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This year, watching the NFL playoffs is different for me. Usually, I am cheering on my favorite NFL team, the Indianapolis Colts, to win each playoff game and make it to the Super Bowl. But, due to a 2-14 record after their star quarterback Peyton Manning didn't play a snap this season, the Colts didn't make it to the playoffs, which hasn't happened in several seasons.
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Home › Scene › Delish Designs ›
Delish Designs
THE PARTY To celebrate the summer issue of CS Interiors, top Chicago chefs were paired with local members of the International Interior Design Association to create custom delicacies and compete in the ultimate cooking competition held at the Cosentino Showroom on Division Street. THE PLAYERS Chefs from Epic, Saigon Sisters, Florentine, Province, Prasino and City Porch provided their culinary expertise. Designers Randy Heller, Lara Prince and Tricia Turner Manasra were spotted working the room as well. THE HIGHLIGHTS Guests were able to test-drive the new BMW 650i and 750LXi between bites of the competitors' creations. Photography by Francis Son

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Neurobiologists identify animal model for a deadly human metabolic disorder
In medical research, finding a reliable and cost-effective animal model can greatly enhance success in identifying disease mechanisms and genetic pathways, potentially cutting years off drug testing regimes and development of new treatment strategies.
Now, University of Massachusetts Amherst neuroscientist Gerald Downes and colleagues have developed just such a model, a mutant zebrafish, to study Maple Syrup Urine Disease (MSUD). It is an inherited metabolic disorder that causes affected individuals to smell like maple syrup. Untreated, it can result in mental retardation, profound neurological damage, severe dystonia, coma and death. This new model is described in an early online version of the March issue of the journal Disease Models and Mechanisms.
A mouse model does exist and has been useful to provide new insight into the disorder, Downes says, but mouse studies can be expensive and time-consuming. Many of the cellular and molecular mechanisms that promote brain injury in MSUD are not known, and new platforms are needed to better understand how this disease causes brain injury and to develop new therapies. MSUD affects about one in every 185,000 children but the rate of incidence can be about 10 times higher in certain religious communities.
Downes, who leads a research team using zebrafish to investigate human neurological disorders, explains that MSUD causes disease by disrupting the proper metabolic breakdown of three amino acids: Isoleucine, leucine and valine, found in protein-rich foods such as eggs, meat and milk. These amino acids and their by-products accumulate to toxic levels in the body, with devastating effects on the brain and nervous system. A major symptom is severe dystonia, a neurological condition that results in twisting, abnormal postures due to sustained muscle contractions.
As part of this study supported by the National Institute of Neurobiological Disorders and Stroke at the National Institutes of Health, Downes and doctoral student Timo Friedrich examined a zebrafish mutant named questschkommode, or que that exhibits abnormal swimming behavior. They analyzed high-speed video of larval zebrafish swimming in response to a light touch and found that que mutants perform what is called "accordion behavior."
Instead of normal swimming with left and right tail flips, the mutant que fish compress like an accordion along the nose-to-tail axis (questschkommode means "squeezebox" in German). This behavior is believed to be similar to the dystonia MSUD-affected human patients display during periods of severe metabolic distress.
Collaborating with Aaron Lambert and Mark Masino at the University of Minnesota to record and measure nerve activity, the UMass Amherst researchers further confirmed that dystonia in the que mutant originates in the brain and spinal cord, not in muscle, indicating that the nervous system functions abnormally.
Downes and Friedrich then spent about four years identifying a mutation in the zebrafish dihydrolipoamide branched chain transacylase E2 (dbt) gene. The human version is known to be required for isoleucine, leucine and valine metabolism, and mutations can cause MSUD, they say. Mirroring MSUD, que mutants also have abnormal amino acid metabolism. "The same three amino acids that accumulate in humans also accumulate in this fish, anywhere from six to 10 times higher than normal for each, which is the same profile as in humans," Downes points out.
Due to this defect, que larva die young, after about five days of life, the researchers say. They also show that que mutants contain reduced levels of the neurotransmitter glutamate, known to be important for nervous system function in many species including humans. Abnormal glutamate levels could be a key trigger of dystonia seen in untreated MSUD.
"It's fantastic to solve this mystery," says Downes. "We've been looking at this mutant for five years. To actually put together a model of what's going on, to take it all the way from a fish that can't swim normally to come up with a useful model to benefit human treatment is incredibly satisfying."
"We'd like to take it farther in the future and use this to develop new MSUD therapies by systematically screening hundreds, even thousands of chemical compounds. We can raise large numbers of zebrafish because of their small size and easy care."
Since discovering the new model, Downes has accepted an invitation to speak at the 16th Biennial MSUD Family Support Group Symposium in Philadelphia in June 2012. "I'm thrilled that our work might be helpful to people in a direct way. I very much look forward to meeting people affected with MSUD and hearing what they are interested in, to figure out how I can help fight this disease."
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Newsboy caps
Newberg VitaFelt Traveller HatHiking hat anthracite€179.00Tax incl., plus shipping
Delivery time: 2-3 Tagebrowngray
Newberg VitaFelt Traveller HatHiking hat anthracite€179.00Tax incl., plus shipping
Delivery time: 2-3 Tage
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The breezy, light summer designs normally come with built-in UV protection, so you can even wear the newsboy cap when the sun is shining and do not need to worry about the radiation. As newsboy caps are timeless headwear, they have always been part of Stetson's collection and are guaranteed to remain in style for many years to come. Women and men alike are delighted with the popular hat classic.
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Ah, pitting Outlaws against fellow Outlaws are we now? What is this madness!
So how powerful would you say magic is on the Mainland? I mean I'm not trying to raise the "Big Bad Skeli Armies of Chaos" here, just a few smoke and mirror tricks.
Calculus3.14 wrote:Hi, I was just wondering, is there a size limit?
JoshWedin wrote:skaforhire wrote:Mark of Falworth wrote:
Hmmm... That is a little awkward. I'll talk to the other King's councilors and get back to you.
Please do, as my character would most likely never defend the magical lands, and he probably would not fight the other three factions outright either as he has no beef with them. Like I said, he is most likely to team up with them to kill other outlaws of magical origins.
Why can't he go attack the magic island on his own? No one says you have to be friends with outlaws just because you are an outlaw.
andhe wrote:This may be a dumb question, but where exactly are these Magic Isles? I'm looking at Mitah's fantastic map, and is it the island marked as 'Island of Lost souls'? I had intially thought we were invading the outlaw terroritory, due to the rewards.
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No decision on emergency management
But commissioners seem to want full-time position
News editor
Marion County needs a full-time emergency manager, if only because of the need to apply for state and federal grants, county commissioners said Monday. The question is where the manager should fit on the county's pay scale.
"If you get a half-time position, you'll get a half-time attitude," commissioner Dan Holub said.
Commissioner Roger Fleming said the job shouldn't be at the top of the pay scale.
When Michele Abbott was emergency manager and 911 director, the starting wage was set at $21.09 an hour. Dan D'Albini, who resigned from the position earlier this year, was paid $20.29 an hour. The next step down the pay scale starts at $16.76 an hour, County Clerk Tina Spencer said.
Chairman Randy Dallke said he wanted someone with grant-writing experience or skills. He said the emergency manager could seek grants for other departments, as well.
Spencer said she would consult with other counties about pay rates and job descriptions.
EMS bid rejected
Ambulance director Steve Smith said a $25,874 bid approved June 17 to buy a new vehicle has been rejected because the price was available only for law enforcement.
The county instead approved a bid Monday from Hillsboro Ford for a new Ford Expedition for $27,878. Midway Motors of Hillsboro bid $35,614 for a Chevrolet Tahoe.
Jail fence will be 6 feet
The county will seek bids for a 6-foot-tall fence north and east of the jail. The commission had heard from someone who thought the fence should be taller.
Spencer said the City of Marion requires a special permit for fences taller than 6 feet.
Holub said he didn't want to be pushed around by anyone when the county's agreement requiring the fence didn't specify a height.
"He can find a lawyer who will say you need a 12-foot fence, it all depends how much money you have," Holub said.
Conservation budget
Marion County Conservation District requested $28,790, the same as last year, from the county to supplement its 2014 budget.
Dallke thanked the district for not increasing its request, as he seeks a goal of a 3-mill decrease in taxes this year.
Funds for dirt roads
Road and Bridge Superintendent Randy Crawford said special funds from the state for bridge replacement are only available for bridges on dirt roads.
"It doesn't make a lot of sense to put a new bridge on a dirt road," he said.
Crawford said funds would be much better used on bridges on Sunflower or Indigo roads.
Holub suggested the commission tour old bridges on dirt roads and considering whether some should be closed.


