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In fiscal year 2009, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), both components of the Department of Justice (Justice), initiated over 1,600 cases involving explosives incidents such as actual or attempted bombings with improvised explosive devices. Since 2004, Justice has taken actions intended to address duplication and overlap in the areas of explosives investigations jurisdiction, training, information sharing and use of databases, and laboratory forensic analysis. However, a 2009 report from Justice's Inspector General found there has been little progress since 2004 in addressing overlap and duplication. In response to the Inspector General's report, in August 2010, the Acting Deputy Attorney General issued a protocol for assigning lead agency jurisdiction in explosives investigations. The memorandum accompanying the protocol directed the ATF and FBI to take actions to conduct assessments of its explosives operations and make recommendations by November 1, 2010, for consolidating and eliminating redundancies, where appropriate.
GAO has reviewed actions planned by Justice to reduce overlap and duplication and improve explosives investigation coordination between the ATF and FBI. GAO found that the actions Justice is proposing should address most of these issues, but additional monitoring by Congress and agency personnel could help ensure that plans to address these long-standing challenges are fully implemented and successful since Justice did not follow through on past efforts to achieve these same objectives. GAO has reported that federal agencies can enhance and sustain their collaborative efforts by creating the means to monitor and evaluate their efforts to identify areas for improvement. In his August 2010 memorandum directed to ATF and FBI, the Deputy Attorney General highlighted four areas of explosives investigations where duplication and redundant efforts needed to be addressed: jurisdiction, explosives training, shared explosives databases, and laboratories.
Jurisdiction.The Deputy Attorney General noted that defining lead agency jurisdiction over explosives investigations has been a persistent problem for Justice; led to confusion among federal, state, and local law enforcement; and resulted in duplication of effort between ATF and FBI. GAO's ongoing work on law enforcement coordination found that disputes have occurred over the past 5 years between the agencies regarding jurisdiction of explosives investigations and there is potential overlap. For example, Justice had designated FBI as the lead agency for incidents related to domestic terrorism but had not defined the term, so ATF and FBI have had disputes about when an incident would be related to terrorism, and, therefore, under FBI's jurisdiction. A 2009 Inspector General report found that, despite Justice's attempts to coordinate explosives investigations and activities, the components have developed separate and conflicting approaches to these investigations. The August 2010 directive attempted to resolve the dispute regarding jurisdiction by citing a definition for both "International Terrorism" and "Domestic Terrorism," and outlining factors associated with an explosive incident that indicate a presumptive nexus to terrorism. The directive also intended to clarify roles and responsibilities in all other explosives jurisdiction matters. However, it is too soon to know to what extent the directive will resolve the dispute.
Explosives training. ATF and FBI continue to separately operate their own explosives-training facilities and programs, both of which are located at the Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama, resulting in potential duplication.[1]Regarding facilities, for example, the FBI's Hazardous Devices School trains and certifies federal, state, and local bomb technicians and bomb squads. Similarly, ATF's National Center for Explosives Training and Research offers explosives courses to ATF and state and local law enforcement personnel. Regarding programs, both components offer post-blast explosives training.[2]According to ATF and FBI data, the cost of the training facilities in fiscal year 2010 totaled $11.0 million and $7.5 million, respectively.[3]In August 2010, the Deputy Attorney General directed the components to provide a joint plan to consolidate training programs with recommendations for consolidating and eliminating redundancies. Justice officials said the components submitted a plan in November 2010 that proposed consolidating post-blast training programs and curricula beginning in the spring of 2011, which is consistent with the Deputy Attorney General's directive. Justice officials also stated that both components concluded they should continue to operate separate explosives-training facilities because of the high demand and wait lists for explosives courses offered at each facility. By continually monitoring the need to support both facilities, Justice's ability to determine that its resources are being used effectively could be strengthened.
Shared explosives database.In 2009, Justice's Inspector General reported that ATF and FBI have not effectively consolidated and maintained one distinct explosives incident reporting database, as directed by the Attorney General. Also, the Inspector General found that although FBI had discontinued use of its database that compiles information on explosives incidents and transferred its historical data into ATF's Bomb and Arson Tracking System,[4]FBI had not subsequently input any additional explosives incident information. In addition, ATF had not consistently reported all its explosives incidents to the Bomb and Arson Tracking System. Taken together, these omissions undermined the components' ability to accurately determine trends in explosives incidents. In response to the August 2010 protocol, according to Justice officials, the components have developed and plan to implement information-sharing procedures in early 2011 to ensure that FBI bomb technicians and state and local bomb squads have access to and report explosives incidents to the reporting system. By monitoring implementation of this plan, Justice would be better positioned to obtain feedback for improving both policy and operational effectiveness.
Explosives laboratories.Both ATF and FBI have laboratories that perform forensic analysis of explosives evidence. Specifically, ATF operates laboratories in Maryland, Georgia, and California, while FBI uses its Virginia laboratory for forensic analysis. For fiscal year 2010, ATF reported the cost to operate its three laboratories was $11.2 million,[5]and FBI reported the cost to conduct analysis at its laboratory was $6.6 million.[6]In 2004, the Attorney General required Justice to establish a Lab Board to examine its available laboratory resources and workloads, analyze demands, and make recommendations to the Deputy Attorney General on the most productive allocation of resources. While Justice established the Lab Board, its Inspector General found no record of a report or recommendations. In August 2010, the Deputy Attorney General directed the Lab Board to reconvene to develop recommendations by November 1, 2010, for further integration of Justice's laboratory capabilities, among other things. According to Justice officials, the components submitted a progress report in November 2010 that outlines areas they believed could produce operational efficiencies and better coordination. These areas include the adoption of a common laboratory information management system and coordinated training of laboratory personnel. By continually monitoring these actions, Justice's ability to ensure that the components follow through on these areas to better coordinate and integrate laboratory resources could be enhanced.
[1]FBI also operates the Secure Training Facility and Vehicle-Borne Improvised Explosives Device Training Facility as part of the Hazardous Devices School in Alabama.
[2]Post-blast explosives training teaches methods and processes for investigating explosives scenes.
[3]$7.4 million of ATF's cost were for construction.
[4]The Bomb and Arson Tracking System is intended to be Justice's single source for reporting and sharing explosives incident information.
[5]According to ATF, the laboratory costs include explosives, arson, and firearms forensic analysis.
[6]According to FBI, the costs for explosives forensic analysis does not include Laboratory Division employees who perform forensic analysis on improvised-explosive-device-related submissions.
Continually monitoring these efforts can help key decision makers within the agencies, as well as clients and stakeholders, obtain feedback for improving policy and operational effectiveness. Justice, ATF, and FBI officials have planned or begun actions to reduce duplication and overlap, and achieve efficiencies, which Justice officials stated are responsive to the Deputy Attorney General's directives. These actions represent positive steps that, if implemented effectively, should lead to more efficient approaches to explosives investigations and related activities such as training, information sharing, and forensic analysis. However, given that the components did not fully follow through on past efforts to achieve these same objectives, by continually monitoring the components' actions, Congress and Justice would be better positioned to ensure that the plans have their intended effect and are enforced.
The information contained in this analysis is based on GAO's ongoing work for the Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee on law enforcement coordination and recent Inspector General reports and internal efforts at Justice to address the Inspector General's recommendations to improve explosives-related coordination between ATF and FBI. GAO interviewed representatives from the Deputy Attorney General's Office, FBI, and ATF to discuss actions planned or under way to remedy duplication and overlap in explosives-related operations. GAO also obtained and analyzed fiscal year 2010 cost data from the components, and assessed the data sources. GAO found the components' cost data reliable for the purposes of this report.
For additional information about this area, contact Eileen R. Larence at (202) 512-8777 or email@example.com.
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text: What is a tiebreaker? Are some tiebreakers better than others? Does law have tiebreakers? Are ties so terrible that we need to break them? In this CBI, Professor Samaha offers answers to these questions. Using various examples from life and law, he will explain how tiebreakers can be thought of as a peculiar sort of lexically inferior decision rule. He will then indicate when tiebreaking decision structures seem appropriate, as well as the trade-offs associated with different kinds of tiebreakers. For instance, randomization is a tiebreaker that is often theoretically attractive but politically infeasible, while using a variable relevant to the merits of a decision is often politically feasible but theoretically flawed. Finally, Professor Samaha will suggest that, in important ways, law is one large and imperfect tiebreaker for the rest of social life.

