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General notes:
Copies of the papers presented at, or published for DCC are available in various ways. A paper printed in the proceedings will be available for purchase in most cases in hard copy as the DCC proceedings. It will in most cases also be available as an individual paper in PDF format as a free download via a link below the abstract (where available) It may also be available on CD-ROM. A paper printed in the proceedings may not have been presented at the conference. Also a presentation at DCC may not be in the printed proceedings. In those cases it may be available on DVD, CD-ROM or as a MP3 download. Links to what is available will be on the page specific to the particular year's DCC.
- Location:
- Des Moines, Iowa
- Local Sponsors:
- Central Iowa Technical Society (CITS)
- Amateur Radio and Computer Society (ARCS)
- Des Moines Radio Amateur Association (ARCS)
- Amateur Radio and Computer Society (ARCS)
Read the conference story with audio and photos.
23rd ARRL and TAPR Digital Communications Conference
September 10-12th, 2004
- DttSP: An SDR core in C
by Frank Brickle, AB2KT and Bob McGwier, N4HY
- Abstract:
Last year at this conference we presented an overview (AMSAT OSCAR Echo,
SDR-1000, and HigherspeedFSK, by Frank Brickle, AB2KT and Bob McGwier,
N4HY) of the design for a suite of software to implement a Software
Defined Radio initially for the FlexRadio SDR-IOOO. We described the
functional breakdown of the software and the overriding design goals and
principles that were to guide the development.
The first iteration of that software is complete. It is currently embedded in the new SDR-IOOO console running under Windows. However, the DSP core is independent of the Windows version -indeed, it is basically independent of the SDR-IOOO hardware as well. We are currently completing the parallel Linux version of the console and are poised to start the inevitable rewrite of the core software. What we would like to describe here are the revised estimates of what the software is good for, and further, where it will be going over the next few months.
- Overview of Dynamic Forwarding Routing
by Edwin Brownrigg
- Abstract:
Dynamic Forward Routing (DFR) is the expression of two US patents (USPTO
6,044,062, March 28, 2000; 6,249.516, June 19, 2001) for the invention
of a software defined Mesh protocol. DFR, used in combination with
Internet Protocol (IP), enables a metropolitan area network to configure
itself dynamically. In a multi-radio wireless network, there are no
predetermined fixed paths. All routes are indeterminate. Worse, there
can be many indeterminate paths, which if taken without intelligence can
congest the network to the point of guaranteed failure.
- KidCQ: A Prototype System for Direction Finding
Abducted Children
by Caroline Guay, VA3WYZ, Mike Kennedy, VA3TEC and Brian Neill, VA3BPN
- Abstract:
This paper was written to document the design and implementation of the
KidCQ prototype tracking system which could help in locating abducted
children. KidCQ places an emphasis on protecting the privacy of
children. Strong protective mechanisms have been incorporated to prevent
fraudulent use of this tracking system.
- The Micro908 Antenna Analyst
by George Heron, N2APB and Joe Everhart, N2CX
- Abstract:
Here's a low cost and portable microcontroller-based instrument that
automatically determines SWR and reactance characteristics of an HF
antenna system. Advanced features of DDS frequency control, LCD tuning
display, PC data collection and plotting, numerous operating modes and
easy software upgradability make this design attractive for homebrewers
and antenna enthusiasts.
- A General Format for Data Compression
by Han Javan and Mike Fulton
- Abstract:
Transmission of huge amount of data, either analog or digital requires
significant amount of bandwidth and processing time. Data companding can
reduce the required bandwidth and the transmission time to an acceptable
level. Analog companding have been fully developed and several
companding methods such as u-Law and A-Law compression methods are now
in commercial use. They are basically log amplifiers. But it was not
until 1970 with the event of personal computers that digital companding
received special attention. Although several software have been
developed but there seems to be no a general format for digital data
This article addresses a new general method for companding any digital data by introducing a new compression format. Specifically a method will be introduced to convert a 16 bits data to 12 bits then to an eight and finally to 6 bits, thus reducing the bandwidth and transmission time by a factor of 16/6. The recovered data, depending on resolution and dynamic range of the sampled signal may have some inevitable error, which is the fundamental drawback of every compression method. However, it will be shown mathematically that the suggested method forces this error to attain a minimum possible value not to exceed allowed resolution.
- A Systems Approach to Amateur Radio
by Peleg Lapid, 4XlGP
- Abstract:
For more than 5O years, observing, from my corner of the world, being a
Ham and using my training and expertise as a systems engineer and
communications engineer I watch the development and deployment of radio
amateur step by step in parallel with and from time to time ahead of the
commercial and military communications. I recall the MCW and CW than AM,
SSB, the digital modes AMTOR (maritime TOR), AX25-Packet and so on.
During the last decade I have seen some new development within the
amateur community, namely: -the PSK31, Pactor and others.
Since we are not bound any longer by analog signal processing, and can use the power of digital processing this is the time to rethink what we wish our hobby to look in the coming years. Will it stay with CW, SSB, and the known digital modes? Or, to my point of view, can we have a "Master Plan" or a "Model" for the future to enable a new era of radio amateur communications based on the power of the digital processing.
- Digital Chat Modes
by Patrick Lindecker, F6CTE
- Abstract:
The following paragraphs describe some Ham digital "chat" modes. High
rate digital modes for file transmission as CLOVER, PACTOR I and II or
HF Packet are not covered here.
- PSKFEC31 and PSK63F
by Patrick Lindecker, F6CTE
- Abstract:
In this paper, I will describe two digital modes "keyboard to keyboard"
of PSK (Phase Shift Keying) type: the PSKFEC31 and the PSK63F, both
provided with a error correction capability, this with the goal to show
the type of problem that one can meet when creating a new digital mode.
These modes and many more are available in one of the software developed by the author, program which name is Multipsk, downloadable from the following WEB site: http://members.aol.com/f6cte/
- Anatomy of an APRS-IS Server
by Pete Loveall, AE5PL
- Abstract:
(The Evolution of javAPRSSrvr and Its Adjuncts) In 2002, APRS-IS (APRS
on the Internet) was in disarray and bordering on collapse. There were
three core servers through which every packet in APRS-IS was supposed to
pass. first.aprs.net was running aprsd on Linux, second.aprs.net was
running APRServe on Mac as 9, and third.aprs.net was running aprsd on
FreeBSD Unix. There were over one hundred non-core servers, most running
various versions of aprsd and some running AHub. So, what were the
critical problems?
- Update on the TAPR VNA Project
by Tom McDermott, N5EG
- Abstract:
The paper reports on the status of the TAPR Vector Network Analyzer
project, a 200 KHz to 100 MHz USB-based vector network analyzer. Changes
since the project was published in the July/August 2004 issue of QEX
magazine include a beta test, lessons learned during the beta test, and
suggestions for further improvements.
- SCAMP (Sound Card Amateur Message Protocol)
by Rick Muething, KN6KB
- Abstract:
Digital modes enjoy increasing popularity and performance thanks to a
better understanding of Digital Signal Processing (DSP) and continual
improvement in the performance of modern computers, sound cards, and
operating systems. SCAMP is a new experimental "wide-band" (2 KHz)
digital sound card message protocol suitable for HF. SCAMP leverages
the work by Barry Sanderson, KB9VAK and employs an ARQ "wrapper" around
Barry's Redundant Digital File Transfer (RDFT) scheme to provide the
error-free automatic operation necessary for today's modern digital
message systems. This paper documents work in process developing and
testing a new sound card mode that promises Pactor-like performance for
HF channel transmission.
- Digital Messaging for AERS, A Progress Report
by Victor Poor, W5SMM
- Abstract:
At the July 2003 meeting the ARRL Board resolved to establish an ad hoc
committee of members to develop a comprehensive program to enhance the
current ARES emergency communications capability to include rapid and
accurate handling of long range (inter-state, national, and
international) emergency communications. This led to the formation of
the ARESCOM committee in September 2003.
At the July 2004 ARRL Board meeting the chairman of the ARRL ARESCOM committee presented the committee's final recommendations to the ARRL Board where it received unanimous acceptance. This paper summarizes some of the committee's recommendations and the technical implications of implementing them.
- Design and Implementation of Receiver System for
Suppressing Radio Frequency Interference Using Adaptice Filters
by K. Jeeva Priya
- Abstract:
Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) is increasingly affecting radio
astronomy observations. Recent interference mitigation techniques
developed for communication engineering have been applied in radio
astronomy. However, RFI rejection achieved till now is not sufficient
for radio astronomy. Research in developing new techniques is therefore
This paper describes an improvised technique of RFI suppression by adaptive filters by constraining the bandwidth of the reference signal and also to study the effects of quantisation of bits to suppress RFI.
- A Practical Evaluation and Comparison of Some
Modern Data Modes
by Steve Richards, G4HPE
- Abstract:
This report aims to make recommendations for the use of modem data modes
when considered for the purpose of broadcasting textual information (few
transmitters to many receivers) over Amateur Radio HF paths.
It is suggested that modern data modes could find an application in amateur emergency HF communications. The possibility of 'broadcasting' messages and information is of interest here. For example, it may be possible to provide a UK-wide service from a single, or a few, well-appointed stations. Because ofthe comparative ease with which an HF data receive-only facility can be established at temporary locations, a national information system might be an achievable goal for radio amateurs. Such a facility might, for example, carry low-precedence traffic in order to free official channels for more important messages.
- Continuing the KF6XA/W3NRG Propnet Experiment Non
Reciprocal Beacon Capture
by Ed Sack, W3NRG
- Abstract:
In June 2002, we reported an unusual propagation phenomenon observed in
the process of participation in the Beaconet/Propnet program on 10
meters. In an article published in QST, we documented fairly consistent
reception of KF6XA's beacon signals at W3NRG even though the distance
and the terrain between the two stations would not lead one to expect
regular communications on that frequency. KF6XA is located at Murrieta,
CA and W3NRG is located at Coronado, CA. The stations are on an almost
exact north-south line, 63 miles apart, with several high peaks along
the path.
In September 2003, we noted that a phenomenon similar to what we were witnessing had been reported in a WorldWarII study of propagation along a similar path. The authors of that study hypothesized that a sharp demarcation between cold and moist air at lower levels over San Diego and very dry warm air at higher levels was responsible for the unusual propagation conditions that were being observed.
- Spread Spectrum Power Control
by Darryl Smith, VK2TDS
- Abstract:
The FCC when they were drafting the Part 97 rules for Spread Spectrum
felt that power control was something that should be included in
operations of higher power links. One presumes that they felt that at
lower powers the added complexity of power control was not needed given
the low probability of interference.
When they were writing these rules they could never have imagined the number of spread spectrum devices that would potentially be sharing the bandwidth just a few years later.
The purpose of this paper is to encourage the use of automatic power control in spread spectrum operations for all users, even those operating under Part 15.
- D-STAR: Digitally Modulated Voice and High Speed
by Matthew F Yellen, KB7TSE
- Abstract:
An overview of D-Star and its potential uses.
- Software Defined Radios - The Future is Now
by Gerald Youngblood, AC5OG, Bob McGwier, N4HY and Eric Wachsmann
- Abstract: A Software Defined Radio (SDR) is a radio in which all modulation and demodulation functions are defined, and therefore configurable, through software. This creates tremendous flexibility to improve and adapt the capabilities of the radio over time without changing the hardware. The potential for amateur radio experimentation is virtually limitless in terms of performance improvement and the introduction of new operating modes. This paper takes a look at the FlexRadio Systems SDR-1000 architecture and capabilities.


