text:
World Food Championships Names Humm Official Technology Sponsor - Bringing Real-Time Tech to Food Sport
World Food Championships today announced that Humm will be the official Technology partner for the 2015 World Food Championships, taking place Nov 3-10 in Kissimmee, Florida. The WFC is the largest competition in food sport, where champions of previous events compete for a chance at winning the ultimate food crown and a share of $300,000.
"We are extremely excited to have Humm supporting the technology needs for World Food Championships," said Mike McCloud, CEO of World Food Championships."Over the past year, we have worked very closely with the Humm team, as they've fine tuned our scoring app and developed a new application for our judges to view competitor recipes on handheld tablets. We'll be using their app in each round of our kitchen category competitions including the Final Table," he said.
The app allows judges to quickly check the title and description of each recipe, which comes in handy when as many as 50 dishes can flood the judges tent at a time. In addition, Humm will have a large activation space next to the WFC's Main Stage, to supply competitors and attendees with charging stations, wi-fi access, and big-screen TVs to follow competitor's dish scores on their way to the Final Table.
Bernard Briggs, CEO of Humm, acknowledged that the World Food Championships brings a unique twist to the food competition world. There are mass amounts of information and photography needed for each competitor that has to be uploaded almost instantaneously for each category.
"Food Sport has traditionally been a pretty low tech operation," said Briggs. "And it's that lack of automation that can limit the size of an event, the number of entries and, in some cases, make it difficult to judge because judges need to thoroughly understand the dish they're required to evaluate."
In addition to the custom apps created for the event, Humm will also be collecting real-time feedback from competitors and attendees using Humm's innovative feedback platform.
About Humm Systems
Every day, hundreds of companies rely on Humm to better understand and improve their customer experience in real time. Founded in 2012, Humm's on-premise feedback platform helps restaurants and healthcare providers quickly collect and take immediate action on customer feedback before they ever walk out the door. Humm is headquartered in Austin, TX and used by more than 300 hospitality and healthcare brands including Yale-New Haven Hospital, Marriott, and Disney, with more than 850,000 pieces of feedback collected every month. For more information, visit www.hummsystems.com.
« Back to News


text:
Illinois judge permits same-sex marriage cases to go to trial
[JURIST] Illinois Cook County Circuit Court [official website] Judge Sophia Hall on Friday allowed two lawsuits [complaints, PDF] challenging the state's ban on same-sex marriage to proceed to trial. This could permit Illinois state courts to decide whether same-sex couples will be allowed to marry in Illinois or have marriages obtained in other states recognized within the state of Illinois. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) [advocacy website] and Lambda Legal [advocacy website] filed the lawsuits on behalf of 25 same-sex couples last year after the clerk of Cook County refused both to marry same-sex couples and to recognize same-sex marriages obtained in other states. Illinois currently permits civil unions, and the Illinois Senate [official website] voted [JURIST report] last February to permit same-sex marriage, but the House of Representatives [official website] never voted on the bill.
The heated debate over same-sex marriage [JURIST backgrounder] is one of the most polarizing issues currently facing the American legal community, and has generated criticism [JURIST op-ed] stemming from that polarization. A judge for New Jersey's Mercer County Superior Court in Trenton ruled [JURIST report] Friday that same-sex couples must be allowed to marry. Last week Michigan's Treasury Department ruled [JURIST report] that same-sex spouses must file separate tax returns. Last Wednesday a judge for the US District Court for the Southern District of Ohio [official website] expanded a lawsuit [JURIST report] seeking the recognition of same-sex spouses on death certificates. Earlier last week a Kentucky judge ruled that the same-sex spouse of a woman charged with murder must testify against her at the trial because same-sex partners are not protected by spousal privilege [JURIST report] under Kentucky state law.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
We open our doors for the private celebration at 8 PM. All food and all drinks (until we open our doors to the public at 12:30 AM) are included in the price of admission.
Although the majority of our New Year's Eve patrons generally choose to "dress up", there is no dress code – come as you like.
Worried about overcrowdedness? Don't be. Unlike some other establishments, we limit the number of tickets we sell to ensure that there is ample room for everyone to enjoy themselves.


text:
This weekend is about planning out projects for Karmoxie and Grape Thoughts.
I took a break to go to meet Adam at a friend's birthday party. Birdie (the cat) was nowhere to be found, so I left assuming she was upstairs.
As I backed out of my driveway, I saw her shoot out of the garage!
Well she took off like mad, and there was no chasing her.
Adam said to crack the garage door and I could check back tonight.
Arrived at birthday party at same time as he did.
Good friends, good beer, good pinball. Yum!
Support mission, via bikes. 2 tandems and 4 soloists (one in a short skirt and cute argyle socks) rode through Lawrenceville to check up on our dear friend
working security – somewhere I will not share. A bit out of character for this sweet lovin gal, and we rode to show our support.
Me, in a dress, and a full face helmet, and sandals – on the back of a tandem with my awesome boyfriend who I trust immensely.
Hard to keep my dress down, and I'm sure that, as well as the variety of expressive individuals, as well as colorful and even strobe light
blinking light bikes, and our caravan of bike, were the reason for some cheers.
Got to see our lovely friend, and explore an abandoned building which may or may have not once produced something we may have or may have not ingested.
I admit I was antsy and eager for the ride back. The beers were kicking in. No dinner!
Adam and I pushed hard, and I LIKED IT! I am so anxious to kick back on the bike more often, shed about 30 pounds, and feel more energetic.
We got up this steep hill, that almost exactly 1 year ago I also rode up at 1am due to a navigational error. I had not made it up that time – but I did this time!
Did I mention the immense crush I have on my awesome boyfriend?
So, I left to check up on the cat situation. Luckily she was waiting for me. I pulled into the garage and when I came out, she let me approach her.
She was about to take off, so I grabbed her and suffered a nice bloody gash for it. But hey – she is indoors now, no worries.
My tummy rumbled and I called my chef boyfriend, asking how to best prepare the leftover meat in the fridge.
After being given solid info, I was sauteing onions, garlic, portabelo mushrooms and beef, adding red wine – Mmmm, had
to open the Malbec I'd been saving. 2008 Gascon from Argentina. It was amazingly smooth yet complex – right out of the bottle. No need to decant.
Great berry aromas and flavors, and just a touch of chocolate.
So, I cook it up, and tell Adam, its kind of chewy and crunchy.
Well, I had used the scraps he had saved to make dog food! UGH!
Luckily I had enough portabelo, onions, etc, to start again, this time with flank steak.
OMG. I sat down at the computer, tasting the yummy flavors, and thinking of what I would call this.
Adam had made Beef burgundy earlier this week, maybe this would be Beef Malbec. I thought to myself,
whatever it is – it is beefy goodness.
Just then, Firefox finished loading, and so did my Scrabble game.
The word played at the top of the screen across the middle triple?
YUM….Synchronicities, yummy food, positive thoughts, and the glow of being in love with someone awesome.
Im so happy.
Back to paperwork, but a very nice reprieve after working constantly for last couple of weeks.


text:
The World Federation of Exchanges (WFE) which represents exchanges and CCPs, has two categories of professional relations: Affiliate and then Member. The typical membership track involves becoming an Affiliate before moving to Membership.
Affiliates are:
- Exchanges or CCPs/CSDs that are significant in their market of operation;
- Whose regulator is a member of IOSCO; and
- Who intend to become members in due course
Many newer, smaller, regulated exchanges choose to become Affiliate markets. The WFE requires that the regulatory authority of the applicant is a member of IOSCO. Affiliate status does not automatically imply fulfilment of WFE membership criteria and, unlike membership, is not subject to peer review.
To apply for AFFILIATE status please click here:
APPLY for AFFILIATE STATUS
Members are exchanges or CCPs that:
- Meet the membership criteria;
- Have gone through the membership admission process; and
- Have been admitted as members by the Board of Directors
- Member exchanges play an active role in the development of the local economy. The absolute size of the exchange is not a basis for membership, but its relative importance to the local economy is.
These criteria are used for an initial review of candidates, and they serve as the basis for member self-assessments.
A member exchange of WFE should:
1. Be significant within its country of origin
Significant means that, in addition to being important based on its size, a market should also be dedicated to supporting, directly or indirectly, the formation of investment capital or the management of investment and economic risks, and be an important factor within the home country's economy.
It is important to keep some variety in the metrics of measuring "significance." Exchanges offering mainly cash equity services should conduct market operations such that they have important business with respect to at least one of the following metrics in line with the measurements of current members: market capitalization, trading turnover, market share (of at least 10% in contested markets), or the market capitalization/GDP ratio.
A fixed-income exchange is evaluated based on the fair and transparent operations it conducts with these instruments; its significance to the local bond market must be shown. The futures and options exchanges in membership must demonstrate that their contracts lead in these segments. Importance to the local market is what needs to be shown, and the point is to demonstrate leadership in the public, regulated marketplace.
2. Be regulated by a supervisory body, within a statutory framework
Apart from being regulated and supervised by an independent, public authority, exchanges should also have their own specific responsibilities to regulate the markets and market participants. The WFE member must be licensed as an exchange or CCP.
In each jurisdiction, there should be a public capital markets authority to oversee the markets, including the exchange. Those capital markets authorities should be members of IOSCO, and this is true for both current members and candidate exchanges. For cash and derivative market exchanges, the self-regulatory aspects are distinguishing features of WFE exchanges.
3. Capital raising and risk management
Listing is a distinctive element for cash market exchanges' capital raising function. All WFE cash market exchanges should operate an active platform for raising initial and secondary capital. All WFE derivative exchanges should provide options or futures contracts for managing risk.
4. Public good
Exchanges and CCPs should pursue purposes that are in the public interest, having as a goal to be fair, orderly and neutral to protect all public participants.
In fulfilment of its public good responsibilities, an exchange must remain neutral and fair to all actors. Questions can arise because of the changing ownership structure of exchanges, and also new entrants into the trading space, but neutrality and fairness remain key criteria for WFE members.
Full Membership applications are subject to a desktop review, followed by an on-site inspection. The candidacies are opened to existing Member comment and require final approval from the Board of Directors. Those wishing to apply for full membership must have completed at least one year as an Affiliate and their regulator needs to be a Member of IOSCO. The Board review applications from Affiliates that wish to apply for membership before deciding to accept the candidacy. It is after Board acceptance that the WFE Membership process starts formally.
To apply for FULL MEMBERSHIP, please click here:
APPLY for FULL MEMBERSHIP
For questions please use our contact form


text:
Beaded Bracelets (Set of 4) w/ Initial Disc - Nanette
Beaded Bracelets (Set of 4) w/ Initial Disc - Nanette
Stacking bracelets made easy. Each bracelet is made from teeny tiny, yet sweet and beautifully vibrant beads. This set consists of FOUR bracelets; including TWO with an initial stamped disc and TWO without. Together they make a very lovely stacked bracelet set. Your choice of color combo options and your choice of letter for the stamped disc. Color choices are shown in the photos. Single sided uppercase stamping only.
+ This is for a FOUR BRACELET SET (TWO with a stamped disc + TWO without).
(Need less? Set of 2 available HERE)
+ Color & letter options available when you 'ADD TO CART'.
disc size: 9mm
bracelet length: approx. 6.5" (small) and 7 inches (standard)
about 1/2" - 3/4" larger than actual wrist size fits comfortably
these bracelets are flexible with spring clasps
+ Last photo lists available colors. Click on image to enlarge.


