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KDE Users Database
A few days ago, we've opened a new section on our Polish K Desktop Environment website called "KDE Users Database". This is not only for Polish users, it's international. After some time it'll be good rate of KDE users number all over the world. Every registered user can save generated certificates and put them on his desktop or website. So, let's register! Please note, that this is not an official KDE users counter - but, maybe in future - it might change.
Re: OMG the cracksmokers hit the net again...
I value this as a "yes" on both questions, since there was no disagree from you.
Better stay away from KDE as we don't need people like you.
By ca at Sat, 2004/06/05 - 5:00am
Re: OMG the cracksmokers hit the net again...
Please don't assume you can speak for KDE as whole. As stated before, KDE is politically neutral (at least as far as it doesn't directly involve the project itself.) Sure, sometimes a political comment of sorts (or something that can be interpretted like that) slips through, but that only reflects the opinion the one stating it, not of the project as a whole. It's usually quickly remidied.
By Andre Somers at Sat, 2004/06/05 - 5:00am
No fix in sight ...
Hello? www.kde.org shouldn't be leaving the link on their website as long as United States and Iraq aren't added. This will continue to offend more people.
By Day 2 at Fri, 2004/06/04 - 5:00am
Re: No fix in sight ...
>Hello? www.kde.org shouldn't be leaving the link on their website as long as United States and Iraq aren't added. This will continue to offend more people.
Hello indeed... want something offending?
ps. There is no link from www.kde.org to users.kde.pl, only from dot.kde.org, you illiterate inbred imbecile!
By Have a nice cup... at Fri, 2004/06/04 - 5:00am
Listen please...
Hello !
Look on users.kde.pl now. Don't be so inpatient and forgive me ! I wasn't at home for 3 days, and this misunderstanding hasn't been maked purposely ! Don't call it "childish" or connect it to politics, it's not that !
Once more, forgive me, but for now it's obviously corrected on site.
By Rael at Fri, 2004/06/04 - 5:00am
Re: Listen please...
s/hasn't been maked/hadn't been made...
By Rael at Fri, 2004/06/04 - 5:00am
Re: Listen please...
Well done. It's a nice project. A shame this all got a bit off-topic for a while. I see you're even accepting ladies as members now :)
By Henrik at Fri, 2004/06/04 - 5:00am
Re: Listen please...
Lots of "thank you" for the aclaration.
That was what was refraining me from spreading the link. Sorry for the confusion, but it must be clear that KDE is not involving on political statements outside of computer tech and science issues. This was just too (accidentally) direct to ignore.
By Cloaked Penguin at Sat, 2004/06/05 - 5:00am
Re: Listen please...
OK, understood of course.
Now it's clear, I think so :)
Re: Listen please...
Users should apologising to you, not the other way around.
By John Thanking Freak at Sat, 2004/06/05 - 5:00am
Re: Listen please...
Don't let all this negative feedback discourage you. You provide a great service, and made an honest but slight mistake, a lot of people got paranoid and it got out of hands for a little while. It's still a great service, and I registered promptly, as did all my KDE-using friends. Thanks.
By Haakon Nilsen at Sat, 2004/06/05 - 5:00am
Re: Listen please...
Hi Rael
Don't worry about the negative remarks - folks tend to expect things to be fixed immediately, forgetting that developers have lives outside kde (well, some anyway :)
I'm sure everyone who moaned will be man/woman enough to say thanks now.
Keep up the good work
By Richard Moore at Sat, 2004/06/05 - 5:00am
Re: Listen please...
Thanks for Your indulgence, it's important for me :)
By the way, I added few minutes ago some statistics for site, which you can use for your websites (by XML file - http://users.kde.pl/?page=xml) :) These are only numbers, but - obviously - it's the target of my project :) I must create some kind of changelog, because I'm adding new functions and killing new bugs average few times a week.
Yes, I was outsite KDE for few days - I was among the mountains (yeess....I love them !) and trees (them too :) )...I feel like at beginning of my life (hmm. do I remember it ?;) ) - this trip relaxed me very much, that's what I need :)
Re: Listen please...
Thanks Rael.
Ignore the idiots, xenophobia and paranoia often lead people to jump to conclusions just so thaey have an excuse to attack somebody. You're just the latest innocent victim. They don't speak for the majority of KDE users or Americans.
By Jim at Sat, 2004/06/05 - 5:00am
Re: Listen please...
Once again I can say - thanks.
Re: Listen please...
I know it sounded kinda negative, but I'm certain most people who commented were, as I was, just confused. It seemed like an honest mistake, and I'm glad it was an honest mistake.
Now I can add myself to that list! Huzzah!
By jameth at Tue, 2004/06/08 - 5:00am
Re: Listen please...
I went to sign up, typed 'Unit' in the combo-box and got nothing. I was trying to figure out why it wasn't there when I realized it was just entered as USA. I had quite a laugh at myself.
By jameth at Tue, 2004/06/08 - 5:00am
Statistics by country
It could be good to add statistics with the countries with more KDE users IMHO ;-)
By Pedro Jurado Maqueda at Fri, 2004/06/04 - 5:00am


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We all know about echolocation, but way more is happening when a bat takes flight, and some bats don't echolocate at all. So how do they have so much precision in their flying and what's different about bats and birds?
SmarterEveryDay looks into the bone structure of bat vs. bird wings and describes how bats have more mass in their wings compared to birds, so their body positions are more influenced by the inertia of their wings. This video even includes some footage of a robobat being developed at Brown. Huh. So this is what it feels like to be crushed under the weight of too many Batman jokes. [SmarterEveryDay]

subset: commoncrawl


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Costa Rica is not famed for the variety or quality of its cheese and a first glance at the vast slabs of white cheese on the stalls is not encouraging.
Vast slabs of smoked white cheese do not offer encouragement either, while the yellow slabs of what is fancifully called mozzarella would have a native of Naples turn her face to the wall.
There are attempts at hard cheese, by the near monopoly dairy companies Dos Pinos and Monteverde...but the resemblance to the names claimed on the packaging is distant and the prices such as to induce apoplexy.
The upmarket supermarkets have imported cheese on their shelves.....and are proud of their range of Gouda....but on the whole the picture is grim for cheeselovers.
I have found one man making super European style cheese in the hills round the Turrialba volcano....though the sulphur fumes from its increased activity make him doubt for how much longer his pastures will be fit for grazing.....but apart from that I now rely on buying full cream cheese in rounds from a lady at the Plaza Viquez market, draining it, then washing it in fortified wine or rum every day and keeping it in the 'fridge betweentimes, wrapped in cheesecloth.
Three months later I have something worth eating.
So, given the situation, the trip to France and the U.K. will be a chance to eat proper cheese again, and to buy to bring back.
I thought it was all so easy...
Goat cheese logs - the cheapo cheapo ones from Super U - which keep for ages until becoming deliquescent enough to eat, the skin peeling off naturally;
Fournol in its round russet coat;
Maroilles, that deep red brick with a smell that would flype your socks;
St. Agur, the creamy blue so disdained by cheese snobs;
Buy whole or halves of each for the suitcase and I was away.
That was it...until you chimed in and now, even before I hit a cheese counter, the claims of Pont l'Eveque, Comte, Bleu de Sassenage, Bleu de Bresse, Bleu d'Auvergne, Cantal and St. Nectaire are before me...not to speak of my since thinking of Salers, Fleur d'Aunis and the Mizotte du Vendee, let alone contemplating buying Tomme de Laguiole to make aligot.
My area of France was not blessed as regards cheese....goat cheese aplenty from local suppliers, the discs of 'crotte de chevre,' if allowed to dry out, being dropped into eau de vie for a month or two and eaten as an aperitif, but no specialist cheese shop within easy reach and the supermarkets distinctly variable as, like the fish and charcuterie sectors, these were run on sub franchises...obliged to take and present the 'promotions' of the central supermarket supply chain, be it Leclerc, Super U or Champion, but for the rest being left to their own initiative.
So I could be happily buying a soft textured tomme de chevre for months, then on my next visit find that the only goat offering was a chalky white ball from the Netherlands. The franchise would have changed hands.
Not that the Dutch can't make good cheese...it just never seems to make it to France...any more than do the wonderfully aromatic Herve, the creamy Passendale and the sharp Brusselae Kaas from Belgium.
The markets?
There was one good stall in the local town market whose Roquefort wasn't over salty and who sold a good ewe's milk tomme...d'Agour, if I remember rightly.....and whose Camembert was never ammoniac. But he was pricey.....and I only went to the market there for the stall selling small purple artichokes for deep frying.
Friends with a holiday house nearby used to go every week while they were in residence, going home laden with small rounds of Camembert to last them until the next trip.....returning once with proof positive that when the cheese man said his Camembert was made from unpasteurised milk...lait cru...it was.
Although having made his pile and retired, our friend used to like to give a hand in the family business and would cover for illnesses and holidays.
Working thus on the lorry reception area, he provided himself with a snack.
A bun with a whole small Camembert within.....not for him 'society sandwiches - six to a mouthful'.
He was enjoying his snack when a lorry arrived, so he put the bun on his desk to enjoy later and went to see to the reception procedures.
Returning some ten minutes' later, the bun and contents were where he had had left them, but his appetite had gone, for the bun lay open, two crescents marking his first bite, well into the cheese, where he now observed that maggots in quantity were disporting themselves.
So you will understand if I don't buy any Camembert.
In any case, I have to leave room for the Stilton....and the Wensleydale....and perhaps a proper Gorgonzola.


