text:
Parent FAQ's
I heard that my neighbor received a Connect-ED call. I didn't receive it. Why?
Ask the parent for the home phone number and compare that number to the number that you have in your account. If it is different, update the number in your Student Information System (SIS) and the information will be automatically updated in the Connect-ED system in the next data upload. If the number is accurate in both the SIS and Connect-ED, take a look at the summary of that call in the Log tab to see if the number is listed as undeliverable. Perhaps it is listed with a status of answering machine, fax/modem or busy.
I do not have any affiliation with this school. Can you stop calling me?
Take down the person's number and check to see if it is listed in the Connect-ED database by searching for it in the Contacts tab. If you find that one of your contacts has this number listed as their own, you should contact this person, obtain his/her correct phone number, and update your Student Information System. If you are unable to obtain a correct number right away, you may want to use a temporary placeholder number such as 999-9999.
I received the call but I missed the information. What should I do?
While you are still on the call, you can replay the message by pressing star (*) on your phone at any time. Additionally, a Connect-ED user can always listen to the message from the Log tab and explain the message to the parent.
I received the call but my answering machine cut it off. Why?
The system attempts to detect whether it is a live person or and answering machine that has picked up the call. In rare instances, such as when an answering machine message contains a period of silence, the system will detect an answering machine as a live person and start to deliver the message prior to the beep. Sometimes, a message is cut off by an answering machine simply because its duration is longer than the machine allows for a single message. Generally an answering machine will cut off a message after one minute. By keeping messages under one minute, we can minimize the chances of messages not delivering in full.
I received the call on my cell phone but it kept looping/repeating. Why?
The system does its best to detect whether there is a live person or an answering machine picking up the call. Sometimes when there is ambient noise, the system inappropriately detects a live person as an answering machine. When this happens, it continues to wait for the answering machine's beep followed by a brief moment of silence before starting to play the message from the beginning. The parent can prevent the message from looping by minimizing background noise or pressing mute on the phone.
I want my calls to go to two different numbers. How can I make sure they do?
You can do this by directing the "additional phone" dropdown to another existing number in the Contacts area of your Connect-ED account. A number designated as additional phone will receive all Community Outreach, Single Survey and Attendance Notifications.
Will there be other attempts to reach me if I am unable to pick up the call?
Yes, the system will make a total of three attempts to reach you or your answering machine. If it is unable to reach you within two hours it will stop calling and list the reason the message was undeliverable.


text:
Topic: Despecialized Edition
The fan-made "Star Wars Despecialized Edition" has a great overview video about all of the work they did:
Has anyone watched the full bootleg? Surely the fans touched up the Boba Fett scenes (e.g. no ANH:SE, no Temuera Morrison re-dub, no extra Slave I in ESB:SE, no flirty Fett in ROTJ:SE, etc.).

subset: commoncrawl


text:
MIDDLEBURY — Len Rowell well remembers the good ol' days, when families or friends used to sit down and tell stories at the dinner table or around the proverbial potbellied stove at the local general store.
But the weaving of yarns, Rowell lamented, is fast fading from a society increasingly spoon-fed entertainment through televisions, computer monitors and even cell phones. Storytelling, especially for the younger generation, is now done in impersonal staccato through texts and tweets.


text:
A Caps Fan in Buffalo Territory
Braden Holtby heeds the direction of Bruce Boudreau during Caps practice at HSBC Arena.
[Ed. note – Was it oversight, kismet, or charity? Regardless, Buffalo-based Caps fan and RMNB reader, Stephanie Carosa, got to watch what should have been a closed practice on Saturday. She shares that story and her recollections from the miserable game with the Sabres below.]
I live in Buffalo, so I have only two chances to see the Capitals in my own city. Every time they come it's a big deal to me, and Saturday night was no exception. I was determined to make it a full day of hockey, so I planned on going to practice in the morning and the game at night.
The Sabres' morning skates at HSBC Arena are open to the public, and you can often catch a glimpse of players on the visiting team hanging around. I got there early so I could grab a seat behind the Caps bench. Even though the Caps were foremost on my mind, I was excited to see Ryan Miller on the ice after being sidelined for almost two weeks due to injury. Towards the end of practice, I caught a quick glimpse of Chimera in the tunnel. *Gasp! First Caps sighting of the day!* A few minutes later, John Erskine appeared *Gasp! Two Caps!*, and then Harry Neale (the Sabres and former Hockey Night in Canada color guy who is known for his, er, quick wit?) came out and joked around with him for a bit.
By 8 years ago


text:
Stop The Madness: Relationship Screams!
"If you're in or have been in a relationship you know that your spouse can do things to make you scream." - http://www.Dormtainment.com
Please click the "Report" button below if the video on this page is not working properly.
Comments will only be displayed by verified emails. No Spamming or Racism.


text:
Gwopp Boyz (Midwest) Respond To Harry-O Of (Gwop Boyz N.Y.) [User Submitted]
Moet reports "the gwopp boyz respond to the harry video "drop the o harry""
Please click the "Report" button below if the video on this page is not working properly.
Comments will only be displayed by verified emails. No Spamming or Racism.


text:
Children used to gravitate toward the Rokenbok display at mom-and-pop stores to get their hands on the toy maker's monorail sets, robots and battery-powered dump trucks.
But as big retailers like Wal-Mart and Target drove many of those specialty stores out of business several years ago, the San Diego area toy brand struggled to give shoppers a close look at their pricey play sets, which can cost hundreds of dollars.
That's when they turned to YouTube. The privately owned business started shooting two- to three-minute stop-animation videos of their toys in action.
The clips show Rokenbok's small Lego-like figures launching a rocket ship, fending off a robot invasion and...


text:
Aug 15th Free SSL for Hosting
We are offering 3 months of free SSL for every Hosting. If you are our existing clinet, you have already ssl activeted for your hosting.
Feb 3rd Thank you for choosing FiberWings
Today we finished replacing all hard disks with Intel SSDs as a part of our effort to provide faster disk I/O on our servers. Solid State Drives offer much higher write and read speeds compared to the regular magnetic hard disks. Our benchmarks indicated speeds of up to 900 MB/sec which will offer a significant boost to the response and loading ... Læs mere »


text:
CBMP needed a new logo design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 67 designs submitted by 24 freelance designers.
Need a new catchy logo for our website...
We need a new logo for our XBOX 360 Repair Guide, I need someone to design us a more creative logo around the XBOX 360 theme.
The logo needs to have the 3 red lights (as the current logo does). If you feel you can deliver please join the contest.
Here is the URL to our site: http://360ringofdeathfix.com
- Logo
- PSD file
Find out how a design contest works or learn more about our logo design services.


text:
British Go Journal No. 62. July 1984. Page 28a.
Richard Granville
In the last issue of the BGJ Toby Manning suggested there were too many Go tournaments in Britain. I should like to propose that this is most emphatically not the case.
Toby points out that the number of tournaments has risen from two in 1973 to eight in 1978, and to 13 in 1983. He then states that: "Attendance at individual tournaments has not grown in proportion". However this is not particularly surprising, given that the BGA has not got any larger. On the other hand the increase in the number of tournaments means that the number of tournament games being played has dramatically increased. It is true that numbers at the Wessex, and in particular, British Go Congress have fallen (the latter attracted only 85 this year). However these tournaments are still sufficiently popular to make them worthwhile, while some of the more recently introduced events are very successful. For example there were 68 people at Oxford and 72 at Bracknell this year.
I would even go so far as to say that there is room for two or three more tournaments in the calendar. I believe that there should be a tournament somewhere every two or three weeks.
One thing I do agree with Toby on is that it is unsatisfactory to keep playing the same opponent at tournament after tournament. In my view the best solution is to run some on systems other than the MacMahon. Unfortunately these have not always proved popular (last September the CLGC organised a Rengo - team - tournament, but only five people turned up.
I would like to finish therefore with a commercial for the only non-MacMahon tournament currently on offer - the Leigh Sinton handicap tournament. Since the draw is biased towards producing games on 3-5 stones handicap, players are able to meet opponents they otherwise would never play. Weaker players can learn from stronger opponents, while dan players can still enjoy themselves - and it is the best chance you're likely to have of beating Matthew.


