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When Do You Use Web Services?
Let's say that your company uses a supply-chain application that stores your customers' orders in a SQL Server database and keeps track of each order's status. Currently, when customers want to know which of their orders are pending, they contact your customer-service representative, who queries the database for that information. Customers then update their ordering systems. But suppose a customer wants to streamline the process by using an application to request order status directly from your system. To enable this type of access to your system, you and the customer need to agree on the interface the customer will use to make the request and the format in which you will return the requested data.
Related: 38 Extra Development Tips
This scenario is an ideal application for Web services because you can use SOAP to build a single standards-based interface that works for many different customers with varying needs, regardless of the software applications and computing platform their enterprises use. Additionally, SOAP lets you build a loosely coupled interface that incorporates XML as the data format. (A loosely coupled application lets you reconfigure, redeploy, or relocate the implementation without affecting dependent applications.) By using XML, you gain extensibility that lets you expand the scope of the data you can provide to your customers in the future. Simply put, supplying a Web service lets you leverage the full value of XML's standard format, extensibility, and platform independence.
Ending Errors
Use error handling in your applications to prevent errors such as reaching the end or beginning of the recordset. You can use the EOF or BOF properties of the recordset to detect this error. For example, to check for the end of recordset when the user clicks the button, you can change the cmdNext_Click event to the following code:
If Not envNorthWind.rsCustomers.EOF\] Then envNorthWind.rsCustomers.MoveNext End If
For a better approach, you can detect the end or beginning of the recordset and disable any navigation controls so that users can't click them. This method provides better feedback than letting the users click the button, then find out that they're at the end of the recordset.
Use Member Properties to Store Information About Dimension Members
Storing additional dimension-member information is the most basic use of member properties. If you've developed your own front-end application, you can display this associated information in fly-over hints (e.g., a tool tip) or in a property panel that appears whenever a user selects a dimension member. For example, if you have an OLAP cube that contains your product information, you could use member properties to store and display such product information as the product manager's name, the original product-release date, the current version number, the associated product family, and even a longer product description.
Setting Up English Query
English Query works best with normalized databases; however, your circumstances might mandate a structure that isn't fully normalized. In this case, you can use views to solve problems that non-normalized databases cause. The English Query domain editor doesn't automatically import views. To add a view as an entity, select Table from the Insert menu and enter the name of the view. The English Query Help file provides examples of how to use views with non-normalized data.
Another tip is to define a primary key for each table in your English Query application. English Query requires primary keys to perform joins between tables to satisfy user requests. If you haven't defined keys in your database, you need to define them in the domain editor. English Query can't build your application correctly without primary keys.
When you develop English Query applications, remember that case is significant. For example, English Query knows that you're asking about a proper noun because you capitalize the words in the query. Finally, if you're running Internet Information Server (IIS) 4.0 with the Windows Scripting Host (WSH), the fastest way to build and deploy a test application is to run the setupasp.vbs macro from C:\programfiles\microsoftenglishquery\samples\asp2. This macro automatically installs and configures your data, so you can start testing immediately.
ADO Don'ts
One of ADO's best assets as a great database interface is its flexibility. However, ADO's flexibility gives you more ways to shoot yourself in the foot while you're writing applications. Here's a list of the seven most common errors that I see in ADO coding.
Sin 7: Ignoring the native OLE DB Provider. You can use ADO with both the native OLE DB providers and with the OLE DB Provider for ODBC, but this choice makes continuing to use the old ODBC Data Source Names (DSNs) and drivers a bit too easy. The native OLE DB Provider for SQL Server is more efficient than these old options and provides access to features such as the SQL Server IRowsetFast interface and LinkedServer rowset.
Sin 6: Using Recordsets instead of stored procedures. Although ADO lets you easily perform queries and updates by using Recordsets, SQL Server stored procedures provide a big performance advantage because stored procedures cache execution plans. Stored procedures also can reduce network traffic by executing a batch of SQL statements in one invocation.
Sin 5: Letting ADO determine stored procedure parameters. ADO can dynamically discover the parameters of a stored procedure by using the Refresh method of the Parameters collection. This capability can easily tempt you into not explicitly creating a Parameters object in your code. This feature is useful during development, but avoid it in your production code because it will cause unnecessary trips to the server.
Sin 4: Using Recordset objects for all updates. Although using a Recordset object to update the database is easy and convenient, this method requires an open cursor and therefore has relatively high resource requirements. Updating the database by using direct SQL statements—or, better yet, stored procedures—is more efficient, especially for multiple insert, update, and delete operations.
Sin 3: Using independent connections for the Command and Recordset objects.2> Another easily misused feature of ADO is the ability of the Recordset and Command objects to create their own Connection objects. With typical network applications, repeatedly connecting and disconnecting is much less efficient than reusing an existing Connection object. The primary exception to this rule is during Web development, when you often want to isolate the connections for each Web page.
Sin 2: Using resource-intensive cursors when you don't need them. ADO supports four types of cursors: forward-only, static, keyset, and dynamic. Of these, the forward- only cursor (aka the firehose cursor) has the least overhead and best performance. You'll often be tempted to use more resource-intensive cursors, such as the keyset or dynamic, to get basic scrolling capability, but you don't need to.
Sin 1: Using the default ADO Recordset cache size. ADO's Recordset object Cache-Size property controls how many rows SQL Server retrieves when ADO issues an sp_cursorfetch against a server-side cursor. Using the CacheSize property default value of 1 can be inefficient and might result in many round-trips to the server.
The Reusable Cursor
I frequently want to perform operations such as refreshing views, checking table data, creating SQL statements, rebuilding indexes, or changing the table structure for many objects at once. To perform such bulk operations, I keep an SQL cursor on hand as a template and change it as necessary.
The script in Listing 1 opens a cursor on the table specified in the SELECT statement—in this case, the sysobjects table—then loops through each record in the cursor and assigns the contents of the current name field to the @ObjectName variable. The script uses the @ObjectName variable to build an EXEC statement to perform the desired operation. This example refreshes all views that db_owner owns.
By changing the SELECT statement in the cursor, you can perform operations against any database objects you want, use a WHERE clause to restrict the result set, and even add an ORDER BY clause. You can also edit the cursor's EXEC portion to perform a wide range of operations against the objects the SELECT statement returns. For example, Listing 2 shows how you can change the cursor to add a Timestamp field to each table in the database. If you wanted to add the field to only 30 tables, you would simply change the SELECT statement to return only the tables you want to work with. And by replacing EXEC with PRINT, you can easily generate a T-SQL script, which you can save and execute later. With a little imagination, you can use this cursor technique to perform numerous time-saving operations.
The Fine Points of DSNs
User and System Data Source Names (DSNs) reside on the machines you create them on. A User DSN is for one user only; its settings follow the same storage route for that user as persistent settings for Microsoft Word or any other Windows application. Visual InterDev stores System DSNs on the system and by system, not by user. Thus, any user on the system can reuse any System DSN.
System DSNs have another advantage. For example, let's say you have a development server, a local system, and a production server. Furthermore, the development server and the production server each have a SQL Server database that the Web application you're building uses. The development server is running a test copy of the database while the production server runs the live copy.
How do you set up your system so you can develop and test your application on your local system and development system, then deploy it to the production server without changing any code for the data connection? The secret to this juggling act is to create a System DSN on each system with the same name. Point the System DSNs on both the development server and the local workstation to the development server database. Point the System DSN on the production server to the production database. All three DSNs must have the same name. In your Active Server Pages (ASP) application, point the application's data connection to the System DSN name. Now you can move the application to the local workstation, the development server, or the production server without changing any connection information. You can use test data to work on the application and use production data to deploy the application.
SQL Tips for Developers
For more than a decade, I've been focused on data-access interfaces, so my tips address developers in that narrow area of functionality. Many developers need to be reminded of these things from time to time to keep their applications safe and running efficiently.
- DBAs should never give away the sa password, so don't try to talk them into giving it away—and don't look for it written in grease pencil on the DBA's monitor.
- Good DBAs lock down the database and don't grant anyone access to the base tables. So you developers will have to ask the DBA to create the tables and the stored procedures to access them.
- Don't develop with the sa account once you figure out the password, and never, never use a blank password—just because you see sa/no password in old examples doesn't make it right.
- Don't build your queries on the fly with the and (&) operator; this opens the door to SQL injection attacks. Create parameter-based queries—or better yet, use the stored procedures created specifically for your application. Never accept values from users or other untrustworthy sources. A user doesn't have to be malicious to enter something destructive.
- Plan on creating stored procedures to execute all your queries. The DBA might insist on this anyway, but for better performance and far better security, build your design around focused, protected stored procedures. Focused stored procedures that have fewer parameters are easier for SQL Server to compile and create efficient query plans that are valid for a wider variety of parameter values.
- Don't return more rows than your user can deal with right away. Don't fetch more columns than you need, and avoid SELECT *. If you specify the column names, you know precisely which columns SQL Server will return and the order of those columns. Be sure to add aliases to the columns so that you can more easily use bound controls that name the columns.
- Avoid client-side update processing when you can perform the same tasks in server-side procedures. This eliminates the transport costs of getting the data to and from the client.
- Don't use ADO or ADO.NET to do bulk operations—data-access query interfaces make terrible bulk-copy programs. Figure out how to use Data Transformation Services (DTS) or bulk copy program (BCP). Using SQL-DMO to drive a BCP copy operation will give you far better performance than any sexy ADO technique you devise.
- Don't store binary large objects (BLOBs) in the database. Keep the path to the BLOB and its attributes, MIME type, and other critical information—but not the text or image—in the database. Storing and retrieving BLOBs takes far longer than saving and fetching the same data from a file. And BLOBs flush the data cache, throwing out other useful procedures and data.
- Consider that data-access interfaces (e.g., DB-Library, DAO, RDO, ODBC, OLE DB, ADO, and ADO.NET) all wait at the same speed. You can't solve performance problems by asking the question faster. All too often, performance is dragged down by the nature of a query or the way SQL Server is programmed to deal with the query. Proper indexing can solve more problems than choosing a DataReader instead of a DataAdapter.
Profiles in Performance
Many people overlook SQL Server Profiler in SQL Server 2000 and 7.0 as a Web development tool. Because one of Profiler's functions is to monitor and report the various performance levels of your SQL Server database, you can use it to look at how your Web applications interact with the server. Furthermore, Profiler can help you analyze your code's efficiency. For example, you can use Profiler to determine whether your Web application would perform better if you used Query Analyzer to optimize the code.
To generate performance numbers for Profiler to use in analyzing your Web application's communications with SQL Server, start by testing a few pages. Choose a testing tool that can place a real-world load on your application, then run Profiler to watch this load. You can download the latest Web Application Stress Tool, for example, from Microsoft's Downloads page. Microsoft Application Center also includes an updated version of this tool.
When you run traces with Profiler, save the results under easily identifiable names. After you have conducted several tests, you can then return and compare the results at each step. You need to launch a new trace after each run and save the trace every time. You can also save traces and replay the load later to simulate the real load on the database. Keep in mind that a load you replay with Profiler or Query Analyzer only simulates a load, which is different from applying the load through your Web application.
Use ADO to Enforce Strong Typing
Strong data typing is a valuable weapon in the fight against SQL injection attacks. Using the ADO Command object can help you ensure not only that you're passing the right data but that SQL Server can tell which part of a query is SQL and which is data. Let's look at two ways you might invoke a stored procedure. The following procedure is a call directly from an ASP page:
<% Set Conn = Server.CreateObject ("ADODB.Connection") Conn.open application ("connection_string") Set RS = Conn.Execute("exec sp_checkloginrights " & param1 & "," & param2 ) %>
This code is a poor example of invoking a stored procedure from Visual Basic (VB). The code uses a "string-building" technique that lends itself to mischief because of poor input validation.
The second call, which Listing 3 shows, is a sample of VB code that you can use to invoke the same stored procedure from a COM DLL. How does the second procedure call provide an added level of security? The answer lies in the fact that you're no longer "string building" as you are in the earlier ASP code. In string-building SQL calls, you construct a text string and pass it to SQL Server in one call. In the COM DLL example, however, you use the Command object to enforce your data types and let ADO build the string for you. The primary advantage of the VB-COM approach is that it catches any mistakes caused by front-end programmers not properly validating input.
Note that you need to handle errors in a way that doesn't give a potential attacker any clues about your table structure. Any database-related errors should return a generic error message and log the details for developers to analyze. Displaying ADO error messages gives the end user too much information and could be dangerous in the wrong hands. Also, never assume the people on the other tier are doing good validation: They're probably assuming the same thing about you. If you apply good validation at every tier, a neglected piece of code is less likely to expose your entire application.
Using the SqlCommand Object to Import BLOBs
SQL Server Magazine technical editor Bob Pfeiff of Microsoft suggested an alternative method for using the DataSet object to import binary large objects (BLOBs)—you can use the ADO.NET Command object with a stored procedure. This method doesn't require that you use a DataSet on the client, but it does require a preexisting stored procedure on the SQL Server system. When you're using stored procedure parameters to access BLOBs, remember that the BLOB parameter must always be the last parameter in the call to the stored procedure.
The following code shows a simple stored procedure named p_insertimage that accepts one image data type parameter. The code inserts the parameter into the BLOBTable table. (You can find the schema for this table at InstantDoc ID 39867.)
CREATE PROCEDURE dbo.p_insertimage ( @image image) AS SET NOCOUNT ON INSERT INTO BLOBTable (blob_object) VALUES(@image) RETURN GO
Listing 4 shows the C# code that calls this stored procedure. The code uses an OleDbConnection object to open a connection to SQL Server. Then, the code creates a new FileStream object named fs that opens the file homer.jpg and reads the contents of that file into the byte array named imagefile. Next, the code creates an OleDbCommand object named cmd that will execute the p_insert-image stored procedure, passing the BLOB data to p_insertimage as a parameter.
BLOB access isn't limited to just the System.Data.SqlClient namespace. You can also access BLOBs by using the System.Data.OleDb namespace, as I show here, as well as the System.Data.OracleClient and the System.Data.Odbc namespaces.
XML Updates
XML updategrams contain special Sync, Before, and After tags that tell IIS how to process the XML document's contents. One updategram can send multiple database actions to the server. The Sync tag identifies a transaction; SQL Server considers all actions within a Sync section as one transaction. You use Before and After tags to specify the different database actions you want SQL Server to perform. Before tags specify what the data looks like before a change, whereas After tags specify what the data looks like after a change. To insert a row, you use only the After tag. To delete a row, you use only the Before tag. And to update a row, you use the Before tag to identify the data that needs updating, then the After tag to identify the new values.
Listing 5 shows an updategram called insertdept.xml, which inserts a row into the Department table that you created earlier. In this example, the first updg:sync tag marks the beginning of the transaction. The updategram uses only updg:after tags, telling SQL Server to insert the after image of the data. The element between updg:after tags identifies the table you want to update and the columns to which you want to add the row. In this example, the updategram instructs SQL Server to insert the new row into the Department table's Dep_ID and Dep_Name columns. Although this example illustrates inserting a single row, you could use multiple department elements with the updg:after tags to insert multiple rows. The closing updg:sync tag marks the end of the transaction. You can also use a URL to execute this updategram, as the following example shows:
Connection Pooling in ADO.NET
Designed expressly for n-tiered Web applications, the .NET Framework Data Provider for SQL Server automatically performs connection pooling without requiring any special setup. When an application opens a new connection to the server, the SQL Server .NET Data Provider creates a connection pool based on the values used in the ConnectionString property of the SqlConnection object. Each connection pool is associated with a unique connection string. Every time the application opens a new connection, the SqlConnection object checks whether the value in the ConnectionString property matches the connection string of an existing pool. If the string matches, the Data Provider adds the new connection to the existing pool. If the string doesn't match, the Provider creates a new pool. The SqlConnection object doesn't destroy a connection pool until the application ends. The Visual Basic .NET example that Listing 6 shows illustrates adding two connections to the same connection pool by using identical connection strings. You can use System Monitor to monitor ADO.NET connection pooling. Table 1 lists the counters that are available for tracking connection pool usage.
Using XML Templates to Improve Security
Microsoft intended URL access of databases for Web developers. With URL access, Web developers can easily access information from databases without using ADO. However, using a URL that has an SQL query can be dangerous because you're exposing all the information in the database. To prevent security problems, you can use a template. A template is an XML document that contains the SQL query. For example, Listing 7 shows the template Query1.xml for the <Titles> query. If you use a template, you expose only the template's name and not the name of your database and its columns.
Before SQL Server 2000 can execute the template, you need to make an additional IIS configuration setting. Open the IIS Virtual Directory Management for SQL Server utility, then select the Virtual Directory configured for XML access and view its properties. In the XML Query Properties dialog box, select the Virtual Names tab and click New. In the Virtual Name Configuration dialog box that appears, you need to map the Template virtual directory to a physical path. In the Virtual name text box, type Templates. In the Type drop-down list, select template. In the Path text box, enter the path to the location where you want to store the template files, then click Save. Next, place the Query1.xml template in the folder that you specified. To access the database through the template, type the following URL into your browser:
The template in Listing 7 performs a simple query, but you can create templates that perform more complex queries. For example, you can create a template that searches for titles that match a specific string. By specifying the search string in the URL and not the template, you can use the same template for different queries. The search string you specify in the query string is passed to the template as a parameter.
Designed for Development
The disconnected DataSet object in ADO.NET helps you build scalable Web applications by keeping locking to a minimum and freeing you from having to maintain state. However, these same features open up application-design concerns. Most important, the DataSet object's in-memory XML data store, with its own set of programmed relationships and referential integrity, is a potential black hole. If you don't implement good database programming practices, your DataSet objects could be enormous. Even today, you can trace most performance problems to an application-coding problem—typically caused by either a misunderstanding of the database design or inefficient data-access methods. ADO.NET will likely exacerbate these kinds of problems because programmers—not database designers—will now be responsible for constructing constraints and relationships. In addition, because the DataSet object handles all the application data, you must take special care when programming against large databases. DataSet shifts much of the data management to the client, which might not be able to efficiently handle vast amounts of data.
How can you eliminate these potential loopholes in ADO.NET? First, become intimately involved in the application-design process. If you're a DBA, help the database developers understand and programmatically implement the underlying database design for the application. Become familiar with application-development languages and tools so that you can understand how different ADO.NET data-access mechanisms work against the database. And review the SQL code that you use to populate ADO.NET DataSet objects to verify that applications aren't retrieving or replicating extraneous data. ADO.NET is the new kid on the data-access block, and like all new technologies, it offers some great benefits and some potential liabilities. Tying up the potential loopholes in ADO.NET could make a world of difference in the scalability and performance of your database applications.
Retrieving Identity Values with ADO.NET
SQL Server's Identity columns provide a great way of letting SQL Server automatically assign unique values to rows that an application adds to a table. When adding a row to a table, the application doesn't need to know anything about the unique Identity number that SQL Server assigned. SQL Server handles that part automatically. However, in some cases, the application or the user needs to know the value assigned to the Identity column as soon as it's added to the database. For example, an order-entry application that uses an Identity column for the Order ID might need to provide a confirming order number to the client immediately. To make this information instantly available, you need a way to retrieve the value of the Identity column and display it in your application. You can set this up in ADO.NET, using an output parameter for a stored procedure that performs the insert action, as Listing 8 shows. This stored procedure inserts an employee record into the Northwind database's Employees table and returns the Identity field EmployeeID as an output parameter. The important point to notice about this stored procedure is the use of the SCOPE_IDENTITY() function that retrieves the Identity value that SQL Server assigned and copies that value into the @Identity variable that the stored procedure returned.
After creating the stored procedure, you can assign it to the InsertCommand property of a SqlDataAdapter. Then, anytime an application uses the SqlDataAdapter to insert a row, the stored procedure returns the value to the current row in the DataTable.
Custom Aggregate Product
SQL Server 2000 doesn't support developing new aggregate functions; it lets you use only the built-in ones (e.g., SUM, MIN, MAX, AVG, COUNT). If you want to provide a custom aggregation such as the aggregate product of elements within a group, you need to use some tricky code to come up with a solution. To demonstrate one such unconventional technique, first run the code in Listing 9 to create and populate the table T1. You need to provide an aggregate product of the values within the value column for each group that appears in the groupid column. Figure 1 shows the desired result.
Often, you can get help in finding a T-SQL solution from the mathematics field. In this case, you're looking for a way to use the functions that T-SQL provides to produce the equivalent of a function that T-SQL doesn't provide. The following equation from the world of logarithms is the key to the solution:
LOGn(value1 * value2 * ... * valueN) = LOGn(value1) + LOGn(value2) + ... + LOGn(valueN)
The T-SQL expression SUM(LOG10(value)) is equivalent to the right side of the above equation. So, to calculate the product of the value elements, you need to raise 10 to the power of the right side of the equation: POWER(10., SUM(LOG10(value))).
At this point, you're close to solving the problem. The remaining obstacle is that LOG doesn't accept a zero or a negative value as an argument. To account for zeros, you can use a CASE expression that returns a zero if the group has at least one value of zero. To account for negative values, you can calculate the LOG function with the absolute value as input and multiply the result by -1 if an odd number of negative values exist. Listing 10 shows the complete solution. See T-SQL Black Belt, "Adding Performance," May 2001 for more explanation of this technique.


