text:
Setting your location helps us to show you nearby providers and locations based on your healthcare needs.
Your Location is set to Change My Location
Cone Health wants to help you get well and stay well. This section provides tools and information to achieve good health and maintain your well-being.
Learn what community resources are available to help you get well and stay well.
Learn More
View health and wellness news you can use from Cone Health providers on
View Advanced Search OptionsView All Doctors
View All Locations
Home > Patient & Family Resources > Health Library > Asperger's Syndrome
Asperger's syndrome is a developmental disorder that makes it very hard to interact with other people. Your child may find it hard to make friends because he or she is socially awkward.
People with Asperger's syndrome have some traits of autism. For example, they may have poor social skills, prefer routine, and not like change. But unlike those who have autism, children with Asperger's syndrome usually start to talk before 2 years of age, when speech normally starts to develop.
Asperger's syndrome is a lifelong condition, but symptoms tend to improve over time. Adults with this condition can learn to understand their own strengths and weaknesses. And they can improve their social skills.
Both Asperger's syndrome and autism belong to the group of disorders called autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), once known as pervasive developmental disorders. You may hear the term ASD used to describe Asperger's syndrome.
The exact cause of Asperger's syndrome is not known. And there is no known way to prevent it. It tends to run in families. So researchers are doing studies to look for a genetic cause. Asperger's syndrome is more common in males than in females.
Asperger's syndrome is usually noticed at age 3 or later. Symptoms vary, so no two children are the same. Children with Asperger's:
If you are concerned about your child's behavior or communication style, talk to your child's doctor. He or she will ask you about your child's development and ask if other people have noticed your child's social problems.
The doctor may refer you to a specialist to confirm or rule out Asperger's syndrome. The specialist may test your child's learning style, speech and language, IQ, social and motor skills, and more.
The diagnosis of ASD typically occurs during childhood, but an adult can be diagnosed with ASD.
Treatment is based on your child's unique symptoms. It may change often so that it's most useful for your child.
Doctors, teachers, and mental health counselors can help your child improve his or her behavior and build social and learning skills. School programs, job training, and counseling can help too. Many children with Asperger's syndrome also have other conditions, such as ADHD or obsessive-compulsive disorder. So they may need other treatments, such as medicine.
At home, you can help build your child's confidence and skills. Use rules and daily routines, visual aids, and role-playing. Focus on your child's strengths. Encourage your child to explore interests at home and at school. And stay informed about what is happening in your child's classroom.
Federal law requires public schools to have programs for people ages 3 through 21 with special needs. Contact your school district to find out what services your child can be a part of.
It takes patience and support to help your child reach his or her full potential. And it may take time to find a doctor who has experience treating people with this condition.
Try to learn as much as you can about this condition, and talk to others about it. The more that teachers, your child's peers, and other people learn, the better they can help and support your child.
Many parents find comfort and build acceptance with help from support groups, counseling, and a network of friends, family, and community.
Although there are many possible symptoms of Asperger's syndrome, the main symptom is significant trouble with social situations. Your child may have mild to severe symptoms or have a few or many of these symptoms. Because of the wide variety of symptoms, no two children with Asperger's are alike.
Parents often first notice the symptoms of Asperger's syndrome when their child starts preschool and begins to interact with other children. Children with Asperger's syndrome may:
A child with one or two of these symptoms does not necessarily have Asperger's syndrome. To be diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome, a child must have a combination of these symptoms and significant trouble with social situations.
Although the condition is in some ways similar to autism, a child with Asperger's syndrome typically has normal language and intellectual development. Also, those with Asperger's syndrome typically make more of an effort than those with autism to make friends and engage in activities with others.
Most symptoms persist through the teen years. And although teens with Asperger's can begin to learn those social skills they lack, communication often remains difficult. They will probably continue to have difficulty "reading" others' behavior.
Your teen with Asperger's syndrome (like other teens) will want friends but may feel shy or intimidated when approaching other teens. He or she may feel "different" from others. Although most teens place emphasis on being and looking "cool," teens with Asperger's may find it frustrating and emotionally draining to try to fit in. They may be immature for their age and be naive and too trusting, which can lead to teasing and bullying.
All of these difficulties can cause teens with Asperger's to become withdrawn and socially isolated and to have depression or anxiety.footnote 1
But some teens with Asperger's syndrome are able to make and keep a few close friends through the school years. Some of the classic Asperger's traits may also work to the benefit of your teen. Teens with Asperger's are typically uninterested in following social norms, fads, or conventional thinking, allowing creative thinking and the pursuit of original interests and goals. Their preference for rules and honesty may lead them to excel in the classroom and as citizens.
Asperger's syndrome is a lifelong condition, although it tends to stabilize over time, and improvements are often seen. Adults usually have a better understanding of their own strengths and weaknesses. They are able to learn social skills, including how to read others' social cues. Many people with Asperger's syndrome marry and have children.
Some traits that are typical of Asperger's syndrome, such as attention to detail and focused interests, can increase chances of university and career success. Many people with Asperger's seem to be fascinated with technology, and a common career choice is engineering. But scientific careers are by no means the only areas where people with Asperger's excel. Indeed, many respected historical figures have had symptoms of Asperger's, including Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Albert Einstein, Marie Curie, and Thomas Jefferson.
Many children with Asperger's syndrome also have coexisting conditions and may have symptoms of these conditions also. They include:
Asperger's syndrome is a developmental condition in which people have difficulties understanding how to interact socially. A diagnosis is best made with input from parents, doctors, teachers, and other caregivers who know or who have observed the child. Asperger's syndrome is diagnosed when specific criteria are met. These include:
Your doctor will take a medical history by asking questions about your child's development, including information about motor development, language, areas of special interest, and social interactions. He or she will also ask about the mother's pregnancy and the family's history of medical conditions.
Testing can help your doctor find out whether your child's problem is related to Asperger's syndrome. Your primary care provider may refer your child to a specialist for testing, including:
When making a diagnosis, your doctor will see if your child meets the criteria published in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), a publication of the American Psychiatric Association.
Treatment for Asperger's syndrome strives to improve your child's abilities to interact with other people and thus to function effectively in society and be self-sufficient. Each child with Asperger's syndrome has differences in the number and severity of symptoms, so treatment should be designed to meet individual needs and available family resources. Specific treatments are based on symptoms.
Start by contacting your local school district to find out which services are available for your child. Become informed about your child's educational rights. Federal law requires public schools to provide appropriate educational services for people ages 3 to 21 who have disabilities (including Asperger's). Also, there may be state and local laws or policies to aid children with Asperger's.
You will meet with school personnel to identify goals and establish an individualized education program (IEP). IEPs are designed to fit the child's specific needs based on the evaluation of his or her level of disability.
Look at what is being offered at different schools to find out which services your child needs and where you can best find them. Qualities to look for include:
Stay informed about what is happening in your child's classroom. Frequent communication can be managed with a communication diary that goes back and forth between teacher and parent.
Treatment is geared toward improving communication, social skills, and behavior management. A treatment program may be adjusted often to be the most useful for your child.
Take advantage of your child's strengths by encouraging him or her to explore interests at home and at school. Activity-oriented groups and focused counseling can also be helpful.
Many children with Asperger's syndrome also have other coexisting conditions, including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), social anxiety disorder, and depression. These conditions can place extra demands on parents who are already dealing with a child with extra needs. These conditions may require treatment with medicines and other therapies.
For more information, see:
Researchers have not yet found a way to prevent Asperger's syndrome. Some advocacy groups claim the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine causes Asperger's and autism. But numerous studies have not found a link between these conditions and the vaccine.footnote 2 Doctors recommend that you have your children immunized, because not doing so puts them and others in your community at risk for serious diseases and even death.
You can best serve your child by learning about Asperger's syndrome and providing a supportive and loving home environment. Remember that your child, just like every other child, has his or her own strengths and weaknesses and needs as much support, patience, and understanding as you can give.
Educating yourself about the condition and about what to expect is an important part of helping your child develop independence and succeed outside of his or her home. Learn about Asperger's syndrome by talking to your doctor or contacting Asperger's organizations. A good source is OASIS @ MAAP: The Online Asperger Syndrome Information and Support Center at www.aspergersyndrome.org. Learning about Asperger's will reduce your and your family members' stress and help your child succeed.
The following are some suggestions on how to help your child who has Asperger's syndrome. Some of the ideas will be helpful, and some may not work for you. Flexibility, creativity, and a willingness to continue to learn will all help you as you raise your child.
Volkmar FR, et al. (2008). Asperger's syndrome of Pervasive developmental disorders. In RE Hales et al., eds., The American Psychiatric Publishing Textbook of Psychiatry, 5th ed., pp. 882–884. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Publishing.
Taylor LE, et al. (2014). Vaccines are not associated with autism: An evidence-based meta-analysis of case-control and cohort studies. Vaccines, 32(29): 3623–3629.
Other Works Consulted
Reiff MI (2011). Autism spectrum disorders. In CD Rudolph et al., eds., Rudolph's Pediatrics, 22nd ed., pp. 352–355. New York: McGraw-Hill.
Sadock BJ, et al. ( 2007). Pervasive developmental disorders. In Kaplan and Sadock's Synopsis of Psychiatry, Behavioral Sciences/Clinical Psychiatry, 10th ed., pp. 1191–1205. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.
Volkmar FR, et al. (2009). Asperger's syndrome section of Pervasive development disorders. In BJ Sadock, VA Sadock, eds., Kaplan and Sadock's Comprehensive Textbook of Psychiatry, 9th ed., vol. 2, pp. 3554–3559. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.
Woodbury-Smith MR, Volkmar FR (2009). Asperger syndrome. European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 18(1): 2–11.
Current as ofSeptember 11, 2018
Author: Healthwise StaffMedical Review: John Pope, MD, MPH - PediatricsKathleen Romito, MD - Family MedicineLouis Pellegrino, MD - Developmental Pediatrics
Next Section:
Previous Section:
Current as of:
September 11, 2018
Healthwise Staff
Medical Review:John Pope, MD, MPH - Pediatrics & Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine & Louis Pellegrino, MD - Developmental Pediatrics
This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Learn how we develop our content.
To learn more about Healthwise, visit Healthwise.org.
© 1995-2018 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.
Subscribe to our Wellness Matters e-newsletter, a monthly snapshot of the some of great wellness content from Cone Health providers.
Subscribe Now