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Oracle Food and Beverage is the preferred point of sale solution for Quiznos internationally. See how they are serving fresh, toasty sandwiches faster than ever and managing labor, inventory, and other business-critical data with InMotion Mobile.
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Restaurant Brands NZ discusses controlling costs with Oracle. Extending beyond point of sale, the solution includes integrated applications such as inventory, labor, and loss prevention to help maximize profits.


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|For Monster Cock Week, I saved the two biggest cocks I had on hand for a titanic match!
Bentley's cock is HUGE and I swore it was a dead ringer for Vander's cock, But I think Vander has some size on him. I don't know what Vander has been eating, but his dick seems even bigger these days. Mid-20's growth spurt? When I lined the two of their cocks together, I think for the first time for Bentley, his cock wasn't the biggest on set.
Not that Vander minded. He gets all piggy bottom and seeing a cock nearly his dimension, he totally wanted to try it on for size!
But first, it was time to get Bentley to suck dick. Now I don't know what order his other videos are airing, and I aired this video out of order for the Marathon, but Bentley has yet to get a cock in his mouth.
This time out I was determined to get him to suck dick and even kiss! He gets right down to it, and I believe does a stellar job. Maybe he was imagining he could finally suck his own dick?
Vander was extra hard when he realized it was Bentley's first time with a cock in his mouth. And it is no quickie blow job either. Bentley suck on his fat nob a long time. I am sure his jaws were aching!
I love that Vander's cock is a bit bigger and Bentley finally has to worship a cock bigger than his own.
Vander does return the favor and sure enough Bentley's cock reaches full mass, giving Vander a run for his money. The two end up on the floor sucking each other off, both looking like they have a baseball bat in their mouths.
Vander finally climbs on top of Bentley, slowly sliding his ginormous cock in his hole. It takes them a bit to find a rhythm but they get the hang of it.
Then it is up to the bed, and we get to witness one of the best parts of Vander as bottom. His dick is just bone hard from the boning! No soft bottom boy here!
So it was easy for Bentley to fuck the cum out of Vander and his cock shoots a might big load. Bentley follows up, breeding Vander like a pro.
Bentley then straddles Vander's face and makes him clean up his cummy cock, while fingering his cummy hole!
Seed Points Appreciated!!!
|2013-07-07 06:46:09
|489.58 MB (513,363,312 bytes)
|Num files
|1 files


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$ 367.00
Mitchell Dillman stands behind all of his creations. We understand that sometimes things just don't work out. If you're not completely happy with your purchase for any reason, just ship it back the same way it came within 14 days, and you will receive a full refund of the purchase price.
Please note - we do not reimburse the outgoing or return shipping charges. View full Return Policy here.
A modern take on a classic log furniture design, these indoor/outdoor home furnishings were created "literally from sitting on a pile of logs", says designer Mitchell Dillman, the founder and creative energy behind Colorado Rock'N Logs ("CRL") "We've noticed that folks typically smile from ear to ear once they've nestled into the 'comfort contour' seats". This handsome log on steel furniture is built strong, sturdy and made to last. First in a series from CRL, the Cabin Collection is made for the rustic-minded lifestyle. Featuring 're-purposed' logs from southern Colorado burn scars and Colorado Beetle Kill Pine to bring a unique quality to each piece of furniture. The durable Cabin Collection will last for years left to the elements and longer if used indoors.
H 32" / W 24" / D 26" / Seat H 16"
Colorado Beetle Kill Pine (BKP) or All American Fir lumber, finished with a high quality transparent log stain and sealer. Fastened with ⅜" black oxide square head lag bolts to 1" square, 16 gauge steel finished with the highest quality direct to metal paint your choice of black or bronze. (Some assembly required.)


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text:
Britain has voted to leave the EU but how did we and our neighbours vote for the momumental decision?
Prime Minister David Cameron is to step down by October as a result after the UK voted to leave the European Union.
Speaking outside 10 Downing Street, he said he would attempt to "steady the ship" over the coming weeks and months but that "fresh leadership" was needed.
The PM had urged the country to vote Remain but was defeated by 52% to 48% despite London, Scotland and Northern Ireland backing staying in.
So how did we and our neighbours vote? We've pulled together results and reaction from our sister papers to bring you a comprehensive round-up:
Luton voted to leave, full figures.
Central Beds voted to leave, full figures.
Bedford voted to leave, full figures here.
Aylesbury Vale voted to leave, full figures here.
Aylesbury Vale District Council leader: "Cause for concern, but we must all work together"
Independent group spokesman: "Most exciting time of my life"
Bucks County Council leader: 'Good news but we need a period of calm"
Opposition leader: "We've gone from being the oldest democracy to the stupidest"
Local UKIP leader Chris Adams: "The ordinary man in the street won this referendum"
Milton Keynes
Milton Keynes voted to leave, full figures here.
MK MP warns of 'economic turbulence'
MK business bosses: 'We now need stability and clarity'
Kettering, Northampton, Corby, South Northants, Daventry, East Northants and Wellingborough all voted to leave, full figures here.
Dacorum narrowly voted to leave, full figures here.
Cherwell narrowly voted to leave while West Oxfordshire voted to remain, full figures here.
Warwick voted to remain while Rugby and Stratford voted to leave, full figures here.


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Rodney, Mariners officially ink two-year deal
Veteran reliever expected to solidify back end of 'pen, reunites with McClendon
PEORIA, Ariz. -- Free-agent closer Fernando Rodney signed a two-year, $14 million deal with the Mariners, the club announced on Thursday.
In a non-related move, outfielder Franklin Gutierrez told the club that he would skip the season because of a relapse of a gastrointestinal issue that caused him to miss all but 41 games last season. Gutierrez was placed on the restricted list, opening up a spot on the 40-man roster for the right-handed Rodney.
Rodney, who will turn 37 in March, saved 85 games and posted a 1.91 ERA over the past two seasons with the Rays. He should help solidify the back end of the Mariners' bullpen.
"Rodney is signed and we're extremely happy to have him," manager Lloyd McClendon said. "He certainly solidifies the back end of our bullpen.
"We were together in Detroit. We obviously went to a World Series together [in 2006]. I know this guy. He's a tremendous frontline pitcher. He's got great character. I think the fans of Seattle are going to love him."
Seattle has two returning relievers -- right-handers Danny Farquhar and Tom Wilhelmsen -- who combined to save 40 games last season, though both had ERAs above 4.00 for the season.
Rodney's agreement could earn him up to $15 million over the two seasons if he meets incentives.
Rodney was in camp and at his locker as pitchers and catchers reported on Thursday, and he participated in drills as soon as pending blood work from his physical had cleared.
After nine years with the Tigers and Angels, Rodney had a breakout year with the Rays in 2012, when he racked up 48 saves with a 0.60 ERA, striking out 76 batters in 74 2/3 innings to earn his first All-Star Game berth, the American League Comeback Player of the Year Award and a fifth-place finish in the AL Cy Young Award voting.
He was also a key member of last year's victorious Dominican Republic team in the World Baseball Classic, saving every one of the D.R.'s victories.
Otherwise, Rodney was not as overpowering last season, but still recorded 37 saves and a 3.38 ERA with 82 strikeouts in 66 2/3 innings.
For his career, he has a 3.70 ERA and 172 saves with 551 strikeouts in 571 1/3 innings.
Rodney earned $2.5 million last year with the Rays and was regarded as one of the premier relievers on the free-agent market. Rodney said he also had offers from the Orioles, Mets and Indians, but ultimately decided on the Mariners.
"It feels good to be here and be part of a club with all the guys they have here," he said. "We have a lot of talented young guys. I might be the piece that these guys need to compete in the division. You know my situation. I try to close the game, come into the game in those situations. When the game is on the line I try to do my job. But we have the pieces here along with a good manager. The longer everybody will be together will just make it better."


