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Verify or pay: Municipality shifts false alarm fines to alarm companies
National Sheriffs Convention Holds Workshop on 'Priority Response' The National Sheriffs Association June convention, attracting more than 4,000 sheriffs from across the United States, will include a workshop on Priority Response to Enhanced Video Alarms. The Priority Response concept avoids the negativity of local false alarm battles with fines/ordinances and instead focuses on a positive message, asking Law Enforcement, 'Would you give higher priority to Enhanced Video Alarms?' Instead of ordinances, the goals of priority response are simply a dispatch policy change: 1. Adoption of a special code by Dispatch Centers designating a higher priority response for Enhanced Video Alarms than standard alarms. 2. An email address in dispatch centers where participating central stations can send video clips of intruders for possible review by the dispatch operators. Example: email@example.com.†Keith Jentoft, a spokesman for the Priority Response initiative, and president of RSI Video Technologies Inc, explains that Enhanced Video Alarm is a generic category where the alarm system also delivers a short video clip to the central station who confirms the presence of an intruder. This is not surveillance, but an incremental step in the detect/notify process that alarm companies have been doing for decades. In addition to a standard alarm signal, central station operators view a video of what caused the alarm and dispatch accordingly. Jentoft states, 'These alarms can be delivered by at least three different technologies available from many manufacturers; the key is that Priority Response is a win for all security stakeholders. Law Enforcement gets more arrests, greater officer safety and more efficiency. Consumers have greater protection and life-safety and the industry is able to provide services that have greater value than "blind†systems. Adding two-way voice makes the concept even stronger.'Sonitrol's always tweeting out news blurbs of how their audio-verified alarms bring the cops quickly and result in an apprehension... I wrote a story on the developing verification trend last year. Looks like this issue might be heating up. Keith had a valid point when he said, "rather than try and minimize a negative by dealing with the false alarms after they happen, why not try and maximize a positive" by embracing enhanced alarms to begin with and ensuring higher-priority police response? Is it time to get verified? Again from the NSA press release:
The Priority Response concept which has been embraced by Law Enforcement in Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Alabama, Massachusetts and Texas has already had a positive impact on budgets and apprehensions.Keith's missive in Sheriff includes the following quote from an open letter from Calhoun County, Ala. Sheriff Larry Amerson (who is third Vice President of the NSA).
While Calhoun County Sheriff's Deputies will continue our current policy of responding immediately to all intrusion alarms, we believe that enhanced video alarms offer enhanced protection to you and help us in our efforts to keep Calhoun County citizens safe and protect their property. We believe that the delivery of a video of the specific event that triggered the alarm is a tremendous improvement in alarm technology that will lead to a reduction in false alarms saving valuable budget dollars. While we are not endorsing a specific provider or brand of product, we support the efforts of the security industry to provide their customers with the best protection possible and we look forward to being able to use enhanced video alarms to improve the life safety of our county.â€I'd love to hear what you all think about adding video or audio for verification. Chime in and let me know if you see a trend developing in your municipalities of police pushing for verification or no-response. Are municipalities around you charging alarm companies instead of the end user for false alarms?
I keep hearing about all these false alarm complants and how to go about fixing the problem.Well for years now this problem is still going on. I have repaired many alarm systems that were installed by other alarm companies or someone installing as a side job or do it yourselfers that install with no care or integrity for the alarm installationis and is a big cause to false alarms do to a very sloppy installation. The approch the Police and the Cities are taking is not realy going to fix this problem, just adding another band-aid to the problem. Just as there is an electrical inspection permit that needs to be obtained to inspect the electrical work. There should be the same type permits and inspections for alarm installations as well as the cities keeping up with business city lisense. There for getting rid of the sloppy installation by the alarm companies, side jobs and doit yourselfers. There is also another problem and that is the equipment that is manufactured that is not UL LISTED. These manufactur's might as well give out guaranteed false alarm certificates with there products.
Thanks for the comment, Roger. I agree that there is never a quick, easy solution to the false alarm problem. In my experience, reporting on the security industry, and on false alarm reduction efforts, it has been shown time and time again that the most successful cases are instances in which the municipality and the industry work to together and compromise to mutual benefit of all. In fact, a story I wrote in February on collaborative false alarm reduction efforts in Marietta, Ga. showed the teamwork paid off in a 65 percent reduction of false alarms as well as an overall reduction in crime. That story was recently republished through the efforts of SIAC (and the permission of Security Systems News) in the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police quarterly newsletter.
I spoke with Arizona Alarm Association president Maria Malice today after her meeting with the Goodyear PD. She said she was "very optimistic about working together amicably" with the Goodyear PD. She said they asked her for a lot of information--which is always good--which she provided. She also said she had provided the GPD with contact names and numbers for the very helpful folks at SIAC, so hopefully things will take a turn for the better.
Again, thank you for the feedback Roger.
One thing we need to be careful of is that the cameras being used to prevent false alarms, don't themselves become the cause of a false alarm. Video motion detection in cameras is not reliable and triggering should be left to detection equipment connected to the alarm panel.
Thanks for the comment Max. Do you think that analytics rather than simple motion detection would help with combating possible false alarms? Also, I've spoken with security folks who use motion detection video-based solutions and they claim to have studies that prove not only a reduction in false alarms, but an increase in apprehensions. In fact I blogged last year about a particularly eye-opening case study in Detroit.
The verified--or augmented as Amcest is calling it in a separate story I'm working on now--movement away from blind or deaf intrusion (Sonitrol advocates pretty strongly for audio augmentation for obvious reasons) seems to make sense and, according to a few people I've spoken with, has been gaining a lot of steam, if chatter at ISC West was any indication.
Thank you for the comment Max.


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OAKLAND, California (Reuters) - A former nursing student accused of killing seven people at a Christian college in Oakland last April was ruled mentally incompetent to stand trial on Monday.
The ruling, by Alameda County Superior Court Judge Carrie Panetta, came after two doctors who evaluated the man, 44-year-old One Goh, determined that he suffers from paranoid schizophrenia.
"The defendant is not competent to proceed," Panetta said. "Proceedings shall be suspended."
She ordered that Goh undergo an assessment to determine where he should be placed for treatment of his mental illness. She scheduled another hearing in the case for January 28.
Goh wore a red jail suit with his hands and feet shackled and sat with seven other defendants in a jury box. He appeared to stare aimlessly during the proceedings.
If a judge later determines that Goh has regained his mental competency, he would be ordered to stand trial in the high-profile case.
Goh is charged with seven counts of murder and three counts of attempted murder in a shooting spree on April 2, 2012, at Oikos University, where he once attended nursing school. He has pleaded not guilty.
The shooting was the deadliest at an American college since 2007, when a Virginia Tech University student killed 32 people and wounded 25.
Authorities say they believe Goh became enraged after he dropped out of the nursing school last year and administrators refused to refund his tuition. A Presbyterian minister from Korea founded Oikos University as a vocational school in 2004.
Outside court after Monday's hearing, Goh's lawyer, assistant public defender David Klaus, stressed that the judge had only temporarily suspended the proceedings.
"He's confessed to these crimes. He's accepted responsibility," Klaus said. "The idea is to have him go to a facility where he is expected to be restored to competency."
He said a judge would review Goh's competency to stand trial every 90 days.
"He will be going to a locked psychiatric facility to undergo treatment. He's certainly a deeply troubled man. He's locked up in shame and sadness."
The 5-foot, 7-inch Goh weighed 220 pounds when he was arrested a few hours after the shooting rampage but looked considerably thinner on Monday. He refused food for four weeks after his arrest.
Klaus said confidential psychiatrists' reports concluded that Goh may have suffered from paranoid schizophrenia for as long as 15 years. He never sought treatment and has refused medication in jail.
Alameda County District Attorney Nancy O'Malley, who has not yet decided whether to seek the death penalty, declined comment.
A man who requested anonymity but described himself as the partner of one of the women slain in the massacre said he believes Goh is just trying to game the system.
"I want him to stand trial because I believe he knew what he was doing that day," the man said.
Court documents say Goh told investigators he went to the school in an industrial area of Oakland armed with a .45-caliber handgun and four magazines fully loaded with ammunition.
Reporting by Ronnie Cohen; Editing by Dan Whitcomb, Cynthia Johnston, Dan Grebler and Steve Orlofsky

