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Improving Sustainability Practices Across the Supply Chain – Moving Towards a Circular Economy.
Following a successful inaugural event of ACI's European Food & Beverage Plastic Packaging Summit in 2016, we are returning to Berlin, Germany, on 8th – 9th February 2017, aiming to will bring together brand owners, retailers, leading sustainability experts, packaging converters and manufacturers, plastic collectors and reclaimers and major global organisations involved in the Food & Beverage Plastic Packaging sector.
This year, the event focus will look at the various best strategies for sustainable packaging including recycling, including a stronger focus on the brands and retailers, who will share their thoughts and information on consumer demands for next generation packaging whilst considering sustainability goals.
Furthermore, we will also focus more on the European Commission's Circular Economy Package, and what this means for the entire supply chain dynamics. Furthermore, we will discuss the properties and use of Bioplastics & Biodegradable & Compostable Plastics, as well as the use of cartonboard and plastic in F&B products to achieve the latest design demands. Finally, we will take a look at the technology & process management throughout the entire supply chain to examine best business practices and capabilities are being achieved.
ACI events attract a targeted, senior level audience. For this event, expect to meet senior representatives from the following types of companies in the Food & Beverage Packaging industry:
If you would like to be considered as a speaker at the event for a 30-45 minute presentation, please submit an abstract for consideration to:
Joe Smith
+44 (0) 203 141 0612
Nampak Plastics Europe Limited is the UK's leading producer of high density polyethylene (HDPE) bottles, for a range of markets including food and drink, household goods and detergents. The company has seven sites across the UK, producing over two billion bottles each year.
Nampak is best known for high-quality, lightweight, environmentally-friendly packaging products – such as its Infini bottle – and has won numerous awards, domestically and internationally, for its commitments to innovation, sustainability, corporate social responsibility (CSR) and workforce engagement.
The company is a subsidiary of the South African-owned group, Nampak Limited.
There are three main qualities that set Nampak apart: innovation, sustainability and people.
Nampak's production processes are the best in the business. The company is committed to deploying the most innovative technology available and has made significant investment into multiple camera vision systems, bottle design innovation, bottle handling and lightweighting.
Sustainability is at the core of the company. Not only does Nampak produce packaging products that are better for the environment – such as its Infini bottle, which helps save 34,000 tonnes of carbon a year – it also implements green working practices.
Nampak is committed to hiring, training and retaining the best professionals in the industry. It achieves this by embracing a culture of employee engagement and making sure that all staff get a say in how the business is run.
Addivant™ is a leading global supplier of antioxidants, intermediates and inhibitors, polymer modifiers, and UV stabilizer solutions. As the only manufacturer to market all major families of stabilizers, we offer the widest range of performance-based polymer additives in the industry.
Our goal is to be the most innovative supplier of stabilizer solutions worldwide. We are a leader in non-dust product forms, including our proprietary ANOX® NDB® stabilizer blend technology that enables up to eight components to be delivered in a single granular blend and a variety of liquid antioxidants.
With more than 500 employees around the world, Addivant™ provides products and services in more than 100 countries and maintains worldwide manufacturing and research facilities as well as global sales offices. Addivant maintains its global headquarters in Connecticut, USA with regional headquarters in: Al Jubail, Saudi Arabia, Basel, Switzerland, and Shanghai, China. Addivant is an independent portfolio company of SK Capital.
Radiant Color is European market leader in the development and production of high performance and special effect fluorescent pigments, in combination with highly developed expertise in resin technology and functional solutions.
We offer intelligent solutions based on innovative products and tailor-made services and invest in reliable and long term partnerships with our customers, suppliers, employees and shareholders.
ACI has put together a range of packages to suit your requirements. These range from branding options, to full scale partner solutions and can be tailored to meet your objectives and budgets.
If you are launching a new product or service and wish to gain visibility and brand recognition within your industry, contact us today!
For commercial opportunities, please contact:
Krisztina Maria Szabo
+44 (0) 203 141 0603
If you would like to be an official Media/Supporting Partner, please contact
Mado Lampropoulou on +44 (0) 203 141 0607.
Supporting Partners
EPRO is an association of the national organisations charged with organising and promoting recycling and recovery of plastics throughout Europe. Each EPRO member is working to meet and exceed requirements set by EU and national packaging directives.
EPRO provides a unique forum for the leading specialists in plastics waste management
From across Europe:
EPRO is a pan-European partnership of specialist organisations that are able to develop and deliver efficient solutions for the sustainable management of plastics waste, now and for the future.
We focus on supporting the plastics and plastics-converting industry in Europe in its compliance management. We closely watch the development of all rules and regulations in Brussels which are relevant to the plastics-converting industry. Where necessary, we become involved in the legislation process. We do this in close cooperation with a european network, which we have built up over many years. We have an operative office in Brussels at the association of the European Plastics Converters (EuPC) with which we closely collaborate. We have emerged from the central department for ecology and product safety for plastics and films of the former Hoechst AG, Frankfurt-Höchst.
Media Partners
Products, technologies, trends for decision makers at brand manufacturers is VERPACKUNGSRUNDSCHAU's motto. As a leading packaging journal, we report on all aspects of industrial packaging. About 53,2%* of our contents are researched in-house – which is an indication for the high quality standards of our editorial office. VERPACKUNGS-RUNDSCHAU provides useful value for experts and those who are aspiring to join them – in the areas of packaging development, production, purchasing, marketing, and design. (* in-house survey of VR's editors, 19 issues in 2014)
El Empaque+Conversión is the main Latin American technical packaging publication –both printed and digital– that reaches with the best information packaging and converting professionals at converting and brand owner companies throughout the region. It is edited by Carvajal Medios B2B, part of the Carvajal Group. Its printed version reaches 22,500 readers in the top 6 economies of the Spanish-speaking Latin America, and its web portal www.elempaque.com has more than 26,000 unique visitors per month. It is also the only pan Latin American publication audited by BPA Worldwide.
'Food and Drink Network UK', is THE premier magazine which reaches right to the heart of the food manufacturing and supply industry. We headline all of the latest news, features and commercial trends.
We target a primary audience of food and drink manufacturers, wholesalers, caterers and retailers. These include hotel groups, restaurants, breweries, food hygiene specialists, as well as food and drink consultants, researchers and allied tradespeople. We are also presented to exhibitors and visitors at the major industry trade events.
In conclusion, we are extremely proud of our magazine and trust that you will appreciate the benefits of becoming one of our valued advertisers, and successfully promoting companies to our readership of 55,000 people worldwide.
PIE – Plastics Information Europe, the well-known newsletter and online portal, boasts daily updated online coverage of the industry's most important news. PIE offers staff-researched price reports on standard and technical thermoplastics, polyurethanes and PET, as well as industry reports – including market trends and other background articles. Additional attractive features of this website are the opportunity to create personal price reports and individualised polymer price charts.
Providing independent market information, the PIE price indices are accepted throughout the industry and embedded in countless supplier contracts. More than 5,500 European companies already trust in our data and industry coverage.
Christine Halfen
Marketing Manager
phone +49 (0) 6172 9606-12
eMail email@example.com
ChemistryViews.org is a comprehensive free-to-view news and information website with an associated scientific magazine, ChemViews. It is provided by ChemPubSoc Europe, an organization of 16 European chemical societies. The site offers news, commentary, opinion, and additional feature material from leading authors to the global chemistry community as well as educational material. It is closely linked to society journals like Angewandte Chemie and Chemistry – A European Journal.
Plastics-Technology: We are the largest publication in providing the latest information about Plastic Technology, with an operation more than decade. Plastic Technology has evolved itself to be the best on predicting the latest trends in the Plastic Sector. We advertise and market the most pioneer companies in this sector catering the needs. We proclaim much of pride in contributing significant analysis of the rapid developments by channelizing the right market strategies, minute to minute feeds and coupling dominant businesses. Most of the Suppliers that have engaged with us have a reputation in this Industry for more than 15 years.
Packaging Herald is a B2B bimonthly magazine about packaging news and trends, which provides practical tips and innovation insights for daily business. It creates communication and an information exchange platform for all participating parties that deal with packaging and related services.
PlasticPortal.eu® is a business portal for the professionals in the plastics industry in Czech and Slovak republic. The purpose of the portal is a comprehensive support for managers in carrying out tasks associated with increasing sales, supplies the best solution in the field of raw materials, machines and equipment, company promotion and human resources seeking.
Institute of Packaging Nigeria a founding member of African Packaging Organisation & full member of World Packaging Organisation is the publisher of Nigeria Packaging Journal a premier publication on the Nigeria packaging industry. Nigeria Packaging debuted April 2015 at the 1st International Trade Show: Agrofood & Plastprintpack Nigeria.
Nigeria Packaging print & online has readership across cities in Nigeria & countries across the world. The journal is fast becoming popular among the packaging experts; investing and consuming public, for invaluable information on packaging and related investment intelligence products and materials. We proudly share useful editorial contents with packaging practitioners, manufacturers, brand owners, advertisers, suppliers, industry watchers, consumers, and other readers in the rapidly-growing packaging sector in Nigeria.
Energy Business Review is a well established online knowledge portal for the entire energy community, covering Oil & Gas, Power and Mining. We have an audience of over one million hits a year in addition to more than 150,000 registered, opt-in subscribers across the group. Each industry sector has its own landing page with homepages and network sites drilling down into the relevant subsectors, providing you with the latest industry news, feature articles, financial information, blogs, newsletters, and market analysis reports. For latest industry news and technical papers or to sign up to our free newsletter visit www.energy-business-review.com
German Biofuel Portal is a specialized international resource for bioenergy, biofuel and biomass products. The web-portal provides up to date information about the fresh product offers, the latest technology achievements and future developments. We do our best so our customers and visitors were well informed and have clear answers for all the questions concerning biomass, biofuel and bioenergy. The main target of the project is to assist its customers in establishing new partner relationships between future biofuel consumers and suppliers.
