text:
by Mike Masnick
Thu, Mar 1st 2007 11:28am
- Chinese Company Recalls Cameras, DVRs Used In Last Week's Massive DDoS Attack
- 'Nice Internet You've Got There... You Wouldn't Want Something To Happen To It...'
- Come On Elon! Tesla Stupidly Bans Owners From Using Self-Driving Teslas For Uber
- FBI, CBP Join Forces To Turn Airports Into Informant Recruiting Centers
- Akamai: 12-Year-Old SSH Vulnerability Fueling Internet-Of-Broken-Things DDoS Attacks, And Worse
Reader Comments (rss)
(Flattened / Threaded)
Casper, Mar 1st, 2007 @ 12:17pm
Test, test, and test againI write software and have been writing software for a while. It is impossible to find all the problems in a large undertaking without extensive testing. Even if you "think" you did a really clean job, there are optimizations and security issues that get left behind during the initial development phase.
These voting machines should have been brutalized before ever being allowed into public. They should have had every security breach brought to light, so that whatever weaknesses they had could be monitored. Even if they think it would have posed a security risk to let outside testing take place, it would have at least given users a list of things to watch out for. As it stands, the same flaws exist, but now if they are exploited, no one knows it's there except the person exploiting it.
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Newob, Mar 1st, 2007 @ 12:30pm
WTF?Why do the voting machines store individual votes on single machines? That is the most insecure method of counting and is susceptible to hacking. Voting machine software should take a lesson from distributed counting software like SETI@Home. In a distributed system, all of the votes would be on every machine and if one machine was tampered with, or had errors in counting, the other machines would instantly exclude that information.
If Bittorrent verified files the way these voting machines count votes, nobody would ever be able to share any files!
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misanthropic humanist, Mar 1st, 2007 @ 1:52pm
critical systemsE-voting is a solution looking for a problem that doesn't exist. The entire enterprise is being forced upon governments by powerful technology companies who really ought to just shut the fuck up, go do something useful that needs technology and leave the business of government to those who know about it.
The central fallacy is that voting needs to be cheap. It doesn't. The very idea is absurd. A primary function of a democratic state is to hold free and fair elections. That responsibility should be carried out at whatever cost, after which other budgets like military spending and healthcare come second.
In all countries you will find that poll and counting stations can be manned by entirely voluntary staff, usually older/retired people who will do it as a matter of patriotic duty. If they are recruited and screened from middle class backgrounds they are virtually impossible to corrupt or bribe.
The problems with electronic voting are so enormous that to even consider it at this stage of history is suicide for the democratic system, - (crucially) the faith of the people in that system.
As Casper points out, program proving is very difficult. Combinatorial explosion makes exhaustive testing of even a few hundred lines of code impossible in human timescales. Methods such as VDM /Z onto an ADA type language may be sufficient to give you the same confidence as that used for medical robotics and missile systems, but frankly that isn't good enough. Critical systems cannot be tested exhaustively and voting machines are *THE* critical system. What is the point of having virtually impenetrable security for your nuclear weapons system if a devils like the Bush administration can steal an election and then have access to the codes by the front door? If you use E-voting then right now the democratic process is actually the point of greatest weakness in all national security.
I am interested in Newobs comments. A distributed topology is a very interesting proposal. But the complexity explodes. With an n* topology, or a complete graph in which every node talks to every other node and replicates its data, yes you have a very robust system for maintaining data integrity, but at the expense of complexity. A proper E-voting solution, if we ever get to the stage where such a thing can be trusted, should be extremely simple and elegant, to the extent that a non-programmer can understand and check the code. It goes without saying that any E-voting system *must* be open source with the code published and verified that each machine is running that code on the day. Closed solutions are not acceptable in any form.
Every computer scientist who understands these issues is telling governments the same thing, that tin boxes, paper and markers are a superior solution. But governments are so enchanted by the technology snake oil salesman of companies who hope to make a huge profit on elections that they are blind to the perils.
I would not trust a computer system to elect my government, even if I designed it and hand wrote the code myself.
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Anonymous of Course, Mar 1st, 2007 @ 2:19pm
E-fraudThe only compelling reason I see for E-voting is the
ability to commit E-fraud. Dead people have been
voting and voting often for as long as there have been
elections. That messy paper trail makes it possible to
prove sometimes... or maybe a box of ballots ends
up in some basement.
Now there is no physical evidence of fraud and the
E-voting systems designers seem to have devoted
little thought to fraud prevention.
I'm voting for distributed storage and verification
as well... five or six times if I can manage it.
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Anonymous of Course, Mar 1st, 2007 @ 2:19pm
E-fraudThe only compelling reason I see for E-voting is the
ability to commit E-fraud. Dead people have been
voting and voting often for as long as there have been
elections. That messy paper trail makes it possible to
prove sometimes... or maybe a box of ballots ends
up in some basement.
Now there is no physical evidence of fraud and the
E-voting systems designers seem to have devoted
little thought to fraud prevention.
I'm voting for distributed storage and verification
as well... five or six times if I can manage it.
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Overcast, Mar 1st, 2007 @ 3:29pmThat what they calling election fraud now? A 'bug?
I'm sure both major parties are participating in this 'bug'.
I agree with the above - Electronic Voting is only a 'plus' for those looking to fraud the system.
You all are right though - they should have put the machines out there... set them up somewhere and offered 15,000 bucks to anyone that could hack it and show how.
Keep doing that a while...
I'm sure you'll work out the bugs :)
Err - well the software ones anyway. The 'bugs' in suits who's faces you see on TV every other year... we'll need a BIG can of bug spray for that lot.
Actually if Diebold and the others are so *confident* these machines arer in fact secure - why don't they put one out and offer 5 million to anyone that can hack it - or perhaps they aren't quite that sure it's secure, huh?
Maybe I'll start to believe them when they put their money where their mouth is. Otherwise, why bother voting? Some election fraudster will for you anyway. Guess it's just a question now of how many people are willing to risk jail time for 'their political party'.
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Alex, Mar 1st, 2007 @ 5:04pm
Yeah, evoting machines suck, but...Ed Felten says:
"Programmers know the kind of bug I'm talking about: an error in memory management, or a buffer overrun, or a race condition, which causes subtle corruption in a program's data structures."
He didn't identify any one "bug", he listed a whole slew of possibilities. The equivalent car metaphor (sorry) is:
"Drivers know why their car didn't start; out of gas, no oil, or a cracked engine block"
Overvagueness doesn't help -- test the software & find the issues. Make the software opensource, have many people review, and have the top minds in information assurance scan the code as an academic exercise. It'll be fun!
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Newob, Mar 1st, 2007 @ 5:59pm
What's it mean to vote anyway?Voting is supposed to be the bedrock of democracy, and each person is supposed to have one vote, yet in practice the people who have the most money get the most votes by buying attention to themselves. It is equivalent to the loudest shouting out everybody else's voices. Voting isn't (and never has been) free; the established powers have always found ways to make voting difficult for undesirable voters; or if that fails, by just not counting certain votes.
People vote with their actions and the internet is becoming a medium for anybody to act or express themselves without fear of reprisal. That is why authority often finds the internet threatening. But this business of counting heads for this rich guy or that rich guy to be our puppet leader; or for this proposal or that proposal for the entrenched powers to approve, will never represent the majority of people want.
Nations will come to an end before voting practices, mechanical or electronic, are removed of corruption. Nations exist to separate people into arbitrary groups; nationality is not a genetic trait; it is a concept that binds people to one in-group and against other groups.
But the internet is bringing people of every nationality together. Soon the notion of one government per land mass will be ridiculous. Why should policies be based on such broad concepts of location and narrow concepts of humanity? We are all equally human beings. People can represent themselves and make their own rules for themselves and other people with like minds, if nations don't bring Armageddon first.
Most of the laws that governments enforce are a codification of one group's morality, and enforcement always comes at the cost of denying someone else's morality. But world societies are not really as different as authorities would lead us to believe; a drug that is illegal here is legal over there, but so what? It doesn't make the people a different species.
I guess what I'm getting at is that we have to broaden the meaning of what we consider 'voting.' Voting has come to mean a dry process of approval or disapproval. But no human being can be reduced to a series of approvals or disapprovals. Our interactions over great distances and in relation to local policies are becoming much more dynamic as more people communicate more freely. This is a good thing. No longer do we have to use crude tools like the military to explore foreign lands. We can talk to other people directly and say exactly what we want to.
Of course most people are not on the internet, but the principle is the same for everybody. We can vote with our actions, and our actions can be very complex. We can give food or water or other resources directly to people; or give them ideas if we want to; we don't all need to give the world one uniform treatment with our approval or disapproval by a pale process we call 'voting.'
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Enrico Suarve, Mar 2nd, 2007 @ 2:53am
Re: Yeah, evoting machines suck, but...Hi Alex
You're obviously new to this whole e-voting testing issue - welcome to the wonderful world of e-voting, if you care about your country I guarantee you that 2 hours research will have you either crying or punching walls - entirely up to you which ;0)
Ed is one of the good guys - he is constantly demanding to congress, elections offices, courts (anyone who will listen and a fair few who won't) that these machines SHOULD be fully tested
His comments are based on the very limited amount of testing he and others have been allowed to perform. Due to the fact that they never get allowed to conduct a complete test (with all machines and software that would be used in an election) this is the best he is able to come up with. Basically that what he has seen is consistent with a software bug but but that he can't narrow it down with the information he doesn't have...
This is possibly one of the most key problems in the US today - I suggest you take off your partisan hat if you have one and start investigating, doing a search on techdirt (top-right) for the word 'vote' would be a good way to start
Good luck and remember to question everything!
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geeksta, Jun 27th, 2007 @ 2:02pm
Voting MachinesOf course a thorough examination of the source code is a must. One assumption is the hardware and software on all the machines is identical. But any number of irregularities from the smoothers to overflow/truncation to botched screen coordinates. To clearing out (or not) the machines before an election. And it's not necessarily just the touch screens. Ballot scanners can have similar problems, especially with undervotes. They're just not as obvious. Until (and I hate to say this) we have federal guidelines, technically saavy election administrators, rugged quality testing of all the machines, and random audits, we're at risk. There are some new books out for your summer reading pleasure. Interesting.
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FRANK B G, Jan 18th, 2008 @ 7:02pm
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Lower Churchill project lead Gilbert Bennett says the court case filed by Hydro-Quebec will not negatively impact the Muskrat Falls project.
Taking any and all questions from reporters at Nalcor Energy's offices in St. John's this morning, the Nalcor vice-president said he could not speak specifically to the arguments to be made in the legal dispute relating to the power contract between Hydro-Quebec and the Churchill Falls Labrador Corp. ( CF(L)Co.)
CF(L)Co. issued a statement earlier today saying information will become available as the case progresses.
Bennett said whether the issue is water management, energy pricing, the loan guarantee or the ability to obtain project financing, the result of the court case will not increase the cost of Muskrat Falls for Newfoundland and Labrador.
Asked about a legal challenge by NunatuKavut to the Department of Fisheries and Oceans permitting for the project, he said that challenge has no merit. He suggested the group is confusing disappointment with the level of consultation with having no consultation relating to activities on the project site.

