text:
posted by Thom Holwerda on Wed 11th May 2011 21:53 UTC, submitted by kragil
"Pinta, a 'lightweight' open source raster image editor, turned 1.0 on April 27, offering Linux users another choice for simple image editing. Pinta is intended to be a clone of Paint.NET, the Windows-only raster editor written in .NET. As such, it uses Mono under the hood, but it gains the ability to run equally well on Linux, Mac OS X, or Windows. Is it a replacement for GIMP or Krita? That depends on what you need to do." What I like about Pinta is that I actually caused its creation in the first place.


text:
Check Them Out: Terrence J & Rocsi's Moms Suprise's Them For Mothers Day!
Terrence J & Rocsi's moms come on the show
Please click the "Report" button below if the video on this page is not working properly.
Comments will only be displayed by verified emails. No Spamming or Racism.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
This is what I wrote about Chrome on the Nexus 7:
Furthermore, typing in the address bar is an exercise in frustration, as it will often take seconds for the device to catch up with your typing (it seems searching through bookmarks, history, and relevant Google search queries slows everything down). The close tab button is also far too small, and will often not register your touch - or it will register, but only a few seconds later. This kind of touch delay is only found in Chrome, and nowhere else. It's puzzling.
I then expressed hope the situation would improve with updates, but, and let's just get it out of the way, it hasn't. Chrome on the Nexus 7 is still laggy, websites make it unresponsive, loading is slow, typing in the address bar is an exercise in frustration due to input lag, and the interface is still very touch-hostile - small targets - and whoever came up with the idea to put the small close tab button right next to the small new tab button ought to be fired on the spot.
I was already unhappy about this when I got my Nexus 7, but now that we're months ahead, and several Chrome updates and one Android update later, there's simply no excuse. Google needs to get its - yes, I'm saying it - shit together and fix this mess of a mobile browser. The entire Android experience on the Nexus 7 is pretty awesome and has few issues, but Chrome ruins everything. The browser is a crucial aspect of a tablet for me, so this seriously diminishes the Nexus 7's user experience for me.
On my Galaxy SII, it's even worse. All the same issues - but all of them way worse, and to boot, the odd force close or complete Chrome crash. However, my SII runs alpha code - CyanogenMod 10 nightlies - so I can't blame Google blindly for that one. However, I am actually assuming this is all Google's fault too, since the rest of CM10 is pretty damn good.
Yesterday, I finally had enough. My SII has made the full switch to the Firefox beta, and while I dislike Firefox' horrid interface and miss the tab synchronisation with my iMac and ZenBook, the browsing experience is just so much better. Faster, smoother, more stable. My Nexus 7 will remain on Chrome for a while (tab synchronisation is more important for me on a tablet than on my smartphone), but if everything on my SII goes smoothly with Firefox, the N7 will follow in its footsteps.
If the issues with Chrome persist beyond the coming months, I will look into dumping Chrome for my iMac and ZenBook as well. I like the cross-device integration in modern browsers, and as much as I like desktop Chrome, I will dump it in a heartbeat if Google continues to refuse to fix mobile Chrome.
Google, please fix Chrome for Android. It's a massive blemish on an otherwise great mobile operating system. I happened to play with an iPhone 4 yesterday, and was instantly reminded of what a good mobile browser is like. Take notes, Google. Apple is eating your lunch there.


text:
Strange Magic Movie HDFull Strange Magic Movie HD with duration 90 Min and broadcast on 2015-01-23 with MPAA rating is 36.
- Original Title : Strange Magic
- Movie title in your country : Strange Magic
- Year of movie : 2015
- Genres of movie : Music, Animation, Family, Fantasy,
- Status of movie : Released
- Release date of movie : 2015-01-23
- Companies of movie : Lucasfilm, Touchstone Pictures,
- Countries of movie : United States of America,
- Language of movie : English,
- Durationof movie : 90 Min
- Average vote of movie : 6.1
- Youtube ID of movie : Xr9iLfD6xus
- Translation of movie : EN,FR,RU,NL,DE,ES,ZH,KO,PT,EL,SV,IT,CS,PL,HU,
- Cast of movie :
- Alan Cumming ( Bog King (voice) )
- Evan Rachel Wood ( Marianne (voice) )
- Kristin Chenoweth ( Sugar Plum Fairy (voice) )
- Maya Rudolph ( Griselda (voice) )
- Sam Palladio ( Roland (voice) )
- Alfred Molina ( Fairy King (voice) )
- Elijah Kelley ( Sunny (voice) )
- Bob Einstein ( Stuff (voice) )
- Peter Stormare ( Thang (voice) )
- Meredith Anne Bull ( Dawn (voice) )
- Robbie Daymond ( Fairy Cronies (voice) )
- Llou Johnson ( Pare (voice) )
Strange Magic Synopsis:
Play Streaming Strange Magic "Strange Magic" is a madcap fairy tale musical inspired by "A Midsummer Night's Dream," with popular songs from the past six decades used to help tell the tale of a colorful cast of goblins, elves, fairies and imps, and their hilarious misadventures sparked by the battle over a powerful potion. Full Strange Magic Movie HD
Strange Magic Enjoy Movie streaming movie in HD without downloading, Enjoy Movie Strange Magic Full online movie streaming free and fun Strange Magic Free Movie Stream only here Today, we can see that hundreds thousands of people looking for free Strange Magic and watch it on their sweat house with internet connection. Be happy, you can reach hundreds of thousands of satisfied members who became tired of waiting for DVDs in the mail, and now you can watch for free Strange Magic Film, get some free new movie online free watch and download new movie new releases and the hottest classics on our site. It is fast. It is easy. And best of all, it is free to try
Director : Gary Rydstrom, Writer : Gary Rydstrom, Writer : David Berenbaum, Writer : Irene Mecchi, Producer : Irene Mecchi, Executive Producer : George Lucas, Software Engineer : Yan Zou, Lighting Technician : Justin Hammond, Animation Manager : Adam Holmes
Yes, now you can Watch Movie Strange Magic Full Movie Streaming and get the link to Strange Magic In HD


text:
Miyamoto: Wii U's rivals will feel limited over time
The Wii U's use of an integrated second screen poses a notable threat to Microsoft and Sony's rival machines.
That's according to design legend Shigeru Miyamoto who speaking to CNN said that the Wii U's impact will grow considerably over time.
"The challenge that we had was if someone wanted to view television, then you couldn't play games," he explained. We wanted to have a second screen for Wii U that would make it possible for people to essentially play games even if something else was on the TV.
"There was a period when we first released the Nintendo DS that people would say there's no way people can look at two screens at once.
"I almost feel like, as people get more familiar with Wii U and these touchscreen interfaces, that there is going to come a point where they feel like 'I can't do everything I want to do if I don't have a second screen'."
Miyamoto also believes that Wii U has another ace up its sleeve – the fact that its design affords it a purpose as a general living room device.
"I feel a device like Wii U, with its ability to continue to offer new features and that network connection and the connection to the TV and the interface, really makes it feel that it's more than just a game machine, but something that offers a lot of practical use and practical purpose in the living room," he added.
"I look at it as being a very useful device that can do many different things and therefore really seems to be the device that's ideal to have in the living room.
"The other thing I think about is how do we begin getting people to understand that and convey the usefulness of Wii U to them. For me as a game developer, obviously I look at Wii U from the perspective of what games I can bring to Wii U."


text:
Please read description carefully.
Do not base your order on the picture presented.
Description of the Medline Comfort Care Clothing
Designed to allow caregivers to easily dress and undress hospice and hospital patients with limited or no mobility
-Sleeves can be completely unsnapped and opened up
-Accommodates palliative devices
-Palliative hospice pajamas top features soft, breathable materials to ensure maximum comfort and ease of laundering, while maintaining the patient's dignified and hygienic appearance
-Polyester/cotton blend (65% polyester/35% cotton)
Medex SKU: BRG207-S-PK