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16 December 2009
Hendrick's Gin
In this scene, William Powell (as Nick Charles) lectures the bartenders on martini theory before sampling his fifth of the evening, just a warmup to #6. A fan of the shake method, Nick says, "The important thing is the rhythm! Always have rhythm in your shaking. Now a Manhattan you shake to fox-trot time, a Bronx to two-step time, a dry martini you always shake to waltz time."
I considered counting up how many cocktails and other drinks he consumed during the course of the 90 minute film, but he was never empty-handed and frequently referred to prior and subsequent beverages. What does he do if Nora wakes him up in the middle of the night? Fortunately there's a little bar right in the bedroom! I'm pretty sure that Asta the dog was the only sober character.
While I don't advocate Nick's dawn-to-dusk drinking, I did find myself craving a martini during the movie. And since I was housesitting at Paul's, I helped myself to a bit of the Hendrick's Gin, made in Ayrshire, Scotland (in the southwest near Glasgow). Gins are made with a wide variety of spices and obscure ingredients left over from the old days of Dutch expeditions to the tropics, but Hendrick's is unique. Its flavor and aroma come from rose petals and cucumbers in addition to the more traditional coriander and juniper. It's smoother and has a rounder mouthfeel than most gins, and the scent is so alluring you can sip it over an hour and never get bored.
I made a 4:1 martini with Hendrick's and the European-style Noilly Prat (stirred slowly... adagio). And if I garnish Hendrick's with anything, it's going to be a thin slice of cucumber. I think olives would clash, and lemon peel would obscure some of the more delicate aromas. The cucumber is mild enough to just enhance the flavors already there, and it floats gently on the surface of the cocktail.
If you haven't tried Hendrick's, or if you've been turned off by gin in the past, I'd urge you to give it a try. Many of your better restaurant bars carry it (in fact, that old-fashioned medicine bottle is a great sign that you're at a quality bar), so order a martini or a shot. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.
Still image ©1934 MGM.
6 comments:
- fredric koeppel said...
Hendricks is one of our favorite gins, along with Junipero, from Anchor Brewing in San Francisco. (also look for their Old Potrero rye.) these are not cheap gins, of course, so we keep a bottle of Amsterdam in the freezer just in case.
- 16 December, 2009 04:47
- Michael Hughes said...
I adore that Hendricks. We keep a bottle on hand at the house at all times. It was the gin that actually got me into drinking gin. Great post.
- 16 December, 2009 05:56
- Samantha Dugan said...
Another, "Hooray for Hendricks" here, such a lovely, gentle Gin with a soft, full texture. I don't always have a bottle in the house but only because when I do, the damn thing is gone far too quickly!
- 16 December, 2009 06:25
- Benito said...
I've yet to try the Junipero--putting it on the list of things to try at some point.
Sam & Michael,
It's almost dangerous how soft and tasty Hendrick's is. I even like to have a little of another gin first (like the aforementioned New Amsterdam) to savor the contrast.
- 16 December, 2009 11:21
- Sydney Hotels said...
WOW ! A totally different and most pleasant taste, and no bitter aftertaste - I could have drunk the whole bottle.
- 03 January, 2010 04:05
- Jessie said...
Meeting new people and unrevealed the mysteries of a city is much more interesting while backpacking.
Hostel Sao Paulo
- 28 February, 2011 09:38


text: Aquarium News RSS All Animals Conservation Education Events Exhibits Leadership Rescues Research 4/24/2014 National Aquarium Hosts Annual Fort McHenry Field Day, Celebrating 15 Years of Cleaning Up the National Monument 4/23/2014 National Aquarium's Sarah K. Elfreth Receives The Daily Record's "20 in Their Twenties" Award Government Affairs Director Sarah K. Elfreth has been selected as a 2014 recipient of The Daily Record's "20 in Their Twenties" award 4/23/2014 National Aquarium Announces New Board Members The National Aquarium is pleased to announce the election of four new members to its National Aquarium Board of Directors. 4/22/2014 National Aquarium Encourages Public to Consider the Ocean on Earth Day Earth Day isn't just about the surfaces on which we stand. This year, the National Aquarium is urging the public to consider the other 71% of the planet: water. 4/7/2014 National Aquarium Lecture Series Features Marine Filmmaker Bob Talbot 2014 Marjorie Lynn Bank Lecture Series will feature world-renowned marine photographer, filmmaker and environmentalist, Bob Talbot 3/13/2014 Lt. Governor Brown Kicks Off Community-Based Environmental Clean Up Effort in Baltimore Through Small Watershed Action Plan, Brooklyn/Curtis Bay Residents Being Trained To Identify and Assess Environmental Hazards In Their Communities 3/11/2014 National Aquarium Launches Behind-the-Scenes Veterinarian Immersion Tour Tour offers guests up-close look at the medical care provided to close to 20,000 animals that call the Aquarium home. 3/10/2014 Maryland Legislators Test Their Taste Buds The National Aquarium and Factors Row will test legislators taste buds as they try two crab cakes, one made with imported crabmeat and the other made with local Maryland crabmeat. Will they be able to guess which is which? 3/5/2014 National Aquarium Volunteers Log Record Number of Volunteer Hours National Aquarium volunteers have contributed to a record-setting 124,390 hours logged at the Aquarium in 2013 - a four percent increase over 2012's total volunteer hours. 2/27/2014 National Aquarium Receives Highest Rating from Charity Navigator National Aquarium has been awarded the coveted 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, America's largest independent charity evaluator, for its sound fiscal management practices and commitment to accountability and transparency Back 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 Next


