text:
BIRMINGHAM, Ala.—Monday's Supreme Court ruling overturning key provisions of Arizona's illegal-immigration law opens the door for courts to strike down similar measures in states that have tried to make it a crime for illegal immigrants to live and work in the U.S.
Supporters of immigration crackdowns, however, say the ruling also gives states a critical role in enforcing federal law by allowing local authorities to check the immigration status of those suspected of being in the country illegally.
"I'm encouraged at least by that glimmer of hope in the decision that we'll have the opportunity to interact more closely with the federal government on undocumented residents when we encounter them," said South Carolina state Sen. Larry Martin, a Republican who sponsored his state's legislation. "Beyond that, I think our hands are tied by the federal law."
The high court struck down Arizona's requirement that all immigrants obtain or carry immigration registration papers; a provision making it a crime for an illegal immigrant to seek or hold a job; and a provision allowing police to arrest suspected illegal immigrants without warrants.
In the majority opinion written by Justice Anthony Kennedy, the court ruled that those provisions conflicted with federal law. In other words, enforcing the nation's immigration laws is a task for the federal government, not state or local governments.
Laws passed in Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, Indiana and Utah were modeled at least in part upon the one passed by Arizona in 2010. Now that the Supreme Court has weighed in on the issue, challenges to the laws in those states can now likely move forward.
Parts of those laws had been temporarily blocked. Federal judges in many cases had been waiting to issue a final ruling until the Supreme Court made its decision, believing the high court ruling would set important legal precedent.
Both supporters and detractors of the crackdowns describe Alabama's law as the toughest in the nation. It adopted much of the Arizona law and incorporated other provisions, including a requirement that public schools verify the citizenship status of new students.
Also, Alabama is the only state where courts allowed a provision to go into effect that requires officers to make a "reasonable attempt" during any traffic stop or other police encounter to determine the immigration status of a person if there is suspicion of someone being an illegal immigrant.
The high court ruling clears the way for the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to decide whether those provisions can stand. The 11th Circuit is also considering Georgia's law, which contains provisions allowing police to check people's immigration status.
For Georgia to avoid having that law overturned based on arguments that such checks amount to racial profiling, officers would have to investigate the immigration status of every person they detain, said Charles Kuck, an Atlanta immigration attorney and former president of the American Immigration Lawyers Association. He said it was a mistake for supporters of the law to interpret the high court's ruling as a victory.
"This is a massive defeat for those who believe states can regulate immigration," Kuck said. "I think it's funny that anybody could read that decision and come to any other conclusion."
The ruling also could clear the way for a federal court to make permanent an injunction that struck down a provision in Indiana's law that went even further than Arizona's law. That provision allowed police to arrest anyone who had been ordered by federal authorities to be detained or deported—even if those people were not suspected of any other crime. Groups including the American Civil Liberties Union had argued that provision gave police unprecedented arrest powers.
"If nothing else, (the high court ruling) just reinforces the unconstitutionality of the Indiana law," said Ken Falk, legal director of the ACLU of Indiana.
In Utah, Attorney General Mark Shurtleff called the Supreme Court ruling a win, saying his state's law differed significantly from Arizona's. Utah's law requires people arrested for serious crimes to prove their citizenship, though police can use their discretion for people arrested for lesser crimes.
Lawsuits over Utah's law are still pending in federal court, and Shurtleff acknowledged "there's going to be ongoing litigation, civil rights lawsuits, people living in fear."
The Supreme Court left untouched one complaint raised in numerous lawsuits: that immigration crackdown laws encourage police to engage in racial profiling. That leaves open the possibility that, based on those arguments, lower courts could still overturn parts of various laws.
Other states including Mississippi, Nebraska and Oklahoma had previously considered immigration crackdowns that ultimately failed. It's possible the Supreme Court ruling will deter other states from considering their own laws in the future, or at least discourage them from including provisions similar to those struck down.
"I don't think this is a total victory for our side by any stretch of the imagination," said Mary Bauer, legal director of the Montgomery-based Southern Poverty Law Center, which is challenging Alabama's law. "But I think it's a blow to other states that would think about going down this road."
Nebraska state Sen. Charlie Janssen, who sponsored a bill modeled after Arizona's last year, said he was encouraged that the Supreme Court at least upheld the one key provision allowing local authorities to check the immigration status of those suspected of being in the country illegally. But he said he wasn't sure if he would try to resurrect another immigration proposal.
"I certainly wouldn't bring something back that the U.S. Supreme Court just shot down," Janssen said.
In Oklahoma, one state lawmaker vowed to resurrect a proposal cracking down on illegal immigration. Last year, Sen. Ralph Shortey sponsored legislation that would have allowed police to confiscate property belonging to illegal immigrants. The Oklahoma City Republican said he would "absolutely" resurrect that proposal, adding that the Supreme Court ruling—in his view—says states can enforce immigration laws.
"That's all that we've asked, just let us (states) handle the problem on our own," he said.
AP reporters Meg Kinnard in Columbia, S.C., Charles Wilson in Indianapolis, Ken Miller in Oklahoma City, Dorie Turner in Atlanta, Grant Schulte in Lincoln, Neb., and Brian Skoloff and Paul Foy in Salt Lake City contributed to this report.


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Hackers apparently operating in Eastern Europe broke into a Utah
Department of Technology Services server used to store medical data and
stole personal information on 181,604 people, the state's Department of
Health reported.
The attack, which took place March 30, netted information on Medicaid
and Children's Health Insurance Plan recipients, UDOH said in an update on the breach. About 25,000 of those recipients had their Social Security numbers compromised.
The department initially reported the breach April
4, saying that information on about 24,000 Medicaid recipients had been
taken. In the more recent update, it said its investigation showed that
CHIP recipient data also had been taken.
Related stories:
Best defense? Start by admitting hackers will get in anyway.
To hackers, government users are phish in a barrel
The Department of Technology Services said it at first appeared that
the hackers took 24,000 claims, but in fact they removed 24,000 files,
each one of which can contain information on hundreds of individuals.
DTS said the hackers appeared to be operating out of Eastern Europe but
provided no further details.
DTS said the hackers took advantage of a configuration error at the
authentication level of the server's multilayer security system. The
department has identified the breakdown and implemented corrective
measures, and it is taking steps to improve its hardware and software
security, according to the state's announcement.
UDOH said it will begin contacting the people involved, starting with
those whose Social Security numbers may have been compromised. They'll
get a letter with instructions on how to take advantage of free credit
monitoring for a year. Others will receive instructions on how to
protect themselves, UDOH said.
Recipients who have online access to their information via a My Case
account with the state also will receive an e-mail notification and will
have information on the breach posted to their accounts.
"We understand clients are worried about who may have accessed their
personal information, and that many of them feel violated by having
their information compromised," UDOH Deputy Director Michael Hales said
in the department's announcement. "But we also hope they understand we
are doing everything we can to protect them from further harm."
UHOH and DTS are continuing their investigation and said they will
continue to issue updates. Medicaid clients can call 1-800-662-9651 to
get more information on how to protect themselves and their identities.
About the Author
Kevin McCaney is a former editor of Defense Systems and GCN.
E-Mail this page
Printable Format
Doesn't HIPAA require medical records at rest to be encrypted?
So all the hackers have to do is wait a year for the "protection" to expire and then then have free reign over our identity. Some compromise. More needs to be done.
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text:
The company had initially expected PC shipments to reach seven million units, but has now been revised lower to just over six million.
In recent weeks, Acer and Asus both made similar remarks, claiming the OS had not sparked PC sales as expected. Asus' CFO David Chang went as far as to say "demand for Windows 8 is not that good right now."
Asus and Acer are two of the five largest PC makers in the world, so the news is certainly at least somewhat troubling for Microsoft.


text:
This article provides information on configuring name protection on a Windows DHCP server
In an environment in which Windows machines and non-Windows machines are present, it is possible for a non-Windows DHCP client to be registered in DNS using a fully qualified domain name (FQDN) that has already been registered to another non-Windows machine. This is known as name squatting, and it effectively renders the first machine inaccessible by name, as anyone trying to resolve its FQDN will resolve it to the second machine's IP address.
Note: Name squatting should have little to no effect on names registered by Windows machines, as those names can be protected by access control lists (ACLs), which prevent their modification by unauthorized machines if properly configured.
Name protection was introduced in Windows Server 2008 R2 to prevent name squatting. When name protection is enabled, a DHCP server registering a name for a non-Windows client will also register another DNS record, known as a DHCP client ID record. This record contains a hash that identifies the client as the owner of the FQDN in its host record; therefore, if another client attempts to register the same FQDN in DNS, it will be prevented from doing so. The new client will be assigned an IP address by the DHCP server but will not have its FQDN registered in DNS.
Name protection can be enabled on a DHCP server running Windows Server 2008 R2 or later, and it can be enabled at the scope level or the server level. (Scope-level settings take precedence over server-level settings.) To enable name protection at the scope level, perform the following steps:
The procedure for enabling name protection at the server level is very similar:
For more information, see Configuring Name Protection.
The standard on which name protection is based is defined in RFC 4703, and the DHCID DNS record is described in RFC 4701.
ID de l'article : SLN290479
Date de la dernière modification : 10/02/2014 01:22 PM
Merci pour vos commentaires.


text:
- Dueling players may not use a Lightwell that they didn?t create themselves.
- Eye of the Storm: The points awarded from capturing the flag now increase based on the number of bases the capturing teams owns.
- Arena calculations have been modified. In addition, the penalty for smaller arena teams (2v2, 3v3) has been slightly reduced.
- Items that are indicated as quest items in their tooltips and have a "use" or "equip" ability will not work in PvP arenas.
- Players will no longer be able to change armor once an arena battle has begun. Changing armor will still be available during the one-minute prep time prior to the battle. Main hand, off hand and range weapon swapping in combat remains unchanged.


