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M-CHS celebrates National FFA week
By Luke Groskopf
Journal Staff Writer
Where would we be without farmers and ranchers? Much hungrier, for one.
Drawing attention to the importance of agriculture - including the next generation of up-and-coming food growers - is the main purpose of National FFA Week, drawing to a close today.
Montezuma-Cortez High School's FFA chapter has about 80 students, according to agricultural science teacher Amanda Ramos. The high school raised awareness of FFA with themed dress-up days this week, as well as informative displays being shown around town.
The six FFA classes at M-CHS have kept busy this semester creating the displays, which are available for viewing in the shop windows of Main Street businesses Susie's Hallmark, Kokopelli Bike & Board, Bru's House of Color, Slavens True Value, High Mesa Design and the vacant space next to Office Outpost.
Centered around the unifying theme "Grow", Ramos said topics covered by the displays include the food pyramid, tracing where different components of a hamburger come from and a 3D depiction of the farm-to-supermarket transport chain. Yet another display examines various by-products derived from cattle. Some are obvious - like beef and leather - and others less so: soap, cosmetics, medicines and musical instrument strings.
As part of the FFA curriculum, Ramos said students complete "Supervised Agricultural Experiences" - internships or independent projects where lessons learned in class are adapted to a real-life setting. Some find work at a local supply shop or established farm, for example. Others raise their own livestock or cultivate a garden from scratch. M-CHS estimates that these arrangements contribute more than $50,000 to the local economy through purchases of fuel, feed, seeds, veterinarian bills and other materials.
Themed dress-up days were another means to recognize FFA and the wider farm and ranch community. On Tuesday, FFA students sported their trademark blue corduroy jackets. On Wednesday they donned work clothes connected to agriculture-related careers. Thursday they were encouraged to wear the Cortez FFA Chapter t-shirt, and yesterday was Western Wear Day.
On Wednesday, students with valid driver's licenses were invited to drive farm tractors to school. Despite overcast skies and clouds heavy with snow, sophomore Jake Colcord took the opportunity, firing up his John Deere and arriving to campus in style.
Future Farmers of America was founded in 1928. Since 1947, the week of President's Day has been designated National FFA Week in honor of George Washington, an avid gardener and supporter of agriculture. His 281st birthday was Friday.
"It will not be doubted that, with reference either to individual or national welfare, agriculture is of primary importance," he told Congress in 1796 as he urged them to establish a National Board of Agriculture. His request was declined, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture wasn't created until 1862. At that time almost 60 percent of Americans made a living farming or ranching. Today that number has dwindled to two percent with the absorbing of family-owned homesteads into larger, mechanized operations.
Still, small-scale farms have a significant presence locally. Of the 1,000-plus farms in Montezuma County, almost half are under 50 acres, according to the 2007 Agriculture Census.
There are currently about 557,000 FFA members, aged 12-21, across the 50 U.S. states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Almost 90 percent of them are of high-school age.


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subset: commoncrawl


text:
Wiggle Worms is an 8-week program for Richardson residents,
12 to 36 months old, accompanied by at least one parent.
Walking & wiggling toddlers will be introduced
to books and reading using stories, fingerplays, rhymes & music.
Required registration* begins Tuesday, May 28
(Children must be 12 months old by 06/01/13)
Wiggle Worms STARTS Monday, June 10
(NO Wiggle Worms the week of July 1)
and ENDS Thursday, August 8
Learn More
411 W. Arapaho Rd. Richardson, TX 75080-4551 PH# 972 -744-4100 | Mailing Address P.O. Box 830309 Richardson, TX 75083-0309
© 2018 City of Richardson, TX | Privacy Policy
| Accommodations for Persons with Disabilities call, 972-744-0908 or Email firstname.lastname@example.com


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California/Nevada Leagues Report Cites Hispanic Market Opportunities
A new report from the California and Nevada Credit Union Leagues highlights opportunities for credit unions in California and Nevada to grow their memberships and revenues by serving local Hispanic populations.
The Hispanic Opportunity Report, set for release next month, estimates that if 10% of Hispanic adults in each state were members of a credit union, they would contribute an estimated $2.1 billion in loan balances and $592 million to annual income for California's credit unions. Nevada's Hispanic adults would contribute an estimated $82 million in loan balances and $28 million to annual income for credit unions.
In response to demographic data reported by the U.S. Census Bureau following its 2010 national survey, the California and Nevada Credit Union Leagues, and Applied Research Institute, commissioned Coopera to produce the Hispanic Opportunity Report to better understand the current and future market situation in both states, said Lucy Ito, executive vice president and COO for the leagues.
Coopera is an Iowa-based economic development firm focused on the emerging Hispanic market. The Applied Research Institute of the California Credit Union League initiates high quality research on topics that can help credit unions and credit union service organizations
Among California's Hispanics, the Hispanic Opportunity Report also highlights the following demographic and economic trends:
- Hispanics represent 38% of the state's population.
- 62% were born in the U.S., and the median age is 27.
- One in six businesses are Hispanic-owned (17%).
- 41% are underserved.
- The state is No. 1 in nation in Hispanic buying power.
- Hispanics have $265 billion in disposable income.
In Nevada, the report outlines the following demographic and economic data among Hispanics:
- From 2000 to 2010, the state's Hispanic growth rate (82%) outpaced California (28%), Texas (36%), and Florida (57%).
- By 2030, one out of three Nevada residents will be Hispanics.
- 60% were born in the U.S., and the median age is 26.
- 8% of businesses are Hispanic-owned, approximately 18,000.
- North Las Vegas and Las Vegas have the highest ratio of Hispanic-owned businesses.
- More than half (more than 350,000 individuals) are underserved.
"The findings of the reports indicate that opportunities abound for California and Nevada credit unions to position themselves for serving the fast-growing and extremely influential Hispanic market," Ito said.
The Hispanic Opportunity Report also debunked what it said are common myths businesses have about the Hispanic community. Additionally, it highlighted case studies of credit unions with successful Hispanic outreach efforts, including the $70 million First Imperial CU in El Centro, Calif., the $120 million Great Basin FCU in Reno, Nev., the $104 million Santa Cruz Community CU in Santa Cruz, Calif., and the $2 billion Travis CU in Vacaville, Calif.
The Hispanic Opportunity Report will be available to California and Nevada credit unions in February.


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Maybe I was more hopeful than anything, in writing the post. Looking at the evidence, it did appear that Colangelo might have changed his mind about Bargnani. And that still might be the case. This season seems to be a do or die season for many.
Besides, it's not as if I have any inside information here. My guess on what someone 3 thousand miles away is as good as anyones. I just thought putting the facts together came up with an interesting possibility.


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|Item ID: 1464629
|Watch Listing
$5 99
***NOTE: Loose Super Famicom Carts are light and the combined shipping is very low. A single game will cost you $5 in shipping, but each additional game will be cheaper (for example the total shipping cost for 6 loose Super Famicom games will be $12 or less, so basically just $2 a game). If you have any questions about combined shipping feel free to ask. ***
Same Game (さめかめ) is a great puzzle game that supported the SatellaView (but does not require it). In the top of the cart is a slot for adding additional character carts. The included one is for Hudson characters Bonk and Bomberman. No Japanese is needed to play the game.
The game has been tested on my Super Famicom and plays great. Make sure that you have the necessary hardware to run Japanese Super Famicom games. This cart will not run on an unmodified Super Nintendo system. You can mod a Western Super Nintendo to play Japanese games with a simple to do and free mod. Google it. The mod only takes a few minutes.
I am based in Japan so I charge the same price to ship to the United States, North America, Europe, etc. I will charge the price listed as "U.S." regardless of where you live (unless you live in Japan and then I can quote you a domestic price). I ship everything standard airmail and it should arrive to most destinations within 7-10 days.
Loose carts and CD games will be wrapped in a removable plastic sleeve and then placed in a bubble wrapped mailer for shipping. Boxed or fragile games will be cushioned with bubble wrap or newspaper and put in a larger box. Please remember, the games will ship from Japan so please allow some additional shipping time. Also during Japanese postal holidays (New Year's, Golden Week, Obon) orders will be delayed while the post office is closed.
I am able to combine orders. I will automatically combine orders and in nearly all cases lower the price. If you are buying lots of small items like loose carts or Jewel Case discs the combined shipping can be significantly less than what is listed.
You are not signed in. Login Here.
If you are not registered, you can Register Here
I am a gamer and collector living in Japan (originally from America). I have always loved Japanese video games, and I want to share them with fans around the world. Contact me if there are import games you are looking for or if you have any questions.
famicomvinnk (276 )
Located in Nakatsu City,
Member Since October 26, 2013
View all listings by famicomvinnk.


