text:
Audit (A-01-12-00004)
Massachusetts Medicaid Payments to Diocesan Health Facilities Did Not Always Comply With Federal and State Requirements
Executive Summary
The Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services, Office of Medicaid (State agency), did not always adjust its Medicaid per diem payments to Diocesan Health Facilities by the amount of beneficiaries' cost-of-care contributions from resources, such as Social Security and pensions. As a result, the State agency's Federal claim was overstated by a total of $48,000 ($25,000 Federal share). We attributed the incorrect Medicaid payments to clerical and billing errors.
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OIG planned projects.
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Significant OIG activities in 6-month increments.


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2269 Foye Street
Dubuque, Iowa, 52001
Commute to Downtown Dubuque
Most errands require a car.
About your score
2269 Foye Street has a Walk Score of 41 out of 100. This location is a Car-Dependent neighborhood so most errands require a car.
This location is in Dubuque. Nearby parks include Madison Park, Comiskey Field and Rock Bowl Stadium.
Explore how far you can travel by car, bus, bike and foot from 2269 Foye Street.
View all Dubuque apartments on a map.
This location is in the city of Dubuque, IA. Dubuque has an average Walk Score of 40 and has 57,637 residents.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Consensus Report
Climate Data Records from Environmental Satellites: Interim report (2004)Board on Atmospheric Sciences and Climate
Each report is produced by a committee of experts selected by the Academy to address a particular statement of task and is subject to a rigorous, independent peer review; while the reports represent views of the committee, they also are endorsed by the Academy. Learn more on our expert consensus reports.
The report outlines key elements to consider in designing a program to create climate-quality data from satellites. It examines historical attempts to create climate data records, provides advice on steps for generating, re-analyzing, and storing satellite climate data, and discusses the importance of partnering between agencies, academia, and industry. NOAA will use this report -- the first in a two-part study -- to draft an implementation plan for climate data records.
Key Messages
- A high-level leadership council within NOAA is needed to oversee the process of creating climate data records from satellite data.
- A long-term commitment of resources should be made to the generation and archival of CDRs and associated documentation and metadata.
- An advisory council is needed to provide input to the process on behalf of the climate research community and other stakeholders.
- An ongoing program of correlative in situ measurements is required to validate TCDRs.
- Each fundamental CDR (FCDR) should be created by a specifically appointed team of CDR experts.
- FCDRs must be generated with the highest possible accuracy and stability.
- Provisions should be included to receive feedback from the scientific community.
- Resources should be made available for reprocessing the CDRs as new information and improved algorithms are available, while also maintaining the forward processing of data in near real time.
- Science teams should be formed within broad disciplinary theme areas to prescribe algorithms for the thematic CDRs (TCDRs) and oversee their generation.
- Sensors must be thoroughly characterized before and after launch, and their performance should be continuously monitored throughout their lifetime.
- Sensors should be thoroughly calibrated, including nominal calibration of sensors in orbit, vicarious calibration with in situ data, and satellite-to-satellite cross-calibration.
- TCDRs should be selected based on well-defined criteria established by the Advisory Council.
- Validated TCDRs must have well-defined levels of uncertainty.
- Based on these historical lessons, community surveys, a workshop, and committee expertise, the committee identified 14 key elements for creating a climate data record program based mainly on satellites. Adherence to these elements would help NOAA to create CDRs that are accepted as community standards, while ensuring that they remain responsive to user needs.
- TCDRs.


text: Thanks for all the words of encouragement, it really does make me feel a lot better. I know that she is "thriving" and the Dr. does too, he was just concerned that if her body wasn't growing, her brain wouldn't be either. I will post an update after next week's weight check. But thank you again for the support.


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The Phillies have been trying to acquire Young for over a year, and it appears that they have finally completed a deal involving to RH relievers with live arms in Josh Lindblom and Lisalverto Bonilla.
Michael Young (36) has a long list of past accolades but they mean little now on the field as he is well into his decline phase. At the plate Young will provide a good amount of contact but there is little power or walk ability to supplement. At one point in his career Young was a good baserunner but at this point he is below average and is merely a station to station runner. In the field Young isn't good let alone average at anywhere other than DH, but he can play third base and that is where the Phillies intend to play him full time. The Rangers are paying $10 million of Young's $16 million 2013 salary.
Josh Lindblom (25) was acquired from the Dodgers in the Victorino trade along with Ethan Martin. Lindblom is a live armed reliever with a mid-90s fastball and slurvy breaking ball. Lindblom profiles as a middle reliever and his future in the big leagues is contingent on getting his home run tendencies under control..
Lisalverto Bonilla (22) was the Phillies #12 prospect going into 2012, and he proceeded to dominate out of the bullpen before getting an invite to Futures Game where a self inflicted injury ended his season. Out of the bullpen Bonilla has a plus fastball and plus to plus plus change up to along with an average breaking ball. If he stays in the bullpen he could be ready as a late inning reliever as soon as 2013. If he returns to the rotation he has the ceiling of a mid rotation starter but there are some injury and size concerns about his future as a starter.
This seems like a lot to give up for a barely above replacement level player, especially if the Rangers put Bonilla back in the rotation. However, despite the overpay the Phillies have not significantly weakened themselves as the system is flush with RH relievers.


text:
Customer Reviews
All reviews are from people who have redeemed deals with this merchant.
What You'll Get
The Deal
- $9.99 for an online psychic-medium certification course ($150 value)
To begin a career as a professional psychic medium, students can take this course to learn how to perform readings with clients. The course teaches students how to connect to spirits and read spirit symbolism, what it takes to deliver a professional reading, the ethics of the profession, and how to keep the ego in check. The certification course can help clients gain the knowledge and skills towards a career as a psychic-medium.
The Fine Print
Promotional value expires 180 days after purchase. Amount paid never expires. May buy multiple. Online only. Merchant is solely responsible to purchasers for the care and quality of the advertised goods and services.
About Learn It Live
Psychic prediction. Heart-healthy cooking. New-language skills. The secrets of the universe are at your fingertips thanks to Learn It Live, the social learning platform whose comprehensive online classes cover subjects ranging from astrology and holistic medicine to wildlife rescue and international politics. Each class is led by one of Learn It Live's hundreds of experts, with lessons delivered in the form of live, interactive video content within the site's virtual classroom. Each class is also recorded, allowing students to catch up on notes or replay pertinent lecture passages whenever they want.
Much of Learn It Live's content centers on spirituality and self-improvement, with popular classes imparting wisdom on such topics as reading unseen auras and unlocking the healing power of crystals. In addition to more esoteric topics, classes cover real-world health issues. These include lessons on completing a master cleanse or using essential oils on more than just the Slip 'N Slide.


text:
DM4003, New November 2008
Ballard Local Government Series
This manual is, first and foremost, the work of the late John Ballard. This edition would not be possible without the original manual that John conceived and wrote. One mark of John's authorship is his use of stories to teach. Several of those stories are included here, as John wrote them.
The effort to update John's work depends on many people. First, John's family led the effort by making his work available to MU Extension. The Local Government Resource Group (LGRG) within the Community Development Program worked diligently to provide the updates necessary to reflect changes since the first edition, and devoted many hours to editing, creating and reviewing this edition. The LGRG members are Ron Higginbotham, community development specialist, Boone County (retired); Julianne Stone, director, Local Government Partnership, St. Louis; Tony DeLong, MU council relations, Tri-Lakes Telecommunication Community Resource Center (TCRC), Stone County; Judith Stallmann, professor, community development extension, agricultural economics, rural sociology and public affairs, MU; and the late Eber Cude, co-editor of this edition, formerly local government and community development specialist, Pulaski County. Eber devoted his career to assisting local governments in Missouri and his untimely death is a loss that will be felt by his colleagues and all those he served. We also thank MU Extension Publications, particularly George Laur, Amy Spindler and Dennis Murphy.
Practitioners of local government across Missouri also contributed to the update: Rick Purdon, former mayor of Laurie; C.J Dykehouse, Boone County counselor; Kevin O'Keefe, principal, Curtis, Heinz, Garrett, and O'Keefe P.C.; and Gary Markenson, executive director of the Missouri Municipal League. Many others provided advice and comments that greatly improved the quality of the update. We express our deepest appreciation to all who contributed to the work. They provided the quality, any errors are ours alone.
We hope this effort is useful to those who make city government work. This material is current through August 2008. However, laws change and errors slip into even the best efforts. Always check for updates and changes since publication. The following is a list of useful websites for this purpose:
Order publications online at http://extension.missouri.edu/explore/shop/ or call toll-free 800-292-0969.


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Po Box 156, New Madrid, Missouri 63869
Total inspections: 1
Last inspection: Jan. 19, 2006
Classification: Electric Services
Last enforcement: Unknown
Formal enforcement: 0
Informal enforcement: 0
This facility has been out of regulatory compliance 3 of the past 12 quarters.
View detailed information from the Environmental Protection Agency. Note: There are no mandated limits for power plant discharges into waterways for many common chemicals such as arsenic, lead and mercury. However some facilities are monitored for these pollutants by state regulators and report the findings to the E.P.A.