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Bible Interpretation
Interpret This With Rev. Jacquie Fernández
Have you ever wondered how a specific Bible verse might be interpreted metaphysically? Interpret This provides greater insight into the hidden meanings of the Bible. Use the search features below to find a verse. If the verse you are looking for is not available, click here to request an interpretation.


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Banking & Risk Insights
Financial institutions of all sizes often struggle to understand complex relationships within their portfolios and across holding companies, and to effectively manage associated risks. Banks need a fast, thorough understanding of risk across holding companies, subsidiaries and lines of business – and how changing market conditions will affect them – in order to better manage exposures, make well-informed decisions and comply with regulatory mandates.
This interactive SAS Visual Analytics report shows how you can get a holistic view of bank performance across regions, down to an individual counterparty level. You can view and analyze returns by industry and geography. Analyze and explore the capital exposure of different banks. View concentration risk across banks and counterparties, and drill down to view a counterparty's economic capital, returns and expected loss. You can also compare RAROC and exposure over time for each line of business and industry, and assess the bank's capacity to handle stress and operate profitably.


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Incident reports
Hillsboro Police
Sept. 9: Officers responded to reports of delayed traffic and a dog complaint.
Sept. 10: Police handled a minor traffic accident in which no report was needed and also took a report of suspicious activity.
Sept. 11: Officers took a parking complaint, a dog complaint, and a report of suspicious activity.
Sept. 12: Police picked up an abandoned bicycle and checked on suspicious activity.
Sept. 13: Officers responded to a report of harassing messages left on an answering machine and transported a subject to Marion County Jail who had been advised to turn himself in on a bond revocation.
Sept. 14: Police handled two dog complaints, a report of suspicious activity, and a curfew violation.
Sept. 2: When officers responded to a report of shotgun shells dumped in the Marion High School driveway they found multiple discarded shells and four dead doves. Police also handled two theft reports, a dead animal in the back of a residence, and a drowned dog in the city fountain.
Sept. 3: Police handled a dog complaint, a theft, and gave traffic warnings for illegal parking in a school zone and speeding. Officers also responded to reports of vandalism at Marion High School, a possible disturbance in which a man was looking for a woman and could not find her, and investigated a suspicious vehicle.
Sept. 4: Officers responded to a report of an out-of-control juvenile, conducted a traffic stop and issued a warning for failure to use turn signal. Four additional traffic stops were made. Police also found an open door at Marion High School. The K9 unit performed a search of the premises and secured the building.
Sept. 5: Police responded to a dog complaint, witnessed and took a report for a non-injury accident, and handled a possible theft. Officers also handled a traffic complaint where the motorist was driving without a license and the passenger was transporting an open container. Both were arrested.
Sept. 6: Officers issued three warnings for speeding, one for illegal parking, and another for driving without headlights. Police also responded to a property owner dispute, took reports of lost key's, domestic abuse, and suspicious activity where the subjects were issued warnings for tapping on windows. Officers also secured a duplex west of the stadium in which the lights were on and doors open.
Sept. 7: Officers assisted hospital officials with a schizophrenic person and took a report of a stolen bicycle. The victim later found the bike in the park.
Sept. 8: Police handled a domestic argument.
Sept. 9: Officers issued a verbal warning for exhibition of speed and a headlamp out.
Sept. 10: Police found two doors open during the downtown business check, contacted the key holders and secured the buildings. Officers also responded to a reckless driving complaint.
Sept. 11: Police issued a verbal warning for a headlamp out, handled reports of dog neglect and suspicious activity, and gave a citation for speeding.
Sept. 9: Police took in a report on a civil issue.
Sept. 10: Police arrested Jason Brooks of Peabody on a charge of driving with a suspended driver's license and having no insurance. A report of burglary and theft was taken.
Sept. 12: Police arrested Lacey Kimbrough of Halstead on a Peabody Municipal Court warrant. Officers took an information report on a suspicious person.
Sept. 13: Police took two reports of theft from separate residents. Police cited an individual for illegal window tint.
Sept. 15: Officers took an information report on a dog bite. The incident has been resolved.


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Design and Engineering | Pleating | Intake Tube Fabrication | Composite Materials | Panel Filters | Round Filters
Heavy Duty Filters | Packaging | Product Testing | Warehousing & Shipping | K&N Racing
K&N's automated warehousing system enables efficient delivery of materials required for packaging K&N's thousands of products. Packaging designs and Planogram layouts are continually being updated to attract customer attention and inform potential consumers about the benefits of K&N products.
Filter Packaging
Filter Boxing
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Packaging Department
Intake Packaging
Intake Palletizing


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Description:1U USB Cable Option Kit Part Number(s)
Manufacturer Part# 396114-B21
Overview:This cable kit is intended to convert a 1U SCSI rack-mount kit to a USB interface to support the DAT USB drives. It includes 1 - 5 meter USB cable 1 plastic grommet 1 metallic panel and documentation. All pieces are pre-assembled for easy implementation.


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Ooooo look what arrived for me today!!!!!
Wednesday, 29 January 2014
Sunday, 26 January 2014
Crochet pin cushions
Posted by Lynn B at 13:29 26 comments
Labels: crochet
Tuesday, 14 January 2014
Crochet and a new stitchery
My new years resolution is to teach myself crochet, I have made a start by making a couple of granny squares and then progressing to make this little pincushion, unfortunately my stitching has virtually come to a grinding halt since the 4th January as I have been poorly since then.
Posted by Lynn B at 12:38 27 comments
Labels: crochet, stitcheries
Sunday, 5 January 2014
My creations in 2013.
Posted by Lynn B at 08:30 24 comments
Labels: Pictures of my 2013 finishes.
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Training Recruits for Ranks of Labor (Jun, 1924)
Training Recruits for Ranks of Labor
Skilled Craftsmen and Sound Citizens Result from Vocational Instruction of Students Preparing for Careers in Industry COMBINING the best features of old-time apprenticeship systems with the most modern methods of vocational education, trades schools are attempting to meet the wide demand of industries by developing enthusiastic students into full-fledged artisans possessing both practical and mental training. As many as 4,600 pupils attend a single trades school in a mid-western city, where they prepare for careers of productive labor, equipped with full knowledge and practical experience in such callings as carpentry, cabinetmaking, pattern work. founding and forging, electricity, automobile mechanics, machine-shop practice, baking, and printing. Beginning the courses at an average age of fourteen, the youngsters enter upon the work with an enthusiasm which is reflected in the perfection of some of the products of their learning made in class periods. As in other trades schools, each department manufactures materials and furnishings needed by the other sections, so far as equipment permits, as part of the course. In this, the practical end of the training and the thoroughness with which the students perform the various tasks are tested in actual operation and fitness of the products. Only highly skilled and competent instructors, themselves schooled in academic as well as practical methods of crafts, are permitted to teach, thus insuring the pupil the benefits of the most modern and scientific practices. Unlike apprenticeships where only the mere mechanical training is accorded for a trade, without proper education of mind to direct the efforts of the worker, trades schools include the molding of good character and a sound knowledge of the citizenship in the education of the craftsmen. This insures to the industry a workman versed in not only the mechanical performances of his trade, but trained in proper conduct in association with others of his kind.
While much has already been done in furthering the development of the industrial training institutions, skill and energy of the teaching forces are constantly adding greater advantages demanded by the pace set by industry. The pupil studying for a mechanical career finds that he is permitted to learn all about blue prints, mechanical designing, and construction of various metals and the action of different chemicals brought in contact with them. The young baker sees before him, in a laboratory which forms part of his schoolroom, ingredients prepared from widely differing grains and other food materials he works with. Bricklaying students are told the values of clays, and binding elements, such as mixtures of cements and sands, are analyzed for their information. In the end they enter upon their life's work with full knowledge of the origin and purpose of the calling.
Everything possible is done in the schools to insure the greatest amount of interest from the scholar. While they are being taught the work of the hand, considerable time is given to study of other subjects such as mathematics, history, English, geography, recreation, and hygiene. While these subjects are practical in their application to the things met after graduation, they are taught so that they fit in with the work in the shops.
Modern methods of operation coupled with more or less cultural training are designed to fit the youth for rapid advancement when he enters upon the practice of his trade. In connection with these the processes of good citizenship are emphasized in a manner to insure the growth of sound character during later life. Where trades schools have departments for the vocational education of girls, millinery, sewing, dress designing and cutting, household sciences and courses that fit them for business and light factory supervision are accorded the students. As with the other industrial studies the practical training is closely allied with the general education of the pupil, and in all cases only the most up-to-date examples of modern industry and commerce are permitted to form the pattern for the molding of the student-apprentice into a valuable recruit to the ranks of labor. Most of the courses run over a period of four years, but many may be completed in two and are so organized that the graduate will be sufficiently equipped to take up his or her calling at a point almost equal to the rating of a veteran. To a i d them in absorption of the latest developments in highly organized trade and factory methods, tours are made by the classes, under direction of instructors, through typical industrial plants and over structures in the course of erection, where first hand information can be gleaned from watching actual processes of trade practice.