text:
Yes, the Dow Hit 17,000 Today. And No, You Shouldn't Care
Do you remember? Do you remember where you were when the Dow Jones Industrial Average hit 13,259 for the first time in recorded history? If you don't, it's perfectly OK. Don't give yourself too much grief. It's hardly criminal. It's just that, well -- 13,259 is a prime number. That's all. Thought you might have remembered how quirky that was.
Sure, it's nice for one of the world's most commonly quoted measures of corporate success to be above a new "psychological barrier," a euphemism that, in this context, means: "You can remember the number 17,000, can't you? Pretty big, ain't it? Jeez -- what an economy! Where will it go next?"
Before Thursday's holiday-shortened session was over, it would advance 92 points, or 0.5%, to end at 17,068, whizzing past the prime number 17,053 in the process. Remember where you heard it first.
Shares of Walt Disney helped the Dow reach its record-setting close on Thursday, in a show of brute force that saw the benchmark index clear a dozen previously unsurpassed prime numbers -- prime numbers correlating to the Dow's 30-component, price-weighted average -- by the day's end. Despite Disney's presence in the index, the Dow's new record isn't nearly as magical as we like to think it is. The Dow has the ability to add or drop stocks from its elite circle, which can misrepresent the state of the economy when poorly performing stocks are replaced with shares of more robust companies, for instance. This has happened literally dozens of times since its debut in 1896 as a 12-stock average, the first occurring a mere three months after its inception, and the most recent change occurring less than a year ago.
Indexes are thought to give us a broader sense of how companies are performing, but even in the most generous hypothetical cases, the Dow fails to tell us much of anything. It's a price-weighted index of just 30 stocks, meaning the everyday zigs and zags that are supposed to mimic the fluctuations of the American economy are determined by 30 stocks, any of which can be replaced on a whim, and whose contribution to the index is measured by their share price, not their size. Goldman Sachs, for instance, is the fifth-smallest blue chip component; yet -- because of its "high" share price -- it has more power to move the index than 27 of its peers.
While there are many others, Rite Aid's stock is particularly ill-suited for a comparison against the Dow's performance. The drug store, with a market cap just above $7 billion, is less than a quarter of the size of the Dow's smallest component. But Rite Aid investors are doing just fine without the Dow to serve as a constant comparison. Shares jumped 5.6% today as last month's same-store sales increased a booming 7.5% month over month, driven by revenue from its pharmacy. With increasing competition from other drugstores to recruit recurring pharmacy customers via techniques like loyalty programs, the longer-term concern is whether Rite Aid's slim margins can hold up or not.
Finally, shares of PetSmart soared 12.5% on Thursday as the activist investing firm Jana Partners announced a nearly 10% stake in the pet accessories retailer, prompting Wall Street to rub its hands in anticipation of shareholder value-producing changes. Activist investors, by definition, take a meaningful stake in a public company, and then proceed to shake things up, often through spinoffs, executive shakeups, the shuffling of board members, and capital restructuring. PetSmart, which saw profit growth decelerate from 34% annually to just 7% last fiscal year, may need the help.
Top dividend stocks for the next decade
The smartest investors know that dividend stocks simply crush their non-dividend paying counterparts over the long term. That's beyond dispute. They also know that a well-constructed dividend portfolio creates wealth steadily, while still allowing you to sleep like a baby. Knowing how valuable such a portfolio might be, our top analysts put together a report on a group of high-yielding stocks that should be in any income investor's portfolio. To see our free report on these stocks, just click here now.
The article Yes, the Dow Hit 17,000 Today. And No, You Shouldn't Care originally appeared on Fool.com.John Divine has no position in any stocks mentioned. You can follow him on Twitter @divinebizkid and on Motley Fool CAPS @TMFDivine.The Motley Fool recommends Goldman Sachs, PetSmart, and Walt Disney. The Motley Fool owns shares of Walt Disney. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Copyright © 1995 - 2014 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Date(s) - Monday, December 3, 2018
5:30 pm - 9:00 pm
This is a recurring event. See event description for more details.
Edison & Ford Winter Estates
2350 McGregor Boulevard
Fort Myers Beach, FL 33901
Add to Google Calendar
Loading Map....
Rejoice in the holidays at the Edison & Ford Holiday Nights nightly 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. from November 23 through December 23 and December 26-30, 2018 (closed Christmas Eve & Christmas Day). Enjoy everything from Santa visits, behind the scenes tours, Clydesdale Wagon Rides to live music. Call or visit website for additional information.
We make every effort to ensure the accuracy of this information. However, you should always call ahead to confirm dates, times, location, and other information.


text:
Epigenetics: Are Genes The New Brains?
Over at the Pacific Standard, David Dobbs writes on: The Social Life of Genes
It's an excellent piece about epigenetics and gene expression – the process by which particular parts of our DNA are 'switched on', or off, within cells:
Genes can vary their level of activity, as if controlled by dimmer switches. Most cells in your body contain every one of your 22,000 or so genes. But in any given cell at any given time, only a tiny percentage of those genes is active.
This is well-established biology; what's new is the idea that:
The environment could spin the dials on "big sectors of genes, right across the genome" – and that an individual's social environment might exert a particularly powerful effect. Who you hung out with and how they behaved, in short, could dramatically affect which of your genes spoke up and which stayed quiet – and thus change who you were.
For instance, comparing socially isolated people to others, researchers Cacioppo and Cole found that:
Of roughly 22000 genes in the human genome, the lonely and not-lonely groups showed sharply different gene-expression responses (in leukocytes) in 209 genes. That meant that about one percent of the genome – a considerable portion – was responding differently depending on whether a person felt alone or connected…
Whole sectors of genes looked markedly different in the lonely and the socially secure. And many of these genes played roles in inflammatory immune responses…
Good stuff, and there's plenty more detail (including some remarkable studies of bees) in Dobbs' piece.
But while reading the article I felt an odd sense of deja vu. Why? I don't know much about genes. I'm a brains guy. But then I realized, that was it – I'd heard this kind of thing before about brains.
Here's a bit from near the end of the article, where Dobbs is in conversation with epigeneticist Steven W. Cole. I've just made a little adjustment:
We were in fact skirting the rabbit hole that is the free-will debate. Yet he wanted to make it clear he does not see us as slaves to either environment or brains.
"You can't change your brain. But if we're even half right about all this, you can change the way your brain behaves – which is almost the same thing. By adjusting your environment you can adjust your brain activity. That's what we're doing as we move through life. We're constantly trying to hunt down that sweet spot between too much challenge and too little.
"That's a really important part of this: To an extent that immunologists and psychologists rarely appreciate, we are architects of our own experience…"
Cole was talking about genes, but couldn't he almost have been discussing brains? I'm thinking here of the recent discussions about neuroplasticity, the idea that the environment can alter brain structure and function. The story is the same: "We used to think that biology determined our lives, but now we know that life can influence biology."
There's a lot of truth in that, in both cases.
However, if genes are the new brains, then epigeneticists will need to be careful not to fall into the same traps that neuroscientists are only just learning to avoid.
One thing we've learned that it's easier to measure brain activity than to interpret it. Brain activity-behaviour correlations are ten a penny, but the mere fact that the brain is activated by something, or activated differently in two groups of people, tells us nothing. Working out what causes what, what's important and what's trivial, is the goal, and it's not an easy one to achieve.
There are 22,000 genes; there are some 20,000 voxels in the average fMRI scan of the brain, so even the statistics of analyzing their activations are quite similar.
Finally, it seems I'm not the first to spot the parallels here, because three years ago Greg Miller wrote a piece called The Seductive Allure of Behavioral Epigenetics. This was surely an allusion to The Seductive Allure of Neuroscience Explanations, the famous 2008 paper about fMRI.


text:
Surround your child in comfort with the Maxi-Cosi Pria 85 Convertible Car Seat.
The Pria 85 is the only premium convertible car seat that offers a first-class ride from 14-85 pounds.
Maxi-Cosi Pria 85 is the only convertible car seat on the market that fits a child up to 85 pounds
Featuring CosiCushion premium fabrics and padding, the Pria 85 provides the most comfort for your child during the journey. The Pria 85 is also specially designed to fit better in your car, allowing more room for your passengers to stretch out in the front seats. It fits your real life too. Keeping the Pria 85 clean is simple. The seat pad unsnaps and removes easily over the frame. There's no need to remove the seat from the car or to make complicated maneuvers with the harness straps. The Pria 85 seat pad is both machine washable and dryer safe. All this allows you to get a thorough clean not available in other car seats.
Getting your child in and out of the Pria 85 has been simplified, with handy harness holders to keep the harness straps out of the way. It fits children rear-facing starting at 14 pounds and keeps them cozy up to 40 pounds. When theyre ready to ride forward-facing, turn this car seat around to safely fit children up to 85 pounds; the highest weight range offered by a convertible car seat.* Both stages benefit from the safer side impact protection provided by Air Protect® technology which protects your child where it's needed most, around the head.
*As of November 2014. Not including combination harness to booster seats.
Surround your child in comfort t.
Provides protection against sun and glare for your baby in both forward and rear facing positions.
Your baby will enjoy your rides together even more with the Cosi Convertible Car Seat Canopy. It secures easily into place on both Vello and Pria Convertible Car Seats to block the sun and provide a rear-facing child some welcome shade. It also features a flip-out visor that lets you extend the canopy further for extra protection when needed
Mobile Site |
Cart | Health
& Fitness Tips & Information | Products
| Contact
Us | Store Policies| Home
| Your
Account | Shipping
Charge Estimator | Site
Fat Measurement | Pro Body Fat Monitors | Heart
Rate Monitors | Bariatric Scales | Blood
Pressure Monitors | Breast
Pumps | Digital
Thermometers | Fertility
Monitors | Nebulizers & Peak
Flow Meters | Fitness
Products | Baby
Video Monitors | Baby Strollers | Bathroom
Scales | Smoking
Cessation | Weight
Loss | | Diabetes
Testing / Glucose Meters | Infant/Baby
Care | Medical/Physician's
Scales | Medical
Strength Testing Equipment | Cooking/Diet
Scales | Portable
Personal Massagers | Jogging
| Bicycle Trailers | Stopwatches & Scoreboards| GreatGift
Ideas | POWERBreather Inspiratory
Muscle Strengthener
Copyright ©1997 -2019 HealthCheck Systems, All rights reserved


