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A blog on financial markets and their regulation
In recent months, a significant amount of money has been raised using smart contracts and initial coin offerings. In May 2016, The DAO raised about $150 million with an "objective to provide a new decentralized business model for organizing both commercial and non-profit enterprises". It did not have a formal organizational structure or legal entity and consisted only of open source computer code. A bug in this code allowed a hacker to siphon off about $50 million of this money, but this was reversed by a hard fork of the Ethereum blockchain (see here for the details). A few days ago, Bancor raised even more money than the DAO amidst criticism that its business model is seriously flawed.
These smart contracts create business enterprises without creating any legal entity. You cannot sue a piece of code, nor send it to jail, but when this piece of code creates a self enforcing contract, it becomes an enterprise. This seems to create a challenge for the legal system.
It was in this context that I read "Enterprise without Entities" by Andrew Verstein (Michigan Law Review, 2017).
This Article challenges conventional wisdom by showing that vast enterprises – with millions of customers paying trillions of dollars – often operate without any meaningful use of an entity.
This Article introduces the reciprocal exchange, a type of insurance company that operates without any meaningful use of a legal entity. Instead of obtaining their insurance from a common nexus of contract, customers directly insure one another through a web of countless bilateral agreements. While often overlooked or conflated with mutual insurance companies, reciprocal exchanges include some of America's largest and best known insurance enterprises.
This Article explores how it is possible to run an international conglomerate with essentially no recourse to organizational law as it is normally conceived.
The whole paper is worth reading for the wealth of detail and careful legal analysis. It tells us that enterprise without entities is not some radical new innovation made possible by smart contracts, but is something that has been successfully practised since the early twentieth century.
More importantly, it also tells us that the challenge in making smart contracts work is not going to be legal. The real challenge is the more mundane and much harder task of writing software without nasty bugs.
Earlier this week I posted about the bankruptcy literature of the 1990s that sought to rely less on judges, administrators and experts and more on contracts and markets. As promised in that post, I now explore the implications of that framework for the widespread corporate distress in India today.
While much of the discussion on the Indian situation emphasizes the problem of bad loans in the banking system, the government's Economic Survey rightly described it as a twin balance sheet problem encompassing problems in the balance sheets of the banking system and of the corporate sector. Of the two, I would argue that the problem in the banking system is the less serious one for many reasons.
India needs to move away from a bank dominated financial system, and some degree of downsizing of the banking system is acceptable if it is accompanied by an offsetting growth of the bond markets and non bank finance.
In my view, the problem of zombie companies is far more serious than the problem of zombie banks. There is overwhelming anecdotal evidence that these zombie companies are a major drag on the economy. For those who are not swayed by anecdotal evidence, an IMF working paper published this month demonstrates that the decline in private investment in India is linked to over-leveraged companies being unable to start new projects or complete ongoing projects. For India to achieve high growth, it is necessary to sort out these zombie companies.
Bankruptcy is the most effective way of putting an end to the zombie companies, and recycling their assets for more efficient use. Bankruptcy breaks the vicious cycle through which past debt acts as a brake on future growth. As Heidt put it: "Bankruptcy separates the past from the future … it takes the debtor's past assets to pay its past creditors."
Traditional bankruptcy processes may not provide an adequate solution to this problem because the number of companies involved is quite high and because India does not yet have enough trained bankruptcy professionals and judges to do bankruptcy on a massive scale. This is where I am fascinated by the idea in the bankruptcy literature of the 1990s of using markets instead of courts. This is much more scaleable in the Indian context because some Indian financial markets are reasonably deep, and the supply of funds in these markets is quite elastic because they are open to foreign investors.
My preferred solution is basically the same as the AHM procedure that I mentioned in my last blog post. In this approach, the government forces the banks to converts all their loans into equity, and also forces the banks to sell the resulting equity in the stock market within a tight time frame. The new shareholders decide whether to sell the assets or to run the business. In any case, with the debt completely removed, the company is no longer a zombie company, and even a partial or total liquidation would be a voluntary liquidation by the shareholders that does not require significant court intervention. The difficulties with this method are easy to surmount:
It assumes a well functioning equity market, but I think this is more reasonable assumption to make than that banks can suddenly figure out how to restructure all this debt, or that rating agencies can be trusted to provide useful guidance on this (Partnoy's scathing piece last month should remove all doubts on the matter) or that an omniscient central bank can tell the banks how to restructure all the debt.
One "discretionary" question still appears to remain: how much of the old equity should be wiped before the conversion of the loans. In the original AMH procedure, this problem is solved using Bebchuk options: old shareholders are given the option to buy out the creditors pro rata. In most of the zombie companies, the Bebchuk options are unlikely to be exercised, and the old shareholders would be completely wiped out. Allowing the old shareholders to retain 5-10% of the expanded equity might be another possibility to make it politically more palatable.
The banks would take large losses in this process that could leave them poorly capitalized. I have already discussed this above. For public sector banks, the capital does not really matter, and for the private sector banks, the problem can be solved by imposing a preemptive recapitalization. The important thing is to downsize the banking system so that we do not get into this mess again.
During the last few weeks, I had the opportunity to read (and in some cases re-read) the large stream of literature about bankruptcy that emerged in the United States in the early 1990s. (That is one of the benefits of taking a serious vacation). There are a lot of original ideas in this literature because a serious application of the law and economics paradigm to this field probably began around this time. As Aghion, Hart and Moore wrote, prior to the 1990s, "economic analysis – which has been applied with such great success to other aspects of law in the last thirty years – has, with a few notable exceptions, not been used to shed light on optimal bankruptcy procedure". The radical thinking in the 1990s literature can probably be attributed to the backlash against corporate abuses during the late 1980s and early 1990s. The savings and loan crisis of the 1980s in the United States somehow managed to provoke a greater outrage against financial fraud than the much bigger global financial crisis of the last decade.
Probably the best compilation of the 1990s bankruptcy literature is the proceedings of the Interdisciplinary Conference on Bankruptcy and Insolvency Theory of 1994 published in the Washington University Law Review. This features provocative articles like Adler's "A World Without Debt" and Heidt's article that begins with the line "The Bankruptcy Code is fifteen years old and fourteen years out of date". Above all, there is the famous paper by Aghion-Hart-Moore describing one of the most radical bankruptcy procedures ever proposed – the AHM procedure.
In keeping with the law and economics paradigm, most proposals of that era are based on a greater reliance on contracts and markets rather than on judges, administrators and experts. The complication is that the problem of bankruptcy arises only under imperfect capital markets and there are obvious difficulties in relying too strongly on imperfect capital markets. Yet this 1990s idea underlies a number of the post crisis innovations in reorganization of distressed financial enterprises – contingent equity, contingent convertible bonds (CoCos), and hair cutting of claims against clearing corporations.
My motivation for studying this literature stems from the problem of corporate distress in India today. It is hard to see how India's zombie companies can be efficiently and speedily resolved without relying much more on markets than on so called experts. That is the subject of a future blog post.
Among the thousands of pages that I read during my two month long vacation were two papers that show that many of the large number of published asset pricing anomalies (Cochrane's "zoo") have withered away over time. The papers are
Hou, Xue and Zhang (2017), Replicating Anomalies, NBER Working Paper 23394 and
Mclean and Pontiff (2016) Does Academic Research Destroy Stock Return Predictability?, Journal of Finance.
Hou, Xue and Zhang show that out of the 447 anomalies that they study as many as 286 (64%) are insignificant at the conventional 5% level. Increasing the cutoff t-value to 3.0 raises the
number of insignificance to 380 (85%). Clearly, there are a lot of Type M errors in the anomalies literature and a few Type S errors as well.
I started wondering what would happen if we imposed an even higher standard of statistical significance. This is where particle physics comes in. While the social sciences are quite happy with significance levels of 5% and 1% (implying cutoffs of around 2 or 3 standard deviations), the significance level required for the discovery of a new particle in physics is 0.0001% or one in a million (implying a cutoff of around 5 standard deviations). For example, when the Higgs particle was discovered in July 2012, the official press release from CERN stated: "Today, both the ATLAS and CMS experiments are beyond the level of around one per million that's required to claim a discovery." For more discussion on the 5 sigma standard, see here, here and here.
Asset prices exhibit significantly fatter tails than the Gaussian distribution and that would require raising the cutoff even higher. The statistical quality control world uses a shift of 1.5 standard deviations so that 6 standard deviations (six sigma) are required to achieve quality standards that would otherwise require only 4.5 standard deviations.
I pored over Table 4 of Hou, Xue and Zhang that lists the t-values for all the anomalies that are significant at the 5% level. Not one of these is above 6.0 and only two (Abr1 and dRoe1) are above 5.0. Adjusted for fat tails, there is no anomaly that meets a one in a million standard of significance. By this standard, therefore, markets can be assumed to be efficient. More prosaically, finance is still at the Tycho_Brahe stage of assembling enough high quality data to discriminate between competing theories.