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Customer Service Manager Apprenticeship VAC-33900
This listing has expired
As a business that continually brings excitement to their customers' experience, they believe it's really important that their people have plenty of reasons to be excited about working with them too. For you, we believe there really couldn't be a more thrilling time to join the team.
Your Daily Duties:
• Supervise the shop team in the absence of the Shop Manager.
• Maximise shop profitability, through promotion of products.
• Deliver outstanding customer service whilst adhering to all company policies, procedures, compliance and standards.
• Contribute to a safe and enjoyable environment where colleagues and customers feel welcomed and engaged.
• Deliver consistently exceptional customer service and ensure a great customer journey, resolving complaints and issues when necessary.
• Ensure compliance with the following;
– Health and Safety procedures
– Responsible Gambling and Self-Exclusion Guidelines
– Security procedures
– Think 21
– Cost Control
• Maintain high shop standards, taking pride in the shop and ensuring all colleagues adhere to the company uniform policy.
• Ensure the shop is clean and a shop tidy is completed at regular interviews when on duty.
• Ensure the Customer Service Assistants understand the company's product offering, both in shop and online to enable them to have confident conversations with customers.
• Support the Shop Manager with the training and development of the Customer Service Assistants.
• Have commercial awareness and understanding how you can personally impact the shop's profitability.
The programme is 12-15 months in duration and you will be working towards your Customer Service Practitioner Apprenticeship.
You must be 18+ to complete this apprenticeship.
Location: Enfield
Position Type: Apprenticeship
Sector: Retail
Working Week : Shift Work – You will be expected to work some weekends and bank holidays.
Weekly Wage : £233.75
Application Deadline: 04-06-2018
Possible Start Date : 11-06-2018


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"Abnormal Psychology" is considered the most authoritative text in its field; it set the standard for the course. Butcher, Mineka, and Hooley are among the most preeminent and respected researchers in abnormal psychology today. Now their distinguished text is available in a briefer version for those who prefer to cover topics in less detail. This briefer version includes the same popular features as the more comprehensive book, as well as all-new end of chapter Practice Tests. Special feature boxes -- "Developments in Research, " "Developments in Thinking, " "Developments in Practice, " and "The World Around Us" -- focus on applications of research to everyday life, as well as curre events and the latest research methodologies, technologies, and findings. Extensive case studies of individuals throughout the book bring material to life while giving students a context in which to understand contemporary abnormal psychology. New DSM-IV-TR boxes appear ineach chapter. The boxes summarize the essential criteria from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders for the disorders discussed. This helpful study tool reflects current diagnostic practice and helps students understand disorders in a clinical context.Jill M. Hooley is the author of 'Abnormal Psychology: Core Concepts', published 2007 under ISBN 9780205486830 and ISBN 0205486835.[read more]
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text: Our fantastic collection of men's clothes features a variety of practical and stylish wardrobe essentials. We've brought you a great selection of tops, shirts, trousers, knitwear and outerwear from top brands like G-STAR Raw, Fred Perry and Bench, designed with style and comfort in mind. Whether you're looking for something smart for theoffice or a casual look fora night out, there's something for every occasion in our men's range. You'll also find a variety of accessories to complete your wardrobe, from basics like socks and belts to stylish skinny ties.


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You are currently browsing the tag archive for the 'Sox' tag.
I'm creating a series of black/white line drawings for Red Sox newsletter "Sox Lunch", found at soxlunch.com (duh). Designed as snackable Sox news emailed to readership daily by noon, Sox Lunch provides scores stats and all the news you'll need to own tomorrow's watercooler conversation (if indeed there are any watercoolers remaining; perhaps you could own tomorrow's Starbucks' queue). For you social media mavens seeking a 24×7, 360 degree Sox experience without getting all . . . sweaty . . . there are Sox Lunch Facebook and Twitter pages, the latter providing in-game, inning by inning updates.
A season's subscription costs $5.00, which works out to about $0.03 cents per game. Gimme a break, skip the queue and that Starbucks' triple-latte-with-brie and subscribe now, at soxlunch.com.
And, of course, for more black/white Sox caricatures, which are actually quite colorful, visit my CURIOUS PAINTINGS website. Of course.


