text: I am having problems re installing my HP 5660 envy printer after Broni cleaned my computer up for me with step by step instructions. My printer will simply not install right. The connection is there and said I am on wifi but when I try to use the HP software icon on my desktop to open the software, it keeps going to a device setup screen. I have gone through this set up repeatedly with no luck in getting the software to work. What is blocking this software to work when the printer has been successfully installed and shows it's on wifi?


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All NBC Universal Cable Nets � News and Entertainment � Show Significant Year Over Year Ratings Growth During First Weeks of Broadcast Season
NBC Universal Cable Networks Responsible for 34 Per Cent of Cable Market Growth in A18-49 Impressions
NEW YORK � October 20, 2008 � The cable networks of NBC Universal, Bravo, CNBC, MSNBC, Oxygen, Sci Fi and USA, all showed strong year over year ratings growth during the start of the broadcast television season (September 24th through October 14th) in both A18-49 and A25-54. While cable television (non-premium) saw increased impressions year-over-year in prime for the period (up 14 per cent in A18-49 and up 17 per cent in A25-54), the networks of NBC Universal alone were responsible for 34 per cent of the overall growth in A18-49 and 31 per cent of the overall growth in A25-54.
For the first weeks of the broadcast season in prime, Bravo is the fastest growing top 25 ad supported cable entertainment network among A18-49, with gains of 66 percent vs. the same time period a year ago. The network currently ranks No. 15 among all ad supported cable entertainment networks and its programming continues to post unprecedented season-over-season gains for every original franchise. The fifth season of the Emmy-nominated and Peabody Award-winning "Project Runway" became the series' highest rated ever in all key demos and its season finale was the No. 1 cable entertainment telecast of the day. Season-to-date thru seven episodes, "Top Design" boasts double-digit growth in every key demographic, up 73 percent among adults 18-49 and 67 percent among total viewers compared to its first cycle. The network's latest hit docu-drama, "The Real Housewives of Atlanta," surpassed the one million viewer mark in only its second episode, up 98 percent in adults 18-49 and up 80 percent in total viewers versus the prior week's series premiere.
CNBC posted a 28 per cent gain over the same period last year - fueled by its critically acclaimed coverage of the economic crisis. CNBC has been at the pulse of the financial crisis with continuous extended live coverage making good on its brand promise to viewers, users and customers to be "First in Business Worldwide. " In addition, CNBC introduced a new hour of personal finance in primetime, "On the Money," quenching a thirst people have for more information and guidance through these turbulent times. Although CNBC's core viewership is based in Business Day, its primetime ratings growth proves viewers continue to turn to CNBC for analysis, information and data anytime and all the time.
On MSNBC, the increase in primetime was an extraordinary 191 percent over the same period last year. The continued success of "Countdown with Keith Olbermann" was a key driver for MSNBC in the first weeks of the season. In addition, the unprecedented launch of "The Rachel Maddow Show" topped CNN's "Larry King" for ten of its first 23 outings. MSNBC ranks second in all of cable for year-to-year growth in the A25-54 demo.
Oxygen has seen growth in prime among key network demos during the opening weeks of the broadcast season compared to the same weeks year-ago, with six out the seven nights of the week posting gains. The network improved +37 per cent in W18-49, +32 per cent in A18-49, and +32 per cent in total viewers in prime. Against aggressive broadcast programming, Monday nights improved 78 per cent in W18-49, +98 per cent for A18-49 and +53 per cent for total viewers. Oxygen's Tuesday night lineup, anchored by "The Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency," has gained substantially for the first three weeks of the broadcast season (+22 per cent in W18-49, +30 per cent in A18-49 and +57 per cent in total viewers).
Sci Fi's year to year growth is up 14 per cent in A18-49 and up 23 per cent in A25-54 and up 28 per cent in W18-49 and up 31 per cent in W25-54. "Ghost Hunters" and "Destination Truth" set series-high numbers in both total viewers and key demoraphics for both hit shows this fall. Original drama, "Sanctuary," was the best scripted series launch since "Eureka" in 2006.
USA is up 24 per cent in A18-49 and up 21 per cent in A25-54 in prime vs. last year during the same period. "House" is off to a great start on USA and has proven to be a ratings success. On Sunday nights, the network has seen a ratings first with its "House" stack delivering the highest ratings in the net's history for a regularly scheduled off-network series (up 53 per cent in A18-49, averaging 1.75MM impressions). Additionally, "House" is out-performing many original series on cable including "The Shield," "The Cleaner," "Raising the Bar" and "Mad Men," by significant margins.
NBC Universal is one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. Formed in May 2004 through the combining of NBC and Vivendi Universal Entertainment, NBC Universal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, and world-renowned theme parks. NBC Universal is 80% owned by General Electric and 20% owned by Vivendi.

subset: commoncrawl


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Brenda Anderson
Senior Lecturer in The Heller School for Social Policy and Management and the Brandeis International Business School
Brenda Anderson is on the faculty at The Heller School for Social Policy and Management and the International Business School at Brandeis University. She also teaches physician leaders in numerous Brandeis executive education programs. Brenda has taught at the University of New South Wales, Sydney, Northeastern University, and Boston University. Prior to entering academia, Brenda worked as an auditor for KPMG Peat Marwick and is a Certified Public Accountant in the state of Connecticut. Her research focuses primarily on behavioral issues in accounting, with an emphasis on the human information processing aspects of professional auditor judgment. Professor Anderson has received research grants from organizations such as the National Science Foundation and the Ernst & Young Foundation. She has published in journals that include The International Journal of Auditing; Auditing: A Journal of Practice and Theory; Behavioral Research in Accounting; and the Journal of the American Taxation Association.
Awards and Honors
- International Business School Teaching Excellence Award (2016)
- Heller Teaching Excellence Award (2015)
- International Business School Teaching Excellence Award (2012)
- Heller Teaching Excellence Award (2005)
- International Business School Teaching Excellence Award (2005)
- Alan Beckwith Teaching Prize, Boston University (1990)
- National Outstanding Dissertation Award, American Accounting Association (1989)
- Ernst and Whinney Grant (1986)
- Anderson, Brenda, Moreno, K. and Maletta, M.. "A Comprehensive Set of Financial Accounting Review Exercises: An Effect to Cause Approach." Advances in Accounting Education 14. (2014): 17-44.
- Anderson, Brenda and Maletta, M.. "Primacy Effects and the Role of Risk on Auditor Belief-Revision Processes." Auditing: A Journal of Practice and Theory Spring (1999): 75-89.
- Anderson, Brenda, Angelini, J. and Maletta, M.. "Instruction, Experience and Initial Knowledge Acquisition: A Study in Taxation." Journal of Accounting Education 17. (1999): 351-366.
- Anderson, Brenda, Wright, A. and Maletta, M.. "Perceptions of Auditor Failure: Views of Judges and Auditors." International Journal of Auditing Fall (1998): 215-232.
- Maroney, J., Rupert T., and Anderson, Brenda. "Taxpayers' Perceptions of Tax Provision Fairness." Journal of the American Taxation Association (1998): 60-77.
- Anderson, Brenda and Maletta, M.. "Auditor Attendance to Negative and Positive Information: The Effect of Experience Related Differences." Behavioral Research in Accounting 6. (1994): 1-20.


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Friday, August 6, 2010
MGHers successfully advocate for injury-prevention state laws
INJURY-PREVENTION SUPPORT: Gov. Patrick, center, signing the off-highway vehicle bill into law at a State House ceremony with guests, including Masiakos, far right
The caregivers at the MGH and MassGeneral Hospital for Children (MGHfC) support the health and well-being of adults and children in many ways. Recently, several hospital caregivers and administrators went a step further in their support of the health of their communities when they played important roles advocating for several injury-prevention state laws.
On July 31, "An Act to Regulate the Use of Off-Highway and Recreation Vehicles" was signed, providing stricter safeguards for the use of all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) by prohibiting children under the age of 14 from operating them. When the bill originally was presented in 2006, MGHfC pediatric trauma surgeon Peter Masiakos, MD, testified at the State House in its support, presenting emergency care data demonstrating that ATVs pose a significant threat to young children.
"Everyone who has worked tirelessly on this initiative is thrilled that it has finally been passed into law to prevent unnecessary deaths of unsuspecting youth," says Masiakos. He attended the private signing of the bill with Gov. Deval Patrick and several of the bill sponsors and supporters, including the Kearney family, who had advocated for the bill on behalf of 8-year-old Sean Kearney, who died due to injuries sustained in a 2006 ATV accident; Senate President Therese Murray; Sen. Steven A. Baddour; Rep. Vinny deMacedo; Rep. Thomas J. Calter; Rep. Peter J. Koutoujian; Rep. Michael A. Costello; and the Masiakos and Lee families.
Two other bills also were passed this summer with the support of Linda Lacke, MPH, MGH Outreach and Injury Prevention coordinator, and Caren Harris, NP, MGHfC Pediatric Surgery nurse practitioner. Lacke and Harris worked with state and community officials to support "An Act Relative to Safe Driving," and "An Act Relative to Safety Regulations for School Athletic Programs." The safe driving law bans text messaging for all Massachusetts drivers, prohibits junior drivers from using cell phones and institutes new license renewal procedures for mature drivers, among other provisions. The safety regulation for school athletic programs comes into effect Sept. 1 and requires high school athletic and band programs to have staff or volunteers, parents and student participants trained in concussion awareness. It also prohibits any student who has or is or suspected of having a concussion from returning to play until he or she has written clearance from a medical professional.
"We are extremely pleased with these three important injury-prevention laws," says Lacke. "Given that we are a Level 1 pediatric and adult trauma center, we see a lot of these cases. With our background on the cutting edge of patient care and research, the MGH's input has been so important to the support of such bills."
For more information about injury-prevention state laws and initiatives, contact Lacke at firstname.lastname@example.com.
Browse the Entire Newsroom Archive