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Fairness Works Houston, a new organization formed to pass a proposed non-discrimination charter amendment in Houston, will hold a public meeting this Saturday, Feb. 25, to seek public input. As previously reported by Houstini, the proposed charter amendment, which is still being drafted, will remove discriminatory language added to the city charter in 1985 and 2001 and make it a crime to deny employment, housing or public accommodation to a person because of their "age, race, color, creed, religion, national origin, ancestry, disability, marital status, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, or physical characteristic."
The meeting, scheduled for 1 pm at the GLBT Cultural Center (401 Branard) in rooms 112/113, looks to identify community resources that can be used both topass the amendment and to gather the 20,000 signatures that will be needed to place the amendment on the November ballot. Scheduled speakers include Noel Freeman, president of the Houston GLBT Political Caucus and Jenifer Rene Poole who chairs the Caucus' committee on the proposed amendment.


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Mothers and the magic of number 5
Many children can't survive past the age of 5 without a mother figure. And sadly, every day 18,000 children don't.
But many of these deaths are preventable … so we can do something about it! Stand with us this week and support child and maternal health.
Blogger Paige Ferrari explains how.
Five is a magic number.
When a child is born, the first thing the parents do is check: 5 fingers on each hand. 5 toes on each foot. For some reason there is such perfection within the number 5.
Unfortunately, every day 18,000 children around the world will die before seeing their fifth birthday and 800 women will loose their life in childbirth daily. This bond between mother and child is something that can only be divinely created. But like all things that grow, it must be nourished and sustained.
The magic number is 5. Adequate nutrition, water, sanitation and hygiene, disease prevention, healthy moms and babies, and lastly local advocacy will all help these children reach their fifth birthday and give their mothers an opportunity to have this irreplaceable relationship.
I love my mom. She is my rock and my hero, and these simple words hardly do it justice. We have been through a lot of hard times, but the beauty of this mother/daughter relationship is that the good times that we've shared overpower the bad.
Some people think it odd how close we are with each other, but it was never weird for me. Being completely honest and open with my mom was something that I grew up learning how to do. The dreaded phrase of "you sound like mom" was never one to grimace at for me. It was one that I valued because it meant that my words were filled with wisdom and love like hers always are.
I was a child that grew up in a home that was hit by divorce. But the thing was, my mom was always there to nurture me, to help me, to protect me, to be there for me.
This isn't true for all children.
My memories before my fifth birthday aren't all there, but now I have the privilege of pictures demonstrating for me the joy and uniqueness of a mother and her daughter.
I love this picture of my mom and me at the beach. I was about two and a half and we both are laughing and smiling wide. That is a thing that my mom and I have always had in common: our huge smiles and boisterous laughs.
My memories with my mother are something that I will always hold dear. I was extremely blessed to have her as a constant in my life.
However, no child can make it to that magic number of 5 without a mother. And poverty should never be the deciding factor for any relationship, especially one of such uniqueness as that of a mother and child.
So throughout this week, in preparation for Mother's Day on May 11, take a moment to reflect on how great moms are! Because they are completely awesome! Take some time to read through how you can be an advocate for mothers and children everywhere who want that same relationship with each other.
Paige Ferrari blogs at Turning the Paige.
This week, show your support for mothers and and help children live past the age of 5! Find a photo of yourself with your mom when you were young and Tweet it with the hashtag #momandme before May 8th. We'll share these photos at the Congressional Prayer Breakfast in D.C. on May 21st. Learn more about our Global Week of Action.
One of the best ways to help a child survive to 5 is through child sponsorship. Choose a child to sponsor today!


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This study is provided by Resource Center for Minority Data (RCMD).
The Mexican American Study Project II (MASP II), 1998-2000 (ICPSR 28481)
Principal Investigator(s): Ortiz, Vilma, University of California-Los Angeles; Telles, Edward E., Princeton University
In an original study conducted in 1965, Leo Grebler, Joan Moore, and Ralph Guzman surveyed Mexican Americans in San Antonio, Texas, and Los Angeles, California. The first survey provided a rich cross-sectional view of this population's demographics and attitudes, Ortiz and Telles' 35 year follow-up now allows for a longitudinal view of the behavior and ethnic identification of first- through fourth-generation Mexican Americans in these areas. The new survey was used to test hypotheses related to Mexican Americans' social mobility, their ethnic identity and behavior, their experiences with discrimination, and the relationship between socioeconomic status and ethnic identity. Data includes birth dates, citizenship information, education, income, housing, language, medical, religious affiliations, immediate and extended family demographic information, and self perception in regards to ethnicity. There are four versions of the survey, "Child Respondents" in English and Spanish and "Informant Respondents" in English and Spanish. Additionally each survey includes an interviewer questionnaire, which asks interviewers to document their observations of the respondent's home (interior and exterior), cooperation, behavior, language proficiency, and gender.
Access Notes
Data in this collection are available only to users at ICPSR member institutions. Please log in so we can determine if you are with a member institution and have access to these data files.
ASCII + SAS Setup SPSS Setup Stata Setup
Study Description
Ortiz, Vilma, and Edward E. Telles. The Mexican American Study Project II (MASP II), 1998-2000. ICPSR28481-v2. Ann Arbor, MI: Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research [distributor], 2011-03-29. https://doi.org/10.3886/ICPSR28481.v2
Persistent URL: https://doi.org/10.3886/ICPSR28481.v2
Export Citation:
- RIS (generic format for RefWorks, EndNote, etc.)
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This study was funded by:
- United States Department of Health and Human Services. National Institutes of Health. Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (R01 HD033436)
- Russell Sage Foundation
- Haynes Foundation
- Rockefeller Foundation
- Ford Foundation
- California Policy Seminar
Scope of Study
Subject Terms: citizenship, demographic characteristics, educational background, ethnic identity, gang members, gender roles, generations, Hispanic or Latino Americans, holidays, home ownership, housework, housing conditions, housing occupancy, illegal immigrants, immigrants, income, marital status, Mexican Americans, neighborhoods, occupations, political affiliation, race, race relations, religious affiliation, social networks, spouses, voting behavior
Smallest Geographic Unit: county
Geographic Coverage: California, Los Angeles, San Antonio, Texas, United States
- 2000 (1998--2000)
- 2000 (1998--2002)
Unit of Observation: individual, household
Universe: Two stages: (1) Mexican American adults in Los Angeles County, California, and the City of San Antonio, Texas, 1965-1966. (2) a. The surviving respondents of Stage 1 that were age 50 or less at the time of the 1965-1966 survey, in 1998-2002. (2) b. The children that had lived in their household at the time of the 1965-1966 survey, in 1998-2002.
Study Purpose: The Mexican American Study Project is a study on intra- and inter-generational change and persistence in ethnic identity and behavior, as well as socio-economic mobility among Mexican Americans in Los Angeles, California, and San Antonio, Texas. This study sheds light on the progress of Mexican Americans, the progeny of the largest and longest-lasting immigration to the United States.
Mode of Data Collection: face-to-face interview, paper and pencil interview (PAPI), on-site questionnaire
Extent of Processing: ICPSR data undergo a confidentiality review and are altered when necessary to limit the risk of disclosure. ICPSR also routinely creates ready-to-go data files along with setups in the major statistical software formats as well as standard codebooks to accompany the data. In addition to these procedures, ICPSR performed the following processing steps for this data collection:
- Performed consistency checks.
- Created variable labels and/or value labels.
- Standardized missing values.
- Created online analysis version with question text.
- Performed recodes and/or calculated derived variables.
- Checked for undocumented or out-of-range codes.
Original ICPSR Release: 2011-03-15
- 2011-03-29 (1) The title of this study has been changed to The Mexican American Study Project II (MASP II). (2) The time period has been changed to 1998-2000.
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Two Credit Unions Offering No Money Down Mortgages
The 84,000 member, $1.2 billion NASA Federal Credit Union and the 4.2 million member, $52.4 billion Navy Federal Credit Union are offering members mortgages without requiring any down payment or mortgage insurance, credit union executives confirmed.
No money down mortgages were among the types of housing finance loans that were blamed for having helped cause the housing finance crisis in 2007 and such mortgages would seem to run counter to the prevailing trend in housing finance regulation which seeks to make sure participants in all parts of the lending process have a stake in the loan.
But executives from both credit unions said a mixture of underwriting standards and member relationships protect them from losses on the loans.
NASA FCU's vice president of residential lending, Bill White, declined to say what percentage of the credit union's housing finance lending did not require a down payment, but said that the volume in the loans was in the millions of dollars. The credit union booked $170 million in housing finance loans in 2012, White reported.
NASA FCU has confidence in the no money down loans because the credit union underwrites those more tightly than it does loans which are underwritten to the standard for the secondary market required by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, White explained.
Because no money down loans cannot be sold on the secondary market, the credit union's no down payment offerings are destined for its own portfolio.
The Maryland-based credit union, which has a nationwide field of membership based on SEGs, also limits the no money down housing loans to real estate markets in the credit union's closest region, the Washington, D.C., suburbs, where NASA believes it best knows the market and where the credit union is confident housing prices have hit bottom.
"We focus on the ability to repay the loan as the standard independent of what might happen to the value of the underlying asset," White said, contrasting NASA FCU's no money down loans to the sorts of no down payment lending which helped fuel the housing finance crisis.
Those previous no money down loans offered by other financial institutions and mortgage brokers had been made on the assumption of rising real estate values, he explained, but NASA's program focused on ability to repay.
But if a member had the financial wherewithal to be able to easily repay the loan, why would they necessarily want a no money down mortgage?
White explained that some members were financially able to make mortgage payments, but were interested in not tying down liquid assets in housing finance.
He also explained that the loans carried an interest rate premium and that members understood they would pay a slightly higher interest rate because they had not put any money down.
NASA FCU had run the program past NCUA for risk and White said that after 36 months offering the loans, there had been no problems with delinquency. "These loans work well for the credit union and our members," he said.
Navy Federal, by contrast, offers what it calls the Homebuyers Choice to all its members and doesn't underwrite the no money down loans differently, according to the housing finance executives with the largest credit union.
"We underwrite all of our loans so our members can succeed with the loan," said Katie Miller, vice president for mortgage products for NAVY, adding that the no money down loans are extremely popular with members who might not be able to come up with a $20,000 down payment for a conventional mortgage from another lender.
The credit union also makes $2,500 available to members to help with closing costs and the loans allow up to 6% of the purchase price to come from the seller, according to the credit union's website.
Miller and Richard Morris, vice president of mortgage pricing and GSE relationships, put the loans in the context of the relationship Virginia-based Navy Federal has with its members.
"We know and trust our members and we believe they know and trust us," Morris explained. "It really is all about our members. They understand how the credit union seeks to help them and they want to help the credit union too."
Miller said the credit union had offered the no money down mortgages prior to 2008, but then put the program on a "hiatus" until February 2010 in order to reexamine and evaluate the loan portfolio. Subsequently they began to offer the loans again, she said, and report the loans perform very well.


