text:
Phoenix, AZ (Thursday, October 10, 2013) -- Arizona Attorney General Tom Horne, along with 46 states and the District of Columbia, announced today that Connecticut-based Affinion, and its subsidiaries Trilegiant and Webloyalty, will pay over $30 million to settle allegations that they misled consumers into signing up and paying for discount clubs and membership.
Affinion and its subsidiaries run multiple discount clubs and membership programs that offered a variety of services such as credit monitoring, roadside assistance, and discounted travel. The company marketed these programs through a series of agreements with "marketing partners" – well-known banks and retailers that presented the programs to consumers immediately after the consumer had engaged in a transaction with that partner. Affinion's programs were marketed via direct mail, online, telemarketing, and in face-to-face point of sale transactions. They charged a monthly fee to consumers, which continued until they were cancelled.
Consumers complaining to the States have alleged that Affinion charged them for services without authorization or knowledge, and, once consumers learned they were being charged, some had trouble canceling or getting a refund. Other consumers were confused about who Affinion was because the offers looked like they came from Affinion's marketing partners, which usually were banks or retailers with which the consumers did business.
The States' investigation uncovered several of Affinion's marketing practices that misled consumers, including a lack of clear and conspicuous disclosure about Affinion's identity, and the cost and ongoing nature of the charges. Most troubling were two marketing practices– live checks and online data pass. In a live check solicitation, people were sent (via direct mail) an offer that appeared to be a check – but when they endorsed and deposited the checks, the consumers unknowingly authorized Affinion to enroll them in membership programs, and to bill them each month indefinitely. In an online data pass offer, people were presented an Affinion offer immediately after an online purchase from a retailer. Affinion was then able to enroll and bill consumers without acquiring any of their account information because the marketing partner would pass that information to Affinion. As part of today's judgment, both practices are prohibited.
Today's agreement includes further changes to Affinion's business model by requiring the company to provide clear and conspicuous information regarding membership. This will include periodic reminders of enrollment, and changes to Affinion's cancellation practices.
Affinion is establishing a fund of approximately $19 million to provide refunds to eligible consumers who received unauthorized charges for their programs. Consumers who believe they were improperly charged by Affinion, Trilegiant, or Webloyalty can file a consumer complaint with the Arizona Attorney General at http://www.azag.gov or may request a mailed complaint form by calling (602) 542-5763 (Phoenix), (520) 628-6504 (Tucson) or (800) 352-8431 (Toll-free outside of metro Phoenix). To be considered for a refund under this settlement, consumers must file their complaints before February 14, 2014. Consumers checking their credit card and bank account statements should also be looking for the names of Affinion's membership programs, as often that is how the company's charges appear on their bills. A complete list of membership programs are attached. The complete settlement agreement, which is subject to court approval, is also attached.
The States included in the settlement are Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming. The District of Columbia also joined.


text:
You have no items in your shopping bag.
Total: £0.00
You have no items in your wishlist.
Only 19 left
Click to zoom
1 of 2
Escape to a floral wonderland with the Rose Confetti collection, a gorgeous range that epitomises femininity and will lift the mood of any occasion with its light-hearted romanticism. Inspired by chintzy designs, minute petals, rosebuds and foliage create a contemporary floral party against the rosy colour. With afternoon tea as popular as ever, gather with the girls and feast on your favourite indulgencies with delicate pink backgrounds that are enhanced by rococo handles and subtle fluted detailing. This collection is one of the most romantic and feminine ever created by Royal Albert, and is ideal for light hearted summer tea parties and taking the meet-up outside for some al-fresco fun. Accessorise your vintage-chic parties with Rose Confetti, or give as the perfect gift.
Bank Holiday Offer - 10% Off Sitewide (full price products only) and FREE UK mainland standard delivery
International Delivery: from £10
For delivery costs by country please see our Delivery information.
Our goal is to ensure complete customer satisfaction.
We will replace product which is faulty or damaged.
We will also refund your unused purchase if you change your mind within the first 30 days.
For more information on our returns policy please see our Returns page.
We are currently unable to offer any gifting options on this item.
Subscribe to our Newsletter >
Popular Categories
Customer Service
About Us
Follow us
© WWRD United Kingdom Ltd 2001 - 2019. All rights reserved.
The Royal Albert brand and trademark are part of the Fiskars portfolio of brands and trademarks, www.fiskarsgroup.com. Registered office: Wedgwood Drive, Barlaston, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, ST12 9ER. Registered in England. Company registration number: 6805116. VAT number: GB946915581.
To be alerted when a product is back in stock, you need an account with us. Setting up an account is quick and easy and will only take 30 seconds

subset: commoncrawl


text:
May 2004
Note: Because some of the information in this article may be outdated, it has been archived.
The National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) aims to focus on the biocomplexity of various terrestrial and aquatic systems. Illustration from the NEON Science Strategy brochure, Jan. 2009.
Dr. Colwell, you encourage "from biodiversity to biocomplexity." How are these concepts the same or different?
Colwell: Biocomplexity takes into account all of the biosciences, from the molecular to the organismic, from the community to the global, that is, a planetary understanding of how the whole system works. We have come from 50 years of reductionism, where we've gotten to smaller and smaller components, taking things apart to see how they work. Now we've reached a point where we need to put all of this information together so we can understand how the whole system works. That is, I think, the science of the 21st century—the complexity of the living system and the nonliving world and how it functions to sustain us on this planet.
Why is the time right for biocomplexity research?
Colwell: Biocomplexity is facilitated by the tremendous advances in information technology, such as computers, that have happened in recent history. We can now store huge amounts of data. We can merge databases that are quite dissimilar, for example, data from folks who study weather patterns, from scientists who study the ecology of the grasslands of the West, and from those who study systems in a marine environment. Now we can take all such databases, merge them, and search them. We couldn't do that 25 or 30 years ago. So that's one of the big advantages.
Another major advantage is that we can now link what we have learned about the structure of DNA and the DNA sequences that compose the genomes of living species on Earth. We can see how they interact and answer some very important questions, such as: Are diverse systems more resilient? Well, how do we find that out? We can now actually do large-scale experiments, with vast amounts of data involved, and come to conclusions, particularly since we can build models with the data and test the model systems to come up with the kind of structure, or systems analysis, that says: Yes, a diverse community is more resilient. Thus, we are able to answer questions we couldn't answer before.
Biocomplexity requires integrating the information we've gathered about atomic structure, molecules, the interactions of large molecules like DNA and proteins, and the structure of organisms. For example, NIH [the National Institutes of Health] launched a program on the biocomplexity of the human body. When you bring all the information together on a global scale, it allows us to understand how our blue planet, Earth, works.
It seems like quite a challenge to integrate so many diverse disciplines to work towards one goal.
Colwell: The biggest challenge is to make disciplinary scientists talk to scientists of other disciplines. It turns out that just the terminology used, say, in oceanography can have quite a different meaning to someone working in systems engineering. So it's ideal to be able to have a common language, like an Esperanto—which incidentally for science turns out to be mathematics, the common language for all of science and engineering. To answer your question, yes, when we bring all of this information together through statistical analysis and mathematical formulation, we can actually draw out principles operating in these complex systems. With these principles, we can then construct a predictive model for what would happen if we did x, y, or z.
For example, let's say you want to locate an outer beltway around Washington, DC. The question is, where should you locate it? If you put into a computer all available data on watershed, demography, and weather patterns for the last 100 years, then you can build a model and provide a scientific basis to indicate if we put the beltway here, this is what we can reasonably predict will happen in terms of population patterns, destruction of aquatic vegetation, etc., but if we locate it in this other area, we might have less interference with the natural environment. In other words, we need to go from tree hugging to tree prediction.
Can the science of biocomplexity predict how systems may or may not survive on Earth?
Colwell: That's the big question. I think it can certainly tell us why species have gone extinct and the pressures that caused extinctions, such as environmental pollution, human population growth, etc. You might say we must already know that but we really don't. We don't quite know the tipping point, say, for codfish or haddock. Is it really just overfishing or some combination of factors such as changes in temperature and salinity, introduction of chemicals into the ocean, and so on? We certainly need to know these things soon or we will have more Dead Seas instead of Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
How does biocomplexity help us understand certain aspects of evolution?
Colwell: Evolution goes on all the time. It doesn't stop. Biocomplexity can help us understand how the physical-chemical environment exerts pressure on a species so that selection, and perhaps evolutionary change, occurs in response to those pressures. For example, we know that when bacteria are growing in an environment that has a lot of heavy metals, the bacteria will pick up genes, through lateral transfer, for resistance to the heavy metals and perhaps for the ability to metabolize the metals for energy. We already know that for unicellular organisms. Eventually, we will be able to project, through the analyses of biocomplexity, what happens to higher forms as well.
How would you teach biocomplexity in the classroom?
Colwell: Biocomplexity is really all of the things we now study—biodiversity, endangered species, biochemistry of the environment, molecular genetics, and so on. But they're like silos in a desert, all stacked up individually. We need to make the connections so that data flow among all of the silos can help us draw science-based conclusions.
Biology is becoming more mathematical. And I would say that one of the most important actions we need to take is to work hard to improve and strengthen instruction in mathematics, particularly in middle schools. A strong foundation in mathematics will help students to understand biocomplexity.
It's important to emphasize to students that the biosciences are in the midst of a glorious age of knowledge expansion and excitement, and they are gaining a depth and breadth of understanding that we never have had before. Now we can sequence the entire genome of a species for a few thousand dollars, when it was millions of dollars 10 years ago. We can actually understand genomic complexity. We can understand what genes do. We can understand the regulation the environment places on gene functions. All of this gives us a systematic understanding of our planet in a way we've never been able to have in the past. The most important thing is that it gives us a predictive capacity so that we can say with greater reliability that, if a certain action is taken, what the outcome will be. We need to be able to have that power so that we can protect habitats and move from emotional argument to a solid scientific understanding and prediction.
Why do you favor establishing a National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON), and what can NEON accomplish?
Colwell: NEON is a concept whose time has come. We must have a finger not only on the pulse on the environment of our continent and our country but also on that of other continents that make up our planet. We can do this in the same way as astronomers have their eye on the sky with their telescopes.
In the U.S., we need to focus our eyes on terrestrial and aquatic systems by locating 25 or 30 sites where sophisticated instrumentation taking the same kind of measurements gives us data such as temperature, nutrient concentrations, weather patterns, and genomic analysis of microorganisms in the soil, water, and air. Combining all these data will allow us to draw out common operating principles, whether a marine coastline, grassland, or alpine meadow. It will also enable us to determine the specific principles operating for a particular system, that is, a marine site as opposed to a prairie grassland.
We need to undertake this activity for the simple reason that it will help protect this blue planet. It's the only one we've got. We all want to make sure it's there for future generations.
© 2004, American Institute of Biological Sciences. Educators have permission to reprint articles for classroom use; other users, please contact email@example.com for reprint permission. See reprint policy.