text:
London calling
London is the centre of eclectic, eccentric, outlandish, anything-goes style. Mixing city rebel with country gent, Sloane with Shoreditch, rock 'n roll with refined, check out our staff of buyers, marketeers, designers, PR girls, graphic designers and Style Advisors. This is what London - and Topshop Topman - has to offer.
Click on a portrait to check out an interview...
Emma Grant, Assistant Buyer
Emma Grant likes combinations when it comes to what she wears - describing her style as "vintage queen mixed with some high street finds". Always verging on the pretty side of fashion, she loves both the look of Gossip Girl and the Olsen twins. That makes her own outfit of Topshop jersey dress, killer Nicholas Kirkwood shoes and sweetly tousled hair.
Amy Compton, Creative Projects Co-ordinator
Doesn't like to be too co-ordinated. She describes her style as "a bit mismatched but in a good way". We couldn't help but agree - we love her acid wash denim and accessories and think it fits right into London style as she describes it: "fearless self-expression". This girl is doing the city proud.
Lizzie Dawson, Designer
Has too many New York icons to name one in particular. She is, however, a big fan of the city's passion for vintage. After all, it matches her own. Wearing her favourite vintage frayed denim shirt and J Brand jeans, this London girl would fit right in NYC.
Lauren Brown, Style Advisor, Oxford Circus
Doesn't leave the house without lipstick - glamour is present in her look at all times. Not that she wants to look too pulled together. Like her style icon, Mary-Kate Olsen, Lauren prefers a "girly but edgy style" and, we have to say, it suits her just so.
Jess Gebhart, Denim Buyer Admin Assistant
Likes rock musicians when it comes to style icons: she name checks Debbie Harry, Patti Smith and Marianne Faithfull as favourites. Her own style, however, is a little different. She describes it as "casual but modern." Sounds like a good formula to us.
Tara Grant, Accessories Designer
Describes her style as the product of "happy accidents" within her wardrobe. But, looking at her today in Topshop Unique, we can only hope to get into a similar accident next time we're getting dressed.
Lara Einzig, Retail Marketing Manager
Flits between two New York icons: Lauren Hutton for her "classic style and true grace" and Erin Wasson "for her rough and ready edge". These opposing moods come up in her own style. "I swing from pared back baggy jeans and Converse to classic investment pieces," she says. There's only one rule: no fuss.
Chris Bonich, Assistant Branch Merchandiser
Original style with attention to detail is me, I like a fairly classic look, nothing too much, just some nice traditional pieces that I think are cool.
From the 60's and a bit of now, for me if something is still being sold 40 odd years on then I reckon it's pretty decent.
Andreas Antoniou, Accessories Merchandiser
I love darker, muted colours and monochromes. Slinky fine gauge knitwear with understated design detail coupled with harder tailored jackets and grungy washed jeans. A mix of grungy and sophisticated - a 'Berlin' look.
On a lazy day, I love the pin-rolled baggy jeans with high top trainers and a hoody.
Nick Lambert, Shirts and Ties Assistant Buyer
I love to mix vintage tees, retro or retro inspired sportswear, clean jersey basics and battered jeans or chinos. My style icon is Kevin Bacon circa 'Friday the 13th' and if I could live in any time or place it would be early 80's California.
Thom Scherdel, Brands and Concessions Buyer Admin Assistant
I'm fascinated by what people wear and how they choose to wear it, I'm always looking around and checking people out to get new ideas. I prefer to look back rather than looking forward in terms of inspiration. Following the catwalk is fine but I prefer to tap into older timeless sources. Quadrophenia is so cool and you can't really go wrong singing from that hymn sheet in terms of style.
Adi Currie, Senior Press Officer
Truth is, I don't know how I dress – it's generally just throw the first thing on (or cleanest) I see. If I were pushed... well, I love the way Paul Weller dressed in The Style Council around 1983 – not that I was born then (cough). I like the idea of layering more and more too – it's difficult to put into words, but seeing something underneath something else, the end of a vest, the cuff of a shirt and a raw collar just seems right for now.
John Haycock, International Merchandise Admin Assistant
Being a bit of an impulse buyer I never buy anything strategically. I'll just buy something (no matter how loud or wacky) and try and make it work. With a love for the 70's, a young George Best would certainly be included in my fashion icons and my love for vintage stems from this era. At the moment I seem to like geek chic as a lot of pieces centred around this look can be found in my wardrobe.
Tim Colling, Smart and Suits Buyers Admin Assistant
I lean towards a Scandinavian and Parisian style, and a big fan of labels APC and Acne. I like clothes in my wardrobe that are subtle, understated and stylish.
Russell Nott, Planning and Capital Finance Manager
My fashion icons would have to be Beckham & Justin Timberlake!
I like to wear dark classic wash jeans with a pair of smart shoes and add colour to the look with a cool edgy fashion tee & layer this with a check L/S shirt to add a casual side to the look!
John Mooney, Casual Jackets Designer
Scally in disguise...... don't like smelly vintage, think it works best on girls. Like my labels and like picking up bits and pieces on my travels. Always work from the feet up... good shoes by traditional shoemakers.
Danny Tudor-Jones, Accessories Buyer
I guess people would say I'm preppy or even a bit geeky. I'm a closet geography teacher and I love trends from other countries, in particular Japan and Scandinavia. The guys seem to style themselves so effortlessly and tastefully. I think men should know what suits them rather than just wearing lots of expensive clothes, money doesn't buy taste! In terms of a style icon, for me it has to be Steve McQueen, classic sportswear has never looked cooler, he's easily the most stylish American ever.
Harry Hazell, Flagship Topman Stylist
A different day brings a different style; I never like to confine myself to a particular look. I like the idea that I can reinvent myself every day, late 50's Talented Mr Ripley Pale pink tennis shorts, white button-down shirt with a Gold Rolex and a yacht seems to be on today's menu (minus the yacht of course). My inspirations have to be Prince Charles for the English heritage look, David Hockney for his use of colour and Gordon Richardson for his attention to detail.


text:
|2007-07-28, 05:33
|Link #41
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Australia
Woot! Little Busters!
Well I finally found this thread... digging it out of early retirement if you will.
My Japanese is novice at best but I just started playing the game a couple days ago, and all I can say is BAHAHAHAHA...
Spoiler for More details about the BAHAHAHAHA and some plot details (maybe):
I'll post more here when I get to more exciting parts.
|2007-07-29, 01:07
|Link #49
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Australia
Oh and thanks for the heads up on that Orrin, I never knew that little fact. Well since mine still shows the date, I guess I haven't reached that yet. But it's interesting that we both selected different people and it seems like it's turning out differently for our respective scenarios.
|2007-07-29, 22:46
|Link #53
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Australia
Oh wow... after looking at the posters and wall scrolls at http://www.i-love-key.net/ I want to get the Anego, Kudo and Saigusa wallscrolls!!! T___T
I wonder where I'll be able to get them....
|2007-07-30, 02:31
|Link #55
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Canada
Age: 33
My copy is on the way, but I probably won't have time to play it right away... Which means I have to stay away from this thread for a while. ^^;
By the way:
*buys 100*
Last edited by Sushi-Y; 2007-07-30 at 03:02.
|2007-07-30, 05:12
|Link #56
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Australia
|2007-07-30, 14:32
|Link #57
Sumika Kagami Fanboy
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Sweden
Age: 36
体力 = Vitality
敏捷性 = Quickness
反射神経 = Reflexes
集中力 = Concentration
判断力 = Judgment
運 = Luck
I have no clue what effect some of them have, the manual doesn't say anything about it either.
And I cleared my first scenario yesterday night but I was actually a bit disappointed with it, oh well let's hope the other ones are better.
Last edited by Orrin; 2007-07-30 at 16:34.
|2007-07-30, 16:35
|Link #58
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2004
yeah. general opinion is that the independent routes (that is everyone except for the rin routes/main route) are kind of disappointing.
i felt like i expected too much from the game until i actually went through the main ones (the maeda scenarios).
there are some hints to the secret of the world occasionally in the other scenarios, but if you really don't like the independent routes you might want to skip through them
(there are some changes here and there in the pre-split common scenario depending if you went through the
Last edited by roan; 2007-07-30 at 16:55.
|2007-07-30, 17:54
|Link #59
Sumika Kagami Fanboy
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Sweden
Age: 36
Well i did expect more but I did still enjoy it quite a bit, it just lacked the same impact that the Maeda written scenarios from earlier Key games usually has. So I won't skip anything but it's a relief to hear that it gets better later on.
And I might also have expected too much, have been looking forward to this game pretty much since Clannad. But I will try to get some of my expectations down from now on.
Spoiler for Komari's scenario:
I must however praise some of the BMG, especially ともしび was incredibly good to get me in the right mood (and yet another praise to Maeda ).
|bishoujo, ero-game, eroge, key, pc game, visual novel
|Thread Tools


text:
We are grateful for the rich tradition of family giving at Saint Michael's College that deeply contributes to the Saint Michael's experience and makes a significant positive impact on the lives of our students. Thank you for generously supporting Saint Michael's and for instilling in your child(ren) the importance of giving back.
Your contributions make the following possible:
Ministering to and with students through prayer and service.
Increasing undergraduate research opportunities.
Welcoming students with ability, regardless of financial need.
Preparing students for the global marketplace.
Providing tools for healthy, balanced living.
Help keep funds flexible to respond to immediate needs.
If you are the parent of a graduating senior, please consider making a gift in your student's honor in order that we may acknowledge both the gift and their accomplishment in a card sent to their campus box.
And as always, we would love to hear from you! Please contact us at email@example.com to share comments, suggestions or let us know how you would like to participate.
Thank you!


