text:
Authorities say four Oregon teenagers accused of shooting a fellow high school student with a BB gun and carving a swastika into his forehead had spent an evening sketching out ideas for torturing him.
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) ? Authorities say four Oregon teenagers accused of shooting a fellow high school student with a BB gun and carving a swastika into his forehead had spent an evening sketching out ideas for torturing him.
According to an affidavit filed Tuesday, the Feb. 10 attack went as planned, until they released the 16-year-old boy to pull cash from an ATM. He fled to a nearby store instead and called police.
The teen told investigators he was lured to the shed by 15-year-old Jenna Montgomery. There, he said 15-year-old Blue Kalmbach shot him with a BB gun and used a box cutter to cut the swastika.
A similar attack was portrayed in the 2009 World War II movie "Inglourious Basterds."
All five teens attend the same southeast Portland high school. On the morning of the alleged assault, Montgomery spoke with the victim there and asked to hang out after school. They walked behind a house nearby, according to the affidavit, and Montgomery led him to a shed in the backyard.
Waiting inside were Kalmbach, 17-year-old Jess Taylor and a 14-year-old boy.
"Mr. Taylor stated that he helped formulate the plan to torture (the victim)," Multnomah County assistant district attorney Chris Ramras wrote in the affidavit, "and assisted by writing down several ideas."
Kalmbach pointed a gun ? later identified as a BB gun ? at the victim and told him to take off his shirt.
The victim told investigators that when he complied, Kalmbach shot him in the chest, the groin and one of his hands. Then Kalmbach used a box cutter to cut the swastika into the victim's forehead, according to the affidavit.
Montgomery told the victim she wanted a skateboard, and the 14-year-old boy demanded money. They allowed the victim to leave, and he ran to an automotive shop, where he told employees to call police.
Authorities found the four alleged assailants in a home a half-mile from the shed.
Attorneys for Taylor, Montgomery and Kalmbach could not be reached for comment Friday afternoon. It was unclear who is representing the 14-year-old boy.
The three who are 15 and older have been charged as adults. They each face about 20 counts, ranging from kidnapping to robbery and assault. The 14-year-old will be prosecuted in juvenile court per Oregon criminal law.
John Bier, principal of David Douglas High School, said Friday the alleged attackers and their victim were "only vaguely involved" with the school ? one student was headed to an alternative high school, and the rest had spotty attendance records.
"They had basically chosen not to attend," Bier said. "We were trying to reel them back in, but they were really not having it."
He said the 3,000-student school has not experienced more students seeking counseling since the alleged attack.
Bier said investigators told him that the five teenagers were all friends at one point, but had a falling out. He said the victim initially was lured to the shed with a promise of drugs and sex.
A Portland Police Bureau report that Bier referred to was not available Friday. Authorities have not commented on a possible motive.
"It reaches a level that's disturbing," Bier said. "Our staff, our students are shocked. They're appalled."


text:
Genesis 6:1-8 "The Path of Compromise"
MP3•Episode home•Series home•Public Feed
Manage episode 226551242 series 1201452
ByDiscovered by Player FM and our community — copyright is owned by the publisher, not Player FM, and audio streamed directly from their servers.
318 episodes available. A new episode about every 4 days averaging 48 mins duration .

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Through the years of the National Association of Juvenile Correctional Agencies, 1903-1991
The Association - Juvenile corrections - 94 pages
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National Conference of Juvenile Agencies
Two Conventions Held in 1937
National Association of Juvenile
3 other sections not shown
Common terms and phrases
Abraham G administration adopted Agencies was held American Correctional Association American Prison Association annual conference annual meeting appointed approved Association of Juvenile Association of Training Atlantic City August 19 Boys Children's Bureau Clyde Reed Conference of Juvenile Conference of Social Crime and Delinquency Delinquency Prevention Delinquent Children Dependent and Delinquent discussion Donald Blackburn Donald G Editorial Chairman Education of Truant elected president Fewell was re-elected Fred Allen Harold Novick Hotel Illinois Individual Membership John Sheridan Johnstone June Juvenile Agencies Juvenile Correctional Agencies Juvenile Delinquency Juvenile Justice Juvenile Reformatory Section Kansas Minnesota NAJCA National Association National Conference NATSJA NCJA Nibecker NICD October officers Ohio organization Penn presented President Shumate president-elect Preston Sharp Prison Congress problems Proceedings re-elected secretary-treasurer reported resolution Roy McLaughlin Samuel Sublett Schools and Juvenile Secretary session staff standards theme Training Schools two-year term Vergil Pinckney voted Washburn University Windell Fewell York


