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There seems to be no respite to the current Eighties revival. From the Ting Tings, garishly framed glasses and deck shoes, to casual football hooliganism, a global recession and Conservative Government, it seems we can't escape similarities to that decade.
Even heroin is having a mini revival.
And, as they say, "if you can remember the 80s, you… still have nightmares about fluorescent leg warmers."
But there's one massive aspect of that period that hasn't made much of a comeback; tabletop role-playing games.
In the early 1980s, Dungeons & Dragons, Call of Cthulhu, Traveller, Runequest, and a whole smorgasbord of other RPGs, were to teenage boys what alcopops and under-age sexual encounters are to today's generation.
We didn't need to go on stabbing sprees, we had fictional orcs to brawl. And, if we were really lucky (with our twenty-sided die) we might even have been treated to a description of a comely wench's ample bosom, delivered by another teenage boy, in the guise of a Dungeon Master.
As good as role-playing sessions were, though, they took an awful lot of preparation. And you'd need a big collection of other similarly-minded geekagers to have a half-decent adventure.
That's where Fighting Fantasy Gamebooks came in…
Fighting Fantasy: The Warlock of Firetop Mountain
- Format
- iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad
- Price
- £1.79
- Where
- iTunes
Back in 1982, The Warlock of Firetop Mountain hit bookstores and created a huge sensation. It was a cross between the Choose your own Adventure novels coming into the UK via the States (giving multiple options, and subsequent page numbers, after each chapter), and a role-playing game, with character stats and dice-rolling aplenty.
Its success spawned a run of Fighting Fantasy Gamebooks that lasted for 59 separate titles and 13 years. Now it has found a new medium and audience in the guise of an iPhone and iPad app, and it's not just a nostalgic look back for a grown-up geek, there's proper gameplay in there too.
Keeping true to the original, the heart of the application, on both iPhone and iPad formats, is an ebook. The text is identical to the original paperback, as are the pics, albeit tarted up and coloured in. However, the dice rolling is integrated (shake the device and they spin across the screen), as is character management. And the choices at the end or during the chapter, including fight or flee, are hot links.
That's really all there is to it. If you're not a big reader, you won't get on very well with TWOFM, if you are, there's plenty of entertainment therein.
One criticism would be that there's no auto mapping function. The book rather relies on you knowing where you are in the dungeon at any given time, and avid fans back then will have had a pencil and graph paper to hand. When you're on a train now though, you're not likely to get out an exercise book and plunge into a world of cartography, with your iPhone in one hand, quill in the other. Considering the technology, it would've been simple to have created an in-game auto map as you go.
Nonetheless, mapping issues aside, this is an excellent app to rekindle the love for traditional role-playing games, and with another two books in the series already available too, Citadel of Chaos and Deathtrap Dungeon, let's hope it continues to build.
Now, where did I put my lead figurines?


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Gonzalo Higuain: 'Arsenal target' valued at £80m by Napoli
- From the section European Football
Arsenal must pay Napoli 94m euros (£80m) to sign Argentina striker Gonzalo Higuain, according to a source close to the Italian club.
Reports on Tuesday suggested the 28-year-old's representatives are set for talks with the English side.
"There are no direct offers," the source told BBC Sport.
"Only by meeting the release clause of 94,376,000 euros will the player leave Napoli. Otherwise Higuain will stay for the remaining two years of his deal."
Gareth Bale's £85m move from Tottenham to Real Madrid in 2013 is the most expensive transfer in football history, surpassing the £80m Real paid Manchester United for Cristiano Ronaldo in 2009.
In 2013, then Real Madrid forward Higuain agreed personal terms with Arsenal, but joined Napoli after the Gunners failed to make an offer.
Last season, Higuain won the Capocannoniere - Serie A's golden boot - after scoring a league record 36 goals as Napoli finished runners-up to Juventus.
Meanwhile, Napoli have not received any offers for 25-year-old Senegal centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly, who has been linked with Everton and Chelsea.

subset: commoncrawl


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iSCSI-optimised switch
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WASHINGTON — Retired Gen. H. Norman Schwarzkopf, who topped an illustrious military career by commanding the U.S.-led international coalition that drove Saddam Hussein's forces out of Kuwait in 1991 but kept a low public profile in controversies over the second Gulf War against Iraq, died Thursday. He was 78.
A sister of Schwarzkopf, Ruth Barenbaum of Middlebury, Vt., said that he died in Tampa, Fla., from complications from pneumonia. "We're still in a state of shock," she said by phone. "This was a surprise to us all."
A West Point graduate, Schwarzkopf returned to academy to teach missile engineering.
A much-decorated combat soldier in Vietnam, Schwarzkopf was known popularly as "Stormin' Norman" for a notoriously explosive temper.
He served in his last military assignment in Tampa as commander-in-chief of U.S. Central Command, the headquarters responsible for U.S. military and security concerns in nearly 20 countries from the eastern Mediterranean and Africa to Pakistan.
Schwarzkopf became "CINC-Centcom" in 1988 and when Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait three years later to punish it for allegedly stealing Iraqi oil reserves, he commanded Operation Desert Storm, the coalition of some 30 countries organized by President George H.W. Bush that succeeded in driving the Iraqis out.
At the peak of his postwar national celebrity, Schwarzkopf — a self-proclaimed political independent — rejected suggestions that he run for office, and remained far more private than other generals, although he did serve briefly as a military commentator for NBC.
While focused primarily in his later years on charitable enterprises, he campaigned for President George W. Bush in 2000 but was ambivalent about the 2003 invasion of Iraq, saying he doubted victory would be as easy as the White House and Pentagon predicted. In early 2003 he told the Washington Post the outcome was an unknown:
"What is postwar Iraq going to look like, with the Kurds and the Sunnis and the Shiites? That's a huge question, to my mind. It really should be part of the overall campaign plan," he said.
Initially Schwarzkopf had endorsed the invasion, saying he was convinced that former Secretary of State Colin Powell had given the United Nations powerful evidence of Iraqi weapons of mass destruction. After that proved false, he said decisions to go to war should depend on what U.N. weapons inspectors found.
He seldom spoke up during the conflict, but in late 2004, he sharply criticized then-Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and the Pentagon for mistakes that included inadequate training for Army reservists sent to Iraq and for erroneous judgments.
"In the final analysis I think we are behind schedule. ... I don't think we counted on it turning into jihad (holy war)," he said in an NBC interview.
Schwarzkopf was born Aug. 24, 1934, in Trenton, N.J., where his father, Col. H. Norman Schwarzkopf Jr., founder and commander of the New Jersey State Police, was then leading the investigation of the Lindbergh kidnap case, which ended with the arrest and 1936 execution of German-born carpenter Richard Hauptmann for stealing and murdering the famed aviator's infant son.
The elder Schwarzkopf was named Herbert, but when the son was asked what his "H'' stood for, he would reply, "H." Although reputed to be short-tempered with aides and subordinates, he was a friendly, talkative and even jovial figure who didn't like "Stormin' Norman" and preferred to be known as "the Bear," a sobriquet given him by troops.
As a teenager Norman accompanied his father to Iran, where the elder Schwarzkopf trained the country's national police force and was an adviser to Reza Pahlavi, the young Shah of Iran.
Young Norman studied there and in Switzerland, Germany and Italy, then followed in his father's footsteps to West Point. In 1966 he volunteered for Vietnam and served two tours, first as a U.S. adviser to South Vietnamese paratroops and later as a battalion commander in the U.S. Army's Americal Division. He earned three Silver Stars for valor — including one for saving troops from a minefield — plus a Bronze Star, a Purple Heart and three Distinguished Service Medals.
After Saddam invaded Kuwait in August 1990, Schwarzkopf played a key diplomatic role by helping to persuade Saudi Arabia's King Fahd to allow U.S. and other foreign troops to deploy on Saudi territory as a staging area for the war to come.
On Jan. 17, 1991, a five-month buildup called Desert Shield became Operation Desert Storm as allied aircraft attacked Iraqi bases and Baghdad government facilities. The six-week aerial campaign climaxed with a massive ground offensive on Feb. 24-28, routing the Iraqis from Kuwait in 100 hours before U.S. officials called a halt.
'Stormin' Norman' dies at 78
WASHINGTON — Retired Gen. H. Norman Schwarzkopf, who topped an illustrious military career by commanding the U.S.-led international coalition that drove Saddam Hussein's forces out of Kuwait in 1991 but kept a low public profile in controversies over the second Gulf War against Iraq, died Thursday. He was 78.