text:
American Range ARR486GRN Heritage Series 48 Inch Gas Freestanding Range
Heritage Series 48 Inch Freestanding Gas Range with 6 Burners, Sealed Cooktop, Grill, Double Ovens, 4.4 cu. ft. Primary Oven Capacity, Convection Oven, Viewing Window, Continuous Cast Iron Grates, Infrared Broiler, Blue LED Indicator Iights, Innovection� Convection System in Stainless Steel
Quick Specs: View More
- Series: Heritage
- Width: 47.875"
- Height: 37"
- Depth: 30.5"
- Gas Type: Natural Gas
- Cooktop: Sealed Burner
- Burners: 6
- Total Capacity: 6.8 cu. ft.
- Primary Oven Capacity: 4.4 cu. ft.
- Convection: Yes
- Double Oven: Yes
- Continuous Cast Iron Grates
- Infrared Broiler
- Blue LED Indicator Iights
- Innovection� Convection System
This 48" Gas Range by American Range from the Heritage Series comes with 6 sealed burners with a grill, continuous commercial-grade cast iron grates and heavy metal die-cast black satin knobs. The 30" primary oven features a 4.4 cu. ft. capacity with 30,000 BTU, Innovection Oven System, and additional an 18" secondary oven that features a 2.4 cu. ft. capacity with convection on the side. Available at AppliancesConnection
Commerical Origins
A kitchen cooking product for the best of both worlds. The dual fuel range combines the accurate temperature control of the electric oven cell – with the speed and power of our industry-leading gas range top. When you add in our rugged, commercial design and construction heritage, as can be expected, the whole is far greater then the sum of its parts.
Innovection® Convection Oven Technology
Balanced turbulent heat distribution is essential when baking, roasting, and dehydrating food. The American Range Innovection® convection oven technology features dual convection motors and louvered side panels to enhance uniform heat distribution throughout the large oven cavity. The strategic placement of the dual Innovection® convection fans ensures consistent heat distribution even when challenged with cooking the largest turkey, ham or roast.
Innovection® Convection Oven is Green Technology
The highly efficient design of the Innovection® Convection Oven uses 19% less gas versus a standard convection oven.
- 17,000, 13,000 and 9000 BTU sealed surface burners accommodate all cooking needs
- Inconel Infrared broiler provides rapid searing at 1800°F (compare to competitors at 900�]1000°F)
- 30,000 BTU bake burner enables incredible 7 minute preheat times
- Innovection oven system with 2 convection fans optimizes uniform temperatures (200 �] 500°F)
Range Top Features
- Sealed burners deliver exceptional performance at every setting and lift off to provide easy clean-up.3 sizes of burners to serve your everyday needs: 17,000 BTU (lg), 13,000 BTU (med), 9,000 BTU (sm)Variable infinite flame settings for all sealed top burners.
- Automatic, electronic ignition with fail-safe system ensures re-ignition in the event the flame goes out, even on the lowest burner setting.
- Continuous commercial-grade cast iron grates.
- Blue lights indicate burner functions provided with every knob.
- Heavy metal die-cast black satin knobs with chrome bezels.
- Sealed stainless steel cook top can hold a gallon of spills
- Electronic keypad with blue display.
- Multiple functions include: Standard Bake, true Convection Bake, Infrared Broil, or Warm mode for Dehydrate, Crisping and Proofing.
- 11" Grill
Oven Features
- Multiple functions include: Standard Bake, Innovection® Convection Bake, Infrared Broil and Fan mode
- Innovection® System with two convection fans that optimizes uniform air flow
- Commercial grade high performance thermal insulation keeps kitchen cool.
- Two chrome racks glide at 6 cooking levels on heavy chrome side supports.
- Two lights in each oven are controlled from the front-panel switch
- Accommodate full size sheet pan.
- Sealed single piece stainless steel cooktop can hold more than a gallon of spills
- 3 piece burner lifts off and is easy to clean
- Porcelain oven interior has a sealed floor to prevent food falling into the burner box
1 year parts and labor warranty, Limited 5 year warranty on oven elements/burners
*Backguard required, must order separately (not included).
|Exterior Width:
|Depth with door at 90 degrees:
|Total Capacity:
|6.8 cu. ft.
|Primary Oven Capacity:
|4.4 cu. ft.
|Secondary Oven Capacity:
|2.4 cu. ft.
|General Specifications
|Stainless Steel
|Sealed Burner
|Fuel Type:
|Cast Iron Grates:
|Continuous Grates:
|Cooktop Control Type:
|Oven Control Type:
|Oven Racks:
|Other Specifications
|Front Right Output:
|Front Left Output:
|Back Right Output:
|Back Left Output:
|Middle Front Right Output:
|Middle Back Right Output:
|Griddle Output:
|Burner Configuration:
|6 Sealed Burners and Grill
|Electrical Requirements
|120 Volts
|60 Hz.
|15 Amps
Innovection� Convection System
A convection technology that combines draft dependent cooking and turbulent air flow convection cooking. It ensures that turbulent heat is distributed in an evenly pattern.
Infrared Broiler
Because of its popularity in the commercial market, the direct-fired ceramic infrared broiler is standard on all residential ranges. The large burner produces intense, searing heat close to the burner, while effecting a gentler broiling.
Blue LED Indicator Iights
Blue LED lights indicates that the flame is on.
Continuous Cast Iron Grates
Heavy duty cast iron grates make transferring heavy pots and pans over your burners easy.
With auto-ignition, you no longer need to light the burner when the flame goes out. It also automatically stops the burners from sparking, which is no longer needed after the flame is lit.
Sealed Burners
Completely sealed burners Contain spills and allow for easy cleaning and maintenance.
Designed and Built in USA
Professional cooking equipment are designed and built in USA
Current Rebates
American Range - FREE or 50% Select Hood Offer (up to $1699 value)
Receive 50% off select Faber hoods with the purchase of a 30 or 36 inch American Range or a FREE hood with the purchase of a 48 inch American Range, 36 or 48 inch dual fuel oven, or the combination of any American Range Wall Oven PLUS an American Range cooktop/rangetop.
For more details please see rebate form.Valid: 06/01/2018 - 12/31/2018 Download Rebate Form
Please Note: It is the sole responsibility of the customer to download, fill up and mail the rebate within the allotted time period. Please make sure to follow all instructions. AppliancesConnection cannot be held responsible for rebates which are denied or not claimed.You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view and print pdf files.
- Brand: American Range
- Stock Id: 124676
- Product Number: ARR-486GR-N
- Series: Heritage
- Warranty Info:
- Color: Stainless Steel
- Style: Freestanding
- Cooktop: Sealed Burner
- Drawer: None
- Viewing Window: Yes
- Fuel Type: Gas
- Gas Type: Natural Gas
- Continuous Grates: Yes
- Digital Clock: No
- Pro-Style: Yes
- Stainless Steel Handle: Yes
- Width: 47.875"
- Height: 37"
- Depth: 30.5"
- Exterior Width: 48"
- Induction: No
- Burners: 6
- Cooktop Control Type: Knobs
- Downdraft Ventilation: No
- Griddle: No
- Grill: Yes
- Cast Iron Grates: Yes
- French Top: No
Cooktop Features
- Dual Door: Yes
- Steam-Clean: No
- Primary Oven Capacity: 4.4 cu. ft.
- Oven Racks: 2
- Broiler: Yes
- Sabbath Mode: No
- Self-Cleaning: No
- Convection: Yes
- Delay Bake: No
- Digital Temperature Display: No
- Oven Control Type: Knobs
- Steam Oven: No
- Double Oven: Yes
- Timer: No
- Proofing: No
- Temperature Probe: No
- Interior Oven Light: Yes
- Broiler Element Location: Top
- Removable Door: No
- Wi-Fi: No
Oven Features
- Front Left Output: 9000
- Back Left Output: 17000
- Back Right Output: 13000
- Front Right Output: 17000
- Middle Front Right Output: 13000
- Middle Back Right Output: 17000
- Griddle Output: 20000
Burner Output
- Total Capacity: 6.8 cu. ft.
- Volts: 120 Volts
- Amps: 15 Amps
- LP Conversion: No
- ADA Compliant: No
- Oven BTUs: 30000 BTU
- Secondary Oven Capacity: 2.4 cu. ft.
- Frequency: 60 Hz.
- Burner Configuration: 6 Sealed Burners and Grill
- Star-K Certified: No
- Depth with Door at 90 Degrees: 45.378"
- Infrared Broiler: 18000 BTU
- Weight: 660.00 lbs
Technical Details
- Continuous Cast Iron Grates: Yes
- Infrared Broiler: Yes
- Blue LED Indicator Iights: Yes
- Innovection� Convection System: Yes


text:
By: Dr Lynda Kelly, Category: Museullaneous, Date: 08 Aug 2011
As we start on redeveloping our front page we took a look at some Google stats to see what was happening. The findings were quite a surprise!
For the year 1 July 2010 to 30 June 2011 our site had 10,381,365 visitors (wow!). However of these 549,063 (or 5%) actually visited the front page. Of those that visited the next page they travelled to was:
Interestingly, 24% of Sydney visitors (218,045) went to the front page, which was the most popular page for these users.
The top 20 pages for our site are (in order):
[Note - these percentages are of total visits to the top 20 sites]
Although mobile totalled only 4.5% of total visits (or 146,818 visits) we are finding that these figures increase every month. The iPhone dominated with 56% of visits; iPad at 18%; Android 12% and iPod 11%.
For me, however, the most fascinating finding from all this is that Indigenous material (at 34%) is by far the most popular content on our site. Much food for thought there…


