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The climate talks continue to heat up as protesters attempted to gate crash the conference this morning in Copenhagen. The Danish police used less than friendly tactics to keep the activists away — tear gas and batons — and 250 have been arrested. Organized by Climate Justice Action and Climate Justice Now!, the rally was an attempt to bring attention to the fact that world leaders have still not settled whether industrialized countries will agree to strict limitations on carbon emissions and how these countries will help developing nations to to cope with climate change.
The uninvited guests also cried out about the lack of representation from NGOs and activist groups at the talks and showed their support for strict environmental standards. Micheal Dorsey, a member of the Climate Justice Now! Network, said "The surgical removal of non governmental organizations underscores the lack of democracy inherent in these negotiations. The United Nations process has systematically failed the world's marginalized countries and consistently excludes those that would dare support and fight on behalf of those countries. The only way to avoid catastrophic climate change is fully supporting and including peoples movements like the very ones illegitimately removed from this process."
Protests have erupted all week in Copenhagen, and activists have not been shy to admonish the Danish police for their tactics to keep crowds quiet. In the NY Times, Richard Bernard, an activist from Climate Justice Action said, "Danish police have been violating human rights all week." In the Guardian, Naomi Klein says, "Denmark is losing its reputation for being a good world citizen." You can read more about Klein's criticisms on the Danish police's tactics here.
Via NYTimes, Guardian and Washington Post


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Martin Dunn needed a new logo design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 130 designs submitted by 43 freelance designers.
Lao Kitchen
My wife and her family are starting a new Lao food restaurant in the Lao (Laos) capital of Vientiane. There are surprisingly few restaurants offering traditional Lao food. We won't be offering any touristy type live shows or kitschy Lao interior design. The restaurant will have a clean simple design and the focus will be on the food.
We aim to be a simple and clean restaurant offering high quality traditional Lao food.
We are located in the Lao capital of Vientiane, in an area with a lot of tourists and backpackers.
There are many office buildings in the area, so we hope that locals will dine there as well.
We are looking for a logo represent our Lao restaurant - Lao Kitchen.
The logo could incorporate a sticky rice basket.
Here is a picture of a sticky rice basket:
The colour scheme of the restaurant in simple: white, with very dark brown (almost black) tables and chairs. The front of the restaurant is a vibrant amber colour.
The typeface should be clear, simple and bold. We want something that stands out.
It would be great if we could get a Lao and English version using the same design. The Lao script for "Lao Kitchen" is in the attached Word file in Saysettha OT.
Please do not use stock or clip art images.
The files we will require are:
Print file format - .ai (CMYK)
Web file format - .jpg and layered .psd (RGB)
Find out how a design contest works or learn more about our logo design services.

subset: commoncrawl


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Report This
Category : Flow Chart.
Topic : Energy flow chart of ecosystem. Author : Latisha Boucher.
Posted : Tue, Nov 20th 2018 03:41 AM.
Format : jpg/jpeg.
Symbol Sameness. This is a common problem in flowcharts generated by people who are just getting their feet wet in the world of systems. They are doing their best to plan and organize, but they do not really speak the visual language of flowcharting. They use circles, rectangles, diamonds and ovals indiscriminately or utilize one symbol for virtually everything. There is a fairly standardized approach to drawing up flowcharts and virtually anyone will be able to decipher a chart created with ANSI standards in mind. When you do your own thing in terms of presentation, it can be confusing to those who may speak the language and frustrating to those just learning it. You can find quick explanations of which shapes to use for what purposes and you should do so.


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There are hundreds of inventory management systems available. These programs are designed for all types of businesses: programs for small retailers, programs for big enterprises, programs for specific retail verticals and programs for multi-channel retailers, to name a few. This buyer's guide is written to help retail store inventory software buyers understand this complex, fragmented market.
Here's what we'll cover:
What Is Inventory Management Software?
Deployment Strategies
What Type of Buyer Are You?
Benefits and Potential Issues
Market Trends to Understand
The Vendor Landscape
Pricing and Purchasing Options
If you have ever been frustrated by a retailer who has every size of an item in stock but yours, you know the importance and value of having rigorous inventory management in place. On the most basic level, stock management software helps users keep accurate count of stock levels. The primary goal for this application is for users to re-order items before they become fully sold out. Having adequate levels of inventory helps users capitalize on sales opportunities. Of course, it is important that retailers don't order too much of an item and face not being able to sell it all. Robust systems can help users strike that delicate balance of ordering just enough but not too much.
Core features include sorting items by department or type, establishing of thresholds for minimum quantities and alerts when stock levels reach those thresholds. More advanced systems might include a matrix for tracking items by size, color and style, open to buy modules or integration with purchasing modules to enable automatic generation of purchase orders.
Best-of-breed programs such as Fishbowl can be implemented as standalone systems to manage only inventory. However, many buyers will choose to implement a program that is part of a suite that may include point of sale (POS), warehouse management (WMS), accounting, ecommerce or customer relationship management (CRM). Which type of system you implement will likely depend on your desire for integration with other modules or potentially the size of your company.
You will want to understand what type of buyer you are before evaluating a retail inventory system. We have found that nearly 90 percent of retail buyers fall into one of the following categories:
Small buyers. Single-store retailers comprise the bulk of this category, but most retailers with fewer than five stores will belong here. These buyers' needs are typically straightforward and are met by most off-the-shelf POS systems.
Large, integrated suite buyers. While their needs are conceptually similar to their smaller counterparts, larger retailers will require more robust, scalable programs that can share data across a wide network of locations. They are also looking for programs that can tie in POS and possibly accounting or warehouse management.
Large, best-of-breed buyers. These buyers work for larger retailers that have already made substantial investments in existing POS or accounting systems. They are looking for a standalone system that can integrate with existing applications without replacing them. They are often interested in more advanced modules for open to buy and merchandise planning.
Multi-channel retailers. These buyers conduct enough "brick and mortar" and online sales to warrant a system that can be managed across multiple channels. These systems will typically need to integrate with POS systems and online shopping carts. Higher volume and multi-location retailers may prefer data to be updated in real time, although they should expect a substantial increase in their investment when evaluating a retail inventory management system.
A strong inventory control system should improve the retail organization from the bottom up. Most retailers should expect the following benefits when implementing and using a system properly.
As with all purchases, there are potential issues to consider as well. The first risk associated with using these systems is that they won't be used properly by employees. This puts owners in the frustrating position of having paid for a system without reaping any of its benefits. The most common reason why employees would not use a system is because of its complexity; we have found that adequate training typically solves this issue. The second most common issue we hear about is data simply "not adding up." This issue is likely due to the system being outdated, used improperly or not integrating properly with other systems that access its data (often accounting or ecommerce systems). Buyers will want to ensure that implementations are smooth and that integrations are maintained.
Various software trends are impacting the market. The primary trends include the following:
Automated replenishment. Advanced inventory control tools such as vendor managed inventory and electronic purchase orders enable retailers to be proactive about keeping items fully stocked. Smaller retailers are learning from larger enterprises and beginning to use these tools that have previously been affordable only to the biggest companies.
RFID. Another technology that has traditionally been used only by the biggest companies, RFID is working its way down market and is within reach of many mid-sized retailers. These tools enable managers to update inventory levels much faster and more accurately, improving efficiency in a number of bottlenecks along the supply chain.
Software as a Service (SaaS). Just about every application within the retail software industry is impacted by the universal trend towards SaaS. Having a Web-based system enables managers to share data easily across multiple locations, access system remotely, avoid large upfront costs and implement a robust system without complex hardware infrastructure. We expect the presence of SaaS solutions in retail to grow steadily over the next several years.
Online/offline integration. Online retail and ecommerce are becoming a vital component of retailers' business strategies—and in some cases, the most important part. A problem for these retailers is the difficulty in counting and replenishing stock for both physical stores and online. An RSR Research survey found that retailers should put a large amount of planning into how they count and control inventory, as an alarming 72 percent reported overstocking slow-moving SKUs and 52 percent said they understocked fast-moving items. RSR Research found that today's successful retailers view stores as distribution centers and online inventory as sufficient for in-store fulfillment.
The software becomes much less cluttered when buyers approach it with their respective category in mind.
|This type of buyer...
|Should evaluate these systems
|Small buyers
|Comcash, Retail Pro, Microsoft RMS
|Large, integrated suite buyers
|Retail Anywhere, Celerant, VuePoint OneVue
|Enterprise suite buyers
|Epicor, Cybex, and Jesta Vision I.S.
|Multi-channel buyers
|Counterpoint, RunIt RealTime, Retail STAR
Retailers should find that the costs of formal retail inventory programs have never been lower, due primarily to competition among vendors and declining hardware prices. The costs that buyers face will vary widely. Small retailers implementing POS systems will likely find a number of affordable options, while larger retailers looking for more advanced systems will face a larger spend. We speak to many buyers who prefer real-time inventory control across multiple locations. They should note that real-time systems are typically much more expensive than systems that update stock levels once per day, which is sufficient for most small and mid-sized retailers. Most users who implement a system that is adequately sized for their needs should be able to generate a positive return on their investment. The costs of improper inventory control are deceptively high and can be easily avoided with a formal program.
Our service is simple and 100% free to customers like you because software vendors pay us when we connect them with quality leads. You save time and get great advice. Vendors get great referrals. It's a win for everyone!


