text:
Shure's SM7 vocal mic for recording applications, introduced in 1973, is a mic (available today as SM7B) with an amazing history that's generated a tremendous amount of buzz in the last several years.
We wondered why. So to find out, we talked to John Born, Product Manager at Shure who answered the question, but advised us that any even lighthearted discussion of the SM7B had to include the SM5 and SM57 microphones. These two mics were, at different times, the standard by which the SM7 was measured.
It All Started With The SM5
The SM7's story really begins with the SM5 broadcast microphone – a dynamic boom microphone that found a home in many radio and film studios following its introduction in 1966.
While widely accepted in the broadcast and motion picture industries, Shure set out to develop a new microphone offering a smaller footprint (the SM5 was huge – measuring about 10" long) and some of the same sonic characteristics of its newly introduced SM57 in a mic designed to reach beyond the broadcast industry.
According to John, the development of the SM7 went something like this: "A group of Shure acoustical engineers were given the SM57 cartridge element (Unidyne III) and asked, without restrictions on size or cost, to make it better. And they went nuts." This may be one reason why John likes to refer to the SM7B as "an SM57 on steroids".
Variations of the Shure Unidyne III cartridge are used in many of Shure's dynamic microphones. The SM57, SM58 and SM7B all share a similar acoustic network based on the Unidyne III element, but there are a few differences between the SM7B cartridge and the SM57/SM58 cartridge design:
- The SM7B diaphragm is slightly different and optimized for increased low end response
- The larger housing of the SM7B allows for a larger rear volume behind the cartridge which extends its low end response
- The internal shockmount of the SM7B is optimized to reduce stand vibrations, while the shockmount in the SM57/SM58 is optimized to reduce noise in handheld applications
More from John: "The SM7 was designed as an extended, full range microphone and intended to be universal in its applications. It has a flatter and wider response than its SM57 and SM58 siblings but its frequency shaping switches in the back (selectable low cut and presence peak filtering) allow it to more than adequately fulfill (and enhance) applications where the SM57 or SM58 excel."
The SM7 debuted in 1976 and eventually replaced the SM5B, which was discontinued in 1986.
The Thriller Effect
Over the course of past 30 years, the SM7 found its way into the recording studio. Case in Point: Michael Jackson's groundbreaking album Thriller. Quincy Jones and recording engineer Bruce Swedien used an SM7 for most of Michael's vocals and, according to legend, all of Vincent Price's.
It was a brave choice. First of all, Michael Jackson's previous album, Off The Wall, had already become the first solo record to produce four Top 10 singles and a GRAMMY Award for the single "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough". That set the bar pretty high. But Jackson was determined to do even better and the same production team was put in place to make it happen. The resulting 1982 Thriller album (remember – this is vinyl) went on to become the best–selling album of all time at an unheard-of 110 million copies sold.
With all the ultra-high-end recording microphones available to the producers, why the unassuming SM7, then a standard for radio and voiceover applications? Here's what Bruce had to say about it in his track-by-track memoir, In the Studio with Michael Jackson: "One of my absolute favorite microphones is the Shure SM7. I recorded most of the big hit records of Michael's career with him in front of one of my SM7s. I've been pretty vocal about how much I love that microphone, it's a great mic."
"I was allowed the freedom to make microphone choices, and nobody ever said a word. I just did it. For example, I used a Shure SM7 on most of Michael's lead vocals — 'Billie Jean', 'The Way You Make Me Feel' — and boy, did that raise some eyebrows! But I love that mic, and I have six of them. The first one that I bought was in 1977 … one of the first SM7s to be used on a major music project. It's dynamic of course and it worked just flawlessly with Michael – if you notice you can hear all the lyrics very clearly."
Evolution of the SM7 Microphone
- The original SM7 was introduced in 1976.
- The SM7A revision improved the humbucking coil and the design of the yoke mount. This revision was introduced in 1999.
- The SM7B incorporated a larger windscreen. It was introduced in 2001.
Acoustically, the microphone versions performed identically.
Fast Forward: Most Hyped Mic?
While there are legions of true believers still hoping for Shure to bring back the SM5B, the SM7B has achieved a level of popularity and buzz that give it (audio) urban legend status. Used as an instrument mic and a vocal mic in live sound, broadcast and recording, in the minds of many, it is the do-everything microphone that outperforms the industry workhorse SM57.
You can hardly visit a mic review site without reading pages of animated and sometimes heated commentary on the SM7B. There's even a Shure SM7 joke thread on gearslutz.com with posts like these:
"You know that voice in your head that tells you right from wrong? Well, it was recorded with an SM7B."
"My SM7B automatically doubled and then quadrupled my vocal takes, translating them into Spanish and Mandarin versions, enabling me to deliver international releases."
"They say with careful positioning, you can use an SM7B to record the future."
And that's not all. Since the SM7B requires a mic preamp with at least 60dB of gain, there's almost as much chatter about which preamp or audio interface to use for recording. Recording Hacks' Jason Miller covered this extensively in a recent post. His recommendations, including audio tracks using 8 different interfaces, are available here.
We asked John to explain why, 36 years after its introduction; this mic is creating so much noise. Here's what he said:
"A combination of things have probably accounted for this consistent spike in popularity. Maybe it just takes this long for a mic to gain acceptance. Some of it has to do with emergence of podcasting – there's an appetite for a high quality voiceover mic. And some of it has to do with Michael's Jackson's death – everyone was talking about his recordings and how they were made. Then there's the fact that this is a $350 microphone that has beaten studio microphones costing ten times as much in microphone shoot-outs. It's finally getting the recognition it deserves."
Shure Artist Relations Associate Ryan Smith agrees: "It continues to be used on major recordings, both as the lead vocal mic and on other applications — guitar amp, bass amp, kick drum, hi-hat, snare drum, horns and many more." Death Cab for Cutie, John Mayer, Chevelle, James Hetfield of Metallica, Keith Urban, Jeff Tweedy, My Chemical Romance, Meshuggah, Don Was, Billy Idol and even the Boss have reportedly used the SM7B in either live sound or recording applications. Rumor has it that Bob Dylan is a fan, too.
You Decide
Clearly, the SM7B has more than lived up to the goals set by the engineers who designed it back in the 70s. And while it does a good job of masking a poor recording environment, handling a screaming vocal and performing double-duty as a drum or guitar amp mic, only you can decide where it belongs in your rig or mic locker.
You can listen and compare the SM7B to other Shure microphones in the Mic Listening Lab. Better still, borrow one from a friend and put it to the test. Remember that good sound is subjective – it's what sounds good to you.


text: Abstract. The talk is devoted to limit theorems for translation flows on flat surfaces. The first result of the talk, which extends earlier work of A.Zorich and G.Forni, is an asymptotic formula for time integrals of Lipschitz functions. One of the main objects of the talk is the space of finitely-additive Hoelder transverse invariant measures for our foliations. These measures are classified and related to G. Forni's invariant distributions of Sobolev regularity -1 for translation flows. Time integrals of Lipschitz functions are then shown to admit an asymptotic expansion in terms of the finitely-additive measures. The limit theorem then states that the probability distributions of time integrals converge to an orbit of an ergodic dynamical system in the space of random variables with compactly supported distributions. The argument relies on a symbolic representation of translation flows as suspension flows over Vershik's automorphisms, a construction developing one proposed by S.Ito. The talk is based on the preprint http://arxiv.org/abs/0804.3970

subset: commoncrawl


text:
New Canadian-backed .club web domains getting snapped up by 50 Cent, Demi Lovato
Michael Oliveira
TORONTO — Guessing a website address used to be so simple. Stick a .com or .ca at the end of a company or organization's name and most of the time, that would do it.
But there's a flood of new generic top-level domains (gTLDs) hitting the web, which could eventually leave consumers struggling to remember which of more than 1,400 web suffixes to type in.
The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) is in the process of gradually rolling out all kinds of new web address types, including .best, .buzz, .cheap, .cool, .expert, .guru, .ninja, .sexy and .wtf.
The most popular so far has been .club, which was launched by Canadian Colin Campbell, who previously founded the companies Internet Direct, Tucows and Hostopia.
More than 90,000 .club URLs have been registered so far and a few were sold off for five-figure fees. Eat.club was purchased for $20,000, English.club went for $17,500, chinese.club was bought for $13,750, and toys.club for $12,500, says Campbell, who also recruited rapper 50 Cent to use the web address 50inda.club for an official fan site.
Teen-pop star Demi Levato has also purchased a .club address for her fan club.
"Dot-club is short, memorable, and the interesting thing about .club is it adds meaning at the end of a domain," says Campbell explaining why he spent big bucks to acquire the rights to .club domains.
"We're still going to have .com, we're still going to have .ca, they're never going to change, they're going to be the dominant generic domain names in Canada…. It's not trying to be an alternate to .ca or .com, it's really trying to complement those names or offer an alternative with a different meaning."
A number of large companies have protected their brands by buying the .club for their corporate names, including Chanel, Gucci, Harvard University and Lego, Campbell says.
Mary Kay went a step further by also acquiring beauty.club and makeup.club, although they're still inactive.
"What we're seeing with some of the companies that are buying .clubs is that what they want to do is build a community around a particular industry and from there obviously leverage their brand within that community," Campbell says.
He believes web surfers will eventually adapt to having to use a number of different URL suffixes for sites they visit, but expects many of the upstarts won't take off.
"It's likely we are going to see a large number of failures in the marketplace here, like you would in any industry."
Follow @michaeloliveira on Twitter


text:
Number Five!
Sayla Marie,
I can hardly believe you turn 5 tomorrow! Or as you would say, you changed your number! Tonight I said 'Goodnight my five year old girl.' You beamed with pride, you LOVE birthdays and you LOVE being a big girl. Then you said 'You're going to cry tomorrow.' You're right! I love watching you get older but man this process of watching you become more and more independent is so tough. So tomorrow we'll celebrate you. You have brought to our lives joy, creativity and so much love!
This year you and your brother have bonded so much and it's been so fun to watch. You LOVE school, your friends, art, and daddy. You are so sensitive and so responsible that I forget how little you really are. Yesterday, you cried because your friend at school wasn't making good choices and you didn't know what you should do. I often have to tell you that God made mom's and dad's to take care of things and it's not your job to worry. You definitely have a style of your own influenced by no one but you and you alone. I love you my dear, and I couldn't be more proud!


