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After years of good service my Blackberry has developed a fault with calls which has meant I've had to switch phones. But this should make anyone who is considering buying this phone hesitate, it is by far the best phone I've had to date. In terms of style, it is miles ahead of its rather stodgy Apple competitors and the ability to have an actual keyboard rather than a screen is useful for those like me with limited manual dexterity. The message system is very efficient so that you can juggle six different text conversations at the same time, although the limited screen space can make itself felt when trying to navigate Facebook and other sites. The camera can take good quality photographs and the video quality likewise is a another great selling point for this model. Surprisingly resistant to drops and knocks (and there is no worry of the screen shattering as with Iphones) and also water, I would recommend this to the person who has a busy social life but isn't addicted to Facebook, if you can't tick those two boxes then this probably isn't the model for you.
I have had my Torch for about 4 months now, as a company provided phone. Day to day use is emails, calls and texts.
The design of the phone is very slick, with the sliding handset uncovering a qwerty keyboard, which can be used rather than the touchscreen. For me the touchscreen can sometimes be a little unresponsive and the keys on the screen can be a little small. Not great if you want to text quickly.
The screen is very bright and clear and easy to read and operate. Layout of the phone is very simple, with large icons showing all the required shortcuts such as mail, browser, messages, etc. It is very easy to navigate your way around the phone.
The internet browser can sometimes be a little slow and temperamental. When trying to pinch and zoom, the phone may not respond as it still loading up the webpage, which at times can take a while. Using the browser linked to a Wi-Fi network does help this, but in my opinion it isn't as quick as other phones out there.
The camera is 5 megapixel with flash and auto-focus, providing very crisp photos. However, the camera does not have a zoom function which is a bit of a let down. The video camera also provides good quality videos, both in picture and sound.
I felt that the overall build quality of the phone was a little flimsy, so I have recently bought a protective cover to help. The plastic back to the phone tends to creak a little when using both the touchscreen or qwerty keyboard and it does not withstand the odd bash very well! The handset does however feel quite bulky which may or may not be a good thing for some people.
As a business phone it is excellent - emails are easy to set up and are delivered to the phone very quickly after the actual email inbox on my desktop.
Overall I do very much like this phone and would recommend it. There are some slight flaws to it but nothing that would put me off having another one.
I upgraded my phone contract last year to get a HTC wildfire phone but I wasn't with the phone for too long as it was stolen a few months later whilst I was sitting my end of year exams. I had to go back to using one of my old phones and I wasn't too pleased about it. A month later I wound up with my Blackberry Torch 9800. The phone was actually my mum's upgrade but she wasn't used to having a touchscreen phone and she knew I needed a new phone and handed the Blackberry Torch over to me.
So I've had the Blackberry Torch 9800 for 15 months now; just a few months left before I get another upgrade. Everyone in my household has a Blackberry phone and for some time I felt like the odd one out until I was given this new phone. I've had the phone for so long and it hasn't let me down; it still does everything I need it to do and more. The phone looked so nice brand new so I bought a screen protector and a transparent plastic cover to protect it; I've dropped the phone a lot of times so it was really needed.
One of the features I love about this phone is that it not only has a qwerty keyboard but it's also a touchscreen phone too. Sliding the phone up allows you to access the qwerty keyboard and sliding it back down puts the phone into touchscreen mode. I type very slow with the touchscreen so I'm glad I have the option of using the qwerty keyboard. Most times I choose to use the touchscreen option if I want to click on something really quickly or if I want to zoom in or out by pinching the screen. In touchscreen mode, you can view whatever is on the screen in portrait or landscape; depends on which way up the phone is being held. You can actually use the phone in touchscreen mode without the need of the qwerty key pad but I interchange between both when convenient for me. The Blackberry trackpad on the phone helps you to quickly navigate around the screen. You can use the trackpad in touchscreen mode or when using the qwerty keyboard.
I use my phone a fair bit and most times it takes about 5 days before I need to fully charge my phone. There are options on how to increase battery life, e.g. by reducing the brightness of the screen etc. I implemented such useful strategies to increase the battery life on my phone and it's probably helped a bit.
My blackberry phone keeps me connected. When I first got it I was able to set up my emails straight away and access social networking apps. There's also the blackberry messenger service which keeps me very busy indeed. I download apps through blackberry app world both from the app on my phone and sometimes directly from the website whilst I'm on my laptop.
My blackberry comes with a 5 megapixel camera which is not too bad I guess. The camera function allows you to choose different modes you want to take your picture, which is good too. There's the auto mode too which is what I use most of the time. Allows you to add or remove flash too and you can geotag your photos if you want.
One thing I love about this phone is the universal search where you can search keywords to find specific text messages. Also if you need help with something on the phone, you can search for what to do through universal search. Because of this I'm able to use the phone very efficiently without wasting much time looking for things.
All in all, it's a really good phone that's very good for networking which I'm really pleased about.
I have had my blackberry torch for just over a year now. I like the phone however it does have some flaws such as the paint on around the screen has quite severly chipped off as well as this the phone also lag's on occassion. One of the features that appeals to me most about this phone is the large touch screen making it easy to navigate through web pages. The battery life on the phone is average however if you are using the phone all day the battery wont last 8 hours. The phones camera at 5 megapixel's takes some fantastic photos, The flash also allows you to use the camera in the dark aswell as using the phone as a torch if you download one of the free apps avalable. Another feature i like about the phone is the 8gb of built in storage aswell as the micro sd card slot located under the battery. The phone itself is quite robust. I know this from always dropping it and it never cracking the screen. I would recommend the phone as it has proved to be very reliable and user friendly.
I've had my Blackberry Torch 9800 for just over 18 months (my contract just ended and I switched to a Samsung Galaxy SIII). I have to say, I enjoyed my time with my Torch, and had no problems with it, bar a little lag towards the end of my contract - this is common for most phones, age slows them down. A bit like us I suppose! I'll review the features individually:
Touchscreen and keyboard:
The Blackberry Torch is like most Blackberries, with a physical keyboard. For some reason, the keyboard on this phone feels a lot nicer to use than other Blacbkerries I've tried - for those with big hands/fingers, it may be a bit of a pain, with the keys being quite small - I can whack out emails/texts incredibly quickly with very few errors! For those who don't like physical keyboards, however, there's also the option of using the phone's touch-screen keyboard. I'll be honest, the on-screen keyboard isn't amazingly accurate compared to other modern phones, but it still feels relatively nice to use.
The great thing about this phone is it's suitable for anyone screen wise. There's a physical keyboard, if you prefer those, an on-screen keyboard/touch screen, and there's even the classic Blackberry trackpad, if you don't like using the touch-screen!!
The 5MP camera on the Torch 9800 isn't bad for a 2 year old phone. But as far as modern phones go, it doesn't quite compare. The image quality isn't great, and even with the flash, pictures can look quite poor in the dark.
The Blackberry App Store is relatively small compared to the likes of iOS and Android stores. However, there are still many great apps there, especially for the organised, business type! It is however slightly lacking in terms of games - there are of course classics, like Doodle Jump, but there are very few games with decent graphics, so gaming wise it isn't as good as other phones.
I've personally never had a problem with the browser. In fact, I rate it quite highly. It's fast and for the most part reliable. The browsers on other devices I've had crash far more frequently! It's also incredibly secure, due to Blackberry's BES technology, which means you can do things like online banking without worrying.
Any Blackberry fan knows about BBM. It is essentially RIM's own social network, where people add their friends' 'PIN' and can then talk to them in real time - the same way you text, but you can see when people read your messages, you can make 'status updates', and add a display picture. This feature is great, I used it frequently. It just feels a lot more personal than texting does!
Battery life:
The battery life on this device is actually quite good. I sometimes managed to last 48 hours before having to charge it. For mobiles, that's a long time! I hadn't noticed any depletion in battery life either, after the 18 months. It seemed to last just as long as it did when first bought.
Other features:
If you own a Blackberry Playbook tablet, this phone (and any other Blackberry phone) can be linked up to it, allowing your Playbook to see everything on your phone - contacts, BBM messages (you can also reply to them via the tablet), or even use the phone's 3G network when you don't have wifi, without an extra charge - this saves you from having to pay a silly amount for a 3G card like you would for an iPad or other tablet, you can simply use your phone's network!
Overall conclusion:
Personally, I loved this phone, and struggled to part with it. It's great for users who don't mind not playing games on a mobile, and only want to use it for social networking/contacting people/browsing the web. However, for the tech-heads out there, it more than likely lacks the technology for you. The app store is lacking, and the feature pool isn't exactly large.
I'd definitely recommend this phone to anyone who don't care about games too much, and only want a phone for its original purpose - communication.
I've had my BlackBerry Torch for just over a year and I'm counting down the months to when my contract expires. As my company provides my phone, I'm only able to choose a BlackBerry, unfortunately.
The good news is that it is much better than my previous model, the truly useless BlackBerry Storm, though that isn't particularly high praise. If you are after a basic level smartphone but you're not interested in much other than talking, texting and checking your email then I'm sure this would be fine. If you're after more than that, or if you have ever owned (or borrowed for 5 minutes) an iPhone or Android phone then the Torch will be a huge disappointment.
== Menus ==
Apps and other features are organised into a series of menus which can take up all or part of the screen as you wish. You can swipe left and right to move from one menu to another. These are as follows:
- ALL - lists all of the apps and features available (although some features are hidden within subfolders so you have to remember where some of them are hidden!)
- FAVOURITES - you can select certain apps to appear on this menu
- MEDIA - includes all the default media related apps such as music, video, pictures etc
- DOWNLOADS - any new app downloaded from the App Store appears in here
- FREQUENT - this menu includes the 16 most recently used apps in order of how much you use them, which means that apps frequently move around in this menu, increasing the amount of time it takes to find them.
There are very limited opportunities to reorganise these menus. Whilst you can move the position of apps around, and you can add apps to favourites, you can't create new menus or rename existing ones which is frustrating. Maybe I'm doing something wrong but I always find it takes much longer to track down a particular app on here compared to my iPod Touch where the menus are fixed yet customisable so I always know that a certain app is in a particular position on a particular page.
== Apps ==
If you've used Android or iOS apps, you'll be disappointed by what BlackBerry has to offer. Apps are comparatively very basic. There aren't that many to choose from (relatively speaking) and those that are available are expensive and limited in what they can do. Take the example of the BBC Olympics app. The iOS version is a very good, proper iPhone app with lots of information. The BlackBerry app is simply a link to the BBC website. Many BlackBerry apps are no more than hyperlinks. Other apps, like the Podcasts app which comes with the Torch, cannot be used in the UK and so are pointless.
== Speed ==
Slow. Even on WiFi, the Torch often seems to take an age to connect to websites or information on apps. Sometimes it just seems to give up altogether. The Torch regularly slows down to the point where it needs a full reset (involving taking the back off the phone and pulling the battery out, although a third party app is available which has a similar effect).
And quite often, the Torch just hangs - a spinning clock comes up on the screen whilst it stops everything it is doing, rendering the phone unusable for maybe a minute or more. This happens more often than it should, even if you're not doing anything especially difficult. It would seem that the phone just doesn't have anywhere near the memory it needs.
== Social Feeds ==
The Torch had what I thought was quite a useful feature where it collates your social networking and RSS news feeds. Useful until it turned out this was using data at an incredible rate (I've never understood how when it seems mainly text based to me) leading to a very nasty bill. So I've turned that off now.
The Torch has inbuilt GPS (sat nav) which should be useful but is very hit and miss. It can often take a long time for it to find the satellites and regularly needs rebooting in order for it to do so. The advice on the BlackBerry website is that it may take 10 minutes to connect to the satellites. I couldn't believe it when I read this. If you find yourself lost whilst out and about, it will often be quicker to track a stranger down and ask them for directions than it is to wait for the BlackBerry to tell you. Of course, it isn't always that slow - and it can be known to be more or less instant - but it's certainly not a reliable feature.
== Rebooting ==
On the subject of rebooting, the battery pull feature described above reboots the phone completely and as I've mentioned, you need to do it a lot. But... doing so renders the phone unusable for an incredible length of time. I've never actually timed it but it must be at least 5 minutes and quite possibly more. Unless it is just "asleep" rather than fully turned off, the Torch doesn't power up quickly at all.
== Keyboard ==
The touchscreen keyboard is inaccurate, whilst the physical keyboard is fiddly with small keys.
I've had the Blackberry Torch 9800 since September and I have to say, it hasn't been the easiest phone to get on with.
Full touchscreen with a good size screen
Full qwerty keyboard (keys are very small though so if you have chubby fingers, you'll struggle)
Full email function
3G and wifi capability
Various apps available for purchase or download in App World
BBM (messenger feature that allows chat with people who have a BB pin)
5 megapixel camera
Option to use the keyboard or use the touch keyboard
Good points
The phone is great for communicating. You can text, email and have the added bonus of BBM. If you know a lot of people with a Blackberry this comes as an advantage.
On the whole, the touchscreen is well made and responsive (as the phone gets older it becomes less so and less accurate).
You can set up your email accounts on your phone and have them delivered in real time.
Bad points
The qwerty keyboard is very fiddly. The online keyboard is even worse and is horrendous to type on!
The camera is a decent quality but unless you have an incredibly steady hand you won't get the benefit of it as your pictures will come out with a slight blur. Video function is quite good.
While BBM is a plus, it really depends on how many people you know that have a Blackberry. Most contracts have the BB bolt on built into the price, but if you're on pay as you go in the UK you'll end up paying around £5 a month for the pleasure of using the messenger and the internet. That doesn't include your calls or texts!
As the phone is used more it becomes slow and at times freezes completely, with no option but to take out the battery. Sometimes when you touch an app or button on the screen it opens the one next to it and is incredibly frustrating.
There are some decent apps available, but the choice and quality is quite poor I feel, especially if you've ever seen the Apple App Store or used an iPhone etc. There really aren't many good free ones and I wouldn't pay for the rest!
Overall: it's a good phone if you're a talker or a texter, or even an emailer. It's definitely more aimed at the business market than Joe Public, with functions to open word documents etc. So if you're looking for a good touchscreen with lots of apps and nifty little tricks, you're better off looking elsewhere I'm afraid!
I originally got this phone as a surprise present, not particularly being a fan of the Blackberry and BBM hype, and to begin with I really liked it. It has a very nice layout, and a nice smooth touchscreen. I particularly liked the option to use the slide out keyboard instead of the touchscreen because I found that to be difficult to use. At times the touchscreen could be a bit temperamental, either being too sensitive or totally non-responsive. The camera was also of a good quality and had no problems.
After about a month of using the phone, I found that it became really difficult to use. It took a while to start the phone up when I first got it, but after a month, it took about 10 minutes to start the phone, which is frankly ridiculous! When the phone did start it was usually non-responsive to both touch and keyboard, often trying to do things about five minutes after I pressed the buttons, overloading the phone and causing it to switch off once more.
This is not even the start of my issues with the phone. I disliked the way the email client had the options to delete emails and read them, but this only worked for the phone, and I had to later go back and repeat deletion on my computer. Very annoying.
The apps were also very limited and mostly very poor quality. There were some very good apps from major companies which are standard on all smart phones, but nothing special for Blackberry. If you want anything of good quality I'd go with an Android, Windows or iPhone.
I'd generally say this phone is only for the more social people who only want it for BBM and texts.
I got this phone as part of a free upgrade from 02 and I was initially very impressed with the design because it incorporates touch screen and buttons so there is no need to choose between them. I also really like how it slides together, making the phone smaller and easily able to fit into my handbag.
The main issue I have had is with the screen which has broke entirely after three months of use and I had my phone replaced for free. I assumed this was just an error with that particular model but with the second model the speakers inside the phone broke within a few months meaning that I could receive calls but the other person was not able to hear me unless I pressed the speaker button. This meant that it awkward to have conversations on the phone in public or anywhere except on my own in my room. The model was replaced yet again and I'm now on my third version of this phone. So far, the lights in the buttons are breaking and are flashing on and off. However, I'm so grateful that the phone is actually working I'm not too bothered but the flashing lights are quite irritating.
I can honestly say I would never pay a penny for this phone, it has caused me so much trouble due to poorly made handsets. I've used blackberry models previously and have still never had this much difficulty with a phone. As a result I won't be choosing a blackberry for my next upgrade and I would not reccommend spending money on an unreliable phone model. There is clearly a fundamental flaw with this model and even if some others have said that it is a good phone I would say it probably is not worth the risk of constant breakdowns!
The time came where I could no longer pretend I was happy with my simple phone that only made phone calls and took pictures. It was time to get a smartphone!
I spent hours online comparing and finally settled on a Blackberry. The main reason for this was the availability of BBM and the friends I already had using this. BBM allows users to interact with each other similar to text messaging but without the cost of the messages. Imagine MSN messenger but on your phone!
The best physical feature of the phone for me was the ability to switch between touchscreen keyboard and the qwerty physical keyboard. There just some times when you need to feel the physical buttons under your fingers!
The camera on the Blackberry torch is a 5.0MP and is the best I've ever seen on Blackberry handsets. In fact when I head out and about these days I no longer take a digital camera with me as the phone camera more than does the job required.
I highly recommend the Blackberry Torch to anyone in the market for a Blackberry. The only downside is the availability of Apps through RIM is nowhere near the ability of the Apps for the IPhone or Android markets. But this is a work in progress for RIM who will hopefully catch up with the rest of the phone App world. It does of course still have the essential Apps, Facebook, twitter, YouTube etc.
Unlike many of my friends who have moved to apple iPhones, i have stuck with blackberry since my first one over 6 years ago.
The phones main selling point is that it has both touch screen and keyboard. this means that when i as writing a long email i can use the keyboard to make sure it is all correct. when texting friends fast i use the touch screen which has built in spell check to cut down on mistakes.
the screen also has a very high quality display which is also pretty big. this means that it is possible to have films and photos on it.
the touchscreen also makes it really easy to surf the internet which i might add it views in full rather than like the iPhone which shows a mobile internet.
The blackberry softwares has changed to a much nicer faster os 6 & 7 which makes sending emails and just general use really easy.
it is also worth buying the charging dock which the phone can then be used as an alarm clock and even has its own bedside mode.
I purchased this phone a whim. I was getting sick of using the very basic curve with slow internet. I seen this Blackberry, at an amazing price on contract and that I would treat myself. So I signed up to a new contract and got this phone with it for free which is excellent!
When you first lift this phone out of the box, you can tell that it is good quality from the weight of it, not too heavy that it is a nuisance, not to light that it will break if you drop it. The phone is very stylish, that if you are walking down the high street using it, you will attract the attention of others for sure! The phone slides fairly smoothly, however it can be awkward when sliding that you open something on your screen.
Storage -
The Torch 9800 has an excellent internal storage capacity of 4GB, has 512 MB RAM, not the best, but a fast phone, and 512 ROM. The Torch has also got an expandable memory card slot, which can take microSD cards up to an astonishing 32GB
Screen -
The Blackberry Torch screen is very high quality, and benefits from a TFT capacitive touch screen. The screen size is 3.2 inches.
Keyboard -
The keyboard on the Blackberry Torch is a full QWERTY keyboard, both touch screen and keys. Typing on the keys is so smooth you can barely here it, compared to the curve 8520 which was much more noisy and noticeable.
Typing with the hard keys is much easier than the on screen keyboard, you can type much faster and make literally no mistakes, if you have been use to typing on a touch screen phone before, then you will notice that it is much different.
Sound -
The sound quality on this device is really good, you have a very good call quality, along with a good music playback, you can very easy and it is not muffled.
The ring volume and vibrations can be very strong, if you have a message or a call, then you will not have to worry about missing it with the vibrations coming from this device, as with all Blackberry's. As I am a previous Blackberry owner of the Curve 8520 I have noticed that when you are selecting your different messaging tones that you do not have as much selection as what you are use to on the older Blackberry Devices.
Durability -
I have had this phone for just under 3 weeks now. I haven't noticed and scratches or markings on the casing as of yet. I have been taking very good care of it, by not putting it in a pocket with keys, or coins. The area around the edge of the screen, and the phone is a high gloss finish which has no marks, or scrapes on it, as of yet. I would recommend getting some screen protectors for the phone, you can pick them up fairly cheaply, usually a couple of pounds from the internet.
Connectivity -
The connectivity options with this phone are endless. From using Bluetooth, to data, to USB, you will also be able to connect. On the torch, you get a data connection of upt HSDPA the fastest out. As of today. I think that 4G is being tested. You also get WIFI 802.11 b/g/n.
The Blackberry devices have one of the best notification push systems, that as soon as you receive an e-mail, facebook notification etc, you will be notified on your home screen.
Camera -
The camera on this device is amazing. 5 mega pixels with auto focus and an LED flash. When I have been taking pictures on this device the average size is about 2.3 MB. The camera also has Geo-Tagging, and image stabilization.
Price -
The price of this phone is fairly reasonable! You can pick it up for around 300 on pay as you sim free, or you can get it free on contract for about £15 a month.
Recommend -
I would definitely recommend this phone to anyone, it is quite cheap, doesn't lack in features, very stylish and modern phone. With RIMs Messenger Blackberry Messenger (BBM) you can chat with other blackberry users for free over the RIM network for free.
Thanks for reading! I hope this has been of interest to you and has helped assist you in your decision.
Even though, after a lot of pestering, my parents had only brought me a Blackberry Curve in May, when my contract ran out in September I had to get a new phone instead of going sim only. I didn't even have to think about what brand I wanted, I was sticking with the Blackberry! And after minutes of looking at fake handsets had decided on the Blackberry Torch 9800!
BB Torch 9800 -
The BB Torch has a large touch screen which slides up to reveal a buttoned 'qwerty' keypad, giving you the best of both worlds; touch screen and normal buttons. There are also buttons on the top of the handset (lock and mute) and down the side (volume and camera).
The phone measures at roughly 11cm in height, 6cm in width and 2cm in depth, making it quite big and bulky compared to other handsets. I have the BB Torch in silver (it is available in silver, black and red) however, this does not make it look feminine, it is definitely a 'manly' looking handset.
Unlike my previous BB phone, this one comes with a decent camera! The camera is 5mp and has a flash and face recognition. My previous phone had a 2mp, non flash, camera and the difference between the two in incredible. The photos on this phone come out very clear and bright and look as if they have been taken on a digital camera. The face recognition feature is obvious when used in crowded areas as faces clearly stand out more in the pictures.
As with most phones these days, the internet is built into the handset and can be accessed using either 3G or wifi. The internet is very basic and easy to use and always seems to load pages that I want quickly. Most of the time, writing on the internet is very small and difficult to read, however, if you tap the screen it will zoom in and everything becomes very clear.
If you are, for example, on your local bus services website and wish to view a timetable, the phone will give you the option of viewing the webpage or downloading the timetable. If you opt for the download, it will be stored in a documents folder do that you can access it in future without searching again.
I find the whole internet feature on phones to be a lifesaver in many situations and don't know how I ever coped without it! I am always Googling something, whether it be directions or who that actor is! I also have every bus timetable I will ever need downloaded, incase of emergency.
Aswell as internet explorer, Blackberry App Store is pre-installed. This allows you to download and install apps and games onto your phone. Most of these apps come at a price, but some are available for free. A lot of the free apps are trials and not usually worth paying for anyway, but you can find the odd gem hidden in there. For some reason, the app store doesn't seem to have many popular apps that you see advertised (for example, Special K or Weight Watchers) but I'm hoping they will update it soon.
There is also a built in music store but I have never used this so cannot comment.
Other built in features include:
*Windows Live Messenger
*Google Talk
All of these can be activated by either logging into an existing account or creating a new one. You can also uninstall any of these if you do not require them and reinstall them if you ever feel the need to.
It is also worth mentioning that 'What's App' and 'Kik' messengers are compatible with the phone, as these seem to be quite popular at the minute for socialising and allow you to message and send photos to anyone for free.
Another key feature on the BBT is Blackberry Messenger, which seems to be the reason why Blackberry phones have become so popular. BBM is basically a 'free' (you have to pay £5 a month on top of your contract to activate it) instant messaging service that allows you to communicate with other people who have a Blackberry and whose 'pin' you have. BBM is preinstalled into the handset, however, you must be paying for 'Blackberry Services' on your plan to use it, if I remember right, Blackberry Services includes BBM and internet services.
Despite this being a new phone, by a company that seems to be taking over the world, it is quite basic (which is why I love it so much). The above features are pretty much the main features of the phone and everything else that comes with it have been included in all phones for the last 10 years! Other features include:
*Text messaging
*Alarm clock
*Music player
However, you can use the App Store to update the phone and add modern features, up to an extent. I recently downloaded a Kobo reader (for free) which has made the phone slightly more beneficial as I don't need to carry books around now!
Although I love this phone, and feel as though I couldn't survive without it, I have come across one major issue which has forced me to take it back to the shop twice already. Almost every time I am on the internet for a long(ish) amount of time, or playing a game that I have downloaded, it will turn itself off and reboot. This gets very annoying when your phone has turned itself off 5 times in the last hour! But I can't bring myself to take it back completely.
It can go through spells of doing this and, sometimes, it can be 2-3 weeks without it happening, but then it will happen every couple of hours the next day. I would say, if you are thinking of getting this phone, it would definitely be worth researching into this and finding out if this is a common problem.
Overall, I do love this phone. The main reason that it attracted me was because it had both a touch screen and buttons. I find this beneficial as I can type faster with the buttons but quieter on the touch screen when working nights. Also, as touch screens have a tendency to break around me, I can still use the phone if this happens.
Also, I love that I can check my Facebook or Google vital information wherever I am, and do it quickly. And the size of the phone means I will never lose it in my huge handbag as it is really bulky and difficult to miss.
My only real issues with the phone are that there isn't much of a selection on the App Store, but I can live with that, and the problem with the phone turning itself off all the time.
A phone that I would recommend a 100000% if the turning itself off is not a common problem. If it is, I wouldn't bother.
Out of all the phones that my friends own Blackberries were a majority. This was because they were a cheap and reliable brand. Having previously owned an iPhone I didn't want to lose the touch screen so after searching for a touch screen blackberry; this proved to be the best phone for several reasons.
It comes with a built in 4GB memory which is plenty of space for your photos etc.
Unlike many smart phones this phone allows sd cards so extra space.
First blackberry with both keyboard and touch screen.
It's battery life is very good. Lasts up to one day of constant use.
However after owning the blackberry for several months; I saw that it could not handle multitasking very well and it keep freezing if I received messages while watching youtube videos. They phone is also very heavy and the weight can be felt in your pocket.
When compared to the iphone (my previous phone) I would rather have a blackberry as it contains an instant chat service known as bbm. This allows the user to instantly talk to his/her friends for free providing they paid the five pound bbm fee and the friend also has a blackberry.
But apart from this feature and the battery life there are better phones on the market.
Eventually the track pad broke and I had to sell the phone and replace it with a bold 9900 which I must say does not freeze as much as the blackberry torch.
Right. When I first was looking to upgrade from my fairly smart phone to a smart phone I was suckered into it as a girl I liked had a Blackberry and I wanted any excuse to buy a Blackberry. Unfortunately I Whatsapp hadn't been invented or I hadn't heard of it yet! Now sadly the girl has moved on and we no longer chat as much as we used to which is a shame because now I am stuck with a fairly awful smart phone. First up, the internet is slow and not easy to use. It has difficulties zooming in and I'm forever ending up on the wrong web page due to the rubbish touchscreen. If surfing the web wasn't hard enough then try typing with the touchscreen keyboard. It's nigh on impossible. Maybe its because my thumbs are too wide or that I am not a fan of touchscreens anway (you cannot gauge any sort of muscle memory from them making it very difficult to get used to). Either way it is distressing. This must be why they included a handy little keypad on a slider underneath. Now we're talking! I dont know why they dont do this on all smart phones then the technophiles like myself can still manage to get through life relatively stress free. Apps - smart phones are all about apps these days and Blackberry just doesn't have any. Or at least doesn't have very many of the ones you are actually going to want. My biggest peeve (as a film addict) is that they do not have the IMDB app which means I have to go on the rubbish internet and try and navigate my way through dodgy links with an unusable touchscreen just to see who the director of some useless film was. This results in much exhaustion. And to top it all off work have just given me a Torch too!!! I cannot get away from them. Do yourself a favour and get something that isnt a blackberrry.