text:
Explore Our Hotel
Our newly renovated hotel in Webster, NY offers an ideal location, just 12 miles from downtown Rochester and close to Rochester International Airport (ROC).
Families will enjoy a stay at our hotel in Webster, NY because it provides quick access to area attractions such as the Sea Breeze Amusement Park, Strong National Museum of Play and Memorial Art Gallery. Close to Finger Lakes Wine Country and Lake Ontario. North Ponds Park, is located behind our Webster hotel, offers walking trails with fitness stations. There are also several shopping spots nearby including Eastview Mall, Marketplace Mall and the Webster Towne Center with many specialty shops, situated just a mile from our hotel in Webster.
Our Webster, NY hotel offers a great location near area businesses including Wegmans, ITT, Valeo, GE, Optical Gaging, Ashly Audio, Baldwin Richardson Foods, Ginna Nuclear Power plant. In addition, both Xerox and Paychex are just a few miles from our hotel near Rochester. Business travelers will be pleased with our Webster hotel's facilities, including three large meeting rooms, catering and a business center.
During your stay at our hotel near Rochester, NY, take advantage of amenities that include a indoor pool, relaxing whirlpool spa, state-of-the-art fitness center, 24-hour convenience store and the Express Start hot breakfast bar.
- Black-out Shades
- Pillow Menu
- Rollaway Bed/Cot Available
- Crib Available
- Iron/Ironing Board
- Separate Hanging Closet
- In-Room Heating and A/C Controls
- Extra Bedding Available
Bathroom/Personal Care
- Private Bathroom
- Bathroom Amenities Available
- Hair Dryer
- Bathtub
In-Room Features
- Mini Refrigerator
- Microwave
- Coffee Maker
- Flat-screen TV
- Work Desk with Lamp
- Desk-level Electrical Outlet
- Free Local Calls
- Cable/Satellite
- Stereo/Radio
- Direct-dial Phone
- Two-line Phone
- Phone with Voicemail
Added Value
- Connecting Rooms Available
- Complimentary Coffee/Tea Supplies
- Full Breakfast Included
- Breakfast Buffet Included
- Continental Breakfast Included
- Complimentary Coffee in Lobby
Business Services
- 3 Meeting Room(s) Available
- On-Site Business Center
- Printer
- Copier
- Scanner
- Office supplies available
Internet Access
- Free High-Speed Internet in all Rooms
- Wireless Internet service is free for all IHG® Rewards Club members
Entertainment & Recreation
- Indoor Pool
- Heated Indoor Pool
- Indoor Whirlpool
- Indoor Pool Hours of Operation: 8:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Health & Fitness
Complimentary Fitness Center
Facility fully equipped with Precor products including three Treadmills, two Ellipticals, free weights, stationary bicycle, and small yoga area.
Hours of Operation: 12:00 PM to 12:00 PM
Fitness Center Type: LIMITED
Fitness Center Equipment:
- Elliptical Machines
- Treadmill
- Stair Stepper
- Free Weights
- Stationary Bicycle
Last Renovation of Fitness Center Equipment: 2019
Housekeeping & Laundry
- Daily Housekeeping
- On-site Guest Self-Laundry Facilities
- Hours of Operation: 12:00 PM - 11:59 PM
Added Value
- Wake Up Calls
Hotel Details
860 Holt Road
Webster, New York 14580
United States
Check In: 3:00 PM
Check Out: 11:00 AM
Check-in Age: 21
Parking + -
- Complimentary Self Parking Available
Shuttle + -
- A complimentry shuttle is provided from the hours of 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM, operating whithin a 3 mile radius.
- Complimentary Local Area Shuttle
- Hours Of Operation From 9:00 AM-To 10:00 PM
Accessibility + -
- Public Entrance
- Guest Rooms
- Elevators
- Public Restrooms
- Registration Desk
- Exercise Facility
- Business Center
- Pool
- Number of Accessible Meeting Rooms: 3
Accessible Hotel Areas
- Registration Area
- Accessible Guest Rooms
- Business Center
- Meeting Room
- Exercise Facility
- Pool
Hotel Areas with Accessible Routes from Accessible Public Entrance
- Accessible Self Parking
- Van Accessible Self Parking
- Ramp Access
- Portable Bathtub Seats
- Closed Caption TVs
- Telephone with TDD
- Visual Alarm/Alert in Guest Rooms
- Visual Alarm/Alert in Public Spaces
Provided by Hotel
Pet Policy + -
- Service Animals Allowed
Facility + -
- Smoke-Free Facility
- Number of Floors: 4
- Total Number of Rooms: 104
- Number of Suites: 25
- Number of Non-Smoking Rooms: 104
- Number of Accessible Rooms: 7
- Connecting Rooms Available
- Public Spaces Renovated in: 2019
- Guest Rooms Renovated in: 2019
Credit Cards + -
- American Express
- Visa
- MasterCard
- Diners Club
- Carte Blanche
- Discover


text:
Product Details:
Payment & Shipping Terms:
|Carbon Steel DC01
|Custom Stainless Steel Deep Drawn Filter End Cap, Metal Stamped Filter End Cap
|Metal Stamping And Deep Drawing
|Deburr And Break Sharp Edges
|OEM, Custom
|ISO9001:2008 And TS16949
|Filter Components
|Products Name:
|Custom Stainless Steel Deep Drawn Filter End Cap, Metal Stamped Filter End Cap
*Production Description
|Product Name:
|Custom stainless steel deep drawn filter end cap, metal stamped filter end cap
|Carbon Steel DC01
|End cap
|Process Method:
|Metal stamping and deep drawing
|Surface Treatment:
|Tin Plating
|ISO9001:2008 and TS16949
|Shipping Way:
|Fedex, DHL, TNT or by Air
*Product Shows
Custom stainless steel deep drawn filter end cap, metal stamped filter end cap
*Related Products
*Our Company
Cangzhou G&L Hardware Industries Co.,Ltd. is one of the leading manufacturer and exporter specilialize in producing precision stamping parts, Custom metal stamping parts, Sheet metal stamping components.
Our company was founded in 2003, through over ten years of unremitting efforts with development, we have accumulated rich experiences of production management and international trade services. Our goal as we are always behaved, we're dedicated to providing quality assurance goods with competitive prices and considerate services. Base on this principle, we have gained high reputation from our customers both inland and abroad.
We also promote the new products continuously to adapt to the diversity requirements of the international market. Now our products have been exported to Europe,Nothern America, Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Australia, Africa, HongKong, Etc.
Custom stainless steel deep drawn filter end cap, metal stamped filter end cap
*Our Advantages
*Our Services
*Packing & Delivery
*Our Certificates
*Our workshop
1. Information needed to provide a quote?
A: CAD or 3D drawing(in stp, dwg, step,prt file) with detailed specification like material, thickness, tolerance, surface finish, order quantity would be needed for price evaluations.
2. What is your payment terms?
A: Payment terms are flexible in accordance with specific conditions. But we prefer T/T 50% in advance, balance before shipment.
3. How could we know about the production status?
A: First article shall be provided for quality approval before mass productions. In process of mass production, we will keep you informed of any progress. Besides, 100% quality inspection will be arranged prior shipment.
4. How do I know about the delivery?
A: We will keep follow up and keep you updated about the tracking status of shipment.
5. What will you do for after sales?
A: We will follow up the application of our parts. Any question related to our metal parts, we will ready to service you with the fast solution.
Dan Rees | L*** amsterdam
design intern
a Herengracht 180, 1016 BR amsterdam
t +31 20 82****8
m +31 6 46****9
e dan@l****amsterdam.com
*Contact Details
Cangzhou G&L Hardware Industries Co.,Ltd.-ISO9001:2008 & TS16949 certified.
Add.: Industrial Zone of Nanpi, Cangzhou,Hebei Province, China. Zip Code: 061500
Skype: mastermetalparts
Linked in: firstname.lastname@example.com
Email: email@example.com
Website: www.glhardwareindustries.com


