text: A savory collection of natural history entertainments from Conniff (Spineless Wonders: Strange Tales from the Invertebrate World, 1996), who shares much with one of his subjects, the weasel—both being "very curious, investigative creatures." Here is a pleasurable miscellany of essays on animals often near but rarely dear: the bat, the cormorant, the house mouse, the porcupine. Much of what Conniff has to report may seem odd, but it's really only Nature steaming along on a normal day: for instance, the grizzly bear, taking August off to dine solely on moths. Or the cahow, a bird thought to be extinct for 350 years, that spends most of its life airborne at sea, returning to land only to nest in burrows under cedar woods. Or the serious scenting talents of the bloodhound (now to be found coursing the English countryside not for that ancient quarry, the fox, but for joggers who volunteer as bait), which more than compensate for all the slobber it produces. Consider the lordly moles tramping their estates, knotting and secreting earthworms against a stormy day. There is the pathological ill will that has been visited upon the cormorant, and there is the bum rap laid on that evolutionarily suicidal "mad dog of tunnel warfare," the stoat. Conniff has also sought out darker engagements, with sharks and snapping turtles, to underscore that "mix of wonder and dread, attraction and repulsion" that characterize so much of our dealings with wild creatures (and a response that Conniff finds healthy evidence that we are still in touch with our "Pleistocene memories," those instincts that were once elemental in human survival). After all is said and done, it is a relief that Conniff doesn't stir the ashes of his experiences afield for deep truths. The creatures themselves are truth, and reason, enough. (line drawings)


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Tonight, I had a mini-meltdown a few minutes after walking through the door.
It's a beautiful, sunny, nearly 50 degree Spring afternoon and my training plan calls for an easy 5 miles. This is a no brainer. I should go home, do what I need to do as quickly as I can so I can lace up my running shoes and just run. Duh.
But like an unruly toddler I can't. I won't. You can't make me. I'm tiiiiiirrrrreeed.
Why? Our little family had another non-stop busy weekend. One of those weekends where I had every detail planned down to the minute and if anything veered off course it would have derailed us and of course, led to complete disaster. OK, maybe I'm being dramatic but you get the point.
Toss in the fact that I work full time, have a three(nager) and I've been dealing with some medical issues lately (I was at the doctor's office 4 times in a week) plus I can't seem to sleep longer than 5 hours a night (hello, adrenal fatigue) I'm as one friend called me "a hot mess."
5 easy miles ain't easy when you are this tired and just over it.
Am I going to beat myself up over this? The perfectionist in me will a little. Sure. Did I give myself a pep talk into trying to go for a run? Oh yeah, didn't work. Don't care either. I'm that beat.
I'm running on empty. My body and my mind need a break and a rest.
I started this journey to be a better version of myself, but to be a better wife and mother too. I can't do that running on empty. If I had gone on that run tonight I guarantee I would have felt better at some point but I would have felt lousy to come home to see my overtired daughter who had a rough day at school sobbing for her mommy while my equally overtired husband, who works his butt off for this family every day, trying to console her. That kind of situation isn't good for anyone. By not running tonight I'm still putting myself first.
Tonight, I'm hanging up my running shoes and snuggling with my family because right now that's what I need more and I'm alright with that.
I'll run tomorrow. I'm OK with that even if I am changing The Plan. I might even run better.
Follow me Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Follow me Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

subset: commoncrawl


text: (*Disclaimer: This one is a bit paradoxical, on the theme of "Crossroads") We live in a world of information, competition, and perceived freedom. It is true that since the perpetuation and expansion of what one generation calls the Internet, and the rising generation calls "Social Media", information has been at our fingertips by choice. The... Continue Reading →


text: News & Gossip Celebrity news New Year celeb bumps and babies Jacqueline Jossa and Abbey Clancy show off their baby bumps while grandad Richard Branson shows off first baby twin pictures… 1 of Ad break Hands off Jacqueline's bump!Jacqueline Jossa has been keen to show off her growing baby bump over Christmas, but she has a message for any would-be bump touchers… hands off! The Eastenders actress is around 8-months pregnant with her first baby with The Only Way Is Essex boyfriend Dan Osborne, 23. Her cheeky logo tee might be a message to her soap friends as her co-star Ben Hardy – who plays screen on-off boyfriend Peter Beale – was spotted getting very hands on with Jacqueline's bump just a couple of weeks ago. "Getting big now!!" she commented, as she cradled her bump in another selfie. Jacqueline, 22, spent Christmas with her boyfriend Dan – putting a halt to rumours that their relationship is on the rocks. Photos: Instagram / Jacqueline Jossa Richard Branson's first grandchildrenRichard Branson has more to celebrate this New Year than most – as he became the proud granddad of twins! His daughter Holly and her husband Freddie welcomed the boy and girl named Etta and Artie on December 20. "It turned into the most magical day," Richard wrote about the twins' birthday on his website. "The twins were born on December 20th – the same date that Joan and I celebrate our wedding anniversary, and Holly and Freddie do too!" "Obviously, as you can see from the photos, they are the most beautiful babes ever to be born in the whole wide world," the gushing first-time grandfather added. Photo: Instagram / Richard Branson Hayden Panettiere's candid first picture with babyWe just love this happy and natural picture of actress Hayden Panettiere with her newborn. The candid picture was taken by her fiancé and baby's dad Wladimir Klitschko. The 38-year-old Kazakhstanian boxer posted the sweet picture of his 25-year-old fiancée and their 4-week-old baby on his Instagram account. "#family #klitschko #newyear," he commented. Baby Kaya Evdokia was born on 9 December weighing 7 lbs, 14 oz and measuring 20 inches long. Photo: Instagram / Wladimir Klitschko Abbey Clancy flaunts pregnancy curvesAbbey Clancy only announced her second pregnancy just before Christmas, but the 28-year-old is already making the most of her pregnancy curves. "Love this Lisa Marie Fernandez bikini especially with my pregnancy boobs," she commented on a rather risqué picture of her cleavage. On Boxing Day she posted a picture of her bare baby bump with the caption: "Belly's gonna get ya !!!" Abbey and husband Peter Crouch are already parents to 3-year-old daughter Sophia Ruby. Photos: Instagram / Abbey Clancy Congratulations! Read more: Jacqueline Jossa reassures fans she's enjoying her pregnancy Example's wife Erin Gleave: My 38-week baby bump The woman who woke up to find she'd given birth to 1lb baby By Jessica Gibb Comments Latest on MadeForMums Toy Sales for Christmas 2018 – from Argos, Smyths Toys, The Entertainer, Amazon, Hamleys and more New warnings about the dangers of WiFi-connected toys and kids' smart watches MadeForMums Awards 2019 shortlist announced! 2018's celebrity babies - who gave birth this year?