text:
0 product in your basket.
Items total (excl delivery):£0.00
Safe & Secure Our checkout is secure, so you can shop with confidence.
98%Recommend Us
4.88 Average 2004 Reviews
Independently collected from verified customers by Reviews.co.uk.
Lovely items and quick postage.
2 weeks agoReviews.co.ukwww.reviews.co.uk
Great service quick and efficient. Very pleased with my purchase (collectible Disney Cheshire Cat) good quality product. I will defin...
4 weeks agoReviews.co.ukwww.reviews.co.uk
Very helpful, packaged very well! Safe and secure hopefully my girlfriend likes the present
1 month agoReviews.co.ukwww.reviews.co.uk
Wanted something special for my friends leaving gift. These were perfect and the service was quick and simple
1 month agoReviews.co.ukwww.reviews.co.uk
A pleasure to shop with. I was kept well informed about the delivery which I must say was spot on Thank you
1 month agoReviews.co.ukwww.reviews.co.uk
The gift was exactly what we wanted but what I did not want was to keep being bombarded with E.Mails asking why I had not completed the t...
1 month agoReviews.co.ukwww.reviews.co.uk
Next day delivery, great range of scented candles to choose from. Very easy ordering process through their website
1 month agoReviews.co.ukwww.reviews.co.uk
Used crusader gifts several times before. Never once been anything but super impressed. Ordered gifts for a special birthday. Arrived qu...
1 month agoReviews.co.ukwww.reviews.co.uk
Lovely people to deal with, excellent communication. They made sure my gift arrived on time with a personal note attached. Would have giv...
2 months agoReviews.co.ukwww.reviews.co.uk
Fast delivery , nice products , great for gifts
2 months agoReviews.co.ukwww.reviews.co.uk


text:
Attitude is Everything is a charity set up to improve Deaf and disabled people's access to live music and have been working in partnership with Glastonbury Festival since 2005, offering advice on festival accessibility as well as recruiting Deaf and disabled Stewards to join the Glastonbury team and work with the accessible facilities.
Attitude is Everything supports the music industry to make live music events more accessible. Having begun as a pilot project in 2000, they are now a fully independent charity and part of Arts Council England's National Portfolio of Organisations. Attitude is Everything encourage events producers to go beyond legal obligations set out in the Equality Act and implement Best Practice, providing a fair and equal service to their Deaf and disabled customers.
The Attitude is Everything Charter of Best Practice encourages live venue promoters to publicly show their commitment to improving access, and is assessed by a nationwide team of Mystery Shoppers. Other services include training, consultancy and yearly Club Attitude events, set up to demonstrate best practice for live music events accessibility and showcase Deaf and disabled musicians and DJs within a mainstream line-up


text:
Welcome to the Houston Permitting Center
The Houston Permitting Center (HPC) combines the majority of the City of Houston's permitting and licensing into one convenient location. The HPC opened in June 2011 with a mission to help customers achieve their goals while complying with the City's regulations. Accomplishing our mission requires a continuous pursuit of improving the customer experience. Providing excellent service, streamlining business processes, implementing innovative technologies, and proactively engaging customers are all cornerstones of this philosophy.
When a customer arrives at the Houston Permitting Center, they will experience a culture that is dedicated to providing them with excellent customer service. It is our priority to:
- Empower our employees to solve our customers' problems.
- Provide our customers with the most consistent and accurate information.
- Serve our customers in the most polite and knowledgeable way possible.
- Measure our customers' satisfaction and continuously strive for improvement.
City Fee Schedule
The City fee schedule displays all permit, license, and registration fees established by authority of the City of Houston Code of Ordinances. Visit the City of Houston Fee Schedule web page to review all fees.
In accordance with city policy, most permit, license and registration fees will be raised by 2.382585% on January 1, 2019. Mailed invoices will be subject to the fee in effect on the invoice date.
For questions or concerns, please call 832-394-9000.