text:
It may not seem like your typical rom-com duo: Keri Russell, known as a clandestine Russian spy in FX's retro thriller "The Americans," and Bret McKenzie of New Zealand's comic-music duo, "Flight of the Conchords." Put them both in regency costumes in a faux British amusement park devoted to Jane Austen fanatics, and things are bound to get a little freaky.
That's the premise of the new film "Austenland," directed by Jerusha Hess, the co-screenwriter of "Napoleon Dynamite" and "Gentlemen Broncos." Based on the book by Shannon Hale, Russell plays a plain Jane unable to sustain a relationship while absorbed in her time-warp fantasies of romance and ruffles in Jane Austen books.
Her home is a shrine to Colin Firth's portrayal of the dashing Mr. Darcy from the BBC production of "Pride and Prejudice," complete with life-size cut-outs of the actor in costume and pillows and throws emblazoned with "I (heart) Darcy" symbols. She blows her life savings on a full-emersion experience at a British resort devoted to role-playing Austen where male actors are hired to fulfill guests' romantic fantasies.
"It started with a lot of giggling about British men in britches," says Hess, who co-wrote the screenplay with Hale and makes her directing debut. "I wanted to do something different and this is unashamedly a girl's movie."
"Twilight" author Stephanie Meyer produced the movie under her Fickle Fish Films banner. "It's not just about Austen fans; everyone has a fandom, some world that they would love to go role-play in," Meyer says. "We would all like to go to a version of our favorite theme park."
For Russell, it was a welcome break from the more intense roles — including in the horror thriller "Dark Skies" and the upcoming sci-fi sequel, "Dawn of the Planet of the Apes" — she has been playing lately. "I knew it would be fun and poppy, and knowing what Jerusha had done in the past, I knew she would make it weird and specific and funky and I think that's what she achieved," says Russell.
For McKenzie, who was been spending his "Conchords" break time writing songs for "The Muppets" cinema re-boot (including last year's Academy Award-winning song "Man or Muppet"), it was an offer too good to refuse: playing a Kiwi actor hired to romance the coiffed and corseted women. "It's weird to watch myself do a romantic role. Acting is not really something I have been pursuing, but I did like dressing up in piratey costumes," he deadpans.
"We didn't have anyone to fill that spot so it was nice to go with a non-actor and someone who is not typically a hunk," says Hess." Brett is funny and charming and has his own fan base."
Teamed again for a recent all-day L.A. press day, Russell can barely contain her laughter, as one joke roles after another between them. "It was like that on set," she says, as they both reminisce on awkward kissing scenes.
"It was all new to me, but you were used to this, right?" McKenzie asks Russell.
"Sure, I was on 'Felicity,' [and] she was constantly kissing someone," says Russell.
"The worse thing is Jerusha couldn't bear to watch. It didn't exactly fill me with confidence," quips McKenzie.
While filming HBO's "Flight of the Conchords" series, McKenzie was more used to improvising than to following the script. He was in good company with "Austenland" co-star Jennifer Coolidge, playing a loud, buxom, rich American who comes more for the costumes and men than for any real Austen experience.
"My favorite thing was to make Keri crack," says McKenzie. "She comes from a more scripted background, while for me a script is just an outline. I would just throw all these lines at her and she would look at me in horror and then go straight back to the script, even if it didn't make any sense. After a few days, she learned to roll with it."
"I was really just hanging on for dear life, as they are just riffing with you in scenes," says Russell. "It was nerve-racking because they are so fast on their feet. You just hope you don't mess up the moment."
One of the film's most outrageous scenes was a music video version of Nelly's "Hot in Here," with cast members in Regency garb dancing to the song. "I was so embarrassed and nervous," says Russell.
"But weren't you in that Mickey Mouse Club with Justin Timberlake?" McKenzie asks, referring to Russell's first television appearance at 15 as part of the All-New Mickey Mouse Club on the Disney Channel (along with future stars Timberlake, Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera).
"Yes, I guess you could say I was rekindling that, but I don't think I will be doing a rap album with Nelly any time soon," says Russell.
"I thought you would be more confident because you have all that music video experience," adds McKenzie. "I think wearing those britches makes you nervous, whatever you are doing."
Russell was also six months pregnant with second child Willa at the time of filming. "We had these stretchy corsets but it was a little creepy doing romantic scenes, getting close and rubbing your pregnant belly against them," she says.
"I recall there was a lot of snacking in between scenes," adds McKenzie.
"Well, I was lucky you could hide a whole suitcase under some of those dresses," Russell says.
While McKenzie is returning to "Flight of the Conchords" with a national tour beginning in August as part of the Oddball comedy festival, Russell will be back to her role in FX's "The Americans," with a second season beginning production in October.
"Do you wear bonnets in that?" asks McKenzie.
"That might be a little hard as we are undercover," says Russell.
"I am actually trying to get Keri interested in a new project of mine which will incorporate her Jane Austen and spy skills," says McKenzie. "It's called 'Jane Austen Powers.'"
"Austenland" opened this weekend at The Playhouse in Pasadena.
KATHERINE TULICH writes about movies and pop culture for Marquee.


text: Prentice Bisbal wrote: > Prentice Bisbal wrote: >> The more services you run on your cluster node (gmond, sendmail, etc.) >> the less performance is available for number crunching, but at the same >> time, administration difficulty increases. For example, if you turn off >> postfix/sendmail, you'll no longer get automated e-mails from your >> system to alert you to a problem. >> >> My question is this: how extreme do you go in disabling non-essential >> services on your cluster nodes? Do you turn off *everything* that's not >> absolutely necessary, do you leave somethings running to make >> administration easier? >> >> I'm curious to see how everyone else has their cluster(s) configured. >> >> I meant unecessary *kernel* configuration in the 3rd sentence below. > Thanks for all the interesting responses. Very informative and > helpful. I'm surprised no one mentioned unnecessary cluster > configuration. The stock kernels from the distros have support for > just about every feature and piece of hardware enabled. I understand > the modular nature of the kernel, but I'm sure for every kernel module > that's added, some addtional work must be added to the core kernel to > load that module and communicate with it, or check for when it needs > to be loaded. > > I'm looking the output of lsmod on one of my new cluster nodes > (running ROCKS - I haven't configured it yet), and I the following > modules listed in the output, that I don't think have any purpose on a > cluster node (please correct me if I'm wrong): > > parport_pc > lp > parport > pcspkr > battery (for laptops?) > backlight (for laptops?) > + plus a lot of iptables related modules > > There are more that are questionable, but they may in fact be > necessary - I'm not an encyclopedia on kernel modules. Is anyone else > surprised that IP tables is configured on a cluster node. Everytime an > IP packet comes in, the kernel must now stop to check it and make sure > it meets the criteria to be accepted. That's GOT to take some CPU time. > > I wonder how many cluster nodes out there are running LVM, since RHEL > always insists on setting it up. > > -- > Prentice > > _______________________________________________ > Beowulf mailing list, Beowulf at beowulf.org > To change your subscription (digest mode or unsubscribe) visit > http://www.beowulf.org/mailman/listinfo/beowulf >


text:
la moda aquien le acomoda.
Commercial Laws Of This Blog, Protecting Author's Rights, International Advertising We and Our Policies Meet all legal requirements, must enforce the laws of Blog, Our Laws Are On The Menu! Do not Sell Web Advertising to None, Any Image defaulting copyright, Please Communicate disposal, our goal is to help our clients in all legal Attorney, lawyer, and law firm directory to find a lawyer, attorneys, and local law firms. Lawyers.com is the #1 lawyer directory. advise and represent individuals, businesses, or government agencies on legal issues or disputes.


text:
Promoting Hurd is not a fitting punishment for HP
A spanking only investors can be proud of
Opinion Miss Manners tells us that when caught with your pants down, you're meant to pull them back up all the way. Under no circumstances should one allow gaudy, suggestive bits to remain dangling out for public consumption.
So why then has HP promoted its top executive to Chairman and trimmed the number of people on its board?
That's how HP punished itself today for an unprecedented corporate scandal that employed criminal tactics, according to the California Attorney General. HP spied on its own directors and even worse spied on a cadre of reporters and their loved ones in a bid to clamp down on an innocuous series of leaks.
Rather than acting to assure us that something like this never happens again, HP has - in a move reminiscent of Washington - elevated the major players. Chairwoman Patricia Dunn has taken almost the entire blame for the spy fiasco. But instead of reprimanding Dunn in any meaningful way, HP decided to let her give up the Chairman post in January and then stay on as a director. Given the circumstances, that's quite a PR boost. Meanwhile, the all too silent Hurd will ascend to the Chairman throne, adding the title to his CEO and President collection.
Confessed leaker George Keyworth resigned from the board, prompting HP to amend its bylaws so that it only has nine directors now.
"I am taking action to ensure that inappropriate investigative techniques will not be employed again," Hurd said. "They have no place in HP."
For some reason, the majority of the press has given Hurd the leeway to produce such statements. You have to remember that HP has already made use of inappropriate investigative techniques on Hurd's watch. Despite repeated attempts to force Hurd to address this issue, HP has declined to make him available to reporters. Instead, it has sent Dunn in to do the dirty work, hanging the entire incident on her head.
HP's approach asks the public to assume a couple of things. You're meant to believe that Dunn masterminded this entire operation, while Hurd stood back as an ignorant bystander. You're also meant to assume that Dunn - and not Hurd - was so furious about media leaks that she - and not he - vowed to clean up HP. Lastly, you're meant to assume that both directors when told that their investigators obtained the phone records of directors and journalists assumed that this had been done legally.
That's a lot to swallow under normal circumstances and even more to gullet down when you look at the timeline of events. Dunn, after all, has been a director at HP since 1998. Over the past eight years, HP has proved a geyser of leaked information to the press. We're talking juicy stuff here - not product details and ink prices but serious boardroom dirt. All HP could muster in the pre-Hurd era to deal with the leaks was a semi-formal investigation that included chit-chats with executives.
Post-Hurd, however, we discover a much more aggressive HP - one willing to fund the machinations of two investigative firms. So, did Dunn really snap, as we're told, because of a CNET story stating that HP's directors needed a rest after lengthy meetings or did Hurd snap during week one when he took over as CEO? Was it the new guy that changed HP's investigative protocol or the director that hadn't done too much about leaks in the past?
And why does the press have only Dunn and former director Tom Perkins arguing about HP's spying tactics? The executives really went at it as to whether or not they should use lie detectors, we're told. Did Hurd care about that? Did anyone else? Who thought hiring a hardened team of Philip Marlowe's would prove more genteel than being wired up to a non-HP lie device?
It's pretty well accepted in Washington circles that when a scandal breaks, and you know you're busted, the smart person reveals all in one, big push rather than letting the muck dribble out one busted pustule at a time. HP has yet to receive the outline on how this PR tactic works. Instead, it chose to reveal Perkins' issues and the leaker problem about six months too late in an SEC statement. A couple days later we then discovered that HP - unlike any California company before it - spied on reporters.
You can be sure that more details about this spy operation will leak out in the coming months as the California Attorney General's office and now the US Congress begin rooting through HP's trash. There's an outside chance that HP could end up with an accused felon or two on its board before year end, if it's not able to push all of the criminal concerns onto the companies it hired for the investigations. HP could also end up with a one-of-a-kind class action suit from nine rather pissed off reporters.
We can't see how Hurd's promotion looks good under those or any circumstances.
HP has been applauded for having a strong board, chock full of independent directors. But what a mess this group has created. In one week, the company has shattered a reputation that took decades to build. And it's the shreds of that reputation that HP is lucky to be able to hang onto now. Can you imagine the outrage if a Wal-Mart of Exxon had confessed to funding a spy operation that covered reporters at the New York Times and Wall Street Journal?
Of course, HP continues to demand that it's acting in the best interest of shareholders, and in the short-term, that's correct. Promoting Hurd rather than punishing him will please investors who seem enamored with the CEO.
That said, consolidating more power under one man who was present through this whole debacle and who has failed to reveal a hint of how he participated in or handled the mess is a disgrace.
It's now fitting that Hewlett and Packard have been removed from HP's name. ®
Sponsored: Becoming a Pragmatic Security Leader


text:
Browse through suggestions of quiz team names to help inspire your own team name. Vote for your favorite by leaving your star rating, or leave a comment telling us where you used your team name.
Jumping Amazing Super Optimistic Noodle Squad
This category contains selected names that are suitable for quiz team names, as suggested by our administrators and your fellow quiz fans. Browse through our quiz team names, and find yourself a funny, creative, cool quiz team name, perfect to give yourself a headstart, and get you noticed infront of your competition. Submit your own quiz team names for other members to vote on, or vote on the other quiz team names that others have sent in.