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Whatever your passion, Era Living offers eight unique retirement communities designed to bring you closer to everything you love.
Senior Independent Living and Assisted Living Communities in the Greater Seattle Area
Era Living offers eight premier retirement communities in the Seattle and greater Seattle area. Enjoy a warm and vibrant lifestyle, a vast array of amenities, elegant dining rooms with in-house chefs, rich programming, and compassionate Independent Living and Assisted Living care, as well as Skilled Nursing and Memory Care at select communities.
Whatever your passion, Era Living offers eight unique retirement communities designed to bring you closer to everything you love.
Ida Culver House Broadview
Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Services
The Gardens at Town Square
Ida Culver House Broadview
University House Issaquah
The Lakeshore
Aljoya Mercer Island
Aljoya Thornton Place
Ida Culver House Ravenna
University House Wallingford
The staff at Ida Culver is really superb. Caring. Kind. Warm.
Every day there is something interesting going on. There's always something to do.
Choose a place where you can live like you do at home, but without the headaches! And it's not just where you live. Choose how you want to live.
The minute I walked in the door I was taken with the Gardens at Town Square. It was just like a five-star hotel.
The staff at Ida Culver House are exceptional, warm, and caring.
I feel secure here, I'm safe here, and I'm happy here, and I love the staff…they are so good.
Oh, you couldn't ask for a more wonderful staff!
As soon as I walked in the front door, I knew this was the place I wanted to move to.
The activities committee just finds out wonderful things and places for us to go and see.
This is just like the best resort! It's got everything!


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I'm exploring the web to find sites I like
Carretera Costera Sur Km 12.9 | (formerly Reef Club Cozumel), Cozumel 77600, Mexico
"Great time"
Posted by: craig on Dec 7, 2010
see all reviews
Wyndham Cozumel Resort & Spa in Cozumel Mexico, all inclusive resort, is best known for its friendly service, genuine hospitality, comfortable environment and excellent variety.
Share your experiences with others. Don't forget to send your review to Debbie by using an easy form.
"Great time"
Posted by: craig
on Dec 7, 2010 >
2 contribution(s) United States of America
Visited on: Aug, 2010 | Leisure | Family and Kids
782 people found this review helpful
It makes me laugh to read some of the comments. This in NOT the states, you are on Mexican/Caribbean time and pace, kick back and relax!!. You can pick the rookies out a mile away! I have stayed all over Mexico and the Caribbean (from 6 star to 1 star properties) and have returned to Cozumel because of it's laid back slower pace. We were here for 10 days this time in mid August. Biggest decision every day was what color swimming suit to put on and whether to go diving!!
Resort was about 1/2 full. economy...
Prepaid transportation, walked out terminal door, got into van and was at resort in a few minutes. Checked right in and went got something to eat/drink and sat on the beach to have lunch. No line when departing, got to airport too early, had to kill 90 minutes. Planes come in, empty out/load up head back to US.
I don't go on vacation to stay in my room. It was clean, plenty of hot water, a/c worked too good almost!! The the maids did an excellent job everyday.
Restaurants and Bars:
Had no problem with any of the food selection. Hint: Don't go to Mexico and order Lasagna. Had cieviche everyday and lots of excellent guacamole. Still had the salad, soup, bread and desert bar in the main restaurant which I loved. Waiters and staff were efficient and never had any bad food. (some just better than other depending on your taste.) Fish was incredible!! Came in from a night dive and got to the restaurant couple of minutes after they had closed, the manager still seated and took good care of us. The snack bar had a good variety of items that were freshly prepared to order.
They were busy working on the empty rooms, looked into several after they were finished and they were spotless from top to bottom. Grounds were spotlessly groomed. Talked to the Management about paint on the outside of some of the building and they said it had been a very wet summer were working as fast as weather permitted. Pools were clean and warm.
Activities on and off the Resort/Hotel:
Nice long beach, excellent snorkeling is literally right off the beach. Saw rays, eels, and tons of fish. Bring your water shoes and a fold up floaty.
Rented a car one day and went into to town and had a great time walking and shopping. (Check to see how many cruise ships are that day). Afterward we drove around the island and saw thousands of turtle nests on the east side. Couple of good bars and places to eat over there. Lots of other things to do and see around the island or catch a ferry over to Playa del Carmen.
Sailboats, cayaks, snorkel equipment, etc. Just walked up and picked out one. Had beach and other activities going all the time
Other Comments:
We (3) dove with Sand Dollar for 8 days in August 2010 and could not have asked for better service. Went on both day and night dives. Sand Dollar diving is an excellent operation, small groups, never more than 6 in any of the groups, several boats. Dive Masters and crew work to ensure you are comfortable with everything before you go off the boat. Slow easy dives at all depths. Turtles, eel, lobster and tons of fish every dive. They let you dive at your own pace and keep a sharp eye on the less experienced people. Laid back, no hurry diving.
"Great beaches and dive shop and boats on site!!!"
Posted by:
peter on Jun 22, 2010 >
1 contribution(s) United States of America
Visited on: Jun, 2010 | Leisure | Solo
835 people found this review helpful
I went to this resort right after being seperated and went with the purpose of diving and putting my past behind me. It was a great place with a dive shop and dock right on property . The drinks were always cold and the food hot and good. what else could someone ask for while on vacation. Staff were accommadating and the rooms were nice(not amazing ,but not just clean)
"Wyndham big Mistake"
Posted by:
Shannon on Jun 18, 2010 >
2 contribution(s) United States of America
Visited on: Jun, 2010 | Leisure | Family and Kids
813 people found this review helpful
We purchased a 'vacation club' in 2003 and traveled to Cozumel almost every year and enjoyed our stay here UNTIL we arrived this year with our son (8 years old) and are told we are limited access to the resort bc the hotel has gone 'ALL ADULT'!!!!! We were NOT notified of these changes and were told 'sorry' upon our arrival & that we could leave our kid in 'kids club' in order to enjoy the 'all adult' area of the resort. Yeah right, who is going to leave their kid in a foreign country with complete strangers for hours on end to enjoy other areas of the resort!!??? We were limited to less that half of the resort and there were big signs posting 'No one Under 18 Beyond this point'...needless to say we caught a cab to find another resort to spend the week!!! We lost our maintenance fees and are currently trying to receive our all inclusive money back...we didn't stay/eat/drink there so it's only fair for a refund, right? Waiting for my apology that has yet to come!!!
It's not Mexico's fault that some owners at a resort are scumbags with no customer service skills!!! We love Cozumel...Wyndham Reef Club not so much! I believe Wyndham has made a big mistake in going All Adult!!!! And we will never stay there again as long as it's all adult!
Your Arrival:
No customer service skills whatsoever!!
Restaurants and Bars:
Restaurants and Bars in the 'family' area close and you will not have access to drinks or food after dinner time...where the all adult area is open later in the evenings. No late night snacks or drinks by the pool!!
Other Comments:
Wanted to leave a ZERO flower rating but required something which explains my ONE flower rating.


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The Laboral, a centre for art, culture and business
La Laboral
The Laboral Culture Centre is a complex covering 130,000 square metres, designed to be an artistic and cultural venue. Located in the Region of Asturias, in northern Spain, it offers modern surroundings, born from the reinvention of a spectacular classicist construction built more than 50 years ago, now an example of innovation applied to culture.
Gijón, in the Region of Asturias, is home to a cultural centre that is stunning for its modernity and investment in innovation. This is the Laboral Culture Centre, a complex that was built in 1948 and which has been reinvented to promote artistic and industrial creation. Come and discover it, and explore a 21st-century cultural centre built according to the ideals of classicist architecture.
A space for art
The Laboral Theatre has capacity for 2,000 people and boasts the latest, large-scale technology, such as virtual sound and a stage area suitable for the most ambitions representations.
Business centre
The Laboral is also an ideal setting for business meetings and congresses. Both the Paraninfo Auditorium and the Theatre are suitable for such events. The Theatre's Painting Room is especially charming. It has capacity for more than 300 people and a huge mural in fresco. There is also a Café with direct access to the Paraninfo area. It has a large room reserved for cocktail receptions and lunches.
Its geographical location, barely 40 kilometres from Asturias airport, and the excellent bus services operating to centre of Gijón are additional advantages for the Laboral as a business centre.
Architectural delights
The majesty and size of its buildings will not leave you indifferent. The Centre is set around a large square with views of some of the complex's most emblematic places: the Theatre, the Tower and the Church.
The Tower is 130 metres tall, and means the Laboral can be seen from afar. It has a viewpoint with access by lift, offering stunning views of the site itself and of Gijón, flanked by the sea and the surrounding mountains.
Constant reinvention
The Laboral Culture Centre was inaugurated in 2007, but it is being constantly reinvented. Besides the Theatre, the Paraninfo Auditorium, the Art and Cultural Creation Centre or the Tower, here you will also find the Upper School of Dramatic Art, the Asturias Region Broadcasting Company, a library, and several faculties of Oviedo University. In this way, the Laboral consolidates itself as northern Spain's only centre bringing together modernity, business and culture in the same complex.
If you would like more information on the Laboral and its programme of activities, go to its official website.
Also of interest:Getting to Asturias