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The picking season is under way at Vo-LaSalle Farms near DeLeon Springs where workers recently packed navel oranges for sale directly to customers, mostly as gift boxes, and to wholesale buyers such as orange juice producers.
DELEON SPRINGS — About a half dozen workers stood beside a noisy metal machine, coaxing freshly picked oranges down a series of rollers into a bath of chlorinated water and then into boxes.
The picking season is under way at Vo-LaSalle Farms near DeLeon Springs where workers recently packed navel oranges for sale directly to customers, mostly as gift boxes, and to wholesale buyers such as orange juice producers.
As the acreage devoted to citrus groves continues to drop in Volusia County and statewide, the Crump family at Vo-LaSalle Farms is holding onto a way of life that began for them in the 1800s.
The cold snaps this fall have helped the crop, Steve Crump said, and brought out the sweetness of the fruit.
"Quantity-wise, it's an average year of fruit," he said. "The quality, I think, is up a little bit from previous years."
Volusia County produces a tiny fraction of Florida's citrus crop and Flagler County has no commercial citrus production at all, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Volusia produced 245,000 boxes of citrus out of Florida's 165 million boxes in 2010-11, the latest year that federal statistics are available. A box is 90 pounds of oranges or 95 pounds of tangerines.
Much of the reason for the area's lack of citrus production is climate. In fact, Vo-LaSalle at one time had more acres of groves than the 65 acres it cultivates today. After a series of hard freezes and crop losses in the 1980s, the family opted not to replant some of its land.
Citrus was grown as far north as Jacksonville and Gainesville in the late 1800s, but freezes have forced the crop south over the years, Crump said. Today, much of Florida's citrus production occurs south of State Road 60, which runs from Vero Beach to Tampa, where freezes are less common.
The Crump family has tried other enterprises, such as a hydroponic "you-pick" vegetable farm, to offset the wavering citrus crop. But citrus remains their way of life for four generations now, despite challenges from cheap imports, citrus disease and occasional hard freezes.
"After the freezes in 1985, we talked about maybe we should get out," Crump said. "All the groves were frozen, there really wasn't much left. But my mom and dad decided citrus is what we do the best, it's what we know the best, and there really wasn't anything we could grow as well as citrus."
This year, the price of juice oranges has dropped significantly, but Crump is hopeful it won't impact growers like him.
"The price for juice oranges is down probably about 40 percent from last year," he said. "But the fresh fruit price is up a little bit. So it might be a wash for us, because we have both types."
Cheap foreign imports are a constant challenge for domestic growers, he said. Orange juice is a globally traded commodity, much like crude oil, so events around the world and the appetites of futures traders in New York can affect the fortunes of even small-scale growers like the Crump family.
"It's taken a beaten, especially the fresh fruit guys, but the whole citrus industry has had challenges," said Mark Ritenour, an associate professor at the University of Florida's Indian River Research and Education Center. "We were up around 800,000 acres statewide and now we're down in the 500,000 range. A lot of that is due to disease."
Currently plaguing the growers is a disease known as citrus greening, which was brought to the United States from Asia. The pathogen is spread by an insect known as the Asian citrus psyllid.
Karen Stauderman, a commercial horticulture extension agent at the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension Office in DeLand, said Volusia County is better off than other areas of Florida, partly because citrus growers here have a coordinated insecticide spraying program.
"Some other counties do not have synchronized grower cooperation," said Stauderman. "But the wonderful thing about Volusia County is these growers understand the importance of working together to try to control the insect."
That's paying off, she said. Although the greening problem hasn't gone away, it also hasn't gotten worse.
"Our county is one of the few that haven't increased," said Stauderman, citing information from UF's Citrus Research and Education Center in Lake Alfred.
At Vo-LaSalle Farms, Crump said his family has noticed a worsening of the disease each year, but they use insecticides to attempt to contain the psyllid population and prevent the disease from spreading further.
A spot of good news this growing season has been the weather. There have been a few cold snaps in the area, but no hard freezes yet. Temperatures around 28 degrees or below for more than four or five hours can damage citrus crops.
"We've had several cold snaps," said Bruce Crump, Steve's father, "and they have been just what the doctor ordered to get the flavor, the sweetness really developed."
For the Crump family, the picking season will last until April and include navel oranges, two kinds of grapefruit, tangelos and tangerines.
Steve Crump says he foresees passing on the groves to the next generation.
"I want to make a career out of it here," he said. "I hope one of my three children, either they or the future spouses, will get into it one day."
Dwindling orange groves
The amount of acreage devoted to commercial citrus groves is on the decline in Volusia County and statewide.
Volusia County: 2006-07 1231 acres
2007-08 1083 acres
2008-09 1065 acres
2009-10 1090 acres
2010-11 981 acres
2006-07 621,373 acres
2007-08 576,577 acres
2008-09 568,814 acres
2009-10 554,037 acres
2010-11 541,328 acres
Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture


text:
BEHRINGER City Opens its Doors
BEHRINGER, a world-leading designer, manufacturer and distributor of professional audio and musical instrument products, announced on June 6th the opening of its new manufacturing hub which comprises a series of buildings in a campus-like setting. Each building has a distinct function, including factories for electronics, wood, speaker assembly and guitars, warehouses, logistical operations, receiving areas for suppliers, as well as R&D and administrative offices. Extensive infrastructure such as different canteens, several dormitories, a library, recreation facilities and on-site medical assistance complement the state-of-the-art production site making BEHRINGER City an exceptionally attractive place to work for the 2980 BEHRINGER employees.
"We chose June 6 for our grand opening long ago because in the Chinese calendar, this is a date for smooth beginnings in which the farmers traditionally start spreading the seedlings in hope to enjoy a prosperous growth of their plantation" explained Mr. Michael Deeb, CEO of the BEHRINGER Group "and indeed our beginnings have been smooth even in the final weeks in which 1,600 trucks transported all materials and machinery from the old premises to the our new 2 million square foot site. Within only two months the whole move was completed, without any interruption in production and with all our employees relocated to BEHRINGER City".
Retaining the skilled workforce and enhancing production efficiencies were the drivers for the creation of the new site, which is only a quarter of an hour drive away from the previous facility. Efficiency was increased significantly through optimization of the factory layout and consequent application of integrated production principles (i.e. ERP systems and co-location of R&D, Logistics Operations and suppliers).
"Differently from other companies that started operations in China only recently, BEHRINGER took this decision almost at its beginnings and embedded it strongly into its "in-house" philosophy. By this we mean a powerful integration of the whole value creation chain resulting in tangible advantages for our customers. EUROTEC and Behringer City represent the culmination of this approach. Our global R&D, for instance, shares IT resources, working together according to the "follow the sun" principle and enabling what we call "design-to-cost". Their proximity to production at EUROTEC will now let us further accelerate time-to-market and ultimately deliver innovative products with excellent value-for-money ratio, ahead of our competitors. Another example of the benefits of integration at EUROTEC is the fact that we can best implement Total Quality Management (TQM) there, because we have a stable and committed workforce, which we employ directly and train long-term. Superior manufacturing quality, in turn, is the enabler for our industry-first global warranty scheme -- "New for old" -- which we launched in January. With this program, we replace defective gear within warranty with new products on the spot at participating dealers and thereby provide users with unprecedented service" commented Mr. Deeb on the significance of BEHRINGER City within the Company's strategy.
"The BEHRINGER brand stands for quality gear at a competitive price point. BEHRINGER City is key to ensure we keep delivering on our promise to the global markets and hence builds a strong foundation for our future success." concluded the Chairman of the Group, Mr. Uli Behringer.


text:
Jam, Jelly and Marmalade: 10 Desserts to Make with Fruit Preserves
Got a jar (or a surplus!) of jam, jelly, or marmalade in your pantry or fridge? Turn it into dessert with one of these recipes for fruit-filled cookies, cakes, and tarts.
• 1 Peanut Butter & Jelly Icebox Cookies - Because the only thing better than a peanut butter and jelly sandwich is a peanut butter and jelly cookie
• 2 Cashew Meringues & Jam - A fabulous, gluten-free treat for any occasion
• 3 Sticky Orange Cake with Marmalade Glaze - A vegan cake fragrant with citrus and sticky with a luscious glaze
• 4 Hazelnut Rosemary Jam Cookies - Not overly sweet, easy to make, and perfect with a cup of tea
• 5 Victoria Sponge Cake - A British classic filled with jam, fresh fruit, and cream
• 6 Shortbread Jam Tart - So delicious, simple, and easy for spring
• 7 Tofu and Strawberry Tart - A light and healthy tart with tofu, yogurt, and strawberry jam
• 8 Italian Jam Crostata - A simple dessert from the Puglia region
• 9 Bakewell Tart - A scrumptious, jammy treat
• 10 How To Flavor a Cake with Jam Syrup - Turn a plain yellow or chocolate cake into something special
What are your favorite sweet treats with jam, jelly, and marmalade?
Related: Beyond Toast: More Ways To Use Marmalade
(Images: See linked recipes for full image credits)


text:
No industry has inflicted more suffering than the Motivational Industry. Motivational books, speakers and posters have made billions of dollars selling shortcuts to success and tools for unleashing our unlimited potential. At Despair, we know such products only raise hopes to dash them. That's why our products go straight to the dashing! Enjoy!
Valentine's candy for the rest of us
Invented here. Perfected here.
Lose Your Own Adventure® #1
Pick your start month and designs!
Clothes make the man. These make him sad.
This glass is half-empty. Deal with it.
The Art of Demotivation.
Sick of motivational billboards? So are we.
Demotivators, Despair, The Pessimist's Mug, Lose Your Own Adventures and the Frowny Logo are registered trademarks of Despair, Inc. Yes, we're serious.


text:
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With the extensive media coverage following its launch, a large number of businesses, education establishments and government agencies with a stake in the UK online market should be aware of PAS 78 - Guide to Good Practice in Commissioning Accessible Websites. Partly due to the cost associated with this document, though, they may not have actually read through it…which is probably what the PR office of BrowseAloud are counting on - otherwise it would be blatantly obvious to any reader that this little news item on the BrowseAloud site, issued two weeks after the official launch of the PAS, is somewhat stretching the truth:
Texthelp is recommended in PAS 78 for their text-to-speech software product Browsealoud, that addresses those with Cognitive & Learning Difficulties.
Now, try as I might I cannot find any particular endorsement or recommendation of their product in the PAS - and rightly so, as it's meant to be a fairly neutral, non-vendor specific document. There is only one passing mention of Texthelp (developers of BrowseAloud) in Annex A (informative)- Suggested user profiles under the Cognitive and learning section (page 36):
Users with medium dyslexia, eg users who might change site colours and text formatting, and who in many cases might supplement this with text to speech software for reading sections of text (such as TextHelp).
So, is this going to be the new trend for marketing accessibility products and services in the UK for the coming years? Boosting one's credibility by making references to the PAS, even going as far as claiming a recommendation? Well, I guess it's a bit more respectable than planting fake users such as Dyslexic Duncan on forums to extoll the virtues of your product…
Incidentally, on both occasions I've contacted BrowseAloud for an official response…but to no avail.
And while we're on the topic, a word of advice to web design agencies: you can stop amending your lists of services to include "websites that are PAS 78 compliant". The PAS is not a new set of accessibility guidelines. It's a document aimed at people who commission websites. It's completely nonsensical for a company that develops websites to claim that their products and services comply with the PAS. At a pinch, you could say that your development processes are in line with some of the recommendations of the PAS, particularly the user testing aspects. But even that is really stretching it, in my not so humble opinion. Stick with claiming WCAG compliance. Heck, the PAS itself has the following to say about companies claiming to create sites that are "DDA-compliant":
9.1.1 It is not possible to provide a definitive specification for a fully accessible website which will satisfy the requirements of the DDA. Website commissioners should therefore be sceptical if contracting companies declare that they will create websites that are "DDA-compliant" or "compliant with the law". Conversely, website commissioners should not require a web designer to design a website that is "DDA-compliant" or "compliant with the law". Until case law has been established such claims cannot be made or honoured.
If that is the general advice given with regards to companies claiming "DDA-compliance", I'd imagine that site commissioners should be even more skeptical of companies claiming "PAS 78 compliance".


