text:
Photo: A.J. Mast for The New York Times
Amateur filmmaker Dan Burke recreates a scene where he brushed his teeth with ketchup for a Heinz ketchup commercial contest at his home in Dayton, Ohio.
via NYTimes:
The High Price of Creating Free Ads
By LOUISE STORY
Published: May 26, 2007
From an advertiser's perspective, it sounds so easy: invite the public to create commercials for your brand, hold a contest to pick the best one and sit back while average Americans do the creative work.
But look at the videos H. J. Heinz is getting on YouTube.
In one of them, a teenage boy rubs ketchup over his face like acne cream, then puts pickles on his eyes. One contestant chugs ketchup straight from the bottle, while another brushes his teeth, washes his hair and shaves his face with Heinz's product. Often the ketchup looks more like blood than a condiment.
Heinz has said it will pick five of the entries and show them on television, though it has not committed itself to a channel or a time slot. One winner will get $57,000. But so far it's safe to say that none of the entries have quite the resonance of, say, the classic Carly Simon "Anticipation" ad where the ketchup creeps oh so slowly out of the bottle.
Heinz Top This TV Challenge
Entry #138: Dan's Heinz Commercial
Consumer brand companies have been busy introducing campaigns like Heinz's that rely on user-generated content, an approach that combines the populist appeal of reality television with the old-fashioned gimmick of a sweepstakes to select a new advertising jingle. Pepsi, Jeep, Dove and Sprint have all staged promotions of this sort, as has Doritos, which proudly publicized in February that the consumers who made one of its Super Bowl ad did so on a $12 budget.
But these companies have found that inviting consumers to create their advertising is often more stressful, costly and time-consuming than just rolling up their sleeves and doing the work themselves. Many entries are mediocre, if not downright bad, and sifting through them requires full-time attention. And even the most well-known brands often spend millions of dollars upfront to get the word out to consumers.
Some people, meanwhile, have been using the contests as an opportunity to scrawl digital graffiti on the sponsor and its brand. Rejected Heinz submissions have been showing up on YouTube anyway, and visitors to Heinz's page on the site have written that the ketchup maker is clearly looking for "cheap labor" and that Heinz is "lazy" to ask consumers to do its marketing work.
"That's kind of a popular misnomer that, somehow, it's cheaper to do this," said David Ciesinski, vice president for Heinz Ketchup. "On the contrary, it's at least as expensive, if not more."
Heinz has hired an outside promotions firm to watch all the videos and forward questionable ones to Heinz employees in its Pittsburgh headquarters. So far, they have rejected more than 370 submissions (at least 320 remain posted on YouTube). The gross-out factor is not among their screening criteria — rather, most of the failed entries were longer than the 30-second time limit, entirely irrelevant to the contest or included songs protected by copyright. Some of the videos displayed brands other than Heinz (a big no-no) or were rejected because "they wouldn't be appropriate to show mom," Mr. Ciesinski said.
Heinz hopes to show more than five of them, if there are enough that convey a positive, appealing message about Heinz ketchup, he said. But advertising executives who have seen some of the entries say that Heinz may be hard pressed to find any that it is proud to run on television in September.
"These are just so bad," said Linda Kaplan Thaler, chief executive of the Kaplan Thaler Group, an advertising agency in New York that is not involved with Heinz's contest.
One of the most viewed Heinz videos — seen, at last count, more than 12,800 times — ends with a close-up of a mouth with crooked, yellowed teeth. When Ms. Kaplan Thaler saw it, she wondered, "Were his teeth the result of, maybe, too much Heinz?"
Heinz Top This TV Challenge
Entry #4: My Entry For The Heinz Commercial Contest
Scott Goodson, chief executive of StrawberryFrog, an advertising agency based in New York, said the shortcomings of contest entries — not just those for Heinz — refuted predictions that user-generated content might siphon work away from agencies. "This Heinz campaign, much like the same ones done by Doritos, Converse and Dodge, only goes to show how hard it is to do great advertising," he said.
In a traditional ad campaign, a client like Heinz will meet with its advertising agencies to come up with a central idea, often a tagline like MasterCard's "Priceless." The creative departments then design the ads while the media planners figure out where they should run. Except for the occasional focus group, consumers are largely on the receiving end. [read on...]


text:
Millions of Google Buzz users were contacted Tuesday by Google regarding a class-action lawsuit settlement stemming from an online privacy debate sparked by the search giant.
The lawsuit, brought against Google by a group of Gmail users, claimed that Google's social networking tool Google Buzz, which was introduced in February 2010, violated users' privacy by automatically enrolling users in Google Buzz and publicly exposing private user data.
The settlement, the details of which are archived at BuzzClassAction.com, states that Google will establish an $8.5 million "Common Fund" to "fund organizations focused on Internet privacy policy or privacy education," as well as to cover the plaintiff's lawyers' fees and other expenses. Google also promises to "do more to educate users about the privacy aspects of Google Buzz" (the email sent today is supposedly the first step in this education).
The Buzz Over the Lawsuit
Google Buzz is a social networking platform tied into Google's popular webmail client, Gmail. It was introduced in February, appearing as an extra tab in users' Gmail inboxes. Privacy concerns immediately arose because Google generated a list (based on Gmail contacts and who they used the service Google Talk with the most) of users to follow. This quickly sparked outrage with many users concerned Google Buzz revealed personal connections (without allowing users to "opt-in"). People pointed out–the people you e-mail and chat with the most often are sometimes not the people you want in your social networking Web.
Settlement's Impact on You
If you're wondering what this means for you, the violated Gmail and/or Google Buzz user, the answer is: basically nothing. Gmail users are unable to receive compensation, as the settlement acknowledges that Google has changed Google Buzz in such a way that privacy violation is no longer an issue.
Affected users (all Gmail users in the United States who had the opportunity to use Google Buzz before November 2) have four options: opt out, object, comment, or do nothing. If you fail to opt-out before December 6, you agree to be part of the case and can no longer sue Google regarding Google Buzz privacy after the settlement has been finalized. Any objections to the settlement must be brought by January 10, 2011.
The settlement was granted preliminary approval on October 7, and will be considered for final approval on January 31, 2011.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
The yellow sand dunes stretch to infinity, whilst the scorching sun of the Sahel beats down on your head. You're tired and you're thirsty – you've been travelling for miles, searching for water. Yet nonetheless you are cautious: nothing is as it seems in this land of smokescreens and mirrors. "Water! Water!" you begin to scream. No… even imagination is playing tricks on you. But what if in the distance, past the undulating sand dunes, lay the waters of sand-locked lagoons and waterfalls surrounded by palm trees?
It is this vision of utopia, surrounded by barren wasteland that inspired us to catalogue some of the most incredible desert oases before they are devoured by the desert sands and become mirages themselves.
1. Ubari Lakes are part of Erg Awbari Oasis in the Sahara. Located near Fezzan and 30kms north of Germa in Libya, these salt water lakes are a central trading point for many locals, who gather at the edges of the lake selling souvenirs and other goods.
Umm Al-Maa, meaning Mother of Water, is one of the largest lakes in the oasis but unfortunately, like all the lakes, the water table in the area is so low that the lakes are drying up.
As well as the waters being extremely dirty, the saline levels are now similar to the Dead Sea (which is great news if you like floating in crud). The abandoned city of Gebraoun is also relatively nearby with its impressive ruins, the settlement is testament to the life-sustaining qualities that the lakes once had.
2. Huacachina is a small oasis town in the Ica region of southwest Peru. This oasis, named 'Oasis of Americas', is a popular resort with local families and tourists. A legend says the lagoon was created when an inquisitive young hunter disturbed a beautiful princess bathing. She fled, leaving the pool of water behind which became the lagoon.
3. Turpan, or Tulufan as it's also known, is an oasis city in the Xinjiang Uygur Region in China. It is just 8km west of the ruined city of Jiaohe, a border garrison town destroyed by Genghis Khan during the Han dynasty.
4. We're not entirely sure where this desert oasis is but we had to include it because, surely, this is what most people perceive as the typical oasis mirage? If anyone has been there, shoot us the location.
5. This wonderful desert lake is set within Lençóis Maranhenses National Park, Maranhao, Brasil. It forms part of a system of fresh water lagoons which fill up with rainwater during the first six months of the year and then gradually evaporate over time to be topped up again the following year. Some of the lakes within the park are dotted with palm trees. This lonely lake, however, has one solitary dry branch decorating its banks.
6. Crescent Lake in China's Gobi Desert sits on the edge of an ancient city that once saw traders embark on their journey along the Silk Road to the West. Today it is drying up and has dropped more than 25 feet in the last 30 years, in part due to water being redirected for local farmers and a doubling of population, resulting in the slow disappearance of a lake that has existed for thousands of years.
7. The beautiful oasis of Chebika in Tunisia is probably one that most people know about without realizing it. It is where Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope was filmed. The story goes that the oasis was actually named after one of the characters, Chewbacca.
8. This stunning image shows three men quenching their thirst at a small waterfall in the Saharan oasis of Timia, in Niger. It's a picture perfect portrait of everyday oasis life for local desert dwellers.
9. There are always small enclaves or villages dispersed near bodies of water, no matter how small, and this image shows why. Even in desert areas wholes farms can exist with the life giving powers of water.
wikimedia commons
10. This remote desert lake, fringed by sand dunes is located in Khar Nuur, Mongolia. It's a refreshing swimming spot for travelers who manage to venture into one of the world's vast desert plains.
11. Nahal David is a quiet oasis found near Bethlehem, Israel's Palestinian West Bank. It's certainly a far cry from the war-torn images often associated with that part of the world.
12. This sprawling oasis is the village of Tinerhir, located at the foothills of Morocco's Atlas Mountains. Todra Gorge and oasis are about 14km away so travellers normally visit both oases on the one trip.
13. Ghardaia is the main town in M'zab oasis in northern Algeria. Founded in the 11th century, the city was built around a cave which was reputedly inhabited by the female saint Daïa, and is still revered by M'zabite women today. The oasis offers some wonderful examples of original Arabic medieval architecture and is now a protected UNESCO World Heritage site.
14. This castle is part of an oasis on the western shore of the Persian Gulf in Saudi Arabia, called Qatif. The city dates back to 3,500 BC and was for many years the main town and port in the western Gulf, which meant it was a popular spot for invasion and take over by ruling powers through the ages. This resulted in an eclectic mix of architecture and the area now boasts some of the best archeological sites in the kingdom.
15. This oasis is hidden in the depths of the Oman desert, where a number of green oases dot the landscape. A few oases in the tiny Sultanate, on the corner of the Arabian Peninsula, are hotspots for botanical studies into agro-biodiversity where many of the ancient oasis are in rapid decline; researchers want to figure out why.
16. Nakhl Fort sits overlooking a lush, green date-palm oasis in Oman. These impressive forts were strategically placed across much of the Oman desert, like many places, to protect villagers from invasion.
17. This beautiful unnamed oasis is situated in Niger. If you have any further info, we'd love to hear about it in the comments section. Considering the recent unrest in the country it's amazing to find places like this still.
18. The lush green carpet of shrubland and fields sit in stark contrast to the barren hills in the background of this typical oasis village. Any clues to where it is?Curious Reads.
[via environmentalgraffiti]