text:
The Week of February 20-26
February 20
1895—The great Black leader Frederick Douglass dies at 78 in Washington, D.C. Douglass was the foremost Black abolitionist struggling to end slavery in the mid-1800s. He used his great oratory skills and his abilities as a newspaper publisher on behalf of freedom and justice for Blacks. Most of his early work emanated from the Rochester, N.Y., area. But after the Civil War he moved to Washington, D.C. Douglass was the nation's foremost Black leader for nearly 40 years.
1927—Actor Sidney Poitier is born in Miami, Fla., and grows up on Cat Island in the Bahamas. However, by the early 1950s, he was establishing a career in movies. Indeed, it can be said that Poitier was the first Black actor to make it in mainstream movie roles without having to play stereotypical and often demeaning "Black roles."
1963—Basketball great Charles Barkley is born on this day in Leeds, Ala.
February 21
1933—Song stylist and activist Nina Simone is born Eunice Waymon in Tryon, N.C. She was a child prodigy who was playing the piano by age 4. She had numerous songs to her credit, but one of the most memorable was "Mississippi Goddam," which was composed as a protest against the terrorist bombing of a Black church in Birmingham, Ala., which resulted in the deaths of four little Black girls. Simone, often referred to as the High Priestess of Soul, died in France on April 21, 2003.
1965—The most prominent Black nationalist of the 20th century, Malcolm X, is assassinated on this day in Harlem, N.Y.'s Audubon Ballroom while giving a speech which was to issue a call for Black unity. Born Malcolm Little in Omaha, Neb., on May 19, 1925, he graduated at the top of his high school class but had his dream of becoming a lawyer crushed when a teacher told him that was "not realistic for a Nigger." He gradually drifted into the underworlds of first Boston and then New York where he became a drug dealer and gangster known as "Detroit Red." He was friends with comedian and upcoming star Redd Foxx, who at the time was known as "Chicago Red." Malcolm was arrested and jailed for robbery at age 20. While in prison he converted to the Nation of Islam and after his release in 1952, he became the leading force building the group into a major national organization. He was a brilliant orator and organizer as well as a fierce opponent of racism, imperialism and the non-violent approach to combating the nation's evils. But disagreements with Nation of Islam founder Elijah Muhammad led to a split. He then formed the Organization for Afro-American Unity. However, 11 months after his split with the Nation of Islam he was assassinated. Many in the Black community felt the New York City police and the FBI played a role in his death. But three man associated with the Nation of Islam were tried and convicted of his murder.


text:
You are using an older version of the Internet Explorer browser which is no longer compatible with the features of this site. Please upgrade to the latest browser version for an optimized experience on this site.
Brazil Butt Lift®Leandro's Secret Weapon Workout
for only
plus $2.95 s&h
We want you to be 100% satisfied or your money back! If you're not satisfied with the performance of this product, please contact Customer Service for a Return Authorization number to return it within 30 days for a full refund of the purchase price, less s&h—no questions asked.
Carl Daikeler Chairman & CEO Beachbody
Consult your physician and follow all safety instructions before beginning any exercise program.


text:
STEP 1 : Visit https://sg.mydlink.com/login or use the shortcut below this page.
STEP 2 : Enter email & password :
[email] email@example.com [password] ilovedlink
STEP 1 : Download mydlink lite FREE app from App Store or Google PlaySTEP 2 : Login using the email & password as provided above
*You may be prompt to install D-Link ActiveX plugin, please allow the installation by clicking on "OK" when prompted by a pop-up window. Please note that some browsers disable ActiveX plugin by default. Ensure that the security level is set correctly to accept the plugin installation and execution.


text:
Turbocharged engines get such a bad rap in the sound department. They tend to be muffled and anonymous compared to their naturally aspirated counterparts; just listen to this seasons' F1 cars. But for the 2015 Ford Mustang EcoBoost, well... I think it sounds pretty good, actually.
Our friends over at Road & Track report Ford did a Q&A about the new Mustang at its development facility this week, which closed with some laps around their Dearborn test track.
Wouldn't you know someone shot video of the experience while riding in an automatic Mustang EcoBoost, giving us our first taste of how its 2.3-liter, 310 horsepower turbocharged four sounds.
And I think it sounds pretty good, to be honest. It's nice and throaty, with more character than I expected. I'd be perfectly happy if my car sounded this way.
But it's not as good as this: the 435 horsepower Mustang GT with the performance pack.
Yep. Nothing beats a good V8.


text:
With Thanksgiving approaching, it's time to plan for festive cocktailing! Mrs. Bitters has already started prepping our locavore Thanksgiving (there's a story behind it being locavore, but you'll have to wait for it), so now's the time for me to plan my approach. I haven't quite figured it all out yet. I know I want to get some Calvados and make a batch of sage simple syrup, so that I can mix up the Apple Sage Old Fashioned I created for the autumn issue of Edible Rhody (still on the stands, so if you're local, grab a copy–it's the one with the cranberry bog on front).
For my second drink, I'm still working my brain on it. In Friday's edition of the Wall Street Journal, Malt Adovocate editor John Hansell edited a small advertising supplement on whiskeys. Included was a piece on cocktails by Gary Regan, or gaz regan as he apparently prefers to be called these days. Old gaz included four cocktails in the piece, one of which I think I'll adapt for Thanksgiving. Here's the gaz version:
Babbling Brook
- 1-1/2 oz. scotch
- 3/4 oz. B&B liqueur
- 1/4 oz. absinthe
- 1 lemon twist, for garnish
Stir over ice and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Add garnish.
As gaz discusses in his piece, scotch marries well with anise flavors, and we definitely found that to be the case here.
Earlier this year, I picked up a bunch of anise hyssop from a local herbalist. Back then, I used it in a variation of the New Orleans classic cocktail, the Vieux Carre. On Saturday, when we were at the market, we stopped by the Farmacy table to pick up some local honey for Thanksgiving baking. They happened to have as well some small jars of honey infused with the anise hyssop. I immediately started thinking about cocktail applications and eagerly bought a jar. I might do a variation on the Babbling Brook. Or, I might do a scotch Sazerac instead, with a syrup made from the hyssop honey. I don't think I'll go wrong either way.
How about you? What Thanksgiving-themed drinks are you planning to mix this year? Do you have special Thanksgiving snacks that pair well with cocktails? Sound off in the comments!


text:
Not all GRE prep is created equal.
Brilliant instructors
Our instructors are experienced teachers that adapt to your individual learning style.
We limit our class size to achieve the right balance of individual attention and active participation.
Our curriculum is written by our instructors, based on actual exam questions, and updated regularly.
Who said test prep has to be boring? Our teachers make even the driest material interesting.
Get a head start with free GRE resources
Whether you want to learn more about the GRE or hone skills you've already built, this is a great place to start.explore all resources
Meet our accomplished GRE instructors
Get to know the people who help students become master problem solvers, advanced thinkers, and GRE conquerors.see all gre instructors


text:
Dave Saunders needed a new stationery design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 67 designs submitted by 23 freelance designers.
I train on personal branding and social media and would like to have a business card that creates the kind of impression that leaves people passing my card around because of its impactful design.
I teach people how to stand out online.
I would like to use this picture in the design. Not because I'm into Samurai but rather because I like to teach people to release their inner samurai and shed off the veneer the world expects us to show to the public and instead be the authentic person we were created to be.
When I try to design this stuff myself, I tend to be a bit too structured. Maybe that's fine. I like bold and I I would really like to see someone color outside the lines with this. I want a card that's a real keeper. :)
- Name: Dave Saunders
- Web: http://www.davesaunders.net
- Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
- Phone: 540 270 6568
- Tagline (Optional) Release your inner samurai
- Not into "New Age" imagery


text:
by Mark Jagord, sports information assistant
AMERICUS, Ga. – The Georgia College women's basketball team (6-0, 2-0 PBC) extended its winning streak to six by picking up a second Peach Belt Conference (PBC) win on the road by beating Georgia Southwestern State University (4-3, 0-1 PBC), 69-58 Saturday afternoon at the Storm Dome. The Bobcats improve to 6-0 for the first time since 2006-07.
For the first time this season, the Bobacts had four double-digit scorers. The balanced offensive attack complemented the team's defensive play where they produced nine more turnover points than GSW and matched a season-high in rebounds at 50.
It was also the first game this season that two Bobcats registered double-doubles with the performances of seniors Shanteona Keys (Roswell, Ga.) (10 points, 16 boards) and Thresia Elskamp (Potosi, Wis.) (12 points, 12 rebounds). Two of Keys' points came from the free-throw line and brought her career total to 213, just five shy of tying Cassie Miliner at No. 10 in GC women's basketball history.
Junior Enisha Donley (Loganville, Ga.) led the team in points with 17 followed by Elskamp, Keys and senior Brandi McKinney (Cincinnati). McKinney picked up her fifth double-digit scoring game of the season with 10 points, while leading the team in assists with five.
Also having another solid outing was freshman LaRice Walker (Franklin, Ga.), who added a season-high nine points to go along with four boards, four assists and two steals.
After trailing for as much as six points on three different occasions, Georgia College was able to cut the deficit to four at 29-25 at the intermission. The first half produced four Bobcat leads with the last coming with 8:20 left in the half at 14-13.
Georgia College stormed out of the gate in the second half, needing just 2:37 to turn the tables and take the lead for good with a layup by Keys. Mid-way through the second half, McKinney's layup would give the Bobcats their first double-digit lead, coasting from there with Georgia Southwestern getting no closer than seven the rest of the way.
GSW was led by Jasmine McSwain, who recorded a double-double with 12 points and 12 boards. Danyelle Jones led the Hurricanes in scoring with 15.
The GC women's basketball team will finish the month of December with three home non-conference matchups, the next game coming against Anderson University (S.C.) Monday, Dec. 16 at 5:30 p.m.


