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Beta-Testing Paradise
What Do Consumers Really Want? Gizmo Makers Use A Big Family-Owned Electronics Store Outside Chicago To Find Out
By BY Karen Springen and Daniel McGinn
February 21, 2005
Deep in the back of the 60,000-square-foot appliance store in suburban Chicago, Yamaha representative Chuck Lucous is performing his magic. He's working with a rectangular silver state-of-the-art speaker that's sitting on a special mount beneath a Panasonic plasma TV. He hooks it up to a DVD player, and soon music cascades across one area of this retailing gem called Abt Electronics. The song sounds remarkably rich coming from a single speaker, and that's the point: this $1,299 Yamaha "acoustic sound projector" is intended to replicate the performance of a multispeaker system. Abt became the first store in the United States to sell the speaker earlier this month--but that's hardly unusual. That big-box store in your town is a great place to find merchandise. When it comes to electronics, though, version 1.0 of any new product is likely to show up at Abt first.
The theater industry once tried out new plays in New Haven, Conn., before they opened on Broadway. Carmakers routinely unveil prototypes at auto shows to gauge public reaction before deciding whether to put a new model into production. For manufacturers, Abt Electronics plays a similar role, serving as the industry's unofficial headquarters for beta-testing. The owners say it's the highest-grossing electronics and appliance store in the country. On any given week the showroom contains a half-dozen products not for sale anywhere else. "They give us very candid, honest feedback," says Robert Schaffner, district sales manager for Panasonic, which has guinea-pigged plasma TVs, microwave ovens and DVD recorders in Abt's store.
The Abt family first set up shop selling radios in 1936 in Chicago's Logan Square neighborhood. Today the retailer is run by the 66-year-old Bob Abt, son of the founder, and four third-generation Abt brothers. Their store employs nearly 1,000. Inside it looks like a cross between a Las Vegas hotel and a children's museum.
Next to an aisle of video cameras is a 7,500-gallon aquarium modeled after one at the Mirage Hotel and Casino; the glitzy atrium includes a gigantic bubble machine. High-end products abound: a $31,000 La Cornue stove and a fully furnished $216,000 home theater. Although the privately held family-owned firm won't disclose sales, the store says it attracts a half-million customers annually, including Chicago celebs Dennis Rodman and Sammy Sosa. Although Abt's prices aren't always as low as big-box rivals, customers are attracted by its selection and staff.
Manufacturers cite several reasons Abt is the perfect petri dish for new products. Unlike a Best Buy or Circuit City, Abt's single-store focus means a manufacturer needs to set up just one display and conduct a single training session to prepare Abt's 195 sales reps. The Abts are willing to take the risks of selling a product that the manufacturer might quickly disavow. "We're on the hook" when a test-marketed product turns out to be a turkey, says president Mike Abt. "We'll do what it takes to make a customer happy--we'll figure it out, fix it or take it back." The upside: early adopters travel from as far as New York to shop at Abt.
What futuristic devices are on shelves now? Early this month the store featured a prototype $549 Weber 27000 portable outdoor fireplace. It just sold its last Whirlpool Personal Valet home dry-cleaning machine; the $799 appliance hasn't sold well, so Whirlpool is dropping it. Omnimount, which makes furniture to hold plasma and LCD TVs, says its line was inspired by Abt's staff. "We designed our product based on the things the Abt reps said people need," says national sales manager Bill Muster. "They're ahead of the curve." When it comes to finding tomorrow's electronics, so are its customers.
© 2005 Newsweek, Inc.


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Top 10 Reasons to Oppose Jack Lew for Treasury Secretary
[Click here for the PDF version.]
President Obama has nominated his Chief of Staff, Jack Lew, to replace Timothy Geithner as Treasury Secretary. If Jack Lew is confirmed by the Senate, it would be bad news for the U.S. economy. Lew is just another tax-hiking, big-spending beltway insider that is just as bad as Timothy Geithner. Listed below are the top ten reasons to oppose Jack Lew for Treasury Secretary:
1. Jack Lew Played a Key Role in Fiscal Cliff Negotiations
Jack Lew acts as a prime negotiator for Obama behind the scenes. Most recently, he negotiated the disastrous fiscal cliff deal that contained tax hikes, corporate welfare, and no spending cuts. Most Americans saw their payroll taxes increase because of the terrible deal that was crafted behind closed doors.
2. Jack Lew Worked for Citigroup
Jack Lew is the former chief operating officer of Citigroup's Alternative Investments unit—the group that invested in and profited off the housing and financial collapse. He was there when the bank nearly imploded and lost around five hundred million in one quarter in 2008 as the bank's bets turned south.
3. Jack Lew Has Ties With Corporate Welfare
After Citigroup received a $45 billion dollar taxpayer bailout from the Treasury Department, he received a $945,000 bonus from the bank in 2009. President Obama has even called the Wall Street bonuses "obscene" and referred to recipients as "fat cats who are getting awarded for their failure."
4. Jack Lew Has Confessed That He is Not a Financial Expert
During Lew's previous Senate confirmation hearing, Senator Bernie Sanders asked whether deregulation contributed significantly to the financial collapse. Lew answered: "I don't consider myself an expert in some of these aspects of the financial industry." He then recommended that Senate Sanders speak to someone who understands the financial industry better: "I would defer to others who are more expert about the industry to try and parse it better than that."
5. Jack Lew Drafted Health Care Reform under Clinton
From February 1993 to October 1994, Jack Lew served as special assistant to President Bill Clinton. He was responsible for drafting the overly bureaucratic and costly "HillaryCare" health care reform legislation that would have declined the quality of health care.
6. Jack Lew Designed AmeriCorps
As a special assistant to President Clinton, Jack Lew helped design the deeply flawed AmeriCorps national service program that costs taxpayers over $1 billion annually. While AmeriCorps is often touted as a volunteer program, all individuals are paid with taxpayer dollars to "volunteer" for government-approved service programs.
7. Jack Lew Drafted Obama's Massive Budget
As director of the Office of Management and Budget, Jack Lew helped draft Obama's budget that notoriously received zero votes in the Senate. He dishonestly said that the budget would not add to the debt. However, the Congressional Budget Office found that the budget would add nearly $10 trillion to the national debt over the next decade.
8. Jack Lew Makes Misleading Excuses to Why the Senate Has Not Passed a Budget
The Senate has neglected its basic duty by not passing a budget in nearly four years. When asked about the Senate's failure to pass a budget on CNN's "State of the Union," Lew incorrectly claimed that, "you can't pass a budget in the Senate of the United States without 60 votes." False—it only takes 51 votes to pass a budget.
9. Jack Lew Played a Significant Role in 2011 Debt Ceiling Negotiations
He played a significant role in the failed 2011 debt ceiling negotiations – which resulted in a credit downgrade, a $2 trillion debt hike, and spending cuts that were promised but never materialized. This was a bad deal for Americans that was crafted behind closed doors.
10. Jack Lew Advocates Raising Income Taxes
As director of the Office of Management and Budget, he created a budget that would raise taxes on the top 2 percent of incomes. Raising taxes is never a good idea—especially in these tough economic times. Jack Lew is just another beltway-insider engaged in class warfare against working Americans.
Click here to call your senators and tell them to vote NO during Jack Lew's confirmation hearing!
Please visit NotJackLew.com!

subset: commoncrawl


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Imaginarium is an illustrative, minimal and colorful website theme based on vibrant colors and nice patterns.
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MIAMI -- Turns out, the Miami Heat can beat the Brooklyn Nets.
And rest hardly led to rust for the two-time defending NBA champions.
LeBron James scored 22 points, Ray Allen added 19 and the Heat stayed perfect in this postseason by beating the Nets 107-86 on Tuesday night in Game 1 of an Eastern Conference semifinal series. It was the first win for Miami in five meetings with Brooklyn this season.
"It's one," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "But I liked the energy, the activity."
Chris Bosh scored 15 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, Dwyane Wade finished with 14 points and Mario Chalmers had 12 for Miami, which recorded at least one regular-season win against every team except Brooklyn, losing four times by a total of 12 points.
This one was a different story. A 24-9 run in the third quarter blew things open for the Heat, who hadn't played in eight days after sweeping Charlotte in the opening round.
"It was great that we were able to come out the way we did after being off eight days," James said. "We got a lot of work in. We had eight days off of not playing a basketball game but Spo got us in the gym. (We) got each other in the gym. We made each other accountable throughout the layoff and it proved tonight."
Deron Williams and Joe Johnson scored 17 points each for the Nets, who got only eight from Paul Pierce and no points from Kevin Garnett in 16 minutes.
Game 2 of the best-of-seven series is Thursday night.
"This is the defending champs," Nets coach Jason Kidd said. "It's always going to be at a high level and we've got to find a way to match it."
James finished 10-for-15 from the field and Allen -- who had never faced his former Boston "Big 3" compatriots Pierce and Garnett in the playoffs -- was 4-of-7 from 3-point land.
"He was focused on the job at hand," James said.
Miami's lead was 55-52 early in the third quarter after a 3-pointer by Williams, and every indication was that the Heat and Nets -- who played three one-point games and a double-overtime affair in the regular season -- were heading down to the wire again.
Not quite.
The Heat took off on the 24-9 run over a 7-minute span, with Bosh scoring the first seven points of that burst to get Miami going. Allen's 3-pointer pushed the lead to 14, James and Chris Andersen (who left in the fourth with a right knee contusion) added two free throws apiece and just like that Miami's lead was up to 79-61.
"It's fun when you win the game and you can at least for a night do whatever it is you do, have some dinner, chill at home and exhale a little bit," Bosh said. "When you lose, you can't sleep, your stomach hurts and it's not a very good situation."
For Brooklyn, the trouble came at an unexpected time. The Nets had the best third-quarter scoring differential in the East after Jan. 1, but were outscored 33-23 in that pivotal quarter in Game 1.
It was a hectic news day long before Heat-Nets, with Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant being announced as the league's MVP, the firing of Golden State coach Mark Jackson and the NBA saying that Los Angeles Clippers president Andy Roeser would be taking an indefinite leave as part of the fallout related to the Donald Sterling scandal.
James' two-year reign as MVP lasted 198 games.
"We have a new MVP, but when you talk about the best players in the world, he's 1A, 1B with Durant," Kidd said.
Pregame lineup moves by both clubs lent more intrigue. Miami brought Shane Battier -- who played 2 minutes, total, in the first round against Charlotte -- back into the starting five, while Brooklyn reinserted Shaun Livingston into its lineup after using him off the bench late in the Toronto series.
After never leading by more than seven points against Brooklyn in the regular season, the Heat led by 11 after a drive by James with 3:32 left in the first half. But the Nets closed on a 14-6 run, and Williams' first beat-the-clock 3-pointer of the game sent Brooklyn into halftime down 46-43.
Williams did it again in the third, but that one only got Brooklyn within 79-66.
"It came down to defense tonight," Williams said. "Our defensive game plan was not executed at all."
Game notes
The Heat held a pregame moment of silence for Hall of Famer Jack Ramsay, who died last week at the age of 89. ... David Beckham, who will be bringing an MLS team to Miami, sat next to the Heat bench. ... Livingston was on the court to warm up for the second half with about 10 minutes left in the intermission. Small problem: The rack of basketballs wasn't on the court yet. ... The Nets are 1-9 all-time against Miami in playoff games. ... Miami had not won consecutive Game 1s since the 2nd and 3rd rounds of the 2012 playoffs.