text:
Talladega Superspeedway Unveils 'The Alabama Gang Superstretch'
NASCAR's Biggest, Baddest and Most Competitive track on the planet announced today that the back straightaway will forever be known as 'The Alabama Gang Superstretch.'
The name pays tribute to the original members – racing legends Bobby and Donnie Allison, and Red Farmer, all of whom have played a significant role in the track's history and are today huge supporters of the 2.66-mile venue.
For this weekend's Aaron's Dream Weekend at Talladega, 'The Alabama Gang Superstretch' name will be displayed in huge, block lettering midway down the outside retaining wall of the backstretch, which measures over 4,000 feet. The monumental, new addition to the track will "stretch" more than 200 feet.
The trio will serve in "official" capacities during what will be a busy and exciting Saturday at the track. The Allisons will serve as the Grand Marshal's for the International Motorsports Hall of Fame 200 ARCA race, while Farmer will be the Honorary Starter from atop the flag stand. The ARCA race kicks off a full day of activity which also includes the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series all-new Coors Light "Knockout" group qualifying for the Aaron's 499, plus the Aaron's 312 NASCAR Nationwide Series event.
Talladega Superspeedway Chairman Grant Lynch said,
No honor is too big for The Alabama Gang. What we are doing in naming The Alabama Gang Superstretch is unprecedented in our sport. During our events, from TV cameras and still photography, fans will be able to see this accolade for some of our favorite people in the world. The gang has meant so much to NASCAR, Talladega Superspeedway and the state of Alabama, and this is just a small token of our appreciation.
Bobby said of the speedway,
This place is special. We (The Alabama Gang) have always felt like we were a part of it.
Donnie added,
When you won Talladega, there was something extra special about it. It was a huge deal to us, our family and friends.
Red Farmer said,
We made each other the best we could be since we raced against each other in the early years. We liked racing against each other, and Talladega was the ultimate place to race.
Hailing from Florida, Farmer and the Allison brothers saw opportunities in Alabama, so they settled in Hueytown, AL. In the early 1960s, they gained notoriety through success on short tracks in cities like Huntsville, Birmingham and Montgomery. Naturally, when William H.G. France built the biggest and fastest speedway in the country in nearby Talladega, the hometown boys were going to take to the track. And as a result, devoted local fans turned out.
The legendary trio galvanized the local race fans in the 1960s and 70s, giving many a primary reason to devotedly attend races at Talladega—just to lend their cheers of support for their hometown heroes as they defended their turf. Their world eventually grew to include another Alabama racer Neil Bonnett, and years later, Bobby's sons Davey and Clifford.
Hearing loud cheers from the stands, The Alabama Gang didn't disappoint. While having success in NASCAR's top division with 10 career triumphs, Donnie collected two victories at Talladega. Bobby, the 1983 Sprint Cup Series Champion and winner of 84 career races, would visit Talladega's Victory Lane on four occasions. Bonnett, an 18-time Cup winner, was a one-time victor at Talladega. Farmer, a mainstay in the ARCA Series, claimed two wins at Talladega. Clifford posted a top-10 ARCA finish in 1992, and Davey ranks second only to Dale Earnhardt Sr. in total Talladega wins with eight. They include three NASCAR Sprint Cup (of his career total 19 Cup wins), four ARCA and one IROC triumph. Davey is one of only eight drivers to post their first career Sprint Cup win at Talladega.
The Alabama Gang is also represented atop The Alabama Gang Superstretch. From the exit of turn two to the entrance of turn three, fans now have additional RV options from which to view all races at Talladega Superspeedway. They include Allison Motorhome Ridge, Farmer Motorhome Overlook and Bonnett Corporate Motorhome Summit. For information on options, fans can call the Talladega Superspeedway ticket office at 1-877-Go2-Dega.
The Alabama Gang continues to live on today with a new generation of racers. The torch of the Allison legacy is passed from Donnie and Bobby to their grandsons Justin and Robbie. Justin Allison, with the help from his grandfather Donnie, has recently emerged on the racing scene in the ARCA Racing Series. Justin competed in the season-opening event at Daytona and was in the top-10 before being involved in an accident that broke out in front of him. He will compete in this weekend's International Motorsports Hall of Fame ARCA race at Talladega. Robbie Allison, grandson of Bobby and son of Davey, now lives in Mooresville, NC and is competing in Legends and Late Model cars, as well as Pro Champion Karts. Both Justin and Robbie have high aspirations.
Another Alabama native, Grant Enfinger from Fairhope, has dominated the ARCA Series thus far in 2014, becoming only the second driver in series history to capture the checkered flag in the first three races of the season.
Interestingly enough, since Talladega Superspeedway opened in 1969, there have been more than 50 drivers from the state of Alabama to compete at the most competitive facility in the world, and all can say they are a part of "The Alabama Gang."
The track was also excited to have former crew chief Larry McReynolds, a Birmingham native, who helped Davey Allison to several wins, on hand at today's event. Bonnett's widow Susan Bonnett Northcutt and Liz Allison Hackett and Krista Allison, widow and daughter of Davey Allison, respectively, joined in on Wednesday's ceremonies, as well. The Gang is all here…..and lives on through the drivers of today and The Alabama Gang Superstretch at Talladega Superspeedway!
For tickets, log onto talladegasuperspeedway.com or call 1-877-Go2-DEGA.


text:
Ballparks of PA: Boston Riverfront Park
Amy, Olivia and I traveled to Boston earlier this week to check out another baseball field. No, not that Boston. A much smaller town in PA that goes by the same name as the city in Massachusetts.
We visited Boston Riverfront Park:
And judging by the google search that I did before coming to this field, I would have a change at a 'splash' hit – that is hitting the ball into a body of water, like at PNC Park (Allegheny River) or AT&T Park (McCovey Cove).
Check it out:
When we pulled up, this was the scene from the parking lot:
Additionally, besides having a river running behind the left field fence, there is a bridge behind right field – a really cool setting for an amateur field.
This was the view looking in from right field:
Not too bad. When I put on my batting gloves, I was eying the left field fence. I wanted to put one in the river.
I did a quick walk from home plate to the left field foul pole and estimated it to be 290 feet. After checking google maps when I got home and comparing it to the scale that they have on the map, it checked out. Its slightly less than 300 ft down the line.
So, when my first swing was mis-hit, meaning I didn't get nearly all of it, but still hit it off of the wall, I shifted my aim to left center field and tried to hit it off of the lone tree out there.
Amy came along and took some pictures. She stood in the third base coaches box and took this picture:
And this one:
I had brought 15 baseballs, and took 15 swings. My seventh swing marked the first home run of the day. A nice shot that cracked and snapped the branches of the tree in left center field.
Although Amy has pitched to me in the past, and is a decent BP pitcher, its just not safe with a baby. I've been throwing balls up and hitting them since I was about 13 – always playing a game of home run derby against myself at the old Carbon Field #3 near my boyhood home.
Anyhow, on my second to last swing,
I hit a shot to left field that cleared the fence and disappeared for a split second out of view. It then quickly shot up high in the air as it bounced off of the concrete parking lot out there. There was no doubt in my mind that it was probably in the river.
I took my last swing and ran out to the river to see if I could recover the ball. As the PNC ballhawks will attest, major league baseballs on float for 90 seconds – 2 minutes tops before sinking. I've seen it happen numerous times at PNC Park in the Allegheny, especially before the gates open and Pedro Alvarez is hitting shots that bounce into the Allegheny.
Anyhow, when I ran down there, my ball was indeed in the river. And luckily, it looked reachable.
I was able to recover it by climbing down the river bank:
And carefully reaching down to grab it, despite sinking about four inches in thick soft river mud.
Here's the parking lot behind the left field fence. Luckily, there was only some random crappy car there that looked deserted.
And here's another picture of the river:
And here's my first career splash-down hit.
After collecting the two home runs balls, I collected the other balls from left center field that didn't clear the fence:
And Amy took a photo of the really awkward center field. Usually center field is the deepest part of a ballpark, but here in Boston, the fence comes way in to a point.
It's still deeper than left field, but very asymmetrical. I walked off center field and its approximately 330. The right field power alley is by far the largest field if you look at the aerial view from google maps.
The field has its quirks, but could be really fun to take BP at or hold a home run derby competition. Olivia agrees.
And if you're into riding bikes, which we really aren't [Remember Ohiopyle Amy 😉 ? ] you could ride the Yough trail:
Anyhow, before leaving we went up to the Boston Bridge to get a few more pics.
The condition of the bridge left much to be desired,
but we got some good pics of the field from the vantage point:
Check out that asymmetrical fence!
And here's the area behind the left field wall again:
After a few pics, we called it a night and headed home. We would visit another local ballpark the next day…
Condition: B
Dimensions: B- (for being a little too short to left)
Location/Surrounding Area: A
Parking/Access: A
One could have some fun here in a home run derby – maybe crediting an extra home run for every splash down hit. Drawbacks are that too many balls could end up lost if you're a power hitter – and if there's a few cars in the parking lot beyond the fence – it could lead to a problem if you hit a car. Also, the outfield fence is too low.
Links to other fields that I've hit at and reviewed for the Ballparks of PA Series:
Wylie Park, Elizabeth


text:
Product Description
In this busy world, our experiences of happiness are fleeting and short-lived, while inner peace eludes us completely. Our negative states of mind, such as uncontrolled desire and anger, create endless problems for ourselves and others, and prevent us from fulfilling our deepest wishes. Geshe Kelsang begins by presenting Buddha's popular teaching on the Four Noble Truths, which offers a clear and simple solution to all our problems, guiding us to an oasis of peace within our hearts. He then focuses in particular on overcoming the problem of anger, learning how to develop and maintain patience when faced with even the most difficult circumstances.
Additional Information
Additional Information
|The Four Noble Truths
|Catalogue Code
|Paperbook ISBN: 9780948006371
Audiobook CD ISBN: 9780954879020
Audiobook MP3 ISBN: 5055278100599
eBook EPUB format ISBN: 9781906665067
- A practical manual for solving our problemsReview by Nathan
The section on how to solve our anger problem in particular is sublime. It explains in a really practical way why we get angry, irritated, annoyed, and even hateful and how we can control these negative emotions and finally overcome them through simple practices we can do during the day, at home, at work, or anywhere else.
It truly is a a practical manual for solving our problems! (Posted on 21/07/2012)
Product Tags
You may also be interested in the following product(s)
Meaningful to Behold
Starting at: £0.75
The Bodhisattva Vow
Starting at: £0.75
Universal Compassion
Starting at: £0.75
The New Meditation Handbook
Starting at: £0.75