subset: commoncrawl


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University of Maryland Breast Cancer Research Pioneer Dr. Angela Brodie Appointed Fellow of New American Association for Cancer Research Academy
Mar 28, 2013, 12:40 ET
Dr. Brodie Best Known for Role in Developing Aromatase Inhibitors
BALTIMORE, March 28, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Angela H. Brodie, Ph.D., a University of Maryland scientist whose research paved the way for a new class of drugs widely used to treat breast cancer patients around the world, has been selected by the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) as a fellow of the newly created AACR Academy.
Dr. Brodie, professor of pharmacology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and scientist at the University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Cancer Center, is one of 106 fellows who will be inducted into the AACR Academy on April 5, 2013, at a ceremony in Washington, D.C. AACR said it created the academy "to recognize and honor distinguished scientists whose major scientific contributions have propelled significant innovation and progress against cancer."
The inaugural class of scientists was selected through a rigorous peer review process. According to AACR, the number of fellows in the class symbolizes the age of the Philadelphia-based professional organization dedicated to advancing cancer research, which was founded in 1907.
"Our Board of Directors made the decision to establish the AACR Academy as a mechanism for recognizing scientists whose contributions to the cancer field have had an extraordinary impact," says Margaret Foti, Ph.D., M.D. (h.c.), AACR's chief executive officer. "Membership in the Fellows of the AACR Academy will be the most prestigious honor bestowed by the American Association for Cancer Research."
Dr. Brodie's research laid the groundwork for a class of drugs called aromatase inhibitors, which help to prevent recurrence of breast cancer in postmenopausal women by reducing estrogen produced by the body, thereby cutting off fuel to the cancer cells. The drugs inhibit the production of aromatase, an enzyme that plays a key role in the biosynthesis of estrogen.
"Dr. Brodie's pioneering research, which has spanned more than 30 years, has saved the lives of thousands of women worldwide," says Kevin J. Cullen, M.D., the Marlene & Stewart Greenebaum Distinguished Professor in Oncology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and director of the University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Cancer Center. "The development of this class of drugs is arguably one of the most important therapeutic advances in treating women with breast cancer in the last quarter century."
E. Albert Reece, M.D., Ph.D., M.B.A., vice president for medical affairs at the University of Maryland and the John Z. and Akiko K. Bowers Distinguished Professor and Dean of the University of Maryland School of Medicine, says, "Dr. Angela Brodie's research into aromatase inhibitors is an excellent example of translating discoveries in the laboratory into therapies that improve the lives of patients. She never gave up on her vision of finding a new treatment with fewer side effects, and many women around the world have benefitted from her perseverance. Dr. Brodie richly deserves this honor. We are most fortunate to have her as an esteemed member of our faculty."
Dr. Brodie has received numerous honors for her research, including the prestigious Charles F. Kettering Prize from the General Motors Cancer Research Awards in 2005, the Dorothy P. Landon-AACR Prize for Translational Cancer Research in 2006, and the Brinker Award for Scientific Distinction from the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation in 2000. She has published more than 200 papers in peer-revised scientific journals. She is continuing her work with aromatase inhibitors and has expanded her research into prostate cancer, collaborating with Vincent C.O. Njar, Ph.D., professor of pharmacology at the School of Medicine, on a new androgen synthesis inhibitor. The drug has been tested in a Phase I clinical trial, with preliminary results showing it is well tolerated and reduced PSA levels in most patients.
About the University of Maryland School of Medicine
Established in 1807, the University of Maryland School of Medicine is the first public medical school in the United States, and the first to institute a residency-training program. The School of Medicine was the founding school of the University of Maryland and today is an integral part of the 11-campus University System of Maryland. On the University of Maryland's Baltimore campus, the School of Medicine serves as the anchor for a large academic health center which aims to provide the best medical education, conduct the most innovative biomedical research and provide the best patient care and community service to Maryland and beyond. www.medschool.umaryland.edu.
About the University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Cancer Center
The University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Cancer Center is a National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center, which is part of the University of Maryland Medical Center and the University of Maryland School of Medicine. The center is recognized for its active clinical and basic science research program. It has comprehensive programs to treat all types of cancer and is a major referral center for patients throughout Maryland and the region. It has been recognized as one of the top 15 cancer centers in the nation by U.S. News & World Report in 2012-13. For more information about the center, go to www.umgcc.org.
SOURCE University of Maryland School of Medicine


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Enilorac needed a new print or packaging design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 14 designs submitted by 4 freelance designers.
Skboot manufactures and sells the first seriously stylish ski boot bag ON WHEELS! http://www.skboot.com
The SKBOOT bag is more than a ski boot bag on wheels as not only does it carry your ski/snowboard boots, but fits all your ski gear and accessories. It has a fur-lined goggle pouch, removable padded laptop sleeve, air vents and a removable waterproof wet pack with carry straps, and much more. I always say to customers that the SKBOOT bag is a bit like a movie star - it looks better in real life.
The bag will also be available in the US from October 2010, but this banner is for a trade show in Canberra, Australia. Also, the banner has to appeal to retailers (who generally don't look for classy and stylish and are quite happy carrying their boots). So the banner should encourage the retailers to buy the bag for their customers who want something different, stylish and practical. After all, it is a wheeled boot bag.
It is particularly attractive to skiers who want the convenience of not having to lug their boots over their shoulders...yuck! The great thing about the SKBOOT bag is that it is more than a ski boot bag - it is also a great travel bag and weekender.
Our target market is 35-55 year olds, mainly professionals (as the bag retails for $189 and $199 Australian Dollars, so it's not cheap, but very classy) who travel to ski or snowboard, either overseas in Australia or New Zealand. Women particularly love the SKBOOT bag.
An Exhibition Design banner including wording that is simple but effective - eye-catching.
The size should be 830 x 2000mm and in pdf printable format.
I have a stack of graphics, but will attach some of the examples. If you need more, just let me know and I can email them to you via You Send It (I think). I also am sending you some previous posters etc. I can send hi res copies of graphics too.
Please feel free to think outside the box.
Our colours are red/black/grey.
Thanks everyone..and good luck.


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Southern California resident Kendal Pumphrey isn't home much anymore, but when she is, the teenage Olympic hopeful can be found on the beach doing strange exercises.
Pumphrey, a 19-year-old athlete from San Clemente, Calif., is used to "sticking out" in her hometown. Her beach training routine is almost as foreign to the Southern California surf culture as her sport of choice – speed skating.
As of November 2013, Pumphrey is one of the youngest skaters on the U.S. team.
She has always been ahead of her time on the ice.
She started figure skating at age three and turned to speed skating at age 6.
"I don't ever remember not skating…ever," Pumphrey told NBC 7 San Diego.
While most kids are told not to play with sharp objects, she was getting 16-inch blades strapped to her feet as a first-grader.
Despite Pumphrey's years of experience on the ice, her mom still gets nervous.
"I like the way her face is right now. I really don't want to have it rearranged with cuts and things. If it was up to me, I'd put her in bubble wrap," said Annette Pumphrey, a former figure skater.
Pumphrey's family keeps her trophies in several large baskets behind the family room couch. The wall behind it is decorated with more medals.
Pumphrey is clearly good at what she does, and she loves it too.
"Every single time I get to the start line I'm shaking with nervousness and excitement, and you're racing and you have people's blades right in your face, it's a huge adrenaline rush," she explained.
And, while the young athlete is certainly gifted, it doesn't come easy.
Pumphrey wakes up at 4:30 a.m. every day for practice. Two years ago she made the tough decision to leave high school behind and get her degree online.
"I was traveling so much it was basically impossible to keep up with class work," Pumphrey said.
Her biggest sacrifice came last year when she packed her bags and left her family to train fulltime with the U.S. team in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Pumphrey has her sights set on the Winter Olympics in Sochi, and also the 2018 Olympics in South Korea.


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June 21, 2007
NEW HAVEN, Conn.--The Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) has released its final rankings for the 2006-07 season, and the Yale women's team earned a year-end ranking of No. 73. It is the first time since 2004 that the Bulldogs finished the season nationally ranked. In addition, the Bulldogs earned a final ranking of No. 9 in the East Region.
The Bulldogs posted an 11-8 overall record in 2006-07, including a 6-0 mark at home. Yale finished second in the Ivy League with a 6-1 conference record. The Bulldogs' only Ivy loss came to league champion Penn.
In addition, the ITA released its final singles and doubles rankings. Janet Kim finished the year ranked No. 17 in the East Region in singles, while the doubles team of team captain Olivia Nix and Christine Alford earned a year-end regional ranking of No. 12.
Playing at No. 1 singles, Kim posted an overall record of 23-9 on the year. The sophomore from Palisades Park, N.J., went 5-2 in Ivy League competition to earn first team All-Ivy status for the second straight year.
Alford and Nix were first team All-Ivy in doubles, while Alford was also a second team All-Ivy honoree in singles. The seniors from Sydney, Australia, and Bronxville, N.Y., respectively, went 9-5 at No. 1 doubles, including a 5-2 mark in Ivy play.
Report filed by Joe Clifford, Yale Sports Publicity


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Underwriting provided by:
The Foothills
The Boise Foothills began as a place to be ignored. We turned them into a place to be developed, then to be saved and finally into a place where we balance the opportunities to enjoy nature and recreational opportunities close at hand with the need to preserve and protect its open spaces. Home to wildflowers found nowhere else in the world, the Foothills offer the chance to teach the values of being in nature to the next generation.
The Foothills' story tells of citizen heroes stepping up to save land when no one thought it could be done and of public agencies coming together after a disaster to craft management agreements unheard of in the West. Learn more about the history of Foothills preservation. Find out about the experts' favorite wildflowers and discover where you can go travel the Ridges to River trail system. Come explore Boise's backyard, "The Foothills."


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Just Weeks Ago, Keith Alexander Said Review Of NSA Found Not A Single Violation; Reality: Thousands Of Violations
from the lying-will-get-you-nowhere dept
Congress did a review of this program over a four-year period, the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. And over that four-year period, they found no willful or knowledgeable violations of the law or the intent of the law in this program.Note the hedge in the first paragraph, that they found "no willful or knowledgeable violations." And, indeed, the Inspector General's report revealed last night notes that most of the violations they found were accidental. But, the line between "accidental" and "intentional but covered up by claiming it was an accident" is a somewhat fuzzy line. If you're an NSA analyst who wants to spy on someone, given how the agency treats "accidental" searches as no big deal, it appears that all you have to do is figure out a way to write a query that you can then claim accidentally, or "incidentally" just happened to collect the information you were looking for. "Oops."
More specifically, they found no one at NSA had ever gone outside the boundaries of what we've been given. That's the fact. What you're hearing, what you're seeing, what people are saying is, well, they could. The fact is they don't. And if they did, our auditing tools would detect them, and they would be held accountable.
Either way, even with those caveats in the first paragraph, in the second paragraph Alexander makes claims without such caveats. There he argues that "no one at NSA had ever gone outside the boundaries of what we've been given. That's a fact." Actually, that's a lie. As the report showed quite clearly, there are thousands of incidents in which they went outside the boundaries. That they were "accidental" or "incidental" doesn't change that fact.


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'In linguistics, grammar refers to the logical and structural rules that govern the composition of sentences, phrases, and words in any given natural language.' - wikipedia (writer Hannes Hirzel is listed as the oldest writer for the Grammar entry on wikipedia... an entry with many many many hundreds of revisions).
So why "grandma errors" and not grammar problems?
Firstly grandma is a word spelt correctly... however used in that context is incorrect. It is a grammar problem itself.
It also sounds like grammar. So it's a self describing word illustrating itself with a meaning completely different to what it is supposed to be used for.
I use "grandma errors", rather than "grandma problems"... because "grandma problems" is used more often when people discuss problems with their grandmas. If someone says they have grandma errors.... and are talking about their mums mum, then they are some sort of star trek nerd that has one room in their house devoted to star trek collectibles, or perhaps a robot.
So have you checked your writing for splling and grandma errors?


