text:
April 16, 2018, 11:39 pmJoel Embiid - C - Philadelphia Sixers
Joel Embiid was frustrated while watching Game 2 from the sidelines and took to his Instagram account to vent that he's "sick and tired of being babied."
Seems like Embiid is lobbying to play in Game 3 and he wants to make sure that he's heard loud and clear. The Sixers don't play again until Thursday.
Source: Zach Harper on Twitter
Fantasy News
April 19, 2019, 1:29 amLou Williams - G - Los Angeles Clippers
Lou Williams was held in check in Thursday's 105-132 Game 3 loss to the Warriors with 16 points on 4-of-11 shooting to go with two rebounds, six assists and a 3-pointer.
It was clear from the beginning that the Warriors' defensive scheme would revolve around making life difficult for Williams and it worked. His scoring line doesn't look too bad thanks to garbage time, but Williams couldn't get anything going from the moment he checked into the game. They wanted to give Sweet Lou less control of the ball and force him to rely on his teammates and unfortunately, his teammates came up short. If Lou can get some outside help from anyone else besides Montrezl Harrell, the Clippers have an outside shot, but if not, this series will be over shortly.
April 19, 2019, 1:29 amAndrew Bogut - C - Golden State Warriors
Andrew Bogut led the Warriors in rebounding in Game 3 with 14 boards to go with eight points on 4-of-5 shooting with five dimes, a steal and a block on Thursday.
Bogut looked sharp from the jump and if he can continue to play like this, their title odds will barely take a hit. DeMarcus Cousins (quad) is most likely out for the remainder of the playoffs, but the Warriors starters are well in tune with Bogut and there's so much talent on this team that all he has to do is stay within his role and do the dirty work which is something he's used to.
April 19, 2019, 1:28 amMontrezl Harrell - F/C - Los Angeles Clippers
Montrezl Harrell scored 15 points on 6-of-10 shooting with four rebounds and two assists in Thursday's Game 3 against the Warriors.
Harrell was able to score, but he couldn't keep up in the pick-and-roll with Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry. It's a tall task for anyone and tonight it led to a bunch of layups for Andrew Bogut and Kevon Looney as Harrell isn't a bad defender, but he's nowhere near the level you need to be to guard the Warriors.
April 19, 2019, 1:27 amDanilo Gallinari - F - Los Angeles Clippers
Danilo Gallinari struggled in Thursday's Game 3 with nine points on 2-of-13 shooting with six rebounds and three assists.
Gallo couldn't get anything going against the Warriors and if the Clippers are going to have any chance in this series they're going to need a lot more from him. He went 0-for-8 from deep to compound his struggles within the arc as well. The team's offense is entirely predicated around Lou Williams and Montrezl Harrell but that won't be enough to take four games off the Warriors.
April 19, 2019, 1:27 amJaMychal Green - F - Los Angeles Clippers
JaMychal Green scored 15 points on 6-of-10 shooting with five rebounds, an assist and three 3-pointers in Thursday's Game 3.
Green played much better than Ivica Zubac (17 minutes, 18 points on 8-of-12 shooting with 15 rebounds, a steal and a block) tonight although the box score doesn't show that. Zubac became unplayable after the first seven minutes of the game and Rivers had much better results with Green in the game and Zubac's stats were all in garbage time when the game was out of hand.
April 19, 2019, 1:23 amKevin Durant - F - Golden State Warriors
Kevin Durant responded to a poor outing in Game 2 by dropping 38 points on 14-of-23 shooting while adding four rebounds, seven assists, a steal, a block and three 3-pointers in Thursday's Game 3 win over the Clippers.
He had a bad Game 2. but Durant came out firing immediately in Game 3. There was no way that the Clippers were going to stop him and tonight he came out and looked like he actually cared and enjoyed his teammates which is bad news for the league. He had 27 points at halftime and as long as he and Stephen Curry are healthy, the Warriors should be the favorites to come out of the West.
April 19, 2019, 1:22 amAndre Iguodala - G/F - Golden State Warriors
Andre Iguodala led the Warriors bench with 15 points on 5-of-6 shooting with two rebounds, three assists, two blocks and three 3-pointers in Thursday's Game 3 win.
Iguodala was nailing his triples tonight and had a bench-high plus-17 in tonight's game. If he can knock down his outside shot, it's just extra as his main role is being the glue guy and playing solid defense.
April 19, 2019, 1:20 amStephen Curry - G - Golden State Warriors
Stephen Curry had a short night in Thursday's Game 3 against the Clippers, scoring 21 points in 20 minutes to go with his five rebounds, one assist and four triples.
He went 7-for-11 from the floor and hit his first four 3-pointers of the night. Curry dealt with foul trouble in the beginning of the game, but he was having his way with the Clippers tonight. He came out hot and had himself a great night even with Kevin Durant taking full control early.
April 19, 2019, 1:20 amKlay Thompson - G - Golden State Warriors
Klay Thompson had a quiet night in 33 minutes of action in Thursday's Game 3 with 12 points on 5-of-11 shooting while adding two rebounds, two assists, two blocks and two triples.
Thompson goes back to a familiar role now without DeMarcus Cousins (quad). You're in good shape if he's your third best scorer and there's eventually going to be a game where he goes nuclear.
April 19, 2019, 1:20 amDraymond Green - F - Golden State Warriors
Draymond Green scored eight points on 3-of-10 shooting with six rebounds, 10 assists, a steal and two blocks in Game 3 on Thursday against the Clippers.
Green didn't score at all in the first half but the Warriors were still up by 21 points which is a luxury he has playing on this team. The Warriors are by far the superior team and when they're locked in defensively like tonight there's almost no stopping them. Green is the engine that runs this defense and is also the primary facilitator on a team with some of the best scorers this game has ever seen so it'll be a rarity to have him in double-digit scoring numbers.