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Bolduc Named CAA Swimmer of the Year, Harrison Diver of the Year
August 23, 1999
By ODU Athletics
By ODU Athletics
RICHMOND, Va. (April 21) -- Old Dominion' swimming and diving team was honored by the Colonial Athletic Association as senior swimmer Mary Kay Bolduc (Bay City, MI) won her fourth consecutive CAA Women's Swimmer of the Year title and junior diver Kevin Harrison (Bethpage, NY) won CAA Men's Diver of the Year.
Bolduc becomes the first athlete, male or female, in the history of the CAA to win player of the year honors four times. She set meet records in capturing the 200, 500 and 1650 freestyle events at the CAA Championships in March.
Harrison, the 1997 CAA Rookie Diver of the Year, grabs his first CAA Diver of the Year honors. He won both the one meter and three meter dive competitions at the CAA Championships and qualified for the NCAA Deep Zones, a regional for the NCAA Championships.


text:
MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. – A Scott Ferguson (Roswell, Ga.) three-point play with five ticks left capped an amazing night for the senior and gave Georgia College men's basketball (6-4, 2-1 PBC) a 63-61 victory over UNC Pembroke (8-5, 1-2 PBC) Thursday night in the Centennial Center.
Ferguson finished with a career-high 28 points, going 11-for-19 from the floor, including a trio of three-pointers. He added six boards to the cause.
With just five seconds remaining and the Bobcats down one, junior Aaron Robinson (Lawrenceville, Ga.) made a diving grab of a loose-ball offensive rebound and the bench called its final timeout to avoid a tie-up.
On the next play from the baseline, Robinson found Ferguson curling around a screen, who hit an 18-footer from the baseline and then was knocked to the ground by a Brave defender. The one point lead became two after the free throw, and the Braves failed to get a shot off on the offensive end as time expired.
Ferguson was flanked by 12 points off the pine for Nate Hamilton (Snellville, Ga.), hitting three of his own from long range. Senior Tarrence Chatman (Macon, Ga.) had nine points to go with four rebounds.
The Bobcats edged UNCP in field goal percentage, shooting 45 percent (23-51) and the Braves just 41 percent (26-63). While Georgia College doubled the Braves in threes (6-3), UNCP made up for it with extra chances, out-rebounding the Bobcats 19-11 on the offensive glass and 39-31 overall.
Forward Brandon Winford led the Braves with 13 points, adding eight boards. Shahmel Bracket had 12 points, while reserve Griffin Pittman added 10.
A tight ballgame throughout, the contest featured 15 lead changes and the score was tied on six occasions. Neither team posted a double-digit lead.
The Bobcats return to action Saturday, Jan. 5 at 3:30 p.m. hitting the road to North Georgia.
The Georgia College Department of Athletics, two-time winners of the PBC Commissioner's Cup, sponsors 11 varsity athletic programs at the NCAA Division II level. As a Division II program, Bobcat Athletics prides itself on balancing the life of the student-athlete, evidenced by the teams' multiple appearances in post-season competition as well as documented academic success and community-service involvement. Sign up at www.twitter.com/BobcatSports and www.facebook.com/gcbobcats for up-to-the-minute reports, and visit www.GCBobcats.com for more information, and to nominate your favorite former Bobcats and Colonials to the GC Athletics Hall of Fame.


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A heartfelt re-imagining of an old favourite harks back to Hollywood's golden era, writes Michele Manelis
When director Sam Raimi started making Oz The Great and Powerful he was inspired by a time when film-making was about adventure, fantasy and wonder - back in 1939, when the first Oz film, starring Judy Garland as Dorothy, was made.
"I love the golden era of Hollywood," says Raimi, best known for the Spider-Man trilogy. "The original Wizard of Oz is probably most people's favourite movie. As a child I grew up with it, and it made me cry every time I saw it. It was also the scariest movie I'd ever seen as a kid."
His Oz film bucks the trend of recent adaptations of fairy tales such as Snow White and Hansel & Gretel or Alice in Wonderland, which have all been revamped in a shroud of cynicism and dark humour to appeal to adult sensibilities. Parents, you need not fear having to explain any inappropriate behaviour to the kids with this version of Oz.
And the modern-day wicked witches, played by actresses Rachel Weisz (as Evanora) and Mila Kunis (as Theodora), are unlikely to scare the living daylights out of kids, like Margaret Hamilton does as the Wicked Witch of the West in the original.
One parent in particular who appreciates Raimi's take on Oz is actress Michelle Williams, who stars as Glinda the Good Witch. The three-time Oscar-nominated actress and mother of 7-year-old Matilda (whose father is the late Heath Ledger), says she loves the fact the humour in the film isn't mean or sarcastic.
"You can bring your whole family without cringing when something unseemly happens," she says.
Inspired by L. Frank Baum's 1900 book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Oz The Great and Powerful is the prequel to the The Wizard of Oz. It is told from the point of view of the Wizard, played by James Franco.
"The story takes place 25 years before Dorothy, the Lion, the Scarecrow or the Tin Man were there," explains Raimi. "This is the story of how the Wizard got to the Land of Oz and how he becomes the Wizard. He starts out as a small-time magician and becomes the great man he always dreamed he could be."
Raimi worked with Franco for 12 years during the Spider-Man films, in which Franco played villain Harry Osborn. So he knows the actor well, and it's presumably why he feels he can speak candidly about the 34-year-old star.
"When I first met him he was a 21-year-old, selfish, full-of-himself young actor. At that time he had some less admirable qualities, but as the years went on I saw James grow up. I saw a generosity he had with the other actors and a goodness in him; I saw his soul mature. He became a much sweeter, kinder, gentler person as he reached his late 20s. I've seen him outgrow his darker qualities, but I know they exist in him. His history was everything I needed for this character to take this journey."
Franco, who as well as being an actor is a writer, director, producer and author of a book of short stories, agrees with Raimi's summation of him.
"Yeah, when I was younger I dropped out of UCLA and worked at McDonald's and went to acting class, dreaming about becoming a great actor, and about greatness.
"[But] now I can say I've achieved everything I wanted; I've worked with my favourite directors, I've done projects I'm proud of and if I'm honest with myself, I've been very fortunate. Nowadays, I don't spend as much time on pursuits that involve only myself," he says with a smile.
These days, Franco is back at UCLA teaching film production. "It takes me out of myself and I get to provide students with opportunities they've only dreamed about. It's what makes me happy and is a great gift for me," he says.
His lofty acting aspirations in his younger days are another quality he has in common with his Oz character, Oscar Diggs. The lowly circus magician has dreams of greatness and when he is plunged into the Land of Oz he undergoes his transformation into the Wizard of Oz.
When casting the witches, Raimi also went for actresses who had similar personal qualities to their characters. Not that Weisz is wicked and Kunis is a soft touch in real life. But, "with Rachel Weisz, she's a witch who wants power. I believe Rachel has that kind of power and she has that command," he says. "With Mila Kunis, who plays her sister, Theodora, I needed someone you could believe was innocent and who could have been seduced by the wizard and left heartbroken. I thought Mila had that quality in spades," he says. "And as for Michelle Williams, well, we had to believe that as the good witch she was a truly good soul. The audience is smart and you can't fake that kind of thing. So, that ruled out most of the actresses in Hollywood," he laughs.
Raimi's fantasy world was made for a reported US$200 million ($240 million). The production employed 700 CGI artists to bring it to life and can be seen in traditional 2D, as well 3D formats.
This was Raimi's first foray into digital 3D but being the old-school-loving director that he is, he has his own personal visual taste. "I think we've lost a lot with digital. I still miss Technicolor and I don't think we've recreated the beauty of that in our modern systems. Even if we can come up with an affordable system that could recreate what they did in 1939, I think it would be a giant step forward."
And unlike many directors who see 3D as revolutionary mainstay on the film front, Raimi's adamant there's not a future for the format unless the powers that be can get rid of the glasses. "They're cumbersome and annoying. Who wants to wear those things? They need to figure out how to put 3D on the flat screen because there are headache-inducing qualities that I personally experience. It makes your brain work too hard to combine two images into one."
Regardless of how you see Oz The Great and Powerful, Raimi's main aim was to deliver a story from the heart. "I've always loved the classic Disney pictures and this was an opportunity for me to make my own Disney movie. I hope Walt Disney would be proud."
What: Oz The Great and Powerful
Who: Director Sam Raimi and actor James Franco as Oscar Diggs/The Wizard of Oz
Also starring: Michelle Williams as Glinda the Good Witch, Rachel Weisz as Evanora, Mila Kunis as Theodora and Zach Braff as the voice of Finley the Flying Monkey/Frank, who is Oscar's circus assistant
In cinemas: March 7
- TimeOut


