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STERLING — The date was set – officially – on Oct. 23 for the public hearing concerning Sterling's proposed budget for 2013 Tuesday evening, during a brief city council meeting.
The Sterling City Council approved the date 6-0, with council member Alice Pitcher absent.
The city will give council members and the public nearly seven weeks to address budget items and request changes before the budget has to be adopted and given to Logan County by Dec. 10. The council did not discuss any individual items during Tuesday's meeting.
City Manager Joe Kiolbasa told the council he had asked the Human Resources Department to compile the vacancy and turnover rates for city employees from 2004 until now, as well. The request comes after previous discussion regarding the retention and salary rates of Sterling Police officers, which extended to talks of a citywide salary survey that would show whether or not Sterling city employees were paid at a similar rate toemployees in like-sized communities.
Kiolbasa said earlier in the meeting he received no objections to his proposed SPD salary adjustments and that he'd allow those adjustments to proceed. According to those adjustments, non-high-ranking officers would receive an immediate salary hike.
He also created a tabulation of what the expenses and revenues are for recreation programs, after he received a suggestion to start trimming them. Still, he said that scrapping every recreation budget item but the Recreation Center would save the city less than $50,000.
In other meeting news, Sterling and Logan County Emergency Manager Bob Owens gave an update on some of the past, present and future projects involving his department.
Emergency Management has worked on implementing and improving an RE-1 Valley School District-wide reunification effort – or a way to get students to their parents or guardians after an emergency. He said an exercise in September exposed the weak parts of the plan but that they'll follow up on improvements.
The department also secured grant money from the EMS Council to provide motorcycle safety classes for 24 people during the summer at Sterling Municipal Airport, which dropped the cost from $200 to $100 per person.
Owens also said he attended a conference for the Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) in September to discuss local approaches to hazard and hazardous material (hazmat) situations. Through the LEPC, Emergency Management will conduct a "commodity flow study," which will monitor what materials travel through the railroads and Highways 6, 14 and 138. The hope, Owens said, is to determine if and how the city and county would respond to hazmat emergencies, based on what travels through the county.
Owens received a $73,000 grant from the Department of Homeland Security, as well, for a Motobridge, which allows agencies on different frequencies to connect to each other on the same lines.
"For once a firefighter in Nebraska can talk to a firefighter in Colorado through this technology, which is a first for us here," he said.
In future months, the department will complete and distribute the Logan County Emergency Operations Plan – which breaks down responsibilities of council members during an emergency – and develop a six-county-wide hazmat team.
The team would assist member counties (Logan, Sedgwick, Phillips, Yuma, Washington and Morgan) if a situation grows out of a single county's control. That would, in turn, help globalize resources in the region, according to Owens, and allow joint training and grant procurement.
He will also attempt to update the tornado siren at city hall, which is "at best" a World War II air raid-style siren. Most of the other sirens were put in around 1989 and also need to be replaced.
The city council also:
- Approved an ordinance appropriating an additional $937,000 out of the city treasury and increasing the amount of 2012 revenue budget by about $130,000.
- Approved an application for a special event permit for the Sterling Elks Lodge. William Kinney, an Elks Lodge representative, said the group will host an Oktoberfest event Oct. 26 between 4:30 p.m. and midnight, which is open to the public. They held a "Polkathon" dance in previous years, but have seen attendance drop off.
- Approved a resolution approving a right to first refusal agreement pertaining to real estate owned by Sterling referred to as the Buffalo Hills Marketplace. Colorado Development and Architecture, Ltd. has expressed interest in the property – about 42 acres on the northeast corner of Highway 6 and Interstate 76 – and City Attorney Curt Penny said the resolution would give them a six-month window of due diligence. After that window, the city could then sell the property to someone else.
- Expressed interest in hearing from someone who expressed interest in maintaining Sterling's community garden, which was for the most part discontinued in September.
- Expressed interest in taking action to allow ATV's on the streets.
David Martinez: (970) 526 -9283; firstname.lastname@example.com. Follow David on Twitter @DMartinez_JA.


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How do I maintain martial awareness of a person's movement and intent when that person is very physically close (conversation distance, or passing on the street) to me?
The situation could be a guy who is high/drunk and asking you for money on the street, they always come close to try and talk to you. Or, people walking down the sidewalk on the same side as you, they look like they might be trouble but you don't know. Eventually they will pass right by you, and after that, they'll be behind you, even worse for you if they have bad intentions.
At the end of the day, how can I maintain safety (which to me is being aware of the person's movements and also not allowing them to get too close) in these situations - without doing something provocative (such as obviously stepping back to maintain distance or by watching them as they pass and move behind me)?
I understand that acting (and being) confident is very important, but I'm not very confident in my ability to defend myself against someone who is less than two feet away from me when I am forced to not act defensive in order to avoid escalating a situation.

subset: commoncrawl


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CARFAX One-Owner. Clean CARFAX. Black 2019 Chevrolet Tahoe LT 4WD 6-Speed Automatic Electronic with Overdrive V8 4WD, jet black Leather.
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Guard Daughters Hold First 'Sisterhood' Conference
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- Created: Thursday, 01 April 2010 09:19
- Last Updated: Thursday, 01 April 2010 09:19
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That theme provided the inspiration for an idea by two California National Guard daughters, but instead of a pair of jeans, battle dress uniforms became the shared bond among more than 100 girls.
Kaylei Deakin and Moranda Hern, both 17, met at California first lady Maria Shriver's 2008 Women's Conference. The girls found they had many things in common, including a need to feel understood while going through the challenges that military deployments bring to families.
After more than a year of planning and organizing, Deakin and Hern brought teenage girls together from across California March 12-14, a weekend close to the seventh anniversary of the beginning of the war in Iraq.
"I remember watching stories about the war in class, and people would giggle and laugh as the bombs were going off," said Kaylei, whose father left to fight in Afghanistan a few years later, when she was 13. "I was so worried ... thinking about what was going on over there."
She said her father's deployment affected her family long before and long after he left California. She felt like no one really understood the empty feeling she had inside as she watched her world change dramatically while her dad was deployed, she recalled.
For the two years he was gone, Kaylei said, she felt depressed and lonely and believed she needed to step up in her father's absence to provide strength beside her mother and take over in areas of sibling discipline.
When Kaylei met Moranda, they found they shared similar experiences. Moranda's father is in the Air Guard, while Kaylei's father is in the Army Guard. And at times when the girls needed their friends' support the most, the girls said, they felt very much alone.
"People saw a big change in me after my dad left, and a lot of them just stopped coming around, because they weren't sure of what to say or how to act around me," said Moranda, whose father deployed to Afghanistan on very short notice when she was 15. "I felt like I was just some weird person who couldn't get it together."
Realizing thousands of girls were going through similar experiences, Kaylei and Moranda decided to form a support network and organize a conference for daughters of military members. The girls put together a proposal and brought a presentation to Air Force Brig. Gen. Mary J. Kight, who was then California's assistant adjutant general and now is adjutant general, whom the girls had met at the 2008 Women's Conference.
Kight was impressed and vowed to do everything she could to support the effort.
"The Guard provided the Sisterhood of the Traveling BDUs with the structure, and the girls provided all the innovation, imagination and creativity," she said. "I am so proud of them for seeing this through, and what a wonderful program they have founded."
The two high schoolers raised $30,000 through various corporate sponsors to provide an all-expenses-paid weekend for girls ages 13-17.
The conference theme was "Unite, Inspire, Lead," and girl-power was ever-present throughout the weekend. The girls arrived at the conference in semi-formal attire on the first evening for a "purple carpet" event, complete with flashing cameras and a receiving line that included Kaylei, Moranda and Kight.
The weekend included several guest speakers, including an Olympic gold medalist, a Hollywood image consultant and corporate executives. Workshops and break-out sessions brought girls together on issues ranging from self-esteem, self-image and career plans to boys and relationships.
The venue provided a nonthreatening environment, while the sisterly support provided teens an opportunity to reach out and share stories and get to know each other.
Many of the girls discussed their fear that something could happen to a parent in combat. Others shared the experience of attempting to console a worried mother while Dad is away, or knowing that one of their parents won't be able to see them go to prom or graduate from high school.
Kaylei plans to enlist in the Marines after graduating from high school in June, and Moranda has been accepted into the Air Force Academy. Many other girls at the conference also have plans to follow in their parents' footsteps.
"I hope that the girls come away from this knowing that the next time a deployment rolls around that they will be supported, and that they have a network ? it won't have to be the way it's always been," Moranda said on the last night of the conference.
Kaylei and Moranda said they hope other teen girls will keep the "sisterhood" alive and will call upon each other for help when they need it. They plan to go national with the organization and create chapters in other states during the next year.
Guard Daughters Hold First 'Sisterhood' Conference [ http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=58565 ]


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Sebastian Kügler
Today KDE released the second release candidate for its renewed Workspaces, Applications, and Development Platform. With API, dependency and feature freezes in place, the KDE team's focus is now on fixing bugs and further polishing new and old functionality. Please give this release another good round of testing to help us release a rock-solid 4.8 later this month.
Highlights of 4.8 include, but are not limited to:
* Qt Quick in Plasma Workspaces — Qt Quick is making its way into the Plasma Workspaces, the new Plasma Components provide a standardized API implementation of widgets with native Plasma Look and Feel. The device notifier widget has been ported to using these components and is now written in pure QML. KWin's window switcher is now also QML-based, paving the way for newly designed window switchers.
* Dolphin's file view has been rewritten for better performance, scalability and more attractive visual appearance.
* KSecretService optionally enables a shared password storage, therefore making your saved passwords available to many other applicatios, leading to a more secure system and better integration of non-KDE apps into the Plasma Workspaces and KDE apps into non-Plasma workspaces.
* Many performance improvements and bugfixes improve the overall user experience, making the KDE Applications and Workspaces more productive and fun to use than ever before.
Bugs can be reported using KDE's Bugzilla, http://bugs.kde.org
The full announcement can be found at: http://kde.org/announcements/announce-4.8-rc2.php


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This page lists all the events in our Church Diary, both the regular weekly events and special events. The calendar is shown for the current month - using the navigation links at the top of the calendar will take you to other months. Hover over an event to see more information about it.
For more information about any event, please contact the Church Office.