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Motorola RAZR vs iPhone 4S – Build
Don't let the RAZR's sliver-like form fool you. Yes, it's just 7.1mm thick but Moto's latest smartphone should hold it's own against the sturdy iPhone 4S in drop tests. The RAZR's back is made from Kevlar plus there's Gorilla Glass over the screen and even a special coating, called Splash Guard, to protect the RAZR's precious insides.
As for design, the iPhone 4S has kept the iPhone 4's slick but solid build with one home button. The RAZR has instead gone for super-slim with a bump up top with four capacitive Android buttons below the screen. Which handset you prefer will depend on whether you like a bit more room in your pocket or you're willing to sacrifice space for the iPhone's minimalist looks.
Motorola RAZR vs iPhone 4S – Screen
Until we check out the RAZR's qHD and Super AMOLED display, we can't comment on the screen quality – but we're excited about how it will square up to the iPhone 4S's Retina Display. Expect vivid colours and stunning 960x540 resolution.
As for size, Motorola wins hands-down – the RAZR packs a 4.3in screen, taking up most of its front side whereas we didn't get the increase in size that we were hoping for from Apple – so we're stuck with 3.5in movies and music videos.
Motorola RAZR vs iPhone 4S – Power and performance
The RAZR's 1.2GHz dual-core processor and the iPhone 4S' dual-core A5 chip shoot them both straight to the top of the class in terms of performance – both phones should let you browse, run apps and play games without any lag or irritating crashes.
Motorola has packed 1GB of RAM into the RAZR versus 512MB for the iPhone 4S and while the iPhone 4S is available in 16GB, 32GB and 64GB models, the RAZR has 16GB of storage and will play nice with a 16GB micro-SD card.
The RAZR edges ahead of the iPhone 4S in terms of battery life – its 1780mAh battery lets you spout nonsense for 12.5 hours of talktime and lasts for almost 9 hours of video playback. The iPhone 4S does improve on its predecessor – it can now last 8 hours of talktime on 3G and 14 hours on 2G.
Motorola RAZR vs iPhone 4S – OS and apps
Apps-wise, developers still tend to start with an iOS app or game before moving onto Android but both the App Store and the Android Market now offer more choice than you'll ever need, with new additions flying at us daily.
As for OS, we were satisfied enough with a Gingerbread-toting Motorola RAZR but now we've learned that RAZR owners will be enjoying some Ice Cream Sandwich action come early 2012 we're torn between the two big mobile operating systems.
iOS 5 brought some slick, useful features to the iPhone – like iMessage, a pull-down notifications bar, smooth Twitter integration, Newsstand and on the iPhone 4S, the voice-activated assistant Siri.
With Android's just-announced Ice Cream Sandwich, we're getting excited about features like resizeable and scrollable widgets, folders for your apps, new photo editing functions, a revamped contacts book and up to 16 tabs for web browsing. Watch this space for an Android 4.0 hands-on.
Motorola RAZR vs iPhone 4S – Camera
Another close call, both the RAZR and the iPhone 4S sport a 8MP rear camera and both have made the leap to shooting 1080p HD video. And while Ice Cream Sandwich does have a new photo editor, with live effects, panoramic mode and instant Google+ upload, there are so many photo editing and effects apps for both iOS and Android that either could easily replace your ageing compact.
VERDICT Our hands-on time with the RAZR (minus Ice Cream Sandwich, for now) will give us more of an idea of how much we want one but already Motorola has unleashed an impressive spec sheet on us. It matches the iPhone 4S on performance, camera and build and edges ahead with its superior battery life and bigger screen. So if your feet are firmly planted on Android's soil, the Samsung Galaxy Nexus isn't your only top-end option this year.
You may also like
Motorola RAZR is officially launched
Need to Know – Ice Cream Sandwich
Need to Know – Samsung Galaxy Nexus


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Expert Advice
HOW-TO: Celeb Stylist's Holiday Chignon
NYC celebrity hairdresser Josue Perez, who has styled Hollywood royalty like Gwyneth Paltrow, Cameron Diaz and Sarah Jessica Parker, suggests relying on the low chignon as a go-to for your clients during this upcoming holiday season stretch.
"Face framing chignon buns are a perfect and classic look appropriate for any holiday party—from the office party to gift swaps to New Year's Eve," says Josue, a brand ambassador for Rowenta Beauty. So whether you're styling a matriarch for a family Thanksgiving dinner or an ingenue to watch the ball drop at Times Square, the timeless, ageless chignon is a great choice. It's up to you and your client to decide whether to class it up, scale it down or rock it out!
The look is a staple on the red carpet, with actresses Jessica Alba and pre-pixie Jennifer Lawrence rockin' it regularly.
Earlier this month, Taylor Swift wore a low chignon to this year's CMAs,
while actress Emily Osment did the same at the L.A. premiere of The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.
Across the pond, Kate Middleton is a big fan of the chignon, whether simple and smooth or ornately braided.
Josue Perez shares the steps he used for fashioning this look for actress Rosario Dawson.
STEP 1: Create soft waves and curl the ends of the hair with the Rowenta Versa Style Iron, which will protect the hair against damage.
STEP 2: Establish a heavy side part, and pull hair low and slightly to the side, leaving some hair loose on the opposite side.
STEP 3: Twist the hair into a bun, and hold securely with bobby pins.


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|Exceeding Expectations Since 1993
Italy Vacation Rentals - Certified Homes, Villas, & Apartments
Classy Tuscan Rental in Chianti, Italy
Porta del Chianti, as the name implies, is a stylish and inviting doorway into the fabled Chianti region amid old-world charm, modern comforts and unforgettable views. Majestically situated on a lush outcrop, the estate dates back to 1602 and has been refashioned into vacation apartments with a winery and olive oil mill next door. The grounds encompass 250 acres laden with walking paths among the vines and over 5000 olive trees yielding the highest quality oil. All of this beauty is enhanced by Porta del Chianti's highly desirable location. It lies in sight of San Gimignano's ancient towers and is midway between Florence and Siena with many medieval hill towns in close proximity.
In four cottages, 10 fully restored apartments showcasing ancient wood beams and terracotta floors contain atttractive furnishings, window screens, air conditioning, built-in hair dryers and WiFi access. Three units have two bedrooms and two bathrooms. The remaining units have one bedroom with Trebbiano being the largest one. Please let us know if your group requires minimal steps or access for a wheelchair.
Outdoor dining areas are along the garden perimeter. Both inside and out, the entire estate is meticulously maintained in like-new condition and is environmentally friendly. Solar panels supply more than half of the energy consumed. For guests, this translates into the added benefit of all utilities being included in the rental price. This expertly managed property anticipates and meets the needs of guests and is a perfect introduction to Italy's seductive charms for any first time traveler. On the other hand, those with more experience will instantly recognize the great value offered by Porta del Chianti and its ideal location for limitless day trips in Tuscany.
All guests are welcomed with a wine and olive oil tour and tasting. Nine different types of wine including Chianti Classico as well as grappa, Vin Santo and olive oil are produced on-site and are available for purchase. Shipping is possible to those states that allow it.
Among the many positive attributes of Porta del Chianti, one of the most notable is the courteous and attentive English speaking staff. At the reception office, open weekdays, guests may sign up for private use of the community billiard room, a barbecue pit, six mountain bikes and fishing rods for the estate's small tranquil lake. If ordered at the time of booking, they can easily arrange for a continental buffet breakfast, dinners and cooking classes in the estate's dining hall, opened upon request with advance notice. Set behind the winery, a large, gradually deepening pool with a cabana housing baths and changing rooms welcomes the first bathers on May 1st of each year.
Within a five minute drive is the tiny village of Marcialla with a caffè bar, a bank, a bakery, a restaurant and the medieval church of Santa Maria with numerous works of art including a self portrait by Michelangelo Buonarotti. A ten minute drive leading to the Florence-Siena toll-free highway passes the town of Tavarnelle Val di Pesa with a couple of restaurants and a supermarket, open on most Sundays. The charming hill towns of Barberino Val d'Elsa or San Donato in Poggio each with a couple of restaurants are a mere eight minutes away by car. San Casciano Val di Pesa is a 20 minute drive and has a Monday morning outdoor market and frequent bus service to Florence. The driving time to Colle Val d'Elsa is 20 minutes; San Gimignano, Castellina in Chianti, Greve in Chianti or Monteriggioni: 30; Florence: 40; Siena: 45; Arezzo or Volterra: 60; Lucca or Pisa: 70; the Tuscan coast: 90; Cortona or Montepulciano: 100; Cinque Terre, Milan or Rome: three hours.
A tourist tax collected by the town is paid separately on the first seven nights. Children under age 14 are exempt.
The links to view the other rental apartments on this estate:- Porta del Chianti - Grappa for 4
- Porta del Chianti - San Giovese for 4
- Porta del Chianti - Trebbiano for 2
Technical Description
Property Details
» Pluses
» Minuses
Location Info
» Map
» Parking
» Heat
» Screens
» Phone
Home Details
» Kitchen
Available Services
» Meals
» Cleaning
Outdoor Details
» Views
» Pool
» Bikes