text:
While much of the attention surrounding the long-awaited introduction of Windows 8 has focused on the latest tablets and convertibles, ultrabooks seem to have been lost in the frenzy. But although they aren't Transformers that can assume several computing personalities, ultrabooks tend to be lighter and less expensive -- and, for most business users, more useful.
"They may not be as flashy, but ultrabooks can provide more computing for the dollar than slates and convertibles can," says David Daoud, research director for personal computing at IDC. "They will likely be the value choice for businesses and consumers for the near future."
That's not to say this genre isn't changing with the times. There will probably be dozens of new ultrabook designs coming out in the next few months, including some with touch screens.
I was able to spend two weeks working, playing and living with three of the latest Windows 8 ultrabooks: The HP Envy TouchSmart Ultrabook 4t-1100, Sony's Vaio T13 and Toshiba's Portege Z935-P390.
All three have traditional clamshell designs with a full keyboard, hinged screen and touchpad. All use Intel's HD graphics to create 1366-x-768-resolution images on their screens. However, while the HP Envy and the Sony Vaio T13 have touch screens that measure 14 in. and 13.3 in. respectively, the Portege Z935 has a non-touch 13.3-in. screen.
I put these next-gen ultrabooks through their paces with benchmark testing, hour-by-hour use and a few road trips to see how they compare.
How we tested
To see how these first-generation Windows 8 ultrabooks compare with each other, I used them at my office and on the road for two weeks. After measuring the thickness of each system with a digital caliper, I measured their lengths and widths. Then I weighed each on a digital scale with and without its AC adapter.
I spent some time getting to know each system, examining every major aspect. I connected to both private and public Wi-Fi networks and also tried them out with a mobile hotspot.
For those systems that have a touch screen, I used a finger to maneuver around the Windows 8 Start Screen and also tried them with a Wacom Bamboo stylus. To gauge if it could work with 10 individual inputs I opened Paint and drew all 10 of my fingers across the screen.
Because Windows 8 is a new operating system, I checked each system's compatibility with a variety of peripherals likely to be around the typical home or office.
Next, I tested the WiDi capabilities of each system by establishing a connection between the computer and a Belkin ScreenCast receiver that was connected to an Epson MG-50 projector. I then walked away from the projector with the notebook in my hand to measure its range. When the picture or audio started to break up I took a step back towards the projector to reconnect and marked the spot.
Then, I tested the performance of each system. First I looked at overall performance with PassMark's PerformanceTest 8.0 benchmark test. The software exercises every major component of the system, including processor, hard drive, 2D and 3D graphics, and memory operations. It adds several game routines as well as a visualization of a Mandelbroit fractal set. I ran the software three times and averaged the results.
I also ran the Maxon CineBench benchmarks for graphics and processor performance. The software renders several photorealistic scenes that stress the processor and graphics chip by manipulating up to a million polygons. It reports scores for processor and graphics performance, and I averaged the results of three runs.
To gauge how long each can run on its battery, I loaded PassMark's BatteryMon, fully charged the system, set its power-management options to Balanced and adjusted the settings to prevent the computer from going to sleep. The screen brightness and volume were set to 6/10, and I used the shuffle feature on Windows Media Player to continuously play six videos from a USB flash drive connected to the system. I reported the average of three runs.
HP Envy TouchSmart Ultrabook 4t-1100
The HP Envy TouchSmart Ultrabook 4t-1100 may be a mouthful to say, but it is a well-designed touch-screen Windows 8 system.
The HP Envy is thicker than the Portege Z935 or Vaio T13 (while the company's specs give it as 0.78 in., I measured it at a full 1.0 in.). Its 13.3-x-9.2-in. footprint is nearly an inch wider than the Vaio T13 or Portege Z935. However, it provides the luxury of a 14-in. screen vs. the 13.3-in. displays on the other two.
At 4.6 lb., the Envy 4 is nearly double the weight of the 2.4-lb. Portege Z935 and 1.1 lb. heavier than the Vaio T13. When you add the three-prong AC adapter, the Envy 4 has a travel weight of 5.1 pounds. That being said, I really liked the Envy's rounded corners, soft rubberized coating on the bottom and brushed aluminum cover and deck.
The center of attention is its 14-in. 1366 x 768 touch screen that, like the Vaio T13, responds to ten-finger input. I was impressed with how bright and rich images were, and found that it greatly enhanced the process of working with Windows 8. However, I also found I had to be a bit careful -- all it took was a hard tap at the top of the screen to make the display wobble and risk tipping it over.
For typists, the Envy has a comfortable keyboard that is backlit with white LEDs.
The test system came with an Intel Core i5 3317U processor (as did the Portege Z935) that runs at 1.7GHz and can overclock to 2.6GHz; that was accompanied by the Intel HD Graphics 4000 processor. The unit came with 4GB of RAM; the system is upgradeable to a 16GB maximum.
While the Vaio T13 and Portege Z935 use SSDs for storage, the Envy has a more traditional 500GB hard drive with 32GB of hard drive cache to boost performance. The computer includes two USB 3.0 and one USB 2.0 connection along with an HDMI port, audio jacks and an SD card reader; however, the system lacks a VGA port for use with older monitors.
I really liked the inclusion of Beats audio and a subwoofer, which delivered a rich and full sound.
To communicate with the world, the Envy has a pop-open Ethernet port as well as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. It can also wirelessly connect with a projector or TV via Intel's WiDi. When I tried it out, the Envy remained linked with a projector as far as 46 feet away, 9 feet farther than the Portege (which also has WiDi) could.
The system comes with Windows 8, a two-month trial edition of Microsoft Office Home and Student, and a 60-day trial of Norton Internet Security.
Test results
With a score of 1,422.6 on the PassMark PerformanceTest benchmark, the Envy was 30% percent slower than the Vaio T13, a result I attribute to a lower amount of system memory, slower processor and the use of a traditional hard drive.
At a Glance
Envy TouchSmart Ultrabook 4 t-1100
Price base/as tested: $800/$895
Pros: Touch screen, backlit keyboard, Beats audio, sleek design, good battery life
Cons: Relatively thick and heavy, no VGA port
It was a virtual tie with the Portege on CineBench 11.5's processor tests with a score of 2.38, but again, was well behind the Vaio T13's 2.77 score. And as far as graphics goes, the Envy's 13.12 frames per second (fps) was well behind both the Vaio T13 and the Portege.
At 5 hours and 15 minutes of battery life, the system's 3,200mAh battery was the long-distance runner of the group, going for nearly an hour longer than the Portege; however, the battery is not user-removable.
Bottom line
The HP Envy TouchSmart Ultrabook 4t-1100 starts at an enviable $800, which includes a Core i3 processor and a non-backlit keyboard. The model I tested had a backlit keyboard and Core i5 processor, bringing the price up to $895.
While it is heavier and slower than the other two units in this roundup, the HP Envy is the value leader because it has the largest screen, is touch-enabled and it has the best sound.
Sony Vaio T Series 13 Ultrabook
If a nice balance between performance and battery life are what you're after in an ultrabook, Sony's Vaio T Series 13 delivers it along with an excellent touch screen.
There are a variety of configurations available in Sony's T series of ultrabooks, including both 13.3-in. and 14-in. displays; touch and non-touch screens; Intel Core i3, i5 and i7 processors; hard drives and SSDs; and 4GB to 8GB of RAM.
The review unit is at the high end of this list. It offers a 13.3-in. touch screen and Intel's 1.9GHz Core i7 processor (a step up from the 1.7GHz Core i5 CPU used on the other two systems), which can sprint to as fast as 3.0GHz if needed. It also includes a 256GB SSD and 8GB RAM.
I measured the Vaio at 12.6 x 0.8 x 8.0 in.; it weighs 3.5 lb., about 1.1 lb. heavier than the Portege (probably because of the Vaio's touch screen). With its large two-prong AC adapter, the system has a travel weight of 4.4 lb.
Capable of responding to 10 individual finger inputs, the Vaio's display reacted quickly and precisely to input. While I didn't find it quite as bright as either the Portege or Envy 4, I still found the display quality quite sharp and clear; I doubt there will be too many users who will be disappointed.
The lid has two small feet that brace it when the system is open, making the display much sturdier than the Envy's. Its keyboard, however, lacks the backlighting that the others provide.
The Vaio comes with one USB 2.0 and one USB 3.0 connection, down from the three USB ports that the others have. Over my time with the system, this proved to be a minor inconvenience.
There's also an HDMI port, a VGA port, and a combo microphone and headphone audio jack. It has a flash card reader that can work with SD and Memory Stick modules.
For getting online, the system has Wi-Fi (because Sony uses an Atheros radio rather than an Intel, it can't use Intel's WiDi technology). The system also includes Bluetooth and an Ethernet jack.
At a Glance
Vaio T Series 13 Ultrabook
Price base/as tested: $670/$1,300
Pros: Touch screen, thin and light, access to battery, stable screen lid
Cons: Relatively expensive
Along with Windows 8, the Vaio T13 comes with a one-month subscription to Kaspersky Internet Security and a copy of Art Rage Studio, an excellent tablet drawing program. The system comes with a one-year warranty.
Test results
With its faster processor and larger cache of memory, the Vaio T13 swept the performance phase of testing with a 2,006.9 on the PassMark PerformanceTest suite of benchmark tests. Its scores of 2.77 and 16.62 fps on the CineBench 11.5's processor and graphics tests were also well ahead of the other two.
When I tested the Vaio's battery, it yielded a runtime of 4 hours and 57 minutes, a few minutes short of the Envy 4's battery life and 35 minutes longer than the Portege's.
Unlike the other two ultrabooks reviewed here, you can change the Vaio T13's battery. It's a little awkward, because rather than a slide latch, it has three screws that need to be loosened with a thick spade screwdriver or a penny, but it only takes a minute.
Bottom line
In the configuration I tested, the Sony Vaio T Series 13 is a bit pricey, but its top-shelf components, high performance and good battery life combine to make this touch ultrabook a winner.
Not quite ready to take the plunge with a touch-screen computer? Toshiba's Portege Z935-P390 is an ultrabook with a 13.3-in. display that lets you get the most out of Windows 8 without lifting a finger.
The Portege is slimmer than the Envy or Vaio T13: it measures 0.6 in. thick in the front and 0.8 in. thick in the back. It has a more businesslike, squared-off gray case with bright chrome accents on the hinges and around the touchpad. Its footprint measures 12.4 x 8.9 in., making it slightly deeper but narrower than the Vaio T13, which has the same size screen.
Weighing 2.4 lb., the Portege is remarkably light. With its AC adapter, the Portege has an enviable total weight of 3 lb., more than a pound lighter than the Vaio T13; happily, it requires only a two-prong outlet to power it up.
The Portege's display was quite clear and offered rich colors; it was about as bright as the Vaio T13. Because it lacks a touch screen, the Portege relies on a 3.4-x-2-in. touchpad, which has a nice texture to it and a button for turning it off when doing a lot of typing. It was able to bring out the Windows 8 Charms Menu with a swipe of a finger right to left and let me zoom in by pinching an image, but I needed a bit of practicing before using it became second nature. The comfortable keyboard is backlit for late-night work or gaming.
Inside the Portege is the same 1.7GHz Core i5 processor that the Envy uses. It also includes a 128GB SSD and 6GB of RAM.
The system's assortment of ports includes two USB 2.0 and a single USB 3.0 connection. It also has an HDMI port, SD card reader, audio port and old-school VGA port. The system comes with a Gigabit Ethernet connection as well as Wi-Fi. Its WiDi system was able to connect to a projector at a range of 37 feet, 9 feet short of the Envy's range.
Along with Windows 8, the Portege includes Norton Internet Security with 30 days of file updates as well as a handy Toshiba PC Health Monitor for observing the system's components. It comes with a one-year warranty.
At a Glance
Portege Z935 P390
Price base/as tested: $1,000/$1,000
Pros: Strong performance, backlit keyboard, thin and light, SSD
Cons: No touch screen, short battery life
Test results
The Portege scored 1,680.9 on the PassMark PerformanceTest suite, right in the middle of the pack. Its CineBench 11.5 processor score was halfway between the those of the Envy and the Vaio T13, while the system's graphics score of 14.51 fps was 13% less than the Vaio T13's score of 16.62 fps.
The system's 3,000 mAh battery was able to go for 4 hours and 22 minutes on a charge. Unlike the Vaio T13, the system is sealed and has no way to swap batteries.
Bottom line
It might lack a touch screen, but the $999.99 Portege Z935-P390 provides a bridge between the old and new worlds with a thin, lightweight, high-performance system.
All three of these new ultrabooks are well made, reliable and are worthy of consideration for a place in your notebook bag.
At heart, I am a cheapskate, eager to save money on anything I buy. This time, however, my choice is the $1,300 Sony Vaio T13, the most expensive of the three. It has a great touch screen, the best configuration, excellent performance and the ability to run for nearly five hours on a charge. Of the three, it offers the best balance among size, weight and abilities.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Choffy Bridges The Gap Between Hot Chocolate And Coffee
Vancouver, Wash.-based Choffy introduces Choffy, a delicious drink that bridges the gap between hot chocolate and coffee. Made from 100% organic roasted and ground cacao beans, it contains no sugar, dairy or chemicals. At only 20 calories per serving, it has rich bold chocolate notes and the health benefits of cacao – antioxidants and theobromine, In fact, there are more antioxidants in an 8-oz cup than in a serving of blueberries.
Varieties include:
- Ivory Coast Choffy – Fair trade, organic cacao beans with a deep chocolate flavor and hints of natural grains and slightly earthy tones
- La Espanola Choffy – Single estate organic cacao beans from the Dominican Republic, which impart deep, rich yet smooth chocolate flavors with nutty overtones.
You brew Choffy as you would coffee (best using a French Press). Brewed as is, it has a strong intense taste. Or add a little creamer and a deep chocolate flavor is revealed. Unlike coffee, Choffy supplies long-lasting energy throughout the day without the crash, jitters, or other negative effects of caffeine.
Choffy is available at www.drinkChoffy.com in 12-oz bags for $15 and 5-lb bags for $85.