subset: commoncrawl


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Piezoelectric Materials: Applying the Standards
James Ransley January 27, 2016
Previously on the blog, we detailed the standards employed to describe piezoelectric materials. There are two piezoelectric material standards supported in COMSOL Multiphysics: the IRE 1949 standard and the IEEE 1978 standard. Today, we will demonstrate how to set up the orientation of a crystal, specifically an AT cut quartz plate, within both standards.Lire la Suite
James Ransley October 2, 2014
Standards form an integral part of the work we do as engineers, providing a common language for communicating complex information. But standards committees are not omnipotent and sometimes revised standards are not universally adopted. This has happened in the case of the standards for piezoelectric materials, particularly for quartz. This blog post explains the multiple standards used to describe piezoelectrics in literature. Although the particular focus of this post is on quartz, the standards described apply for any piezoelectric material.Lire la Suite
James Ransley May 16, 2013
Vacuum technology has many important applications, from semiconductor device and MEMS fabrication, to vacuum coatings for corrosion protection, optical films, and metallization. The new Molecular Flow Module provides vacuum engineers with previously unavailable tools for modeling gas flows within vacuum systems.Lire la Suite
James Ransley November 1, 2012
Since I joined COMSOL in 2010 I've presented about half a dozen webinars. Last week we held a webinar on Vacuum System Simulations and it was definitely the most fun webinar to-date. Historically, simulation has not been used extensively in the vacuum industry, so I was nervous that there wouldn't be much interest in such a specialized topic.Lire la Suite


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I have a Bernina DCE 2500 serger that I purchased before I became ill about 10 years ago for $1,800. I have just recently begun to use it over the last 2 years. Made several pillowcases and a quilt top. The pin on the needle plate broke and now Bernina is not making it and it is unavailable. I have called everywhere I can find from NY to Calif. Can't find it. Does anyone no who may have one in their repair part stock?
This is the second very expensive item I have purchased that was Bernina that they no longer support. Last one I will ever buy!!!! Other companies support their products.


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DETROIT (Reuters) - General Motors Co is preparing to recall about 33,000 Chevrolet Cruze sedans with potentially defective air bags made by troubled Japanese supplier Takata Corp, the automaker said late Wednesday.
In a crash, the driver-side air bag on the 2013-2014 Cruze could fail to inflate, GM said.
The issue is not directly related to other problems with Takata air bags that have led to the recall of about 10.5 million vehicles worldwide, many of them made by Honda Motor Co and Toyota Motor Corp, including 3 million earlier this week.
With the Cruze, GM is "moving quickly to identify the vehicles involved, and other facts, including whether there are any accidents or injuries, all of which will be shared" with U.S. safety regulators, GM spokesman Jim Cain said.
GM expects to file an official recall notice "soon" with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Cain said.
GM earlier this year recalled 21,000 Cruze sedans from model year 2012, also equipped with Takata air bags that could fail to inflate in a crash because of electrical problems.
GM on Wednesday had initially advised its North American dealers not to sell new and used Cruze sedans on their lots. Later in the day, GM said "many" of the 33,000 affected cars are in customers' hands, and the rest with dealers.
The Cruze is GM's top-selling car in North America. GM has built about half a million 2013-2014 model year Cruze sedans since October 2012.
For model year 2013, GM introduced a new Takata "smart" driver-side air bag on the Cruze, which the automaker said helps reduce the risk of injury in crashes.
On Wednesday, Cain said that Takata air bags on some 2013-2014 Cruze sedans "may have been assembled with an incorrect part."
Production of Cruze sedans continues at GM's plant in Lordstown, Ohio, he said.
The latest issues with the Cruze follow a series of safety-related problems that have plagued GM since early this year, many of them because of air bag-related issues.
So far this year, GM has issued 44 recalls covering about 20 million vehicles globally. Among those recalls is one for older model Chevrolet Cobalt and other GM small cars with faulty ignition switches, which have been linked to the deaths of at least 13 people.
Additional reporting by Ben Klayman in Detroit; Editing by Chris Reese, Steve Orlofsky, Cynthia Osterman and Ken Wills


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As the name implies, the Vibro Fat is a more substantial version of Crazy Fish's popular Vibro Worm. The fatter body allows it to take a larger jig head and there are also hook slots on the back and belly to aid weedless rigging. The more rotund shape also adds weight to the lure, which helps with casting distance. With the same lively swimming action as it's slimmer relatives, the Vibro Fat is a great choice of lure for perch, pike and zander, as well as bass and pollack. Each lure is also scented with squid additive for extra attraction. As with all Crazy Fish lures, they come nicely packaged to keep the tails straight, 5pcs per pack.
*This colour is UV enhanced for added visibility in the water
Length: 2.7" (7cm)
Weight: 3.2g
Colour: 37 Lollipop (see photo)
Scent: Squid
Price: £2.50 per pack


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Shipping Parcel Post in 1918
Two Girls Sent By Parcel Post over New Motor Mail Truck Route; Postage $1.23
from the Springfield, Mo. Republican September 3, 1918, page 8.
"Josephine McCall, 7 years old, and Iris Carter, 8 years old, have been stamped, mailed and yes delivered by the parcel post from their home in Red Top to their aunt, Mrs. Bessie McCall, 1221 North Campbell Street, Springfield. They came all the way in one of the new motor trucks over one of the new routes and were driven by W. E. Fawcett who delivered them.
When the relatives of Josephine and Iris at Red Top were troubled as to how to get the children to Springfield without sending someone up with them they hit upon the idea of sending them by parcel post and by the way of the new motor route or "a la motor truck". The regulations say that all goods must be stamped and weighed, registered, etc.
The children were weighed and the cost of sending them figured at the regular rates of sending things. Josephine, it was found could go for 52 cents but it took 70 cents to pay for the mailing and delivery of Iris.
A dollar and twenty-three cents was paid and the children were stamped like ordinary parcels. When the driver of the new motor truck, W. E. Fawcett , came steaming into Red Top he found the two children awaiting him along with other things he was to deliver to Springfield.
Mr. Fawcett believes that a kid or two at a time to deliver is all right but he is glad the idea does not occur to many parents at present when moving their children and he is dreading the time when he will find children all along the way and persons in parcels at every post office."
The Smithsonian has a variety of images in their online exhibit Parcel Post: Delivery of Dreams. Be sure to read Delivery of day-old chicks by parcel post which mentions delivery of another little girl in Idaho and Delivery of butter and eggs by parcel post about the first truck parcel post delivery from St. Louis, Mo.
Find this article at


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» Tires » Kumho » Ecsta STX (KL12)
Price start from $132.24 + Tax
Light Truck and SUVs / All Season / High Performance
The ECSTA STX meets the demanding needs of the SUV/ light truck UHP and tuner market. Engineered to provide "extreme performance and eye appealing appearance" for a full size range of sizes from 15" through 26". The all season performance provides all-out wet and dry handling that has been previously reserved for passenger tires.
Unprecedented tire performance. For the safety of your family. For comfort when you are driving. For an expression of your pride, the ECSTA SPT KU31 has been developed by Formula Technology
- Special high performance tread compaound maximizes traction in both wet and dry.
- High strength steel belts, covered with a spiral wrapped nylon cap ply, provides excellent durability and handling.
- High bead apex design optimizes the tire for good ride comfort with excellent steering response.


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Rush, on learning that Elizabeth Edwards has been diagnosed with Stage IV metastatic breast cancer:
What is their religion? I don't doubt they're religious people, but, we talked about this. Political people are different than you and I. And, you know, most people when told a family member's been diagnosed with the kind of cancer Elizabeth Edwards has, they turn to God. The Edwards turned to the campaign.
Their religion is politics and the quest for the White House. And that's -- it's not just with them, I mean, it's part and parcel of political people -- undergo all this stuff, the media anal all over their private life being made public even by the candidates themselves -- it's all part of the drill.
[...] If you're Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton, how do you now attack John Edwards? Not a problem for Hillary, the Clinton [inaudible] will find a way. But Barack, it's going to be a challenge. [...] What the Edwards campaign is going to do here is see what the reaction is within the ranks of Democrat [sic] voters -- as far as this announcement is concerned -- and then go on from there. If there is not a big jump, if this doesn't cause a breakout, if this doesn't cause a big uptick, then, at some point, Senator Edwards will probably have to suspend the campaign.
Truly these are despicable people.