subset: commoncrawl


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I admire anyone who is willing to serve as an elected official, especially on the local level. It is often a thankless job as they open themselves to conflicts and criticism. Nevertheless, I still feel an obligation to speak to the proposal to build a new middle school. We in Fort Dodge are embarking on a $27 million, possibly a $32 million, project to replace two schools. The reasoning behind the proposal seems very logical and compelling. Both buildings are relatively old and reason might tell us that they have outlived their usefulness and should be replaced with modern buildings more suitable to today's educational trends and needs.
But we all know that times are changing. Our society faces new challenges; the loss of Iowa's grade A farm land, climate change, the need to conserve resources, the need to create a more sustainable economy, a skyrocketing public debt and even the issue of the physical fitness of our young people. The "Tea Party" movement alone behooves us to take another look at how we spend our tax dollars, not just on the federal and state level but also locally.
Costs to the community
Often overlooked in the enthusiasm for new schools are the real costs to a community.
First, existing buildings have a value. A previous generation invested its taxes into their construction. It was that generation's gift to us today. It represents not only an investment in taxes, but also an investment of resources; wood, brick, concrete, steel and energy; resources all of which have to be duplicated if a new building replaces it.
If a new building is constructed what will become of the existing structures?
What are the alternatives?
Alternatives for buildings the size and nature of the two middle schools are highly problematic. It has been suggested that the gymnasium could be acquired by the city for public recreational purposes. Given the financial straits of the city how viable is this? It would seem that the school board should make public what they propose for the buildings.
Failure to find alternative uses means that the buildings would have to be demolished. A major concern in today's society is the growing costs of disposal of wastes. About 40 percent of landfill wastes are materials from either construction or demolition of buildings. We urge our young people to recycle paper, cans and glass and we provide containers in the schools to make recycling easy. At the same time we haul entire buildings to the landfill. In a recent Messenger article Bill McAnally, retired head of the construction program at Iowa Central, said that with increasing economic costs and resource shortages there needs to be more concern with sustainability and reuse of existing buildings.
How does the closing of the two schools impact the entire community?
Does the public gain or lose by moving a school from a central location to the outskirts of the city?
Communities are discovering that more compact development makes tax dollars go further because it reduces the cost of providing services and infrastructure. Paying for infrastructure on the fringes of a community while neglecting buildings and infrastructure in which the community has already invested is not financially prudent.
It must be extremely disheartening for city leaders and downtown property owners to face the loss of two schools, the law enforcement center, the post office, federal offices and two churches at a time when so much effort and money is being expended to revitalize downtown especially as the results of their efforts are now becoming apparent. Private capital has rejuvenated the Carver Building, the Beh/State Bank Building, the old library, and the Wahkonsa Hotel. The new Fareway is a reality and the old Masonic temple will soon be serving a needed social purpose. The downtown will soon be on the National Register of Historic Places which will make the buildings within the district eligible for tax credits and grants for restoration. Rehabbing buildings reassures investors, businessmen and property owners that additional money invested will not be wasted. Abandoning buildings sends just the opposite signals.
What taxpayers expect
When our tax dollars are invested the taxpayer has a right to expect that decision makers consider all of the costs and alternatives, not only for their own area of responsibility, but for the community as a whole, and that the public receives the greatest benefit for the amount of money expended. Successful revitalization requires a unified effort, but it often seems that each governmental unit has its own agenda, each with its own good reasons, but sometimes at cross purposes with others. Such conflicts contribute to the growing cynicism toward government on all levels.
No one can ask the taxpayer to maintain buildings so deteriorated that they are beyond help. However, no one seems to be claiming that this is true about these schools. Likewise, if classroom space exceeds school population needs the closing of one of the schools may be necessary, but it does not necessitate the construction of a new one. Some may argue that the cost of rehabilitating an existing school would exceed the cost of a new one, but has the school district seriously considered rehabilitation as an option? Studies nationally are questioning the move to replace old structures with new ones. The Michigan Land Use Institute, in a recent special report, stated that "In every case we studied, building a new school cost more than renovating the old."
Lessons from recent history
Fifteen years ago the Webster County Courthouse required extensive repairs and upgrading. As we all know it now has been restored at a fraction of the cost of a replacement. We now have a beautiful building of which the community can be justly proud and one which will probably outlast any replacement. Five years ago there was a move to replace the Municipal Building. We were told that extensive repairs and modernization were needed. Consultants, however, reported that a new building would cost about the same as restoring the existing building, but the new one would have a shorter life expectancy. To build a new building of comparable quality to the existing building would cost an additional $3 million.
Private investors are recognizing the financial merits of rehabilitation. How many of us would have believed that the Beh Building could ever be rehabilitated? Investors have rehabbed the Carver Building, the Wahkonsa Hotel and the Carnegie Library. Travel across Iowa and you will find similar successes in city after city.
But if we rehab an old school won't we still have an old school?
Will it really meet the needs of 21st-century students?
New is exciting but is it necessarily better?
Some people might look at our Law Enforcement Center and question the validity of the newness argument. I have yet to see any study which equates new buildings with improved quality of education.
We express much concern about urban sprawl and the loss of our grade A farm land only to have our school system abandon downtown and take 40 acres out of production and off the tax rolls. Might it be more advisable if a new school is necessary to build it on the site of one of the schools to be closed? The U.S. Green Building Council, which established the LEED or "green" standards, calls for limiting new middle school campuses to not more than 10 acres.
There are other arguments for centrally located schools. The American Academy of Pediatrics has addressed the siting of schools and its impact on children's health. Recent reports on the epidemic of obesity among children have led nationally to a movement to encourage kids to walk to school. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention has introduced a "Kids Walk to School" program and there is a "National Walk Our Children to School Day" every October. Recently another Iowa newspaper reported on a study which found a reduction in stress and blood pressure for students who walked to school as opposed to those who rode. The study stated that "the cardiovascular disease process begins in childhood so any way of stopping or slowing that process would provide important health benefits." A centrally located middle school will still require bus transportation but it seems that a school at the proposed site will require that almost all students be transported.
Energy efficiency
One argument in favor of a new school is that it could be energy efficient. But energy efficiency goes beyond just heating and cooling of a building. Green covers all areas of building construction and utilization including the energy required to move the users to the building. The greenest building is the one which already exists. Energy, resources and tax money have already been expended on it. The LEED program, which is the standard for "green buildings," recognizes this by giving points for reuse of existing structures and materials. New buildings have no monopoly on energy efficiency and LEED certification. The University of Northern Iowa is currently rehabilitating a building that dates back to 1912 and is following LEED silver standards.
A great deal of taxpayer money has already gone into the preliminary work on the proposed building with very little taxpayer input. I would encourage the board to open the process to greater public discussion before further commitments are made.
Roger Natte is a longtime Fort Dodge resident and a highly regarded local historian.