text:
When it comes to organizing the kitchen space, few items are as helpful as are kitchen drawer organizers. Ranked as one of the most brilliant kitchen organizing tools, the drawer organizer ensures that everything has its place in your drawers, and that the drawers are all organized for easy use.
While certainly affordable to purchase, drawer organizers divide up the large drawer space, inviting organization. Make room for all of your cutlery and keep it organized and divided. Make that "junk" drawer organized by designating where the pens, scissors, paper and more should go in the drawer. Every drawer in the house can benefit from a drawer organizer!
A drawer organizer tray is easy to install and durable to enjoy for years of use. Sometimes, a product comes along that is ingenious and simple at the same time – the drawer organizer is one such product! Benefit from this great tool today and see what a difference it makes in your kitchen organization without delay!


text:
A former Goldman Sachs Group Inc. investment banker has agreed to a five-year securities industry ban and a record fine to settle Securities and Exchange Commission charges that he broke rules against influence peddling to win bond underwriting business in Massachusetts.
Without admitting or denying wrongdoing, Neil Morrison, 38, accepted what the SEC said was the first industry ban for violating "pay-to-play" rules governing the $3.7 trillion municipal bond market.
Continue Reading Below
He also agreed to a $100,000 civil fine, which the SEC called the largest individual penalty in such a case.
Thursday's settlement was announced eight months after Goldman struck its own $12 million settlement with the SEC over the case, which involved contributions to the 2010 gubernatorial campaign of then-Massachusetts State Treasurer Timothy Cahill.
Pay-to-play refers to the providing of cash or other contributions to public officials in exchange for political favors or the awarding of contracts.
"These tough sanctions against Morrison show that we take abuses of the pay-to-play rules in the municipal securities industry very seriously and will hold individuals accountable for their violations," Elaine Greenberg, chief of the municipal securities and public pensions unit of the SEC's enforcement division, said in a statement.
Thomas Kiley, a lawyer for Morrison, had no immediate comment.
"Neil Morrison violated applicable regulatory rules as well as Goldman Sachs' internal policies," said Michael DuVally, a bank spokesman. "We detected his activities, promptly alerted regulators, terminated his employment, and fully cooperated with investigations."
The SEC said Morrison, a resident of Taunton, Massachusetts, helped run Cahill's campaign from his Goldman office in Boston, where he was a vice president, during work hours while using the bank's phone and e-mail system.
By performing such roles as speechwriter, fundraiser, strategist and media coordinator, Morrison got more access to Cahill and his staff, giving Goldman a leg up on mandates to underwrite municipal bond offerings, the SEC said.
"From my standpoint as an advisor/consultant/friend I am saying, PLEASE don't give these (underwriter) slots away willy-nilly," Morrison once e-mailed a deputy treasurer in Cahill's office, according to the SEC. "You are in the fight of your lives and need to reward loyalty and encourage friendship."
The SEC said Goldman was able to participate in 30 Massachusetts bond offerings from which it should have been disqualified because of Morrison's activities.
Goldman did not admit wrongdoing in its agreement to settle with the SEC. At the time, it also settled a related case brought by Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley.
The fine is small relative to the amount of business that Morrison may have generated for Goldman, said James Cox, a Duke University law professor. "What is significant is barring this guy from the securities industry for five years," he said.
In April 2012, Cahill was indicted on charges that he misused $1.5 million in funds intended to promote the state lottery to boost his campaign prospects.
A mistrial was declared in December, and Massachusetts dropped the criminal case in March 2013 when Cahill admitted to violations of state ethics rules and accepted a $100,000 fine.
The case against Goldman and Morrison was part of a broader SEC crackdown on "pay-to-play" practices.
In 2010, the regulator adopted measures to target activities of investment advisers who seek out contracts to manage public pension plans and other investment accounts.
The SEC has recently also turned up the heat on the municipal bond market itself.
On Wednesday, it settled a fraud case in which it accused South Miami, Florida, of failing to disclose problems with the tax-exempt status of two bond deals to investors.
Earlier this month, the SEC settled a landmark fraud case against Harrisburg, Pennsylvania's capital city, in which it accused city officials of glossing over the city's financial problems in public speeches and presentations.
(Additional reporting by Sarah N. Lynch; Editing by Dan Grebler)


