text:
R21202 Trimbrite Pinstripe Tape 1/4 Inch Solid Stripe
R21202 Trimbrite Pinstripe Tape 1/4 Inch Solid Stripe is backordered and will ship as soon as it is back in stock.
Couldn't load pickup availability
Care information
Care information
Check with Manufacturers Guides
Delivery and Shipping
Delivery and Shipping
At our website, we pride ourselves on swift delivery and shipping. Our standard processing time is by 12 PM Pacific Standard Time, ensuring most orders ship out on the same day when processed before noon. Plus, enjoy the added benefit of free ground shipping on all orders. For those who need their items even faster, we offer expedited shipping options, and you can also opt for convenient in-store pickup.
Number one Selling Products
R21202 Trimbrite Pinstripe Tape
Trimbrite® and Prostripe® brands offer a variety of self adhesive graphic products sold in many markets across the world. For more than 40 years Trimbrite® and Prostripe® brand pinstripe, graphics, utility products and automotive accessories have been preferred by the do it yourself customer. These highly recognized names in many industries which cater to D-I-Y consumers provide years of consistent growth and sales opportunities for customers. The trend continues. Sharpline has been a leading manufacturer of pressure sensitive vinyl graphic appearance products to OEM automotive, recreational and marine industries and the professional aftermarket. Sharpline's purchase of the Trimbrite® and Prostripe® business in 2003 infuses top quality manufacturing of high performing products that gain customer loyalty and repeat business.
Assortment- Delivering The Widest Selection Of Stripe Colors And Sizes
Quality- Highest Premium Performance Vinyl In The Industry
Pre-Aligned With A Removable Top Carrier
Professional Grade Vinyl And Adhesive
Easy To Apply Around Curves And Contours
Merchandising- Bright, Bold Packaging And Easy-To-Shop Aid Customers In Purchasing Decision
Limited Lifetime Warranty
Payment & Security
Payment methods
Your payment information is processed securely. We do not store credit card details nor have access to your credit card information.


text:
Around 2008 the population of the world's cities surpassed the number of rural dwellers. A lower proportion of people live on the land, yet we depend on it more than ever for sustenance. The Earth shows increasing signs it will not tolerate continual consumption of resources, abuse of soil, air and water, and indifference toward biodiversity.
Traditionally nature writers have looked to wilderness for inspiration and insight. We must protect wild, unspoiled spaces, but countless people tied to cities by poverty cannot relate to this rarefied vision. Western environmentalism cannot appreciate the exigencies of securing food and shelter for more than one-third of the human population who must live on less than $2 per day. We must seek reconciliation with our entire planet by interacting with nature where we are. It plays a vital role in the urban landscape, too. Perhaps here we can begin the healing process.
Van Waffle is a writer, naturalist and artist living in Guelph, Ontario, a city of 115,000 at the confluence of the Speed and Eramosa Rivers. Rivers present a valuable metaphor for life: you can scarcely grasp where the water comes from and where it goes, but the short segment right in front of you possesses rich ecology. You can learn much from a few metres of current. It connects to a global hydrological cycle just as one life relates to all of life.
The Eramosa River—slower, quieter and darker—suggests personal reflection and inner growth. The larger, livelier Speed River winds through downtown, pointing to communication and action.
Van has a BSc in Wildlife Biology and Ecology from University of Guelph (1987) and a Journalism diploma from Conestoga College (1988). He has worked as a small town reporter, and as a media relations writer for World Vision Canada. In addition to his writing work, he also builds pipe organs for a living.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Problems with Intel wireless drivers
Last Updated: 2006-08-25 15:21:14 UTC
by Bojan Zdrnja (Version: 1)
Three weeks ago Johannes wrote a diary (http://isc.sans.org/diary.php?storyid=1535) about vulnerabilities in Centrino device drivers for Windows and the PROSet management software.
Update: Intel is telling customers that a patch should be ready within 2 weeks (thanks Matthias).
Intel initially issued a big file (100MB) that you had to download, but at least it upgraded everything on your machine, if it needed upgrades.
After rebooting in the next few days I noticed that my machine is a bit slower then it was. A look at Task manager output, or excellent Process Explorer from Sysinternals showed that a process called S24EvMON.exe is using quite a bit of CPU, as you can see below.
That process gets started by the Intel(R) PROSet/Wireless Service, which is used to manage the wireless card.
After battling with this, and as I was going to a conference, I went to Dell's web site and noticed that they released their own version of drivers. Hoping that this will fix the problem, I downloaded another 90MB to find out that Dell's drivers have the same problem.
I initially thought that there is maybe something else on my machine causing this, but as news started spreading around, it looks that everyone with (at least) 2915ABG/2200BG wireless cards is affected. F-secure posted this in their weblog as well: http://www.f-secure.com/weblog/archives/archive-082006.html#00000954.
So, you might ask: what do we do now? I would recommend that you install the patches. If you don't use wireless normally you can stop the four services that Intel software needs (Intel(R) PROSet/Wireless Event Log, Intel(R) PROSet/Wireless Registry Service, Intel(R) PROSet/Wireless Service, Intel(R) PROSet/Wireless SSO Service). I put them on manual so they don't start automatically, but if I need to connect to a wireless network I can manually start them.
This way you at least won't be vulnerable, but your machine will be a bit slower due to bugs in these services.
Let's hope Intel will release a fixed version soon.
The easiest way to start and stop these services (so you actually run them only when you really need them) is to create a batch file that will do this job for you (so you don't have to click manually on all 4 of them). You can use the sc start
Thanks to reader Paul for reminding us about this.
Olli, Steve and Andrew wrote to tell us that they don't use Intel's utilities to manage their wireless card. Indeed, you can use the built-in Windows Wireless Zero Config service, in which case you only need to patch the driver for your wireless card, so you are not vulnerable. As the problem with CPU/memory leaks are in the management service, this is an effective workaround at least until the management service is fixed.
While the built-in configuration service works ok, I personally like Intel's utilities as they give you quite a bit more control over the wireless card and have pretty good monitoring programs (which sometimes come very handy, when you are troubleshooting problems with the wireless card).
Tip of the day: using host based firewall on Windows XP SP2
Last Updated: 2006-08-25 07:50:18 UTC
by Bojan Zdrnja (Version: 3)
I'm sure almost everyone knows about the host based firewall that was added to Windows XP with the Service Pack 2. Although Windows XP had a possibility of filtering network traffic before the SP2 was released, it was rarely used as it required use of IPsec policies.
With the release of SP2, Microsoft also made a pretty brave step (let's stay on the firewall in this diary) ? the firewall was turned on by default and this inevitably caused some applications to break.
The idea of today's tip of the day is to encourage you to use the host based firewall in your corporations. I'm explicitly mentioning corporations as I noticed that in a lot of cases administrators in corporations simply turn off the host based firewall provided with SP2 because it prevents them from managing the machine remotely.
The host based firewall that comes with Windows XP SP2 is in no way perfect, but it can offer an additional layer of protection (and we all know that defense in depth is the only way to get more secure) that can help you a lot sometimes.
For example, take a look at the last month patch bundle Microsoft released. The most critical and remotely exploitable vulnerability was in the Server service (MS06-040).
Windows XP SP2 machines which were just running the host based firewall in the default configuration were automatically protected from this. Of course, these machines should still be patched (as soon as possible), but this at least gives some breathing space.
One thing that you have to be aware of is that the host based firewall that comes with Windows XP SP2 filters only inbound traffic. While this isn't as good as some commercial firewalls, it still offers decent nice protection. I won't go into why Microsoft didn't filter outbound traffic as well, but the bottom line is that if a machine gets infected with a malware, it can easily turn the firewall off (or add itself on the list of allowed programs, as many malware does today), so if you look at it this way, outbound traffic filtering isn't that important. The firewall in Windows Vista is much more powerful and does allow outbound traffic filtering.
Letting the good guys in
The biggest problem with the host based firewall not being used in corporations today is that, besides bad traffic, it also drops legitimate inbound traffic.
Typically administrators need access to IPC in order to remotely manage your machine, or they use remote desktop services to perform actions on client machines. The host based firewall effectively stops this and administrators have to rely to group policies in order to change configuration on client machines. As group policies are read only when machine is booted (with Windows XP, this is different with Vista) and remote users typically put their machines in standby, you can see why administrators don't like this.
So, in order to still have some security, I typically recommend that administrators just put holes on their client machines which will allow connection from their designated management machine or network. This way the host based firewall will still protect the machine from everything (and everyone) else and the administrator can freely manage the machine remotely.
Adding such a rule is pretty easy. On a client machine you can add this through the Windows firewall control applet for a service or port you want to allow access to and select the appropriate scope. For example, you can allow access to port 445 just to IP address 10.0.0.10, which is your management server.
Using profiles
Fellow handler Swa (who else?) noted that the bad guys might know this (for example, a disgruntled employee in your company) and then wait at local Starbucks where your employees hang, get the internal IP address for himself and attack the target machine.
Windows actually comes with a pretty nice feature for different firewall profiles. In GPOs, an administrator can define different rules for the "Domain Profile" and different rules for the "Standard Profile".
Windows has a NLA (Network Location Awareness) service which determines where the machine is, and applies appropriate policy for the host based firewall:
Now, NLA will use the connection-specific DNS suffix to determine where your machine is. If it matches your domain, the Domain Profile will be used. Otherwise, the Standard Profile is used (you can check the connection-specific DNS suffix with the ipconfig command). So all you have to do now is setup rules you need for administration in the Domain profile, while completely closing machine in the Standard profile.
A bad guy could still spoof an Access point on a wireless network, for example, and have his own DHCP server to issue fake information to you, but this indeed raises the bar a bit.
Command line kung-fu
Seeing that command line kung-fu is very popular with our readers, I'd just like to end this tip of the day with some nice command line options you can use to configure the host based firewall on Windows XP SP2.
You have full firewall configuration options through the netsh command interface. This is very useful when you want to create a batch file which will open or close some ports on your machine.
I've used this to open the host based firewall to only one IP, so the anti-virus product we had was able to communicate with the client machines (poll their status, tell them to update definitions, etc).
So, let's say that you want to open port 10000 to the IP address 10.0.0.10, where your AV server is. This can be easily done with the following command line:
netsh firewall add portopening TCP 10000 Anti-Virus ENABLE CUSTOM 10.0.0.10
You can script this easily to do whatever you want. Just be aware of the limitation ? you can't have port ranges so you'll have to open every port separately, in case you need to open more ports.
If you have some neat tricks with the Windows XP SP2 host based firewall let us know, and I'll update the diary with the best tips we receive.
Microsoft August 2006 Patches: STATUS
Last Updated: 2006-09-11 23:05:04 UTC
by Swa Frantzen (Version: 13)
|Known Problems with this patch
|Known Exploits
|client rating
|server rating
|Issue with:
|Botnets actively exploiting this in the WILD
Exploit available in easy to use package
read more...
|No reported problems
|Critical issue:
More info:
Issue #1:
Original MS06-42: fixes a.o. a FTP vulnerability that;s well-known since 2004
First revision of the MS06-042 patch's buffer overglow has details public.
|No reported problems
|Less urgent
|No reported problems
|No confirmed problems
|Less urgent
|No reported problems
|No reported problems
|Trojan dropper reported in word document by Symantec, Trendmicro(1) and Trendmicro(2). The dropper loads a backdoor: Trendmicro, Symantec.
See also diary.
|Less urgent
|No reported problems
|Trojan dropper in Powerpoint
|Less urgent
|Unconfirmed reports about corruption of files on compressed volumes.
[Windows 2000 only patch]
|Less urgent
|No reported problems
|Although unconfirmed by Microsoft so far, there seem to be problems related to Terminal Services and multiple users loading certain DLLs as part of some applications. Details and fixes or workarounds are too sketchy so far.
See also the problem with .ini files and citrix at the citrix support forum.
We're still lookign for a more detailed discription of the problems.
We appreciate updates
US based customers can call Microsoft for free patch related support on 1-866-PCSAFETY
Wireshark (ex Ethereal) multiple vulnerabilities
Last Updated: 2006-08-24 20:41:55 UTC
by Bojan Zdrnja (Version: 1)
The SCSI, DHCP and SSCOP dissectors are affected. Besides these dissectors, the IPsec ESP preference parser is also affected, when Wireshark is compiled with ESP decryption support (this is probably the case in most installations).
The new version (0.99.3), available at http://www.wireshark.org/download.html, fixes all these vulnerabilities.
If, for some reason, you can't upgrade, some workarounds are available at http://www.wireshark.org/security/wnpa-sec-2006-02.html (the original advisory). Basically, what you can do is turn off dissectors for affected protocols and disable ESP decryption.
* MS06-042 reissue
Last Updated: 2006-08-24 17:23:04 UTC
by Jim Clausing (Version: 1)


