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Joe sez: Well, once again James Patterson has managed to leverage his celebrity into coverage in a major publication, this time the opinion pages of CNN. Naturally, Barry and I couldn't help ourselves...
Barry sez: Okay, let's just hit the highlights. There's little that's new or noteworthy in Patterson's latest screed, but there are several themes that unintentionally reveal themselves again and again when the princes of legacy publishing opine in public, and Patterson's CNN piece provides a good opportunity to tease out those themes and examine their real implications. So:
First, in the worldview of the publishing establishment, there is always reflexive support of and sympathy for legacy publishers, and never any meaningful criticism or calls for improvement. Here, the reflex reveals itself immediately, in the first paragraph of Patterson's piece:
As you may have read, Hachette Book Group (my publisher) is experiencing challenges with Amazon, as a result of negotiation over new selling terms for ebooks.
That Patterson might frame his first sentence "Amazon is experiencing challenges with Hachette" is inconceivable. The baseline assumption is always that Amazon is doing something bad, while legacy publishers are doing something that, if not outright good, is at a minimum justifiable and understandable. To use just one example, can you even imagine Patterson taking a moment to note that Amazon has repeatedly and unilaterally extended Hachette's expired contract, and that Hachette has been dragging its feet in these negotiations for over six months?
Second, the publishing establishment, convinced that everything is personal and nothing is business, consistently attributes to Amazon bizarrely malicious motives. Here it's the suggestion that Bezos can't possibly be concerned with "trying to make this a better world." A more common variation is something along the lines of "Amazon is trying to destroy publishing/bookselling/all that is good."
But really, does any of this make even a modicum of sense? Did Gutenberg invent the printing press because he wanted to destroy scribes who wrote with quill pens on papyrus? Did Henry Ford invent the Model T and the modern assembly line because he was bent on the destruction of the horse-and-buggy industry?
Or did Gutenberg simply perceive a better way to get books into the hands of more readers? And did Ford simply perceive a lower-cost, more efficient means of transportation for the masses?
Yes, doubtless innovation always has a disruptive impact on the legacy way of doing things. But to jump from this to "the reason for the disruption, the purpose, is they're trying to destroy me!" is, at best neurotic.
Memo to all technologically disrupted establishments: it really isn't personal. If you're a small business, I can see where there might be some ego-gratification to be found in the notion that a multi-billion dollar company is obsessed with targeting you personally -- in much the same way a disturbed person achieves feelings of importance by believing the CIA is trying to penetrate his cranial secrets with radio waves that only a tin foil hat can prevent. But isn't it more likely that, like Gutenberg, like Ford, like countless other innovators before him, Bezos simply believes he has a better way of getting more titles of more books to more readers at lower cost, and that the effect of his belief on the legacy industry is incidental?
Third, arguments in favor of the legacy industry are typically conducted in unexamined cliches and devoid of supporting evidence. So:
[Bezos has] put enough pressure on [legacy publishers] to clean their houses, to examine their internal hierarchies, and to jettison some particularly wasteful practices…
It's fascinating -- and telling -- that Patterson doesn't pause to enumerate even a single jettisoned wasteful practice. Not even one example of how those publishing houses have been cleaned, not even a mention of what rooms might have been subject to the cleaning. It would also be fair to ask what the hell an "examined internal hierarchy" even is or why it might be relevant, but I doubt Patterson has any idea himself. I guess it just feels good to him when he says it, perhaps because this sort of thing strikes him as an acceptable substitute for actual evidence in support of an argument.
The urtext of legacy-publishing windbaggery, or course, remains this hilarious Hachette memo on why legacy publishing remains relevant. But Patterson, a publishing insider if there ever was one, is certainly part of that rich tradition.
Fourth, the publishing establishment conflates the old way of doing things with the best way of doing things. So, without pausing to supply any evidence or even to apply a moment's thought, Patterson simply claims as an article of faith that:
Obviously these publishers -- however inefficient and old-fashioned (did you know many of them quaintly still let their employees do half-day Fridays in the summer?) -- remain the best way to find, nurture, and invest in up-and-coming authors.
Given that Amazon has enabled tens of thousands of authors to reach readers for the first time ever with books that in the legacy system would never have even seen the light of day, Patterson's expression of devotion to legacy publishing as "the best way" is stunning. When faith is strong enough, it can screen out limitless amounts of logic and evidence.
(Oh, and did you know that those "quaint" legacy industry practices include, among many other examples, paying authors only twice a year? They're so quaint, it's adorable!).
Part of what makes these claims so fascinating is that they typically come from people who are presumably well versed in literature. And yet it's as though they've never heard of Voltaire's character Pangloss, and therefore don't realize that they're parodying Pangloss's absurd faith that "All is for the best in the best of all possible worlds." See also Theodicy, which Voltaire was lampooning in Candide:
Theodicy tries to justify the apparent imperfections of the world by claiming that it is optimal among all possible worlds. It must be the best possible and most balanced world, because it was created by an all powerful and all knowing God, who would not choose to create an imperfect world if a better world could be known to him or possible to exist. In effect, apparent flaws that can be identified in this world must exist in every possible world, because otherwise God would have chosen to create the world that excluded those flaws.
Sound familiar? You see, legacy publishing (maybe we should rename it Best Possible System of Publishing) really is part of a rich literary tradition…
Fifth, legacy insiders believe that what's best for society is corporate management, not human freedom. They would never say so explicitly, of course -- these days, overt support for aristocratic management of human affairs tends to be frowned upon -- but their real views always leak through. So:
We are going to have fewer great books and writers discovered in the coming years if there are fewer curators with the financial wherewithal to nurture them. And, no way around it, fewer publishing houses equals fewer curators. It's not a money thing, it's a diversity-of-perspective thing. One company -- no matter how high-minded and cleverly structured it is -- will offer fewer perspectives than many companies will.
The good news is, Patterson recognizes that when it comes to books, more perspectives is a good thing. The bad news is, he believes the best way to achieve that aim is at the corporate gatekeeping level rather than by empowering more authors to reach more readers, which is precisely what Amazon and the rise of self-publishing have wrought.
Or, to put it another way, the publishing establishment believes that the way to generate more perspectives is to have fewer published books.
In fairness, though, this is the same establishment claiming that by selling more books than anyone ever, Amazon is destroying bookselling. So at least there's a certain… consistency.
Sixth, legacy insiders almost always use their celebrity to broadcast their views to the masses while avoiding any actual engagement with their critics. This is a sin of omission rather than commission, so I can't quote Patterson's words to prove it, only note his consistent failure to respond or even to mention the many public drubbings he's taken for his reactionary views. Similarly, Scott Turow's cravenness has practically become part of his brand, and if Doug Preston stays in hiding much longer, someone probably should file a missing person report. And the "Authors Guild," which claims to be "the nation's leading advocate for writers' interests in… free expression," has become notorious for censoring and shutting down author comments on its blog.
Of course, maybe I'm wrong on that last point. Maybe James Patterson, and Douglas Preston, and AG president Roxana Robinson, and Richard Russo, and Scott Turow, and all the other pontificating pundits of legacy publishing really do have the courage of their convictions, really do believe they have the better arguments, and really do care about readers and writers enough to want to rebut all the ridiculous points I and many others have raised in public lest anyone take those points seriously and be damaged in the process.
If so, all they have to do is show up here in the comments. I'd be the first to congratulate them for it.
If not, it will be further proof (as though any further proof were needed) that despite all their chest-thumping protestations, establishment insiders care nothing about improving publishing for everyone, and are instead intent only on preserving it for themselves.
Joe sez: Now for confession time: I spend way too much time daydreaming about being James Patterson.
It's not that he's more successful than me. Or richer. It's not that he's more prolific. Or that he's able to get the media to run whatever nonsense he spouts. It's not even his mind-boggling revenue stream. (I'm frankly boggled at my own revenue stream -- though it is just a stream next to his mighty rain forest river.)
It's that I keep thinking about what a hero I could be, were I he.
I think about how I, James Patterson, could use my fame, wealth, and power, to help other authors.
How I could pressure legacy publishers into giving all writers better contract terms and higher royalties simply by threatening to self-publish if they don't.
How I could actually change things for the better, rather than spend so much time and energy and money (those NYT ads ain't cheap) to preserve the status quo.
But, at the same time, I think about how I, James Patterson, am so entrenched in the very system that made me rich and famous, that I can't possibly even slightly entertain the smallest thought that things might change.
You see, I, James Patterson, cannot see further than my self-interest.
I, James Patterson, above all things, firmly believe that books -- great books, and the producers of those books -- are of paramount importance to humanity's salvation.
But I do not believe that great books can exist without publishers. That's how narrow-minded I am. How out of touch with reality.
I truly cannot fathom a world without curators, without sifters, without the nurturing of gatekeepers. Because deep down, I believe those corporate bloodsuckers who drain 52.5% of royalties -- not actual writers! -- are the ones who are really responsible for books.
And I, James Patterson, wrongfully believe it is Amazon that is hurting those gatekeepers at whose nurturing teats I suckle. Those poor, bullied publishers, forced to compete with Amazon (when they never had to compete, or innovate, before) are doing what all embattled higher organisms do: They are joining forces by illegally colluding.
So, starting today, I am going to stop criticizing Amazon for changing the industry and for giving all authors a fair chance at finding readers. I'm going to STFU instead of defending my corporate masters, and start a movement to force legacy publishers to increase ebook royalty rates up to the levels Amazon already offers so authors can make, perhaps not as much as I do, but at least a little bit more. I'm going to pressure Hachette to match Amazon in compensating authors harmed financially due to these negotiations, on which Hachette continues to drag its feet because they want to control ebook pricing and because they don't want to lose their paper oligopoly, as Konrath, Eisler, et al have shown again and again and again.
And I'm going to do all this because I'm James Patterson and not only am I pretty legendarily smart, but I'm pretty wise, too.
Aren't I?
And then a marching band of monkeys playing "My Gal Sal" is going to parade out of my ass.