text:
The Mizuno Wave Tornado 8 volleyball shoe features full-length Pebax Mizuno Wave® Technology that provides superior stability and cushioning when jumping and landing. Triple-layered mesh upper offers the utmost in breathability and comfort. Enhanced AP midsole delivers increased rebound, cushioning, and durability while maintaining lightweight performance and a shock-absorbing compound in the forefoot offers additional impact protection. Design technology relieves the stress the foot naturally places on footwear, eliminating distortion for the perfect fit. Full-length midsole ventilation system reduces heat and humidity build-up inside the shoe during performance. Designed with the new Power Panel that limits the amount your foot can turn inward when turning to decrease injuries. Enhanced outsole rubber gives improved traction and flexibility. Wt. 10.6 oz.
Other Products


text:
It's a different world for animated Oscar nominees
In an Oscar ceremony that could be largely devoid of drama, the winner for animated feature is anyone's guess.
In a year when drama seems to be draining out of a few top Oscar races — thanks, Argo and Mr. Lincoln — an underdog category is picking up the slack and poking its once-cartoonish snout into the adults' business.
Animated feature films, having shed some of their slapstick reputation by adopting more sophisticated themes and technology and a keener competitive spirit, are creating compelling storylines for Sunday night's Academy Awards (ABC, 8:30 ET/5:30 PT).
STORY: 'Paperman' flies high among Oscar shorts
INTERACTIVE: Who do you think deserves the Oscar?
AWARDS NOW: Enjoy USA TODAY's full awards season coverage
Put a lid on the sufferin' succotash antics of yesteryear. Instead, focus on the animated feature film category and see whether director Tim Burton — a revered presence in Hollywood's live-action world — will win his first-ever statuette, for his pet project Frankenweenie.
Or, will Pixar Studios pick up its seventh award, for Brave, which features its first-ever female protagonist, the headstrong redheaded archer Merida?
Could film academy voters actually prove themselves to be hip by anointing Disney's video-game-centered Wreck-It Ralph?
Looks like the stakes are getting more serious, even as animators still chase the brass ring of best picture as well as the respect of their live-action peers.
"Animation has always been considered the kids' table of film," says Brave director Mark Andrews. "I'm kind of torn. I love that it has its own category, but I think we can go up against live-action. Why is animation considered less?"
The stereotype that animation is all about talking animals is blown up by this year's five nominees, chosen from a field of 21 eligible films. They tackle heady material such as life and death — Burton'sFrankenweenie is a stop-motion ode to the friendship between a boy and his dog, who lives again after being electrified, Frankenstein-style. Brave finds Merida seeking freedom from her royal parents but also tackling a family curse. ParaNorman is a John Hughes-esque tale of a bunch of kids who have to save their town from the undead, while Wreck-It Ralph is the redemptive story of a video-game bad guy journeying to find his inner hero.
There is room for some lightheartedness, however, in the form of the very British The Pirates! Band of Misfits, about a buccaneer striving to be Pirate of the Year.
Pirates! director Peter Lord, for one, is excited about having any presence at the Oscars, which he considers "the high table of filmmaking."
Animation having its own Oscar is "the biggest thing in this business," says Lord, co-founder of Aardman Animations and Oscar winner for 2005'sWallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit. "I've received more e-mails and tweets and Facebook likes and stuff around the nomination than around the release of the movie. It has a huge, huge impact on people."
While Argo seems to be running away with the award for best picture, the animation category — introduced at the 2002 ceremony, which saw Shrek take home the Oscar — has no clear front-runner, says Scott Feinberg, awards blogger for The Hollywood Reporter.
Academy voters he has talked to are most enthusiastic about either Ralph or ParaNorman. "Ralph is the most fun of the group, and with all other things being relatively equal, that may be the difference," Feinberg says.
However, while Ralph won a Critics' Choice Award and an Annie Award for best feature, Brave nabbed a Golden Globe and a prize from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts.
But don't forget about the iconic director in the mix, says Tom O'Neil of GoldDerby.com. "Tim Burton's way overdue for an Oscar, and you might think here's the perfect opportunity for voters to reward him."
Burton, who was nominated for his 2005 stop-motion horror musical Corpse Bride, remembers the days before the animated Academy Award existed. When he was a Disney animator in the early 1980s, gone were the decades before of Walt Disney and his "Nine Old Men" crew rolling out classic after classic like Bambi, Dumbo and Peter Pan. During his stint, animation "was a dead medium."
"You recognize there was always a lot of talented people waiting for the opportunity to do it and it finally came. It surprised me more back then at how dormant it was for a while," Burton says.
The Little Mermaid in 1989, though, kicked off a resurgence for the company that two years later saw Beauty and the Beast garner the first-ever best-picture nod for an animated film. That, plus the coming of Pixar Studios in 1995 with Toy Story and a slate of well-made movies that entertained as well as tugged at the heartstrings, made it impossible for the academy to continue to ignore animation.
Lord jokes that he's still annoyed that the first Oscar for animated feature was given out the year after Aardman's popular Chicken Run — "I feel kind of cheated in a way," he says with a laugh — but his studio, in addition to the likes of DreamWorks, Laika (which did the stop-motion Coraline and ParaNorman) and others, stepped up everybody's game.
"That's why I was very happy to get a nomination this year," Lord says.
Adds Rich Moore, director of Wreck-It Ralph: "I look at what my colleagues are doing, and it makes me want to be a better filmmaker. It makes me want to be the best I can be."
And it seems Disney is coming around yet again. Frankenweenie and Ralph lead the way in the company's new mind-set, which gives the reins to filmmakers to let them make the movie they want and not make a "Disney movie," Moore says.
"To be helming a film that could potentially bring the award to Disney, which has never won, is profoundly humbling. Disney is a place that I've always rooted for, and I think the audience does also because we have a deep, deep love for what that means."
While Disney merged with Pixar in 2006, the latter is still an autonomous unit and one that can't rest on its laurels.
"We're not the only game in town anymore, which is good for us because now we have to kick it up and find that next new thing or where can we push our innovation. We know everybody else will follow," says Andrews, who has been with Pixar for 12 years and has worked on a couple of Oscar winners, as head of story on The Incredibles and story supervisor with Ratatouille.
That also means looking into possibly broadening the subject matter and moving past family-friendly material, he adds. "I would hate for some other studio to come out with the first PG-13 film that gets the best-picture nomination in live action and it's not us."
Before he made his mark in Hollywood with Pee-wee's Big Adventure, Batman and Edward Scissorhands, Burton created his original live-action Frankenweenie short in 1984 while he was still at Disney.
Live action is a frame-by-frame process, too, yet there's a connection Burton has to animation that he doesn't get otherwise.
"It's the tactile — people making the props and the puppets that are works of art in themselves and the skeletons and the movement you can get out of crude things that are amazing," Burton says. "Seeing inanimate objects coming to life goes back to Frankenstein or Pinocchio. There's something magical about the process of that in itself. It does make it a bit more special."
Andrews, who co-wrote John Carter of Mars with fellow Pixar vet Andrew Stanton and helped with directing duties, says both mediums call for the same artistic skills, although there is a big time commitment involved with animation. A live-action movie can finish principal photography in a matter of weeks — animated films often take years to complete.
ParaNorman writer and director Chris Butler can vouch for that: "You work on one of these things for four or five years. If it's just for an award at the end, you're probably wasting your time," he says.
Only three animated films have been nominated for Oscar's best picture: In addition to Beauty and the Beast, the Pixar films Up and Toy Story 3 both benefited from the recent expanded fields.
There are still purists in the academy who actively ignore animated films because they just don't belong in the same category as a Lincoln or Silver Linings Playbook, Feinberg says. "I've literally heard voters use the word 'cartoon' dismissively.
"They just have in their minds a certain idea of what a best picture is. When it looked like animated movies were getting to the point where they might start cracking into that category, those who did not like that wanted to give them their own award as well," Feinberg says.
Adds Butler: "I do think a lot of people see animation as some colorful babysitting device rather than just a movie. They talk about it like it's its own thing. It shouldn't be. You should be able to use animation to tell any story."
But the academy has responded positively to Pixar's use of "pioneering technologies while never forgetting to include big old-fashioned heart," O'Neil says. "Up and Toy Story 3, those movies had those old geezer Oscar voters weeping in their seats and discovering their old vulnerable selves."
Wins by Rango, Wall-E and Up in recent animated races also have shown a certain turning of the corner, he adds. Animation is "not just for kids — it's for lizards, it's for robots and it's for old people."
Lord and Andrews both feel that an animated movie will one day win a best-picture honor.
"I know why it's unlikely, because Hollywood loves their stars and they love their stars to be visual as well as audible, and they love to have their stars on the red carpet,'' says Lord. "But in terms of smart filmmaking, I can very well imagine it."
And Andrews doesn't even think it will take a long time for it to happen.
"As soon as animation gets out of this G-rated funk and starts doing some fast-court press on bigger social issues and dramatic stories, it will arrive," he says. "We're not just at the kids' table. We can actually, using this medium, talk about things that are happening in the world and have unique insights."