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Waterproof, rot-proof, mildew proof green farm tarp
Designed for the working conditions found on farms and ranches, this green farm tarp is tough enough to last for years. Extra strength 12 x 12 laminated weave is waterproof, rot proof, mildew proof, and resistant to sun damage and tearing. Perfect for covering tools, equipment, machinery, firewood, and cargo.
We guarantee this product to be free from defects in materials and workmanship 90 days from the date of purchase. Limitations apply.

subset: commoncrawl


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Do you speak construction? Do you know if your contractor is marking up goods? Do you know the order of installations? You need an advocate for YOU. Let me make the construction/remodel process easier.Read More
Design is an evolution. A collaborative process between your interests, ideas and feelings and a designer's trained eye, experience, vision and resources. Trust the process!Read More
Replace your outdated, inefficient, or drafty fireplace with one that you will love. You will wish you had done this sooner!
I work with the best contractors in the area and guide them to ensure your project is a success.
Convenience of one-stop shopping, or simply helping you to select the perfect pieces from your favorite retailer.
The right tile or flooring can be overwhelming. Like magic, we can find and install the perfect material for you.
Consultation for the most complex design challenges or the simplest questions, I am here for you.
Kelli's input and guidance in choosing wall colors and new kitchen granite was outstanding. We went from a new home with all white walls to a fully coordinated design that helped existing artwork and furniture really stand out. The colors she helped us select took advantage of our outside view and has brought warmth and an integrated environment. In our absence, she coordinated all aspects of the job, scheduling contractors and overseeing the work. This was invaluable. We are thrilled with the final results.
I have worked with Kelli Walden twice, the most recent being a master bedroom/bath remodel project in the Foothills. I have found her help and guidance invaluable! She is able to work within the design components of the client's home, is sensitive to working with a budget, and strives to add a sense of vitality and a contemporary flare to her work. She brings a wealth of resources to the job and works extremely well with contractors and suppliers. She has made what seemed to be a daunting undertaking (tile selection, carpet selection, fixture selection, etc.) possible and manageable within a given timeline. Can't recommend her highly enough!
Kelli has been very dedicated to finding out who we are and what we wanted our space to be. We are so pleased with our living room design it feels warm and comfortable while fitting perfectly with our contemporary remodel. She was extremely patient and professional working with our timeline.
When remodeling a new home there are so many questions to be answered. Kelli had expertise in all the big questions and the million little ones. My home wouldn't look as good as it does without her help


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There are lots of great Confederate and War Between the States online resources. Just to give an example: Does it seem like your Confederate gentleman isn't speaking English? The website below can get you up to date on the "latest" slang http://members.tripod.com/BooneBunny/hubbub.html
Posts Tagged 'online'
Virtual Confederate Travel
Do you enjoy traveling? Have you taken the chance to visit many of the great War Between the States sites that have been preserved? Would you like to, but haven't found the chance to yet?
Visit www.CivilWarTraveler.com – a great site for those "on the move", as well as Daughters who are there in spirit. One great feature for the war-minded is podcast tours of battlefields.
Footnote: Note on Confederate Records
Footnote.com is not just for Federals! As of November, 2008, the premium (subscription) service contained Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers Who Served in organizations from Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina and South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia. By experimenting with the site, researchers will discover there are also service records of officers and enlisted men who did not belong to any particular regiment, company, comparable unit or special corps. If you do not subscribe to Footnote, check with your local library or genealogical service organization. Many public collections have begun subscriptions to such premium web resources as a service to their customers.
History Found in Oklahoma Blog
Have you tried OHC's new "Found In Collections" blog online yet? Check it out at http://okhistory.org/community/fic/ – it is a monthly updated site that features things found in the collections of the Oklahoma History Center.


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A&E waiting reaches nine-year high5th June 2013
King's Fund reports A&E waiting times have reached a nine-year high in fourt quarter of 2012/13.
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Article Information
Title: A&E waiting reaches nine-year high
Author: Martine Hamilton
Article Id: 24224
Date Added: 5th Jun 2013


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SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) — Shares of Netflix Inc., Hewlett-Packard Co., and Gap Inc. made big moves in U.S. trading Tuesday, while Intel Corp. and Wynn Resorts Ltd. were among the top trending tickers.
Top tickers trending
$INTC: Intel INTC, -3.89% shares added 2.2%. The chip maker said early Tuesday that it filed a shelf registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission to issue senior unsecured notes. Proceeds from the issue will be used to buy back shares.
Intel didn't comment on the size of the deal, but Doug Freedman, an analyst at RBC Capital Markets, thinks it will likely be in the range of $2 billion to $3 billion.
"We believe the action should likely prove prudent given low debt borrowing costs (we estimate 1.5%-2% range) in today's environment for A+ rated paper," he said in a report.
Moody's Investors Service assigned an A1 rating, categorized as "upper medium grade," to the proposed debt offering. The rating reflects Intel's "dominant and defensible position in the microprocessor sector, a strong liquidity profile, and modest financial leverage," said Richard Lane, Moody's senior vice president, in a statement.
@RolfeWinkler: $INTC plans to borrow money to buy back stock. Could be pressure for other tech cos to similarly lever up cash heavy balance sheets. #wsj
@rinaldi224: Let $INTC run, I'll short that all day!
$WYNN and $LVS: Shares of Wynn Resorts WYNN, -4.36% and Las Vegas Sands Corp. LVS, -2.39% are being hit by a report in The Wall Street Journal that Chinese authorities are stepping up scrutiny of Macau's casino industry and the junket operators that bankroll high-rolling gamblers.
"In recent weeks, police in mainland China and Macau have detained people from at least three of Macau's biggest junket operators, the middlemen who extend credit to high-roller players and collect the debts in China," the Journal said. The newspaper also reported that Macau casino operators noticed more restrictions on cross-border financial transactions involving Chinese funds and have received requests for information from the police about guests staying at their hotels. "Such requests aren't unheard of but have raised concerns in light of the other events, these people say," the article said. Read China tightens reins on Macau
@mdsbarry: @OptionsHawk $WYNN is OK until they finish with $LVS, the big cheese. Both might seek refuge in the US Embassy. Yeh, right.
@Brian_Fey: Casino Stocks - slaughtered! Oh Macau… $WYNN $MGM $LVS $MPEL
@ReformedBroker: New regime in Beijing cracking down on Macau casino gangsterism, $WYNN and $LVS feelin the flavor...
$MSFT: Microsoft Corp. MSFT, -3.19% was also drawing some attention on Twitter in reaction to a report by Bloomberg that it is failing to challenge Apple in tablets.
"Of more than a dozen tablets Microsoft and Intel touted for the new version of Windows, only five can be purchased for immediate U.S. delivery," Bloomberg said. "Computer makers have been hampered in introducing tablets by limits Microsoft imposed on which manufacturers got a crack at prototypes, and by delays in Intel power-management software." Microsoft-Intel push to rival Apple in tablets sputtering
@smokeyb111: I cant be the only one out there that feels that Steve Ballmer should be fired. #concernedshareholder #MSFT $MSFT
@herbgreenberg: Beginning to think my no. 1 pick for the year's worst CEO will be (drumroll) Steve Ballmer, who easily beats out goofy Andrew Mason $GRPN $MSFT
Apollo Group Inc. US:APOL shares closed 7.7% higher. The parent company of University of Phoenix is showing up in many analysts' bargain list because it is one of the worst performers on the S&P 500 so far this year, tumbling more than 60%. As Alan Brochstein notes in an article for Seeking Alpha, "If these companies are viable they sure seem cheap." Judging by all the commentary floating around, these for-profit educator stocks should remain on the untouchable list unless one likes scraping the bottom of the barrel. 8 stocks beaten and batter but beginning to bounce
Shares of Big Lots Inc. BIG, -3.33% rose 12% after the discount retailer reported a net loss of 10 cents in the third quarter on sales of $1.13 billion. Analysts polled by FactSet Research were expecting a loss of 24 cents on sales of $1.14 billion. Read: Big earnings on Tuesday:AutoZonee, Toll, Pandora
Edwards Lifesciences Corp. EW, -2.14% shares climbed 5.8% after it projected 2013 earnings that exceed the Street's view. The medical device company said earnings, excluding items, are likely to come in at $3.21 to $3.31 a share on sales of $2.1 billion to $2.2 billion. Analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters had forecast earnings of $3.21 a share and sales of $2.13 billion. Edwards' earnings outlook better than estimates
First Solar Inc. FSLR, -3.43% shares rose 7.7%. The company on Monday said it reached a deal with Zhenfa New Energy Science & Technology Co. to supply 2 megawatts of advanced thin-film solar modules to one of Zhenfa's solar projects in China's Xinjiang province in the first quarter of 2013. "The collaboration will create First Solar's first commercial demonstration project in China and provide a strong platform to showcase the company's state-of-the-art photovoltaic technology," the company said in a statement.
Still, the stock's sharp gains seems to have caught investors off guard with many of them questioning the rally.
Hewlett-Packard Co. HPQ, -5.92% shares recovered from Monday's drop to add 5.1%. The technology company said earlier Tuesday it appointed Mike Nefkens as executive vice president of HP Enterprise Services, effective immediately. "Nefkens will be responsible for driving growth in HP Enterprise Services, which delivers IT outsourcing, managed cloud, applications and business process services. He also will become a member of the company's Executive Council, reporting directly to Meg Whitman, HP president and chief executive officer," said HP in a statement.
Netflix Inc. NFLX, -1.85% shares surged 14% on news that the company will be the exclusive U.S. subscription service for first-run live-action and animated feature films from Walt Disney Co. DIS, -3.24%. That means starting in 2016, Netflix members will be able to watch Disney movies as well as films from Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pixar Animation Studios, and Marvel Studios as soon as they are made available for pay TV. Netflix spikes on Disney pact
Shares of Best Buy Co. BBY, -3.76% fell 6% amid a tough environment for retailers. The stock is down 17% over the past month.
Darden Restaurants Inc. DRI, -0.31% shares slumped 9.6%. The owner of the Red Lobster and Olive Garden restaurant chains lowered its earnings forecast for fiscal 2013 to a range of $3.29 to $3.49 a share, compared with its previous outlook of $3.83 to $4 a share. Darden cuts outlook
Gap GPS, -4.68% shares declined 10%. Nomura reportedly met with Gap's management and came away increasingly cautious on holiday sales, particularly in light of Kohl's buildup in inventory, investment website theflyonthewall.com said.
Separately, the retailer projected fiscal 2012 earnings per share of $2.20 to $2.25 in its 10Q filing, which is below the average $2.27 a share forecast by analysts in a FactSet survey.
Shares of MetroPCS Communications Inc. US:PCS fell 7.5% in the wake of a Reuters report Monday that Sprint Nextel Corp. S, -1.89% probably won't make an offer for MetroPCS as Sprint focuses on completing a deal with Softbank Corp. 9984, -0.15%. See Reuters report: Sprint unlikely to make counteroffer for MetroPCS
Pep Boys-Manny Moe & Jack PBY, -0.58% shares slipped 10%. The auto-care company said Tuesday that it swung to a fiscal third-quarter loss of 13 cents a share after taking some charges, while sales dropped 2.4%.