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APEVIA X-Telstar Jr. G Type Case Review
One day, not so long ago, someone realized that standard cases were somewhat boring. From the first fan mod to now, modders have added a range of creative things to their cases. Once modding really started taking off, manufacturers hopped on the bandwagon, wanting their cut of this new market. I remember the good ol' days, where older Maximum PC and PC gamer issues contained ads for Alienware, pumping out quality PC mods. Aesthetics aside, do these, for lack of a better word, "prettified" cases actually increase performance in any way? Are there some real pluses to a modified case? The Apevia X-Telstar Jr. G Type Case has many extra features over your average whitebox; let's see if they succeed or fail miserably.
The Apevia X-Telstar Jr. G Type Case is a smaller case, with lots of bells and whistles. Coming stock with two 120mm fans for the G Type and one 240mm and one 120mm for the S Type, these cases seem to have what it takes to keep a case of this size, nice and cool. Let's get a closer look at it.
Closer Look:
When I first received the package, I noticed the picture on the front. Most of the time, the cases I order have a plain brown box with no product shots at all, so this was a nice change. On the side panel it tells you the color of the case with a black sticker in the designated spot.
Styrofoam protects the X-Telstar Jr. G from being bashed, and a clear plastic covers the case to prevent scratches tand the inevitable dust from shipment ruining the X-Telstar finish.
The X-Telstar Jr. G comes with your standard standoffs, screws and manual. It also includes rails for its tool-less disk drive mounts, which are a clean translucent blue color.
Let's get a better look at the X-Telstar Jr. G.


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The Android 4.0 update for the HTC EVO 3D has finally arrived! We've heard multiple confirmations from users that the Ice Cream Sandwich build of Sprint's 3D-enabled Android handset is being pushed out, delivering a slew of new features – including improvements to multi-tasking, face unlock, new browser capabilities, and access to Android 4.0 applications like Google's Chrome browser.
We're not sure if you can manually download the Android 4.0 update for the HTC EVO 3D or if you'll have to wait for Sprint to push it out to your device, but you can always check by pressing Menu > Settings > About Phone > HTC Software Updates > Check and follow the instructions to download and install the new build.
HTC EVO 3D Android 4.0 enhancements and fixes
- Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich)
- Sense 3.6
- System bar enhancements to easily view recent apps.
- Re-sizeable widgets
- Lock screen actions including pull down notifications and adjust volume while device is locked
- Data usage controls
- Face Unlock
- Home screen folders
- Launch Bar for commonly used apps
- Improved Android Browser
- Improved Camera Experience
- Add/Remove Panels
If you've already received your Android 4.0 update for your HTC EVO 3D (or have played with the numerous leaks over the past month or two), leave us a comment below and let us know what you like about it. Some will be disappointed that they will not be treated to HTC Sense 4.0, but we're sure people will enjoy Android 4.0 so much that they they won't even notice — at least for a few weeks.


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Banksy has proved bankable in Beverly Hills.
The mysterious British street artist's "Flower Girl" mural, which he stenciled onto the wall of a Los Angeles gas station in 2008, was sold for $209,000 Thursday evening at Julien's Auctions, where it was the highlight of a sale of nearly 100 works by 33 street artists.
The gavel price was $170,000 for the 9-by-8-foot, nearly 4-ton rectangular slab of white brick with black spray paint. The mural, which came with a customary additional "buyer's premium" to yield the final total, shows a little girl holding a flower basket under the eye of a surveillance camera planted atop a tall, leafy stalk.


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5 Fear-Conquering Tips For First Time Gardeners
I am a huge of fan of home gardens—it's one of the first things I set up when I move into a new home, and I don't know if I remember how to function without one—but that wasn't always the case. Two years ago I was convinced botanical life couldn't survive within a ten pace radius of my home. What changed? I stopped over thinking it and just started doing it.
1. Start small. You don't need a full sized garden to get started. Just pick a sunny spot, a plant that you like looking at or cooking with and start from there. My first gardening success was a half meter square of dirt under my front stair case.
2. Invest time in your soil. Once you have your space, big or small, indoor or outdoor, spend some time making sure your soil is healthy. You can buy a top soil or you can start a compost and make your own. My first compost (which went hand in hand with my first gardening success) was a wheel barrow of dirt outside my kitchen and I just buried food scraps as I produced them. (Not an option for everyone, but it worked for me.)
3. Don't stress about the edging. There are so many images of gorgeous gardens that you could be forgiven for thinking you need immaculate edging and specially designed planters. In reality you just need a vessel that holds dirt with holes for drainage, anything will do. My half meter garden just spilled onto the concrete until I found some old decking wood to slip between the stair posts.
4. Plant what you use. There are so many gardening do's and don'ts that it can all seem a bit like hard work. 'Plant these here at this time of year. Don't plant these next to these. Do this... but only if the moon is doing this.' You can read every article you find and still not have any success (been there!). For me, things worked out best when I didn't over-think them. If I needed basil for pesto, I bought basil seedlings from the markets and planted those. If I saw some gorgeous marigolds, I planted those. Some things worked, some things didn't, but if you plant enough things something's bound to stick.
5. Don't over-tend. I killed so many plants by over tending them. Watering them twice a day. Moving them from spot to spot. Replanting them. Staring at them, looking for signs of discomfort. It turns out my gardens just needed space to be a gardens. My half meter garden got watered once a day, give or take a few. It got added to as I tried new plants, picked as I needed things, and that was it!
What would be your top five tips to hesitant first time gardeners?
(Re-edited from a post originally published on 5.27.2011 - CM)
(Images: Sarah Starkey)
• You Can Do It! First-Time Vegetable Gardening for the Black-Thumbed
• Notes On Starting A Vegetable Garden


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Siiro Powers Stampede To 7th Straight Win
KEARNEY, NE -- C.J. Franklin's shorthanded goal in the second period and Ryan Siiro's hat trick lifted the Sioux Falls Stampede to a 6-3 victory at Tri-City on Saturday night. Ian Mansfield and Jack Stander both tallied two assists for the Herd while Charlie Lindgren stopped 26 of 29 shots for his 33rd victory of the season.
The win was the Herd's seventh straight and eighth straight on the road. It also guaranteed the Stampede home ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs and extended their first place lead on Fargo to 11 points while staying just one point back of Dubuque in the race for the Anderson Cup.
Sioux Falls is now 42-12-4 and just one win shy of tying a franchise record for most wins in a season. They are also a league best 21-8-2 on the road this year.
It didn't take the Herd long time to find the back of the net when Matt Van Voorhis tallied his fifth goal of the season just 3:32 in. Van Voorhis one-timed a pass from Jack Stander on the left point and blew it right past Tri-City goaltender Justin Quale to give the Herd a 1-0 lead. It stayed that way until 14:55 when Siiro found the back of the net for the eighth time this season. Siiro took a pass in front of the net from Mansfield and backhanded it past Quale to make it a 2-0 game. Tri-City was able to get on the board with just 13 seconds remaining when Trevor Moore took the puck inside the right circle and slid it through the slot to Michael Vecchione who quickly one-timed the puck past Lindgren to make it a 2-1 game at the end of one period. Sioux Falls outshot the Storm 12-10 in the period.
The game stayed 2-1 until 13:27 of the second when Eli May's shot from the right point deflected into the back of the net to tie the game 2-2. Just seconds later the Storm went on the powerplay, but Sioux Falls would be the team taking advantage. Franklin blocked a shot at the right point and broke free on a breakaway, scoring on a backhanded shot for his 31st goal of the season, giving the Herd a 3-2 edge. Sioux Falls extended their lead with just 38 seconds remaining in the period when Siiro tallied his second goal of the night when he took a pass in the slot from Mansfield and wristed a shot past Quale. It marked the fifth straight game the Herd have scored a goal in the final minute of the second period.
Siiro completed the hat trick 4:03 into the third when Thomas Forgione found Siiro open in the slot again and Siiro's wristed went right past the stick side of Quale to extend the Herd's lead to 5-2. Tri-City bounced back with a goal, but the Herd put the game away for good when Tony Calderone blasted a shot into the upper left hand corner of the net to give the Stampede a 6-3 advantage.
Sioux Falls outshot the Storm 31-29 and finished the night 0-for-2 on the powerplay while Tri-City was 1-for-2. A total of just eight combined penalty minutes were called on the night.
After a month that saw eight games on the road, the Herd return home to the Sioux Falls Arena this Friday when they host the Omaha Lancers at 7:05 PM. Sioux Falls will close out the regular season by playing five of their last six games on the road.
Courtesy: Sioux Falls Stampede