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Small Business Services
The Champaign County EDC hosts the Illinois Small Business Development Center — funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the Illinois Department of Commerce of Economic Opportunity, U.S. Small Business Administration, and University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
The Illinois Small Business Development Center at Champaign County Economic Development Corporation is part of America's Small Business Development Center Network, the most comprehensive small business assistance network in the United States. Their objective is to help existing owners and new entrepreneurs achieve their goals, in a complex marketplace locally, regionally, and globally.
At the Illinois SBDC at Champaign County EDC, they work to understand your business and its opportunities by forging relationships that facilitate trust, cooperation, and ultimately your definition of success.
Their team of advisors is here to make sure your business has what it needs to be successful. Whether you are looking to strengthen an existing business, formulate a succession plan, or even start a new business, the SBDC is here to provide advice, resources, and support for you and your company. Think of them as valuable members of your team.
The Illinois SBDC at Champaign County EDC provides business advising, training, and other assistance to small businesses in Champaign County and the surrounding region at no charge.
To learn more and/or schedule an appointment, visit their website.
Other area small business services:
Angel Investing – Urbana-Champaign Angel Network (UCAN)
University of Illinois Research Park
Champaign County Chamber of Commerce
East Central Illinois (ECI) Score


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Contact Us
Let us know what's on your mind.
Tioga – Main Office
Address7 N. Main Street
P.O. Box 429
Tioga, ND 58852
Phone(701) 664-3388
Crosby Branch
Address11 Central Ave E.
P.O. Box B
Crosby, ND 58730
Phone(701) 965-6333
Please feel free to let us know if you have any questions or how we may serve you better.
Contact us at email@example.com.


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Manufacturing Technology that Saves Lives
PMC SMART Solutions™ develops technology that saves lives. PMC team members pride themselves on the ability to manufacture dependable, critical parts for our customers: on time, on budget, and at quality. We treat customers' projects as our own, bringing their products to life, making them safer, stronger, more powerful, and more affordable. Customers feel the PMC difference.
Our team knows that our customers are not only the global OEMs we directly serve, but their customers and their customers' customers…patients, families, doctors, spouses, parents, children, friends.
PMC Core Values
At the heartbeat of PMC are our Core Values, how we develop the trust and commitment among our team, customers, and suppliers. These Core Values are the foundation for how we work and interact every day, and the basis for our success.
- INTEGRITY - honesty, accountability and transparency, we do what we say we will do
- SUPPLIER OF CHOICE - provide unparalleled trust, reliability and value to our customers
- CONTINUOUS INNOVATION - personal, organizational and technological growth are a way of life
- SHARED SUCCESS - partnership, driving profitable growth and rewarding performance


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IIPD Grant Applications are due on October 11, 2017 at 4:30 pm.
The deadline for the submission of grant applications for the Instructional Improvement & Professional Development (IIPD) Grants program is 4:30 p.m., October 11, 2017. Information about how to apply for an IIPD grant can be found at this website: IIPD Application and Guidelines. Please note that applications must include Dean's and Department Head Approval forms, a budget form and budget documentation. If you have any questions about IIPD grants, please contact Judith Larsen, Director, Grants and Resource Development Department, at 234-3910 or email@example.com. Good luck!Explore posts in the same categories: Uncategorized
Tags: Grants and Resource Development OfficeYou can comment below, or link to this permanent URL from your own site.