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This report presents the revised draft of CPSC's Information Quality Guidelines. This revision incorporates applicable comments received from the public and OMB, as well as other changes to fulfill OMB and CPSC requirements for efficiency and effectiveness.
The U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has issued government-wide information quality guidelines under Section 515 of the Treasury and General Government Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2001 (Public Law 106-554). The OMB guidelines have been prepared to ensure and maximize the quality, utility, objectivity, and integrity of information disseminated by federal agencies.
These guidelines direct all Federal agencies to implement their own implementing guidelines by October 1, 2002. OMB's guidelines were published in the Federal Register on September 28, 2001 (66 FR 49718) and updated on January 3, 2002 (67 FR 369). A corrected version of the guidelines was published in the Federal Register on February 22, 2002 (67 FR 8452). In response to the OMB directive, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued its Draft Information Quality Guidelines for public comment on April 20, 2002 (67 FR 21222). These draft guidelines contained the scope of the guidelines, description of CPSC's information quality standards, and an administrative mechanism by which the public can seek correction of information disseminated by the CPSC.
CPSC works to save lives and keep families safe by reducing the risk of injuries and deaths associated with consumer products. CPSC does this by:
- Developing voluntary standards with industry;
- Obtaining the recall of products or arranging for their repair;
- Issuing and enforcing mandatory standards or banning consumer products if no feasible standard would adequately protect the public;
- Conducting research on potential product hazards; and
- Informing and educating consumers through the media, state and local governments, private organizations, and by responding to consumer inquiries.
In meeting its mission CPSC disseminates information in a number of ways, including:
- Press releases and video news releases
- Publications
- Product safety alerts
- Special technical reports
- Advisory opinions
- Regulatory guidance letters
This information is used by the media, the public as well as by other government agencies, to reduce the risk of product-related death and injuries. Businesses use the information to assure that products they manufacture or import comply with the requirements of applicable regulations and to discharge the various obligations that the laws the Commission administers impose on firms.
The CPSC Information Quality Guidelines substantially follow the provisions of the OMB guidelines referenced above. Under the OMB information guidelines three aspects of quality must be considered: utility, objectivity, and integrity. In addition, for influential data, higher standards of transparency and reproducibility must be met. CPSC's guidelines use the definitions of the key statutory terms such as "information," "disseminate," "utility," "objectivity," "integrity," "influential," "transparency," and "reproducibility" as defined in the OMB guidelines. For the purpose of these guidelines, most of the information disseminated by CPSC does not meet the standard of influential as defined by the OMB guidelines. Each of these aspects of quality is described below.
Utility involves the usefulness and availability of the information for its intended use. Utility is achieved by continuously monitoring information and developing new information sources or by revising existing information collection methods, models, and information products where appropriate.
CPSC efforts to ensure the usefulness of information include:
- Internal analyses and review of information requirements and products
- Discussions with policy-makers and analysts at all levels of government
- Consultations with data providers and data users
- Preparation of "plain English" guides and summaries of information
- CPSC efforts to ensure the availability of information include:
- Participation in industry-sponsored and government-sponsored meetings, conferences and workshops
- Exploring and implementing multiple vehicles with which to disseminate information
- Providing expanded Web site access to publicly available information
Objectivity involves a focus on ensuring that information is accurate, reliable, and unbiased and that information products are presented in an accurate, clear, complete, and unbiased manner. Objectivity is achieved by using reliable data sources and sound analytical techniques, by having information products prepared by qualified people using proven methods, and by carefully reviewing the content of all information products.
- Use of reliable data sources
CPSC is a data-driven agency and bases its decisions on the data it collects to assess the causes and scope of product-related injuries and deaths. Many of the information products disseminated by CPSC are created using information in death, injury and compliance action databases. These databases contain information used to perform standards effectiveness studies, special investigation studies, emerging hazard evaluation and other technical analyses. CPSC conducts ongoing internal quality assurance reviews of information in its database systems. These reviews include checks for accuracy, completeness, and consistency to ensure high quality. Often these databases contain information from external sources. Data and procedures are reviewed to ensure that data from external sources are properly transferred into the database.
When analysis requires using samples from databases, CPSC employs statistically acceptable methods to design and select the samples. Data samples are designed and compiled by staff knowledgeable about the content, structure, and limitations of the administrative data files employed. In addition, those staff members maintain working relations with agency personnel who create, update, and maintain those files to ensure that their understanding of files is current and complete. When information products require administrative files linked to external data sources, CPSC employs sound procedures for extracting and linking data from external sources based on a thorough understanding of the relevant components of the data sources.
Occasionally CPSC conducts surveys of product use, customer satisfaction, and service quality. CPSC employs and documents accepted professional standards and practices for all survey activities, including sample frame development, sample design, questionnaire design and testing, data collection, analysis of sampling and coverage errors, imputation of missing data, weighting, and variance estimation. CPSC surveys follow guidelines and policies set forth in the Paperwork Reduction Act and other regulations related to the conduct of government surveys. CPSC is already required to demonstrate in their Paperwork Reduction Act submissions to OMB the `practical utility' of a proposed collection of information the CPSC plans to disseminate. Additionally, for all proposed collections of information that will be disseminated to the public, CPSC should demonstrate in their PRA clearance submissions to OMB that the proposed collection of information will result in information that will be collected, maintained, and used in a way consistent with OMB and CPSC information quality guidelines.
CPSC information products may also include data produced or maintained by other U.S. government agencies or other private organizations. All such information is assessed by CPSC prior to its use. Third party information may be included in information that CPSC disseminates. Although third-party sources may not be directly subject to OMB's information quality guidelines, when used by CPSC to develop information products, this information must follow CPSC's information quality guidelines.
- Use of sound analytic techniques
CPSC analytical reports are prepared using a variety of analytical techniques including simple tabulations with descriptive summary statistics and multivariate statistical methods. For example, these reports can include integrating injury and incident information with laboratory testing and analysis, assessment of human exposure to various risks, and correlation of human behavior and risk. Analytical techniques are reviewed by qualified staff for their appropriateness to the data and the analysis being conducted and are clearly identified in reports.
CPSC also conducts economic studies, developing injury cost projections to estimate potential benefits associated with CPSC actions. These projections are based on standard techniques and utilize the most relevant and up-to-date information available.
CPSC occasionally utilizes models to conduct engineering analyses and forecast product injury information. Most models utilized by CPSC have been developed by CPSC staff or by CPSC contractors under direction from CPSC. When CPSC uses a proprietary model from another organization, CPSC undertakes an analysis of the model to ensure its appropriateness before including the model results as part of a CPSC information product. CPSC models have detailed documentation describing the goals and objectives of the model, the data sources being used and the methodologies and assumptions employed. CPSC models are based on best judgments of current and future behavioral relationships and methods of projection. The models are periodically updated to reflect input from internal and external reviews and research findings on behavioral relationships. Any updates are documented.
- Preparation of information products
CPSC information products are based on internal data and analyses, surveys, models, and external information sources. Appropriate procedures are used in all steps of the information product preparation process. Documentation available with CPSC information products is designed to improve understanding of the information so that users may assess the suitability of the information for their needs. Reports are prepared by staff using a variety of sound analytical techniques ranging from simple tabulations and descriptive summary statistics to multivariate statistical methods and econometric models. Staff members preparing analytic reports and policy studies are knowledgeable in their use of relevant administrative data files, external data sources, and projections from simulation models.
- Review prior to dissemination
Information products are reviewed by technically qualified staff prior to dissemination to ensure their quality. Products that are considered to be more technically complex may also be reviewed by independent expert reviewers to provide additional perspective and expertise. The level of review an information product is subjected to prior to dissemination is determined by the characteristics of the product and CPSC-established review procedures. (See 15 U.S.C. 2055(b)(6) and CPSC Directive 1450.2.) Analytical techniques are clearly described and data sources are identified in reports. When analyses are based on projections from models, the assumptions used to produce the projections are identified, as well as the rationale for the assumptions used and the impact of using alternative assumptions. By statute, if the information disseminated by CPSC publicly identifies the manufacturer of a product, CPSC provides the manufacturer with the opportunity to comment on the accuracy of the information.
- Policy for correcting errors and revising previously disseminated information
CPSC's information may be revised after initial dissemination to reflect more complete information, corrections or other changes. CPSC information products identify information that is preliminary and expected to be revised as well as revisions made to information previously disseminated.
Integrity, as used in the OMB quality guidelines, refers to the security of information from unauthorized access or revision to ensure that the information is not compromised through corruption or falsification. CPSC is highly protective of the confidentiality of information it holds through its policies and practices.
To ensure the integrity of its administrative information, CPSC will employ rigorous controls that have been identified as representing sound security practices. CPSC has in place programs and policies for securing its resources as required by the Government Information Security Reform Act (P.L. 106-398, title X, subtitle G). Those security procedures address all major components of information security and apply to all CPSC operating components. In addition, CPSC is subject to statutory requirements to protect the sensitive information it gathers and maintains on individuals. Those requirements are contained in the following documents:
- Privacy Act of 1974
- Freedom of Information Act
- Computer Security Act of 1987
- Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circulars A-123, A-127, and A-130
- Government Information Security Reform Act
- Federal Managers' Financial Integrity Act (FMFIA) of 1982
Transparency and Reproducibility
CPSC's Information Quality Guidelines substantially follow the definitions for "influential," "transparency," and "reproducibility" as defined in the OMB Guidelines referenced above. OMB's guidelines state that information disseminated by Federal agencies is considered "influential" if it does or will have a clear and substantial impact on important public policies or important private sector decisions. OMB's guidelines require that agencies disseminating influential information must have quality guidelines that include a high degree of transparency about data and methods to facilitate reproducibility of such information. "Reproducibility" as set forth in the OMB guidelines' means that the information is capable of being substantially reproduced, subject to an acceptable degree of imprecision.
Most of the information disseminated by CPSC does not fall under OMB's definition of "influential." However, CPSC's staff and contractor technical reports related to engineering, health science, or hazard analysis issues potentially have impacts on important public policies and private sector decisions, such as changes in voluntary standards. Therefore, CPSC's information in these reports should be highly transparent and capable of being reproduced by qualified persons. CPSC strives for a high degree of transparency about information and methods in order to improve understanding and to facilitate reproducibility by qualified third parties. To achieve transparency and reproducibility, CPSC's Guidelines require documentation of systems and models and appropriate explanatory material to accompany disseminated information (specific data sources and quantitative methods and assumptions used). Some estimates and projections included in CPSC's information products are not directly reproducible by the public because the underlying data sets used to produce them are confidential. Also, some estimates and projections may not be easily reproducible by third parties due to the complexity and detail of the methods and data. CPSC places great emphasis on its review process to ensure the quality of information disseminated.
CPSC also achieves transparency through wide dissemination of its information. Most reports and other data products are available both as printed and electronic documents. They are announced on the CPSC web site and most electronic versions can be accessed and downloaded directly from the web site.
To ensure reproducibility, CPSC creates archival files of data and model results that are used as input to CPSC information products.
Risk Assessment
Some of the influential information that we disseminate is based on an analysis of the risks to the public of certain actions or exposures to hazardous substances. For purposes of this guidance, we are defining risk as the likelihood that injury or damage is or can be caused by a substance, technology, or activity. We use risk analysis (the integration of risk assessment with risk management and risk communication) as a tool to enhance the scientific basis for our regulatory decisions.
The OMB Guidelines provide special considerations that must be taken into account in certain risk assessments, those that provide the basis for the dissemination of influential information. The Guidelines state that "With regard to analysis of risks to human health, safety, and the environment maintained or disseminated by the agencies, agencies shall either adopt or adapt the quality principles applied by Congress to risk information used and disseminated pursuant to the Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments of 1996 (SDWA) (42 U.S.C. 300g-1(b)(3)(A) and (B))."
The SDWA risk assessment principles are as follows:
1. To the degree that the agency action is based on science, the agency shall use
- the best available, peer-reviewed science and supporting studies conducted in accordance with sound and objective scientific practices
- data collected by accepted methods (if reliability of the method and the nature of the decision justify use of the data)
2. In the dissemination of public information about risks, the agency shall ensure that the presentation of information about risk effects is comprehensive, informative, and understandable.
3. In a document made available to the public in support of a regulation, the agency shall specify, to the extent practicable
- Each population addressed by any estimate of applicable risk effects
- The expected risk or central estimate of risk for the specific populations affected
- Each appropriate upper-bound or lower-bound estimate of risk
- Each significant uncertainty identified in the process of the assessment of ris effects and the studies that would assist in resolving the uncertainty and
- Peer-reviewed studies known to the agency that support, are directly relevant to, or fail to support any estimate of risk effects and the methodology used to reconcile the inconsistencies in the scientific data.
Many of our actions are based on scientific experts' judgments using available data, are essentially qualitative, and are generally carried out for non-cancer-causing hazards. Such assessments provide useful answers in most instances that are sufficient for regulatory purposes, and much more elaborate, quantitative estimates extrapolating beyond the data are unnecessary. Although we might analyze the economic costs of the regulations and consider alternatives, regulations like these do not lend themselves to the types of full quantitative risk assessments contemplated by the Safe Drinking Water Act principles. As a result, we have adapted the general principles for risk assessments from the SDWA to fit these situations. The principles we intend to apply to risk assessments involving the dissemination of influential information affecting product approval actions or regulations that do not lend themselves to quantitative risk assessment are as follows:
1. The Agency will use —
- the best available science and supporting studies conducted in accordance with sound and objective scientific practices, including peer reviewed studies and supporting studies where available
- data collected by best-available method or accepted methods (if reliability of the method and the nature of the decision justify use of the data)
2. In the dissemination of public information about risks, the Agency will ensure that the presentation of information about risk effects is comprehensive, informative, and understandable.
CPSC rarely performs quantitative risk assessments. However, in situations requiring a quantitative risk assessment, we generally follow basic risk assessment principles in the NAS paradigm of 1983. Thus, we also subscribe to the statement from NAS when it revisited the risk assessment process in 1994 (Science and Judgment in Risk Assessment, NAS 1994): "Risk assessment is not a single process, but a systematic approach to organizing and analyzing scientific knowledge and information." In each of the areas we regulate, we apply risk assessment practices to the specific task that are widely accepted among relevant domestic and international public health agencies.
For quantitative risk assessments in support of the dissemination of influential information, CPSC intends to apply the following principles, following the SDWA risk assessment principles:
1. The agency will use —
- the best available science and supporting studies conducted in accordance with sound and objective scientific practices;
- data collected by accepted methods (if reliability of the method and the nature of the decision justifies use of the data)
2. In the dissemination of public information about health risks, the agency shall ensure that the presentation of information is comprehensive, informative, and understandable, within the context of its intended purpose.
3. In a risk assessment document made available to the public, the agency shall specify, to the extent practicable —
- Each population addressed by any estimate of applicable effects;
- The expected or central estimate of risk for the specific populations affected;
- Each appropriate upper-bound and/or lower-bound risk estimate;
- Data gaps and other significant uncertainties identified in the process of the risk assessment and the studies that would assist in reducing the data gaps and other uncertainties; and
- Additional studies not used to produce the risk estimate that support or fail to support the findings of the assessment, the rationale of why they were not used, and the methodology used to reconcile the inconsistencies in the scientific data.
Information Not Subject to CPSC's Information Quality Guidelines
CPSC's Guidelines do not apply to:
- Procedural, operational, policy, and internal manuals prepared for the management and operations of the agency that are not primarily intended for public dissemination.
- Information disseminated by CPSC employees that is not put forth as a CPSC product (e.g., materials presented by an individual at a professional meeting).
- Other materials specifically exempted in the OMB guidelines
CPSC has historically utilized standards, policies, and other operational guidance to ensure the quality of all its activities and has confidence in the quality of information disseminated by CPSC prior to October 1, 2002. However, we regard information originally disseminated before October 1, 2002, as being subject to these information Quality Guidelines only if it remains readily available to the public, (e.g., it is posted on the CPSC Web site) and it continues to play a significant, active role in CPSC programs or decisions.
Administrative Correction Mechanisms
CPSC has established procedures for any person to request correction to information disseminated by CPSC when the information does not comply with CPSC's or OMB's information quality guidelines. A person who believes that information disseminated by CPSC does not adhere to CPSC's or OMB's information quality guidelines and who would like to request correction of specific information should write to the Office of the Secretary, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Washington, D.C. 20207, or send an e-mail to email@example.com or use the form at https://cpsc-prod.ctacdev.com/feedback.html. The Request should be captioned "Information Quality Guidelines" and should provide the following information:
- Information identifying the requestor;
- A specific description of the information to be corrected;
- Potential adverse impacts from the information identified for correction; and>/li>
- A specific reason why and how the information should be corrected.
Based on a review of the information provided, CPSC will take the following actions:
- Perform an acceptance review to confirm that the necessary information regarding the correction has been provided.
- Submit the request for review to a management official who is knowledgeable about the subject matter related to the request. The designated management official may consult with other federal agencies or CPSC staff in
- Responding to the request for correction, as appropriate.
- Determine whether a correction is warranted and, if so, what action will be taken.
- Respond to request for correction of information within 60 calendar days of receipt of the request. If the request requires more than 60 calendar days to resolve, then CPSC will inform the requestor that more time is required, state the reason why, and include an estimated decision date.
If the requestor is not satisfied with CPSC's final response to the request, the requestor may submit an appeal to the Office of the Executive Director, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Washington, D.C. 20207. The requestor must use the following process to appeal a decision:
- Submit an appeal within 30 calendar days of receipt of CPSC's notification of denial or notification of the corrective action. (Only the original requestor may appeal the decision.)
- Identify the original request for correction, and specify the CPSC response that they are appealing.
- Describe the basis for the appeal and how the response failed to resolve the request for correction.
The appeal will be evaluated by an agency official, typically at the Executive Director level. The appeal review will be limited to the basis of the appeal. The requestor will be notified of the agency's decision regarding the appeal within 60 calendar days. If the request requires more than 60 calendar days, then CPSC will tell the requestor that more time is required, state a reason why, and include an estimated decision date.
The correction and appeal process that will address data quality challenges does not apply to information disseminated by the CPSC through a comprehensive public comment process, e.g., Federal Register notices of proposed rulemakings, regulatory analyses, requests for comments on information collections subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act, environmental impact statements, and other documents for which CPSC solicits public comments. Persons questioning the quality of information disseminated in those documents, or documents referenced or relied upon in those documents, must submit comments as directed in the Federal Register or other notices requesting public comment on the given document. CPSC will use its existing processes for responding to public comments in addressing the request for correction, and will describe the actions it has taken with regard to the request in the Federal Register notice of the final agency rule, regulatory analysis, or other final action. In cases where the agency disseminates a study, analysis, or other information prior to the final agency action or information product, requests for correction will be considered prior to the final agency action or information product in those cases where the agency has determined that an earlier response would not unduly delay issuance of the agency action or information product and the complainant has shown a reasonable likelihood of suffering actual harm from the agency's dissemination if the agency does not resolve the complaint prior to the final agency action or information product.
The correction process is designed to address the genuine and valid needs of affected persons without disrupting agency operations. The requestor should be aware that they bear the burden of proof with respect to both the need for correction and the type of correction requested. In determining whether to correct information, CPSC may reject claims made in bad faith or without justification. The CPSC is required to undertake only the degree of correction that it concludes is appropriate for the nature and timeliness of the information involved.
- Office of Management Budget Guidelines for Ensuring and Maximizing the Quality, Objectivity, Utility, and Integrity of Information Disseminated by Federal Agencies. Final Guidelines. Effective January 3, 2002.http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/fedreg/reproducible.html
- 2003 Budget and Performance Plan (Operating Plan),https://cpsc-prod.ctacdev.com/cpscpub/pubs/reports/2003opplan.pdf
- Clearance Procedures for Providing Information to the Public, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Directive 1450.2, September 5, 2001, http://www/cpsc.gov/library/1450.2.pdf
- Public Disclosure of Information, 15 U.S.C. Sec. 2055, http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/15/2055.html
- Science and Judgement in Risk, National Research Council, National Academy Press, 1994,http://www.nap.edu/books/030904894X/html/index.html


