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Visit the southern end of the High Line, and you will see a dramatic transformation in progress next to the park. Construction is underway on the new High Line Headquarters and Whitney Museum of American Art. Last week, the first delivery of steel I-beams and columns arrived on the job site, and crews began erecting the frame of what will be the future home of maintenance and operations for the High Line.
Follow us after the jump for a construction update and a photo tour of the site.
Crews have made major progress since our last update in February.
A few weeks ago, the construction workers completed the foundation work and began laying out a framework of steel rebar to support the first floor structural slab. Then, using a special crane, crews worked from west to east to pump concrete into the site. On the day of the pour, nine concrete trucks lined Washington Street just below the High Line to ensure that the work was seamlessly carried out. Once complete, workers troweled the concrete by hand to level the floor.
The crews have also moved forward with installation of the building's steel frame. The arrival of steel is a big milestone in any construction project – this is the moment where you see the building structure beginning to take shape. At the High Line, the tight site constraints meant that crews had to unload steel directly into the building's footprint. Columns and beams were then lifted into place and fastened to one another with large anchor bolts. The process began last week and moved quickly; by now the steel is in place for the majority of the building.
Another big change you will see at the job site is the installation of construction fencing on the High Line itself. The New York City Department of Buildings (DOB) requires the fencing to protect High Line visitors as construction continues on the building's frame and facade. We saw the construction fence as a great opportunity for temporary signage, so we worked with our graphic design team at OCD to create an illustrative map, a historical timeline, a seasonal calendar of free events and public programs at the park, and information about the design and construction of the High Line Headquarters. The fence also includes temporary signage educating visitors about the construction of the new Whitney Museum of American Art.
The next big milestone of the project is the arrival of the large roof girder. We can't wait to see the girder set in place. This monumental piece of steel measures 100 feet long and 4 feet high, and it will travel by truck from Pennsylvania in the next couple of weeks. The girder is one of the signature design elements of the High Line Headquarters, designed by Renzo Piano Building Workshop in collaboration with Beyer Blinder Belle Architects & Planners.
Check out the photos below by Timothy Schenck, and stay tuned for another update soon.


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Beaumont/Port Arthur
The Texas Trustee Implementation Group in charge of Deepwater Horizon coastal restoration formally adopted its first plan for allocating Natural Resource Damages Act funds to restore natural resources injured by the 2010 oil spill. The plan contains a $15.8 million grant for the McFaddin Beach and Dune restoration along Jefferson County's Gulf of Mexico coast.
The rebuilding of storm-battered sand dunes and the revitalization of essential marshes is currently underway at McFaddin Beach, and project leaders recently received a necessary grant extension so they can hold onto federal funds earmarked for the coastal restoration project.
On March 18 around 5:00 p.m., the Texas Department of Public Safety received a report of a fatal incident on McFaddin Beach in Jefferson County, TxDPS Sgt. Stephanie Davis reported.
October is Texas Archaeology Month, and the Jefferson County Historical Commission is hosting a regional workshop in celebration on Oct. 12 from 2-4 p.m.
Deputies with the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office reportedly rescued a Colorado couple stranded at McFaddin Beach on Monday morning, Oct. 27. According to a news release from JCSO, the man went to get help and came back to discover his wife missing before he called 9-1-1.
Jefferson County issued a beach advisory for McFaddin Beach on Tuesday, Sept. 9. Water samples collected at the point of the beach closest to the entrance of the National Wildlife Refuge found elevated levels of the Enterococcus bacteria. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency considers anything over 104 colonies to be unsafe.
Jefferson County Sheriff's Office deputies found two men and one woman dead Sunday, June 30, after what appears to be a double murder and suicide at McFaddin Beach.
Deputies responded to several 911 calls in reference to a shooting in progress at around 4:30 p.m. Sunday afternoon. When deputies arrived on the scene, they found three individuals had been shot, including the shooter. The victims were a man and woman; the shooter was a male adult. According to police, the shooter had a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
While we harbor no disrespect for the Wall Street Journal who called us "that scrappy little paper from Southeast Texas," we prefer to think of ourselves as simple seekers of the truth. We're of the opinion that headlines and sound bites never tell the whole story. Our readers demand all the facts, facets and flavors of every story or event. And, they expect to be informed, educated and stirred to action.
For this week's New York Times crossword puzzle, pick up a copy of this week's The Examiner on newsstands now.

subset: commoncrawl


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DMI Agency awards Santa Bucks
On Oct. 22, 2010, DMI Agency started a contest referred to as "Santa Bucks". This referral contest was based on their existing clients and their referrals. For each referral that a client turned in, their name was added to the drawing along with the name of the new referral.DMI Agency, an independent agency, has multiple major carriers that compliment the needs of Texans. With strong names like: Germania, Safeco, Traveler's, The Hartford, National Lloyds, and Progressive, they have you covered.This year's winner for the "Santa Bucks" was drawn on Nov. 22, 2010. Tammy Cagle won $189.60 gift card of her choice. As part of the contest, DMI Agency had a mass phone message to their clients inviting them to call and guess why they picked $189.60 to give away. The answer: Germania, founded in 1896, is the largest line of business with home, auto and commercial insurance. "Thank you, Tammy, for your continued faithful support of Germania Insurance and DMI Agency for the past three years. Merry Christmas!"


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Deja vu: Faith leaders critical of tax plan
Faith leaders have issued a statement critiquing a tax plan that would harm families and the vulnerable. Does this situation sound familiar?
Well, it should, since it seems to be a pattern this year. This time, more than 60 leaders from a variety of faith traditions have united to oppose any tax proposals that don't extend improvements to refundable tax credits like the Child Tax Credit and Earned Income Tax Credit. In a statement, the leaders said:
These tax credits help families meet basic needs, reduce poverty, and remove barriers to work. It is hypocritical for lawmakers who talk about family values to abandon improvements in these effective, family-supporting programs. Failing to extend the improved tax credits would jeopardize the economic security and well-being of more than 15 million families and more than 36 million children within those families. This is simply unconscionable.
And like he has many times before, last week Bishop Stephen Blaire, speaking for the entire conference of bishops, sent another letter urging congress to keep taxes in place that will help the working poor. He said:
It would be unjust and unwise to fail to renew improvements and extensions of low-income tax credits as the Congress addresses tax cuts for middle-income and wealthy Americans. Poor working families and their children may not have the most powerful lobbies, but they have the greatest needs and the most compelling claim.
Will we ever reach a point when the need for such letters and statements will disappear? Until then, we can reflect on another quote from the newest faith leaders critique:
Our religious tradition provides a vision for responsible government that serves the common good, not simply the privileged few.
Poor spending choices: Catholic values and the U.S. budget


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2014-02-13 Dorian @ Land's End
Gorgeous Bulgarian go go God Dorian performs at Club Papi Productions events, and now at the Nob Hill Theater in SF CA. This pic and 162 more available via digital download, t-shirts, framed prints, or how about a coffee mug!Read More