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Every pastor knows that having kids has a way of bringing young parents inside the church doors. Or, at least, every pastor used to think so. Today, it's less clear. There was a time when you could almost count on young people whose attendance had dropped off after they left Mom and Dad's watchful eyes to return when they became parents themselves. But increasingly, young people who leave aren't coming back. What's going on?
According to Mary Eberstadt, senior fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center, it has a lot to do with the fact that fewer young people are getting married and having kids. And if they do finally settle down to start a family, it's much later than it used to be. For Eberstadt, there's an intrinsic link between faith and family, and the decline of the family in Western society has a lot to do with the shrinking size of our churches. In fact, that's How the West Really Lost God, as the title of her new book puts it. "As the family goes," Eberstadt argues, "so go the churches." In North Atlantic societies, the family has not done well in recent years, and to her mind that's been the single most important factor driving secularizing trends in the Western world.
If Eberstadt is right, it's an argument with "radical implications," as she claims. Social scientists and other observers have tended not to view the family as the chief motor of secularizing trends, but Eberstadt believes her argument "turn[s] the standard account of Western religious decline upside down." Rather than the separation of church and state, the Enlightenment, the Reformation, two World Wars, and the rise of education, prosperity, science, technology, and cities, she contends that secularization has come about largely because the natural family has declined. For Christians who care about the future of their churches, then, it would seem that the best thing to do would be to get married and stay married, and raise a quiver full of kids. But is Eberstadt right?
A Secular Age, After All
For some, the very idea that secularization has taken place is questionable. As Peter Berger and Philip Jenkins have pointed out, religion in the non-Western world is thriving, and Christianity in particular is doing very well in Africa and China. Other observers, such as Rodney Stark, point to the apparently low levels of church attendance in medieval Europe, compared to which the 19th and 20th centuries represent a significant increase. So, which is it? Is "secularization" little more than a self-congratulatory tale that modern-day atheists like to tell, or do we live in a secular age after all?
Eberstadt thinks it's the latter, and in this she surely is correct. In his book A Secular Age, philosopher Charles Taylor makes the point well with a question: "Why is it so hard to believe in God (in many milieux) in the modern West, while in 1500 it was virtually impossible not to?" Eberstadt wisely points to the work of historian Eamon Duffy, whose book The Stripping of the Altars shows in great detail how medieval Englishmen, even if they weren't always to be found in church on Sundays, lived in a world in which Christianity defined their everyday lives and filled their imaginative horizons. We just don't live in that world anymore—for us, it's entirely possible to go to school, find a mate, engage in politics, take part in cultural life, and listen to popular music, all without having to confront God in anything but a peripheral way.


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An official in the Legislative Fiscal Office said today that the University of Oregon's arena financing plan will deplete a large amount of the $100 million legacy fund designed to give long-term stability to the athletic department, but the office still recommends the Legislature approve of the arena project.
The ruling came in an e-mail from Principal Legislative Analyst Steve Bender, who conducted the fiscal office's initial analysis of Oregon's plan to use $200 million in state-backed bonds to build a replacement for McArthur Court.
Bender's office re-examined Oregon's financing plan after a 2004 report by Eugene consulting firm EcoNorthwest surfaced showing far lower revenue projections than the 2007 figures from another consulting firm, which the university had been using to support its finance plan.
EcoNorthwest's report predicted revenues of $4.1 million in 2007 dollars for the arena, whereas CSL International predicted revenues of $10.5 million to $16.1 million. The EcoNorthwest report was released Feb. 8, after a public-records petition by a UO professor.
Bond payments for the arena and the land it sits on are estimated to be nearly $15 million annually, a sum UO pledges to pay with arena revenues and annual donations to the Duck Athletic Fund. The university plans to use proceeds from a $100 million legacy fund pledged by Nike co-founder Phil Knight to supplement the athletic department budget and backstop the arena debt-service payments.
In his Monday e-mail, Bender wrote: "We believe that the arena project would not be financially viable under the revenue projections in the ECONorthwest report, in that the Legacy Fund principle would be entirely depleted before the bonds for the project would be paid off."
But taking into account a $67 million, 10-year multi-media marketing rights agreement Oregon recently reached with IMG College, the Legislative Fiscal Office concluded that the project could be financed without fully depleting the legacy fund.
Bender noted, however, that under Oregon's current financing plan, "a large amount of the Legacy Fund principle would still be needed over the bond term."
Oregon is seeking 30-year bonds for the project. If approved, the arena would be the most expensive in the nation on a college campus, and the most expensive bonding project in the history of the Oregon University System.
Bender wrote that he adjusted EcoNorthwest's revenue projections to reflect dollars in 2010, when the arena is scheduled to open.
Rachel Bachman: 503-221-4373; email@example.com


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Updates story posted Monday at 10:55 p.m.
GRANBY, Conn. – A 47-year-old Pittsfield motorcyclist who collided with a motor vehicle while he was riding north on Route 189 Monday night was taken to Hartford Hospital where he was listed in critical condition, police said.
The accident, reported shortly before 6 p.m., happened as Clint Eaton rode his 2005 Harley Davidson north on Route 189, also known as Granville Road.
A 2012 Toyota, driven west on Northwoods Road by Julianna Best, 21, of Granby, collided with Eaton at the intersection of the two roads.
Eaton, who was wearing a helmet, was taken to Hartford Hospital by helicopter.
Best was not injured. There were no passengers.
The investigation is ongoing and no charges have been filed. The North Central Accident Reconstruction Team is assisting Granby Police with the investigation.


text:
FOX Sports Florida's Chris Tomasson reports that the Boston Celtics are among the teams looking at free-agent forward Lou Amundson. The 6'9″ Amundson was waived earlier this month by Minnesota. Tomasson writes:
Free-agent forward Lou Amundson said the Miami Heat are considering him for their open roster spot. But he isn't sure it will end up being the right fit. Amundson said in a phone interview Thursday that his agent, Mark Bartelstein, has had conversations with Heat president Pat Riley about him. But he said the recent signing by Miami of Chris Andersen might be too much of a duplication as the Heat seek to possibly fill their 15th spot. "When they signed the 'Birdman,' he's kind of a similar player,'' Amundson said about he and Andersen both being athletic big men. "But there's still a possibility (with Miami). That would be great if I could go there.''
The 6-foot-9 Amundson said other teams in mix for him are Chicago, Boston and New York. The Knicks have a full roster of 15, but Amundson said they're waiting to see how it works out with Kenyon Martin, who recently signed a 10-day contract. The Knicks also could clear a roster spot by waiving Rasheed Wallace, out for the season due to a foot injury.
Amundson also said that all the teams looking at him are "great" and he'd be happy going to any of them. He's 30 years old and has career averages of just over 3 points and 3 rebounds a game. The best of those seasons being 2009-10 when he averaged 4.4 boards and 4.7 points with Phoenix. We'll see if Boston fills their final roster spot with him soon enough.


text:
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Hey thanks for all the nice comments! I'm glad that people are finding this as interesting as I did..
(But I've got to say.. I'm a little surprised I haven't received a single rep for this..)
Haha!!! Go Naisatoh! I'd Never Would've Thought Of That!
Hey thanks for all the nice comments! I'm glad that people are finding this as interesting as I did..
(But I've got to say.. I'm a little surprised I haven't received a single rep for this..)
....and as the man asks for rep, the respect from his peirs fades away into the abyss...Originally Posted by naisatoh
Thanks Star Striker for the sig.
Support the Third Parties!
Buy Zack and Wiki
No More Heroes
LoL! He's right, but now that he's asked i'm reminded but disinterested.
Wolf is a combo-beast.
I'm sorry I've lost your respect..Originally Posted by nic7
I registered at this forum because I really thought it was a great medium to discuss an interest that everyone had in common. Moreover, with Smash Bros. as one of my most anticipated games this year, and with the Smash Bros. Site being one of the most popular threads on this forum (and having been deleted twice), I thought bringing this information here would be of interest.
I have a lot of respect for my peers, and have done my best to hand out reps to those who have taken the time to contribute something worthwhile to the forum. It gets so boring seeing members post over and over who their favorite characters are. But when someone comes up with something insightful, you do what you can recognize them for their time and efforts.
This thread has taught me that no matter how much time someone puts into their interests, there are always people who really don't care. And to be frank, nic7, I'm not angry that I've lost your respect, just a little disappointed.
I've tried to contribute whatever I can to this forum.. from volunteering my thoughts and opinions to creating contests to get the members here a little bit more involved. But it's clear to me now that I may just be wasting my time.
Last edited by naisatoh; 08-02-2007 at 11:23 PM.
im sorry about me not giving you a rep but i dont realy now how to add reps can you please tell me and then i will give you a rep
No worries.. I actually don't really care about receiving reps.. I was just surprised that I hadn't received any and thought it was worth mentioning. But thank you for your reply.Originally Posted by bw!
thanks for being so nice
Just click the green mushroom...the rest is self-explanatory.
Hey, don't get so upset, it's just one person...the rest of us just forgot. In fact, I know how you feel, I do the same on many forums. I really appreciate this, it's something I noticed as well and you actually took the time to post it. Thank you. *repped*
EDIT: Oops, in all the excitement of giving my first rep, I almost repped myself xD
can you tell me what rep does.and i reped naisatoh and s.s
Last edited by bw!; 08-03-2007 at 12:47 AM.