text:
Building a Thriving Undergraduate Physics Program Invited Speakers
Noah D. Finkelstein, University of Colorado-Boulder
Noah Finkelstein received a Bachelor's degree in mathematics from Yale University and his PhD. for work in applied physics from Princeton University. He is currently a Professor of Physics at the University of Colorado Boulder and conducts research is in physics education. He serves as a director of the Physics Education Research (PER) group at Colorado, one of the largest research groups in physics education in the country. Finkelstein is also a co-PI and a Director of the Integrating STEM Education initiative (iSTEM), an NSF-i3 funded program to establish a national-scale Center for STEM Learning.
Finkelstein's research focuses on studying the conditions that support students' interest and ability in physics – developing models of context. These research projects range from the specifics of student learning particular concepts, to the departmental and institutional scales of sustainable educational transformation. This research has resulted in nearly 100 publications. He is also a key figure in the Colorado Learning Assistant program that is designed to transform undergraduate education and recruit and prepare the next generation of STEM teachers.
Finkelstein is increasingly involved in policy, and in 2010, he testified before the US Congress on the state of STEM education at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Finkelstein has and continues to serve on many national boards in physics education, including: inaugural member (2006) and vice-Chair (2008) of the Physics Education Research Leadership Organizing Council, and Chair (2011, 2012) of the Committee on Education of the American Physical Society, and Chair of the Amer. Association of Physics Teachers Public Policy Committee. He is a member of the Technical Advisory Board for the AAU's new Initiative for Improving Undergraduate STEM Education (2011), and very involved in APLU's efforts in the Science and Mathematics Teacher Imperative.
In 2007 he won the campus-wide teaching award; in 2009 he won the campus Diversity and Excellence award; in 2010 he won the campus Graduate Advising Award; in 2011, he won a campus Outreach Award and was elected Fellow of the American Physical Society; and in 2012 was named Presidential Teaching Scholar for the University of Colorado system.
Sylvester James Gates, Jr., University of Maryland
Sylvester James (Jim) Gates, Jr., is the John S. Toll Professor of Physics at the University of Maryland and director of its Center for String and Particle Theory. Known for his work on supersymmetry, supergravity, and superstring theory, Dr. Gates uses mathematical models to explore the elementary particles and fundamental forces of nature.
Dr. Gates completed both his undergraduate and graduate studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, earning two bachelor's degrees (in mathematics and physics) in 1973 and a Ph.D. in physics (focused on elementary particle physics and quantum field theory) in 1977. His doctoral thesis was the first thesis at MIT to deal with supersymmetry, a topic that has dominated theoretical physics since that time.
Before joining the faculty of the University of Maryland in 1984, Dr. Gates held postdoctoral appointments as a Harvard University Society of Fellows Junior Fellow and as a Research Fellow at the California Institute of Technology. He currently serves as a member of the Maryland State Board of Education and the U. S. President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology.
In 1984, working with M. T. Grisaru, M. Rocek, and W. Siegel, Dr. Gates co-authored Superspace, the first comprehensive book on the topic of supersymmetry. He has published more than two hundred research papers. Some of his research in physics has led to the creation of surprising new results in the field of mathematics, including complex manifolds, network theory, and representation theory.
He has been featured extensively in many science documentaries on physics, most notably The Elegant Universe in 2003. In 2006, he completed a DVD lecture series titled Superstring Theory: The DNA of Reality for The Teaching Company to make the complexities of unification theory comprehensible to laypeople. During the 2008 World Science Festival, Dr. Gates narrated a ballet, The Elegant Universe, with an on-line resource presentation of the art forms (called Adinkras) connected to his scientific research. The NOVA/PBS fall 2011 presentation of the science documentary The Fabric of the Cosmos prominently features Dr. Gates.
Beverly Karplus Hartline, University of the District of Columbia
Dr. Beverly Karplus Hartline is Associate Provost for Research, Dean of Graduate Studies, and from January 2011 through May 2012 Acting Dean of Engineering and Applied Sciences at the University of the District of Columbia. She is responsible for expanding the research efforts, grants, and graduate programs at the University, as well as for providing academic leadership for computer science, information technology, physics, and the civil, electrical, and mechanical engineering programs. Previously she has held teaching, research and leadership positions in universities, in Department of Energy laboratories, at NASA, and worked in policy at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. From 1985 through 1996 she was a member of the leadership team that built Jefferson Lab--a world-class superconducting accelerator for nuclear physics research located in Virginia. As Associate Director for Project Management she was responsible for ensuring completion of the project within cost, on schedule, and achieving the performance goals.
A passionate educator enthusiastic about attracting students to science and engineering, especially physics, she organized and led Jefferson Lab's first education/outreach programs--focused especially on broadening participation to include more women and minorities. She was a charter member of the International Working Group on Women in Physics of the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics (IUPAP), and has helped to organize its four conferences: Paris 2002, Rio de Janeiro 2005, Seoul 2008, and Stellenbosch 2011. She has served on the American Physical Society's Forum on Education Executive Committee (including as chairperson), Committee on the Status of Women in Physics (including as chairperson), Committee on Minorities in Physics, Physics Policy Committee, and Task Force on Ethics Education. For the American Association of Physics Teachers, she has been a member of the Committee on Professional Concerns; and she has served on the Public Affairs/Outreach Committee of the American Geophysical Union. Her Ph.D. is in geophysics from the University of Washington, and she has a bachelor's degree in chemistry and physics from Reed College.
Ron Henderson, Middle Tennessee State University
Dr. Ron Henderson is professor and chairman of the department of Physics and Astronomy at Middle Tennessee State University. He obtained degrees from the University of Tennessee, Duke University, and the University of Virginia (Ph.D.) before joining MTSU in 1996. Since becoming chairman in 2008, the department has created a concentration in Physics Teaching (2009), won a Robert Noyce Scholarship Grant (2009), was selected as a comprehensive PhysTEC site (2010), and the university became a UTeach program replicate (2010). He is an outspoken advocate for inquiry-based pedagogy in both university and high school curricula, and strives to make a positive impact on the way science is taught in Tennessee.
Theodore Hodapp, American Physical Society
Dr. Theodore Hodapp is the Director of Education and Diversity for the American Physical Society (APS) in College Park, Maryland. The American Physical Society is the largest professional society representing physicists in the United States, publishing the most significant international journals in physics, and facilitating programs to represent physicists and their interests. The APS Department of Education and Diversity (www.aps.org/programs) runs programs that advocate issues relevant to minorities and women, and in areas of education and careers. Ted is also Principal Investigator of a large NSF and APS-funded national effort, the Physics Teacher Education Coalition (www.PhysTEC.org), which seeks to improve the quality and quantity of physics and physical science K-12 teachers.
Before coming to the APS, Dr. Hodapp served as Program Director in the National Science Foundation's Division of Undergraduate Education, working with programs in curriculum development and implementation, teacher preparation, scholarships, and the National Science Digital Library (he is currently co-PI on the ComPADRE digital library project, www.compadre.org, that collects physics education materials). Prior to coming to the NSF, Ted was professor and chair of the Hamline University Physics Department in St. Paul, Minnesota. He recently served as chair of the Physics and Astronomy Division of the Council on Undergraduate Research (www.cur.org), is a Fellow of the American Physical Society, and is currently serving on the National Research Council Committee on Undergraduate Physics Education Research and Implementation. His research interests include laser cooling, optical modeling, and physics education research.
Vivian Incera, University of Texas at El Paso
Dr. Vivian Incera is professor and chairwoman of the Department of Physics at the University of Texas at El Paso. She earned her Ph.D. at the P.N. Lebedev Physical Institute, in Moscow, Russia. Dr. Incera is a well-known expert in the field of quantum field theories under extreme conditions. She has been PI of multiple research grants from DOE and NSF, including a Professional Opportunities for Women in Research and Education (POWRE) grant in 1999. She became UTEP department chairwoman in 2009. Under her leadership, in the last three years, UTEP Physics Department has increased the undergraduate major enrollment in 500%, undergraduate research mentoring has been significantly revamped, and the percentage of faculty externally funded has increased from 50% to 82%.
- Recruiting, Advising, Mentoring and Retention (Panel member)
Kate Kirby, American Physical Society
Kate Kirby of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics was elected as Executive Officer of the APS in 2009. Kirby oversees day-to-day operations at APS headquarters in College Park, MD.
Kirby earned her bachelor's degree in chemistry and physics from Harvard/Radcliffe College in 1967 and her PhD from the University of Chicago in 1972. After a postdoctoral fellowship at the Harvard College Observatory (1972-73), she was appointed as Research Physicist at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory and Lecturer in the Harvard University Department of Astronomy (1973-1986 and 2003-2009). She was also a Senior Research Fellow of the Harvard College Observatory. From 1988 to 2001, she served as an Associate Director at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, heading the Atomic and Molecular Physics Division. In 2001, she was appointed Director of the National Science Foundation-funded Harvard-Smithsonian Institute for Theoretical Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics (ITAMP).
Her research interests lie in theoretical atomic and molecular physics, particularly the calculation of atomic and molecular processes important in astrophysics and atmospheric physics. In 1990, she was elected to Fellowship in the APS. Among her other activities: serving on the Department of Energy Basic Energy Sciences Advisory Committee (2003-2008) and as co-chair of the BESAC Subcommittee on Theory and Computation. She has been a member of the National Academy of Sciences/National Research Council Decadal Assessment Committee for Atomic, Molecular and Optical (AMO) Science (AMO2010), and Chair of the International Conference on Photonic, Electronic, and Atomic Collisions (2001-2003).
Arlene Modeste Knowles, American Physical Society
Arlene Modeste Knowles is the Career and Diversity Administrator at the American Physical Society.
She serves as the manager of the APS Scholarships for Minority Undergraduate Physics Majors, is in the Program Management Group of the APS Bridge Program, and manages most other diversity programs for the APS. In her capacity as the career administrator at APS, Knowles has organized and moderated career panels and tutorials at APS meetings, managed the APS job fairs and online career center, and worked on other career specific programs.
Before coming to APS, Knowles received her Bachelor of Science degree in Human Development from Cornell University, on a pre-medical track. While at APS, Knowles first focused on programs aimed at recruiting and retaining minorities in physics, and later began working on programs to build awareness of career opportunities for all members of the physics community. Today, she works more exclusively on diversity initiatives, which include programs and activities that address the recruitment, retention, mentoring and careers of underrepresented groups.
- Recruiting, Advising, Mentoring and Retention (Moderator)
Laird H. Kramer, Florida International University
Laird Kramer is an Associate Professor of Physics at Florida International University, a minority serving public research institution in Miami, FL. In 1996 he joined the faculty as a nuclear experimentalist and has in recent years turned to building a transformational education outreach model. Since 2003, he has led the Education Outreach component of CHEPREO, the Center for High Energy Physics Research and Education Outreach. CHEPREO uses its high-energy physics base as fertile ground for an extensive education and outreach effort based in diverse South Florida. CHEPREO-led efforts have transformed the undergraduate physics experience at FIU, creating more and better prepared majors by empowering students through the implementation modeling instruction-based studio physics courses, establishment of student-centric methodologies, and establishment of a high school/university research and learning community. These reforms have led to a rapidly growing PER group; the awarding of a PhysTEC Primary Partner Institute to FIU in 2007; the successful expansion of the LA Model into chemistry, earth sciences, and mathematics; and the recent award of a HHMI Science Education grant.
Willie Rockward, Morehouse College
Dr. Willie Rockward received a B.S. degree in Physics, cum laude, from Grambling State University. While completing a M.S. degree in Physics from State University of New York at Albany, he transferred into the doctoral program in the School of Physics at the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech). After completing his doctoral studies at Georgia Tech, he served as a civilian Research Physicist for the Advanced Guidance Division of the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory located at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. Currently, Dr. Rockward is an Associate Professor & the Chair of the Department of Physics and the Dual Degree Engineering Program at Morehouse College. Also, he serves as the Research Director of the Micro/Nano Optics Research & Engineering (MORE) Laboratory. His current research interests include crossed phase optics, micro/nano optics fabrication, optical quadrature microscopy, extreme ultraviolet lithography, terahertz imaging, and nanostructure characterization. He is a member of the American Association of Physics Teachers, the Society of Physics Students (National officer), the National Society of Black Physicists, the National Technical Association, the Optical Society of America and the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity. He also serves, voluntarily, as the Director of Science and the Coordinator of Special Projects for the Miller's Preparatory Academy for Boys.
- Recruiting, Advising, Mentoring and Retention (Panel member)
David Schaefer, Towson University
Dr. David Schaefer received his B.S. in Physics from Towson State University in 1986. He received a Masters Degree and Ph.D from Purdue University in 1993. After serving as an NRC Postdoctoral Fellow for one year at the Naval Research Laboratory, Dr. Schaefer was hired in the Department of Physics, Astronomy, and Geosciences at Towson University in 1995. He is currently a professor, having been awarded the University System of Maryland (USM) Elkins Professorship in 2006 and 2007 and USM Regents award for Research Collaboration in 2007. Dr. Schaefer has served as department chair since 2007. During this time the physics program has seen significant growth, both in numbers of undergraduate physics major, secondary education majors, and SCH produced. He has also led the development of a new Professional Masters Program in Applied Physics. Dr. Schaefer is a strong advocate of undergraduate research and has served as a Council of Undergraduate Research Councilor since 2007.
- Recruiting, Advising, Mentoring and Retention (Panel member)
Gay Stewart, West Virginia University
Stewart received her Ph.D. in experimental high energy physics from UIUC in 1994. Her involvement with physics education reform began formally with her attendance at the Workshop Physics Conference at Dickinson College in 1993. Upon receiving her Ph.D., as a mother of two, she shifted her intellectual efforts purely to the condition of science education in the United States. In May, 1995 her work first gained NSF support through a DUE Course and Curriculum Development grant. She chaired her department's undergraduate affairs committee during a transitional time, which saw the average number of graduating majors in physics increase by a factor of five in four years.
She has served on education-related committees (APS FEd Executive Committee [AAPT liaison, and chair line], APS Committee on Education, "Friend" of the AAPT Teacher Preparation Committee) and the APS council and Executive Board, the PhysTEC Programmatic Review Board, and as an AAPT/PTRA National Advisory Board member and Regional Coordinator for Arkansas. She served as chair of the College Board's (CB) Science Academic Advisory Committee, was jointly appointed by the CB and the NSF as co-chair of the Advanced Placement Physics Redesign commission, and is on the new AP Physics Curriculum Development and Assessment Committee. She was a member of the development committee for the College Board Science Standards for College Success, designed for grades 6-12. She is the teaching assistant mentor, and developed a preparation program based in part on the University of Minnesota FIPSE-supported project. This program grew into one of four sites in physics for the NSF/AAPT "Shaping the Preparation of Future Science Faculty," and is still active. These efforts played a central role in preparing Arkansas to join the AAPT/APS/AIP Physics Teacher Education Coalition.
She is co-PI of an NSF GK-12 project that places graduate students in middle school mathematics and science classrooms. The results of that project were so favorable that getting mathematics and science teachers the opportunity to work together is a major component of the $7.3M NSF-MSP project, of which she is PI, the College Ready in Mathematics and Physics Partnership. Through the NSF Noyce Scholarship program she has received $1,050,000 for support of student and master physics teachers. In 2009, she was named a fellow of the American Physical Society, for her contributions to physics teaching and physics teacher preparation. In 2010 she was elected vice president of the AAPT, of which she is now president elect.
- Recruiting, Advising, Mentoring and Retention (Panel member)
Gubbi Sudhakaran, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
Dr. Gubbi Sudhakaran is presently Professor and Chair of the Physics Department at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse (UW-L). He earned his Ph.D. degree from the University of Idaho where he specialized in Far-Infrared Laser Stark Spectroscopy. He has received several teaching awards including the Innovations in the Teaching of Physics in 2000, and Excellence in Teaching Physics at the University Level in 2006 from the Wisconsin Association of Physics Teachers (WAPT). He has received several research and educational grants from the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
Dr. Sudhakaran has been the driving force in the revitalization of the Physics Program at UWL. The UWL physics program is one of the fastest growing physics program in the nation with more than 150 majors and has received national recognition for introducing innovative curricula and programs. The UW-L Physics program was featured in Strategic Programs for Innovations in Undergraduate Physics (SPIN-UP) report by the National Task Force on Undergraduate Physics Education. The UW-L Physics program was honored with the UW System 2004 Regents Teaching Excellence Award.
In addition, Dr. Sudhakaran serves as a councilor to the Physics and Astronomy Division of the Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR) and has served on the American Physical Society (APS) National Committee on Education (COE). He served as the Conference Chair for the National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR) hosted by the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse in April 2009 and is serving again as the Conference Chair for NCUR in April 2013.
Steve Whisnant, James Madison University
Steve Whisnant earned a BS degree in physics from Appalachian State University in 1975 (cum laude), a MS (1978) and PhD (1982) from Purdue University and held postdoctoral positions in nuclear physics at both North Carolina State University and the University of South Carolina. He was on the faculty at the University of South Carolina from 1991-2001. From 2001-present, he has served as the Head of Physics and Astronomy at James Madison University. He has pursued research in pion scattering at Los Alamos National Laboratory from 1983-1988 and photonuclear physics at Brookhaven National Laboratory as a member of the Laser-Electron Gamma Source (LEGS) collaboration from 1988-2006. He was a member of the CLAS collaboration at Jefferson Lab from 1990-2001. Since 2005 he has been a member of the High Intensity Gamma Source (HIGS) collaboration at Duke University and is currently a limited member of the CLAS collaboration. Since 1988 a central focus of his research has been photonuclear physics with polarized beams and targets. He played a central role in the initial development of the HDice target at Brookhaven and is now an active collaborator in experiments with this technology at JLab. Double polarization experiments under development at HIGS will measure proton and neutron polarizabilities.
Carl E. Wieman, Stanford University
Dr. Carl Wieman served as the Associate Director for Science at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy from September 2010 to June 2012. Dr. Wieman previously divided his time between the University of British Columbia and the University of Colorado. At each institution, he served as both the Director of Collaborative Science Education Initiatives aimed at achieving widespread improvement in undergraduate science education and as a Professor of Physics.
From 1984 through 2006, he was a Distinguished Professor of Physics and Presidential Teaching Scholar at the University of Colorado. While at the University of Colorado, he was a Fellow of JILA (a joint federal-university institute for interdisciplinary research in the physical sciences) and he served as the Chair of JILA from 1993-95. Dr. Wieman has conducted extensive research in atomic and laser physics. His research has been recognized with numerous awards including sharing the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2001 for the creation of a new form of matter known as "Bose-Einstein condensate".
Dr. Wieman has also worked extensively on research and innovations for improving science education; he was the founding Chair of the National Academy of Sciences Board on Science Education. He has received numerous awards, including the National Science Foundation's Distinguished Teaching Scholar Award (2001), the Carnegie Foundation's U.S. University Professor of the Year Award (2004), and the American Association of Physics Teachers' Oersted Medal (2007) for his work on science education. Dr. Wieman received his B.S. in Physics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1973 and his Ph.D. from Stanford University in 1977.
- Undergraduate Physics: The National Perspective and Research on Attracting and Keeping Physics Majors
Quinton L. Williams, Jackson State University
Dr. Quinton L. Williams, professor of physics, has served as chair of the Department of Physics, Atmospheric Sciences and Geoscience and as Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs and Student Life at Jackson State University. As department chair, he led the establishment of the only degree program in Earth Systems Science at an HBCU. The department is presently listed among the top highest producers of degrees in both fields of physics and the geosciences by African Americans in the country. In the private sector, he has held positions which include Member of Technical Staff at Lucent Technologies – Bell Laboratories and Vice President of Engineering for a high tech start-up company in Atlanta, GA. He is a past president of the National Society of Black Physicists, a former member of the Governing Board of the American Institute of Physics and the founding chair of the AIP Liaison Committee on Underrepresented Minorities in Physics. He has served on the American Meteorological Society's Board of Women and Minorities, the American Geophysical Union's Committee on Education and Human Resources, and the Universities Corporation for Atmospheric Research's Academic Affiliates. Dr. Williams holds a doctorate in physics from the Georgia Institute of Technology.