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Trial Date Set for Woman Accused of Murdering Husband in Glacier National Park
A trial date of December 9 has been set for Jordan Linn Graham who has pled not guilty to charges of murder and presenting a false statement to authorities. The new date is earlier than many had expected.
The trial date was set during a pre-trial hearing today, October 15 at U.S. District Court in Missoula by judge Jeremiah Lynch.
Graham has been awaiting the trial while under house arrest in Kalispell. Prosecutors say Graham pushed her newlywed husband Cody Johnson off a cliff in Glacier National Park on July 7, 2013.
The official criminal complaint submitted by FBI agent Steven Liss claims that Graham has already confessed not only to lying, but to having "pushed Johnson with both hands in the back" while standing atop a cliff on Glacier's Loop Trail. The official complaint also highlights that the push was "due to her anger."
The December trial date is two months earlier than the February date expected from a set of preliminary discussions released earlier this week. Those discussions also reveal that the prosecution plans to call "up to 60 witnesses at trial over a two week period."


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Recently we have had two blog posts about Google+: 4 things to know about Google+, and Google+ brand pages: Why SEO is dead.
Now, let's talk about Google+ Ripples, the first set of metrics from Google about Google+. It's not enough, of course, but still worth parsing for its hints at what is to come from Google, and offers users relevant information about the use of circles, Google+ influence, and how data is spread.
Via Martin Gysler


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An action title based on the Olsen twin's spectacular action-adventure-comedy cartoon show featuring two danger-seeking, fashion-conscious twins, this game was to be one of the last games in the blockbuster mary-kateandashley franchise, but was cancelled in production before its Fall 2003 release.
Also known as: Mary-Kate & Ashley in ACTION!
Release Region: United States
Release Date: Canceled
Publisher: Acclaim Entertainment
Mary-Kate and Ashley i... at IGN
Mary-Kate and Ashley i... at GameSpy
Mary-Kate and Ashley i... at GameStats


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Proprietary insights from the enhanced ESG Dashboard allow equity and credit investment teams at Hermes Fund Managers to better gauge companies' exposures to sustainability factors. For clients, this provides a comprehensive risk control.
ESG portal: The dashboard, originally launched in 2011, combines proprietary research and external data feeds to give Hermes' boutiques immediate insights into the exposure of stocks to environmental, social and governance (ESG) risks. It was developed by Hermes Quantitative Equities with input from Hermes Equity Ownership Services (HEOS).
"The dashboard fuses the ESG expertise of HEOS with the analytical rigour of Hermes Quantitative Equities to help provide a more complete and clear picture of the risks influencing stock returns," says Leon Kamhi, executive director at HEOS.
Above is an example of a typical ESG Dashboard report for illustration purposes only.
Proprietary ranking: The QESG Score, a new feature on the dashboard, is a headline rating of a company's performance on ESG measures. It acknowledges current success in mitigating ESG risks and observed changes in a company's practices.
Red signal: In 2012, the Hermes Quantitative Equities team identified Wal-Mart as a stock with an attractive risk and return profile. However, newsflow about the company and risks flagged by the dashboard indicated that Wal-Mart was exposed to significant ESG risk. In addition, company management was not responding positively to HEOS' engagement on separating the roles of its CEO and chair, risk management and labour policies amid news reports of corruption within the retailer's Mexican business and exploitation of teen workers.
Green signal: CVS Caremark, a health care retailer, was identified as an alternative. It showed similar performance characteristics and less ESG risk through engagement with HEOS. Hermes Quantitative Equities bought the stock on July 17. The stock gained 20.1% against Wal-Mart's 6.3% rise by April 30. In pursuit of long-term returns, Hermes will monitor the financial and ESG performance of CVS to determine whether its short-term rise is likely to endure and analyse Wal-Mart for signs of improvement.
"Detecting governance and social risks in Wal-Mart led us to find an alternative stock in CVS that exhibited similar financial characteristics but did not have the same level of ESG risk," says Geir Lode, Head of Hermes Quantitative Equities.
Internal ESG expertise: HEOS' votes on behalf of shareholders, company-specific research and engagement progress feature on the dashboard. Ratings from its "Controversial Company Report", which covers more than 300 companies, are also shown. HEOS represents approximately $150bn of institutional investors' assets in proxy votes, policy submissions and discussions aiming to improve sustainability practices at companies.
External input: Data feeds from Sustainalytics, Trucost, Bloomberg and FactSet determine if approximately 4300 companies are rising or falling against industry-specific ESG standards.
Watch out: Environmental risks include greenhouse gas emissions, air pollution, waste and use of land and water resources. Social risks cover business ethics, policies for health and safety, human and labour rights, and levels of fatalities. Governance risks focus on the independence of company directors, separation of chair and CEO roles, gender equality on corporate boards, whether "say on pay" is offered and pay schemes are aligned with investors' objectives.
Source: Hermes, Bloomberg, Trucost, Sustainalytics, Factset.
The views and opinions contained herein are those of Hermes Quantitative Equities and Hermes Equity Ownership Services, and may not necessarily represent views expressed or reflected in other Hermes communications, strategies or products.
ESG risk core to new Hermes quant fund
Growth stocks buck flight-to-quality trend
Press contacts
Jeannie Dumas
Head of Corporate Communications & Shareholder Relations email@example.com +44 (0)20 7680 2152 +44 (0)7841 324061
Melanie Bradley
Head of Investment & Stewardship Communications email@example.com +44 (0)20 7680 2218 + 44 (0)7767 162 317
Rachael Dowers
Assistant Manager, Corporate Communications firstname.lastname@example.com + 44 (0)20 7680 4698


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full size
Product Details
Sweet soiree-ready d'orsay heels in glittery leather are the perfect antidote to basic-pump blahs—and they look amazing with everything from slim tuxedo pants to cocktail dresses. Crafted in Italy (where the best shoes are made), they're finished with a round toe and a chic ankle strap for an unexpected touch of playfulness.
Size & Fit Details