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Special Section: E-Government
The Next Wave of E-Government: The
Challenges of Data Architecture
Charles H. Kaylor is with Public Sphere Information
There can be no doubt about it:
local e-government efforts are starting to mature. Given the
dramatic increase in the flexibility and affordability of
Web-based technologies, more and more municipal and county
governments across the nation are realizing the benefits of
Web-enabled applications. Data outlined below suggest that, in
large part, the newest trends in e-government evolution will
squarely target the ability of local governments to think
flexibly and creatively about data integration. Taking advantage
of these opportunities will also require increased
organizational and management capacity. This paper describes the
evolution of e-government across the nations largest cities,
assesses trends in service delivery and considers some of the
implications of these changes for all local governments.
recent years, advances in technology, particularly the advent of
the Internet and the World Wide Web, have led to a dramatic
change in how local governments construe their service delivery
obligations. As the data described below demonstrate, a sea
change is occurring as these applications evolve. What separates
the leading edge from the rest is increasingly defined by
sophisticated back-end integration of data geographic
information systems (GIS), constituency relationship management
(CRM), document management and content management. New and
proliferating information and communications technologies seem
to promise broader information dissemination and new modes of
service delivery. All local governments face significant
challenges in the next stages of e-government, but smaller
governments, in particular, are increasingly left behind by
these developments. A substantial challenge remains in finding
feasible and sustainable approaches to providing information and
services to the public in an era of data integration.
Benchmarking Change: The Municipality e-Government
Assessment Project (MeGAP)
local governments first began to use the Web for information and
service delivery, they tended to make ad
hoc decisions. Individual bureaus would often develop their
websites without coordinating across the organization. The
result was that early municipal website development tended to be
a cobble of ponderously organized, difficult to find information
with very little interactivity or consideration for their
Municipality e-Government Assessment Project (MeGAP) had its
origin in 2000 as an effort to provide a comprehensive
compendium and benchmark of municipal experiments in the
provision of Web-based services. The MeGAP assessment of local
governments and the data it generates are designed, collected
and maintained by the Public Sphere Information Group,
Newtonville, MA (www.psigroup.biz/megap).
The strategy for the development of this methodology was to
focus on information that would be of use to e-government
implementers, creating an overview of what other local
governments had done to inform their own decision-making. This
approach is deliberately in tension with a number of rubrics for
evaluating services that were available at the time of its
this study was initially devised, there were already several
efforts at evaluating (and developing metrics for evaluating)
the success of websites provided by local (Kanfer & Kolar,
Johnson & Misic, Stowers), state and federal (West,
Eschenfelder) governments. These studies had a common approach
create an evaluative rubric for already existing efforts
with an eye toward improving implemented services and offering
best practices advice for prospective services. What none of
them provides, however, is concrete advice on specific
strategies and applications (that is, which cities had provided
which types of Web-based services and which services were most
common). As a result there were no reliable assessments of the
state of municipal e-government.
with the evolution of the MeGAP as a benchmark of e-government,
several organizations and researchers began publishing rankings
of websites. Most notably, Darrell Wests Urban
E-Government, 2004 provides one of the more comprehensive
assessments of the state of municipal government efforts,
providing a detailed analysis of 1,873 city government sites
in the 70 largest metropolitan areas in the United States.
Also private organizations such as the Center for Digital
Government announces its Best of the Web rankings for
municipal, county and state governments, based on its annual
survey. Unlike all of these studies, however, in addition to
devising a rating system based on the composite eScore, the
MeGAP also provides a fine-grained analysis of particular
functions and services that cities have characteristically
provided for generations combined with those functions that are
the hallmark of the information age. The relatively
straightforward method for gathering these data begins with an
observational study of official municipal websites. Each website
is assessed across a wide range of performance dimensions that
fall into four categories:
information dissemination (online presence)
registration, permits & GIS (interactive functions)
eCommerce (transactional functions)
eDemocracy (tranformative functions)
MeGAP uses a four-point system to assess the degree of
implementation of the 75 performance dimensions under these
general categories. Points are awarded for each dimension based
on the degree of interactivity of that Web-enabled feature as
follows: one point if information on a given subject exists; two
points if contact information exists for the relevant
responsible party; three points if documents and forms exist in
a downloadable format; and four points if the transaction of
information and data can take place completely online. The study
focuses, then, on observing the degree of interactivity across a
range of performance dimensions. The approach only assesses
those services that are accessible to an outsider visiting a
municipal governments official website, measuring the
existence of and level of sophistication of services and
providing a summary eScore.
overall finding of this assessment of the largest U.S. cities is
that a tremendous amount of progress has been made. For example,