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Datapump dump file I/O
Standard I/O
select parameter1, parameter2, parameter3 from v$event_name where ...
db file sequential read
Direct I/O
Grouping by Query Coordinator:selectash.SQL_ID,QC_SESSION_ID qsid,count(*) cnt,count (distinct session_id) deg,nvl(o.object_name,to_char(CURRENT_OBJ#)) obj,o.object_type otype,decode(session_state, 'WAITING',event,'CPU') eventfrom v$active_session_history ash,all_objects owhere o.object_id (+)= ash.CURRENT_OBJ#and qc_session_id is not nullgroup by qc_session_id, sql_id, o.object_name,o.object_type, CURRENT_OBJ#, event, session_stateOrder by qc_session_id, sql_id
Special Cases
Analyzing IO
( sql code -> io by file )
( sql code -> io by object )
Object Advanced
( sql code -> io by object advanced )
Statement Basic
( sql code -> basic statement IO analysis )
Statement Advanced
( sql code -> advance statement IO analysis )
Missing Object Names
Notice that in some of the analysis the object name or object id is missing? Sometimes the OBJECT ID is -1 or 0 in the ASH data for I/O so the above scripts will be missing the Object Name.
In this case there is a second though more costly way to get the OBJECT NAME and that is by using the FILE# and BLOCK# that is being read. The File# and BLOCK# can be translated into to the OBJECT via a query like
This query is expensive and slow. If running this query more than once, it's recommended to create a copy of "DBA_EXTENTS" like
To give an idea of just how much faster a copy of DBA_EXTENTS is, here an example on my machine (with out even creating an index)
Above I just queried for one block. Now below I will look up over a 150 objects in a faster time !
On other option is querying X$BH just after the IO has occured. X$BH reveals the contents of which blocks are in the buffer cache, so if the blocks from the recent physical IOs are still in the buffer cache we can query X$BH.
Tuning IO
Check average read times per file
Average IO times
Recent IO read times
Historic IO read times
ADDM and Avg Read Times
The parameter - DBIO_EXPECTED - that tells ADDM what is an acceptable
Buffer Cache Hit Ratio
Buffer Cache Hit Ratio (BCHR) has a sordid history and it's tempting to just not mention it. For years the BCHR has been used to identify IO performance bottlenecks despite the fact that it can be completely unreliable. Connor McDonald even wrote a script (http://www.oracledba.co.uk/tips/choose.htm) that allows you to set the BCHR as high as you want without changing the size of the cache. The point being that IO bottlenecks should be identified with IO wait events and not BCHR, but if an IO bottleneck does happen, it is worth knowing if the buffer cache is supporting the IO load sufficiently. The question of whether the Buffer Cache is sufficiently sized can be addressed with Oracle's "DB Cache Advice".
IO Considerations
Unix Buffer Cache
Raid 5
BAARF - Battle Against any Raid Five
SAME - Stripe and Mirror Everything
Oracle's recommendation is to stripe and mirror everything (SAME). See paper http://www.miracleas.com/BAARF/oow2000_same.pdf
Redo will take a hit being mixed with everything else, so if it's a possibility, I'd recommend putting redo on a separate stripe/mirror set.
Of course with Oracle's ASM and now Exadata machines, much if this discussion will become mute over the coming years.
direct path read
The direct path read wait event has three parameters: file#, first block#, and block count. In Oracle Database 10g, this wait event falls under the User I/O wait class. Keep the following key thoughts in mind when dealing with the direct path read wait event.
Common Causes, Diagnosis, and Actions
The direct path read waits are driven by SQL statements that perform direct read operations from the temporary or regular tablespaces.
SQL statements with functions that require sorts, such as ORDER BY, GROUP BY, UNION, DISTINCT, and ROLLUP, write sort runs to the temporary tablespace when the input size is larger than the work area in the PGA. The sort runs in the temporary tablespace are subsequently read and merged to provide the final result. An Oracle session waits on the direct path read wait event while the sort runs are being read. SQL statements that employ the merge join, either through a hint or as decided by the optimizer, also require sort.
SQL statements that employ the hash join, either as directed by a hint or the optimizer, flush the hash partitions that don't fit in memory to the temporary tablespace. The hash partitions in the temporary tablespace are read back into the memory to be probed for rows that match the SQL predicates. An Oracle session waits on the direct path read wait event while the hash partitions are being read.
SQL statements that employ parallel scans also contribute to the systemwide direct path read waits. In a parallel execution, the direct path read waits are associated with the query slaves and not the parent query. The session that runs the parent query waits mostly on the PX Deq: Execute Reply wait event (in Oracle8i Database and above).
Session-Level Diagnosis
It is highly unlikely that the direct path read wait event will show up as the leading bottleneck within a session even though it may actually be it. The reasons are as follows:
Therefore you shouldn't evaluate direct path read waits based on the TOTAL_WAITS or TIME_WAITED in the V$SESSION_EVENT view. Instead, you can find current sessions that perform a lot of direct read operations from the V$SESSTAT view using the following query. The physical reads direct is comprised of the direct reads that are originated by the parent session itself as well as the sum of all direct reads that are originated by the query slaves that the parent session employs. The direct reads that are initiated by query slaves are only reflected in the parent session when the slaves complete their jobs. The downside to this approach is that there is no time element.
select a.name, b.sid, b.value,
Apart from finding the sessions that perform a lot of direct reads, you must also find out where the sessions are reading from (temporary tablespace or data files), the SQL statements that initiate the waits, and the type of segments being read. The following query gives you the answers. Sessions that read from the temporary tablespace may be reading sort or hash segments. Sessions that read from data files normally belong to parallel query slaves.
select a.event,
If you catch a session reading sort segments from the temporary tablespace, this indicates the SORT_AREA_SIZE (or work area size if you use the PGA_AGGREGATE_TARGET in Oracle9i Database) is not large enough to accommodate a cache sort (or in memory sort). This is fine. It is unrealistic to expect all SQL statements to perform cache sorts. However, you should avoid multipass sorts because they create a lot of I/Os to the temporary tablespace and are very slow. How can you tell if a SQL statement is doing a multipass sort? Well, it is not that easy in versions prior to Oracle9i Database. You have to trace the session with the event 10032 and examine the trace file. However, beginning in Oracle9i Database, you can simply query the V$SQL_WORKAREA or V$SQL_WORKAREA_ACTIVE views with the SQL hash value that performs the sort. For a more in-depth discussion on sort, please review the "If Your Memory Serves You Right" white paper from the International Oracle Users Group (IOUG) 2004 conference proceedings at www.ioug.org.
The goal of tuning in this case is to minimize the number of sorts as a whole and, more specifically, disk sorts. Increasing the SORT_AREA_SIZE (or PGA_AGGREGATE_ TARGET) may help reduce the number of disk sorts, but that's usually the workaround rather than the cure, unless your SORT_AREA_SIZE is unreasonably small to begin with. You should examine the application and the SQL statements to see if sorts are really necessary. Applications have the tendency to abuse the DISTINCT and UNION functions. Whenever possible use UNION ALL instead of UNION, and where applicable use HASH JOIN instead of SORT MERGE and NESTED LOOPS instead of HASH JOIN. Make sure the optimizer selects the right driving table. Check to see if the composite index's columns can be rearranged to match the ORDER BY clause to avoid sort entirely. Also, consider automating the SQL work areas using PGA_AGGREGATE_TARGET in Oracle9i Database. Statistically, the automatic memory management delivers a higher percentage of cache sorts.
Similarly, if you catch a session reading hash segments from the temporary tablespace, all that tells you is that the HASH_AREA_SIZE (or work area size in case of the PGA_AGGREGATE_TARGET in Oracle9i Database) is not big enough to accommodate the hash table in memory. The solution is similar to the one just mentioned: cure it from the application and SQL tuning before adjusting the HASH_AREA_SIZE (or PGA_AGGREGATE_TARGET). Unless, of course, your HASH_AREA_SIZE is too small to begin with.
If you discover that the direct reads belong to parallel query slaves, you should verify if parallel scans are appropriate for the parent SQL statement and that the degree of parallelism is right. Make sure the query slaves do not saturate your CPUs or disks. Identifying the parent SQL statement can be a bit tricky because the hash value of the parent statement is not the same as the hash value of child statements that the query slaves execute. It was even trickier before the V$PX_SESSION view was introduced in Oracle 8.1.5. Following are two examples, one for versions prior to 8.1.5 and the other for version 8.1.5 and greater, that can help you identify the parent SQL statements when parallel queries are involved:
-- For versions prior to 8.1.5.
The following query applies to version 8.1.5 and higher.
select decode(a.qcserial#, null, 'PARENT', 'CHILD') stmt_level,
Initialization Parameters of Interest
The DB_FILE_DIRECT_IO_COUNT initialization parameter can impact the direct path read performance. It sets the maximum I/O buffer size for direct reads and writes operations. Up to Oracle8i Database, the default value on most platforms is 64 blocks. So if the DB_BLOCK_SIZE is 8K, the maximum I/O buffer size for direct reads and writes operations is 512K. This number is further subject to hardware limits.
The DB_FILE_DIRECT_IO_COUNT parameter is hidden in Oracle9i Database, and the value is expressed in bytes instead of blocks. The default value in Oracle9i Database is 1MB. The actual direct I/O size depends on your hardware configuration and limits.
You can discover the actual direct read I/O size in three ways:
In the preceding example, the trace file belongs to query slave #0 (P000). There are 32 I/O slots available for the direct read operation (slot_cnt=32). A slot is a unit of I/O, and each slot is 65536 bytes (slot_size=65536). Asynchronous I/O is enabled during the read operation (async=1). The query slave reads data file #4 (afn=4). The number of blocks read is 8 (cnt=8). Since the block size is 8K, this translates to 65536 bytes.
In this case, the direct I/O slot size prevents the process from achieving the full 1MB, which is the default limit of the _DB_FILE_DIRECT_IO_COUNT parameter. The slot size can be modified by event 10351. The number of slots can be modified by event 10353.
Lastly, in Oracle8i Database, direct reads can also be enabled for serial scans with the _SERIAL_DIRECT_READ initialization parameter. Earlier releases may do the same by setting event 10355. Doing so will cause data from full scans to be read into the session's PGA and not shared with other sessions. This can sharply increase memory usage.
Wait Event Docs >