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Syracuse, N.Y. -- In an up-and-down season, Blake Treinen has remained amazingly steady on the mound for the Syracuse Chiefs this season.
Treinen's season hasn't been up-and-down as far as his performance on the mound. It's more of a logistical up and down that's marked his first full year above Double-A.
Treinen, a 25-year-old right-hander, has been called up the major leagues by the Washington Nationals five times this season. And he has been sent back to Triple-A Syracuse five times as well.
The most recent demotion came this past Thursday as the Nationals returned Treinen to the Chiefs after a brief one-week stint in the majors. Of Treinen's five trips up to Washington, his longest stay was from May 22 to June 14. His shortest - May 6 to May 8 - required not much more than an over-night bag.
"It's been one of those learning processes,'' Treinen said after earning the win in Syracuse's 7-2 victory over the Louisville Bats on Saturday at NBT Bank Stadium. "Early in the year, I was a starter and I went up bullpen. I came back as a starter and went up as a starter. Back here and then back up for the bullpen. You don't focus on 'This sucks. I'm getting bounced around as a starter to the bullpen.' You look at it as this is a great opportunity and try to make the most of your opportunities and allow yourself a future.''
Treinen resumed his role as Syracuse's ace on Saturday. He gave up two first-inning runs, but then shut down Louisville's bats for the next four innings. He improved to 8-1 with Syracuse and the Chiefs are now 12-2 in games that Treinen has started.
"He looked really good,'' Syracuse manager Billy Gardner said. "At times, his sinker was really good. He got some really weak swings on it, pounding the ball into the ground. He threw some good sliders also. He doubled up on some change-ups, so he was using all his pitches pretty well tonight.''
The Chiefs (67-52) maintained their hold on first-place in the International League North division. Syracuse went into Saturday's game with a one game lead over Pawtucket and led Rochester by 1.5 games. Pawtucket beat Charlotte to stay one game back of Syracuse, but Rochester lost to Indianapolis to lose a game in the standings.
Louisville scored two runs of Treinen in the first inning on Saturday. Felix Perez keyed the rally. The left-handed hitter sliced a ball that landed just inside the left-field foul line that scored Jason Bourgeois from first. Perez later scored on Bryan Anderson's two-out single.
"After the first inning, it was a little frustrating,'' Treinen said. "You look up and it's two runs on really no hard-hit balls.''
Struggling to get his two-seam fastball down in the zone, Treinen switched to his four-seam fastball. He allowed just two hits; both singles, to the next 14 batters he faced.
In the meantime, the Chiefs bounced back from the early deficit. Syracuse scored a run in the first and two in the fourth to take a 3-2 lead.
Given his recent appearances out of the bullpen in Washington, Treinen, who was making his first start for the Chiefs since July 25, was placed on a 75-pitch limit Saturday. After retiring the first two hitters in the top of the fifth, Treinen gave up back-to-back singles. His pitch count was up to 73. Bryan Anderson, Louisville's No. 5 hitter, figured to be Treinen's last batter. Treinen got the Louisville catcher to ground out to end the inning.
"I thought he had a real key inning in the fifth inning,'' Gardner said. "He shut that inning down.''
Treinen, who had wanted to go six innings to ease the strain on Syracuse's bullpen, fumed over the pair of two-out singles that extended the fifth inning.
"I had two quick outs and then I had those two frustrating hits,'' Treinen said. "If I get a quick out there, I'm probably running out there for the sixth and helping our bullpen a little more.''
Treinen, though, had bought time for Syracuse's hitters, who strung together five singles and two walks in the bottom of the fifth to score four runs and open up the game. Syracuse reliever Ryan Mattheus entered the game in the top of the sixth with a 7-2 lead.
"I thought he pitched really well,'' Gardner said of Mattheus. "I thought he was under control, moving the ball around. He threw some really good sliders. He was getting his slider under the swing. It was really good for him from a confidence standpoint. Something to build on.''
The Chiefs host Louisville again at 1 p.m. on Sunday. The game was originally scheduled to start at 5 p.m., but has been moved up. Gates will open at noon.


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Syracuse, NY – Syracuse-area motorists once again are paying less for gasoline than drivers in seven other metropolitan areas in New York.
But the average price they're paying for regular continues to hover above $4 a gallon, according to two fuel-monitoring services.
A gallon of regular cost $4.033 on average around Syracuse this morning, according to the AAA motor club's Daily Fuel Gauge Report. That's down 2.2 cents from last Monday and 5.4 cents lower than the average a month ago, the report said.
SyracuseGasPrices.com gave an average of $4.032 cents a gallon shortly after noon, a 1.3 cent drop from last Monday and down 4.5 cents from Sept. 15.
Albany-Schenectady-Troy, at $4.039 a gallon, was the only other metro area in New York where regular gas is averaging less than $4.06 a gallon, according to AAA. The club's statewide average is $4.099, down 2.7 cents from a week ago.
Nationwide, regular is averaging $3.787 a gallon, down 3.1 cents from last Monday.
Syracuse.com has a map of stations with the lowest gas prices.
A small fallback in prices in California over the past week helped lower the national average, said Patrick DeHaan, a senior petroleum analyst for GasBuddy.com.
Regular had shot up to $4.67 a gallon last week in the Golden State after a major refiner fell short of gas and had to buy fuel from other suppliers. Gov. Jerry Brown then ordered an early switch to winter-blend gas and prices throttled back to $4.609 this morning, according to AAA.
"In the week ahead, we could continue to see declines as wholesale prices fell lower late last week, meaning gas stations have additional room to drop their prices," DeHaan said.


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Greg Pak, Director
Greg Pak is a filmmaker and comic book writer best known for directing the award-winning feature film Robot Stories and writing acclaimed storylines such as "Planet Hulk," "World War Hulk," and "Magneto Testament" for Marvel Comics. Pak was named one of 25 Filmmakers to Watch by Filmmaker Magazine; described as "a talent with a future" by The New York Times; and named Breakout Talent of the Year by Wizard Magazine. His awards include a Student Academy Award, the Pipedream Screenwriting Award from the IFP Market, and a Rockefeller Media Arts Fellowship. Pak studied political science at Yale University, history at Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar, and film production at the NYU graduate film program.
Nekisa Cooper, Producer


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This deal has ended.
Get a pair of Nike Layup Men's Basketball Shorts, regularly $30, for $17.97 at Nike.com. Enter code JUSTDOIT for free shipping and the lowest total price we could find anywhere by $5 or more, depending on size. Available in gray (pictured), black/silver, and obsidian/red. Not all size/color combinations are in stock. Sales tax is charged in most states.No longer available


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Afrobeat Extravaganza and World Wide Dance Party with Baba Ken Okulolo and Will Magid Trio at Club Fox
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FILE - In this Sept. 24, 2011 file photo, singer Britney Spears performs on a stage during a concert in Moscow, Russia, during her European tour. A source says she is joining Simon Cowell's singing contest as a judge on the singing competition series "The X-Factor." (AP Photo, file)