text:
Official Opinion 2009-5
Director, Georgia Public Defenders Standards Council
The director of the Georgia Public Defender Standards Council has broad authority and is responsible for the day to day operation of the agency. The Council's limited responsibilities, to be carried out concurrently with the director, include setting standards, conducting audits, making financial disclosures, receiving funds, providing for legal education, reporting to the General Assembly, and providing procedures for the appointment of conflict council.
You have requested my opinion on the scope of the duties of the director of the Georgia Public Defender Standards Council ("GPDSC") in relation to the authority of the Council, particularly in light of the enactment of House Bill 1245 in 2008.[1] It is my opinion that in enacting H.B. 1245 the General Assembly gave broad authority and responsibility for the day to day operation of the GPDSC to the director. The Council's limited responsibilities, to be exercised concurrently with the director, include setting standards, conducting audits, making financial disclosures, receiving funds, providing for legal education, reporting to the General Assembly, and providing procedures for appointment of conflict council.
As a successor to the former Georgia Indigent Defense Council, the Georgia Public Defender Standards Council was created in 2003 as part of a wide-ranging effort to revamp the standards and practices of the indigent defense system in
In 1979, in conjunction with state supplementation of local budgets[2] for indigent defense, the General Assembly passed the Georgia Indigent Defense Act.[3] 1979
The provisions of 1969's Georgia Criminal Justice Act and 1979's Georgia Indigent Defense Act, both of which were in effect in 2003, were not exclusive. Georgia law also allowed counties with populations over 550,000 and a county manager to establish public defender offices with a public defender selected by the county manager and the staff selected and supervised by the public defender. 1984
The 2003 creation of the GPDSC accompanied elimination of the county control over indigent defense reflected in the 1969 Georgia Criminal Justice Act[4] as well as elimination of tripartite committees and their control over local public defenders or panel attorneys as called for by the 1979 Georgia Indigent Defense Act.[5] The GPDSC was expressly made the successor to the GIDC, 2003 Ga. Laws at 200-01, and the Mental Health Advocate and Georgia Capital Defender – a successor to the multicounty public defender – were placed under the management of the GPDSC although they were formally designated separate "offices."
Despite the broad powers the GPDSC necessarily had in assuming the role previously filled by the GIDC and local tripartite commissions, the specific substantive authority given the GPDSC was not extensive. The GPDSC, substantively, was expressly[6] given authority to contract; to own property; to budget, accept, manage, and audit funds both for the state offices and circuit defender offices; to hire or fire a director and administrative and clerical personnel; to manage the offices of the Mental Health Advocate and Georgia Capital Defender; to provide assistance, research, forms, and training for circuit defender offices; and to establish rules, regulations, and standards governing public indigent defense in Georgia.[7]
In contrast with the by and large non-specific powers given the GPDSC, its director was given numerous specific powers and duties. He was charged with supervising circuit defender offices "and other attorneys representing indigent persons" including providing "technical, research, and administrative assistance; educational and training programs for attorneys, investigators, and other staff; assistance with the representation of indigent defendants with mental disabilities; assistance with the representation of juveniles; and assistance with appellate advocacy."
The director's specific duties were enumerated as follows:
(c) The director shall:
(1) Prepare and submit to the council a proposed budget for the council. Said budget shall not contain any request for funding for the operation of the circuit public defender offices until the budget submission for Fiscal Year 2005. The director shall also prepare and submit an annual report containing pertinent data on the operations, costs, and needs of the council and such other information as the council may require;
(2) Develop such rules, policies, procedures, regulations, and standards as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter and comply with all applicable laws, standards, and regulations, and submit these to the council for approval;
(3) Administer and coordinate the operations of the council and supervise compliance with rules, policies, procedures, regulations, and standards adopted by the council;
(4) Maintain proper records of all financial transactions related to the operation of the council;
(5) At the director's discretion, solicit and accept on behalf of the council any funds that may become available from any source, including government, nonprofit, or private grants, gifts, or bequests;
(6) Coordinate the services of the council with any federal, county, or private programs established to provide assistance to indigent persons in cases subject to this chapter and consult with professional bodies concerning the implementation and improvement of programs for providing indigent services;
(7) Provide for the training of attorneys and other staff involved in the legal representation of persons subject to this chapter;
(8) Attend all council meetings, except those meetings or portions thereof that address the question of appointment or removal of the director;
(9) Ensure that the expenditures of the council are not greater than the amounts budgeted or available from other revenue sources; and
(10) Perform other duties as the council may assign.
In 2008 the General Assembly passed H.B. 1245, again comprehensively revising the provisions regarding indigent defense and its financing in
House Bill 1245 also removed the requirement that the director obtain the consent of the Council in establishing agency divisions, giving him the discretionary authority to do so, and formally made the mental health advocate and
(1) The power and authority to take or cause to be taken any or all action necessary to perform any indigent defense services or otherwise necessary to perform any duties, responsibilities, or functions which the council is authorized by law to perform or to exercise any power or authority which the council is authorized by law to exercise;
(2) The power and authority to make, promulgate, enforce, or otherwise require compliance with any and all rules, regulations, procedures, or directives necessary to perform any indigent defense services, to carry into effect the minimum standards and procedures promulgated by the council, or otherwise necessary to perform any duties, responsibilities, or functions which the council is authorized by law to perform or to exercise any power or authority which the council is authorized by law to exercise; and
(3) The power and authority to assist the council in the performance of its duties, responsibilities, and functions and the exercise of its power and authority.
While the director is given authority to "perform any duties, responsibilities, or functions which the council is authorized by law to perform …," 17‑12‑5(c)(1), the Council remains a legal entity, O.C.G.A. § 17‑12‑3, with enumerated powers and responsibilities, O.C.G.A. § 17‑12‑4. The Council's remaining powers include, among other things, the power to contract, own property, and hire clerical and administrative staff, id.; to receive funds, grants, and gifts, id.; to provide procedures for handling funds and conduct audits, id; to approve standards governing public defense, O.C.G.A. § 17‑12‑8; to provide for continuing education, O.C.G.A. § 17‑12‑9; to make an annual report of its activities to the General Assembly, O.C.G.A. § 17‑12‑10; and to provide a procedure for appointment of counsel in conflict cases, O.C.G.A. § 17‑12‑22.
The above duties of the Council are exercised concurrently with the director's authority also to engage in those tasks. In providing authority to the director under O.C.G.A. § 17‑12‑5(c), the General Assembly did not remove it from the Council as a body; the exercise of these powers is not made or declared to be mutually exclusive but is provided by law to both.
As with other agencies, the director and the Council "should work together in harmony to accomplish the carrying out of sound … policy for the State of
Therefore, given the above, it is my official opinion that in enacting HB 1245 the General Assembly gave broad authority and responsibility for the day to day operation of GPDSC to the director while leaving the Council in the limited role, concurrently with the director, of conducting certain tasks such as setting standards, conducting audits, making financial disclosures, receiving funds, providing for legal education, reporting to the General Assembly, and providing procedures for the appointment of conflict council.
Prepared by:
Senior Assistant Attorney General
[1]Act. No. 229, 2008
[2]Counties also received federal funding or grants for indigent defense, as well as some funding from private sources.
[3]The Georgia Indigent Defense Act was expressly not intended to supplant local funding or local programs, and counties or superior courts could refuse state funds. 1979
[4]Certain counties were permitted to remain independent, but this required application to the GPDSC and that certain stringent conditions be met. 2003
[5]These changes were also reflected in a massive increase of state spending for indigent defense, which was financed by directing funds to the GPDSC from the interest on bonds and funds paid to the registry of the courts. 2003
[6]The GPDSC was also given a non-specific grant of "such other powers, privileges, and duties as may be reasonable and necessary for the proper fulfillment of its duties." 2003
[7]As befits the GPDSC's designation as a "Standards Council," the creation of uniform standards governing indigent defense was arguably GPDSC's most important early task. The standards developed thus far can be found at "Standards" of the Georgia Public Defender Standards Council, http://www.gpdsc.com/cpdsystem-standards-main.htm.
[8]Among other revisions between 2003 and 2008, in 2007 the GPDSC was formally made an agency in the executive branch of government rather than the judicial branch. 2007
[9]There were other revisions not significant here. House Bill 1245 removed the Council's authority to provide assistance, research, forms, and training for circuit defender offices, with that authority presumably transferred to the director. 2008


text: Hello forgers! Although I use howtoforge daily, I have always found answers to my questions in these forums. But now... I just can't get any further . I need to setup load balancing on a server that runs ISPconfig. My setup is as follows: 1x IspConfig server, 2x Webserver, 1x MySQL server. I have already, succesfully installed ISPconfig on its server and the other servers are configurable on the gui. (Ispconfig is installed on them too, but without the webgui part). I understand that you can add websites through the gui, but I have to make them on the webservers first, through vhosting, because I have a s***load of websites. So I cannot find anything to add existing websites and make them load balance through server activity. So, just to make things clear. If my webservers are 192.168.100.101 and 192.168.100.102, They both are replicated with each having the same vhosts and everything. The IspConfig server should redirect all activity through server activity. So if 101 has 15 active sessions and 102 has 16, the next visitor will end up on 101 and vice versa. My thanks to all of you who took the time to read this. Excelsior!


text:
Follow RFF News on your cell phone. Text follow rff to 40404 you will receive txt messages with RFF News
0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.
You can probably check the various other sources. I can't mention them here but it should be up on the other sites now.
Page created in 0.065 seconds with 32 queries.


text:
Under $150: Keep Your Budget Resolutions With These Affordable Finds
We'll let you in on a little secret: your wardrobe doesn't have to be filled with expensive pieces to look like it! These Under $150 finds are not only killer steals, they're also perfect for giving your closet the cool makeover it deserves.
Texture Acid Block Print Dress ($93)
Due to the amount of art-inspired pieces on the S/S 14 runways, we can confidently say this is a piece you'll want to wear all year long.
Animal Print Perfect Haircalf Skinny Belt ($32)
A printed belt is just the piece you need to reinvent that LBD.
Floral Authentic Lo Pro Sneakers ($55)
Go ahead and put some spring—pun intended—into your step with a pair of floral sneakers.
Tropical Print Jersey Bomber ($100)
There's nothing quite like a bright tropical print to give you a bit of island fever during the dead of winter.
Roan Necklace ($38)
A minimalist necklace has the ability to instantly make your outfit look expensive, even if it is only $38!
Colorblocked Oliver Wallet ($145)
This guy might spend most of the time hidden in your purse, but the attention you will garner when you take it out is totally worth it.
Leather Baseball Cap ($98)
As far as cool hats go, this one hits it out of the park.
Pastel Coloured Faux Leather Zip Jacket ($129)
A leather motorcycle jacket in a candy cotton hue strikes the perfect balance between tough and feminine.
Shark Tooth Ear Cuffs ($55)
This might just be the coolest take on the ear cuff we've ever seen. Period.
Fair Isle Wool-Blend Sweater ($118)
A vibrant take on the Fair Isle sweater serves as the perfect remedy for gray skies.
Leather Luxe Backpack ($139)
Go hands-free in your off-duty hours with a roomy backpack.
Tabi Plaid Shirt ($149)
You'll love that you can incorporate this shirt into both your work (tucked into a leather pencil skirt) and weekend (with cuffed jeans) uniform.
Leather Skirt ($149)
We can't believe it either! A gorgeous leather midi skirt for under $150 does exist.
Revelry Pumps ($68)
These heels have a bit of that Alexander Wang vibe, but at a fraction of the cost.
Stripe ¾ Sleeve Sweater ($19)
A pop of neon around the neck takes this classic stripe sweater out of basic territory.
1969 Patched Always Skinny Jeans ($70)
Spring is all about next-level denim, so get ahead of the trend with these patchwork jeans.
Odin Sunglasses ($45)
If the fact that Gwen Stefani is a devoted Quay Eyewear fan isn't enough to make you love these sunnies, the thrifty price tag sure will.
Watermelon-Print Scarf ($75)
Whether you style it as a neckerchief, wear it as a headband, or tie it to your handbag, this cheeky scarf will produce statement-making results.
Gatsby Ankle Boots ($60)
Cutouts and buckle detailing give these boots a biker edge we adore.
Adored Cord Tote ($98)
A raise-worthy look shouldn't stop at your clothing; a streamlined handbag is just as important, too.