text:
Dec 16, 2003
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) - Andrea Bills had 18 points and 20 rebounds to lead No. 21 Oregon to a 68-56 victory over Santa Clara on Tuesday night.
Carolyn Ganes added 10 points for the Ducks (8-1), who won their third straight and are off to their best start in 20 years.
Whitney Sutak matched her career high of 20 points as Santa Clara (3-5) fell to 0-4 at home this season, its worst start at home since 1977-78. Ashley Gonnerman added 13 for the Broncos, who have lost eight of 10 all-time to Oregon.
Bills, who had 21 rebounds in a win over Montana on Friday, grabbed 13 rebounds in the second half.
The Ducks have one senior on the roster since Catherine Kraayeveld was lost for the season with a partially torn ACL in right knee two weeks ago. She was the team's leading scorer and rebounder, and scored her career high of 33 against the Broncos last year.
This was the fourth game without her, and the first time Oregon used the same lineup two consecutive games since her injury.
Gonnerman hit a short jumper to give Santa Clara a 38-31 lead less than a minute into the second half.
Five minutes later Chelsea Wagner's inside basket capped a 14-0 run that put Oregon up 45-38.
Santa Clara never trailed by more than nine points until the final minute, and made things difficult on the Ducks in the late going, pulling within four points in the final three minutes.
Oregon missed seven of its first 10 shots, allowing the Broncos, who made six of their first 12 shots, to remain within striking distance early.
Quinn Thomas hit a baseline jumper to spark a 6-1 run over the final 2:44 as Santa Clara took a 34-29 lead at halftime.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
La Jolla developers have offered the San Diego Unified School District $18.5 million for the old Mission Beach Elementary School, 2.23 acres of prime coastal real estate that is the centerpiece of a controversial land sale.
The top bid made during an auction held Wednesday is $2 million more than the district was offered last year in a deal that was ultimately rejected the school board.
Deputy Superintendent Phil Stover celebrated the potential deal in an email sent to district officials following the auction.
"This is certainly good news for the district," he wrote. "I am proud of the good way the real estate department followed through on this transaction."
Unified is looking to generate some $50 million by selling surplus property to close a projected $92 million deficit to next year's $1.1 billion operating budget.
Critics of the plan include school board trustee Scott Barnett and some residents and members of community boards in the Mission Beach area.
Barnett responded to Stover's remarks with his own email, saying the higher bid "shows that the real estate market is getting stronger in San Diego and that we are throwing away incredible upside value to the taxpayers by this foolhardy policy of selling land to cover over spending by this administration and school board, actions which border on financial malfeasance."
The school board is expected to vote to reject or accept the bid on May 14.
The $18.5 million bid came from a new partnership, McKellar-Ashbrook LLC out of La Jolla, an offer that bested the $16.5 million bid that was made just a year ago from San Francisco-based Carmel Partners, LLC. The first sale attempt was abandoned after then-trustee Shelia Jackson had a change of heart. Jackson left office and was succeeded by Marne Foster, who voted to put the market back on the market.
Maureen Magee • U-T


text:
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About Us
Tomas Gorny, Founder
Who We Are
Founded in 2001, IPOWER has established itself as a leader in the web hosting industry, providing a comprehensive suite of online services for small and medium-sized businesses worldwide. Our custom control panel, vDeck, offers access to more than 200 tools, features, and services, giving our customers a wide selection of web hosting applications available.
IPOWER has seen tremendous growth, at one point being named to the Inc. 500 list, fueled both by word of mouth and by a competitive affiliate program. More than 1,000,000 customers from more than 100 countries depend on out platform every day for speed, reliability, security and global reach.
Focusing on Our Customers
At IPOWER, our customers aren't faceless numbers. We know them; we listen to them; we implement changes based on their feedback. Our "Customer Experience" team conducts monthly surveys and focus groups to monitor customer satisfaction and find out how we can improve. We perform usability testing on our tools, with real customers, during the development process. Our hosting platform helps ensure that our customers' websites and email are hosted in an environment that is as secure and reliable as possible.
Always Evolving
When a company becomes as successful as IPOWER, it's easy to become complacent. We don't let that happen. We're constantly looking for newer and better ways we can serve our customers. We leverage our position within the industry to forge strong partnerships with industry giants, such as Google, Yahoo!/Bing, WordPress, ShopSite and Facebook.
To keep up with our latest initiatives, follow us on Twitter or check out our blog.


text:
Some change frequently and others do not. High on my list are those that keep me informed of web pages, changes in the large genealogy databases on Internet and unique places on Internet for the genealogist.
The Ancestry Insider is one of my favorites. He keeps readers informed about FamilySearch and Ancestry.com issues and most recently recommendations on using NARA in Washington, DC.
Rainy Day Genealogy Readings doesn't have to read just on rainy days. If you live in arid country, you might miss all of the blog! This contains very interesting and unique ideas for research on Internet.
Since I use a Mac, I enjoy reading the MacGenealogist.com blog. It is informative not only for Reunion, but other genealogy software for the Macintosh. His almost daily videos are easy to follow and understand.
If you are looking for free Internet web pages, be sure to read Free Genealogy. This is updated daily and contains many worthwhile links.
It is important to go back through archives on all of these sites. Then you will learn what has been posted and be caught up to speed.
Happy blogging ... morning, afternoon or evening!