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Misión Evangélica Menonita, Bolivia
Misión Evangélica Menonita, Bolivia (Evangelical Mennonite Mission Conference in Bolivia). From 1965 to 1968 radio programs in Low German and High German for Mennonite colonies were the start of what led to Evangelical Mennonite Mission Conference (EMMC) involvement in Bolivia. David and Tina Wiebe, New Tribes missionaries at the time, later became the founding missionary couple (with EMMC 1969-1977) at Chorovi—an area halfway between the Tres Palmas and Bergthal colonies, on the eastern edge of the Canadiense colony (Sommerfeld Mennonites; Bolivia). While some individuals from different colonies have been spiritually enriched by the EMMC ministry, colony leadership has usually felt threatened and been concerned about EMMC presence. (The Evangelical Mennonite Mission Conference in Canada originated in a division within the Sommerfeld Mennonites in Canada.)
A five-bed clinic, built in 1973-74, has provided health treatment for a 25-mi. (40-km.) radius—to both colony and Bolivian populations. Its services have included staff nurses, a preventive health program in surrounding communities (1983- ), and regular visits from an evangelical Bolivian doctor (1985- ) .
Two Bolivian congregations have resulted from EMMC ministry. Zafranilla, located near the clinic, began in 1974 (50 members, 1986). Pedro Dias, located in a semi-urban squatter community of the same name on the outskirts of Santa Cruz, is the second effort. It began in 1983. Drilling safe water wells, providing public health services, a dynamic congregation of 75 members, and a 200-student private school (kindergarten to third grade) were features of this effort.
Mennonite World Handbook Supplement. Strasbourg, France, and Lombard, IL: Mennonite World Conference, 1984: 57.
|Gerald Mumaw
|Date Published
Cite This Article
MLA style
Mumaw, Gerald. "Misión Evangélica Menonita, Bolivia." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. 1987. Web. 22 Sep 2018. http://gameo.org/index.php?title=Misi%C3%B3n_Evang%C3%A9lica_Menonita,_Bolivia&oldid=90031.
APA style
Mumaw, Gerald. (1987). Misión Evangélica Menonita, Bolivia. Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 22 September 2018, from http://gameo.org/index.php?title=Misi%C3%B3n_Evang%C3%A9lica_Menonita,_Bolivia&oldid=90031.
Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 5, p. 590. All rights reserved.
©1996-2018 by the Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. All rights reserved.