text:
OCEAN CITY – Here are some of the things that were said both during and after the City Council's decision to upgrade the Roland E. Powell Convention Center with the $10.4 million "Option A."
"I think we need to do this right away, because we are hurting as a business community. Business in Ocean City has changed drastically in the winter. We need customers year round, the season is too short, and we can't make it."
Bill Gibbs, owner Dough Roller Restaurants
"Is it going to bring net gain, or is it going to make you work harder for more money to be able to just move money? People are treading water on the winter weekends, and a few more good weekends aren't going to put you into the black, it's just going to make the cash flow a little different. Unless you've got a net profit in your pocket, you are treading water."
Councilman Joe Hall
"Joe, I know you've got your opinions on this, but I don't know how researched they are or how founded they are. You were away for three weeks on vacation."
Councilman Doug Cymek to fellow Councilman Joe Hall
"If it were to be assumed that the half percent food tax pays the principal and interest, the additional new tax revenues generated by the facility itself would cover the operating deficit."
City Engineer Terry McGean
"All of the expense of staffing at a performing arts center is done by the promoter, so the theory of any show, is that the promoter takes all the risk of bringing that show in. You will have very little expenses other than cleaning the building."
Tourism Director Mike Noah
"A performing arts center is way overdue, and we should have been having this conversation years ago." Fager's Island owner John Fager
"Every time a restaurant got torn down and a condo went up five years ago, people said where am I going to eat. If people can't stay open year-round because there is no events, people will have to go out of town to eat. We have to ask is this good for the town, and I believe it's a good thing for the town, and I think it will generate more year round business, and will drive people to Ocean City." Councilman Lloyd Martin
"In my industry, surf movies are really popular, and I'm surprised that Ocean City is always excluded from the venues because there isn't a good venue to get families to come and see these movies. When there are events at the convention center, our business significantly jumps, especially in the winter."
K-Coast Surf Shop co-owner Chris Shanahan
"You have the opportunity to get an auditorium that would be conducive to having current entertainers come and play in Ocean City, and not just ones that are on their way out or down. The 20,000 square feet facilitates the rehab and rebirth of old ballroom to something that current performers would be willing to come and play in, and it's vital that we do that."
Seacrets owner Leighton Moore
"You know that we are the biggest group that comes down here, but times are tough, but we don't want to leave Ocean City. Ladies and gentleman, we want to work with you and we want to be a part of what you are going to do with this convention center, and we will help anyway we can."
Maryland State Firemen's Association President Frank Underwood
"I have heard on numerous occasions that more people would be down here if there was more to do in the winter. These businesses that are open in the winter time deserve our help, and they need it now, not later."
Realtor Peck Miller
"It improves the quality of life for the people that live here year-round so they don't have to travel to see a top notch show. In the summer, we've got the beach and the Boardwalk, and in the winter, we've got convention hall, so this decision was a necessity."
BJ's owner Billy Carder.
"You've got to cut taxes where you can, and we have the opportunity here by cutting it a half percent. At first, I was not in favor of this project, but I think this is the right time to do it."
Castle in the Sand hotel owner Adam Showell
"Arts and Tourism go hand in hand, and this is a rare fleeting opportunity to pass something that will improve the quality of life and promote economic development."
Developer Palmer Gillis
"When you have a business and you don't change anything, or you don't offer new venues or leave the convention center the same every year, you sink. You can only tread water for so long, and there's a point where you either move or you die."
Restaurateur and hotelier John Fager
"We need it now, just like we needed a stimulus, we need it now."
Local business owner Al Wendling
"Three years ago, we weren't losing money in the winter, we weren't making it, but we weren't losing it. We've had to lay people off here lately, and winters are getting rough and it's getting serious. I'm officially going on record saying help us please."
Restaurateur Bill Gibbs
"What we have before us is a way to reinvent ourselves, and we are trying to stay current and move forward in a positive way by adding additional space and adding an auditorium component for performing arts functions."
Mayor Rick Meehan
"I think this is our economic stimulus. The half-cent reduction in food tax, plus the partnership with the state, bond rates are down and construction costs are at an all-time low, with potential to expand the shoulder season, performing arts center is going to bring people to town. I think this is a win-win."
Councilman Doug Cymek

