text:
Original ProposalEdit
Following on from this discussion, I am now officially proposing a system to help ensure all administrators remain fair and impartial. I propose the following:
- Nominations for adminship occur twice a year, for example in January and again in July.
- Any admin nominated remains "in office" for a maximum of one year and will need to be reaffirmed after their time has expired.
- There must be a minimum number of votes required for adminship to be bestowed/reaffirmed.
- In the run up to admin nominations, there will be an MA-wide announcement with a dedicated page where current admins can present their reasoning for reaffirmation and their ideas for the wiki moving forward. During this period, existing users will also be invited to question admins on their ideas and how they will solve any issues that may arise.
- Current admins and prospective nominees may invite other users to vote for them or simply garner interest in the nominations themselves.
As it currently stands, all admins, once successful, remain admins for life. There is no incentive for an admin to maintain a high standard or abuse their "powers." By implementing a term limit, they will know that their standards of adminship will be scrutinised come voting day. This would also have the added impact of creating a community event twice yearly where everyone can get involved to decide who should be administering "our" wiki. I appreciate any polite comments you may have. --| TrekFan Open a channel 23:23, September 14, 2011 (UTC)
- I disagree with this idea for the following reasons:
- A wiki is not a democracy, and should not be run like one. It shouldn't be a popularity contest.
- I would be hesitant to involve non-regular users in the process who are not familiar with it and not familiar with why such an event is taking place or the reasons behind it. There are better ways to generate community interest- that should not be the goal of the admin process.
- It is too open to abuse by those with personal grudges or issues with a particular admin. We already have users accusing admins of acting together as a secretive group- the same could happen with users, who would secretly get together and gang up on an admin, not because they don't deserve to be one, but because they don't like them. A way to counteract that - requiring a lot of votes- would not work as we don't have that many users(and we shouldn't attract them to such a situation as I described above) and it still is open to dissatisfied users ganging up on people.
- Who would moderate such a forum?
- I would add that even Wikipedia does not have a user-based process to remove their admin's status that different from what we do now(discuss it).--31dot 23:40, September 14, 2011 (UTC)
- While I oppose Trekfan's idea, do we actually have a process for removing admin's status? --OuroborosCobra talk 23:48, September 14, 2011 (UTC)
- No. I remember discussing one two years ago but nothing came of it. I would still be open to a removal process of some sort(not necessarily with the criteria on that old page I wrote) but I disagree with the idea of consistent renominations or term limits.--31dot 23:52, September 14, 2011 (UTC)
- {many edit conflicts; this was originally in reply to 31dot's first post here)Well, what else are regular users meant to do if there's a gross miscarriage of justice carried out by the admins at large?! That is not to suggest the acting-as-a-group thing but the complete opposite – the omission of action by a group, without organizing that action, but with each member of the group still carrying out the same lack of action. What other alternative is there, for the regular users? Suggesting an alternative would likely be far more productive than just dismissing (albeit with reasonings) a suggestion, 31dot. --Defiant 23:57, September 14, 2011 (UTC)
- The previous discussion on the removal policy I suggested two years ago is here.
- Without carrying too much of the other discussion to this page, I think that it got out of hand and would have benefited from a cool-down period after which all parties could have discussed the issue calmly, without attitudes or accusations(valid or otherwise). That's what should be happening. I could envision having some sort of vote for removal or other sanction- but creating a bureaucracy based on popularity and unnecessary repetition(for "good" admins) isn't the answer.--31dot 00:05, September 15, 2011 (UTC)
I disagree that this would lead to a popularity contest. It is a basic expectation that an admin should be a polite, friendly, approachable person. If they are the complete opposite, then people aren't going to think much of them and thus perhaps wouldn't vote for them. --| TrekFan Open a channel 00:14, September 15, 2011 (UTC)
- I agree, and also think we should include the rule about omitting non-regular users from the proceedings. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think there'd be any problem with that aspect. Anyways, thanks for your input, 31dot. I do agree with you about the "cooling off period," and that's what I've requested on the other page. DC evidently isn't doing any "cooling off" (to my mind, understandably so), but still.... --Defiant 00:19, September 15, 2011 (UTC)
- With text-based communication, what is polite and friendly is a matter of opinion- and this whole discussion has involved accusations of rudeness where, if looked at a different way, there isn't any. Anyway, my main concern is that any removal process should be on a case by case basis and not a regular basis.--31dot 00:23, September 15, 2011 (UTC)
[EDIT CONFLICT] - @Defiant: OK, yeah I understand the user comment. Perhaps we could include a restriction akin to that in the FA nomination policy? Something along the lines of "any registered user who has been an active member of Memory Alpha for at least the past month, with an additional 100 significant edits to their name" perhaps? --| TrekFan Open a channel 00:25, September 15, 2011 (UTC)
- Yeah, something like that would be good. @31dot: "Accusations of rudeness" doesn't really apply to me. My issues are with infractions of the policies and guidelines. As I clearly outline (with proof) on the other page, Archduk3 has repeatedly broken the policies and guidelines (this, despite my genuine extreme respect for him as an editor). I'm doing my utmost to not bring my personal views into this – the policies and guidelines are paramount in my mind right now, as they should be to you too (not that they're not). --Defiant 00:54, September 15, 2011 (UTC)
- I think a case-by-case process would be more beneficial in instances similar to this one and less prone to abuse and use as a popularity contest in such an instance, such as the suggested policy I wrote two years ago(link is above-I'm really not trying to toot my own horn here, it was a starting point) --31dot 00:58, September 15, 2011 (UTC)
- There weren't too many; Cid raised a few at the bottom of the discussion. I responded to them but it didn't really seem to go anywhere after that. Just got lost, I guess. --31dot 01:17, September 15, 2011 (UTC)
- I'd like to throw this open to TrekFan and Distantlycharmed too (if I may), since you've already supported the version outlined here. Would you have any problem(s) with implementing this version, or would you support it as well? --Defiant 01:51, September 15, 2011 (UTC)
- [Edit conflict] - The real reason for this is obvious, so why dance around it? I've spoken a number of times about increasing the number of admins and removing inactive ones, but never as a cover to remove piticular admins because I have a grudge, like the users here clearly have and are doing. This is just trying to politicizing the admin position to override the point and purpose of it. If TrekFan would turn down that position to make a point, as backward as that point may be, why in the hell do you expect any of us to play along with this insincere suggestion that does nothing but do what you can't acomplish elsewhere, and for good reason I might add, to get revenge on the admins who don't agree with you? - Archduk3 (on an unsecure connection) 02:01, September 15, 2011 (UTC)
Archduk3, I have never once expressed a desire to become an admin nor do I wish to become one now. I'm sure if you go back far enough you will see multiple instances of where I have voiced my opinion regarding some (not all) of the admins on this site and their attitudes towards other users. The fact that it has now received more widespread discussion and support (from at least two other users) serves to highlight my prior beliefs and observations during my time here. --| TrekFan Open a channel 02:10, September 15, 2011 (UTC)
- As I've explained, this is entirely impersonal, on my part, too; you have absolutely no grounds to suggest otherwise, Archduk. This is not personally about you by any means, unlike the other page. In accordance with the guideline of assuming good faith, you should not be taking everything so personally. In fact, whatever happens with your particular case of repeated policy-breaking, I think it would be in MA's best interest to have something like this. While reading the pages 31dot helpfully linked to, I was reminded of how I kind of let MA administratorship go to my head; it was like there was nothing to stop me. I've learned the error of my ways, but I believe that provides a good precedent for how this system can be a good tool. --Defiant 02:24, September 15, 2011 (UTC)
- It feels like it takes a lot of courage to admit that. Anyways, it just so happens that your case is fairly recent. However much it's linked to this or not, I'm quite sure other, similar cases will crop up in due course; it's certainly not the first time admins have been guilty of rule-breaking (in reference to both myself and others), as we're all Human... at the end of the day. This procedure should therefore be valuable when admins do screw up. --Defiant 02:43, September 15, 2011 (UTC)
- @TrekFan - I would hardly call the same people involved in the other discussion "widespread", and I'm well aware of your opinions of the admins here, you even thanked me for being one of the good ones this year, but let's not pretend this is unrelated and not directly motivated by the lack of a consensus to "punish" me or the other admins who don't agree with you. The assumption of abuse is right there in the reasoning, despite the fact that there is no consensus that there was abuse and that you didn't add a "not" in front of it. I know that a consensus can remove me, or anyone else for that matter, from this position, and creating a system to override that is nothing but what I've already said it is.
- @Defiant - I doubt that. Are we to let a vandal run free in the database because the first page they vandalized is the page of the only admin around at the time? Are we to let trolls keep trolling because they personally attacked every active admin? The spirit is more important than the letter, even if you have already decided I'm guilty. You have opposed past discussions on this simply on the grounds that removing inactive admins is "unfair" to the time lords in out mist, so I certainly entitled to my opinion here, which I will not change as long as this remain the last bastion of a fail attempt to do what you can't do elsewhere.
- If either of you were interested in this really, you would be pushing for more admins, not less, since "the more people that participate in the system, the better". If anything, only admins should be allowed to discuss the removal of another admin, since they are the only people on here who are entrusted to uphold the "rules" by the wider community in a unanimous vote before enforcing those rules may have made them unpopular with those that break them, and their friends. - Archduk3 (on an unsecure connection) 03:25, September 15, 2011 (UTC)
- The only thing I'd like to add is that this: "an admin should be a polite, friendly, approachable person" simply is not the complete description of an admin. An admin is also the guy who is supposed to maintain order on the wiki - by removing content we don't allow, by keeping vandals in check, by dealing with trolls. All of this includes eventually telling people off and being (somewhat) unfriendly to those who deserve it because of their actions. If being an admin becomes a constant popularity contest, this will interfere with the job description. -- Cid Highwind 09:13, September 15, 2011 (UTC)
- I'll second that. I've seen it asked of what people should do if they feel "wronged" by an admin- they should talk about it, like has been done before(a little talking about it led Defiant to surrender his powers). I don't mind writing such a policy down if done the right way- but the policy proposed here isn't the way to do it. I also think that if people are interested in doing so we should let this cool off for a little bit before we take it up(perhaps on the original discussion page)--31dot 09:40, September 15, 2011 (UTC)
- Essentially, words seem to be being put in other people's mouths; Cid, did TrekFan say the polite & friendly thing was the only condition of being an admin?! Not at all, can't find that description anywhere. Did he say admins should consistently be polite and friendly, whatever happens, to completely everyone?! No, I can't find that either. @Archduk; I find your first three sentences, "I doubt that" to "personally attacked every admin," quite hard to understand (you doubt what?) and, again, they're full of notions I didn't suggest. As you can see from my above posts, I have actually been concerned about "gross miscarriages of justice," so how you got from that to thinking that I'm in favor of them completely baffles me. I strongly suggest you follow the guideline of taking some cool off time, since a lot of your interpretations of what I'm trying to communicate are so far off the mark! Do other users interpret what I'm saying in such a faulty way, I wonder(?) I haven't "decided" you're guilty; that much is a fact, which I've proven. To repeatedly block users prematurely and ignore the "assume good faith" guideline is breaking the rules. Can't you see that?! Also, your argument about my having opposed such discussions previously doesn't stand up to scrutiny, either; people change, and that seems to be another fact you're just gonna have to learn to accept. --Defiant 09:59, September 15, 2011 (UTC)
- Please take some of your own medicine, Defiant. I just noted that the description that had been given before was incomplete, because I thought it was important to mention that. So what if the original author didn't claim it to be? - it's not as if I attacked TrekFan for consciously trying to hide the whole truth about admins, or something. Also, this whole (unfounded) claim about "repeatedly blocking users prematurely" has been the point of the other thread - let's keep it there unless you want this thread to go the way of the dodo fast, too. -- Cid Highwind 10:09, September 15, 2011 (UTC)
- Okay. It just seems Archduk3 is in denial about something I've already proved, over there. If you require more evidence, I'll be happy to supply that on the other page. Also, you're right – I may have been quick to judge your reply to TrekFan. On the other hand, you could have made more clear your reasonings that you were only noting that the descriptions were incomplete. You might note that I made a similar mistake (not being clear enough) on the other page, so it's a pretty easy mistake to make. --Defiant 10:16, September 15, 2011 (UTC)
- Anyways, I did say "seems" to be putting words in others' mouths. --Defiant 10:43, September 15, 2011 (UTC)
I'm on my way out so I have to respond quickly - @Cid, I didn't say that was the only quality required. I was responding to your popularity contest argument in that yes admins had to be polite, friendly and approachable. Although, even when dealing with spammers/trolls, it is still possible to maintain that politeness. @Archduk3, the discussion is about your recent conduct over the past few months. I posted that message in January when I did think you did a good job. That has since deteriorated into what has ultimately been described here and in the past forum discussion. --| TrekFan Open a channel 11:55, September 15, 2011 (UTC)