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Consumer Advocate Calls Interchange Surcharge Fears Propaganda
A leading consumer activist has called fears that significant numbers of merchants might begin to surcharge credit card payments in order to recoup interchange costs the result of a "PR campaign" from Visa and MasterCard.
Ed Mierzwinski, consumer program director for the U.S. Public Interest Research Group, wrote in a blog entry that some people have been "snookered" by the campaign into being afraid that merchants would charge the surcharge, but added that US PIRG did not believe this would happen.
US PIRG doubted this would happen primarily because merchants would not want to upset their customers, Mierzwinski said.
"The threat of surcharging, which would lower credit card use (and therefore bank profits, which the banks wouldn't like) may help merchants negotiate lower swipe fees, but we simply don't think many merchants will surcharge their customers," he wrote in the Feb. 2 entry. "In addition, 40% of all consumers live in 10 large states (California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, New York, Oklahoma and Texas) that prohibit surcharging by state law. The settlement does not override these state laws."
Mierzwinski and US PIRG are on record supporting the merchants' side in the litigation over credit card interchange.


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Finalist voting for the People's Choice Awards wrapped up yesterday, and though you'll have to wait until show night to find out which nominees won, there is one result we can share with you right now: The number of votes cast so far. Spoiler alert: It's a big one.
Half a billion big, to be exact. Yes, that's right, fans have cast an astounding half a billion votes thus far for the 2014 People's Choice Awards.
"Voting for the People's Choice Awards makes me feel great, and when I see my favorites win I jump off the couch and scream 'We Did It!'" said Sherry Peyton, a fan from Overland Park, Kansas, in a statement. "My friends and I get together to vote – I prefer the Facebook voting app – to help our favorites win. And when they do, it is absolutely incredible. I vote and I watch because the People's Choice Awards have more of what the people like, and it's really nice to have an awards show that the celebrities really seem to enjoy."
And it's not over yet. Though voting for most categories wrapped up yesterday, fans can continue to vote for Favorite New TV Comedy and Favorite New TV Drama (both categories have been narrowed down to feature only the top 5 vote-getters). See the list of nominees below:
Favorite New TV Comedy
The Crazy Ones
The Michael J. Fox Show
The Millers
Super Fun Night
Favorite New TV Drama
Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D
The Originals
Sleepy Hollow
(Update: Fans can also continue to vote for Favorite Music Fan Following. Check out the nominees here.)
The 40th annual People's Choice Awards — hosted by 2 Broke Girls stars Beth Behrs and Kat Dennings — will air live on CBS on Wednesday, Jan. 8 at 9 p.m. ET. In other words, mark your calendars, and if you're anything like super-fan Sherry Peyton, prepare your couch.
Read More:
People's Choice Awards 2014 Nominations: FULL LIST of nominees
The best Vine videos from the People's Choice press conference red carpet — WATCH
'2 Broke Girls' stars Beth Behrs and Kat Dennings to host The People's Choice Awards
For the latest pop culture news and voting, make sure to sign up for the People's Choice newsletter!


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Welcome to Chen Ling Development Sdn Bhd website.
As a dynamic and innovative upscale property developer and owner, Chen Ling Development Sdn Bhd is committed to creating long term value to our homeowner, investor and guest while setting the benchmark for the better standard in all areas of our operations. "CENTRAL CITY", "CENTRAL VILLA" & "CENTRAL TOWN" , a project located in one of the fastest developing division of the state or well known as "Knowledge Centre", Kota Samarahan has been on the Government's development radar screen for the past 10 years, and it looks set to remain that way in the foreseeable future. Among the enviable projects which have been implemented or earmarked there are Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas), UiTM (Sarawak Campus), Samarahan Teachers' Training College, the proposed Cyber Village, biotechnology park, world-renowned Mayo Clinic, and the Sarawak International Medical Centre or also its called as with population of 204,900 (2000 census). Besides this, presenting on of the best of entertainment, shopping and living, discover everything you need and more in one prime location "CENTRAL WORLD". Situated within the versatile commercial development, you will be greeted by various type of business structure suited with air-conditioned corridor which showcases a touch of class and sophistication. Hailing the birth of a brand new landmark that celebrates Kuching's ecstatic rhythm of life - Central World. sited at the crux of Kuching City, this exclusive commercial center stands majestically along only 10 minutes from the city, located along the new upgraded highway leading to The ISTHMUS. Central World is a splendid combination of well thought development, quality craftsmanship, convenience and a superb location. Chen Ling has over 20 over years of project and property development experience in hand with other on going projects such as "EE ANN CITY" at 7th Mile where the commercial buildings build within the Strategies location and "TAMAN JELITA" (also known as Taman Tunku) in Miri, with the development of more than 2,000 units residential and commercial property.
Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2012/04/14/chen-ling-launches-central-world-project/#ixzz1sfFIzepn


