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COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS OF DNA SAMPLES Sec. 101. COLLECTION OF DNA SAMPLES
(a) REQUIREMENT OF WRITTEN AUTHORIZATION. -- Except as otherwise provided in sections 121, 122, and 123, no person may collect or cause to be collected an individually identifiable DNA sample for genetic analysis without the written authorization of the sample source or the sample source's representative.
This section sets forth the general prohibition against collection of identifiable DNA samples without the written authorization of the sample source or that person's representative. In addition, this section requires that particular information be verbally communicated before an authorization is obtained. These requirements are designed to foster a knowledgeable and voluntary decision to proceed with the collection and analysis of a DNA sample. A perfunctory recitation should be discouraged, despite the fact that mere delivery of the information would technically satisfy the requirement of this section. Those who collect DNA samples should be encouraged to expand upon the minimum information required by providing additional information they believe to be beneficial to individuals who plan to have their DNA analyzed.
The information that must be provided under this Act is similar to the kind of information that must be disclosed before obtaining consent for diagnostic tests that reveal highly private and sensitive information. For example, several state laws require that anyone undergoing an HIV test must first be told about the information that the test can yield, the reliability of the test, and how the information can be used by the individual that is tested, in addition to how the information may be used by others who become aware of it.[11] Such requirements are warranted because, if disclosed, information on HIV status could result in economic, social or psychological harm. Similarly, genetic information may be used to preclude the sample source from obtaining an economic or social service benefit.
Disclosure of genetic information can also have a harmful effect because it can also indicate the presence or absence of a stigmatizing condition or disease. The sample source should therefore be told that others may ask if the sample source has had a DNA analysis, and the results obtained.
An additional disclosure, required by section 101(b)(8), is intended to address the fact that the results of genetic analysis can reveal that others are likely to be affected by the same genetic condition or disease as the individual whose DNA is to be analyzed. This section, therefore, also requires that the person be informed:
that the genetic analysis may result in information about the sample source's genetic relatives which may not be known to such relatives but could be important and if so the sample source will have to decide whether or not to share the information with relatives.
DNA analysis may reveal that other relatives are likely to be gene carriers, to have a gene that codes for disease, or to be predisposed to developing a particular disease or condition by reason of their genetic relationship to the sample source. In effect, the uncollected DNA of family members is indirectly analyzed. This aspect of genetic analysis raises questions about whether such family members should be told about their possible risks and if so, by whom and how? One suggestion is that access to genetic testing in some circumstances be made conditional on a prior agreement to disclose information to other family members who become identified as at risk.[12] This suggestion, however, has not been widely supported for several reasons, including the fact that it would deter individuals from seeking information about themselves.[13]
Creating either a contractual or statutory obligation for individuals to share such information with their family members would be not only unprecedented, but inadvisable. The creation of new substantive rights or duties of family members is not our intention and is beyond the scope of this Act. However, because the Act creates rules that govern the use and disclosure of information, it is imperative that individuals be informed of the fact that by seeking genetic information about themselves through genetic analysis, they may also become privy to information about other family members who would also want and/or need such information. A person seeking genetic analysis will not always be able to anticipate the nature of the information that can result and must therefore be informed of this possibility before the analysis is authorized. While it will be an individual choice as to whether or not to share that information with others, this disclosure should instigate discussion between the sample source and the collector of the sample.
For example, if as a result of the analysis of the DNA of the sample source it could be determined that the person's sibling is also the carrier of a genetic condition, and could pass the condition to offspring, or could suffer in the future from a genetic condition that can be ameliorated or treated, the sample source must be informed that he or she will have to decide whether or not to share that information with the sibling once the results are known. Despite the absence of a legal obligation to do so, the sample source should be encouraged out of moral obligation to share as much of the information as would provide the sibling, or other relatives, with the opportunity to obtain information about their own condition or risk. Since this is a foreseeable and a relatively common burden resulting from DNA analysis, its disclosure is necessary. This issue is discussed in more detail in the Appendix.
Availability of genetic counseling can also provide the sample source with help in deciding how and when to initiate discussion with relatives, and in determining how much information about their own status they are comfortable sharing with others. Consequently, in addition to disclosing the nature and scope of the information that the analysis will produce, section 101(b)(11) requires that the person who collects the sample must provide information on the availability of such counseling. This requirement can be fulfilled by telling the individual about the existence of genetic counselors whose expertise is to help individuals understand what genetic information that can be derived from DNA analysis means, and plan in light of such information. The person could suggest how a genetic counselor could be located by those who decide a consultation would be desirable. The person collecting the sample is not, however, required to provide such counseling, nor would they be obligated to take any steps to ensure that the individual is referred to a specific counselor.
This limited requirement will not be burdensome, since it would be rare for anyone who regularly collects and analyzes DNA samples not to have information about genetic counseling services. Research and clinical programs that conduct DNA analysis often utilize such services, receive references from such services or at least recommend that subjects or patients take advantage of the assistance counselors can give. Anyone collecting and analyzing DNA samples as a regular part of their business or practice should have some awareness of this emerging field, and requiring some discussion about the availability of genetic counseling is consistent with present practices of many programs.
This requirement is supported by the recommendations of other experts who have studied the effects of genetic information.[14] Research and experience with Huntington Disease linkage studies and other genetic testing has demonstrated that pre-test counseling as well as post-test counseling is needed for those who face the choice of having DNA analyzed and the possibility of sharing such information with others.[15] Test results can have an impact, not only on the self perception of the individual who has been tested, but on family relationships as well. Particular attention has been focused on the effect of information about the inheritance of this disease on family relationships and personal identity.[16] Although Huntington Disease is an extreme example because the disease itself is devastating, it presents issues that are typical in genetic testing and analysis.[17]
Sec. 102. ANALYSIS OF DNA SAMPLES
(a) ANALYSIS PROHIBITED WITHOUT AUTHORIZATION. - Except as otherwise provided in sections 121, 122 and 123, genetic analysis of an individually identifiable DNA sample is prohibited unless specifically authorized in writing by the sample source or the sample source's representative.
(b) ASCERTAINMENT OF AUTHORIZATION. - No person may analyze an individually identifiable DNA sample without ascertaining that written authorization for the analysis has been obtained.
This section prohibits conducting any analysis of an individually identifiable DNA sample without specific written authorization. When DNA is collected in a clinical setting for diagnosis of disease or determination of an appropriate course of treatment, the collection process will not differ from taking blood or other specimens for other types of testing or screening. Consequently, the collection of a sample may begin with a physician ordering that the sample be taken by other personnel, such as a phlebotomist, and sent to a lab for analysis. Under the provisions of the Act, even if the physician is the one responsible for informing the sample source and obtaining the written authorization, if he fails to do so, a laboratory may not proceed with conducting the analysis. This is because section 102(b) prohibits DNA analysis, unless the person conducting the analysis ascertains that the authorization has been obtained. If they fail to do so, they, as well as the person who initiated collection of the sample without written authorization, face the penalties for noncompliance with the statutory requirements. How this "person" verifies that the authorization has been obtained is, however, not dictated by the statute, but will be governed by the person's own administrative policies and procedures.
This section does not require the phlebotomist who draws blood under orders from a physician, or a lab technician who receives a sample for analysis to obtain the sample source's consent. This would be unrealistic and disruptive to established roles and protocols in which the collection or analysis of DNA might take place. Instead, the Act requires everyone to refrain from proceeding with their role in the process until proper authorization has been obtained.
This section does not describe these responsibilities as applying to specific personnel because, in the future, collection and analysis of DNA samples might take place outside a clinical setting, such as a commercial facility or free standing laboratory, where the person collecting samples is not a health care professional. DNA can be extracted from different kinds of specimens, including strands of hair, so collecting a DNA sample does not always involve technical medical skills or knowledge. These requirements are applicable to all collection situations and mandate that the necessary disclosures are made and written authorization is obtained from all sample sources. Since these responsibilities have been delegated to the "person" who collects the sample or causes the sample to be collected, and to the "person" who performs an analysis, regardless of whether the facility in which this takes place is a health care facility, this "person" will have to establish procedures and protocols to ensure compliance with these requirements. The effect of the Act should be the same in all instances and settings, regardless of who ultimately obtains the written authorization.
Compliance with the rules in sections 101 and 102 prevents secret collection and analysis of DNA and ensures that before an individual authorizes an analysis he or she should know: why the analysis is being suggested, required or recommended; what information will likely result from the analysis; how the information can be useful to them; and that genetic counselors can be consulted for help in making a decision to go ahead with an analysis, or in understanding the results of the analysis.
Sec. 103. AUTHORIZATION FOR COLLECTION AND STORAGE OF INDIVIDUALLY IDENTIFIABLE DNA SAMPLES FOR GENETIC ANALYSIS
(b)RETENTION OF AUTHORIZATION. -- The authorization for the collection and analysis of an individually identifiable DNA sample shall be retained at least as long as the DNA sample is retained.
(c)COPY. -- A copy of the authorization shall be provided to the sample source or the sample source's representative.
An authorization which includes the details set forth should facilitate compliance with the requirements and goals of section 101. Any forms which are drafted to meet the requirements of this section should contain clear language and not undermine the purposes or process of obtaining informed authorization.[18] Those who develop authorization forms are urged to include additional details and information that they believe to be helpful.
The person who collects the sample, the person who will analyze the sample, and the person who will store the DNA sample, must all be identified in the authorization [section 103(a)(2)-(4)]. Because the individual has the right to order the destruction of a DNA sample that has been collected [section 104(b)] and to inspect records containing information that results from an analysis [section 113], it is important for the individual to know who is, or may be, in possession of the DNA sample and the information that is developed through analysis.
The form must also indicate the manner in which the sample will be collected, describe all authorized uses of the sample, and indicate whether or not the sample source permits storage of the individually identifiable sample after the analysis is completed. [section 103(a)(5)-(8)] These requirements are intended to give the individual maximum control over their DNA. They also provide a mechanism for documenting that authorization to conduct particular tests, or to store samples for a specific period of time, has been obtained.
Finally, the authorization must allow for the inclusion of a prohibition against use of the sample, even in non-identifiable form, for research or commercial use so that individuals who want to prohibit such use can do so. Because individuals have different attitudes toward supporting or participating in research or commercial ventures that utilize human DNA, this provision accommodates the expression of such differences. Admittedly, the Act does not restrict the use of DNA samples which are not linked to any individual identifiers and tracking the use of a sample which is no longer identifiable should be impossible. Consequently, it is not likely that a violation of this directive could be uncovered and inclusion of this item in an authorization form may be more symbolic than effective.
Sec. 104. OWNERSHIP AND DESTRUCTION OF DNA SAMPLES
(a)OWNERSHIP OF THE DNA SAMPLE. - An individually identifiable DNA sample is the property of the sample source.
(b)RIGHT TO ORDER DESTRUCTION OF THE DNA SAMPLE. - Except when a DNA sample has been collected pursuant to section 122 or 123 of this Act, the sample source or the sample source's representative shall have the right to order the destruction of the DNA sample.
Some individuals will want to take maximum advantage of the evolving nature of knowledge about the human genome, and will welcome the opportunity to have their DNA collected, stored or analyzed. Others are wary of the potential harm that can result from information derived from genetic analysis, and will want reassurance that they alone control when their DNA is analyzed and who has access to their samples and information. The provisions of this section are intended to preserve the autonomy of all individuals regardless of their varying views on the benefits and dangers of genetic information.
Giving individuals control over their DNA is accomplished first by establishing that an individually identifiable DNA sample is the property of the sample source. Since the sample source has this property right, control of a sample can be transferred to another individual through a will or other legal instrument. Consequently, individuals who do not want their DNA analyzed during their own lifetime may nevertheless have a sample collected and stored for the benefit of others. Descendants to whom control over DNA samples is transferred could thus benefit from future developments in genetics which require analysis of DNA from multiple generations. Until the complete genome is mapped, locating genes through linkage analysis will be dependent upon the availability of such samples. This provision can promote this availability.
In addition to being able to transfer ownership of a sample, the sample source also has the right, except in limited circumstances, to order the destruction of a sample that has been collected. [section 104(b)] This gives those who want to limit the availability of such samples reassurance that once authorized analysis has been completed, the sample itself can be destroyed, preventing any additional unauthorized analysis. In some circumstances, a sample source's representative, such as the parent of a minor, can exercise this right on behalf of the individual from whom the sample has been collected. However, this right is not exercisable by either the sample source or a sample source's representative when samples have been collected for identification use in law enforcement (section 122), or when the sample has been collected pursuant to a court-ordered analysis (section 123). Requiring that the person analyzing such samples destroy them at the direction of a sample source would directly conflict with the compulsory nature of collection and analysis in these situations.
Finally, section 104 provides for routine destruction of DNA samples or removal of identifiers, after the completion of the authorized analysis. This routine destruction can be overridden by the explicit directions of the sample source or the sample source's representative. [section 104(c)] Routine destruction would not result in an irreplaceable loss, since each individual is the source of an abundant supply of DNA samples. If an individual anticipates having a series of analyses conducted, and wants to avoid what is perceived as the inconvenience of collecting multiple samples, the authorization for collection of a specimen containing DNA can include specific directions for storage of the sample for analysis in the future, provided, of course, that storage services are offered by the collector or analyzer.
Sec. 105. NOTICE OF RIGHTS AND ASSURANCES. -- A person who collects or stores DNA samples for genetic analysis shall provide a sample source or a sample source's representative prior to the collection, storage, or analysis of a DNA sample, and any other person upon request, with a notice of rights and assurances that contains the following information and assurances that:
(a)a DNA sample will only be used as authorized in the written authorization;
(b)an individually identifiable DNA sample is the property of the sample source;
(c)unless specifically prohibited by the sample source or sample source's representative, researchers may be granted access to DNA samples that cannot be linked to individual identifiers;
(d)the sample source or the sample source's representative has the right to order the destruction of the individually identifiable DNA sample at any time;
(e)the individually identifiable DNA sample will be destroyed on the completion of the analysis unless the sample source or the sample source's representative has previously directed otherwise in writing;
(f)the sample source can designate another individual as the person authorized to make decisions regarding the individually identifiable DNA sample after the death of the sample source; and if any person is so designated, the sample source should notify the facility in which the DNA sample is stored;
(g)the sample source or the sample source's representative has the right to examine the records containing private genetic information, to obtain copies of such records and to request correction or amendment of them;
(h)private genetic information may be disclosed to researchers who qualify for such access under this Act;
(i)the collection and analysis of the DNA sample and the private genetic information derived from the analysis is protected by this Act, and anyone whose rights under this Act have been violated can seek civil remedies, including damages, as provided in this Act; and
(j)genetic counseling is available.
Individuals who authorize the collection and analysis of their DNA may not be aware of their rights under this Act and therefore be unable to exercise them. To enhance the knowledge of one's rights, this section requires that persons who collect DNA samples provide written notice to the individual when authorization for collection, storage and analysis of the DNA sample is obtained. This notice is similar in function and content to notices of fair information practices required by other informational privacy statutes.[19] However, since the Act has provisions relating to the collection and analysis of samples, in addition to provisions that govern the information that results from such activities, the notice required by section 105 is more inclusive than other information practices.
A notice prepared under this section does not contain contractual assurances, but will consist of a series of statements regarding the legal responsibilities of those who collect, store and analyze samples, and the legal rights of the sample source.
File posted May 1995.