text:
Google+ overtakes Twitter – a closer look
Twitter is currently the fastest growing social network, but The Global Web Index reported earlier in the week that Google+ has actually overtaken Twitter as the 2nd most active Social Network in users. The news brushes away the common misconception that Google+ is inhabited by ghost dwellers, and should reinforce the fact that if you're not on it – then get on it (both you and your brand)!
While the morality of Google's strategy to increase its social activity can be debated – it's clearly working. Consequently, the GWI decided to take a closer look at Google+ and the behaviour of its users. Here are some notable points:
- 42% of Google+ users post an update on their daily activity, compared to Twitter (51%) and Facebook (62%)
- 45% of Google + users share links to blogs, more than Facebook and Twitter
Before I head off I'll leave you with this thought provoking GWI forecast on the uses of social channels in 2013: " Social platforms are unlikely to be the points of transaction, but rather the source of discovery for products and content that are fulfilled off site" – GWI
Find more views and insights on our Facebook page!


text:
Sunday Cool out Throwback: Angela Winbush & Ron Isley- Lay Your Troubles Down
This is when R&B had not only substance but Style. Check out the all star cast in the band while listening to the smooth vocals that Angela and Ron lay down. You can tell that they were really in Love like two puppy dogs back then. But, alas they got divorced... Sh** happens. Lol..... But the music they made together still lives on.. Enjoy!


text:
Keep the following tips under consideration while you also have.
While it might appear tough to achieve, it's true. In time you will stop yourself from carrying this out.
Always learn new stuff.Whether you take a training course on computers or do some of those tricky newspaper puzzles, they will likely both help keep you in your toes and feeling great.
Eating a balanced diet will assist you to is capable of doing to age well. Your daily diet should contain low quantities of saturated fats, and plenty of fresh fruits and veggies, fruit and veggies. This provides your body the nutrients that this needs not just in survive but to thrive.
Always learn something totally new.Whether it be using a course at the local college about computers or even a simple crossword puzzle, remain on your mental game and keep the mind young.
Increase the power of time you spend working out. The older you obtain, therefore you must keep working harder to lose calories.Mix it up with some resistance training exercises a minimum of 2 times a week. This should help you continue in great shape and avoid early getting older process.
Powder makeup and foundation may actually cause your epidermis as you grow older. This can be very true as you age as your skin needs a lot more hydration. Attempt to stick to lighter items including lip glosses, mascara or lipstick.
You are never too old to enjoy the pleasure of producing new friends. Just go and meet some individuals and then make friends, find new people and create friendships to lead far more than only a life worth living.
Try to find approaches to enjoy every day just as if it was your last.
Engage with your physician to obtain the right supplements to take as you should take. You must have a multivitamin, antioxidants and, if it is necessary, anti-inflammatory medications will probably be helpful. Taking these will help you to remain healthy and much less down time on account of difficulties with aging. Make taking these matters a part of your day-to-day routine.
Be extremely careful in order to avoid falling down. Falling down might cause serious fractures as well as other injuries creating death among elderly people.You can keep physically and mentally fit and help your balance by walking thrice every week, 72 hours each week.To lower your risk of fractures, you need to increase minerals inside the bones by not only doing weight training, and take calcium along with vitamin D to boost bone mineral density.
Maintaining a healthy diet will help you keep in good condition both mentally and physically, and keep you going throughout the day.
Know about the alert for fraud. Seniors tend to be targeted by unsavory characters looking to make easy money. Will not give personal information to anyone, shred any personal papers and require identification of anyone who enters your property.These steps helps keep your cash from falling in to the wrong hands.
One easy approach to lower your probability of heart problems would be to eat more fish. The cholesterol in meat can clog your arteries. Fish, on the other hand, breaks the cholesterol, so eat more fish to have a long and healthy life.
Always maintain copies of your medical documents you are given.
You can even examine your blood pressure levels at consistent basis. Elevated blood pressure is often called "the silent killer" because you can cause fatal problems without even showing an individual symptom.You will have to be careful to have your hypertension because aspects of your cardiovascular structure break up when you get older. Should you catch your blood pressure levels spiking, you'll have the time to solve it.
Keep a summary of medications you need. This is particularly important when you use different pharmacies to fill your medications. This list will let pharmacists cross-reference your medications for side effects and interaction warnings.
Having healthy skin health is important in aging. Teenagers should protect their skin through the harmful Ultra violet rays of your sun. It is possible to avoid getting premature wrinkles and melanoma by staying out of your sun too often.
Restoring your hormones can be helpful in order to get older. As you get older, your declining hormonal levels cause symptoms, for example reduction in energy and stamina, and even libido. You should think about consulting a doctor regarding hormone replacement therapy to deal with this example.
Special makeup techniques are required for growing older skin. After you have wear your base foundation, apply moisturizing concealer inside a shade or two lighter than the foundation color. While using concealer after the foundation allows you to spot imperfections easily. Utilize a makeup brush to blend your concealer and also a more natural look.
Having proper skin health is very important in the growing older well. Teenagers have to constantly protect their sensitive skin from your harmful UV rays. You could make yourself look older in case you are in the sun.
Search for fraud. Seniors are more inclined to be targeted by fraudulent money-making schemes.Protect your identity by withholding your personal banking information anytime you can, by shredding papers with personal data to them and requiring outsiders to offer identification after they come to your residence. These actions helps keep your cash where it belongs: with you.
To get some thoughts concerning how to gracefully age, go out with those you admire that are more than you will be. Once you have regular activities and conversations with them, you can study tips on how to live for an extended time. This works especially well with those that feel happy and healthy while they proceed through their age.
It is actually difficult to constantly good care of a well used person who needs supervision constantly. You may get things done while dearly loved one spends time in a pleasurable atmosphere.
Remaining active and healthy is actually the meaning of graceful growing older.On the flip side, being passive will bring about premature growing older, your lifestyle stagnates so you feel lethargic and down. Obtain an activity and take part in activities that you simply enjoy each and every day.
To get valuable knowledge about aging, take some time together with the people who you gaze up to that are more than you. If you have regular activities and conversations together, you can learn easy methods to live for an extended time. This works especially well with individuals who feel good and healthy despite their older years.
You probably just learned some neat anti-growing older tips that you just didn't know before. To keep youthful you have to remain open to new ideas. Consumers are benefiting from modern suggestions to retain a great and healthy life longer than before.
Tips for Growing Older and Living a Healthy, Happy Life
Keep the following tips under consideration while you also have.