text:
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Referral: 5% , 10 %
Withdrawal: Manual
Our Invetment: $50.00
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Domain Name: PAYBALINVEST.COM Registry Domain ID: 1873810947_DOMAIN_COM-VRSN Registrar WHOIS Server: whois.ilovewww.com Registrar URL: http://www.ilovewww.com Updated Date: 2019-05-04T02:45:26Z Creation Date: 2014-09-02T07:00:37Z Registry Expiry Date: 2020-09-02T07:00:37Z Registrar: Shinjiru Technology Sdn Bhd Registrar IANA ID: 1741 Registrar Abuse Contact Email: Registrar Abuse Contact Phone: Domain Status: clientTransferProhibited https://icann.org/epp#clientTransferProhibited Name Server: NS1.STEELDNS.COM Name Server: NS2.STEELDNS.COM DNSSEC: unsigned URL of the ICANN Whois Inaccuracy Complaint Form: https://www.icann.org/wicf/ >>> Last update of whois database: 2020-02-19T20:37:37Z <<< For more information on Whois status codes, please visit https://icann.org/epp NOTICE: The expiration date displayed in this record is the date the registrar's sponsorship of the domain name registration in the registry is currently set to expire. This date does not necessarily reflect the expiration date of the domain name registrant's agreement with the sponsoring registrar. Users may consult the sponsoring registrar's Whois database to view the registrar's reported date of expiration for this registration. TERMS OF USE: You are not authorized to access or query our Whois database through the use of electronic processes that are high-volume and automated except as reasonably necessary to register domain names or modify existing registrations; the Data in VeriSign Global Registry Services' ("VeriSign") Whois database is provided by VeriSign for information purposes only, and to assist persons in obtaining information about or related to a domain name registration record. VeriSign does not guarantee its accuracy. By submitting a Whois query, you agree to abide by the following terms of use: You agree that you may use this Data only for lawful purposes and that under no circumstances will you use this Data to: (1) allow, enable, or otherwise support the transmission of mass unsolicited, commercial advertising or solicitations via e-mail, telephone, or facsimile; or (2) enable high volume, automated, electronic processes that apply to VeriSign (or its computer systems). The compilation, repackaging, dissemination or other use of this Data is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of VeriSign. You agree not to use electronic processes that are automated and high-volume to access or query the Whois database except as reasonably necessary to register domain names or modify existing registrations. VeriSign reserves the right to restrict your access to the Whois database in its sole discretion to ensure operational stability. VeriSign may restrict or terminate your access to the Whois database for failure to abide by these terms of use. VeriSign reserves the right to modify these terms at any time. The Registry database contains ONLY .COM, .NET, .EDU domains and Registrars.
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text:
Tanker fire destroys part of MacArthur Maze / 2 freeways closed near Bay Bridge
2007-04-29 18:03:00 PDT OAKLAND -- Huge leaping flames from an exploding gasoline tanker melted the steel underbelly of a highway overpass in the East Bay's MacArthur Maze early this morning, causing it to collapse onto the roadway below and virtually ensuring major traffic problems for weeks to come.
The elevated roadway that fell carried eastbound traffic from the Bay Bridge onto Interstates 580 and 980 and state Highway 24. It draped like a blanket over a roadway below, a connector from southbound I-80 to I-880 that also was severely damaged.
The single-vehicle crash occurred on the lower roadway when the tanker, loaded with 8,600 gallons of unleaded gasoline and heading from a refinery in Benicia to a gas station on Hegenberger Road in Oakland, hit a guardrail at 3:41 a.m.
Engineers said the green steel frame of the I-580 overpass and the bolts holding the frame together began to melt and bend in the intense heat
-- and that movement pulled the roadbed off its supports.
California Highway Patrol spokesman Trent Cross said the driver of the tanker, James Mosqueda, 51, of Woodland (Yolo County), was traveling too fast in a 50 mph zone when his truck overturned and burst into flames.
Mosqueda, an employee of Sabek Transportation in San Francisco for 10 months, got out of the truck on his own after it overturned and hailed a taxi that took him to Kaiser Hospital in Oakland, witnesses and police said.
He has been transferred to the burn unit at St. Francis Hospital in San Francisco, where his father said he was "doing OK" this afternoon, having sustained burns on his face, neck and hands. The family expected Mosqueda to remain hospitalalized two or three more days.
Cross said Mosqueda had a valid driver's license and there is no indication he was under the influence of alcohol or drugs when he crashed.
Oakland firefighters, the first public safety workers on the scene, arrived with two engines at 3:55 a.m., Capt. Cedric Price said.
"We didn't know it was a tanker truck that was involved. As soon as that was established we immediately upgraded to a large scale incident response team and added two more engines and two trucks," Price said.
Firefighters immediately noticed the upper connector ramp was buckling and seven minutes after they arrived -- at 4:02 a.m. -- it collapsed, Price said. Now there were no more structures threatened, the firefighters' approach shifted.
"With no structures or lives in jeopardy and with 8,000 gallons of flammable fuel involved, you're basically better off letting it burn itself out," said Price.
Firefighters used only water to control the blaze, which took about two hours, he said. Had there been lives at risk, firefighters would have used foam to fight the blaze, but it would have run off into the nearby Bay water, polluting it.
"That this didn't happen on a weekday morning might have been the only beauty of it," said Price.
With the help of protective gear and breathing devices, firefighter exposure to the fumes was minimal, according to Price. A total of 29 Oakland Fire Department personnel were on scene as well as one engine from Emeryville. A smaller crew of Oakland firefighters remained there through the early evening to watch for potential dangers.
Jennifer Summers, 36, was driving from her costume design job in San Francisco home to the Oakland hills just before 4 a.m. when she saw black smoke and realized the freeway was on fire. She quickly pulled off and looped around so she could see what was going on.
When she got out of her car, flames were shooting into the sky over multiple layers of freeway and she could hear loud crackling and explosions.
"There were bright, bright orange flames and they were huge," said Summers. "There were cars driving through the flames. The first cars slowed down like they didn't know what to do and then kept going. I was shocked."
Summers said dozens of vehicles stopped to watch the spectacle, which ended with a horrendous crash as the freeway collapsed in a torrent of fire and rubble.
"There was nothing you could do," she said. "I'm thinking, 'Oh my God, this is going to be a nightmare with the traffic problems we already have.' "
Isaac Rodriguez, a 53-year-old sanitation supervisor who works the graveyard shift at East Bay Municipal Utility District's sewage treatment plant, said his supervisor called him about 3:45 a.m. and told him to leave work because of a nearby explosion.
Rodriguez went outside with a co-worker and saw the I-880 connector about 50 feet above him engulfed in fire with flames leaping up to the I-580 connector above that.
"It was massive," Rodriguez said. "I saw movement and there was a man up there. I started talking to the guy. Are you the truck driver? 'Yes.' He said, 'I'm burned. I got out as soon as I could.' "
The driver seemed disoriented.
"It looked at one time he was walking toward the truck again. I believe he was in shock," Rodriguez said.
Rodriguez said he regretted not thinking to send a vehicle up to get the injured man. He and a coworker stood for some 40 minutes watching the freeway burn.
"It looked like a big slab of plastic because it was melted. It's made of steel and concrete and it was bent at both angles of the pillar. It really looked fake. ... It was an event last night that I'm not going to forget for a long time. It was incredible because it was a roar.
No sign of the truck remains at the scene. One Caltrans worker there early this morning held up his thumb and forefinger an inch apart to describe how big the tanker is now.
John Goodwin, a spokesman for the regional Metropolitan Transportation Commission, said the maze is one of the worst spots for traffic in the Bay Area.
"Westbound 80 is already the most congested route in the Bay Area, and it has been for many years," said Goodwin. "Also, the route coming off the Bay Bridge eastbound from Treasure Island is number 10 on the regional congestion list, and with 580 gone there will be a huge impact on that already-congested route."
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger plans to announce this evening that some Bay Area transit agencies will offer free rides tomorrow.
Goodwin anticipates that the impacts of the latest disaster will extend to roads far beyond the East Bay.
"This really strikes at the very center of the Bay Area freeway network," he said, predicting the closure of the two overpassess will "have a ripple effect" across the region.
"It will put more traffic on the San Mateo Bridge, the Golden Gate and the Richmond-San Rafael bridge," Goodwin said.
Some 35,000 cars travel the two-lane I-880 connector each day, and 45,000 cars use the I-580 connector, which is three lanes, said Caltrans Director Will Kempton.
Kempton said rebuilding the I-580 connector will cost tens of millions of dollars. The extent of the damage to the I-880 connector cannot be determined, he said, until the debris is cleared off.
"Initial indications are that it has been severely damaged," Kempton said "It will obviously need some work."
This wasn't the first major crash to clog the crucial traffic corridor through Oakland. On Feb. 5, 1995, a tanker loaded with liquefied gas crashed and burned on the MacArthur Maze, killing the driver, injuring 10 other people and creating an all-day traffic jam.
Witnesses said at the time that the tanker, which was changing lanes when it skidded out of control, created a 100-foot-tall fireball after it crashed on the connector between westbound I-80 and eastbound I-580, which is immediately northeast of the scene of today's crash.
The 1989 collapse of the Cypress Structure during the Loma Prieta earthquake caused years of detours and traffic problems in the same area.
Traffic on the affected roadways remains light this afternoon, apparently because many drivers canceled plans that would have required driving.
But major backups are expected, especially tonight when the Golden State Warriors take on the Dallas Mavericks tonight in the fourth game of their playoff series and Oakland's Oracle Arena.
San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, in a press conference in San Diego Sunday, said that he has spoken to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's staff about the crash aftermath -- and particularly how to accomplish repairs quickly.
Newsom said state officials are "fastracking" the repairs by using some of the same shortcuts that got Interstate 10 rebulit quickly after Southern California's Northridge earthquake in 1994.
As many as 40 people stood gawking at the disaster scene at various points today. Most stood in a Caltrans construction area under the freeway and took pictures. Some said they had heard what sounded like train cars crashing together in the nearby freight yard this morning before they saw what had happened.
Everyone agreed that the weekday commute is going to be horrible.
"It's just going to be outrageous," said Gary Lewis of Oakland. "You'll have all this traffic merging at one time."
"They need to go back to the drawing board," said Sandra Moore of Oakland, who had driven over the collapsed section the night before. "I'm sorry this had to happen, but this is a wake-up call."
Larry Gordon of Oakland, was riveted by the scene of scorched steel and hundreds of yards of melted pavement.
"It's incredible, amazing," he said. "If fire can do that a steel structure like this, what can the next earthquake do?"
Henry Geronimo, 44, of West Oakland, watched the cleanup operation from a fence along Mandela Parkway.
"Coming home is going to be a big big problem," said Geronimo, who commutes to work in San Francisco as draftsman. "Do you know how many terrorists are looking at this? They're getting ideas."
Wanda Realegeno, a 42-year-old Richmond resident, said she isn't looking forward to her commute to school near Oakland Coliseum, which normally takes her onto the I-800 connector that the truck was on when it crashed.
"This is amazing," she said. "It's almost as bad as the earthquake. I'm just thinking: how am I going to get to work tomorrow? I was trying to figure out my path."