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Things That Go Thunk In The Night
By Susan Shingledecker
As you read this, six 70-foot state-of-the-art race boats are speeding through the Atlantic in the Volvo Ocean Race, which started in Alicante, Spain, last November and finishes in Galway, Ireland, in July — one of the world's toughest tests of endurance and skill. The teams face extreme winds, waves, temperatures, and even the threat of pirate attacks. But ask two-time Volvo Ocean Race Team PUMA skipper Ken Read about one of his biggest fears, and you may be surprised. It's ocean debris. "These boats are so fast, and incredibly strong, but they're fragile if they hit anything hard in the water." Over his ocean-racing career, Read has seen debris shatter a keel, break two daggerboards, break two rudders, and take a chunk out of a bow.
The crew of the 70-foot PUMA Ocean Racing, competing in the Volvo Ocean Race, has picked up or hit all kinds of floating garbage in their voyage around the world.
Read reported to BoatUS that PUMA Ocean Racing encountered a trail of more than 50 4x6 pieces of lumber laid out like breadcrumbs for five hours in their journey from England to the Canary Islands while training. During the race, as they approached the mid-point of leg two from Cape Town, South Africa, to the United Arab Emirates, they encountered 20 massive chunks of styrofoam off the coast of India. During leg one of the race from Alicante, Spain, to Cape Town, their mast broke in the middle of the southern Atlantic. As the crew desperately recovered the rig and sails, they drifted upon a 40-foot mass of floating rope, and managed to pull it out of the water along with their mast and sails and lash it to the deck. The next day while motoring to the remote island of Tristan, the prop made a strange noise and the shaft began spinning wildly. A diver found a 20-square-foot polypropylene fishing net wrapped around the prop. Fortunately they freed the net, brought it aboard, and carried on.
From Tristan Island, Read, the PUMA team, and boat were loaded aboard a ship and transported to Cape Town for repairs and to rejoin the race. Read said they were stunned by the international regulations governing what can be thrown overboard from a commercial vessel. In their four days at sea they witnessed nets, ropes, wood, and garbage discarded overboard. Beyond 25 miles from shore it's legal to discharge anything except plastic. At the most recent meeting of the International Maritime Organization, amendments were adopted to prohibit the discharge of garbage everywhere (even beyond 25 miles) with a few minor exceptions. This goes into effect in January 2013; the United States has not yet adopted this new prohibition, but changes are happening.
The Volvo Ocean Race has made the topic of ocean debris the centerpiece of its environmental outreach. They've developed an educational program called "Keep The Oceans Clean!" for each of the 10 stopover ports in the race, and have partnered with Skeleton Sea, a group that makes art from marine debris, and the Save The Albatross Campaign, to help raise awareness of the impact debris has on this endangered sea bird. At each stopover they have an educational exhibit as part of the race village, conduct a public beach cleanup, and host art workshops with Skeleton Sea using the debris collected at the cleanups. Additionally they work with the race-village school program and host events and activities to engage kids and the public on the topic of marine debris.
— Published: April/May 2012
Recommended Articles
What The Volvo Race Crash Teaches Boaters
Reflections on one of the most dramatic accidents in the history of the Volvo around-the-world race
Around And Around She Goes
There are a lot of misconceptions about the "Great Pacific Garbage Patch", but the phenomenon is real
Our Brother's Keeper
Finding ways to turn anglers into the guardians of rivers and lakes drives the founder of Recycled Fish
BoatUS Magazine Is A Benefit Of BoatUS Membership
Membership Also Provides:
- Subscription to the print version of BoatUS Magazine
- 4% back on purchases from West Marine stores or online at WestMarine.com
- Discounts on fuel, transient slips, repairs and more at over 1,000 businesses
- Deals on cruises, charters, car rentals, hotel stays and more ...
- All For Only $24 A Year!


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Currency Displayed in
This Butterfly Pendant is made from a single rifle shell casing. Available with a gemstone in place of the primer. Your choice of leather cord or chain.
Posted by Adrienne on 19th Mar 2014
I purchased the butterfly pendant with a sapphire on a leather cord. I love the simplicity of the design, and it gets a lot of comments from people who don't even realize it is a shell casing! Thanks for a great design.
All prices are in USD