text:
testo 174 H - Temperature and humidity mini data logger
Order-Nr. 0572 6560Compact, accurate, reliable: the testo 174H mini data logger measures and logs the air temperature and relative humidity in storage rooms and offices 24/7/365.
Memory for up to 16 000 temperature and humidity measurements
Longlife humidity sensor for reliable and accurate measurements
Easy data transfer via USB cable, practical data analysis and logging on PC
Free software download (ComSoft Basic)
testo 175 H1 - Temperature and humidity data logger
Order-Nr. 0572 1754Saving energy, archiving, storing goods, creating a comfortable indoor climate – if you can't analyze the temperature and humidity, you won't get optimal results. The testo 175 H1 is designed to carry out reliable long-term measurements and log these crucial values for you.
Shorter reaction times and accurate measurements with external humidity sensor
Round-the-clock monitoring and logging of temperature, relative humidity and dew point
Super-size memory for long-term measurements and up to 1 million readings, battery life 3 years
Free software download (ComSoft Basic)
testo 174 T - Mini temperature data logger
Order-Nr. 0572 1560The testo 174T mini temperature data logger is ideal for continuous monitoring of storage temperature, for example of food or pharmaceutical products. It is also suitable for temperature control in refrigerators or cold stores.
Measurement data memory for 16 000 temperature readings, approx. 500 days of battery life
High data integrity, even with an empty battery
Waterproof according to IP 65, HACCP-compliant and certified according to EN 12830
Data analysis: three possible software versions to choose from, basic software available as a free download
testo 270 - Cooking oil tester
Order-Nr. 0563 2750A visual or odour check is not sufficient to verify whether the quality of the cooking oil is still good. Chain restaurateurs with the testo 270 cooking oil tester only need to change the cooking oil once critical TPM values are reached. This saves them from changing the cooking oil more frequently than is necessary, enabling them to also benefit from the associated cost savings.
Capacitive oil sensor from Testo, together with its needs-based design, make it possible to take measurements in hot oil (user is protected from the heat of the deep fat fryer)
IP 65: protected against water jets without a protective cover
Clear, visual alarm indication via highly-visible alarm backlight in traffic light colours
Washable case for hygienically stowing away at the application site
testo 104-IR - Food safety thermometer
Order-Nr. 0560 1040Incoming food, food on display, food in storage: the testo 104-IR infrared probe thermometer allows you to carry out quick and reliable temperature and food safety checks in the course of your busy working day. Ideal for use in the food sector, restaurants and the retail industry.
₱10 995.00excl. VAT
For carrying out surface and core temperature measurements
Durable and practical: rugged folding joint, waterproof housing (IP65), fits snugly in any pocket
HACCP / EN 13485 compliant
testo 175 T1 - Temperature data logger
Order-Nr. 0572 1751The testo 175 T1 temperature data logger is ideal for monitoring storage temperatures and long-term monitoring. It is certified for use in food environments and measures and logs temperatures constantly and reliably.
Ideal for long-term measurements. Can save up to 1 000 000 readings. Battery life up to 3 years
Wall mount
HACCP and EN 12830 compliant, IP 65 protected
Data analysis on PC: three software options to choose from; Basic software as free download
testo 106 kit - Food thermometer
Order-Nr. 0563 1063The testo 106 food thermometer is now available as a practical kit with useful accessories including a waterproof case and clip!
Ideal for measuring the core temperature of food: HACCP compliant and EN 13485 certified when used with the TopSafe protective case
Further benefits which the TopSafe protective case has to offer: waterproof and dirt resistant, IP67 rated, dishwasherproof
Visual and audible alarm that warn when thresholds are exceeded
Further benefits which the kit has to offer: you have all the accessories you need, i.e. clip and sensor protective cap for safe storage
testo 175 T3 - Temperature logger
Order-Nr. 0572 1753The testo 175 T3 temperature logger with its two connections for external thermocouple probes is a good idea when you would like to record your temperatures at two locations in parallel: for example when measuring the flow and return temperature on radiators. The readings are securely saved in the temperature logger and are available for later measurement data analysis and documentation.
₱18 050.00excl. VAT
Practical for frequent and long-term measurements: memory capacity of 1 million readings, up to 3 years' battery life
Very large temperature measuring range from -50 °C to +1 000 °C
Including wall bracket
Measurement data analysis and documentation: three different software versions to choose from, basic software available as a free download
testo 174 H set - Mini data logger for temperature and humidity in a set
Order-Nr. 0572 0566The testo 174H mini data logger for temperature and humidity is your small and handy partner for climate monitoring which still also offers the same level of reliability. Whether in warehouses, museums, archives, offices or apartment blocks, the mini data logger provides reliable temperature and humidity recording.
Measurement data memory for 16 000 temperature and humidity readings
Reliable measurement via humidity sensor with
Advantage of the set: USB interface for data transfer to PC included
Easy data analysis on the PC with appropriate software (three software versions available, basic software can be downloaded free of charge)
testo 104 - Waterproof food thermometer
Order-Nr. 0563 0104Waterproof folding thermometer - ideal for spot check measurements in the food sector.
Ideal for use with food: HACCP compliant, EN 13485 certified
Can be cleaned under running water – IP65 rated
Practical folding mechanism with rugged metal joint; easy and ready to use
Automatic final value recognition (auto-hold); min/max memory for all hold/auto-hold readings
testo 108 - Digital food thermometer
Order-Nr. 0563 1080For super-fast spot checks and reliable results. The testo 108 waterproof food thermometer for measuring temperatures during food production, processing and storage. For carrying out super fast and reliable temperature checks during food production, processing and storage.
For carrying out temperature checks in the food industry
Ready to go. One probe temperature sensor included, further type K and T temperature sensors (optional) can be connected
Digital food thermometer also waterproof with connected probe sensor (IP67 protected)
HACCP and EN 13485 compliant
testo 184 T3 - Temperature data logger for transport monitoring
Order-Nr. 0572 1843With the testo 184 T3 temperature data logger, you can now monitor the transport of sensitive products, such as pharmaceuticals, food or electronic items, both safely and conveniently. A start and stop button means the temperature data logger guarantees really easy operation for data recording. At the destination, a glance at the display or the LEDs tells you whether the configured limit values have been adhered to during transport.
Unlimited operating time
All in one temperature data logger: PDF measurement data, configuration file, acceptance test certificate 3.1 according to DIN ISO 10204 and instruction manual
Immediate creation of a PDF report directly after connection to a computer
Monitoring transport in compliance with GxP, 21 CFR Part 11, HACCP and EN 12830
testo 103 - Penetration thermometer
Order-Nr. 0560 0103The testo 103 penetration thermometer is a particularly small folding thermometer – ideal for spot check measurements in the food sector.
₱4 538.00excl. VAT
Ideal for use with food: HACCP compliant, certified according to EN 13485
Splash water protected – IP55 rated
Practical folding mechanism – for quick 'n easy measuring; fits in any shirt or trouser pocket
Easy-to-use, high-precision technology
testo 905-T2 - Surface thermometer with large measuring range
Order-Nr. 0560 9056The testo 905-T2 surface thermometer can measure the temperature reliably and impressively fast even on uneven surfaces. Its measuring head with sprung thermocouple strip is what makes this possible. This efficient temperature measuring instrument is therefore suitable for diverse applications in the heating, plumbing and refrigeration trade (e.g. measurements on pipes or valves).
₱8 475.00excl. VAT
Suitable for measurements on uneven surfaces
Large measuring range: Temperature measurements up to +500 °C possible for a short time
Convenient reading of measurement results on the swivel display
Extremely quick response time
testo 106 - Food thermometer
Order-Nr. 0560 1063Practical for fast, safe temperature measurements in food controls: with the compact, handy testo 106 food thermometer you will be well equipped to measure the core temperature of products in industrial kitchens, restaurant chains, supermarkets, or while food is in transit.
₱4 437.00excl. VAT
For fast, accurate measurement of core temperatures (e.g. in food controls)
Combined with the TopSafe protective case (can be ordered separately), the testo 106 is an EN 13485 certified and HACCP-compliant thermometer
Visual and acoustic alarm when the limit value is exceeded (limit value can be set individually)
Fine measuring tip with a 2.2 mm diameter: puncture holes are barely discernible
testo 175 T2 - Temperature data logger
Order-Nr. 0572 1752The testo 175 T2 temperature data logger is ideally suited if you want to use one instrument to monitor air temperature and to record additional temperature values (e.g. core temperature) on a second channel at the same time. In particular, it is the perfect solution for parallel temperature control of the ambient conditions and the goods themselves when storing food.
Ideal for long-term measurements: 1 million readings can be stored, battery life of up to 3 years
Including wall bracket
HACCP-compliant, EN 12830 certified, protection class IP 65
Data analysis: three different software versions available, basic software free of charge
testo 826-T4 - Penetration infrared thermometer
Order-Nr. 0563 8284During food controls in Incoming Goods, you regularly check the temperature of your goods. The testo 826-T4 penetration infrared thermometer allows quick temperature scans by means of infrared measurement without damaging the products. If temperature limit values are exceeded, the permanently attached penetration probe can be used to take accurate core temperature measurements (e.g. in yoghurts).
₱14 016.00excl. VAT
Infrared and core temperature measurements in one measuring instrument
Infrared thermometer with 6:1 optics and 1 point laser measurement spot marker
Easy limit value monitoring with the min./max. function; immediate alarm when limit values are exceeded
Watertight and robust thanks to the TopSafe protective case (in scope of delivery)
Waterproof mini probe thermometer
Order-Nr. 0560 1113The waterproof mini probe thermometer allows you to measure the air temperature and core temperature of a variety of different media in a variety of different applications. And when you're done you can either clean your thermometer under running water – or pop it into the dishwasher if necessary.
₱2 825.00excl. VAT
For quick 'n easy air and core temperature measurements
Ideal for a variety of different applications – in kitchens, laboratories, industrial settings and garden centers
Waterproof and dishwasher safe (IP67 rated)
Includes protective case with integrated clip
Mini penetration thermometer
Order-Nr. 0560 1110Take fast, reliable liquid or air temperature measurements with our mini penetration thermometer. The slender, pointed penetration probe of the mini thermometer is perfect for measuring core temperatures.
₱1 916.00excl. VAT
Measure air and core temperatures quickly and reliably
133 mm penetration probe for measurements up to +150 °C
For various uses – in the laboratory, and heating and ventilation sector, etc.
Includes protective tube with attachment clip
testo 184 H1 - Air humidity and temperature data logger for transport monitoring
Order-Nr. 0572 1845With the testo 184 H1 data logger for humidity and temperature, you can now monitor the transport of sensitive products, such as food, pharmaceuticals, electronic items or artwork, both safely and conveniently. A start and stop button means the humidity data logger guarantees really easy operation for data recording. At the destination, a glance at the display or the LEDs tells you whether the configured limit values have been adhered to during transport.
₱15 353.00excl. VAT
Unlimited operating time
All in one logger: PDF measurement data, configuration file and instruction manual
Immediate creation of a PDF report directly after connection to a computer
Compliant with GxP, 21 CFR Part 11 and HACCP


