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Ball State University and its library system is a state-supported institution. Why are gifts needed if it receives state funds?
The University receives funds from tuition, state appropriations, and private support. Although tuition and state moneys provide a portion of the University and its libraries' operating budget, those funds alone do not cover the total cost of providing the level of service to which we aspire. There are more needs than tuition and state moneys alone can supply. Private support is vital to the continued growth and success of the University Libraries.
Why are unrestricted gifts so important?
Unrestricted gifts can be used wherever needs are greatest, allowing the Dean of the University Libraries the flexibility to address the Libraries' most pressing needs.
Who establishes gift needs and sets priorities for funding?
Gifts are accepted by the University Libraries either for specific or general purposes. Gifts for general purposes are allocated by the Dean of University Libraries toward services and projects where he perceives the needs are greatest.
May I specify how my gift is used?
Yes, you may specify which specific fund you would like to receive your support.
What are the various Funds to which I can contribute?
Yes, there are a range of funds:
What are the University Libraries' priorities?
The priorities are
Is my gift tax-deductible?
Gifts to the University Libraries are tax-deductible on federal tax returns subject to the limits allowed by the Internal Revenue Service. A copy of the letter documenting tax-exempt status is available from the Ball State University Foundation. When you make a gift, the Foundation Office will provide you with the necessary documentation for tax purposes.
I can only make a small gift at this time. Will it still make an impact?
Every contribution makes a difference! The combined effect of many small gifts can be powerful. Your support is vital in the University Libraries' ability to expand services and resources. Regardless of the size of each gift, it helps us to build our resources which benefit over 19,000 students.
How do I make a gift in honor or memory of someone or to support the collection of an academic college?
Contributions can be designated in memory or honor of a special person, occasion, or to build a specific academic college's collection. Simply complete the honor/memorial section of the donation form. The contribution will be applied where you designate. We will be happy to notify the family of a memorial gift or an individual who has been honored that a contribution has been made, without disclosing the gift amount.
What benefits will I receive from making a planned gift in support of the University Libraries?
Donors of planned gifts can receive a number of financial benefits from their gifts, depending on the type of gift made. Your financial commitment today will have a direct impact on the University Libraries' users (students, faculty and community) of tomorrow, allowing you to show your support in a very tangible way. For more information, please contact the University Libraries Dean's Office, 765-285-5277.
What opportunities are there for recognition?
We are always pleased to acknowledge the support of our donors. Donors are recognized in our newsletter unless the donor requests otherwise. There are naming and reception opportunites, among other forms of recognition for our donors.
How will making a planned gift help the University Libraries now if the money will not be available for many years to come?
Many individuals are not able to make a major gift due to any number of factors, but a gift planned to mature at a later date allows the University Libraries to move forward, secure in the knowledge that the funds will be available in the future. For many donors, the planned gift that will mature many years in the future may be larger than any outright gifts they could make at present.
What are the various types of planned or deferred gifts?
There are several types of planned or deferred gifts, and the one that is most appropriate for you depends on a number of factors, such as the size of your gift, the age of the beneficiary/beneficiaries, the amount of income needed, and the length of time income is required. For more specific information, please contact the University Libraries Dean's Office, 765-285-5277.
How do I make a matching gift?
Matching gifts are made by employers in support of charitable gifts made by their employees to certain non-profit institutions such as universities or libraries. Many companies offer to match the gifts that their employees make to certain not-for-profit institutions and organizations. If you work for a company with a matching gift program, you provide your employer with information about your gift, and the company does the rest. Some companies extend matching gift privileges to include board members, retirees and employees' spouses. Check with your company's Human Resources Department for additional information and a matching gift form.
Can I make a gift anonymously?
Yes. The University Libraries will respect your desire for anonymity and will not disclose your gift if that is your desire. You can discuss your gift confidentially either in person or by telephone with the University Libraries Dean's Office, 765-285-5277.
Can my gift support multiple areas at the University Libraries?
Gifts to benefit multiple areas within the University Libraries can be easily handled. Please discuss your needs with the University Libraries Dean's Office, 765-285-5277.
Can I make my gift with a credit card? Yes. The Ball State University Foundation accepts charge cards via its online secure server.
Where should I send a gift?
Office of the Dean of University Libraries
Ball State University
Bracken Library BL-218
Muncie, IN 47306


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German Butter Spekulatius Cookies
Lambertz' Spekulatius are classic holiday cookies formed in molds depicting classic German symbols of Christmas-- including St. Nicholas. Spekulatius are uniquely thin, with a classic crunchiness and a snap of flavor. We offer three varieties: Traditional Butter Spekulatius with a slight hint of orange, Butter Chocolate Spekulatius made with cocoa and chocolate chips with a slight hint of lemon, and Almond Spekulatius. Varieties sold separately.


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BRISTOL, Tenn. – Christina Melcher and Christy Kooch combined for five of King's six extra-base hits over a two-game span while the Lady Tornado earned their first Conference Carolinas win on Thursday afternoon. Rachel Wilmoth led her team onto a 3-0 shutout victory from the circle in game one before Lees-McRae College rebounded in game two with a 5-2 win. King is now 6-8 overall on the season.
GAME ONE – Lees-McRae 0, King 3
Rachel Wilmoth (4-3) held the Lees-McRae Bobcats to just two hits through seven innings of work in her second complete-game victory of the season. The Morristown, Tenn., native allowed three base runners in her outing and retired the side in order in her final three innings in the circle. Wilmoth struck out five and walked none while limiting LMC to just a pair of singles during the third and fourth innings. In each inning, the Bobcats stranded a runner at second base without scoring.
King put two on the board in the second inning to take an early lead. Cora Milliken (Jacksonville, Fla.) singled down the left field line to lead the inning off before Tiffany Harris (Tazewell, Va.) hit a blast over LMC right fielder Brooke Sheridan's head, legging out a triple and driving home Milliken. Tiffany Brand (Knoxville, Tenn.) followed with a sacrifice fly to left field that allowed Harris to score and give the Lady Tornado a 2-0 lead.
Harris crossed the plate for a second time after her next at bat in the fourth inning. The senior hit a grounder to short with a runner on but shortstop Lori Fulmer's throw to get the lead runner drew Karli Robb off of the bag at second. Two batters later, Christina Melcher (Orlando, Fla.) cracked one her three extra-base hits of the day with a double to deep left field to extend the King lead to three runs.
GAME TWO – Lees-McRae 5, King 2
Lees-McRae broke out with a five-run fourth inning, giving the Bobcats all the run support they needed to back Holli Crickenburger on the rubber. Karli Robb hit a two-run double just out of the reach of King left fielder Christy Kooch to get the inning started. The bottom of the LMC order cranked out three consecutive two-out base hits, including Amanda Decker's two-RBI single up the middle, capping off the five-run frame.
King chipped into the lead during their half of the fifth when Christy Kooch hit a double into the left center field gap, plating Christina Melcher who led the inning off with her second extra-base hit of the game. Cassie Ringstaff rounded the bases in the seventh after being plucked by a pitch and advancing the remaining 180 feet to score on wild pitches and passed balls.
Holli Crickenberger held the Lady Tornado to five hits and a run while striking out nine. Kendall Brabson (1-5) took the loss, allowing five runs on six hits while striking out two.


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Shane Matthews & Tristan Rayne in My Brother's Hot Friend
Synopsis: Tristan is trying to figure out his major in college and he likes what Shane's brother does for a living. So he comes by to get some ideas, but he had no idea that instead he'd be cumming majorly.
Porn stars: Shane Matthews , Tristan Rayne
Who: College boy, Family friend
Where: Couch, Floor, Living Room
Categories: Ball licking, Blonde, Bubble butt, Cum on stomach, Facial hair, Hairy chest, Kissing, Lean, Muscular, Short hair, Smooth, Stocky, Underwear, Young guy


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copy and paste:Originally Posted by Tibbs
While we're here, we should mention the capitalized term Middle Ages. The Middle Ages can be loosely defined as the time in European history between classical antiquity and the Renaissance, or roughly from the late fifth century to the fifteenth century, but again, this is a fluid range. Sometimes the Middle Ages are held to begin around A.D. 1000, with the earlier period being the Dark Ages, and the end of the Middle Ages can be variously reckoned as 1350, 1400, 1450, or 1500. It's also worth noting the curiosity that English is one of the few languages to interpret "Middle Ages" as a plural; the equivalents in most other languages, as Medieval Latin medium aevum, French moyen âge, German mittelalter, and Italian il Medioevo are all singular.
Sounds like it's OK to capitalize it.
took it from:


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What to CookWeeknight Cooking
Chocolate Orange Madeleine Cookies
When the email came asking for food for the school play potluck dinner, I quickly raised my hand to bring dessert. I just don't make salad for 25, and besides, cookies fit easily in the incipient's backpack, so no dropping off of large Pyrex dishes with my name written on the underside in Sharpie for this working mom!
But I have become a bit bored with my usual offerings, and decided it was time to check the archives for a fresh confection option. When I hit on Cordelia's Chocolate Orange Madeleine Cookies, I felt deeply excited. First, who doesn't love a madeleine, especially one served without insipid references to memory? Further this recipe offered me the excuse to finally purchase a bottle of Grand Marnier, which I always imagined was for people who have a great deal of elegant glassware at their disposal, as well as some garments involving chiffon. Last but certainly not least, the recipe seemed to fit the bill on the weeknight cooking front -– two birds!
After coming home with my new bottle of booze, I pulled out all my ingredients and went cheerfully in search of my madeleine pan, which I had a vague memory of seeing when I unpacked after our move to D.C.. Hmm. Where was it? In the baking closet, there were Bundt pans, tube pans, eight-inch pans, cookie trays, and, who knew, the small casserole dish that went missing several weeks ago. No madeleine pan.
Panicked, I began to look in less-explored cookware closets in my house, including one in the home office, where I keep large roasting pans, and where I further discovered my missing cupcake carrier, one Spanish phrase book, the bottom of my ice cream maker and a small red bag containing a black light bulb. At this point I began asking loudly, and not rhetorically, HAS ANYONE SEEN MY MADELEINE PAN??? Friend, it is with deep sadness that I report to you that no one in my family seemed to care one small bit about this tragedy.
Bacon girl did not respond at all. The incipient managed, "No, but I can't find my cell phone. Do you happen to know where that is?" My husband, after ignoring my wails for several minutes while he replayed a questionable goal in the Chelsea vs. Tottenham match, a well known and much-anticipated sporting event, finally walked around looking in all the places I did before, proclaiming that it "must be somewhere," then disappearing again.
Well. What, exactly in the hell would I do with this new bottle of Grand Marnier? In my despair, I first mixed up a cocktail (call it Jenny's Missing Pan Drink: over a large glass of ice, pour one shot of Grand Marnier, the juice of one orange, a tablespoon of yuzu syrup and a dash of Angostura bitters, and seltzer.)
Then suddenly, mid sip, an idea was born: what if I mixed up the dough for this recipe, but poured the results in a mini muffin pan, greased and sugared just as Cordelia instructs, instead?
So it began: I put together my dry ingredients as my butter and eventually sugar got rocking in the Kitchen Aid, continuing with the rest of the instructions almost to the letter, but using a scant half teaspoon of salt rather than a dash, because this is what my heart told me to do.
I filled my muffin tin holes three-quarters of the way, being mindful not to overfill them. In a mini muffin tin, this recipe takes exactly ten minutes at 360 degrees (really 360? Okay, whatever), but if you use the madeleine pan, check them after 13 minutes. Further, if you are making these treats my way, they only need to sit in the pan for 3 or 4 minutes, not fifteen, before you turn them out.
Friends, this is a most exquisite dessert, especially given the minimal effort here. The orange zest, a real boon ingredient to any baking, I think, and the liquor, which is more than subtle but not at all a hammer, make an elegant match with the melted chocolate you've tossed into the batter. Dusted with a bit of powdered sugar, these are sophisticated, pretty little additions to the table of inevitable brownies and chocolate chip cookies you are bound to find at the buffet.
Make this immediately, in either pan of your choosing, and be very glad you have an entire bottle of Grand Marnier on hand to repeat the recipe again soon.
- 1 stick of unsalted butter
- 3/4 cups sugar
- 3 eggs
- zest from 1/2 an orange
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 teaspoons grand marnier
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons dark cocoa powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 3 oz of good semisweet chocolate (Callebaut for example)
- pinch salt
- Heat the oven to 360 F degrees.
- Put the butter in the mixer bowl and whip on high speed for 2 min.
- Add the sugar and the orange zest, and keep mixing for another minute or so on high speed.
- Add the eggs one by one. Add another one only after the previous one is well mixed.
- Add the salt, vanilla and the grand marnier and mix for a little longer.
- Sift the flour, cocoa powder and the baking powder to a separate bowl. Add to the mixer bowl, while mixing on low speed, in 3 batches. Though every time mix only until the flour is just incorporated, so the dough won't get tough.
- Cut the chocolate to small pieces. Melt the chocolate in the microwave for about 1-1.5 min until it just starts to melt. Mix well to melt all pieces. Cool for few minutes and then incorporate into the dough with a spatula.
- Oil a Madeleine pan and sprinkle a bit of sugar in each indentation (even if you use silicon pan). Put a very full tablespoon of batter in each indentation to just fill it. the dough is pretty sticky, but try to flatten it a bit.
- Bake for 12-15 min, until risen (mostly in the middle) and springy.
- Let it cool for 15 min and take out the cookies and put on a plate with the bottom side (shell-like) up. Sprinkle with powdered sugar.
- Enjoy.
By day, Jennifer Steinhauer, aka Jenny, covers Congress for The New York Times. By night, she is an obsessive cook.


text: Dr. King addresses the subject of individual greatness within society and how to truly go about achieving such a status. He begins by dispelling common signifiers of greatness before indicating that greatness can only be substantively measured through the ability to put others before self. Dr. King cites the life of Jesus Christ as an example of humility culminating into greatness.


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15 Years Ago
Feb. 8, 1996
Gail Bowen, mother of Brandy Conrad, a student at Grant County High School that was killed in a car wreck, spoke at a press conference in Frankfort in favor of a graduated licensing program. Bowen believes that it might save the life of another teenager, especially in a a state where the teenage drivers death rate is the highest in the nation.
At the Williamstown City Council meeting, members discussed funding for a boat patrol on Williamstown Lake. The problem is the city doesn't have the money in the budget to fund and equip a boat. Suggestions were made to ask the state departments of Waterways or Fish and Wildlife to patrol the lake. The yearly patrol will run an estimated $6,000 a year, excluding purchasing a boat.
25 Years Ago
Feb. 6, 1986
A major land purchase in Dry Ridge will eventually result in additional commercial development near the Interstate 75 exchange, according to one of the partners in the purchase.
Bill Wilson and his brother Wilbur, a Cynthiana physician, made the purchase from Marjorie S. May, who operated a drive-in theater on the site several years ago.
Like the people of NASA, the Pelfrey family of Dry Ridge will always remember Jan. 28. Not only did Harold, Anna, Billy and Bobbie Jo Pelfrey witness the disastrous launch of the Challenger, which killed six astronauts and teacher Christa McAuliffe, Billy found some debris on the beach at Daytona that may have been part of it.
50 Years Ago
Feb. 10, 1961
Sherman Church of Christ had a record month in January. Morning attendance averaged 61. A new attendance record was set during the month of 102 attending the opening services in the new basement. The congregation will enter into a special building fund drive on Feb. 26. A goal of $800 and a challenge goal of $1,000 has been set for six Sundays of sacrifice.
May every song be sweeter than the one your heard before; and every ship that you send out, come safely back to shore. I offer you my humble heart—and fervently I pray that you will consent to be my Valentine today. I hesitate to break in on this train of thought with a commercial, but I must say that if words fail, send Whitman's, the ultimate in the candy maker's art.—J.B. Miller, pharmacist
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Canuck fans rally for Gino Odjick
Former NHL player Gino Odjick says he's "overwhelmed" by the attention from hundreds of well-wishers outside Vancouver General Hospital, where the Canuck enforcer battles a terminal illness. (Michael Mui/QMI Agency)
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Canucks fan favourite Gino Odjick was "overwhelmed" by the chants of hundreds of supporters rallying outside Vancouver General Hospital Sunday to wish him well as the former hockey player battles a terminal illness.
Chants of "Gino, Gino, Gino" boomed from a 12th Avenue entrance to the hospital as fans held signs and waved flags.
And as former Canuck No. 29 waded into the crowd to express his thanks, cars stopped and fans rushed across the street to the hospital driveway, completely surrounding the hockey star -- who arrived in a wheelchair, but stood up to meet his fans.
"I'm a bit overwhelmed," he said. "I just wanted to say thank you. I can't stay too long because I got to get the medication. I really appreciate you guys coming out."
His son, Joey Odjick, told QMI Agency he's proud of his father's accomplishments.
"Hopefully he's going to fight this disease," he said. "He really appreciates it a lot.
"He gave his life, and heart and soul to this organization and to this city ... he's made (Vancouver) his home now."
Debbie Sparrow, one of Ojick's employees at the Musqueam Golf and Learning Academy, described him as a "sweet, honest and generous" boss.
"He's strong and he believed, and he will not stop believing," she said. "He wants everybody to believe even if something's happening to you."
Odjick, a native of Maniwaki, Que., played 605 games over 12 seasons with the Canucks, New York Islanders, Philadelphia Flyers and Montreal Canadiens from 1990 and 2002. He scored 64 goals and 137 points to go along with 2,567 penalty minutes, which ranks him 17th in NHL history.