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Our Perspectives
Making education work: The governance conundrum
08 Jul 2014 by Marc-André Franche, UNDP Country Director in Pakistan
Pakistan is one of the few countries that spend just around two percent of their gross domestic product (GDP) on education. The actual development expenditure on education is another problem- on average, 82 percent of allocated funds are used on non-developmental items.
In Pakistan, as in most developing countries, the impact of education investments is usually discussed in very simplistic terms. The measure of performance and the subsequent outcomes are seldom questioned.
Good governance—setting up performance benchmarks, systems of monitoring and accountability, and budgeting and distribution formulae can considerably improve institutional effectiveness and results in the education system.
Tracking expenditure and ensuring responsible spending are essential. So is the process through which budgets are prepared and distributed across different geographic areas. Is there a formula that accounts for education poverty? That guides resource allocation to different districts?
An example from district Dera Bugti illustrates the severity of education inequality across the country. The district's net enrolment ratio stands at 12 percent, survival rate and literacy rate are 9 percent and 16 percent, respectively. The highest corresponding figures in the country are of Islamabad, which are 76 percent and 89 percent.
There are also gender-based disparities. The gender parity index for primary education in Pakistan is 0.9 as compared to 1.02 for Nepal and Bangladesh, 0.98 for India and 0.99 for Sri Lanka. A structural mechanism to distribute resources to different districts based on a multi-dimensional poverty index would help address such inequalities, which are otherwise destined to rise.
Good governance in education promotes effective service delivery. There is an urgent need for a sound performance measurement system that goes beyond measuring simplistic factors such as the use of funds, enrolment and students' examination results. Such a system could use a set of key performance indicators for various tiers within the education system.
Countries like Colombia and Mexico have introduced online 'dashboard' systems that provide real-time information and updates. Senior political officers use them to assess the effectiveness of implementation strategies.
The Government of Punjab has also established such a system for the Punjab Education Sector Reforms Programme. The Ministry of Planning, Development and Reform is considering a similar mechanism for its Vision 2025 and next five-year plan. A sound performance management system could instil a culture of accountability.
Pakistan would do well to learn from the experiences of other countries and invest in its statistical systems to provide timely data and analysis for informed decision making in education.
Lastly, the political context of education plays a crucial role in determining whether any plans or strategies can or will be implemented. Indeed, some of the most innovative education interventions in the world stemmed from the special interest of the political elite. Sustainable improvement in education will remain a distant dream unless the people demand, and the politicians deliver.
A full version of this blog was originally published here.
Women's empowerment Gender equality Millennium Development Goals


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Written by Gothenburg Times Friday, 29 March 2013 13:26
We just celebrated National Ag Week. First a big thank you to the Gothenburg Times for being such a great supporter of ag.
We all have a stake in the agricultural industry—because we eat. Producing food is a joint effort of production farmers and people in all sorts of other industries—banking, insurance, input supplies, manufacturers and distributors of food, etc. Agriculture is the backbone of the economy of the State of Nebraska so we all benefit when agriculture does well.
I do not know who said it but the following sums it up for us all: "With all our artistic pretensions, our scientific accomplishments, our increased understanding of the human condition, we (still) owe our existence to six inches of top soil and the fact that it rains." Dirt and water and hard working people who plant the seeds for God to make grow so we can all eat.
American agriculture—embrace it. Celebrate it. Enjoy it.
Jo Anderson, President of Nebraska Ag Relations Council and member District 7 Farm Bureau Ag Promotion Committee


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For product availability, please select your "Ship to" state above.Got it, I'll ship to California
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Noble Vines 337 Lodi Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
Winemaker Notes
337 Cabernet Sauvignon can be enjoyed on its own or with pork loin stuffed with spinach and herbs, grilled baby back ribs, or roasted chicken with spicy Italian sausage.
Critical AcclaimAll Vintages
Responsible for the vast majority of American wine production, if California were a country, it would be the world's fourth largest wine-producing nation. The state's diverse terrain and microclimates allow for an incredibly wide-ranging selection of wine styles, and unlike tradition-bound Europe, experimentation is more than welcome here. Wineries range from boutique to massive corporations, and price and quality are equally varied—plenty of inexpensive bulk wine is made in the Central Coast area, while Napa is responsible for some of the world's most prestigious and expensive "cult" wines.
Just about every style of wine you can imagine is made in California, from bone dry to unctuously sweet, still to sparkling, light and fresh to rich and full-bodied. Each AVA and sub-AVA has its own distinct personality. In the Napa Valley, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and other Bordeaux varieties dominate, as well as Sauvignon Blanc. Sonoma County is best known for Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Zinfandel. The Central Coast has carved out a niche with Rhône blends based on Grenache and Syrah, while Mendocino has found success with Alsatian varieties such as Riesling and Gewürztraminer. With all the diversity that California has to offer, it is certain that any wine lover will find something to get excited about.
A noble variety bestowed with both power and concentration, Cabernet Sauvignon is sometimes referred to as the "king" of red grapes. It can be somewhat unapproachable early in its youth but has the potential to age beautifully, with the ability to last fifty years or more at its best. Small berries and tough skins provide its trademark firm tannic grip, while high acidity helps to keep the wine fresh for decades. Cabernet Sauvignon flourishes in temperate climates like Bordeaux's Medoc region (and in St-Emillion and Pomerol, where it plays a supporting role to Merlot). The top Médoc producers use Cabernet Sauvignon for their wine's backbone, blending it with Merlot and smaller amounts of Cabernet Franc, Malbec, and/or Petit Verdot. On its own, Cabernet Sauvignon has enjoyed great success throughout the world, particularly in the Napa Valley, and is responsible for some of the world's most prestigious and sought-after "cult" wines.
In the Glass
High in color, tannin, and extract, Cabernet Sauvignon expresses notes of blackberry, cassis, plum, currant, spice, and tobacco. In Bordeaux and elsewhere in the Old World you'll find the more earthy, tannic side of Cabernet, where it's typically blended to soften tannins and add complexity. In warmer regions like California and Australia, you can typically expect more ripe fruit flavors upfront.
Perfect Pairings
Cabernet Sauvignon is right at home with rich, intense meat dishes—beef, lamb, and venison, in particular—where its opulent fruit and decisive tannins make an equal match to the dense protein of the meat. With a mature Cabernet, opt for tender, slow-cooked meat dishes.
Sommelier Secrets
Despite the modern importance and ubiquity of Cabernet Sauvignon, it is actually a relatively young variety. In 1997, DNA revealed the grape to be a spontaneous crossing of Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc which took place in 17th century southwestern France.