- Could we please make an effort to stay on topic and stop diverting from the issue by bringing in accusations, ad hominem attacks and other stuff? I thought we agreed to that, didnt we? Anyway, I am frankly flabbergasted that in the 21st century we are actually sitting there debating with people why a democratic system based on proper checks and balances to insure the highest standards and prevent abuse and complacency by those in power is a good thing. I mean really? That we are even having an argument about that, like this was debatable, is truly beyond me. for clarification, the recent debate about admins abusing their privileges precipitated this discussion and the need for a system in which people are held accountable. Period. Currently there is no accountability and people who are being abused have no recourse and they get discouraged after a while coming here - unless they agree with admins on everything of course. So let me summarize why the proposal would be very helpful to all of us. (Some of it I am repeating since the discussion was moved)
- 1) Any democratic system requires a system of checks and balances in place whereby those who are in power positions, such as admins in this case, do not get to just do whatever they like without any repercussions since they are locked in their lifetime appointments. Yes, repercussions exist but it would have to be a truly appalling transgression at this point to get an admin disciplined.
- 2) Admins currently have little to no incentive to maintain a high standard pertaining to their own conduct since there are no adverse consequences to their actions.
- 3) Yes, there exists a mechanism by which admins can be stripped off their rights, but it is more of a confrontational/adversarial process whereby someone has to bring up "charges" or accusations and wait for others to vote - the end results being what we have seen with the recent incident. It is like electing a president for life until someone decides to impeach him, which is very hard. But how much better is a system in which he is elected every so many years so that those who believe he isnt doing a good job can vote on it in a democratic process.
- 4) The suggested plan by TrekFan seems more proactive, less adversarial and as he stated it would also help in maintenance and just keeping the system up to date with admins who are no longer active or dont wish to be admins.
- 5) As to the popularity contest issue: Electing admins frankly is a popularity contest. Someone who does a great job technically and knows a lot but whose personality is hated by others is not gonna become an admin. We have seen that time and again on here where people did not become admins on personal grounds/issues someone else had with them. So that argument is moot.
- 6) If we are a community and we have elected "officials" it is only fair that said officials be held accountable and to certain standards and currently there is no such system in place. There just isnt. And i mean real accountability - not the "go look up the rules" accountability currently in place. Currently the system is biased, adversarial and it is next to impossible to discipline abusive admins. People (other admins, contributors etc) arent confrontational for the most part, they dont wanna have to take sides and start the "process" of having to "look into it" etc. Every way you look at it, it is a very one sided system and it needs some kind of "reform". Distantlycharmed 17:25, September 15, 2011 (UTC)
- Yeah, I'm flabbergasted, too - flabbergasted about how you request that others "stop diverting from the topic", only to claim the same stuff again as if the whole discussion inbetween was invalid or didn't happen in the first place. If that's not a diversion, I don't know what is...
- So, again, and in less than 3.5KB text: we're discussing (and for the most part opposing) this suggestion exactly because we believe that it would not install "proper checks and balances" and "prevent abuse", but quite the opposite. -- Cid Highwind 17:52, September 15, 2011 (UTC)
- See, again, you just cannot stay on topic can you? Anyway, just STOP IT ok? Stop the getting personal and putting people on the defense by making those snide remarks that make it look like people are stupid and "dont get it" because they dont agree with you or their thought processes dont resonate with yours. Just please STOP. You do that all the time. This type of making your way through a debate isnt going to resolve anything if you havent noticed. It just creates bad blood. And dont misrepresent my position. I am the only one pretty much who stayed on topic since a while here, summarizing the need and importance for such a system, as it went under amongst all the bickering and accusing and obfuscation. And frankly from what I have seen about the "discussions" above it has mostly been either people, driven by their emotions of recent events, dismissing good points and arguing as to why they should keep their power positions for life and not be asked to be really held accountable or the "he said\she said" stuff of bickering over semantics to change the topic from admin accountability to their own person. I made my points and if you want to refute them by making sound arguments that dont involve some backhanded remark, please do it but dont make remarks like "oh you just dont get it, look at you, I am so flabbergasted too at how you dont get it". Your behavior is exactly why we need such a system in place. You are rude and you make way too many underhanded remarks around here which mostly go under. I am going to suspect that most people who opposed the issue probably didnt want to bother reading through what you call the "discussions" - way too many side topics and bickering for the general audience to keep track of and be involved in. That is why I stayed out. Distantlycharmed 18:33, September 15, 2011 (UTC)
- So what you're saying DC is that all those people opposing this are simply too stupid and easy confused to follow this discussion, or too lazy to read it. I don't think so. I'm pretty sure they're all smart enough to see this is a bad idea suggested by people with an ulterior motive, and it will do nothing but the opposite of what you claim it will do. Cid is on topic, it's just not going the way you hoped it would, and since you've just insulted everyone who doesn't agree with you, maybe you still need to sit this out. - Archduk3 18:45, September 15, 2011 (UTC)
- I dont agree with the proposal because I think it would be much simpler to simply vote an admin out of his or her adminship if we feel he has behaved badly. --Pseudohuman 19:13, September 15, 2011 (UTC)
- No Duke, on the contrary. Expecting accountability by people so they dont abuse their power is not informed by ulterior, evil motives as you imply. Since you have, according to yourself and your friends around here, been behaving like a model admin then I think you shouldnt have anything to worry about right? I dont recall this as being about you, this is a general proposal precipitated by an incident - just like most policies, statues and laws in life. Some event happens that necessitates the need for reform. I also dont think people who opposed are too stupid to understand (your words, btw, not mine), I think that the volume and level of bickering is just something they probably didnt want to deal with and maybe just glanced over it and decided on a no to get it over it.
- @ Pseudohuman: Good point and I thought that too but dont you think the act of voting an admin out of office is just adversarial and confrontational and realistically only happens in cases of severe misconduct? As in it wouldnt be a substitute for ensuring they are admin material? Administrating, at least on MA, is more than just site maintenance, it is leadership and when there are little repercussions for bad behavior, those who lead might easily succumb to complacency. Also, it's important to keep in mind that this is not just about voting out of "office", it is about finding ways to discipline as voting out of office should be the last resort if you ask me. As someone stated previously, it is more the spirit of this that is important. Some kind of accountability system other than "you can be kicked out of office". Distantlycharmed 19:36, September 15, 2011 (UTC)
- So what you're saying DC is that all those people opposing this are simply too stupid and easy confused to follow this discussion, or too lazy to read it. I don't think so. I'm pretty sure they're all smart enough to see this is a bad idea suggested by people with an ulterior motive, and it will do nothing but the opposite of what you claim it will do. Cid is on topic, it's just not going the way you hoped it would, and since you've just insulted everyone who doesn't agree with you, maybe you still need to sit this out. - Archduk3 18:45, September 15, 2011 (UTC)
- I'd like to respond to some of DC's points above:
- 1)This isn't a democratic system, so we shouldn't compare it to one. It should take an appalling transgression to strip someone of their status- one that could not have been resolved amicably through discussion.
- 2)If being removed isn't a consequence, I don't know what is. I'm not sure what other "consequences" there could be. I also have to wonder if the goal here is to simply punish alleged misbehaving admins instead of trying to resolve any issues that come up. I'll note the vast majority of support of this proposal is by the person who claims to have been wronged by an admin and their friends- most others are opposed.
- 3-4)Removing someone's admin status is by definition adversarial, and this idea will not make it any less so, and will in fact introduce more adversity on a regular basis.
- 5)It is not moot- this idea would turn the process into more of a popularity contest than it is currently, not less.
- 6)I'm still not sure what is meant by "accountability" that doesn't happen currently through discussion and possible removal.
- I probably won't have too much more to say on this page, as it is becoming clear this proposal will not be enacted as written. I will again suggest that we take some cool down time before discussing any other proposals for a clearer process to remove admin status.--31dot 19:57, September 15, 2011 (UTC)
- [Edit conflict] - I'm pretty sure there's a snowman quickly melting in hell right now, since the last thing you said I agree with. What hasn't been stated yet is that if there was a decision by administrators to block another admin, that admin would be expected to comply with the block even though they would be able to remove it. That's been the assumption I've always worked under, and just like the "policy" for creating more bureaucrats, I don't see a reason to enshrine this case-by-case informal procedure with legaleze, especially when words can be used to obscure what's being said. But none of that was in this suggestion, and that wasn't the spirit of it either, since this remains an attempt to blah blah blah see above. - Archduk3 20:02, September 15, 2011 (UTC)
- Clearly, there's still a distinct lack of fairness and equality in this dictatorship-like regime and quite a few of those that have added to this discussion seem to agree that the policies should be changed a bit, even while opposing this particular rendition of the proposal. I suggest a similar proposal should be presented, based on 31dot's earlier work (see above). --Defiant 12:28, September 19, 2011 (UTC)
- I think the "dictatorship" analogies are extremely inaccurate, and do little to help your cause; if this was a dictatorship, the originators of this proposal would not have been allowed to bring it, and would have been silenced long ago.--31dot 12:33, September 19, 2011 (UTC)
- As you can see by all the "oppose" votes directly below, that is exactly what many have tried to do. --Defiant 13:54, September 19, 2011 (UTC)
Votes for/againstEdit
- Support --| TrekFan Open a channel 23:57, September 14, 2011 (UTC)
- I wish to oppose this idea.--31dot 23:55, September 14, 2011 (UTC)
- Support --Defiant 23:59, September 14, 2011 (UTC)
- Support Distantlycharmed 00:54, September 15, 2011 (UTC)
- Oppose. - Archduk3 (on an unsecure connection) 02:01, September 15, 2011 (UTC)
- Oppose. --Jörg 07:00, September 15, 2011 (UTC)
- Oppose (keeping in mind that policies aren't created by simple majority, anyway). -- Cid Highwind 09:03, September 15, 2011 (UTC)
- Oppose --Delta2373 09:41, September 15, 2011 (UTC)
- Cobra expressed opposition above, just posting here for clarity.--31dot 09:43, September 15, 2011 (UTC)
- I'll add it officially. Oppose. --OuroborosCobra talk 18:02, September 18, 2011 (UTC)
- Oppose. Tom 10:18, September 15, 2011 (UTC)
- Oppose.–Cleanse ( talk | contribs ) 11:08, September 15, 2011 (UTC)
- Oppose--Sennim 11:46, September 15, 2011 (UTC)
- Oppose -- Capricorn 11:48, September 15, 2011 (UTC) (note: I'd like to clarify that I'm judging on the specific proposal, not the conflict that triggered it)
- Oppose (but please work out a clear system of removing admin status from its abusers) --Pseudohuman 12:39, September 15, 2011 (UTC)
- Support -- Ltarex 16:36, September 15, 2011 (CET)
- Oppose -- Renegade54 14:18, September 16, 2011 (UTC)
Revised proposalEdit
I have purposely given this discussion a break of several days to have a clear think about the points everyone has presented and I feel it is clear a compromise is needed. I would be for implementing an "official" policy of removal for administrators as has been mentioned above, but I would like to add one suggestion; once an admin has passed nomination, they should complete a "probation" period of three months after which three or more supporting votes are required to keep their status. Should they do anything questionable during this time, it can be brought up at the post-probation vote and if they do anything questionable afterwards, the new removal policy can be enacted. I hope this is a compromise that satisfies all points of view. --| TrekFan Open a channel 12:57, September 19, 2011 (UTC)
Discussion of revised proposalEdit
I am not a fan of the "probation period" idea. Three months is a very short period of time and allows for no mistakes; any "wronged" user could then vote against them. I think that if someone behaves badly enough after obtaining admin powers to warrant losing them in that short a time, then a discussion should be started about it on a case by case basis. If they would potentially behave in such a manner that quickly, then they shouldn't have been nominated and approved in the first place.--31dot 13:05, September 19, 2011 (UTC)
- I see your point, 31dot. It's a tricky one because it could be looked at the other way aswell. For example, once someone receives those powers, it goes to their head and they think they are the be all and end all, going back to what precipiated this discussion. I think it only right they have some sort of "probation" at the very least as this is usually the same with any position of authority in most organisations and should be the same in MA. However, I will remain quiet now so as to let everyone else voice their opinions. --| TrekFan Open a channel 13:11, September 19, 2011 (UTC)
(I am not trying to goad you into responding, but I wished to comment further.) Again, if "power goes to their head" that quickly, they likely shouldn't have been nominated at all; and if they were, then a discussion can be started calling for their removal. I'll note a discussion took place following this incident, and frankly it didn't go the way the wronged person and their supporters wanted- so they now call for changing the policy. I'm still not opposed to somehow formalizing the idea of discussing an admin's removal, but I am less inclined to push for it as this goes on.
I'll further note that my original proposal draft was just that- a draft- and never intended to be the formal policy in that form.--31dot 13:24, September 19, 2011 (UTC)
- (It's fine that you responded. After all, that's what this discussion is about! :)) I understand where you're coming from 31dot. You have some valid points but I'm going to let everyone else get a word in so it' not just me taking up space with my babbling on! One thing I will say is that your original draft may have been that - a draft - but at the very least we can use it as a springboard to develop something more substantial. --| TrekFan Open a channel 13:54, September 19, 2011 (UTC)
- I agree, as can be seen above. You've done good work on this so far, 31dot. :) What about probationary periods of longer than 3 months, since your objections to the proposal seems to be time-based? --Defiant 13:59, September 19, 2011 (UTC)