text:
Meet Baby Dory! The Cutest Resident On The Reef!
Exclusive! A Brand New 'Finding Dory' Trailer
Do you remember Dory? Good because she's got her own film! Ellen DeGeneres, who voices the character, dropped the official trailer on her chat show!
We CANNOT wait for 'Finding Dory' to hit the big screens and we're so unbelievably jealous of our pals over in the USA who are already able to watch it!
But hopefully this adorable snippet of the film will keep your hunger satisfied until 29th July.
Have you been suffering from withdrawal symptoms from the loveable, forgetful Dory since we found Nemo back in 2003?
Well, Ellen Degeneres dropped a full length trailer from the film, Finding Dory, on her daytime chat show and we can hardly contain our excitement.
The film picks up six months after the first movie finished, with Dory (Ellen DeGeneres) living among the clownfishes. However, after going on a school trip with Nemo, Dory's mind seems to wander and she begins to feel homesick. Her heart is set on finding out about her past.
Read more: 10 Reasons We're Excited About Finding Dory
The film will be released 17th June 2016.
The film will see a return of our favourite characters - Nemo, Marlin and of course all of the tank gang. There will also be new characters like an octopus, sea lions, a beluga whale and many more.
The film will be released 17th June 2016. We will definitely be the first to see this at the cinema... if we don't forget that is!


text:
Welcome to the homepage for the Regional Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Architectures for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The Commonwealth, through the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT), Office of Transportation Planning, has developed the current Regional ITS Architectures with extensive input from four Regional ITS Planning and Coordination Committees consisting of agencies and organizations involved in transportation throughout Massachusetts. The efforts of these Committees and other transportation stakeholders involved in the process have resulted in four Regional ITS Architectures, each one representing a vision for integrated and coordinated deployment of ITS.
Intelligent Transportation Systems encompass a broad range of advanced technologies in the field of transportation. ITS improves transportation safety, enhances productivity, and increases personal mobility through the integrated application of these technologies. To fully maximize the potential of ITS technologies, ITS deployment requires an approach to planning, implementation, and operations that emphasizes collaboration between relevant entities and compatibility/interoperability of individual systems. At the core of this process is an architecture that provides overall guidance to ensure coordination and integration of individual ITS deployment projects, without limiting stakeholder design options.
This website is designed to assist planners of ITS projects in reviewing their projects in relation to the appropriate Regional ITS Architecture. The architectures also serve as useful tools throughout the project development process, focusing stakeholders on ensuring the compatibility and interoperability of ITS systems, products, and services.
For the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, four Regional ITS Architectures have been developed, covering
the following regions:
The current architectures are the result of a formal update conducted during 2010 of the original four architectures completed in 2005. The development of these architectures was a multi-year, collaborative effort by numerous agencies, organizations, and other transportation stakeholders across the Commonwealth. To remain useful and relevant, all four architectures are periodically reviewed and updated. The most recent update to the architectures will be completed in December 2010. An overview of the initial development effort and the most recent update is provided in the Executive Summary (to be provided in the Final Website). For an explanation of the Architecture Development Process, click here. For a Summary of Changes made to the architectures in 2010, click here.
The Regional ITS Architectures are valuable tools for planners and operators of the Commonwealth's transportation system. Each architecture provides a framework for planning and implementing ITS in regions across the Commonwealth. They also serve as a guide for how agencies can work together to improve interagency coordination, improve transportation safety, increase productivity, and provide enhanced services to the traveling public.
In addition, the Regional ITS Architectures provide a basis for satisfying federal requirements for ITS projects funded with highway trust funds (including the mass transit fund). These regulations require that such projects be consistent with the appropriate Regional ITS Architecture(s). Therefore, it is vital that project proponents use the architecture as a guideline during project development, just as FHWA and FTA will be using the architecture when reviewing the project. The following links provide further details on these federal requirements:


text:
Ask a Librarian
We offer a variety of ways to get help using the Library. If using the phone, chat, or text, you may experience a brief wait if our librarians are helping other people.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
The Library maintains a searchable collection of FAQs. Start here if the Library is currently closed.
Not finding your answer in our FAQ?
Be sure to contact us on the FAQ page. One of our librarians will respond immediately by chat (during Library hours) or by email on the next business day (if the Library is closed).
Ask a quick question of an NEIU librarian during Library hours.
Chat widgets are available on the Library website as well as in some library databases.
Text messaging (SMS)
Ask a quick question of an NEIU librarian during Library hours.
Send us an SMS message from your phone. Just text (773) 442-2758. Standard text messaging rates apply.
In person or by phone
Drop by the Library and ask your question or call the Reference Desk during Library hours at (773) 442-4410.
For one-on-one research assistance in your topic area, request an appointment with your subject librarian.


text: The path of innovation Page ContentIn Stora Enso's transformation to a renewable materials company, a strong customer focus and new innovation approaches will enable us to respond to market trends and customer requirements with new and better solutions in renewable materials.An innovation culture puts great emphasis on customer need and the sharing of know-how, ideas and best practices in a structured manner across our businesses and market segments.Opportunities can be found in, for example, the utilisation of the different fractions of biomass from the tree, like cellulose, hemicellulose (sugars) and lignin, for new applications in specialty chemicals, construction, coatings, personal care and food industries, among others.Alternatives to plastic or aluminium packaging are driving many developments in consumer packaging. Additionally, innovation continues in paper and board products – for consumer or industrial applications – to improve performance properties as well as reduce weight, costs and environmental impacts.The landscape is wide open for new solutions for sustainable living – to meet demand for renewable or recyclable packaging as well as wood-based construction as viable alternatives to concrete, steel and other less sustainable materials.For Stora Enso, innovation is not just about what we make, but how. We constantly look for ways in which we can improve processes, save energy and resources in our own operations, for our customers and throughout the value chain.Read more about how Stora Enso is responding to market trends and customers, and rethinking our processes, products and services, in the case stories to the right.


text:
François Boucher
Click on the picture to see an enlarged version.
This perfectly representative Boucher painting contains all the ingredients which distinguishes his art. The subject is from classical antiquity: the goddess Venus with her unprepossing husband, Vulcan, a blacksmith and forger of thunder bolts.. Boucher surrounds the unmatched pair with his usual throng of putti (small winged little boys), two of whom are carrying aloft the turtle doves which are traditionally associated with the goddess of love. Others are mischievously trying out the hammer and anvil associated with Vulcan, the god of the forge and of thunder.
The theme of the picture is clearly the triumph of love over power. Here Venus is pointing to Vulcan's heart which she has conquered, and thus this powerful god gazes up at her like a love-sick boy..
The scene does not have the feel of a historical painting. It is too intimate, too personal for that. But viewers would immediately have thought of the famous scene from the Aeniad where Venus goes to her husband to request magic armour for her half-god son, Aeneas.


text:
March 8, 194 -Nov. 7, 2012
June Garriss Foil, 71, died Wednesday evening at Kitty Askins Hospice Center.
She was born in Wilson County to the late Berry Stokes and Rosa Lee Stott Orr Garriss.
She grew up in Goldsboro, where she graduated from Goldsboro High School in 1959, and enjoyed keeping in touch wither her classmates.
She took nursing classes in the early 1960s, and married her love and best friend, John Edwin Foil Jr., July 1, 1972, where she recently celebrated 40 years of marriage.
A member of First Assembly Church, she was also active with the Odd Fellows and Rebekahs, their youth organizations and as a Girl Scout leader at the Odd Fellows Orphanage.
Funeral services will be held Friday at 7 p.m. at Shumate-Faulk Funeral Home, with pastor Chuck Clark officiating. Graveside services will be held privately.
The family will be receiving friends immediately following the funeral service, and at other times will be at the home of her daughter, Sharon F. Mohiser, 103 Bennelli Circle, Goldsboro.
In addition to her husband, she is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Alan and Krista Foil of Goldsboro; a daughter and son-in-law, Sharon and Scott Mohiser of Goldsboro; six grandchildren; and a sister-in-law, Isis Garriss of Pikeville.
She was preceded in death by a son, Robert "Tony" Trull, and a brother, Harold S. Garriss.
Flowers are welcome or memorial contributions may be made to First Assembly of Goldsboro, 3000 Summit Road, Goldsboro, N.C., 27530, or Kitty Askins Hospice Center, 107 Handley Park Court, Goldsboro, N.C., 27534.
The family would like to say a special thank you to the staff of Kitty Askins Hospice Center and to her many classmates, who have helped her through this time.
Shumate-Faulk Funeral Home of Goldsboro is serving the family, and online condolences may be sent through www.shumate-faulk.com.
Published in Obituaries on November 8, 2012 2:00 PM


text:
See James Franco Recut His Own My Own Private Idaho
The actor-slash-writer-slash-everything reevaluates the Gus Van Sant classic for 'The Paris Review.'
"Many filmmakers would consider the discarded material worthless," Franco writes in The Paris Review, "but I, as an actor who has spent fifteen years in front of the camera, consider all of it valuable. They are the essence of my art. [ ... ] Sometimes — as when they feature an actor like River Phoenix in a film like My Own Private Idaho, the best of his generation giving his best performance — every scrap is gold. [ ... ] When I heard that Gus [Van Sant] had held onto the editor's film rolls, I told him that I would do anything to see them. We spent two days in Portland watching as much as we could. [ ... ] We were naturally led to wonder what Idaho would be like if he made the film now, and Gus offered to let me make my own cut. [ ... ] I cut it as if Gus had made it today."