text:
|Real Cajun: Rustic Home Cooking from Donald Link's Louisiana
If you think this sounds yummy, I'd sure ♥ it if you'd click to pin it, tweet it, stumble it, or share it on Facebook to help spread the word - thanks!
This recipe was exactly that - a take on the very memories Chef Donald Link recalled from his own Granny's pork roast. Mine is a slightly adapted version of that recipe.
Donald Link is the chef-owner of two restaurants in New Orleans, Herbsaint and Cochon, and was awarded the James Beard Best Chef South Regional Award in 2007. Jimmy Buffet, our own native Mississippian, said of Real Cajun
"Donald Link's book simply makes me hungry the way I used to be around my grandmother's kitchen down on the Mississippi Gulf Coast."
I couldn't agree more, because this cookbook represents real, belly warming, down to earth Cajun cooking. Reading this cookbook reminds me of what it is that is so very special about where we live.
In the introduction, Link shares with us how it was the simple things that shaped who he is as a chef, even more so than all of his formal culinary training. Fishing with his granddad, making gumbo with his granny, meals built around fresh produce that came right out of the garden, seafood fished from local waters, and wild game straight from the woods. This is our life here in The Deep South.
Link recalls how as a child every occasion revolved around food - spicy crawfish boils, crab boils, fish fries and lakeside meals out of a cast iron skillet over a campfire. Holidays, festivals, funerals, any number of occasions where a family is brought together - from birth to death - food is so central to the southern way of life and is certainly reflected in the pages of this gorgeous cookbook.
Real Cajun is a beautiful testament to The South, and particularly to simple, Cajun country cooking. With stunning photography and deliciously described and drool-worthy Louisiana Cajun recipes, you will love this book. The recipes are divided into six sections La Vie Couchon, From Louisiana Waters, Family Gatherings, All the Fixin's, Outdoor Living and Louisiana Sweet Tooth. Here's a tiny taste of what's within the covers.
Smothered Pork Roast over Rice
And a little somethin' somethin' for the sweet tooth maybe?
How 'bout Apple Pie with Buttermilk Ice Cream? Wait till you see the German Chocolate Cake. Mercy.
Real Cajun is just hands-down a beautiful cookbook with so many recipes that I want to try, including this one that has eluded me forever. Could this be the true, old fashioned, homemade cafeteria rolls? Remember them? Well, I've tried many recipes across the net that claim to be these well loved rolls, and not a single one of them have come close, so I am anxious to try Link's recipe to see if they meet the criteria from my memories. I have no doubt these will be good, but I'll let y'all know if this one, is the one.
I hope that I get to meet Donald Link some day. After devouring his cookbook front to back, I sort of already feel like kin really. Real Cajun literally had me drooling over it, page by page, laughing sometimes, shaking my head in agreement often, and a few times, even drawing a tear to my eye. If you love Cajun food you will both treasure and use this cookbook. You can purchase Real Cajun right from from the Deep South Dish store. Buy it. I know you'll love it.
In the meantime, do try this roast. It is to die for. And... it'll be a perfect addition to your New Year's Day menu. LAISSEZ LES BON TEMPS ROULER!!
Disclosure: I received this cookbook as a Christmas gift, however, we paid for it out of our own pockets. Neither Donald Link, or Clarkson Potter/Publishers in New York have any idea who I am. I just love the cookbook and wanted to share it with my readers. The affiliate links listed with this post, however, are from my Amazon store. A small percentage of proceeds from any purchases made through the Deep South Dish store help to financially support my work at this site.
Images and Full Post Content including Recipe ©Deep South Dish. Pinning and sharing links is welcomed and encouraged, but please do not repost or republish elsewhere such as other blogs, websites, or forums without explicit prior permission. All rights reserved.


text:
Temple University boasts more than four million bound volume equivalents, with general and specialty collections throughout our campuses.
Students may use their OWLcards to check out materials for free from all of Temple libraries, including nonacademic materials such as bestsellers, movies and TV shows. Public workstations with internet access, printers, scanners and copiers are available at all locations.
Many services are also available through the Libraries website. Learn more about Temple University Libraries, including hours, directions and information centers at Temple.
Main Campus
- Samuel L. Paley Library
- Charles L. Blockson Afro-American Collection
- Science and Engineering Library
- Law Library (open to law students only)


text:
I was in Dublin yesterday at the National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology. As well as the splendid Tara Brooch and Ardagh Chalice, were the "bog bodies". These brown remains of men preserved in Ireland's peatlands are in stark contrast to the shimmering gold of our iconic national treasures. They are brown, leathery, hollow shadows of their former owners. Only one of them had most of its limbs intact. All of them were twisted and flattened. And yet, in archaeological terms, they are outstandingly preserved with skin and hair still present. They are celebrated for their preserved condition and what they tell us of Ireland in the Iron Age. In contrast, there is very little left of all those who perished in their time who did not end up in the bog. I couldn't help but reflect on my own mortality. 2500 years from now, is the best I can hope for to be found in a bog, leathery and hollow?
In a sense, yes – I am only here for a short while. But in another sense, no. Well, I believe not – as a Christian, I have a hope in something greater, in a heaven without rot or illness or decay or violence (all these men were murdered). I even have a hope in a new body, as crazy as it sounds. Yet, sitting on the ground floor of the National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology, looking into a glass case, at the flat remains of some poor guy in his twenties who was stabbed in the head and turfed into a bog – and he was one of the wealthy people – I couldn't feel anything but… small. Like a flower of the field, here today and gone tomorrow, as the Hebrew Scriptures observe. It was certainly a grounding experience.
So, I cling to the hope I have. Hope, in someone who walked the Earth not long after these bog men, actually. Hope in God through Christ, who defeated death and is "preparing a place" for us, if we would follow Him here and then there.
I feel glib, saying these things. It is not that I believe these things blindly or simply out of fear. Yes, I do want to believe that the claims of Christ are true, that He was and is who he said He was but I do question and I do have my doubts. I have written before about Lewis' trilemma – Jesus was either mad, bad or God – lunatic, liar or Lord – to say the things he said about himself. Or he didn't say them at all – if we question the Gospel accounts of his life. My position is that not only am I inspired and awed by the character of God as revealed in the person of Christ but from what I have read and what I have thought through and what I have experienced, I believe that Jesus was who he said he was. The Gospel accounts are more reliable than any other ancient texts and more reliable than many give them credit for. His character and his story are compelling. He is my hope now and 2500 years from now, whether in the bog or out of the bog.
Currently out of the bog,
Filed under: Apologetics, Faith, History | Tagged: archaeology, bog, C.S. Lewis, Christ, Gospels, mortality | Leave a comment »


text:
That darn cat!
"Jersey Shore's" Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi has reportedly been denied a request to trademark her nickname in print because an equally orange kitty named Snooky already has his claws on it.
Polizzi's not-so nom de guerre holds a "likelihood of confusion" with the main character of the 2004 tome "Adventures of Snooky," according to U.S. Parent and Trademark Office records dug up by The Smoking Gun website.
According to the book's publisher, Snooky's adventures begin when he is knocked overboard a boat while on a fishing trip.
"Join Snooky as he makes many new friends searching for his family under the sea. Find out what happens when Snooky's new friends run into danger. Can he help save them? Will Snooky ever find his lost family?" reads the publisher's description, per the Smoking Gun.
Meanwhile, back on land in Seaside Heights, New Jersey, Snooki's upcoming adventures will involve a date in court Aug. 18 over a disorderly conduct charge.
"I had a couple cocktails and they just put me in a drunk tank to sober me up," Snooki said after spending a few hours in jail earlier this month. "I was a public nuisance — big deal!"
Snooki will not face more jail time over the incident but could be fined between $250 and $1,000, Seaside Heights court official Jane Carozza has told CNN.
As for her trademark issue, all hope isn't lost.
Polizzi could still appeal the book decision, and her application to use "Snooki" for "entertainment in the nature of personal appearances by a television personality" will likely be approved, according to the Smoking Gun.
And that's nothing to hiss about.


text:
President Obama's massive giveaway to Wall Street threatens to bankrupt the federal government and undermine the agenda that got him elected. Here are some first steps needed to change course.
|Get involved in the work of "A New Way Forward," a group organizing protests around the country on April 11.
Dear President Obama,
I'm getting a sinking feeling. Watching your appointees' latest bank bailout makes me wonder if all your administration's good work on health care, education, and jobs will be swept away by the extraordinary giveaway of trillions in taxpayer money to a group of powerful Wall Street operatives, who appear willing to bankrupt our country to continue building their wealth and power.
Could this be happening on the watch of someone who, like yourself, came to Washington with the promise of personal integrity and a concern for the common good?
From outside the Beltway it looks pretty clear: Your financial team's identification with Wall Street corporations is compromising their ability to advise you on what can save our country. Please listen to some of today's most astute independent analysts:
Jeffrey Sachs, Columbia University economist:
"Two weeks ago, I posted an article showing how the Geithner-Summers banking plan could potentially and unnecessarily transfer hundreds of billions of dollars of wealth from taxpayers to banks. ... In fact, the situation is even potentially more disastrous than we wrote. Insiders can easily game the system created by Geithner and Summers to cost up to a trillion dollars or more to the taxpayers."
Robert Reich, former Labor Secretary:
"So you and I and other taxpayers have kept these hedge-fund honchos flush enough to be able to reap the bonanza that Geithner now wants to bestow on them for cleaning up the mess they and others on Wall Street made -- a bonanza to be financed by you and me and other taxpayers, who are taking on all the risk."
David Korten, author of Agenda for a New Economy, and board chair of YES! magazine:
"Wall Street will continue to play out its extortion racket so long as the public is willing to put up with the bailout-first, reform-later capitulation of the Federal Reserve and the FDIC. There must be a strong and immediate public demand to restructure first."
William Greider, writer for The Nation, formerly with The Washington Post, and author of some of today's best books on the economy:
"If Wall Street gets its way, the 'reforms' may further consolidate power and ratify a corporate state--a grotesque hybrid that combines the worst aspects of socialism and capitalism. The reform ideas announced by Geithner would plant the seeds by creating a 'systemic risk' regulator, presumably the Federal Reserve, to oversee the largest, most politically adept banks and financial firms that qualify as 'too big to fail.' Capitalism, with its inherent tendency toward monopoly, would have the means to monopolize democracy."
Our Summer Campaign Is Underway
Support Common Dreams Today
Independent News and Views Putting People Over Profit
Chris Hedges, a Pulitzer prize-winning reporter:
"If we do not immediately halt our elite's rapacious looting of the public treasury we will be left with trillions in debts, which can never be repaid, and widespread human misery which we will be helpless to ameliorate. ... The stimulus and bailout plans are not about saving us. They are about saving them. We can resist, which means street protests, disruptions of the system and demonstrations, or become serfs."
And here's William Black, a regulator who takes bank regulation seriously, in an interview with Bill Moyers:
"We're hiding the losses, instead of trying to find out the real losses. ...Follow what works instead of what's failed. Start appointing people who have records of success, instead of records of failure. ... There are lots of things we can do. Even today, as late as it is. Even though they've had a terrible start to the administration. They could change, and they could change within weeks."
It's not too late, Mr. President. We can still keep these corrupt financial institutions from bankrupting America. We need you to stand up to the Wall Street insiders in your own administration who might understand what boosts the profits of banks, but not what helps our economy. Please replace them with independent advisors, who haven't spent their careers working for investment banks, hedge funds, and the Federal Reserve.
We don't need to re-inflate the disastrous bubble casino and we don't need to pump more taxpayer dollars into the too-big-to-fail institutions that have caused this mess. Instead, it's time to take a long, cold look at these banks, which George Soros says are now "basically insolvent."
Nationalize them. Reorganize them. And decentralize them -- make sure none are too big to bring down our economy. And make sure we never again find ourselves in the bizarre circumstance of having the biggest failures -- the ones whose actions threaten to destroy the economy -- calling the shots in Washington. Instead, reorganize these banks so that all of them are linked into the real economies they should be serving, not undermining -- the locally rooted enterprises that provide the sustainable livelihoods we need.
Yes, we can! Mr President. And for the sake of our country, we must.
Sincerely, Sarah van Gelder YES! Magazine
If you share these concerns, please:
- Forward this message to the White House and to your lists, and repost.
- Get involved in the work of "A New Way Forward," a group organizing protests around the country on April 11.
- Explore more ways to rebuild our economy, while making it more sustainable, at YES! Magazine's Path to a New Economy.