text:
News Story
Strike! United Auto Workers declares historic strike against Detroit Three automakers.
The UAW strike begins and UAW President Shawn Fain talks to picketing workers at Ford-owned Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne, Michigan the night of September 14, 2023. (Anna Liz Nichols)
The United Auto Workers (UAW) declared a strike at midnight Thursday after negotiations for a new contract failed with "Detroit Three" auto manufacturers: Ford, General Motors and Stellantis.
This is the first time in the union's history it has gone on strike against all three automakers. UAW President Shawn Fain told members at the picket line at the Ford-owned Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne shortly after the strike began that the goal was never to strike; it was for companies to do the right thing by their workers.
"There's a billionaire class and then there's the rest of us. We're all expected to sit back and take the scraps and live paycheck to paycheck and scrape to get by as second class citizens," Fain said. "This isn't just about the UAW. This is about working people in this country. No matter what you do in this country you deserve your fair share of equity."
Union president Shawn Fain talks to picketers pic.twitter.com/F8QhPaEceA
— Anna Liz Nichols (@annaliznichols) September 15, 2023
In a crowd of hundreds, Fain answered the question of, "How long will the strikes last?"
His answer: "As long as we have to, one day more than these companies want to hold out."
The White House announced Friday morning that President Joe Biden will address the strike later in the day.
The United Auto Workers Union represents nearly 150,000 auto workers and after failing to come to an agreement with all three major auto manufacturers, workers walked out Thursday night and joined picket lines at three plants: Ford's Michigan Assembly, GM's Wentzville plant in Missouri and Stellantis' Jeep plant in Toledo, Ohio.
The UAW is following through on its "Stand Up Strike" plan, where rather than all plants striking together, select plants will be informed to "stand up and walk out." The UAW says this will give them room to escalate the strike and "keep the companies guessing."
Those workers being asked to continue working without a contract still have rights, the UAW instructs on its Stand Up Strike page, and should continue communication with the union for instruction and resources.
In August, 97% of UAW's members voted to approve a strike, with Fain saying at the time, "The Big Three have been breaking the bank while we have been breaking our backs. … Our union's membership is clearly fed up with living paycheck-to-paycheck while the corporate elite and billionaire class continue to make out like bandits."
The union asked for 32 hour work weeks, as well as around a 40% pay increase over four years and improvements in benefits like pensions and more paid time off.
Many on the Ford picket line say they have given the company decades of their time and worked, at times, 80 hour weeks to help keep things running and make the billionaire leaders more money while the wealth has not trickled down to them.
The union will not be the first to budge, Marie Felice of Westland said after 27 years of loyalty to Ford. She says after everything workers have sacrificed, blood, sweat and tears, it's a slap in the face to have to strike.
"To be in there instead of being with my family. My children have missed out on a lot of time with me," Felice said. "We sacrifice a lot of time with our families. I mean, I have to work 70 hours a week to lead a reasonably normal, comfortable life."
Ahead of the strike Ford released a statement saying if the company accepted the UAW's latest counterproposal, it would "more than double Ford's current UAW-related labor costs, which are already significantly higher than the labor costs of Tesla, Toyota and other foreign-owned automakers in the United States that utilize non-union-represented labor."
Chanting outside the Ford Plant in Wayne as the clock strikes midnight and the strike at the Big Three automakers begins pic.twitter.com/KVhcCnVbkW
— Anna Liz Nichols (@annaliznichols) September 15, 2023
Stellantis said in a statement that it was "extremely disappointed by the UAW leadership's refusal to engage in a responsible manner to reach a fair agreement in the best interest of our employees, their families and our customers. We immediately put the Company in contingency mode and will take all the appropriate structural decisions to protect our North American operations and the Company."
And GM issued a statement that they are "disappointed by the UAW leadership's actions, despite the unprecedented economic package GM put on the table, including historic wage increases and manufacturing commitments. We will continue to bargain in good faith with the union to reach an agreement as quickly as possible for the benefit of our team members, customers, suppliers and communities across the U.S. In the meantime, our priority is the safety of our workforce."
On the Ford picket line, Fain said "shame" on the companies for not treating their workers fairly, while those companies turn massive profits.
According to the left-leaning Economic Policy Institute, profits at Ford, General Motors and Stellantis increased 92% from 2013 to 2022, totaling $250 billion. Forecasts for 2023 expect more than $32 billion in additional profits. CEO pay at the Detroit Three has jumped by 40% during the same period and the companies paid out nearly $66 billion in shareholder dividend payments and stock buybacks.
Plant employee Hass Beydoun says he's happy to strike, simply grateful that union leadership isn't taking the lack of negotiation lying down, but it makes him sad that things have come to this.
UAW President Shawn Fain on the importance of the strike against the "Big Three" automakers which began last night at midnight pic.twitter.com/QlyH6jUN4N
— Anna Liz Nichols (@annaliznichols) September 15, 2023
"We're standing up for ourselves," Beydoun said, having worked for Ford for 28 years. "We finally have a president who is fighting for our rights, for the small people. … We've given them everything."
The impact of the strike will not be reserved to just the auto manufacturers and the workers and will likely have a widespread impact on the economy. Michigan, where the domestic auto industry was born more than a century ago, is facing the hardest economic hit.
An analysis coming out of the University of Michigan estimates even a one week strike could result in 28,000 jobs being lost statewide.
The last time UAW auto workers went on strike in 2019, 50,000 GM workers walked out for six weeks, costing GM $3.6 billion, according to Reuters.
Earlier on Thursday, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer expressed hope that the union and Big Three could continue talking and possibly reach a resolution.
While at the annual North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit, Whitmer responded to being asked about the federal and state government effort to help work out a deal by saying, "I think that we are all doing our best to keep both parties at the table until there is resolve."
Fain said earlier on Thursday that the three automakers had made progress, offering around 20% in pay increases over the course of around four years, but they still were far from meeting "key priorities."
Lauren Scaglione, of Chelsea, is hopeful that the strike will work and automakers will concede to the union's demands. She's worked at the plant for three years and says the strike is a longtime coming.
"We put in a lot of physical labor, this is an assembly plant. It's heavy stuff, Scaglione said. "Most of us, I feel, are surviving, not living. The wages, the breakdown of our bodies on the job, it's not enough."
Michigan Advance is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Michigan Advance maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Susan Demas for questions: [email protected]. Follow Michigan Advance on Facebook and Twitter.
Our stories may be republished online or in print under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. We ask that you edit only for style or to shorten, provide proper attribution and link to our web site. Please see our republishing guidelines for use of photos and graphics.


text:
Hi, I'm chris cantrell.
Designer of Services | Experience Strategist
As a strategic partner I utilize design principles, processes and practices, taking ideas through rapid & iterative testing, to validate and launch products that people love.
- Working with a broad range of stakeholders
- Listening to people's experiences
- Designing interfaces, services and systems
- Working with a broad range of stakeholders
- Listening to people's experiences
- Designing interfaces, services and systems
...is the kind of work that gets me excited.
With over 8 years of professional design experience, I have developed a versatile set of skills, that allow me to run with projects on my own, however, I do my best work in a team environment. Design is best practiced as a team of people who think, "we can do better," desiring to collaborate and inspiring those around them to accomplish their goals.
I have designed with:
1 - Prepare
Design is best done as a team that, just like in sports must prepare to be done well.
2 - Understand
We start with the user, and business goals. Understanding all stakeholder's needs and desired outcomes is key to designing something great.
3 - Ideate
There can be endless solutions to a problem. Ideating with a team unlocks and expand's on ideas.
4 - Prototype
Ideas come to life through prototyping, this allows us to learn from them.
5 - Validate
Our ideas are nothing more than assumptions. We find the value through testing these ideas and measuring results.
6 - Scale
This process is iterative and scales from small problems to large scale services.


text:
So if there's anyone who does not know, Bethesda has now released the mission editor for ST:L and given that STL is a successor to the Armada2 game engine, there may be enough compatibility between these tools and the Armada2 engine that A2 modders might be able to create their own custom Armada missions at long last.
Read more about the release here:
I'm no longer actively modding for Armada myself, but I wanted to bring this to the attention of those who have some programming skill (you'll need to know some C++ apparently) and have a desire to keep modding for A2.
EDIT: The moderator who moved this post obviously did not bother to read what I wrote. I am mentioning the STL mission editor because it pertains to Armada2 mission editing, NOT because of Star Trek Legacy modding at all. I've re-edited the subject header to make it crystal clear the goal of the post. The idea is to start a thread about possibly using this tool to edit A2 scripts. It completely defeats the purpose to move it to the STL forum -- please move this back to where I posted it (or don't, I'm annoyed enough that I honestly do not care.)
Using the ST Legacy mission editor to edit A2 missions
Modding For Star Trek Legacy
Moderators: thunderchero, MrVulcan
Post Reply
2 posts • Page 1 of 1
Using the ST Legacy mission editor to edit A2 missions
<img src="http://webhome.idirect.com/~tomyee/invasion_sig.jpg" border="0">
- MrVulcan
- Site Administrator aka Fleet Admiral
- Posts: 660
- Joined: Fri Apr 25, 2003 2:00 am
- Location: TO CA
Hmm.. let's hope so. Certainly sounds interesting. I think you should bring this to the attention of DOCAcola, the guy behind Fleet Ops. (Though there might be others with the knowledge necesary to adapt the editor to A2).
Anyhow, you can probably find him at http://www.fleetops.net/
Will follow this development closely
Anyhow, you can probably find him at http://www.fleetops.net/
Will follow this development closely
Post Reply
2 posts • Page 1 of 1