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Time is running out for local shoppers to find the right Christmas gifts.
It�s late morning last Wednesday � with six shopping days left before Christmas the shoppers at Kinston�s Walmart Supercenter mainly consist of those buying food and other regular household items.
Shift Manager Charles Mayhue warned that will change later in the day, however, especially as shoppers seek out those final Christmas gifts.
�When it picks up, it seems like it just floods,� Mayhue said. �People come out of everywhere.�
He said many big-ticket gifts on sale at Walmart, such as televisions, iPads and other electronics were purchased on Black Friday after Thanksgiving, and have been placed on layaway.
Shoppers �have been very conservative about their money,� and focused more on buying household essentials in the weeks leading up to Christmas, Mayhue explained.
He noted toys and bicycles have been popular Christmas gifts among Walmart shoppers, as well as �ride-on� toys such as child-size John Deere tractors.
Many shoppers have been waiting until the last minute in the hope of picking up a good deal.
�You'd be surprised how many people come in and shop for that last minute item,� Mayhue said.
Store Manager Matt MacIntosh said electronics have also been popular among Christmas shoppers.
He said staffers working the store�s third shift from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. spend much of their time restocking shelves, so when shoppers come in at 7 a.m., �It's as full as it can possibly be.�
Walmart will close at 8 p.m. Monday for Christmas Eve, and will be closed all day Tuesday for Christmas.
�That's the only day of the year that we�re closed,� MacIntosh said.
The store will open again at 5 a.m. Wednesday for the crush of post-Christmas shoppers.
Last Wednesday, Heather Thigpen of Snow Hill and her husband Justin brought their 4-year-old daughter Kadence and 7-month-old son Carter through toy aisles laden with Barbie dolls, Legos, board games, puzzles, even Angry Birds-themed toys based on the popular downloadable video game.
Heather Thigpen said she had found gifts for her immediate family, and was currently shopping for extended family members.
She said it had been �pretty easy� to find the desired gifts.
Rebekah Burke of Kinston also found what she was looking for last Wednesday. She and her girlfriend Kayla Lanekinsyk went shopping in Walmart later in the afternoon, as the number of shoppers began to pick up.
�We�ve got everything,� Burke said as she put a Nerf dart gun � a gift for her nephew � in the trunk of their car. �That wraps it all up.�
Last minute by necessity
Some shoppers must wait until the last minute to buy Christmas gifts because they either cannot afford to shop sooner, or they are working up to the last minute.
�You have to budget your money. � You have to pay your bills and you have to get for your kids at the same time,� Tanita Simpler of Kinston said as she stood in the Walmart parking lot.
Simpler had purchased the majority of the gifts her 14 and 9-year-old sons wanted for Christmas, but she was waiting to purchase an XBOX 360 gaming console for her older son in the hope the price would drop closer to Christmas.
�Sometimes things take all your money, but as long as you know that your kid�s happy it�ll be all right,� the working single mother said.
Simpler said seeing children with no gifts on Christmas morning will �really have you stressed out, crying.�
�It's always something,� she continued. �As long as you keep your head up and keep striving and working, everything will be all right. God makes ways, he makes ways � he makes things happen.�
Shawn Hill and Melshawn Moore, both of Kinston, were working as bell ringers for the Salvation Army in front of Walmart last Wednesday.
They said they were scheduled to work nearly every day, collecting money in the Salvation Army�s signature red kettles, through Christmas Eve. They also said they would not get paid until Christmas Eve, leaving them little time to shop for their loved ones.
�Hopefully, everything should work out, if I get off early enough,� said Moore, who will also celebrate his 26th birthday on Christmas.
He added: �It is what it is � I get paid on Monday, it�s the day before my birthday and I still have Christmas shopping to do.�
Hill eagerly rang his bell, smiling and waving at Walmart shoppers, greeting them and telling them to smile because �Santa�s watching.�
�I pray to God every morning that I make it to work every morning, with my health and strength, to be on time,� he said.
Hill, who has to purchase gifts for his children, parents and siblings, said he might not be able to shop before Christmas, but expected to see some very good after-Christmas deals.
�The main thing that they want is for me to come home for Christmas,� he said of his parents and siblings � his children live out of state. �That�s like the biggest present.�
Maj. Robin Starr, corps officer for the Salvation Army�s Kinston office, said bell ringers will get off in �plenty of time� on Monday to go shopping.
�Usually we shut down around 2 or 3 p.m. so everybody can do their shopping and get back to their families � including us; I know my kids would like for me to be home on Christmas Eve,� he said.
The funds raised through the Salvation Army kettles are meant to cover programs at Christmas and the rest of the year.
Starr said Friday the goal this year is to raise $60,000, but �at this point it doesn�t look like we�re going to reach our goal unless we do exceptionally well.�
Avoiding the crush
Wayne Waters of Greene County came to the Kinston Walmart with his wife Melanie last week.
They were not Christmas shopping, though, but rather buying household items while visiting relatives in Kinston.
�We�ve pretty much wrapped up our Christmas shopping,� Waters said as he sat in his pickup truck, waiting for his wife to come out of the store.
Waters said he and his wife did the majority of their Christmas shopping online, allowing them to avoid the crush of stores.
�I've never been one to wait in line at a store at 4 a.m.,� he said. �Granted, I might not get the deal from shopping in the store, but paying the extra money is worth not standing in a line.�
Frances Deaver of Wooten�s Crossroads walked up to the Sears store at Vernon Park Mall last week with her daughter, Peggy Pate of Scott�s Store in Duplin County.
Deaver said she was buying a washer and dryer for her and her husband. She said she typically gives money to her loved ones at Christmas.
�Let them spend and run around and do all the walking,� she explained. �I always try to make sure that my grandkids get something that nobody else does.�
Pate said she was still catching up on Christmas shopping for her nieces and nephews.
�It's just been a real busy season for us, we�ve had a lot of activities,� she said, citing a visit she made to a daughter who lives in California. �I just didn't get everything done before now, and I�m still trying to catch up, to finish up.�
Pate said she is not focusing on buying the latest, hottest items.
�Being a grandmother and an aunt, that's not as big of as an issue now as when our kids were young,� she said. �We�re just getting things that we know they can benefit from.�
David Anderson can be reached at 252-559-1077 or firstname.lastname@example.com. Follow him on Twitter at DavidFreePress.
Here are hours of operation for some local retailers on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day:
Christmas Eve: Close 8 p.m.
Christmas: Closed
Christmas Eve: 6 a.m.-10 p.m.
Christmas: Closed
Christmas Eve: 7 a.m.-6 p.m.
Christmas: Closed
JC Penney:
Christmas Eve: 7 a.m.-6 p.m.
Christmas: Closed
Christmas Eve: 8 a.m.-10 p.m., store; 8 a.m.-5 p.m., pharmacy
Christmas: 9 a.m.-6 p.m., store; pharmacy closed


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Using DK wool and 3.5mm needles...
Cast on 32
row 1 - K2, [P4, K4] rep to last two stitches, K2
row 2 - P2, [K4, P4] rep to last two stitches, P2
unless stated, repeat rows 1 on right side & 2 on wrong side
row 7 - K2, P4, c2b, c2f, P4, K4, P4, c2b, c2f, P4, K2
row 10 - P2, K4, c2f(p), c2b(p), K4, P4, K4, c2f(p), c2b(p), K4, P2
row 13 - repeat row 7
row 21 - repeat rows 7-13
row 31 - K1, [YO, K2TOG] to end
row 38 - cast off following rib pattern
Sew french knots for eyes on the 4 owls, and then mattress stitch a seam down the side and along bottom using long cast off end.
The idea is to be a snug fit, my phone (Samsung Galaxy Ace) is 11cm x 5cm x 1cm. The ribs are a size to fit a 'chunky' phone (i.e. iPhone 4 square edge rather than 3 curved taper) and nicely edge it, but I'm sure would also fit more slimline models too. Let me know how it looks and fits for other models.
Patterns I love that helped give me some inspiration to put this pattern together include:
- My Knitting Basket Owl Cup Cosy
- Charlotte Nash Knits and Spins iPod Cosy


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Leaving the embassy where they stayed with the British Ambassador to France, Lord Llewelyn and his wife, the couple received a warm send off and flowers from local children.
The Duke and Duchess arriving at the Stade de France for the match.
It was reported the trip was actually planned around the rugby match with the Foreign Office asking Kensington Palace to plan a short visit. Today marks the first Wales match Prince William has attended since becoming Patron of the Welsh Rugby Union.
William and Kate singing the Welsh National Anthem.
The Duke and Duchess enjoying the match.
Prince William chats with rugby union coach and former French secretary of sport Bernard Laporte.
It was an incredibly tense match which saw the game run into twenty minutes overtime before France clinched a victory scoring in the 100th minute.
The match ended with a final score of 20-18.
A great photo of Kate which no doubt captures one of the tense moments in the match.
Prince William was visibly disappointed.
The Telegraph reports: "It was the 100-minute match which finally consented to reach its conclusion. Wales were deservedly beaten in the game in which time stood still, in which 20 minutes injury time took place, which became so interminable that officials in Dublin were forced to delay the kick-off of Ireland versus England, the Six Nations finale which was supposed to end a full 20 minutes after the match in Paris had finished. France versus Wales in 2017, threatened never to end. But it did and for France it gave them rich hope of finishing runner-up the Championship table, their best placing in six years. For Wales, it killed the ambition of leapfrogging Ireland into fourth place in the rankings, before the World Cup draw in May."
The coat was a very good choice with red featuring in both the Welsh and French flags. Underneath Kate wore a turtleneck sweater and skirt (or perhaps one of her turtleneck dresses).
It is very much thought Kate's black ankle boots are the same pair she wore in New York in 2014.
Kate's has had them for years, but they remain unidentified.
The Duchess was wearing her Cartier jewellery from this morning.
And carried her very chic Chanel bag.
William and Kate headed back to London after the match. It's been a very interesting two days. I enjoyed the itinerary and the mixture of events. From celebrating UK and French links, to meeting victims of the Paris attacks, viewing art, posing against the backdrop of the Eiffel Tower to a glittering gala, it encompassed quite a bit in little more than a 24 hour period. The Duke and Duchess are excellent ambassadors for the United Kingdom, and with Brexit, the Paris trip gave us a taste of what we can expect in the future, with a visit to Germany and Poland scheduled for July. On the fashion front, I was impressed with Kate's wardrobe which included Catherine Walker, McQueen, Jenny Packham, Carolina Herrera and, of course, Chanel. I thought it a very good show of sartorial diplomacy to support the Iconic French brand whilst largely sporting British labels. What were your highlights of the visit? Which look is your favourite? Chanel and McQueen are clear winners for me.
Paris Blog Posts:
- The Cambridges arrival, meeting with President Hollande and their appearance at a reception celebrating UK-French cultural ties can be viewed here.
- The glittering black-tie dinner where Kate wore Jenny Packham can be viewed here.
- Kate in Chanel for day two in Paris can be viewed here.
We'll next see the Duchess on Thursday when she will attend the launch of a series of educational films created by Best Beginnings, a charity partner of the Heads Together campaign, to raise awareness of maternal mental health challenges and start conversations about the well-being of parents and their children.
Thank you for reading and commenting throughout the trip. It was a very enjoyable one to cover :)