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Learned birdsong is a widely used animal model for understanding the acquisition of human speech. Male songbirds often learn songs from adult males during sensitive periods early in life, and sing to attract mates and defend territories. In presumably all of the 350+ parrot species, individuals of both sexes commonly learn vocal signals throughout life to satisfy a wide variety of social functions. Despite intriguing parallels with humans, there have been no experimental studies demonstrating learned vocal production in wild parrots. We studied contact call learning in video-rigged nests of a well-known marked population of green-rumped parrotlets (Forpus passerinus) in Venezuela. Both sexes of naive nestlings developed individually unique contact calls in the nest, and we demonstrate experimentally that signature attributes are learned from both primary care-givers. This represents the first experimental evidence for the mechanisms underlying the transmission of a socially acquired trait in a wild parrot population.
1. Introduction
Parrots are celebrated vocal linguists in captivity [1], but how this ability functions in the wild remains unclear [2,3]. All wild parrots studied to date show evidence of signature contact calls that help individuals to distinguish neighbours [4], sexes [5], mates [6,7] and population members [4,8,9]. Playback experiments in several species have shown rapid modification of signature calls during adult vocal interactions [4,10,11], implying that the ability to instantaneously imitate conspecific calls may play a role in fission–fusion negotiations of wild flocks. At the population level, yellow-naped amazons (Amazona auropalliata) maintain geographical dialects in contact calls, despite clear evidence for gene flow across dialect boundaries [8,12]. This strongly suggests social learning of population-specific contact calls as individuals migrate from one dialect area to another. It also implies that locally hatched juveniles must have a mechanism for acquiring population-specific contact calls. However, nestling vocal ontogeny has never been studied in wild parrots.
Recent work in captive colonies of spectacled parrotlets (Forpus conspicillatus) showed that adults have signature contact calls used in individual recognition [13]. Playback experiments also suggested that vocal signatures are assigned to family members [14]. If true, this would be an intriguing parallel with humans, in which vocal development is often contemporaneous with parents naming infants. However, one alternative that might appear to be vocal labelling would occur if juveniles acquired their own signature calls independently of parents and siblings, and family members later emulated these calls to solicit attention of a focal individual. Another alternative that might also give the appearance of vocal labelling is if parents provide a variety of signature templates to offspring and, as a result, facilitate individual acquisition of a particular signature call, but without directed labelling.
To discriminate between these alternatives in a wild parrot population, we studied contact calls given by adult and experimentally fostered nestling green-rumped parrotlets (F. passerinus) in Venezuela. To control for parents mimicking independently derived nestling contact calls, we compared contact calls given by parents early in brood development with the contact calls of nestlings that emerged later in ontogeny. Our results represent the first field data to identify the factors involved in the vertical transmission of a socially acquired trait in free-ranging parrots.
2. Material and methods
(a) Nesting and cross-fostering
The social system of green-rumped parrotlets has been studied since 1988 at Hato Masaguaral (8°31′ N, 67°35′ W), state of Guarico, Venezuela [7,15,16]. The habitat consists of tropical savannah, gallery forest and pastures where parrotlets commonly breed in 106 polyvinyl chloride tubes (1 m length, 0.1 m diameter) lined with hardware cloth. We randomly selected 17 nests of 34 colour-banded adults between June and December in 2007 and 2008. Based on pedigree analysis from 1988 onwards, average relatedness coefficients of all breeding adults studied were 0.000 and 0.003 in 2007 and 2008, respectively (n = 6692 individuals) [17]. Twelve nests were selected for cross-fostering; pedigrees were used to assure that reciprocating adults were not closely related. Three of these nests failed before any young fledged and were excluded from analysis. Parrotlets in this population have low extra-pair paternity (less than 5%) [18] and we assumed that on average fathers were significantly more genetically related to individuals in their nest than to nestlings at other nests. Donor/recipient nests were on average 304 m from each other and out of earshot (±s.d. = 189 m, range = 166 m), and had similar first egg dates (average difference = 1 day) and clutch sizes (average difference = 1 egg). When clutch sizes differed among donor/recipient nests, we added wax-filled parrotlet egg(s) from other nests to make them equal after the exchange took place. Exchanges took less than 10 min to perform. Eight additional nests served as controls; we similarly removed eggs, but returned them without swapping with eggs at other nests. Laying and hatching dates were estimated from nest checks conducted at 3-day intervals. Eggs and nestlings were marked with non-toxic felt-tip markers. We sexed nestlings by plumage differences, weighed them and measured their wing-chords, and banded them prior to fledging.
(b) Audio–video recording
We made weekly recordings at the nine experimental and eight control nests throughout nestling development. A few days before recordings began, we mounted a video camera (black and white CCD 22 mm, Supercircuits, TX, USA, or a colour DCR-DVD610 camcorder, Sony, Japan) inside the nest cavity. In the same housing, a SM57 directional microphone (Shure, Niles, IL) was mounted and pointed directly at the nest. Parents went about their normal feeding regime within a few hours and there were no cases of abandonment that could be attributed to the AV equipment placed inside nest tubes. Outside the nest, we filmed with a zoom colour 3CCD camcorder (Gl2, Canon, NY, USA) to videotape the parents' arrivals and departures from the nest, and a directional microphone (Sennheiser MKH816, Wedemark, Germany) recorded parents' calls outside the nest. Video streams from both cameras were sent to a video multiplexer (4CQ Everplex, Everfocus, Taipei, Taiwan) and the multiplexed video stream then fed into a Hi8 video camcorder (Sony GVA500). Both microphone feeds were pre-amplified (Mix-Pre, Sound Devices, Reedsburg, WI, USA) and fed into the same Hi8 camcorder using the left and right stereo channels. Standard recording mode was used to record on a Sony HMP HI8 120 or on a Fuji MP HI8 120 cassette tape. Tapes were digitized the same day using an analogue-to-digital converter (ADVC110 Canopus, Grass Valley, Nevada City, CA, USA) and captured on a Macbook laptop computer using Final Cut Pro [19], set for 16 bit, 48 kHz audio and 30 frames per second video sampling rates. Audio and video were saved as MOV files. Sound Track Pro [20] was used to identify particular video sequences (while perusing spectrograms) in which a target individual vocalized (as evidenced by bill movements), at which point relevant portions of audio were extracted and archived as WAVE files for spectrographic analysis. The two microphones were more than 5 m apart, so signal arrival times at each microphone were used to determine the source of vocalizations when two individuals vocalized simultaneously, but were different distances from each microphone. To standardize spectrographic quality, we restricted analysis to recordings made with the SM57.
(c) Call selection
Adult calls that we analysed were produced before nestlings began making contact calls, and nestling calls were recorded after their body size reached an asymptote [15]. To control for the likelihood that adults may emulate nestling contact calls, we restricted analysis to calls recorded from adults during the first three weeks of nestling development (mean ± s.d. of age of first hatchling = 13 ± 4.6 day, max. age = 21 day), just prior to the time when nestlings begin to produce contact calls. Contact calls were recorded from nestlings beyond 22 days of age (mean age = 29 ± 2.3 s.d.). A total of 4989 calls were analysed (mean = 175 calls per adult pair ± 75 s.d.; mean = 118 calls per brood ± 63 s.d.; see electronic supplementary material, table S1).
(d) Spectrographic analysis
Similarities between adults and nestlings were quantified with spectrographic cross-correlation and principal coordintates (SPCC–PCO) using a custom program [21,22] in Matlab [23]. Spectrograms were generated using 514-sample fast Fourier transforms (FFT), a Hann sampling window with 50 per cent overlap, and a broadband de-noising algorithm [22]. Spectrograms were band-pass limited to a 0.75–12.5 kHz frequency range for analysis. Some nestlings in 2007 were studied as breeding adults in 2008, and thus data collected across years were not strictly independent, so we analysed spectrograms for each year separately. We cross-correlated all pair-wise combinations of calls within each year, resulting in two matrices containing 3.0 million and 3.2 million unique cross-correlation values for 2007 and 2008, respectively. For illustrative purposes, we produced spectrograms in Syrinx [24] with a 256 FFT and a Hann sampling window.
(e) Statistical analysis
We used PCO analysis on the correlation matrices to extract a series of orthogonal latent variables of the calls (the PCOs) [21,22]. These latent variables described the major axes of variation and were often correlated with traditional spectrographic measurements (e.g. dominant frequency). However, the PCOs have the added advantage of systematically quantifying similarities in the most important dimensions of variability, and their orthogonal nature satisfies independence assumptions in statistical hypothesis testing. Eigenvalues of the first 10 PCOs explained 87 to 88 per cent of the variation, were all greater than 1 and were entered into the model after a forward, stepwise MANOVA (all p < 0.001). We used discriminant canonical analysis [25] to determine the combinations of the most salient PCOs for distinguishing calls among social groups (i.e. adults and either biological offspring or cross-fostered nestlings). This method outputs a similarity score for each call (the canonicals). Mean canonical scores were then calculated for each adult, and mates were compared with least-squares regression, which was also used to compare means of nestlings with randomly selected siblings. Mean canonical scores for each breeding pair of adults were paired with the mean of the group of nestlings that they raised. We used general linear models in SAS [26] to test for an effect of the adults' mean canonical scores on the mean canonical scores of the nestlings they raised. We controlled statistically for whether these comparisons included adults and cross-fostered nestlings or parents and biological offspring by including a covariate interaction term (adult canonical×experiment) in the model. The process was repeated for means of individual adults on means of female nestlings; a female-biased nestling sex ratio (0.8) resulted in too few male nestlings to include in statistical comparisons with individual adults. Statistical significance was accepted at α = 0.05.
3. Results
Each adult had its own unique contact call that was more similar to its mate than to adults at other nests (figure 1a,b). Thus, pair members had calls with significantly similar spectral attributes. Nestlings had contact calls that were more similar to their siblings than to nestlings at other nests (figure 1c,d), but this was significant only in 2007. Thus, although more variable than adults, siblings tended to show convergence in contact call structure. These results justified separately pooling adults and siblings at each nest and comparing group means across nests.
Calls of adults were more similar to the nestlings they raised than to nestlings at other nests, while controlling statistically for cross-fostering (table 1, figure 2a,b). The interaction of control and cross-fostered groups was weak and non-significant, suggesting that the similarities were not significantly affected by the parents raising cross-fostered nestlings. Adult male calls were more similar to the calls of female nestlings in their nest than to the calls of female nestlings at other nests, but the relationship was only significant in 2007 (table 1, figure 2c). Adult female calls were more similar to females in their nest than to female nestlings at other nests, but the relationship was only significant in 2007 (table 1, figure 2d). Spectrograms of individuals in cross-fostered and control nests are provided in figure 3.
4. Discussion
Our results provide the first experimental evidence for learned vocal production by naive parrots in nature. Nestling contact calls were more similar to the contact calls of their primary care-givers than to adults at other nests, despite half of the nestlings being raised by foster parents. The weak and non-significant interaction of experimental groups (table 1) indicated that the similarities between adults and nestlings were not significantly affected by the adults raising unrelated nestlings. Adult contact calls were recorded before nestlings began to produce their own contact calls, eliminating adult emulation of nestling contact calls as the source of convergence. The combination of results provides strong evidence that the structure of contact calls of both sexes of nestlings is influenced by prior experience with contact-call examples provided by both primary care-givers.
A major distinction between social learning and biological inheritance is the mode of transmission, which in the latter case is vertical [27]. Our study indicates that the structure of parrotlet contact calls is first influenced vertically via social learning. This is facilitated by the nestlings' nutritional dependence on their parents and the vocal exchanges that mediate feeding. However, unlike biological traits, socially acquired traits can also be transmitted horizontally. Our cross-fostering permitted the rearing of nestlings by genetically unrelated adults, but because we transferred entire clutches this method did not alter the genetic relationships within sibling groups. Given the staggered ages of siblings within a brood [15,28], we cannot discount the possibility that calls of older nestlings influenced those of younger siblings independently of adults. To be compatible with our results, however, it must then be the case that at least older nestlings had calls that were directly influenced by those of their primary care-givers, and that similarities between younger siblings and adult calls were due to both direct and indirect effects.
The cognitive processes that underlie avian call learning have received less attention than those associated with song learning [29]. As a result, research on songbirds has often focused on the post-nestling period, when song first emerges. Our results provide one of the clearest examples of learned vocal production in nestlings of wild birds [30,31] and are consistent with results of learning experiments in nestling budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus) in captivity [32,33]. In the smaller zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata), nestlings fledge weeks earlier than in the two parrots [15,32–34], but all three species show signs of learned vocal production beginning at 3–4 weeks after hatching (this study and [32–36]). This suggests that the time required to establish the neural connections needed for vocal learning is highly conserved [36–38] (see also [39]). Thus, the occurrence of vocal learning during an earlier life-history stage in our study is probably related to the elongated nestling period in parrots [15,38,40,41]. Because different life-history stages are vulnerable to independent sources of selection on learning programmes [42], this may favour parrot nestlings emulating their parents. Whereas the acquisition of song will probably not yield direct benefits before the following breeding season in most nestling songbirds, learning family and individual-level signature calls may be imminently advantageous for nestling parrots because fledging is highly asynchronous, and parents coordinate far-ranging family movements to communal foraging and roosting sites, where unrelated fledglings and predators complicate subsequent parental care.
Extended parental care represents a pivotal point in avian and primate life-history evolution. It allowed for greater brain growth after hatching in parrots [38,41] and greater brain growth post-partum in humans [38,43]. The development of language is often invoked as an explanation for the increase in humans, but how and when language emerges during development is still the subject of debate [43,44]. One developmental milestone is when infants begin to relate adult sound patterns to specific meanings [44,45]. This involves the process of recognizing frequently used sounds in communication channels that somehow engage an infant's attention. Among these sounds, an individual's own name is one of the earliest adult words for which infants show evidence of acoustic pattern recognition [45]. Our study suggests that at least a moderately convergent process may occur in parrots, and that parental provisioning and offspring acquisition of vocal signatures primes juveniles for socialization in a wild parrot population.
Research protocols were approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee of Cornell University (no. 07-0124) and the Ministerio del Poder Popular para el Ambiente in Venezuela (no. 3437).
K.S.B. was supported by the National Science Foundation grant OISE-0825675, Andrew and Margaret Paul Fellowship, Charles Walcott Fellowship, Animal Behaviour Society, Cornell's Graduate School and Latin American Study Program. S.R.B. was supported by NSF IBN-0113173. J.W.B. was supported by NSF IBN-02-29 271. Shure Microphone Corporation donated microphones. S. Vehrencamp, E. Adkins-Regan and I. Lovette served as a supervisory committee. C. Blohm and the late T. Blohm provided hospitality and access to wild parrotlet populations; V. Sanz D'Angelo provided mentoring in Venezuela; J. G. Acosta provided logistical assistance; E. Sylva, R. Okawa, N. Sly, A. Medina, M. Halley, A. Charpentier, R. Ordoñez and J. Hernandez provided field assistance; and C. Masco, L. Hou, C. Benton, N. Lavin, N. Mercer, S. Iaocovelli and T. Chatterjee helped with video analysis. B. Finlay and W. Hochachka reviewed earlier drafts.
- Received May 4, 2011.
- Accepted June 16, 2011.
- This Journal is © 2011 The Royal Society