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In "Trouble With the Curve," Clint Eastwood's "Gran Torino" character tells "Moneyball" to get off his lawn, and it's a baseball field.
Eastwood is delightful as a crusty baseball scout who is losing his sight but not his eye. "He can spot talent from an airplane," says his fellow Atlanta Braves talent hunter (John Goodman) in one of many pleasing lines. But with his daughter (Amy Adams), a high-priced lawyer who is up for a partnership at her firm, he is rude, odd and irritating. Taking her to a dismal meatloaf-y diner for one of their many frustrating encounters, he asks her whether she needs to borrow money for clothes. "I just came from yoga," she explains.
A debut film from Eastwood's longtime producing partner Robert Lorenz, "Trouble With the Curve" could easily pass for one directed by Clint himself, as it revisits many of his signature themes.
It's hard to believe this is Clint's first baseball movie, since the game is such a tidy way of summing up what Clint's America is about. As Gus (Eastwood) and Mickey (Adams), who is named for Mickey Mantle, hit the road to check out a high school superstar the Braves are thinking about drafting, the movie is as efficient as any baseball flick I've seen at tying together the core myths of the game and the country. While it's partly a genial, warmhearted comedy-drama for oldsters — "Bull Durham" with an ornery prostate — it's got more on its mind.
The players Gus scouts often come from seedy small towns such as the North Carolina burg where dad and daughter stay in the Grey Squirrel Motel — "LOWEST RAT S IN TOWN" as the signboard calls it.
The film doesn't push the sentiment too far (except in the slightly ludicrous closing minutes). But at the leisurely pace of baseball, which has changed less than almost anything else in American life over the past 50 years, Lorenz and screenwriter Randy Brown reflect on the last innings of a culture. The film is about games versus work, about human observation versus computer number crunching, about country versus city, swimming holes versus treadmills, hot dog eating versus veganism. Guess where Clint stands on each of these issues.
At times, "Trouble With the Curve" is just as smart as "Moneyball," which it all but challenges to a fight. The Brad Pitt character in this movie is represented both by Matthew Lillard (a Braves numbers geek who threatens to put poor Gus out of a job without ever leaving his office), and Justin Timberlake, as a washed-up ex-pitcher forced into scouting after a career-ending injury. This film astutely shows how a home run hit off a curve can paradoxically prove a player can't hit the breaking ball, but the telling detail won't show up in the scorebook. Take that, Billy Beane.
The scenes with Adams and Eastwood work terrifically, even if they don't make sense. Would she really desert her law firm at a critical moment to hit the road with a father who is not only superficially prickly but also did her lasting psychological damage as a child? You'd think she would have long since given up. Instead, Mickey does a carefree home-run trot in one scene (one of the sweetest and best in the movie) when it turns out she's carrying deep pain.
Moreover, the scenes in which she flirts with Timberlake's character are hard to take. His character is supposed to be bruised and resentful, but J.T. is a showman, not an actor, and he can't resist cocky smiling and working the charm levers like the boy-band singer he remains. It turns out that when you need internal anguish and a sense of tough luck, Justin Timberlake is not your man.
Baseball movies tend to be lyrical, deeply felt, aggressively metaphorical and (consequently) terrible, but "Trouble With the Curve" has something most others lack: Eastwood's superb, cruel sense of humor, which reaches all the way back to "Every Which Way But Loose." Gus finds in baseball what Philo Beddoe found in brawling: the exhilaration of seeing idiots get humiliated.


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St. Mary's Regional Medical Center is not just a hospital. We are a team of healthcare professionals focused on developing the best culture of quality care for our patients. We proudly hold the 1st Quality Award given throughout all UHS facilities nationwide. St. Mary's Regional Medical Center is located in Enid, Oklahoma, and is a subsidiary of, UHS, Universal Health Services Inc. UHS is one of the nation's largest and most respected healthcare management companies. Our Medical Center was founded in 1915 and consists of 229 licensed beds. St. Mary's is considered the economic, social, medical, political, and educational hub of Northwest Oklahoma. We are proud to serve Northwest Oklahoma by providing several progressive and comprehensive healthcare services. Here you will experience a team oriented environment providing the most technically advanced procedures in the region delivered in a respectful and dignified manner.St. Mary's provides comprehensive medical and surgical services including progressive cardiac services; 24- hour trauma center and emergency services; dedicated women's center ; the Northwest Neuro-Science Institute, Joint Institute; diabetes care center recognized by the American Diabetes Association; Skilled Nursing facility; comprehensive inpatient CARF accredited rehabilitation unit, community resources center; CAP and AABB accredited laboratory; fully accredited cancer program, a Women's Imaging Center and Wound Care unit.
The RN has multiple roles and functions including care-giver, decision-maker, client advocate, manager, rehabilitator, comforter, communicator, and teacher. The functions include assessment of the nursing needs of the patient, initiation of the plan of care of nurse action, implementation of the plan of care and the evaluation of the process, by use of the nursing process. The Standards of Practice set forth by the professional nursing associations provide guidelines for the competent, safe and professional practice. The RN promotes the dignity and quality of the nursing care given to the patient.
St. Mary's Regional Medical Center is not accepting unsolicited assistance from search firms for this employment opportunity. All resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at St. Mary's via-email, the Internet or in any form and/or method without a valid written search agreement in place for this position will be deemed the sole property of St. Mary's. No fee will be paid in the event the candidate is hired by St. Mary's as a result of the referral or through other means.


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Retaking Exams - Excelsior College
Page Hero - Credit by Exam
Credit by Exam
Retaking Exams
Limitations for repeating exams are outlined below. The registration and scheduling process for repeating an exam is the same as that used for the first attempt.
Number of Attempts Allowed
You may attempt any UExcel® exam a total of four times but no more than three times within a one year period.
Nursing students may attempt each Excelsior College® nursing theory examination a maximum of three times. Failure on the third attempt on the same exam will result in dismissal from the nursing program. A five year period from date of dismissal must pass before a student may appeal to re-enroll.
Waiting Period Between Attempts
- You may repeat an exam 60 days after your first attempt and 120 days after your second and/or subsequent attempts.
- You must register and pay for all retesting attempts.


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The Debut of 3 in 3Posted on November 29th, 2012 by Fingers Malloy
This is the debut of my new podcast, 3 in 3. It will cover stories posted at Politomix, Twitchy and Fark–three stories in three minutes(or a little longer). Today's topics include John McCain and Hillary Clinton, Sandra Fluke and bacon shaving cream.
You can catch the 3 in 3 every weekday morning at Fingersmalloy.com.
Podcast: Download


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Slip into luxury with this gold polyester satin king quilt cover set. Made from 100 percent polyester satin - offering a rich look and soft silk feel without the expensive price tag. All items in this set are completely seamless for the ultimate in comfort and have a generous 38cm wall for deep mattresses. Included is a quilt cover and 2 matching pillowcases. Features naturally wrinkle free properties and is easy to care for in the washing machine and dryer, the Luxury Gold Polyester Satin King Quilt Cover Set will keep looking luxurious from every angle.
Estimated Delivery Time Frame: 7-14 business daysReference ID: 175549


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New Car Review
2014 Toyota Sienna: New Car Review
The 2014 Toyota Sienna is all about refining a winning formula. Last year, Toyota dropped the van's sluggish 4-cylinder and added the highly touted Entune infotainment system to the options list. This year, updates aren't as thorough, but there are still a few changes meant to make the van just a little more appealing, such as a standard blind spot monitoring system on the Sienna SE.
With updates in mind, let's see where the Sienna stands. It has the best V6 in its class, available all-wheel drive and newly attractive technology options, along with all the nifty seating and storage features that made this van great from the get-go. And the weakest link, that 4-cylinder engine, isn't even around for us to complain about anymore.
Toyota may well have shaped the 2014 Sienna into the best minivan on the market.
What's New for 2014?
The Sienna is largely carried over for 2014, except for a newly standard blind spot monitoring system on the Sienna SE and a 3,500-lb towing capacity that's now standard across the board.
What We Like
Great acceleration from V6 engine; attractive technology features; rare all-wheel-drive option; choice of 7- or 8-passenger capacity
What We Don't
Sparse standard features on base model; Entune isn't available on fancy Limited model
How Much?
Fuel Economy
The Sienna starts with front-wheel drive, though all-wheel drive can be specified on the LE, XLE and Limited. The sole engine for 2013 is a 3.5-liter V6 rated at 266 horsepower and 245 lb-ft of torque.
The Sienna's fuel economy is excellent for its segment. The Environmental Protection Agency rates front-wheel-drive models at a respectable 18 miles per gallon city/25 mpg hwy, though all-wheel-drive Sienna models drop a bit more than expected to 16 mpg city/23 mpg hwy.
Standard Features & Options
The 2014 Toyota Sienna comes in L, LE, XLE, Limited or SE trim.
The base Sienna L ($27,800) includes 17-inch alloy wheels, 3-zone manual climate control, cruise control, power accessories, 7-passenger seating and a 4-speaker (yes, four) audio system with an auxiliary audio jack but no iPod/Bluetooth connectivity. Pretty stingy for a $25,000-plus vehicle, if you ask us.
The LE ($31,200) takes things up a notch with 8-passenger seating, easy-clean upholstery, dual power sliding doors, a power lift gate, 3-zone automatic climate control, an auto-dimming rearview mirror with Homelink, a 6-speaker audio system with iPod/USB and Bluetooth connectivity, a 3.5-in information display with a rearview camera and a power driver seat with adjustable lumbar support.
The XLE ($34,200) tacks on leather upholstery, a sunroof and heated front seats, as well as options such as 10-speaker premium JBL sound and a cool 16.4-in split-screen rear entertainment system.
The Limited ($41,000) reverts to 7-passenger seating, albeit with fancy loungelike recliners as second-row seats, but it offers what Toyota says is the first dual-pane sunroof in which both panes fully retract. Options on the Limited include xenon headlamps and adaptive cruise control.
Finally, the sporty SE ($34,500) sacrifices some of the XLE and the Limited models' luxuries, but it boasts an aggressive body kit, a lowered sport-tuned suspension and unique instrumentation and interior trim. For 2014, it also adds a blind spot monitoring system to its standard equipment.
Note that Entune mobile app integration is optional on the LE, XLE and SE, though oddly not on Limited.
The Sienna comes standard with stability control, seven airbags (including full-length side-curtain airbags), active front headrests and 4-wheel anti-lock disc brakes.
In government crash tests, the Sienna received an overall score of four stars out of five, including four stars for frontal impacts and five stars for side impacts. The independent Insurance Institute for Highway Safety awarded the Sienna its highest score of Good in all crash-test categories.
Behind the Wheel
The standard Sienna's suspension is soft and accommodating, successfully filtering out impact harshness even for rear occupants. This is a large minivan, of course, so it's not exactly nimble, but the light steering and good visibility make it more pleasant to drive than most vehicles its size.
The SE model deserves special mention for its sport-tuned suspension, which actually changes the character of the van for the better. It makes the Sienna feel more hunkered-down and in control without compromising the ride quality much, if at all. We think Toyota could simply make this the standard suspension without ruffling any feathers.
From the driver's seat, the Sienna's dashboard definitely has some verve. Look at the diagonal line that splits the center stack, for example, or the stylized gauge faces. We're not used to seeing such flourishes in a minivan. Materials quality is just okay, but at least the textures are interesting -- and that diagonal line gives the optional wood trim a very distinctive shape.
The Sienna's front seats provide satisfactory support on long trips, though they do make us miss the superior chairs in the Honda Odyssey. In the base 7-passenger version, the second row consists of standard captain's chairs that slide fore and aft. Opt for an 8-passenger Sienna and you get a special center seat in the second row that slides forward independently in case you want to keep an extra close eye on a child sitting there. The top-of-the-line recliner-style captain's chairs feature footrests that flip up, but the front occupants will have to cooperate by sliding their seats up; otherwise, the footrests won't have room to extend.
Cargo space measures 39.1 cu ft behind the third row, 87.1 cu ft with the third row folded and an even 150 cu ft if you remove the second-row seats. You can't beat a minivan for hauling stuff.
Other Cars to Consider
Honda Odyssey -- The Sienna's perennial nemesis has distinctive design elements these days, including a unique zigzag beltline. You should drive them both, though we like the Sienna's chances better than ever.
Dodge Grand Caravan -- An also-ran just a few years ago, the DGC received a thorough makeover not long ago, including a refreshed interior and a new 3.6-liter V6. We're now comfortable recommending it as a budget-priced alternative to the Japanese vans.
Nissan Quest -- Based on a funky Japanese van, the Quest is quirky, and we like that. You give up a little space and utility, but you get a luxury-grade interior and ride in return.
AutoTrader's Advice
The SE model is our pick. It's certainly not the cheapest Sienna you can buy, but it's the best-driving minivan on the market. That's big news given the Odyssey's former dominance in this regard. If driving experience isn't among your most pressing concerns, the XLE model offers a strong value -- especially with its optional Entune infotainment system.