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Monday, January 12, 2009
SCOTLAND, S.D. (Jan. 12, 2009) – Following a successful start-up in the fourth quarter of 2008, POET Research Center in Scotland, S.D. is now producing cellulosic ethanol at a pilot scale, completing a crucial step toward development of commercially viable cellulosic ethanol.
The Scotland plant is producing ethanol at a rate of 20,000 gallons per year using corn cobs as feedstock. The $8 million endeavor is a precursor to the $200 million Project LIBERTY, a commercial-scale cellulosic ethanol plant that will begin production in 2011.
"The start-up of the pilot scale facility has been extremely smooth," said POET CEO Jeff Broin, who was in Scotland to announce the opening of the plant. "After producing 1,000 gallons, we've already been able to validate all of what we learned in the lab and believe the process will be ready for commercialization when we start construction on Project LIBERTY next year."
The pilot plant is located in Scotland, S.D., the site of a 9 million gallon per year starch ethanol production facility and a starch pilot facility. POET is pursuing an integrated starch- and cellulose-to-ethanol biorefinery model that could see cellulosic production capacity added to their 26 plants that currently produce 1.5 billion gallons of ethanol from corn per year.
The pilot project is the result of a significant investment in research by POET over the last eight years toward commercializing cellulosic ethanol. In 2008 alone, POET spent $20 million on research, doubling its research staff and tripling the size of its lab in Sioux Falls.
POET's process provides the environmental benefits of cellulosic ethanol – an 87 percent greenhouse gas reduction over gasoline according to Argonne National Laboratory – without having significant impact on the environment. Corn cobs, POET's feedstock, are safe to remove from the field. Cobs account for only 7.5 percent of the entire corn plant according to Iowa State University. The USDA says cobs contain 2-3 percent of measured nutrients of the above-ground corn plant.
Corn and cellulosic ethanol together hold the potential to replace gasoline as the main transportation fuel of the nation. Cellulosic ethanol is required to become a larger and larger part of the U.S. fuel supply, as mandated by the Renewable Fuels Standard.
Harvesting biomass has been a key challenge to commercializing cellulosic ethanol. POET's process provides the opportunity for farmers to expand their current role in ethanol production by harvesting cobs along with corn. Ag equipment manufacturers have worked closely with POET to provide farmers with cob-harvesting options that will be available soon.
To see a documentary about POET's pilot cellulosic ethanol plant visit www.poet.com/cellulosedocumentary.htm
Media outlets are welcome to link to the documentary in online coverage. Photos are also available for publication at http://www.poet.com/news/releases.asp.
About POET
POET, the largest ethanol producer in the world according to the Renewable Fuels Association, is an established leader in the biorefining industry through project development, design and construction, research and development, plant management, and marketing. The 20-year-old company currently operates 26 production facilities in the United States. The company produces and markets more than 1.54 billion gallons of ethanol annually. For more information, go to http://www.poet.com.
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subset: commoncrawl


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Italy - Investigation begins into neglect of Pompeii
Tourists walk past damaged areas of Pompeii.Nearly 4 months after the collapse of the House of the Gladiators and then of a wall at the House of the Moralist, Pompeii still faces neglet and mismanagement.Now the Italian government has begun to investigate the matter. Nine people are to be questioned, although Marcello Fiori, the emergency commissioner who was appointed to save the site in 2008, is conspicuously absent from the group.Those who will be grilled by the public prosecutor include the former superintendent of Naples and Pompeii, the site director who oversaw the waterproofing of the House of the Gladiators, the head of technical services at Pompeii, and an architect. The investigation will also examine Fiori's administration, which ended in July, including its use of government funds, which many critics have seen as wasteful and ineffective.Add to Lightbox


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Linda Imonti, advisory leader, KPMG
Linda Imonti has been named advisory leader for the West Region and the Chicago market. at KPMG LLP, the audit, tax and advisory firm. In this new role, Imonti, 49, will be responsible for ensuring continued advisory growth in the western half of the United States. Imonti joined KPMG in 2006 and has considerable experience in helping companies develop innovative strategic plans and turning business strategies into operational strategie, and has been an advisory leader on complex global engagements. She has held key roles at KPMG, including Global Business Intelligence practice leader, National Business Intelligence practice leader, and Midwest region Financial Management practice leader. Imonti has a bachelor of science degree from San Francisco State University.
Copyright © 2019, Chicago Tribune