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Note: The final versions of legislation signed by the governor can be found on the legislative council website with the exception of the cover and signature pages. If you need copies of the bills, there will be a charge of $ 0.25 per page, including state agencies. If the bill is not listed, it has not been signed by the governor.
© 2012 - 2019 New Mexico Secretary of State


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MILPITAS, CA-April 7, 2010, SanDisk Corporation (NASDAQ: SNDK) will host a conference call on Wednesday, April 21, 2010 at 2:00 PM, Pacific Time, to discuss its first quarter financial results. To listen to the conference call, please dial 719-457-2656 at least 10 minutes before the call commences. The dial-in password is 7487142. After the market closes on April 21, 2010 and prior to the conference call, SanDisk will publish its first quarter year 2010 financial results press release via BusinessWire.
The conference call will also be on listen-only mode webcast and it can be accessed live from SanDisk's website at www.sandisk.com/ir. A replay of the webcast will also be made available, on-demand, following the conclusion of the conference call.
SanDisk Corporation is the global leader in flash memory cards, - from research, manufacturing and product design to consumer branding and retail distribution. SanDisk's product portfolio includes flash memory cards for mobile phones, digital cameras and camcorders; digital audio/video players; USB flash drives for consumers and the enterprise; embedded memory for mobile devices; and solid state drives for computers. SanDisk is a Silicon Valley-based S&P 500 company, with more than half its sales outside the United States.
|Jay Iyer