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Guest Opinion: Strength in Numbers
Since January 2008, there has been a credit union merger every 1.5 days and beginning in 2013, this rate has increased to one every 1.3 days.
While on the surface these numbers might indicate a strengthening of the industry, the fact is most of these mergers are generally the result of failed or failing credit unions of less than $25 million in total assets and the completed mergers did little to significantly increase or strengthen the industry as a whole.
Since the fiscal crisis and subsequent bank failures beginning with the recession of 2007, credit unions have done an extremely good job of building a stronger membership base and increasing deposits as more people have moved away from other financial institutions. However, if credit unions are going to continue being competitive, they will have to face the challenge of other financial institutions trying to take their market share back. The immediate growth that comes from the merger of two already strong credit unions is one way to make this happen.
To put all of this into perspective, over this five year period, the total dollar volume of merged credit unions was slightly more than $26.2 billion with an average institution size of $23.0 million. During 2011 alone, FDIC-insured mergers totaled $65.6 billion with an average institution size of $235.8 million. Today, the average FDIC-insured institution has slightly more than $2.0 billion in total assets as compared to the average credit union with $135.6 million.
Most recently, credit union mergers have been driven by an increase in regulatory requirements. These mergers are not occurring because it puts the new institution at a competitive advantage, but because the smaller institutions were unable to find another way to survive. If credit unions are going to continue being a long term alternative for consumers, many managers and boards are going to have to look beyond their current models and seek out merger partners that provide them with a new strategic advantage.
Today, credit unions exist because they have a fundamental competitive advantage over other financial institutions. By definition, they exist to serve their members whereas banks exist to serve their shareholders. Unlike banks however, credit unions also face some of the biggest obstacles in continuing to build new market share because they lack the ability to generate new net worth, have limitations on the footprint they operate within and are restricted by regulations from within the industry.
From an industry perspective, higher performing credit unions generally find it difficult to find complementary merger partners or institutions of similar size and character. These credit unions understand that size matters and if they are going to be competitive in the 21st century, they will need to grow.
Another problem currently facing credit unions relates to rapidly evolving technologies and the challenges the regulatory environment places on new technologies. To gain additional market share from other financial institutions, they will need to find new ways to grow across county and state lines or expand their reach by redefining their membership requirements. New applications help make this growth possible; however, navigating the myriad of regulations related to expansion requires a strong management team, board and constant diligence.
Finally, the biggest growth restriction for credit unions has been the ability to generate net worth. Since net worth is generally a result of membership and undistributed earnings, maintaining a well-capitalized credit union has been difficult as balance sheets have grown under a surge of deposits. This growth in deposits has resulted in the percentage of capital relative to total assets to decrease.
Unfortunately, there is no single formula to match the right credit unions for a merger, but if the right candidates can be identified, each of the obstacles outlined above can be addressed. For these candidates, complementary loan portfolios can reduce risk while fair-value accounting can help to boost net worth and expanded memberships can lead to a bigger market share. As an industry, credit unions are good for consumers because they focus on customer satisfaction and the membership experience, but converting these qualities into market share has always been an industry challenge.
Steve Miller is president of TwentyTwenty Analytics.
877-778-3314 or email@example.com


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When it
comes to making electronics, Amazon.com, Inc. (AMZN), like Google, Inc. (GOOG), seems an unlikely candidate given that its
core business is internet based and not directly related to hardware making.
Amazon.com debuted the first successful e-reader, with the Kindle in November 2007.
I. Amazon's New Tablet OS
Now following months of rumors, a company that shaped
the tablet revolution is revamping its veteran brand with a new tablet that
features significant departures from its current lineup.
A detailed description of the device is at last available, thanks to TechCrunch,
who viewed a near-production prototype.
Gone is the proprietary barebones eBook-centric operating system. In its
place is Google's Android operating system (there were some previous signs that
pointed to this possibility, namely Amazon.com's recently launched third
party app store, Appstore for Android).
The new tablet will retail for $250 USD -- a psychologically significant price
in that it matches Barnes & Noble, Inc.'s (BKS) Android-powered Nook Color and, further, is
half the entry-level cost of an iPad.
While the device reportedly looks much like Research in Motion, Ltd.'s (TSE:RIM) BlackBerry PlayBook, it
will look quite foreign to those familiar with Android tablets.
Amazon.com has forked its own version of Android from a version prior to
Android 2.2 "Froyo", and has taken to radically customizing it.
The result is that Amazon has essentially built its own operating system.
It plans to maintain this operating system, building in its own useful
features and staying abreast of changes in the Google codebase, occasionally
injecting useful source from the main Android line. However, updates will
come from Amazon directly -- users will not get access to upcoming Android
builds like "Ice Cream Sandwich".
The basic layout includes a middle-of-the-screen element that looks like the
"Cover Flow" in iTunes. Users can scroll through all their
content (apps, music, books, movies, etc.) and drag their favorites down to a
dock at the bottom of the screen. Above that dock is a notification tray
with the battery and wireless internet indicators and notifications for app/OS
updates. At the top is yet another bar with the name of the device and
other details. TechCrunch claims the modified GUI looks very
good, compared to the stock Android Honeycomb.
A tabbed web browser is included. The device has full access to the
Kindle Books catalog (of course) and gets apps solely through Amazon Appstore
for Android.
II. The Hardware
Gone is E Ink, the energy-savvy display technology. In its place is a
2-finger capable multi-touch capacitive, backlit 7-inch display, according
to TechCrunch who spent time with a prototype. Note this
multi-touch is less sensitive than Apple's 10-finger capable design, although
relatively few iOS apps manage to fully utilize multi-finger touch.
The device features no (!) physical face buttons (we suppose this means that
Apple can't sue Amazon). It comes with a
single-core processor, making it less powerful than most Android tablets, but
helping to keep the price in check. The device also only has 6 GB of flash storage, as it's intended to use the cloud to access music and movies. An
SD slot is rumored, though TechCrunch said it didn't see it on the
The device will initially launch solely with Wi-Fi support. It features a
rubbery back and comes with speakers, but no camera.
III. Launch and the Future
TechCrunch also noted that Amazon was trialing a new webpage layout
over the weekend, which blogger Sarah Perez writes, "practically scream 'tablet-optimized."
In an email to Reuters,
company spokeswoman Sally Fouts confirms the design launched in the final week
of office, adding, "We are continuing to roll out the new design to
additional customers, but I can't speculate on when the new design will be live
for everyone."
One sweet feature of the new Amazon.com tablet is that it will come with a free
subscription to Amazon.com Prime -- typically an $80
USD/year service. This will give you free two-day shipping on items,
something Amazon.com surely hopes increases both impulse and regular shopping.
And the service has the added perk of offering 9,000+ free streaming
movies to users.
The tablet will reportedly launch in November and has analysts buzzing, despite
the packed market. Forrester Research says that it may sell 5 million units in Q4 2011, given its
bargain price and strong brand name.
Looking ahead to the future, Amazon.com is reportedly preparing a 10-inch
design for a Q1 2012 launch. That design will reportedly include a
dual-core processor. Amazon.com is reportedly in talks with U.S. wireless
carriers to explore the possibility of cellular modem-equipped (3G or better)
variants for 2012 launches.
Amazon.com is also reportedly working on a hybrid E-Ink/multi-touch screen
device (perhaps two sided?), but TechCrunch warns,
"[T]hat's nowhere near completion, I'm told."
While Apple has certainly stolen the thunder of Amazon.com when it comes to
tablets, it should be interesting to see if one of the field's founding fathers
can return triumphantly to the market it helped launch.


text:
You are logged in as:
Your tax invoice can be downloaded on flysaa.com under Manage & Fly 72 hours after the e-ticket has been issued.
If a Tax Invoice has been successfully generated from the South African Airways Tax Invoice System, the onus rests on the recipient to ensure that his/her mailbox has enough space to receive an e-mail - with a PDF attachment; and that his//her service provider or exchange server allows for delivery of such e-mails. South African Airways, can not take responsibility for undelivered e-mails due to any other reasons beyond our control including the above.
Prescribed details required from the South African Revenue Service on a tax invoices
Tax invoices must ordinarily reflect the following details as prescribed by the South African Revenue Service Act, 1997 (Act No. 34 of 1997):
Johannesburg, 16 April 2013. South African Airways (SAA) wishes to advise its customers that due to severe cross winds in Mauritius, the airline had no choice but to cancel flights in the interest of the safety. The forecast winds blowing across the runways in Mauritius were in excess of the SAA operating limits.
The affected flights are:
• SA 190, Johannesburg to Mauritius, that was scheduled to depart at 09:40 on 16 April 2013
• SA 191, Mauritius to Johannesburg, that was scheduled to depart at 16:40 on 16 April 2013
In conjunction with the relevant role players, SAA will monitor the situation and resume operations as soon as conditions are deemed safe for air travel. Arrangements have been made to make use of a bigger aircraft to transport customers to and from Mauritius tomorrow (17 April 2013) during normal scheduled times.
SAA wishes to convey its unreserved apologies to those affected by these developments. As a responsible airline, SAA puts the safety of its passengers and crew ahead of everything else.
SAA Call Centre Numbers:
• Johannesburg (27) 11 978 1111 or 0861 606 606
• Operating hours Mon – Sun 06h00 – 22h00 (local time)
About SAA
South African Airways (SAA) is the leading carrier in Africa, serving 26 destinations across the continent, as well as major destinations within South Africa and internationally from its Johannesburg hub. It is a member of the largest international airline network, Star Alliance. SAA's core business is the provision of passenger airline and cargo transport services together with related services, which are provided through SAA and its four wholly owned subsidiaries: SAA Technical; Mango its low cost carrier; Air Chefs, the catering entity of SAA and South African Travel Centre (SATC). SAA is the winner of the 'Best Airline in Africa' Award in the regional category for ten consecutive years and the winner of 'Service Excellence Africa' for three consecutive years. Mango and SAA hold the number one and number two successive spots as South Africa's most on - time airlines.
For more information contact:
SAA Group Corporate Affairs
Tlali Tlali
Executive: Group Corporate Affairs
Tel: +27 11 978 3819
Mobile: +27 82 333 3880
Kabelo Ledwaba
Communications Manager (External)
Mobile: +27 83 414 4720
Email: email@example.com
Website: www.flysaa.com
Twitter: @flysaa


