text:
Sister Cities raise the roof on library in Haiti
The connection between Essex, Connecticut, and the nation of Haiti became bigger and stronger after the earthquake of 2010.
Local residents wanted to find a way to help the devastated country, and the non-profit Sister Cities Essex Haiti (SCEH) was born, bringing together volunteers from Essex and surrounding towns to build a library in Deschapelles-the only library within an hour's walk of the town.
The group selected Deschapelles primarily because of its location a short distance from a main street leading up to Hospital Albert Schweitzer, founded in 1956 by the mother and stepfather of Jenifer Grant of Essex, who has been traveling to the country for most of her life.
Kathleen Maher, a lawyer who had joined Grant in a micro-financing project in Deschapelles, came on board as president of SCEH.
"Hospital Albert Schweitzer provides wonderful health care to the people in the area-a rare thing in much of Haiti," says Grant, Sister Cities vice president; Deschapelles project. "It also serves as an economic engine as it employs almost 400 local people. The Haitian people respect education. They're thirsty for knowledge, and to have a library augment the existing education will enable the community to access knowledge."
"Because few homes have electricity, students congregate under streetlights around the hospital to study at night, sitting or standing on the ground, vulnerable to malaria-carrying mosquitoes," notes Terry Smith, chair of the Sister Cities library committee. "Access to books and the ability to study can provide a path to a better life and a way out of poverty."
The mission of SCEH was to build a mutual long-term relationship with Haitian residents - and make the library project as collaborative as possible - so SCEH formed a partnership with ODES (Organization Pour Development Economique and Social), a local group whose mission is to improve the lives of Deschapelles residents.
"Now that we've been going down to Haiti for three and a half years with the Sister Cities Team, everyone is happy to see us and trusts us," Grant says. "We are their friends, rather than coming in with our blueprint and telling them how to do things."
"We've learned to be very culturally sensitive, respectful and appreciative of their culture," adds Dan Taylor-Stypa, vice president; public relations.
Also underway is a collaboration among musicians and music lovers in southeastern Connecticut and Deschapelles, along with an early education teacher-training program and a sports program.
Build it and they will read
The original plan was to turn an old cattle barn into the library, but that option didn't prove viable.
Grant knew a Haitian man, now living in Brooklyn, N.Y., who owned a piece of property that was centrally located in the town. Because he has a deep commitment to his birthplace, she says, he was happy to lease the land for the purpose of building a library.
Essex architect Hope Proctor came on board to design the library at no cost for her services, working closely with both the ODES library committee and a Haitian-American architect to make sure the building reflected local Haitian architectural styles.
"Hope designed a beautiful, very simple building that's respectful of Haitian values," Smith says.
"She's very green in her conceptual building," adds Taylor-Stypa. "She wanted it to look like it belongs there-something the community would be proud of."
Construction began in the fall of 2012 and the library is expected to be completed this year-or at the very latest, on the fourth anniversary of the earthquake: Jan. 12, 2014.
The estimated cost of the project is $150,000, about half of which has been raised to date. SCEH is applying for grants and is fundraising through local schools and events in the extended community. The local chapter of Rotary International has made a donation for the purchase of 1,000 books. The goal is to open the library with at least 3,000 books-nonfiction and fiction-many in Kreyol, as well as French and some English.
"We're asking people in the community what they'd like to read. It's a really interesting list," Smith says. "Haitians typically don't read for pleasure-they read training manuals, education books-we're hoping to introduce that idea."
The most satisfying aspect of the library project, the volunteers agree, was to see the faces of the children light up when they held the first books to arrive at the library.
"As a result of the commitment of the people in our organization and the collaboration between SCEH and ODES, we're well on our way to building what may be a model library," Smith says.
Brenda Floyd and her son Logan of Essex have produced a half-hour documentary, "Welcome to Deschapelles, Our Sister City," to give people a better understanding of the people, culture, and spirit of the community.
The film will be screened on the following dates:
Friday, April 26, at 6 p.m. Hosted by New London Rotaract at Elks Lodge, 81 Washington St., New London. Cocktails, hors d'oeuvres, and dessert. Film begins at 6:45 p.m. $10. Tickets on sale at Elks Lodge and McCue Mortgage Co., 8 Union St., New London. (Cash bar).
Friday, May 10, at 7 p.m. at the Essex Library, West Main Street, co-sponsored with the town of Essex. Free and open to public.
Monday, May 13, at 11:45 a.m. Hosted by Mystic Rotary at Mystic Hilton Hotel, Coogan Blvd., Mystic. Lunch at 11:55, film showing at 12:30 p.m.
Lunch is $15, the film is free. RSVP no later than May 8 to Jake Hanley at (860) 405-2032.
Proceeds from events/donations to benefit SCEH library project. For more information, visit www.sistercitiesessexhaiti.org.
Watch live: Notre Dame-West Haven at East Lyme boys' basketball
Don't punish gun owners because of actions of a few lunatics
MGM: New poll again finds overwhelming support for open bidding on casino


text:
250,000+ Organic YouTube Views
We'll help your video gain over 250,000+ Organic YouTube views over the course of 4~5 months by promoting it on popular websites. There is absolutely no risk involved with our service and all views are guaranteed permanent.
Important Highlights
✓ 250,000 Real YouTube Views
✓ Natural Retention Rate
✓ Delivered Gradually
✓ Guaranteed Safe
✓ 100% Money-Back Guarantee
✘ Not Recommended for Adsense
YouTube Likes & Shares (Optional)
Along with 5,000+ YouTube Views, you have the option to add-on YouTube likes and shares to be delivered to your video – guaranteed. We can deliver up to 30,000+ likes and 10,000+ shares to your video, from real users.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
We are very proud to present this release of our plugin.
This version, in addition to normal enhancements and bug fixes, finally integrates professional human translation with a basic integration with OneHourTranslation.com professional translation service.
The way this works is the following:
- Go to OneHourTranslaion.com and create an account
- Use the account details generated and insert them to Transposh's settings page
- When using the translation interface, an admin (and only an admin) will see a "One Hour Translation queue" button
- Pressing this button will add the phrase to a queue, another click will dequeue the item
- 10 minutes after the last phrase was added a translation project will be generated on one hour translation
- Give it an hour (or less from our experience) and the translations will appear on your site
- Everybody is happy and you actually support the Transposh project (Yay!)
This is rather new, so if Murphy strikes, just contact us and we'll do whatever we can to make things work.
Now, for the rest of this release:
- Fixed flag of Swahili to Tanzania as noted by Ed Jordan
- Lots of fixes to backup service
- Fix for a parser bug when having translate in default language following a select element
- Fixed XSS reported by Infern0_ (big thanks!)
- For programmers: Added a global function to return the current language "
- Seems like Lybia has a new flag too 😉
- Fixed widget IDs containing a backslash so that we'll pass w3c validation
- Updated jQueryUI to 1.8.23 to avoid conflict with jQuery 1.8 used by some themes
- Portuguese (Brazil) translation by Amilton Junior
Our operators are waiting for your feedback, if you get a busy signal, try contacting us again!
P.S. This is the very first version to have passed 1,000 daily downloads, we are humbled.


text:
Cretan Maineiac
Cretan Maineiac (April 29,1961 / Lewiston, ME USA)
» Click to list general statistics » OR, select a date :
Election Day
Fill in the line
in Maine
another Bond issue
read more >>
- Hits: Number of visitors who read the poem on the given date.
- Posts: Number of visitors who posted the poem to a friend (via e-mail) on the given date.
- Dates that have "0" hits may not be shown on the list.
- Dates, poems and poets that have "0" hits may not be shown on the list. Statistics are generated daily.


text:
bad research is like spam emailin the sense that
- There seems to be no way to stop it, and many economic incentives to continue it
- You can't stop it by diktat
- The only way to deal with it appears to be effective filtering. Like spam, bad research has less of an effect when it gains no attention.
There are other similarities:
- we can block spam by filtering certain domains. We also tend to ignore certain kinds of conferences
- we can block spam by blocking certain email addresses. We also might ignore certain researchers, or at least downweight their work after a series of bad experiences.
- More explicit spam blocking policies create a false-negative problem. False-negatives are also a big problem in research.
But this analogy also suggests that we shouldn't be designing strategies to eliminate bad research. We should be designing better methods to focus attention on good research, via better filtering and highlighting mechanisms (social, authoritative or otherwise).
Personally, I think bad research is less of a problem than lots of cargo-cult research, where it looks a lot like good research is being done, but when you look closely, you realize that nothing of value has been added to the universe. Sadly, a lot of funded research is also like this.
PS: False negatives are a highly underrated problem in research. I think we vastly overestimate our ability to judge what kinds of research will have lasting value and what potential impact a paper can have. So it's important to err on the side of being more generous to papers, rather than less.