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It's happened again - AFC Wimbledon have been drawn to play MK Dons in a cup competition for the second time in less than two years.
The Dons have been drawn to play away at Stadium: mk, in Milton Keynes, in the first round of the Capital One cup.
The draw, made this morning, was for fixtures to be played on the week commencing August 11.
First team coach Simon Bassey said: "It is what it is. We enter a competition to do our best in it and personal feelings don't come into it.
"It's one for the media to get excited about, but one for the club and the fans to get upset about.
"It is the worst draw we could have hoped for and I'd put money on the fact that 99 per cent of Dons fans will be disappointed with it."
It comes after the two sides were drawn to play each other in the FA Cup 2nd round in December 2012, when Milton Keynes won 2-1.
That game was obviously a high profile affair and televised on ITV, with many Dons fans boycotting the game in protest at the relocating of Wimbledon FC to Milton Keynes in 2003.
It also came not long after the Wimbledon Guardian had launched the Drop the Dons campaign, which calls on Milton Keynes to drop the Dons nickname out of respect for AFC Wimbledon.
AFC Wimbledon, which adopted the Dons nickname, was created in 2002 after fans refused to support Wimbledon FC's impending move to Buckinghamshire.
Are you a Dons fan? Will you be travelling to Milton Keynes? Post your reaction in the comment box below or tweet @WimbledonNews and we'll include your tweet in this story (no swearing please).
Your tweets:
@WimbledonNews not the tie I wanted but I will not shy away from going to support my club #wearewimbledon #proud— Mike L (@aceofherts5) June 17, 2014
@OmarOakes their participation devalues any competition they are part of— Tom Ambrose (@TwickenhamTom) June 17, 2014
@WimbledonNews Most, in fact ALL of what I would say is unprintable... #NeverForgiveNeverForget #FranchiseScum— The Sparkster (@SparkyInTheUK) June 17, 2014
@WimbledonNews poppycock.— Matt Griffin (@MattMightSay) June 17, 2014
@WimbledonNews my day is ruined.— Glyn Roberts (@rabidbarfly) June 17, 2014
@WimbledonNews It is a bad draw that no real fan wants we have to play them but we dont have to like it!— mpbaz7115 P.A.I (@mpbaz7115) June 17, 2014


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Gruden Has Suit But Wants Ring
Last year when I asked Jay Gruden why he turned down opportunities to interview for NFL head coaching jobs after the 2011 season, the Bengals offensive coordinator joked that his reason was sartorial.
"I didn't have a good coat and tie," Jay deadpanned at the time.
Clearly clothes are no longer an issue since Gruden interviewed for head coaching positions in Philadelphia, Arizona, San Diego, and Jacksonville in January. And while Jay didn't get any of the jobs, at least he has a new suit.
"I wore it four times – the same one every time," Gruden said with a laugh. "It was exciting and flattering that these teams would even think to interview me. It says a lot about our offense and how far we've come and Coach Lewis and what people around the league think about what he's done with his program. It was a great opportunity.
"I knew that it was probably a long-shot. I think that I had good interviews and felt good about the process and if I am ever fortunate enough to have another opportunity, I'll feel a lot more prepared."
Now that he's back for a third season as Cincinnati's offensive coordinator, Gruden is currently working on two things: Studying skill-position players for the upcoming NFL draft, and reviewing tape of the Bengals from last season.
"We're very involved as coaches in the draft process, but you also have to take the time to look back at what you did offensively and figure out ways to get better," said Gruden. "You have to see if you had any tendencies over the course of the year that you have to correct, but overall, you're trying to find out what your players are good at and what you had trouble with and get things fixed that you need to fix. We definitely feel that we have not reached our full potential on offense, and it's my job as a coordinator to get it out of them."
With three of the top 53 picks in the draft, the Bengals are obviously in position to boost an offense that ranked 22nd in the NFL in total yards. So what is at the top of Gruden's wish list?
"We need another playmaker and we need someone who can take the ball 80 yards on a swing pass, or a hand-off, or what have you," Jay told me. "A little bit of speed. But we're pretty good everywhere – we need to take our pretty-good players and turn them into great players, and our great players need to be extraordinary. We just have to keep pushing the envelope and making sure that everybody gets better."
One thing that the Bengals are not looking for is a new starting quarterback. Andy Dalton has started every game in his first two NFL seasons, led the Bengals to back-to-back playoff appearances, and has tossed 47 TD passes in 32 regular season games. But Gruden says that his 25-year-old QB has plenty to work on.
"In the offseason you work on your arm strength, your footwork – basically your fundamentals of football – and obviously he needs to get better with his deep ball accuracy and touch," Gruden said. "There's not really one part of his game that he can't improve upon. Scramble ability, foot quickness, accuracy, deep accuracy, short (accuracy), anticipation – he's got a long way to go. He's done some great things for a second-year quarterback, won a lot of games and thrown a lot of touchdown passes, but we feel that he has not come close to his potential and it's our job to get it out of him."
Dalton finished his second season with a passer rating of 87.4, but it dropped to 67.0 in his last six games, and Andy struggled in the playoff loss in Houston going 14-for-30 for 127 yards with 0 TD and 1 INT. That led to a surge in the number of people questioning whether Dalton will ever be good enough to lead Cincinnati to a deep playoff run. Gruden says that he isn't bothered by the criticism of his quarterback.
"It's the nature of the position and that's what he signed up to be," said Gruden. "He's getting paid a pretty good chunk of change to be a quarterback, and anytime you sign up to be a quarterback, you have to take the good with the bad. One of the biggest strengths that you have to have as a quarterback is being mentally tough. When things don't get well, people are going to be all over you. They're going to boo you; they're going to want you out of town and your coaches out of town. He has to take that criticism and use it as fuel to make himself better. Hopefully he's doing that. He's a very competitive person – as I am – and we're going to do the best that we can to make this franchise something to be proud of."
After all, a new suit is nice – but it pales in comparison to a Super Bowl ring.
I'd love to hear from you at firstname.lastname@example.com
If you Twitter, you can follow my tweets at http://twitter.com/Dan_Hoard
And I'm on Facebook at www.facebook.com/dan.hoard.1


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Thirty-four youths were recently cited for underage drinking at party on Pheasant Run.
At close to midnight on Friday, August 2, officers were dispatched to 46 Pheasant Run on a report of an underage drinking party. Upon arrival, officers observed several people run into the house and turn off all of the interior lights. While checking the residence, officers found evidence of alcohol use including drinking games, opened and unopened beer cans and opened and unopened liquor bottles.
After entering the residence, Officers located 39 people throughout the residence.
Of the 37 people located at the residence, 34 were between the ages of 18 and 20. Three were under the age of 18. All were residents of Southington with the exception of a New Britain resident and a Waterbury resident.
The following were all issued infraction tickets for possession of alcohol by a minor: Franco Pabst, John Edward Gradante III, Lauren Mahon, Steven Cianciolo, Ryan Ferguson, Jordan Crowley, Zakary Palmieri, Angela Beaupre, Brigid Bednarczyk, Krystelle Rolling, Byron C. O'Leary-Bey, Jason Sikoski, Morgan Slade, Markus Leonhardt Roth, Michael R. Garcia Jr., Michael Raczysnki, Domenic Joseph Dallas Luongo, Zachary Zubko, Justin Trzcinski, Joshua Pinto, Kristin Kearney, Brittany Sciascia, Colin Freer, Connor Hartfield, Kathryn Daddona, Matthew Dube, Jonathan Garvey, Joel R. DeBishop, Chad Mehmel, Steven Deponte, Augoustis I. Tiniakos, Nicholas Gothberg, and Brianna Lee.
Stephen G. Feeney was issued a misdemeanor summons for permitting a minor to illegally possess alcohol and possession of alcohol by a minor. Feeney was released on a $1,000 non-surety bond and has a court date of 8-12-13.
The three juveniles were also issued infractions for possession of alcohol by a minor.


