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Greenland, the world's largest island, lying in the North Atlantic Ocean. Greenland is noted for its vast tundra and immense glaciers.
Map of Greenland highlighting the major geographic regions and the locations of human settlement.Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.Nuuk, Green.Greenland Tourism
Although Greenland remains a part of the Kingdom of Denmark, the island's home-rule government is responsible for most domestic affairs. The Greenlandic people are primarily Inuit (Eskimo). The capital of Greenland is Nuuk (Godthåb).GreenlandEncyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
More than three times the size of the U.S. state of Texas, Greenland extends about 1,660 miles (2,670 km) from north to south and more than 650 miles (1,050 km) from east to west at its widest point. Two-thirds of the island lies within the Arctic Circle, and the island's northern extremity extends to within less than 500 miles (800 km) of the North Pole. Greenland is separated from Canada's Ellesmere Island to the north by only 16 miles (26 km). The nearest European country is Iceland, lying about 200 miles (320 km) across the Denmark Strait to the southeast. Greenland's deeply indented coastline is 24,430 miles (39,330 km) long, a distance roughly equivalent to Earth's circumference at the Equator.
Tasiusaq, southern Greenland.Greenland TourismSignpost in Kangerlussuaq, Green., showing the town's proximity to the North Pole.Greenland Tourism
A submarine ridge no deeper than 600 feet (180 metres) connects the island physically with North America. Structurally, Greenland is an extension of the Canadian Shield, the rough plateau of the Canadian north that is made up of hard Precambrian rocks.Get unlimited ad-free access to all Britannica's trusted content.Start Your Free Trial Today
Greenland's major physical feature is its massive ice sheet, which is second only to Antarctica's in size. The Greenland Ice Sheet has an average thickness of 5,000 feet (1,500 metres), reaches a maximum thickness of about 10,000 feet (3,000 metres), and covers more than 700,000 square miles (1,800,000 square km)—over four-fifths of Greenland's total land area. Layers of snow falling on its barren, windswept surface become compressed into ice layers, which constantly move outward to the peripheralglaciers; the Jakobshavn Glacier, often moving 100 feet (30 metres) a day, is among the world's fastest glaciers. The remaining ice-free land area occupies the country's coastal areas and consists largely of highlands; mountain chains parallel the island's east and west coasts, rising to 12,139 feet (3,700 metres) at Gunnbjørn Mountain in the southeast. These highlands notwithstanding, most parts of the rock floor underlying the Greenland Ice Sheet are in fact at or slightly beneath current sea levels.
Long, deep fjords reach far into both the east and west coasts of Greenland in complex systems, offering magnificent, if desolate, scenery. Along many parts of the coast, the ice sheet fronts directly on the sea, with large chunks breaking off the glaciers and sliding into the water as icebergs.Iceberg in the waters off Greenland.Greenland Tourism
The climate of Greenland is Arctic, modified only by the slight influence of the Gulf Stream in the southwest. Rapid weather changes, from sunshine to impenetrable blizzards, are common and result from the eastward progression of low-pressure air masses over a permanent layer of cold air above the island's icy interior. Average winter (January) temperatures range from the low 20s F (about −7 °C) in the south to approximately −30 °F (about −34 °C) in the north. Summer temperatures along the southwestern coast average in the mid-40s F (about 7 °C) during July, while the average in the far north is closer to 40 °F (about 4 °C). Greenland experiences about two months of midnight sun during the summer. Average annual precipitation decreases from more than 75 inches (1,900 mm) in the south to about 2 inches (50 mm) in the north. Large areas of the island can be classified as Arctic deserts because of their limited precipitation.
In the late 20th and early 21st centuries, scientists posited that global warming was profoundly affecting not only Greenland's climate but also its physical geography. A number of scientists noted that Greenland's vast ice sheet was shrinking at a highly increased rate. In 2012, for example, satellites revealed that at midyear 97 percent of the ice sheet showed some signs of melting, whereas in most years the melt affected only about half of the ice sheet. Researchers were uncertain, however, if the abrupt ice loss represented a long-term trend, but in 2016, as global warming pushed the planet toward the hottest January, February, March, April, and May in its history (according to NASA), Greenland also experienced a series of record early spikes in the melting of its ice sheets.
The country's plant life is characterized mainly as tundra vegetation and consists of such plants as sedge and cotton grass. Plantlike lichens also are common. The limited ice-free areas are almost totally devoid of trees, although some dwarfed birch, willow, and alder scrub do manage to survive in sheltered valleys in the south. Several species of land mammals—including polar bears, musk oxen, reindeer, Arctic foxes, snow hares, ermines, and lemmings—can be found on the island. Seals and whales are found in the surrounding waters and were formerly the chief source of nourishment for the Greenlanders. Cod, salmon, flounder, and halibut are important saltwater fish, and the island's rivers contain salmon and Arctic char.
OFFICIAL NAMEKalaallit Nunaat (Greenlandic)1; (Greenland)POLITICAL STATUSself-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark with one legislative house (Parliament [31])2HEAD OF STATEDanish Monarch: Queen Margrethe IIHEADS OF GOVERNMENTHigh Commissioner (for Denmark): Mikaela Engell; Prime Minister (for Greenland): Kim KielsenCAPITALNuukOFFICIAL LANGUAGEGreenlandicOFFICIAL RELIGIONEvangelical Lutheran (Lutheran Church of Greenland)MONETARY UNITDanish krone (DKK)POPULATION(2018 est.) 55,900POPULATION RANK(2018) 211POPULATION PROJECTION 203054,200TOTAL AREA (SQ MI)836,330TOTAL AREA (SQ KM)2,166,086DENSITY: PERSONS PER SQ MI(2018) 0.35DENSITY: PERSONS PER SQ KM(2018) 0.14URBAN-RURAL POPULATIONUrban: (2018) 86.8%Rural: (2018) 13.2%LIFE EXPECTANCY AT BIRTH Male: (2013–2017) 69.1 yearsFemale: (2013–2017) 73.5 yearsLITERACY: PERCENTAGE OF POPULATION AGE 15 AND OVER LITERATEMale: (2015) 100%Female: (2015) 100%GNI (U.S.$ '000,000)(2016) 2,221GNI PER CAPITA (U.S.$)(2016) 39,764
- 1Called Grønland in Danish, an official language of Greenland prior to June 21, 2009.
- 2A referendum approved in November 2008 endorsed the gradual expansion of Greenland's autonomy from Denmark; the Greenland government assumed greater responsibility for local matters on June 21, 2009.
Nearly nine-tenths of Greenlanders are principally of Inuit, or Eskimo, extraction. They are very strongly admixed with early European immigrant strains. More than one-tenth of the people are Danish, most of them born in Denmark.Greenland: Ethnic compositionEncyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
The official languages of the island are Greenlandic (also known as Kalaallisut, an Inuit language belonging to the Eskimo-Aleut language family) and Danish (a Scandinavian, or North Germanic, language); English is also spoken.Paamiut (Frederikshåb), Green.Greenland Tourism
Evangelical Lutheranism is the official religion. It is followed by nearly two-thirds of the population; about one-third of Greenlanders follow other forms of Christianity. Traditional beliefs, including shamanism, are still practiced by a small minority.Greenland: Religious affiliationEncyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
The population of Greenland is widely dispersed. The large majority of people live in one of the island's 18 municipalities. The remainder live in villages.
Greenland: Urban-ruralEncyclopædia Britannica, Inc.Ilulissat (Jakobshavn), Green.Greenland Tourism
Because of emigration levels, Greenland's population growth rate was about zero at the start of the 21st century. Life expectancy is comparable to the world average, with males typically living into their mid-60s and females generally living into their early 70s.Greenland: Age breakdownEncyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
Greenland's economy has long been based on fishing. Seal hunting, once the mainstay of the economy, declined drastically in the early 20th century and was supplanted by the fishing, canning, and freezing of cod, shrimp, and other marine life. The island's dependence on the fish industry, which is susceptible to problems of overfishing and fluctuating prices, became a growing concern in the late 20th century. Greenland therefore attempted to diversify its economy, and much emphasis was placed on the tourist industry. Since the 1990s, revenue from tourism has grown significantly. The government, which receives substantial financial aid from Denmark, continues to play a leading role in the economy. Nearly half the labour force works in the public sector.Dried fish, northern Greenland.Manfred Horender/Greenland Tourism
Agriculture is possible on about 1 percent of Greenland's total area, in the southern ice-free regions. Hay and garden vegetables are the main crops grown. Commercial sheep farming began in the early 20th century. Reindeer also are raised for meat, and polar bears are sometimes caught for their meat and pelts. However, sea mammals—seals, walruses, and whales—are still the most important source of meat.
Deposits of cryolite, lead, zinc, silver, and coal were mined at various times in the 20th century, and the island's first gold mine opened in 2004. Exploration has uncovered deposits of iron, uranium, copper, molybdenum, diamonds, and other minerals. Climatic and ecological considerations had long limited the exploitation of these resources; however, global warming has not only melted sea ice and made oil and natural gasexploration more accessible but also opened tracts of land for mineral exploitation. The manner in which increasingly interested foreign firms were allowed to undertake exploration and mining became a pivotal political issue in Greenland in the early 21st century.
Oil drilling in the Arctic waters around Greenland began in mid-2010. Licensing agreements were delayed, however, as environmental concerns grew in response to BP's Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico that year. Scotland-based Cairn Energy began drilling in 2010 but has yet to discover commercially viable sources of oil or natural gas off Greenland. In the late 20th century the island opened its first hydroelectric power plant.
Besides supplying domestic needs, fish (mainly halibut) and crustaceans (mainly shrimp) constitute Greenland's principal exports. Seal pelts are tanned and used domestically as well as exported, but, due to import bans on seal fur, the international price level is at a minimum. Greenland's chief trading partner is Denmark, although it does conduct trade with other countries as well.
Greenland: Major export destinationsEncyclopædia Britannica, Inc.Greenland: Major import sourcesEncyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
Roadways in Greenland are limited to short stretches within town limits. Although dogsleds and snowmobiles are used on ice-covered coastal areas and inland, shipping and air service are the principal means of transport. Greenland has a sophisticated digital telecommunications network, as well as a military communications network associated with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the North American radar defense system. The rates of cellular telephone and Internet use rose during the late 20th and early 21st centuries, though usage rates remained lower than those in nearby Canada and in the Nordic countries.Sisimiut (Holsteinsborg), Green.Manfred Horender/Greenland Tourism
Government And Society
In 1979 the Danish government granted home rule to Greenland. Under this agreement, Greenland remained part of the Danish realm, and each Greenlander was a Danish citizen, enjoying equal rights with all other Danes. Denmark retained control of the island's constitutional affairs, foreign relations, and defense, while Greenland maintained jurisdiction over economic development, municipal regulations, taxes, education, the social welfare system, cultural affairs, and the state church. Mineral resources were managed jointly by Denmark and Greenland. It was perhaps this last point that inspired Greenlanders to vote overwhelmingly in 2008 to increase their autonomy from Denmark, and Greenland is now officially designated a self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark. Under the expanded home rule agreement, which took effect on June 21, 2009, Greenland retained a greater percentage of oil and mineral revenue. It also managed virtually all domestic affairs, including criminal justice, and Greenlandic supplanted Danish as the official language of government. Denmark, in collaboration with Greenlandic political leaders, continued to manage the island's foreign relations and defense.
The centre of power in Greenland is the Landsting, a parliament elected to four-year terms by all adults age 18 and older. A number of parties have been represented in the Landsting. Among them are Siumut, a social democratic party that favours self-determination while maintaining close relations with Denmark; the Demokratiit party, created by a breakaway faction of Siumut; Atassut, a more conservative party that has supported Greenland's historical relations with Denmark; and Inuit Ataqatigiit, which calls for full independence from Denmark. The Landsting elects the prime minister as well as the other members of the Landsstyre, a council that assumes the island's executive responsibilities. The prime minister is typically the leader of the majority party in the parliament. Greenland's voters also elect two representatives to the Danish parliament (Folketing). An official known as the high commissioner represents the Danish government in Greenland.
Using financial grants from Denmark, Greenland's government provides its citizens with a wide range of welfare services. Free health care is available to the island's people as well. These social services have greatly improved Greenlanders' health and living conditions.
Nine years of education are free and compulsory for Greenlandic children. The island's school system historically had an insufficient number of teachers who were native Greenlandic speakers, and consequently it hired many Danish-speaking and Danish-educated teachers. By the end of the 20th century, however, the number of native Greenlandic-speaking teachers was increasing. Greenlandic is the principal language of instruction in the schools, but Danish also continues to be taught. Greenland offers a large selection of vocational and teacher-training programs, and there is a small university, Ilisimatusarfik (founded as the Inuit Institute in 1983). Nevertheless, many students attend university outside Greenland, especially in Denmark.
Cultural Life
Despite the Western influence exerted by the Danish presence in Greenland and, more recently, by increased access to international mass media, the practice of traditional Inuit (Eskimo) cultural activities is still of importance. Folk arts such as soapstone carving and drum dancing remain popular, as do kayak building and sailing. The island features a number of museums, including the Greenland National Museum and Archives in Nuuk. Katuaq Cultural Centre, also in Nuuk, hosts concerts, art exhibits, and other cultural events. Numerous sports are played in Greenland: football (soccer) is very popular, as are skiing, badminton, handball, table tennis, tae kwon do, and volleyball. Kalaallit Nunaata Radio (KNR), the island's broadcasting company, offers radio and television programs in Greenlandic and Danish.
Katuaq, the cultural centre of Greenland, in Nuuk.Greenland TourismNarsaq, Green.Kristjan Fridricksson/Greenland Tourism
The Inuit (Eskimo) are believed to have crossed to northwest Greenland from North America, using the islands of the Canadian Arctic as stepping stones, in a series of migrations that stretched from at least 2500 BCE to the early 2nd millennium CE. Each wave of migration represented different Inuit cultures. Several distinct cultures are known, including those classified as Independence I (c. 2500–1800 BCE), Saqqaq (c.2300–900 BCE), Independence II (c. 1200–700 BCE), Dorset I (c. 600 BCE–100 CE), and Dorset II (c. 700–1200). The most recent arrival was the Thule culture (c. 1100), from which the Inugsuk culture developed during the 12th and 13th centuries.
In 982 the Norwegian Erik the Red, who had been banished from Iceland for manslaughter, settled on the island today known as Greenland. Returning to Iceland about 985, he described the merits of the newly discovered land, which he called Greenland, and in 986 he organized an expedition to the island that resulted in the development of two main settlements: the East Settlement, near present-day Qaqortoq(Julianehåb), and the West Settlement, near present-day Nuuk (Godthåb). These settlements may have reached a population of 3,000–6,000 on about 280 farms, suggesting that temperatures at that time may have been as warm or warmer than they are today. Christianity arrived in the 11th century by way of Erik's son Leif Eriksson, who had just returned from the recently Christianized Norway. A bishop's seat was established in Greenland in 1126.
Beginning sometime in the 13th century, the Norse (Scandinavian) settlers began to interact with the expanding Inuit Thule culture that had appeared in northern Greenland about 1100. But in the 14th century the Norse settlements declined, perhaps as a result of a cooling in Greenland's climate. In the 15th century they ceased to be inhabited.Ruins of Hvalsey Church, built by medieval Norse settlers, near Qaqortoq (Julianehåb), Green.Greenland Tourism
During the 16th and 17th centuries, Dutch and English whalers frequently traveled in the seas around Greenland, and occasionally they interacted with the local population. However, no further attempt at colonization was made until 1721, when Hans Egede, with the permission of the united kingdom of Denmark–Norway, founded a trading company and a Lutheran mission near present-day Nuuk, thus marking the real beginning of Greenland's colonial era. In 1776 the Danish government assumed a full monopoly of trade with Greenland, and the Greenland coast was closed to foreign access; it was not reopened until 1950. During this period Denmark tried gradually to acclimatize the Greenlanders to the outside world without exposing them to the danger of economic exploitation.
Greenland fell under the protection of the United States during the German occupation of Denmark in World War II and was returned to Denmark in 1945. Following the war, Denmark responded to Greenlanders' complaints over its administration of the island. The monopoly of the Royal Greenland Trading Company was abolished in 1951, and, after Greenland became an integral part of the Kingdom of Denmark in 1953, reforms were undertaken to improve the local economy, transportation systems, and the educational system. Denmark granted home rule to the island on May 1, 1979.
At the start of the 21st century, there was growing support in Greenland for greater control of its foreign affairs. This arose partly in response to a 2004 agreement allowing the United States to upgrade its missile defense system at Thule Air Base. Inuit who had been forcibly removed from the area surrounding the base in the 1950s sued for the right to return, airing their grievances at the European Court of Human Rights. Some Greenlanders were wary of continued U.S. involvement because the United States had stored nuclear bombs on the island during the Cold War without Greenland's knowledge, despite a Danish ban on such weapons; additionally, in 1968 a U.S. military aircraft carrying four hydrogen bombs had crashed near Thule.
There were calls for an independent Greenland, and parties campaigning for greater autonomy scored electoral victories in the first decade of the 21st century. In November 2008 more than 75 percent of Greenlanders who voted approved a nonbinding referendum calling for greater autonomy. The proposal, which was formulated by legislators in both Greenland and Denmark, had the tacit approval of the Danish government even before the referendum was held. It would increase the responsibilities of Greenland's government in foreign affairs, immigration, and justice, among other areas, while also granting it the rights to the potentially lucrative hydrocarbon and mineral resources that have become increasingly accessible as a result of the island's melting ice cap. It was widely believed that this potential revenue would free Greenland from its economic dependence on Denmark, which many saw as the final stumbling block to complete independence. Snap elections held in June 2009 saw Siumutremoved from power for the first time since home rule was granted in 1979. The opposition Inuit Ataqatigiit captured more than 40 percent of the vote, and party leader Kuupik Kleist worked quickly to form a coalition government prior to the expansion of home rule later that month.
In elections in 2013 Siumut returned to power at the head of a coalition presided over by Greenland's first female prime minister, Aleqa Hammond, whose government placed a moratorium on granting licences for oil exploration and began requiring royalty payments from foreign concerns before they began mining. (Kleist's government had planned to allow foreign firms to defer payments until some startup costs could be recouped.) Hammond's government also announced its willingness to allow the mining of some radioactive minerals, notably uranium, which had previously been prohibited.
In October 2014, with her government having narrowly escaped a vote of no confidence, Hammond temporarily stepped down amid accusations of having misused government funds and was replaced by Kim Kielsen. When the parliamentary opposition engineered a snap election at the end of November, Kielsen led Siumut to the polls, where it captured about 34 percent of the vote, compared with about 33 percent for the chief opposition party, Inuit Ataqatigiit (IA). Both parties were awarded 11 of the 31 legislative seats, but Kielsen arranged a new governing coalition with two smaller partners, the Demokratiit party (four seats) and the Atassut Party (two seats).
Rasmus Ole RasmussenThe Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica


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Last night they had to attend a mandatory "election rules" class. So, while Mrs. Grumpy picked up Frank from
(There were some touchy issues. Craig's Hair, his running mate, had threatened to leave the ticket in a dispute over the newest member of his entourage, Craig's Cast, recently receiving more attention. The situation was defused by an agreement that Craig's Cast will be removed in 4 weeks. Craig's hair has now agreed to stay onboard for another 20 years, after which it will have the option of leaving at its own discretion and be replaced by Craig's Cheap Rug.)
Anyway, all kids were required to shake hands with the people they're running against, and then the following points were covered:
1. Keep it positive.
2. No negative statements. Give people a reason to vote for you, NOT a reason to vote against your opponent.
3. Don't make promises you know you can't keep.
4. Stick to the real issues (I have no idea what "real issues" there are in student council).
5. Be honest.
6. No screaming, blaming, or finger-pointing.
7. Be a good sport.
8. All campaign posters must be removed by the end of the day after the election.
I know I've touched on this before. And listening to the talk, I wonder: Why can't we do this on a national level? What the hell kind of world is it where grown-ups behave worse than kids? Aren't we supposed to be the ones setting a good example?
I still like my idea of a reality show called "Modern Sandbox:" Politicians who espouse screaming and yelling at the opposition will be dropped into a desert with an equal number of equally stubborn people from the other side, under circumstances where their mutual survival depends on finding ways to work together and be polite. Advertising revenue and T-shirt sales will go toward the national debt.

