text: Page Content 1News and Events Professor Dhruv Grewal 12th Most Cited Marketing Scholar in the World; Marketing Division 39th The University of Minnesota's Institute for Research in Marketing has ranked Babson College Professor Dhruv Grewal and the Babson College Marketing Division among the most cited marketing scholars and departments in the world, following data compiled for the year 2013. For more information see the Babson Press Release Babson Marketing Professor, Division named World's Top 50 Most Cited. Anne Roggeveen Photo: Pat Piasecki Professor Roggeveen Interviewed in Babson Magazine Read about Professor Roggeveen in the Fall 2013 Babson Magazine article "Living a Life of Experimentation"—Exploration happily permeates Anne Roggeveen's life, personally and professionally. New Marketing Faculty Members The Marketing Division welcomes two new faculty: Lauren Beitelspacher and Sandy Bravo. Professor Crittenden Receives Award Marketing Division Chair and Professor Victoria Crittenden receives Pearson Prentice Hall's Solomon-Marshall-Stuart Award for Innovative Excellence in Marketing Education. For more information see the Babson press release Babson Marketing Professor Crittenden Receives Award for Innovative Excellence in Marketing Education. Anne Roggeveen and Dhruv Grewal Co-chair Conference On August 7-9, 2013, over eighty scholars from around the globe gathered at Babson's Executive Education Center for the 13th Annual Pricing Conference. Dhruv Grewal (Babson College), Anne Roggeveen (Babson College), and Jens Nordfält (Stockholm School of Economics) co-chaired this conference with support provided from the Babson Retail Supply Chain Institute, AMA Retailing & Pricing SIG, and Center for Retailing at the Stockholm School of Economics. The theme of this year's conference was "Pricing and Retailing." This conference included research papers related to various aspects of pricing and retailing from both academic and managerial perspectives. The conference served as a forum for practitioners and academics to come together and share ideas. In addition, the co-chairs are editing a special issue of Journal of Product and Brand Management dedicated to the themes of this conference.


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Private Sales in Texas
Posted on August 14, 2015
See our Private Sales policy summary for a comprehensive discussion of this issue.
Texas has no law requiring a background check on the purchaser of a firearm when the seller is not a licensed dealer. Texas law does, however, state that a person commits a Class A misdemeanor if he or she:
- Sells, rents, leases, loans, or gives a handgun to any person knowing that the person to whom the handgun is to be delivered intends to use it unlawfully or in the commission of an unlawful act;
- Intentionally or knowingly sells, rents, leases, or gives or offers to sell, rent, lease, or give a firearm to any child younger than age 18. It is an affirmative defense to this charge that the transfer was to a minor whose parent or legal custodian had given written permission for the sale or, if the transfer was other than a sale, the parent or legal custodian had given effective consent. This offense rises to the level of a "state jail felony" (the lowest class of felony under state law) if the firearm involved is a handgun;
- Intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly sells a firearm or ammunition to any person who is intoxicated;
- Knowingly sells a firearm or ammunition to any person who has been convicted of a felony before the fifth anniversary of the later of: 1) the person's release from confinement following conviction of the felony; or 2) the person's release from supervision under community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision following conviction of the felony;
- Sells, rents, leases, loans, or gives a handgun to any person knowing that an active protective order is directed to the person to whom the handgun is to be delivered; or
- Knowingly purchases, rents, leases, or receives as a loan or gift a handgun while an active protective order is directed to the person.1
- Tex. Penal Code § 46.06(a). [↩]

subset: commoncrawl


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The Mariners signed left-hander Charlie Furbush to a one–year contract Tuesday. Normally this wouldn't have been announced, but Furbush and the Mariners were in an odd position because of his service time and whether he was actually going to be deemed arbitration-eligible. The organization decided to avoid any potential complications later in the offseason and get the deal done now.
Jeff Passan of Yahoo reported that it's a $750,000 contract.
Furbush's service time conundrum is based on a service-time issue between the New York Mets and Ruben Tejada. Officially, the shortstop fell one day short of a full three years of MLB service time, which would allow him to become a free agent after the 2016 season. Tejada believes the Mets did it on purpose.
He filed a grievance against the Mets, saying the organization purposely waited until Sept. 10 to promote him from Class AAA Las Vegas to manipulate his service time and keep him from being eligible for free agency until after the 2017 season. This is a common occurrence in baseball, but teams usually try to hide it better than the Mets. It was fairly obvious because Las Vegas' season ended Sept. 7. The Mets called up four players on Sept. 9 and then waited until Sept. 10 to call up Tejada.
- Seattle's vanishing black community
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The issue is now being overseen by an arbitrator, who will offer a ruling as to whether the Mets can be allowed to keep Tejada at two years and 171 days of service time, or grant him that day giving him three full years of service time.
Why is this important to Furbush and the Mariners?
If Tejada were to win arbitration and is given the extra day, Furbush would have moved into the top 22 percent of active players with two years or more of service time but less than three full years, making him Super 2 eligible this year. That would have made him arbitration-eligible this offseason and he could have made significantly more because of his performance last season. The Mariners likely split the difference in pay to be fair to Furbush.
Furbush, 27, pitched in a team-high 71 games, going 2-6 with a 3.74 earned-run average. He tied for 10th most appearances in the American Leauge. Opponents hit just .199 against him and he struck out 80 batters in 65 innings.
Ryan Divish: 206-464-2373 or email@example.com.
On Twitter: @RyanDivish


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|Oracle FAQ
|Your Portal to the Oracle Knowledge Grid
Home -> Community -> Usenet -> comp.databases.theory -> Re: Artificial Primary keys
In message <3c5186c2$0$14015$edfadb0f_at_dspool01.news.tele.dk>, Jan Emil Larsen <jel_at_g-it.dk> writes
>> >> >A key should be imutable, and should therefore be without information
>> >it
>> >> >self.
>> >>
>> >> The first is true but the second doesn't follow from it.
>> >
>> >That is right. It goes the other way round: If it has information in it
>> >it may change.
>> >No-information in the key is a measure to secure immutability.
>> No, that's still not right. Immutability is important but artificial
>> keys are not the only way to get it. If you have a natural key that
>> truly identifies one and only one thing then it is immutable. If it
>> changes then either it wasn't a real key or someone recorded the wrong
>> value.
>Yes, it IS right :-)
>If the key holds information, the key will (must) change if that information
If it is a natural key then the information cannot change, it is immutable. The value of the key identifies one and only one object. If the value of the key changes then it must identify a different object.
>If the key do not hold information, then nothing force it to change.
That is true and that is one reason why surrogate keys are often more convenient.
>Identifying one and only on thing isn't enough to keep the key immutable.
>"Things" may change, eg. Name or even SSN, but they identify at any time
>only one "thing".
Names are not good candidates for keys because they change and they are not unique. John Q. Smith may be the same person as Quentin Smith.
SSNs are good keys but are not perfect. Some people don't have them (I don't have one) and they sometimes change. For some purposes they are good enough, which is why some organisations have used them successfully.
>Or could you give an example - that is: of a natural key that holds
>information, but is immutable?
I quoted one a few days ago, a natural key that uniquely identifies a person. If you have the precise location and time that someone is born you can uniquely identify them. Once they have been born the data is immutable. The uniqueness of the key is enforced by the laws of physics, it is impossible for two objects to occupy the same space at the same time.
In general I have complete trust in keys where uniqueness is guaranteed by the laws of physics. I have a lot of trust in keys where I have control over the codes that are issued. I have somewhat less trust in keys that are supposed to be unique but are issued by third-parties (SSN, ISBN etc.) where I have no control.
-- Bernard Peek bap_at_shrdlu.com In search of cognoscentiReceived on Sun Jan 27 2002 - 16:47:42 CST
Original text of this message


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Brigit Pegeen Kelly
Brigit Pegeen Kelly's (Spring 2014, Spring 2012, Spring 2010) books of poetry include To the Place of Trumpets, chosen for the Yale Series of Younger Poets in 1987 by James Merrill; Song, winner of the 1994 Lamont Poetry Prize; and The Orchard, a finalist for the 2004 Pulitzer Prize. Among her many honors is the 2008 Academy of American Poets Fellowship for distinguished achievement. She is on the permanent faculty of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign where she has been recognized for excellence in teaching. In spring 2014, she will teach a poetry workshop and a studies course.