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|By SOA News Desk
Article Rating:
|June 21, 2009 06:45 PM EDT
Federal IT organizations across the DoD and IC are facing costly data storage and data processing challenges stemming from the vast amount of information they collect and analyze as a part of their mission. To effectively organize and utilize these growing information stores, enterprise applications must be capable of performing large-scale, data-intensive processing. Federal enterprise infrastructures supporting such applications are often inadequate to address these challenges, and IT organizations incur lost time and greater costs trying to scale resources to meet storage and computing demand.
That is why Booz Allen Hamilton (BAH), in partnership with the Government, led a research and development pilot to address these challenges by leveraging Service-Oriented Architecture approaches to facilitate on-demand resource provisioning to fold into current business processes supported by IT capabilities.
The pilot is the focus of an upcoming breakout session at the 15th International SOA World Conference & Expo, being held from tomorrow, June 22-23 in New York City. The session, titled "SOA and Cloud Computing for On-Demand Parallel Processing," will describe how the BAH pilot employed emerging technologies and service-oriented architectures to assess the impact of executing parallelizable processes within a computing cloud.
The session is being given by Anthony Cincott, a Sr. Associate with Booz Allen Hamilton.
Another session in June that looks at the intersection of SOA and Cloud computing is being given by Tom Plunkett, an Instructor at Virginia Tech who has worked with SOA for the last five years, and Java enterprise technology for the last ten years. Called "Open Source SOA in the Cloud," Plunkett's session will be a look at some of the issues and challenges that face popular open source SOA solutions in the cloud.
View the Full SOA World Conference & Expo Schedule Here
Register Today and Save !
Former SOA World keynoter David Linthicum has written that cloud computing is accelerating the adoption of SOA by providing aspects of SOA on-demand.
In a recent article published at SOA World Magazine, he wrote:
"Clearly, SOA and cloud computing go hand-in-hand. Cloud computing is just the ability to leverage new platforms and resources that you don't happen to own. Nothing really changes outside of that, including the need to do SOA right."
SOA & Cloud Computing Keynote
IBM WebSphere Director of Product Management Dr. Kareem Yusuf will deliver a keynote on cloud computing and Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA) at the event.
In his session, "Convergence in the Cloud: How Cloud Computing and SOA Produce Real Change," Dr. Yusuf will explore various definitions and characteristics of cloud computing and how SOA influences both the creation and adoption of cloud. Drawing on his personal experiences in driving several initiatives at IBM around SOA, cloud computing and virtualization, Dr. Yusuf will also address the implications of technology evolution, market adoption and supporting business models.
Characteristics of the cloud, such as dynamic provisioning of resources, self service capabilities, and pay-for-use billing, are catching the eye of many enterprises across the globe. "Cloud computing and SOA share a unique relationship that will help to pave the way for both the creation and adoption of cloud solutions," Dr. Yusuf said. "The flexible, agile environment of cloud computing bears similar characteristics to the environments offered by SOA. All of this represents a convergence of technological paradigms that offer bottom-line value to any organization."
Read Kareem Yusuf's blog, "The Forecast is Cloudy" at http://kareemyusuf.wordpress.com/.
About the Keynote Speaker:
Dr. Kareem Yusuf, IBM WebSphere Software Product Management Director, is based in Somers, New York. In his current role, Dr. Yusuf is responsible for managing the WebSphere Application Infrastructure Portfolio, including the WebSphere Application Server Family, WebSphere Commerce, and most recently, has driven key new offerings into market in support of virtualization and cloud computing. He focuses on the life-cycle management of the application infrastructure product portfolio, manages new product introduction, product evolution and the markets served. With his team, he covers a wider range of concerns ranging from market analysis and product strategy to product delivery and ecosystem development. In his previous role as IBM Software Group Director of SOA Strategy & Planning, Dr. Yusuf helped foster IBM's leadership position in SOA, all the while driving IBM's SOA strategy and managing the IBM SOA Foundation Portfolio.
15th International SOA World Conference & Expo
This June's SOA World, which is the world's number one longest-running SOA event, will feature parallel content-rich tracks reflecting the worldwide adoption of the distributed computing paradigm, in which web services are deployed through specific service-oriented architectures and in which reusable components are core to the overall vision.
The technical program in June in New York City will provide a framework about how to understand policies, composites, lifecycle governance, loose coupling, heterogeneous distributed systems, adaptability vs. stability, service portfolio management - every relevant aspect of SOA as a framework for constructing and interlinking a company's back-end systems with the overall goal of lowering cost and adding flexibility.
Many organizations have already adopted SOA development models to deliver flexible and agile application components, but SOA is about people as much as technology, which is why so many companies send delegates to SOA World to accelerate their journey toward becoming SOA-enabled enterprises.
Delegates Will Learn How SOA Can:
- Help their businesses respond more quickly and cost-effectively to changing market conditions
- Promote the goal of separating users (consumers) from the service implementations
- Let them achieve the optimum balance between business needs, technology potential, and IT costs
For more information on SOA World Conference and Expo 2009, please visit www.soaworld2009.com
Click here to register today and save!
Click here to submit papers!
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SOA / WOA Technology Contributors of 2009
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- Publishing Synergy: Blog, Twitter and Ulitzer
- Confessions of a Ulitzer Addict
- Is the PR Business Extinct? Yes
- Ulitzer Live! New Media Power Panel at Santa Clara Convention Center
- Twitter, Linked In, Ning and Ulitzer: Easy Personal Branding Strategy
- Best-Selling Author Scott McKain Joins Ulitzer
- Bernie Borges' Marketing 2.0 Social Media Book
- Top Sales Executive to Share His Insights on Ulitzer
- OneLogin Raises $13M to Power Expansion
- InsideView(R) Relationship Manager Reduces Account Churn by 25% With New People Alerts


text:
Quick pop quiz. In emacs lisp what does this expression evaluate to?
(let ((%h (make-hash-table))) (puthash "key" "value" %h) (gethash "key" %h))
Okay, put your hands down, the lispers at the back. Anyone else?
That's right, the answer is nil.
"Eh nil? Is that the same as false? Why's that?" you may be asking. The answer is that by default hash tables use eql as the comparison function. (eql "x" "x") evaluates to nil. (equal "x" "x") evaluates to t.
What you actually want is this.
(let ((%h (make-hash-table :test 'equal))) (puthash "key" "value" %h) (gethash "key" %h))
Quite why you would want a hash where you can't retrieve a string key is beyond me. Okay, I guess it possibly makes sense if you consider symbols, but damn, it's not right.
Anyway, no worries, I can fix it. I'll only ever use my _h macro rather than using make-hash-table, puthash or gethash directly, and I'll extend it to create hash tables using
:test 'equal.
(the original title for this page was Why do Emacs Lisp Hash Tables use Eql)


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Journalists, explore this publication-ready project. Create a free v2com media account to download high-resolution images.Create a media account
Press Kit | no. 759-03
This resort complex situated on the outskirts of the Charlevoix region includes a restaurant, steam bath, sauna, massage areas, hot and cold pools, and many relaxation spaces. These functions are shared among three pavilions articulated around a landscaped area bordering the river. The challenge was to highlight nature and integrate the functions through clean, contemporary architecture that respects the environment.
To unify the project grouping, the buildings' envelope is a black-coloured wood covering. The various grades used give a more random texture, referring to vernacular structures.
A walkway is cut through the east wall of the main building; this is the only distinctive element marking the entrance to the project. Once visitors enter the volume, the high ceilings and picture window project them into the exterior landscaping and the countryside.
The black-wood volumes are incised by large openings and terraces cut across the buildings. The project as a whole has been thought out as a pathway highlighting the surrounding nature and the outdoor facilities, as well as exploring the concept of spectator–actor.
The interior spaces are uncluttered, giving the natural landscape the starring role. Bright colours are used only for specific elements, such as the restaurant's large banquette and the steam bath.
Blouin Tardif Architecture-Environnement
Blouin Tardif Architecture-Environnement was founded in 2005 by architects Jean Tardif and Alexandre Blouin. The firm's mission is to produce high-quality architecture combining durability, performance, and aesthetics. The projects are developed using the principles of the integrated design process. By bringing together innovation and know-how, the firm has built a network of collaborators well known in sustainable development and with solid credibility in the industry. The firm's success and its recent distinctions underline the energy and vision of the members of the multidisciplinary team, all of whom are motivated by a passion for architecture and the environment.
Official name of project:Station BLÜ
Location: St-Tite-des-Caps, Quebec, Canada
Client name: Station BLÜ
Architects/designers: Blouin Tardif Architecture-Environnement
Project manager: Alexandre Blouin
Design team: Isabelle Beauchamp, Pascal Mailloux, Sophie Marquet, Guillaume Martel-Trudel, Jonathan Trottier, Alexandre Blouin
Mech./elect. engineers: Genivar
Structural engineer: Genivar
Contractor: Construction Marc Drolet
Completion date: 2011
Photographer: Stéphane Groleau
For more information
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All photos must be published with proper credit. Please reference v2com as the source whenever possible. We always appreciate receiving PDF copies of your articles.
Very High-resolution image : 18.68 x 12.0 @ 300dpi ~ 6.6 MB
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Montreal, Canada, 2014-11-11
Montreal, Canada, 2014-06-26
Montreal, Canada, 2012-11-26
Montreal, Canada, 2012-11-26
Montreal, Canada, 2011-07-18
Montreal, Canada, 2010-04-15
Greater London, United Kingdom, 2019-11-20
Boca Raton, United States, 2019-10-25
Grand-Métis, Canada, 2019-08-21
Québec, Canada, 2018-11-06