text:
9 Online Sources for Affordable Art Prints
Buying art can seem overwhelming and expensive but, thanks to the magical internet, it's now easier and more affordable than ever. We've profiled a lot of sources for artwork in our Marketplace over the years. The 10 web shops listed here all stock affordable art prints, most from emerging artists.
• 1973 As "makers of beautiful paper things," 1973 has a limited collection of screen print posters. This poster, Owl, is a 6 Color Screen Print.
• Poster Cabaret Originally started as a concert poster sales site, Poster Cabaret has expanded its selection to include many types of illustrated prints. After School is an archival print of an original and vintage paper collage by Hollie Chastain.
• Wallfry Artist Kylie Jackson creates wall art for the small fries - although I can see this Corgi print appealing to dog lovers of any age.
• Buy Olympia Pat Castaldo and Aaron Tuller founded Buy Olympia as a way to help friends sell their handcrafted work. Today they have a lot more friends all over the world. Shown here: Compost, a digital print by J. Wirtheim.
• Hemingway and Pickett Toby Burke Hemingway's shop focuses on art and design products from around the world, with a special focus on Australian items. Shown here, Darth Popstar from the "Sith Happens" series, by LA artist David Harlan.
• Art We Love The brainchild of long-time collectors and tech geeks whose dream is to make fine art part of everyone's life, you can find art, like Kate by Servane Mary, for as low as $15.
• The Tappan Collective This affordable online gallery featuring tomorrow's art stars offers photography and paintings, in addition to prints like I'm So Ashamed by Maggie Mull.
• New Blood Art This site sells work from artists who are studying or have recently graduated from art courses in the UK. Shown here: Power By Veronica Wells.
• Sebastian Foster This Austin, Texas based web gallery offers affordable original work and limited edition art prints. Shown: Where I Go to Think by Lisa Golightly.
(Images: As credited above.)


text:
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Genadur Coupons & Prices
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text:
Oracle Plays Catch-Up With In-Memory Database Capabilities
Sep 24, 2013 5:00 AM PT
Oracle on Monday announced an in-memory option for Oracle Database 12c that will accelerate analytics, data warehousing, reporting and online transaction processing for Oracle in-memory applications.
These applications "deliver extreme performance on Oracle Engineered Systems," the company said.
"This is a story about Oracle being a bit late to the game in incorporating in-memory into its database," remarked Wayne Kernochan, president of Infostructure Associates.
Oracle has had in-memory technology since it acquired TimesTen in 2005, but "what it hasn't had is in-memory integrated into Oracle Database," Kernochan noted. "Still, this is a good thing for their customers -- assuming that unlike Oracle's OLAP Option in the past, the price isn't too steep."
With this development, "Oracle Database itself acts as an in-memory RDBMS, with both row and column internal formats," Carl Olofson, a research vice president at IDC, told TechNewsWorld.
"What this really means is that Oracle Database users get the benefits of [an in-memory database] without changing their SQL," he continued.
The announcement "is an opportunity for Oracle to sell platforms and not just software," opined Jim McGregor, principal analyst at Tirias Research.
What Oracle Said
Making the announcement at Oracle OpenWorld 2013, under way in San Francisco through Thursday, Oracle said that every application that runs on Oracle Database 12c can automatically and transparently take advantage of the Oracle Database In-Memory option.
Existing applications will retain full database functionality while speeding up. New applications that were previously not practical because of performance limitations will be developed.
Oracle's JD Edwards EnterpriseOne In-Memory Project Portfolio Management and In-Memory Sales Advisor, Oracle's PeopleSoft In-Memory Project Discovery; Oracle's Cost Impact Simulator and Gross Profit Analyzer, and the company's Cost Comparison Tool are some of the applications that will benefit from the Oracle Database In-Memory Option.
Oracle's announcement "is just an evolutionary change, not revolutionary," McGregor told TechNewsWorld. "It's a change you should expect. With each generation of the software, it has to get better."
What's an In-Memory Database?
In-memory databases, or IMDBs, are also known as main memory database systems (MMDBs) or memory-resident databases.
They store computer data in main memory rather than on hard drives. This makes them faster than disk-optimized databases, because "in situations where only main memory is needed, [IMDBs] can assume a flat memory without a need for all sorts of code to handle uploading and downloading data from and to disks," Kernochan told TechNewsWorld. "That code wastes a lot of time."
By eliminating the code, IMDBs "can be one to two orders of magnitude faster" than disk memory, he pointed out.
"Practically speaking, vendors are now talking about main memory plus solid state disks being able to handle 80 to 90 percent of apps," Kernochan continued.
The Blots on IMDB Technology
One problem with IMDBs is that they store data on volatile memory devices, so they lose all stored information when the devices power down or are reset.
Another is that main memory costs are high.
However, main memory prices are decreasing faster than disk prices are, Kernochan said.
The speed advantage IMDBs now enjoy over relational database management systems (RDBMSs) may not last.
"It is a general truism that about 80 percent of enterprise data warehouse data is very infrequently accessed, and so, with proper management, a memory-optimized RDBMS can keep most of its data on disk and still deliver performance benefits that are nearly identical to pure IMDBs," IDC's Olofson pointed out.
IMDBs and Big Data
IMDB technology will only have a minor impact on Big Data applications, "simply because SAP and IBM, with BLU Acceleration, already have in-memory technology in-database," Kernochan suggested.
How much IMDBs will impact Big Data "depends on the application and how it's targeted towards that," Tirias' McGregor said.
"Oracle, being the database company, they're going to get better and better at this so they can analyze the data you're using and minimize the number of hits to your hard drive by moving the data with the most data against it to memory."


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Results 1 to 2 of 2
Thread: Corruption of Champions
04-26-2012 #1
Corruption of Champions
Anyone played it?
it's hilarious, awesome and arousing at the same time ^^
"My terrapin sense is tingling!"
04-30-2012 #2
One of my several characters, the characters started as a buff human male...
Gotta love the height and the breasts... 3 foot tall with 3 pair of huge breasts.... it is hilariously awesome!
You began your journey as a human, but gave that up as you explored the dangers of this realm. You are a 3 foot 11 inch tall goblin, with a somewhat narrow body and a decent amount of visible muscle. You have a fairly normal face, with dark green skin. On closer inspection, you've got a beautiful face that's sure to draw the attention of males.
The ass-length shiny black hair on your head is parted by a pair of cute pointed ears, bigger than your old human ones. A pair of tiny-yet-beautiful bee-wings sprout from your back, too small to allow you to fly. You have girly hips that draw the attention of those around you, and your large ass fills out your clothing nicely. A long shiny black horsetail hangs from your large ass, smooth and shiny.
Two normal human legs grow down from your waist, ending in normal human feet.
You have three rows of breasts, the topmost pair starting at your chest.--Your uppermost rack houses two jiggling tits with one 2-inch milk-leaking teat each. They could easily fill a HHH-cup bra.--
The second row holds two tits with one 2-inch awkward teat each. They could easily fill a GG-cup bra.--
Your third row of breasts contains two breasts with one 2-inch elongated teat each. They could easily fill a D-cup bra.
Where a penis would normally be located, you have instead grown a brace of dog cocks!-Your first puppy-pecker is 10 inches long and two inches in diameter. It is shiny, pointed, and covered in veins, just like a large dog's cock. A large bulge of flesh nestles just above the bottom of your footlong fat canine cock, to ensure it stays where it belongs during mating. The knot is 3.9 inches thick when at full size.-Your next fat knotted shaft is 9 inches long and two inches wide. It is shiny, pointed, and covered in veins, just like a large dog's cock. A large bulge of flesh nestles just above the bottom of your knotted cock, to ensure it stays where it belongs during mating. The knot is 4 inches thick when at full size.
You have a cunt, with a 1.9-inch clit. Occasional beads of lubricant drip from your cunt, its lips slightly parted. You have one tight ass, placed between your substantial butt-cheeks where it belongs.
Your ears are pierced with green gem-stone ear-studs.
"My terrapin sense is tingling!"
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text:
What can be done with help on NEGF formalism as final year BSc project?
I have been studying the nanoelectronics lectures by Dr. Supriyo Datta & also followed his NanohubU course Fandamentals of Nanoelectronics II. So far it's the knowledge I have about nanoelectronics & NEGF formalism. I've also practiced the toy examples given there. Now I want to do something with NEGF formalism. Can anybody please suggest me something so that I can do something with NEGF formalism for my BSc final year project? Some simulation perhaps.


text:
43,941 adherent statistic citations: membership and geography data for 4,300+ religions, churches, tribes, etc.
back to Eastern non-Christian - other, Quebec
Eastern non-Christian - other, continued...
Books * Videos * Music * Posters
We are always striving to increase the accuracy and usefulness of our website. We are happy to hear from you. Please submit questions, suggestions, comments, corrections, etc. to: firstname.lastname@example.com.