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Bacterial Exposures Expert Witnesses testifying in Litigation
Bacterial Exposures experts in this Genetics directory provide witness opinion and testimony in all types of Bacterial Exposures accidents including Industrial Hygienist, Industrial Hygienist Certified, Industrial Hygienist Health Safety Training, Industrial Hygienist Emergency Response Coordination and Industrial Hygienist Environmental Occupational Health.
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In litigation, Bacterial Exposures accident experts attempt to use forensic engineering and biomechanical engineering research to reconstruct the accident and damages or event by providing witness testimony, computer animation or graphical exhibits to opine in a compelling way to the jury
Genetics Expert Witnesses for Attorneys
You can possibly get more results searching for any of the terms.
Provides Opinion & Testimony In:
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Are These 8 Little Persuasion Mistakes Stealing Your Success?
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My Blog
- Why Doesn't The Person Change?February 12, 2014
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text: DISCREDITING CREDIT: Robert Novak found another problem stemming from the Enron debacle: a looming credit crisis. Big banks are leery about lending to one another and the result is a liquidity crunch. "The situation has been building since 2000, but this is not the kind of problem that government officials cope with easily or even understand," he writes in his nationally syndicated column. The Enron headlines feed the reluctance, because lenders are terrified about being caught in another such boondoggle. Off-the-balance-sheet transactions are sure to set off alarms these days, even legitimate ones. "There is no sign that either the administration or Congress has even diagnosed the ailment, much less prescribed a remedy," Mr. Novak argues. "Meanwhile, the nation's money centers remain quiet in their distress that Capitol Hill's reaction to Enron indeed is becoming a prolonged inquisition with lamentable consequences for the country. Self-restraint is a lot to ask of politicians." ABORTIONIST APPRECIATION DAY: March 10 was designated Abortionist Day on the liberal activist calendar. Known officially as the National Day of Appreciation for Abortion Providers, groups including the National Organization for Women, the American Civil Liberties Union, and Ms. magazine say they "honor those who continue to save women's lives and protect women's health by providing safe abortion care." The date's significance comes from the day in 1992 when abortionist David Gunn was murdered. The groups encourage their followers to celebrate by organizing their friends, sending cards and letters to hospitals and clinics, and becoming a clinic escort. "Even in the face of this anti-choice terrorism, providers remain dedicated to ensuring that women have access to quality abortion care," gushed a statement from the National Abortion Federation. "Now more than ever, providers need and deserve our support and appreciation for the courageous work they do every day." CODE BREAKERS: Some Americans' homes may no longer be their castles. Although the federal Americans with Disabilities Act doesn't require it, National Public Radio reports that two communities have ordered that all new private homes must be "visitable" by those in wheelchairs. Reporter Cheryl Corley said officials in Naperville, Ill., and Pima County, Ariz., are using visitability codes to require developers to make changes to new single-family homes. These include wider doors, reinforced bathroom walls, and raised electrical outlets. "This is not one of these nice-to-do things if you want to," Naperville City Councilman Richard Furstenav, the lone dissenting voice, told NPR. "This says 'whether you like it or not, Mister, you're going to do it. And if you don't do it, you're not going to build a house in this town, period.' I just think that's wrong." The Chicago Tribune reports that builders in Naperville plan to fight the measure, saying it will drive up housing costs. The New York Times adds that several other cities, including Chicago, Atlanta, and Austin, Texas, have similar laws but they apply only to homes built with public funds. CANNING CLONING: The Bush administration is quietly urging the United Nations to pass a global and comprehensive ban on human cloning, Colum Lynch reports in The Washington Post. "Human cloning is an enormously troubling development in biotechnology," U.S. delegate Carolyn L. Willson said at an anti-cloning committee meeting. This could lead to a time where "human beings are born for spare body parts, and children are engineered to fit eugenic specifications." Ms. Willson's remarks received the expected criticisms from cloning defenders. "It's bad enough that the administration would seek to impose its views on the American people, let alone the entire world," Sean Tipton, spokesman for the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, told the Post. "We need to keep these avenues of research open." Mr. Lynch notes that the UN is still debating what to do about cloning: "In August, France and Germany proposed a global treaty that would prohibit the cloning of babies but permit the production of human embryos for scientific research. But the United States said it did not go far enough and presented an alternative proposal today. The General Assembly is to decide in August whether to begin negotiations on a treaty."


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Police Credit Union
Loans and savings for the police and law enforcement family
Honorary President: Lord Stevens of Kirkwhelpington, QPM
Police Credit Union Limited is a not for profit financial services operation dedicated exclusively to helping the police and law enforcement family through seven key regional branches plus a number of local contact points covering England and Wales. Find out more.
We donate this space to Children Today – a charity that we believe deserves support in helping children and young people with disabilities.
Find out more
A financial compensation scheme in the event of the failure of authorised firms. Covers insurance companies, deposit-takers and investment firms. Click here to find out more
StepChange Debt Charity provides impartial advice and help with a variety of debt solutions. Click here to find out more
The Money Charity is a national money education charity, aiming to use education to prevent debt happening, and offering a range of ways to handle money well. Click here to find out more
Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) - subsidiary of the Bank of England, the PRA takes responsibility for prudential regulation of deposit-takers (including credit unions), insurers and large investment banks. It is concerned principally with financial stability. Click here to find out more
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) - an independent regulator responsible for all regulation of most firms which only conducts regulation for those regulated by the PRA. Click here to find out more


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Togo: Adebayor; "Gabon is tough but we shall do something great for Togo"
He however added that the Sparrowhawks will do their best to secure the advantage and wait for the return leg in Lome, Togo. "I am very happy to wear the yellow jersey once again. It is true that we have a very crucial encounter to play against Gabon Saturday, as the Gabonese squad is in very good form and has very good players. We shall try to do something great especially for our country and our fans. We know it shall be a very tough match but we are professional so our hopes are high and we shall try to be at our best to be at the advantage when we receive them for the return leg in Lome." Adebayor said.
Signature : ND
Copyright : StarAfrica.com


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IBEROSTAR Hotels & Resorts newsroom
See the latest news and publications, audiovisual material and useful information for journalists and media professionals.
IBEROSTAR Hotels & Resorts is the leading tourist hotel chain with a presence in the major tourist destinations in Spain, the Mediterranean and Caribbean. With over 100 hotels of 4 and 5-star quality, IBEROSTAR Hotels & Resorts offers hotels and resorts for its guests to enjoy a wonderful stay on the beach, with golf, spa & wellness, in addition to being the ideal place for weddings and conventions. Reserve your stay with IBEROSTAR Hotels & Resorts.
See the latest news and publications, audiovisual material and useful information for journalists and media professionals.
IBEROSTAR Hotels & Resorts is extending the current kids stay free promotion on vacations to Mexico and the Caribbean, available at select all-inclusive resorts. What's more, kids stay free all year round at new IBEROSTAR Playa Mita in Riviera Nayarit!
When visiting select properties with two adults paying full price, up to two children can enjoy a free stay. This promotion is now valid when booked from May 1, 2014 through June 30, 2014 for travel from May 1, 2014 to December 23, 2014. Book your reservations through your preferred travel agent or operator, or by calling 888-923-2722 or visiting www.iberostar.com. Blackout dates may apply, June 22-August 16, 2014 and November 22-29, 2014, except at IBEROSTAR Playa Mita. During blackout dates regular children's rates will apply. Offer can be combined with other promotions— based upon availability and only valid for U.S. residents.
"Kids Stay Free" is being offered at the following family resorts, considered among the best all-inclusives for kids:
VALID FOR TRAVEL FROM MAY 1, 2014 to DECEMBER 23, 2014
Dominican Republic:
With an extensive list of amenities for guests of all ages and interests, the IBEROSTAR Playa Mita is the perfect all-inclusive Riviera Nayarit getaway for families, which is now offering the kids stay free promotion all year long! A Premium Gold category resort, the brand-new property features 452 guest rooms, including 120 oceanfront junior suites and two presidential suites, three luxurious swimming pools including an infinity pool, a tranquil spa, and access to an on-site 18-hole, oceanfront, championship golf course designed by Greg Norman. Additionally, guests can experience IBEROSTAR's savory culinary offerings at four a la carte specialty restaurants and an international buffet, as well as eight bars, including one swim up bar. Moreover, families can enjoy 24-hour room and concierge service. In addition to non-motorized water sports, guests can enjoy activities that include dance lessons, yoga classes and nightly entertainment.
IBEROSTAR Hotels & Resorts currently offers 19 properties in Mexico and the Caribbean, which include the above family-friendly Premium Gold and Premium category resorts. At IBEROSTAR, families will discover a wide spectrum of exciting and engaging activities to fill up their days. Parents can enjoy a relaxing day at the beach or indulge at the on-site SPA, as young travelers make friends at the specialty Kids Club and the Splash Park or enjoy video games at the Teen Club. There's never a dull moment!


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Recently, I've had a couple big compliments on my writing here. Independents Hall co-founder Alex Hillman gave a nod on Twitter, encouraging his followers to follow my work in a similar way Comcast developer and Philly Future blogger Karl Martino did last summer.
Thanks to you both.
Number of Views:6732


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NEW DELHI: India has suspended jewellery imports from Thailand on the apprehension that exporters of other countries were routing their exports from there to take the advantage of bilateral trade agreement between the two.
The commerce ministry has written to the department of revenue asking it to immediately suspend gold jewellery imports from Thailand. The department of revenue, which had in December asked the commerce ministry to suspend gold jewellery imports or drop the item completely from the list of goods allowed under the bilateral treaty, has issued an advisory to customs to put in effect the suspension.