Industrial Hygiene News (IHN) is dedicated to the anticipation, recognition, evaluation, communication and control of environmental factors in or coming from the workplace that may result in injury, illness, impairment, or affect the well being of workers and the community. These factors include safety, chemical, ergonomic, and biological.
IHN offers practical guidance and solutions to promote worker safety and assist Occupational Health & Safety professionals in keeping their organization in compliance with wide-ranging and ever-changing government regulations from NIOSH, OSHA, and DOL. Learn the latest technologies and procedures to minimize exposures through the implementation of controls.
IHN app covers latest products, informative articles, interview with industry experts, and breaking news.
GreenMatch is an online service which provides quotes for green energy sources from multiple providers. The service is free of charge and with no obligation. GreenMatch provides you with useful information on different types of renewable sources of energy. It will also help you to save time as it allows you to request free quotes from different suppliers.
GreenMatch is a service owned and maintained by the Danish online marketing bureau AW Media. AW Media is a certified Google Partner and they maintain several international online services. AW Media also advises and administrates the daily online marketing for many well-known Danish companies. Read more at www.aw-media.dk.
WorldPressOnline is the leading portal of information for international journalists in the trade press of Beauty & Personal Care (Make-Up, Ingredients & Spa included), Packaging, Printing, Publishing & Converting industries.
With WorldPressOnline, company can target press releases (in different languages) by product, material, market, geographical zone etc. ; Remain in direct and permanent contact with international journalists ; Increase press releases visibility thanks to the Online Archive Center with powerful search engine; Upload unlimited photos (300 dpi) in your Image Gallery, accessible 24/7 for the journalists; Measure the impact of press communication by a Statistics Report.
WorldPressOnline, we do more than sending your news to the world!
Visit us at http://www.worldpressonline.com/Pages/Principal/home.aspx


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Only stayed the one night, November 30, for the Father Christmas festival. Scott was very hospitable in a casual way. Well informed about what's going on in town, but no pressure. Very clean and well appointed and VERY conveniently located.
- Official Description (provided by the hotel):
- Where history, modern conveniences and superb service meet. Popular photo stop in the heart of town. New owners Elke and Scott are delighted to preserve the history and add a little of their caring touches to welcome each guest as a friend. The gardens are beutiful and rooms elequent and spotless. ... more less
- Reservation Options:
- TripAdvisor is proud to partner with Booking.com and Priceline so you can book your Mahone Bay Bed and Breakfast reservations with confidence. We help millions of travellers each month to find the perfect hotel for both holiday and business trips, always with the best discounts and special offers.
- Also Known As:
- Mahone Bay Bed And Breakfast Nova Scotia, Canada

subset: commoncrawl


text:
What is JotForm?
JotForm is a free online form builder which helps you create online forms without writing a single line of code. No sign-up required.
At JotForm, we want to make sure that you're getting the online form builder help that you need. Our friendly customer support team is available 24/7.
We believe that if one user has a question, there could be more users who may have the same question. This is why many of our support forum threads are public and available to be searched and viewed. If you'd like help immediately, feel free to search for a similar question, or submit your question or concern.
How can I ensure my form expands on the first click to open the lightbox?Asked by toomarvellous on July 27, 2015 at 03:53 AM
Hi there,
At the footer of my page, there is a 'Request a catalogue' button on the bottom right of my site which opens my jotform.
I've setup my form, and it works a treat the second time the form is opened, but in the first instance: Clicking "Yes, absolutely" I'd like to receive a catalogue doesn't expand the form to let you fill in your address.
Click close, and then repress the 'Request a catalogue' button and it works! How can I get it to work the first time it's clicked?
JotForm Support
Hello toomarvellous,
I did check your web page and I am unable to replicate the issue you are having. Your lightbox form loads just fine and clicking on the "Yes.. absolutely.." first time only does display the hidden address fields correctly with scrollbar. Please check the screenshot below:
I would suggest you to please test your form again and get back to us if the issue persists.
Thank you!
Thanks for such a prompt reply! It seems the only browser I can replicate the issue with is Safari on Mac. On iOS everything acts as it should.On another note, is there a piece of code I can use to expand the width of the lightbox to accommodate the vertical scrollbar and remove the need for horizontal scrolling on PC after the radio button is clicked?
JotForm Support
That is probably related to a script conflict. In the form embed codes, find feedback2.js?3.3.8137 and replace it with feedback.js?3.3.8137. Basically, removing the "2" in the form embed URL. I hope that helps.
As for the scrolling issue, I will check that and give you the answer here: http://www.jotform.com/answers/620718.


text:
Family in Ballston Spa
I am a single mom with 2 very active boys, ages 6 and 11 yrs old. Need someone who is available to watch them from time they get off school bus at 330p until 530-6p. Monday through Friday. Schedule might change. I prefer someone who has experience with children and or has children of their own. Someone who will have my children as their main focus while watching them. Make sure they get their homework done and possibly assist with their homework if needed. I would also prefer that you be available more on a long term basis and be committed and on time. I need to be able to open up my schedule for a good job opportunity. We are located in Ballston Spa, NY and they attend at the Ballston Spa School District. If you are interested and feel you can meet these requirements, please contact me.
Family Details
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Notes made here will only be seen by you. If you want to message the owner of this listing
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text:
Website Link: http://marksfete.nitie.org/web/marksfete/node/3
Mark-Sense is a Marketing Case Study Competition on live challenges faced by industries.
It aims at testing the ability of participants to apply the marketing concepts and business excellence to practical situations through an exhaustive business case. In the present ever changing business scenario, the industry continuously faces new problems. Mark-Sense is inspired by the real life issues faced by the marketers and provides a platform on which a more holistic solution can be given to the problem.
Conducted in 2 Rounds, it aims at testing the ability of participants to apply the marketing concepts to practical situation through an exhaustive business case.
Rules And Regulations (Round 1):
1. Participants need to Register here for MarkSense.
2. A team can consist of at most 3 members (bonafide Management School Students only) from the same institute, though they can be from different programs within the institute.
3. The event is open to both first year and second year students.
4. A student cannot be a member of more than one team for this event.
5. There is no restriction on number of teams from the same institute.
6. Each team can submit a maximum of one entry for the case study.
7. Each team needs to submit a 8 slide (max) presentation for the case study (excluding the cover slides)
9. These details of the participants SHOULD NOT appear anywhere else in the entry submitted.
10. The decision of the panel of judges regarding evaluation will be final and binding.
11. The short listed teams would be informed by mail. Teams need to send their confirmation regarding participation within a day of receipt of the mail, failing which the next best team in order of ranking of all submissions would be invited.
12. In case of any ambiguity, the decisions of the organizing committee will be final and binding.
13. Deadline for sending the entries ends 18th Feb,2013 11:59 PM.
Round 2:
1.Shortlisted teams will be required to elaborate on the solutions provided in Round 1, but can't add new ideas.
2.Case presentations will then be held at 10:00 AM 23rd Feb in NITIE Campus.
EventList powered by schlu.net


text:
Dr Hitesh Sheth
Audacity To Hope - Poem by Dr Hitesh Sheth
When the recession of opportunities
Knock downs, towns and cities;
When the flood of tension
Hits alike, huts and mansions;
When anxiety tortures life's moments
And men wallows in teary torments;
When life is anything but easy
And only head shrinkers seems busy
Then, oh! Men
It is time to stand still
As ancient hills
of indomitable will
Which braves
Fiery storms
And wintry chills:
And your audacious hope
Should strive to climb
steep recession's slope,
tightly holding
divine grace's rope
Till in boom
The flood of recession wanes
Clouds of opportunities rains
And mad lives again becomes sane.
Dr Hitesh C Sheth
Comments about Audacity To Hope by Dr Hitesh Sheth
Savita Tyagi (8/7/2012 10:21:00 AM)
Beautiful poem to lift up any body's spirit. Enjoyed reading it. (Report) Reply
Shashendra Amalshan (8/3/2009 2:10:00 AM)
Shashendra Amalshan (8/3/2009 2: 08: 00 AM)
| Delete this message
Hello sir,
'When anxiety tortures life's moments
And men wallows in teary torments;
When life is anything but easy
And only head shrinkers seems busy'
I should say when this kinda thing happens, turn to Dr Hitesh Sith, cause he will always heal you with his poetic therapies
'And your audacious hope
Should strive to climb
steep recession's slope,
tightly holding
divine grace's rope'
I like these expressions too.... Lot to think here, ..
I think you'v expressed yourself in a very poetic and creative manner..
A psychologist can always gives you treatments, but not many can do it in such a innovative way I think..
Great talent indeed
Splendid write...
with loves
shan (Report) Reply
Duh Huh (6/23/2009 11:51:00 AM)
Wow, this poem captivated me from the title. Its well thought out and thouught provoking. I loved the ending.
Till in boom
The flood of recession wanes
Clouds of opportunities rains
And mad lives again becomes sane.
The audacity of hope. Love it, thank you so much for sharing your talent with us :) (Report) Reply
Kranthi Pothineni (4/9/2009 12:11:00 AM)
Mark R Slaughter (3/16/2009 4:09:00 AM)
And such is the boom and bust spell that we live under! Very nicely put - I like the cynical hit at the end - yes it's all insane.