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A New York Times Bestselling author recently told me that you don't make any money until book #5. I'm paraphrasing:
"Don't quick your day job until you have five books in print, on the shelves. That's when you've earned out your advance and the royalties start. That's when your publisher will start pushing your books harder. Paperbacks are the important thing."
Since I knew he had a (reported) 120k print run in hardcover, I politely told him he was full of shit.
"I only sold through about 60k books in hardcover. That didn't make a dent in my advance. The paperbacks are the money makers."
The author went on to describe how small the advances were for his first few books. Years later, they have all been in multiple printings, and have long earned out their meager advances.
"Hardcovers are nothing but an advertisement for the paperbacks," he said.
I can understand his logic. A hardcover has a shelf life of less than a year--- and usually has only four months (average) to make a sales dent. But while this hardcover is taking up the coop space on the new release tables, it's signaling to people to check out this author's other books; books that have been selling for years.
While a hardcover can make money, the book usually doesn't get into a royalty situation until the paperback is released. Each year, the publisher's marketing dollars push the new hardcover, which reminds people about the backlist.
My royalty statements confirm this. As of my statement of June 2006, both Whiskey Sour and Bloody Mary have earned out their advances. They did this on the paperback releases.
Unfortunately, I won't see any royalties until next year, because of basketing. Basketing is a form of joint accounting. When books are basketed in a contract, the publisher doesn't pay out royalties until all of the books have earned out. So the earnings from Whiskey and Bloody are paying the advance for Rusty Nail. Which is fine. By next year, I should be in a royalty situation. This is a good thing.
Royalties are like found money. You're earning on work you did years ago. Your publisher also likes royalties. They no longer have to spend marketing dollars on your backlist, but it keeps generating income. Earning out an advance is a good indicator that the book made a profit, and the longer it stays in print, the more profitable it becomes.
But how does someone stay in print? What are the minimum sales that have to be reached each year to keep a book on the shelf?
I confess that I have no idea. I'm guessing it varies. But I can make an educated guess on why books stay in print.
First, there has to be a demand. This demand is fueled by old fans and new readers. Word of mouth is important.
Second, your publisher needs to be behind you. They are the ones with the deep pockets who can market you effectively, helping to establish your brand. They are also the ones who decide when to pull the plug.
Third, there should be growth. Steadily rising print runs, and corresponding sales, make everyone happy. As my friend said, hardcovers do sell the backlist. And the bigger the hardcover, the bigger the marketing campaign, the likelier backlist books will sell.
By book #6, I'm hoping to have a dump box (also called a cameo.) These are the stand alone cardboard displays featuring six different books all by the same author. These sell books like crazy. They also cost your publisher a mint, in both corrugation (the cost of the stands) and coop (the price of the real estate they occupy.)
We all hear the stories of the new authors who signed a huge deal and get a gigantic print run and marketing campaign. This is a great thing when it happens, but it's also a gamble.
Building up an author's fanbase with modest print runs and a solid backlist is a safer way to make money. Slow and steady wins the race. And it stands to reason that if your backlist is earning money, there will be more money available to promote your recently released title. Once you're in a royalty situation, you're no longer a gamble--you're a sure thing.
At least, until demand drops off.
That's where you come in.
I've heard a lot of authors talk about the insanity of doing an 8 hour store signing, handselling books to everyone who walks in the bookstore. "I could never do that," they say.
They also say that visiting 500 bookstores in a summer is even crazier. They talk about how their time is better spent writing. They talk about their shyness. They talk about how it's the publishers job to sell books. They say that if they just write a really good book, it will find an audience.
But they're overlooking a major plus of self-promotion; once you're in a royalty situation, every book you sell is making you money. The more you sell, the more you earn. And it's exponential--if you sell one book to a customer, that customer can buy your backlist, your future books, and tell everyone they know about you.
You're not working for free. You get a check. And the effort you put in will sell books above and beyond what would have normally sold.
Is it what you signed on for when you became a writer? No. But if you'd like to be doing this as a career, and someday hope to make a decent living (or a wealthy living) writing books, perhaps you should reconsider your priorities and what you're truly capable of doing.
I've said, from the very beginning of my career, that my goal is to make money for my publisher.
For my first two books, I'm doing just that. It will be interesting to see where it takes me.
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
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Dining Room
Eating with the family is a special time. Hearing about your child's day at school or catching up with loved ones at Thanksgiving. Boyles has everything from breakfast tables to 10 people seating arrangements. Search through our extensive collection of dining room furniture to find the right piece to fit your home.
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Message Board
Gail Kennedy Message Board
Talk about the novels, new and used books that Kennedy has written!
Author Kennedy's Book Reviews
Tell Me No Lies
Take one drop-dead-handsome former pro football star, now a respected lawman. Add one very young, feisty, and fetching widow with a secret from their past. Stir them together in the steamy heat of a small Alabama town. Let the pressure of a fourteen year old betrayal slowly simmer. Then sit back and savor the saucy yet tnder results. A reckless afternnon changed their lives forever. Now fate sends Tucker into Cori's life. Once obstacle stands ...