- [Edit conflict] - This is still just an attempt to do nothing but politicize the admin position and punish the admins who the users proposing this personally don't agree with, which can be confirmed by "going back to what precipiated this discussion". This is coming from users who refuse to participate in or even use the current system, feel that all the admins here are "corrupt" and "abusive", and they are simply trying to game the system by continuing this flame war until they can get their revenge. Since this phantom proposal apparently changes nothing in the original "mentioned above" except to add yet another instance of mob rule, these users clearly have heard nothing from the original discussion that they didn't already want to hear, are dealing in bad faith, and all the original votes for opposing this should remain. - Archduk3 14:43, September 19, 2011 (UTC)
- I agree, as can be seen above. You've done good work on this so far, 31dot. :) What about probationary periods of longer than 3 months, since your objections to the proposal seems to be time-based? --Defiant 13:59, September 19, 2011 (UTC)
- I'm sorry Archduk3 but I strongly disagree. Did you not even read what I put in my revised proposal? I wrote "I have purposely given this discussion a break of several days to have a clear think about the points everyone has presented" showing I have read what everyone has said. Furthermore, I stated, "it is clear a compromise is needed" which, judging from the above comments it is. Why do you insist on coming back to this argument that we're out on some personal vendetta to rob you of your admin rights or "game the system" as you put it? It's not like that. I am after a fair and resonable system that makes it feasible to remove admins should they not be suitable for the position. Why is it bad to want change or at the very least discussion on it? --| TrekFan Open a channel 14:53, September 19, 2011 (UTC)
I might oppose probationary periods less if the period was longer, but I am opposed to the concept in general.--31dot 14:57, September 19, 2011 (UTC)
- Okay. That's cool, as it seems like we're making progress. As for Archduk's latest post, it was yet another breaking of the "assume good faith" guideline. Archduk, I really don't like being included in it, implied as one of supposedly numerous personal-attacker-types, seeing as I've tried – on multiple occasions – to explain that this is entirely not personal on my part, despite your repeated accusations (without any proof, whatsoever) that it is. It really doesn't seem fair of you. Whenever you make such accusations, please either leave me out of them or provide evidence of my inclusion (of course, no such evidence will be forthcoming, since I'm generally a big fan of your work). --Defiant 15:04, September 19, 2011 (UTC)
- I also find it very hard to relate to the criticisms as, simply put, they're just entirely untrue. Are you just taking shots in the dark here, Archduk? Hardly any proof of your accusations seems in evidence. I wouldn't be surprised if you find it very hard to gather substantial proof (certainly in my case, none exists). I don't think such comments are very productive or helpful to this process. I'd be interested to see what 31dot or another admin has to say about them. --Defiant 15:13, September 19, 2011 (UTC)
- [Edit conflict] - That's not a new proposal, it's what was clearly rejected in the original with a three month "probation" period tacked on. I would buy your argument that this isn't personal more if you three weren't "repeatedly pushing a viewpoint that the consensus of the community has clearly rejected" and "sticking to an unsupportable allegation or viewpoint long after the consensus of the community has rejected it", and if either of you had some other example of why we need this policy that isn't DC being blocked for good reason. - Archduk3 15:18, September 19, 2011 (UTC)
Comment. I had taken TrekFan's comment at the top of this section to mean that he was in favor of something like the proposal I drafted two years ago plus his probation idea- not his original proposal plus a probation idea. If I'm in error I am willing to be corrected.--31dot 15:32, September 19, 2011 (UTC)
- I had the same interpretation. Archduk, I meant much more direct evidence than that; I'm challenging you to prove my personal involvement in anything related to personal unlikeness or whatever else personal you suspect rather than trying to help out with the site's organization. Clinging onto suspicions about the trustworthiness, or lack thereof, of any user(s) (with the quotes you presented, or whatever else) is the very definition of breaking the "assume good faith" guideline. --Defiant 15:58, September 19, 2011 (UTC)
- You might also note that I haven't even supported this proposal below; seeing as it's still being worked out, I'm undecided at this stage. --Defiant 16:01, September 19, 2011 (UTC)
- [Edit conflict] - I don't see any mention of 31dot's years old suggestion in "an "official" policy of removal for administrators as has been mentioned above" since the only policy "officially" outlined on this page is the rejected one. I also flat out reject for now any user rights policy changes suggested by these users, due to clear bias, and will continue to reject any policy with the stated goal to "remove" admins. If 31dot's old policy suggestion was the "official" policy we're suppose to be commenting on now, then why have none of Cid's years old comments been taken into account, and why was said policy not outlined on this page? All I see here is disgruntled users pushing a biased agenda well after calls for them to cool off have been made.
- @Defiant - You're insistence that this is a dictatorship, which implies that admins all act with the same mind, despite there being plenty of examples of admins disagreeing, is a clear bias, and you seem to still assume that my edits on this matter are made in bad faith, just like you assumed my block of DC was made in bad faith before you even knew anything about the situation. I'm not you, and I take insult that you think my admin powers have gone to my head just because yours did. If I, or any admin for that matter, was as corrupt and willing to break the rules as you suggest, know that you would all have been permanently blocked well before this point; you're continued ability to edit is all the proof you need that we aren't even remotely like what you suggest. So I ask once again, why should any suggestion from someone so biased be taken seriously now? - Archduk3 16:15, September 19, 2011 (UTC)
- Archduke, what is there to know about your recent behavior that Defiant didnt take into account? That you, after personally insulting me just a few weeks ago, went ahead and quite hypocritically blocked me for making that "genius" comment? Is that what you like him ot take into account? That it is ok for YOU to personally attack but when someone makes a snide remark (not even insulting to your face like you did with me and the whole "you are too stupid ot click on a link"), they have to be blocked and banned? Is that what you like him to embrace?
- Fact is that you have been abusing your admin privileges. In how many other languages and descriptions do you want someone to present that to you? You have unjustly blocked user 1312.4 a few months ago and when asked to please explain, you dismissed me and said you didnt care about my "bullshit concerns" then you threatened to block me if I continued asking why you did it; then after making a bunch of personal attacks against me (like Ten Forward ""I'm sure anyone can be excused for assuming that DC can't click a link") - which were completely unprovoked and which you got away with because you can block and i cannot - you went ahead and blocked me weeks later with the "genius" comment. You are and have clearly been abusing your privileges and your friends are not willing to do anything about it (i.e. do their job as admins as wikia said) and you dont want anything in place that would restrict you from continuing to abuse your privileges and threaten others with blocks everytime they refuse to acquiesce to you. For the 14th time, you should first of all
- 1)not have invoked the block yourself when you are involved in a "dispute" (violation one) and
- 2) you had absolutely NO RIGHT to block me when you have been personally attacking me for months now.
- These are the facts, which you blatantly deny. And now that someone is proposing finding ways to somehow deal with abusive admins, such as yourself in this case, but also in the future as sort of a "safe guard", you, naturally, oppose it and os do your friends. Looking at this, you are not making any good faith attempts of solving the issue or even owning up ot your mistake even, as evidenced by your repeatedly dismissive "gtfo" attitude and the "everything said above is "blah blah blah" comments you leave regarding the issue. You have obviously no intention to move a step forward and resolve the issue in a manner that is good for the community. So we have abuse, which precipitated the whole question about admins abusing their privileges and finding a way to deal with that (as suggested by wikia which assumes there is enough competence here for people to resolve issues like adults) and all I hear is nay saying and denial of the truth and defending questionable admin behavior. Ecept for Defiant and FTrek Fan who have made actual constructive proposals, I dont see you do anything but obfuscate the issue to your favor. So next time someone accuses MA admin ship being run like a dictatorship and you deny it, I might consider referencing them to this site where good faith attempts at resolving an ongoing issue have been repeatedly blocked and dumped on. Distantlycharmed 16:31, September 19, 2011 (UTC)
- Since you two seem like a pair of squabbling kids on this subject, I'm unwilling to participate in this any more, unless it returns to the same type of constructive basis I meant it to be on. --Defiant 16:49, September 19, 2011 (UTC)
- Case in point, the above rambling personal attack from a user who clearly refuses to get the point, is friends with the user proposing this policy, with the only example given on why we need this being DC's justified block, and that's stated goal is to remove admins, nothing else. - Archduk3 16:54, September 19, 2011 (UTC)
- I actually agree with this comment about DC's post; it wasn't very productive, either. I'm not sure what "friends with the user proposing this policy" has anything to do with it, though, since we're all acquaintances here. --Defiant 16:59, September 19, 2011 (UTC)
- DC: Stop harping on about such things that have already been dealt with. AD3 admitted that he should not have been the one to block you in the most recent case. So, unless you have something directly to bring up as relates to the policy suggestion and is not verging on attempting to personally crucify someone, don't post it.
- If anyone comes in here again and attempts to derail this dicussion with posts such as the one by DC 4 entries above this (16:31UTC), they will be blocked for a brief period of time. No matter who they are. -- sulfur 17:09, September 19, 2011 (UTC)
- Seems fair to me... and productive. :) Anyone else who has personal grudges either from what was meant to be a constructive conversation to assist with site organization or from the preceding, personal discussion, please try to deal with that on your own time, rather than bringing it into this forum. --Defiant 17:18, September 19, 2011 (UTC)
- @Defiant - It shows that TrekFan has a bias even if he didn't participate in the original "discussion" on DC's block. Since the only example cited here is that "discussion", and since TrekFan did participate in it, it shows further bias based on the timing and wording of this. As I've said before, there are already informal procedures for this, so there is no need for a "official" policy unless those procedures are considered to be inadequate. I've see no reasoning given for inadequacy that isn't personal or even wrong, considering that the formal procedures weren't even followed in the only example given, and none of the suggested policies, regardless of whatever one we're suppose to be talking about, even comes close to covering the same amount of ground or remaining within the spirit of how wikis work as the informal ones. That said, I'm done here, since I've wasted enough of my time on this; you may consider me opposed to any policies suggested in this forum, or in any direct continuation of this one. - Archduk3 17:28, September 19, 2011 (UTC)
- Quote from 31dot: "I had taken TrekFan's comment at the top of this section to mean that he was in favor of something like the proposal I drafted two years ago plus his probation idea- not his original proposal plus a probation idea."
- That is exactly what I was suggesting and I fail to see how you could have misunderstood that Archduk3. Furthermore, if you actually read what I am proposing instead of outright opposing it, you would see that I have no interest in removing you (or anyone else as for that matter) as admin, but rather installing a safeguard (in DC's words) against future misuse and abuse. Whether I agree that you have abused your powers or not is in the past. All I want now is for us to move forward while developing some sort of system that stops this whole thing from happening again. I don't think one word of what I have said or proposed on this page can be directly related to you, Archduk3. You need to get this idea that I am "personally attacking" you out of your head, because quite frankly, it's a load crap. I am under the impression that you are simply objecting to this because you have a personal beef with DC and because I happen to support some of her opinions, you're transferring that onto me aswell. Well, it has to stop. Now. If you have a genuine argument to present then by all means do so, but do not insult me by objecting because I am a "friend" of DC. --| TrekFan Open a channel 18:55, September 19, 2011 (UTC)
I support Cid's idea below for a rest on this issue and will further suggest we wait until the first of the year before even contemplating any policy in this area.--31dot 20:38, September 19, 2011 (UTC)
- I personally approve of that plan; there's too many people taking stuff personally here. --Defiant 21:48, September 19, 2011 (UTC)
Votes for/against revised proposalEdit
- Support: --| TrekFan Open a channel 12:57, September 19, 2011 (UTC)
- Oppose probationary periods, again noting that policies are not made by a formal vote.--31dot 13:25, September 19, 2011 (UTC)
- Oppose, again. - Archduk3 14:43, September 19, 2011 (UTC)
- Oppose. It's very obvious that nothing productive will come out of this discussion at the moment, so I will oppose any further removal policy that is suggested in the immediate future, independent of its content. Let's bring this up again in some months. -- Cid Highwind 18:59, September 19, 2011 (UTC)
- Oppose. --OuroborosCobra talk 19:52, September 19, 2011 (UTC)
- Support. (For the record/count only, not that it will make a difference - it is obvious that proposal is being summarily and in its entirety rejected on principle) Distantlycharmed 19:59, September 19, 2011 (UTC)
- Oppose. On the basis that this or a similar proposal is reviewed in several months, at which time it can hopefully be less directly linked with the petty squabbling going on. --Defiant 20:30, September 19, 2011 (UTC)
- Oppose probations. But there should be a voting out system for "bad" admins. --Pseudohuman 08:13, September 20, 2011 (UTC)
- Oppose. I know I'm late to the party (LOL,) but I needed to chime in here. I think what folks are forgetting is that this is not a democracy, it is a business. If you have issues with an admin, discuss it with the other admins and allow them to handle it. In the business world, you take your complaint and run it up the pole. You don't have the option to "vote" someone out of their job (board members of corporations excepted.) As an Engineer, I've had issues with admins in the past. As a database, network or system admin, I've had engineers have issues with me. It happens... it's life. But there are civilized ways to address these issues aside from a flame game or a pissing contest. My two cents IGaveUpCrackForThis 05:38, January 15, 2012 (UTC)