Mark (Report) Reply
Bob Blackwell (3/14/2009 4:56:00 AM)
A good protrayal of our boom and bust world. Unfortunately its the people who live in huts who suffer the most and..... also make less noise. 10 (Report) Reply
Sonya Florentino (3/10/2009 8:51:00 AM)
we all need to hold on as a global family... and if we do surive, I think the world will be the wiser with the hard lesson learnt.... (Report) Reply
Vaibhav Pandey (3/8/2009 12:05:00 PM)
a brilliant poem, sir....title is perfect for the poem...10 (Report) Reply
Samanyan Lakshminarayanan (3/6/2009 10:09:00 PM)
this recession is not fully true...since the boom or the bullish trend before was'nt also fully true...the common people had fallen a pray to the boom which snayched their money to fill someone's booty...genuinity is what will pullus out (Report) Reply
Seema Chowdhury (3/4/2009 8:53:00 AM)
thanks alot for sharing. this is a nice, true and thought provoking poem. really enjoyed your deep thoughts. (Report) Reply
Sulaiman Mohd Yusof (3/2/2009 7:41:00 AM)
When the tough gets goin, and the goin gets tough. (Report) Reply
C. P. Sharma (3/2/2009 7:12:00 AM)
Dr., you are right. Recession subdues audacious hope and revokes love for the Lord. Good poetry.
CP (Report) Reply
Vinod Kumar (3/2/2009 2:14:00 AM)
Nice poem contented with a nice message, poemwise is also too good, impressived, thanks dear Dr.Hitesh,10++ (Report) Reply
Read this poem in other languages
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem »
Dr Hitesh Sheth's Other Poems
Famous Poems
Phenomenal Woman
Maya Angelou
Still I Rise
Maya Angelou
The Road Not Taken
Robert Frost
If You Forget Me
Pablo Neruda
Langston Hughes
Annabel Lee
Edgar Allan Poe
Caged Bird
Maya Angelou
Rudyard Kipling
Stopping By Woods On A Snowy Evening
Robert Frost
A Dream Within A Dream
Edgar Allan Poe


text: On Tuesday, December 06, 2011 03:31:21 PM Marcelo Cerri wrote: > I'm already coding the auvirt tool and I'd like to add command line > options similar to "--start" and "--end" from ausearch. > > Looking into ausearch code I found two functions (ausearch_time_end and > ausearch_time_start) that already parse date and time informed and > support some interesting options as "now", "today", "week-ago" and etc. > > Do you think there would be a problem in use these functions in auvirt? Actually, that would be nice for consistency. But it sounds like you are headed towards calls to the search API to setup the time fields. Just to double check, is all this work is under the same license as the audit package is claiming? (LGPL/GPL). If so there's definitely not a problem. -Steve


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Perspectives Weekend Edition Newsletter.
Insightful commentaries on the world of stock market trading, and regular stock picks made by Stockscores founder Tyler Bollhorn using the strategies and tools of Stockscores.com. Best of all, it is free!
Tradescores Alerts is our subscription newsletter product aimed at swing and position traders. Each night you get our market analysis and commentary plus, when we find trading opportunities, we send our subscribers real time trade alerts direct to their cell phone, email or our web page. With Tradescores Alerts, we do the research work for you!
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text: ESB Financial Corporation (NASDAQ: ESBF) announced that at its Board of Directors meeting today, March 19, 2013, declared a quarterly cash dividend of $.10 on the Common Stock of ESB Financial Corporation payable on April 25, 2013 to the stockholders of record at the close of business on March 29, 2013. In announcing the scheduled cash dividend, Charlotte A. Zuschlag, President and Chief Executive Officer, noted the Company's results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2012. The Company recognized earnings of $1.03 per diluted share on net income of $14.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2012. This announcement reflects the Company's policy of declaring a regular quarterly cash dividend. This quarterly cash dividend equates to an annual cash dividend of $.40 per share. ESB Financial Corporation is the parent Holding Company of ESB Bank, and offers a wide variety of financial products and services through 23 offices in the contiguous counties of Allegheny, Lawrence, Beaver and Butler in Pennsylvania. The common stock of the Company is traded on the Nasdaq Stock Market under the symbol "ESBF".


text:
Sunday, November 8, 2015
Guest Blogger: Multiple-Choice Question Guidelines
Our Guest Blogger this week is Distinguished Professor Emeritus, Norman Otto Stockmeyer, who retired last year after teaching at Western Michigan University Cooley Law School since 1977. He also taught as a visiting professor at Mercer University Law School and California Western School of Law. Otto taught principally first-year courses (Contracts, Criminal Law, and Research & Writing) as well as Remedies. He received the top teaching award at Cooley Law three times and was voted National Outstanding Professor by Delta Theta Law Fraternity International.
Multiple-Choice Question Guidelines
Law school professors and academic support professionals should use multiple-choice questions for assessment and testing purposes. After all, our students will have to take and pass a bar exam with a full day of multiple-choice questions. It stands to reason that their chances of passing will be enhanced if they have successfully taken myriad multiple-choice tests in law school.
Going one step further, I submit that our multiple-choice questions should reflect the style and format used on the Multistate Bar Exam. The MBE professionals know more about multiple-choice methodology than we do. And if we want our tests to mirror the MBE, we should adopt the MBE's question-drafting practices.
The following guidelines are derived from a 2008 article in The Bar Examiner, published by the National Conference of Bar Examiners, and an examination of MBE questions released since the examination was redesigned in 2005.
- Use one question per fact pattern. Do not piggyback multiple questions on a single fact pattern.
- Make fact patterns as concise as possible. Do not include extraneous facts unless fact discrimination is the skill being tested by that particular question.
- Make fact patterns realistic and free of bias. Use genderless characters to the extent possible; otherwise equalize the number of men and women in your questions.
- Identify characters generically, rather than by names or letters. ("A buyer agreed with a seller…" rather than "Able agreed with Baker….").
- Include all facts in the fact pattern. Answers should not introduce additional facts.
- Provide four answers for every question. More choices add complexity with little appreciable improvement in reliability.
- Avoid compound answers ("A and B, but not C"). (Besides, students hate these.)
- Do not use "all of the above" or "none of the above" answers. (Ditto) Every question should have one, and only one, indisputably correct answer.
- Distribute correct answers randomly. Amateur testers tend too often to place the correct answer in the C or D position. Savvy students pick up on this.
The overall goal of these guidelines is clarity, making sure that we are assessing substantive knowledge and legal reasoning, rather than reading comprehension. Making questions easier to read does not make them any easier to answer. It just makes them better questions.
In conclusion, multiple-choice tests can be a reliable way to evaluate knowledge and analytical skill. And researchers have found that test familiarity improves student performance on standardized tests. So using MBE-style questions can heighten the effectiveness of our tests, as well as enhance the performance of our students.
(Readers interested in Professor Stockmeyer's use of multiple-choice quizzes in a first-year course are invited to read his article on "Using Multiple Choice Quizzes" in the January 2011 issue of The Learning Curve. It is available through SSRN at http://ssrn.com/abstract=1736670.)
November 8, 2015 in Bar Exam Preparation, Exams - Theory, Guest Column | Permalink | Comments (0)
Thursday, September 24, 2015
The Bar Exam Debate Continues
"Is the Bar Too Low to Get Into Law School?" is the headline in today's New York Times "Room for Debate" section. It posed the question: Why are so many law students failing the bar exam? This is a complex issue and as the different responses make clear, there is no simple answer.
The debate started more than a year ago. The July 2014 bar exam was one of the most exciting (and not in a good way) and controversial bar exams in recent history. It is widely known as Barmageddon or Barghazi due to a nationwide debacle on the first day of the exam. The first day is the written portion; test takers pay a fee ($100-$125) to use laptops and then upload responses through an outside company. Most jurisdictions use ExamSoft. Last year ExamSoft experienced a system-wide failure and test takers across the country were not able to upload responses. ExamSoft eventually fixed the problem but not until thousands and thousands of test takers had stayed up most of the night trying to submit their responses. To say it was stressful is an understatement.
By the time day two started, many test takers still did not know the fate of their responses- were they uploaded? would the jurisdiction accept them after the deadline? Day two of the bar exam is the Multi-State Bar Exam (MBE)- the multiple choice portion of the test that every state (except for LA) uses. It is created, scored and scaled by the National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE) and although it is only one part of the overall score, jurisdictions use it to scale the other portions of the exam. In other words, the MBE score is a big deal. The rest of the bar exam was uneventful. Until jurisdictions started posting results. Almost every jurisdiction reported historically low bar pass rates. This is when the finger-pointing began: Many law schools blamed the MBE, saying the test was flawed. The NCBE fired back, claiming takers were "less able" than in past years. Not many seemed to see any connection between Barghazi and bar scores.
Fast forward to July 2015. The NCBE added a seventh subject to the MBE but the exam itself is uneventful. No system failures. No Barghazi, part II. Then results started trickling out. Pass rates are lower than last year and so is the national median for the MBE. You have to go back more than twenty years to see a median score this low.
So, why are so many students failing the bar exam? Is it because law students are "less able?" Is it the addition of more material? Are law schools not adequately preparing students? Is the bar exam itself a flawed test? There is definitely "Room for Debate".
September 24, 2015 in Bar Exam Issues, Bar Exam Preparation, Bar Exams | Permalink | Comments (0)
Friday, August 14, 2015
Mental Health Questions on Bar Applications
The ABA (finally) adopted a resolution that encourages state bar licensing entities to eliminate questions about mental health on bar applications. Many of us have advocated for such elimination for years due to the potential damaging effects that these types of questions may have on law students. The stigma that these questions produce may discourage law students from seeking much needed mental health treatment or therapy while they are in law school. By eliminating these questions, law students do not need to fear the character and fitness/bar application process if they do decide to seek mental health treatment.