text:
Google Summer of Code & Season of KDE 2012 - there is place for everyone!
Google has published the list of 60 student proposals that have been accepted for Google Summer of Code 2012 for KDE. It means that 60 students will be able to work full-time on changing the world this summer! A big thank you to Google for making this possible.
More than 200 proposals, 60 students accepted
Big thanks also to every student who dedicated their time thinking up and writing awesome proposals: we received more than 200 proposals! This year Google allocated 60 student slots to KDE. During the past few weeks, the GSoC admins and mentors of KDE had to make some really tough choices. The selection process was hard and competitive, and we had to say, "No" to quite a few brilliant proposals. If your proposal was accepted, we think you are among the very best. Congratulations! You will be spending your summer hacking with KDE. We welcome you with open arms and wish you luck and fun!
What's next for the GSOC students?
It is important to pay attention to the instructions that Google sends by e-mail and be around on the IRC channel #kde-soc on Freenode. Don't forget to always check the timeline.
Now it is time to get to know your mentor, read the documentation around your project and get up to speed to begin working on your project.
Not selected?
Unfortunately, we could not accept all proposals. Hard thinking went into the selection: how realistic is the proposal, how will KDE benefit, how much will the student learn, how much time does the mentor have, how much time will the student have and more. Sometimes, there were multiple proposals for a mentor, and choices had to be made on things like timezone or other practicalities. Sometimes we want someone new to the community, sometimes we need somebody more familiar. We have only so many mentors, so many projects and so many slots!
All in all, the limits we face mean that not all good proposals can be accepted. But, for motivated students with a good proposal and a willingness to learn and get involved, we have an alternative: Season of KDE!
Season of KDE (SoK) is similar to Google Summer of Code: while the student doesn't get paid, he or she does get a mentor and gets to hack on KDE for the summer and beyond. And - you'll get yourself a very cool t-shirt and certificate!
The SoK timeline is up to you and your mentor. We advise you to stay as close as possible to the Google Summer of Code timeline. The only hard constraint is the application deadline: you must apply through the application form before May 7, 2012 at 19:00 UTC in order to be eligible for participation. We give preference to those who have applied for Google Summer of Code and to students, but we will gladly consider applications from anyone else. Please read the detailed instructions on how to apply.
Season of KDE is managed by the same team of KDE admins and mentors that take care of Google Summer of Code and Google Code-in, with the same level of quality and care. However, it is not related to Google in any way beyond that.
For further questions feel free to join our IRC channel #kde-soc on Freenode.net or email the admin team at firstname.lastname@example.com.
In the past four years, we had in order 1, 4, 8 and 20 successful Season of KDE students. Our goal for this year is at least 30. We want to see you helping to increase these numbers! Be part of KDE!
Selected or not...
In the end, GSOC or SOK student - or hacking all year around, we're all KDE. You all make a difference. So Hack On!
query about sok
From where we can get list of mentors for SOK.?
By Anonymous at Wed, 2012/04/25 - 1:32pm
Probably on melange, see
By Jos Poortvliet at Thu, 2012/04/26 - 10:54am
when result for selected student will be declared?
By Anonymous at Wed, 2012/04/25 - 1:35pm
You mean the FINAL results?
You mean the FINAL results? That'll be over half a year from now :D
Or the final list of projects? I'd suggest to look on Google Melange, I guess it's there. And on planet KDE many projects are announcing themselves at the moment.
By Jos Poortvliet at Thu, 2012/04/26 - 10:55am
When is the announcement of selected students?
I think the question is about the announcement of SoK accepted students.
By Anonymous at Thu, 2012/04/26 - 11:15am
They will be announced a few
They will be announced a few days after we close applications on the 7th.
By Lydia Pintscher at Fri, 2012/04/27 - 12:32pm
List of accepted students
Has the list of students selected to SOK been announced? By which date can we expect a mail? Will we get a mail even if we've been rejected?
Do even young students pursuing a bachelor's degree have a chance?
By Anonymous at Tue, 2012/05/15 - 12:59pm
We will send to everyone
Hey :)
Yes we will send emails to everyone, no matter the outcome. We are currently trying to match up everyone with a mentor. Since there are quite a few students this is taking a bit of time.
By Lydia Pintscher at Tue, 2012/05/15 - 6:25pm
SoK acceptance information
Accepted students haven't been announced yet. The KDE student programs team is working right now with prospective mentors to find mentors for as many students as possible. This is a quite manual and time consuming task. Please be patient. We will send emails to every student, accepted or not, in a few days.
Young students pursuing a bachelor's degree surely have a chance ;)
By Teo Mrnjavac at Tue, 2012/05/15 - 6:28pm
Date of acceptance information
Can we have an approximate date as to when we will get the results of who all have been selected?
By Anonymous at Sat, 2012/05/19 - 7:58am
Re: Date of acceptance information
I promise I will *try* to get the emails out this week, but it is not up to me since I'm still waiting for some mentors to get back to me about their candidate students.
By Teo Mrnjavac at Sun, 2012/05/27 - 8:10pm
Any requirement of presubmission?
Is there any requirement of presubmission of any projects? Or will all the students who have opted for KDE SoK get the project?
Are there any selection criteria?
By Anonymous at Mon, 2012/05/21 - 4:12pm
why so much delay ?
Any idea when result is going to be declared ?
By Anonymous at Sat, 2012/05/26 - 3:02pm


text:
1. Re: Initial questions on Conversation based ESB ActionsGary Brown Jun 10, 2008 12:09 PM (in response to Jeff DeLong)
Where does defining a choreography fit in a service oriented design methodology?
It depends I guess whether it is a new project, or enhancing an existing SOA.
In a new project, it would be possible to use a choreography in a contract/model driven approach, to design the observable interactions between all services. These can then be used to guide the development and testing of each service.
In an existing project, it may be useful to 'reverse engineer' a choreography of an existing architecture (representing your 'AS IS' architecture) and then produce a modified choreography representing your target architecture. This could then be used to understand the impact of changes and manage the modification of existing services, and creation of new services to meet additional requirements.
Who would create a CDL model (what type of a user)? From what sort of requirements?
Generally I think it would be an architecture. As part of the pi4soa project, we are using scenarios (UML sequence diagrams++) as a means of capturing behavioural requirements, which can then be tested against a choreography description, to ensure that it means the requirements.
What is the relationship between choreography and orchestration in terms of the SOA Platform (i.e., how would a CDL based choreography relate to a jBPM process definition)? Or BPEL process?
The easiest way to answer this is to think of the choreography as the 'blueprint' for the architecture, and orchestration (BPEL or jBPM) as an implementation technology used to implement services within that architecture.
How is the jboss-esb.xml created? By hand, or generated from CDL model? I think from other forum posts the intention is to generate it but was not sure. If it is, how would the user add additional actions to the services, and not have them lost when re-generating?
At present we are not generating, but it will be a natural next step. As WS-CDL is not executable, it can only be used to generate a template containing the 'observable' activities for a service. Therefore any additional non-observable activities, such as custom ESB actions in this case, would be added directly to the jboss-esb.xml.
It would also be possible for a user to add other 'observable' conversation based activities into the xml - which would then be checked for conformance against the choreography. However, as you have pointed out, it may be necessary to re-generate a service if significant changes have been made to the choreography.
In this situation, the intention would be to merge the user changes with the newly generated service. How this would actually be implemented is not defined yet.
The examples need a readme that explains what is going on with them, what are the requirements that resulted in the CDL model. How the jboss-esb.xml was created, etc.
Yes, much more documentation is required. We are still at the early stages of implementation - but hopefully it will all be fully explained by the first release.
Is there an enhance pi4soa plugin that supports jboss-esb integration? I am using pi4soa1.7.0.?
pi4soa1.7.0 has a basic mechanism for generating and deploying Java endpoints into a JBossESB environment. However pi4soa2.0.0 is the release that is targetted to have the conformance checking against conversation based ESB actions, as well as monitoring of the JBossESB deployed services against a choreography.
I see all these ESB actions that correspond to CDL activities. Is there any thought to map these to a jBPM process? Would that be a different generation target?
We do eventually plan to generate to jBPM and do conformance checking. Overlord plans to provide this functionality across a number of target platforms, not just JBossESB.
What is a ReceiveMessageAction supposed to do? The current implementation does nothing really. In particular the message operation property is not used.
Normally the action pipeline would silently consume an inbound message, and it would not indicate what type of message it was, or whether it was associated with an operation name, or any information that would help to correlate it to a conversation session.
From a runtime perspective, the ReceiveMessageAction could be considered redundant. However from a governance point of view it has two benefits - statically it enables us to understand information about the message to be received, to compare this against the choreography description. Dynamically it also means that a received message can be validated at runtime to ensure that it was the expected type, identity, etc.
Message operation is not currently used as we have only been testing with async message interactions. At some point we will also be looking to deal with rpc style examples, to handle web services etc.
What would the action chain look like if the services were web services? Where is that level of detail specified? In the CDL tool or in the jboss-esb.xml?
I have not yet modelled a web service based action pipeline, so I cannot answer this with authority at present. However from examples that I have seen, I believe the fact that an action pipeline is associated with a web service has no reflection on the action pipeline configuration - only on the providers.
Therefore I don't think the choreography or deriving behaviour from the conversation based ESB actions would be affected. The only area that may be affected is the runtime validation (e.g. ReceiveMessageAction) which may be able to get access to the operation associated with the web service invocation, to validate it against the property.
Great set of questions :-)
2. Re: Initial questions on Conversation based ESB ActionsJeff Yu Jun 10, 2008 11:27 PM (in response to Jeff DeLong)
Gary answered pretty much of the questions. here is the design document link for conversation based ESB actions, For Your Reference: http://anonsvn.jboss.org/repos/soag/trunk/docs/conversation/
Any comments are welcome.
3. Re: Initial questions on Conversation based ESB ActionsMark Little Jun 12, 2008 7:57 AM (in response to Jeff DeLong)
Jeff, thanks for the questions. Sorry I couldn't get to them myself, but Gary has taken the words out of my mouth (more than I would have said too).
In general we've got to move away from the traditional way of developing distributed systems when looking at SOA, otherwise we lose many of the benefits it can bring. As I've said on a separate forum posting (and in copious emails over the years), SOA is not just technology, but a change in the way human processes work. That inevitably has a knock-on effect on the way in which people have to approach development of, and subsequent deployment of, SOA based applications (and even individual services). Yes, it's no longer encouraged to just take a POJO and "expose it on the bus", but that's a good thing. The other route (which has been exemplified by MSFT and others) leads you morphing SOA (or Web Services as a specific development technology) into distributed objects, aka "CORBA with angle brackets" (or "JavaRMI with angle brackets"). Developers won't get the benefits, as I said before.
So what we're doing here is an important part of the change of mind-set that has to happen in order to deliver on SOA. But we do have to figure out how this can be targeted at existing services and infrastructure, otherwise it'll have a limited reach.