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LOS ANGELES (LALATE) – Aaron Hernandez and girlfriend Shayanna Jenkins had surveillance video recording the night of Odin Lloyd. Moments ago, images from that surveillance video were released to news. Police allegedly assert that the above picture shows Aaron Hernandez allegedly walking around inside his house with the murder weapon moments after the Odin Lloyd murder.
Aaron Hernandez girlfriend Shayanna Jenkins told police that her sister was Odin Lloyd's boyfriend, according to search warrants released moments ago. Surveillance video images from the Aaron Hernandez and Shayanna Jenkins home were released to news Thursday. One of those images is above featuring Aaron Hernandez inside his residence allegedly with the murder weapon in his hand.
New search warrants released today reveal that Aaron Hernandez and girlfriend Shayanna Jenkins were visited by police shortly after the murder of Odin Lloyd, LALATE can report. Multiple references in the warrants cover Jenkins' interaction with police hours after Odin Lloyd's death. Jenkins is not a suspect in the Lloyd case.
Aaron Hernandez Surveillance Video, Pictures
Surveillance Photo 1
Surveillance Photo 2
Surveillance Photo 3
Surveillance Photo 4
Aaron Hernandez and girlfriend Shayanna Jenkins both told police that Odin Lloyd was dating Jenkins' sister. Search warrants released today detail what Jenkins and Hernandez allegedly told police about Lloyd.
When they went to the Hernandez-Jenkins home, police told Aaron Hernandez that someone had been murdered. Hernandez allegedly did not ask police whose death was under investigation. When they identified the victim as Odin Lloyd, Hernandez told police that Lloyd was the boyfriend of Jenkins' sister.
Aaron Hernandez GF Pictures Set 1
Aaron Hernandez GF Photo 1
Aaron Hernandez GF Photo 2
Aaron Hernandez GF Photo 3
Aaron Hernandez GF Photo 4
Police then asked Hernandez to come to a local police station to talk to investigators. Hernandez agreed and asked if he could bring Shayanna Jenkins. Police agreed. At the station, police asked Jenkins if Lloyd was dating his sister.
Jenkins said that he was. But she further told police that Lloyd was a marijuana dealer and smoke marijuana. As reported previously on LALATE, local news has since verified those allegations about Lloyd as being false.
Aaron Hernandez GF Pictures Set 2
Aaron Hernandez GF Photo 5
Aaron Hernandez GF Photo 6
Aaron Hernandez GF Photo 7
Aaron Hernandez GF Photo 8
Police were attentive to a FEG Hungarian rifle in a gym bag recovered from the Hernandez home during this first day of questioning. Hernandez's palm print is on that rifle. But the weapon was not used in the killing of Odin Lloyd. As previously reported on LALATE, the murder weapon has not been recovered. But a magazine fitting the murder weapon's make and model was recovered from the Hernandez Hummer SUV parked outside his rented condo. Police recovered at least one .45 caliber shell casing in the case.


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Oracle v. Google Java trial moves to patent phase
Stupidity of software patents on display
THE TRIAL between Oracle and Google stumbled into its second phase yesterday with Oracle asserting that Google infringed its Java patents.
After Oracle gained a partial jury verdict that said Google infringed Java API copyrights, although the jury couldn't decide on the issue of Fair Use, the trial has moved on to the second phase, which will decide whether Google's Dalvik virtual machine infringes two of Oracle's Java patents.
Oracle initially claimed that Google's Android operating system and in particular its Dalvik virtual machine infringed seven of its patents, however in pretrial proceedings, four of those patents were invalidated by the US Patent and Trademark Office and one was excluded from the case by US District Court Judge William Alsup, leaving only US Patents 6,061,520 and RE38,104, which are referred to in the trial as the '520 and '104 patents.
As Groklaw points out, there was a time when Oracle didn't believe in software patents, but those times have long gone. Oracle has tried to claim billions in damages from Google, a hefty sum for a company that once said "patent protection [should] be eliminated for computer software and computer software algorithms". However, if Oracle prevails in this lawsuit the actual damages are expected to be several orders of magnitude lower.
Judge William Alsup still has to rule on whether Java APIs can be copyrighted, which has implications that reach far beyond Google and Android. As for Google's monetary liability in the alleged patent infringement part of the case, given how far Oracle's potential damages have been whittled down before trial, even if Oracle wins it could end up with a net loss after paying its lawyers. µ
INQ Latest
6 huge things owned by Larry Ellison
Oracle founder has almost literally all the money in the world. But what does he spend it on?
Top 5 wackiest features we'd like to see on smartphone
Built-in cigarette lighter? Yes please
iPhones and Android devices at risk from USB data hacking threat
Kaspersky warns against charging via PCs, Macs and public charging stations
Google Updates: Only 51 weeks till Google I/O 2017
Googled out yet?