text:
Tom Sherak had a long career as a studio executive and was involved in hundreds of films, including "Black Hawk Down," "Mrs. Doubtfire" and "Star Wars: Episode I — The Phantom Menace." But Sherak is best known for the jobs he did for free or almost free.
For three years ending in 2012, he was outspoken president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, , during which he launched initiatives but also had to deal with public controversies, including the replacement of the producer and host of an Oscar show.
In September, at the request of Mayor Eric Garcetti, he became


text:
I try too hard.
Credits: Bethany Struble
You know that feeling when you see someone and you know that you're just DESTINED to be together? Well that's kind of what it was like when I first saw these shoes on very.com. THEY'RE MY SOLE MATES. Okay that wasn't funny, but that's okay, because I don't get paid to crack jokes, in fact...I don't get paid at all. ANYWAYS, these shoes are by far one of my favorites and I've been wearing them ever since I've gotten them. Check out very.com when and if you get the chance, they have great deals on great clothes. DOUBLE GREAT, can't go wrong. If you enjoyed that, please leave a comment!


text:
Check out our Audi V8 photo gallery
with HQ pics.
Last update in V8 gallery: 2006-01-09
Audi started the road tests of a 'hot' Q4 coupe-crossover variation. The first batch of spy photos of the test prototype appeared on Autocar.
Audi has sketched a future electric SUV with the Q4 e-tron name.
Audi is actively going in tests with the new SUV.
Audi management has approved a small-scale production project for an electric supercar.
Audi has taken up the tests of an updated A4 Avant Wagon.
The Drone Week event, which Audi, Airbus, and Italdesign held in Amsterdam, became the venue for the working prototype debut of a flying taxi Pop.Up Next.
We select only big size audi v8 photos
for our photogallery.


text:
Reference Universe -- "searching deeply into the indexes of more than 50,000 electronic and print specialized reference works from over 750 publishers."
|Statewide Text - enter "ucf"
as first 3 characters followed by your question
SMS TXT to (407) 490-3707
|Tweet your question [*more info]
(may have delayed response)
to @askUCFlibrary
|UCF Library Text [*more info]
(may have delayed response)
SMS TXT to (407) 499-4368
|Statewide Ask A Librarian Email
UCF Campus Resource: Ask UCF
*more info: IM and Chat receive first priority for response by UCF staff. The UCF Library Text service is periodically monitored to check for incoming questions during weekday business hours, but it is not under constant observation; the same potential delay in response exists regarding questions sent via Twitter.
Phone 407-823-2562 or 1-866-271-7589 (toll free)
|9:00 a.m. -
|9:00 p.m.
|1:00 p.m. -
|5:00 p.m.
|9:00 a.m. -
|5:00 p.m.
Problems logging in? After AAL is closed, call the Circulation Desk at 407-823-2580 (wait through the voice message).
Your chat will be disconnected if you leave this page during a conversation.
UCF's local IM chat is closed.
Use the Florida Ask A Librarian Chat instead.
If UCF Library is offline, try the Florida Ask A Librarian Chat
|9:00 a.m. -
|10:00 a.m. -
|5:00 p.m.
|9:00 a.m. -
|5:00 p.m.
|10:00 a.m. -


text:
Alpha channel
an image channel containing a mask or selection. An Alpha channel is an additional image channel just like the red, green or blue channel. It can contain any information in form of a grayscale image but commonly it is used to store a selection or a mask.
- Black alpha channel pixels usually stand for masked, invisible or unselected pixels in the main image.
- White alpha channel pixels stand for unmasked, visible or selected pixels.
- Gray alpha channel pixels stand for more or less translucent pixels according to the brightness of gray.
Both enblend and smartblend use the alpha channel to determine seam position when blending, see the how to use enblend for patching zenith and nadir images tutorial for details.
More information on wikipedia:alpha channel page


text:
The FDA reform bill that passed the House on Wednesday and the Senate last night represents a step forward but is far too little too late to fix the horribly corrupt agency.
The FDA reform bill that passed the House on Wednesday and the Senate last night represents a step forward in protecting scientific integrity at the Food and Drug Administration. However, given the magnitude of the problems in drug and food safety that have come to light in recent years, the bill falls far short of spurring the dramatic changes that the public needs and deserves.
The bill caps— at the current level— the number of waivers that the agency can grant to scientists and physicians who have conflicts of interest and who are appointed to advisory panels. The bill gradually reduces that number over the next five years. That mild limitation doesn't go far enough. The FDA certainly could find scientists without ties to industry if it truly wanted to, and we will continue to push for ending a practice that gives drug and food companies undue and unseemly influence over the regulatory process at the FDA.
We congratulate the Congress for including other provisions in the bill that will enhance the integrity of science at the agency. One measure is a requirement that all clinical trials and their results get posted in a publicly available web-based database managed by the National Institutes of Health. And we are glad that scientists at the FDA will gain greater protections to speak out and publish.
Copyright © 2019 HighStrangeness.tv All Rights Reserved.


text:
Express. Home of the Daily and Sunday Express.
Van Persie hailed as model striker
Robin van Persie is the textbook centre-forward, according to Manchester United team-mate Nemanja Vidic.
The Dutchman came off the bench to net a sublime equaliser in stoppage time against West Ham as United salvaged a 2-2 draw from a thrilling FA Cup third-round tie at Upton Park. It was Van Persie's 20th goal since joining from Arsenal in a £24million summer deal, converting a fine crossfield pass from fellow substitute Ryan Giggs to force a replay.
"His touch is magnificent and his finishing is top class," Vidic said on MUTV. "It is movement from the book, touch from the book, goal from the book. It is something they can show to kids, how to move and finish in the last third."
While quick to also praise "world-class" Van Persie, United manager Sir Alex Ferguson was left less than impressed by his side's defending at Upton Park.
After Tom Cleverly had swept the visitors into a lead midway through the first half, the Irons soon hit back when James Collins headed in a brilliant cross from Joe Cole, making a second debut after returning to boyhood club in a free transfer move from Liverpool.
West Ham then turned the tie around on the hour when Cole again provided the ammunition for Collins to leap above the static United defence and power a header past David De Gea.
Despite being rescued by Van Persie's moment of inspiration, Vidic accepts the team must tighten up at the back.
"We always know that on set-pieces they are a tough team to play against and eventually they scored two against us from crosses," the centre-back said.
"They scored from the second ball which we should look at again, and we are definitely a bit disappointed. It is something to talk about."


text:
What a glorious adventure.
Maybe that is why it is called, "The Game of Life."
Sometimes we take things so seriously.
Maybe we should remember that in the middle of enlightenment is "light."
After all, what is the worst that could happen?
And how often does that even happen?
Scientists have proven that only 5-8% of your fears ever happen.
That means that 92% of the time your fears never happen – so why waste your energy on the negative?
Life is for the living.
Life is for caring, loving, helping, serving, inspiring and loving.
Focus on the good in your life.
Focus of the good things that you can do.
Make the most of what you have where you are.
Make a difference in other people's lives by giving your encouragement and support.
Focus on what you can give instead of what you can get.
There is so much you can contribute to this world.
Be an example of kindness and compassion.
The world needs more hope, light and inspiration.
That's what you truly are.
Enjoy this movie from a friend:
Watch "Success Secrets"
🙂 Lee
The Mega Coach