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Personal tools
Working Groups
|Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility
Ethical Problems with Modern Technology
By Eric Douglas Nielsen, Michigan State University
Everyday, our life spectrum is broadening, and new technologies are created. Many different types of technologies are available and are used through our computers. Computers are present in every aspect of our lives. But it is quite surprising that very few people truly understand how computers work, or pause to think about the changes computers cause in our lives and in our society. They perform many ordinary, everyday functions and also perform many life-critical tasks. We bank by computer, we shop by computer, and we even rely on computers for medical treatments. Computer programmers and computer scientists make all of this possible.
Questions that a computer programmer may deal with include queries such as; are ethics integrated into the computer science industry? What role do the codes of conduct really play for programmers? How are these codes of conduct implemented and applied? What is being done to limit people from programming/developing anything they wish? Do most programmers ignore the coding standards and the codes of ethics that are set forth by multiple professional computer associations? Because of the prevalence of computers in our everyday lives, it is important to understand how programmers view ethics, and what kind of roles that ethics play in their daily work.
The American Heritage Dictionary describes ethics as "The rules or standards governing the conduct of a person or the members of a profession"(1). Ethics is "The science of human duty; the body of rules drawn from this science; a particular system of principles and rules concerning duty, whether true or false"(2). In general, ethics are rules that govern actions and decisions in a particular profession. Dr. Walter Maner, professor of computer science at Bowling Green State University is an avid computer scientist. He is considered by some to have coined the term "computer ethics;" Maner defines computer ethics as: "an academic field in its own right with unique ethical issues that would not have existed if computer technology had not been invented"(3). Computers rely on programming, which is limitless; if one can dream it, one can design the program and implement it. Ethical questions about the uses and applications of electronic computers have been raised since their inception approximately sixty years ago. The Therac-25 case is a good example through which we can observe important and very relevant computer-based issues.
The Therac-25 case is a classic computer software related failure, and is one of the most widely cited software-related accidents. This case shows the problems and consequences that result from deficiencies in a software program. Programs always have a certain set of rules and guidelines that need to be met. If the program specifications are met and the programmer considers certain relevant ethical standards, the program is considered disciplined. Otherwise, the consequences and effects of undisciplined software development can be devastating to all involved, and raise important questions related to the ethics of computer programming.
The Therac-25 was originally developed in 1976 by The Atomic Energy of Canada and CGR, a French Based Company: "The purpose of the project was to build a linear accelerator to deliver X-rays and electron beams for the treatment of cancer."(5). The Therac-25 was a multi-million dollar computerized radiation therapy machine with its first commercial version available in 1982. Before this, there were several other models of the Therac.
In general, most computers have two main components: hardware and software, which the machine relies upon to run and execute the programs and commands. A machine like the Therac-25 is considered to be software intensive if it heavily relies on the software component to execute a specific purpose, rather than relying on both the hardware and the software to run. In other words, a machine or system where the critical control is mediated through the software is considered software intensive. The Therac-25 was originally developed in 1976 by The Atomic Energy of Canada and CGR, a French Based Company: "The purpose of the project was to build a linear accelerator to deliver X-rays and electron beams for the treatment of cancer"(5). The Therac-25 was a multi-million dollar computerized radiation therapy machine with its first commercial version available in 1982. Before this, there were several other models of the Therac. The Therac-25 was considered to be more compact, more versatile, and easier to use than the previous models. Even though the new model offered great benefits, its software was flawed.
With the earlier models, as in the Therac-20, there were hardware and software interlocks, which in general kept the machine running in a safe way. This prevented the patient from being burned or given an overdose; instead, a fuse blew in the machine. A single person developed the software for the Therac-20/25, which were both modeled after the Therac-6 (an earlier model). The Therac-25 software had more responsibility for maintaining safe execution and use than the software in the previous models. The Therac-20 had independent protective circuits, which monitored the operation, and kept the patient safe. The computer had immense ability to control and monitor the hardware, which was a great asset for the system. But the cost of these safety mechanisms and interlocks was very high, so they were removed for the next model, Therac-25. Nancy Leveson, a professor at The University of Washington, has suggested that this practice of cutting costs is "becoming more common as companies decide that hardware interlocks and backups are not worth the expense, or they put more faith on software than on hardware reliability"(5). In the Therac case, there was tremendous responsibility put on the programmer to produce a safe software program, but the programmer failed to do so.
The Therac-25 was designed to precisely aim a beam of radiation at a patient to treat tumors or cancerous growths. The machine had two settings, a low energy mode and an X-ray mode. The low energy mode was "200-rad mode" that delivered photons, and the X-ray mode had a "25 million electron volt capacity" which are very strong electrons at varying energy levels. The X-rays produced were used to reach deeper tissue in the body, and spare the outer layer of tissues. The low setting was aimed directly at the patient, whereas the high-energy mode (with the X-rays) was first put through a thick tungsten shield. The machine was "controlled through a terminal hooked up to an old VAX mainframe so that a technician could run it from another room," so not to cause excess radiation exposure to the operator (Eby, online).
All together, there were eleven Therac-25 machines installed in treatment centers: five in the USA and six in Canada. In most treatment cases, the procedure went as planned, with no complications. The machine provided the necessary radiation to cure the cancerous tumors. But between June 1985 and January 1987, there were six known accidents that involved massive overdoses of radiation, which resulted in deaths and serious injuries. Mr. Rawlinson, of The Ontario Cancer Institute described the accidents as "the worst series of radiation accidents in the 35-year history of medical accelerators." (Rawlinson, (6)) The cause for all of these accidents was human error, which is becoming more common place in all accidents in society. Mark Eby, a professor at The University of Guelph (Canada), has suggested that "with an increase in advancement everyday, people are looking for a faster way to make products and software. (These products are) created at an alarming rate to keep up with the consumer and sometimes (important aspects) are over looked."(7). When the Therac-25 was engineered not all the possible outcomes were considered before it was put on the market. The software overlooked the possibility of common input errors. The likelihood of the deaths could have been reduced or even prevented if the program had been designed better and had been tested properly.
There were several different factors that played a part in the failure of the Therac-25. A major problem was the individual programmer, whose personality and way of thinking were both severely flawed. The programmer who developed the Therac-25 software took his work seriously, but also personallyhe preferred to work individually and in isolation rather than work collaboratively with peers who might have caught the errors in his code. In general, this way of thinking was very arrogant and irresponsible on the parts of the individual programmer and the company for which he worked. While developing and testing the code, the programmer did not think of all the different possibilities that could arise, and didnt handle the errors properly. This program handled errors by silent failure, in that the error output was not informative and that the whole computer system could fail and shut down if a single part of the software failed.
Another problem was that the technicians were trained to think that the Therac-25 machine couldnt fail and that it was virtually impossible to give an overdose of radiation because of "the many safety mechanisms"(Medical Devices: The Therac-25, 8). This way of thinking was totally wrong; programs should always handle errors in an appropriate and safe manner. The technicians were taught that if an error occurred, it didnt matter and it didnt jeopardize the safety of the patient. Furthermore, the software never went through any meaningful debugging/testing. This was an enormous problem, in that not all-possible outcomes were thought of or developed into the software. These design process problems were in violation of good software engineering principles, and also in violation of general "good" engineering practice. Along with these problems, there were also some basic software-engineering principles that were violated in the development process.