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by Lynne Vogel
Someone once said to me that artists don't wait for the perfect situation to make art. They make do with what they have and make art anyway.
In the light of recent talk about consumer product safety, and with so many new dyers selling their wares online, the question of dye safety has become a frequent topic in my conversations. When I mention that I've had to quit production dyeing because I can't tolerate being around stock solutions for long, people immediately ask, "Why not use natural dyes?" It may seem counterintuitive that synthetic dyes could be safer than natural dyes, but I believe that sometimes natural dyeing can be risky. While many natural substances that create color are very safe to use, there are so many that pose a far greater risk to one's health than any synthetic dyes. Whether or not you use heavy metal mordants like copper and chrome or stick with alum, a much safer ingredient also used in pickles, you can still get into trouble if you try to dye with poisonous plants such as bloodroot, pokeweed, and wormwood. The concentrations required to make rich colors can produce some noxious brews. Natural dyeing is an art, one that takes time and effort to master, so most of us stick with the synthetic dyes because they are less irritating, more predictable, more environmentally manageable, easier to use, and offer an infinitely broader color range. So just how safe are the synthetic dyes we use for wool and silk?
The synthetic dyes most of us use on protein fibers are acid dyes such as Prochems' Washfast Acid, Cushings, Deka, Jacquard, and Aljo acid dyes. Just as effective but more expensive are food colorings such as Culinary Dyes, Kool aid, and Wilton's. All these dyes are classified as non-toxic, sometimes even food grade, but at the concentrations required to give intense color, they can still cause some unpleasant reactions if used improperly, such as lung, skin and eye irritation and brain fog. In fact, Prochem offers online safety sheets that list ingredients in all their dyes for those who wonder just what's in there. All of us who have ever done any dyeing have read and followed long lists of safety precautions. Regardless, some of us have had to give up dyeing because of sensitivities to the dyes themselves. Sensitivities aren't life threatening, but they are uncomfortable at best, and usually come from overexposure to substances; artists in many mediums can develop them over time. Even bakers can develop health problems from constant exposure to flour. A substance doesn't have to be toxic to cause sensitivities in those constantly in contact.
After working with acid dyes for 20 years, my affinity for deep colors and my slight tendency towards chemical sensitivity have now caught up with me. Although I have used the safest dyes available to the home dyer, although I am neat and careful, I find it harder and harder to be around them, even food coloring. So I thought I would share a little about how I have coped with my own sensitivities, focusing on the points that I find most critical to my own wellbeing in hopes this will be helpful to other individuals who have experienced similar problems.
Adequate Ventilation
It would be great to have a nice, climate controlled, insect-free area in which to ply our craft but even if I poured tons of money into a state of the art studio (and who has tons of money?) I would still be hard pressed to provide myself with adequate ventilation in an enclosed area. If one bottle of cold stock solution is sitting open in a room, I can sense it. Adequate ventilation, for me, is outside in the shade. Of course this means I have to dye weather permitting, so this brings me to point number two.
Because I have to wait to dye for decent weather, this limits the time I can spend dyeing. Having to set up and take down takes extra time and this also makes me think twice before I get geared up for a dye day. Anything that even marginally deters me from dyeing reduces the frequency of my contact with dyes and this is all in my favor. I really didn't get into too much trouble with dyes until I started teaching. Dyeing for my own use didn't take very long and the only side effects I experienced were a slight brain fog followed by an irresistible craving for chocolate chip cookies. But dyeing enough fiber for spinning classes and then teaching the actual dye classes themselves in venues not designed for that purpose and wowwy, zowwy -- overkill, especially when I started taking concentrated stock solutions to class because I could transport them more easily, and we began using stronger concentrations of dye for our pours, say 1 ½ to 2 percent solutions. Colors? Gorgeous! Brain fog? Color me cross-eyed.
Avoid Contact And Inhalation Of Powdered Dye And Dye Fumes
Using liquid stock solutions minimizes the individual's contact with dye in its powdered and most irritating form. Most dyers recommend mixing a one percent solution (one gram of dye powder to one hundred milliliters of water). I always mix dyes in a still environment to keep particles from becoming airborne and I wear gloves and a respirator with cartridges that filter both particulate and volatile substances (such as paint thinners, etc) so I can stand being in close quarters with the dyes. Particulates aren't the only problem when hydrating. Fumes matter too. Paper masks don't filter out fumes, only particulates. I also use the respirator if I want to stand over an immersion pot to watch the colors take up, or if I need to be near the microwave or steaming pot when I'm heat-setting colors. I don't wear a respirator when I teach class, though, because I can't talk through it. So this year I'll teach my last dye class.
One Percent Solution
I know I can get some beautiful colors by mixing a two percent stock solution for cold pour methods, but I end up doubling my contact with the dye when I do so. If I work with these intense colors, I need to be doubly mindful of safety precautions. The more concentrated the stock solution, the less surface area of that solution needs to be exposed to evaporation to cause the irritating fumes. Even cold stock solutions have fumes. They just aren't as apparent to most people as the heated fumes, but they are there, believe me.
Keep it Clean
Stock solutions evaporated become powder once more. I'm finicky about wiping up spills immediately and avoid leaving solutions to evaporate in uncovered containers any longer than necessary. I go one step further and try to keep the tops on all my bottles of dye when I'm not pouring dye from them. This helps to minimize the danger of spilling and cuts down on the surface area of exposed stock solution.
In Conclusion
Treat your dyes and your body with respect. Carelessness that may not seem to matter for a day of dyeing can add up when you dye every day. Find the right environment and methods for your continuing safety and well being.
Happy dyeing.
Lynne Vogel is a handspinner and a fiber educator with a distinguished resume of teaching and publishing, author of The Twisted Sister's Sock Workbook, and The Twisted Sisters Knit Sweaters: A Knit-to-Fit Workshop. Find her etsy shop here and her blog at handspun central.


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Video: After all their moves, are the Flyers better than last season? The Daily News' Frank Seravalli weighs in on which direction the Flyers are heading and if Steven Stamkos could come to Philadelphia with CineSport's Noah Coslov.
Get exclusive videos and analysis in our new app for iPhone and Android. Download it here.


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Reviewed by Konnor M. (age 8)
I thought the story was cute because the kittens kept drinking in the air when they were being held. It was unique that Momo made cat certificates for each kitten that was given away. This book reminds me of when I gave away my puppies.
I recommend this book to people who love cats. This book shows how hard it is to give away your pets.


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ATLANTA (AP) - May 3, 2013 --A lawyer for Reese Witherspoon says the actress has pleaded no contest to a disorderly conduct charge resulting from a heated confrontation with a state trooper in Atlanta.
Municipal Court of Atlanta Deputy Solicitor Ronda Graham said in a statement Friday that Witherspoon entered the plea and paid a $100 fine, resolving the case.
Georgia State Patrol spokesman Gordy Wright said earlier Friday that the department will release video from a state trooper's dashboard camera that captured the confrontation and Witherspoon's arrest. Celebrity website TMZ has aired a copy of the video.
The footage shows Witherspoon asking the trooper, "Do you know my name?" and then adding, "You're about to find out who I am."
The actress has apologized for her behavior.


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1. Re: Acrobat 8 printing old version of a file???Steve Werner Mar 27, 2012 8:39 AM (in response to RZ_VNG)
It could be a bug in Acrobat and Reader 8 that was fixed in Acrobat and Reader 9.
2. Re: Acrobat 8 printing old version of a file???RZ_VNG Mar 27, 2012 9:38 AM (in response to Steve Werner)
I agree, but their seems to be a fix for it somewhere...I just haven't found it yet. Perhaps the fix was jut upgrading, which we plan to do anyway. Just found this very strange and wondered if anyone else ever came across this.
3. Re: Acrobat 8 printing old version of a file???Bernd Alheit Mar 27, 2012 1:25 PM (in response to RZ_VNG)
Version 8 of Acrobat is old and unsupported.
4. Re: Acrobat 8 printing old version of a file???RZ_VNG Mar 27, 2012 1:46 PM (in response to Bernd Alheit)
I understand what you mean, but I wasn't calling Adobe asking for technical support. I was asking if any other users in the support forum have run in to this issue before and had a fix. I have inherited multiple versions of Acrobat at this company with single licensing so I have to work with what I am given. Once I get apporval on volume licensing then hopefully this will be a non issue. Until then, I have to help my users with what they have, which is Acrobat 8; and still have to ask if anyone has seen this issue before?
5. Re: Acrobat 8 printing old version of a file???Bill@VT Mar 27, 2012 4:08 PM (in response to RZ_VNG)1 person found this helpful
A question and thing to try:
Ques: Have you updated AA8? There are many subversions of AA8 and if you are running AA8.0, that may be the problem.
Try: Use Save As for the file to remove the old content and then close it, reopen, and try the print again.
6. Re: Acrobat 8 printing old version of a file???CtDave Mar 28, 2012 6:15 PM (in response to RZ_VNG)
Just wondering - how was the PDF "updated"?
If this was done by using a Button field for logo and a text field for the new text neither of this will print to hardcopy by default.
In the upper right of the Print dialog there is a drop-down with choices to permit printing comment annotations, etc.
Be well...
7. Re: Acrobat 8 printing old version of a file???RZ_VNG Apr 4, 2012 12:31 PM (in response to CtDave)
Good job and a big Thank You to CtDave. I saw the users issue, then walked away from his pc and didn't even think to check for these settings. He has yet to confirm if this fixed his issue, but I know that even with Acrobat X on my pc, switching from DOCUMENT to DOCUMENT AND MARKUPS, makes the file show old and new logos (1 placed on top of the other when designed) as well as the text boxes appearing and disappearing. Good catch and thanks again!