text:
Do you feel like acne is your worst enemy? … like it seems to have no mercy. This frustrating condition puts a mountain of strain on emotions and lowers ones self esteem. It certainly brings about its highs and lows. It builds up your hopes when pimples and pustules start to fade. And then boom theres a party happening on your face and you just want to turn out the lights. Its a guessing game as to what it could be that keeps causing these inflamed eruptions to keep appearing out of nowhere on your beautiful face.
I feel the need to share this little bit of information with you because I have treated so many people of all ages fighting the acne battle. I learned to perform manual lymphatic drainage massage during my training, and remember our educators emphasising how closely related the lymphatic system works with the healthy functioning of our skin. Its always been my first treatment choice. I suggest it to all clients who present with acne symptoms because its a very soothing, gentle approach to a skin in need of nurturing.., and the results are always remarkable.
Your Lymphatic System
Your lymphatic system is an important part of your immune system because it is responsible for eliminating toxins and waste products from your body. Lymph fluid circulates the body fighting infection. The lymph nodes filter the fluid trapping bacteria and viruses whilst specialised white blood cells destroy them. If the lymph fluid is sluggish and becomes stagnant, toxic waste builds up causing blockages in the lymph nodes, interfering with the filtration process. This build up of toxic fluids can cause acne and inflammation.
Unlike the cardiovascular system, the lymphatic system doesn't have a heartbeat to keep the lymph fluid flowing. Instead it relies on the mechanics of the body. Exercise, deep breathing techniques and fluid consumption to help eliminate the collected waste. If you are suffering with consistent acne breakouts, dark circles under the eyes and /or puffy eyes, you might very well have a compromised lymphatic system.
Lymphatic Facial Massage Hunter Valley
The Lymphatic Facial Massage is super powerful in positively motivating the lymphatic drainage process to help detox your body and clarify your skin. This specialised gentle massage technique drains away stagnant waste. The new activity taking place under the skin results in the deliverance of fresh nutrients and oxygen to the cells.
With regular treatment, the acne congestion and inflammation can be dramatically reduced, resulting in a healthy glowing skin.
Ruth Crawley Beauty offers affordable Acne Treatments such as Lymphatic Drainage Facial, Microdermabrasion, LED, IPL, Ultrasound Therapy and Skin Needling from her Heddon Greta Beauty Salon located a short trip for those based in the Hunter Valley or Maitland regions.
To book your appointment or to find out more about the procedure contact Ruth directly on 0438 279 099 or Click Here to visit our contact page and make an online enquiry.


text:
Brendan Frye
The paradigm of the computer has been in flux since Apple first unveiled the Ipad back in 2010. With the ability to power through work, games, and complex tasks, the argument for why a laptop is better than an iPad is becoming far less convincing. Further cementing this concept is the new Ipad Pro, yet another argument against the laptop workflow. However, even with so many reasons to ditch your laptop and pick up a tablet, there are a few issues that may leave some people wanting more.
After using the iPad Pro for around two weeks, I was impressed. Apple has made major steps that push computing forward. Yet for all the times I was impressed, there were a few middling aspects that forced me to have my laptop at the ready. While my job is a unique one, and I do many "power user" type things on a daily basis, for a device built for the creative in mind these issues can't be ignored.
But let's touch on what is good, and first and foremost is the design. While it may be subjective, the new look for the iPad Pro is stunning. The stark lines and industrial look of the full iPad Pro cannot be understated in regards to how much it stands out from the slew of devices on the market. Where previous iPads looked very similar to iPhones, this model embraces the edges and curves to craft a truly unique looking device—at least as unique as a slab of glass and metal can look.
The design feels very similar to the iPhone 5 range of phones (still what I feel is the best designed iPhone to date). The flat back of the 5.9mm device feels solid, with no signs of bending or buckling under pressure from daily use. The 12-megapixel camera is the only area on the device that does not maintain that smooth, sleek, industrial feel.
With this new design, Apple has opted to leave out the handy 3.5mm headphone jack, but they have moved from Lightning to USB-C. Honestly, with so many devices moving over to USB-C or Bluetooth, I had more than a few headphones and dongles on hand to test what the iPad had to offer, and the speakers on board were good, although fell a bit short of amazing.
Gone is the home button, embracing the iPhone X style of unlocking through the use of your face, or should you wish, a passcode on the screen. I will admit, I like fingerprints as a way to unlock devices, but somehow Apple made me a believer in the face unlock, and it worked as soon as I opened up the device. There were a few low-light situations where it did not work quite as fast, but after a second or two, things went back to working as normal.
The display on the iPad Pro is a marvel to behold. It is one of the best tablet displays I have ever used. The fact Apple was able to push the display so close to the edges while still providing just enough area to hold the device was a joy to see and use. Yes, there is still the standard selfie 7-megapixel shooter on the front, and there is still the slight black bezel on the sides, but all in all, the iPad Pro is a fantastic device to hold and see in the wild.
Speaking of impressive technology, Apple's new A12X Bionic chip is an impressive feat of engineering. It feels quick, snappy, and powerful, boasting eight cores to push polygons, browse the web, or jump into a game of Fortnite should the urge arise. While offering nearly twice the performance of last year's model in GPU and CPU usage, it still manages an impressive near 10-hour battery life and being thrown into a messenger bag without adding any bulk.
Apple claims the iPad Pro 2018 is more powerful than 92 per cent of all laptops sold in the past year, including some of the beastly Intel Core i7 CPU's, and went so far as to compare the GPU to that of the Xbox One S—and from testing, I would have to agree with them. While there are many gaming machines with the latest tech that will be able to give the iPad Pro a run for its money, most laptops people are using would have a hard time competing with this device in many daily tasks. No application I threw at the iPad Pro caused any slowdown, lag or even caused the device to break a sweat—it is indeed a real powerhouse.
With this year, Apple has upgraded the iconic iPad Pencil ($129) and the Smart Keyboard Folio ($179USD), and while pricey, they feel like necessary items to get the most out of what the iPad Pro has to offer. After using the iPad Pro for the review period, I am shocked at how these accessories do not come packed with the device. They show the true potential of the device, and go one step further in proving the iPad is far more than a tablet and able to compete in the creative space.
First and foremost is the Apple Pencil. This seemingly simple little device has received a retrofit for 2018. Gone is the plug-in charging, moving over to a magnetic charging system. Snap the pencil to the top of your iPad Pro and it will always be ready to use when you need it. While the Pencil has the potential to fall off in your bag, the magnets are strong and should be solid enough to carry around with ease.
Now, let's be clear, I make no claims of being a world-class artist, but the Apple Pencil and iPad Pro combo make it a breeze to flex your creative muscle anywhere you choose. I found myself whipping it out to make notes, doodle, or just try my hand at digital painting. The level of responsiveness and precision was shocking. It felt akin to my experience with a Wacom Cintiq but at a fraction of the cost.
I even let a few of my artist friends try it out, and while they missed the macros many artists rely on for digital painting, they quickly got the hang of the iPad Pro and were impressed with the level of quality on offer for the device. Do I think it would replace someone with a Wacom Cintiq? No, but it does make for a great option for someone on the go, or for someone that can't afford a full Cintiq setup.
Smart Keyboard Folio on the other hand simply worked. It felt like a needed addition to the iPad formula. It elevated the iPad Pro from tablet to near laptop, thanks to the keyboard and easy folding case. For lap work, I still found myself gravitating to my laptop, but the easy to use design of the Smart Keyboard Folio was a major step in eliminating my laptop from my daily routine.
And that brings us to the iPad Pro's biggest setback, and that is the limitation of iOS. For the most part, iOS has been built from the ground up to be easy to use and understand. But for someone who wants to use my work/creative machine in a way that fits my workflow, the iPad falls a bit short on a few fronts.
The most glaring issue for my daily routine was the lack of a final manager. When working in multiple formats across a range of devices, being able to bring them all to a central work point is paramount. Now iOS does allow you to import photos, and while testing I found this worked out well, but being limited to this one application for importing and managing files felt cumbersome.
The next issue I had was with multitasking, and this is a problem across all devices currently. Being able to quickly jump from one application into another with a quick keypress is something that is not possible on iOS. There are ways to jump around, but it always felt janky, for lack of a better word. Yes, in a pinch iOS provides the tools to do most tasks, but it never feels as fluid as it would on an OSX or Windows based setup. With only a selection of apps allowing for split-screen multitasking, this is a feature that Apple seems to be looking at, but in its current state, it is not ready for anyone looking for a laptop replacement.
Finally, there is the selection of apps currently on offer. While the iOS platform is steadily getting a stronger selection of professional level apps, their desktop counterparts still feel significantly more powerful and user-friendly. Lacking full support for the Adobe Suite or many other pro apps at present forced me to hunt through alternatives for what on a PC or Mac would be an easy solution. It should be noted that these apps are slowly making their way to iOS, with Adobe Photoshop making an appearance soon, but at present, it feels hard to find any application that can push the A12X Bionic anywhere near its limits.
Honestly, after around a week of using the iPad Pro, I found solutions to most of these problems, and I am sure anyone reading this could as well. Apple has built a very capable device, and if you can find a way to fit it into your workflow it can be a marvelous device, I just question if it is ready to take your laptop or desktops place just yet.
The iPad Pro is without question one of the most powerful computers on the market and is a wonder of engineering. With some evolution within the iOS platform, and a few more apps, it could easily replace most people's laptop as a daily driver. As it is now, unless you are willing to make some compromises, it sits firmly as a stunningly powerful secondary device.
The post iPad Pro 2018 Review appeared first on CGMagazine.
This post first appeared on CGMagazine, please read the originial post: here