Good software design practices were completely ignored: The Therac-25 was a machine that almost totally relied on the software for safe operation. It didnt have safety interlocks with the hardware, which could help to ensure safe operation. In general, the overall design of the system was unsafe. The design of a program should be kept simple and easy for other programmers to understand. In software development, there must always be quality assurance practices and standards established for the program to abide by. When errors occur, specific information on the cause of the error should always be outputted. The software should be subjected to extensive testing and formal analysis before it is deemed safe for general use. All of these problems could have been corrected to ensure that the patients were treated properly, and to ensure safe operation of the machine. Safe operation is necessary in all machines, especially in life-critical machines.
The Therac-25 case is not the only case of the intersection of ethics and computer programming; there are many other examples of the dire consequences of ignoring certain aspects of a program. This case is a real life example of what can happen when computer ethics are ignored. All professionals have to take into consideration ethics, especially when dealing with a life critical system like Therac-25. However, computer programmers have a larger responsibility, a responsibility that extends beyond just computer-related medical technologies. More and more people bank online today, which heavily relies on computers. Imagine a situation in which all people who use online banking suddenly lose all information in their accounts. If the computer system malfunctions or is corrupted, there will be confusion, anger and mayhem. The computer systems that banks use need to be secure and always running properly. When computer scientists develop the code for the banking systems, they need to verify that all possible complications and outcomes are handled properly. A bank system cant directly harm people if it malfunctions, but it can create many problems that directly affect and disrupt peoples way of life. This is just one hypothetical example of the fact that in all applications of computer programming, certain standards, principles and ethical decisions need to be considered and applied.
Imagine another hypothetical situation, which involves on-line shopping. More and more people are relying on the Internet and their computers to shop. Imagine a case in which an on-line stores servers and machines malfunction or crash. If a person was ordering a certain product (1 in quantity) for their business, but instead was shipped 1,000 in quantity, there would be some minor problems. In this case, the consumer could always return the extra products and receive a refund. As always with computers, certain steps need to be taken to avoid these complications and mix-ups. This comes into play when the program is being developed; certain standards need to be met, which are critical to the proper and safe operation of the system.
The programmer in the Therac-25 case used computer technology inappropriately, not thinking of the all the possible consequences. Whenever there was a problem with the machine, an error message displayed, which was basically always stating the same thing, a "MALFUNCTION" had occurred. The way the programmer handled the errors was unethical, especially when this code was used in a life critical system.
Why was this single programmer allowed to handle errors this way? What kind of ethical decisions came into this programmers head, if any? All professional programmers know that there are proper ways to handle errors, especially when dealing with a machine that involves human life. Did the programmer not consider certain set of "commandments for programming"? The Computer Ethics Institute's Ten Commandments of Computer Ethics shows what the "acceptable" uses of technology, specifically computers, are and includes:
1. Thou shalt not use a computer to harm other people.
2. Thou shalt not interfere with other people's computer work.
3. Thou shalt not snoop around in other people's computer files.
4. Thou shalt not use a computer to steal.
5. Thou shalt not use a computer to bear false witness.
6. Thou shalt not copy or use proprietary software for which you have not paid.
7. Thou shalt not use other people's computer resources without authorization or proper compensation.
8. Thou shalt not appropriate other people's intellectual output.9. Thou shalt think about the social consequences of the program you are designing.
10. Thou shalt always use a computer in ways that insure consideration and respect for your fellow humans. (9).
If the programmer of the Therac machine had followed the commandments, and especially paid attention to numbers 9 and 10, most likely none of the patients would have been injured or killed. The programmer clearly did not think about all the possible outcomes for the machine. If the programmer had consulted with other professionals to help develop the program code, the machine most likely would have been safe. The commandments provided above are just one example of how programmers and researchers approach and understand computer ethics.
There are many different perspectives on the issue of computer ethics. According to Moor, with The Research Center on Computing & Society at Southern Connecticut State University, there is a problem with defining computer ethics: "A typical problem in computer ethics arises because there is a policy vacuum about how computer technology should be used. Computers provide us with new capabilities and these in turn give us new choices for action."(4). Usually there arent any policies that describe conduct with computers, and when there is, the policies are inadequate. One of the main tasks of people interested in designing computer-use policies is to determine what society should do in such cases. But this task is very difficult in the sense that the policy needs to "include consideration of both personal and social" circumstances (4). As an Engineering major, interested in Computer Science, I spend a great deal of time interacting with computers, and thinking about the policies, programming, and protocols that regulate my use of computers. I can also understand the difficulties described above related to setting computer-use policies.
I have one programming class, CSE 231, which is designed as "an introduction to programming." I have created many programs, which span a wide array of applications and uses, from games to manipulating data, to rewriting data files. I have just stepped through the door of computer programming and have much to learn yet. If an inexperienced programmer like myself can create programs that manipulate data and files, then what can a professional or an experienced programmer do? People can create viruses/programs that will wipe out the whole hard drive of a personal computer, shut down servers, affect the business operations of a multi-billion dollar corporation, and even disrupt/destroy our way of life.
The government regulates many aspects of our lives, but the newest technologies, which we rely upon to live, work, and shop, are not regulated in a way that guarantees benefits to our larger society. Our society needs to regulate technology, specifically computer software development, and continue to apply the ethics and morals of our society to the different aspects of our lives. The computer science industry also needs to be regulated with a higher standard, but only to a certain degree. If the government is going to regulate a discipline, the regulations must be both reasonable and supportive of the goals of society. Regulations made by bodies that are not familiar with a certain discipline can cause more harm than good.
Today, anyone can become a professional programmer; people with a degree in computer science, and even self-taught people. Even though there are many professional societies, programmers are not required to join or follow the ethical principles of any professional society. The world would be a much greater and safer place to live, if all programmers were required to join a professional society, and follow all of its rules and standards for creating programs. This way, all programmers would make and implement ethical decisions into all programs, from the online shopping applications to medical and life-critical devices. With new laws and regulations, could the Therac-25 incident have been avoided entirely? Could these laws prevent any future accidents from occurring? Could we prevent all computer code failure incidents?
Works Cited
- The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language , Fourth Edition: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2000.
- Websters Revised Unabridged Dictionary : Simon and Schuster, 1995.
- Maner, Walter. "Unique Ethical Problems in Information Technology." Science and Engineering Ethics. Volume 2, number 2.(1996): 147-154. (Online).
- Moor, James. "What is computer ethics?" The journal Metaphilosophy. (1985): 266-275. (Online).
- Leveson, Nancy and Turner, Clark. "An investigation of the Therac-25 Accidents." IEEE Computer. Volume 25, Number 7. (1993) Pg18-41.
- J.A. Rawlinson, "Report on the Therac-25." OCTRF/OCI Physicists Meeting, Kingston, Ont., Canada, May 7, 1987.
- Eby, Mark. "Therac-25: The Treatment that Killed." The University of Guelph. http://www.uoguelph.ca/~meby/ (4/5/03).
- Felciano, Ramon M. "Human Error: Designing for Error in Medical Information Systems." Stanford University. http://www.smi.stanford.edu/people/felciano/research/humanerror/humanerrortalk.html#RTFToC18 (4/5/03).
- The Computer Ethics Institute "Ten Commandments of Computer Ethics". Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility. http://www.cpsr.org/program/ethics/cei.html (4/5/03).
- Healy, Mike and Iles, Jennifer. "The Establishment and Enforcement of Codes." Journal of Business Ethics, Aug 2002.
Created before October 2004