subset: commoncrawl


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Micron Technology has announced the availability of 45nm serial NOR flash memory samples in 512Mb, 1Gb and 2Gb densities with a standard SPI interface. These new MT25Q SPI NOR devices offer a cost-effective solution with high performance, enhanced security and drop-in compatibility with legacy NOR devices, enabling high-density SPI NOR adoption in consumer, automotive, industrial and networking applications, the company said.
Micron's MT25Q devices satisfy embedded application requirements with 2MB/s programming speed. In addition, MT25Q devices offer improved erase performance and 66MB/s read performance, enabling fast updates and boot performance for embedded systems, the company said.
The MT25Q family also offers the industry's first serial NOR 2Gb device in a 6x8mm BGA package, which is the smallest package available in the market today, the company claimed.
"The introduction of our new SPI NOR family reconfirms Micron's commitment to NOR technology and further enables us to continuously meet customer needs," said Jeff Bader, VP of Micron's Embedded Solutions Marketing. "As customers increasingly move to higher-density NOR designs, our MT25Q product line, with 2 MB/s programming speed, supports the need for improved performance, higher manufacturing efficiency and a small footprint."
Samples of the MT25Q devices are available today in BGA and SO16W packages, according to Micron.


text: Playland not only sells skates, we offer the finest in skating entertainment with an impressive light show, fog machine and state of the art sound system playing a wide variety of music. Our extra large skating floor at 27,500 square feet is Austin's largest. Playland Skate Center has been in business for over 20 years offering children and adults a safe, fun, clean and entertaining roller skating experience. Feel free to call us at the rink, (512)452-1901.


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In addition to causing an attacker pain, The Pepper Shot 8.5% oleoresin capsicum formula swells the mucous membranes, which makes breathing difficult, and swells the veins in the eyes, causing the eyes to close. It's made from 2,000,000 SHU's of raw pepper and these effects can last up to 45 minutes and cause no permanent damage. Has a UV identifying dye to help aid in the identification of an attacker. This model has a locking actuator. 1/2 ounce with halo holster, locking actuator and quick key release keychain. Effective up to 6-8 feet. Contains 6-10 one second bursts. 4 ¼" x 1 ⅝"
Available in Black, Blue, Pink, Red, and Purple.


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Randy Jackson Goes Nuts Over Michael's Album
Randy Jackson went on a tear on Twitter Wednesday night, swearing some of the songs on Sony's upcoming Michael Jackson album are fake.
Jackson tweeted, "Some of the songs are him, and some aren't. I would be [sic] my life on that ... I know this may seem harsh, but this is the truth, as I know it..."
Pretty much every expert who has analyzed the tracks says the voice is MJ's, but Randy is undeterred.
And he gets conspiratorial: "But what's worse then [sic] harsh is that my brother isn't here, and ll these people are more concerned about making money off his death...They could care less about why and how he died, or maybe they already know."
Randy also claims co-executor John McClain "didn't care about the quality or how complete the vocals were."
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text: Show Hide image Politics 11 October 2012 My TV is possessed by silly possession stats Hunter Davies' "The Fan" column. Sign-up Iam sitting shouting at the screen. It's playing silly buggers again, cutting off the player when he is taking a corner or a free kick, hiding him from my view, like blind man's buff. I have to guess who is taking the set piece and from where, which is so annoying. At the top of the screen, it has also obscured the names of the teams, the score and the time. Oh gawd, modern technology! Who needs it, eh?. Yes, I know, the picture just needs altering, so it's properly centred, or whatever. I have asked my children and grandchildren, and can they do it? Can they buggery. Even the one with a Cambridge first. What is the point of them? That was the object when I had them: to help me cope with all the complicated stuff in life. My dear wife sits upstairs in her room, sans phone, sans computer, sans anything later than about 1880, writing away with her pen and ink, as lady novelists should. I can sense her smiling to herself when she hears me effing and blinding at the computer, the iPhone, the scanner, the photocopier and, most of all, at myself. When there is a power cut, I can almost hear her smiles seeping through the house. It is an up-to-date, flat-screen Sony how's-you-father and it doesn't play tricks all the time. On ESPN I usually get the whole screen. But mostly I don't. Football is the only thing I ever, ever watch on TV. I've never seen a film or a play, except my own. Oh yes, I once wrote a Wednesday play, back in the 1960s. It was very good, people said. I have just stood up, got close and looked sideways, convinced that if I peer into the corner of the telly I will see what is hidden there. Ah, I can now see a bit more, the screen has widened and I can read – oh, bloody hell – the possession stats, which is the last sodding thing I need. You know what they are – the percentage of possession for each team, the most pointless statistic among the shit loads of stats they now pour at and over us. Because they can do, thanks to modern technology, so they do it. No reason. It's goals that count, which was the title of my fave story in the Wizard (or was it the Rover?) It is the only stat in football that matters. The rest is flimflam. Corners, yes, you can tot them up, no argument about them. But they don't mean a lot either way, unless they lead to a goal. Assists are quite interesting, and sometimes revealing, but you can see with your own eyes who is making all the goals. Telling us that the midfield dynamo ran 19.9 miles during the game or that the sullen striker managed 1.9 miles is bollocks. It's quality that counts, not quantity. Nine-tenths of the law That is my main objection to the possession stat. Having possession of the ball in the modern game doesn't tell us what happened. Barcelona 69 per cent, Real Madrid 31 per cent in El Clásico –wow, what a difference! Yet the score was equal, 2-2. Barça were at home, urged on by the crowd, while Madrid had set out their stall to counter attack. Plus they each had a genius. That's what happened. England 90 per cent possession, San Marino 10 per cent – yet the half time score is 0-0. How can that be, if England have dominated? Because they are useless bastards. Our tortoise could lead the line better. (I have just made that stat up. As I write, that game hasn't happened, but I bet it will be roughly that.) How do they make it up, the clever clogs who skulk in the corner of my telly with the bank of monitors shovelling out this drivel? How do they define possession? Obviously, if a player has the ball at his feet, he is in possession. But when it is a high ball from the goalie, or a wild clearance from a lumpen defender or a useless free kick, no one is in possession. Yet the possession stat always says "48-52", "36-64". In other words, it adds up exactly to 100 per cent. Weird. Or suspicious. I can see how they calculate areas of play, telling us in which half the ball is, as that is a verifiable fact, though just as meaningless as possession. But with possession, that surely includes a lot of guessing, opinion and judgement. I don't believe computers can do that. The Premier League does have a Dubious Goals Committee, which adjudicates on who really scored goals. I think there should also be a Dubious Possession Stat Committee. And I am willing to serve on it. I just kicked the screen of the Sony in, so I should have a lot more spare time. Hunter Davies's latest book, "The John Lennon Letters", is published by Weidenfeld & Nicolson (£25). Hunter Davies is a journalist, broadcaster and profilic author perhaps best known for writing about the Beatles. He is an ardent Tottenham fan and writes a regular column on football for the New Statesman. Subscribe For more great writing from our award-winning journalists subscribe for just £1 per month! This article first appeared in the 15 October 2012 issue of the New Statesman, India special SUBSCRIBE More