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Disciplinary Minor
Professor — Lynn Walter (chair)
Assistant Professor — Jill White
Web site: www.uwgb.edu/anthro/
Anthropology Minor Requirements | Course Descriptions
Anthropology has the broadest scope of all the social sciences. Anthropology is the holistic study of humans. It includes both the biology of human populations and the study of human culture and society, both in the present and the past.
Anthropologists can study evolution, prehistory, biological variation, genetics, growth and stature, disease and illness, gender, ethnicity, power, politics, social stratification, art, music, dance, myth, ritual, religion, economy, work, tools, warfare, farming, hunting, ecological relationships, law and legal systems, crime, folklore, language, family, the life-span, kinship, and human thought processes.
The aims are to understand social and biological groups as wholes, the institutions found within them as systems, and the meanings people in society give to things, activities, and experiences. Developing this broad kind of understanding is beneficial for almost anything a person might choose to do in the future. Skills and perceptions gained through anthropological study can be applied to many different vocational and professional interests, including international business, government work, human development, Peace Corps, social service and health-related professions, museum and field work, environmental impact analysis, cultural resource management, economic development, social studies teaching, and advanced graduate study.
A major in an interdisciplinary program combined with a minor in Anthropology provides a rich educational experience that can lead to one of several interesting intellectual and vocational directions. Combinations with interdisciplinary majors in Social Change and Development, Humanistic Studies, Human Biology, or Human Development are the most obvious choices, but others are also possible.
The chair can offer suggestions about career-oriented programs to combine with Anthropology. The Anthropology program maintains a rich web page with up-to-date information about courses, faculty, and other things. Students seeking teacher preparation should be sure to consult advisers both in Anthropology and Education early to make sure they meet all requirements.Students seeking information on teacher certification should contact the Education Office.


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Marriage licenses granted at the Roane County Courthouse in April:
James Albert Grubb to Carmen Roselle Cowans West
Jake Kody Decker to Cadie Joy Ammon
John Edward Stephens IV to Jacqui Leanne Freels Doughty
Joseph Henry Watson III to Anale Dakota Thornton
Drew Graham Dismukes to Sierra Amber Metzger
James Samuel Hoover Jr. to Linda S. Sinclair Hellmann
John David Allen to Tiffany Nichole Williams
James William Schean to Marlyn Crystell Pope Flinn
Joe Lee Cunningham III to Taylor Ann Miller
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Belia Diaz Landin
Belia Diaz Landin, 80, of Big Spring went to be with her Lord and Savior on Thursday, July 28, 2011, at her residence. A vigil will be held at 7 p.m. Friday, July 29, 2011, at Nalley-Pickle & Welch Rosewood Chapel. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 30, 2011, at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church with Monsignor Bernard Gully officiating. Interment will follow at Mt. Olive Memorial Park.


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I've talked here a few times about the support I get from the community. In short, awesome.
I regularly get asked, "how's kate?" so here comes my random (thankfully) post on the little monster.
Kate turned 6 in December and was diagnosed with PDD-NOS (Autism) in November.
We've now got a caretaker/nurse who comes to the house a couple of times a week to help out. We couldn't have gotten any luckier. She is awesome. Within days, we felt like we had known her forever and she has fallen in love with Kate. We couldn't ask for anything more. I'll call her CT for now on.
CT is just awesome. She has the energy we don't seem to have. It's a good thing too, she inspires us to be more like her. Of course, as she says, she gets to go home in the evening and we don't, we do want to do the most we can, be the best we can for Kate and Little Chet.
CT takes her outside every day, weather permitting. She's been working with Kate on doing somersaults. You'd think this is a basic kid function, but Kate isn't basic.
Up until very recently, Kate would bend over, put her head on the ground and one of us would grab her feet and flip her over. She sign "again" over and over and over and over and over. She loved it. Last week we had gathered in the front yard when I looked over at Kate, she had bent over put her hands and head down on the ground and rolled over, all by herself! She did this a couple of times before I barked at Kris to tape it. Like the Michigan J. Frog, she stopped doing it when the camera appeared.
We all witnessed it though. CT was bouncing off the walls. Kris and I were excited, but CT was excited. Gotta love it.
Along with CT, we've had a behavioral therapist coming in regularly. I'll call her PT.
Like CT, PT adores Kate. Although we had to wait for some time to really find help, the help we have found has been awesome. Others we have seen have been good, but there is no emotional connection, from Kate or us. We could tolerate no connection with us, but Kate won't. She demands it.
Along with behavior, she tries to help Kate with words. I can't make them out yet, but Kris can. Moms always can. There is one word she has learned though, "Up!" She'll walk up to me, "Up!" and simultaneously point towards the ceiling. Very simple, but so very cool.
I've managed to teach Kate something as well, how to get down the stairs. See, Kate still can't navigate stairs standing up, she crawls. Fast. When she gets home from school, I better not be on a call, she'll come roaring in and everyone on the phone is like "WTF is that?" "I've just been attacked by a monster, sorry." is my usual response. I have to take her back downstairs. If Kris tries to, she throws a tantrum. A giant tantrum. A gigantic giant tantrum. She has serious issues with separation...we've tried just about everything (from a behavioral approach), but it continues unabated.
Anyway, one day I decided to drag her down the stairs. You probably did something similar when you were a kid (or say, in college...), sat on your butt and slid down the stairs. We we got to the bottom of the stairs, she signed "again" over and over and over and over and over and over and over. Naturally.
A couple of weekends ago, she scampered up the stairs while I was downstairs. I could hear her complaining about 1, no one coming to get her and 2, not being able to get down. I yelled at her and told her to get down here right now. 5 minutes later, she appeared. She made it down the stairs for the first time ever. Awesome.
That's the long answer to the question, "How's Kate doing?"
The short answer is, "Awesome!"
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
katezilla: an update
5 comments:
- hillbillytoad said...
Cute hat! Sorry I'm a sucker for pictures
- February 9, 2011 at 1:52 PM
Yeah Kate! Glad to hear she's getting good a CT/PT. Makes all the differences in the world!
- February 9, 2011 at 2:23 PM
- Noons said...
Funny way of spelling "angel".
Yes, they do exist.
- February 9, 2011 at 4:24 PM
- jpiwowar said...
Dude, that all sounds so *good*. So very glad to see you're all getting the help you need.
- February 9, 2011 at 11:33 PM
- oraclenerd said...
CT/PT = angel: it is the justice alphabet
- February 10, 2011 at 10:15 AM
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Saturday, September 18, 2010
Is Austin Jackson Getting Alot Of Infield Singles And Are They Partly Responsible For His High BABIP?
It would be the highest since 1924. Jackson has a .161 AVG on balls in the infield according to Baseball Reference. But the league average is just .080. If we take half of his infield hits away, say 15, he then would be 16 for 191 on infield balls. That would lower his BABIP from 164/398 = .412 to 149/398 = .374. Still very high, but maybe not as historic.
He is fast with 10 3Bs this year as a RHB while stealing 24 with only 5 caught stealing. Maybe he beats out more grounders than average.
His average on hits to the outfield is .649 while the league average is .545. So he is above average here but not relatively as much as as in the infield. His GB/FB ratio is just about 2.22-1 while for the league it is about 1.23-1. Line drives are 27.3% of his non-bunt ABs while for the league it is 19.1%. His AVG on line drives is just about the league average, .722 vs. .725. So if you hit alot more line drives and you are fast, maybe you get a high BABIP. He strikes out 25.7% of the time while the league average is 17.5%. Maybe he just swings real hard, too.
5 comments:
This is very interesting. Even more interesting when I looked and saw that his BABIP isn't all that related to ballpark differences... as it's .420 in Detroit & .404 everywhere else. I see the diff, but he's over .400 everywhere?!? That's unusual! Somebody should figure out what his regular BA would be if he struck out at the league average rate or at least cut down his own rate by 10% or something.
I love Austin Jackson. One of my favorite young players.
- September 18, 2010 at 12:27 PM
- Cyril Morong said...
Thanks for dropping by and commenting. I don't think I ever had anyone post a comment so soon after I posted the article.
Good point about home/road.
To answer your question, see something Tom Tango (tangotiger) posted recently.
I also did some analysis on how average changes when strikeout rate changes. Go to
Here is the relationship I found
AVGChange = -.00036 - .274*(SO/AB)Change
If he dropped his rate to the league rate, a drop of about .08, it looks like his average would go up by .022.
And here is a comment I left at tango's site
I think my results showed that if you struck out 200 times in 600 ABs one year and then only 100 times in 600 ABs the next year, your average would go up .045. Now maybe that kind of change is far out of the normal range, so who knows.
But I dug up an old post I had the SABR list in 2003 where I looked at the biggest changes in SO rate from 1997-98. The biggest 11 drops in SO rate saw an average increase in their AVG of 21 points. Of course, I don't really know if this is all a result of trying not to strike out. Maybe they all lifted weights, generated more bat speed and were able to make more contact.
One other thing I did there was to look at the top power hitters and the weakest power hitters. Both groups had a negative correlation between striking out and their offensive winning percentage.
- September 18, 2010 at 12:47 PM
- Cyril Morong said...
In case you can't use those links, here they are again
Tom Tango on K's
My Analysis on K's
- September 18, 2010 at 12:53 PM
Great article; very encouraging to read SABR analysis focused on other than HR.
As a student of the game & saber, your analysis reveals a very real world paradox in defending Mr. Jackson.
If he only possessed speed, but no LD ability, opposition defenses could "cheat" in on him. Because of his very high LD rate, though, he's a very real threat against playing "in" as that opens up more hitting room for a LD hitter.
While the saber metrics may not yet capture all of that actual behavior, I believe dual threat players such as Austin Jackson may represent an exciting, but growing challenge to pre-positioned defensive alignment strategy; especially if he holds any added ability to spray his LD around.
Great work & I hope you share some of your simulation work on this topic of a lineup composed of 5 Austin Jacksons & 1 HR type.
- September 28, 2010 at 9:17 AM
- Cyril Morong said...
Thanks for dropping by. Glad you liked it. I think you make a real good point about the dilemma the defense faces with Jackson. I had not thought of using my lineup analysis on this kind of question. I would have to put in some kind of variable for speed. I did use SB & CS in some of the regressions but that may not capture the full effect of speed. So that will require some more thought.
- September 28, 2010 at 10:17 AM