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Merrillville Visual Arts Lessons
Looking for private in-home or in-studio lessons? Our Merrillville teachers are ready to get you started. Find your teacher today!
Featured On
How it Works
From finding the perfect teacher to managing payments, scheduling and tracking your progress, we take care of all the details, so you can focus on learning. Learn More
Search for a teacher
Compare hundreds of teachers based on the criteria that matter to you, including background checks, age and experience.
Schedule your lessons
When you've found the perfect match, schedule your lessons online using the teacher's real-time availability.
Connect with your teacher
Your teacher will welcome you with a personalized curriculum to meet your specific goals and you'll be able to manage your entire schedule through our free online account.
Can't find a teacher in Merrillville?
No problem. Our online lesson platform connects you with any teacher, anywhere. All you need is a reliable Internet connection, a webcam and a microphone.
Zero travel time is great for a busy schedule.
Typically priced lower than local lessons.
Online students stick with lessons as long as local students.
Visual Arts Lesson Reviews from Students
Students are raving about their Visual Arts instructors on TakeLessons. Check out some of these recent reviews.
Review by Kelsey
"I've known Hector for a few years now, and I haven't met anyone as passionate when it comes to his work.
Hector puts forth 110% towards his work and stu
Hector puts forth 110% towards his work and stu
dents to ensure quality material. He is patient, and is more than happy to clarify any questions.
Not only does his passion lies within teaching, but he is continulusly striving to learn new things. He loves to analyze complex sciences and the world around him, and as an outcome he formulates fascinating theories. Not only is a great teacher, but a friend who truly inspires those around him."
Not only does his passion lies within teaching, but he is continulusly striving to learn new things. He loves to analyze complex sciences and the world around him, and as an outcome he formulates fascinating theories. Not only is a great teacher, but a friend who truly inspires those around him."
Chicago, IL teacher: Hector P.
Review by Jasmine Powell
"I have really enjoyed my drawing lessons with Kelvin! He is very detailed in his instruction and ensures that his students learn the essential skills nece
ssary to become good drawers. He is very encouraging and honest in his feedback. I appreciate his transparency when critiquing my work. I need to hear the truth in order to get better. When I draw something that he is astounded by, I will know that I have truly earned his respect. My lessons fly by because we're having such a good time. I'm enjoying the journey."
Chicago, IL teacher: Kelvin L.
Review by Laura
"David worked hard to teach my Grandson the fundamentals of drawing and painting. David made the lessons fun and interesting!"
Chicago, IL teacher: David Z.
Review by Joanne
"Excellent art class and affordable. My daughter had fun and learned about art too! She especially liked doing the pastel drawing in the outdoor garden."
Chicago, IL teacher: Vicky M.
Review by Debby
"Clear , easy to follow online instructions . Great original subject choice . I would highly recommend David as a tutor . I must add he is a very talented
and original style artist ."
Chicago, IL teacher: David Z.
Review by Ashlee
"Blake is a great teacher. He made me so determined to learn more and to get better in my craft. I started to become excited and always looked forward till
our next lesson because I knew I would come out knowing way more than I did before. If you are unsure and/or new to this, I would 100% recommend Blake!"
Chicago, IL teacher: Blake M.
Review by Courtney
"David is an excellent artist who has years of experience in teaching art. I have been a student for 3 years and I have come so far as an artist. David has
taught me how to see the world in a different light. I have and would recommend anybody who has an interest in art to take lessons from David. He is able to take anybody with the passion to become the artist they strive to be. He is an amazing teacher!"
Chicago, IL teacher: David Z.
Review by Jaden
"Enjoyed immensely! Kelvin is talented, energetic, experienced and very encouraging!"
Chicago, IL teacher: Kelvin L.
Review by Karl
"Very pleasant , very intuitive , and very encouraging. He cares and tries hard to accommodate and customize his teaching."
Chicago, IL teacher: Kelvin L.
And they're not alone!
Our teachers have taught
2 , 6 1 3 , 3 3 4


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March 13, 2014
White birch cordwood. Small wood, cold fuel
Side ignition. Newspaper 3/4 up the kindling pile.
42.4 lbs including 3.75 lbs kindling
15.5% moisture.
Stack temperature corrected for height.
Pisla HTT 602 door, 22" wide
Austrian eco firebox, see http://www.heatkit.com/research/lopez-2014-03-01.html
Custom air frame, setup "D"
Rear grate closed
Note the PM number is an estimate, as Filter 3 was not weighed clean.
Condar Spreadsheet
Animation, 5 minute intervals. Newspaper is located 3/4 up the kindling stack.
TESTO Excel data file
Testo gas graph, entire cyle.
Opacity graph.
White birch cordwood. Largest pieces were placed at the bottom, smallest pieces at the top.
Stacked in firebox
Burn sequence 5 minute intervals
This page was updated on April 2, 2014
This page was created on April 2, 2014


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Neptune-based hydraulic and pneumatic seals manufacturer Sterling Consolidated Corp. announced today it has secured a $2.45 million senior secured note from Customers Bancorp Inc. The capital will be used to refinance existing debt, acquisitions and related costs.
According to the announcement, the terms of the transaction include a stepped up line of credit to $1.25 million with a variable rate of 3.75 percent initially, as well as a $1.2 million commercial mortgage with a rate of 4.5 percent termed out over five years. The financing closed on October 9.The transaction was arranged and negotiated by New York based advisory services firm, Madison Park Advisors LLC.


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Mike Matheny pulled into the parking lot at 5:30 a.m. Monday, eager to start his second season as the St. Louis Cardinals manager.
"My family is not with me so basically all I have to do is sleep," Matheny said. "I'd rather be here getting something done than lying around somewhere."
Not long after he arrived, several of his pitchers and catchers started showing up. With the first official workout on Tuesday, Matheny was impressed when he saw the amount of players working out.
"Jason Motte came running in in a panic asking if he was running late," Matheny said. "That's a nice feeling. You want to see the young players eager. You want to make an impression, you want to be seen, you want to show what you can do. Sometimes coming early is the best way to do that."
It wasn't just the young players. Catcher Yadier Molina and pitchers like Adam Wainwright and Jake Westbrook were on the field and in the weight room. Molina and Wainwright have been here for several days.
"When Yadi is the first one in the cage and he says he has to earn a starting position. . If he says that then every one of these guys have to say the same thing," Matheny said.
The Cardinals made another deep run in the playoffs last year, losing Game 7 of the NLCS to San Francisco after building a 3-1 series lead.
"When you're one win away from making the World Series it sticks with you all off season," pitcher Lance Lynn said.
The team learned last week that veteran starter Chris Carpenter likely will not pitch this season after experiencing pain in his right arm, a flare up of the nerve issue that limited him to six games in 2012. Losing Carpenter leaves a gaping hole in the rotation with Wainwright, Jaime Garcia and Westbrook at the top, Lynn a favorite to fill the fourth spot and three others — Shelby Miller, Joe Kelly and Trevor Rosenthal — vying for the fifth starter.
"With the group we have, even minus Carp, we're still good," Westbrook said. "And the kids we have, the ceiling is high. It will be fun to watch."
Until Carpenter went down, the biggest news was first baseman Lance Berkman signing with the Rangers, utility man Skip Schumaker being traded to the Dodgers and the continued free agency of pitcher Kyle Lohse, a 16-game winner last season who has yet to sign.
Also at camp Monday was Matt Carpenter, who is hoping to push Daniel Descalso at second base. Matt Carpenter played five different positions last season and just five games at second base.
"We have young guys who have the opportunity now and I'm excited to watch them compete," Matheny said. "You throw athletes into a situation like this and you put the pressure on, that's usually when they rise to the top."