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All Mountain Versatility
Type of Rider
The Bloom features our camber profile with a flex pattern, perfect for a balanced all terrain freestyle deck. This womens snowboard has surfy and smooth edge to edge transitions while the Dual Arc edges create grip on demand. Take this versatile board from park to powder to groomers. It has power, stability, and pop with the perfect amount of flex for the serious lady rider looking for that do-it-all board.
Board Shape
New age camber brings in the benefits of traditional camber but with new age feel. The camber zone creates stability, energy, and pop with tremendous edge hold you can trust when you need it most. The mild flat and rocker zones in the tips allow for a smooth, playful freestyle feel.
The Dual Arc Edges yield a multiple radius sidecut that creates superb edge hold and quick maneuverability when laying into a carve. GRIP ON DEMAND!
Lightweight carbon adds strength and durability in high stress areas. The carbon focuses energy to specific areas of the core creating insane amounts of pop.
Our lightweight full poplar/paulownia wood core offers exceptional performance and reliability. It provides a perfect blend of smoothness, flexibility, high energy, and pop. The uniform and consistent feel makes for a comfortable and confident riding experience at any skill level.
We use UHMWPE which has higher durability, flex, and bonding abilities. Traditional ABS Plastics can crack and break in colder conditions where UHMWPE will not.
This high performance base is both proven in durability, and speed. Sintered bases hold more wax and are much stronger than extruded bases.
This snowboard utilizes Triax fiberglass that adds extra torsional strength for more versatility and stability.
A rubberized internal material used to create a bomb proof bond between materials. It's secondary function is to absorb chatter on the roughest of slopes.


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On June 4th 2012 Ford revealed the 2013 Ford F-150. New for the 2013 F-150 is a new design for the front end, MyFord Touch® with voice-activated driver controls, and you'll be able to choose HID headlights. So does this look a good foundation for your next prerunner?
Here is the full press release:
BRUCEVILLE, Texas, June 4, 2012
– Ford Motor Company today celebrates introduction of the new 2013 Ford F-150 – part of the best-selling line of pickups in America – with the agricultural professionals and leaders of tomorrow.
"Like our hardworking customers, Ford is committed to getting the job done right with our industry-leading trucks," said Mark Fields, Ford president of The Americas. "The 2013 F-150 demonstrates our commitment to continuously improving our trucks with new features and capabilities, allowing F-Series owners to be increasingly productive."
For 2013, the Ford F-150 receives new front-end design and advanced technologies such as MyFord Touch® with voice-activated driver controls and available high-intensity discharge (HID) headlamps.
"Farm families have always represented an important F-Series truck constituency," said Doug Scott, Ford Truck group marketing manager and FFA sponsor board member. "For these multitasking customers, a Ford pickup means family transportation, economic livelihood, rugged capability and reliability. Like FFA, Ford pickups are an enduring agricultural tradition, and we are delighted to join forces with them to reveal the new F-150 models."
America's pickup
For 2013, the most fuel-efficient and capable light-duty pickup on the market continues to push forward with updated design and advanced technologies. F-150 also adds even more breadth to its expansive lineup with a new Limited luxury model and availability of the groundbreaking EcoBoost® engine, powerful 6.2-liter V8, electronic-locking rear axle and Hill Descent Control™.
Outside, the F-150 lineup gets bold new grilles combining fresh designs with instantly recognizable F-Series cues highlighted on the XLT model revealed today.
New HID projector headlamps are available as a segment-first technology to deliver improved visibility and increase driver confidence.
HID technology provides exceptional lighting performance while contributing a distinctive look with stylish L-shaped lamps.
F-150 style also is enhanced with new 18- and 20-inch wheels offered in various trim packages.
Segment-exclusive power-telescoping and power-folding trailer-tow sideview mirrors add flexibility and convenience when operating in tight quarters, while enabling class-leading visibility.
F-150 pickups are available in three new hues including Blue Jeans Metallic, Kodiak Brown Metallic and Ruby Red Clearcoat Metallic.
Truck-focused technology
The 2013 Ford F-150 adds Ford's award-winning SYNC® voice-activated communications and entertainment system with 911 Assist® and Vehicle Health Report as standard equipment in XLT series and above. This enables hands-free, voice-activated control of enabled mobile devices.
Buyers may choose from an optional suite of SYNC Services, including Traffic Information, Turn-by-Turn Directions, Business Search, Send to SYNC from Google Maps and MapQuest, News, Sports, Weather and Horoscopes.
F-150 also introduces SYNC paired with a new 4.2-inch LCD center-stack screen that provides enhanced displays of audio and climate-control functions. In addition, the instrument cluster contains a 4.2-inch driver-configurable LCD productivity screen including menus for gauge setup, trip computer, fuel economy and towing/off-road applications.
Lariat, King Ranch®, Platinum and Limited series models are equipped with SYNC with MyFord Touch, adding voice control to more vehicle systems coupled with an all-new, large 8-inch LCD color touch screen mounted in the center stack. This package adds a media hub with two USB ports, an SD card reader and audio/video input jacks.
Ford's unique truck interface allows drivers to tailor their vehicle to their specific needs, such as wearing work gloves.
This premium system can be augmented with an available voice-activated Navigation System, SD map-card reader, point-of-interest storage and integrated SiriusXM Travel Link.
Interior design
The 2013 F-150 offers a range of interior updates. The new 4.2-inch multifunction display and MyFord Touch interfaces gave designers the opportunity to deliver a more modern center stack and control layout. Several new environment colors include a Steel Gray interior on Lariat and a Black interior for King Ranch. Both of these series receive upgraded wood grain appliqués to enhance premium style.
The aggressive FX Appearance Package now adds Alcantara seat inserts that amplify its sporty persona.
The Platinum series – synonymous with high-end trucks – offers new choices of Black or Pecan leather seating.
F-150 continues to offer a wide array of models and packages, allowing buyers to tailor their Ford pickup to their individual needs and preferences.
Fuel-efficient capability
From the powerful yet fuel-efficient EcoBoost® engine to the mighty 6.2-liter V8, the most powerful eight-cylinder engine in the segment, F-150 offers an engine to meet the needs of every customer. Each engine across the F-150 lineup is mated to a fuel-saving electronic six-speed automatic transmission with tow/haul mode, with tow packages and STX series and above adding SelectShift® capability.
F-150 engine choices include:
3.7-liter four-valve Ti-VCT V6
- Best-in-class 302 horsepower at 6,500 rpm
- Unsurpassed 278 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,000 rpm vs. V6 competitors
- Best-in-class 17 mpg city and best-in-class 23 mpg highway (4×2)
- Best-in-class 6,100 pounds maximum trailer tow vs. V6 competitors
5.0-liter four-valve dual-overhead-camshaft Ti-VCT V8
- Best-in-class 360 horsepower at 5,500 rpm vs. standard V8 competitors
- 21 mpg highway, unsurpassed 15 mpg city (4×2)
- Best-in-class 10,000 pounds maximum trailer tow vs. standard V8 competitors
6.2-liter two-valve single-overhead-camshaft V8
- Best-in-class 411 horsepower at 5,500 rpm
- Best-in-class 434 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,500 rpm
- 13 mpg city, 18 mpg highway (4×2)
- Best-in-class 11,300 pounds maximum trailer tow
3.5-liter Ti-VCT EcoBoost engine
- 365 horsepower at 5,000 rpm on regular fuel
- Best-in-class 420 lb.-ft. of torque at 2,500 rpm vs. premium V8 competitors
- Up to 90 percent peak torque available from 1,700 rpm to 5,000 rpm
- Best-in-class 11,300 pounds maximum trailer tow vs. all competitors
- Best-in-class 3,120 pounds payload vs. all competitors
- Unsurpassed 16 mpg city, 22 mpg highway vs. all competitors
"The 2013 Ford F-150 adds more style and technology that sets a benchmark for capability and efficiency in light-duty pickups," said F-150 Marketing Manager Raj Sarkar. "We continue to focus on the no-compromise solution for our customers, giving them all of the conveniences and technologies they want with the capability they need and the fuel efficiency to go further."
FFA and Ford – making a difference
Future Farmers of America is a dynamic youth leadership development organization that changes lives by empowering its 540,000 members to set a course for the future. FFA operates within the context of agricultural education to complement classroom and laboratory instruction with hands-on experiential learning, useful life skills and individual motivation.
The FFA mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their leadership potential, personal growth and career success through agricultural education.
Ford's FFA alliance gets a boost from supporting Ford dealerships serving agricultural markets.
For the 2011-12 academic year, the Built Ford Tough® Scholarship Program and 285 participating Ford dealers awarded a total of 540 individual $1,000 grants for post-secondary education.
Now in its 15th year, the Built Ford Tough Scholarship Program, the Ford Fund, and participating Ford dealers have awarded $7.1 million in grants. Built Ford Tough Trucks also sponsors the affiliated National Association of Agricultural Educators (NAAE) Lifetime Achievement Awards and an FFA chapter grant program. In 2011, six winning chapters were each awarded a $3,000 grant to support local initiatives.
Ford has sponsored FFA since 1948, the same year Ford F-Series pickups first went on sale.
# # #
About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 166,000 employees and about 70 plants worldwide, the company's automotive brands include Ford and Lincoln. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford and its products worldwide, please visit http://corporate.ford.com.