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The article starts out: "Seven years. Zero attacks. Almost zero credit."
p>Well, Mr. Hillyer, that may have something to do with that first year and that one big attack that, of course, happened on Bush's watch. Shall we award him credit for that? Tell you what, I'll grant him the credit you ask for if you acknowledge that his administration dropped the ball and 3,000 of our brothers and sisters were murdered on our own soil. On his watch. br> — Jeff Beckham br> Tolland, Connecticut /p>On this anniversary of 9/11, a hearty thanks to Quin Hillyer for the review of President Bush's record on preventing another terror attack on our shores. History will credit the president for his steady hand at the helm of a rocky ship these past seven years.
If only the opposing party would actually put their country before party and give credit where it's due, but they will bash this president until their dying days. No good deed goes unpunished, and Mr. Bush has been getting his punishment and has taken it like a man — not in the whining ways of the girly-men party. I shudder to think where we would have been with a President Gore or Kerry. I lose sleep thinking of where we will be with a President Obama.
p>The Dems think Mr. Bush has done nothing to make us safe and everything to lessen our freedoms, at least that's the party line. They need to grow up.
A man of faith in a godless age is hitting Americans where it hurts.
Mr. and Mrs. American Spectator Reader, let P.J. O'Rourke talk sense to your kids.
In Britain, defending your property can get you life.
The debacle of this president's administration is both a cause and a symptom of the decline of American values. Unless Congress impeaches him, that decline will go on unchecked. An eminent jurist surveys the damage and assesses the chances for the recovery of our culture.
It won't take long for conservatives to scratch this presidential wannabe off their 2008 scorecard.
The American Christmas, like the songs that celebrate it, makes room for everybody under the rainbow. Is that why so many people seem to be hostile to it?
Was the President done in by the economy, or by the politics of the economy?

subset: commoncrawl


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What the Twins from 'Desperate Housewives' Look Like Now: Ripped
Remember Max and Charlie Carver from Desperate Housewives? They're in Teen Wolf now.
The Teen Wolf Tumblr posted this photo in response to a question from a fan concerned that there were going to be less shirtless guys in season three.
Wrote the Tumblr: "Here's hoping this photo puts those ugly rumors to rest."
Full pan out, AFTER THE JUMP...
(vai afterelton)
Continue reading "What the Twins from 'Desperate Housewives' Look Like Now: Ripped" »


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The Valkyrie Project: Chapter 1: The Pilot
by Nels Wadycki
Price: Free! 7780 words.
Published on November 29, 2010. .
In this first chapter of The Valkyrie Project, Ana is sent to recapture an escaped prisoner whose transport crashed on a remote island.
This is the first chapter of a novel. The entire story so far is available for free on Smashwords, starting with Chapter 1: The Pilot.