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Much of the talk in the news this week regards the appalling scandal involving IRS targeting of conservative non-profit groups. So it's worth noting that Obamacare dramatically expands the authority and the scope of the Internal Revenue Service. Two provisions in particular will require thousands of new IRS agents, and billions in funding, to enforce: the law's individual mandate, forcing most Americans to buy government-approved health insurance; and its employer mandate, forcing most employers to take money out of workers' paychecks to purchase costly health insurance on their behalf. Here's why these two provisions are so intrusive, and why the only solution to the problems they create is to repeal them.
Many people are exempt from the individual mandate
Obamacare requires the IRS to enforce the individual mandate. So let's first review the precise details of how the individual mandate works. It turns out that many people are exempt from the mandate, and so the IRS has to know a lot about you in order to decide whether you are in compliance with it.
The individual mandate, or what Section 1501 of the Affordable Care Act calls the "shared responsibility for health care," requires individuals to maintain "minimum essential coverage" or pay a "penalty" (a penalty which Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts generously transmogrified into a "tax").
The mandate is phased in over a three-year period. In 2014, the fine for noncompliance is 1 percent of adjusted gross income, or $95, whichever is greater. In 2015, the fine is 2 percent of AGI, or $325, whichever is greater. In 2016 and thereafter, it's 2.5 percent of AGI or $695, whichever is greater.
Several groups are exempted from the mandate, including: (1) "a member of a recognized religious sect" that has a moral objection to health insurance; (2) "health care sharing ministries" in which a group of religious believers pool their resources to fund medical expenses, so long as that group has been in continuous existence since 1999; (3) illegal immigrants; (4) incarcerated individuals; and (5) members of Indian tribes.
Individuals who fall below certain income thresholds are exempt from the mandate's fines. Anyone below 138 percent of the federal poverty level (in 2013, $15,856 for an individual, or $32,499 for a family of four) is exempt from the mandate.
In addition, anyone whose "required contribution for coverage…exceeds 8 percent of such individual's household income" is exempt. What is a "required contribution? It's either (1) the portion of an employer-sponsored insurance plan that is paid directly by the individual for self-only coverage; or (2) the premium for the "lowest cost bronze plan available…through the Exchange in the State," minus the subsidies that the individual would receive from the federal government.
To make that less abstract: the average insurance plan covering a single individual costs around $5,500. If you're paying for that entire cost yourself, you're exempt from the mandate if your income is below $68,750. If your employer is paying half the cost on your behalf, then you're exempt from the mandate if your income is below $34,375.
So, in reality, only upper-income individuals are subject to the mandate; in addition, most people who get coverage through their employers are effectively required to take it.
As a practical matter, what this means is the individual mandate is actually quite weak. The typical uninsured person is a young, healthy individual making less than $50,000 a year whose employer doesn't offer health insurance. That individual will be exempt from the individual mandate in the average state.
The employer mandate incentivizes "unaffordable" coverage
Section 1513 of the Affordable Care Act covers "shared responsibility for employers regarding health coverage." The law requires that every employer with 50 or more "full-time employees" offer "minimum essential coverage" in an "affordable" manner. Employees that don't comply, if that non-compliance results in at least one worker accepting Obamacare exchange subsidies, face steep fines.
A "full-time employee" is someone who works at least 120 hours per month, or about 30 hours a week. Importantly, employers will also have to add up the total hours worked by part-timers, and divide by 120, to count toward that total. So, for example, three employees who each work 80 hours a week would count as two full-time employees (240 total hours divided by two). For this reason, employers who restrict their workers to 29 hours a week may not successfully evade the employer mandate.
"Minimum essential coverage" is defined in part by the law and in part by lengthy regulations issued by the Department of Health and Human Services. As to "affordability," employers must offer plans that, for those between 100 and 400 percent of the federal poverty level, do not require the worker to pay more than 9.5 percent of his household income. In addition, the plan must have an actuarial value of at least 60 percent (i.e., the expected insurance payout relative to deductibles, co-pays, and the like).
The penalty is triggered if at least one employee seeks federal exchange subsidies instead of gaining insurance form his employer. In that case, the employer will have to pay a non-tax-deductible fine of $2,000 times (the number of full-time employees – 30).
If the employer does offer a health plan, but it isn't "affordable" to all workers or fails to meet the "minimum essential coverage" requirements, then the employer pays the lesser of the fine described above, or $3,000 times the number of full-time employees receiving exchange subsidies.
What does this mean in reality? It means that employers have an incentive to offer coverage that is either "unaffordable" according to Obamacare or that fails to meet the law's "minimum essential requirements." That way, the employer pays a penalty only for those workers who gain subsidized coverage on the exchanges. So the best way for employers to "dump" coverage onto the exchanges is not by offering no coverage at all, but by offering coverage that doesn't meet Obamacare's requirements.
How these mandates expands IRS' power—and your employers'
Now that you know the details of the individual and employer mandates, you can see why the IRS needs to hire thousands of additional agents in order to enforce them.
To enforce the individual mandate, the IRS needs to know whether or not you have purchased insurance this year. It will also need to know the specific insurance policy you have, in order to ensure that it meets Obamacare's "minimum essential coverage" requirement.
To enforce the employer mandate, the IRS needs the same information from employers in terms of the specific policies employers purchase for their workers, and also the hours worked by every part-time employee. In addition, your employer will need to know what your household income is, in order to ensure that the coverage it offers you is "affordable" to you by the law's definition.
Some conservatives are raising the alarm: can a politicized IRS handle these duties in a non-partisan way? Or will your health records get leaked by the agency? Indeed, the IRS is subject to a class-action lawsuit in California, alleging that the IRS has improperly obtained personal medical records for 10 million individuals in that state, without a warrant.
Others are suggesting that the duty to enforce the individual and employer mandates be taken out of IRS' hands and moved into another agency. But, to me, this doesn't make much sense. Do we really want another government agency to have sensitive information about our incomes and our insurance policies?
The only viable solution to this problem is to repeal the employer mandate altogether, and to replace the individual mandate with something else, like a limited open enrollment period, that does not require expanding the power and the authority of the IRS.
Repealing the employer mandate will give employers additional incentive to dump workers onto Obamacare's exchanges. But, in my view, this is on balance a good thing, because it will mean that individuals can shop for insurance themselves, something that economists of all stripes support.
I continue to believe that it is unlikely at this stage that Republicans will be able to repeal Obamacare as a whole. But they could do much to improve our health-care system, and much to contain the power of the IRS, by repealing two of its most offensive mandates.
Follow @avik on Twitter and The Apothecary on Facebook.
UPDATE 1: ABC News notes that Sarah Hall Ingram, the IRS official who ran the tax-exempt organizations division between 2009 and 2012, is now in charge of the agency's Affordable Care Act office. Carol Platt Liebau profiles Ingram for Townhall:
So who is Sarah Hall Ingram?
Well, she was appointed as Commissioner of the Tax-Exempt and Government Entitles Division of the IRS in 2009. Before that, she was the deputy commissioner, and before that, she was Division Counsel/Associate Chief Counsel for that division. She began her career with the IRS in 1982, in the Tax Litigation Division. She is a 1979 graduate of Yale and a 1982 graduate of Georgetown Law -- which means that (1) she was obviously aware of just how unconstitutional and wrongful the targeting scheme was and (2) she has never worked for anyone, anywhere, except for the IRS.
Ironically, Ingram has touted the importance of "transparency" to the proper governance of non-profits. Her remarks suggest that she sees the IRS in a strong, activist role promoting what the IRS considers to be "good governance" of non-profits.
It's interesting -- and potentially significant -- that she was put in charge of the ObamaCare IRS office. Did someone in the administration know she could be trusted to play political hardball? Was the post a reward for her service at the IRS? Whose idea was this nomination? How far up the chain was it approved?
Certainly, someone (again, whom?) liked the work she did between 2009 and 2012 at the IRS; Mark Tapscott at the Washington Examiner reports that she was richly rewarded:
Ingram received a $7,000 bonus in 2009, according to data obtained by The Washington Examiner from the IRS, then a $34,440 bonus in 2010, $35,400 in 2011 and $26,550 last year for a total of $103,390. Her annual salary went from $172,500 to $177,000 during the same period.
The 2010, 2011 and 2012 bonuses were awarded during the period when IRS harrassment of the conservative groups was most intense. The newspaper obtained the data via a Freedom of Information Act request.
So who was in charge of those decisions? The questions -- just like all the appalling administration news -- just keeps coming.
UPDATE 2: The Wall Street Journal has an excellent piece today expanding on what I discuss above—the ability of employers to partially evade the employer mandate by offering "bare-bones health plans" that fail Obamacare's tests of affordability and actuarial value:
Employers are increasingly recognizing they may be able to avoid certain penalties under the federal health law by offering very limited plans that can lack key benefits such as hospital coverage.
Benefits advisers and insurance brokers—bucking a commonly held expectation that the law would broadly enrich benefits—are pitching these low-benefit plans around the country. They cover minimal requirements such as preventive services, but often little more. Some of the plans wouldn't cover surgery, X-rays or prenatal care at all. Others will be paired with limited packages to cover additional services, for instance, $100 a day for a hospital visit.
Federal officials say this type of plan, in concept, would appear to qualify as acceptable minimum coverage under the law, and let most employers avoid an across-the-workforce $2,000-per-worker penalty for firms that offer nothing. Employers could still face other penalties they anticipate would be far less costly.
It is unclear how many employers will adopt the strategy, but a handful of companies have signed on and an industry is sprouting around the tactic. More than a dozen brokers and benefit-administrators in 10 states said they were discussing the strategy with their clients...
The idea that such plans would be allowable under the law has emerged only recently. Some benefits advisers still feel they could face regulatory uncertainty. The law requires employers with 50 or more workers to offer coverage to their workers or pay a penalty. Many employers and benefits experts have understood the rules to require robust insurance, covering a list of "essential" benefits such as mental-health services and a high percentage of workers' overall costs. Many employers, particularly in low-wage industries, worry about whether they—or their workers—can afford it.
But a close reading of the rules makes it clear that those mandates affect only plans sponsored by insurers that are sold to small businesses and individuals, federal officials confirm. That affects only about 30 million of the more than 160 million people with private insurance, including 19 million people covered by employers, according to a Citigroup Inc. C +1.63% report. Larger employers, generally with more than 50 workers, need cover only preventive services, without a lifetime or annual dollar-value limit, in order to avoid the across-the-workforce penalty.
Such policies would generally cost far less to provide than paying the penalty or providing more comprehensive benefits, say benefit-services firms. Some low-benefit plans would cost employers between $40 and $100 monthly per employee, according to benefit firms' estimates.
"For certain organizations, it may be an ideal solution to minimize the cost of opting out," said David Ellis, chief executive of Youngtown, Ariz.-based LifeStream Complete Senior Living, which employs about 350 workers, including low-wage housekeepers and kitchen staff. Mr. Ellis, who was recently pitched a low-benefit plan, said it is one option the firm may consider to lower costs and still comply with the law, he said.
Administration officials confirmed in interviews that the skinny plans, in concept, would be sufficient to avoid the across-the-workforce penalty. Several expressed surprise that employers would consider the approach.
"We wouldn't have anticipated that there'd be demand for these types of band-aid plans in 2014," said Robert Kocher, a former White House health adviser who helped shepherd the law. "Our expectation was that employers would offer high quality insurance." Part of the problem: lawmakers left vague the definition of employer-sponsored coverage, opening the door to unexpected interpretations, say people involved in drafting the law...
San Antonio-based Bill Miller Bar-B-Q, a 4,200-worker chain, will replace its own mini-med with a new, skinny plan in July and will aim to price the plan at less than $50 a month, about the same as the current policy, said Barbara Newman, the chain's controller. The new plan will have no dollar limits on benefits, but will cover only preventive services, six annual doctors' visits and generic drugs. X-rays and tests at a local urgent care chain will also be covered. It wouldn't cover surgeries or hospital stays.
Because the coverage is limited, workers who need richer benefits can still go to the exchanges, where plans would likely be cheaper than a more robust plan Bill Miller has historically offered to management and that costs more than $200 per month. The chain plans to pay the $3,000 penalty for each worker who gets an exchange-plan subsidy.
I am Forbes' Policy Editor, and president of a non-partisan think tank, the Foundation for Research on Equal Opportunity (FREOPP.org), which develops policy reform ideas to expand economic opportunity to those who least have it. I'm on Twitter at @Avik. My work has also...
The Apothecary is Forbes' acclaimed and influential blog on health care and entitlement reform, led by Forbes Opinion Editor Avik Roy (@avik).
The Apothecary's authors include:


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pierrick needed a new logo design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 60 designs submitted by 12 freelance designers.
With mysocialwinery.com , we offer Social Media marketing services to wineries in France and in the United States. We create and manage for them their Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin accounts, we upload pictures and videos, we upload their wines on Social Media websites dedicated for wine (Snooth.com, VinCellar...). We also create their blog. We update the content on a daily or weekly basis.
wineries: principally French, then American
I like simple, minimalist and modern designs.
A winery in French is called Château (castle). I'd like maybe to see a castle, but I am open to other suggestions.
For example, I like the logo of http://www.ventealapropriete.com/
I'd like to see in the logo something that makes it "social".
Find out how a design contest works or learn more about our logo design services.


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6:30 am
Smart Travels - Europe with Rudy Maxa "Switzerland and the Alps" The Swiss Alps reverberate with cowbells, accordions, and laughter. We make our home base in the year-round playground of Interlaken, the "town between two lakes". We sail across glacial Lake Brienz, famous for its beautiful woodcarving. D
7:00 am
The Desert Speaks "Desolation Canyon River Journey" Take a trip down the virtually unknown Green River in Utah, which is often overshadowed by its more famous counterpart - the mighty Colorado River. Along the river's course explore what is perhaps the best-known geographical feature of the river, the prehistoric creatures buried along its banks in Dinosaur National Monument. No trip down the Green River would be complete without a venture through the appropriately named Desolation Canyon and some of the wildest, least inhabited areas remaining in the U.S. D
7:30 am
Chef John Besh's New Orleans Oyster Dressing, Cornbread and Crawfish Dressing, and Shrimp and Mirliton Dressing. D
8:00 am
America's Heartland In this special episode, Reporter Jason Shoultz heads out on a one-of-a-kind cattle drive as a Utah ranching family moves their herd of cattle to summer pasture. It's not a job for city slickers!. D
8:30 am
New Scandinavian Cooking "Pyramids of the North" Andreas visits the island of Spitsbergen in the far north, the northernmost inhabited place in the world, and Longyearbyen. This barren land offers some surprising delicacies, like wild geese that summer here and a variety of fish. Andreas makes goose with port wine and broccoli puree, pan-fried Svalbard cod and king crab, seafood-flavored vegetables and chocolate cake with orange marmalade and coffee. D
9:00 am
America's Test Kitchen from Cook's Illustrated "Fall Classics" Test cook Julia Collin Davison shows host Christopher Kimball how to make the ultimate Pot-Roasted Pork Loin. Chris then discusses the differences between baking soda and baking powder with science expert Guy Crosby. Next, tasting expert Jack Bishop challenges Chris to a tasting of pork. D
9:30 am
Around The House with Matt and Shari "Bathrooms" A beautiful bathroom has certain requirements from keeping the grout clean to having enough storage for the guy and girl stuff. We begin with learning the secrets to a beautiful bath. Then, Shari makes a shower curtain. D
10:00 am
Front Row Center "The Beach Boys: Doing It Again" The legendary group reunites to celebrate their 50th anniversary (2012) with a look back at their career featuring never-before-seen archival concert footage, performances from their anniversary tour plus the recording of their new album That's Why God Made The Radio. D
11:00 am
Sesame Street "Abby Has The Sparkle Fairy Freckles" Elmo and Abby are playing tag. Suddenly, Abby's freckles start sparkling! Abby calls the Fairy Doctor who looks at Abby's freckles. Abby has a case of the Sparkle Speckle Fairy Freckles! This is where freckles sparkle and glow, and eventually fall off. D
12:00 pm
Dinosaur Train "Dinosaur Big City, Pt. 3/Dinosaur Big City, Pt. 4" Dinosaur Big City Part III - The Dinosaur Train arrives in Laramidia, the Dinosaur Big City, and Buddy and the Pteranodon family explore the crowded "dinosaur metropolis." At the Theropod Convention, our kids reunite with Annie Tyrannosaurus and her parents Dolores and Boris, and they all meet the multi-horned mayor, Mayor Kosmoceratops! Dinosaur Big City Part IV - Buddy and Tiny help King Cryolophosaurus overcome his fear of performing in front of his biggest audience ever, and he wows a large dinosaur audience when he sings his new song, "Whole Lotta Theropods" at the Theropod Convention in Laramidia, the Dinosaur Big City. D
12:30 pm
Super Why! "The Swan Maiden" Red really, really doesn't want her playdate with Little Boy Blue to end so she hides his horn. Super Why, Wonder Red, Princess Presto, and Alpha Pig fly into the story upon which the ballet "Swan Lake" was based, where they encounter a fair maiden who is having a similar problem with a prince! Will Super Why and his friends be able to help the Swan Maiden get her feathers back so she can return home before the sun sets? Educational Objectives: To learn strategies for ending a playdate, catch the alphabet using an alphabet net, identify the letters D,R,O, P, practice the magic of spelling, and use the power to read to change the story. D
1:00 pm
Cat in the Hat Knows A Lot About That! "Be Cool/Elephant Walk" Be Cool - Phew, it's hot outside! How are Sally and Nick going to stay cool? Cat suggests that they should visit some friends in the Dizzle-dazzle Desert to learn how to keep cool. They learn that some animals are light coloured, some stay out of the sun, and some, like Tommy the coolest toad around, just mooove sloooow. Nick and Sally take their advice, but Cat has an even better idea - run through a sprinkler! Elephant Walk - When building a toy construction set, Nick and Sally wonder if there's such thing as a one-thing-does-it-all tool. D
1:30 pm
Wild Kratts "Flight of the Pollinators" When a miniaturized Chris gets covered with pollen and ends up sticking to a bee, he's off into the remarkable world of the pollinators. Martin, Aviva, and the rest of the creature explorers must find Chris in an adventure that uncovers the amazing delivery system of plants and their animal partners. They learn that plants use animals to help them make their seeds through a process called pollination. D
2:00 pm
Dialogue for Kids "Galaxies" Galaxies are systems of stars, dust and gas held together by gravity. Joan Cartan-Hansaen and her guest scientist Dr. Amber Straughn, Research Astrophysicist, Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA, answer students' questions about galaxies.G
2:30 pm
Dialogue "Jac Venza" Host Marcia Franklin talks with the founder of several long-running PBS arts series - including GREAT PERFORMANCES and LIVE FROM LINCOLN CENTER. He and Franklin talk about his long career in public broadcasting, the potential effects of cuts in national grants programs, and the trends he is following in the arts.G
3:00 pm
Bluegrass Underground "Jerry Douglas" As a 2004 National Heritage Fellow (America's highest honor for traditional artists) and 13-time Grammy winner, Jerry Douglas has, frankly, re-invented his instrument, playing the dobro with unprecedented speed and haunting lyricism. Starting as a teen, Douglas performed with J.D. Crowe, Emmylou Harris, the Country Gentlemen, Eric Clapton, Paul Simon, Elvis Costello and James Taylor, all while working as one of Nashville's most in-demand session players. D
3:30 pm
Music Voyager "Heartbeat of Vallenato" Host Jacob Edgar's journeys through Colombia reveal the country's amazing geographical, cultural and musical diversity. This time, his travels take him from the ranches and farmlands of Valledupar through the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountain range and on to the Caribbean coast. The small city of Valledupar is the cradle of vallenato, a rustic, folksy and distinctly Colombian music style. D
4:00 pm
PBS NewsHour NULL
5:00 pm
Land Girls Annie develops a relationship with an Italian POW then gets a serious shock. Bea receives an unexpected marriage proposal. Nancy and Joyce finish raising money for a new Spitfire but not before Nancy receives a questionable proposal. Part 4 of 5G
6:00 pm
Inspector Morse's Oxford Antony Richards, a leading authority on the "Inspector Morse" book and television series, interviews author Colin Dexter, actor Kevin Shately (Lewis), composer Barrington Pheloung and producers Ted Childs, Chris Burt and Michele Buck. Celebrating the 25th anniversary of the first of 13 seasons of the television series starring the late John Thaw, the shifting scene travels throughout the university and town where Morse lived and worked.G
7:00 pm
Masterpiece Mystery! "Wallander, Series III - The Dogs of Riga" After a raft with the bodies of two tortured Latvians is found in Swedish waters, a police major arrives from Latvia's capital, Riga, to investigate. He too is found dead. Wallander goes to Riga himself where he and the major's widow are embroiled in a dangerous search for files documenting high-level corruption.G
8:30 pm
New Tricks "The Crazy Gang" When Gerry Standing loses a poker game, bookie Michael Jacobs offers him a chance to clear his debt by finding out what happened to Jacobs' father, Joe, who died after being mugged outside Walthamstow Stadium in 1983. The key to the mystery appears to be tied into the disappearance of a champion greyhound in the early 1980s.G
9:30 pm
Vera (Apt) "The Crow Trap" A murder at a remote cottage takes DI Vera Stanhope back to a place full of childhood memories and an unsolved case from her earlier career. Delving into the local politics surrounding a controversial proposal to dig a quarry, the detective team finds motives in the unlikeliest of places, shadowy liaisons and conflicting sympathies.G
11:00 pm
Land Girls Annie develops a relationship with an Italian POW then gets a serious shock. Bea receives an unexpected marriage proposal. Nancy and Joyce finish raising money for a new Spitfire but not before Nancy receives a questionable proposal. Part 4 of 5G