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Lexmark CS725de Color Laser Printer
Workgroup-level features with accelerated output Faster printing, heavier workloads and longer service intervals join lower cost per page in the durable, easy-to-use, feature-rich Lexmark CS725de. Quad core power A 1.2 GHz quad core processor with up to 3 GB of memory gives the CS725 a powerful print controller. Exceptional colour Professional colour features like ultra-sharp 4800 Colour Quality, PANTONE® calibration and Lexmark Colour Replacement work with Unison Toner for precision matching of critical hues. Solutions flexibility Lexmark-exclusive Cloud Solution Framework (cSF) and Embedded Solutions Framework (eSF) applications make the printer programmable to meet the needs of each customer and industry. Versatile media handling Media loading and feeding are engineered for ease, reliability and versatility, with up to 650 pages of standard input capacity (expandable to 2,300), small-media and banner-length support, and exceptionally durable input trays that resist misfeeds. Light touchscreen A bright, 10.9-cm (4.3-inch) colour touch screen features an ultra-smooth surface and can be activated by almost anything, including pens, fingertips or nails -without pressure or direct skin contact. Unison Toner Essential to Lexmark print system performance, Unison™ Toner's unique formulation consistently delivers outstanding image quality, ensures long-life print system reliability and promotes superior sustainability -- all in an innovative shake-free print system.
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No stock available, click here to be notified when Lexmark CS725de Color Laser Printer becomes available.


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Hands down, the majority of people would get a gas cooktop or range if given the choice.
We watch celebrity chefs use them on TV, we've heard about the power and for some, we like seeing the flame getting bigger or smaller when we turn the knob.
But what's better? You might be surprised.
When our sales associates attend product training, some brand representatives place pots of water on adjacent gas and electric cooktops with the question, "Which will boil faster?"
Does Gas or Electric Boil Faster?
The newer associates often balk at this question and quickly answer gas. But lo and behold, the pot on the electric burner boils first (that's generally the case until you get into pro-style cooking).
Electric? Really?
Yes, really.
It doesn't look as cool, but the power is there. Gas still trumps electric cooking in the responsiveness of its burners.
Responsiveness of Gas Burners
For example, if a recipe calls for a dish to be brought to a rolling boil and then be brought down to a simmer, it will take an electric burner longer to decrease its temperature down to the lower heat setting. So, you could find yourself moving your pan to another burner so you won't ruin your dish.
In gas, you turn the burner down to simmer, and the heat decreases. Some gas burners also can simmer at a lower BTU, which can be important for cooking sauces and melting chocolate.
Induction Cooking
The real winner, though, is induction cooking.
Induction cooking delivers the best of both worlds: speed, responsiveness and power.
Plus, because induction cooking only heats the pan, there's very little heat loss, making induction often the most energy-efficient choice.
The smooth, electric surface is also a lot easier to clean than ceramic grates. Downsides do exist in induction cooking.
The price point is a little higher, you can only use magnetic pans (ex: coated cast iron), it's not as professional looking as gas, and there are fewer options available per brand — especially when purchasing a range.
If choosing gas or electric (or induction), it's good to consider your lifestyle. Do you mostly prepare quick meals or do you cook more complicated and delicate recipes? Is ease of cleaning a concern?
What cooktop type do you prefer? Let us know in the comments.


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Happiness and Starving People
People starve to death. It's a thought which haunts me, although I'm a bit embarrassed to admit that it's not for the reasons you might think. It's a reality that haunts me every time someone tells me that things have to turn around soon. Or when I want to comfort myself with the idea that eventually spring comes, the sun returns and nothing lasts forever. "Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes in the morning." People starve to death. Tell a man or woman who watched their child starve to death that spring comes again each year. And that's what haunts me – if people starve to death, then there's no reason to think my in-comparison small problems will ever right themselves.
Yesterday my husband told me about a story he had read about a horrific attack on a little boy in Bangladesh. The boy was terribly maimed and the family had to go into hiding at a military installation due to ongoing threats from the local gang leaders responsible for the attack. My husband said one of the most striking things about the story for him came from the boy's devastated father. Bangladesh is a poor country and the family lived in a one room tin shack in a slum. And the father told reporters that his family had been happy. They had been happy together and in their little community even though they sometimes didn't know where their next meal was coming from. Today, money is pouring in from around the world to help the child and his family – there next many meals are guaranteed. But the father told reporters that his family had taken everything from them. And my husband said, "I read that and thought, I want to be like that guy. I want to be able to live in the middle of squalor and with nothing and be happy." Is that a trade you would make – to live in squalor and extreme insecurity in exchange for happiness? Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
I certainly don't want to romanticize extreme poverty. But why do I – and most all of us – struggle and suffer so intensely while living in homes with kitchens and running water and heat and bathrooms? How can a man whose kids sometimes missed meals say they were happy while I'm in a funk because I'm not sure we'll be able to give our kids much more than pencils and socks for Christmas?
The temptation is to feel guilty for being unhappy in the midst of such abundance. To try to be more grateful. But I think there's more to it than that. A while ago I read a comment from Desmond Tutu:
When I first came to this country in '72, I was quite shaken by the intensity of feeling that African-Americans had. And I said I couldn't understand: Why are they so bitter? Why are they so angry? There, in South Africa [under apartheid], they told you, "You're nothing, and we're going to treat you like the nothing you are. And don't ever hope to think that you have a chance of being treated differently." Here, you say to them, "You're equal, and the sky's the limit." And they keep bumping their heads against this thing that's stopping them from reaching out to the stars.
I think that this dynamic accounts for a great deal of suffering among many of us living in affluent parts of the world. We believe that it's possible for us to have more, do better, be more secure than we are. In fact, it often seems like we're obliged to do more and have more. We're fed a steady diet of chatter which says that if you work hard, do the right things, keep your nose clean, life will go well. We live in the land of opportunity. So when things aren't going well, we tend to want to double down – work harder, do better, find our way out. But when you are convinced that safety, comfort and security are just waiting for you to get it all together, the straight and narrow becomes an anxiety inducing tightrope walk 100 feet up without a net.
My husband and I have been trying to walk that tightrope for a long time now. We've been trying to buy into the fiction that all it takes to overcome youthful errors, repeated job losses and multiple failures is to keep going, work harder, be smarter. Fall down 6 times, get up 7. But there's that little fact which keeps stalking me: people starve to death. If hard work, smarts and determination guaranteed success, people wouldn't starve to death. That man in Bangladesh knew that people starve to death. He knew he was never going to have anything. And perhaps, having made peace with that reality he was able to do what we, with all our advantages are only rarely able to do: be happy regardless of circumstances.
That's the real challenge for me (and I suspect you as well). Can I be happy if life never gets better or if it gets worse? The other night while driving my husband home from the bus station, I was praying and wrestling with all of this. God told me, "you have enough." I know from past experiences and conversations/prayers that by "enough" God means "enough for this instant in time." If I have a full belly or a meal waiting for me, I have enough. If I have anything – a cave, a house, a coat – to shelter me from the weather, I have enough. If I can get a drink from a faucet or bottle or stream or melted snow, I have enough. (God's standards about these things are much lower than my own.)
Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?
But I don't know how to make this mindset my own. "I'd just like a little comfort. Some security," I said. That's reasonable, isn't it? Only security is an illusion. I know that too.
"The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop. He thought to himself, 'What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.' "Then he said, 'This is what I'll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I'll say to myself, "You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry."' "But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?'
How many people have lost all that they have saved to war, theft, hyper-inflation, political strife? Or even to shady mortgage brokers, medical bills and lost jobs? Helen Keller once said, "Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it." 401ks, diplomas, mutual funds and a strong work ethic don't change that.
Finally, I told God, "so I have enough for the moment. And for this day. But what about tomorrow or the day after? How can I live without knowing that there will always be enough?"
"You will always have me. Aren't I enough for you?"
That's what I want, really. To be so rooted in God that he will always be enough for me. No matter what the circumstances. Perhaps God will graciously draw me that close in time. But at the moment, I can't help but wonder if he's enough for people who starve to death.
Pass It On!
#christianity #happiness #spirituality #wealth #life #religion #poverty


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Kelly Osbourne confessed that she was a pill-popping teen drug addict who downed so many pain-killers she's surprised she didn't overdose, according to her new book.
The daughter of rock icon Ozzy Osbourne said she was prescribed Vicodin and soon began taking up to 50 a day to help her cope with her skyrocketing stardom during the taping of the MTV reality series "The Osbournes," according to her new book "Fierce."
"By this point I was waking up and emptying six Vicodin into my hand. Soon I was taking 50 pills a day. Most people would overdose on 10. My friends called me 'Noddy' because I fell asleep all the time," she said in the book, according to Popeater.
The addiction, which began when she was 17, only got worse when her mother Sharon was diagnosed with cancer, she said.
"My parents suspected. Mum would say, 'Darling, are you taking something? Please tell your mummy.' But I was good at lying," she wrote. "I was trying to be so strong so I took Vicodin to hide the terrible sadness."
Osbourne, now 24, has been to rehab four times and admitted in the tome that the first time she had an opiate at age 13 when she had her tonsils removed she loved the feeling it gave her.
"When I swallowed that tiny dose, I felt relaxed and contented," she wrote.
U.S. & World
Her parents eventually found out about her addiction and sent her to Malibu's Promises clinic, where she spent 30 days in treatment. But Osbourne said she wasn't ready for the program and landed in three different facilities.
The last treatment facility helped her to realize that she had a problem.
"After 30 days, I left rehab. For the first time, I felt hopeful. I knew I'd been given another chance at my life, at my career, at happiness. I wanted to grab it," she wrote.