text:
Apple Shares Go Batty, But Stock Trading Back to Normal
Apple shares dropped sharply just a few minutes ago, falling a whopping 9.4% and hitting a low of $542.80.
Shares were halted after hitting a single-stock circuit breaker.
Looks like a fat-finger trade, but no conclusive evidence yet. We'll check back shortly.
UPDATE: Apple shares just resumed trading and are currently down 0.3% at $597.58. The stock was halted for five minutes from 10:57 a.m. Eastern Time to 11:02.
2nd UPDATE: It appears a bad trade triggered the halt. Stocks are halted if they swing more than 10% in a span of five minutes. This allows market participants time to regroup and to prevent further erroneous trades from undermining the market.
3rd UPDATE: According to FactSet, at 10:57:28, orders placed through the BATS Global Markets came in well below where Apple had previously been trading. Orders first came in at $551.66 and microseconds later went as low as $542.80 before the stock was halted.
To be sure, there were just a couple hundred shares traded at these levels.
Still, the issue occurs as BATS is having troubles of its own. Here's what colleague David Benoit at Deal Journal reported:
BATS has an alert on its website that it is "actively investigating an issue." The exchange issued an alert at 10:48 a.m. that there were "system issues in symbols range A through BF."
4th UPDATE: CNBC is now reporting that Nasdaq is canceling the erroneous Apple trades made on the BATS exchange.
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Canaries Blow 7-0 First Inning Lead, Lose 9-8 To Saltdogs
LINCOLN, Neb. – The Sioux Falls Canaries jumped to a 7-0 lead in the first inning on Wednesday night, but they could not contain the Lincoln Saltdogs in a 9-8 loss at Haymarket Park.
The Canaries seemed well on their way to victory after Reggie Abercrombie hit a three-run home run in the first and Stephen King launched a grand slam. But the Saltdogs responded in the bottom of the first with four runs, and they scored the final five runs of the game to overtake the Birds and clinch the series.
Canaries pitching struggled all night, beginning with starter Adam Champion. He lasted just 3 2/3 innings giving up six runs, four earned, while matching a season-high with six walks. Leading 8-6 in the seventh, Canaries reliever Jordan Whatcott allowed the bases loaded and a run-scoring single and exited without retiring a batter. Matt Daly then entered and issued a game-tying walk. Tyler Goodro later scored the winning run on Daly's second wild pitch of the inning.
Lincoln relievers P.J. Zocchi and R.J. Rodriguez each tossed a perfect inning in the eighth and ninth. Rodriguez notched his league-leading 25th saving, tying a Saltdogs single-season record.
Lincoln starter Mike Burns (5-4) was a study in contrasts, allowing just two more hits and one run after the first inning. The only tally was a solo home run by J.P. Ramirez. The Canaries had just two base runners after the first inning. Burns gave up eight runs, three earned, on seven hits. He walked one and struck out seven.
Marcos Rodriguez extended his hitting streak to 10 games with the Canaries, going 2-for-4.
Whatcott (0-6) suffered his first loss in relief.
The finale of the three-game series is at 7:05 p.m. on Thursday.
Courtesy: Sioux Falls Canaries