text:
5 Credit Unions Chartered in the Past 5 Years
Just as it might feel in the beginning stages of any business, making a large investment of time and money to launch a new credit union can seem like a gamble for everyone involved. The founders of these five newbies have made it past that initial nerve-wracking period and are now watching their babies slowly grow, while continuing to work toward their goals for the institution. Click through the slideshow to read the stories of five credit unions chartered in the past five years.
ERDA Federal Credit Union ($700,000, Long Island City, N.Y.)
The East River Development Alliance, a non-profit organization in Long Island City, N.Y., created ERDA FCU opened in 2010 to serve low-income individuals living in Queens Districts 1 and 2 in New York City. The founder and president of both the credit union and ERDA, Bishop Mitchell G. Taylor, said ERDA FCU helps fulfill four key needs of these underserved Queens communities: employment services, financial education and counseling, access to a college education and community economic revitalization.
"We call the credit union an anchor of economic mobility in low-income neighborhoods, particularly in public housing areas," Taylor said.
The credit union now serves around 1,000 members. It started out by offering regular share accounts then introduced several creative savings and loan products, Taylor said. For example, the credit builder loan, usually worth $1,000, is intended for people looking to repair or establish their credit, and custodial savings accounts (which are named "penny," "quarter" and "dollar" accounts according to the account holder's age) are available to children and teenagers.
ERDA FCU will soon offer small business loans, as well as naturalization loans, which are intended for immigrants. Taylor said the credit union is particularly excited about the naturalization loans and expects to make between 400 and 500 of them in the next year.
"We want to become strong enough to be able to offer all the services that we set out to provide," said Taylor, senior pastor of Center of Hope International, a non-denominational church.
The credit union plays a key role in the mission of ERDA, which is to improve economic conditions in New York City's public housing neighborhoods. ERDA's services include college preparation programs, adult career education classes and financial counseling.
Internet Archive Federal Credit Union (New Brunswick, N.J.)
Chartered in the summer of 2012, Internet Archive Federal Credit Union has a unique back story — a former bank executive, Jordan Modell, and an engineer and Internet entrepreneur, Brewster Kahle, joined forces to form a credit union that would serve low-income and middle-class people in Highland Park, N.J. and New Brunswick, N.J., where the credit union is headquartered.
Potential members include a pool of around 11,000 to 12,000 Hispanics living in New Brunswick, Rutgers University students, and senior citizens in New Brunswick and Highland Park. Internet Archive FCU will offer auto loans, share certificates, share drafts, debit cards, ATM cards, online banking, bill payment, shared branching and a transfer service that allows members to send money to banks in Mexico.
An asset size and member count is not yet available for Internet Archive FCU — according to an Aug. 29 blog post by Modell, a soft opening is planned for the first week of October and a grand opening is scheduled for the last week of October.
Oak Cliff Christian Federal Credit Union ($3.5 million, Dallas)
Chartered in October 2008 to serve the members and employees and Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship Church in Dallas, Oak Cliff Christian FCU now has more than 1,300 members. According to Sherman Roberson, manager for Oak Cliff Christian FCU, Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship Church pastor Tony Evans had a vision to start a credit union that would provide loans at competitive rates, superior member service, and a place for members to confidently deposit their savings and investments. The credit union's single branch is located on the campus of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship Church.
The first day Oak Cliff Christian FCU opened for business, Roberson said, 17 members deposited a total of $17,000. Initially, the credit union only offered savings products, and after nine months in business, it began offering auto and personal loans.
In the near future, Roberson said the credit union will introduce checking accounts, online banking, debit cards and bill pay services.
"There are nothing but great things in the future for Oak Cliff Christian Federal Credit Union," Roberson said. "However, we will continue to take small steps and make sure we're financially stable before we take the next steps in the evolution of our credit union."
Chippewa Eagle Federal Credit Union ($2.7 million, Mt. Pleasant, Mich.)
Created to serve the approximately 7,800 members and employees of the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe in Michigan, Chippewa Eagle FCU was chartered by the NCUA in May 2010. The tribe, which is also the credit union's sponsor, has launched a variety of financial, educational and economic initiatives and views Chippewa Eagle FCU as an extension of those initiatives, according to the NCUA. The credit union got off the ground with help from CU*Answers, a Grand Rapids, Mich.-based CUSO offering back-office and marketing services to credit unions including a number of start-up credit unions.
Initial services included savings accounts, regular shares, club accounts, money market shares, share certificates and share drafts. Now, the credit union offers checking accounts, Visa debit cards, direct deposit, a 24-hour drive-up ATM, and secured and unsecured loans, among other services. Chippewa Eagle FCU currently has around 1,200 members.
Stepping Stones Community Federal Credit Union ($1 million, Wilmington, Del.)
The NCUA chartered Stepping Stones Community FCU with a low-income designation in October 2011. The Wilmington, Del.-based credit union is sponsored by the Delaware Community Reinvestment Action Council, a Wilmington-based group working to ensure equal access to credit and capital for underserved populations in Delaware.
Rashmi Rangan, executive director for DCRAC, said the credit union is part of a sustainable plan to connect underserved communities with financial products and services that meet their needs.
"We explored chartering a credit union for several reasons," Rangan said. "Our unbanked and underbanked community needed an institution where they could begin and nurture their financial relationship, and they also needed an alternative to high-cost, low-dollar loans. Most importantly, we needed to let our community know that we had great confidence in them, and lastly, we wanted financial institutions to know that serving the distressed community responsibly is the right thing to do, and that it's profitable too."
Since its grand opening in March, Stepping Stones Community FCU has expanded services from initial offerings of shares and share certificates to include a signature loan, which is secured against savings, and a small loan worth up to $500. The credit union has grown from $60,000 in assets in January to $1 million in assets today and currently serves 129 members.
Stepping Stones Community FCU also received start-up assistance from the back-office and marketing services CUSO CU*Answers.
Rangan added that she expects the credit union to become a household name in seven years – the same amount of time it took for DCRAC to become locally known.
"I am very optimistic about our growth," she said. "The key to our success lies in our partners, volunteers and members."


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The move became official at a
conference in Wilmington, Delaware this morning. Joined by
Delaware's Governor, Jack Markell, and Vice President Joe Biden,
Fisker's founder and CEO Henrik Fisker officially announced his
company's plans to purchase a closed GM plant and repurpose it to
produce his company's electric vehicles.
The plant was built
by GM in 1947 and was last used to produce the Pontiac Solstice and
Saturn Sky, both of which ended production last spring. It is
currently owned by Motors Liquidation, the government-organized
bankruptcy holding from GM that is seeking to sell off the
company's remaining stale assets. Fisker will get the plant at
a bargain price of $18M USD, leaving plenty of its loan funding for
the retooling, employment, and distribution costs. The
refurbishing and retooling of the plant is estimated to cost $175M
USD and will take three years to fully complete, though partial
production may start before that.
The plant sits on a spacious
142 acres of land and features over 3.2 million square feet of floor
space. Once retooled, it will be used to build a new,
more-affordable plug-in that Fisker is currently
cooking up, codenamed "Project Nina". Fisker
plans to release this new vehicle by 2012 and reach production levels
of 75,000-100,000 units annually by 2014 which is well above current
Karma production levels. The company says that half the
production will be sold domestically and approximately half of the
production will be exported and sold overseas, under his company's
current plan. It is targeting a price of under $40,000 for the
vehicle, after federal tax credits, ironically similar to the
speculated price of the 2011
Chevy Volt, produced by GM.
Mr. Fisker praised the plan
for the new plant. He describes, "This is a major step
toward establishing America as a leader of advanced vehicle
technology. Wilmington is perfect for high quality, low volume
production and will soon be the proud builder of world-class,
fuel-efficient Fisker plug-in hybrids."
Although Fisker's
current overseas production plans have caught some flak, more
criticism may be raised over the plant's use of unionized labor.
The plant will employ 2,000 workers, mostly UAW members. The
decision to keep the plant unionized is a rather atypical choice for
a startup auto firm. The plant will also lead to the employment
of approximately 3,000 supplier jobs in the U.S.
Gary Casteel,
UAW director responsible for the plant, cheered the decision to keep
the plant unionized, stating, "It gives me great pride to give
UAW Local 435 workers the opportunity to partner with Fisker
Automotive to create a greener America by building a plug-in hybrid
car that will compete globally."