text:
While the pipeline dispute battle lines have been drawn in the political arena, British Columbians spent their Saturdays also making their stances heard – highlighting a clear divide within the province on the federally-approved Trans Mountain pipeline expansion.
Two demonstrations in the Lower Mainland – an anti-pipeline protest organized by Coast Salish members and a pro-pipeline rally organized by Resource Works – drew hundreds to the respective causes.
At the centre of the debates displayed Saturday: A $7.4-billion Kinder Morgan's pipeline expansion set to nearly triple the flow of multipurpose oil from Alberta to B.C.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government approved the Kinder Morgan project in 2016, but the pipeline has since faced permit fights and challenges from the B.C. government.
READ MORE: Alberta drops B.C. wine boycott, Notley says Horgan 'blinked' on pipeline
READ MORE: Notley threatens to broaden pipeline dispute with B.C.
And both sides Saturday argued economic, environmental and cultural factors are at stake.
In Burnaby, where Indigenous leaders led more than 4,000 people from Lake City Way SkyTrain to the two Trans Mountain terminals, signs were waved with messages reading "No consent, no pipeline," and "Oil $pills are forever."
Organizers of that protest, called Protect the Inlet, said they're hoping their tactics delays Kinder Morgan's tree-clearing work, which is set to be completed by March 26, as part of the initial ground-breaking for the pipeline.
Meanwhile, in Vancouver, political leaders and activists rallied with several hundred pipeline supporters – some who travelled from Alberta to take part.
There, those who gathered – calling themselves the "silent majority" – heard Skeena MLA Ellis Ross, Calgary Foothills MLA Prasad Panda speak on the 51 First Nation communities who have to come agreements of support with Kinder Morgan.
Bernard Hancock, born in North Vancouver but an employee at an oil patch in Alberta for the past two-and-a-half-years, told demonstrators that his job in the oil industry was the first to ever give him a sense of dignity.
READ MORE: Fort McMurray restaurant pulls B.C. wines over pipeline controversy
Q&A: Rally for Resources responds to B.C. anti-development protests
"I could save money, get ahead, make my parents proud and feel like I was making a difference, I was getting ahead. Oil and gas gave that to me," he said.
Political feud between Alberta and B.C. left to the courts: Heyman
NOTE: The story has been updated to correctly reflect Bernard Hancock's employment.
With files from The Canadian Press
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.


text:
IMF Survey: Topical Trust Funds Aim to Expand IMF's Capacity Building
February 1, 2011
- Two new topical trust funds dedicated to specific capacity-building activities
- Natural resource fund targets sound management of natural resource wealth
- Tax policy, administration fund seeks higher revenues, lower aid dependence
As part of a drive to meet large demand from its members for practical, on-the-ground help—termed technical assistance—the IMF has set up two new donor-supported funds to boost capacity building.
The funds, known as topical trust funds, aim to total $55 million and are dedicated to specific capacity-building activities.
The new trust funds—Managing Natural Resource Wealth and Tax Policy and Administration--are currently budgeted at $25 million and $30 million respectively over the next five years and will begin operating in May 2011. The IMF's first trust fund—Anti-Money Laundering/Combating the Financing of Terrorism--was launched in 2009.
The primary donors to the trust fund on managing natural resource wealth are Norway and Switzerland, supported by the Netherlands and Kuwait. Talks with other donors, including Australia and the European Union, are under way to reach the targeted amount of $25 million.
For the trust fund on tax policy and administration, Germany and Switzerland are the lead donors, supported by Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands. The European Commission and Norway have also expressed interest in contributing, and discussions are under way with several other donors to bring the fund to its $30 million target.
"Matching the priorities of donors and the IMF is key to forging a strong partnership," said Anton Op de Beke, a senior economist in the IMF's Strategy, Policy, and Review Department and main author of the natural resource fund's program document.
Philip Daniel, a deputy division chief of the IMF's Fiscal Affairs Department who helped develop the fiscal substance of the natural resources trust fund, noted that there is substantial and increasing demand for technical assistance in natural resource management.
The natural resources fund would "permit the expansion of technical assistance, taking a programmatic approach in which we develop medium-term cooperation with low- and lower-middle-income member countries. All of this technical assistance is based on solid research," Daniel said (see box).
Information gap
"Accumulating financial assets, rather than spending the windfalls from natural resources, is politically challenging," said Robert Sheehy, Deputy Director of the IMF's Monetary and Capital Markets Department, which developed an asset and liability risk management module for the natural resources fund. "The asset and liability risk management module will help countries make the right investment decisions and develop the supporting institutional framework consistent with their long-term macroeconomic needs," Sheehy added.
Manik Shrestha, Deputy Division Chief in the IMF's Statistics Department, designed the statistics component of the natural resources fund. Shrestha noted that good information on the levels and values of stocks of natural resources, as well as understanding the production and income generation associated with the use of natural resources, is important for many developing and emerging market countries. "This statistical component of the trust fund will help to fill an important information gap in wealth accounting," he said.
How to manage natural resources
Examples of IMF research to support technical assistance include
• The Taxation of Petroleum and Minerals: Principles, Problems and Practice (Routledge/IMF, 2010)
• Fiscal Analysis of Resource Industries modeling system
• Guide on Resource Revenue Transparency (IMF, 2007)
Peter Barrand, a Senior Economist in the IMF's Fiscal Affairs Department and the main author of the Tax Policy and Administration trust fund program document, observed that "assisting low- and lower-middle-income countries to raise domestic revenues is crucial for reducing their dependence on external aid." Liz Cunningham, a Senior Officer in the IMF's Office of Technical Assistance Management, helped launch the tax policy and administration trust fund. "Donors see a great need for helping developing countries to mobilize revenue," she said.
David Kloeden, a Deputy Division Chief in the IMF's Fiscal Affairs Department, noted that "a well administered tax system is essential for nation building, particularly in fragile states, and those countries need support in modernizing their tax systems and ensuring that they treat taxpayers equitably."
Opportunity to expand
"These topical trust funds are an opportunity for the IMF not only to substantially expand its technical assistance in specific areas—doing twice or even three times as much—but also to enhance how we deliver technical assistance," said Kristina Kostial, Assistant Director in the IMF's Office of Technical Assistance Management. "Donors expect that our technical assistance produces concrete outcomes. These expectations will help us to improve the targeting of our technical assistance delivery," Kostial added.
"Working with donors also facilitates coordination and minimizes overlaps in the spirit of the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness to the benefit of recipient countries," said Jose Rosales, Director of the IMF's Office of Technical Assistance Management.
Marketing the trust funds
The global financial crisis complicated fundraising efforts by prompting cuts in aid budgets by several important donor countries. In response, the IMF intensified its outreach efforts to highlight the strengths of its technical assistance, including the efficiency and effectiveness of its technical assistance economic model and the technical expertise that underlies IMF advice.
"What also helped in marketing the topical trust funds is that many donor agencies already have valuable experience of supporting IMF technical assistance through bilateral arrangements and thus were willing to scale up their support," said Carlo Cottarelli, Director of the IMF's Fiscal Affairs Department. "Norway, for example, hosted the design meeting for the natural resources fund and emphasized that the trust funds will build on successful work under its bilateral program with the IMF."
The creation of the trust funds is a part of the IMF's drive, started in 2008, to expand the volume of IMF externally funded technical assistance. Besides the three trust funds, the IMF has since opened an additional regional technical assistance center in Central America and expanded bilateral partnerships with donors. Work is under way to open three additional technical assistance centers (two in Africa and one in Central Asia), increase the size of existing centers, and establish further topical trust funds.