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The Blackwell Guide to Medical Ethics
The Blackwell Guide to Medical Ethics
ISBN: 978-1-405-12583-3 January 2007 Wiley-Blackwell 452 Pages
In Stock
DescriptionThe Blackwell Guide to Medical Ethics is a guide to the complex literature written on the increasingly dense topic of ethics in relation to the new technologies of medicine.
- Examines the key ethical issues and debates which have resulted from the rapid advances in biomedical technology
- Brings together the leading scholars from a wide range of disciplines, including philosophy, medicine, theology and law, to discuss these issues
- Tackles such topics as ending life, patient choice, selling body parts, resourcing and confidentiality
- Organized with a coherent structure that differentiates between the decisions of individuals and those of social policy.
Introduction: Rosamond Rhodes (Mount Sinai School of Medicine), Leslie P. Francis (University of Utah) and Anita Silvers (San Francisco State University).
Part I: Individual Decisions About Clinical Issues.
I.1: Patient Decisions.
1. Autonomy, the Good Life and Controversial Choices: Julian Savulescu (University of Oxford).
2. Individual Responsibility and Reproduction: Rachel A. Ankeny (University of Sydney).
3. Patient and Family Decisions about Life-Extension and Death: Felicia Nimue Ackerman (Brown University).
I.2: Individual Decisions of Physicians and Other Health Care Professionals.
4. The Professional Responsibilities of Medicine: Rosamond Rhodes (Mount Sinai School of Medicine).
5. Truth telling: Roger Higgs (Emeritus, King's College, London).
6. Medical Confidentiality: Kenneth Kipnis (University of Hawaii at Manoa).
7. Patient Competence and Surrogate Decision-Making: Dan W. Brock (Harvard Medical School).
8. Ending Life: F.M. Kamm (Harvard University).
9. Discrimination in Medical Practice: Justice and the Obligations of Health Care Providers to Disadvantaged Patients: Leslie P. Francis (University of Utah).
10. Institutional Practices, Ethics, and the Physician: Mary V. Rorty (Stanford University), Ann E. Mills (University of Virginia), and Patricia H. Werhane (DePaul University).
Part II: Legislative and Judicial Decisions About Social Policy.
II.2: Liberty.
11. Reproductive Choice: Rebecca Bennett (University of Manchester) and John Harris (University of Manchester).
12. Public Policy and Ending Lives: Evert van Leeuwen (Vrije Universiteit Medisch Centrum), and Gerrit Kimsma (Vrije Universiteit Medisch Centrum).
13. Drug Legalization: Douglas N. Husak (Rutgers University).
14. Selling Organs, Gametes, and Surrogacy Services: Janet Radcliffe Richards (University College, London).
15. The Patient as Victim and Vector: The Challenge of Infectious Disease for Bioethics: Margaret P. Battin (University of Utah), Leslie P. Francis (University of Utah), Jay A. Jacobson (University of Utah), Charles B. Smith (Emeritus, University of Utah).
16. Uses of Science in Medical Ethics: Glenn McGee (Albany Medical College) and Dyrleif Bjarnadóttir.
11.2: Justice.
17. Allocation of Scarce Resources: Paul Menzel (Pacific Lutheran University).
18. Just Caring: The Challenges of Priority-Setting in Public Health: Leonard M. Fleck (Michigan State University).
19. Justice and the Financing of Health Care: Stephen R. Latham (Quinnipiac University).
20. Judgment and Justice: Evaluating Health Care for Chronically Ill and Disabled Patients: Anita Silvers (San Francisco State University).
21. Justice in Research on Human Subjects: David R. Buchanan (National Cancer Institute, Bethesda), and Franklin G. Miller (National Institutes of Health, Bethesda).
22. Ethics of Disclosure Following a Medical Injury: Time for Reform?: Troyen Anthony Brennan (Emeritus, Harvard Medical School).
23. Pre-existing Conditions: Genetic Testing, Causation and the Justice of Medical Insurance: Robert T. Pennock (Michigan State University).
- Examines the key ethical issues and debates which have resulted from the rapid advances in biomedical technology
- Brings together the leading scholars from a wide range of disciplines, including philosophy, medicine, theology, and law, to discuss these issues
- All authors are acknowledged leaders in the field of medical ethics from the US, Australia, the UK, and the Netherlands
- Tackles such topics as ending life, patient choice, selling body parts, resourcing and confidentiality
- Organized with a coherent structure that differentiates between the decisions of patients, professionals, and social policy.


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It was a routine FedEx delivery, the kind that takes place millions of times a day. Then driver Darius Simmons, dropping off a package in Winston-Salem, N.C., on July 18, noticed the elderly recipient's signature. "John Johnson," he said. "My father's name was John Johnson." The man peered back at Simmons, 37, and asked him where he grew up and who he was. Simmons responded, and then Johnson, 74, said, "David, is that you?"
"I knew he was my father as soon as he said my nickname," says Simmons, who realized he was suddenly face-to-face with the man his mother had told him was dead. "Nobody calls me David but my immediate family."
Simmons's mother, Dorothy, who died in 1980, had broken off contact with Johnson around the time Darius, their only child, was taking his first steps. Johnson tried to maintain a relationship with his son, "but she wouldn't let me see him," he recalls. "So I thought, 'Well, there's no use in me keep coming around here.' " Instead, Johnson moved to Washington, D.C., where he worked as a bank courier. He returned to Winston-Salem after he retired in 1991 and was told Dorothy had died and Darius had left town.
In fact Simmons had stayed in the area most of his life, spending three years in the Army before joining Federal Express in 1996. He was delivering a glucose monitor to Johnson, who has diabetes, the day they met. After his shift ended, Simmons and his wife, Cleopatra, 33, who is expecting their first child this month, returned to Johnson's apartment, where they admired pictures of his many children and grandchildren from other relationships. In the midst of all the photos were three tattered Polaroids of a chubby-faced Darius Simmons when he was about 1. "I carried those in my wallet until they about fell apart," Johnson told him. "I never forgot about you."


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Giving Testosterone Levels a Boost
By Kyl Smith, DC
In an analysis of more than 7,000 blood tests, one source reported, "More than 80% of men tested had less than optimal testosterone blood levels."1 ABC News, quoting the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, stated, "1 in 4 Men Over 30 Has Low testosterone."2-3 Conservatively, this translates to more than 16 million men suffering with less than optimal testosterone in the United States today.4
A man suffering with "low normal" testosterone typically experiences mild to moderate fatigue, lethargy, tiredness and/or sapped motivation that just won't go away. Men contribute largely to the success of the "energy drink market," as they continually seek some form of artificial energy boost like caffeine throughout the day to attempt to feel "normal." Other symptoms of low testosterone are weight gain – especially abdominal fat, sagging physical stamina, loss of muscle tone, mild depression or mood swings.
The good news is that naturally enhancing this core hormone quickly and positively revitalizes every aspect of what it is to be a man, benefiting protein synthesis, enhancing skeletal muscle mass and bone density, and revitalizing mood, motivation, physical stamina; as well as improving cognitive functions like memory, mental performance and speed of reaction. In more subjective terms – restoring testosterone makes a man feel like he did when he was younger, more energetic, and vibrant.
More Science-Based "Low Normal" Testosterone Facts
Defining "Healthy" Testosterone
Multiple peer-reviewed papers state that "testosterone deficiencies" are more prevalent and "desirable testosterone" levels in men are actually much higher than what is currently being considered as "normal" in doctors' practices across the country. Case in point: A cross-sectional study of Swedish men ages 69 to 80 years showed the risk for premature death from any cause26 and the risk for suffering a major cardiovascular event27 were inversely correlated with the total serum testosterone concentration (i.e., the higher the testosterone levels, the lower the risk of death).
Specifically with regards to cardiovascular events, men in the highest quartile of testosterone (at or higher than 550 ng/dL) had a lower risk of cardiovascular events compared with men with lower testosterone.27
More importantly, details from this study show that it did not matter if a man's total testosterone was very low (below 340 ng/dL ) or moderately low (up to 549 ng/dL ) – all men with T levels below 549 ng/dL had a similar increased risk for suffering a cardiovascular event. Only when total testosterone exceeded 550 ng/dL did cardiovascular risk drop.
This is truly alarming, as cardiovascular disease is the No. 1 killer of men in the United States and even more – this study was published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. These researchers documented a 30 percentreduction in cardiovascular events as well as a decrease in cerebrovascular disease incidence. Men with the highest total testosterone had a 24 percent reduced risk of transient ischemic attack or full-blown stroke.27 Clearly, based on this study, the only target for "healthy testosterone" is to maintain total testosterone at or above 550 ng/dL.
As a health care practitioner, please note the following:
Stress / Cortisol: The "Testosterone Switch"
Acting through the classic glucocorticoid receptor, cortisol directly inhibits testosterone production in testicles by Leydig cells.38-40 The cortisol-receptor complex suppresses testosterone synthesis via inhibition of the expression of the steroidogenic acute regulatory protein – the very first step in testosterone synthesis.41 Even worse, hypercortisolemia inhibits testosterone synthesis,38-44 reduces the total testosterone concentration38-44 and accelerates the apoptosis (cell death) of Leydig cells.44 This is alarming because it means:
So, controlling hypercortisolemia is the key to generating healthy testosterone now and protecting testicular Leydig cells so they can continue to do their job and make testosterone in the future.
Cortisol Stimulates the Activity of the Aromatase Complex
Even worse (if there can be such a thing), cortisol stimulates the activity of the aromatase complex in human male fibroblasts and adipocytes in fat deposits throughout the body.45-48 Through this separate mechanism (completely different from inhibition of testosterone synthesis and secretion via Leydig cells, as just described), hypercortisolemia increases the conversion of circulating testosterone into estradiol, increases the serum estradiol concentration, decreases the serum total testosterone concentration, and increases the ratio of the serum estradiol concentration to the serum total testosterone concentration in men.38-40,42,43,45-48
Acute Stress Increases Cortisol, Decreases Testosterone
Acute stress, whether psychological (mentally stressed at work, finances, home, family, etc.) or the result of a physical challenge (surgery, injury or intense exercise), induces a significant increase in cortisol secretion in healthy men.49-50 For example, healthy men participating in a simulated job interview followed by a mental arithmetic test (real-world experiences designed to generate acute psychological stress), experienced a rapid significant increase in serum cortisol concentrations.51
Stress-induced elevations in serum cortisol concentration are associated with rapid declines in testosterone production by Leydig cells in the testicles.40 When male members of the ground crew of military aircraft were passengers on an acrobatic flight, they experienced acute anxiety that was accompanied by increased serum cortisol concentrations and decreased serum total testosterone concentrations.52 Similarly, young men about to board an aircraft for their first skydiving attempt (a purely psychological stressor) experienced an acute increase in cortisol concentration and an acute decrease in total testosterone concentration.53
During exposure to spontaneously occurring workplace psychological stress, 51-year-old men exhibited significantly decreased serum total testosterone concentrations.54 Healthy men receiving painful electrical shocks also experienced an acute increase in cortisol concentration and an acute decrease in total testosterone concentration.55
Editor's note: Look for part 2 of this article, in which Dr. Smith discusses treatment strategies for combating low normal testosterone, in an upcoming issue of DC.
Dr. Kyl Smith, 1993 graduate of Parker College of Chiropractic, is the director of education for Progressive Laboratories.