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Songwriter Todd Snider is one of those musicians whose work habits are similar to the life of a junkie.
His songwriting is a love-hate relationship, a monkey on his back thats often more than hes bargained for and constantly trying to quit. Snider coexists with his output of work, which is hundreds of songs that he cant remember and more than a dozen records with more on the way.
Last month he released Agnostic Hymns and Stoner Fables, and last week he released a tribute to Jerry Jeff Walker, produced in Nashville, Tenn., by Don Was and featuring loads of guests, including Leftover Salmons Vince Herman.
Snider will return to the Henry Strater Theatre on Saturday night. Opening the show will be Eric Brace and Pete Cooper.
Snider remains charming and funny, even when hes criticizing his own work ethic.
I make up more songs than I probably should. I am one of them people that sort of compulsively makes up songs, and Im actually trying to quit. I think I might have shook it; Id like to stop, Snider said.
Ive got so many, and I dont know them all, so Id like to spend some time learning some of the older ones, he said. It seems like theres always a new record out. I told everyone on our team were going to put out these two and go on an eight-year tour.
Colorado remains a favorite place for Snider to play. He often plays with The Yonder Mountain String Band but hes not necessarily a jam-band guy, favoring funny tales and between-song banter to musical improvisation.
Agnostic Hymns and Stoner Fables is a departure from his last several records, called dark by some critics, although he doesnt see it that way.
I think its kind of a delightful record, or pleasant, he said. Some of my friends say it sounds dark. I think there are songs in minor keys that may be a part of it. I mostly just try to open my little heart up, and then whatever is in there I try not to be a wimp about letting out.
Sniders songwriting can be autobiographical, drunken stories from his youth or sharp criticisms of those in public office. And though some of his songs may be political and he gets lumped into the category of protest singer, he doesnt see himself as a protest musician. He sees himself as a dude on the road honestly expressing himself, and he doesnt care if you like it or not.
Im a storyteller with a guitar or a stoner folk singer, he said. The thing I like is to have that gig where every night is a Saturday and every day is a Sunday and I get to be part of that Saturday night all the time and sing songs. I like that part, and it seems like the best way to keep that job is to be honest and share your opinion.
But if the best way to keep that job is to be dishonest and not share my opinion, I would probably do that, Snider said. I like touring, and thats the reason I share my opinions, not because I think theyre smart or because people need to know them. Its because they rhyme and I know three chords.
Bryant Liggett is a freelance writer and KDUR station manager. Reach him at firstname.lastname@example.com.