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Some 135 countries have constitutional provisions for free and nondiscriminatory education for all. Seventy-three countries guarantee the right to medical services. And 41 countries have either enshrined the right to water in their constitutions or have framed the right in national legislation. All of these actions are aimed at protecting the rights of poor people.
Yet, it is poor people who are losing out on access to these services. In Mali, whereas almost everyone has access to a primary school, and 67 percent from the richest quintile complete primary school, only 23 percent from the poorest quintile do. The percentage completing higher levels of education is in the single digits. In rural India, in the period since the Right to Education act was passed, student learning outcomes in public schools have been declining. Equatorial Guinea, with a per-capita income of $20,000, has a child mortality rate of 118 per 1,000 births, comparable to that of Togo with a much lower per-capita income. As a result of intermittent (or nonexistent) water supply through networks, poor people in South Asia and Africa have to buy water from vendors at 5-16 times the meter rate.
What's going on? Too often, the rights to education, health and water have been interpreted as the government's financing and providing these services. But governments have limited resources. With limited resources, welfare economics tells us that governments should spend on: (i) those things that the private sector will not finance—public goods and externalities; and (ii) redistribution. By neglecting these principles and spending on private goods, governments have shortchanged poor people—the very people these rights were intended to protect.
For example, the lion's share of public spending on health goes towards hospitals—largely a private good. In the absence of insurance markets, rich and poor people need hospitals for catastrophic care—to treat heart attacks, strokes, etc. Since the rich have greater political power, they make sure these hospitals are located near where they live—in urban areas. The result is that, in India, about 33 percent of public health spending accrues to the richest quintile, while less than 10 percent goes to the poorest quintile (Figure).
Similarly, governments provide quality higher education for free or at a low price on grounds that poor people should not be denied a university education because of cost. Given excess demand, governments ration entry to these universities by an entrance exam. But free high-quality education is a huge benefit to anybody who can get it. So the rich send their children to the best secondary schools in order that they have the best chance of passing the exam and entering university. The result is that most of the students at public universities come from the richer quintiles. And higher education is expensive. In Africa, about 43 percent of public education resources go to the richest 10 percent of the population.
Governments subsidize water (another private good) in order to enable poor people to get access to it. But a subsidy means that politicians control the water utility that receives it. They send the water to neighborhoods where their political clients live. Those left out, frequently the poor and marginalized, have to buy water from vendors at much higher prices.
In light of all this evidence, it is tempting to suggest that governments stop financing private goods, like hospitals, higher education and water, and refocus public spending on public goods and externalities, such as sanitation. Unfortunately, this is almost impossible politically. The non-poor, who have captured the rents from government financing of private goods, will resist every attempt at having them cut—witness the protests against raising university tuition fees or water tariffs in most countries. Furthermore, since politicians can exercise control over the allocation of these rents, they too will resist.
What can be done? One approach would be to invoke another right, the right to information. Poor people can be a powerful political force for change—if they are informed about how much they are losing by government's continuing to spend on private goods that are captured by the non-poor. The experience with information campaigns on public expenditure leakages and community-based monitoring is promising. But we need to better understand how information influences citizens' behavior before we can scale up these efforts.
A second approach harks back to the second role of government, namely, redistribution. Public spending in the form of subsidies or free services is often justified on this objective, although as we have seen, the redistribution is frequently in the wrong direction. To achieve real redistribution, therefore, the most efficient method is to give cash to poor people. Rather than subsidies that risk being captured by the non-poor, giving cash to poor people to purchase private goods in the market has a better chance of public resources' going to those for whom they were intended. To be sure, this approach will also be difficult politically, but it could serve as a useful benchmark against which alternative proposals can be measured.
I agree that Governments are
I agree that Governments are highly constrained in terms of the resources they have at their disposal, and therefore have to make difficult decisions about exactly what to finance and what to leave to others to finance. However, I think the way in which you categorise - bluntly and without much explanation - hospitals, higher education, and water as 'private goods' is incorrect, especially when many of the economically and socially successful countries of the world use public finds to finance these goods. Your argument is more about where and how Governments should provide these goods, which makes sense, but to just dismiss them as private goods is unrealistic of the social realities faced in the world, and frankly, lazy 'Economics'.
Imran: Thanks for your
Imran: Thanks for your comment. By "private goods," I was referring to goods and services where there was no clear-cut market failure (public goods or externalities) associated with them. Sanitation, for example, does have an externality (people without latrines still benefit from their neighbor's having a latrine, as I described in my earlier post). By contrast, with water, there is no externality (I don't benefit from your drinking a glass of water), nor is it a public good in the sense of being non-rival and non-excludable (when you consume water, I can't consume that same glass of water). There is therefore a clear rationale for government's subsidizing of sanitation. With water, the only rationale is that of equity--we would like poor people to be able to get access to water. But, as I showed, subsidizing water does not guarantee that poor people will be able to get it at the subsidized rate because the non-poor, who can also get the subsidized water, are able to capture it through their political clout. That is why it's better to give poor people cash, and let them buy water at market prices, the same prices that the non-poor pay. By referring to water as a private good, I was not "dismissing it." Rather, I was attempting to identify the precise rationale for public financing of the good and service, something that is critical when governments have limited resources. Shanta
Thanks for your explanation
Thanks for your explanation Shanta - that is helpful. Though interesting that Governments of the world are, by implication of your argument, wasting enormous resources by looking into how to provide hospitals and tertiary education if, as you suggest, there are no clear-cut market failures. And with water, who owns water? Should a company have the right to own water which ordinary citizens use? Or does water belong to the community/society/country where it falls? I totally agree in the need for a market-based system to ensure efficient distribution and allocation of water, but to make profits from this system can be perverse, especially in cultures where water is treated as a particularly special good. (No need to reply - and I'm largely just playing devil's advocate here). Thanks.
Imran: I know you said no
Imran: I know you said no need to reply, but I want to clarify two points. First, the reason governments are wasting resources on hospitals and tertiary education is that the people who benefit from them--the non-poor--are politically powerful, and are able to resist attempts at reform. Second, on water, it is precisely because water belongs to society that we should charge for it. If we don't charge for it, there will be no water left (as we are finding out in many countries). What you do with the revenues from water is a different issue, on which I don't think welfare economics has a particular view. The revenues could go to the government, or to a private company (or both). This is not about privatization. It is about charging marginal costs for water, whether it is a public utility or private. Shanta
Looking at specifically at
Looking at specifically at the issue of purchasing health services: can you provide any evidence that "giving cash to poor people to purchase goods in the market has a better chance of public resources' going to those for whom they were intended"?
Sure poor people may temporarily end-up with additional cash but are you suggesting that individual private purchasing of health services is more efficient and equitable than public purchasing of services? I thought that since Arrow highlighted the massive market failures in health (due to huge information asymmetries) that the consensus was that the state should be heavily involved in purchasing healthcare services. This certainly was the view of the recent Lancet Commission investing in health:
Rob: From the graph in the
Rob: From the graph in the post you can see that, if the Indian government took the amount it currently spends on hospitals and gave it out equally to all citizens (i.e., without any targeting), it would be a more equitable distribution than the current one. That was what I meant by "giving cash...has a better chance of public resources' going to whom they were intended." On your second point about information asymmetry, Arrow's original paper and the literature since then has shown that government should regulate health, and more specifically, health insurance markets. It doesn't necessarily follow that government should finance all of health care. There may be a case for government to be the single purchaser on cost-efficiency grounds, but even here, it doesn't follow that government should turn around and provide the health services for free to everybody, including the rich. Shanta
I completely take you point
I completely take you point on service provision Shanta. However I would suggest that all over the world countries have learnt that it is more efficient and equitable for the government to be heavily involved in all 3 of the main financing functions - resource generation, pooling AND purchasing. Only a tiny number of rich countries try and regulate a market of private health insurances and the most famous of these, the US, is notoriously inefficient and inequitable. It's also clear that the trend in the US is towards more of a socialized health financing system.
Shanta gives a friendly but
Shanta gives a friendly but critical nudge to the rights-approach to service provision implying that including such rights in the law or constitution is pretty useless – and perhaps even harmful as it may be interpreted as committing the state to both producing the service and providing it free of charge. However, he will be pleased to learn that the human rights covenants and associated bodies fully agree that putting the service provision in law in only a first step. In fact, state parties to the relevant covenant (here the Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights) undertake to take steps, individually and through international assistance and co-operation, especially economic and technical, to the maximum of its available resources, with a view to achieving progressively the full realization of the rights recognized in the covenant by all appropriate means (public provision not a must) including particularly the adoption of legislative measures. States also undertake to guarantee that the rights will be exercised without discrimination of any kind as to race, color, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. How can you argue with that?
Anders: Thanks for weighing
Anders: Thanks for weighing in. I can't argue with what is said in the Covenant, but I might argue with what is left unsaid. When state parties undertake to achieve the full realization of rights, do they ever take into account government budget constraints? If they did, they would then have to state explicitly that government financing should be for those services where there is either a market failure (public goods and externalities) or redistribution motive. By not making this point explicit, the rights approach has inadvertently allowed public resources to be captured by the non-poor, precisely the opposite outcome from what the approach was trying to achieve. Shanta
Well argued, as always. But I
Well argued, as always. But I would say that the Covenant is better off not getting into HOW the countries should realize the respective rights, not least because it should be appropriate for all countries, rich, poor, western, socialist, etc. Just think about all the OECD countries with public doctors, hospitals and pharmacies who would be in breach with the Covenant if it said that public production and provision is only allowed when there are externalities or public goods! It is enough that it binds the counties to the goal of realization and to being serious about it. Then, cleaver economists and others can argue about implementation. Another, also interesting, problem is the extent to which the legal system should play a role in health provision. Many countries have tons of lawsuits where hopeful patients seek a court decision to get treatment, and Varun and others are researching if the court decisions get enforced when thry grant treatment. In Scandinavia the courts don't touch cases like that.
Anders: I take your point
Anders: I take your point about the covenant not mandating how rights should be enforced. But to make sure these rights are in fact realized, we need to have a dialogue between the welfare economics community and the human rights community which, I guess we are having now!
I think human rights and
I think human rights and welfare economics live quite weel together, and typically pull in the same direction - especially after the human rights folks adopted the concept of progressive realization of rights (a state is not violating the right as long as there are serious efforts in place to realize it). But one difficult area is that of compensation and distribution. When I took welfare economics we were taught that moving from situation A to B is preferred and justified if the winners' befefits are greater than the losers' costs, i.e. if there is a net gain and the winners could compensate the losters and still be better off than before. Human rights practiciners will say that this is not enough but that compensation must actually take place for A to be preferred to B. On another note, I fully agree with your point about the importance of right to information - the by now well known example of the school budget that was made puplic in a village in Uganda and led to public pressure for funds to be used as intended is a good illustration.
Anders, this is turning out
Anders, this is turning out to be an interesting discussion. First, in monitoring whether the state is making serious efforts to realize rights (the progressive realization of rights), do they monitor whether there is progress in the poor getting access to these rights? If they did, they would realize that countries like India, Tanzania, and others are retrogressing. Second, the welfare economics concept you refer to, whether the change leads to a potential Pareto improvement, is precisely the logic behind the statement that government should concentrate on solving market failures. For when government finances a public good, society is better off even when that good is financed by taxation (assuming the marginal cost of taxation is not too high), or by cutting back on spending on private goods. The losers in the latter case are those who have been enjoying these private goods for free or at subsidized rates. Typically, they are the non-poor. So if human rights practitioners wish to compensate the losers in a Pareto improving change, they should be aware that they are compensating who were not the ones that the rights were designed to protect. Finally, I'm glad you agree on the right to information, but has it ever been articulated that this right is more important than the others in that it can help the others achieve their intended outcome? Shanta
Excellent piece Shanta, and
Excellent piece Shanta, and so true about public goods. The point on redistribution has been shown empirically to be correct, judging by the Bolsa Familia program in Brazil initiated under President Lula, and the conditional cash transfer (CCT) programs in Colombia (although first attempted in Mexico's poorest states, during the Salinas presidency). But these too need a good degree of enforcement of basic conditions, e.g., school attendance, visits to primary health clinics for vaccination etc.
The right to information is not common even in countries with ostensibly reasonably open news media, most often since the sources of info are often government agencies.
The underlying problem seems to be efficiency of public expenditures, whereby spending on subsidies such as for food, fuel and fertilizer is, more often than not, abused by intermediaries who pocket most of the funds--witness India. The other is the political pressures in all types of regimes to cater to particular vested interests--of many stripes, religious, political, tribal etc. The media may again offer a solution as more information becomes available from a wide range of sources.
Thank you for the clear
Thank you for the clear distinctions among rationales for government spending (and taxation). You say that governments adopt goals like "free health care" and "free water", which are mainly private goods, for essentially populist reasons and then too often the benefits are captured mainly by the rich. Am I correct in my understanding?
If so, what role should World Bank and international technocrats play? In particular, just last month the World Bank has adopted universal health coverage as its one and only goal for all its aid programmes in all developing countries. Would better health of the poor be a more appropriate goal, as I believe? For example through sanitation, reducing pollution and other externalities? Or do you think it makes no difference what the World Bank-endorsed goal for health of the poor is?
If it has influence and funds government spending (taxpayers have to repay the loans), then it should perhaps avoid exacerbating the perverse redistributive impacts you have highlighted.
Essentially, government is an
Essentially, government is an insurance fund with an army.
This paraphrases Paul Krugman, refering to the US federal budget. It's less valid in countries where, unlike in the US, public goods like primary education, public transport, disease control and prevention, sanitation and police are provided mainly through the central government budget, but it still aligns with your public goods and redistribution categories. Redistribution is often like insurance that provides compensation for and recovery from adverse shocks, some lasting a long time.
This issue of capture of
This issue of capture of public goods is sadly too common. It was interesting to hear about low cost private schooling offered by Bridge International academies in Kenya and how the poor see this as the path forward for their children rather than poorly performing government schools. Cash transfers to the poor (school vouchers) would increase the competition, and one hopes make government schools better performing. Link to the NPR story is here http://www.npr.org/2013/11/13/244947834/chain-of-low-cost-schools-open-in-kenya.
A functioning public information and disclosure would no doubt lead to increased transparency, especially where scarce public resources like public housing are purported to be given to poor etc. In the past, whenever a government agency made such allocations, a good number always went to the well connected.
Dear Shanta,
Dear Shanta,
Two things: one, I'm not sure about the private goods logic, especially when it comes to education. Lots of scholars argue that because the social benefits of a good healthcare system and a good educational system reach beyond the immediate benefits to the transacting parties, the market will always underproduce (this argument is very prominent in the fair use/education literature at the moment).
Two, I'm unconvinced by the empirical claim that there is no evidence of market failure in cases such as healthcare and education. I think that orphan drugs are an excellent example of market failure in healthcare, and the Marrakesh Treaty was ratified precisely because there was market failure in providing educational materials to visually impaired persons.
Gautam: Thanks for the
Gautam: Thanks for the perceptive comments. On education, I know lots of scholars argue that there are externalities, but the empirical evidence is rather thin. And even if there were some externalities (especially in primary education, for which there is some evidence), it is still the case that there is a huge private benefit to education as well. So the government should subsidize education only to the extent of the difference between the social and private benefit, not the whole thing.
On orphan drugs, you are right that there may be a market failure, but this is in the research and production of the drugs. There is then a case for government subsidizing the research, as I believe they do. It doesn't follow that government should also subsidize the provision of these drugs to rich and poor alike. Shanta
Thanks for very thoughtful
Thanks for very thoughtful analysis. Nepal is most appropriate place to prove your argument where a small section of urban elites are pushing the agenda for subsidized education and subsidized water and oil and rest of rural poor are dying.