text:
Things to do in Conwy
Welcome to our guide to things to do in the historic town of Conwy. It's a pretty and compact town, so it's easy to stroll around and find all of these suggested locations within walking distance. Last updated: March 2014.
Five special things to do in Conwy
1. Explore medieval Conwy Castle: Conwy Castle (Castell Conwy in Welsh) is one of the best Welsh castles. Built for Edward I, the magnificent castle is well preserved, providing plenty of towers, battlements and fortifications to explore. You can imagine medieval life teeming all around, and you can also enjoy beautiful views when climbing the walls. The castle looks amazing just from the outside, but it's well worth the money to go inside (under £5 at the time of writing). Visit the Cadw website for details of opening times and entrance fees.
2. Enjoy the town's special events: Conwy is blessed with a range of events that perfectly match the town's rich history. The run up to Christmas sees Late Knight Shopping & Parade, where a torchlit procession in medieval costume adds even more atmosphere to the streets. Then Christmas Eve itself sees a visit from Father Christmas and carols in Lancaster Square. Traditional centuries-old fairs, such as the Seed Fair and Honey Fair, take place throughout the year, followed by the large Conwy Feast food festival each October. Visit the Events North Wales website for details of what's on throughout the year.
3. Walk along the town walls: The town of Conwy is encircled by medieval walls, which cost nothing to walk along and give a series of different vantage points around the town. Steps up to the walls can be found in the car park next to the castle; from there you can walk up to the outlying guard towers and then down towards the harbour.
4. Visit the Plas Mawr Elizabethan townhouse: Unlike, for instance, stately homes, the Plas Mawr townhouse is an historical building that you can actually imagine living in. It's steeped in history, with many original features, and yet lies right in the middle of the town. The architecture is fascinating, the courtyard gardens are very appealing, and you can even get married there. The Cadw website contains more information on the house.
5. Potter by the harbour: Conwy has a small working harbour, complete with lobster pots and plenty of bobbing boats. There's always something to see there and places to sit with an ice cream or a bag of chips. It's also the location of the atmospheric Liverpool Arms pub (see the next section for more details) and the Smallest House in Britain.
Click here to browse our atmospheric pictures of North Wales and Conwy. Or carry on reading below for cafe and restaurant recommendations...
Recommended Conwy restaurants, cafes and pubs
Coffee and cake
L's Coffee & Book Shop, located on the High Street, has a cosy, relaxed atmosphere much enjoyed by Chocco, the resident cat (who can also be found at the Castle Hotel). More focused on food than on books, L's has a great selection of home-made options for lunch, plus cakes handmade in a local bakery.
Relaxed meals
Further up the High Street, the Castle Hotel has a recently redecorated bar which is the perfect place to while away a rainy afternoon or evening. The quality of the food and drink is excellent, and there is a special 'small plates' menu if you feel like grazing at a tableful of nibbles. It's best to book a table at busy periods such as evenings, weekends or holidays (make sure you specify the bar and not the restaurant, unless you're feeling more formal).
The Press Room, located next to the castle, is a sophisticated, airy spot for coffee or lunch. The food is simple, homemade and very tasty.
A highly atmospheric pub
The Liverpool Arms, located on the quayside, is a very small and very cosy pub. Feeling unchanged for centuries, it's another great place to go when the weather becomes inclement. Listen carefully and you can almost hear a ghostly sea shanty in the distance…
And more cake
While not a sit-down venue, the Conwy Bakery on Castle Street makes its own cakes every day. Try their cream cakes, which include Belgian chocolate on top of the éclairs.
Super sausages
Edward's of Conwy, located on the High Street, is a local institution famous for its sausages, pies and more. Again, not a sit-down venue, but a great place to buy a pasty or sandwich for lunch down by the harbour.
Art Deco ale
Once you've digested Conwy's medieval heritage, fast forward to the 20th century at the Albion Ale House. The Albion is a fine example of Art Deco and Art Nouveau architecture and, most importantly, has a fine selection of real ale, board games, open fires and snugs. It can be hard to find a seat at busy times, so try visiting off-peak if you need some peace and quiet.


text:
This briefing has been prepared by the Mobile
Telecoms Advisory Group (MTAG), which represents the UK mobile
phone operators (BT Cellnet, One2One, Orange, Vodafone and the
new third generation licence holder Hutchison 3G). MTAG is a special
interest group within FEI.
The growth of the mobile communications sector
has been one of the UK's great industrial success stories. Since
commercial services were first launched in 1985, their uptake
has been nothing short of phenomenal, particularly in the past
five years.
Key to this approach has been the development
of a competitive market, licensing designed to ensure and promote
competition and deliver low consumer prices, and a planning regime
that has enabled the continual development of networks to ensure
they support the demands of the UK's 40 million mobile phone users.
The Government has committed itself "to
developing the UK as the best place in the world for e-commerce."
The success of this strategy will depend in part on the continued
success of mobile.
Mobile communications are now fundamental to
business operations, individual lifestyles and the welfare of
the national economy. The benefits of communication between people
and not just places have been sought by those throughout the country,
in rural and urban environments alike.
More than 70 per cent of the total population
of the UK (and 80 per cent of 16-44 year olds), 84 per cent of
medium businesses, and 54 per cent of small businesses, own mobile
phones. 71 per cent of all households have access to one, and
almost 10 per cent of users no longer use fixed lines. The past
two years have seen more than 45,000 people buying mobile phones
every day. 85 per cent penetration is foreseen by 2004.
Such popularity and growth has seen the sector
become increasingly key to the UK economy, contributing some £5.3
billion to UK GDP annually, £1.3 billion in tax revenue,
and in excess of £22 billion in third generation licence
fees in 2000 alone. Moreover, the sector employs around 164,000
people directly and indirectly.
Mobile's impact on society is already huge but
may only be the tip of the iceberg. The prospects for mobile to
impact on almost every aspect of life are only just being developed.
Growing sophistication in mobile communications will see benefits
in areas such as the following:
Mobile communications will not work without
the requisite network infrastructure. This is why there is a need
for base stations (sometimes called masts). Base stations link
the mobile handset to the rest of the mobile and fixed phone network.
Because the radio signals used to provide this link only have
a limited range, the user cannot be too far away from the base
station in order for a call connection to be made.
Moreover, base stations can only support a limited
number of calls at any one time. This means more are needed where
there is greater demand for service. The current reality is that
with such huge growth in demand in such a short time, all four
existing mobile networks are often unable to cope in built-up
areas and on busy transport arteries, and there still remain many
rural areas where coverage is limited and reception poor.
The operators' existing and third generation
licences also stipulate high levels of coverage and that all reasonable
demands for service be met. This is why the operators are working
so hard to develop their networks. Without them, the services
will not work and licence obligations will not be met.
Although the recent Stewart Report, other major
scientific reviews, and regulatory bodies around the world continue
to conclude that, on the current weight of scientific evidence,
there are no adverse health effects from mobile technology, this
issue has remained in the public spotlight. This is because of
the complexity of both the science and the technology, perceptions
driven by the media, and the development of networks currently
taking place in the local community.
The mobile communications industry recognises
that public concern exists and is committed to addressing this
concern as transparently and openly as possible. To this end,
the industry has:
Some concerns have focused specifically on the
industry's network development activities and the impact of this
on the planning system. This issue is currently being addressed
by a Government consultation on telecommunications planning policy.
The mobile phone industry firmly believes that
the key to successfully addressing public concerns lies in improved
dialogue with the community based on communication and consultation.
Hence the industry is committed to undertaking
a package of initiatives, which it will deliver regardless of
the outcome of the Government's consultation, to:
The industry believes these initiatives are
a better way to address public concerns than further restrictive
regulation, as the planning system is not equipped to assess health
concerns. Indeed, tighter planning rules could aggravate those
concerns by raising false expectations of a public veto on base
station siting.
More restrictive regulation would certainly
make it harder for the industry to respond to the demand for service
being made by more than 40 million people in the UK, while placing
an added administrative burden on local planning authorities.
It would also undermine the competitive edge the UK has gained
in Europe through the swift uptake and development of mobile communications.
This is why the industry is moving forward with
this package of initiatives independently of the Government's
consultation. The industry believes they will ensure a balance
is maintained between safeguarding development of and access to
mobile services in the UK and the need for greater environmental
March 2001


text:
Bar Refaeli is a Revolutionary Girlfriend
Bar Rafaeli and girlfriend of Leo DiCaprio leaves the Covent Garden Hotel and the Revolutionary Road premiere after-party in London, England on Sunday.
The 23-year-old supermodel and 34-year-old actor have been going strong for quite awhile and were seen traveling to London together over the week. Bar also recently talked about supporting environmental issues by cleaning after herself and taking home plastic bottles to recycle! Give a hoot. Don't pollute!
Shoes by Christian Louboutin.