text:
Serviços Personalizados
Links relacionados
- Citado por Google
- Similares em Google
Journal of the South African Institution of Civil Engineering
versão On-line ISSN 2309-8775
versão impressa ISSN 1021-2019
J. S. Afr. Inst. Civ. Eng. vol.54 no.2 Midrand Jan. 2012
Adjudication as an alternative dispute resolution method in the South African construction industry
N C Maiketso; M J Maritz
Adjudication has recently been introduced to the South African construction industry as an alternative dispute resolution mechanism. This study investigates what the requirements are for the industry to realize the full potential of adjudication. To this end the study reviews the necessary contractual, institutional and legislative framework, discusses relevant skills and available training, and establishes what impact all these have on the current practice of adjudication.
A literature review was conducted, covering the local and international practice of adjudication. A structured interview was conducted with adjudicators, and those who were out of geographic reach were sent a survey questionnaire. The results obtained were statistically analysed.
Adjudication appears to have found acceptance in the South African construction industry, but it was found that the industry is not yet able to realize the full potential of adjudication, the main reason for this being a lack of knowledge.
Keywords: adjudication, alternative dispute resolution, construction contracts, payment, legislation
ADR Alternative Dispute Resolution
JBCC Joint Building Contracts Committee
CIDB Construction Industry Development Board (SA)
GCC General Conditions of Contract (SAICE)
FIDIC Federation Internationale des Ingenieurs-Conseils
NEC New Engineering Contract (ICE)
Adjudication has recently been introduced into the four CIDB-endorsed forms of contract (JBCC, GCC, FIDIC and NEC) as the standard method of dispute resolution. As with almost everywhere else, the South African (SA) construction industry is more familiar with earlier forms of dispute resolution, namely mediation, arbitration and litigation. Adjudication is a relatively new concept and is not well understood. It also faces challenges in application, as most adjudicators are trained and/or experienced in these other forms of dispute resolution and not in adjudication per se. Those meant to be served by it, i.e. clients, consultants and contractors, also have limited understanding of the process or how best to make use of it.
The purpose of the paper is to investigate what the requirements are for the construction industry to fully utilise adjudication. To facilitate this, the research reviews the necessary contractual, institutional and legislative framework and other enabling factors, discusses relevant skills and available training, assesses whether or not these are in place in the SA construction industry, and establishes what impact the whole situation has on the current practice of adjudication. Recommendations are then made based on the findings.
Problem statement
What are the requirements for the SA construction industry to fully utilise adjudication?
The main problem was elaborated through the following sub-problems:
■ How does the SA construction industry understand adjudication, how is it distinguished from other forms of dispute resolution, and what makes it attractive?
■ Is adjudication adequately provided for in the contractual, institutional and legislative framework?
■ Are there enough adjudicators in South Africa? Is there an established set of skills for adjudicators, and is relevant training available on adjudication?
■ What impact does the state of affairs established above have on the realization of the full potential of adjudication in SA, and what can be done about it?
The SA construction industry does not realize the full potential of adjudication because it is not sufficiently understood nor appropriately practised
This was also broken down further into corresponding sub-hypotheses as follows:
■ Adjudication is not well understood, and in practice it is not sufficiently distinguishable from the other forms of dispute resolution. It is, however, attractive because it is seen as quick and cheap.
■ Adjudication does not enjoy sufficient institutional support, as there is neither legislation nor a voluntary association for adjudication. The four CIDB-endorsed forms of contract now all make provision for adjudication, but they can all be improved.
■ There are not enough adjudicators in SA. There is no established set of skills for adjudicators, as there is neither regulation nor organisation for the practice of adjudication. There are therefore no universally accepted minimum training or skills requirements.
■ The impact of the status above (as established through the findings of the research) on the realization of the full potential of adjudication is negative.
Recommendations are made based on the findings.
The term "adjudicate" is found in general usage to mean "to give a ruling" or "to judge". In more recent times, a specialised use of the term "adjudication" appears as a form of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) available to the construction industry. Its definition in this context is not universally agreed, it being more often defined by what it is not than by what it is, but the following characteristics are reflected by most definitions (after CIDB 2004):
■ Object is to reach a fair, rapid and inexpensive decision.
■ Adjudicator is to act impartially and in accordance with rules of natural justice.
■ Adjudication is neither arbitration nor expert determination, but adjudicator may rely on own expertise.
■ Adjudicator's decision is immediately binding (finality is dependent on whether it is challenged within the allotted time, in which case finality may be reached through arbitration, litigation or by agreement).
Differing views have been expressed regarding the origins of adjudication in construction (Gould 2006), but it is a commonly held view that its primary aim was to secure timely payment, having recognised that one of the most notorious inefficiencies of the construction industry is non- or late payment of contractors/sub-contractors by employers/contractors respectively (see for example Maritz 2007). This is possibly why adjudication is so closely associated with legislation of the form "Security of Payment", and why it has been characterised by the adage "pay now, argue later" (Uff 2005).
An earlier form of adjudication was used in the United Kingdom (UK) in the 1970s, focusing on the payment problem between contractor and sub-contractor. In the United States of America, dissatisfaction with rising costs of arbitration and litigation in the construction industry led to the appearance of dispute boards in the 1960s, and this started to take root in the 1970s (Gaitskell 2005). Of perhaps greater significance is the recent questioning of the quasi-judicial role of the principal agent. One of the principles of natural justice - that one cannot be judge in one's own cause - appears to have played a major role in this latter development, and this also features prominently in adjudication.
In their 1999 white paper to the Minister of Public Works, the CIDB recommended the use of ADR, as arbitration and litigation were seen as costly and time-consuming (CIDB PGC3 2005). The Latham report (UK 1996) is referred to as a point of departure. The CIDB went further and made it mandatory for the SA construction industry to adopt adjudication before referring disputes to arbitration or litigation (CIDB PGC3 2005). Table 1 presents some historical developments of adjudication.
Adjudication within ADR
The rise in the modern use of ADR procedures appears to be due to the following factors (Uff 2005; Butler & Finsen 1993), which to a large degree used to be claimed for arbitration as its strong points in the past (in comparison to litigation):
■ expertise of facilitator
■ lower cost and shorter duration
■ convenience and flexibility
■ privacy and informality
■ voluntary or customised dispute resolution process (can be made mandatory by agreement/contract).
Butler & Finsen (1993) observed that arbitration had become more formal and legalistic, and expressed the hope that the advent of ADR would rekindle arbitration and provide it with appropriate techniques to sustain its use. More than ten years later Uff (2005) observed that positive developments like the "100-day arbitration procedure" had grown out of the lessons learned from adjudication.
Many authors, however, view all dispute resolution methods as constituting a continuum or spectrum, with each method having its rightful place (see for example M'khomazi & Talukhaba 2004). Indeed, for enforceability if nothing else, ADR has had to form an alliance with the formal court system (Maritz 2007).
Adjudication in practice
The practice of adjudication was reviewed through its three tiers of application, namely standard forms of contract, institutional guidelines and legislation. See Table 2.
Level of use and knowledge
The work of the Adjudication Reporting Centre (Kennedy 2005) appears to represent best practice in monitoring the use of adjudication. The centre issues regular reports based on information obtained from adjudicator nominating bodies in the UK. The reports include:
■ number and discipline of adjudicators
■ trends in adjudications (growth, decline, fluctuations)
■ performance of adjudication (dissatisfaction or otherwise).
Generally, this reporting shows adjudication to be successful.
Various levels of acceptance and use of adjudication in all its various forms have been recorded from elsewhere. Dispute boards (DBs) continue to grow in use in the form of Dispute Review Boards, Dispute Adjudication Boards or Combined Boards (DRBF 2007). The World Bank, along with other development banks, is playing a significant role in this aspect, more recently with the help of FIDIC harmonised conditions of contract (MDB). Povey's research (2005), whilst focusing on mediation, also revealed that SA mediators tended to conduct themselves more like the modern adjudicator. Van Langelaar (2001) confirms that the international trends discussed above apply to southern Africa, including the observation that the DB role was not always understood or agreed between project participants. Van Langelaar (2001) further notes that, although the system appeared to have been successful, the knowledge base needs to be expanded.
Skills and techniques
A comparison was drawn between information on adjudication skills and training from selected institutions, namely the CIDB, Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb), DRBF, American Arbitration Association (AAA) and FIDIC. The following major findings emerged:
■ Formal training is common, varying from workshops to formal tuition and assignments.
■ Formal assessment and accreditation are also common, including examinations and peer reviews, used in different formats and to varying degrees of intensity.
■ Continuing Professional Development (CPD) as an on-going requirement has become universal.
Thus the right mix has to be found which would be suitable for SA conditions. Whilst one does not necessarily want to "kill it with too much science", there could be legitimate cause for concern that sub-standard levels of skill may not do justice to adjudication, or be able to exploit its full potential for the benefit of the construction industry.
Population size and sampling
Due to limited numbers of people with knowledge of the subject, purposive or target sampling was adopted. Panels of dispute resolution practitioners were sourced from relevant organisations (Association of Arbitrators Southern Africa (AASA), Consulting Engineers South Africa (CESA), South African Institution of Civil Engineering (SAICE), and NEC Users Group), within which adjudicators were targeted. See Table 3 for summary.
Research design
The research design adopted was generally quantitative, but made provision for qualitative data in the form of comment. A survey questionnaire was developed and administered to answer the sub-problems or test the sub-hypotheses. The questionnaire design and administration incorporated considerations of threats to validity and research ethics.
The questionnaire was divided into the following categories (about 25 questions):
1. Adjudicator background
2. Level of use and knowledge
3. Forms of contract, institutional guidelines, legislation
4. Skills and techniques
5. Impact
6. Legislation as possible solution.
The data was analysed statistically, and content analysis was employed for qualitative results.
Graphs 1, 2 and 3 were selected for illustrative purposes from question groups 2, 3 and 4 above, pertaining respectively to distinguishing features, sufficiency of adjudication provisions and useful techniques when using adjudication. A short summary is presented below. More detailed results are presented in Appendix 1.
Summary of graphs
■ From Graph 1 the respondents agreed that the most distinguishing feature of adjudication was the speed within which the process is concluded.
■ Graph 2 illustrates that respondents agreed that the four forms of contract were sufficient in their provisions for adjudication, with FIDIC scoring the highest.
■ From Graph 3 the respondents consider the "inquisitorial" approach to be the most useful technique when conducting an adjudication.
The results appear to reveal the following on the research problem:
■ The first sub-hypothesis was disproved as far as adjudication practitioners are concerned - their understanding appears to be quite high, and is in keeping with generally accepted characteristics of adjudication. However, the same cannot necessarily be said of the rest of the construction industry.
■ The second sub-hypothesis was disproved in the first part - contractual provisions were generally considered sufficient in all standard forms of contract, with the possible exception of GCC. Lack of organisation and visibility was a recurring theme. Thus the other part of the second sub-hypothesis was confirmed in that it was generally agreed that institutional support was lacking. Regularisation was suggested along the lines that the practice of arbitration is organised under AASA.
■ The third sub-hypothesis was confirmed - there were not enough adjudicators, and although there was no established set of skills or minimum training requirements for adjudicators, there was general agreement on relevant skills, useful techniques and desirable personal attributes. There was also broad agreement on the possible content of an "adjudication qualification" if it were to be implemented, from the acquisition of knowledge and experience to the assessment and accreditation of competence.
■ The fourth sub-hypothesis was confirmed - the SA construction industry was generally considered not to be able to realize the full potential of adjudication in the current circumstances, and the main reason for this was considered to be lack of knowledge.
Based on the findings above, it can be concluded that adjudication has found acceptance in the SA construction industry. However, it still has some way to go before its potential can be realized in full. The main challenge appears to be lack of knowledge. Other challenges range from the contractual, institutional and legislative framework, to matters of skills and training. It is with this in mind that the recommendations below are made.
In keeping with the conclusion and findings, the following recommendations are made:
■ Increase knowledge and understanding of adjudication by the construction industry (full treatise available at libraries of SAICE, AASA).
■ Improve the wording of standard forms of contract, strengthen provisions for adjudication, and standardise the process as far as possible.
■ Organise the practice of adjudication, either through an existing organisation (e.g. AASA, CIDB, DRBF local chapter, etc) or by establishing a dedicated one.
■ Introduce legislation to support the process of adjudication.
(The full list of references is available from the authors on request.)
Butler, D & Finsen, E 1993. Arbitration in South Africa: law and practice. Cape Town: Juta. [ Links ]
Kennedy, P 2005. Statistics and trends in statutory adjudication in the UK since 1998. Proceedings, International Forum on the Construction Industry Payment and Adjudication Act, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. [ Links ]
Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) 2005. Best practice guideline for adjudication, No C3, 2nd ed. Pretoria: CIDB. [ Links ]
Dispute Resolution Board Foundation (DRBF) 2007. Practices and procedures. Seattle, US: DRBF. [ Links ]
Gaitskell, R 2005. Using Dispute Boards under ICC rules - What is a dispute board and why use one? Proceedings, Conference of the Society of Construction Law, London. [ Links ]
Gould, N 2006. Establishing dispute boards - Selecting, nominating and appointing board members. Proceedings, Conference of the Society of Construction Law, Singapore. [ Links ]
Maritz, M J 2007. An investigation into the adjudication of disputes in the South African construction industry. Paper prepared for international conference: RICS COBRA 2007, Atlanta, US. [ Links ]
M'khomazi, X J & Talukhaba, A 2004. Comparison of alternative dispute resolution methods in resolving disputes in the construction industry. Proceedings, 2nd Postgraduate Student Conference, Cape Town: CIDB. [ Links ]
Povey, A 2005. An investigation into the mediation of disputes in the South African construction industry. Journal of the South African Institution of Civil Engineering, 47(1): 3-7. [ Links ]
Uff, J 2005. Construction law, 9th ed. London: Sweet & Maxwell. [ Links ]
Van Langelaar, A 2001. The use of dispute boards as an alternative dispute resolution mechanism on construction projects in southern Africa. MSc dissertation, Cape Town: University of Cape Town. [ Links ]
Contact details:
Trans-Caledon Tunnel Authority (TCTA)
265 West Street
South Africa
E: firstname.lastname@example.com
Contact details:
Department of Construction Economics
University of Pretoria
South Africa
E: email@example.com
NTSOLI MAIKETSO was born on 5 May 1970. He obtained the degrees of BSc from the University of Lesotho in 1994, BSc Eng (Civil) from the University of Cape Town in 1998 and MSc (Project Management) from the University of Pretoria in 2009. This article is based on his treatise produced in partial fulfilment of the atter degree. He has worked on a number of mega-projects, including the Lesotho Highlands Water Project, Berg Water Project, and Gautrain, and is presently serving as a Project Manager at the Trans-Caledon Tunnel Authority (TCTA), where he is responsible for the Olifants Water Project. He is currently serving on the committee of the SAICE Project Management and Construction Division, where he is responsible for the dispute resolution portfolio.
PROF MARTHINUS MARITZ obtained the degrees BSc (QS) with distinction in 1973, MSc (QS) with distinction in 1987, and PhD (Quantity Surveying) in 2003, all at the University of Pretoria. He is the author or co-author of various technical standard documents for the South African building industry, and has served on several governing bodies, advisory committees and technical committees. He was appointed as full-time lecturer in 1975 by the University of Pretoria and is the head of department of the Department of Construction Economics, and chair of the School for the Built Environment. His areas of expertise are construction law and dispute resolution.