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Contribute to ReadWriteThink / RSS / FAQs / Site Demonstrations / Contact Us / About Us
Home › Parent & Afterschool Resources › Podcast Series
Chatting About Books: Recommendations for Young Readers
Podcast for Grades K – 5 | iTunes Subscription
Emily Manning chats with kids, parents, and teachers about the best in children's literature for ages 4 through 11. Discussions include reading tips and fun activities to do with children before, during, and after reading.
Emily Manning
Emily Manning has a master's degree in reading education from the University of North Texas. She taught in the primary grades for several years before taking a reading intervention position that focused on working with struggling readers in grades 3rd-5th.
In 2006, Emily Manning began teaching reading education classes in an adjunct capacity at Texas Woman's University. And most recently, she has taken a position as an Instructional Specialist at Lee Elementary in Denton, Texas.
Emily is a member of the ReadWriteThink.org Advisory Board. She also belongs to several professional organizations including the International Reading Association and National Council of Teachers of English.
Episode 21 | Published February 18, 2010
Use these books as a springboard to discuss how children and adults alike can use peaceful, nonviolent methods to affect change in society.
Episode 20 | Published December 16, 2009
Shiver Me Timbers: Books About Pirates
Ahoy, mateys! In this episode, Emily be talkin the pirate talk with author Jane Yolen and discovering some myths and truths about pirates from the days of yore.
Episode 19 | Published October 14, 2009
Check out three fantastic books about the ancient Greeks gods in thoroughly modern situations.
Episode 18 | Published September 02, 2009
Libraries and bookstores can overwhelm even the most lit-savvy parents and teachers. Listen in as Emily shares a fabulous resource for finding the very best picture books for children.
Episode 17 | Published August 03, 2009
Birthdays hold a special place in families' hearts. Celebrate that special day with two breathtaking birthday-themed books by talented author-illustrator Debra Frasier.