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The AP is deeply disturbed about Army recruiting: "Army Faces Worst Recruiting Slump In Years." Dafydd ab Hugh, a mathematician, takes a look at the numbers, and isn't.
I think the AP got one thing right, however. The media's insistently one-sided coverage of the war in Iraq undoubtedly makes the task of military recruiters harder.
UPDATE: Several liberals emailed us a link to this AP story. As usual, they are gleeful about anything that suggests weakness on the part of the United States or its armed forces. Disgusting.
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This is a look at some of the recent changes & challenges facing BPI I originally posted on my site:http://blog.sls-construction.com/2012/bpi-at-the-crossroads-exams-n...
Lately BPI (aka Building Performance Institute, Inc.) has been growing exponentially and making plenty of waves in the certification field. Just this last July they had 25,000 "active" certifications and closed out 2011 with 31,662. Originally there growth while slow was also pretty steady as shown on this chart of BPI accredited contractors. Enter in the HPwES program, Home Star, etc… and an organization that only processed 350 certifications in 2005 processed over 13,000 last year. Needless to say, this has brought them some growing pains, raised some concerns, and dare I say brought them to an interesting set of crossroads.
As an organization that has taken a few pages from the USGBC playbook, this growth might just appear to be the start of a great pattern. On the other hand, paying attention to how many individuals have fallen off the train (HomeStar, Recovery WAP, etc…), and by listening to &/or talking to those certified, the picture starts looking a little different. In many respects the growth & statements by many are eerily similar to the commercial, tech, oil, housing & banking bubble collapses that many of us have lived through.
In my opinion BPI is pretty close to hitting a plateau as any growth will be equal to or outweighed by those that are no longer in the field or those of us choosing not to renew our certifications. Whether they continue to learn, grow, and adapt like USGBC did or implode is completely dependent on BPI looking at some issues, seeing how quickly they can adapt, and dare I say listen to those of us in the field.
In many ways, this path has already been decided when they instituted some new testing protocols like videotaping, requiring someone beside the teacher to do the field testing and raising their fees. While I am generally not one to tell someone they are charging too much, $250 for a 50 or 100 question test taken via the computer is high. For example:
I don't think $500 for a field test is unreasonable (or is this just the fee charged to the testers?), nor is having a different instructor do it. What is pushing it though is the cameras and the differences that the instructors bring. If you are worried about the testers, have someone be "tested" by a "tester" and grade or QC them once a year anonymously. Along those lines I hope the training instructors are more up to snuff than I have seen – if my second one would have judged me on what the first one taught, I probably would have failed as he left out a few important steps. Along those lines, for an organization dedicated to health & safety… letting a student walk away without knowing what they need to improve on or they failed on is not only irresponsible.
I guess congrats are in order for being chosen to do the pilot program for four new certifications tied into the Recovery thru Retrofit & National Workforce Retrofit Guidelines. I do have to give you some props for having an experience requirement now being there, especially compared to your other certs.
With that said, I do plan on digging into the full specs later but the initial impressions are not good. Seriously you are going to grade one on "penmanship," "dedication to the cause", and sales abilities – sorry but you really need to rethink what some of these positions really do & how they are done.
Along the lines of adding in more certifications you might take this opportunity to start thinking about streamlining & improving your existing certifications. For example this was recently posted on the Home Energy Pro's site; "The Energy Auditor certification is not replacing the Building Analyst certification. Rather, it will be the next step in the career ladder from Building Analyst. The BA certification verifies that the worker has a foundation in diagnostic and analytical building science needed for a variety of career paths in the home performance industry." While this might be technically correct, the way it has been marketed isn't and there is a huge inconsistency in the training & standards in this regards.
Speaking of "next steps", you might take a page from Cisco's playbook which has a progressive level of testing. Once a person passes the first level they have three years to re-certify (hmmm that sounds familiar), however if during that three years they take a higher level test, that lower level cert is automatically updated for the next three years. Assuming they decide not to pursue the next higher level (thus automatically extending everything for another three years), all that is required is for them to complete one re-certification test which covers all the certs. If they let everything lapse, well then they get to start the process all over again but at no time do they actually lose the fact that they held the certification.
I really would love to know this – who is responsible for you still using & listing the 1989 standard for ventilation? Is it the same person that says that someone with just a "foundation" in diagnostic testing should be drilling holes into exhaust pipes? For the first item, let me just give you a hint – drop the 89 moniker and list the newest ASHRAE standard. If you still feel strongly about .35 simply state – the house must meet the higher of ASHRAE standard, the local AHJ code or our .35 standard. No one cares if you take a harder or better stance on a standard (just look at the spillage one, you guys say one minute max while the industry was still stuck at 5 minutes) simply adopt it as your own while still paying head to all the changes & developments in the industry. Right now you remind me of, and give the appearance of some building departments that don't want to change or adopt to the newer codes.
Moving onto the second question, for a standard that you built your entire reputation on; why is there still so much confusion on which vents can or can't be drilled? Why is there no standard method for plugging them if this is required? Shoot, why are you pushing for an untrained & unqualified individuals (as defined by at least 32 states *or was that 40* and numerous local jurisdictions) to work on, test, or diagnose equipment that is beyond their abilities &/or in some cases illegal to do? Why do require testing that is contrary to not only the vent manufacturer's directions but even the few appliance manufacturers testing procedures I have seen? Shoot while we are at it (as I just saw this one on the Linked In board from yesterday), why is there so much confusion on if the CAZ door should be opened or closed?
For more on my thoughts & the answer to the B-Vent question, I hope you will check out the rest of the article & leave your thoughts
Views: 675
Leslie - thank you for the response & creating an FAQ for the program - that does help answer some questions.
I got to admit that I am shocked to see that 2007 memo; not about what it reads, but the failure of BPI and others from providing that info to those taking the classes, stakeholders, etc... Clearly after reading that & thinking about the terms being used now for BA & EP graduates ("entry-level"), you should really consider removing a significant portion of the testing & pushing for those qualified to do the testing to do it (which in most states is licensed HVAC contractors only)
As for the field test feedback - while I understand your answer, I got say that just does not fly and unless you have openened it up some, no one gets feedback. All someone basically knows is that they have passed, not that they might need to bone up or train more on any one aspect which leaves them thinking they have it all down right. With that thinking they keep on doing the wrong thing all the time & teaching others the wrong way to do things which leads us to some of these discussions we see on this board & numerous other ones.
Randy - shhhh, be careful about feeding Bud... but yes you are both right in many regards
Glen - thanks & thanks, when I first looked at it, it appeared to be another DTWBS & apparently I am not far off. If you don't mind, when I do get a chance to really dig into it & write up a post or two on it, I would love to include some of your comments
Bud - sorry but BPI isn't to blame for the "creating" 4 new certs as those fall under the recovery through retrofit program (though they did have a big hand in that on-going fiasco.) As I mentioned they won the award for creating & managing the certification (which we can easily argue about the merits of what they propose & even if they are qualified on one of them).
I don't think we have lost site of what we want to accomplish, I think everyone keeps on trying to re-invent the wheel & they keep on making the same mistakes &/or piling on top of the original ones. The other issue is that everyone wants to apply a manufacturing style teaching & certification system to houses which are infinitely more complicated than that system allows for.
Heh as for the "savings to investment" you know my feelings on that when it comes to construction, but as it relates to this - I would dare say they are easily in the red if the are using actual numbers and not the fluffed up numbers that are used typically.
Sean, thank you for your thoughtful comments on BPI's growth. We are gratified to see such strong growth in the industry, even during this challenging economy, as reflected in the number of people earning BPI credentials. Please see BPI's answers to your questions and comments below:
Regarding BPI's growth and increased exam fees:
Administration: BPI issued its first certifications in 1996 and has never raised prices in the history of the organization. In 2005 we processed 350 certifications. Last year we processed over 13,000 certifications and nearly 32,000 certification exams. Meeting this administrative challenge has been expensive. Three years ago we had the foresight to begin an investment into IT database development in order to automate more of our systems. We are nearly $1 million into that effort, and have been able to cut processing times from over six weeks to less than two.
Standards Development: BPI is now engaged in over 20 standards development activities. BPI's standards are free and available for download to support the industry (unlike many other Standards Development Organizations). All of these are extremely important to the industry but don't actually provide BPI with any revenue. However the industry depends on and looks to us for these standards. There are significant and rising costs associated with convening Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) from across the industry and country to develop standards using a consensus-based methodology. In addition, as a developer of American National Standards through the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), we are required to consistently adhere to a set of procedures that govern the consensus development process. These procedures require outreach to SMEs, broad-based public review and comment on draft standards, consideration and response to comments and strict record keeping and reporting requirements.
Staff: In 2005 BPI employed six staff members to develop standards, work with affiliates to develop certification exams and process applications. Today we employ 40 staff members engaged in developing standards, delivering certifications to the workforce and accreditation and third party quality assurance to contracting companies. Staff also works with test centers to provide guidance and quality assurance in the proctoring process.
Regarding BPI's new Home Energy Professional certifications: BPI has posted answers to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about the new certification on our website: http://www.bpi.org/pilot. The new certifications are not replacing BPI's existing certifications. The new certifications are for experienced industry professionals, not new comers to the field. The certifications are tailored to the specific job tasks of each role: energy auditor, retrofit installer, crew chief, and QC inspector, and have significant work experience prerequisites attached to them. As experienced BPI certified professionals' certifications come up for renewal (every three years), they may want to go for one of the new certifications that correspond to the role they are playing within their company. BPI's existing certifications will remain important building blocks for gaining this experience and for ensuring technicians have the broad building science knowledge they need to build their careers.
Regarding providing feedback immediately following the BPI field exam: BPI follows ANSI protocols on testing to ensure consistent and fair procedures for all candidates. According to these protocols, BPI proctors can and should provide feedback on general areas of the exam, but should not point directly to what a candidate did wrong. The exam verifies that a candidate has the breadth of building science knowledge he/she needs to perform diagnostic assessments correctly (in the case of the BA exam). Specific actions that may be performed incorrectly during a field test are tied back to core principles of combustion safety, integrity of the building envelope, determination of R-values and much more. Performing related diagnostic actions incorrectly frequently indicates a deeper level of misunderstanding, thus requiring a deeper level of study than simply correcting the action itself.
Regarding referencing ASHRAE 62.2-2010: BPI standards are referenced by over 120 state, local and utility programs nationwide, some of which are a result of legislative mandate while others are voluntary or market driven. Such programs take months and up to a year to adjust to changes to existing standards and practice. Last February BPI asked contractors at ACI's regional New York conference how much time they would need to adjust and be able to implement 62.2-2010 in their work. The response was six months. Strong training infrastructure must be in place to support technicians and contractors who will be implementing ASHRAE 62.2-2010. BPI has been told that some training organizations have begun including this standard into their curricula, so we are now working to include ASHRAE 62.2-2010 in all standards, certifications and accreditation requirements. BPI will be adopting ASHRAE 62.2-2010 within the last quarter of 2012, and will make this announcement soon.
Regarding which vents can be drilled: BPI cannot prescribe a standard method for drilling B-Vents because methods differ according to B-Vent manufacturers. Please click on BPI's Guidance on Drilling B-Vents and one manufacturer's response to this question: Simpson Dura-vent's® Drilling B-Vent Procedure. We advise contacting the B-Vent manufacturer in question for specific instructions.
Regarding whether CAZ door should be opened or closed: The technician conducting CAZ testing should determine baseline and worst case depressurization based on occupant behavior and existing conditions. If future research determines a specific door orientation for establishing baseline is needed, BPI will investigate referencing such a procedure at that time.
Two phrases come to mind "bait and switch" where one thing is advertised but when you get there they don't have what was advertised (JOBS) but they will sell you this other product (New Certification). the other is "ponzi scheme" where there must be new investors to continue the charade (training) It is becoming like the government where anything they get their hands on has to have 400 pages of "regulations. Another bloated bureaucracy where rules change whenever someone comes up with a bright idea without thinking it through. Bud is right
Excellent blog
I reviewed the requirement as well for the energy auditor and had some thoughts which I sent in to BPI. My email copied and pasted below.
I think that in domain 1 bullets 8 and 9 selling client services and or packages and obtaining lead form is in direct conflict with the code of ethics Appendix B section I item A It is a slippery when performing an audit as a contractor. Is this a sales call or an audit? That line can be sometimes blurry. In my view it is not a sales call. Informing the client up front that you are trained as a building performance contractor should be disclosed before the audit process even begins. This report should be separate from that and yet of course they are related. The audit should be a standalone report that the client can take and run with it. Should the client wish to entertain retaining your services afterward should be left open not required.
In domain 2 the task for tax and permit information seems to be invasive to the homeowners privacy. We are not government inspectors so why would this be of use to an Energy Auditor?
Task 3 ask that we inspect adjacent buildings. I think that this is a good idea yet will not always be possible due to a number of reasons. While a good suggestion when possible it should not be a requirement
I would certainly fail the penmanship portion in this digital age this requirement is antiquated.
Task 5 blower door While I agree a Thermographic Imager is useful tool to a Energy Auditor I do not think it should be required. Without level I training the unit simply takes pretty pictures. Images can be easily misinterpreted even by those that have proper training. A good audit can be done without one
I see several references to code. As code changes from State to State and even has some local jurisdiction, what code is being referred to? Here in California code for ventilation is the 2007 ASHRAE 62.2 BPI is still using 1989 ASHRAE 62.2. They are different which will be on the test? Is the answer from a California Energy Auditor different from that in New York Auditor? While this complicates matters I would think the answer should be yes. Learning a standard that does not apply to your area to pass a test would seem unproductive.
With all that is needed for a field test I hope that there is a reasonable amount of time allotted
So where do you think they will stop? The 4 new certs sound more like a beginning than an end. When I first looked at software some 8 years ago, Canada was offering for free their HOT2000 (now HERS tested) software. Today they still use that same foundation. To this, they have added its baby sister HOT2XP for a quick and simple audit and the big brother HOT3000 for a bit more power. All three are vertically compatible so data you enter at the bottom can be expanded upon by uploading to the next level. How many software programs would you say we have here in the states? How many of then are compatible? How many of them are free and supported by our government? If memory serves me, HOT2000 uses a DOE engine. I will admit I haven't looked for several years so perhaps Canada has been infected by our open competition approach, but I doubt it.
The point I'm trying to make is we seem to have lost sight of where we should be headed. Instead of spending tax dollars and home owner equity on a huge research project that wants to try this and try that, we should be promoting the fundamentals to everyone at what would be a lower expense to everyone. Add to all of this that the big picture has changed with the grave concerns about energy starvation almost gone.
And one more question. Since we are a "savings to investment" type of organization, how much is our multifaceted approach costing us and how much is it saving us? I bet Canada would let us compare numbers.
Thanks for chiming in Bud though I am not sure that the oversight exhibited is anywhere close to what the NRC does. I got to say though that when you are dealing with government programs & money history has shown they do need some major oversight though sometimes they can go overboard / monitor the wrong items
Sean, great blog and I think bubble is correct, at least with their current direction. The questions being raised are valid and, by all indications, BPI isn't done yet. I just don't know who has decided that weatherizing a house has to fall under the scrutiny of a Nuclear Regulatory Commission level of oversight?
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Hey all!
I made a Bento today with last nights leftovers. There are rarely any leftovers at my house so I decided to do a bento :3 I hope you all get a little inspiration from it!
- Mashed potatoes
- peas, corn and the onion from the roast
- pork roast (? my mom cooked it in the crock pot pretty much all day)
- Dole frozen strawberry slices sprinkled with a little bit of sugar
[1] http://s62.photobucket.com/albums/h107/pbellows/?action=view&current=leftoverbento1-2.jpg
[2] http://s62.photobucket.com/albums/h107/pbellows/?action=view&current=leftoverbento1-1.jpg