text:
C# 3.0 and LINQ
Posted on Tuesday, March 18, 2008
C# 3.0 introduced a number of new features for LINQ. In this article we'll examine the new features like extension methods, lambda expressions, anonymous types, and more.
LINQ can work in Visual Basic just as well as it can work in C#. However, both languages introduced new features to facilitate and enhance the LINQ experience. In this article, we want to investigate the new features of C# 3.0. While the C# designers put together many of these features with LINQ in mind, the features can also be used outside of query expressions to enhance other areas of code.
Extension methods
Extension methods allow us to create the illusion of new methods on an existing type - even if the existing type lives in an assembly outside of our control. For instance, the System.String class is compiled into the .NET framework as a sealed class. We can't inherit from the String class, and we can't change the String class and recompile the framework. In the past, we might package an assortment of commonly used string utility methods into a static class like the following.
// Extending string via static methods (pre C# 3.0)
public static class StringUtils
static public double ToDouble(string data)
double result = double.Parse(data);
return result;
// Usage:
string text = "43.35";
double data = StringUtils.ToDouble(text);
With C# 3.0, we can make our ToDouble method appear as a member of the String class. When the first parameter of a method includes a this modifier, the method is an extension method. We must define extension methods inside a non-generic, static class, like the StringExtensions class shown below.
// extending String via extension methods
public static class StringExtensions
static public double ToDouble(this string data)
double result = double.Parse(data);
return result;
static public int ToInt32(this string data)
int result = Int32.Parse(data);
return result;
StringExtensions defines two extension methods. We can now invoke either method using instance method syntax. It appears as if the methods are members of System.String, and we don't need to use the name of the static class.
string text = "43.35";
double data = text.ToDouble();
Despite appearances, extension methods are not members of the type they are extending. Technically, the ToDouble method we are using is still just a static method on another type, but the C# compiler can hide this fact. It is important to realize that extension methods have no special privileges with respect to member access of the target object. Our extension methods cannot access protected and private members of the target object.
Extension Method Resolution
An extension method is available to call on any object instance that is convertible to the type of the method's first parameter. For instance, the following extension method is available for any object that is convertible to IList.
public static class IListExtensions
public static void Randomize<T>(this IList<T> input)
if (input == null)
for (int i = input.Count - 1; i > 0; i--)
int n = rand.Next(i + 1);
T temp = input[i];
input[i] = input[n];
input[n] = temp;
static Random rand = new Random();
We can use the extension method with an array of strings, as an array implements the IList interface. Notice we need to check for null, as it is legal and possible for a program to invoke an extension method on a null object reference.
void RandomizeArray()
string[] cities = { "Boston", "Los Angeles",
"Seattle", "London", "Hyderabad" };
foreach (string city in cities)
An extension method cannot override or hide any instance methods. For instance, if we defined a ToString extension method, the method would never be invoked because every object already has a ToString method. The compiler will only bind a method call to an extension method when it cannot find an instance method with a usable signature.
An extension method is only available when you import the namespace containing the static class that defines the extension method (with a using statement). Although you can always invoke the extension method via the namespace qualified class name (Foo.StringExtensions.ToDouble()), there is no mechanism available to reach a single extension method using an instance syntax unless you import the method's namespace. Once you import the namespace, all extension methods defined inside will be in scope. For this reason you should be careful when designing namespaces to properly scope your extension methods (see the LINQ Framework Design Guidelines).
Extension Methods and LINQ
LINQ defines a large number of extension methods in the System.Linq namespace. These extension methods extend IEnumerable<T> and IQueryable<T> to implement the standard query operators, like Where, Select, OrderBy, and many more. For instance, when we include the System.Linq namespace, we can use the Where extension method to filter an enumerable collection of items.
private static void UseWhereExtensionMethod()
string[] cities = { "Boston", "Los Angeles",
"Seattle", "London", "Hyderabad" };
IEnumerable<string> filteredList =
cities.Where(delegate(string s) { return s.StartsWith("L"); });
// filteredList will include only London and Los Angeles
The definition for Where would look like the following:
namespace System.Linq
public static class Enumerable
// ...
public static IEnumerable<TSource> Where<TSource>(
this IEnumerable<TSource> source,
Func<TSource, bool> predicate)
// ...
// ..
As you can see, the second parameter to Where is of type Func<TSource, bool>. This parameter is a predicate. A predicate is a function that the Where method can invoke to test each element. If the predicate returns true, the element is included in the result, otherwise the element is excluded. Just remember - different LINQ providers may implement the filtering using different strategies. For example, when using the LINQ to SQL provider with an IQueryable<T> data source, the provider analyzes the predicate to build a WHERE clause for the SQL command it sends to the database – but more on this later.
We built the predicate by constructing a delegate using an anonymous method. It turns out that little snippets of in-line code like this are quite useful when working with LINQ. So useful, in fact, that the C# designers gave us a new feature for constructing anonymous methods with an even more succinct syntax - lambda expressions.
Lambda Expressions
In the days of C# 1.0, we did not have anonymous methods. Even the simplest delegate required construction with a named method. Creating a named method seemed heavy-handed when you only needed a one-line event handler. Fortunately, C# 2.0 added anonymous methods. Anonymous methods were perfect for simple event handlers and expressions – like the predicate we constructed earlier. Anonymous methods also had the advantage of being nested inside the scope of another method, which allowed us to pack related logic into a single section of code and create lexical closures.
C# 3.0 has added the lambda expression. Lambda expressions are an even more compact syntax for defining anonymous functions (anonymous methods and lambda expressions are collectively referred to as anonymous functions). The following section of code filters a list of cities as we did before, but this time using a lambda expression.
string[] cities = { "Boston", "Los Angeles",
"Seattle", "London", "Hyderabad" };
IEnumerable<string> filteredList =
cities.Where(s => s.StartsWith("L"));
The distinguishing feature in this code is the "goes to" operator (=>). The left hand side of the => operator defines the function signature, while the right hand side of the => operator defines the function body.
You'll notice that the lambda expression doesn't require a delegate keyword. The C# compiler automatically converts lambda expressions into a compatible delegate type or expression tree (more on expression trees later in the article). You'll also notice the function signature doesn't include any type information for the parameter named s. We are using an implicitly typed signature and letting the C# compiler figure out the type of the parameter based on the context. In this case, the C# compiler can deduce that s is of type string. We could also choose to type our parameter explicitly.
IEnumerable<string> filteredList =
cities.Where((string s) => s.StartsWith("L"));
Parentheses are required around the function signature when we use explicit typing, or when there are zero or more than one parameter. In other words, the parentheses are optional when we are using a single, implicitly typed parameter. An empty set of parentheses is required when there are no parameters for the expression.
The right hand side of a lambda may contain an expression or a statement block inside { and } delimiters. Our city filter above uses an expression. Here is the same filter using a statement block.
IEnumerable<string> filteredList =
cities.Where(s => { string temp = s.ToLower();
return temp.StartsWith("L");
Notice the statement block form allows us to use multiple statements and provide local variable declarations. We also need to include a return statement. Statement blocks are useful in more complex lambda expressions, but the general guideline is to keep lambda expressions short.
Invoking Lambdas
Once we assign a lambda to a delegate type, we can put the lambda to use. The framework class library includes two sets of generic delegates that can fit most scenarios. Consider the following code:
Func<int, int> square = x => x * x;
Func<int, int, int> mult = (x, y) => x * y;
Action<int> print = x => Console.WriteLine(x);
print(square(mult(3, 5))); // displays 225;
The Func generic delegate comes in 5 versions. Func<TResult> encapsulates a method that takes no parameters and returns a value of type TResult. Our square delegate is of type Func<int, int> - a method that takes 1 parameter of type int and returns an int, while mult is of type Func<int, int, int> - a method that takes 2 parameters of type int and returns an int. The type of the return value is always specified as the last generic parameter. Func variations are defined that can encapsulate methods with up to 4 parameters (Func<T1, T2, T3, T4, TResult>).
Action delegates represent methods that do not return a value. Action<T> takes a single parameter of type T. We use an instance of Action<int> in the above code. There is also an Action (no parameters). Action<T1, T2> (2 parameters), Action<T1, T2, T3> (3 parameters), and Action<T1, T2, T3, T4> (4 parameters). We can put all these delegates to work with lambda expressions instead of defining our own custom delegate types.
Remember the definition of the Where extension method for IEnumerable<T>? We created a lambda expression for the parameter of type Func<TSource, bool>. The implementation of the Where clause for IEnumerable<T> executes the lambda expression via a delegate to filter the collection of in-memory objects.
What happens if we aren't operating on an in-memory collection? How could a lambda expression influence a SQL query sent to a database engine for execution? This is where IQueryable<T> and expression trees come into play.
Expression Trees
Let's add a twist to our last example.
Expression<Func<int, int>> squareExpression =
x => x * x;
Expression<Func<int, int, int>> multExpression =
(x, y) => x * y;
Expression<Action<int>> printExpression =
x => Console.WriteLine(x);
Instead of assigning our lambdas to an Action or Func delegate type, we've assigned them to an Expression<TDelegate> type. This code prints out the following:
x => (x * x)
(x, y) => (x * y)
x => WriteLine(x)
It would appear that the output is echoing our code. This is because the C# compiler treats Expression<TDelegate> as a special case. Instead of compiling the lambda expression into intermediate language for execution, the C# compiler compiles the lambda expression into an expression tree.
Our code is now data that we can inspect and act on at runtime. If we look at what the C# compiler produces for the squareExpression with a tool like Reflector, we'd see something similar to the following.
ParameterExpression x;
Expression<Func<int, int>> squareExpression =
Expression.Lambda<Func<int, int>>(
Expression.Multiply(x = Expression.Parameter(typeof(int), "x"), x),
new ParameterExpression[] { x });
If we wanted to invoke the expression, we'd first have to compile the expression:
Func<int, int> square = squareExpression.Compile();
int y = 3;
int ySquared = square(y);
Console.WriteLine(ySquared); // prints 9
However, the real power of an expression tree is not in dynamic compilation but in runtime inspection. Again, our code is now data – a tree of Expression nodes that we can inspect. In fact, the C# samples for Visual Studio 2008 include an expression tree visualize – a plugin for the Visual Studio debugger to view expression trees. The following is a screen shot of the visualizer for our squareExpression.
Imagine writing some code that walks through the tree and inspects the types, names, and parameters. In fact, this is exactly what technologies like LINQ to SQL do. LINQ to SQL inspects the expression tree and converts the expression tree into a SQL command.
LINQ to SQL classes implement an IQueryable<T> interface, and the System.Linq namespace adds all the standard query operators as extension methods for IQueryable<T>. Instead of taking delegates as parameters like the IEnumerable<T> Where method does, IQueryable<T> will take Expression<TDelegate> parameters. We are not passing code into IQueryable<T>, we are passing expression trees (code as data) for the LINQ provider to analyze.
With an understanding of lambda expressions, expression trees, and extension methods, we are finally able to tackle one of the beauties of LINQ in C# - the query expression.
Query expressions
Query expressions provide the "language integrated" experience of LINQ. Query expressions use syntax similar to SQL to describe a query.
string[] cities = { "Boston", "Los Angeles",
"Seattle", "London", "Hyderabad" };
IEnumerable<string> filteredCities =
from city in cities
where city.StartsWith("L") && city.Length < 15
orderby city
select city;
A query expression begins with a from clause and ends with a select or group clause. Other valid clauses for the middle of the expression include from, let, where, join, and orderby. We'll delve into these clauses in a future article.
The C# compiler translates a query expression into method invocations. The where clause will translate into a call to a Where method, the orderby clause will translate into a call to an OrderBy method, and so on. These methods must be extension methods or instance methods on the type being queried, and each has a particular signature and return type. It is the implementation of the methods, not the compiler, that will determine how to execute the query at runtime. Our query expression above would transform into the following:
IEnumerable<string> filteredCities =
cities.Where(c => c.StartsWith("L") && c.Length < 15)
.OrderBy(c => c)
.Select(c => c);
Since we are using an IEnumerable<string>, these method calls are the extension methods for IEnumerable<T>. From our earlier discussion we know that the compiler assigns each lambda expression to a delegate for the extension methods to invoke on the in-memory collection. If we were working with an IQueryable<T> data source, compiler would be creating expressions trees for a LINQ provider to parse.
Most of the lambda expressions in this query are simple, like c => c, meaning in the OrderBy case that given a string parameter c, sort the result by the value of c (alphabetical). We could have also said orderby c.Length, which translates into the lambda expression c => c.Length, meaning given a parameter c, sort the items by the value of c's Length property.
It's important to reinforce the fact that the C# compiler is performing a translation of the query expression and looking for matching methods to invoke. This means the compiler will use the IEnumerable<T> or IQueryable<T> extension methods, when available. However, in our own classes we could add methods like Where or OrderBy to override the standard LINQ implementations (remember instance methods will always take preference over extension methods). We could also leave out the System.Linq namespace and write our own extension methods to replace the standard LINQ implementations completely. This extensibility in LINQ is a powerful feature.
We've now covered all the C# features that make LINQ work. The compiler translates query expressions into method calls. These method calls are generally extension methods on the queried type. The extension method approach doesn't force the queried type to use a specific base class or implement a particular interface, and allows us to customize behavior for specific types. Sorting, filtering, and grouping logic in the query expression is passed into the method calls using lambda expressions. The compiler can convert lambda expressions into delegates, for the method to invoke, or expression trees, for the method to parse and analyze. Expression trees allow LINQ providers to transform the query into SQL, XPath, or some other native query language that works best for the data source.
There are other features in C# that aren't required for all this magic to work, but they do offer everyday conveniences. These features include type inference, anonymous types, object and collection initializes, and partial methods.
Implicit Typing and Var
C# 3.0 introduced the var keyword. We can use the new keyword to define implicitly typed local variables. Unlike the var keyword in JavaScript, the C# version does not introduce a weak, loose, or dynamically typed variable. The compiler will infer the type of the variable at compile time. The following code provides an example.
var name = "Scott";
var x = 3.0;
var y = 2;
var z = x * y;
// all lines print "True"
Console.WriteLine(name is string);
Console.WriteLine(x is double);
Console.WriteLine(y is int);
Console.WriteLine(z is double);
Each variable has a type that the compiler deduced using the variable's initializer. For example, the compiler sees the code assign the name variable an initial value of "Scott", so the compiler deduces that name is a string. We are not able to try change this type later. The following code is full of compiler errors – things you can't do with var.
// ERROR: implicitly typed local varaibles must be initialized
var i;
// ERROR: Implicitly-typed local variables cannot have multiple declarators
var j, k = 0;
// ERROR: Cannot assign <null> to an implicitly-typed local variable
var n = null;
// ERROR: Cannot assign lambda expression to an implicitly-typed local variable
var l = x => x + 1;
var number = "42";
// ERROR: Cannot implicitly convert type 'string' to 'int'
int x = number + 1;
Implicitly type variables must have an initializer, and the initializer must allow the compiler to infer the type of the variable. Thus, we can't assign null to an implicitly typed variable – the compiler can't determine the correct type – any reference type can accept the value null! Lambda expressions themselves are not associated with a specific type, we have to let the compiler know a delegate or expression type for lambdas. Finally, we can see that once the compiler has determined the type, we can't change or morph the type like we can in some dynamic languages. Thus the number variable declared in the above code will always and forever be strongly typed as a string.
For practical purposes, the var keyword is important in two scenarios. The first scenario is when we can use var to remove redundancy from our code. For instance, when constructing generic types, all the type information and angled brackets can clutter the code (Dictionary<int, string> d = new Dictionary<int, string>). Do we need to see the type information twice to understand the variable is a dictionarty of int and string?
While the first scenario is entirely a matter of style and personal preference, the second scenario requires the use of var. The scenario is when you don't know the name of the type you are consuming – in other words, you are using an anonymous type.
Anonymous types
Anonymous types are nameless class types. We can create an anonymous type using an object initializer, as shown in several examples below.
var employee = new { Name = "Scott", Department = "Engineering" };
Console.WriteLine("{0}:{1}", employee.Name, employee.Department);
var processList =
from process in Process.GetProcesses()
orderby process.Threads.Count descending,
process.ProcessName ascending
select new
Name = process.ProcessName,
ThreadCount = process.Threads.Count
Console.WriteLine("Process List");
foreach (var process in processList)
Console.WriteLine("{0,25} {1,4:D}", process.Name, process.ThreadCount);
The first example in the above code constructs an anonymous type to represent an employee. Between the curly braces, the object initializer lists a sequence of properties and their initial values. The compiler will use type inference to determine the types of these properties (both are strings in this case), then create an anonymous type derived from System.Object with the read-only properties Name and Department.
Notice we can use the anonymous type in a strongly typed fashion. In fact, once we've type employee. into the Visual Studio editor, an Intellisense window will show us the Name and Department properties of the object.
We cannot use this object in a strongly typed fashion outside of the local scope. In other words, if we needed to return the employee object from the current method, the method would have to specify a return type of object. If we wanted to pass the variable to another method, we'd have to pass the variable as an object reference. We can only use the var keyword for local variable declaration – var is not allowed as a return type, parameter type, or field type. Outside of the scope of the current method, we'd have to use reflection to retrieve the property values on the anonymously typed object (which is how anonymously typed objects work with data-binding features in .NET platforms).
Anonymous types are also useful in query expressions. In the second half of the code above, we create a report of running processes on the machine. Instead of the query expression returning a Process object, which has dozens of properties, we've projected a new anonymous type with two properties: the process name and the process thread count. These types of projections are useful when creating data transfer objects or restricting the amount of data coming back in a LINQ to SQL query.
The initializers we've used are not only or anonymous types. In fact, C# has added a number of shortcuts for constructing new objects.
The following two classes use auto-implemented properties to describe themselves.
public class Employee
public int ID { get; set; }
public string Name { get; set; }
public Address HomeAddress { get; set; }
public class Address
public string City { get; set; }
public string Country { get; set; }
Given those class definitions, we can use the object initializer syntax to construct new instances of the classes like so:
Address myAddress = new Address { City = "Hagerstown", Country = "USA" };
Employee employee = new Employee {
Name = "Sami",
HomeAddress = { City = "Sharpsburg", Country = "USA" }
The initializer syntax allows us to set accessible properties and fields on an object during construction of the object. We can even nest an initializer inside an initializer, as we have done for the employee's Address property (notice the new keyword is optional, too). Closely related to the object initializer is the collection initializer.
List<Employee> employees = new List<Employee>() {
new Employee { ID=1, Name="...", HomeAddress= { City="...", Country="..." }},
new Employee { ID=2, Name="...", HomeAddress= { City="...", Country="..." }},
new Employee { ID=3, Name="...", HomeAddress= { City="...", Country="..." }}
Partial methods
Our coverage of C# features for LINQ wouldn't be complete without talking about partial methods. Partial methods were introduced into the C# language at the same time as LINQ. Partial methods, like partial classes, are an extensibility method to work with designer generated code. The LINQ to SQL class designer uses partial methods like the following.
public partial class Account
public Account()
partial void OnCreated();
The Account class is a partial class, meaning we can augment the class with additional methods, properties, and fields with our own partial definition. Partial classes have been around since 2.0.
The partial method OnCreated is defined in the above code. Partial methods are always private members of a class, and their return type must always be void. We have the option of providing an implementation for OnCreated in our own partial class definition. The implementation is optional, however. If we do not provide an implementation of OnCreated for the class, the compiler will remove the method declaration and all method calls to the partial method.
Providing an implementation is just defining a partial class with a partial method that carries an implementation for the method.
public partial class Account
partial void OnCreated()
Console.WriteLine("Account created...");
Partial classes are an optimization for designer generated code that wants to provide some extensibility hooks. We can "catch" the OnCreated method if we need it for this class. If we do not provide an implementation, the compiler will remove all OnCreated method calls from the code and we won't pay a penalty for extensibility that we do not use.
In this article we've covered most of the new features introduced into C# for LINQ. Although lambda expressions, extension methods, anonymous types and the like were primarily introduced to facilitate LINQ, I hope you'll find some uses for these powerful features outside of query expressions.
Subpages (1): test


