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Jazz, the Blues, and American Identity
From the Editor
Our Summer 2017 issue looks at the two great musical traditions that come out of the African American culture of the South: jazz and the blues. These uniquely American genres are known throughout the world and, although they began within the black communities of our country, they have come to belong to people of all races and regions. They are part of the American identity. These two musical forms have been creatively interwoven and reimagined, and they are at the root of the best of rock and roll, hip hop, and rap. American writers like Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston, and Albert Murray and musicians like Charles Mingus and Gregg Allman have recognized the importance of these musical traditions in shaping our national identity, and historians know that the history of jazz and the blues provides a critical window into our collective past.More »
The Historian's Perspective
Digital Features
Jazz and the Blues: A Mini-Anthology from the Library of America of Selected Writings by Wallace Thurman, Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston, James Baldwin, Miles Davis, and Albert Murray
From the Teacher's Desk
"Supreme City: How Jazz Age Manhattan Gave Birth to Modern America" by Donald L. Miller, John Henry MacCracken Professor of History, Lafayette College
From the Archives
Past Issues of History Now
"The Music and History of Our Times," History Now 32 (Summer 2012)
"New Orleans and the History of Jazz" by Loren Schoenberg ("American Cities," History Now 11 [Spring 2007])
"'I, Too': Langston Hughes's Afro-Whitmanian Affirmation" by Steven Tracy ("American Poets, American History," History Now 39 [Spring 2014])
"The Roaring Twenties" by Joshua Zeitz, History by Era
In May 2017 the Library of America published a new paperback, The Essential Hamilton: Letters and Other Writings. Edited by Joanne Freeman, who contributed an essay to the Winter 2016 issue of History Now on Hamilton in the American imagination, The Essential Hamilton is an invaluable resource for teachers and students of the Founding Era. To purchase copies for your classroom, please visit https://www.loa.org/books/546-the-essential-hamilton-letters-other-writings-paperback.


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Ross Porter died.
"He fell into my arms," says Lin, his wife of 51 years, "and said, 'I am leaving.'"
Anyone who knows Lin won't be surprised with what happens next. She orders her husband not to leave. Doctors and nurses call a code blue at UCLA's Ronald Reagan Medical Center and Dr. Ramin Salehi-Rad sprints from the hospital basement to Porter's upstairs room.
It's late July, a little more than three months ago, and Ross is not with us. He does not have a pulse for 48 seconds before a UCLA medical team goes to work on that great big heart.
In time, Ross opts for extra innings. And now it's a glorious Monday in November with the former Dodgers broadcaster greeting golfers who are donating time and money to his son's mission of helping families in crises.

subset: commoncrawl


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Mobile & Wireless Slideshow: 10 Steps CIOs Can Take to Bolster Mobile Security
By Don Reisinger | Posted 08-04-2010
Now more than ever, companies are allowing their employees to use smartphones to connect to enterprise email and business intelligence so they can be productive while on the go. From a productivity perspective, smartphones have revolutionized the corporate world. Yet, there is a dark side to smartphones in the corporate computing environment that every CIO and IT staff worry about: Security. Some employees don't have the level of knowledge about security that the CIO does, and when these workers decide to browse the Web, they generally don't consider the ramifications of their actions. Now is the time to discuss mobile-security techniques designed to keep the company safe. If you follow these 10 simple steps, you should be well on your way to ensuring that all the sensitive data that malicious hackers want will not slip out while your employees are on the road.
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WINNIPEG — The item in the sports section of the Nov. 19 Winnipeg Free Press was just a filler. But when I read beyond the inconspicuous headline "Boxer dies in crash" and learned it was former Winnipegger David Dusang, who had moved to Toronto, it was like a shot to the mid-section followed rapidly by a sharp teeth-rattling uppercut to the jaw. The former fighter had gone down for the count after being blindsided by a speeding semi-trailer trying to make time, while robbing a 48-year-old man of his.
It was back in the spring of 1980 amateur boxer Dave Dusang was a real up-and-comer.
Dave's Jewish mother was the late Elaine Masarsky and father Ken Dusang is a Jewish convert who, incidentally, had a few pro matches himself, but for the most part had been in the managerial end of the sport.
As an amateur, David made his mark winning a variety of titles and boasted a record of 30-7-1. The former Talmud Torah student had been the Manitoba boxing champion at various weight levels and also claimed the Saskatchewan championship which he held in 1974-75; the Rochester Golden Gloves title in 1977-78; the Hibbing, Minnesota Golden Gloves title in 1977-78; and in 1979 the Minnesota Golden Gloves.
His Jewish upbringing was important to Elaine and Ken and he had his bar mitzvah at the Bnay Abraham Synagogue in June of 1976.
Besides a Jewish environment, young David was also introduced early to the "The Manly Art" when dad Ken set up a gym in the basement. Jeff at 10 and his brother Dave, 8, would work out together and they even put on a boxing exhibition.
Dave had his first pro match in February 1981 in Edmonton, not long after his 18th birthday.
The Alberta debut was swift and decisive when Dusang was dropped to the canvas in the first round at the hands of welterweight Laurie Mann, who would later become the Canadian champion.
Other than his out-of-town debut/disaster, I believe I witnessed all of Dusang's other bouts. He also took on the likes of aspiring pugilists and trial horses named Kareem Ali, Tom Tarantino, Dennis Brisson, Kenny Payton, "Sugar" Marsh.
Fighting as "the Jewish Bomber," Dusang compiled an 11-2 pro record with six knockouts. Dusang had talent; fast hands and foot speed were his calling cards, but unlike his opponents he was not raised on the mean streets of Chicago or New York, where desperation and profanities abound with every take down in the game of life.
In 1983, Dusang had just beaten Milwaukee's Tom Tarantino for the vacant USA Boxing Mid-American welterweight crown and was scheduled to fight Mann in a rematch on Dec. 5. "The winner of that fight was to get a shot at Davey Hilton for the Canadian title," Scott Taylor reported in Fightnews Canada.
Mann, however, brought the Jewish Bomber down, Star of David and all, at 2:36 of the opening round.
Perhaps it was then that the seeds of retirement were sewn. He closed out his career with a unanimous decision over Larry Mayes in Winnipeg early in 1984.
Luckily, the kid was on the family plan and it was they that were in charge of the one-time aspiring Canadian champion's career. So it was back to the drawing board for Dusang. He earned degrees at the Universities of Winnipeg and Manitoba, travelled to Toronto where he raised his family and became a major executive in sales and marketing.
He served as vice-president of sales and marketing for SkyDome from January 1993 to December 2005, and negotiated the 2004 SkyDome naming rights deal, which was the largest naming rights transaction in Canada at that time.
Above all, Dusang was a real mensch.
As his father told Taylor, "We brought him up right. David was proud to be Jewish and he even wore that pride on his boxing trunks. It's just so sad and so terrible. On Nov. 17, 2010, we were all in Israel for his son's bar mitzvah and now, one year to the day later, he's gone. But I wanted everyone to know, I deeply appreciated all the support we received.
"He was a good boxer as a young man back in the day, but he was really a better adult. He had a wonderful career in business and was a great husband and father. David was a fine, fine man."
Dusang is survived by his father Ken, brother Jeff, sister Laurie, wife Janna Pollock, son Joshua Ryan, daughter Rachel Samantha, relatives and numerous friends and colleagues.


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How about posting 12 shots from 2012? Anyone up for posting one per month as a look back at 2012.
Here's my offering to kick things off.
January - my favourite local water mill converted to sepia.
February - just liked the way the bumpy snow turned out in this one.
March - had a great time at Focus on imaging, two beautiful models Ola and the OM-D. Didn't come home with either unfortunately
April - Hardwick Hall in the distance.
May - reworked misty sunrise with lots of composition help from forum friends.
June - holiday in Malta, it's a lovely place will definitely go back. Too many shots to choose from but went with this as my first attempt to capture a "blue hour" shot
July - just liked the natural light falling on this begonia flower.
August - this was a spur of the moment thought to see if I could get a magnified macro through water drops. The combination with the background worked much better than I'd expected.
September - finally got a bug shot with my 35mm macro without it flying off.
October - not a particularly brilliant shot but a fun memory for me of Top Gear Live. The thought of a Lambo tractor still tickles me.
November and December to follow