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JOINT COMMUNICATION AND SENSING OVER STATE DEPENDENT CHANNELS by Chiranjib Choudhuri A Dissertation Presented to the FACULTY OF THE USC GRADUATE SCHOOL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY (ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING) May 2013 Copyright 2013 Chiranjib Choudhuri
Object Description
|Joint communication and sensing over state dependent channels
|Choudhuri, Chiranjib
|Author email
|Doctor of Philosophy
|Document type
|Degree program
|Electrical Engineering
|Viterbi School of Engineering
|Date defended/completed
|Date submitted
|Date approved
|Restricted until
|Date published
|Advisor (committee chair)
|Mitra, Urbashi
|Advisor (committee member)
Caire, Giuseppe
Sukhatme, Gaurav S.
|The fundamental trade-off between communication rate and estimation error in sensing the channel state at the decoder is investigated for a discrete memoryless channel with discrete memoryless action dependent state when the state information is available either partially or fully at the encoder. We first investigate the capacity a relay channel with finite memory, where the action independent fixed channel state information is assumed to be known at both the encoder and decoder and then went on to investigate the problem of determining the trade-off between capacity and distortion for the channel with states known only at the encoder. ❧ The relay channel with finite memory is modeled with channels with inter-symbol interference (ISI) and additive colored Gaussian noise. The channel state or channel impulse responses are assumed to be known at both the encoders and decoder. Prior results are used to show that the capacity of this channel can be computed by examining the circular degraded relay channel in the limit of infinite block length. The thesis provides single letter expressions for the achievable rates with decode-and-forward (DF) and compress-and-forward (CF) processing employed at the relay. Additionally, the cut-set bound for the relay channel is generalized for the ISI/colored Gaussian noise scenario. All results hinge on showing the optimality of the decomposition of the relay channel with ISI/colored Gaussian noise into an equivalent collection of coupled parallel, scalar, memoryless relay channels. The region of optimality of the DF and CF achievable rates is also discussed. The resulting rates are illustrated through the computation of numerical examples. ❧ The problem of state communication over a discrete memoryless channel with discrete memoryless state when the state information is available strictly causally at the encoder is then studied. It is shown that block Markov encoding, in which the encoder communicates a description of the state sequence in the previous block by incorporating side information about the state sequence at the decoder, yields the minimum state estimation error. When the same channel is used to send additional independent information at the expense of a higher channel state estimation error, the optimal tradeoff between the rate of the independent information and the state estimation error is characterized via the capacity–distortion function. It is shown that any optimal tradeoff pair can be achieved via rate-splitting. These coding theorems are then extended optimally to the case of causal channel state information at the encoder using the Shannon strategy. ❧ For non-causal channel state knowledge at the encoder, information-theoretic lower and upper bounds (based respectively on ideas from hybrid-coding and rate–distortion theory) are derived on the capacity– distortion function. Some examples are provided, for which the capacity–distortion functions are characterized by showing that the two bounds match. These coding theorems are then extended to the case of source coding with side information vending machine at the encoder (introduced in [H. Asnani, H. Permuter, and T. Weissman. Probing capacity. IEEE Trans. Inf. Theory, 57:7317-7332, 2011.5]) to provide an improved lower bound on the rate–distortion function. In some of the communication scenarios, however, the decoder is not interested in estimating the state directly, but it wants to reconstruct a function of the state with maximum fidelity. This problem of modified state estimation over a discrete memoryless implicit channels (DMIC) with discrete memoryless (DM) states is studied when the state information is available non-causally at the encoder. Lower and upper bounds on the optimal distortion in estimating the input of the implicit channel are derived. The methods developed for the DMIC with DM state model are then used to investigate the optimal distortion for the asymptotic version of the Witsenhausen counterexample, one of the fundamental problems in distributed control theory. The minimum distortion is characterized for the counterexample; furthermore it is shown that the combination of linear coding and dirty-paper coding (DPC) proposed in [P. Grover and A. Sahai. Witsenhausen's counterexample as assisted interference suppression. Special Issue on "Information Processing and Decision Making in Distributed Control Systems" of the International Journal of Systems, Control and Communications, 2010], in fact, achieves the minimum distortion for the Gaussian case when the proper amplification factor is determined. ❧ The results obtained with discrete memoryless state dependent channels are then extended to channels with action-dependent states, as defined in [T. Weissman. Capacity of channels with action-dependent states. IEEE Trans. Inf. Theory,56:5396-5411, 2010]. While [T. Weissman. Capacity of channels with action-dependent states. IEEE Trans. Inf. Theory,56:5396-5411, 2010] investigated the scenario of message dependent nonadaptive action sequences, this work focuses on characterizing the benefits of allowing adaptive action sequences, where the action is not only a function of the message, but it also depends strictly causally on the past observed state sequences. To compare the two framework, the problem of joint communication and state estimation is considered over an action dependent channel. The capacity–distortion tradeoff of such a channel is characterized for the case when the state information is available strictly causally/causally at the channel encoder. It has been shown that although adaptive action is not useful in increasing the unconstrained capacity of the channel, but it helps in achieving a better capacity–distortion function by decreasing the state estimation error at the decoder. Since the capacity–distortion function is open with non-causal channel state information at the encoder, the capacity of such a channel is characterized and it is shown that the adaptive action is not useful in increasing the capacity. The result is illustrated with an example of action dependent additive Gaussian channel, whose capacity is characterized by showing the equivalence of the current setting to the problem of the cooperative multiple access channel (MAC) with asymmetric state information at the encoders [A. Zaidi, P. Piantanida, and S. Shamai. Multiple access channel with states known noncausally at one encoder and only strictly causally at the other encoder. In Proc. IEEE Int. Symp. Inf. Theory, St Petersburg, Russia, 2011]. ❧ To illustrate the results of state communication with a practical example, the problem of planning the trajectory of a robotic vehicle to gather data from a deployment of stationary sensors is studied. The purpose of collecting data from the sensors is to monitor a source signal present in the environment. Here the source signal is the state of the system, which affects the communication channel between the sensors and the autonomous vehicle. The robotic vehicle and the sensors are equipped with wireless modems (e.g., radio in terrestrial environments or acoustic in underwater environments), which provide noisy communication across limited distances. In such scenarios, the robotic vehicle can improve its efficiency by planning an informed data gathering trajectory. Prior work has proposed information theoretic performance metrics for these problems based on mutual information and Fisher information, but such metrics do not properly account for stochastic variations in the quantity being measured and also they don't explicitly provide a reconstructed source signal, which is one of the main objective of monitoring an unknown source signal. A novel performance metric for data gathering in robotic sensor networks based on the concept of squared error distortion is proposed. This metric provides a principled approach for modeling source variations and communication limitations during data collection. The formal properties of the distortion function is analyzed, and the squared error distortion with correlated sources, sources with unknown location and sources with unknown kinematics is determined using our results on state communication over state dependent channels. A sampling-based motion planning algorithm for optimizing data gathering tours for minimal distortion is also proposed and the proposed algorithms is compared in simulation, to show that distortion metrics provide significant improvements in data gathering efficiency. ❧ Lastly, The problem setting is extended to study the rate–distortion region of some distributed source coding problems, where action dependent side information "vending machine" is available to some of the decoders. These source coding problems can be thought of as a source coding dual of the channel coding problems with action dependent side information at the encoders. The model of a side information "vending machine" (VM) accounts for scenarios in which the measurement of side information sequences can be controlled via the selection of cost-constrained actions. In this thesis, the three-node cascade source coding problem is studied under the assumption that a side information VM is available and the intermediate and/or at the end node of the cascade. A single-letter characterization of the achievable trade-off among the transmission rates, the distortions in the reconstructions at the intermediate and at the end node, and the cost for acquiring the side information is derived for a number of relevant special cases. It is shown that a joint design of the description of the source and of the control signals used to guide the selection of the actions at downstream nodes is generally necessary for an efficient use of the available communication links. In particular, for all the considered models, layered coding strategies prove to be optimal, whereby the base layer fulfills two network objectives: determining the actions of downstream nodes and simultaneously providing a coarse description of the source. Design of the optimal coding strategy is shown via examples to depend on both the network topology and the action costs. Examples also illustrate the involved performance trade-offs across the network.
|communication; estimation; wireless communication; state estimation
|Part of collection
|University of Southern California dissertations and theses
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|University of Southern California
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|Los Angeles, California
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|University of Southern California. Libraries
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|University of Southern California
|Choudhuri, Chiranjib
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|The author retains rights to his/her dissertation, thesis or other graduate work according to U.S. copyright law. Electronic access is being provided by the USC Libraries in agreement with the author, as the original true and official version of the work, but does not grant the reader permission to use the work if the desired use is covered by copyright. It is the author, as rights holder, who must provide use permission if such use is covered by copyright. The original signature page accompanying the original submission of the work to the USC Libraries is retained by the USC Libraries and a copy of it may be obtained by authorized requesters contacting the repository e-mail address given.
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|JOINT COMMUNICATION AND SENSING OVER STATE DEPENDENT CHANNELS by Chiranjib Choudhuri A Dissertation Presented to the FACULTY OF THE USC GRADUATE SCHOOL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY (ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING) May 2013 Copyright 2013 Chiranjib Choudhuri