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Watching this film a couple of weeks ago, Google Glass all of a sudden made all kinds of sense. Being able to record experiences in the moment unencumbered by a camera or phone, share them in the moment, navigate through a city without reference to a map (digital or paper), augment real live experience with the power of search – all these things seem to be requirements of living a frictionless digital duality. While I'm not sure that using a mobile to access the web is exactly 'emasculating', I do think that Google are tapping into an important behavioural realisation – experiencing the world through the screen of a phone is not optimal living. As Sergey Brin says, "You want something that frees your eyes."
But, inevitably, now that the application date to become a 'Glass Explorer' has passed, some reasonable, inquisitive voices are raising questions about whether Google's version of 'documentary vision' is as desirable as it first appeared to be. Steve Mann, a pioneer of wearable computing, asks whether Google have learnt from his experiments in augmented vision – he raises important practical concerns about the design and safety, short and long-term, of Google's solution. He also touches on important privacy issues, asking whether this technology will 'turn us into so many Little Brothers'.
The privacy issue has huge implications, not just for societies already coming to terms with near-ubiquitous surveillance, but for individuals living in those societies. 'Google Glass will live or die solely in the experience it creates for people,' says Steve Hurst. But the people Hurst worries about are not the users, but 'everyone other than the user', everyone viewed and potentially recorded, snapped, reverse image searched, Googled, by a Glass wearer. This is, obviously, a big deal. There are rules about how surveillance camera footage can be used. Google itself has had to modify streetview imagery according to national privacy laws. How are we going to legislate for Glass? Will social norms keep up with the march of technology? Who do I send a takedown notice to if I don't know that I've been recorded and who that recording has been shared with? As Hurst says, 'The experience of being a citizen, in public, is about to change.'
Any new tech idea comes with caveats and warnings, sometimes reasonable, other times hysterical linkbait. At Labs we're incurable optimists, and it feels, from here, that this is something big and important. Admittedly our excitement for the possibilities of Project Glass is tempered with plenty of unknowables, not least when we're going to be getting our hands on a pair. The current $1500 pricetag and clunky design doesn't change the fact that Project Glass, in some form, in some timeframe, is coming. As The Verge say in their positive 'eyes-on' review, 'the question is no longer 'if', but 'when'.