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1. sighting - noun
· the act of observing; "several sightings of enemy troops were reported"
Hypernym(s): observation, observance, watching
2. sight - verb
· catch sight of; to perceive with the eyes; "he caught sight of the king's men coming over the ridge"
Synonym(s): spy
Hypernym(s): perceive, comprehend
3. sight - verb
· take aim by looking through the sights of a gun (or other device)
Hypernym(s): aim, take, train, take_aim, direct
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This month's feature table is The Starry Night. It is a reprint of one of Vincent van Gogh's most famous paintings, and just one of several paintings we present by Van Gogh.
Nautical - Seafood
- 1
Welcome to Cafe Table Tops!Welcome to Cafe TableTops. Your place for custom and specialty cafe themed table tops. We feature coffee house table tops that you can't get anywhere else. These cafe tables are great for restaurants, churches, coffee shops, bakeries, and ice cream shops. Choose from themed cafe table categories like art tables, bakery & doughnut tables, candy tables, coffee shop tables, religious - church tables and school pride - team table tops. We specialize in building the perfect designed custom table top to your satisfaction. Our hope is that we can help you give your customers a unique experience, not the cookie cutter table tops you see in the box store coffee shop or restaurant down the street.
What's Happening on TwitterTweets by cafetabletops
Featuring the Starry Night Table Top
Video Footage of Our Custom Table Tops @ Dewar's
Read More 510 Views
The video is of several young people enjoying ice cream at Dewar's. Fortunately, you also see a glimpse of our custom logo table tops.
This is a newsfeed celebrating the grand opening of the location. You can see our manufactured tables at the end.
Video of Glen Roth at Smoffee's Coffee, Bakery & Bistro Featuring our Cafe Tables
Read More 280 Views
Glen Roth played a show at now-closed Smoffee's Coffee Bakery and Bistro. The video shows our tables. Among them is the Coffee Montage Table Top.
Our Cafe & Game Tables Show in Bite the Bagel Video
Read More 357 Views
Our themed cafe and game tables show at Bite the Bagel in Killeen Texas. Featured in the videos above including a news theme. are our Cafe Fire table and game tables.


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Naturepedic Organic Cotton Waterproof Protector Pad - Twin w/Straps
The Naturepedic Organic Cotton Waterproof Protector Pad features two layers of luxurious organic cotton flannel with an ultra-thin waterproof membrane in the center for an absorptive and comfortable sleep environment. Naturepedic is a GOTS certified organic bedding manufacturer and has earned the trust of moms and doctors across the country. Naturepedic also meets the strictest GREENGUARD certification standards for eliminating chemical emissions.
Two layers of certified organic cotton flannel - top and bottom Organic Cotton is an ideal material that is both natural and renewable. It is a healthier alternative to synthetic fibers such as polyester and rayon while avoiding less desirable materials such as allergy-prone wool.
Highly absorptive and extra soft Helps reduce uneven temperatures, sweating, and clamminess
Corner elastic straps hold pad securely in place (latex free)
Safe hypoallergenic design free from harmful chemicals
Waterproof barrier is impenetrable to bed bugs, dust mites and other allergens
No vinyl/PVC, phthalates, PFCs or antibacterial/biocide treatments.
Standard twin size (38" x 75"). Machine wash & dry
Made in the U.S.A.
Additional Info
Additional Info


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There were so many stands at the Fair that I did not get around to taking snaps of them all but I will do so tomorrow. As is my practice I won't be writing a lot during the course of this event but I will share a few photos for those who weren't able to travel to Canberra for the event.
|A Purple shirt provided a warm welcome and directions as we arrived.
|Earlybirds arrive
|First stall I visited
|Enjoyed meeting the people from Ryde where I'm presenting next month
|Purple shirts on the job
|Smooth registration process
|The Trove team
|Helen Smith grinning like a Cheshire Cat after winning a coveted Trove mug
|Rosemary Kopittke at Unlock the Past's huge stand
|Pretty Chart Templates here
|Joy Murrin had a discount for attendees
|Exhibitors from North
|and exhibitors from the south
|Familysearch offering assistance
|Hazel Edwards
|Hazel's first slide - her presentation was definitely non-boring


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And are you as addicted as I am?!
For the longest time, I tried to ignore the show because it sounded like a dud. But then a lot of my friends started talking about it, telling me I haaad to watch. I eventually tuned-in to find out what's up. And OMFG! This show is crazy-awesome.
It's a spinoff of the movie, Catfish, which stars Nev Schulman. He was catfished by an older woman.
First you need to know what "catfish" means. It's when you pretend to be someone you're not online by posting false info, such as some else's pics, on social media sites with the intention of getting another person to fall in love with you. Kind of douche-baggy, right?
So on the show, Nev Schulman and his filmmaking buddy, Max Joseph set out to help young adults meet the person they have been talking to online for over a year or so. A lot of the online relationships start on Facebook. And when Nev helps these people meet the person they have fallen in love with via the Web, the guy or girl on the other side of the computer screen usually turns out to not be who they say they are.
What's most shocking to me is that a lot of these people truly believe everything about the person they are talking to online. There are just so many red flags that I see and I wonder how are they surprised when the person turns out to not be who they said they were? One should always be a tiny bit skeptical when online dating...and do a little bit of Googling.
One of the most baffling episodes to me was when a girl believed she was talking to a model, who sounded like a 13-year-old boy on the phone. Clearly, not the voice of a hunky male model.
Anyway, you guys need to watch this show. It airs Mondays at 11p.m. on MTV.
Have you ever been catfished?
Want more from Dara? Follow her on Twitter @dadeeyo.