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In 2011, green became gold. New Jersey's Green Acres Program, part of the Department of Environmental Protection, celebrated its 50th year - and we couldn't have done it without you.
Whether you enjoy riding a bike along an old canal path, walking the dog in your city park, watching songbirds flitter around a wild meadow, going for a long hike in the woods, launching your boat in a lake for a relaxing day of fishing, or simply watching your kids have fun at the neighborhood playground, your life has undoubtedly been touched many times over by the DEP's Green Acres Program.
To date, New Jersey residents can enjoy hundreds of properties either acquired or improved with Green Acres funding, which are the state's green nuggets of gold. How would you recognize a Green Acres property? Many of the sites visibly display the Green Acres sign for visitors. To learn more about Green Acres funded properties in your municipality, visit the Open Space Database. Or, visit any of New Jersey's State Parks, Forests, Recreation Areas or Marina's because Green Acres funds have been used to supplement most of these properties.
New Jersey's Green Acres Program is a national leader in open space preservation. You, our residents, have consistently declared that access to recreation facilities and nature preserves is of utmost importance - as witnessed by the consistent passage of ballot initiatives since 1961.
Celebrate this year-long golden opportunity! Visit a Green Acres property near you or sign up to receive Green Acres Anniversary e-announcements about the upcoming Green Acres photography contest, special events and other activities.
Thank you New Jersey residents and voters, for your continued vision,
support and enjoyment of the state's Green Acres Program. Green Acres…forever yours!
View the Winners from theGreen Acres Photo Contest
Department: NJDEP Home | About DEP | Index by Topic | Programs/Units | DEP Online
Statewide: NJ Home | Services A to Z | Departments/Agencies | FAQs
Copyright © State of New
Jersey, 1996–2019
Last Updated:
April 9, 2019


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What better way to ring in a new marriage than a destination wedding with your nearest and dearest? To find the perfect elopement or destination wedding package, start with a rough idea of your wedding style, location and estimated budget. Don't forget to read customer reviews to ensure you receive exactly what you're after!Destination Weddings Brisbane
Destination Weddings Insights
There are 8 Brisbane Destination Wedding suppliers from which to choose. Overall, they have an average rating of 5.0 out of 5. Couples usually enquire with 4 vendors in this category and books 5 months out from their wedding date, typically Across Australia, the average cost is $6,500. Given Australian weddings typically cost $34,055, this means Australian couples spend 20% of their wedding budget on Destination Wedding.
0 suppliers match your filters. Clear
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This website is designed for general information inquiries only. The information presented at this site is not meant to be, and should not be relied on, as legal advice. You should not act or refrain from acting concerning any legal matters based on the contents of this website.
© 2013-2019 arkansas.food-us.org Food Markets, Health Foods, Seafood-Retail, Smoking & Curing Service, Drinks, Juices, Fruits-Glace, Doughnuts


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Hi all -
It's time to put the trusty RT up for sale, as its replacement is incoming shortly.
- '05 BMW R1200RT, silver
- 52,600 miles
- set up for long distance rallies, with all of the gadgets listed below coming along with the sale, with the exception of the 2 GPS's, and the rear tail pack. I will leave the GPS mount for a Zumo 550, which is plumbed into the Autocom system.
- Will include the Autocom rider/passenger communications system, centech canbus helper, ipod/ipod mount, radar detector & mount, permanent Gerbing heat controller, Cee Bailey shield (and stock shield), custom Rick Mayer seat, the aux lighting, Touratech RT tankbag, and everything else listed below.
- Full service records available
- Ohlins shocks were just serviced/recharged at 46k miles, they feel great.
KBB has the retail price at $9,600, or $10K flat for an ESA bike. This was/is an ESA bike, but was replaced with the much more capable Ohlins equipment. But - it's tipped over twice, once while parked (darned wind!), and once at < 25 mph on a hairpin turn on the way to an LA ride a few years back. Damage was extremely minor in both cases, and cosmetics were replaced, with the exception of the outside right bag liner.
So - asking price is $9,500. This bike has been quite reliable, never having left me stranded or inconvenienced in any way, and it's served me well on 6 straight Cal24's, with nary a burble. It remains in top-notch mechanical condition, but there are heel scuffs and other minor marks on the bike that show it has been appropriately used. There is an extended warranty that is still in force on the bike through March 2013.
The rest of the thread below is copied from this thread in the bike prep area. Please contact me via PM to ask any questions or set up a time to see the bike.
It's a 2005 R1200RT. I picked it up new as a leftover in 2006. It has just about every option BMW offered at the time, save for heated seats. While the bike would be reasonably comfortable and likely competitive in the rally right off of the showroom floor, what fun would that be. So I've added a few gadgets and farkles along the way to make it just a little more capable.
From a comfort standpoint, I've got a Rick Mayer seat, which is truly all-day and all-night comfortable, compared to the stock seat that can't claim as much. The bike has a Gerbing heated clothing controller installed on the dash, with the pigtail for my heated jacket liner coming out right at the front of the seat. I can dial up anything from a little extra heat to nuclear. Between the Gerbing and the heated grips, cold simply isn't an issue. I've installed a Cee Bailey windscreen, which is significantly taller and wider than the stock BMW screen. The screen is electrically adjustable, so when it is in the all the way down position I can easily see over it, and am never looking through it in the twisty bits.
But when the road straightens out and I want some peace and quiet, or at least zero wind noise, I can move it up on the fly:
There are a few gadgets on the handlebars. From the left I have a Valentine One radar detector, a Garmin 60Cx GPS, the iPod Nano, and finally another Garmin GPS, the Zumo. The V1 needs no explanation, but the reason I have two GPS's may. Initially I had meant to replace the older 60Cx with the Zumo, but it turns out that the Cx has some very useful features that were left out of the newer gadget, so I just kept it on the bike. Also, having 2 GPS's on the dash allows me to aim them at different points during the rally. I typically have one always aimed at the next checkpoint, and the other at whatever bonus location I am currently searching for. This lets me know how I'm doing on time compared to the checkpoints, so I always know when it's time to drop everything and head straight for the barn. All of the audio from these gadgets is wired to an Autocom unit installed under the seat, so a single wire coming from there to my helmet allows me to hear all of them at once. The Autocom prioritizes the devices, so for example everything else is immediately muted the second the radar detector sounds an alert. The Zumo connects to my cell phone via Bluetooth, and allows me to make and receive calls on the fly; the audio is piped right through the Autocom to my helmet speakers/microphone. The clarity is surprisingly good, it's easy to hold conversations at speeds much faster than it may be recommended to have conversations at.
From a performance standpoint, I've swapped out the BMW's ESA shocks, which had worn out by 15k miles, and replaced them with Ohlins front and rear. The spring rate is set up for a larger than average bear, who likes to ride faster than average on twistier than average roads. It remains a smooth highway cruiser, but it is also surprisingly capable when the going gets twisty. I've run quite a few different types of tires on this bike, and my favorite, by far, are the Michelin Pilot Road 2's (now the Pilot Road 3's). The RT has a 7.1 gallon fuel capacity, and rarely gets less than 38 mpg. I usually fill up between 200 & 250 miles on a tank, but if I'm in fuel-saving mode I've gotten over 315 miles at a single stretch (on the 2007 Cal24, in fact, the leg before the checkpoint in Lone Pine). The trip computer has a miles-to-empty feature, which comes in quite handy. When it hits zero miles, which it likely will at least once during the rally, there are still 20 miles or so of gas left. Lighting is pretty important on these 24-hr rallies, so I've made some pretty substantial upgrades. Each of the 3 H7 bulbs has been swapped out with Ultrastars, which gave a nice bump in brightness and distance. I also installed two Touratech auxiliary lights; one HID on the left and one fog on the right. The HID is absurdly bright, while the fog is actually more useful for folks to see me rather than lighting up the road.
From a safety and reliability standpoint, I've added Hyperlites to the back of the bike to augment the standard brake light, these are two banks of LED's next to the license plate that flash continually when the brake light is engaged. When the 3 bags are installed on the bike, I feel that the stock light isn't as visible as I'd like, and these help.
I've posted all of these pictures (in full 10 mp resolution) , as well as a short video, up at this smugmug gallery. Here's a video of it as well:


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'Pink slime' returns to school lunches
Kids are going back to school and so is the ground beef filler dubbed "pink slime."
Thousands of schools across the U.S. rushed last year to stop feeding their students meat that contained the ammonia-treated beef, known by industry as lean finely textured beef. Their action followed a massive media uproar, which included a prime time show featuring British celebrity chef Jamie Oliver and a series of critical reports by ABC World News.
Story Continued Below
But new government data show schools in four more states have since put aside concerns and resumed buying the controversial product.
As of Sept. 3, seven states put in orders to the USDA for about 2 million pounds of beef that may contain the controversial product for the meals they serve in the 2013-14 school year. At this time last year there were only three states — Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota — that had put in orders for beef that may contain lean finely textured beef.
( Also on POLITICO: Chinese-raised chicken could be on U.S. tables soon)
But as schools across the country grapple with tight budgets, some are changing their minds and accepting the lower-price alternative product that brings down the price of the food they serve. Schools in Illinois, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Texas have now done an about face and also put in orders with the USDA for ground beef that may contain the product, government data obtained by POLITICO reveal.
It's no wonder. Lean finely textured beef brings down the cost of ground beef by about 3 percent, which can add up quickly in a program that feeds more than 31 million school children each day.
Schools are under more financial pressure than ever before, thanks in part to the new school lunch nutrition standards that hit the ground last year, observes Margo Wootan, head of nutrition policy at the Center for Science in the Public Interest. Although schools can now get six cents more per lunch to help cover the cost of more fruits, vegetables and whole grains to meet new requirements, the increase doesn't cover all the changes, she notes.
Considered by the beef industry to be an impressive innovation, lean finely textured beef is made from the remnant scraps of cattle carcasses that were once deemed too fatty to go into human food. The scraps are heated and centrifuged to reclaim bits of muscle and then the product is treated with ammonium hydroxide to kill bacteria like Salmonella and E. coli before being mixed into ground beef. Currently, USDA allows these beef products to contain up to 15 percent lean finely textured beef without labeling requirements, but last year the department said it would allow voluntary labeling.
( Also on POLITICO: U.S. households still going hungry)
Lean finely textured beef is safe, asserts Al Almanza, administrator of USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service.
"Isn't that what we want - a safe product to feed our families?" he says.
"USDA has repeatedly affirmed that lean finely textured beef is safe, wholesome, and nutritious 100% lean beef," adds Craig Letch, director of food safety and quality assurance for Beef Products Inc., the largest manufacturer of the product. "With the successful use of LFTB by [USDA's National School Lunch Program] over the last 15 years, we are confident that these states and school districts will enjoy both quality and cost improvements. This will ultimately enable them to provide more nutritious lean beef to their children."
CSPI's Wootan also doesn't have an issue with LFTB in terms of nutrition or safety. "Mostly it's just that parents thought it was gross," she says.
Diane Pratt-Heavner, a director at the School Nutrition Association, which represents school food service directors, said her group is glad the USDA offers states a choice when it comes to purchasing it and confident the product is safe.


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GelMoment Lamp Pink
This unique and stylish LED light has been designed to work specifically with the GelMoment™ Gel Nail Polish. Two indentations create maximum comfort and simplicity for placing fingers under the light. Press the button to activate the light, and once the nails are dry the light will switch off automatically. With the lights built to last for over 50 000 hours, this is the only curing light you will ever need.
All of our regular 2 finger lamps have the option of being fully powered by USB (cable included).


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Camp [6] miles north of Atlanta, Geo
May 25th 1864"
My darling,
I have been writing to the Doctor this morning and will
enclose a few lines for you. I wrote you day before yesterday but
do not expect this will be any the less welcome. We arrived at our
present camp yesterday evening, after a very dusty and unpleasant march.
The troops are somewhere about Dallas, some twenty miles from
here. No decisive engagement has yet taken place.
We had quite a heavy thunder storm last night and quite a
heavy rain for a time, enough to keep the dust down for a day or two.
I have been thinking this morning how nice the garden would
look, if you have had the same rain in Oxford; and if I was
at home, together we would have visited the garden this morning
and closely inspected its condition. After this war is over, if
I am spared, I [must] certainly have a good garden, for we both
derive so much pleasure from it. On the garden question our tastes
certainly agree and when I come to reflect, I dont think there is
many things but what we do agree on. I should much like to be with
you darling this morning and enjoy an hour or two in pleasant chat.
Going home spoils me for camp life and I feel more homesick now
than I will three months hence, I believe. The recollections of my
visit are now so fresh on my mind that my thoughts are constantly
returning to it and whilst past pleasures are pleasant to think of,
yet it is with some regret that I am seperated from them
Have you seen Mr Turnbull since I left – If you have not I
think it would be well to find out what conclusion he has come to.
He would certainly be the best person I can think of to take charge of
the house. Possibly Dr Hilgard would like to take it – Mrs H.
appeared very anxious to go housekeeping and this would be a


text:
We've collected the top four reviews, roundups and how-to articles from across the AppStorm network in April. Whether you're interested in Mac, iPhone, iPad, Web, or Android apps, there's bound to be something you didn't spot over the course of the month. Now would be a good time to explore a part of the AppStorm Network you've never seen before!
Thanks for reading AppStorm, and I hope you enjoy looking over some of our favourite posts from last month!
Best of iPad.AppStorm
iA Writer: An Astonishingly Simple Way to Write
The concept of a minimalist writing app is nothing new. These programs abound on the Mac, and it seems like everyone has a different take on why or why not these programs do or do not work, including myself. So what makes iA Writer so different?
Instead of just rambling on about it, I decided that for this review I would write the entire document in iA Writer and see how it works in the real world. Is this the best writing app for the iPad, can it possibly eclipse Pages? Let's take this show on the road and find out.
60 Stunning Wallpapers for Your iPad
One of the most compelling and immersive things about the iPad is, without a doubt, the gorgeous screen. If you're like me then when you're holding it you become completely enthralled and oblivious to the outside world.
What better for refreshing your enjoyment of your iPad than giving your lock screen and home screen an overhaul?
Today we'll be looking at 60 examples of beautiful wallpaper design, from landscapes to abstract art, each tussling for the chance to make their debut on your iPad!
The Future of Handwriting: Noteshelf (2/4)
Continuing with our series about handwriting apps, we're now going to take a look at an app that takes the functionality of the previously reviewed Penultimate even further.
Meet Noteshelf, your digital collection of notebooks of all kinds. Noteshelf has full support for image placement, icon usage, and even zoom, which allows for even greater control of your handwriting.
Read on to transform the way you take notes!
Real Racing 2: Console Gaming on the iPad
Real Racing HD. The name really says it all. This game is one of the best examples of a racing game on any platform, not just iOS. If you couple the stunning graphics with the intuitive and responsive gameplay, it's seriously hard to beat.
Today we're going to take a look at what Real Racing 2 HD has to offer, and look at why it's a shining example of iPad game design.
Best of Android.AppStorm
Customize Every Aspect of Your Android Experience
One of the biggest advantages of Android's open source roots is that users have complete control over pretty much every aspect of the operating system. If you don't like any aspect of the stock Android experience, there's a good chance that someone somewhere has already done something about it. If you own an Android phone that is not a Nexus (One or S), you have probably already experienced this. HTC's Sense UI and Samsung's TouchWiz are examples of phone manufacturers' attempts to providing device-specific Android experiences.
This is often misunderstood by the less tech-savvy, who assume that what you see is what you get. But with a few downloads, you can completely overhaul the way your phone looks and acts.
Thinking Space: Mind Mapping on the Move
Have you ever been sitting somewhere and fallen into one of those abstract productive trains of thought? Did you want a way to get these thoughts down quickly in a structured form rather than just fly back to reality and lose it all? There is an Android application that lets you do that.
Thinking Space is an innovative application which allows you to mind-map on the move and get your thoughts down quickly whilst still keeping them in a structured and organised layout. With extensive customization, and the ability to export your mindmaps, Thinking Space is hardly short of features.
Prop Up Your Phone in Style With the Clingo Universal Podium
Ever since I started getting interested in mobile technologies some five years ago, I have been looking enviously at pictures of desk stands and hoping I would find one that looked great, suited my needs, and wasn't limited to one mobile device, given how often I've switched phones over the years.
Enter the Clingo Universal Podium. I spotted a picture of it a few months ago online and I knew it would be "it": a surreal looking sturdy stand that fits any mobile device and would look perfectly cool with my HTC Desire Z.
Honeycomb: Can It Sting iOS's Rule?
Google is wanting a slice of a market which is still predominantly dominated by Apple and it hopes that the latest version of its popular Android operating system, Android 3.0 (codenamed Honeycomb), will knock Apple off that top spot. Honeycomb is the first version of Android that was designed specifically for tablets, and you really do get whiffs of this whilst scouting round their brand new OS.
Read on for a detailed review of Honeycomb, including a look at the new features, how it fares up to other versions of Android, and the crucial question: is it up to the iOS standard?
Best of iPhone.AppStorm
Pulse vs. FLUD: Two iPhone News Readers Square Off
In the past we've given very positive reviews to both FLUD and Pulse as standalone apps. Both are innovative, attractive and just plain fun to use on the iPad and both have made the transition to iPhone.
The two readers are so similar to each other that it's hard not to compare them and wonder which is the best. Today we'll answer this question by tearing them both apart feature by feature to see which app is ultimately superior.
100 Apps for Taking Notes on Your iPhone
Note-taking applications are some of the hottest items on the App Store. More and more these utilities make it easy to record data in a fast and convenient way and the fact that this information lives on our phones means that we can access it anytime we need it.
The 100 apps below will help you accomplish all your iPhone note-taking endeavors. Whether you want to collect random bits of information, remember something about a specific place or even record some thoughts about your favorite wine, we've got you covered. There's even a section containing our favorite apps so you can get a good idea of where to start!
Tweetbot: It's Time for a New iPhone Twitter App
One short year ago, Tapbots announced that they had started working on a new Twitter app: Tweetbot. Twitter had just announced that they were buying out Tweetie, and soon turned it into the new free Twitter for iPhone. Since then, Twitter has made it obvious that they want their own apps to be the only standard consumer Twitter apps, and recommended developers find other things to focus on.
Overall, though, Twitter for iPhone is still a nice app, and is quite popular. However, it has had some recent problems including the recent addition (and quick removal) of the extremely unpopular Quick Bar, which showed trending and promoted topics on the top of your tweet stream. Even though Twitter has now removed the Quick Bar, the episode has left many iPhone users considering other Twitter apps again.
How to Save a Wet iPhone or iPod Touch
You just dropped your beloved iPhone into the pool! Now what? Today we'll take a look at the best way to ensure that this isn't the end of your device.
In addition to outlining which recovery methods work best, we'll also tell you some very important actions to avoid if you don't want to ruin your phone while trying to save it!
Best of Web.AppStorm
Top 10 Apps: Web-based Task Managers
I've been jumping from app to app, for as long as I can remember, in search of the best web-based task management app. I've never really been satisfied until recently when I discovered Flow. Finding the perfect task manager is a little like searching for a unicorn — it's just not going to happen. But, you can find one that fits your tastes and needs better than any others.
Hopefully our list of the 10 best web-based task management apps will help in your search, if you haven't already found yours.
CloudApp vs Droplr: Is There a Clear Winner?
Of course not! There never is. However, by comparing them we might be able to help you make a decision better suited to your needs. I, for one, have been torn between the two for quite a long time but always stuck with Droplr. We'll take a look at the pros and cons of each and why you might want to choose one over the other. Take a look!
Flow: Task Management With Mac Sex Appeal
I've never really been happy with the task management apps I've tried. There were always features missing, a less than ideal design, over complicated, too simple and so on. I've been jumping from app to app for as long as I can remember and somehow I always end up with a desk littered in bright yellow sticky notes, covered in lists of tasks, notes and all sorts of info.
I recently spent yet more time using some of the most popular task management apps in an effort to find "the one." While there are many out there I like, only two really fit my tastes and needs — Producteev and Flow. Between those two, I decided on Flow (after using both) and I couldn't be happier with Flow.
I'll take a look at Flow, by MetaLab, and why I think I've found "the one" task management app for me.
10 Great Apps to Measure & Monitor Social Media
For long businesses have ignored the real concerns and feedback from ordinary consumers. They did things their own way without much of a risk of negative publicity. With the advent of social media, the cozy cocoon they had built has been taken down. Today, social authority is much more widely spread.
Twitter and Facebook gives every average Joe a unique voice and global reach. Brands can be built or brought down in 140 characters or less. Responsible businesses take social media seriously and after the break you will find a list of apps to monitor and measure the social pulse.
Best of Mac.AppStorm
25 Marvellous Mac Menu Bar Apps & Utilities
Today we're going to take a close look at 25 different apps that offer really useful menu bar functionality. Each has a short description, and a example video of the app in-use.
I'm not for one moment suggesting that you download and run all of these. That would be crazy. Rather I hope that you'll find one or two that particularly stand out for you, and become a permanent resident in the top-right corner of your display…
In-Depth Showdown: 5 of the Best Twitter Apps for Mac
In our world of Social Networking, Twitter has emerged as one of the most-used and most useful points of connection to our world. Whether you use Twitter as a news source, celebrity gossip engine, or for just keeping tabs on your friends, having a dedicated app on your Mac can take your experience to a new level.
In this in-depth showdown, we're going to take a look at a few of the most popular Twitter apps out there, analyse their features, and compare them against one another.
Read on past the break to see how the contenders stacked up.
Weekly Poll: Do You Use an Application Launcher?
For speedy application launching, few options are better than a piece of software such as Quicksilver, LaunchBar or Alfred. For the purists among you, OS X's built-in search tool – Spotlight – is perfectly adept at this. Just invoke it using Cmd-Space and type the name of the application you'd like to start!
But which do you prefer to use on a daily basis? Or are you perfectly happy with the OS X Dock? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
The MacBook Buyer's Screen Size Dilemma
As my three-year-old 15″ MacBook Pro starts to show its age, I'm starting to think that I'll soon be in the market for a new Apple notebook. It's been a fantastic machine to own, but after three years of lugging a 15″ portable around, I've decided that a laptop this big isn't particularly… portable.
Last year, Apple released a series of new MacBook Air machines that have received rave reviews – both in the major press, and from those equally in the know. The big dilemma here is whether an 11″ or 13″ screen makes the greatest sense. And are either of these really adequate to replace a 15″ display?
Share Your Ideas
Is there something in particular you'd like to see on the site next month? We'd absolutely love to hear your suggestions for articles, topics and giveaways. Just let us know in the comments. Thanks for reading AppStorm!