text:
I have noticed that in today's world it is extremely difficult to find products that are quality let alone items that are made in the United States. With so much of manufacturing going overseas, it can be hard to keep the level of quality we might get from products manufactured in the states. When is comes to your luxury swimwear, you can always count on Lady Lux for products that are made in the good 'ole U.S.A!
It is and always has been extremely important to us here at Lady Lux to keep all of our production in the United States. Quality is number one here so we make sure that every piece that goes into your luxury swimwear is quality checked and produced by only the best! Of course we are a little partial to our home state of California and that is exactly where all of our manufacturing takes place. We think it is important to support the local economy by keeping jobs close to home. Of course California is also the perfect place for our designer to get inspiration for all of the Lady Lux designs, with gorgeous beaches and unique fashion everywhere you look, what more could we need to create sexy designer swimwear?
Every girl should have a cute nautical bikini with patriotic style that is perfect for the holiday weekends and the Fourth of July. Of course the newest Lady Lux collection includes the sexy and perfectly named American Girl Bikini. This sexy swimsuit is a more mature and fashion-forward take on your traditional nautical suit with navy chevron stripes and leather and gold hardware. Of course you can be patriotic in any Lady Lux swimsuit because they are all proudly made in the U.S.A.!


text:
ScalableWorkforce needed a new logo design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 2095 designs submitted by 521 freelance designers.
We are in the process of a site re-design and need a logo to represent our new face and create our brand. View screenshots of our new design and decide if you have what it takes to be the creator of our brand! See links to screenshots below >>
JUGGLE.com - http://www.juggle.com
Juggle is an energetic internet company providing information on a variety of topics. We agregate content from around the web and display the information in a user friendly way. We are in the process of a site redesign that is set to go live in a few weeks. Please view our new design by clicking on the links below:
- Screenshot 1 >> http://www.flickr.com/photos/36436516@N02/3363322004/sizes/o/in/set-72157615405611061/ - Screenshot 2 >> http://www.flickr.com/photos/364365…405611061/
- Screenshot 3 >>
- Clean and simple
- Logo should look good in one color (example - on a black background (see screenshots)
- A flexible logo that can stand the test of time
- While the present needs is for the logo to look good on a black background I would like to see the logo in various colors
- We want to avoid the logo depicting a sterotypical "juggling" act. - We don't want bowling pins spinning in the air and circus like look and feel- Please DO NOT use beveling, embossing, gradients or drop shadowing to style the font. This is not the style we are looking for. - Also, please include an uppercase "J" and a "lowercase "j" in your comps... we would like to explore both options. We are also still debating between whether to include ".com" in the logo, nothing but text or a simple icon and text.
- Complex icons should be avoid since the details are hard to make out when the image is reduced in size.
Again, the logo should be clear, concise and compelling. The logo needs to non cartoony - we need to establish credibility as an information source - on the other side, we are a high-tech company working with semantic web technologies, etc... so we don't want to look like a "library" or encyclopedia look and feel. Professional but with a web 2.0 - 3.0 edge. Please keep your designs clean and simple.
Find out how a design contest works or learn more about our logo design services.


text:
Log Out
Our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy have changed. We think you'll like them better this way.
Join Hykogolf Radio for Golf Talks & Reviews,every thursday at 7pm eastern time.We review golf literatures,golf courses,golf clubs, golf equipments,resturants and anything golf related. Hykogolf Radio is perfect place to advertise,buy,sell,learn,get fit & talk golf. Promote your leagues,events & organize your tournaments with Hykogolf.com. find a golf buddy to play with. learn easy tips that will improve your play. If you are a beginner or just need a"tune-up",our Golf Professionals can help improve your game.
Become a Hykogolf.com/Hykogolf Radio Sponsor.
Please call 443.636.6103 or email us at email@example.com
Sorry we couldn't complete your registration. Please try again.
You must accept the Terms and conditions to register


text:
lovinglife on Family Tree Circles
sort: Date Alphabetical
view: full | list
view: full | list
Journals and Posts
Looking for White Family - of Kansas City Mo ;Chattanogga, Tennessee., Georgia and Pittsburgh, Pa.
My grandfather is John W. White, Born 1877 of Georgia, his wife's name was Mary, maiden name unknown, Born in Tennessee 1888. Their son, my father is Alphonso White, born 1901 sister is Ovella White, Born 1908, both born in Tennessee.( Lee Benjamin, born 1897, of Tennessee, grandmother's nephew) Edwin Harris, born 1880, Georgia Alfred Boling, born 1885, Ohio.- My brother is Rev. John White, of Kansas City, Mo. At some point moved to Pittsburgh, Pa 1920, then Kansas City Mo. Tennessee.
- Displaying 1-1 of 1 Journals
- 1
- of1


text: No matter what Oldsmobile 1998 model you own, we are certain that we can provide you with the Genuine OEM replacement parts your vehicle needs at very affordable prices. Our user friendly online Oldsmobile parts catalog offers an extensive collection of factory OEM replacement parts that are easy to find. To locate the Oldsmobile replacement part you need please select the model of your Oldsmobile 1998 to view the enormous list of parts specifically made for your vehicle model. We employ the latest security and SSL software to make sure that your personal data and billing information is safe, go ahead and place your order with no worries.


text:
- Inside Athletics
- Tickets
- Fan Zone
- Media Zone
- Social
- Shop
- Donate Now
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (Jan. 13, 2010) - Over the past two years, the ETSU women's basketball grant team has been working hard to increase awareness of the sport and attendance at home games. On Wednesday morning, the team announced it has launched a new program to help generate both tactics by introducing the Dean's Challenge.
"Our NCAA women's basketball grant team is pleased to announce the kickoff of our inaugural Dean's Challenge," said Senior Associate Athletic Director Barbie Breedlove. "This unique challenge will pit the deans of our eight colleges against each other to see which college can generate the highest attendance at designated Lady Buccaneer home conference games. At the end, we have $3,000 in scholarships to award the winning colleges."
This program, which will help create interest through ETSU staff and students on campus, was an idea created by the marketing department at
"Now in its fourth year, the Dean's Challenge has grown to be a key facet of our overall marketing efforts for women's basketball," added Mike Hales, the Assistant Director for Marketing at
"Each dean, along with their staffs, has truly embraced the initiative and has played a significant role in growing our attendance more and more each year."
On Monday, the ETSU grant team invited all eight dean's, Provost Dr. Burt Bach, Chief Operating Officer Dr. Wilsie Bishop, as well as head women's basketball coach Karen Kemp and junior point guard Tara Davis to a luncheon to explain the rules behind the challenge.
"We have outstanding support from our Provost Dr. Bach and Dr. Bishop," said Breedlove following the luncheon. "Without their support, this event would not be possible. We look forward to a friendly competition and an increase in attendance down the stretch, as our team looks to defend its A-Sun Championship and return to the NCAA Tournament."
Each college was given allotment of 200 tickets, which will be used for their selected game during the challenge. The challenge begins on Wednesday, Jan. 27th when the
At the end of the challenge a total of $3,000 in scholarships will be awarded to the winning colleges on Monday, Feb. 22 when the Lady Bucs close out their home schedule with USC Upstate.
For more information on the ETSU women's basketball grant team and Lady Buccaneer basketball, visit www.ETSUBucs.com.