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There's a storm coming in the world of tech. The Apple vs Samsung trial may be the hot news right now, but it could prove to be the undercard for a heavyweight clash of the titans between Apple and Google. There has been plenty of animosity between the two in recent years and Google has certainly been supporting its Android partners against Apple behind the scenes, but the two have yet to step into the ring together. The battle ahead seems inevitable.
Samsung vs Apple trial will embolden one of them
With the outcome of the Samsung and Apple trial still far from certain, we can be sure of one thing – the winning side will look to push the advantage. It seems more likely that Apple will emerge victorious at the moment, but Samsung has a good defense and a countersuit to press. The fight between the two most successful smartphone manufacturers on the planet right now will probably not end when this trial does. An agreement across the board seems like a distant possibility.
If Apple wins, you can bet that more infringement suits will follow. If Samsung wins, Google and the other Android manufacturers may be emboldened to take on Apple.
Could we see a court battle directly between Google and Apple? Though Roger Cheng at CNET says no way, we think it's a possibility.
Motorola could be the key
When Google bought Motorola Mobility for $12.5 billion, it also acquired a number of strong patents and inherited a legal dispute with Apple. The Motorola vs. Apple case involved claims from Apple about multiple patent infringements by Motorola and some counterclaims by Motorola that Apple had infringed on its patents. The litigation started in 2010 and the patent claims on both sides were gradually whittled down until Judge Posner finally dismissed the entire case in June of this year. Apple plans to appeal and Google may be forced to fight the case after all.
Cutting out Google
Apple has been systematically removing Google from default status in iOS and withdrawing support for its services. This purge is becoming clearer as the release of iOS 6 approaches. The new version of Apple's platform will not use Google Maps – Apple has created its own maps app. There will also be no YouTube app included, although this may have been Google's decision as Apple's license expired and its YouTube app was outdated, never updated, and didn't support ads.
The branded Google search button on mobile Safari was removed a long time ago and just reads "Search" now. Google search is still the default, but Apple offers Yahoo and Bing as options. Would they consider removing Google search as the default? Probably not without an alternative that offers a comparatively good experience. Is Bing there yet? I don't know.
Part of the reason for this attack could be the fact that Google is raking it in from iOS devices. It has been suggested that Google actually makes more from iOS than it does from Android. Apple obviously doesn't want to line the pockets of its sworn enemy.
Is it a fair fight?
It seems pretty clear that Google is ducking a direct fight and frankly who can blame it? No one really wants to fight Apple if they can avoid it. When it comes to litigation, Apple is clearly the aggressor, but you could argue that Google started it by trying to muscle in on Apple's market. There's no doubt that the release of Android caused the original rift.
It is worth mentioning that, despite perceptions, Google is comparatively small next to Apple. The profits generated by Apple are far in excess of what Google makes. Apple is pulling in the lion's share of the profit in the smartphone industry, as a matter of fact. More than one estimate suggests Apple claimed over 70 percent of smartphone profits in the second quarter.
When it comes to stocks, Google's (GOOG) market cap is about half that of Apple's (AAPL). We also have to remember that Google is already engaged in a bitter battle with Microsoft (MSFT). How many fronts can it really afford to open up?
Apple is a control freak
Even the most fervent of Apple fans would find it tough to deny that Apple likes to be in control. The iOS ecosystem is often referred to as a "walled garden." Apple makes its own hardware and it dictates terms to partners in every aspect of its business. The company is used to being in the driving seat and the patent war seems to be partly about frustration at other companies daring to emulate Apple's success, but that's how business works. So Samsung copied Apple: Who cares? Everyone's doing it.
Markets evolve and everyone copies successful ideas and builds upon them. Human progress depends on it. I know some people will argue there's a difference between that and outright theft or cloning of Apple products, but the line is far from clear. Ultimately, it's for the courts to decide, but even victory in the courtroom is not going to give Apple what it wants.
Let's give peace a chance
The most annoying thing about the Google vs Apple battle is that we – the consumers – are suffering. Perhaps they consider us collateral damage. Our tech devices cost more because of licensing deals and expensive litigation. Features and services that we would enjoy are being ripped out and divided. The likelihood of getting a device that just works with everything we have is decreasing because the only way to have that integrated tech lifestyle we all want is by pledging allegiance to one company and buying all of its products.
Since no one company offers the best experience across the board, we're forced to mix and match. Despite the capability being there for seamless integration of all our devices, petty squabbles are preventing it from happening. I'd like to bang all of their heads together. Work together!
Listen up, tech companies. You should:
- Stop putting your shareholders first (you don't have to tell them that)
- Let go of your hate. That's the path to the dark side
- Remember the loyal consumer who just wants a good product at a reasonable price
- Tech is supposed to improve our lives
- Instead of fighting, put your energy into making better products
You may say that I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one. There is a chance that Google and Apple will see sense and stop fighting. I bet Google would happily shake hands and move on, and Tim Cook did say he would "prefer to settle." If you rewind a few years, you would never have predicted that Microsoft and Apple would team up together. It's just a little sad that what brought them together was mutual hatred of Google.
The views expressed here are solely those of the author and do not reflect the beliefs of Digital Trends.