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From Sweet Maria's Coffee Library
Color is just one of the ways to determine degree of roast. By itself, it is of limited use. When complemented by the audible cues (first and second crack) and the aromas of the roast process, it is extremely informative . Here's a video showing the color changes that occur during roasting.


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Introducing J.VillOctober 15th, 2010 by Before The Bigs Entertainment | Hip-Hop/Rap, Pop, Remix |
J. Vill is hails from the OC… Orange County, New York that is. J. Vill has been hitting us up on twitter and for good reason; his 2nd mixtape, Chillin By The Sun, has got a nice relaxing sound to it. Good sampling, keeping some of the best parts of the original song in his songs while having some solid rhymes over it.
Listen and dowload all 10 tracks below or download it all here.
J.VILL Presents Chillin By The Sun, a free album that incorporates a visual sun filled experience along with pop sounding mainstream records. Adding stories of his personal experiences, J.VILL tries to entice all of his listeners to live life young and for the moment. Currently, only his second big project to date, J.VILL produced/mixed/song-written and put in countless of hours into this project with very limited support. Putting out this project at the perfect time, J.VILL hopes to gain many true supporters through word of mouth. Currently working with more industry names J.VILL will keep putting out more quality records leading up to his official EP in the near future.
Check out J. Vill on facebook. Enjoy!


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Send Results to This Email:
Street Address:
Street Address:
Joey Hagan, principal of Architecture Inc., has been named the 2013-2014 board president for Memphis Heritage Inc. after being nominated and elected by the previous board. Hagan's primary responsibilities as one of two principals at Architecture Inc. include running the organization, marketing, design and project management. As MHI president, he will strive to continue to make preservation of important properties a priority for Memphians.
Education and work experience: I earned a Master of Architecture from Tulane University in New Orleans. My work experience involves mostly life and living in the built environment and understanding what makes our buildings better. I helped found Architecture Inc. in 1994.
Family: One dog, Piglet, a Chinese Shar Pei. And the love of my life – Carol (not a dog).
Favorite quote: "He who makes a beast of himself gets rid of the pain of being a man." – Dr. Johnson
Favorite movie: "Apocalypse Now"
The sports team(s) you root for: The New Orleans Saints and the Grizz
What's playing on your stereo right now? Talking Heads
Activities you enjoy outside of work: Traveling and eating!
What talent do you wish you had? I play the drums, but it's not very popular at parties. I wish I could play guitar better.
Who has had the greatest influence on you? My dad, who always taught me that "if you ain't having fun doing it, don't do it."
How did you get involved with Memphis Heritage? I developed a passion for the organization through my love of preservation and my firm's intense involvement with restoration.
What would you like to see Memphis Heritage accomplish in 2013-2014? Complete our endowment of funds so that we can better assist people with preservation loans.
What do you consider your greatest accomplishment? My friends.
What do you most enjoy about your work? Every day is different. Every project is a new adventure.
If you could give one piece of advice to young people, what would it be? Talk to, and actually listen to, us old people. The things that seem important today won't amount to a hill of poop tomorrow.
Dr. Rebecca A. Barton has received the 2013 Outstanding Alumni Award from the University of Tennessee College of Dentistry at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. Barton graduated with a doctorate in dental surgery in 1984 and opened a private practice, from which she retired in 2011.
Terry Boyd has joined the Memphis office of Pickering Firm Inc. as a civil engineer. Boyd received master's and bachelor's degrees from the University of Memphis and brings more than five years' experience to the firm.
Jen Bradner has been promoted to executive director of Opera Memphis. Bradner joined the organization in 2008 and has since served in multiple capacities, including as chief financial officer.
Dr. Eva Proctor has joined The CardioVascular Center, an affiliate of Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare. Proctor, the only female cardiovascular surgeon in Memphis, is certified in cardiothoracic surgery and received her medical degree from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center.
Opera Memphis general director Ned Canty has been named to the OPERA America strategy committee, which develops recommendations and action steps to expand the American opera audience and ensure its relevance to new generations.
Bradley Chow has been named director of operations for the department of family medicine at UT Medical Group Inc. Chow has more than 15 years of health care experience in operations, project management and business development, including leadership positions at Delta Medical Center and Lakeside Hospital.
Vanick Digital has recently made five hires: Matt Ervin, new project manager; David Calhoun, quality assurance expert; Bret Lipscomb, .net developer for custom development projects; Becca McFarland, account manager; and Alan Traller, systems administrator.
Isabelle Blais has joined inferno as public relations account coordinator. Blais previously worked as an intern on inferno's public relations team. Brandon Davis has been appointed junior copywriter. Davis previously served as a freelance copywriter for a Memphis advertising firm.
Copyright 1995 -
by The Daily News Publishing Co. Inc. - All Rights Reserved


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Coaching Carousel: summer high school coaches shift jobs based on connections
The coaching carousel was twirling at full speed for high school coaches this summer. Some coaches were shuffled to new seats, some clung firmly to their old ones, and some were thrown from the ride entirely. The key to staying aboard, if this summer is any indication, is who you know. Laney's coaching staff saw the most upheaval in New Hanover County. The Bucs lost two longtime coaches, Fred Lynch in boys basketball and Vern Barker in baseball, in 2012.… Read More »


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Sandra Says:
"I just wanted to say a big thank you for the lunch punch samples! We have used them often since you sent them over and my daughters have really loved the different way that their boring sandwiches have been presented. My seven year old feels very special when she can take an elephant to school and show off to her friends. We often ask her what animal she'd like for lunch!! The other added benefit that I have found is that we can get rid of the crusts in one little punch so not only does it cut the sandwiches for us but it gets rid of the little extra bits that my daughter just won't eat which is just wonderful.
Once again, thank you so much, you have made an every day chore such as sandwich making a treat for all of us!"
5 Winners!
1st Prize - Critter Cutter Set & Match and Munch Set (1 winner)
2nd Prize - choice of set (4 winners)
Visit Lunch Punch and tell us which you would like to win: Match & Munch or Critter Cutters.
- A winner will be randomly chosen, and the giveaway ends October 7, 2009.
- To find out how to earn extra entries, click here!
- Open Worldwide!
Lunch Punch


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Michael Puma
Lecturer in Law
Michael J. Puma is a partner in Morgan Lewis's Labor and Employment Practice. Mr. Puma's practice includes the full spectrum of labor and employment law matters, including single-plaintiff, class, and collective action litigation (both wage/hour and discrimination claims); employee benefits litigation; wage/hour and other employment counseling; traditional labor work; counseling and litigation related to the protection of trade secrets and unfair competition; and occupational health/safety counseling and litigation.
Mr. Puma has focused his practice on complex litigation, including dozens of wage/hour class and/or collective actions and race and gender discrimination class actions in jurisdictions across the country in the entertainment, retail, financial services, insurance, food services, and telecommunications industries. Mr. Puma also teaches a course at the University of Pennsylvania Law School on litigating employment class and collective actions. Representative results from Mr. Puma's complex litigation include:
- Class certification defeated in both race and gender discrimination class actions.
- Class or conditional certification defeated in wage/hour class and collective actions.
- Motions for summary judgment or motions to dismiss granted as to the claims of the named plaintiffs in class and collective actions, thus mooting the classwide claims.
- Litigated wage/hour class or collective actions to voluntary dismissal by the named plaintiffs without payment of compensation.
- Successfully enforced class/collective action waivers in arbitration agreements signed by named plaintiffs in wage/hour class and collective actions.
- Settled wage/hour and discrimination class and collective actions on a classwide basis on favorable terms.
In addition to his litigation background, Mr. Puma has advised clients in a broad range of industries with respect to compliance with the requirements of the FLSA and state law wage/hour and wage payment requirements. He also has conducted a number of comprehensive internal wage/hour audits to assist clients in properly classifying employees as exempt or nonexempt and to revise other wage/hour and wage payment practices as necessary, and he has worked with employers to manage financial and employee relations issues associated with reclassification projects. He has also represented clients in federal and state Department of Labor (DOL) audits and negotiated favorable settlements of violations.
Mr. Puma also has counseled employers on reductions in force, decisions regarding adverse employment actions, compliance with OSHA's standards for health and safety in the workplace, and compliance with a broad spectrum of other federal, state, and local regulations.