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I'm pretty bored right now,
so i figured i'd share with SCF my day in cards
I woke up at 5 am Almost unable to breathe. Apparently i have Asthma.
Anyway i went to the DR around 12 went through the whole Rigamrole, got my RXs..(4 of them) and was on the way to my local CVS which is on the same corner of my local card shop (Woods CV Sports in East Patchogue NY) and i was feeling pretty depressed not being able to breathe and all so i did what i usually do when i
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Fret King Black Label Esprit I Electric Guitar, Vintage White
Fret King Black Label Esprit I Electric Guitar, Vintage WhiteDetails
Simple, Stylish, Rocking! That's what the Fret King Black Label Esprit I is about, featuring a single Wilkinson stacked WP90SK pickup and a 3 piece Agathis body. This guitar comes in a Vintage White colour.
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Already appearing as a stylish looking guitar, the Black Label Esprit I features a reversed six-a-side in-line peghead, asymmetric body and a signature pickguard, and comes in a Vintage White colour.
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Wednesday, 8 February 2012
A park full of snowmen
Wandering around my local park, where the snowmen are still standing after the weekend snowfall -- frozen statues, but also like children's drawings come alive -- and I was reminded how they can occasionally look as sinister and evocative as scarecrows, while others seem more innocent. The ice on the ground is stubbornly refusing to melt, up here in the wilds of north London; so the snowmen remain, for now. At night, in the quiet park, I wonder if they are watching each other; I can't imagine them flying, but whispering, perhaps...
15 comments:
Great images Justine - love Snowmen - got the Raymond Briggs images stuck in my head
- 8 February 2012 at 17:04
- kairu said...
I seem to remember my earliest memory as my parents building me a snowman - complete with carrot nose & scarf - while I was stuck inside with a bad cold, and later being carried outside in my pajamas (and coat) to view their masterpiece. I also feel I remember reading a children's book about a snowman come to life...perhaps it will find me again, someday.
I came back from Asia in mid-January and was greeted the next day with a snowstorm. Walking in a park, I came across a little girl busily stomping her poor little snowman - decorated with leaves, sticks, rocks, and her hat - into the muddy ground. Alas, poor snowman.
- 8 February 2012 at 21:41
- amanda white said...
Inspirational collection, thank you.
You can keep all those beautifully honed perfect "ice sculptures" - these are worth a million of them. But then I have an innate primitive art bias I suppose...
- 9 February 2012 at 01:39
- Lazywell said...
Let's hope they don't suffer the same fate as these hapless ones in West London:
- 9 February 2012 at 05:19
- enid said...
What sweet snowman- I also thought of Raymond Briggs and I have never ever made a snowman !!!!!! Something is lacking in my life which has been sans snow men !!!!!!
- 9 February 2012 at 06:54
- Lilac In May said...
Glad to see the grumpy park keeper is alive and well! I thought with all the cuts they'd gone the way of the snowman in summer, melted away long ago.
- 9 February 2012 at 07:38
- Justine Picardie said...
They made me think of primitive art, as well, rather than Raymond Briggs; these look a little bit Wicker Man-ish at dusk (though more cheerful in daylight). I suppose snowmen are like sandcastles; children make them, and then time or tide knock them down. When my sons were little, we used to make elaborate sandcastles -- keeps and turrets and moats and bridges -- and every so often, one or the other of them would 'accidentally' fall over and crush them, much to my chagrin -- but perhaps that was part of the enjoyment for them? (The agony and the ecstasy...)
I love reading everyone's comments here; snowmen revealing your warm hearts...
- 9 February 2012 at 09:03
- Justine Picardie said...
More snow falling tonight. That's enough snow, ed...
- 9 February 2012 at 13:36
- Justine Picardie said...
By which I mean, enough snow already on the ground -- but more snow thoughts very welcome here!
- 9 February 2012 at 13:37
- The Scrivener said...
Icy cold and still snowing at midnight here in EC2. Your post gave me the impulse to start reading Jo Nesbo's The Snowman. Nesbo's spooky snowmen have combined in my suggestible mind with your idea of your park snowmen whispering to each other in the dark and I find I'm getting eye-dartingly jumpy. Chills of both kinds tonight.
- 9 February 2012 at 16:30
- Justine Picardie said...
Good suggestion from Scrivener for eerie midnight reading! Thank you so much.
- 10 February 2012 at 10:43
- jaywalker said...
No snow here but I did read Nesbo's "The Snowman" a while back, and his others, and can understand Scrivener's "nerves".
I'm a great fan of Scandinavian crime writing and am just about to start a book by a new author for me, Mons Kallentoft, called "Midwinter Sacrifice". The blurb says, "The snow covered all tracks as the killer knew it would..."
This is the first in a series and the second one is due out in May. The detective is a 31 yr old single mother on the Linkoping police force. No shortage of snow there as I know from flying into Sweden in winter several times with the massive snow machines blowing snow off the wings as it landed.
- 10 February 2012 at 17:46
- Wilson said...
I was home to Scotland for a flying visit last week. No snow in my part of Scotland but plenty at Gatwick Airport on my return home to Tunisia.... My little girl, who is only 8, was over the moon - so it was snowball fights and mini-snowmen building outside the departures terminal as we had time to kill! But we have unseasonably cold weather here in Tunisia too - snow in the desert - the first time I have seen such a thing in my 16 years living here! I picked up my Dan Lepard book when I was in Scotland Justine - thank you for the recommendation it is perfect bedtime reading in such weather :) Love to you all wherever you are. XXX
- 13 February 2012 at 06:53
- Justine Picardie said...
Snow in the desert; sounds very Romantic -- I wonder if Lord Byron was ever inspired by such a scene?
- 13 February 2012 at 07:38
- Phone Psychic Reading said...
- 6 October 2015 at 04:50