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Training >> Browse Articles >> Tactical / SWAT
So You Want To be A SWAT Operator, Huh?
Jose Medina, APCLLC President/Operations Director of Education and Services
Many individuals can put together an article about theories and research from their respective fields of training and tactical experiences. Many can also quote statements from books that have been written from many of the so called modern day warriors in years past. However, looking at today's modern times and current threats to society, for a law enforcement officer looking to become a SWAT operator, one need not look any further than the most serious threat facing a SWAT operator today: LAWSUITS!
It's not bad enough that the media is currently hounding the law enforcement community whether its police or corrections, the sudden "TWIST" that is put on current police related incidents totally shadows the many great things men and women in law enforcement do everyday in their jobs.
With that in mind, my point about SWAT operator candidates works this way: Many departments are developing many specialized units, i.e. SWAT, ESU, SORT, CERT, etc. Although putting that team together in today's climate requires more than just buying a bunch of "cool gear" and shooting up some rounds. There are other educational areas in which people need to understand about specialized units.
During my tenure in specific units I worked with and still do, many in the team hated the fact the training was too "strict" or too "discipline orientated." In my opinion those who did not meet the standards and did not at least "try" to meet the standards were advised they should not be on the team. We would get much resistance from other members as they wanted to be the "good ol boys" network and that getting rid of their friend off the team was not cool. What they did not understand was that it was not a "hate" contest but rather having the right operators for the job which was the most important thing out of anything else. If an operator could not qualify with a handgun let alone an assault long arm particularly after instructors constantly worked hard to get them up to proper level with negative results, how can we then deem them a true operator if they could not simply advance their weaponry skill levels? With that in mind, we still have teams who have people on the team to justify a number or a head count. Is this acceptable? I would think not considering the ramifications when a critical incident occurs and someone either gets seriously hurt or killed.
Many of the teams we train in our basic SWAT program or the advanced level, we always ask them why they are putting a team together or why they have joined the team. Many of the responses range from "want to advance my weaponry and skill levels" to "I want to take bad guys out of our town." Those can some times be a good response over the current talks of "I want to blow someone's head off" to "I just want to blow stuff up!" Make sense? Hardly.
Here are some things to consider when starting a team, becoming a member of a team and what things to be aware of if you have thought of it:
1. Did you know a large percentage of SWAT operators lack in the knowledge of SWAT case law incidents? Meaning, you have a set of team members who know nothing about critical events that occurred in a SWAT environment leading to possible law suits?
2. Did you know a large percentage of SWAT operators have no knowledge of what type of weapon they use other than the name such as M-16, M-4, Sub-Machine gun?
3. Did you know if you asked a SWAT operator what type of ammunition they use in their weapon, many of them say just 223, 45, 9mm etc? Ask them what brand and how many grain ammunition, many will give you a blank stare.
4. Ask a SWAT operator approximately the maximum effective range of certain ammunition and possible penetration capabilities; they will probably not give you a very rapid response.
My point; It is time for SWAT teams to start looking deeper into their team members and their current training protocols and begin to establish a stronger educational standard for their entire team. Remember, the courts will look at the team in this way – "A more organized controlled chaos event" over a normal patrol officer where a sudden attack leads to a sudden response by the officer, good, bad, or indifferent. But that same officer will not take the huge hit by the legal daggers if his or her training is deemed far less than that of the high end operational SWAT member. Remember, in SWAT we are held to a standard that is much higher than those in the normal patrol or any other sector in law enforcement. So when setting up a team or perhaps revamping a team, take into consideration that there are many legal areas that you must cover for the team to continue to be successful.
The courts will dig deep into finding those flaws such as officer's character and mental stability, specific quotes stated in "fun" or simply the type of training and knowledge the operator possesses. Our training programs starting with Basic SWAT 1 to Advanced Level SWAT 2 covers the legal aspects of the team training, building of the team and philosophies. We do this not to have what many in the industry call "Warriors" but simply, "Well educated highly skilled tacticians."
Remember, the original founding name for specialized units was and still is SWAT: Special Weapons And Tactics, not Sit Wait And Think.
Know Your 360°™


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Reagan was a New Deal Democrat. He joked that he had probably become a Democrat by birth, given that his father, Jack, was so devoted to the Democratic Party. The younger Reagan cast his first presidential vote in 1932 for Franklin Roosevelt, and did so again in the succeeding three presidential contests. His faith in FDR remained undimmed even after World War II, when he called himself "a New Dealer to the core." He summarized his views in this way: "I thought government could solve all our postwar problems just as it had ended the Depression and won the war. I didn't trust big business. I thought government, not private companies, should own our big public utilities; if there wasn't enough housing to shelter the American people, I thought government should build it; if we needed better medical care, the answer was socialized medicine." When his brother, Moon, became a Republican and argued with his sibling, the younger Reagan concluded "he was just spouting Republican propaganda."
Of course, Reagan was to change his views drastically in the coming years, but even when one examines his later comments about Franklin Roosevelt and the New Deal, one comes away with the sense that he never got over his youthful admiration of a man he considered a great leader. He would carefully parse his criticisms of the New Deal, often focusing on the honorable intent of the heart over the practical effect of the policies. Critique and praise would be mixed together as he attempted to separate the man from his programs.
The Leadership Factor
Roosevelt, according to Reagan, was a strong leader, one to emulate in certain respects. He had taken over the presidency during a time of unprecedented crisis and implemented a plan of action to bring the nation out of its doldrums. Reagan fondly recalled FDR's Fireside Chats, which were designed to give hope to the people. "His strong, gentle, confident voice resonated across the nation with an eloquence that brought comfort and resilience to a nation caught up in a storm and reassured us that we could lick any problem. I will never forget him for that." As governor of California later, Reagan had to deal with a Democratic legislature. "It occurred to me that I had an opportunity to go over their heads." How? He used radio and television to communicate directly with the people of California, a tactic he traced back to FDR's Fireside Chats, which, he commented, "made an indelible mark on me during the Depression."
As president, Reagan often mentioned his admiration for FDR's spirit of leadership. On a trip back to his alma mater, Eureka College, in 1984, he reminded his listeners what it was like to experience the Great Depression, and how the Fireside Chats had been so reassuring. "All of us who lived through those years," he instructed them, "remember the drabness the depression brought. But we remember, too, how people pulled together, that sense of community and shared values, that belief in American enterprise and democracy that saw us through. It was that engrained American optimism, that sense of hope Franklin Roosevelt so brilliantly summoned and mobilized." In his view, FDR was instrumental in reviving an inherent American optimism that was endangered by the economic crisis.
Twice he spoke at events honoring Roosevelt. The first was in 1982. He had visited the FDR exhibit at the Smithsonian Institution, then returned to the White House for a luncheon that included the Roosevelt family. Naturally, when speaking in front of someone's family, one avoids comments critical of a loved one. The speech was instead a tribute to FDR's leadership. Reagan called him "one of history's truly monumental figures," "an American giant, a leader who shaped, inspired, and led our people through perilous times," one who could "reach out to men and women of diverse races and backgrounds and inspire them with new hope and new confidence in war and peace."
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Ally Financial Inc's proposed $2.1 billion agreement reached last month with creditors of its bankrupt Residential Capital LLC subsidiary cleared a key court deadline with only one vigorous objection, though several warning shots were fired.
Ally agreed to the settlement last month to end allegations it stripped ResCap of choice assets including the online lender, Ally Bank, before dumping the business into bankruptcy, which left creditors empty-handed.
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"The court respectfully should stop this runaway train in its tracks and address fundamental defects in what mounts to a pre-approved plan of reorganization that violates basic tenets of law and is unconformable," said Syncora Guarantee Inc, in the fiercest objection.
Syncora insured some of the mortgage-backed bonds issued by units of ResCap, which have fallen sharply in value, and it objected for a variety of reasons. Syncora alleged that ResCap did not explain how it decided to split money from the Ally settlement among different bond insurers.
The Department of Justice's bankruptcy watchdog, plaintiffs in a class action and government's pension insurer also objected as the deadline passed on Wednesday. Several parties also let the court know that while they were not formally objecting, they were taking up positions against the yet-to-be-filed reorganization plan.
The deal announced May 23 was meant to extract Ally from its disastrous foray into subprime home lending, allowing it to focus on its auto lending business and repaying the remainder of a $17 billion government bail-out.
The government owns about three-quarters of Ally, formerly General Motors Acceptance Corp, and is still owed more than $10 billion.
The Ally settlement is meant to be a blueprint for resolving ResCap's contentious Chapter 11 and the deal needs the approval of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Manhattan.
ResCap plans to file a plan of reorganization by July 3 that will explain in more detail how creditors will be paid.
A hearing has been scheduled for June 26 before Judge Martin Glenn to approve the Ally settlement plan.
(Reporting By Tom Hals in Wilmington, Delaware; Editing by Bernard Orr)