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Shady Lady - mystical imagery and swirling shapes combine to create this fantasy wall art.
This Digital Wall Art comes in 6 easy to apply
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Agri – Culture: What is the role of social sciences and humanities in science?
August 2016, almost a full year into the new term of a new government, and Harper's war on science still goes on. One of the last remaining fronts is the Central Experimental Farm in Ottawa; founded in 1886, and one of the longest running agricultural research facilities in the world. In 2014 MP John Baird announced that 60 acres of land from the Central Experimental Farm would be leased to the Ottawa Hospital for $1 to build a new hospital campus, and the give-away was done without consultation, assessment or consideration given to the research being undertaken on the site. The land given away includes Field No. 1, one of the oldest continuously monitored agricultural sites in the world, and the site of a 26-year ongoing study on crops and soil cited in the IPCC reports.
On Tuesday August 16th at 7pm, join us upstairs at the Canal Royal Oak where Peter Anderson, a historical and cultural geographer of science, will discuss how his research on the history of Ottawa's Central Experimental Farm relates to ongoing efforts to protect and expand Agriculture Canada's scientific capacity at the Farm.
An active member of the Coalition to Protect the Farm, Pete places the research at the farm in its historic and cultural context, arguing for the importance of continuing research at the Farm by highlighting past successes. He also applies the lessons of environmental history and science & technologies studies to support agricultural science against the lingering effects of the last decade's science wars, emphasizing the importance of basic and applied government research in a time of changing climates.
The Coalition to Protect the Farm is a community organization dedicated to protecting the Central Experimental Farm (CEF) in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
RSVP below:
Skepticamp Ottawa 2015
Skepticamp is a user-driven mini-conference on science, skepticism and critical thinking. Our 2015 event features a live Reality Check podcast and kids' program.
This November 15th, join CFI and the Ottawa Skeptics for our fifth open conference event, Skepticamp Ottawa 2015.
Skepticamps, modeled on the BarCamp approach of non-curated, user-driven content and participation, are entertaining, educational and informative events in a relaxed environment. The overall theme is science, skepticism and critical thinking. This year we are at the Hintonburg Community Centre, Basement #2. Come along to listen to some great talks, ask questions, and meet interesting people!
Everyone's welcome!
There will be a separate kids program.
The Reality Check will be doing a live Podcast. (http://www.trcpodcast.com/)
If you can't make the full day, feel free to just drop in for the talks you want to see. We look forward to seeing you there! To give us an idea of attendance please RSVP.
Skepticamp Ottawa 2014 – Logistics
Sunday May 4th, 2014
Doors open 0930
Talks begin at 1000 (full schedule here)
Lunch break from 1230 – 1330
Ends at 1730
Post-Skepticamp trip to a pub: details to be arranged on the day
The Shopify Lounge
Access is through the carpark behind the building, at the Unicorn Door entrance. Look out for the Skepticamp signage.
Skepticamp Ottawa 2014 is a relaxed and informal event. Feel free to come in and out for the talks that interest you – we'll be there all day!
Thanks to our sponsors at the Centre for Inquiry Ottawa, we'll provide snacks and coffee, but for lunch we recommend checking out the market. There are many restaurants and eateries located very near to the Shopify Lounge.
Costs: Skepticamp Ottawa 2014 is a free event, but we do have some expenses to cover. A suggested donation of $5 will help (if you can afford it).
Seating and space: A former nightclub, the Lounge is not short of space. Seating, however, may be limited. We don't want to limit RSVPs so be aware that for some talks it may be standing room only, soapbox-style. If you need a seat for any reason, please let the organisers know and we'll do what we can to accommodate you.
Conduct guidelines / safe(r) spaces:
The Ottawa Skeptics run open and friendly events. Please help us to keep it that way!
The Ottawa Skeptics want to ensure that anyone attending our events is able to participate in them fully, and we are committed to providing a safe and hospitable environment for everyone, regardless of gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, or religion. We do not tolerate harassment of participants in any form.
If you are being harassed, notice that someone else is being harassed, or have any other concerns, please contact an organizer and we will work with you to resolve the issue.
The organizers reserve the right to remove anyone from an event if they deem their actions to be disruptive to the event and/or its participants.
Contact us using this link, or speak to an organiser in person at any of our events.
Skepticamp Ottawa 2014: Schedule
1000 1005 Marlowe: Welcome to Skepticamp
1005 1040 Jim Davies: The Beauty of Bad Ideas
1040 1100 Alex Gonzalez: The bush of life: cladistics for the layperson
1100 1120 Kyla Cullain: Immunization: Biggest Conspiracy in the World or Excellent Science?
1120 1135 Break
1135 1155 Kirsten Brouse: Why co-ops make good capitalism
1155 1230 Katie Gibbs: No Science, No Evidence, No Truth, No Democracy
1230 1330 Lunch break*
1330 1350 M Farkas-Dyck: Food and Alternatives
1350 1410 Krista Thomas: 5 Myths about GMOs
1410 1430 Clifford Beninger: Why the 12-step Disease Concept of Addiction Must be Abandoned
1430 1505 Michael Kruse: Science Advocacy on the Fringe
1505 1520 Break
1520 1540 Nicholas Robinson: Do you understand F=ma?
1540 1600 Danielle Quigley: Why is scientific inquiry important to bullying prevention and intervention programs?
1600 1620 Darren McKee: Myths of Foreign Aid
1620 1630 Break
1630 1650 Josh Bowie: Free Will
1650 1710 Able Varghese: Engineering and Tech. Entreprenurship
1710 1730 Julian Janes: Cold reading: train to be a charlatan in 15 minutes or less
*(lunch break: no food provided)
Skepticamp Ottawa 2014: Speakers and talks
Kyla Cullain. Vaccine Preventable Diseases: The need for a shift in strategy
Synopsis: The once nearly eliminated vaccine-preventable diseases of the past are making a return to the developed world, but is it worth continuing the battle with the anti-vaccination movement? This talk outlines a controversial approach to immunization, where to shift our current efforts, and the inevitabilities otherwise.
Bio: Kyla Cullain, BScN, R.N. Kyla's public health background is in Communicable Diseases, Outbreak Management and Vaccine Preventable Diseases. She is passionate about promoting evidence-based decision making in our communities, health care organizations and governments. Kyla is currently completing her Master of Nursing with a focus on community health development and organizational leadership.
Josh Bowie. Free Will.
Synopsis: The evidence for the concepts of free will and determinism, and the problems with the former, and the societal/ethical implications of the findings.
Bio: Josh Bowie is a Masters student at Carleton University in Cognitive Sciencewith an undergrad in Neuroscience and a Masters in Public Policy and Administration. I work full time at Industry Canada in the area of science policy.
Krista Thomas. 5 Myths about GMOs.
Synopsis: Are GMOs tested? Have they been linked to cancer? This talk takes a look at popular messages about GMOs in social media and attempts to separate fact from fiction
Bio: Krista has an M.Sc. in biotechnology from the University of Guelph. For a number of years she worked as a biotechnology regulator with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, overseeing programs for the environmental release of genetically modified crops in Canada.
Nicholas Robinson. Do you understand F=ma?
Synopsis: Scientific education and literacy. Nicholas will present several statistics illustrating the lack of scientific literacy and offer ideas on how the education system has helped contribute to a lack of scientific literacy among the general public.
Bio: High-school student (grade 12) in Ottawa. Hoping to study physics.
Alex Demarsh. Near/Far: An introduction to construal level theory.
Synopsis: Thinking, Near and Far. The concept of distinct modes of cognition operating under different circumstances (so called "dual process models") is a useful addition to any Skeptic's toolbox. In this talk, I'll describe one such model; Construal Level Theory (CLT; aka Near vs. Far thinking). Succinctly, the extend to which objects under consideration are perceived as psychologically distant influences the level of concreteness with which we think; in general, more distance equals more abstraction. I'll give an overview of the theory, present contexts in which one mode may be advantageous, and suggest general strategies conducive to mode switching.
Bio: Epidemiologist by day, psychological dumpster diver by night.
M Farkas-Dyck. Food and Alternatives.
Synopsis: Much common counsel on food is scientifically unsound, for examples, that grains are healthy foods or that salt, saturated fat, and cholesterol cause cardiovascular disease. In this talk, I shall evaluate such claims with evolutionary rationale and empirical data.
Bio: A space systems design engineering student and an amateur computer programmer and theoretical physicist.
Able Varghese. Engineering and Tech. Entrepreneurship.
Synopsis: Engineering and Tech. Entrepreneurship. 1.) How closely related are they? 2.) What makes an entrepreneurial person feel limited? is he really limited in some way? 3.) How big of an influence and change you can create in the society using your entrepreneurial skills?
Bio: Mechanical Engineering student at Carleton. Have completed or been part of almost 20 engineering projects. Won city and provincial recognitions for many of them, including some NASA hosted project competitions. Have run & carried out Executive roles in many Organizations/Clubs. A budding entrepreneur and business enthusiast. Find more:- http://ca.linkedin.com/in/ablevarghese
Michael Kruse. Science Advocacy on the Fringe.
Synopsis: Science is only one aspect of any public policy decision, but it is being increasingly ignored in favour of straight-out ideology or relativistic games. Bad Science Watch is fighting to keep science in the picture in areas like public health and social welfare and we need to inspire the current and next generation of science-literate citizens to get involved in the fight. This talk will go over some of our projects and their results since our inception in 2011.
Bio: Michael is an advanced-care paramedic in York Region, just north of Toronto, Ontario. He has been active in the science advocacy community for 5 years and is currently the chair of the board at Bad Science Watch, a non-profit group promoting good science in public policy. Michael blogs at Huffingtonpost.ca and Skepticnorth.com and is committed to a compassionate defense of science for the betterment of all Canadians.
Darren McKee. Myths of Foreign Aid.
Synopsis: An exploration of some questions about foreign aid such as whether too much is given to if it actually works.
Bio: Darren McKee is the host of the Canadian skeptical podcast The Reality Check and has given presentations at three previous Skepticamps.
Kirsten Brouse. Why co-ops make good capitalism.
Synopsis: This talk will explore a few of the pros and cons associated with our current economic system and why cooperatives, and the cooperative movement might be an interesting answer to some of the pitfalls of capitalism. Can cooperatives keep the pros of corporate capitalism while mitigating some of the cons?
Bio: Kirsten is a founding board member of the West End Well cooperative – a cooperatively owned business opening in Hintonburg in June. She is also an organizational consultant specializing in change management, strategic planning and stakeholder engagement, and a masters student at the University of Ottawa studying how organizations learn and adapt in fragile states.
Katie Gibbs. No Science, No Evidence, No Truth, No Democracy
Synopsis: There have been drastic changes to science in Canada in recent years. These changes have happened in three distinct ways: reduction in the ability of government scientists to communicate their research to the public, the erosion of our science capacity, and a reduction in the role of evidence in policy decisions. The impacts of these changes go far beyond science. Science and evidence are essential elements for a functioning democracy. These concerns have led to a more vocal scientific community as well as the formation of Evidence for Democracy – a new science-led, national, non-partisan, non-profit organization advocating for science and evidence-based policies in Canada.
Bio: Katie Gibbs is a scientist, communicator, and organizer who is passionate about the intersection of science and policy. After finishing a PhD at the University of Ottawa in Biology she co-founded Evidence for Democracy—a new organization that advocates for the use of evidence in government decision making and public policy development.
Danielle Quigley. Why is scientific inquiry important to bullying prevention and intervention programs?
Synopsis: Hundreds of bullying prevention and intervention programs exist and educators, mentors, and youth leaders are left to their own devices to choose a program they think will be effective. The best predictor of whether a program will be chosen isn't whether the program works, it's whether it's been recommended by a friend or colleague. When the majority of programs make little to no difference, and 15% of them actually make things worse for the children and youth they're supposed help, wouldn't it be better if evidence-based programs were easily accessible to the adults children and youth rely on?
Bio:I am a post-doctoral fellow with the Promoting Relationships and Eliminating Violence Network (Queen's and York Universities). I did my graduate work at Carleton University and studied motivations for social aggression (gossip, exclusion, rumour spreading, etc.) among youth and young adults.
Jim Davies. The Beauty of Bad Ideas.
Synopsis: Based on his forthcoming book "Riveted," Jim Davies presents a new explanation of why people can find bad ideas compelling. In his theory, people believe in paranormal and religious ideas for many of the same reasons they appreciate art. In this talk, he will present the compellingness foundations theory, and describe how bad ideas that spread are specifically well-suited to fit human minds.
Bio: Jim Davies is an associate professor in the Institute of Cognitive Science at Carleton University. Director of the Science of Imagination Laboratory, he explores processes of visualization in humans and machines and specializes in artificial intelligence, analogy, problem-solving, and the psychology of art, religion, and creativity. His work has shown how people use visual thinking to solve problems, and how they visualize imagined situations and worlds.
Clifford Beninger. Why the 12-step Disease Concept of Addiction Must be Abandoned.
Synopsis: The "Disease Theory of Addiction" as propounded by 12-Step (Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous etc.) organizations and institutions is so seriously flawed that in order to progress further in the understanding and treatment of addiction it needs to be abandoned and a new paradigm adopted.
Bio: Clifford W. Beninger B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D. in Biology. Research areas entomology, chemical ecology, ecology. Author and editor. Chair of Secular Organizations for Sobriety (SOS) Ottawa.
Julian Janes. Cold Reading – How to Become a Charlatan in 15 minutes or less.
Synopsis: For this talk I will talk briefly about what cold reading is and how it is used, and then move into practical discussions of specific techniques used by "psychics" and "mediums". The hope is to give everyone a few tools to convincingly demonstrate cold-reading to believers of woo.
Bio: I am a former teacher who spends most of his time moulding his children to be world-class critical thinkers.
Skepticamp Ottawa 2014
This May 4th, join the Ottawa Skeptics for our fourth open conference event, Skepticamp Ottawa 2014.
Skepticamps, modeled on the BarCamp approach of non-curated, user-driven content and participation, are entertaining, educational and informative events in a relaxed environment. The overall theme is science, skepticism and critical thinking. This year we are once again at the Shopify Lounge, right in the heart of downtown Ottawa. Come along to listen to some great talks, ask questions, and meet interesting people.
We have a full day of fascinating talks from 15 speakers, including three excellent keynotes: Katie Gibbs, co-founder of Evidence for Democracy; Michael Kruse, Chair of Bad Science Watch; and Jim Davies, Director of the Science of the Imagination Laboratory at Carleton University.
Talk synopses and speaker bios are available here, and here's the full schedule.
Everyone's welcome. To give us an idea of attendance please RSVP at meetup or on Facebook and check out the logistics page for more information. If you can't make the full day, feel free to just drop in for the talks you want to see. We look forward to seeing you there!
Friday 13th: Ottawa Skeptics in the news
The Ottawa Skeptics' Darren McKee, host of the Reality Check podcast, talked to Centretown News about Paraskevidekatriaphobia, the fear of Friday the 13th.
Radio: The Ottawa Skeptics on Ron Corbett Unscripted
Our very own Darren McKee, long time Ottawa Skeptics member and host of The Reality Check podcast, appeared on CFRA News Talk Radio for a special Halloween episode of Ron Corbett Unscripted to participate in a debate about ghosts, spirits and the paranormal.
Download an mp3 of the interview here.
Skeptically Scary Pub Quiz – bring your 3-D glasses!
Ghosts and ghouls and physics' own rules, cultures, vultures, and sepultures! Sorry, no special appearance by Woody Tobias Jr., but questions still to puzzle your puzzlers as you giggle and guzzle. Oh, and there will be a few sports-related questions.
When: Thursday October 24th, 7pm
Where: Royal Oak, 161 Laurier Avenue East
RSVP at meetup.com
Compete for prizes or kudos in this British-style pub quiz. If you don't have a team already, don't worry; most people don't. Just join up with other folks after you arrive. Nobody will be without a team.
First time at the Ottawa Skeptics? Never been to an event before? This is a great way to meet and mingle, so come on out!
The Ottawa Skeptics meetup group runs open and friendly events. To help us keep it that way, please read our conduct guidelines.
In This Town, We Still Obey The Laws Of Thermodynamics
It has been five years since we posted the report on the Perepiteia Generator, a device that inventor Thane Heins, is careful not to call a perpetual motion machine (except that it would be if it worked as described, but it doesn't, which means he's accidentally telling the truth). Since then, the original article has gathered a couple of comments which perhaps deserve a reply. Also, we've been on Heins's mailing list ever since, meaning that at intervals we receive a blast of self-promotion from him, usually accompanied by documents purporting to show positive results for his experiments, and — fascinatingly — email exchanges he has had with other people, which Heins apparently interprets as endorsements (I think — sometimes it's difficult to discern the purported significance of the attachments). In addition, in 2010 Seanna and I were interviewed for a CBC documentary series on maverick inventors (or if you prefer: crackpots), which is the first (and likely only ever) time we have been interviewed on the same radio program as Steve Novella. All of which culminated in a presentation to Ottawa Skeptics this last spring.
So, What's Up With Thane Heins?
Some good stuff, some not so good (ie. for Thane Heins). On the one hand, he now claims a partnership with e-bike maker HERO, and is working on integrating his Perepiteia device (re-branded as ReGenX, and with a shiny new theory about how it works) into an e-bike. On the other hand, in 2010 the University of Ottawa evicted Heins from their lab space, and based on the videos at his Youtube channel, it looks like he's back to working out of his basement. As a side-line, Heins has also discovered chemtrails in the sky over Ottawa and environs. Yes, those chemtrails.
Well, does it work, or what?
Heins' claims regarding his invention are a bit roundabout. For example, from a 2011 press release:
An independent test of a Heins' innovation conducted at the University of Ottawa required just forty percent (40%) of normal energy input to double generator output (200%).
Note what it doesn't say: that Perepiteia produces more power than it consumes; only that it is possible to increase the output power of his device while decreasing the input power. That in itself may sound great until you realize that it is satisfied by, for example (using numbers that are made up — but typical of his reported results): a machine that produces 1 watt of output power with 100 watts of input, but under different conditions, produces 2 watts of output while consuming 40 watts. In other words, the claim, while sounding impressive, tells us nothing about whether Heins' invention represents fundamentally new physics, or even a useful improvement in generator efficiency (an increase of efficiency from a mere 1% to a only-slightly-less-mere 5% is….distinctly unimpressive).
By the way: the headline on that press release? About the "patented energy breakthrough"? While a search of Canadian, American and international patent databases turns up several patent applications from Thane Heins (for ReGenX and other inventions), none have ever been issued, and in fact, all are now expired. As far as I can determine, Heins has no granted patents to his name.
I don't know which set of results Heins bases the above claim on, but here is a typical set of results, extracted from one of his emails:
|Motor Input
|Load Power
|Motor Speed
|No Load
|100 Ohm Load
The first line of the table, labelled "No Load" represents the case where nothing is connected to the generator output. In this condition, the entire 129 watts input to the motor is going to losses in the wiring, in the magnetic cores, in bearing friction. The second line of the table represents the case where he has connected a 100 ohm load resistor across the output. Now getting 2.13 watts out is not very impressive, but the interesting part here is that the motor input power, while still much larger than the output, has dropped by 8 watts! Moreover, the shaft speed has increased from 3440 RPM to 3455 RPM — also counter-intuitive, as one would normally expect a generator to slow down under load.
This is the core of Heins' claims about "regenerative acceleration" — that an electric vehicle equipped with a ReGenX device can recharge its batteries while accelerating. He uses the term "regenerative acceleration" in contrast to the regenerative braking performed by hybrid and electric vehicles, in which the electric motor is run as a generator, converting some of the kinetic energy from the wheels back into electricity. Heins claims he can also perform that trick while the vehicle is speeding up.
Is it free energy?
Well, Heins thinks it is. His reasoning goes: the no-load test tells us the system losses. So if the input power drops under load, we also get some output power, the difference must be coming from….wherever it is that free energy comes from. In this case, we're getting:
129-121+2.13=10.13 watts of free energy
Using 121 watts to create 10 watts of free energy is obviously not going to solve any energy crisis — the overall efficiency of the ReGenX is still less than 2%, where conventional generators are typically 90% efficient. But to be making any free energy at all would be remarkable — if this represents proof-of-concept, then surely all we have to do is tinker with things, scale it up a bit, and we can achieve over 100% efficiency, right?
But note the assumption Heins is making: that system losses under load are the same as no-load losses. There is no reason to accept this, and good reason to reject it. To understand why this is, it's necessary to take a close look at what's going on in the ReGenX, and to do that, we need to understand a little basic generator theory.
Generator Theory 101
The diagrams below represent a generator coil such as is found in the ReGenX: a length of wire wound around a core made of some iron alloy, with the ends brought out to the load (represented here by a light bulb), with a moving magnet passing by the end of the core. Let's consider in detail what happens as the magnet approaches, passes, and recedes from the core. In the following discussion, keep in mind we're considering the ideal case — the kind of thing presented in an introductory course.
First, you need to know two basic rules about electromagnetism:
- Electricity makes magnetism.
- (Changing) magnetism makes electricity.
As the magnet is approaching (see Diagram #1), its field begins to enter the iron core (red arrow), ie. the magnetic flux in the core starts increasing. The increasing magnetic flux induces a voltage in the coil (see Rule #2), causing current to flow through the load. However, the flowing current induces its own magnetic field (see Rule #1) in the core (blue arrow). According to Lenz's Law, the induced field will oppose the increase in the applied field, ie. it will point in the opposite direction. This means that it repels the approaching magnet.
In Diagram #2 the magnet has passed and is now receding from the core. As it does so, the magnet's field in the core will be decreasing, which again induces a voltage in the coil, only now in the opposite direction. Since the coil current now flows in the opposite direction, the induced field also points in the opposite direction (again, this is in agreement with Lenz's Law, according to which the induced field will now try to maintain the field in the core). This means that it attracts the receding magnet.
The alternating repulsion and attraction, always opposing the motion of the magnet, puts mechanical resistance on the motor that is driving the magnet, thus slowing down its rotation, and causing it to draw more power from the supply. This is the normal, expected behaviour. Note that Lenz's Law figures prominently in the physics of the situation — in fact, it's easy to show that Lenz's Law is equivalent to conservation of energy for magnetic devices. If you can fool Mr. Lenz, you have a free energy device. Thane Heins knows this, which is why he claims to have partially overcome Lenz's Law, and why he makes much of the generator speed-up observed in his experiments. In fact, he claims that his ReGenX machine reverses the alternating repulsive-attractive behaviour of the interaction between the magnet and the core.
The Core of the Matter
The discussion in previous section assumes ideal behaviour. Among the effects neglected is core loss due to hysteresis and eddy currents. Hysteresis is the tendency of the core to retain the applied magnetic field after the field is removed (in other words: to become a permanent magnet) and is a characteristic of the core material. Eddy currents are electrical currents induced in the metal body of the core, rather than in the coil. Both of these phenomena consume energy, generating waste heat in the core. And of course the power wasted in the core is felt by the prime mover, every bit as much as power delivered to the load is. We have been building motors and generators for over a century, and lot of research has gone into developing materials and construction methods to minimize these loss mechanisms. In modern commercially-manufactured machines designed by professionals they are negligible.
Thane Heins, while a competent enough handyman, is not a professional. We don't know what his generator coils are wound on, though it may very well be the same mild steel that the structure of the apparatus itself is built from. In any case, they are probably lossy — losses which are incurred whether or not there is an external load connected across the output. In other words: Heins's no load condition is already significantly loaded by core loss.
So why does the the generator speed up when a load is connected? Refer again to the diagrams: the induced field, created by the load current, opposes, and thus reduces the applied field, therefore reducing the losses. Paradoxically, Heins's loaded condition is actually less loaded than his no-load condition.
But why does it draw less power when it's running faster?
One last detail: a lot of people (such as one of the commenters on the previous post) are under the impression that, contrary to the observed behaviour of ReGenX, the driving motor should draw more power as it runs faster, not less. Certainly it seems intuitive. Explaining why this is false would require several hours of lecture on basic electric motor theory but nonetheless the opposite is true (and the reasons are taught in every introductory undergraduate course on the subject). The diagrams below plot torque (blue curves) and input current (orange curves) vs. speed for two common types of electric motor, both of which have been used by Heins. Note that, in both cases, the current falls as speed increases, over the entire operating range of the motor.
In ReGenX, Thane Heins has built a fantastically inefficient generator, and then runs it in a way that makes it just slightly less inefficient. The ReGenX device does not represent free energy, or any other novel physical phenomenon: merely bad magnetics — and lot of self-promotion.