text:
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Busy times… I just fell exhausted off my exercise bike and fell over towards my computer to do the other thing that I keep meaning to get to… I have four or five posts that I really want to write… and have gotten tied between them. Today I'll try and get some of the jumble out on paper.
The review
I was listening to cbc radio a couple of days ago (if you don't listen… you should… they just might be our greatest export) and heard a very interesting conversation regarding the removal of student imported technologies in the classroom in Milwaukee. My interpretation of her position at the time was that we need to take the technologies out of the classroom in order to stop the disruptions and in order to protect students.
As all this stuff flies by, it's hard to get any real grasp of what the issue really is. In this case, I've decided to do a little research, and pass it on to you folks. It seems that the rules are pretty specific. Here's the cell phone guidelines from the administration's website. There are three documents there, one for the parents, one for the administrators, and one that seems to be the actual 'rules'.
The deadline for implementation passed last Monday…
"Students are not allowed to possess or use two-way electronic
communication devices such as pagers and cell phones while
on premises controlled by MPS unless approval has been given.â€
I was very much prepared to react very violently against this policy when i heard about it. But, I must say, in print it looks pretty sound. There are a series of proceedures for punishing students who disobey the rules, as well as an injunction specifically demanding equality of judgement across schools. Nothing unexpected here. There is also the chilling line near the end
" Adults who engage in battery against school personnel will receive a criminal review for possible criminal charges. Any use of a device for criminal intent is subject to prosecution."
It is clause number three in this ruling that makes me both very impressed with the work that the school administration has done in documenting their thought process… and makes me pleased that i actually took the time to check on what they were talking about.
3. Each school will establish a procedure for granting approval for students to possess and use cell phones.
According to the MPS rule, approval must be obtained for students who must carry electronic communication devices for medical, school, educational, vocational, or other legitimate uses. Obtain the request for approval in writing. Ensure that the student and parent understand that the device is to be used for the approved purpose only. Establish a procedure for communicating this information to staff members who come into contact with the student.
There you have it. A school that is trying to come to terms with a new technology… and is being very forthright about its thinking and still leaving a little room for the technologies to be used for educational uses.
The rebuttal
I think that the above response is the best bit of banning I've ever seen in this kind of situation. It is thoughtful, well organized and fair. It will probably accomplish the goals of reducing phone use in the classrooms… it will give teachers the support that they need in order to force students to focus on their lessons.
Most teachers I talk to are overworked… and the students they are teaching are not responding to the forms of discipline that worked even half a generation ago. The teachers are, also, undertrained, and are often overwhelmed by the vast number of 'secondary literacies' that they are forced to pick up just to keep up with their students.
What we have here is more evidence of the disconnect. The disconnect between our school system and the world that our students are living in. I've made this argument at length elsewhere… and will again in the next few weeks, but, in short
Twenty years ago my teachers felt they knew what I was going to need to know when I grew up. The things I did in class that got me thrown in the hallway
- passing hand written notes
- talking in the back of class
- pretty much anything else you can imagine that might be irritating
If you look at the literacy skill set there you'll see that the things that I was doing in the classroom were actually different interpretations of the things that were already going on there. (that is, if you accept that my teachers were trying to irritate me… something of which i was mightily convinced when i went to school.)
Now, lets take a look at the things that are the cause for disciplinary action in the here and now.
- SMS messaging in class
- cyber bullying
- social networking (see myspace… you may have heard of it)
The literacies that these students possess are not really being valued… and they are moving on to the set of literacies that they will need in order to work in the next few years. When, I wonder, will we be able to change our schools so that those are the literacies that we are actually teaching?
The students are already leaving us behind.
10 Responses to "Phones in schools. A review and a rebuttal."
Well said, Dave!
If it makes anyone feel better, those of us in higher education are also being left behind. Three years after it was founded, we're still trying to figure out this Facebook thing that rules our undergraduates' lives. Laptop computers are still fascinating objects of dubious educational value for some of us.
I fear that many of us who are trying to teach and mentor young people simply don't possess the literacies we should be teaching them. We don't understand, participate in, or often acknowledge the media with which and the environments in which our students are living their lives. It's difficult to know if those media and environments are lasting, ephemeral, or somewhere in between, but that knowledge of them appears to be limited to youths, those who want to remain young, and those who study the youths makes things very, very difficult for all of us.
I, of course, am "hip" and "down with" much of the new technology – it's everyone else that I'm worried about!
Nice job digging for the story behind the headlines! I'm heading to Milwaukee today to get to the bottom of this. Coincidentally, my sister lives there so I have a place to crash for a few nights while I further this investigation. At EdTechWeekly (part of EdTechTalk on the Worldbridges network), we don't just fluff our way through the headlines – we will forego all exercise for as long as necessary and travel to all ends of the earth to get the story right!
[...] A few of the panelists referenced Youth, Pornography, and the Internet," a 2000 publication by the Committee to Study Tools and Strategies for Protecting Kids from Pornography and Their Applicability to Other Inappropriate Internet Content of the National Research Council. In particular, the following idea (paraphrased here and attributed to Dick Thornburgh) was discussed and presented as a model: Although we can erect fences and put up gates around swimming pools, the best way we can protect children from drowning is to teach them how to swim. Adam quickly linked this notion of "teaching our children how to swim" with media literacy and how it is or is not being taught to children. This is a current topic of discussion among some educators and the focus of current research. [...]
yep. i think many of us who are now either out of school or behind the teacher's desk tend to assume that the mission of schooling is timeless, and that, as ever (an assumption based on questionable premises in any era but particularly recently) schools are still going about their jobs preparing students for life outside the classroom walls. instead, the whole construct of the classroom is becoming increasingly obsolete and removed from not only the technologies but the entire skill set required by the working world. sitting quietly in your desk and waiting to be asked to speak looks not so hott on the resume, these days. the emperor is naked, and the students are starting to notice.
and yet, i can completely understand how, for individual teachers trying to do their best in a particular classroom with particular subject material, the presence of cellphones or "two way communication devices" can be at best, distracting. i've always been hostile to phones in my classrooms…but not necessarily to the forms of communication they represent. that's what i'm wondering about in the Milwaukee situation. in banning the devices, what are they assuming the impact will be in the classroom? simply more focused students with less instant messaging going on, or are they hoping for a paradigm re-set entirely?
i think the students left us a lot of us behind awhile ago. and as long as we expect to be the knowers in an old-school model of learning, we'll never get back into the conversation again.
Cell phones have become and extra limb for so many students today. I've seen kids go into full blown panic attacks when faculty or administration has taken up their phones. Just this week a student verbally threatened to physically harm a teacher for taking his cell phone up in class! To further the issue students think answering a text message or call from a parent is an exception to the school policy. The more ridiculous thing is that many parents agree.
How do you take what is becomming such a "necessary" device in our lives and prevent it from being a distraction? As a technology teacher I would love to be able to harness the excitement surrounding these devices and integrate them into lessons. I would love to expand on how these devices work and explore their hardware and software. My computer science students still think I'm kidding when I tell them programming for cell phones is a booming career. They don't know anything about what is behind them, only how to use them. However, this is probably not something I will be able to explore within the confines of my school walls anytime soon because cell phones are "bad".
Yes, we have been left behind. I say let's get our phones out and make educational friends with them.
I am a college student pursueing a career in education and I have to admit that cell-phones are and always will be a hindrance to the classroom. Even in college professors can't seem to get their students to put the things away. I was just wondering when I get into the classroom how can I best control this problem.
I'm not sure how this qualifies as 'admitting' something Eric. I will 'admit' that cell phones don't blend very well in a transmission style classroom… and no, they don't blend very well with our traditional classroom…
do we blame the technology or the classroom?
Good discussion here, Dave.
I really enjoyed Bonnies's point that, "instead, the whole construct of the classroom is becoming increasingly obsolete and removed from not only the technologies but the entire skill set required by the working world. sitting quietly in your desk and waiting to be asked to speak looks not so hot on the resume, these days. the emperor is naked, and the students are starting to notice."
This has been my issue for a long time now, and perhaps the prime reason why we are giving our boys the option of homeschooling. We are in a time of immense change, and not just at school.
I teach high school biology in Alberta. Our school has banned cell phone use by students during school hours. This probably is appropriate since it reduces the incidence of conflict between students and teachers when a phone rings during class time. It also reduces the possible use of the technology during classroom tests when text messaging or digital file access may not be appropriate. Regular land-lines are available in classrooms and teachers are open to students using these phones to make "necessary" calls at appropriate times. However, there may be times when cell phones might be a useful tool. Please see http://tinyurl.com/322wa3 for some of my thoughts regarding this.
Our school used to have major problems with phones being used in classrooms and to cheat. We are now using a system from phonebuster. It is an effective detection unit that each teacher has and can recognise whenever a phone is on and being used. Seems to have done the trick.