text:
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NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) — Yankees president Randy Levine headed to Major League Baseball's offices to testify Tuesday at Alex Rodriguez's grievance hearing to overturn his 211-game suspension.
The hearing resumed Monday before arbitrator Fredric Horowitz, who presided over the 10th session Tuesday. Horowitz also heard the case from Sept. 30-Oct. 3 and Oct. 15-18.
"I've been on the witness list for a long time, really from the beginning," Levine said Tuesday morning, according to Newsday.
MLB and the players' association appear to be trying to finish testimony before Thanksgiving, and it remained unclear whether the Yankees' third baseman would testify.
Rodriguez was suspended for 211 games by MLB on Aug. 5 for alleged violations of the sport's drug agreement and labor contract, and the union filed the grievance.
The three-time AL MVP said four years ago he used performance-enhancing drugs while with the Texas Rangers from 2001-03, but has denied using them since. At the time of his suspension, MLB said the penalty was for "use and possession of numerous forms of prohibited performance-enhancing substances, including testosterone and human growth hormone over the course of multiple years" and for "engaging in a course of conduct intended to obstruct and frustrate the office of the commissioner's investigation."
A Florida police department said Monday it had reopened an investigation into the theft of documents related to baseball's inquiry.
Boca Raton police officer Sandra Boonenberg said the investigation was reopened several weeks ago based on new information stemming from Rodriguez's lawsuit against MLB, which accused the sport of engaging in a "witch hunt."
Boonenberg offered few details on the open investigation but said detectives have "a lot of leads that they're pursuing."
The documents were stolen in March from the car of Porter Fischer, who took them from Biogenesis of America, the now-closed Florida anti-aging clinic where he worked.
The clinic and its owner, Anthony Bosch, have been accused of providing banned performance-enhancing drugs to Rodriguez and other major leaguers. Bosch agreed to cooperate with baseball's investigators, and baseball later suspended 14 players.
Citing unidentified sources close to the investigation, ESPN reported last week that MLB impeded the Florida investigation.
"MLB investigators knowingly purchased stolen documents in their quest to allow Commissioner Selig to act, for the first time, as if he was tough on PED use in baseball despite striking a cooperation deal with Anthony Bosch who MLB knows is under federal investigation for providing steroids to minors," Jordan Siev, one of Rodriguez's lawyers, said in a statement.
MLB has repeatedly denied the accusation.
"The truth continues to be that we did not knowingly purchase stolen documents and there is an active police investigation to determine if the documents were in fact stolen," the commissioner's office said in a statement.
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Hang Up and Listen: The Tumbling Indecisively to Glory Edition
Slate's sports podcast on the Giants' Super Bowl victory over the Patriots.
Listen to "Hang Up and Listen" with Stefan Fatsis, Josh Levin, and Mike Pesca by clicking the arrow on the audio player below:
Become a fan of Hang Up and Listen on Facebook here:
In this week's episode of Slate's sports podcast Hang Up and Listen, Stefan Fatsis, Josh Levin, and Mike Pesca discuss the Giants' Super Bowl win over the Patriots. Has Eli Manning changed the image of the American sports hero? Was Bill Belichick right to let the Giants score? Is there cheering in the auxiliary press box?
Here are links to some of the articles and other items mentioned on the show:
The Giants beat the Patriots 21-17 to win Super Bowl XLVI.
Mike's NPR report on the Giants' victory.
Josh's Slate/Deadspin roundtable post "Eli Manning Is All the Football Hero America Needs."
Brian Burke's roundtable entry on the math behind the Patriots' decision to let the Giants score.
The Packers let the Broncos' Terrell Davis score a touchdown in the final minutes of Super Bowl XXXII.
The Giants defense tightened up their coverage on the Patriots' short passes in the second half.
Pro Football Talk on Mario Manningham's great catch.
Wes Welker says he let his teammates down by dropping Tom Brady's fourth-quarter pass.
Stefan's entry from last week on the NFL's new player safety ad.
The NFL's bells and whistles laden site on health, safety, and the evolution of the game.
Seth Stevenson's take in Slate on the best and worst Super Bowl ads.
Hang Up and Listen's weekly Crispuses:
Mike's Crispus: Will Chase Blackburn return to teaching now that the football season is over?
Stefan's Crispus: The dissolution of Women's Professional Soccer at the hands of magicJack owner Dan Borislow, as seen by players Ella Masar and Natasha Kai.
Josh's Crispus: Will the fax machine be replaced as a signing day staple?
Podcast production and edit by Mike Vuolo.
You can e-mail us at email@example.com.
The Hang Up and Listen T-shirt, designed by listener Todd Johnson, is now on sale. A shirt can be had for as little as $15.75, and you can choose between two color schemes—the green-and-gold "Oakland" edition or the red "Portland" edition. Support the show by buying both!


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Custom Fence, Patio Cover & Pergola Installation Services in Plano, TX
Moore Construction Co. is Plano's #1 choice for custom pergola, fence, deck and patio cover installation and outdoor living services. Since 1996, Moore Construction Co. has been providing Dallas-area homeowners with friendly, professional service for all of their home improvement needs! Our over 100 years of combined construction experience and a long-standing reputation for integrity continues to propel our success amongst Dallas construction companies.
When it comes to home improvement contractors, accept only the best. We know that your home is extremely important to you, and we understand that finding the right contractor can be a bit nerve-racking. At Moore Construction Co., we believe that our extensive experience, consistent quality, unmatched customer service and local focus make us a leader. Simply put, we treat our customers like family. That's our difference.
Why Choose Moore Construction Co. for Your Home Improvement Project?
- Local, Owner-Operated, & Family Owned
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- 5-Year Workmanship Warranty
- We Work Directly With Your Insurance Company
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Plano's Premier Patio Builder & Patio Cover Installation Expert
Historically, homebuilders do not spoil home buyers with outdoor space coverings which, in our opinion, are a necessity. Patio covers allow you to enjoy the outdoors on even the hottest summer days. It provides protection from the elements and even protects your plants from exposure to frost. How enjoyable it is to be able to sit outside under a patio cover during a warm Dallas area summer rain or a cool evening. This landscaping feature does not only make your surroundings more enjoyable, it's highly functional as well.
Some Dallas home designs can accommodate a patio cover to be built at the entire length of the back of the house and, with the addition of skylights, maintain the natural lighting. Other designs such as a Gable can also maintain natural lighting. The additional area provided by a patio cover can be an extension of your Dallas area home to provide entertainment for family and friends, eliminating overcrowding on the interior of your home and minimizing cooking odors when most of the cooking can be done outdoors.
Custom Pergola Builders
At Moore Construction Co., we design and craft our pergolas for the specific needs of each client and their property. We don't use kits or install something pre-fabricated. We hand-craft each pergola with experience and pride to give our clients the absolute best pergola for their property.
Pergolas are the perfect outdoor room to spend a lazy summer day. Custom-designed pergolas give you the freedom with size, style, and location. We can even hang a pendant lamp or a ceiling fan to increase the functionality and beauty of your new outdoor room. A pergola also adds value and appeal to your home. The cedar, mahogany, and redwood are rot-resistant and all fasteners are designed to lengthen the life of the structure.
A custom-designed pergola gives you the flexibility to emphasize any style. Asian, southwest, contemporary, and modern; the choice is yours. A designer will come to your home and meet with you to discuss your vision for a pergola and help you determine the perfect size and location.
Wood Fence Builder in the Plano Area
Residential fencing can add much more than value to a home, it can add the type of practical appeal that offers a real advantage in a tight market. Installing a wood fence in the Dallas area is a particularly affordable option and is typically an easy install. For homebuyers with children or pets, fencing can make your home more attractive than the other options available.
There are numerous residential wood fence styles to choose from, ranging from nostalgic white picket fences to sturdy privacy protecting fences, as well as decorative options designed to beautify, while also enhancing privacy. A variety of wood is available to choose from including pressure treated, cedar, and red wood.
Custom wood fences are a popular residential fencing choice in the Dallas area, as they are an affordable option for multi-use backyards, such as those dedicating some space to gardening and some space to recreational activities. Wood fences, complemented by ornamental wood gates, can truly enhance a residential landscaping project.
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Apologies, I am new to this site and did not realize that you had responded. Are you talking about the court at BMCC/Washington MKT Park? How does this sign-up work there? Do they have lights on that court? If so would love a game tomorrow. You up for it?
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I might add, it's pretty standard in college too to have the professor use their own book.
However, they are requiring you to buy the Home Study Survival Kit which was written and put together by one of the professors at the school (Fleming). I find this somewhat shady. I understand needing books, but why must I be forced to purchase something written by a professor at the school? It is a bunch of items to help pass the baby bar.