text:
There is a link off of the Drudge Report right now to an article in the Jerusalem Post explaining how the U.S. administration is "worried over the prospect of right-wing government" in Israel. THIS U.S. is hopeful for a right-wing government for Israel! The ridiculousness of the any middle east peace process is that there even is one. Islam calls for the extinction of the Jewish people. It is in the Hammas charter to work to that end. The arrogance of the U.S. as I see it is to think we can do anything about it but get behind Israel in a meaningful way. Why does anyone think western society can peacefully coexist with a culture who would sentence victim of a gang rape who became pregnant and attempted an abortion to a year in prison and 100 lashes? WTF! And that was in Egypt which isn't even at the most extreme end of the Islamo-fascist scale. Why would we desire peace with these people? They have given no indication they have any intrest in peace. So anyway I hope Israel votes in the mosr right-wing government they can muster. Our sword has obviously gone flacid. Lets hope Isreal is'nt afraid to hold theirs up and use it!
Hopeful for right-wing government in Israel.
The URI to TrackBack this entry is: https://dvip.wordpress.com/2009/02/12/hopeful-for-right-wing-government-in-israel/trackback/


text:
The Columbia Association has recognized the following employees for their outstanding service this summer:
Mike Mullarky, boat dock manager at Lake Kittamaqundi; Charlie Omlor, maintenance superintendent for neighborhood pools; Jackie Richards, counselor with the Extended Arts Camp at the Columbia Center for the Arts; Debbie Thompson, collection/accounting clerk at the member service center; and Jexy Wadle, a counselor at the Wilde Lake Nature Camp.
AGRICULTURIST TO TEACH MECHANICS AT UM Roy S. Walls Jr., a Columbia resident, joined the faculty at the University of Maryland's Institute of Applied Agriculture. He will be teaching agricultural mechanics in the two-year agricultural program.


text:
ARK SM1000-0099S Axleback DT-S Exhaust System Polished Tip 99-03 Mazda Miata NB8C
Simply the finest Miata exhaust. We helped another major name finish their current line of exhausts and then decided to do an exhaust our ARK - WAY. With its straight through design, smooth perforated core, and all 304 stainless construction (even the hangers and flanges!) this is the perfect first modification for your 1999-2003, or 2004 Miata.with its large 65mm tubing (baffle removed), this exhaust also has the flow to handle any modification you might consider down the road from turbo to supercharger to full race. Notice the smoothness of the bends. No kinks, no crumples, and enough flow to handle everything. Note the canister size--this is the large diameter performance Miata exhaust that is also mild sounding. While FLOW is a matter of smooth bends and straight through design and sufficient diameter, SOUND is a matter of insulation and we use a very large canister with machine wrapped insulation so that you can have the option of high flow without waking the neighbors--even with the baffle removed. As a result, if installed on an otherwise stock Miata this exhaust is just slightly louder than stock--even with the baffle removed. And thanks to its large diameter tubing the tone is a wonderful deep burble, never a buzz, never a drone from this muffler. We went through numerous prototypes until I found exactly what I wanted on my own Miata. The quality and quantity of sound insulation and canister size will pay off if you decide to someday add a header and or supercharger.


text:
Tessa the VoyeurJanuary 29th, 2017
Is her ladyship Contessa Le Rouge, "Tessa", secretly possessed of voyeuristic interests? And, if so, is she a practicing Voyeur?
The master bathroom in my residence has a large roman-style shower/tub design below a large picture window. The window faces a walled garden area with an open side entrance. There are no curtains or shades on the window.
Today while showering I turned to see my little doggy Tessa standing in the garden watching me. At times she approached the window and stood up against it as if to get a better view. Didn't know whether to assume she appreciated the photogenic quality of her view. Don't even know whether she considered the sight to be either "photogenic" or possessed of "quality". Must confess to disappointment over her failure to linger longer than a minute or so. Have to assume her early departure from the area was not intended as editorial commentary resulting from her view.
Should I be surprised to learn Tessa appears to have Voyeuristic instincts? If so, where did she acquire them? Would a puppy class designed to address the issue be appropriate? What if the newspapers learn her secret? Will this affect her AKC pedigree registration and possibly add a stain to her noble lineage?
Bond Shands
My Notebook blog – www.BondShands.com
Personal Facebook page – www.Facebook.com/Bond.Shands
Desert Political Opinion blog – www.Facebook.com/DesertObserver
Twitter – @BondShands


text:
Baltimore, MD (PRWEB) December 22, 2013
Charm City Circulator has launched a new website that is just as clean and new as the innovative transportation service they have launched for Baltimore City. The new website developed by nationally renowned technology firm,The Canton Group, The Charm City Circulator will offer a subscription service that enables riders to obtain alerts and shuttle status update on their mobile devices and provides links to social media outlets such as Facebook, FourSquare, and Twitter.
The feature-rich site allows visitors to easily locate route information to include schedules, delays, and local attractions attached to each route. The Canton Group also developed a companion iOS and Android mobile app that ties into the website functionality and provides the mobile audience the ability to view route information, the arrival and departure times in real-time, as well as points of interest the coincide with route information
About Charm City Circulator:
The backbone of any great city is transportation. Charm City Circulator services residents, downtown employees, students and tourists and anyone else who wishes to ride. The shuttle is intended to reduce congestion and greenhouse gas pollution by offering a convenient, reliable and eco-friendly form of public transportation.
The CCC consists of four separate routes—the Green Route which runs from City Hall to Fells Point to Johns Hopkins, the Purple Route which runs from Penn Station to Federal Hill, the Orange Route which runs from Hollins Market to Harbor East and the Banner Route which runs from the Inner Harbor to Fort McHenry.
About The Canton Group:
The Canton Group is a nationally renowned and award winning technology firm based in Baltimore, MD. Leveraging flexible open source software applications, proven project management processes, user-centric design; The Canton Group offers a single-source-solution to attaining success through technology for higher education, associations, government agencies, non-profits, and businesses of all sizes.


text:
It came as a real bolt from the clear blue skies to everyone when the Prime Minister of India announced that Rs. 500/- and Rs.1,000 notes would cease to be legal tender. The move is a very welcome step in
Effect of the Service charge lift on digital transactions on the Billing and Payments industry
On 2/24/2016, the Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the withdrawal of convenience fees, service charges and surcharges on credit cards and digital payments. The government also mandated that payments above a certain threshold are to be made by
"Card on File" and "Customer Retention", are they directly proportional? You'll be surprised..
At first glance, you would think yes, once you have the customer's credit card information on file, you are set and you have landed a customer for life. If this is your theory, you are treading on very slippery slope.
Everybody loves a Coupon!
Today's retailers are selling their products 24/7, to a technology savvy, "on the go" consumer. This new age consumer prefers to shop at their own time and in their own space. They generally have no patience for the haggling process
Monetization models of Startups/ Other companies
Innovation has been a constant through the ages. New products that satisfy a need or simplify a process are constantly brought to the consumer's attention. Lately, there has been a surge in the use of the internet to sell products


text:
California Online Voter Guide
June 2012 Primary Election
21st edition
Proposition 29 - Imposes Additional Tax on Cigarettes for Cancer Research. Failed
Initiative Statute
- Official Summary
- Official Voter Guide page
- Campaign Web Sites and Contact Information
- Who Signed the Ballot Arguments
- Media Coverage
Imposes additional $1.00 per pack tax on cigarettes and an equivalent tax increase on other tobacco products. Revenues fund research for cancer and tobacco-related diseases. Fiscal Impact: Net increase in cigarette excise tax revenues of about $735 million annually by 2013–14 for certain research and tobacco prevention and cessation programs. Other state and local revenue increases amounting to tens of millions of dollars annually.
A YES vote on this measure means: State excise taxes on cigarettes would increase by $1 per pack to a total of $1.87 per pack. These additional revenues would be dedicated to fund cancer and tobacco-related disease research and tobacco prevention and cessation programs.
A NO vote on this measure means: State excise taxes on cigarettes would remain at the current level of 87 cents per pack and would continue to be used for existing purposes, including childhood development programs and various health and tobacco prevention and cessation programs.
This page features the Legislative Analyst's analysis, pro-con arguments and the full proposition text.
Campaign Web Sites and Contact Information
- Yes on Proposition 29
American Cancer Society
980 9th Street, Suite 2550, Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (916) 397-4618
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Web site: www.YesProp29.org
- No on Proposition 29
No on 29—Californians Against Out-of-Control Taxes and Spending, a coalition of taxpayers,
small businesses, law enforcement and labor
Phone: (866) 662-7016
Email: email@example.com
Web site: www.NoOn29.com
Who Signed the Ballot Arguments
- Yes on Proposition 29
Dr. Clifford C. Eke, M.D., President, American Cancer Society, California Division
Jane Warner, President, American Lung Association In California
Dr. Richard J. Gray, M.D., President, American Heart Association, Western States Affiliates
- No on Proposition 29
Teresa Casazza, President, California Taxpayers Association
La Donna R. Porter, M.D., Former President, Golden State Medical Association
Julian Canete, President, California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce
Media Coverage
News articles and editorials are available from Maplight. excerpts from and links to news coverage of the propositions on the ballot.
A list of top donors for and against this measure is avaialble from Maplight. Comprehensive disclosure data is avaialbe from the Secretary of State.
This page was first published on April 18, 2012 |
Last updated on
July 12, 2012
Copyright California Voter Foundation, All Rights Reserved.


text:
Mr John Maxton
3 April 2000
Telephone call.
Telephone call from John Maxton, he was not willing
to see me unless he has a letter from me setting out the evidence.
I said that I would happily write to him and put before him any
statements which were at variance with his before we met, so that
he had the opportunity to consider them and then have a discussion
with me about what he wanted to say to me. We agreed 5pm on 17
April so long I was able to consider the evidence I had, complete
my interviews and write to him, otherwise we would arrange a later
He said he was concerned that we were asking a student
to fund her fare to London prior to coming. I said that if this
was difficult for the student we would of course either purchase
the ticket for her or provide her the funds so that she could
purchase the ticket and give us the receipts. He said he would
pass on the information to Suzanne Hilliard.


text:
Perfect Light Film Festival
Entries open in August via Film Freeway. Enter your short film (up to 8 minutes in length) for a chance to win $1K first prize, $500 second prize and $250 third prize at the 2018 Perfect Light Film Festival!
Most common questions answered.
If you're from out of town and looking to visit Broken Hill, grab a sweet ride courtesy of REX airlines (visit www.rex.com.au for tickets and prices) and stay at the Royal Exchange Hotel in Broken Hill visit www.royalexchangehotel.com for availability and rates (tell them we sent you!)