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Dinner with the family
Hayden Panettiere had dinner with her brother, her mother, and her boyfriend Milo Ventimiglia last night. Very cozy. And creepy. Like…it's legal now and all but if JailBait Miley Cyrus's 20 year old boyfriend is a loser for dating 15 year old who just turned 16, what does that say about Milo and Hayden's 31 and 18?
Anyway, photographers were quick to point out that Hayden's dad was not with the family, this of course after the beat-down scandal after which Hayden and her mom downplayed the incident, blaming the cops for overreacting.
The police ended up charging him with misdemeanor battery.
If your smutty sense is tingling you're not alone. Like dad…like boyfriend? Remember Alexis Bledel?
Yay for child stardom!
Photos from Bauergriffinonline.com


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Encryption is a process by which we use software to scramble sensitive information while it is in transit to Dell.
Please take a moment to read about the steps that we have taken to help protect your information and make your online transmissions safer. We also invite you to review the steps you can take to help protect yourself further.
How Does Encryption Work?
Encryption is based on a key that has two different parts. The public part and the private part. The public part of the key is distributed to those you want to communicate with. The private part is for the recipient's use only.
When you send personal information to dell.com, you use Dell's public key to encrypt your personal information. That means, if at any point during the transmission your information is intercepted, it is scrambled and very difficult to decrypt. Once Dell receives your encrypted personal information, we use the private part of our key to decode it.
What Kind of Encryption Software Does Dell Use?
Dell currently uses the industry-standard SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) encryption. But we continue to keep up with the current technologies in order to provide the best security for our customers.
What Information Does Dell Encrypt?
Dell encrypts all personal information you give us when you place an order online. Remember, if you feel uncomfortable providing any of this information online.
How Safe is Encryption Really?
Providing encrypted information online is as safe as doing it over the phone.
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Farmer utilization of crop insurance as a risk management tool has increased significantly over the past few years and "there's a high probability it will double over the next five years," says Ross J. Davidson Jr., administrator for the USDA's Risk Management Agency.
Still, he said at the annual Agricultural Outlook Forum in Washington, a "sizeable segment of the agricultural community is not using crop insurance to its fullest potential."
Although payments to producers in the "highly subsidized program" are reaching record levels, he notes, fine-tuning of the program continues, along with efforts to make it more affordable to farmers. With the subsidies, he says, producers are paying less than half the cost of premiums.
"Essentially, we have a fair, effective delivery system that is still evolving." Drought in some sections of the country "is exposing some warts and deficiencies that we have to deal with."
The Risk Management Agency's vision, Davidson says, is to provide U.S. growers with a broad array of effective, market-based management tools to deal with risk — "broader than just crop insurance" — in order to strengthen their economic stability.
Integrity of the program is critical, he says, as is excellent service. "It takes an inordinate amount of time to deliver new products to market, and we want to be sure we get it right."
And, Davidson says, "We don't believe crop insurance should be the only tool for managing risk; rather, it should be used in concert with other products and programs."
Crop insurance is "an extremely complex program," says Barry J. Barnett, associate professor of agricultural and applied economics at the University of Georgia. "There's good reason the government got involved: because the private sector found it so difficult."
The scope of the program further compounds its complexity, he says. "In 1979, the Federal Crop Insurance program consisted of one insurance product available for only 29 crops in slightly over 1,500 counties. In 1981, the program offered approximately 5,000 county/commodity/product combinations; in 2002, the program offered 38,454 combinations; and changes introduced by the 2000 Act will likely increase the number even more."
Several insurance products were available for over 100 crops and livestock and at least one crop insurance product was available in almost 3,100 U.S. counties. Insurance liability of more than $37 billion was in place on more than 215 million acres.
Policymakers have had at least two major objectives for the Federal Crop Insurance Program, Barnett points out:
Reducing the demand for disaster insurance. "Policymakers often cite insufficient crop insurance participation to justify continued ad hoc disaster assistance. Yet, both acres insured and liability have increased dramatically since 1980.
If catastrophic coverage is included, participation since 1999 has been between 70 percent and 80 percent. Even so, ad hoc disaster assistance has been provided in all but eight federal fiscal years since 1981 and every year since 1999."
Actuarial soundness. "A loss ratio greater than 1.00 indicates the program paid more in indemnities than was collected in premiums. The loss ratio has exceeded 1.00 every year between 1981 and 1993. In 1993, a long-run loss ratio target of 1.075 was set and since 1994 it has been exceeded only once, in 2002."
Aggregate loss ratios have been highest in the South and in the Plains states, with relatively low loss ratios in the Midwest.
The program involves a large number of stakeholders, he notes, ranging from agricultural lenders, private insurance companies, retail insurance agents, Risk Management Agency employees, private reinsurance companies, to farmers, and taxpayers, who are currently paying about $2 billion to $3 billion a year for the program.
The inherent complexity of insurance "is compounded when trying to insure agricultural risks," Barnett notes. "Risk exposure varies widely by commodity and region, and even by individual farmers.
"Assessing this risk exposure and classifying applicants accordingly has been one of the major challenges faced by the program."
It's extremely difficult to monitor the behavior of insured farmers, he says. "While most are careful and honest, stories of fraud and abuse abound in many rural communities."
Agricultural perils, such as drought, can create widespread losses, requiring an insurance provider to pay on a very high percentage of policies.
"Contrast this to other insurance, such as automobile or life, where the provider can predict with very high accuracy the percentage of policies on which claims will be paid in any given year."
Now, Barnett says, the Federal Crop Insurance Program "is at a crossroads," with a number of important challenges and opportunities to be addressed.
How much expansion is desirable?
"There are thousands of crop and livestock commodities produced in the U.S. Is it possible, or even desirable, to provide insurance protection for all of them? If not, how do we determine which to include and which to exclude?
"How many insurance products are necessary for each commodity? Should legislative authority be changed to allow new insurance product submissions to be evaluated, in part, on their similarity to existing products?"
Maintaining core products. The Risk Management Agency currently lists about 100 agricultural commodities for which federal crop insurance products are available. Even so, Barnett notes, 74 percent of total crop insurance premiums in 2002 were for corn, soybeans, cotton, and wheat.
"Unless additional federal resources are made available, investments in rapid expansion may limit the RMA's ability to maintain these core commodity/product combinations."
Premium subsidies. "Premium rates are higher in riskier areas and for riskier commodities, so the subsidy structure transfers more federal dollars to those who produce riskier commodities or grow them in riskier areas. The highest premium subsidies per acre are for high value crops in California and Florida and in cotton/peanut producing regions.
"Some have questioned why the federal government should be disproportionately subsidizing these producers who, by their own decisions, take on the most risk. To the extent that risky production regions are also more environmentally fragile, the current subsidy structure may be working at cross purposes with federal conservation programs."
Changes in the delivery system. Beginning with the 2003 crop year, one private insurance company will begin selling federal crop insurance policies over the Internet, with a premium discount.
"This may have profound implications for crop insurance delivery. If farmers are willing to buy insurance over the Internet, this will likely put downward pressure on insurance agent commissions. On the other hand, the complexity of crop insurance decision-making and the amount of money at risk may make farmers uncomfortable purchasing over the Internet."
Barnett notes that private companies selling and servicing policies are reimbursed by the government for administrative and operating expenses. Commissions received by insurance agents are based on a percentage of the total premium.
"This creates incentives for insurance companies and agents to target the largest farmers, since the administrative costs associated with selling and servicing a large policy are not significantly higher than for a small policy."
Even though an increasing number of insurance products are being offered, he says, some local insurance agencies are specializing in selling only one or two products — "not surprisingly, these tend to be those that generate the most premiums."
The crop insurance industry has become more concentrated in recent years, Barnett notes.
"While policymakers emphasize future product development and expansion, there may be a limit to the number of products local agents are willing to sell for a specific commodity in a specific region. The private sector delivery system will not respond to policymakers' desires for expansion, but rather to the financial incentives that are in place."
There are several important considerations that should guide efforts to address challenges and opportunities facing the Federal Crop Insurance Program, Barnett says.
"Risk exposure varies widely across the U.S. Cotton production in the Texas High Plains is more risky than in the Mississippi Delta. Soybean production in the South is riskier than in the Midwest. These differences in risk exposure can create geographical differences in both intended federal transfers, through premium subsidies, and unintended transfers, through high loss ratios."
Not all risks are insurable, Barnett says. "If potential insurance purchasers have better information about their risk exposure than the insurer, the resulting pool of insurance buyers will be disproportionately weighted toward the riskiest individuals, tending to cause high loss ratios."
Problems in risk classification "can make it very expensive to try and simultaneously meet the objectives of actuarial soundness and participation." Insurers must be able to calculate the frequency and severity of loss for each risk calculation, and an objective third party must also be able to verify that any loss was accidental and unintentional.
"This typically means being able to verify that the farmer employed best management practices."
Barnett says "moral hazard" occurs if a farmer, unknown to the insurer, changes management practices in order to increase the probability of loss or severity of loss. "This can only be corrected by costly monitoring of policyholder behavior."
Some farmers don't want, or may don't need insurance, he says.
"Farmers use many methods to manage risk, including forward pricing, diversification, irrigation, improved varieties, participation in federal farm income support programs, off-farm income, and other methods. Some will not want, or even need federal crop insurance products.
It's also important to note that the federal marketing loan program and countercyclical payment program provide price risk protection to producers of eligible crops. To the extent that these programs reduce farmers' exposure to price risk, they also reduce demand for federal crop insurance products."
Large scale expansion of the federal crop insurance program into new commodities and new products could grow out private sector risk management initiatives, Barnett says. "Private sector suppliers of risk management tools simply can't compete against highly subsidized federal crop insurance products."
And, he says, things change. Production technologies, many of which have risk management implications, continue to evolve. Marketing methods change. Farms are becoming larger and more dependent on off-farm sources of income.
Changes in insurance and other tools are occurring and "may one day create new ways to re-insure agricultural risks in private markets."


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Hutchinson Island, the barrier island east of Stuart and Fort Pierce, is best known for its miles of unspoiled beaches.
But in hot and humid September, it's a good place to visit for a pair of captivating air-conditioned museums -- one preserving something very old and one featuring something very new.
The old: Gilbert's Bar House of Refuge, a lovely 1876 wooden cottage, which tells a little-known story of Florida's system to save shipwrecked sailors. It also is located on a stunning beach with coquina rocks and a shipwreck you can snorkel 100 yards off shore.
The new: The Elliott Museum, rebuilt three years ago with an innovative museum exhibit, where visitors use a...