text:
- Inside Athletics
- Tickets
- Fan Zone
- Media Zone
- Social
- Shop
- Donate Now
CHATTANOOGA (Nov 17, 2009) -- Following an emotionally draining win over Appalachian State last Saturday, the ETSU men's basketball team faces a stretch of four games in eight days beginning Tuesday night against arch rival Chattanooga inside McKenzie Arena. Tip is set for 7 p.m.
Facing a former Southern Conference foe for the second straight game, the Bucs -- who continue to face challenges from an injury standpoint -- will hope to continue to get strong play from its bench. Against the Mountaineers, ETSU's starters scored only 21 points, while players such as sophomore guard Adam Sollazzo (Tampa), junior guard Justin Tubbs (Trussville, Ala.), and freshman guard Sheldon Cooley (Tampa), all scored in double figures coming off the bench.
As in years past, this battle is expected to be a good one. For more on the game click on the game notebook link above, or read the game notes below.
The series against Chattanooga
The series against Chattanooga
In what is widely considered the longest and most heated rivalry in ETSU basketball history, the Bucs and Mocs have met 74 times with ETSU trailing the all-time series 33 to 41 ... The two teams shared the same conference from 1979 to 2005, spending several years battling in the Southern Conference ... The Bucs won the meeting last year, 82-70 inside Memorial Center ... That game is just one of many dramatic moments in this series, which includes wins by ETSU in the 1991, 1992, 2003 and 2004 Southern Conference Tournament championship game.
Last time out against the Mocs
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (Dec. 17, 2008) - In a battle that live up to the rivalries long and storied history, senior forward Kevin Tiggs (Flint, Mich.) scored 30-plus points for the third time in four games and fellow senior Courtney Pigram (Memphis) added 24 as the ETSU men's basketball team dropped in-state foe Chattanooga 82-70 in non-conference action at Memorial Center ... A crowd of 3,102 watched the Bucs move to 7-3 on the season, while the Mocs dropped to 1-7 on the year. With the win, ETSU improved to a perfect 3-0 against former Southern Conference foes Marshall, Appalachian State and Chattanooga ... Tiggs finished with a career and game high 32 points, meaning the senior has now scored 115 points in his last four games - Marshall (31), Mercer (21), Appalachian State (31) and Chattanooga (32). Meanwhile, Pigram posted a 20-plus point game for the fifth time this season, while Smith scored in double figures (10) for the ninth time in 10 games this year. The Bucs shot 48 percent from the floor and held UTC to just a 31 percent clip on the night ... The Mocs opened the game on fire from the field, producing a 10-2 offensive run to build a 21-10 lead with just under 14 minutes left in the half and causing Bartow to take a 30-second timeout to stem the tide. It worked, and ETSU responded by outscoring the Mocs 21-10 over the next nine minutes to tie the game at 31-31 with six minutes left on the clock ... ETSU then used another 10-0 run to take the lead at 41-36 with two minutes left in the half, but Chattanooga responded and a layup by Keyron Sheard tied the game 41-41 at the break ... As they did at Appalachian State, the Buccaneers opened the second half with a flurry on the offensive end, highlighted by a three from Pigram, as well as a three and dunk by Tiggs. The result was a 16-4 start to the half and a 57-45 ETSU advantage with 16:45 left in the game ... However, with Tiggs in foul trouble and on the bench with four personals, UTC slowly chipped away at the Bucs' lead over the next 11 minutes and manufactured a 7-0 run to make it a 68-67 game with just over four minutes left. A basket by Tiggs broke the string and made it 70-67, and from there a pair of free throws by Smith and another four straight from Tiggs made it 76-67 with just over a minute left in the game. The run ended Chattanooga's hopes for a win.
Last time out
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (Nov. 14, 2009) - On a Homecoming day full of emotion, the ETSU men's basketball team made the plays it needed to make in the final minutes to outlast rival Appalachian State 62-58 in the 2009-10 season opener Saturday afternoon inside Memorial Center ... In a game that began with a memorial service for former ETSU center Seth Coy (Washington, Ind.), who tragically died in a car accident last summer, the Buccaneers were the recipients of a fortuitous intentional foul call with a minute left in regulation and capitalized at the foul line with five makes in six tries to pick up the victory. A crowd of 5,562 fans looked on as sophomore guard Adam Sollazzo (Tampa, Fla.) - who roomed with Coy and now wears his No. 43 jersey - hit two of those free tosses with 16.2 seconds left to help ice the game ... Prior to the game, over 50 people from Coy's hometown were on the Memorial Center floor, and Bartow presented his mother with a framed jersey. Those emotions seemed to wear on both the Bucs and Mountaineers, who struggled to find an offensive rhythm in the first half ... In the first 20 minutes of play, the Bucs shot just 34 percent from the field and ASU hit on just 41 percent. At the intermission, it was tied 27-27 and the two teams had combined for 21 turnovers (13 for Appalachian and eight for the ETSU) ... The game saw 10 ties and nine lead changes, and the second half followed that trend throughout. ETSU's largest lead was six points and it came with 12:09 left in regulation, but the Mountaineers battled back to regain the advantage at 50-49 with 6:17 remaining. ETSU led 57-56 when the call of the game was made, as ASU's Isaac Butts was slapped with an intentional foul call as ETSU junior Justin Tubbs (Trussville, Ala.) was slashing to the basket. Tubbs hit both shots to make it 59-56, but not until Sollazzo's two free throws made it 61-58 and ASU's Ryann Abraham missed a potential game-tying 3-pointer with seven seconds left did the Bucs feel safe ... Junior guard Micah Williams (Manchester) hit one of two foul shots with five seconds left to make it a four-point game and give the Bucs the win ... With only 21 points of offense from its starters, the Bucs got a great effort from true freshman Sheldon Cooley (Tampa) and Tubbs, both of whom came off the bench to score 11 points each. Meanwhile, Sollazzo and his No. 43 jersey fittingly led the Bucs in scoring with 13 points ... For the game, ETSU held ASU to just 41 percent shooting and forced 25 turnovers.
Sollazzo steps up on night ETSU honors Coy
Before the start of Saturday's Homecoming game against Appalachian State, the ETSU community honored the memory of former center Seth Coy, who died in a car accident last summer ... His former roommate and friend, Adam Sollazzo (Tampa), now wears Coy's No. 43 jersey and against the Mountaineers he played inspired basketball ... Sollazzo set a career high with 13 points and hit two critical foul shots in the final seconds to lift the Bucs to a victory.
Bench play critical in win over Mountaineers
With only 21 points of offensive production from its starting five on Saturday, the Bucs got a huge lift from its bench against the Mountaineers ... All three ETSU players to reach double figures -- Adam Sollazzo (13), Justin Tubbs (11) and Sheldon Cooley (11) -- all came off the bench, and the Bucs got a total of 41 from the reserves as a whole ... With injuries costing the Bucs several offensive weapons, look for ETSU to continue to count on contributions from the bench.
Big questions surround Bucs entering 2009-10
With the loss of seniors Courtney Pigram and Kevin Tiggs -- one of the most dynamic offensive duos in the country -- the Bucs have a lot of questions to answer on the offenisve end of the floor this season ... Having averaged 78.1 points a game a year ago, which ranked 21st nationally in all of Division I play -- ETSU has lost 44.0 of those points to graduation when one includes now departed senior Greg Hamlin in that trio ... In addition to the losses on offensive, the Bucs' 13-man roster includes just eight players who have experienced actual floor time in college ... The other five players are either true freshmen, redshirt freshmen or walk-ons.
Turnovers key for Bucs during recent success
Since winning five of their last six games a year ago and their two exhibition games this season, the Buccaneers are showing why their focus on defense is so important ... Most coaches believe that team's should score at least one point to every single turnover they force ... For the Bucs, this number has been much higher ... In their last six games a year ago, the Bucs forced 103 turnovers and scored 132 points off those opponent mistakes ... This is an average of 22 points off 17 turnovers a game -- well over the ratio most coaches desire ... If one adds in this year's two exhibition games, those numbers go to 25 points off 19 turnovers.
Preseason polls pick Bucs middle of the pack
The ETSU men's basketball team was picked fourth by the Atlantic Sun Conference coaches and fifth by the league's media in preseason polls release Wednesday by the conference office ... The conference's two most recent tournament champions, ETSU (2009) and Belmont (2006-08) place fourth and fifth, depending on the poll. The Buccaneers edged out the Bruins for the spot from the coaches while the media gave the nod the Bruins. Both teams suffered tremendous losses due to graduation. ETSU must replace Courtney Pigram (Memphis) and Kevin Tiggs (Flint, Mich.), one of the highest scoring duos in the nation a season ago.
ETSU the "only" A-Sun team picked among nation's best "Prestige" programs
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (July 22, 2008) - Since the beginning of the modern era for NCAA Division I-A basketball - marked by the expansion of the NCAA Tournament field to 64 teams in 1984-85 - the ETSU men's basketball program ranks in the Top 30 percent of the 300 programs that were eligible for the postseason at that time, this according to a new "Prestige" ranking released by ESPN.com ... The Buccaneers, who have enjoyed six NCAA Tournament trips, one NIT berth, seven 20-win seasons, and a slew of conference regular season and tournament championships since 1984-85, ranked tied for 82nd out of 300 teams, meaning they were in the Top 27 percent of schools making the list. ETSU was ranked ahead of every current Atlantic Sun Conference team, as well as former Southern Conference rivals Appalachian State, Western Carolina, Georgia Southern and UNC Greensboro. The Bucs also were placed ahead of every current member of the Colonial Athletic Association with the exception of Old Dominion ... In addition, the Bucs ranked ahead of SEC schools such as Tennessee, Vanderbilt, South Carolina, Mississippi State, Georgia, Mississippi and Auburn, as well as other major programs such as Virginia Tech, Notre Dame, DePaul, Bradley, Clemson, California and Florida State.


text:
Improving Worker Productivity In Restrooms
By Dawn Shoemaker
Please Go To; http://www.janiservu.com/ for related articles!!
Advantage Cleaning Services Does Business Cleanings In Cuba, N.Y. 14727 !!!
#acs #cleaning #services #onetime
About six years ago, a former janitor named Rex Morrison, the 1999 Nevada State Custodian of the Year who is now the housekeeping training supervisor for Washoe County Public Schools, had his "15 minutes of fame" by developing a cleaning system that he called process cleaning.
National Public Radio (NPR) interviewed him and others from the school district''s custodial department about process cleaning and was so impressed that the report referred to the system as a "revolution" in school cleaning.
The system, based on a Team Cleaning® approach, involves color-coding rooms and areas based on the type of cleaning they require and whether they need to be deep cleaned or require only occasional attention.
For instance, restrooms are red, classrooms blue, etc., and custodians are in charge of certain areas of each school based on color.
To help the school''s 450 custodians working in more than 100 schools know which cleaning products are to be used and where, the tools and equipment are color-coded as well.
The big advantages of process cleaning, according to the NPR interview, are twofold: The program ensures that all areas of the school are cleaned on a set schedule and the system improves worker productivity considerably.
Worker productivity is the value of goods or services produced over a period of time, divided by the number of hours of labor used to produce them.
Using this definition, according to Morrison, each custodian cleans 25 percent more space with process cleaning.
This is a significant enough improvement in worker productivity that the Washoe County Public Schools reports it is saving an average of $10,000 per school each year — approximately $1 million for the entire district — due to expected custodial attrition and staff reductions.
Restrooms, Too?
Process cleaning is still proving itself to be an efficient, effective and highly productive way to clean, and Morrison''s fame continues to this day.
According to various studies, the national average indicates that one custodian cleans about 22,000 square feet in an eight-hour shift.
With process cleaning, this figure jumps to approximately 30,000 square feet.
However, how much of this worker productivity improvement applies to restrooms?
When the NPR interview was conducted, the restrooms were still cleaned using conventional cleaning tools and equipment — mops, buckets, cleaning cloths, sprayers, etc. — and one custodian, following a Team Cleaning approach, was assigned to all restrooms in most schools.
But, because of better organization, training and implementation, the custodians were able to reduce their cleaning times to two minutes per fixture, one minute faster than figures published in ISSA''s 540 Cleaning Times.
Based on this figure, if a restroom had 10 fixtures, it was assumed it would take about 20 minutes to clean the entire room.
However, process cleaning is not stagnant; the system is always being evaluated to find possible improvements.
As to the restrooms, one change that has proved beneficial is to automate the cleaning process by using spray-and-vacuum or no-touch cleaning systems and equipment.
According to Morrison, after using the equipment, cleaning times per fixture were reduced to one minute.
However, one caveat with the spray-and-vacuum system, according to Morrison, is that the higher worker productivity may not be accomplished by using the equipment sporadically or only for deep cleaning, as is often the case.
To reach this rate of improvement in worker productivity, the system must be used as an "everyday" cleaning process, he says.
Why No Rush?
It would seem that if worker productivity can be improved so significantly using process cleaning and automated cleaning systems, there would be a rush by cash-strapped school districts and others to adopt these systems.
However, in many cases, there are issues that block the implementation.
As to process cleaning, although it has been relatively easy for school custodians to adopt and accept the system, this has not always been the case when schools and other facilities have changed their cleaning systems.
Even Morrison acknowledged that change can be difficult and there were concerns about "saboteurs" when process cleaning was implemented, but no such problems materialized.
When it comes to selecting equipment that automates restroom cleaning, the roadblock appears to be "sticker shock."
A mop and bucket may cost $50; a spray-and-vacuum machine may be priced at $2,000 to $3,000 or more.
But, what is often overlooked in the selection process is the long-term labor savings with the equipment.
Because the major cost of cleaning is labor, reducing the time it takes to clean can pay dividends over time.
To get the point across that these machines can pay for themselves relatively quickly, one manufacturer of spray-and-vacuum cleaning equipment has developed return on investment (ROI) calculators that illuminate these dollars-and-cents issues.
Based on these ROI calculators, the following example demonstrates just how quickly these machines are paid for:
A school with 10 restrooms has a total of 115 fixtures
They are cleaned 200 times per year
The spray-and-vacuum machine costs about $3,600
The custodial crew is paid $12.50 per hour, which does not include benefits.
Using this example, the machine would be paid for in about two and a half months.
Once the machine is paid for, the school district would save about $1,500 per month or about $18,000 per year.
It should also be noted that less chemical is also used, which can be a cost savings as well.
In our example above, the costs to clean the restroom fixtures would be approximately $144.
With a spray-and-vacuum system, this is reduced by nearly $96 to about $48 on an annual basis.
It should be noted that improving worker productivity and cutting cleaning costs are effective only if they also maintain or, even better, improve cleaning performance.
This can be an issue because we now have scientific studies that indicate traditional cleaning methods can spread soils and contamination as they are used.
However, the same studies report that some spray-and-vacuum systems can be as much as 60 times more effective at reducing contamination than comparable conventional cleaning tools — a boon for hygienic cleaning and worker productivity.
Now More Than Ever
The JanSan industry has its trends just like any other industry.
At one time, ergonomic issues were center stage; in more recent years, green cleaning has been highlighted.
Nevertheless, one issue that has been with us for decades in varying degrees is worker productivity.
As a result of the economy and the restructuring it is forcing on many businesses, schools and other organizations, worker productivity issues are again key.
The hope is that, with the adoption of new cleaning processes, equipment and systems, we can address today''s challenges and make cleaning more efficient and cost effective.
Dawn Shoemaker is a researcher and writer for the professional cleaning, education, health care and hospitality industries. She can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com.