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What would be the smallest number of moves needed to move a Knight from a chess set from one corner to the opposite corner of a 99 by 99 square board?
How could Penny, Tom and Matthew work out how many chocolates there are in different sized boxes?
Square numbers can be represented as the sum of consecutive odd numbers. What is the sum of 1 + 3 + ..... + 149 + 151 + 153?
Imagine a large cube made from small red cubes being dropped into a pot of yellow paint. How many of the small cubes will have yellow paint on their faces?
How many winning lines can you make in a three-dimensional version of noughts and crosses?
Rectangles are considered different if they vary in size or have different locations. How many different rectangles can be drawn on a chessboard?
Draw a square. A second square of the same size slides around the first always maintaining contact and keeping the same orientation. How far does the dot travel?
Can you describe this route to infinity? Where will the arrows take you next?
If you move the tiles around, can you make squares with different coloured edges?
If you can copy a network without lifting your pen off the paper and without drawing any line twice, then it is traversable. Decide which of these diagrams are traversable.
The whole set of tiles is used to make a square. This has a green and blue border. There are no green or blue tiles anywhere in the square except on this border. How many tiles are there in the set?
Draw all the possible distinct triangles on a 4 x 4 dotty grid. Convince me that you have all possible triangles.
Triangles are formed by joining the vertices of a skeletal cube. How many different types of triangle are there? How many triangles altogether?
Choose a couple of the sequences. Try to picture how to make the next, and the next, and the next... Can you describe your reasoning?
Euler discussed whether or not it was possible to stroll around Koenigsberg crossing each of its seven bridges exactly once. Experiment with different numbers of islands and bridges.
How many moves does it take to swap over some red and blue frogs? Do you have a method?
Triangular numbers can be represented by a triangular array of squares. What do you notice about the sum of identical triangle numbers?
Can you maximise the area available to a grazing goat?
A cylindrical helix is just a spiral on a cylinder, like an ordinary spring or the thread on a bolt. If I turn a left-handed helix over (top to bottom) does it become a right handed helix?
Can you dissect a square into: 4, 7, 10, 13... other squares? 6, 9, 12, 15... other squares? 8, 11, 14... other squares?
A huge wheel is rolling past your window. What do you see?
Show that among the interior angles of a convex polygon there cannot be more than three acute angles.
Imagine an infinitely large sheet of square dotty paper on which you can draw triangles of any size you wish (providing each vertex is on a dot). What areas is it/is it not possible to draw?
Slide the pieces to move Khun Phaen past all the guards into the position on the right from which he can escape to freedom.
On the graph there are 28 marked points. These points all mark the vertices (corners) of eight hidden squares. Can you find the eight hidden squares?
In the game of Noughts and Crosses there are 8 distinct winning lines. How many distinct winning lines are there in a game played on a 3 by 3 by 3 board, with 27 cells?
Can you mark 4 points on a flat surface so that there are only two different distances between them?
What is the minimum number of squares a 13 by 13 square can be dissected into?
A 2 by 3 rectangle contains 8 squares and a 3 by 4 rectangle contains 20 squares. What size rectangle(s) contain(s) exactly 100 squares? Can you find them all?
Jo made a cube from some smaller cubes, painted some of the faces of the large cube, and then took it apart again. 45 small cubes had no paint on them at all. How many small cubes did Jo use?
What size square corners should be cut from a square piece of paper to make a box with the largest possible volume?
Imagine starting with one yellow cube and covering it all over with a single layer of red cubes, and then covering that cube with a layer of blue cubes. How many red and blue cubes would you need?
Three circles have a maximum of six intersections with each other. What is the maximum number of intersections that a hundred circles could have?
A useful visualising exercise which offers opportunities for discussion and generalising, and which could be used for thinking about the formulae needed for generating the results on a spreadsheet.
Watch these videos to see how Phoebe, Alice and Luke chose to draw 7 squares. How would they draw 100?
Start with a large square, join the midpoints of its sides, you'll see four right angled triangles. Remove these triangles, a second square is left. Repeat the operation. What happens?
These are pictures of the sea defences at New Brighton. Can you work out what a basic shape might be in both images of the sea wall and work out a way they might fit together?
Points P, Q, R and S each divide the sides AB, BC, CD and DA respectively in the ratio of 2 : 1. Join the points. What is the area of the parallelogram PQRS in relation to the original rectangle?
Can you use the diagram to prove the AM-GM inequality?
Is it possible to rearrange the numbers 1,2......12 around a clock face in such a way that every two numbers in adjacent positions differ by any of 3, 4 or 5 hours?
How many different symmetrical shapes can you make by shading triangles or squares?
We start with one yellow cube and build around it to make a 3x3x3 cube with red cubes. Then we build around that red cube with blue cubes and so on. How many cubes of each colour have we used?
Blue Flibbins are so jealous of their red partners that they will not leave them on their own with any other bue Flibbin. What is the quickest way of getting the five pairs of Flibbins safely to. . . .
Mathematics is the study of patterns. Studying pattern is an opportunity to observe, hypothesise, experiment, discover and create.
Is it possible to remove ten unit cubes from a 3 by 3 by 3 cube so that the surface area of the remaining solid is the same as the surface area of the original?
What is the shape of wrapping paper that you would need to completely wrap this model?
When dice land edge-up, we usually roll again. But what if we didn't...?
Some students have been working out the number of strands needed for different sizes of cable. Can you make sense of their solutions?
Can you find a way of representing these arrangements of balls?
Two motorboats travelling up and down a lake at constant speeds leave opposite ends A and B at the same instant, passing each other, for the first time 600 metres from A, and on their return, 400. . . .


text: UMW News BureauThe Montana Western women picked up their first conference basketball win Friday night when they downed the University of Great Falls Argos 70-60 in Great Falls, Mont. By Wally Feldt The Montana Western ladies' basketball team picked up their first conference win Friday night when they downed the University of Great Falls Argos 70-60 in Great Falls, Mont. The Bulldogs made it two in a row in Havre Saturday night as they beat the Montana State-Northern Skylights 66-61. On Friday night, Montana Western trailed 26-29 at the half after shooting a chilly 30 percent from the field. In the second half, the Bulldogs found their range and hit 16 of 32 field goals. Kristen Luedtke led a balanced UMW attack with 21 points including 15 in the second half. Rheanna Padden added 10. The Bulldogs out-rebounded Great Falls 51-29 led by Stephanie Dana's nine rebounds. On Saturday night, the Bulldogs used another balanced scoring attack to post their second straight Frontier Conference win as they downed Montana State-Northern 66-61. The Bulldogs were again hampered by cold shooting and trailed 28-31 after one period. The Bulldogs improved from 40 percent shooting in the first half to 57 percent in the second. Stephanie Dana led four Bulldogs scoring in double figures with 17 points. Luedtke followed with 12, Padden with 11 and Chloe Mosey with 10. The Bulldogs are now 2-4 in the Frontier and 6-13 overall. The Bulldog men split their weekend games as they rolled over the University of Great Falls Argos 99-62 and then fell to the Montana State-Northern Lights 59-69 in Havre on Saturday night. The Bulldogs were red-hot against the Argos on Friday shooting 72 percent from the field and leading 63-34 at the half. The half-time break failed to slow the Bulldog attack as they built a 50-point lead at the 13-minute mark of the second half. JaRon Brown led in scoring with 21 points followed by Tyler Hurley with 16. On Saturday against the Lights , the Bulldogs were 14 of 27 from the field and trailed 32-33 at the half. In the second half, Montana Western hit a dismal 31 percent from the field and were 0 for 7 in three-p0int field goals. The Lights hit 48 percent of their field goals including 5 of 10 in three-point field goals. Only two Bulldogs scored in double figures led by JaRon Brown with 21 points and Layne Glaus with 15. The Bulldogs are 4-2 in league games and 16-6 overall. Both Bulldog teams travel to Montana Tech of the University of Montana on Saturday, Jan. 30.


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Our Programs
Our programs are the heart of everything we do at Kids Klub. We offer quality, affordable childcare to families with a wide variety of needs, and are proud to have served the the greater Victoria area for 25 years.
Our Locations
Kids Klub currently has 16 locations serving the greater Victoria area. Click below to visit our location finder where you can sort Kids Klub Centres by the type of care you require to find the location that will best suit your needs. Then you can click on the location to get info about the site managers, the schools serviced, and a link to directions from your home to ours.
Ready to Register?
We have all of the details you need to make an informed decision about filling your childcare needs. Below you can explore our rates, go in-depth with our policies, then click over to our registration page to sign up. It is as simples as 1-2-3.
Registration Dates
Re-Registration (current enrolled families): March 1st, 2018
Registration (new families): April 3rd, 2018
Summer Registration: April 3rd, 2018
Please do not send in forms prior to the dates mentioned as we won't accept them.
Registration is based on first come, first serve.


text:
Swapneel Kalpesh Sheth; Jonathan Schaffer Bell; Gail E. Kaiser
- Title:
- A Competitive-Collaborative Approach for Introducing Software Engineering in a CS2 Class
- Author(s):
- Sheth, Swapneel Kalpesh
Bell, Jonathan Schaffer
Kaiser, Gail E.
- Date:
- 2012
- Type:
- Reports
- Department(s):
- Computer Science
- Persistent URL:
- https://doi.org/10.7916/D8N3056Q
- Series:
- Columbia University Computer Science Technical Reports
- Part Number:
- Publisher:
- Department of Computer Science, Columbia University
- Publisher Location:
- New York
- Abstract:
- Introductory Computer Science (CS) classes are typically competitive in nature. The cutthroat nature of these classes comes from students attempting to get as high a grade as possible, which may or may not correlate with actual learning. Further, there is very little collaboration allowed in most introductory CS classes. Most assignments are completed individually since many educators feel that students learn the most, especially in introductory classes, by working alone. In addition to completing "normal" individual assignments, which have many benefits, we wanted to expose students to collaboration early (via, for example, team projects). In this paper, we describe how we leveraged competition and collaboration in a CS2 to help students learn aspects of computer science better — in this case, good software design and software testing — and summarize student feedback.
- Subject(s):
- Computer science
- Item views
- 251
- Metadata:
- text | xml
- Suggested Citation:
- Swapneel Kalpesh Sheth, Jonathan Schaffer Bell, Gail E. Kaiser, 2012, A Competitive-Collaborative Approach for Introducing Software Engineering in a CS2 Class, Columbia University Academic Commons, https://doi.org/10.7916/D8N3056Q.