subset: commoncrawl


text: USPS to offer 5% postage discount on samples Published on May 24, 2013. Washington, D.C.—The U.S. Postal Service will offer product marketers a 5% upfront postage discount on samples mailed out in August and September. The Postal Service's Product Samples promotion, for the mailing of trial-size samples, is intended to "re-invigorate product sampling" through the mail, the Postal Service said in a statement. The promotion also is intended to raise awareness of the Postal Service's new Simple Samples standard mail program, which offers flat-rate pricing, volume discounts and less stringent mail-preparation requirements. Most Popular In this article: BtoB


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LITTLETON, N.H. (AP) — A Vermont man charged with stabbing a private school trustee in a New Hampshire hotel lobby in what officials called a random attack has been indicted on one count of second-degree murder.
Rodney Hill of West Danville, Vt., told police he was going through a divorce and was angry because of an email he had gotten from his boss when he punched and stabbed White Mountain School trustee Catherine Houghton on Jan. 28 in the lobby of the Hampton Inn in Littleton, according to court documents. Authorities say the two were strangers who happened to be registered at the same hotel that night.
Hill, who had already checked into the hotel, told police he was Jesus and that he believed the woman he attacked in the lobby was either the devil or his father, who was out to hurt his family, according to the records.
Hill, a self-employed welder, also said he was taking Seroquel, a medication used to treat schizophrenia and bipolar depression. He told hotel staff he was going through a divorce.
The 70-year-old Houghton had traveled to New Hampshire from her California home for a board of trustees meeting at the school from which she graduated in 1960.
The indictment handed up Friday charges Hill with recklessly causing Houghton's death by showing extreme indifference to human life, The Caledonian Record reported (http://bit.ly/11EXtx9).
Information from: The Caledonian-Record, http://www.caledonianrecord.com