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In the recession-battered neighborhoods of north Minneapolis, where property values plummeted further than almost anywhere in the Twin Cities, one real estate investor's deals appear to defy gravity.
Starting in 2008, a retired Minneapolis police officer and longtime landlord named Robert M. Anderson went on a buying spree, snapping up 30 troubled houses on the North Side for just $775,000. Though each of the properties had been through foreclosure, Anderson was able to quickly resell those houses for $2.3 million. From 2006 to 2010, the median sales price of a house in that area fell 56 percent.
The transactions were hardly typical. Anderson financed the deals himself, with buyers usually agreeing to pay interest rates of 10 percent, twice the rate for conventional home loans. Instead of a 30-year mortgage, most buyers were given just five years to pay off their loans. Deals required no appraisals and no title searches. If buyers fail to make a payment, they can be out on the street in 60 days, not six months to a year.
Such terms are legal through a little-known financial instrument known as a contract for deed, an increasingly popular way of selling property to people who can't get a bank loan. In 2011, a total of 649 properties in Hennepin County sold through a contract for deed, the highest figure in a decade.
The terms of Anderson's deals are troubling to some North Side leaders, as well as those who advocate on behalf of low-income residents. Critics say loose regulations surrounding contracts for deed mean that many buyers are woefully uninformed.
The May 22 tornado scrambled the housing market in north Minneapolis when it damaged more than 3,700 properties, but most expect it will only intensify the existing need for affordable housing, and the potential for speculation.
Barb Johnson, president of the Minneapolis City Council, said Anderson is one of many investors who have exploited vulnerable residents on the city's North Side. "You've got people in circumstances who need housing, and they will be taken advantage of by these predatory actors in this real estate marketplace," Johnson said.
Anderson, 70, declined to comment. But Minneapolis real estate agent Larry Lees, who helped orchestrate the deals, said Anderson helped people buy homes when banks refused to lend. "I don't think they're predatory at all," Lees said.
Lees said he is not a "big fan" of contracts for deed, but he said Anderson can't be blamed if his customers failed to understand what they were getting into. "It's all right there on the contract," said Lees, owner of Camden Homes Realty.
Each month, records show, Anderson is entitled to collect at least $22,000 in payments on his 30 properties. While he holds the titles, Anderson is not subject to any of the rules governing landlords, who can be forced to repair properties that don't meet city standards. So far, property records show, at least eight buyers have given their homes back to Anderson, losing whatever equity they had accumulated. Many of the buyers were immigrants with limited English.
A feisty landlord
Anderson's real estate dealings have rankled local leaders for two decades.
In 1990, the police chief and City Council members publicly criticized Anderson, then a crime prevention officer, for his management of an apartment building where rampant drug dealing, assaults and other mayhem made it one of the top locations in the city for police visits. One neighbor called it a "godsend" when the place burned down in 1996. Tenants and neighbors also complained about some of Anderson's other rental properties.
Anderson fought back. He worked with a feisty group of low-rent landlords to form the Minneapolis Property Rights Action Committee, which in 1995 sued the city to overturn its requirement that all landlords obtain a city license. That suit was dismissed.
Anderson left the Minneapolis police in the mid-1990s, records show. He now lives in Cape Coral, Fla., but he still has an apartment in downtown Minneapolis. He has just one rental property in Minneapolis, according to city records.
Today, his real estate holdings are concentrated on the embattled North Side, where banks have repossessed block after block of Victorians, bungalows and ramblers. On average, Anderson paid just $25,800 per house. An 871-square-foot house on Aldrich Avenue North cost him just $9,500.
Lees said the houses were no bargains, claiming each required at least $50,000 to $60,000 in work.
"The furnace is gone, the copper's all stolen out of it, the roof is shot, the windows need to be replaced," Lees said.
According to city records, Anderson received approval to start five-figure renovations on at least one of the properties. No city building permits were issued to eight of his properties. That means that apart from electrical work, any legal renovation had to be limited to minor repairs, such as painting or installing new cabinets.
Despite what some occupants described as minimal renovations, Anderson was able to quickly flip his properties for big profits through contracts for deed, records show. Eight of the homes resold in 30 days or less.
To cover loan costs, property taxes and insurance, buyers agreed to pay Anderson $729 to $1,062 a month, records show.
Most buyers also agreed to give Anderson the money if they received an $8,000 federal tax credit, which Congress created in 2008 to help revive the housing market. Lees, however, said 90 percent of the buyers never applied for the credits. "That was a flop," he said.
Eight of the North Side properties that Anderson flipped in recent years sustained minor damage from the May 22 tornado, city records show.
'Not going to cry about $6,000'
Last May, Anderson paid a bank $34,000 for a house on N. 6th Street. He sold it on a contract for deed to Dawn Ratka in March for $125,000. Ratka, 25, said she's happy with the place, which has a remodeled porch, new carpet and a built-in china cabinet.
"I'm trying to settle down in a home and I don't have enough credit" to get a bank loan, Ratka said. She said she's resigned to forfeiting her down payment if she loses the house. "I guess I'm not going to cry about $6,000," she said.
Also using contracts for deed to sell homes on the North Side is the Greater Metropolitan Housing Corporation (GMHC), a nonprofit affordable housing developer. Its interest rates are about 7.5 percent, but buyers have to pay off their loan within three years. Of 31 contracts signed in the last three years, just one buyer has given back the house, said GMHC's Gary Beatty.
Minneapolis attorney Larry Wertheim, who specializes in contracts for deed, said most people who enter into the contracts don't understand the risks.
To protect buyers, Wertheim supported state legislation that would have required a 10-day waiting period for transactions and better disclosure. If buyers missed a payment, the disclosure read, "you could lose all the money you have already paid, lose your ownership rights; and immediately be evicted." The bills died in committee.
Church helped find buyers
At least a dozen of the people who bought homes from Anderson have ties to Alfa Y Omega, a north Minneapolis church with a predominantly Hispanic congregation.
The deals were touted by members as an opportunity for home ownership. Church secretary Nanci Hernandez said Pastor Manuel Carranza talked to some members about the deals but didn't promote them. After seeing how some transactions turned out, Carranza would now discourage such investments, Hernandez said.
Ana Lopez and her husband were looking for an apartment when they heard about an alternative from Carranza. Lopez said she was shown one of Anderson's houses after she told Lees and Anderson how much she could afford to pay each month.
Anderson bought the property from GMAC Mortgage for $19,750 in 2008. He got permits to install a new range and $750 worth of plumbing. The next month, Lopez and her husband agreed to pay Anderson $65,000 for the house through a contract for deed. Lopez said the church helped cover her $2,000 down payment.
Less than a year later, Lopez and her husband realized they couldn't afford the monthly payments of $1,000. Lopez said she called Anderson in May 2009 to say she wanted out of the deal.
Lopez said she was given two days to move out. "I told him, can you just give me the whole month because I've already made the payment?" Lopez recalled.
Like six other families who bought one of Anderson's properties, Lopez immediately gave up possession of her property after signing a quit-claim deed, even though buyers were entitled to remain in the homes for two months after the transactions were canceled.
Lees said buyers were fully informed of their rights, explaining that any non-English speakers used interpreters at their closings.
"They've been explained fully what default means," Lees said. "If they're telling you that they didn't know that, then that's their fault, because they either weren't listening, or did not indicate that they did not understand that."
Hernandez, who passed on buying one of Anderson's houses, said some church members thought they truly owned the houses they were living in.
"I don't know if half of these people understood what they're doing," Hernandez said.
Staff writer Jim Buchta and database editor Glenn Howatt contributed to this report.
From April 2008 through May 2010, Robert M. Anderson acquired 30 previously foreclosed houses in north Minneapolis and resold them on contracts for deed. He paid about $775,000 for them, and resold them for $2.3 million. At least eight of the houses have come back to Anderson after buyers failed to make payments, and he has resold at least six of those.
1 3350 Aldrich Av. N.
Purchased: 2/5/09 for $9,500 Sold: 6/1/09 for $85,000
2 3027 Upton Av. N.
Purchased: 1/26/09 for $30,000 Sold: 2/13/09 for $75,000
Quit-claimed back: 2/5/10 Resold: 4/30/10 for $94,900
3 4315 Fremont Av. N.
Purchased: 10/27/2008 for $19,750
Sold: 11/26/2008 for $65,000
Quit-claimed back: 5/21/09
Resold: 8/5/09 for $99,000
4 4006 Emerson Av. N.
Purchased: 10/16/09 for $27,900
Sold: 10/29/09 for $68,000
5 2707 Sheridan Av. N.
Purchased: 9/17/09 for $23,000
Sold: 11/16/09 for $92,000
6 3722 Aldrich Av. N.
Purchased: 3/25/09 for $33,250
Sold: 3/31/09 for $78,000
Quit-claimed back: 12/16/09
Resold: 2/19/10 for $99,900


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Tool of the week for journalists: Geofeedia, to locate real-time photos, videos and tweets
Tool of the week: Geofeedia
What is it? A tool that allows you to search for a location and find geolocated tweets, photos and videos.
How is it of use to journalists? This tool offers potential for journalists faced with verifying a breaking news story. Search for a postcode, country, school or sporting stadium and you can see geolocated social media content posted on Twitter, Instagram, Picasa, Flickr and YouTube.
Imagine hearing reports of a fire. With Geofeedia you could enter the address and see what images, videos and tweets are being shared on social media.
Hat tip: Poynter, which has reported that Geofeedia came out of private beta earlier this week.
Find out more about verification by reading this Journalism.co.uk guide.Tags: Flickr, geofeedia, journalism tool, Picasa, verification, YouTube
Similar posts:
- Tool of the week for journalists – Rippla, for tracking the social 'ripples' of news stories
- Tool of the week for journalists – Trendsmap, for tracking conversations in your area
- Tool of the week for journalists – Topsy, real-time search for the social web
- Tool of the week for journalists – Facebook Search
- Tool of the week for journalists – WhoReTweetedMe


text:
Print / Digital Subscription »
You can't count on anything these days. The only thing less reliable than the economy anymore is winter.
There have been pockets of good snow out West early on this season, but there have also been pockets of crappy snow . or pockets of no snow. But it's not necessarily because we're having worse winters lately. Actually, it's because winter is as lazy as an Oakland Raiders defensive lineman.
When I was a kid waaay back in the `90s, winter showed up in October. At least it would get cold by then. Sometimes there would be snow on the ground for Halloween. In 1995, my friends and I rode on Oct. 20. This year, my first ride wasn't until late December, and there was half the snow there was on that October ride 15 years ago. On both rides, you could feel every stick, log, rock and sapling through the baseless dry powder. For the six weeks following each of those rides, the snow didn't necessarily get much better. Then, winter finally hit. In 1995, the big storms hit in early December. If you remember last season, the big storms hit late January.
We hear a lot of people complaining about the snow conditions over the past few years, especially early in the season, when riders are anxious to get out and break in new gear. But if you look at last year as an example, the snow came-it just showed up late. The best snow of the season came when most people were fogging their sleds' cylinders and dusting off the golf clubs.
I'm not trying to predict the storms that will finish out this season, but the amount of snow that falls in the mountains between March 1 and May 1 is nothing to turn your nose up at. Winter is shifting to a later schedule in the year. Blame it on climate change, El Nino, the economy, Scott Brown, Rex Ryan or the SnoWest Forums.
The deepest snow western Colorado saw last year was in April. While guys from all over the snow belt are whining about a short season because the snow was thin in December, a handful of riders are carving S-turns in four feet of powder with the sun shining across their helmet visors.
It may be harder to convince yourself to load up and go play in the powder when the grass is beginning to turn green, but if you want to get the most out of the money you invest in snowmobiling, you really need to. We see too many riders putting anywhere from 500 to 700 miles on a sled January through March, and then parking it. There's another 500 miles worth of riding in the weeks following the close of March, and it's not uncommon for those to be the best 500 miles of a season. Deep powder, firm base and lots of sunshine.
Besides that, riding after April 1 means having fewer tracks on the snow, fewer riders to run into in the backcountry and fewer trucks to deal with in the parking lots. Wait, what have I been saying? Forget everything. Spring riding is terrible. Stay home, go golfing, don't mess up my snow.
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DailyDirt: Jocks Versus Nerds
from the urls-we-dig-up dept
- IBM's cognitive computing platform Watson is becoming a talent scout for the Toronto Raptors, analyzing unstructured data to find undervalued free agents and trade targets. If this kind of artificial intelligence for NBA moneyball works, it'll probably expand to other professional league sports as well. And someone out there is probably going to make a killing with fantasy sports, too. [url]
- Embedded sensors in tennis rackets, golf clubs, helmets, etc... are going to provide a flood of sports data that will change the way these games are coached and played. These sensors will allow players to improve their skills and point out their flaws -- and possibly help avoid injuries. And in football helmets, we may even be able to better quantify brain damage from head impacts. [url]
- How will football strategies evolve over the next 50 years? Every play is caught on digital video and shared now, and playbooks are tablets. Simulations can help plan the best plays, and the difference between a video game and the real game could get a bit blurry for spectators. [url]