from the first MeGAP observations (Wave I) in 2000-2001 to the
latest effort (Wave III) in 2004, the increase in the
availability, interactivity and quality of Web-based municipal
services is stunning. As Figure 1 shows, among cities over
500,000, eScores improved impressively over time. In part, this
improvement has to do with several changes in the assessment
instrument itself, primarily the inclusion of several new
performance dimensions that pertain to particular information
and services, such as information on education, community
services, housing, vital records and public health. That caveat
aside, controlling for new dimensions, eScores improved among
all cities at each wave of observation.
the first data using what evolved into the MeGAP methodology
were gathered in 2000, interactive functions and features were
far less common. In fact, in the first wave of observations,
only 36 of the 141 U.S. cities with populations between 100,000
and 200,000 allowed any interactive access to city hall beyond
offering a generic email address or other minimal contact. Among
all cities with official websites, a distinct minority offered
interactive access to services and functions (Kaylor, Deshazo
& Van Eck). Only about one third of U.S. cities over 100,000
offered downloadable documents. The standard in 2000 was basic
informational services.
more reliable measure of the improvements at municipal websites
in general involves the provision of interactive services. The
overall eScores suggest that local governments are broadening
the range of services and functions to which they provide
access. Without exception, all cities with populations over
100,000 provide access to more and more information. More
importantly, however, municipalities are improving the ease of
use of these features by offering an increasing number of
interactive services online (see Figure 2). Interestingly, the
most common interactive feature at municipal sites is the online
action request. The term of art for these features, generally,
is customer relationship management (CRM) tools, which borrows
from the private sector although often the acronym is
amended in the public sector context to constituent or
citizen. In the most recent wave of observations, over
three quarters of the governments of cities with populations
over 300,000 allow online submission of service requests or
complaints anything from potholes or burned-out streetlights
to code and nuisance violations.
interactive features have also proliferated since the 2001 wave
of observations. The top 10 leaders in eScores in Wave I had
from eight to 10 functions that could take place entirely
online. Today, the top 10 cities allow from 16 to 20. The
spreading ease of use reaches across a panoply of city functions
to include building and licensing, utilities payments,
assessments, procurement, planning and GIS. Over the period of
the three waves of assessment, an increasing number of large
local governments provide these interactive and transactive
features on line. Beyond those displayed in Figure 2, all
municipal governments of large U.S. cities have increased their
interactivity remarkably in the last several years.
telling is the trajectory that separates cities with higher
eScores from the rest. At the first wave of observations in
2001, even among cities over 100,000, relatively few offered
more than basic information dissemination. Only a small minority
(29%) provided online interactive GIS; even fewer (24%) offered
online constituency relationship management (CRM); fewer still
offered online payments (6%). Today these features are the
mainstays of Web-based services among larger municipalities with
77% of the largest cities in the country providing some sort of
interactive access to action request and complaint systems,
although fewer have implemented fully functional CRM systems.
Over 60% have data-rich, highly interactive GIS features. Over
half provide the means for online payments of fines or fees. The
trend is clear: the current state of the art in electronic
government is toward features and functions that demand complex
and comprehensive data integration. Cities that characterize the
leading edge of innovation have, through a combination of
technological implementation and organizational change,
developed the capacity to synthesize and deliver staggering
amounts of data to the public.
the leading edge demonstrates an enormous opportunity to provide
better information and services to the publics they serve, one
concomitant trend must be noted. A huge gap exists between these
largest communities and smaller and more rural areas. Regional
studies using the MeGAP methodology show that, even in
metropolitan areas, a large divide exists between haves
and have-nots. For example, a 2001 study of metropolitan
St. Louis showed that only 36% of the regions local
governments had official websites at all. This translates into
roughly 30% of the population living in municipalities that
offer no online services. Similarly, a study of the entire
states of Massachusetts (2002) and Kentucky (2003) using the
MeGAP methodology show that significant portions of the
populations are nowhere near the leading edge described in this
article; indeed, their communities lack official Web presence
Challenges of the Next Wave of E-Government
at the advent of the availability of Web-based services hoped
for a transformation in the ways that citizens engage their
governments. Many continue to hold out hope for
technology-enabled democratic decision-making. This study of
large U.S. cities suggests that, to date, such hope is in vain.
No doubt there are many reasons that new modes of engaging
citizens are not being developed at city websites.
Data-rich features
characterize the leading edge.
Given that investment decisions in information technology are
made in an environment of fierce competition for increasingly
scarce resources, implementation of all Web-based services
amounts to triage. Increasingly, large U.S. cities are turning
toward business modeling to determine which services and
features to invest in. This change in emphasis means that
technologies that can be shown to increase efficiency or
decrease costs are given priority. Without question, the
technologies that are proving themselves using such metrics are
those that integrate existing data and thereby locate ways of