text:
BBC News
- Johnson to meet Macron as French president downplays backstop hopes
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- Ditch cars to meet climate change targets, say MPs
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- Channel migrants: Two boats intercepted carrying 21 people
- Alan Cumming 'relished' gay lead role in US show
- Libby Squire death: Man arrested on suspicion of murder
- Ryanair loses court battle to block UK pilot strikes
- UK and South Korea to sign 'continuity' trade agreement
- Suffolk Police criticised over 2009 Eye driveway murder case
- Boy, 12, falls to death from apartment in Spain
- Andrew Harper: 'Thin blue line' ribbon tribute to PC
- Farming: The UK's deadliest industry
- Prince Andrew's links to Jeffrey Epstein
- Why James Acaster thinks 2016 was music's best year ever
- Titanic sub dive reveals parts are being lost to sea
- Bury FC: Anger and tears over threat of expulsion
- RuPaul's Drag Race UK: Meet the queens for first UK series
- Hampshire lab tests water quality every day of the year
- Puppy helps Ellie May, 8, to cope with diabetes
- HS2: How much work has already been done?
- Brexit will force Scot from German mayor's post
- Meet the people cleaning public toilets for free
- Dukes, aristocrats and tycoons: Who owns Scotland?
- Newspaper headlines: 30 days to do a deal and HS2 'heading for buffers'
- West Lane Hospital suspended staff 'still working'
- Rape victims 'let down' says justice secretary
- Thousands of NI pupils receiving GCSE results
- BAME positive discrimination 'needed when hiring for jobs'
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text:
Go to the next page for Football Manager 2015 downloads.
Go to the next page for Football Manager 2015 downloads.
hi my arsenal game wont load up when i try and all my others work im not sure if it's corrupted if so how do i un do that
hey johnny
do you have another link for the english backgrounds, the link you sent me dont work. it says error 404.
Would you share your 4-4-2 Spartans tactic with us??
hi jonny, just wondering wen downloaded the latest patch for fm2010 wots the next thing to do? how do u put patch into game?
how to import the training scheldules….
where do you put the kits??
Hi Johnny
I just wanted to bring your attention to one further error in your updated config file here – in the file itself you still have Arsenal_hird instead of Arsenal_third – adding the missing T displays the third kit, whereas before it was simply a white shirt.
Just in case you wanted to do a further update, but if not I've set up a link here:
Just an option to save you a bit of time :)
Argh sorry I meant to place that comment in the kit pack board, my bad, sorry about that.
hey karp i've downloaded the kits and follow the instructions.the thing is mine sport interactive folder dont contain the folder graphics. what shall i do???
Follow the instructions-
#Extract the file to My Documents/Sports Interactive/Football Manager 2010/graphics/kits
#If it ain't there then create those folders
yo bilal
thks dude it work
No problem nxsix I'm just happy to help you and if you have any other problem just ask.
Link for facepack – file no. 25 on mediafire..'MEGAPACK 2.0.zip.025′ not working..please reupload
can i download this?
why i can't select macedonian league?
Because Stefan Sports Interactive deem that we(I jas sum makedonec) do not have a league of sufficient quality to make it playable :) Plus neither you or me, or the macedonian FA, know the format of the league :) So till our crappy league gets fixed enjoy Calcio :)
hey Johny, a question about the kits, is there anything i can download so that when in the match, not all the players are wearing white in white !? I cant recognize who is in my team and who isnt, except from the names !!
Moo, I never had that problem, the two teams always have slightly different kits in the game. So I don't know if there's a solution to that, does that happen in every single game? If yes then I think you might have some corrupted files or something like that.
I have added the kits and followed the stephs, however, Tottenham, Arsenal home kits dont show, both burnley and hull do not show home and away, and a few trd kits aren't showing, can you advise, please?
thanx for this site it is real awesome
How do i download the United Kingdom league?? and how do i put it into my football manager 11 ?
Sorry Ross, I don't understand what you're talking about. Is it a custom league, a facepack, a logo pack, what is it?
I just bought the game via Steam, but there's no folders for the game like there were with Football Manager 2010. How can I download the facepack and logopack?
Thanks & Happy New Year!
English Language Doesn't work after I update Patch from 11.0 to 11.2.1 in Football Manger 2011 RUSSIA PLEASE HELP
Is there any Barclays Premire League kit packs??
Hey Johhnny ,
I followed all your instructions and it did not work for the skin. Can you tell me why this is?
I can't tell you why it didn't work, maybe you missed some of the instructions.
Please how do i upload downloaded tactics to my game. The file i downloaded is a rar file.
Extract that file to Documents/Sports Interactive/Football Manager 2011/tactics, then start your game and select the respective tactic from the tactics screen under "archived tactics".
The problem is it isn't showing the tactic. Other saved tactics are .TAC, the downloaded one is .RAR
Do you have a solid 4-4-2 formation for Man Utd. Post me their roles & instruction!!!
Thank You!!
Is there someone there know where I can get all the nationalflags? Really need this…
Not in the metallic… Is it in the other logopack?
Hi Johnny I appreciate all your hard work i downloaded patch 11.3 , Does this patch overwrite all previous patches or it 's better to download all patches , Thanks mate
Thanks Johnny , btw I want to tell you something a couple of days ago i just get bored from my Q.P.R's job and i decided to return to my past glory days with Nottts Co in fm2010 so i decided to return to fm2010 for a while I guided them to Europa league final & in the final against Liverkusen , the match was 1-1 they scored a goal in 117 minute to break my heart i sympathized with my players and get out of match to get a surprise that i won the europa league by penalty kicks i shocked returned to match highlights but it ended 2-1 for liverkusen but fm2010 insists that i won the competition by penalties after the match ended 2-2 :D
Johnny I 've discovered that If you haven't downloaded any previous patches you only need to download this latest 11.3.0 patch to bring your game up to date.
This note is from official site .
ill report you for that picture
hey johnny i downloaded my fm online so if i use this patches willit work
There are different patches for the online version and for the DVD one, make sure you select the proper ones when downloading.
Hi Johnny,
Are there downloadable kit packs that replace the default kits during a match, so that the players are playing in them?
If so where can i find them?
When I go to the FM12 training-page, there are no files to download.
Does anyone know how to get the fm12 TUG training or some other great schedules???
Can i use a patch from fm 2012 on fm 2010?
I need link for download face pack… Please Help!
I need link for download face pack for FM 11… Please Help!
Thank you! And you can help me to download any skin of Manchester City, or any player, for my FM 11?
I need Football manager 12 password? Please Help me!
Rooney is the best player in England
Please help me i have buy the game and i have a lot of crashes!!!what can i do???heeeelpp
I downloaded the FMC skin and im barely able to read.Many of the texts are white in colour,how do i change it?
My game use to crash when am trying to add a new manager, please how can i solve this issue?
I played two seasons with Galatasaray and then I left for league champs Man U after Sir retired in the game. In the squad he had previously bought Ramsey who I see as a key player. I bought M'Vila to balance defending and attacking capabilities in the midfield but I play 4-2-2-2 (two MCs) and since Ramsey isn't a good defender that provides easy counter-attack goals for the opposition. Any recommendations so that I can strengthen my midfield and prevent easy goals?
what is the latest patch? are the players signed in the january window updated?
How do you import them? I have an IMAC and I have gone into Steam and opened the local files, and put them in the tactics folder. However when you look at all the other tactics they are controlled by 'terminal' any help would be appreciated
I was just wondering if some of evertons great young players like Barkley and deuflou could be profiled.
Hey Johnny Karp.. Could you please help me out with this confusion regarding the start of selecting leagues n nations… Do I need to need to make a certain league/nation "Playable" in order to load up all the staff from there or will the "View Only" option be enough to load up the whole staff from that particular country..?
awasome games
If I using Cracked FM14 games, Can I Upgrade patch ?
Sorry for my bad english
Hi, where can I download a file to fix ALL player & manager names? My version of FM 14 starts with fake names for all players & managers (i.e. Lionel Messi is 'Olaf Eland Traore')
Please help! Thank you! :D
Hello Guys! One question. I bought the game alright… But still, I get fake names and fake players. Why? I always see a guy called Johnny Karp. If you are reading this. I bought a legal version and updated to the latest. I'm playing on Mac – The Real Player Fix doesn't work.
Hey guys! Thanks for the amazing work over the years! I was just wondering when you have a tactic ready? I really liked your 4-5-1 from last year, but i can't seem to get it working in the new game
Kind Regards
Hi Jake, with some luck I will have something ready for the weekend.
Any face pack coming up?
Yes, soon.
Any chance you guys could do a Verona 4-3-3 formation?
Quite unlikely I'm afraid, but we might try.
Tactics are not working well with 16.3 patch…
hey, can you make tactic for southampton in fm2016?
Original work
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Are there any languages that have both high- and low-level facilities? If not, is it feasible to create one? Why or why not?
In theory, it would be very helpful to have a programming language that has both shell and regular programming language facilities, like Forth for example can easily be made to, and also to have high-level facilities; Forth does not seem (and it would probably take a good bit of work to make it) like a natural fit for high-level things.
Of course, languages like C or C++ can be made to simulate features of high-level languages, but at the cost of ugly or difficult syntax, and the addition of considerably more complexity, or at the cost of a lot of work, which would be unnecessary since it would often be easier just to use a more standard high-level programming language.
Clarification: Low-level meaning things like manual memory management, limited data structures, only one return value, and the like. Examples: Assembly language, C, C++ to some extent, and Forth.
High-level language examples would be: Python, Perl, JavaScript, Java and C# to a big extent, Lisp.


text:
When researching my book Ten Things Girls Need Most, I talked to hundredsof women in groups about how their childhoods had been, and what made them good or bad.
There were many things they shared, but the most intense and emotionally charged of all was their relationship with their dads.
I could not believe how many women had felt hurt and damaged by the inability of dads to show their love, be present, and let daughters know that they really mattered.
Some dads even conveyed that girls were less important than boys.
The wounds from this were lifelong, and very hard to heal.
Every girl, from babyhood onwards, loves and adores their dad and longs for him to be what she needs.
They want warmth, gentleness, a sense of fun, affection, and for him to be interested in her and encouraging of her.
The most important thing a dad can give a girl is the feeling that she is special.
Not his "princess" based on her looks or being somehow better than anyone else, and not because she gets high marks or gold medals for sport, but because she is his daughter, and he loves her just for that.
He would do anything, and go anywhere, to make sure she is safe, and well, and taken care of.
If she is in need or trouble, he will be there.
Girls who sense this are not egotistical or selfish, they just have a deep inner contentment.
Being a good dad is not dramatic or heroic, most of the time it's the ordinary things.
He shows up. He keeps his promises. He is strong, not in the sense of muscular strength, but being true to his word, reliable, and there.
How he treats her mother of course is another way that she sees his attitudes to the woman she will become.
One way to convey specialness is to have regular dad and daughter times – going for a meal or to a movie, just the two of them, but it can be just a trip to the shops and a hot chocolate on a saturday morning.
Of course, dad and son times are just as important.
It's the one-on-one aspect that says:you are unique, I want to catch up and also have fun just with you.
Because nine out of ten girls will grow up to be interested in the opposite sex, a dad who is respectful, asks her views, respects her privacy, but is still affectionate when that is sought, teaches his daughter to expect that in the men she chooses all through her life.
He sets the benchmark, and less than great boys need not apply.
The things girls hate are shouting, being preached at, being put down or made fun of,and of course, being mean or sarcastic.
Some dads have real trouble just being easy and friendly.
They miss out on one of life's greatest joys – that a girl who is loved and respected loves you back. It's one of the best feelings in the world.
Steve Biddulph is an author and retired psychologist.


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Benghazi: Officials get emotional
The dramatic and personal stories of State Department staffers — one of whom was in Libya at the time of attacks on the U.S. Consulate — injected real emotion into a very political hearing on Benghazi on Wednesday.
In his first full public accounting, Gregory Hicks, a Foreign Service officer and ex-deputy chief of mission in Libya, recounted in vivid detail what happened the night of the attacks. Republicans insist that the Obama administration and the State Department didn't do nearly enough to aid U.S. personnel under attack in September 2012.
Story Continued Below
Sure to be trumpeted by Republicans, Hicks's most explosive revelation centered on an assertion that a four-man special operations team based in Tripoli was allegedly told not to make the flight to Benghazi on the night of the attacks.
( WATCH: Hicks' full account of September 11th attacks in Benghazi)
State and Pentagon officials countered that the team wouldn't have arrived in Benghazi in time and that it was instead needed in Tripoli.
"They were furious," Hicks said when asked how the special forces troops responded to orders not to leave Tripoli.
After being prompted by House Oversight Committee Chairman Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) to provide a full recounting of the attacks, Hicks reached for his water as he told the story of getting a phone call from the Libyan prime minister who confirmed the death of his boss, U.S. Ambassador to Libya Chris Stevens.
( PHOTOS: 10 slams on Obama and Benghazi)
"It was the saddest phone call of my life, when he told me Ambassador Stevens had passed away," Hicks said as his voiced cracked.
Hicks then dramatically described a chaotic night that started when he was awoken by a staffer informing him the Benghazi Consulate was under attack. He picked up the phone and called an unknown number that was answered by Stevens, whom he talked to briefly before the line went dead.
( Also on POLITICO: Graham: 'Foreign policy gone wrong')
Hicks moved to the tactical operations center at the Tripoli Embassy where he began to oversee the response. Hicks was in contact with staff in Benghazi as details trickled out, including that attackers had infiltrated the compound. Hicks said he then learned that the safe house where Stevens and other staffers were hiding had been set on fire by the attackers.
"There were multiple attempts to go into the building and try to save Sean [Smith] and the ambassador," Hicks said. "They found Sean's body but did not find the ambassador."