text:
Best Hotels in Northern Ireland
See the best hotels in Northern Ireland from National Geographic Traveler's annual Stay List.
The most authentic and unique hotels in Northern Ireland, chosen by National Geographic Traveler editors for the 2011 Stay List
Ardtara Country House, Upperlands, Co. Londonderry
A magnate's mansion in one of Ireland's oldest linen villages, next to 250-year-old linen mill. Rooms with converted gas fireplaces, big bay windows, crisp linen sheets (natch). Straightforward Irish menu of local lamb, beef, salmon in skylit dining room. Try an Ulster Fry (Irish power breakfast). Get briefed at nearby linen museum, then shop local villages for best buys in Irish woolen and linens. Cliff-walk the Antrim coast 20 minutes away. 9 rooms, from $200, incl. breakfast.
Belle Isle Estate, Lisbellaw, Co. Fermanagh
This lady of the lake occupies a 450-acre estate on a bridge-linked island. Centerpiece is David Hicks-decorated castle, kept toasty warm by blazing fireplace (and enviro-friendly wood-pellet burner). Russian art, minstrel's gallery in grand hall; rooms with handcrafted pine furnishings. Coach house, cottages, lodge for self-catering. Big draw: Chef Liz Moore's cookery school. Staff encourages a car-free day exploring estate on footpath or in one of its wooden boats. 24 rooms, from $193.
Bushmills Inn Hotel, Bushmills, Co. Antrim
A whiskey-minded way station on the Causeway Coast. Open peat fires warm 400-year-old stonework of this coaching inn and mill house. Gaslights illuminate Victorian bar. Signature dishes: Ulster beef flamed in Bushmills whiskey, sticky toffee pudding. Cottage-style bedrooms overlook River Bush. Search for secret library. (Spoiler alert: push on false bookcase.) Try a tutored whiskey tasting in the hotel, then tour world's oldest whiskey distillery. 41 rooms, from $222.
The Merchant Hotel, Belfast
Temple of commerce transformed into monumental hotel: 1860 Italianate architecture, glass-dome ceiling, Corinthian columns. (Carbon offset policy compensates for design inefficiencies.) Stately restaurant occupies former banking hall. Big rooms with huge TVs. New jazz bar will complement world-renowned cocktail bar. Triple-glazed windows cut down party noise generated by this lively Cathedral Quarter location, city's cultural heart. 26 rooms, from $237, incl. breakfast.
Newforge House, Magheralin, Co. Armagh
Bucolic alternative to Belfast, 30-minute drive away, on 40 grassland acres edged by River Lagan. Sixth-generation owners running this restored 1785 Georgian house place local history books in drawing room, search hill and dale for organic ingredients for seasonal menu, and steer guests toward a pottery-making lesson or Irish linen factory tour. Authentic rooms—black iron fireplaces, sash windows, mahogany antiques—kept spick-and-span with natural plant extracts. 6 rooms, from $185, incl. breakfast.
- Nat Geo Expeditions