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you have problems reading this, visit http://www.miami.edu/news/everitas/2007-08/06-23-08.html
Summer fun begins: Approximately 300 summer camp children are participating in a fitness and health program launched by UHealth and Miami-Dade Parks and Recreation. Kids received UM goodies at the kick-off pep rally, top, which featured inspirational words from some of the special guests in attendance, including, from left, above, Miller School Dean Pascal J. Goldschmidt, Miami-Dade Commissioner Dorrin Rolle, former Hurricane and two-time Super Bowl champion Darrin Smith, University President Donna E. Shalala, Jorge Luis Lopez, president of the Parks Foundation, and Jack Kardys, director of Miami-Dade Parks and Recreation Department.
Rolle was joined at the event by UM President Donna E. Shalala, Miller School Dean Pascal J. Goldschmidt, county parks and recreation director Jack Kardys and several other government officials, and special guest Darrin Smith, the former UM Hurricane and two-time Super Bowl champion, for the morning pep rally and official launch of the program known as Fit to Play.
When Goldschmidt took to the stage, he told the group he has three sons – including a 5-year-old who thinks he is Superman. Laughter turned to amazement when Goldschmidt said he also has a second family of 800 children. He explained: "These 800 children are the Miller School of Medicine medical students that will be checking you out to make sure you're fit and healthy all summer."
"This summer will not be the last time you will see us," Goldschmidt added. "We're so proud to be supporting you and we will be here for you."
UM lends its support to fall elections; poll workers sought
The University has agreed to participate in a public service project to improve the voting process in the fall elections. Miami-Dade County is in the process of implementing different technology—a scanned ballot system—for the fall elections.
It will be used for the first time by poll workers and voters in the August 26 election and will still be fairly new technology when it is used for the expected record turnout on November 4. Accordingly, there is a need for a large number of qualified and trained poll workers. The non-partisan Miami-Dade Election Reform Coalition has proposed that employers, where possible, facilitate employees serving at the polls. The University of Miami Law School Alumni Association has also taken up the cause. As a result, the University has agreed to lend its support.
For information on how to serve as a poll worker, read the letter from Joe Natoli, senior vice president for business and finance and chief financial officer, that was sent to employees last week.
President Shalala gets Medal of Freedom
President George W. Bush places the Presidential Medal of Freedom on University of Miami President Donna E. Shalala last Thursday during a ceremony in the East Wing of the White House. During the ceremony, Bush described her as a leader whose efforts have helped more Americans "live lives of purpose and dignity." Shalala was among six recipients of the award, the nation's highest civilian honor. The other recipients included Benjamin Carson Sr., M.D., of Johns Hopkins Children's Center in Baltimore; Anthony Fauci, M.D., director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases; the late U.S. Representative Tom Lantos of California; former Marine General and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Peter Pace; and U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Laurence H. Silberman. To learn more, click here.
Participate in live conference call on post-Castro Cuba
On Thursday, June 26, the Cuba Business Roundtable at the Institute for Cuban and Cuban-American Studies (ICCAS) will conduct its quarterly live public telephone conference call hosted by ICCAS Cuba experts and special guests. The conference call series explores the challenges and opportunities that businesses will encounter in a post-Castro, post-embargo Cuba. The live conference call begins promptly at 11:30 a.m. For more information, call 305-284-2822. R.S.V.P. in order to obtain the conference call number and code, as there will be a limited number of access lines (some AT&T charges may apply).
Register for Basic Chinese for Business and Culture course
On Tuesday, July 1, the Intensive Language Institute's Basic Chinese for Business and Culture course begins. The six-week evening course focuses on survival language skills in Chinese, including communication, comprehension, and cultural tips for successful interactions. UM employees are eligible for a 40 percent discount on the course tuition. For more information and to register, visit the course Web site, call 305-284-2752, or e-mail email@example.com. Be sure to request the employee discount when you call.
Enhance your skills with free computer software training
The End User Support group offers free software training to University of Miami employees. Courses include Microsoft's Office applications such as Word, Excel, Access, and Outlook. Training is also offered for Adobe's popular Photoshop and InDesign applications. Some upcoming courses in July include:
Microsoft Office 2007 New Features
Wednesday, July 2
Excel 2007 Core 2
Monday, July 7 through Friday, July 11
Access 2007 Core 2
Monday, July 7 through Friday, July 11
EOS/PC Training (RDS)
Thursday, July 10
RDS Web Training
Thursday, July 10
Word 2007 Expert Topics 1
Monday, July 14 through Friday, July 18
Adobe Photoshop CS2 Level 2
Monday, July 14 through Friday, July 18
Beginning Web Development
Tuesday, July 15
Directory Update
Tuesday, July 15
Intermediate Web Development
Thursday, July 17
Building Forms with UM's Web System
Thursday, July 17
PowerPoint 2007 Core 2
Monday, July 21 through Friday, July 25
Excel 2007 Expert Topics 1
Monday, July 21 through Friday, July 25
Thursday, July 24
Outlook 2007 Core 1
Monday, July 28 through Friday, August 1
Excel 2007 Core 1
Monday, July 28 through Friday, August 1
Microsoft Office 2007 New Features
Wednesday, July 2
Excel 2007 Core 2
Monday, July 7 through Friday, July 11
Access 2007 Core 2
EOS/PC Training (RDS)
Thursday, July 10
RDS Web Training
Word 2007 Expert Topics 1
Monday, July 14 through Friday, July 18
Adobe Photoshop CS2 Level 2
Beginning Web Development
Tuesday, July 15
Directory Update
Intermediate Web Development
Thursday, July 17
Building Forms with UM's Web System
PowerPoint 2007 Core 2
Monday, July 21 through Friday, July 25
Excel 2007 Expert Topics 1
Thursday, July 24
Outlook 2007 Core 1
Monday, July 28 through Friday, August 1
Excel 2007 Core 1
To register for a course, visit eustraining.miami.edu or call 305-284-2944.
Taking its Mission on the Road
With autism now diagnosed in one of every 150 children, the University of Miami-Nova Southeastern University Center for Autism and Related Disabilities unveiled a new clinic on wheels last Thursday that will travel throughout underserved communities in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Monroe counties, providing free screenings, resources, and education to families. The 23-foot-long Mobile Autism Family Clinic, which includes a therapy/evaluation room, waiting area, and workstation, will be staffed by UM-NSU CARD psychologists, behavioral analysts, and special educators. A $56,000 grant from the Unicorn Children's Foundation will help the clinic operate.
Above, taking part in Thursday's ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new clinic are, from left, Unicorn board members Elisabeth Dalfen and Jeannette Stark, Unicorn Director of Development Melanie Johnson, Unicorn Executive Director Sharon Alexander, Unicorn Secretary Mary Lynn Bartolomeo, UM-NSU CARD Executive Director Michael Alessandri, Florida State Surgeon General Ana Viamonte Ros, and Department of Psychology Chairman Rod Wellens. To learn more, click here.
20/20 vision club eyewear benefits
Optical Services at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute is now offering its 20/20 vision club eyewear benefits to all UM employees, families, and friends. For $40, choose from selected metal or plastic frames with single vision (distance or near) or bifocal plastic prescription lenses. Add $75 for progressive (no-line) plastic lenses. For those who want sunglasses, tint and UV protection will be offered at no additional charge. Certain restrictions may apply. For more information, call 305-326-6092.
Frank Haith Basketball Camp: employee discounts available
Children of UM employees get a $25 discount on registration for the Frank Haith Basketball Camp. Day camps are available for boys entering grade 3 through grade 12, and campers will be divided into age and skill groups to enhance their experience. For more information, contact Miami Basketball at 305-284-2680 or go to www.hurricanesports.com (men's basketball page). Because of limited availability, make sure you reserve your spot quickly.
Sign up for Hurricane Aquatics camp
Hurricane Aquatics is currently under way and enrollment is still open for the 2008 Summer Swim Camp. For children from 5 to 12 years old, the camp features an outdoor environment, an Olympic-sized pool, and UM athletes who teach swimming and diving. Tuition for the camp is $225, but all UM employees receive a $50 discount. Private and group swimming lessons are also available. For more information, visit www.hurricaneaquatics.net or call 305-284-4713.
Center on Aging seeking physicians for survey
The Center on Aging is conducting a study on the impact of patient-acquired Internet health information on physician-patient relationships. The center is interested in learning about how this information affects office visits and the overall positive and negative outcomes that result from patients using the Internet for health information. If you are a physician who sees patients and are interested in participating in a brief interview, please call 305-355-9020.
Schedule an appointment with an investment advisor
TIAA-CREF representatives will be available on Monday, June 23 and Tuesday, June 24 at the Coral Gables campus, Max Orovitz Building, Human Resources Conference Room, and on Wednesday, June 25 and Thursday, June 26 at the Miller School campus, Dominion Parking Garage, Human Resources Benefits Office, suite D. To schedule an appointment, call 866-842-3357, extension 261304; you may also schedule an appointment by visiting www.tiaa-cref.org/moc.
Lincoln Financial will be available on Wednesday, June 25 at the Coral Gables campus, Max Orovitz Building, Human Resources Conference room, and on Monday, June 23 at the Miller School campus, Dominion Parking Garage, Human Resources Benefits Office, suite D. An advisor will be at the Rosenstiel campus on Tuesday, June 24 at the Library. To schedule an appointment, call 305-245-7332 or e-mail email@example.com.
Enrolled in a Flexible Spending Account? Unsure about how to use it?
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) are valuable benefits to UM employees. Learn how to get the most out of your Health Care and/or the Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account in 2008. Remember, FSA pre-tax dollars can be used to pay for everyday expenses such as doctor's visits, prescription drugs, deductibles, out-of-pocket expenses, day care, and more. Topics will include a discussion on approved health care and dependent care expenses, how to use your health care HumanaAccess Visa card, FSA deadlines, and how to file claims, among other topics. To attend one of the sessions below, R.S.V.P. by e-mailing firstname.lastname@example.com. Lunch will be served.
Weight Watchers at Work: New 12-week session
The next Weight Watchers at Work 12-week session begins Wednesday, July 2 at the Miller School campus. Four sessions will be held every Wednesday starting at 12 p.m. at the Wellness Center Instructional Classroom. The courses will be held every hour at 12, 1, 2, and 3 p.m. To enroll, pay in full on or before Wednesday, July 2 at any of the sessions. The cost is $123 for new members and $109 for continuing members. The price is prorated for those who join later.
First-time registrants who attend all 12 weeks are eligible for 100 percent reimbursement. Second-time registrants are eligible for 50 percent reimbursement for perfect attendance. For more information, e-mail email@example.com or firstname.lastname@example.com.
Understanding and building your credit score
The Employee Assistance Program offers a seminar that can help individuals better manage their credit profiles. At the end of the seminar, participants will have a better understanding of:
To register, visit www.miami.edu/ulearn. For help with registration, call 305-284-5110 or 305-243-3090. Attend at the Coral Gables campus on Tuesday, July 8, from 12 to 1 p.m. in the Max Orovitz Building, room 139. Attend on the Miller School campus on Wednesday, July 9 from 12 to 1 p.m. in the Dominion Parking Garage, room 155.
If you have questions about any of your UMatter Benefits, visit www.miami.edu/benefits/ask and complete the online form.
Entrepreneurial innovation
"Learning about entrepreneurship implants in students' imaginations who they are and what they might become."
William Scott Green, senior vice provost, dean of undergraduate education, and chair of a panel at the Kauffman Foundation that issued a report on ways in which entrepreneurship programs can be exported from business schools to other units in universities.
The Chronicle of Higher Education
June 20
The arts and the economy
"The official data doesn't show that we're in a recession, but it looks like we're headed in that direction. Definitely the increase in the price of gas and the price of food puts a dent in the income of a big fraction of the population. But it really depends on the type of business. For clubs and entertainment venues, they might be considered a bit of a luxury."
Luca Bossi, assistant professor of economics, on arts and entertainment venues in South Florida and the struggling economy.
June 18
Rules for charitable organizations
"Even if they didn't say 'vote for McCain,' their activities promoted and enhanced McCain. That is something that a tax-exempt organization can't do. There are red flags all over this."
Frances Hill, professor of law and director of the program on taxation, on a Washington think tank opened by allies of Senator John McCain that may have bent non-profit rules while supporting his fundraising agenda.
Chicago Tribune
June 17
Diving ahead: Brittany Viola and teammate J.J. Kinzbach earned invitations to the Olympic team selection camp.
Both divers will now head to Knoxville, Tennessee from July 2-6, for the final selection camp to earn a spot on the U.S. Olympic team.
To learn more, click here.
UM men's basketball climbs in preseason polls
With the start of the 2008-09 season still nearly five months away, the University of Miami men's basketball team continues its climb in the early preseason polls. The Hurricanes are ranked No. 8 by ESPN, No. 15 by Fox Sports, and No. 17 by CBS Sports.
If Miami takes that No. 8 ranking into November, it will be the highest preseason ranking in program history. In addition, it would tie the highest ranking achieved by the Hurricanes – as they were eighth in the nation in the Associated Press Top 25 Poll on March 1, 1960. It would mark the highest ranking for a Miami squad since a No. 9 standing in the AP Poll on March 1, 1999.
To learn more, click here.
Wednesday, June 25 "Understand More About Your Baby, Toddler, or Child." Learn the ABC's of infant temperamant at this lecture. The talk will be at UM Pediatrics South, 8932 SW 97th Ave. For more information, call 305-270-3495.
Wednesday, June 25 Interdisciplinary Stem Cell Institute Seminar. Guochang Fan, research instructor and assistant professor in the Department of Pharmacology and Cell Biophysics at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, presents "Hsp20 and MicroRNAs320: Novel Regulators of Cardio Protection" at 12 p.m. in the Clinical Research Building, conference room 1179. For more information, call 305-243-7999 or e-mail firstname.lastname@example.com.
Wednesday, June 25 Department of Rehabilitation Medicine Grand Rounds. Elizabeth Felix, research assistant professor in the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, will present "Measurement of Pain in Clinical Research" from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. in the Bantle Rehabilitation Center, third-floor auditorium. For more information, call 305-585-1431. The department offers 1 CME credit for attendance.
Thursday, June 26 Hurricane Preparedness State of Union. The Greater Miami Chapter of the American Meteorological Society and the University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science present a public lecture focusing on the dissemination of hurricane forecasting information between scientists, local and international media outlets, and the community at-large. Bill Read, the new director of the National Hurricane Center (NHC) will discuss the planning and preparations underway at the NHC for the Atlantic Hurricane Season. This event is free and open to the public and takes place at the Rosenstiel Auditorium beginning with a reception at 6:30 p.m. The lecture begins at 7 p.m. For more information, click here.
Friday, June 27 Second Annual Interdisciplinary Stem Cell Institute Symposium. The Interdisciplinary Stem Cell Institute hosts its Second Annual Symposium at University of Miami Hospital, South Building, first-floor conference room. The symposium brings together leading experts to discuss novel data on the latest cutting-edge advancements in the field of stem cell research. Discussions with prominent speakers occur from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Breakfast and lunch will be provided. Refreshments will be provided during closing remarks of keynote speakers. Attendance is free; registration is required. For more information and registration, e-mail email@example.com.
The work of Grant Bloodgood: On display at the Wynwood Project Space through July 5.
Through Saturday, July 5 Exhibit: The Work of Grant Bloodgood. Describing his work as "fundamentally about transformation" and "intended to imply a reintegration of the human mind, body, and spirit into its proper relationship with Nature," this exhibit by Grant Bloodgood will be at the Wynwood Project Space, 2200 N.W. 2nd Ave. in Miami. For more information, call 305-284-2542 or e-mail firstname.lastname@example.com.
Through Friday, July 11 Ceramics League of Miami: 58th Annual Members' Exhibition. Attend this exhibition featuring art from members of the Ceramics League of Miami. The exhibit is on display at the CAS Gallery. For more information, call 305-284-2542 or e-mail firstname.lastname@example.com.
Friday, June 27 Egyptian Art Lecture and Exhibit Preview. Attend a lecture from 7 to 8 p.m. presented by Stephen P. Harvey, director of the Ahmose and Tetisheri Project and adjunct assistant professor in the Department of Anthropology, Stony Brook University, titled "Excavating Egypt: Great Discoveries From The Petrie Museum Of Egyptian Archaeology, University College London." Afterward, attend a preview of Eternal Egypt: Photography from the Permanent Collection during a reception from 8 to 10 p.m. Both events occur at the Lowe Art Museum. The lecture is free and open to the public, but regular admission to the reception is $10 and $5 for students. The reception is free for Lowe members. Enjoy light fare and music by Middle Eastern guitar player Pablo Mendoza and cocktails by Bacardi.
Friday, June 27 through Sunday, June 29 OSS 117: Cairo, Nest of Spies. Jean Dujardin puts Mike Myers and Leslie Nielson to shame with his hilarious portrayal of a clueless, self-mocking secret agent. A box-office sensation in France, comic star Dujardin stars as secret agent Hubert Bonisseur de la Bath, a.k.a. OSS 117 who in the tradition of Maxwell Smart and Inspector Clouseau somehow succeeds in spite of his ineptitude. The film screens at Cosford Cinema on Friday at 7 p.m., Saturday at 4 and 8 p.m., and Sunday at 2 and 6 p.m. Tickets are $8 for general admission and are $6 for seniors, UM faculty, staff, and alumni. For more information, visit com.miami.edu/cosford.
Friday, June 27 through Sunday, June 29 Tuya's Marriage. Awarded the Golden Bear at the 2007 Berlin Film Festival and chosen as a New York Times' "Critic's Pick," this is a tender and pleasing tale of a strong, young nomad from a vastly different corner of civilization. When a stubborn, industrious Mongolian desert herder, who cares for 100 sheep, two kids, and a disabled husband, injures her back severely, her only chance for survival is to divorce her husband and seek out a new mate who can care for the entire family. The film screens at Cosford Cinema on Friday at 8:45 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 6 p.m., and Sunday at 4 and 8 p.m. Tickets are $8 for general admission and are $6 for seniors, UM faculty, staff, and alumni. For more information, visit com.miami.edu/cosford.
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Executive Director of Communications
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Jacqueline R. Menendez
by University Communications
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COLUMBUS, Ohio – The real estate market in central Ohio continued to heat up last month.
May had nearly one fifth more new listings, the most in one month since April 2010 and sales skyrocketed by 27 percent, according to the Columbus Board of Realtors.
The 2,756) sales in May accounted for the fifth highest sales month on record.
The median sales price of a home sold in central Ohio in May was $150,000, up 8.3 percent from a year ago.
The number of homes sold across Ohio rose 16.2 percent in May, as the market posted year-over-year gains in activity for the 23rd consecutive month, according to the Ohio Association of Realtors.