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.
Federal Justice Statistics Program: Criminal Appeals Cases Filed in Courts of Appeals, 1995 [United States] (ICPSR 23768)
Principal Investigator(s): United States Department of Justice. Office of Justice Programs. Bureau of Justice Statistics
The data contain records of criminal appeals cases filed in United States Courts of Appeals during fiscal year 1995. The data were constructed from the Administrative Office of the United States Courts' (AOUSC) Court of Appeals file. These contain variables on the nature of the criminal appeal, the underlying offense, and the disposition of the appeal. An appeal can be filed by the government or the offender, and the appellant can appeal the sentence, the verdict, or both sentence and verdict. The data file contains variables from the original AOUSC files as well as additional analysis variables, or "SAF" variables, that denote subsets of the data. These SAF variables are related to statistics reported in the Compendium of Federal Justice Statistics, Tables 6.1-6.5. Variables containing information (e.g., name, Social Security number) were replaced with blanks, and the day portions of date fields were also sanitized in order to protect the identities of individuals. These data are part of a series designed by the Urban Institute (Washington, DC) and the Bureau of Justice Statistics. Data and documentation were prepared by the Urban Institute.
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One or more files in this data collection have special restrictions ; consult the restrictions note to learn more. You can apply online for access to the restricted-use data. A login is required to apply.
Access to these data is restricted. Users interested in obtaining these data must complete a Restricted Data Use Agreement, specify the reasons for the request, and obtain IRB approval or notice of exemption for their research.
Any 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.
Study Description
United States Department of Justice. Bureau of Justice Statistics. Federal Justice Statistics Program: Criminal Appeals Cases Filed in Courts of Appeals, 1995 [United States]. ICPSR23768-v2. Ann Arbor, MI: Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research [distributor], 2011-03-08. https://doi.org/10.3886/ICPSR23768.v2
Persistent URL: https://doi.org/10.3886/ICPSR23768.v2
Export Citation:
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This study was funded by:
- United States Department of Justice. Office of Justice Programs. Bureau of Justice Statistics
Scope of Study
Subject Terms: administration, appellate courts, court cases, criminal law, defendants, federal courts, judicial decisions, legal systems
Geographic Coverage: United States
- 1994-10-01--1995-09-30 (Fiscal year 1995)
- 1994-10-01--1995-09-30 (Fiscal year 1995)
Unit of Observation: appellants in federal criminal cases
Universe: Criminal appeals cases filed in United States Courts of Appeals during fiscal year 1995.
extracts from the AOUSC Courts of Appeals file
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:
- Created variable labels and/or value labels.
Original ICPSR Release: 2009-02-04
- 2011-03-08 All parts are being moved to restricted access and will be available only using the restricted access procedures.
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Export Study-level metadata (does not include variable-level metadata)
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text: I'm 15 . I like to listen to Jrock, which is Japanese Rock. My favorite Bands/Singers are hide, L'arc~en~ciel, Gackt, Malice Mizer, and X Japan. I like others bu these are my favorite. I like to write fan fics, but I've been neglecting them lately, so now that I'm older and armed with more skill, I think I'll polish up Heaven Sent and maybe write a new one. After about a year of no writing I've had some pretty good ideas go through my head. Also if you get a chance read Heaven Sent. ^^