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"Emergency surgery followed by lack of information"
About: Heartlands Hospital / General surgery Heartlands Hospital General surgery B9 5SS
Posted by very concerned mother (as ),
My son recently received emergency surgery and was based on ward 12. Our grateful thanks to the operating team and the ward staff for their care.
Establishing a successful feeding regime would one would think be of prime importance. The choices of food given to him did not reflect his current need for a light, easily digested food. He was offered tomato soup, beef and onions, salads and curry when he needed scrambled eggs poached or steamed fish or white meat.
One evening he ate his main course and left his desert for later. The maid came and removed his desert from his table without asking him if he wanted it. We asked the maid not to remove it and she just took it and put it in the bin with no no apology and was just concerned that the dish was cleared away before 6.15. Had no-one told her that every calorie counted for my son after his surgery or that patients dignity should come first?
My son was discharged having a diagnosis of IBD, no dietary advice, no appointment to see his consultant or the specialist nurse and no expectations of time scales. On telephoning the following week for his appointments he was told they could not give him an appointment as everyone was on half-term holiday. He could easily be a patient who could be readmitted as he is lacking basic information that is surely readily available.


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The Honda Insight hybrid is no more. That's the confirmation from Honda itself, as slow sales prompt the Japanese automaker to end production of its flagship hybrid.
According to Bloomberg, Honda informed dealers back in November that Insight production would stop this month, and asked them to stop taking orders on the model.
It brings to an end speculation that the Insight would be canned, following rumors back in November and more recently, the model's discontinuation in Europe.
It isn't clear at this time whether the Insight-based CR-Z coupe will also cease production, nor whether a successor to the Insight is being planned by Honda.
The current generation Insight debuted in 2009, filling a gap left by the first-generation Insight which finished production in 2006.
While the first-generation car set the standard for all hybrids to follow--with better gas mileage than any non plug-in vehicle before or since--the current car hasn't really shone in the marketplace.
Its 42 mpg combined rating is little more than that of some non-hybrids now on sale, and while owners find the car's EPA ratings easy to beat in real-world driving, it lags behind Toyota's Prius and the smaller, more price-comparable Prius C on efficiency.
Sales too have lagged behind the Prius. While the Insight has sold a respectable 280,629 units as of the end of 2013 (157,275 of which were sold in Japan), the Prius has sold in the millions worldwide.
In the U.S, recent Insight sales have been particularly poor: 2013 sales were 18 percent lower than those of 2012, with just 4,802 units moved. The car's highest U.S. sales were in the 2010 calendar year, at 20,962.
Sales should continue for some time in the U.S. though, where Honda has 237 days' worth of supply of the car--compared to a typical 60-day inventory held by automakers.
If Honda does build a successor to the Insight, it's likely to use the company's more modern hybrid setup previewed in the new Fit Hybrid we tested in Japan.
The new i-DCD system pairs a 1.5-liter Atkinson cycle gasoline engine with an electric motor, through a new seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. Both performance and economy beat that of the previous-generation Honda Fit Hybrid--not sold in the U.S, but sharing the Insight's drivetrain.


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The most effective and affordable approach to high-priced fertility treatment.
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*Fertility & Sterility, 2015; 103(2):503-512


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• Notch Talon Handsaw Leg Mount
The revolutionary Talon Handsaw Leg Mount from Notch allows you to fit your handsaw securely to your leg for maximum comfort and versatility in the tree. Simply strap the Talon shells anywhere on your scabbard of choice, then secure them to your leg with the provided elastic straps. With it's hard shell, thick padding, and universal design, the Talon fixes all of the problems associated with wearing a saw on the leg, including inconvenient strap placement and uncomfortable pressure or chafing.
Customer Video Review - David Ricks
- Ergonomically designed Talon shells can be placed anywhere on your leg
- Eliminates chafing and rubbing
- Adds space between your leg and the saw to minimize catching on pants
- Provides superior airflow between the scabbard and your leg
- Fits any handsaw scabbard, guaranteed
- Quickly straps on and off without adjusting the scabbard every time
- Replacement parts for the Notch Talon system can be found in the drop-down menu
4.3 out of 5 star average customer rating based on 16 reviews - See all reviews
love it but not durable - 07/01/2018
Reviewer: kevin vauls
love climbing with this product but the only problem is that a week after using it the rubber strap broke on me now i have to figure out how to get it attached to the scabber again
Ehh - 02/13/2018
Reviewer: Joshua burr
This is a great product but as I'm seeing all these other reviews the rubber broke right away on mine. First the top and now more recently my bottom strap. Great idea maybe just needs some fine tuning.
scavenger - 12/07/2017
Reviewer: koko
just here for the scavenger hunt finally found one!
these are definetly on my wish list though!
Another great notch product - 11/30/2017
Reviewer: Bill
Not only is this great for climbing but when I'm chipping brush all day it's great to have on your leg to cut stubs that the chipper fights. Thanks treestuff.com and notch
Best I've tried - 08/24/2017
Reviewer: Dm
This is the best leg scabbard on the market that I have found so far!
I have two complaints though.... I bought them when they can out a couple months ago and have blown trough a set of the rubber each of my two sets. Also on one set the stitching holding the Velcro to the elastic strap has almost completely come undone.
I'm gonna have to break out the sowing machine. Also wish the ankle strap was shorter by 6"+/-


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The dramatic look of broad shoulders first was made popular by actress Joan Crawford in the 1930s and '40s. The padded shoulders in Crawford's clothes emphasized her small waist and her no-nonsense style.
Padded shoulders began reappearing a few years ago, brought back by bold designers such as Norma Kamali and Willi Smith. Although the heavy padding was used frequently to create the androgynous style, the over-emphasized shoulders are equally flattering to the feminine form.