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Federal land managers have rejected an application by a Colorado company to use bacteria to produce methane from northeast Wyoming coal beds.
Luca Technologies Inc. wants to use a process called methane farming in which water and chemicals are injected into a coal seam, activating microbes that live in the coal. The microbes eat the coal and produce methane.
The permit rejection is but one recent setback for the Golden, Colo.-based company, not the least of which has been very low prices for natural gas. Last month, Luca withdrew its plans for an initial public offering, citing "adverse market conditions." Gas prices in recent months have plunged to 10-year lows.
The U.S. Bureau of Land Management turned down the permit for Luca after it refused to pay an additional $40,000 for the cost of processing its application, on top of $40,000 it paid previously.
Luca executives said they refused the additional payment because it appeared the BLM would never approve the permit. Company CEO Bob Cavnar accused the federal agency of favoring the coal mining industry, which has expressed concerns about methane farming.
BLM spokeswoman Lesley Elser said the original amount had been exhausted and that the company has "to pay into the cost recovery account for the fees for permitting and they didn't pay the account, so it was overdrawn."
The company also said the BLM told the company in early May that it would require a well monitoring program that would cost up to $30 million, the Gillette News-Record reports ( http://bit.ly/KoN12P).
The BLM has not determined how much well monitoring the project would require, BLM spokeswoman Mary Wilson said Friday.
"It was a discussion that was had, but that was not a decision that was made," Wilson said. "We were just working on developing a range of alternatives to address their proposal."
The BLM has threatened to prosecute Luca for trespassing if it continued the work. The company will stop work, Cavnar said, but disagrees with the decision.
Information from: The Gillette (Wyo.) News Record, http://www.gillettenewsrecord.com


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Brett Ratner to Direct Beverly Hills Cop 4
Jerry Bruckheimer to produce.
After he failed to develop Beverly Hills Cop as a TV show, last we heard, Eddie Murphy had signed up to star in a fourth BHC movie. According to Deadline, it will be the first project Jerry Bruckheimer will develop under his new deal with Paramount. And it appears that Brett Ratner, who was in talks five years ago to direct, will, in fact, helm the picture, after he wraps Hercules. "Hercules, Hercules, Hercules, Hercules, Hercules, seriously hurry up with it, Beverly Hills is currently copless," Murphy responded.


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Ending nearly 40 years of trade restrictions with Russia, the Senate voted Thursday to approve a bill that will allow U.S. companies to expand business ties with the world's ninth-largest economy and its 140 million consumers.
The bill to grant permanent normal trade relations to Russia, which passed 92-4, now goes to President Barack Obama, who said Thursday that he'll sign it.
Businesses had lobbied hard for the legislation, saying it would allow them to cash in after Russia formally joined the World Trade Organization on Aug. 22.
U.S. exports to Russia hit $11 billion last year. With passage of the bill, Democratic Sen. Max Baucus of Montana, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee and a top advocate of the legislation, predicted they will at least double within five years.
Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah, the ranking Republican on the Finance Committee, called the bill "a good package" and added, "I believe that we've got to do more in the international trade world."
Democratic Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said all U.S. businesses will benefit because Russia now will be forced to lower its tariffs and allow more imports after joining the WTO.
"That sudden jump in market access is, frankly, important to any country that is the first country through the door," Kerry said.
Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California said the trade deal "includes only concessions by Russia," since the U.S. is already a member of the WTO.
She predicted that her home state, already the nation's fourth-largest exporter to Russia, with $665 million worth of goods in 2011, will begin sending more computers, electronics, drugs and dairy products to Russia.
The bill repeals a 1974 law authored by the late Democratic Sen. Henry "Scoop" Jackson of Washington state that restricted trade with the former Soviet Union because it wasn't allowing Jews to emigrate.
In its place, the Senate followed the lead of the House in approving the Sergei Magnitsky Rule of Law Accountability Act of 2012, named in honor of a 37-year-old Russian tax lawyer who was arrested and tortured in a Russian prison after exposing the largest tax fraud in the country's history.
Besides normalizing trade with Russia, it would freeze the assets of any individuals responsible for participating in Magnitsky's detention or of any others responsible for gross violations of human rights against whistleblowers.
Last month, the Russian government criticized the bill's language, saying the U.S. should instead focus on its poor performance in housing prisoners at Guantanamo.
But some senators said the language did not go far enough and that it should apply to all countries.
"Unfortunately, the legislation before us is deficient. . . . I believe a global approach would help to deter future abuses throughout the world," said Arizona Republican Sen. Jon Kyl.
But he voted for the bill anyway, saying he did "not intend to make perfection the enemy of the good."
Three Democrats – Carl Levin of Michigan and Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island – and independent Sen. Bernard Sanders of Vermont voted against the bill.
The House passed the bill last month 365-43.


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If you have 10 people who all share one product, then that's huge. It contributes less to landfills, regardless of who owns it. —Keith Harper, graphic designer and product developer
SALT LAKE CITY – With three children under the age of 4, Lindsay Evans of Milwaukee has her hands full, oftentimes in the most literal sense. Just keeping her kids clothed is nothing short of a production, both logistically and financially.
"Kids grow fast," says Evans, who quit work to stay at home with her children. "With three, I can't afford to buy all of them brand-new clothes that they're going to outgrow in six months."
So when a friend introduced Evans to thredUP six months ago, it sounded like a godsend. ThredUP, an online consignment store, enables families to buy and sell secondhand children's clothing without having to click kids into car seats or push doublewide strollers past thrift-store racks. It's also part of a growing movement called collaborative consumption, sometimes also referred to as the sharing economy.
Last year, Time Magazine named collaborative consumption one of the 10 ideas that will change the world. Rachel Botsman, whom the Wall Street Journal has called "the doyenne of the movement," is on the record saying, "I really believe the Collaborative Revolution could be as big as the Industrial Revolution." She predicts the sharing economy will grow to more than $100 billion.
With no shortage of promoters, some are wondering what lies behind, and beyond, the hype.
New again
Collaborative consumption is nothing new, of course. From ski swaps to laundromats, Americans have been sharing, bartering, renting and trading since John Hancock signed the Declaration of Independence with a borrowed pen. However, technology has enabled peer-to-peer exchanges to take place on a much broader scale. Think of that American institution, the garage sale. Ten or 15 years ago, it occurred outside with perhaps 50 neighbors in a front yard on a sunny Saturday morning. Thanks to Craigslist, Ebay and other similar websites, garage sales now occur everyday, rain or shine, with potentially thousands of people from all over a city, or even country, viewing pictures and descriptions of secondhand goods online.
Other shared-access applications abound. Want to rent out your car or borrow someone else's? For that, there's RelayRides. Going on vacation and want to stay among locals? How about Airbnb (as in, "air bed and breakfast")? In fact, you can also use the website to rent out your own house while you're gone. A new sharing model seems to sprout up each week, whether it's for crowd funding startups, sharing workspace or splitting garden plots.
The mother of (re-)invention
Some argue the increase in sharing is due mostly to the poor economy. Scarred credit histories, unemployment and the rising costs of food, education, cell phones and transportation are forcing some to put off ownership of items they might otherwise have purchased by now.
Fleura Bardhi, associate professor of marketing at Northeastern University, believes that participation in the sharing economy "is basically a temporary stage in people's lives." Bardhi studies collaborative consumption and recently completed a study on the users of Zipcar, a national car-sharing company based in Cambridge, Mass.
"The metaphor a lot of these people use for ownership is marriage," she says, "while the metaphor they use for sharing is dating. They're at a stage in their lives where they don't have to commit. They all said, 'Once I settle down then I'm buying my own car. There's nothing like having your own car.'"
However, the real motivation goes beyond thrift, in Bardhi's opinion. The marketing of shared-access as "cool" (Rachel Botsman has called it "more hip than hippie") enables young people to use it as an "identity play" within the context of the consumer society.
Traditionally, sharing has been stigmatized in the U.S., but since it's now seen as fashionable, people can self-identify as collaborative consumers without losing status in the marketplace. "Being frugal is not necessarily an end itself," Bardhi says, "but rather a mechanism in this identity play. It's more about the mode of consumption than careful management of resources."
Bardhi has seen this behavior among thrift shoppers she's studied. "I had consumers who would spend $300 on one thrift shopping trip. This was basically a way for them to indulge their desires. People go thrift shopping not necessarily because they want to save money but because they want to spend money."
Sharing is caring
Chelsea Rustrum of San Francisco is writing a book about the sharing economy titled "It's a Shareable Life." On her website, the book is billed as a "practical guide on how to use and benefit from sharing your car, home, skills and resources." Naturally, it's a collaborative effort between multiple authors.
Rustrum, a marketing and community strategist, believes that collaborative consumption can help stem the tide of hyper-consumption. She emphasizes the movement's social benefits over its economic ones. "My opinion is that people will start sharing to save or make money," she says, "but they'll come back to it and be excited about it because it feels good. They'll think about other ways they can tap into it."
For Rustrum, sustainability and a sense of community are at the heart of collaborative consumption. "I really like the idea of utilizing spare capacity. And the sense that we're all in it together is really powerful. It has the potential to change the way we do business and the way we respond to each other and trust each other."
Sharing commoditized
For her part, Bardhi isn't sold on the community pitch. "You have a lot of media generating a lot of buzz for this practice, promoting it in terms of moral and social considerations, and that's been great for the adoption of the practice itself. But in the case of Zipcar, at least, this is pretty much a market system. It's not driven by environmental concerns. Users' motivations are primarily utilitarian and have more to do with one-to-one reciprocity. The market logic dominates."
At least one commentator has referred to collaborative consumption as the occupation of big business. However, some shared-access companies are beginning to look more and more like big businesses themselves. Airbnb is in discussions to take on an additional $150 million in venture capital, which would place its value near $2.5 billion, and it recently hired a former senior member of Yahoo's legal team. The company takes roughly 10 percent of each transaction, yet Airbnb users do most of the work, providing both the supply of and demand for rooms. Users booked 10 million nights in June alone.
"Suddenly there's a profit involved," Bardhi says. "You have the market entering a sphere which wasn't market-mediated before."
Further undercutting the idea of community is the rise of "reputation capital," the social version of a credit score. It has developed out of the need to address the misgivings inherent in a situation where strangers are doing business with one another.
Borrowing alone
The old model of sharing typically involved face-to-face interaction, often between friends or neighbors. For example, when you needed a drill to put up a towel rack, you walked around the corner and talked to Ralph, who had a garage full of power tools. Borrowing was merely one part of a larger relationship that existed before and continued beyond the act of sharing.
Many of the new sharing applications, contrary to creating community, actually reinforce a type of "lonely consumption" in which transactions take place between two avatars in cyberspace.
Keith Harper, a graphic designer and product developer, helps run a collaborative workspace in Seattle. He's used various shared-access services, including Zipcar, Airbnb and Kickstarter, and recognizes the potential of collaborative consumption while also acknowledging that the element of community is sometimes missing.
"I love the idea of collaborative consumption," Harper says. "If you have 10 people who all share one product, then that's huge. It contributes less to landfills, regardless of who owns it. If you can integrate more human interaction somehow, then it will be all the better. It will enrich people's lives."
David Ward is a writer living in Salt Lake City. Contact him at [email protected].