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Smaller personal care homes may close without financial help
When Genevieve Kennedy decided to take over a personal care home in Holyrood in 1987, she did her homework.
She and her recently disabled husband put their entire life savings into the home because government regulations were such, she was assured her investment would be protected.
When Genevieve Kennedy decided to take over a personal care home in Holyrood in 1987, she did her homework.
She and her recently disabled husband put their entire life savings into the home because government regulations were such, she was assured her investment would be protected.
Those regulations included a freeze on licences and strict rules about who could buy an existing home.
Now, 23 years later, Kennedy is on the brink of losing the care home and her nest egg.
She said changes to government regulations have slowly eroded her profit margins, increased her paperwork and made her home uncompetitive with newer, larger homes which can avail of lower-interest loans that she can't qualify for.
These days, many people prefer more modern homes because the older ones are so short of revenue, owners often can't afford basic maintenance.
That's left Kennedy with only 12 of 33 beds occupied. Because she gets paid per resident, she's been slowly sliding into debt.
"Now that I'm struggling with 12 residents, I can't make ends meet," she told The Telegram this week.
Before buying the home, Kennedy was a nursing assistant in the cancer clinic in St. John's, and the stress level was high.
After they bought the care home, the Kennedys pumped their own money into renovations to modernize and expand it, turning the large open wards into private and semi-private rooms, on the advice of government.
For the first few years the paperwork was minimal, and she enjoyed concentrating on the best part of her job, caring for people.
But in the mid 1990s, Kennedy said, the Clyde Wells government deregulated who could own a home and where they could be built and removed the 20-bed cap.
Large, modern personal care homes, started springing up, she said, creating unfair competition to traditional family businesses.
The next hit, which affected smaller homes far more than larger ones, came when the province ended the so-called night wage subsidy in 2006.
While homes did get a monthly increase per resident at that time, Kennedy said smaller homes actually took a loss because the increase didn't cover the amount of the lost subsidy.
Beyond provincial policy changes, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) will only guarantee mortgages to homes with more than 50 beds.
That means larger homes get much lower interest rates and have a longer period to pay back loans.
On top of that, there have been three minimum wage increases in the last few years, meaning higher pay for staff, which further cuts into profit margins.
The Personal Care Home Owners Association represents about 50 homes, mostly small ones in rural areas.
It hired PricewaterhouseCoopers to do a report before this year's pre-budget consultations, which illustrates how these policy changes are slowly putting smaller homes under.
Association president Shaun Lane said some of the homes are the largest employer in some small towns.
"We feel government is trying to weed out the smaller operator," he said.
Lane also said the province has refused to lobby CMHC on the association's behalf, to allow smaller homes to get loan guarantees to help them modernize.
Lane said about eight of the association's member homes in the province have closed since 2003 and five more could be boarded up by the end of the year if the province doesn't act.
Kennedy's is one of those five.
Instead of making a profit, she figures she's losing $3,000 a month.
Because she has remortgaged her building a number of times to pay for mandated upgrades and maintenance, banks won't look at her anymore.
If she does have to close, she won't even own the building.
Kennedy said the government has told care home owners they are private businesses and not to expect help to make their ventures profitable.
But she points out that the government controls how much money they get per resident, who lives in their homes, how many staff they must have, what they must pay in salaries - even what food they serve in their dining rooms.
"Everything we do, except breathe, the government tells us what to do," she said.
Kennedy said the government is essentially her employer.
"We're not big business people. We're only mom-and-pop operations," she said.
Kennedy and Lane both say personal care homes are the most affordable way to care for seniors who don't need around-the-clock medical attention.
If Kennedy goes under, seven employees will be out of work. One of them told The Telegram she's worked at the home for 15 years.
Kennedy's 12 residents will also have to be moved to other homes.
But most of her residents don't want to go anywhere. At least two of them lived at the home before she even bought it.
One 91-year-old lady has been there for 31 years, another woman for 26.
Lane said among the benefits of having a loved one in a smaller home are a greater staff-to-resident ratio, a more intimate atmosphere and the convenience of having seniors stay in or near their home community.
Kennedy hasn't told her residents she may have to close yet, because she doesn't want to worry them needlessly.
"My only hope, the thread I'm holding onto, is the Danny Williams government will seriously look at the PricewaterhouseCoopers report," she said.
That report was given to Finance Minister Tom Marshall at pre-budget consultations this week.
Kennedy suggests the province reinstate the night wage subsidy for smaller homes and make it retroactive to when it was discontinued.
If that happens, she'll be able to pay off some of her debt and do some much-needed maintenance, hopefully helping her attract new residents.
If there's nothing in the budget, she said, the minimum wage increase to $10 an hour on July 1 will be the death blow to her once-promising retirement plan.
"That's the breaking point. I can't hold out any longer after that," she said.


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|Yale-New Haven Teachers Institute
The objectives of this unit are to teach children about the poets, the poems written expressing their feelings, and how to write poetry. The final goal of this unit is to help students develop an appreciation for poetry, to read and analyze poetry. This unit is being written for students in grades second through fifth. This unit can be used throughout the school year. However, this unit will be used mainly during Black History Month.
(Recommended for Language Arts, Black History, and Social Studies, grades 2-5)
Key Words
Poetry Afro-American History General


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The following people were sentenced April 8 or 9, 2013, in circuit court.
14th CIRCUIT COURT
Judge William C. Marietti
Maria Antonia Bartee, 32, of Muskegon, 20 months to 10 years Michigan Department of Corrections for first-degree retail fraud, habitual fourth, consecutive to any parole sentence, $198 fees/costs.
Taylor Alan Collins, 21, of Muskegon, four months Muskegon County Jail, one year probation for identity theft, $648 fees/costs.
Julius Cooper Jr., 69, of Muskegon, one year jail, 18 months probation for assault with a dangerous weapon, habitual fourth, $1,098 fees/costs.
Willie Rogers Cotton III, 26, of Muskegon, two to 10 years MDOC for fleeing and eluding police, two to four years MDOC for resisting and obstructing police, 94 days jail (time served) for driving while intoxicated, habitual third, $319 fees/costs, if eligible can participate in boot camp.
Marleon Daniell Johnson, 23, of Muskegon, 59 days jail (time served) for second-offense marijuana possession, $198 fees/costs.
Andrea Lee King, 25, of Spring Lake, 30 days jail, two years probation for embezzlement $1,000-$20,000, restitution/fees/costs of $2,997.12, report to jail May 1 unless restitution paid by that date, then sentence may be suspended.
Joshua Allen Moore, 22, of Muskegon Township, 4 ½ months jail, two years probation for larceny in a building, $1,098 fees/costs.
Tristan Eugene Stanford-Mabry, 21, of Muskegon, five months jail for resisting and obstructing police, $198 fees/costs.
Mykecia Embria White, 25, of Muskegon Heights, $328 fines/fees/costs for attempted no-account check, restitution to be paid directly to victim by defense attorney trust account.
Brandon Deshawn Wilson, 18, of Muskegon, 5 ½ months jail, two years probation, $2,184.58 restitution/fees/costs for second-degree home invasion.
Michael James Zandarski, 40, of Norton Shores, 10 months jail, two years probation, $2,098 restitution/fees/costs for larceny in a building, habitual second. In a separate case, 71 days jail (time served) for retaining financial transaction device without consent, habitual second, $198 fees/costs.
Kara Lee Zielinski, 30, of Norton Shores, 30 days jail, 18 months probation, $1,248 restitution/fees/costs for third-offense driving while intoxicated.


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If you go purely by first impressions, Anton Chigurh could be a walking joke. He's got a silly, early-Beatles-style haircut; the unblinking, vaguely fishy eyes of Buster Keaton; and a voice that sounds like Ricardo Montalban after a Sominex binge. But Chigurh also has an apparently inexhaustible supply of energy, a compressed air gun -- the kind used to kill cattle in slaughterhouses -- and a driving desire to punish anyone who gets in his way.
Llewelyn Moss (Josh Brolin) quickly realizes what he's up against after he stumbles upon a suitcase full of drug money belonging to Chigurh (Javier Bardem, providing a bone-chilling snapshot of psychotic fury) and tries to make off with it. Moss may have brains and dexterity, but he's out of his league: Chigurh is powered by vengeance, and he won't stop until he's settled the score. "Even if you gave him the money back, he'd still kill you for inconveniencing him," private eye Carson Wells (Woody Harrelson) warns Moss.
"No Country for Old Men," adapted from Cormac McCarthy's novel by writer-directors Joel and Ethan Coen, is a portrait of extremes. On one hand, Chigurh instigates plenty of vivid violence and bloodshed as he randomly kills anyone he doesn't want to deal with. But the Coens have set this rampage in the calm of rural Texas, where the people are generally as quiet as the sun-baked brush and parched weeds, or the limestone-colored sky that hangs above it all.
Unfolding in the summer of 1980, "Country" returns again and again to the observation that the world is turning a corner -- that criminals are becoming more brutal, that human life is now seen as cheap, that time-honored standards and long-standing rules no longer apply. Third-generation lawman Ed Tom Bell (Tommy Lee Jones), the sheriff trapped in the middle of the cat-and-mouse game between Chigurh and Moss, is mortified by the changes and recalls a time not so long ago when sheriffs didn't even bother to wear guns. Now there seems to be danger everywhere.
Suspenseful, superbly played and often jarring, this is easily the finest film the Coens have made in more than a decade.
Its setting and some of its situations recall the duo's 1985 debut feature "Blood Simple," but the brothers have become much more skillful filmmakers over the past 22 years. Shadows, reflections and muffled sounds are crucial elements in the Coens' storytelling here. They now understand how to reveal a character's nature with a single motion (as when Chigurh nonchalantly props his boots up on the edge of a bed to spare them from being stained by a stream of blood that's oozing across a floor) and one piece of set decoration (such as the "Learn To Relax" sign posted in Bell's office).
They also know how to shatter expectations, as they demonstrate in the final scene of "Country," which brings the story full-circle yet leaves the viewer to tie up several loose ends. It's as if the Coens are saying the days when stories ended with all the pieces falling into place and everyone getting what he or she deserved have passed. The coda is like a blast from Chigurh's weapon of choice: abrupt, unexpected and certain to knock you off your feet.