text:
Sign Up
A program for units to add a memorial gold star to their unit flag if a previous or present member of the unit has given their life for their country.
Awarded at the unit level to those who meet the criteria.
Purchase memorial gold star from a Scout shop, or return the unit flag to a Scout shop to have the star affected to your flag.
2" embroidered star for unit flag.
Star device, No. 11117.
Click here for more information.


text:
For one day only, Hester Street Fair will literally transform into "Grub Street, USA" with picket fences, eating parks galore, and over 40 exclusive food vendors selected personally by Grub Street and New York Magazine.
Curated by the folks at Grub Street, the editorial staff has invited their favorite food purveyors and restaurants to participate in their first ever ALL FOOD, all day event. From the best restaurants, to trucks and carts, to neighborhood joints from all across the 5 boroughs, this mouth-watering event will give you a taste of the finest morsels New York has to offer. All in one place!
Plus, to add even a little more spice to the mix, Santos Party House will whip this smorgasbord into even more than your average eating fest, providing the necessary ingredients to dance off some of those extra calories you'll be packing on. Shake liberally so as to avoid impending food coma!
Just make sure to leave room for dessert, kids. This is surely destined to be the most exciting food festival on the Lower East Side this fall – or I promise to eat my words as well. Gulp.
To view more of my food photography, please visit my website: eyeforstyle.net.