text:
One fo the nice features of the Chevy HHR is the Key Fob. The HHR Fob allows you to unlock and lock all of the HHR doors, set the security alarm, as well as engage the remote start, if your HHR is equipped with one.
One of the downsides of the hhr key fobs, is that they are prone to breaking internally. This can be fixed in a matter of ways. You can always buy a new key fob. The down side to buying a new keyfob, is that you will need to take the HHR Fob to a Chevy dealer in order to have the Fob programmed to your HHR. If the HHR Key fob is not progrmmed to your HHR, it will not work!
To open up your key fob, all you need to do is pry it open from the bottom edge of the fob, where the two piece of plastic are stuck together. You will see a tiny "slot" along the edge of the plastic where you can stick a key or screwdriver in to pop the case open. Once you have it open, you may find that the battery is loose. This seems to be the main cause of HHR key fobs inoperability. You need to put the battery back in its place. Sometimes, the solder joints that connect the battery holder to the circuit board are broken. If you are good with a soldering gun, you can make the correct repair, just be careful and take your time! If you do not want to solder the joints back together, I have seen once where an HHR key fob had a piece of cardboard wedge inside. Just a small cut up piece of cardboard, and this held the battery in place where it belonged, without having to solder the joints, i suppose.
If your hhr key fob is on the fritz, check out the above auctions to purchase a new one!
Chevy HHR terms:
- hhr key fob
- chevy hhr key fob
- chevrolet hhr key fob replacement
- hhr key fob not working
- 2006 chevy hhr key fob
- 2009 HHR key fob
- 2006 hhr key fob
- hhr key fob battery
- 2008 hhr key fob
- hhr fob


text:
Hi all, wanted to make our LA area members aware of this show I'm doing next week - hope some of you can make it! best, jeff
MUSIC OF POLLOCK - LIVE AT LOS ANGELES COUNTY MUSEUM OF ART Dec. 7
I'm presenting a concert of my music from Ed Harris' Academy award winning film "Pollock" at the Bing Theater of at LACMA Thursday Dec. 7th at 8PM. We will be playing music from the score with a 17 piece chamber orchestra. Several scenes from the movie will be shown along with the performance. There will also be a panel discussion on the film & the artist with several folks who worked on the movie, including Barbara Turner (screenplay) and Kathryn Himoff (editor).
In the second half we will be play some of the jazz selections from Pollock's own record collection, arranged for the ensemble. I hope you can join us for what I think will be a very fun musical evening.
Jeff Beal
Art & Music: Concerts at 8 This fall LACMA is pleased to debut Art & Music, a new concert series inspired by the museum's permanent collection and special exhibitions. The series explores the relationship between music and art (and occasionally film) with some of the finest chamber ensembles in the world, including the mdi ensemble Milano, eighth blackbird, Argento Chamber Ensemble, and Sérgio and Odair Assad, along with Southern California treasures Xtet, the L.A. Master Chorale with Alex Acuña, a special program with pianist Dave Grusin, and a concert featuring the music from the motion picture Pollock.
Bing Theater at LACMA, 5905 Wilshire Blvd., L.A. Box Office 323 857 6010
Tickets ($25) will be available at the box office the night of the performance


text:
Efficient use of available water supplies has never been more important to agriculture. Ten speakers will provide information on the latest technology from the irrigation industry to help farmers produce more food and fiber in the face of reduced irrigation water supplies.
10:00 a.m.
Comparison of Drip Irrigated and Dryland Field Corn, Michael Dowgert, Market Manager, Agriculture, Netafim USA.
Supply and price demands have moved corn to the front as a primary crop instead of a standard rotation. In response to this expansion, studies have been made comparing drip irrigated and dryland field corn. Preliminary results indicate yields are strongly correlated with plant population, fertility and amount and timing of water applications.
10:30 a.m.
Helping Grower's Decide: The Drip/Micro Irrigation Payback Wizard, Inge Bisconer, Technical Marketing and Sales Manager, Toro.
The Drip/Microp Irrigation Payback Wizard, an online tool developed in partnership with The Irrigation Association, can help growers easily recognize various cost saving, revenue enhancement and water conservation benefits associated with the conversion to drip irrigation technology.
11:00 a.m.
Process Guidelines for Converting from Surface Irrigation to Precision Irrigation, Jacob LaRue, Manager Project and Product Support, Valmont Industries, Inc.
With the help of governmental assistance programs, the economics of irrigation have changed, and have incentivized farmers to consider conversion from surface irrigation to other forms of precision irrigation, primarily aimed at reducing farm water use. The discussion will focus on what farmers should do when considering conversion to precision irrigation.
11:30 a.m.
Agricultural Irrigation Systems Automation, David W Dunn, Ag Irrigation Designer, Rain For Rent.
While irrigation has always been a critical component of any agricultural production system, increasing concerns over water availability, conservation and crop quality necessitate new approaches to the design and management of agricultural irrigation. This presentation focuses on some of the leading uses and benefits of technology for irrigation effectiveness and efficiency.
Irrigation Control for the 21st Century, Jacob Christfort, president, Ranch Systems.
While irrigation has always been a critical component of any agricultural growing system, increasing concerns over water availability, conservation, and crop quality necessitate new approaches to the design and management of agricultural irrigation. This presentation focuses on some of the leading uses and benefits of technology for irrigation effectiveness and efficiency, emphasizing three main areas of opportunity: Reduced cost of new system installation and/or existing system retrofit through wireless valve control.
12:30 p.m.
Increase Profitability and Optimize Productivity with Efficient Water and Chemical Use, Matt Angell, VP, Grower Market Development PureSense Environmental.
Achieving high-quality, high-yield crops depends on many factors. Of these, soil moisture is paramount to achieve optimum crop performance. Understanding your soil type and variability is key to formulating an irrigation strategy for your crop to maintain target soil moisture. The presentation will include methodologies and practices that can be used to determine operational targets, when to irrigate, and how much to irrigate to optimize plants' growth for predictable improvement in quality and yield.
1:00 p.m.
Improvement of Soil Water Status and Crop Productivity by Low Level Surfactant Treatment, Matthew Quist, Regional Manager, Aquatrols.
Soil water repellency (SWR) affects an array of hydrological processes, including infiltration, overland flow, soil erosion, preferential flow and leaching of agrichemicals. While SWR has been reported in soil for decades, effects on productivity are only now being understood in high value economic crops.
1:30 p.m.
Managing Soil Moisture in Fields Using a Portable Wave Reflectometer and a Web-Based Mapping Utility, Doug Kieffer, Soil/Water Product Manger, Spectrum Technologies.
Current drought conditions across the country will dictate improved irrigation management. Vegetables and fruits are more likely to be drip irrigated, while row crops are usual candidates for sprinkler systems. The new Irrigation Soil Moisture Audit combines the use of a portable electronic wave reflectometer and a Web-based mapping utility to give managers soil moisture results via the Internet.
2:00 p.m.
Central Coast Irrigation and Nutrient Management Program, Monica Barricarte, Environmental Scientist, Central Coast Water Quality Control Board.
The Central Coast Water Board is working with stakeholders timplement the Central Coast Irrigation and Nutrient Management Program (CCINMP). The CCINMP directly implements the most important pollution prevention and reduction strategy, irrigation and nutrient management, to address discharges from irrigated lands on a regional, watershed-based scale. The program focuses on priority growers, targeted irrigation and nutrient management practices, and includes specific performance measures to assess progress towards and achievement of the program goals and objectives.
2:30 p.m..
Irrigation Pump Efficiency Testing, Bill Green, Education Manager, CSUF Center for Irrigation Technology.
Twenty percent of the energy consumed in California is used to move water. Energy-efficient pumps moving water properly can save huge amounts of electricity and fossil power. A test can be performed to determine Overall Pumping Plant Efficiency (OPE) of an individual pump, comparing energy into the plant versus energy out in the form of water flow and pressure developed by the pump. Thousands of tests in California in recent years have shown a significant number of pumps have room for improvement.


text:
Ben Franklin effect
The Ben Franklin effect is a proposed psychological phenomenon: A person who has performed a favor for someone is more likely to do another favor for that person than they would be if they had received a favor from that person. The opposite case is also believed to be true.[1]
Recognition of effect by Franklin
Benjamin Franklin, for whom the effect is named, quotes what he describes as an "old maxim" in his autobiography: "He that has once done you a kindness will be more ready to do you another, than he whom you yourself have obliged."[2]
In his autobiography, Franklin explains how he dealt with the animosity of a rival legislator when he served in the Pennsylvania legislature in the 18th century:
Having heard that he had in his library a certain very scarce and curious book, I wrote a note to him, expressing my desire of perusing that book, and requesting he would do me the favour of lending it to me for a few days. He sent it immediately, and I return'd it in about a week with another note, expressing strongly my sense of the favour. When we next met in the House, he spoke to me (which he had never done before), and with great civility; and he ever after manifested a readiness to serve me on all occasions, so that we became great friends, and our friendship continued to his death.
Effect as an example of cognitive dissonance
This perception of Franklin has been cited as an example within cognitive dissonance theory, which says that people change their attitudes or behavior to resolve tensions, or "dissonance," between their thoughts, attitudes, and actions. In the case of the Ben Franklin effect, the dissonance is between the subject's negative attitudes to the other person and the knowledge that they did that person a favor.[3][4]
See also
- ↑ A more detailed explanation appears at the page on the Ben Franklin effect at changingminds.org.
- ↑ From The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, page 48.
- ↑ Paul Henry Mussen, Mark R. Rosenzweig & Arthur L. Blumenthal (1979). Psychology: an introduction, p.403. University of Michigan. ISBN 0-669-01672-1
- ↑ Tavris, Carol; Elliot Aronson (2008). Mistakes were made (but not by me). Pinter and Martin. pp. 28–29. ISBN 978-1-905177-21-9.
Further reading
- Jecker, John; David Landy (1969). "Liking a Person as a Function of Doing Him a Favor". Human Relations. 22 (4): 371–378. doi:10.1177/001872676902200407.
- Schopler, John; Compere, John S. (1971). "Effects of being kind or harsh to another on liking.". Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 20 (2): 155–159. ISSN 0022-3514. doi:10.1037/h0031689.