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Until yesterday, Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB) had been in the limelight for losing money and disappointing investors time and again. But its third quarter results have changed the scenario, and the company's stocks have gained more than 23 percent in a single day. It's the kind of growth investors were expecting after its IPO in May. Now the question is: can a strong quarter really make a big difference for the company?
Well, Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB) revenues beat Wall Street estimates by growing 32 percent to $1.26 billion. Income from mobile advertising rose from just $10 million in the second quarter to an astounding $150 million in the third quarter. But the stellar growth in stock prices has more to do with the company's future prospects than just a strong quarterly performance. Remember that Facebook stocks are still trading far below their IPO price of $38.
Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB) has demonstrated that it can monetize on mobile, which has been an area of concern for investors. Additionally, the promising line up of new Facebook products has boosted investor confidence. Wedbush Equity Research has an outperformrating on Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB) stock with a 12-month price target of $35. It thinks that revenues from mobile advertising will grow from 14 percent of the total ad revenue in Q3, to 20 percent next year. The new initiatives such as Sponsored Stories, Promoted Posts, Facebook Exchange, Facebook Offers, Mobile Ad Network, and Targeted Ad Initiatives will have positive impacts in future periods. Wedbush says it expects Facebook to generate $3-4 billion from Targeted Ad Revenues alone by 2015.
Bank of America Merrill Lynch sees one more thing in Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB). It says that the social networking site is better positioned to monetize the mobile platform than Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) and Yahoo! Inc. (NASDAQ:YHOO). Facebook's ad formats, ad pricing, and user experience on mobile are better than on the PC. According to Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB), mobile users are 20% more likely to access the site on a given day. So, BAML has increased its revenue growth estimate from 29% to 32 % in 2013. BAML has updated its rating from neutral to buy with price target of $31.
However, the stocks may come under temporary pressure due to lock up expirations that will free FB employees to sell their shares after waiting for months.
Now you can see that the stocks rose heavily, but not really because of a strong quarter. It happened because of a promising future, and the strong third quarter is just a glimpse. For the same reason, I told you a few days ago that Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB) is a sure shot buy.


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First, here's some plates, napkins, and utensils that I found at the dollar store. I used two empty pasta sauce jars and filled them with Easter basket nesting materials so the forks would stick out of the jar. It was so easy to find great colors with Easter coming up!
Here's a picture of some of the food we had at the party. I kept it relatively simple.
One of the games I planned was having people guess how many bon-bons were in the jar when they came into the party. Only two people ended up being close. It was comforting to me that other people are just as bad at guessing these things as I am!
I also had a chalkboard at the entrance where you could mark off what you thought the baby was going to be - I took this picture at the beginning of the party - we had way more than 10 people show up haha!
This was a super fun idea that I found on Pinterest - coloring in He r She on the chocolate bars! Some people give these out as favors for the guests, but I just put them on the table for snacking.
I also found appropriately colored clothespins for people to wear! Well, actually they were out of blue so I ended up buying plain wooden ones and coloring them with a Sharpie. My fingers were blue for days!
Here's the beautiful cake that we had specially made! I found the idea on Pinterest and then wonderfully enough, someone local who could make it for me! Also, she puts a generous layer of buttercream icing under the fondant, so if you are like me and can't stand eating it, you can just peel away the fondant and still enjoy the cake!
...drum roll please... And the big reveal....
It's a girl!
Thanks for checking out our party - if you have any questions, let me know! I'll be happy to share what I can with you! <3 JEM