August 14, 2015 in Bar Exam Issues, Bar Exam Preparation, Current Affairs, Disability Matters | Permalink | Comments (0)
Thursday, July 2, 2015
In order to pass the bar exam you must believe in yourself
The bar exam is the last test you will ever take. You've been preparing for it since the first day of law school. The foundation is built and these weeks of focused study help solidify what you've learned over the past 3-4 years. You will pass if you put in the time to learn the material and master the skills. Friends and family believe you will pass. Professors believe you will pass. Your employer believes you will pass. So, why do you doubt your ability to pass? One reason is that you don't really know what to expect: Will you get an essay on intentional torts or premises liability? How many future interest questions will be on the MBE? Will you remember all the rules for all the subjects? Did you write enough? Too much?
Human beings seek stability. We like rules, routines, and goals. However, the bar exam does not fit nicely into what we've always done. You cover a semester a day and even though you spend 8, 10, 12 hours learning material, it doesn't quite stick. If you could just hold things still, you'd be able to remember the material. Since everything is always changing, this doesn't work. This is why you worry you won't be able to learn everything in time and why you doubt your ability to pass. You are trying so hard to control things that you actually lose control.
It is July and the bar exam is at the end of the month. It's time to get comfortable being uncomfortable. Accept that you cannot learn everything and that you don't need to in order to pass. At the end of each day, reflect on what you did and know that it is enough. It is not about whether you checked off every task assigned by the commercial bar prep company. It is about working solidly and steadily and moving forward. Focus on yourself and stop worrying about everyone else. Stop discussing what you've done (or didn't do) with your friends and family. If they are studying for the bar exam, it will just be a stressor for both of you. If they aren't studying for the bar exam, they don't care.
Instead of looking at all those unchecked boxes, make a list of everything you have done over the past 7 weeks. Look at all you've accomplished and give yourself a pat on the back. Add to the list every day and look through it a few days before the bar exam. This is proof that you have done enough. This is why your friends, family, professors, and co-workers know you will pass. It is why you should believe it, too.
Need a little motivation? Check out my all-time favorite inspirational speech (it will be the best 60 seconds of your day): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c47otcg13Z8
July 2, 2015 in Bar Exam Issues, Bar Exam Preparation, Bar Exams, Stress & Anxiety | Permalink | Comments (0)
Monday, June 29, 2015
Friends and Family: Common Bar Exam Issues and How to Deal With Them:
Some suggestions for friends and family supporting someone through the bar exam.
Bar Taker: I'm going to fail.
Wrong: Keep up that negative attitude and you certainly will fail.
Right: You are a brilliant, wonderful, hard-working person who is going to win the bar exam!
Bar Taker: I'm getting fat/so out of shape.
Wrong: You do look a little fluffy. And your clothes are a little tight. You need to work out.
Right: No you're not. You look fantastic. In fact, your arms are so buff from lugging around all those commercial outline books it looks like you've been doing Crossfit.
Bar Taker: sniffing the air around him/her Do I smell?
Wrong: You don't smell but that t-shirt you've worn for 3 days in a row sure does, and I could fry okra with all the grease from your hair.
Right: You sure do! You smell like someone who is going to pass the bar exam.
Bar Taker: My house/apartment/room is such a mess.
Wrong: Funny you should say that. I just submitted an audition tape to Hoarders.
Right: You poor dear! Please let me help you. You go to the library and study while I clean up.
Bar Taker: Ugh. I am absolutely exhausted from studying all day.
Wrong: Studying all day? You've got to be kidding. Tweeting and posting on Facebook about studying is not the same as actually studying.
Right: Studying like that is just so draining. You just relax right here on the couch and let me wait on you for the rest of the evening.
Bar Taker: I'm just so stressed. I can't do this anymore.
Wrong: Stressed? You think this is stressful? Insert one of the following:
Mother- Try being in labor for 36 hours like I was with you. Now that is stress.
Sibling- You are such a big baby. No wonder Mom loves me best.
Significant other- Stress is trying to deal with you and your incessant whining. By the way, I'm breaking up with you.
Right: I cannot even begin to fathom the amount of stress you are dealing with. This is the most difficult experience anyone has had to go through. Ever. Let me make an appointment for you to get a massage. My treat.
June 29, 2015 in Bar Exam Issues, Bar Exam Preparation, Bar Exams, Encouragement & Inspiration | Permalink | Comments (0)
Wednesday, June 17, 2015
Get Your Head in the Game!
I love sports. I love to play sports, coach sports, and watch sports. Studying for the bar exam is like playing a sport, coaching a sport, and watching a sport. There are highs and lows, agonies and defeats, and setbacks and triumphs. Bar review for many law school grads has been in full force for a couple of weeks. The foggy haze of transition from law student to bar student has lifted. Now, it is time for bar students to get their heads in the game.
Like preparing for a sport, you must look at your bar preparation as you would a training schedule. You cannot swim the 500 meters, score the winning goal, or finish the race without focused, incremental, and structured training. Bar review is just that. Everyone says, "Bar prep is a marathon, not a sprint."
During your bar prep, you want to get high scores on MBEs, ace the essays, and finish the performance test with time to spare. However, this is usually far from the realities of your initial phase of bar prep. You have not fully memorized the law or mastered your test taking skills at the beginning of bar prep. However, you are laying the foundation. And, it is this foundation that will get to you game day.
Here are a few ideas to consider as you prepare for game day:
- Map out the remaining subjects that you need to review and the tasks that you need to complete. Writing this out can help you manage your stress and your work load.
- Set realistic goals for each day (or each hour). Meeting goals helps propel you over the next hurdle, builds your confidence, and shows you that you can win this!
- Give yourself time to process the information that is being thrown at you. Do not expect that you will know everything after listening to a lecture and completing 30 multiple choice questions. Bar review is a process, trust in the process.
- Make time for breaks. If you schedule a break, it is not considered procrastination. Everyone needs down time and it is important that you balance your intense study schedule with sufficient time to refresh.
- Evaluate your work. It is important to understand what you are doing right and what you still need to work on. This will help you refocus your time and prioritize improving your weaker areas.
- Play a sport or watch a sporting event (Women's World Cup perhaps). This may give you the inspiration to help you keep your head in the bar review game.
June 17, 2015 in Bar Exam Issues, Bar Exam Preparation, Bar Exams, Encouragement & Inspiration | Permalink | Comments (0)
Friday, June 12, 2015
Delaying the Bar Exam?
Should we encourage grads to delay taking the bar exam if we think that they will not pass on their first attempt? This is a very sensitive topic and aspects of which are currently being litigated in Arizona. Those of us who are overseeing bar preparation can easily understand the thinking behind what is happening in Arizona. We work with very diverse groups of students and we know their likelihood of success on the bar exam hinges upon several factors.
Some students are working full time as they study for the bar; some are caring for an elder or young child; and some struggled throughout law school and barely graduated. Others are less motivated to put in the necessary time to pass the bar with a traditional 8-10 week preparation window. We also understand that some students will greatly benefit from taking some time off between law school graduation and studying for the bar exam.
Because we know most of our students so well, we are keenly aware of particular students who are unlikely to pass on their first attempt (due to any number of reasons). Thus, does this mean that we should discourage them from sitting for the bar this summer? Personally, I have grappled with this notion. However, I have heard of other Professors, Law Schools, and ASPers who often dissuade (and possibly entice with incentives) grads into delaying their bar examinations.
Unless I have been directly asked by a grad for my professional opinion, I wrestle with whether it is my place to influence their decision to sit for or delay sitting for the bar exam. However, when you work so closely with grads during their bar preparation, we do not just think that they may not pass; instead, we often know that they will not pass. Bar exam performance can be predicted when you look at several factors and data points. When I have access to their scores throughout bar review, especially their simulated exams, I can predict with a high level of accuracy their performance on the actual bar exam.
Does this mean that I should encourage delaying the exam? This is the very issue I grapple with. On the one hand, when I know that they will likely fail the exam, encouraging them to wait means they do not have to experience the shame and defeat associated with failing the bar. We also know that once a student has failed the bar exam, passing it becomes a bigger psychological and emotional challenge. (As if it could be more psychologically challenging.) Dissuading them from sitting, also means that bar passage statistics will likely be more favorable for my law school; thus, the dilemma. Because of the current state of affairs in legal education, law employment, and law school admissions, bar passage matters. It matters more now than ever. Therefore, there is no easy answer.
June 12, 2015 in Bar Exam Issues, Bar Exam Preparation, Bar Exams, Current Affairs | Permalink | Comments (0)
Monday, May 25, 2015
Law School Action Comics #14
(Alex Ruskell)
May 25, 2015 in Bar Exam Preparation | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Monday, May 18, 2015
Bar Exam Season Has Arrived
Bar Exam Season is here.
Just a few days ago you took your last law school exam and celebrated graduation and hooding with family and friends. You've barely had time to open the graduation cards and now it's time to hit the books again. Commercial bar prep has begun and it is just the beginning of a great adventure. You've worked hard for almost three (or four) years, 10 more weeks is no big deal. The good news is that the first week is the easy week so take advantage of any free time to do the following:
Organize your life.
- Do laundry, go grocery shopping, clean your apartment. Studying for the bar exam seems to affect your ability to do any of these things.
- Talk to family and friends about the next 10 weeks and how you will be less available. Assure them you will make time for them but studying for the bar is a full-time job.
- Find a healthy, non-law related activity to help with stress relief. It is important to relax and have a little fun. It's good for your mental, physical, and emotional health.
Organize your study schedule.
- Go through your bar exam material and familiarize yourself with it. You will use some things more than others and it's good to figure out your go-to sources early.
- Take a look at the prepared study schedule and modify it to fit your learning and study needs. Figure out your study approach and make sure you have all your study supplies.