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Memsys: A New Memory Conference
Since I am the Memory Guy I hate learning that I missed something new and cool in the world of memories, but somehow I was unaware of last week's Memsys conference in Washington DC until a participant notified me on Saturday that his paper: "Reverse Engineering of DRAMs: Row Hammer with Crosshair," had been given the the best paper award.
Upon looking at the Memsys website it looks like a very intriguing academic conference. about sixty papers were presented in eight interesting sessions:
- Issues in High Performance Computing
- Nonvolatile Main Memories and DRAM Caches, Parts I & II
- Hybrid Memory Cube and Alternative DRAM Channels
- Thinking Outside the Box
- Improving the DRAM Device Architecture
- Issues and Interconnects for 2.5D and 3D Packaging
- Some Amazingly Cool Physical Experiments
in addition to a few apparently-fascinating keynotes.
Fortunately, all of the papers are Continue reading
Samsung's Colossal 128GB DIMM
In a November 25 press release Samsung introduced a 128GB DDR4 DIMM. This is eight times the density of the largest broadly-available DIMM and rivals the full capacity of mainstream SSDs.
Naturally, the first question is: "How do they do that?"
To get all the chips into the DIMM format Samsung uses TSV interconnects on the DRAMs. The module's 36 DRAM packages each contain four 8Gb (1GB) chips, resulting in 144 DRAM chips squeezed into a standard DIMM format. Each package also includes a data buffer chip, making the stack very closely resemble either the High-Bandwidth Memory (HBM) or the Hybrid Memory Cube (HMC).
Since these 36 packages (or worse, 144 DRAM chips) would overload the processor's address bus, the DIMM uses an RDIMM protocol – the address and control pins are buffered on the DIMM before they reach the DRAM chips, cutting the processor bus loading by an order of magnitude or more. RDIMMs are supported by certain server platforms.
The Memory Guy asked Samsung whether Continue reading
New Book: Vertical 3D Memory Technologies
Wiley has recently published a new book by Betty Prince titled Vertical 3D NAND Technologies that is one to consider if you want to bring yourself up to speed on recent research behind today's and tomorrow's 3D memory technologies.
For those who haven't previously encountered Dr. Prince, she is the author of a number of key books covering memory design and holds memory patents written over her 30-year career in the field.
The book provides capsule summaries of over 360 papers and articles from scholarly journals on the subject of 3D memories, including DRAM, NAND flash, and stacked chips.
These papers are organized into Continue reading
SanDisk's Amazing 512GB SD Card
SanDisk has introduced an SD Card with a whopping 512 gigabytes of storage. Noting that SD Card capacities have increased by 1,000 times over the past ten years, from 512MB to 512GB, the company says that this product is aimed at professional HD videographers (who can justify its $800 price) allowing them to shoot Raw-format footage without shutting their cameras off, which could potentially allow them to miss a magic moment.
To The Memory Guy this represents an amazing piece of packaging technology. Let's see why:
In 2003 SanDisk's 512MB card contained Continue reading
Intel to Use Micron Hybrid Memory Cube
Intel and Micron today announced that the new version of Intel's Xeon Phi, a highly parallel coprocessor for research applications, will be built using a custom version of Micron's Hybrid Memory Cube, or HMC.
This is only the second announced application for this new memory product – the first was a Fujitsu supercomputer back in November.
For those who, like me, were unfamiliar with the Xeon Phi, it's a module that uses high core-count processors for problems that can be solved with high degrees of parallelism. My friend and processor guru Nathan Brookwood tells me Continue reading
Hybrid Memory Cube Making Progress
On Tuesday the HMC Consortium (that's short for "Hybrid Memory Cube") announced that members have agreed upon a specification. The consortium has been moving rapidly, meeting its targets despite the revolutionary nature of the interface.
As a reminder, this technology stacks multiple DRAMs in a single package with a logic chip at the base of the stack that performs all the signalling to the rest of the system. Signals between the DRAMs and logic chip use through-silicon vias (TSVs) as interconnections. This allows the technology to deliver 15 times the performance of DDR3 at only 30% of the power consumption. The Memory Guy first posted about the HMC in late 2011.
The consortium explains that the HMC interface already has 100 adopters, and that a few Continue reading
IBM to Build Micron Hybrid Memory Cube
In a December 1 press release IBM announced that the company will be manufacturing Micron Technology's Hybrid Memory Cube (HMC) which IBM claims to be "the first commercial CMOS manufacturing technology to employ through-silicon vias (TSVs)."
This device is one that Altera, Intel, Micron, Open Silicon, Samsung, and Xilinx have all presented recently as a plausible solution to the difficulty of increasing the speed of DRAM/processor communications. The Hybrid Memory Cube Consortium (HMCC) website offers a deep dive into the details of the consortium and the technology.


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In the second segment of Strength & Style, I demonstrate two of my favorite wall ball exercises. Wall ball exercises and routines will help you increase repetition, stamina, and confidence in order to improve your stick work. These 2 exercises are specifically designed to target grip changes and hand switches.
Why wall ball? Using the wall to focus on these two elements will help you in the following areas: shooting, dodging, clearing, and faking. Plus, these 2 moves are super fun!
When performing these exercises, keep in mind:
- Get Creative on the wall! Try new things
- Make sure to do both exercises with your LEFT and RIGHT hands
- Challenge yourself every week by increasing your reps. Start at 25 and build up from there
- Drop + Start Over Challenge: Improve your consistency by having a goal of "no drops" throughout your total repetitions for the week
Interested in working with Amanda? Check out Trilogy's Girls Fall Training Weekend!
Want more articles like this one? Sign up for our bi-monthly newsletter, "The Guide" HERE
Want better control of your stick so that you can move on to more difficult skills? In Part 1 of Strength & Style Trilogy Girls Programs Manager Amanda Trendell explains why wrist control is so important in the game of lacrosse and provides three different exercises to strengthen wrists.


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Youth Club ...... IS ON ....... at The Hive, Shefford
The sessions have proved Sooooooo popular that we have had to add another one - so we have TWO sessions -
Still on Tuesday's and still in conjunction with Aragon Housing Association for children aged between 8 to 12 years old.
Session 1 -
5pm till 6:15pm
Session 2 -
6.30pm till 7:45 pm
Youth Club will be held bi-WEEKLY (every second week) on TUESDAY's on the following dates:
12th September, 26th September, 10th October, 24th October, .......and so on....
There will be Music, FREE Wi-Fi, Mini Pool Table, Games & the Play Frame will be opened to try out.... all with FREE Entry..!
The Honey Pot Café will also be open to purchase drinks and snacks.
Children will be supervised by Aragon Housing Association staff, for more details please contact email@example.com


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Grilled Cheese Throwdown
Say cheese! We recommend, review, and eat a lot of cheese.
Don't ask me why, but April is National Grilled Cheese Month, and to celebrate, the Food Network ran Bobby Flay's exciting Grilled Cheese Throwdown this past weekend. Flay took on New Jersey's own Pop Shop in a sandwich battle for the ages.
The Pop Shop, which offers 31 different grilled cheese variations on their menu, put up a good fight with their sandwich called "The Calvert"--jack cheese, roasted turkey, bacon, avocado, and house dressing (balsamic mayo) on foccacia. Flay countered with his delicious-sounding Grilled Brie and Goat Cheese with Bacon and Green Tomato sandwich. In the end, Flay's sandwich won by a hair, with the judges saying it was a tough decision and that there were no losers.
Though the Pop Shop's sandwich goes a bit beyond the realm of grilled cheese and into more general grilled sandwich territory, there are certainly a couple of clear takeaways here:
Grilled cheese sandwiches are better with bacon. Though it's not my personal preference, it's clear that bacon was the best supporting actor here. Indeed Flay's recipe for Mac 'n' Cheese in another recent Throwdown featured pancetta, bacon's non-smoking cousin. This is no coincidence.
Grilled cheese sandwiches have long moved beyond Wonder Bread and Velveeta. Though those two bedrocks of American processed food arguably make for a delicious grilled cheese sandwich, it's clear that we as a nation are (smartly) moving beyond those ingredients in our quest for the perfect grilled cheese. Brie, Gruyère, and Fontina (among others) have replaced the orange stuff, and interesting flavor and texture complements like green tomatoes make occasional cameos as well. Tom Colicchio's 'Wichcraft restaurants serve a mean grilled fontina with black trumpet mushrooms and white truffle fondue on Pullman white bread.
Also this month, LA's Clementine is holding an election for Commander in Cheese, "the Highest Sandwich in the Land." Grilled Cheese Primaries are going on now at the restaurant, and the final vote will be held on "Super Cheesedays," April 28-30th. The voter guide they've created is especially hilarious; I highly recommend downloading the pdf and taking a look. (Make sure you catch the Partisan Cheese Measures up for vote.)
What about you? What's your grilled cheese recipe to end all others? American cheese or something more interesting? White bread or artisanal Pullman? Bacon? Tomato?
This post may contain links to Amazon or other partners; your purchases via these links can benefit Serious Eats. Read more about our affiliate linking policy.


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Single Spaces (Sold Out).
Double Spaces $134,000 by 5pm 25th August 2015 (Stages One, Two, Three and Four fully sold out. Be quick to secure a double car space while Stage Five – the find stage – lasts. Sell out imminent.)
Car parks in Australia and globally are in very high demand. There are now very few public car parks able to be built inthe capital centres, which is creating a shortage resulting in an inability to keep up with demand. In addition to this, the fact is that Australians heavily favour ownership and usage of motor vehicles as their preferred mode of transport. Consequently, with an expanding population, the demand for places to park our cars, and subsequently the cost of car parking rates, are expected to continue to escalate markedly in the years to come.
Park & Fly is located adjacent to the centre of Australia's global growth, Sydney Airport. Identified as the national and international gateway to the Global Economic Corridor, Sydney Airport is a key piece of economic infrastructure to the growth of a global Sydney.
37.9 million passengers each year, a figure that is constantly increasing, fuel the demand for long-term car parking close to Sydney Airport.
It is unprecedented for there to be available freehold strata car spaces for sale in a car park that directly services Sydney airport. Most car parks like this are tightly heldby major institutional investor funds. And it is highly unlikely that there will be another chance to invest into this expanding marketplace at the low entry prices in this offering.