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I know that for me as a hobby maker, whenever I make kitchen knives to sell, they get snatched up by my family. I am currently working on three that will hopefully end up on the exchange here. Between my wife, brother, sister, parents, cousins, etc, not many end up on the exchange. Personally I enjoy making kitchen knives because I think it is the ultimate test of heat treatment and geometry.
On a side note, I have been impressed on how well the finish on damascus kitchen knives holds up. I made my wife a damascus santoku a couple of years ago, and the pattern still looks looks nice. It definitely has a patina, but the pattern is very visible after cutting anything and everything in the kitchen.
This has been an interesting thread. I will add a few pics of kitchen knives since we all like pics, right?
Damascus patina after a couple of years of use:
Damascus Chef
1095 Santoku
If any man says he hates war more than I do, he better have a knife, that's all I have to say
-Jack Handy
Kershaw Mafia - Johnny Fontane
I've been trying off and on to sell chef knives here in Fixed Blades. I often wish that there was a subforum there for kitchen cutlery. My stuff has done OK here, but some take a while to sell. They go much slower in general than bowies, utilities, hunters, and fighters for me. I find that the fancier ones (hamon integrals in my case) sell slower than the work horse types. I've also done significantly better with custom orders for kitchen cutlery, than with making them on speculation.
I've been concentrating more on making solid performance cutters for sale here, in 52100 and W2, with G10 or micarta grips- they seem to move faster, and I like working for that part of the market that just wants a clean kitchen knife that will cut like crazy. If there is one thing that I could see myself doing in life other than working steel, it's creating food- and now I co-own/operate a breakfast cafe with my wife. It's cutting back on my shop hours right now, but I'm learning more than ever, using my own knives in the kitchen, what works for me at the cutting board.
Lovin' every minute...
Visit my Maker's Forum at Bladeforums.
Visit my website, http://www.prometheanknives.com
I agree. go look at the knives for sale at williams-sonoma or another high end kitchen supply store. basic steel (440C or 52100 or 1095), one size fits none handles, and price tags that start at $100. the other thing to remember is who will buy. while a paring knife may not sell at a knife/gun show, if it looks good you may sell out at a craft show where most of the buyers are ladies. when selling, also play up made in USA with materials made in USA. most kitchen cutlery seems to come from China or Thailand even if knives from that brand name used to be made here.
"old sailors never die, they just take up space on social forums.
I would say that the kitchen knife is the most used knife in our society. There are millions and millions more kitchen knife users than users of bowies, hunters, fighters, tactical knives combined. I do think that since they are so common (and mostly crappy) that most people view them as mundane and pedestrian object of everyday life. Most people have not had the experience of using a high performance, well executed knife in the kitchen.
Also a kitchen knife is often viewed as only a tool. It is not viewed with the same mystique that some knives are such as a weapon or status symbol or having "cool" properties like being deadly or dangerous.
I personally am attracted to making kitchen knives because they are a tool and will be used regularly, not stored under glass or in the back of someone's safe.
All that being said, kitchen knives are continuing to gain in popularity at a pretty impressive rate and bigger name makers are starting to take notice and produce kitchen cutlery.
Last edited by JMJones; 10-10-2012 at 06:29 AM.
I have had mixed results with kitchen knives, I would put mine on the very affordable side of the market, sometimes they go well some times they do not. Outside the forum there is alot of ooo, aaa interest but no sales. I would very much like to expand my market but the cooking forum (other sites not here) are really into the production knives and willing to part with $200 or more for a production knife. Hard to explain when alot of the review discuss chips, handles coming loose or unable to retain an edge.
All I know it I love using my chef knives in my own kitchen and glad when I have one to keep, its like getting to use your favorite hunter every day!!!
BTW, how can I get my pics to be full size like yours,
Kershaw Mafia - Johnny Fontane
Interesting topic.
I'm a retired chef who's spent a great deal of time playing in the woods when I wasn't in the kitchen. Over the years I had the privilege of working with both el cheapo, and very high end knives. It was a privilege because now, as a part-time knife maker, I have gained valuable perspective into what makes a "good" knife...... for me.
And, for me, it is the kitchen knives that test my skill more than an outdoor user. The thin blades with perfect grinds and balance are hard to do as well as Harner, Hogback, and others. I need to gain more skill, proficiency, and confidence before I start making kitchen knives the way I would like to see them made. That's why this is the only kitchen knife(set) I've made that I have felt confident enough to post here:
Peter, I LOVE the look of those. Absolutely, looove.
It's a worthwhile topic, for certain. As with any other genre in our field, there are folks who can't keep up with orders for $500-$1000+ knives. But the pool of people willing to pay that kind of money is fairly narrow, and it's hard to break into that level.
All my knives are users and not terribly fancy, but I use the best materials and HT I can get, and I utilize a lot of "custom" techniques like tapered tangs and hand-rubbed finishes. So the thing holding me back from diving into kitchen cutlery is mainly a matter of price point.
There's no way I can send a hand-finished 8" blade with high-end steel out the door for $100 and break even, much less make a wage. I see a lot of very good makers struggling to sell darn good chef's knives in the $100-200 dollar range. While, as mentioned before, demonstrably inferior factory knives sell quite steadily in the same price range.
I think it may come down to simply putting them in front of the wrong people. For whatever reason, the kitchen folks don't have a huge presence here on BFC; buyers here fall into three camps for the most part... EDC/hunters, bushcraft/survival/tactical guys, and collectors of crazy-expensive art knives.
You're just not going to sell a lot of killer chef's knives at gun shows or even knife shows. In fact, I have only seen one strictly-kitchen-knife maker at a show - Del Ealy at the Badger Show in WI the last two years - I didn't see any at the KMG show in KY in 2011. I suspect that "kitchen people" aren't necessarily "knife knuts" as we think of ourselves, and it makes sense to go where they are rather than waiting for them to find us. Cooking-specific forums, shows, craft fairs, etc.
Just thinking out loud, of course.
TwoOneNo more THK's available for immediate shipping. More coming soon; now taking limited custom orders for delivery in early 2014
James you mentioned there were no kitchen knives at the Guild show last year, I would have to say I saw at least a dozen chef knives at the Guild show this past Sept. That was the most interesting to me that big of a switch as to what makers were putting on their tables. I talked to a couple and they said exactly what you did about not worth the time and headache grinding long and thin blades. I like the idea about a separate for sale forum for kitchen cutlery.
Big Chris
Big Chris Custom Knives
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If you have an idea of something you would like made, email me. I am open to most any design.
i had been tring to get into the market for some number of years and think im getting there. the bad side is that i cant sell a hunter or bowie to ave my life (you get known for a style ) rather then spread myself thin making sure to make a little bit of everything.
i do mix things up a bit with kitchen knives and also straight razors. i get suckered into making a few hunters now and then that i end up having inn stock a while. soon tho i ll have a batch of neckers made and a few other pull my hair out projects
Lloyd Richard Harner III most people that know me just call me Butch
L.R.Harner Knives
If you're not going to do it right, don't do it.
www.harnerknives.com (is work in progress)
now also making straight razors
TwoOneNo more THK's available for immediate shipping. More coming soon; now taking limited custom orders for delivery in early 2014
I would also love to see a Kitchen Knives For Sale section in here. They really should belong in their own for sale area and it might really take off after a while.
Let me reiterate (FWIW) that I've been wishing for a separate kitchen cutlery sales forum for a while. I hope it could happen, every time I put a chef out in the Fixed For Sale, I get the feeling of crickets in the distance and people reading newspapers in the stands... I'm sure a new sub-forum would take a while to catch on as a hot buyer's spot, but I'd like to post there as it picked up momentum.
Lovin' every minute...
Visit my Maker's Forum at Bladeforums.
Visit my website, http://www.prometheanknives.com
I definitely agree on the kitchen sales subforum.
add my vote !
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- Limited Time Only! (The ad below will not display on your printed page) SAVE EVEN MORE! Say "Yes" to Ladies' Home Journal® Magazine today and get a second year for HALF PRICE - 2 full years (22 issues) for just $15. You also get our new Ladies' Home Journal® Family Favorites Cookbook ABSOLUTELY FREE! |
"You have to please, please watch this show!" Ellen DeGeneres has said about Dogtown, a reality series on the National Geographic Channel. The show is filmed at a no-kill shelter in Kanab, Utah, that takes in hundreds of dogs deemed unadoptable. Training and behavior consultant Sherry Woodard, 45, is part of a team that figures out how Dogtown's staff and volunteers are going to rehabilitate these shelter rejects and find them homes. When she's not traveling the world giving guidance to other shelters and humane societies, Woodard lives at Dogtown (part of the 3,000-acre Best Friends Animal Sanctuary) with her son, Donal, 22, and four dogs and five cats. We asked her to share some of her techniques.
LHJ: How do you reform these problem dogs? It seems like magic.
SW: It isn't magic at all. Many of the dogs simply lack skills, and we teach them skills by making them part of our families. It's called relationship-based training. Many dogs are aggressive because they don't trust people. We use positive reinforcement since physical force, pinch collars, and choke chains can have negative results.
LHJ: You make these dogs part of your family? Does that mean you bring these "unadoptable" animals home with you?
SW: Absolutely! Sometimes I even have them sleep on my bed. By making them live in a house you teach them manners. The staff and I employ our own pets as role models. Rescued dogs watch how the other dogs enjoy being petted, how they love us and trust us, and that helps them progress and become normal family pets.
LHJ: Isn't that dangerous?
SW: You certainly have to be careful, and not all dogs are ready for a home visit immediately. You start out by keeping enough distance so that the dog doesn't react and then you slowly lessen the distance and reward him with treats for not reacting.
LHJ: What was your most difficult case that turned into a success story?
SW: One huge success was Animal, a small black terrier we rescued from a puppy mill. This dog had spent his whole life in a small cage with no human contact. When we first got him we had to handle him with welder's gloves -- he was spinning and biting in every direction.
LHJ: What calmed him down?
SW: We hand-fed him, which quickly taught him that good things come from humans. It's a great technique anytime you adopt a dog. With Animal we had to take baby steps. At first he wouldn't eat from our hands so we had to place the kibble near him. Eventually he let us close enough to pet him. After seven months of socialization he was ready to be adopted.
LHJ: Any other Dogtown techniques that regular pet owners can use?
SW: Animal had a destructive chewing problem. We solved it by taking away his food bowl and stuffing all his kibble in a toy -- that motivated him to chew on the toy instead of our phone wires. Another technique that keeps dogs out of trouble is teaching them to trade. You pick something the dog likes, such as a toy. Then you get an extra-good treat, like chicken or steak or cheese. When the dog goes toward the item it values, you say "trade" and offer the treat, getting the dog to leave the item and come to you. You practice it again and again, so when you're out in public and your dog goes after a chicken bone or a hot dog in a child's hand, all you have to say is "trade" and he'll come to you.
LHJ: You talked about "practicing manners" with your own dogs. What does that mean?
SW: Think about learning a foreign language: If you don't use it, you lose it. To have fluent language or fluent behaviors we need to practice. I make sure all my dogs sit for treats, wait without moving while I carry the groceries in, and walk well on lead. This kind of daily practice helps well-behaved dogs stay that way.
LHJ: Any advice for pet owners based on your work with dogs in crisis?
SW: Make sure your dogs remain social for life. One person shouldn't be their everything. Get them out and have them interact with people of all sizes, ages, and colors. Board them in a kennel occasionally, make trips to the groomer, have the veterinary technician walk them out of the exam room after a checkup. I did a lot of work after Hurricane Katrina and I soon realized a lot of people's pets were terrified simply because they had never been handled by strangers. Emergencies happen and our pets need to know it's okay to be without us.
LHJ: What message would you most like to get across to pet owners?
SW: People need to understand that owning a dog is a long-term commitment. Many dogs live close to 20 years. And any dog you bring into a home is going to need plenty of interaction and an education. Fortunately, dog training is actually easy. You don't have to go out and spend money, either. There's information online and it's free.
LHJ: What can people do to help solve the overcrowded-shelter situation?
SW: Volunteer! A few obvious ways are to walk the dogs, transport them to their new homes, or foster them overnight. But you can also take their photos, write up their bios, do the laundry, help the shelter improve its Web site or go out and collect used towels from hotels so that all the animals have bedding. There are a million ways you can help that don't even require you to touch the dogs.
Originally published in Ladies' Home Journal, October 2009.