- Find a place to study. Try out a few different places and figure out which atmosphere best promotes focused study (hint- it will not be anywhere in the vicinity of a tv, refrigerator, couch, bed, etc).
You've got 10 weeks of studying ahead of you. There's no getting around it so you might as well make the best of it. (KSK)
May 18, 2015 in Bar Exam Issues, Bar Exam Preparation, Bar Exams, Encouragement & Inspiration | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Tuesday, May 5, 2015
New York Adopts the Uniform Bar Exam
After considerable debate and several public hearings, the New York Court of Appeals has adopted the recommendation of the Advisory Committee on the Uniform Bar Examination and in July 2016 New York will administer the Uniform Bar Examination. The New York State Board of Law Examiners has proposed that New York set the passing score for the UBE at 266. In other jurisdictions, the UBE passing scores range from 260 (Alabama, Minnesota, Missouri) to 280 (Alaska and Idaho). The bar exam landscape is changing. Will this move create a "domino effect?" Will other states change their passing scores? Will New York see an influx of applicants? Only time will tell.
May 5, 2015 in Bar Exam Issues, Bar Exam Preparation, Bar Exams, Current Affairs | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Tuesday, March 24, 2015
Are Students Less Able or Was it ExamSoft?
Hat tip to Katherine Silver Kelly for sharing the link to this post on the Summer 2014 bar exam results. This article is a must read for anyone interested in the decline in the MBE scores from the July 2014 bar exam. Deborah Merritt, on the Law School Cafe blog, explains the scoring process of the MBE and shows how the ExamSoft debacle could have caused bar results to suffer in more ways than one.
March 24, 2015 in Bar Exam Issues, Bar Exam Preparation, Bar Exams | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Friday, March 20, 2015
The Bar Exam "Under Fire"
The New York Times has addressed some of the recent (and not so recent) criticisms regarding the Summer 2014 bar examination results in their article, Bar Exam, the Standard to Become a Lawyer, Comes Under Fire. While this article does not unearth new information for many of us, it does legitimize the problem. Because, as we know, there is a problem. The NCBE essentially has a monopoly on bar licensure. They have moved from releasing a limited amount of data to an almost complete lack of transparency. Without this crucial data there is no accountability, which leads to less confidence in the examination and what it purports to assess. This lack of confidence is highlighted in the Times piece and has been echoed in a similar fashion since the summer results were released.
In order to validate the bar exam as a viable assessment tool, the released score results should be detailed, transparent, and effectively communicated. At this point, it appears that complete transparency is the only way to restore credibility in the bar exam and the work of the NCBE.
March 20, 2015 in Bar Exam Issues, Bar Exam Preparation, Bar Exams, News | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Wednesday, February 25, 2015
Call for Proposals AALS Section on Academic Support
Call for Proposals
AALS Section on Academic Support
January 2016 Annual Meeting in New York, New York
Raising the Bar
As law schools react to a changing bar exam landscape, many schools have adapted new and different programming to meet the current needs of students. Bar exam support and preparation is no longer something that begins post-graduation, and its influence can be felt from admissions through curriculum planning and beyond. This program will explore how schools strive to stay ahead of trends, analyze data and out-perform their predictors in order to help their students succeed on the exam.
Topics might include, but are not limited to: statistical analysis of bar exam data and results; innovative programs for preparing students for the bar exam; curricular changes based on exam results and preparation; criteria for selecting students to participate in bar preparation programming and identifying at-risk students.
Preference will be given to presentations designed to engage the workshop audience, so proposals should contain a detailed explanation of both the substance of the presentation and the methods to be employed. Individuals as well as groups are invited to propose topics. The Committee would prefer to highlight talent across a spectrum of law schools and disciplines and is especially interested in new and innovative ideas. Please share this call with colleagues—both within and outside of the legal academy and the academic support community.
Proposals must include the following information:
1. A title for your presentation.
2. A brief description of the objectives or outcomes of your presentation.
3. A brief description of how your presentation will support your stated objectives or outcomes.
4. The amount of time requested for your presentation. No single presenter should exceed 45 minutes in total. Presentations as short as 15 minutes are welcomed.
5. A detailed description of both the substantive content and the techniques to be employed, if any, to engage the audience.
6. Whether you plan to distribute handouts, use PowerPoint, or employother technology.
7. A list of the conferences at which you have presented within the last three years, such as AALS, national or regional ASP or writing conferences, or other academic conferences. (The Committee is interested in this information because we wish to select and showcase seasoned, as well as fresh, talent.)
8. Your school affiliation, title, courses taught, and contact information (please include email address and telephone number).
9. Any articles or books that you have published that relate to your proposed presentation.
10. Any other information you think will help the Committee appreciate the value your presentation will provide.
Proposals will be reviewed on a rolling basis, so please send yours as soon as possible, but no later than Wednesday, March 25th at 5pm to Danielle Kocal, Pace Law School, firstname.lastname@example.com. If you have any questions, please email Danielle Kocal or call 914-422-4108.
The Section on Academic Support Program Committee:
Danielle Kocal, Chair
Goldie Pritchard, Past Chair
Robert Coulthard
Steven Foster
Marsha Griggs
Melinda Drew
Myra Orlen
ASP Section Chair: Lisa Young
February 25, 2015 in Bar Exam Issues, Bar Exam Preparation, Bar Exams, Meetings | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Monday, February 23, 2015
Nix the Acronyms
The Legal Skills Prof Blog recently posted this reference to a short piece on acronyms. I agree that acronyms and other abbreviations can cause confusion, ruin the flow of an essay, and cause the reader frustration. The article suggests a few useful guidelines on when to use them and when to avoid them. I have even had one bar examiner tell me to instruct students that their bar exam essays should not read like a text message. In an acronym, twitter/text, abbreviation heavy culture, this is a good reminder. Thus, I advise my students that when they are in doubt, they should write it out.
February 23, 2015 in Advice, Bar Exam Preparation, Miscellany, Teaching Tips, Writing | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Thursday, December 18, 2014
Winter Bar Study Plan
Many schools have students who graduate in December. To help them transition from the whirlwind of finals, graduation, and holiday celebrations to bar prep, here are a few things for them to consider:
- Create a realistic, yet rigorous study schedule. Begin after graduation, but make space to savor the end of law school before jumping into your bar prep.
- Communicate your study plans. Make sure that your significant other, family, and co-workers know that your priority is passing the bar exam. They will be your support system through this journey and they need to understand what you will need to be successful. (Perhaps a meal delivered now and then, or help with childcare...)
- Use Spaced Repetition to study instead of focusing on only one subject at a time.
- Remember to stay healthy- exercise, eat well, and get a full night of sleep. This will increase your focus and efficiency.
- Ask for help! When you are feeling overwhelmed, or have a question about your performance or a particular area of law, ask someone. You can ask your bar review provider, a classmate, or your Academic Support for assistance.
- Find balance. You will always feel like you should be doing more- more studying, more MBE practice, more essay and PT writing, and more outlining. However, you also need to know when to say when.
- Give yourself mini-rewards for reaching your daily goals and bigger rewards for reaching your weekly goals.
- Keep a positive attitude and surround yourself with positive people. Believing in yourself is the key to your success!
Congratulations to all of the December law school graduates and best of luck getting started with your bar prep.
December 18, 2014 in Advice, Bar Exam Issues, Bar Exam Preparation, Bar Exams | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Friday, December 5, 2014
One Marshmallow or Two?
I recently attended a lecture by Dr. Walter Mischel, who is known for administering "The Marshmallow Test" to young children as a researcher at Stanford. As many of you are aware, the test consisted of children sitting in a room with a single marshmallow (or another sweet treat) while being asked to delay eating it. If they delayed their gratification, the child would get a greater reward at a later time (typically two marshmallows). The experiment produced interesting and, at times, comical responses from the children being observed. You can check out some Marshmallow Test videos on YouTube to watch the eye rolling, seat squirming, and general agitation exhibited by the children.
While the underlying experiments were amusing to watch, the conclusions drawn from the initial experiments and the long term studies were quite insightful. Essentially, by understanding our impulses and how we can retrain ourselves in order to have greater willpower, we can make better choices and be more productive. Many of us believe that human nature rules whether the child would take the marshmallow instead of waiting (or whether the student would study for another 2 hours before watching an episode of their favorite show or checking their Facebook page). While some are more inclined to eat the marshmallow right away, many are able to resist for a limited amount of time.
As Dr. Mischel pointed out, we can all learn how to control our impulses (kids with marshmallows or adults with other enticements). For example, if you know that when you go to holiday parties, you rush the dessert table and do not leave that table until you have sampled two of each type of dessert, you can put a plan in place in order to limit your dessert intake. If you have no plan in place or if you arrive to the party hungry, you are more likely to fall into the dessert vortex. If plan ahead, to first spend some time at the crudité and also allow yourself a bite from three different sweets over the course of the event, you are more likely to be successful in limiting your impulses. Alternatively, if you instead plan to abstain completely from eating dessert at the party, you will likely fail. Thus, deliberate and premeditated change in small increments helps create a new practice that is easier to successfully adopt and sustain.
How does this apply to law students? Law students often succumb to and/or are ambushed by procrastination. It is difficult to delay gratification no matter what age. I learned from the marshmallow studies and from Dr. Michel's presentation that we can all learn how to control our impulses if we understand what drives our impulses and if we are committed to making one small change at a time. In my example above, an individual knows that they struggle with overindulging in dessert. The willpower is harder to maintain without a clear and doable strategy in place. However, recognizing the temptation, adopting a realistic alternative, and planning ahead create a method for success. If law students try to more fully understand their impulsive triggers, they are better positioned to generate a plan to resist or avoid them.