text:
PaulG222 necesitaba un nuevo diseño de otro y lanzó un concurso de diseño en 99designs.
Un ganador ha sido elegido entre 11 diseños de 2 diseñadores freelance.
SkyDroid - Golf GPS is a top selling Golf GPS application for Android Phones.
It gives golfers the distances they need on every hole of the golf course, plus distances to features like water hazards, bunkers, etc.
Plus golfers can get the distance to any point on the course just by holding your finger on the satellite image.
We are currently listed in the top 5 of paid Sports applications on the Android Market, and have a 4.5 out of 5 star rating by our users.
See http://www.skydroid.net for more details.
SkyDroid - Golf GPS and skydroid.net are owned/sold/operated by Goldstein Technologies LLC
Android Phone users and Golfers !!
Golfers are a pretty mixed bunch, but the majority of serious golfers are probably over 25 years old, mostly male, but not completely.
This is a simple project. We have an existing icon (icon.png) which we just need in 2 different sizes. Plus we have one promotional image that is needed. So 3 images total.
The details are below. The icon image and thumbnail image should look substantially like the icon.png image that is attached, but larger and not just scaled up using image-resize command as that will cause it to blur.
The promotional image can be comprised of the icon image with an intersting background or someway to get it to stand out. See android_market.png and android_market2.png (attached) these show some promotional type images just below where it says "Apps|Games|Verizon" in android_market.png or below "Top Paid| Top Free| Just In". But note that these promotional images are a different size than the required one (290x140)
The promotional image should scale well so that it looks good when viewed on the web with 96 dpi monitors as well as on high resolution phones that can go as high as 240dpi.
Icon Image (based on icon.png attached)
A representative icon for display on the desktop of the mobile device after app installation
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Worker Co-ops: Green and Just Jobs You Can Own
|Omar Freilla wants to see worker co-ops, like ReBuilders Source, everywhere. ReBuilders Source, owned and operated by workers from the South Bronx, sells salvaged building materials that would otherwise be destined for a landfill. Photo by Erica McDonald for YES! Magazine
Difficult times call for creative strategies. Time and again during periods of economic hardship and market failure, cooperatively owned businesses have emerged as a democratic, grassroots, and DIY response. It happened during the economic upheavals of the 19th century and again during the Great Depression.
Today, as the current economic crisis deepens, co-ops are again coming to the fore as producers and consumers seek stable sources of employment, goods, and services. There are no easy numbers to quantify this growth, but signs of a new upsurge are becoming clearer. The farmer-owned agricultural cooperative Land O'Lakes, for instance, chalked up its strong performance in 2008 to its co-op status.
Others, especially the recently laid off, want in on the action. Melissa Hoover, the executive director of the U.S. Federation of Worker-Owned Cooperatives, says that over the past year her organization has seen "a spike in calls requesting technical assistance, information, and loans to start a co-op." Adam Schwartz at the National Cooperative Business Association echoes that and adds that he's seen especially strong growth in food co-ops. These are "traditionally an urban phenomenon," he says, "but now we're also seeing it in small towns in Indiana or Colorado."
Another sign of growth is the rise of the co-op internet suffix. The .coop domain, which can only be used by active cooperatives, has gained 5,800 addresses since its inception in 2000.
Nonprofits Take the Lead
The pattern of co-ops proliferating in tough times seems to be repeating. Yet the current upsurge is not identical to the ones that came before. While political parties or social movements spearheaded earlier surges, nonprofits are taking the lead today. "I think it's really telling that the growth is coming from the nonprofit sector," Hoover says, because "social movement energy has been funneled into nonprofits."
Consider the case of Green Worker Cooperatives, a nonprofit created by South Bronx native Omar Freilla. Through his organization, Freilla aims to cultivate a whole network of worker-owned green businesses in his hometown, the traditional dumping ground for New York City. The first of these co-ops, ReBuilders Source, began operations last year as a discount retailer of used and surplus building materials. The idea is to provide an alternative to the landfill for some of the 1,900 tons of construction waste that pass through the South Bronx every day.
Freilla seeks not only to cut waste but also to incubate an attitude of self-sufficiency. "I've seen a great deal of personal growth among the four members of ReBuilders Source," he says. "There is something very real and very different about not just being your own boss, but being your own boss together with other people."
ReBuilders Source is only the beginning of Freilla's vision, which is to see worker co-ops everywhere in the South Bronx. And other nonprofits are working for the same thing. An organization in Brooklyn called The Center for Family Life has founded three co-ops since 2006 that focus on cleaning, home-repair, and child care. And in Cleveland, a partnership among local nonprofits, hospitals, and a university has helped to organize the Evergreen Cooperative businesses, poised to become the largest family of co-ops in the country.
Worker-owned cooperatives such as ReBuilders Source are one of four different types of cooperative, each of which addresses a particular shortcoming of the mainstream economic system.
Worker-owned cooperatives like ReBuilders Source and the Equal Exchange coffee company offer workers more control over decisions and allow them to share in the profits. Producer cooperatives such as Sunkist, Land O'Lakes, and Organic Valley share processing and marketing costs to get better prices in commodity markets. And purchasing cooperatives like Ace and True Value pool their buying power to get lower prices.
Consumer cooperatives, though, constitute the great majority of co-op memberships in the United States. This type ranges from the tiniest cooperative grocery stores, day-care services, and housing projects to huge credit unions, utilities, retailers, and financial service companies. Each one allows consumers to reduce their costs and achieve social and environmental benefits by owning the firms that supply them with goods and services.
Credit unions in particular represent one of the steadiest sources of growth for the co-op movement. This should come as no surprise, as financial security is essential to the livelihood of families, and credit unions generally opt for sound long-term investments over the financial shenanigans that recently brought down a slew of private banks in a domino-like cascade.
So while the number of individual credit unions has fallen since 1969, membership and total assets have grown consistently over the same period. Studies by the Credit Union National Association show that the number of credit union members in the U.S. doubled to about 89 million over the past 30 years, while total credit union assets doubled to a whopping $825 billion in just 10 years.
While credit unions represent a particularly successful part of the co-op sector, a new study by the University of Wisconsin's Center for Cooperatives points to a long-term gradual growth throughout the movement. There are now almost 30,000 cooperative businesses in the U.S., and they generate about $500 billion in revenue and $25 billion in wages. The Center also found 350 million co-op memberships, with all but 10 million of them in consumer cooperatives.
More Than Money
The cooperative model presents a stark contrast with conventional corporations, and not only in terms of its financial stability. Co-ops offer shared ownership and democratic control. Those who benefit from the enterprise own it, and own it as equals: one member, one vote. The purpose of the enterprise is to benefit its members, not to use their economic activity as the basis for someone else's returns.
Most co-ops also embrace the seven principles spelled out by the International Co-operative Alliance (ICA):
- Voluntary and open membership
- Democratic member control
- Member economic participation
- Autonomy and independence
- Education and training
- Cooperation among cooperatives
- Concern for community
As Ivano Barberini, president of the ICA, observed in a March 2009 "Open Letter to the Governments of the G20," this model presents a true and viable alternative, a "secure, stable and sustainable model of business owned and controlled by 800 million people worldwide."
Building a Movement
Co-ops are attractive for their economic stability and their enlightened principles. Yet there are obstacles to their continued growth. Co-ops, like other democratic institutions, can be messy, slow, conflicted, and political. In addition, cooperatives have historically had difficulties accessing capital through conventional sources of either debt or equity. And there is a huge ongoing need for education aimed at helping members sharpen their business and management skills, while deepening their understanding of and commitment to co-op values.
Dedicated boosters of the co-op movement are striving to tackle these dilemmas. On the problem of capital funds, for instance, the National Cooperative Business Association is about to launch a cooperative equity fund, in which people would be able to invest money to help co-ops grow. Cleveland's Evergreen businesses are launching a fund designed to do the same thing on the local level.
Despite the difficulties, co-ops seem like an idea whose time has come—again. In purely economic terms, they neatly align the interests of ownership, production, and consumption in a way that investor-led capitalism does not. And they firmly ground those economic interests in the larger field of social welfare and democratic values. Cooperatives are not a panacea. In fact, they are likely to be far more difficult to run than the top-down, single-bottom-line focused companies of the 20th century. But they offer us several hundred years of experience that may better guide us in the 21st.
|James Trimarco and Jill Bamburg wrote this article as part of The New Economy, the Summer 2009 issue of YES! Magazine. James is a YES! consulting editor and freelance writer. Jill is a co-founder and member of the core faculty at the and a member of the board of the Positive Futures Network, publisher of YES! Magazine.