text:
TMF supports physician offices in their endeavor to provide appropriate, cost-effective care.
TMF partners with hospitals to accelerate change and measurably improve systems of care.
TMF partners with nursing homes to empower staff, improve quality and enhance residents' lives.
TMF has helped HHAs achieve improved patient care and reduce 30-day readmissions.
In 2016, TMF Health Quality Institute's core mission continued with a focus on improving health care and the health care system to better the health, well-being and experience of patients and caregivers. TMF's programs and services-ranging from quality improvement consulting and technical assistance to research, data analysis and medical review-engage all aspects of health care and caregivers.
Access the screen-friendly version (PDF) or the print-friendly version (PDF).
TMF Health Quality Institute is the national learning network contractor for the Comprehensive Primary Care (CPC) initiative of the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation. On Nov. 4, 2015, the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services blog featured a CPC practice from rural Arkansas that is delivering high quality primary care partly through an expansion of its coordinated care services. TMF develops and delivers curriculum to guide primary practices as they broaden their services as they seek to lower health care costs, improve patient health and improve patients' and families' experience with health care services.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) reports that Quality Improvement Organizations (QIOs) have helped to save nearly $1 billion by improving care transitions across the country.
TMF continues to be a major contributor to the national health care improvement initiative, with a community-level focus (PDF). Learn more about overall QIO program successes by visiting the American Health Quality Association (AHQA) website.
National Association for Healthcare Quality article discusses TMF PEPPER work: Quality Departments Improve Care by Supporting the Initiative to Reduce Improper Medicare Payments (PDF)
New video for patients reviews how to prepare for visits with physicians to discuss medications. This 3-minute video highlights the importance of understanding your medications, their purpose and proper use.
View information about the availability of auxiliary aids and services. *Note: documents in Portable Document Format (PDF) require Adobe Acrobat Reader 5.0 or higher to view, download Adobe Acrobat Reader.


text:
Griffith students meet IN Secretary of State
Contact: Jim Gavin
(Indianapolis) -- Griffith High School (GHS) senior Kyle Najar, son of Tim and Becky Najar, along with his classmates met Indiana Secretary of State Todd Rokita during the Indiana Association of School Principals (IASP) Student Day at the Legislature today in Indianapolis.
GHS joined other statewide high school classes at the Statehouse to watch the General Assembly in action and to meet other officials, including State Auditor Tim Berry and Dr. Suellen Reed, Superintendent of Public Instruction. The group also met Court of Appeals Chief Judge John Baker.
In his remarks, Munster native Rokita encouraged the students to become civically engaged by registering to vote if they were to turn 18 years old by Election Day in November.
"Staying informed and exercising your right to vote is the cornerstone of our democracy," Rokita said.
He also explained how students could potentially be paid to work the polls.
"You might be surprised to learn that it takes over 30,000 poll workers to run Indiana's 5500 precincts on election day," Rokita said. "We have a program, Election Day Live, where 16 and 17 years olds such as yourself can participate on election day as poll workers."
To participate, students must be 16 or 17 years old, have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher and have parent and school permission.
"It's a great way to serve your community and get first hand experience seeing democracy in action," Rokita said. "Plus, you can earn at least $80 for the day."
To participate in Election Day Live, students should call the Lake County Clerk's office at 219-755-3533 for information.
Gerald Mohr, IASP Associate Executive Director, said that the Student Day at the Legislature program "brings great educational value to students by providing the opportunity to visit the hub of Indiana's government to get a glance at its inner workings."
Additional information about Election Day Live or any programs of the Secretary of State's office can be obtained by calling 317-232-6532 or by visiting http://www.in.gov/sos/
# # #