text:
Get a valid ESA documents after speaking with one of our licensed doctors via Telehealth. Appointments available same-day.
Too many would-be passengers have been barred from boarding flights because of their ESA.
Passengers without an ESA letter who bring their emotional support animal on a flight can be charged hundreds of additional dollars.
ESA owners who rent an apartment can be charged more per month.
Finding a suitable place to live is often more difficult for emotional support animal owners who do not have an ESA document.
ESA owners can go far if they have with them a legitimate ESA document. Airlines and landlords will not be able to deny your letter, which permits you to board flights and live in residential complexes without being forced to pay additional fees.
Scam sites for ESA certificates online are numerous, so it's good to know Mango Clinic is the real deal. Every one of our patients speaks directly with a licensed physician who will then sign for you a certificate.
Mango Clinic assists patients from all over the country. You can get in touch with us via our chat option, found on any of our webpages. We can also be reached via our phone number: (786) 422-9327. If you would like to make an appointment, call us or visit our appointment webpage.


text:
A primitive, venomous mammal endemic to Cuba and once listed as extinct has been rediscovered after a decadelong quest.
The shrewlike Cuban solenodon (Solenodon cubanus)—a "living fossil" that has not changed much in millions of years—was all but wiped out in the 19th century by deforestation and introduced species. The 30-centimeter-long, nocturnal solenodons possess a unique, venomous saliva that they inject through their teeth into their prey. They lack the ability, however, to protect themselves from predators such as cats, dogs and black rats. The animals have a slow, ungainly gait, and when chased tend to stop and hide their heads, making them easy pickings even for animals not much bigger than them. By the 1970s many believed the species had gone extinct, but that changed when a few of the animals showed up in 1974 and 1975.
Solenodon sightings since then have been few and far between, but one of them was spotted in 2003 in the mountainous Alejandro de Humboldt National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site on the northeastern end of Cuba. A team of Cuban and Japanese researchers has been searching for the animals, known by locals as almiquí, ever since. They finally had success this March and April when they captured and studied seven of the rare creatures.
"Our finding was great and very important," says Rafael Borroto-Páez of Cuba's Ecology and Ecosystems Institute in Havana. "We were all very happy and excited." Other researchers working on the quest came from Japan's University of Tsukuba, Hokkaido University, National Museum of Nature and Science, and Miyagi University of Education.
The seven solenodons captured this year included four males and three females. Borroto-Páez says the team used modified traditional snares, similar to those used to local hunters, to catch the animals without harming them. "All of the animals were very healthy and active and only two almiquí showed ectoparasites." The solenodons were observed for two days and then released back into the wild.
In addition to the captured animals, the team observed signs that more existed nearby. "We found excrement, tracks and feeding holes in other places in the zone of research," Borroto-Páez says. He suggests these as indications that the species's population may be recovering.
Unfortunately, the researchers also found evidence of the invasive species that caused the decline of the solenodon in the first place. "I collected cat excrement and found evidence of depredation," Borroto-Páez says. Black rats are also abundant in the area. He is currently applying for research grants to study more about cat predation in the park and plans to return to the park in December to trap feral cats. The Japanese researchers are also seeking funds to continue their work. "We continue trying to do something with our reduced resources," Borroto-Páez says.
The Cuban solenodon is one of only two remaining species in its genus and the family Solenodontidae. The other, the Haitian, or Hispaniolan, solenodon (Solenodon paradoxus), is equally rare. A 2008 expedition to the Dominican Republic by the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust and the Hispaniolan Ornithological Society turned up only one of the creatures in a monthlong search. A 2010 quest found a few more. The species may already be gone from neighboring Haiti, where at least 99 percent of that country's forests have been cut down.
Photo courtesy of Rafael Borroto-Páez


text:
In today's Publetariat Dispatch, author M. Louisa Locke reports on her experience with the KDP Select program.
As stated in Part One, my goal in joining the KDP Select program had been simple, to get my two Victorian San Francisco historical mysteries, Maids of Misfortune and Uneasy Spirits, back up to the top 5 rank in the Kindle historical mystery bestseller category. Their ranks had dropped to between 18 and 24 after Amazon added hundreds of titles to that category just before Christmas. The experiment in light of this goal was an unqualified success.
I used KDP Select to offer the Kindle edition of Maids for free for two days, December 30th and 31st. When the free promotion ended, Maids of Misfortune was at #1 in the historical mystery bestseller category, and it has stayed there. In addition, Uneasy Spirits, a sequel to Maids, rose to #8 during the promotion of Maids, and by the end of the first week after the promotion, it had risen to #3 in the historical mystery bestseller category.
What I had not expected when I embarked on the experiment was that Maids of Misfortune would also rise to the top ranks in so many other categories. But it did! When Amazon calculates its rankings, it includes the free downloads. So, when the promotion ended, those 14,500 free downloads moved Maids of Misfortune up to the 400s in the overall Paid Kindle store ranking and to the top 5 in popularity in the categories of mystery, and mystery — women sleuth, and historical romance. This made the book very easy to discover by a much wider potential market than ever before. (I published Maids of Misfortune at a time when Amazon let authors choose more than two categories; for sales purposes, this gives it an edge over other books, like Uneasy Spirits, that are in only two categories.)
This greater discoverability immediately translated into increased sales that have kept Maids of Misfortune up in the overall rankings during the week after the promotion ended. Last night, at the end of the first post-promotion week, Maids of Misfortune was #164 in the Paid Kindle Store and, while it has slipped a bit in the other categories, it was still #1 in popularity in historical mysteries, #7 in mystery-women sleuths, and #7 in historical romance. These rankings are high enough to make the book very discoverable — which leads to more sales — which leads to maintaining a high ranking — which leads to more sales.
The sales of Maids of Misfortune since the promotion ended have been fantastic. In November 2011, before the promotion, I sold 376 copies of Maids of Misfortune in all venues combined (Kindle US, other Kindle European stores, CreateSpace, Barnes and Noble, and Smashwords.) This was an average of 12.5 books a day. In December 2011, before the 2 day free promotion, I sold 433 books, with an average just under 15 books a day. In the week after the promotion ended, Maids of Misfortune sold 3183 books in total at an average of just under 455 books a day. Since I was no longer selling it in Smashwords and Barnes and Noble, these sales were almost entirely in the Kindle Stores.
Another unexpected consequence was the number of books I was now selling in the European Kindle Stores. In the 5 months before the promotion I was averaging 16 copies of Maids of Misfortune a month in these stores (primarily UK and Germany), but in the first week after the promotion I have sold 148 copies—an average of 21 books a day, pushing Maids of Misfortune up to #2 in the historical mystery category in the UK store.
I had hoped that the massive download of Maids of Misfortune during the promotion would eventually translate into a spill-over to Uneasy Spirits. I reasoned that, as people finished the first book, they might decide to buy the sequel. This in turn would lead to a higher ranking that would make it more visible. This has already happened. Before the promotion, in November 2011, Uneasy Spirits (which I published in mid October) sold 341 copies—an average of 11 a day. In December 2011, before the promotion, it sold 531 copies—an average of 18 a day. During the promotion and the week after, Uneasy Spirits sold 414 copies—an average of 46 a day (well over twice the rate of sales.) One result of this is that Uneasy Spirits is now showing up in the top 100 bestselling romantic suspense books, again making it more discoverable.
A final unexpected consequence has been the number of copies of Maids of Misfortune that have been borrowed by Amazon Prime members. When you "enroll" a book in the KDP Select Program, readers who belong to Amazon Prime can "borrow" the book for free for one month. I assumed, because I was a relatively unknown author and because Maids was priced at only $2.99, that few people would borrow it. Why would they when there are other much better known authors whose books cost more to buy? Yet, in the first week since the free promotion, 766 people have borrowed Maids of Misfortune. That means I will get some, I don't know how much, of the $500,000 Amazon has reserved to compensate KDP authors whose books were borrowed during January. These borrowed books also are included in the calculations that Amazon uses to determine the book's rank, so they also help maintain its visibility.
Trying to explain the phenomena, I looked more closely at the list of books in the historical mystery category, and I realized that those higher priced books ($8 and above) by better known authors (like the Maisie Dobbes series by Winspear, Gabaldon's Lord John books, or King's Russell-Holmes series) are not in the Amazon Prime lending program. Most of the books that are available for borrowing are by indie authors like myself, who can recognize a good promotional tool when we see one and who have control over the decisions we make about our own books. One apparent result of this is that Maids of Misfortune and other indie-authored books are ranked higher than those higher-priced and better-known books in the historical mystery category.
In summary, enrolling Maids of Misfortune in the KDP Select Program turned out to be much more successful experiment than I ever imagined it would be. Not only has it made this book and the sequel, Uneasy Spirits, more visible in the Kindle Store through high rankings in a number of categories, but the rankings have produced a large number of sales.
I don't know how long this pattern will last, and I can already see a slight slippage in total books sold per day. KDP Select gives authors the opportunity to do promotions like this for a total of five days in a three month period, so I still have three more promotional days that I can use, if necessary. But there is no getting around the fact that in the first week of January 2012, I sold 3,515 books. And that — by any measure — is wonderful news for this indie author.
At the end of January I will post Part III, an analysis of the success of the experiment at the end of a month, but, in the meantime I would like to hear from those of you who have also experimented with the KDP Select program to learn what your experiences have been.
This is a reprint from M. Louisa Locke's blog.