text:
2015-08-05 - German photographer, frequent traveller and single parent Katja Hentschel treats us to a whirlwind tour of the city of Berlin, with her one-year-old son Atlas in tow.
From child psychologist to professional partygoer to photographer, thirty-something Katja Hentschel now travels the world as a Travelette. From her home base on the Eberswalder Straße in Prenzlauerberg, Katja and her son Atlas spend half the year travelling (often with friends) to destinations around the world, from the white sandy beaches of the Maldives to South Tyrol and Poland.
Katja and her son Atlas in their Berlin apartment
"Travelettes is a platform for and by girls who love to travel," says Katja of her website which she founded in 2009. "I feel that women tend to need role models, especially when it comes to traveling alone, and we aim to fill that shoe."Now a team of ten strong, Travelettes is monetised and allows Katja and company their choice of trips. "Although I don't mind paying for my own trips occasionally," she says with a smile. "Atlas has taken to traveling like a fish to the water," explains Katja of her son whom she raises alone – his father lives in the US. "He loves meeting new people and, unlike me, often enjoys the journey of getting from one place to another more than anything."
In Katja's apartment, that is full of references to travel and personal souvenirs, we are treated to coffee, croissants and the happy chuckles of one-year old Atlas. We spot three strollers lining the hallway of Katja's apartment as we walk up; she'll later admit to owning of all of them, "four in total". After growing up in a small town in Germany – "I hated it, and wish I had moved to Berlin when I was like, 16" – Hentschel began her career in child psychology. Her studies took her abroad to Paris, and London before settling down in her adopted city Berlin in 2009. That's when Katja's first blog – Glamcanyon – was born. It started as a nightlife blog and developed into a highly-praised and well-visited street-style blog, leading to more and more professional work as a photographer. With travelettes.net she has made her passion into her work, travelling around the world and going on adventures with friends. "It started because I wanted a place to document my many travels, and I dreamt of incorporating my favourite hobby into my professional life as a photographer." One of Katja's adventurous trips includes a road trip of the US, driving from New York to Miami, Boston and Austin, documented on the website.
In addition to photographing, filming and writing about her adventures, Katja's online and offline presence boomed and the Travelettes became a book, called Around the World in High Heels, filled with tips for lady travellers and stories of faraway lands.
After having her son, Katja developed her interests and searched for a new platform to share her ideas with likeminded souls. Glowbus is the latest project: a lifestyle blog aimed at women over 30 Written and run by four successful entrepreneurs, Glowbus is a no-nonsense platform that doesn't shy away from real-life issues. Some topics include combining motherhood with a professional life, stay-at-home dads, and single parents, but you'll find just as much about food, fashion, interior, and travel. "You know, it's quite shocking, but Germany has the lowest birth rate in the world! It's really not that bad to be a mother in Germany thanks to government benefits. Through Glowbus I want to show women that it's perfectly fine to combine work and motherhood, to travel with your child(ren), and to talk about themes like feminism."
Berlins landmark: the Fernsehturm (TV tower), and typical East Berlin traffic light: Ampelmännchen.
Mogg & Melzer, one of Katja's favourite food stops located on the Auguststrasse 11-13. "I just happened to find it one day and loved the atmosphere. You'd almost walk past it though from the outside."
One of the best ways to get around in Berlin is public transport. There is enough room inside the trams to travel with your stroller!
Check out Katja Hentschel's blogs:


text:
Gender Studies
Gender Studies
Check the organization's website for information on current internship opportunities. Most of the organizations listed offer ongoing opportunities. The internship office may also be able to provide contact information.
NEW INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES are posted in Handshake.
American Association of University Women (AAUW) – Washington, DC AAUW is a non-profit organization with a focus on promoting education and equality for women and girls. AAUW offers ongoing internships with exposure to opportunities that: enhance leadership, impact lives of women and children, promote higher education partnership, celebrate diversity, and foster international outreach. The intern will assist with basic research, program and leadership development, and evaluation and assessment. The intern will also plan and coordinate AAUW national meetings, compose newsletters, and research and assist in development of new initiatives and grant proposals. Students should have knowledge of basic computer skills and familiarity with Word, Excel, and Outlook. WEBSITE:www.aauw.org
Anna Marie's Alliance - St. Cloud, MN
Anna Marie's is a shelter for women and children who have experienced any kind of domestic abuse. The shelter provides free basic services including food, shelter, and advocacy for its residents. The shelter attempts to assist women in finding resources and support to start a life on their own. Also known as Central MN Task Force for Battered Women. WEBSITE:www.annamaries.org
Community Violence Intervention Center (CVIC) – Grand Forks, ND
CVIC supports adult and child victims of violence and promotes peace and safety by advocating the elimination of violence. Volunteer opportunities are available.
CSB Institute for Women's Leadership St. Joseph Student Director Spring 2010
CSB Sister Nancy Hynes Center for Women St. Joseph Student Director Fall 2009
WEBSITE: www.cviconline.org
Minnesota Women's Consortium – St. Paul, MN
An internship at the Minnesota Women's Consortium offers the opportunity to get politically involved and make a worthwhile contribution to the women's movement. Interns will learn about a multitude of women's issues and efforts being made to promote and bring about equality of opportunity, learn how public policy is made and how it affects women, and participate in the day-to-day operations of an influential nonprofit women's organization. Each intern will choose a special project to research, report and write on a topic of current interest called a Special Report which will be distributed in the Capitol Bulletin.
WEBSITE www.mnwomen.org
Minnesota Women's Press - St. Paul, MN
Minnesota Women's Press, Inc. mission is to tell stories in ways that create community and encourage change. Based in St. Paul, MN, USA, Minnesota Women's Press, Inc., was founded by Mollie Hoben and Glenda Martin in 1984 to publish a biweekly newspaper, The Minnesota Women's Press. The Minnesota Women's Press, Inc., draws on the talent of staff members to publish their papers. Past internships include Advertising Sales Internship, Books Internship, Editorial Internship, Feminist Business Internship, Photography Internship, and Production/Graphics Internship. A wide variety of internships are offered year round.
WEBSITE: www.womenspress.com
Rainbow Families – Minneapolis, Minnesota
Rainbow Families is the Midwest office of Family Equality Council. Rainbow Families provides local programs to the LGBT families, extended family members and allies in the upper Midwest region while also joining Family Equality Council in its efforts to secure family equality in all 50 states. We envision a future where all families, regardless of creation or composition, will be able to live in communities that recognize, respect, protect, and celebrate them. Rainbow Families offers a Legal Intern position as well as many volunteer opportunities.
WEBSITE: www.rainbowfamilies.org
Tubman – Minneapolis, MN
Tubman helps women, children, and families struggling with relationship violence, substance abuse, and mental health issues. Tubman provides safe shelter, legal advocacy, and counseling services across the Twin Cities, guiding and sustaining individuals and families on the journey from chaos and fear to healing and restoration.
Washburn Center for Children - Minneapolis, MN, Minnetonka, MN, Brooklyn Park, MN
Washburn Center for Children is the leader in helping children with social, emotional and behavioral problems and their families. As a community mental health center focused on children's mental health, Washburn strives to integrate innovative research into program practice, implement meaningful evaluation methods and provide effective training and consultation for agency staff and community collaborators. Internships are available year-round in group treatment programs, day treatment, and family focused/infant-toddler programs. These programs are housed at the Minneapolis office. Volunteer opportunities also available.
WEBSITE: www.washburn.org
WATCH – Minneapolis, MN
WATCH is seeking interns who are interested in criminal justice, domestic abuse, sexual assault, and child abuse issues. The interns' responsibilities center on court monitoring, however interns may be involved in other projects involving research, volunteer coordination, event planning, data entry, administrative tasks, and community education. The intern will attend a 6 hour training session, attend scheduled court proceedings outlined by staff, follow WATCH court monitoring guidelines while in the courthouse, attend three community educational programs in relation to your work with WATCH, and submit a two-page reflection paper for possible publication. This is an 8-10 hour per week position that is unpaid. The opportunity is available in the spring, with an application deadline of January 16, in the summer with an application deadline of June 2, and in the fall with an application deadline of September 15.
WEBSITE: www.watchmn.org
WHITE HOUSE PROJECT - St. Paul
The White HOuse Project, a national, non partisan, not-for-profit organization, 501(c)(3), aims to advance women's leadership in all communities and sectors, up to the U.S. presidency.
WEBSITE: www.thewhitehouseproject.org
Women's Initiative – St. Paul, MN
Women's Initiative programs address both personal and societal factors that affect the empowerment of women and girls. All of these programs highlight leadership development and capacity building in order to empower immigrant and refugee women and girls who, in turn, become involved and create solutions in their lives and in their communities. Past volunteer and internship positions at Women's Initiative include Interpreters for Hmong and Spanish, Marketing and Research, Writer/editing, Graphic Designer, Web Designer, Research Analyst, Human Resources.
WEBSITE: http://www.womenofwise.org/
Women's Action for New Directions - Washington DC
Women's Action for New Directions (WAND) is an organization that works to empower women to act politically to reduce militarism and redirect excessive military spending to unmet human and environmental needs. WAND's major focuses are on nuclear non-proliferation and working through the political process through lobbying and electing progressive women.
WEBSITE: www.wand.org
Women Against Military Madness (WAMM) – Minneapolis, MN
WAMM is composed of hundreds of women and men empowered to make a social change through volunteer activism. It is a nonviolent feminist organization that works to create a system of social equity, self-determination and justice. WAMM's purpose is to dismantle systems of militarism, economic exploitation and global oppression.
Women's Sports Foundation – East Meadow, NY
The Women's Sports Foundation is an educational nonprofit organization founded in 1974 by tennis legend Billie Jean King. Its mission is to advance the lives of girls and women through sports and physical activity. The Women's Sports Foundation has offered internships in the following departments: advocacy, athlete services, special events, program management, development, marketing, education programs, public relations, publications, and the web.
WEB SITE: www.WomensSportsFoundation.org
Women Venture - St. Paul, MN
Women Venture is a leader in providing the tools and support to help you start and grow your business, find a new job, or develop a new career path. Their mission is to assist women in securing their own economic success and prosperity. Volunteer positions available year round.
WEBSITE: www.womenventure.org
Minnesota Women's Political Caucus - St. Paul, MN
The Minnesota Women's Political Caucus (MWPC) is a grassroots, multi-partisan organization dedicated to increasing the number of women in elected and appointed office by identifying, recruiting, training and supporting pro-choice women candidates. MWPC seeks to be an expert resource for women in Minnesota and women candidates supporting women's issues. We strive to win equality for all women; to ensure reproductive