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January 25th, 2014
Global Game Jam
Start Date: January 24, 2014
End Date: January 26, 2014
Time: 5:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Becker College Design Building, 45 cedar Street, Worcester Campus
Listed in Event Categories: All, Global, and Home Page. Read More
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Start Date: January 25, 2014
Blackstone Valley Shoppes & Movies Trip
Start Date: January 25, 2014
End Date: January 25, 2014
Time: 3:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Blackstone Valley Shoppes
Listed in Event Categories: All and Campus Activities. Read More


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Worst Terms and Conditions Offenders of All Time
We've said before and we'll say it again, no one likes having the rules changed on them halfway through the game, but that's exactly what Bwin did to its affiliate partners. After promising lifetime revenues on players, Bwin did an abrupt about face.
Not only did they pull the rug out on lifetime revenues, they sliced those revenues down to a measly five percent. Obviously that didn't sit well with affiliates who had spent years sending Bwin players.
Affiliates were also insulted by the way that Bwin cloaked the new T&C as an improvement and means of getting faster payments.
It turns out that, more often than not, affiliate partners like higher payouts and lifetime revenue over lower payouts for a limited time. Go figure.
Tags: Affiliate Marketing Terms, Affiliate Program News, Affiliates


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The Office of Student Life is dedicated to supporting the learning and development of students, and creating an environment that fosters student success and graduation. Our primary purpose is to ensure the well-being and success of Western students. We work closely with students (and their family members), faculty, and staff, in support of this purpose. We also collaborate with a number of campus departments, including the Counseling Center, Registrar's Office, Student Health Center, University Police, and University Residences.
Staff members in the office are available to provide general assistance with problem solving and referrals; to support students in crisis; to advise students on university policies and procedures, including the Student Conduct Code; and to process dean's letters and letters of recommendation.
The Office of Student Life is part of the Division of Enrollment and Student Services and operates under the leadership of the Assistant Dean of Students.
Because of our temporary location due to the construction of the new Multicultural Center, we encourage calling or emailing.


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Enter a search term such as "mobile analytics" or browse our content using the filters above.
That's not only a poor Scrabble score but we also couldn't find any results matching
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Please try again later.
Bloomberg.com published an interesting article last Friday that highlights just how competitive it's getting in the newspaper world as newspapers struggle to not only survive the woes of their industry, but struggle to survive a tough economic environment.
As Bloomberg.com's Sarah Rabil details, Saks recently chose the Wall Street Journal to promote its new Chanel boutique and a new line of men's suits.
This was noteworthy because Saks has advertised in the New York Times since 1924. But as the Wall Street Journal under Rupert Murdoch's control has implemented editorial changes that have increased the newspaper's appeal to more mainstream, affluent readers, The Wall Street Journal is on the radar of advertisers who may have previously overlooked it, including Saks.
According to Milton Pedraza of the Luxury Institute:
"They [The Wall Street Journal's publications] certainly have become a significant part of the advertising mix for luxury brands where they were not before. They're definitely stealing advertising dollars."
Behind the scenes, there's a battle raging between top newspapers like The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times.
Executives are keeping a close eye on the competition and trying to outmaneuver each other to capture more of what is largely a shrinking pie. From expanding coverage into new areas that will attract valuable readers to slashing prices, revenue and the bottom line are top of mind more than they probably ever have been.
As I read the Bloomberg.com article, I couldn't help but wonder if we might see a similar dynamic develop amongst online publishers.
To be sure, there are some significant differences between the newspaper market and the internet publishing market in general.
There's far more competition, the barriers to entry are far lower and there's a different advertiser-publisher relationship in most cases.
That said, the economy is likely to pressure all ad budgets heading into 2009 and despite the fact that there's more competition on the internet, the biggest chunk of ad dollars flows to a relatively small number of online publishers.
As such, it seems possible that the battle between the New York Times and Wall Street Journal could very well be played out amongst top online publishers if conditions deteriorate enough.
Whether or not an online battle looks anything like the battle in the newspaper market, I think there are some things online publishers should be focusing on more than ever to maintain and increase their competitiveness.
Consolidate and cut. As Nick Denton recently pointed out, now is the time to focus on top performing properties, consolidate where appropriate and cut underperforming properties.
Sometimes this is difficult.
Earlier this year, one of my companies decided to shutter one of its properties – a foreign language website that generated several million pageviews each month. On paper, it was one of our best properties but it wasn't profitable and was diverting resources from our profitable performers.
Looking back at the tough decision to ditch the website, it turned out to be right – the country where the bulk of the property's users originated is basically in economic meltdown.
Focus. As I see it, online publishers with focused properties that appeal to endemic advertisers will likely fare better than online publishers with less focused properties that aren't as compelling a buy for advertisers.
Of course, the truth is that focusing on the right markets is just as important as focusing. Some markets will fare far better than others. I would be a little uncomfortable right now if my endemic advertisers were financial firms and auto companies. These advertisers aren't going to stop spending, of course, but focusing on markets that have held up better might provide for better sleep.
Know thy audience. In my own experience, selling is getting tougher. Advertisers are being more selective. The better you know the characteristics of your audience, the easier it will be to identify and effectively hit the right advertisers with a compelling pitch.
- Invest strategically. Just as the Wall Street Journal seems to have invested in an expansion that is producing growth and giving it the opportunity to steal advertisers from the New York Times, there's lots of opportunity for strong players to invest strategically in areas that will enable them to take advantage of weaker players.
At the end of the day, the Wall Street Journal and New York Times highlight the reality of corporate evolution.
Faced with industry-specific challenges and macroeconomic challenges, the desire to survive and thrive is driving these companies to aggressively fight for their interests in a fashion that we didn't really see when the supply of food (read: ad dollars) was more plentiful.
Whether or not online publishers are forced to battle it out in a fashion similar to the the New York Times and Wall Street Journal remains to be seen but smart online publishers would be wise to remember that it's survival of the fittest in every market.


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|Erie, Pa.
|High School:
2013-14: One-year letterwinner ... holds the school records in the 200 (2:09.93) and 400 (4:40.25) individual medley events ... helped the 200 freestyle relay team set a school, ODAC and championship meet record with a time of 1:37.15.
2012-13: Garnered W&L's outstanding first-year female athlete award after helping lead the Generals to the ODAC Championship ... named First Team All-ODAC and received ODAC Rookie of the Year honors after winning two individual events and competing on two winning relay teams at the ODAC Championship meet … set school records in winning the 200 (2:09.93) and 400 (4:40.25) individual medley events, and she helped the 200 freestyle relay team set a school, ODAC and championship meet record with a time of 1:37.15 … also helped the 400 medley relay team to the conference title, and finished second in the 200 breast stroke.
High School: Four-time letterwinner in swimming and also earned one letter in water polo as a student-athlete at McDowell High … helped lead the Trojans to four conference championships and four regional championships in swimming … collected All-America honors as a member of the 200 medley relay as a sophomore … conference champion in the 100 breast and 200 IM … two-time all-state honoree … owner of two freshmen school records … served as the National Honor Society President as a senior … also active with Key Club, Model UN and Mock Trial.
Personal: Undeclared major.