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Supply Chain Pressures Cause for Conflict
Whos managing whom? In a year of unprecedented pressures, our exclusive joint survey finds a tug of war between food processors and their suppliers.
"It's been a challenging year for food and beverage manufacturers," begins our report "Supply Chain Pressures." The result of a June survey and joint research project among Food Processing, Grant Thornton and the MPI Group, it found respondents worried not only about the escalating prices of ingredients but about their availability and safety.
Nearly all participants reported the price they paid for ingredients and other materials in the past year increased; 24 percent report startling increases of more than 20 percent.
Few factors are as important to food and beverage manufacturers' success as the ability to obtain ingredients and other materials from suppliers when needed. Yet only 7 percent of processors responding indicated deliveries are 100 percent on time.
Forty-four percent of food processors report their primary materials or ingredients is "readily obtainable"; 49 percent say it's "somewhat obtainable." Six percent of respondents indicate their materials/ingredients are difficult to obtain, and one company indicates it could not obtain its primary ingredient.
The report was the result of 154 responses to our joint e-mail survey. Sixty-seven percent of respondents were responsible for purchasing ingredients, 44 percent buy equipment and 35 percent said they also procure other materials. The full report is available at www.foodprocessing.com/GTSurvey1; but following are some of the highlights.
Availability and price
Unavailability of ingredients is rare but potentially devastating. For example, in the past year many breweries found themselves unable to attain hops specific to their brands. And for brief periods, various ingredients have been unobtainable due to natural or manmade disasters.
"Several spot shortages of raw materials caused us problems because our volume demand was higher than the original forecast on seasonal raw materials," said one executive responding to our survey. Others noted the unreliability of materials causes them to carry more inventory: "We must buy in advance because products are not readily available."
Not surprisingly, large food and beverage manufacturers have more clout in getting the ingredients they need: More than half (54 percent) of food and beverage manufacturers with annual revenues exceeding $100 million report their primary ingredient is readily obtainable, and 46 percent say it's somewhat obtainable; only 39 percent of smaller firms (revenues of $100 million or less) report their primary ingredient is readily obtainable.
"Complete unreliability for the small manufacturer," says one executive about vendor dependability. "[Suppliers] will get ingredients ordered to you 'whenever' and 'maybe' or promise them over and over, but the ingredient never shows. And good luck if it shows up and is to spec."
The same small manufacturing firm executive continues, "Special orders are shunned, even if you're willing to pay a premium. And orders of less than 11,000 lbs. are treated with what verges on contempt, which translates to a complete unwillingness on the part of ingredient suppliers to help a small concern grow into a giant one — very shortsighted of them!"
Food sectors where ingredients were least likely to be readily available were dairy products (27 percent of dairy product manufacturers report readily available); meat, poultry and seafood (35 percent); and snacks (37 percent). The sector where ingredients were most likely to be available is confectionery products (55 percent).
While materials and ingredients are generally available, food and beverage manufacturers are finding them at dramatically higher prices, in some instances at costs that put margins in jeopardy. Ninety-four percent of participants reported the price they paid for materials/ingredients in the past year increased; and 31 percent report increases of 1-10 percent; 39 percent report increases of 11-20 percent; as we said earlier, nearly a quarter saw increases of more than 20 percent.
One food executive notes, "Ingredient costs (grains) have risen over 400 percent." Only 5 percent of food and beverage manufacturers report that prices had decreased.
Despite a lot of dissatisfaction over price increases, few respondents placed blame on their suppliers. "The price increases are hard to handle [but] we have been fortunate that our suppliers work with us to have the highest quality at the lowest price possible."
"Prices are determined by the market – when their costs go down, so do ours," wrote another.
Although one did note dissatisfaction over "higher prices for [increasingly] variable quality." Another notes: "Our product shows the different attributes of raw materials supplied."
All food and beverage manufacturers were subject to steep price increases, but larger firms were more successful at keeping costs in check. Approximately 51 percent of food and beverage manufacturers with annual revenues of more than $100 million reported prices increased more than 10 percent, while 65 percent of smaller firms (revenues of $100 million or less) report price increases of more than 10 percent (see chart).
Not surprisingly, price increases pose the biggest problem for food and beverage manufacturers (cited by 64 percent of respondents); 30 percent indicate product availability is their biggest problem; 15 percent late/wrong deliveries, 13 percent quality, and 12 percent lack of communication/information (for some questions, respondents could select more than one answer).
Delivery and quality
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To set the Recover on Restart attribute with the Admin Console, go to Configurations > config-name > Transaction Service. Click the Recover check box to set it to true (checked, the default) or false (un-checked).
You can also set automatic recovery with asadmin, for example:
asadmin set server1.transaction-service.automatic-recovery=false
When Recover on Restart is true, the server will always perform transaction logging, regardless of the Disable Distributed Transaction Logging attribute.
If Recover on Restart is false, then:
If Disable Distributed Transaction Logging is false (the default), then the server will write transaction logs.
If Disable Distributed Transaction Logging is true, then the server will not write transaction logs.
Not writing transaction logs will give approximately twenty percent improvement in performance, but at the cost of not being able to recover from any interrupted transactions. The performance benefit applies to transaction-intensive tests. Gains in real applications may be less.


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Blondie drummer researches health benefits of playing drums
Clem Burke launches initiative to find health positives from drumming
Blondie drummer Clem Burke (pictured) is teaming up with researchers from the University of Chichester and the University of Gloucestershire to launch a new research initiative which will investigate the potential health and mental benefits of playing drumming-based interactive computer games.
The research project, being launched at the University of Chichester, West Sussex, on February 13th, is a collaboration between the Clem Burke Drumming Project (CBDP) and Activision (manufacturers of Guitar Hero World Tour) and will explore what effects popular games can have on various conditions. Investigations will also centre on whether interactive video games can aid stress release and improve productivity in the workplace.
The Clem Burke Drumming Project is a unique collaboration between Clem Burke, the University of Chichester and University of Gloucestershire and was set up in July 2008. Burke is flying into the UK specifically for this event and will he will be performing live at the University of Chichester to launch this new research initiative.
Dr Marcus Smith, principal lecturer in exercise physiology, at the University of Chichester, explained: "We are interested in finding out how interactive video games, such as Guitar Hero, can improve the health and mental well-being of people. Despite a global recession, sales of interactive video games remain high. As researchers we are interested in understanding why such games are so appealing and how they may be used to investigate specific research questions. We are particularly interested in examining the effects of playing Guitar Hero on child and adult obesity, autism, stroke patients, disengaged communities, and health and mental well-being in the workplace.
"We are also very excited about investigating the potential benefits of introducing interactive video games into the workplace. Offices around the UK could be transformed into 'rock venues', resulting in stress release and fun for the staff and increased productivity for the business. We are also intrigued to monitor the number of individuals who progress from playing interactive drums kit controllers to full kits similar to those played by Clem."
World leading brain imagery scientist, Professor Steve Williams from Kings College London, has been working closely with Dr Smith and added: "Patients with suboptimal brain function such as autism, dyspraxia or stroke may really benefit from this technology. Planning and learning these motor skills in such an entertaining manner may well enhance cognitive flexibility and facilitate recovery from an insult."
Ian McClellan, senior brand manager from Activision, said: "We hope this collaboration will show the benefits of drumming, either on Guitar Hero's drum kit controller or a full kit or, and prove a physiological route between the two. We fully expect some of the next generation of drummers to have graduated from Guitar Hero and hope this research project encourages more videogamers to progress to the real instruments."
Dr Steve Draper, the co-founder of the CBDP and a principal lecturer in exercise physiology at the University of Gloucestershire, concluded: "Our research has shown that accomplished pop and rock drummers do expend a large amount of energy during practice and performance, the difficulty maybe in how quickly the necessary skills and co-ordination may be acquired to allow someone to work at this level. Drumming video games are particularly exciting as they may provide an enjoyable and effective means to acquire the complex motor skills required to play on any drum kit."
Topper Headon - kicking bad habits...
On a recent interview for the BBC Breakfast programme, Topper Headon, former drummer with The Clash, explained that drumming helped him to kick his heroin addiction.
As increasingly more reports seem to show how beneficial drumming can be, maybe you should start practicing the instrument, too!