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County to seek storage plans
News editor
Marion County Commission Chairman Randy Dallke will consult with an expert on metal buildings about the possible construction of a storage building south of the new jail.
The commission on Monday discussed construction of a building to store emergency communications trailers, as well as documents that are overcrowding portions of the courthouse.
Dallke said that meeting City of Marion setback requirements, a building could be as much as 86 feet by 91 feet. A conditional use permit from the city would be required.
Document storage would require part of the building be climate controlled, and the size of the communications trailers would require at sidewalls at least 14 feet tall. Commissioners also discussed how to handle document storage — whether to have permanent catwalks or movable ladders.
Marion mayor shows interest in recycling
Marion Mayor Mary Olson visited the meeting during Transfer Station Director Rollin Schmidt's scheduled appointment with the commission. She wanted to hear any new information on the county's idea to partner with the city, as well as Hillsboro and Florence, for curbside recycling pickup.
Dallke said that with unsorted curbside pickup of recyclables in Peabody, he finds he recycles two-thirds of his refuse. He said his goal in establishing curbside recycling would be to cut the amount of garbage sent to Butler County Landfill by 25 percent or more.
Dallke said recycling participation in Peabody increased significantly when people didn't have to sort their recyclables anymore.
"I knew it would have to be convenient to get it sold," Olson said.
Olson invited Commissioner Dan Holub to attend the next Marion City Council meeting, which is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Monday. She also invited Schmidt to speak with her and City Administrator Doug Kjellin about recycling.
Dallke said he would try to get in contact with Florence City Council about recycling.
In other business:
- Dallke said he wants an agreement to move a segment of 180th Road southwest of Marion to include an easement for utilities to cross the railroad in case Road and Bridge Department ever moves entirely to the south shop. The commission will have a public hearing on closing a segment of the road at 11:40 a.m. April 22.
- A manufactured building that looks more like a cabin than a mobile home will be allowed in the county-owned trailer court at Marion County Park and Lake, on the conditions that it doesn't require greater electrical service than is already in place and that it has certification from U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
- Deb Scheibler of Kansas Workforce One spoke with the commission about the organization's programs, which are funded through the U.S. Department of Labor. The organization provides training and job search help to unemployed and impoverished people. Its largest efforts are in helping people laid off from work find new jobs.
- Engineer Kenny Blair of Cook, Flatt & Strobel spoke with the commission about bridge inspections. The county has 10 bridges for which inspection costs will increase dramatically in the future because the federal government is increasing inspection requirements for bridges that would fail if a single support failed. However, Kansas Department of Transportation has money to help counties replace those kinds of bridges.
- Road and Bridge Superintendent Randy Crawford and employee Josh Housman met with the commission in closed session for 10 minutes to discuss pay. No action was taken on return to open session.
- County Clerk Tina Spencer met with the commission in closed session for 10 minutes to discuss personnel matters. No action was taken on return to open session.
- Park and Lake Superintendent Steve Hudson will look at a tractor that could be used to mow the park grounds and the closed landfill while a larger tractor is transferred to Road and Bridge Department to mow ditches.
- Road and Bridge Department had a defensive driving class for employees Friday. Crawford said he is trying to make safety classes a quarterly event.
- Crawford added two part-time workers for summer help with crack sealing, Wil Case and David Helmer.
- Road and Bridge Department will contract with a tree trimmer for $30,000 of tree trimming on county roads.
- The county received a $2,827 refund of 2012 workers' compensation insurance premiums and a rebate of $141 from use of purchasing cards.
- Spencer sent a letter to the school districts in the county inviting students to help at poll sites.
The next commission meeting is scheduled for Monday.
Last modified March 13, 2013