text:
March 31, 2014 14:07 ET
OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - March 31, 2014) -
Christine McVie returns to Fleetwood Mac as band announces On With The Show 33-city North American Tour
All five Fleetwood Mac members on the road for the first time in 16 years
Doors: 7 p.m. Showtime: 8 p.m.
Tickets on sale Monday, April 7, at 10 a.m.
Tickets can be purchased by visiting www.CapitalTickets.ca, by phone at 613-599-FANS (3267) or 1-877-788-FANS (3267); in person at each of the 10 participating Canadian Tire stores in Ottawa as well as the store in Perth, The Sens Store at Carlingwood Mall and Place d'Orléans, any Ottawa Sports Experts location, Les Galeries de Hull, Ottawa Festivals and at the Canadian Tire Centre box office.
Tickets are $49.50, $95.50, $149.50 and $199.50; reserved seating (plus CRF and service charges).
It's official! After a 16-year absence, Christine McVie will be re-joining Fleetwood Mac band mates Mick Fleetwood, John McVie, Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks as they launch the On With The Show tour. Exclusively promoted by Live Nation, the tour will kick-off on Sept. 30 - the band will perform 34 shows in 33 cities across North America - and will arrive in Ottawa at Canadian Tire Centre on Sunday, Oct. 26. McVie has not toured with the band since 1998's The Dance tour.
American Express® cardholders can purchase tickets before the general public beginning Tuesday, April 1, at 10 a.m. through Thursday, April 3, at 10 p.m. Tickets go on sale Monday, April 7, at 10 a.m. through the Live Nation mobile app and online at www.CapitalTickets.ca.
During Fleetwood Mac's 2013 tour, the four members happily welcomed McVie back on the stage during their show at London's O2 Arena, where she performed their classic Don't Stop and received a wild ovation from the crowd. "It was so comfortable being back onstage with them as if no time had passed, and then we all started talking and it feels like the time is right. I'm really happy," she commented. "As far as we're concerned, she's never really left. We are overjoyed to have Christine back on stage with us," said the other members of Fleetwood Mac in a joint statement.
Please visit www.fleetwoodmac.com for the latest information on the band, tour and ticketing.
Capital Tickets is the only authorized ticket vendor for Canadian Tire Centre events. Tickets purchased through unauthorized ticket vendors are subject to cancellation and purchasers may be denied access to the event. Only those tickets purchased through authorized vendors are guaranteed seating.
Visit the Canadian Tire Centre website: www.canadiantirecentre.com
Follow Canadian Tire Centre on Twitter: @CdnTireCtr
Like Canadian Tire Centre on Facebook: www.facebook.com/canadiantirecentre
For further show information, please contact:Cortney Harkin - Live Nation Canada416-260-5700 email@example.com media accreditation requests, please visit:www.mediaaccreditation.ca
See all RSS Newsfeeds


text:
Added to Cart
Extended Care Options
More deals you may like
Apple iPhone X (64GB, Space Grey)
Take your imagination to the edge.
See delivery information
Finance available
With the dazzling edge-to-edge screen and stunning array of revolutionary features of the iPhone X, your life will never be the same again.
- 5.8 inch Super Retina edge-to-edge display
- Unprecedented convenience with wireless charging
- Facial recognition technology with Face ID
- Dual 12 MP camera for stunning photos
- Powered by the A11 Bionic chip, the world's most powerful smartphone chip yet
The iPhone X is the smartest smartphone yet, with a host of new features that will transform the way you live. Be lost in a world of endless possibilities with the edge-to-edge screen of the iPhone X, offering an immersive experience that allows you to enjoy all of your favourite apps in stunning detail.
Face the future
Apple has taken smartphone security to the next level once again with Face ID. Facial recognition technology allows you to unlock your phone and make transactions by simply lifting your phone up to your face. The TrueDepth camera analyses more than 50 different muscle movements and creates a precise depth map of your face – while also taking stunning selfies.
Wireless charging
Never worry about tripping over wires again. Wireless charging provides you with the ultimate convenience – all you need to do is place your iPhone X on top of a wireless charger, and voila!
Designed to perfection
Encased in surgical-grade stainless steel, the iPhone X is made using the most durable glass ever in a smartphone. Along with superior water and dust resistance, you can rest assured that your iPhone X will remain well protected as you go about your day. And bolstered by the A11 Bionic chip and improved battery life, the iPhone X truly allows you to take your productivity to new heights.
Unlocked – compatible with all Australian networks.
This Product is offered and supplied by Dick Smith Electronics pursuant to the Terms and Conditions.
Frequent searches leading to this pageonline shoppingkaraoke machine
Related CategoriesHandsfree HeadsetsPrepaid Broadband PlansStylus PensiPhonesUSB ChargersPower BanksDocks & Dock AdaptersScreen ProtectorsAction Cases & Photo AccessoriesSmart WatchesIn-Ear HeadphonesHolders & StandsAndroid PhonesCables & AdaptersSIM CardsPrepaid PlansCasesLaptop ChargersHandsets & Docks (Phones)Tripods & MountsBags & CoversHandsfree SpeakerphonesPhone CasesVR HeadsetsBlackBerry


text:
Musicians hear best over the din
Scientists demonstrate that musicians are better at understanding speakers in noisy environments
During my three-year stint in music school, I had many chances to witness amazing musical feats. I remember seeing classmates execute complicated fingerings gracefully on ivory and brass keys, sometimes moving an audience to tears. Now scientists have found extra proof of musicians' unique skills: They tend to be much better at understanding a speaker in a noisy environment. Their advantage seems to lie in an enhanced ability to process sounds in the brain.
The brain normally distinguishes similar sounds such as "ga," "ba" and "da" thanks to the unique electrical impulses, or electrical spikes, that they elicit in the brainstem, the rear area of the brain. The nervous system uses features like speed and amplitude to distinguish these impulses, called neural responses.
The spiking pattern of a neural response is what enables us to distinguish one sound from another, explains Nina Kraus, co-author of the study and director of the Auditory Neuroscience Laboratory at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois.
But amid a cacophony of competing noises, these responses can be blurred.
In the study, published in the September issue of Neuroscience, 25 musicians and 25 non-musicians between the ages of 18 and 32 were asked to don headphones and listen to sentences embedded in babble produced by four different speakers. The participants were then required to recall the sentences, and were scored according to their accuracy.
The scientists found that musicians performed consistently better than non-musicians, correctly recalling the sentences much more frequently despite the ruckus audible in the background of the recording.
Moreover, by attaching electrodes to the participant's scalps, Kraus' team demonstrated that an adult musician's brain is much better at keeping neural responses distinct. This allows musicians to discriminate between similar sounds and to understand a speaker even against a noisy backdrop.
Past studies have shown that the advantages a musician acquires from training are transferable to many other aspects of daily life. For example, musicians are better at distinguishing words in tonal languages like Chinese, where words can have different meanings based on their pronunciations. But the mechanism behind this had not yet been identified.
"The results highlight some possible mechanisms to account for the speech processing advantage demonstrated in musicians," said Dr. Mireille Besson of Aix-Marseille University in France, who also studies the effects of musical training on the brain.
To those whose instruments are now in storage: Take heart, since the benefits of playing music persist long after a musician has plucked the last string. But if you've never picked up an instrument and you find yourself constantly asking people to repeat themselves at social gatherings, you might consider trying your hand at a mazurka or a "Moonlight Sonata."


text:
Fisher & Phillips Snags Three Saul Ewing Partners
The three partners – Christopher P. Stief, David W. Erb and Michael R. Greco – have a national practice focusing on litigation of employee defection and recruitment matters involving non-compete agreements, trade secrets and related issues, the firm said.
In addition, Fisher & Phillips said it had added two of counsels,...
To view the full article, register now.
Try Law360 FREE for seven days
Already a subscriber? Click here to login


text:
Whitney Houston's accidental death in February was voted as the biggest "Oh My Gosh" (OMG!) celebrity headline in the first half of 2012, according to a poll released on Thursday.
Parade Magazine and Yahoo! celebrity gossip site omg! teamed up for a 2012 summer pop culture poll and found that Houston's drowning in a Beverly Hills hotel bathtub was the biggest headline of the year so far, earning 50 percent of votes.
The runner-up headline was Twilight actress Kristen Stewart's confession that she cheated on co-star Robert Pattinson, which got 21 percent of the votes. The couple edged out another big break-up – the divorce of Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes – which scored 14 percent of votes in the shock factor stakes.
Rounding out the list was "Jersey Shore" star Snooki announcing her pregnancy (6 percent) while CNN anchor Anderson Cooper's declaration that he is gay, actress Demi Moore seeking treatment in rehab, and Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie finally getting engaged, each earned 3 percent each.
The poll also asked readers to rate their sexiest man, favorite book series, and most anticipated celebrity weddings.
There were few shocks there, with Drive star Ryan Gosling, erotic fantasy novel 50 Shades of Grey, and the union of movie stars Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux coming top of those respective categories.
The poll was conducted for Parade and omg! in August and had 56,000 respondents. DM
Photo by Reuters.
Microwave popcorn is nothing special. You can have the same effect with normal popcorn kernels and a brown paper bag.