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Beirut's first contemporary luxury hotel sits in the city's most happening neighborhood.
The hotel's two restaurants, three lounges and two bars give you plenty of options for fine or casual dining, lounging or enjoying Beirut's nightlife.
At Le Gray, the staff's attention to detail makes for a luxurious, comfortable experience geared towards guest satisfaction.
A downtown Beirut landmark, Le Gray is located in historical Martyrs' Square, just steps away from major businesses and luxury shopping.
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Baalbek, the 5,000-year-old Roman Heliopolis, is one of the largest sanctuaries built in the Empire while Anjar, a small Omeyyade city, is filled with oriental architecture. The 7,000-year-old seaside town of Byblos contains a Phoenician port, Roman necropolis and crusaders' fortress. Deir el Qamar and Beiteddine are on the well-preserved Shouf mountain region an hour south of Beirut.
Lebanon's primary archeological museum houses an extensive collection of artifacts dating back to the Phoenicians. The short video documenting how the items were protected during the civil war is worth watching. Mathaf Main St.; (961-1) 612-260
Love it or hate it, you cannot deny that Bernard Khoury made a statement with this underground club. The fully retractable roof is impressive and the dark interior is somewhat unnerving. Come on Thursday nights when the DJ pumps '80s classics. Karantina; (961-3) 800-018
This French establishment is guaranteed to impress with its vaulted wine cellar, funky elevator and awesome bar (a feat of engineering that hinges on a semi retractable roof). The summertime garden is a delight. Ashrafieh, Mar Maroun St.; (961-1) 575-858
Cocteau is an upscale restaurant known for its splendid de merou and steak tartar and its weekly special soup. Downtown; (961-1) 970-707
Hamra by no means offers the upmarket shopping to be found in Saifi village or downtown but it oozes character and real Beirut flavor.
This arts district contains concept stores, art spaces and bohemian vintage shops. Be sure to check out Papercup bookshop, Pink Henna and Liwan artisanat (all on the same street).
Drink margaritas and mojitos at this Argentinean pub with a pool and terrace—it's an elegant atmosphere for small parties. Jounieh Old Road; (961-9) 830-788
For this unique dining concept (lunch only), each day of the week a cook from a different part of Lebanon comes to showcase specialties of his or her region in this open kitchen. Mar Mkhael; (961-1) 448-129
Quite literally a "gathering," within three converted houses in Gemmayze, this collection of restaurants serves cheese and wine, steak and burgers, as well as Italian food on pretty shared terraces. Gemmayzeh; (961-1) 566-196
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Jury continues deliberations in Donachy trial
The 12-member jury in the Lawrence Earl Donachy homicide trial continued their deliberations for eight hours on Wednesday and reported no verdict as the trial recessed for the day at 5 p.m.Deliberations will continue Thursday morning at 9 a.m. at the Elk County Courthouse as President Judge Richard Masson presides over the hearing. Donachy is charged in the April 5-6, 1999 rape and murder of Irene Challingsworth, a 56-year-old St. Marys beautician, after he allegedly broke into her Walnut Street residence. He is charged with one count each of criminal homicide, rape, burglary, aggravated assault, criminal attempt at arson and unlawful restraint. Wednesday marked the second day of deliberations, with the jury sequestered inside a separate room inside the courthouse for a total of 13.5 hours as they attempt to determine a verdict in the case. Pick up a copy of the Thursday, Oct. 20, 2011 edition of The Ridgway Record for more.


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By Abby Hassler
Last month, singer Ed Sheeran confirmed he would join the rank of fellow musicians who have made cameos in the hit television series Game of Thrones.
In a recent interview with The Daily Star, the "Shape of You" star revealed that his character does not die in the show and that he shot his scenes alongside Maisie Williams, as she is a huge fan of his music.
Related: Ed Sheeran Explains How to Quickly Increase the Redhead Population
"I'm only in it for like five minutes," Sheeran explained during the interview. "I'd probably prefer to have sex than die in the show. I'm sure a lot of people are into that (have sex and die) but I'm not."
Sheeran said it was actually Snow Patrol's Gary Lightbody who helped him land the cameo. Lightbody had a small part in season three, where he played a Lord Bolton soldier.
"My friend guested in it in 2012 and I remember I was on tour with him and he was like: 'Right, I've got a guest slot on Game Of Thrones.' I remember saying: 'You got to get me on it at some point,'" Sheeran says. "It's been five years so it's finally come true."
Don't miss Sheeran's performance in season 7 when the show premieres July 16.


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Study: PERS employees get better benefits, cheaper
PORTLAND — Oregon public employees get better retirement benefits and pay less for them than counterparts in neighboring states, according to a Portland State University study.
The study from the school's Center for Public Service aims to account for variations in retirement plans in Oregon, Washington state and Idaho to compare three representative public employees: an accountant, a teacher and a police officer.
It concluded that to get benefits in retirement that would be worth $1 million today, the Oregon workers would pay $160,000. Similar employees in Washington and Idaho would pay $370,000 to $560,000.
An exception in Oregon would be the 30 percent of public employees who make a 6 percent contribution. Their payments would be about $320,000. Employers "pick up" that contribution for the remaining 70 percent.
A summary of the study has been circulating in Salem, where the Legislature is considering proposals from Gov. John Kitzhaber and individual lawmakers to rein in the increasing costs of the Public Employee Retirement System.
At issue are whether the proposals amount to breaking a contract and would be struck down by the state Supreme Court, and whether they are fair.
A union leader said in an email to The Oregonian that they would be unfair because employees have traded pay for pension benefits during contract negotiations.
"For decades, Oregon's public workers have paid for their PERS benefits through every paycheck by way of markedly lowered wages," wrote Heather Conroy, executive director of Local 503 of the Service Employees International Union. "A secure retirement through PERS is the promise the state of Oregon has made year after year; to revoke that promise when retirees most need it is irresponsible and immoral."
Employer groups said the study's conclusions were not a surprise, but the magnitude of the differences was stark.
"What this shows is that Oregon has the richest benefits, and employers are bearing the cost," said Jim Green, deputy director of the Oregon School Boards Association. "Employees have no financial skin in the game."