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Mike Tyson, Audrina Patridge And Kendra Wilkinson Nab Parts In Scary Movie 5
Mike Tyson has already left his mark on Todd Phillips' Hangover franchise, and will be doing it once again when The Hangover Part III arrives in theaters on May 24, 2013, but now it's being reported that he is lending his image - and notable face tattoo - on another franchise with an appearance in Scary Movie 5. It is now being reported that Tyson, Audrina Patridge and Kendra Wilkinson will all have titles in the upcoming horror spoof.
The film is currently in production and Black Film has gotten word that the former boxer was seen on set recently along with Heather Locklear. Taking over as the lead in the franchise for Anna Faris will be High School Musical's Ashley Tisdale and it was previously reported that Lindsay Lohan, Charlie Sheen, Terry Crews, Simon Rex, Molly Shannon, Marisa Saks, and Erica Ash. The site doesn't mention what roles the three new actors will be playing, but notes that Tisdale recently Tweeted, "Lots of cameos shooting today on #scarymovie5. Super excited!!!! #thisjobisawesome." Malcolm Lee, who last directed the 2008 comedy Soul Men, is directing the movie.
A parody of Darren Aronofsky's Black Swan among other titles, the central plot follows a trio of dancers as they compete for the lead role in a new production that is being headed up by a "snooty, aloof, imperious, and oversexed French dance company director" (via the official synopsis). The script was written by Pat Proft and David Zucker, who also had hands in Scary Movie 3 and 4 as writer and director, respectively. Scary Movie 5 will be in theaters on April 19, 2013 and you can see the first two stills from the movie in our Blend Film Database.
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KQED: Is the Trump Effect Keeping California Gun Sales Lower?
In the week following October's mass shooting in Las Vegas, the deadliest such shooting in recent American history, gun sales in California ticked up. But they didn't skyrocket, breaking a cycle of spiking gun sales in the state following mass shootings.
Breitbart: California DOJ Publishing New 'Assault Weapons' Regulations over Thanksgiving Holiday
The California Department of Justice is publishing new "assault weapons" regulations over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. The regulations cover "assault weapons" definitions, which means they detail what the state considers an "assault weapon" based on certain cosmetic features and/or accessories.
FPC Requests Changes to National Handgun Concealed Carry Reciprocity Bill H.R.38, Citing Vagueness & Criminal Law Concerns
Explained FPC Spokesperson Craig DeLuz, "Any bill that seeks to expand the right to keep and bear arms must be carefully crafted to ensure protection for all law-abiding people, but especially for those in 'battleground states' and cities hostile to Second Amendment rights."
Guns.com: Five States Ask Congress to Swiftly Pass National Reciprocity
A group of state attorneys general has signed on to a letter urging lawmakers to approve a measure that would allow universal recognition if concealed carry permits across the nation.
"Assault Weapons" Ban Still Alive in Washington State!
The 2018 legislative session in Olympia is right around the corner and the fake news cartel has again piled on with a chorus of elitist voices hell-bent on stripping all of us of the right to defend ourselves and our family.
New Haven Register: Senator Tells Parents to Stop Buying Toy Guns
Without changes to the way toy and imitation guns are manufactured, U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., says child's play presents real dangers to public safety.
New York Post: Giffords Tries to Shut Down Gun Websites
A gun control group founded by former U.S. Rep. Gabby Giffords asked two web hosting companies on Friday to shut down websites selling parts and machines that help make untraceable homemade firearms known as "ghost guns."
Salon: Gun Manufacturers Market Products to Men's Basest Instincts
Guns make men feel powerful and in control. A pull of the trigger can instantly bring death, giving the shooter an ability that is almost godlike. Yet gun culture does not think gun owners want to feel godly, or even like mature, civilized adults in any sense. They are just human, after all, susceptible to all the basest instincts of human nature.
Washington Examiner: Senate Democrats Introduce Major Gun Ban Bill
Senate Democrats Wednesday introduced a major gun control bill that would ban so-called assault-style weapons and ammunition. The bill — sponsored by Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., and other Senate Democrats — would make it illegal to sell more than 200 types of semi-automatic weapons as well as magazines holding more than ten rounds of ammunition. The proposal would also ban devices that ramp up firing speed, such as the bump stock used in the Las Vegas shooting last month.
Fox News: Record Amount of Background Checks for Guns on Black Friday
The FBI on Friday received 203,086 requests for instant gun background checks, which would mark almost a 10 percent increase from 2016 and sets a new record for the most ever in one day, USA Today reported.
Breitbart: Millennial Voters Offer Greatest Opposition to 'Assault Weapons' Ban
Senate Democrats are pushing an "assault weapons" ban again and the greatest opposition to it comes from voters aged 18 to 34. In other words, many of those opposed to it were not old enough to vote during the push for such a ban following the Sandy Hook Elementary School attack.
The Statesman: More Gun Restrictions Wouldn't Have Stopped Church Shooting
The terrible news about the Sutherland Springs First Baptist Church mass shooting was just coming out when last week's column was being written. Now we know a lot more about how the murderer acquired his guns.
California DOJ Pushes New "Assault Weapons" Regulations Before Thanksgiving Holiday
FPC has published the new proposed regulations at BulletButtonBan.com — a Web site it established in 2016 for tracking the new California assault weapon laws and regulations — where members of the public can use FPC's grassroots action tools to submit written comments to DOJ regarding the proposed regulations. A public hearing on the new regulations is scheduled for 10 a.m. on January 8, 2018, at the Resources Building Auditorium in Sacramento.
The Hill: Gun Reformers Search For the Next Bump Stock
The next bump stock? Gun reform advocates think they've seen a few. The debate over bump stocks –– the little-known devices used to deadly effect during last month's shooting massacre in Las Vegas –– has all but vanished on Capitol Hill. But gun reformers are already seeking to identify similar products in hopes of convincing Congress to apply new restrictions aimed at preventing the next tragedy.
The Hill: South Carolina Mayor Wants to Ban Bump Stocks on Guns
The mayor of Columbia, S.C., is planning to propose a ban on bump stocks and trigger cranks on guns in the city. "I believe in responsible gun ownership, and I believe in common sense," Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin (D) said in a statement, according to ABC News. "That's why I've decided to do what our federal and state governments are either unable or unwilling to do."
CBS New York: Sen. Gillibrand Pushes For Tighter Gun Control Laws
New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand is pushing to get tighter gun laws passed in Washington.
The Firearm Blog: Germany Loosens Restrictions on Suppressors Citing Health and Hearing Concerns
Hunters in the North Rhine-Westphalia area in Germany can now use sound suppressors for their hunting rifles. The Ministry of Interior has regulated this in a decree to the The Federal Hunting Act. You may ask why this is important to you, but there are some very interesting and important quotes from high ranking officials if you continue reading.
IJR: Piers Morgan Saw a Pro-Gun Sign for a Church — And Boy Is He Triggered
As IJR previously reported, the River at Tampa Bay Church has had a sign on every entrance of its building warning would-be criminals that the congregation is heavily armed.
Guns.com: California City Passes Ban Moratorium on Gun, Ammo Stores
The San Carlos City Council last week passed a 45-day ban on any new gun stores setting up shop in the city limits just as a Turner's Outdoorsman was scheduled to open. Passed 4-1 after an emotion public hearing which local media reported that hundreds attended, the move will keep the vendor's doors at their newest location closed for now.
Breitbart: Rancho Tehama Gunman Proved Gun Bans Cannot Stop Determined Attacker
The Rancho Tehama gunman who killed five people and opened fire on a school proved anew that gun bans cannot stop a determined attacker. After all, guns are banned from California K-12 campuses, but that did not stop Kevin Neal from transporting a gun to the school and opening fire.
Rolling Stone: Tim McGraw And Faith Hill Say U.S. Needs 'Common Sense' Gun Control Laws
"Look, I'm a bird hunter - I love to wing-shoot," McGraw said. "However, there is some common sense that's necessary when it comes to gun control. They want to make it about the Second Amendment every time it's brought up. It's not about the Second Amendment."
John Lott: Liberal Media Fixates On Laws That Wouldn't Have Stopped Attack, Ignores Good Guy With Gun
Before knowing almost anything about Sunday's mass public shooting, gun control advocates are once again calling for more gun control. The attack at the First Baptist Church in tiny Sutherland Springs, Texas, claimed 26 lives and left people with an understandable desire to "do something." One thing is certain: the proposals put forward by gun control advocates wouldn't have stopped this attack.
Newsweek: Las Vegas Shooting Didn't Change Gun Laws In US, But It Did In This Country
While the United States has failed to take action, the country of Malta has passed gun laws in response to a shooting attack in the U.S. that killed 58 people and injured more than 500.
Taste of Country: Country Singer Says "No One Is Trying to Take Away Your Guns"
The debate over gun control hits closer to home in country music after the mass shooting in Las Vegas, and Cam is among the artists who have begun speaking out on the politically charged topic in public.


text: Purchase or sale of a business during the income yearWarning: This information may not apply to the current year. Check the content carefully to ensure it is applicable to your circumstances. End of attention Keep a record of the following: the name and address of the other party to the transaction the purchase or sale price, including details of the allocation of purchase or sale price to all items purchased or sold, including stock on hand and depreciating assets a copy of the contract of purchase or sale. If there is no trustee who is an Australian resident, the onus is on the public officer to keep this information. Last modified: 12 Feb 2019QC 44346