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In today's extreme political environment, it's hard to know who your friends are and even harder to rely on them.
President Obama began his presidency supportive of nonprofits. He publicly declared their importance to our communities. His administration provided grants for nonprofits that encouraged and assisted them in effectively tracking the impact of their efforts.
But the president has now proposed for the fifth time a reduction of the charitable tax deduction. A smaller tax deduction for charitable contributions (from a 35 percent deduction to 28 percent) would impact families with annual incomes of $250,000 and above and individuals who make $200,000 or more.
Published estimates of the financial impact on nonprofits of this reduction range from $5 billion to $9 billion annually. It will be felt the most in large, well established institutions - hospitals, universities and major charitable nonprofits - that traditionally rely on wealthy donors.
The fact that most donations to nonprofits come from individuals with much more modest incomes doesn't lessen the impact of a reduced tax deduction. While major donors make up only a small percentage of total American households, their gifts make up almost 50 percent of the annual donations claimed as charitable deductions.
The president can't be unaware of the impact of this loss on nonprofits' ability to do their work. President Obama's apparent shift in support is actually part of his strategy of engaging those who will face the most painful cuts. He wants the nonprofit sector to help do the political work of pushing for other federal budget revenue sources to avoid cuts to their own programs.
This strategy was signaled with Obama's suggestion to nonprofit leaders during December's fiscal cliff negotiations that they push for increased taxes on the wealthy. The president and many charity advocates understand that greater taxes on the wealthy can help prevent deep cuts in government spending that will be deleterious to nonprofits, as government grants and contracts are nonprofits' second largest revenue source.
Politically, the president needs all the voices he can get to strengthen his chorus for increased taxes on the wealthy. But highly visible nonprofit leaders are not in a position to push for tax increases on their best donors. And most are focused on trying to protect the tax deduction.
Interestingly, two Republicans appear to be coming to the aid of nonprofits on the tax deduction issue. Senators John Thune, R-S.D., and Roy Blunt, R-Mo., have sponsored an amendment that states it's designed "to protect charitable organizations from being used as a source of revenue to pay for more spending by protecting the deduction for charitable giving from being capped, limited or eliminated to pay for new spending as part of any tax increase."
While some nonprofit associations and advocacy groups have praised this proposal, others have suggested there's more to it than support for nonprofits. They feel the move is nothing more than part of a larger attempt to prevent major tax increases, with the tax deduction proposal obfuscating the proposed amendment's real motive.
In either case, few political pundits give the amendment a good chance of passing. This leaves us at an impasse again, and your voice is still needed to let your political leaders know where you stand.
Sarah Todd is the founder of Change Pioneers, a resource on effective social change leadership. She can be reached at 912-224-2120 or firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Even in political races close to home, U.S. voters don't link campaign finance reform to their own sense of trust in government. David Primo of the University of Rochester and Jeffrey Milyo of the University of Chicago found that people's attitudes toward government do not depend on campaign finance laws in their home states.
Political scientists Primo and Milyo used statistical data from the National Election Studies covering 1952-2000 and state-level figures to examine the relationship between campaign finance laws and a concept related to trust, "political efficacy." "We find limited support for the claim that restrictions on contributions improve political efficacy," the researchers say in their study. Political efficacy refers to the belief that a person can have an influence on the political process.
"The effect of campaign finance laws is often perverse, rarely positive, and in all cases modest," the authors write. They suggest that "justifications for reform ought to be with respect to other features of the political process, such as competitiveness and turnout, and not with respect to making citizens feel better about their government."
Earlier this month, the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments about the McCain-Feingold campaign finance law passed in 2002, which bans "soft money" contributions by groups and allows increases in donations from individuals. Defenders of the law say that large donations by special interests corrupt the political system and alienate voters; others want to overturn it because they believe it is unconstitutional and brings excessive federal intrusion into state and local political parties.
The authors say their research is the first systematic test of the link between campaign finance laws and citizen perception of government. Primo is assistant professor of political science at Rochester and Milyo is assistant professor at the Harris Graduate School of Public Policy Studies at Chicago. They presented their findings at the 2003 annual meeting of the American Political Science Association last month.
At present, the United States is in an era of "mature" campaign finance regulation, Primo and Milyo say, since all states have disclosure laws on the books, and most states have some restrictions on contributions.


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The World's Rivers
Rivers are the arteries of our planet
A river may have its source in a spring, lake, from damp, boggy places where the soil is waterlogged, from glacial meltwater, or simply from rain flowing off impermeable rock or man-made surfaces. Almost all rivers are joined by other rivers and streams, termed "tributaries', the highest of which are known as headwaters. Water may also be recruited to a river from ground-water sources.
Throughout the course of the river, the total volume transported downstream will often be a combination of the free water flow together with a substantial contribution flowing through sub-surface rocks and gravels that underlie the river and its floodplain. For many rivers in large valleys, this unseen component of flow may greatly exceed the visible flow.
The area drained by a river and its tributaries is called a catchment, catchment basin, drainage basin or watershed. The term "watershed" is also used to mean a boundary between catchments, which is also called a water divide.
Floodplains and deltas
A river's water is generally confined to a channel, made up of a stream bed between banks, but in larger rivers there is also a wider floodplain shaped by flood-waters over-topping the channel.
Flood plains may be very wide in relation to the size of the river channel. This distinction between river channel and floodplain can be blurred especially in urban areas where the floodplain of a river channel can become greatly developed by housing and industry. Rivers that carry large amounts of sediment may develop large deltas at their mouths, if conditions permit.
The flora and fauna of rivers have developed to utilise the very wide range of aquatic habitats available from torrential waterfalls through to lowland mires
Although many organisms are restricted to the freshwater in rivers, some, such as Salmon and Hilsa have adapted to be able to survive both in rivers and in the sea.
Flooding is a natural part of a river's cycles. The majority of the erosion of river channels and the erosion and deposition on the associated floodplains occur during flood stage. Human activity, however, has upset the natural way flooding occurs by walling off rivers, straightening their courses and by draining of natural wetlands.
Human uses of rivers
We love our rivers and we abuse them. We have used them as a source of water, for food, for transport, for recreation, as defenses, as a source of power to drive machinery, and as a means of disposing of waste.
The earliest evidence of river navigation is found in the Indus Valley Civilization, in Northwestern India around 3300 BC and riverine navigation is still used extensively in major rivers of the world like the Ganges, Nile, Mississippi, and Indus.
Rivers continue to be a very important source of food for societies around the world. Apart from being a rich source of fish, rivers indirectly aid in cultivation with its supply of water for the crops.
Rivers are often managed or controlled to make them more useful and less disruptive to human activity.
- Dams or weirs may be built to control the flow, store water, or extract energy.
- Levees may be built to prevent run-off of excess river water in times of flood.
- Canals connect rivers to one another for water transfer or navigation.
- River courses may be modified for navigation, or straightened to increase the flow rate.


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Product Reviews
Berkley® Steelon™ Nylon Coated Wire is rated out of 5 by 19.
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Date published: 2017-02-22