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Almost five years since Christopher Estephan became embroiled in the high-profile murder of Sydney debt collector Michael McGurk, the 24-year-old has become the fourth man to be sentenced over the crime.
Estephan showed little emotion as he was sentenced to a minimum of five years at the Supreme Court on Wednesday for being an accessory after the fact and for firearms offences.
His mother, who has supported him throughout the protracted legal proceedings, covered her mouth with her hands.
Estephan was just a "baby-faced" 19-year-old when he drove to Mr McGurk's Cremorne home on Sydney's north shore on September 3, 2009 with Haissam Safetli, now 49.
Mr McGurk was shot that evening at close range while getting the shopping out of his car.
Safetli and Estephan then sped away.
The crown initially alleged that both men were involved in the murder plot and that Estephan had known about the modified rifle sitting in the getaway ute.
But following a committal hearing last year, the murder charge against Estephan was discharged due to lack of evidence.
He pleaded guilty in 2010 to being an accessory after the fact and to unlawfully possessing two firearms.
In sentencing him, Justice Geoffrey Bellew said while it could not be found Estephan knew about the murder before the fatal shot, he actively helped conceal it.
He drove Safetli from the scene and he watched as the older man dismantled the rifle and threw parts of it into Sydney Harbour.
He then witnessed the murderer burn his clothes as well as the stolen number plates that Estephan had earlier acquired for the getaway ute.
After the murder, Estephan showed his then-girlfriend an article about the killing, and stated: "I was involved with that".
He also told another friend: "I have done something bad".
But apart from these admissions, Estephan remained quiet for some 12 months.
"He had ample opportunity to consider what had happened and specifically consider his ongoing concealment of it," Justice Bellew said.
Estephan's barrister said during a recent sentence hearing that his client was a "naive" young man who had concealed the crime due to "misguided loyalty" to the older Safetli, whom he considered a friend.
But Justice Bellew said there was no evidence to support such a finding.
Instead, he found Estephan had been motivated by money to a "large measure" – pocketing some $20,000 for his role in the crime.
Estephan was sentenced to a minimum of five years for being an accessory after the fact and for the firearm offences, and a maximum of six years and five months.
Estephan has been in custody since October 2010 and could be released as early as next October.
Safetli, ex-boxer Lucky Gattellari and Senad Kaminic have all been sentenced for their role in the killing and received heavy discounts for assisting the crown.


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The mission of the University Hospitals Authority and Trust is to advance excellence in medical research, education and care.
To that end, we proudly provide support for important educational enhancements, for key research and health care advancements and for critical capital improvement projects on the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center campus. In fact since 1998, the Trust has invested nearly half a billion dollars in a wide range of projects and programs in support of improved health for all Oklahomans.