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B'nai B'rith International has sent a letter to the Vatican's main point person on Catholic-Jewish relations expressing sadness at the news of his retirement.
Walter Cardinal Kasper, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity and its Commission for Religious Relations with the Jews, demonstrated an "approach of constructiveness and healing" in his engagement with Jewish leaders.
The letter, written by B'nai B'rith International President Dennis W. Glick, Executive Vice President Daniel S. Mariaschin, and Director of U.N. and Intercommunal Affairs David J. Michaels, notes: "we have been privileged to know the warmth, openness and spirit that you have brought to your work."
B'nai B'rith described Kasper as a true and faithful partner, occasionally in difficult times, in advancing the Catholic-Jewish friendship over the decade he held the post.
Glick, Mariaschin, and Michaels wrote: "Your leadership of the Commission for nearly a decade has been characterized by great devotion – indicative of the profound importance of, and immense strides over the course of less than half a century in, the Catholic-Jewish relationship. Undoubtedly, your personal role in caring for and advancing this endeavor has been significant."
B'nai B'rith expressed the hope that even in his retirement, the cardinal's contributions will continue to provide an enduring foundation for the advancement of relations between Catholics and Jews.


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Unlocking the Secret Profiles of Batch Reactors
How to Find Out Whats Really Going On In Your Process
Monday morning you get a flood of emails saying that product quality is out the window, and you're thinking of following it. There is a long line of batch operations between the raw materials and the final product. Lab samples show that product and byproduct endpoint concentrations of the batches have changed. The furthest upstream operation is a batch reactor. Something has changed in the fed batch reaction, but what? The process engineer says the reaction rate depends upon pressure, temperature, pH and concentrations. The data historian has no concentration measurements. A review of the trend charts shows that the pressure, temperature and pH are tightly controlled at their setpoints. You could probably tune the loops faster, but what is the point? The supplier spec sheets on the latest raw material shipments state everything is per the purchase orders. Is it time to retire to a tropical beach or pursue the management route so you can delegate the problem?
You are intrigued by the mystery so you start to look for clues. You reason that the control loops are doing a great job of transferring variability from the controlled variables (temperature, pressure and pH) to the manipulated variables (coolant, gas and liquid reactant, and reagent flows). The controller outputs appear much more interesting. The batch profiles of coolant, reactants and reagents flows show that their peaks are lower, offset and longer. The reagent profile also shows a long tail in the reagent flow. Why?
The "in-place" standardizations of the pH electrode indicate an offset between the pH at the start and end of the batch. A check with maintenance reveals a new electrode was installed at the start of the batch, and the reference electrode had not reached equilibrium with the process, which had a higher temperature and ionic strength than the buffers. The gradual change in the reference junction potential caused the long tail in the reagent flow. However, this tail is just part of the story. What caused the change in the width, location and maximum value of the peaks in the coolant, reactants and reagent flows?
Models are Knowledge
You can't experiment with the plant because, even if it was not sold out, and the raw material and energy cost was justified, the review and paper work requirements would take too long. You turn to experimentation with a virtual plant. Within a few hours you find that flow profiles are symptomatic of changes in the reactant concentration. The model shows that some of the flows can be used as inferential measurements of reaction rate. The gaseous reactant feed rate under pressure control is proportional to reaction rate, since the pressure loop automatically adds reactant to make up for the reactant consumed. Additionally, you find coolant flow rate under temperature control is indicative of reaction rate because coolant makeup flow is compensating for the heat of reaction.
Making Do With What You Got
The makeup coolant temperature is tightly controlled at its setpoint. Everything points to a change in the raw materials. You can start to do extensive lab testing of each shipment, but that is too late for previous batches unless the problem persists. The ability to correlate lab results to future batches is not clear-cut since the lab analysis takes several hours and is done only during the day shift. The raw material shipments also enter the top of a storage tank, and the reactor is fed from the bottom. The degree of mixing from turbulence and equilibration is small, which creates a big transport delay from top to bottom.
Figure 1. Effect of PID, feed-forward and sample time on glucose concentration control.
Since pressure, temperature and pH affect reaction rate, there is an opportunity for model-predictive control (MPC) to help maintain an inferential measurement of reaction rate at its maximum by the manipulation of these loop setpoints. A virtual plant shows that a prototype of the MPC performs well and leads to a reduction in cycle time.
Inferential measurements and soft sensors eventually need feedback correction, so you request lab tests be done periodically on a batch to provide an online adjustment. You reason that the number of batches you can wait in between special runs of lab analysis is a function of the trend in the corrections needed. Fortunately, in the case of reaction rates, the actual value is not as important as a directional relative indication of the changes in rate, which leads to the question: Is this the time for something much better for batch reactors?
Concentrating on Concentrations
Nearly all chemical and biological reaction rates depend upon the concentrations of the reactants, and quality depends upon the resulting product and byproduct concentrations. Yet you would be pressed to find off-line, let alone at-line or online concentration measurements of any components of reactants, products, byproducts or contaminants during any batch. The best kept secret of batch reactors is the concentration profiles.
In product development, the concentration profiles are measured in the lab with bench-top analyzers. The chemist or process development engineer knows the values of these profiles, but how can the need for this knowledge be realized and carried over to the commercial plant? A virtual plant can open minds and provide the justification for batch concentration profile analysis by prototyping advanced controls to make batch reaction rates more repeatable and faster. The virtual plant can also verify how fast you need concentration results from the analyzers to do closed loop control.
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Recently a resident of Gloucestershire received a birthday greeting from British Queen herself. She recently turned 100 years old. Lorna smoked nearly her entire adult life and her present amount of cigarettes is a pack a day. Lorna Gobey smoked her first cigarette in 1940 – the same year the country was blitzed during the Battle of Britain.
Lorna has 55 grandchildren, 27 great-grandchildren and already 12 great-grandchildren All this huge family gathered at a local club to celebrate the anniversary of women. It is generally believed that she lived so long, because the woman always do as she pleases. Lorna's family "never dared" to ask this woman to quit smoking.
Lorna said in an interview "I smoke since I was 30 years old and so far I had no health problems. 'People try and tell you it's bad for you but my family wouldn't dare ask me to stop. If they did, I'd put them across my lap and give them a slapped bum. 'I've always tried to enjoy life. I think it's important to do the things you want to do and not to let things get you down. I like my smokes, a drop of whiskey and Guinness and I still love to play skittles. Perhaps it's part of the reason I have lived for so long. I never thought I'd make it to 100, but I have. I'm quite amazed really.'' We wish her good luck and a happy life!
Important Note: Classic look these up.


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7am the harbor has small waves
Monday, January 15, 2018
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On this blog I'll post a daily forecast/report of the surf/windsurf conditions in Maui. Email me if you need to rent a place in Maui or if you need a surf, SUP, SUP foil, prone foil or windfoil lesson.
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AICPA Meets with IRS to Discuss Range of Practice Issues
October 18, 2012
American Institute of CPAs' members and tax staff met recently with Carol Campbell, the new director of the IRS Return Preparer Office, to discuss a range of issues important to tax practitioners, including the Service's plans to implement elements of the registered tax return preparer program and practitioner compliance visits.
Patricia Thompson, chair of the AICPA Tax Executive Committee, Jeffrey A. Porter, vice chair of the Tax Executive Committee, and Anita Soucy, Tax Executive Committee member, met with Campbell as part of the AICPA's ongoing effort to keep IRS staff informed about the concerns of CPA tax practitioners. AICPA staff members who participated in the meeting were Edward Karl, vice president of taxation, Melissa Labant, director of tax advocacy and professional standards, and Benson Goldstein, senior technical tax manager.
The group discussed the data base of individuals who have Preparer Tax Identification Numbers (PTINs) that the IRS intends to develop and make available on its website for use by taxpayers so they can verify that the tax practitioner's PTIN is valid. The AICPA reiterated its longstanding request that the data base display multiple designations so users could tell whether the PTIN holder is a CPA, attorney or enrolled agent.
AICPA representatives asked about the status of the IRS's fingerprinting proposal, and IRS officials said the proposal is still on hold. Thompson's Oct. 7, 2011 comment letter to the IRS and her testimony at an IRS hearing emphasized that the fingerprinting requirement proposed by the IRS for nonsigning staff working under the supervision of a CPA is too costly and burdensome. Thompson's letter and testimony urged the IRS to consider an alternative that would allow CPA firms to use a consumer reporting agency regulated by the Federal Trade Commission to learn of any felony histories of their supervised employees.
Other discussions with Campbell included the IRS's plans for a preparer compliance initiative for the 2013 filing season. The IRS said it will continue the initiative for the coming filing season. The AICPA will be watching for details of the program to be released. The AICPA's concerns this year, as in previous years, revolve around the importance of not conducting visits to CPAs' offices during filing season and refining the process by which IRS selects tax preparers for the program so that it targets preparers most appropriately. AICPA's efforts last year resulted in IRS not visiting CPAs after early January.
On Oct. 31, AICPA staff will discuss these issues, as well as others relating to tax advocacy, during a Washington Tax Brief webinar. It is available to all AICPA members.