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"We ordered a 6m x 1.5m DIY Conservatory Land lean to kit to replace a rotten porch and provide better insulation along a barely insulated outer wall and across a single glazed window. The ordering process, delivery and support was excellent. The kit was clearly marked with comprehensive instructions that were easy to follow. After 18months insualtion is vastly improved"
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A journey into space at the Berlin Air and Space Show
ESA PR 23-2004. The Berlin Air and Space Show 2004 (also known as ILA 2004) takes place between Monday 10 and Sunday 16 May at Berlin Schoenefeld Airport.
Once more ESA, DLR (the German Space Agency) and the German space industry, grouped under BDLI (the German Aerospace Industries Association), will offer trade visitors, the media and the general public a fascinating journey into space.
The Space Hall will feature European space activities ranging from space science, Earth observation, telecommunications, satellite navigation, launchers, the International Space Station to industrial matters and technology programmes, with special focus on state-of-the-art technology "made in Germany".
The international presence at the Air Show will be strengthened by a number of Russian companies involved in space activities.
Activities for the media
A stage set up in the Space Hall will host various kinds of presentations/events throughout the week. From Monday 10 May, the opening day, interviews with ESA directors, top management, programme specialists and astronauts can be arranged throughout the week at the Space Hall.
Monday 10 May
10:30-11:30 ESA Director General Jean-Jacques Dordain and DLR Director General Sigmar Wittig meet the press in the Space Hall at a press breakfast.
12:30-13:00 Presentation of the first results of ESA's Mars Express mission. Should you miss this slot, the same presentation will be repeated on the following days.
14:00-15:00 The German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder officially opens ILA in Hall 2. Matthias Platzeck, Prime Minister of the State of Brandenburg, Klaus Wowereit, Mayor of Berlin, and Rainer Hertrich, Chairman of BDLI, deliver welcoming speeches.
Tuesday 11 May
11:30-12:00 ESA and EU specialists describe the content of the GMES (Global Monitoring for Environment and Security) programme.
12:15-12:45 ESA and EU experts talk about initiatives to reduce the "digital divide" by means of space systems.
14:30-15:00 Presentation of Mars Express first results. ESA and DLR experts highlight this fascinating mission to Mars.
16:30-17:30 Five German start-up companies present their success stories in the framework of the ESA "Incubator" programme designed to get space to non-space projects off the ground and help them develop into viable businesses. This is an initiative of the ESA Technology Transfer and Promotion Office, headed by Pierre Brisson.
Wednesday 12 May
Wednesday morning will be the best opportunity for the media to meet ESA's Directors and top management. A series of specialised briefings is being arranged on stage:
10:30- 11:00 Press briefing on the International Space Station by Jörg Feustel-Büechl, ESA Director of Human Spaceflight and Microgravity.
11:00-11:30 David Southwood, ESA Director of Science, takes stock of ongoing and future space science programmes.
11:30-12:00 Daniel Sacotte, the next Director of Human Spaceflight, Microgravity and Exploration, gives an overview of Aurora and future missions.
12:00-12:30 Antonio Fabrizi, Director of Launchers, reports on the current status of Ariane 5 and looks into the future, talking about Soyuz and Vega at the Guiana Space Centre.
12:30-13:30 Lunch in the Space Hall for media representatives with ESA Directors and top management.
13:30-14:00 Presentation of Mars Express first results. ESA and DLR experts report on this fascinating mission to Mars.
16:15-16:45 A group of ESA astronauts present their activities and talk about their experience in space.
17:00-18:00 A roundtable on the latest achievements in European telecommunications satellites. Experts from ESA, BDLI and EADS will be on the panel.
Thursday 13 May
14:15-15:30 Berlin-based foreign media representatives visit the Space Hall. Presentations on stage and guided tour of the pavilion with ESA communication officers and ESA astronauts.
15:30-16:00 Stage presentation of Mars Express first results with ESA and DLR experts.
16:00-16:30 Stage presentation of the ESA/NASA Cassini-Huygens mission with ESA and DLR experts.
18:00-22:00 First ILA Media Night: informal get-together at the BDLI Chalet followed by dinner and cultural programme in Hall 8 and visit to the Space Hall.
Friday 14, Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 May
Presentations mainly for the general public by ESA, DLR and BDLI experts (including ESA astronauts) on space science missions, astronauts' missions to the ISS, environment, education, careers in space for youngsters and for women, Galileo, and much more.
On Saturday 15 Mrs Edelgard Bulmahn, German Minister for Science and Education, will visit the Space Hall between 11:00 and 12:45.
More information on the Berlin Air Show at http://www.Ila-Berlin.de
For further information, please contact:
ESA Media Relations
Tel. + 33(0)22.214.171.12455
Fax. + 33(0)126.96.36.19990

subset: commoncrawl


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Regensburg Cathedral Choir is one of the oldest boys' choirs in the world. The Regensburger Domspatzen are official UNICEF ambassadors and European cultural ambassadors – and, of course, a great advert for their home city at the northernmost tip of the Danube.
In Japan they're known as the angels from Bavaria. The Tölzer Knabenchor is formed of up to 200 boy singers from Upper Bavaria and has won fans all over the world through its festivals, tours, operas, radio concerts and recordings.
The Württemberg Chamber Choir's reputation rests on its unusual, highly challenging repertoire. Time and again, on tour and at many festivals, it sets the benchmark for contemporary excellence in choral singing.
The Dresdner Kreuzchor is the mixed boys' choir of Dresden's Kreuzkirche church, where it still sings Saturday vespers every week. The choir is heard by around 150,000 people every year and the boys attend the church grammar school.
The Munich Motet Choir was founded in 1960 by a group of music students from Munich University. Today, with around 120 members, it is one of Germany's most celebrated, most adventurous mixed concert choirs.
The Berlin Radio Choir is Germany's most successful mixed choir. It has numerous recording prizes to its name, including three Grammys and multiple ECHO Klassiks, which are testament to its international calibre. Since 2001 the British conductor Simon Halsey has been the choir's chief conductor and artistic director.
Leipzig's St. Thomas boys' choir was established in 1212 because of a requirement for pupils fortunate enough to attend St. Thomas School to contribute to the sacred music in the monastery. The foundation was validated by the seal of the Holy Roman Emperor Otto IV of Brunswick.
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WEDEKIND, J., AMAVASAI, B. P. and DUTTON, K. (2007). Steerable filters generated with the hypercomplex dual-tree wavelet transform. In: IEEE International Conference on Signal Processing and Communications (ICSPC 2007), Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 24-27 November 2007. IEEE, 1291-1294.
DUTTON, Ken (1983). An investigation into the design and performance of an automatic shape control system for a sedzimir cold rolling mill. Doctoral, Sheffield City Polytechnic.