Thus, law students can follow this strategy to use their time more effectively and more efficiently. Here are a few ideas:
- They can begin by writing out typical time stealers and creating targeted goals to reduce them. (Examples: When I study in groups, I am easily drawn off topic. When I turn on the television, I end up watching it for longer than I expected. If I turn my phone on while I am studying, my social media becomes a huge distraction.)
- They can purchase or create calendars in order to plan and track their time. Hard copy calendars visualize their priorities much better than a computer version.
- They can turn off their electronic devices while they study for a continuous block of time. (Example: I will study Torts for 3 hours in the library and leave my computer and phone in my locker.)
- They can disable their Wi-Fi while in class or while reviewing notes on their computer.
- They can establish a reward system that motivates this continued behavior. (Example: If I complete my stated study goal, I will get a night off or an extra hour of sleep, or more time for a special activity.)
Once an effective time management plan is established and the inherent benefits are apparent, students are more apt to fully adopt these new strategies by continuing to buck their impulses. After all, two marshmallows later are better than one marshmallow now.
(Lisa Bove Young)
December 5, 2014 in Bar Exam Preparation, Exams - Studying, Miscellany, Science, Study Tips - General | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Thursday, November 13, 2014
The MBE Decline: Are law students "less able" to pass the bar exam?
There have been several blog posts, email exchanges, and listserve threads discussing the decline in the Summer 2014 MBE scores and state pass rates, including a reproachful letter recently sent to the NCBE from a law school Dean. The National Conference of Bar Examiners stated in an October letter, that they see the drop in scores as a "matter of concern." But, they also stated that their equating, the adoption of the Uniform Bar Examination, and scoring of the test were not the cause of the decline. The only explanation mentioned in the letter, albeit vague and slightly patronizing, was that the July 2014 test takers were "less able" than the July 2013 test takers.
After recovering from a bit of shock, this statement led me to question whether students really were "less able" to pass the bar exam this summer than they were last summer. I have helped prepare students for the bar exam, in various forms, for over 14 years. Throughout this time, I have in fact encountered only a handful of individuals who are not capable of passing the bar exam. However, I have also worked with dozens of capable and competent bar applicants who struggle with passing the bar for various reasons.
Tennessee reported that the national mean scaled MBE score for July 2014 was 141.47, which is the lowest since the July 2004 MBE. Thus, this drop created lower bar pass rates across almost all jurisdictions this summer. Again, while this drop is noted, it is not evident as to why this drop occurred. In the same letter referenced above, the NCBE noted that the number of test takers dropped by 5% between the July 2013 and July 2014 exams. However, it is unclear how the number of test takers has any bearing on the actual test taker's performance. The mere fact that less individuals took the exam, 5% less, should not dictate a lower pass rate.
The data, or lack of it, led me to again question, "Were this summer's bar applicants "less able?" Many commenters have refuted that the LSAT is to blame since LSAT scores for this group of test takers (2011 law school start dates) did not take a plunge. Thus, lower LSATs cannot adequately explain this decline.
In addition, according to one of the leading national bar review companies, the mean scores for their simulated exams in Summer 2013 and Summer 2014 were virtually identical. As many of us know, there is a strong correlation between simulated exam performance and actual MBE performance. Thus, it bears noting that, readily identifiable performance indicators lead to the conclusion that the test takers in summer 2014 were just as capable as the test takers in summer 2013.
If this is the case, why did this decline occur? Was it the exam-soft fiasco? Could it be the NCBE's new question format? Is this a result of an error in the scaling process? Or, could it possibly be due to the retirement of long time NCBE Director of Testing Dr. Susan Case? Ultimately, is the decline a consequence of form difficulty differences and not group differences? Without knowing the specifics of the anchor test, the equating calculations, and specific differences within the tested groups, it is virtually impossible to have a definitive answer. That said, we should keep asking these questions. Individuals who fail the bar exam need us to keep asking these questions.
(Lisa Bove Young)
November 13, 2014 in Bar Exam Issues, Bar Exam Preparation, Bar Exams | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Friday, October 24, 2014
The MPRE: Trick or Treat?
The Multistate Professional Responsiblity Exam is being administered next week on November 1st- yes, the day after Halloween. In a previous post, I outlined the basics of the MPRE and reminders for test day. If you are preparing for the test next week, you should check it out.
For some students, the MPRE is a treat. It is straightforward, testing only one subject; it is timed, but not too intense; and it is only sixy questions. For others the MPRE is a trick. It is filled with tricky questions involving ethical obligations and moral judgments. In either case, here are a few MPRE study strategies and tips to consider:
- Know your learning style. For example, if you are an auditory learner, you should listen to the MPRE lecturers from one or a few bar review companies. As mentioned, these are free and will help you learn the material by hearing clear explanations of the rules and the application of the rules to hypotheticals.
- Do not merely take full practice tests. You need to have a solid understanding of the rules in order to perform well on the MPRE. Therefore, you must study! Is it proper to enter into a business transaction with a client? Can you split a fee with an attorney from a different firm? Do attorneys have a duty of confidentiality to prospective clients? Know these answers before you walk into your test.
- Remember that more than one answer choice could be "correct." However, you need to choose the "best" answer. Determining the central issue is the best way to do this.
- Determine the central issue and make sure you are answering the question being asked. Sometimes you can easily determine the central issue from the call line (the interrogatory at the end of the fact pattern), while other times you need to search the facts to find it. Whichever the case, determine the central issue before selecting your answer. Before bubbling in your answer choice, make sure you assess whether you have answered the question based on the central issue.
- Do not merely select an answer based on the "Yes" or "No" in the answer choices. Read the entire answer choice and pay close attention to words such as: "if," "unless," and "only," which qualify each of the answer choices.
- Read the Model Rules of Professional Conduct (with a highlighter or pen). By actively reading the rules, you will get to know the rules that you clearly know and the rules that you need to study further. You need to know more than what was covered in your PR class, and even your MPRE lecture. Read and learn the Model Rules.
- Review the scope of coverage and study accordingly. The NCBE produces an outline, which delineates the coverage on the MPRE. Focus on the areas with higher coverage: Conflicts, lawyer-client relationships, and litigation/advocacy.
- Don't forget about the Model Code of Judicial Conduct. There could be 2-5 questions in this area, which many of you are not familiar.
- Review MPRE practice questions in small chunks. Complete 5 at a time and then review the ones you got wrong AND the ones you got right. Take notes regarding what you missed and areas of confusion. Review these notes before moving on to the next 5 questions.
- Take at least 2 full practice tests after you have spent a considerable amount of time studying the rules.
- Get a good night's rest before exam day- NO LATE NIGHT HALLOWEEN PARTIES!
- Take a few "easy" questions in the morning (before you leave your house) to warm up.
- Eat a protein-rich breakfast and repeat positive affirmations.
While it is unrealistic for me to say that this exam will be a treat, I do hope it is not too tricky!
Lisa Bove Young
October 24, 2014 in Bar Exam Issues, Bar Exam Preparation, Bar Exams | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Thursday, October 16, 2014
ASP Book Review: PASS THE BAR EXAM
There are several new books on the market for Academic Support Professionals and for law students. In a series of posts, I will review a few of those books and some of the tried and true ones that I often turn to when I am in need of some words of wisdom or professional guidance.
First, I am reviewing a book published last year by the American Bar Association, PASS THE BAR EXAM written by Professor Sara J. Berman. This book provides a step by step guide for individuals embarking on their journey to pass the bar examination. Not only does this book provide crucial details about the bar exam, it guides readers to understand who they are learners and thinkers. It offers interactive questions, quizzes, and exercises to increase thoughtful reflection and a deeper awareness of the motivational factors required for successful bar passage. One highlight for Professors and Academic Support Educators is that the Teacher's Edition provides many useful tools that can be integrated into Bar Support Classes and Programs.
Professor Berman's two decades of experience is illuminated in this text and the teacher's manual. This resource can help make studying for the bar exam more manageable and less stressful. If you are thinking about starting a Bar Support Program at your law school, if you are a student seeking a framework for bar strategy and success, or a Professor who wants to integrate more bar support into your curriculum, this book is a great place to begin.
October 16, 2014 in Bar Exam Preparation, Books | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Thursday, October 9, 2014
Start spreading the news: The UBE in NY
New York is considering the adoption of the Uniform Bar Examination. That is one sentence I did not imagine that I would be writing in 2014. But, it is true. NY may be the 15th state to adopt the Uniform Bar Exam. The New York State Board of Law Examiners (SBLE) has recommended to the New York Court of Appeals that the current bar examination be replaced with the Uniform Bar Examination (UBE) beginning with the July 2015 administration. This news made me wonder, "What are the benefits of the UBE and why would a state like New York want to adopt it?"
The Uniform Bar Examination (UBE) is prepared by the National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE) to test the knowledge and skills that every lawyer should be able to demonstrate prior to becoming licensed to practice law. It is comprised of six Multistate Essay Examination (MEE) essays, two Multistate Performance Test (MPT) tasks, and the Multistate Bar Examination(MBE). It is uniformly administered, graded, and scored by user jurisdictions and results in a portable score that can be used by applicants who seek admission in jurisdictions that accept UBE scores.
When a law school graduate takes the UBE, they can use their UBE score to apply to other UBE jurisdictions for bar licensure. The following jurisdictions have adopted the UBE: Alabama; Alaska; Arizona; Colorado; Idaho; Minnesota; Missouri; Montana; Nebraska; New Hampshire; North Dakota; Utah; Washington; and Wyoming. With New York possibly on board and other states considering it, the UBE is beginning to look more like a national exam.
