a presentation to be used by educators to teach about the Sun and its effects on Earth's magnetosphere, including characteristics of coronal mass ejections, or CMEs, the aurora, and solar wind. A web link to a PDF or PowerPoint presentation... (View More) is supplied, along with background information for the instructor. After the presentation, learners will read about various aspects of the Sun-Earth connection and write about one aspect that they found interesting from the presentation and the printed information. Internet access is required to obtain the presentation resources. This resource is Activity 14 of the Magnetic Mysteries of the Aurora teachers guide. (View Less)


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It is hard to believe we are nearing the end of another year....
{only a few days away from New Years eve..!}
Thanks for your friendship, your visits and kind and supporting comments.
And for sharing your lovely and inspiring blogs.
We wish that you will all have a Happy, Happy New Year.
May 2012 bring you happiness, good health and everything else you desire.
Be safe and take care.
xo Heleen en Corry


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Ubisoft Sofia, the team that created last year's Assassin's Creed 3: Liberation, has been put to work on Assassin's Creed 4, which explains why there is no Assassin's Creed game on PlayStation Vita this year.
"Liberation actually did very well - we're very proud of it," game director Ashraf Ismail told Eurogamer. "Sales were fairly decent. But the focus for us was Assassin's Creed 4, for current-gen consoles and next-gen consoles.
"From a resource standpoint, the team that worked on Liberation is actually working with us on AC4. They're developing a specific part of the game for us."
He continued: "The amount of people working on AC4, Watch Dogs - that's a massive game - the focus within Ubisoft right now is on these two games, and then you have The Crew and The Division as well."
Assassin's Creed 4 will be released November 1 for Xbox 360 and PS3, with PC, PS4 and Xbox One versions to follow.
Had Ubisoft really wanted a new Assassin's Creed title for PS Vita, surely it would have been able to find a team to work on it? You can't help but feel that sales of Liberation and the PS Vita in general haven't been strong enough to warrant a new game.
Source: Eurogamer


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Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS) maintains one of the most popular Indian Railway web site, www.indianrail.gov.in. The web site www.indianrail.gov.in provides dynamic information like current PNR status of the passengers, availability of berths in all classes for the next 60 days and static enquiries like Train Between Important Stations, Reservations Rules, Fares, Refund, and Rules etc. The website is used by all sections of society for enquiry.
Government Ministries/Departments desiring to place their messages/ads on this website are requested to contact Sh. Pitamber Verma, Chief Project Engineer/Web Application, CRIS, Chankyapuri, New Delhi-110021 at email: firstname.lastname@example.com.


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|On the grounds of Collins Barracks
the building which houses Asgard.
In order to begin arming the Irish Volunteers, writer and Sinn Féin activist Darrell Figgis travelled to Belgium to negotiate the purchase of 1,500 Mauser rifles and about 45,000 rounds of ammunition. Once the deal was made, Eskine Childers and Conor O'Brien agreed to divide the arms and transport them back to Ireland onboard their respective yachts. Figgis hired a tug boat and met Childers and O'Brien at a previously arranged point in the North Sea, where the weapons and ammunition were loaded onto the yachts.
With a skeleton crew, which included his wife Molly Childers and their friend the Honorable Mary Spring Rice, Childers sailed the Asgard with 900 rifles and about 30,000 rounds of ammunition onboard, landing at Howth, County Dublin, Ireland on 26 July 1914. Conor O'Brien, who captained the second yacht called Kelpie, took the remaining 600 rifles and about 15,000 rounds of ammunition for transport. His cache of guns and ammunition was ultimately transferred to a third yacht and landed in August at Kilcoole.
With respect to my family history, the yacht Asgard is significant because members of my family were involved in the gun-running at Howth, including my relative Laurence J. Kettle, who was a founding member of the provisional committee which oversaw the Volunteers, and my paternal granduncle Michael Magee, who was one of the young men who carried guns away from Howth on that July day. In his witness statement, Frank Henderson, one of the participants from the Dublin Brigade, said of that day,
We were fairly near the ship, the 'Asgard', when she arrived, about two hundred yards away, I suppose. It was very well timed. Just as the head of the column got to the end of the pier, she sailed into the harbour...The guns were passed out from hand to hand from the ship and we held on to them...I suppose we were about an hour or more on the pier. The idea of the organisers was to get away as soon as possible because we had to march back to Dublin.
Asgard has been beautifully restored with special attention paid to conserve as much as of the original yacht as possible. For a detailed look at the conservation and restoration of this vessel see Conserving Asgard on the Classic Boat website.
|In the hall where Asgard rests, the walls are lined with boards on which is detailed
the history of the yacht, and of the gun-running to Howth.
|The bow of the Asgard seen from the upper viewing platform.
|A close view of the yacht from the upper platform.
|A view from the stern. Unfortunately the window glass installed at this end of the platform slightly distorts the image.
|The body of the yacht. From this viewpoint you can see how beautifully constructed the yacht is.
|The stern with the yacht's name embellished across her.
|The Asgard viewed from floor level.
|On the left: young men reaching for guns from the yacht Asgard.
On the right: Molly Childers and Mary Spring Rice onboard Asgard,
displaying some of the Mausers they were transporting.
Martin, Francis Xavier, ed. The Irish Volunteers 1913 - 1915, Duffy and Company, Dublin, Ireland, 1963.
Bureau of Military History, Witness Statement #53: Bulmer Hobson.
Bureau of Military History, Witness Statement #249: Frank Henderson.