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Princess Fawzia Fouad passed away last July 2,2013 in complete silence in Alexandria. Her very small funeral that did not suit her was held last July 3, 2013 from El Saida Nafisa mosque in old Cairo. She was not buried in the royal cemetery besides her brother late King Farok in Rafai , she was buried in her husband's family "The Shereens" cemetery in Cairo.
Only very few relatives attended the funeral. Of course the media was not that interested in covering the funeral but I found couple of clips from the funeral.
I do not know what to say about that beautiful princess honestly as I have always admired her as a person and as a royalty figure.
In 1939 the 18 years old Princess Fawzia married crown the 20 years old prince of Iran Reda Pahlavi in one of the most famous political marriages in the Middle East in the 20th century. It was said that king Farouk tried to lead the Muslim world and at the same time Pahlavi was trying to support his rule with a regional alliance, a great one too.Of course my generation looks to it as when a Sunni princess married a Shia prince and everyone was happy for it.
|Princess Fawzia with Princess Shahnaz in Iran "Hassan Kamel"
Unfortunately the princess that became a young beautiful Queen returned Cairo in 1945 leaving her daughter in Tehran. The sad look of the princess since then became her trademark. Many people spoke about why the royal-imperial marriage did not work but the young princess who came from different royal court and different country could not coup with her mother in law and sisters in law not to mention the young Shah had a mistress.
I once read the memories of Adel Thabet , King Farouk's relative that the young Queen was extremely depressed to the level that she fell sick, extremely sick. After knowing what happened to his sister , Farouk ordered her return immediately to Cairo to be divorced.
In 1949 she married colonel Ismail Chirine , another Mohamed Ali family member and an army officer/diplomat. They were considered the most cutest couple in Egypt then according my grandma.
The princess got two children : Nadia and Hussein.
Princess Fawzia was like an acting first lady of Egypt till the short marriage of King Farouk from Queen Neriman especially with the departure of Queen Nazli to the States.
In 1952 the princess who was married to the minister of defense then was said to predict that something was going to happen and it did happen. The free officers did their own coup which was regarded later as the 1952 revolution n Egypt.
She refused to leave Egypt unlike the rest of sisters. She lived in Alexandria along with her husband and her children Nadia and Hussein.
Princess Fawzia led very extreme quiet life refusing to speak the media decades even in time of Mubarak. The only recent photo for the princess we found it in her daughter's ex-husband Ardeshir Zahedi's website during her visit I think to the States from a decade ago.
|With princess Shahanz's ex-husband Ardeshir Zahedi
Now I know this is not a proper obituary for such personality.
Below one of the biggest flickr photo album dedicated Princess Fawzia. Please pray for her or read the Fataha on her soul.


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Events for October 31, 2019
Events Search and Views Navigation
7:00 pm
Bowling Pin Match
Every Thursday night at 7:00 P.M., weather and attendance permitting, we host a Bowling Pin Shoot for our members and guests. Our weekly match consists of shooting five bowling pins off of one of our steel tables in each heat against another shooter. It is a double elimination bracket and most shooters tend to favor …Find out more »


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I've used a tangential extractor for a while but have always read that a radial would result in less foundation damage and no need to flip frames. A local beek said that he finds he can't get as much honey out using a radial and uses a tang. with his 200 hives. He found a radial to tear up his equip even more.
What do others like? Do you find radials to be less efficient at removing honey?


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Carson City teen accused of assaulting, molesting children to be tried as adult
A 16-year-old Carson City boy will be tried as an adult in district court on one count of sexual assault against a child under 14 and one count of lewdness with a child under 14.
The teen was certified as an adult April 1 following the recommendation of the juvenile master and a hearing in front of Judge James Wilson Jr., according to court documents.
The Nevada Appeal is not naming him because he is a juvenile.
The teen pleaded not guilty to both counts Tuesday in district court.
The trial was set for Feb. 5-7.
He faces life with the possibility of parole after 10 years on each count.
He is accused of assaulting two cousins, ages 4 and 6, and molesting a 10-year-old cousin.
The teen told investigators he was the children's babysitter over the previous summer and at various other parts of the year and abused the children while they were sleeping, court documents state.


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Question # : 46974
Answer : 46974
Published on: Aug 19, 2013
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
Allah knows Best!
Darul Ifta,
Darul Uloom Deoband
Related Question
I have a question: A man dies leaving a son,3 daughters During the lifetime of the deceased man he gave 2 acres of land to share equally between the 3 daughters, and in the family house a section for the 3 daughters Many years have passed the 3 daughters died but no distribution has not been done The land is about 20 acres the question:How shold the Shares in the house be done to the 3 daughters The 2 acres of the land for the 3 daughters how that should that be divided.
A couple (my khala and khalooo) had six children, one son (eldest) and five daughters. One daughter is mentally distorted. The father MF died when youngest daughter was not matured enough. The second last daughter was disabled. The four elders decided and transfer the house in the name of mother by signing an agreement on stamp paper......In view of all this what action would be correct. What was the actions taken wrongly earlier. In case of wrong action how it can be rectified and what action children should do to rectify.


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Message from the Dean
Since 1937, we have helped students just like you transform their lives. With hands-on learning, globally focused courses, easy access to downtown Boston, and expert faculty, you have the chance to turn your career aspirations into reality.
Your journey from student to professional begins here, where building your resume and network are key components of your education.
In the classroom, you'll get hands-on experience with consulting projects, where you'll solve real-life challenges and present to business executives. You'll examine case studies from real companies. You may even invent a new product or start your own business.
Outside the classroom, you'll find yourself in the heart of Boston's business community, just steps away from internship and career opportunities in the Financial District, the Massachusetts State House, the booming innovation district, and major health centers. You'll work alongside business executives, public service administrators, and innovators.
But what really sets us apart is our global focus. Whichever program you choose, you'll learn how to adapt to unique economic, cultural, political, and legal environments and discover how business practices differ among nations. You can even extend your global education beyond the classroom with a Global Travel Seminar, international internship, and study abroad experience.
Your faculty members care about your intellectual and professional journey. Working in every facet of business, they know the qualities that employers look for. They are committed to helping you develop the marketable skills and networks you need to embark on or advance in your career.
My goal for you, as a student in the Sawyer Business School, is that you gain a well-rounded education so you can become an innovative thinker who is able to take on today's global business challenges with confidence. I take pride in knowing that we are part of that process, and I hope that your commitment to learning continues throughout your life.
William J. O'Neill, Jr.
Dean, Sawyer Business School
William J. O'Neill, Jr. has been dean of the Sawyer Business School since August of 2001. Dean O'Neill brought extensive corporate experience to this role. He began his business career in the Finance Training Program at the Ford Motor Company. After Ford, he moved to the Polaroid Corporation, where he spent much of his career in the executive offices directing global strategy, worldwide marketing, sales, business development, financial management, and investor relations.
Dean O'Neill is a member of the Board of Directors for the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, Concord Camera Corporation, and AdvanSource Biomaterials Corporation. He has been associated with many for-profit and not-for-profit organizations and has served as Trustee for the Dana Farber Cancer Institute and the Massachusetts Business Roundtable Education Reform Committee. He is also a Life Trustee for the New England Aquarium and Lesley University.
Dean O'Neill earned his JD from Suffolk University Law School, his MBA from Wayne State University, Michigan, and his BA in Mathematics from Boston College.
"I came out of industry and I think about efficiency, productivity, market expansion, and change," says Dean O'Neill. "I ask how do we succeed, make things better, become more competitive, and be the best in the world?"
Since his arrival in 2001, Dean O'Neill has led the Sawyer Business School toward a singular goal: to deliver a world-class business education that develops successful leaders of global business and public service.
Under his leadership, the Business School:
- Established an undergraduate degree in global business management
- Increased the number of faculty with global work and education experiences and the number of countries students visit in the business travel seminar program
- Established an entrepreneurship resource center for students to develop their entrepreneurial spirit
- Created programming that develops students' leadership qualities, networking skills, and the ability to embrace change in an organization.
Dean O'Neill's vision created a business school that teaches students the academic side of business problems and the interpersonal skills they need to succeed in business today. Graduates are prepared for a competitive marketplace and can be found working at the top levels of local companies and international corporations, as well as in government, health care, and nonprofit organizations.
Industry-specific accreditations ensure that you receive a high quality, innovative education. The Sawyer Business school is AACSB-accredited in business administration with supplemental AACSB accreditation for our accounting and tax programs. Our Master of Public Administration program is accredited by NASPAA and our Master of Healthcare Administration program is accredited by CAHME.