text:
- Health
Patient Care
I Want To...
I Want To...
Find Research Faculty
Enter the last name, specialty or keyword for your search below.
School of Medicine
I Want to...
Apply for Admission
New Imaging Method Can Detect, Monitor and Guide Treatment For, Prostate Cancer - 11/30/2016
New Imaging Method Can Detect, Monitor and Guide Treatment For, Prostate Cancer
Technique shows promise in increasing accuracy of prostate and breast cancer treatment in people
Release Date: November 30, 2016
Uptake of 89Zr-11B6 in the prostate of a transgenic mouse with prostate cancer.
Credit: Daniel Thorek
Share Fast Facts
- Researchers develop way of detecting, monitoring prostate cancer in real time. - Click to Tweet
- Individually tailored imaging agents lets docs look at disease progression in real time. - Click to Tweet
An international group of researchers report success in mice of a method of using positron emission tomography (PET) scans to track, in real time, an antibody targeting a hormone receptor pathway specifically involved in prostate cancer. This androgen receptor pathway drives development and progression of the vast majority of prostate cancers. The technique shows promise, the investigators say, as a novel way to use such an antibody to detect and monitor prostate and other hormone-sensitive cancers, as well as to guide therapy in real time.
"The findings show that individually tailored imaging agents can provide a unique way of looking at disease progression in real time and in a noninvasive manner," says Daniel Thorek, Ph.D., assistant professor of radiology and radiological science at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and a member of the Kimmel Cancer Center, and the paper's first author.
"Perhaps someday we can put a personalized antibody such as the one we created in our study on a therapeutic agent and conduct cancer treatment using imaging with very high specificity."
A summary of the findings was published in Science Translational Medicine on Nov. 30.
Thorek says the success is especially important given the challenges of working with small-animal models. "We managed to very accurately and precisely monitor the mouse prostate, and that leads us to hope that a similar approach can be used to guide treatment in people," he adds.
Current clinical practice detects prostate cancer by tracking the androgen receptor pathway — a marker for the cancer — by testing blood for prostate-specific antigen (PSA). Presence of elevated PSA indicates that the androgen receptor pathway is active and may indicate prostate cancer is present.
PSA concentration in the blood, however, is affected by numerous factors, such as age and type of tumor, making it difficult to determine true androgen receptor pathway activation.
Furthermore, attempts to target PSA with an antibody is complicated by the "washing out" of the antibody-PSA complex, a process in which the complex is formed but does not remain near the disease site, thus making it difficult to definitively identify and measure disease sites.
In the new study, the investigators developed a new antibody called 11B6 to target human kallikrein-related peptidase 2 (hK2), another antigen that indicates androgen receptor pathway activation. Unlike PSA, hK2 is specifically active only in the prostate and an aggressive type of breast cancer.
By binding free, unbound hK2 to 11B6, the research team found that the newly formed 11B6-hK2 complex is taken directly back into the cancerous cell rather than washed out. This biological process relies on a transport mechanism involving the neonatal Fc receptor, in which cells are able to recognize and take in antibodies. The Fc receptor is most well-known for how antibodies in mothers' milk are able to pass from the gut of the baby into newborns' bloodstream to provide them with immunity.
As far as the research team is aware, this is the first study to exploit the biological mechanism for imaging purposes, Thorek says.
In the next phase of their experiments, the team made 11B6 "light up" during PET and fluorescence imaging by binding it to zirconium-89, creating a traceable radiochemical compound called 89Zr-11B6.
By imaging the 89Zr-11B6 using PET, the team showed that binding 11B6 to hK2 can measure activity of cancerous lesions robustly, in both soft tissue and bone. Prostate and breast cancer often metastasize to bone, therefore detection of lesions in all areas of the body is critical.
To further demonstrate the potential value of 89Zr-11B6 imaging, the team tested the imaging agent in disease models under standard treatment regimens. In one such case, disease activity was imaged and quantified in mice treated with saline and a second group with enzalutamide, a drug used to treat prostate cancer by inhibiting the androgen receptor hormone activity. All of the mice had prostate cancer.
Following initial castration, imaging of 89Zr-11B6 allowed the research team to see lower androgen receptor pathway activity, as one might expect. This effect was augmented in the animals with adjuvant enzalutamide treatment. This may inform current clinical practice as the use of adjuvant enzalutamide after castration may show benefit to patients with prostate cancer.
By tracking the antibody localization to disease sites in real time, the team hopes this may be a way to determine optimal dosages that don't compromise efficacy while avoiding negative side effects. Imaging of the antibody uptake before and after treatment could, in theory, aid in the decision of whether to keep a patient on chosen drug. If a response is seen, the imaging agent could be used to choose the right dose, balancing the therapeutic effect and minimizing adverse effects. And if there is not an imaging change with a particular drug, this tool would provide a caregiver with rapid information to discontinue ineffective treatments, saving time and cost.
The team is currently conducting preliminary nonhuman primate toxicity tests, the final step before applying for human clinical trials, and has thus far found no adverse effects.
Other authors on this paper include Diane S. Abou and Marise R.H. van Voss of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; Philip A. Watson, Sang-Gyu Lee, Anson T. Ku, Kwanghee Kim, Michael G. Doran, Elmer Santos, Darren Veach, Mesruh Turkekul, Emily Casey, Jason S. Lewis, Howard I. Scher, Hans Lilja, Steven M. Larson and David Ulmert of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center; Stylianos Bournazos of Rockefeller University; Katharina Braun of the University of Bochum; Kjell Sjöström of Innovagen AB; Urpo Lamminmäki of the University of Turku; Sven-Erik Strand of Lund University; and Mary L. Alpaugh of Rowan University.
Funding for this study was provided by the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health (P30 CA008748, P30 CA006973, P30 CA008748-48, S10 RR020892-01, S10 RR028889-01, R33 CA127768-02, P50-CA86438), the National Institutes of Health Molecular Imaging Fellowship Program (5R25CA096945-07), the Geoffrey Beene Cancer Research Center, the W.H. Goodwin and A. Goodwin and their Commonwealth Foundation for Cancer Research, the Experimental Therapeutics Center, the Radiochemistry and Molecular Imaging Probe Core (P50-CA086438), the Steve Wynn Prostate Cancer Foundation Young Investigator Award, the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation, the Bertha Kamprad Foundation and the David H. Koch Fund of the Prostate Cancer Foundation, the Ludwig Center for Cancer Immunotherapy, the Swedish Cancer Society, the Swedish National Health Foundation, the Swedish Research Council (Medicine- 20095), the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Specialized Programs of Research Excellence in Prostate Cancer (P50 CA92629), the Sidney Kimmel Center for Prostate and Urologic Cancers and the Hascoe Charitable Foundation.
D.L.J.T., D.U., U.L., S.-E.S., and H.L. are shareholders of Diaprost Inc. D.L.J.T., S.-E.S., and D.U. currently serve as board members of Diaprost Inc. D.L.J.T., A.K., S.-E.S., S.M.L., and D.U. are inventors on a patent (62257179) submitted by the MSKCC that covers systems, methods and compositions for imaging AR axis activity in carcinoma. D.U. is also the inventor on a patent (20060182682) held by Diaprost Inc. that covers diagnostic imaging of PCa using 11B6. S.-E.S. and U.L. are inventors on a patent application (WO2015075445) submitted by Diaprost Inc. that covers the humanized anti-hK2 antibody.
Related Stories:
On the Web:
- Prostate Cancer
- Prostate Cancer Screening
For the Media
Chanapa Tantibanchachai
[email protected]
[email protected]