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Granny Smiths
Added Nov 3, 2011
by JuliaBobbin
Melbourne, Austr...
The dress is made with green cotton that I purchased from The Fabric Store and trimmed with some lovely delicate white lace which makes the dress, well, pretty!
You can see echoes of the Tessuti Awards dress in this number, which evidently I haven't yet got out of my system. There are just so many glorious things you can do with pleats!
This dress is perfect for spring/summer, and the colour makes me think of fresh green granny smith apples! I think this dress is going to get a work out this season!
For details and photos, visit my blog
5 Comments Sign in to add a post
Nov 4, 2011, 12.32 PMby groovymama
So cute, Julia :-)
Nov 3, 2011, 11.01 AMby BeYou TiFul
Very pretty, I think the lace trim made the dress even more stylish and sexy ;-)! I'm inspired.
Nov 3, 2011, 09.52 AMby paunnet
You're becoming a master of pleats! I love the colour!
Nov 3, 2011, 05.50 AMby pigsinpajamas
Super cute! The lace edging is great.
Nov 3, 2011, 03.31 AMby urbandon
Very cute! Like very much! Love those pleats too.
1 Reply
Nov 3, 2011, 04.03 AMby JuliaBobbin
Why thank you!
Add to Favorites 16 people added it


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Just a thought to place into the heads of interested parties.
There are many games played that turn of the artillery and a lot say its over powers .
I disagree I think you will find with all the changes to the way game runs and sections of tactics removed that the intent was for it to be like it is but the tanks should not be clustered together as they do.
If formation was introduced you would have your tanks spread further apart and the ground shakes (especial) splash effect would be downgraded to such an extent the artillery might even be called under powered.
So I would ask that formation code be made to fix this issue.
Best regards Berg


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The biosphere- that part of Earth's land, water and atmosphere that supports life- is the focus of this GLOBE eTraining program module. Protocols for classifying land cover, performing biometric field studies and measuring green-up and green-down... (View More) are explained. In addition, each protocol module includes interactive digital field and lab experiences along with online assessments. Instructions for uploading observations to the GLOBE database as well as for using the GLOBE visualization system are provided. GLOBE eTraining provides the opportunity for new and experienced GLOBE users to complete science protocol training online. GLOBE (Global Learning and Observation to Benefit the Environment) is a worldwide, hands-on, K-12 school-based science education program. (View Less)
Materials Cost: Free
Using an online interactive platform, learners will explore our solar system from the perspective of the Sun. They will observe the motion of different worlds to determine their location in the solar system. Then they will launch probes to search... (View More) these small worlds (bodies in the solar system not classified as a planet or a moon) for the caches hidden on them in order to collect the astrocoins inside. A 5E instructional lesson allows students to analyze a model to locate small worlds, define speed/distance relationships, and identify model limitations. Images, worksheets and a rubric are included. Instructional objectives and learning outcomes are aligned with Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS); the NRC Framework for K-12 Science Education; Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts; and A Framework for 21st Century Learning. This resource is part of the Infiniscope space exploration experiences. (View Less)
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Working in groups, students use contact paper to make samplers to collect local data on aerosols - the small particles found in the atmosphere. Students then analyze, interpret and make predictions based on their data. Both the instructions for... (View More) making the aerosol sampler and the data sheets are included. This lesson is one of four in the Elementary GLOBE storybook entitled, "What's Up in the Atmosphere? Exploring Colors in the Sky." GLOBE (Global Learning and Observation to Benefit the Environment) is a worldwide, hands-on, K-12 school-based science education program. (View Less)
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Students participate in a series of activities to discover how astronomers use computers to create images and understand data. No programming experience is required; students will use pencilcode.net to complete such activities as creating a color,... (View More) exploring filters and color-shifting, and creating individual images of star-forming regions. These activities demonstrate a real world application of science, technology and art. (View Less)
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Common materials such as sand, gravel, pebbles, shells, etc. are used to represent crustal materials from an unknown planet. Students begin by sorting, classifying, and making observations about the sample. Using that information, they must then... (View More) interpret the geologic and biologic history of the planet. The lesson is part of the Mars Educxation Program series; it models scientific inquiry using the 5E instructional model and includes teacher notes and vocabulary. Next Generation Science Standards are listed. (View Less)
Materials Cost: $1 - $5 per group of students
This set of three videos illustrates how math is used in satellite data analysis. NASA climate scientist Claire Parkinson explains how the Arctic and Antarctic sea ice covers are measured from satellite data and how math is used to determine trends... (View More) in the data. In the first video, she leads viewers from satellite data collection through obtaining a time series of monthly Arctic and Antarctic average sea ice extents for November 1978-December 2016. In the second video, she begins with the time series from the first video, removes the seasonal cycle by calculating yearly averages, and proceeds to calculate the slopes of the lines to get trends in the data, revealing decreasing sea ice coverage in the Arctic and increasing sea ice coverage in the Antarctic. In the third video, she uses a more advanced technique to remove the seasonal cycle and shows that the trends are close to the same, whichever method is used. She emphasizes the power of math and that the techniques shown for satellite sea ice data can also be applied to a wide range of data sets. Note: See Related & Supplemental Resources for the maps and data files (1978-2016) that will allow you to do the calculations shown in the video. These also include data for different regions of the Arctic and Antarctic, enabling learners to do additional calculations beyond those shown in the videos. (View Less)
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This site lists the necessary supplies, along with the step-by-step directions, to turn a t-shirt into a carry-all bag. Also included are links to two iron-on transfers - the Climate Kids banner and the Leaps and Flutters game - for use in... (View More) decorating the bag. The Climate Kids website is a NASA education resource featuring articles, videos, images and games focused on the science of climate change. (View Less)
Materials Cost: $1 - $5 per student
Instructions are provided for making a solar oven, followed by directions for using the oven to make s'mores. A side column discusses the practicality of using solar ovens in places like western Africa. The Climate Kids website is a NASA education... (View More) resource featuring articles, videos, images and games focused on the science of climate change. (View Less)
Materials Cost: $1 - $5 per group of students
Dieter Hartmann, a high-energy physicist, presents a story-based lesson on the science of Gamma-Ray astronomy. The lesson focuses on gamma-ray bursts; examining their sources, types, and links to the origin and evolution of the Universe. The... (View More) story-based format of the lesson also provides insights into the nature of science. Students answer questions based on the reading guide. A list of supplemental websites is also included. (View Less)
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In this lesson, students will think about their experiences with hurricanes and severe storms, and then learn the basics of what causes hurricanes to form. Students will learn how hurricane prediction has progressed, and how satellite technology is... (View More) used to see inside storms to get improved data for enhancing computer-based mathematical models. To share what they've learned, students will create a news report (script or comic strip) to tell others about hurricanes and hurricane prediction. This lesson uses the 5E instructional model. TRMM is Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission. (View Less)
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I was wondering if anybody could tell me a good free Anti-Crash progam is that i can use longer then 30days and one that works i knew of many that didn't?
if u run search on the www.blackcode.com for an anti-crash program ... u'll get a free 37 matches.
When the power of Love overcomes the Love of power, the world will know peace... Jimi Hendrix
I dream of giving birth to a child who will ask...... what was war?
lmao.. as long as ur using windows.. it WILL crash... hehehehe
How do you know i,m using windows??
Hello Anti-Hackers, im not quite sure what you mean by an anticrash program. I have found one program that is very good at preventing your system from crashing. It is called Linux. Mine has never crashed and it does what you want it to do, not what some big corporation wants it to do.
Wine maketh merry: but money answereth all things.
--Ecclesiastes 10:19
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Players grow antsy as NHL lockout persists
WASHINGTON -- With an unexpected surplus of free time in recent months thanks to the NHL lockout, Jay Beagle has tried to keep himself busy.
In addition to his training schedule, the Washington Capitals forward works on his pickup truck, cooks dinner for his wife Ashley, brushes up on his tennis skills, hunts ---he got an eight-point buck last week -- and tackles improvement projects on the house he bought in Alexandria, Va. this summer. But when constantly in search of something to do, it's easy to get carried away.
"During the first month of the lockout, I was going to try to knock down a wall in the house," Beagle said with a laugh. "My wife came home and stopped me. She asked me to not do that big of a renovation just yet."
For now he will stick to minor repairs, like replacing light fixtures, and keep to the quiet routine that has dominated his life since September. The uncertainty surrounding the labor dispute made for a difficult transition at times for Beagle, who signed a three-year, $2.7 million contract this summer and fully expected to be building on the momentum from his first full year in the NHL by now. He's antsy to play and admits he would have tried to find a team overseas if he'd known there still would be no resolution by now.
On Thursday, the 95th day of the lockout, the NHL canceled another block of games through Jan. 14, bringing the total number of contests lost to 625 -- 50.8 percent of the season. The latest round of cancellations sets the table for a final chance to salvage the minimum 48-game season. On Wednesday, NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly said the deadline to settle the labor dispute is "sometime in mid-January." By the new year, players will have lost six paychecks.
After weeks of little more than practicing and hoping, Beagle and many of the NHL Players Association's rank and file have grown accustomed to the holding pattern. They aren't the name-brand players like Capitals star Alex Ovechkin, who can command a multimillion dollar salary in Europe, but rather average hockey lifers with a finite window in which they can expect to hold down an NHL roster spot.
"You never get those games back, never get those paychecks back. It's difficult losing this time," said winger Jason Chimera, who at 33 is in the latter half of his career, already lost a season to the 2004-05 lockout and understands the fleeting nature of a professional athlete's career. He has already lost $700,540.54 of his $1.7 million salary; Beagle has lost $272,432.43.
As the lockout drags on, Chimera, Beagle and John Carlson pay out of their own pockets four times a week to rent ice at Kettler Capitals Iceplex, where the regular hourly rate is $360. They don't have access to the team's practice facilities or trainers, but they work with local power-skating guru Wendy Marco and do as much as they can to ensure their readiness in case a season does take place. In mid-November, after growing restless, Chimera went to the Czech Republic, but returned after less than two weeks with HC Chomutov because he missed his family.
But as much as Chimera has enjoyed spending extra time with his wife and young children, Cale and Ryann, there's no mistaking the veteran winger's desire to play games and be reunited with his teammates as soon as possible -- if the right deal can be made.
"We don't want to be skating around playing shinny with four guys every day. You want to have that team aspect again, to come to the rink and bond with the guys," said Chimera, who is the Capitals' player representative to the NHLPA. "I'd be really upset about it if we weren't doing enough as a union to get it going, but I think we've done pretty much everything we can to get a season going."
The toughest part for the players, perhaps, is finding a way to keep emotions in check as they stay up to date on the negotiations. Troy Brouwer, who has remained in Chicago with his wife and two-month-old daughter and trains with several Blackhawks players, said he tries not to get caught up in the hope of a resolution.
"During the talks in New York a couple weeks ago, it seemed like things were coming together," said Brouwer, who is considering playing in Europe after the holidays and would take his family with him. "You start to get excited enough to make phone calls, figure out where you're going to live, moving companies and stuff like that. You get taken away, enticed by the idea of the season starting, then nothing happens and you feel worse than you did beforehand."
Last summer, the Capitals signed Joey Crabb to the first one-way contract of his career -- a one-year, $950,000 deal -- and the 29-year-old was eager to prove himself on a playoff team following his first full year in the NHL. The lockout put that chance on hold and has left Crabb looking for a way to stay sharp.
Given that European teams don't usually come calling for bottom-six forwards, Crabb feels fortunate to have a team in his home town of Anchorage, Alaska. He has recorded 31 points in 28 games for the ECHL's Alaska Aces, and his entire extended family regularly comes to see his games.
"For all this to happen, I don't think 'frustrating' is a good enough word to describe it," Crabb said. "But for every negative, I try to be positive. If there wasn't a team in my hometown, things would probably look a little more grim for me." He doesn't dwell on that possibility, though.
"You can't worry about that, you can't live like that," Crabb said. "We'll see what happens and what comes."