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WASHINGTON, U.S. - A new revelation has emerged that states that American authorities received information about Russian hackers from Israel.
According to a report in the New York Times, Israeli intelligence officers watched Russian hackers use software from Moscow-based cybersecurity firm Kaspersky Lab to search for U.S. secrets.
The report stated that hackers searched computers across the globe for code names of U.S. intelligence programs.
The report, which cited current and former government officials said that Israeli officials who had hacked into Kaspersky's network immediately alerted their U.S. counterparts.
The U.S. Government's recent decision to ditch Kaspersky Lab software reportedly came after the intrusion was detected more than two years ago.
The Russian operation reportedly stole classified documents from a NSA employee.
It noted that the documents were improperly stored on the employee's home computer, on which Kaspersky Lab software was installed.
Another report last week stated that Russian hackers used Kaspersky Lab software installed on a NSA contractor's computer to steal sensitive information.
The report in the Wall Street Journal said that the role of Israeli intelligence in uncovering that intrusion and Russian hackers' broader use of Kaspersky software in the search for U.S. secrets was not previously known.
The decision by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security was announced last month in which it banned federal agencies and departments from using Kaspersky Lab products.
The department cited national security concerns for the ban.
U.S. officials alleged that the company was tied up with Russian intelligence, gave therefore gave American government agencies and departments 90 days to get rid of Kaspersky Lab software.
However, Kaspersky Lab has denied the allegations that its products are a threat to U.S. national security.
It repeated its claim again and said in a statement, "Kaspersky Lab was not involved in and does not possess any knowledge of the situation in question. As the integrity of our products is fundamental to our business, Kaspersky Lab patches any vulnerabilities it identifies or that are reported to the company."
The statement added, "Kaspersky Lab reiterates its willingness to work alongside U.S. authorities to address any concerns they may have about its products as well as its systems, and respectfully requests any relevant, verifiable information that would help the company in its own investigation to certifiably refute the false accusations."
So far, the Russian and Israeli governments have not made any official statement on the revelations.


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"The best crash is the crash you avoid." –Bret Dick, GMC performance engineer
Light trucks are getting safer and safer to drive these days for a whole host of reasons. Yet perhaps the single biggest boost to their safety profile comes from technology that's now rapidly becoming a standard system on trucks up and down the model spectrum, from SUVs to 18-wheelers.
We're talking about stability control technology, which is called by a host of different names by the various manufactures out there – "StabiliTrak" by General Motors for its light trucks on up to "Electronic Stability Program" or "ESP" by Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems for heavy-duty Class 8 tractors.
[Below, you can watch a video about how StabiliTrak works.]
Recently, Brent Dick, a performance engineer for GM's GMC division, provided a nice overview of how stability control systems enhance light truck safety and performance – wryly referring to such technology as like having a "control freak" riding in the vehicle with the driver.
"It's a control freak, but in a good way," he explained. "It doesn't nag or tell you how to drive, but when a vehicle is about to lose control, StabiliTrak springs into action – and takes charge."
StabiliTrak activates when the vehicle's computer senses a difference between the intended path and the direction the vehicle is actually traveling. It reacts by selectively applying braking pressure and, in some cases, reducing engine power to help steer the vehicle back in the intended direction.
"It all takes place in a fraction of a second, without driver input," Dick (seen at right) noted. "This 'control freak' is there when you need it and invisible when you don't. [Because] the best crash is the crash you avoid, and active safety systems like StabiliTrak with traction control are designed to keep vehicles on the road while avoiding spinouts. Future developments will build on this technology to make the roads safer for all drivers."
GM recently announced that StabiliTrak is going to be a standard feature on its 2011 Terrain SUV and Dick believes this technology – and other systems like it – represents the most significant safety advancement since the development of the seat belt.
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, for example, electronic stability control systems such as StabiliTrak have reduced the risk of being involved in a fatal crash by 33% during the past 10 years.
In an interesting side note, Dick said one of the things that sparked his interest in stability control system engineering came from a childhood spend charging up and down off road BMX bicycle trails near the home where he grew up in Rochester, N.Y.
"Racing BMX bikes started a lifelong curiosity into how things work," Dick said. "Even today, when I see a piece of machinery or electronics, I intuitively start breaking it down in my head to figure out what makes it tick."


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One of the premier cancer centers in the United States, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center is committed to performing cutting-edge biomedical research and providing exceptional patient care. Training a new generation of scientists and clinicians is a key part of this mission.
Today, more than 500 postdoctoral researchers work in over 120 laboratories at Memorial Sloan Kettering, and our research enterprise is growing steadily.
The majority of our laboratories are part of the Sloan Kettering Institute, or SKI, as it is commonly referred to. Renowned worldwide for its scientific excellence, SKI is the main division for basic and translational research within Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Its scientific activities are organized around nine research programs.
Postdoctoral training opportunities are also available within Memorial Hospital's Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program and in other laboratories led by clinician-scientists at Memorial Hospital. However, all postdoctoral trainees, including those who work in Memorial Hospital laboratories, hold appointments in SKI.
The basic and translational research conducted by SKI scientists thrives alongside clinical trials and treatment innovation at Memorial Hospital, the nation's oldest cancer hospital. Everything we do at Memorial Sloan Kettering — from investigating the molecular basis of human disease, to providing our patients with the most advanced cancer treatments available — is driven by close teamwork among our researchers, clinicians, and other professional staff.
Our collaborative culture provides an exciting and stimulating training environment in which interdisciplinary teamwork and learning are strongly encouraged. It also fuels our scientific productivity, and helps us gear our latest discoveries toward the benefit of patients as effectively as possible.
Our academic community includes researchers whose work has been seminal in shaping the current understanding of cancer and other diseases. Among our outstanding faculty are members of the National Academy of Sciences, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, and the Institute of Medicine, as well as a recipient of the Lasker Award.
Our Facilities and Location
Memorial Sloan Kettering is home to more than 35 state-of-the-art core facilities, which provide our research community with the latest research technology and a wide range of expert services. Each facility is run by accomplished professionals who work closely with our faculty and trainees in designing, performing, and analyzing experiments.
Memorial Sloan Kettering's main campus occupies three city blocks on Manhattan's Upper East Side, right next to The Rockefeller University and the Weill Cornell Medical College. Within this tri-institutional research and education community, postdocs can cultivate rewarding collaborations and participate in a rich agenda of academic, professional, and social events.
All of our research laboratories and core facilities are located in one of the following buildings:
- The Mortimer B. Zuckerman Research Center, a state-of-the-art research building located at 417 East 68th Street
- The Rockefeller Research Laboratories, located at 430 East 67th Street
- The Arnold and Marie Schwartz Research Building, located at 1250 First Avenue
Graduate Training
As a Memorial Sloan Kettering postdoc, you will be working alongside PhD and MD-PhD students who are training in outstanding graduate education programs.
Learn about the Gerstner Sloan Kettering Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, our PhD program in cancer biology, which trains basic laboratory scientists to work in research areas directly applicable to human disease.
In addition, our laboratories host students enrolled in a number of other long-standing graduate training programs that the Sloan Kettering Institute offers in affiliation with the Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences and The Rockefeller University.