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Technicolor sets the scene
Editor's note: Worn by 16-year-old Judy Garland during the filming of The Wizard of Oz, the Ruby Slippers are one of the most popular and treasured artifacts at the museum. They went off view October 9 through November 20 in order to be part of a special exhibition on Hollywood at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, England. The Ruby Slippers returned home for the holidays and are on view as of June 2015. In the meantime, we explore how the slippers got their ruby color.
"Within a short time she was walking briskly toward the Emerald City, her silver shoes tinkling merrily on the hard, yellow roadbed. The sun shone bright and the birds sang sweet and Dorothy…"
In the original book, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, author L. Frank Baum gave the Wicked Witch of the East a pair of powerful silver shoes that became Dorothy's when her Kansas farmhouse dropped out of the sky and landed squarely on the witch. Whether or not Baum meant those silver shoes skipping down a golden road as a commentary on the late-19th-century debate over basing American currency on a gold or silver standard (more on the book's political context here), his vision of silver shoes remained intact in early versions of the screenplay for the classic 1939 film, The Wizard of Oz. Yet the shoes were certainly not silver in the final film. While we may never be certain why Baum chose silver, we do know exactly why Dorothy's shoes became a pair of sequin-covered, iridescent ruby slippers in the movie. The answer: Technicolor.
Inventors and MIT graduates Herbert Kalmus and Daniel Comstock, and the technically adept W. Burton Wescott founded Technicolor in 1915 (the "Tech" in Technicolor was a nod to Kalmus and Comstock's alma mater). In 1938, Kalmus spoke about the beginnings of the company: "The earliest Technicolor laboratory was built within a railway car. This car was completely equipped with a photochemical laboratory, darkrooms, fireproof safes, power plant, offices, and all the machinery and apparatus necessary for continuously carrying on the following processes on a small commercial scale; sensitizing, testing, perforating, developing, washing, fixing and drying positive; printing, developing, washing, and conditioning air; filtering and cooling wash water; examining and splicing film; and making control measurements and tests."
Herbert Kalmus and his team continued to tweak the invention through several iterations before it reached its full glory in the 1930s. Technicolor Process Number Four, or 3-strip Technicolor, used in The Wizard of Oz, wasn't a type of film, though. Instead, the action was filmed with a modified motion-picture camera that contained a prism and colored filters that, in turn, separated the scene onto three different strips of black-and-white negative film. Each strip correlated to the filtered colors and was used to create an intermediary strip called a matrix. In a method similar to lithography, the matrices were then used to print the final movies that were distributed to theaters. Making a Technicolor feature film was such a complex undertaking that movie studios were required to hire specially trained Technicolor staff to oversee production. These included color consultants, under the direction of Natalie Kalmus, Herbert's ex-wife.
A former art student, Natalie became the ultimate mediator between the lab and the silver screen, unwavering in her commitment to make Technicolor shine. She made decisions about makeup, costumes, sets, and lighting, and even went behind the camera as a cinematographer a few times. She controlled (some say with an iron fist) the aura of Technicolor, describing her role as "playing ringmaster to the rainbow."
Natalie Kalmus was the Technicolor consultant on The Wizard of Oz set. We don't know if she played a part in transforming Baum's silver shoes into ruby slippers or if costume designer Gilbert Adrian and screenwriter Noel Langley came to the decision independent of her influence. But with one seemingly simple change, an American icon was born.
The museum's collections are rich in artifacts from The Wizard of Oz and the Technicolor era, and the Ruby Slippers are among our most visited treasures. The image of Dorothy clicking those sequined heels together three times, repeating, "There's no place like home," is part of our shared memory. Would the Ruby Slippers have attained such star status if they had remained silver?
Joyce Bedi is Senior Historian for the Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation. This post first appeared on the Center's blog, Bright Ideas.


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Overnight there have been disturbances in Midlands and North West, with notable instances in Birmingham, Manchester, Salford, West Bromwich and Wolverhampton.
Three men died in Birmingham after being hit by a speeding car while protecting their homes.
In London, there were only mild skirmishes after the government boosted police numbers by 10,000.
Shops and offices across the city closed early as the capital was locked down to prevent further violence.


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Today is the last day of 2014. Tomorrow will be 2015 and I can remember when the year 2000 was a big deal. Time flies more quickly every year, making me want to try and slow things down a bit and to savor each day and moment that is offered to me. As I look back over the past year, I am overwhelmed with what an amazing year it turned out to be.
We moved back to Louisiana after only being gone for a year in Texas, allowing me to reconnect with old friends that have become stronger relationships now than they ever were before. There have also been new friends and I have been so blessed to have these talented and kind women be a part of my life. I fell in love with Baton Rouge in a new light and the people that live in this city with me.
My Diary of Us has grown, slowly and organically, and I feel like there are big things in store for 2015. I have loved connecting with those of you who have reached out and feel like I know several of you even though we have never met. Social media has a strange way of connecting people through images and words doesn't it? I look back at some of my first posts and photos and tend to cringe, but at the same time it is documentation of my growth and of me finding my voice and confidence, which is kind of beautiful.
I got a deal to style and photograph a cookbook for the ladies of Five Seasons Cooking, I've been able to connect with brands, I helped host a 100 person Farm to Fork dinner, and I just got my first recipe publication in a local magazine. I don't know what the future holds, but I know that there are good things coming and I intend to keep working hard and plowing my way through to work towards my goals.
I am most thankful for a husband who loves me unconditionally and believes in this dream I am trying to achieve and that he provides me with continual support. And while the blessings have been plentiful, there have been times of hardship too. Times where we had to and are currently having to lean on each other for strength and hope.
But life is just that, a mix of the good and the bad. Without the bad stuff, you can't appreciate the good stuff right?
As the new year begins, we have a new venture to prepare for. In the Spring, we are uprooting again and will be heading back to Texas. We are moving to Houston and are excited, scared, and ready to embrace what God has in store for us there.
Thank you for your support, your prayers, and your love for delicious food. Thank you for trusting me to create beautiful food that you can make at home because it's my passion and I love nothing more than to feed you and bring you joy through food.
Cheers to 2015 guys and making it count! And as always, I love when you leave comments and would love to hear about what's in store for you in 2015!
"They tried to bury us. They didn't know we were seeds." -Mexican Proverb
(photo by Natalie Mancuso Photography)


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Only a few days after advertising legend Sir Martin Sorrell publicly questioned the value of brands advertising on social networks such as Facebook, British Airways has taken the decision to launch its new advert on Facebook, rather than via the usual traditional media platforms like television or newspapers.
It is one of the first major UK brands to do so and according to digital marketing experts, it quite a departure from the usual way brands use social media sites to promote their companies.
"BA is definitely one of the first big brands to launch a major advertising campaign on a social network…Beginning a campaign of this size, which usually premieres on TV or in newspapers, is a pioneering move and represents a tipping point for social media's importance to the advertising world," explained Ben Wood, managing director of iProspect, a large digital marketing agency.
"Most brands now have some element of social media in their campaigns but it is usually part of the mix, rather than the leading piece."
Last week, Sir Martin, who runs the major marketing services company WPP, told the Royal Television Society that he had some "fundamental doubts" about how brands advertising on social networks could make decent returns on their large user numbers.
He said: "I have some fundamental doubts about the ability to monetise social platforms.
"If you attempt to monetise it, it's risky, there are question marks," he said. "Facebook, Google+, Twitter … is a social interaction. We used to write letters to each other and now we correspond through Facebook and Twitter and other forms of communication. If you interrupt that with a message you may run into trouble."
Wood added: "I agree [with Sir Martin] that brands are still experimenting with what works best on social media, as the advertising industry hasn't had that long to get to grips with this new type of platform – but I think it is wrong to say that social networks like Facebook don't represent a huge opportunity for companies to engage customers."
BA's new 90 second advert, which features a few CGI elements, will launch at 11am today on the airline's Facebook page. It will then be followed up with adverts on TV and in newspapers.


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A little Gift from God
Here is just a sampling of our pictures. I have plenty more to post...and Maddie's dedication service too. (my computer is not wanting to load them for now, probably a hint that I need to go to bed!!!)
Posted by Janella Thompson at 8:44 PM
I LOVE the family picture! The casual setting is so neat. The ones of you and Jonathon are really good as well... you are looking great pregnant :) Have a good week!
Great pictures!
Hey Janella, good pictures and it was great having you all for the service Sunday. Look forward in seeing the pictures.
Those pictures are great. Madelynn is getting so big.
when are you due?? I got married in Sept & im 12 weeks prego:-) Due june 30th exciting huh?
Its Killinger. I think we hung out more following Tim LeBeau. I have a pic of the 2 of us sitting together at some resturant we went to to hear him sing. You go to HHYC? Between there & IHC we saw each other more than we were really friends LOL