text:
One minute, I'm a woman trying to find her way in the world, and the next, I'm the sender of six of the most embarrassing text messages that have ever been sent in the history of time—or the cell phone.
My Brother's Billionaire Best Friend, a hilarious romantic comedy from New York Times bestselling author Max Monroe, is coming July 18th and we have the fantastic new cover!
Mabel "Maybe†Willis died a virgin at the very young age of twenty-four.
She leaves behind her parents, Betty and Bruce, her brother, Evan, a laptop filled with one too many Jason Momoa memes, and a Kindle library with more books than one human being could ever finish in a lifetime.
Cause of death: a text message.
Okay. So, I didn't die.
But I may as well have.
One minute, I'm a woman trying to find her way in the world, and the next, I'm the sender of six of the most embarrassing text messages that have ever been sent in the history of time—or the cell phone. Whatever.
We're talking code red, send a flipping mayday, the apocalypse is coming kind of texts.
And I didn't just send them to some random person I'll never see again.
No. That would be too easy.
I sent them to Milo Ives.
The man who played a starring role in all of my teenage fantasies—and my brother's lifelong best friend.
And, boy oh boy, has he grown up.
He's hard-bodied, blue-eyed, jawline-of-stone handsome, crazy successful, and has more money in his bank account than my brain can fathom.
Deflower me, please? I said.
Yeah. Send help.
Add to GoodReads: http://bit.ly/317HY3w
About Max Monroe:A secret duo of romance authors team up under the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling pseudonym Max Monroe to bring you sexy, laugh-out-loud reads. Max Monroe is the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author of more than ten contemporary romance titles. Favorite writing partners and long time friends, Max and Monroe strive to live and write all the fun, sexy swoon so often missing from their Facebook newsfeed. Sarcastic by nature, their two writing souls feel like they've found their other half. This is their most favorite adventure thus far.
Connect with Max Monroe:
Website: https://www.authormaxmonroe.com/
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/max-monroe
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2ReoxkK
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authormaxmonroe/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authormaxmonroe/
Stay up to date with Max Monroe by joining their mailing list today: https://www.authormaxmonroe.com/newsletter


text:
Continued Strict Prison Conditions Urged For Boston Bombing Suspect
By Alana Semuels, Los Angeles Times
BOSTON — Despite the presence of an FBI agent in the room, Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzokhar Tsarnaev made a "statement to his detriment" while his sister was visiting him in prison, federal prosecutors say.
Prosecutors revealed the incident in a filing Friday that argued that special rules governing Tsarnaev's prison conditions should remain in place. The rules, called special administrative measures, limit who can communicate with Tsarnaev, allows the government to be present while certain people visit him, and place restrictions on who his defense team can share information with. Such measures are sometimes used in terrorism cases in which authorities believe that the defendant could cause bodily injury to others through his contact with others.
Tsarnaev is accused of carrying out the twin April 15, 2013, bombings near the finish line of the Boston Marathon that killed three and wounded 260. Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. has said he will seek the death penalty for Tsarnaev, whose trial will begin Nov. 3.
In the filing, prosecutors argue that the restrictions are necessary to protect people against the risk of violence or terrorism.
Government prosecutors had previously submitted briefs in which they argued that writings found in the Watertown, Mass., boat where Tsarnaev took refuge show "an avowed wish to incite others to engage in violent jihad."
Tsarnaev's attorneys have argued that the measures are "unlawful and unwarranted" and violate his rights. The measures "gravely impair the ability of counsel to provide effective assistance to Mr. Tsarnaev," the defense argued in court filings.
Tsarnaev has had two social visits since being in prison, Friday's filing said. As part of the measures, an FBI agent was present during these visits. During the second visit, from Tsarnaev's sisters, an investigator for the defense team was also present. At one point during the visit, the investigator began explaining the rationale between the special measures to Tsanaev's sister, the filing said. Part of her comment regarded restrictions on providing information to third parties outside of prison, and Tsarnaev "made a comment in return," the filing said.
The government believes that Tsarnaev's lawyers have moved to lift the special administrative measures in part because of that comment.
"The motion has nothing to do with the (special measures) and everything to do with the fact that Tsarnaev, despite the presence of an FBI agent and an employee of the federal public defender, was unable to temper his remarks and made a statement to his detriment which was overhead by the agent," the filing said.
Tsarnaev's lawyers say their request to lift the measures has nothing to do with his comment. They also requested that he be allowed to meet with visitors without law enforcement present. The government also argued against this request.
"The suggestion that the defense and visitors be allowed to meet with Tsarnaev without monitoring by law enforcement would, in effect, allow Tsarnaev far greater freedom than the general population of inmates who are subject to the (Bureau of Prisons) regulations," the government said.
Also late Friday, defense lawyers asked that multiple charges against Tsarnaev be dismissed, arguing that the number of charges "appears designed to put a thumb on the scales of justice in favor of the death penalty." Tsarnaev is facing 30 federal charges, more than half of which carry the death penalty.
Preparations are being made for this year's Boston Marathon, which will be held April 21. The Boston Athletic Association said earlier this week that backpacks and bags would be banned from the race's starting and finish lines and along the 26.2-mile course.
AFP photo


text:
Mary Pride
Carole Adams
Ray Andree
Karen Andreola
Frank Armbruster
Dr. David Ayers
Larry Bailey
Lawrence Bangs
Johanna Banham
Lisa and Rhonda Barfield
Peggy Barker
Dr. Kuni Beasley
Jonathan Bechtle
Russ Beck
Alisyn Bennett
Vicki Bentley
Betty Berring
Mary Biever
George Bigham
Harvey and Laurie Bluedorn
Sam Blumenfeld
Lydia Guy Burchett
Charles and Betty Burger
Linda Burklin
Wes Callihan
Holly Capeda
Heather Chapman
Harry Cheney
Clay and Sally Clarkson
Marian Kester Coombs
Deborah Copelin
Lois Corcoran
Cheryl Costello
Martin Cothran
Jim Couch
Lorraine Curry
Michelle Dalrymple
Chris Davis
Ellyn Davis
Kandie Demarest
Tom DeWeese
Joan Donaldson
Richard Driggers
Cathy Duffy
Jonathan English
Carolyn Flanagan
Samuel Francis
Amanda Freitag
Marshall Fritz
Lisa Gard
John Taylor Gatto
Brittany Glenny
Tricia Goyer
Pat Graves
Steve Hake
Ken Ham
Kristin Lee Hamerski
Gregg Harris
Joshua Harris
Laura Harris
Lori Harris
Bob Hazen
Barbara Henderson
Sarah Hensley
Laura Hinely
Fritz Hinrichs
Regina Hogsten
Mercy Howell
Jessica Hulcy
D. Russell Humphries
Nicole Johnson
Elizabeth Kays
Diane Flynn Keith
Stephen Kemp
Rebecca Kenney
Andrew Kern
Chris Klicka
Antony Kolenc
Dr. Jim Kramer
Michele Lee
Steve Leer
Lenora Levia
Ann Lloyd
Diane Lockman
Isabel Lyman
Christina Magnaghi
Michael Maloney
Jason Makansi
Paula Mann
David Marks
Rodney Marshall
Shelly Mathiot
Renee Mathis
Pam Maxey
Theresa May
Kristen West McGuire
Joyce McPherson
Geneva Miller
Katie Michelli
Melissa Morgan
Sarah Morgan
Gretchen Mork
Natalie Muus
Edwin Myers
Naomi Nattress
John Nixdorf
Shelley Noonan
June Oberlander
Joy Pavelski
Mary Pecci
Dennis Peterson
Nikki Pheneger
Dr. Michael Platt
Drue Porter
Bill Pride
Franklin Pride
Joseph Pride
Madeleine Pride
Magda Pride
Mary Pride
Sarah Pride
Theodore Pride
Bob Reith
Michael Reitz
Howard and Susan Richman
Elizabeth Roberts
Dr. Arthur Robinson
Penny Ross
Teresa Schultz-Jones
Rebecca Sealfon
Rob and Cyndy Shearer
Scott Somerville
Bruce Shortt
Gail Small
Elisabeth Snell
Barry Stebbing
Andrew Stone
Alexandra Swann
Benjamin Swann
Joyce Swann
Janis Tatum
Jennifer Thieme
Heather Thompson
Christopher Thorne
Rita Tubbs
Dale Turner
Jamie Turner
Maryann Turner
Janice VanCleave
Brad Voeller
Kathy von Duyke
Steve Wagner
Eric Wallace
Austin Webb
Jeannette Webb
Brenda Weatherly
Natalie Webb
Pat Wesolowski
Carol Wickwire
Peter Williams
Douglas Wilson
Kym Wright
Lisa Yoder
Vivian Young
By Bob Hazen
Printed in Practical Homeschooling #12, 1996.
Teachers, parents, and students each need a framework of guiding principles to organize the teaching and learning of elementary mathematics. Several powerful principles provide a practical framework within which you can fit mathematical procedures and concepts. This article will examine the principle that "quantities have names."
Much of mathematics is counting - and knowing what we are counting. Like people, quantities have first names and last names. The first name tells us how many, and the last name tells us what kind. For example, comparing the expression 4x with 400, the first name of 4x is 4 and its last name is x, while 400's first name is also 4 but its last name is hundred. This connects with many real-world situations with which children are familiar: hold up all the fingers on one hand and ask a child "say what you see," and they will properly say, "Five fingers." Five is the first name (how many) and fingers is the last name (what they are).
This first name/last name principle has two natural connections. First, children often have friends or classmates who share the same first name, so they are familiar with sometimes having to refer to both the first and last names of someone in order to clearly identify that person. Second, students are teaming to read text from left to right, top to bottom on the page. The name for the mathematical term "4x" is verbalized and written just like we read a person's name - left to right, first name then last name.
It is important to connect this naming principle with the important "exchange" notion that is a central part of place value. We can extend this principle to explain that quantities sometimes have more than one name. For example, when I am in the classroom, students address me as "Mr. Hazen." When I am at home, my sons address me as "Dad" and my wife calls me "Bob" (or even "honey"). The point is that whatever my name is, I am still the same person. Likewise, the quantity "40" has more than one name. We can call it four tens or we can call it forty units. The quantity 345 also has several names, among them being three hundreds, four tens, five units, or three hundreds, forty-five units, or three hundred forty-five units.
This notion of multiple equivalent names emphasizes that in place value, the last name comes from the position that the digit is placed in. Thus, 400 is four hundred because the digit 4 was in the hundreds' position, while 40 is four tens because the digit 4 is in the tens' position, and 4 is four units (or four ones) because the digit 4 is in the units' (or ones') place. Knowing that 40 can be thought of as either four tens or as forty units is extremely helpful in developing number sense and the ability to decompose and recompose numbers. Knowing that the last name for a base ten number is determined by where the digit is placed is a set-up for success when students begin working with decimal numbers such as 0.4 and 0.004.
This first name/last name principle can also be used to explain why the whole number 7 is read simply "seven." Certain people are so famous that we only need to use their first name to identify them. In Minnesota where I live, one of the most popular people is the baseball player Kirby Puckett. He's so popular and well known that when people mention Kirby, we usually know that they are talking about the baseball player, even though his last name wasn't said. So Kirby and Kirby Puckett usually refer to the same person. Does 7 have a last name? Well, it actually does; its proper full name is seven units. However, we run into the whole number 7 so often - 7 is so famous - that we just call it by its first name only - seven. So seven and seven units usually refer to the same quantity.
This first name/last name principle applies to almost every area of mathematics, such as:
This is only a partial list; you can add your own first name/last name quantities as you work in almost every area of mathematics. The principle that quantities have first and last names is a powerful tool that helps students organize their thinking about mathematical facts and concepts in several ways. It fosters connections between mathematical strands such as arithmetic and algebra; it shows similarity between integers, decimals, fractions, variables, and angle measures; and it reminds students that mathematics is a language that makes sense.
Combining Work and Homeschool
Narration Beats Tests
AP Courses At Home
Shakespeare Camp
What We Can Learn from the Homeschooled 2002 National Geography Bee Winners
Getting Started in Homeschooling: The First Ten Steps
Teach Your Children to Work
Character Matters for Kids
Start a Nature Notebook
How to "Bee" a Spelling Success
University Model Schools
Give Yourself a "CLEP Scholarship"
The History of Public Education
Patriarchy, Meet Matriarchy
Columbus and the Flat Earth...
Interview with John Taylor Gatto
Getting Organized Part 3
Don't Give Up on Your Late Bloomers
Advanced Math: Trig, PreCalc, and more!
Saxon Math: Facts vs. Rumors
Classical Education
The Gift of a Mentor
Critical Thinking and Logic
Teaching Blends
How to Win the Geography Bee
Myth of the Teenager
Getting Organized Part 1 - Tips & Tricks
The Charlotte Mason Approach to Poetry
Who Needs the Prom?
A Homeschooler Wins the Heisman
Top Jobs for the College Graduate
Top Tips for Teaching Toddlers
What Does My Preschooler Need to Know?
Discover Your Child's Learning Style
Why the Internet will Never Replace Books
Laptop Homeschool
A Reason for Reading
Joyce Swann's Homeschool Tips
Can Homeschoolers Participate In Public School Programs?
The Equal Sign - Symbol, Name, Meaning
The Charlotte Mason Method
Phonics the Montessori Way
Montessori Language Arts at Home, Part 1
Art Appreciation the Charlotte Mason Way
Bears in the House
I Was an Accelerated Child
The Benefits of Cursive Writing
Whole-Language Boondoggle
Montessori Math
The Benefits of Debate