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Emergent critics
Books | David F. Wells and others show the flaws in the market-driven church
Tough-minded theologian David F. Wells wants wavering evangelicals to have The Courage to Be Protestant (Eerdmans, 2008). He emphasizes what in these pages we call "biblical objectivity," the idea that even though we are fallen sinners we can know many things about how the world works. Wells criticizes the "emergent church," which tries not to sound arrogant, for under-using Scripture: He states that God "wants us to know. It is not immodest, nor arrogant, to claim that we know, when what we know is what God has given us to know through his Word."
Wells also worries about an emphasis on "self" in churches that are market-driven and have fallen into "a new Pelagianism. That is the heresy that denied original sin." His subtitle, Truth-lovers, Marketers, and Emergents in the Postmodern World, rightly advertises this book as one to give to evangelicals who care about truth and are looking for critical analysis of those latter two categories.
Wells wrote the foreword to a book that could be the perfect gift to those headed toward emergent-cy rooms. Kevin DeYoung and Ted Kluck's Why We're Not Emergent-By Two Guys Who Should Be (Moody, 2008) is an articulate critique of writing by Brian McLaren, Rob Bell, and others. The emergent churches are one response to felt needs, but one reason "throwing out babies with bathwater" has become a cliché is that it summarizes so often our natural responses to discontent.
At a more basic level, some searchers are wondering whether God created the universe. Hugh Ross, in Why the Universe Is the Way It Is (Baker, 2008), shows how scientific fact points to God and His creation of a home for mankind. For example, the gas giant planets-Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune-act like gravitational blockers that absorb or deflect potential colliders such as asteroids and comets. If they weren't exactly where they are and of the size they are, Earth would be pelted and its orbit would be disturbed.
Similarly, if the moon were smaller, Earth's rotational axis would be unstable, our days would be longer than 24 hours (creating massive day-to-night temperature extremes), and tides would not be powerful enough to cleanse coastal seawaters from toxins and enrich them with nutrients. And if we weren't in a dark part of the galaxy, we wouldn't be able to see that the heavens declare the glory of God.
Atheists who hate what they think of as Christianity but are suffering through some dark nights of the soul could benefit from Michael Novak's No One Sees God (Doubleday, 2008). It's a soft-tossing Catholic book that doesn't have precision theology, but its lyrical moments can resonate with those beginning to doubt the verities offered by best-selling atheists.