text:
Do you have an idea for a startup? Could you use feedback on your ideas from a leading entrepreneur and angel investor?
Then join us for the Founder Hotseat Webinar, with a very special guest: Aaron Patzer, Founder & CEO of Mint.com (which was acquired by Intuit), and Co-Founder & CEO of Leonardo.
During this webinar, which takes place on Wednesday, April 30 at 6pm PDT (see your local time here), viewers can pitch their startup ideas to Aaron and get feedback. The best pitches will even be invited on screen, to pitch Aaron live, via webcam simulcast. Even if you don't want to pitch, you are invited to RSVP, log on, and watch how an expert startup advisor evaluates new business ideas.
How to Participate?
- This is a live and interactive pitch session hosted online. It will take place at the following link: http://fi.co/contents/hotseat
- If you would like to pitch and receive feedback for your idea, you must fill out the following form: http://bit.ly/hotseat_04-30
- Check out clips from past Founder Hotseats here.
About the Host: Aaron Patzer
Aaron Patzer is well known as the Founder & CEO of Mint.com. At Mint.com, Aaron founded the company, raised $31mm, grew the team to 40 people, grew revenues at 500-800% YoY, created a national brand, and sold the company to Intuit for $170mm in two years flat. Mint has won a large number of awards, including Time Magazine top 50 websites, 4 consecutive Webby awards in the field of Personal Finance, and more. Currently, Aaron is Co-Founder & CEO of Leonardo, a re-launch realtime communication platform that instantaneously connects consumers stuck on a problem with the experts most qualified to assist them. He is also an investor and angel in many startups, and is regarded as a global expert on engineering, algorithms, user experience, product design, hiring, and press strategy.
Who should Attend?
- Anyone who wants feedback from a leading entrepreneur
- Anyone who has an idea for a startup or an early-stage company
- Anyone who needs practice and expert advice on pitching
Spectators are welcome!
Even if you don't want to pitch, you are invited to RSVP, log on, and watch how an expert startup advisor evaluates new business ideas.
For more free startup events, visit http://fi.co/events.


text:
Before I condemn Hedo as a total failure in all respects and spend hours on the ESPN trade machine trying to find a willing sucker, I mean suitor. I am willing to wait for the playoffs and see if he still has any Magic from last years run left in him. My cynical side says all that is left in him is a pizza crust graveyard.
Why is ESPN so confident of Bosh's imminent departure, if not from a trade then from free agency? Isn't that what they said about Vince and even he resigned. I have to believe if he is wililng to bolt, he is at least man enough to give Bryan a lil heads up around say the middle of February.
If we do end up trading Bosh, are we not essentially blowing the team up? Why not force whoever wants him so badly to take Turk's contract in return for the poo poo platter we will likely receive. Personally I think the best move is to hopefully move Calderon/picks/cash for a SG/SF like Butler or Kevin Martin, assuming of course they are being sold for 70 cents on the dollar. We go into the playoffs with a 6th seed and hopefully face a struggling Orlando, an injured Celtics team or Cavs team whom we seem to match up reasonably well against.
There seems to be only two viable options. Contend now by showing Bosh we are a legit contender and adding one more piece or trade Bosh for young talent and hope its pans out. Raptor nation has this naive notion that we can trade Bosh and still compete for that 5/6 seed. If Bosh leaves, we are back to the dark ages of trying to win the lottery.


text:
The treatment and management of erectile dysfunction involves medications, psychological counseling, lifestyle changes, possibly surgery, and attention to other medical conditions that may be causing dysfunction or affecting your sexual function.
The goal of treatment is to restore normal sexual function whenever possible and to discover alternatives to maintain or enhance the richness of your relationship.
Treatment involves the following:Lifestyle changesMedicationsSurgeryOther treatmentsAlternative and complementary therapies
Revision Information
- Reviewer: EBSCO Medical Review Board Adrienne Carmack, MD
- Review Date: 03/2017 -
- Update Date: 03/15/2015 -


text:
Thanksgiving is such a very unique American holiday. It has its own very special comfortable feeling. We all look forward to it. But Thanksgiving as we know it can easily be lost.
It will happen when more and more stores, restaurants and shops choose to be open for business. I am grateful for those who took the day off. My hope is that one day folks could possibly buy their dinners on Tuesday or Wednesday so that even our grocery stores could take a rest. Too much to ask for?
Duane Murphy


text:
Record-breaking numbers at '09 FanFest
Attendance soars as MLB celebrates two-millionth customer
By B.J. Rains / MLB.com
As she got to the door, she was pulled aside and greeted as the two-millionth person to attend FanFest in the 19-year history of the event.
"Just to see the look on their faces when they walked in the door," said Major League Baseball director of special events Jackie Secaira-Cotto. "She had her whole family with her and you could tell how it really touched their lives."
Stewart's record-breaking entrance was one of many memorable moments from FanFest 2009 in St. Louis. In addition to welcoming the two-millionth fan, Major League Baseball enjoyed record-breaking attendance all weekend.
A presale record 85,000 tickets were sold before FanFest opened on Friday and officials were pretty certain that when the final numbers were tallied sometime Tuesday night or Wednesday, a new overall attendance record would be broken as well. A record 135,000 attended the MLB FanFest in New York last year, but it appears that the devoted baseball fans of St. Louis have surpassed that figure.
"The city of St. Louis has a big baseball history and tradition and, coming from New York, I think this was a great way to follow that up," Secaira-Cotto said. "There's such a passion for the sport here and knowledge of the sport. These are really, really knowledgeable fans and you could tell that.
"The 'sea of red' is really neat to see. The fans really appreciated the Hometown Heros Attraction. It was definitely evident to us."
St. Louis fans were treated to several hometown exhibits that showed the deep history of the Cardinals franchise and detailed each of their 10 World Series Championships. Local legend and baseball Hall of Famer Ozzie Smith served as the official spokesman for FanFest and ran a few clinics for kids as well.
Several other baseball legends and Hall of Famers including Cal Ripken Jr., Brooks Robinson, Harmon Killebrew, Earl Weaver, Juan Marichal, Gaylord Perry, Lou Brock and Andre Dawson were also on hand and held free autograph sessions and baseball clinics.
About the only complaint heard during the five-day event was the long lines for some of the attractions and autographs. But with a record-setting crowd of more than 25,000 people a day packing into America's Center, lines can be expected.
No other problems were reported and FanFest appeared to be a success for everyone involved, setting up a tough act to follow in Anaheim, Calif., for next year's Midsummer Classic.
"It went really well," Secaira-Cotto said. "We had some great attendance figures. We had some really exciting things happen. We had the two-millionth fan walk through the doors on Sunday. We had some great players make appearances here. Everything went great and the fans all seemed really happy. "
B.J. Rains is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


text:
The Cell Broadband Engine is a truly versatile piece of
silicon. It's inside every PlayStation 3 powering games, decoding Blu-ray
movies and curing
diseases with Folding@home.
It's also inside a few IBM BladeCenter servers, which will soon be utilized for
medical imaging. Collaborators from Mayo Clinic and IBM say that they are now
using the Cell Broadband Engine to dramatically speed up the processing of 3D
medical images.
The advance significantly aids image registration -- the
computer-enhanced alignment of two medical images in three-dimensional space.
One way medical images are being improved is by using visual images from more
than one source -- magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computerized tomography
(CT) scans for example. With the images properly aligned over one another, a
radiologist can more easily detect structural changes such as the growth or
shrinkage of tumors.
"This alignment of images both improves the accuracy of
interpretation and improves radiologist efficiency, particularly for diseases
like cancer," says Mayo radiology researcher Bradley Erickson, M.D., Ph.D.
Through porting and optimization of Mayo Clinic's Image
Registration Application on the IBM 'Cell Blade,' the application produces
image results fifty times faster than the application running on a traditional
processor configuration. Mayo Clinic and IBM used 98 sets of images and ran the
optimized registration application on the IBM BladeCenter QS20 with the Cell
Broadband Engine, in comparison with running the original application on a
typical processor configuration. The application running on a typical processor
configuration completed the registration of all 98 sets of images in
approximately 7 hours. The team adapted the application optimized for
Cell and completed the registration for all 98 sets of images in just 516
seconds, with no registration taking more than 20 seconds.
"This is all about taking technology innovation,
collaborating with our customers, and applying it to help them directly benefit
their patients," said Shahrokh Daijavad, Next Generation Computing, Systems
& Technology, IBM. "This improvement with the application running on
Cell, will achieve two things -- allow for Mayo's doctors and radiologists to
achieve in seconds what used to take hours, which in turn will significantly
decrease the wait time and anxiety for a patient waiting on news from the
Sony also revealed plans to lease out the computing power of
the Cell Broadband Engine inside PlayStation 3 consoles as part of a supercomputer