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Leeds, MA Calculus Tutors
Looking for private in-home or online Calculus tutors? Our Leeds tutors are ready to get you started. Search today!
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The Founder and Owner of a educational platform
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All of the programs are grounded in a strong mathematical structure. I use critical thinking techniques to help with problem solving in all subject areas.
Keeping that in mind, please be prepared with a pencil, paper and your BRAIN!!! even if you don't have the pencil and paper!!!
About Varna
Services include but are not limited to:
1. 1-1 Individual Tutoring
2. 1-3 Small Group Tutoring
3. Classes (Lecture Style, Discussion Style)
4. Workshops
5. Test Prep Classes ( Regents, SAT, SAT II Subject Tests, ACT, SSAT, SHSAT, GMAT, GRE...Etc)
All of the programs are grounded in a strong mathematical structure. I use critical thinking techniques to help with problem solving in all subject areas.
Keeping that in mind, please be prepared with a pencil, paper and your BRAIN!!! even if you don't have the pencil and paper!!!
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Master in all calculus concepts. Can identify student shortfalls and address them through the subject fundamentals approach and by tying in real world applications for easier grasp of material.
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Executive Functioning is a separate realm that tutoring can assist in. It deals with cognitive processes including organization, time management, and study skills. Much of the difficulty students face in academic subjects can be attribute
• Elementary • Pre-Algebra • Algebra 1 & 2 • Geometry • Pre-Calculus
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Contact: Eight,one,eight, five,seven,seven,seven thousand
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I was the top calculus student in my high school class, and received a 5 on the AP Calculus exam. I also won the high school medal for top math student in my high school.
About Marwan
Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, I graduated from Cornell University in Electrical & Computer Engineering, with a minor in Music.
As a student, I was President of the Cornell Piano Society for 4 years. I spent much time teaching piano and music theory to fellow Cornell students, faculty, and staff. I've also organized many concerts, recitals, and events during my tenure.
After college, I went on to work for Intel & Apple as an engineer, while continuing to teach and tutor on the side. Later on, I founded my own startup company centered around Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Data Science, and unmet needs in the B2C market.
I typically travel
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I put a premium on the deep intuitive understanding of results, appreciation of the unity of the subject, and of its philosophical richness. I favor a humanities- and history-enriched discussion of mathematics, though I'm also happy to discuss it as a purely technical discipline when desired.
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Sometimes calculus looks scary. It usually happens when things that we are doing are too abstract for us. I help by connecting calculus to real life and helping my students to understand why we are solving this problem this way and probably invent their own way to solve problems. It's not only helping to improve the grades but also helps with confidence.
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What a great 45 minutes he was rusty to say the least.
Marina was calm at. At a time I would would have gone crazy. I thank you.... her way of teaching amazing
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I taught myself calculus freshman year of HS. I know firsthand how difficult it is to learn math, but I have overcame these challenges myself and will guide you to overcome them too. I stress understanding/intuition rather than memorizing boring formulas as that's how I learned it myself.
I also have close to 8 years of math/computer science tutoring experience, which will surely come in handy!
About Bill
I enjoy tutoring (doing it ever since I was in high school for my classmates) and helping other overcome problems that I have encountered myself because it enhances my own understanding and makes me happy that my self-studying is helping others. Sometimes, my students even bring up alternative ways of thinking that I have never thought of before!
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Do not let your future depend on whether or not you are a "math person". Working with me, you will learn new skills, hone existing skills, and gain the confidence to pursue your educational or career goals no matter the math requirements. I am an enthusiastic, energetic teacher with a whole lot of patience and several years' of experience working with all types of students. I have worked with students who hated math and some that discovered they loved it. No matter where you fall on that spectrum, I will work hard to tailor your sessions to your needs, goals, learning style(s), and interests. The best in any field have a team of people helping them thrive. Let me join your team so that no math class stands between you and your dreams.
About Becky
Math did not always come easily for me and I vividly remember being extremely frustrated, especially in high school. One teacher in college, though, had a different presentation style, and everything started to click. After that, I knew that learning math was as much about the instructor as it was about the student. Moreover, I knew I wanted to be the kind of teacher that worked to meet a student where they were at and then teach to their learning style whe
So when working with me, either alone or in a small group, I will work to get to know you, your goals, your interests, and your learning style. Then I will do everything I can to make the topics relevant to you. I will never answer a "Why" questions with "Just because". If you don't understand when I explain it one way, I will try a different approach, and keep trying until you understand. Learning is a journey, but not one you should make by yourself, and I would be happy to travel some of it with you.
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About Ahmed
** The hourly rate listed for this profile is a fraction of the regular rate. As this is a part of IT project during which the rates are to be accessible for those who would be otherwise left out.
Business Profile:
In a digital age, learning software, software programming, and mathematics have become as vital as learning reading, writing, and arithmetic. Learning IT is essential in pre-college education, college education, workplace, acquiring advancements in current job; searching for a better job; managing businesses; and managing one's personal life. Thinking computationally is something that every well-educated person needs to know and should know. There is a great digital divider between the Knows and Know Nots. Crossing this digital divider requires solid understanding of dig
I have helped people of all walks of life how to cross this digital divider. This includes professionals, business owners, college graduate students, college undergraduate students, high school students, and job applicants.
I am exceedingly-educated and I manage to close the digital gab by simplifying mathematical and computer science concepts. I do not simply repeat what has been already detailed in trillions of pages of books and lectures. Everyone's mind is different and thus everyone has a unique perception to understanding one issue or another.
I have taught programming algorithms, pseudo programming codes, programming codes in Python and other computer languages, Databases, Microsoft Office Applications (MS Word, MS Excel, MS Publisher, MS Access, MS Outlook), and other IT areas for different levels: beginning, intermediate, and advanced.
I am a programmer analyst. I have an IT sole proprietary business that deals with the design of computer software including programming analysis, databases, and data analysis. My sole proprietary business applies mathematical modeling that relates to computer software. This includes One-Dimensional Databases; Multi-Dimensional Databases; Data Science; Data Structuring; Data Management; Data Compression; Data Arranging; Data Search; Extracting Data; Big Data; Spatial Data, Data Integrity; Data Anomaly; Utilizing SQL in Data Science; Data Correction; Applications of the Theory of Probability to Data; Application of Monty Hall Paradox to Raw Data; Data Storage; Data Control; Blocking Bad Data; Importing & Exporting Data; Creating Live Data; Complex Data Problems; Mutually Inclusive & Mutually Exclusive Data; Data Wrangling; Data Pattern Identification; Descriptive & Predictive Data; Data Security; Data Visualization; Structured & Unstructured & Semi-Structured Data; Data-Driven Products & Services; Data Theory & Application; Machine Learning in Data.
My sole proprietary business also covers software programming in computer languages that span from earlier languages such as BASIC, FORTRAN PASCAL, DBASE, COBOL to languages that continued and expanded such as C. And newer languages such as PYTHON with its extended libraries that managed to combine other tools and programming languages and became in its 3.x version an object-oriented language that runs linearly. Computer languages that include Weakly-Typed language, Strongly-Typed Language, High-Level Language, Low-Level Language, Interpreted Language, Compiled Language, General-Use Language, and Target-Use Language. My sole proprietary covers software design that combine code quality with efficient use of mathematics, logic, syntax, time, memory, and processing power. I have designed algorithms in various fields including Business; E-Commerce; Office Management; Real Estate; Legal; Demography; Technology; Architecture; Structural Engineering; Solid Mechanics; Analysis of Internal Forces (Normal; Shear; Bending Moment); Beams (Simple; Extended; Cantilevered); Frames; Trusses; Statically-Determinate & Statically- Indeterminate Structures; Virtual work; Deflection; Properties of Materials; Reinforced Concrete; Traffic & Transportation Engineering; Fluid Mechanics; Irrigation Engineering; Geotechnical Engineering; Computer-Aided Design & Manufacturing; Matrices & Determinants; Thermodynamics.
My computer skills include the following:
Operating Systems & Microsoft Applications & Corel Applications including: Android; Linux; Microsoft Disk Operating System; Microsoft Windows (MS Windows 10, MS Windows 8.1, MS Windows 8, MS Windows 7, MS Windows Vista, MS Windows ME, MS Windows XP, MS Windows Mobile); Bash Shell Command-Line Tools; DDL; CPU Testing; Maximizing CPU Performance; Files Integrity; Stochastic Optimization; Microsoft Office; Microsoft Utilities; Excel; Access; Word; Publisher; Powerpoint; OneNote; Outlook; Dashboards; Microsoft Works; Works Spreadsheets; Works Database; Works Word; Corel Office; Word Perfect; Corel Spreadsheets; Corel Presentation; Windows File Explorer; Disk Partition; Disk Formatting (NTFS, exFAT, FAT32); Disk Defragmenting; Digital Cleanup; System Restore; System Information; Registry; Macros; Merging Documents; Master Documents; Templates; VBA Programming; Pivot Tables; Error Trapping; Logical Functions; Financial Formulas; Mathematical Functions; Statistical Functions; Navigation Systems; Crosstab Queries; Advanced Reports; Smart Tables; Record Sheets; Web-Based Presentations; Web-Based Applications; Interactions Between Different Applications; Smart Art Diagrams; Virtual Memory; Data Macros in Web Applications; Python Tools For Visual Studio; Multi-Booting; Virtualization Software; Utilizing Python in MS Window Automation; Utilizing Python in Power Point Data Visualization; Python Scripting in Excel.
Graphic Design & Multimedia including: Layering; Projection (Isometric, Oblique, Prospective); In-Depth Framings; Analytical Databases that query some 16,777,216 colors that are defined by Hex Triplet, RGB, Hue, Saturation, Tint, Shade, Depth; Color Calibration; Patterns; Sizing; Cropping; Utilizing Permutations & Combinations in Colors Integrations; Typography Effects (Shadow, Reflection, Glow, Bevel, 3-D Rotation); Design & Layout; Print and Digital Publishing; Illustration; Digital Processing & Editing; BMP; BNG; FPX; GIF; JPEG; PCX; RGB; TIFF; Compressed TIFF; File TIFF; EPS; Pixel-Based Imaging; Vector-Based Imaging; Integrating Graphics with Trigonometry and Geometry (Plane, Solid, Analytical, Descriptive, Fractal, Differential); Applications of Chaos Theory to Graphics; Incorporating Graphics with Computer-Aided Design (AutoCad, ViaCad, Turbo Cad); Graphic Calibration; Soft Proofing; Enhancing Pixel Quality; Motion Graphics & Animations; Virtual Reality; Augmented Reality; Polygon Graphics (Simple, Complex, Concave, Convex, Regular, Irregular, N-Gon); Polyhedra & Non-Polyhedra Graphics; Applications of the Theory of Numbers to Graphic Design; Clip Art; Smart Art; Image Compressing; Resolution Reduction; Hierarchy Graphic Structure; Raster Graphics; Graphic Representations of Irrational Numbers; Edge Detection; Audio and Video Software; Window Media Player; Real Player; UM Player; VLC Media Player; QuickTime; Roxio; Nero; Corel; Paint; Panorama Maker; Wavepad; Mort Player; EXPStudio; Dragon; MP3; WAV; GSM; 3GP; M4A; WMV; AVI; FLV; MPEG-1; MPEG-2; MIDI; MOV; WEBM; MKV; Audio Fading; Audio Delaying.
PDF software and Adobe Applications: PDFILL; PDFREDIRECT; Adobe; Turbo PDF; Power PDF; Handling PDF files (Merging, Splitting, Reordering, Rotating, Reformatting, Text Watermarks, Picture Watermarks, Converting PDF to Images, Converting Images to PDF, Bookmarks, Hypertexts); InDesign; Illustrator; Adobe Acrobat DC; Premiere Elements; Premiere Pro; Acrobat; Stock; Lightroom; Muse; Acrobat Pro; After Effects; Project Felix; Dreamweaver; Animate; Audition; Bridge; Media Encoder; Flash Builder; InCopy; Prelude; Spark; Scout; StoryPlus; PhoneGap Build; Creative Cloud; Gaming SDK; Extension Manager; ExtendScript Toolkit; Photoshop; Creative Suite; Digital Editions.
Mapping & Navigation & GPS software including: Programming Longitudes & Latitudes; Spherical Trigonometry; Topography; Delmorme; Navaman; Pharos; Google Earth; Street & Trips; Google-Based Navigation; Map Matching; Green Wave Algorithms.
File Compressing & Backup & Digital security including: Winzip; Cloud Backup; Cloud Architecture Patterns; Carbonite; Google Drive; Drop Box; Firewalls; Anti malicious software (Viruses, Warms, Trojans, Rootkits, Spyware); Digital Security Against Phishing & Spamming & Hacking; Mcfee; Norton; ZoneAlarm; AVG; MS Defender; Kasparsky; VPN; SSL; SSH; Port Forwarding; Dynamic Port Forwarding.
Solid knowledge of computer hardware including: Computers; Monitors; Microprocessors; Motherboards; Wifi Cards; RAM; SDRAM; DDR SDRAM; ROM; CD/DVD/Disk Drives; Hard Drives; Flash Drives; Memory Cards (Secure Digital, Micro Secure Digital, Compact Flash, SmartMedia); Scanners; Faxes; Copiers; Printers (Inkjet; Laser, Multi-Purpose, Cloud-Based; 3-D); Printer's Cartridges & Toners; Printing Media; Keyboard (Wired & Wireless); Mice (Wired & Wireless) & Touchpads; Projectors; Wired and Bluetooth Head Phones & Headsets; Digital Cameras; PC Cameras; Smart Phones; Modems; Routers; Lightscribe; Specifications Comparison; BIOS; Wireless LAN; IEEE 1394 Devices; Graphics Cards.
Integrating E-Commerce with Social Media & Online Communications & Internet Browsers & Search Engines. Business Planning; Business Venturing; Business Modeling; Market Research; Worldwide Market Analysis; U.S. Market Analysis; Variance Analysis; B2B; SIC-Based Databases.
Very strong communication skills including solid oral and written communications and technical writings in both English and Arabic.
My mathematical skills include the following:
Algebra; Geometry; Trigonometry; Analysis (Calculus); Statistics; Permutations & Combinations; Theory of Probabilities; Engineering (Civil, Structural, Geotechnical, Surveying, Traffic, Transportation); Architecture; Solid mechanics; Fluid Mechanics; Soil Mechanics; Hydraulics; Theory Of Structures; Trusses, Frames, and Beams (Simple, Extended, Cantilevered); Properties of Materials; Thermodynamics; Concepts of Forces, Work, Momentum, Energy, and Work; Numbers Theory (Natural, Real, Imaginary, Rational, Irrational, Special, Large, Whole, Fraction, Simple, Complex, One-Dimensional, Multi-Dimensional (Matrices & Determinates)); Modulus; Decimal/ Hexadecimal/ Binary/ Octal Systems; Modulus Functions; Equations; Sequences (Finite, Infinite, Fibonacci, Arithmetic, Geometric, Harmonic, Cauchy, Power, and Triangular); Algorithms; Plane Geometry; Solid Geometry; Analytical Geometry; Descriptive Geometry; Fractal Geometry, Differential Geometry; Projection; Differential Equations; Databased Unit Conversions; Discrete Mathematics including Computer Science; Algorithms including: Constant Algorithms; Logarithmic Algorithms; Linear Algorithms; Quadratic Algorithms; Exponential Algorithms, Searching Algorithms (Linear/Brute Force; Bi-Sectional; etc.); Sorting Algorithms (Comparison Sorts; Non-Comparison Sorts; Slow Sorts; Comparison Sorts (Quick Sort; Merge Sort; Heap Sort; Insertion Sort; Intro Sort; Selection Sort; Tim Sort; Cube Sort; Shell Sort; Bubble Sort; Binary Tree Sort; Cycle Sort; Library Sort; Patience Sort; Smooth Sort; Strand Sort; Tournament Sort; Cocktail Sort; Comb Sort; Gnome Sort; Block Sort; Odd-Even Sort); Non-Comparison Sorts (Pigeonhole Sort; Bucket Sort; Bucket Sort; Counting Sort; LSD Radix Sort; MSD Radix Sort; MSD Radix Sort (in-place); Spread Sort; Burst Sort; Flash Sort; Postman Sort; Slow Sorts (Bead Sort; Simple Pancake Sort; Spaghetti (Poll) Sort; Sorting Network; Bitonic Sort; Bogo Sort; Stooge Sort).
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I am very pleased that I have met Ahmed and that I am taking lessons with him. He has helped me with computational skills and learning what programming is and why and how it works. Ahmed has patiently helped me with the debugging of my programs. I have been able to design programs that are mathematically eloquent, logically sound, and that are free of syntax errors. Without hesitation, I would recommend Ahmed for anyone that requires help in IT.
Ahmed has been helping me design efficient programs that include understanding of variables, lists, conditional statements, loops, functions, and theory of probability. I like the fact that Ahmed merges the curricular of universities that include Harvard, Yale, MIT, and Stanford. Ahmed's presentations use videos, audio, graphics, and PowerPoint, all of which have been very helpful.
Ahmed has a strong command of the English language as well as the computer languages. Ahmed combines an impressive knowledge of mathematics, history, politics, and sociology. Learning Python opens numerous opportunities in one's academics, professional and personal life. Python can be incorporated into Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, Publisher, and other software. I am looking forward to future training in machine learning and artificial intelligence. Thanks.
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decorating ideas for small master bedrooms
The appealing photograph, is part of decorating ideas for small master bedrooms which is grouped within christmas decorating ideas for bedroom, decorating ideas for bedroom with grey walls, girl bedroom decorating ideas and posted at August 19, 2015 12:25:50 pm by admin
What colors you are willing to apply as the decorating ideas for bedrooms at home? For you who love to decorate a very modern and bright bedroom, I suggest you to color your room vivaciously. Beside is modern, the rooms visualize sophistication to your home living. Not to mention, if you wish to get the inspiration for coloring your bedrooms, the bedroom decorating ideas below will inspire you very much. Further, the bedroom colors are brought to you for decorating kid rooms, teens' and master bedroom.
Kid Room Color Ideas
The bright colors used for decorating your kid rooms such as yellow, blue, bold pink, and green are recommended. This is interesting because the colors can stimulate the kids' brains for learning the colors. Further, this can also enhance their creativity in term of using and applying the function of colors. Anyhow, some tend to color kids' rooms with neutral or calming hues because it can calm down the kids before they sleep. These decorating ideas for bedrooms should be styled as balanced as well so it doesn't look crowded.
Not only is using paints and wallpaper, the colors of decorating ideas for bedrooms can use the toys, room ornaments, and additional furniture and stuffs, too. Those are such as bookshelves, baskets or containers, colorful furniture designs, and so on. In addition, decorating ideas for kid bedrooms can be more creative if you mix and match their toys, room ornaments, and textures. You can arrange those stuffs orderly so it looks unclutter. Don't forget to clean it regularly to keep the room clean.
Teens' Room Color Ideas
Different from kid rooms, teen rooms tend to stylish yet elegant. Importantly, it should be comfortable. Teen bedroom is functioned not only for sleeping. More than that, it must be able to use as the study room, reading room, and relaxing room. Therefore, the room should have balanced color among the sleeping space, study space, and relaxing space. The decorating ideas for bedrooms can be styled in multiple colors as long as the combination is perfect. Furthermore, inserting accents to this room is much recommended.
Master Bedroom Color Ideas
Then, decorating ideas for bedrooms that we want to share next is coloring the master bedroom. The bedrooms, mostly, are decorated as elegant as calming. The colors usually used to adorn this room are grey, white, black, cream, pastels, and the other calming hues. Somehow, there are also some people who tend to brighten their room with vivid tones such as red, maroon, yellow green, and so on. The room can be splashed with appropriate colors too through the room accessories.
Those decorating ideas for bedrooms are inspirational. In fact, more than just colors and its combinations, the more tips you should notice are the furniture arrangement and the way of how to collaborate those colors. Also, do not forget to consider the room shapes, dimensions, and details so you get the best decorating ideas for bedrooms. To enlarge your inspiration, we will let you look at the images of the bedroom décor ideas now. Enjoy!
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Here is important clue on make Decorating Ideas for Bedrooms. We have the resource for make Decorating Ideas for Bedrooms. Check it out for yourself! You can get decorating ideas for small master bedrooms and see the Decorative and Inspiring Decorating Ideas for Bedrooms in here.