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Tournament of THG: Miley Cyrus vs. Kristen Stewart!by Free Britney at .
Welcome back to the Tournament of THG, where fans determine the most popular celebrity of the year! We unveiled our official bracket yesterday, and one by one, we'll post polls of these respective showdowns, updating the bracket after each round.
The concept is simple. Vote for your favorite of the two stars in each poll. Done.
Kate Middleton is dominating Kim Kardashian in our first celebrity showdown, putting her on a collision course for the quarterfinals and a contest against ... one of these ladies!
Without further delay, let's get to the next matchup of Round One, #8 seed Miley Cyrus against #9 Kristen Stewart in a showdown that's too close to call. Vote below!
Who's your favorite celeb, Miley Cyrus or Kristen Stewart? Your votes will decide the winner of this first round matchup in the first Annual Tournament of THG! View Poll »


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The Kennel Club Assured Breeder Scheme promotes good breeding practice and aims to work together with breeders and buyers to force irresponsible breeders, or puppy farmers, out of business.
Breeders nationwide are joining to demonstrate their commitment to responsible breeding. In return, they are able to use the scheme literature and logo to promote their litters.
The annual membership entitles them to advertise FREE of charge on our Find a Puppy Service and will highlight litters to puppy buyers as being bred by an Assured Breeder.
We are the only organisation accredited by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) to certify dog breeders, under the Kennel Club Assured Breeder Scheme. This means that the Kennel Club is recognised as an impartial and competent inspector by the government's sole national accreditation body.
This gives the puppy buying public additional confidence that Assured Breeders are committed to meeting and maintaining high standards for caring for the health and welfare of their puppies and breeding bitches, and are the best point of contact for buying a healthy, happy puppy.


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The best Chuck Norris jokes in honor of his 77th birthday
On this date in 1940, Carlos Ray "Chuck" Norris was born in Ryan, Oklahoma. The U.S. Air Force vet, actor, martial arts expert, film producer and entrepreneur has become a living legend of sorts and the subject of a hilarious meme involving his imaginary exploits and feats.
Did you know that he built the very hospital that he was born in? Legend has it that when little Carlos was born the only one that cried was the doctor. You just don't slap Chuck Norris and get away with it.
He's calm and reasonable but his roundhouse kicks aren't. We can thank his old friend Bruce Lee for those.
Here are some of the best Chuck Norris jokes:
- Chuck Norris turns 77 years old this week. Or rather, 77 turns Chuck Norris.
- There is no chin behind Chuck Norris' beard. There is only another fist.
- When Chuck Norris sends in his taxes, he sends blank forms and includes only a picture of himself, crouched and ready to attack. Chuck Norris has not had to pay taxes ever.
- Chuck Norris is the only man to ever defeat a brick wall in a game of tennis.
- Contrary to popular belief, America is not a democracy, it is a Chucktatorship.
- Time waits for no man. Unless that man is Chuck Norris.
- There are no weapons of mass destruction. Just Chuck Norris.
- Chuck Norris sheds his skin twice a year.
- Chuck Norris does not sleep. He waits.
- Chuck Norris' tears cure cancer. Too bad he has never cried.
- There is no theory of evolution just a list of creatures Chuck Norris allows to live.
- TNT was originally developed by Chuck Norris to cure indigestion.
- When Chuck Norris falls in water, Chuck Norris doesn't get wet. Water gets Chuck Norris.
- Chuck Norris' house has no doors, only walls that he walks through.
- If at first you don't succeed, you're not Chuck Norris.
- Chuck Norris doesn't actually write books, the words assemble themselves out of fear.
- While urinating, Chuck Norris is easily capable of welding titanium.
- When taking the SAT, write "Chuck Norris" for every answer. You will score a 1600.
- On his birthday, Chuck Norris randomly selects one lucky child to be thrown into the sun.
- Chuck Norris has 12 moons. One of those moons is the Earth.
- Chuck Norris ordered a Big Mac at Burger King, and got one.
- When the first episode of "Walker, Texas Ranger" was aired in France, the French surrendered to Chuck Norris just to be on the safe side.
- Chuck Norris doesn't bowl strikes, he just knocks down one pin and the other nine faint.
- Chuck Norris can slam a revolving door.
- Chuck Norris can touch MC Hammer.
- Chuck Norris threw out the first pitch before the start of a Houston Astros game in 2004. The ball just left our solar system.
- Chuck Norris goes back in time to buy beef jerky.
- Santa Claus asks Chuck Norris for presents.
- Chuck Norris doesn't dial the wrong number. You answered the wrong phone.
How did this virile, humble star of "Walker, Texas Ranger," numerous action flicks and the comedy classic "Dodgeball" become a living meme? It's not a long story.
The Norris meme was created on the SomethingAwful forums over a decade ago. The roots can be traced back to a similar Vin Diesel meme which once exhausted, Norris became the focus of.
In 2011 the father of the meme, Ian Spector, spoke with the Huffington Post about the phenomenon. He's even released books full of Norris facts.
Around 2005 Conan O'Brien had begun poking gentle fun at the "Walker" star and so the magic of Norris was in the air on the internet. Soon the "Vin Diesel Fact Generator" was transformed into the "Chuck Norris Fact Generator" and history was made.
The first Norris fact to be listed was "Chuck Norris' tears cure cancer. But he is so bada--, he has never cried. Ever." This helped cement the meme into the psyche of a generation who can't think of Norris as anything but an unstoppable, godly, fighting and loving machine that runs on the fear of his enemies.
Fans of "Saturday Night Live" might also see parallels between the Norris facts and the Bill Brasky sketches from the '90s that had a gaggle of drunks commenting about the titanic Brasky's prowess as a human.


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It's been a rough week for everyone. Truck sales are crashing. Everything's a rainy, soggy, windy mess. But driving the cars? That's still good. So is talking about driving the cars.
But frankly, we don't have to. We can talk about anything, really. We had pizza for lunch. It was fine.
This week we wrote about Tesla, the GMC Sierra's funky new tailgate, we drove some Aston Martins, and David went traipsing through heaven's junkyard.
We're here for the next hour or so to hang out. We're all yours.


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Picente calls for cellphone tax, deal with Oneida Indian Nation in State of the County Address (updated again)
UTICA >> Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente Jr. presented his State of the County Address to nearly 200 people on Tuesday at the Radisson Hotel-Utica Centre.
Picente said he believes this region can grow, but not without partnerships, specifically with the Oneida Indian Nation.
"I have maintained a strong professional relationship and constructive dialogue with the leadership of the Nation," he said. "I have always believed that the day will come when we find the right way to end the logjam that has made neighbors adversaries for more than 30 years. The best deal will not be one that settles the scores we inherited, but passes along to the next generation an inheritance of positive partnership."
Picente is referring to the Partnership Plan he proposed in 2009. The plan would have the Nation pay $55 million to Oneida County for ten years. The Nation would also have to make Silver Covenant Grants for five years to pay for more trust land without the county opposing. If this pact were approved the county would agree to drop its lawsuits and any businesses on Oneida Indian Nation property wold pay fees that were equal to the county's sales tax rate.
However that plan was rejected.
"It's important to bring it back to the table," Picente said. "They're growing; they are still a major employer in this region. I still think there is a lost opportunity there if we don't embrace that and figure out a way to work together."
Later, Oneida Nation Representatve Ray Halbritter released the following statement: "Oneida County and the Oneida Nation have benefited greatly from the strong working relationship between County Executive Picente and Oneida Nation leadership. We believe by working together in good faith there is much more we can do to improve the lives of people living in Oneida County. As we have consistently stated, and was reiterated today by the county executive, it is in the best interest of our community that we move beyond the conflicts of the past and chart a new, more prosperous path for the future."
Another issue he tackled during the meeting was the creation of a project called A.R.G.O. The Action to Realign Government Operations will ask the County Legislature to create a $500,000 fund to consolidate projects with a net savings for the county and municipalities.
"Show me what works, show me how to make a change, and we will invest in making that idea happen so we can start transforming the structures of government from the way it was into the way it will be," he said.
Picente also spoke about adding a 30-cent-a-month cellphone tax to fund the 911 center.
"The property tax payer should not bear the complete brunt of this essential service," he said. "I call on Albany to allow Oneida County to impose the 30-cent fee that all other counties with county wide 911 centers in the state collect.
He explained that the fee would be used to bring new technology to the center for increased safety, efficiency and innovation.


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Accepting a Firearm
When accepting a firearm from another person:
- Check that the action is open before touching the firearm. If it isn't, ask the person who is handing you the firearm to open it to show it is unloaded.
- Visually check that the chamber and magazine are empty of ammunition before touching the firearm.
- Grasp the firearm with both hands, keeping the muzzle pointed in a safe direction.
- Say "thank you" to alert the passer to release the firearm.