subset: commoncrawl


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Bis-Carving Corners
Rebuilding A Tired '65 Biscayne Front Suspension
Car restoration is full of exhilarating experienceslike breaking in the cam on a fresh motor, rolling the freshly painted shell out of the body shop, or setting off on the maiden shakedown run. Rebuilding the front suspension isnt that exciting; in fact, its usually a greasy, thankless job, but the results can be just as rewarding. Many of us learn to live with a worn-out suspension, just as we rationalize our failing eyesightits not great, but it gets the job done. But just like donning that new pair of glasses, testdriving your ride after a thorough suspension rebuild may leave you awestruck over how bad things really were.
Follow along as we tear apart the front end of our 65 Biscayne and rebuild the tired suspension with Energy Suspension bushings from Performance Suspension Components. Doing this job yourself is a cost-effective weekend project because its very labor intensive, and labor costs money. Your labor, of course, is free, but before you get giddy with your sledgehammer, realize this job isnt for everyone. If youre not prepared to spend a weekend covered in grease, or if youre fanatical about keeping your driveway clean, wed recommend you get someone else to do the job. Were used to being covered in grease, and our driveway is a lost cause, so check out how we did it and decide for yourself if you want to tackle the job on your own car.


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Book Review: Murach's Javascript and jQuery
by Zak Ruvalcaba, Mike Murach
Amazon Link
Price: $54.50 USD
I finished up "Murach's Javascript and jQuery" and I am beyond impressed. This is a great book for someone with a beginner's level of programming and will take you through, not only the code of javascript and jquery, but the reasons why. This is not to say it isn't an excellent book for moderate to advanced programmers - the projects help quickly identify the uses and structure needed to get you from a limited background in javascript to a up and running in no time.
What really impressed me out of the entire five hundred and ninty eight pages were often over looked, but crucial pieces of book education: debugging, realistic projects, and how to set up your environment. This is what truly separates this book versus a run of the mill programming language book. Before I get into that let's look at an over view of the content.
The book is divided into five sections and eighteen chapters. The language tour starts with the aptly named 'Essentials'. Here you would get a background of how a webpage interacts with a server, how things differ from a desktop application, basic html you need to get up and going, and a primer on core computer science topics like functions, objects, data types, and that crazy DOM thing all to finish up with javascript syntax, structure, and maneuvering around.
From there it launches you into jQuery and why it would differ from vanilla javascript. This includes DOM manipulation, plugins, and fun visual effects. The book gives a fair shake down of jQuery UI and detailed explanation of when and how to use things like the accordion and popups.
For me the sections on Ajax, JSON, and api usage was invaluable. Typically I slog through Ajax with only a surface level of knowledge but enough to get my project done. Now I am armed with a coherent explanation and concrete projects that really sink the information in.
THe final section is a nice nugget of how to utilize jquery to make your page adaptable for mobile usage. Something handy I will keep in mind later for future site uses.
Now that content is all great and thoroughly explained, but as I said this book is elevated for the topics often not covered in others. First debugging. It's great for a new programmer to wander around sniping code and just tinkering with it, but that doesn't help them learn how to fix the inevitable problems that arise. The debugging section walks you through common issues, how to find an error, and what to do about it. This sort of pro-self sufficient boost helps any new person from becoming just frustrated and quitting. It arms them with the means to take charge and correct their code without relying on slogging through the internet to find help.
The second are is the projects. Oh man the projects are great! They are not some abstract concept these are well crafted, continuously improved with each chapter, and really real world. Email lists, FAQs, image swaps, and so on are all things that are often used and now readily available. Then the section on APIs actually shows you how to hook into google maps and twitter. Sure it's a bit of a gamble since apis change and a book doesn't, but that sort of real world enthusiasm that helps a lone developer without a teacher or class to rely on.
The last area is the chapter dedicated to the environment setup. The book uses Aptana Studio 3 and thankfully explains how to install it, what to look for, and how to interact with it. I have so many books on my shelf that just wave their hand at the environment aspect and just figure the reader can grind through errors in installation and just gimp through irregular environments. The fact they took the time to work this out really shows a dedication for those just starting out and a sigh of relief from the more advanced users that they do not have to waste hours with an uncertain environment setup but can just dive into the code.
Coming from an advanced application developer and a moderate web dev looking to shore up years of patchy javascript and jquery nuggets I found this book to be really informative and clearly laid out. As a dev that helps out greenhorns and clearing a path for others to pickup some skills I cannot recommend this book enough as a total end to end package.
At the end a definite 8/10 stars!
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Book Review: Murach's Javascript and jQuery
Posted 28 January 2013 - 08:16 PM
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Christina Aguilera needs to prepare to be the viral video of the week.
On Friday night she performed her single "Your Body" on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon. This wasn't your usual performance though. She piled into Jimmy Fallon's office along with himself and The Roots to play her single with a unique set of instruments.
Jimmy dialed numbers on his iPhone to re-create the intro to the song, while The Roots used office supplies to back up Xtina. The band used everything from pencils and paper to scissors and water jugs to make the music. Roots drummer Questlove even used the pick from his fro to tap against his water cup.
SO FUN! Performed #YourBody with @jimmyfallon & The Roots last night. 🙂 🙂youtu.be/XQ4Xmp9XhIw
— Christina Aguilera (@TheRealXtina) November 3, 2012
Meanwhile, Christina proved the power of her vocals and stressed that she doesn't need a backup track. She even went back and forth on the chorus with Jimmy Fallon, trading off singing "I think you already know my name."
Backstage at Fallon. Tune in to see what @jimmyfallon, The Roots & I put together. twitter.com/TheRealXtina/s…
— Christina Aguilera (@TheRealXtina) November 2, 2012
This isn't the first time Late Night With Jimmy Fallon has done one of these performances. Earlier this year Carly Rea Jepsen performed "Call Me Maybe" with Jimmy and The Roots on classroom instruments.
-A.J. Gordon, 97.1 AMP Radio/Los Angeles
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That's great.
How about a barrel of gunpowder, a large weight, a safe and an anvil?
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You won't find a better place to have natural fun, be active, or simply relax, than here in Cedar Hill. Our city is unique in that it seamlessly unites natural beauty with all the amenities of a modern city. Abundant with parks and preserves, Cedar Hill has become the destination for nature enthusiasts, hikers, cyclists, mountain bikers, boaters, campers, adventure competitors and leisure.
There are many other recreational activities to enjoy in the city as well. Let the kids behind the wheel for some go-cart fun at Ellen's Amusement Center, or lace on the wheels for a spin around the Cedar Hill Roller Rink in Historic Downtown. And for golfers of all kinds, there is nearby Tangle Ridge Golf Club, or Lester Lorch Nature Preserve's 36-hole championship disc golf course. travelers.
With so many different recreation opportunities in Cedar Hill, you will never run out of things to do.