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The third annual Easy As Pi Road and Trail Race in Portland will benefit the Woodard & Curran Foundation. WMTW News 8's Katie Thompson reports.
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Looking for Covenant Rings? www.hotfrog.com showcases more than 4 businesses grouped by Covenant Rings within US. To find more businesses related to Covenant Rings, and to filter by locality, use the left navigation menu.
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Used to be a die hard Sci-fi fanatic...but my new Twilight obession is quickly overshadowing it...LOL...loving every minute of it!
I am a mother of three rabuncious and energetic kids ages 11,8, and 6. They keep me on my toes.
I read alot in order to escape the rigors of real life and it was my sister who acutally introduce me to the Twilight Saga after raving about it for months. LoL...I never would imagine the world in which I now find myself. I have met a number of fans and have made lifelong friends along the way. A group of us known as the Edge girls met on Twilighters Anonymous and it was one of my fellow Edger's that introduced me to Twilighted. I love them all to pieces and am thrilled to find another site to fill my reading obsession.
10-27-10 Things in RL are on a rollarcoaster right now, so to my darling authors...I will R&R as I have time but know you are not forgotten. I love each and everyone of you and value the journey's I have been on with every story I read. You author's rock and help me thru some tough times and for that I can't thank you enough. =)
1-1-11 Happy New Years!
Wow...hard to believe it is the start of a new year...to all my unbelievable authors; I write this to let you know that RL has really taken a toll. I am trying to catch up but recently I had a setback when my computer was dropped and now I have trouble logging on. As much as I would love to go buy a new computer, I can't with my budget being the way it is right now. So know that I will try and log on as much as I can at home and at work. As busy as work and my three kids keep me, unfortunatly the time I get to spend on here is limited but so very much appreciated. I regain my sanity here so, Thank you all for being there! Have a safe and blessed New Year!
Used to be a die hard Sci-fi fanatic...but my new Twilight obession is quickly overshadowing it...LOL...loving every minute of it!
I am a mother of three rabuncious and energetic kids ages 11,8, and 6. They keep me on my toes.
I read alot in order to escape the rigors of real life and it was my sister who acutally introduce me to the Twilight Saga after raving about it for months. LoL...I never would imagine the world in which I now find myself. I have met a number of fans and have made lifelong friends along the way. A group of us known as the Edge girls met on Twilighters Anonymous and it was one of my fellow Edger's that introduced me to Twilighted. I love them all to pieces and am thrilled to find another site to fill my reading obsession.
The Cullens return to Forks to keep an eye on a new generation of Quileute shape-shifters. They find this new pack of wolves to be not only large, but led by the impulsive Jacob Black. When Edward falls for Bella Swan, who just happens to be Jacob's girlfriend,what will happen between the Quileuetes and the Cullens ?
Amazing banner by Anne Cullen
OH NO do they have any nomadic visitors by chance? The agony of having to wait to find out...but hey it only makes it all the more sweeter. This chapter was filled with lemony goodness...
No vamps, but that's all I'm saying :-)
Thanks for the review!
I wonder how exactly they keep an eye on the young wolves? This is an interesting idea and I can't wait to see where you take this
Bella's responses were good but once she see's Edward in gym class she may just want to die
I wonder how it will all work out with the vamps and wolves...If only Bella knew her boyfriend was a wolf and she was flirting with a vampire...the look on her face would be priceless
Ya I agree about Mike...he seems like a nice guy but still a teenager so most of his reactions written in the book are typical teenage reactions. I am glad you made him a good guy in your story
No Volturi...Excellent
I guess vampires lives are complicated enough than to add the 3 musketeers to the mix
Curious how Bella takes the news
Ahhh when will that boy ever learn that Bella is more than just a friend. I love the pack but geesh Jake is really just going overboard...LOL guess he hasn't learned that when you dead just lie down (no pun intended for our awesome vamps)
I wouldn't mind if you dragged this out a bit...I am enjoying the story.
Emmett is gonna have weeks of fun at Edward's expense...LOL I can't wait
Can I make snikerdoodles with Edward? lol
I am glad Charlie met the family...should put his mind to a bit of ease but what can you say he is a daddy. All daddy's feel the need to protect thier baby girls...I know my husband can't see my lil girl growing up so when the boys come a callin I have a funny feeling it will be comical to see and mortifying for my little girl.
Up next the meadow...*excitedly waiting*
Well for this being your first lemon, you did very well. I was starting to think Jake would hold things off but I was pleasantly surprised that he didn't. I love how she accepts that she is now a part of the Cullen family and it cracks me up that she said her family was scary as hell. Hell ya! But they are fiercly loyal...
I can't wait to see what happens next...
Wow meeting the Cullens was Epic and I so love the Emmett remarks...he had me laughin he entire time. Love it and can't wait to read what happens next...so we get to hear girl talk?
Unfortunately, no girl talk. I'm keeping the whole thing EPOV, and he's much to polite to repeat what he hears ;-) Hopefully the little surprise next chapter will make up for it.
Thanks for the review.
LOL...it's funny to see Tanya jealous...wonder what Alice will make Bella wear...that ought to be good
Who wouldn't be jealous? It's Edward! ;-)
I'm sure whatever it is, Bella won't be happy. I won't make her compain too much, though.
Thanks for the review :-)
Don't for a moment think Jake will all of the sudden be the good friend...That boy has a few serious screws loose if he thinks otherwise...LOL
Haha, I agree. He's expecting everyone to give him a free pass instead of stepping up to accepting responsibility.
What?!? Leah and Sam hurt my Seth!!! *stalks around room thinking murderous thoughts* (Sorry Seth has always been one of my favorites) I sure hope those two get knocked down a notch or two.
Ohhhh Edward will regret being civil to Jacob...wonder what that pup does next. I can't wait for you to share more with us!
Breathe! He'll be just fine. Carlisle worked his magic. ;-)
The next we see of Jacob will be... BIG. That's all I'm saying for now. :-X
*Gasp* * Double Gasp**feels faint*
Holy Hale!!! Edward proposed!.
Way to make a girl fall off her chair in shock... That was brilliant!! *does a happy dance* You surprised me on that one as I wasn't expecting a proposal. Wow!
Can't wait for your next update... stares off into space contemplating
Sorry to hear about your mom but happy that she is doing better.
I loved the visit to Isle Esme, it was great. Jasper punching a shark was hilarious. The "talk" wow, are they really going to wait five years to change Bella? I can't wait to see what happens when they finally tell Charlie they are engaged.
OH No CHARLIE!!!!!!!
Don't get me wrong I'm team Jacob...but in this situation I can't help but be so disappointed in my Jacob. Sigh...
Charlie will be one of them! Oh my Gosh it's just to wonderous to comprehend. I am definatly on needles to see where you take this... I am just so loving how you are weaving you story.
Yes, poor Charlie. He finally gets some attention in a story and look what happens to him. LOL!
While I feel for Billy in this I am not as heartbroken that Jacob is gone...sigh I almost feel like a traitor to Team Jacob...
I definatly will be waiting for your next update...
I'm sorry! Every time I read a review from a Team Jacob girl I feel just a little bit guiltier inside. Maybe I need to have a Team Edward Only banner! LOL
Thanks for the review ;-)
When Edward leaves Bella, the rest of his family refuses. Bella is left scarred and broken by Edward's sudden goodbye; the Cullens are left shocked and torn by his unexpected departure. As Bella and her bloodsucking family grow closer, life begins to return to normal.
But just when everything starts to calm down, unexpected events lead to the one thing that can either save or destroy everything the Cullens have.
Including eachother.
*silent tears fall* Oh I am so happy they chose to stay...I have always wanted them to fight for Bella and this story is fruitation of that hope. Thank you...it was beautiful
Oh so heartbreaking...I am at a lose for words...
*Alice like squeals and bouncing* I am thrilled Bella will be able to go to the Cullens. It is hard to see Bella in so much pain and knowing Edward is in the same pain. I just can't believe how much excitment I have over this. Carlisle is such an aweome dad...I cried for him knowin he wouldn't cry himself...he really should; mabe Bella will help him know that it is ok for him to cry as well...
*More silent tears* Oh how you love to make me cry...but in a good joyful way. This was everything I could have imagined. LOL I love Emmett he's just the greatest with his antics. Jasper...there are no word and I am glad he didn't have to live with the guilt much longer. Rose...oh I sure hope they can be friends. Carlisle and Esme are just so loving...protecting thier kids...sigh...just beautiful.
Again Emmett is the greatest. This family talk went rather well and I couldn't help but cheer at Emmett's suggestion when Bella said Edward would pay for what he'd done. I can't wait for more....scampers off for more.
Oh I couldn't be more proud of Bella for hitting Lauren. It was fabulous. I have no pity for her as she deserved that and more. First day back didn't seem to go to bad and I'm excited about picture time. LOL wonder what they have up thier sleeves.
To Everyone:
Your support is overwhelming. I'm SO grateful to all of you for reading this, and for your reviews. You're all amazing; Thank you all SOO much!!!!!!!
Love always,
All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the intellectual property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of Stephenie Meyer. No copyright infringement is intended.


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It's MTV's World Cup of Rock! The World Cup is the greatest sporting event on the planet, a super-sized stage where legends are born with every strike of the ball, where infamy is just a moment away and where the dreams of millions live or die by the minute. That's why, in the spirit of the 2010 MTV Musical March Madness competition, we've created "The World Cup (Of Rock)," a FIFA-style tournament that takes 16 of the biggest nations — rock-wise (sorry Algeria) — and pits them against one another to determine just which is the most rockingly awesome. Heavyweights like the U.S.A., England, France and Germany are all here, but so are a handful of surprisingly strong sleeper countries. As the Cup progresses, we'll be unveiling the match-ups, and it's up to you to vote your favorites through. In the end, only one nation will be left standing: the world champion of rock.
Spain and Portugal clash in this afternoon's final Round of 16 match in the 2010 FIFA World Cup. They'll play for the honor of being the third European representative left in the tournament (along with Germany and the surprisingly stout Netherlands). Meanwhile, the MTV World Cup of Rock finishes up group play today with the final conflict between two teams trying to advance out of Group D. The knockout round begins Thursday, July 1, so keep voting through Wednesday, June 30 to decide which eight teams will move on.
Denmark vs. Italy
Italy has taken it on the chin in both the actual World Cup and the World Cup of Rock, but they can still rally to advance. On the other side of the pitch, the strong Denmark team (featuring an eclectic mix of indie rock and Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich) looks to move forward. Which squad rocks hard enough to represent Group D in the knockout round of the MTV World Cup of Rock? Only you can decide!
Be sure to vote in all the games in the MTV World Cup of Rock! Which nation's stars rock the hardest and best? Only you can decide!


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Acquitted teacher awaits word on reinstatement
7 a.m. Saturday at the Fred Grand Arena at 421 Aqua Lane in Ramona, and the auction begins at 9 a.m. The auction will be conducted by TNT Auction Co.
More information and photos of the items are available on the company Web site at tntauction.com.
Anne Krueger
Loan, tax programs on menu at luncheon
NATIONAL CITY: A revolving loan program and tax credits are the topics for today's National City Chamber of Commerce 2010 Luncheon Series event.
National City redevelopment manager Patricia Beard will discuss the city's Brownfield Revolving Loan Program, which provides loans to property owners interested in cleaning up their contaminated business and industrial sites. The city received a $1 million grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in October.
The Cal Tax Group will discuss how it helps California businesses in enterprise zones take advantage of state and federal tax credit programs.
Enterprise zones are economically distressed areas targeted for economic development and revitalization.
The luncheon will be from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Paradise Village, 2700 E. Fourth St., National City. Cost is $10 for members, $15 for nonmembers.
For more information, call (619) 477-9339.
After the rains, respite is likely for several days
San Diego County should have no shortage of sunshine and at least a week to dry out after recent rains.
High pressure is building over Southern California after the passage of a weak storm that brought light rain Tuesday night and yesterday morning.
Mostly sunny skies are expected through the weekend. High temperatures should be in the mid-60s at the beaches and inland valleys. Mountain highs should reach the upper 40s or low 50s, and temperatures in the deserts are forecast to climb to the upper 60s.
Ivory Small, science officer at the National Weather Service's Rancho Bernardo office, said a few clouds may drift over the county Saturday.
Then there's a slight chance of light rain Wednesday, but no significant storms appear likely over the next 10 days.
Lindbergh Field, San Diego's official weather station, recorded 0.08 of an inch of rain from the storm that cleared the area yesterday. That brought the city's total since Jan. 17 to 3.38 inches. The average for the entire month is 2.28 inches.
Robert Krier