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Cover Story
Ben & Jerry's co-founder Ben Cohen talks with Jim Wallis about ice cream, Oreos -- and how the bloated military budget is destroying our economy and making us all less secure.
A little Methodist church has a big heart for the left out and the lonley in the shadow of the nation's capital.
With lower-cost heath care, would I be dead?
The secretive, elitist Capitol Hill organization has cozied up to the despots -- and, in my case, done genuine good.
Renewable energy sources aren't just safer than nuclear power -- they're also cheaper.
The Utah Compact has good immigration principles -- but there's still a more excellent way.
Wisconsin was just the first salvo of an all-out war on working people.
Though the fast ended on Easter, it helped to spark a broad and united movement for a moral budget.
Mainstream Muslims detest the infection of radicalization far more than do other people.
Who is the woman at the well?
Our nation expects bold and innovative leadership. (Kidding.)
A club owner in Chicago can pick up the phone and "mail-order" three girls from Eastern Europe.
Culture Watch
Gareth Higgins reviews Batle: Los Angeles, Saving Private Ryan, and Chinatown.
Bio: Founded Empowering and Strengthing Ohio's People (ESOP) to stop predatory lending and home foreclosures. Website: www.esop-cleveland.org.
"A white man's country" became the multiracial, multicultural democracy we now inhabit.
Freedom Journeys: The Tale of Exodus and Wilderness across Millennia, by Rabbi Arthur O. Waskow adn Rabbi Phyllis O. Berman. Jewish Lights Publishing.
Julie Polter reviews current books and films.
The Better Angels, by John Francis. Horse and Rider/Dualtone.
Poets resist anti-immigration laws with defiance, beauty, and social media.
The Spirit Level: Why Greater Equality Makes Societies Stronger, by Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickett. Bloomsbury Press.
Jesus says, receive the Holy Spirit, whom you cannot control. Diversity is an essential attribute of a Spirit-filled church.

I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed Ed Spivey Jr.'s article in the March 2011 Sojourners ("Grandfathers Are Our Future") on being a grandfather
"Taking the Bible Seriously" by Charles E. Gutenson (April 2011) was right on the mark. I often see issue groups take the word of God and twist it to serve their purposes.
Fracking ("Meet the Frackers," by Tyler Edgar, March 2011) is well-known to people in Colorado, Wyoming, Pennsylvania, Texas, and other states for its disastrous use in natural gas extrac
Every gun that is made is, in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed.
Reading Joel Hunter's "Civility Is Only a Beginning" (March 2011), I was struck by the contrast between his beautifully stated intention -- "Let's listen so well that we can state others' cases in
In Danny Duncan Collum's reflection on the attempted assassination of Rep.
Web Extra
Gerard Anderson on Overpaying, Overeating, and Out-of-Control U.S. Medical Costs
"Jesus Christ transcends all religions! Judaism – Islam – Buddhism – Hinduism… He is greater than all these – including Christianity. Religions are the inventions of men.
Interview with John Francis by Betsy Shirley
Download the song 'Who?'
Download the song 'Who?'


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Jerrod Niemann Finishing Work on 2012 Album
Good news for fans of Jerrod Niemann: The singer-songwriter is putting the finishing touches on his next album, which is set to be released in 2012. "We've got every single song recorded ... now we're just working on getting them to sound professional," Niemann tells Taste of Country.
Niemann anticipates having his next single be from the new album, which he hopes will impact country radio in the early spring.
"That will give us time to get back from the holidays and get geared up and hopefully get the word out [about the new music]," he explains. "There are still a couple of songs that we're deciding from [for the first single]. What's crazy is usually one song will stick out, you know, screaming 'Pick me! Pick me!' but we've got a lot of cool songs to chose from."
Judging by the roster of co-writers filling the next album, it's no wonder he's having a hard time picking that first single. "These songs we've been writing with Lee Brice and the usual suspects," reveals Niemann. "We've even got a co-write with Lance [Miller] and Tim McGraw on this album. That's exciting for me and Lance. It was Tim's idea. There are a lot of cool people lending their wonderful talents to the project. It's really exciting. We've done a lot of things to really try to make it different."
Niemann's last album, 'Judge Jerrod and the Hung Jury,' became a hit with fans after producing the lead single, 'Lover Lover,' and its followup release, 'What Do You Want.' The third single and current hit on the rise for Niemann is 'One More Drinkin' Song,' which he recently gave a makeover for a special 'Mistletoe Mix,' just in time for the holidays.
"The concept of the last album was 'organized chaos,'" Niemann says with a smile. "This one, of course, will definitely respect that avenue as well [laughs], but we probably went from a 12-year-old maturity level to 14 on this one."
"I honestly feel like the music is much better and stronger," he continues. "Having people actually pay attention to music for once is the most inspiring tool there is. Usually you think there's no pressure. It's not pressure; it really truly is passion. I guess if you let it get in your head, you could probably freak yourself out, but I look at it as making music is fun, instead of scared misery."
Niemann is looking forward to his fans getting their hands on the new music, and he anxiously awaits their honest feedback. "My goal is to make this next album to where people compare it to a wedgie because they dig it," the singer says with a laugh.
Look for Niemann on the road with Miranda Lambert during the first quarter of the new year. The On Fire Tour will kick off on Jan. 12 in Rockford, Ill. Click here to see a complete list of confirmed cities where the tour will be stopping.