text:
On the Uses of Twitter
One of the good things about 140 characters is that it concentrates the mind and lets you compose your elevator speech. One of the bad things is that while concentrating the mind and composing the elevator speech you forget to write it down.
So Eli, aka @EthonRaptor (Ms. Rabett came up with the moniker) has been exchanging with various characters on the Tweeter about renewable energy, nuclear energy and carbon taxes (go read the timeline if you really care) and this has indeed conciliated a few thoughts.
ADDED: Energy Star is zeroed out in the Trump budget. If Energy Star is going on hiatus, then this is a place for the manufacturers to establish an Underwriters Lab for efficiency. All electrical devices in the US are certified by Underwriters Labs not to be fire hazards. The insurance companies established and fund UL because at the turn of the century too many electrical appliances were starting fires or sauteing people, and some sort of testing and certification was needed to limit loses. An Energy Star operation could charge manufacturers for testing and use of the brand. What it could do immediately is to re-publish the Energy Star website before Scott Pruitt sends it down the rat hole. Anybunny have a spare server? The info is a US Government publication and there is no copyright. There is money to be made here folks and this would be a great opening for a Kickstarter operation. It would be a natural for Consumer Reports.
Eli's original though still holds, things are bought on purchase price. Very few think about lifetime, operating and disposal costs without prodding from regulations and SJWs.
Which brings the Bunny to Part Two. What is the probability of a nuclear revival in the US.
The reason is very much the same as what happens when a bunny purchases a carrot storage device aka refrigerator (Eli does leave a bit of room for Ms. Rabett's yogurt, after all, she is his muse).
Nuclear power plants have a)very high capital costs and b) very high decommisioning costs although operating costs are very low. From the standpoint of a utility, a nuclear plant requires a large investment before it begins to generate revenue, and a pretty well undefined commitment for decommisioning. Since b) has to be carried on the spreadsheet as a liability, and the actual cost is pretty well undefined the CFO of a utility would have to be insane to agree to building a nuclear plant.
To be clear, this is not the case where the plant is built by a government or a government entity like China, or EDF or TVA because their time horizon extends well beyond the next quarter.
It also explains why natural gas is being substituted for coal. Not only is natural gas cheaper, the capital costs of natural gas power plants are lower, they are more modular and they can be slotted into existing spaces, built faster, etc. and oh yes, much less polluting even if you consider greenhouse gases and nothing else. The nothing else is the ground level pollution of the air and water that makes Chinese and Indian cities so deadly today, and Western cities so deadly yesterday. It costs capital to clean coal emissions up and safely dispose of the ash and that erodes any desire of utilities to continue investing in coal.
Let us not talk about the energy and $ cost of carbon capture. Even there natural gas has a big advantage. Carbon capture technology from the smokestack will require serious cleaning of the emissions. Capture from the ambient air, is IEHO, the affliction of science. Of course if the utilities can dump the emissions and the ash wherever, that encourages investment in coal. Coal is the ultimate tragedy of the commons. To deal with it requires moving those costs onto the utilities and mines balance sheets. Utilities need to be exposed to the cost of their emissions to move them away from fossil fuels.
Renewables are a different balance. Operating costs are small but capital costs are high although decreasing. The modularity of renewables is a great advantage over nuclear which comes in single ginourmous lumps with long construction times. A single wind turbine, by nature requires only a small investment. As with gas turbines, the wind/solar components can be mass produced in factories and shipped to the assembly site. Wind farms/solar can be installed in smaller chunks each of which comes on line as finished and can start to immediately generate revenue to support further installations.
So the action on the power generation front is going to be renewables vs. natural gas.
So what is needed
1. Regulations to limit the worst emissions, quantify costs and show them explicitly to the public. Limitations are necessary for those emissions whose cost is so high that their effects are immediate and dangerous, such as lead and NOx.
2. A tax on greenhouse gas emissions which would either displace other taxes or be rebated. See Eli Rabett's simple plan to save the world the brilliance of which is that it really would not require Trump to sign on, if the rest of the developed world did.
Having solved all problems, Eli hops on.