text:
This dataset is maintained and distributed by the National Archive of Criminal Justice Data (NACJD), the criminal justice archive within ICPSR. NACJD is primarily sponsored by three agencies within the U.S. Department of Justice: the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the National Institute of Justice, and the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.
Data Bank of Assassinations, 1948-1967 (ICPSR 5208)
Principal Investigator(s): Feierabend, Ivo; Feierabend, Rosalind; Jagger, F.M.; Nesvold, B.A.
This study contains data on 409 assassination events that occurred in 84 countries in the period 1948-1967. The data cover plotted, attempted, or actual assassinations of prominent public figures, such as top government officeholders and military figures, leaders of large trade unions or religious movements, and leaders of minority groups. For each event, information is provided on the country, date, and location of occurrence, the issue involved, the identity of the assassin and of the target, such as the type of group to which the assassin belonged and the political and social position of the target, and the outcome of the event.
Access Notes
The public-use data files in this collection are available for access by the general public. Access does not require affiliation with an ICPSR member institution.
ASCII + SAS Setup SPSS Setup
Study Description
Feierabend, Ivo, Rosalind Feierabend, F.M. Jagger, and B.A. Nesvold. Data Bank of Assassinations, 1948-1967. ICPSR05208-v1. Ann Arbor, MI: Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research [distributor], 2003. https://doi.org/10.3886/ICPSR05208.v1
Persistent URL: https://doi.org/10.3886/ICPSR05208.v1
Export Citation:
- RIS (generic format for RefWorks, EndNote, etc.)
- EndNote XML (EndNote X4.0.1 or higher)
Scope of Study
Subject Terms: assassination attempts, assassinations, internal political conflict, international conflict, political opposition, political violence, social problems, violence
Geographic Coverage: Afghanistan, Albania, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, China (Peoples Republic), Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Global, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, Myanmar, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, North Korea, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Soviet Union, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Venezuela, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe
- 1948--1967
Universe: Assassinations (plotted, attempted, and actual) in 84 countries in the period 1948-1967.
(1) NEW YORK TIMES INDEX, (2) DEADLINE DATA, and (3) ENCYLOPEDIA BRITTANICA YEARBOOKS
Extent of Processing: ICPSR data undergo a confidentiality review and are altered when necessary to limit the risk of disclosure. ICPSR also routinely creates ready-to-go data files along with setups in the major statistical software formats as well as standard codebooks to accompany the data. In addition to these procedures, ICPSR performed the following processing steps for this data collection:
- Checked for undocumented or out-of-range codes.
Original ICPSR Release: 1984-05-03
- 2003-06-09 SAS and SPSS data definition statements were created for this collection.
Related Publications
Export Options: RIS/EndNote
Metadata Exports
- Citations exports are provided above.
Export Study-level metadata (does not include variable-level metadata)
If you're looking for collection-level metadata rather than an individual metadata record, please visit our Metadata Records page.


text:
Welcome to the profile contest of October!
As many of you know already the purpose of this contest is too see who can create the best profile.The profiles will be judged by selected staff members of NarutoBase fairly, a poll is not needed because we want to prevent turning this into a popularity contest.
The profiles will be judged based on:
►Use Of color
►Pleasing to the eye
- No copying other people
- It has to be your work, do not get other people to help design your profile.
- Be polite to the other contestants
- Keep this thread clean, no spamming, double posting or off-topic content
- Remember this is just for fun!
- Entering this contest with multiple accounts is forbidden
- Decisions of the contest judges are final - no substitutions will be available
- One entry per person
- That are sexually charged or suggestive,
- That depict acts of violence or cruelty,
- That attack or disparage or present in a false light ANY individual or group of people as such,
- That are otherwise vile, nasty or otherwise uncivil...
..are forbidden.
1st Place
~ Temporary larger avatar
~ Temporary name color change
~ A chance to change your username if you wish
~ An award
~ 3 000 Kumi
2nd Place
~ An award
~ 1 500 Kumi
3rd Place
~ An award
~ 750 Kumi
Anyone who wishes to enter the contest must post [ I wish to take part ]
Submission time ends on 10th November.
Good luck everyone!


text:
World Vision to deploy relief supplies to Colorado floods
Raging floodwaters have cut off roads and destroyed bridges in Colorado, leaving more than 1,000 people in Boulder and 14 other counties stranded or unaccounted for. More than 14,500 people have evacuated and more than 600 remain unaccounted for.
Eight fatalities have been attributed to the floods since Sept. 11, but officials say the number could rise. Lingering storms hampered some rescue efforts early Monday.
Torrents of rain and mudslides on mountainsides and canyons have damaged nearly 18,000 homes and destroyed at least 1,600 in an area about the size of Delaware.
A World Vision assessment team is deploying to the area on Wednesday. Disaster response staff are already talking to partners and local agencies about their need for aid.
"Two truckloads of emergency supplies will be sent from our North Texas warehouse on Wednesday," says Phyllis Freeman, World Vision's national disaster response director. The relief supplies include personal hygiene kits, blankets, paper goods, and flood clean-up kits, with buckets and bleach.
"Our initial distributions will be made by local search and rescue teams," she says.
As devastating flooding destroys homes in Colorado, World Vision is working with local partners to provide immediate relief supplies — including flood clean-up kits, personal hygiene items, and blankets — to as many as 2,500 people in the Loveland, Colorado area. Make a one-time donation to our Disaster Response in the USA fund.


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Collaboration focus of visit to INTERPOL by Swiss State Council member
LYON, France – Geneva canton Council of State member Isabel Rochat today met with INTERPOL Secretary General Ronald K. Noble to discuss the role of international collaboration in national, regional and international security, and how INTERPOL's international law enforcement network connects Europe to other regions.
With security part of the Swiss official's brief at the Council of State of Geneva canton, INTERPOL's activities on public safety and combating transnational organized crime, human trafficking and crimes against the environment was high on the agenda during Mrs Rochat's visit to INTERPOL's General Secretariat headquarters, where she was briefed on the full range of INTERPOL's tools and services, including its global databases.
Switzerland in 2005 was the first country to be connected to INTERPOL's FIND (Fixed Interpol Network Database) technology allowing frontline officers to access key INTERPOL tools such as its Stolen & Lost Travel Documents database, and with the country a member of INTERPOL's Project Whiteflow against international cocaine smuggling and of its Project Pink Panthers against an international gang of armed jewel robbers, Secretary General Noble praised 'Switzerland's strong record in working with INTERPOL in the pursuit of security goals common to all countries'.


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Day 24: Share your blessings
You are our blessing! Thanks to all of our supporters who make our work possible. We've encouraged you this month to Share #Joy … here's a compilation of how our friends have shared and received joy this season.
Today's challenge: Share with us how someone has been a blessing to you (comment below!)
"In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." —Matthew 5:16 (NIV)
You are our blessing
Throughout this month as we've been sharing joy with the world, some common responses to our posts have been "Amen" and "Thank you," with many notes mentioning the good work World Vision is doing. We love hearing that!
But I want to take a moment to thank all of you: our followers and donors and readers and supporters. Without all of you, none of our work is possible!
I've had the honor of working here for the past 10 months, and it's humbling to know that I have 44,000 colleagues around the world all working alongside me doing God's work among the poor. But everything we do comes from you: Without your support, none of our work is possible. So thank you!
We've been encouraging you to share joy this month…here are a few highlights of how joy has been shared and received over the past few weeks!
"Thank you for sharing your insights about joy and sharing it with others. World Vision gives me joy in knowing that there is an organization that is working for people around the world to not only make life better in providing basic needs, but spiritual needs that are, ultimately, the most important." —Michelle
"How wonderful. First post I have seen that isn't demanding buy buy buy. Stop already. This is Jesus' day. WWJD?" —Judy
"This morning we had a plumber in to do some work. He told me about a Youtube video he saw recently in which a jaguar attacked and killed a caiman. I was amazed that a cat-like animal would take on a gator-like creature. Then, I saw the verse you shared with the advent calendar today: 'The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them.' And that is even more amazing to me! What a day that will be!" —Mary
"Thank you very much World Vision for helping our fellow men in the Philippines who were victims of the super typhoon Yolanda [Haiyan]. A million thanks to all the supporters and to all who have contributed their help and efforts to feed the hungry people and for giving them clothing. God bless you more." —Lyd
"We sponsor a child Linesi thru World Vision. Wonderful Organization. We are Blessed to be a Blessing!" —Karen
"I am truly touched and challenged by these three kids' practical active faith. I have come to learn again that doubt and fear will not only stop you from doing what is right, but will also destroy what is right. But active faith even in the face of impossibilities will always prevail as did the faith of these three little kids. Thank you for allowing God to work through you to strengthen my faith again more especially in the aspect of giving." —Ugochukwu
"I am so excited I just sent my 1st gift of animals-2 chickens!!!!" —Cindy
"We are excited too! We just sent our first gift of a baby goat to Rwanda!!!" —Fred
"My 1st grade class has collected $100 to buy a goat and two chickens!! We are so excited to be giving instead of getting!!" —Beth
"What are you giving Christ this year for Christmas? We are celebrating His birthday and all He wants is for us to love our neighbors. We could provide malaria nets, clean clothes, rabbits, goats, you name it. We are so blessed. All I want for Christmas is to help others." —Jane
"I have 3 beautiful children that I am fortunate to be able to sponsor. When I send anything to them I receive the most beautiful responses & pictures back. It is so wonderful that they actually get what is sent to them and are so happy to get it." —Linda
At the top: My sponsor is a blessing: Dércia and her classmates are grateful for the new school and water source from World Vision. (Photo: ©2013 Claudina Lembe/World Vision)
Care for an orphan. For children who have lost a parent, every day can be filled with fear and uncertainty. You can be a blessing to a child — not only for today, but also for tomorrow — with your gift to provide resources like clothing, education, and protection.