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Top Cars
Head to Head: The Best Automotive Rivalries
It's football season again, and that means bitter rivals are back in action with scores to settle. As it happens, the automotive marketplace is all revved up, too. We can't remember a time when there were so many compelling matchups between competing cars, trucks and crossovers. In honor of the pigskin's long-awaited return, here are AutoTrader.com's most interesting automotive rivalries of the year.
Chevrolet Silverado 1500 vs. Ford F-150
Although the Chevy Silverado hasn't changed much in recent years, it still packs an enviable punch. Our favorite is the broad-shouldered 6.2-liter V8, but even the tried-and-true 5.3-liter small block V8 is a pleasure. Towing and hauling capacities are off the charts, and straight-line performance is pretty impressive, too. Sure, the interior's pretty basic, but does that really matter in a truck?
Well, yeah, it kind of does. Trucks have become much more luxurious over the past decade, and the Ford F-150 has led the charge with its quiet, nicely trimmed cabin. Moreover, Chevy fans can no longer claim supremacy under the hood, because the F-150 has four, count 'em, four new engines to choose from, including two stout V8s, the hot-selling "EcoBoost" twin-turbo V6 and even a passable base V6 that blows Chevy's starter V6 out of the water.
AutoTrader's Pick
The F-150 gets the game ball here on the strength of those new motors. We used to be partial to the Chevy's no-nonsense muscle, but now the F-150 pretty much does everything well.
Nissan Altima vs. Toyota Camry
Treated to a ground-up redesign for 2013, the new Altima shows that Nissan is sick and tired of playing second fiddle. From its aggressive, Maxima-inspired sheet metal to its remarkable 4-cylinder fuel economy of 27 mpg city/38 mpg hwy, this Altima means business. It's even fun to drive, which is rare praise for a family sedan.
As for the Camry, it's no slouch either, having been treated to a redesign of its own for 2012. Unlike every Camry before it, the new one can actually handle a curve, and the optional hybrid power train is hyper-efficient and surprisingly powerful. Styling remains rather anonymous, but for some shoppers, that might heighten its appeal.
AutoTrader's Pick
Nissan by a nose. The Altima just feels like a nicer all-around car than the Camry these days, and that's enough to give it the victory. We're guessing this contest gets a re-do when the 2013 Honda Accord becomes available.
Hyundai Genesis Coupe vs. Scion FR-S
Hyundai took the sport-coupe world by storm with the rear-drive Genesis Coupe back in 2010, offering Infiniti G37-grade handling at a Honda Civic Si price point. For 2013, the Genesis Coupe gets a mid-cycle refresh that's meant to open people's eyes all over again. It certainly worked on us, especially once we sampled the hugely improved 2.0-liter turbo engine with its 274 eager horses.
But the all-new Scion FR-S is eye-opening, too. Not because of its 2.0-liter "boxer" 4-cylinder motor, mind you; no, that 200-horsepower mill might not leave you breathless. But the FR-S has such balance! And what precision! Everything you've read about the FR-S being a real driver's car is true. Will you have frequent-enough opportunities to exercise the FR-S on back roads and racetracks? That's really what it boils down to.
AutoTrader's Pick
We're going to go against the grain here and pick the Hyundai. For most drivers, most of the time, the powerful and relatively luxurious Genesis Coupe is a better fit. The FR-S is the superior athlete, but it's only at the hands of skilled driver that it's true potential is realized.
BMW 3 Series vs. Cadillac ATS
The competition has been gunning for the 3 Series for decades, but thus far, no cigar. That's because BMW relentlessly improves its winning formula, and some major changes arrived with the redesigned 2012 3 Series. There's now a turbocharged 4-cylinder in the 328i's engine bay, and numerous other tweaks have rendered the 3 Series a roomier, more comfortable luxury car. However, the new 3 Series doesn't have the same sporting demeanor that set its predecessors apart.
Enter the 2013 Cadillac ATS, a purpose-built sport sedan intended to match the driving dynamics of the old 3 Series. In other words, just when BMW goes a little soft, along comes Cadillac with a precision tool. We've driven the ATS, and we think it's at least as sharp as the new 3 Series, maybe sharper. Looks special, too. And while we're not sold on the base 4-cylinder engine, the others--ranging from a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder turbo to a hearty 3.6-liter V6--are quite satisfying.
AutoTrader's Pick
We're taking the upstart Caddy. To us, the 3 Series' identity was all about its ability to emulate either a sports car or a luxury sedan as circumstances dictated. Now that the 3er has grown up, the ATS is next in line for that throne.
Dodge Durango vs. Ford Explorer
If the Dodge Durango looks like an unusually tough truck for a three-row family crossover, well, that's because it is. Boasting rear-drive architecture and a platform donated by the Jeep Grand Cherokee, the Durango is more of a real SUV than a mere minivan substitute. Thanks to that robust structure and an available Hemi V8, the Durango's towing and hauling abilities are at the head of this class.
Meanwhile, the Ford Explorer ditched its former tough-guy persona when it borrowed the car-based Flex platform for its latest redesign. Taking a further bite out of the Explorer's trail-busting aura is the available turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, which is barely adequate with a full load aboard. But the Explorer is great at what it's intended to do: schlep the kids to and from practice and take the family on quiet, comfortable road trips. There's also the high-tech MyFord Touch infotainment system, which has attracted its share of controversy but continues to impress us with its range of features and sleek look.
AutoTrader's Pick
Based on appearance and that Hemi V8, we'd take the Durango in a second. But we're picking a winner for average American families here, and that would be the Explorer. Plain and simple, Ford's got what families want.
Ford Escape vs. Honda CR-V
What a difference a decade makes. When the Ford Escape debuted, it was the brawler of the compact crossover crowd, decked out with off-road-ready looks and optional V6 power. But the Escape finally received a redesign for 2013, and now it's essentially a Focus hatchback on stilts. You know what? That's a wonderful thing. The new Escape is genuinely engaging to drive, and it also offers a top-quality interior and even a trick electronic liftgate that opens with a wiggle of your shoe.
The Honda CR-V, on the other hand, has strayed considerably from its roots as a small, simple crossover. Today's CR-V is a bona fide midsize vehicle that drives more like the Odyssey minivan than those compact, nimble CR-Vs of yore. On the bright side, practical touches abound inside the CR-V, and Honda's reputation for reliability remains strong. But as ever, the only available engine is a modest 4-cylinder, so don't expect a whole lot in the way of passing power.
AutoTrader's Pick :
We're smitten by the Escape with the top-of-the-line 2.0-liter "EcoBoost" inline-4. It's a delectable mix of comfort, technology, sport, and good old-fashioned American muscle. If you want a little extra flavor in your crossover, this matchup is no contest.