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Turn the dreams of tomorrow into today's reality with the HUAWEI P9 lite, successor of the HUAWEI P8 lite. It features a number of innovative hardware upgrades showcased in a cutting-edge slim design. Take hold of a next generation smart device that combines dynamic design with breathtaking style in perfect harmony, all at a competitive price.
Showcasing a cutting-edge slim design,
HUAWEI P9 lite features detailed elements and
dynamic patterns that all come together
in beautiful harmony.
Super model thin
Featuring the expanded screen-to-body ratio of 76.4%, HUAWEI P9 lite will surely impress you with its elegant ID design and metallic bezel. With a 5.2 inch FHD in-cell screen and a wider colour gamut, all fitted to a slimmer frame, it gives you greater detail, all in one delicately finished alloy frame.
Precision picture taking
HUAWEI P9 lite lets you capture anything you can imagine with a new 13 MP SONY IMX214 image sensor. It features a large F2.0 aperture that can lead to high quality images you can see in every video or photo.
A touch of style
For professional quality pictures, just turn on HUAWEI P9 lite' pro-camera mode. Now you can customise white balance, ISO or EV on the go while having the capability to adjust beauty parameters exactly to your liking, all at the press of a button.
Bring out the beauty with great features
HUAWEI P9 lite also contains a number of camera functions designed to display the best side of anything you capture. Maintain your image with the perfect selfie mode, where users can apply customised preset effects to their own look. You can also bring out the flavor in food shots or alter the fabric of time with time-lapse and slow-mo modes.
The details are in the definition
Get all the definition and resolution with HUAWEI P9 lite 8 MP front camera. It also features F2.0 aperture settings and a 27 mm wide-angle front lens so you can make those breathtaking visions a reality.Sensing light changing with great sensitivity, HUAWEI P9 lite will automatically turn on the screen to light up your face. Even in low light situation, you could take beautiful selfies.
It knows you by touch
Get the best security that allows easy access only to you. HUAWEI P9 lite uses a specialised chip-level fingerprint security integrated with ARM®TrustZone® technology, so you can keep what's precious to you safe in your own hands.
Audio dynamite
Let every note stand out. The HUAWEI P9 lite features a HiSilicon Hi6402 audio DSP, 9 V Smart PA, with an integrated speaker design, which produces an unparalleled sound quality unheard of in any other smart device.
Keep on, keeping on
Have the power to accomplish all without any wasted energy. Remarkably improving standby time and handling background apps efficiently and effectively, the 3000 mAh battery and SmartPower 4.0 optimise the user experience to the greatest extent*.
*Typical value. Actual capacity may vary slightly.
Groundbreaking performance that's easy to process
The future is now in the palm of your hands. Powered by 16 nm HiSilicon Kirin 650 processor, HUAWEI P9 lite delivers a better experience, which affords excellent performance and low power consumption.
HUAWEI P9 lite


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Fans of the hugely popular Die Hard franchise are in for a real treat this week. Not only has the latest film in the series, which dates back 25 years been released but you also get a game to play on your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch. Die Hard has arrived in the App Store and if you are a fan, it is a must buy.
Yippee ki-yay! Welcome to Russia: are you ready to battle ruthless mobsters, elite commandos and shadowy politicians?
Play as Jack McClane, the son of New York City's most famous cop, legendary John McClane. Prove that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree – blast your way out of Moscow's mean streets and travel to the radioactive wasteland of Chernobyl, where you'll have to overcome incredible odds to save the world from nuclear terrorism.
Combining the best of the "endless runner" genre with non-stop first-person shooter action, you now have the ability to play through one of the most popular action-movie franchises in film history! Keep moving and stay alive as long as you can!
- $0.99 - Download now
The Die Hard game is available as a universal binary so will look great on your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch. If you are a fan of Die Hard or the endless running type of games or both then this one should be a good one to add to your collection. I am off to see the movie over the weekend, sure the stories are a little exaggerated but you can't beat a bit of John McClane or even Jack in the latest movie!
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Aaron Dobson was a go for the AFC Championship Game.
The New England Patriots wide receiver was active for Sunday's game against the Denver Broncos. Dobson returned to practice this week, the rookie's first on-field work since aggravating a stress fracture in his foot on Dec. 29 against the Buffalo Bills. He had been listed as questionable.
Dobson was the Patriots' best deep threat during the regular season; and he could be a real asset against the Broncos if he can open up the middle for fellow receivers Danny Amendola and Julian Edelman. Dobson had 37 catches for 519 yards and four touchdowns during the regular season.
Wide receiver Kenbrell Thompkins was inactive after suffering a concussion last week against the Indianapolis Colts. Thompkins had traveled with the team and was listed as questionable.
We previewed Championship Sunday and sat down with Rams star Robert Quinn in the latest "Around The League Podcast."