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159: Boombox
Title text: And she's gonna feel like a jerk when she realizes it was actually Under Pressure.
We see Cueball declare his love for Megan in an oft-used setting, paying homage to similar events in classic literature, notably the "balcony scene" from William Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet (act 2, scene 2), and a similar situation in Edmond Rostand's Cyrano de Bergerac (act 3, scenes 6-7). In the former, Romeo, attempting to woo Juliet, stands beneath her balcony to profess his love for her. In the latter, an inarticulate cadet, Christian, professes his love for Roxane by arranging to use the words of a fellow soldier, Cyrano, who secretly also loves Roxane.
The 1989 movie "Say Anything..." contains a modern interpretation of this declaration of love, where John Cusack plays Peter Gabriel's "In Your Eyes" on a boombox outside the house of the girl he likes.
Parodying this iconic scene (video), Cueball is holding up a boombox (a self-contained semiportable stereo system, typically with cassette tape or CD player, and complete with integrated speakers) that is playing music while Cueball declares his love for Megan. She first is startled, embarrassed, then eventually confused by the 1990 hit single Ice Ice Baby (video) by Vanilla Ice playing on the boombox. Cueball then admits he is "not very good at this," attempting to recreate the classic romantic scene, but utterly failing to play music suitable for such an event.
The title text mentions that Cueball is actually playing "Under Pressure" (video), the 1981 hit song by Queen and David Bowie, but Megan has confused it with "Ice Ice Baby", which samples the bassline from "Under Pressure." It also may be that Cueball is having trouble holding the boombox, hence Cueball being 'under pressure.'
These two songs are again referenced together in 1561: Water Phase Diagram, and "Ice Ice Baby" is also lampooned in 210: 90's Flowchart.
This was the first time that the name "Megan" was used in xkcd. The next comic to use it was the much more depressing 215: Letting Go.
- [Megan is looking out a second story window at Cueball holding a boombox over his head. Musical Notes are coming out of it.]
- Cueball: Megan!
- Megan: Oh my god, I can't believe this is happening.
- Cueball: I love you!
- Megan: Okay, that's great. Wait a second. Is... is that... Ice Ice Baby? What the hell?
- Cueball: I'm not very good at this.
add a comment! ⋅ add a topic (use sparingly)! ⋅ refresh comments!
The issue date on this comic is not given, as i don't know one. Can anyone fix this? Rikthoff (talk) 18:08, 3 August 2012 (EDT)
This is not a reference to Romeo and Juliet. It is a reference to the 80s movie Say Anything, where John Cusack plays Peter Gabriel's "In Your Eyes" on a boombox outside the house of the girl he likes.
Just gonna leave this here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vr60RCuVUb0&feature=youtube_gdata_player 188.8.131.52 14:35, 13 October 2013 (UTC)
- I agree. The most direct reference is clearly Say Anything. The more classical references are fine to include, but given that there's no detail particularly linking them to the comic, they should be de-emphasized in favor of the movie.- jerodast (talk) 23:35, 30 March 2015 (UTC)
I think this comic should refer to the male character as "Rob", since it seems from other comics (e.g. 716: Time Machine and 782: Desecration) that Rob and Megan have a close and possibly romantic relationship. See here for more discussion on this topic. Djbrasier (talk) 13:37, 13 March 2015 (UTC)
- I disagree. In none of the comics where Megan is named has Rob been named as well. So there is no indication that they are the same. Most of the time Megan and Cueball are not "named" character. In a few (three?) Megan is used for the xkcd Megan. And out of almost a 1000 cases Cueball has only been named Rob in 9. In a few of these he is together with the xkcd Megan. Viac versa in the three with Megans name, Cueball is also there, but then he is not named Rob. --Kynde (talk) 13:15, 15 March 2015 (UTC)
- I think the name Rob should only be used when the comic specifically mentions the name, Cueball for every other generic stickman.--17jiangz1 (talk) 11:22, 10 April 2015 (UTC)
I think we need to make a distinction: the term "character" can refer to either a stick figure with distinguishing features (e.g. Black Hat, Cueball), or a real (or fictional person) which such a figure often represents (e.g. Randall, Rob). This distinction is often blurred, for example Megan is both a stick figure and a person. Hopefully this will help clear up some confusion! Richmond tudor (talk) 01:57, 16 March 2015 (UTC)
- This conversation is occurring elsewhere, please weigh in here. Djbrasier (talk) 01:34, 31 March 2015 (UTC)
The joke gets referenced again in the first image's mouse-over text in this article. 184.108.40.206 22:45, 31 May 2015 (UTC)
Whoever wrote that part about Romeo beneath Juliet's balcony is confused about what is going on in that scene. 18.104.22.168 01:39, 20 November 2019 (UTC)


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We have much pleasure in publishing the following Appeal. It is made by a well-known victim of Slavery, Linda Brent, now Harriet Jacob[s], whose narrative, entitled "Linda," every one should read. We hope her appeal will be met with a generous response.
"My object in visiting England is to solicit aid in the erection of an Orphan Asylum in connection with a home for the destitute among the aged freedmen of Savannah, Georgia. There are many thousand orphans in the southern states. In a few of the states homes have been established through the benevolence of Northern friends; in others, no provision has been made except through the Freedmen's Bureau, which provides that the orphan be apprenticed till of age. It not unfrequently happens that the apprenticeship is to the former owner. As the spirit of Slavery is not exorcised yet, the child, in many instances, is cruelly treated. It is our earnest desire to do something for this class of children; to give them a shelter surrounded by some home influences, and instruction that shall fit them for usefulness, and, when apprenticed, the right of an oversight. I know of the degradation of Slavery—the blight it leaves; and, thus knowing, feel how strong the necessity is of throwing around the young, who, through God's mercy, have come out of it, the most salutary influences.
"The aged freedmen have likewise a claim upon us. Many of them are worn out with field-labour. Some served faithfully as domestic slaves, nursing their masters and masters' children. Infirm, penniless, homeless, they wander about dependent on charity for bread and shelter. Many of them suffer and die from want. Freedom is a priceless boon, but its value is enhanced when accompanied with some of life's comforts. The old freed man and the old freed woman have obtained their's after a long weary march through a desolate way. If some peace and light can be shed on the steps so near the grave, it were but human kindness and Christian love.
"I was sent as an agent to Savannah in 1865 by the Friends of New-York city. I there found that a number of coloured persons had organized a Society for the relief of freed orphans and aged freedmen. Their object was to found an asylum, and take the destitute of that class under their care. They asked my co-operation. I promised my assistance, with the understanding that they should raise among themselves the money to purchase the land. They are now working for that purpose. Their plan is to make the institution wholly, or in part, self-sustaining. It is proposed to cultivate the land (about fifteen acres) in vegetables and fruit. The institution will thereby be supplied, while a large surplus will remain for market sale. Poultry will also be raised for the market. This arrangement will afford a pleasant occupation to many of the old people, and a useful one to the older children out of school hours. I am deeply sensible of the interest taken and the aid rendered by the friends of Great Britain since the emancipation of Slavery. It is a noble evidence of their joy at the downfall of American Slavery and the advancement of human rights. I shall be grateful to any who shall respond to my efforts for the object in view. Every mite will tell in the balance.
"Contributions can be sent to
"STAFFORD ALLEN, ESQ., Honorary Secretary, 17, Church Street.
ROBERT ALSOP, ESQ., 36 Park Road, Stoke Newington, N.
MRS. PETER TAYLOR, Aubrey House, Notting Hill, W."


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How Much of Obama's BlackBerry Does He Get to Keep?
The White House has confirmed that President Obama is keeping his BlackBerry. But there's probably more the story, and less to the BlackBerry than that.
I spoke with Vipul Bhatt, CEO of MyCaption, which writes BlackBerry software, about how they may be going about fitting the BlackBerry into the White House security regime. We're guessing here based on what Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said at a press conference last Thursday, but he thinks that the Presidential BlackBerry would be restricted to e-mail only; no texting, no web, no telephony. These are less secure and less securable applications.
Gibbs made statement that the President's communications would be restricted to a limited set of users. This indicates that the White House will implement a BlackBerry Enterprise Server to control access to the Microsoft Exchange servers for the White House. If the President's BlackBerry only sends to and receives e-mail from other users on the BlackBerry Enterprise Server then all of it will be encrypted end-to-end with very strong encryption. This is probably what they're doing and it should be secure enough; not even anyone at the mobile carrier could gain access to unencrypted communications.
There are still potential problems. For instance, BES itself has had some vulnerabilities over the years, such as this recent one. It would be hard to exploit such a thing directly in a closed network such as the White House, but it's something the IT staff will have to stay on top of. You can bet the black market price of boutique BES vulnerabilities has gone up recently.
Bhatt is encouraged that Obama is determined to stay connected and I agree it's good that he wants to retain the productivity that it provides, but I'm inclined to be conservative about productivity tools these days. There's a big difference between the controlled environment of a BlackBerry and the chaos of a general purpose desktop computer. I'm hoping we get some insight on the decisions they make and why.


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What happens in the pit area of an endurance-racing team at a major European racetrack? Lots of things, including lots of lubricants and spare nuts. Sounds like a party. No, seriously. It's actually the headquarters for quite an amazing tactical feat.
In this episode of Shakedown, Leo Parente gets an exclusive look at the tactical nerve-center behind the Gulf Racing McLaren MP4-12C GT3 team, as they compete in one of the most punishing endurance races in motorsports - last weekend's Spa 24 Hours.
Often we forget that each racing team is a self-contained unit, bringing all the equipment and materiel they need for an entire day of racing flat out (not to mention testing and qualifying). That includes fueling, lighting, tires, chairs for the crew to relax in on their off hours (and they don't get any off hours, just time off between pit stops), all of which must meet racing regulations, with officials poking around and keeping records.
What I'm saying is, racing is like a Kiss concert, only with less rubber and fewer combustibles.