text:
United Nations, New York, 25 September 2013 - World leaders agreed today to scale up action against extreme poverty, hunger and disease and called for a 2015 Summit to adopt the next set of Goals to focus continued efforts after the target date for the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
In the outcome document adopted at a Special Event on the MDGs, hosted by the President of the UN General Assembly, countries lauded the remarkable progress made so far towards achieving the eight Goals, which have provided a "common vision" for meeting the needs of the world's poorest.
Member States also expressed concern at the unevenness and gaps in MDG achievement in the face of immense challenges, and agreed to take the purposeful and coordinated action required to accelerate progress.
Speaking at the opening of the event, President of the General Assembly John Ashe said that "we must do everything possible to accelerate action and get the job done by 2015. Urgently implementing the global partnership for development is not only a moral obligation but will also put us at the best possible starting point for agreeing what comes next."
In the document, countries agreed to hold a high-level Summit in September 2015 to adopt a new set of Goals that will balance the three elements of sustainable development - providing economic transformation and opportunity to lift people out of poverty, advancing social justice and protecting the environment.
The Goals - which will build on the foundation laid by the MDGs and also respond to new challenges - will be applicable to all countries while taking into account national circumstances.
The deliberations of Governments took into account the views expressed by people across the globe through a series of worldwide consultations that reached more than a million citizens, in an effort unprecedented for the UN.
At today's event, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon presented to countries his report "A Life of Dignity for All", outlining his vision for bold action to achieve the MDGs and for a new and responsive sustainable development framework that meets the needs of both people and planet.
The Secretary-General said that the post-2015 framework "must be bold in ambition yet simple in design, supported by a new partnership for development".
"It needs to be rights-based, with particular emphasis on women, young people and marginalized groups. And it must protect the planet's resources, emphasize sustainable consumption and production and support action to address climate change, " he continued.
The Special Event comes as the UN, Governments, civil society, the private sector and philanthropists push to achieve more MDG targets in the final stretch to 2015.
A high-level event, MDG Success: Accelerating Action and Partnering for Impact, hosted by the Secretary-General on 23 September, showcased the power of new types of partnerships to change the development landscape and mobilize finance, expertise and knowledge to further the MDGs.
"Substantial additional commitments from Governments, the World Bank, private business and philanthropy brought the total new investment in boosting MDG achievement to $2.5 billion," the Secretary-General told Member States today.
The MDGs - which range from halving extreme poverty rates to halting the spread of HIV/AIDS and providing universal primary education - have been the most effective anti-poverty push in history. The lives of millions of people have been improved and targets have already been met on reducing poverty, increasing access to safe water, improving the lives of slum dwellers and achieving gender parity in primary education.
Despite huge gains, progress towards the eight MDGs has been uneven, not only among regions and countries, but also between population groups within countries, with accelerated action needed in many areas.
Highlights of commitments announced this week in support of the MDGs follow below.
Highlights of commitments made in support of the MDGs during the high-level week of the 68th session of the UN General Assembly
- The UK Government will provide support for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria worth $1.6 billion (£1 billion) over the three-year period of 2014-2016. The support will deliver life-saving antiretroviral therapy for 750,000 people living with HIV, 32 million more insecticide-treated nets to prevent the transmission of malaria, and TB treatment for over a million more people.
- The Government of Norway will contribute $75 million over three years to finance life-saving commodities and their related delivery costs as part of a newly formed "Reproductive, Newborn, and Maternal Health Trust Fund."
- The World Bank Group projects at least $700 million in financing through the end of the 2015 MDG target date to help developing countries reach the Goals on women's and children's health, as part of the Every Woman Every Child global effort. This new funding comes from the International Development Association (IDA), the Bank Group's fund for the poorest countries, and will enable national scale-ups of successful pilot reproductive, maternal, and child health projects.
- The IKEA Foundation will provide $80 million (60 million Euros) over the next five years to fund UNICEF programmes in India focussed on improving child survival and educating and protecting children.
- Energia, the international network on gender and sustainable energy, committed over $10 million (8 million Euros) to support and strengthen work on gender equality and women's empowerment in the energy sector, particularly for universal energy access. The commitment - supported by the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation, the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, the Foreign Ministry of Finland and the Asian Development Bank - is part of the Sustainable Energy for All initiative.
- Pearson (UK) will increase total investment in innovative education solutions that deliver improved learning outcomes from $15million in 2011 to $30 million. By 2014 Pearson will establish a multi-year, flagship partnership focused on opportunities to employ ICTs and other alternative/innovative approaches to overcome learning barriers in Africa and other regions, particularly in marginalized communities. By 2018 Pearson will directly help 20,000 new graduates from across Sub-Saharan Africa transition into employment through the growth of its CTI Education Group.
- Public Investment Corporation (South Africa) committed approximately $1.8 billion over a period of five years to investments in large-scale long-term infrastructure projects in South Africa and the Southern African Development Community. These projects will reduce environmental impact and contribute to the growth of the SADC economy through job creation, skills transfer, poverty alleviation and rural development. PIC also committed $500 million to the rest of Africa over a period of five years.
- Total (France) will provide low-cost access to solar lamps through Total service station networks. This Awango project is developed in partnership with the IFC Lighting Africa initiative and other credible third parties, and is at cost for Total. Total aims to provide more than 1 million Awango Solar Lamps to citizens in Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Uganda and Senegal by 2015.
- Youth Empowerment & ICT Foundation (Nigeria) will provide seed funding to 50 innovative ICT projects by young entrepreneurs; employment for 250 youth; and $2.5m in funding by 2016. The SME ICT Entrepreneur Fund will provide seed funding to young start-ups in the technology industry.
For webcast of the Special Event on the MDGs: webtv.un.org
Details and full programme available at: www.un.org/millenniumgoals/specialevent
Latest MDG data available at: http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/news.shtml
Secretary-General's report available in full at: http://j.mp/18nA04i
#MDGMomentum #FutureWeWant
Full list of commitments made at the UN Private Sector Forum 2013 available at: http://j.mp/18psFkN