text:
Serviços Personalizados
Links relacionados
- Citado por Google
- Similares em Google
SAMJ: South African Medical Journal
versão On-line ISSN 2078-5135
versão impressa ISSN 0256-9574
SAMJ, S. Afr. med. j. vol.102 no.8 Cape Town Ago. 2012
Do South African universities provide the required training platforms for otolaryngology specialist training?
Shazia PeerI; Johannes FaganII
IMB BCh, FCORL (SA). Division of Otolaryngology, University of Cape Town
IIMB ChB, FCS (SA), MMed (Otol). Division of Otolaryngology, University of Cape Town
BACKGROUND: Concern exists about the quality of specialist training platforms at South African universities and teaching hospitals.
METHOD: We conducted an audit of the quality of training at South African otolaryngology (ENT) training institutions from the perspective of the registrars.
RESULTS: Some institutions were deficient in terms of supervision, theatre time, access to teaching aids and research tools, and range of surgery, and do not provide the required training platforms for ENT specialist training. Five out of 8 institutions have produced <2 publications in peer-reviewed journals over the past 5 years.
CONCLUSIONS: The HPCSA fails to adequately police the quality of training in South Africa. Training programme shortcomings must urgently be addressed to ensure proper education and training of otolaryngologists.
Concerns have been voiced about a decline in the quality of specialist training at South African universities. Reasons include lack of supervision and teaching, inadequate surgical experience owing to reductions in operating lists, inadequate surgical instrumentation, and allegations that specialists do not fulfil their teaching and clinical responsibilities because of competing private practice interests.
Further concerns have been that the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) inadequately polices the quality of specialist training programmes; that it permits training to continue at institutions that do not provide adequate platforms for specialist training; and that universities and teaching hospitals have not ensured adequate teaching facilities.
Through the College of Otorhinolaryngology of the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa (CMSA), heads of all ENT departments in South Africa agreed on the minimum staffing and infrastructural requirements for ENT training programmes.1 Their purpose was to secure adequate training platforms, empower heads of departments (HODs) when negotiating with state hospitals and universities, and provide guidelines for the HPCSA to inspect training centres.
In future, registrars will have to complete research dissertations to apply for specialist registration with the HPCSA, which raises the question whether training institutions have the research and publishing ethic to support this new requirement for specialist registration.
Objectives and methods
We aimed to gauge whether South African training institutions (i) meet minimum staffing and infrastructure requirements; (ii) provide adequate specialist supervision of registrars; and (iii) can support the HPCSA research dissertation requirement.
This was a descriptive audit conducted through the National Registrars' Committee of the South African Society of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery. A questionnaire sent to ENT registrars at each South African training institution was returned to the registrars' committee chairperson (primary investigator).
Registrars had no obligation to complete the questionnaire. To protect identities, the respondents and institutions are anonymous.
The questionnaire included questions relating to the minimum staffing and infrastructural requirements for ENT training programmes in accordance with the CMSA document Guidelines for the HPCSA: Minimum requirements for Otorhinolaryngology specialist training programme of 2009.1
Research output was defined as the number of publications in peer-reviewed journals per institution over the past 5 years, and was obtained from the database maintained by the academic subcommittee of the South African Society of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery.
As only one registrar per institution participated, there is a risk of bias. However, most questions pertaining to provision of services, infrastructure, teaching aids, etc. were objective, with 'Yes' or 'No' responses, and hence less likely to be biased.
Seven of the eight training institutions responded. One institution has not had an active full-time head of department for several years despite concerns directed to its medical school dean by the South African Society of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery; at 2 institutions, respondents judged full-time HODs not to be clinically active. All institutions had more than 2 full-time specialists; yet at 2 institutions they were often unavailable to assist registrars. Only 3 out of 7 institutions met the CMSA guidelines of a full-time specialist:registrar ratio of 1:2.
Registrars should attend at least 2 theatre lists (4.5 hours each) per week to gain adequate surgical experience. At 3 out of 7 institutions, registrars attended <2 lists per week.
At 3 institutions, 25 - 33% of operating lists were not directly supervised. At 1 institution, the unsupervised lists were for tonsillectomies and grommets, while at the other 2 it was for general ENT lists. The number of consultant-led ward rounds varied considerably, occurring 0.5, 1, 3, 5 and 7 times per week. Specialist on-call assistance to registrars was not available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, at 3 out of 7 institutions.
The CMSA document lists surgical procedures that registrars should be exposed to during their training. At 3 out of 7 institutions, registrars were exposed to only 71% of these. Endoscopic sinus surgery is central to modern ENT practice, yet registrars at 2 out of 7 institutions had no such exposure during their training. One institution did not teach rigid oesophagoscopy.
The CMSA lists the minimum theatre equipment required for registrar training. Four institutions had only 50%, 56%, 67% and 78% of this equipment, as well as poor access to a functioning mastoid drill for mastoidectomies; no ossicular prostheses for middle ear reconstructive surgery; and no microlaryngoscopy sets for vocal cord surgery. Four institutions had >80% of the required outpatient department equipment; however, the remaining 3 institutions had only 50%, 60%, and 70% of this equipment. At 3 out of 7 institutions, a 00 rigid nasendoscope was never/sporadically available; one frequently had no headlights available, and registrars had to provide their own.
ENT requires functioning support services such as availability of and reporting on specialised radiology, speech therapy, audiology, neurosurgery, plastic surgery, and pathology. All 7 institutions had good access to functioning support services; 6 of the 7 scored 100%, and the other scored >80%.
Educational facilities including a medical library with online full-text access to major ENT journals, free internet access, temporal bone laboratory to learn mastoid surgery with 2 bones to drill per annum, and weekly academic meetings are important for registrar training. Four institutions fulfilled these requirements. Of the remaining 3, 2 had <50% of the required facilities. The poorest had only 29% - for not providing free internet access; not having a library with online full-text access to major ENT journals; not having a functioning temporal bone laboratory; and not having regular (weekly) divisional/ departmental academic meetings.
Despite MMed research dissertations now being an HPCSA requirement for specialist registration, registrars at only 4 institutions had protected research time. Research output, defined as the number of publications per institution in peer-reviewed journals in the past 5 years, was 66, 10, 9, 2, 2, 0, 0 and 0, respectively.
At 3 out of 7 institutions, registrars were not obliged to attend endoscopic sinus surgery and temporal bones dissection courses. There was limited/no funding available for registrars to attend courses and conferences at 4 out of 7 institutions.
This study demonstrates that all South African universities do not provide the required training platforms for ENT specialist training. We believe that the same is true for other specialties. Major deficiencies in ENT training programmes urgently require correction to ensure that otolaryngologists are properly educated and trained. The responsibility for poor training platforms is shared by universities, hospitals and the HPCSA.
A specialist-led ward round only once a fortnight or once a week, and for a consultant on call not to be available for advice, is unacceptable for teaching and clinical service. Hospitals and universities should better monitor the activities of specialist staff, regulate private practice activities and act when staff members do not fulfil their contractual clinical and teaching responsibilities.
Registrars at some institutions receive inadequate surgical exposure and are not trained in key areas of surgery such as endoscopic sinus surgery. This hiatus must be urgently corrected to avoid exposing the public to inadequately trained specialists. Universities must ensure that registrar numbers are commensurate with the number of operating lists required to be properly trained. Outpatients and theatres must be adequately equipped, and additional training be provided to specialists responsible for training registrars where they lack certain skills.
Some universities do not meet their teaching responsibilities regarding internet access to journals, academic meetings, and specialist supervision. Universities and hospitals must ensure protected research time for registrars to complete research dissertations required for specialist registration. However, the zero/ low publication counts of some universities questions the HPCSA ambition of requiring a dissertation for specialist registration, unless dissertations that are not of a publishable standard are accepted.
The way forward
As an examining body, the CMSA has no control over the quality of training, other than using logbooks as a gatekeeper for access to the final examinations. Some universities and teaching hospitals fail to maintain adequate training platforms. The HPCSA, which has the statutory power to police and compell universities and hospitals to maintain adequate training programmes, has not fulfilled its mandate to do so.
We propose the following measures to secure adequate training standards:
1. CMSA colleges should detail the minimum requirements for training platforms for the HPCSA to use on inspection visits.
2. The HPCSA should conduct more regular, critical and in-depth evaluations of training programmes.
3. Programmes that do not fulfil the minimum requirements should be placed on probation, and closed if they fail to rectify deficiencies.
4. National registrar committees should be established through national specialist societies that can monitor and speak up about training standards.
5. A system should be put in place, such as exists in Switzerland and the UK, whereby registrars score their training departments, and submit the data online to a neutral body, e.g. the HPCSA.
6. Universities and teaching hospitals should improve monitoring of specialist staff including abuse of private practice.
1. Guidelines for the HPCSA: Minimum requirements for Otorhinolaryngology specialist training programme. Formulated by the College of Otolaryngology of the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa, 2009. [ Links ]
Correspondence to:
J Fagan


text:
Nike, Vick do not have agreement
Comment Email Print Share
ESPN.com news services
Nike said Thursday it does not have a "contractual relationship" with Michael Vick, a day after the quarterback's agent announced a deal with the manufacturer.
In a statement released Thursday morning, Nike said it has "agreed to supply product to Michael Vick as we do a number of athletes who are not under contract with Nike."
On Wednesday, Michael Principe, the managing director of BEST, the agency that represents Vick, announced the Philadelphia Eagles player had a new deal with Nike during a panel discussion at the Sports Sponsorship Symposium.
Vick's agent, Joel Segal, did not immediately return a call for comment Thursday.
Nike, which signed Vick as a rookie in 2001, terminated his contract in August 2007 after he filed a plea agreement admitting his involvement in a dogfighting ring.
Vick signed a $1.6 million deal with the Eagles, with a team option for the second year at $5.2 million. He was once a corporate star -- holding multimillion dollar deals to market everything from sneakers to sports drinks. But those millions are long gone.
In July, Vick filed for bankruptcy protection while serving a 23-month prison sentence, saying he owed between $10 million and $50 million to creditors.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.


text:
Do you reach for the sugar or sweetener to give your morning cup of coffee a little sweetness? You're not alone, according to KitchenDaily.com "30% of coffee drinkers sweeten their coffee with sugar or some other form of sweetener."
A quick poll on the BUNN Facebook page asking if sugar or sweetener was the preferred sweetening agent showed a 50/50 split. While most people reach for either sugar or sweetener there are a variety of ways to sweeten up a cup of coffee or tea. We compiled a list of sweetening agents you can use for your morning cup of coffee or tea.
Sweeten your coffee/tea a different way? Tell us about it on our Facebook page!
Sugar is one of the more popular sweeteners for coffee and tea. There are different types of sugar which offer different flavor profiles. White sugar is probably the most common type of sugar for coffee, but next time you may want to try a deeper flavor sugar like brown sugar.
Artificial Sweeteners
Artificial sweeteners usually come in the little yellow, blue or pink packets at the coffee bar. These sweeteners are usually low in calorie making them popular with the calorie conscience coffee or tea drinker. Artificial sweeteners are often highly concentrated and can make a beverage very sweet, very fast.
Honey is a natural sweetener that contains some vitamins and minerals. Plus, it is reported that honey does have some potential health benefits. If you plan on using honey to sweeten your cup of coffee or tea, be aware that different types of honey can have different types of flavor profiles.
Agave Nectar
Agave nectar is a honey like sap that comes from the leaves of the blue agave plant. This nectar is fairly thin and light in consistency and can be added easily to coffee or tea. (http://www.livestrong.com/article/398007-agave-nectar-benefits/)
Lemon is a fruit commonly added to tea for a touch of tart and sweet. Lemon is not the only fruit that can be a natural way to sweeten coffee or tea. Mango, lime, strawberries or blackberries are great additions to tea too! Also try fruit juice to sweeten your coffee or tea.
Syrups are an easy way to sweeten a cup of coffee. Syrups can be plain or flavored. Common syrup used is simple syrup. According to About.com, "plain simple syrup has a neutral flavor that works well with most coffees and teas." Flavored syrups are also available and can be added to different coffees or teas for unique flavor profiles.
Experimentation is the key to finding the perfect sweetener for your cup of coffee or tea!
For more sweetener ideas check out this article!
This may cause the BUNN website to function incorrectly.
In order to have the best experience with our website, we recommend that you update your browser to the most current version.
Continue to website
(This may result in a poor experience on the site)


text:
Appeals Court Will Not Rehear Power Plant Pollution Case [AUDIO]
A federal appeals court will not reconsider a decision blocking an Obama administration effort to tighten restrictions on power plant pollution. The Wyoming Business Council's Main Street Program discuss Cheyenne's application for the program during their meeting next month. Doug Randall reports. Click past the jump to listen to Wyoming Radio News.