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A Ride To Honor
May 23, 2012 - by Ilona Idlis of the Mercer Island Reporter When the planes hit on Sept. 11, 2001, Kevin Mincio had just finished a conference call in his Goldman-Sachs office at One Liberty Plaza. As the World Trade Center crumbled next door, Mincio escaped with his life, but it wouldn't be one he ever returned to.
In the next few months, Mincio, then 30, abandoned his position as Goldman-Sachs' youngest-ever VP of financial information technology and enlisted as an Army private. He moved his wife and livelihood to Washington state for basic training at Fort Lewis. There, he befriended Jesse Williams — a California kid with a great sense of humor — and together they manned the first Stryker unit into Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Years later, Mincio would celebrate the birth of Sgt. Williams' daughter, Amaya, with a promise — to care for Jesse's family if he didn't return from his second deployment.
In 2007, Williams was killed in action. Though Mincio's active duty was over, his commitment to his brothers in arms was not. He began by fundraising for Amaya. Now he does so to provide support for Gold Star families across the nation as head of the Team Jesse Foundation. Inspired to do more, Mincio marked the charity's inception and the 10-year anniversary of 9/11 with an epic, 95-day bike ride across the United States.
On Memorial Day — Monday, May 28, the documentary of his journey, "The Long Ride Home," will premiere at the Seattle International Film Festival.
Mincio's story is extraordinary — though he's loathe to admit it — but no one would have seen it on a big screen if it wasn't for Mercer Island lacrosse.
Brett Bowker, 24, has loved lacrosse since middle school. He played it competitively at Mercer Island High School and covered it as a journalist after graduating from the University of Washington's journalism program. In April of last year, Bowker was asked to profile the new coach of his old MIHS lacrosse team. That coach was planning quite a bike ride.
Taken by Mincio's story, Bowker contacted Thomas Lee Wright, father of a fellow MIHS lacrosse player and acclaimed documentary filmmaker. Wright was hooked.
"Kevin's personal story encompassed recent American history from Goldman-Sachs to 9/11, to the Iraq war and a lifelong promise between soldiers," Wright said in an email. "[It was] an inspiring journey imbued with meaning and a natural subject for filming."
With the bike ride two months away, the director and subject met at the South end Island Starbucks to discuss collaboration.
"I was just really focused on getting across the country and the fundraising side of it," Mincio recalled. "I would have taken very few pictures, and I certainly wouldn't have had any video, but Tom said, 'You've got to capture this.'"
Reluctantly, the very private Mincio agreed. The conditions were strict — not a single penny of Team Jesse donations would fund the ride or its documentation. All the proceeds from the movie would be given back to the Foundation and its charity partners, such as the Travis Manion Foundation.
"Nobody got paid to make this movie," Mincio said. "I'm proud of that. People dedicated a year of their lives to this, and we wouldn't have been able to do it without them. I'm grateful."
Thus, with a volunteer force and a shoestring budget, Mincio and friend Matt Saury set out to "connect with America" and the families of its fallen. The ride began in Santa Rosa, Calif., Jesse's hometown, on the day of his 30th birthday, June 9. The two reached Ground Zero on 9/11.
Bowker and two cameramen followed the riders on their 4,200-mile traverse in a media van. They filmed as Mincio and Saury averaged 70 miles a day through desert heat, tropical storms and Hurricane Irene.
When they weren't braving the elements, the riders visited soldiers' families, gravesites and communities. They shared Team Jesse's mission and asked for donations. Over the course of the summer, Mincio raised $120,000 for the Foundation.
"The wars are not just one family's burden," Bowker said in a recent visit to a UW journalism class. "People who have lost family members are kind of walking around and saying, 'Does anybody care?' Kevin was that person saying, 'I care who your son was.'"
With Wright's editing, their stories intertwine with Mincio's in the film's narrative. His mission was "to convey a measure of their sacrifice and heroism."
Wright, who had shown at SIFF before and won Best Documentary in 2000, then submitted a rough cut of "The Long Ride Home" to the festival's head, Carl Spence.
Wright, Mincio and Bowker hope the film will motivate audiences to "aid and honor returning veterans."
"There's no political slant," Mincio concluded. "It's not for or against the war. It's about the impact war has on a family."


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Dates: Saturday 8th September 2018 Personalised cuts
Saturday 3rd November 2018 Christmas Cards and Lanterns
Tutor: Lucy Dorothy Nichols (Lucy Dorothy)
Secure your place now
Cost: £35 (all equipment and materials and coloured backing card are provided) per person (8 people per session)
Venue: Courses are being held at Hartley Antiques, Miss Maker's sewing room is located on the top floor of this wonderful emporium located in the picturesque village of Hartley Wintney, Hampshire
Session: 10.15am - 1.15pm
Enjoy a relaxing day creating a delicate paper cut unique to your family - a perfect gift or keepsake for the special people in your life.
Lucy, our tutor, will introduce you to this gentle, elegant craft. She will guide you through the techniques involved and be on hand with plenty of tips and advice.
All materials and equipment are provided.
Sessions are kept to a maximum of 8 people to ensure everyone can learn at their own pace. Groups and parties welcome see the Special Sessions page.


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For many months now I have kept a close eye on the on-going debate around Android™ versus iOS not only in terms of broad market adoption but also in the context of platforms for high quality native apps.
The wealth of statistics and the associated analysis and commentary from multiple angles is pretty mind boggling. This makes already difficult decisions on technology investments, that much trickier!
Of course, coming from a world of iOS chart, grid and UI components at ShinobiControls may indicate to you that we have a particular axe to grind about one platform over another. I prefer to look at it another way and with a mantra of always being market-led, I wanted us to look at "alternative" platform support with the benefit of market presence, customer input and wide but direct exposure to the app developer market.
So for iOS, we are seeing significant customer adoption of our native controls used to develop apps for business, medical, finance and even consumer markets. The common theme appears to be that the apps are sophisticated, deliver great value to the user and the smooth interactivity of the controls adds genuine pizazz and user joy. Market feedback from these customers and also at iOS events and seminars has resulted in a steady flow (although not a flood) of enquiries asking if we plan to offer similar native controls for Android.
As a result of this we have just concluded our equivalent of a "concept automobile" in the form of a Community Technology Preview of ShinobiCharts for Android and you can see the video of this in action here. We hope to make the CTP available for a download within the next week or so. To register your interest in being a part of this unique trial then please get in touch.
I'm really keen to get your perspective on native apps for Android as well as iOS so please add your views to the blog. Look forward to hearing from you…


text: Preliminary designs for the cylinder heads of Scania's next generation Diesel Engine have been investigated by the means of PIV measurements on a steady test rig. General structures present in the flow have been investigated, with a specific focus on Swirl motion due to its well documented impact on combustion efficiency and pollution generation. The first set of measurements was acquired in the tumble plane. A method to perform efficiently PIV measurements was introduced, which consists in rotating the experimental setup rather than the PIV measurement instruments. As a consequence, a considerable amount of work is saved and a great number of measurement planes can be acquired. This method has allowed to reconstruct a 3D3C picture of the flow in the cylinder. Such 3D3C direct measurement of flow in a test rig cylinder had not been reported previously in the literature, as far as the author is aware of it. The second set of measurements was acquired in the swirl plane. General patterns in the swirl velocity fields have been identified. The author introduces the hypothesis that shifting down the measurement position may, to some extend, be equivalent to observing the flow evolve in time in the real engine situation. Measurement performed far enough under the valves exhibit clear and stable swirling vortex structure with the cylinder heads investigated. This may explain for the validity of the combustion models used in the industry that, despite apparent over simplification of the flow situation, have proved in good agreement with engine tests.


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Arthur Levinson, a biotechnology executive who sat on the boards of both Apple and Google, has resigned as a Google director. Levinson's decision was framed as a consequence of a government investigation into whether the companies' boards had too much overlap. But, as Ken Auletta pointed out in last week's Money Issue, the longstanding Google-Apple friendship has been strained by coming competition between the iPhone and Android, Google's operating system for cell phones. Auletta even predicted that Levinson might resign:
This challenge to Apple risked causing turmoil at the most senior levels of Google. In August, Schmidt resigned from Apple's board, in what was characterized as a mutual decision. Three other Apple directors may have to make the same choice, including Arthur Levinson, who also holds a seat on Google's board; former Vice-President Al Gore, who is a longtime Google adviser; and, perhaps most disruptive of all, Bill Campbell, the chairman of Intuit. He spends two days each week at Google, unpaid, and may be closer to Schmidt, Page, and Brin than their own directors (Schmidt calls him his "consigliere"; other Google executives call him the Coach); and he is also a pivotal director at Apple and one of Steve Jobs's few intimates. In the spring, Campbell told friends that if he was compelled to make a choice he would regretfully sever his ties to Google. By late summer, he expected that he would not have to choose.
Subscribers can read the entire article. Non-subscribers can purchase the digital edition of the Money Issue.


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All shows Thu-Sat after 9PM are 21+.
For booking information click here.
- This event has passed.
Stump Trivia + Wing Night
July 1 @ 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm
|Recurring Event (See all)
An event every week that begins at 8:00pm on Monday, repeating indefinitely
Every Monday is our weekly Stump Trivia Quiz! Come with friends or come by yourself… it's a friendly crowd. Prizes for the winners and 50% off our Wings of Desire all night


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Or perhaps I should call this Random Saturday Facts?
1. I often pass a car with the license plate "DRM2DNC." I'm sure it's supposed to say "Dream to Dance," but I always read it as "Drum to Dunce.
2. Lack of professionalism really irks me.
3. I still watch Grey's Anatomy. I love Christina & Owen and thought they were done screwing with Meredith and Derek. Ugh.
4. Every once in a while I have doubts about going through teacher training for two reasons: a) my schedule is absolutely insane and I feel like I never get to breath and b) I wonder if "knowing too much" or teaching yoga will ruin it for me. I really don't want that to happen.
5. I miss riding my bike. I need to go for a ride soon.
6. Three times this week, I've gotten halfway through writing a post for the next day one night... only to fall asleep and not have time to finish writing it at a reasonable hour the next day. (It happened to this post twice.)
7. I love pumpkin and can't wait to bake with it soon.
8. All of my nails are long and pretty right now (although not manicured or polished.) I am expecting half of them to break any day.
9. I was scared to try protein powder, but I've had protein shakes almost every day this week and I really like it. I don't even taste the fake sugar in it (which is highly unusual.)
10. We had a company come over to give us a quote on a waterproofing system. The representative clearly loved her company and believed in their product. It was a great pitch. And I would 100% recommend them because, after inspecting our basement and cutting into our drywall, they told us NOT to spend upwards of $10,000 on their system right now--because they didn't see evidence that our flooding was anything more than a fluke because of the 28" of rain from Tropical Storm Lee.


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Hemsworth MP Jon Trickett has pledged to do all he can to stop HS2 passing through the district.
Mr Trickett said he will continue to fight against the plans for the route - and he has written to the new HS2 minister Paul Maynard to raise his concern about its impact on local communities.
He said: "I have asked for a meeting with him as soon as possible. He must be informed just how much the HS2 route will damage our area.
"I am absolutely clear that everything must be done to change the proposed route, and will be making it my mission to do so over the coming months."
The £55bn high-speed rail project will link London to the West Midlands, Manchester and Leeds. The proposed Midlands to Leeds stretch of the proposed route would pass to the west of South Kirkby, Hemsworth and Fitzwilliam, over the A638 on a 300m-long viaduct between Crofton and Sharlston Common, over the existing railway at Kirkthorpe and would continue west of Normanton and Altofts.
Hemsworth and Fitzwilliam are also on a shortlist of possible locations for a 1,700 space rail park-and-ride site.
And a rolling stock depot is also planned close to Crofton, but the government said it was assessing alternative locations in response to concerns raised by residents.
Mr Trickett said the plans would bring "all the pain but none of the gain" to local residents. He fears it will cause years of disruption to the district's towns, villages and countryside during construction and once complete.
The controversial HS2 plan has been deemed "a waste of money" by opponents and campaign groups. It has also been criticised by Wakefield Council leader Coun Peter Box.
In his first speech as HS2 minister last Thursday, Mr Maynard said HS2 would be "a radical upgrade to Britain's rail capacity" and would free up space on the network.