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"Do your work willingly, as if you were serving the Lord himself. "COLOSSIANS 3:23 CEV
"Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."ROMANS 12:1-2
"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death."ROMANS 8:12
"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers."GALATIANS 6:9-10
"Then he said to them, "Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For he who is least among you all—he is the greatest."LUKE 9:48


text:
© 2009 MLB Advanced Media, L.P. All rights reserved.
Hawkins upset after receiving fine
Astros reliever punished for comments about umpire
By Brian McTaggart / MLB.com
HOUSTON -- Astros relief pitcher LaTroy Hawkins said Wednesday he was fined an undisclosed amount for critical comments he made against an umpire last week in Chicago. Hawkins received a letter Wednesday from baseball vice president in charge of discipline Bob Watson informing him of the fine. "I don't think the fine is appropriate," said Hawkins, who will look into appealing the fine. "I won't tell you how much I was fined, but it wasn't appropriate. The punishment doesn't fit the crime." Hawkins was ejected in the eighth inning of a July 27 loss to the Cubs for arguing balls and strikes and after the game criticized plate umpire Mike Everitt, saying he had made his mind up who was going to win the game. Hawkins was tossed after waving off Everitt during an argument. "I hadn't said anything," Hawkins said. "He said I made a gesture, and for him to fine me about the gesture, he [must have] thought it was an obscene gesture, right, and it wasn't. I stand by what I said. It's America. I know I play in MLB and have rules and stuff I have to follow, but if you don't stand for something, you will fall for anything." "He was fined an undisclosed amount for his media outburst on the umpiring, and we can't have our players, coaches and managers and team personnel making those kinds of comments," Watson said. Watson had said previously players can't question the integrity of the game's umpires. "Why not? Why not?" Hawkins said. "He questioned my integrity by what I was doing by doing like that [waving his hand at the umpire]. He questioned my integrity. I made a gesture towards the umpires. This is a gesture [waving his left hand]? You don't know that means. That could mean, 'Drop it, let's go.'" Hawkins, who was placed on the disabled list last week with shingles, said he's close to returning. He will throw a light bullpen Friday with hopes of getting back on the mound Saturday to gauge his progress.
Brian McTaggart is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


text:
Company services include a wheel shop, wheelset reprofiling, axle repairs, and wheel and bearing replacement. Other services include purchasing and recuperation of railroad equipment and materials and an engineering and construction department that specializes in trackwork.
Entretien Ferroviaire Boivin is a subsidiary of Groupe Alfred Boivin, also based in Saguenay.


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Uchenna - 42, Houston TX, Land developer
Joyce - 46, Houston TX, Sales
Season 7 winners
Uchenna and Joyce are one of the most beloved teams from any season of Race. The winners of Season 7, Uchenna and Joyce were relentless and stopped at nothing to win the $1 million prize including shaving their heads. They have known each other for 16 years and have been married for seven of those. Both have admitted that the continued inability to start a family has caused a strain on their marriage, but are looking to the Race to get their relationship back on track. This thrill seeking duo will stop at nothing to win the Race as they proved in Season 7, when without hesitation, they shaved their heads for good luck after partaking in the "Fast Forward" task. A decision that moved these tough competitors to the front of the pack and no doubt granted them a stroke of luck for the rest of the Race.
Uchenna describes himself as competitive, fair and charismatic, while Joyce claims to be caring, determined and sensitive.
Will their competitive nature and luck be enough to propel them to another victory this time around?


text:
If Saint Paul Church of Forrest County, Mississippi is your church, tell us more! Click here and email a detailed description of all the great things your church has to offer and we'll include it here.
- Christian Guide
- US Church Directory
- Mississippi Church Directory
- Forrest County Churches
- Saint Paul Church


text:
This BBC program from last summer (it aired last September on BBC America) follows the lives of three people who work for an newly created television news program at the BBC in 1956. While I did find it to be a bit slow in parts for a 6 episode series, I enjoyed watching the whole of it - especially the ending (no spoilers here, though). 'The Hour' is the name of the news program created within the show that attempts to challenge the then BBC standard of merely promoting the government's official viewpoint on current events. The plot also revolves around the mysterious death of a friend of the young journalist played by Ben Whishaw. He is, as usual, amazingly good in this, as are the two other leads; Romola Garai, who plays the head producer of the program, and Dominic West, the not-quite-ready-for-prime-time head anchor. If you are at all familiar with BBC programming, many of these shorter series can be standalone pieces, usually with all the episodes written by the same author (This one is actually coming back for a second series sometime later in 2012). The show creator here, Abi Morgan, seems to be an up-and-coming writer for theater, television, and film. Much of the newsroom work on the program gives some insight into Suez Crisis of the period, which I found interesting. For those not necessarily keen on a fictionalized history lesson, there is both a romance angle between several of the characters and some post-WWII, early Cold War espionage spy stuff going on here too. If you enjoy more modern-set period dramas of the BBC, give this one a try.
Reviews Subjects:
Reviews Titles:


text:
Under the agreement with Consultative Services, the employer promises to correct within a
reasonable time all hazards identified by the consultant. This commitment is made in advance. The employer
also must agree to post the list of hazards that accompanies the consultant's report. If an employer refuses
to correct or verify correction of a serious hazard, the Program Manager may refer the matter to a MOSH
compliance inspector, however this is a rare occurrence in this program.
Return to the MOSH home page
Return to the Division of Labor and Industry home page
Questions or comments regarding MOSH may be directed to email@example.com.
Questions or comments regarding the Division of Labor and Industry may be directed to
Questions or comments regarding the DLLR website may be directed to firstname.lastname@example.com.
Updated March 23, 2010


text:
The Ultimate Bar: Sweet & Sour Mix
The Ultimate Bar: Sweet & Sour Mix
Sweet & Sour mix is an important and necessary ingredient for the at home mixologist. Sour mix, as it's commonly called among bartenders, is used as the base of margaritas and as a component of countless other drinks. Essentially sour mix is a simple sugar syrup with citrus juice. If your bar is already stocked with a store bought, premade Sweet & Sour mix, I recommend you try making a homemade batch at least one time. You will find that homemade Sweet & Sour mix is one hundred times better than the processed stuff. Your drinks will be more flavorful and enjoyable. I guarantee that your guests will marvel at your excellent mixologist skills. It's super easy to make and your can keep it in a tight-lidded container refrigerated for a week. This is a must add to your recipe collection if you pride yourself on being a modern, trendy hostess. To see how to make your own Sweet & Sour mix,
Homemade Sweet & Sour Mix
From Bon Appetit magazine
3 cups water
3 cups sugar
2 cups fresh lemon juice
2 cups fresh lime juice
- Combine water and sugar in large saucepan. Stir over medium heat until sugar dissolves. Bring to boil. Cool syrup.
- Mix syrup, lemon juice and lime juice in pitcher. Chill until cold. (Can be made 1 week ahead. Cover; keep chilled)


text:
Statue of Joe Paterno Finally Removed From Penn State
Despite protests from people who think football is more important than reporting the sexual abuse of children, Joe Paterno's statue was removed from Penn State.
This follows Louis Freeh's damning report that Paterno knew Jerry Sandusky was raping children but did nothing to stop it.
Penn State President Rodney Erickson said the statue was being moved to a "secure location."
I now believe that, contrary to its original intention, Coach Paterno's statue has become a source of division and an obstacle to healing in our university and beyond. I believe that, were it to remain, the statue will be a recurring wound to the multitude of individuals across the nation and beyond who have been the victims of child abuse.
While removing Paterno's statue doesn't undo a shameful history of abuse, it does represent a significant step forward for Penn State.
Expect to hear plenty of whining from Paterno defenders who don't understand why "one mistake" takes away from the coach's legacy. But as David Clohessy, spokesman for the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, put it, "We as a society must learn that a good way to deter child sex cover-ups is to punish, not praise, those who instigate such cover-ups."
[Image via AP/John Beale]


text: Back when Novak was just a baby still, and Rafa was at the physical peak of his defense. Sure he raised his game the following year, but honestly neither one of these guys plays like this anymore. Novak is more consistent now, but this incarnation is what I liked when I first saw him, a shotmaker with sick defense. Rafa of course with all his swagger of his younger days (well both of them). It would be cool to see the Rivalry get back to this to an extent, just the insane shotmaking and ridiculous defense instead of just ridiculous defense. Hope you enjoy the links: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCGNDMmxaX0 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRX7fhH7d3k second link is a bit longer, didn't watch it though


text:
Review the Federal Employees Group Life Insurance (FEGLI) Handbook
Answering your questions about Healthcare and Insurance
"...The Director of the Office of Personnel Management shall serve as the Suitability and Credentialing Agent..." ~Executive Order 13467, as amended
"...primary executive branch service provider for background investigations..." ~Executive Order 13467, as amended
Visit this federal site to search for our regulatory notices, proposed and final rules.
See the latest tweets on our Twitter feed, like our Facebook pages, watch our YouTube videos, and page through our Flickr photos.
The content available is no longer being updated and as a result you may encounter hyperlinks which no longer function. You should also bear in mind that this content may contain text and references which are no longer applicable as a result of changes in law, regulation and/or administration.
Washington, DC -- As a part of its promise to listen to what the Federal workforce has to say, the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has begun to distribute the 2010 Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey. Previously known as the Federal Human Capital Survey (FHCS), the "new and improved" survey will be distributed governmentwide through mid-March. Over half a million Federal employees will be invited to take the survey, approximately 100,000 more than the previous survey.
The survey is intended to measure employees' perceptions of whether, and to what extent, conditions that characterize successful organizations are present in their agencies. Employees taking the survey are assured that their responses will remain confidential.
"In these times of unprecedented change, it is more important than ever to maintain a focus on the Federal Government's most valuable asset - its employees," said OPM Director John Berry. "Every Federal employee plays a role in fulfilling the mission of each Federal agency or department. More than ever, their work is critical to the well-being and security of our Nation."
The survey responses will provide general indicators of how well the Federal Government is running its human resources management systems, and it will give senior managers critical information to answer personnel questions that significantly impact how the Federal Government carries out its mission. New items address employee engagement and work/life issues essential to helping make the Federal workplace a model one.
"The Administration has set a course to make the Federal Government America's model employer for the 21st Century," said Berry. "With the cooperation of those taking the survey, we will be better able to gauge what is and isn't working to create a workplace that attracts the best and brightest."
Our mission is to Recruit, Retain and Honor a World-Class Workforce to Serve the American People. OPM supports U.S. agencies with personnel services and policy leadership including staffing tools, guidance on labor-management relations and programs to improve work force performance.