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It's been busy at work, and with the blustery weather as well the whole week has felt like a bit of a whirl.
I need something to relax me. This one from The Contours fits the bill perfectly.
Most of The Contours output that I am familiar with was in the classic early Motown uptempo mould but this track from late '64, the B side to "Can You Jerk Like Me", is a beautiful ballad. It was written and produced by a certain Mr Robinson. I'm no expert on The Contours so I can't tell you which member of the group is singing lead here, but he sure sounds like Smokey too.


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Rudyard Kipling
Rudyard Kipling (30 December 1865 – 18 January 1936 / Bombay)
» Click to list general statistics » OR, select a date :
The Thousandth Man
One man in a thousand, Solomon says,
Will stick more close than a brother.
And it's worth while seeking him half your days
If you find him before the other.
read more >>
- Hits: Number of visitors who read the poem on the given date.
- Posts: Number of visitors who posted the poem to a friend (via e-mail) on the given date.
- Dates that have "0" hits may not be shown on the list.
- Dates, poems and poets that have "0" hits may not be shown on the list. Statistics are generated daily.


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A man from Pittsylvania County reported in the spring of 1861 that Mississippi planters were displeased with the course of events and that he no longer favored immediate secession.
« Return to Opponents of Secession
"I hope she will be slower still"
Alexandria Gazette, March 9, 1861.
A man from Pittsylvania County, on the North Carolina border, who had favored secession, in February 1861 went to Mississippi after that state seceded to purchase land there. He returned in the spring and informed one of the Convention delegates from Pittsylvania County, either William T. Sutherlin or William Marshall Tredway, that the great planters in Mississippi were dissatisfied with the course of events. Even though he had once thought that Virginia was moving too slowly, the unidentified man from Pittsylvania County had changed his mind and hoped that "she will be slower still."


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The typing games on 10FastFingers.com offer you an easy way to improve your typing speed. A quick way to test your typing speed is our 1-minute typing game on this page. The words that are used in this game are the most common words for each language. By playing the game you automatically improve your overall typing speed as you practice the words that you use all the time while chatting with your friends or writing a paper for school.
And here is how it works: Just type as many words as you can in one minute. After the test ends you will receive your result as a WPM-value, which means words per minute (the amount of words you can type per minute). You can share your score with your friends via Facebook, Twitter, Google Plus or include your score in a forum. Your friends can then challenge you and try to beat your score. If you are interested in competing against others, try out our Typing Competitions.
WPM means "Words per minute" and is based on this calculation: 5 keystrokes equal 1 WPM. This article on Wikipedia goes into more details.
Every key you hit on the keyboard to type a letter is one keystroke. The calculation also considers if you have to type uppercase letters or language specific letters who need 2 keystrokes to be typed (for example "A"). For example "quick" needs 5 keystrokes whereas "America" needs 8 keystrokes.
Its hard to calculate the average typing speed as this highly depends on the language and on the word-difficulty. For the normal version of the english typing test we have calculated an average of 41 WPM, this value is based on over 73 million typing results. Considering that these words are relatively easy to type, the avg WPM is probably around 20-25 WPM for normal text with punctutations etc.


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import java.awt.*;
import java.applet.Applet;
public class displayImage extends Applet {
Image img;
public void init(){
img=getImage(getCodeBase(),"runningman.jpg" );
public void paint(Graphics g){
g.drawImage(img, 90, 0, 300, 62, this);
hello everyone, the above code aims to get the image of, say, runningman picture downloaded from google image(and I have put it in the directory of the java file) to be displayed in an appletviewer, but when I run the code, it seems that the picture of running man is not coming out. Can someone help me to run the code in their IDE and see what's wrong with the code. Greatly appreciate any help/ guidelines that can be provided.


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iPoint Conflict Minerals Platform offers the most comprehensive and proactive solution on the market today for tracking and reporting on Conflict Minerals compliance information. iPCMP is a SaaS web-based solution that can be effectively used by a single company or adopted throughout a supply chain.
Our Conflict Minerals solution leverages our many years of in-depth and specialized knowledge in product compliance software, combined with our expertise in anticipating compliance issues around the globe.
We already work closely with numerous associations, universities and innovative companies, enabling us to provide the best most complete solutions to our customers.
The objective of any partnership is to profit from one another's strengths that's why we have developed an attractive partnership program to achieve higher added values for our customers.
Take the chance to become an iPoint partner and contact us to find out more about our partnership program.


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View ACF COVID-19 Responses and Resources
California Head Start's Math Focus Adds Up
A California Head Start program is going the extra mile to ensure their teachers can provide the best possible math instruction. Pacific Clinics serves approximately 500 children in Head Start and Early Head Start programs in Altadena, Glendale, and Pasadena, CA. Director Wassy Tesfa explains that the program views "math as the foundation for all learning… a way for children to structure their thinking and make connections." Research backs up the program's approach. In a longitudinal study of over 20,000 children, early math skills in kindergarten predicted fifth grade achievement in math and reading.
Despite the importance of these skills, the program found that many teachers were not specifically trained in teaching math or lacked confidence in their own math abilities. Tesfa along with Judy Cashell, her Education Manager, took a multipronged approach to strengthen math instruction in their program.
Pacific Clinics starts their teacher training with a program they call, "Falling in Love with Math." The course emphasizes that math is everywhere, a natural part of daily life, and is not "scary." They use the High Five Mathematize program to help teachers highlight and explore the math in children's daily lives. The program provides hands-on approaches to not only teach counting, but also geometry, patterns, and measurement. Finally, the program regularly hosts curriculum fairs where seasoned teachers share strategies and practical tips. In collaboration with other Head Start programs, Cashell also helps organize the annual Region 9 Early Childhood STEM Institute, which provides teachers with new strategies from researchers and experts in math and science education. Through these opportunities, teachers are confident in their ability to integrate evidence-based approaches to math learning throughout the school day.
However, the enthusiasm for math doesn't stop with the teachers. Parents on the Education Advisory Committee help fully incorporate math instruction throughout the program and in children's homes. Families play a critical role by highlighting the math in children's home routines. "You rarely hear about low-income children becoming engineers and scientists," said Director Tesfa, but this Head Start community is ready to change that.
Read more about Pacific Clinic's work to bolster math skills.


text:
Yep, a quick DVD release!
New Line Home Entertainment has announced the DVD release date of "The Number 23". The thriller which is playing in the theaters now will be available to own from July 17, 2007. According to the moviesite DVDActive it will cost around $28.98.
Extras will include an audio commentary, deleted scenes with commentary, two making of featurettes, and two "beyond-the-movie" featurettes.


text:
Former Caps coach and noted "fixer" Bruce Cassidy is in need of employment this morning. The Globe and Mail reports that Cassidy has been relieved of his duties coaching the Kingston Frontenacs of the Ontario Hockey League, who are 2-9-0-1 and in the midst of a six-game losing streak. He was 31-30-0-5 last year, in his first year with the Frontenacs.
From head coach of the Caps to an assistant with the Blackhawks to the OHL. Expect Cassidy to be appearing soon, officiating the Mites on Ice feature at Verizon Center -- he'll be the one in the Slapshot costume.
Thanks to Tank1 on the Official for picking up on this one.


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July 16, 2020
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Select from the menu to the right to filter by CSR Category


text:
Well what was the weirdest thing youve seen happen in DW.
Mines are:
-When playing as Zhang Jiao on free mode on Hu Lou gate the Peons depleted three quarters of Lu Bu's health!!
-Second was in Dian Wei's mission when he gets killed (or is meant to) some soldiers were running into the corner of the castle and some disappeared, i didnt wanna attack em cause i thought that if i went all the way over there then all the troops would pass.
-Third, Si Shui Gate, playing as Guan Yu i paused the game for a while, then when i came back and unpaused (this is at start of battle) i was near Hua Xiong and died straight away (no one even hit me!!)


text:
This page is maintained by a volunteer member of the SJSU Emeritus and Retired Faculty Association. The content is only as accurate as the material sent to this member and the quality of data entry. It is not edited or updated on a regular basis.
If you find errors, no matter how small, please use the email contact link to let us know what needs to be corrected.