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Home » Member Tools » Members' Bulletin Board » Fernley & Fernley Receives Top Honor from SmartCEO Magazine
Posted to Announcement on 8/14/2012 at 2:09 PM
PHILADELPHIA, PA – July 30, 2012 – Fernley & Fernley (F&F), member of the Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce and America's first association management company, was recently named one of 2012's Top 100 Best-Run Companies in Philadelphia by SmartCEO Magazine.
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Take a Helicopter Tour from Belize International Airport to our own helipad onsite at Ka'ana. Pass over lush protected jungle reserves and get a bird's-eye view of the Maya Mountains and the 1000-Foot Falls. Truly a thrilling way to witness Belize's diverse landscapes and environments.
Compare the Border Towns of Benque Viejo and Melchor de Mencos on your drive to Yaxha (Green Water) - Guatemala's 3rd largest Maya Ruin situated on Lake Yaxha's bank, Peten. Experience a Glorious Sunset atop Structure 216 while listening to the howls of resident Howler Monkeys and sipping on Champagne.
Join Omar Figueroa as he travels into the jungles of Belize on a once-in-a-lifetime jaguar tracking expedition. Learn about Jaguar conservation initiatives in Belize, which has the highest density of Jaguar in the world.
Set against the backdrop of a 150-foot waterfall on Privassion River; enjoy a romantic private picnic, complete with chilled champagne and a lunch of your choice. An amazing luxury Belize experience!
Visit the San Antonio Village in the Pine Ridge Mountain Reserve and spend an afternoon with a group of Yucatec Maya women and learn about a craft that they have honed and made into their livelihood: clay-pot making. A truly authentic Belize experience.
Belize horseback riding across an open pasture towards the bank of the Mopan River, an exciting river crossing that takes you off the beaten path and on an eye-opening ride that reveals a different, slower way of life. A stunning Belize adventure.
Our small group sizes mean a more personalized adventure offerings and flexible Belize bird watching experience for you and less impact on the fragile environment. Our experienced adventure guides have escorted hundreds of birders and nature enthusiasts over the years.
The Belize Zoo is a unique stop for animal lovers, with more than 125 different types of animals set around 29 acres of tropical savanna. A wonderful Belize luxury adventure!
Located in the heart of the Belizean rainforest in the Tapir Mountain Nature Reserve, this cave was a sacred place to the Maya of Belize.
Hidden within this small Community, are the remnants of an ancient Maya civilization silently waiting to be explored in the cool, dark watery underground caverns of Barton Creek Cave. This Belize kayak adventure is a must!


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Check rates and availability for this ryokan
Find the best prices for Wadoh from JAPANiCAN - JTB.
Travel Blogs from Chichibu
Sayonara Japan!
After our short stop in Kyoto is was back to where our trip to Japan started, Saitama. There is something to be said about how good it feels to be staying with family. After months of hostels and hotels, there really nothing that comes close to the comforts of home or staying with friends & family. I'm so glad that my family has been so generous to both Kristen and myself, opening their homes up to us and showing us ...
Visiting Grandma
So I successfully had my first couch surfing experience!! For those who were worried, I didn`t get killed OR raped!! I love it when those things don`t happen to me! I wish one of you guys were here to high-five me... I would`ve asked my couch suring host but that could`ve been awkward.
I stayed out here a few nights to visit my Grandma who`s ...
Happy to be in Japan
... and cousins all my life and knew the area somewhat well. It's been 5 years since visiting Japan and it felt great to be amongst family and introducing Kristen to all of them.
Hanyu is a very small town in the Saitama Prefecture located about 1.5 hours northwest from Tokyo. My Aunty and Uncle's house is surrounded by rice and wheat fields, which has a country and peaceful atmosphere far ...
Ume no Ame
As I mentioned in my previous entry, this year's unusually long and cold winter meant that the plum blossoms were late to the party. While in the city there were about three weeks behind their usual flowering date, the ones in Ome, where I've been before, were nearly a month late.
Looking at the pictures on the park's website, it seemed that ...
Looking for a flight
We moved into a hotel over by the Yokota Air Force Base and are looking for a flight home. We are eager to get back so Kathryn can train for the upcoming Tae Kwon Do Spring National tournament in Las Vegas.
There is no room on base so we are staying at a nice place near the train station. They have a very nice lobby that Robert can work at. The 24 hour McDonalds across the streeet will proved the energy needed for him to stay awake from 2-8 AM.


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Comment Number: | OL-110037 |
Received: | 12/13/2004 1:27:43 PM |
Organization: | |
Commenter: | Overton |
State: | CA |
Subject: | Trade Regulation Rule on Telemarketing Sales |
Title: | Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, Request for Comment |
CFR Citation: | 16 CFR Part 310 |
No Attachments |
Please let us keep our privacy and the quiet of the dinner hour. It is wonderful to have the do not call list for unsolicited products and services. This time of year we wish funraisers were included on the list too. Please let us retain the right to find the serrvices we need and preserve the do not call list as it stands. Thank you Nancy Overton