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Over the last ten years, the ukulele has seen a major growth in popularity in the US. Originally you just about couldn't find one outside of Hawaii, then there was a little bit of a ukulele fad, but now, the ukulele is as real in the modern music world as the electric guitar! Its been so amazing seeing the ukulele's popularity grow, which is mostly because of the amazing community that has come along with it. Where other instruments can be hard to learn and cause stress for people, the ukulele has come in the picture to save the day and give everyone a chance to be a musician. Because of this, it has created clubs, classes, and groups all over the country with hobbyists all playing the uke with the same goal; to have fun! The ukulele has also grown in popularity in the school systems as well. Since they come in at much cheaper price than most instruments, schools have been open to stock classrooms with them, which has allowed music programs to blossom!
At Sims Music, we have done whatever we can do encourage this community that is somewhat new to the music world. We always stock a large selection of the most beautiful Kala, Cordoba, Fender, and more ukuleles for sale. Our biggest investment has been the Sims Music Uke Jam! Now in its third year, the monthly ukulele jam has continued to grow attracting a large amount of people, of all skill levels and all ages. We could not be happier about being in the middle of this amazing community and are excited to see what the future holds for all those involved!


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listen carefully – this is Asperger's talking
speaking in tongues ain't easy
but I do not regret the wings that God gave me
just give me my damn feathers
and I will keep on singing
(from my poem, "Speaking in Tongues")
I happened to come across this post over on the No Stereotypes Here blog in which the author, Corina Becker, discusses Communication Shutdown Day, an international effort scheduled for November 1 which attempts to raise money for participating autism-related charities.
The idea behind Communication Shutdown Day this year is to refrain from using social networks (such as Twitter and Facebook) that day. It is, in the words of one supporter, supposed to "mirror autistic silence" and "draw attention to the isolation and intense loneliness experienced by those who are impeded from connecting socially with others". In short, it is supposed to create empathy for those on the spectrum as well as raise charity money.
And I think it's a bad idea.
Hold on a minute, Nicole, you might be saying. This is helping raise awareness for autism. So what's the problem?
Well, for one thing, it could reinforce an existing idea that autistics cannot communicate – and if you've been reading this blog, you know of at least one autistic person who can. I am not denying that we do have our communication difficulties, and that many individuals on the autism spectrum are non-verbal. HOWEVER, reinforcing the concept of our silence is just a bad idea and doesn't really do much for us as autistic individuals. While this event claims to help create empathy for us, I can't help but wonder how much of that is going to end up becoming pity instead.
And the last thing our community needs is more pity. Pity for us is based on the idea of "oh, poor things, they live such miserable lives – they need a cure". Pity detracts from the real issues that confront us day by day, which include: equal treatment, opportunity, and access to needed services and accommodations in educational institutions and the workplace; dealing with the social landscape of whatever cultures we are in; encountering and finding solutions to problems unique to our population, such as sensory overload, emotional expression, and low frustration tolerance; building and maintaining a healthy self-esteem; ensuring that we are treated with care and respect by medical and mental health professionals; and navigating an uncertain world with a brain and nervous system that craves predictability. Pity also detracts from our strengths, such as: persistence and focus; unique thinking patterns and methods; honesty; narrow interests which can lead to expertise in a subject; and the potential for creative, scientific, and other forms of positive contribution to society.
Becker has proposed an alternative: Autistics Speaking Day. Instead of remaining silent and refraining from usage of the Internet and social networks, she proposes that we on the autism spectrum speak out. As she puts in in this post:
…on November 1st, Autistic people should speak up and be heard. That in the absence of NT voices, Autistics should reclaim the Autism community by communicating in our own ways on our life experiences.
And once I read about the idea, I found myself in natural agreement. So to help spread the word and promote Autistics Speaking Day, I will be tweeting about it, posting about it on Facebook, and other places. I also encourage those who agree with this idea and/or plan to participate on November 1 to SPREAD THE WORD. Tweet, blog, share on FB, etc. the HELL out of this mofo. Let OUR voices be heard that day. I'll be tweeting that day and writing at least one poem as part of this effort.
If you do participate, please read her suggestions here (e.g. being mindful of subject matter that could trigger people and so forth). And SPREAD THE WORD! Thank you.


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Savannahnow has compiled images of former St. Patrick's Day grand marshals in Savannah.
Click here to view images and learn cool facts such as when the city began dying the fountains green, inactive parade years, and the Protestant group that introduced Irish culture to Savannah.
For details on the grand marshal election and ceremony held on Sunday, pick up a copy of the Savannah Morning News on Monday.
Also visit savannahnow.com/stpatricksday for more news and updates on the 2012 celebrations.


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COLUMBIA - More South Carolinians are eligible to be covered by the State Health Plan, under a new law that extends the health and dental insurance to additional non-state agency employees and their families.
The State Health Plan currently covers 436,443 employees of state agencies, higher education, public school districts and local subdivisions. The total includes the employees' spouses and children.
But a bill, S. 586, which was vetoed by Republican Gov. Nikki Haley before lawmakers in the Republican-controlled House and Senate overrode her decision, extends the plan to joint electric and power agencies and sanitation special purpose districts. The law had already covered special purpose districts created by the Legislature that provide gas, water, fire, sewer, recreation, or hospital service, along with others.
A spokeswoman for the Budget and Control Board said Thursday that the number of new enrollments to stem from the new law was unknown.
But Haley had argued that the change would risk saddling state and local governments with additional pension and trust fund liabilities.
"I believe the continuous expansion of the State Health Plan to non-state, quasi-public-private entities will lead to unintended fiscal consequences," wrote Haley in her veto message.
"Since the 1980s the General Assembly has passed legislation to open the State Health Plan to dozens of optional special groups, many of which have very little nexus to state government, including public-private entities, nonprofits and associations that receive no state funds."
The S.C. Office of State Budget within the Budget and Control Board issued a fiscal impact statement that said the change would not cost anything extra.
"Premiums for local groups are based on the claims experience of that local group, so the experience-adjusted premiums would negate extra costs to the Health Insurance trust fund as a result of the local group's participation," reads the impact statement.
The new law also
includes a section that gives people financial incentives to participate in health and wellness programs, including anti-obesity efforts under the Employee Insurance Program.


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The share placing caught the market by surprise, leaving FTSE 250 Index-listed Sports Direct International as much as 7 per cent lower and sparking speculation over his plans for the cash haul.
It comes amid mounting rumours over Mr Ashley's drive to expand his retail empire, with the entrepreneur said to be interested in the House of Fraser department store and collapsed fashion chain Republic.
Recently hailed a "high street hero" after the group reported a 21% leap in sales over the Christmas quarter, the disposal of 25 million shares will still leave Mr Ashley with a stake of about 64 per cent, down from around 68 per cent.
But the discounted price of £4 has raised eyebrows, while there are fears Mr Ashley was calling the top of the share price after a recent rally that has seen the stock jump 46 per cent over the past year.
Sports Direct's brands also include Firetrap, Dunlop, Slazenger, Everlast, Lonsdale and Karrimor.
Independent retail analyst Nick Bubb said he believed Mr Ashley's share sale was made in response to requests to free-up stock to investors.
"I think he's doing it to improve liquidity in the stock - he doesn't need the money and if he was intending to bid for retail assets, he would do that through Sports Direct," he said.
The move may also fuel hopes among Newcastle United fans that Mr Ashley is planning to bolster the squad with more new players in the summer, having recently secured five new signings.
He caused ill-feeling in the stock market after Sports Direct shares plunged following its flotation in February 2007, which saw him sell a 43 per cent stake for more than £900m.
Having listed at 300p, the shares fell as low as 33p after a string of profit warnings. Mr Ashley has since gained the confidence of the City, with last week's sales update confirming the group's grip on the sports retail market.
The company said it was "certain" to meet its earnings target for the year to April of £270m, which is the latest benchmark on a staff bonus scheme that recently delivered a £15,000 shares windfall to 1,750 workers.
But Sports Direct's plans to resurrect a bonus scheme for Mr Ashley are causing some contention, given that it could trigger a multi-million pound payout for him.
A previous scheme which would have delivered a £26m windfall was rejected in a shareholder vote last summer.
Sports Direct is now reviewing feedback and will suggest another scheme to incentivise Mr Ashley, who has not taken a salary since the 2007 stock market debut.


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Here's a snippet of the transcription of a fascinating talk given by Dom Cassian Folsom, prior of the Benedictine Monastry of San Benedetto and well known liturgical scholar:
... I had occasion to talk with a young Greek layman, who pointed out to me that Catholics make the sign of the cross backwards. That's not the most ecumenical way to put it! But there's something behind what he said. You know how the Byzantine tradition makes the sign of the cross: with the thumb, forefinger and middle finger held together and the last two fingers held together against the palm.The whole, very interesting transcript is here
The three fingers symbolize the Trinity, and the two fingers symbolized the double nature of Christ: divine and human. Making the sign of the cross then, becomes a mini-catechesis, a self-reminder of the most basic mysteries of our faith.
But the way of holding your fingers is not the only difference. The eastern tradition makes the sign of the cross from right to left, whereas we make it from left to right. Why?
It's interesting to note that in the 13th century, Pope Innocent III (contemporary with St. Francis of Assisi) instructed the faithful on the meaning of the sign of the cross in these words: "The sign of the cross is made with three fingers, because the signing is done together with the invocation of the Trinity. This is how it is done: from above to below, and from the right to the left, because Christ descended from the heavens to the earth, and from the Jews (right) he passed to the Gentiles (left)."
Note that Pope Innocent is describing what the custom was in the West. In the 13th century the East and the West still made the sign of the cross in the same way. The pope goes on to say: "Others, however, make the sign of the cross from the left to the right, because from misery (left) we must cross over to glory (right), just as Christ crossed over from death to life, and from Hades to Paradise. [Some priests] do it this way so that they and the people will be signing themselves in the same way. You can easily verify this - picture the priest facing the people for the blessing - when we make the sign of the cross over the people, it is from left to right."
So the people, imitating the blessing of the priest, began to sign themselves from left to right. Be that as it may, centuries have gone by since then, and we in the West make the sign of the cross from left to right, with the palm open.