text:
Commerce City, Colo. - Matt Pickens' streak of 75 consecutive regular season starts is the longest active streak in Major League Soccer, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. It's also the longest consecutive games-played streak in Colorado Rapids history. Both of those streaks appear likely to end on October 20 when the Rapids visit Chivas USA.
After playing the full 90 minutes in his previous 74 starts, Pickens strained his left groin on Saturday against San Jose and was replaced in the 69th minute by backup Stew Ceus, who made his MLS debut. That was the first time someone other than Pickens stood in front of goal for the Rapids in an MLS match since Ian Joyce kept a clean sheet against Houston on August 28, 2010.
"That's not important to me right now," Pickens said afterwards about the streak. "It's been good and I've been healthy. I had to come out (Saturday), but to be honest it's good for Stew to get some minutes."
MORE: Pickens re-signed to multiyear deal
Pickens said he felt his groin tighten up when taking a goal kick and was replaced minutes later.
Head coach Oscar Pareja has been consistent all season in giving players extra time to recover from various injuries and ailments. With only two matches remaining, Pareja has already made up his mind on Pickens.
"Matt has had a fantastic season, and it is unfortunate that he was injured last week," said Pareja. "I don't want him to push this injury and make it worse, so I don't expect Matt to play in the final two games. Stew and Ian (Joyce) have worked very hard all year and these games will be good opportunities to see them play."
Pickens, who earlier this year became the team's all-time leader in career wins and shutouts, is third in MLS in saves with 107 saves - the most he's made in any season.
"Of course I want to play every game," Pickens said on Saturday. "But you can only go as your body wants you to."
Teammates Drew Moor and Jeff Larentowicz had previously held the record for most consecutive games for the Rapids with 66. If Pickens doesn't play against Chivas USA on Oct. 20, Moor will enter the match with the longest active team streak at 32 games.


text:
Seattle -- The Alaska Gold Company has paid a penalty for alleged Clean Water Act violations at the Rock Creek mine near Nome, Alaska. According to a settlement announced today by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the company allegedly violated permit requirements for controlling storm water pollution during construction activities.
In addition to paying a $177,500 penalty, the company has already taken corrective actions to comply by submitting and implementing an upgraded Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan and reclaiming a portion of the area disturbed during construction.
"Polluted runoff can damage important habitat and harm Alaska's natural resources," said Jeff KenKnight, manager of EPA's Clean Water Act Compliance Unit in Seattle. "Companies need to plan for and manage stormwater runoff from their construction sites, and investing the time and energy upfront is always better than repairing damage and paying penalties later."
EPA and the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation performed six inspections at the mine between June 2009 and September 2011, which revealed numerous alleged violations of federal construction stormwater regulations.
Infractions included drainage channels without rock armoring, creating bank erosion, and undercutting and sloughing of channel sidewalls. Inspectors also noted areas where proper erosion control measures were not installed or maintained, which caused the discharge of large amounts of silt and sediment to Rock Creek and Lindblom Creek.
The company also failed to create, maintain, and implement an adequate Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan that met all requirements of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System General Permit for Storm Water Discharges from Construction Activities.
Both Rock Creek and Lindblom Creek are tributaries to the Snake River, which enters the Bering Sea near Nome.
For more about EPA's work on reducing stormwater pollution, visit: http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/home.cfm?program_id=6


text:
This time Jacksonville completed its comeback against Swansboro.
This time Jacksonville completed its comeback against Swansboro.
Warren Washington�s goal with 14:53 left in the first half put the Cardinals ahead for good, and Jacksonville went on to defeat soccer rival Swansboro 3-1 on Tuesday night to move into sole possession of first place in the Coastal 3-A Conference.
Washington, a senior, scored to give the Cardinals a 2-1 lead after Jacksonville faced a 1-0 deficit just 3:49 into the match on a goal by Edward Radley. It was the second time this season the Cardinals fell behind against Swansboro, trailing 2-0 early Sept. 26 before tying the game. The Pirates eventually won 3-2.
�We give up that early goal and I�m like, �Oh crap, here we go again,� Jacksonville coach Dave Miller said. �But we settled down.�
As a result of the win, defending state 3-A champion Jacksonville (14-4-1, 10-1) put itself in prime position to capture the conference title for the fifth consecutive season. The Cardinals just need a tie Thursday when they play host to West Craven, which is 2-11 overall and lost 10-1 to Jacksonville earlier this season.
Swansboro (16-3-2, 10-2) is in second place, a half of a game behind Jacksonville. The Pirates are ranked third in the N.C. Soccer Coaches Association 3-A poll while the Cardinals are No. 10.
�Losing to Jacksonville, there�s no shame in that. They are the defending state champs,� Swansboro coach Doug Kidd said. �Jacksonville is just an incredible team. They are so talented. They played a fantastic game. They are well-coached and they play with a lot of class on top of it. The best team won tonight, no doubt about it.�
Still, Kidd was pleased with the effort by the Pirates, who were coming off a 3-1 loss at Havelock on Monday.
�I am really proud of their effort,� he said. �And we still have a lot to play for.�
But the night belonged to the Cardinals, and Washington�s goal was a big reason why.
The scoring play came after Zach Hall played the ball near the right corner and crossed it into the middle. Washington then headed the ball into the back of the net.
�Somebody played a great ball to Zach, he took it down the line, beat a defender and I was like, �All right, I�m going to make a near-post run because we work at this in practice,�� Washington said. �Once he served it in, I was like, �This is mine.� The next thing I know I put it on frame.�
Washington�s goal was one of seven first-half shots on goal for Jacksonville. The Cardinals then outshot the Pirates 5-0 in the second half with that edge resulting in a goal with 20:34 left by junior CJay Sparks after he scored following a rebound off a shot by Hall.
�We were just trying to keep the ball and keep composure,� Washington said of JHS� second-half plan. �We just wanted to play our game.�
And what is the Cardinals� game?
�We wanted to possess the ball and change the point of attack,� Miller said. �Swansboro was doing a good job of getting numbers back so I told the guys to be patient.�
The Cardinals had to be when they trailed 1-0. Jacksonville eventually tied the game with 22:16 left in the first half when senior Ryan Johnson scored on a free kick from about 25 yards out.
�They did a great job of answering,� Kidd said. �It was a great goal.�
And it was a goal that rejuvenated the Cardinals.
�It got us back into it,� Miller said. �We started pressuring again.�
Jacksonville opened the match on the attack and threatened in the first minute to score from inside the 18-yard line.
However, the Pirates struck first as Radley, a sophomore, gave Swansboro a 1-0 lead within the first four minutes. Radley scored after he beat a defender to the ball inside the 18 following a deflection and found the net.
It was an early goal the Pirates wanted.
�We executed very well and found the net early,� Kidd said. �We are pretty lethal when you give us a look at the goal.�
But Swansboro was unable to score again. The Pirates managed just one more shot following their goal, which was saved by Jacksonville goalkeeper Joe Davis.
Swansboro goalie Nick Kohlmann made nine saves, including a pair of stops on point-blank shots late in the opening half.
�I think we did pretty well on defense this time because we knew what we were going up against,� Washington said. �This time we were able to play out from the back to the outside where we could move the ball and switch it.�
The Cardinals, however, played down a player in the final 9:02 when Chris Tziatzos received his second yellow card.
�Instead of playing two up top, we left one up and put an extra one in the midfield,� Miller said.
And in the end, the Cardinals were able to fight off the Pirates in what was an emotional game played in a light rain that saw JHS receive five yellow cards and one player leave the game momentarily with a bloody nose. Swansboro was given one yellow card.
�This puts us in a good position,� Washington said. �It was tough, but I knew we could pull it out.�
Swansboro 1 0 � 1
Jacksonville 2 1 � 3
GOALS�S: Radley. J: Johnson, Washington, Sparks. ASSISTS�J: Hall. IN GOAL�S: Kohlmann (9 saves). J: Davis (1 Save). SHOTS ON GOAL�S 2, J 12. CORNER KICKS�S 0, J 9. RECORDS�S: 16-3-2, 10-2, hosts Hoggard on Thursday. J: 14-4-1, 10-1, hosts West Craven on Thursday.