text:
Express. Home of the Daily and Sunday Express.
Lallana stunned by England call-up
Adam Lallana has admitted he thought Southampton manager Nigel Adkins was having a laugh when he told the youngster he had been called up by England.
The 24-year-old was one of three players called up by Roy Hodgson following a spate of withdrawals from his squad to face Ukraine in a World Cup qualifier at Wembley on Tuesday. Chelsea duo John Terry and Ashley Cole were ruled out over the weekend, and on Monday Theo Walcott went back to Arsenal after contracting a virus.
Daniel Sturridge was also unable to train due to illness and, although Hodgson expects the striker to be fit, he was quick to draft in replacements. Lallana was one following an encouraging start to the season, except he did not quite believe it. He told www.saintsfc.co.uk: "I didn't think the gaffer was being serious when he called to tell me this morning."
He continued: "I was at home about to head into the training ground when he called - I must have asked if he was having me on a dozen times! I'm totally shocked to be honest."
Named Saints' skipper this summer on their return to the Premier League, Lallana has represented England at Under-18, Under-19 and Under-21 levels. And whilst he realises it is a long shot that he will make his debut tomorrow, he is delighted with the recognition.
"It's such a proud accomplishment to be called up to play for your country at any level, but to be called into the senior side is probably the proudest moment of my career so far," he said.
"It is every player's dream to represent your country at the top level. I'm realistic in accepting I might not be that heavily involved, but the fact that I will be around such experienced international players is something I am really excited about."
Lallana will link up with former team-mate Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who featured in Friday's 5-0 defeat of Moldova in Chisinau. And as Walcott is another Southampton old-boy, clearly the south coast outfit are doing something right.
"It reflects really well on the club," Lallana said. "It shows just how far Southampton has come to have an English player represented at national level.
"We have a lot of talented young English players here and I'm sure that I won't be the last person to represent our country."


text:
The problem is that part of the chamber is unsupported and when firing, the pressure allows the case to expand and bulge. There are multiple reports of ruptured cases resulting in damage to the guns and shooters. This is, apparently, mostly a problem with handloads. The theory is that if the case is bulged the first time it is fired and that bulged area is oriented in the unsupported section again when the handload is fired, it can rupture.
All I can add to the argument is that I have owned a Glock Model 22 in .40 S&W for 15 years and have fired thousands of rounds. The guy hanging around my daughter for the past several years, Brendan Burns, has a Model 23 and he has probably shot three times the ammo through his as I have mine. Granted most have been factory loads, but in Camp Towsley no gun is ever exclusive to factory ammo and more than a few handloads have been through both guns. We have never had a problem. Not one, zero, nada. But, the technical side of me understands that this is not a particularly good design and the potential for a problem is clear and present.
Ammo is in short supply these days, but I am not going to let this Obama-induced scare keep me from the sport I love most. One way or the other, I am going to shoot and hoarding ammo serves little to aid that goal. With the current ammo shortage and escalating prices, my factory ammo reserves are depleted so we are shooting a lot more handloads, and handloads are where the Glock problems rear their ugly heads most often.
|The new Redding G-Rx die system removes the bulge caused by Glock .40 S&W pistols, which can cause jams or dangerous case failure.
The trouble is that a conventional resizing die does not completely remove the "Glock Bulge" from the case. This introduces two problems; one is the obvious potential for a case failure. The other is that a misshapen case is a jam waiting to happen. Which brings me to the reason for this column. Redding Reloading Equipment has a new tool called the G-Rx die set. I was lucky enough to be one of the first to see this tool and it's been on my reloading bench for several months.
The die screws into your reloading press and the "pusher rod" replaces the shell holder. To use it, simply place a lubricated .40 S&W case on the pusher rod and pull the handle on the press. This starts the case into the die in a tapered section that aligns it, then the pusher rod pushes the case through the die, forcing it back into size and shape before the case pops out the top of the die. A collection bottle that fits on top is optional.
Now every .40 S&W case we are loading is pushed through this die first. Problem solved.
Even if you don't shoot a Glock, this tool is still a very good idea. If you collect or buy range brass you have no way of knowing if it was fired in a Glock. The Redding G-Rx die restores the brass to ensure that it will function well in any pistol.
Check it out at:
Redding Reloading Equipment
792 Ridge Road
Lansing, NY 14882
(607) 753-3331
In this updated second edition of his best-selling The Gun Digest® Book of the Glock, master gunsmith and competitive shooter Patrick Sweeney delves even deeper into the fascinating world of the Glock. It's all here: the models, the variations, the ammo and the accessories that have made Glock the most popular semi-auto pistol the world has ever seen. If it has anything to do with Glock, you'll find it here!
Inside this expanded second edition, you'll find:
– Coverage of all models, now including those made since mid-2003
– Performance tips and techniques for self-defense and law enforcement
– A step-by-step illustrated guide to maintaining and accessorizing your Glock
Learn more
– NRA Show recap from Phoenix
– All about tactical barrels
– Rifles: Steyr
– Shotguns: L.C. Smith
– Handguns: Smith & Wesson
– Performance handloading: Where do you get your gear?


text:
A $9 billion rights issue and a fresh purge of assets are among the measures Britain's Barclays and Germany's Deutsche Bank announced on Tuesday to meet tougher rules on risk, raising concern among investors that regulators will push other European banks into similar action.
Unlike their U.S. rivals, which were quickly restructured and recapitalised in the heat of the financial crisis, Europe's banks are still trying to extricate themselves from the legacy of 2007-09, with regulators in Britain and on the continent worried that some of them are still too big to fail.
Continue Reading Below
"If Barclays needs to raise that much capital, and it was relatively well capitalised by European standards, it suggests we've got a long way to go in Europe," said the head of equities at one UK fund manager.
"We'll see this creep in Europe, moving the bar higher and higher to get to where the regulators want to go, and we've still got a long way to go in terms of capital raising."
Barclays bore the brunt of a surprise new British curb on banks' risk exposure, requiring it to raise an extra 12.8 billion pounds of capital in the next year.
To meet the new target, Britain's third-largest bank by market value said it would tap shareholders for 5.8 billion pounds, shrink its loan book by 65-80 billion pounds and sell 2 billion pounds' worth of bonds, sending its shares sliding over 7 percent.
Tougher rules on risk can discourage lending, and Britain's business minister accused the Bank of England last week of holding back economic recovery by imposing higher capital requirements.
Standard Life, one of the biggest investors in Barclays and the UK stock market, criticised regulators for a "lack of stability or consistency".
The regulatory regime "appears both capricious and hostile to banks and is in consequence raising the cost of capital for the banking sector," said David Cumming, head of equities at Standard Life Investments.
In the euro zone, national regulators are pushing banks to get their houses in order before the European Central Bank takes over direct supervision of the bloc's largest banks next year.
Fitch rating agency said on Tuesday that Italian mid-sized banks are likely to have to raise more equity to offset capital pressure because of a deep recession and rising bad debts. The Bank of Italy has already extended inspections of bad loans at 20 of the country's banks.
Deutsche Bank, which has already raised around 5 billion euros in new debt and equity, said it had earmarked an additional 250 billion euros in assets, roughly equivalent to the annual economic output of Denmark, that could be cut to meet new bank safety rules.
Its shares closed down 3.9 percent, underperforming the European banking index, which slipped 0.24 percent.
In addition to pressure on capital, European investment banks are involved in a number of regulatory inquiries including a global investigation into manipulation of benchmark interest rates and the mis-selling of mortgage-backed bonds in the United States.
In Frankfurt, Deutsche Bank set aside an extra 630 million euros to cover claims and settlements, causing it to miss quarterly profit expectations.
Even when banks settle with regulators, they still face further lawsuits from other parties.
Barclays and Swiss bank UBS, which have already paid out nearly $2 billion over their role in the manipulation of benchmark interest rates, were named in a lawsuit by the city of Philadelphia in connection with the scandal, along with Deutsche and a host of other banks.
Barclays also set aside another 2 billion pounds to cover compensation claims arising from mis-sold products in Britain.
In one of the few bright spots for European banking on Tuesday, UBS said it would buy back a fund set up to purge it of toxic assets during the financial crisis. This drew a line under its humiliating state bailout in 2008, boosting its capital and raising the prospect of an early increase in dividends.
UBS beat second quarter profit forecasts despite paying a $885 million fine to settle a lawsuit with the U.S. housing regulator over its role in the sale of mortgage-based securities.
UBS's second-quarter performance was driven by buoyant equity markets. Its decision to pull out of most areas of fixed income meant that, unlike Deutsche Bank, it was not hit by a drop in income from debt trading in the latter part of the second quarter after the U.S. Federal Reserve signalled an end to cheap money.
Leaving aside the litigation charge, Deutsche's investment bank underperformed U.S. rivals such as Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley. Revenues from its investment bank rose 9 percent, compared with double-digit gains on Wall Street.
In Spain, Santander's core capital ratio, a measure of its capital strength, rose partly due to a reduction in lending, underlining the risk for regulators that the push for greater capital levels could further choke the supply of credit and hurt the wider economy.
Austria's Erste Bank has already met new global standards for capital and said it was more concerned that growth return to its core markets in central and eastern Europe.
"We belong to the best capitalised banks in Europe," Chief Executive Andreas Treichl told a news conference. "All we need is growth," he said.