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My office desk faces a southern window which can be very bright and hard on my eyes while working, so I wanted to come up with a fun way to open and close the shutters.
I like to have a lot of information about my environment (mostly for purely geeky reasons), but I've found that most commercially available sensors are expensive, inaccurate, have limited software compatibility, or some combination thereof. I was using a couple of Z-Wave temperature/humidity sensors and a couple of light sensors, but at $50 a pop, there was no way I was going to be able to get all the information I wanted on the house.
Copyright 2020 Dan Santee
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NAV, Sunroof, MB-Tex Interior, Heated Seats, Panoramic Roof, Full-Time 4MATIC® All-Wheel, DRIVER ASSISTANCE PACKAGE, NIGHT VIEW ASSIST PLUS, HEAD-UP DISPLAY, WARMTH & COMFORT PACKAGE, Quad Seats, Turbo, Alloy Wheels. S 560 trim. Warranty 4 yrs/50k Miles - Drivetrain Warranty;
Navigation, Sunroof, Panoramic Roof, Full-Time 4MATIC® All-Wheel, Quad Bucket Seats. Mercedes-Benz S 560 with designo® Diamond White Meta exterior and designo® Porcelain/Espresso interior features a 8 Cylinder Engine with 463 HP at 5250 RPM*.
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Mercedes-Benz of Louisville's unparalleled customer experience begins the moment you enter our inviting, modern Mercedes-Benz dealership. Our entire staff of friendly, professional, and knowledgeable employees is focused and fully committed to meeting the needs of every guest visiting our showroom, service center, customer lounge, and our lifestyle boutique. Our goal is to deliver a customer experience so memorable that it sets a standard by which all future experiences will be judged.
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100 - Cop Out
Koivo on Oct. 18, 2008
Yeah, that's right. No, you're not dreaming and you're not dead either.
Feeling Rushed is back, although maybe not quite the way I was hoping to return.
Ok, so without further ado, here's your comic…
And here's a preview of what it was supposed to be…
Satisfied? Good, if not, then click the full story link to find out what went down and whats going down.
And remember to tune in next week for an all-new Feeling Rushed.


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Hello Catherine…. yes the plants arrived and have been planted. All had very good roots and were healthy. We are very pleased. Chris
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Cyclamen produce delicate flowers in shades of white, pink, red and even purple. Delicate, maybe, but also tough as old boots. Cyclamen corms lie dormant through the summer and then, depending on variety, flowers appear between late August and the new year. The blossoms are carried on leafless stems well before any foliage. We think that cyclamen are an essential plant in any garden be it small or large (and the make wonderful container and window box subjects as well) but if they are not for you then why not take a look at our full range of spring flowering bulbs for sale?
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Police: Kennebec Valley Community College bomb threat was hoax
Campus searched by bomb-sniffing dogs, nothing found
Kennebec Valley Community College is slated to reopen at 5 p.m. Tuesday after a bomb threat caused the campus to be evacuated earlier in the day.
Fairfield Police Chief Joseph Massey told News 8 that a search of the campus by police and drug-sniffing dogs ended around 12:15 p.m. with no sign of explosives.
Police were called to the college around 9:15 a.m. Tuesday after the school reported that a student using the ladies' bathroom in Carter Hall had found the word "bomb" written on the wall. The school was evacuated and police began a search, Massey said.
Once police determined there was no danger, the campus was turned back over to college officials, Massey said. A message on the college's web site said the campus will reopen at 5 p.m. Tuesday.
A detective has been assigned to investigate the threat, Massey said. A bomb threat "might seem like a funny thing to do," Massey said, but it "causes an immense response from law enforcement."


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I have been trying to do these program for so long I think I almost got it all but there are some things I am not sure about,
so I am trying to print the number of rectangles created, but I do not understand how to do it, because I have defined already the number of rectangles created (10). Also I need to find and print the information of a rectangle with the largest area, I do not know how to do it . I am really new at these, I would really apreciate some help
these is my main class
public class Rectangle{ private double width, height; private static String color ="white"; private Date date; private static int rectangleCreated = 0; /// why is static? Rectangle(){ // no arg constructor that creates a default rectangle width =1; height =1; rectangleCreated++; date: new Date(); } Rectangle( double w, double h, String c ){ // CONSTRUCTOR width = w; height = h; color = c; date = new Date(); rectangleCreated++; } public static int rectangleCreated(){ // a method that returns number of rectangle created return rectangleCreated; } public double getHeight(){ return height; } public void setHeight ( double h) { height = h; } public void setWidth ( double w) { width = w; } public static String getColor(){ return color; } public static void setColor(String c){ color = c; } public Date getDate(){ return date; } public void setDate ( Date d){ date = d; } public double getArea(){ // returns area return width*height; } public double getPerimeter(){ // returns perimeter return (2*width* height); } public String toString(){ String S; S = "Rectangle width of" + width; S = S + "and height of" +height; S = S + " was created on " + date.toString(); return S; } }
and these the client program I am working on
import java.util.*; public class TestRectangle{ public static void main (String[]args) { String[] colors = {"White","Blue","Yellow","Red","Green"}; int k; Rectangle[] arr = new Rectangle[10]; for(int i = 0; i < 10; i++) { Rectangle r = new Rectangle(); r.setWidth((Math.random()*40)+10); r.setHeight((Math.random()*40)+10); arr[i] = r; k = (int)(Math.random()*4)+1; System.out.println(colors[k]); } } }


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Most Americans, particularly those in suburban and metropolitan areas, may not know where their town hall is, or even if their town has one. But lately everyone, it seems, is ready to attend a town-hall meeting.
"Town-hall meeting" is the it phrase of 2017. In some cases, thousands of people beyond capacity are lining up six hours early to attend town-hall meetings, as if Bruce Springsteen, not their local congressional representative, were performing.
Use of the "town hall" gathering — for political grandstanding, outreach, or political gain — is a longstanding tradition embraced by both political parties. Go back through news articles and you'll find spikes in reporting about town-hall meetings under Republican- and Democratic-led governments. There was a spike in October 2008 (coinciding with the run-up to the 2008 election), and again in August 2009, when President Barack Obama was touring the country during the summer recess and Tea Party members took to gathering at meetings to express their discontent. After that, the term sat on the word shelf gathering dust until President Donald Trump's inauguration.
As Time reported during the election last year, town halls are pure early Americana, dating back to 1633 in Massachusetts. During the 19th century, communities built town halls for the express purpose of advancing civic engagement. In Springfield, Mass., in 1828, the town assembled to ceremoniously unveil its new, bigger town hall and George Bliss wrote that the community needed a building that could "contain near all the legal voters in the town." The building would long continue to be "a place where the inhabitants may peaceably assemble and transact their municipal concerns." But, more important than the size of the space and its ability to accommodate as many people as possible, Bliss argued that it was the expression that would take place within the walls — and the manner of that expression — that mattered most:
A body so numerous as the voters in this town cannot think alike on all subjects. A readiness to give others the same privilege of expressing freely their opinions which we claim for ourselves is all important. Efforts to keep order in ourselves and others are also requisite. Experience and observation have taught us how easily strife and angry passions may be excited and it is the duty of all to avoid as far as possible the occasions of offence.
From first-term senators to Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell, many elected officials are running the gauntlet of town-hall meetings, where hard-eyed opponents and demanding voters often fail to recall Bliss's suggestion for keeping "order in themselves."
Town-hall meetings today are also a political tool of the party out of power. The recent town-hall revival and weekly headlines about elected officials who show up at them, get shouted down, and even run off (or duck out quickly) adopt something like the tone of stories about Boston crowds who tarred and feathered British tax collectors in the 18th century. Today, activists use the town-hall format as a trap to bash and embarrass politicians with whom they disagree. And politicians who lack the mettle to face angry voters and pass on the experience find themselves criticized for avoiding their duties.
If a lawmaker calls the town-hall meeting a setup, he or she risks appearing fearful of open debate. Consider Senator Marco Rubio (R., Fla.) who said last week that he would not attend a town-hall meeting designed to produce heckling and screaming (at him) in front of an attentive media. The Florida Republican told CBS4-Miami he could face three, four, five, six hundred liberal activists in the state:
Rubio told the station that activists are instructed to go to town halls early and "take up all the front seats. They spread themselves out, they ask questions. They all cheer when the questions are asked. They are instructed to boo no matter what answer I give. They are instructed to interrupt me if I go too long and start chanting things. Then, at the end, they are told not to give up their microphone when they ask questions."
This is the new political coliseum, and while there aren't lions, chariots, and sparring with swords, there is the aura of the melee rather than deliberative debate.
Utah Representative Jason Chaffetz faced very real — and very angry — citizens at a recent town-hall meeting, while GOP representative Louie Gohmert of Texas refused to hold a town-hall meeting, saying he feared violence might erupt.
This is the new political coliseum, and while there aren't lions, chariots, and sparring with swords, there is the aura of the melee rather than deliberative debate. As the Wall Street Journal noted recently, America's town halls are "organic" and "rowdy" places; as well, "the surge [in] public assemblies comes at a time when America is drenched in technology," which allows for easy appeals to emotion rather than substance via social media. As National Review noted of a recent town-hall meeting featuring Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, "The constituents didn't actually want to ask questions or hear what Cassidy had to say; they wanted to express their anger." And they did — by booing during the invocation and Pledge of Allegiance and continuing to heckle the senator during the event.
Republicans — and down the line, Democrats too — should take a page from Senator Tom Cotton, a Republican from Arkansas, who moved a venue for a proposed town-hall meeting in recent weeks, not once but three times to accommodate more than 2,000 residents. Cotton stood in the center of a long stage, button-down shirt tucked in, looking out respectfully as chants, booing, and disapproval to his answers constantly prevented citizens from asking questions. He wasn't ruffled and he never appeared afraid — not of a young boy who asked him a heartfelt question about immigration reform and refugees, nor of a wife and mother concerned about her husband's visa status. At times, he urged attendees and protesters to let their neighbors speak — especially those who had driven the farthest. Perhaps it is his former military training and service in war zones that leaves him unruffled by opposition.
"A town hall is one of the needs of the town," an early historian of Worcester County, Mass., once noted. Bliss believed that "it is the right and I believe the duty of all as far as they can to attend town meetings" (though he said he wouldn't go so far as to suggest taxing no-shows). The best town halls will always be places to gather and debate, sometimes heatedly. But if this crucial democratic tradition is to survive our fractured age, we should embrace civility during town-hall meetings, and save the angry trolling for Twitter.
— Stephanie Cohen writes for Acculturated, where this piece originally appeared. It is reprinted with permission.
Editor's Note: This piece originally incorrectly stated that Representative Louie Gohmert had canceled a town hall. In fact, he refused requests to schedule one.