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Lacuna Coil Announce 2012 U.S. Headlining 'Dark Legacy Tour'
Italian rockers Lacuna Coil have been touring tirelessly in order to spread the word about their new album 'Dark Adrenaline,' and they've just announced plans for a headlining U.S. club jaunt dubbed 'The Dark Legacy Tour.'
Lacuna Coil were part of the recently wrapped up Gigantour 2012 with Megadeth, Motorhead and Volbeat. In addition to the new headlining shows, Lacuna Coil will also provide support on the upcoming trek co-headlined by Megadeth and Rob Zombie.
The band's headlining run is set to feature a two-hour set, including tunes from their entire discography. In a video update (watch below), singer Cristina Scabbia says, "It's going to be very special because we're going to play the new stuff but also a lot of stuff from the previous albums, from the earliest albums that we didn't play in a while. So, it's going to be cool for the new fans that already know the stuff from 'Comalies' on but it's also going to be great for old-the school fans that have known the band from 'In a Reverie' or the demos to come check us out. It's going to be a cool opportunity to party together."
In the same video, vocalist Andrea Ferro states, "We're probably going to be doing some acoustic stuff as well so it's going to be full of surprises and we try to make it a very long show, one of the longest headline's that we've ever played, it's just going to be a special show."
Check out the first batch of dates and cities below.
Lacuna Coil U.S. Headlining Tour Dates (more to come):
4/7 – San Diego, Calif. — Soma
4/8 – Anaheim, Calif. — House of Blues
4/10 – West Hollywood, Calif. — Key Club
4/13 – Portland, Ore. — Aladdin Club
4/14 – Boise, Idaho — Knitting Factory
4/16 – Spokane, Wash. — Knitting Factory Concert House
4/18 – Denver, Colo. — The Summit Music Hall
4/21 – El Paso, Texas — Tricky Falls
4/22 – Albuquerque, N.M. — Sunshine Theater
Watch Andrea and Cristina Talk About the 'Dark Legacy Tour'


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Hayle Oral History Project Audio
Here is a selection of audio clips selected and edited by volunteers such as Lynne and Andy.
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Friday, March 4, 2011
Old Cornish Song, Hail to the Homeland, sung by Charlie Gregory
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Harveys of Hayle - New Book Published by the Trevithick Society
In 1960 the Harvey company commissioned a history of the Harvey family and company from Edmund Vale. Vale was a prolific writer and journalist, who had written similar histories for other companies. The Harveys of Hayle was finally issued in 1966 by the Truro house of Bradford Barton. It was a substantial hardback volume of over 350 pages costing 60 shillings. Only 1,000 copies were published and as a result the book has, over the years, become hard to find with second hand copies fetching around £70.
Last year the Trevithick Society was approached by Edmund Vale's son Robert with a view to re-issuing the book in a new edition. We have welcomed the opportunity to do so and the new edition should be available in October this year. It contains the entire text of the original volume plus additional information about the Harvey company after 1966, surviving Harvey atrtefacts, what survives in Hayle today, an updated bibliography and some additional photographs.
In order to make this pioneering book available to the widest possible audience, it will be published in a large paperback format at £19.99 with a limited hardback edition of 100 copies at £35.99. Like all Trevithick Society books The Harveys of Hayle will be distributed on our behalf by Tor Mark Press of St. Day. They can supply local booksellers or can be contacted direct on 01209 822101 or at email@example.com
Do you know who has the Copyright to these photos?
These tinted photos were in a book published by Williams, the Ark, Copperhouse. Do you know who owns the Copyright for them?
Hayle Estuary
Penpol Terrace, Hayle 1903
J&F Pools Carnival Float 1948
Hayle Salvation Army photo
Aerial Photo
St. Erth Clay Pit Workforce


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SOURCE: Vicor Corporation
February 20, 2013 20:01 ET
ANDOVER, MA--(Marketwire - Feb 20, 2013) - Vicor Corporation (NASDAQ: VICR) today released instructions for its quarterly earnings conference call for investors and provided an update regarding financial performance.
Fourth Quarter and Full Year Earnings Conference Call
The earnings call for the fourth quarter and full year will be held on Tuesday, February 26, 2013, beginning promptly at 5:00 p.m. (Eastern). Patrizio Vinciarelli, Chief Executive Officer, and James A. Simms, Chief Financial Officer, will discuss Vicor's financial performance for the three and 12 months ended December 31, 2012.
Those interested in participating in the conference call should dial the appropriate telephone number at approximately 4:50 p.m. (Eastern):
Domestic Toll-Free: 1-888-482-0024
International Direct: 1-617-801-9702
Passcode: 446 700 21
Internet users can listen to a real-time audio broadcast of the conference call by following the appropriate link on the Investor Relations page of Vicor's website (www.vicorpower.com). Please go to the website at least 15 minutes prior to the conference call to register and, if necessary, download and install any required software.
For those who cannot participate in the live conference call, a replay will be available shortly after the conference call through March 13, 2013. The domestic toll-free number for the replay is 888-286-8010, the international direct number is 1-617-801-6888, and the passcode is 17127574. A webcast replay of the conference call will also be available on the Investor Relations page of Vicor's website.
Financial results for the three and 12 months ended December 31, 2012, will be released over Marketwire at the close of the NASDAQ Market Session on February 26, 2013. The press release setting forth these results as well as a summary of the company's financial statements will be available shortly thereafter on the Investor Relations page of Vicor's website.
Update Regarding Current and Near-Term Performance
Today, the Company is providing an update on its expected results for the fourth quarter of 2012 and the first quarter of 2013. On November 26, 2012, the Company stated it expected to report fourth quarter fully diluted earnings at an essentially break-even level. The Company now expects to record a substantial after tax loss, primarily as a result of certain charges recorded for the fourth quarter. Commenting on the fourth quarter, Mr. Simms stated, "Our earlier expectations of essentially break-even results for the fourth quarter assumed an operating loss would be offset by the previously disclosed gain on the settlement of certain insurance litigation. Our actual operating loss was larger than forecast, and we also recorded several large non-cash charges, including the impairment of goodwill, an increase in reserves for certain inventories of raw materials and components, and a reduction in the carrying value of certain deferred tax assets. Accordingly, we anticipate Vicor will report for the fourth quarter an after tax loss, on a per share basis, of approximately ($0.12) per share. Our final results will be disclosed on February 26th."
Addressing near-term performance, Dr. Vinciarelli stated, "For the fourth quarter, our consolidated bookings declined 27%. We are therefore expecting to record first quarter revenue and earnings sequentially lower than the fourth quarter. Reflecting our near-term demand expectations, we undertook a reduction in force on February 12th, and are monitoring production activity closely, with furloughs of manufacturing personnel within our Brick Business Unit and our VI Chip subsidiary continuing on an as-needed basis. As I stated in November, we believe our financial performance may not improve until after new products in which we have made considerable investment begin to contribute to our revenues and earnings. We began introducing these products in 2011, and will have additional new product introductions throughout 2013. Anticipating that these products will have more favorable performance and cost attributes, we remain committed to our strategy and the organizational changes we have made to support this strategy."
On January 24, 2013, the Company announced the extension, until 5:00 p.m. (Eastern) on March 1, 2013, of its tender offer to repurchase shares of its Common Stock valued in aggregate up to $20 million. The tender offer has been made solely by the Offer to Purchase and the related Letter of Transmittal. Shareholders and investors are urged to read the Company's tender offer statement on Schedule TO filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in connection with the tender offer, which include exhibits, the Offer to Purchase and the related Letter of Transmittal. Each of these documents has been filed with the SEC, and investors may obtain them without charge from the SEC at its website (www.sec.gov) or from Georgeson Inc., the Information Agent for the tender offer, by calling (888) 605-7561.
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Any statement in this press release that is not a statement of historical fact is a forward-looking statement, and, the words "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "intend," "estimate," "plans," "assumes," "may," "will," "would," "should," "continue," "prospective," "project," and other similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements also include statements regarding bookings, shipments, revenue, profitability, targeted markets, increase in manufacturing capacity and utilization thereof, future products, and capital resources. These statements are based upon management's current expectations and estimates as to the prospective events and circumstances that may or may not be within the company's control and for which there can be no assurance. Actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including those economic, business, operational and financial considerations set forth in Vicor's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, under Part I, Item I - "Business," under Part I, Item 1A - "Risk Factors," under Part I, Item 3 - "Legal Proceedings," and under Part II, Item 7 - "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations." The risk factors set forth in the Annual Report on Form 10-K may not be exhaustive. Therefore, the information contained in the Annual Report on Form 10-K should be read together with other reports and documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time, including Forms 10-Q, 8-K and 10-K, which may supplement, modify, supersede or update those risk factors. Vicor does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of future events or developments.
About Vicor Corporation
Vicor designs, develops, manufactures and markets modular power components, power management and complete power systems based upon a portfolio of patented technologies. Headquartered in Andover, Massachusetts, Vicor sells its products primarily to customers in the higher performance, higher power segments of the power systems market, including aerospace and defense electronics, enterprise and high performance computing, industrial equipment and automation, telecommunications and network infrastructure, and vehicles and transportation markets.
James A. Simms
Chief Financial Officer
Telephone: 978-470-2900
Facsimile: 978-749-3439
James A. Simms
Chief Financial Officer
Telephone: 978-470-2900
Facsimile: 978-749-3439
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Expert witnesses in forensic cases are called upon to testify what the facts are in their 'expert' opinion. But what happens if a defendant is representing himself in a muder case that involves computers and the defendant just happens to be a computer specialist.
and I quote...
"He's a computer geek," Edwards said in an interview Friday. "I think he knew more about MacIntosh computers than the state's witness did. I'm not sure how much the jury caught, but he seemed to be pretty pleased."