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A Brief History of Time
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|A stunning documentary about physicist Stephen Hawking, the author of the popular book "Brief History of Time." Crippled by Lou Gehrig's Disease, Hawking narrates the film in the computer-synthesized voice he uses to speak. Interviews with family, friends, and colleagues, bring Hawking's scientific theories to light.
|Directed by:
|Errol Morris
|Triton Pictures, Gordon Freedman, David Hickman
|Isobel Hawking, Stephen Hawking, Janet Humphrey, Mary Hawking, Basil King


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By Tommy Andres, CNN
Editor's Note: Listen to the full story in our player above, and join the conversation in our comments section below.
(CNN) - This week, 35 former Atlanta Public Schools teachers and administrators, including the former superintendent, Beverly Hall, turned themselves into police. They were indicted on charges ranging from racketeering to theft, all tied to a district-wide cheating scandal that was discovered in recent years. It's been described as the largest school cheating scheme in the history of the United States.
The teachers are accused of erasing and changing standardized test answers to improve scores. Those scores are tied closely to state and federal funding as well as teacher bonuses.
The arrests were another step towards closure of a three year saga that's left an indelible mark on Atlanta.
Errol Davis took over as superintendent when Hall resigned in 2011.
CNN Radio interviewed Davis about his journey through the scandal and about changes he's made on testing security at Atlanta's public schools.


text: [COLOR=#333333]I would like to bring water from a pond 7,000 ft away from a remote work area. The pond is 60 vertical feet above the work area. The terrain is level for the first 6,000 ft from the pond until it drops 60 ft over the last 1,000 ft. I hope to use 1.5 in hdpe pipe with a valve at the lower end and another valve at the 6,000 ft location at the beginning of the elevation change. My hope is that I could use a 2 in honda trash pump to push water through the 1.5 in hdpe to prime the entire length so i will have water on demand using a valve down at the site. I imagine closing the valve at the lower site and opening the valve at the 6,000 ft point until the lower section fills up and water comes out of the upper valve. Then shutting off the pump and leaving the intake in the pond for water on demand. I am wondering if the 2 in trash pump will be able to push the water that far and anything else I might want to consider.[/COLOR]


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After the bull market of 2013, there is no question that many of your clients are sitting on a pile of capital gains, and likely a hefty tax bill, come April 15. Though there are only a few trading days left this year, there is still time to lower your client's potential tax burden by loss harvesting. But how do you explain tax-loss harvesting to clients and let them know how they can benefit?
First, explain that tax-loss harvesting is merely a technique in which capital losses are realized to offset taxable gains and potentially reduce ordinary income by $3,000 a year.
As the calendar year draws to a close, advisors should have a good sense of their client's tax liability. If a client has significant capital gains in a mutual fund, for instance, they may want to partner with their advisor to see if there are any loss positions that can be realized to mitigate the gains. Once a weak position is sold, the proceeds are usually placed in a proxy investment that has a similar investment outlook as the original fund. After a waiting period to avoid the wash-sale rule (see below), the money in the proxy may be returned to the original investment. Loss-harvesting trades can also be done in tandem with portfolio rebalancing or raising cash, so the use of a proxy investment may not be necessary.
The client's gains and losses are netted out and the net gain becomes the client's new tax liability. If capital losses exceed capital gains, up to $3,000 in losses can be deducted from the client's ordinary income for that year. If losses remain, they can be carried forward in future tax years.
Avoiding a Wash Sale
Of course, Uncle Sam is wise to methods investors employ to lower and possibly erase their tax bill, so there are some rules to follow. If loss harvesting is done while raising cash or completely rebalancing, you likely do not have to worry too much about breaking the wash-sale rules. However, if the funds raised during a rebalancing trade are to be placed in a proxy investment, it is a good idea to double check your calendar to make sure you are not violating any wash-sale rules.
A wash sale occurs when an investor buys and sells a "substantially identical" security within a 30-day window. Put simply, if a client sold Fund A on Dec. 1, invested the proceeds on the same day into Proxy Fund B, and then sold Proxy Fund B to re-enter Fund A within 30 days, a wash sale would occur and the client would be liable for the full tax burden. (Not to mention the client would likely also suffer by facing multiple transaction costs.)
When doing loss-harvesting trades, remind your client that the wash-sale rule applies across the entire portfolio and not just a single account. Also, be mindful of how dividends are handled in the fund that is being sold. If you were only selling a weak lot in a position and not fully exiting the investment, any dividends that are reinvested in the original investment would violate the wash-sale rule. Finally, be sure to mark your calendar to remind you when it is appropriate to re-enter the client's original position.
What Are the Risks?
In addition to making sure loss-harvesting trades avoid violation of the wash-sale rule, there are other issues to consider. We use proxy investments to ensure clients are still fully invested according to their investment policy statement while trying to lower their tax burden. However there are no guarantees in the investment world and it is important to remind clients of the short term investment risks posed by being in a proxy fund.
On the long-term end of the spectrum, it is generally not a good idea to harvest losses that greatly exceed gains for a given tax year. One year's bull market can be met by years of a tepid or weak market meaning the losses could sit unused. There are also concerns about the future of tax rates and tax regulation that would erase the benefit of loss harvesting.
While tax-loss harvesting can be an excellent technique that will make April 15 much more palatable for your clients, it is important that you fully discuss the risks and benefits. Lowering tax liability is ideal, but be aware of its administrative and transactional costs to make sure it is fully appropriate for your client's tax situation.


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November 5, 2012
Clips from our Election 2012 Coverage
Broadcast Schedule (CST)
- 11:00am to 2:00pm CST – Alex Jones Show (Live)
- 2:00pm to 5:00pm CST – Alex Jones Show (Rebroadcast)
- 5:00pm to Midnight CST – Live Election Coverage
- 5:30pm to 6pm Gerald Celente
- 6:30pm to 7pm Max Keiser
- 7:30pm to 8pm Wayne Madsen
- 8:30pm to 9pm Paul Craig Roberts
- 9:30 to 10pm Lew Rockwell
- 10:30 to 11pm Nomi Prins
- 11:30 to Midnight Webster Tarpley
Wednesday 11/07:
- 11:00am Alex Jones Show (Live)
- 12pm Jesse Ventura
- 1:30pm Bev Harris
- 2pm to 7pm – Alex Jones Show (Rebroadcast)
- 7pm – Infowars Nightly News provides election fallout coverage
As the nation votes for yet another cookie-cutter establishment presidential candidate on Tuesday, November 6, Alex Jones and the Infowars team will provide free live video stream coverage of the election from Austin, Texas.
While the corporate media will read from its standard script on election night, we will be offering commentary and analysis the establishment pundits avoid at all costs.
In addition to uncovering the political agenda of the elite behind the two nearly politically indistinguishable candidates, Alex will feature a number of stellar guests who are at the top of their game and understand the globalist agenda never examined by a Mockingbird media.
Please send this link out to as many people as you can so we can get out the truth about the election and what it means for the future of America.
Also check out our election specials at the Infowars Store. Save yourself from the soft kill fluoride agenda by making sure your family gets the best water available with ProPur Water Filtration, the new gold standard of water filtration systems. For the remainder of the week, save 15% on ProPur by using coupon code WATER 15 when you order online.
The Emergency Election Sale is now live! Get 30% to 60% off our most popular products today!