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When consumers have more money they buy more clothes. That sounds like a truism, but it's an economic reality that can be tracked on charts showing world GDP growth. The National Cotton Council's Gary Adams talked about the prospects for Real GDP growth in 2012 and what it could mean for cotton consumption in a presentation at the Economic Symposium at this year's Beltwide Cotton Conferences.
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Marketing Recruitment Agency Somerset
CV Screen is a leading marketing recruitment agency which recruits in Somerset and throughout the UK.
Established in 2000, we have built up a large database of marketing professionals in the Somerset area, and our experienced recruiters are able to source highly skilled marketing staff for your business.
Our permanent placement fees of 12.5% of the basic salary are excellent value within the marketplace and we also offer a 100% rebate for 100 days to provide you with added peace of mind when you are recruiting.
Our Consultants recruit for both Agency and Client side roles and recruit across a wide range of marketing related roles including: Brand Management, Creative, Digital, CRM, Marcoms, SEO and eCommerce.
We pride ourselves on our honest, ethical and professional approach to recruitment and have successfully recruited for over 1500 companies in the UK including household names such as Mamas & Papas, Links of London and Red Bull.
Why not call us on 0845 200 8170 to discuss how we can assist you to recruit within your marketing department.
Register a CVMore Info >
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Local OfficeCV Screen Ltd
0845 200 8170
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Digital Marketing ExecutiveA Digital Marketing Executive with strong Digital campaign management and SEO is required by our client based in Harrogate, North Yorkshire.The Digital Marketing Executive w … more
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Graduate Sales Associate – Events & Sponsorship Calling on all graduates looking to take their first step into industry with a role that exposures you to events, networking, marketing and … more


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MATTOON, Ill., March 1, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The board of directors of Consolidated Communications Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq:CNSL) has declared its regular quarterly dividend of $0.38738 per share on the company's common stock. The dividend is payable on May 1, 2013 to stockholders of record on April 15, 2013.
About Consolidated
Consolidated Communications Holdings, Inc. is a leading communications provider within its six state operations of California, Illinois, Kansas, Missouri, Pennsylvania and Texas. Headquartered in Mattoon, IL, the Company has been providing services in many of its markets for over a century. With one of the highest quality networks in the industry, the Company offers a wide range of communications services, including IP-based digital and high definition television, high speed internet, Voice over IP, carrier access, directory publishing and local and long distance service.
CONTACT: Matt Smith Treasurer & VP of Investor Relations 217-258-2959 email@example.com:Consolidated Communications Holdings, Inc.


text:
Fits waist 48-53cm (18-19 inches)
The last Sugar Plum Fairy Tutu was sold. Kind of by accident really. I liked it so much, I made another!
Tagged with: tutus
I'm very happy for you to use content from this site. Please respect the work that has gone into putting it together by providing a credit and a link.
Likewise, if you see anything on this site that is yours and is missing a credit, please drop me a line and let me know!
keeping track
tag cloudadult items baby items bag baking beads bedouin book boxes boys bunny cairo children's items christmas cotton crochet day dreaming decorations details dress elephant embroidery environment exhibition fabric feather flower hair accessories house items Mr S paper paris project mozzah scraps sewing shop shop bought shopping silk skirt stuffed animals stuffed toys transfers tutus wool workspace
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scrumptious places


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XFX HD Radeon 6790 Review
AMD is continuing to push lower and lower on the scale of new GPUs. The Barts core used on the 6870 and 6850 has been chopped up further to make the 6790s, perhaps by quality binning and using cores that couldn't pass as a full Barts core. Early speculation thought unlocking the core to the equivalent of a 6870 or 6850 was possible but AMD has said that the sections were physically cut and unlocking is impossible. Whether or not the 6790s can be unlocked or not remains to be seen for sure. The core has over 1.7 billion transistors on a 40nm fabrication node attached to the PCB with a 256-bit memory bus and 1GB of GDDR5. The clock speed has been increased on this core to 840 MHz core and 1050 MHz memory for factory reference. 800 Shaders are enabled on the core. The paper specifications are very similar to the prior generation's 5770.
The card under review here is from XFX and is set for stock clocks. The card features dual PCIe power connections and a dual-fan heat sink with three heat pipes with direct contact. The outputs are compromised of two DVI ports (one of which is VGA), two mini DisplayPorts and an HDMI port.
Closer Look:
The box from XFX is similar to their other offerings in dimensions. The box is predominately black and red with two red blower motors (although the card uses fan impellers not blower motors). The front is plenty descriptive of the main features. PCIE 2.1, 1GB GDDR5 memory, dual-fans, et cetera. Rotating to the back side lists the specifications and features very well, covering most of the important details. The middle explains some of AMD's video technology like Eyefinity for multiple screens, DirectX 11 support, HD3D 3D gaming and accelerated parallel processing APP technology. The bottom reiterates many of the features listed to the left and on the front. Most everything is listed except the speeds but most consumers wouldn't be interested in that anyway unless looking for an overclocked card.
The first side has AMD and XFX's logos and web address and explains Stereoscopic 3D gaming at length. The main information is that 3D glasses and hardware are needed to game in 3D. They also suggest visiting www.ddd.com for middleware support. The other side is virtually the same except it has bubbled information where the 3D information was on the other side.
The first long side has the least information on it out of all the sides but is still nicely decorated and has the card model and brand on it. The last side has the barcodes and system requirements, included components, suggested usage, and a few of the capabilities of the card listed. The card is also RoHS and FCC compliant. A proof of purchase is located at the bottom right corner.
The standard XFX black box is inside of the main packaging. The design is always the same except for the dimensions which change slightly for each card model. The company website www.xfxforce.com and company logo are printed on the top. Opening the box reveals a tray holding the manuals, power supply advertisement, driver disk. There are usually some accessories but this card has none.
Removing the tray and paperwork shows the video card in its antistatic bag. The box has been designed to fit around the card shape decently. It also provides a good amount of structural protection with three layers of cardboard between the outside world and the card. The box is even formed around the PCIe slot and the I/O bracket!
Four very similar papers are included in the accessories: graphics drivers, quick install, driver guides, and warranty information. They all match each other except for the words on the front and the contents. Also the driver packet has a notch at the top to aid in pulling the disk out. An advertisement for the XFX PRO series PSUs is also included to show off their designs. There is also a door hanger with a World War 2 theme except these Zeros have XFX logos on them. Flipping the door hanger over shows the serial number and warranty information for the video card.
With everything unpacked and detailed, it is time to move on and get a closer look at the card itself.


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'RV Doctor' Bunzer to Debut Online Newsletter
May 2, 2011 by RVBusiness · 1 Comment
The first issue issue of a monthly online newsletter by Gary Bunzer, the "RV Doctor," will debut May 25 to more than 7,000 RVers.
"The RV Doctor Newsletter" will include tech tips from Bunzer, answers to questions from readers and a short video of some aspect of RV repair and maintenance. The newsletter will be produced by RVtravel.com, which has issued a popular weekly online newsletter since 2001 with approximately 250,000 readers a month, according to a news release.
A limited number of advertising positions are available within the new newsletter. Each will consist of a headline, graphic and 50-60 words of copy, along with a link.
"These pull at least 50 to 100 times better than a banner," said RVtravel.com Publisher Chuck Woodbury, who can provide more information. Email him at email@example.com .
Bunzer has served the RV industry since 1968 and continues to author technical articles, troubleshooting tips, installation guides and owners' manuals for RV owners, suppliers and manufacturers. He writes and edits textbooks and curriculum materials for Recreation Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA) and the Recreation Vehicle Dealers Association (RVDA.
His column, "The RV Doctor," has been in continuous monthly publication for more than 35 years. Bunzer is also the author of Woodall's RV Owner's Handbook, a popular, do-it-yourself manual. In 2009, Bunzer was awarded the National Education Service Award by RVIA for his many contributions to RV technical education.
Bunzer is one of the RV industry's most sought after speakers at both the trade and consumer levels.