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Original Published In TransWorld SNOWboarding Magazine Oct Issue 2003.
Interview by Chris Coyle
Originally I wanted to come out and tell you that Shaun White's life is just like any other sixteen-year-old kid's out there— social studies, chasing girls, the usual stuff that goes on for teenagers all across America. But it's not. Most teenagers don't own three houses or buy a 30,000-dollar car with their own money (which is funny in itself, because he won three cars before his sixteenth birthday anyway). And I'll eat my shoe if you can show me another kid who got knocked out while doing a doubles skateboarding run with Bob Burnquist. How many people do you know who have traveled the world a few times over? Or hang out with Tony Hawk? Are tons of your buddies entering Winter X-Games for snowboarding and Summer X-Games for skateboarding? Doubt it, no matter how old you are.
Still, zits, voice crackin', and puberty wait for no boy—regardless of financial stature or skills. While most do it surrounded by their peers, Mr. White has had to endure life's little quirks encircled by folks twice his age as well as the entire snow/skate world.
But there is way more to him than bling bling and celebrity hobnobbin', the kid is wise far beyond his years. So sit back, throw your feet up, and take a journey into the man/child behind the mask, Shaun White.
Do you ever think about slowing down on the contests and concentrating on a video part?
See, the thing for me is I like contests—trying to figure out a pipe one day and then trying to kill it the next. And if it all works out, there is a bunch of cash at the end—plus it's fun hanging out with all my friends.
I didn't get much filming done {this season} 'cause I did so many contests and things were so busy—it just didn't work out. I would love to go out and film all year—maybe only do like three or four big events a season. But right now I'm having fun—so we'll see.
Most of the video and photos we see of you are from parks. Do you spend any time in the backcountry?
Right now I don't feel the need to go out there. After the recent things that have gone down, it's pretty sketchy in the backcountry. Riding parks is super fun for me anyway.
How many events did you do last year?
Fifteen or so, and each one takes about a week, so I was on the road a lot.
What do you do when you get home from all these trips?
Basically just skate and hang out with my friends. What a lot of people don't understand is that I still have to go to school. It's not homeschool, though, it's set up through Carlsbad High School {in Southern California}.
During the winter I try to get as much work done as I can, but with all the traveling it's tough. So in the summer when everyone else is out, I'm still doing work to catch up. Luckily my setup is pretty loose, and there's a really cool teacher who helps me out.
Is college in your future?
Well, the thing about that is snowboarding and skateboarding aren't something you can leave, go to college, come back and be on top. So right now, I just want to keep going, but later on I'll go back to school, maybe get a business degree or something.
Are you a professional skateboarder, as well?
Yeah, I went pro at the Slam City Jam this year. It was my first pro contest—so scary, but it was something I had to do to figure out whether I wanted to {be a pro skater} or not. I got fourth, which gave me the X-Games spot.
Would you want to skate instead of snowboarding, or are you going to pursue both?
Both. Snowboarding will always be my main focus, but I also want to see what I can do with skating—just try and keep it to the summer X-Games, Gravity Games, the Triple Crowns, and Slam City. Maybe four or five contests per year, that's it. Then try to film for Birdhouse as much as possible. I also shot some stuff the last couple of years for both the Adio video and theirs. So hopefully that works out.
LLast year at The Sessions in Vail you won 30,000 dollars cash in two days. What exactly does a sixteen year old do with that kind of change?
Vail's been good to me the last couple of years. The funny thing about that is when I was going home, I just left the money in the briefcase. When it went through the X-ray, security opened it up and were like, "What the hell?" {Laughs.}
Most of my money just goes into the bank. My mom helps me with investing it, we've bought three houses—one we live in, and the other two are rentals. We're trying to get a fourth in Oceanside {California} on the beach. Luckily, most of the decisions have been good ones.
No Ferarris or solid-gold T-shirts?
No {laughs}.
It seems like you have a pretty tight family.
They've helped me out so much. They're the ones that would drive me to Mammoth or Mt. Hood in the summers so I could snowboard as much as possible. It's been a long road to get here, and they've been there the whole time.
How long have you been a "professional" snowboarder?
It really started at the U.S. Open when I was twelve. I entered the Junior Open and the normal Open. They freaked out when I showed up at the junior event, so from that day on I said, "Forget it, I'm gonna just enter pro." It was probably the best decision I ever made—in the amateur contests I had a run I could always win with, but once I was in the pro events it pushed me harder to learn new stuff.
Your mom and dad travel with you a lot—does that get weird, say, if you're trying to meet some ladies?
Sometimes it's weird if there're a bunch of girls around—but for the most part I like having my parents there. My dad is rad, and when my mom's there I don't have to worry about anything {laughs}. I'll make it to the contest on time, and everything is going to be taken care of.
The only thing I'd say is weird is that it might feel awkward for them, being around snowboard kids that are partying all the time.
Growing up surrounded by people twice your age must have been weird.
For me it was weird, 'cause at maybe fourteen I decided that I wasn't down with the whole party scene. So seeing all these guys getting drunk and coming home with random girls was super strange to me.
The other strange thing was that I had friends who were fourteen, then there were my friends who were 26. So stuff that would be funny to the younger guys wasn't funny at all to the older guys. I had to learn how to talk to older people.
Then, when I started traveling, seeing all the other cultures and how tough some people have it made me pretty grateful. I mean, I get to travel around the world, snowboard, and they pay me for it.
Okay, the one mandatory interview question—who's payin' the bills?
Volcom, Burton, Oakley, Target, and Sony PlayStation.
What exactly do you get by being sponsored by Target?
That's what everybody is always asking. All they want me to do is wear one of their stickers, but the cool thing is they want to sponsor anything that I do. They're just like, "What can we do for you? We want to be a part of what you're doing." I get to pick an event, and they're going to sponsor the riders' lounge—make it the sickest lounge ever. Bring in chefs, big couches—everyone walking around in slippers. It's gonna be sick.
What's this your mom told me about the Ozzfest?
Oh {laughs}, for my sixteenth birthday Sony took me to the Ozzfest. As we're walking up to watch the show, this guy comes up to me and says, "Hey, you're Shaun White." So I'm like, "Yeah, nice to meet ya." Just then—he grabs his girlfriend, all the sudden she pulls up her shirt and flashes me.
Were they nice?
I don't know …