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I went on a date the other evening with my eldest and youngest daughters.
I escorted the two thirtysomethings –- I'm not so dumb as to divulge their actual ages — to see director Tom Hooper's dazzling new film, "Les Miserables."
Talk about a blubber fest! (That's not a snarky comment about Russell Crowe's poundage.) The three of us — Jenn, Melissa and myself — bawled our eyes bleary throughout the sappy, self-indulgent confection.
We were manipulated six ways to Sunday, but we loved it! We knew precisely what to expect, and got exactly what we wanted in fire-hose proportions.
"Les Miserables" is a musical play based on a novel of the same name by French poet and playwright Victor Hugo. Set in 19th-century France, it's the story of a peasant's quest for redemption after having served 19 years in jail for stealing a baguette.
The theater was packed the night we went, and my gender was seriously under-represented. Seventy-five percent of the attendees were females.
Where were the men? Next door, obviously, watching another mind-numbing James Bond car chase, suave casino move and helicopter crash. How shallow.
Guys, you're better than that!
Jenn and Melissa were our Drama Queens while they were growing up. The middle sister of the trio, Jade, was the quiet, cerebral one. Jade was a "fan" of her sisters' thespian exploits, but never a co-conspirator.
Jenn and Melissa were talented theater students in high school and college, and garnered lead roles in numerous productions. They've since passed along their diva DNA to a new generation of Carnett family damsels.
I, too, was a theater student in high school and in college, but I've never considered myself a drama nerd. Yet, I do so enjoy lusty, schmaltzy musicals — and "Les Miz" is a veritable freight train.
As a teenager, Jenn was exposed to a stage production of "Les Miz." She then introduced Melissa to the show and together, they attended several performances. They became ardent Miz-believers.
The musical itself ended up becoming a global phenomenon. To date, it's been produced in 42 countries and translated into 21 languages.
Over the years, I heard countless hours of music — the original Broadway cast recording — wafting from boom boxes in my daughters' bedrooms. There was the heart wrenching "I Dreamed a Dream"; the stirring "One Day More"; the martial "Do You Hear the People Sing"; the haunting "Empty Chairs at Empty Tables"; and the ethereal "Bring Him Home." Almost by osmosis, I developed a penchant for the score.
Slowly, ever so slowly, like water dripping on granite, I was brainwashed — er, beguiled — by the spectacle that is "Les Miserables."
I'm told that nearly 1.6 million Broadway-cast recordings have been sold, so I'm certain I'm not the only father of daughters to have been swept away by this cultural tsunami. Only recently have I fully accepted the reality that I'd be a very different man today were it not for the fact that I had daughters. I can't, for instance, imagine my 14-year-old grandson going loopy for "Les Miz."
I've never actually viewed a live production of the show, but in 1995 I was smitten by Lea Salonga's portrayal of Eponine in the 10th-anniversary "Dream Cast" concert production of the show that aired on PBS. I watched transfixed. Miss Salonga, by the way, achieved near-goddess status in our household.
In 2010, I went gaga for the 25th-anniversary concert that also aired on PBS. I watched it repeatedly.
On the way home from the metroplex the other evening we three critics compared notes in the car. We agreed that Anne Hathaway's casting as Fantine was sheer genius. Hugh Jackman rallied to overcome vocal limitations and turned in a wonderful performance as Jean Valjean. And Crowe, as Javert, managed to get through his performance without pulling a hamstring reaching for notes.
The girls and I reveled for three hours in magnificent mawkishness. Hooper and his actors and musicians played us like bass fiddles — and we loved it.
"Les Miz" rocks!
JIM CARNETT lives in Costa Mesa. His column runs Wednesdays.


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At Dawn
I will definitely add onto this chapter. Stay tuned. KEEP READING! PLEASE REVIEW! Suddenly, when Edward invites Bella to the meadow for a special occasion, Bella becomes suspicious. She thinks that it's simply a date. But Edward thinks otherwise. Will Bella survive this so called "date"? Or will she look at Edward in a different light? What will happen? Secrets will be revealed. Idenities will be forgotten.
This story is about Edward and Bella's "date" in the meadow. Will Edward do something, that they both will regret?
1. The Note
Rating 4.5/5 Word Count 942 Review this Chapter
I was on the ground. Helpless. Screaming in pain. Edward was smiling a wide grin. A devilish grin. He was leaning down towards me. I felt my jaw tighten and my eyes close. I winced. Something sharp dug into my skin, again and again. Alice was trying to tell me something. She had a vision. I writhed in agony. No more Charlie, I thought. No more Jacob, Billy, Mike, no more anyone. No more me. I shuddered on the ground at the thought.
I saw a pool of dark red liquid spread out around me. My blood I thought. The hole in my stomach widened with a rip of pain. I screeched into the darkness.The nothingness.
I awoke screaming and thrashing about in my damp sheets. I felt my cheeks and noticed, They were wet. I had tears rolling down them. I resumed my crying until I was empty with tears. I usually was empty. I spent so much crying these days. I never had time to do anything, except cry. The only thing I could do these days was meander into the sinister forest and ball my eyes out.
looked over to the clock and noticed that it was 2:00 AM. The usual time I always woke up screaming. My stomach lurched. To subdue the pain, I curled up into a ball and shut my eyes as tight as I could manage.
I had dreamt about Edward. His sweet, beautiful, flawless face morphed into a frightening grin. A grin I didn't know. He was always smiling, and to see him even show the slightest bit of a frown was unbearable. Impossible.
I sat bolt upright noticing that my furniture had been overturned and moved. Someone had been in my room and I hadn't noticed. I tried to stand up, but my legs were far to unstable. So I grabbed hold of the frame of my bed and pulled into a standing position. I could feel the buzz of the fridge under my cold feet.
Noticing a scrap of worn paper on my dresser, I moved across the floor and picked it up. I read it to myself twice and then once more. Incredible as it sounded, it read:
I have a favor to ask of you. Will you please join me in the meadow at 2:00 AM? I have a gift for you. If you do come, I'll see you. I love you, forever.
I tried to breathe but I couldn't find my breath. I staggered to the dresser noticing I had paced as I read and reread. I would call Alice later. About her vision.
Edward had something planned for me. A gift he said it was. I racked my brain for ideas of gifts vampires could give. Nothing came to mind. Excited and jumpy, I couldn't wait another second. I slipped into a pair of boots and snatched a light jacket from my open closet. Charlie had probably come in to check in on me and cracked it open for some light. As protective as he was, I did appreciate his effort to try and cooperate with me, a struggling teenager.
I dashed down the carpeted stairs and studied myself in the mirror. I still looked fresh with sleep and knew if i was to meet Edward, I should at least look nice. So I dabbed on a little shade of my mom's cover-up she had given me and applied a light coat of mascara.I then glazed my lips with a bit of gloss and I looked at myself again. I looked casual and not to eager so I debated that I looked good.
While I opened the front door, the frigid November air blew straight into my lungs. It felt good. I needed a little extra oxygen every once in a while.
Instantly regretting that I hadn't worn a heavier jacket, I hopped into my red Chevy. I slid the keys into the ignition and the engine roared to life. I was afraid that Charlie would hear and be suspicious. Just as I predicted I saw his bedroom light flick on and was struck with fear.
Knowing I wasn't supposed to be doing this, I pulled out of the driveway and drove down the street.
When I got to the end of the road, I fell out of the car and closed the door shut. There the trail was.
I ventured my was into the forest and found that it was more serene-looking then it ever had been. I enjoyed myself on the way there, whistling a tune happily, laughing at the sound of my boots squelching against the mud. I thought to myself that I shouldn't be this happy or energetic at this time of the night.
I found my pace quicken, obviously eager to see Edward. I didn't slow though. I actually ran faster and faster until a parting in the trees came into view and I sprinted.
The meadow blinded my eyes. I blinked and they abruptly got used to the lighting. The meadow was glorious. In the middle of the tall grass, there was a brown picnic table set up with a basket overflowing with food on top. Lanterns were entwined into the branches of the tall trees and there was my Edward.
Edward was standing in the middle of the field, right next to the table, smiling so big, I thought his handsome face might break. I found my lips stretching into a grin also.
"Hello, Bella." Edward called, waving to me. "Nice of you to join me."
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text: I've found that school has caused my brain to be fried to bits where it should be active and full of ideas and inspiration. I'm stuck with these school projects and homeworks which while few are interesting, take up my personal research time. When I took off some time from programming courses I was doing a lot of personal studying in C# and OpenGL and 3D math and when I started class, I just gave up for the time being and am now stuck doing SML and windows forms stuff when I want to go back to my personal projects. Most of the times when I am home I'm too tired to want to do anything and when I do I'm spending hours on my programming courses. I know I'm not the best at time management, but when I'm studying on stuff I'm really interested in I do it pretty well, and when I'm introduced to something I really am not that interested in it's like I am stuck with it and can't switch back to what I actually like doing until I'm finished doing the school work.