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- Kissed by the Baddest Bidder - Sub Story : Bound in Love: Soryu Oh
- After School Affairs - Rikiya Mononobe
• Dormitory His PoV
• Private Day off
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To help determine what the mysterious flotsam was, Graham contacted Chris Reddy, a marine chemist at WHOI, and gave him samples of it. Reddy and research assistant Catherine Carmichael (above) visited Graham while they were scouring beaches in the Gulf collecting samples of oil from Deepwater Horizon. (Photo by Chris Reddy, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution) [ Hide caption ]
Right after the Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded April 20, 2010, marine scientist Monty Graham from the Dauphin Island Sea Lab in Alabama began exploring Gulf of Mexico waters to document the unfolding consequences of the unprecedented oil spill.
"Following the blowout, we were going out on the water every other day or so," he said, to collect water samples and make observations. On May 5, about 32 miles south of the Alabama coast, they observed something strange.
"The water was flat, glassy calm," Graham said. "We started seeing these weird objects bobbing in the water—odd white things with an oily halo in the water around them."
But there was no trace of the wide oil slick on the ocean surface that was spreading out in all directions from the sunken Deepwater Horizon site. Some 50 relatively small pieces of the mysterious white flotsam, interspersed with sargassum weed, extended in an east-west line for 6 miles. Graham and colleagues collected samples, the largest about the size of a softball. The material was hard but porous and uniformly embedded with black spheres less than a half-inch in diameter.
Two days later, the researchers collected similar samples about 25 miles south of Dauphin Island. Nobody knew what the material was. Some speculated it came from Deepwater Horizon; others hypothesized that it could be coral or another substance made by marine plants or animals.
Graham sent a few pieces of the material to Chris Reddy, a marine chemist at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), where Reddy and colleagues determined that the material was a manmade, not natural, substance. The WHOI scientists then analyzed the oil on the debris using comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography, a technique that can identify the thousands of individual chemical compounds that comprise different oils from different reservoirs. The chemical "fingerprint" of the oil on the debris matched that of oil from Deepwater Horizon. Still, the researchers did not know what the material was or where it came from.
In April 2011, Reddy and WHOI researcher Catherine Carmichael visited the Dauphin Island Sea Lab, where Graham showed them other samples of the weird debris of various sizes that he had collected, including one he collected Jan. 19, 2011, on Elmer's Beach, Grand Isle, La. These samples did not have any oil on them, heightening the mystery.
A few days later, Reddy and Carmichael traveled to the Chandeleur Islands off Louisiana to look for samples of Deepwater Horizon oil that mixed with sand to create what they called sand patties on the beaches there. Partially buried in the sand were several large pieces of the honeycomb debris, ranging from 3 to 10 feet.
"The cleanup teams and officials on the Chandeleur Islands told us that the material was from the Deepwater Horizon and that the Coast Guard had taken some of the larger pieces away," Reddy said.
The chemists turned gumshoes. "I contacted the Coast Guard to hunt down somebody who could confirm that these big pieces of honeycomb came from the Deepwater Horizon, but I had no luck," Reddy said. The evidence remained anecdotal.
Then the researchers took another look at photos they had taken of the debris on the Chandeleur Islands. On one large piece, they saw a weathered red–and-white sticker with a name on it—"Cuming"—and several numbers that were partially worn away but still legible: "75-1059."
The clue became the smoking gun. Reddy found a company called Cuming Corporation in Avon, Mass., which manufactures syntactic foam flotation equipment for the oil and gas industry. Reddy e-mailed the company, and within hours, a Cuming engineer confirmed from the serial number that the debris came from material used to help maintain buoyancy for the pipe conveying oil from the Macondo well at the seafloor to the Deepwater Horizon oil rig on the surface of the Gulf.
"We realized that the foam was released into the environment at the time of the explosion," Reddy said. "So we had a unique tracer that was independent of the oil itself to chronicle how oil and debris drifted out from the spill site."
That sent the research into a new direction. The scientists combined the locations of where Graham and colleagues found honeycomb debris on May 5 and 7 with daily forecasts produced by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) of the trajectory of the spreading oil slick. NOAA used a model that incorporated currents and wind speeds, along with data from planes and satellites. On both days, the debris was about 6.2 miles ahead of the projected trajectory of the spreading slick.
The explanation, the scientists said, is the principle of leeway, a measure of how fast wind or waves push materials. The leeway for fresh oil is 3 to 3.3 percent, but the scientists suspected that "the protruding profile of the buoyant material" acted like a sail, allowing wind to drive it faster than and ahead of the floating oil.
In this case, the flotsam served as a harbinger for the oncoming slick, but because different materials can have different leeways, oil spill models may not accurately forecast where oiled debris will head. "Even a small deviation in leeway can, over time, result in significant differences in surface tracks because of typical wind fields," the scientists wrote in a study published online Jan. 18, 2012, in Environmental Research Letters.
The Coast Guard has a long history of calculating the leeway of various materials, from life jackets to bodies of various weights, to improve forecasts of where different objects would drift if a ship sank or a plane crashed into the sea. But calculating leeways has not been standard practice in oil spills.
"We never had solid data to make the case until this study," said Merv Fingas, who tracked oil spills for more than 38 years for Environment Canada, which is equivalent to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
"These results," the study's authors wrote, "provide insights into the fate of debris fields deriving from damaged marine materials and should be incorporated into emergency response efforts and forecasting of coastal impacts during future offshore oil spills."
Along with Carmichael, Reddy, and Graham (now chair of The University of Southern Mississippi's Department of Marine Science ), the research team included J. Samuel Arey from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Laura Linn of the Dauphin Island Sea Lab, and Karin Lemkau and Robert Nelson from WHOI.
This research was funded by the National Science Foundation.


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Hope Girl is a Korean cosmetic and skincare brand that I recently discovered whilst browsing eBay! I was suckered in my the leopard print packaging. I purchased 4 of their 'Milky Balm Lipsticks' because they are supposed to have a creamy hydrating texture:
They come in boxes like this. There's something a bit dated about them but oh well, we're not here for the boxes!
These lipsticks are quite pigmented which is unusual as a lot of Asian brands focus of shimmery sheer textures.
The lipsticks – the packaging is nice and heavyweight although I dislike the coloured base which reminds me of a tester!
The packaging reminds me of Helena Rubenstein make up.
The good thing about these lipsticks is that they leave a nice amount of colour on the lips.
I chose:
PK205 Daisy Pink – A warm light pink
PK202 Pinky Pops – A cool pale pink
PR304 Orange Pops – A bright fresh orange
RD101 Chicago Red – A deep rich red
I like to mix things up!
I have to say whilst I think these lipsticks have a nice texture they aren't anywhere near as balm like as I had wanted. I think a lipstick that sells itself as a balm too should have a richer texture and hydrate better. I find these lipsticks can be a bit hard textured and although they can still leave a decent amount of colour on the lips I wanted something more squish.
PK202 is my favourite one although they are all quite nice colours. There's no shimmer in any of them so they can look a bit flat if you aren't careful.
Decent enough lipsticks but not really hydrating enough to be called balms as well so for me, not really that special.


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The Protectors Classic TV Show
Freelance crime fighters The Protectors would work for whoever could pay them. Harry Rule was based in London, the Contessa lived in a luxury villa in Rome and Paul Buchet was a hip Parisian. Together they travelled the world solving crime.
Play the The Protectors QuizYou're given 10 The Protectors questions at random with 4 multiple choice answers. One one is correct. How many will you score? Try again to better it, or why not challenge a friend to beat your score? 590 people have played it, and the average score is 7.05/10
Click here to play»
The Protectors Fan Tributes12 DAVE GILLEY from LONDON: If there was a more beautiful actress than Nyree Dawn Porter I haven't seen her !!!
11 Chuck Franklin from Indianapolis,IN: I loved this series. I would love to hear from any fans of this series. This was my favorite series of all time. What a great theme song!
10 Mark from Hayle, Cornwall: Still remember the opening credits with top song and the London town-house with a blue Mk1 Ford Escort RS2000 outside! a boyhood dream car that 30 years later I finally own. Still on the lookout for a Contessa tho!
9 Adam Toscani from London: Re: answer from tommy from Newcastle, Yes the theme tune was by Tony Christie and is called "In the avenues & alleyways"
8 tommy finn from newcastle: I believe the the theme tune was Tony Christies avenues and alleyways.
7 Connor from Highlands scotland: I am trying to get the theme tune for my mobile, does anyone know what it is called?
6 Jeff from Dayton, Ohio, USA: This show was syndicated in the USA, and appeared on late Sunday night in Louisville, KY. I recall the show for its "international" jet-set ambience, cast, and locations. Very stylish crime/spy drama, wrapped up in just a half-hour.
5 Anthony Diggle from Lichfield, Staffs: "The Protectors" was a unique series in that it manged to create and tie up an exciting plot within half an hour with excellent location filming.
My favourite episodes have to be "WAM" Parts 1 & 2. Modern technology may have made the scenario obsolete, but the picturesque location filming of Salzburg and the cleverly orchestrated plot make excellent television.
4 Andy Moore from London: When the Protectors was first aired, I would be watching it on a saturday evening at my nan's house which was a regular event. At 10 years of age I may have missed the plot once or twice but found the action mesmerising. Now 30 years later the Protectors seems rather camp but the cars are great and the characters are still cool, and who can forget the theme song.
3 Gary Whittaker from West Yorks: Great to see the Protectors back. It has previously been largely ignored. 70's flamboyance and style coupled with great cars and action and all in 22 minutes!
2 shaza from london: Loved Robert - heart still flutters. Great to see it back.
1 Tristan Morell from Brighton: This is great 1970s international jet set kitsch. Great fun! Great fun, Nyree is so stylish and Tony is gorgeous!!
The Protectors
Genre: Detective
Year: 1972-74
Robert Vaughn as Harry Rule
Nyree Dawn Porter as Contessa Caroline di Contini
Tony Anholt as Paul Buchet
Anthony Chinn as Chino
Yasuko Nagazami as Suki
Stephanie Beacham, Tom Bell, Jeremy Brett, Gretchen Franklin, Hannah Gordon, Michael Gough, Ian Hendry, Patrick Magee, Anton Rodgers and Patrick Troughton.
Robert Vaughn was nominated for two Golden Globe awards for The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
Robert Vaughn was nominated for an Oscar for the film The Young Philadelphians.
If you know of a web site for The Protectors, or run a fan site, tell us about it here.
Click here for more The Protectors Memorabilia at Amazon.
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(c) Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association, Deerfield MA. All rights reserved.
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Most of the industries in western Massachusetts relied on word-of-mouth and walk-ins for their staff. As a result few had to use advertisements in the local newspapers to gain employees. This rare ad came from an industry that needed workers with specific skills. In this case it was the pocketbook industry which was widespread in western Massachusetts. Young women, it was presumed, would have the skills in needlework and experience working with materials. These skills would have helped overcome their inexperience with this particular industry. Pocketbook manufactories were found in many towns of western Massachusetts, including Springfield and Deerfield. Although there was a post-World War I recession in April, 1920, these skilled workers were still in demand.
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DOD Identifies Army Casualty
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
Pfc. Jordan M. Byrd, 19, of Grantsville, Utah, died Oct. 13 in Yahya Kheyl, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit using small arms fire. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.
For more information the media may contact the Fort Campbell public affairs office at 270-798-3025.