text:
The Obama Administration and Congress recently began negotiations on three pending free trade agreements (FTAs) with Colombia, South Korea, and Panama.[1] While these FTAs would boost economic activity and strengthen ties between participating nations, the Administration and many in Congress want passage of the FTAs to be linked to the reauthorization of the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program. This ineffective and costly program provides job training, relocation allowances, and unemployment pay for workers who lost their jobs due to foreign trade, while they attempt to shift into new occupations.
With out-of-control spending and surging public debt threatening our nation's stability, renewing TAA makes little sense. TAA provides overly generous benefits for only a small fraction of laid-off workers.[2] Worse, there is little empirical support for the notion that TAA boosts participants' earnings.[3]
Congress should not link passage of the FTAs to TAA renewal. Instead, Congress can immediately send a clear message that it is getting serious about our nation's dire fiscal straits by letting the entire TAA program expire on February 12, 2012, setting a much-needed precedent that ineffective programs should no longer receive funding.
Costly Program in Time of Excessive Overspending
The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) repeatedly warned Congress that the trajectory of the federal budget is unsustainable.[4] For fiscal years 2009 and 2010, the federal government reached the largest deficits (annual budget shortfalls) since the close of World War II—10 percent and 8.9 percent of gross domestic product (GDP), respectively.[5] The national debt—the sum of all previous deficits—reached 62 percent of GDP at the end of fiscal year 2010.[6] Based on current law (which includes an enormous tax increase on January 1, 2013), the national debt is set to reach 77 percent of GDP by 2021.[7]
The deficit and debt are driven largely by entitlement spending on Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security. However, Congress's fondness for employment and training programs—and all other questionable programs advocated in Congress—only moves the nation closer to fiscal insolvency. During fiscal year 2010, Congress appropriated $1.1 billion in Trade Readjustment Allowances (TRA), similar to unemployment insurance.[8] In addition to the TRA appropriation, Congress allocated more than $975 million to fund other TAA services, including $575 million for job training.[9]
TAA reauthorization has been linked in the media to passage of the FTAs because national business organizations, such as the Business Roundtable and U.S. Chamber of Commerce, support the program.[10] According to press reports, the Obama Administration has specifically asked national business organizations to stridently support TAA renewal in exchange for passage of the FTAs.[11] Support for TAA costs the business community little, but it saddles American taxpayers with the bill for an ineffective and costly program. Congress is already borrowing 43 cents for every dollar it spends, and taxpayers cannot afford to pay for ineffective programs.[12]
Overly Generous Benefits
The federal government gives considerable support to workers who lose their jobs. Laid-off workers may receive up to 99 weeks of unemployment insurance (UI) benefits. The Department of Labor's Dislocated Workers Program also provides job placement, career counseling, and (in some cases) training vouchers for laid-off workers.
Workers laid off because of international trade receive even greater benefits under TAA. TAA gives covered workers:
- Up to two years of job training in an approved training program;
- Up to 52 weeks of Trade Readjustment Allowances (TRA) for workers in job training;[13]
- Job search and relocation allowances;
- A refundable "health care tax credit" that covers 65 percent of a worker's health insurance premiums in qualifying health plans; and
- A two-year wage insurance program that partly replaces workers' earnings if they accept lower-paying jobs.
These benefits are far more generous than most unemployed workers receive. They go beyond supporting workers temporarily while they find new jobs. Under TAA, taxpayers take primary responsibility for supporting selected unemployed workers for up to two years. This is excessive.
Stimulus Expansions Even More Excessive
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, otherwise known as the stimulus bill, made TAA even more excessive, expanding the number of workers covered and the generosity of benefits. Many of the same business groups that support current renewal efforts advocated for TAA expansion under the stimulus bill.[14]
Specifically, the stimulus:
- Expanded TAA to cover workers whose employers shifted production to any foreign country, not just those (as under prior law) whose jobs were outsourced to countries with which the U.S. has free trade agreements;
- Expanded TAA coverage to the service sector and government employees who lose their jobs because of trade;
- Increased the tax credit available to cover private health insurance premiums from 65 percent to 80 percent;
- Increased the appropriations cap for training from $220 million to $575 million;
- Gave $17.5 million to states for employment and case management; and
- Lengthened the amount of time workers could receive TRA assistance by 26 weeks.
The stimulus expansions of TAA expired in February 2011, and Congress did not reauthorize them. The program has now reverted to its pre-stimulus levels.
Ineffective Job Training Program
While TAA provides overly generous benefits for only a small fraction of laid-off workers, is there any evidence that this assistance and training improves workers' earnings based on newly acquired job skills? Program evaluations of TAA say no.
Three quasi-experimental impact evaluations indicate that TAA is ineffective in raising participants' wages.[15] For example, an evaluation using a propensity score analysis by Professor Kara M. Reynolds of American University and a colleague found "little evidence that it helps displaced workers find new, well-paying employment opportunities."[16] In fact, TAA participants experienced a wage loss of 10 percent. The authors concluded that this negative impact "is obviously not the result one would expect from a program designed to help displaced workers."[17] This trend was confirmed by a Government Accountability Office report that concluded that TAA participants are more likely to earn less in their new employment.[18]
Time to End TAA
The expensive Trade Adjustment Assistance program does nothing for the vast majority of unemployed Americans. Only a small minority of workers actually lose their jobs to trade. Mass layoffs and unemployment insurance receipt data both show that foreign competition accounts for only 1 percent of job losses.[19] Domestic competitors, new technology, and changing consumer preferences cost far more jobs than foreign trade. Under TAA, the government taxes all Americans to provide especially generous benefits to a selected few.
Congress should not link the passage of FTAs to renewal of TAA. Congress should not agonize over the difference between a straight renewal of TAA at pre-stimulus levels and an even greater expansion. Instead, Congress can immediately send a clear message that it is getting serious about our nation's dire fiscal straits by letting the entire TAA program expire. Congressional appropriators need to recognize that TAA expires early in fiscal year 2012 by appropriating only enough funds to cover expenses until February 12, 2012. If Congress fully funds TAA for all of fiscal year 2012, then this action will be a clear signal that it is unwilling to do away with a wasteful program during a time of severe budget constraints.
David B. Muhlhausen, Ph.D. , is Research Fellow in Empirical Policy Analysis and James Sherk is Senior Policy Analyst in Labor Economics in the Center for Data Analysis at The Heritage Foundation.


text:
Training Your Mind
Did you know that within the first 10 minutes of waking up, your brain's ability to create routine and patterns is at its peak? What you think, what you say, and what you feel all in the first 10 minutes affects your whole day. What most people say before they go to bed is "I'm going to wake up early to do…" yet most people fail to follow through. They end up waking up in a rush, forgetting their work shoes or their phone. Their routine makes their day rushed and hectic.
We have all had days that drive us up the wall. Most people have a habit of saying "I'll do it later." Get out of that habit! What waiting until tomorrow does is train your mind to procrastinate. It takes 21 day to form a habit—think of all the times you chose to do it later instead of now. That habit has grown and will only get stronger until you break it.
Cardio Doesn't Mean "Running"
What if I told you that you didn't have to run to do your cardio? Would you believe me? Everyone wants to know the secrets to achieving better health, but the secret is fairly simple.
The key is to sweat in the morning before your days starts.
It's that simple. Most people just don't realize the power of sweating in the morning. Sweating before sunrise is what helped indigenous tribes heal illnesses before western and other medicinal treatments were discovered. It is still practiced in Native American tradition, South American tradition, Eastern Asian tradition and European tradition. For those who live in cities or suburbs in the United States, Infrared Saunas are making its way into the lives of those who desperately need this type of healing modality.
Here in Valencia, at the heart of Santa Clarita Valley, the Sweat Box Sauna Bar is a place for people to dedicate only 30-35 minutes of their day for their health. The benefits are endless and life-changing. We recommend sweating in the morning because it has been proven that the benefits are more potent. It also has a beneficial effect on the mind; it lowers stress levels and clears thought processes.
Sweating, cardio, infrared heat, and chromotherapy (healing with light) are beneficial in the mornings before work. It will help with anxiety and stress, inspire a better performance at work, increase energy, increase positivity, relieve sore muscles, loosen stiff joints, decrease back pain, relieve arthritis pain, relieve inflammation such as bloating, and encourage weight loss.
Health writers Jenn Barthole and Kylie Gilbert reported, "Studies conducted by Binghamton University found that on average, participants who spent a 45-minute session in an infrared sauna 3 times a week lost 4 percent body fat in 16 weeks."
7 Reasons to Get Cardio Before Work
#1: Gain more time - By burning your calories in the morning, you no longer need to make time for cardio throughout the day. Nor will you cancel or ever forget your cardio, so you WILL see results.
#2: Sweating - Studies show that those who sweat in the morning on a regular basis have lower stress levels, less body aches and pains, more energy, and are less easily angered. When we don't allow our bodies to push out the harmful toxins, the buildup of toxins interrupt the chemistry of our bodies and create imbalance within our emotional well being.
#3: Weight Loss - When you work out in the morning, your body's level of adrenaline increases to help you wake up. This increases your heart rate more than working out later in the day. When your heart rate increases, your body burns more calories, giving you a more beneficial work out.
#4: You are grounded - Almost all of us have experienced the benefits of waking up early and working out. Why does your day end up being productive? It's because you aligned your mind and body with nature and with this planet. Just waking up with the sun, breaking a sweat, and getting your heart pumping helps you feel connected and grounded, leaving you with a clear mind.
#5: Time to relax - After a long day at work, the last thing you want to do is work out! So why set yourself up for failure? When you work out in the morning, your schedule will open. More time for family, daily errands, and most importantly, more time for yourself to relax and recuperate for tomorrow.
#6: Go to bed early - Go to bed early so you can wake up early. Not to mention doing this will give you time in the morning to sweat! Going to bed early has many physical and mental benefits. The mind is not programed to stay up during the night. Our mind and body is connected to the way the planet works. Our body is made up of all of the elements that comprise the earth. The very same thing that sustains this earth is what sustains our body.
#7: Trains your mind and body to be healthy - Sleep is how your body heals itself while the mind is at rest. One study says, "People who got seven hours of sleep a night or less were almost three times as likely to get sick as the people who got at least eight hours of sleep a night." Sleep experts also say a healthy sleep increases muscle mass, tightens our skin, and strengthens our bones. During sleep, your body produces and builds collagen. One source says, "Collagen is the main structural protein in the extracellular space in the various connective tissues in animal bodies. As the main component of connective tissue, it is the most abundant protein in mammals, making 25% to 35% of the whole-body protein content." It is a protein that the body makes that nourishes our skin, nails, hair.
Cardio vs. Treadmill & Elliptical
The majority of people alive today are on a morning schedule. Not a lot of places are open early for those who want to start their morning with burning calories. The places that are open require a large amount of energy, i.e. running on the treadmill or elliptical at the gym. Maybe that is why it is so difficult for people to get out of bed without clicking the snooze button! It's pretty easy to dread physical activity when you wake up. But don't sweat it!
Burning calories and getting your cardio in does not have to be difficult. Many Scandinavian natives understood this, which is why it was ideal to have a sauna in their homes, particularly in the basement of the house or back yard. Saunas are more beneficial for the health of your body than a treadmill or elliptical because it does not damage your ligaments. That's why many runners end up suffering from knee problems. Many end up having to get surgery and physical therapy from doing cardio this way. Not to mention saunas, particularly infrared saunas, allow for complete detoxification from your core of your body outward.


text:
David Green is one of the wealthiest men in America, but his journey started by watching his parents who had so little but deeply trusted the Lord.
The Making of David Green
Topic Patron Stories
The Making of David Green
More Related to Patron Stories
What is a Gospel Patron?
Meet three modern-day Gospel Patrons and the ministry leaders they support.
If I Had Another Billion Dollars
David Green, the CEO of Hobby Lobby, shares his deepest motivation for his business success.


text:
We've developed some new guidance to help centre staff who mark EAL controlled internal assessments.
This brings our assessment guidance for controlled internal assessments together in one concise, easy reference guide, and reinforces the information included in our qualification manuals and learner guidance.
The new guide features following assessment methods:
• Supervision of controlled assessments
• Closed book assessment
• Open book assessment
• Practical assessments
• What can be stored in an e-portfolio?
The document is available to download from our website, and can also be accessed in Smarter Touch.