text:
Introduce YourselfNew to Twelve? Make a thread to say hello and tell us a little about yourself.alainscott replied
General ChatSqueeze your brain grapes and discuss contents of the flowing juice here.willy replied
Meaningful DiscussionFor discussion of controversial issues and other thought provoking topics.
TV & Movies
For discussion of tv shows and movies.. duh.
Syphin replied
Anime, Cartoons & Comics
For all drawn and animated discussion, from 500ft mechs to tentacled 7 year old lolis.
Syphin replied
Food, Drink & Cooking
Foodly masterpieces, failures, adventurous ideas and knowledge about cooking here.
Spoon replied
The forums are alive with the sound of music, discuss things you hear with your ears.
Docilus replied
Found someone awesome/disturbing/sexy/fucking horrible on the web? Share it here!
Spoon replied
Sport, Boardgames & Cards
Throw, kick or hit some balls around or fun things like boardgames and cards!
Ravin37 replied
Books, Stories and Podcasts
Discuss Literature and other fanciful things deemed worthy of this literary domain
Jiminy replied
Technical Junk
I've seen your motherboard's sexy bits (and bytes). Computers and robots up in here!
Matey replied
There are no topics or posts in this forum.


text:
No Results Found
Search by City /State ?
Spotlight on Good works and Charity
Find and donate to these fine charities by City and State
Get exposure for your fundraising activity. Add your upcoming charity event to Spotlight Charity.
Google offers a sweet deal for non profits. Get up to 10k a month in free advertising.


text:
Teacher resources and professional development across the curriculum
Teacher professional development and classroom resources across the curriculum
Applying Connections
|Introduction | Graphs | Dealing with Data | Classroom Practice | Connections in Action | Classroom Checklist | Your Journal
You have just seen one aspect of connections in an early elementary classroom. Reflect on the following questions, and answer one in light of the students and content you teach.
Questions to write and reflect about:
Thanks for writing in your journal. Please keep your entries in whatever format you choose -- you will find them useful for reference later.
|Teaching Math Home | Grades K-2 | Connections | Site Map | © |
© Annenberg Foundation 2017. All rights reserved. Legal Policy


text:
Big 12 Sports.com Correspondent
A headline cliche in the newspaper business is "Local Boy Makes Good."
Cliche or not, that's an apt description of John Hadl.
At Lawrence (Kans.) High School, Hadl led the team to 21 consecutive victories. When it came time to attend college, Hadl turned down a chance to play at Oklahoma and chose to stay put. While at Kansas, he became the answer to a trivia question.
Hadl, who still lives in Lawrence, is Kansas' Big 12 Legend. He'll be honored along with the other 11 Legends this Friday and Saturday during the Dr Pepper Football Championship game.
"The University of Kansas has always been a special place to me," said Hadl, who is an associate athletic director at Kansas. "I remember going to football and basketball games there when I was in grade school. With all the great players the school has produced, it's quite an honor to be considered a Big 12 Legend."
In high school, Hadl was the classic triple threat player. He could run, pass and kick. He also excelled on defense. But if not for a coaching change, Hadl probably would have passed on playing for Kansas.
"I got a chance to make a recruiting visit to Oklahoma," Hadl recalled. "Bud Wilkinson was the coach and he was like a god. He told me they wanted to give me a scholarship to play football there.
"Down deep inside, I really wanted to play at Kansas. It was kind of in my blood."
Then Kansas hired Jack Mitchell as its coach and Hadl had a reason to believe the Jayhawks would become competitive. During Hadl's three seasons playing for the varsity - 1959-61 - KU went 19-10-2.
As a sophomore halfback in 1959, Hadl was named All-Big Eight Conference. He played both offense and defense. Hadl had a 98-yard touchdown run against TCU and returned an interception back 98 yards for a touchdown ... and also led the nation in punting, averaging 45.6 yards per kick. Hadl still holds the school record for longest punt - 94 yards.
Before Hadl's junior season in 1960, Mitchell decided on a position switch and Hadl moved from running back to quarterback. Hadl had no problem with the move.
"First of all, back then, we didn't throw the ball more than 10 or 15 times a game," said Hadl, who was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1994. "Playing quarterback wasn't that much different than running back. Also, we had a guy named Bert Coan who was about 6-3, 220 and ran a 9.6 in the 100. He was going to play left halfback, my position.
"I could never outrun that guy. I figured if I was gonna play on offense that year, my best chance was at quarterback."
Against Oklahoma - the school that had offered him a scholarship - Hadl passed for 182 yards and had three consecutive punts that went out of bounds at the one-foot line, the 5-yard line and the 10-yard line. After the game Wilkinson said that Hadl was "truly a remarkable athlete."
Also in 1960, the Jayhawks upset No. 1 ranked Missouri.
"Coach Mitchell was a great guy to play for, he recruited a lot of good players," Hadl said, noting that the Jayhawks' starting backfield all wound up playing in the NFL.
Hadl was so impressive that Syracuse coach Ben Schwartzwalder said, "If we had our choice of one player in the country, he would be John Hadl."
Hadl played in the East-West Shrine Game and the College All-Star Game and was named Most Valuable Player in both. He is the only player ever to win both honors.
Kansas defeated Rice, 33-7, in the 1961 Bluebonnet Bowl - the first bowl victory in school history. Still in uniform and standing under a goal post at Rice Stadium, Hadl signed a contract with the fledgling American Football League.
Hadl played in the AFL and the NFL for 16 seasons. Joe Namath considered Hadl one of the greatest competitors he ever faced and said that Hadl excelled in the clutch.
"If you needed a guy to make the play you had to have, you'd want John in charge," said Larry Hatfield, who was a high school teammate of Hadl.


text:
At the 10th Annual International Trend Vision Awards, Wella Professionals revealed four emerging styles in a collection inspired by the Sound of Color that are predicted to influence future styles in the year ahead. The new 2013 trends created by Global Creative Directors, Eugene Souleiman (Care and Styling) and Josh Wood (Color) explore the synergy of aesthetic beauty and the world of music. The four looks, Fusion, Decibel, Echo and Allegra, each represent an archetypal female personality who is rooted in the world of sound and the connection drawn between the visual world and the world of music. Each character's individual personality comes alive through complete hair looks that encompass hair color, cut and styling.
FUSION: The Worldly Spirit
Defined by the merging of Eastern experimental spirit with Western culture, Fusion embodies the contradictions of a modern day geisha meets club girl. Souleiman created a modern twist with a ponytail tied away from the crown and folded back on itself. There is also a shift away from the super natural hues into the more precious pastel territory to allow an altogether more sophisticated palette of willow and porcelain with pastel accents.
DECIBEL: The Vibrant Optimist
Decibel is the antithesis to generic, pristinely finished hair. "This trend is all about the feeling of a technical style becoming unfinished, left looking raw and unpolished," says Souleiman. The style and color collaboration pay tribute to the '70s period of glam rock that allowed a freedom and empowered women to experiment with fashion and beauty without the restriction of rules. This trend shows a woman who is digitally inspiried and futuristic, with color that's comprised of vibrant, neon hues that cover the full spectrum of reds to blues.
ECHO: The Emotional Tyrant
Echo is not only a reflection, but a reaction to the world's current state of affairs and economic downturn. This trend represents the complicated, introverted personality that transcends to a hair style designed with this inherent tension in mind. The impression is a chic yet tormented soul, who struggles with the harshness of life but has a romantic melancholic side to her. "She's obviously a forward thinking woman with this kind of conflict in her," says Souleiman. The color palette is just as emotional with a juxtaposition of incredibly natural looking tones against incredibly dense tones.
ALLEGRA: The Object of Beauty
Allegra escapes into the bright world of the decadent elite by completely embracing the ostentatious culture she was born into. Allegra is enamored with her own beauty and views herself as a piece of art. "She's an object of beauty and desire and she loves that," adds Eugene. Her hair is healthy and clean, embodying her perfection. The color palette is a brazen gold, rose gold, platinum, green gold—all precious metals that are refined and bespoke as if they were created just for her.


text:
Mad Science of Long Island Sparks Imaginative Learning! We are the top provider of fun science for kids in Long Island. You will find us at schools, libraries, daycare centers, recreation and community centers, scout group events, birthday parties, corporate events, camps, and much more. Our fun and interactive science workshops can be customized for any venue where kids are part of.
Our energetic Mad Scientists are trained professionals that will come to you with awe-inspiring equipment, ready to engage and educate your children in an interactive and entertaining way that kids will love. Mad Science has transformed traditional boring science lessons into engaging science presentations. With our unique approach to kids science, your children won't even realize they are learning.
Fun science for kids is our forte, so be prepared for the overwhelming choices of hands on science workshops, parties, and group presentation we have to offer.
Our programs are divided into 5 main categories:


text:
The season for scary movies is over, but so few good horror movies get made these days that I felt it was my duty as a film critic to alert you to "The Strangers."
The season for scary movies is over, but so few good horror movies get made these days that I felt it was my duty as a film critic to alert you to "The Strangers."
Rent "The Strangers." Turn off your lights, pop in the DVD and get ready to be scared. Oh, and don't check beforehand if your doors are locked. To be honest, they probably are, but that nagging doubt will just add to the experience of watching this movie.
Without redefining the genre, breaking ground in gore or (thankfully) pushing the limits of "torture porn," "The Strangers" manages to be that rarest of all movies: One that scares the heck out of you without showing you much at all. It's all in your head — at least for the opening third or so — and under the right circumstances, that's a very frightening place to be.
The setup is simple, with just enough touches to make the characters interesting. The movie opens with Kristen (Liv Tyler) and James (Scott Speedman) arriving at a vacation home late one night after a wedding. It's quickly established that James asked Kristen to marry him, she failed to say "yes," and now there's a rich brew of tension and regret boiling between them. To make things worse, James anticipated a "yes" and filled the house with romantic touches — candles, champagne, rose petals, the works. Coming back to those reminders of what might have been is a grim experience for the likable couple, but don't worry: Things are going to get worse. Much, much worse.
The strangest thing about "The Strangers" is that it's most terrifying before anything happens. My wife, who has seen more than a few horror movies, said more than once during the opening third, "I don't think I can watch this" — and I know just what she meant. For me, a great horror film doesn't deliver shocks, it delivers dread. It makes you so worried about what's coming that you can barely bear to watch — but you definitely can't bear to not watch. "The Strangers" does that better than any movie I can think of since the original "Texas Chainsaw Massacre."
When something does happen in "The Strangers" — and it's awful — it almost comes as a relief. Sure it's bad, but it's there on the screen, and you can deal with it.
I've been deliberately vague about what happens, or why it happens, or who it happens to. That's because "The Strangers" manages a delicate balancing act of (a) tormenting you by making you wait for the horror, then (b) tormenting you again by showing you the horror. It's a mark of the movie's quality that part (a) is even more unnerving than part (b). I credit writer/director Bryan Bertino and his crew for taking a simple but effective premise and keeping it simple, and thus effective.
I also credit whoever made those masks the intruders wear. They alone crank up the disturbing factor a few thousand notches.
Contact Will Pfeifer at email@example.com or 815-987-1244. Read his Movie Man blog at blogs.e-rockford.com/movieman/.
Make room
New DVDs out this week:
"24: Redemption"
"Chungking Express: Criterion Collection"
"Freaks And Geeks Yearbook Edition"
"Fred Claus"
And CDs:
Guns 'N Roses, "Chinese Democracy"
Kanye West, "808s & Heartbreak"
The Killers, "Day & Age"
Sources: dvdtalk.com, tophitsonline.com


text:
On Sale
Gold Hope Charm Bracelet, Have Hope
Write a review
Good things are going to happen.
Every charm comes with its own unique message, this 14K Gold-plated charm bracelet is a sturdy, clean-looking and girlish bracelet for your everyday use. To have more charms on your bracelet, simply purchase other charms (buy charm only), and request to fix onto this bracelet. Available in thick and thin bracelet design.
- Charm material: Brass charm with 14K Gold-plating
- Bracelet material: 925 Sterling Silver material with 14K Gold-plating
- Packaging: Prepared on a gold-debossed card in our classic white gift box, hand-wrapped with a satin ribbon and a gift label of your choice (pick from the drop-down menu)
- Care: Avoid contact with water, sweat or any other chemicals. Always keep dry. The accessories may darken or lose its shine over time; can be easily polished with a dry, clean cloth. It is not possible to regain its shine if the gold layer is worn away
- Measurement: One size fits all, our bracelet chain (17cm) comes with an extension link (2cm), which you can choose to wear looser or tighter; fits almost everybody. Charm is approximately 1.0 x 1.7 cm


text:
Tresidder Peak Climber's Log
Dave Dinnell - Jan 14, 2004 1:12 amRoute Climbed: N. Summit & S. Arete on S. Summit Date Climbed: July 1988
A fine day out scrambling. Ascended the N. Summit 1st for the view overlooking Cathedral Lakes. Then down climbed and ran around to the S. Summit.
Dave K - Oct 27, 2003 1:43 amRoute Climbed: South Arete/Standard Route Date Climbed: October 26, 2003
A fun climb that marked the end of Tuolumne climbing for the year. The weather was absolutely perfect and the views of Cathedral Peak are stunning.
It's a fun class 4 scramble.
mpbro - Jun 18, 2002 12:49 pmRoute Climbed: South face of South Arete Date Climbed: 16 June 2002
Tresidder 2, Kim & Morgan 0. Attempting to avenge our earlier failed attempt, we brought a rope with the goal of climbing the south arete. We were stymied this time by tougher climbing than we expected. We should have looked more for the shorter, easier route, because it does exist.
At least it was a nice day and we had a chance to test our new digital camera. We'll try to return ASAP to retrieve the gear (one runner and a carabiner) that I left on route when we bailed. ;)
Here's a trip report.
Josh - Oct 6, 2001 10:19 pmRoute Climbed: Not sure Date Climbed: October 16, 2001
The north summit appeared to be the high point from Cathedral Lakes, but when I reached the top, I realized the south summit was a little higher. So, I went over and bagged that too. Fun Class 4/5 climbing.
gordonye - Aug 28, 2001 10:56 amRoute Climbed: Date Climbed: June 2000
With Gary Wong from London. We only made it to the foot of summit block. There was a notch between the north and south summit arrets where we had a nice picnic with great views on both sides.
Bob Burd - Aug 25, 2001 9:27 pmRoute Climbed: South Arete Date Climbed: Sept 23, 2000
It was Morgan who made me take notice of this peak a few years ago when he first climbed it. On my way back from Matthes Crest, I decided to climb this while there was still some daylight. It was my first unroped class 4 climb and got my adrenelin going better than the whole route on Matthes. Much fun! I tried the North Arete first, but found the South Arete easier. Trip report.


text:
Analysts, along with online retail aficionados have predicted trends that will propel 2017 digital shopping into the future. If you sell online then take note, if Black Friday and Cyber Monday were any indication ($3.34 billion and $3.39 billion in sales respectively), you don't want to get left behind.
Mobile Shopping
With the advances in online shopping, particularly Apple Pay an Android Pay, the mobile checkout progress has vastly improved according to Matt Smith, founder of Later. "Consumers are spending more time on mobile devices and mobile internet traffic is now greater than desktop." Furthermore, "mobile-first social networks like Instagram, and more frequent mobile-based searches on mobile devices, will make it hard for anyone to be a winner in the ecommerce space without a huge focus on mobile."
Social Media Shopping
By now you've seen Instagram and Pinterest roll out their online shopping features and by tapping in on this at the beginning will give you a big boost. Most recently Instagram made it possible for brands to tag products featured in their photos. This is huge since users are immediately able to tap on the product and be taken to the product page on the brands website to complete checkout. Social media shopping will continue to influence consumer behaviour, and according to Bart Mroz, cofounder & CEO, SUMO Heavy, "It will become a bigger driver of direct transactions."
Personalized Retargeting
Now more than ever, provided relevant marketing to your customers (and potential customers) is key. Consumers know all the tricks used online and are quick to skim over the same old ads. Instead, by opting for hyper targeted ads based on specific pages a consumer has viewed on your site, specific products they've purchased etc, your chances of converting them into sales shoots way up.
Virtual Retail
This is a newer, more exciting form of customer engagement that's popping up and sure to be big in 2017. "Virtual reality (VR) is changing the retail landscape by fusing together the offline and online environment for enhanced customer engagement," says Paul Miller, CMO Americas, Xero. "VR is making it possible for sportswear shoppers to test out gear in environments it would be used in or try on clothing in a virtual dressing room."
Imagine drastic cuts to returns thanks to VR!


text:
New Interface Features Cards, Feeds and Boards; Makes It Easy to See Insights, Collaborate with Your Teams and Take Action
SALT LAKE CITY, Adobe Summit, The Digital Marketing Conference — March 6, 2013 — Adobe Systems Incorporated (Nasdaq:ADBE) today unveiled an innovative new UI for Adobe® Marketing Cloud that surfaces data and insights to marketers and business leaders so they can easily gauge the impact of their marketing dollars. The company also announced that Adobe Marketing Cloud, which marketers use to understand how campaigns are performing, now links with Adobe Creative Cloud™, which agency creatives use to build and deliver those campaigns. The end result is an aligned marketing organization that can act and iterate at the speed of digital, creating more relevant experiences for customers and more value for the business.
"When managing teams for creative design, advertising and analytics all under the same roof, marketers need information that paints a full picture of their business, in one easy-to-access spot," said Brad Rencher, senior vice president and general manager, Digital Marketing Business, Adobe. "Adobe Marketing Cloud now helps marketers surface valuable insights, communicate quickly across teams, and then take action, freeing them from rigid dashboards, cumbersome spreadsheets and lengthy email exchanges."
Check out this video to see the new Adobe Marketing Cloud in action.
The marketing practice is transforming, and an effective marketing organization needs to keep pace. How does a team surface insights and decide what next step to take? The secret is connecting the business leaders in an organization with the individuals driving the development and measurement of marketing content so key decision makers can quicklyobserve, have a discussion in real time, and take action. Adobe has woven social elements into the fabric of the Adobe Marketing Cloud which for the first time gives marketers, creative and business leaders an efficient way to drive their business.
New Capabilities of Adobe Marketing Cloud Include:
Customer Quotes
"The new UI for Adobe Marketing Cloud eliminates the sluggish complexity of surfacing and sharing key insights, drilling down to understand what's going on and deciding on the right course of action," said Adam Allamar, VP of Marketing, Barclaycard US. "I'm excited that my teams can now use Adobe Marketing Cloud to better connect and collaborate."
"Because we have a large number of teams involved in the production of our websites and digital magazines, we need a better way to communicate key data and insights to people who are not digital analysts," said Christopher Reynolds, vice president, marketing analytics, Conde Nast. "The new visualization, sharing and collaboration features within Adobe Marketing Cloud elegantly solve this challenge. No one on my team is going to miss static charts and lengthy email chains."
The integrated digital asset manager and campaign setup wizard are expected to be available in the coming months. All other new functionality in Adobe Marketing Cloud is currently available in beta.
The Five Solutions within Adobe Marketing Cloud
The Adobe Marketing Cloud can be accessed at www.marketing.adobe.com, a destination where marketers not only share and collaborate, but where they also interact with the five solutions in the Marketing Cloud:
About Adobe Marketing Cloud
Now there's a place that puts everything digital marketers need in one spot. It's called Adobe Marketing Cloud. It includes a complete set of analytics, social, advertising, targeting and Web experience management solutions and a social-enabled UI that brings together everything marketers need to know about their campaigns. So marketers can get from data to insights to action, faster and smarter than ever. Visit www.marketing.adobe.com to learn more.
About Adobe Systems IncorporatedAdobe is changing the world through digital experiences. For more information, visit www.adobe.com.
View or download a printable version of this article. (PDF: 48k )
Eric V. Anderson
Adobe Systems Incorporated
Kate McEwan


text: This comprehensive biography of famous physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer is a meticulously researched, riveting work by two respected historians. Using personal and public documents, as well as interviews with members of Oppenheimer's family, friends, former students, and professional associates, the authors provide new insights into one of the twentieth century's most interesting and influential scientists. The chapters give detailed descriptions of the scientist's relations with his parents, the women in his life, his scientific colleagues, members of the military and the government, and his friends. The well-written narrative moves from his childhood, education, and early academic career to his leadership of the Manhattan Project, his post-WW II opposition to the development of the hydrogen bomb, and the revoking of his security clearance by the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission (AEC). An extensive bibliography and footnotes support the text.