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DELHI TOWNSHIP, MI -- There was one glaring difference between Mattawan and Holt in Tuesday night's Class A regional semifinal.
Mattawan had Allie Havers, and Holt had no answer for the Miss Basketball candidate.
Fueled by Havers' 27-point, 15-rebound and six-block performance, Mattawan held on to defeat Holt 46-43 to advance to the regional final.
"She was confident all night," Mattawan coach Troy Wright said. "Allie was the Miss Basketball candidate she was supposed to be. She led us on both ends of the floor."
Mattawan (15-9) led the majority of the fourth quarter, but the Wildcats fell behind 43-42 with less than a minute to go. Sensing her team needed her to step up, Havers raised her level of play on both ends of the court.
After knocking down a pair of free throws with 39 seconds left to give Mattawan a one-point lead, Havers soared above everyone else and grabbed a defensive rebound with 7.6 seconds remaining.
She sunk another pair of free throws with 5.8 seconds to, giving Mattawan a 46-43 lead. At the buzzer, Holt's Kamrin Reed's 3-point attempt rimmed out, securing Mattawan's berth in the regional championship.
"(Heading to the free-throw line I was thinking) we need these to win it," Havers said. "At the beginning of the year, I know we weren't playing to our full potential. Ever since districts started, it's like we peaked at the right time."
While Holt's defense was able to force 24 turnovers, its lack of interior size showed against Havers, who has commited to play college basketball for Nebraska next year. Key to Havers' success was teammate Brooke Ditto, who drained three 3-point shots, forcing Holt (16-8) to stop double-teaming the 6-foot-5 center early.
Havers is a "Divison I 6-foot-5 guard," Holt coach Doug Harkama said. "She's a tough guard for any of us.
"We thought about doing some other things, but when their other kids started hitting some threes, we couldn't just do that."
Playing in front a home crowd, Holt's Tara Lierman and Reed led the way in the first half, helping the Rams build a 23-21 halftime advantage. The duo was constantly able to find space in the paint, combining for 15 points.
In the second half, Mattawan started executing its defensive game plan by forcing Holt into deep jumpers, and the Rams struggled to connect. Holt shot 17 percent from the field in the final 16 minutes of play.
Mattawan's defense was at its best in the third quarter when the Wildcats outscored Holt 14-6 to take a 35-29 lead into the fourth quarter.
"We played, I thought, an excellent floor game," Harkama said. "We got every shot that we wanted to get and the kids fought really hard.
"We didn't shoot a high percentage tonight, and we missed a couple of free, chippy free throws at the end."
In the first quarter, Holt's guards were able to force multiple turnovers, which led to numerous fast-break points for the Rams.
Lierman led the way for Holt with 17 points, seven steals and four assists. Reed pitched in 10 points.
Mattawan faces Grand Ledge in Thursday's Class A regional championship game at Holt High School at 7 p.m. The Comets (20-4) posted an impressive victory of Wyoming, 52-32, in another Tuesday semifinal.


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Business started in basement among state's fastest growing
Co-founders of Winchester-based Direct Title Solutions Bryan Marion (center) and Nathan Laing (right) were presented a Fantastic 50 award by Virginia Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling (left) at a banquet in April 2012 at the Westfields Marriott in Chantilly. The company was the 32nd fastest growing company in the state, according to Virginia Business magazine.
WINCHESTER — When Nathan Laing and Bryan Marion started operating a business out of a Winchester basement 12 years ago, they never imagined they would be where they are now.
Their city-based…
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A Medical Billing Specialist earns an average wage of $14.99 per hour.
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Medical billing specialists are responsible for improving processes and resolving issues related to medical billing within a healthcare organization, as well as facilitating billing processes with standardized practices and assisting with accounting and customer service. These specialists have strong interpersonal skills to assist patients, physicians, and other health professionals and use their problem-solving abilities to resolve conflicts caused by billing errors. They generally work with a team of specialists to address medical codes and billing department procedures.Read More...
Medical billing specialists work in a fast-paced environment and multitask on a variety of projects, and they are also responsible for completing billing paperwork and processing adjustment requests. They use a variety of communication methods, such as phone, e-mail, and regular mail to reach interested parties. They must explain bill items, adjust them after approval, and work well with other medical professionals in a team setting to reach objectives in a timely manner.
These specialists attend departmental meetings to suggest ways to increase productivity and use fewer company resources. As such, they must be highly motivated and perform effectively with minimal supervision. They actively participate in the collections and appeals processes and generally work in an office environment while developing strong business relationships with insurance counterparts. They use a personal computer to log all interactions with patients, vendors, doctors, and administrative staff to reach positive solutions for billing problems.
A high school diploma is generally required for this position, and prior experience in a billing or medical administrative capacity is highly beneficial. Industry certifications are also helpful.
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Bill S.137 186th (2009 - 2010)
An Act establishing regulations for the licensing of floor finishers.
For legislation establishing regulations for the licensing of floor finishers, sanders and installers
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Jan. 5: The Earth is at the perihelion point in its orbit. This is its closest approach to the Sun. It may seem backwards that we're closest to the Sun near the start of winter, but our seasons arise from the tilt of the Earth on its axis, not from the relatively small variations in distance from the Sun that take place during the year.
Jan. 15: The full-dome movie "Stars: The Powerhouses of the Universe" opens at Edelman Planetarium. Narrated by Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker), this dramatic presentation tells the story of stars, and of our dawning understanding of them in recent centuries. Parents, take note: this show is more accessible to young children than many of our shows. "Stars" plays on Sundays at 3 p.m.
Jan. 26: Open House at the Rowan University observatory. We've scheduled three of these free public events for the spring semester, though dates are somewhat tentative at press time. The others are listed below.
Jan. 31: The 20-mile-long asteroid Eros will miss us by 17 million miles, a close shave by planetary standards, but not dangerous in any way. We know where you live, Eros!
March 3: Mars is in opposition to the Sun. It's closest to us, brightest in our sky for the year, and visible all night long. We've chosen this date for our second observatory open house (though we probably won't stay up all night …)
March 13-14: a beautiful conjunction of Jupiter and Venus, the two brightest star-like objects in the sky, about three degrees between them.
March 18: The movie "Search for Life … Are We Alone?" opens at Edelman Planetarium. This show is narrated by Harrison Ford, and will play on Sunday afternoons, except on Easter Sunday, through May 20.
March 20: The March equinox. The Sun stands directly over the Earth's equator, rises due east, and sets due west. Did you expect this to occur on the 21st? This equinox almost happens on the 19th for us, and does happen on that date for time zones west of us.
April 15: Saturn is in opposition to the Sun. The Ringed World is probably the most impressive sight one can see in a telescope, save perhaps for the First-Quarter Moon (which happened only two days earlier, so the Moon will still be close to that phase). This is the tentative date for our third observatory open house.
May 20: Annular (ring) eclipse of the Sun. It won't be visible from New Jersey, but I mention it in case you see the event listed elsewhere and wonder if we can see it. Solar eclipse visibility is very regional!
June 4: A partial lunar eclipse. Such an event is barely worth going out to see, and we won't even see much of it from New Jersey. But you may see it listed elsewhere. This is a poor year for eclipses, and 2013 won't be much better. The Sun and Moon will make it up to us eventually, but not until 2017.
June 5: A transit of Venus across the face of the Sun. This will be visible from New Jersey, at least the first stages of it, and is definitely worth witnessing. It's a rare event: the next one will occur in 2117, so we'll set up telescopes at Rowan for everyone to see it this time. An event like this is almost a guarantee of cloudy weather, though.
June 20: The June solstice. The Sun is at its highest in the sky. I like to call it the "June" solstice rather than the "summer" solstice in honor of our friends in the Southern Hemisphere, who are experiencing winter at this time of year.
July 4: Earth is at aphelion, its farthest point from the Sun. It's less than 2 percent farther away than average, but it's still hard to believe it when we're baking in the high summer Sun.
Aug. 6: The rover Curiosity is scheduled to land on Mars. Easily the largest and most sophisticated spacecraft ever sent to the Red Planet, Curiosity will be lowered on the end of a cable from a rocket-powered landing module hovering above the Martian surface. It's nail-biting time!
Sept. 20: The September equinox. Actually and officially, the equinoxes and solstices are positions in the sky occupied by the Sun on these dates, rather than dates, but most of us think of them as dates, and the Astronomical Terminology Police generally let it go by.
Nov. 27: A close conjunction of Venus and Saturn. The two planets will be less than a degree apart in the morning sky.
Dec. 3: Jupiter is in opposition to the Sun. This is always the best time to look at a planet. We'll probably schedule an observatory open house around this time. But we may choose a few nights earlier, Nov. 28, when the gibbous Moon is nearby. On the other hand, that phase of the Moon is bright enough that it's difficult to see other objects in its vicinity, so wait for official word from the Department of Physics and Astronomy before you bundle up and head down to Rowan on either night.
Dec. 21: The December solstice. The Sun is lowest in the sky. Nothing in particular of astronomical interest is happening today, other than the solstice, and that happens every year around this date (sometimes it falls on the 22nd). The Sun will not pass in front of the Galactic Center; the planet Nibiru will not shoot through the inner solar system, even if it did exist; the Earth will not flip upside-down. Most full-time professional astronomers do not believe the world will come to an end, or even suffer a minor hiccup, on this day. Go ahead and schedule your New Year's Eve party!