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questions for submitting large amount of data
Dear list,
With a friend we are running a nova survey (called Dauban Survey) since April 2012. It is briefly described here: www.aspylib.com.
Since September 2012, we detected the variations of >500 known variable stars, and we have measured at least one data point for each one of them every week. I expect the number of variables will easily rise to a few 1000s in the next year. I hope we will have a good coverage of some Mira curves. Observation of known variables is not the primary goal but we would like if possible to submit the data to AAVSO.
At the moment I am going through the description of the "extended format" for submission, and try to see which format we could use. I have a few questions:
1) the system we use is a refractor 80/600 + CCD ST8300 + filter Astrodon exoplanet (cuts everything below 500nm).
We cannot use a standard photometric filter because we loose too many photons and we cannot spend too much time on a given field, in average we observe > 400 fields every night. The Astrodon filter is interesting because it cuts the blue part of the spectrum which is the most variable. The calibration is done with R magnitudes from USNO-B1 catalog (I know it's not the best one but that's the one we use for the astrometric reduction..).
My question is: what kind of filter should we indicate in the AAVSO extended format ? I guess CR is not correct because we have a filter. I see the possibility to indicate O = other filter but it does not seem to be recommended ?
2) for the magnitude calculation we use an ensemble photometry method. We have a fixed set of about 150-200 reference star for each field. We measure the magnitude constants (difference between USNO-B1 magnitude and instrumental magnitude = 2.5*log(flux)) for all these stars. We use the median of all the magnitude constants for our calibration. Using the median allows to remove the outliers and possibly a few variable stars. In principle the method should be very good. So far we did a few comparisons with other softwares and observers, and everything seems quite ok.
Here is my problem: for submission using the ensemble photometric method, I read that AAVSO requests a check star: http://www.aavso.org/aavso-extended-file-format
I don't know how can we find such check stars. If we pick up stars randomly, then I am sure, just by statistics we will pick up a few ones which vary. My impression is that adding a check star may be a source of error. Will the data be accepted without check star ?
Thanks for your help
Clear skies
Jerome Caron
Yes, a check star is required. Without a check star, we have no measure of the reliability of your photometry. While you can state the reliability broadly in your post, someone using your individual measurements from the database has no idea about the photometric quality without the check star.
You do not need to select check stars randomly -- if it is a variable with a comparison star sequence, you may simply use one of the existing sequence stars as a check.
But more fundamentally, regarding your photometry, clear filtered observations are ok for stars that are blue, but they are not good for red stars such as Miras. Such data might be useful for measuring times of maximum when used by themselves, but will have limited use because they're very difficult to combine with other measures such as photometric V,Rc data or visual estimates. Both the zero-point differences and color-dependencies will be difficult for someone using the data to overcome.
I agree with Mathew. Not only is a check star preferable where the referenced magnitude is shown next to your "determined" magnitude, but is also enables the system to reject bogus observations and saves embarrassment! I had some of my observations of NSV 1436 rejected because my check star's magnitude was off by using the wrong reference star magnitude meant to measure against...my fault!
I re-did the reductions and used to correct reference star magnitude and all was fine!
One more thing for clarification. I believe AASVO term "check star" is the 1st check star you assign. This is done immediately after you pick a "reference" star, as in MaximDL. This is usually the brightest star that doesn't saturate your CCD and assign it a standard photmetric magnitude.
Hello Jerome,
Apologies for the belated reply -- we had a long holiday weekend here in the US.
As you say, a "CR" filter designation is probably the best match, since the magnitudes of the red stars won't really be influenced by the blue cutoff. I would suggest three things if you are planning on submitting these to the AID: 1) make sure that you observe them for a long-enough period of time that we can try to understand the offsets between your data and the other data, 2) if these are rapid time-series, please submit nightly-averaged data for the red giant variables rather than rapid time-series, and 3) make a note of the filter in the comments for each observation.
Unfiltered magnitudes for red stars can be very problematic when they appear in a light curve in isolation. If we have several months or years worth of data from your system, we can try to understand them, but if you are submitting just a few observations per star, the red star data will be of limited use, and I would suggest withholding them.
Hi Jerome,
Congratulations on starting a new survey. My understanding is that this is a novae survey, so I am a little surprised that you say adding a photometric filter will decrease the light too much. You are already getting decent light curves at mag 13; adding say an Rc filter would only decrease your throughput by a magnitude or so, still sufficient to detect any nova expected in the northern Milky Way (much less extinction than, say, Sgr, and less distance to reach the outer edge of the galaxy).
I'm glad that you are planning on adding photometric uncertainty. However, even with that, there are a couple of things to watch out for. Taking V15.png for example, which is the light curve for R Vul, your measures cover 9.4-8.3mag during an interval when the Vmag was 13 to 11. This would imply to me that you have a scale error in your photometry; you are including nearby companions that are limiting the faintness of the variable; or it has much lower amplitude in your bandpass than at V. Probably the latter is the correct assumption, as your filter will act primarily like Ic with red miras and not even CR.
If you want to maximize the scientific return, you might consider switching to a photometric filter. Then your observations can be used for many different projects beyond the novae searching. For short period variables, sparse sampling of the light curve is fine as long as you already know the period - it is period searching where the sparseness causes aliasing. We have many good light curves of RR Lyr and Cepheid variables taken with BSM-NM, where observations occur once per night.
You talk about perhaps a thousand variables with perhaps hundreds of data points per star, so a data volume in the few hundred thousand observations range. There are several ways to consider submitting the results: (1) create a database of the observations, and have us link to them or mirror them at HQ, and not specifically submit them to the database; (2) submit only the non-red objects, like binaries or short-period pulsators, where your exoplanet filter will result in measures much closer to CR; (3) submit everything and let it be caveat emptor. We should consider the best approach.
Some comments about your photometry. What magnitudes are you using for comparison stars; are they the Cousins R values or Johnson V? I assume the red points for V15 are for saturated measures; those are best classified as "brighter than". I would delete these before submission as they have far less value. I am somewhat concerned that there is a "jump" in the magnitudes rather than a smooth transition to saturation - perhaps you changed exposure times or something?
Thanks for considering the submission of the photometry to the AAVSO. We'll figure out some way to make it work!
Greetings, Arne and all,
I was looking at one post a few days ago where someone was encouraging CCD V measures of Mira stars which seemed to be rather unnecessary - the visual observers are doing a good job there and with the accumulated knowledge of the last century and more it takes very few measures to keep abreast of how these stars are performing - with the exception of the half a dozen or so which are behaving spectacularly.
This project seems to be in its infancy and will probably change. Since novae are blue objects at birth the idea of a long pass filter seemed strange. If this project can produce good data on some of the really underobserved variables like SR and LPVs it would be useful. But I'm reminded of Sergei Gaposchkin and Cecilia Payne's measures of LPVs a long time ago in something they called 'I' which was a non-standard band and was hard to use in determing epochs of maximum. So salecting a standard filter seems essential if they're to be incorporated in the main database. The idea of a linked database seems sensible and could even be extended to some of the other measures like unfiltered photometry of CVs.
We should be concerned that the large influx of automated and semi-automated CCD measures seems to be affecting the numbers of visual observers. Many of these projects start off with great intentions but then disappear for various reasons. But before they do they often have unexpected consequences. I think the offer is premature and needs attention to the points raised by you.but I really like the idea of setting up a linked database for all of these high volume projects.
WWSG, which I'll be using shortly!
Hello Jerome,
This conversation brings up a number of issues, most notably that the number of surveys are proliferating, and we need to find good ways to make data from these easily obtainable. It also highlights the fact that surveys cannot do all things simultaneously. Systems that are optimized for faint CV monitoring are not ideal for long-term photometry of red variables (and vice versa).
Regarding the filter question, there really isn't a universal bandpass that you can use to submit data, because there are large variations in spectral properties redward of the cutoff of your filter. Your photometry of a G star will have a substantially different response than that of an M star. As Arne mentioned, you detected R Vul at a magnitude of around 9.0 when the V and visual observers had it around 13 to 14. That's likely an I magnitude rather than an R, so even CR isn't appropriate. But if you were doing photometry of a eclipsing binary with only modest B-V colors, your system would be fine.
From Arne's list of options, option (1) might be most appropriate if you are able to serve the data easily. Otherwise, I would suggest only submitting a subset of your stars to the AID, mainly those that have V-I colors blueward of about +1.0 to 1.5. That will substantially restrict the number of stars that you would submit to the AID, but again, it would be hard to understand your observations when plotted against data with better-understood photometric properties.
Regarding your second question, if the NSVS or ASAS objects do not have better localizations from other catalogs, then by all means you should submit the revised positions to VSX. That is especially critical for cases where you have several stars within 30" or so that could be candidates for the variable.
Thank you for discussing these data so thoroughly before moving forward! I think this is valuable work, regardless of how the data are made public and accessible.