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"A promising premise...dedicated teen fantasy fans might enjoy the unsual atmosphere of the Renaissance fair setting in this first book in the planned Faire Folk Trilogy." --VOYA
Check out the news page for information about Keelie's new adventure coming in August of 2014!
The thrilling conclusion to Keelie Heartwood's second trilogy!
Returning to the High Mountain Renaissance Faire in Colorado, Keelie Heartwood is looking forward to spending the summer with her two favorite elves: her dad and her boyfriend Sean. But nobody is crazy about her new, harmless (so far) pet goblin; and when word surfaces of a nearby goblin army, the elven high counsel unfairly points the finger at Keelie. Not even Sean believes she's innocent. Someone is using dark magic, it seems, to weave false rumors and set dangerous fires. Could there be an old enemy in their midst?
Praise for The Faire Folk Trilogy
"New and old characters combine in a breakneck plot that will have readers turning pages in class
and long after bedtime."-ForeWord Magazine
The Goblin's Curse
Book 3 of THE SCIONS OF SHADOW TRILOGY
Publisher: Flux
Release date: (June 2012)
Trade Paperback
Young Adult/Fiction
The Goblin's Curse The Quicksilver Faire Shadows of the Redwood
The Secret of the Dread Forest Into The Wildewood The Tree Shepherd's Daughter
Praise for The Scions of Shadow Trilogy
Review of "Shadows of the Redwood: The Scions of Shadow Trilogy, Book One" November issue of Renaissance Magazine:
Gillian Summers's "Faire Folk Saga" continues with "Shadows of the Redwood," Book One of the new "Scions of Shadow Trilogy." Summers brings back most of the key players that made the last trilogy so endearing, and adds a few more along the way.
Keelie Heartwood, now aware of and comfortable with her half-Elven heritage, travels with her irascible Elven grandmother and her feline guardian, Knot, to a Shakespearian Festival in the redwoods of California. While selling wares at her father's booth, Keelie must also help her grandmother find the mysteriously vanished Tree Shepherd of the redwoods. Her task isn't made any easier by the trees themselves, who are startlingly powerful, and very angry.
"Shadows" features more complexity in its plot than its predecessors and Heartwood's strange world of renfaires and fairies has been fully fleshed out, paving the way for Keelie to embark on more adventure. . .Summers's colorful cast of characters sweeps the reader along in Keelie's quest to heal the Redwoods.
"Shadows of the Redwood" contains what should be expected from a young adult series: action, humor, and a romantic thread between the protagonist and her long-time crush, Sean. Yet it also touches upon a few poignant themes, especially during Keelie's farewell trip to her old home, as she grapples with the reality that her life has unequivocally changed, and with it, her view of the world.
All in all, the story remains a fast-paced fantasy, full of unique and lovable characters drawn in a modern-day world, with a bit of renfaire atmospheric fun thrown in. Fans of the first series will not be disappointed by Summers's latest venture, and new readers should not feel lost if they decide to pick up the story in its second trilogy.
Praise for the Faire Folk Trilogy
The Tree Shepherd's Daughter
"The constant action, both magical and otherwise, will keep [readers] interested in Keelie's fate."
—School Library Journal
"One of those remarkable tales in which the reader becomes completely immersed... It will be enjoyed not only in its own right, but also will have readers eagerly anticipating books two and three in the promised trilogy."—KLIATT
Into the Wildewood
"Compelling and beautifully written…a great follow-up to an already breathtaking first novel.
Fans of the series will be very satisfied."—TeensReadToo.com
"Into the Wildewood brings a fresh perspective to the genre with a crackerjack plot and razor sharp writing."
—ForeWord Magazine
The Secret of the Dread Forest
"The pleasant mix of fairy dust and romance-hallmarks of the previous two books-is still present in The Secret of the Dread Forest. The book zips along-fans of the series will not be disappointed."—VOYA
"New and old characters combine in a breakneck plot that will have readers turning pages in class
and long after bedtime."—ForeWord Magazine
Home | Read | About Gillian | Blog | Recipes and Crafts | Keelie's World | News | Contact | Appearances
All content copyright © GillianSummers.com 2007-2014. All rights reserved.
Site and graphics by Glass Slipper WebDesign.


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Panoramic view of the Libyan Sea and the harbour of Chora Sfakion, Sfakia, Crete, Greece


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GRAHAM � Steve Carter resigned from the Alamance County Human Relations Council�s board of directors this week, less than a year after he was appointed.
Carter sent a letter to the Alamance County Board of Commissioners addressed to Chairman David Smith on Monday informing the commissioners that he was resigning from the council. The commissioners appointed Carter last May after the council had recommended his appointment.
Carter, of Burlington, is a retired banker who was scheduled to serve on the council through December 2014. He has lived in the Alamance County area for the past 11 years and is head of the Alamance County Tea Party.
�Please accept my resignation from the Alamance County Human Relations Council effective immediately,� Carter�s letter stated. �This resignation is directed to the Chairman of the County Commission due to the fact that there does not appear to be a legitimate team of officers currently serving the HRC.
�Although I fully understand and support the original mission of the HRC, through my involvement it has become clear that the council is no longer focused as it was originally directed by the County Commission,� the letter stated. �In fact it is unclear what, if any, mission the HRC now pursues. In the seven months I have attempted to be of service there has been no activity taken in the public�s interest.
�Then in the most recent meeting the HRC �elected� me treasurer in absentia, which while flattering, is not commonly accepted procedure for any organization, be it public, or a private corporation using public funding. Finally, I am also concerned that due to a scheduling conflict I may not be able to contribute the time necessary to serve the organization to the best of my ability. While I continue to hold the highest regard for the organization�s original goals, the circumstances described above cause me to believe this to be the best course of action.�
CARTER SAID FRIDAY that he wanted to serve on the council to help develop solutions to address problems in the community, but didn�t believe the council�s leadership valued different points of view. Carter said he wanted to serve on the council as an advocate for the community and not as an activist.
Carter said demands of his work schedule moving forward would prevent him from attending the council�s meetings on a routine basis.
Human Relations Council Chair Shirley Conyard said Friday that Carter attended about three council meetings as a member. She said that the council never elected Carter treasurer, as he claimed in his letter.
Conyard said during the council�s last meeting Tuesday, it was suggested that the council could ask Carter if he was interested in serving as treasurer based on his banking and finance background, but that no action was taken. Carter was not present at that meeting.
She said there are currently 11 members on the 24-member human relations council board of directors, and that five new member recommendations would be presented to the county commissioners Feb. 17 for consideration. The treasurer position remains unfilled.
Conyard said the human relations council hasn�t received any public funds from the county during the past three years. She said funds spent by the council for scholarships have been made possible through the council members� private donations.
Conyard said the human relations council�s mission statement hasn�t changed, and the council was committed to continuing to serving the county.
It wasn�t until Friday that Conyard became aware that Carter had resigned from the council. Conyard became chair of the human relations council Jan. 1 replacing Alexa Jordan.
Anne Cassebaum, Human Relations Council secretary, said Friday she had read Carter�s resignation letter. She declined to comment on its contents and wanted to focus instead on the ongoing work of the council.
ACCORDING TOthe Human Relations Council constitution and bylaws, the council members serve two-year terms. Some of the council�s duties include studying and recommending strategies for the prevention of potential human relations problems and crises, as well as identifying and documenting areas of human needs in housing, employment, education and recommending strategies for meeting those needs.
The council also serves as a conciliatory body for resolving tension and human conflict in times of public disorder. According to the bylaws, the council cannot have more than 25 people. The council uses subcommittees to oversee education, employment, housing and publicity.
The Human Relations Council routinely submits nominations to the commissioners for consideration. Carter�s nomination was submitted April 29, 2013. The commissioners appointed Carter a month later.
Smith said Friday he had received Carter�s resignation letter and believed it was time for the human relations council to be disbanded or no longer associated with county government.
�That organization is a total disgrace,� Smith said. �It�s totally nonfunctioning, really.�
Smith said the council has had difficulty maintaining membership, and that he had considered requesting the council be trimmed to 12 members. Now, Smith said he believed it was better just to have it disbanded.
Commissioner Tim Sutton agreed with Carter�s characterization of the council in his resignation letter. Sutton said he believed the Human Relations Council has a �liberal political agenda.�
�I called the county manager this week and suggested we disassociate ourselves with them,� Sutton said.
Commissioner Bill Lashley said he believed Carter made the right decision, and called the human relations council �a group of out-of-touch radical liberals.�
Carter�s nomination was approved three months after the commissioners rejected Scott Zienty�s nomination to serve on the council.
The commissioners decided then to send Zienty�s nomination back to the council for further review because of concerns they expressed over how long Zienty had lived in the community. According to his nomination application, Zienty had lived in Elon for a year and a half at the time he was being considered.
Zienty said then he believed the commissioners decided not to appoint him because of his close ties to the Latino community and work with Centro La Comunidad.


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Smart move by the Trump administration, Rex Tillerson and Nikki Haley. After showing the United Nations Security Council members the proposed resolution against North Korea last Tuesday, they are calling for a vote this Monday.
China and Russia are already on record saying additional economic sanctions would be needed; but also pushing the request for diplomatic talks more prominently.
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The United States called for a vote Monday on a U.N. resolution that would impose the toughest-ever sanctions on North Korea, a move that could lead to a showdown with the country's biggest trading partner China and its neighbor Russia.
The Trump administration adopted a totally new approach with this resolution, circulating an American draft Tuesday and setting a vote six days later. With previous sanctions resolutions, the U.S. spent weeks and sometimes months negotiating the text with China and then presenting a resolution to the rest of the Security Council for a vote.
Several diplomats said the U.S. demand for a speedy council vote was aimed at putting maximum pressure on China and reflected Washington's escalating concern over North Korea's latest nuclear test, which its leaders touted as a hydrogen bomb, and its recent ballistic missile launch over Japan.
Britain's U.N. Ambassador Matthew Rycroft, who backs "robust" new sanctions, said Thursday that the U.S. proposals to ban all oil imports and textile exports and prohibit North Koreans from working overseas — which helps fund and fuel the country's nuclear and missile programs — are "a proportionate response" to its "illegal and reckless behavior."
Rycroft stressed that "maximum possible pressure" must be exerted on North Korea to change course and give diplomacy a chance to end the crisis.
The proposed U.S. sanctions would also freeze all foreign financial assets of the government and its leader, Kim Jong Un. The U.S. draft also identified nine ships that have carried out activities prohibited by previous U.N. resolutions and would authorize any U.N. member state to stop these vessels on the high seas without their consent and use "all necessary measures" — which in U.N. language includes force — to carry out an inspection and direct the vessel to a port.
Professor Joseph DeThomas of Pennsylvania State University, a former U.S. ambassador and State Department official who dealt with North Korea, said the U.S. demand for quick council action is "an indicator of how the administration thinks time has run out."
"My sense is they believe that they don't have time for a delicate diplomatic dance," he told The Associated Press in a telephone interview Friday. "The other possibility … is they want to see the color of China's money. They're putting down the marker here and saying 'OK, Are you prepared to do what is necessary to put pressure on North Korea at a moment when we're simply out of time?'" (continue reading)