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Bulletin, April/May 2007
The Case of myhamilton.ca
by Brian Detlor, Paul Takala, Umar Ruhi and Maureen Hupfer
Brian Detlor and Maureen Hupfer are associate professors at the DeGroote School of Business, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario. Umar Ruhi is a Ph.D. candidate in the school. Paul Takala is the manager, electronic service, Hamilton Public Library, Hamilton, Ontario.
Brian Detlor may be reached at detlorb<at>mcmaster.ca; Paul Takala may be reached at ptakala<at>hpl.ca; Umar Ruhi may be reached at umar<at>umar.biz; andMaureen Hupfer may be reached at hupferm<at>univmail.cis.mcmaster.ca
As governments implement new digital environments as a means of delivering better information services and resources to citizens, the development of rich and meaningful digital spaces that engage and encourage citizen uptake is becoming an increasing challenge. How should managers of these new digital environments go about building an integrated and comprehensive digital environment for citizens? How do managers of these digital environments ensure that the virtual space is robust in its offerings and is relevant to citizens?
To help answer such questions, let us examine the City of Hamiltons municipal portal, called myhamilton. Promoted as a supersite, the community portal not only provides citizens access to key government information services and resources, but importantly also facilitates communication and information sharing among participating members. To understand what managers need to do to secure successful implementation of such government digital spaces, myhamilton is used to showcase practical guidelines from key managers involved in the portal project.
The myhamilton Portal
On September 13, 2005, the community of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, launched an innovative new community portal www.myhamilton.ca. The myhamilton supersite is unique in that it integrates the websites of the municipal government, the public library and several community databases and content areas. Through myhamilton the City of Hamilton and its partners are benefiting from a shared content management and collaboration infrastructure while providing citizens with one place to look for local information. The success of myhamilton has been based on the ability of several community partners to come together, develop a shared vision and then work collaboratively to achieve that vision. Now that the site is live, effort is directed toward engaging new partners to ensure there is an even broader range of community participation in the portal. Key features and functions include integrated municipal and library services, personalization and single sign-on for secure transactions, comprehensive events listings and extensive search capabilities. Also included are collaboration spaces and tools including surveys, discussion forums and document sharing, as well as webcasting capabilities.
Guiding Principles for myhamilton.ca
Overall, managers of the project recognize 10 guiding principles as critical to the philosophy, direction and implementation of the myhamilton community portal. These are as follows and discussed in detail below:
- Incorporate collaborative tools
- Facilitate full integration of content
- Perform usability testing
- Encourage active engagement from multiple partners
- Deploy effective governance
- Learn from others
- Follow good project management techniques
- Formalize performance assessments
- Invest in marketing and communication
- Engage participants on a regular basis
Principle #1: Incorporate Collaborative Tools
In the case of myhamilton.ca, asynchronous applications such as discussion forums and collaboration spaces for content sharing are being used to encourage regular interaction between local government and citizens, regardless of their location. The collaboration tools on the portal are being used in two ways: 1) for interactive elements on the main portal and 2) for closed spaces or extranets used by groups to communicate and share ideas. Surveys and discussion forums are integrated within the portal, while collaboration spaces available over extranets are available for channel partners to securely share documents, establish shared calendars, exchange ideas and manage access to their own spaces on the portal. While content on these extranet-based collaboration spaces is not generally available to non-authorized users, authorized users can log-in through their standard portal account which can be used for any number of individual extranets.
As one would expect, distributed administration of the local collaboration space was important to ensure that such an architecture of technologies could work together well over time. A local administrator is able to add users and assign permissions to their spaces. To protect the privacy of individuals, local administrators are not given access to anyones password. They only need to know someones login name to assign them permissions. Standards of acceptable use and other policies apply to the collaboration spaces. Making the collaboration spaces broadly available in the community has raised a number of legal and sustainability questions that have required a significant amount of attention. Investing efforts to ensure proper and sensitive handling of online content and instituting policies to support constituent trust in such tools has been shown to increase participants confidence in an online community.
Principle #2: Facilitate Full Integration of Content
Another key factor, which led to the creation of a compelling portal, was developing the site in a way that provided one place to look for information about Hamilton (no wrong door). To achieve this goal, the City of Hamilton needed to integrate content from several key sources of information and create a new platform for the community to share information. For example, the City of Hamilton and the Hamilton Public Library integrated their original websites directly into the myhamilton portal. All sites that are integrated into myhamilton preserve their original Web domains so that users can go directly to those sites, and partners are encouraged to promote and market their own resources. However, integration into a common platform allows the myhamilton interface to provide a single unifying window for citizens who are seeking information pertaining to Hamilton. This integration also provides the site with a strong institutional base on which to build community content. For instance, the City and Government channel, which is the website of the municipal government, also links to key sites from other levels of government while the Library Services channel, which is the website of the Hamilton Public Library, also links to academic and other libraries in the area.
An essential element in getting partners to participate in the site involved ensuring that the source of any particular piece of information was clearly identified so that community views would not be misunderstood as those expressed by the city or other partners. Thus, modifications to the standard template were made to help users understand that they are on the city or library sites when visiting those sections. Managers learned from usability testing that more needs to be done to address this concern. Users of the site often ignore banners and sometimes do not recognize the source of information. The mental model of a portal that provides a space for many community partners to express their views is not yet well understood by many residents. All partners who participate directly in content creation on the portal stand to benefit from a wider audience, but more effort needs to be directed toward reducing confusion of authorship.
Finally, an additional means of content integration was provided with a single search engine on the myhamilton home page that could search databases and website content across the various channels. For the myhamilton portal, the basic and advanced search options are available across the portal interface where users can search for generic as well as specific information based on criteria such as document types, published dates, source domains and applicability to specific community groups.
Principle #3: Perform Usability Testing
Testing the portal ahead of time for ease of use and navigation was critical in arriving at a final portal design that was amenable to citizen needs and expectations.
In this capacity managers of the project learned that is it essential to have a broad range of community partners working together on portal development because stakeholders needs are varied and numerous. During the project the portal development team endeavored to engage a wide range of users. Initial assumptions about what the portal was were reevaluated, tested and retested. From Hamiltons experience there is no such thing as too much usability testing. Hamiltons team conducted usability testing a number of different ways from simple card sorting exercises to testing paper prototypes of the site. The team conducted surveys and one-on-one interviews and hosted more formal usability testing sessions facilitated by external consultants, which were captured in digital format for review in the future.
Another key learning that was identified during the usability testing was that whatever the methods used, evaluation plans should include a certain degree of task-based testing on a working prototype. In the teams experience, earlier usability testing, such as card sorting and paper-based testing of prototype designs, was helpful in developing the site structure and avoiding certain pitfalls. However, it was found that the techniques did not elicit many of the usability issues that emerged when task based testing was done. It should be noted that even when the portal infrastructure is up and running, until actual content resides on it, the ability to mimic a real live environment is limited. The best approach is to test at each step of the way and to continue to test to ensure that the solutions applied are not, in fact, creating a brand new set of problems.
Principle #4: Encourage Active Engagement from Multiple Partners
The active participation and involvement of the portals many key partners and stakeholders played a vital role in the design and functionality of the portal tools in myhamilton.ca. Partners skills and resources varied, but everyone was expected to make a contribution. At times, the best action for staff was to step back and let the partners move initiatives forward.
A few examples of the in-kind contributions received from partners on the project were 1) McMaster Universitys User Adoption and Uptake Study; 2) Fibrewired Hamiltons provision of free wireless access to myhamilton.ca; 3) the work of 40 second-year marketing and advertising students from Mohawk College who provided the initial creative advertising platform for myhamilton; 4) the efforts of three Mohawk College summer students who contributed to a new logo and creative copy for the portal, including billboards and print; and 5) Hamilton Public Librarys provision of three temporary project positions (trainer, community collaboration coordinator, and space and training coordinator). Such collaborative efforts and volunteer assistance from partner organizations are regarded as significant success factors in sustainable community informatics projects.
Principle #5: Deploy Effective Governance
In the myhamilton experience, effective governance was critical to the portals success. Furthermore the following conditions were important:
- That the governance model reflected the reality of the local situation
- That the structure, roles and responsibilities of the portals governing body were clearly defined
- That risk, liability and legal issues were understood and communicated early in the process
- That progress was reported regularly with targeted communications.
In Hamiltons case, the operational governance model acknowledged that the City of Hamilton was the lead partner and held primary liability for the portal. Accordingly, the governance model employed was that of an advisory committee. In the future, as community partnership becomes even more important, partners will take on a more active role in the governance structure and process. Having said that, reporting to many different masters should not translate into many different reports, and quality assurance must help and not hinder project progress. In the end, the myhamilton portal team learned that it was best to keep the governance simple, manageable and realistic.
Principle #6: Learn from Others
The ability to learn from other government portal implementations was another success factor. Managers of the myhamilton team offer special thanks to staff working on www.mysudbury.ca, www.elginconnects.ca, www.wellingtonguelph.ca, and www.windsor-essex.info for their advice and support. Their insights helped the myhamilton team map out its plan. In addition, they relied on project partners to complement the myhamilton teams expertise. McMaster University and Mohawk College in particular played a key role in helping to identify the most appropriate technology.
Principle #7: Follow Good Project Management Techniques
With any large systems development initiative, the adoption of sound project management techniques is critical to success. The myhamilton project was no exception.
To organize the large number of deliverables in the myhamilton project, the implementation period was divided into a number of sections or phases. Some phases (such as reporting and quality assurance) had deliverables scheduled throughout the implementation period. More time was spent on the requirements gathering phase than had originally been planned. While this required the project team to collapse its plan, it also avoided many problems later on. Areas, such as training, that did not receive adequate focus during the requirements phase faced more challenges during implementation. Problems with training occurred partly because the team did not sufficiently define dependencies. Consequently, some training was delivered before the local environment was ready, which required later remedial action to address gaps in knowledge transfer.
Detailed project plans were another vital element in myhamiltons success. Managers of the project team found that the communication of summaries and key points was the most effective way to inform stakeholders of project progress. At each stage of the project, the team went through progressive elaboration, expanding on the details of the next steps of the project. In myhamiltons experience, as the team reached each stage of the project, the elaboration of that phase revealed more tasks to be completed than originally envisioned. To compensate, the project team managers developed a risk management plan that was revisited often. Some of the identified risks changed significantly at different stages of the project.
Principle #8: Formalize Performance Assessments
For a project to succeed, realistic targets must be set and project performance needs to be measured. In the case of myhamilton.ca, managers of the project team were highly aware of the need to establish a framework that ensured all resources were directed toward a unified set of goals and that people at all levels were marching in step toward the same objectives. We started with a list of business objectives that were to be attained within the first year of launch, as follows:
- 90% of households with Internet recognize the myhamilton.ca brand 85% indicate they rely on it.
- 75 key organizations and businesses have Web content indexed by the search engine and assist in contributing content.
- 15% of referrals to key local organizations and business sites come from myhamilton.ca
- 50% of culture and recreation registrations are made online.
- 15% of available e-commerce services (pets, professional service licenses, library holds, small building permits, zoning verification reports) are done online.
Principle #9: Invest in Marketing and Communication
Channel partnerships were critical to both the development and execution of the myhamilton marketing plan. For example, the two domains of hamilton.ca (the original website of the City of Hamilton) and hpl.ca (the original website of the Hamilton Public Library) were integrated into the portal website. Consequently, the considerable traffic generated through these channel partner websites is creating awareness in the local community for the myhamilton portal.
In terms of the preliminary marketing activities undertaken by the project team, significant time and effort was expended to formulate the portals brand identity. After careful deliberation, managers decided to promote the website as a supersite, rather than a portal, to ensure that the average end user understands the idea of a one-stop information gateway to multiple partner channels and services. Similarly, the life made easy tagline was devised to succinctly define the mission of the community portal while simultaneously creating a memorable phrase for the target audience.
Principle #10: Engage Participants on a Regular Basis
In order to involve participants in the design and development of the myhamilton community portal, the managers of the project team made frequent use of surveys and public information sessions early on in the planning process. This was followed by meetings with community groups and several rounds of usability testing to retest earlier assumptions. Every stage of usability testing was used to elicit feedback from participants, not just on ease of use, but also to gather information about their priorities and needs.
Our discussion of these 10 guiding principles that facilitated the inception, planning, implementation and launch of the myhamilton community portal project has highlighted the key issues that need to be addressed in a community portal initiative. Some of these principles refer to variables that arise from the environment external to the myhamilton portal initiative and include factors such as available technology alternatives, the form of government support, availability of resources from external bodies, interactions with the public constituents, and collaboration and knowledge sharing with other community portal projects. Other principles reflect the internal aspects of the community portal project and include aspects such as the portals governance model, the project management approach, politics and culture within the project team and collaboration among channel partners. By adhering to these 10 best practices, we suggest that managers of government digital environments will be better positioned to build and deploy robust portal solutions that, ultimately, are of high relevance and interest to the community users these portals serve.
For Further Reading
Detlor, B., & Finn, K. (2002). Towards a framework for government portal design: The government, citizen, and portal perspectives. In A. Gronlund (Ed.), Electronic government: design, applications, and management (pp. 99-119). Hershey, PA: Idea Group.
Gurstein, M. (2000). Community informatics: Enabling communities with information and communications technologies., Hershey, PA: Idea Group Publishing.
Gurstein, M. (2004). Effective use and the community informatics sector: Some thoughts on Canada's approach to community technology/community access. In M. Moll & L. R. Shade (Eds.), Communications in the public interest; Vol. 2: Seeking convergence in policy and practice (pp. 223-243). Ottawa: Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives.
Preece, J. (2001a). Online communities: Designing usability and supporting sociability. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons.
Preece, J., Abras, C., & Maloney-Krichmar, D. (2004). Designing and evaluating online communities: research speaks to emerging practice. International Journal of Web Based Communities, 1(1), 2-18.
Articles in this Issue
Managing in the Digital Environment: Guidelines for Corporations, Government and Academia
Leadership in the Information Age: A Culture of Continual Change
The Case of myhamilton.ca
Managing Teamwork in a University Library Digital Environment: Issues to Consider
In Memoriam: Lee S. Strickland
Breaking Developments in Domestic Intelligence
Academic Life of Information Scholars: Cross-Cultural Comparisons of the United States and England
Digital Libraries on the MUVE: A Virtual Adventure