Since many law students do not yet know where they would like to practice law, the portability of an applicant's UBE score allows for more flexibility and mobility. Law graduates can take the UBE in any UBE jurisdiction and use their score to apply to as many UBE State Bar Associations as they would like. Instead of sitting for another bar exam, UBE licensed graduates can bypass a second test and apply directly for additional bar licenses with their UBE score.
However, other state specific requirements may also be required. For example, New York has proposed adding an additional New York specific one hour, 50 question, multiple choice test that would be given on the second day of the UBE. In order to practice in NY, an applicant would need to pass the UBE, with a score of 266, and score at least 60% on the state specific exam.
Avoiding a second bar exam is wise since bar exams are costly, excruciatingly difficult, and very time consuming. Taking the bar exam once is enough! The Uniform Bar Examination has many benefits- from portable scores, to multijurisdictional practice, to greater employment options. Having the UBE take a bite out of The Big Apple is a huge move in the right direction for this generation of law graduates.
If you would like to learn more about the Uniform Bar Examination, please visit The National Conference of Bar Examiners web-page at http://www.ncbex.org/about-ncbe-exams/ube/. If you would like to comment on New York's proposal to adopt the UBE, you can e-mail your comments to: email@example.com or write to: Diane Bosse, Chair, New York State Board of Law Examiners, Corporate Plaza, Building 3, 254 Washington Avenue Extension, Albany, NY 12203-5195. Submissions will be accepted until November 7, 2014.
October 9, 2014 in Bar Exam Issues, Bar Exam Preparation, Bar Exams, Current Affairs | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)


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This winter has been a particularly tough one for those in the Boston area, which has experienced 31 days and counting of heavy snow, ice, and deep freezes. The severe winter weather has not only claimed several lives, but also a number of the region's buildings—44 in a two-day span. In particular, the unanticipated and extreme snow and ice loads have taken their toll on the region's roofs, causing them to sag, leak, and collapse. The damage to municipal buildings can be seen through the city's drone footage.
Principal engineer at United Construction, in Newport, N.H., and editor of homeconstructionimprovement.com Todd Fratzel told The Boston Globe that his general rule of thumb is to clear snow topping 18 inches or more on low-pitch roofs. But a number of other factors related to a building's structural integrity should be considered before removing snow: a roof's shape, its slope, construction materials, maintenance, exposure to wind, and the type of snow that has accumulated. These variables can all cause snow-induced structural failures, according to a FEMA snow safety guide.
One of the great threats is what FEMA calls an "unbalanced snow loading," the condition in which snow amasses at different depths at different locations on a roof plane, resulting in a differential weight load. This uneven loading, which can be caused by drifting or sliding snow, poses a greater risk to the building's structural system than a uniform load.
The roof type also factors into its survival during severe winter weather. Steep roofs are more common in New England, which is a good thing since they can shed snow easier than are flat or low-slope roofs. According to the FEMA snow guide, a roof pitch that exceeds snow's angle of repose—30 degrees—will result in snow sliding.
However, tactile, abrasive roofing materials, such as asphalt shingles, will not shed snow as easily as a slippery surface, such as metal panels and single-ply membrane roofing. Snow guards or cleats, required by the Massachusetts building code in some instances, will also inhibit snow from sliding off the roof and damaging to subsequent structures or adjacent roofs.
A roof's thermal properties will also affect how much snow accumulates. Roofs that are well insulated generally retain more snow because heat from the conditioned building interior cannot reach the snow. Well-ventilated attics also preclude roof snow from melting as quickly because the attic space temperature will be close to ambient air temperature.
Local building codes across the stateweaetxdyvaydzcwq for residential roof snow loads range from 35 to 65 pounds per square foot (psf). According to the FEMA guide, 1 foot of fresh snow can weigh between 3 psf for light, dry snow and 21 psf for wet, heavy snow. Meanwhile, 1 inch of ice weighs comes in at a little less than 5 psf, and 1 foot of ice weighs around 57 psf. City planning departments have data tables that factor in truss size, pitch, and materials to calculate the roof loads.
Clearing accumulations from a roof can sometimes be more hazardous than beneficial as it poses serious threats to those doing the work and to the roof itself. Snow removal can result in serious and even fatal injuries, as well as roof collapses. Volunteer organizations, such as All Hands, have created immediate disaster-relief projects to help the disabled and elderly with snow removal from roofs. All Hands communications and marketing associate Kaitlin Robbins says that since the rapid response project began two weeks ago, volunteers and staff members have put in a collective 650 hours of work. A big focus has been on clearing roofs, which has proved to be a bigger issue than initially anticipated.
Boston's worst storm this winter (Jan. 26–27) recorded 24.6 inches of snow, making it the sixth biggest blizzard in the city's history. Worchester, Mass., experienced nearly a foot more in that particular storm: a record-breaking 34.5 inches. This winter's snowfall in Boston totals about more than 8 feet—and counting.


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Attachment and early rearing: longitudinal effects in chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes)
Clay, Andrea Wolstenholme
MetadataShow full item record
Between the years of 1991 and 1995, two different chimpanzee nursery rearing strategies were employed by caregivers and research staff at the Yerkes National Primate Research Center. One of these strategies included, in addition to the basic care provided by both nurseries, an additional 4 hours of human contact for 5 days each week. This human contact was provided by caregivers instructed in the behavior of chimpanzee mothers toward their offspring and instructed to emulate that behavior as much as possible. Various measures of cognitive and motor development were taken during the first year of the nursery-reared chimpanzees' lives; additionally, a modified version of the Strange Situation Test, used to measure attachment, was used to assess the chimpanzees' attachment style to their primary human caregiver. Based on these measures, chimpanzees reared in the standard care nursery (without the additional human contact) were significantly more likely to exhibit disorganized attachment styles towards their human caregiver; additionally, the standard care chimpanzees displayed less advanced motor and cognitive development. The responsive care chimpanzees (reared with the additional human contact) developed cognitively and in terms of motor function at a faster rate than the standard care chimpanzees; they also exhibited less coping skills. After one year of rearing in these two nurseries, all the chimpanzees were reared in conspecific social groups and the differential nurseries were terminated. In 2011-2012, 22 out of 49 of the original chimpanzee subjects were reassessed in an attempt to determine of long term effects of these differential rearing styles could still be detected. Chimpanzees that were identified as exhibiting disorganized attachment at one year of age exhibited significantly higher rates of abnormal behavior as compared to those that did not exhibit a disorganized attachment style at one year of age. Chimpanzees reared in both nurseries exhibited significantly higher rates of abnormal behavior, solicitation of, and attendance to humans as compared to chimpanzees that were mother-reared. Additionally, chimpanzees reared in either nursery were rated by survey respondents as exhibiting significantly higher human orientation and significantly lower subjective well-being as compared to mother-reared chimpanzees. Finally, trends found in the data consistently indicated that chimpanzees reared with more extensive human contact (responsive care) exhibited higher rates of abnormal behavior, solicitation of, and attendance toward humans as compared to standard care chimpanzees. Trends also indicated consistently that responsive care subjects were scored higher on human orientation and lower on subjective well-being by survey respondents. Sign tests were conducted to explore these differences and consistent support was found for these trends as significant. Further research should be conducted to explore welfare-related issues as related to differential nursery rearing strategies for chimpanzees.


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We can help you to find a euphonium teacher in Isle Of Man and across the UK. First Tutors: Music profiles Isle Of Man euphonium teachers and others offering popular instruments like piano, violin and guitar. Grade and diploma euphonium lessons are all catered for across Isle Of Man as well as euphonium lessons just for fun. Please use our site to search for euphonium teachers near you and select which euphonium tutors best suit your needs.
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We list euphonium teachers throughout Isle Of Man according to their cost and proximity to you. Instruments include piano, violin and guitar for graded music exams or just for fun.
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Towns: Castletown, Douglas, Ramsey


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Download the Game Design and Indie Game Marketing Freebook 07/19/17GameDev.net and CRC Press have teamed up to bring a free ebook of content curated from top titles published by CRC Press. The freebook, Practices of Game Design & Indie Game Marketing, includes chapters from The Art of Game Design: A Book of Lenses, A Practical Guide to Indie Game Marketing, and An Architectural Approach to Level Design. The GameDev.net FreeBook is relevant to game designers, developers, and those interested in learning more about the challenges in game development. We know game development can be a tough discipline and business, so we picked several chapters from CRC Press titles that we thought would be of interest to you, the GameDev.net audience, in your journey to design, develop, and market your next game. The free ebook is available through CRC Press by clicking here. The Curated Books The Art of Game Design: A Book of Lenses, Second Edition, by Jesse Schell Presents 100+ sets of questions, or different lenses, for viewing a game's design, encompassing diverse fields such as psychology, architecture, music, film, software engineering, theme park design, mathematics, anthropology, and more. Written by one of the world's top game designers, this book describes the deepest and most fundamental principles of game design, demonstrating how tactics used in board, card, and athletic games also work in video games. It provides practical instruction on creating world-class games that will be played again and again. View it here. A Practical Guide to Indie Game Marketing, by Joel Dreskin Marketing is an essential but too frequently overlooked or minimized component of the release plan for indie games. A Practical Guide to Indie Game Marketing provides you with the tools needed to build visibility and sell your indie games. With special focus on those developers with small budgets and limited staff and resources, this book is packed with tangible recommendations and techniques that you can put to use immediately. As a seasoned professional of the indie game arena, author Joel Dreskin gives you insight into practical, real-world experiences of marketing numerous successful games and also provides stories of the failures. View it here. An Architectural Approach to Level Design This is one of the first books to integrate architectural and spatial design theory with the field of level design. The book presents architectural techniques and theories for level designers to use in their own work. It connects architecture and level design in different ways that address the practical elements of how designers construct space and the experiential elements of how and why humans interact with this space. Throughout the text, readers learn skills for spatial layout, evoking emotion through gamespaces, and creating better levels through architectural theory. View it here. Learn more and download the ebook by clicking here. Did you know? GameDev.net and CRC Press also recently teamed up to bring GDNet+ Members up to a 20% discount on all CRC Press books. Learn more about this and other benefits here.