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Xarelto Lawyer in Elmaton, TX – 77440
If you or a loved one have experienced serious medical complications related to the use of the drug Xarelto and would like more information about a Xarelto Lawyer in Texas please Call 1 (855) 473-1559 – The Call is Toll Free
Xarelto Lawyer Elmaton, TX
The blood thinning medication Xarelto – released by Bayer AG and Johnson & Johnson's Janssen Pharmaceuticals – may be connected to negative side effects in some patients taking the drug.
These consist of internal bleeding, stroke, hemorrhaging and other severe complications. A number of thousand suits have actually been submitted in federal and state courts due to these complications – which have actually sometimes led to the death of the patient.
If you feel you or a loved one has actually suffered as a result of utilizing Xarelto, you may be entitled to compensation. The primary step is to call a Texas Xarelto Attorney and discuss your case.
To learn more about Xarelto Lawyers in Elmaton, Texas please call 1 (855) 473-1559 Toll Free.
The popular blood thinning medication prescribed by your medical professional may have led to thousands of cases of severe adverse effects– a few of which may have led to deaths of patients.
These negative effects may have actually resulted in lots of problems for clients and their households – mounting medical bills, emotional suffering and possibly much worse.
You and your physician did not know this would occur. Bayer and Johnson & Johnson, according to several lawsuits, might have not adequately cautioned the public about the potential serious side effects of the drug.
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Talk to a Xarelto Claim professional today to discuss your potential case and possible legal choices & rights. It's totally free, easy, and entirely private. A five-minute call might help you and your family move on as a result of this trying experience.
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Cases involving large corporations, dangerous drugs and many different plaintiffs are complex. Selecting who represents you in mass tort cases like these is an important decision you should not ignore.
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Xarelto Lawyers in other Elmaton areas:


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Let's have FUN – Corporate luck and Motivations
Energetic and young. Have fun =)
progress, brass, guitar, fender, modern rock, pop, youth, beauty, rhythmic, overdrive guitars, energetic, powerful, strong, rock and roll, corporate, moody, emotional, happy, friend, friendship, bright, sun, good luck, fun, shine, melodic, drums, electronic, back vocals, brass section.
Best for background music, presentation, flash, video projects, web page music and personal ipod or cd.
HQ WAV and MP3 provided in download archive.
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Like it – grab it! =) Fishki – funny everyday


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25 U.S. Code § 1402 - Plan for use or distribution of funds
Within one year after appropriation of funds to pay a judgment of the Indian Claims Commission or the United States Court of Federal Claims to any Indian tribe, the Secretary of the Interior shall prepare and submit to Congress a plan for the use and distribution of the funds. Such plan shall include identification of the present-day beneficiaries, a formula for the division of the funds among two or more beneficiary entities if such is warranted, and a proposal for the use and distribution of the funds. The Secretary shall simultaneously submit a copy of such plan to each affected tribe or group.
With respect to judgments, for which funds have been appropriated prior to January 12, 1983, but for which use or distribution has not been authorized by enactment of legislation or by an effective plan under this chapter, the Secretary shall prepare and submit such plans within one year of January 12, 1983.
In any case where the Secretary determines that the circumstances do not permit the preparation and submission of a plan as provided in this chapter, he shall submit to the Congress within the one-year period proposed legislation to authorize use or distribution of such funds, together with a report thereon.
In cases where the Secretary has to submit a plan dividing judgment funds between two or more beneficiary entities, he shall obtain the consent of the tribal governments involved to the proposed division. If the Secretary cannot obtain such consent within one hundred and eighty days after appropriation of the funds for the award or within one hundred and eighty days of January 12, 1983, he shall submit proposed legislation to the Congress as provided in subsection (c).
An extension of the one-year period, not to exceed one hundred and eighty days, may be requested by the Secretary or by the affected Indian tribe, submitting such request to the committees through the Secretary, and any such request will be subject to the approval of both the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs and the United States House of Representatives Committee on Natural Resources.
The Indian Claims Commission, referred to in subsec. (a), terminated Sept. 30, 1978. See Codification note set out under former section 70 et seq. of this title.
In subsec. (a), "United States Claims Court" [now United States Court of Federal Claims] substituted for "Court of Claims" pursuant to section 160(a)(1) of Pub. L. 97–164, as the probable intent of Congress, notwithstanding later amendment by section 1 of Pub. L. 97–458, which made reference to Court of Claims.
1994—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 103–437 substituted "Committee on Indian" for "Select Committee on Indian" and "Natural Resources" for "Interior and Insular Affairs".
1992—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 102–572 substituted "United States Court of Federal Claims" for "United States Claims Court".
1983—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 97–458 substituted "one year" for "one hundred and eighty days"; inserted provision for contents of the plan; inserted provision for submission of copy of the plan to each affected tribe or group, incorporating part of former subsec. (c); struck out proviso prescribing Oct. 19, 1973, as the commencing date with respect to judgments for which funds were appropriated and for which legislation authorizing use or distribution was not enacted prior to Oct. 19, 1973; and struck out second sentence respecting submission of proposed legislation and report to Congress, incorporated in subsec. (c). See Codification note above.
Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 97–458 added subsec. (b). Former subsec. (b) redesignated (e).
Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 97–458 redesignated second sentence of subsec. (a) as subsec. (c) and substituted "he shall submit to the Congress within the one-year period proposed legislation to authorize use or distribution of such funds, together with a report thereon" for "he shall submit, within such one hundred and eighty-day period, proposed legislation as provided in section 1405(b) of this title". Former subsec. (c) respecting notification of affected Indian tribe on the date of submission of the plan covered in part in subsec. (a) as to provision for a copy of the plan.
Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 97–458 added subsec. (d).
Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 97–458 redesignated subsec. (b) as (e); increased time allowed for submission of plans to one year from a one hundred and eighty-day period and additional time allowed for such submissions to one hundred and eighty from ninety days; and substituted the Senate Select Committee on Indian Affairs for the Senate Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs as the Senate committee approving any extensions.
1982—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 97–164 substituted "United States Claims Court" for "Court of Claims". See Codification note above.
Amendment by Pub. L. 102–572 effective Oct. 29, 1992, see section 911 of Pub. L. 102–572, set out as a note under section 171 of Title 28, Judiciary and Judicial Procedure.
Amendment by Pub. L. 97–164 effective Oct. 1, 1982, see section 402 of Pub. L. 97–164, set out as a note under section 171 of Title 28, Judiciary and Judicial Procedure.
LII has no control over and does not endorse any external Internet site that contains links to or references LII.


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Tough Love: Running a Greek Company
Innovative Cost Cuts Can't Overcome Shortage of Bank Financing and Wariness of Foreign Investors
ATHENS—When Titan Cement Co. Chief Executive Dimitris Papalexopoulos found out how much a backup generator for the company's kilns would cost last year, he told his staff to think creatively.
Titan's engineers responded by converting a car engine into a generator.
"We've spent the last two years now adapting to a very brutal cycle,"...


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TEACH Grant
Teaching Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant program provides grants up to $4,000 per academic year with an undergraduate maximum of $16,000 and a graduate maximum of $8,000 to students who intend to teach a high-need field in a public or private elementary or secondary school that serves students from low-income families.
As a recipient of a TEACH Grant, you must teach for at least four academic years within eight calendar years of completing the program of study for which you received a TEACH Grant. Failure to complete this service obligation will result in all amounts of TEACH Grants that you received converting to a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan. You must then repay this loan to the U.S. Department of Education. You will be charged interest from the date the grant(s) was disbursed.
Specific details and eligibility information is available in the Student Service Center.
Institutional Grants
Ursuline Endowed Funds
There are a limited amount of Ursuline College endowed scholarships available to some of our graduate programs. These endowed scholarships are based on need and various other criteria. Students must complete the FAFSA application and meet the criteria of the donor to be awarded these funds. There is no separate application.