text:
PC Gaming to Surpass Console Gaming in Revenue by 2015
Subject: Editorial, General Tech, Graphics Cards | September 22, 2011 - 02:26 PM | Ryan Shrout
Tagged: skyrim, rage, pc gaming, diablo iii, consoles, battlefield 3, batman
During a conference call with NVIDIA this week some interesting information from DFC Intelligence, "a strategic market research and consulting firm focused on interactive entertainment and the emerging video game, online game, interactive entertainment and portable game markets" according to their webiste, was revealed that paints the world of PC gaming in a much more positive light than previously expected. By anyone's account, the coming fall and winter release schedules are going to be packed with fantastic releases:
Courtesy NVIDIA
Several of these games, including DOTA 2, Diablo III and The Old Republic are going to be PC-only titles with others (like Battlefield 3, RAGE and Skyrim) that will without question look better and play better on the PC. This sets up a great time for hardware companies like NVIDIA and AMD to sell system upgrades in order to maximize user experience in these titles.
And while most gaming pundits have been telling us for years that PC gaming is dying, the report from DFC tells a different story:
Courtesy NVIDIA
Based on revenue alone, estimates show PC gaming to surpass the sales of console games by 2014 with steady growth. How can this be? Have you stopped by your local Gamestop or Best Buy and seen the shelf space devoted to PC games compared to that devoted to the Xbox 360, Playstation 3 and Wii?
Courtesy NVIDIA
Here is the key and it is something we have always suspected but haven't really been able to nail down: packaged sales are dying while digital distribution methods and new monetary game mechanics are increasing. Because the industry's most prolific digital sales platform is notoriously tight with sales numbers (Valve's Steam), we have to depend on third party reports from DFC and others. According to this chart, the digital sales of gaming on the PC are skyrocketing and will take PC revenues past consoles in just a few years time.
One note here: this does NOT just include downloaded games in the traditional sense. Instead, new pay models like the monthly subscriptions of World of Warcraft and "free to play" models that charge for upgrades and additional features are really going to be pushing the industry forward. Looking at titles like League of Legends that claims 15 million PC gamers worldwide and others like World of Tanks and World of Planes, this trend is growing and though it differs from the "traditional" PC gaming mentality, it appears to be dominating our future.
Courtesy NVIDIA
Many a PC gamer has lamented about the "console port" generation of games and this graph demonstrates how the power of the PC and the power of the current generation of consoles have diverged over the years. By NVIDIA's estimates we are now about 8-9x the performance level of the Xbox 360 when compared to the GTX 580 that currently sells for about $450. But if you look at the quality difference between something like Deus Ex: Human Revolution on the PC and the consoles, you do NOT see anything close to that kind of improvement. Game developers have always had their hands tied by having to develop for the lowest common platform and while the PC market (when dominant) meant an upgrade cycle of 2-3 years we are now hitting a 6th year of static console gaming power.
Unreal Engine
If we want to see games that look like THIS, a screenshot from the Unreal Engine Samaritan demo, then we need to boost the baseline and soon.
But the numbers that DFC Intelligence provided give hope to those die-hards in the enthusiast and PC gaming community that with the expanding reach and positive growth of the PC market as a whole, developers will see this as their chance to move the medium forward beyond the status quo.
Video News
I think ill have to disagree a bit regarding Deus Ex: HR. The PC version with everything maxed looks a heck of alot better than the 360 version, no question. The lighting, textures, and
details are so much better. The PC version has more objects and geometry in the levels as well.
That said, MS and Sony not wanting to release a new console has helped the PC quite a bit, as games look so much better on a nice graphics card compared to the 360/PS3.
I find myself playing the PC more and more and games look so much better. Dead Island, DE:HR, and most likely RAGE and SKYRIM all will be better on PC.
MS isn't really losing much regarding gamers switching to PC, and Windows 8 having Xbox Live built in cements that. Battlefield 3 on PC destroys its console versions, and I hope a new console happens fairly soon. Sony is the one in third place, and have reason to worry about the PC taking over..
All this talk that graphics are just fine on current consoles is baloney.....
the talk about graphics on consoles being fine is coming from the guy who plays black ops every day. Black ops (along with all the other cod games) runs on an engine that came out in 05... so of course they are going to like it. Its what they know. That is why I hope there IS NO NEW CONSOLES soon. The wiiU is already going to suck I hear and the other two sank so much money into the development of the current ones (sony with is high initial costs and m$ with their RRoD issues) that they cant afford to upgrade unless its just a graphics upgrade to dx11 chips.
one thing nvidia neglected to note here is that the graphics card in the ps3 is essentially the same chip as the 7800gtx which came out in june of 2005... which means that unless you did sli with it your graphics tech was equal not greater than the consoles.
And also never extrapolate on a graph... it makes you look stupid.
Sorry to burst your bubble but the PS3 was not available until November 2006 at which time the 8800GTX was also released.
The 8800GTX was roughly twice as fast as the GPU on a PS3. If you add SLI then it's FOUR times the speed.
And if you add triple SLI, even faster... Like I used at the time. All hail the 8800GTX, it was the daddy of gpu's and was for a time afterwards. Even today I have gamers coming to my LAN's with them. Wow, just way ahead of its time.
Your right, while pc gaming is miles ahead and games are made to fit "a nice middle" for both console and pc hardware, both in terms of scaling the textures and graphics the main point of the current console hardware is, the games look good "enough", ok not the best they could on new hardware but they are not exactly terrible either, I would love a new gen of hardware though but for now my pc does fill that void when I want my fill of heavily detailed trees and rocks, which I often do :-D
What about that interview that Ryan did with Carmack? (if my memory serves) Carmack said he had a much greater ability to directly access the gfx hardware on the console, and that doing something on the PC took many more instructions than doing it on a console. I understand that you need some higher level language for gfx programming on the PC, no one wants to individually program the hardware for each gfx card that the game supports. The reason devs can access the hardware directly on a console is b/c that hardware is standard and will NOT change. I don't really know where I was going with this point, but that graph that Nvid made with the console gfx being worse than a 8800 made me think....
PS My new system build comes tomorrow!!!
gtx 570
i7 2600k
120 SSD (kingston I am willing to give them a try)
8gig ram
z68 asus
and more!
PC Gaming is on the rise as people move from Desktops to Laptops. The only problem with this transaction was the GPU was heavily handicapped or non-existent in the Laptops. The solution was introduced before but there was no port(connection) to handle the bandwidth of a External GPU until with USB 3.0 and Thunderbolt(a.k.a. "Light Peak").
Introducing one of the many first laptops that will feature support for an external GPU for the Ultimate PC Gaming on the portable movement. The Sony VIO Z!!!
Games developers and publishers are fu****g noobs. Creating console games with PC and doesn't releasing on PC. :(
Microsoft is the captain of this titanic. If they run it into an iceberg because they wouldn't listen to anybody, a huge industry will die with it. If they're smart, they'll create opportunities instead of purely selfish monopolies using mafia style corporate tactics like they did with the Xbox. They put big dents in PC Gaming by taking titles like "Project Ego" (Fable 1) and Halo, putting them on the Xbox only and putting the now-gimped versions of the original visions on the PC as an afterthought once the hype had died.
If they're smart, they'll offer something better than Steam with a massive, accessable social community, easy gaming, a much better HLSL / work on lowering the overhead as much as possible so that developers can take proper advantage of modern hardware and make the average person be able to run games with appreciable graphics. Right now, Steam officially supports mods using their own source engine, they support indie games, they support big games, they support everything. All microsoft is doing is trying to rip off facebook's niche and keep all of the AAA titles on the Xbox 360. If they did two seconds of market research they'd realize games like the Witcher 2 sold extremely well on the PC, look at why people will go to steam instead of them, and eureka on the fact that as the builder of the OS, they're dropping the ball big time.
you guys suck for not questioning a chart made by nvidias marketing team. not for a second did you question its credibility.
its a shame because pcpaper used to have some good critical articles. i hope pc gaming does win in a massive way but this chart? its retarded and nvidia have a long history of being utterly full of BS; even about things that have happened in the past, let alone extrapolating all that.
shame on pcpaper, you guys have a good journalistic team and sometimes it even comes across in articles - but this one sucks balls.
What graph are you referring to exactly? ALL of them? Keep in mind the data on the sales charts came from DFC Intelligence, a company that has been around for a while in the gaming market. I agree that you can't always just take data at face value though. This isn't the first time we have seen estimates of growth in this light.
As for the performance graph that did include data from NVIDIA, it was simply based on GFLOPS performance.
Perhaps this chart will please you more, it shows that PC Gaming is by far the biggest platform, in fact traditional PC Games + MMOs just about equal ALL consoles combined, and that's not including the other forms of PC Gaming:
Pc has always been superior.
The only reason Console has had more sales is because its easier... people are lazy put in cd and play.
The next-gen Consoles will be limited again on graphics and developers will push them to the limit... while Pc gamers will always go beyond that limit and eventually come more close to reality.
Not to forget that tournament games like CS,War3,SC1/2,CoD
Is pc only! There are no Console official tournaments and their wont be because there is a Auto-aim system 30-40 pixels auto aim... this means that people on console Don't have Skill.
Wikipedia, Title "Aimbot"
Quote:"Console FPS games to have this feature to compensate for the lack of precision in analog-stick control pads."
This is why Consoles Suck, No skills, No Tournaments, No Top Tier players, And every one is under 16 years of age becaus their parents bought them a PS3/Xbox360 Because a $2000 pc is too mutch.
I don't get how for the first graphic the income for consoles in 2013 seem different from DFC intelligent numbers.
Shouldn't it be 44 billions instead?