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June 19, 2012 (Initiatives Show Obama Knows How to Work With Businesses)
BENTON'S COMMUNICATIONS-RELATED HEADLINES for TUESDAY, JUNE 19, 2012
The House Commerce Committee begins consideration of the Internet's Multistakeholder Governance Model today http://benton.org/calendar/2012-06-19/
Broadband Initiatives Show Obama Knows How to Work With Businesses - analysis
The ITU WCIT And Internet Freedom - analysis
Sens Snowe and Warner call for cybersecurity compromise
Broadband contract at center of state dispute
Frequency-Hopping Radio Wastes Less Spectrum
Google, Apple Tighten Grip on Smartphone Market
Verizon: irrational outcomes - analysis [links to web]
Facebook Acquires Facial Recognition Technology Company Face.com For Nearly $60 Million
Consumer groups urge Facebook to ban ads to kids
Facebook's $10 million privacy payout: why you get nothing - analysis
Study: Most Cord-Cutters May Be OTA 'Opt-Ins'
New Hits Needed; Apply to NPR [links to web]
Time Warner Cable posts its political file online, so why the fuss, NAB? - analysis
Cristina Saralegui endorses President Obama [links to web]
Chinese operators hope to standardize a segmented Internet
EU telecom operators ready to talk M&A [links to web]
Ofcom opposed to media ownership limits
10 unsung fathers of technology [links to web]
[SOURCE: Minority Media and Telecommunications Council, AUTHOR: David Honig]
[Commentary] For all the carping from political foes about President Obama's supposed disdain for the business community, some recent White House initiatives designed to boost broadband suggest the President has a pretty good idea about how to work with American companies. With an Executive Order on June 14, the President took aim at a critical roadblock to broadband deployment by telling government agencies to open the door to installation of critical infrastructure on properties controlled or owned by the federal government. He said better processes could cut costs by up to 90 percent and help the private sector accelerate the delivery of high-speed connectivity across the country. The move probably won't be featured on network news shows, daily newspapers, or online news sites, but it's exactly the sort of thing that helps businesses succeed. Think about it. Every additional broadband line or cell tower that gets put down on government land [or on a building] means more orders for suppliers and helps broadband service providers reach more customers. All it takes is more efficiency by government. Instead of boosting their bottom line through layoffs and other cost-cutting measures, companies assisted by this Executive Order can now grow their businesses and create jobs at a faster pace. It's really economic stimulus, without additional cost to the Treasury or haggling with Congress.
benton.org/node/126157 | Minority Media and Telecommunications Council
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[SOURCE: Public Knowledge, AUTHOR: Harold Feld]
[Commentary] Very few people ever heard of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) until recently – and with good reason. For more than 100 years, the ITU managed quite nicely serving as the forum for countries and telecom carriers to coordinate insanely-technical-mind-numbingly-boring-but-really-really-important stuff related to making the phone network work internationally, distributing satellite slots, and trying to harmonize what frequencies countries allocate to what services. But now the ITU has suddenly become very interesting. Why? Because the ITU members will hold a rare meeting -- the World Conference on International Communications (WCIT) – where the 193 member countries will vote on whether to amend the current ITU rules ("ITRs") that set the framework for all this extremely important boringness. Unclear for now – especially in the pre-game – is whether and how the WCIT represents a potential threat to freedom of expression online. Even without the concern that the ITU will somehow "take over the Internet," certain WCIT proposals advanced by a number of regimes that engage in Internet censorship threaten the future of free expression online. These proposals, from the Russian Federation and several Arab states, would for the first time explicitly embrace the concept that governments have a right to control online communications and disrupt Internet access services. This would reverse the trend of the last few years increasingly finding that such actions violate fundamental human rights – a valuable tool in trying to pressure repressive regimes to stop using such tactics.
benton.org/node/126152 | Public Knowledge
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[SOURCE: The Hill, AUTHOR: Brendan Sasso]
Sens Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) and Mark Warner (D-VA) urged the Senate to find a compromise solution for cybersecurity legislation. In a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Sens Snowe and Warner said there is "tremendous potential" for the Senate to find a solution for securing critical infrastructure systems that "incentivizes private sector participation and collaboration." The letter seems to be a nod towards a draft compromise proposal from Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Jon Kyl (R-AZ). The endorsement from Sens Snowe and Warner for an approach that incentivizes critical infrastructure standards seems to add momentum to the Kyl-Whitehouse compromise efforts. The senators urged Sens Reid and McConnell to bring up the legislation in July and to allow amendments on the floor from any senator.
benton.org/node/126169 | Hill, The
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[SOURCE: Tampa Bay Times, AUTHOR: Mary Ellen Klas]
In 2009, with more than a quarter of all Floridians without broadband access to the Internet at home, state officials lined up to get some of the $7 billion in federal stimulus money to finance state-based programs to increase access. Enter Connected Nation, a little-known but well-connected Washington-based company. It won the Florida contract to use $2.5 million to map the broadband gaps for use by policymakers and telecommunications companies. A year later, when the state won a second grant for $6.3 million to extend the broadband efforts, Connected Nation, a nonprofit company, believed it had signed up to be part of a public-private partnership with the state that entitled the firm to a no-bid shot at that money too. But the Department of Management Services, the state agency that housed the project, disagreed. The DMS said the grant requires it to use some of the money to pay for three more years of broadband mapping and the rest to expand broadband access in libraries and schools. The DMS hired eight contract employees to handle administration and provide services, paying them between $72,000 and $140,000 a year until the grant ends in 2014, and defended it as an efficient use of state funds. That began a bitter feud between Connected Nation and the DMS, an agency with a lengthy history of distrust among state budget leaders. In an audacious display of lobbying clout, Connected Nation got the Legislature to force the DMS off the contract and steer the second grant to the firm.
benton.org/node/126163 | Tampa Bay Times
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[SOURCE: Technology Review, AUTHOR: David Talbot]
With a rising tide of smart-phone data threatening to drown the airwaves, a White House advisory panel is poised to suggest that wireless carriers and research labs ramp up efforts to use computing to far more efficiently tap spectrum. This will require, among other things, so-called "cognitive" radios, which sense unused radio bands and can intelligently switch heavy data loads between different frequencies without any interruption. A New Jersey startup has come out with the fastest cognitive radio yet. It works on the widest possible range of spectrum, and is part of a crop of improved technologies that are crucial to bringing the technology to market and avert network overload. The gadget in question, called CogRadio, and made by Radio Technology Systems of Ocean Grove, New Jersey, can switch at fast-enough rates to be imperceptible for, say, a video viewer; as well as in sufficient quantities that any research done on it, or software written for it, will be applicable in future real-world commercial devices.
benton.org/node/126155 | Technology Review
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[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, AUTHOR: Jessica Vascellaro, Amir Efrati]
Apple and Google have brought mobile giants Nokia and Research In Motion to their knees and captured more than 80% of the world's smartphone market. Now they are going after the rest. Apple is marching into new markets—most recently U.S. prepaid mobile phones—to continue the growth of its iPhone and iPad devices and iOS software. At the same time, Apple is developing software, such as mapping, that it once obtained from Google to make its devices stand out and to control some features more tightly. Google is shifting gears with its Android software to exert greater control over its destiny. In the past, Google relied on hardware manufacturers to build Android devices and on carriers and other retailers to sell them to consumers. Today, Google is partly adopting Apple's integrated model by manufacturing some devices on its own and it plans to sell several devices directly with big marketing campaigns. What's behind these moves? Apple and Google see bigger gains ahead.
benton.org/node/126175 | Wall Street Journal
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[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, AUTHOR: Mike Isaac]
After rumors of a deal have swirled for weeks, Facebook has officially acquired facial recognition technology company Face.com. It's a complete acquisition, which means both talent and technology will now become Facebook's in the deal. Though the exact terms of the deal were not disclosed, other outlets have reported the price in the neighborhood of $100 million. However, I'm hearing from two sources familiar with the terms of the deal that Face.com actually sold for a significantly lower amount, approximately $55 to $60 million in cash and stock (though it is unclear if this price is with or without an earnout included).
benton.org/node/126174 | Wall Street Journal
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[SOURCE: Washington Post, AUTHOR: Cecilia Kang]
Consumer and child safety advocates pressed Facebook to beef up safety and privacy efforts if it goes forward with plans to allow children under 13 to use the social networking site. In a letter to Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg, the groups said any space for preteen users should be free of advertising and supervised by parents. The consumer advocacy groups, which include Consumers Union, the Center for Digital Democracy, World Privacy Forum and Consumer Federation of America, said any collection of personal information shouldn't be used by marketers to target ads at preteens based on the interests they display on Facebook. "The company's business model relies, at its very core, on data collection, ad targeting, and viral marketing, and many of its practices have generated public and government privacy concerns," the groups said in their letter to Zuckerberg.
benton.org/node/126172 | Washington Post | NYTimes | LATimes | The Hill | see press release
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[SOURCE: paidContent.org, AUTHOR: Jeff John Roberts]
The technology industry is trapped in a cycle of privacy breaches and class action lawsuits that does nothing for the average internet user. The new Facebook settlement is just the latest example. If you missed it, Facebook says it will pay $10 million to compensate users who were turned into product pitchmen as a result of "Sponsored Stories" ads that treat 'Likes' as endorsements (see how one user unwittingly endorsed a jumbo tub of lubricant). None of this money, however, will go to Facebook users.
Instead, the payout will perpetuate a symbiotic relationship between tech companies and their critics that works like this: Step 1) Facebook/Google/etc. break a privacy law. Step 2) Critics blow whistle, lawyers sue for millions. Step 3) Company pays millions to critics and lawyers, nothing to you. Step 4) Wash, rinse, repeat.
benton.org/node/126164 | paidContent.org
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[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
About 21 million homes rely on over-the-air TV, according to the latest data from GfK Media's (Knowledge Networks) Home Technology Monitor report. That is 17.8% of all TV homes, compared with a consistent 14%-15% over-the-air-only percentage for each year of the study since 2008, according to GfK. Those broadcast-only homes continue to skew lower-income and minority, but also younger households, the study found. And although cord-cutting has been popularly tied to migration from pay TV to online video viewing, GfK media researcher David Tice, in a blog about the data, confesses up front to be a cord-cutter skeptic, at least to the argument that the flight is from pay TV video to online video. He says the research shows that over 70% of those who have cancelled pay TV service said it was due to cost-cutting, with cord-cutting because of online alternatives cited by less than 20%. Tice is not saying that online video options are not an important part of the equation, but said their data does not support suggesting it is a primary driver of cord-cutting.
benton.org/node/126166 | Broadcasting&Cable | GfK Media
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[SOURCE: Sunlight Foundation, AUTHOR: Keenan Steiner]
If posting already-public information on political ad spending is so damaging to broadcasters, as the National Association of Broadcasters argues, then why has one of the country's biggest cable providers been doing it since 2010? Back then, Time Warner Cable created an online portal to search information regarding political ads sold on its system. Initially the portal served only the east coast, but has since provided data nationwide since 2011, according to a Time Warner spokesman. The ad buy records are available as downloadable PDFs. Current law requires TV stations to keep political ad purchase orders on file at their stations — a rule that goes for broadcasters and cable networks alike.
benton.org/node/126161 | Sunlight Foundation
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[SOURCE: IDG News Service, AUTHOR: Mikael Ricknäs]
A technology draft written by employees at China Mobile and China Telecom and submitted to the Internet Engineering Task Force describes how the Internet could be split into several parts using the Domain Name System and in the process give countries more control over their own segment of the network. The DNS is one of the key building blocks of the Internet. Its most important task is translating IP (Internet Protocol) addresses to host names, which is done by a distributed system based on one unique root that is used all over the world. The technology is developed by the IETF, on whose website the Chinese "DNS Extension for Autonomous Internet" draft is available for viewing. Today, China blocks Internet access to some foreign websites. The goal outlined by the new document is to make it easier and cheaper for countries to create independent root DNS servers and realize Internet autonomy. Today, that is both costly and technically difficult, according to the draft.
benton.org/node/126150 | IDG News Service
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[SOURCE: Financial Times, AUTHOR: Ben Fenton]
Ofcom will not recommend setting absolute limits on newspaper or media ownership. But the UK broadcasting regulator will say that it should conduct regular reviews of plurality every four or five years which could include an assessment of whether individual organizations have too great a share of news. Ofcom said that defining what constituted sufficient plurality, that is the diversity of voices delivering news and current affairs, would be a matter either for parliament to decide itself or to delegate to an "appropriate body."
benton.org/node/126147 | Financial Times
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This video is Part 2 of the first episode of Marty's story, captured by ABC Open for the project, Aftermath.
Marty Warburton was on the ground in Grantham on the 10th January 2011 when floodwaters destroyed most of the town he calls home.
Since the flood Marty has taken a leadership role in the community, helping others get back on their feet despite suffering the loss of his own businesses.
Stay tuned for more videos, photos and blogs when we launch the Aftermath site in the coming weeks.
For the last few months I have been developing an online documentary project looking at how individuals and communities recover from natural disaster. The project is called Aftermath and it is being produced as part of ABC Open, a fantastic community engagement initiative being undertaken by your ABC.
Aftermath follows the stories of people who are trying to rebuild their lives and their communities; and to recover from these devastating events. These are stories of resilience, or ordinary people finding extraordinary strength to deal with the ongoing effects of natural disaster. The story may have started with the floods, storms or fire, but it's not over yet.
The Aftermath site isn't far away, but here is a sneak peak at the first videos in the series. This video is Part 1 of Marty's story (I'll post Part 2 also) and we'll be revisiting Marty over the next 9 months to track his recovery from the devastating QLD floods.
We'll also be looking for your contributions, through submitting photos and text via Flickr, and featuring a number of guest bloggers from disaster affected regions across Australia, telling their stories in their own words. More details will be on their way soon.