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Premonition flume singlet dress. Turn heads in the super sweet flume singlet dress. This dress is perfect for any fashionista! Paired up with a chunky black heel and your ready for a night on the town. Material and fit: 100% polyester. Lined. A little bit of stretch. A handy panel to cover your bra strap. Longer front and back hem


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It's So Important to Seem Wonderful Part II Frame #10779
Samantha Culp & Andrea Hill
Los Angeles
Both separately and together, Samantha Culp and Andrea Hill curate and produce innovative artist-led projects, most recently under the banner of their creative agency Paloma Powers.
Born and raised in Los Angeles, Culp recently returned after a decade in greater China. Her writing has appeared in publications such as Artforum, New York Times T Magazine, and LEAP (艺术节) and she has curated projects for Impakt Festival, Design Shanghai, and the Los Angeles Art Book Fair.
Hill was a founding team member and Creative Director of online auction house Paddle8, and her writing has appeared in Aperture, Performa Magazine, and Collectorspace, Istanbul. As a curator, she has also produced exhibitions for galleries (The Goma, Tanja Grunert Gallery), museums (Matadero Madrid), and universities (Wesleyan's Zilkha Gallery).
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About Casey Jane Ellison
Casey is a barrel of laughs
"People think my mole is fake, but it's not."
Bicoastal and bisexual, artist and comedian Casey Jane Ellison is inspired by paranoia, self-objectification, and the sexuality of politicians. Born and raised in Los Angeles, she is the host of a monthly comedy show called Otherwild Goods and Services, and is the creator of a talk show entitled Touching the Art. Ellison has presented videos and animations at MOCA, MoMA PS1, and the Museum of Arts and Design in New York. Adding to this cachet is her long list of media appearances, which includes the Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, and The Guardian. For Absolut Art, Ellison has looked at her favourite animation works, and taken specific still frames from them as part of her submission.
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The SDSU Course Design Institute has extended into the virtual realm. The program's blog is becoming the program's virtual hub to Faculty Fellow Portfolios, a YouTube Channel and conversations about Course Design.
Now in it's 2nd year, the CDI has evolved from the successful faculty development program pICT, funded by the Qualcomm Institute for Innovation and Educational Success.
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Optimism tempered with caution are the words to remember in the livestock outlook for 2010, according to John Anderson, an Extension livestock economist with Mississippi State University.
"The livestock market in 2009 was pretty tough, but there are good reasons to be optimistic in where these markets are headed as we move through 2010," Anderson said at the American Farm Bureau Federation's 91st annual meeting.
In 2009, weak profit margins for producers of beef, pork and poultry led to reductions in supply as 2010 begins, which means a more favorable supply situation. However, questions still remain on the demand side of the equation.
"We really need help on the demand side, and there are signs of improvement," Anderson said. "The general economy remains the key to future developments in the livestock market."
Anderson said demand recovery has already started to show up, but market participants must be convinced the demand recovery is real. "Market participants must be convinced demand-side improvements are here to stay."
In addition to improving prices, livestock producers should see improvements in profit margins in 2010. "Feed grain prices remain historically high but have stabilized in recent months. Increasing grain and oilseed stocks have reduced some of the pressure on grain prices that has been the dominant feature of those markets since late 2006," Anderson said.
"There are good reasons for cautious optimism regarding feed prices, but volatility may continue to be an issue.
"This year is shaping up to be one of the best years for livestock and poultry producers in several years, but this will depend on healthy demand supported by a recovering economy," Anderson said.


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GeneaPress: 2011 GeneaBlog Award Winners Announced, begins:
Tamura Jones' annual GeneaBlog Award for 2011 honors four genealogy bloggers. He writes, 'One fun thing about the Genealogy Blog Awards is that it does not have fixed categories. Every year I look for blogs to highlight, and then create a fitting category just for them. There is no fixed number of awards either. This year, the Genealogy Blog Awards highlights just four genealogy blogs, but these sure are four worthy ones.'
When you read the full press release, check out the other three award winning blogs. I especially enjoy Clue Wagon, which has some of the funniest posts I've ever read.
This award belongs to our entire Kiva team and everyone else who has supported the project and advised and encouraged me over the past three months. Thank you, and congratulations!
In 2011 we won an award for Best New Community Project. Join genealogists worldwide (and our relatives and friends) who have found a simple way to make a big difference.
We enable people without access to traditional banks (including many women) to expand their businesses, educate their children, save for the future and raise themselves out of poverty. Through Kiva, a non-profit organisation working with microfinance institutions, you choose a borrower to support with a loan of just $25. Similar loans by other lenders are combined until the required total is reached. As your money is repaid you can withdraw it or lend it to someone else. Money that is loaned over and over again does more good than a one-time donation. Join 'Genealogists for Families' - together we are making a difference!
17 December 2011
We Won a Genealogy Award!
Posted by Judy Webster
3 comments:
Press release? What press release? What magic is this? How can be there be a press release, when I have never sent out press release for the GeneaBlog Awards?ReplyDelete
Ooh, it's the Dear wizard of MYRTLE ;-)
- AnonymousDecember 20, 2011
Great news Judy and well deserved!ReplyDelete
Thanks Cassmob - I am very proud of my team. :-)ReplyDelete
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Gene Upshaw the Ambassador of the Game
Like many, I awoke this morning to hear the sad news that Gene Upshaw had passed away. I did not know Upshaw personally or anything, but I watched him so much as a Raider, I feel like I lost a friend. He was a legendary Raider that prevented would be tacklers from getting to the quarterback and consistently, with Art Shell, opened gaping holes for a running game that was nearly unstoppable.
Seven Pro Bowls, eleven all league or all conference selections, he was a pivotal cog on an offensive line that made it to the Super Bowl three times and won two while he held down the fort left of center. It nearly seems appropriate that the Raiders' and possibly the NFL's greatest player to ever wear the number 63 also passed away at the age of 63.
Upshaw is part of the NFL's 75 Year Anniversary All Time team, was the captain of the Raiders offensive unit for eight years. During the fifteen years he spent as a Raider, the team went to the playoffs 11 times, won 8 divisional titles, one AFL Championship, two AFC titles, and two world championships. He's the only player in NFL history to participate in three different Super Bowls in three different decades.
This writer spent many Sundays watching Upshaw and the great Art Shell sweep right or sweep left and throwing lead blocks for Raider runners. It was sight for the football fan's eyes.
Later after his playing days were over Upshaw was pivotal in getting many things done for the players in NFL as head of the (NFLPA) National Football League Players Association.
Player's salaries have risen to unbelievable amounts while protected with pensions after three years of service. A rookie can now make a league minimum of $200,000.00 which was never the case when Upshaw came into the league. Over the years Upshaw worked behind the scenes and helped make the NFL one of the best systems in all of professional sports.
I think one of the greatest accomplishments Upshaw achieved as chief of the NFLPA is that the NFL marketing arm is both the owners and players walking hand in hand.
Gene Upshaw promoted all this unity between the players and the owners. He always worked on the belief that what was good for the players was good for the league and what was good for the league was good for the players. This was a tough act to balance, but if you grew up watching Gene Upshaw you knew he was a tough guy and could carry the load.
So tonight when we watch our heroes' on the gridiron, take a moment to remember Gene Upshaw. The player, the pro-bowler, the NFL player executive and the man.