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If you haven't pre-ordered the new BlackBerry Z10 because you've been holding out for the BlackBerry Q10, then the wait is now over. Rogers has added the all new QWERTY BlackBerry device to their pre-ordering system. As far as we know, Rogers is the first carrier in the world to put the Q10 up for pre-order.
The most we've heard from BlackBerry is that the Q10 is coming out in April, but that hasn't stopped Rogers from getting the ball rolling now. Who knows, maybe it will come earlier to Canada. I'm personally loving the BlackBerry Z10, but I may just have to pick up the Q10 as well. Sound off in the comments on which device you've pre-ordered or are picking up.
Preorder the all new BlackBerry Q10 from Rogers Wireless


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With bold styling and reliable technology, iSSi Pedals are ready to get you up to speed with clipless pedals. Dual-sided entry makes these SPD-compatible pedals simple to get into, while easily adjustable entry/release tension is perfect for beginners and experts alike. Plus, four degrees of float helps your knees track naturally during every crank revolution.
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What is alpha thalassemia?
Alpha thalassemia is an inherited blood disorder. This means it is passed down through the parent's genes. It causes anemia in affected children. Anemia is a low red blood cell or low hemoglobin level. Hemoglobin is the part of red blood cells. It carries oxygen to organs, tissues, and cells. Alpha thalassemia affects the production of hemoglobin.
There are different types of thalassemia. The severity of anemia depends on the type the child has.
What causes alpha thalassemia?
Alpha thalassemia is caused by defects in the genes that control hemoglobin production. There are 3 types:
- Alpha thalassemia major (also called Hb Bart syndrome). This is a very serious form that develops before birth. It causes hydrops fetalis. This is a condition in which the body has too much fluid among other serious problems. Most affected babies are stillborn. Or they die soon after birth. The mother can also have serious, life-threatening complications.
- Hemoglobin H disease (HbH disease). Hemoglobin H disease causes anemia that ranges from mild to severe. The symptoms most often start in childhood. Affected people are at increased risk for having a child with alpha thalassemia major.
- Alpha thalassemia carrier. There are 2 types of carriers.
- A carrier can have the trait. This means he or she has mild symptoms but can pass the gene on to children.
- A carrier may be silent. This means he or she doesn't have symptoms, but can still pass the gene onto children.
What are the risk factors for alpha thalassemia?
Alpha thalassemia is passed from parents to children. They way it is inherited varies and is complex. If both parents have the gene defect, each of their children has a risk of having alpha thalassemia major. They are also at risk for having hemoglobin H disease, and of being a carrier.
The gene defect that causes alpha thalassemia is more common in people from these areas:
- Mediterranean countries
- North Africa
- Middle East
- India
- Central Asia
What are the symptoms of alpha thalassemia?
Symptoms of alpha thalassemia are from anemia. They range from mild to severe and include:
- Pale or yellow skin
- Feeling tired
- Poor appetite
- Dark urine
- Enlarged spleen
- Bone problems
How is alpha thalassemia diagnosed?
Tests for alpha thalassemia include:
- Complete blood count (CBC). This test checks the red and white blood cells, blood clotting cells (platelets), and sometimes, young red blood cells. It includes hemoglobin and hematocrit and more details about the red blood cells.
- Peripheral smear. A small sample of blood is checked under a microscope to see if they look abnormal.
- Hemoglobin electrophoresis. This test measures the types and amount of hemoglobin.
- Iron studies. These studies check for iron deficiency anemia.
- DNA testing. These tests look for gene defects. DNA testing can find carriers.
How is alpha thalassemia treated?
Your child's health care provider will figure out the best treatment based on:
- How old your child is
- His or her overall health and medical history
- How sick he or she is
- How well your child can handle specific medications, procedures, or therapies
- How long the condition is expected to last
- Your opinion or preference
Treatment depends on the type of alpha thalassemia.
- There is no effective treatment for alpha thalassemia major.
- Most children with alpha thalassemia trait don't need treatment.
- Most children with hemoglobin H disease don't need treatment, but treatment may include:
- A referral to a hematologist, an expert in blood disorders
- Daily doses of folic acid, a vitamin vital to hemoglobin production
- Blood transfusions may be needed if hemoglobin levels drop suddenly
- Surgical removal of the spleen (rarely done)
What are the complications of alpha thalassemia?
Complications also depend on the type of alpha thalassemia.
- Most babies with alpha thalassemia major are stillborn or die soon after birth.
- Children with hemoglobin H disease may have delayed growth and development.
Complications from the treatment of hemoglobin H disease may occur. For example,
- A child has an increased risk of infection if he or she has spleen removed.
- Iron overload may occur from frequent blood transfusions.
How is alpha thalassemia managed?
Your child should have his or her blood checked regularly. Talk with your child's provider about how often it should be checked.
Your child should also be checked if he or she has a fever. Fevers can cause a drop in hemoglobin.
Talk with the health care provider about having genetic counseling.
When should I call the health care provider?
Call your child's health care provider if he or she has:
- Fever
- Symptoms of anemia such as pale skin or tiredness
Key points about alpha thalassemia
- Alpha thalassemia is an inherited blood disorder. It cause anemia.
- It's caused by changes in the genes that control the production of hemoglobin.
- The types are alpha thalassemia major, hemoglobin H disease, and 2 forms of alpha thalassemia carrier.
- Treatment depends on the type of alpha thalassemia. Many children don't need treatment.
Next steps
Tips to help you get the most from a visit to your child's health care provider:
- Before your visit, write down questions you want answered.
- At the visit, write down the names of new medicines, treatments, or tests, and any new instructions your provider gives you for your child.
- If your child has a follow-up appointment, write down the date, time, and purpose for that visit.
- Know how you can contact your child's provider after office hours. This is important if your child becomes ill and you have questions or need advice.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 314.454.5437 or 800.678.5437 or email us.


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This is a falling block game, like Tetris.
It features cows in the shapes of the normal Tetris pieces. Sound, music, piece preview, two-player mode, high score list and a number of preference settings are included. Three special cows appear in this version: the mad cow, the holy cow and the purple cow.


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As you all know by now, filming began on the second season of the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills weeks ago.
And according to a new report by the HollywoodLife today, Taylor Armstrong is not boding so well on the new season. In fact, an insider tells the site she is "is looking like quite the hot mess" in the episodes being filmed at the moment.
"Taylor's a sweet girl," says the insider, "but the housewives are all starting to get a little bit worried about her erratic behavior recently. She's not acting like herself."
The insider adds that Taylor has been acting out in front of the cameras, and suspects Taylor's husband Russell Armstrong is to blame. "Russell and Taylor's problems last season are still there this season," says the insider. "They got into a loud argument in front of some Bravo execs at a dinner a few weeks ago." The couple is reported to be getting counseling.
An explanation for Taylor's reported erratic behavior might have to do with all the backlash she received last season from fans of the show who blamed her for stirring up most of the drama between sisters Kim and Kyle Richards.
In fact, Taylor herself is well aware of the backlash as she decided to apologize to fans once again during the recent Bravo Upfront party in Los Angeles. According to E! News, "Taylor seemed to be asking for the fans' love/forgiveness" when they interviewed her. Taylor had first apologized to fans in a blog for Bravo following the airing of the finale.
Taylor's problems do not end there as she also graces the latest cover of Star magazine, under the unflattering heading of "RHOBH Taylor Armstrong ANOREXIC?" with friends worried too much stress might be affecting her health. "She is barely eating," a friend tells Star magazine. A picture of the Star cover is below.


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Oklahoma Municipal League to host workshop.
The Oklahoma Municipal League will host a Disaster Preparedness Workshop at Rose State College on Friday, August 23. City, county, tribal and school officials will be in attendance to learn how to be better prepared when disaster strikes.
A featured speaker will be KOCO-TV 5's Chief Meteorologist Damon Lane. Lane will bring another perspective to the table, not only as an experienced Oklahoma meteorologist, but also as a Moore resident.
Attendees will hear from local, state and federal experts presenting topics including the need to plan ahead before disaster strikes along with a panel discussion of local governments working together that will include leading officials from counties, tribes, schools and cities.
Moore's leading figures, including the mayor, city manager, fire and police chiefs, Moore's Community Development Director and Moore schools Public Information Officer, will also discuss their experience and efforts to be prepared for such situations.
For more information visit www.oml.org or contact Nancee Morris at firstname.lastname@example.com or call 800-324-6651.


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At least two robbery suspects have surrendered after Little Rock police prepared to enter a home near Chicot Elementary on Tuesday morning, authorities said.
The school, at 11100 Chicot Road, was put on lockdown, but that lockdown was lifted after a short time. No injuries were reported.
Little Rock Police Department Sgt. Cassandra Davis said at the scene that police SWAT team was preparing to go into a house at 7525 Shady Grove Road when at least two suspects in a Monday night robbery surrendered about 11:15 a.m. The Shady Grove address is less than a quarter-mile from the school.
Davis said they were in the suspects of the robbery of a Shell gas station at 7400 Cantrell Road. One suspect was identified as Darius Johnson, 28, of Little Rock, whom police said was the primary suspect in "at least two armed robberies" in Little Rock. Johnson is likely to be charged with two counts of aggravated robbery, Lt. Sidney Allen said in a statement.
Chicot Road was blocked for a time, but it reopened about 11:45 a.m.