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I made a long delayed visit to the North East this week. As you may know, it is a significant contributor to our Schools business, and Rajiv Singh and his team are doing a great job of establishing Pearson as the premier school publisher in the region. I would urge many of you in support departments to visit the team, and get a better understanding of the rather unique challenges they face - from IT, to Customer Service, to HR.
Naveen and I visited Guwahati, Dimapur, Kohima and Tura on this visit. In fact I am writing this on the drive from Tura to Guwahati, while in the middle of the breathtakingly beautiful Garo Hills.
Rajiv claimed that you can open the school bag of any primary school kid in the state and you will find a Pearson book. This is logical, since we publish on behalf of the state board, but its illustrative of the difference in the scale of what we are doing here, and in many other parts of the country. Here, something like 600,000 students are learning English from a Pearson book.
Cynic that I am, I asked Rajiv to stop at a small government school we passed - three classrooms, one teacher. Now we have photographic evidence of the truth of his statement.
Vivek Govil


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Richard Schlesinger
20-May-2005, 12:00
This may be a bit 'off topic' but roll film gets used a lot in view cameras. So . . . I have reached an age where a certain amount of arthritis in my hands makes the loading of Nikor reels less than a piece of cake, so I am thinking of switching to what sounds like an easier system; either Jobo or Paterson. Jobo with their way of enlarging their tanks sounds a bit more versatile. I don't quite know how their 120 reels work (two rolls end to end?) and if so, if that is a good thing. Washing sounds easy with their $12.95 washer. I would very much appreciate advice/information on Jobo vs Paterson (or any other system). I should add I am not interested in machine/roller or whatever agitation so that is not a factor. I have pretty much standardized on PMK for whatever difference that might make. Thanks in advance for the help.


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text: Janniro Returns To Industry Racing In Search Of Continued Dominance Press Release | June 17, 2014 The following is from Industry Racing… CITY OF INDUSTRY, Calif. (June 17, 2014) – The 2014 season at Industry Racing flies into another Wednesday night of exciting action, having already brought fans to their feet week in and week out since May 28. As the legends of the sport joined in on the action last week during "Legends Night," tomorrow night, June 18, will showcase the return of Billy Janniro along with the thrilling Sidecar Division. Tickets to attend tomorrow's event are a cost effective option for the whole family to enjoy an exciting night of racing that is sure to deliver the best speedway racing around! Adult general admission is just $10, while kids and seniors can get in for only $5! See your favorite racers lay it all on the line for the thrill of victory! On track, First Division racing will highlight the action at the only fully AMA-sanctioned track in Southern California. After grabbing the spotlight the first two weeks, Janniro will return from his absence during last week's festivities. While he was away, longtime rival Billy Hamill was able to step into the forefront and get his first win of the season. This week will serve as the next chapter of their captivating rivalry as Hamill looks to beat Janniro straight up, while Janniro tries to keep his unbeaten streak alive! In the Sidecar Division, Joe Jones and Johnny Glover have also compiled an undefeated record in two Main Events. Thanks to its unique and precarious nature, Sidecars arguably bring the most exciting racing of the evening as these daredevils show a willingness to make whatever sacrifices are necessary in hopes of victory. The experience of Jones and Glover has led them to the forefront each time out, but their fellow competitors will look to change that on Wednesday night. The racing lineup at Industry Racing on Wednesday will also feature Second and Third Division competition, in addition to junior racing with the 250 Division, Mini 150 First and Second Divisions, as well as the Pee Wee Division. The competition throughout these divisions has been both unpredictable and dominant at times, meaning you never know what could happen once the tapes go up! A total of nine weeks remain in the 2014 season at Industry Racing, with marquee events like the AMA National and the second annual AMA/FIM Youth Silver Cup Championship looming ahead this summer. Connect with Industry Racing through its Social Media Channels Twitter: @IndustryRacing Facebook: Facebook.com/IndustryRacing Instagram: @IndustryRacing By Press Release


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When the iPad finally comes to store shelves — set to happen for the end of March — Apple will help kick off the launch by slashing prices of TV episodes from its iTunes Store to just a dollar, according to the Financial Times.
The $1 price would presumably be for standard-def episodes, which currently cost $2. No word if HD episodes, priced at $3, would get a similar cut. The reduction is essentially a test to see if a lower price will boost sales, which we infer from the whole move to have been underwhelming.
We can't speak for everyone, but generally we use services like iTunes and Amazon Video On Demand to catch episodes of our favorite shows that our DVR somehow missed. But $ 1 episodes might actually make it worth giving up cable service altogether, assuming you didn't follow many series and didn't channel-surf.
U.S. & World
What say you? Would a dollar menu of TV episodes get you downloading? Let us know in our comments section.


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Welcome to the first Playoff Fire Drill, for this, Calgary's second postseason game on April 18, 2009.
I have always been of the opinion that winning the second game of a series is the most important thing in the playoffs.
You lose the first game, and it's no big deal. You've got six more of the goddamn things, and the result isn't as important as setting a tone and letting people know who you is. Certainly this was the case on Thursday, when Calgary may have lost (in overtime) but let Chicago know that they'd at least be playing smash-mouth hockey.
The Flames, though, can ill afford to play as recklessly tonight as they did at times two nights ago. Lose tonight, for any reason (soft goals or not), and you're in a two-game hole and return home being in the unenviable position of NEEDING to win twice. Against a team like Chicago, that's bad news for two reasons.
1. The Blackhawks are more skilled than the Flames and can be almost as mean if they need to be. The pluck they showed in the waning minutes on Thursday is indicative of their ability to elevate their game and level of urgency, which is not a characteristic that any sane person would ascribe to Calgary in the last two months or so.
2. Chicago is more than likely going to win at least once at the Saddledome. This is something to which I've resigned myself. And so, in theory at least, the Flames could be staring down the barrel of a 3-1 series deficit headed back to the Windy City? Not good.
So, uh, a win tonight, then?
The Calgary Flames (the fifth seed in the West) and the Chicago Blackhawks (the fourth seed). The latter team leads the series 1-0 and 3-2 on aggregate.
7:00 p.m. Mountain time and 9 p.m. Eastern time. All other time zones should .
United Center, Chicago, Illinois.
Calgary is now 19-21-2 away from home this year in all competition, and still has yet to win a game against Chicago this season. The Blackhawks were 25-9-8 at the United Center.
What (to hate about the Blackhawks):
The City with a Lot of Nicknames — Chi-town. The Second City. The Tiny Toddlin' Town. The Windy City. Hog Butcher to the World. The City with the Big Shoulders. City by the Lake. City of the Century. The City that Works. City on the Make. Chicagoland. Hey, you arrogant midwest weirdos, pick a name and stick with it. You're not New York. Stop acting like it.
Dustin Byfuglien — He doesn't know his place. He had the third-most shots on the Blackhawks with 202 in 77 games. Only Pat Kane and Marty Havlat were ahead of him. And he also scored the eighth-most goals. Just 15. Four less than Offensive Superstar Dave Bolland, who got his 19 on just 111 shots. Attn Dustin: Be better at hockey.
Denis Savard — If he'd just stuck around as coach we wouldn't be IN this mess.
Martin Havlat, again — His face is just so punchable.
Because going into a 2-0 hole would be no good! Enjoy the game and work through your hockey-related depression in the comments section.