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Ready for Another Child?
by Aviva Patz
Experts and moms weigh in on the ideal age difference between kids
Just as the memory of sleep deprivation begins to fade, as life starts to regain a vague sense of order, it's inevitable that your mind will wander to the possibility of doing it all over again. Here's what to consider before bringing home another baby.
First off, don't stress too much about the psychological impact that age difference will have on your children. Big and small sibling gaps have their own benefits and challenges, says developmental psychologist Roni Cohen Leiderman, Ph.D., of Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. From double diaper duty to sibling rivalry, here are the pros and cons of the most common spacings.
1 to 2 years apart
The main advantage of having siblings with close birthdays is that they're ready-made playmates. "My boys play on the same soccer team, ride the same school bus, and share toys and friends," says Jen Singer of Kinnelon, New Jersey, whose sons are 19 months apart. Children younger than 2 years also have an easier time adjusting to a new sibling than older kids do, according to research from the University of Maryland, most likely because they're not as aware of being displaced as an older child would be.
Another advantage to raising two babies at once is that it can unify the family. "The early hardship of caring for two young children can help draw fathers into the action," says Sybil Hart, Ph.D., author of Preventing Sibling Rivalry. "The tasks are so demanding that even the most alienated and reluctant father would have to step in."
Even with the help of a Superdad, however, the early years are a boatload of work. "Those first years, I was just chronically sleep-deprived," Singer says. "My back ached from carrying both of them. And I'd get so confused, I'd change one kid's diaper twice and forget the other's."
Two closely aged kids can also fight—a lot—over toys, friends, affection, you name it. Trouble often intensifies when the younger child starts crawling. "Because the crawler is at risk of falling down stairs or gobbling up choking hazards, he requires constant monitoring," says developmental psychologist Burton White, Ph.D., author of Raising a Happy, Unspoiled Child. "That's when the older one starts to act out, grabbing the little one's toys and pushing or biting him." Parents can help by nipping bad behavior in the bud—and by giving the older child a daily dose of private time with Mom or Dad.
2 to 3 years apart
This is the most common interval in American families, according to demographic surveys, and some experts feel it's the best option. "Two and a half years is great timing," says Hart, whose children are almost two years apart. "They're close enough in age to be wonderful companions —they'll often go to the same schools and see the same movies—but they're far enough apart to give Mom more time between pregnancies." And though they can fight like cats and dogs, she says, these squabbles help teach them valuable problem-solving skills.
White doesn't dismiss the sibling rivalry of closely aged kids as easily. As director of the Harvard Preschool Project, he spent 13 years observing children interact with their younger siblings. What he found was more aggression among kids close in age, as well as increased chronic stress among the caregivers. He saw the dynamic in action in his own home—he had four children within six years. "Never in my wildest, craziest dreams would I have inflicted that on a mother if I knew then what I know now," he says.
3 or more years apart
A larger age gap can alleviate some of the competition that comes with close-in-age kids, says White. "A four- or five-year-old will treat a one-year-old as her own, showing genuine affection, empathy and compassion." An age difference of five or six years, he says, is even more stress-free.
Since the older sibling has had ample time to bond with Mom and Dad, she may now be happy to take on the role of mentor. "The age difference turned out to be terrific for us," says Marjorie Ingall of New York City, whose kids are three years apart. "Josie can help—fetching diapers or grabbing a baby spoon. She was more excited than sulky about having a sister."
Betsy Murphy of Coral Gables, Florida, waited four and a half years between her sons Teddy and Anderson, partly because she'd been stung by having Teddy only 21 months after big sister Caroline. "I've only seen my husband cry three times," she says. "One of those was when we brought Teddy home from the hospital and he saw the look on Caroline's face when I was holding Teddy in my bed."
But it can be complicated to meet the needs of kids who are at different developmental stages—one is creating a Lego castle while the other is trying to eat it—and they may not share friends or hobbies. Some moms also say it's hard to get back into baby mode after enjoying the freedom of a more self-sufficient child.
A family's decision to have another child often comes down to factors like money and childcare. Don't overlook these considerations when contemplating the next baby.
Can you afford it? Expect to pay roughly $10,000 per year for every child under 18— upwards of $180,000, and that's before factoring in college. More kids may mean needing a bigger car, house, and yard and more medical insurance, food, and clothing. It may also mean fewer luxuries for you, including vacations or dinners out. Jennifer Stevenson of Chicago waited to conceive her second child, due this month, till she and her husband could afford to move from their city apartment to a house in a family-friendly town. "I didn't want to walk up two flights of stairs carrying my daughter, the groceries, a diaper bag—and a newborn baby," she says.
Is it efficient? It's amazing how much stuff a tiny baby needs. If you already have a crib, bouncy seat, high chair and infant car seat, you might want to wait till your first child outgrows them rather than double up on items that your baby uses for such a short time.
Are you set up for childcare? If you're home with your first child, it might seem like a no-brainer that you can watch your second, too. But what if you've got a babysitter or send your child to daycare? Will the babysitter be willing to watch two children? Does the daycare center take infants? Dana Asher of New Rochelle, New York, waited to have her second child because her mother, mother-in-law, and sitter were watching her daughter. "I knew they couldn't watch two kids, and I couldn't afford full-time care at that point," she says.
You're the one who's going to deliver this child, so it's critical to factor in:
Your physical health
"Even if you had an uncomplicated pregnancy, it's ideal to wait at least 14 to 15 months to allow your body to fully recover from childbirth," says ob-gyn Jennifer Wu, M.D., of New York City's Lenox Hill Hospital. Don't want to wait that long? Dr. Wu recommends a minimum of six months between pregnancies so your uterus can shrink back to size and, if you had a c-section, to allow the incision to heal.
If your first pregnancy was complicated—say you had a postpartum hemorrhage or blood pressure problems—wait until those issues are resolved before trying again. On the other hand, advancing age or medical conditions (such as endometriosis or polycystic ovary syndrome) may prompt you to get rolling sooner.
Your emotional health
Bringing a baby into your life is a huge adjustment. Carlsbad, California, mom Sheri Menelli felt overwhelmed with responsibilities when her daughter was born. "We couldn't even entertain the notion of having another baby until Allie turned two," she says. "We were used to eating out and going on vacations, and we lost that intimacy." Menelli has since added twins, now 17 months, to her brood.
Your career
Are you angling for a promotion that you'd like to secure before getting pregnant again? Do you have a big project ahead that will involve late nights and lots of stress? Lynn Ludwig of Bethesda, Maryland, started her own interior decorating business when her son was 6 months old so she could be home with him. Now that business is booming, she's not so sure she even wants a second child. "Adding another child would require expanding my nanny share agreement, defeating my goal to be home with my children," she says.
Of course, no matter how carefully you try to plan your family's size and spacing, countless variables can shake things up. Julie Watson Smith of Boulder, Colorado, hoped to wait two or three years before having another child but got pregnant in spite of using birth control. Now her two youngest are only 19 months apart. "I rarely have a chance to catch my breath," says Smith. "But I'm thrilled with the dynamics of my family."
Writer Aviva Patz lives in Montclair, New Jersey, with her husband and two children. They're contemplating a third.