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Dover, Del.
Firefly Music Festival
The first large-scale music festival in Dover history, Firefly's inaugural lineup has something for everyone. The three-day, 47-band event extends across a variety of genres, including alternative rock, bluegrass and R&B. A solid list of heavy-hitting rock headliners includes alternative bands the Killers and the Black Keys, as well as Jack White, who will share a stage with R&B superstar John Legend and electronic performers Bassnectar and Passion Pit. Attractions include an air-conditioned brewery, wine garden and hot-air balloon rides.
The festival is Friday-Sunday, July 20-22, at the Woodlands of Dover...


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Obituary: Peter James Wilcoxson
Peter James Wilcoxson, 51, of Higbee, MO, passed away Friday, January 4, 2013.
Peter was born to the late James Andrew Wilcoxson and Gloria (Cox) Wilcoxson on February 23, 1961.
Peter worked for Boone Construction as an equipment operator for 21 years. He was a kind, caring, good hearted man who loved his family and was a great Papa. He was also a carpenter and took pride in the work he did.
He is survived by his mother, Gloria Wilcoxson of Harrisburg, MO; daughter, Kristen Wilcoxson of Fulton, MO; step-son, Thomas Joe Wilcoxson and wife Jody of Fulton; grandson, Jaice James Schmidt; brothers, David Will and wife Nelda of Springfield, MO, and Matthew Wilcoxson and wife Tammy of Higbee, MO; sister, Sherry Parks and husband Glen of Moberly, MO; nieces, Kayla Wilcoxson, Heather Dorlac, and Jessica Dale; nephews, Michael Will, Jeff Major, Cody Gunier, and Chris Parks.
A visitation for Peter will take place on Tuesday, January 8, 2013, from 3:00-5:00 p.m., at the Million-Taylor Funeral Home of Higbee. Funeral service will take place at 5:00 p.m. In keeping with Peter's wishes, cremation will follow funeral services.
In lieu of customary remembrances, the family asks that memorial donations be made to a college fund for Jaice Schmidt.
Words of comfort may be shared with the family at www.milliontaylor.com.


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Fall 2018 and Spring 2019 office Hours:
The Center for Health and Wellness office is open Monday to Thursday 8:30 am to 10:00 pm, Friday 8:30 am to 7:00 pm, Saturday and Sunday 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm, excluding holidays.
Office closed (Thanksgiving) Thursday November 22nd, Friday November 23rd, Saturday November 24th and Sunday November 25th.
To schedule an appointment call 718-390-3158 or email email@example.com
Our goal is to enhance the health and well being of our students in support of their learning and success.
We provide advocacy, education, communication, and services, as well as promote research based educational programs and culturally competent practices to advance the health and promote the wellness of all students and members of the campus community.
ALL full-time undergraduate students taking 12 or more credit hours (4 units) and ALL full-time graduate students taking 9 or more credit hours are required to provide proof of health insurance annually. We request a copy of the student's health and prescriptive insurance cards to be on file in the Center for Health and Wellness. The Student Health Fee offers all students unlimited use of our professional staff at the Health and Wellness Center. The fee also provides limited access to supplemental health benefits to those who have insurance and limited access to benefits to those that are uninsured, allowing them to utilize health care resources off campus.
All registered Wagner College students (full time or part time) are eligible for care at the Center for Health and Wellness. In addition to first aid for accidents, the Center for Health and Wellness evaluates and treats minor ailments, provides any needed laboratory testing, inhalation therapy, crutches and medications. The office functions as a screening, diagnostic and treatment center but does not maintain an infirmary. Students harboring a communicable disease must report to the Center for Health and Wellness for further instructions; after evaluation, arrangements are made for their care with their parents or guardians.


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Every year at the Wine Blogger's Conference, we partake in Live Wine Blogging. Basically, winemakers move from table to table, telling us about their wine in 5 minutes or less. We get to make a snap judgement and blog about it. It's sort of like speed dating for wine and it's equally as exhausting.
This year the Live Blogging sessions were split into two: Whites & Rosés on Friday and Reds on Saturday. Because we had so little time to learn, ask questions, and type, the notes aren't the best. They should, however, give you a general idea of how we felt about the wine. The reds, in general, were consistently more impressive than the whites.
Wine #1: Desert Wind Ruah, Merlot blend: 46% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Cabernet Franc
Soft and silky with structure throughout. At $20 would go great with Steak or heavier food.Little bit of tartness on the middle.Lighter tannins and acid makes this a drink sooner rather than later. A little too green for Michelle.
Kevin: Michelle:
Wine #2: Duck Pond Red Blend: 52% Merlot, 29% Syrah, 19% Cabernet Sauvignon
Wahluke Slope, Washington (Columbia Valley)
Slightly tannic, ready to drink now and rather fruit forward. ~$15
Our rating:
Wine #3: Mollydooker Velvet Glove, 100% Shiraz single vineyard
Nice and well rounded. Surprisingly, much lower in alcohol than other Mollydooker wines. 2010 Velvet Glove will join the rest of the Mollydooker line with a screwcap. Wine is thick and coats the glass, but the fruit is not as up front as a more traditional californian shiraz. Drinking this ruins your glass for anything else, it's so thick. It's also not an easy wine to get through – better off sipped over a period of time. Coffee and chocolate flavors. $185/bottle
Our rating:
Wine #4: Trio Vintners 2007 Riot Red Table Wine: 52% Sangiovese, 36% Syrah, 12% Mourvedre
Columbia Valley, WA
Light, easy-drinking, pleasant berries. Strong acid and nice overall flavor. Mouvedre smooths out the Sangiovese. Well done Italian blend. Different from others, yet tasty..
Our rating:
Wine #5: Ponzi 2008 Pinot Noir
Willamette Valley, Oregon
Almost a little effervescence and bubbles on initial taste. 11 Mo in French oak. $35 a bottle.Kind of a basic level Pinot. Newly bottled and not the best. Everyone agreed later that there was something wrong with this wine. It shouldn't have been bubbly. From Michelle's perspective, it was definitely too bright and fruity for an Oregon Pinot Noir, lacking earth.
Our review: Review withheld due to the fact we believe it was a bad bottle.
Wine #6: Stoller JV Pinot Noir 2007
Dundee Hills, Oregon
Heavy terroir and earthiness on the nose. Sustainable winery that is an old turkey farm that was transitioned to winery. Burgundy was referenced as a similar area. 10 mo in oak, mostly neutral. This is a great example of what new world grown pinot noir can taste like. Turned earth and subtle cherries all over the palate. $25
Our rating:
Wine #7: Cornerstone Stepping Stone 2008 Napa Valley Cabernet Franc
Tons of tannins and acidity. Acid is flavor, tannins are a feeling. According to Craig, "Acidity is what makes a wine live." This would age well (might even benefit). Very balanced with lots of tannins and acid, but happily lacking in vegetal flavors. $30 bottle. 600 cases.
Our rating:
Wine #8: Sequel by Longshadows 2007 Columbia Valley Syrah (98%syrah with 2% cabernet)
Washington state
We have very few notes on this one – just a rating. It's worth mentioning that we did pick this up at a charity auction (and paid a pretty penny) because the Sequel line has such a great reputation.
Our rating:
Wine #9: Solena Estates 2008 Pinot Noir
Hyland Vineyard, McMinnville, Oregon
Solena Estates was Michelle's big find at the Conference. She fell in love with the consistently earthy pinot noirs they produce. 2008 is set to be best vintage ever from Oregon. Earthy with an acidic finish, but still plenty of fruit up front. Single vineyard designates is primary focus. Volcanic soil. $50
Our rating:
Wine #10: Concannon 2007 Petit Syrah
Livermore Valley, CA
Nice bing cherry and acid on the finish. Big wine – called the "little monster." 12 mo american oak. plus 6 months in large 58 year old large barrels. 4 months since bottled, but still ready to drink. Bottle itself seems to weigh a ton. Vineyard is in a conservancy land trust near the San Francisco Bay. Made us crave steak. $15/bottle
Our rating:
Wine #12: Jordan 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon blend: 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot., 5% Petite Verdot, 1% Malbec
Napa Valley, CA
Decanted. Balanced and not as fruit forward as we first expected. Earthiness is in the mid palate with fruit up front and tart fruit on the finish. $52
Our rating:
Wine Competitions Wine Book Club (WBC) Wine Judging Reviews Readings Whiskey Watch France Games Weblogs Wine Clubs Books RIP Repost WBW #65 Wine Glossary Wine Maps TasteCamp Web/Tech Marketing Uncategorized Legislation Recipes Florida Recession Wine Meet the Winemaker Greatest Hits Drink Pink! (BCRF) Holiday Current Affairs Television Spirits Photos Wine Shop Wednesday Contests Scotch & Whiskey History Disney Wine Tech Food and Wine Pairings Mad Men Monday Guest Writers Pop Culture Food and Drink Wine Blogs Knowledge Entertainment Dinner and Drinks Life Charity Benefits News Beer-Guy.net Special Events Beer WBW Local Wineries Cocktails Wine Shops Restaurants Travel Wineries Wine Notes Wine Events Weekly Cincinnati Wine Events Wine Misc Local Tastings Cincinnati
Krystal Pepper Memorial Scholarship Fund
Raising money for a scholarship fund in memory of Michelle's little sister who passed away in 2007


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"Chwieroth" Surname
Frequency of "Chwieroth" Surname in the US
2000 US Census
The surname "Chwieroth" is not included in the US Census Bureau's ranking of surnames with 100 or more people. Since fewer than 100 people with this surname were included in the 2000 Census, it is relatively uncommon.
Source: "Frequently Occurring Surnames from the Census 2000", US Census Bureau.
1990 US Census
Accoring to the US Census Bureau, "Chwieroth" ranked #86,725 in frequency out of 88,799 surnames for which statistics were released from the 1990 Census.
Source: "Frequently Occurring Surnames from the 1990 Census", US Census Bureau.
"Chwieroth" Graves on Histopolis
Histopolis currently has 0 grave(s) with the surname "Chwieroth".
Resource Links for "Chwieroth"
Do you know of a web page containing information about this surname that would be useful to genealogy or history researchers? Please add it now! (Free registration required)
Surnames that Sound Like "Chwieroth"
The surname "Chwieroth" has a Soundex code of C630. The following 246 surname(s) may sound similar to "Chwieroth" since they share the same Soundex code.