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Arsene Wenger's team need a miracle in Munich to qualify for the quarter-finals after being completely outclassed by the German giants in their home leg on Tuesday evening
Toni Kroos and Thomas Muller put the 2012 runners-up two goals ahead after 20 minutes but Lukas Podolski gave the hosts hope with a 55th minute reply.
Just when Arsenal were starting to gain a foothold in the match as they searched for the equaliser, Mario Mandzukic luckily looped the ball over the line with 13 minutes left to re-establish the German side's dominance.
The Frenchman had recalled his big guns as he made seven changes from the team that were dumped out of the FA Cup by Blackburn Rovers at the weekend, with Theo Walcott spearheading the attack in place of the axed Olivier Giroud.
Arsenal came flying out of the starting blocks as they took the game to Bayern but the visitors dealt them a crushing blow after seven minutes with a slickly-constructed opening goal.
Dozy defending from the hosts allowed Thomas Muller's mis-hit cross from the right flank to be seized upon by Kroos on the edge of the penalty area. The 23-year-old demonstrated terrific technique to smash the fizzing cross into the ground and over Wojciech Szczesny into the goal.
|COMMENT: Arsenal at crisis point as Wenger plays same old broken record
Daniel van Buyten latched on to a near-post corner to flash a header straight at Szczesny, who should have done better than weakly parry the ball barely a yard in front of him. While the red-and-white shirts crammed into the six-yard box barely moved, Muller pounced to prod the ball home.
With just 20 minutes of the tie played, Arsenal found themselves teetering on the brink of a Champions League exit.
Wenger's team were shell-shocked at going two goals down and struggled to mount an attack of note in the remainder of the opening period against one of the meanest defences in Europe.
A combination of jeers and silence from the home support greeted the half-time whistle but Wenger's team talk did not appear to have much initial effect as the second period carried on from where the first had finished.
In the 55th minute, Arsenal tip-toed back into the game as Bayern conceded a goal that was even softer than the second of the match.
After winning a fortuitous corner, Jack Wilshere's curled ball was inexplicably allowed to travel into the path of Podolski, who directed it over an unmanned line with what appeared to be his shoulder.
Finally, die Roten had conceded a goal after 664 minutes of shutting out their opponents. Finally, Arsenal had some momentum.
Substitute Giroud nearly scored with his first touch after seizing open a fabulous cross from Walcott but, with 13 minutes remaining, Bayern re-established their two-goal advantage.
More hideous defending from the home team allowed a drilled cross from Phillip Lahm to fizz across the box and, in what seemed like slow motion, Mandzukic beat Bacary Sagna to the cross to send the ball looping cruelly over Szczesny and into the net.
The Gunners will now have to overturn a two-goal deficit, with Bayern enjoying three away goals to their name, when the sides meet for the second leg at the Allianz Arena on March 13.


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warthog1 wrote:Wow, I didn't know it changed that much from fit to relatively unfit
I know nothing about power and training though
Well in my case it involved a lay off of 12 months from riding due to a confluence of factors, and probably 18-20 months away from any serious training, as well as being substantially heavier than when race fit.
It's an exercise physiology principle known as reversibility. IOW you will lose training induced adaptations if the training stimulus stops or is insufficient to maintain your current level.
For a trained racing athlete that trains all year but has peak fitness periods, then their threshold power will typically vary by ~ 10% from general to peak fitness during a season.
12 weeks after ceasing training, VO2max in highly trained endurance athletes can decline by 15-20%.


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The New York Irish Center has announced the return of our Tír na nÓg Children's Summer Festival a two-week long celebration of youth, Irish heritage culture, and arts.
Ireland is an island of mystic steeped in a wealth of history, mythology, legends, and
folklore. For centuries now, these invaluable stories, woven in our cultural heritage, have been passed down from generation to generation by seancaithe agus sceala (storytellers).
The New York Irish Center feels it is of paramount importance to Ireland's rich cultural heritage, that these verbal treasures continue to be passed down to tomorrow's generation on both sides of the Atlantic.
To make this possible the New York Irish Center is reopening its doors to 30 lucky children between 5 and 10 years old for ten full days of exploring Irish culture, heritage, myths and legends though Irish dance, traditional tin-whistling and music, mythological-drama, and ancient visual arts.
The Tír na nÓg Festival is uniquely designed so that all children participate in all four key elements of the festival every day between 10am-4pm, with plenty of breaks and games in between, Monday-Friday 15th-26th July at the New York Irish Center. This year they will also have an early drop off/late pick up facility for parents.
This festival gives children an opportunity to fully embrace, experience and understand these key elements of Irish culture, to stimulate their mind, build on their skills and confidence and provide them with knowledge of key components of Irish myth and legends, in a non-school-like, creative environment. Every year the Festival has an overall theme that children explore, and this year our theme is based on one of Ireland's oldest legends "Clann Lir" ("The Children of Lir").
The New York Irish Center is thrilled to announce that the Tír na nÓg Festival will be lead by professional, friendly and very accomplished teaching artists such a Niall O Leary (Irish dance), Christel Rice (tin whistle), Vera Doherty(visual arts) and Jane Mc Carter (drama). These professional Irish artists are in high demand in the New York area and much further afield, so to have all four leading and teaching at our Tír na nÓg for two full weeks is a major opportunity for 30 lucky children.
On Friday the 26th of July the Tír na nÓg Festival will invite family and friends along to view our Festival Finale Showcase where all participants will showcase their newly acquired skills in dance, tin whistle and drama, and exhibit the festival artwork.
Places are filling up fast so to secure your child's place go on to www.nyirish.org and follow instructions on Festival link. For more information please call Jane on 718-482-0909 or email firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Academic Standards
View By-Law Number 8, Academic Success.
Note that By-Law Number 8 replaces the previous Standing and Advancement policy (Policy Number: 7210-7). However, students with a full-time status in Winter 2016 returning to study at Vanier in Fall 2016 retain all probation conditions under the previous Standing and Advancement policy.


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LED Light Bulbs Lighting
We carry various types of LED light bulbs including E27 socket found on most USA homes, GU10 found in tracking lighting, MR16 found in track lighting using low voltage, PAR38 used in outside lighting, PAR20, PAR30 used in spot light applications in ceilings.
What does PAR mean? The number beside PAR is a measurement that describes the diameter of the PAR lamp or bulb. To figure out the diameter, divide the number next to PAR by eight.
Example: PAR38 Light bulb has diameter of 4.75 Inches
New Products For December - LED Light Bulbs
Copyright © 2018 PLASMA LEDSSUPERBRIGHT.COM. Powered by LEDsSuperBright


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Transform your photos into one-of-a-kind, hand painted masterpieces!
The watermark in the lower right corner of the image will not appear on the final print.
Blueberry Pie by Elena Elisseeva - 10.000" x 6.625"
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Framed Print
Blueberry Pie framed print by Elena Elisseeva. Bring your print to life with hundreds of different frame and mat combinations. Our framed prints are assembled, packaged, and shipped by our expert framing staff and delivered "ready to hang" with pre-attached hanging wire, mounting hooks, and nails.
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2 - 3 business days
Fine Art America offers over 250 different frames at wholesale prices.
Fine Art America is one of the largest, most-respected custom framers in the world. We stock over 250 different frames which can be used to create museum-quality masterpieces from any print. All framed prints are assembled, packaged, and shipped by our expert framing staff within 3 - 4 business days and arrive "ready to hang" with pre-attached hanging wire, mounting hooks, and nails. Our wholesale buying power allows us to offer frame prices which are typically 25 - 40% less than retail frame shops.
Average Rating (4.94 Stars):
Denny Chiu
December 9th, 2018
Denny Chiu
December 9th, 2018
Very poor reproduction of painting in Florence; details are lost, especially of the hair. The painting, though ostensibly the reproduction comes from the Bridgeman Art Library, becomes a muddled dark brownish image. Also the image is cropped badly on the left, losing a good part of the sleeve and shoulder of the white garment. Avoid at all cost. I can't believe Fineartamerica is selling this as is.
Suzanne W Trenti
December 9th, 2018
Whole baked blueberry pie with fresh blueberries
Elena Elisseeva is an established professional photographer with unique style and large portfolios of both fine art photographic prints and stock images. Her work appears in numerous print and web publications, including major newspapers and magazines, TV programs and commercials, and advertising from web to billboards around the world. All Elena's images are taken with top of the line professional equipment and comply with highest quality standards. To license Elena's images for commercial use visit www.elenaphoto.com. Follow Elena's photography on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ElenaElisseevaPhotography and Twitter: @elenathewise More about Elena here. Copyright Elena Elisseeva All Rights Reserved. COPYRIGHT NOTICE:...
Our return policy is very simple:
If you're not happy with a purchase that you made on FineArtAmerica.com, for any reason, you can return it to us within 30 days of the order date. As soon as it arrives, we'll issue a full refund for the entire purchase price. Please note - Fine Art America does not reimburse the outgoing or return shipping charges unless the return is due to a defect in quality.
Fine Art America sells thousands of pieces of artwork each month - all with a 100% money-back guarantee. We take great pride in the fact that hundreds of thousands of artists have chosen Fine Art America to fulfill their orders, and we look forward to helping you select your next piece!
All framed prints ship from our production facility within 2 - 3 business days of your order.


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I read that the saints may not be able to retain both if breese doesn't sign and they're forced to use their franchise on him(breese) .
Say we let bowe walk(hope not), franchise Carr, do you think the chiefs are in a position to bid for those players? If bowe does leave what are our options? I havent heard any news the past week about them (Carr/bowe) so I guess I'm just being pessimistic. I am excited about next year though.