text:
Construction Consumer Products Metals & Materials Safety Environment Transportation Chemicals Energy Medical Quality
Of SI and Standards
Whether current versions of time-honored standards such as specifications for steel tee rails and cement or brand new guides for search and rescue certification groups and tissue scaffold permeability, ASTM International standards are subject to the dictates of Form and Style for ASTM Standards. That includes use of the International System of Units, commonly called SI units.
Part H of today's Form and Style, the guidance document for the format of ASTM standards, states, "ASTM technical committees are urged to give diligent consideration to the use of rationalized SI (metric) units in their standards." The manual also indicates that "each technical committee shall have the option of using rationalized SI units, or rationalized inch-pound units, or both, as the standard units of measure."
ASTM staff members are working with committees to bring into compliance any standards that have yet to catch up with Part H requirements. Over the past several years ASTM has tagged all 12,000 standards as either solely SI, combined, inch-pound, no units or not in compliance. Staff is working with committees to address standards that are not in compliance with one of the Form and Style options.
Consequently, a great deal of progress has been made in ensuring that committees use SI units, non-SI units or both, appropriately. This effort has revealed that about 17 percent of standards, such as most terminology standards, do not use units. Of the standards that do use units, a majority, about 51 percent, use SI only; 33 percent use non-SI units; and 16 percent use both units combined.
The main issue with noncompliance occurs when inch-pound units are given in parentheses. When this work began in 2008, 66 percent of standards followed Form and Style, and today, this number has increased to 85 percent.
ASTM International staff continues to lend a hand to technical committees where changes can be managed editorially, with the approval of the responsible technical subcommittee, as with the following situations.
Standards that do not have combined units but already contain rationalized SI and inch-pound units can be brought into compliance with a scope change and putting one set of units in brackets. This change is reflected by an epsilon after the standard's designation number.
Standards listing SI units as primary that actually contain nonrationalized SI and rationalized inch-pound units in parentheses can be made into inch-pound standards with nonrationalized SI in parentheses, with an accompanying editorial scope change and addition of an epsilon.
When scope statements are missing or inaccurately reflect the standard's unit usage, changes can be made without the addition of an epsilon.
Should a standard need conversions from inch-pound units to SI or combined, however, such conversions must be balloted after you and your fellow task group or subcommittee members make such revisions.
Guidance for these situations can be obtained by contacting your committee's standards editor. If you're at a committee meeting and need editorial assistance with units, you can consult with a standards editor on site.
Form and Style's Part H, "Use of SI Units in ASTM Standards," describes how to manage units in standards; the manual is available online. Please contact your committee's staff manager or standards editor if you have questions.


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Javascript was at first used to embed applets into webpages. Hence the name "Java"Script. Learning JS is really easy, you just need a little experience in HTML.
To start, we need our HTML document:
<html> <head> <title>JS tester</title> </head> <body> </body> </html>
This is the basic form that we'll use. Now, JS code goes between the <script> tags. The script tags can go either between the head tags or the body. For example, JS in the head elements:
<html> <head> <title>JS tester</title> <script> //Code </script> </head> <body> </body> </html>
See? Now, notice my //Code? The double slashes shows that the string after it is a comment. The web browser that views the page won't process the comment.
There are many statements that execute things in the browser window. However, there are a few that I want to cover here.
The first is the document.write("String"); statement. That writes the "String" string to the page. Notice that after that statement, I placed a semi-colon. That signals to the web browser to execute the next line of code.
The next is the window.alert("String"); code. This sends the string to the browser and it pops up as a window alert with the exclamation point in the left part.
Lets try this:
<html> <head> <title>JS tester</title> </head> <body> <script> document.write("My first actual JS statement!"); </script> </body> </html>
This should write "My first actual JS statement!" to the page.
Now YOU try the window.alert statement. Did it work?
Functions are containers for JS code. An example:
function new_function() { //Code }
Functions can be called to be executed when you use executors like onclick or onload. The executors are placed inside HTML elements like so:
<html> <head> <title>JS tester</title> </head> <body onload="greetings()"> <script> function greetings() { window.alert("Greetings!"); } </script> </body> </html>
When the page loads, a pop up box will show saying "Greetings!". See the executor in the body element?
Variables are... variable. They can be anything from a object to a string. A variable is declared like so:
var new_variable = "New variable string!";
So now, lets use what we've learned all together:
<html> <head> <title>JS tester</title> </head> <body onload="say_name()"> <script> var my_name = "Kewl"; function say_name() { window.alert("My name is " + my_name + "."); } //Look at how I used the window.alert statement. First I said My name is, then I used + to use my variable. </script> </body> </html>
This should say "My name is Kewl."
Now that you've ran this, try building a program that says your name and writes your name to the page. Have fun!


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A group of around forty journalists, who were kept effectively hostage by Libyan forces at the Rixos hotel in Tripoli have been freed! At long last…
The tweets have been terrifying. Those of two reporters, Paul Danahar and Matthew Chance are listed below.
Paul Danahar – @pdanahar – BBC Middle East Bureau Chief
- Written in carpark at #Rixos trying to evacuate #BBC team. Their guard pointed gun at me when got out of car said 'get back #Libya#Tripoli
- Deranged old man with AK47 waving gun at anyone who tries to leave. Other guard is young & seems willing to let them go #Tripoli#Libya
- Another car arrived but guards now furious pointed guns at him & he's screeched off. Hacks forced back inside. #Libya#Tripoli
- #heavy arms fire breaking out as I sit in #Rixos carpark trying with colleague to extract our team. Minutes passing v slow #Libya #Tripoli
- 30 mins gone by. Fighting stopped for a bit. Chaos inside hotel as hacks try to persuade armed guards to let them out. #Tripoli #Libya
- Now gunfire coming closer to hotel. Fear rebels are going to storm hotel with BBC inside & us in carpark. Our car armoured #Libya #Tripoli
- Old man disarmed but one more guard inside. Fears of snipers on roof.
- 2nd guard disarmed. Waiting.
- They're out we've got then #Tripoli #Libya
- That is what happened at Rixos in last hour #Tripoli #Libya
Matthew Chance – @mchancecnn – CNN Senior International Correspondent
- Here is timeline of events that have happened in the last hour at the #Rixos……
- 330p local time: Negotiating with guards for our release. They said we can leave, but in small groups. #rixos
- We are expecting the ICRC and Chinese embassy to send cars to pick us up. Fingers crossed. #rixos, #rixos4
- 4:00p local time: Pandemonium in lobby of hotel, all going back upstairs. Another anti- climax? #rixos
- 410p local time: After a heart to heart with Arab speaking journos, two Gadhafi guards disarmed. #rixos
- 415p local time: This feels like the end game in this dramatic and unpleasant situation. #rixos
- Running across upper floors of hotel to find a flag with TV written on it. They want to put it on the car. #rixos
- Getting flags with "TV" on them ready for when we are released. Which we hope is soon. #rixos
- BBC cars arrives at #rixos, BBC crew is leaving the hotel.
- 436pm local time: BBC has left the hotel
- 437pm local time: ICRC cars have arrived at the hotel.
- 438pm local time: Now pulling out of #rixos hotel after 6 days of a complete nightmare. Still dodgy situation
- 439pm local time: Crammed with other journos in the car. Reuters, other cameramen, FOX, and AP #rixos
- We have been holed up together for what seems like an eternity. We could finally get out freedom!!! #rixos
- I can see the NTC rebels. We are nearly there!
Other developments!
- The National Transitional Council rebel leaders have announced that they will shortly move to Tripoli, to take command of the situation.
- A multi-million dollar bounty is being offered for the fugitive Muammar Gaddafi.
- A local businessman is offering $1.3 million to anyone who catches the former Libyan leader.
- Funds are being sent, both frozen assets and huge aid donations, by Britain, the US, EU…
- Sirte, Gaddafi's hometown, is not under rebel control.
- Nor is Sabha, a southern desert city. 95% of Libya is believed to be under rebel control.
- U.S. believes Gaddafi is still in Libya.
- Rebels have called on oil workers to help restart the oil facilities at Ras Lanuf and Brega.
Related articles
- Libya conflict: journalists trapped in Tripoli's Rixos hotel (guardian.co.uk)
- Libya conflict: journalists trapped in Tripoli's Rixos hotel – The Guardian (news.google.com)
- Libya: the siege of the Rixos hotel (telegraph.co.uk)


text:
Samoa Joe has been forced to cancel appearing at both ROH shows this weekend with his appearing at PWG the weekend after being diagnosed with a severe case of staph infection. This has caused ROH to postpone the much hyped and much anticipated final showdown between Joe and Christopher Daniels in ROH. In his own words, Joe issued the following through his official web page.
"Just to let everyone know what is going on. After my last show in Detroit I noticed a small cut underneath my right arm right near the armpit. It was a little red and irritated so I cleaned it and paid it no mind. Over the next few days it had swollen (to about the size of a large marble) and I decided to head to the doctor right away.
As I suspected the doctor diagnosed it as a pretty severe Staph infection and I am now on antibiotics. Next week I will be looking into getting it drained. If anything my non-participation this weekend is not only for my safety but the safety of my co-workers in ROH. The last thing anyone needs is a epidemic and for something like this to spread.
A note to indy promoters out there.
WASH your CANVASES!!!
I am surprised I have actually gone this long unaffected. It takes nothing more than some diluted bleach and a handtowel wipe down to prevent this type of stuff from afflicting your wrestlers.
I apologize to the fans of the Midwest this weekend and I promise I will do my best to make it up to you all next time ROH swings through the midwest.
My special thanks to Gabe Sapolsky and the Ring of Honor office for being VERY understanding. Regardless Low Ki has been added to the shows so rest assured I should not be missed too much."