text:
Frothing Pitchers
Our most popular daily request is for milk frothing tips. You have heard about velvety microfoam, but how do you achieve it? First, select a milk frothing pitcher that works well with your espresso machine. Consider the angle of your steam wand and the clearance from the counter. Next, how much capacity does the milk frothing pitcher provide? Enough for a 16 ounce latte or just a dollop of foam to mark the top of a perfectly pulled espresso shot? Once you find the right milk frothing pitcher it is time to put it into action.
Learn More about Milk Frothing Pitchers
Rattleware Thermometer Clip Milk Frothing Pitcher - 20 oz.$24.96
Rattleware Handle-Free Milk Frothing Pitcher - 16 oz.$24.95
Rattleware Stainless Steel Latte Art Milk Frothing Pitcher - 48 oz.$24.25
Espro Toroid Frothing Pitcher$29.95
Milk to Perfection Latte Art Pitcher
Regular Price: $34.95
Out of stock


text:
Please note this chain is very fine, thin, light and delicate9k Yellow Gold - 9 Karat - 375 GoldWeights and Measurements are Approximations50cm = 20 Inches
9ct yellow gold 0.6mm wide bright cut curb pendant necklace 16 - 20 inches (40-50cm) long. Each link is soldered in this light traditional chain. It comes to you threaded onto a special card for protection in the post, but if ordered at the same time as one of our pendants we will put both items together for you in a black leatherette gift box. Please note that weights can vary with handmade or hand polished products, this is an average weight that we would expect the item to weigh. What is a Curb Chain Curb chains are a very popular choice, particularly with men, the curb is a simple and classic design of flat, interlocking, identical links. Historically, the links were large as they were made with very little machinery and hence were very time consuming. Nowadays however, with the advent of modern machinery, smaller and more feminine curb chains are available. Smaller curb chains work well with pendants and diamond cut or twisted curb chains tend to reflect the most light.
9ct Gold 0 6mm wide bright cut Curb Pendant Chain 16-20 Inches VOGGSCKEN
9ct Gold 0 6mm wide bright cut Curb Pendant Chain 16-20 Inches VOGGSCKEN
- Product Code: VOGGSCKEN
- Availability: In Stock
- £41.99


text:
Download the latest version of 8S648FXP-RZ drivers according to your computer's operating system. All downloads available on this website have been scanned by the latest anti-virus software and are guaranteed to be virus and malware-free.
Browse the list of top matching drivers below to find the driver that meets your needs. To see more matches from our driver database, use our to customized driver search engine.
To download, select the best match for your device and then click the Download button. Need help? You can request the driver and we will find it for you.
8S648FXP-RZ Driver Update UtilitySupported OS: Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP
File Version: Version 220.127.116.11
File Size: 2.3 MB
File Name:
Download >>
8S648FXP-RZ Driver
Gigabyte TechnologySource: Manufacturer Website (Official Download)
Supported OS: Win XP Home, Win XP Pro, Win 2000 Workstation, Win 2000 Server, Win NT 4.0, Win NT 3.51, Win ME, Win 98SE, Win 98, Win 95
File Version: Version 5.10.00.5770
File Size: 24.9 MB
File Name:
Download >>
102 DownloadsSubmitted Feb 24, 2005 by siva (DG Staff Member):
"8S648FXP-RZ - Audio Driver file - Realtek"
8S648FXP-RZ Driver
Gigabyte TechnologySource: Manufacturer Website (Official Download)
Supported OS: Win XP Home, Win XP Pro, Win XP Pro x64, Win 2000 Workstation, Win 2000 Server, Win ME, Win 98
File Version: Version 5.10.00.6160
File Size: 21.2 MB
File Name:
Download >>
8 DownloadsSubmitted Mar 22, 2010 by Manivannan (DG Staff Member):
"Realtek AC97 Driver"


text:
Russia, photos of Russia, Russia pictures » Saint Petersburg
Kazan Kremlin
Custom Search
We present you carefully selected pictures from the most interesting places in the world - cities, monuments, buildings, and architectural objects - a cross section through thousands of years of human culture, work and faith. The most beautiful and unique photos of the objects created by men.
Privacy policy | © Copyright 2010 Photo-travels.org | Photo travels