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|LISWiki will be closing, due to lack of participation, on July 1, 2019.
Library of Congress Subject Headings
A word or phrase assigned by the Library of Congress to a book or nonprint item to indicate what it is about. Multiple subject headings may be assigned to an item if necessary or desirable. It is also possible to append free-floating (subject) subdivisions to some subject headings, but only in accordance with strict rules laid down for their use, which are subject to revision over time.
The complete list of Library of Congress Subject Headings is published in a multi-volume set of large red books which is available in most public and academic libraries. Professional Catalogers in most libraries are also able to access the complete LCSH online through subscription to the Library of Congress web utility, Classification Web, which is usually bundled as an internal component of the Cataloger's Desktop subscription database.
The rules for free-floating subdivisions are published under separate cover and are normally not available for public inspection, as it is a non-circulating technical services cataloging tool, though some academic libraries situated in universities with an ALA-accredited LIS program granting MLS or MLIS degrees may circulate a copy for use by library school students taking cataloging courses.
The Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH) are a controlled vocabulary for use in subject cataloging and indexing. It was originally designed for the Library of Congress collection, but many other libraries have adopted the system as well, especially academic libraries.
An extremely well-written and useful book on the topic of LC subject headings is Lois Chan's Library of Congress subject headings : principles and application. 3rd ed. Englewood, Colo., 1995.
External Links[edit]
- Library of Congress Authorities


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March 11, 2010— -- While the rest of America was stunned to hear that a suburban Pennsylvania woman allegedly used the Internet identity of Jihad Jane and tried to join militant jihadists, for a group of 'Net vigilantes it was old news.
In fact, at least one of the Web sleuths claims to have alerted the feds to Colleen LaRose's alleged efforts to raise money and recruit fighters for Islamic terrorists and to carry out her own jihad.
Groups like JawaReport, Quoth the Raven and the YouTube Smackdown Corps claim they had been monitoring LaRose's growing militancy for three years, and watched as the Internet -- particularly YouTube -- fed her fervor.
They also said "Jihad Jane" is not the only one on the Internet that the groups are monitoring.
"There are certainly many others out there who are more eloquent and appear to be more dangerous from the way they talk," a man calling himself Rusty Shackleford told ABC News.
Shackleford, a pen name, says he is a libertarian college professor who created the blog JawaReport in 2004 after he was enraged that Iraqi Islamists had beheaded an American named Nick Berg.
"It was my way of venting. But mostly it was about countering violent Islamist propaganda, specifically the videos that were being produced by al Qaeda in Iraq and other Salaafist jihadists fighting our troops," he said.
Shackleford said his goal from the beginning was combating violent Islamist material and support on the Web.
"I'm a blogger, but also an activist against violent Islamism. One of the things we do is try and pressure Webhosts to remove Websites that belong to terrorist organizations. An example of this would be the dozen or so times we've successfully had the Taliban's website removed. The websites sometimes pop back up, sometimes not," Shackleford said.
Shackleford and other contributors to JawaReport and sites like it noticed YouTube had become a hub for videos and comments in support of violent extremism and attacks against the West and its allies, leading to the creation of the YouTube Smackdown.
Shackleford said the groups identify videos in support of violent Islamism and pressure the Web site to take them down, "as they would child pornography or other obscene material."
According to the "Quoth the Raven" blog, since the "smackdown" movement began in 2007, users have had over 31,000 videos removed from YouTube, and 695 users suspended. They say LaRose was one of those suspended.