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SUMMER IS HERE! It is probably inevitable that at some point this summer you're going to brew up a batch of tea, pour it over ice and sip it to quench your thirst and cool you off on a hot day. Sounds like a great summer day, and a delicious way to celebrate tea during the month of June for National Iced Tea Month! However, how much do you really know about tea? Do you know the different types of tea? Do you know the correct way to brew tea? Just like coffee, tea has different classifications and specific brewing guidelines to produce the best tasting results in the cup.
Let's begin with asking do you prefer whole leaf or CTC teas? Many of us have grown up sipping CTC tea. CTC is the" chopped tea" found in many tea bags. CTC stands for Crush, Tear and Curl, which is the manufacturing process for this particular class of tea. This is opposed to the orthodox method of manufacturing where after tea leaves are withered they are crushed and rolled by hand, or by a machine that mimics the hand-rolling process. The intent with the orthodox method is to preserve the integrity of the whole leaf that will often unfurl completely during brewing. With the CTC process leaves pass through a "series of cylindrical rollers with hundreds of small sharp teeth that crush, tear and curl the leaves." Hence, this is how this classification gets its name. This type of tea is much smaller than whole leaf making them ideal for tea bags which now come in a variety of shapes and materials. When it comes to flavor, CTC teas often have more fully body and can produce more color in the cup, however, tea lovers generally prefer whole leaf teas for their more complex yet pure flavor characteristics.
Stay tuned because next time we will learn about the correct brewing temperatures for the different types of tea!
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Uneek Image needed a new logo design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 57 designs submitted by 10 freelance designers.
Uneek- Luxury Real estate tours
We are a new luxury real estate videography company looking for a new logo specific to our projects(luxury real estate). It has to be exactly what are name sames we are uneek(UNIQUE). We specialize and take pride in doing what no others are at the moment and will be setting the standard for luxury real estate videography for the future.
Real estate agents, brokers, luxury home owners, property management company's. Our clients are very very high end people with a lot of money..... We only shoot estates starting at $1 mill and up.
For starters the logo will be on a black business card and on a flash website with the main back been black, so something with like a alpha glow around the edges to make it POP will be perfect. It could be a chrome or a graphite color I think will work just great. We want it to be flashy but not to flashy but the main goal is that it is UNEEK(unique) and it is up to par with technology and the times as we take pride in our work of been ahead of its time so we want our logo to show that also.
Our business cards will have the main logo been
UNEEK then below it it will say -LUXURY REAL ESTATE TOURS
The best layout to help us decide on you will be putting into a business card layout and then later on we can use it for our web site but our main goal is to see what it will look like on our business card at this point with the wording and how it will fit.
So in short we are looking for something outside of the box so the more creative you are the better , we are not looking for basic by any means So feel to be creative and chances are the more out there your design is the better your chances are of us using your logo.
incorporating a video camera or video reel into the mix would also help target what we do.
Chances are we will use the winner of our contest to help design the rest of our flash website.
Thank you and we look forward
Find out how a design contest works or learn more about our logo design services.


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Massage has become a fairly popular alternative therapy for autism, but there is only limited evidence suggesting it is helpful, a new research review shows.
Researchers say some studies did find benefits -- for instance in language and social skills -- but small patient samples and other problems make the results unreliable.
Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are a group of developmental disorders that, to varying degrees, hinder a person's ability to communicate, socialize and build relationships.
There is no cure, but special education programs and behavioral and language therapies are standard. Often, parents also turn to alternative approaches for additional help, including special diets or art and music therapy.
In general, massage or "touch" therapy is thought to have both physical and emotional benefits. For children with autism, it could have effects on the nervous and hormonal systems that may help ease some of their difficulties, explained Dr. Myeong Soo Lee of the Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine in Daejeon, the lead researcher on the new study.
And parents seem to be putting some hope into that idea: Two recent U.S. studies of children with ASDs found that 11 percent to 16 percent had undergone massage therapy.
But whether it actually works is unclear.
In their search of the medical literature, Lee and his colleagues found only six clinical trials that tested massage therapy against standard therapies for children with autism.
There were some promising findings, Lee said. Children who received massage plus special education, for instance, improved their social abilities and "daily living" skills, like dressing and feeding themselves.
And those who had massage added to language therapy made bigger strides in communicating than those who had language therapy alone.
However, all of the studies had fundamental shortcomings, according to the researchers: None included more than 50 children and they lasted only between one and five months.
There were also problems in the studies' methods that put them at a high risk of bias. In some cases, for example, the researchers assessing the children knew which ones had gotten massage therapy and which ones had not, so they might be more inclined to see progress in the former.
The bottom line, the researchers write, is that "firm conclusions cannot be drawn" as to whether massage therapy aids children with autism.
On the other hand, the researchers are not advising parents against finding a massage therapist with experience in working with children with autism.
If parents are interested in the therapy, Lee said, he knows of no serious potential risks of massage for children with autism. But as far as effectiveness, more rigorous studies are warranted, he and his colleagues write.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Research: Only limited evidence that massage is helpful to those with autism
From Reuters Health:
Posted by BA Haller at 5:16 PM


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Clarion Hotels Plant City properties are listed below. Search for cheap and discount Clarion Hotels hotel prices in Plant City, FL for your personal or business trip. We list the best Clarion Hotels Plant City hotels & lodging so you can review the Plant City Clarion Hotels hotel list below to find the perfect place.
Our service will also provide discounted Plant City, FL properties that have similar quality of Clarion Hotels.Need a group/meeting discount? Request a group rate for Plant City FL
How should we direct your call?


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Seitzer perfect in Biscuits blowout
Rays prospect goes 4-for-4, drives in three to lead 11-3 rout
By Sam Dykstra / Special to MLB.com | April 25, 2013 9:53 PM
When the in-laws are in town, some spouses struggle to find a way to entertain them during their stay. Cameron Seitzer apparently isn't one of those husbands.
With his mother-in-law and grandmother-in-law at the ballpark, the 23-year-old first baseman/outfielder tied his career high for hits in game by going a perfect 4-for-4 with a double and three RBIs for Double-A Montgomery in a 11-3 victory over Birmingham at Riverwalk Stadium.
Although he had familial eyes watching over him Thursday, Seitzer didn't feel any added pressure to perform.
"No, not at all," he said. "You don't know when a night like this is really going to happen. I was trying to go up the plate with the same approach that I always have. Even after the second hit, I was still looking to hit something up the middle or to the right gap. They kept giving me something to hit and leaving the ball over the plate, so I kept taking advantage."
Batting from the cleanup spot, the son of two-time All-Star Kevin Seitzer opened the night's scoring with an RBI single in the first inning. He could have added another RBI on a base hit in the third, but Kevin Kiermaier was nailed at the plate by Barons right fielder Keenyn Walker. His two-out double in the fourth brought in Kiermaier and Mikie Mahtook to cap a five-run frame. He singled again in the sixth, but was denied a chance at his fifth hit two innings later when reliever J.R. Ballinger plunked him in his fifth plate appearance.
Seitzer didn't seem perturbed by just missing out on a career night.
"Nah, I just wore it," he said. "It came with two strikes, so I was just trying to get on base. It was obvious he didn't do it on purpose. I just took it. It's fine."
Taken by the Rays in the 11th round of the 2011 Draft, the former University of Oklahoma slugger skipped the Class A Advanced level to join the Biscuits at the start of the season. He batted .307 with an .815 OPS, four homers, three triples, 36 doubles and 54 RBIs in 118 games for Class A Bowling Green last season en route to spots on the Midwest League postseason and MiLB.com Organization All-Star teams.
But even he was stunned in a sense to find himself in Montgomery instead of Class A Advanced Port Charlotte to start the 2013 campaign.
"It definitely surprised me," Seitzer said. "I was working out with the Double-A club in Spring Training, and you know at a certain point that guys are going to be cut from big-league camp. So at that point, everybody drops down a level. But then, I broke camp with these guys, and now it's my turn to do the most with this opportunity."
After Thursday's performance, his average jumped from .267 to .304, seventh-best in the Southern League so far, and trails only circuit leader Kiermaier (.353) for the team lead in the category. He also leads the league with eight doubles and is tied for second with 24 hits.
Put together with his latest 4-for-4 showing, that start to the season would be enough to make anyone comfortable at the Double-A level. Seitzer contends, however, that he'd take that type of production anywhere.
"Any time I might go 4-for-4, it definitely makes you feel better out there," he said. "It's not exactly something that happens all too often. It doesn't matter if it's A ball, Double-A, whatever. You have to be happy with it."
Kiermaier finished 3-for-3 with a walk, four runs scored and two RBIs from the Biscuits leadoff spot. The top five batters in the Montgomery lineup -- Kiermaier, Shawn O'Malley, Mahtook, Seitzer and Todd Glaesmann -- each drove in at least two in the win.
Sam Dykstra is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.View More