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Syracuse, NY - A Syracuse man with a long drunken-driving arrest history is facing prosecution again.
Paul Topolski, 42, of 107 Gemini Place, Apt. 1, was arraigned Tuesday before County Judge Joseph Fahey on an indictment charging driving while intoxicated, aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle and resisting arrest.
Senior Assistant District Attorney Christopher Bednarski said the charges stem from a Sept. 9 incident on Bartell Road in Cicero.
Fahey previously sentenced Topolski in December 2004 to 2 1/3 to seven years in prison for two felony DWI charges that authorities said were his fifth and sixth DWI convictions in Onondaga County. Fahey noted at that time Topolski had a total of nine drinking and driving convictions on his record.
The judge warned Topolski then any future conviction could land him in prison for life as a persistent felony offender. Bednarski said Topolski does not face that penalty at this point because he has only been to state prison once and persistent status requires at least two prior state prison sentences.
Fahey ordered Topolski held in jail with no bail.


text: I'm super psyched that Bayatas has started releasing more again. Although his recordings as the ultra lo-fi and yelpy Tree Hopping are past him, Bayatas is a more fully formed and polished project with some very strong singles already under his belt. The biggest improvement from Tree Hopping to Bayatas is easily the singing. While I had no problem with his unhinged and unrestrained sing-yelling before, it's hard to deny the much more easy on the ears approach he is now putting over his always lushly tropical guitar work. 'aa' demonstrates all the improvements and more with some additional atmospherics thrown into the mix.


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By Amy Cherry 3:27pm, August 21, 2014Delaware is getting $45 million from a multi-billion dollar national settlement with Bank of America.
The $16.5 billion settlement is the latest effort to hold banks responsible for the scandal that sent the housing market tumbling in 2008.
Earlier this year, both JPMorgan Chase and Citigroup settled, sending more than $30 million to Delaware.
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Catholic Memorial, an all-boys school located in West Roxbury, will be making its first appearance in the state final after pulling out a 2-1 win over previously unbeaten Lexington in the state semifinals on Thursday night.
The Knights were the seventh seed in the South tournament and have played three consecutive overtime games, including a South championship over Brockton that went to penalty kicks.
Ludlow coach Greg Kolodziey traveled to Weymouth Thursday night to see what his Lions were up against. He came away with a feeling that fatigue could play a role in Sunday's match since the Knights have had to play a lot more soccer and don't appear to be as deep as Ludlow.
"There were not too many subs on either side and both teams were getting tired," Kolodziey said. "If we can keep our guys fresh that might work our way as well."
The Lions have the added bonus of having played on Wednesday, giving them an extra day of rest.
"We'll probably do some good training and stretch out the muscle and get them loose and be ready for Sunday," said Ludlow senior All-America Michael Jordan.
Ludlow won the Western Massachusetts title in penalty kicks over Minnechaug, but the semifinals and quarterfinals ended in regulation and Kolodziey was able to give his starters plenty of rest.
Ludlow has been particularly impressive on its restarts on free kicks and corner kicks. The Lions have scored four goals off corner kicks in the last three matches, including two in the state semifinal win over Algonquin.
"We work on that a lot, where to put the ball with speed," Kolodziey said. "The guys are all on the same page, and then it's make the play."
Incidentally, the lone goal allowed by the Knights in the state semifinal came off a corner kick.
Catholic Memorial is led offensively by Will Donovan, who scored the game-winner in overtime on Thursday. Other strong players include Hamadi Cantave, Henri Jean Claude and Owen Carvel.
The defense is anchored by goalie Connor Askins, who hit the game-winning penalty kick in the sectional win over Brockton.
"They're a very solid team up the middle, a lot of skill up the middle, but we like our match-ups," Kolodziey said. "They seemed susceptible on the wings with guys that appeared not to be overly fast."
The defending champions have great speed in Jordan, a 200-meter champion who plays multiple positions on the field but is most dangerous on the right flank, blowing by defenders and serving crosses to the likes of Chris Pereira, Nick Repko, Luis Cibrao and Fabio Rodrigues.
Rodrigues is the most dangerous on set plays, and when big defenders like Derek Alves, Jeff Bramucci and Brian Borowiec crash the goal on corner kicks, the Lions create serious mismatches for their opponents.
There are plenty of reasons to favor the Lions in the state final, but once on the field anything can happen.
"The match-ups look pretty strong, but you've got to make the plays on the field to win the game," Kolodziey said.


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Daniel L. Harvey Sr., 41, of Pilesgrove Township, is charged with sexual assault, endangering the welfare of a child and official misconduct, according to Assistant Prosecutor John Jesperson.
The allegations involve a 17-year-old female student.
Harvey was charged by police in Vineland, where authorities allege all of the incidents for which he has been charged occurred, Jesperson said.
Harvey, a computer teacher at the school, is married with three children.
Sexual assault carries a potential 10-year prison sentence, with mandatory 85 percent to be served before parole.
Other charges could be forthcoming for more incidents involving the same victim in other counties, Jesperson said, but all charges will be handled in Cumberland County.
Harvey is being held on $350,000 full cash bail at Cumberland County Jail.
Updates will be posted as they become available.


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8 Ways to Ponzi-Proof Your Portfolio
You would think that after the Bernie Madoff scandal was exposed, the era of Ponzi scammers would come to an end. Sadly, this is not the case.
Recently, former Denver Broncos quarterback John Elway and his business manager were scammed out of $15 million in a massive Ponzi scheme. The Colorado district attorney alleges that hedge-fund manager Sean Mueller may have stolen as much as $122 million from hapless investors.
These schemes are deceptively simple. Typically, the fund manager makes no investments. He pays off old investors with funds contributed by new investors. Word of outsized returns spreads, and gullible investors—lured by the promise of reward without commensurate risk—flood the fund with their hard-earned money. Inevitably, the house of cards collapses, criminal charges ensue, and investors get pennies on the dollar, if anything.
It's very easy to protect your portfolio against Ponzi schemes and other scams. For starters, I recommend an excellent book by Tom Ajamie and Bruce Kelly, Financial Serial Killers. You'll be scared straight. Here's a list of tips adapted from the book and my own recommendations for protecting yourself from con artists who will say anything to get their hands on your money:
1. Make all investments directly to a custodial account in your name only. The custodian should be a household name, like Charles Schwab, Fidelity, or TD Ameritrade. Never make a check payable to your adviser or fund manager. All checks should be payable to the custodian. You should be able to access your account from the website of the custodian. Following this one simple rule would eliminate most fraudulent conduct.
2. Beware of high returns, especially returns that are "guaranteed." Increased returns always mean increased risk. There's no free lunch in the investing world.
3. Don't rush to invest. High-pressure tactics are designed to create a sense of urgency where none exists. Take your time and do your due diligence.
4. Don't let greed sway you. Con artists prey on the greed of their clients. There's no easy way to make money in the market. The only thing "easy" about investing is how quickly you can be conned by the false promise of a fast buck.
5. Beware the con artist posing as your friend. He belongs to your club, worships with you, is your golf partner and often your best friend. He's also the person you would least suspect of scamming you. That's why he's so dangerous.
6. Remember that investing is very simple. Complexity is the best friend of the con artist. Remember derivatives? If you don't understand an investment after a ten-minute explanation, don't invest in it.
7. Don't be lured by a promise of steady returns. No one legitimately makes money in all markets. If you are promised steady returns with investments exposed to the stock market, run for the door.
8. Don't rely on the mainstream financial media for your information. Time on radio and television stations is often purchased and then made to appear like legitimate news. There's no software or trading program that can produce positive returns over the long term. It's the sellers of these items that profit, at the expense of the buyers.
Financial scammers are tough to spot. They look just like you and me. Instead of relying on appearances and promises, follow these guidelines to Ponzi-proof your portfolio.
Strategies for Outsmarting Uncle Sam at Tax Time
Participating in Your Company's 401(k) Plan Is Not a No-Brainer
All Money Market Funds Are Not Created Equal
Maximize Your 401(k) Returns
The information contained in this blog post is designed to generally educate and inform visitors to the Equifax Finance Blog. The blog posts do not give, and should not be assumed to provide, personalized tax, investment, real estate, legal, retirement, credit, personal financial, or other professional advice. Before making any financial decision, you should always consult with the appropriate professionals who can explain your options, rights, and legal responsibilities, and advise you on any tax, legal, credit, or business implications that may result from those decisions. The views and opinions expressed by the authors of blog posts are their own views and may not be the views or opinions of Equifax, Inc. and/or its affiliates.
"Wow that is scary. It is amazing how hard people will work to take your money."
Comment by Jay via ActiveRain:
"Thanks for the great information Ilyce. It is so important for investors to be aware and on guard to protect their assets and not fall prey to these get rich ponzi scams."
Comment by Joyce via ActiveRain:
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Posted Aug 23, 2011 04:16 pm CDT
A New York judge has dismissed rape charges against Dominique Strauss-Kahn after prosecutors said they could not prove the case against the former chief of the International Monetary Fund.
Judge Michael Obus of Manhattan stayed his dismissal order, however, to allow a lawyer for Strauss-Kahn's accuser to appeal a motion seeking to disqualify the District Attorney's office, the New York Times reports. The lawyer for Nafissatou Diallo, the hotel maid who accused Strauss-Kahn, is seeking a special prosecutor. Obus denied the motion today, before the hearing on dismissal of the charges.
Obus dismissed all seven charges against Strauss-Kahn, including four felonies, in a hearing that lasted about 13 minutes, the Los Angeles Times reports. Prosecutors asked to dismiss the charges after discovering Diallo had lied on her asylum application and to investigators when she said soldiers had gang-raped her in her home country of Guinea, the New York Daily News reports at its Daily Politics blog.
According to the New York Times, the dismissal "brought some semblance of vindication" to Strauss-Kahn. For Diallo, it "caps a precipitous fall." Her civil suit against Strauss-Kahn is pending.
Prior coverage:
ABAJournal.com: "Gov't Asks Court to Drop All Charges in Alleged Ex-IMF Chief Sex Assault of Hotel Housekeeper"
Work Dissatisfaction May Be Partly Genetic
Another Attorney Charged in RICO Case, Accused of Paying Texas Judge for Rulings
We welcome your comments, but please adhere to our comment policy and the ABA Code of Conduct.