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KidzLabs Night Sky Projection Kit
by 4M
Turn your bedroom into a planetarium with this amazing paper star projector. This kit includes a dome made up of the northern and southern hemispheres, dome supports, star charts, and instructions. The lamp inside is 4 1/2 in. in diameter. AA battery not included.
For ages 8+
For ages 8+
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Hardwood from Armstrong Flooring meets the demands of today's challenging commercial spaces. Choose among a broad range of species, colors, finishes, styles, and modular sizes to create warm, inviting interiors in retail shops, restaurants, offices, and conference rooms, and public venues like museums, libraries, and auditoriums.
**90% domestic content: excludes Artistic Timbers TimberBrushed
***Performance Plus
The stunning look of hardwood balanced with commercial performance. Two times the hardness of regular hardwood floors. Scratch- and stain-resistant finish for high-traffic commercial environments.
Rustic, hand-scraped engineered hickory hardwood featuring distinctive graining and knots. Available in a vibrant palette of golds, grays, reds and browns for a richly textured look.
Offering a stunning range of colors to coordinate with any palette or design style. Available in two plank size options.
Artistic techniques like liming and deep etching add color effects with dimension to highlight the beauty and artistic flair of this engineered oak hardwood.
Color Variation Over Time
Wood is a natural material that reacts to light exposure. Exotic hardwoods gain richness in color and may become darker or lighter over time. The most dramatic change will occur within the first six months following installation.
Board-to-Board Color Variation
Wood is a natural material that features changes in color and tone. The board-to-board color variation is more pronounced in some species, less in others.
Performance Plus, Prime Harvest Oak Engineered, American Scrape Hickory Engineered, Artistic Timbers TimberBrushed
*Performance Plus – acrylic infusion


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25.4mm Printed Clear Acrylic Phone Charms
Promote your business, club and organisation or simply create your own, unique range of merchandise with our 25.4mm (1") custom printed clear acrylic phone charms.
We digitally print your designs onto 3mm clear acrylic and laser cut them to whatever shape you choose before attaching a coloured phone strap. Providing you with a quality promotional product.
Choose from single or double sided printing with your choice of a matte or spot gloss varnish finish using the options above.
Samples - Use our single quantity charm option here to purchase samples of your designs before placing a full order. Purchasing samples will give you the opportunity to check your charm designs and make any amends if required.
Placing a re-order? We store your artwork for 6 months, which helps us to provide you with consistent results when you request a re-order. Simply quote your previous order number when placing your new order and we'll use the artwork that we have for you on file.
|Pack size
|No. of unique designs
|25 charms
|2 designs
|50 to 100 charms
|5 designs
|500 charms
|10 designs
|1000 charms
|25 designs
Click here to view our Photoshop tutorial & download our latest templates
Click here to view our Illustrator tutorial & download our latest templates
Click here to view our Paint Tool SAI tutorial & download our latest templates
Use our single quantity option to purchase samples of your designs before committing to a final production run. Once you are satisfied with your samples and you are ready to place a full order, we will provide you with a discount code for 50% of the cost of any samples ordered.
Please note that discount codes can only be used on final orders based on your sample artwork and will only be valid on orders placed within 30 days of your sample order.
You should expect to produce several prototypes of your designs before commiting to a final production run. Purchasing samples will give you the opportunity to see how your designs will look once they are turned into finished products and will allow you to check for any potential problems with your artwork.
We cannot issue refunds or replacements for any artwork issues where samples were not requested beforehand.
To receive your discount code, simply contact us at firstname.lastname@example.com with your sample order number(s) and we will issue you with a unique code for 50% of the cost of any applicable samples received.
The current production times for our keyring manufacturing service is 10 to 15 working days*
Production begins once we have received your order and artwork. If we encounter any problems with your artwork we will notify you during working hours and production will begin once we have received your corrected designs.
Our manufacturing hours are 8.30am to 5pm GMT Monday to Friday. Any orders received after 9am will be processed the following morning.
*Working days are Monday to Friday excluding Bank Holidays and major national holidays. We will always notify our customers of any closures in advance via our email newsletter and social media channels.
To check on the status of your order visit our 'Order Lookup' tool.


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Home > News & Events > Wayland Press Release Archives > 2001 Press Releases > August 2001 News Releases > Office technology program participants to receive completion certificates
Office technology program participants to receive completion certificates
Twelve local students were honored Friday night by Wayland Baptist University's Lifelong Learning Center for completing the office technology program.
The year-long program covers various aspects of office technology, from secretarial procedures and commonly-used computer software to business communications and machines and accounting. Courses are designed to prepare participants for careers as receptionists, accounting assistants, secretaries and other clerical positions.
Receiving certificates of completion during the 7 p.m. program held in Nunn Business Building Auditorium were Cecilia Castillo Alcantara, Kathy Batey, Katheryn Cozby, Leslie Delgado, Donna Gomez, Alisa Jimenez, Janet McCaleb, Arasely Ramirez, Carol Richardson, Connie Smith, Elba Tijerina and Rose Marie Urbina.
Brian McClenagan, Coordinator of Counseling and Career Planning at Wayland was guest speaker for the ceremony. Horace Abbott, pastor of Trinity United Methodist Church, gave a brief devotional.
LLC Director Amelia Cline presented a special award to Janet McCaleb, who completed the office technology program with a 97 average. Office technology instructors include Elmo Cowart, a retired faculty member of the Division of Business at Wayland; Virginia Rogers, LLC secretary and lab assistant for South Plains College Plainview; Charlotte Schumacher, administrative assistant in the Division of Business; and Donna Womble, coordinator/instructor for the LVN program at SPC Plainview.


text: Welcome to our online shopping site where you will be spoilt for choice as you browse through over 500 everyday and luxury items as well as a diverse range of vouchers. Just enter your username and password then click on the sign in button to enter the site. If you cannot remember your password, please click the email password link.


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|Caught Up In You
|Hold On Loosely
|Rockin' Into The Night
|Second Chance
|Fantasy Girl
Apr 2018 • 15 songs
Nov 2016 • 10 songs
Jul 2014 • 10 songs
Initially, .38 Special were one of many Southern rock bands in the vein of the Allman Brothers and Lynyrd Skynyrd; in fact, the band was led by Donnie Van Zant, the brother of Skynyrd's leader, Ronnie Van Zant. After releasing a couple of albums of straight-ahead Southern boogie, the band revamped its sound to fall halfway between country-fried blues-rock and driving, arena-ready hard rock. The result was a string of hit albums and singles in the early '80s, highlighted by "Caug... Read more


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David A. Black
David A. Black is a well-known Ruby programmer, trainer, author, speaker, and
event organizer. David is one of the founding directors of Ruby Central,
Inc., and has been a co-organizer of every RubyConf
since the first one in 2001, program co-chair for RailsConf, and program chair
for RailsConf Europe. Active in the Ruby world since 2000, David is the author
of The Well-Grounded Rubyist (Manning
Publications, 2009), a Ruby standard library contributor, and a frequent invited
speaker at technical conferences and user groups in the US, Canada, and Europe.
He is also the director of Ruby Power and Light, a principal with Arcturo, a Strategic Advisor, Ruby and Rails Training for Cyrus Innovation, and a member of the Professional Development Committee
of ACM.