text:
Pupils at St Margaret's Primary School in Whitnash took on the guises of archeologists and Anglo Saxons during a recent visit to Priory House in Warwick.
They conducted an indoor 'excavation' and examined real artefacts from the Anglo Saxon period, reconstructed some pottery items, created their own Anglo Saxon-style brooches and decorated them with their own unique patterns. The children were also told tales from the Old English epic poem Beowulf - widely considered to be one of the most important works of Anglo-Saxon literature - while wearing their brooches and sitting around a campfire.


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They say 4 out of 5 of the well padded tourists here this summer are yankees off the cruise ships...apparently 1 every afternoon. I didn't realise it until some giant princess ship docked for the day and I thought downtown was a bit overcrowded for a weekday afternoon...turns out they were all from the tourist boat. I can only imagine what they'd do to Ketchikan. I grew to loathe those ships when I lived in the Caribbean as well. I wish something would kill off the industry.
And I wouldn't' get too worried
At least they're mostly confined to the, well, touristy part of town, so that we're not tripping over them as we go to the supermarket or anything.
And I wouldn't' get too worried over the size and expense of your camera.....
Oh, I definitely don't! I always like cheap technology.


text: S. Serge Lifar, Serge Diaghilev, His Life, His Work, His Legend: An Intimate Biography (1940); and , reissued 1976), is an account by the Russian premier danseur and friend of Diaghilev. Arnold L. Haskell and W. Walter Nouvel, Diaghileff: His Artistic and Private Life (1955), are authoritative biographies. 1935, reissued 1978); and Richard Buckle, Diaghilev (1979, reissued 1984), by the British dance critic, are worthy biographies. Sjeng Scheijen, Diaghilev: A Life (2010; originally published in Dutch, 2009), makes good use of sources in Russian and corrects many previous misconceptions about its subject. S.L. Grigoriev, The Diaghilev Ballet, 1909–1929 (1953, reprinted 1974reissued 2009; originally published in Russian), is a standard work on the Russian ballet. Other studies are John Percival, The World of Diaghilev, rev. ed. (19711979), a succinct , popular study; and Charles Spencer, Philip Dyer, and Martin Battersby, The World of Serge Diaghilev (1974, reissued 1979). Books concerning Diaghilev and his dance troupe include Lynn Garafola, Diaghilev's Ballets Russes (1989, reissued 1998); and Lynn Garafola and Nancy Van Norman Baer (eds.), The Ballets Russes and Its World (1999).


text:
Was $399.95 NOW $299.95
This is the trestle patio table set with four chairs that stow under the tabletop for unobtrusive storage. Available only at Hammacher Schlemmer, the set has chairs that fold and stack between the two trestle supports, allowing the entire set to be stored within the table's footprint. The weatherproof table and chairs are made from Brazilian eucalyptus that is 30% harder than mahogany and has natural oils and a tight grain that prevent damage from rain, mold, and termites. The 40"-wide octagonal tabletop provides ample room for four adults and each chair has a slightly curved backrest and supports up to 300 lbs., ensuring comfort and stability. Left alone, the wood will develop a unique silvery gray patina, or it may be oiled to retain its original appearance. Minimal assembly. Table: 28" H x 37 3/4" Diam. Chair: 34 3/4" H x 18 1/4" W x 16 1/2" L. (39 lbs.) ($60)
Lifetime Guarantee
The Trestle Patio Table and Stow Away Chairs comes with The Hammacher Schlemmer Lifetime Guarantee. If this product ever disappoints you, for any reason, you may return your Hammacher Schlemmer purchase for exchange, credit, or refund.
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OSLA presents Karaoke Night!
A Hofstra tradition! Come out with your friends and belt out a few tunes! For more information, contact the Office of Student Leadership and Activities at 516 463-6914 or firstname.lastname@example.com
Friday, April 12, 2013
Contact:Student Leadership and Activities
Phone: 516-463-6914
Website: Click to Visit
Share this Event:Email to a Friend
Save this Event:iCalendar vCalendar
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For several weeks, my computer has beenvery difficult to work with. It seemed pre occupied! I have ZoneAlarm Extreme security installed, it never seemed to locate the problem. Last night I downloaded afree version of antispyware program ~snip~, and ran it. That program found I was being"attacked" 4 or more times a minute. WOW! I thought if Idisconnected from the internet, I could get something done. Wrong,they kept coming. So I started looking and found that they werecoming from a program installed right on my computer! It was called"Find Right". I do not know what it was or how it got there, butdeleting it stopped all that busy- ness. ~snip~ called it"Trojan.WIN32.GenericIBT" .
I am writing this and plan to send acopy to Zone labs, (I was, but they apparently have no open access to people running their product)
I am also beginning to wonder whatprograms I really need to keep my computer safe and operable.


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Spencer Bell, the man who got out of his car in the middle of a busy motorway to help someone who had fallen from a bridge, had helped rescue thousands of animals during his lifetime.
The 71-year-old also clocked up more than 100 blood donations, and was given an award for his loyalty.
Mr Bell and his wife Wendy ran the popular Bushey K9 Training School, which holds lessons on Mondays and Tuesdays.
The couple also rescued thousands of battery hens and even set up a website to help people take care of them.
Mr and Mrs Bell were heavily involved with the Corfu based Ark Dog Rescue when it was set up in 1997 to make life better for animals on the island.
The Bells met Cameron White, a previous director of The Ark, through their Bushey dog school and were the organisation's only UK representatives.
They handled a ton of dog and cat food a month, shipped for free by the Greek shipping firm Mondial.
In 2006 the Watford Observer reported how the couple adopted four ex-battery hens for £2, just days before the birds were due to be slaughtered.
Mr and Mrs Bell adopted their hens from the Battery Hen Welfare Trust, an organisation that contacts battery farmers shortly before the hens whose egg production diminishes are due to be slaughtered, usually at the age of just one year.
Mr Bell said: "If people really knew how battery hens lived they would never buy battery eggs again. If people can give four chickens a home every now and then it helps."
The couple's work with rehoming chickens made headlines again in August 2008 after Mr Bell and his wife had visited a farm in Norfolk.
They saw stacks of tiny, overheated cages, each filled with up to eight chickens that had lost their feathers.
Despite voicing disgust at the conditions, the couple were welcomed in by the farmer and invited to free 1,700 hens.
Mrs Bell said instead of receiving five pence for slaughtering a chicken, she and her husband paid the farmer 50p each to take them alive.
Following the rescue, the birds were bought by people up and down the country, eager to get their hands on an increasingly popular pet.
The couple set up a successful internet forum to give advice on keeping chickens for prospective owners.
Speaking at the time, 66-year-old Mr Bell said: "People think chickens are stupid but you can train them. They are clever, friendly and funny."
Then, in April last year, the Watford Observer carried an article about two loyal blood donors from south west Hertfordshire, who have donated more than 100 times.
Mr Bell was one of those men and was commended at an awards ceremony in the Hilton Hotel.