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It is so easy to judge another person's motives, in essence to judge their heart, without ever considering their journey. If we are honest, all of us would admit to having some type of personal bias, and sometimes, whether we intend to or not, that bias turns to judgment.
Have you ever had the unpleasant experience of someone passing judgment on you? Most people have, but everyone has also judged someone else. So how do you balance compassion and conformity or empathy and complacency? Moving From Judgment: How to Have an Open Heart in a Closed World offers a practical approach to answer those deep-seated questions that Christians struggle with. Authors Joe and Brenda Rinehart examine the sources of critical attitudes and outline how to see people compassionately through the eyes of Christ. Each chapter is divided into three sections: material designed for understanding the concepts discussed, a going deeper section for personal or group study, and a prayer section that is specific to the material covered in the chapter. After reading Moving from Judgment: How to Have an Open Heart in a Closed World, you will not see other people (or even yourself) quite the same way again.
Joe Rinehart is the religion columnist for the Federal Way Mirror, inFederal Way,Washington, as well as a former pastor. Brenda Rinehart is Director of Medical Imaging at a hospital in theSeattle area, as well as an instructor atBellevueCollege. Together Joe and Brenda are actively involved atBrooklakeCommunityChurch inFederal Way,Washington. They support local ministries to the homeless and lead in- home groups.


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The Bengals released quarterback Josh Johnson earlier this week, which seemed to signal their intention to go forward with Jason Campbell and rookie A.J. McCarron as the options behind Andy Dalton.
Things may end up that way, but the Bengals will get a look at another quarterback before making any final decisions. Cincinnati made a successful waiver claim on Matt Scott and added the former Jaguar on Friday.
Scott spent last season on Jacksonville's practice squad after signing with the team as an undrafted free agent after wrapping up his career at the University of Arizona. Scott went 18-of-40 in preseason action for the Jags last summer, his only game action of any kind since entering the professional ranks.
Scott is likely going to be an extra arm for the Bengals to use during practice in the offseason, but that could come with playing time in preseason games that creates interest from another team or at least another spot on a practice squad.


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Robyn S. Keller, 64, of Hamilton Township, Stroudsburg, passed away Thursday, Aug. 22, 2013, at her home.
She was born in Bethlehem on April 26, 1949, and was the daughter of the late Kerwin and Anna (Litrenta) Silfies.
Robyn worked as a chief environmental officer at Moravian Hall Square in Nazareth for the past 23 years.
She had a distinct love for animals and rescued many.
We have all been blessed with the presence of Robyn in our lives. She will be deeply missed by her children: Patrick Stier and his wife, Sara, of Effort; Erin Baker and her husband, Gordon, of Hinesville, Ga.; and a stepson, Tom Keller and his wife, Kathy, of Brodheadsville. She was the loving and gentle grandmother to her seven grandchildren, who lovingly called her "Nana": Jason, Jocelyn, Timothy, Heather, Sarah, Matthew and Ryan.
She is also survived by her siblings: Patty Silfies of Bowling Green, Ky., and Kerwin Silfies and his wife, Marci, of Bethlehem.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 29, at Moravian Hall Square, 175 W. North St., Nazareth, with the Rev. David Schaeffer officiating.
Family and friends are welcome to offer their condolences to the family after the services at Moravian Hall Square.
Interment will be private and at the convenience of the family.
Donald N. Gower Funeral Home Inc.
1426 Route 209, Gilbert
Robyn S. Keller
Robyn S. Keller, 64, of Hamilton Township, Stroudsburg, passed away Thursday, Aug. 22, 2013, at her home.


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Poll Results
Do you or your child experience discrimination from friends or family members because of having diabetes?
Yes, some but it doesn't really impact us
Yes, some, and it impacts us
Yes, a lot, and it impacts us a lot
We were recently diagnosed and it's too early to tell
I don't know
Total votes: 62
Do you or your child experience discrimination from friends or family members because of having diabetes?Poll dates: February 26 - March 5, 2014
Total Votes: 62
In a perfect world, children and adults with diabetes would never face discrimination. They would never worry about being denied the ability to check blood sugars or inject insulin at school, never worry about being told they cannot go on a field trip because no one would watch over them, they would never worry about finding health insurance, they would never worry about not getting a job. But in reality, many people face this kind of discrimination everyday.
In our poll, almost two-thirds of our readers (61%) report experiencing no discrimination. An additional 14% say they experience some discrimination but that it really doesn't impact their lives. So the good news is that a wide majority of our readers (75%) report living without any seriously negative discrimination because of their diabetes.
Unfortunately, the bad news is that 12% of our readers report experiencing discrimination that impacts their lives, and 4% report that the discrimination impacts them a lot. Children often face challenges at school, where 504 Plans can help to make a difference. The American Diabetes Association also works to fight discrimination against children and adults with diabetes.
This table compares the result of this poll with the last time we've run it:[Return to the current poll]
Answer Feb 2014 Feb 2013 Mar 2012 Mar 2010 Mar 2009 Feb 2008 Feb 2006 Feb 2005 No 61% 62% 47% 50% 55% 52% 54% 44% Yes, no impact 14% 21% 18% 20% 15% 19% 21% 21% Yes, some impact 12% 10% 20% 20% 15% 16% 13% 22% Yes, major impact 4% 4% 4% 3% 4% 4% 4% 5% Too early to tell 3% 1% 7% 4% 7% 4% 4% 4% Don't know 3% 1% 3% 3% 2% 3% 2% 1%
|Return to the Top of This Page
Last Updated: Wednesday March 05, 2014 18:34:39
This Internet site provides information of a general nature and is designed for educational purposes only. If you have any concerns about your own health or the health of your child, you should always consult with a physician or other health care professional.
This site is published by T-1 Today, Inc. (d/b/a Children with Diabetes), a 501c3 not-for-profit organization, which is responsible for its contents. Our mission is to provide education and support to families living with type 1 diabetes.
By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use, Legal Notice, and Privacy Policy.
© Children with Diabetes, Inc. 1995-2018. Comments and Feedback.