text:
What Multitasking Consumers Mean for Marketers
Tools can help open up opportunities for advertisers.
Tools can help open up opportunities for advertisers.
Media consumption and technology have never been as diverse and ubiquitous before. Even with the upsurge of social media and its exponential growth, Twitter hasn't upstaged Facebook and Facebook hasn't replaced email. The same is true for traditional media: radio never replaced newspapers; TV never killed radio. Instead, consumers adapt to new technologies not by replacing them, but by finding ways to incorporate new media as they become available.
Multimedia marketing campaigns that blanket all outlets, including the technologies or platforms du jour, need to reassess their strategy. It's not about placing ads on mobile because it's the hot new thing; it is about reaching a busy mom on her mobile device while she is on the go. Neither is it about millions of impressions on MySpace, but rather it is about reaching that music lover who's looking for the genre of music you are selling.
The best ad management technologies are built around this philosophy of using data to understand and incorporate content, context, and consumers in order to deliver the right ad, to the right person, at the right time.
For today's consumer, multitasking has become something of a necessity. Millions of people watch TV, listen to the radio, or read magazines while online. Marketers need to gain a better understanding of multitasking behavior to effectively plan advertising. Media multitasking is often taken for granted but actually has a profound impact on the ability to absorb and remember content, including advertising messages. By understanding multitasking behavior, marketers can begin to work toward the larger goal of planning advertising expenditures from a consumer-centric rather than a media-centric position.
So, what exactly is media multitasking? The term "multitasking" has its roots in the computer industry. It describes the way computers handle multiple tasks by sharing processor resources. Researchers studying media multitasking use varying terms, such as "concurrent media usage" and "simultaneous media exposure," to describe the phenomenon. Simply, media multitasking is simultaneous media exposure: "Individual consumers being exposed to more than one media system or approach at a single point in time" (BIGresearch).
A consumer may choose to combine two or more media to gratify a particular need or accomplish a task such as typing in a web address from a magazine to get more information about a product or browsing a newspaper in a dentist's office while the radio plays in the background. Consumers choose some, but not all, of their media exposure; in particular, they may be subjected to "environmental" media content in public places such as restaurants and bars, retail settings, medical offices, etc. Media use, and consequently concurrent media exposure, also varies by location and time of day. Marketers must keep this in mind.
While multitasking divides consumer attention, it also opens up opportunities for advertisers. By understanding media pairings and how media are woven into a consumer's day, advertisers can discover what medium is most engaging and when, and plan for that in their media allocations. Multitasking consumers necessitate multi-platform marketing campaigns. How effective is an ad if it only receives partial attention? Marketers need an advertising platform that reaches all the digital touchpoints in one comprehensive package.
So what's the key takeaway? Each medium provides a different pattern of behavioral engagement and the value of exposures to each medium will vary greatly as a result.
Let's take a look at mobile and IPTV. Mobile media is fast-growing. Mobile media is expected to grow at a faster rate than any other major medium, apart from video. In 2010, nearly 1.3 billion mobile phones shipped globally, and 250 million of them were smartphones. Within five years, virtually all phones sold in the U.S. will be smartphones, according to Advertiser Perceptions' Advertiser Intelligence Report from May 2010. And according to Morgan Stanley, more users may connect to the Internet via mobile devices than desktop PCs within five years.
Being able to leverage a turn-key ad management solution alleviates some complications and logistics of building a sales team, working with multiple companies, several products, or platforms to achieve similar results. Smart marketers who want to reach people and provide them with information about things they may be interested in or would appreciate discovering new media technology platforms because they can reach their next customer on all the digital devices that they use and via the media that they consume. Businesses must think long-term, so choosing the right vendor is crucial. It will serve them well in the long run.


text:
A human rights activist, Mr. Yinka Odumakin, on Wednesday [Jul 22] admonished Nigerians to avoid unnecessary criticism of President Muhammadu Buhari's administration but support him to deliver on its promises. The national publicity secretary of Afenifere, who stated this in an interview with journalists in Osogbo, Osun State capital, stressed that even 100 days was not enough to assess the present administration's performance.
Odumakin who revealed that President Buhari was trying to settle down to tackle numerous challenges facing the country, said it would be too early for anyone to criticise his administration barely two months he assumed office.
According to him:
I think it's too early to do meaningful assessment of Buhari's administration; maybe by 100 days, we shall have a clearer picture. What we have seen so far is that he (Buhari) is still trying to settle down because as we talk now, there is no Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), and no Chief of Staff, no cabinet.
What we can see now is that he is travelling to countries to discover how well to combat the Boko Haram insurgency which has held back the growth of this country. Nigerians should support him to succeed because if he gets it right, we will all enjoy it. We should give him time and avoid unnecessary criticism to allow him settle down and govern well.
Speaking on the call by a serving judge in Osun State for the impeachment of the state Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, over alleged financial recklessness, Odumakin asked the state House of Assembly to speed up the probe on the matter.


text: Okanagan Restoration Services Ltd 255 Neave Rd,Kelowna, BC V1V 2L9 250-491-0224 Fax Line 250-491-0774 Website www.okrestore.com Products & Services Offered 24 hour flood response 24 hour flood restoration 24 hour immediate flood response 24 hour water damage restoration certified flood technician disaster flood clean-up disaster flood cleanup disaster flood restoration emergency flood services emergency water extraction flood damage help flood help kelowna flood removal flood repair kelowna flood restoration kelowna flood restoration service kelowna flooded basement home flooded home flooded kelowna kelowna flood damage kelowna flood help kelowna restoration services kelowna water damage lake country flood damage lake country water damage okanagan flood damage okanagan water damage peachland flood damage peachland water damage sewage damage clean-up water clean-up water cleanup water extraction water removal water repair kelowna west kelowna flood damage west kelowna water damage westbank flood damage westbank water damage wet basement clean up winfield flood damage winfield water damage CATEGORIES Asbestos Abatement & Removal Fire & Water Damage Restoration Flood & Water Damage Restoration Mould Remediation Service White Pages SEO Cloud Tags 24 HOUR WATER EXTRACTION * Always ready. Always there.* Fire & Smoke Damage * Flood * Sewer Backup * Content Cleaning * Wind Damage * Silica Dust Removal * Break & Enter * Mould & Asbestos Removal * Odour Removal * Vehicle Impacts * Trauma Scene * Vandalism * FIRE * WATER * WIND * SMOKE * MOULD * ASBESTOS * B & E * SERVING THE OKANAGAN FOR OVER 25 YEARS * www.okrestore.com * FULL SERVICE RESTORATIONS * INSURANCE APPROVED * ALL TRADES CERTIFIED * BBB ACCREDITED BUSINESS * Visa * Mastercard * RIA * INSTITUTE of INSPECTION CLEANING and RESTORATION CERTIFICATION


text:
Call 0808 256 3490
Search by
and / or
Find a Consultant
Start typing the first name or last name of the consultant you are looking for
or search by
Find a condition
Can't find what you're looking for?
View the full list
Shelley Whitbread, Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist at Priory Hospital Hayes Grove explains Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is a fast growing and widely recognised treatment used to help people deal with a variety of psychological difficulties. The evaluation of CBT has shown a 50% success rate in treating anxiety and depression – significantly higher than other talking therapies and studies have also shown that it can be more effective than medication alone when treating such disorders. It is for these reasons, together with the time efficiency of treatment, which have led the government to invest significant resources in training over three thousand CBT therapists in recent years.
Founded by Albert Ellis and Aaron Beck, CBT identifies the link between our thoughts, our behaviour and our mood. Therapy involves helping people to become more aware of their often dysfunctional and unhelpful thought patterns which can lead to maladaptive behaviours and negative emotions. It also attempts to help patients understand and adjust underlying belief patterns which maintain these dysfunctional thinking patterns and behaviours. By teaching people to challenge cognitions and modify their behaviour, this can then lead to a significant improvement on mood.
CBT is used to treat a number of psychological disorders including:
CBT is a structured, action-oriented and problem solving approach which helps people to manage their thoughts, behaviour and mood more effectively. In general patients will meet with their therapist on a weekly basis for a period of roughly 6 – 20 sessions which will follow a structured process including the completion of homework and behavioural experiments.
At the Priory Hospital Hayes Grove we offer both group and individual cognitive behaviour therapy for a wide range of difficulties including anxiety, depression, anger and eating disorders etc. Groups are based on a CBT approach and include psycho-education together with tools and strategies to help patients manage their behaviours and mood more effectively.
If you would like further information on the full range of Priory services then please call: 0845 277 4679.
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Depression, Free Addiction Assessment, Treatment
Steps to take if you feel too depressed to work
What are the effects of alcohol on sleep?
Let's Talk About OCD Symptoms in Children
How to tell if your child has an eating disorder
To find an article that you are interested in please select a tag below.
0800 840 32190800 840 3219
Email us
The Priory Group aspires to deliver the highest quality of care across our range of services, which include acute and complex mental healthcare, addiction treatment and low and medium secure facilities.
Read more
View all hospitals
This website uses cookies for the purpose of functionality and performance. If you continue browsing, we'll assume you are happy to accept cookies from our website. To read our cookie policy, alongside our updated privacy statement please click here.