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Mosman High School
I enjoy making pinched forms as well as working with clay and I wanted to push that technique as far as I could using oxides, wax resist and glazes. I went through many firings to get the technical effects correct.
Influencing artists: Paulus Berensohn, Toshiko Takaezu, Japanese tea ceremony forms


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Minister of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), H.E. Mr. Nguyen Xuan Cuong visited Vietnam National University of Forestry (VNUF) and attended the Opening Ceremony of the New Academic Year 2017- 2018Sep 27, 2017 10:51 AM
The Ceremony were welcomed H.E. Mr. Nguyen Xuan Cuong – the Minister of MARD, H.E. Mr. Ha Cong Tuan - the Deputy Minister of MARD, Mr. Nguyen Van Tien - Director of the Agriculture and Rural Development Department of Vietnam Communist Party's Central Economic Commission; and leaders from some departments and institutes under the MARD.
In his opening speech, Prof.Dr. Tran Van Chu - President of the VNUF welcomed the delegation with the warmest greetings, gave the brief of the history of the VNUF. Prof. Dr.Tran Van Chu stated that in this academic year, the VNUF will witness relatively large reforms, especially in education and training quality improvement for forestry field, one of the VNUF's strengths. On this occasion, he also wished the freshmen students in particular and all students of the VNUF good results in learning, industrious practice, and great success achievements in the new academic year.
Minister Nguyen Xuan Cuong expressed his joyfulness for the first visit to VNUF with many innovations, and being on the right strategic development of the forestry sector. He sent special greetings to VNUF tradition and many generations of íts teachers and students over 53 years of building and development. The Minister noted the recent achievements of the VNUF had many contributions to science and education of the country and the forestry sector. The Minister supports the university's growing interest in advanced sectors of high quality, focusing on the quality of training, strengthening scientific research and international cooperation. The Minister affirmed the ministry will mobilize all national and international resources to develop the VNUF's training environment, worthing as the leading research center in forestry sector for Vietnam.
During the visit, Minister Nguyen Xuan Cuong attended to plant some trees at the university campus, visited the experimental and research forest of Nui Luot and student's dormitory.
Some photos of the Ceremony:
Prof. Tran Van Chu - President of Vietnam National University of Forestry
Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Xuan Cuong
Highlight News
- Vietnam National University of Forestry (VNUF) welcomed and worked with...
Nov 13, 2017 2:12 PM
- International Cooperation between Vietnam National University of Forestry...
Nov 13, 2017 2:05 PM
- Minister of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), H.E. Mr....
Sep 27, 2017 10:51 AM
- Workshop on Sustainable Forest Management
Jun 13, 2017 3:52 PM
- Working with British Columbia University, Canada
Apr 21, 2017 8:03 AM
- Vietnam National University of Forestry had a meeting with University of...
Apr 13, 2017 2:53 PM
- Signing ceremony between Vietnam National University of Forestry and Bac...
Apr 10, 2017 2:10 PM
- Workshop on Performance Evaluation of the Program: "Integrating REDD +...
Apr 10, 2017 2:06 PM
- Academic exchange with Dr. Heidi Stockhaus, Germany
Apr 7, 2017 1:45 PM


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CHEYENNE, Wyo. — The National Park Service's latest proposal on the use of snow machines in Yellowstone National Park is based on limiting their collective noise and air pollution and not so much on actual daily numbers.
The new proposal will undergo more public review before a final decision is made.
If the plan goes through, it will take effect in the 2014-15 winter season. Next winter's season would operate under the current limits of up to 318 snowmobiles and 78 snow coaches.
Yellowstone Superintendent Dan Wenk said the new proposal is unique because it's based on the number of "transportation events" and not the actual numbers of snow machines. A transportation event is initially defined as either one snow coach or on average a group of seven snowmobiles.
The idea is to keep snow machines in groups, making it easier to control the overall noise and air pollution in the park and allow flexibility on the number of machines allowed to operate in the park.
"By the fact that we're basing this on the number of events and not the number of vehicles, it requires packaging of traffic which we think benefits greatly wildlife and natural soundscapes," Wenk said. "By packaging traffic we believe that we will be less impactful on the natural environment, and noise and air pollution testing will continue in the park to ensure that we stay within the requirements that we have."
Under the concept, the park can allow up to 480 snowmobiles plus 60 multi-passenger snow coaches on busy weekends, but the snowmobile groups cannot average more than seven snowmobiles over the entire season. Most of the snowmobile groups must be guided, but the Park Service would allow one non-commercially guided group of up to five snowmobiles to enter each of the park's four entrances each day.
Jack Welch, a leader of the snowmobile advocacy groups called the Yellowstone Task Force and the Blue Ribbon Coalition, said snowmobile guides like the package concept.
"The bottom line is, they're able to run their business in such a manner that they can accommodate more people on certain days and average it out over the season," Welch said.
In addition, snow coaches for the first time will be subject to emissions and noise standards. And snowmobiles will be required to have stricter emissions and sound standards that Wenk said would further reduce the air pollution and noise they emit.
The stricter air pollution and noise standards for snowmobiles and snow coaches were key to the plan's success, said Mark Pearson, conservation program director with the Greater Yellowstone Coalition, a conservation group in Bozeman, Mont., that focuses on the park.
"We've always wanted them to adopt a plan that protects air quality and wildlife and soundscapes while still allowing for a reasonable amount of access, and I think we're hopeful that this plan will do that," Pearson said.
The agency's proposal also calls for keeping open the eastern entrance to Yellowstone, which typically requires crews to use artillery to trigger avalanches on Sylvan Pass to allow safe passage to the park for snowmobilers from Cody.
Pearson said it would be better that the pass was closed during the winter, but he recognized that the Park Service faced much opposition to the idea in Wyoming.
Wyoming Gov. Matt Mead said keeping access to Yellowstone in the winter is an important part of the state's economy.
"This plan strikes a balance that I support and worked to achieve," Mead said in a statement. "It will have long-term beneficial impacts on the economy and the people of Wyoming."
The Park Service has been wrestling with snowmobile access to Yellowstone in the winter for more than a decade. Previous plans have been met with a slew of court challenges and environmental appeals, causing confusion among park visitors and concern among communities surrounding the park that rely on snowmobile rentals for income.
Agency to release latest Yellowstone winter plan
CHEYENNE, Wyo. — The National Park Service's latest proposal on the use of snow machines in Yellowstone National Park is based on limiting their collective noise and air pollution and not so much on actual daily numbers.