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Shows the current CPU frequency and the currently used governor in the
xfce panel. In a separate dialog it also provides information about all
available CPU frequencies, all available governors and the used driver
for the CPU.
Maintained by: Marc Dix
Keywords: monitor,xfce,cpu,frequency,governor,xfce4
ChangeLog: xfce4-cpufreq-plugin
Download SlackBuild:
xfce4-cpufreq-plugin.tar.gz.asc (FAQ)
(the SlackBuild does not include the source)
|Individual Files:
| doinst.sh
| slack-desc
| xfce4-cpufreq-plugin.SlackBuild
| xfce4-cpufreq-plugin.info
© 2006-2019 SlackBuilds.org Project. All rights reserved.
Slackware® is a registered trademark of Patrick Volkerding
Linux® is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds
Web Design by WebSight Designs | Managed Hosting by OnyxLight Communications


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When she participated in my recent meme challenge to Australian geneabloggers I realised that I had not yet asked Kylie to submit a profile to Genimates.
I thank Kylie for her support of my efforts and for responding so swiftly to my plea for a GeniMates profile.
Date: 7/9/2011
Name: Kylie Willison
Hometown: Flaxley, South Australia now live in Adelaide, South Aust
Are you a Hobbyist or Professional Genealogist? Hobbyist
What, if any, formal or informal studies have you undertaken that are relevant to genealogical research?
I haven't undertaken any genealogical studies.
How long have you been chasing ancestors? 6 years
How did you get hooked on genealogy?
I found an online family tree site and started filling in my tree and then wanted to know more, and more, and more.
What is your day job? Student
What are your areas of Expertise in Genealogy?
I love helping others with using their computer and the Internet.
Please outline your involvement in Genealogy Societies and Groups:
I'm a member of the South Australian Genealogy and Heraldry Society.
What are the lands of your ancestors?
What Family Names are you Researching?
Scadden (Scaddan or 'on')
Who is your favourite ancestor? Why?
One of my favourites is Ellen Mary Patten, formerly Welsh, nee Chamberlain. Ellen came to Australia with her sister when they were quite young, she survived a shipwreck, insolvency, living in city and country areas, the death of several of her children and her first husband and living hundreds of miles away from her family. What an amazing woman.
What ancestral city or town would you like to visit? Why?
Scotland because I have ancestors from both sides of my family there.
What is your favourite resource for genealogy?
My favourite resource would have to be Trove. There is so much information to find there besides the cold hard facts of births, deaths and marriages.
Do you keep your genealogy files on paper? Yes
Do you keep your genealogy files on a computer? Yes
What genealogy software do you use to record your family tree?
I use ancestry.com to record my family tree. My sister and I work on it together from time to time and this way we both have access. I also download a gedcom file of the tree to take with me on my Android phone. I use Family Bee on the phone.
Do you have your tree posted on the internet? Yes
What Social Networking Sites do you use for genealogy?
Ancestry, Facebook, Other
Do you have a blog? Yes
What are your blogs' URLs? http://kyliewillison.blogspot.com
What are your Other Hobbies, Activities, Interests?
I'm currently studying Cert IV in Textile Arts so this keeps me very busy.
What is your favourite leisure time activity apart from genealogy?
What is your favourite (non genealogy) book?
Currently Tomorrow When The War Began by John Marsden
What is your personal philosophy in a few words ?
I follow Jesus.


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Comet LINEAR
Astronomers analyzing debris from a comet that broke apart last summer spied pieces as small as smoke-sized particles and as large as football-field-sized fragments. But it's the material they didn't see that has aroused their curiosity. Tracking the doomed comet, named LINEAR, the Hubble telescope and the Very Large Telescope in Chile found tiny particles that made up the 2,000-mile-long dust tail and 16 large fragments, some as wide as 330 feet. But the telescopes didn't detect any intermediate-sized pieces. If they exist, then the fundamental building blocks that comprised LINEAR's nucleus may be somewhat smaller than current theories suggest.
The Hubble picture shows that that LINEAR's nucleus has been reduced to a shower of glowing "mini-comets" resembling the fiery fragments from an exploding aerial firework. This picture was taken with Hubble's Wide Field Planetary Camera 2 on August 5, 2000, when the comet was at a distance of 64 million miles (102 million kilometers) from Earth.
NASA and Hal Weaver (The Johns Hopkins University)