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But the relay was brand-new...but I'll check into it...could the heat have made it prematurely wear out?
As opposed to the coil current (91mA)?
But even though it was working fine, I still added an LED/resistor to one of the pins on the Arduino and updated the code in the sketch to turn on and off that LED whenever it received a garage door open or close command.
but please remember, I'm a noob, so the more detail, the better.


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Garments engineered with GORE-TEX product technology are durably waterproof and windproof combined with optimised breathability.


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The Giving Spirit has been an annual feature in The Record during the holiday season for almost two decades.
Editor's note: The Giving Spirit has been an annual feature in The Record during the holiday season for almost two decades.
The stories focus on local nonprofit groups and other agencies that help those in need in our community. Over the years, the series has taken on several forms.
This year, we're doing something different. We asked nonprofit leaders to tell the story of their agency's work in their own words.
Shoes That Fit (Stockton)
Contact: (209) 474-0442
Website: shoesthatfit.org
History: The Shoes That Fit — Stockton Chapter was started in 2008 so that children in the Stockton area whose families couldn't otherwise afford them would have the proper shoes to help them concentrate on their studies rather than on their circumstances.
The organization serves children in need in grades pre-K through 12 in all three Stockton school districts, as well as the Head Start programs, upon referral from the school nurses, counselors, or administrators. The group operates solely on monetary and shoe donations from churches, clubs, and individual community members. One hundred percent of all donations go toward providing new sturdy athletic shoes and socks to the children. As a result, 408 children in Stockton have received new shoes and socks to date.
Mission: Shoes That Fit helps kids improve their self-esteem by providing them with much-needed new shoes so they can go to school in comfort and with dignity.


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Columbia running back Ronald Timmons set not one, but two records Friday night in the No. 5 Tigers' 34-8 Class 6A, Region 1 semifinal win over No. 3 St. Augustine.
LAKE CITY — Columbia running back Ronald Timmons set not one, but two records Friday night in the No. 5 Tigers' 34-8 Class 6A, Region 1 semifinal win over No. 3 St. Augustine.
The senior broke the Tigers' single-season rushing record midway through the second quarter, barreling for 216 yards on 22 carries against St. Augustine. Timmons now rests at 1,546 yards this season after topping Don London's 1997 record.
After the game, Columbia coach Brian Allen awarded Timmons a game ball — something he has never done in his career, he said.
"From the day I got in here, he bought into the idea that we're going to work harder than anyone else, anywhere," he said. "Going to class, getting stronger in the weight room, he's done everything to give coaches confidence to put him on the field."
Timmons was quick to praise and thank the Tigers offensive line, led by highly ranked left tackle Laremy Tunsil. Running to his left, Timmons broke free early in the second quarter for a 53-yard score.
"I couldn't have done any of this without the offensive line," Timmons said. "We work hard every week. If we just keep working hard and keep grinding it out, the sky's the limit."
Following a 47-yard interception return for a touchdown by cornerback Roger Cray, Timmons stretched across the goal line for a 3-yard touchdown.
The 21-0 halftime lead was plenty for the Tigers (11-1), whose stifling defense held St. Augustine (11-1) scoreless until the fourth quarter.
"It's not about an individual on this squad, even though we've got some very, very good ones," Allen said. "That's the beauty of who we are as a team."
Next week, Columbia will travel to Navarre in the regional finals, and Timmons has his eyes on a bigger number.
"The thing is, London set his record in 15 games," Allen said. "Timmons has done it in 12. We're chasing 2,000 now."


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HRH Queen Elizabeth II Christmas Broadcast 2010
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by G.C. Hung, M.A. Communications, Languages & Culture, Inc.
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HRH Queen Elizabeth II Christmas Broadcast 2010
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Flames torch meat plant, delivery truck
Fire is second at Upstate plant
Flames torch meat plant, delivery truck
Fire is second at Upstate plant
Click here for images
An Upstate meat plant caught fire late Thursday, and investigators are blaming a delivery truck for the damage.
Click here for images
Workers at Foster's Meats on Oneal Street in Belton called 911 about 11 p.m. after they saw smoke coming from the rear of the building, according to investigators.
When fire crews arrived, they found a delivery truck on fire at the back of the building, investigators aid.
The truck was destroyed by flames, and the building suffered minor heat and smoke damage, firefighters said.
This is not the first fire at Foster's Meats. In 1998, the same plant was destroyed by a fire that was started by a construction crew using a torch.


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2013 Bridal Hair and Makeup Trends
Today's eyes, lips, and face range from soft and sexy to bold and dramatic with a touch of mystery capturing the romantic Victorian Era. Brides not only want to look like "themselves," but they want to turn up the volume with a touch of sex laced with romanticism!
The 2013 eye shadow collections are confident and brazen! Youthful smooth skin sets the stage for dramatic eye shadows, such as feisty browns, silver grays, mysterious black shadowing, and shimmery gold. The flower power shades are in perfect harmony with bold lime greens, azure blues, and bewitching purples, which create the look of smoldering expressive eyes.
Eye liner has screamed for equal time with the multi-dimensional cake liner, gel liner, and the ever popular liquid liner of the "Bond girl" days…me-ow! All have been empowered by a pouty pale nude lip, which is the perfect finishing touch to a stunning look for a sunset beach wedding.
The "natural, yet radiant" glow to the skin is the key for the next sexy and youthful look. The face and cheeks have a sun-kissed, healthy peach glow with soft corals and plum shades. The final step is finishing the look with a touch of bronzer complimenting any skin-type looking flattering and feminine.
Décor is not only harmonizing table linens and flowers, but also bride and bridesmaids' dresses, shoes, and hats to the theme of the wedding through lip color. Matte lips are caliente with ravishing reds, mango-tango corals, and soft pale pinks! These lip stains are back in the forefront in lipstick, lip gloss, lip pencils, and sexy lip tints and stains.
The French manicure is out and color is in! Nail colors will not be left behind when using dark and bright colors. Lime greens, yellows, hot pink, deep purples, and a variety of blues can be paired with a lot of glitter on top. These colors and glitter will eliminate the faint and bring forth the shine with the fabulous colored pumps that every bride and bridesmaid is dying to wear!
Hair is all a matter of personal style, and today anything goes! Whether hair is long, tousled, naturally worn down and free, or medium length, short bob, or pixie cut, every length is flattering to the face. Brides also enjoy the versatility of using a myriad of hair accessories ranging from headbands, crystal pins, rhinestones, and real flowers. Surprisingly, vintage combs, barrettes, and silk flowers are replacing the more formal and traditional veils for a more modern yet traditional look.
Linda A. Shepard
A Victorian Bride Hair & Makeup