text:
This port contains the programming reference for devel/ORBit2.
To install the port: cd /usr/ports/devel/ORBit2-reference/ && make install cleanTo add the package: pkg install ORBit2-reference
cd /usr/ports/devel/ORBit2-reference/ && make install clean
pkg install ORBit2-reference
PKGNAME: ORBit2-reference
SHA256 (gnome2/ORBit2-2.14.19.tar.bz2) = 55c900a905482992730f575f3eef34d50bda717c197c97c08fa5a6eafd857550
SIZE (gnome2/ORBit2-2.14.19.tar.bz2) = 764820
This port is required by:
No options to configure
Number of commits found: 5
- Stage support for all -reference ports
- Nuke NOPORTDOCS, those ports are already IGNOREd with NOPORTDOCS
Approved by: kwm (maintainer)
Add NO_STAGE all over the place in preparation for the staging support (cat:
devel part 4)
- Add header in these *-reference ports.
- Fix a few of pkg-descr by chase the rename.
- Move all PORTREVISION and PORTEPOCH to top with ?=.
- Put USE_X_PREFIX back in, but under REFERENCE_PORT, and remove PREFIX? and
USE_XLIB. This fix ports to use the correct mtree when you change the prefix,
for example:
Incorrect: (Without USE_X_PREFIX)
# cd /usr/ports/x11-toolkits/gtk20
# make -V MTREE_FILE
# make PREFIX=/tmp/foo -V MTREE_FILE
/etc/mtree/BSD.local.dist <-- Here...
- Add pkg-descr
Requested by: Dan Langille <email@example.com> for freshports.org
Move the ORBit2 programming reference to the ORBit2-reference port.
Servers and bandwidth provided byNew York Internet, SuperNews, and RootBSD
14 vulnerabilities affecting 198 ports have been reported in the past 14 days
* - modified, not new
All vulnerabilities
Last updated:2018-12-15 15:04:36


text:
Aushiker wrote:and how do you find the material?
I think it'll be a little harder to clean than the "Classic" without the shiny wipe friendly surface.
I found the Macpac material lost its waterproof ability once it was dirty/dusty.
I've yet to read any similar complaints about the "Plus" so experience will have to teach me.
My Macpac panniers were mounted on "lowrider racks" (Blackburn from memory) and being so close to
the wheel/tyre of my Peugeot mountain-bike, I found the knobblies used to cover them in dirty water and debris.
I spent a year in rural Northern Ireland years ago and traveled extensively by bike. A lot of muck on the road there from
a cycling point of view.
This bag will be mounted higher and I now run mudguards so hopefully I'll stand a better chance of keeping it clean.
I wont have my bags mounted on my bike full time like the Peugeot as well which will help.
Hopefully I'll be a little more pedantic about keeping them clean now I'm a bit older and fussier.
The colour is a close enough match so I think they will work well enough together as to not offend anyone's sensibilities too much.
Moulton not doing a factory rear pannier, but a flat rack, I bought an Ortlieb 31 liter rack bag (yellow) which is the same coating as
the "Classic" front bags.
I'm awaiting delivery of the Rixen extender and computer/light mount fitting before I can see what the bar bag looks like mounted.
The shiny black lid of the classic didn't inspire me to put a camera in as I'm of the unproven belief that it would make the
interior of the bar-bag hotter than my Trangia (though when your gasping for a cuppa this appears not to be hard)


text:
Chace Crawford & Matthew Morrison: Mayfair Men
Chace Crawford leaves Les Ambassadeurs Club in Mayfair and heads to Elton John's White Tie Ball on Tuesday (June 26) in London, England.
The 26-year-old actor enjoyed a night out with his What to Expect When You're Expecting co-star, Matthew Morrison, and his girlfriend Renee Puente. Pals Colton Haynes, JC Chasez and Shawn Pyfrom also joined the trio!
"So great to be back in London!!" Matthew tweeted, while Shawn wrote, "London…here we come! @jcchasez1 @ColtonLHaynes & Brahman."
Earlier in the evening, the four guys stopped by the Salon Club, also in the Mayfair neighborhood.
10+ pictures inside of Chace Crawford, Matthew Morrison, and others out in London…


text:
We don't know this guy, but he's serving our post headline brilliantly with this beer-carrying pose. Great concentration on the step up, wouldn't you say? (Photo by feltonamus via flickr.)
If you're having a little bit of a US Open hangover like us, make sure to check out our week 2 podcast if you haven't already. Erwin and I are chatting it up about all things TSF cares about at the USO. Which is all you should care about, too. Now, the short balls:
There's nothing like curing a good tennis hangover with some non-tennis news. This version of (OT) is gay-tastic, which shouldn't come too surprising to most of our readers. The VMAs happened on Sunday night in LA, and as a prep before the big show (in which Lady Gaga wore a meat dress – yes, meat), OUT.com put together a list of the gayest moments from the show's nearly 30-year history. OUT also compiled photos from photographer Jeff Sheng that chronicles service men and women who have been effected by the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. The exhibit is opening at the Kaycee Olsen gallery in LA on September 28th.
(MORE (OT)) As if you couldn't get enough we have plenty of (OT) news up our sleeves this week. The blog we once loved to love is still churning out content, even after getting a book deal and getting published. Stuff White People Like is a hilarious and satirical blog. The latest 'stuff' white people like: The TED Conference. Hilarity. The US Olympic web site is celebrating the 10 year anniversary of the Sydney Olympics (remember Cathy Freeman? And Michael Johnson?!). And the New York Times flexes its graphic muscle with this panoramic view of the new Meadowlands Stadium, home of the Jets and Giants.
There's been much (tennis) controversy following ESPN2's decision to cut away from the trophy ceremony at Flushing Meadows to commentary before the second Monday Night Football game of the night (yes, the second) between the Chiefs and the Chargers. Chris Chase laments on the Yahoo! tennis blog Busted Racquet about the debacle. We agree: us tennis fans are greatly outnumbered by the NFLers, but give our boys a little credit for the work they've done, and the history they're making. Pretty sure no history was made on the gridiron on Monday night, no? Luckily, Forty Deuce has us saved with the full trophy presentation here. (And kudos on that post title, Courtney… )
While Serena (and Fashion Week) had/have nothing to do with the 2010 Open, there's still plenty of connection between the two events. Fashion Week mainstay and Vogue editor Anna Wintour is a constant face (force?) in Roger Federer's box and yesterday, Wintour's right-hand man, Andre Leon Talley, penned a note for the Vogue Daily about Serena walking the runway for Fashion Week. As we write this, it's 3 PM on Wednesday, so the big event's already taken place (1 PM catwalk call time for ReRe at LaQuan's show at the Peninsula Hotel). Hopefully pictures soon. Meanwhile, this picture of Wintour and Serena at the Michael Kors show will have to do.
Serena and sister Venus both were a part of the Huffington Post's recent online musings. Venus's US Open fireworks dress, which we talked at length about in our TSF podcast, was the subject of a photo gallery on the Huff's web site, while Serena is one of eight athletes selected by the Post as part of their Game Changer's series.
Read more short balls with an epic version of short(er) balls after the cut. (more…)


text:
Unwanted alarm drops are a nuisance, and police departments across the nation are working toward a solution. Alarm companies and equipment manufacturers also are working to reduce or eliminate false alarms in a variety of ways.
Video verification is one means of reducing unwanted false alarms. This is done using visual confirmation of one or more signs of a burglary in progress. Confirmation is performed by transmitting video images to the central monitoring station, so operators can view the affected areas before they call the local police department.
Incentives to sell and buy
A powerful incentive to sell remote video services for alarm companies today is that a growing number of police departments are implementing a no-response policy with regard to homes and businesses that experience excessive false alarms.
"With alarm monitoring, there are so many cities that are not responding unless there's a verified intrusion," said Ray Jones, CEO, Buckeye Protective Services of Canton, Ohio. "This means the central, either by a secondary security patrol or an off-site video monitoring facility, must visually verify that there's a break-in in progress."
There's no better way for alarm companies to lose money than to have the police department stop responding to a central station operator's calls for police response. This is one of the reasons why video verification was invented.
Remote video also works for end-users, as it enables the central station to reduce the fines cities and counties impose when the number of false alarms exceeds a set limit.
Another powerful incentive for the purchase of remote video is the need to reduce operating costs to ownership of a 24/7 security force. Remote video can greatly reduce or even eliminate the need for an on-site guard force.
For businesses that do not have a security force, remote video can provide a higher level of security than is usually possible with an on-site video surveillance system. The client pays the alarm company for only the services used and only when these services are rendered.
By using video monitoring along with audio technology, central station operators can respond to real-time issues. A good example of this is where access control is employed at a remote location with no one present. By providing a call box or intercom station with a call button, visitors can get real-time help through an alarm company's central station operators.
Verification vs. monitoring
There is one primary difference between video verification and video monitoring.
Verification offers an event--connected response from the central monitoring station, using video snapshots. Video monitoring, on the other hand, provides a list of services geared to a central station and the everyday operation of a client's facility, often using live, streaming video. Sample applications include gate and door control and the monitoring of an existing closed-circuit television system.
Video verification entails the transmission of one or more pre- and post-event images to a central monitoring station at the time of an intrusion alarm. Event--connected images are typically transmitted over the Internet. This allows station operators to quickly determine if there is a need to dispatch police.
More value-added video
A typical video monitoring system includes real-time event scheduling where operators can view the premises routinely any time.
Real-time viewing of a facility involves touring the grounds using video cameras installed throughout. This feature is commonly referred to as a video tour.
On cue, central station operators connect to a digital video recorder or a network-attached storage device where they can review select cameras. Typical locations include outdoor parking lots, entrances, special interior rooms, tool cribs and bank vaults.
The equipment used to perform video verification and video monitoring may not be the same. However, real-time viewing, in both cases, often is accomplished through a broadband connection, such as cable Internet and DSL. Older remote video systems used the public switched telephone network (PSTN). PSTN is no longer the prevalent method of connection.
The objective of a quality remote video surveillance system with a monitoring component is to incorporate and automate central station operations by event and scheduling. To accomplish this, integrate the central station automation software with the remote video software/hardware. Integration is critical in order to create an effective video monitoring platform.
Video monitoring is a win-win situation for both the end-user and the alarm company. The subscriber's overall cost savings is usually less than that needed to maintain a full-time guard force. For the alarm company, the incentive to offer remote video services lies in recurring monthly revenue (RMR) that the company will receive.
COLOMBO is a 32-year veteran in the security and life safety markets. He currently is director with FireNetOnline.com and a nationally recognized trade journalist located in East Canton, Ohio.


text:
iPhone & HTML5 bring "streaming Silverlight content" to Linux
On the server, links to those short .ts H.264-files are collected in an M3U8 file, which basically is a playlist for videos. Playing the playlist recreates the original video. Devices like the iPhone can play these playlists. But Linux already can play the separate parts: You can test their showcase example here. Note this will only play the first file in the playlist.
This solution will be enabled server side, if the content provider chooses so. I think they will, because it's currently the only way to make the content available for the iPhone. This content will be embedded using the HMTL5 video tag, Microsoft proposes. If so, it would be rather trivial to make an FF-extension that would play those m3u8 playlist-files using mplayer, or maybe mplayer or vlc will support this file format.
Funny thing to mention is they chose the Big Buck Bunny video to showcase their solution, a movie made using Linux and Free Software excusively. Anyway, I'm glad because this probably means to watch Silverlight-videos from broadcasting companies in my country I may not need to install Moonlight or Mono. And in contrary to Flash, I'm able to watch this video in full screen (scaling works!) without crashing Firefox.
What do you think? Let us know and post a reply to this story if you wish. For now, happy watching - a Free Software movie provided to you by Microsoft!
Update 27-11-09 / 0:20 CET: I accidentally assumed it was MPEG2, but it turns out to be H.264, so I corrected it. Someone on the Dutch forum Tweakers.net helped me a bit, as I'm not that familiar with media streaming: The video is cut in chunks for different bitrates. Then, depending on the available bandwith and if and how well the chunks arrive, the client can choose the best bitrate to download the next chunks. Especially for slow connections, this provides great opportunities, and this might be the reason to use Silverlight instead of 'plain old streaming'.
|Topic Starter
|Last Post
|An interesting thing about Flash and Firefox.
|Nov 28, 2009 2:19 AM
You cannot post until you login.