text:
I was in a bind. CD and product reviews were due at multiple publications, and my Theta Carmen II transport's drive mechanism had failed. I may have bought the used unit directly from Theta Digital's founder and former owner, Neil Sinclair, but that couldn't change the fact that the Carmen II's defective drive was long out of production. With no spare parts available in at Theta's Southern California headquarters, I was in trouble.
Immediately, PS Audio's Paul McGowan came to mind. For many months, PS Audio's monthly newsletter – recently discontinued in favor of a new publication, PS Tracks – had been proclaiming the arrival of the PS Audio Perfect Wave Transport and Perfect Wave DAC. Since Paul and I had gotten to know each other over the years, as I've reviewed several of the company's products and blogged their rooms at quite a number of shows, I felt I could ask a favor.
Within days, a life raft in the form of a demo PS Audio Perfect Wave Transport (PWT) had arrived. Although in some respects a very different animal than other CD/CD-R transports, I found set-up and play extremely simple. I was especially delighted by the presence of an AES/EBU digital output, since the digital cable that I connect to my Theta Gen. 8, Series II DAC is a Nordost Odin AES/EBU.
Well over a year later, the PS Audio remains my reference transport. Buying it wasn't simply a matter of convenience or industry discount; the Perfect Wave Transport sounds so much better than my old Carmen II Transport (which I'll happily sell to anyone who needs the parts), and is far more geared to 21st century technologies, that it has ushered in an entirely new era of music listening at Casa Bellecci-Serinus.
- Design: Optical Disc (CD) Transport and Memory Player with 64 MB of RAM
- Codecs: CD, WAV, 24/88, 24/96, 24/192 on DVD-A
- Can Display Cover Art
- Outputs: S/PIDF RCA and Toslink, AES/EBU, and I2S through HDMI
- Sample Rate Output 24/192 Maximum (32 Bit Capability When Applicable)
- Dimensions: 3.75″H x 14″D x 17″W
- Weight: 25 Pounds
- PS Audio
The PWT is unique among transports in that it is a memory player designed to read both redbook CDs and DVDs encoded with high-resolution audio. In some respects, it takes the place of a computer, yet is devoid of computer parts.
The PWT first reads everything on the optical disc you insert into its drive, then transfers it to an internal PS Audio Digital Lens with 64mB memory. The unit then outputs a digital signal from the Digital Lens' memory. PS Audio claims that this unique arrangement circumvents many of the errors and most of jitter introduced by conventionally designed transports. It also purportedly elevates playback to the level achieved by a computer hard drive, and manages to do so without introducing computer-related noise.
Although the PWT is a true memory player, its memory is not that large. If a disc is ejected while it is playing and the transport's "Stop" function is not engaged, PS Audio says that the music will continue to play up for to several minutes, until the 64mB memory is totally discharged. It has never played that long for me, perhaps because I often listen to complex compositions that demand a lot of memory. That's just a guess. Regardless, the process of ejecting a disc and holding it in your hand while it continues to play is a jaw-dropper for first-time visitors.
The unit's digital outputs include RCA, AES/EBU, Toslink optical, and a proprietary I2S / HDMI cable interface. The latter is designed to connect to PS Audio's PerfectWave DAC using PS Audio's special dedicated I2S / HDMI cable. PS Audio claims that I2S / HDMI eliminates all jitter, and potentially delivers the best sound. More on that later.
Unfortunately, the unit lacks the most stable S/PIDF connection, 75 ohm BNC. Note that Toslink output is limited to 24/96, while all other outputs transmit signals up to 24/192.
The Perfect Wave Transport and its multi-purpose remote control (designed to simultaneously control PS Audio's Perfect Wave DAC) have most of the usual functions: play, pause, stop, repeat track, repeat CD, fast forward, rapid retreat, next track, previous track. What it lacks is a "program" function. If you, like me, often wish to play selected tracks in an unusual sequence, you have to remain alert and change tracks by remote control.
The unit also has an unusually large display that enables you to read tracks numbers from, in my case, over 11 feet away. IMHO, this is essential to listening ease and comfort. If you prefer to dim the screen, there is a "DIM" button on the remote control to do just that. What I have been unable to do is turn off the dimming function and restore the display to full brightness without turning off the unit entirely and starting from scratch. At least I don't lose my programming sequence.
The power cord is removable – a major boon to those of us who know what a difference a change of power cord makes. The two 5x20mm 1 Amp Slow Blow fuses (Type T) are also easily replaced, should you wish to use audiophile grade fuses to achieve even better sound.
The PWT is network capable, and can download cover art and song titles from the internet to its large front panel touch screen. The information is stored on PS Audio's GlobalNetTM servers and stored on SD card memory. An internet connection, either via a network enabled Ethernet cable or a wireless Ethernet bridge connected to a router, is required.
Since everything you need to know about setting up the PWT is easily accessible on the PS Audio website, I shall dispense with parroting it here.
I made several choices when setting up the PWT. The first was to not risk introducing noise into the unit by taking advantage of the internet connectivity option. I've got plenty of net connectivity via the computers in my house. Besides, I really don't want to go cross-eyed trying to make out cover art or track listings from across the room, especially when I have the CD jacket right now next to me.
I also replaced all internal fuses with aftermarket fuses from HIFi-Tuning, purchased through The Cable Company. When I bought my fuses, the best grade available was the SilverStar. I have yet to try HiFi-Tuning's newer Supreme level, which retail for $50 and higher per fuse. From what I'm told, my system will sound even more transparent.
My cabling is entirely Nordost Odin. I know — the total cost of my power cables, speaker cables, and interconnects greatly exceeds the list price of the PWT. In fact, the cables cost far more than all my components combined. If that upsets you, please don't even consider listening to Nordost Odin. You might risk hearing how good it sounds. I know veteran dealers who have auditioned new equipment using other power cables, and then listened again with Nordost Odin. The verdict: the sound is so much better with Odin, you would think you were listening to different components. Hence, I use Odin to hear the ultimate that my equipment can deliver.
For a while, I also had the PS Audio Perfect Wave DAC (PWD) on hand. Though I tried PS Audio's best I2S / HDMI link ($500) between the PWT and PWD, I found the sound through my Nordost Odin AES/EBU cable more vivid and extended. Nor did I hear any loss of accuracy or detail by forgoing the I2S option. Hence, I stuck with my Nordost AES/EBU digital interconnect, both with the PWD, and currently with my Theta Gen. 8 Series II DAC (upgraded to 24/192 capability).
I also have also found that aftermarket equipment supports make a huge difference in the sound of the PWT (or any component, for that matter). Recently, after living with the PWT for a year, I was gifted with six Magico QPODS ($1700/four). When I replaced the supports I had long used under the PWT with the QPODS, I was astounded to discover the bass line at the start of Ivan Fischer's Mahler's Symphony No. 2, a DSD-native hybrid SACD from Channel Classics, grow in strength and solidity. What before had only been hinted at in muffled, unfocused tones now emerged as a fully cogent bass line with discernible pitches and far more weight. The QPODS have brought the sound of my system one major step closer to the sound of live music.
Perhaps the QPODS would make less of an improvement if my rack were anything other than an old MDF-shelved Michael Green UltraRack that I acquired used in the last century. I'm sure it's better than nothing, but ultra it is not. Nonetheless, it's what I've got until I win the lottery. I'm a mere six numbers away from Audiophile Nirvana.
Using the UltraRack, I've tried feet from four other companies, all well known and respected. All demonstrably reduce vibration, and some do a wonderful job with the air around instruments, but none has had anywhere near the same effect as the QPODS. The only feet that I own that I have not tried under my transport and DAC are the 16 Stillpoints Ultra SS (Stainless Steel) supports that make a major difference to the sound of my Eficion F300 loudspeakers (review forthcoming). I'd love to compare the Stillpoints to the QPODS, but I could only do by removing the Stillpoints from my speakers, which would skew my reference. Someday…
In Use
Unless you are new to the high-end, I'm certain you've read enough "With the [piece of gear under review] in place, I heard so much more deep bass on the classic recording of Brubeck's Take 5 that my jaw dropped" examples to tempt you to never again read audio reviews. I'm not going to tempt you further in that direction.
I have already noted how much more "there there" there was when I replaced my old transport with the PS Audio Perfect Wave Transport. On every level – including range extension, depth of color, solidity on the low end, richness in the middle, clarity and seemingly limitless extension, soundstage size and focus, and transparency – every one of my beloved recordings sounded clearer, fuller, and more real. My only problem is with my Arleen Auger disc of Love Songs on Delos, which for some reason the PWT refuses to read. The only other disc that has given me difficulty is one of chamber music by Christopher Rouse. I have no explanation for why, out of the well over 10,000 CDs in my collection, the PWT will not play these two.
Besides noting the vast improvement over the sound of the Theta Carmen II and another transport modified by Alex Peychev, the only other transport comparison I performed was with a heavily modified Oppo BDP-93. Despite all its modifications, I found the upgraded Oppo's sound edgy and off-putting. I cannot make any definitive statements about that unit, however, because I was unable to use my reference Nordost Odin AES/EBU digital cable on its RCA output. Instead, I used a Nordost Odin BNC digital cable outfitted with an RCA-to-BNC adapter. Although some have claimed that the adapter is neutral, I am not certain.
What I am sure of is the crucial importance of the transport to the sound of the audio chain. For those of us who use stand-alone DACs, the choice of transport is critical. If you're using an old Sony or whatever as your transport, you owe it to yourself to try the PWT. The better your equipment and cables, and the more detailed your system, the more you will be able to hear the vast difference in sound between transports.
After a year's time, a fellow audiophile told me that Kyle Takenawa's Reference Audio Mods had made a major improvement to the sound of his system. When I checked out the company's website, and saw the proposed mods for the Perfect Wave Transport, what I read made sense to me. PS Audio holds its products to a certain price point. Why wouldn't a better clock and improved power supply, both of which would have raised the list price of the PWT considerably had they come with the stock unit, make an improvement in the sound?
When I was able to reach Kyle to discuss what would be involved, he explained that he had recently changed his approach to modifying the PWT. After any number of listening tests, he had concluded that the greatest improvement in sound came from what, on his website, is currently listed as the "PWT Level 1 Modifications." The changes include Audiocom's Superclock 4-S and PSU, and Rubycon ZL/ZLG capacitors.
Shortly before I had expected to hold an open house for members of the Bay Area Audiophile Society, Kyle completed his work. He was quite ill with the flu at the time, and really pushed himself to finish the mod in time and ship the unit to me. Although the upgraded power supply loosened a bit in transit, and the man who tightened it said the soldering work was sloppy, I am certain that Kyle's work would have been more meticulous had he not been suffering from a high fever.
What I do know is that the unit has performed problem-free for a good nine months. My only quibble is a very slight "tick" that I hear when the PWT advances between tracks.
Because my system underwent multiple changes at the same time, including an unexpected change of amplifiers, I had a very short window in which to assess the effects of the mod. I immediately became aware of an increase in bass response, and an added and more natural weight to instruments and voices. When a bass drum was thwacked, for example, the sound was not only more pronounced and defined, but also heavier, as if a lot more air was being moved. To me, such changes are of major significance.
Perhaps the ultimate endorsement of Kyle's Level 1mod is that when I switched back and forth between my modified PWT and my next to current Macbook Pro (outfitted with an Intel i7 chip, 8 GB RAM, and solid-state drive; connected to the Theta DAC/preamp via a Nordost USB cable, Wavelength's asynchronous Wavelink, and a Nordost Odin BNC digital cable; and using Amarra 2.1 as the music player, the sound was virtually the same. With Amarra's latest release, 2.2, upping the ante, and pushing the computer's sound ahead one notch, I am considering returning the PWT to Kyle for his latest "PWT Statement Modifications."
One of the reasons I have stalled so long on reviewing this transport, which was first released in 2009, is that I was unable to test one of its key features: the ability to play DVDs encoded with 176.4/24 or 192/24 material from Reference Recordings, MA Recordings, and Chesky. Now that the receiver chip in the Theta Gen. 8, Series II DAC has been upgraded to full 192 kbps capability, and I can hear what's on these hi-res DVDs, I can attest to the incredible advantage the PS Audio offers over more conventional transports.
There is simply no comparison between the sound of a conventional CD and the sound of one of these company's hi-res masters. There is simply more information on the disc. Everything sounds so much larger, fuller, richer-sounding, and more three dimensional – more realistic – that it's hard to go back to CD when there is a hi-res alternative. No wonder Reference Recordings' 176.4/24 HRx DVDs, and hi-res downloads from HDTracks, Linn, 2L, Cedille, Naim, and other labels have become so popular.
PS Audio's Perfect Wave Transport is a CD/DVD transport for the 21st century. Capable of delivering stellar sound from both redbook and hi-res encoded mediums, and equipped with an internet-augmented display, it's the finest transport I've ever heard in my reference system. And it is in my system. I bought the review sample.