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Update #15, November 15th: 24 Hours Left! The Final Countdown and New Concept Art.
Update #14, November 14th: WE DID IT!! Update Video, Stretch Goals, PayPal, and Tons More!
Update #13, November 13th: Mini Update! The Final Stretch.
Update #12, November 12th: $100,000! Video Update and New Digital Tiers!
For previous updates, visit our Updates page.
We can't change the description of tiers once the campaign's started, but all of these modifications are effective as of now:
- All tiers now include the option of Windows, Mac, or Linux [NEW]!
- Every tier includes a DRM-free version for whatever platform you choose.
- All tiers $70+ now include 2 copies of the game and access to the backer vehicle (everything from the $50 tier instead of from the $25 tier).
- We included a new $35 backer tier for those that want the backer vehicle but don't want two copies of the game.
- The game now includes split-screen support for at least 2-4 players!
- We included two new digital only tiers at the $55 and $75 level for those that only want the digital goods and access to the alpha.
[UNLOCKED!] $150,000: Replay/Spectate Modes
- Loading/saving of replays
- Many different camera angles including cinematic modes
- Free camera
- Fast forward/rewind/play/pause
- Slow motion
$165,000: Random Track Generation Mode
- Create a vast number of unique tracks at the click of button
- Providing a few parameters allows you to tweak the overall type of track being generated
- You can share specific seeds with your friends so that they can play tracks you've discovered
- "I think it's going to be a fantastic game. They're very talented guys and they deserve your support." Cliff Bleszinski, Co-creator of Jazz Jackrabbit, Unreal, and Gears of War
- "Please, try and support this Kickstarter and let's see what they're going to do next. I know I'm excited and I hope you are too." Aaron Hightower, Lead Programmer on Rush 2049 Arcade
- "Considering the level of quality this group achieved as students at DigiPen with the excellent (and free!) Nitronic Rush, the promise of making a more ambitious follow-up with more money and staff is exciting." Allistair Pinsof, Destructoid
- "The themes of Nitronic are repeated here – gravity-defying racing on impossible tracks, this time far more pretty, along with multiplayer, and driving upside down, like in real life." John Walker, RockPaperShotgun
To see more, check out the news roundups in our Updates!
Distance is a Windows/Mac/Linux survival racing game that combines the intense action of arcade racing with the exploration of an atmospheric world. You control a unique car that allows you to boost, jump, rotate, and even fly through a chaotic and twisted city. The world has a mysterious history, and as you explore you'll be able to uncover pieces of its past.
The roads are treacherous and unpredictable with obstacles around every corner. Instead of doing laps on a loop, you'll be trying to survive to the end in the quickest time. Since your car has several abilities, it allows you to not only drive fast on the track but also upside down and on buildings and walls! You can also fly to discover new shortcuts and paths.
You can take on the roads alone, or in multiplayer with your friends!
The game is a spiritual successor to the multi-award winning game Nitronic Rush, created by ourselves and 8 others while attending DigiPen Institute of Technology. It was released in 2011 on PC, and it was widely praised for its innovative mechanics, visual style, audio design, and atmosphere.
Nitronic Rush was a student project and in many ways only a prototype for what Distance will become. You can try it out for yourself (for free) by downloading it on the Nitronic Rush download page.
- "Even if you're not a big racing fan, the intuitive controls and fun atmosphere will keep the pedal to the metal for some time to come." Rob Manuel, G4TV
- "It's a fun, slick, and professionally designed game, and I'm looking forward to more from the Nitronic Rush team." Todd Kenreck, MSNBC
- "If you haven't already guessed, this game's kinda awesome" … "It's brilliant, it's an incredibly good racing game." JohnBain, TotalBiscuit
- "If you like a unique, challenging racing game, there is absolutely no reason you shouldn't download it." Allistair Pinsof, Destructoid
We recently graduated from DigiPen, and several of the other developers on Nitronic Rush took jobs in the AAA game industry or went to work on other projects. When looking at what the three of us wanted to do, we decided to go indie and focus on games we're really passionate about.
We tossed around a few ideas of what project we wanted to work on next and we always seemed to come back to arcade racing. There are very few developers working on arcade racing games, let alone small indie teams, so we saw it as a unique opportunity to push this genre.
Nitronic Rush demonstrated to us that arcade racing games can be incredibly fun and there's still a lot of room for innovation in the genre. We learned a ton from creating that game, and we're really excited to make a spiritual successor that will blow away the original.
Since we've created a game similar to this before, we're building upon what players found fun in the previous game, and taking that to the next level.
Our focus is on making the solo and multiplayer tracks incredibly fun, which means that there's much that we're iterating on in terms of designing a deeper city and atmosphere, as well as creating entirely new game modes, obstacles, and track designs.
On top of the many features and modes in the original game, such as the parkour-inspired Hardcore mode, nail-biting Challenge mode, and heart-pounding Stunt mode, we're now including many fan-requested features that weren't possible before:
- Multiplayer: LAN, Online, and Split-Screen [NEW] play in several modes, such as Classic Race mode as well as Tag, Capture The Flag, Stunt mode, and many others including cooperative modes. We're targeting to support as many players as is fun for each game mode!
- Level editor and modding tools: We're developing a powerful, user-friendly level editor where you can create levels from inside the game and share them with players around the world. We'll also be releasing other tools used to create content in the game in an effort to best support modders.
- Exploration: Since the car can jump, rotate, and fly, you're able to explore the city to find hidden paths, as well as find secrets that reveal the city's past. Fans loved this aspect of Nitronic Rush and really want to develop a deeper city with a backstory of its own.
- Updated visuals and atmosphere: The game is now being developed in Unity (as compared to creating Nitronic Rush entirely from scratch). This allows us to mature a lot of visual elements, and really go for a detailed look that supports the atmospheric world we're building.
- New dynamic soundtrack: Jordan (aka TORCHT) is back composing a new electro/ambient dynamic soundtrack. Expanding upon his experience from composing the dynamic music in Nitronic Rush (as well as in Solace and Solstice), he's really excited to create a new sophisticated soundscape.
- Controller support: Similar to Nitronic Rush we'll be supporting Xbox 360™ controllers and the keyboard, but we'll also be doing our best to support as many controllers as possible, such as steering wheels and various gamepads, alongside re-mappable key configurations.
- Windows, Mac, and Linux: Distance will be released for Windows, Mac, and Linux, all with access to DRM-free versions of the game.
While the core of the game is similar to Nitronic Rush, Distance is a much more expansive game offering including far more modes, levels, and vehicles, not found before. On top of that, we're aiming for a level of polish that greatly surpases anything found in the student prototype.
We're using Kickstarter because we see it as an incredible opportunity to get players involved in the development of the game right from the beginning. You get to come behind the scenes, feel an ownership of the game, and be a part of the development process.
Since graduating from DigiPen, we've been working on setting up our studio and building the prototype of the new game. The prototype has shown us that multiplayer with this type of game is incredibly fun, but it still needs to be improved and polished.
We want to add more modes, more tracks, and more vehicles, as well as truly craft the city and atmosphere. To make this into a fully realized and polished game, we need the financial support to continue the development further.
We'll use the money for:
- Software Licenses : Since we just started our studio, we are missing a lot of software that we need to make this game. Unfortunately, software isn't cheap and the costs add up quickly.
- Multiplayer / Hosting: Based on the heavy load on our servers from Nitronic Rush's minimal use of networking, we're wanting to properly prepare ourselves for the mulitplayer and server load in this new game. This is also the first time that we've worked on multiplayer at this scale so we want to spend the proper time and effort to get it right, which includes proper protection against cheating since we're on PC.
- Art : We contracted a concept artist to help us with look and feel and working with him has been great. We'd love to continue working with him going into the future, as well as contract a few other artists that have enlisted to join development down the road.
- Stipends: We'll need to take minimal-survival-level salaries, and our hope is that the success of the game will allow us be profitable enough to make other games after we ship Distance.
- Polish : Any funding in excess of our goal will be invested into refining the game even further.
If we're able to surpass our initial goal, we have several stretch goals we'll be excited to announce!
(Jason, Kyle, and Jordan from left to right)
REFRACT is a studio formed by graduates from DigiPen Institute of Technology. We all met through working on Nitronic Rush after working on several separate experimental games. We're all incredibly passionate about fusing beautiful audio/visual design with engaging gameplay, and we're putting our experience from our past games right into the development of Distance.
Kyle Holdwick really excels at developing and growing teams. He's incredibly passionate about working with others and pushing them to reach new heights. As one of the most varied members on the team, he's worked on AI systems for the ASCII game Sowlar (IndieCade), functioned as a visual engineer and world designer on Solstice (presented at Tokyo Game Show for Sense of Wonder Night), and created various 2D and 3D graphics engines from scratch.
He was the Producer for Nitronic Rush. He wrote tons of gameplay logic including much of the obstacle logic, created many of the Challenge and Stunt levels, functioned as a liaison between artists and coders, and managed the day-to-day operation of the team.
Jason Nollan has had a history in-game development from both the technical and artistic aspects of creation. He spent several years developing skills in Blender creating models, textures, and several game prototypes well before coming to DigiPen. Over the past few years he's created low level graphics and physics engines from scratch, as well as providing 2D and 3D art for all of the games he's worked on. He did the art and graphics programming for the 2D stealth game Subsonic (finalist in IGC) and most of the work on a Tetris prototype which ended up winning $20,000 and Grand Prize in the Tetris Design Challenge.
He was the programmer behind the entire physics engine in Nitronic Rush, as well as implementing the car controls, obstacle logic, many of the Challenge levels, and tons of other game logic. He also created the art for all of the vehicles and several in-game props.
Jordan Hemenway (aka TORCHT) is really passionate about gameplay that makes a deep emotional impact on the player. He's been programming since he was 10, and at DigiPen he was one of the developers/composers behind several experimental games. He was the Producer, game logic programmer, and lead composer for Solace (winner in IGF, PAX10) and Solstice. He also contributed music to the soundtrack for The Fourth Wall (finalist in IGC, Freeplay).
On Nitronic Rush, he composed the music for the Story mode and main menu, developed an adaptive system for the in-game music, implemented the sound design, and helped with milestone planning, marketing, and community management.
The team's also been working with Chin Fong,an environment artist on the upcoming Halo 4, to develop the look and feel for the game. He did all of the beautiful concept paintings and the poster shown above.
Working together and with others, the games we've worked on have been nominated for over 35 awards including:
Everyone who backs the project (first tier and higher) will get a copy of the final game on Windows, Mac, or Linux when released. You'll be able to race to the death, bust out crazy tricks, and even explore the city with your friends or by yourself!
We're hoping for a release on Steam (we're on Greenlight currently) as well as on other distribution platforms, but if nothing else you'll always have access to a DRM-free version of the game. The release date is not currently decided, but we've included the BETA which is described below.
Everyone who backs the project (first tier and higher) will be a part of a private discussion community. You'll be the first to know of any news or details about the game as it's being developed. You'll also be able to provide your feedback and suggestions as the project progresses.
Everyone who backs the project (first tier and higher) will also have the chance to play the BETA before the game is released! We're excited to have you play the game at BETA so you can enjoy the experience earlier and so we can get your feedback on what we need to improve before the actual release.
Everyone who backs the project (first tier and higher) will have their name somewhere in the credits area that you'll be able to explore. Similar to Nitronic Rush, we'll have billboards on the sides of buildings and near the roads with your name on them. The more you pledge the bigger and more noticeable your name will be.
Do you like bumping beats? Then you're gonna love this! The soundtrack is being made along side of the game by Jordan (TORCHT). If you liked Nitronic Rush's soundtrack, then we think you'll love this! It will include all the music from within the game mixed and mastered beautifully.
The digital art book will showcase the beautifully crafted concept art that guides the visual direction for the final game. It will also include captures of the production art that you'll see when playing through the game. It will provide you a glimpse into the artistic side of the development of this game.
This is a special backer only vehicle that you won't be able to get anywhere else. You'll be unique when playing multiplayer online and all of your friends will know that you were there in the beginning and helped make this game a reality!
The ALPHA will be released earlier than the BETA and at a stage where the game will still be very much so a work in progress. You'll be able to try out the new multiplayer modes and explore the city for the first time. You'll also be able to give us your feedback on what you liked, what you'd like to see improved, and even what you'd like to see added to the game before release.
Do you have a sad spot on a wall in your home or office? We have just the fix, a 18"x24" Distance poster! It's a beautifully crafted work of art that can be placed on any wall anywhere you'd like. The actual poster may vary slightly from the image below.
You'll be the coolest person around when wearing the Distance T-shirt. Others will be complimenting you wherever you go, your confidence will be higher, and you'll be rocketing to success faster than ever before. Your wildest dreams will come true and the world will be a better place! The actual T-shirt may vary slightly from the image below.
You remember when you were young and going to the store to pick up a game off the store shelf? Those were good times and the best part of those trips was getting the box and opening it to all its glory. You got a new game and excitement was bound to happen, whether the game was fantastic or a flop. Well, you can have a box of your own with this game! You'll get the box and the game on a DVD.
Have you ever wanted a specific vehicle in a racing game before? Well, this is your chance! We'll work with you to design and create a special vehicle based around your idea. You'll be able to claim it as yours forever.
What better way to play this game than on it's very own arcade machine? You'll have the steering wheel, the seat, the jet control stick, and the pedals. You just won't be able to get all of that normally. This thing will be insane and an incredible rush that you can have for yourself and for all your friends to come over and check out. It would be an addition to your home that is incredibly unique and will make parties that much better for all. We'll build this thing with our bare hands and send it to you for your enjoyment. The actual arcade machine may vary slightly from the image below.
Risks and challenges
We're a smaller team and we're trying to make a pretty extensive game. Nitronic Rush was an incredible experience for us, so we're able to pour all of the expertise we gained from that project directly into Distance. Since we have key members from the Nitronic Rush development team, we're confident that we have the skills and experience to pull off a racing game much more polished and professional than Nitronic Rush. We're also using Unity (as opposed to building Nitronic Rush from scratch), so a lot of the base framework is already in place. On top of all that, we've been building powerful tools early to really help speed up development and iteration times.
The budget of $125,000 may not seem like enough money to make a game like this, but we're doing our absolute best to keep costs minimal. While some software licenses like Unity are a must, we're also working with many free programs like Blender and GIMP. We're also working out of our apartment so working space is relatively cheap.
Also, a lot of art content is needed for this game. The entire team has artistic passion, and Jason is a very skilled 3D technical artist capable of making very high quality art. With Chin's help to develop the look and feel for the game, we're confident, as demonstrated by the included images, that we can create quality art content as development progresses. Several other artists have enlisted to join on when we need them further in development, so scaling art content with our needs shouldn't be a huge challenge.Learn about accountability on Kickstarter
Funding period
- (31 days)