text: This rumor just doesn't want to die (maybe there's some truth in it then?), but talk continues about a possible Volkswagen motorcycle. This time the speculation centers around NSU an old german brand that VW bought back in the 1960's. Known for its wankel-style rotary motors, NSU was the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer in 1955, but sadly went out of business in 1969 when the failing brand (primarily due to its automobile division) was acquired by Volkswagen, never to be seen again or so it would seem.


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A lot of my squares are different than theirs, so its not a total knock off. :)
Part 1
Part 2
Time to design your pockets!
I used this tutorial for a lot of my ideas.
put on a good movie and start cutting!
In random order, here are my finished pockets.
2. I forgot to take a picture, but for this step, you need to fold each pocket over 1/8 an inch and sew a straight stitch. This will protect the top edge of your pocket when you are taking objects in and out.
3. Arrange the squares on your tree. Then pin those puppies so they stay put. This is a big job! I zig zag stitched mine, but if you're feeling ambitious, you could hand sew them all. (Pretend the numbers aren't here yet).
4. Now its time to add the numbers. There are several ways this can be done. I embroidered mine by back-stitching. I didn't do a perfect job (i.e. some look like a 3rd grader could have done them, haha).
5. Time for the back layer. (It's a different color- this felt was cheaper. It won't matter at all).
6. Now attach the batting to the back of the back layer. I did little pin tucks in a few places, then basted the edges together with my sewing machine.
7. Now, for the nerve-racking job. Place right sides together, and stitch around the tree. I followed the edge of my presser foot. Make sure to leave a large opening at the bottom so you can turn it right side out!
8. Now my sewing is done. Make sure you left a large opening! Clip your corners of the swirly parts of the tree, and turn right side out.
9. Make you star and tree stump. I sewed mine together, turned them right side out, stuffed with cotton, then top stitched.
10. Now we need to top stitch around the entire tree, while adding the tree stump, and closing up the bottom. Pin the bottom opening together, and layer the stump in there.
11. Final touches: Remove your basting stitches. Figure out a way to hang it... I can't find my D-rings, so for now, I just hand-sewed a temporary hanger. Then, sew some cute snowflake buttons through all 3 layers (this will help keep things in place).
It's 56 inches tall, bigger than my 5 year old daughter!
If you'd like to see my list of advent activity ideas, here they are.
Advent Ideas