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My STBX and I seem to be entering into a new dynamic...or maybe it's just a natural re-balancing after the horror of the last couple of months (lawsuit threat, return to mediation, serious stress-induced illness). Whatever it is, I'm grateful for it and hope it lasts. For the most part, we're talking like normal humans without the usual undercurrent of disgust. We've just about figured out the summer plan for Miss Monkey without one meltdown on either part, which alone is a feat. We still have some big stuff to figure out, though, regarding how things will change after the move—like when, where, and how he'll see our daughter. Yep, pretty big. It's really just an interim plan until he moves somewhere close-ish to us, but it's going to be a tough one to get through without someone resorting to button-pushing. (I may have agreed to his condition to stay in-state, but I know he's not thrilled with where I chose to live.) I'm not sure exactly when I'll bring it up for formal discussion...we've only alluded to the fact that we have to work something new out...but my goal is to approach it with the same matter-of-factness as the camp talk. No emotion. No reaction to potentially snide remarks. Just 100% focus on the logistics. At the same time, I just hope the good karma of late sticks around a while.
There is one thing I'm still really torn about: His sister is getting married in September, and I'm invited. MIss Monkey is flower girl. In fact, I helped throw her a shower. But precisely because of the horror of the last two months...and the fact his family supposedly supported him 100% in his plan to sue me if I didn't agree to his condition...I feel like the line has finally been drawn. I've remained in pretty regular touch with my SIL and MIL throughout the separation and they've repeatedly assured me that I'm still part of the family and always will be. Which has been wonderful. But after learning that they were willing to help my STBX sue me, if necessary, I'm having a hell of a time reconciling the two realities. And as a result, I'm having a hell of a time deciding if I'm still going to attend. It would be huge wall to throw up, and it would give me the firm boundaries I've been craving. And yet...a part of me feels like by not going, I'm being petty and unfair and hurtful and that I should just go and have it be the last big family event. So tell me: What do you think is the right way to go? How have you dealt with the in-law events? I need some perspective! xo, Evie


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Sweden's 'Sugar Man' Gets a Taste of the Spotlight
A small Scandinavian record label is preparing to reintroduce the world to a man whose identity became the subject of a search that lasted nearly three decades, roping in scores of internet obsessives who tried fruitlessly to name a song based on less than 90 seconds of music recorded from German radio.
Perhaps nobody is more surprised than the artist himself. This summer, Johan Lindell was a retiree working as a painter, completely unaware that music fans had spent years looking for him without knowing who he was. Today, they call him Sweden's "Sugar Man."
The nickname pays tribute to the 2012 documentary "Searching for Sugar Man," which chronicled the life of an American 1970s musician some believed dead when he disappeared from the scene after releasing only a few albums. The search for Mr. Lindell had a key difference, however: He not only didn't know anyone was looking for him, but the people who were didn't know who he was.
And when they found him, they learned the 28-year-old song that had baffled them for so long had left little impression on its composer. "I didn't remember even writing it," said Mr. Lindell.
The tale began in 1986, when a German teenager pressed "record" on his tape deck to help him remember a song he liked on the radio. He grabbed less than two minutes of the moody New Wave jam about a man on a rooftop, trying to sort things out.
Several attempts to contact that man, René Molthan, for this story were unsuccessful, but he gave a short interview to English journalist and blogger Nick Pritchard through YouTube that explains what happened. "The DJ announced the name, but I missed it," Molthan said.
Molthan shared the clip with German music journalists in hopes of learning its name. When none could help, he uploaded it to his web site in 2002 and asked visitors for aid. The clip picked up a working title --"Stay, the Second Time Around," a reference to its lyrics – but it turned out that the song's name was completely different.
That same year, Mr. Molthan bought a CD on eBay from a Canadian named Paolo Miceli. Mr. Miceli remembers following a link affixed to one of Mr. Molthan's messages to the mysterious file.
The men exchanged e-mails about the song, and Mr. Miceli decided to join the search. After all, his CD collection ran to nearly 20,000. "I thought, 'I've got to have this somewhere,'" said Mr. Miceli, now 44. "God, was I wrong."
The song had never been released on CD, which Mr. Miceli had no way of knowing. Stumped, he shared the clip on another site in May 2003. "The Spirit of Radio" site, a home for fans of a Toronto rock radio station, further exposed the clip, but while visitors began guessing at the name of the song and singer, none were correct.
One year later, a user of the New Wave Outpost website named "farfetch" started a thread about the song in the "Help Me Identify This!" forum. Its members frequently name songs with scant clues, using just a few words or bars from the melody, and they dove in eagerly.
They suggested possible matches, contacted producers and questioned DJs. One ran a search for the word "Stay" in an online music database, generating hundreds of possibilities; others quickly dispensed with many of them. Members bought and listened to out-of-print, long-unplayed records, or posted questions on other forums.
The list of false leads grew. It was definitely not "Stay," by Ian Lodge; "Stay," by Marx and Spencer; "Stay," by Modern Vision; "Stay," by Romance at Eleven; or "Stay," by Dan Byrd. It was also not "Second Time Around," by Cham CM; "Second Time Around," by Lost Patrol; or even "Second Time Around," by Dagaband.
"Just a stupid question," asked "Opera Prima" in June 2006. "Are you 100% sure the song's title is 'Stay' or 'Second Time Around'? Maybe it has nothing to do with 'Stay' at all."
"I've had the same thought many times," confessed "eight6."
In August 2007, Phoenix photographer Dan Coogan, who is "Panorama" on New Wave Outpost, uploaded the song to YouTube. The 87-second clip has since been viewed more than 370,000 times, generating hundreds of comments. None included the correct answer.
A user of the web site Reddit, who goes by SuperZoomBattle2086, shared the story of the years-long search, attracting the sprawling bulletin board's community to the story. That caught the attention of Sara Kinberg, the 26-year-old co-host of a Swedish daily radio talk show called PP3.
Ms. Kinberg was browsing Reddit on Sunday, Sept. 15, when she read about the song. Two days later, she related the story on air and played the clip.
Within minutes, the answer came in -- from two Swedes in their forties, one named Stefan and the other Staffan, at nearly the same time. (In an interview, Ms. Kinberg said Staffan was probably first, but "we're talking minutes here.") She Googled Mr. Lindell, found his web site and played the songs posted there.
Only then, she said, was she certain. "It was a very happy moment," said Ms. Kinberg.
Ms. Kinberg looked up Mr. Lindell, of Stockholm. "He's not that famous, so I found his number on the Internet," she said.
Describing the story to the affable Mr. Lindell, now 63, took some time. "I called him up and said 'How do I explain this? My name is Sara, from Swedish radio … He was like, 'What Internet? What do you mean?'"
In an interview, Mr. Lindell called himself "Stone Age" with regard to technology and said he wrote his first e-mail only recently. His web site, which showcases his painting and music, was set up by his children. Naturally, he had no idea he'd been the subject of a years-long search.
"We had to explain it like 30 times," said Ms. Kinberg.
The song, "On the Roof," was the seventh track on the 1985 album "Ghost Rider," which was recorded in both English and Swedish. Mr. Lindell sang and played keyboards. While not a hit, some of the songs on "Ghost Rider" got substantial airplay in and occasionally outside of Sweden.
"On the Roof," however, had become an afterthought to Mr. Lindell. "They called me up and asked me 'Have you written a song called 'On the Roof?' I thought, 'On the Roof' -- what the heck is that?"
The day after PP3 aired the clip, he was in the show's studio, hearing his song for the first time in years. (The station released a short English interview online.)
Today, Mr. Lindell is bemused by the affair. He released several albums, but he was primarily a stage actor by trade: His 40-year career even led him to New York, where he played Rosencrantz in Ingmar Bergman's 1988 production of "Hamlet" at the Brooklyn Academy of Music.
He has little interest in a renewed musical career -- "I'm quite old, and I don't think it would sell," said Mr. Lindell -- though he continues to write songs that pile up unreleased. He's pleased with his odd place in online musical history, and glad he was found.
"I was very happy, of course," he said. "But it hasn't changed my life."
Indeed, Mr. Lindell's door has not exactly been broken down since September. He has given a handful of interviews, mostly with individuals from outside Sweden, and been contacted by some documentarians. The Stockholm label MNW Music has released his music digitally in his home country, though sales and playback activity have been minimal.
Still, perhaps bigger things lay ahead. MNW is preparing to release "Ghost Rider" on iTunes and Spotify in the United States; it also intends to tell Mr. Lindell's story on its web site, purchase marketing on Facebook and make "On the Roof" available through the Swedish playlist-creation service Digster.
"Hopefully we can do a global campaign" eventually, said MNW manager Ann-Marie Beckman-Forsberg via e-mail.
For those who watched the search for years, the response has ranged from glee to a kind of bittersweetness. "Finally! Our long (inter)national nightmare is over!" wrote "zippyphonic" on New Wave Outpost. "I'm going to miss all these years that I've been checking this thread every week to see all the guesses about this song," responded "FarFetch."
"It was an incredible journey," said Mr. Miceli, who works in the audio-visual department at a hospital near his Woodbridge, Ontario, home. Even after sharing the clip online, he recalls, he would still occasionally visit record shops to flip through the vinyl stacks. "It was constantly playing in the black of my mind."
"I just put that song on my site and let the world do the rest," Mr. Molthan told Mr. Pritchard. "I had not given up hope."
In Sweden, the men who finally solved the puzzle that dogged so many for so long see nothing unusual about appreciating Mr. Lindell's music. Stefan Petersson, a 45-year-old IT manager from Kalmar, still has "Ghost Rider" on vinyl. Staffan Bäcklund, a 49-year-old Stockholm science teacher, recalls listening to Mr. Lindell's first records with his younger brother. (He owns the Swedish version of the record.)
Neither knew about the search for "On the Roof" before hearing about it on PP3. "Hadn't a clue," said Mr. Petersson.
Mr. Lindell, too, remains low-key. Asked to explain the song's meaning, he replies minimally: "It's something about relationships," he said with a laugh. "I like roofs."
Does he still like it? "It's alright," said Mr. Lindell. "I think I've got more original stuff."