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Circosis 60
there are altogether 36 unique pieces within the series of Project Circosis
and this is one of the pieces.
Just as even the same species of animals and plants in Nature are individually different and unique in shape and characteristics,
for this series of Project Circosis, we have conjured a variety of uniquely different ring designs
based on the same structural concept.
We hope you will be able to identify that original piece that is your favorite.
The ring size for this series are customizable.
Upon receiving your order, the ring will be specially produced in your size,
so it takes about a month for us to be able to deliver the ring to your doorstep.
The first 3 pictures of this item are computer generated images of the ring design.
To see the actual quality of the fabricated ring,
please look at the photographs after the first 3 images which is of another ring design in the same series.
To view all 36 ring designs in the series, please click here.
NOTE: Upon placing your order, kindly tell us your preferred ring size in the comment column in the CHECK OUT page.
Alternatively, you may choose to simply send us an email to info[at]monocircus.com.
If your preferred ring size is not provided or specified with your order, the ring will be made in standard 17mm inner diameter.
|sales mode
|made-to-order items
|type of accessories
|925 Sterling Silver
|Circosis: H1 x W1.3 x D1.3 cm
Please provide your preferred ring size,
otherwise the ring will be created in 17 mm inner diameter.(about US size 6.5)
|quantity per set
|single piece


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A long 10 years for those who loved and lost vivacious 11-year-old.
Before a motion-activated camera blinked on to show Carlie Brucia walking away from a Sarasota car wash with her soon-to-be murderer, friends said the 11-year-old liked to goof off and laugh about boys.
Mandi Langworthy, who grew up with Carlie and considered her house to be a second home, remembered her former best friend's smile and silly antics.
"Just being around her, it would brighten your day. If you were in the worst mood, she could cheer you up," Langworthy said. "She had a gift with that I guess."
But Carlie's contagious grin vanished from Sarasota on Feb. 1, 2004, when she as abducted, raped and murdered by Joseph P. Smith. Smith left her body in woods behind a small Sarasota church.
He was convicted of killing Carlie and is awaiting execution.
Saturday marked the grim, 10-year anniversary of Carlie's disappearance.
The crime was seared into the collective consciousness of Sarasota residents, especially among parents, many of whom began taking extra safety precautions with their children after watching the grainy video of Smith grabbing Carlie's right arm and leading her away from a car wash.
The video also generated national attention as Susan Schorpen, Carlie's mother, made daily emotional pleas on morning news shows for her daughter's safe return.
But Carlie was already dead.
A public prayer vigil held just after her body was found drew more than 1,000 mourners, many of whom were young children.
Saturday evening, about 100 mourners gathered at the Central Church of Christ just east of Interstate 75 on Proctor Road, where Carlie's body was found 10 years ago.
Although the gathering was smaller than the one held just after the pre-teen's death, emotions seemed just as fresh.
Young women, who were barely a decade old when their classmate died, hugged each other and cried as they looked at the stone monument dedicated at the site where her body was found.
Others shuffled through the memorial pathway built on the church's grounds, stopping to read stone-inscribed Bible versus and words of comfort.
Carlie's mother arrived and was soon enveloped in long, emotional embraces.
Steve Kansler, Carlie's stepfather, spoke briefly and quietly to those who came to remember.
"It's been a long 10 years," he said. "It's hard to talk about it."
Sarasota Sheriff's Deputy Chris McConnell held one of the dozens of white candles handed out by volunteers. He said he was at the church the day authorities discovered Carlie's body, setting up a perimeter around the crime scene.
"It gets you right in the heart when you start to think about it again," he said. "I couldn't believe that 10 years had passed."
Langworthy, Carlie's friend, said she remembers sitting at the kitchen table with her family when an Amber Alert splashed across the small screen of the family's TV.
"We were all in complete shock," Langworthy, now 21, said. "We sat in silence for like five minutes. We couldn't believe that her name was on TV and that she had been taken."
For the next week, Langworthy and her family spent almost every waking moment with Carlie's family, helping to shield them from eager reporters.
They draped a large sheet to thwart curious eyes in front of the house where Langworthy spent many nights sleeping over with Carlie.
Langworthy remembered when she and Carlie were 8-year-olds at one such sleepover, when Carlie began making prank calls.
The two giggled for hours.
But during the first week of February in 2004, Carlie's room was unoccupied, save for hundreds of presents from a shaken community that Langworthy said filled the pre-teens room almost to the ceiling. The tidings ended up being donated to charity after Carlie was eulogized.
Langworthy still thinks of Carlie often, but prefers to focus on her bubbly friend rather than the way in which she died.
She has a cross-shaped necklaces that contains a sprinkling of Carlie's ashes. She said she guards the keepsake, and only wears it on Carlie's birthday.
"She was a really great person. In the short time she was here, she touched so many lives and helped so many people, just as a child," Langworthy said, sniffling. "She meant a lot to a lot of people."


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|MLBPA Press Release
"Once again, Marvin Miller has been denied election to the Baseball Hall of Fame.
"There can be no question as to the extraordinary contributions that he made to baseball. In the last half of the 20th century no one had a greater or more meaningful positive impact on the game than did Marvin Miller.
"Generations of players are already in his debt, as all future players will be. The fact that a few members of the Expansion Era Committee saw fit to continue to deny recognition to the representative of the players -- who are the reason that the Hall exists in the first place -- says more about them than it does about Marvin.
"This is a sad day for anyone who is or has been a Major League player."


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|MLBPA Press Release
Information and documents relating to the results of the 2003 MLB testing program are both confidential and under seal by court orders. We are prohibited from confirming or denying any allegation about the test results of any particular player(s) by the collective bargaining agreement and by court orders. Anyone with knowledge of such documents who discloses their contents may be in violation of those court orders.
As we have explained previously, in detail and in public (see http://oversight.house.gov/documents/20080703114405.pdf), there was no improper tipping of players in 2004 about the timing of drug tests. As set forth in our letter to Chairman Waxman of the House Government Reform Committee, in September 2004 MLBPA attorneys met with certain players, but we are not able to confirm or deny the names of any of the players with whom we met.


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Pirelli returns to cycling and launches a new line of road racing bike tyres: PZero Velo.
The PZero name evokes Pirellis iconic brand, for over thirty years a symbol of high technology, exclusive solutions and high performance. It is no coincidence that Pirelli has chosen to identify the new range of tyres designed for road racing bicycles with this famous brand.


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NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks jumped on Tuesday after Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke reassured investors about the continuation of stimulus measures, bucking a downward trend in global equities and oil prices on the uncertainty created by Italy's election.
A closely watched gauge of European stock market volatility hit a 2013 high after the muddy election outcome in Italy raised fresh concern about the outlook for the euro zone's debt crisis.
Investors are fearful that the strength of the vote for anti-austerity parties will weaken efforts to reform Italy's public finances and its labor laws, damaging the euro zone's efforts to resolve its three-year old debt crisis.
Markets across Europe fell on the vote results, with Italy's FTSE MIB .FTMIB among the hardest hit, tumbling 4.9 percent.
"This should remind us the crisis has only been in remission," said Bruce McCain, chief investment strategist at Key Private Bank in Cleveland, Ohio.
However, U.S. stocks climbed as Bernanke strongly defended the Fed's bond-buying stimulus, easing worries that monetary policymakers might be getting cold feet about continuing the extraordinary measures to support the economy. Data showing sales of new homes hit a 4 1/2-year high added to bullish sentiment.
Bernanke "certainly said everything the market needed to feel in order to get comfortable again," said Peter Kenny, managing director at Knight Capital in Jersey City, New Jersey.
On Wall Street, the Dow Jones industrial average .DJI shot up 115.96 points, or 0.84 percent, to close at 13,900.13. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index .SPX gained 9.09 points, or 0.61 percent, to 1,496.94. The Nasdaq Composite Index .IXIC advanced 13.40 points, or 0.43 percent, to close at 3,129.65.
The MSCI world equity index .MIWD00000PUS slipped 0.5 percent, while the pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index .FTEU3 ended down 1.4 percent.
The election uncertainty led to a sharp rise in volatility, with Europe's VSTOXX index .STOXX50E, which reflects demand for protection against a drop in major European equities, hitting a new year's high on Tuesday at 24.73.
Southern European government bond prices sank. Italy's 10-year bond yields rose as much as half a point to 4.86 percent, their highest since mid-December.
The Italian elections also weighed on oil prices, with Brent crude oil futures falling $1.73, or 1.51 percent, to settle at $112.71 a barrel. U.S. crude oil fell 48 cents, or 0.52 percent, to settle at $92.63.
In the foreign exchange market, the euro traded flat against the U.S. dollar and yen, recouping earlier losses with the help of the Fed assurances on stimulus.
The euro last traded at $1.3058, down 0.02 percent on the day. During early London trade, the euro touched $1.3017, its weakest showing since January 7.
Against the yen, the euro finished the day in the 120.20-yen area, up 0.27 percent.
The dollar last traded at 91.89 yen, up 0.10 percent for the day.
U.S. Treasuries prices fell, though yields held near their lowest levels in a month following Bernanke's comments and as political instability in Italy boosted demand for lower-risk assets.
The benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury note fell 6/32 in price, with the yield at 1.89 percent.
U.S. financial markets were rattled last week when minutes of the Fed's January meeting showed some officials were thinking of scaling back the central bank's monetary stimulus earlier than expected.
In his testimony, Bernanke also urged lawmakers to avoid sharp spending cuts set to start taking effect on Friday.
"Bernanke's commentary showed the Fed chairman wants to continue quantitative easing (i.e. bond purchases) and keep its general stance of monetary policy accommodation," said Eric Stein, vice president and portfolio manager at Boston-based Eaton Vance Investment Managers.
The Fed is currently buying $85 billion in bonds each month, and has said it plans to keep purchasing assets until it sees a substantial improvement in the outlook for the labor market.
Bernanke's remarks also boosted gold prices. Spot gold gained 1.3 percent to $1,615.16 an ounce, its biggest one-day advance since November 23, 2012.
Among data having the biggest influence on markets, U.S. Commerce Department data showed sales of new homes jumped 15.6 percent to a 4 1/2-year high in January. The percentage increase was the largest in almost 20 years.
A separate report showed U.S. consumer confidence rose more than expected this month as Americans shrugged off worries about fiscal policy.
Additional reporting by Ryan Vlastelica, Ellen Freilich and Chuck Mikolajczak in New York; Editing by Dan Grebler, Leslie Adler and Jan Paschal