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Yes, Christmas is upon us once again.
I like Christmas, in spite of all the crass commercialism and the attempts by all and sundry to get at the contents of my wallet.
Indeed, I can put up with all the shops stocking Christmas cards in September and the TV ads exhorting me to BUY, BUY, BUY!
However, one thing really, really pisses me off fucking big time at this time of year…
…and that's the perpetuation of the Winterval myth:
In 1997 Mike Chubb was working for Birmingham city council during the rejuvenation of the city centre. As the council's head of events he and his team were charged with creating a marketing strategy to cover:
"41 days and nights of activity that ranged from BBC Children in Need, to the Christmas Lights Switch On, to a Frankfurt Christmas Market, outdoor ice rink, Aston Hall by Candlelight, Diwali, shopping at Christmas, world class theatre and arts plus, of course, New Year's Eve with its massive 100,000 audience."
Chubb realised that with so many events competing for visitors, marketing them as individual occasions would be expensive, time-consuming and ineffective in acquiring sponsorship or funding. What the events needed, he decided, was a "generic banner under which they could all sit". His team settled on "Winterval" – a portmanteau of "winter" and "festival".
As Chubb has pointed out several times over the last 14 fucking years, there was never any intent to rebrand, rename or abolish 'Christmas'.
However, this didn't prevent the media from making allegations to the contrary.
Like some rotting corpse, this myth is exhumed every Christmas by people too fucking thick or lazy to concern themselves with the facts behind it and/or zealously intent upon gaining some sort of ideological or political capital from it.
Step forward flatulent fat fuck Eric Pickles – Local Government Secretary – who only a year ago had this to say about Winterval:
"The war on Christmas is over, and likes of Winterval, Winter Lights and Luminous deserve to be in the dustbin of history.
"We live in tough financial times, but there's no need for town halls to play Scrooge. It is in councils' financial interests to draw in shoppers to their town centres at Christmas given the benefits of packed car parks to councils' coffers. Shoppers want to see Christmas lights, Christmas trees, Carol Services and nativity scenes, and councils should not hesitate in supporting them."
It's the Christmas gift that just keeps on giving – as revealed by the number of times its putrescent presence graces not just the red tops, but the broadsheets as well:
To make things worse, it was not a myth copied and perpetuated solely by the tabloids; the broadsheets were equally responsible for repeating it, and perhaps did more to legitimise it than the tabloids. The Sunday Times, for instance, used the myth as a question and answer in three quizzes, twice in 1998 and then again in 2000.
Between them, the Times and the Sunday Times have in fact managed to repeat the myth 40 times in total since 1998, an achievement only surpassed by the Daily Mail, which leads the field with 44 mentions. The Daily Telegraph managed to repeat it 22 times, only slightly behind the Express (26), and a bit further behind the Sun (31). The Daily Mirror only seems to have repeated the myth on four occasions – less than the Guardian, which has repeated it on six occasions, even though it did eventually debunk the myth in several different articles.
However it's not just the Press which seeks to profit from the Winterval myth, but also political parties lying somewhat to the right of the political spectrum.
It offers the cunts a quintessential but totally spurious example of 'political correctness gone mad' and is guaranteed to get their supporters into a real self-righteous lather with kneejerk responses and ignorant pontifications.
Here's a priceless example taken from the Facebook page of a political party when a news story from 2002 (yes, 2002!) about the Red Cross supposedly banning Christmas was chosen as a topic for discussion this week by one of the page's admins*.
Winterville its was something a council came up with in the UK, Birmingham I think because they did not want to use Christmas or solstes because it was Christian and pagan so they came up with that name. Why? Well you guessed it so we don't offend anyone….except of cause those that were already used to the term Christmas for generations. They had one for Easter too, springtide i think..oh and Easter eggs were changed to spring spheres in some places in the us but may have found its way to England
Where do you fucking start with ignorant dogwank like this?
But it's dangerous dogwank too:
It (the Winterval myth) then mutated from a simple rebranding to a calculated attack on Christianity by "atheists", "Muslims", or the "PC brigade" who feared offending "other faiths" or "ethnic minorities". In one extreme example, the South Wales Echo claimed that Winterval was the result of "virulent attacks on religion by atheists", which had led to "new rules such as Christmas being renamed as "Winterval". Who created and enforced this "rule" and who it applied to was not explained in the article.
In all, at least 15 articles directly claim that Christmas was renamed Winterval because of a fear of offending "other faiths". At least a further 10 articles directly claim that Winterval was used to avoid offending "ethnic minorities".
Oh well, even though the whole myth seems to have a life of its own, It's possible to point an accusatory finger at the two chief culprits responsible for its genesis, the Daily Mail and the very aptly named Mark Santer, who was Bishop of Birmingham at the time Birmingham City Council first coined the word 'Winterval'.
In fact, Santer greedily swallowed the whole story like a jizz-guzzling whore and, even more like a whore, sought to profit from it:
In a message to all the churches and clergy in his diocese, he said: "I wonder what madness is in store for us this Christmas?
"I confess I laughed out loud when our city council came out with Winterval as a way of not talking about Christmas.
"No doubt it was a well-meaning attempt not to offend, not to exclude, not to say anything at all."
The message continues: "Now it seems, the secular world, which expresses respect for all, is actually embarrassed by faith. Or perhaps it is Christianity which is censored."
I am unable to find any retraction by this ignorant cunt of his remarks, which lent the issue a certain gravitas that it should never have had in the first place.
However, the Daily Mail has published a retraction, which reads as follows (blink and you'll fucking miss it):
We stated in an article on 26 September that Christmas has been renamed in various places Winterval.
Winterval was the collective name for a season of public events, both religious and secular, which took place in Birmingham in 1997 and 1998.
We are happy to make clear that Winterval did not rename or replace Christmas.
Not, of course, that this will stop the Press, certain political parties and the sort of people who believe what they read in the Daily Mail dredging this myth up again next Christmas, the Christmas after that and so on…
In conclusion, I think we can safely say that Winterval is firmly in place (along with its fellow myths such as school blackboards being banned and children being stopped from singing 'Baa Baa Black Sheep') in the minds of certain feeble-minded members of the UK population as an example of the evils of 'political correctness', 'loony left' politics and 'woolly liberal thinking'.
Never mind such fabrications being a gift to the right, the real gift here is the seemingly limitless supply of stupidity to be found within the UK electorate…
…not to mention their insatiable appetite for lies, innuendo and utter bullshit.
They should be made to read – if they can read – this excellent article here and then be forced to have every word of it tattooed on their arses – all 47 pages…
Its author can have the last word here:
It remains to be seen whether any journalist will dare to repeat the myth as fact again, but this is now largely irrelevant when those who need to justify their own intolerance and hate can still call upon it.
*It seems that the Red Cross got some flak last year (2010) courtesy of the 2002 Mail article:
To reiterate: this story is now nine years old. Many of our shops and offices are decked out in Christmas decorations, and our online Christmas gift shop is open for business. We have in no way "banned Christmas" nor have we discussed doing so. We apologise for any upset or distress caused to supporters who have come across these allegations, but they are simply not accurate and we have gone to some lengths to ensure the correct information is easily available.It is true that we are not a political or religious organisation, for the reasons described in the post below relating to the Red Cross' unique role and neutrality, which help us save lives all over the world. This has been the case since the British Red Cross was established in 1870. But nor are we an atheistic or humanist organisation – people who work and volunteer for us represent all faiths and none and we have always enthusiastically fostered a culture of mutual respect on such matters.We would like to once again wish all our supporters in advance a merry Christmas and a happy new year!
Yesterday, we started getting some comments on our Facebook page from people angry with us for 'banning Christmas', which we haven't, and the story now seems to be spreading on some American websites.
It turns out that these people have stumbled across an article that appeared in the Daily Mail in 2002 and now forms part of the paper's online archive. Unfortunately, the article isn't dated on the Mail's site, which had led some people to believe this was a current news story – although references in it to Sangatte, the Calais refugee camp that closed in 2002, do serve to date it. We denied the gist of the piece strongly at the time.
It looks as if the ignorance of the anti-PC brigade is going to take up even more of the Red Cross' time and energy again this year…
Filed under: A shower of cunts, Annoyances, BBC, Bizarre, cunt, Current affairs, English Democrats, fail, Libertarianism, Media, Rant, shit, The DTP, Total and utter bollocks, twat, Utter cunts, WHOA!, WTF? Tagged: | Baa Baa White Sheep, Birmingham City Council, Bishop of Birmingham, blackboards, Christmas, Eric Pickles, ignorance, It's political correctness gone mad!, Mark Santer, myth, utter dogwank, Winterval


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Android game Townsmen 6 puts you in the role of France's liberator
by Tim McLain
In Townsmen 6, the French Revolution is raging across your homeland. It's your job to work with your local residents (townspeople) to expand your village, construct buildings, gather resources, and generally work day and night to take down the nefarious king.
Freeing France from the king's tyranny is easier said than done. First, there's a complicated control scheme to master. Add in some oddness from time to time, and it will take you a few hours to really get a feel for for game. Once you're comfortable, Townsmen really shines. Upgrading structures is a must, and repelling attacks from the king's soldiers can be difficult.
Expect to lose some territory along the way, but don't give up. You'll need to put your townspeople to work on your behalf, adding in some much-needed, Civilization-style delegation to work to carry the game along. You'll also need to gather local resources to power your schemes, and don't forget to use some good, old-fashioned propaganda to spread your influence whilst training your troops to eventually stick it to the king.
Add in some crazy weather AI, an overhead map view to keep tabs on your important work and a truly non-linear campaign (plus an open-ended mode for hardcore players), and Townsmen 6 roars into my personal top five for strategy games on the Android platform.
I recently learned that Townsmen 6 was awarded the "Best Strategy/Simulation Game of the Year" award by Pocketgamer magazine at a recent Gaming Developer's Conference. In a recent interview, Markus Kassulke, CEO of HandyGames, said: "Townsmen 6 is the highest quality for an international audience, and offers unlimited entertainment for all fans, so it made perfect sense to bring our game to Android as consumers take to the Android platform in droves."
Thanks Markus, and Viva la France!