text:
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Tuesdays around the world.
9 comments:
What a lovely collection of photos!ReplyDelete
If you have time do drop by:
Love the little feet in the last photo...priceless!! Happy Tuesday ladies! It's a perfect day for some globe trotting!ReplyDelete
Beautiful shots today !ReplyDelete
Great Shots! I don't see a link up, but I have a post up.ReplyDelete
I don't see a link up either.ReplyDelete
Great photos, ladies!
beautiful shots as always ladies. i don't see the linky today, will stop back again later :)ReplyDelete
There are so many beautiful, wonderful faces in this world! Never stop capturing them!! I could look at that picture Becky took a million times - it is GREAT! :)ReplyDelete
Just added the linky to the post! You should all be able to link up now :)ReplyDelete
Beautiful shots...always love my visits here. Happy Tuesday:)ReplyDelete


text:
Inspired by the ballerina rings of yesterday, this emerald cut light blue topaz is adorned with a flowing skirt of baguette cut diamonds. The grand size of this ring will stand out from the fray.
- Platinum
- One Emerald Cut Topaz weighing 7.89CT
- 26 Baguette Diamonds weighing approximately 2.8CT total weight


text:
NAT64 & DNS64: IPv4/IPv6 Co-existence via Server Load Balancer
The majority of Internet content is currently available only on IPv4. While waiting for migration of content to IPv6, IPv6 end users also need a way to access these services on IPv4. NAT64 and DNS64 provide this service.
NAT64 and DNS64 are used by Service Providers in addition to other methods such as DS-Lite to provide IPv4 content to IPv6 end users.
- Offers IPv6 clients access to IPv4 content.
- No disruption to IPv4 infrastructure.
NAT64 and DNS64 technical walkthrough
The IPv6 end user's DNS requests are received by the DNS64 device, which resolves the requests.
If there is an IPv6 DNS record (AAAA record), then the resolution is forwarded to the end user and they can access the resource directly.
If there is no IPv6 address but there is an IPv4 address (A record), then DNS64 converts the A record into an AAAA record using its NAT64 prefix and forwards it to the end user. The end user then accesses the NAT64 device that NATs this traffic to the IPv4 server.


text:
In this episode, Rich and Bijan continue to rip on Ninja Warrior UK because it is terrible in so many ways. Bijan rants about the lack of fair play on Celebrity Apprentice, as Matt Iseman continues his epic journey.
National Ninja League – Obstacle Warriors and Brooklyn Zoo
ANW All-Star Special
Intro music provided by Matt Bold (AKA Gods M80) with "Christian Hip Hop Hits Just as Hard".


text:
Ministerial Working Group on building and fire safety
Fourth meeting held.
The fourth meeting of the Ministerial Working Group on building and fire safety has taken place, chaired by Communities Secretary Angela Constance and involving Housing Minister Kevin Stewart, Health Secretary Shona Robison, Scottish Government officials and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.
This group is overseeing a review of building and fire safety regulatory frameworks with an initial focus on high rise domestic buildings, following the tragic Grenfell Tower fire in London.
As part of the work programme taken forward by the group, there was a detailed discussion around the latest evidence on automatic fire suppression systems, with agreement reached that further research will be carried out to evaluate specific risks in high rise domestic buildings, consider the most vulnerable groups and recognise advances in technology. The first aspect of this work will be to commission a detailed inventory of design features of all high domestic buildings in Scotland to provide an evidence base to assist future work in this area being considered by the building standards working group.
The Group was also updated on the latest actions being taken by the Scottish Government, local authorities, the NHS, the fire and rescue service as well as other building owners across the country, including continued progress made by the fire and rescue service in carrying out fire safety visits.
As part of the update on the series of robust further forensic checks that are continuing to take place across Scotland, including the NHS estate, the group heard that some ACM cladding has been found on parts of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Glasgow. The Scottish Fire & Rescue Service reassured Ministers that as part of its regular risk based audit programme, it had carried out fire safety audits within the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, which were found to be satisfactory.
Further discussion on this took place last night and today immediately after the meeting and as a precautionary measure, NHS GG&C have decided to remove the sections of cladding.
Cabinet Secretary for Communities, Social Security and Equalities Angela Constance said:
"The group met again to continue our thorough review of our regulations and take any action needed. Our work programme remains evidence-led to ensure the highest standards of building and fire safety is in place across Scotland.
"We had a very detailed discussion on automatic fire suppression systems, including sprinklers, and I have commissioned a detailed inventory of the high rise domestic building stock in Scotland to ensure we have as clear a picture as possible of ways in which to improve fire safety for residents.
"While we remain confident that we have stringent building and fire safety regulations we cannot afford to be in any way complacent. That is why detailed and robust checks continue across Scotland to assess buildings. Where further investigation is needed it will be carried out to reassure people that adequate fire protection measures are in place.
"I'd like to again give my thanks to all local authorities, the fire and rescue service, NHS Scotland, housing associations and numerous other building owners across Scotland who are continuing to work extremely hard at the moment to carry out these checks and provide that reassurance to the public.
"We'll continue this partnership to ensure collectively we are doing our utmost to reassure members of the public of the safety of Scotland's buildings."
Cabinet Secretary for Health Shona Robison said:
"Patient safety is paramount and that is why further forensic checks are currently taking place across the whole NHS estate in Scotland.
"Following the identification of a type of ACM on the QEUH of a similar type to, but not the same as Grenfell, I am reassured that NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde have decided that the material is should be removed as a precautionary measure."
Assistant Chief Officer David McGowan, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said:
"The Scottish Fire & Rescue Service have reassured Ministers that as part of its regular risk based audit programme, it had carried out fire safety audits within the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, which were found to be satisfactory."
Building standards systems and regulations for high rise domestic properties in Scotland means the type of product used on Grenfell Tower should not be used in their cladding systems. However, in some controlled circumstances specified by our building regulations, ACM can be used as part of the cladding systems of other buildings. Our building regulations specify that those cladding systems must meet the relevant technical requirements applicable in each case.
During the latest meeting the group:
- Discussed its work plan and had an in depth session to review evidence on automatic fire suppression systems including sprinklers. Ministers were clear that this needed to be set in a Scottish context for fire safety for all. Ms Constance asked for further investigative work to be carried out that improved our understanding of the risks in high rise domestic buildings, that addressed the most vulnerable groups and recognised advances in technology. The first aspect of this work would be to commission a detailed inventory of the fire safety features of high rise domestic building stock in Scotland.
- Agreed that the next meeting of the group in September would be held at the Scottish Fire & Rescue Service HQ in Cambuslang where the group would see examples of how new technologies can be used in the home to enhance both fire safety and wider general safety of residents.
- Agreed that on-going communication and sessions with key stakeholder organisations and tenants remain a priority.
- Detailed intelligence continues to be gathered on the use of ACM in the cladding systems of buildings in Scotland. This remains focused on any high-rise properties where people sleep overnight that have not already been captured by local authorities' initial investigations and any other types of property where there are expected to be vulnerable people living.
- Was provided a further update by The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service who said that work continued apace to carry out fire safety visits. And additional 700 operational assurance visits have been carried out since the Grenfell Tower fire and more than 900 additional home fire safety visits to residents in high-rise buildings.
- Was updated that 5 surveyors have been recruited to assist Edinburgh and Glasgow in the remaining checks they have still to complete on privately-owned high rise buildings.
In previous meetings the main points the group have heard are:
- No high rise domestic buildings owned by councils or housing associations have used ACM cladding.
- 30 of 32 local authorities have reported that ACM cladding has not been used on any privately owned high-rise domestic buildings. Edinburgh and Glasgow are completing their investigations and it was acknowledged this will take time due to the numbers involved. Scottish Government officials are in close contact with both local authorities and have offered additional assistance.
- No Scottish local-authority owned school buildings above 18 metres have the type of cladding reported to have been used on the Grenfell tower – aluminium composite material (ACM) .
- 14 local authorities have reported that a type of ACM which can be used appropriately has been used on a small number of low-rise schools. Checks are currently being carried out by local authorities and the fire brigade to ensure that all of these have been fitted in accordance with building regulations.
- The Scottish Government has also requested information regarding universities and colleges including student accommodation. Initial indications are that there are no further issues expected.
- All health boards have confirmed that none of their buildings use the cladding type reported to have been used on Grenfell Tower. As has previously been reported, and separate to today's announcement, Greater Glasgow & Clyde Health Board has been assured by Multiplex, the main contractor for the hospital construction, that the insulation material used in Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH) in Glasgow – Kingspan Kooltherm K15 Insulation Boards - were properly installed to meet building and fire safety regulations. This insulation is classified by the Building Regulations and is an acceptable product for use above 18 metres. We are confident this product has been used in a proper and safe manner in the hospital. Whilst this material was identified in recent media reports as being part of the cladding system on Grenfell Tower this was on less than 5% of Grenfell Tower and not the material that has been the focus of investigations.
Other actions in work plan already agreed:
- A Scottish Government Building Standards Working Group to work with international experts on a review of building standards is being established.
- A consultation will take place in the autumn on common standards for smoke and fire alarms in housing bringing forward planned work and noted positive initial discussions with key partners in representing social landlords and local government.
There is a problem
Thanks for your feedback


text:
Science Has Found the Best Way to Cure Your Hangover [Breakthroughs]: "
Finally, a reason for science to exist: A researcher in Philadelphia (of course!) has discovered the single most effective cure for a hangover. And it's really pretty simple. More »
Quoted article from Gizmodo is licensed under a Creative Commons License BY-NC.