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Shirley Whipple cupped her hand and raised her arm. Then she rotated her wrist back and forth.
"I've been practicing my wave," she said, flashing a pink rose smile.
Whipple's preparation for receiving her 2013 Pioneer Queen of Mancos Days crown has also included an acceptance speech. Without revealing too much of her public remarks, Whipple said she was both thankful and blessed to be chosen.
"It's exciting!" she said. "It's really amazing. I didn't think I'd ever be queen."
Born on the Fourth of July in 1929, Whipple just celebrated her 84th birthday in Wichita, Kan., where her daughter Darla lives with her husband. In addition to the birthday party, Whipple made the trek east last week with daughter, Cathy, to have her queen gown sewn.
"It's going to be a full-length dress," she said. "It's aqua-colored, my favorite color."
A native of Bay City, Wis., Whipple was the fourth of six children born to Ray and Martha Hanson.
Pumping water on the family farm one day, a cream hauler drove by and waved. She waved back. Some time later, Whipple, her sister and a cousin were walking home from the skating rink, and as they approached a bridge to cross the Mississippi River, the same cream hauler stopped and offered the girls a ride.
That cream hauler was named Howard Whipple. He lived on a family farm about seven miles from the Hanson farm.
"I went out with Howard the first time he asked," Whipple recalled. "I liked him. He was good looking."
While dating, the couple loved to attend movies at the Chief Theater or go roller-skating across the river in Minnesota. They eventually married on June 17, 1950.
After the start of the Korean War, the newlyweds and their first child soon moved to Camp Pendleton in California, where Howard was stationed with the U.S. Marines.
The family later expanded with four more children, and in 1957, the Whipple clan moved to Mancos. They wanted to raise their children in a rural community, and Mancos just happened to be located in "the most beautiful valley in Colorado," Shirley said.
"The friendly people and the mountains is what I like most about Mancos," she said.
Howard eventually opened his own mechanic shop in Mancos, Whipple Automotive, while Shirley raised a total of 10 children and volunteered at the Good Samaritan Center and the Mancos Headstart Preschool.
"I had lots of experience, so working with the little kids was pretty easy," Shirley said.
Whipple's favorite aspect of raising children was celebrating birthdays. They seemed to occur every few weeks, she said. Today she loves giving sweet treats to her 19 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
In addition to hugging grandchildren, Shirley enjoys oil painting, gardening, watching televised religious programs and traveling. In recent years, she has traveled from New York to Hawaii to witness family members graduate from high school and college.
"I want to travel while I'm still young," she said smiling.
The Whipples were nearing their 50th wedding anniversary when Howard passed away Dec. 6, 1999. Howard would like to have seen her as Pioneer Queen of Mancos Days, she said.
"He would have told me, 'Shirley, you look so beautiful,'" she said with tears in her eyes.
Whipple will be honored at the Queen's Tea at the Bauer House on Friday July 26, and she will also take part in the Mancos Days Parade on Saturday July 27.
"I'm really looking forward to it," Whipple said.
A tradition of the Ladies Auxiliary of the VFW Post since 1961, the Pioneer Queen is honored during Mancos Days. A quilt made in her honor is raffled off to benefit various youth projects.
The 2013 Pioneer Queen quilt is currently on display at Mancos Valley Bank, where raffle tickets can be purchased. For more information, contact Queenie Barz at (970) 749-9320.


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I think I survive another day. I think. Lots more people here. Makes me nervous for tomorrow. HEY ALISSA??!!! EVERYTHING IS AWESOME!!! (note from Alissa:….when you live in harmony)
Today I wanted to just get a feel for the crowd. Seek out some more cool merch, as tomorrow the panels I REALLY want to see are going to be springing up. It will be the weekend. The Vendors will be coming round more. Basically…MASS CHAOS. So one more day of just wandering and letting it all sink in.
Kind of cracked me up because the first two people I run into going inside are from FOX. Adam and Matt (yes another Matt. Lol). Both completely amazing guys. They gave me some pointers of what areas around had cool items (as I didn't realize this Con goes WAY beyond just the Convention Center). What to watch for. Also to let me know to expect to start the "sardine walking" on Friday as people start smashing themselves together to get in. So off I went.
First, Cosplayers…I really wanted to see some fun people dressed up. Now, forgive me…some of the pics are a lil out of focus. More so because I was juggling swag I am collecting for a future giveaway to our readers (hint hint), but also due to there were just soooooo many cute Geeks n Nerds…let's just say I wasn't all that focused. SQUIRREL!!
This I thought was totally awesome!! Not only did she go all out to create Vanellope, but she also went to her knees and the car…it GOES. Wheels move and all. Brilliant!! I was hoping Ralph would show up too.
This group was an adorable family that cracked me up. Bob had to run to the lil boys room, so he missed out on the pic. Lol
These two guys made me giggle. Spotted them while passing the FOX booth (where Kiefer Sutherland was signing autographs, met him before…nice guy). I of course chose it as time to ask these two to stop and let me take a pic. Lol.
Then I wandered some more. Still just trying to take it all in. I feel like a Zombie. No thoughts…no will…just… "need geek things, hungry…gimme MORE!"
(Is it a bad thing to want to take apart some of the LEGO's and make them rebuild it so I can help?) Just so much stimulation. Can I just have one of everything please?
Just. So. Much. OOOOOOOOoooooh DAGRON!!! (homestarrunner)
What on earth?
By this time, I was melting. It was soooooo hot inside. Like the A/C had been sucked into the pores of everyone in there. I needed some air. I wanted ice cream. No one got me ice cream. 😦
So what does one do when you are really hot? Go outside in the direct sunlight of course!! Lol. Today I figured I would venture over to Petco Park. (I love that they put stuff outside.) Like EVERYWHERE outside. Did I mention there is a full on Zombie event in the stadium?
Saw another interesting group of cosplayers on the way.
I could see just how big the expansion of the Convention Center was from the bridge leading over the street to it. WOW!
Everywhere you go there was a line for this or that with tons of free stuff. Even people just randomly handing it out to you for just walking around. What really caught my eye here was a "company" for the show Leftovers. A booth set up as if this just really happened and we were left behind, but miss the ones gone. So this company, Loved Ones, will take images of those gone and recreate them. It was kinda creepy and cool at the same time. The skin felt real, the hands and hair, and even the eyes too. Not to mention extras like scars, piercings, and even tattoos. So you can like sit them on the couch next to you, go for a ride in the car, hang out at the…beach? Or will the plastic melt?
I sat back and watched the looks on peoples faces as they touched each item. Lol.
Wow, it is hard to believe they packed so much into this. I am in awe. Time to rest for the night as I still have 3 more days of this to go. Still more to come.
Now as a lil extra treat for you GUYS out there…here is a tiny lil eye candy…ENJOY!!
Are YOU at the Con? Are you gonna find me? You know, $10 Gift Card of your choice app market if you can find me and get a pic with me. Are YOU up to the challenge? Let me know.
Til Next Time,