redeeming existing expenditures. Data gathered pursuant to some
previously stove-piped function within city governments is now
increasingly linked with other data, providing new services and
enriched information to constituents.
fine example of this trend is in the proliferating use of GIS
across city departments. In previous years, GIS tended to be
subsumed within a particular departments Web page more
often than not planning or public works. Increasingly, however,
local governments are incorporating GIS functionality broadly.
For example, Charlotte-Mecklenburg links GIS to the voter
registration database, allowing site visitors to locate polling
places, wards and other election information linked to
geography. Los Angeles is among several cities that have
integrated GIS with their locations-based services. From a
single site, constituents can find out about the location of
schools, fire departments, street maintenance operations and
police stations, based on their locations. San Diego is one of
several cities that have linked GIS functionality with CRM,
meaning that a site visitor can make an action request by
specifying the location of, say, a pothole on a street map.
Specific applications point
to the need for continued technological and managerial change.
To be sure, the increase in easily accessible information
provided by local governments has the demonstrably positive
benefits of improving constituent satisfaction, improving
performance and empowering citizens. Indeed, the better cities
provide such information, the less city staff is burdened by
having to answer telephones, respond to email and interface with
the public visiting city hall. The challenge, of course,
transcends technology. While it is clear that the technological
capacities of leading edge cities far outpace those of their
smaller peers, the real change has been in the culture of city
government, a change that has yet to settle into smaller
jurisdictions. The current generation of e-government evolution
requires flexible technology management as never before. Indeed,
the latest round of applications requires new approaches to
stimulate creative thinking regarding existing stores of data,
approaches that will locate valuable and useful data and link it
functionally across departments. As Ellen Perlman recently wrote
in Governing, Rather than trying to force all data into one big
compatible base, the idea is to tap into existing databases for
the bits and pieces of information and integrate them for a
specific use. This goal is one that requires the continued
integration of best practices in IT management into local
governments. Naturally, localities with large IT staffs and
professionally trained management will continue to lead.
The digital divide between
advanced local governments and the rest continues to grow apace.
Finally, the MeGAP shows clearly
that smaller, more rural communities are being left farther and
farther behind. On one hand, this is a distressing trend.
Analyzing the geography of local government in Michigan, for
example, we see the concrete effects (Figure 3). Michigan is
hardly alone in having large swaths of smaller, rural
jurisdictions that completely lack official Web presences. The
challenges of implementing cutting-edge applications for these
communities seem a distant and unlikely concern. That said,
increasingly, local government implementation of technology is
associated with economic development and competitiveness.
challenges confronting these smaller jurisdictions are manifold.
There are nonetheless, perhaps, advantages to lagging. Several
best practices are emerging that smaller jurisdictions can
benefit from. For example, many city governments put enormous
resources into Web-enabling their services and functions at the
onset of the e-government revolution only to find that they need
to reinvest in content management systems in order to keep
information up-to-date. Smaller governments just now turning to
Web-enabled applications are implementing content management
systems at the outset. More crucially, perhaps in the long run
there are advantages to lagging today. The emerging best
practices of data integration and organizational change can
certainly inform what these smaller communities do next. The
task is to develop models for implementation that are sound,
sustainable and appropriate.
3: Map Showing Michigan Local Governments with Official Websites
(dark). (Data from cyber-state.org)
for Digital Government. 2001 digital cities survey.
Retrieved October 18, 2004, from www.centerdigitalgov.com/center/01digitalcities.phtml.
for Digital Government. 2003
digital cities survey. Retrieved October 18, 2004, from www.centerdigitalgov.com/center/03digitalcities.phtml.
Eschenfelder, K. et al. (1997). Assessing U.S.
federal websites. Government
Information Quarterly, 14 (2), 173-189.
Johnson, K. L., & Misic, M. M. Benchmarking: A
tool for Web site evaluation and improvement. Electronic
Networking Applications and Policy, 9,
Kanfer, A.,
& Kolar, C. (1995). What
are communities doing on-line? (Retrieved October 18, 2004,
from www.ncsa.uiuc.edu/People/alaina/com_online)
Kaylor, C. H.,
Deshazo, R., & Van Eck, D. (2001). Gauging e-government: A
report on implementing services among American cities.
Government Information Quarterly, 18,
Perlman, E.
(2004 September). Dealing in data: Forget about building a big
all-purpose database. There are other ways to integrate state
and local information. Governing.
(Retrieved October 18, 2004 from www.governing.com/articles/9egdata.htm).
Stowers, G. N.
L. (1999). Becoming cyberactive: State and local governments on
the World Wide Web. Government
Information Quarterly, 16,
West, D.
(2004). Urban
E-government, 2004. Providence: Center for Public Policy,
Brown University. (Retrieved October 18, 2004 from www.insidepolitics.org/egovt04city.html.)
D. M. (2000). Assessing
e-government: The Internet, democracy, and service delivery by
state and federal governments. (Retrieved October 18, 2004,
from www.insidepolitics.org/egovtreport00.html.)
of this analysis were presented by the author in a paper
entitled The State of eGovernment in the US: Benchmarking the
Progress of Localities at the E-governance: Creating
On-line Citizen Participation Tools conference at Ohio State
University, March 4-6, 2004.
Copyright © 2005, American Society for Information Science and Technology