text:
New Faculty
Helpful Hints for New Faculty
1. Please note these helpful hints are not intended to be comprehensive but merely to touch on a few important points that individuals may find beneficial to have at hand. They are pertinent for new full-time, tenure-track faculty.
2. Moving Expenses:
a) Not all new faculty are eligible for and offered a moving allowance. Typically you must be living at least 50 miles away from Montclair in order to qualify for moving expenses, as reflected in the IRS's regulations on tax-deductable moving costs. If you are offered a moving allowance, it will be specified in your offer letter from the Dean.
b) Your moving allowance is a set amount. It is intended to help defer your costs, not necessarily to cover all costs. Please make your moving arrangements as you wish, choosing the level of assistance according to your own plans (for example, employing a professional moving company vs. a U-Haul rental, opting for packing by the movers vs. doing it yourself, etc.) Eligible expenses will be reimbursed to you up to your allowance maximum. All costs beyond your allowance will be your responsibility. In other words, your allowance will not be increased afterwards to match your costs.
c) Please understand this critical point in your planning. Your moving allowance will be provided to you as reimbursement of expenses incurred, not as an advance, and the reimbursement will not be made until after you actually begin your employment, that is, not until September 1. And at that point it may take a couple of weeks for processing before you receive the reimbursement. Please plan accordingly.
d) To help expedite your reimbursement, please contact Associate Dean Jaclyn Novak (firstname.lastname@example.com) or Joanne Caruso in the Dean's Office (firstname.lastname@example.com) once you have completed your move in order to prepare your paperwork so that it's ready for submission as soon as Sept 1 arrives. The form is a simple Check Request.
e) Be aware that you may receive your reimbursement in two payments. The Accounting Office will divide it according to taxable and non-taxable reimbursements, according to IRS regulations in effect at the time. Also, if you have enrolled in electronic payroll deposits, you may receive one payment that way and another payment via a physical check sent to your new address. Typically, an explanation will be mailed to you by Accounting, which may arrive separately from the payment. Certainly if you have any questions after receiving reimbursement, contact either Jaclyn Novak or Joanne Caruso.
f) This is not a comprehensive list, but eligible expenses include:
• costs of employing a moving company
• costs of a rental truck
• boxes, tape, wrapping materials, and other packing supplies
• mileage for driving your personal vehicle to Montclair [Mileage rates for moving are different from mileage for business trips, usually approximately one half. The rates in effect may be found on the IRS web site.]
• hotel expenses for your travel to Montclair (and while in town but either searching for a new residence or awaiting the movers and during the physical move before you are actually into your new residence)
• meals for during your travel to Montclair (and while in town but either searching for a new residence or awaiting the movers and during the physical move before you are actually into your new residence)
g) You must keep itemized receipts. Have receipts made out in your name, such as from the moving company, rental truck company, and hotels. Large receipts must be marked "Paid" and payment indicated on them. (Often the moving company driver just gives you a copy of the moving invoice without indicating that it was paid – please have it stamped "paid" and signed off by the driver as such.) Please keep your credit card receipts and statements in case Accounting has any questions about payment. Also, especially for meals, your credit card receipt is not adequate – you must have an itemized receipt (such as the meal ticket from a restaurant itemizing the food choices, rather than just your c.c. receipt with only a total amount).
3. Office:
a) Please contact your department's chair or administrative assistant about preliminary information on contacting Human Resources and arranging for a netID, which will be your entry to all sorts of things (ID card, computer assignment, library privileges, etc.)
b) You will be provided an office with telephone. Please contact your department's chair or administrative assistant for the specifics. Assignments are made by the Dean's Office starting in July but sometimes not completed until August. Frequently the availability of your office will depend on moves by other faculty, either retiring professors or colleagues who are changing offices over the summer. We usually will have your office ready for your occupancy by a week before classes start. If it is available sooner, then certainly you'll be welcome to it.
See your department's administrative assistant about setting up your voice mail.
c) Full-time faculty are eligible for a computer from the University's central technology office (OIT, Office of Information Technology). You have a choice between a desktop machine or a laptop. Please contact John Osmak, Acting Director of CHSS Technology Services (firstname.lastname@example.com), once you have a University netID, and he will inform you of the specifics and will arrange for your computer. He'll also let you know what the standard software package is for the computer.
4. Travel Funding:
Full-time, tenure-track faculty (that is, those from whom reappointment will depend on scholarly productivity) are eligible for travel funding from the Dean and possibly also the department. The allotment is set each year. For details, please see the Helpful Hints for Travel.
5. Start-Up Funding:
a) Full-time, tenure-track faculty may have start-up funding offered by the Provost. If so, it will be specified in your offer letter from the Dean.
b) Your start-up funding is a set amount. It is intended to help defer your costs, not necessarily to cover all costs.
c) Please understand this critical point in your planning. Your start-up funding is typically provided for your first two years, presuming a Fall start date. (Any conditions to the contrary will be specified in your offer letter from the Dean.) In practice, this means that it is provided for the two fiscal years, which in turn means that it ends on June 30 of your second year (the end of the fiscal year) – and not Sept 1 (two years from your original start date).
Further, because the University's financial system begins to have various deadlines imposed on types of spending as the fiscal year winds down, you should plan to have your start-up funding expended by spring break of your second year. To go beyond that risks not being able to draw on the funding before the end of the fiscal year, which would mean that you simply lose whatever funding remains.
Please do not expect any extensions to be granted if you do not expend all your funding within the specified time.
d) Should you plan to use any start-up funding prior to your start date, please confirm with Jacklyn Novak (firstname.lastname@example.com) that your planned expenditures would be eligible. In any case, you would need to pay the cost yourself and then seek reimbursement after Sept 1 (as with your moving reimbursement).
e) After Sept 1, you have fairly open choices on how you use the funding. If you have any questions at all, please contact Jaclyn Novak. Depending on your field, the usage will vary greatly – from additional travel funding for individuals in the humanities to large equipment purchases for those setting up labs or even hiring lab workers. As you develop your plans, please see Jaclyn Novak or Joanne Caruso (firstname.lastname@example.com) about the specific paperwork you'll need and how best to go about it. For further details, see the Helpful Hints for General Purchases.
Your expenditures will fall into two primary categories: those you seek to have the University pay for directly (such as an expensive piece of lab equipment or hiring workers) and those you will prefer (or be required) to pay yourself and then seek reimbursement. (For example, travel will have to be reimbursed, not paid in advance. Some small purchases, such as finding a book at a used book store, may be easier to handle as reimbursements.)
For purchases you make on your own and seek reimbursement for, there are a couple of important things to keep in mind.
• The University will not reimburse taxes. So either print out a copy of the University's Tax Exempt Certificate to provide to the vendor or plan to make the purchase knowing that you'll pay the tax yourself (which simply means you'll have more start-up funding left to use later).
• If you're ordering anything to be delivered, always use the University's address, not your personal address. To use your personal address just raises questions with auditors about whether it is actually something for personal use rather than a legitimate University expenditure.
Always feel free to check with Jaclyn Novak or Joanne Caruso in advance if you have any questions about appropriateness of a planned expenditure. It's better to ask beforehand than to presume reimbursement that may not be approved.
CHSS rev 9/16


text:
Can Cougars Sell Cough Drops?
A mom and her son's roommate share a naughty moment in a spot for Halls Refresh.
The Spot:It's move-in day at a college dorm. A student asks his new roommate's mom whether she'd care for a Halls Refresh. The young man and the middle-aged mom suck on their lozenges, staring lasciviously into each other's eyes. We hear their thoughts. "So juicy!" thinks the mom. "Yeah, she likes it," thinks the student. The woman's husband and son walk in on this intimate moment. "Mom!" shouts the horrified son as the dad recoils. "New Halls Refresh with moisture action," says the announcer. "Surprisingly mouthwatering."
This ad has been catching flak for its mildly disturbing visual of a frumpy mom making bedroom eyes at a college-age nerd. The American Decency Association posted a breathless, run-on rant on its Web site, sounding particularly distressed about the fact that the ad shows "mouths moving in sexually suggestive ways." A Slate colleague is also grossed out by the ad's use of the evocative phrase "moisture action."
True, the ad is a wee bit icky. But I'm having trouble working up much outrage. I'm more interested in a fundamental marketing question: Who, exactly, is this ad supposed to reach?
I generally expect ads to use actors matching the product's target audience. Thus ads for Viagra feature older men, while ads for Barbie dolls star little girls. But in this ad, the characters shown enjoying Halls Refresh represent two different demographic categories with starkly different buying habits. Is Halls hoping to tempt fortysomething women with this new line of lozenges? Or college-age guys?
Let's first examine the evidence suggesting that the ad is meant to charm young dudes:
Cadbury, which owns Halls, is for the most part a candy company. Its offerings include Bubblicious, Sour Patch Kids, Swedish Fish, and countless chocolaty goodies. Unlike other Halls products, Halls Refresh is being pitched on the basis of its "mouthwatering," candylike qualities—not as a medicinal remedy for a sore throat.
Candy ads these days tend to rely on surreal, absurdist humor. There's the Starburst ad in which a guy communes with a llama and the Skittles ad that shows a man with a prehensile beard. Cadbury actually owns another confectionary brand that uses nonsensical, dude-focused advertising: Check out the Stride gum spot in which a team of lederhosen-clad dancers assaults a young man in a parking garage.
This Halls Refresh spot seems like a close cousin to those crazy candy ads. It's easy to imagine the mom and the student chewing on Skittles instead of sucking on Halls. And, through prior reporting, I happen to know that the target demographic for Skittles is 15-17 year-olds. Because that's who buys candy. Young guys—not middle-aged women.
Case closed, yes? Not quite. Let's consider the evidence on the other side of the ledger:
First, Halls Refresh is sugarless. This is an attribute not traditionally prized by young fellas, who like to guzzle down sugary colas and munch on 500-calorie burgers. The young man shown in the ad surely wouldn't be watching his weight. But the mom might be.
Looking up Halls Refresh on a search engine, I found a bunch of blogs that had been given samples of the lozenge to review. These samples were handed out by people trying to promote Halls Refresh. What sort of blogs were the samples given to? Almost exclusively blogs written by professional women and stay-at-home moms.
A press release introducing Halls Refresh also suggests that the product was designed to meet the needs not of carefree young men but of harried adults. Its first paragraph declares that Halls Refresh is the perfect antidote whenever you get "the feeling that your mouth needs a refresher just as your presentation begins, when meeting the in-laws, when running errands under a tight schedule …" Not a lot of 18-year-old guys spend their time worrying about meeting in-laws. Or running errands, for that matter.
The clincher? Cadbury aired this ad during the premiere episode of Cougar Town, the Courteney * Cox-starring ABC show about an older woman who is forever scheming to date younger men. Referring back to my cast-your-target-demographic rule, I have to assume that a show with Courteney Cox in the lead role is meant to appeal to Courteney Cox-age women. Though it's not totally clear to me why portrayals of cougardom are fun for middle-age women to watch. Is it an affirmation that they are still sexual beings? Or do they relate to Cox's foibles and take comfort in the show's sympathetic humor?
I have similar questions about the Halls Refresh spot, if it is, indeed, aimed at middle-age ladies. Do women fantasize about sharing a naughty moment over a lozenge with a scrawny dweeb? Being caught by their husband and child mid-suck?
Perhaps Cadbury—which has for the past several years been diversifying out of chocolate and into sugar-free chewing gum and cough drops—wants to reach a new category of consumer but doesn't yet know how to market effectively to anyone over 19. Or perhaps it hopes to split the difference, by pitching Halls Refresh to young men as a candy while telling grown-up women it's a functional cure for dry-mouthed moments.
Grade: C-. The ad's goals seem muddled. Worse, it's not funny. Cadbury didn't respond to my inquiries by press time, so I can't be sure about their intentions. But what do you think? Who, if anyone, does this ad appeal to? Send your thoughts—and suggestions for other ads to review—to firstname.lastname@example.com.
Correction, Nov. 9, 2009: Due to an editing error, this article originally misspelled the first name of Courteney Cox. (Return to the corrected sentence.)