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Regional Animal Services of King County (RASKC)
Pet Adoption Center 21615 64th Ave. S. Kent, WA 98032 206-296-PETS (7387) TTY Relay 711 General Info email@example.com Adoptions email@example.com Pet Licensing firstname.lastname@example.com Hours of Operation Monday: 3 - 6 p.m. Tuesday - Friday: noon - 6 p.m. Saturday - Sunday: noon - 5 p.m.
Licensing your pet is easy and gives your pet an inexpensive insurance policy for its safety and protection. Plus, it is the law.
Regional Animal Services of King County issues a permanent, stainless steel tag that is intended to last the lifetime of your pet. Replacement of lost or damaged tags can be done in person at a license tag sales location or via mail. Replacement tags cost $5 each. Contact us at 206-296-2712 or email firstname.lastname@example.com for more information.
If you live in our service area, you can buy a license online right now, or purchase in person.
Days Past Expiration
Late fee
365 or more
$30 + prior year's license fee
King County pet licenses are required for all dogs and cats 8 weeks of age or older in most areas of the county served by Regional Animal Services. A pet license identifies and protects your dog or cat in case they get lost. Also, pet licenses offer other great benefits as well.
Even indoor-only cats or pets confined to fenced yards get loose and their licenses help assure you can be reunited with them. Licenses are inexpensive identification and are for your pet's protection and safety. License revenue also makes it possible to reunite lost pets with their families and for adoption services for homeless pets.
Dogs and cats must be licensed in all unincorporated King County and contracting cities. However, the cities on this list issue their own pet licenses. Please contact them directly for pet license information if you live within their city limits.
Mail to:King County Pet Licenses500 Fourth Ave., Suite 403Seattle, WA 98104
If you are over 65, or if your pet is under 6 months of age, you may qualify for a discounted pet license.
If you are over 65 years old
If your pet is spayed/neutered, you are eligible for a discounted senior citizen pet license. This license costs $15.00 and is renewed annually. Please provide proof of your age and proof of pet's spay/neuter.
Pet is under six months old
If your pet is under 6 months of age, you qualify for a $15 dollar juvenile pet license that is good for 6 months. After that, the full pet license fee of $30 for a spayed/neutered pet or $60 for an unaltered pet applies.
Yes. King County canvassers issue license tags for your dog(s) and/or cat(s) right while they are at your doorstep. This is a great convenience to you, and provides great protection for your pet. Canvassers may visit you if you live anywhere in our service area.
Pet licensing canvassers have official King County photo identification and wear bright blue polo shirts or windbreakers or a winter jacket with the pet licensing logo. Hours are generally Sundays 1 to 8 p.m., Mondays - Fridays 4:30 to 8:30 p.m., and Saturdays 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Door-to-door marketers accept payment and issue license tags for your dogs and cats right while they are at your doorstep. When a door-to-door canvasser comes to your door, please welcome him or her.
The pet license fee is waived, but you will receive an annual renewal notice requesting your confirmation that this pet is still being used as a service animal. Once we receive your confirmation, a free license is sent. If you keep the animal after it retires from service, the annual license fee will be due.
Definition of a service animal: "Service or assistive animal" means a dog guide, signal or hearing dog, seizure response dog, therapeutic companion animal or other animal that does work, performs tasks or provides medically necessary support for the benefit of an individual with a disability.
King County fines owners of unlicensed pets. Read more about the fine, or avoid it entirely by licensing your pet online or get a tag or mailer at more than 300 locations in King County.
Update Pet/Owner Information
The following cities issue their own pet licenses. Please contact them directly for pet license information if you live within their city limits.


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What he was saying was her father got …
Comment posted Bill Maher To Kim Kardashian: "Your Father Started Kardashian Tradition Of Getting Black Men Off" by ItsMEEEE.
What he was saying was her father got OJ off and he's black and Kim gets black men "off" bc she dates black men. I saw it as offensive IMO. but to each its own.
ItsMEEEE also commented
- Notice how u said her FUTURE husband… now to make a comment about someone's history u would have to take into account their past right??? Note I said she dates black men… no one said she was currently with a black man but she does date them and until she says "I DO", the comment will stay at she Dates black men (just as she does with other races) and once the ceremony is over then it will be she has datED black men… all in all she Got/Getting black men off and hence the point of his uncalled for tweet since u wanna be a smart ass… goodnite.
- wow sooooo she just told him to tweet that bullshit to her so she can have the spotlight??? Some ppl just need to STFU sometimes. Yea this is about Caylee but dnt place blame or down Kim K just bc HE ATTACKED her for no reason. Out of all the tweets on this case, he decides to talk shit about hers… yea shes REALLY making things about her *dumbass*
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Necole, have you viewed your site lately from a computer? Im asking because all of a sudden these youtube videos block the pics you post entirely and some of them you cannot minimize or remove. Just a little fyi in case you didnt know. Love your site but viewing it from a pc is hectic!!! - Kenya Moore Poses For Krave Magazine
Kenya is very beautiful but the show is making her look all kinds of CRAZY. OAN: Congrats to Phadra and Apollo on their new edition! - Dwyane Wade And Gabrielle Union Spread Love During The Holidays
@Questions Scrappy mama call her self being mad at Erica on L&HHA bc when scrappy had an asthma attack, she went to work instead of babying him like she wanted her to do… Holling bout "She left him fa dead… she left my baby fa dead" LOL quite funny if u ask me - Vanessa Bryant And Kobe Are Christmas Card Fly
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Yall stay going in on chief keef!!!! This is toooooooooo funny!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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While it's important to stay hydrated during exercise, it's impossible to create one-size-fits-all drinking guidelines. Your weight, sweat rate and effort level, and the temperature, all affect how much you should drink. But that doesn't mean you
runners. But whether you run a 2:30 or a 4:30 marathon, you too should up your sleeping game, says Professor Jim Horne from the Sleep Research Centre at Loughborough University. "Consistent, regular, good-quality sleep is vital when training for any
and trails conducive to enjoyable running. Once you get past the difficult early stage of your return, which should really just be an easy run every couple of days, try to develop a shape to your training. The RW half-marathon schedules will be ideal
.Perhaps no runner has thought more about heat training and racing than Alberto Salazar. Before the 1984 Olympic Marathon he got tested in a heat chamber (where sweat production is measured) and learned to chug two litres of fluid before every workout. But then he
," explains marathon world record holder Paula Radcliffe. You simply can't run your best without a strong core: the muscles in your abdominals, lower back and glutes. They provide the stability, power and endurance that runners need for powering up hills
experience, although my son missed the whole thing as he slept for all nine miles.Since then, I've gone on to break my five-mile, 10K and half-marathon PBs. I can't say why this has happened. I haven't increased my training. In fact, I'm doing less. I run
, applied physiologist at Bath University's Human Performance Centre. "Understanding the physiological processes that occur during the different stages of a marathon gives runners a better grip of the underpinnings of strategy and training and can take
hormones. But when a heavy training schedule puts pressure on your immune system, you can ensure that you make healthy diet choices.The key to maintaining an efficient and effective immune system is to consume enough of the nutrients that play a vital role
exercise levels to answer that one," Nieman says, "but in our Los Angeles Marathon study, we did find that post-marathon infections were significantly higher among those who trained more than 60 miles a week."Nieman is no Pollyanna. He admits to concerns