text:
Use mouse scroll wheel over image or pinch-to-zoom on touch devices. You can also click and drag around on image.
goldRush Rally 8
Parked togoldRush Rally 8
byXPEL Protective Films
Many of the vehicles on goldRush Rally are protected with XPEL ULTIMATE self-healing film, so they're protected during this long journey from Boston to Los Angeles in priceless supercars!
xpel clear bra clearbra paint protection film self-healing ppf film cars n coffee cars and coffee stealth ultimate clear bumper mirror hood fender lights headlight no more rock chips rock chips stone chips bonnet wingsSign up to add your own keywords
More from this Profile:
Project Hennessey Performance Tuner School
Project ULTIMATE BMW X5M
Garage STEALTH Huracan


text:
Event: Bollywood celebs at Percept Picture Company's 25 years Celebration bash held at Grand Hyatt, Mumbai.
Guest List: Neha Dhupia, Aftab Shivdasani, Mugdha Godse, Koena Mitra, Neil Nitin Mukesh, Reema Sen, Sophie Chaudhary, Sonali Bendre, Brinda Parekh, Shama Sikander, Dino Morea, Mandira Bedi, Tusshar Kapoor, Anusha Dandekar, Shonali Nagrani, Shweta Salve, Aditi Govitrikar, Anupama Verma, Yash Birla, Ashish Chaudhary, Sanober Kabir, Adnan Sami, Azaan Sami, Ken Ghosh, Sohail Khan, Surveen Chawla, Vatsal Seth, Yuvraj Singh
Venue: Grand Hyatt, Mumbai.
Date: 18-Jul-2009
Bollywood celeb Aamir Khan along with wife Kiran Rao were spotted at PVR.
Bollywood producers-directors Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Krishan Kumar, Ravi Bahl, Divya Khosla Kumar, Sajid Nadiadwala, Wardha Nadiadwala celebrate diwali with Bhushan Kumar
Bollywood celebs Kareena Kapoor Khan, Malaika Arora, Sonali Bendre, Nimrat Kaur among others were snapped by paparazzi.Bebo looked super cool in a casual look. She wore a white t-shirt with yoga pants...
Bollywood actress Shama Sikander celebrated Diwali festival at her residence.
Bollywood celebs Aamir Khan, Zaira Wasim, Fatima Sana Shaikh, Sanya Malhotra, Anil Kapoor, Nitesh Tiwari, Aparshakti Khurrana, Bhushan Kumar, Javed Akhtar, Shabana Azmi, Sachin Tendulkar, Rajkumar Hir...


text:
- Application Lifecycle Management Overview
- ALM Development Management
- Application Governance
- Application Security Testing
- Application Transformation Software Services
- Cloud Application Delivery
- Content and Collaboration
- Solutions for DevOps
- Performance Engineering
- Software as a Service
- Test Execution
- Test Management
- Testing Center of Excellence
- Operations Management Overview
- Application Performance Management
- Business Service Management
- Client Automation
- Configuration Management Systems
- Content and Collaboration
- Converged Cloud Management and Security
- Solutions for DevOps
- Data Center Automation
- Hybrid Delivery Services
- IT Service Management
- Network Management
- Software as a Service
- System Management
Additional Server resources
Opening up a world of new possibilities
HP is bringing 100% fault-tolerant HP NonStop solutions to x86 architecture. As a result, customers will experience the only flexible approach to a 100% fault-tolerant infrastructure with the choice of HP NonStop on either the Intel® Itanium® architecture or the x86 architecture of Intel® Xeon® processors—another major milestone in the HP Project Odyssey roadmap to redefine the future of mission-critical computing.
You will benefit from continued innovations for your established NonStop environments with greater scalability, performance and security. And, by extending the HP server portfolio to include NonStop systems built on x86 technology, you will be able to choose which NonStop platform is the best path for your business, providing continuity for years to come regardless of the underlying infrastructure.
Only HP provides you with a proven solution for always-on business that delivers timeless value and leverages the HP Converged Infrastructure to maximize data center efficiency.
Why HP NonStop? Because your customers never wait.


text:
SAN RAFAEL, California: There won't be an encore for Sean Penn and Robin Wright's marriage _ court records show the couple are officially divorced.
A judgment ending their 14-year marriage was entered July 22. The filing was first reported Wednesday by People.com
The couple's marriage has been an on-again, off-again affair. Wright filed for divorce last August, the third time the couple petitioned to either separate or divorce.
The filings show Penn and Wright will share custody of their 16-year-old son. They also have a 19-year-old daughter.
Requests for comment e-mailed to the actors' publicists were not immediately returned.
Details of any financial settlement the ex-couple entered were not filed with the court. AP


text:
Education >> Browse Articles >> Tuition Reimbursement
5 Top Hospitals That Will Pay for Your Education
Many hospitals offer some form of tuition reimbursement or loan forgiveness, but these five hospitals do that, and more. From staff development classes to on-site degree programs, these hospitals virtually pay you to go to school. If you are lucky enough to land a job at one of these prestigious hospitals, you will find not only opportunities for educational advancement, but also concierge services, employee health clubs, and on-site child care.
Lucille Packard Children's Hospital is internationally renowned for it's for the care they provide – both to their patients and their employees.
5. Lucille Packard Children's Hospital – Palo Alto, CA
Company Research | Search Jobs
Tuition reimbursement
Work/Life Balance office
On-site Master's and Bachelor's degree programs
Shared governance model for nurses – Clinical Nurses have a voice in determining nursing practices


text:
AMF Bowling Files for Chapter 11
AMF Bowling Worldwide, the world's largest operator of bowling alleys, filed for bankruptcy-court protection Tuesday after being squeezed by a cash crunch and a failure to find a buyer for the business. David Benoit has details on The News Hub. Photo: Getty Images.
This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.
... the the ... and all in bankruptcy protection while I was expecting a ... second time since they were taken over and in making any ... day Benoit here with the details of this one ... off ... on his is a big surprise ... second time a yes not a cute surprise ... so uninteresting need even try to sell themselves them ... last year and hired ... investment bankers from all was in December to try and sell them ... and when I knew about this reason I mean this is a ... pretty big scene a bowling alley the world's largest world Credit bowling alley operator ... would still is the most most bowling alley to mom pop operations to live in certain an anomaly in this world write exactly they're only a couple of ... white and yet never far away the biggest yes ... ALM and yet socially they're they're kind of ... two stories going on here ... all one is just that bowling itself is not all that lucrative of a business to be in right now ... aam it's ... amazing ... it will also ... its connection to staff and they they point out that ... the decline in people joining polling weeks is really with trips unit at a steady income rose to billion dearie Wednesday every tend to have your days and nine write and also they they seem to imply that that when you're in the lead to domestic care of the bowling alley itself yet he helped me write the frills and the now ... fifty two to go with it which ... is ... as you pointed out when you when you're getting to is that ... a lot people to want that don't want just the ball right they were still up your sleep you and I ... knew I'd find it annoying LBO Paul's uncle rectitude of lot to do that ... for other people it's very frightening Mac OS love my ... can't operate ... without a reference to ... read ... on ... but not so there's that and then there's the fact that they ... were taken over in nineteen eighty six yet by Goldman Sachs and private equity like I am ... Goldman kind of ... whoever them up with a lot of debt and push them to extend a lot in extent we too quickly ... they went bankrupt in nineteen eighty two thousandone ... he now ... others of their small private equity shop ... a ... turnaround for bed that then ... Boeing fell off the map again and a ...


text:
Prescription Drugs Online without a Prescription.
More Reasons:
1. No Prescription Needed. No Appointments or Waiting Room.
2. Fully Confidentiality Online Ordering, No Embarrassment.
3. Fast Worldwide Delivery & Free Shipping Worldwide Fee.
4. Free Discreet Packaging, Shipping and Billing.
5. SSL Secure Online Payment Processing.
6. No Hidden Fee in Order.
7. No Subscription Fee.
8. No Ad Email (Spam).
No Prescription.
Drugs online without a prescription.
Welcome to our Online Pharmacy - Online Prescriptions without a Prescription.
You are occupied every day. You do not have time to go in a pharmacy to buy even the most simple prescription drugs and medicines for your treatment. You hesitate to buy "special" prescription drugs in public pharmacies.
Our site can help you.
You can buy any prescription drugs and medicines without prescription, not moving to a pharmacy during any time convenient for you.
Due to an online pharmacy, buyers can buy drugs on the Internet now. Online visiting of shop is very fashionably now because of its speed and simplicity of use.
Visit our prescriptions online site now and test simplicity and comfort of online visiting of the online shop!
Popular prescriptions such as prograf, calcitriol, actigall, progesterone, azathioprine and hydrochlorothiazide are offered here under the low prices than in usual pharmacies. Study our list of popular prescription drugs and choose a necessary drug.
You should not wait in turn to buy a drug. Each order, by which you make, is send to your address right now. And for each drugs, which you have bought, you are sure in privacy; the order arrives in time and in a safe package.
We should exploit benefits from our online pharmacy. It certainly will rescue your time and effort, and also will enable us to maximize your qualitative time. Service and drugs what you will ever require from online pharmacies - always accessible 24 hours per day and 7 days per week.