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Gov. Dannel Malloy surprised everyone by Wednesday by expressing impatience with the pace of gun-control proposals in the legislature and coming out with his own proposals that he hopes to push through the House and Senate. Republicans criticized him for cutting short the deliberative process. So did the Democratic speaker of the House, who said that "taking quick action is important, but taking smart action is more important." But Malloy said that "we run a risk of letting this critical moment in history pass us by." Is he right? Should the state seize the moment to make guns harder to obtain, in light of the Sandy Hook school massacre? Or is the governor going too fast and risking passing bad laws or none at all, if the legislature resists his push? What's your view?
Malloy Lists Gun-Control Measures He Wants Legislature To Pass
Hartford Courant, Feb. 21
Malloy Loses Patience On Gun Control
CT News Junkie, Feb. 20
Pass Malloy's gun plan without delay
Stamford Advocate editorial, Feb. 21


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But mere ownership of domain name, without "use," was not enough to give rise to infringement.
Careylicensing, Inc. v. Erlich, No. 05-1194, 2007 WL 3146559 (E.D. Mo. October 25, 2007)
Plaintiff Carey International and defendant International Chauffeured Services are competitors in the limousine industry. Carey sued International back in 2005 for trademark infringement, and the parties settled the case. They entered into a consent judgment, which is, essentially, like a contract between the parties that was made an order of the court. The consent judgment prohibited, among other things, the defendant from owning any domain name containing the word "Carey."
In February 2007, the plaintiff noticed that the defendant owned a domain name careylimousine.net. The plaintiff eventually went back into court, asking that the defendant be held in contempt for violating the consent judgment and, pursuant to the terms of the consent judgment, be awarded attorneys fees and "liquidated damages," for breaching the agreement.
The court found that ownership of the domain name by the defendant warranted a contempt citation. It also found that that ownership was a breach that made an award of attorney's fees proper. But the court declined to award liquidated damages.
The consent judgment provided that liquidated damages be awarded for any "infringement" of the plaintiff's mark. But in this case, there was no infringement. The court found that merely owning the domain name, without having an active site there, was not a "use" in commerce as required by the Lanham Act. Without the requisite element of use, there could be no infringement.


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The basics
Real Salt Lake (3-3-1, 5th in the Western Conference) vs. Houston Dynamo (4-3-1, 2nd in the Western Conference)
8 p.m. CT, Rio Tinto Stadium, Sandy UT
Houston leads the all-time series with a 7-2-4 record against Real Salt Lake.
Broadcast info
ESPN Deportes
SportsTalk 790 (7:15 p.m. pregame)
La Ranchera 850 (7:30 p.m. pregame)
What's at stake?
This is a budding rivalry — several recent matches have been hotly contested down to the wire. The two teams will likely battle throughout the season for positioning in the top half of the Western Conference. A win for Real Salt Lake would pull them level on points with the Dynamo in one fewer game.
Last meeting
In April, Real Salt Lake visited Houston and took a rare lead early on the road. All of that was erased by two penalty kicks three minutes apart in the opening minutes of the second half, giving Houston a 2-1 victory. Both penalties, converted by Houston midfielder Brad Davis, came off fouls committed in the box by RSL defender Jamison Olave.
Heroes & Villains
Brian Ching vs. Jamison Olave — This should be the premier matchup, but injuries may avert this battle. The two have exchanged harsh words in several recent matches, and one altercation ultimately led to Olave's ejection in 2009. Ching injured his hamstring in the last match between these two teams and is just returning to form. Olave has had a chronic knee injury that coach Jason Kreis hinted could keep him out of this one.
Javier Morales vs. Richard Mulrooney — This could be an intriguing battle for supremacy in the middle of the field. If Houston comes out in the 4-3-3 like a week ago, it could open up space for Morales, who was not at his very best last week after an illness the week prior. If Real Salt Lake are able to control the ball in the middle of the park, it could limit what Houston wants to do out on the wings.
Stat that makes you go "Hmm …"
Houston has a +16 foul differential (100 suffered, 84 committed), and its savvy in this regard could play to its advantage against an RSL team that has given up four penalty kick goals this season.
He said it
"It's a special game for us." — Real Salt Lake midfielder Javier Morales on the chance at avenge a 2-1 loss against Houston earlier in the season.


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product description
Related Products:
Yoshikane Hammer Finished, Western Handle
Blade Style - San Mai
Distal Taper
Japanese/Asian Knives
Nakiri Usuba
Stainless Steel
Vegetable Cleavers
Wood - Pakkawood
Double Bevel
Kitchen Knives
Maker: Yoshikane (click to see more by this maker)
Item num: 86378
Blade length: 6.50 in.Total length: 11.69 in.Blade height (at heel): 1.95 in.Blade thickness (near bolster): 0.12 in.Item weight: 7.20 oz.Shipment weight: 12.16 oz.Blade: San mai blade forged from SKD stainless steel surrounded by soft SUS-405 stainless steel, Hrc 64Bolster: Forge welded steelHandle: Pakka wood set on a full tang
Description: The nakiri usuba is a traditional Japanese knife form ideal for chopping fruit and vegetables. The edge is double-beveled, like a Western knife. Though sometimes called a vegetable cleaver, the thin edge geometry makes it a precision tool, rather than a Japanese equivalent to meat cleavers.
The blade is forged using the san mai technique - a hard steel forms the cutting edge and is sandwiched between softer layers of steel. This results in a strong knife with very long edge holding. The core steel is rust resistant SKD die steel, originally designed for cutting metal. It was heat treated to Hrc 64 (very hard!) This is clad with soft SUS-405 stainless steel.
The maker, Mr. Tsuneo Yoshida, is proud of the hand hammered surface and distal taper. The distal taper results in a perfect balance. The hand hammered surface reduces the likelihood of food sticking to the side of the knife while chopping.
Following in the best tradition of knife making, a steel ferrule is forge-welded to the tang to ensure that food particles cannot become lodged between the tang and the wooden handle. Both the blade and tang are distal tapered for the best possible balance and performance. The handle, made from multiple layers of wood impregnated with resin, is riveted to the full length tang and will last a lifetime. The blades are fully honed and some of the sharpest knives we have ever found. Each knife is sent in a nice gift box.
Availability: Not currently available


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Nov 16
Gipsy Kings
Fillmore Miami Beach at Jackie Gleason Theater - Miami Beach, FL
Gipsy Kings Ticket Information
For over 25 years, the Gipsy Kings have remained at the forefront of an internationally infused kind of pop music. Boasting a style that often draws influences from the likes of French, Arabic, Latin, and Cuban music, among others, the group has successfully navigated the industry through its innate ability to resonate with fans from a wide range of genres. The work of the Gipsy Kings also has been prominently used in various forms of pop culture, including film and television. Purchase Gipsy Kings tickets from the marketplace to experience a live performance of hits from the group's internationally celebrated discography.
- To streamline your search through any Gipsy Kings tour dates featured above, utilize filters to sort by criteria such as city, month, or day of the week (when available). Select the desired performance by clicking the "Tickets" button, and if you experience any issues while shopping, our in-house customer service staff is available by phone (866.848.8499) and Live Chat to assist you.
- Choosing a specific event will bring you to a page containing all available Gipsy Kings tickets for the respective venue. The seating chart will be on display as well alongside the listings to give you an idea of the layout for the performance.
- Once you've found the ideal set of seats, press the "Buy" tab to proceed to checkout. Fill in any required fields regarding payment and delivery information. At this step, you'll also be able to apply any gift cards or promo codes to the order. Review the total price and when ready, submit the purchase for processing. We'll contact the seller for confirmation and will notify you via email once we've received approval for the sale of your Gipsy Kings tickets.
Related Concerts
- ACE Tickets
- Alexander Rozenbaum Tickets
- Anoushka Shankar Tickets
- Celtic Thunder Tickets
- Celtic Woman Tickets
- Draco Rosa Tickets
- Enrique Bunbury Tickets
- Gipsy Kings Tickets
- Googoosh Tickets
- Jesse Cook Tickets


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The week in review
Published June 26, 2003, in issue #0225 of The Hook
Best Supreme Court decision for UVA admissions: The court rules that colleges and universities can consider race to achieve diversity. UVA says it will continue its current admissions policies.
Worst jumping the gun: Upon the advice of Virginia Attorney General Jerry Kilgore, Virginia Tech– thinking the vote would go the other way– cuts 16 programs geared toward minorities.
Worst decision for porno lovers and librarians: The Supreme Court rules that anti-porn filters can be required in public libraries, even though librarians and civil libertarians contend that's censorship and the blocking software prevents access to more than porn.
Worst way to get an invitation: Through political pressure, which seems to be the only way Virginia Tech will be invited to the ACC dance.
Best news for contractors: UVA unveils its master plan for upcoming construction projects totaling over $600 million.
Second and third best holdings among Virginia's members of the House of Representatives: The 7th District's Eric Cantor with assets between $1.37 million to $4.7 million, and 5th District Rep. Virgil Goode at $1.1 million to $3 million.
Best plan for low- and middle-income housing: Turn a Levy Avenue parking lot into mixed-income residences, the Charlottesville Redevelopment and Housing Authority proposes, according to the Progress.
Best scare-mongering: The Piedmont Environmental Council publishes the Albemarle County Clarion, predicting a NOVA-like future for Albemarle.
Worst fact: It might come true.
Worst cleanup: 311 12th Street NE, the trash-filled house found filled with animals including snakes both dead and alive.
Best quote about the worst cleanup: Donald Pleasants with Better Home Maintenance, who's in charge of the cleanup, remarks in a Reed Williams story in the Daily Progress, "I've been doing this for 30 years, and I've never seen anything like this. Never. Ever. Never."
Best local Hardy Boy: Jeremy Dunn, who has posted flyers all over town to find the person or persons responsible for swiping his camera bag at Court Square June 10, according to another Williams story.
Worst fire: Wildfires sweeping through Arizona have already burned almost 1,000 homes and threaten one University of Arizona observatory, but so far, not the controversial Mt. Graham Observatory, in which UVA invested last year.
Best fundraising for a governor: Mark Warner rakes in $1 million at a dinner for his One Virginia PAC.
Best fundraising for a president: George W. Bush pulls in $4 million on June 23 at a New York bash.
Bestseller: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix sells over five million copies over the weekend. Hundreds of local kids and parents pack Barnes & Noble to stand in line for pictures with Hagrid and a chance to guess the number of jelly beans in a jar.
Worst omission: In Lynchburg, 33 pages are discovered missing in copies of the latest Harry Potter book.
Best sign your luck has run out: 1994 Virginia Lottery winner Jody Lee Taylor is arrested after driving naked in the wrong direction on U.S. 58 and then trying to run down a deputy.
Best story of American over-eating: Virginian Carson "Collard Green" Hughes triumphs in a hot dog eating contest in Norfolk by scarfing down 16 wieners to defeat the favored Crazy Legs Conti, the AP reports.
Second best story about American over-eating: "Woman takes a stab at 72-ounce slab of sirloin" in the Washington Post recounts Angela Daniels' attempt to get a $50 meal in Amarillo free by eating a whole 4 1/2-pound steak along with a baked potato, salad, and rolls.