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How devastated would you be if you lost all of your family history data? What if you fired up Family Tree Maker or RootsMagic tomorrow and they were unable to read any portion of your family tree? What if your computer doesn't even boot tomorrow when you try to turn it on? How would you feel about losing those 1500 photos that you've scanned and have on your hard drive?
Hard drives do crash and files do become corrupt. It's not a matter of if you will lose some data, but when you'll lose it. If you use a computer for any length of time, you're almost guaranteed to lose data at some point.
When you do suffer a data loss, it might be just a corrupt family history data file. Or it might be a complete hard drive meltdown, where you lose absolutely everything.
Instead of hoping or assuming that you will never lose data, the best plan is to assume that you definitely will lose data at some point and to prepare for the day that it happens. Your backup plan should be dependable enough that you wouldn't suffer even a little anxiety if you discovered tomorrow that absolutely everything on your PC was lost.
Here's my basic mantra–everything on your computer that you care about needs to be backed up. And to make sure you can recover lost data, you should back things up in more than one way and store the backups in more than one place.
Think of backups like seat belts. Yes, you can get away without wearing seat belts in your car for a while. But if you ever do get in an accident, you're going to really wish you'd been wearing your seat belt. The same is true of backups–if (or when) you lose some data, you're going to wish you'd taken the extra effort to back everything up.
To that end, here is a list of things that you can do to protect yourself. These aren't alternatives–my proposal is that you do everything on this list. Yes, doing all of this is a pain. But so is losing 10 years of work and having no way to get back what you've lost. Do you really want to risk losing everything, for the sake of convenience? Consider this list as–the things that you'll wish you'd been doing after you suffer a major data loss.
1. Identify the location of all of your genealogical data (on all machines)
The first step is to figure out what data you need to back up. Here is a basic list of the types of data you should be most focused on.
- Genealogy program data files
- Generated reports
- Scanned photos
- Scanned documents
- E-mail data files
- Personal documents and writing, e.g. travelogues, lists, source data, etc.
- Web browser favorites (bookmarks)
I'll go into more detail in a future post on exactly where to find things like genealogy program data files and e-mail data files.
It will also be important, when planning the next steps, to have some sense of how much data you'll need to back up. If you're backing up mainly genealogy data files, this might be as little as 50-100MB. On the other hand, if you're like me and you have lots of high-resolution scanned photos, the amount of data might grow to as much as 100GB or more.
2. Synchronize your data between multiple computers at home
The first technique to use, in order to protect your data, is to synchronize your data between multiple PCs at home. I realize that not everyone has more than one PC, but it doesn't take a very powerful machine at all to serve as a backup device–i.e. a machine that you don't use regularly, but just store backed up files on.
Once you've identified the data to back up and the machine to use, you'll want to pick a software tool that does the file synchronization for you in an automated fashion. The basic idea is as follows–when you first install the tool, it will copy all of the data to the second machine, creating a "mirror" of the data on your main PC. What this means is that every directory and file is duplicated on the backup machine and you could go to that machine and see the same directory/file structure as what you have on your main PC. If anything goes wrong with the data on the first machine, you have an exact copy on the second machine, so you won't lose anything.
Once the synchronization tool has been set up, it will run all of the time in the background and (here's the cool part) wait until you change something on your main PC and then automatically copy the changes over to the backup machine. In this way, you never have to worry about doing any backups yourself. The tool takes care of everything and ensures that you always have two identical copies of all data.
The benefit of "on-site" file synchronization is that if you lose something, you have a backup copy that you can get to easily and without any trouble. Just copy the file from the backup machine to your main PC.
Here are some basic tools that support automatic file synchronization:
- Microsoft LiveMesh (free, still in beta)
- Windows Live FolderShare (free, still in beta)
- SugarSync (starting at $25/yr for 10GB, or $1/yr per GB)
- Microsoft SyncToy (free)
Of these tools, only FolderShare and SugarSync are available on the Mac.
3. Use an online backup service to back up your data to "the cloud"
In addition to synchronizing data between multiple PCs at home, you should sign up for a service that backs your data up to an online location. (Some people refer to this as storing your data "in the cloud", meaning–the Internet).
Online backup tools/services work in much the same way as the synchronization tools that I describe above. Once you set up the service, it should run automatically and guarantee that any files you change are automatically copied to an online location.
There are a couple of subtle differences between doing synchronization to another PC and doing online backups:
- Online backups will do a better job at storing old versions of files, or keeping files after you've deleted them locally
- Because the online service might store several versions of a document, it may be a little harder to get access to the current version
- Online backups can run quite a bit slower than local synchronizations–a concern unless you have a very fast Internet connection
- With online backups, you're relying on the online site to stay up and on the company to stay in business
- You'll typically pay more for online backup services than for file synchronization tools
Here are some companies that provide online backup services:
- Carbonite ($50/yr unlim data)
- IDrive ($5/mo, 150GB)
- JungleDisk / Amazon S3 ($0.15/GB/mo)
- LiveMesh (free, beta, max 5GB)
- Mozy ($50/yr, unlim, can be slow)
4. Do quarterly archival backups and off-site
The next major leg of your backup strategy should be to do occasional "archive" backups to something like CD-ROMs and to store the resulting media off-site. (Somewhere other than the building where your main PC is located).
Doing archival backups periodically, in addition to other backup methods, is critical, though it typically involves more manual effort than the other strategies. The reason that archives are so important is that both synchronization and online backup have the goal of duplicating the directories and files on your main PC. This means that if you delete a bunch of files on your main PC, the files will eventually also be deleted from either your backup PC (if synchronizing) or from the online service. Once this happens, you'll have no way to get your data back.
Online backup services are pretty good about keeping deleted files around for a short period of time. So if you delete a file and notice quickly enough, you'll be able to get your file back. But if you discover that you deleted some stuff a year ago and need it back, odds are good that the online service will have already thrown the data away.
Here are some tools that make doing regular archival backups easier:
- Backup Utility for Windows (XP) or Windows Backup (Vista) (free, built-in)
- Genie Backup Manager Pro ($70)
- NovaBackup ($50)
- Windows Live OneCare ($50/yr)
5. Store personal passwords on multiple encrypted thumb drives
We all have lots of different username/password combinations that we're required to create when visiting web sites, or signing up for various services. These usernames and passwords constitutes data which is very important to keep backed up.
Unlike other types of data, it's probably not a good idea to just back this data up with the other data, e.g. as part of an online service. If you lose everything on your computer and need to go back to your online service to retrieve the data, you'll need to know at least your username/password for the online service.
Because of this, I recommend keeping all of your username/password combinations on a USB flash drive that you keep with you at all times. That way, even if you lose all data on your PC, you still have the passwords that you need to access your online data or services.
The problem with carrying all of your data on a USB drive is that it's not secure. If you lose the drive, someone else could read all of your data. For that reason, it's important to also encrypt the data on the thumb drive. When you encrypt the data, you pick a single pass phrase that you'll be guaranteed of remembering. Entering that pass phrase "unlocks" the thumb drive and you can then access everything else.
To store and encrypt your password data on a thumb drive, I recommend doing the following:
- Buy a USB flash drive. It doesn't have to be very large.
- Create a text file on the flash drive and enter all of your username/password combinations
- Use a product like TrueCrypt to encrypt all data on the drive
- Create a second flash drive that is identical to the first, also encrypted
- Keep one flash drive with you and store one in a safe place
6. Keep copies of all installation media off-site
It's also important to safeguard the programs or applications that you've installed on your PC. If you suffered a complete PC meltdown, you'll need to reinstall all of your applications before restoring your data.
The best strategy is to buy a sleeve that holds a number of different CDs and to store all of your software in the sleeve. For software that you've downloaded, rather than bought, burn the downloaded images to a CD and store that CD in the folder as well.
Once you have a single folder with all of your software, store it in a safe place, at a different site from your main computer. This way, if you suffered some disaster at home, you'd still have access to all of your original software.
7. Create regular genealogy reports and distribute to several family members
As an added safeguard, it doesn't hurt to create regular printed reports of all of your family data and to distribute these reports as widely as possible. Information that is located only on a computer, no matter how well backed up, is not nearly as likely to survive as data that has been written down or printed out.
Distributing your reports and charts to as many family members as possible ensures that the data will survive even if you lose all of your electronic data.
Another important reasons to do this is because none of us can guarantee how long we'll be around. We may have the most organized set of electronic family history data imaginable, well backed up. But if we die and no one continues on with our work, it will all be lost. To guard against this, just make sure that as many people as possible have copies of the data and of all of your work.
8. Get physical prints of all digital photos and store off-site
It's equally important to protect digital photos by getting physical copies as soon as possible. Again, the best strategy is to store the physical copies in a location different from the PC where the digital copies are stored. If your house should burn down, you'll at least be able to go back to the prints and re-digitize them.
As with reports and charts, it's also a good idea to distribute photos as widely as possible.
9. Monitor how your backups are doing
A backup plan is not effective if it has stopped working. So it's important for you to periodically check on your various backup strategies. Go browse locations of online data, or synched data. Try retrieving data from the archival backups that you're creating. It's important to make sure that your data is truly being backed up and that you're able to retrieve it.
10. Write up a description of where your data is and give to family member(s)
Finally, it's a good idea to write down a detailed description of where all of your family data is. Include a description of your PCs, exact folders where the data is located, software programs used, and a description of where your data is backed up and how. Make sure that several family members have a copy of this description. You should also make it clear what is to be done with this information after you've gone. Ideally, you'd bequeath it to another family member that is willing to carry on your work. But if that's not possible, you might consider donating the information to a local genealogical society, or historical society. The main goal is to make sure that the information is preserved, no matter what happens to you.
That's my complete list of what I think is necessary to safeguard your genealogical data. Not only do these strategies ensure that you'll never lose any data, they also help make sure that your data is properly preserved for future generations.
Doing all of this might be a little bit of work. But you need to consider how much of a tragedy it would be to lose any of your data. Then weigh that against the inconvenience of doing regular backups. For most of us, family data is so incredibly important that it's worth doing almost anything to make sure that it stays safe.