text:
Memory of Luis Ramirez Invoked During Debate on Hate Crimes Prevention Act
To view this video, you will need to install the Flash Player and turn Javascript on.
Yesterday, the U.S. Senate approved, by a 63-29 vote, to attach the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act to S. 1390, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010, which is considered a "must-pass meaure."
The Hate Crimes bill was introduced on Wednesday as an amendment by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid on behalf of Senator Patrick Leahy, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. After hearing speeches for and against the bill, the Senate voted to end debate on the amendment on Thursday, and was formally agreed to by unanimous consent.
We commend all the Senators who spoke out in support of the Hate Crimes bill, including Senator Robert Menendez (seen above) and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (below). On Tuesday, MALDEF observed the one year anniversary of Luis Ramirez's death by calling on Congress to pass the Hate Crimes Prevention Act. We are glad to see that our calls, in addition to calls by numerous organizations and individuals, have been answered. We continue to urge the Department of Justice to file federal hate crime charges against those responsible for Luis's brutal murder. To contact the Department of Justice about Luis's case, visit the Criminal Section of the Civil Rights Division here.
Remarks on Luis Ramirez and the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid:
Instrumental to the passage of the Hate Crimes Prevention Act were the efforts of Judy Shepard, Matthew Shepard's mother. Her powerful video can been viewed below:
To view this video, you will need to install the Flash Player and turn Javascript on.


text:
Topeak's MTX TrunkBag EXP boasts a large main compartment and expandable side panniers to carry plenty of gear. Plus it's built to last with rigid molded panels mated to 600-denier nylon. And, it's packed with handy features, such as a shoulder strap, carrying handle, taillight clip and top elastic straps. There are even reflective strips for safety. And, Topeak's ingenious MTX System makes it a snap to attach it to your Topeak MTX QuickTrack rack (sold separately).
(based on 2 reviews)
of respondents would recommend this to a friend.
Write a Review
Best Uses
Reviewed by 2 customers
Sort by
Displaying reviews 1-2
Topeak MTX TrunkBag EXP
By Randy
from Miami Lakes, FL
About Me Avid bike rider
One of the best bicycle trunk bags ever purchased. Has plenty of room to store your portable goods. Even gone shopping with it. Also purchased the side frame. I take the bag everywhere I go bicycle riding. I take it to the beach to hold my towels and sun products. Portable and removeable. Also comes with a shoulder strap so you can carry it when you are not bicycle riding. A great purchase.
Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
Was this review helpful? Yes / No
- You may also flag this review
I would buy this product again and again
By Bike commuter Safety
from Medina, OH
About Me Bike Commuter
I bought my bag today, for more storage so i am not riding around town with a bag on my handle bars. Once i bought this and got home i had to figure out where to put lights when riding early morning/dusk/dark, etc Also The thing i notice was i will have to add extra safety reflective tape to my bag for night portection. I do recommend this bag to anyone that rides for fun/ and uses their bike to get around town.
Back to top
Previous | Next


text:
There are numerous child care programs within a 10 block radius of Washington Square Park. Full-time and part-time care options are available, with longer days more typically available for children beginning at age 2 years 9 months. Many of the child care programs in the Greenwich Village area operate on the school year calendar. The majority of families applied for September admission during the previous Fall and registered during early Spring. But don't worry, there may still be spaces to be found.
Many public schools offer before-school, after-school and extended day programs to families enrolled at the public school. When you register your child at school, ask the school about after-school programs at the school or those which are frequented by other families.
Other ways to identify care for out-of-school time:
All NYC residents are eligible for free public school services for their children beginning at 4 years of age. Eligibility for public school is determined by the child's birth date and place of residence. The birth date cutoff is December 31 of the year the child enrolls. Therefore, if you are seeking prekindergarten admission for your child in September 2014, s/he must be 4 years of age by December 31, 2014; likewise, if you are seeking kindergarten admission for your child in September 2014, s/he must be 5 years of age by December 31, 2014.
NYC public schools provide a part day or full day program option. Some schools also offer school-day Pre-K programs. Space in a public Pre-K program is limited and is available on a first-come, first-serve basis. It is not uncommon however that spaces still remain in the early Fall. To learn more and to review a list of programs, see the NYC Department of Education.
In NYC, kindergarten is scheduled as a full school day program, typically 8:40 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
Elementary School: Families residing in NYU faculty housing on or near Washington Square Village are zoned for PS 3: 490 Hudson Street, 212-691-1183
Beginning in September, families residing in The Armory at West 15th Street will be zoned for a new school, PS340-The Foundling School. For children enrolling in a grade other than Kindergarten you will want to go to the District 2 Office of Student Enrollment at 333 Seventh Avenue, 12th floor to secure school placement.
A map of the 2014 school zones and boundaries is available here.
Middle School: Families with children in grades 6-8 living in Washington Square Village and West 15th Street are zoned for MS 104, located at 330 East 21st Street [between First and Second Avenue], 212-674-4545.
To determine the zoned school for your address, visit the NYC Department of Education or contact 311.
As a new NYC resident you may register your elementary and middle school-age child beginning the week before school begins. Registration hours are typically in the morning however it is recommended that you call the school first (see above) to confirm their availability and registration process.
To register your child for school, your child needs to accompany you, and you must bring:
Finally, if your child requires special education services, please bring the most recent copy of his or her Individual Education Plan (IEP), if available.
For more information, visit Inside Schools to learn more about the NYC public school system and read profiles on each school.
Depending upon the distance from your residence to your zoned school your child may have access to transportation to and from school on a free public school bus, or may be provided with a New York City subsidized Metro Card. The majority of children enrolled in PS3 and PS41 are eligible for a NYC public school bus. When you register, be sure to ask about public school transportation as well as pickup and drop off locations. For additional details, see the Department of Education.
All high school-aged students who are new to New York City and are entering high school will be assigned to a high school at the Student Registration Center during the the last week of August through mid-September.
The Centers are open Monday through Friday during the hours of 8 a.m.-3 p.m. (Please note that the Centers are closed on Labor Day).
Students, accompanied by their parent/legal guardian, must go to one of the specially established High School Enrollment Center to meet with a High School Admissions counselor to identify school placement options. Review the list of Borough Enrollment Offices now, and in mid-August check for the list of summer locations available in downtown Manhattan and in each of the five boroughs.
Be sure to bring the documents identified above or you will be turned away and told to return once you have them in hand.
In addition to school placement, be sure to ask about public school transportation options when you register. Transportation subsidies may be provided, upon request, to high school students; eligibility is determined by the distance between your residence and the high school your child will attend. See the Department of Education for more details.
Each year, there are a handful of seats available in the NYC Specialized High Schools. Students entering 9th and 10th grade who moved to NYC after the Fall exam date and are seeking admission to one of the Specialized High Schools must register with the Borough Enrollment Office for the examination during a time period specified by the Department of Education.
(During 2013, new families were required to register for the SHSAT between July 15-August 21, 2013 and the SHSAT examination was held on August 26, 2013; auditions for LaGuardia will be held on August 28, 2013.)
For exact dates and more information about high school options in NYC, visit the NYC Department of Education or Inside Schools, a website which includes information about the NYC public school system and profiles on each school.
There are more than eight private independent schools in close proximity to NYU; many others are a short and easy commute from the University. Private school applications take place during the Fall of the year before admission is desired and admission decisions are made in the late Winter.
On rare occasions it is still possible to find a seat in a private school at the end of August/beginning of September. Therefore, if you have your heart set on exploring private school for this Fall, it may be worthwhile to place calls directly to the individual schools you are interested in enrolling. Alternatively, the Parents League of NY maintains a list of schools with vacancies that it makes available to its members.
For assistance with gaining access to private schools, information about the admission process and resources to help you identify private independent schools in New York City, see the Family Care webpages or contact the Parents League of NY.
Supporting your child's physical development is as important as taking care of your child's intellectual development. Team sports, sports leagues and other organizations for youth are available in New York City as elsewhere. City-raised children in particular benefit from participation in classes and fitness programs. As always, other families with young children are the best resource. To help you get started, a sampling of resources follows:
A state-of the art sports and recreation center provides classes for individuals of all ages. View their program guide of recreational activities for more information.
The parks throughout NYC offer a wide range of activities for young and old alike. Use this site to locate your special areas of interest(s). You can also access information about the three recreation centers closest to Washington Square Village:
New York City is a center for the arts. There are an abundance of programs for adults and children from which to choose. If you or your child is interested in music lessons for voice or instrument, two conveniently located local music schools can provide individual and group instruction:
Selecting a physician (pediatrician and other) is a very personal process. It can however be especially challenging when you are in the midst of a move to a new City or geographic region and are making a selection for a new health insurance program.
To help you get established in NYC below is a list of ideas to help you identify a pediatrician (and other physicians) as well as the names of a selection of pediatricians utilized by faculty and other community members.
A sampling of pediatricians or pediatric group practices that are commonly used by a number of faculty and others in the Washington Square community can be found here.