text:
The Solution Lies in The Values Of The Qur'an
All throughout this book, we have dealt with the viewpoint and behavioral patterns of people who live far removed from religious values, and have discussed the basic attributes of the society formed by such people. We have analyzed their way of living, which is fraught with problems and troubles to which they fail to bring any solutions, and the physical and spiritual damage done by these problems. We have also depicted the blissful lives of believers. This peace and security inherent in the lives of believers, as mentioned in various parts of the book, are simply a consequence of the fact that the Qur'an provides solutions to all sorts of problems. Indeed, the Qur'an brings the most rational and perfect solutions to any problem, to any state of deadlock.
Adhering to the morality of the Qur'an brings happiness and peace to people's lives, and puts an end to injustice, conflicts, inequality, fights, unfairness, extravagance, worries, bigotry, cruelty and violence. It guides economic, commercial and social relations, and ends quarrels among family members, relatives and the wider society. The Qur'an offers the most essential, perfect and rational solutions.
Furthermore, the Qur'an guides man to the ideal attitude and moral structure he has to display about any subject and under any circumstances. A society whose members are role models of this superior moral understanding will surely attain the ideal social structure which has been sought after throughout the ages.
That the Qur'an offers solutions to every problem is stated in the verse below:
… This is not a narration which has been invented, but confirmation of all that came before, a clarification of everything, and a guidance and a mercy for people who believe. (Surah Yusuf: 111)
Without the guidance of Islamic values, people can never produce satisfactory or viable solutions to personal or social problems. Indeed, history is replete with countless problems which, without Qur'anic guidance, lack solutions even to this day. As long as man ignores the true religion, he will inevitably face troubles and problems he can never cope with. This is what awaits irreligious people in this world. The torment awaiting in the hereafter, however, will be more painful and everlasting.
The One who knows man best is our Creator. In every age, Allah has provided man with every sort of explanation and knowledge through the religion of truth. In the Qur'an, Allah informs us that man will attain the best way of living provided that he adheres to His way:
To those who act rightly, be they male or female, being believers, We will give them a good life and We will recompense them according to their noblest deeds. (Surat an-Nahl: 97)
If, however, in pursuit of trivial interests, worldly benefits and personal desires, man insists on turning his back on the way of Allah, he will himself suffer the painful consequences. This is because ignoring the Qur'an means being deprived of the vital guidance Allah provides. Neither one's own experiences, nor the accumulated wisdom of prior generations will help man to cope with the troubles he is likely to face in this world. Trouble, concerns, stress, perplexities and failures will pervade his life. After a while, he will also surrender himself to this situation and live out his present life believing that adverse occurrences, which are in reality the punishment for disbelief, are the unavoidable facts of life.
The solution is evident, however: to turn to Allah, the Creator of all beings, and to attain true happiness and tranquility by adhering to the religion Allah favors for us. Allah has informed us that salvation in this world is to turn to religion and has given the glad tidings that His sincere servants will not feel fear, provided that they are obedient to Him.
Allah has promised those of you who believe and do good deeds that He will make them masters in the land as He had made their ancestors before them, and will firmly establish for them their religion with which He is pleased and give them, in place of their fear, security. Let them worship Me, not associating anything with Me. Any who are unbelievers after that are deviators. (Surat an-Nur: 55)


text:
Brotha Lynch Hung - Colostomy Bag
The third chapter of Brotha Lynch Hung's mini-movie featured at coathangastrangla.com . Album "Dinner and a Movie" available 3-23-10
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.


text:
Red Cross Prepares For Sandy
The American Red Cross North Jersey Region is preparing to respond to Hurricane Sandy in New Jersey and urges residents to be ready too.
Red Cross workers are readying shelters and working with government officials and community partners to coordinate the response. Relief supplies like cots, blankets, ready-to-eat meals and snacks are being moved into place to support sheltering efforts.
The Red Cross has information on its website about how to get prepared for the storm, including steps for hurricane and power outage emergencies. Videos are also available to help get prepared for severe weather preparedness.
RED CROSS APPS The free Red Cross Hurricane App for mobile devices provides real-time hurricane safety information such as weather alerts and where Red Cross shelters are located. The app also features a toolkit with a flashlight, strobe light and alarm, and the one-touch "I'm Safe" button lets someone use social media outlets to tell family and friends they are okay. The Hurricane App is available in Spanish. Users just need to make sure the language setting on their smart phone is set to Spanish before downloading. The First Aid app puts expert advice for everyday emergencies in someone's hand. The apps can be found in the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store for Android by searching for American Red Cross.
Information provided by the American Red Cross


text:
APA CTF 2013 Write-up
This post is about Sharif CERT (APA) center's recent CTF (10 dec 2012), which is one of a kind in Iran. Most CTFs are a few days long since there are time-zone differences, but since this one is in Iran, its only a few hours long and full of pressure.
Also it is fairly general purpose, with Trivia, Web Hacking, Cryptography, Steganography, Reverse Engineering and Forensics amongst it genres. There's also the final scoreboard of the contest. As usual, team AbiusX nailed this CTF, though this was the initial round and the main round is held inside Sharif University of Technology in Tehran.
APA CTF usually pisses me off, as some questions are not technical and more of a puzzle than a question - as you will see soon - and also because the guys in charge of making up questions have a very poor English (rofl). But it's getting much better over the years and this version was perfectly acceptable, specially the parts about segmenting different teams' flags.
There were 2 trivia questions, 4 web flags, 2 reverse engineering flags and the rest each had one flag. Genre scores were 100 for trivia, 1200 for web, 200 for crypto, 600 for reverse engineering, 300 for steganography and 400 for forensics, plus bonuses for quick solvers.
The Questions
This section will describe each questions, its strengths and weaknesses and the solution to it.


text:
She Needs Breaking InFavorites [+]
Pay-Per-Minute Viewing
You can now enjoy this movie on your iPhone®, iPad®, or compatible Smart TV & Android devices.
Purchase Options
Pay-Per-MinutePurchase Minutes
Streaming Rentals
HD 720p (5.29 GB)
HD 1080p (7.82 GB)
DRM-free downloads offer content that is not limited by standard Digital Rights Management (DRM) access technologies. These technologies allow hardware manufacturers, publishers, copyright holders and individuals to limit the usage of digital content.
When you purchase DRM-free downloadable content, that content is available for you to download on any computer and save to a disk whenever you like. You can also download to multiple computers. There is no timeframe associated with your purchase and the content will not expire.
Source: Aebn
All Girl Massage has been bringing us beautifully filmed lesbian erotica for a few years now, including instant classics like MILF Massages with its all-star cast including the likes of Veronica Avluv, Ariella Ferrera, Raylene, and India Summer. The latter of these mature ladies is part of the She Needs Breaking In cast, as a matter of fact. She joins French beauty Tiffany Doll in one of five stunning scenes. The all-star cast also includes AJ Applegate, Maya Grand, Jenna Ivory, Karlie Montana, and Cassidy Klein.
Beautiful, blonde masseuse AJ Applegate has an appointment with gorgeous client Maya Grand, a hot Latina who doesn't let a little thing like a huge rock on her finger stop her from getting the "usual" massage. Maya peels off her dress, showing her perky, tan-lined tits. AJ slides Maya's black lace panties down, then rubs the graceful curves of her client's shoulders, back, ass, and legs. After sucking Maya's toes, AJ concentrates on Maya's ass cheeks. Maya flips over and AJ slides one hand down to rub Maya's pussy while fondling her breasts. Maya cums after a few minutes of concentrated clit massage, her moans and gasps an arousing auditory complement to the beautiful visuals. The ladies lick and suck each other's clits, and there's a stunning close-up shot of Maya's tongue action. After their mutual cunnilingus, they scissor to finish off their hot tryst.
Right on cue, Maya's husband calls to say that he's lost his job and she needs to stop spending money. It could mean the end of Maya's sessions, but AJ has a proposition: if Maya will help AJ seduce her sexy new client, then the next 10 massages will be free.
Redheaded vixen Karlie Montana catches the cleaning lady, adorable brunette Cassidy Klein, pretending to give a massage. Cassidy admits that she'd like to be a massage therapist, so Karlie offers to be Cassidy's practice client. After finding out Cassidy has good hands, Karlie decides it's time to see if she can handle more intimate massage. At every step Cassidy balks and Karlie reminds her that it's all for the tip. If she doesn't learn to lick a pussy and like it, then the client could leave. With a face like she's tasting lemons, Cassidy eats Karlie's pussy and makes her cum. Karlie says that some clients like to give back and goes down on Cassidy. To her surprise Cassidy has an orgasm, even though she's still not comfortable. Now Karlie shows Cassidy the final trick to get the best tips: tribbing. After Karlie gets off one last time, she tells Cassidy she's doing great and should make lots of money giving massages. Karlie, on the other hand, has discovered she doesn't want to be a massage therapist after all.
Raven-haired, beautiful plainclothes detective India Summer tries to bust sexy French brunette Tiffany Doll for selling drugs out of her spa. Tiffany claims to be an informant with immunity and offers India a peacekeeping massage. India reluctantly agrees. As the rubdown commences, India asks for it deeper and harder. Tiffany slides a wedge pillow under India's hips to make it easier for bearing down hard on that ass, and we see great close-ups of Tiffany's hands spreading India's pussy open as she rubs her cheeks. When India flips onto her back, the massage gets more personal. After Tiffany strips naked, India gives in to Tiffany's sexual advances. Tiffany gives India reason to drop her guard with some breast play, lots of deep kissing, and expert fingering. The heat becomes an inferno with the two gorgeous adversaries finishing off in 69 position.
As a new masseuse, Alison Tyler is shy about nudity. She offers a towel for her client, Aaliyah Love, who laughs it off. Aaliyah assures Alison that her naked body will be unavoidable. Comically, Alison tries to block her view of the naughty bits until she finds it too hard to give an effective massage with one hand. Aaliyah is upfront about which parts are tense and sore, giving us all a great look at her snatch when she raises one leg high. Gradually Alison gets used to the nudity, and by the time Aaliyah flips over and asks for the happy ending, Alison is willing to take off her own clothes. Kissing and tribbing lead to Aaliyah taking charge. She rewards her diligent masseuse with some nipple sucking and more clit-to-clit humping. There's not much oral sex in this scene, but the girls really get off on the tribbing.
Maya returns to help AJ massage and "break in" her highly desirable new client, Jenna Ivory. Jenna's not here yet, but AJ and Maya get started without her. AJ has a nice taste of Maya's natural breasts. They really dive into the action then, eating pussy and ass and pussy again. By the time Jenna gets there, AJ and Maya are hollering in pleasure. Jenna wants to report the spa for this indecent behavior, but AJ and Maya convince her otherwise. They pull her into the room and ease her out of her clothes. It's easy to see why AJ is into this porcelain-skinned platinum blonde, with her Hollywood bombshell looks. Jenna isn't sure about this scenario or why they're both naked, but AJ convinces her that Maya is in training. As AJ and Maya work their way up both sides of her lovely body at the same time, Jenna decides that two masseuses are better than one. While AJ concentrates on massaging Jenna's breasts (or rather, her tight pecs, ahem), Maya works her way up Jenna's thighs. Soon Jenna is moaning in pleasure and massaging her own left tit as AJ sucks Jenna's right nipple and Maya licks Jenna's clit. Not just any spa would give a client such pampering! The three ladies bring each other to ecstasy in various beautiful configurations: oral, fingering, and scissoring. Jenna declares it the best massage she's ever had and wants to come back next week!
These gorgeous women performing exquisite acts of sensuality make She Needs Breaking In one of the hottest lesbian massage titles we've seen.