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Eternal Fame - Adidas Memo Game by Himmelspach Publishing
The toughest memo game ever!
Like, comment or show your love and get 5% discount!
Your discount will be applied.
DescriptionThis is probably the most difficult - and coolest - memo game of all times... and THE ultimate collector's item for all sport shoes and sneaker fans!
'Eternal Fame' was developed by Himmelspach Publishing in close cooperation with the Adidas' archives. The 72 game cards exclusively depict the original shoes of legendary boxers, tennis players, soccer players and marathon runners.
Highlights are the tennis shoes worn by Stefanie Graf in 1988, as the first and only to win the Golden Slam; the running shoes worn by the Ethiopian Haile Gebrselassie, the fastest man on earth, the soccer shoes that carried Franz Beckenbauer to the European Championship in 1972 – as well as the original spikes in which Dick Fosbury revolutionized the high jump in 1968. Sports history was written in each and every shoe.
The memo game comes in three editions. Besides the unlimited 'Boxing-Legend' the following two of them are strictly limited to 4.500 games each:
In a special, limited and numbered edition of only 4.500 games, its Eternal Fame cover appears with a picture of the autographed shoe, the German national team of 1954 won the World Championship with; The shoe that brought about the "Wunder von Bern" (Miracle of Bern).
Also in a special, limited and numbered edition of only 4.500 games, the Hip-Hop-Legend cover boasts a picture of RUN DMC's autographed shoe. With "MY ADIDAS", this hip-hop combo created a 1980's anthem making Adidas a classic brand not only in stadiums, but in clubs as well.
The game includes a large-format poster that depicts a complete shoe-overview and renders a compilation of exciting background stories.
Dimension: 22 x 22 x 5 cm
|Himmelspach Publishing & adidas
|Donkey Products
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No review available for this item.
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Dear readers,
I am writing this week from the comfort of my iPhone and bed. Somehow on the way back to Hong Kong, I caught the flu. I am resting now and recovering. It takes 14 days so will just be a hermit for another week or so.
Some things on my mind this week are my upcoming trip to Israel. Major issues in the Jewish world and what we can do to improve it. Lastly, how I need to recover from flu this week so I can make a Junk Trip that I signed up for next Saturday (😄). (google Hong Kong junk trips for more info)
Until next week readers!


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good article, and very worth the read.
i'm wondering if anyone else is noticing slightly fewer stories about creationism. sure, several bills get proposed at the start of each year, but they tend to die in committee without ever reaching the floor for vote. and sure, Marco Rubio said that the age of the earth is a big mystery. but he quickly semi-corrected himself.
as this article points out, revenue is down at Answers in Genesis and at the Creation Museum. also, the Discovery Institute is rarely in the news these days.
maybe we should thank the likes of Republican Congressman Paul Broun (he of the evolution is a lie straight from the pits of hell fame). the majority of moderately religious folk have never heard of people like Ken Hamm. however lots of people have heard of Paul Broun has said b/c he's a politician and people follow these things en masse. it can only hurt the creationist cause when more people see what creationist believers actually believe.
for whatever reason i'm more optimistic today. maybe it's b/c it's Darwin Day. i hope not though.
Views: 100
You don't live in the Midwest, apparently, where Creationism is alive and well.
(A local here is putting together his own Creation Museum.) The highway is littered with religious signs. (I just got the town to the south of us to remove a religious message from its town sign.)
It is just not being reported anymore. When something becomes so common it is an everyday occurrence, it is no longer news.
well no, i don't live in the Midwest, and i'm sure it's just as bad in the south. perhaps i was being too positive in light of it being Darwin's birthday.
Sort of depends on which part of the Midwest you live in. Matthew posted an article about least and most religious states. In the article, there's a link to all of the US States. James, you're from Nebraska, which says 44% are religious, while Illinois comes in at 38% and Michigan at 37%. I live in probably the most religious are of Illinois (southern tip of the State), but it's nowhere as pervasive as it is in say, Mississippi or Alabama. There are the articles in the weekly newspapers about local church attendance, but to be honest, it's more of a gossip piece than anything else. People in my area, anyway, pretty much keep it to themselves.
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Liggins and Hamilton Named to NBADL All-Star Team
One came for reputation rehabilitation, the other to reveal his talent. Two members of the Sioux Falls Skyforce will make their way to the NBA Development League All-Star Game on February 15.
DeAndre Liggins took the D-League route after being cut by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the late summer of 2013. Liggins was chosen by Sioux Falls with the 7th pick in the 2013 NBADL Draft. Along the way the Kentucky guard has filled every need for the Skyforce during the first half of the season with 15.5 points, 7.2 rebounds and 5 assists per game. Liggins also tops the league in steals per game with 2.8 and 41 minutes played per contest which ranks third.
Justin Hamilton was in camp with the Miami Heat after being drafted in the second round of the NBA draft in 2012. The 7-footer played internationally for a season after concluding his career at LSU. With the one-to-one affiliation between Sioux Falls and Miami, Hamilton has continued an upward trend of play since the season began. His current totals include leading the team in scoring with 19.6 points per game (13th in the league), 9.1 rebounds per contest (8th league wide), and 1.9 blocks per contest (also 8th in the league).
Liggins and Hamilton are among twenty of the NBA Development League's top prospects who will play in the eighth annual NBA D-League All-Star Game on Saturday, Feb. 15, at Sprint Arena inside NBA All-Star Jam Session at New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center.


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HILLSDALE � Safe Kids Coalition of Branch-Hillsdale�St. Joseph County, in conjunction with the Jonesville Detachment of the Michigan State Police�s Jackson Post, held a Car Seat Checkup on Saturday at Leutheuser Buick GMC Dealership on West Carleton Road in Hillsdale.
The main focus of the event, held during National Child Passenger Safety Week, Sept. 17-22, was to offer the opportunity to Child Passenger Safety (CPS) technicians to check and install car seats to teach parents and caregivers in Hillsdale, Branch and St. Joseph County the basics of passenger safety for kids.
"Correctly used child safety seats can reduce the risk of death by as much as 71 percent," said Coordinator Mary Proctor of the local, tri-county Safe Kids Coalition. "Engineers are working hard to ensure cars and car seats are designed to keep kids as safe as possible. But it�s up to every parent to take full advantage of these innovations by making sure car seats are used and installed correctly. Safe Kids and the General Motors Foundation are teaming up to show them how."
Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death to children ages 1-13.
Safe Kids Coalition hosts Car Seat Check


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IT Management Slideshow: Ten Ways to Elevate Your Company's Social-Business Profile
By Dennis McCafferty | Posted 09-14-2012
These days, CIOs are required to do more than simply accept social-media and other social apps within their organizations. They must take charge of these efforts to ensure that employees have everything they need to pursue business strategies via social information sharing, collaboration, customer-resolution and other key tasks. These and other conclusions are revealed in a recent report from Forrester, "The Social CIO." In the report, lead author T.J. Keitt examines the rise of social-business adoption and how CIOs can maximize their company's successes here. Among other positive outcomes: More than half of workers using social-business-enabling technologies feel productive during the workday, compared with just 43% who don't use them, according to Forrester. Why? Because social-software users feel they have an easier time finding information they need. Another advantage: Employees using social media for work are considered more likely to serve as promoters of their companies and products. Given this, here are 10 steps to becoming a social-business CIO.
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Eurozone rates unchanged despite deflation fear
FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — The European Central Bank is sizing up the problems facing the 18-country eurozone before it decides whether to cut interest rates to support the anemic recovery, its president said Thursday.
Weak growth and an unexpected drop in inflation have raised concerns that the eurozone might slide into deflation, a sustained drop in prices that can cripple the economy. The eurozone is among the world's biggest economic blocs, and a slide into deflation would crimp global growth.
But the ECB's governing council left its interest rate benchmark unchanged at a record low of 0.25 percent at its meeting Thursday. Some analysts had thought it might cut the rate to 0.1 percent.
In his news conference, Mario Draghi signaled the ECB was in a wait-and-see mode. He repeated the bank's promise to keep rates low "for an extended period" until the economy picks up more speed. And he said that if the economic data worsened, the bank would be ready to act to support a recovery he described as "fragile."
Draghi said the picture of the economy was "complex" and that the ECB was trying to discern whether some poor indicators in recent days are signs of longer-term trouble.
It is not clear, for example, whether a slowdown in growth in emerging markets, where financial markets have been highly volatile in recent weeks, will be enough to cause serious damage to trade partners like the eurozone. Also, the recent drop in inflation — to 0.7 percent, far short of the ECB's target of just below 2 percent — may eventually pick up.
The ECB has "to look through this volatility and see whether it is a temporary phenomenon," he said.
The bank, he said, remained "willing and ready to act" with any of its available measures if it sees inflation falling further, or if credit conditions tighten. A small spike in overnight borrowing costs last month raised concerns among economists, but proved to be transitory.
Officials at the ECB are working on different stimulus steps "so when the time comes to activate we are ready to go."
Draghi said he didn't expect deflation to take hold in Europe because there was no downward price spiral feeding on itself.
Analyst Christian Schulz at Berenberg Bank said that despite Draghi's extensive explanation of why the bank didn't act, "the door to further steps remains wide open, as headline inflation stays weak." Schulz said that next month's meeting "could be crucial" because the bank will have new inflation forecasts that could provide a basis for action.
The euro rose sharply on the ECB's decision to keep rates on hold, jumping over half a cent to $1.3604 by late afternoon Europe time. Higher rates can send a currency up because they offer relatively higher yields for investors.
The benchmark refinancing rate is what the ECB charges banks for loans, and through them influences the cost of credit for everybody else. Cutting the rate in theory makes it easier for people to buy new homes and for businesses to borrow and expand production. However the ECB has cut almost as far as it can.
Other actions on top of that could include offering cheap loans to banks as a way to encourage lending and push down the cost of short-term credit in the market.
It's also theoretically possible for the ECB to buy bonds to pump newly created money into the economy, as the U.S. Federal Reserve, Bank of England and Bank of Japan have done. That step seems less likely. ECB officials have alluded to the complexity of bond purchases given 18 different governments that issue debt.