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Design a Mother's Day Postcard and Win!
Are you a graphic design or illustration student currently enrolled in college or university?
Do you want a chance of having your artwork featured on bluemountain.com?
Do you want to win a new Pen Tablet to design to your heart's content?!
Then this contest is for you!
Design and submit a Mother's Day postcard to bluemountain.com by May 6th for a chance to have your design featured on the website and to win a Wacom Intuos5 Touch Medium Pen Tablet.
How To Enter:
- Review the contest 'Official Rules' below.
- Create an original design for the Mother's Day postcard following our creative specifications below.
- Send us an email with your postcard image file as an attachment to firstname.lastname@example.com by May 6, 2013, with the subject line: Mother's Day Postcard Design Contest – [Your Full Name] and include the following information in the body of the email:
- First and last name
- Mailing address
- City, state, zip code
- Phone number
- School-affiliated email address (i.e. firstname.lastname@example.com)
- School Name
- Year in School
- Major (if applicable)
Creative Specifications:
By entering the Contest, you agree to the Official Rules:
this Contest.• HOW TO ENTER: To enter the Contest, during the Entry Period, visit the BlueMountain.com contest blog post at https://www.bluemountain.com/blog/2013/04/mothers-day-design-contest (the "Website"), follow the on-screen instructions and submit the required information to the email address provided (firstname.lastname@example.com). Participants are allowed one (1) contest entry by submitting a finished postcard design that follows the specified criteria (the "Entry"):
a. Send your postcard image file as an attachment to firstname.lastname@example.com with the subject line: Mother's Day Postcard Design Contest – Your Full Name
b. Include the following information in the Entry:
i. First and last name
ii. Mailing address
iii. City, state, zip code
iv. Phone number
v. School-affiliated email address (i.e. firstname.lastname@example.com)
vi. School Name
vii. Year in School
viii. Major (if applicable)
c. Submitted files with Entry must be created to 1024×768 pixels at 300 DPI
d. Submitted files with Entry must be submitted as finished JPG, GIF and PNG formats are accepted in RGB
e. Image files should include your full name and phone number (example: joe-smith-440-555-1234.jpg
f. Winners will be requested to provide layered PSD, AI, and TIFF files after the Entry Period.
g. Your Entry must: (i) consist only of your design or photo submitted in accordance with the above specifications requirements; (ii) be an original work created solely by you as the Entrant; and (iii) not have been previously submitted or used for any other commercial use or promotion. Entries cannot contain any trademarks or copyright material owned by a third party, including music, and you must, both at the time of entry into the Contest and at the time prizes are awarded, be the sole owner of all right, title and interest in the Entry (including copyright and moral rights).
h. Entry may not be offensive or defamatory, as determined by the judges. Sponsor may not verify receipt of Entry..Entry must use and only use the copy provided, " Happy Mother's Day" or "Happy Mother's Day with love and thanks."
i. Entry must adhere to the styling and color palette examples referenced in the included BlueMountain.com postcard guidelines.• ALL ENTRIES MUST BE RECEIVED BY 11:59 PM EST ON May 6, 2013. Limit one (1) Entry per person per e-mail address throughout the Entry Period. Entries by the same person in excess of the limits stated herein will be disqualified. Entries submitted to the Website will be deemed to have been submitted by the authorized account holder of the e-mail address submitted at the time of the entry. "Authorized account holder" is defined as the natural person who is assigned to an e-mail address by an Internet access provider, online service provider or organization (e.g., business, educational institution, etc.) that is responsible for assigning e-mail addresses for the domain associated with the submitted e-mail address.• CONTEST JUDGING: One (1) potential winner will be selected by the Sponsor-designated judges from all eligible entries received on May 6th, 2013. Judging criteria will be based on strength of concept or idea [ 33%], success of formal execution/aesthetics [33%], cohesiveness to the provided BlueMountain.com design guidelines [34%].• ODDS OF WINNING: Your chances of winning depend on the quality of your entry relative to the other qualifying entries, as well as the total number of entries in the Contest.• WINNER NOTIFICATION: Potential winner will be notified on or about May 6th, 2013 by mail, email and/or telephone, at Sponsor's discretion, using the information provided on the potential winner's entry form and will be required to complete and return an Affidavit of Eligibility, Release of Liability and Publicity Release (where permitted by law) (collectively, the "Affidavit") within 7 days of date specified in notification or an alternate winner may be selected. If potential winner is under the age of majority in its state of legal residence, the Affidavit must be executed on its behalf by its parent or legal guardian. In the event: (a) potential winner cannot be reached for whatever reason after a reasonable effort has been exerted based on the information stated in the entry form, (b) of noncompliance with the above or within any of the aforesaid time periods, (c) potential winner is found to be ineligible to enter the Contest or receive the prize, (d) potential winner cannot or does not comply with the Official Rules, (e) potential winner's prize notification or Affidavit is returned as undeliverable for whatever reason, or (f) potential winner fails to fulfill the Affidavit-related obligations, the potential winner shall be disqualified from the Contest and an alternate potential winner may be selected, at Sponsor's sole discretion, from among the other eligible entries received.• PRIZE: One (1) grand prize winner will receive one (1) Wacom Intuos5 Medium Pen Tablet: retail value approximately $349.00 USD. Grand prize winner will also receive a chance to have the winning artwork featured on Sponsor's BlueMountain.com website at the sole discretion of Sponsor brand team and judging panel. All prizes claimed will be awarded. All federal, state and local taxes on the prize are the sole responsibility of the winner. Any portion of the prize not accepted or unclaimed and/or unused by the winner will be forfeited and will not be substituted. No transfer, refund, cash redemption, substitution or replacement of prize or any prize component permitted, except that Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to substitute a prize of equal or greater value (or cash equivalent). ARV of all prizes is in U.S. dollars.• PUBLICITY RELEASE; USE OF PERSONAL INFORMATION: Except where prohibited or restricted by law, winner's acceptance of prize constitutes the winner's agreement and consent for Sponsor to use and/or publish winner's full name, city and state of residence, photographs or other likenesses, entry, pictures, portraits, voice, testimonials, biographical information (in whole or in part), and/or statements made by winner regarding the Contest or Sponsor, worldwide and in perpetuity for any and all purposes, including, but not limited to, advertising, trade and/or promotion on behalf of Sponsor, in any and all forms of media, now known or hereafter devised, including, but not limited to, print, TV, radio, electronic, cable, or World Wide Web, without further limitation, restriction, compensation, notice, review, or approval. By entering the Contest, entrants will be sharing their personal information with Sponsor.PRIVACY POLICY: Handling of all participant information, including e-mail addresses, will be consistent with the Blue Mountain Privacy Policy (http://www.bluemountain.com/new_warrants.pd). All entries become the property of Sponsor upon receipt and will not be acknowledged or returned.• PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE ENTRY: By submitting an Entry into the Contest, (i) entrants grant to Sponsor an irrevocable, exclusive, paid-up, worldwide license to use, reproduce, translate, communicate, distribute, edit, adapt, copy and otherwise use all or any part of the Entry for any purpose relating to the Contest, for any other advertising or promotion or commercial use for Sponsor, or on BlueMountain.com or its affiliate websites; and (ii) entrants waive their moral rights, if any, in and to their Entry in favor of Sponsor, or its assignees and licensees.• NO TAMPERING; RIGHT TO CANCEL, MODIFY: Sponsor and its subsidiaries, affiliates, divisions, partners, representatives, agents, successors, assigns, employees, officers and directors shall not have any obligation or responsibility, including any responsibility to award any prize to entrants, with regard to: (a) entries that contain inaccurate information or do not comply with or violate the Official Rules; (b) entries, prize claims or notifications that are lost, late, incomplete, illegible, unintelligible, damaged or otherwise not received by the intended recipient, in whole or in part, due to computer, human or technical error of any kind; (c) entrants who have committed fraud or deception in entering or participating in the Contest or claiming the prize; (d) telephone, electronic, hardware, software, network, Internet or computer malfunctions, failures or difficulties; (e) any inability of the winner to accept the prize for any reason; (f) if a prize cannot be awarded due to delays or interruptions due to Acts of God, natural disasters, terrorism, weather or any other similar event beyond Sponsor's reasonable control; or (g) any damages, injuries or losses of any kind caused by any prize or resulting from participating in this promotion or any promotion or prize related activities. Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to disqualify any individual it finds to be (a) tampering with the entry process or the operation of the Contest, or with any Website promoting the Contest; (b) acting in violation of the Official Rules; or (c) entering or attempting to enter the Contest multiple times through the use of multiple e-mail addresses or the use of any robotic or automated devices to submit entries. If Sponsor determines, in its sole discretion, that technical difficulties or unforeseen events compromise the integrity or viability of the Contest, Sponsor reserves the right to void the entries at issue, and/or terminate the relevant portion of the Contest promotion, including the entire Contest promotion, and/or modify the Contest and/or conduct a random drawing to award the prize using all eligible entries received as of the termination date.• RELEASE OF LIABILITY; DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTY; FORUM SELECTION CLAUSE: By participating in the Contest, entrants and winner agree to release and hold harmless Sponsor, Facebook, Inc. and their respective subsidiaries, affiliates, divisions, partners, representatives, agents, successors, assigns, employees, officers and directors (the "Released Parties"), from any and all liability, for loss, harm, damage, injury, cost or expense whatsoever, including without limitation, property damage, personal injury (including emotional distress), and/or death, which may occur in connection with preparation for, or participation in, the Contest, or possession, acceptance and/or use or misuse of the prize or participation in any Contest-related or prize-related activity and for any claims or causes of action based on publicity rights, defamation or invasion of privacy and merchandise delivery. The Released parties assume no responsibility for any injury or damage to entrants or to any other person's computer, regardless of how caused, relating to or resulting from entering or downloading materials or software in connection with this Contest. Entrants and winner acknowledge that Sponsor has neither made nor is in any manner responsible or liable for any warranty, representations or guarantees, express or implied, in fact or in law, relative to any prize or any component thereof, including, but not limited to, express warranties provided by the supplier of the prize (or any component thereof) or their affiliates. Except where prohibited, all issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of these Official Rules, or the rights and obligations of entrant or Sponsor in connection with the Contest, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Ohio, with giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules (whether of the State of Ohio, or any other jurisdiction), which would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of Ohio. In addition, any dispute relating to the Contest (including these Official Rules) shall be brought in the appropriate state or federal court having jurisdiction over the subject matter located in Cuyahoga County, State of Ohio. Entrants hereby irrevocably consent to the personal jurisdiction of said courts and waive any claim of forum non conveniens or lack of personal
jurisdiction that they may have.• LIST OF WINNERS: To obtain a copy of the winner's list, after May 6, 2013, send a self-addressed, stamped envelope by mail to: Winner's List, BlueMountain.Com Mother's Day Postcard Design Contest c/o AG Interactive, Inc., One American Road, Cleveland, Ohio 44144, Attn: SEO Product Manager for Sponsor's receipt by Sponsor no later than December 31, 2013.• SPONSOR: AG Interactive, Inc. Any and all questions, comments or complaints regarding the Contest must be directed to Sponsor.
Update 5/21/2013:
The contest has officially ended.
Congratulations to all participants.
See the winning Mother's Day postcard design from Contest winner, Rory Duncan!