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Stylish Laundry Rooms Inspiration Gallery
Most of us (especially those of us with kids) spend more time than we'd like to doing laundry. And yet when it comes to aesthetics, the laundry room is often a neglected corner of the home, precisely because it serves such a practical function. We love laundry rooms where practicality merges beautifully with style.
The laundry room is actually the perfect place to take style risks, since it's almost always a private space where guests are unlikely to go. So why not choose the laundry room for that wacky graphic wallpaper you've been dreaming of, or a DIY stencil project, or a giant blown-up photo from a vacation?
Some of the details pictured in the laundry rooms above are both lovely and functionally clever. The chicken wire cabinet fronts, for example, in the first photo, are cute and rustic, and they also allow easy viewing of the supplies stored within. The first photo in the second row shows a nice little DIY fabric skirt to disguise naked plumbing under the sink.
Here are some ideas for ways to inject style into your laundry area:
• Wallpaper!
• A chandelier or other fancy light fixture
• Artwork (vintage laundry signs are always fun!)
• Cute, colorful storage baskets
• Bold, bright paint
• A graphic rug or mat
• Stenciled paint or a mural (here's your chance to get creative without worrying too much about the perfection of the results!)
How do you style up your laundry room? Please share!
(Images: Washington Post; This Old House; Electrolux; Sarah Richardson Design; Livingetc; Design*Sponge (6 and 7); Material Girls; Dornob; HGTV)


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Todd Kranz Joins Select Sires Inc. as Chief Development Officer
PLAIN CITY, Ohio, September 17, 2012 - Todd Kranz has been named chief development officer at Select Sires Inc. In this position, Kranz will direct and manage revenue generation planning, lead the execution of strategic business and marketing plans and oversee customer service strategies and product management execution.
"I am excited to add Todd's experience and demonstrated success to the tremendous team of leaders at Select Sires," explained David Thorbahn, president and chief executive officer. "Todd has exciting, new ideas that, in combination with the current industry leadership here, will make for a bright future for Select Sires and its customer-owners."
Kranz has a long, successful career in business development leadership. After graduating with distinction from the dairy science honors program at The Ohio State University, Kranz owned and operated a dairy farm in northern Ohio. The farm was later transitioned to a family member, and Kranz began his career in the A.I. industry where he managed local, regional and national sales teams for 22 years. Most recently he was employed by Cargill AgHorizons as the greater Ohio farm service group sales leader. Kranz also has a Master of Science degree in management from the Krannert School of Business at Purdue University.
"I'm glad to be back in the dairy business," said Kranz. "Spending the past two years in the grain merchandising business has allowed me to gain a valuable perspective on the agricultural industry. Additionally, the opportunity to work for one of the largest privately-held firms in the world was a learning experience."
Kranz and his wife Kelly live in Dublin, Ohio, and have two grown children, Ryan and Erin. He is an active member of the Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, where he is a past council president. Kranz is a past board member of the North American Intercollegiate Dairy Challenge and currently serves on the Muirfield Country Club Foundation board of directors. He has been recognized by The Ohio State University College of Food, Agriculture and Environmental Sciences as a recipient of the Meritorious Service to Students award and the Distinguished Alumni award.
Based in Plain City, Ohio, Select Sires Inc. is North America's largest A.I. organization and is comprised of nine farmer-owned and -controlled cooperatives. As the industry leader, it provides highly fertile semen as well as excellence in service and programs to achieve its basic objective of supplying dairy and beef producers with North America's best genetics at a reasonable price.


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This summer, Kids 'R' Kids Learning Academy lights the torch on a day camp concept that is undeniably gold medal-worthy!
The ALL NEW Kids 'R' Kids Summer Games prove the ideal destination for 5 to 12 year old boys and girls.
By providing a global view of Rio 2016™ Olympic Games, campers will experience an interactive peek inside participating countries' cultures, customs, cuisine and more.
Add to that our own unique twist on the games themselves, and campers will experience 10 fabulous weeks designed to instill confidence, encourage teamwork and foster FUN!
After 30 years of providing unforgettable summer camp experiences for children, Kids 'R' Kids has found that whenever you combine physical activity, interactive learning and good old-fashioned fun – everybody WINS!
Opa! We kick off our camp with a virtual visit to where it all began… Ancient Greece. Throughout the week, we'll explore Greek food, fashion, folklore and fun with a unique opportunity for campers to organize their own games and compete for the honor of being crowned champion.
As a four-time host and regular participant in the Summer Olympic Games, it's only fitting that we shift our focus to the good ole USA! In addition to taking part in the fun activities and getting in touch with their "American Pride," campers will become club reporters – covering stories of athletes of previous games and those who aspire to bring home the Gold.
With Rio as host to this year's Summer Olympic Games, we give campers the unique opportunity to experience the rush of the Opening Ceremonies as the world comes together – in true friendship and peace – to play the games. Throughout the week, campers will be introduced to Brazil's distinctive culture with dancing, fun games, and delectable South American flavors.
The week, campers jump a continent to Beijing, China – host of the 2008 Summer Olympics. Here they will find a city filled with delightful architecture, majestic culture, and a rich history of athletes fulfilling dreams of competing on the world stage.
The campers will indulge in a breakfast with some British flare, design an Olympic garden, and experience some of Great Britain's top medaling sports. Through the week, the campers get to become chefs, architects, and athletes – all in one! Grab a front row seat for some of Great Britain's rich culture.
Home to the '92 Barcelona Olympic Games, we head next to Spain to meet Cobi – Barcelona's Olympic mascot, relish in regional food, design Olympic jewelry, create a coat of arms and explore the history of The Running of the Bulls.
As host of the 1960 Summer Olympic Games, we travel to Italy to explore some of the most beautiful palaces on the planet. Throughout the week, campers will construct their own Italian palace, create traditional Italian dishes, design an obstacle course, and visit the one and only FIAT headquarters!
Mexico has such a rich and inviting culture that you can't help but be inspired! That's why the name of the game this week is to create, create, create! Campers will illustrate a Mexican stamp, create their own Mexican inspired taco, orchestrate a rodeo and so much more!
Home to world-class triathletes and marathon runners, campers will be given a chance to break a few Olympic records of their own. They will also have an opportunity to dig deeper into top medaling sports throughout South Africa, while exploring this country's rich culture.
This jam-packed week serves as the finale of an exciting world tour showcasing the host cities and contributing countries of the Olympic Games. As campers work together in the spirit of friendship, they will sponsor venues with flags, mascots, slogans, and colorful team symbols; and will end the summer by organizing their own games created from their imaginary trips around the globe.
Space is Limited - Enroll Today!


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No, You Don't Need Patents To Raise Money
from the exaggerations dept
While some of them are filing for their own patents, a key point was that their investors definitely didn't require it or push them in that direction.
None said their investors had pushed them to file for patents.Even more to the point, investors seem to recognize that patents can take a big chunk of money out of early investment if startups file for a patent. Fortify Ventures managing director Jonathon Perrelli pointed out:
"When they're raising $50,000 to pay for ramen and hosting services and their desks, $15,000 doesn't have to go to intellectual property."The article also asked the startups if they were worried about patent trolls, and, unfortunately, many of the startups seemed fairly naive about the whole thing, suggesting that they're okay since they're not copying anything. That's not how patent law works, of course. Patent trolls pop out of the woodwork claiming you violate some tiny thing all the time. The one company that Pegoraro spoke to that insisted it was impossible that they violated a patent is likely in for a big surprise if it ever gets big enough to attract patent troll attention.


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New employees, positions at the Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa
The Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa has announced some employee appointments.
• Sophie Kruse has been named group sales manager. She was previously working on the sales support team and will now handle the social, military, education and religious markets for the Resort.
• Ellen Lam has been named leisure sales manager, handling leisure and business travel. She has been with the resort for five years as marketing manager.
• Francesca (Ches) Ney has been named group sales manager and will handle the South Carolina and West Coast group markets. She was previously the leisure sales manager at the resort.
• Trish Luckenbill was appointed catering sales manager and will be selling and servicing weddings, social events and local meetings. She was formerly a catering manager with the W hotel in Dallas and has been with Starwood for five years.
• Annette Miller was recently appointed Group Sales Manager, and will handle the northeast market. She was formerly an account manager with the Starwood Atlanta Metro Market and has been with Starwood for more than 10 years.
• Julia Dodson has been named catering sales manager. She has been with the resort for more than five years managing the food and beverage outlets, and now will be selling and servicing weddings, social events and local meetings.
• Lisa Tennison, group sales manager will be taking over the Mid-Atlantic Association and corporate markets. She has been with the resort for eight years and previously handled the Social Market.
Dalbow joins Beaufort Memorial Hospital
Beaufort Memorial welcomes Randy Dalbow, MD, an internal medicine specialist, who is joining Dr. Philip Cusumano at Lady's Island Internal Medicine.
He will begin seeing patients in April.
Dalbow recently moved to Beaufort from Pennsylvania, where he was associated with the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC). From 1998, he served as chairman of UPMC Passavant Continuing Medical Education Committee and Chairman of the Library Committee. Before joining UPMC, Dalbow was in a solo internal medicine practice in Wexford, Pa. During that time, he was also director at Mariner Healthcare in Wexford, a sub-acute facility for post-hospitalization and long-term care nursing home patients.
A native of Pennsylvania, Dalbow received a BS in Chemistry from Gannon University in Erie. He received his medical degree from Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara, Facultad de Medicina in Guadalajara, Mexico. He completed a residency in internal medicine at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh, Pa.
Miles receives national chamber certification
The Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce has announced that president and CEO Bill Miles has earned recertification for his Certified Chamber Executive (CCE) designation.
The certification is the only national one for chamber of commerce executives, bestowed by the American Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE). Miles received his original CCE designation in 2004.
Since the designation's inception in 1972, only 500 chamber executives have earned the designation of certified chamber executive. Recertification takes place every five years and ensures that current CCE recipients have continued in their professional development and their commitment to the chamber industry.
Miles has been with the chamber for 23 years and during that time has become a national leader in the chamber profession. He has served with several community and national organizations and currently serves on the U.S. Chamber of Commerce prestigious Committee of 100.
Locally, Miles serves as secretary of the board of trustees of the Heritage Classic Foundation and is a member of the University of South Carolina Beaufort's partnership board. Miles is past chairman of the Hilton Head Regional Healthcare's board of directors and past chair for Hilton Head Island United Way.