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Thanks Chuck! Yes, I am at the point of upgrading. I already do offer PayPal but I`m just not using Pro yet. I`ve been typing manually into ProPay which at this point is taking up too much time.
Thanks for your input! I think I`m going to start the switch this week.
If you are using Mal's you will probably be fine. When the service was first released we had several problems where Paypal would take orders and act like the card had been processed properly when in fact the user had entered invalid information. They got this problem sorted out about the time we moved away. The main limitation I was referring to was the requirement to show the Paypal buy it now at Paypal button as opposed to just running the cards locally. To comply with their terms of use you must show that button. It doesn't sound like that will be a problem in your case; however, we did not want to include that button on our products. Good luck! I hope it works better for you than it did for us. :) I have had great success with Paypal over the years but as an initial user of this system I was unimpressed. (Also note: The Paypal Payments Pro requires a special SDK so you may want to check with your web host to ensure they are capable of offering these to you before you make the transition.)
Thanks Ryan. Yes, they just love to put their logo everywhere don`t they? I was actually wondering something about the logo. When you ship through them using PayPal they put the PayPal logo on the USPS label. I enjoy the integrated shipping but I really don`t want a PayPal logo on the labels if the customer paid with Visa. KWIM? I`m curious about that. I thin if a person specifically chooses to use Visa instead of PayPal, then they shouldn`t have to see a PayPal logo on their package. It`s cheesy.
By the way, what is an SDK? I don`t think my host would have anything to do with it since all transactions go through Mal`s. My site simply has the POST command and Mal`s has the cart and payment processing. It`s not on my site as soon as someone hits "add to cart".
Ugh, so much to learn! My brain hurts.
SDK is an abbreviation for the term: Software Development Kit. It is basically a set of pre-built components Paypal put together that web developers use when creating their processing code. If the ecommerce portion of your website is hosted elsewhere then you won't have to worry about it, lucky! All you will have to do is count your money. ;)


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Washington, DC Sunday, January 20, 2013
EMILY's List, a group that works to elect pro-choice and women candidates, held an Inauguration Brunch, with remarks by House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren (D), Missouri Senator Claire McCaskill (D), and Hawaii Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard (D).
Rep. Tulsi Gabbard represents Hawaii's 2nd congressional district. She is the first American Samoan, the first Hindu member, and, along with Tammy Duckworth, one of the first female combat veterans in the United States Congress.
The brunch included newly-elected and currently serving female politicians.
"Women voters across the country elected a record number of pro-choice Democratic women and helped reelect the President because they wanted leaders who will fight for policies that benefit women and families," said Stephanie Schriock, President of EMILY's List, in a statement announcing the event.
Updated: Sunday, January 20, 2013 at 12:55pm (ET)
Related Events
On March 3, 1913 - the day before President Woodrow Wilson's inauguration - over 5000 women paraded down Pennsylvania Avenue towards the White House in a demonstration for the right to vote. American History TV attended a centennial celebration of the event and interviewed organizers, participants, and historians about the women's suffrage movement. The aniversary event was organized by Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, whose original 22 founders marched in the parade.
More Info »
DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano addressed cybersecurity issues at a joint hearing of the Senate Commerce Commmittee and the Senate Homeland Security Committee.
The House Judiciary Committee looks at target killings of American citizens by unmanned drones. The hearing, chaired by Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-VA), examines the Obama administration's drone policy and guarantees of due process on the battlefield for U.S. citizens.
Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and other House Democratic leaders spoke to reporters and answered questions. They talked about the sequestration and attempts to prevent the automatic federal budget cuts from going into effect on March 1, 2013.
Former President Bill Clinton speaks at the House Democratic Conference's retreat, Friday. The President told the assembled Congressmen that gun legislation need not be "toxic" to Democrats.
The President spoke at a policy retreat for House Democrats' in Leesburg, Virginia.
The Congressional Progressive Caucus held a press conference addressing debt and deficit reduction. During the briefing, leaders of the caucus, Reps. Keith Ellison (D-MN) and Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), unveiled legislation called "The Balancing Act."
The House Democrat leadership hold a press briefing on the 20th Anniversary of the Family Medical Leave Act. Participants include House Democrat leader Nancy Pelosi (CA) along with other Representatives.
Members of the Senate Republican and Democratic leadership spoke to reporters following the weekly the Senate party caucus meetings. Recently, the Senate Foreign Relations committee approved the nomination of Senator John Kerry to be Secretary of State. The full Senate is expected to hold the confirmation vote on Kerry's nomination later this afternoon.
The Senate passed H.R. 152, the Disaster Relief Appropriations Act on Monday by a vote of 62 to 36. The bill, which passed the House earlier this month, provides $50.7 billion in aid to states affected by Superstorm Sandy.
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Our beloved grandfather, Poppy Sol, started this business in an open-air market. Three generations later, we're still bringing smiles to our customers' faces.
Gummy Cola Panda Bears
Cute and cuddly, these yummy brown and white gummy bears have a fabulous cola flavor!
Customer Reviews
Leave online feedback and share your thoughts with other customers!
p May 8, 2011"ordered these and some raspberry-filled gummy bears among other things for my boyfriend. he loved it all. thanks, guys!(:"
Kristin, Springfield, VA April 6, 2011"Wow, super fast shipping and great communication! Keep up the good work! The product packages are so nice and my shipment arrived in great shape. Couldn't be happier. Thank you!"
Sandy, Chapel Hill, NC November 26, 2011"Received our order today - thank you. Your website is great as we were ordering candy by color - and you made is so simple to do. Appreciated the speedy delivery - all arrive well and the trick will be not to eat the candy before the party..."
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size 40g (~1.4 oz.)
(Approx. 11.4 Servings/Pound)
Amount Per Serving | |
Calories | 135 |
Calories From Fat | 0 |
Total Fat | 0g | 0% |
Saturated Fat | 0g | 0% |
Cholesterol | 0mg | 0% |
Sodium | 0mg | 0% |
Total Carbohydrate | 31g | 10% |
Dietary Fiber | 0g | 0% |
Sugars | 23g | |
Protein | 3g |
Vitamin A | 0% | Calcium | 0% |
Vitamin C | 0% | Iron | 0% |
Corn Syrup, Sugar, Gelatin, Fruit Juice (Apple), Sorbitol, Citric Acid, Anticaking Agent (Carnauba wax), Artificial Flavors, Artificial Colors (Titanium dioxide, Caramel color)
Packaged in the same facility as peanuts, tree nuts, wheat, soy, and milk products.
Approximately 170 pieces per pound.
Store in a cool, dry place for up to 6 months. We do not recommend refrigeration or freezing.


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I keep seeing all sorts of outfits for Lightning Returns and seriously, guys, I'd better not have any PSN cards when that game comes out because I did the math on how much I would have spent on XIII-2's outfits if I had just bought without thinking and it was like $100. I want ALL the outfits in both games and that's bad for my wallet so when I get the game just like, digitally slap me on the wrist or something if I start to say anything about DLC.
Haha the two-codes thing for FFXIV Realm Reborn is two codes required for one activation, but Brian got an email too (because he was in the original beta for the original game) so he's already resigned himself to downloading and playing it this weekend. (Assuming the beta's live already? No date's included in the email I got.)
Just got the new FFXIV Realm Reborn beta code(s? it looks like one for PC and one for PS3) for downloading some video off the Playstation Store. Guess I know what I'll be doing for a little while (and if it is two codes, what Brian's going to be subjected to doing as well, even though he didn't like the first version of the game).
I've been kind of wanting to try again to play FFXII since the concert last Friday (Kiss Me Goodbye was one of the songs on the list, and Susan Calloway nailed it) but I hate the start of the game and I've never been able to finish because I always end up taking hunts that basically trap me in an area where I can't move forward, can't complete the hunt, and can't find good enough enemies to level up on. So…. two or three times now, I've ragequit the game. But I really like the not-beginning (I don't know how far I really got, maybe two hours after Fran first rages out from the Mist? The order of events is kind of blurry because I kept doing hunts when possible instead.)
Basically, do I take a chance on ruining my day by hooking up the PS2 and getting frustrated with the early parts of the game, or do I just go watch a bunch of AMVs of Kiss Me Goodbye?


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DIY – Easter Tree and Ornaments
When I was growing up Easter was always a pretty big deal. My grandaddy's birthday fell around Easter and it was cause for a huge family get together, with quite possibly the biggest Easter egg hunt I can remember. Several … Continue reading
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Tagged DIY, Easter, Easter Tree, holiday, salt dough ornaments, spring, yarn ornaments
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Miami, FL Metro >
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1025 NW 20th St, Miami, FL | Directions 33127
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Great place for lunch. You can have lunch for under 10 dollars and the food is really good. Everyone I have taken there always returns. If you work by there you must check it out.
Worst Mexican Food. As a Mexican I've been searching where to eat here in Miami and I had read a lot of good reviews of this Mexican Restaurant so I has to go and check it out. My wife and I will for sure never go again. Los tres amigos is the worst mexican food I've ever eat. We tried a variety of tacos but the tortilla is not the correct one for this kind of plate and neither any of the plates had the real Mexican taste. It's a real shame for Mexicans in Miami.
Editorial Review. Tasty tapas and delicious drink specials at Los Tres Amigos. Bring your own amigos, or meet some new ones on the spacious patio.
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