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Asia stocks up on China output as Syria fears fade
BANGKOK (AP) — Asian stock markets advanced Tuesday after the likelihood of an imminent U.S.-led attack against Syria faded and manufacturing rebounded in China and parts of Europe.
President Barack Obama has faced difficulty trying to amass support for U.S. military intervention in Syria, where an alleged chemical attack by government forces killed scores of civilians outside of Damascus. Britain's parliament voted against involvement, and Russia and China have been critical of the idea.
Obama announced over the weekend that he would seek approval from Congress for military strikes, but he faced skepticism among many U.S. lawmakers about the intelligence regarding the chemical attack and the value of an intervention to United States interests.
"To be sure, a Syria strike no longer being imminent is reason for relief but that does not mean that Syria has dropped off the geo-politics radar," said Vishnu Varathan of Mizuho Bank Ltd. in Singapore.
Japan's Nikkei 225 index jumped 2.4 percent to 13,900.59. South Korea's Kospi rose 0.4 percent to 1,931.99. Australia's S&P ASX/200 added 0.1 percent to 5,193.10.
Hong Kong's Hang Seng advanced 1.1 percent to 22,410.31, with big paper companies getting a boost after the Chinese government said the paper industry suffered from overcapacity. That is an indication that there will be efforts to eliminate smaller companies in favor of bigger ones, said Jackson Wong, vice president of Tanrich Securities in Hong Kong.
Nine Dragons Paper jumped more than 13 percent in Hong Kong. Lee & Man Paper surged nearly 9 percent.
Sentiment was boosted Monday by two surveys that showed China's manufacturing sector improved last month after prolonged weakness.
The HSBC purchasing managers' index rose to 50.1 points in August, a level that indicates expansion as output and new orders edged up slightly and order backlogs rose at the fastest pace in two years. The official China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing PMI rose to 51.0 from July's 50.3, which was the highest level and biggest increase this year.
Both indexes use a 100-point scale on which numbers below 50 indicate a contraction.
"With improved Chinese economic data, the focus is shifting back to the Chinese economy," Wong said.
Traders will be waiting for Wall Street to reopen later Tuesday after a three-day Labor Day weekend as well as the latest data from the Institute for Supply Management on U.S. manufacturing for August.
On Monday, Britain's FTSE 100 gained 1.5 percent to close at 6,506.19, thanks to cellphone company Vodafone, which said it was with in talks with Verizon to sell its U.S. mobile business. Confirmation of the $130 billion deal came after trading in London had finished for the day, but Vodafone's shares closed up 3.4 percent on expectations of the purchase.
Germany's DAX index ended the day up 1.7 percent to 8,243.87 while France's CAC-40 jumped 1.8 percent to 4,006.01. Italian and Spanish stocks were also up after surveys showed manufacturing activity rose in the two countries, which are in recession and have been focal points of Europe's debt crisis.
Benchmark crude for October delivery was down $1.03 to $106.62 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange as fears of military strikes on Syria continued to fade. The contract fell $1.15 to close at $107.65 on Friday.
In currencies, the euro rose to $1.3193 from $1.3187 late Monday. The dollar fell to 99.34 yen from 99.56 yen.
Follow Pamela Sampson on Twitter at http://twitter.com/pamelasampson


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TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras – Honduras' ousted president, bolstered by international support, said he will return home this week to regain control, but the man who replaced him said Manuel Zelaya will be arrested if he comes back.
The military coup on Sunday provoked nearly universal condemnation from governments of the Western Hemisphere, from President Barack Obama to Venezuela's Hugo Chavez, and it sparked clashes in the Honduran capital that have left dozens of people injured.
Flanked by Latin American leaders who have vowed to help him regain power, Manuel Zelaya said late Monday that Organization of American States Secretary-General Jose Miguel Insulza had agreed to accompany him back to Honduras.
But the man named by Honduras' Congress as interim president, Roberto Micheletti, indicated Tuesday that Zelaya would risk arrest if he returns because "the courts of my country have issued arrest orders" against him.
Zelaya, a wealthy rancher who has forged close ties with Chavez, said he wanted to return to Tegucigalpa on Thursday after attending a meeting of the U.N. General Assembly to seek support from its 192 member nations.
"I want the support of whoever thinks I have the right to finish my presidency," Zelaya said at a late night news conference in Nicaragua, where he earlier received a standing ovation during a meeting of Latin American leaders.
Just as significant was the support of the U.S. president.
"We believe that the coup was not legal and that President Zelaya remains the democratically elected president there," Obama said in Washington. "It would be a terrible precedent if we start moving backwards into the era in which we are seeing military coups as a means of political transition rather than democratic elections."
Micheletti, speaking to Colombia's Caracol Radio, insisted that it was Zelaya who had violated the constitution and that his court-ordered removal was legal.
"We have not committed a coup d'etat, but a constitutional succession," he said.
Micheletti vowed to ignore foreign pressure and began naming Cabinet members, including a new minister of defense.
Zelaya alienated the courts, Congress, the military and even his own party in his tumultuous three years in power but maintains the support of many of Honduras' poor.
It was the first military ouster of a Central American president since 1993, when Guatemalan military officials refused to accept President Jorge Serrano's attempt to seize absolute power and removed him. They turned over power to a civilian within days.
Honduras had not seen a coup since 1978, when one military government overthrew another.