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A proposed ban on discrimination against state employees because of their sexual orientation failed to win support Wednesday from the Louisiana House and Governmental Affairs Committee.
The 6-3 vote shelves House Bill 85 by state Rep. Austin Badon, D-New Orleans, for the legislative session. He's unsuccessfully pushed similar measures in previous years, always running into strong opposition from religious leaders and conservative organizations.
Badon said people should be judged on their employment qualifications, rather than on whether they are gay.
"I'm a Christian. I read the Bible. I believe the word. But I don't dare judge my fellow man," Badon said. He added, "In 2013 America, we should not condone, tolerate or exacerbate discrimination."
State law already prohibits discrimination on race, religion, national ancestry, age, sex or disability.
Badon's bill would have declared it unlawful for a state employer to use different standards of treatment based on sexual orientation or gender identity. It would have allowed employees who feel they have been discriminated against to appeal to civil service officials or file a lawsuit to challenge the decision.
Opponents said the measure would advance a sexual politics agenda and would give special protections to people who choose a lifestyle that violates biblical teachings. They said existing laws provide adequate protection for state workers.
The proposal "does not remedy an existing problem, and it opens the gate for potential contentious and expensive litigation," said Rev. Dale Hoffpauir, a Lafayette church pastor and chief operating officer of the conservative Louisiana Family Forum.
Hoffpauir said people can't choose their race or gender, but can leave the "gay lifestyle."
Voting FOR banning state employee discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation (3): State Reps. Jared Brossett, D-New Orleans; Randal Gaines, D-LaPlace; and Girod Jackson, D-Harvey.
Voting AGAINST HB85 (6): State Reps. Taylor Barras, R-New Iberia; Johnny Berthelot, R-Gonzales; Mike Danahay, D-Sulphur; Greg Miller, R-Norco; Steve Pugh, R-Ponchatoula; and Tim Burns, R-Mandeville, chairman of the committee.


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Angel investors, entrepreneurs to mix it up at Stamford Innovation Center
Angel investment is not just about providing funding to a startup -- it can also be about building a relationship and becoming a source of advice, contacts and other intangible support for a budding business.
Together, the Stamford Innovation Center and Harvard Business School Alumni Angels Association of Greater New York will offer a guide to angel investing with an event, "Angel Investing 101 -- Best Practices," on Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Innovation Center, 175 Atlantic St.
The event is largely intended for angel investors to become well-versed in their sector and to make connections, but it also looks to educate entrepreneurs and anyone who is interested in networking with investors.
"It's really a perfect match," Diana Dowling, acting director of the Harvard Business School Alumni Angels Association of Greater New York, said. "Our goal as a group is to work with angels and identify good opportunities for investments. The Innovation Center has the knowledge of what entrepreneurs are experiencing."
Four panelists will discuss and answer questions that typically crop up among angel investors, like how to find companies to invest in, whether to form an angel network and how to best utilize it, how to value a company and know when it's time to bow out.
The panelists include Susan Balloch, managing director, Golden Seeds, formerly executive director and principal, The Blackstone Group; Karen Bantuveris, founder and chief executive officer, VolunteerSpot; David Teten, partner, ff Venture Capital, and chairman, HBS Alumni Angels of Greater New York; and Bob Dahl, HBS Alumni Angel, formerly head of Global Healthcare for the Carlyle Group. The discussion will be moderated by Katina Stefanova of Bridgewater Associates in Westport.
"In a region that has as much wealth as ours, there' not as much investment in startups as you'd expect," said Peter Propp, vice president of marketing at the Stamford Innovation Center. "Our hope is that linking angel investors with a place for startups, we'll create those connections."
A benefit of angel investment, where just one individual provides capital as opposed to a large group or company, is the network of connections and depth of experience that individual can bring to a startup, Dowling said. Angel investors need to be solvent and savvy about the risks they're taking but also open to the benefits they'll receive and provide.
"You need to understand that investment can be risky, it can be long term and it can yield great returns," Dowling said. "If you accept the risk and know it'll be years before your investment yields anything, then it might be a good fit."
Registration will begin at 6 p.m. For imformation and to register, visit www.stamfordicenter.com.


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Watch The ::God Is Imaginary Videos On YouTube ::
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I'm not very good at "guess the rule" types of things. I always get snarled up and can't think of anything to establish a rule.
Yep, but what do you do if you want to try to falsify the hypothesis but can't think of a way to?


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DENHAM SPRINGS — An off-duty firefighter who climbed into a burning car to rescue an unconscious motorist Wednesday said he relied on instinct and training after happening upon a crash near the Magnolia Bridge in Denham Springs.
"I'm a fireman on duty and off duty," said Jonathon Dixon, 25, of the St. George Fire Department. "Just because I don't have a uniform on does not mean that I'm not a fireman still."
The crash happened about 7 a.m. Wednesday on La. 64 near La. 1019 after a motorist, Stacie Massey, lost consciousness and ran under an 18-wheeler on Magnolia Bridge Road, State Police said. Massey, in an interview at her Denham Springs home, said she blacked out from a migraine and had no recollection of her rescue.
After Massey became unconscious, her car became wedged under the 18-wheeler and caught fire, authorities said.
Dixon and other first responders who happened to be in the area freed her from the flaming wreckage before she sustained any serious injuries.
"What made it kind of cool was the trooper and the firefighter were in the general area when it happened," Trooper 1st Class Jared Sandifer said, referring to Dixon and Trooper Chase Huval, who also assisted in the rescue. "Had they not been there that quickly it could have turned out a little more tragically."
Dixon likely will receive "internal recognition" for his actions, said Chief Gerald C. Tarleton of the St. George Fire Department.
"So many times we go to things like this and they turn out to be so tragic," Tarleton said. "This turned out to be somewhat of a miracle."
Massey said she started to feel bad from a headache and decided to turn around in a Shell gas station parking lot and head back home.
"I have migraines and I just blacked out," she said. "Usually I pull off or I make it home — this time I didn't."
Dixon, meanwhile, had wrapped up a 24-hour shift at the fire station on Perkins Road in East Baton Rouge Parish, went home to change and was headed to a part-time job when he happened upon the accident. He first noticed the rising smoke from the car while buying his daily biscuit inside a nearby business.
"My first thought was it was their brake," Dixon said, referring to the 18-wheeler. "I didn't really think that anything was going on until I noticed all the bystanders running that way."
Dixon made his way to the scene and saw the front of Massey's car was ablaze.
"I really kicked it in high gear whenever I found out that nobody had exited the vehicle," Dixon said.
Dixon tried to open the back passenger door, but it was locked.
"The only thing I had available for me was my steel-toe work boot," he said.
Cpl. Pat Wennemann of the Baton Rouge Police Department arrived at the scene and had a fire extinguisher, Dixon said, which was used to finish breaking out a rear-door window. "I reached in and unlocked the door," Dixon added. "I climbed in the back seat."
Holding his breath to avoid smoke inhalation, Dixon noticed that Massey was in a semi-conscious state and tried to pull her toward him to check her pulse.
"Once I saw her head move," Dixon said, "I knew that she was alive."
Dixon said he took off his jacket and put it over the woman's face. The first responders shattered the passenger window and unlocked that door.
A state trooper opened the driver's door and helped to free the woman's legs, which had become pinned, Dixon said. Eventually, the men pulled her out of the vehicle.
"I could see a glow underneath the dash coming from the engine compartment, so I knew that she didn't have much time," Dixon said.
Massey was taken to Ochsner Medical Center with minor injuries and was later released, Sandifer said. She pointed to a large bruise on her arm during a Thursday night interview but said she was otherwise unscathed.
She has since seen video footage of her burning car on Facebook, and also used the social networking site to communicate with Dixon's mother.
"If they were not there, I would not be alive today," she said of the first responders. "I will definitely thank them privately."
Dixon said he couldn't have saved the woman without the help of Huval, Wennemann and other first responders who rushed to the scene. "It was nothing but a team effort," he said.
Tarleton, the fire chief, said he was proud of Dixon's reaction.
"We pride ourselves in saying we're always going to step up to the plate," Tarleton said. "He obviously did that day when he didn't even have to."
Video of burning car on St. George Fire Department Facebook site