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Friday, November 19, 2010
Hillside's Journal: November 21st, 2010...
I know what you're saying, "Dude, you and your buddy have a blog, and a strange one, about the team, and you refer to it as 'The Ranter'. Not overbearing? Riiiight." Okay, point taken, but I meant more in the sense that I don't own a ton of Packer clothing, I don't have a jersey, never have, I don't have a giant Packer sticker on my El Camino, I don't have an enormous Packer flag in my back yard, I don't go out of my way to find opposing fans to talk trash to (they seem to find me), and I respect that people may cheer for other teams, as pointless as that may be for them. I've got a small wind sock on the deck, a 2007 NFC North Champs t-shirt covered in paint stains, a beat-up hat, and an 8x10 Greg Jennings autographed photo on my desk courtesy of Robert and Friend of the Ranter, John Johnson. That's about it...oh, and I may have a Mr. Rodgers' Neighborhood t-shirt somewhere...okay, okay, fine. I may talk some minor trash on Twitter, but I just figure that since no opposing fans follow The Ranter on Twitter, I'm just entertaining other Packer fans...or at least we're trying to entertain them.
Some cynics out there would claim that I'm embarrassed or even scared to get all Packered up because I live in Minneapolis. I assure you, my friends, that is not the case at all, it's just not my M.O. Plus, in true Ranter-style I tend to spend too much money on beer and food to have any left for other stuff, I set my priorities and stick to them. I've lived in Minnesota for quite a few years now, and I've heard it and seen it all. One thing I've heard from Vikings fans is, "Why do you live here? You're a traitor." Or from Wisconsinites, "How do you put up with all those Viking ass-clowns?" Well, usually I have a good time laughing at the absurdity.
Well, I've decided that that may change this weekend. Why? I'm not really sure, maybe I've seen a few too many purple Favre jerseys, or maybe I've heard a few too many Vikings bloggers refer to Packer fans as "hillbillies" (which is a freaking joke because I've been to rural Minnesota...), or maybe I just had one too many fingers of Scotch tonight. Regardless of what set me off, I plan on adorning myself with every piece of Packer paraphernalia I own, and I may go find some more on Saturday afternoon to be even more annoying to Vikes fans. Then, Sunday, I'm going to the Mall of Ametrodome Field or whatever that dump is called this week. Yep, that's right, I'm going wander the wasteland of violet tailgaters, find a ticket, and attend the game. I plan on being loud and extremely obnoxious too...and I plan on rolling solo.
Having shared this plan of action with a good friend (one who is, in fact, a Viking fan), I was vehemently warned against it. "I wouldn't do it, Frank." "The crowd is brutal." 'The meathead quotient is incredibly high." "There is nothing Vikings fans hate more than a Packer fan...especially a loud one." "At the very least, you're going to get beer thrown at you." "Seriously, man, I know you after a couple tall-boys; you're going to get your ass kicked." "It might be bad for you, like pummeled to a pulp bad."
I contemplated his warnings, knowing he was well-intentioned, but I only responded with THIS.
These fans are afraid of me. I have seen their true face.
10 comments:
- djbonney138November 19, 2010 at 2:41 PM
As a Packer fan you will never be alone my brother. Go Pack Go! Wear your colors with pride my friend!ReplyDelete
"We're back in Minneapolis where a crazed Packer fan in a mask seems to be challenging the entire Vikings crowd..."ReplyDelete
- djbonney138November 19, 2010 at 3:28 PM
"...but wait, here come 1000's of Packers fans from out of the woodwork to help the lone Pack fan in what can only be dubbed "The battle of Lambeau West!"ReplyDelete
You get 2-3 cheese heads, Vikings fan hate those things in the MetroMallDomeAmericaPurpleDumpFeil.Glue them one on top of the other but make sure you rotate them as you build up. This will create more of an obstruction for the guy behind you and hopefully poke the guys on your left and right in the face. OK Franklin, you're our warrior up there. God be with you. You're already a hero, just sit back and enjoy the ride.ReplyDelete
- pashawwNovember 22, 2010 at 9:24 AM
- AnonymousNovember 24, 2010 at 12:04 PM
hi I was luck to search your website in yahooReplyDelete
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I obtain a lot in your blog really thanks very much
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where can find it
- AnonymousDecember 1, 2010 at 12:49 PM
Very good journey and experience!ReplyDelete
- AnonymousDecember 6, 2010 at 6:58 PM
Благодарность за материалы! :)ReplyDelete
Respect www.packerranter.com
- AnonymousDecember 7, 2010 at 9:45 AM
Good journey and experience!ReplyDelete
- AnonymousDecember 7, 2010 at 4:21 PM
Gran post. No se puede esperar a leer los siguientes:)ReplyDelete


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Who Will Love This Tiny New Planet?
Scientists have just discovered a tiny planet, a little planet, the li'lest planet, warm as toast, smaller than most, with a hot, rocky coast, circling a star far, far away.
The little rock planet is the size of our moon and every 13 days it celebrates New Year's as it completes an orbit of a star slightly smaller than our sun. Scientists say it's too hostile to support life (in terms of angry hotness, it's a lot like our mercury), though most likely the planet is just shy and would not be unfriendly once you got to know it. Any water on its surface would disappear very quickly, due to its close proximity to its sun. The planet's name is Kepler-37b, but you can call it Keppy.
NASA scientists were very excited to discover the little rock planet, not because they'd never seen one before, but because it's smaller than any planet they've ever discovered, either inside our solar system or out. They didn't even realize they could find such small planets so far away from Earth until they found this one; normally their telescopes only pick up big Jupiter-sized monsters.
Wee planets like the little rock planet obscure such a small amount of light from their stars when they pass in front of them, that most of the time, the resulting dimming could be mistaken for natural variability in the star's burning. The little rock planet dims its star's light by 0.002% every time it passes in front of it. It is the doll clothes of planets.
The little rock planet was discovered as a result of NASA's Kepler Mission, which explores other solar systems to locate planets comparable to Earth (Earth-sized or smaller) in the "habitable zone" of their suns, where liquid water (and possibly life) could exist.
The scientists say they can report with "a confidence of 99.95 percent" that the little rock planet is actually a planet and not just a mistake they made.
[Scientific American // Artist's rendering of The Little Rock Planet via NASA]