text:
Steela and Saw Gerrera continue their offensive to free Onderon from the Separatists in the latest episode of "Star Wars: The Clone Wars."
After an unsuccessful rebel attempt to rescue Onderon's true king, Ramsis Dendup, an unexpected ally steps forward to halt Dendup's execution and aid the rebel cause in "The Soft War," debuting at 8:30 p.m. CT Oct. 20 on Cartoon Network.
Lucasfilms provided these episode sneak peeks (above and below) and some some fun trivia about the episode.
Episode Trivia:
- Gregg Berger joins the cast of "The Clone Wars" as Gen. Kalani. He is a veteran voice actor known for his work on "Transformers" (as Grimlock), G.I.Joe (as Spirit), and perhaps most famously, Garfield (as Odie).
- David Kaye plays General Tandin. He's known as the voice of Clank of Ratchet & Clank videogames, the voice of Optimus Prime in "Transformers: Animated" and Megatron in "Beast Wars: Transformers."
- General Kalani is the first super tactical droid seen in the series. A more robust version of the spindly tactical droid introduced in Season One, several tactical droid designs will appear throughout Season 5.
Want more? Discuss this article and others on Show Patrol's Facebook page.


text:
A little bit more info might help sell this thing.
WHY are you selling it?
Is the radio still for sale ? If so I will make an offer
is it still for sale if so will make offer
I will buy if you still selling
hes silly,it said sold


text:
For the more than 36 million Americans who will turn 65 in the coming decade, the best cities and towns for retirement now have a much higher bar to clear. They can't just be great places to live—they also have to offer great value. In our "Retire Here, Not There" series, we survey every state to find less-expensive alternatives to the best-known retirement destinations.
Spend a day or two in the Palmetto State, and you may quickly understand the state slogan—"smiling faces and beautiful places." The state's Lowcountry region, which extends 150 miles along the state's coast, is renowned for its miles of sugary white-sand beaches, historic architecture and abundant golf courses.
And as for those smiles, if the retired folks in South Carolina seem relaxed, it may be because they're enjoying a more low-key lifestyle, and less congestion, than they would a little further south among their brethren in Florida. While a growing number of people have been flocking to the state for its mild winters and slower pace, the state remains a bit of an "undiscovered gem," says Laura Scharr-Bykowsky, a principal at Ascend Financial Planning in Columbia, S.C. What's more, the state boasts low property taxes and no state estate tax.
Of course, the state has its drawbacks, too. Summers are often hot and humid, and Palmetto State summers can be dominated by the palmetto bug—the state's version of an extra-large cockroach. While many of the state's smaller cities and towns offer a good mix of cultural offerings, residents say much of the area offers relatively little in the way of shopping or night life.
There are exceptions to the "undiscovered" rule, too, and some of the state's more popular destinations have gotten pricey. Take Hilton Head Island, a Lowcountry resort about a 45-minute drive from Savannah, Ga., famously frequented by former President Bill Clinton and his family for vacations. All the extra attention has helped to lift prices: The cost of living is 33% higher than the national average and the median home price is $305,700, according to Sperling's Best Places.
Still, for those looking for a warm and friendly retirement retreat, there are plenty of cheaper alternatives. Here are four.


text:
My life, for me, is boring, and too consistent. I want something interesting to happen.
Life should have a surprise at every turn.
What do you think?
Silence. I Kill You.
Join the military, that would surely help with that.
also what do you consider interesting? This thread topic needs some major definitions, things are too vague at this point.
Up all night because someones got to do it
I could've sworn I have seen a topic discussing this already. Oh well.
If you feel you want more excitement in your life, do something different or go to more places. Life is boring because you make it that way in my opinion. There are plenty of activities, old and new to do and try out.
I've cut majority my hair off to try something new and it feels great. It's been easier to wash my head, I'll tell you what. I'm also doing neurobic exercises, working out more and in a wacky skintight suit to around the neighborhood as well and trying to learn new information to increase my knowledge. Keeping a mindset of being positive and not thinking about boredom has helped me a bit also.
Anime, video games and money.
It's foolish to fear what we've yet to see and know. ~Itachi Uchiha
Not that my own life is particularly exciting, but I would say it is what you make of it.
If you let yourself just do the same things over and over again, it will become boring.
Fortunately, there are many things to do in life, you just have to pick something and give it a try.
Perhaps try to learn a new skill - perhaps take up one of the arts, or something technical like programming or electronics, or a sport like skateboarding or biking. Maybe find a book on a subject you've never looked into before. Possibly spend some time with some club or organization, or some people you think you might have a common interest with.
Alternatively, you could just get a cat or two. Cats are never boring.
My life is hedonistic and detached.
Winter Is Coming.
For me life is about enjoying things. I enjoy playing video games, watching anime, dreaming about going to Japan and sitting in an outdoor hot spring, getting cozy in my bed, taking hot showers, eating great food, exploring, making lasting relationships, and even finding a lover to spend the rest of my life with.
That being said, life is completely pointless and devoid of meaning.
Yeah, my life is boring, nothing special has really ever happened to me, I wish something like that happened, but well... I guess I have to wait -.-
what is this cr stuff
1) Waking up
2) Crunchyrolling
3) School
4) Watching tv
5) Eating alot
6) Animé!
Crunchyrolling is my thing -ttebayo!
I've given my life meaning. I've set a goal and am sticking to it no matter what happens.
I could fall in and love then lose it all but I wouldn't care if I still got my one reason to enjoy this life.
I'm 21, life is great now, it's what I make it.
But as a teenager I can say from experience that life is only boring if you make yourself feel closed in by school, the people around you, and your parents. I say CARPE DIEM, seize the day, for it is only during my adolescence that I have any regrets.
To be honest my life used to be normal and awesome but at the moment its a living hell that I will have to pass through to make it right again. Its a trial I will get through and not living is not an option. In order for me to make it normal and to feel proud I have to move on no matter how much it kills me. Im scared everyday I wake ever since my down fall. its a constant scare. Im so scared to the point of not giving a shit and just going with the flow. Madness gives me confidence I don't inderstand why but if Im mad I move forward more quickly and I hate that. So yeah at the moment Im not proud of myself eventhough others are always telling me they are proud of my progress. Pretty much Ive been in despair for awhile and im tired of being miss happy when its a lie. Somethings got to give.
I think that life is unnecessary, maybe I'm wrong but I don't imagine a reason to be here. We born, we live, we die, what's the point? It's true that we have things that make us happy like friends, family, do sports, etc, but I think that there are a lot more that make us to suffer. And what about those that suffer more than us like people in Africa or people that were raped for example, what if paradise doesn't exists? That people that suffered in their life won't have another life to live happily.
Me siento triste porque terminó Sakurasou :(
Life is the pursuit of improving yourself, and obtaining self satisfaction.
In order to be happy you have have some sense of satisfaction of who you are. If you're happy ignoring the people starving in Nigeria there is nothing wrong with that. If you are unsatisfied with the state of world hunger and spreading epidemics and blah/whatever and that makes you unhappy, then maybe you should pursue a resolution to these problems and become satisfied with your efforts.
Also, I hear 'swag' is life but I'm not sure what that means.
Life was finding something to do that I'd absolutely love.
July 4th, 1776 was the day that man kind started making better decisions.
JayVeeDees wrote:
Yeah, my life is boring, nothing special has really ever happened to me, I wish something like that happened, but well... I guess I have to wait -.-
If you want something to happen, make it happen.
July 4th, 1776 was the day that man kind started making better decisions.


text:
The Orlando Magic on Saturday will exercise their 2014-15 team options on Maurice Harkless, Tobias Harris, Andrew Nicholson and Nik Vucevic, the Orlando Sentinel has learned.
Under NBA rules regarding former first-round draft picks, a team has until Oct. 31 before a player's second season to pick up its third-year option. A team also has until Oct. 31 before a player's third season to exercise its fourth-year option.
Harkless and Nicholson are about to begin their second NBA seasons. Harris and Vucevic are about to begin their third seasons.
These procedural moves were expected.
Any players around the league who don't have their third- or fourth-year options exercised for 2014-15 will become unrestricted free agents in July.
The rule doesn't apply this year to Victor Oladipo because he's in his rookie season and, as a first-round pick, his second season already is fully guaranteed.
The rule also doesn't apply to Doron Lamb, E'Twaun Moore and Kyle O'Quinn, because they were second-round picks.
Josh Robbins covers the Orlando Magic and the NBA for the Orlando Sentinel. You can reach him via e-mail at email@example.com and connect with him on Facebook at facebook.com/JoshuaBRobbins. Follow him on Twitter at @JoshuaBRobbins.