text:
Montville is headed for Class M playoffs
Montville — Tanner Grove, eternal optimist, ended his postgame speech to his team Wednesday night at Delaporta Field by reminding his players that practice begins at 3 p.m. Friday.
With a little help Thanksgiving morning, his optimism was rewarded. The Indians unofficially earned the final Class M playoff spot and as the No. 8 will play a quarterfinal game at top-seeded Wolcott (9-1) on Tuesday night.
Still, the Indians' 43-0 win over St. Bernard/Norwich Tech didn't merely produce the Mayor's Cup, but a solid 8-2 regular season.
"I know the amount of work my team has put in," senior Jake Basilica said. "Unfortunately, we didn't get some breaks. But hopefully, everything works out."
"I'm pleased with the kids' effort all year," Grove said. "We lost to a great team (New London) and then in a dogfight (to Ledyard). Other than that, they've done everything we've asked. We expect to play in the playoffs every year. When we don't get there, sometimes we're tough to be around until after the new year."
Jeremiah Crowley, named the game's Most Valuable Player, gave Montville a 13-0 lead before the Indians ran an offensive play. He returned punts of 88 and 52 yards for touchdowns. Crowley also scored on 34-yard touchdown run.
Quarterback Nick Clemons scored twice for the Indians while Brandon Robinson kicked a 29-yard field goal and Izak Tibbetts on a 13-yard run.
Grove removed his starters with five minutes left in the second period.
Late in the first half, backup quarterback Tyler Quidgeon took a few steps with each snap and fell down to avoid scoring and violate the state's score management rule.
"Every game is a fun game. It's football," Basilica said. "But obviously, with this potentially being our last game, you wish the score was a little closer."
There was a running clock for the second half.
"I feel bad for what they (St. Bernard/Norwich Tech) had to endure all year," Grove said. "I'm proud of their kids and shook all their hands after the game because they hung in there and for how hard they played. We've had great games here and there will come a time when it'll be a great game again."


text:
State AG, Lawmaker Discuss New Lifeline Lawby Scott Morrison '14 • November 14, 2012 Share:
"Wabash has always been a proponent of doing the right thing particularly when it comes to helping our fellow man," Dean of Students Michael Raters said in his opening remarks Wednesday afternoon at the Indiana Lifeline Law information session. Indiana's Lifeline Law is one more piece of legislation aimed to help students do the right thing.
Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller and State Senator Jim Merritt, author of the Law which passed in March, visited Wabash as part of a tour of high school and college campuses to educate young people on the dangers of binge and underage drinking. They have already spoken at several high schools and colleges like Indiana, Ball State, and Purdue.
The Lifeline Law provides immunity to underage drinkers who call 911 for a non-responsive or in-danger friend. Currently 10 other states have laws similar to Indiana's Lifeline Law.
One thing the two made clear was that immunity can be given to everyone present, not only the caller, but that immunity is discretionary. "I really think it is up to the police officer. If no one is causing any problem (I don't see charges being pressed)," Merritt said. "The bottom line is saving lives."
Zoeller and Merritt believe that education is key with the law. "I am pleased you (Wabash students) know about it, because most people don't know about it," Merritt said. "I believe it will save lives, and I don't believe the Attorney General and I are going away on this issue. We will continue to educate and talk about people making good decisions."
Administration members, student body leaders, and fraternity presidents were present to learn more about Lifeline.
The Law was not simply a government invention. "Student leadership should be given credit for this law," Zoeller said. "A number of student governments at universities and colleges around the state were the voices that brought this bill to the legislature's attention. It really shows the power of student voices being heard."
Later this week, fraternity presidents, RA's, and Dean Raters will meet to discuss the law.
"The Lifeline Law sends a message that doing the right thing will also be supported by the state and our prosecution and law enforcement." Zoeller.


text:
- "Waiting On Wednesday" is a weekly event, hosted in Breaking the Spine. This meme spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.
- If you want to participate add your "Waiting On Wednesday" to the linky list in her post!
I discovered this book last week and fell in love with it. I mean, not only the cover is amazingly pretty but the summary sounds really really good too! Can't wait to have it and write a review about it, yay!
Name: Shatter Me
Author: Tahereh Mafi
Release Date: 15th November, 2011
Official blurb:
Juliette hasn't touched anyone in exactly 264 days. The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette's touch is fatal. As long as she doesn't hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old-girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don't fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color.
The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war- and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she's exactly what they need right now.
Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior.
In this electrifying debut, Tahereh Mafi presents a world as riveting as The Hunger Games and a superhero story as thrilling as The X-Men. Full of pulse-pounding romance, intoxicating villainy, and high-stakes choices, Shatter Me is a fresh and original dystopian novel—with a paranormal twist—that will leave readers anxiously awaiting its sequel.
So, what do you think, guys? Do you like it? I'd love to know your opinion and see yours WoW^^


text:
Summit Entertainment Commences Criminal Legal Action Against Twilight Fan Who Shared Images From Movie
from the photos! dept
Summit Entertainment simply doesn't know when to give up. It apparently went out and spent money to hire Kroll Inc., a famed corporate investigations company who is not cheap, to track someone down to Argentina, and discover that they had shared the images... and then commenced legal action against the person in both the US and Argentina, including criminal charges in Argentina (thanks to DandonTRJ for sending this in).
Remember, this is a fan who was sharing photos of a film that would only serve to get people more interested in the film. Step on up, Summit Entertainment, because you just won the award for the absolute worst entity at treating fans right.


text:
I have been drooling over the thought of Google Drive ever since it has been rumored. I was picturing some all-powerful service that would blow my mind. So far, what I have seen is just a large extension of Google Docs. I envisioned being able to select folders on my phone that I wanted to be sync'd to Drive and the same on my computer. That way I could have pictures taken on my phone automatically added to my desktop if I wanted, or I could have my aCar backups folder automatically upload new backups to Drive. Same could go for Titanium backups so those would always be in a safe place (since my Nexus has no external storage). I already had to wipe my Nexus to get it to boot a few months ago when a GMaps update sent it into a boot loop, and that time I lost everything (luckily my pictures were backed up to G+).
Don't get me wrong, Google Drive is cool and is definitely a step in the right direction, but after all this waiting, I thought it would be more. The search features it includes are awesome and the pricing is dirt cheap for those who want more storage. I was Googling if it was possible to just sync certain folders with Drive and I came across this blog on ComputerWorld. I am feeling pretty much the exact same way this author is.


text:
Are you looking for an easy way to create attractive pages on Facebook? Are you wondering how businesses are creating Welcome tabs?
In this article I'll reveal a number of applications that make it very easy to add functionality to your Facebook page.
Custom Tabs: What You Need to Know
You may have seen some Welcome pages on Facebook that encourage new visitors to Like the page. You may even be given an incentive such as a free report or, in Tim
Continue Reading about Top 10 Facebook Apps for Building Custom Pages & Tabs →


text:
You have until Feb 01, 2019 to return or exchange items bought after Nov 01, 2018. All other standard return policy conditions apply.
Show MoreLess
Now Viewing:
This item is noncancelable and nonreturnable.
From Voice Technologies the VT506 is a professional omni-directional lavalier microphone with a wide frequency response that provides enhanced intelligibility of vocals. Designed for outstanding performance in broadcast, theatrical and sound-reinforcement applications, the VT506's frequency response delivers exceptional presence with a 6dB rise in the high frequency range.
Speech clarity is enhanced while the omni-directional polar pattern suppresses handling and clothing noise. Noise caused by radio frequency interference is also minimized with an internal RF filter. The 5-foot (1.5 meter) cable is rugged and moisture proof and also features excellent isolation from handling noise.
|Electret Condenser
|Polar Pattern
|Frequency Response
|20Hz to 20kHz
|Dynamic Range (Typical)
|not specified by manufacturer
|Signal-to-Noise Ratio
|26dB "A" weighted
|Maximum Input Sound Level
|not specified by manufacturer
|Power Requirements
|1.5V to 9.0 V (max.)
|Output Impedance
|3,000 ohms
|Output Connectors
|Pigtail (Unterminated) Lead
|Low Frequency Roll-Off
|.51 x .27 x .13" (13 x 7 x 3.5mm)
|7 grams (.25 oz)
|Packaging Info
|Package Weight
|2.0 lb
|Box Dimensions (LxWxH)
|7.0 x 7.0 x 7.0"