text:
On April 1, Gotham Gazette held an online chat with Benjamin Miller, author of Fat of the Land, Garbage of New York, the Past Two Hundred Years.
Gotham Gazette:
How did you become interested in garbage?
Benjamin Miller:
I came to garbage by a strange route, although all routes into garbage may be strange. I started out in anthropology: urban, ecological anthropology. I was interested in the planning process, and what it tells us about the way our society functions. I wanted to find a dissertation topic that would allow me to get inside a case study of an infrastructural planning decision -- and I ended up working for the Sanitation Department.
Once I started working in garbage, I found, as an anthropologist, that it was especially fertile ground because of our cultural blinders. It's something that we don't care to think about or examine closely, so it was at once something that hadn't been looked at before. In fact, when I spent years doing archival research, poring through old ledgers showing how much garbage had been picked up and where it had been taken, and things like that, I was quite certain that no one had ever opened those documents before. Because people don't pay much attention to it, the municipal processes that it reveals are that much cruder, more obvious.
But once I got my hands dirty, so to speak, I turned, as anthropologists say, native-- rather than academic anthropology, my primary focus was on the problems that I was working to solve, and as far as the writing part went, I became at once interested in a broader audience and a broader range of issues. I decided it would be a great way to write a book that at least would be amusing for me to write, and which would allow me to pull together lots of threads from New York history that I found fascinating.
You sort of blended together just now your decision to make a career in the Sanitation department and your decision to write a book. Were they one and the same to you?
Is there anything unique about New York City's garbage, as opposed to garbage from other cities?
No major differences. One thing, of course, is that we have less yard waste. We didn't have in-sink food disposals until recently. And the space limits of apartments lead to less waste generation, the evidence seems to show.
So, New Yorkers produce less waste per capita than other places?
People may think differently--judging by the amount of waste generated overall in NYC. But that waste comes from a very large commuting, tourist, etc. influx as well as residents. We do know, from a 1990 waste composition/generation study that high-density areas correlated with somewhat lesser volumes of waste.
Approximately how much garbage does New York City produce in a day?
I'm not sure what the current figure is--and the numbers vary depending on where you get them. But something in the order of 11,000 tons of municipally collected waste. That is, from residences and non-profits, etc. And perhaps up to twice that--or in that order of magnitude from commercial generators whose waste is picked up by private carters. That number increases, of course, if you include construction/demolition debris, and other things that aren't normally considered "municipal solid waste."
What are some of the watershed moments in the history of garbage in New York City?
In NYC we see a cyclical pattern with regard to waste management -- continuity through decades of inertia is interspersed with sudden, unhappy disruptions, all of which is due to the fundamental difficulty of siting waste-management facilities-- and once a facility is sited, inertia takes over and it continues there for decades.We've had a particularly bad experience when we've been in a private phase of these cycles, because given the siting difficulties, it's an inherently noncompetitive situation and prices have gone straight up over time.
I'd say that the first watershed was the invention of the modern business model for waste-management, which occurred during that 1849 cholera epidemic, when Inspector White took charge-- an event that led directly, by 1852, to the beginning of that complex of garbage factories on Barren Island-- factories which operated through 1916 and lingered on into the 30s.
The only other REAL watershed we've had after that, and of course it just perpetuates the business model White and his crooked colleagues developed, was the decision to close the Fresh Kills landfill so that NYC, for the first time in its history, had absolutely no control over its waste-disposal destiny. From now on it will be utterly dependent on the kindness of strangers.
Greg Todd posted on the book club message board: "I enjoyed this book a lot - and it raises lots of questions about garbage in NY's future as well as covering them in NY's past. One of the biggest is - what are we going to do without the Fresh Kills landfill. Mayor Giuliani has kind of left this for future administrations to deal with."
Mr. Miller, what do you think the city should do?
We need to reduce the amount of waste we generate in the first place by instituting--as we finally did in the case of water--a metering system to give people an economic incentive to reduce waste. We need more effective recycling to that end, the recent news about the Hugo Neu company offering to process plastics at a rate much less than the waste-disposal firms were charging is welcome. There is clear evidence for instance, in the Environmental Protection Agency emissions results published last summer that waste-to-energy facilities produce fewer emissions of concern than landfilling, so we should consider developing waste-to-energy facilities either in the city or outside it either publicly or privately run and we should consider developing access to a regional New York State landfill--as Commissioner Doherty recently suggested.
I also think we need to do more composting. On that front there are a couple of welcome recent developments-- a proposal for an in-vessel facility for Hunts Point market waste and recent Environmental Protection Agency and New York State Energy Research and Development Authority funding for the Earth Pledge Foundation which proposes to develop a few small-scale anaerobic digestors, in locations such as high schools and community facilities. These would be the first anaerobic digesters for municipal solid waste in NYC.
Hi, Ben -- Fat is a fabulous book. I have a question about landfills. The commissioner of sanitation recently endorsed the idea of an upstate landfill that would be owned and used by NYC. As long as we have to rely on them, it seems like a good idea. What needs to happen for that to come about?
I think the governor, for one thing, will have to show some leadership on this issue. I think it unconscionable for the governor of New York State not to assume any responsibility for 40 percent of the garbage generated in his state. We will also need to have a good system for transporting waste to a landfill, to minimize environmental and economic costs. To that end, I think the decision announced last summer by Commissioner Doherty and Mayor Bloomberg to retrofit marine transfer stations for containerized waste that could be put on barges or rails an important step in the right direction.
When then Mayor Rudy Giuliani decided in 1996 to close Fresh Kills, you suggested that the landfill should remain open. What was your reasoning and do you still feel the same way?
I said then that Fresh Kills had decades of remaining capacity and was, objectively speaking, one of the best-controlled landfills in the country with regard to environmental emissions. So that the decision to close it was an optional one which, given the structure of the private waste-management industry to which we would thus become utterly vulnerable would be VERY expensive over time.
After 9-11, with a budget crisis then predictable, and municipal lay-offs, perhaps, about to arrive this optional decision appears ever-more unconscionable. If we merely threatened to re-open it--a threat that, to be credible, would have to be backed up by a gubernatorial executive--I think we could save money by negotiating reductions in our current and future export costs. And re-opening the landfill, if necessary, by my estimate could cut our per-ton costs, for the stuff we put at Fresh Kills, approximately in half. Since I'm not suggesting that we put ALL our waste there, I think this could save us about $75m a year.
What is the practical possibility of the landfill reopening, considering how adamant public officials are?
I wouldn't give it a good shot.
Residents of Staten Island say that they have lived with the dump, and its environmental hazards, for long enough. Shouldn't they get a break?
Anyone could understand their position. My only point is that this is an optional decision which is costing the city a great deal of money and that, given the $300 million that has been spent there within the last decade to develop environmental controls which make it a well-operated landfill, I don't think Staten Islanders would actually perceive the effects of putting, say, half our garbage there for a period of time. I would also think that there would be some sympathy on Staten Island for the benefits of not laying of police, firemen, etc. I also think that we could PAY Staten Islanders, as we pay residents of, say, Virginia, as a partial compensation for any annoyances there might be.
We witnessed one public official getting red in the face and screaming at you. Why do you make some officials so angry?
Sorry about that!
As your book made clear, the disposal of garbage is always only about money and politics. So, do you think it would ever be possible to acknowledge that ALL solutions are expensive? And that we might move on to thinking what might be more socially responsible ways to deal with waste, what might be the ways that would involve individuals in the solution to the problem?
Sounds good to me! If you are asking how to move individuals--I'd start with some kind of pay-as-you-throw system. In the 6,000 US cities where such systems are in effect waste-disposal volumes have been reduced by an average of 17 percent.
What US cities have effective trash policies, and what can we learn from them?
Most cities have done some plannning in advance for their waste-disposal needs rather than, as we just did, jumping off the cliff first and planning later. Los Angeles, for example, also must use remote landfills for its waste. But rather than place itself in a situation over which it has no control it has bought landfills from the private sector and is planning rail facilities to get waste there.
Rhode Island and Delaware are examples of states who have had enough foresight to realize that the only way to control prices is to have publicly controlled facilities. Accordingly they have developed statewide waste-management authorities that effectively control costs. Connecticut has a similar arrangement. But sadly, they made a deal with Enron that was costly.
What actually is happening now to NYC's garbage? We don't hear about it much.
As I understand it the stuff we dispose of goes to Pennsylvania, Virginia, Ohio, and New Jersey in that volume order. We also recycle some waste, of course.
Many New Yorkers are confused about whether they will be recycling again soon. Can you give us an update on what is happening with recycling in the city? What do you think about the situation?
I'm not sure that I am the best source for current plans but my understanding is that the Hugo Neu recycling company intends to begin accepting plastics sometime this year --this is in addition to metals, and to the paper that other processors work with-- glass, I think, will be delayed longer.
I was not delighted to see the interruption in the recycling system, because I think the "front-end" --the people involved in putting out recyclables-- is more difficult to manage than the "back-end"--the collection, processing etc .,that the City handles. Starting and stopping is tough on the system-- which depends on so many New Yorkers, speaking different languages, and so on. Hopefully, once we get it re-engineered and started back up we won't change it on the FRONT-end again for a very long time.
This Saturday, April 5, there's an all-day conference put on by the Northern Manhattan Environmental Justice Coalition. My neighborhood is very concerned with increased waste coming in. Will we be seeing a neighborhod vs. neighborhood situation as marine transfer stations like ours are retrofitted to accept more garbage?
Nothing is ideal. But at least the marine transfer stations, as presently located, are relatively well-dispersed throughout the city so that the miles travelled by white garbage trucks are minimized to a fairly great extent.
Historically, of course--and I'm not talking very many years in the past--those facilities were open and received waste volumes that were larger than the present ones. There are no ideal solutions, but the Marine Transfer Station system is certainly better than a lot of alternatives including the present haphazard one of private transfer stations and the proposed (now dead) alternative of Linden, New Jersey.
Environmental justice activists say that transfer stations are dispersed primarily in communities of color and low-income neighborhoods.
That's right. The city took virtually no role in siting them. Just let the private market do what it wanted--for the most part. Since these areas were easiest to locate in since they were industrially zoned, etc. that's what happened. I think the city has to exert its responsibility to make planning decisions such as where transfer facilities are located, in order to minimize environmental and economic costs. That's a pretty basic public function, it seems to me.
There's a myth that colonial New Yorkers allowed pigs to roam freely in the streets to eat the rotting garbage that city residents had thrown to the curb. Is this true?
Not a myth. Gospel.
Robert Moses used garbage to fill in parts of New York City and create places like Orchard Beach in the Bronx and much of Riverside Park on Manhattan's west side. How much of the city and what other important places were built on top of garbage?
In 1934 alone Moses, as parks commissioner, was putting garbage, as fill, in, I believe, 94 parks/landfills. 25 percent of Manhattan is fill. A lot of that--but by no means all--was what we would now call municipal solid waste. If you look around the shorelines of the city from Orchard Beach in the north, all the way around the Bronx shore (well, much of the way) to Hunts Point, you'll find landfills. Northern Queens. LaGuardia Airport. Corona Meadows. In Brooklyn, everything along the southern shore. Coney Island was once actually an island, you know.
Is there any danger in building on top of garbage? On page 186, you quote from Moses' memoirs about LaGuardia Airport, built on a pile of garbage covering the old North Beach amusement park:
"We were intrigued to see a sixteen-foot lamppost sink slowly into the sand, ooze and garbage and to spot rats large enough to wear saddles leaping out of the crevasses."
It's certainly not an ideal building material! Moses, as I say in the book, sited Fresh Kills because he wanted to acquire land for and build the West Shore Expressway. So that's the first strip of land his muchachos got their hands on. They filled it with garbage. Then had to dig it back out, because his engineers couldn't build the road on it. That's one of the reasons it will be very hard ever to build on the filled parts of Fresh Kills, real built structures. LaGuardia, I was told by one of the engineers in charge of its reconstruction, is still settling as we speak.
That said, since a lot of the city actually IS built on that stuff--think of some of the housing projects in southern Brooklyn--in the old days it was somewhat different--more coal ash, and firmer stuff. Maybe not the nicest materials, from an environmental management perspective but at least more stable than the really putrescible stuff of which much of our present waste volumes are composed.
It is curious that the same Guiliani administration both began and ended an excellent composting program. I refer to the Master Composter training in all the boroughs. It was a pretty 1970s sort of idea for that administration and I wonder what inspired its beginning. Its end was, for many of us, along with the end of recycling, morally reprehensible. It had cost so much money and influenced so much behavior in a positive, community responsible way!
I'm sorry--I just don't know anything about that.
Much of the discussion today has been about present-day garbage. Is there a reason why you made your book basically the history of garbage?
I think that it is critical to an understanding of our current situation to understand how we got here.
After he was elected, Bloomberg came up with a garbage plan that sought to spread the burden around the city. What is the status of this plan and what do you think of it?
I am very impressed with the fresh tack this administration seems to be taking on a number of garbage fronts. My understanding is that there are still plenty of things being decided, which need to be studied, etc., so I'm not sure how far along toward implementation many elements are. But the move to retrofit Marine Transfer Stations is better than the Linden alternative--not to say that there were not other good options--such as the proposed Port Ivory transfer station on Staten Island, which we may yet see word of again. I'm impressed that somehow Hugo Neu, the recycling company, is now involved.
But we clearly still have a VERY long way to go before we get things properly planned and implemented. The Task Force report released last week, showed by its slimness how far the planning still has to go, but nonetheless I think the approaches suggested are good ones.
Who has the largest say in what happens to garbage in New York City?
At this moment? I presume that City Hall, in some fashion, is calling some of the fundamental plays. But unfortunately, given the vulnerable position that the last administration left us in, the private waste-disposal market is-- and no doubt will, for many years to come-- be calling most of the shots.
Are you working on another book?
Yes. It's a history of freight transportation planning in the region, from the Erie Canal up to the present. Again, as in Fat, I find that an understanding of how we got here is critical for figuring out where we should be going. Not to mention that I find that history absolutely fascinating! For example, a central theme is the proposed cross-harbor rail freight tunnel, which, as we speak, is moving at least fitfully ahead and may actually be built. That tunnel was first proposed, publicly, in 1888. And, since then, it's gone through some fascinating permutations!
Are you glad to be rid of garbage then?
I must say that I don't altogether mind--except that I AM still involved, to some extent. I'm working with a group at Columbia University, the Earth Engineering Center, which I think is generating some very useful policy recommendations and analyses.


text:
Bonds and certificates of deposit have long been considered safer investments than stocks. But in an era of incredibly low interest rates, Cramer said, buying the former two could be a mistake.
A CD right now might offer a 1.5% return, while 10-year Treasurys pay you 3.75%. A company with a high-yielding dividend, however, can generate more than 7% (see: Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, among others). But even stocks with sub-4% yields these days may net more than those 10-years because dividends enjoy a better tax rate. And they offer the potential for upside, which is something those so-called safe investments don't.
Cramer pulled together an updated list of his favorite high-yielding picks to help investors take advantage of the trend. (Click here for his first) These are companies that not only return generous sums to shareholders, but also have a history of raising those payouts. The end result? Investors collect a steady stream of income now and all but bank on even more in the future, whether through a rising stock price or an increasing dividend.
Read on for Cramer's nine newest dividend plays. Just remember: The numbers listed here were correct as of publish time, but they may have changed a bit since. So do your homework! And make sure these stocks still work for your portfolio before you decide to buy.
Cramer's charitable trust owns Altria and Emerson Electric.