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The perfect gift for family, friends or colleagues. Ideal for birthdays, anniversaries, corporate gifts or team building with a difference.
We offer a variety of experiences to suit your budget, interest and requirements from footplate rides to half and full day experiences driving a steam locomotive; no previous experience is necessary.
Thanks to our steeply graded line, 1 in 60 at its steepest, you can work our steam engines in the manner they were designed. Locomotive crews don't call it 'going over the Alps' for nothing!
The gift voucher is 'open dated' and valid for 12 months to present to the lucky recipient.
Steam Locomotive Footplate Ride
Various dates in 2018A 10 Mile Ride for £100 or a Round Trip (20 Miles) for £180
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Introductory Driving & Firing Experience
Various dates in 2018Our morning or afternoon driving course for £350
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Various dates in 2018Our full day driving experience for £500
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Class 50 Diesel Driving Experience
Friday 22nd June 2018Full Day Diesel Driving Course - £350 per person
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Become a Signalman with a Signal Box Experience
Various dates in 2018Full and half day experiences available
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Class 33 Diesel Driving Day
Friday 13th July 2018Full Day Diesel Driving Course - £350 per person
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Bad Network Design – Availability of a system is mainly measured with two parameters. Mean time between failure (MTBF) and Mean time to repair (MTTR)
MTBF is calculated as average time between failures of a system. MTTR is the average time required to repair a failed component (Link, node, device in networking terms)
Operator mistakes is widely seen as the source of the failure of the systems. Thus although it is not individually used to calculate availability value of a system, Mean time between mistakes (MTBM) is commonly used term among the network engineers.
Most failures are caused by human error;estimate range between 70 to 80 percent. How can so many people are so incompetent?
Actually they are not ! It's a design problem.


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Shaun Dooley doesn't have any movies playing in theaters.
If you feel like heading out, check out other movies in theaters.
The Awakening
The Woman in Black
Severed Ways: The Norse Discovery of America
Movies.com, the ultimate source for everything movies, is your destination for new movie trailers, reviews, photos, times, tickets + more! Stay in the know with the latest movie news and cast interviews at Movies.com.
Copyright © 2018 FANDANGO MOVIES.


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After 20 years in the same spot, Brother Benno's Thrift Shop in Oceanside is moving to a larger building with the help of some local sailors.
The store at 3965 Mission Ave. will actually only be moving next door, but the space is more than twice as big as the former location.
The expansion will allow the charity to sell more of the donations it gets and to begin offering furniture.
"I feel that the more money I can bring in through our store, the more good they can do for the people of Oceanside," said Michelle Hoppe, who manages the store.
To help with the move, organizers enlisted the aid of some local U.S. Navy personnel stationed at Camp Pendleton. A group of 11 came out Friday to assist, and another group of seven lent a hand Sunday.
"They've done the bulk of the move for us," said Helen Parsons, who oversees the store for the Brother Benno Foundation. "We are mostly women, and it would take us forever to move without them."
Steve Salazar was one of the members of the 1st Medical Battalion from Camp Pendleton who volunteered on Sunday.
Not only is it rewarding to support various charities and causes in the community, the work also helps raise some people's opinions of those stationed at Camp Pendleton, he said.
"We're just trying to give a good presence in the community and just trying to show that we're here to help," he said.
In addition to the sailors, there are about 20 volunteers with the store working in shifts to get everything moved over and set up by the end of this week.
The nonprofit group running the shop needed more space because of increased business, Parsons said. Its members have been looking for a new place for more than a year and have come close to leasing a few other locations. Parsons said she's grateful that those deals fell through, because moving next door has simplified things.
The store frequently gets more donations than it can use and has in the past given away much of it to other charities.
Sales have increased recently too, especially since the charity lowered its prices a couple of years ago, Parsons said.
"We value-priced everything so that everybody could afford to get something, and it doubles our profit," she said.
The new space is about 2,000 square feet and used to be leased by Gangland Ministries church.
The store will reopen March 4. There will be a grand opening celebration from 6 to 8 p.m. March 12 that will feature a '50s theme, complete with a soda foundation and disc jockey. It will be free and open to the public.
Brother Benno's was started 30 years ago to help homeless people in Oceanside find food and housing. The thrift store is the group's largest fundraiser.


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Lightbulb Wars Review: Philips 12.5W AmbientLED A19
Light Bulb:
Price: $24.97 at Home Depot
Household Use: Table and floor lamps, overhead, pendants, ambient
Light Appearance: Soft white, 2700k
Incandescent It Replaces: 60-watt
Overall Rating: Strong Recommend*
I've spent a fair amount of time writing about LEDs and specifying them for clients, but using them in my own home — not until now. I was super excited to try one out, and very pleased with the results.
The Test
Control Bulb: Sylvania Soft White Incandescent
Primary Use Table reading lamp
Time of Day Tested: Evening
How It Performed: This particular bulb was easy to find as it was available online, but I eventually purchased it at my local Home Depot. It's an A19 bulb, so it easily replaces your classic incandescent bulb and could fit in most fixtures. It has a nice heft, much more than an incandescent or CFL, and because it doesn't have any thin glass I wasn't as worried about it breaking. It is, however, yellow and gray, and may not look great in exposed bulb style light fixture.
As far as how it performed, I was blown away. Essentially there was no significant visible difference between it and the control incandescent bulb. It was instant-on (no delays), threw plenty of bright warm light, and the color was great. Additionally, unlike the incandescent, which got too hot to touch within a matter of minutes, this bulb stayed cool.
If you're ready to try out an LED, I'd strongly recommend this particular model — you won't be disappointed. The price is higher than less efficient bulbs, but you won't need to change the bulb or buy a new one for many, many years.
More Facts About This Light Bulb
Dimmable? Yes
Brightness: 800 lumens
Estimated Yearly Energy Cost: $2.50
Life: 15 years / 25,000 hours
Energy Used: 12 watts
*Our Ratings:
Strong Recommend
Weak Recommend
Don't Recommend
Apartment Therapy Media makes every effort to test and review products fairly and transparently. The views expressed in this review are the personal views of the reviewer and this particular product review was not sponsored or paid for in any way by the manufacturer or an agent working on their behalf.