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LAS VEGAS, Feb. 12, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE:PNK) and Ameristar Casinos, Inc. (Nasdaq:ASCA) announced today that on February 11, 2013 they received a request for additional information and documentary materials (a "Second Request") from the Federal Trade Commission ("FTC") regarding Pinnacle's proposed acquisition of Ameristar. The information request was issued under notification requirements of the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 ("HSR Act").
The effect of the Second Request is to extend the waiting period imposed by the HSR Act until 30 days after each company has substantially complied with the Second Request, unless that period is extended voluntarily by the companies or terminated sooner by the FTC. The companies intend to expeditiously respond to the information request and to continue to work cooperatively with the FTC in connection with this review. Completion of the transaction remains subject to the expiration or termination of the waiting period under the HSR Act, customary closing conditions, approval by Ameristar's stockholders, and required regulatory approvals. Pinnacle and Ameristar continue to expect the transaction to close during the second or third quarter of 2013.
About Pinnacle Entertainment
Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc. owns and operates seven casinos, located in Louisiana, Missouri, and Indiana, and a racetrack in Ohio. In addition, Pinnacle is redeveloping River Downs in Cincinnati, Ohio into a gaming entertainment facility, owns a 23% equity stake in Asian Coast Development (Canada) Ltd. (ACDL), an international development and real estate company currently developing Vietnam's first large-scale integrated resort on the Ho Tram Strip, and holds a majority interest in the racing license owner, as well as a management contract, for Retama Park Racetrack outside of San Antonio, Texas.
On December 20, 2012, Pinnacle agreed to acquire Ameristar Casinos, Inc. in an all cash transaction valued at $26.50 per Ameristar share or total consideration of $2.8 billion including assumed debt. Ameristar owns and operates casino facilities in St. Charles near St. Louis, Mo.; Kansas City, Mo.; Council Bluffs, Iowa; Black Hawk, Colo.; Vicksburg, Miss.; East Chicago, Ind.; and the Jackpot properties in Jackpot, Nev.
The Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc. logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=13121
About Ameristar Casinos
Ameristar Casinos is an innovative casino gaming company featuring the newest and most popular slot machines. Ameristar's 7,200 dedicated team members pride themselves on delivering consistently friendly and appreciative service to their guests. Ameristar continuously strives to increase the loyalty of its guests through the quality of its slot machines, table games, hotel, dining and other leisure offerings. Ameristar's eight casino hotel properties primarily serve guests from Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska and Nevada. Ameristar has been a public company since 1993, and its stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market. Ameristar generates more than $1.1 billion in net revenues annually.
The Ameristar Casinos, Inc. Logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=16403
Important Information Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are based on Pinnacle's and Ameristar's current expectations and are subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances. These forward-looking statements include, among others, statements regarding the expected synergies and benefits of a potential combination of Pinnacle and Ameristar, including the expected accretive effect of the merger on Pinnacle's financial results and profile (e.g., free cash flow, earnings per share and Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA); the anticipated benefits of geographic diversity that would result from the merger and the expected results of Ameristar's gaming properties; expectations about future business plans, prospective performance and opportunities; required regulatory approvals; the expected timing of the completion of the transaction; and the anticipated financing of the transaction. These forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as "expect," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "potential," "should," "could," "would," "will," or similar words intended to identify information that is not historical in nature. The inclusion of such statements should not be regarded as a representation that such plans, estimates or expectations will be achieved. There is no assurance that the potential transaction will be consummated, and there are a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements made herein. These risks and uncertainties include (a) the timing to consummate a potential transaction between Pinnacle and Ameristar; (b) the ability and timing to obtain required regulatory approvals (including approval from gaming regulators) and satisfy or waive other closing conditions; (c) the ability to obtain the approval of Ameristar's stockholders; (d) the possibility that the merger does not close when expected or at all, or that the companies may be required to modify aspects of the merger to achieve regulatory approval; (e) Pinnacle's ability to realize the synergies contemplated by a potential transaction; (f) Pinnacle's ability to promptly and effectively integrate the business of Pinnacle and Ameristar; (g) the requirement to satisfy closing conditions to the merger as set forth in the merger agreement, including expiration of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976; (h) uncertainties in the global economy and credit markets and its potential impact on Pinnacle's ability to finance the transaction; (i) the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted in connection with the transaction; (j) the ability to retain certain key employees of Ameristar; (k) that there may be a material adverse change of Pinnacle or Ameristar, or the respective businesses of Pinnacle or Ameristar may suffer as a result of uncertainty surrounding the transaction; (l) Pinnacle's ability to obtain financing on the terms expected, or at all; and (m) the risk factors disclosed in Pinnacle's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K/A, which Pinnacle filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 16, 2012 and the risk factors disclosed in Ameristar's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, which Ameristar filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 28, 2012 and in all reports on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission by Pinnacle and Ameristar subsequent to the filing of their respective Forms 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011. Forward-looking statements reflect Pinnacle's and Ameristar's management's analysis as of the date of this report. Pinnacle and Ameristar do not undertake to revise these statements to reflect subsequent developments, except as required under the federal securities laws. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any of these forward-looking statements.
Additional Information and Where to Find It
In connection with the proposed merger, Ameristar plans to file a definitive proxy statement with the SEC and mail the proxy statement to its stockholders. INVESTORS AND STOCKHOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT AND OTHER PROXY MATERIALS WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE AS THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT PINNACLE, AMERISTAR, THE PROPOSED MERGER AND RELATED MATTERS. The proxy statement, as well as other filings containing information about Pinnacle and Ameristar will be available, free of charge, from the SEC's web site (www.sec.gov). Pinnacle's SEC filings in connection with the transaction also may be obtained, free of charge, from Pinnacle's website (www.pnkinc.com) under the tab "Investor Relations" and then under the heading "SEC Filings," or by directing a request to Pinnacle, 8918 Spanish Ridge Ave., Las Vegas, Nevada, 89148, Attention: Investor Relations or (702) 541-7777. Ameristar's SEC filings in connection with the transaction also may be obtained, free of charge, from Ameristar's website (www.ameristar.com) under the tab "About Us," "Investor Relations" and then under the heading "Ameristar Casinos SEC Reports & Filings," or by directing a request to Ameristar, 3773 Howard Hughes Parkway, Suite 490 South, Las Vegas, Nevada, 89169, Attention: Investor Relations or (702) 567-7000.
Participants in the Merger Solicitation
Pinnacle and Ameristar and their respective directors and executive officers and other persons may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies in connection with the proposed merger. Information about Pinnacle's directors and executive officers is included in Pinnacle's Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2011, filed with the SEC on May 16, 2012 and the proxy statement for Pinnacle's 2012 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, filed with the SEC on April 9, 2012. Information about Ameristar's directors and executive officers is included in Ameristar's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, filed with the SEC on February 28, 2012 and the proxy statement for Ameristar's 2012 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, filed with the SEC on April 30, 2012. Additional information regarding these persons and their interests in the merger will be included in the definitive proxy statement relating to the merger when it is filed with the SEC. These documents can be obtained free of charge from the sources indicated above.
CONTACT: Pinnacle Entertainment Contacts: Investor Relations Vincent J. Zahn, CFA Vice President, Finance and Investor Relations 702/541-7777 or firstname.lastname@example.com Media Relations Kerry Andersen Director, Public Relations 337/395-7631 or email@example.com Ameristar Casinos Contacts: Investor Relations Thomas Steinbauer Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer (702) 567-7030 or firstname.lastname@example.com Media Relations Roxann M. Kinkade, APR Director of Communications (816) 414-7007 or firstname.lastname@example.com
Source:Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc.


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- Editor's Choice
Google Play Music
Google Play Music is a multi-use app that both comes as a pre-installed music app on all Google-certified Android devices but can also be installed and updated from the Play Store on older devices. It works with music files that have been loaded on your phone manually, with streaming from your own collection uploaded to Google Play Music, with purchased music from the Play Store or even through a paid monthly subscription service to access even more music.
All Access is Google's subscription music service that lives within Google Play Music, giving users access to millions of songs for a flat monthly fee of $10. Those who subscribe to Google Play Music All Access have the ability to stream, download, create playlists and share tracks, regardless of whether they actually own them or are simply accessing them with their monthly subscription. All Access can be used across 10 devices tied to a single account, but playback is limited to one device at a time.
Google Play Music has evolved pretty dramatically since its first unveiling in mid-2011 when it came as an invite-only service, but is well-regarded as being a great all-in-one app choice for music lovers of all kinds. On September 29, 2015, Google announced the Google Play Music Family Plan, which allows families to use the service on up to six devices for $14.99 per month.


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DUE WEST, S.C. – The King University men's tennis team rebounded from yesterday's loss with a Conference Carolinas win at Erskine College on Saturday. The Tornado won all six singles matches en route to the 7-2 road victory.
Pablo Vidal and Luis Delgado got King (5-7, 2-2 CC) on the board with an 8-4 win over Andre Andre and Robert Clarke at No. 2 doubles. However, Erskine (1-8, 1-3 CC) took the other doubles matches to take a 2-1 lead.
Nevertheless, the Tornado came back with a vengeance in singles play. Vidal played a tight match at No. 1 singles, splitting the first two sets at 7-5 apiece before his opponent retired with the third set even at 5-5. Rodrigo Avila and Delgado both took a three set victories at No. 2 and No. 3 singles, respectively. Avila defeated Wilson Matthewes 6-3, 4-6, 6-2, and Delgado topped Jack West 7-5, 6-7 (5-7), 6-2. Leo Brigato won 6-2, 6-1 over Andre ag No. 4 singles before Moritz Poswiat and William Boyce capped the 7-2 victory. Poswiat defeated Alan Pearce 6-1, 6-3 at No. 5 singles, and Boyce won 6-4, 6-0 at No. 6 singles.
The Tornado will be in action again on March 18 when they host Lees-McRae at 2:00 p.m.