text:
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It was November 2006: I was post-college unemployed and had just moved to Long Island City. When I wasn't job-searching, I was pretty deep into reading random Wikipedia entries and watching Arrested Development reruns.
Naturally, this is when I became infatuated with the Citroën DS. As you do.
New York is one of the harshest environments on an old vehicle, but somehow it still remains a fantastic place for finding weird, obscure cars. I was still learning this when I was out at night and found a white Citroën DS street-parked a few blocks away from my apartment. I ran home and grabbed my terrible 2005-era digital camera and took some terrible 2005-era digital nighttime photos of it. Our apartment wasn't large enough so store a tripod, so, I apologize for the general crumminess of this image:
Knowing how bad the shots where and that I didn't have a lot going on the next morning, I made a return visit to the Déesse the next day.
But when I got there, there were two of them! And the owners were standing beside them chatting! It was a Citroën DS Ambulance, covered in handprints and graphics and grime. I guess he had stopped to meet up with another local DS enthusiast. I spoke to them, briefly, and they explained the Tour, but it didn't set in immediately. Before I knew it, the DS ambulance was on its way.
This happened years ago and I still think about it. It's one of the most serendipitous things that's ever happened to me. Much later, I researched the Lunaya World Tour, and found little tidbits across the internet. The driver, Manuel Boileau, (or maybe it was Lunaya) described the purpose was "to meet local populations and to produce photo and video features depicting children from all over the planet."
Citroën and Lunaya both used to have news features about the trip but they don't seem to be reachable anymore. According to this article from Brazil, the whole trip lasted from 2005 to 2008, and Boileau only used paper maps to navigate, no GPS, which is kinda cool. It's a remarkable achievement and I'm glad I was able to be in the presence of it, even if by accident.


text:
The next step is to develop the basis of design or design intent, which can be expressed using two best practice tools. The first tool is the lighting control narrative, a document that describes how the intended control system will satisfy the owner project requirements. It includes a detailed sequence of operations or description of system outputs performed in response to various inputs (see "The Control Narrative," in the December 2011 issue or on www.ECmag.com).
The second tool is the control zone plan, describing which lighting loads are operated by which controllers and/or control strategies. As control requirements become more complex with increasing demand for flexibility and layered control strategies, control zoning becomes more important. The control zone plan may be developed after the design intent is established, as it bridges the conceptual and finished design of the system.
The control zone plan
Control zones may be expressed as text (see Table 1, page 32) or graphics (see Figures 1 and 2 on next page). The written approach is simple to produce, and multiple overlapping zones are more easily expressed but may require a lot of reading. The graphic approach is easily understood at a glance. However, it must be printed in color unless patterning or gray shading is used to distinguish between zones. Additionally, layered control strategies with overlapping zones, and very dense zoning, can be difficult to express.
Control zoning in action
In a control zone, one or more lamps are turned on and off by a single controller or allocated to a given control strategy.
Suppose we have a lighting system in an open office that is turned off automatically every night by a time-based controller. In this case, all lighting can be grouped in a single zone for automatic shutoff. However, suppose a single occupant decides to work after hours and activates an override of the automatic shutoff function; we don't want just one person to keep all of the lights on when he or she only needs a small area illuminated, as it would waste energy. Ideally, the lighting included in the override would be limited to a small area. Such a capability requires the lighting to be divided into smaller zones, each assigned to a different conveniently located override switch.
Now, suppose one wall of the open office space is windowed with high, consistent daylight falling on the space under the first row of lighting fixtures mounted parallel to the wall. The row of fixtures could be assigned to a daylight-harvesting control zone; a controller could dim the lights once light levels pass a certain threshold.
Additionally, wallwash and accent lighting is used to illuminate the other three walls and highlight artwork. These fixtures could be turned off at the end of working hours, while the rest of the general lighting isn't turned off until the end of full operating hours. This would require additional zoning.
Going further, say we want to maximize energy savings and flexibility by installing an individually controllable suspended direct/indirect fixture over each workstation. Each fixture contains an integral occupancy sensor and dimmable ballast.
In this example, the downlight component of each fixture is individually zoned to turn on and raise to full output and dim to off based on occupancy in the workstation below. The downlight component also is individually zoned for personal dimming control by the occupant using a slider icon on their PC. The uplight component of groups of eight fixtures is zoned to dim to off if all workstations in the group are unoccupied and turn on and raise to full output when a single workstation becomes occupied. The perimeter fixtures are zoned for daylight harvesting. Finally, all fixtures in the space are combined into a single zone for emergency demand response control.
In this example, separate zoning for automatic shutoff, override, personal dimming, daylight harvesting and demand response control are all layered in the same space.
Control zone sizing
The general trend in control zoning is toward higher density of smaller zones in spaces. Control zones can be set as small as single ballasts or lamps. Smaller zoning makes the lighting control system more responsive, flexible and potentially energy-saving, but it also increases complexity and cost.
The first determinant is energy codes, which establish maximum control zone sizes for space controls. Codes based on ASHRAE/IES 90.1 require space control zones to be no larger than 2,500 square feet if the space is 10,000 square feet or smaller. Zones can be 10,000 square feet if the space is larger than 10,000 square feet. Codes based on IECC establish a maximum of 5,000 square feet, except for single-tenant retail, industrial, arena, mall, arcade and auditorium spaces, where the maximum is 20,000 square feet.
Additional code requirements establish other control zoning. For example, IECC and the 2010 version of ASHRAE/IES 90.1 require bilevel switching in certain spaces, requiring the lighting to be zoned appropriately. And IECC 2009 and 2012 and ASHRAE/IES 90.1 2010 establish maximum zones for separate control of general lighting in spaces receiving consistent daylight.
Energy savings, worker satisfaction and space characteristics may necessitate smaller zones than even these maximums prescribed by code.
Energy savings using controls are maximized by ensuring only the right amount of light is produced only where and when it is needed, eliminating waste. For example, by allowing lighting on an entire floor to be turned on, but limiting the override to a small area for after-hours use, more energy waste is eliminated, resulting in greater cost savings.
Worker satisfaction may also be increased in some applications by designing smaller control zones, which can increase flexibility. For example, in an open office, users could be given individual dimming control of overhead fixtures. A classroom teacher could have the ability to separately control lighting at the front of the room from other general lighting, which in turn could be zoned for bilevel control. This would enable the teacher to set optimal conditions for multimedia education.
Finally, space characteristics may necessitate smaller zones. Zoning should be appropriately matched to common lighting equipment (e.g., fluorescent versus LED), space characteristics (e.g., furnishings and finishes), task characteristics, lighting schedules and daylight availability. For example, if daylight availability covers two rows of lighting fixtures, but the daylight level falling on the row closest to the window is much higher than the second row, each row should be zoned separately.
Daylight versus control zones
The latest generation of energy codes—California Title 24 2008 and codes based on IECC 2009 and ASHRAE/IES 90.1 2010—contain requirements for identifying areas of consistent daylight availability and controlling the general lighting in these areas separately from other general lighting in the space. In some cases, these requirements use the term "daylight zone." These are not control zones but, instead, define areas of predictable high, consistent levels of daylight adjacent to windows and around toplighting. Once the daylight zone is determined for a given space, the designer must then decide how to zone the general lighting controls.
Zoning and control equipment
The level of precision and flexibility required from the lighting control system as reflected in its zoning, in turn driven by owner project requirements, will reveal appropriate equipment solutions.
Traditionally, control zoning has been based on the lighting circuit or subcircuit (or switchleg), with zone size limited to the current-carrying capacity of the circuit or switch/dimmer. That made granular (smaller) zoning expensive and difficult to change after installation.
The digital revolution sweeping the lighting control industry makes control zoning independent of circuiting, with a number of benefits. In a digital lighting control system, control devices are connected using a single pair of low-voltage wires. If the system is distributed, controllers are located in the controlled space rather than in a central location such as an electrical room, eliminating wiring homeruns and potentially eliminating the need for a lighting control panelboard. (The controller may be a micro-panel or digital dimming ballast.) Multiple input devices can be connected to the controllers, allowing multiple control strategies to be enacted in the same space. Control zoning and rezoning, in addition to calibration and programming, can be performed using software, without tools.
This type of system supports simple and economical development of highly granular zoning schemes involving multiple, overlapping zones created by multiple control strategies. The result is availability of control solutions that optimize flexibility and energy savings.
Get in the zone
Control zoning is a critical design decision because it enacts the functionality of the lighting control system. As such, the control zone plan is an important design document that helps ensure the proposed control solution satisfies the owner project requirements and the constructed control solution is properly installed and performs as intended. The general trend—driven by owner interest in flexibility and energy savings, the sustainable design movement and energy codes—is toward smaller control zones. This, in turn, is driving demand for lighting control equipment that can deliver these zones simply and economically, with digital lighting control systems being optimal for highly granular systems.


text:
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The Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE) is an educational charity, registered in Scotland. Independent and non-party-political, we are working to provide public benefit throughout Scotland and by means of a growing international programme. The RSE has a peer-elected, multidisciplinary Fellowship of over 1500 men and women who are experts within their fields.
The RSE was created in 1783 by Royal Charter for "the advancement of learning and useful knowledge".
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The Royal Society of Edinburgh is Scottish Charity No SC000470


text:
August 30, 2012
Associated Press
The man accused of breaking into LL Cool J's home has pleaded not guilty to a felony burglary charge.
Jonathan E. Kirby appeared in a Los Angeles courtroom this week and entered the plea.
Kirby was arrested after the actor-rapper subdued him in his home early Aug. 22, breaking the 56-year-old's jaw, nose and ribs in the process. He was later charged with felony residential burglary and faces 38 years to life in prison if convicted due to his lengthy criminal history.
LL Cool J, whose real name is James Todd Smith, and his family were unharmed during the break-in, and nothing was apparently taken from their home. He stars in the CBS series "NCIS: Los Angeles."
A district attorney's spokeswoman says Kirby's bail was set at $1.1 million.