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To the editor:
A couple of weeks ago my husband and I had the pleasure of taking a 10-day vacation to Kentucky and Tennessee. We had a great time, by the way, and truly enjoyed seeing your part of the USA.
As many tourists do, one of our stops was a tour of Wild Turkey. Since we had some time to spend before our tour, we drove to Lawrenceburg for lunch [on Main Street]. We were very impressed with the food, the decor and the owners. I even recommended it to some other tourists.
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Sony may be making a belated splash with 3D, but at the very least it looks committed with no fewer than three full TV ranges, of which the HX800 series, reviewed here, is its mainstream proposition.
All the HX803 models need to be teamed with a separate IR emitter and 3D glasses (available as an accessory bundle) before you can go three dimensional.
As Sony's Tim Page explained, when delivering the set to HCC Towers, 'these sets are for those that want to add 3D at a later date, or just want to future-proof their new TV purchases.'
The HX803 comes in 40in and 46in and variants. The step-up HX903 series comes in 46in and 52in screen sizes and has Full Array LED backlighting. The brand's so-called Signature range, also known as the LX models, are available as 40 and 60in screen sizes. They are Dynamic Edge LED screens and ship with two pairs of Active Shutter glasses included.
The HX803 is only 7.4cm deep and sports a regulation gloss black bezel, but build quality is a tad ordinary. The set itself can stand straight or, as per many other Sony models this year, tilt 6˚ backwards (in case you have a fashionably low TV stand). It all depends on how you assemble the pedestal stand.
A Home button summons the main Xross user interface, while Options pulls in a complete list of options from the right hand side. The Input button pulls in a map of sources from the left.
In awe of the S-570
I partnered the screen with the BDP-S570, a £230 3D Blu-ray player. Like all of Sony's 2010 models, the deck is Super Audio CD compatible.
You have a choice of outputting two-channel SACD via phono or multichannel over HDMI. If you hook it up with a (Sony) AVR able to take DSD over HDMI you'll get a digital stream from the disc, which is really neat. If the player interrogates the AVR's EDID data and discovers that it cannot handle DSD, the player outputs multichannel PCM instead.
Other attractions, according to Sony, include its network talents and audio visual performance. 'The build quality is highly considered,' Sony's man made sure to let me know, explaining, 'circuit tracks are nice and short and architecture is tidy.'
The more I used the S570, the more I was in awe of it. There is only one model above the BDP-S570, and that's the S770 (typically £30 more at retail). Differences are largely aesthetic: the top of the S-range model has a high-gloss cabinet to better match the brand's 3D TV range, but beneath the hood it's essentially the same player.
There is quite a large caveat, though. You'll not want to own it unless you have (or soon plan to buy) an HDMI v1.4 compatible receiver.
Unlike the Panasonic DMT-BDP300 and Samsung BD-C6900 3D players, there is no provision for routing lossless audio (DTS-HD MA and Dolby TrueHD) to a non-HDMI v1.4 AV receiver, while still preserving the 3D video signal path. Your only option if you route the HDMI straight to the screen is to use a lossy optical/coax digital audio lead, which carries only DTS/DD5.1.
Networked entertainment
Sony has aggressively developed its online content portal, Bravia Internet Video. Hook up the HX803 to the internet via the Ethernet connection, or an optional Wi-Fi dongle (UWABR100) and you'll encounter a number of free and pay-TV content options. There's Demand 5, YouTube, Eurosport, LoveFiLM, trailers, DailyMotion plus copious other stuff.
Like the BD player, the HX803 also makes much of its DNLA network certification. However, its home network and streaming functions are far less straightforward than the Bravia 'net portal.
The set is happiest with local storage media. Plug in a USB flash drive and it'll find and play more common video file types, including AVIs and MKV HDs. It even plays out SRT subtitle files.
However, over the network it's a different story. The only video files it seemed interested in were MPEGs. It certainly couldn't see or play AVIs or MKVs from a NAS. MP3 audio playback over the network was fine.
The Blu-ray player had much of the same functions, but added it's own level of confusion. While the Bravia Internet interface is consistent, the portals differ slightly: BBC iPlayer features on the BD player (with HD), but it is currently missing on the TV (but expected soon).
As a media streamer, the S570 behaves much like the television with comparable File playback limitations. Across the network, my MKVs solicited a 'Not Playable' dialogue box, while AVIs ran well enough (and SRT subtitles were ignored). None of my test video files were recognised from a front-loaded USB and only MP3 and AAC music tracks were actually playable. This may be a sample fault, however.
There is some nice integration with the Gracenote Database: play a CD and the album art is retrieved. There are also some visualisation modes, although these are so ponderously slow, I can only conclude they have been designed purely to accompany soporific classical tunes and soft jazz.
Getting with 3D
To add the third dimension you'll need to spring for the emitter plus a pair of glasses, which together will add another £150 onto your bill.
The IR emitter plugs into what looks like a deformed S-video connection on the rear of the screen. It uses no fewer than 15 infrared transmitters, offering 3D viewers a wide theoretical spread.
Picture-wise the set can be considered good in both standard and 3D modes, with some reservations. The set uses 'dynamic' LED edge-lighting, but only across the top and bottom of the screen. The LED backlights get an automatic boost when in a 3D mode, and to aid 3D image smoothness and motion clarity, Sony repeats each frame twice in a left/left/right/right sequence. Out of a 3D picture mode, this changes to more conventional frame interpolation.
I auditioned the screen with both 3D Blu-rays and Sky 3D. Overall, I was impressed with the sense of depth, and appreciated the fact that alterations to brightness and tint caused by the 3D glasses are not too disastrous for picture integrity.
The big issue when it comes to 3D on LCD panels is crosstalk, which manifests itself here, although attempts to disguise it are partially successful. In scenes with fast moving action, you'll not be able to spot crosstalk all the time, although you will occasionally notice the double imaging effect.
As with Samsung's 3D sets, the Sony range offer '3D upconversion' of 2D sources. Ostensibly, this gives viewers starved of content something to watch with their spex. However, I was very unimpressed by this processing mode. A good deal less convincing than the 2D-to-3D mode on the Samsung, it makes images look decidedly unnatural. I tried it out with source material as diverse as HD, Blu-ray and games, but nothing was very successful. I don't see myself revisiting it for casual viewing.
Getting the best picture performance from this set takes some care. Out of the box, images look fizzy and unrefined. On all settings, I spotted obvious digital noise, though this can be quickly removed via the sharpness control, which should be reduced to its minimum setting.
It's important to realise that altering the Sharpness control does not affect actual image clarity. Indeed, taking it right down removes the kind of digital fizz and edge enhancement which destroys genuine detail.
A typical brightness setting should be no more than 45 on the sliding scale, with contrast set high (there's no bloom to worry about with LCD). After a period of calibration I felt quite happy with the picture.
Hi-def images from its Freeview HD tuner had visual pop, good greyscale and black level, along with plenty of texture and depth. Overscan has also been perfectly judged. You can watch in any of the three picture modes and know that nothing is being obscured by the bezel.
Where the set does have a weakness is in motion resolution. While still image resolution comprises a full and clear 1080 lines, this erodes with motion. A scrolling monoscope image revealed the picture stressed with movement, while test patterns lost cohesion.
In real world viewing, this isn't as horrible as it might sound, but clearly there is lost detail when viewing fast motion. Bear this in mind, if you're looking for a set primarily for sports.
The Blu-ray player is getting short shrift in this review, which is undoubtedly unfair. From a picture performance point of view I thought it very good, particularly given the price point. The inclusion of SACD is a major plus point. Anyone with a collection of these discs will be thrilled. Perhaps it might even encourage more releases in the format.
The player has IP Noise Reduction to help clean up low-bitrate internet video sources, but does not have the kind of highly expensive video processing seen on last year's BDP-S760. The only catch is that missing secondary HD audio output.
Flexible friend
It's not difficult to see where Sony is coming from with the HX800 range. A 3D-capable model that the buyer can upgrade whenever they want makes sense. But the TV has to be keenly priced to start off with, and it needs to undercut rival screens with integrated IR emitters (there's no aesthetic plus point to having a separate emitter). So check carefully before buying.
As a regular 2D set, the HX800 is solid enough, with commendable network content options, but it's a shame that its local networking skills are less developed.
The prudent BDP-S570 comes with fewer reservations. The most affordable 3D BD player currently out there, it's also the best, as long as your amp supports HDMI v1.4.
Follow TechRadar Reviews on Twitter: http://twitter.com/techradarreview


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Dominican police suspects in $1.5M theft from sect
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (AP) — Police officers who took part in a deadly shootout and raid at the compound of a sect led by a German man in a Dominican resort town are suspected of taking cash and property during the operation, officials said Thursday.
About $1.5 million in cash, jewelry and other property is missing from the compound in Sosua where Peter Brunck presided over the "Academy for Future Health," Dominican Attorney General Francisco Dominquez Brito said.
An investigation was focused on 14 police officers who took part in the October 2012 raid in which a member of the sect was shot to death by police and authorities seized rifles, grenades, crossbows and body armor. Brunck, 61, from Meisenheim, Germany, was arrested on weapons charges along with his son and a woman who lived at the compound. All are in custody.
Newspaper Listin Diario reported that officers involved in the raid have admitted that several safes were found at the compound and that they distributed items and cash seized from the house. Officials declined Thursday to confirm the report.
The national police said in a statement that they had disciplined three high-ranking officers who presided over the raid and suspended the 14 officers.


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A leader in organized labor, William Belanger began as an organizer for the AFL's United Textile Workers in 1932, eventually becoming the New England Regional Director and International Vice President of the TWUA and in 1958, the first President of the Massachusetts AFL-CIO.
The Belanger Papers provide insight into the long career in labor activism, and include correspondence, writings, subject files, and printed materials. Of particular interest is a series of four oversized scrapbooks that cover Belanger's career from 1934 through his final position as Director of the Massachusetts Department of Employment Security. These are especially enlightening on labor's political activities, the CIO's success in thwarting anti-labor referenda in 1948, and the efforts to expel Communists from the labor movement.
- Subjects
- Elections--Massachusetts--History--20th century
- Labor leaders--New England--Biography
- Labor unions--Massachusetts
- Massachusetts--Politics and government--1865-1950
- New England--Economic conditions--20th century
- Textile Workers Organizing Committee
- Textile Workers Union of America
- Textile industry--Massachusetts
- Textile workers--Labor unions--New England
- Contributors
- Belanger, J. William, 1907-1986
- Types of material
- Photographs
- Scrapbooks


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The Xperia Z1 has got everyone abuzz. But it seems that the new thing to do these days is completely leak your device before you even launch it. Sony's getting in on the party with its upcoming flagship, the Xperia Z1, that's been leaked numerous times under the codename Honami. In this latest treat from Sony, we get a teaser video for the device that shows off almost the entire phone.
Some things are highlighted in the video, such as the 20MP camera with a Sony G lens and circular power button on the side. Another thing of note is that the phone has a dedicated camera button. Anybody who regularly takes pictures with their phone should be happy. We all know the pain of trying to comfortably hold your phone while reaching over to the on-screen power button.
Looking at the design of the phone, it appears that the glass back is sticking around for good, so hopefully it's pretty strong to withstand the drops and scuffs of daily life. Seeing as the phone is submerged in water at one point, it appears the Xperia Z1 will be waterproof like its predecessor from last year, the Xperia Z. We're hoping that the Xperia Z1 doesn't have some of the flaws that came with waterproofing the Xperia Z from last year. Anybody remember that screen protector that made the display all ugly-like?
While I can't speak for you, I know that I'm personally pretty excited for the Xperia Z1. The camera is mainly what excites me because I already shoot with Sony cameras and know what they can do. And with Windows Phone's Lumia 1020, it does my heart good to see some of the Android manufacturers are having to step up their camera game.
Does the Xperia Z1 interest you? If so, what aspect of it is your favorite?


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Last week: October 12th through the 18th was World Rainforest Week. The Rainforest Action Network was promoting education and attention to the protection of rainforests worldwide. The worldwide tree population is at risk due to irresponsible logging techniques, clear cutting for cattle production, and the effects of global warming. Education about stopping these destructive forces is incredibly important as rainforests, both tropical and temperate are vital ecosystems. They are completely necessary to our environment as well as the critters and species that live within them.
Even thought World Rainforest Week has passed, we want to remind everyone how precious these forests are and how important it is to stay involved. Although the Week brought attention to the cause, it should not be the end point of the effort. In fact, the Rainforest Action Network has some great tips on raising awareness for movement, as well as directly getting involved. Probably the easiest and quickest way to help out is through making a monetary donation to the Rainforest Action Network. But if you have more time to spare consider helping out by gaining signatures for the petition against Cargill, or telling President Obama how you feel about clean energy jobs and stopping dirty oil producers, or start a local chapter and get involved in your community.
Remember that even though the official World Rainforest Week is over, the rainforests are still an intrical part of this world. We can not let them be destroyed and be sure to keep spreading awareness and involvement for the trees. Because after all we should be celebrating them all year long!