text:
Legal Status
Document Details
Published Document
Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency for the District of Columbia.
Final rule.
The Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency for the District of Columbia ("CSOSA") is finalizing its interim rule that set forth procedures and requirements relating to the registration in the District of Columbia of sex offenders, the verification of the information maintained on registered sex offenders, and the reporting of changes in that information. These regulations carry out responsibilities of CSOSA under Federal and District of Columbia law.
April 22, 2003.
Office of the General Counsel, CSOSA, Room 1253, 633 Indiana Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20004.Start Further Info
Roy Nanovic, Records Manager (telephone: (202) 220-5359; e-mail: email@example.com).End Further Info End Preamble Start Supplemental Information
CSOSA is finalizing its interim regulations on the registration of sex offenders in the District of Columbia (28 CFR part 811) which were published in the Federal Register on August 21, 2002 (67 FR 54093).
Under the Sex Offender Registration Act of 1999 ("SORA" or "Act", D.C. Law 13-137, D.C. Official Code 22-4001 et seq.), and section 166(a) of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2000 (Pub. L. 106-113 § 166(a), 113 Stat. 1530; D.C. Official Code § 24-133(c)(5)), CSOSA is responsible for carrying out sex offender registration functions in the District of Columbia, including maintaining and operating the sex offender registry. The sex offender registry contains information about sex offenders who live, reside, work, or attend school in the District of Columbia. Information about sex offenders and photographs, fingerprints, and supporting documents are provided by CSOSA to the Metropolitan Police Department, which is responsible for disclosing information about registered sex offenders to the public in Start Printed Page 19740conformity with District of Columbia laws and regulations. Appropriate information is also transmitted to the FBI, which operates the National Sex Offender Registry, and to sex offender registration authorities in other jurisdictions. This system is designed to further public safety by facilitating effective law enforcement, enabling members of the public to take lawful measures to protect themselves and their families, and reducing offenders' exposure to temptation to commit more crimes.
Matters of Regulatory Procedure
Administrative Procedure Act
CSOSA implemented its sex offender registration functions as interim regulations, with provision for post-promulgation public comments, based on the "good cause" exceptions found at 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(3)(B) and (d)(3). The regulations implement, in part, section 166(a) of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2000 (Pub. L. 106-113 § 166(a), 113 Stat. 1530; D.C. Official Code § 24-133(c)(5)), which directs CSOSA to carry out sex offender registration functions in the District of Columbia, and various provisions of District of Columbia law and regulations, including sections 3, 8, 9 and 10 of the Sex Offender Registration Act of 1999 (D.C. Official Code §§ 22-4002, 4007, 4008 & 4009) and 6A DCMR §§ 405.1, 409.1, 409.2, 410.1, which grant CSOSA the authority to make certain decisions and to adopt procedures and requirements relating to sex offender registration in the District of Columbia.
As stated in the report of the District of Columbia Council's Judiciary Committee for the District's Sex Offender Registration Act, "[a] sex offender registration and notification program, if appropriately designed and effectively implemented, can promote public safety in at least three ways: by facilitating effective law enforcement; by enabling members of the public to take direct measures of a lawful nature for the protection of themselves and their families; and by reducing registered offenders' exposure to temptation to commit more offenses." Committee on the Judiciary, Report on Bill 13-250, The Sex Offender Registration Act of 1999, at 3 (November 15, 1999). Given the importance of having accurate, complete, and up-to-date information about sex offenders available to both law enforcement officials and to the public, and the fact that the formulation of implementing regulations closely follows the statutory framework and existing District of Columbia regulations, it is impracticable and unnecessary to adopt this rule with the prior notice and comment period normally required under 5 U.S.C. 553(b) or with the delayed effective date normally required under 5 U.S.C. 553(d). Moreover, as noted, the collection of sex offender registration information and its release to law enforcement and other agencies and the public pursuant to the Sex Offender Registration Act of 1999 furthers important public safety interests by facilitating the solution and prevention of crime by law enforcement, enabling lawful community self-protection measures, and reducing the temptation for recidivism. Delay in the full implementation of the law—including the ability to prosecute and take other actions in relation to sex offenders who fail to comply with its requirements—would thwart or delay the realization of these public safety benefits. Therefore, it would be contrary to the public interest to adopt these regulations with the prior notice and comment period normally required under 5 U.S.C. 553(b) or with the delayed effective date normally required under 5 U.S.C. 553(d).
Accordingly, CSOSA issued interim regulations to allow for public comment during the implementation of the sex offender registration functions. CSOSA did not receive any public comment on the interim regulations. CSOSA is therefore adopting the interim regulations as final without any change.
Executive Order 12866
This rule has been determined to be significant under Executive Order 12866 and has been reviewed by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
Executive Order 13132
This rule will not have substantial direct effects on the States, on the relationship between the national government and the States, or on distribution of power and responsibilities among the various levels of government. Therefore, in accordance with Executive Order 13132, the Director of CSOSA has determined that this rule does not have sufficient federalism implications to warrant the preparation of a Federalism Assessment.
Regulatory Flexibility Act
The Director of CSOSA, in accordance with the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 605(b)), has reviewed this rule and by approving it certifies that this rule will not have a significant economic impact upon a substantial number of small entities. This rule pertains to agency management, and its economic impact is limited to the agency's appropriated funds.
Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995
This rule will not result in the expenditure by State, local and tribal governments, in the aggregate, or by the private sector, of $100,000,000 or more in any one year, and it will not significantly or uniquely affect small governments. Therefore, the Director of CSOSA has determined that no actions are necessary under the provisions of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995.
Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996
This rule is not a major rule as defined by section 804 of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996. This rule will not result in an annual effect on the economy of $100,000,000 or more; a major increase in costs or prices; or significant adverse effects on competition, employment, investment, productivity, innovation, or on the ability of United States-based companies to compete with foreign-based companies in domestic and export markets.
Plain Language Instructions
If you have suggestions on how to improve the clarity of these regulations, write, e-mail, or call the Records Manager (Roy Nanovic) at the address or telephone number given above in the ADDRESSES and FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT captions.Start List of Subjects
List of Subjects in 28 CFR Part 811
- Incorporation by Reference
- Probation and Parole
PART 811—SEX OFFENDER REGISTRATIONEnd Part Start Amendment Part
Accordingly, CSOSA adopts the interim rule published at 67 FR 54093 which added part 811 to chapter VIII, Title 28 of the Code of Federal Regulations as a final rule without change.End Amendment Part Start Signature
Paul A. Quander, Jr.,
[FR Doc. 03-9930 Filed 4-21-03; 8:45 am]


text:
Though many banks have reported financial improvements, their technology spending is still at a trickle.
That's the message coming from major banking tech vendors, and it's likely to remain the case for the foreseeable future as banks grapple with credit problems and regulatory changes.
While some financial institutions are more willing to spend on specific projects, few are expressing the confidence to embark on the deep overhauls that many in the industry have been waiting for, according to technology executives.
"Banks are going to really look to that as one of the latter things they do when there's uncertainty around their capital structure, credit quality or regulatory environment," said Darrin Peller, a vice president who covers technology vendors for Barclays Capital.
Fiserv Inc. President and Chief Executive Jeff Yabuki cited an "undefined regulatory landscape" as well as economic challenges as reasons its bank and credit union customers are hesitant to commit to major projects.
"The outlook for predicted IT spending has become slightly more positive over the last quarter," Yabuki said on the Brookfield, Wis., vendor's earnings conference call Thursday.
Fiserv, considered a bellwether for financial technology spending, reported fourth-quarter revenue rose 1.5% to $1.08 billion from a year earlier. The results were just shy of analysts' estimates, which pegged the figure at $1.09 billion.
Yabuki said banks' and credit unions' spending appetite will be "incrementally better" this year than in 2010 "but still not at the average rate of growth we expect to see over the next three years."
It's not that banks aren't spending; rather, they're doing it in very specific pockets of technology such as mobile banking, bill payment services and Internet systems.
Although talk is picking up about massive projects, like a complete overhaul of a bank's core account processing system, such projects are still rare, experts said. And those that are moving ahead on such projects, which can take years to complete and cost billions of dollars, are doing it piecemeal.
"The way you're going to see the investments is, it will be in subsegments of business," said Fiaz Sindhu, an executive in Accenture PLC's North American banking practice. "It will be replacing a line of business," not a rip-and-replace project done at once companywide.
Yabuki said there are some "magnificently large projects" taking place in the industry, but they tend not be in the U.S. and tend not to be "core centric."
"Most of the energy we're hearing tends to focus around channels," Yabuki said, adding that clients are interested in revamping their online banking systems.
Fiserv has invested heavily in upgrading its online banking platforms as well as investing in new products, such as its ZashPay person-to-person payments system, which competes with services such as eBay Inc.'s PayPal and CashEdge Inc.'s Popmoney software. All three allow users to send money using the recipient's e-mail address or mobile phone number.
More than 600 financial institutions have agreed to offer their customers the ZashPay service as of Dec. 31, Yabuki said, adding that ZashPay is an example of a product banks and credit unions can use to generate "much-needed fee income."
Bank information technology spending in North America is expected to increase 3.9% this year to $53.4 billion, according to a report that research firm Celent released in January.
"While we expect good [fiscal year 2011] demand for small/midsize projects, we see banks' continued reluctance to commit to larger projects as the most significant gating factor on industry growth," John Williams, an analyst with Goldman Sachs Group Inc., said in a research note Thursday.
The modest outlook among industry executives is not surprising given the numerous issues that banks are dealing with.
Many are still trying to get a handle on problem loans and many more are reluctant to make big investments until pending rules for carrying out requirements under the Dodd-Frank Act are in place.
Fiserv and rivals Jack Henry & Associates Inc. and Fidelity National Information Services Inc. also must contend with bank failures and as well as mergers, which can be a positive or negative for them depending on what an acquirer decides to do.
In 2010, 157 banks failed, up from 140 in 2009, according to the FDIC. Additionally, there were 860 banks on the FDIC's "problem bank" list as of Sept. 30, the most recent figure available.
Fiserv's net client losses have been less than half a percent of its total account processing client base since 2008, Yabuki said on the call, adding that it expects regulatory actions against banks to be in the range of 130 to 170 this year.
Yabuki and other vendors have specifically cited the Federal Reserve's proposed caps on debit card swipe fees as a reason many banks are frozen. "If they were final, things would be a lot better no matter what they are," Yabuki said.
Jack Prim, the chief executive of Jack Henry, said Wednesday during the company's fiscal second quarter earnings conference call that small banks are waiting for the Fed's final rules before making any major decisions. He also singled out unemployment as "the biggest issue" affecting the company's customers.
Regulatory issues, not just those related to debit card fees, will remain a major hurdle for spending this year, Peller said.
That's not to say banks don't need to make investments, Peller added.
"The problem is … the core account processing systems on average at midsize regional banks are generally 10-years plus outdated so it's not like they don't need to be upgraded," Peller said. "They're managing to get by with current status quo. My guess is they will continue to keep managing for at least another year."
Register or login for access to this item and much more
All Bank Investment Consultant content is archived after seven days.
Community members receive:
- All recent and archived articles
- Conference offers and updates
- A full menu of enewsletter options
- Web seminars, white papers, ebooks
Already have an account? Log In
Don't have an account? Register for Free Unlimited Access