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I wish. But there was this one time when I tried to get something but was a lil too short, and this guy who was taller got it for me..it was like SWOON but only lasted for a sec.
check out my blog-Selective Otaku-on WordPress!!
She'll drift further away from me...
Hide your feathers..
I met my actual boyfriend (who's incredibly gorgeous) through his brother and he was just as obsessed as I am with manga and anime, especially the older ones (like me!!!!!!).
That's even better than a "shojo manga" story .
I mean, I never thought that I would find a guy just like that; he's like an absolute boyfriend (but human).
mine is more of a shounen type.......very sad.....
how long has it been since the last time i came here??? =.=\'\'
Everytime I walked into my 10th grade English teacher's classroom, except if there was a subsitute.
I feel like a fucking celebrity in this town...
No, not any of the kiss scenes or really dramatic crap.
The only thing that has happened to me that is close to a shoujo manga is when I was looking outside of a window and saw a really hot guy, who surprisingly stared back at me and smiled. I was like WTF & started spazzing.
I don't know like how when the guy starts touching you on your shoulder, you become more aware of it and then flinch? That's really it for me. xD
the dangers of empathy.
yes! yes yes! I'm in college, but I still share those shoujo manga scenes that happen between high school students... Those sappy leading-to-kiss scenes, clumsy moments, confessions and whatnot
shopping on Etsy
Nope, never. i don't have the guts to confess. lol.
I HAVE LOADS OF DRAMA, but sadly not romance...
Well, I had a few shoujo manga scene in my life...well a lot actually and if start to tell it would take hours
...but I have one moment, that i would remember...it was very sad. The moment I broke up with my ex-husband. It was so painful, cuz I still loved him, but I knew, that we should break up, before my love will invert in hate... i just remember his face...his eyes looking at me...its so developed that we spent that night together, our last night, we even didn't sleep, just lying, talking, kissing, hugging, like everything was normal...but the morning came and asked him to leave...he wanted to stay, he stand on his knee and hold me. I don't know how was a managed not to cry, but after the door closed, I just set down on the floor in the hall and didn't do anything, I wasn't crying, tears were falling for them selfs. I remember it very clearly, it was very painful...
... but after that I never cried, I never fell in love and I don't really want to.
I had some more "shoujo manga" moments after that, but I fully never feel it, cuz it was always one-sided, I don't really want this feeling again, so I'll pass there.
gillbean wrote:
i just graduated high school, and most shoujo comics take place in high school, or younger so i guess i never had a shoujo-like experience, although i certainly daydreamed about them enough.
ill just have to start reading manga with main characters that are in college.... the only one i know of is itazura na kiss.
can anyone else thing of manga that has the main character already at college? haha now im just curious. =]
Well, how about manga like "NANA", or anime (and manga) "Paradise Kiss" - it is more mature. )))
Hmm...may be "Lovesick" by Maria will do?
yes... but i don't want to remember it anymore... i'm sick of real mushy stuff... [brings back school shoujo memories baaaahhh]
but i still get hyped up in manga shoujo scenes
hahaha DaRin.. nomo nomo cho ayo! LOL
never gonna happen
i wish. but hey, wishes do come true
donuts will rule the world~ especially this one!


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New Car Review
Design-ovation: 2014 Mazda6
The 2014 Mazda6 is Mazda's entry in the ultra-competitive midsize family sedan segment. With such formidable competition as the Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, Nissan Altima and Ford Fusion, the Mazda had to have more than just room for five and great fuel economy to stand out. It had to look great, too. And boy, does it. Here are the five coolest things about the Mazda6's sexy new look.
Classic Profile and Low Roofline
Whereas the previous Mazda6 had a bulbous nose and a cabin in the middle of the car, the new Mazda 6 has classic proportions, with a long, flat hood and rear-set cabin. The key here is that the front wheels have been moved forward several inches (check out how much space there is between the wheel well and the door), while the swept-back windshield appears to push the cabin back and down low in the body. The arcing roofline contributes to a sporty profile, compared to the more formal, angular rooflines of the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry, which appear more conservative and upright. The Mazda6 does this without compromising interior space.
Scowling Headlamps and Vertical Grille
The outgoing Mazda6 had a beaklike grille and headlights that looked like they were squinting. The 2014 model wears a more determined gaze, a la the BMW 5 Series and Audi A4. Top-shelf Grand Touring models feature LED daytime running lights within the light assembly. Then there's the shield-shaped grille, too, which is quite upright. The strong front end is aero-friendly and, combined with its sleek roofline and ducktail rear end, helps the Mazda6 slip though the air easily enough to achieve between 38 and 40 miles per gallon on the highway.
Swept Body-Side Contouring
One of the most visually distinctive parts of the 2014 Mazda6 is its body-side contouring -- specifically, the downward sloping contours that start over the front wheels and sweep down through the doors toward the rear wheels, with a third line that rises rearward from the top of the rear doors back into the trunk. The interplay of these lines, combined with the "light-catcher" line (at calf-height along the bottom of the doors), contributes much to this car's sexiness. It gives the car a "waist," especially compared to its slab-sided competitors.
Show Car Wheels
The wheel wells of the Touring and Grand Touring trim levels of the Mazda6 are stuffed with huge, 3-dimensional 19-inch wheels reminiscent of the gorgeous wheels that Mazda designed for a striking concept car it showed in 2010 called the Shinari. Those on the Grand Touring model shimmer in the sun, thanks to a special metallic finish, turning heads without the garishness of full chrome.
Simple, Elegant Interior With High-End Appointments
Opening the door of the 2014 Mazda6 provides a view of the car's simple, elegant interior. Unlike the overwrought dashboard of some competitor cabins, the Mazda6 is all business inside, with a refreshingly clean presentation of information that borrows heavily from German cars. Carpets, dash and door trim are all black, while the cobra-wing-style sport seats can be upholstered in black or a contrasting black-and-tan treatment. One surprising item on Touring and GT models is the console-mounted dial-type controller for the infotainment/navigation screen, much like high-end Mercedes-Benz and BMW models.


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1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Grease and flour a 9 1/2 by 3 3/8-inch Bundt pan. Cream 2 sticks of the butter and sugar together on medium-high speed until light and fluffy. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Add the vanilla and lemon extracts and mix well. In a medium bowl, sift together flour, salt, and baking soda. Add 1/3 of dry mixture to creamed mixture and beat on low until mixed. Mix in half of the sour cream. Alternate between the flour mixture and sour cream. Pour cake mixture into the Bundt pan. Bake 1 1/2 hours or until a cake tester inserted in cake comes about with a few crumbs clinging. Cool 15 minutes. Remove cake from pan and cool completely on wire rack.
2. Preheat grill. Melt remaining butter and slice cake. Using a pastry brush, coat both sides of cake with butter. Grill on both sides until golden brown, about 3 minutes. Remove from grill. Cool slightly. Cut slices into bite-size pieces. To create sundaes, fill a bowl with ice cream, add pound cake and sprinkle on toppings. Drizzle with chocolate syrup and garnish with Raspberry Topping.
Makes 6-8 servings


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What The Heck Is Strategy?
Jul 31 2012
I think about strategy often. It may not be apparent from my random, non-strategic blog posts, but I think about it in corporate and sometimes personal terms. Most of my roles since grad school have required strategic thinking. It's an art and a science and sometimes I find that I make decisions without having full detailed analysis to support them and the result is good and sometimes I do tons of analysis and they don't turn out the way I'd hoped. The best is where I'm able to get a lot of good black & white data and combine it with observation of the situation along with referencing my past experiences. I believe strategy is a lot about pattern recognition. The best way to recognize patterns is from living life and facing many challenges. The next best way is to do a ton of reading and case analysis. The ideal is to have experience in both.
We are working on some strategic initiatives at work (yes, I have a new job and it's awesome) and my boss sent me a link to How strategists lead, by Cynthia Montgomery (Harvard professor), in the McKinsey Quarterly. You have to register to get access, but it's well worth it. Key takeaways for me from the article are: "The only way a company will deliver on its promises, in short, is if its strategists can think like operators." And "It is the leader—the strategist as meaning maker—who must make the vital choices that determine a company's very identity…"
I'll be blogging more about my new role in the near future.Author: Aruni | Filed under: entrepreneurship | Tags: cynthia montgomery, leadership, McKinsey Quarterly, strategy | 4 Comments »