text:
Some things never change. It won't be too long until we are celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Mario and his penchant for bouncing off the heads of unsuspecting Goombas out for their morning stroll. When those celebrations roll around in 2035, odds are good that the Mario games of that time will still be familiar to fans of the original, just as New Super Mario Bros. U for the Wii U will be instantly recognizable to fans of the original Super Mario Bros. on the NES.
New Super Mario Bros U. doesn't challenge any conventions, nor does it change the traditional dynamics of the series. In fact, with very few exceptions, not much has changed between this game and the previous iteration on the Wii. You still send the famous plumber and his posse through side-scrolling levels, massacre several creatures that have the unfortunate task of walking in a straight line that offends Mario, and race the clock to reach a final flag that helps you progress to once again rescue the kidnap-friendly Princess Peach from the clutches of the psychotically obsessive Bowser. It's the same game you have seen for decades, but with a few new tweaks and HD graphics. So why is it still so much fun?
Shigeru Miyamoto's design of the original Super Mario Bros. was a moment of brilliance. It defined a generation of gamers, and remains as valid today as it was in 1985. The Mario franchise has seen several twists on that design since, and Mario himself has been represented in countless forms, but the classics never die. That original side-scrolling Mario style has seen a comeback under the "New Super Mario Bros." banner. Despite the new system, this title is very much a throwback to the games of the past.
As with the previous New Super Mario Bros. Wii, you have the option of taking up to four players (using the standard Nintendo Wii Remote) at once through several platforming worlds filled with power-ups and warp pipes, collecting coins and crushing Bowser's doomed children along the way. Coordination is the key, as you will often come across sections that require precise timing, a feat complicated by the inclusion of four players.
The levels are crisp and lush in the new HD graphics, and the art design and creativity stand out. Of course, a Mario game wouldn't be complete without interesting and original level design, which appears here in spades. Nothing should feel too out of place, though, since you have seen most of it before and none of the new additions significantly alter the experience.
With five players all working on the same screen, things can quickly grow complicated and confused, but that doesn't mean it isn't fun. If you have people competing with each other, then it will be a relatively short gaming session. If you have five people working as one, it becomes a unique cooperative experience.
The only really new inclusion is the Wii U's GamePad, which gives a fifth player something to do during multiplayer sessions, as well as giving single players a new method of playing.
As a single player, the GamePad presents one of the more compelling features of the Wii U: the ability to play a full game at HD resolution on a portable screen. What you see on the GamePad mirrors what is on the TV, which allows you to use the TV for other things. If you want to pass off the TV to someone else in the house so they can watch something else, simply change the input and play from the GamePad. The experience is the same. This is something that developers will need to code into their games – it isn't native to every Wii U title – but it represents one of the best options of the Wii U and works perfectly here.
During multiplayer, the fifth player can use the GamePad to help the other four playing on the TV – if they want. Using the touchscreen, the GamePad players can create platforms for the other characters to use in order to reach higher areas, or to save them from a fatal fall. Or the GamePad wielder can go the other route and be a vengeful god, putting blocks in their way, stalling players mid-jump, or possibly favoring one person at the cost of the others.
It is an interesting idea, but a shallow one. Once the novelty wears off, it's hard not to feel like the fifth player is getting shafted while the others are enjoying the platforming. A bit more inclusion would have been nice, but the transferable single-player experience makes up for it.
Along with the standard campaign, there are a series of additional game modes to try out, including: Boost Rush Mode, Coin Rush Mode, and Challenge Mode.
The Boost Mode is a speed run with an assist from the level itself. Using sections from the story, you replay them with a timer and an increasing scroller speed. The further you go, the faster the game scrolls. The Coin Rush Mode is a competitive mode for two to four players all trying to collect the most coins as quickly as possible, with a fifth helping out (or not). You can also use the GamePad to customize the level by placing coins wherever you want.
The Challenge Mode is the most impressive of the additional mode. It offers several takes on conventional Mario gameplay, broken up into categories based on the style. One has you jumping on the heads of Goombas for as long as possible without touching the ground, while another has you practice your gliding. There are speed runs and acrobatic levels that require you to carry a baby Yoshi through. Together, they give a nice variety. Completing these mini-games doesn't take long, but earning the top medals will take time. For those in love with the Mario gameplay – and there are many of you – this mode is solid.
Overall, New Super Mario Bros. U is a good start, but it would have been nice to see something totally new for the new system, rather than a sequel that was itself an homage to previous games. It is still a solid Mario game, but for the Wii U it suffers a bit for more-of-the-same-itis.
New Super Mario Bros. U challenges no conventions of the Mario universe, and doesn't offer much we haven't seen, beyond the cursory inclusion of the GamePad and the HD graphics. But there is a reason these games continue to march on. The level design is as imaginative as ever, and the multiplayer aspect – while often hectic – is a lot of fun, and should be a huge hit for families looking for a way to bring everyone together and try out the new system.
It's good to have Mario make the jump to a new generation of console. His first offering is incredibly familiar and won't push the franchise forward, but it is a solid offering, and a good sign of things to come.
Score: 8 out of 10
(Thins game was reviewed on the Wii U with a copy provided by the publisher)
Editors' Recommendations
- Far Cry New Dawn review
- Here's all the news from the Google Stadia GDC presentation
- Unannounced Nintendo Switch games in the pipeline for fiscal year 2019
- What's new on Netflix and what movies and shows are leaving in April 2019
- Customize this Walmart Nintendo Switch bundle deal with 1 of 5 great games


text:
The owners of the business enter into an agreement among themselves. The agreement requires that, at the death of an owner, his or her share of the business will be sold to the other owner(s).
With this agreement in place, each owner buys individual insurance policies on the life of each of the other owners. The purchase of life insurance ensures that funds will be available for the surviving owner(s) to buy a deceased owner's business interest.
When an owner dies, the owner's business interest passes to his or her heirs. The surviving owner(s) collect the insurance proceeds from the insurer and use that money to buy the business interest from the deceased owner's estate.
When the stock is bought back, each surviving owner's share of the business is increased proportionately.
Prepared by Broadridge Investor Communication Solutions, Inc, Copyright 2011


text:
Antibody Binding Standards are particles which have ligands covalently linked to their surfaces to bind specific proteins (e.g. Mouse IgG antibodies) in calibrated quantities.
A test requires one drop (50μl) of particle suspension, which is equivalent to ~100,000 particles. Bangs Flow Cytometry Standards are 7-9μm in diameter (unless otherwise noted) to approximate the size of human lymphocytes.
Available in three test size volumes:
A - 20 tests (1ml)
B - 100 tests (5ml)
C - 280 tests (2 x 7ml)
- Storage:
- Store at 4 degrees celsius;Do not permit to freeze