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While the Lucas Oil Stadium was crammed with fans watching the biggest sporting event of the year on Sunday, there was also at least one well-equipped sniper in attendance.
These pictures started circulating Tuesday night, and though speculation about their authenticity lingers, the original source has confirmed with me they are genuine.
Obtained by Alamo Four Star, the tripod's manufacturer, Todd there confirms they show an Indianapolis SWAT team member manning a custom built Remington M700 in a XLR Industries chassis, sitting atop an Alamo Four Star DCLW shooting tripod. Todd got the photos from a ranking member of the SWAT team.
When I asked him why a sniper would want that tripod over another one, Todd said Alamo's has a unique locking mechanism that grabs the rail of the gun in such a way that will never damage it.
Thanks to my loyal Twitter follower Allen Walter who forwarded the original Facebook page with the sniper pictures, posted by U.S. Tactical Supply to their FB page Tuesday night.


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Winners will be contacted directly via email regarding this week's in store events.
Angels - We have 25 spots for you to "skip the line" at the following Trey Songz in store events happening this Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at the below locations. Trey will be signing copies of Passion, Pain & Pleasure and you're invited! Follow instructions below and you may be in the building!
Wednesday, November 17th
Best Buy #188
59 N Broadway Chula Vista, CA
Thursday, November 18th
Borders Hollywood
1501 Vine Street, Hollywood CA
Friday, November 19th
Zia Record Exchange
3851 E Thunderbird Street Phoenix, AZ
Want to skip the line? Here's what you do:
- Email email@example.com with your full name, email address and twitter name in the body of the email and TREY'S ANGELS SKIP THE LINE plus city you'd like to attend (i.e TREY'S ANGELS SKIP THE LINE - CHULA VISTA) in the subject, and you may be chosen.
- Your email must get to us no later than 8PM PST TODAY November 15th. Winners will be selected at random and will be announced TOMORROW, November 16th at Noon PST.
Instructions on attending will be emailed to the winners. Transportation will not be provided. Please make sure you can absolutely attend before sending your email to firstname.lastname@example.com .


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Updated 3:34 p.m.
• Yahoo! chairman Roy Bostock and three others to leave its board – Struggling Yahoo shakes up its board of directors. And Exclusive: Four Yahoo Board Members to Depart, Two New Ones Arrive and Three More on the Way (Like I Said)
• Software apps have triggered half a million U.S. jobs, says study – The so-called "app economy" has generated more than 466,000 jobs, according to a study by TechNet.
Updated 12:25 p.m.
• Introducing Chrome for Android – It syncs bookmarks and even open tabs with Chrome on your computer. One problem: It's only available for the few devices running Android 4.0, a.k.a Ice Cream Sandwich. And Chrome For Android: The Browser For The 1%
• Apple in early discussions to open stores inside of Sam's Club locations
• Adobe Creative Cloud to be priced at $49.99 monthly, includes Creative Suite 6 and Lightroom 4 – $50 a month for Photoshop et al? That's $600 a year, about the cost of the full Creative Suite.
• Judge denies EMI's bid to halt resale of digital music – EMI is denied a preliminary injunction against ReDigi.
Original post
• Designing Windows 8 or: How to Redesign a Religion – Mat Honan interviews the man in charge of redesigning Windows for its next version. How does Sam Moreau describe what he's required to do? "Scary."
• Rogers, BCE vying for a bite of Apple's iTV – Canada's Globe and Mail newspaper reports that an Apple TV, controlled by Siri and hand gestures, is being tested in the labs of that country's biggest cable operators.
• Best Buy Explains Its Leaked Apple HDTV Survey – A Best Buy survey sent to customers suggests an "Apple HDTV" is on the way, but Best Buy says it was purely a hypothetical case to judge customer interest.
• IDC says Apple finished 2011 on top of the Smartphone world, here are the numbers – It's another analyst firm that says Apple sold more smartphones in 2011 than any other vendor.
• Apple intern's thesis leaks secret project to port Mac OS X to ARM processors – Apple may be actively investigating this, or it may be one of the company's "decoy projects" for new engineers.
• Mac OS X 10.7.3 graphics fuel rumors of high-DPI Mac screens – Are higher-resolution pointers evidence of Macs with Retina Display screens? Or are they there to make the icons look better with existing Zoom functions?
• Apple warns it will crack down on App Store rank fraud services – Apple warns developers to stop paying to boost their star ratings.
• Vice President of iPhone and iPod Engineering David Tupman left Apple at the end of last year – Exactly where he's gone to is not clear.
• SOPA and PIPA prompt Reddit, Mozilla, and 73 others to ask Congress to halt work on intellectual property laws – The letter says the laws Congress keeps churning out consistently favor the RIAA and MPAA.
• Hackers wanted $50,000 to keep Symantec source code private – The hackers had stolen the source code of Symantec's biggest security products.
• HUD Google Glasses are real and they are coming soon – With these glasses (which resemble Oakley Thump sunglasses), you could walk around and see location-based information from Google popping up as you survey the landscape. A public beta program, similar to the Cr-48 Chromebook, is reportedly under consideration.
• Wolfram Alpha Pro democratizes data analysis: an in-depth look at the $4.99 a month service – The pay service allows you to enter more complex queries – even using images and data as the query – and get results in charts and other visualizations.
• Amazon.com announces price cuts on S3 storage service – Cuts are as low as 13.5 percent, depending on how much you store.
• Those Millions on Facebook? Some May Not Actually Visit – Is Facebook counting in its IPO filing people who mostly just click on Like buttons across the Web?
• Redbox pays $100 million for NCR's Blockbuster Express – The deal will close in the third quarter of this year.


text: Uhhhhh, did you know that October 20th will be the 2nd annual International Sloth Day? Did you even know that International Sloth Day is a thing? And it's not a federal holiday! Ridiculous! Now that we're all worked up, how about we calm our rage by watching this video of sloths chilling out in baskets? It was made to raise awareness for the AIUNAU foundation in Colombia "who pioneer work rescuing and rehabilitating sloths stolen for the illegal pet trade." You can find more information on the AIUNAU foundation here.


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Question: Are there doctors that specialize in facial reconstructive surgery?
Answer: Almost any facial plastic surgeon is typically trained at some level with facial reconstruction. However, some facial plastic surgeons only focus on cosmetic work, as they do not do reconstructive work or no longer take insurance to cover reconstructive procedures. In addition, there is a wide gamut of what is meant by reconstruction, including congenital disorders (conditions you are born with like cleft lip and palate or craniofacial abnormalities), skin cancer reconstruction, major head and neck cancer reconstruction that requires free flap repairs or larger reconstructions, and of course traumatic repairs of facial fractures, etc. Many surgeons have specialized in specific types of these repairs or lack training in some areas. It is important to find a surgeon who has the experience, interest, and talent to help you correct your type of facial problem.


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Talk:Glxgears is not a Benchmark
From cchtml.com
this leads to the obvious questions:
- what is a benchmark? please could someone provide a link..
- where can I get a list of benchmarks using something better than glxgears?
Real Benchmarks
I'll add a list to the page. I'll start with two, but feel free to expand it. There are dozens of benchmarks. I don't see how people can't find them. Please sign your comments. -Mooninite 13:52, 1 March 2008 (CST)


text:
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Woodford County erupted to outscore Anderson County 21-9 in the second quarter and that was enough to give the Yellow Jackets a 57-44 win over the Bearcats in boys' basketball action Friday night in Versailles.
"We got in some foul trouble and could not stop their big men," Anderson coach Glen Drury said.
Woodford's 6-foot-7 junior, Jay Johnson, hit the Bearcats for 16 points, while another junior, 6-6 David Greenwell, also scored 16.
Johnson is being courted by several mid-major Division I schools, Drury said.
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Fish worth up to $2.2 million could soon be swimming in Louisiana waters
May 12, 2011 – Get out your shiny lures and round up your fishing gear. Cabela's announced Wanna Go Fishing for Millions?, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to win millions of dollars in cash and prizes by enjoying one of America's favorite pastimes – fishing.
Cabela's is tagging hundreds of fish in selected waters in states that have Cabela's retail stores – including Louisiana – and every one of them is a winner. Among the winning fish, there are grand prize winners that may qualify for additional bonuses based on the winning angler using or wearing sponsors' products when they catch a tagged fish.
LDWF is Cabela's state partner and will tag fish in selected waters, which will be publicly announced on May 14, the official start of the contest. The contest runs through July 14.
"This competition is a great way to generate angler interest," said LDWF Assistant Secretary Randy Pausina. "We encourage anglers of all ages and skill levels to experience the sport of fishing and enjoy the beautiful resources Louisiana has to offer."
Winning is as easy as baiting a hook. Go to LDWF's website for contest information at www.wlf.louisiana.gov/fishing/recreational-fishing [4]. Anglers need to pre-register and hit their local waters between May 14 and July 14 for their chance at winning a fish worth $2.2 million. Anglers also need a valid fishing license in order to participate in the contest. To purchase a Louisiana fishing license, visit www.wlf.louisiana.gov/licenses/fishing [5].
The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is charged with managing and protecting Louisiana's abundant natural resources. For more information, visit us at www.wlf.louisiana.gov [6] on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ldwffb [7] or follow us on Twitter @LDWF.
For more information contact Ashley Wethey at email@example.com (225) 765-5113.