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Hatch Design Lecture At CVA
Hatch Design created these invitation cards for the upcoming leaders of design lecture with Joel Templin at my alma mater, College of Visual Arts. Should be a top notch talk. We letterpress printed these 4 x 6 sized cards on French Muscletone Construction Pure White. One of the things we really like about this sheet is that it is a single ply 140lb Cover rather than a pasted, multi ply sheet. Most other commercial papers from other mills achieve a thicker paper by pasting a 2 ply sheet for thicknesses of 130lb and up. That makes the sheets stiff. Since the French sheet is a single ply, it is a bit softer and less rigid - both qualities desirable for letterpress. However, since French is achieving that thickness with a single ply, there is more evident pulp formation within the sheet. This means that the pressure needed to print a solid area of color is significant and results in a "salty" more textured printed appearance. That texture in large inked areas is something we like and embrace in printing with letterpress. HOWEVER, read this disclaimer before you send us art with lots of ink going down.
And letterpress printing isn't just for small runs. Twenty thousand cards just rolled off the press. But, it is important to understand that for letterpress, each color is a separate pass through the press. This job was able to print both of these cards two-up on a press sheet. Still, these sheets had four separate passes for 3 color /one color. That's a lil bit of printing.


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By Michele Roberts
For The Lancaster News
It only takes watching the 6 o' clock news or picking up a copy of the newspaper on any given day to find out that some sort of violence has taken place somewhere in the county, state, country or some other part of the world.
But what if violent tendencies were not limited to just select members of the population? What if every individual in the world gave in to thoughts and acts of violence? One local author considered that fact, and wrote a book in which such an apocalyptic situation becomes real.
If you currently subscribe or have subscribed in the past to the The Lancaster News, then simply find your account number on your mailing label and enter it below.
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Tribune of Rome (Vespasian #1), Robert Fabbri
My rating: 5 of 5stars
Authors/Publishers Book Description/Synopsis
ONE MAN: ONE DESTINY 26 AD: Sixteen-year-old Vespasian leaves his family farm for Rome, his sights set on finding a patron and following his brother into the army. But he discovers a city in turmoil and an Empire on the brink. The aging emperor Tiberius is in seclusion on Capri, leaving Rome in the iron grip of Sejanus, commander of the Praetorian Guard. Sejanus is ruler of the Empire in all but name, but many fear that isn't enough for him. Sejanus' spies are everywhere – careless words at a dinner party can be as dangerous as a barbarian arrow. Vespasian is totally out of his depth, making dangerous enemies (and even more dangerous friends – like the young Caligula) and soon finds himself ensnared in a conspiracy against Tiberius. With the situation in Rome deteriorating, Vespasian flees the city to take up his position as tribune in an unfashionable legion on the Balkan frontier. Un-blooded and inexperienced, he must lead his men in savage battle with hostile mountain tribes – dangerous enough without renegade Praetorians and Imperial agents trying to kill him too. Somehow, he must survive long enough to uncover the identity of the traitors behind the growing revolt
Robert Fabbri read Drama and Theatre at London University and has worked in film and TV for 25 years. He is an assistant director and has worked on productions such as Hornblower, Hellraiser, Patriot Games and Billy Elliot. Now, his life-long passion for ancient history, especially for that of the Roman Empire, has drawn him to write his first novel. He lives in London and Berlin.
What Do I Think?
A very good read this the author without a doubt has a sincere love of the historical genre and this stood out all through.
The characters were agreeable and I found the relationship between Vespasian and Magnus entertaining and unforgettable.
Clearly this story weaver knows his facts and wove them into a believable story, with a whole horde of books out there with the Roman army in action, a story weaver has to do something distinct to get their stories noticed, what Robert Fabbri has done in this story is placing one of the most fascinating of the Roman Emperors who emerged to this lofty rank about AD 68.
Robert Fabbri has written a story of style, well plotted with superb characters, with fiction and non-fiction brought together well.
So now we have probably a fresh challenger to Simon Scarrow, Ben Kane, Conn Iggulden, Douglas Jackson and the like competing for the prime position of this genre.
In conclusion I can truly say if you're a enthusiast of Roman historical novels then this is an unquestionable must read.
Buy it, you won't be disappointed!