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The Comedy Ring is dedicated to all those great (and not so great) sites on the Web whose subject is film, TV and radio comedy in all its forms. Current members include the Carry On website, Are You Being Served, Red Dwarf and others.
I am a big fan of comedy and have gone to many local comedy shows. One of my favorite stand-up comedians is Nicole Luparelli. She started doing stand-up, then helped to make a group known as the "Steamy Bohemians". She's also done dinner theater. I wanted to make a website because I haven't seen one for just her yet.
Mostly Untitled Origional Sketch comedy. Web site
Multimedia extravaganza of comedy, music, and other forms of entertainment. Features improv comedy, sketch comedy, song parodies, stand-up performances, and political satire. Also includes clips from TV and Radio shows.
A guide to the improvisational comedy show Whose Line is it Anyway?, including episode guide, downloads, links and more!


text: Héroux-Devtek has put in place a Quality System that ensures that all standards of industrial excellence are met and surpassed. A strong team of professionals and dedicated resources ensure continuous monitoring and improvement of the Company's processes at all levels. Through meticulous training and practice of the 4Rs (Respect, Responsibility, Recognition and Resilience), each and every employee at Héroux-Devtek is a full participant in a climate of impeccable execution and continuous productivity enhancement. The efficacy of the Company's quality-assurance systems in Landing Gear operations are recognized by all major OEMs. Certifications include:


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1980 Corvette
Thanks for viewing this GORGEOUS, STUNNING, and RECENTLY RESTORED 1980 CORVETTE WITH 5K MILES SINCE COMPLETE REBUILD offered by Davis AutoSports!!!! With so many C3 Vettes on the market I can tell you this one is the REAL DEAL. This is a TRUE 2 OWNER VEHICLE with over $30k Invested in the last 5k Miles. This car is truly FULLY BUILT IN EVERY MANOR. This is perhaps on the best documented C3 Vettes around. We have ALL the original Paperwork including Bill of Sale, Window Sticker, Actual Original Buyer Copy of Check and MUCH MORE....We also have all invoices from the Restoration and Build Totaling OVER $35K, yes we have ALL THE INVOICES. The Beast has a Full 383 Stroker Motor with all Specs from the Machine Shop making 525HP. The Tranny is also fully built as well as the suspension, brakes, plumbing, electronics, ignition, etc. The Vehicle received a complete paint and body restoration with a Jet Black Paint Job and Custom Hood. This Car looks amazing, sound great and is VERY FAST.
When we got this beast in, we decided to take it to another level with adding black leather Porsche 911 Turbo FULL POWER AND LUMBAR seats. How many C3s have you been around with 10 way power seats !!!!!! The vehicle previously had stationed seats which are available if requested. We also added BRAND NEW 20" REAR WHEELS AND 18" FRONT WHEELS WITH BRAND NEW NITTO TIRES. To really give this Vette that custom and aggressive looks, we painted the bottom rockers, vents and trim Jet Black (which was all bare metal before) With the New leather seats added, we also wrapped the side column with black leather to truly give it a luxury and sporty look compared to the carpet that comes with it from the factory. We also added brand new arm rest on the door panels and rebuilt the tracks for the power windows which now go up and down VERY fast. We also replaced ALL rubber door, window molding all the way around the car. We just really wanted to make this thing turn key ready for the next owner. This car is ready to buy and ride.
Everything that was purchased for this Build is truly top of line down to the details, I can't itemize actual parts bc it would truly take hours and hours. There are 100s of parts purchased for this Vette.
Exterior Condition
The exterior of this vehicle is in AMAZING condition for the year and has been well cared for. The Paint Job has only 5k miles on it. The paint has a PERFECT shine and PERFECTLY smooth finish BUT DOES show some minor imperfections as shown in the photos and video. I tried to include as many pictures as possible so you can see the true condition of the car.....This Vette is Simply STUNNING in person. You will be more than impressed with with the condition of exterior. The wheels speak for themselves in the pics. We have over 50 pics below as well as a FULL 1080 HD video, please view all photos and entire video.
Interior Condition
The interior of this Vette is in ABSOLUTELY AMAZING condition for the year and mileage. The carpet was replaced 5k miles ago, the digital gauges are all brand new and look amazing, the dash and door panels were redone when restored. The interior is truly something special for this age vehicle. The photos below will show EVERY part of the interior so you can see for yourself how clean it is. This car has NEVER been smoked in, eaten in, etc. EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS INTERIOR IS PERFECT. Please view all 50 interior pictures.
This vehicle is in great condition in every way, the motor runs great and is very strong and starts up fine with no issues. All driving components work just as they should, the tranny is nice and tight and shifts very smooth, and the brakes work great. The complete drive-train has no issues. As great condition as this car is, IT IS a pre owned car therefore you will find some minor wear from it being driven, both interior and exterior. I would also like to add the AC is ICE cold !!!


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Orthopedics on the Rhode Show
Tune into WPRI Channel 12's website to see a "Healthy Living" segment highlighting Prima CARE's Orthopedic Division.
Prima CARE is proud to announce the expanded services and expanded availability of Orthopedic services, including a new location in Somerset and Physical Therapy facilities thoughout the area.
Click here for the WPRI website.
Our Mission
At Prima CARE, our focus is the patient. We are by your side and on your side wherever you need healthcare, whether in the office, the hospital, the nursing home, the Ambulatory Care Clinic or at home where we make housecalls to home-bound patients. Our goal is the delivery of evidence-based medical care of the highest quality. Prima CARE is committed to the doctor/patient relationship through humanism, communication, empathy, compassion and respect, all joined together by trust.


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we designed the Imperial Golf Course at Lippo Karawachi we wanted an original
golf course which not only related well to its surrounding community but which
was a creation that was actually part of this community.
As Master
Planner for the project we were looking for
identity. I determined that a formal island
surrounded by an equally formal lake,
surrounded by a more relaxed golf course
would form a strong identifying symbol for
the community.
The course
itself has a theme history of Indonesia, and
this was told by overt symbols which hark
back to the symbols on the Old Course in
St.Andrews, Scotland. The strategic value of
the holes are independent of these symbols
but also owe allegiance to St.Andrews.
The course is
designed so that each hole is a separate
event, an individual theater where every
golfer can give his maximum performance. We
were determined not only to make the course
a work of art but to arrange it so that the
golfer could have once of the best days of
his life when he played Imperial.
We hope you
the player will enjoy the course as much as
we did designing it.
Mr. Desmond Muirhead
Golf Course Architect
Click here to view Score Card
Hole 1 Detail |
Hole 1 Photos
Hole 2 Detail |
Hole 2 Photos
Hole 3 Detail |
Hole 3 Photos
Hole 4 Detail |
Hole 4 Photos
Hole 5 Detail |
Hole 5 Photos
Hole 6 Detail |
Hole 6 Photos
A long
straight par five with out-of-bounds
on the left. A wide, narrow green
will require a demanding second shot
but is receptive to a well placed
third shot.


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Whether it's a medical bill, school fees or another vital payment, sometimes it just can't wait. A payday loan is ideal for those situations when you just have to have cash, quickly. At Safebook, we promise a fast approval service, with the cash paid directly into your bank account. Many traditional lenders will ask for a credit history, which isn't ideal for some people. Also, these loans amounts are usually much larger. With Safebook, you can get a quick financial solution, to tide you over until your regular income kicks back in.
As you would expect from a bank loan, you need to meet certain criteria to be eligible for a loan.
1. The applicant must be a US citizen
2. The applicant must be over 18 years of age
3. The applicant must have a checking account for direct deposit
4. The applicant must have had regular employment recently
1) and 2) are standard requirements across many banks and financial institutions. For payday loans taken out over the internet, the borrower needs to have a checking account into which the loan can be paid. Proving to the lender you've had regular employment is important for showing that you can repay the loan. Normally, repayment takes place on your next payday.
The truth is that many people today are struggling to make ends meet. The economic recession has left a lot of people out of work, or struggling with two or more jobs. What's more,the price of things isn't going down. Now, a lot of people find they're stuck for money – sometimes due to an emergency, or because money that was supposed to arrive fell through.A loan can offer you a secure financial solution. If there are things to pay for that simply can't wait, a loan can help you finance it now. You will be able to pay back in the future, when you can afford it. Here are some other reasons why an online payday loan could help: Specific amount – instead of lending a large lump sum, you can borrow just the cash you need. A bank loan, for example, can be in the thousands of dollars, which is a big burden for anyone to have to pay back. With Safebook, you can borrow just a few hundred. Quick payback – since you're borrowing a smaller amount, you'll pay back the loan quicker. A lot of borrowers are pleasantly surprised at the simplicity of the service. Compared to bank loan, this really is a genuinely hassle free service. No binding agreement – once the loan is payed off, that's it, the contract is over. From application through to repayment, the entire process can take as short a time as two weeks. If you would benefit from taking out a payday loan, please contact us on the number below.
All over the country, people are feeling the benefits of payday loans. If you need help getting through to payday, it could be the service for you. And now, since our service is available online, borrowers can apply and receive an answer without leaving their homes. Gone are the days of queuing for hours, only to be turned down.Our service is fluid, and our staff, professional. If your application is successful, you could find the funds in your account within 24 hours.
If you are over the age of 18 and have an income, you may be eligible for a loan. Please click on the link below to start your application, or call our number to discuss your options.
Whatever your situation, an online payday loan can help. You may be looking at the prospect of fines for late payment, or school fees that need paying – sometimes, a medical bill can derail your finances. You may be trying to keeping your car on the road – how would you get to work without it? If any of this sounds familiar, an online payday loan could be the solution to your problems.With a fast, simple and secure approval process, and quick-payment, we can help get you the cash you urgently need.
If you recently paid off your previous payday loan, please be aware that there is a waiting period of 5-6 days before you can apply for a renewal. During this time we are verifying that we have successfully received your payment. You will not be able to login to your account during the waiting period.
You will be required to submit a payment request to payback your loan. All payment requests must be received no later then 5:00pm EST one business day before the due date.
If you were debited within the past 5 days or If you have a payment due within the next 5 days, you will not be able to login until we receive confirmation for your payment. Additionally, your available credit amount must be $100.00 or more in order to be eligible for a Loan Increase.