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Environment Waikato holds down level of rates rise
Environment Waikato has confirmed its overall rate revenue growth for next financial year is 9.8 per cent, compared to an earlier projection of 19 per cent.
Environment Waikato has confirmed its overall rate revenue growth for next financial year is 9.8 per cent, compared to an earlier projection of 19 per cent.
Waikato motorists are being encouraged to drive with their lights on at all times to help ensure they can be seen by other road users, particularly in the region's notorious fogs.
Environment Waikato's 2007-2012 Regional Pest Management Strategy (RPMS) was officially adopted at today's council meeting in Hamilton.
Environment Waikato's 2007-2012 Regional Pest Management Strategy (RPMS), adopted today by council, takes a new approach to controlling a well established pest, possums.
Environment Waikato's 2007/08 Annual Plan, adopted by council today, introduces changes to the way pest management work is funded in our region.
Environment Waikato's council has today approved Environmental Initiatives Fund applications worth $171,000. The EIF supports community-based projects that either directly enhance the environment or encourage environmental education. Nine projects received funding in this final round of the year, bringing to 15 the total number of projects funded throughout the year.
Land owners and hunting groups will be consulted before any control of feral pigs or wild deer takes place, under Environment Waikato's revised Regional Pest Management Strategy (RPMS).
Environment Waikato chair Jenni Vernon is deeply distressed by the actions of vandals who have damaged two navigation safety signs in the Karapiro and Pauanui areas recently.
Drains and flood schemes may not be sexy, but they're essential.
Buoyant economic activity is putting increasing pressure on Environment Waikato to source staff with the specialised skills required to manage the region's rivers and catchments.
Environment Waikato is rejecting criticisms of its proposal to lift Hamilton bus fares by 15 per cent in each of the next two financial years, instead of 10 per cent as earlier planned.
The Environment Court has granted a resource consent for the proposed upgrade of Whangamata's wastewater treatment facility.
An Environment Waikato hearing committee has approved an application by Waikato District Council to build part of a 105m² deck over the coastal marine area on the western side of a new museum proposed for Raglan.
Environment Waikato's navigation safety team is looking for the owner of a silver Mazda utility vehicle it removed from the Waikato River at Tuakau today.


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There is a difference between making decisions and making choices. Choices are easier to make; usually someone else provides you with the data and you choose between options or whether to proceed with the recommended treatment plan. Decisions on the other hand involve more information and greater autonomy.
What usually happens when you get a breast cancer diagnosis involves choices. Doctors quickly provide you with treatment options and you are expected to commence with surgery, drugs or both. Most people are caught off guard by cancer. Fear and disbelief overshadow our reasoning power and we truly look to the professionals for advice and direction. Making a decision takes time, information gathering and rational review. So in the end we end up trusting our doctors and making choices based on their expertise.
The one thing few of us do initially is to step back. The urge is to move quickly to engage the disease with the belief that if we can cut it out or begin chemotherapy we can beat it. The truth is that a couple of weeks before beginning to address breast cancer will not hurt. Taking a few days to a few weeks may even mean deciding on more appropriate treatment. Asking your doctor to review the tests that will help in treatment decisions is important before deciding on the best procedures. Tumor markers can provide key information to help determine if chemotherapy is even right for you and knowing the stage and hormonal expression of the tumor is also important. In some cases, having chemo to reduce the size of the tumor before surgery may be indicated.
We live in an age where information is literally at our finger tips. You are not expected to be a doctor, but you can look up studies and craft questions that will help you decide along with your doctor on the best strategy to battle breast cancer. The point is that you aren't limited to choosing from the options presented to you the moment you are given a breast cancer diagnosis, you can take the time to make a more informed decision.
The first step is to inform your doctor that you need time and information. Tell him/her that you want to be a partner with him/her in making decisions and determining objectives. It takes courage to battle breast cancer, and in this battle you are the general. Doctors are warriors in our fight against the disease but ultimately a good doctor will respect your desire to make informed decisions


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A glorious season came to an end for the Nashoba Regional High School girls soccer team on Friday night.
The Chieftains were edged, 2-1, by Franklin, in the state championship game, at John F. Coughlin Field on the campus of Worcester State University.
It was Nashoba's only loss of the season.
The Chieftains, who were the Central Mass. Division 1 champions, finish the season with an 18-1-4 record. They were champions of the Midland League A Division with a perfect 7-0-3 mark.
Franklin finishes with a 22-0-1 record.
The Panthers opened the first half in attack mode, pressuring the Nashoba defense. With 27:12 left in the first half, Franklin took a 1-0 lead.
Panther sophomore forward Taylor Cogliano crossed the ball to senior forward Kristi Kirshe, who blasted a shot that hit the Chieftains' right post, before bouncing into the net.
Eight minutes later, at the 19:17 mark, Cogliano and Kirshe made it 2-0. This time, Cogliano passed the ball forward near midfield to Kirshe, who motored in alone from 50 yards out, putting one in the left corner of the Nashoba goal.
Trailing, 2-0, at intermission, the Chieftains came out like gangbusters in the second half, gaining a distinct territorial advantage over the final 40 minutes of play.
Senior captain and team high scorer Kim Slade, junior Cori Gillen, and sophomores Kaitlyn Thorogood and Sarah Clopeck all had strong scoring bids saved by Franklin freshman keeper Danielle Lonati.
With 14:51 left in the game, the Chieftains were awarded a corner kick. Slade took the corner and, in a bend-it-like-Beckham style, curled the ball past Lonati into the Panther net.
Trailing, 2-1, and with less than two minutes to go, Nashoba senior Julie Czapkowski just missed connecting with senior captain Laura Courtney for the tying goal.
"It was a great season and a typical one with some ups and downs," Chieftain coach Pam Vaughn said. "They (the players) put a lot of commitment into the team.
"I was not only proud of their commitment, but their effort every day," she said.


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The venture will cover digital cinema drive replication as well as distribution fulfillment and support for the region.
Technicolor has entered a new strategic partnership with Mexico-based logistics provider Contenido Alternativo, in order to offer integrated digital cinema distribution services to Latin America.
The venture will cover digital cinema drive replication as well as distribution fulfillment and support for the region and will allow the companies the simplicity of using a single provider.
Claude Gagnon [pictured], president of creative services, Technicolor Worldwide, commented: "This strategic alliance means Technicolor and Contenido Alternativo can offer studio clients a single point of contact for distribution support and in-country replication and distribution services out of Mexico. The partnership meets the high standards our clients have come to expect from Technicolor's owned and operated facilities across the globe. We are very pleased to be working with Contenido Alternativo, which has a long tradition of delivering logistics services to studios for digital cinema and 35mm prints."
Contenido Alternativo's general manager Juan Manuel Borbolla added: "By integrating our digital cinema distribution workflows and leveraging Technicolor's best-in-class replication services and our exceptional logistics services for Mexico, this partnership can offer studio clients high-quality, value-driven replication and distribution fulfilment services without the complexity of managing multiple vendors."
Universal Pictures International will be the first film distribution company in Latin America to work with the partnership.
Mauricio Duran, senior VP marketing and distribution Latin America of Universal Pictures International, said: "They are thinking one step ahead, providing us with an integral service that covers both digital duplication and logistics, which is where the market is headed. We are confident that their leadership and their entrepreneurial vision is not only a benefit for us, but the expectation is that they will be able to replicate their business model in other Latin American countries. Technicolor and Contenido Alternativo are definitely prepared to cover the upcoming demands of the market."


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Nate Berg
Nate Berg is a freelance reporter and a former staff writer for CityLab. He lives in Los Angeles.
Public transit service disruption just got a whole new meaning.
Officials at the San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District have adopted a new policy that determines when the agency can disable the antennas that provide cell phone service to its underground stations. The new rules clarify that BART can disrupt cell service to protect public safety and when "there is strong evidence of imminent unlawful activity," as the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
The policy limits temporary shutdowns to "the most extraordinary circumstances" posing danger to public safety, destruction of BART property or "substantial disruption" of service. It includes two statements suggested by the FCC late Wednesday in response to BART requests for feedback.
The FCC, in a phone call, asked BART's staff to add wording that "recognizes that any interruption of cell phone service poses serious risks to public safety" as well as a section requiring "a determination that the public safety benefits outweigh the public safety risks of an interruption."
It's all familiar territory for BART, which embroiled itself in controversy in August when it shut down cell service in underground stations in San Francisco to try to prevent communications that were leading to a protest and forced interruption of train service. For three hours on August 11, BART turned off its antennae in an effort to prevent the organizers of the protest from coordinating efforts to stop trains. The protests stemmed from the shooting death of a man by BART police earlier in the summer, which many saw as an extreme use of force.
The new policy outlines when and how the agency can halt service in the future, mainly by focusing on the potential safety concerns that could result from people disrupting trains. Its new rules [PDF] say that cell phone service should be interrupted "only in the most extreme circumstances," which could include the use of cell phones as "instrumentalities in explosives; to facilitate violent criminal activity or endanger District passengers, employees or other members of the public such as hostage situations; and to facilitate specific plans or attempts to destroy District property or substantially disrupt public transit services."
In addition to soliciting input from the FCC, BART also received advice from the American Civil Liberties Union on the policy, according to this post from Tech President. But the language remains fairly vague in terms of how these threats are determined. Given the amount of negative attention BART received when it cut cell service in August, it could be expected to use these new powers sparingly. But the mere fact that a public transit agency has an official policy about when to prevent its users from accessing communication networks should, on its face, be concerning.
Photo credit: Robert Galbraith / Reuters
The Western New York city possesses a distinct mix of weather, geography, and infrastructure that could make it a potential climate haven. But for whom?
At the Cascadia Rail Summit outside Seattle, a fledgling scheme to bring high-speed rail from Portland to Vancouver found an enthusiastic reception.
Most users of micromobility devices like dockless scooters and e-bikes are young men. Fixing that gender gap may take more than just adding safety features.
By tightening food stamp work requirements, the Trump administration limits states' ability to aid high-unemployment areas. And more regulations are coming.
Thanks to the internet, every hour is a potential working hour.