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ODBMS.ORG, a vendor-independent not-for-profit educational program for object database technology, has announced the "best" Persistent Model Patterns, according to a vote by ODBMS.ORG readers. The three best voted persistent patterns among the 25 submissions received are:
- Bespoke Indexes, by Adrian Marriott, Principal Consultant, Progress Software. This pattern is for programs that require the absolute maximum of performance and scalability it is necessary to write programs that utilize novel data structures and new algorithms designed with detailed knowledge of the specific problem context. Support the most critical use-cases of your system directly with bespoke persistent index structures that optimize read and write operations across the objects used by those use-cases.
- Query Visitor, also by Adrian Marriott, Principal Consultant, Progress Software. This pattern represents a query to be performed on the elements of a persistent object structure. Query Visitor allows you to define new result set formats without changing the underlying persistent object model, and avoids polluting the persistent classes with rendering logic.
- Schema Builder, by Richard Lingeh, Principal Consultant, Versant. This pattern allows any further evolution of a database after a complete modification of the client application model to be done by a separate schema process and not by the client application or by the schema it generates. This separate process generates a database schema that matches the complex evolving client application model.
All 25 persistent patterns that were submitted as part of the project are available for free download here.
Mr. Marriott and Mr. Lingeh will be acknowledged at a special awards ceremony at the International Conference on Object Databases (ICOODB) 2009 conference in Zurich.