text:
Miami Heat
Many scenarios as Miami Heat enters free agency period
Each offseason since 2010, the Miami Heat has attempted to retool its lineup with veteran players willing to take less money in the hopes of winning a championship. That again appears to be the case.
Although team president Pat Riley has expressed an interest in younger players, he's also keen on bringing in experienced players who are already mentally conditioned to the rigors of deep playoff runs, and the media scrutiny that goes along with playing for the Heat. Riley hit the team-building lotteries with Mike Miller in 2010, Shane Battier in 2011 and Ray Allen in 2012. The additions of Greg Oden and Michael Beasley in 2013 didn't bear much fruit, though, and the subtraction of Miller last summer was a morale killer.
In no uncertain terms, adding the right players around the Heat's core this week could be the difference between more championships or the end of an era. Players can't sign new contracts until July 10, but agents and teams can agree to deals at any time.
"I've been a leader and a decision-maker, and that's my level of expertise, and I'll do everything I can to retool the team," Riley said last week. "But everybody just get a grip. It has been a great run."
Riley has already contacted the representation for several league veterans, including two-time All-Star Luol Deng, according to multiple reports. Other players linked to the Heat include Lakers center Pau Gasol, Washington forward Trevor Ariza, Raptors point guard Kyle Lowry and Utah Jazz forward Marvin Williams.
That's an impressive wish list, but it's no guarantee that Riley can make a deal with any of them.
Free agency began at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday, and Riley wasted no time scouring the market for talent. Conversely, player agents for free agents were also busy linking their clients' names to the Heat, and other teams, in the hopes of drumming up interest.
Some of Riley's targets might not be available for very long, but, regardless of what reports might emerge, it's important to remember that nothing is certain until players sign. Lowry, considered one of the Heat's top targets, was reportedly offered a contract worth at least $12 million per year shortly after free agency began. It's doubtful the Heat could match that, or would even consider it, but a lot can change in a short amount of time in free agency.
As for Deng, it has been reported that he, too, is seeking a contract that prices out the Heat.
The Heat's Big 3 — LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh — already agreed on frameworks for their contracts with the team, which has given Riley financial parameters to improve the team through free agency, according to multiple sources. Only backup point guard Norris Cole is currently under contract, and Riley has an NBA-record $55 million of salary cap space to build his roster.
Much of that cap space, of course, will be used to re-sign the Big 3. James is expected to command a max contract for nearly $23 million for next season, but Bosh and Wade could sign for less to give Riley the ability to add a player or two.
The league's new salary cap, set to be released July 10, will be around $63 million with a luxury tax line around $77 million. The Heat would like to be below the luxury tax line, which would trigger a few salary-cap mechanisms, including the full mid-level exception ($5.3 million per season) and the bi-annual exception ($2.077 million per season).
Under that scenario, Riley would need to stay under the projected luxury-tax apron of about $81 million for the team.
"It could actually be a full middle level, but we have to be sort of under a hard cap if we went that way," Riley said.
With Riley busy trying to find new role players for the Big 3, free agency rivals are putting together pitches to lure James and Bosh. The Lakers, Rockets and Suns have been linked to James, and Dallas has expressed interest in Bosh.
"Free agency is a two-way street," Riley said. "It's not always the players who have the advantage because in the worst-case scenario we could have the most room of anybody in the NBA or in the history of the NBA if everybody decided to opt out and go somewhere else. I'm not planning on that. That would be my worst nightmare, but I think we've got to protect ourselves from the downside."
With that specter as a backdrop, it's no secret that James was angered by the Heat using its amnesty contract on Miller last year. Riley publicly assured players that Miller would not be amnestied only a few days before Miller was released. With free agency now in full swing, it appears the Cavaliers might be using that as ammunition if Dan Gilbert's team can score a face-to-face interview with James. It should be noted that James is reportedly not meeting with teams, but leaving the bulk of free agency business to his agent, Rich Paul.
From the Akron Beacon-Journal: "If given the opportunity, the Cavs will remind James how the Heat parted ways with Mike Miller last summer in what was strictly a cost-cutting move."
In his post-Finals news conference two weeks ago, Riley addressed the decisions to amnesty Miller and trade center Joel Anthony.
"The primary motivation for doing those things was to be in a better position this year, because they all had contracts," Riley said. "And they would be under contract this year. And so we cleared, basically, those contracts. The residual reward was there was some tax money saved, but the thinking, the strategy behind it, was this year we would not have those guys under contract. We wanted flexibility."
Riley also cited Miller's history of injuries as a factor in the Heat using its amnesty clause. As for trading Anthony, Riley cited the center's low number of minutes.
So scenarios abound as the Heat tries to augment its roster following an NBA Finals loss while other teams attempt to outmaneuver Riley.
Stay tuned.


text:
How introversion and extraversion affect social interactions and relationships
Use this control to limit the display of threads to those newer than the specified time frame.
Allows you to choose the data by which the thread list will be sorted.
Order threads in...
Note: when sorting by date, 'descending order' will show the newest results first.
Forum Rules