text:
With our first real taste of summer this week, we have been spending a lot of time in the garden doing various crafts and activities. We've been checking out the wildlife in our homemade bug and ladybird hotels, making perfume with our scented leaves and flowers and I've been teaching them how to press them, like I used to do as a child. We've been painting and Aqua-Doodling on the patio, making hand and foot prints that wouldn't be allowed in the house and generally getting good and dirty so we can wash it all off in the sprinkler!!
So here's an account of some of those garden activities and crafts we most enjoyed and how to do them:
Our Bug and Ladybird Hotels. The kids love finding and studying bugs in the garden. I would highly recommend buying one of these bug-magnifying pots, they are cheap, portable and provide hours of fun, not to mention being educational as well- win, win! J is rather handy when it comes to wood work and knocked up this rather splendid ladybird high-rise hotel (copied from ones available on Amazon!) in a few minutes, with added ladybirds from Hobbycraft. We bought ladybird food (also from Amazon) and put it into the holes to entice the little critters. Hopefully we'll have a happy family move in and feast on the greenfly currently attacking my roses!! Next door, the children have built a low-level youth-hostle style, living accommodation for all other insects, molluscs and arachnids that are looking to re-locate. They have attempted to gather various bugs and re-home them but I think the whole thing needs to weather-in a bit to attract them properly! Never-the-less, this activity has seen hours of time spent on it with all three of them (5,7 & 10 years old) loving bug-related activities!
Making perfume. This is so easy! All you need is a small spray bottle- we used one from the currently unloved Aquabeads set but you can buy them from Boots in the travel section. Choose some sweet smelling flowers or leaves- just make sure that you know what they are and therefore are not poisonous or likely to irritate the skin, you only need a few. Fab ones for this are lavender, rosemary, thyme, roses, jasmine and sweet-peas. Place them into the bottle and top up with lukewarm water (not too hot). Give it a shake and leave to infuse for a few minutes. You will have a light-scent, perfect for little girls! With a clear bottle, the perfume looks pretty too but be sure to warn them that it only lasts for about a week before it won't smell so good anymore!!
Pressing flowers. Something I did all the time as a child. I had 5 or 6 telephone directories full of pressed flowers, and those books were huge back then!! Though our current mini Yellow Pages is no use for this activity now, I have finally found a use for a gardening encyclopedia and one or two other heavy books! The girls were also given a flower press form the early learning centre which is effective but limited on what you can press.
⇒ ⇒
To do it yourself, without a press, you will need two pieces of card- we cut up an old cereal box. Simply place the flower or leaf that you want to press onto a piece of blotting/ parchment/ absorbent paper (even doubled up kitchen roll will do) and place that on one piece of the card! Make sure that you arrange each flower into the position that you would like it to flatten and that the flowers are not touching each other. Place another piece of absorbent paper on top of the flower and then the other piece of card on top of that. The flowers are in-between the absorbent paper and the card is on the top and bottom. Place the whole thing in a large book and top with a few other books -I found a few that I haven't gotten around to reading properly yet ;), for extra weight. Leave for a few weeks and they will be ready to use in crafts such as decorating cards and pictures.
⇒ ⇒
What have you been getting up to in the garden with the kids? Have you got any favourite crafts or activities that you plan to do with the kids this summer?


text:
> home > catalog > search results
Advanced Search
Sign up for the Read & Play Newsletter for age-by-age recommendations, discounts, news about upcoming books, literacy activities and more!
Click here for more info...
Hot off the press! Check out some of this month's reading highlights...
See New Releases
Meet Jeff Stone, author
of Phoenix
Jeff Stone lives in the Midwest with his wife and two children and practices the martial arts daily.
Click here for age-appropriate
recommendations on our bestselling pre-school,
chapter, and middle-grade book series!
For a full list of book recommendations try Search
by Theme!
From Dr. Seuss to Dora the Explorer, Random House has books featuring
your favorite characters!
Juvenile Fiction - Books & Libraries; Juvenile Fiction - Humorous Stories; Juvenile Fiction - Readers - Beginner
· Schwartz & Wade
· eBook · Ages 7-10 years
· April 22, 2008 · $6.99 · 978-0-375-89107-6 (0-375-89107-2)
Here's the first book in the hilarious Moxy Maxwell series, which includes Moxy Maxwell Does Not Love Writing Thank-you Notes and Moxy Maxwell Does Not Love Practicing the Piano. It wasn't as if Moxy hadn't tried to do her summer reading. She and Stuart Little had been inseparable all summer, like best friends. If Stuart Little wasn't in her backpack, it was in her lap . . . or holding up the coffee table . . . or getting splashed when Moxy went swimming. But now it's the end of August—the day before fourth grade. And if Moxy doesn't read all of Stuart Little immediately, there are going to be "consequences."
It may look like Moxy is doing nothing, but actually she is very busy with a zillion highly crucial things—like cleaning up her room (sort of) and training her dog and taking a much-needed rest in the hammock. Just look at the pictures her twin brother Mark takes to document it all—they're scattered throughout—and you'll see why it's so difficult to make time for a book about a mouse.
Of course our heroine does manage to finish her book, falling so in love with it that she finds herself reading under the covers with a flashlight, late into the night.
"WITH ITS BRILLIANTLY accessible application of a usually complex narrative technique, this work represents a significant raising of the bar for writers of chapter books. Technique or no technique, kids will recognize Moxy—and they will love her."—Kirkus Reviews, Starred"Gifford's depiction of an overly exuberant nine-year-old may remind some readers of Lois Lowry's Gooney Bird Greene."—School Library Journal"The short, sassy chapters have an immediacy that may have readers wringing their hands as the clock ticks down."—Booklist
Peggy Gifford's original plan was to become a famous (but really nice) actress. But after touring Ohio as Winnie-the-Pooh, she decided to become a writer instead. She holds an MFA from the Iowa Writer's Workshop, and her work has appeared in the Iowa Review, the Antioch Review, and women's magazines like Redbook. This is her first novel for children. She lives in New York, New York and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
Valorie Fisher is the author-illustrator of How High Can a Dinosaur Count?, which recevied two starred reviews, among other titles. Her first two picture books, My Big Brother and My Big Sister—both Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award winners—were, like Moxy Maxwell, illustrated with photographs. She lives in Cornwall, Connecticut.
Random House
Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use. Copyright © 1995-2010 Random House LLC. All rights reserved.