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These birds carry so many diseases and parasites that are transmittable to humans while being one of the wild animals that interacts the most with humans on a day to day basis. Droppings are also unsightly and create maintenance problems and damage the appearance of buildings.
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Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University men's and women's outdoor track and field teams had one final opportunity to compete and qualify for the national championships this past weekend (May 11-12).
The Bulldogs took part in two seperate Last Chance meets hosted by Grand Valley State at the GVSU Track & Field/Lacrosse Stadium in Allendale, Mich. The Lakers hosted the Second To Last Chance meet on Friday followed by the Last Chance meet on Saturday. Both events included student-athletes from schools across the region.
In Friday's competition, the Bulldogs' Zoey Hohmann took second place and posted a qualifying time in the 400 meters (55.80).
Senior Tina Muir was third overall and posted an automatic qualifying time in the 1,500 meters (4:26.03). Junior Shelby Janutol recorded a provisional time in the 1,500 meters (4:31.80) with junior Anna Rudd coming in 10th in the same event (4:39.79).
Sophomore Jessica Pilling tossed 170-10 in reaching the national provisionial standard in the hammer throw. Jordan McGuire was sixth in the 5,000 meters (18:28.35) while Shea Van Klompenberg took 15th overall in the 800 meters (2:20.99).
FSU's Justin Price placed third in the 400 meters (48.41). Ryan Chute placed eighth in the 1,500 meters and reached the national provisional qualifying time (3:52.66).
Spencer Gerber also competed in the 1,500 meters and took 12th place (3:58.35) with Alex Bladecki coming in 14th in the same race (4:01.44).
Alex Best was 14th in the 5,000 meters (15:22.02) and Michael Schulte finished 21st (15:57.26) in the race.
In Saturday's meet, Pilling took fifth place in the hammer throw (173-3) while reaching the national provisional standard.
FSU's Price finished first in section one of the 200 meters (22.40) with Thomas Lyons fourth in the same section (22.58).
Price also came in fourth overall in the first section of the 400 meters (48.38) and narrowly missed the national qualifying mark in the race.
Chute took second place in the 1,500 meters (3:57.40).
Selected athletes will compete in the NCAA Division II National Outdoor Championships beginning on May 24 at the Neta and Eddie DeRose Thunderbowl in Pueblo, Colo. The official announcement of this year's national qualifiers will be made early this week.


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Pillows, Pillows, Everywhere
mpollock June 30th, 2009
Today, we spent nearly all day mapping and sampling one pillow quarry. We found that the pillows are highly varied in size, shape, and orientation. Todd is interested in understanding the relationship between pillow morphology and the physical properties of the magma. He hypothesizes that magma viscosity plays a large role in controlling pillow size. To test his hypothesis, he and his trusty field assistants (Adam and Rob) measured the dimensions and orientations of several pillows. They also sampled the interior and glassy rinds so that Todd can analyze the geochemistry when we return to the States. Tomorrow = another day = another quarry.


text: Windows Phone 8.1 End of Support: FAQ Content provided by Microsoft Applies to: Windows Phone 8 Select Product Version All Products General Windows Phone 8.1 Show all What does end of support for Windows Phone 8.1 entail?As of July 11, 2017, Windows Phone 8.1 users are no longer eligible to receive new security updates, non-security hotfixes, free assisted support options, or online technical content updates from Microsoft for free. Third parties or paid support programs may provide ongoing support, but it is important to recognize that Microsoft support will not publicly provide updates or patches for Windows Phone 8.1. What does end of support mean for customers?End of support means there will be no more product or security updates. This is in-line with our Support Lifecycle policy. Even after end of support, automatic or manual creation of new device backups for setting and some applications will continue for 3 months, ending October 11, 2017. Other services including photo uploads, restoring a device from an existing device backup and the Store will continue to work for at least another 12 months from end of support, after which time, services will start to be discontinued. Does Microsoft have plans to push Windows 10 Mobile upgrades to Windows Phone 8.1 devices?Microsoft has no plans to push the Windows 10 Mobile upgrade proactively to Windows Phone 8.1 handsets that are eligible for the upgrade. Microsoft recommends customers upgrade eligible Windows Phone 8.1 devices to Windows 10 Mobile at the earliest opportunity. Devices upgraded to Windows 10 Mobile will receive security and servicing updates according to Microsoft's support lifecycle policies. If users want to upgrade their eligible Windows Phone 8.1 to Windows 10 Mobile, they can initiate the update via the Upgrade Advisor app or an MDM system of their choice.For more info, see Upgrade Advisor app for Windows 10 Mobile. Is there a list of devices which are unable to migrate to Windows 10 Mobile?Information on which Windows Phone 8.1 devices can be upgraded to Windows 10 Mobile can be found on the Windows 10 Mobile Specifications & Systems Requirements page. Are Lumia devices supported differently?No, Microsoft recommends that customers upgrade eligible Lumia devices to Windows 10 Mobile. Additional Information can be found on the Lumia Troubleshooting and Repair page. What should Windows Phone 8.1 customers do now?With the Windows Phone 8.1 operating system out of support and its device backup functionality ending soon, we recommend that customers move to a supported platform, either by upgrading eligible Windows Phone 8.1 devices to Windows 10 Mobile at the earliest opportunity or by purchasing a new Windows 10 Mobile device where available.Customers who expect to continue using their Windows Phone 8.1 device after October 11, 2017 are encouraged to manually create a backup using the Settings->Backup->Apps + Settings and then tapping Backup now before that date and to contact their app publisher for instructions on how to preserve app-specific data after that date. Will existing updates for Windows Phone 8.1 continue to be available, and for how long?We have no current plans to remove historical Windows Phone 8.1 updates from Windows Update. Will I still be able to recover my device image?Yes. The Windows Device Recovery tool will continue to provide the recovery image for your Windows Phone 8.1 device. See Windows Device Recovery Tool FAQ for more details. Will my phone still work after July 11, 2017?Yes. Your Windows Phone 8.1 device should continue to work after July 11, 2017, but there will be no updates after July 11, 2017 (including security updates) and device backup functionality and other backend services will be phased out as described above. How do I know if I have a Windows Phone 8.1?To see which Windows Phone operating system (OS) version is installed on your phone, do the following: In the App list, tap Settings. More info. The Software section indicates the general product name we use to describe the release (for example, "Windows Phone 8.1" or "Windows Phone 8"). The OS version section indicates the specific build number of the release (for example, "8.0.0000.0" or "8.0.10517.150"). How do I get Windows 10 Mobile?There are two different ways to get Windows 10 Mobile: Buy a new phone. Check out the select new devices running Windows 10 Mobile that are available now. Update your Windows Phone 8.1. Windows 10 Mobile is being made available to eligible smartphones running Windows Phone 8.1. Click here to see if the upgrade is available for your phone. Has support ended for all phones running Microsoft software?No. Newer phones running Windows 10 Mobile are still fully supported. Phones running Windows 10 Mobile, released April 2017 will be supported through June of 2019. Phones which upgrade to future releases of Windows 10 Mobile will be supported beyond June of 2019. Commercial Business Show all Why is Microsoft ending support for Windows Phone 8.1 for commercial customers, particularly with so many businesses still using Windows Phone 8.1?Windows Phone 8.1 was a great software release, but technology has evolved along with the needs and expectations of your customers and partners that have already adopted modern platforms and devices. An older mobile operating system can no longer address today's business and technology needs nor security threats. Companies still on Windows Phone 8.1 are also missing out on tangible benefits of modernizing their IT investments and enhancing their security to meet the needs of a mobile workforce through future-proofing their IT investments. How do I prevent a user from upgrading his/her Windows Phone 8.1 device to Windows 10 Mobile?Customers who do not want their users to upgrade their Windows Phone 8.1 device to Windows 10 Mobile should blacklist the Upgrade Advisor app using the MDM system of their choice. Is there a different path for an enterprise who has purchased a large number of Windows Phone 8.1 devices?Windows Phone 8.1 end of support date is the same for consumer and enterprise. Microsoft encourages all of our customers with eligible phones to upgrade to Windows 10 Mobile. Last Updated: 5 Feb 2019 Did this solve your problem? Yes No Tell us what we can do to improve the article Submit Thanks! Your feedback will help us improve the support experience.