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Alan Hahn of Newsday has reported that Chauncey Billups finally has been cleared for basketball workouts after suffering a strained knee ligament in game 1 of the playoffs versus the Celtics.
"Chauncey Billups, who suffered a bruised knee late in G1 vs BOS, was cleared this week to resume full workouts, Newsday has learned. #fb"
This is great news to hear in that Billups now has 7 weeks until training camp is scheduled to start. Obviously with the lockout, there is a good possibility that training camp will be wiped out but Billups will be ready to go if it remains. Now that Billups is seemingly healthy, the attention turns to Amar'e Stoudemire who still has not fully recovered from his back injury also suffered against Boston.
[Image Via Vibe]
Follow @tarmosino


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Blue Jays
Inspired by nature, this statement piece will definitely attract attention. Showing a lively and dynamic expression, the Blue Jays are beautifully executed in cut crystal, featuring natural color combinations such as Blue Turquoise, Jet, and Lavender crystal. The stunning birds perch on a beautiful silver-tone metal display. Decoration object. Not a toy. Not suitable for children under 15.
Article no.: 1176149
Approximate size: 10 5/8 x 11 1/16 inches


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Software for Manufacturing
Progressive-Die Builder/Metal Stamper Opts for Software-as-a Service ERP Solution
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Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Chirch Global Manufacturing, LLC, McHenry, IL, has implemented the new Epicor Manufacturing Express Edition on-demand version of the Epicor 9 enterprise-resource-planning (ERP) software. An ISO TS 16949-certified supplier to the automotive, consumer display, electrical, medical and other industries, Chirch Global opted for the software-as-a-service (SaaS) solution to "reduce its long-term IT costs, says company CEO Anthony Chirchirillo. "We can more accurately budget our IT costs on a year-to-year basis…and operationally, Epicor Express levels the playing field, as we now have an ERP system that is comparable to what best-in-class and much larger entities use."
Epicor Express, from Epicor Software Corp., Irvine, CA, includes modules for customer relationship management, financial management, production, product and material management and business process management.
Epicor Software Corp.: 949/585-4000; www.epicor.com
See also: Epicor Software Corporation
Related Enterprise Zones: Other Processes, Software
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FLORENCE, S.C. – The Peach Belt Conference (PBC) has cancelled the backdraw of the 2014 Tennis Tournament because of rains in the area. The Georgia College men's tennis third-place matchup with Lander University has been cancelled.
The Bobcats, 14-7 on the season, will now await the NCAA's announcement of the Southeast Regional Tournament field. Georgia College hopes for an at-large bid, based on their season resume.
The Georgia College Department of Athletics, two-time winners of the PBC Commissioner's Cup, sponsors 11 varsity athletic programs at the NCAA Division II level. As a Division II program, Bobcat Athletics prides itself on balancing the life of the student-athlete, evidenced by the teams' multiple appearances in post-season competition as well as documented academic success and community-service involvement. Sign up at @GCBobcats on Twitter and Facebook for up-to-the-minute reports, and visit GCBobcats.PhotoReflect.com to purchase photo prints from home athletic contests.