text:
Average suburban teacher salaries: from $47,624 to $116,044
The gap between the suburbs' highest- and lowest-paid teachers is cavernous.
Maine Township High School District 207 in Park Ridge topped the list with an average teacher salary for 2011-'12 of $116,044. In stark contrast, tiny Emmons Elementary District 33 in far Northwest suburban Antioch was the lowest-paying district surveyed with an average salary of $47,624, a Daily Herald study of state school report card data from 91 districts in the North, Northwest and West suburbs shows.
District 207 spokesman David Beery said Maine teachers deserve their pay and standards are high.
"In part, we think the salary scale that has come about in District 207 is a result of the high value that the Maine Township community places on education," Beery said. "District 207 has excellent teachers from whom much is expected and who deliver quality learning experiences for our students."
Administrators and union leaders at schools on the other end of the scale -- many of which are in Lake County -- think just as highly of their teachers.
They attributed the salary disparity to several factors, including the experience and education levels of their staffs, geography and financial limitations.
"Pay is based on what a community can afford," Emmons Superintendent Eileen Conway said. "Property taxes is what we count on, and they are lower in our community."
What data shows
Average teacher salary was among the hundreds of categories included in the recently released annual report cards from the Illinois State Board of Education.
The reports include standardized test score averages and information about administrative pay, gender and racial compositions, teacher experience and student-to-teacher ratios, among many other subjects.
The average salary for an Illinois teacher in 2011-12 was $66,614, the data revealed. That's up more than 2 percent from the previous year.
For the 90-plus suburban districts reviewed by the Daily Herald, the average salary was an estimated $71,093, up nearly 2 percent.
East Maine Elementary District 63 in Des Plaines recorded the biggest increase in average teacher pay, jumping more than 11 percent to $63,024.
Rosemont Elementary District 78 experienced the biggest drop, with average teacher pay decreasing more than 8 percent to $64,453.
Who's at the top?
All of the 10 highest-paying districts on the Daily Herald's list are high school districts, which is typical. Four are in Cook County, three are in DuPage County, two are in Lake County and one is in McHenry County.
Rounding out the Top 10 were Bensenville's Fenton High School District 100, Arlington Heights-based Northwest Suburban High School District 214, Stevenson High School District 125 in Lincolnshire, Palatine-Schaumburg High School District 211, DuPage High School District 88 in Addison, Libertyville-Vernon Hills Area High School District 128, Glenbard High School District 87 in Glen Ellyn, Crystal Lake High School District 155, and Leyden High School District 212 in Northlake.
Educators cited several factors for the high salaries.
For starters, they use competitive compensation packages to attract quality educators. They also employ teachers who have longer-than-average careers, as well as a large number of teachers who have earned advanced degrees, which boosts salaries.
Take Maine Township District 207, which has three campuses, about 500 teachers and 6,800 students. Of those teachers, more than 94 percent have achieved at least a master's degree, report card data shows.
The state average for advanced degrees is less than 62 percent.
Likewise, the average professional experience among District 207's teaching staff is slightly more than 16 years. The state average is less than 13 years.
That combination "places a high percentage of our teachers at or near the top of our pay scale," Beery said.
And if teachers are being paid well, they'll likely stay in the district longer -- which, in turn, increases their pay over time.
Glenbard District 87 ranked eighth on the salary list. The district's estimated 600 teachers made an average salary of $95,058, a 5 percent increase from the previous year.
Tom Tully, president of the Glenbard Education Association union, credited a solid property-tax base and a community that wants to invest in the schools.
"We are lucky enough to be in an area that provides resources ... that have allowed us to get the contracts we have," Tully said.
Glenbard's teachers started the 2012-13 term with a new, five-year contract. The deal calls for pay raises of less than 1 percent in each of the first three years and slightly greater raises in the final two years.
Tully called those raises "very modest," but he wasn't complaining. Glenbard's pay is good enough to retain their best teachers, he said.
"We have a goal of being a destination point rather than a steppingstone," Tully said. "Teachers who are happy end up staying in the district."
'It's a small pie'
Nine of the 10 at the bottom of the salary list are elementary districts. That's not unusual, as such districts historically pay less. Those same nine districts all operate in Lake County. That's not unusual, either. In fact, during the 2010-11 term, all 10 of the lowest-paying districts were in Lake County.
Only one district in the new ranking's bottom 10 doesn't fit either mold: East Aurora Unit District 131 in Kane County. It was the ninth lowest-ranked district in terms of teacher pay, the data revealed.
The other districts in the bottom 10 were Emmons, Fox Lake District 114, Gavin District 37 in Ingleside, Mundelein District 75, Lake Villa District 41, Big Hollow District 38 in Ingleside, Antioch District 34, Grass Lake District 36 in Antioch, and Diamond Lake District 76.
Sydney Ryan, president of the Emmons Council labor union in District 33, didn't seem surprised so many Lake County districts were at the bottom of the list.
Schools in towns that primarily consisted of farmland only a few decades ago don't have the revenue of communities that have been around for a century or more and have seen commercial and industrial developments bolster their tax base.
"(It's) location, location, location," Ryan said in an email. "We are a suburban area that has grown out of a rural area."
Teachers in Emmons and similar districts in the area get pay increases, Ryan said, "but you have more ground to make up over time than areas that started with a larger, more diverse tax base to draw from."
The situation isn't new for Emmons, a single-building district that serves kindergartners through eighth-graders and has about 35 teachers. It was the lowest-paying district on the Daily Herald's 2010-11 list, too.
Conway, in her first year as Emmons' superintendent, blamed ongoing budget issues for the relatively low salaries.
The district relies heavily on homeowners for its property-tax revenue, she said, and that makes up most of the revenue in the district's relatively petite $5 million annual budget.
"It's a small pie to split," Conway said in an email. "We are well aware that our teachers are among the lowest paid in the county. It is disappointing because they are extremely hard working, dedicated individuals."
Under the terms of the district's current two-year union contract, teachers received 4 percent raises for the 2011-12 term and another 4 percent raise for this year.
Still, the average pay for teachers at Emmons is nearly 27 percent lower than the state average.
The contract expires in June 2013. Negotiations for a new contract have not yet begun, Conway said.
Despite the district's low pay scale, Conway isn't worried the rash of strikes that have disrupted classes in Chicago and across the suburbs this fall will spread to Emmons.
"I believe we have an excellent relationship with our union, and we will be able to work together to do what is right for the teachers and for the students," she said.
Ryan said she and her peers aren't thinking walkout, either.
"Emmons has never had a teacher strike," she said, "because we work hard to have a good working relationship with both the administration and the (board)."
Salaries: It comes down to location, says union leader in Antioch district


text:
|Oracle Call Interface Programmer's Guide
Release 9.0.1
Part Number A89857-01
OCI Relational Functions, 27 of 39
This function sets up additional attributes which are required for a named data type (object) bind.
sword OCIBindObject ( OCIBind *bindp, OCIError *errhp, CONST OCIType *type, dvoid **pgvpp, ub4 *pvszsp, dvoid **indpp, ub4 *indszp, );
The bind handle returned by the call to
OCIBindByName() or
An error handle you can pass to
OCIErrorGet() for diagnostic information in the event of an error.
Points to the TDO which describes the type of the program variable being bound. Retrieved by calling
OCITypeByName(). Optional for
REFs in SQL, but required for
REFs in PL/SQL.
Address of the program variable buffer. For an array,
pgvpp points to an array of addresses. When the bind variable is also an OUT variable, the OUT Named Data Type value or
REF is allocated in the Object Cache, and a
REF is returned.
pgvpp is ignored if the OCI_DATA_AT_EXEC mode is set. Then the Named Data Type buffers are requested at runtime. For static array binds, skip factors may be specified using the
OCIBindArrayOfStruct() call. The skip factors are used to compute the address of the next pointer to the value, the indicator structure and their sizes.
Points to the size of the program variable. The size of the named data type is not required on input. For an array,
pvszsp is an array of ub4s. On return, for OUT bind variables, this points to size(s) of the Named Data Types and
REFs received.
pvszsp is ignored if the OCI_DATA_AT_EXEC mode is set. Then the size of the buffer is taken at runtime.
Address of the program variable buffer containing the parallel indicator structure. For an array, points to an array of pointers. When the bind variable is also an OUT bind variable, memory is allocated in the object cache, to store the OUT indicator values. At the end of the execute when all OUT values have been received,
indpp points to the pointer(s) to these newly allocated indicator structure(s). Required only for SQLT_NTY binds.
indpp is ignored if the OCI_DATA_AT_EXEC mode is set. Then the indicator is requested at runtime.
Points to the size of the IN indicator structure program variable. For an array, it is an array of sb2s. On return for OUT bind variables, this points to size(s) of the received OUT indicator structures.
indszp is ignored if the OCI_DATA_AT_EXEC mode is set. Then the indicator size is requested at runtime.
This function sets up additional attributes which binding a named data type or a
REF. An error will be returned if this function is called when the OCI environment has been initialized in non-object mode.
This call takes as a parameter a type descriptor object (TDO) of datatype OCIType for the named data type being defined. The TDO can be retrieved with a call to
If the OCI_DATA_AT_EXEC mode was specified in
OCIBindByName() or
OCIBindByPos(), the pointers to the IN buffers are obtained either using the callback
icbfp registered in the
OCIBindDynamic() call or by the
OCIStmtSetPieceInfo() call.
The buffers are dynamically allocated for the OUT data. The pointers to these buffers are returned either by
ocbfp() registered by the
OCIStmtSetPieceInfo() called when
OCIStmtExecute() returned OCI_NEED_DATA.
The memory of these client library-allocated buffers must be freed when not in use anymore by using the
OCIObjectFree() call.
Copyright © 1996-2001, Oracle Corporation.
All Rights Reserved.


text:
Wedding Photography, Portraits and More.
Javan Liam Photography is a friendly Yorkshire-based team who specialise in romantic wedding photography and naturalistic reportage & social photography.
Take a look at our special offer on wedding photography for 2017!
Under each page heading is a complete new gallery of images – enjoy!
For truly innovative photography you can only rely on experience, creative flair and reputation. Based in Harrogate, we are renowned for being the creators of amazing wedding photography, inspirational black and white photographic portraits and awe-inspiring photography for national and international advertising campaigns.
Our images are unique and our style distinct; we like to bring out the best in every subject. We work on location and also have a studio which allows us to work on the most diverse range of projects and gives us the chance to create perfect shots for you.
Take a look at our extensive portfolio for examples of our work and then contact us to see what we can do for you.


text:
How Can I Deal With My Trichotillomania?
I have trichotillomania. When I tell my mom about it she just tells me to use
willpower and quit. But it's hard and she just won't understand. I pick hair one by
one off my head. I feel it with my hand and get rid of the dry/curly/uneven/ridged
ones. (I have straight hair.) Sometimes I realize I do it, sometimes I don't. Maybe
it runs in the family? My grandma used to do it. And some of my aunts. Should I go
see a doctor? I don't have any bald spots... yet...
– Hayley*
Dealing with trichotillomania can be very challenging. There's such a strong urge to pull hair or lashes, and it can feel like your awareness keeps getting drawn to the hair — sometimes when you don't even realize it.
Your mom may not understand how powerful the urges can feel or how automatically you can be drawn to it without thinking. To other people, trichotillomania can seem like a habit someone could "just stop doing" by using willpower. But if it were that easy, no one would be struggling with this health condition.
Show your mom our article. It might help her understand more. Then ask her to schedule an appointment with a therapist who works with trichotillomania or OCD-like conditions. If you're not sure who to call, make an appointment with your family doctor and ask for help finding a therapist. The right therapist can help you come up with a plan that will work and teach you what to do to resist urges.
It's hard to resist strong urges — but the more you practice resisting, the better at it you'll become. Eventually, if you keep resisting urges to pull hair (instead of giving in), the urges will begin to lose strength. It can take a while, so be patient and don't give up. You may have to accept a few ups and downs until you've got the problem under control.
Trichotillomania does run in families. It's thought to be related to the way the brain's chemistry is regulated. But it can be dealt with — and the earlier, the better so it doesn't start controlling your life.
*Names have been changed to protect user privacy.