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The newest 80-meter superyacht concept was revealed by M51 Concepts. The concept named Forge has a 1,750 GT of interior volume and obsidian black hull and main superstructure with orange for her sharps.
Thanks to her pyramid superstructure she has the placement of a private panoramic glass ceiling in the master's suite.
A sky lounge has vaulted ceilings that blend the interior and exterior spaces.
Forge features a touch-and-go helipad on the foredeck, a swimming pool, a wellness and full-beam tender garage.
The Forge will have an Ice Class hull and a hybrid diesel engine, and a range of 5,000 nautical mile.
Credits: M51 Concepts
Latest News
Dutch shipyard Icon Yachts has revealed its latest expedition yacht concept, Mission, at the Monaco Yacht Show. Designed by Bernd Weel Design, this rugged explorer boasts a modular design, capable of accommodating various tenders, RIBs, a three-passenger submersible, and even an Airbus H130 helicopter. Bernd Weel explained the concept's focus on experience-driven design. "The project embodies an 'experience-focused' design, meaning the vessel is designed to facilitate specialized expeditions, exploration, and yacht cruises," he said. The exterior design features strong, defined lines, drawing inspiration from products built for challenging expeditions and cargo-capable SUVs. The result is a robust, versatile design with a contemporary aesthetic.The vessel's innovative design revolves around modular elements that can be adapted and customized to suit different purposes. Icon's representative explained that "the use of containers allows owners or special charters to adapt the vessel to their evolving needs by incorporating modular areas within or onboard the yacht."These containers could serve various functions, from storing scientific research equipment to housing additional water toys and tenders. The vessel seamlessly accommodates both scenarios without compromising its primary purpose. These containers are ingeniously stored in the yacht's hexagonal-styled mid-section.With an impressive 1,800 GT, Mission can accommodate from 12 till 18 guests and can be used as private or commercial vessel.Mission boasts a cruising speed of 12 knots and an impressive range of 6,000 nautical miles, making it well-suited for adventurous voyages to remote and challenging destinations.Icon Yachts was founded in 2005 and is based in Harlingen, Netherlands. The facility can accommodate four 70m vessels simultaneously, or up to six 50m yachts, with a mast clearance height of 28m at NAP. Credits: Icon Yachts
September 27, 2023
Feadship has unveiled its latest concept design, Dunes' at the 2023 Monaco Yacht Show. This striking 83-meter superyacht not only boasts an eye-catching design inspired by sand dunes but also sets a new benchmark for sustainability in the luxury yacht industry.Dunes represents a significant step towards Feadship's goal of Net-Zero superyachts. It integrates various energy-saving features and innovative technologies, resulting in up to a 95% reduction in negative environmental impacts compared to superyachts meeting current minimum environmental regulations. These features include shading windows to reduce cooling needs, next-generation storage batteries, fuel cells, and a revolutionary propulsion system.The yacht's layout is a result of meticulous planning, incorporating six guest staterooms, a spa area, a beach club, an owner's private deck, and a pool. Dunes' asymmetrical superstructure ensures a unique design that eliminates large engine room air and exhaust trunks, optimizing the use of space and improving guest comfort.Studio De Voogt designed the yacht's exterior, drawing inspiration from the shifting contours of sand dunes. The design promotes adaptable, multi-purpose spaces, offering both open-plan areas and intimate spots, while shaded walk-around decks protect guests from the elements.To enhance sustainability further, Dunes features teak-free decking systems, relying on alternative materials like glass and stone chips sealed in transparent polyurethane resin. Additionally, the yacht utilizes treated timber for its Pavilion Deck, providing natural insulation without adding weight.Dunes also incorporates innovative features like a wind turbine hidden within its mast and a groundbreaking electric propulsion system known as ABB Dynafin™. This system mimics the thrust of a whale's tail, significantly improving hydrodynamic efficiency and reducing energy consumption.Furthermore, the yacht utilizes green methanol as a reaction agent for its solid oxide fuel cells, offering a more eco-friendly and energy-dense fuel option. Feadship also adopts low-impact steel and aluminum for construction, reducing CO2 emissions during manufacturing.Based in the Netherlands and with roots dating back to 1849, Feadship was formed as a group in 1949 as a marketing partnership between six Dutch shipyards, de Vries Lentch, Van de Stadt, Witsen & Vis, Akerboom, De Vries Scheepsbouw and Van Lent Shipyard, and De Voogt Naval Architects. Feadship is well-known as one of the Netherlands' most elite yacht builders and delivers superyachts from 50–100+ meters in length.Credits: Feadship
September 27, 2023
The much-anticipated Amels 80, a pioneering 80-meter superyacht, has officially taken to the water. This marks a significant milestone for Damen Yachting and the Amels Limited Editions series. The Amels 80 is slated for delivery in 2025, aligning with Damen Yachting's commitment to rapid delivery, a hallmark of the Amels Limited Editions, with over 50 such yachts delivered to date.Each Amels 80 is characterized by its unique interior design, and this vessel is no exception. The visionary owner worked closely with Damen Yachting, design studio Sinot Yacht Architecture & Design, and Burgess, the project manager, to create a truly bespoke interior. The result is a sophisticated, neutral palette with an emphasis on natural materials and personal customization. This approach ensures that the owner's personal style shines through in every aspect of the yacht's interior.Espen Oeino, the renowned designer behind the Amels 80's exterior, has crafted a contemporary, holistic design that promises to stand the test of time. With strong, modern lines and an impressive interior volume, this yacht embodies luxury and functionality. It boasts a spacious 200 sq. m sun deck, a waterside beach club that opens on three sides, a wellness and spa area, a dedicated owner's deck, and vast framed windows on the main deck, offering panoramic views.Notably, sustainability is at the heart of this next-generation design. The yacht incorporates sustainable materials and innovative hybrid technology, aligning with the growing demand for eco-conscious yachts in the luxury market.Damen Yachting, a division within the Damen Shipyards Group, was created in 2019. The division combines the pedigree and heritage of Amels yachts with a growing portfolio of SeaXplorer yachts and Yacht Support vessels.Credits: Damen Yachting
September 27, 2023
The 63rd Genoa International Boat Show concluded with a record-breaking 118,269 visitors, marking a 13.9% increase from the previous year. The event featured 1,043 brands, over 1,000 boats, and 184 premieres and new designs. Additionally, 120 conferences and workshops were held, attracting 1,316 accredited journalists and over 11 hours of television coverage. The show received notable attention from government authorities and institutions, including Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and other ministers. The show also benefited from international participation through a delegation of foreign journalists and buyers from 35 countries.The success of this year's show exceeded expectations and marked significant growth in the yachting industry. The 64th edition is scheduled for September 19 to 24, 2024, with ambitious plans to make it the world's leading industry event.Credits: Genoa International Boat Show
September 26, 2023
The 32nd edition of the Monaco Yacht Show has returned with an impressive lineup of yachts. As the largest yachting show in Europe and a pinnacle event in the superyacht realm, this year's show focuses on promoting environmental innovations and educational trends within the industry. Monaco Yacht Show 2022With designated hubs for design, innovation, sustainability, and adventure, the show offers a comprehensive experience. The spotlight shines on the 120 superyachts gracing Port Hercules, drawing yacht owners, charterers, buyers, and enthusiasts worldwide. Valued at around USD 4.3 billion, these yachts represent iconic brands and create a networking and exploration hub. Alongside, the luxury 'Car Deck,' showcasing classic and custom vehicles, helicopters, personal submarines, and more, turns this event into a billionaire's paradise, offering a splendid end-of-summer celebration.Here are the 15 yachts that can't be missed. Leona 80mBilgin YachtsBilgin Yachts presents its 80m Leona. Its striking bright-scarlet hull, earning it the moniker "the Red Bullet," ensures it stands out even at Port Hercules. Unique Yacht Design handles the exterior, while H2 Yacht Design takes charge of the interior. As the largest debut at Monaco this year, Leona is a part of the Bilgin 263 series, sharing features like a lifting transom and a spacious beach club pool with its sister ship, Tatiana. A remarkable feature includes Greek statues adorned with fiber optics, creating the illusion of a starry night sky.O'Rea77.7mGolden YachtsThe O'Rea exterior design, created by Studio Vafiadis, showcases a powerful profile with muscular lines that exude strength. Her contemporary interior is a collaborative work of art by Studio Vafiadis and the Italian studio Massari Design. O'Rea features a sculpted and architectural hatch that resembles a gate, adorned with black and metallic finishes that lend a modern touch to the entrance of her beach house.Alchemy66m RossinaviThis yacht is a result of fine collaboration between the Italian shipyard and Philippe Briand, Founder of Vitruvius Yachts, who is responsible for the exterior design of the vessel and the naval architecture, and Enrico Gobbi, Founder of Venice-based practice Enrico Gobbi - Team for Design, who was responsible for interior and outdoor spaces styling. The three-deck yacht has enough space for all owner's wishes, her green and efficient design saves both fuel and emissions. Entourage60mAmelsDelivered in early 2023, the customized 60m Entourage will be on show for the first time. As the second superyacht in the Amels 60 range, she features exterior design by Monaco based Espen Oeino International and naval architecture by Damen Yachting. Her interior design was made by the Canadian design studio Burdifilek.57Steel56.7mSanlorenzoThe 57Steel, despite its 1050 GT tonnage, exemplifies Sanlorenzo's hallmark elegance. Collaborating with Studio Zuccon International Project for exterior architecture and Piero Lissoni for interiors, it's a Monaco Yacht Show 2023 premiere that reimagines traditional layouts. The wheelhouse, usually on the upper deck, now adorns an extra deck, featuring the owner's 55 sq. m cabin with panoramic views from the owner's deck. Piero Lissoni's architectural vision blends spaces, vertical elements, and his signature staircase. This reshuffle also creates a full-beam VIP cabin on the main deck and an expansive 150 sq. m beach area. The bow garage accommodates tenders up to 7.5 meters, with a 30 sq. m gym and sauna.Baglietto T5252mBagliettoThe 52m yacht was penciled by Francesco Paszkowski Design. The interiors were also designed by FPD in cooperation with Margherita Casprini. The yacht is fitted with a hybrid propulsion system that will allow it to choose a more efficient cruising mode, curbing both consumption and environmental impact. When cruising in electric diesel mode, the T52 can indeed boast a range of up to 7,600 nautical miles, and remain at anchor up to 10 hours relying on the batteries only.Jewels 53mTurquoise YachtsThe 53m Jewels featuring a captivating sky-blue hull, is sure to capture attention wherever it sails. This unique exterior design stems from a debut partnership between the Turkish builder and Miami's DeBasto Design. Inside, it offers accommodations for 12 guests, crafted by the British studio H2 Yacht Design. With a substantial volume of 720 gross tonnes, and equipped with a spa pool, a bar, and areas for relaxation.Anjelif50mColumbus Yachts50-meter full custom aluminum superyacht Anjelif's exteriors and interiors were made by Marco Casali of Too-Design while the engineering is by the Palumbo Superyachts team. A model tailored to the needs of her experienced owner and packed with technical and stylistic innovations like the hybrid, diesel-electric propulsion. She has a lot to offer – from open-air cinema to touch-and-go helipad and spa. Grey50mTankoaThe latest superyacht in Tankoa's successful 50m all-aluminum series with the exterior lines by Francesco Paszkowski and the interior design by Giorgio Cassetta. In addition to her features, the owner chose to incorporate an awe-inspiring outdoor home cinema screen, which is strategically positioned in front of the swimming pool lounge on the foredeck.Alunya49.9mBenettiAlunya ia a 50-meter yacht and the second in the B.Now family to feature the Oasis Deck™. This innovative solution transforms the traditional stern swim platform with hydraulic terraces spanning the entire deck width, crafting a vast 110 sq. m beach club. Offering a seamless 270° aft view, it boasts a glass-walled infinity pool and various social spaces.UV II45mISA YachtsThe yacht has a steel hull and aluminum superstructure. Her naval engineering was handled by Palumbo Superyachts; Enrico Gobbi – Team for Design designed the exterior lines, and Luca Dini Design & Architecture penned the interior design. UV II is powered by 2 CAT C32 ACERT engines, each delivering 1300 hp for a top speed of 15.4 knots and a cruising speed of 14 knots. This Is It43.5mThe Italian Sea GroupThis Is It is the latest addition to the Tecnomar fleet, a 43.5-meter motor catamaran with approximately 750GT. This innovative catamaran combines tradition and innovation, offering a lifestyle concept defined by over 600 sq. m of impressive glass windows. Its aluminum superstructure and optimized hull lines enhance hydrodynamic efficiency, significantly reducing fuel consumption and emissions. Complying with IMO Tier III requirements, it employs exhaust gas treatment technology to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions. Inside, it boasts six cabins, a massage room, and a galley with polarized glass for events and show cooking.Fancy35m Nautor SwanThe Swan 108 Fancy boasts a full carbon hull and deck constructed with epoxy Sprint technology. Notably, it introduces a groundbreaking dual-acting transom door that expands the beach club area significantly without compromising interior space. The yacht's spacious saloon, illuminated by large potholes, offers a refined and intimate ambiance. Accommodating up to 9 guests, it includes a master suite, a VIP cabin, and two double cabins, one featuring an extra pullman bed.Sandbank34.1mGulf CraftThe Majesty 111 represents a harmonious collaboration between Gulf Craft and the Netherlands-based Phathom Studio. Phathom Studio's innovative exterior lines and refined interior design, combined with Gulf Craft's extensive yacht-building expertise, have given rise to a new generation of dynamic Majesty yachts. Featuring a unique 6-cabin layout and an expansive forward VIP cabin, this yacht redefines space utilization in its size category. It emphasizes seamless indoor-outdoor connections, offers panoramic views, a plunge pool on the foredeck, and integrates innovative energy-saving systems for efficient cruising and comfort. This yacht is a result of meticulous market research and trend forecasting for a global audience. Gulf Craft Announces European Debut of its Award-Winning Majesty 111 at Monaco Yacht Show 2023Sunreef 80 Eco23.8mSunreefSunreef Yachts presented the 80 Sunreef Power Eco, heralded as the world's most cutting-edge electric motor yacht. Pioneering green technology, including a groundbreaking solar panel system, powers this catamaran, setting new standards for eco-friendliness and energy efficiency. This four-cabin eco-catamaran showcases a smart energy management system, energy-efficient air conditioning, and sustainable linen furniture. Unique offerings include a bow deck hot tub, a concealed stern garage, and an alfresco gym.Credits: Amels; Bilgin Yachts; Gulf Craft; Nautor Swan; MYS; Sunreef; TISG; Yacht Harbour archive
September 26, 2023


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Animal Control enforces all Town ordinances pertaining to dogs running at large, acts as an interface with other agencies dealing with cats, birds and animals, works with authorities to obtain emergency veterinary assistance for injured dogs and cats, enforces Article #7 of Agriculture and Market Laws. Works closely with county health regarding all animal bites and broken skin, scratches as a precaution for rabies. Under existing Agricultural and market law Animal control officers must be at least peace officers to enforce article #26 cruelty to animals law. Seizure of cats also falls under article #26. At present time Clifton Park animal control does not have peace officers status.
Any complaints involving cruelty or seizure of cats should be directed to the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (518) 798-3500 or your Sheriff or State Police. Certain circumstances allow us to handle possible rabid animals such as opossum, skunk, raccoons, foxes, etc. If you have such questions about nuisance wildlife please call. If we are unable to help, we can direct you as to who you may call for help. All found dogs and cats are housed at the Saratoga County Animal Shelter. The phone number is (518) 885-4113.
County Shelter - (518) 885-4113 Monday - Saturday 10:00am - 4:00pm
VET OFFICES: Check with the vets in your area in case someone brought your pet in for treatment.
ANIMAL EMERGENCY: Check with Animal Emergency Care Centers
Animal Emergency Clinic of Capital District (518) 785-1094
Northway Animal Emergency Clinic (518) 761 2602
ANIMAL SHELTERS: You can call them to let them know that you have lost your pet. Give them as much information as possible regarding your pet – physical description, male/female, fixed/unfixed, collar/no collar. Owners are strongly encouraged to stay in close, frequent touch with all area shelters and any other lost and found resources they are using. Checking every 2—3 days is acceptable.
Saratoga County Animal Shelter (518) 885-4113
Mohawk Hudson Humane Society (518) 434-8128
Animal Protection Foundation (518) 374-3944.
ANIMAL CONTROL: Clifton Park (518) 371-6756, Halfmoon (518) 348-0196, Malta (518) 422-7914
CHECK: Local newspaper ads and Craigslist (multiple times) against lost and found reports.
FLIERS: Fliers with good photos, in addition to the description and multiple contacts, are the very best tool for matching lost and found pets. Place flyers around your neighborhood and with local veterinarians, emergency clinics and pet groomers/sitters. Use brightly colored paper to stand out.
ASK: Your neighbors and your mail carrier if they have seen your pet.
IF: You have recently moved, check your old neighborhood.
WHEN: You find your pet, notify everyone they can stop looking. Take down your flyers.
COLLAR/TAGS: Collars/tags are a wonderful way to help ensure that your pet is returned to you if they do go astray. However, collars/tags can be lost so don't assume that your pet still has them on. Keep current phone number on a name tag. Make sure that Rabies and License tags trace correctly to your current address and phone number. Call your vet to make sure this information is correct in their records. Microchips are also excellent tools…..but again, if a scanner is broken or unavailable, you can't rely solely on the chip to ensure that the pet is identified. Make sure the CHIP company has your current information.
After 75 plus years, the Town of Clifton Park will be increasing dog licensing fees. Effective May 1, 2022, the new fees will be:
$6 for spayed/neutered dogs
$11.50 for not spayed/not neutered dogs (no change in fee)
ANY licensing fee payment, whether for a new license or renewal, made after April 30, 2022, will be at the above-stated rates.
|23 Sep 2023;
Household Hazardous Waste Day
|26 Sep 2023;
Planning Board Meeting
|02 Oct 2023;
Town Board Meeting