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I have not been to a lot of NFL games. What's a fair price for 2 average tickets to the Super Bowl in Indianapolis? Mulling over hunting a pair down.
Did he just lower his head and ram past you with his titanium hair? Or did he just force his way past you standing completely "erect", as it were?
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DOTS for Braille Literacy (Development of Teacher Support), Volume 15, Number 2, Winter 2010
DOTS (Development of Teacher Support) for Braille Literacy is published three times a year and is available online at www.afb.org/DOTS or in braille, by request.
In this issue...
- Keep in Touch with News
- From the Editor—Quack!
- Request for Research Participants
- Gear Up for Greatness! National Federation of the Blind 2010 Junior Science Academy
- News from The Braille Challenge
- QAQ Resources
- Calendar Dates of Interest
Keep in Touch with News
Since DOTS is published only a few times each year, the announcement of some workshops and events of interest to teachers of students who are blind or visually impaired may slip through the cracks. AFB eNews, and AFB's Professional Development department's newsletter Connections, and the AFB Calendar of Events usually have the latest information on activities. (Register to receive eNews and Connections for free at www.afb.org/myafbnewsletter2.asp.) Also, AFB and the National Association for Parents of Children with Visual Impairments (NAPVI) host a web site where local and national events of interest to families are posted: www.familyconnect.org.
Please make a habit of checking the AFB web site and other web sites and links identified in this newsletter. Perhaps subscribe to an electronic discussion list such as AERnet to keep up with news related to teaching and promoting braille literacy. Connect to www.aerbvi.org and follow the Join AER Listservs link to subscribe to the AER electronic discussion list; you can choose to receive it either as individual e-mail messages or as a digest that includes several messages at one time.
From the Editor—Quack!
"Questions, answers, more questions..." That was part of the title of a presentation at the 2009 Getting In Touch With Literacy conference this past November. Presenters discussing the ABC Braille Project generated the topic, and reading about it reminded me that just when I think I have all the answers, another question pops up. QAQ! (Questions, answers, questions). I wish I had been there to hear the new questions the presenters posed.
I didn't have to "be there" to access the October-November 2009 special issue of the Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness (JVIB). It came to my door. The issue focused on literacy and included more than a dozen articles that provided more "QAQs." The special publication presented topics such as the history of instructional methods in uncontracted and contracted braille, the acquisition of literacy skills by young children who are blind, participation of parents in early exploration of tactile graphics, and a review of research on the literacy of students with visual impairments and additional disabilities.
Ask questions—that's what researchers do. Ask, find answers, then figure out what else we need to know in order to improve literacy. Dr. Tina S. Herzberg, co-author of one of the JVIB articles, is still asking questions about the quality of braille instructional materials transcribed by public school personnel. This time she is focusing on math materials, and would like your help
Children are famous for asking questions, a trait that could well lead them to great things. As you read about the Junior Science Academy at NFB, perhaps you'll think of a budding scientist who will benefit from the program. Maybe you know an aspiring film artist, too, someone who is always imagining how to answer the "what if" question with creativity. The Braille Challenge offers something to spark that student, and they are looking at ways to honor teachers who build such sparks into bonfires of learning.
Maybe QAQ is what keeps teachers growing through the years, too. We enjoy lifelong learning. Sometimes, though, it may be we simply have so much on our minds that we need to ask questions to ensure we relay the right information to our students, their parents, or our co-workers. Help from our peers at the National Braille Association, Hadley School for Professional Studies, or the American Foundation for the Blind is often just a click away.
Perhaps I will travel to at least one of the upcoming conferences in our field listed in the Calendar of Events. They are sure to generate more QAQs, and I may even pose a few questions of my own. I bet I'll even find a few other ducklings in the crowd. Quack!
Request for Research Participants
Dr. Tina Herzberg, University of South Carolina Upstate, and Dr. L. Penny Rosenblum, University of Arizona, are seeking individuals who prepare math materials for tactual learners in preschool through grade 12 to participate in a research study. The purpose of the study is to learn about the background of participants, the ways in which they prepare math materials for tactual learners, and the accuracy of the materials prepared. Potential participants in the study include: teachers of students with visual impairments, paraprofessionals, braillists, transcribers, and others who prepare math materials for tactual learners. Participants must have prepared math materials for tactual learners during the 2007-2008, 2008-2009, and/or 2009-2010 school years.
If interested in participating, visit www.surveymonkey.com/s/WPS5JCD and read a letter of invitation. After giving your consent to participate in the study, you will complete an online demographic survey, select a worksheet to braille and mail to the researchers, and complete the online transcription survey.
You may contact the research coordinators as follows: Dr. Herzberg at 864-503-5572 or by e-mail at firstname.lastname@example.com, or Dr. Rosenblum at 520-621-1223 or by e-mail at firstname.lastname@example.com.
Gear Up for Greatness! National Federation of the Blind 2010 Junior Science Academy
The National Center for Blind Youth in Science (NCBYS), a program of the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) Jernigan Institute, is offering its Science Academy for students in grades three through six. The program was designed to spark and enhance students' interest in scientific study, an academic area often thought to be too difficult for students who are blind. The NCBYS will use hands-on experiences, tactile materials, and interactive activities to expose children to the excitement of science in real-life applications. Parents/chaperones who accompany a student to the NCBYS will participate in related activities during the event.
Applicants can apply for one of the following dates in 2010: Session 1, July 28-August 1 or Session 2, August 4-8. A registration fee of $150.00 will be charged for each accepted student and parent/chaperone pair. The cost of travel, room, board, and program materials will be covered by the NFB Jernigan Institute. Visit www.nfb.org and click on the link to Summer 2010: Junior Science Academy.
News from The Braille Challenge
Regional competitions for The Braille Challenge, an academic competition for braille readers sponsored by Braille Institute, are ending and the finals will be held in Los Angeles, California June 25-26, 2010. Before then, though, The Braille Challenge has two important deadlines to note.
March 26 is the deadline for submitting nominations for The Braille Challenge Teacher of the Year Award. The award honors those who employ innovative teaching strategies for braille literacy, who involve parents and the school community effectively, and whose students have demonstrated success. Professionals from all across the United States and Canada are eligible to be nominated by parents, peers, or administrators. Download and print out the three-page nomination form from the Braille Institute web site at www.brailleinstitute.org/teacher_of_the_year. The winner will be flown to Los Angeles to take part in The Braille Challenge Finals in June and will be a special guest at the gala Awards Ceremony.
April 1 marks the date for Braille Institute's film festival celebrating the abilities of young people who are blind or visually impaired. The festival is called Cinema Without Sight, and it is a showcase for students to share video based on the theme "I Am More Than What I See." Students are invited to make their own movie, from a simple collection of images and scenes to fully scripted, acted and edited films. The top three submissions will be premiered at the Braille Challenge Finals and a top cash prize of $1,000 will be awarded. Download an application from www.braillechallenge.org. It outlines criteria for the work and all contest rules. You may also contact Christine Pak at 1-800-272-4553, extension 1321, or send her an e-mail at firstname.lastname@example.com.
If your students did not participate in a regional Braille Challenge this year and you wonder what the competition is like, visit their web site to see sample challenges from the various categories. The Braille Challenger Newsletter also includes a sample of questions posed to participants in the event.
QAQ Resources
The National Braille Association (NBA) recognizes how difficult it is to learn and/or retain everything there is to know about braille. How should I format the text of a certain kind of document? Where can I find the rule explaining how to...? How would you braille this e-mail address? Should this image be a tactile graphic, and if so, what are your recommendations? Ask An Expert is a forum that allows transcribers and educators to discuss the complexities of formatting braille so it is consistent and provides the greatest possible benefit to students. Visit www.nationalbraille.org and check out the Ask An Expert site.
Hadley School for the Blind provides distance education for individuals worldwide. Their four program areas include Adult Continuing Education, High School, Family Education, and the Hadley School for Professional Studies (HSPS). Among the courses available in the HSPS are Blindness Basics, Social Skills: Foundation Introduction to Braille, Basic Nemeth Code, Abacus 1, The Human Eye, Access Technology: Beginnings, and Independent Living. The HSPS provides a resource for educators to refresh their knowledge or to introduce elements of the profession to administrators or paraprofessionals with whom they work. Visit www.hadley.edu for more information. The Family Education program offers the same courses to assist families in learning about their child with a visual impairment.
FamilyConnect is an online community where families can ask questions about students with visual impairments and get answers from their peers as well as from professionals. Sponsored by American Foundation for the Blind and National Association for Parents of Children with Visual Impairments, the web site offers videos, personal stories, events, announcements, and blogs set up by age ranges—infants and toddlers, preschoolers, grade schoolers, and teenagers. A sample of recent topics includes: tips for travel with a visually impaired child; playing with other children; when other teens are learning to drive and your child isn't; talking to family and friends about your child's visual impairment. The web site is www.familyconnect.org.
Calendar Dates of Interest
- March 22, 2010. San Diego, California. CSUN Annual International Technology and Person with Disabilities Conference. Visit www.csunconference.org for details.
- April 21, 2010. Nashville, Tennessee. Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) Annual Convention and Exposition. The CEC web site www.cec.sped.org has additional information.
- April 23, 2010. Los Angeles, California. Annual Conference of the California Transcribers and Educators for the Blind and Visually Impaired (CTEBVI). Contact CTEBVI at www.ctebvi.org for information on the conference.
- June 25, 2010. Los Angeles, California. The Braille Challenge Finals. Contact Braille Institute for information:
- July 21, 2010. Little Rock, Arkansas. AER International Conference 2010. Visit www.aerbvi.org for details on the conference of the Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired
DOTS (Development of Teacher Support) for Braille Literacy is published three times a year (October, February, and June), and is available online at: www.afb.org/DOTS or in braille, by request. For further information please contact:
DOTS Editor
American Foundation for the Blind
100 Peachtree Street, Suite 620
Atlanta, GA 30303
Telephone: 404-525-2303
Fax: 404-659-6957
E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com
If you would like routinely to receive an e-mail alerting you to the posting of future issues of the DOTS newsletter, please visit www.afb.org/myAFBnewsletter2.asp and follow the instructions there to sign up. You can then log in and update your profile at any time to alert us to changes in your contact information. If you choose not to receive an e-mail notice, you will still be able to access current and archived issues of DOTS online at www.afb.org/DOTS; and if you are a braille format subscriber, you will continue to receive your DOTS newsletter in braille.
Subscribe to the brlhelp-afb electronic discussion list by sending a message to: email@example.com
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Microsoft has been busy polishing up Skydrive. Starting today Skydrive will offer a timeline view of your photos to help you navigate through all your images a little more efficiently.
Skydrive users will also see improvements with respect to upload performance (twice as fast) with the Skydrive desktop app and full resolution uploads from your Windows Phone has become available to all markets.
It may take up to 48 hours to see the changes but the new features for both the desktop app and Windows Phone app helps make Skydrive a great way to back up your photos. The full resolution upload option can be found in the Windows Phone app's setings where you can choose original or resized under "photo upload size".
You can find the free Skydrive app for your Windows Phone here in the Windows Phone Store. You can find the Skydrive desktop app here at Microsoft.
Source: Windows Blog