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stormwarestudios replied to SinisterPride's topic in Game Design and TheoryThere was a game which accomplished the combat system you're after, called Die by the Sword, which gave you fine(esque) control over your weapons, and upper/lower torso (IIRC). I'd recommend trying it out if this is the combat style you're after. IMO the DbtS execution of combat was flaky at best. As far as your implementation goes, have you considered perhaps applying the equivalent of "mouse gestures" (or swiping on mobiles) to achieve the same effect? It'd be a little more intuitive, at the very least.
stormwarestudios replied to jamesdalby's topic in 2D and 3D ArtYou lack a forge (firepit + bellows) for your smithy. The oven IMO wouldn't cut it. Consider increasing the size of the building signpost icon (the Inn, for example) and exclude the text. It's hard to read, and the overall style calls for more symbolism in that regard. The cat statue is called "maneki neko", if you want to read up on it. I really like the style. Looking forward to playing the related game!
stormwarestudios replied to Tispe's topic in Networking and MultiplayerThere are no set answers to the components of your template, but I can maybe suggest ways to determine them. It's easy to answer "it depends" for each category, so I will try to offer something a little more insightful. Type of game might have influence over the packet communication protocol you develop; if the game is realtime, your packet design might be aggressively optimized to minimize bandwidth usage. Conversely, a low-traffic game can be more loosey-goosey with packet design optimization. Typically, clients will be requesting permission for things, whereas the server will be either responding to permission-requests, or simply updating the state of something as it sees fit. For example, a request from a player to move his avatar comes from a client; the server will respond with either (a) yes, or (b) no; in the case of (a) he will likely also update other clients with the new position of your avatar. Required connectivity is sort of unclear. More bandwidth is better, obviously, but (briefly) your server will need to be able to sustain, at a base minimum, a per-second send-speed at a rate R dictated by the largest packet byte size S, multiplied by the largest number of hosted clients C, multiplied by a minimum operations-per-second threshold T. For example, where S=100, C=16, T=30, then R=46kB/s. Required hardware is a mixed bag. Given the required S*C*T from above, the CPU shouldn't choke for particularly complex operations, or hang while managing something else in the OS (for example, a database, or an antivirus program). More importantly, your application should try to take advantage of hardware offerings (multiple processors, or CPU-specific features du jour) , where applicable. Required OS is determined by what your developers are familiar with targeting, what your technology development stack is compatible with, and what you want to pay for. An environment like Cygwin provides many UNIX-like functionalities on Windows hosts, and likewise environments like WINE offer Windows-like environments on Linux. .NET development is (arguably) more accessible on a Windows host, and languages like C, C++, Java, and PHP are everywhere. Servers should strive to utilize system resources as minimally as possible, hence servers which run in a console (i.e. GUI-less, or headless) could be considered a commonplace design. And in situations where a game-server attempts to be online at all times, it might be installed as a service on the host, available upon startup in the situation where the server must be (or is) rebooted. Required software depends on the technologies employed in your game server, but minimally you need a communications layer (HTTP, WebSockets, plain-old TCP socket server, UDP server, or something in between like ENet), a database (MySQL, MS-SQL, PostgreSQL, SQLite, Oracle, CouchDB, or a higher-level language-specific data-access library which offers something like ORM) if persistent storage is a concern, and possibly configuration file serialization library (for XML, JSON, INI, or whatever your game server uses). I hope I've offered food for thought. Looking forward to further discussion.
stormwarestudios replied to BinaryStorm's topic in Networking and MultiplayerSeconded. If you're writing abstractly enough, then swapping out portions of your network data-transmission module when your game reaches a point where security and/or performance are under scrutiny shouldn't be a big deal. The up-side is you've got a working game in a shorter amount of time, which lets you focus on more important things -- like finishing the game.
stormwarestudios commented on havsmonstret's blog entry in Modern RoguelikeCongratulations! You've discovered User Stories from Agile Software Development. :-) In its very basic form, a User Story is a concise, normal-English overview of a feature you want to implement, which includes the person involved who would normally use the feature, and the outcome you expect to achieve with the feature's implementation. The format is simple: "As a <user-type>, I want to be able to <feature>, so that I am able to <purpose>". For example, "as a Level Designer, I want to be able to view a minimap of my surroundings, so that I am able to quickly determine the surrounding area just outside line-of-sight of my current location in the game world". There are many methods to approaching User Story design, but a next logical step in the Agile development methodology is breaking down a User Story into individual tasks, sort of a check-list of To Do's which go toward implementing that User Story and achieving that goal. A rule of thumb for defining tasks, no task can be too small. In the past, disorganized individuals came across the same organizational problems you've encountered, and invented an entire project management methodology to help them achieve the goal of shipping a project on-time. You'd do well to read up a little bit of what Agile really is, and how it can help you get your thoughts organized on paper. Good luck, and happy coding!
stormwarestudios replied to jdturner11's topic in Game Design and TheoryI prefer minimalistic character instantiation coupled with evolution through gameplay choices. A: Consider a character creation system whereby the player makes cosmetic choices for his character, then enters the game. Through active game-play, the character encourages development in particular skills by their frequency of usage, frequency of success or failure, or other usage-based characteristics. The player might achieve levels of proficiency, or unlock items/perks based on skill achievement. B: Conversely, the classic D&D-influenced system of rigidity where, because the player chose class X, he is completely unable to perform a task limited only to class Y. Furthermore, he can perform a specific set of skills, and learning new skills outside that realm are impossible (or heavily penalized). My personal preference is A, because it lends to more incremental character development; the player is constantly seeing small gains throughout the character's life.
stormwarestudios replied to Michael Tanczos's topic in GDNet Comments, Suggestions, and IdeasRSS I joined GD in 2000 under an old defunct account (it might have been called MatrixCubed?) and have seen many changes, the vast majority of them positive. About the time the most recent changes came into play, I started taking an interest in aggregating my intake of various sites using RSS feeds. The current offering for GD's forum posts is only a single "GD Forum RSS" URL; I'd like to see the RSS offering expanded to support individual forums. Theme I miss the old "classic black" GD theme. It was mentioned previously in this thread; I'd like to add my voice to that request. Web and HTML5 With the continued expansion of web technologies, it would be nice to see separate forums which focus on web-specific technologies (Canvas, Audio, Video, WebSockets, Workers, Unity3D, NaCL, and so on). I suppose forum tags could be used to facilitate related searches, but there are many subtle differences between developing for a platform and developing for the web which I feel warrant their own space. Note that my above request does not concern web design, but rather developing games using latest web technologies. Thanks again for a great 2012; looking forward to 2013! :-)
stormwarestudios posted a topic in Your AnnouncementsHey all, So I've been plugging away at my project, Tempest Game Engine, and I've pieced together a tech demo. I've posted about it here (my blog is here), and a video is here. If there's enough interest in the technologies employed to pull this off, I will write up a short technical paper. Disclaimer: I'm not really looking for performance stats, as I have a number of performance improvements planned. I'm also certain that it mightn't work in non-(Chrome/Firefox) browsers, so don't be surprised if it doesn't, because I'm not. :-) I've tested it in Chrome and Firefox (on Windows 7 as well as Android ICS), but any curiosities which arise would certainly be appreciated. Thanks! - Peter
stormwarestudios replied to danromeo's topic in Graphics and GPU ProgrammingWhile I can't assist with the lost .cs file, have you considered looking into a revision-control source repository? A little self-discipline goes a long way, and it beats the pants off standard backups.
stormwarestudios replied to coraythan's topic in For BeginnersI posted a thorough response to such a question just this week; see [url="http://www.gamedev.net/topic/622793-web-game-development-advice/page__view__findpost__p__4927568"]here[/url].
stormwarestudios replied to Landon Patmore's topic in General and Gameplay ProgrammingIt sounds like you need to investigate different methods of managing game levels for your game, before you ask this question. Identify the type of game you are making. Your levels are likely tile-based, so you need to investigate tile-based level management. Start with 2D arrays, and go from there. This sort of thing shouldn't be SDK-specific, as it is more or less a building-block (no pun intended) of 2D games.
[quote name='Servant of the Lord' timestamp='1333403480' post='4927655'] Neither is C#, though C# is somewhat better (Unity plugin, and I don't know what else, but it seems Microsoft designed C# for web support as well). Python I don't have a clue about, though I imagine it's in the same boat as C#. Java is much better suited for web games, at least presently. [/quote] Can you qualify this statement? Specifically, why do you feel C# is unsuitable for web-based games? Are you talking client or server? If you're talking client, then I wholeheartedly agree; Java or Flash are the ways to go. But server is a different story (as would be C++; for the most part, you require a HTTP, WebSocket, or CometD server for communications).
stormwarestudios replied to AgentC's topic in Engines and MiddlewareLast time I touched Ogre (2-3 years ago) it possessed very competent terrain rendering capabilities. If anything, it's engineered quite brilliantly; I'm sure with minor investigation to see its current state, I would recommend it again.
stormwarestudios replied to firstname.lastname@example.com's topic in General and Gameplay ProgrammingShort version: Bite the bullet, and use libraries. Long(er) version: Are you writing a game, or writing an engine? If your answer is the former, why re-create the wheel by doing what has already been done? If your answer is the latter, well... carry on.