text: If you're looking for beautiful unique wedding cards & gifts then look no further! Chic Wedding Designs Co offers stunning personalised cards and gifts for your nearest and dearest. Our illustration cards & prints can be customised with the recipients name, hair style, outfit and skin tone can be changed to match your bridal party.


text:
Leaf by leaf, workers are clipping together some 30,000 wreaths, garlands and other holiday decorations at The Magnolia Company's workshop near this rural crossroads 15 miles north of downtown DeLand.
BARBERVILLE — Leaf by leaf, workers are clipping together some 30,000 wreaths, garlands and other holiday decorations at The Magnolia Company's workshop near this rural crossroads 15 miles north of downtown DeLand.
The adornments are sold and shipped across the United States and Canada during an intense, six-week period that's at its peak this time each year. The Waldorf Astoria hotel in Manhattan hung an elegant 8-foot wreath from here above its Park Avenue entrance, while in previous years, a Magnolia wreath graced a wall in the White House.
The company, an offshoot of a family-owned business that dates to the early 19th century, is not the only northwest Volusia grower to turn a slow time into a holiday rush. At least two other agricultural businesses are producing a variety of holiday decorations using their different varieties of cut foliage.
"Our fern growers have developed a market during their slack time of year," said David Griffis, director of the University of Florida/Volusia County Extension Office. "It all boils down to finding something to do to make some money and make some business."
Select Growers of DeLeon Springs and Wm. Puckett Inc. of Barberville also produce wreaths, garlands and related items for primarily a wholesale market that sells to florists.
At this time of year, Magnolia employs about 40 people at its assembly building — located near the intersection of State Road 40 and U.S. 17, said Matt Roth, president.
Select Growers employs 25, said co-owner Lonnie Clifton. About a half-dozen people work in the Puckett assembly.
The workers are putting in long days, sometimes 12 hours or more, to fill orders during the holiday rush. They assemble foliage on wire or plastic wreaths, arranging them with bows, berries, pinecones and other ornaments.
Puckett's wreaths are sprayed with Hydroseal, an environmentally friendly preservative. Because they are made with fresh-cut greens, Puckett's wreaths have a shorter shelf life, one season, but carry with them the smell of their natural greens, including blueberry cedar, long needle pine and Leyland cypress.
Everything Puckett uses is fresh and pliable, said Bill and Julie Puckett, owners.
"There is not a lot of wood in our bundles," Julie Puckett said. "We think it is more attractive."
The Magnolia wreaths are a different breed — with a longer shelf life.
The company gets its leaves from its own Southern magnolia trees, grown in a sandy soil a couple of miles northeast of the workshop.
After a few weeks, the magnolia leaves lose their dark green color, fading to a lighter shade, but if stored properly indoors, they can last several years. The leaf is "a natural beauty," according to designer Mary Waugh, and has an elongated oval shape with a point on one end. One side is a dark, glossy green while the other carries a velvety texture.
Waugh, one of the company's founders and its lead designer, said she was able to keep one of her wreaths for six years.
Her brother-in-law, Roth, married into the Underhill family, who have farmed on 800 acres near Barberville since one of their ancestors, Joseph Underhill, was given the land as a reward for his service in the Seminole Indian Wars, according to the Magnolia Company's website. The cut foliage and fernery business at the farm dates to 1936.
Roth said the idea for using magnolia leaves for holiday wreaths and garlands wasn't his. A Canadian customer of Underhill Ferneries made the suggestion, and he hired a consultant, explored the idea and decided it was viable.
In 2001, The Magnolia Company was formed. It was tested right away. That year, the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks harmed the economy, but the business survived, Waugh said, and that was one of its watershed moments.
Unlike Puckett and Select Growers, which ship their product directly to the wholesale market, Magnolia wreaths can be purchased directly from the company's website. A 24-inch Original Magnolia wreath costs $92, while a 34-inch Silver Bells wreath from the Lacquer Collection goes for $353.
Roth said getting photos of some of the company's products into magazines such as O, The Oprah Magazine and Southern Living have helped build the company's reputation and get the attention of interior decorators working on high-end jobs like the Waldorf Astoria. He and Waugh also credit the women who assemble the wreaths.
"They are truly craftswomen who know how to manipulate the leaves," Waugh said. "They really have an eye for what's good."
Martha Mendoza of Deltona, who manages the assembly, said the women are excited to work on a product that's affiliated with the holidays and sometimes ends up in prominent places, such as the White House. "They take pride in their wreaths," she said.
Over the years, the business has evolved, with one of the key developments being the planting of magnolia trees. Van Underhill, who oversees that side of the business, said the trees have become a business unto themselves, with the Underhill Ferneries finding a market for high-end landscaping projects.
What's ahead for the businesses: Building markets beyond the holidays. The wreath-makers say they are working on products that might have uses in the spring and summer, such as for weddings and other occasions.
Magnolia officials say they believe they've found an important market with their "Seeds of Life" line of gift trees.
The planting of a tree is a memorable way to mark occasions that are happy, such as birthdays, or sad, such as funerals, Waugh said, adding: "It's like a ministry to people."


text:
It's not that much of a surprise that Apple thinks watching 3D content with plastic glasses is dumb.
And the company that's all about sleek, cool, and simple has actually been granted a patent on a method of projecting a 3D image that can be perceived properly without glasses.
The system would work like this: each pixel would be projected onto a reflective, textured surface, which is then bounced into a viewer's left and right eye separately, producing the 3D, or stereoscopic, effect. it would sense the locations of both eyes of the each viewer, so multiple people could watch from a variety of angles.
The goal of the technology they've cooked up is "inexpensive auto-stereoscopic 3D displays that allow the observer complete and unencumbered freedom of movement," according to the patent application the Patent Office granted yesterday. In other words, 3D displays should have no need for special glasses, and viewers shouldn't be limited by viewing angle, or be forced to sit and not move in order to see the 3D effect.
Interestingly, the patent breaks down why they think current offerings for glasses-free 3D aren't good enough, including parallax barrier, volumetric, and hologram.
A parallax barrier display, which is what is used in some auto-stereoscopic phones and likely the Nintendo 3DS, uses one liquid crystal display layered under another. Each has tiny stripes that will hide certain pixels so that some are only visible to your left eye, while others will only be seen by your right eye. In that way, each eye gets its own image, producing the illusion of 3D without the need for glasses.
Toshiba and Sharp both have prototype glasses-less 3D TVs and expect to begin selling them in Japan by the end of the year. Toshiba's method is to use a fast, powerful processor to take a 2D image and simultaneously create nine images of it from nine different directions, in real time, and display it on a high-definition LED TV.
Apple says those aren't good enough because of the processing power needed for the hologram style of Toshiba and Sharp, and the limits on movement or more than one viewer with parallax. "A need still remains for highly effective, practical, efficient, uncomplicated, and inexpensive autostereoscopic 3D displays that allow the observer complete and unencumbered freedom of movement," the patent application reads.
Of course, like any patent, this doesn't mean we should expect an Apple-branded 3D projector anytime soon. The original patent was applied for in 2006, and these are the kinds of technologies that tech companies like to keep in their back pocket, just in case.
reading•Apple patents glasses-less 3D projection
Aug 25•How to #!@% on iOS 13's swear-proof swipe keyboard
Aug 25•Apple needs to fix the iPhone 11's buttons so accidental screenshots go away
Aug 25•A new Apple Watch is coming, but it may not be what we were expecting
Aug 25•AirPods 2 vs. Sony WF-1000XM3: The best wireless earbuds are...
•See All


text:
- This event has passed.
ISSA-LA February Lunch Meeting
February 20, 2013 @ 11:30 am - 1:45 pm
Description: February Lunch Meeting
Topic: Bring your CFO to Work Day: 5 Tips for Optimizing the InfoSec/ Finance Relationship
Either bring Your Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to this session (recommended), or before the meeting ask your CFO the one most pressing security or risk management question that comes to their mind. If at first glance this pre-requisite exercise makes you feel uncomfortable, or your CFO has multiple questions when approached, then this is your first tip for you both to come to this interactive session.
I am also married to my CFO. This use case will not be covered in this session. Actually, tip 2 is for you to avoid this situation if at all possible at your organization.
Let's be honest: most Chief Financial Officers struggle to understand information security and how it relates to their risk management objectives. Further, this issue has been recently magnified by two characteristics of the InfoSec/Finance relationship. The first is that often CFO's are key decision makers for most Information security activities, and second that the responsibilities and interest of most CFO's in risk management is growing by the day, mostly due to increased Board interest in the topic.
Let's be even more honest: the primary reason for these breakdowns in optimizing the security and finance relationship can be attributed to many of the techniques and approaches that have been proliferated by OUR information security discipline. This interactive session will break down some of these issues and present 5 tips for optimizing the information security/finance relationship. From building a communication system that is practical to use of a unified definition of risk; get ready to work together, have some fun and move our organizations forward.
Speaker: Mike Gentile
Mike is on a mission to change the status quo in Information Security as we know it. His goal is to translate the discipline from one that is often misunderstood, inefficiently applied, and painful to one that is a seamless, collaborative, and repeatable in organizations across the globe. Delphiis is the encapsulation of this mission.
Sponsor: SecureAuth
SecureAuth is a technology leader in enterprise identity governance that serves hundreds of customers and over seven million users worldwide. Its SecureAuth IdP products offer Global 5000 companies a uniquely extensible, enterprise-proven method of administering corporate identity governance on mobile devices, cloud-based applications, and networks. These all-in-one solutions provide IT departments with a simplified way of managing and enforcing access, authentication, approval and assertion based on existing user entitlements. SecureAuth IdP works anywhere and is completely scalable. For the latest insight on enterprise identity governance and issues follow the SecureAuth Blog, follow @SecureAuth on Twitter, or visit www.gosecureauth.com for additional information.
Register early online before the Monday prior to the the event, and get a $10 discount!
ISSA-LA Members & Members of other ISSA chapters, OWASP, ISC2, CSA & Students: $20
Non-Members: $30
Please follow the link to register for this event:


text:
For anyone who's ever renovated in his or her home, you'll know that it takes a certain amount of imagination -- and faith! -- to envision what your new space will look like, especially if you're re-purposing a room into something new, like I just did in my client's downtown loft. He's a busy television executive and often has staff meetings and screenings in his home. We took what was originally his bedroom and made it into an open-concept home office, and the results were nothing less than amazing.
This loft had some spectacular features: polished concrete floors, 14-foot ceilings and massive windows on the north- and east-facing walls. It was going to be a challenge to bring warmth and intimacy into such an open and industrial room. Although this may sound strange, the first thing I did was open the space up even more by removing the suspended pseudo-walls, and hanging a mirror on the entry wall. The mirror brought light into the entrance of the loft, making it feel brighter, and the open concept challenged me to separate the space in more creative ways.
Now that I'd set the open and airy stage, time to warm it up. I covered the polished concrete floor with a rich, masculine rug that anchored the room and provided a soft surface underfoot. The homeowner's cat particularly loved this! Next I brought a feeling of intimacy into the space by painting one of the walls a deep charcoal colour, and the other in a luxurious caramel. Furthermore, I brought in a faux-finisher who textured the caramel wall with various shades of brown that gave the effect of old leather - it was simply gorgeous. With just these minor changes the space still felt very open, but not nearly as cold and impersonal as before.
Since I knew my homeowner needed to screen shows with his staff in here, I had to address the dreaded television issue. I usually take care to hide TV's in people's spaces, but since here it was going to have such a starring role, I decided to showcase it. I brought in a replica antique Chinese sideboard and centered the TV on top, flanking it with two mid-century chrome lamps. The combination of old furniture and new technology took the edge off the ultra-modern look. I brought in a large art deco dining table as a meeting table and a sleek, leather office chair on casters, making it easy to move back and forth between the table, the computer area and the TV.
I created two other areas in this home office simply through creative furniture placement. An intimate meeting area consisted of two classic club chairs in black leather, centered around a modern glass bar table; perfect for martinis and relaxing conversation. On the other side, I had a large, modern wall unit made of chocolate-coloured walnut to house both files inside drawers and awards, photos and other personal mementos on display shelves. A long counter acts as a credenza and is the perfect spot to plug in the laptop for quick demos to clients.
Throughout the space I sprinkled hints of chrome and silver to add some sparkle and shine -- being careful of course, to keep the space masculine, highly-stylized and modern. After all, they say image is everything in an office, and I think this one's an Academy Award winner!


text:
One of these things is not like the others…The Animal Rescue Site
Snuggle bunnies… Wait, no… Intruder Alert! Intruder Alert!
Want more stories like this sent to your Facebook Messenger inbox? Click here to subscribe.
Adopted Kitten Tries To Look 'Intimidating' When She Meets Her New Dog Siblings: Click "Next" below!
The Animal Rescue Site is a place where people can help provide food and care to millions of animals in need, both in the U.S. and around the world. In addition to sharing personal rescue stories, shopping for the cause, and signing petitions, visitors can take just a moment each day to click on a purple button to help animals. Visit The Animal Rescue Site and click today - it's free!


text:
I've seen the best of the best with my own two eyes.Pele,Maradonna,Bobby Moore,Jim Baxter,Franz Beckenbauer,George Best,Jimmy Johnstone,Bobby Charlton(and his brother Jack).
But the best i have ever saw is Lionel Messi.Its scary.He's only 24.So basically,he's not even at his peak.Yet,he is already the all time top goal scorer for Barcelona.His three goals in last nights game were all superb.
Makes you wonder what he will achieve.


text:
I was downloading a 4.0 GB file using axel. When it reached 98%, it displayed "Write Error". I still have 30+ GB of free disk space.
I tried to run axel again, and got "Write Error" again. Here is the actual display:
State file found: 4251724925 bytes downloaded, 62428035 to go.
Starting download
,,,,,,,,,, ,,,,,,,,,, ,,,,,.....
Write error!
Downloaded 5.0 kilobytes in 0 seconds. (0.00 KB/s)
How can I fix this?


text:
Dr. Mark Thistlethwaite, Kay and Velma Kimbell Chair of Art History, Texas Christian University
Explore artworks from the exhibitions Wild Spaces, Open Seasons: Hunting and Fishing in American Art and Caught on Paper and consider the various ways and reasons why artists have depicted Americans in their urban, rural, and wilderness environments.
This free lecture series is offered every Wednesday at 3 p.m. from August 23 to November 29 except during the week of Thanksgiving.
This week's topic: Winslow Homer's Outdoorsmen
Sustainer and Patron Members are cordially invited to a Special Program and Reception: Johnson and Johnson: A New York Architect and Cowtown Collector Collaborate
Discover the fascinating history of the collaboration between architect Philip Johnson and his patron Ruth Carter Johnson (later Stevenson) as they designed the Amon Carter Museum of American Art. Through photographs and artifacts, the museum's docents and archivist will explore the museum as a monument to the city of Fort Worth and Amon Carter who was one of its greatest promoters.
Reception to follow in the Lounge
Please reply by October 21, to 817.989.5063 email@example.com.


text:
Nation & World
U.S. accuses ex-governor of Mexico's Tamaulipas state of laundering cartel cash
The former governor of Mexico's Tamaulipas state invested millions of dollars in drug sale proceeds in real estate across southern and central Texas, the U.S. government charged in an indictment unsealed Monday.
The allegations against Tomas Yarrington, who governed Tamaulipas from 1999 to 2004, marked the latest attempt by U.S. prosecutors to prove that organized crime has penetrated deeply into Mexican politics at the state level. Tamaulipas borders Texas.
According to the indictment, Yarrington received "millions of dollars" in payoffs from the Gulf Cartel, a major drug trafficking group based in Matamoros, which lies across the Rio Grande from Brownsville, Texas, where the indictment was returned in May. There was no explanation for why the 53-page indictment was kept secret until Monday.
The payments began in 1998 when Yarrington was a candidate for governor and continued throughout his six-year term, the indictment alleges. Tamaulipas state police working for the Gulf Cartel delivered the first of the bribes while Yarrington was running for governor, it says.
After he left office, Yarrington accepted quantities of cocaine in exchange for facilitating access to ports in Veracruz state for the cartel, the indictment says.
Yarrington is the first former governor to be indicted by U.S. prosecutors since May 2010, when Mexico extradited Mario Villanueva, the former governor of the state that includes Cancun, to stand trial in New York City for working for the Juarez Cartel, another trafficking group. Villanueva pleaded guilty and was sentenced to nearly 11 years in prison. Under his watch, Villanueva admitted, the Juarez Cartel moved tons of cocaine through his state of Quintana Roo to the United States.
Yarrington's Houston attorney, Joel Androphy, said the indictment is "nothing more than a piece of paper with false allegations."
"He has not engaged in any criminal activity with anybody," Androphy added.
The whereabouts of Yarrington, who also is under investigation by Mexican prosecutors, were not clear. Androphy declined to say where he was.
The indictment against the 56-year-old Yarrington and a second man, Mexican construction company owner Fernando Alejandro Cano Martinez, accuses them of a web of conspiracy to funnel drug proceeds into the purchase of property in Bexar, Cameron, Hays and Hidalgo counties in central and southern Texas.
Yarrington used bribes he received as governor to buy a hunting lodge in Tamaulipas state, the indictment says. It also accuses him of handling stolen public funds for other corrupt politicians and orchestrating ways to move that money into Texas banks, the indictment says.
Cano Martinez bribed Yarrington for favorable consideration in public works contracts, often in the form of property in Mexico whose ownership by Yarrington was hidden, the indictment says. Cano Martinez and Yarrington created numerous partnerships to buy property across Texas, it adds, either as payoffs to themselves or on behalf of the cartel.
The properties included three lots – measuring 179 acres, 46 acres and 104 acres – in Bexar County, which surrounds San Antonio, the indictment says.
Yarrington also used unnamed straw men to purchase a condominium on South Padre Island and a waterfront home in Port Isabel, Texas, the indictment alleges.
The racketeering conspiracy also included the purchase of two airplanes, a Sabreliner 60 and a Pilatus business aircraft, it says.
Prosecutors allege that the conspiracy involved the transfer of at least $7 million in funds from Mexican banks to a series of banks in the Rio Grande Valley, including First National, Inter National, Falcon International and Lone Star National banks. At those banks, they allege, the conspirators used confederates to take out loans to finance real estate purchases, providing fraudulent information to hide the provenance of the money.
Yarrington, who had national political standing and had met with George W. Bush when he was governor of Texas as well as the current governor, Rick Perry, remained in good stead with Mexico's ruling party, the Institutional Revolutionary Party, or PRI, even as allegations mounted of his alleged ties to organized crime. He was finally suspended from the party in early 2012 as elections heated up in the country.
Yarrington sought the PRI nomination for the presidency of Mexico in 2005 but did not get it.
U.S. prosecutors already have seized a number of properties mentioned in the indictment, including the 46-acre parcel in Bexar County, the 2005 Pilatus business aircraft and the South Padre Island condo.
Still, they are seeking a judgment of forfeiture against Yarrington for $50 million.