text:
Magic Company LogoGreat to be used for shops stores, ecommerce, magic related business, softwares, mobile apps, blogs or retail products such as stickers, clothes, mugs, etc…
Standard Specs
- Fully Scalable
- 100% Editable
- CMYK Color Profile
- AI and EPS
- 1(One) Awesome Logo Template
- AI and EPS files
- Preview Image
- Help File (Thank you.html)
- CartoGothic Std (Free): Download ->
Logo Heaven Quality StandardBranding Solutions Made Easy
Browse our full portfolio of designs to find the perfect solution for you and your company. Our design are professional and affordable.
Fully Editable and Easy to Use
Our templates are fully layered and organized, meaning you can get your company logo ready to use in seconds.
Worry Free Design
Our templates are built from scratch using the CMYK color profile, which assures you'll get the best color definition both on print and web environments. Plus our templates comes in AI and EPS 10 versions, so your logo can be used and customized in you favorite vector program.
Resolution Independent
Each template is built using vectors, so we can assure the highest definition in any design, from a giant outdoor to a small sticker.
Customer Support from Heaven
We valuate our customers as much as we can, each template are covered with free support. Need help? We're online on business days at email@example.com
Need Something Unique?
We are ready to bring your brand to a whole new level.
Send an email to firstname.lastname@example.com, and we will get back to you with a quote.


text:
Windows 7 in review: The revenge of Windows Vista
Windows Vista lacked the right stuff to unseat Windows XP. Does Windows 7 really have what it takes?
Few periods in Microsoft's existence have been as bruising as the past two-and-a-half years. Ever since the company shipped Windows Vista, it's been one public relations catastrophe after another. First, there were the instabilities -- wave after wave of bad press about buggy drivers and spotty backward compatibility. Then came the revolt, with users demanding that Microsoft extend the life of Windows XP indefinitely in a tacit rejection of the company's Vista road map.
It looked like the end was nigh for Microsoft's desktop hegemony. Vista would be the albatross that finally brought the company down, ushering in a new era of platform-independent applications running on Linux or Mac OS X. Apple, in particular, made hay with Vista's troubles, lampooning the unpopular OS in a series of well-crafted TV spots. These truly were heady times for those banking on Microsoft's demise.
[ Get InfoWorld's 21-page hands-on look at the next version of Windows, plus deployment tips on security, Windows Server 2008 integration, and Windows XP migration, all from InfoWorld's editors and contributors. ]
Of course, the Redmond giant had other plans. As Vista was floundering in the marketplace, the Windows development team, under new leader Steven Sinofsky, was feverishly at work on Vista's successor. And true to his pragmatist reputation, Sinofsky focused the team on fixing Vista's ills -- as opposed to adding lots of new features -- and delivering a successor that would eliminate the usability quirks and the code bloat that had given Vista such a bad reputation.
Did Microsoft succeed? Feedback from users who have tried the new OS have been uniformly positive, with most testers reporting a better overall computing experience than with Vista. Windows 7 has already become an overnight hit, with each new review of a leaked pre-release build adding to a growing sense of anticipation for the product's impending Release to Manufacturing (RTM). And now that the product has finally left beta -- Microsoft is signing off on the final RTM bits as I write this -- it's time to take stock of this new, improved iteration of the much-maligned Vista architecture.
Does Windows 7 really right the wrongs committed against the IT community by Windows Vista? And more to the point, is the product's combination of new features and long-overdue fixes enough to sway IT shops to finally abandon Windows XP? In this article, I take a look at Windows 7 from several angles, including critical issues like security, reliability, and performance. Along the way, I compare Windows 7's functionality to its immediate predecessor, Windows Vista, as well as to the real target of Microsoft's newest OS: the venerable Windows XP, the most successful OS in history.
Usability: Light-years ahead
One area that generated a great deal of controversy with Windows Vista was its revamped user interface. From the integrated search functions to the reconfigured dialog boxes to the glowing Start Orb, users decried how alien the Vista UI felt compared to tried-and-true Windows XP. Worse still, there was no easy way to revert to the old interface. Yes, you could enable a "classic" Start Menu. However, the rest of the UI -- including the rearranged Control Panel -- was here to stay.
Of course, some of Vista's UI changes were eventually seen as advancements. The integrated search field in each Explorer window proved to be a real boon for finding files and settings within the OS. The modular "breadcrumbs" feature of the Explorer path field likewise proved superior to the archaic "up folder" button, the loss of which so many protested. And over time, the convenience of those early Aero "glass" elements, including the live thumbnail previews, eventually grew on people.
Still, Microsoft took the early criticisms of Vista's UI to heart and endeavored to address these faults with Windows 7, with mixed results. In terms of the complaints about rearranging components, Windows 7 actually does its own share of reshuffling, with some Control Panel items regrouped and others combined or eliminated altogether. Working with hardware devices and printers is now a completely new process, while the search function has traded the clunky "build a query" toolbar with a sophisticated keyword syntax that is more powerful but also takes some getting used to.


text:
If you have either of these units as part of your home heating and cooling system, consider adding them to your WeCare Maintenance or Protection Plan coverage. Regular cleaning and maintenance will be covered. When your heating system includes multiple units and components, it makes sense to let certified home HVAC technicians take care of the entire system's service and maintenance.
Not sure exactly how to maintain your HRV or ERV unit? Link ClimateCare member does the work and saves you time and money. Plus, you'll know that your heating and cooling system is getting the best seasonal maintenance available. Our professional technicians are trained and certified in all aspects of HVAC system maintenance and repair. Your system will run more efficiently, reducing energy waste and lowering your utility bills.
You can expect the following checklist to be completed as part of our Precision Tune-Up:
- Clean or replace filters
- Verify airflow and clean the vents, grills and ductwork
- Clean and lubricate fans, if needed
- Inspect the condensate drain
- Clean the heat exchange core
- Complete system inspection
- All in all a 13 point HRV/ERV maintenance checklist is performed
- Plus a discount off regular labour rates if repairs are ever required
This type of regular maintenance, inspection and cleaning can add years to the life of your HRV, keeping it running efficiently and avoiding future problems. Most homeowners don't have the time or know-how to do all of this work correctly; why not turn it over to someone who does?
If you have any questions about HRV or ERV maintenance, talk to us about the benefits of a heating and cooling maintenance plan for you and your home. It's the best way to keep energy efficient heating systems working through the winter, keeping your family cozy and warm. We're the best resource for all of your heating and cooling needs.


text:
WASHINGTON — No more dreaded pelvic exam? New guidelines say most healthy women can skip the yearly ritual.
Routine pelvic exams don't benefit women who have no symptoms of disease and who aren't pregnant, and they can cause harm, the American College of Physicians said Monday as it recommended that doctors quit using them as a screening tool.
It's part of a growing movement to evaluate whether many longtime medical practices are done more out of habit than necessity, and the guideline is sure to be controversial.
Scientific evidence "just doesn't support the benefit of having a pelvic exam every year," said guideline coauthor Dr. Linda Humphrey of the Portland Veterans Affairs Medical Center and Oregon Health &Science University.
"There will be women who are relieved, and there are women who really want to go in and talk with their doctor about it and will choose to continue this," she added.
The recommendations aren't binding to doctors — or insurers.
Indeed, a different doctors' group, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, still recommends yearly pelvic exams, even as it acknowledges a lack of evidence supporting, or refuting, them.
Pelvic exams have long been considered part of a "well-woman visit," and some 62 million were performed in the United States in 2010, the latest available data.
Here's what put the test under the microscope: Pap smears that check for cervical cancer used to be done yearly but now are recommended only every three to five years. So if women weren't going through that test every year, did they still need the pelvic exam that traditionally accompanied it?
During a pelvic exam, a doctor feels for abnormalities in the ovaries, uterus and other pelvic organs. But two years ago, scientists at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that the internal exams weren't a good screening tool for ovarian cancer and shouldn't be required before a woman was prescribed birth control pills.
The American College of Physicians, specialists in internal medicine, took a broader look.
Pelvic exams are appropriate for women with symptoms such as vaginal discharge, abnormal bleeding, pain, urinary problems or sexual dysfunction, the ACP said. And women should get their Pap smears on schedule — but a Pap doesn't require the extra step of a manual pelvic exam, it said.
For symptom-free women, years of medical studies show routine pelvic exams aren't useful to screen for ovarian or other gynecologic cancers, they don't reduce deaths, and there are other ways, such as urine tests, to detect such problems as sexually transmitted infections, the doctors' group reported in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine.
Moreover, pelvic exams can cause harm — from unnecessary and expensive extra testing when the exam sparks a false alarm, to the anxiety, embarrassment and discomfort that many women report, especially survivors of sexual abuse, the guidelines said.
No one knows how many women postpone a doctor's visit for fear of a pelvic exam, Humphrey said.
Dr. Ranit Mishori, a family physician and associate professor at Georgetown University School of Medicine, said the new guideline "gets rid of an unnecessary practice" that takes up valuable time that could be put to better use.
"Many women will be happy to hear that, and I think also, frankly, many physicians will be happy to hear it. Many of us have stopped doing them for a long time," said Mishori, who wasn't involved with the recommendations.
Despite its continued recommendation for annual pelvic exams, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists said in 2012 that patients should decide together with their providers whether to have them.
Sometimes that exam lets the doctor spot, say, problems around the uterus that might lead to questions about incontinence that the supposedly asymptomatic patient was too embarrassed to bring up, said ACOG vice president Dr. Barbara Levy.
"Women have an expectation that they're going to have an exam" if they choose a gynecologist, Levy said.
An editorial published alongside the guidelines Monday cautioned that pelvic exams also look for noncancerous uterine and ovarian growths, and the scientific review didn't address whether that's beneficial.
Still, editorial coauthors Drs. George Sawaya and Vanessa Jacoby of the University of California, San Francisco, said that whether the new guideline changes doctors' practice or not, it could lead to better evaluation of what "has become more of a ritual than an evidence-based practice."
"Clinicians who continue to offer the examination should at least be cognizant of the uncertainty of benefit and the potential to cause harm through a positive test result and the cascade of events that follow," they wrote.
Talk to us
- You can tell us about news and ask us about our journalism by emailing email@example.com or by calling 425-339-3428.
- If you have an opinion you wish to share for publication, send a letter to the editor to firstname.lastname@example.com or by regular mail to The Daily Herald, Letters, P.O. Box 930, Everett, WA 98206.
- More contact information is here.