text:
Cole, Lehtonen lead Stars past Canucksby Steve Hunt
DALLAS -- The Dallas Stars started fast and never looked back.
Erik Cole had a goal and two assists to back a 27-save performance by Kari Lehtonen and lead the Stars to a 4-1 victory against the Vancouver Canucks at American Airlines Center on Thursday night. Dallas led 2-0 less than five minutes into the game after Jamie Benn and Colton Sceviour scored 15 seconds apart.
"That was a real good win for us," Stars coach Lindy Ruff said. "We got off to real good start."
Benn opened the scoring at 4:34 when he went top shelf and beat goaltender Roberto Luongo with a wrister from just inside the left circle. Sceviour's goal, his second in as many games and third in four games since being recalled from the American Hockey League on Dec. 9, came on a tip-in at the far post following a great pass by Rich Peverley, one of his two assists for Dallas.
"We got caught on a bad change, causes one [goal]," Canucks coach John Tortorella said. "And Tommy Sestito thinks it's a 3-on-2, really he should have stayed with his guy [Sceviour], the one who taps it in. Yeah, so it's bang-bang, but we came back."
Vancouver made it 2-1 when Chris Higgins beat Lehtonen with a wrister from the right circle that went top shelf at 7:38 of the first, but Cole restored Dallas' two-goal lead at 16:56 of the second period with his sixth of the season. Cole's wrister from the left circle struck Luongo in the chest before eventually going through his legs.
"I think it might have fallen between my legs or something and just trickled in, something along those lines. But whatever it is, it's inexcusable at that point in the game," Luongo said.
The Stars also had an apparent goal by Cody Eakin waved off 22 seconds before the second intermission after Ryan Garbutt was called for interference on Dan Hamhuis in the high slot. Dallas also had a near-miss by Peverley at 5:31 of the second, a wrister from the left circle that rang off the far post.
Valeri Nichushkin's sixth of the season 2:23 into the third period made it 4-1 and ended Luongo's night. He allowed four goals on 19 shots before being relieved by Eddie Lack.
"Val has really got himself on a nice little run," Ruff said. "The first month was sort of an adjustment. He seemed fatigued at times. He looks strong now. He's done a real nice job."
Lehtonen delivered a stellar performance for Dallas, a good sign after he had struggled in his previous eight starts. His biggest stop came at 1:17 of the second period when he robbed Jannik Hansen with a spectacular glove save at the right post.
One of Lehtonen's teammates aptly dubbed that bit of larceny on Hansen one of the game's biggest plays.
"The defining moment in the game was that save he made in the second," Peverley said. "It could have been a 2-2 game right there."
Lehtonen, who had a 3.40 goals-against-average in his past eight starts prior to Thursday, was clearly pleased with how well he bounced back.
"It gives me more confidence," he said of his performance. "Playing goalie at this level, you might feel bad, then you go out there and make a couple of good saves and turn it around."
Vancouver, which is 0-1-1 on its road trip, went 0-for-3 on the power play and generated six shots, including several high-quality opportunities. But being unable to convert cost the Canucks dearly.
"Especially the one power play where we were in their end for a minute and a half, we got some good shots and some good looks," captain Henrik Sedin said. "But the game can turn around and we're right back in it, but they killed it off and all of a sudden the game's over."
The Stars won consecutive games for the first time since mid-November, when they won three straight from Nov. 13-17.
"We can't be a team that is going to win three, lose two, lose three and win one," Cole said. "You're not going to gain any ground, especially in the West. We all know what a big stretch of games this is against all teams that we are chasing. It's nice that we were able to get another two here, especially where we have struggled."
Vancouver completes its quick three-game trip with a visit to the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday night. Dallas begins a two-game road trip prior to the Christmas break on Saturday against the San Jose Sharks.
"We've got to get there and play against a really good team," Tortorella said of facing Chicago. "We've got to move by this one right away and get ready to play."


text: We love this modern take on the functional and comfortable nursing top. Our Bella design flatters the figure whilst remaining easy–to–wear and completely versatile; it fits in all the right places and provides the coverage you really want. Wear with skinnies, boyfriend jeans, a pencil skirt or tailored pants–it's so versatile, it works with everything.


text:
South Edison is a cool, beachy spot in Montauk. Not cool beachy like blue and white, rattan, nautical motifs, and so on. It is cool and beachy in a different way. A lobster roe-hued bicycle hangs from one wall. The rooms have aqua sea-green floors with the same lobster roe red accents on pale yellow walls. A few gauzy curtains flutter. The tables are set far apart, making the room feel airy and the guests feel comfortable. The restaurant looks casual in a chic way, but the food is far more sophisticated than one would think at first glance.
Upon being seated, we were served some warm slices of baguette along with a ramekin of butter and a dish of fried leeks. The fried leeks were so outrageously good, they disappeared immediately. Our server replenished them right away.
We began our meal with salt and vinegar-fried shishito peppers, dayboat fluke sashimi, and Colorado lamb ribs. Shishito peppers are long, thin peppers often served in Japanese and Spanish restaurants. Regardless of how they are prepared, eating them is definitely a form of culinary Russian roulette. Ten will be mild and vegetal, the 11th will send you to the ice water. These shishitos had a nice bit of tang from the vinegar and were served with homemade, warmed creme fraiche. This was a surprisingly good condiment. The warm cream cut the heat of the naughty little peppers.
The dayboat fluke sashimi was outstanding and beautifully presented on a long white plate. Glazed baby turnips (so sweet I thought they were beets!), crispy shallots, chili jam, fresh serrano peppers, kaffir lime leaves, and micro-cilantro gave the fish additional sweetness and spice at the same time. The crispy shallots added some nice texture to the softness of the fluke.
Though I had never tried Colorado lamb ribs before, I've been eager to since reading Sam Sifton's article about them in The New York Times. They were, without a doubt, one of the most delicious things I have ever tried. Delicious in a dangerous way, like pork belly. You can't eat a lot of fatty meat, no matter how good it tastes. These lamb ribs had what appeared to be a complex dry rub/crust full of smoky, hot flavors. Numbing Szechuan peppercorns, cumin, and chili oil came through loud and clear. The meat was as tender as could be, the crisped fatty parts divine.
For entrees we ordered the seared yellowfin tuna, local porgy a la plancha, lobster roll, and shrimp and grits fra diavolo.
The seared tuna was just as good as the lamb ribs. It had an equally original combination of ingredients. A harissa-infused cauliflower purée added a touch of spice and sweetness. The wheat berries, heirloom beans, and hearts of palm mixed with Castelvetrano olives were warm and cold combined, crunchy popping wheat berries, creamy beans, and salty olives. Oh, and the tuna was perfect — barely seared, sliced thinly, super fresh, and a good-size portion.
The local porgy was very good and very spicy. It was served in a rich local corn and peanut Thai curry sauce with sticky rice, micro greens, and bits of crisped ginger on top. The lobster roll was also excellent. A simple but very good hot dog bun, toasted and dolled up with garlic butter, was stuffed to the brim with not much more than it needed, gobs of lobster meat in big chunks, minimal mayo, a touch of celery. The shoestring fries served with it had a touch of Old Bay crab seasoning. They were excellent, although they had lost their crispiness. The perils of having a restaurant two blocks from the ocean.
The shrimp with grits was rich and beautifully presented. The grits (Anson Mills, white, coarsely ground) met the high standards of our Southern food expert, Miss Marsha. The head-on prawns were beautiful and tasty, but I am a firm believer in head-on shrimp, crayfish, and prawns anyway. The dish was topped with the most peppery cress, a perfect accent on the rich, creamy grits.
From the greeting at the door to our cute, pink-faced server from Donegal, to our waitress (her first night), everything was pleasant and professional. We peppered our waitress with many questions: "What's your favorite? What are the customers' favorites? Signature dishes? Are the desserts made inhouse?" She handled it all with grace and good answers.
For desserts we ordered the ice cream sandwich, orange and olive oil cake, affogato, and the bowl of early cherries. And yes, everything on the dessert menu is made in-house, including the ice creams and sorbets. The ice cream sandwich was two squares of a super thin, bittersweet chocolate brownie and salted caramel ice cream. Salted caramel is a current trend in desserts and I hope it never goes away. The tiny bit of salt cuts the richness and enhances the sweetness of the ice cream. The orange and olive oil cake was two big slices of moist, citrusy pound cake served with an excellent vanilla ice cream. The affogato was excellent. It doesn't take a lot of talent to make what is essentially an espresso float, but this one was just right because the espresso was very strong and bitter, the vanilla ice cream perfect. There's not much to say about a bowl of cherries except they were fresh and sweet. The accompanying aged balsamic vinegar whipped cream served for dipping was an original and very appropriate accompaniment.
Prices at South Edison are $9 to $15 for appetizers and salads, $16.50 to $32 for entrees, $8 for sides, and $5 to $9 for desserts. There is also a raw bar menu with items from $2 to $18. One guest, a purist when it comes to fish, felt that some of the dishes were overwhelmed with spice and the fish (porgy and fluke) got lost in the mix. Personally, I loved the North African, Moroccan, and Asian twists and the spicy, savory combinations.
Dining at South Edison for the first time reminded me of my first trip to the West Lake Clam and Chowder House. You just get a nice feeling while you're there. You are surrounded by happy, grateful diners and the food is original, fresh, and creative. I hope I can get in next time!


text: Folks: Someone seems to have written a script to submit viri/spam in my name to the list. First off, I am sorry that this is happening, I don't know who it is, or where it is coming from. As we rarely use windows machines apart from running MS-Office* applications for reasons relating to the security and stability of windows machines (and how hard it is, e.g. how much time and effort and money you have to pay, to secure and stabilize them), it unheard of for us to mail tnef files about, or winmail.dat files about. Again, I am sorry if this is impacting anyone, though there is little we can do about it, as we are not the ones doing it. If someone has received such a mail, please let me know, I would like very much to inspect the full headers. Joe * if MSFT made MS-Office for Linux as it does MacOSX (and this should not be hard, it is obviously not a technological issue preventing it from doing so), I wouldn't need a dual boot machine. VMware is still too slow to be functional for MS-Office due to the sheer bulk of Office and the stress it places upon systems. Of course this is about as likely as pigs sprouting wings and flying, but hope springs eternal that MSFT will not forever turn its back on a market of this size, and that business sense and reality will trump ego. -- Joseph Landman, Ph.D Founder and CEO Scalable Informatics LLC, email: landman at scalableinformatics.com web : http://www.scalableinformatics.com phone: +1 734 786 8423 fax : +1 734 786 8452 cell : +1 734 612 4615