text:
Our second trip was to the Pacific Northwest, in May 2001. Here we saw ecosystems ranging from rainforests to deserts, from the coast to the mountains. A central theme of the trip was the endangered salmon fisheries of the area, and we saw smolt out migrating through urbanized estuaries in Seattle, and adults in the fish ladders in the controversial Snake River dams. We also saw major irrigation projects, logging sites, saw mills, big volcanoes, beautiful waterfalls, and the desolate Hanford reservation, where the federal government is attempting to clean up the contamination caused from decades of plutonium production. Below you can click on any area to see photos from the trip.
Read more about the trip in these articles:


text: UNICEF Ethiopia Around fifteen percent of Ethiopians live below the poverty line. HIV/AIDS is a key challenge for many of the most vulnerable populations, including women and children. This project tells the story of some of the many women and children living with HIV/AIDS in Ethiopia. In 2013 an estimated 790,000 individuals were living with HIV/AIDS in Ethiopia. There is also an estimated 900,000 orphans living in Ethiopia as a flow on effect from the disease.


text:
How to increase productivity and engagement in meeting rooms with the right AV technology
Modern meeting room technology puts total control over all aspects of the meeting space right at your fingertips – from light levels to AV equipment and wireless interactive collaboration tools – so technology never gets in the way of the business at hand.
Erik Delcart, Solution Consultant of Black Box EMEA, explains how collaboration, reservation and room control solutions can help to improve the efficiency, engagement and overall productivity within meeting spaces. That's important to your organisation, your team and you.
For more information visit our conference room AV solution pages
Erik Delcart
Solution Consultant
of Black Box EMEA


text:
Poll: The GOP's Hispanic nightmare
The Republican brand is like a dog with fleas in the Hispanic community, and it's not just because of immigration.
A new poll conducted by a Republican pollster for GOP-aligned groups finds that a majority of Hispanics in four swing states would be willing to vote for a candidate even if they don't agree with his or her position on immigration.
( PHOTOS: 20 quotes on immigration reform)
But on a host of issues, from abortion to the role of government, the fast-growing Hispanic population breaks with conservatives. Majorities in Florida, Colorado, Nevada and New Mexico also agreed that "the Republican party does not respect the values and concerns of the Hispanic community." In Colorado, they said so by a 33-point margin, 63 percent to 30 percent.
Resurgent Republic and the Hispanic Leadership Network unveiled the findings Wednesday. They jointly surveyed 400 registered Hispanic voters in each of four states carried by President Barack Obama last month. The poll was conducted from Nov. 28 to Dec. 7 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.9 percent.
"If Republicans achieve 40 percent or more of Hispanics nationally, they can elect conservatives to national office," said GOP pollster Whit Ayres, who unveiled the numbers at a press conference. "Settling for a quarter or less of the Hispanic vote nationally will relegate Republicans to a regional party with few national prospects."
Only about three in 10 view the Republican Party positively in Colorado, New Mexico and Nevada. It's 44 percent in Florida, but that's because of the high percentage of conservative Cubans.
By a margin of nearly 2-to-1, Hispanics surveyed said that government should do more to solve problems and meet the needs of people. Asked whether government should increase investments or limit spending, taxes and regulations, majorities picked more investment.
Pluralities of Hispanics were pro-choice in Colorado, Florida and Nevada. In New Mexico, 48 percent identified themselves as pro-life, and 40 percent called themselves pro-choice. Pluralities also supported gay marriage.
The poll showed that majorities of Hispanics in all four states believe the Democratic Party cares more about helping the middle class than the Republican Party cares about the same. They also say the Democratic Party understands the needs and concerns of Hispanic voters, works to protect women's rights and has the right plans to improve education.
Top GOP leaders from the Hispanic community are largely undefined outside their home states.
In Nevada, for example, 65 percent have either never heard of or have no opinion about New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez.
In New Mexico, meanwhile, 84 percent have either never heard of or have no opinion about Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval. In the same state, 51 percent don't know enough to offer an opinion of Florida Sen. Marco Rubio.
Respondents were read nine different policies related to immigration. They supported all but one by strong margins, including guest worker programs, border security and various pathways to legal status. Strong majorities opposed "taking aggressive steps to seek out and deport as many undocumented immigrants as possible." Among Hispanics, there is minimal opposition to strengthening border security.
HLN Executive Director Jennifer Korn contends that conservative policies are more closely aligned with the values of Hispanic voters. She believes that minority voters are alienated by "the tone of some Republicans running for office."
"Continuing on this path is political suicide for conservatives," she said in a statement releasing the numbers. "It is up to the rising stars of the conservative movement, from Paul Ryan to Marco Rubio, to change the tide."


text:
Detail Page
written by Jim Lochner
Imagine the Universe is a service maintained by NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center for students age 14 and up, teachers, and others interested in learning about the universe. Resources were developed by scientists at the High Energy Astrophysics Science Archive Research Center (HEASARC). There are links to a wide range of resources that can be used in the teaching of astronomy, including a "Teacher's Corner" with standards-aligned lesson plans, "Ask an Astrophysicist", "Satellite Showcase", and "You Be The Astrophysicist". All materials are no-cost and freely accessible.
This resource is part of a Physics Front Topical Unit.
Topic: Astronomy
Unit Title: Astronomy: Special K-12 Collections
This comprehensive NASA website, intended for adolescent learners, provides timely news and information about space exploration and space science. Included are many creative resources, such as "Ask an Astrophysicist", "You Be the Astrophysicist", "Satellite Showcase", and the Cosmic Times newsletter.Link to Unit:
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text:
Securing a mortgage is a significant step in the home buying journey, and avoiding common…
Frustration Lingers For Borrowers One Year After Settlement
A year ago, a $25 billion settlement ordered banks to do a better job helping troubled homeowners, and to end the stories of borrowers trapped in a confusing web of mortgage negotiations leading to foreclosure.
The stories, however, keep coming, even as banks take their required steps to improve how they handle homeowners in distress.
One of the most widely criticized practices was "dual-tracking," in which banks pressed ahead with foreclosure proceedings while borrowers scrambled to get their loans modified.
The settlement was supposed to change that. The architects of the deal with Bank of America, Wells Fargo and three other major banks said the agreement would give troubled borrowers " every opportunity" to modify their loans before facing foreclosure.
But the rules spelled out in the settlement give banks the latitude in many cases to move toward a foreclosure sale even as they work with borrowers trying to save their homes.
Banks can send foreclosure notices and schedule court hearings and eviction dates – all while a homeowner is filing paperwork for a loan modification.
The settlement did force some improvements: Banks can't actually sell the home while a modification is pending. And they can't start foreclosures against borrowers who seek help soon after becoming delinquent.
Still, the rules mean homeowners in North Carolina and around the country can end up planning for foreclosure hearings while trying to work with their banks. Advocates and lawyers tell of borrowers having to juggle legal notices, loan modification applications and a search for a new place to live at the same time.
"They think their loan is going to be modified. They're told not to worry about the pending foreclosure action," said Mal Maynard of the Wilmington-based Financial Protection Law Center. "At the last possible minute, they learn that they will not get a modification and are thrown off the cliff into foreclosure.
"The thought behind the provision is to give a borrower full and fair consideration for a loan modification before beginning the foreclosure proceeding. They are often deprived of that opportunity."
Both Bank of America and Wells Fargo say they are doing everything the settlement requires. Executives at both banks say their mortgage servicer repeatedly try to reach out to delinquent borrowers before referring a loan to foreclosure.
Randy Bockenstedt, senior vice president in customer contact and collections at Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, said he still believes borrowers have every opportunity to get a loan modification before facing foreclosure. He said many complaints about dual-tracking come from confusion about what the settlement requires and does not.
"We don't stop working with a borrower just because they've been referred to foreclosure," he said.
'That is a real problem'
Janet Menetrier was surprised to be served a foreclosure notice on her Charlotte home in early December, just three months after Bank of America promised her a loan modification over the phone. The next month, she found three letters from the Charlotte bank in her mailbox.
The first said she was being considered for a loan modification on the home she'd been battling for nearly six months to save from foreclosure.
The second said the bank needed more information to process her application.
The third said she'd been denied for all loan modifications.
Each letter bore the same date, Jan. 12. And her foreclosure hearing had already been set for just three weeks away.
"I thought they were supposed to make things better and easier," Menetrier said as she spread reams of paperwork across her kitchen table. "What they're doing is just wrong."
North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper, one of the chief negotiators of the settlement, said complaints to his office on servicing standards have gone down over the past year, but his office was unable to provide specific numbers.
"We think things are significantly better, and it makes sense that they are," he said in an interview. But he said he was surprised to hear of some of the complaints the Observer had received, such as Menetrier receiving three conflicting letters from Bank of America on the same day.
"If that is going on," Cooper said, "that is a real problem."
Hundreds of complaints on the topic have been funneled to Joseph Smith, the former North Carolina commissioner of banks who now serves as the settlement's monitor. He confirmed to the Observer that the lingering examples of dual-tracking have been an area of discussion between him and the five banks in the settlement but declined to elaborate.
"I have heard from the consumers and consumer professionals who are concerned about dual-tracking," he said in an emailed statement. "I will use the enforcement powers I have under the settlement to address those concerns."
Denied at the last minute
Joyce Reid said she found the process of trying for a loan modification hopelessly confusing.
Reid moved into her Mount Holly home in 2005 but ran into trouble after the financial crisis when she lost her job and went through a divorce. She worked for three years toward loan modifications with Bank of America, which serviced the loan. But she says the bank told her the modifications fell apart when the investor who owned the loan rejected the terms.
The sheriff's office served her with foreclosure papers in December and set a foreclosure date for March 25 and an eviction date for April 20, though she is still working with the bank through a trial loan modification.
Now she's facing down Monday's court date while trying to keep up with her new payments.
"I got the foreclosure papers and the modification papers at the same time," Reid said. "Which one is right?"
Bank of America told the Observer it has suspended Reid's foreclosure during the modification. Reid said the bank told her to disregard the foreclosure proceedings and not to worry about the court date. But she hasn't received any notice that the date has been moved, so she plans to go to court anyway.
"I'm waiting on pins and needles," she said. "I haven't been sleeping well. I'm trying to tell myself not to worry about it. I've done everything I could do."
State attorneys general negotiating the settlement originally wanted strict rules that banned all forms of dual-tracking. But after negotiations with banks and investors, the less stringent rules were agreed to as a compromise, said Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller.
Investors such as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the government-sponsored entities that own nearly half of U.S. mortgages, were concerned that a tight ban on dual-tracking would cause foreclosures to drag on too long. During negotiations for the settlement, a federal housing regulator told a U.S. Senate panel that banks should intervene early to help troubled borrowers – and if that failed, they should be able to keep a foreclosure moving.
"Once the foreclosure process does start, I do think that there is a responsibility to be moving that along," said Edward DeMarco, acting director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, which oversees Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, according to a Senate transcript.
'We need to improve'
Smith, the settlement monitor, has received more than 6,300 complaints on all aspects of the settlement in the year since the accord was announced. That's just a fraction of the roughly 3 million delinquent mortgages potentially covered under the settlement.
But as of the end of 2012, complaints had come from all 50 states, and between November and February the volume of complaints increased from 550 per month to 830 per month. Smith has said he hears of issues such as dual-tracking whenever he meets with housing counselors.
"It's a significant point of concern to me," Smith told the Observer. "Do people get a clear sense of the rules of the road when they attempt to get relief from banks?"
The public will know more about the banks' servicing performance in late spring, when Smith files his first report on compliance with the federal court overseeing the settlement. If a bank is in violation of one of the terms of the settlement, Smith can ultimately impose fines. He does not have the ability to write new rules but can create new ways to measure compliance if Smith believes a provision, such as dual-tracking standards, is being violated.
"We need to improve; I know we do," Smith said. "The tools we have will begin the process. If we need to do more, we'll do more."
Andrew Dunn
The Charlotte Observer