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Vale and BHP Billiton announce creation of fund to support recuperation of the Rio Doce
Vale and BHP Billiton announced today plans to work together, with Samarco, to establish a voluntary, non-profit fund to support the rescue and recuperation of the Rio Doce river system, affected by an accident at Samarco's Fundão dam, in the state of Minas Gerais on November 5.
The fund would initially be sponsored by Vale and BHP. The aim is to seek additional financial support from other private, public and NGOs. The initial value is still being defined. The objective, however, is that these resources would support the rescue and recuperation effort of the river system for the longer term.
It is proposed that the fund would have a committee to guide investment and oversee budget approval. The number of participants has yet to be defined, but it would likely include representatives from the private and public entities. A dedicated team would be responsible for its management, according to the targets established. The fund would also undergo regular independent audits. The sponsors are finalising the governance, scope, financial and stakeholder arrangements associated with the fund to ensure it can be put into effect as soon as practicable.
The actions to recuperate the Rio Doce river system include the recomposition of riparian forest, water quality and aquatic fauna, as well as helping to rescue the biodiversity of the Rio Doce river basin.
Today just 4% of the original coverage of the Atlantic Forest remains in the river basin. Approximately 80% of the area is made up of degraded pastureland. The deforested earth hinders the infiltration of rainwater, which sustains groundwater levels. The flow of the Rio Doce in the dry months, which historically was 300 m3/s, fell in the region of Colatina (Espírito Santo State) in 2015 to 80 m3/s.
"It is Vale's wish to bring together all of its efforts, seeking the support of society and the public and private sector in the recuperation of this important Brazilian river basin, right in the birthplace of the company," says Vale's CEO Murilo Ferreira.
Another important factor for the recomposition of the river basin is in the tributaries of the Rio Doce. The mud from the collapse of Samarco's dam has deposited itself almost entirely on the channel of the Rio Doce after travelling down the Rio Carmo, one of its forming rivers. Tributaries such as the rivers Piranga, Casca, Matipó, Piracicaba, Santo Antônio, Corrente, Caratinga, Suaçuí Pequeno, Suaçuí Grande, Manhuaçu and Guandu remained unharmed and will be responsible for renovating the water and life of the Rio Doce.
The fund will use seedlings from the Vale Natural Reserve (RNV) as part of the project to reconstruct the riparian forest along the Rio Doce. Considered to be one of the largest protected areas of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, spanning 23,000 hectares, and maintained by the company in Linhares (Espírito Santo State) since 1950, the RNV is home to a nursery with the capacity to produce 3 million seedlings of native species per year, and is able to reach a production of over 5 million seedlings. This was where the 500,000 seedlings came from that were donated by Vale to reforest the old farm belonging to Sebastião Salgado, in Aimorés (Minas Gerais State), which is now home to the Instituto Terra. Over 2,800 vegetable species, around 1,500 insect species, 110 mammal species and 380 bird species have been catalogued at the RNV, corresponding to around 20% of the bird species registered across the whole of Brazil.
Since 2008, Vale has maintained a partnership with the Instituto Terra with projects to recuperate the Rio Doce river basin. During this period, the company has provided the NGO with over R$4 million, half of which being destined for the Olhos D'Água project, which recuperates the sources of the Rio Doce, recently presented by Sebastião Salgado to President Dilma Rousseff. Until now, 328 sources have been protected and recuperated on the Rio Capim river basin, which includes the Rio Manhuaçu rio basin, a tributary of the Rio Doce. Another 336 sources have been registered. The Rio Capim river basin covers around 80% of the area of Aimorés, providing water to more than 800 rural properties and six districts of the municipality.
According to a technical report provided by the Instituto Terra in April 2015, the river basin is suffering from a "progressive state of degradation, principally owing to an accelerated process of desertification taking place in the region, a phenomenon that is contributing to the disappearance of the sources of the river basin and its tributaries". To cope with this advanced degradation, the Olhos D'Água project has trained and qualified 150 rural producers, and has installed over 114 septic tanks in their properties. In addition, 288 technical projects have been developed to make rural residences on the Rio Capim river basin more environmentally friendly.
In 2015, Vale also supported the Ecosystem Restoration Agent Training Project (ARE), which provided practical and socio-environmental awareness training to 15 professionals. The training of the students was offered at the Ecosystem Restoration Research Centre (NERE) at the Instituto Terra and also focused on teaching them to multiply their knowledge. As well as learning how to protect and recuperate river sources, these professionals also received training on seedling production techniques, how to help small rural producers, honey production and environmental education programs.
Vale also signed the Terms of Agreement for the Water Availability Program for the Rio Doce (PDA Doce), promoted by the Instituto BioAtlântica, which aims to encourage and optimize actions to recuperate the availability of water in the region through integration and communication between the various key players involved. The program includes actions to recuperate native vegetation, preserve, protect and restore priority areas; actions to encourage and promote production and sustainable agriculture; development and training actions to combat the waste of water and encourage responsible use; and actions to develop technical innovation for the sustainable use of water resources.
Support to Samarco
Since the first day of the accident at the Fundão dam, Vale has been committed to helping Samarco. The company has provided human resources and materials, such as a helicopter and emergency equipment, to assist Samarco in its rescue operations, removing displaced residents from high-risk locations and providing water to the cities in the states of Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo that lost their supplies. Until now, Vale has supplied 14.5 million litres of mineral water to meet the needs of the population along the Rio Doce.
Vale, together with BHP Billiton, has supported Samarco in the creation of an emergency volunteer fund of R$1 billion to help the victims of Minas Gerais, which has already been approved by the federal and state prosecutor's offices. Samarco, together with the support of Vale and BHP, also signed a preliminary Socio-environmental Commitment Agreement (TCSA), with the federal and Espírito Santo State prosecutor's offices with the aim of establishing actions to prevent and mitigate the socio-environmental impacts resulting from the accident in the region.


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Local Steinway Artist SpotlightEmile PandolfiGabe Turner2016 Young Artist Competition 1st PlaceThe Hendersonville Symphony is pleased to announce the winners of our 2016 Young Artist Competition. The First Prize winner Thomas Gabriel Turner Thomas Gabriel Turner, pianoThomas Gabriel Turner is a sixteen-year-old junior at Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy, and a native of Ellenboro,North Carolina. He has studied piano for nine years, studying with Charlie Hopper for seven years and Dr. Cynthia Swicegood as well, for the past three years. Gabe has studied violin with Eben Mann for 6 years. He participates regularly in various musical activities at Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy and Wild Roots Fine Arts Center located in Forest City, NC under the direction of Eben Mann. The Foothills Music Club of Tryon, North Carolina awarded Gabe with the Lesley Oakes Scholarship in 2014 and 2015.. Gabe also enjoys playing the hammered dulcimer, bagpipe, tin whistle, clavichord, and virginal. He plans to continue studying piano performance, music theory, and composition in the future.A note from Gabe's Mom:
Hello Keith,
What a joy to find your card in the mail today! Thank you
for your thoughtful encouragement.
I have been waiting for Hendersonville Symphony to release the news,
to send you guys. They had it posted on their website today.
The Lord has blessed us in many ways, and we consider
you and the Case Brothers staff among those blessings.
Thank you for your patience with us as we sought the right piano
for Gabe. I only wished his dad and I had understood how practicing
on a quality piano could make such a difference.
We can see and hear now, just how special his Steinway is.
Thank you all at Case Brothers for helping Gabe realize his potential.
Connie TurnerSteinway pianos are the instrument by which all others are judged. Since its inception in 1853, Steinway & Sons has had but one goal - to produce the finest instrument available. Steinway & Sons is synonomous with quality workmanship world wide. These instruments are still made by hand at 1 Steinway Place, Long Island City, NY much the same way they were made 100 + years ago. It takes over a year to complete the manufacture of one piano.
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