text:
Predictive analytics helps your organization predict with confidence what will happen next so that you can make smarter decisions and improve business outcomes. IBM offers easy-to-use predictive analytics products and solutions that meet the specific needs of different users and skill levels from beginners to experienced analysts.
Featured Products
IBM SPSS® Modeler
IBM SPSS Modeler is an extensive predictive analytics platform that is designed to bring predictive intelligence to decisions made by individuals, groups, systems and the enterprise. By providing a range of advanced algorithms and techniques that include text analytics, entity analytics, decision management and optimization, SPSS Modeler can help you consistently make the right decisions—from the desktop or within operational systems.
IBM SPSS Statistics
IBM SPSS Statistics is an integrated family of products that addresses the entire analytical process, from planning to data collection to analysis, reporting and deployment. With more than a dozen fully integrated modules to choose from, you can find the specialized capabilities you need to increase revenue, outperform competitors, conduct research and make better decisions.
IBM SPSS Data Collection
IBM SPSS Data Collection is a complete suite of products for survey, market, or business researchers. It enables them to quickly and efficiently acquire clean data from the widest range of sources using an expansive array of methods. This is increasingly important as business today demands faster, more representative and more cost-effective surveys for deeper insight into customers' thoughts and opinions. Both commercial organizations and market research firms rely on its advanced technologies.
IBM Social Media Analytics
IBM Social Media Analytics helps organizations understand and act upon the social media impact of their products, services, markets, campaigns, employees and partners. It analyzes billions of social media comments and provides customized results in configurable charts and dashboards. Built on IBM's leading analytics platform, it integrates easily with other IBM business analytics solutions and internal business processes.


text:
On nights when jazz wafts out of one apartment, up the street, and in through my bedroom window you make me feel like I'm living in a movie. I like that about you.
PS: On those nights I feel like I'm 23 again (in the best of ways) and forget that you have lots of ugly new buildings and chain stores. On those nights I may even forgive that some of your neighborhoods are now barely recognizable (in not quite the best of ways.)


text:
Boost your buying power with the Prosperity Two Step Advantage (15/15 ARM).
Features of the Prosperity Two Step Advantage (15/15 ARM) include:
The Prosperity Two Step Advantage loan may be right for you if:
Download in printable format here
Get prequalified for the Two Step Advantage:
Available on purchases and refinances up to $2 million for 1-2 unit properties. Not available for applications without a property address (pre-purchase). Investment properties are not eligible. The initial rate is fixed for 15 years (180 months). When the rate adjusts, the new rate will be the lower of the index plus margin or loan cap. The rate will be equal to the note margin plus index, rounded to the nearest 0.125%, or adjustment cap of 6% above the borrower's initial rate, and no lower than the floor rate of 2%. Other restrictions may apply.
Interest rates may change daily. Consult a mortgage consultant for current rates.
All first mortgage products are provided by Prosperity Home Mortgage, LLC. (877) 275-1762. Prosperity Home Mortgage, LLC products may not be available in all areas. Not all borrowers will qualify. Licensed by the NJ Department of Banking and Insurance. Licensed by the Delaware State Bank Commissioner. Also licensed in Alabama, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.
NMLS ID #75164 (NMLS Consumer Access at http://www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org/)
©2019 Prosperity Home Mortgage, LLC. All Rights Reserved.


text:
Healthy skin provides a barrier between the inside of the body and the outside environment. A rash means some change has affected the skin.
Rashes are generally caused by skin irritation, which can have many causes. A rash is generally a minor problem that may go away with home treatment. In some cases a rash does not go away or the skin may become so irritated that medical care is needed.
In adults and older children, rashes are often caused by contact with a substance that irritates the skin (contact dermatitis). The rash usually starts within 48 hours after contact with the irritating substance. Contact dermatitis may cause mild redness of the skin or a rash of small red bumps. A more severe reaction may cause swelling, redness, and larger blisters. The location of the rash may give you a clue about the cause.
Contact dermatitis does not always occur the first time you are in contact with the irritating substance (allergen). After you have had a reaction to the substance, a rash can occur in response to even very small amounts of the substance. Contact dermatitis is not serious, but it is often very itchy. Common causes of contact dermatitis include:
- Poisonous plants, such as poison ivy, oak, or sumac.
- Soaps, detergents, shampoos, perfumes, cosmetics, or lotions.
- Jewelry or fabrics.
- New tools, toys, appliances, or other objects.
- Latex. Allergy to natural rubber latex affects people who are exposed to rubber products on a regular basis, especially health care workers, rubber industry workers, and people who have had multiple surgeries. Latex allergies can cause a severe reaction.
Rashes may occur with viral infections, such as herpes zoster; fungal infections, such as a yeast infection (Candida albicans); bacterial infections, such as impetigo; and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) . Rashes may also occur as a symptom of a more serious disease, such as liver disease, kidney disease, or some types of cancer.
Rashes may also appear after exposure to an insect or a parasite, such as the scabies mite. You may develop a rash when you travel to a rural area or go hiking or camping in the woods.
A rash may be a sign of a chronic skin problem, such as acne, eczema, psoriasis, or seborrheic dermatitis. Other causes of rash include dry, cold weather; extremely hot weather (heat rash); and emotional stress. Emotions such as frustration or embarrassment may lead to an itchy rash.
Some medicines can cause a rash as a side effect. A very rare and serious type of generalized red rash called toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) may occur after using sulfa drugs. TEN can cause the skin to peel away, leaving large areas of tissue that weep or ooze fluid like a severe burn. If this type of rash occurs, you need to see a doctor. TEN may occur after the use of some medicines.
The need for medical treatment often depends on what other symptoms are present. A rash that occurs with other symptoms, such as shortness of breath or fever, may mean another problem, such as a serious allergic reaction or infection.


text:
Get Persnickety!
23 comments:
- Bonny said...
Thank you for making this pattern available to us. Very, very thoughtful, especially as we budget for the holidays. You are so nice. I love your pattern and I hope to cast on after I finish the current shawl project :)
- November 12, 2011 at 8:08 p.m.
- Kelly @ Creating a Family Home said...
Wow, thanks! I'm gonna go grab it now. Look forward to your next free surprises to come!
- November 12, 2011 at 8:09 p.m.
- Maryse said...
Thanks a lot! I love your mittens! These are no exceptions!
- November 12, 2011 at 8:24 p.m.
- Laura said...
Thank you! They look great and my mother has been eyeing my Isidora mittens so I may just have to make these for her for Christmas!
- November 12, 2011 at 8:29 p.m.
- Sally said...
You're the loveliest! Thank you!!!!!
- November 13, 2011 at 12:01 a.m.
- Kludemutter said...
Mange tak ;)
Thank you !!
- November 13, 2011 at 4:34 a.m.
- Effi said...
Thank you so much! I love your desings. Can't wait the next surprise:)
- November 13, 2011 at 6:31 a.m.
- Cambria said...
thanks so much for the fun free bonus! I've had my eye on these for a little while and I just love them :)
- November 13, 2011 at 7:56 a.m.
- WildflowerWool said...
Lovely pattern!
- November 13, 2011 at 9:01 a.m.
jpillyjane: YOU are the nicest people of them all!! thanks :)
- November 13, 2011 at 9:17 a.m.
- Knittripps said...
I can't wait to cast on! Thank you!
- November 13, 2011 at 9:30 a.m.
- Ruth said...
Yay! Thanks so much!
- November 13, 2011 at 9:45 a.m.
- Marilla said...
Thank you for the gift of the free pattern. :) I'm so glad I stopped by your blog today. Can't wait to knit them. I think I'm going to spin some yarn for them.
- November 13, 2011 at 9:50 a.m.
- Beverly said...
Thank you so much.
- November 13, 2011 at 2:02 p.m.
I did not know that! But thanks. I have been eying this one up for it's slightly steampunk qualities. Can see it in black and gold.
- November 13, 2011 at 3:45 p.m.
love them! Thank you!
- November 13, 2011 at 5:12 p.m.
- Sue said...
Thank you!
- November 13, 2011 at 5:20 p.m.
- Julie said...
Thank you...I love your patterns!
Your designs are so much fun to knit.
- November 13, 2011 at 7:37 p.m.
- karen alho said...
Lovely pattern. I've been imagining it in a whole lot of different colorways. Unfortunately, I only got to see it and a week and a half's worth of blogs today. My husband decided to have a heart attack last week and, not surprisingly, catching up on my blog list was pretty low priority. Loved the frog king too! Still, not the end of the world. I'm one and a quarter hands away from finishing my current pair of mittens, no to mention two sweaters and some socks. Don't think I'd get to these any time soon. (Did I mention the
list of projects that haven't even seen the needles yet?)
BTW, the man in question, who has now reacquired the missing 40% of blood flow to the heart, is home and demonstrating an indecent amount of energy!
- November 15, 2011 at 5:18 a.m.
- I, er....Hi. I'm Rayleen. said...
Oh no, I missed it!
It's beautiful, good job. :)
- November 15, 2011 at 9:49 p.m.
- Nancy Maushak said...
Just read this post today. Week late!! Love the mittens so will have to add them to my wish list.
- November 18, 2011 at 12:10 p.m.
- rashid omer said...
In Internet system we have now best earning system without any work, Just Invest some Money into your Business and Make Perfect Life time Earnings with this Business.
Join Now for Make Perfect Business and Earn Money online from home.
- March 13, 2014 at 1:32 p.m.
- rashid omer said...
Lols Gag is the the Best Lol Network Ever, where you can every thing is lol and Funny, Troll Images, Prank Peoples, Funny Peoples, funny planet, funny facts, funny cartoons, funny movies pics, iphone funny, funny jokes, Prank Images, Fail Pictures, Epic Pictures, Lols and Gags, Lol Pictures.
- April 6, 2014 at 6:29 a.m.


text:
Careers >> Browse Articles >> Career Trends
What Teachers Should Never (Ever!) Wear
Kayla Baxter, Anna Hennings, and Alice Handley | Monster
We hate to admit it, because we personally feel that clothes shouldn't matter. In a perfect world, a person would be judged at their workplace based solely on the caliber of their work. Unfortunately, that's not how the world works.
How you choose to dress each morning reflects how you feel about your job – that you take your position seriously, that you are ready to work and that you pay attention to detail and know what you expect to encounter that day. You wouldn't go to a construction site in your favorite four-inch stilettos, right? Of course not, you'd go in a hard hat, because it's appropriate for the situation. Appearances matter!
We've all been there, though. The days you wake up feeling sick, but still have to make it into the office, so you throw on any old thing that's (kind of ) clean.
Regardless of the excuses, there are some things that professionals should just never wear. Ever.
We'll show you what these things are, why they're a terrible wardrobe choice and if you're guilty of having one in your closet – or (gasp!) in your daily rotation – we'll give you a much better alternative.
And for your men out there who are teachers: this article is geared towards women since we know you probably don't care as much about fashion as females do!