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The four lessons in this unit build toward a student understanding of each component of the energy budget formula - and how the contribution of each component changes due to location and time of year. In order, the four lessons consist of: deriving... (View More) the formula for Earth's energy budget, analyzing data from NASA's CERES instrument, learning to code using the RStudio program, and using RStudio to explore and evaluate the energy budgets of specific locations and seasons. The unit includes a pre/post test; each lesson follows the 5E model and contains worksheets with answer keys. (View Less)
Materials Cost: Free
Become a crime scene investigator! Learners model Dawn Mission scientists, engineers, and technologists and how they use instrumentation to detect distant worlds. After a briefing to build context, students explore interactions between different... (View More) frequencies/wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum and matter as they investigate the different ways scientists gather and understand remote sensing data, using Dawn instruments as examples. This module is organized around a learning cycle, engaging students through several experiences to activate students' prior knowledge and assess conceptual understanding, informing next steps. (View Less)
Materials Cost: 1 cent - $1 per group of students
This series of laboratory lessons and activities uses authentic solar imagery and data to introduce students to solar science. Students are asked to explore details in imagery, including how to deal with the issues of noise and resolution, and... (View More) understand scale. They are introduced to the concept of space weather and how that affects both observing instruments and the Earth. Students learn about spectra, how helium and coronium were discovered, and go on to explore real spectra from the Sun. Most activities are mathematically based, and targeted for grades 9-10. Imagery is included from NASA/ESA's SOHO mission, NASA's SDO mission, and Japan's Hinode satellite. (View Less)
Materials Cost: Free
Each lesson or activity in this toolkit is related to NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO). The toolkit is designed so that each lesson can be done independently, or combined and taught in a sequence. The Teacher Implementation Guide provides... (View More) recommendations for combining the lessons into three main strands: 1) Lunar Exploration - These lessons provide a basic introduction to Moon exploration. Note that this strand is also appropriate for use in social studies classes. 2) Mapping the Moon - These lessons provide a more in-depth understanding of Moon exploration through the use of scientific data and student inquiry. The lessons also include many connections to Earth science and geology. 3) Tools of Investigation - These higher-level lessons examine the role of technology, engineering and physics in collecting and analyzing data. (View Less)
Materials Cost: $1 - $5 per group of students
In this inquiry activity, teams of students are challenged with engineering a greenhouse heat trap for use with exotic plants. The investigation requires thermometers, plastic wrap, and a shoebox for each team. Students graph data and determine the... (View More) effectiveness of their design. This activity is supported by a textbook chapter, Atmospheric Energy, part of the unit, Energy Flow, in Global Systems Science (GSS), an interdisciplinary course for high school students that emphasizes how scientists from a wide variety of fields work together to understand significant problems of global impact. (View Less)
Materials Cost: 1 cent - $1 per group of students
This problem-based learning module places learners in the role of researchers analyzing carbon monoxide's environmental impact. Both vehicle emissions and biomass burning are cited as events producing carbon monoxide that impact the environment.... (View More) Instructions for accessing NASA data from four different sources are provided along with suggested resources and investigations for classroom use. This module was developed to be used in the Earth System Science Education Alliance (ESSEA) courses for middle and high school teachers and is also available to teachers to adapt for general classroom use. (View Less)
Materials Cost: Free per group of students
Designed for use in the high school classroom, this curriculum uses Earth system data, models, and resources from five NASA missions (Aqua, Aura, ICESat, Landsat, and Terra) to engage students in a systems approach to climate change. The curriculum... (View More) consists of 21 lessons divided into four modules: 1. Introduction to Eco-Schools USA and NASA data. 2. Factors That Influence Temperature, 3. How Climate Change Affects Natural and Human Systems, and 4. Renewable Energy and a Call to Action. Each lessons provides technology tips, supplements, student worksheets, answer keys and appendices. (View Less)
Materials Cost: 1 cent - $1 per student
In this problem-based learning unit, learners explore the possibilities of sustainable energy, and engage in a project to provide electricity for their city using alternative energy sources. Instructions to access NASA data are provided along with... (View More) additional resources and activities. This module was developed to be used in the Earth System Science Education Alliance (ESSEA) courses for middle and high school teachers and is also available to teachers to adapt for general classroom use. (View Less)
Materials Cost: Free per group of students
This is an online sorting game that compares the lifetime risk of death from an asteroid impact to other threats. For example, are you more likely to be killed by an amusement park ride or an asteroid impact? It is part of the Killer Asteroids Web... (View More) Site. The site also features a background overview of the differences between asteroids and comets, information on different types of asteroids (rubble piles vs monoliths), a discussion of how at risk Earth really is to an asteroid or comet impact, and background information on light curves. (View Less)
This is a multi-level, physics-based game that asks players to save Earth by using their spaceship to deflect an incoming asteroid. It is designed to accurately reflect the physics of space and could be used to help confront preconceptions about... (View More) motion and forces in space. It is part of the Killer Asteroids Web Site. The site also features a background overview of the differences between asteroids and comets, information on different types of asteroids (rubble piles vs monoliths), a discussion of how at risk Earth really is to an asteroid or comet impact, and background information on light curves. (View Less)


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Shampoo is a liquid used to clean the scalp and hair. This article describes the effects of swallowing a liquid shampoo.
This is for information only and not for use in the treatment or management of an actual poison exposure. If you have an exposure, you should call your local emergency number (such as 911) or the National Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222.
Alternative Names
Swallowing shampoo
Where Found
- Various liquid shampoos
Vomiting Diarrhea
Home Treatment
Shampoo is considered relatively nontoxic (nonpoisonous). If an allergic reaction occurs, seek immediate medical help.
Call poison control for further information.
Before Calling Emergency
Determine the following information:
- The patient's age, weight, and condition
- The name of the product (ingredients and strengths, if known)
- The time it was swallowed
- The amount swallowed
Poison Control, or a local emergency number
The National Poison Control Center (1-800-222-1222) can be called from anywhere in the United States. This national hotline number will let you talk to experts in poisoning. They will give you further instructions.
This is a free and confidential service. All local poison control centers in the United States use this national number. You should call if you have any questions about poisoning or poison prevention. It does NOT need to be an emergency. You can call for any reason, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Take the container with you to the hospital, if possible.
What to expect at the emergency room
An emergency room visit may not be necessary.
If a visit takes place, the health care provider will measure and monitor the patient's vital signs, including temperature, pulse, breathing rate, and blood pressure. Blood and urine tests will be done. The patient may receive:
Fluids through a vein (IV)
Medicines to treat symptoms
Expectations (prognosis)
Swallowing shampoo is usually not poisonous. Patients usually make a full recovery.


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This is the project that I have been trying to work on for almost a year. It was supposed to be a birthday present for my cousin but I have forgotten about it. Finally I was able to finish it today.
I am going to show you how I made no sew fabric letters. I did this as decoration for my little cousin's bedroom.
First I printed the template for the letters on paper and traced them on the cardboard. These 3D cardboard letters are about 1 1/2 inches thick, or thick enough for the letters to stand.
Next I added some fluff from an old pillow, but make sure the cotton is clean. I used plain white glue to stick them on the cardboard. Let it dry for about 5 minutes.
Trace the letter on the fabric with a pencil. When you cut it make sure you have allowance for wrapping a little bit of the fabric at the sides of the cardboard letters.
This is a no sew project, so I used hot glue to stick the fabric onto the cardboard.
Wrap the cardboard letters with fabric on both sides. This is how it looked like:
It's okay if your letters are a bit messy at the sides. You can hide your mess by covering it with strips of fabric.
I folded the fabric strip and secured it on the 3D letters with hot glue as well.
Tada! Here is the final product. Hopefully my little cousin will like this.
Making these no sew fabric letters is not so hard at all. But I'd like to learn how to sew someday so I can make more projects with fabric :)