text:
Roger Revelle Chair in Environmental Science
- ResearcherID (Web of Science citation metrics)
- Google Scholar
Research Interests
My research centers on ocean-atmosphere interactions and their role in climate formation, variability, and change. The ocean's importance for climate is evident from the facts that most of solar radiation absorption occurs at the Earth surface and that the ocean occupies seventy percent of the Earth surface. Examples of ocean-atmosphere interaction effects are abundant, including the spontaneous generation of El Nino/Southern Oscillation (ENSO), and the northward-displaced tropical rain band called the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) in the eastern Pacific and Atlantic. My research contributes to answering such fundamental questions as what determines the spatial distributions of climate, why it varies in time, how preferred patterns of climate variability form, and how predictable climate is.
I carry out both diagnostic and modeling studies, using observations and numerical models of the ocean, atmosphere, and their coupled system. Geographically, my work covers all three major oceans of the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian, and monsoons of Asia, Africa, and the Americas. Our research has led to the formulation of wind-evaporation-sea surface temperature (WES) feedback mechanism and the Indian Ocean capacitor effect, the "warmer-get-wetter" idea for rainfall change in global warming, and the discovery of what Science magazine called the longest island wake of the world. The WES feedback is important for the northward displacement of the ITCZ and the tropical meridional mode. For more information, please see a narrative overview.
Research highlights: Atmospheric circulation is key for regional climate forecasts, Solving the Mysteries of Hiatus in Global Warming, and more
- D.Sc., Tohoku University, Japan, 1991
- M.Sc., Tohoku University, Japan, 1988
- Dalian College of Foreign Languages, China, 1984-85
- B.Sc., Shandong College of Oceanography, China, 1984
- China Ministry of Education Oversea Scholarship, 1985-1986
- Japan Ministry of Education (Monbusho) Scholarship, 1986-1991
- The Yamamoto-Shyono Medal for the 1994 Tellus paper on coupled ocean-atmospheric modeling of the Pacific ITCZ, Meteorological Society of Japan, 1996
- The Society Medal for contributions to understanding air-sea interaction and its role in climate formation and variability, Meteorological Society of Japan, 2002
- National Science Foundation Special Creativity Award, 2013
- Highly cited researcher (among ~140 world wide in geoscience), 2014, 2016, Thomson Reuters; 2017-2021, Clarivate Analytics
- Elected fellow, American Geophysical Union 2016
- Distinguished Lecture (Atmospheric Sciences), Asia Oceania Geosciences Society, 2017
- Sverdrup Gold Medal, and fellow, American Meteorological Society, 2017
- Distinguished Lecture (Ocean Sciences), Asia Oceania Geosciences Society, 2020


text:
This tutorial exists for these OS versions
On this page
How To Set Up WebDAV With Apache2 On Fedora 10
Version 1.0
Author: Falko Timme
This guide explains how to set up WebDAV with Apache2 on a Fedora 10 server. WebDAV stands for Web-based Distributed Authoring and Versioning and is a set of extensions to the HTTP protocol that allow users to directly edit files on the Apache server so that they do not need to be downloaded/uploaded via FTP. Of course, WebDAV can also be used to upload and download files.
I do not issue any guarantee that this will work for you!
1 Preliminary Note
I'm using a Fedora 10 server with the IP address 192.168.0.100 here.
2 Installing WebDAV
If Apache is not already installed, install it as follows:
yum install httpd
Afterwards, open /etc/httpd/conf/httpd.conf and make sure that the dav and dav_fs modules are enabled in the LoadModule section (they should be enabled by default):
vi /etc/httpd/conf/httpd.conf
[...] LoadModule dav_module modules/mod_dav.so [...] LoadModule dav_fs_module modules/mod_dav_fs.so [...]
Then create the system startup links for Apache and start it:
chkconfig --levels 235 httpd on
/etc/init.d/httpd start
3 Creating A Virtual Host
I will now create a default Apache vhost in the directory /var/www/web1/web. For this purpose, I will add a default vhost at the end of /etc/httpd/conf/httpd.conf. If you already have a vhost for which you'd like to enable WebDAV, you must adjust this tutorial to your situation.
First, we create the directory /var/www/web1/web and make the Apache user and group (apache) the owner of that directory:
mkdir -p /var/www/web1/web
chown apache:apache /var/www/web1/web
Then add the new vhost at the end of /etc/httpd/conf/httpd.conf:
vi /etc/httpd/conf/httpd.conf
[...] NameVirtualHost *:80 <VirtualHost *:80> ServerAdmin webmaster@localhost DocumentRoot /var/www/web1/web/ <Directory /var/www/web1/web/> Options Indexes MultiViews AllowOverride None Order allow,deny allow from all </Directory> </VirtualHost>
Then reload Apache:
/etc/init.d/httpd reload
4 Configure The Virtual Host For WebDAV
Now we create the WebDAV password file /var/www/web1/passwd.dav with the user test (the -c switch creates the file if it does not exist):
htpasswd -c /var/www/web1/passwd.dav test
You will be asked to type in a password for the user test.
(Please don't use the -c switch if /var/www/web1/passwd.dav is already existing because this will recreate the file from scratch, meaning you lose all users in that file!)
Now we change the permissions of the /var/www/web1/passwd.dav file so that only root and the members of the apache group can access it:
chown root:apache /var/www/web1/passwd.dav
chmod 640 /var/www/web1/passwd.dav
Now we modify our vhost at the end of /etc/httpd/conf/httpd.conf and add the following lines to it:
vi /etc/httpd/conf/httpd.conf
[...] Alias /webdav /var/www/web1/web <Location /webdav> DAV On AuthType Basic AuthName "webdav" AuthUserFile /var/www/web1/passwd.dav Require valid-user </Location> [...]
The Alias directive makes (together with <Location>) that when you call /webdav, WebDAV is invoked, but you can still access the whole document root of the vhost. All other URLs of that vhost are still "normal" HTTP.
The final vhost should look like this:
[...] NameVirtualHost *:80 <VirtualHost *:80> ServerAdmin webmaster@localhost DocumentRoot /var/www/web1/web/ <Directory /var/www/web1/web/> Options Indexes MultiViews AllowOverride None Order allow,deny allow from all </Directory> Alias /webdav /var/www/web1/web <Location /webdav> DAV On AuthType Basic AuthName "webdav" AuthUserFile /var/www/web1/passwd.dav Require valid-user </Location> </VirtualHost>
Reload Apache afterwards:
/etc/init.d/httpd reload
5 Testing WebDAV
We will now install cadaver, a command-line WebDAV client:
yum install cadaver
To test if WebDAV works, type:
cadaver http://localhost/webdav/
You should be prompted for a user name. Type in test and then the password for the user test. If all goes well, you should be granted access which means WebDAV is working ok. Type quit to leave the WebDAV shell:
[root@server1 ~]# cadaver http://localhost/webdav/
Authentication required for webdav on server `localhost':
Username: test
dav:/webdav/> quit
Connection to `localhost' closed.
[root@server1 ~]#