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Note To Small Business Owners: Unlearn
The Need To Unlearn
It went official this week: Google now has behaviorally-targeted PPC Ads. Before we talk about the ramifications of this act on small/business owners, let's figure out what this actually means.
Explaining Google Behaviorally-Targeted PPC Ads System:
Google has raised privacy concerns with its newly launched interest-based advertising, which displays ads based on users' previous searches and page views.
The new Google advertising system, currently in beta, links "categories of interest" to the user's browser, allowing targeted ads to appear even when the user is looking at a page totally unrelated to the ad's subject matter.
Let's not forget to mention, even though Google's not saying it, they're targeting by IP Address as well. Meaning, you don't have to be logged into your Google Account to get "personalized", behaviorally-targeted ads. And, this is just the beginning folks. While it's not fully-instituted in SERPs (search engine results pages), the SEO/SEM community has been following this trend for over a year now, and we've seen instances of "personalized" results peeking in and out of the SERPs already.
If you read my November 2008 post, I discussed this topic there as well, but briefly.
Why Small Business Owners Need To Unlearn What They Know About SEO:
Unlearning is about the most difficult thing to ask anyone to do, let alone small/business owners who just got on the SEO bandwagon and want to see RANK. For years they've resisted, were reluctant to throw their hat in the search/web marketing ring. And, sadly, for them, the rules have changed.
SERP Rank is Dead
RANK is dead. The introduction of behaviorally targeted, personalized search with PPC has now opened up the flood gates. In this new era, it hardly matters where you "rank" for certain keywords. Users will have the most relevant results served up to them based on previous search habits and geographic locality.
Mind you, this does not mean SEO is dead. Far from it. SEO is more important than ever. With this new spin on search, comes decreased visibility for terms that national/global users would have found you for. Competitive or not, you could have sloppy SEO and still do well. Add in the fact that "brands" now have "higher trust", thanks to the Vince Algorithm change, it makes it all the more important to have solid, core SEO built and implemented onsite.
All this aside, for years owners have been duped, in large part by the SEO community itself, to focus on where you RANK for keywords. And, boy, did they buy in. It consumes them. It perpetuates a never-ending cycle of calls about less-than-business-centric keywords, because they did a search and saw that they went from Position 7 to Position 10. They're not taking into account the one thing they all got into business for in the first place: to make sales. To pad the bottom-line with profit.
Unlearn Your Obsession With Rank
Yes, that's right. Stop thinking about it. If you need something to do because it's a rainy day, or you don't have meetings, then look at them (and then throw them away). Otherwise, stop it. Instead, focus on if you're site is converting users to a sale, to a purchase, to an anything, as long as it drives more business through the doors. And, considering, the downward-spiraling economic disaster looming in the coming months, this should be your only focus: get more business coming through the door.
Rank is a luxury. Sales aren't. Quit wasting your time talking about why a keyword dropped from 3 to 5, and start focusing on if your site is fully-optimized onsite, if your user paths are clean and concise, and if your forms are painless and easy. Once again, in the near-future, everyone's SERPs are going to be different for the same keyword, based on numerous factors and habits. Make sure you're focusing on sales and conversions, that's all that really matters.
Mar 15 2009
Let's not forget that SEO is a young field. With millions of advertisers and users, wouldn't you want something more targeted to your patterns. This is somewhat similar to our grocery coupons on the back of our receipts that target what we buy. Is it too far or welcomed?
Mar 19 2009
Really great posts on this blog and some interesting thoughts here. I still need to dig into the demographics on content network, I'm anxious to see if it will provide any insight, have you tested? I believe all of Googles data from all of it's services intersect in some ways and possibly leave a algorithmic footprint or impression in unexpected ways. Or maybe Google is just broken. 🙂
An example of this would be 2 of my sites:
Goto Google and search for "chicago heating repair"
In google maps, look for my (under construction) website http://www.searchoneweb.com
searchoneweb.com is found for "chicago heating repair" in Google Maps
I'm almost 100% I know what happened but need to do further testing before making an ass of myself.
If you have any thoughts on the subject or would like to discuss sometime please contact me through one of the websites, Cheers!
Mar 20 2009
Actually, the new behavioral targeting only affects those text ads on the content network, not within search. http://tinyurl.com/bq6pom This change actually has little to do with rankings, and this non-search type of behavioral targeting has been around in online ads for ages.
The other change, however, (and the one that happened long ago, so it's not really breaking news) is the targeting based on IP address. And Google has been saying it since the middle of 2008. http://tinyurl.com/6n43f7
In terms of brands gaining more trust since the algorithm change, Matt Cutts recently addressed this in one of his YouTube discussions. The change doesn't affect a majority of queries, and doesn't necessarily put brands first. Most people, and most small businesses, will not notice this change in the online landscape. http://tinyurl.com/d8sost
The one real truth here is that there is a decreasing importance on specific search rankings due to how people search and how search engines are interpreting that data. But this is just joining Bruce Clay and others in the long-standing chant of "Ranking is dead." What's more important is what comes next, and how we evolve. Turning attention to semantic web and new forms of engine information parsing is more useful than cursing the changes Matt Cutts and company have implemented last year.
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By Michele Langlo May 04, 2012 0
Tired of Fast Food
Spring is here and summer is on our doorstep. There are more activities that Cody and Stephen can do. But we've been noticing with Stephen's earlier starting time and later quitting time that Cody is looking a bit weary. Bear in mind he's been out of the habit of getting up early every day since his high school days. For six of the last seven years he's been at home every day where he could retire to his room at will. Those days are gone now and he's now in the process of being acclimated to the adult world of being responsible, doing household chores, waking at an earlier hour and staying on the go for six hours a day, five days a week. Stephen is coming four days a week and Cody rides with his grandmother to Grammy's house on Tuesday. Sometimes I wonder if it may be too much.
But am I being overprotective? Things are going so well. Cody is leading a much fuller life than he has in years. And he enjoys all the activities he and Stephen do together. And if I curtail it now then how will it affect the hours the state has allotted him? I certainly don't want to do anything to mess that up. We worked too hard to get it.
Cody is going to bed earlier at his own request and we of course don't question that. But even on the weekends we are noticing that he still likes to go to bed rather early and still sleep in late. One thing that we also took note of is that Cody has had about a five-pound weight gain in the last couple of weeks.
Cody's weight is something we keep a close eye on. There was a time when he was nearing the 300-pound mark. We tried diets and gyms and everything we could think of to help him bring the number on the scale back down. Then Cody started paying special attention to news segments that spoke specifically about diabetes and heart disease and how obesity can be a major contributing factor to both. His father is borderline diabetic and so is his grandfather. He has heard much discussion of it and quite frankly, it scared him. He took it upon himself to do something about his weight.
When Cody was at the table instead of cleaning his plate all the way, he started leaving a few bites of food at each meal. Then he would say quite emphatically, "I'm done!" It wasn't enough to cause concern so we didn't question it. Over time we started noticing his weight dropping. Of course as the pounds began to melt away, Cody felt more energetic. He began engaging in more physical activity. So then his weight started dropping more quickly. And we were very proud of him! By the end of one year's time, he was down to about 220.
Since then he has leveled off at about 205. Given his bone structure and height, he's still a tad on the heavy side but all in all it's not bad. But this week when we saw him acting sluggish and then saw the scale hit the 210 mark, Bill and I wondered if the two might not go hand in hand.
Our family is not big on fast food or prepackaged foods. The preservatives and fat content in them is, as we all know, atrocious. So we eat mainly whole foods with ingredients that we scrutinize before we add them. But Bill and I are not sticklers about Cody going out to eat at his favorite restaurants once in a while. We want him to be able to enjoy life and have fun. However, given the kind of meals Cody is used to, more than once in a while would not be such a good thing.
Upon checking receipts Stephen brings back from their outings, it turns out that they had been hitting the fast food track pretty regular over the last couple of weeks.
I told Stephen about Cody's weight gain and asked that they have more lunches at home. Stephen apologized but I wasn't blaming him. He was simply doing his job.
Truthfully, it is easy for me to look past something like this when I see my son getting so much more out of life than he has in the past seven years. I'm just thankful we caught this small problem early and that it can be easily corrected without hindering all the progress Cody has made.


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Item Description
Letter, J. J. I. [John J. Ingalls] to Dear Father [Elias T. Ingalls]
Author: Ingalls, John James
Date: October 5, 1858
On his first full day in Sumner, Ingalls penned a second letter to his father to convey his first impressions of "that Promised Land." The reality Ingalls found and described was quite different than what was depicted in "the lithographic fiction" he had been shown back East. Other than the hotel, the "city" was composed of a "few log huts and miserable cabins . . . None of the premises are fenced," wrote Ingalls, "the whole place being open to the incursions of dogs and pigs which exist in large numbers and seem in fact to constitute the greater amount of the population." Virtually everything about the place distressed Ingalls, who was "quite unable to convey to you any definite idea of the disappointment, not unmingled with anger and mortification with which I contemplate the State of affairs here."
Location of Original: KSHS Call Number: John James Ingalls Collection, #177, Box 1, Folder 1
Item Number: 102030 Number of images: 8
Keywords: Business enterprises; Commerce; Hannibal and St. Joseph Railroad Company; Houses; Ingalls, John James, 1833-1900; Livestock; Pikes Peak gold rush; Sumner, Kansas Territory; Town development; Town promotion
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