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Meanwhile, closer to home, the recent budget mess and the specter of impending cuts have complicated the Navy's attempts to establish a future force structure, and the shipbuilding industry is just one of many to feel the effects. Naval shipbuilding is a costly endeavor. Furthermore, it's a fragile enterprise, vulnerable to economic downturns that can lead to halting construction or laying off key personnel, both causes of irreparable industry deterioration. Examining case studies in the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia, retired Navy Captain John L. Birkler and fellow RAND researchers John Schank, Mark Arena, Jessie Riposo, and Gordon Lee argue that in order for shipbuilding to stay viable over the long term, it cannot be allowed to languish due to the loss of trained workers, facility closures and their money-draining reopenings, or canceling or lengthening programs. "It is crucially important that decision makers inside and outside government address these industrial-base challenges and develop plans to preserve vital capabilities that might otherwise be lost," they warn.
Beyond maintaining this valuable industrial base, "the acquisition of ships, ship systems, and aircraft is a succinct statement of the country's strategic interests," retired Rear Admiral William J. Holland Jr. reminds us. He takes us on a fascinating and even provocative journey back to the Cold War and reveals what took place behind the scenes when military leadership turned its collective undivided attention toward how best to deter and in the end, defeat, the Soviet Union and, in particular, its navy. "Technical developments directly reflected ongoing operations and thereby influenced both submarine acquisition and the strategy for their use," he explains, and this led to the origins of the Seawolf class. Advanced capabilities allowed the Navy to conceive new ways of fighting its Soviet counterpart, and these concepts were incorporated into what would become the Maritime Strategy of the 1980s.
Finally, while American politicians and military leaders are loath to discuss—much less admit to conducting—nation-building, Captain David Adams writes that historically it has been a central military mission, particularly for the Navy. While the country may be weary from fighting an extended counterinsurgency in two theaters, we need to recognize that nation-building operations must be a critical component of our national-security strategy. Looking back at successful U.S. and British nation-building experiences demonstrates how uniquely suited navies can be for these exercises, Adams contends.


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North Atlantic Drilling Ltd (NADL) Drops 8.74% on January 11Equities Staff Follow |
North Atlantic Drilling Ltd (NADL) was one of the Russell 2000's biggest losers for Monday January 11 as the stock slid 8.74% to $1.67, a loss of $-0.16 per share. Starting at an opening price of $1.91 a share, the stock traded between $1.60 and $1.97 over the course of the trading day. Volume was 92,942 shares over 423 trades, against an average daily volume of 66,100 shares and a total float of 2.41 million.
The losses send North Atlantic Drilling Ltd down to a market cap of $4.03 million. In the last year, North Atlantic Drilling Ltd has traded between $23.70 and $1.80, and its 50-day SMA is currently $4.97 and 200-day SMA is $9.60.
North Atlantic Drilling Ltd is engaged in providing offshore drilling services to the oil and gas industry. The Company currently operates exclusively in Norway and the United Kingdom.
North Atlantic Drilling Ltd is based out of Hamilton, and has some 1,405 employees. Its CEO is Alf Lovdal.
For a complete fundamental analysis analysis of North Atlantic Drilling Ltd, check out Equities.com's Stock Valuation Analysis report for NADL. To see the latest independent stock recommendations from Equities.com's analysts, visit our Research section.
The Russell 2000 is one of the leading indices tracking small-cap companies in the United States. It's maintained by Russell Investments, an industry leader in creating and maintaining indices, and consists of the smallest 2000 stocks from the broader Russell 3000 index.
Russell's indices differ from traditional indices like the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) or S&P 500, whose members are selected by committee, because they base membership entirely on an objective, rules based methodology. The 3,000 largest companies by market cap make up the Russell 3000, with the 2,000 smaller companies making up the Russell 2000. It's a simple approach that gives a broad, unbiased look at the small-cap market as a whole.
For more news on the financial markets, go to Equities.com. Also, learn more about our independent proprietary equity research reports and our robust do-it-yourself Stock Valuation Analysis reports in our Research section.
All data provided by QuoteMedia and was accurate as of 4:30PM ET.
DISCLOSURE: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors, and do not represent the views of equities.com. Readers should not consider statements made by the author as formal recommendations and should consult their financial advisor before making any investment decisions. To read our full disclosure, please go to: http://www.equities.com/disclaimer