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I'm off on my second trip in search of "Sounds of Oregon." In June, photographer Bruce Ely and I spent a week gathering music and natural sounds in one of the most beautiful parts of the state. We had a blast listening to an alphorn at 8,000 feet, a thunderstorm in a canyon and a husband-and-wife band cover the Righteous Brothers in a really divey bar.
Today, we head to another part of the state. I'm not going to tell you where we're going, just to keep things interesting. I can tell you it will take us a day to get there.
Good lord willing, we'll have Internet access so I can blog each day. We'll run the story in late August. More from the trail.


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[Verse 1]
I don't know what it is that you've done to me
But it's caused me to act in such a crazy way
Whatever it is that you do when you do what you're doing
It's a feeling that I want to stay
Cause my heart starts beating triple time
With thoughts of loving you on my mind
I can't figure out just what to do
When the cause and cure is you
Weak is the third single released from SWV's debut album It's About Time.
The song was written by Brian Alexander Morgan and was based on his feelings towards R&B singer Chante Moore.
It was originally written for Charlie Wilson, but Morgan later decided to give the song to SWV. According to Morgan, SWV member Coko disliked the song and gave him attitude throughout the recording of the single.
The song topped the Billboard Hot 100 & R&B Singles chart for two weeks respectively in July of 1993, selling over 1 million copies and was certified Platinum by the RIAA.


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AUBURN HILLS -- Jeff Bower became the Detroit Pistons' second consecutive general manager left to explain why the team passed on a potential University of Michigan draft pick Thursday.
It wasn't quite the same uproar as when the Pistons passed on Trey Burke in the first round a year ago, and after less than a month on the job, Bower wasn't entertaining even mild heat over taking Colorado point guard Spencer Dinwiddie ahead of U-M's Glenn Robinson III.
"He's a very good player and someone who has accomplished a lot," Bower said of Robinson. "We had Spencer rated pretty highly, and when he was available, we knew that was the move that we would take."
The Pistons selected Dinwiddie in the second round, 38th overall, with their only pick in the draft. Robinson went to the Minnesota Timberwolves at No. 40.
Dinwiddie, who is coming off a major knee injury in January, may not be available for October training camp or even the start of the season in November.
Pistons head coach and president of basketball operations Stan Van Gundy told ESPN Radio late Thursday that the team is prepared to wait it out with Dinwiddie, including the possibility he may sit out the 2014-15 season.
Dinwiddie suffered a torn left ACL on Jan. 12 and had surgery Jan. 20.
Bower said the Pistons have discussed Dinwiddie's injury with Dr. Armando Vidal, who performed the surgery and assured the team that the player is on schedule.
"We're very comfortable with the medical reports and the stages that he's at in his recovery," Bower said. "Obviously, our medical team dug deep into it and we had all of his records, where he's at, conversations with both his surgeon and his therapist. All were positive and gave us the comfort that this was a player who was very successful in his recovery."
Bower emphasized there is no timetable for the 21-year-old Dinwiddie's return.
"We'll move with it cautiously and slowly," Bower said. "We look at this as a long-term plan and we will not push it until we get him positioned to have a thorough and complete recovery."
The injury is the only significant question about Dinwiddie, who was widely considered a much better prospect than his draft position might indicate until he was hurt.
"We felt he was a first-round talent," Bower said. "I know it's a cliche but we really had him targeted as a player we were really impressed with if he was available. So we think it's a good night for the organization."
Bower said the Pistons went into the draft with a specific set of criteria under which they might try to trade into the first round.
"We had it broken down in a variety of ways, of values that we felt would, if they were present, we would consider moving into the first round," Bower said. "Those things didn't match. We also had our group targeted for the 38th pick, and based on the numbers, we had confidence in thinking that one of that available group would be available. We're grateful and thankful that there was."
One of the bigger surprises late in the first round was Oklahoma City selecting Josh Huestis 29th overall.
While many mock drafts overlooked Huestis, the former Stanford forward climbed several teams' draft boards with his workout performances.
That included the Pistons, Bower said.
"We were very high on him, very high on him, and thought that was a possibility, to be quite honest with you -- the skill set that he has, the traits that he has, the toughness," Bower said. "That wasn't a shock (that he went 29th). He was a prospect that we liked. A lot of things to his game that go beyond the numbers as well."
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My childhood memories of bento are tainted by Spam. I grew up in Hawaii, whose version of the meal-in-a-box includes all four major meat groups in one plastic container: a thin strip of teriyaki steak, a skin-encased chicken wing, fried mahi mahi and the aforementioned pork product.
At Get Bento, swine and gristle aren't on the menu. Four options exist, but they're organic and Oregon-style: fresh-cut vegetables ($5.50), all-white-meat chicken breast ($6.75), free-range grass-fed beef ($8), and the mystery product of the health-conscious: tempeh ($6.25). Like tofu, tempeh's less-hip soy counterpart, the starchy block soaks up the sauce it's cooked in, which in Get Bento's case is teriyaki. Actually, in all four entrees, teriyaki reigns supreme—the goopy, congealed, Kroger-brand sort of teriyaki. Health may be Get Bento's main objective, but flavor is not. Color comes in squeeze bottles of sweet-'n'-sour sauce and Sriracha. The beef resembles jerky, and the chicken tastes like, well, chicken. But the greatest shame is that the outdoor grill is only used for kebab veggies—portabella mushrooms, red peppers and onions—which are by far the tastiest things on the menu.
These qualities would be acceptable for a hole-in-the-wall lunch spot adjacent to a laundromat. But for a converted windshield-repair shop in the Pearl, owned by the man behind the über-stylized Bettie Ford Lounge, you'd expect more, or at least some form of manufactured pizzazz. The white walls, matching black chairs and token industrial piping provide a too-new-is-too-stale vibe. The only touch of cool-guy oomph is the flat-screen programmed to the Extreme Sports Channel. (Spare me the 311-scored snowboarding montages, please.)
But if the noon lunch crowd is any indication, the floor will be soiled and the tables chipped soon enough. And I suppose the outdoor picnic benches are a more comfortable alternative to fiddling with chopsticks on the walk back to the office. I'll even assume the recipes are still in the tweaking process. (I was told Get Bento will round out the fish quota soon with salmon available every Friday.) So unless they try to pass off a Spam option as "locally farm-raised," I won't get too "bent" out of shape.