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One week, Ed Casey is transitioning out as CEO of Serco Inc., the North American portion of the U.K.-based Serco Group, to take on a global initiative for the entire $8 billion company.
And then the next week, he's put in charge of the whole shebang as the parent company's current CEO Christopher Hyman resigned Friday as the company struggles under a pricing scandal for work it has been doing for the British government.
Casey, who was named chief transformation officer for global operations on Oct. 16, has now been tapped as interim CEO in the wake of Hyman's resignation.
The company's board of directors said it will be looking outside the business for a permanent CEO, but I've had sources tell me that even before Hyman's resignation, Casey was on track to be the CEO. Whether the timing is right with this move remains to be seen.
For the U.S. operations, Casey was in the midst of a transition to Dan Allen, who was to become chairman and CEO in early December. That plan is now out the window, with Allen immediately assuming the responsibilities of the CEO post.
Serco Group ran into trouble in its home country over a variety of allegations including fraud in how it managed a prison contract, and over shortcomings in providing doctors for a health care contract.
Hyman said he was resigning to make it easier for the company to get out from under the scandal and restore its reputation. He has been CEO since 2002.
In addition to his resignation, the company has taken other steps such as dividing its U.K. and European businesses and adding more independent board members.
Posted by Nick Wakeman on Oct 25, 2013 at 12:54 PM
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All News Releases By Date
Settlements at South Dakota ethanol facilities ensure air pollutant reductions, yield $225K in penalties
Release Date: 10/01/2010
Contact Information: Richard Mylott, 303-312-6654; Albion Carlson, 303-312-6207
Big Stone, Groton and Dakota Ethanol plants to address emissions and testing requirements for volatile organic compounds
(Denver, Colo. -- October 1, 2010) In consent decrees lodged yesterday in the United States District Court for the District of South Dakota, the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reached agreements with the operators of three South Dakota ethanol production facilities resolving Clean Air Act violations associated with emissions and testing requirements for volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
"EPA expects ethanol production facilities to employ appropriate controls and testing procedures to manage air emissions," said Jim Martin, EPA's regional administrator in Denver. "The volatile organic compounds created in the ethanol refining process can contribute to ground-level ozone and create local and regional health concerns."
As a result of EPA's investigation, the facilities have enhanced existing controls through repair and renovation of thermal oxidizers and improving scrubber operations. They have also agreed to conduct specific performance testing when demonstrating compliance with VOC limits.
EPA alleges that POET and James Valley violated Clean Air Act regulations at the Groton ethanol facility by failing to maintain an internal floating roof on the liquid inside several storage vessels. This roof is designed to inhibit the volatilization of the ethanol in air by remaining in contact with the surface.
EPA also alleges that POET and Northern Lights violated a Clean Air Act operating permit at the Big Stone ethanol facility by exceeding certain VOC emissions limits, conducting invalid testing to demonstrate compliance with VOC emissions limits, and failing to install required monitoring devices. EPA also claims that operators failed to maintain the internal floating roof inside several storage vessels at the Big Stone Facility.
James Valley, Northern Lights and POET have agreed to pay a civil penalty of $150,000 and to remedy deficiencies and adopt approved methods for measuring VOC emissions from the Groton and Big Stone facilities.
In a separate settlement, EPA also announced the resolution of Clean Air Act claims against Dakota Ethanol, LLC at its ethanol production facility near Wentworth.
EPA alleges that Dakota Ethanol violated its permit by exceeding certain VOC emissions limits, conducting inappropriate testing to demonstrate compliance with VOC limits, and failing to conduct required VOC stack testing in a timely manner. EPA also claims operators failed to maintain the internal floating roof on the liquid inside several storage vessels at the plant. Dakota Ethanol will remedy deficiencies, implement appropriate testing methods and pay a civil penalty of $75,000.
All three facilities are dry mill ethanol plants that produce ethanol for use as a fuel. Ethanol is primarily a product of industrial corn and is widely used as an automobile fuel by itself or blended with gasoline. During the ethanol manufacturing process, dry mills burn off gases that emit VOCs into the air. VOCs are precursors to ozone formation and pose risks to human health and the environment.
The proposed settlements are subject to a 30-day public comment period and final court approval. Copies of the consent decrees will be available on the Department of Justice website at http://www.justice.gov/enrd/Consent_Decrees.html.
Search this collection of releases | or search all news releases
View selected historical press releases from 1970 to 1998 in the EPA History website.


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Orchard Park police break up teens' drinking party
About 30 youths aged 17-19 were drinking "a large quantity of alcohol" Friday night in a wooded area on Evergreen Trail, a new street in the Braunview development off Baker Road in Orchard Park, police said.
Police stopped the party just before midnight, confiscated the alcohol and charged Samuel A. Larkin, 18, of Orchard Park with unlawfully dealing alcohol to a minor and possession of alcohol by a person less than 21 years old, according to authorities.
Police think Larkin supplied the party with the alcohol. He is scheduled to appear in court in Orchard Park on July 16.


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LimeWorks.us is a full-service supply company committed to providing the resources you need for performing professional masonry restoration and to build sustainable structures.
Many historic masonry buildings which are over 100 years old are just receiving their first repointing work. These old buildings were usually built with only lime and sand for mortar. The well built historic buildings are considered sustainable due to the longevity of their service as opposed to the waste caused by rapid cycles of obsolescence in buildings such as the modern strip mall.
The details in how all substantial and beautiful historic masonry buildings were made allows many of these old structures to last for centuries and even for millennia throughout the world. Modern Portland cement mortars have had many known failures as a primary or gauged-in binder to lime mortar used in masonry preservation efforts of these old masonry buildings.
However, the correct lime and sand mortar mix has always been very durable and cost effective by achieving its long service life for the buildings they serve. When new mortars with duplicate properties as that of old materials are used to repair and repoint buildings, or to build new ones, then the final life-cycle assessment of the replacement materials will be as equally impressive as that of the historically time-proven materials. Using materials with an outstanding durability in their service life is a property of Green Building Technology.
Send us a video of what you do in conservation to
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Good news:
Our environment has been saved from approximately 402,983 lbs. of CO2 released into the atmosphere due to the choices our customers made to use our "Eco-friendly" Natural Hydraulic Lime that replaced Portland Cement as a mortar and stucco's binder. Last updated 12-31-2017
623699 Visitors.


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2017 ASB Tournament Brackets
August 2, 2017 by ParkAdmin
Registration is CLOSED! Click HERE to see games schedules, scores, standings, and more!
Mission Statement
The City of Starkville Parks and Recreation Department strives to enhance the quality of life for the citizens of Starkville by providing professionally designed broad recreation and leisure programs and services.
Congratulations! Starkville named Playful City USA for 2011 & 2012 by KaBoom! organization. Special thanks to the Starkville Play Task Force for their commitment to improving the quality, quanity, … [Read More...]
Beginning on September 20, 2012, SPRD will OPEN the gate to the overflow parking lot located between the Upper Quad softball fields and soccer fields by way of Azalea Lane (off of Hwy 125 S). This parking lot will be open on Thursdays ONLY. There are signs on Hwy 125 S near the Azalea Lane entrance indicating the status of the entrance. Please be respectful of the residents of Azalea Lane when using this entrance and parking lot.
Click here for more information.
Starkville Parks and Recreation
405 Lynn Lane
Starkville, MS 39759
Phone: 662-323-2294
Fax: 662-324-4028
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Hours of Operation
Mon-Fri 5am-9pm
(Office Staff 8am-5pm)
Sat 7am-3pm
Sun 1pm-5pm
Click here for a map of Starkville Parks!