text:
Grand-Am Releases 2013 Schedule Of Races
GRAND-AM Road Racing announced its 2013 schedule on Friday and it includes three new events and a combined weekend with the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón.
Both the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series and Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge schedules will feature inaugural races at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Tex.; Road Atlanta in Braselton, Ga.; and Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kan.
In addition, GRAND-AM will partner with the American Le Mans Series on a combination weekend at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wis.; the two organizations are in the process of merging and will operate as one, new sports car entity beginning with the 2014 season.
"Last year we raced for the first time at Indianapolis and Detroit, and GRAND-AM will continue to break new ground in 2013," said Ed Bennett, GRAND-AM president and CEO. "We're excited about going to historic Road Atlanta – plus the new road courses at Austin and Kansas City – for the first time. And with the combined event at Road America, sports car fans will get a glimpse of the future."
GRAND-AM's flagship race – the 51st running of the Rolex 24 At Daytona – opens the 2013 schedule Jan. 26-27 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. The Rolex 24 also opens the second annual North American Endurance Championship presented by VISITFLORIDA.com, a special three-race Rolex Series competition that includes the Sahlen's Six Hours of The Glen at Watkins Glen International on June 30 and the Brickyard Grand Prix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 26. GRAND-AM will again lead off IMS' "Kroger Super Weekend at the Brickyard" that also will include the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.
GRAND-AM's first races at the new Circuit of the Americas facility will be March 2. The Road Atlanta event is set for April 20, while the debut on the new 2.36-mile Kansas Speedway circuit will be Aug. 17.
The combined GRAND-AM/ALMS weekend at Road America will be Aug. 10-11, with GRAND-AM competition the first day. GRAND-AM will join the IZOD IndyCar Series at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Ala. on April 6 and at Detroit Belle Isle on June 1.
Other returning events include Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio on June 15; Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, Calif. on Sept. 8; and Lime Rock Park in Lakeville, Conn. on Sept. 27-28.
The Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge will expand to 11 events in 2012. On nine of those weekends, the CTSCC will run on the same day as the Rolex Series, with the exceptions being Daytona (CTSCC on Jan. 25) and Watkins Glen (June 29). Also, the CTSCC will have two days of competition at Lime Rock, with the Street Tuner class on Sept. 27 and the Grand Sport class race joining the Rolex Series race on Sept. 28.
2013 GRAND-AM Rolex Series Schedule:
Jan. 26-27 Daytona International Speedway
March 2 Circuit of the Americas
April 6 Barber Motorsports Park
April 20 Road Atlanta
June 1 Detroit Belle Isle
June 15 Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course
June 30 Watkins Glen International
July 26 Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Aug. 10 * Road America
Aug. 17 Kansas Speedway
Sept. 8 Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca
Sept. 28 Lime Rock Park
*Combination event with American Le Mans Series
2013 GRAND-AM Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge Schedule:
Jan. 25 Daytona International Speedway
March 2 Circuit of the Americas
April 6 Barber Motorsports Park
April 20 Road Atlanta
June 15 Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course
June 29 Watkins Glen International
July 26 Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Aug. 10 * Road America
Aug. 17 Kansas Speedway
Sept. 8 Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca
Sept. 27-28 Lime Rock Park
*Combination event with American Le Mans SeriesNo Comment


text:
You are hereHome ›
Narrow Search
Now showing results 1-7 of 7
This collection of math problems is based on a weekly series of space and Earth science problems distributed to teachers during the 2013-2014 school year. The problems were intended for students looking for additional challenges in the math and... (View More) physical science curriculum and were created to be authentic glimpses of modern science and engineering issues, often involving actual research data. Includes information for teachers and answer key. (View Less)
This collection of activities is based on a weekly series of space science mathematics problems distributed during the 2012-2013 school year. They were intended for students looking for additional challenges in the math and physical science... (View More) curriculum in grades 5 through 12. The problems were created to be authentic glimpses of modern science and engineering issues, often involving actual research data. The problems were designed to be one-pagers with a Teacher's Guide and Answer Key as a second page. (View Less)
This collection of 160 math problems covers the 20 science topic themes presented by the NASA/JPL Year of the Solar System (YOSS) website, covering the solar system, planets, the search for life, and robotics. Examples of topics included are: scale... (View More) of the solar system; asteroids; comets; moons and rings; volcanism in the solar system; ice in the solar system; water in the solar system; the Sun, transits and eclipses; astrobiology; magnetosphers and more. It is intended as a mathematics supplement for the science content presented at the YOSS website, and features grade-appropriate and Common Core State Standards-based math problems based on science content for grades 3-12. (View Less)
This is an activity about using solar arrays to provide power to the space station. Learners will solve a scenario-based problem by calculating surface areas and determining the amount of power or electricity the solar arrays can create. This is... (View More) mathematics activity 1 of 2 found in the ISS L.A.B.S. Educator Resource Guide. (View Less)
This problem set is about scale. Using a ruler, learners will measure the distance between two points on a satellite image and determine the scale of the image and other information to answer a series of questions. Answer key is provided. This is... (View More) part of Earth Math: A Brief Mathematical Guide to Earth Science and Climate Change. (View Less)
Materials Cost: Free
In this problem set, learners will analyze an image of Washington, DC, taken from orbit. They will determine scale and take measurements of several features in the image. A link to more images taken from the International Space Station and the... (View More) answer key are provided. This is part of Earth Math: A Brief Mathematical Guide to Earth Science and Climate Change. (View Less)
Materials Cost: Free
This is an activity about satellite size. Learners will calculate the volume of the IMAGE (Imager for Magnetopause-to-Aurora Global Exploration) satellite, the first satellite mission to image the Earth's magnetosphere. They will then determine the... (View More) effect of doubling and tripling the satellite dimensions on the satellite's mass and cost. This is the first activity in the Solar Storms and You: Exploring Satellite Design educator guide. (View Less)


text: ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE —— Seeking a project accounts receivable person with primary knowledge in handling of AIA billing, lien waivers, notice to owners/contractors, bond claims, and project change orders/budgets. Other accounting duties performed upon request. Advanced excel knowledge is a requirement. Microsoft Dynamics knowledge is a plus. Please email resume, salary requirements and references to email@example.com WEB OS26851


text:
Mortgage rates across the country remained near rock-bottom lows near the end of June with 15-year fixed mortgage rates averaging 3.20% and 30-year rates at 3.85% nationwide, according to data collected by SNL Financial. Alaskans enjoyed the lowest average rates in both categories, at 2.81% for a 15-year fixed mortgage and 3.53% for a 30-year mortgage. Delaware residents faced the highest average rates, with 15-year rates at 3.43% and 30-year rates at 4.22%.
Long-term rates should continue their stretch near historic lows, as the Federal Open Market Committee announced June 20 that it would continue ''Operation Twist'' through the end of 2012 in an effort to keep long-term rates down. The FOMC also maintained its target range for the Federal Funds rate at zero percent to 0.25% and stated that conditions warrant keeping the Fed Funds rate at ''exceptionally low'' levels through at least the end of 2014.
Three Puerto Rico-based banks offered the nation's lowest average 15-year fixed mortgages, led by San Juan, Puerto Rico-based Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria PR's 2.38% rate. Spain's Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria SA just agreed to sell its Puerto Rican operations to San Juan, Puerto Rico-based Oriental Financial Group Inc. for $500 million in cash, an approximate 3% premium to tangible book value. Following the acquisition, Oriental will have the second-most branches in Puerto Rico, according to its merger press release.
Only those banks, thrifts or credit unions with greater than $500 million in assets were considered in this analysis. Rates shown are the most current interest rates collected by SNL near the end of June. The rates are applicable to borrowers with the highest creditworthiness and 80% loan-to-value.
San Juan, Puerto Rico-based FirstBank Puerto Rico offered the second-lowest average 15-year mortgage rate in the country at 2.50%. The company's 71 active branches are spread between Florida, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.
FirstBank has shrunk its first-lien one-to-four family mortgage portfolio year-over-year, posting $2.64 billion in loans in the category at March 31, down from $2.98 billion a year earlier. Delinquency in the closed-end one-to-four family real estate portfolio has increased however, with loans either past due or in nonaccrual status accounting for 20.01% of loans at the end of March, up from 19.37% in the year-ago period.
Fort Wayne, Ind.-based STAR Financial Bank's 3.00% average fixed rate on a 30-year mortgage was the lowest in the nation at June 29. The bank has 48 branches in Indiana, primarily in the northeastern part of the state between Indianapolis and Fort Wayne. Net interest margin has remained relatively stable for the bank over the last few years, with quarter-end numbers ranging from 3.39% to 3.94% since the end of 2006. At the end of March, the bank posted a net interest margin of 3.77%.
San Bernardino, Calif.-based Arrowhead Central Credit Union's average 30-year mortgage fixed rate of 3.13% placed the credit union in the No. 2 spot in the ranking of lowest rates. Arrowhead's total loans and leases have been on a downward trend since the credit crunch, coming in at $435.0 million at March 31 after going as high as $965.9 million at Sept. 30, 2007.
SNL collects interest rate data from a variety of sources. Financial institutions fax, email and enter their rate data into a secured system daily. In addition, SNL also collects information from a depository's website or by telephone. Whether SNL received the information from an institution directly or received it from a different source, it maintains a comprehensive system of checks and balances to verify the accuracy of the rate data. Market researcher and error checks continually monitor the data for consistency and variations, such as large basis point changes from the previous week.
Interest rate data may not reflect all pricing regions for each company and is based on current SNL coverage. Average geographic rates are based on the branch locations of the institutions for which rate data is available.
Referenced Tickers: MHC, Home Federal Bank of Tennessee, Home FSB, Commercial B&TC, OFG, Teche Federal Bank, University of Iowa Cmnty CU, Red Canoe Credit Union, Susquehanna Bank, Lake Michigan Credit Union, Dollar Bank FSB, Texas Dow Employees CU, Home Federal Bank, Marine Bank, Bank of American Fork, Arrowhead Central Credit Union, FBAK, Frst Mid-Illinois Bk & Tr NA, First FSB of Twin Falls, Wilmington Savings Fund, Mountain West Bank NA, Chelsea Groton Bank, Hills Bank & Trust Co., Bank of Springfield, Macon Bank Inc., BBVA, AuburnBank, Jefferson Federal Bank, Citizens Business Bank, Illinois National Bank, Lake Sunapee Bank FSB, Credit Union 1, SCBT, Salem Five Cents Savings Bank, Equity Bank, First Security Bank, FirstBank Puerto Rico, Pentagon FCU, Banco Santander Puerto Rico, American Midwest Bank, Potlatch No. One FCU, NASA Federal Credit Union, Clayton Bank & Trust, Scotiabank de Puerto Rico, STAR Financial Bank, Dime Bank
Information source SNL Real Estate