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Hark, y'all. 30% off select home decor and bags. Gifts for staying in or going out. Use 30FORYOU
Old farm buildings in rural Lincoln County, South Dakota, USA.
13 January 2013Canon Powershot SX500 IS
Featured in Country Bumpkin – 19 January 2013Featured in Midwestern United States Art & Photography – 28 January 2013
farm barn pasture prairie plains dakota
You have a great eye for composition, Greg. LOVE those barns.
Thank you so much, my friend. I've got some close-ups of the barns that I'll post later in your Time Worn group!
Wonderful country artwork..
Always a pleasure to be featured in the group, Lori! Thank you for your kind support of my photos.
Beautifully captured Greg.
Thank you for the kind words, Julie!
Greg, I love the composition here. It really tells a story. Congrats!Featured November 24, 2013
Thank you so much, Barb! Very much appreciated!
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1 Day To Bastille Day: 10 French Women Who Can Teach Us All A Thing Or Two About Style
The French are known for many things and one of them is their sense of style. It's as if the moment they fall from their mother's womb they have the whole fashion thing down perfectly. Where is the justice?
I once had a chat with a French woman about this apparent gene with which they're all born and how it's really shitty of them to hog such a wonderful thing. Have you seen the way some people dress in America? Do you know what it's like to bustle through the streets of New York in between Thanksgiving and New Year's and be subjected to Americans on vacation? I do not dine in restaurants that use the term "casual dining" to explain their "style" policy, I only wear flip-flops when I'm getting a pedicure and the last time I had Wonder Bread I was five years old and probably swiped someone else's lunch because I was confused… or something.
The French woman's answer to this superior style was simple: "We have everything tailored to fit us perfectly; you guys [Americans] just put a fucking belt on it and think it's OK." Touché.
In honor of tomorrow's Bastille Day here are 10 French women who are either icons, or icons in the making, who have made their impact on the world with both their sense of style and their talents. Vive la France!


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cosmology, religion, humor
The Passion of the Quantum Singularity
Warning: Screed follows
All praise is due unto the Grand Unified Theory and the intolerant hairless apes that hath spawned it.
It's a shame that a bunch of white wing (deliberate Freudian slip) Christians don't want an Islamic community center in an old Burlington Coat Factory in Manhattan, even though by protesting against one, they contradict the very freedoms they hold dear. I guess they don't realize what an ugly and irrational force hate can be.
At the same time, I can' t help but think I'm sick of people arguing about who has the better version of the invisible-
Seriously, unemployment is high, we are still involved in one and a half wars, and the earth appears to officially be broken. My cable news has been invaded by the Wholly Irrelevant.
Besides, believing in an omniscient being that obsesses over this tiny rock, which amounts to the western Oklahoma of the universe, seems silly when the size of it can be measured and it's age calculated, and it's very very big, thirteen billion light years wide. Hubris.
Solution: I've been watching space shows on the Science Channel, and the History Channel, when it's not playing shows about the DaVinci Code. Some of this space stuff is so hard to fathom, it might as well be a religion.
Because I am sick and tired of religion and the animosity it creates, I propose . . . a new religion for all of humanity based on what I have learned watching basic cable.
My glorious new religion shall be called "Big Bangism," and it's adherents, Big Bangers, after the widely accepted theory that the universe sprang into existence from a tiny point in the black void of nothingness--or something like that; I can't remember; I wasn't really paying attention. Don't drag me down with your damn details. The devil is in those. This is faith, dammit.
To keep things interesting, humans can argue about the exact title of the new religion. Half of the people can refer to this exciting new cosmology as "Giant Explosionism," though Giant Explosioners are generally smelly heathen with no class. But I appreciate their right to worship as they please. It's not me who will have to answer to the Supermassive Black Hole when it engulfs us all in it's glorious and all powerful event horizon. Amen.
That's the beauty part of watching these shows: half of the episodes focus on space objects that may one day destroy us all, so the apocalyptic angle is covered. In addition to rogue black holes, there are gamma ray bursts from the poles of stars going supernova, giant rocks, and, I suppose, malevolent species of aliens.
Come, brothers and sisters. Abandon your old-fangled ways and embrace some new-fangled ones. It's really hard to understand, but that's the beauty of religion: Why have understanding when you can have faith. I am reminded of a time when I was mocking a piece of duct tape purported to show an image of Jesus. I was told, with disdain for my obvious lack of it, "It's faith, John." This particular image of Jesus, by the way, is available if you're interested, on Ebay. May he who hath the highest bid emerge triumphant. Praise the Black Hole and pass the Strong Electromagnetism. Amen.


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Operation 40 - Intel 1
In the villa's armory (the building where Mason says, "Today's the day we succeed.") look for an RPG-7 leaning against a crate. The intel machine is on top of that crate.
Operation 40 - Intel 2
As you escape towards the front of the villa, you will see Bowman (the black guy) come out of a spare bedroom firing repeatedly into the chest of an enemy. Head into that spare bedroom and check out the nightstand for this tape player.
Operation 40 - Intel 3
Inside the first hangar you encounter past the fast-rope, locate some boarding stairs -- these are the stairs used to board small planes back before the passage of the 19th Amendment. The tape player is resting on top of the boarding stairs.
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DUBAI, UAE, October 25, 2010 /PRNewswire/ — In response to the unprecedented flood disaster that devastated Pakistan, ZAFCO through its chosen charitable institution – Imran Khan Flood Relief Fund donated more than AED 30,000 enough to feed approximately 250 affected victims of the massive floods for 30 days.
Imran Khan a sports super star – former Pakistan Cricket Captain turned into a philanthropist, humanitarian, Chairman of the Board of Shaukat Khanum Hospital (the only charity based cancer hospital of its kind in Pakistan), an ex member of the Parliament and leader of the political party Pakistan Tehrik – e – Insaf, launched the fund after the floods, which as per the UN has affected more and caused more devastation in Pakistan than the Asian Quake, Haiti Quake and the Tsunami combined.
The ceremonial donation hand – over was held at ZAFCO's Corporate Office in Jebel Ali Free Zone. Mr. Gopiraj KV, Chief Executive Officer and Mr. Aftab Khan, VP for Marketing of ZAFCO handed over the donation to Mr. Ali Zaidi, President of Imran Khan Foundation, a US based registered NON Profit Charity.
In his remarks, Mr. Gopiraj KV called for compassion on the immense devastation and appreciated the work IKF is doing to provide relief to the flood victims.
"Aside from our endeavor to participate in activities promoting the environment and efforts towards a green community, ZAFCO is very much committed in the pursuit of social service. We will continue to develop and strengthen our humanitarian assistance programs at ZAFCO", he added.


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By Bryan Hoopaugh
Williston Varsity Baseball moves to 4-1 with another impressive week ending in a 6-1 rout over visiting Interlachen High School last Friday and holds on to a perfect record at home.
The Red Devils took the field last Friday night against Interlachen for a quickly played six and a half innings that displayed a dominating performance by Williston.
Williston's Red Devils started off the diamond season right last Friday by edging out visiting Santa Fe in a close fought battle 3-2.
Williston scored first in the bottom of the third with an RBI single by Justin Forsythe which scored Cameron Coffey who reached on an error by Santa Fe's third first baseman Nate Pelham.
By Steve Jarboe
Contributing Writer
David Heinkel and Damien Strange signed their college scholarships on National Signing Day last week before a large crowd of well wishers at the Williston Gym.
Heinkel will be attending Missouri Southern State University and Strange will be attending Jacksonville University.
Both young men thanked their parents, coaches, and teachers for all their support which helped lead to their scholarship offers.
With two non-district games left on the Red Devil varsity boys' schedule, the team ended its regular season district play Saturday night at Santa Fe.
Red Devil Junior Earl Brown helped lead the Williston Red Devils over district leader Fort White on Jan. 23, as the improving junior poured in a season high 32 points.
In a non-district game played on Jan. 25, the Red Devils made the short trip to Chiefland to take on an improving Indian varsity basketball team.
It was all Lady Indians for the first three quarters of play during last Friday's game when the Red Devils traveled to Chiefland.
It was a bad night for the Dixie County Bears, starting with the JV Bears being a no show, as a quick call to the Bears JV coach, found he couldn't follow his schedule of the scheduled game against the Red Devil JV team.
"No Williston Red Devil basketball player will ever wear Jersey Number 3 again," said Red Devil Head Coach Steve Faulkner, as he presented the encased jersey to Mr. and Mrs Danny Floyd.
It was five quick 3-point baskets by the Santa Fe Raiders on Friday night Dec.21, that put the Red Devils in an early hole that they just could not climb out of.
Santa Fe dropped in five first quarter 3-point baskets to hold onto an early 19-16 lead as the first quarter of the District game came to an end.
In the second quarter, the 3-point basket failed to fall for the Raiders, as David Heinkel and Damien Strange found the range for the Red Devils as they helped to pull the Red Devils to within one point of the Raiders at half time, 27-26.
Copyright © 2018
The Williston Pioneer is your source for local news, sports, events, and information in Levy County and Williston, Fl, and the surrounding area.