text:
Shoppers cashed in deals and swept up goods by the thousands late Thursday as many retailers opened early, preempting the morning promotions and deals offered on Black Friday.
Shoppers cashed in deals and swept up goods by the thousands late Thursday as many retailers opened early, preempting the morning promotions and deals offered on Black Friday.
The carnival of capitalism continues today with more retailers opening their doors and enticing shoppers in with more deals. Some retailers that opened Thursday will have been open more than 24 hours by the time they close their doors tonight, concluding the nation's busiest shopping day of the year.
Following Thanksgiving feasts, or sometimes in stead of them, thousands of local shoppers endured crowds, packed parking lots, traffic, cold weather and long lines at Gaffney Premium Outlets, Spartanburg's WestGate Mall and surrounding big box retailers in search of discounts, promotions or bargains.
"It'll be a mad rush," Anita Booth, a high school English teacher who was first in line outside of the Coach outlet at Gaffney Premium Outlets before its Thursday night opening. "The buys, that's what you're here for."
The sense of anticipation, the unusually late shopping hours, and the crowds gave the retail bonanza a festive atmosphere. Timmon's Concessions, a fair and festival food booth complete with flashing lights and cotton candy, is parked in the Dorman Center selling hot chocolate, candy apples, popcorn and other treats Thursday and today. Across the street outside the Toys "R" Us, the owner of a food truck called Smokin' Butts BBQ parked nearby to capitalize on the captive audience waiting in line.
Business was "very good," said Richard Gresham, the owner.
The local Black Friday events also include a protest. At 8 a.m. Friday, several Spartanburg community members planned to gather at the Dorman Center Walmart to support striking Walmart workers and advocate for better wages and better schedules.
At times, the shopping also had a deep, personal meaning. A family that had camped outside of Best Buy since Monday to wait for the store's midnight opening on Black Friday had a purpose beyond the bargains.
Rene Osorio, her son, and two nieces have been standing in line in honor of her other son, Rudy Osorio, who was hit by a car and killed Nov. 3 while walking across Highway 11 in Inman.
Before his death, Rene said his son had told her he wanted to be close to the front of the line at Best Buy.
"He really wanted to go get his brother's Christmas gifts," Rene said.
Rudy had graduated Chapman High School earlier this year and loved to work with cars. He had been considering studying auto mechanics.
"He was fixing to start technical school when it started back up," Rene said.
After waiting nearly four days, she said she didn't quite know what she wanted to get at Best Buy when the store finally opened at midnight.
Rudy had wanted an iPad and a new phone. But camping at Best Buy had never been about the goods; it was about Rudy, she said.
So what did she want to buy, if anything?
"I don't know," she said. "Maybe a TV."
Behind the Osorios, the line snaked around the Best Buy building prior to its midnight opening.
About 1,000 people behind the Osorio family was the Brown family, which had driven from Forest City, N.C. to try to get a deal on a Hewlett Packard Envy laptop.
"It's like an Intel i7," said Gabe Brown. "I think it has a terabyte of memory. It's $629."
While the Browns knew exactly what they wanted, others were less sure.
Edwin Baker, a psychology major at the University of South Carolina Upstate, didn't even have his wallet on him. He said he was standing in line at Toys "R" Us to see what drives people to shop like mad.
"I just want the experience," he said. "You just get to see a lot of people and what they're after."
The deals draw a diverse crowd.
Ding Lei and his wife, Liu Yu Yan, of Shen Yang in China are spending a few months training at Michelin. They waited for several hours in line and spent about $700 on seven Coach purses at Gaffney Premium Outlets.
Sharon Campbell, general manager at the outlets, said the outlets receive many international visitors eager to buy American brands.
The enthusiasm to spend has caused more and more stores to open earlier. While the "midnight madness" shopping hours are now in their fifth year, more and more stores are offering promotions than begin at 9 p.m., Campbell said.
"It's demand," she said. "Each year our shoppers are looking for the good deals and our stores have stepped up and delivered."
The National Retail Federation said it expects about 147 million people nationwide to shop on Black Friday weekend, a slight decrease from the 152 million who did so last year, based on the results of a survey recently conducted.
Sales during Black Friday weekend in 2011 were $52.4 billion, the trade association said.
The retail blitz continues with nationwide promotions for Small Business Saturday, which mainly includes local, small businesses, and Cyber Monday, a day of deals and discounts from online vendors.


text:
Welcome to Salt Lake City
At Salt Lake City Government, we're committed to making digital access to information, City services and your elected officials as easy and efficient as possible.
Stay informed by signing up for regular updates from your Council representatives and the Mayor's Office. Let us know what you think about new initiatives and policy proposals on Open City Hall. Make easy electronic payments. And, get involved by participating in your neighborhood community council or by serving on one of the many citizens' boards.
Thanks for visiting!
24/7 Service Request
SLC Mobile is a multi platform solution for providing Salt Lake City residents, businesses and visitors access to a set of local government-provided services, 24-hours a day, 7 days a week.
Open City Hall
Open City Hall is an on-line forum for civic engagement. Read what others are saying about important Salt Lake City topics, then post your own statement. City officials will read the statements and incorporate them into their decision process.
Participate Here >>
A Sustainable Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City takes a comprehensive and holistic approach to making our City the most livable, sustainable community in the U.S. That means reaching out to all members of our diverse and vibrant population and acting boldly for the future we want.
Learn More >>
Operation Rio Grande
Operation Rio Grande is a collaborative three phase plan to restore public safety in the Rio Grande district of Salt Lake City.
Keep up-to-date on the latest information >>


text:
Gigabyte EP45-Extreme Review
BioShock is one of the creepier games out in the wild, chronicling the building of a perfect Utopian society undersea gone horribly wrong - its inhabitants driven mad with the introduction of tonics and genetic modifications. Now Rapture is just a shadow of its former glory, with little girls looting the dead of what little they have left, while being shadowed by guardians known as "Big Daddies." It is a demanding game that will make your hardware scream for mercy. This First Person Shooter allows for an infinite number of weapons and modifications to provide a unique experience each time it is played. The environment as well as the story line will wrap you up for hours on end.
Video Settings:
- All settings to Maximum
- V-Sync: Off
The EP-45 Extreme took over in the higher resolutions, but slacked a little bit in the first two resolutions.


text:
Style # 225136
Dare to bare a little leg. This assymetric bebe bodycon miniskirt, featuring contrast leatherette is a sexy way to dress up any top. Tuck in a chiffon blouse and layer with a moto jacket for an added dose of city-edge into your going-out wardrobe.
- 60% rayon, 36% nylon, 4% spandex
- Machine wash
- Imported
- Center back to hem: 16" (41 cm)
- Model is 5'9" and is wearing a US size S


text:
Motel 6 Osawatomie properties are listed below. Search for cheap and discount Motel 6 hotel prices in Osawatomie, KS for your group or personal travels. We list the best Motel 6 Osawatomie lodging properties so you can review the Osawatomie Motel 6 hotel list below to find the perfect place.
Our search will also list discounted Osawatomie, KS hotels/properties that get similar quality scores of a Motel 6.Need a group/meeting discount? Request a group rate for Osawatomie KS
How should we direct your call?


text:
Brothers and Boston Marathon bombing suspects Tamerlan and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev will be the focus of a major new biography by Russian American scholar and journalist Masha Gessen. Riverhead will publish the as-yet-untitled book.
Gessen is the author, most recently, of "The Man Without a Face: The Unlikely Rise of Vladimir Putin." Like the Tsarnaevs, she moved to the Boston area when she was a Russian-speaking teen; she returned to Russia in her 20s to live and work there.
As a journalist, she covered the war in Chechnya, the Tsarnaevs' country of origin. Her publisher tells The Times that her work has included years of building contacts and networks in Dagestan, where the Tsarnaev family lived before coming to the U.S.
In a statement, Riverhead outlined plans for the biography of the Tsarnaev brothers:
"The book will explain who the brothers were, where they came from, what shaped them, and how they came to do what they appear to have done. From their displaced beginnings, as descendants of ethnic Chechens deported to Central Asia in the Stalin era, it will follow the brothers from strife-ridden Kyrgyzstan to war-torn Dagestan, and then, as new émigrés, to the looking-glass, utterly disorienting peace and order of Cambridge, Mass. Most crucially, it will reconstruct the struggle that ensued for each of the brothers, between assimilation and alienation, and their alleged metamorphosis into a new breed of home-grown terrorist, with their feet on American soil but their loyalties elsewhere, a split in identity that can be the breeding ground for a deadly sense of mission."
As of this writing, neither Dzhokhar nor his family members have told the publisher they will cooperate with the writing of the book. If Gessen must rely on other sources, she may turn to those like "Misha," who recently spoke to Christian Caryl of the New York Review of Books.
As Dave Cullen's book "Columbine" has shown, many of the early assumptions that are made in the media's glare after a tragedy turn out to be a misrepresentation of the truth. Cullen spent nearly a decade working on his book, however, and it's likely that the desire for a major book on the Tsarnaevs will mean it will arrive sooner. A publication date for the book about the Tsarnaev brothers has not been announced.
Beastie Boys memoir in the works: No sleep till deadline
Marc Maron chats about writing, babies and 'Attempting Normal'
What to read in limbo: a peek at the Guantanamo prison library


text:
Transamerica Retirement Solutions' Survey Shows Higher Education Institutions Turning to Plan Advisors to Better Compete and Improve Employee Retirement Readiness
Key Findings of "Prescience" Survey Point to Increases in Auto Enroll, Default Contribution Rates and Use of Mobile Technology by Retirement Providers
Transamerica Launches FastTrack Retirement Offering for Smaller Companies
Aegon Acquires Mercer's US Defined Contribution Record-Keeping Business
Transamerica Launches Financial Educators Academy to Expand Access to Financial Education
Transamerica Supports Two Athletes in the 2015 Special Olympics World Games
Transamerica Announces New Retirement Plan Distribution Partnership with Edward Jones
Multiple-employer Plans Provide Growth for Retirement Plan Advisers, if They Can Handle it
Investment Automation Benefits Participants and Advisers
Don't Let Dementia Derail Financial Goals
Financial Talks to Have With Loved Ones Facing Alzheimer's
More News
You're about to leave Transamerica's web site.
You're continuing to another website that Transamerica® doesn't own or operate. Transamerica® is not responsible for the website's content, offerings and level of security, so please refer to the website's posted privacy policy and terms of use.