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Department of Revenue News Release
June 02, 2009Contracts Awarded for Eldon, Fulton and Lee's Summit License Offices
Management contracts for three more local motor vehicle/license offices were awarded today by the Missouri Department of Revenue. The granting of the offices came as a result of a comprehensive bidding process that has been championed by Gov. Jay Nixon.
The three offices awarded today are in Eldon, Fulton and Lee's Summit. This brings to 19 the total number of offices granted under the new system.
The Lake of the Ozarks Marine Dealers Association has been awarded the contract to operate the Eldon License Office. The office has been closed since March 20, 2009, when the former agent left. The office will re-open at the office's former location of 401 W. Fourth St.
The license office in Fulton has been awarded to Koester & Koester. The partnership is run by David Koester Sr. and David Koester Jr. of Bowling Green. The office will remain at its current location of 204 E. Fifth St., Suite B.
The Lee's Summit License Office has been awarded to Lee's Summit LLC (James Montee). The license office will stay at its current location at 196-A Northwest Oldham Parkway in the Summit Shopping Center.
Details about days of operation and transitional changes in the operating hours of the offices, if any, will be announced by the agents.
The three offices awarded today are the latest to have their management chosen using a bidding process that was implemented when Gov. Nixon took office on Jan. 12. The process calls for people or groups to submit detailed bids to obtain the management contracts to operate the offices. The Eldon office received three bids, the Fulton office received one bid and the Lee's Summit office received four bids.
Karen King Mitchell, director of the Missouri Department of Revenue, said she was pleased with the overall process.
"I'm gratified that three more offices have gone through the competitive bid process and have been awarded to those who presented the best plans of operation," Mitchell said. "I'm especially pleased that the Eldon office will re-open to serve the citizens in the Eldon/Lake of the Ozarks area."
Some winning bidders have chosen to return part of their estimated office revenues to the state. Lee's Summit LLC will return 8 percent ($42,424) of its first year revenues, Koester & Koester will return 2 percent ($2,973) and the Lake of the Ozarks Marine Dealers Association did not bid to return any revenues. The cumulative amount of estimated funds that will be returned to the state in the first contract year from the 19 license offices that have been awarded so far is $116,408.
"The willingness of agents to return some of their profits is a great cost-efficiency measure for the state, and the amount returned to the state will undoubtedly grow as more bids are awarded," Mitchell said.
For a list of winning bidders for license offices, please go to http://oa.mo.gov/purch/awardedfeeoffices.pdf.
All 183 local license offices provide services that are overseen by the Missouri Department of Revenue, but each office is operated by an independent contractor. Transactions that are conducted at these offices include the issuance and renewal of driver licenses, applying for titles for motor vehicles, and the issuance and renewal of registration for motor vehicles, boats and outboard motors.
Additional information on the bids will be posted by the Missouri Office of Administration within the next few days.


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By: Dr Lynda Kelly, Category: Museullaneous, Date: 25 Nov 2009
On Wednesday 25 and Thursday 26 November 2009 we held web to classroom workshops with primary and secondary teachers. The aim was to find out how teachers are using the web in their classrooms and how we can work more closely with them via our own website.
My notes/impressions from the workshop.
Secondary teachers:
There was a variety of ways teachers work with their students in the classroom. Moodle appears to be a popular tool for working together [Moodle is "... a Course Management System (CMS), also known as a Learning Management System or a Virtual Learning Environment. It is a Free web application that educators can use to create effective online learning sites."]. YouTube was another popular teaching tool.
Teachers also often have access to sites that tend to be locked (such as YouTube), although access didn't appear to be a huge problem, as most students can always access these sites at home. Students do have ideas and knowledge about palgiarism, authenticity and valid, reliable sites.
I asked them what they felt were the big trends/issues around the web that will impact on them for the future:
Primary teachers:
The primary teachers had different experiences. Access to computers and the web was variable, although it was commonly agreed that most, if not all, students and teachers have web access. The amount of computers available varied, for example from one school with a Year 6 one latop per child program, to those with labs, with setups in the libraries and all had computers in their classrooms. Some used Macs and others PCs, all had access to interactive whiteboards with the use of them (and their overall usefulness) the subject of some debate! Many were using wikis with their classes and also invited parental involvement in this. Connected Classroom was also being used (some had done classes here) and this seems to have potential to increase, as well as driving physical visitation (and something the Museum could explore further I think).
Their big issues for the future:
My overall thoughts/themes/learnings:
A final thought. Working directly with audiences as we did today through setting profiles, showing sets, talking and getting feedack is such an important part of our jobs, and it was great to have this opportunity to work and learn together. Teachers are active and engaged users and really care about their students' learning. I really enjoyed the two days and would like to thank all for your input and enthusiam.
Here's an interesting blog post: Social Networking in Education - A Whitepaper. Looks at what Web 2.0 offers to educators. I especially liked this quote: "Web 2.0 plays to the strength of educators - curiosity and love of learning - by opening the doors to collaboration and participation. It encourages and facilitates the natural desire to share what you know and to learn from your colleagues."
Came across this site via an exchange with UK colleagues: Web 2.0 for teaching: wishy-washy or nitty-gritty? It refers to a research report which is available on request done by Uni of Manchester and is less about educational websites using web 2.0 tools than teachers using them.
Thanks for your response Janet. I was very interested in the IMLS skill matrix. We were discussing this matrix during the afternoon of yesterday's workshop and thought be useful to take it further. I did a blog post about Knowledge Workers that also listed a range of skills for the future so we may combine the two of them somehow.
I also think that we need to realise that we all do have more digitial skills than we think we do, and that harnessing Web 2.0 is more about changing the ways we think and our general outlook rather than our technical ability.
Here's the link to the IMLS 21st Century information I mentioned in the last post:
I am glad that these two days were so useful, and I'm fascinated by the thought that the next generation in primary schools will be digital learners from the outset.
I've been reading up on what the IMLS (Govt funding body in the USA) sees as 21st century skills, and see that information and technology skills are vital sitting alongside critical thinking, adaptability and a whole host of other 'literacies'. It is making me think that as information becomes so readily available on the web, learning will more and more focus on skill's development in how to use content, rather than learning knowledge itself. So this is both a technological change, but a redefinition of learning too. Great to see that in these sorts of workshops the Museum is creating the tools to be able to respond to these changes and shape new programs that support future learning practices. Very exciting!
I found this day invaluable. It was great to hear the innovative ways that teachers are using the web in the classroom and to learn about their access issues (there seemed to be a huge range in access). It was excellent to see the teachers using the website and I have already been able improve navigation of the Education Services Category (tab) through their feedback. The 'Sets' function of My Museum seemed to be a big hit and something that would be recommended to other teachers.
Thanks to all who attended. I look forward to more of your comments on the web. Keep them coming.
Thnx for your comment Ondine and great to see that you anticipate more interaction.
Amelia - be interested to see the outcomes of your work.
I really appreciated the feedback on our content and ways to make it more accessible, particularly for younger students. I have already started to plan which content areas to tackle (e.g. dinosaurs, extinct animals, mammals, minibeasts and geoscience) and look forward to our teachers' feedback on progress made in these areas! In general, I look forward to more interaction with teachers and students as we continue to improve and add to our site. Thanks to all who participated and to Helen Wheeler who organised these workshops - it was excellent!
Thanks Paul and Linda. I learned a lot too about our website's functionality and was really impressed by everyone's work. Look forward to continued conversations.


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MOFFET FIELD, Calif., Dec. 4 (UPI) -- The fossilized imprints of raindrops in 2.7 billion-year-old rocks reveal clues to what the atmosphere was like on the early Earth, a U.S. researcher says.
The depth of the depressions in what was once volcanic ash suggest how fast the raindrops were travelling when they hit the ground, which is turn gives scientists information on how dense the atmosphere was almost 3 billion years ago.
The Earth was a difference place than what is seen today, scientists have said; it rotated more slowly on its axis, the moon appeared huge in the sky because it was much closer, sunlight was much weaker and the atmosphere was unable to support life.
The fossil raindrops suggest the atmosphere 2.7 billion years ago was likely about as dense as today, perhaps a bit less, researcher Sanjoy Som from NASA's Ames Research Center in California told the BBC
That supports the idea the ancient atmosphere must have had a strong concentration of greenhouse gases.
"There was probably quite a bit of nitrogen in the atmosphere, like today, but there was no oxygen," he said.
Without extra density in the atmosphere to trap heat, only the presence of greenhouse gases would provide a blanket to keep heat in and keep the Earth from turning into a snowball planet under a substantially weaker sun, he said.


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I thought i'd mix things up today and include a new free eBook that talked a little about the US Securities. I haven't read much of this book just yet but from the 1st chapter you get a clear understanding of how technology plays a part in the exchange of stocks on US exchanges. Enjoy!
Electronic Bulls and Bears: U.S. Securities Markets and Technology
by United States Congress Office of Technology


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(Reuters) - Canadian miner Centerra Gold Inc said it faces a $152 million environmental damages claim from the Kyrgyzstan government related to mining at its Kumtor project.
Centerra, whose shares rose 2 percent, said the claim was "exaggerated or without foundation" but it could not be sure that the matter could be resolved without a material impact on the company.
"I think some investors were thinking it was going to be a lot worse in terms of environmental damage from the Kyrgyz point of view," said David West, an analyst at Salman Partners.
The Kumtor mine accounted for 12 percent of the country's GDP and more than a half of its exports in 2011. Toronto-based Centerra is one-third owned by the Kyrgyzstan government.
The dispute could change the financial arrangements for the mine, the largest gold mine operated in Central Asia by a western company, Canaccord Genuity analyst Steven Butler said.
"I'm concerned not so much about environmental claims as I would be about fiscal terms, about whether or not the government will want a greater stake in the Kumtor project either on a direct ownership basis or a gross revenue royalty basis," he said.
There have been persistent calls to nationalize the mine, although new Prime Minister Zhantoro Satybaldiyev ruled this out at the beginning of October.
Earlier this year, a state commission said it would review the environmental, legal and fiscal structure of Kumtor and submit its report to the Krgyz parliament by early 2013.
The government is paid a 14 percent tax on gross revenue from Kumtor, Centerra's flagship mine.
The company said the claim by the Kyrgyzstan environmental authority included about $142 million related to the placement of waste rock from mining operations on waste dumps.
"The activities raised in the claims, particularly the mining and placement of waste rock on waste dumps, have been approved at all times by appropriate Kyrgyz authorities," Chief Executive Ian Atkinson said in a statement on Friday.
The Kumtor mine, located near the Chinese border in wilderness some 4,000 meters (13,000 feet) above sea level, employs about 2,700 full-time workers.
The company previously cut its 2012 production outlook to 415,000 to 425,000 ounces of gold due to ice movement at Kumtor, its only producing mine.
Centerra shares rose to C$8.26 by late morning on the Toronto Stock Exchange.
Reporting by Maneesha Tiwari in Bangalore; Editing by Saumyadeb Chakrabarty