text:
Brown University creates a collaborative community of independent thinkers
The students, faculty, and staff at Brown University had no cohesive, efficient communications system, and an inadequate storage quota of just 200MB per email account. This meant that users had to constantly clean out inboxes and delete large attachments. The university required an on-premise email server upgrade that would prove costly. They also needed an easy community-wide means of collaboration, whether to share ideas or work on projects.
"I can't remember what collaborating with teams was like before Google."
Hong Chau, instructional designer, Brown University
G Suite provided a seamless system with a number of benefits: email, collaboration tools, a large storage capacity, security protection, easy internal troubleshooting, and steady feature updates--resulting in savings of more than $800,000 annually over five years, and millions in server upgrade expenses. Additionally, after students graduate, they can take their email, calendars, and files with them, creating stronger alumni ties.
Organization Profile
Founded in 1764 in Providence, Rhode Island, Brown University is the seventh-oldest higher learning institution in the United States. It is known for an open curriculum that encourages students to build custom degrees based on individual interests.
Products usedDownload
Explore more impact stories
Brittany Wenger wrote an algorithm to better detect breast cancer
Del Mar Union dramatically improved students' writing skills
Canberra Public Schools empower students to "Learn, Anywhere" with G Suite for Education and Chromebooks
University of Michigan unifies 19 schools under a culture of collaboration with G Suite for Education


text:
Changchun World Sculpture Park is located in Changchun City, is a blend of contemporary sculpture art, sculpture art schools to display the world's theme parks. Embody our cultural tastes of modern sculpture, blending traditional natural landscape garden construction practices built into the park concept, Park at the same time have a floor area of 12,000 square meters of the Museum of Art sculpture,The panorama was taken in Changchun World statues Park South African wood carving exhibition.
360-degree panorama photography by yunzeng liu
From Wikipedia: Changchun (simplified Chinese: 长春; traditional Chinese: 長春; literally "Long Spring") is the capital and largest city of Jilin province, located in the northeast of the People's Republic of China, in the center of the Songliao Plain. It is administered as a sub-provincial city with a population of about 7.5 million under its jurisdiction, including counties and county-level cities. The name originated from the Jurchen language. The urban districts of Changchun's city proper have a total population of 3.58 million.


text: Port Elizabeth - New Zealand's coach Mike Hesson said it was understandable his side were left reeling at 47 for six at stumps on day two of the second Test against South Africa in Port Elizabeth on Saturday. "South Africa is a tough place to tour, notwithstanding they're the number one Test side in the world," Hesson said after his side still trailed their hosts by 478 with only four wickets remaining. "We're ranked number eight for good reason but our players are working extremely hard to get better."VIDEO: SA v NZ: 2nd Test, day 2, latest highlights South Africa declared on 525 for eight shortly after tea and then pummelled the New Zealand batsmen with an onslaught of extremely hostile bowling for the last session before stumps. Opening batsman Martin Guptill (1) and Kane Williamson (4) both fell to Dale Steyn while Morne Morkel kept up the pressure from the other end. There was no respite for the Kiwis when Rory Kleinveldt and left-arm spinner Robin Peterson came into the attack. Kleinveldt took two quick wickets, which included that of century-maker in Cape Town Dean Brownlie (10) and Daniel Flynn who went for a duck. Not to be outdone, Peterson enjoyed a double-wicket maiden and stumps could not come soon enough for the Black Caps. "We all have to share the responsibility for the poor performance but you can't fault the players' work ethic," Hesson said. "The support staff are putting in the work behind the scenes and the players are training and working hard in the nets but we're just not up to it. "After Cape Town, we could have just put our feet up and given up but we didn't and people back home need to realise that we're trying our very best but we're completely outclassed." Faf du Plessis and Dean Elgar, who piled on the runs after lunch, both scored centuries in their fourth and third Tests, respectively. Du Plessis took 202 balls, including 12 fours and two sixes, for his second Test century, while Elgar reached the milestone in 170 balls. Their 131-run partnership was South Africa's highest sixth-wicket stand against New Zealand and also the highest by the Proteas at St George's Park. "It's a nice feeling to get my first home Test century," Du Plessis said after making a century on debut in Adelaide in November 2012. "In Australia, I was playing for the team and to save the Test, whereas today it was all about my own performance so it was nice to go through it. "I'm aware that I'm in good form at the moment and need to make the most of it because I know it won't always be like this in Test cricket." Du Plessis empathised with the New Zealanders and said it was very difficult batting out there for most of the day. "The ball was swinging around a lot but we have the advantage of extra pace in our attack," he said. "Our bowlers are able to control the line and length a lot more and someone like Dale Steyn is very hard to face when he's bowling well." Elgar, who made a pair in his first Test, and 21 in his only other innings -- in the Cape Town Test last week -- played with more determination, stroking some magnificent boundaries. However, runs dried up after Du Plessis departed for 137, but captain Graeme Smith magnanimously delayed his declaration until after tea to allow Elgar his maiden hundred. "I got the message to try and get my 100 before tea but when I walked into the change room (on 91 at tea) Graeme said I had time to get it after tea and I'm really grateful to him for that," said Elgar. "I know I have to be more consistent to make it difficult to be left out of the side but I'm still young and still in awe of the big-name players in our change room."


text:
Mike's tribute bike
Nikki McDonald 11/25/2012 11:45:59 AMI feel there is a story here that I would like to know. Nicely composed. #1500232
Aoibheann Ni Choileain 11/25/2012 12:00:07 PMHis wife was killed on this bike 5 years ago & he decided to rebuild it in her memory... #10432790
ALLEN O. HOWARD 12/30/2012 2:55:03 PMVery cool! Congratulations! #10490022
JO ANN CLEVELAND 12/31/2012 8:15:16 AMCongratulations on this fantastic 2nd Place Gold Winner Aoibheann!
jo ann c.
Merna L. Nobile 12/31/2012 10:32:36 AM
January is a month of reflection for me, I remember how privileged I was to observe all the outstanding work and beautiful photographs of the past year. For the last time this year, I would be honored to congratulate you for your spectacular work and willingness to share with all of us, Happy New Year, Merna Nobile
ALLEN O. HOWARD 1/1/2013 11:54:48 AMCongratulations! An excellent win for you and this gentleman and his decision to rebuild the bike! #10494215
Mary L. Olson 1/2/2013 8:37:49 AMGreat story-telling image!!! Congratulations on your win. #10495535
Exif: F Number: 2.8, Exposure Bias Value: 0.00, ExposureTime: 1/1600 seconds, Flash: did not fire, compulsory flash mode, ISO: 100, White balance: Auto white balance, FocalLength: 130.00 mm, Model: SLT-A99V
Uploaded on 11/25/2012 11:26:15 AM
Copyright for this gallery photo belongs solely to Aoibheann Ni Choileain. Images may not be copied, downloaded, or used in any way without the expressed, written permission of the photographer.
Contact photographer via gallery.
Log in to follow or message this photographer or report this photo.