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You are here
The Life and Work of Hans Faverey with Renee Gladman, Francis R. Jones, Eliot Weinberger and Jeffrey Yang
Date and Time:
March 21, 2012 - 7:00PM
Event Location:
Kray Hall
$10, $7 for students and seniors, free to Poets House Members
This evening celebrates the life and work of Surinam-born Dutch poet Hans Faverey, described by J.M. Coetzee as "the purest poetic intelligence of his generation."
Hans Faverey (1933-1990) was a Dutch poet whose lifetime of work earned him the Constantijn Huygens Prize. His first book, Poems (1968), received the Amsterdam Poetry Prize. His poems appear in English in Chrysanthemums, Rowers (Leon Works, 2011), a book co-translated by Francis R. Jones and Lela Faverey, and Against Forgetting: Selected Poems (New Directions, 1994), translated by Francis R. Jones. Apart from his poetry, Faverey was a harpsichordist and a lecturer in psychology at Leiden University.
Event Sponsored By:
Poets House. Co-sponsored by Leon Works.
Event Type:
Readings and Conversations


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FBI investigating election interference by Russia; no evidence of Trump wiretap by Obama
The head of the Federal Bureau of Investigations says agents are investigating any efforts by the Russian government to interfere in the 2016 election.
Director James Comey gave testimony in a hearing about the investigation into Russia hacking claims Monday.
"I can not say more about what we are doing and whose conduct we are examining," Comey said.
Instead, he assured lawmakers he would brief Congress in a classified setting with more detail.
"We just cannot do our work well or fairly if we start talking about it while we're doing it."
Before the hearing, the president tweeted assertions that any ties to Russia is "FAKE NEWS and everyone knows it."
Under questioning from the committee's top Democrat, Rep. Adam Schiff, the FBI director also publicly contradicted a series of tweets from Trump that declared the Republican candidate's phones had been ordered tapped by President Barack Obama during the campaign.
"I have no confirmation that supports those tweets, and we have looked carefully inside the FBI," Comey said. The same was true, he added, of the Justice Department.
The House Intelligence Committee hearing is one of several panels expected to be held in Congress.
Admiral Mike Rogers, Director of the National Security Agency also testified, beginning his remarks by stating many of the specifics of their investigations into cyber attacks are still classified.
Both Comey and Rogers asserted there's no evidence of hackers changing votes in Michigan, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Florida, Ohio, and Wisconsin.
"I can promise you we will follow the facts wherever they lead," Comey said.
He also stated leaks from both the NSA and the FBI should be investigated and prosecuted.
The hearing, providing the most extensive public accounting of a matter that has dogged the Trump administration for its first two months, quickly broke along partisan lines. Democrats pressed for details on the status of the FBI's investigation, while Republicans repeatedly focused on news coverage and possible improper disclosures of classified information developed through surveillance.
Comey was the latest government official to reject Trump's claims, made without any evidence, that Obama had wiretapped his New York skyscraper during the campaign. Rep. Devin Nunes, a California Republican and chairman of the House intelligence committee, also rejected it earlier in the hearing.
Comey was testifying along with National Security Agency Director Michael Rogers, who also disputed allegations that surfaced last year that British intelligence services were involved in the wiretapping.
Trump took to Twitter before the hearing began, accusing Democrats of making up allegations about his campaign associates' contact with Russia during the election. He said Congress and the FBI should be going after media leaks and maybe even Hillary Clinton instead.
"The real story that Congress, the FBI and others should be looking into is the leaking of Classified information. Must find leaker now!" Trump tweeted early Monday as news coverage on the Russia allegations dominated the morning's cable news.
Trump also suggested, without evidence, that Clinton's campaign was in contact with Russia and had possibly thwarted a federal investigation. U.S. intelligence officials have not publicly raised the possibility of contacts between the Clintons and Moscow. Officials investigating the matter have said they believe Moscow had hacked into Democrats' computers in a bid to help Trump's election bid.
Monday's hearing, one of several by congressional panels probing allegations of Russian meddling, could allow for the greatest public accounting to date of investigations that have shadowed the Trump administration in its first two months.
The top two lawmakers on the committee said Sunday that documents the Justice Department and FBI delivered late last week offered no evidence that the Obama administration had wiretapped Trump Tower, the president's New York City headquarters.
But the panel's ranking Democrat said the material offered circumstantial evidence that American citizens colluded with Russians in Moscow's efforts to interfere in the presidential election.
"There was circumstantial evidence of collusion; there is direct evidence, I think, of deception," Schiff said on NBC's "Meet the Press." ''There's certainly enough for us to conduct an investigation."
Nunes said: "For the first time the American people, and all the political parties now, are paying attention to the threat that Russia poses."
"We know that the Russians were trying to get involved in our campaign, like they have for many decades. They're also trying to get involved in campaigns around the globe and over in Europe," he said on "Fox News Sunday."
The Senate Intelligence Committee has scheduled a similar hearing for later in the month.
Though Comey would not discuss specific evidence, he went far beyond his testimony from a hearing in January, when he refused to confirm or deny the existence of any investigation exploring possible connections between Trump associates and Russia, consistent with the FBI's longstanding policy of not publicly discussing its work.
His appearances on Capitol Hill since then have occurred in classified settings, often with small groups of lawmakers, and he has made no public statements connected to the Trump campaign or Russia.
Any lack of detail from Comey on Monday would likely be contrasted with public comments he made last year when closing out an investigation into Clinton's email practices and then, shortly before Election Day, announcing that the probe would be revived following the discovery of additional emails.


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A dominant Lewis Hamilton won his first Grand Prix for Mercedes and a fine day for petrolheads was rounded off by a typically entertaining episode of Top Gear (BBC Two) – although it took the climactic stunt sequence to add a star onto that rating you see above.
Build-up to this instalment was dominated by another row over faked scenes during last week's home-made hovercraft sequence. Who'd have guessed that the diners cartoonishly shaking their fists were hired actors and not conveniently placed, highly telegenic members of the public? This show falls under Entertainment, not Factual, so fans hardly expect documentary veracity. Ratings were duly unaffected and if anything boosted – this show pulled in an impressive 4.6m, making it the second most-watched programme of the day.
This week's proceedings opened with James May and the Porsche 911 – both design classics born in 1963. Only one of them, however, was wearing a dodgy jumper which looked like TV interference. The knitwear was also a clue that this rather pedestrian section was filmed some months ago and couldn't be squeezed into the last series, so was recycled for this one.
Back in the studio, the three overgrown schoolboys had some innuendo fun with a riff on the David Cameron's new pornography filter. Meanwhile, a bespectacled female audience member visible over Jeremy Clarkson's shoulder incurred the wrath of Twitter by laughing too hard and too horse-ily.
Then it was Richard Hammond's turn to squeal with adolescent excitement about some sports cars, as he drove the Lamborghini Aventador Roadster through some picturesque Italian countryside before screeching its stablemate, the limited edition Sesto Elemento, round the Imola race track. Forged from lightweight carbon fibre, this sci-fi hypercar carries an eye-watering £2m price tag and became only the second car to be spun off the track by tame racing driver The Stig.
The Star in a Reasonably Priced Car was rock pensioner, American Idol judge and Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler – introduced by the leering Clarkson as "Liv Tyler's dad". He resembled a Botox-addled Elle Macpherson and if Tyler had crashed, his bee-stung lips could have acted as airbags. Unfortunately, he was going far too slow for that and duly clocked up the second slowest lap time ever. The likeable hedonist did, however, utter one memorable bon mot: "Anything worth doing is worth overdoing."
Top Gear certainly does that, especially with its bête noire: caravans. The much-maligned mobile homes have taken a terrible pounding over the years and tonight's final feature inflicted further damage.
Clarkson and May tested the jacked-up diesel hatchbacks known as "crossovers", increasingly popular amongst the caravanning community. Having established that they all looked the same, the amusing pair set out to discover which was the best – or, more accurately, "least worst". They spent a day doing what they imagined caravanners do: going to the tip, B&Q and the garden centre, washing their cars, doing some birdwatching, indulging in dogging, going to the tip again.
The Stig gunned models by Mazda and Volkswagen round the test track, which resulted in a flipped caravan, a lost wheel and a shower of sparks.
Finally, Clarkson and May raced to a New Forest campsite and both decided to take an off-road route. Cue mud splatter, plentiful shots of furniture crashing about in the back, Clarkson's caravan collapsing, a portable toilet flying out of its rear and detritus being left on someone's lawn.
Both presenters got the infectious giggles and this proved a raucous climax to what, until then, had been a rather mediocre installment. And on that bombshell...