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National Security
Protest delays FBI's huge sole-source deal with Motorola
A protest by a small two-way radio manufacturer has stalled an FBI plan to hand a sole-source contract worth up to $500 million to emergency communications giant Motorola Solutions Inc., mainly to upgrade the bureau's 30-year-old network.
FBI contracting officials contend that proprietary features embedded in their existing Motorola network preclude its interaction with non-Motorola products.
Citing a 15-year-old estimate that replacing the entire system from another vendor's product would cost $1.2 billion, they said in a formal notice this month that they can save $300 million in equipment by continuing an exclusive relationship with Motorola.
The bureau circulated the proposal two weeks ago, just as three senior House Democrats asked the Department of Homeland Security's internal watchdog to investigate whether Motorola's contracting tactics have led state and local governments to squander millions of taxpayer dollars on its pricey equipment.
RELM Wireless Corp., a Florida-based radio manufacturer with $30 million in annual revenues, promptly challenged the FBI proposal on grounds that it "unjustly bars competition" for the sale of radios.
The firm sells walkie-talkies with the same functions specified by the FBI for about $1,700, compared with Motorola's average price of $4,200, said Ken Klyberg, RELM's vice president for sales.
He said in a telephone interview that RELM is preparing to file a formal protest with the Government Accountability Office.
Bureau spokesman Chris Allen said that "the FBI is reviewing the sole-source" proposal to determine whether it's warranted. He declined to comment further, but a person who was unauthorized to speak for the record said that RELM's protest prompted the review.
The FBI proposal is the latest development showing that Motorola still maintains an advantage with many public safety agencies, despite efforts to standardize manufacturers' equipment designs so that every first responder's radio can interact with all others.
While standardization has invited increasing competition, Motorola has found ways to hold onto its estimated 80 percent share of the U.S. market.
Besides financing a nationwide system upgrade, the FBI's proposal would allot up to about $170 million to agencies within the Homeland Security and Justice departments for purchase of Motorola equipment, as needed, over the next five years.
Klyberg said that the proposal would "severely impact" his company's sales, 70 percent of which go to federal agencies.
Other vendors also voiced strong objections to the decision to keep them from bidding on the FBI upgrade, saying that technology exists to connect Motorola's older system with their own equipment – if Motorola cooperates.
"This seems like a bunch of baloney," Larry Emmett, director of bids and proposals for Texas-based EF Johnson Technologies, said after reading the FBI's five-page "Justification for Brand Name Only Acquisition."
"Just saying there is no other option and going down the sole-source path is not justifiable," said Karthik Rangarajan, the company's vice president for sales.
Motorola's largest competitor, Florida-based Harris Corp., has "advanced technologies to interconnect legacy, current and next-generation solutions across multiple vendor systems," even those with proprietary software, said company spokeswoman Victoria Dillon.
Steve Koman, who served as an emergency communications consultant for the city of Charlotte, N.C., called the FBI proposal "half-baked" and said it adds to "the risk to the public that they will continue to overpay for public safety radio communications equipment."
Tom McMahon, director of corporate communications and government affairs for Illinois-based Motorola, said it is the company's policy "to not comment on active federal procurements."
On July 15, Reps. Henry Waxman and Anna Eshoo of California, along with Colorado Rep. Diana DeGette, asked Homeland Security Inspector General John Roth to investigate findings in a recent McClatchy series delving into Motorola's dominance.
The series detailed how Motorola, with help from state and local officials, has outmaneuvered competitors in nearly all of the nation's 20 biggest cities, in many cases through noncompetitive contracts, slanted bid specifications and proprietary features in existing systems.
The company has cashed in on a gusher of grants from Washington aimed at avoiding a recurrence of communications breakdowns that cost lives after the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, and Hurricane Katrina's battering of the Gulf Coast in 2005.
The quality of Motorola's radio equipment, widely recognized for its durability and reliability, is not in question. Rather, it's the price of its products – cities have paid as much as $7,500 for a single handset – and the stunted competition that have drawn consternation.
In response to a recent inquiry from McClatchy, Motorola said that it has abided by "all applicable laws and regulations" and that it offers products "that achieve cost savings for the taxpayer."
While McClatchy's stories focused on Motorola's state and local contracts, the company is also king of the federal walkie-talkie market, where rival vendors accuse the firm of similar marketing tactics even since the new design standards, known as P25, to improve communications between disparate radio equipment took hold around 2005.
In contrast to the FBI, the U.S. Secret Service took a much different approach in administering the procurement of tactical communications upgrades for its agents and more than a dozen other Homeland Security agencies beginning in 2012. It qualified 30 vendors to compete for a series of contracts for up to $3 billion in "mission critical" radio equipment.
One of the P25 standards requires each manufacturer to develop electronic gateways that can overcome proprietary features and connect their systems with other P25-compliant systems.
That's a key issue at the FBI, where bureau officials have faced mounting pressure to update their antiquated system.
Since 2008, the FBI said, parts of its network have violated a deadline from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, a Commerce Department unit that regulates federal emergency communications networks, to narrow the bandwidth used by its older radios.
Anytime that FBI agents make "wideband" transmissions that interfere with another agency's "narrowband" communications, the FBI said, the bureau could be directed to end use of that frequency within 180 days.
"Therefore, every location where the FBI continues to operate wideband communications is at risk," the procurement team wrote.
The proposed contract, they said, gradually will eliminate wideband transmissions and employ Motorola equipment that can interface with the bureau's current blend of a 1980s-era Motorola SmartNet network with newer, P25 equipment.
Switching to a different contractor, they said, would cause "significant disruption" to communications, risk emergency failures and require the bureau's "over-tasked" staff of technicians to maintain two systems until the new one is ready.
But staying with Motorola, they said, would save $300 million in equipment and extend the system's life by 10 to 15 years. They did not explain how they derived their equipment valuation.
Further, the FBI officials said, such a change would mean that the bureau's 420 electronics technicians would each have to undergo 200 hours of training on the new system.
"After 32 years procuring radios from only one primary vendor," they wrote, "changing that business model would create significant funding, logistical and training challenges."
On its face, the bureau's justification "sounds reasonable," said Joe Boucher, chief technology officer for Connecticut-based Mutualink, a firm that uses software gateways to interconnect two-way radio networks. "But it's impossible to tell without knowing the supporting details."
One problem is that while manufacturers have committed to sell customers gateway devices to their systems, there are no price restrictions.
Boucher said that Motorola is well known in the industry for making it "prohibitively expensive" for a customer to acquire software that can join its Motorola system with another vendor's. Providing such a hookup "would be inviting competition," he said.
If Motorola provided such gateways to the FBI's system, "pretty much anybody on the planet can sell them radios for that," said EF Johnson's Emmett.
However, he said, one feature in the FBI system may be "difficult to overcome:" Motorola's SmartNet software version that enables special agents to periodically change, over the air, the codes for their encryption programs that ensure secure communication.
Both Emmett and RELM's Klyberg scoffed at the bureau's estimates of how long it would take to retrain the FBI's technicians on another vendor's system.
Klyberg said "they didn't blink an eye" when they had to train agents on use of Motorola's latest radio models.
The bureau seems to be basing its decision on the need to buy Motorola "to keep continuity."
"The federal government's not supposed to be allowed to do that," he said. "They're supposed to get best value for the taxpayer dollars."


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The League of Innovative Schools Frames up at Mooresville (1 of 2)
Aiming to accelerate the ways in which technology is used and adopted to help drive next generation learning outcomes in K-12, the newly chartered "League of Innovative Schools" framed up last week in Mooresville, North Carolina. A new group emanating from the recently announced White House-backed Digital Promise team – the League met to review core challenges, establish a charter, and get after answers to tough questions on how to streamline "outcome difference-makers" in school technology identification and deployment.
The result? A promising beginning, as 30+ superintendents from around the country, US Department of Education personnel, foundations, funders and vendors coalesced for a tough, issues-oriented two-day launch. Lead vendors attending included Apple, Cisco, Discovery, Intel and Pearson.
"Digital Promise is off to a strong start with the first meeting of the League of Innovative Schools in North Carolina. Bringing superintendents together with cutting-edge researchers and entrepreneurs to develop the next generation of effective learning tools is exactly the kind of initiative we were created by Congress to spur,"
Adam Frankel, Executive Director of Digital Promise,
Former Speechwriter for President Barack Obama
The Mooresville Graded School District, which has driven massive improvements (+25%) in test scores over the past five years with an innovative 1:1 approach, was the host for the session. Districts attending included New York City, Washington DC, and Houston on the large enrollment side – all the way to smaller districts from Wisconsin, Iowa, and Kansas.
The meeting kicked off with an honest identification of the top challenges schools face today as they set about to embrace more technology:
- Lack of evidence on "what works"
- The disaggregated nature of the market – districts not working together
- How can districts change the way they buy technology products to lower the friction in the market?
- How to present a new model for 21st century learning so that's its compelling for students, parents, teachers, administrators, and school boards?
- What are the best practices for change management to drive adoption into the unique segments of the K-12 market?
- No system today that allows software products to work together, making better sense of data and access
- Lack of common goals – need bold challenges to get at a large return for students and schools
- Transforming teaching – who owns this? Need to incentivize risk-taking to adopt new technology at the school and district level
- Scaling technology leadership from one district to many
Each superintendent then spoke of their experiences, positive & negative, on the topic. Discussions moved toward how to develop a system to identify & share what's effective – say for example in blended instruction, content, professional development, so that other districts can get help and support. Some spoke of the group creating a digital portal to see what's happening in different districts around the country, say for example in delivering teacher-based tools to help students self-manage in the classroom.
The group moved on to tackle three core related issues:
- How to create & gather research and data on what works, & how to disseminate?
- For the district, what are the "hallmarks of leadership" in beginning to attack this opportunity?
- In the overall US K-12 technology market, some estimating at $20B, how do we work together to create "smart demand?"
The highlights of this 3-point discussion will be covered in next week's blog.
The road ahead? Dr. Mark Edwards, MGSD's Superintendent and the host for the meeting, stated: "Our first meeting of the League was exciting and valuable. Great dialogue and participation from all with a sense of responsibility beyond immediate roles.
"I believe we can build on the meeting in Mooresville and create some synergy and energy around the effort to promote innovation, collaboration, and get some acceleration on leveraging schools technology to help prepare students for our next generation economy."
Supporting a comprehensive R&D program, harnessing technology to enable our students to compete in global economy, and creating public & private funding as a 501(c)(3) sitting at the intersection of government, private sector, and academia – the League and Digital Promise are looking at new tools and ways to combat a stubborn set of challenges. Going back to President Obama's comments in his January, 2011 State of the Union speech – it will be exactly these types of initiatives – led by local districts themselves – that can create positive change.
In education, we know new technology such as video and collaboration have the capacity to unlock time & constraints regarding our physical classroom norm of 33 kids + 1 teacher. If we commit as a society, with new technology, curriculum, time & location, an expanding role for teachers, and new research, we can all multiply new solutions – and student engagement – the most powerful force in learning – can flourish and thrive.
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