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Date: 6 October 2012
The second biennial AROHO Day Conference for Women Writers 2012 will take place in Austin, Texas, on Saturday, October 6th. We welcome all women writers, and want to extend a special welcome to LGBT writers and writers of color.
Austin's second biennial AROHO Day Conference for Women Writers will take place Sat., Oct. 6 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Casa De Luz, 1701 Toomey Road.
The conference invites women writers to gather for creative inspiration and artistic development, offering workshop sessions in fiction, poetry, screenwriting, spoken word performance, journaling, and creativity through movement.
Mary Johnson, author of the memoir An Unquenchable Thirst about her years of service as a Missionary of Charity under Mother Teresa of Calcutta—named one of Kirkus Reviews' Best Books of 2011—will deliver the keynote address. Johnson's work has been widely featured in O, the Oprah Magazine, Salon.com, Poets & Writers, The Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, National Public Radio, and "The Rosie Show," among others. She is creative director of AROHO retreats.
AROHO is short for A Room of Her Own Foundation, formed in 2000 to support and advance the work of women in the literary and artistic marketplace. Virginia Woolf, one of the foremost modernist literary figures of the twentieth century, famously wrote "a woman must have money and a room of her own, if she is to write."
Amanda Eyre Ward, author of a short story collection and several novels—most recently CLOSE YOUR EYES, also named one of the best books of 2011 by Kirkus Reviews—will teach a session on structuring the novel.
Donna M. Johnson, author of critically acclaimed memoir Holy Ghost Girl, awarded the 2011 Books for Better Life award and the Mayborn Creative Nonfiction Prize as a manuscript-in-progress in 2007, will lead a session called "Memoir: the Two-Way Mirror."
ire'ne lara silva, author of poetry collection furia and two chapbooks ani'mal and INDíGENA, will guide participants to tap into inner creative resources in her session "Gritos: On Finding the Sources of Our Voices." Silva is Co-Coordinator for the Flor De Nopal Literary Festival and leads the Voz te Viento discussion series on diabetes, illness, healing, and creativity.
Liz Belile, writer, performer, mother and yoga teacher—and perhaps best known as contributor and editor of the anthology Gynomite: Fearless, Feminist Porn—will lead an experimental, experiential workshop combining yoga (no experience necessary) with spontaneous writing exercises. Belile's session is called "Lit from Within: Breathe Move Write."
Debby Wolfinsohn, screenwriter of independent feature film "Nowhere" and short film "Dogslife," will work with participants to polish their TV and film scenes, discuss the pitching process and show video clips in "Writing Great Scenes for TV and Film."
Sheila Black, poet, veteran editor, and recently hired executive director of Gemini Ink, will lead "Five Little Poetry Projects: A Craft Workshop."
Lyrical artist Jennine "Doc" Krueger along with her teammates recently won second-place at the National Poetry Slam 2012 in Charlotte, North Carolina—the largest team performance poetry event in the world. Krueger brings a vast breadth of experience and talent performing her poetry for audiences across the U.S. to her session "From Page to Stage: the Art of Spoken Word."
Ramona Reeves, writer-in-residence for Badgerdog Literary Press in Austin, produced the first biennial AROHO Day Conference for Women in 2010. Reeves will lead conference attendees on an experiential hike with exercises designed to heighten sensory awareness as a method of revision in her session "Journaling the One Into Twenty."
Writers won't want to miss the discussion panel on Literary Publishing, which will include seasoned literary editor Sheila Black and editors from Texas-based literary journals Bat City Review and Gulf Coast.
Registration for the day conference is $110, with proceeds benefiting A Room of Her Own (AROHO) Foundation. For more information or to register for the conference, go to www.aroho.org/tex.
A Room of Her Own Foundation (AROHO), is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization formed in 2000 to support and advance the work of women in the literary and artistic marketplace. It has expended more than $600,000 on behalf of creative women through its Gift of Freedom Awards, Orlando Prizes, scholarships, retreats, public readings, Day Conferences, Book Club, and web-based resource center.
For queries: firstname.lastname@example.com
Website: http://www.aroho.org/tex/
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
The 2012 Aroho Day Conference for Women Writers (Austin, Texas)
Labels: events - literary, usa literature, women writers


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Cottonwood's Newest Community Event is Coming! Run for the Roses
There is a new inaugural spring event in Cottonwood. Held on May 2nd and 3rd, the Run for the Roses Spring Festival brings a whole new type of fun community event to Old Town. This Bootleg Derby will be held on the same day as the Kentucky Derby, and will allow visitors to don their best derby hats and join the fun on Main Street in Cottonwood. The festivities will kick off on Friday, May 2nd with the Bootlegger's Ball, featuring The Sammy Davis Band. The ball will be held at the Civic Center in Old Town, beginning at 7:00pm. To buy tickets in person, visit the Business Assistance Center (BAC), Cat's Meow, Red Geranium, Pink Rain and Burning Tree Cellars. Tickets can also be purchased online, and picked up at the Business Assistance Center (BAC) in Old Town up until 4pm the day of the event.
On Saturday, May 3rd the Run for the Roses Cottonwood Bootleg Derby will feature free live music, a fine art & vintage faire, along with a horseshoe tournament, hosted by the Cornville Cartel (as seen on Arizona Highways). The main event of the day is the sawhorse race, sponsored and decorated by local merchants and businesses. During this event, wooden sawhorses will be raced through Main Street and spectators are encouraged to place friendly bets.
Localist deal alert! Free bet and raffle ticket at the "Run for the Roses Bootleg Derby" on May 3rd if Localists present their cards!
Cottonwood's local community businesses have as their mission, a desire to give back locally and the community and Old Town Association greatly appreciates their continued support.
If your organization or business would like to participate in the Run for the Roses Cottonwood Bootleg Derby, please contact: Cindi Battisti at [email protected].


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This post is one in a series of reports on significant issues for startups in 2015. In the past year, the startup community's voice helped drive notable debates in tech and entrepreneurship policy, but many of the tech world's policy goals in 2015, such as immigration and patent reform, remain unfulfilled. Check back for more year-end updates and continue to watch this space in 2016 as we follow policy issues affecting the startup community.
by Anna Duning and Ange Royall-Kahin
Lawmakers, industry leaders, and nonprofit groups alike contributed to important, and sometimes heated, conversations about America's tech talent pool this year. The growing need for talented workers, the lack of diversity in the industry, and the vexed immigration system continue to pose challenges to both tech firms as well as policymakers.
Additional tech companies joined some of the larger firms this year in releasing their diversity numbers. While the figures themselves didn't inspire much confidence about industry diversity, we observed a growing recognition of the issue and commitment to creating a more inclusive tech industry. Engine participated in the Tech Inclusion Conference in San Francisco, where participants from across the country discussed challenges to improving the makeup of the tech community and solutions to making change. Several companies have also demonstrated good faith commitments to closing these gaps.
In Congress, Engine helped launch the Diversifying Tech Caucus in January to highlight the importance of diversity in the tech community and craft policy solutions to bring new people into this workforce. The bicameral, bipartisan Caucus, now with over 20 members, facilitated dialogues about startup efforts to diversify tech as well as the roles and obstacles veterans face in the industry. Another legislative group, the Congressional Black Caucus, also affirmed its commitment to diversifying the tech industry this year and launched Tech2020, an effort to increase the participation of African Americans in technology.
The White House and federal agencies also launched several initiatives this year to bolster and diversify the tech workforce:
- In March, the White House announced TechHire, a national program to get more Americans the training they need to enter the tech workforce. Through partnerships with universities, community colleges, apprenticeship programs, and non-traditional educational offerings such as coding bootcamps, TechHire has recruited over 40 communities to support their efforts.
- At the beginning of August, the White House hosted its first Demo Day under the theme of inclusive entrepreneurship, showcasing a diverse set of 50 entrepreneurs. The event also highlighted members of the tech community making concrete commitments to improving diversity.
- Later this year, the Department of Education launched a pilot program to evaluate the effectiveness of non-traditional education providers, such as coding bootcamps. While these new programs offer students valuable skills for well-paying, in-demand jobs, many are un-accredited and therefore disqualify students from using federal funding towards tuition. If successful, the outcomes of the Department's pilot may help expand access to new learning models for vital technical skills.
This year, we saw Washington take interest in how to connect veterans with resources that would aid them in transitioning into the tech industry. In July, Senators Moran and Tester introduced the Veterans Entrepreneurial Transition Act of 2015. The bill would allow veterans to apply their GI Bill benefits towards starting their own businesses. In August, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) launched a new pilot for accelerated learning programs (e.g. coding bootcamps with certain providers) - at no cost to participants. We look forward to seeing how the results shape the conversation around using GI Bill benefits towards coding bootcamps and alternative tech education.
Immigration policy also plays a key role in supporting and growing technology companies and startups, too. Some of our country's most successful technology firms were founded by immigrants and foreign talent is in high demand among U.S. tech companies, big and small. In 2015, the United States Citizen and Immigration Services (USCIS) received a record number of H-1B visa applications: 233,000 for the 85,000 spots. The H-1B program also came under fire this year for both favoring large companies and outsourcing firms (see Disney's actions), as well as for abuse.
The H-1B program represents just one set of issues rattling our outdated immigration system, yet, none of these additional challenges saw real solutions from Congress this year. Speaker Paul Ryan made it clear that it's unlikely any needed legislation will pass until a new president is elected. Nonetheless, a few incremental improvements (that didn't require congressional approval) were pushed forward. USCIS began accepting work authorization applications so H-4 dependent spouses can work here, too. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is considering extending the OPT visa program for STEM students. And we soon expect DHS to announce guidelines for improved pathways for foreign entrepreneurs to acquire visas in order to start companies here.
Looking Ahead
While Speaker Ryan's outlook gives the tech community little optimism for immigration reform in 2016, we hope high-skilled immigration policy will make its way into the presidential candidate agendas. It is likely that progress will be made to support veterans entering tech. The VET Act is gaining support and we expect that it will head to the Senate floor in the first half of the year. We also hope to see legislation introduced that would allow veterans to use their GI Bill benefits towards alternative tech education programs, such as coding bootcamps. On the industry side, we're optimistic, too. The public pressure and attention on tech firms' employee diversity that mounted throughout this year has now raised expectations. Companies are keenly aware they need to do better and made promises that we hope to see begin to come to fruition in 2016.