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Bending the Medicaid Cost Curve
By Debra Miller, CSG Director of Health Policy
Smoking Costs
U.S. health care costs are likely to be around $2.8 trillion in 2013. In 2010, U.S. spending on health was 17.6 percent of gross domestic product; for comparison, the Netherlands spent 12 percent of GDP, the next highest spender of developed nations. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services expects health spending to hit $4.6 trillion by 2020—19.8 percent of GDP. While spending growth has slowed in recent years—it has been near 4 percent for about four years and has reached a 14-year low—many believe the spending levels are unsustainable.
State governments bear some of the burden. The biggest health care expense for states is their share of the Medicaid program, which provides health insurance for low-income individuals. In 2011, total Medicaid spending was $407.7 billion. The program has surpassed K–12 education as the biggest state budget expenditure.
Those are some of the reasons states are looking for ways to contain costs. Here are four examples where states are attempting to do just that.
Tying Health Care Costs to State Inflation Rate
Massachusetts is widely acknowledged as a pioneer in state health care reform—its 2006 reforms are credited for the fact that 97 percent of the state's residents now have health insurance. The Massachusetts model for expanding health insurance coverage is often cited as the blueprint for much of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, and the Commonwealth Connector is the precursor of the state health insurance exchanges.
But the state didn't stop there. It's also tackled health care costs.
"We have been working toward it (cost containment) since the original reform that expanded access in 2006," said Sen. Richard Moore, a principal architect of the 2006 and subsequent health reform laws. "We are certainly confronting it head-on with the most recent legislation passed in 2012."
This time, lawmakers tied the rise in health care costs to the growth of the state's economy. Moore said the goal is to keep the rise in health care costs to something like 3.5 percent per year, about half the current growth in health care expenditures.
The bill holds the annual increase in total health care spending to the rate of growth of the state's gross state product for the first five years. For the next five years, the rate of growth will be cut to half a percentage point below GSP growth, and then back to GSP growth thereafter. The estimated savings over 15 years totals $200 billion.
In signing the bill, Gov. Deval Patrick said the savings translated to an additional $10,000 in take-home pay, per worker, and a savings of $40,000 in health insurance premiums, per family, over 15 years.
Even while the state is trying to cut health care spending, officials are mindful that it can have a downside.
"We are trying to be careful not to impact quality or our economy since health care is such an important part of the economy," Moore said. "The economy is on a rebound and we don't want to throw it back into recession."
But Moore said bending the cost curve is definitely doable.
"Experts suggest elimination of waste and duplication, medical malpractice reforms, monitoring the practice of defensive medicine, and improving coordination all can make a difference. In addition, we are pushing big time on prevention and wellness, because obviously if you don't get sick or injured, health care is cheap," Moore said. "The steps we have taken are based on evidence where we can find it and then based on faith too."
Moore said the Massachusetts law does not depend on rate or price setting.
"We want to let the industry make the decision where to invest and where to cut. We are trying to give them tools and then let them be judged on the quality of care they provide."
A new Health Policy Commission will conduct cost and market impact reviews to ensure that providers can justify price variations.
For instance, Moore said Boston has higher end-of-life care than other parts of the state. The bill passed in 2012 will focus on reducing the cost disparity while monitoring quality.
It also addressed malpractice reform, providing more mediation to reduce litigation. When providers apologize to patients for medical errors, as the literature suggests reduces malpractice litigation, the apology will not be used against them if the case goes to trial. Moore said the history in his state of consulting with all the stakeholders resulted in lawyers and doctors coming to agreement on malpractice and that the legislature kept the changes exactly as they proposed them.
Moore's advice to states just jumping on board health care reform: "Be reasonably bold. Don't wait for the perfect as there is no silver bullet. You will need to make adjustments along the way."
Moving from Volume-Based to Value-Based Payment
The $42 million Arkansas just received from the federal government under the State Innovation Models Initiative is certainly welcome, but officials say they were already well on their way to totally changing the state's health care payment methods.
Arkansas is implementing a system of episode-based payments for treatment of certain time-limited acute care conditions. An episode is defined as a collection of care provided to treat a particular condition for a given length of time.
"It is definitely a two- even three-year effort, that was down the road even before the Affordable Care Act," said Rhonda Hill, director of health care finance at the Arkansas Center for Health Improvement. "A multi-payer group—Medicaid and private insurers Blue Cross Blue Shield and QualChoice of Arkansas—were looking at unsustainable growth rates in health care costs and realized they have a problem they needed a joint solution to fix."
Before, Hill said, providers tried to see as many patients and perform as many procedures as possible in an eight-hour day.
"Looking at value of care was not a priority," she said. "We are shifting from volume to value."
Arkansas has been covering three episodes—upper respiratory infections, perinatal care and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder—under this payment method since Oct. 1, 2012, and two others—congestive heart failure and total hip or knee replacement—since Feb. 1. Two more groups of episodes are slated for implementation this summer and fall.
A patient's principal provider is responsible for providing all the care related to the episode, from diagnosis through treatment. The provider bills Medicaid or the two private insurers and also collects certain data to ascertain quality.
Providers in Arkansas are still paid fees for their services, but at the end of the year their billings are reviewed, unusually costly cases are subtracted, and their average billings are compared to a state threshold. Medicaid goes through a public process to set those thresholds and private insurers do so through their contracting process with medical providers.
The provider's data allow calculation of an average cost per episode, which is compared to what the state deems "acceptable" and "commendable" levels of cost. If a provider's cost is above the acceptable level, the provider could have to pay back a portion of the cost reimbursement. If the provider's average cost is below commendable and met quality standards, he or she will share in the savings. Costs between acceptable and commendable are neither rewarded nor penalized.
The major providers in the state reached agreement around the definition of the episodes and the care to be provided, but each payer sets its own payment thresholds. Hill said this retrospective method of sharing risk and savings with providers was developed with considerable provider input.
"Two years ago, we considered a prospective bundled payment system, but we got immediate feedback from providers that the state wasn't ready for that design at all," she said.
Establishing Coordination at All Levels of Health Care
Minnesota will use a $45 million federal grant over the next 42 months to transform its health care delivery systems through payment and other reforms, with overall savings forecast to be $111 million over three years.
The next steps in health care reform feature real coordination—at the state level, within providers' offices and within communities—not just lip service to the ideas of coordination and collaboration.
"The grant is an amazing opportunity at core to change not only the conversation about health reform but to change fundamentally how we do that in some ways that are grounded in common sense and lay language and community ownership and leadership. That's why I'm particularly excited our department (of health) and the department of human services jointly pursued this," said Ellen Benavides, assistant commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Health.
The Department of Human Services Medicaid accountable care organizations will link with the Department of Health's public health—or population health—frame and workforce development. She said Minnesota is looking to broaden the more traditional health care frame and include an array of services including mental health, long-term care, human services, social services and dental health.
Minnesota is taking the patient-centered health care home model and broadening it to address such an array of services.
The state will create 15 accountable communities for health, which will integrate services at a local level, depending on the needs and health priorities of the community, Benavides said. Like health care homes, these communities will be responsible to coordinating care across agencies and organizations and improving health outcomes.
"The beauty of this innovation grant is to shift the locus of control," she said.
Minnesota is also working to innovate in another high-need area—the health care labor force. It is the first state after Alaska to have dental therapists.
"They live in the space between a dental hygienist and a dentist and have a scope of practice much more advanced than a dental hygienist," Benavides said.
The state also has developed the role of a community health worker, Benavides said, "a paraprofessional who is certified Medicaid reimbursable and who acts as a key member of the health team in kind of both translation and trafficking—an ally support for a patient."
The state will expand its statewide health improvement program, where a community-led set of initiatives links schools, clinics, employer settings and other community resources to help build a healthier community. Employee wellness programs, community weight loss programs and farm to school food programs have been parts the improvement programs.
Benavides said the state wants to build on these programs "so that health services and other supports get woven together to really change some behaviors in really significant ways."
Like health homes, these "accountable communities for health" will be responsible to coordinating care across agencies and organizations and improving health outcomes.
"It's really about what do we need to do collectively to improve the health of the population so that we collectively can bend the cost curve," Benevides said. "When we focus on the 10 percent slice of the pie, we're focusing on the patients in the old-style health care system instead of moving upstream to address population health."
Almost All States Are In
Managed Care