text:
Workplace investigations
This workshop is designed to build participants' knowledge, skills and confidence in conducting investigations in the workplace. The workshop will benefit all those, both managers and HR professionals alike, who may be involved in a full of range of investigations, including:
- Disciplinary investigations
- Investigations into allegations of harassment / bullying
- Grievance investigations, etc
The skills and processes learnt will ensure that participants are able to carry out robust investigations in line with best practice and employment law. Internal company policies and procedures will be referred to throughout the workshop as appropriate.
Learning objectives
- Understand the importance of the investigation in disciplinary and grievance procedures and the significance of conducting a fair and robust investigation
- Be clear on the role and responsibility of the investigating manager and how to work effectively with others providing support, such as HR
- Know the importance of planning and preparation in relation to the investigation
- Be able to conduct an effective investigation including investigation interviews and taking statements
- Be confident to make a recommendation based on the investigation and produce a high-quality report which will stand up at any subsequent hearing
- Have an awareness of the legislation affecting how employers discipline their employees and respond to staff complaints, including those of bullying and harassment and the practical implications this has for investigations
- Have built knowledge, skills and confidence through practical exercises addressing challenging issues and participant concerns
- HR / employee relations advisers
- Line managers
On the one-day version participants work together as a group to plan and conduct investigatory meetings. The scenarios are bespoke to the organisation to maximise relevance.
On the two-day version participants work in groups to investigate more complex investigations, using actors to play the part of employees involved in the investigation. The scenarios are written to reflect topics that are most relevant to the organisation in order to maximise the realism and the learning from the investigation. There is time on day 1 for participants to get familiar with the scenario and start the planning process. Day 2 is very practical with all participants involved in interviewing 'employees' with different perspectives on an issue, evaluating evidence and making a recommendation.
The workshop outline shown below is the starting point for both the one- and the two-day versions of the programme.
Special feature
Any further tailoring of the programme can be discussed directly between you and the trainer.
'Provides a good all round knowledge of investigation process.'
'Worthwhile, informative course.'
'Very informative, explains how to do it properly.'
'Very good – learnt a lot.'
'Interesting and engaging.'
'Confident professional delivery.'
'A lot of value from a one day course.'
'Very worthwhile course – would highly recommend it to all supervisors/managers.'
'An ideal insight into planning and conducting workplace investigations.'
'Excellent course, valuable info gained and delivered at a comfortable pace, especially considering I have had no previous investigations training.'
'Well-structured course.'
'Course pitched at an appropriate level.'
'Excellent instruction and delivery of course.'
'Great refresher that all supervisors should attend.'
'Good structure to investigations obtaining best practice and knowledge from others. Opportunity to put theory into practice.'
'A very worthwhile course.'
'Fantastic course – very helpful with getting head around methodology of investigations.'
'Excellent opportunity to explore and practice skills in undertaking grievance investigations.'
'Amazing insight and knowledge and a fantastic experience to learn the skills required.'
'Great insight linking to employment law.'
'Great refresher for HR and line managers who undertake investigations or who advise managers on investigations.'
'Excellent overview of the key considerations for workplace investigations.'
'It is a good place for discussions between HR and Investigation Teams to find the balance of working together.'
'A great opportunity to advance your workplace investigation skills, whilst also getting the opportunity to learn the basics on employment law.'
Workshop outline
1 Introduction
- Workshop objectives and benefits from attending
- Participants' experience and confidence in this area
- Personal objectives
2 The context
- Establishing the range of investigations that participants are involved in
- Participants' experiences of investigations
- Existing knowledge, skills and experience
3 Making workplace investigations robust
- Best practice; ACAS guidance
- Employment law risks and legal challenges
- An overview of current legislation in this area
- Exploring what constitutes a fair and reasonable investigation
- Lessons from case law
- Policies and procedures
4 The investigation
- The purpose and outcomes of an investigation
- Key responsibilities of the investigatory managers
- Role and responsibilities of HR, etc
5 Key steps to an effective investigation
- Deciding when and how to investigate; determining the best person to investigate
- Understanding the scope / terms of reference of the investigation
- Taking immediate action – suspension, temporary redeployment, etc
- Planning the investigation: a checklist
- Individual preparation: ensuring objectivity
- How to conduct effective interviews and take witness statements
- Gathering and evaluating evidence; dealing with conflicting information
- Making a recommendation
- Documenting the investigation: a checklist and template
- Next steps
6 Avoiding common investigation mistakes
- Six common mistakes and how to avoid them
7 Essential investigation skills
- A checklist of effective investigation skills
- Participants' strengths and development areas
- Skill building activities, eg, effective questioning and listening skills, how to remain objective
and avoid assumptions, etc.
8 Putting it into practice
- Practical scenarios to assist participants build knowledge, skills and confidence in conducting workplace investigations:
- Developed individually for each client to ensure maximum learning and relevance (eg, include planning for and conducting an investigatory interview; reporting and presenting the recommendations; etc)
- Group work to consider approach in particularly challenging or sensitive 'what if …?' scenarios (eg, what happens if a grievance is raised during the investigation, counter-allegations are made or there is evidence of a disability, etc)
9 And finally…
- Open forum – remaining challenges and 'what if' scenarios
- Action planning – identifying how participants will transfer this learning into the workplace and what else they may need which will help them to do this effectively
- Review and close
For a no-obligation discussion about running this programme for your organisation on an in-house basis, just give us a call on 01582 463462.


text:
The search is on for a man who fled on foot after leading deputies on a late-night chase in Jefferson County.
The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office received that call from an Island Creek Township resident around 11:30 Tuesday evening.
When officials arrived on scene, the suspect, 21-year-old Marcus Allen Ford, took off .
The vehicle chase lasted roughly an hour and a half. That's when Ford's truck got stuck in the mud in Hammondsville and he fled on foot– leaving behind his female passenger.
The Sheriff's Office soon found out there are warrants out for his arrest.
If you have any information on Ford's whereabouts, you are asked to contact the Sheriff's Office.


text:
Miley Verisse wants to start her own comedy club, but she needs five members by April 31. Can Miley meet the deadline or will she have to run an unofficial club?
Miley already has one person in her club, her sidekick Harriet. She also has six people she can recruit for her club, Sara (the shy new girl), May (the little sister surrogate), Cindy (the upcoming rock star), Vivian (the Swedish exchange student), Tyler (an aspiring talent agent), and Curtis (a disgruntled comedian's son).
In addition to Miley's story, each one has a story of their own. Sara's trying to adjust to her new life. May's unsure about running her grandparent's candy shop. Cindy's trying to make her dream come true. Vivian wants to explore her new home and figure out her life's calling. Tyler wants to stalk all the girls in his school so he can figure out which ones will become famous. Curtis is trying to deal with his father issues. Miley and Harriet try to help each one of them with their crisis. Miley has an ulterior motive but an interesting thing is that when May offers to sign up right off the bat; Miley won't take her application that easily. Instead, she decides to give May some time to think it over.
The game is a side-scrolling RPG, only instead of battling monsters you're trying to build up your friendship with various people. You can talk to them about a certain topic or just have a regular chitchat. Your friendship level advances depending on two things, how much you know about the topic and how much the person you're talking to enjoys it (a lot like real life). You can also level up your knowledge of certain topics by reading magazines, going to the arcade and various other things you can do around the city.
Did I mention that you can go to certain areas in Cherry Tree by going straight to the map? Oh, and those things you have to do cost money, but you can easily earn some by cleaning the shrine, making jewelry and later in the game working at the museum. You'll also have homework throughout the game, but just get it all done as soon as you can. I'd tell you to do the same in real life, but then I'd be a hypocrite. Chances are you won't be able to recruit all six people before the game ends, but the game will let you save all the progress you made regarding your conversation levels as long as you have three people or more. Problem is you'll have to reread the same dialogue and there's no option to skip what you've already read.
The game is funny and addicting, I give it 7 out of 10. Just one warning, you can't get a demo of the game so you'll be taking a gamble here.


text:
You do, that's who. But why? I don't get it.
The Boston Globe published a story Friday about one Boston College professor's effort to "revive the lost art of dating." The prof, bless her good intentions, is offering extra credit to students that go on real face to face dates, brought about by an in-person proposal. She wants students to forgo the smart phone generation's preferred course of romantic interaction, which is apparently to smash genitals with strangers, and instead employ the bygone practice of courtship, in all its yawn-and-stretch-and-drape-that-arm-over-her-shoulder glory.
Quote: "[D]ating is so rare it feels strange and even creepy. Instead, students use friendships and groups to satisfy social and emotional needs and see hookups as purely physical. But as a result, [Professor Kerry] Cronin says, students don't have a relationship that allows them to address the confusions or expectations that can arise out of hookups."
There's nothing wrong at all with promoting healthy relationships and addressing these points of confusion, especially considering, as the most recent Census data suggests, 100% of all the country's college students are lubberly squids that need all the help they can get in this regard. The problem is the idea these people have somehow betrayed traditional values by not navigating the romantic landscape as their parents did.
Admittedly, it's easy to prove a point with Internet comments on any given story, but you've very likely seen this attitude a million times over, so it's hardly cherry-picked:
"[S]o many missed opportunities because people are looking at their smart phones instead of what's around them! The technology generation has unfortunately made social etiquette and customs quaint and old fashioned."
Eighteen likes.
"[T]hey run into each other and hook up," added another. "Then there's 9 texts or so and if there's a tenth text then they're a couple."
So if two people communicate with one another for a while and they seem to like having the other's sex parts in or around their own, they become an item? That sounds more or less exactly how relationships have gone since time immemorial.
There likely is some validity to the idea that more relationships today start in the bedroom, rather than, say, on a Ferris wheel or over a singular milkshake with two straws, but is that inherently a bad thing? It's no longer taboo to have sex – never mind before marriage – with anyone whose sex-making seems possibly compatible with one's own, so long as it is safe and consensual.
The Globe article adds that 63 percent of college-age men and 83 percent of college-age women "would prefer a traditional relationship to an uncommitted sexual one" anyway. So who cares how they get there?