text: On Thu, 11 Jan 2001, Richard Walsh wrote: > > All, > > Gone through the kickstart how-to thoroughly, but failing > to get things to go--I am sure it is something trivial that > I am overlooking. > > The install disk delivers the typical message header and > then the "boot:" prompt as expected to which I enter either > "linux ks" (as the how-to suggests) or just "ks" (as the the > syslinux.conf file suggests). I end up in the install > interface, forced down a path for hard disk or cdrom > based install which I obviously do not want. > > Perhaps I need to use bootnet.img instead of boot.img > as the how-to instructs. > > 1. ks.cfg is on server. > 2. server is running dhcp. > 3. location of RedHat directories is nfs mountable. > > Suggestions? I think this is likely it. Our ks configs here use the bootnet.img, since they install from the nfs mount and must have a network. There is no network available on the boot.img disk. I think that ks might still work, but you'd probably have to find a way of putting ks.cfg and the sources on a locally accessible medium. Here is a template dhcpd.conf entry from our server: host whatever { hardware ethernet XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX; fixed-address 192.168.x.x; next-server install.phy.duke.edu; server-identifier install.phy.duke.edu; filename "/var/phy/archive/current/i386/ks/project-space"; option domain-name "phy.duke.edu"; } would install whatever.phy.duke.edu in a private internal network space. Obviously you need to fill in the XX's and x.x to the enet number and IP space at hand. "/var/phy.../project-space" is the name of the kickstart file, BTW. We have a variety of template ones for servers, participants in shared project space (like ganesh), and barebones clients or nodes. Hope this helps. Kickstart is awesome when you get it all worked out. rgb > > rbw > #--------------------------------------------------- > # > # Richard Walsh > # Project Manager, Financial Markets > # netASPx, Inc. > # 1200 Washington Ave. So. > # Minneapolis, MN 55415 > # VOX: 612-337-3467 > # FAX: 612-337-3400 > # EMAIL: rbw at networkcs.com, richard.walsh at netaspx.com > # > #--------------------------------------------------- > # "What you can do, or dream you can, begin it; > # Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it." > # -Goethe > #--------------------------------------------------- > # "Without mystery, there can be no authority." > # -Charles DeGaulle > #--------------------------------------------------- > > > > _______________________________________________ > Beowulf mailing list > Beowulf at beowulf.org > http://www.beowulf.org/mailman/listinfo/beowulf > -- Robert G. Brown http://www.phy.duke.edu/~rgb/ Duke University Dept. of Physics, Box 90305 Durham, N.C. 27708-0305 Phone: 1-919-660-2567 Fax: 919-660-2525 email:rgb at phy.duke.edu


text:
Candidate presented by: Mr. Roby Blust, Dean of Undergraduate Admissions
Rev. John P. Foley, S.J., is Chairman of the Cristo Rey Network, a nationwide network of Catholic schools which offer a college preparatory education to the families of immigrants and racial minorities. The goal of Cristo Rey is to prepare students to assume leadership roles in the civic, religious, business, and cultural life of our nation. The hope is that all Cristo Rey graduates reflect these characteristics: open to growth, religious, intellectually competent, loving, committed to justice, and work experienced. This is accomplished through a dual-language curriculum and participation in Cristo Rey's innovative corporate internship program where students work one day each week at a business.
A Chicago native who entered the Society of Jesus in 1954, Father Foley earned a B.A. in literature from Xavier University in Cincinnati and an M.A. in sociology and an M.Ed., both from Loyola University Chicago. He did his theological studies at the Jesuit seminary in Mexico City. From 1961 to 1995 he served in the Jesuit Province of Peru, working in education and school administration. During that period he was president of two Jesuit high schools in different parts of Peru.
Father Foley returned to Chicago in 1995 to collaborate in establishing Cristo Rey Jesuit High School and the following year became its founding President. During his tenure, he oversaw the effort to establish the school, hired all personnel, spearheaded student recruitment, and oversaw the construction of 150,000 square feet of classroom and recreation space. While at this first Cristo Rey school, Father Foley raised more than $26 million, including a $2 million endowment. More importantly, he established the tradition and spirit of a school that has become a successful national model for urban education. The Cristo Rey schools and Father Foley have been highlighted on "60 Minutes," in Newsweek Magazine, and in numerous other national media outlets.
After eight years as President of Cristo Rey, Father Foley assumed leadership of the Cristo Rey Network in 2005. This is a national association of Catholic high schools that provide a quality, college preparatory education to urban young people who live in communities with limited educational options. During the 2007-2008 school year, 4,234 students were enrolled in 19 Cristo Rey schools across the United States. Three more schools are scheduled to open later this year, and feasibility studies for potential new schools are underway in four additional cities. The Cristo Rey Network is transforming urban American one step at a time.
The National Catholic Education Association awarded Father Foley the Seton Award in 2007 in recognition of his pioneering and innovative work on behalf of Catholic education. The same year he also received an honorary Doctor of Humanities degree from Georgetown University.
Because of his visionary leadership and commitment to education for all students, Reverend President, I hereby recommend Reverend John P. Foley of the Society of Jesus for the Marquette University Degree of Doctor of Letters, honoris causa.


text:
When sheriff's candidate Bob Olmsted retired three years ago, he knew L.A. County's jails were in trouble.
The retired commander oversaw three facilities, including Men's Central Jail, which was home to the most notorious instances of deputy abuse in L.A. County.
But Olmsted said his underlings and superiors created alliances that usurped his authority and prevented him from stopping abuses.
"When you run up the chain of command twice and the top person fails to take this on, then I have a duty and obligation, when I raised my hand and swore in as a deputy to report these injustices," Olmsted said.
Olmsted went to FBI agents first; then he turned to newspaper reporters with stories of mismanagement inside the department.
It's his demonstrated willingness to speak out against wrongs and years of experience running L.A.'s jails, Olmsted said, that makes him the most suited to fix the department.
Earlier in his career, as a captain in charge of Men's Central, Olmsted said he cleaned up the facility. Little things, such as replacing light bulbs and exterminating rats, he said, raised morale. And ultimately, Olmsted said, his management style led to fewer instances of violence.
Managing Men's Central, Olmsted said, required the same hands-on approach that's needed throughout the Sheriff's Department. If elected, Olmsted said he would make sure his top brass are out in the community and walking their beats the same way he intends to.
"There's a disconnect between the service we're providing and sitting in an ivory tower," Olmsted said. "We're only going to be successful by inspecting what we inspect."
Olmsted said he would solicit opinions from deputies who are out in the field. Community members, he said, would also be asked to sound off. Even lawyers who win civil judgments against the department, Olmsted said, would be asked how they think the county could limit its future liability.
Inside L.A.'s jails, Olmsted said, he would focus on keeping inmates outside by expanding education initiatives and starting up an exit process. Inmates, he said, would be walked through applications for programs such as, unemployment and disability. The pre-departure process would also prepare inmates to find jobs.
"There needs to be a more holistic approach to the criminal justice system in how we deal with crime and education," Olmsted said.
Age: 63
Residence: Long Beach
Experience: Retired L.A. County sheriff's commander
Website: bobolmsted.com
Candidates were asked to briefly describe how they would reform L.A. County's jail system and whether they would favor building new jails to expand capacity. Here are Olmstead's responses:
End to the corruption, wrongdoing, and pay-to-play by taking politics out of the LASD.
Clean-house among the executives who either stood silent or allowed the proliferation of misconduct to go on.


text:
Celebrate fall with KnK's November Kit. This month's kit features Little Yellow Bicycle's Sharon Ann Autumn Bliss Collection, Embossed Cardstock from Creative Imaginations Signature Collection, Nikki Sivils' Breadless Tabs, Cardstock Letters by Websters Pages, Maya Road's Decorative Kraft Envelopes, Core'dinations Chocolate Box Cardstock, and a Pumpkin Wood Flourish From Harmonie. As always, if you want extras we have hand selected coordinating addons for every kit.
Crazy Daisy Kits – Grab Bag Kits
Grab bag goodness! Didn't you always love getting a grab bag when you were a kid? Here's your chance to re-live your childhood and fulfill your scrapbooking needs, all at the same time. Brand new to Crazy Daisy Kit Co. are quarterly Grab Bag Kits. Each kit is a little different, but features all the awesome left over goodies from our 2009 kits. Since we're growing, we need to clear out the old and welcome in new inventory … so why don't you take all these supplies off our hands. We have five different Grab Bag Kits to choose from, including an all patterned paper kit.
Crazy Daisy Kits – November Main Kit Pre-Sale
PRESALE: If you haven't had a chance to snag one of our kits yet, now's the time to do it. Each month our kits are selling out, so get yours now before they're gone. We are pre-selling the November Kits, so if you purchase today, it won't be shipped to you until Nov. 10. However, if you do buy this kit before Oct. 31, we'll throw in a special gift to show our appreciation. Check back out crazydaisykits.com for more sneak peeks and the full reveal on Nov. 1st.
Scrapbookdeals4u offers affordable and creative monthly kits using the latest and greatest products in the market. Designed for scrapbook pages, cards, projects and mini albums our kits are your springboard for creativity.
ScrapbookDeals4u – New Membership Options:
– A great kit every month
– Discount on the price of the kit
– Discount on shipping fees
– No Commitments
Scrapbookdeals4u is a no-commitment club. There is no minimum number of kits that you are required to purchase and your membership remains in effect until you cancel it.
For non membership kits – shop in the website store.
For more information, please visit here.


text:
Ringo Starr to Ring in 2012 With New Album
It may not always come easy, but that hasn't stopped our beloved Ringo Starr from rocking on year after year. Whether on tour with his 'All Starr Band' or in the studio recording new material, the ever youthful Mr. Starr just keep rolling along musically.
Hip-O/UME has Jan. 30th set for the release of 'Ringo 2012′, the 17th solo album by the 71 year old legend. his preview release was 2010′s 'Y Not.'
Available in stores (CD & vinyl) and via download sites, 'Ringo 2012′ finds the once and forever Beatle getting by with a little help from his friends. Van Dyke Parks, Joe Walsh, Dave Stewart, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Edgar Winter, Don Was and Heartbreaker Benmont Tench, to name a few, are all lending a hand or two here.
'Ringo 2012′ will feature 9 new recordings including a cover of the Buddy Holly classic 'Think It Over' and a take on the old standard 'Rock Island Line'. The remaining 7 tracks were written or co-written by Starr. The album was recorded in Los Angeles and mixed in England by Ringo and producer Bruce Sugar.