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NEW YORK, Feb. 7, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- GrantCraft — a groundbreaking enterprise that equips grantmakers with an array of tools to help them hone their craft and be more effective — is moving from the Ford Foundation to the Foundation Center in New York and European Foundation Centre in Brussels, the three institutions jointly announced today.
The Ford Foundation's decision to award GrantCraft to the two organizations — along with a $1 million grant — signals an expansion of the initiative's reach to serve the growing community of professional grantmakers worldwide. Philanthropic giving across borders that addresses complex global issues such as peace, migration, and poverty is growing. The Foundation Center and European Foundation Centre will usher in a new phase in the development of GrantCraft to help grantmakers keep pace with the demands of this changing landscape and the evolving needs of stakeholders.
"We are exceptionally proud of what GrantCraft has accomplished over the last 10 years, and we are confident that through the visionary stewardship of the Foundation Center and European Foundation Centre it will break new ground in serving our field," said Luis Ubiñas, president of the Ford Foundation. "We're especially excited to see it going global, reflecting not only the growth of philanthropy around the world but an intense interest in the knowledge that GrantCraft has to offer foundations everywhere."
The Foundation Center is the leading authority on philanthropy worldwide. It plans to leverage its extensive experience engaging grantmakers and others around critical issues to broaden the GrantCraft community. "A key Foundation Center priority is to empower donors with the knowledge they need to be more strategic, efficient, and effective," said Bradford Smith, president of the Foundation Center. "We are thrilled to add GrantCraft to our suite of tools and to be in a position to strengthen its value."
The incorporation of GrantCraft into the European Foundation Centre's core work also comes at an opportune time, as enthusiasm for training, peer-learning, and practical guidance has increased exponentially over recent years among grantmakers at both the European and global levels. The growing interest among this constituency sets the stage for the adaptation of GrantCraft materials to a wider audience.
"Personally, I have been a GrantCraft supporter since its inception and look forward to building on the impressive legacy that the Ford Foundation has laid out," said Gerry Salole, chief executive of the European Foundation Centre. "While we anticipate taking advantage of the license for change that we have been granted, we firmly believe that future GrantCraft successes will be rooted in the significant work that has already been so diligently carried out."
The Ford Foundation has a history of incubating new projects like GrantCraft, which was launched under the leadership of Jan Jaffe in 2001 to fill a critical knowledge gap in philanthropy. Starting out with a small collection of case studies and examples that served as orientation materials for the foundation's program officers, in the decade that followed, GrantCraft was developed into a vast store of practical wisdom aimed at helping grantmakers from all organizations get beyond the basics and work more effectively. Today, publications on 30 key issues that grantmakers face are available to more than 21,000 GrantCraft subscribers.
"We are enormously grateful to Jan Jaffe for her remarkable stewardship of GrantCraft's growth, and for bringing it to this exciting juncture," Ubiñas said. "It's a great moment for these terrific organizations that serve the field." The Foundation Center and European Foundation Centre won the project through an open bid process in which the Ford Foundation and a committee of several peer foundations, including the Hewlett, Packard, W.K. Kellogg, and Gates foundations, weighed proposals from across the sector.
Both organizations have expressed a commitment to championing grantmaker voices and delivering tools and insights that move the philanthropy sector forward. Grantmakers are invited to weigh in on future GrantCraft topics by participating in the survey now at the GrantCraft web site: www.grantcraft.org . Visitors will also find brief video interviews with Bradford Smith, Gerry Salole, and Jan Jaffe answering questions about the new era of GrantCraft.
Visit the GrantCraft web site.
Cheryl Loe, Communications Project Manager, The Foundation Center, (888) 356-0354 ext. 701, email@example.com
Gerry Salole, Chief Executive, European Foundation Centre, +32.2.512.8938, firstname.lastname@example.com
Suzana Grego, Media Relations Chief, Ford Foundation, (212) 573-4879, firstname.lastname@example.com
About the Foundation Center
Established in 1956 and today supported by close to 550 foundations, the Foundation Center is the leading source of information about philanthropy worldwide. Through data, analysis, and training, it connects people who want to change the world to the resources they need to succeed. The Center maintains the most comprehensive database on U.S. and, increasingly, global grantmakers and their grants — a robust, accessible knowledge bank for the sector. It also operates research, education, and training programs designed to advance knowledge of philanthropy at every level. Thousands of people visit the Center's web site each day and are served in its five regional library/learning centers and its network of 450 funding information centers located in public libraries, community foundations, and educational institutions nationwide and beyond. For more information, please visit foundationcenter.org or call (212) 620-4230.
About the European Foundation Centre
The European Foundation Centre, founded in 1989, is an international membership association representing public-benefit foundations and corporate funders active in philanthropy in Europe, and beyond. The Centre develops and pursues activities in line with its four key objectives: creating an enabling legal and fiscal environment; documenting the foundation landscape; building the capacity of foundation professionals; and promoting collaboration, both among foundations and between foundations and other actors. Emphasising transparency and best practice, all members sign up to and uphold the European Foundation Centre Principles of Good Practice. For more information, please visit www.efc.be.
About the Ford Foundation
The Ford Foundation is an independent, nonprofit grant-making organization. For 75 years it has worked with courageous people on the frontlines of social change worldwide, guided by its mission to strengthen democratic values, reduce poverty and injustice, promote international cooperation, and advance human achievement. With headquarters in New York, the foundation has offices in Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. For more information, please visit www.fordfoundation.org.
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The following pictures are available for download:
|GrantCraft: Bradford Smith, President, The Foundation Center
|GrantCraft: Gerry Salole, Chief Executive, European Foundation Centre
|GrantCraft: Jan Jaffe
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Sample Requests
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The Central Connecticut women's basketball team fell to LIU Brooklyn by a score of 59-48 on Monday night at Detrick Gym. The Blue Devils (9-13, 3-9 NEC) shot 53.6% from the floor in the second half, but the effort was not enough to overcome the Blackbirds' (6-17, 4-8 NEC) 19-point halftime lead.
The Blue Devils were led by senior Jessica Babe who scored a team-high 14 points. Babe scored 12 of her points in the second half as she helped CCSU climb back from a poor first half.
Poor shooting and a season-high 19 first half turnovers limited the Blue Devil offense to just 13 first half points. LIU capitalized with 16 points off turnovers and dominated under the basket with 28 points in the paint.
In the second half the Blue Devils outscored the Blackbirds 35-27, behind an excellent 53.6% shooting mark. CCSU was 15-of-28 from the floor in the period, two-of-seven from behind the arc and three-of-three at the free throw line.
Senior Jaleen Thomas was CCSU's second leading scorer in the second period. Thomas dropped in seven points on three-of-three shooting. She picked up her seventh point on an and-one play with 12:34 left in the game.
Junior Johnna Fisher contributed six points, four in the second half, and had five rebounds and two steals.
Junior Kaley Watras had eight points and led CCSU with four assists.
LIU's Cleandra Roberts scored a game-high 26 points on 12-of-22 shooting. She also grabbed a game-high seven rebounds.
The Blue Devils trailed by 19 points at the half and fell behind by as many as 27 points in the second half. Despite trailing by 27 with 13:25 remaining the Blue Devils continued to fight and cut the LIU lead to just eight points with 2:17 left in the game.
However, the Blackbirds were able to hold the Blue Devils off over the final two minutes.
The Blue Devils return to action on Saturday at Robert Morris. CCSU will then play at Saint Francis U on Monday night. The Blue Devils will be back in New Britain on Feb. 22 when they host Sacred Heart.


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To be sure, broad philosophical differences were clear. Romney is pro-business; Obama is pro-government. And some areas of agreement emerged: developing natural gas reserves, for instance. But mainly Obama and Romney evaded questions central to our economic future. How big will government grow? Will larger government penalize economic growth? How much will spending on the elderly squeeze other programs? How can health spending (a quarter of federal outlays) be controlled? How should changes be timed to minimize any threat to the recovery?
Although the immediate questions involve the budget and economy, the ultimate consequences are social and geopolitical. Prosperity — more or less of it — affects Americans' pride, confidence, ability to support a strong military and willingness to be a global leader. The questions the candidates avoided remain. They will quickly reassert themselves as Washington confronts the "fiscal cliff" — the roughly $500 billion of spending cuts and tax increases scheduled for early 2013 — and the need to raise the federal debt ceiling.
Whoever wins won't get much help with these problems from public opinion. The campaign has not prepared Americans for the debates and choices that lie ahead. Many may feel bewildered or betrayed. The silence of Obama and Romney followed standard political logic. Because the nation's problems lack painless solutions, the safest course was to avoid them. To practice candor was to court unpopularity. But the price of political expediency may now be paid in diminished public trust and increased odds of stalemate.