text:
Reaffirming our commitment to carbon pricing and climate action
When the world united around the historic Paris climate agreement, in 2015, the message was clear: It's unfair to pass the burden of climate change to future generations.
We now need to put words into action. This week, leaders from 20 of the largest economies are meeting in Hamburg to find solutions to global challenges. Climate change will be front and center.
As the co-chairs of the Carbon Pricing Leadership Coalition (CPLC), we want to accelerate climate action and reaffirm our commitment to carbon pricing. The discussions in Germany are a great opportunity to keep the momentum going.
Launched during the Paris climate talks, the CPLC now consists of 30 governments and over 140 businesses, all fighting for a common cause: to advocate for the pricing of carbon emissions across the world. We are calling for bold leadership from everyone – governments, companies, academia and civil society. The CPLC provides a forum for these groups to show collaborative leadership on carbon pricing.


text:
digitadog needed a new logo design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 35 designs submitted by 13 freelance designers.
We currently run a website that focuses on ID tags for pets at http://www.DogTagArt.com. (Please checkout the site and then continue reading, it will make more sense.)
We plan to take this same tag shape and variety of designs and re-brand it to focus on ID for outdoor enthusiasts. The current major player in this space is http://www.RoadID.com and there is another company called http://www.YikesID.com.
As you can see from the website RoadID.com they are really focusing on the 'hard-core' athlete whereas we want to market to a broader demographic that includes weekend warriors. The idea is for people to wear the ID tags when they may not have their proper identification. This helps in an emergency situation. The short list includes: runners, bikers, skiiers, snowboarders, kayakers, hikers, world travelers, etc...
The requirements are not super-duper defined although we do want something that oozes with credibility, gloss, simplicity, some color, sturdy, durable, safety, fun. (If that makes any sense.)
We don't have a tagline yet although we have been playing with the morbid:
"because 3 out of 3 die" and "because life is risky" or "life is risky"
See what you can come up with, surprise us!
Thanks in advance for your submission!
Find out how a design contest works or learn more about our logo design services.


text:
Coraline lets players take on the role of the adventurous heroine Coraline and interact with the wondrous characters from the movie while navigating the scheming Other Mother's web of deceit in a fantastical adventure through two distinct and interactive worlds. Players engage in unique mini-games and adventures with Coraline's friends Wybie and Cat as they collect items that will unlock the mysteries of the Other World.
D3Publisher, a publisher and developer of interactive entertainment software, today announced that the Coraline videogame is now available in stores nationwide. Read More »
D3Publisher (D3P), a publisher and developer of interactive entertainment software, together with its parent D3, Inc., today announced a worldwide publishing agreement with the Universal Pictures Digital Platforms Group for videogames based on Focus Features and LAIKA Entertainment's Coraline, the upcoming high-definition stop-motion animated feature - the first to be originally filmed in 3-D. The newest movie from visionary director Henry Selick (The Nightmare Before Christmas), Coraline is based on Neil Gaiman's international best-selling book of the same title. The games are scheduled to be released for console and handheld systems in Q1 2009 to coincide with Focus' nationwide release of the movie on February 6, 2009. Read More »
Also known as: Coraline: The Game
Release Region: United States
Release Date: January 27, 2009
Publisher: D3 Publisher
Release Region: United Kingdom
Release Date: May 1, 2009
Publisher: D3 Publisher
Release Region: Australia
Release Date: August 6, 2009
Publisher: D3 Publisher
Also available on: PlayStation 2, Nintendo DS


text:
Do you Yahoo? The government does.
Yahoo says that U.S. law enforcement agencies filed "between 12,000 and 13,000" requests for data from Jan. 1, 2013 to May 31 of this year, according to Reuters.
Yahoo made the announcement in a blog on its Tumblr page. Police most-often request information pertaining not to national security, but in cases concerning "fraud, homicides, kidnappings" and similar cases, according to the news wire.
Some data requests, however, were made under the U.S. Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, or FISA, the bit of American security policy brought into mainstream focus by the recent NSA leak.
The NSA, according to documents provided by former employee Edward Snowden, has been "acquiring customer data from" major US tech firms like Yahoo "for years," Reuters reported.


text:
Green-Smart Inc needed a new logo design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 195 designs submitted by 49 freelance designers.
Green-Smart Inc. - Making Green Make Sense
Green-Smart Inc mission is to provide consumers with services that will enable them to increase the comfort and efficiency of their homes and businesses while reducing their energy consumption, unnecessary costs and environmental impact.
Green-Smart Inc provides the consumer with a single source for Energy-Efficiency advice, and information, equipment, and property improvements, - first teaching how to live responsibly and then assisting the consumer to achieve their efficiency goals.
Homes and small business owners of real property. Anyone looking for green solutions for home or living.
We need a logo design concept that in simple, conise, clean, modern and captivating the will be to recognize and remember.
Making Green Make Sen$e
We would like a logo that represents living responsible (green) by taking advantage of all the technology, information, rebates, programs that can help. Using that logo we would like to use that logo with maybe a few minor changes that represents the services side of our company. The service side of the company will be installing insulation, windows, doors, HVAC systems, electric upgrades, plumbing upgrades to make homes more energy effecient.
Find out how a design contest works or learn more about our logo design services.


text:
You Won't Find Anything Else Like Checkbook
- Nonprofit and independent
- Takes no advertising or referral fees
- Ratings and reviews by surveyed Consumers' Checkbook and Consumer Reports local subscribers
- Undercover price comparisons
- Complaint counts from local consumer agencies and attorney general offices
- Advice to help you get the best service and value
Subscribe and see 27 Boston area weight loss centersSubscribe »
The most important thing you can do to assure yourself high-quality medical care is to form a strong relationship with a good primary care physician and, at times, together make informed decisions on specialty care. We identify top area doctors.
Once you have identified doctors who are potential candidates, you may want to get answers to several questions about each. Here's a list of things to ask.
Whichever doctor you select, how you interact with the doctor will have a big effect on the success of your care. Here are some suggestions on how to get the best care from doctors.
Before joining a gym, think about your own motivations and interests—and consider alternatives. Set realistic fitness goals, then think about whether you really need to pay a company big bucks for activities that are probably available more cheaply elsewhere.
When comparing fitness clubs, consider several points, including what its members say, its location, membership fees, contract terms, facilities and equipment, classes, and amenities. Our ratings of area clubs will help you find the right fit.
Membership at many clubs doesn't come cheap. Although some bare-bones gyms cost less than $300 a year, many charge more than $600. Want a club that offers racquet sports or a wide range of facilities and amenities? Expect to pay a lot more.


text:
Opposition to background checks draws 500 to State House
copyright the Chronicle January 28, 2015
by Nathalie Gagnon-Joseph
MONTPELIER — Nearly 500 people showed up at the State House here Tuesday to express their opposition to a Senate bill that would require background checks when guns are sold.
The rally was organized by the Vermont Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs, Inc., which invited all participants to wear hunter orange to show solidarity in the face of the proposed legislation, S.31. Those without orange clothing were given round orange stickers.
At 3 p.m. there were already approximately 100 people in the State House cafeteria despite the bad weather. Participants were invited to roam the building in search of their legislators to speak with them about the issue personally until refreshments and food were served at 4:30 p.m.
National Rifle Association (NRA) Foundation Projects and Legislative Affairs Vice-president Evan Hughes said the bill amounts to legislation in search of a problem, but that the validity of the medical portion remains to be seen.
"The aspect with regards to mental health, we're going to let the medical community take the lead on that issue," he said. "We're going to watch with great interest."
Others felt more strongly about screening for mental health issues and the actual repercussions. Senator John S. Rodgers of Glover said he's concerned that mentally ill people would avoid seeking help for fear that their firearms would be confiscated.
"My position is that we're the safest state in the nation, we have a very high per capita of gun ownership in the state of Vermont, and those two statistics should be enough to show people we don't need any new gun laws," he said. "All we need to do is enforce the laws that are on the books and we'll be in fine shape."
Barton resident Rodney Chayer agreed with the senator. He drove to Montpelier early to attend the rally. He believes that current laws are not enforced strictly enough and that offenders get let off with a slap on the wrist. But Mr. Chayer also believes that the proposed law is attacking the core of Vermont's identity.
"I'm a gun owner and my youngest son shot his first deer at eight years old, so it's a tradition," Mr. Chayer said. "Some of this stuff keeps families together, shooting, hunting, trapping, fishing. It's just a way of life, and if they start changing it, Vermont is going to lose a big part of its history."
Mr. Chayer went on to say that Vermont's hunting heritage is only part of what needs to be preserved. Others agreed.
Kevin and Kristen Shea of Shelburne are also gun owners and hunt with their family. They are concerned that giving a gun as a gift would turn law-abiding citizens like them into criminals. They also mentioned the importance of guns as a means of self-protection.
"A 300-foot restraining order is worthless when a guy makes up his mind that he wants to kill a woman. It's a piece of paper," said Mr. Shea. "If a woman at least has a means of defending herself as a last resort, then at least it gives her a chance."
Luke Willard of Brownington and Jeffrey Youry of Troy, both ambulance drivers for Barton, drove down earlier in the day to meet with fellow gun owners and to bring almost 2,000 signatures from people in Orleans and Essex counties who also oppose the bill but couldn't make it to the rally. Mr. Willard said that speaking to other attendees gave him new insight into the problems the bill poses.
"If they pass this bill, how are they going to enforce this?" he said. "I hadn't thought of that until I just spoke to this guy 20 minutes ago."
The fear is that the next step is to force gun registration.
Mr. Hughes was very pleased with the turnout and the positive atmosphere. "If there hadn't been a snowstorm, I don't know how we would have gotten everyone in here," he said.
contact Nathalie Gagnon-Joseph at [email protected]
For more free articles from the Chronicle like this one, see our Editor's Picks pages. For all the Chronicle's stories, subscribe:
Print subscription
Annual online subscription
Short-term online subscription