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Vietnamese men have a hard time to find a decent wife in the United States of America or in other Western countries. One of the main reasons is that Vietnamese men outnumber women in these Western nations. Even though Vietnamese men who have high education and good career, many of them are still single. It is hard to find the girl that he wishes or dreams to have. Some of them have to choose a wife who is not on educated. I have some male friends who work as a software engineers, their wives are nail technicians. Are they happy? I think they are not but they have to live. Unless they come back to Viet Nam and marry a girl there, which they don't want to.
Well, they can find a Vietnamese wife who have the same educated level as theirs, but the outlook is not there. Oh, man, to balance between the education and the look, some of them must pick the wives who work in the nail shops. For those Vietnamese guys who don't have a degree, it is too hard to find a Viet wife in America, Canada, Australia and others. As you know, the Vietnamese men outnumber women so these ladies are proud of themselves. They dream of marrying a high-level educated man, even though they are not high educated. Generally speaking, if a Vietnamese girl who has a good outlook, she can get married with an educated man.
There are thousands of single Vietnamese girls and women at VietSingleCom dating site looking for love and marriage. As you know that Vietnamese women are very attracted with silky hair, smooth skin, petite bodies, and the graceful way when they walk on street, they seem to make men to turn their head. In other words, getting married with a Vietnamese wife will benefit you in many ways. A Viet girl can cook delicious dinner and does other house chores. The most important factor that Vietnamese women stand out from Western women is the honest in relationship and marriage. She loves you by heart, not by rich materials you have. She does not love you by your Lexus, BMW, big house, big bank account, she loves you by your true heart.
How do Vietnamese women find love online?
Vietnam ladies are honest and faithful. Whether you meet them at the clubs, bars, or VietSingleCom dating site, you will see the unique characteristics in them. Most guys think that they must be rich or have a lot of money to date a beautiful girl, this is not true to date Vietnamese girls. The only important thing to win her heart is the honest and loyalty, care and respect. You will win her heart permanently. If you try to show off your rich materials, then you will loose the game. Be patient to take your time slowly. Try to show her your care and the true love you are about to give her.
Vietnam women are not weak or submissive as you think. They just don't show off like Western girls do. I have known one Viet lady who lives in Las Vegas, California at VietSingle dating site. She is strong, smart, and honest the same as Western women.
Viet girls do not usually get fat as they age. They always try to be on diet and stay in good shape. They look younger than their real age are. Vietnam ladies stay attractive far longer than Western women because they stay in good shape.
Also, thousands of single Vietnamese guys go back to Vietnam to find a decent wife. Usually, a man with good degree and career rarely do that. He'd rather pick a nail technician girl than go to Vietnam to get married with a high-degreed girl. He has a chance to marry a pretty girl in the US. So, that's the reason many Vietnamese men are single in late 30s.
What do I suggest?
Once you are still in college, try to find a Vietnamese girlfriend. Don't wait until you graduate, it is late. It is too hard to have that chance after you work in an office. There are some Vietnamese students in school you can flirt with. Don't wait or you are late.
Some Vietnamese American men choose white girls for marriage. That's a good choice too. However, most guys choose Viet wives because they want to keep traditional custom. American wives are nice and pretty but they don't know how to eat 'fish sauce' or 'nuoc mam'.


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Imagine: Fannie Mae's loss can be your gain
ADDRESS: 7603 Esmont Road
SIZE: 2326 fin. sq. ft., 1700 unfin.
NEIGHBORHOOD: Esmont
CURB APPEAL: 2 out of a possible 10
LISTED BY: Hock Hockensmith of Roy Wheeler Realty Co. 996-3333
Renovators, start your sanders. The rehab opportunity of the decade is waiting for you just a few miles down Route 20 in the form of Esmont's old Purvis Store.
After weeks of voyeuring around in Downtown palaces of the maybe not so famous but certainly rich, On the Block this week goes slumming.
Surprisingly, the trip to this century-old store-cum-potential-bed-and-breakfast in a wide place in Route 715 in southern Albemarle proved to be quite an adventure.
It would be fun to research the history of this interesting property. Was it built originally as a store? We turn to our infallible source, and the Magic 8-Ball replies: "All signs point to no." The 1,700-square-foot cinderblock cavern to the left of the nice front porch seems to be an addition of later vintage than the rest of the potentially charming living space.
Alas, for budding Apu's, zoning permission to operate a village Quik-E-Mart has long since expired. However, On the Block is always eager to encourage dance venues, and it's easy to imagine all sorts of hoedowns rocking the old joint late into the night.
As for the original house, visionaries will be in their element. Downstairs features a large room with pine mantel surrounding a coal-burning fireplace. There are three other rooms in addition to a very large kitchen (dishwasher, washer/dryer hookup, faux knotty pine cabinets), and two half baths (one with a shower). One of the rooms has a cedar closet; all have nice large windows. There are pine floors throughout the house.
Upstairs are five bedrooms, weirdly configured, with a mysterious interior double window overlooking the central hall. More fodder for the 8-Ball. Was this an original exterior wall (interior bead-boarding notwithstanding) before the addition of the store? "Reply hazy; ask again later."
As beautiful and even opulent as the recent in-town mansions have been, they offer no quirky surprises. Here, in a bordering-on-derelict building with tarp covering one-third of the roof, 84-Lumber paneling obscuring original old walls, and more trash and flotsam littering the yard than you'll find in most dumps, the tub in the large upstairs bathroom is... a whirlpool!
Outside, in addition to rusty bikes, car doors, piles of asphalt rubble, and old kerosene stoves, several buildings of varying potential lean and droop: storage sheds, remnants of a rustic stable, a chicken coop, a "former mobile home," and the best, a seemingly serviceable two-bay garage with carport.
An enormous, beautiful, ancient tree looms over the tin roof of the kitchen extension at the rear of the house. The agent promises "flowers, shrubs, and a garden spot." Route 715 runs smack against the front yard, but it's a tiny little road, with almost no traffic.
The house has been repossessed by Fannie Mae, who obviously lacks the imagination to see herself chilling on the pleasant second-floor porch gazing serenely at the farmer (reportedly Mr. Purvis himself) making hay in the field across the road.
But even though she doesn't personally want to tackle renovation of the old store, Fannie might be willing to lend you the money to turn this property into a village gem. Some elbow grease (well okay, truckloads of elbow grease), lots of time, imagination, and that advance from Fannie, and you're on your way to becoming an upstanding citizen of Downtown Esmont.
Is this a good idea or what? E. Ball replies, "It is decidedly so."


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How to save for college
DANBURY -- For a young family just starting out without a lot of cash, saving for their children's college education can seem a daunting task.
And recent headlines about skyrocketing tuition costs at colleges and universities that far surpass the inflation rate certainly doesn't help mitigate the stress level.
But for those determined to provide a nest egg for their child's education, there are a variety of investment vehicles with different advantages to suit a family's individual needs.
One of the most common mistakes parents make, however, is deciding not to save any money at all for their child's education out of concern that it might impact their ability to get financial aid in the future.
"If you can choose to save, don't not do it because you're afraid of eligibility," said Karen McCarthy, a senior policy analyst with the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators. "The federal formula for financial aid is driven more by income than by assets, and a student's assets are weighted more heavily than a parent's."
She explained that the federal government expects that a student can use their assets towards their education, while the government also realizes that parents are saving their money for other expenses as well, including their own retirement or the education of other children in the household.
529 plan
That's one of the main reasons why most financial planners will advise their clients against custodial investment accounts, which are assets that are placed in the name of the child but is under control of the parent while the child is a minor.
The other drawback to custodial accounts, experts say, is that kids will take control of the account when they reach 21, and they can use the money for whatever they want.
"By far the best option available today is the 529 college savings plans offered by most states, including Connecticut," said Rick Judd, the executive vice president of wealth management with Union Savings Bank.
Judd noted that while parents can invest in the 529 plans offered by any state, Connecticut's plan would likely be the most favorable for local residents because contributions are tax deductible.
"Connecticut's 529 plan is a great option for young families because of the tax benefits associated with it," Judd said.
He added that 529 plans can also be rolled over into another child's name, if, for example, your oldest happens to be a rocket scientist who gets a full ride to MIT.
Other vehicles
Patrick Doherty, a Certified Financial Planner with Reby Advisors in Danbury, said that while 529 plans are certainly the most popular, there are other options that can provide parents with some more flexibility in their savings, but those options also come with some drawbacks.
Parents, he said, can elect to take out a whole life insurance plan that builds a cash value. A tax-free loan can be taken out against the policy's value if used for educational purposes.
Doherty said the disadvantages of the option include that whole life policies are more expensive than other options including term life insurance. The policy also won't perform as well as 529 accounts that are invested in the equities markets.
For parents who want to save for both retirement and their child's education, but are having a difficult time funding multiple plans, Roth IRAs can also be an option, Doherty said.
"You don't want to fully fund your child's education but have to work until you're 80 because you haven't saved for your retirement," he said. "You don't get the same up-front tax advantages of plans like a 401k, but the money is tax-free upon retirement."
Credit cards?
Even if a parent doesn't have a penny to spare, there are still ways they can save for their child's education.
Many credit card companies offer incentive programs that can help parents save for education by putting aside a small percentage of their purchases. One of the most popular recent programs, Upromise, allows parents to connect their credit cards and Internet purchases to an account that will save from two to five percent of their purchases for education.
That money can then be deposited into a 529 or other investment vehicle for additional returns.
Financial advisors also stress that friends and relatives can also be a source for education savings. Friends and family members can contribute directly into 529 accounts and the holder of the account enjoys the tax benefits of the deposit.
Recent Internet services made it even easier. Some Internet services will allow parents to invite friends and family members, through their social media accounts, to contribute directly to their 529 plan.
Some Internet companies, such as GradeFund.com, allow friends to sponsor a student. The better grades a student receives, the more a sponsor donates into the account.
"Most families won't be able to pay for their child's education through savings alone," pointed out Doherty. "They will likely have to use a combination of savings, loans, grants and hopefully scholarships. But the biggest thing is to have a plan for how you're going to do it."
firstname.lastname@example.com; 203-731-3358; www.twitter.com/DirkPerrefort