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Furniture Company Obama Held Up As Example Of Recovering Economy Goes Bust – Weasel Zippers
Everything he touches turns to failure. Note: The owner was invited to sit with Mooch during the 2012 State of the Union address.
Via Miami Herald:
Lincolnton Furniture Company closed abruptly Thursday just one year after it was hailed by President Barack Obama as an example of the recovering U.S. economy.
Furniture-making operations stopped indefinitely and only a few people will remain employed moving forward, company financial officer Ben Causey said.
"I don't know where it's going to go exactly; we're still evaluating our situation," Causey said. "We just didn't have any choice at this point."
The company was not receiving the orders it needed to sustain its operations, Causey said.
"We needed more orders is really what it boiled down to," he said. "We thought they would materialize."
Owner Bruce Cochrane, a fifth generation furniture-manufacturer, formed the company in 2011 with a $5 million investment and the hope he could make a profit off people who wanted to buy furniture made in America.
It was a move that caught the attention of North Carolina officials and those in the White House. Last year, Cochrane sat with the first lady during Obama's 2012 State of the Union Address. He also joined the president and other business leaders in a discussion about how to create more jobs at home.


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Used 2011 Ford F-150 SuperCrew Review
Edmunds expert review
The 2011 Ford F-150 is an excellent all-around truck, and even more so this year thanks to its more powerful engine choices.
What's new for 2011
Vehicle overview
For the better part of three decades, the Ford F-Series has been the best-selling vehicle in the United States, with the F-150 being the most popular model within the line. Obviously, Ford has been doing a lot of things right with this truck, including giving it solid towing and hauling capabilities, respectable reliability, plenty of customization possibility and, with more recent generations, an easy-to-drive demeanor. Our only main complaint last year was a lack of power compared to its burlier rivals.
Well, the 2011 Ford F-150 suffers no such weakness. This year there's a completely new and robust engine lineup for America's favorite pickup. Starting things off is a new 302-horsepower 3.7-liter V6 that replaces last year's entry-level 4.6-liter V8. From here, there are three upgrades to replace last year's 320-hp 5.4-liter V8: a 360-hp 5.0-liter V8, a 365-hp twin-turbo V6 (dubbed "EcoBoost") and a 411-hp 6.2-liter V8 only seen late last year in the Raptor variant. All come matched to a new six-speed automatic to optimize performance and fuel mileage.
The added muscle and fuel economy for 2011 is a nice complement to an already impressive truck. Folks with typical pickup requirements (such as hauling the family and/or a bed full of lawn mulch) will find that the F-150 still offers a wide range of body styles and trim levels. But the Ford also offers a number of unique and useful perks, among these a flat rear floor, generous passenger room in crew cabs, a deployable step that eases access to the bed and Ford's Sync multimedia voice command system. For commercial-grade use, Ford offers the contractor-oriented lineup of "Work Solutions" options.
The full-size truck market is very competitive, and rivals such as the 2011 Ram 1500, 2011 Chevrolet Silverado and 2011 Toyota Tundra are certainly capable. Yet the F-150 is a perennial best-seller because Ford listens to suggestions and criticisms from consumers and critics alike, and the 2011 Ford F-150 epitomizes this philosophy. Whether you're looking for a basic work truck, a plush family hauler, a rig you could run the Baja 1000 with or something with four wheels that proudly announces your allegiance to Harley-Davidson, there's bound to be an F-150 with your name on it.
Trim levels & features
The 2011 Ford F-150 full-size pickup truck is available in three body styles: regular cab, extended cab ("SuperCab") and crew cab ("SuperCrew"). Cargo box size choices vary as well: Regular cabs come with a 6.5-foot or 8-foot cargo bed, while SuperCabs can have either of those or a garage-friendly 5.5-footer. The SuperCrew can have either the 5.5-foot or 6.5-foot bed. Reverse-opening rear doors are standard on regular and SuperCabs for easier cab access, while SuperCrews have four full-size doors.
No fewer than 10 trim levels are offered: base XL, sporty STX, popularly equipped XLT, rugged FX2/FX4, luxurious Lariat, Lariat Limited, leather-saddle-inspired King Ranch, blinged-out Platinum, bad-boy Harley-Davidson and extreme off-roader SVT Raptor.
Geared toward commercial use, the bare-bones XL comes with 17-inch steel wheels, vinyl seating, an AM/FM radio, air-conditioning and not much else. The STX is similarly equipped but adds body-color trim, cloth seating, cruise control and an upgraded sound system with a CD player and an auxiliary audio jack. The volume leader XLT features chrome exterior trim, foglamps, an upgraded cloth interior and full power accessories.
The FX2 (2WD) and FX4 (4WD) feature a towing package, 18-inch wheels, black-framed headlights and taillights, front bucket seats, a six-way power driver seat, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, the Sync multifunction voice-command system (includes Bluetooth and an iPod/USB audio interface), a trip computer, a 110-volt power outlet and satellite radio. The FX4 also includes underbody skid plates and retuned springs/shock absorbers. The Lariat offers upscale interior trim, leather upholstery, heated eight-way power driver and passenger seats with power-adjustable lumbar, power-adjustable pedals, a power-sliding rear window and dual-zone automatic climate control.
The King Ranch, Platinum, Harley-Davidson and Lariat Limited are all similar to the Lariat but feature their own specialized wheels and exterior and interior trim. They typically have a few more features, too, like power-folding mirrors, heated/ventilated front seats and heated second-row seats.
The off-road-ready SVT Raptor hits the trail with a 6.2-liter V8, special off-road tires, a revised suspension (with wider front and rear tracks, enhanced wheel travel and specialized shock absorbers), an electronically locking rear differential, sport seats and exclusive exterior and interior styling.
Other than the Raptor's off-roading bits, most of the features found on the upper trim levels can be added to the lower trims as options. Aimed at those who work out of their trucks, Ford's Work Solutions options include an in-dash computer with Internet access, a Midbox storage system (a lockable compartment located between the cab and bed) and Tool Link (a system that keeps tabs on tools stored in the truck's box via radio-frequency tracking). Other option highlights include a sunroof, a rearview camera, rear parking sensors, a cargo management system, a stowable bed extender, a trailer brake controller, premium Sony audio system, a hard-drive-based navigation system with Sirius Travel Link and a rear-seat entertainment system.
Performance & mpg
This year brings an all-new engine lineup. The base engine is now a 3.7-liter V6 that generates 302 hp and 278 pound-feet of torque. Next up is a 5.0-liter V8 with 360 hp and 380 lb-ft. And then there's the biggest dog, the 6.2-liter V8 with 411 hp and 434 lb-ft. Later in the model year, a twin-turbo 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 will debut with 365 hp and 420 lb-ft. All engines are matched to a six-speed automatic transmission. Buyers have a choice between two- and four-wheel drive on all versions of the F-150 except the Raptor, which has four-wheel drive as standard equipment.
The 5.0-liter V8 comes standard on the FX2/FX4, XLT 4WD, the long-bed versions of SuperCrew XL and XLTs, the Lariats, the King Ranch and the Platinum. The 6.2-liter V8 comes standard in the Lariat Limited, Harley-Davidson and Raptor trims.
Thanks to the more powerful engines, the F-150's tow ratings have gone up and range from 6,100 pounds with the 3.7-liter V6 all the way up to 11,300 pounds with the 6.2 V8 and EcoBoost V6.
Antilock disc brakes, stability control, trailer sway control and a full complement of airbags (including front seat side and full-length side curtain) are standard across the board.
The F-150 has not been rated using the government's new, more strenuous 2011 crash testing procedures. Its 2010 ratings (which aren't comparable to the new ones) were exemplary, as the F-150 earned a perfect five stars in the government's front- and side-impact tests. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gives the F-150 a top rating of "Good" in its frontal-offset and side-impact tests.
The 2011 Ford F-150 delivers solid ride and handling dynamics for a full-size truck, and it's remarkably quiet at speed, a trademark of recent F-150s. The potent new powertrains more than silence complaints we've had in the past about Ford's performance deficit. Off-road fans should be thrilled by the purpose-built SVT Raptor, as it is an immensely capable treat to drive off-road, although its wide body and atmospheric ride height make it hairy to drive around town.
In SuperCrew form, the 2011 Ford F-150 can comfortably seat four people, and you can squeeze in up to six in a pinch. Backseat comfort is superb thanks to abundant legroom, a flat floor and a seatback angle that's pleasantly reclined. Cargo-carrying capacity in the SuperCrew's cab is also excellent. The SuperCab is still fairly roomy, but legroom is noticeably less generous. Its rear-hinged clamshell doors are also less useful than the traditional front-hinged doors of the Tundra and Ram.
All F-150s feature simple controls and good-quality materials (by full-size truck standards). The navigation system includes an 8-inch screen with impressive clarity. Lower trims have a standard 40/20/40-split bench seat with a column shifter, while the upper trims feature captain's chairs and a console shifter. Special models like the SVT Raptor and Harley-Davidson feature unique interior design elements.
Edmunds expert review process
This review was written by a member of Edmunds' editorial team of expert car reviewers. Our team drives every car you can buy. We put the vehicles through rigorous testing, evaluating how they drive and comparing them in detail to their competitors.
We're also regular people like you, so we pay attention to all the different ways people use their cars every day. We want to know if there's enough room for our families and our weekend gear and whether or not our favorite drink fits in the cupholder. Our editors want to help you make the best decision on a car that fits your life.
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