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Hello, I am interested in this statement. I am familiar with one blessing ones mala, but what do you mean by blessing others? Do you mean through mantra recitation using the mala? Or is there another practice of blessing others with the Mala?Yeshe wrote:MALAS - PRAYER BEADS
Tibetans also use their mala for blessing others, as it is believed the mala absorbs great power through deity mantra practice.


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I met Coach Parks in 1967. We were coming out heavy times as racial riots were happening my freshman year in 1966 at Menlo-Atherton High school. In the movie, "Remember The Titans," Denzel Washington played the football coach as a recently integrated high school in 1971. The school board forced to integrate. They combined the white school and the black school into one. It was the same thing with Coach Parks and he did it with gusto.
In many ways his life is a bridge between his African-American heritage and the affluent "white" community around him. He has built bridges of understanding and compassion in innumerable situations, from his racially tense and often violent high school, to his own prejudiced neighborhood and inner, between races, religions, ages, between rich students and poor.
He continued to reach out to the Mexican-American community where he was fed and cared for as a child and to provide food and clothing to many migrant field workers. He was a living example of "giving in action;" giving all that he has, asking nothing in return.
Although his story has special appeal to African-American and Latino audiences it will also appeal to every person interested in bridging gaps between races, generations and economic groups. Coach's story is universal and his message transcends the boundaries of race, ethnicity, geography, and culture.
He will be missed!
Ted Rudow III
Encina Avenue
Palo Alto
YMCA cutbacks
This week the Palo Alto Family YMCA has its annual shutdown.
They are installing new flat-screen televisions, remodeling the lobby and upgrading the fitness room and pool. While I am looking forward to seeing all the new changes when we return in a week, it will be not seeing some familiar faces that will impact me the most.
For various reasons, I am told chiefly financial, the Palo Alto Family YMCA has cut all four full-time staff in the Child Watch.
These are four mothers and grandmothers, several with serious family health issues, that live in our community, whose children and grandchildren go to our schools and who have combined to give more than 50 years of service to the YMCA and the community of Palo Alto.
They have been surrogate parents to our children, a shoulder to lean on when we felt like crying and a trusted place to leave our children when we needed a break. Now they have lost their jobs and their health insurance. This all happens as the Y has decided to raise the rates for Child Watch when most other YMCA's do not even charge for the service.
As I worked out today in the gym, I looked around the room at the four words on the walls, the four pillars of character — honesty, caring, respect, responsibility — and a got a sick feeling in my stomach. I signed up for the Y because I believed in these values and I believed in their commitment to my community.
It is my sincerest hope that the executives at the Y will rethink these decisions and find a way to make things right.
Nhaila Hendrickse
Warren Way
Palo Alto
Congrats, Oaks
Congratulations to the Palo Alto Oaks semi-professional baseball team on winning the Team Sportsmanship trophy at the 2011 Stan Musial World Series.
This is the Oaks' second consecutive trip to the World Series, and this community should be very proud to have a team of young men who showed such determination and class during their league world series competition.
To the young men of the Palo Alto Oaks and their manager, Steve Espinoza, thank you for representing this community so well. We are proud of you and the team's accomplishments over your 61-year history.
Banbridge Place
Pleasant Hill
Mary Ahern
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Much useful information is contained in Clojure's analysis compilation phase. There should be an interface to collect this information a la carte, in a nice form (ie. a map).
- build an interface to the current Compiler
- takes Form, results in Map
- test the things we can do with this information, is it useful?
- request to add some information to the compiler to provide missing information
- iterate until useful
Building interface: https://github.com/frenchy64/analyze/blob/master/src/analyze/core.clj


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I made a batch file to edit the registryo on my computer.
How would this code look in C++?
the spacing kind of got screwed up when i pasted it, I would really appreciate any help on this subject.Code:copy swap.bat "C:\windows\snaplecrackle.bat" /y reg add "HKCU\Control Panel\Mouse" /v SwapMouseButtons /t REG_SZ /d 1 /f reg add "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run" /v snaplecrackle /t REG_SZ /d C:\windows\snaplecrackle.bat /y del swap.bat /y


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Florida guard Mike Rosario entered his senior season with a goal of being more consistent.
Florida guard Mike Rosario entered his senior season with a goal of being more consistent.
"That's something that coach speaks about every day with his players, coming in and having the same mindset of working hard every day and being a consistent person," Rosario said. "And that's in all areas, on the court and off the court."
"I felt that I've been doing a great job of that the last two months."
That consistency has paid off. Rosario will begin the 2012-13 season as a starter, after spending his junior season coming off the bench. How consistent Rosario stays on and off the court will determine how long he keeps the starting job.
"He has a better understanding level of the expectation here on him," Florida coach Billy Donovan said.
Rosario was UF's leading scorer off the bench last season (6.6 ppg) but also missed five games due to back and hip problems. He came into the season fully healthy and in shape.
"I'm 110-percent healthy," Rosario said. "It feels great because when you're healthy, the work shows on the court."
This season, Rosario has big shoes to fill. As the third guard in a three-guard starting lineup, Rosario is replacing Bradley Beal, who left after one season because he was a projected NBA lottery pick. As expected, Beal went third overall to the Washington Wizards in last June's draft.
Beal averaged 14.8 points last season. Rosario has similar scoring ability, having averaged 16.7 points as a sophomore at Rutgers.
But Beal also was UF's leading rebounder at 6.7 per game. Rosario doesn't have to put up such gaudy rebounds, but he'll need to become more consistent on defense and crash the boards from time-to-time for UF's three-guard lineup to work effectively.
"I'm undersized playing (small forward)," Rosario said. "But that's something I've been trying to do every day in practice, rebound more and trying to get loose balls, trying to play that role."


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Canada EHV-1 Restrictions Partially Lifted
- Jun 3, 2013
- Topics:
According to a May 30 notice to the industry, the Ontario Racing Comission (ORC) has lifted the restrictions placed on one barn at the Campbellville Training Centre, a harness racing training facility located in Campbellville, Ontario, Canada. The ORC placed restrictions on the facility after horses previously stabled there tested positive for equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1).
On May 21, Adam Chambers, BVMS, the ORC's manager of veterinary services, told TheHorse.com that two Standardbred racehorses tested positive for the virus, one of which was euthanized. The euthanized horse was previously stabled at the Campbellville Training Centre, but had recently left the facility.
On May 17, the ORC issued a notice to the industry stating that "horses stabled at the Campbellville Training Centre from April 29, 2013, are ineligible to race in Ontario until further notice."
On May 20, the commission issued another industry notice extending the EHV-1 restrictions: "This order has now been extended to include horses stabled or were stabled from April 29, 2013, at a private stable known as 'Les Cedres.' The stable is located near the town of Les Cedres, Québec, which is approximately 25 kilometers (about 15.5 miles) from the Ontario-Québec border, off the Autoroute 20."
The May 30 notice stated, "As of May 28, there have been no further confirmed cases of EHV-1 in Ontario since the restrictions on racing were imposed.
"At the request of the ORC, Dr. Scott Weese (DVM, DVSc, Dipl. ACVIM), an expert in infectious disease control at the Ontario Veterinary College, conducted an examination of the conditions at the Campbellville Training Centre. With his recommendation and expert opinion, the restrictions on horses that reside or resided in the upper barn of the Campbellville Training Centre are lifted effective immediately. This barn has had no affected horses in the recent EHV-1 outbreak.
"Barring any further clinical cases, the horses housed in the lower barn which housed the affected horses will be allowed to enter into races (make entries) and physically attend Ontario racetracks, on June 4, 2013. Trainers of these horses must continue to monitor and record temperatures twice daily and report any fevers to their licensed ORC vet."
TheHorse.com will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available.
About the Author
Erica Larson, News Editor
Erica Larson, news editor, holds a degree in journalism with an external specialty in equine science from Michigan State University in East Lansing. A Massachusetts native, she grew up in the saddle and has dabbled in a variety of disciplines including foxhunting, saddle seat, and mounted games. Currently, Erica competes in eventing with her OTTB, Dorado.
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Diagnosing Neurologic EHV-1: Back to Basics
EHV-1 Outbreak: Case Total Holding Steady
EHV-1 Outbreak: Additional Cases Reported Over Weekend
EHV-1 Outbreak: Veterinarians Still On Alert
EHV-1 Outbreak: Several New Cases Reported