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To help establish a sustainable credit union framework for its citizens, the Falkland Islands Development Corp. received assistance from Local Government Federal Credit Union in Raleigh, N.C, and the World Council of Credit Unions.
Dwayne Naylor, chief operating officer of the $1.3 billion credit union, traveled to the Falkland Islands in the South Atlantic on April 14-19, according to the World Council.
While there, Naylor reviewed the necessary legislative framework and explained the credit union model to interested citizens and local authorities.
He also assessed local infrastructure, information systems and professional staff capacity and requirements to provide savings, consumer lending, transaction services, remittances, international transfer services and business lending.
"The Falklands' economy is changing rapidly," Naylor said. "Increased access to a credit union will be in the community's interest to grow."
Despite keen local interest, the World Council said, the Falkland Islands' small population remains a challenge to credit union sustainability. With just 2,300 working-age islanders, Naylor and FIDC staff considered whether a credit union could be sustainable without possibility to achieve scale.
One bank branch currently operates on the Falkland Islands, yet residents find it difficult to access credit, according to the Madison, Wis.-based World Council.
The government established the FIDC to provide financing to island businesses that have been refused bank financing. In addition to accessing financial services, islanders wanted to share ownership of a "bank" with the same voting rights as any other shareholder, the council said.
Having heard positive things about North American credit unions, the Falkland Islands' government requested World Council assistance to introduce credit unions to its citizens.
Naylor, the council and the FIDC continue to review alternative information communication technology strategies for cloud-based back-office processing and mobile services on the island.
"We knew this would be a challenge from the start when the (FIDC) approached us but we remain optimistic that in today's world, credit unions can provide an empowering solution for this community as well," said Brian Branch, World Council president/CEO.


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Find certified Nissan repair shops and mechanics near you
Nissan is a leading Japanese automaker. Nissan acquired its automotive division through a merger with DAT motors (Datsun) in the early 1930s. The original shareholders weren't too keen on the idea of automobiles in Japan and had their shares bought out. Nissan was a major vehicle producer for the United States Army during the Korean War. Nissan started a pageant competition in the 1960s called "Nissan Miss Fairladys." The name was chosen as a link to the Broadway play My Fair Lady.
Nissan's most reported problem on RepairPal is associated with failed crankshafts on some Nissan Altima models.


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are bracing for an upcoming onslaught of tablets and e-readers being rolled out
in the next few months -- from the likes of RIM, HTC, LG,
and Samsung,
to name a few. And these new devices aren't hitting the market without good
reason -- the demand is there.
According to a
report from market research company IMS Research, Q4 2010 e-reader
shipments, which totaled 5.1 million units worldwide, were up 90 percent over
the previous quarter -- a 116-percent increase over the same period of 2009.
Amazon's Kindle and Barnes & Noble's NOOK performed particularly well, with
B&N overtaking Sony at second place in the e-reader market.
While the numbers for e-readers are certainly impressive, they were
overshadowed by tablets' worldwide performance. "Thanks to strong
iPad holiday sales and significant sell-in of the Samsung Galaxy Tab,"
tablet sales rose 124 percent from quarter to quarter, to 9.4 million
units in Q4 2010.
And the success of both types of devices is predicted to continue. IMS Research
forecasts 146-percent growth for e-readers in 2011, thanks to falling prices
and new features such as touch and color screens. Tablets, on the other hand,
are expected to grow 242 percent, to 58 million units on the year.
As we reported previously, tablet growth has already begun to
cut into demand for PCs. This trend is set to continue, with tablets
representing 23 percent of the portable PC market, up from just 8 percent in


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Chris Corbin
Thu, 02/24/2011
An enviropreneur uses water rights markets to keep water in stream.
Unfair outcomes for Kenya's Maasai.
Chris Corbin
At a young age Chris Corbin was told, "Do what you lov
Chris Corbin
Chris Corbin, a 2008 PERC Enviropreneur Institute alum, discusses how his company, Lotic LLC, uses water markets to keep water instream.


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Jose's a professional, I don't think he will cry his way out of town like Wince. I don't blame Jose either for welcoming a trade. The organization has made it very transparent kyle lowry is their point guard of the future.
I just hope and pray we get someone decent for Jose. I'd start looking at Memphis' Roster and start planting the seed.


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In Memoriam: Entrust Financial's Susan Adams Dies at 59
Former Entrust Financial CU President/CEO Susan Adams died Monday following a battle with cancer. She was 59 and is survived by her husband, Daniel.
In addition to heading the $70 million Richmond, Va., credit union for 24 years, Adams also served on the boards of the Richmond Chapter of Credit Unions, Virginia Credit Union League and Virginia Corporate FCU.
She also served on the board at PSCU, for whom she appeared in a video, and was active in fundraising efforts for the Make-a-Wish Foundation and Children's Miracle Network.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations be made to the Capital Fund Campaign of Salisbury Presbyterian Church, 13621 W. Salisbury Rd., Midlothian, Va. 23113.
A celebration of Adams' life will be held at Salisbury Presbyterian Church on Wednesday, April 17, at 11 a.m., with a reception to follow in the church fellowship hall.


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NEC Electronics has introduced the world's first host controller for the SuperSpeed USB 3.0 standard, which can transfer up to 5 gigabits per second when paired with a USB 3.0 device. Host controllers are used to connect devices external to a computer system, such as Universal Serial Bus devices, SATA and IDE drives, and Ethernet connections. Typically, a host controller is either built into the southbridge of a chipset or connected to it.
The µPD720200 host controller is expected to be used primarily on motherboards, LCD monitors, televisions, and other consumer electronic devices. Large quantities of data are being created daily, and the first consumer devices using the new standard are expected to be high resolution digital cameras and video camcorders.
A new generation of external hard drives and USB flash drives is also expected to arrive quickly to take advantage of the 10x increase in transfer speeds. USB 3.0 devices will be backward compatible with host controllers using USB 2.0, 1.1 and 1.0 versions of the USB standard. By the end of 2011, USB 3.0 will become the new standard for all USB devices as production ramps up and costs fall. Everything from cell phones to printers will use the new standard.
Samples of the µPD720200 host controller are scheduled to be available in June 2009 at US$15 each, and will include free Windows device driver software. Monthly production is expected to reach approximately 1 million units during September 2009. NEC claims its USB experience will help its production ramp, as they've shipped 161 million USB devices as of March 2009.
NEC has been a member of the USB Implementers Forum since 1996, and launched the world's first USB 2.0 compliant host controller chip in 2000. NEC Electronics plans to exhibit the µPD720200 USB 3.0 host controller at its booth during the SuperSpeed USB Developers Conference in Tokyo later this week.


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Note : Your Quotation Request will be directed to Microot Microwave.
The MDC20-020265 from Microot Microwave is a Directional Coupler with Frequency 2 to 26.5 GHz, Coupling 20 ± 0.5 dB, Coupling Variation ± 0.5 dB, Directivity 13 dB, Power 20 W. Tags: Module with Connectors. More details for MDC20-020265 can be seen below.
698 MHz to 2.7 GHz, 3.1 dB Directional Coupler
0.5 to 500 MHz SMT Directional Coupler
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