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26 August 2008|
|Article Index
|Page 2
|All Pages
Dedicated readers will recall a product review we did some time back on a rather unusual amplifier, the very large and heavy Arc Audio 4000SE. What made this big subwoofer amp unusual was the choice of topology. Rather than a common Class AB or Class D design, the 4000SE used the Class GH configuration, to improve overall efficiency, but without the usual sound quality issues associated with Class D. And if you recall, it worked very well.
Well, it seems that the product folks at Arc Audio have decided to continue the exploration of the efficiency benefits of Class G, and obviously realized that with improved efficiency comes the possibility of reduced heatsink size. So now instead of a monster of an amp, (and once again tapping the engineering wizardry of Robert Zeff) they've used the technology to create a series of "Mini" amplifiers. These Mini amps come in single, two and four channel designs, and the stereo models are full range and bridgeable. This time we're going to have a close look at the Arc Audio KS 125.4, "Mini" amplifier, which has a manufacturers suggested list price of $519.00 in the USA, making it competitive with many of the popular more conventionally larger size amplifiers.
The amplifier is indeed small, considering the prodigious power ratings it boasts. Rated by Arc Audio at 75 watts x 4 channels into 4 ohms, and 125 watts x 4 into 2 ohms, it measures about half as big as a conventional competitive amp, at 11.625 x 5.125 x 1.75 inches. The Arc Audio Mini series is conventional in appearance, finished in a combination of semi-gloss powdercoat on the extruded aluminum heatsink, and using a black anodized, brushed aluminum top cover, with an oval, silver colored Arc Audio badge.
Continuing with the physical examination of the Mini four channel amp, I noted that the power and ground connections will accept 4 gauge cables, and the speaker connections can handle up to 8 gauge wire. The cables are held in place with nickel plated, Phillips head set screws. On the top of the amplifier is where you'll find all the settings and adjustments. One of the first things I noticed were a pair of small slide switches. One was marked "Input Level", and it had a Hi and Low setting. The other switch was labeled "Auto Sense" and simply On or Off. Here's where reading the manual comes in handy… as it turns out, the Arc Audio amplifier can be turned on by a conventional +12V signal from a headunit, or it can be turned on by sensing when the amplified outputs of a factory headunit turn on. The amp does not sense signal, but instead works on a different type of signal commonly found on the amplified outputs of a head unit. Then in a stroke of brilliance, when the amplifier is used in auto turn-on mode, the turn on terminal of the amp becomes a source of +12V output, to turn on additional amplifiers conventionally. This clever feature also will prevent excessive turn on noise, because the consecutive amps will be delayed in turning on until the main amp is done. Sweet!


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During response and recovery missions, the Federal Emergency Management Agency receives massive amounts of data in a variety of formats from a multitude of sources. But the data often is not delivered in a manner that readily supports geospatial representation. And frequently, disseminating the information beyond the data owner is not permitted.
As a result, valuable time and resources are devoted to converting data to a geospatial-compatible format or searching for other sources of mission-critical information. And support systems often prevent sharing data with customers outside government firewalls.
So FEMA is looking for ways to move geospatial data to the cloud to provide federal, state and local agencies and other partners with real-time access to critical data during emergencies, according to a request for information issued by the agency.
FEMA's Disaster Management and Support Environment (DMSE) Program Management Office, under FEMA's Office of Response and Recovery, is interested in developing a cloud environment that will support geospatial efforts to merge data and processes of several legacy systems. The cloud infrastructure must be able to host information subject to Privacy Act restrictions and sensitive government information. The solution FEMA officials envision also should be easily managed by administrators working within .net and .gov domains, according to the RFI.
DMSE currently uses the Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2) public cloud for data creation, discovery and storage. The environment resides outside government firewalls, providing a platform for the rapid and transparent exchange of data with FEMA's GIS customers. This capability was tested during Hurricane Sandy when massive amounts of data were being produced, exchanged and discovered by emergency management communities and the public, FEMA officials said.
File sizes were close to terabytes, visitors numbered in the millions, and thousands of Web services were produced and consumed. An additional server with expanded computing capabilities had to be added to handle the load on the servers.
DMSE uses the Web-based Arc GIS Online for Organizations (AGOL) for its main user interface. AGOL is the "viewer" providing transparency of public-facing GIS information to all FEMA customers. The FEMA GeoPlatform administrative functions are almost exclusively managed by designated FEMA GIS staff. An account is not required to view public-facing information and maps, according to the RFI.
A contracted vendor currently provides fully managed services in EC2, which has reduced the time required to implement critical changes in support of mission demands. Additionally, FEMA's GIS analysts primarily use Esri's ArcGIS as the GIS system for working with maps and geographic information. ArcGIS 10.1 resides on the user's desktop as well as on the EC2 servers in the cloud.
However, FEMA is looking to broaden the capabilities of the cloud environment. Through this RFI, DMSE is looking for geospatial technical support services for application hosting, compliance with the Federal Information Security Management Act security guidelines, connectivity in austere environments, custom application development, database and Web hosting services, data migration, elasticity, fully managed services, mobile compatibility, scalability, secured services, and storage.
"DMSE is focused on providing a transparent enterprise geospatial model that embraces and fosters a collaborative strategy and sharing environment. The objective of the effort is to establish a common view of critical data during times of emergency response and recovery," according to the RFI.
FEMA is not the only agency looking to move geospatial data into the cloud. A consortium of Western states is now poised to store GIS data in commercial cloud environments to cut storage costs and improve efficiency. The Western States Contracting Alliance (WSCA) and the National Association of State Procurement Officials, working in collaboration with Colorado, Montana, Oregon and Utah, have awarded four contracts for GIS public cloud hosting services to Dell, Dewberry, Esri and Unisys.
WSCA is a 15-state consortium that helps participants join in cooperative purchasing agreements that extend across multiple states. Two years ago, WSCA issued a request for information seeking feedback from vendors on the technical and financial feasibility of hosting GIS data and services supported by the individual states in commercial cloud infrastructures. The states had three primary objectives for considering GIS cloud services: cost efficiencies, flexibility and scalability, and reduction in staff support time.
About the Author
Rutrell Yasin is is a freelance technology writer for GCN.
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By far essentially the most succinct and also up-to-date information I found about this topic matter. Certain pleased that I stumbled upon your write-up by opportunity. I will likely be signing up on your rss feed so as I'll receive the newest posts. Enjoy everything right here.
This is one technology that I would love to be able to use for myself. It's definitely a cut above the rest and I can't wait until my provider has it. Your insight was what I needed. Thanks
CadGISforHire: You're delusional if you think you can simplify GIS by patchworking a whole range of hodgepodge 'open" software together for "free" that works today and more importantly will work tomorrow when developer for that choice piece of code your using for that critical GIS app moves on to the ne next thing (that pays him/her a living) or gets hit by a bus... Pleeeeease.
Do you think that any of the totalitarian countries including China is looking to provide this type of information on its country in a low bid cloud environment? Think military advantage and APT which commercial clouds have shown over last few years incable of protecting. I think CadGISforhire is on the right track. I still shudder to think of what an enemy nationstate could do with a detailed map of our infrastructure which shows emergencies happening in real-time.
Yet another Federal, top-down approach to a bottom up solution. FEMA should be assisting States to increase their own capabilities now that budgets are tight, and geospatial data is becoming mainstream. One size does not fit all.
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