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For about as long as most people in the A/E/C industry have been depending on mini-computers to do back-office processing, the machines have been powered by some version of the Unix operating system. As these minicomputers were replaced with server networks, network operating systems from Microsoft have grown to be the dominant choice. Meanwhile, desktop computers also fitted with a Microsoft-brand system have remained a constant. Today, having a Microsoft "shop" in the A/E/C industry is pretty much the standard.
But an up-and-coming operating system called Linux is poised to give users of both Microsoft's network and desktop systems a cost-effective and viable alternative. Having made significant headway in money-flush brokerage houses and cutting-edge movie studios, cost-strapped IT departments in A/E/C firms may well want to take note of the current status of Linux.
Computer industry analysts estimate that nearly 20% of the back-office server systems in Wall Street's big brokerage houses are currently running Linux. Technology research firm IDC, Framingham, Mass., predicts sales of Linux-powered servers to continue growing by 15-20% each year though 2006. In fact, New York brokerage giant Goldman Sachs released a study in January titled Fear the Penguin (named after the Linux's logo, the penguin). The study asserts that IT buyers will increasingly use Linux to take advantage of lower-cost, higher-performance Intel-based servers and to avoid premium-priced proprietary systems. "Market forces are in place for it also to become the dominant OS on the higher-end servers of the enterprise data center," the study says.
That may well be significant in how much the A/E/C industry is affected, especially when coupled with the growing trend in high-end rendering used by movie studios. Linux now dominates that industry — Linux desktops, rendering farms, and servers have been adopted by all of the leading movie studios. Firms such as Disney, Pixar, Digital Domain, Dreamworks, and Industrial Light and Magic have used Linux on such noteworthy animation projects as Shrek, Scooby-Doo, Star Wars, and Lord of the Rings. A scan of the past few years reveals how entertainment-industry graphics have worked their way into the A/E/C business.
Open Systems
Linux was initially created as a hobby by a young student, Linus Torvalds, at the University of Helsinki in Finland. Unlike Windows and AppleOS, Linux is what techies call an open system, in that there are no secrets on how it operates. The major benefit is that everyone that works with it can also work on it — fix bugs that they find, share those fixes with the world, and share improvements to the system. All of the above has been happening on a smaller scale for years with Linux in Europe and the U.S.
Linux technically has no owner to speak of, so technically it's free. Most people, however, procure it through a packager, and the two popular packagers of Linux — Red Hat Inc., Research Park, N.C., and Oakland, Calif.-based SuSe Inc. — sell most of the server operating systems at next to nothing. So rather than having to pay for networks powered by IBM servers running AIX and Sun Microsystems servers running Solaris, businesses are increasingly choosing lower-cost Hewlett-Packard and Dell computers running Linux to host their networks. Those same HPs and Dells have been the stronghold of Microsoft's 2000 and .Net server systems, but users are increasingly picking Linux instead. As an aside, IBM believes in the coming of Linux so much that over a year ago it dedicated roughly $1 billion of the company's efforts to using it. Now HP is ramping up for Linux.
On the desktop, Linux is making waves as well. Over the past six months, a desktop version of Linux from San Diego-based Lindows.com Inc. called Lindows has made some major strides towards acceptance. Wal-Mart made headlines last fall when it began selling on its Web site for $199 an Intel-compatible, Lindows-powered desktop computer. Between September and December the retailer sold so many systems that it had to stop taking orders while the backlogged hardware manufacturer, La Puente, Calif.-based Microtel Computer Systems, caught up with the orders. Since then, the retailer has also sold slightly higher-priced machines with another version of Linux called Desktop/Lx from Redmond, Wash.-based Lycoris Inc.
While there have been some false starts, the move to Linux is growing. Dell Computer, for example, stopped preloading Linux on desktop computers last year due to low customer interest, but is now shipping Red Hat Linux on its workstations.
In the CAD arena, Needham, Mass.-based Parametric Technology Corp., the firm that brought major changes to the mechanical CAD arena in the mid-1980s with the release of its parametric-based software, released in January a version of Pro/Engineer for the Linux platform. Overland, Kan.-based SoftwareForge Inc., has offered and updated LinuxCAD every year since its release in 1998. While nowhere near the robustness features and support of AutoCAD or MicroStation, the low-end price tag ($89) of its current 3-D version released in June 2002 may make it worth a try.
Applications such as Microsoft Office can also run on Linux with an inexpensive adapter program such as CrossOver Office from St. Paul, Minn.-based Codeweavers Inc. In fact, the company this quarter plans to release a major upgrade of CrossOver Office, version 2.0, that for the first time supports Office XP and Microsoft Access. The product currently supports earlier Microsoft Office versions, Internet Explorer, Lotus Notes, Intuit Quicken, and Microsoft Visio. Linux also comes with WINE, an efficient Windows emulation program that allows users to run many native Windows programs. Users can also select Star Office, a Microsoft Office-compatible suite of products from Sun Microsystems that is currently being given away for free.
In January, financial software vendor J.D. Edwards Inc., Denver, Colo., released a version of its software for Linux. Other financial software vendors running on Linux include Linux Business Accounting Systems, Arroyo Grande, Calif. (www.linuxledgers.com), which sells a Linux version of its popular Unix-based General Ledger and Accounting System. Single-user desktop licenses start at $35, while the firm's system also runs on larger IBM minicomputers and IBM servers.
Also in January, at the LinuxWorld show in New York, SuSE unveiled SuSE Linux Office Desktop. The launch, the first result of SuSe's desktop initiative, is deemed significant because it enables users to run Microsoft Office, as well as Sun StarOffice, on the Linux desktop. The debut of the long-awaited Mozilla Web browser, which is bundled on several Linux distributions, has also inspired more desktop use.
Even handheld devices are up for the system. Continuing its push to boost support for Linux, IBM announced in January a partnership with Japanese electronics giant Sharp that will deliver a device targeting business users. Dubbed the Enterprise Edition Zaurus, this handheld running a Linux/Java OS represents a new commitment to what IBM contends is increased corporate investment in Linux. Many more devices are either in the pipeline or already developed. A detailed listing is available at: www.linuxdevices.com/articles.
As of this writing, the Desktop Linux community is reorganizing itself. In an apparent disagreement over the direction of an upcoming conference with Michael Robertson, chairman of Lindows.com Inc., vendors such as HP, SuSe, Codeweavers, and Lycoris pulled out of the Linux-themed conference and announced the formation of the new consortium to sponsor a vendor-neutral Linux desktop conference this spring. Backing for the show is expected by major players such as IBM and HP.
Finally, News.com reported February 6 that Sam's Club is joining sister company Wal-Mart to start offering dirt-cheap desktops running Linux. Sam's is using a different supplier than Wal-Mart, and the computers come preloaded with Red Hat Linux. So, with complete Linux-power desktop computers packaged with flat-panel LCD monitors now selling for a grand total of about $400, the famous "first home, then work" technology wave may once again sweep through the A/E/C industry.


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Posted Mon November 12th, 2012 - 01:12 PM PST
Rachel Zoe and husband Rodger Berman took their adorable son Skyler to the petting zoo in Los Angeles over the weekend, and rather than wearing something on the casual/practical side, Rachel wore a $1,660 Missoni sweater coat.
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The Iowa Hawkeyes' loss in the 2014 Outback Bowl against the Louisiana State University Tigers is a win for the hungry in Iowa and Louisiana, thanks to a friendly wager between Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad and Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal.
Each governor pledged to send 200 lb. of his state's quintessential food — Iowa pork and Louisiana seafood — to charities in both states if his team lost. Even before the Hawkeyes and Tigers took the field on Jan. 1 in Tampa, FL, the Deb and Jeff Hansen Iowa Select Farms Foundation volunteered to donate 200 lb. of Iowa ham on behalf of Gov. Branstad, if needed.
After the University of Iowa Hawkeyes lost 21-14 to LSU, the Deb and Jeff Hansen Iowa Select Farms Foundation delivered 100 lb. of ham to the Food Bank of Iowa in Des Moines. On Jan. 13, the foundation packed up 100 lb. of ham in coolers to ship to a soup kitchen in Louisiana. The coolers, festooned with Hawkeye stickers, were addressed to Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal and Grace Place Ministries in Monroe, LA.
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"A core mission of the Deb and Jeff Hansen Foundation is hunger relief, which is why we were glad to support Gov. Branstad with his friendly wager," said Jeff Hansen, president and CEO of Iowa Select Farms and co-founder of the Foundation. "We're happy to be able to donate hams to both organizations in an effort to help both Iowa and Louisiana families in need."
"We were delighted when the hams from Iowa Select Farms arrived on Tuesday," said Rhonda Grace, founder and CEO of faith-based Grace Place Ministries. "To get a food donation of this size is truly a blessing because we serve 3,000 meals a month and the need keeps growing. If we cut up the 100 lb. of ham and serve it with red beans and rice, we can provide about 400 meals, maybe more. We're not sure when we'll use the ham because Louisiana First Lady Supriya Jindal wants to help serve it, so we're waiting to coordinate with her schedule."
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Le Boutique Place Card
Folding tent style
These place cards are the perfect finishing touch to your wedding theme. Our wedding place cards are tent style and are printed to the outer (visible) side only. Printed on a high quality Satin Deluxe card stock. Shimmer or Textured card stock is available at an additional charge. Guest names can be printed on place cards, please select the personalisation option if you require this. Flat size 99.1 x 68mm. Front panel 99.1 x 34mm
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