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I am just thinking about how much I should spend on a kids bike for a 8 year old girl. I don't want to buy a very cheap one that's not worth it or gets damaged soon after the purchase. A little pricey one is good if it's worth it. She is into cycling, so hopefully, she'll ride them a lot.
How are Cannondale bikes? I saw this kids bike: Cannondale Trail 20 while I was looking on the Internet. Do you think 500 is a little too high for a kids bike or is it worth it due to the quality and resale value?
Any advice will be really helpful.


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Somebody Else necesitaba un nuevo diseño de logotipo y lanzó un concurso de diseño en 99designs.
Un ganador ha sido elegido entre 94 diseños de 30 diseñadores freelance.
We've been hosting and doing web development for close to 7 years but under a very generic name, badly designed logo etc. It's time to recreate ourselves. I play conga drums, we host a lot of musicians and wanted something playful and unique.
I'm open to taglines "walk to a different drummer" / "we beat the competition" anything that kind of goes with the drum / rhythm / beat theme. We've been a bit stuck on ideas there. Tagline not essential. Leave it out unless you think it really works well.
We want the conga part to be the main, leaving the rest flexible so we can do something like Virgin style branding, utilising the name for a number of different business. Hosting and Web development are our current main businesses.
Want to be able to put the logo on a polo and be able to wear it out casually.
We want the logo to be professional enough to sit comfortably with corporates, yet our main appeal would be the 25-35 yo cool, hip group. Think groove, jazz, mellow, sleek, smooth. We love open source, humanity, ecology, sustainability and want to attract these customers.
We love simple designs.
Font: Would prefer that you use a font that is licensed for @font-face for the "host" part of congahost. Again, this not 100% requirement but rather a nice to have.
Some free fonts licensed in this manner can be found here:
I have a particular fondness for cutout text, though I am not sure this would translate to business card or t-shirt design too well.
We want that anything after the word "conga" so it can be implemented as a font rather than an image (for seo purposes), so congawebhosting or congahosting could be options but for the sample logo, please design it as "congahost".
We are up for experimenting and ideas though, so if you think you have an idea that could work but doesn't quite fit with the above, feel free to give it a try. We consider you guys to be the professionals and to lead us here.
Descubre cómo funciona un concurso de diseño u obtén más información sobre nuestros servicios de diseño de logo.


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Hottest Handbag Trends for 2016Categories:Other Brands
One of the most important accessories for women is the handbag. We can't leave the house without this useful accessory which hold not only our necessary beauty tools but also completes our whole look. We try to match the outfits with the accessories and find out the most flattering styles for us. Those who are interested in the latest trendy handbags for 2016 may keep on reading as we are going to represent the best options for this year. So, let's get started!
Clutches for Mobiles
Since the sizes of our mobiles outgrow day by day we are supposed to find safer covers for them. So, the comfy stylish clutches come for help. Now they are equipped for our iPhone 6 and tend to keep us in a trendy look. These clutches are cozy due to their simple yet sophisticated designs, shapes and handles. The best thing about clutches is that there are various designs, shades and shapes to match with any style. We can find a suitable clutch for elegant outfits and for street style. Many fashion houses such as Lanvin, Chloé, Burberry and Balenciaga offer cool clutches for mobiles for 2016. This versatility allows you to find yours.
Whether you like to keep up with the fashion or just seek for a classy style for your handbags the trendy short handles are here for you. Today we mostly see convenient big handbags with short top handles which tend to provide the handbags with an incredible classy, elegant and fancy look. Such handbags with leather and woody handles are seen during the latest shows of Miu Miu, Tods, Louis Vuitton, Maison Margiela, Gucci, Fendi, Dior, Celine etc.
Among futuristic and creative handbags the most popular ones are fascinating bucket handbags. They are made of different materials and seem to be quite comfy for long trips or official journeys. These handbags are able to hold not only beauty tools but also many other necessary things for a woman. In spite of their simple designs and interesting asymmetrical shapes they are already loved by the majority of business ladies and moms. Bucket handbags are big trends due to Louis Vuitton, Stella McCartney, Marni, Loewe, Michael Kors, JW Anderson, Dolce & Gabbana and Céline.
What about the retro inspired handbags which are ready to hold your professional cameras safer? Besides being convenient these bangs also grab attention thanks to their delightful, playful and flashy designs, shapes and colors. The majority of camera-ready handbags are made of snake leather and they look quite luxurious. The main fashion houses inspired by this style are Salvatore Ferragamo, Bottega Veneta, Dolce & Gabbana, Chloé, Chanel and many others.
Tags: handbag For Trends 2016 Hottest
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Spotted on the Streets — Over 75 of the Hottest Bags at NYFWCategories:Other Brands
New York Fashion Week has proven that a little (or a lot of) rain, snow, sleet, and muddy puddles aren't going to stop the street-style scene from looking its very best. From head to toe, we've witnessed a bevy of knockout Winter looks. And that's exactly why we're zooming in on what could be the second-most important detail of an outfit: the bag. Céline, 3.1 Phillip Lim,Valentino, Givenchy — see the hottest handbags spotted around NYFW.
3.1 Phillip Lim's Pashli tote and Rachel Comey's white flatforms were the perfect pairing.A oversize animal-print clutch provided textural contrast against this velvet suit.
We love the bright blue hue on this ladylike Prada tote.
A streamlined Givenchy duffel provided sharp contrast against these bright red trousers.
We love Fendi's textural, understated take on colorblocking.
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Gucci Dionysus: One of Fall 2015's Hottest BagsCategories:Other Brands
Alessandro Michele was promoted from head accessories designer to creative director atGucci just before the Fall 2015 collection was set to debut. Many eagerly awaited the debut of Gucci's new direction, and Michele did not disappoint; his debut was full of 70s glamor and relaxed luxury.
We were intrigued to see what the former accessories designer would do with when it came to the handbags, and Michele chose to introduce one new runway bag and offer a variety of options. The Gucci Dionysus bag is the brand's biggest bag of Fall 2015, and we took some photos of our favorite versions of this new design to give you a closer look.
With his deep understanding of the archives, Alessandro Michele created the Dionysus to combine a peek at the past with a new touch. The bag features GG Supreme Canvas with the standout tiger head spur closure. The bag is finished with a sliding chain strap that can be worn multiple ways, easily transitioning between shoulder bag and top handle.
Above, you see the Blooms print, which was a common theme in the collection. This version of the bag is my favorite; it provides a feminine touch that breaks up the GG Supreme Canvas, which flows into the antique rose suede detail that peeks out. The Blooms print starts on the top right hand corner of the bag and carries over to the entire back. The rose suede detail is a stunning hue, and the bag feels sexy and playful all at once.
While printed canvas isn't typically my go-to, I've found the finished product to be beyond beautiful. Gucci knows how to combine its monogram and change it up to make it modern and lust-worthy. Each bag has either suede or python trim on the flap closure and sides of the bag.
One of the reasons I've been such an avid Gucci fan over the years is both the outside and inside of the bags are beautiful and well-thought out, and that continues with the Dionysus. The interior of the bag has a zip center compartment, which gives it three areas: one zip and two open, all lined in GG canvas and suede.
Another standout of the bunch is the Gucci Dionysus bee-embroidered bag, for which Gucci artisans used brass thread wrapped in silk, hand-embroidered the bee on to a panel of silk and then applied it to the front of the bag. The combination stands out and grabs your eye immediately, offering a very playful and nature-filled touch to the bag.
The Dionysus comes in two sizes. The larger size is 12″W x 8″H x 4″D, while the smaller has dimensions of 11″W x 7″H x 3.5″D. I like both of the sizes because neither fells too big or too small when it comes to carrying a bag for daily use; which one you choose depends on your personal needs and preferences.
The major difference between the two sizes is the large shows more of the tri-fold gusset on the side of the bag, while the small bag looks like the interior is just one compartment, though there are three areas in the small bag as well. The larger size also offers a slim slide pocket on the back of the bag, which I always adore.
The antiqued silver hardware compliments the earthy vibe of the bag really nicely, and I love the spur closure. Another nice touch that Gucci offers is complimentary personalization: Dionysus bags can be accented with your initials on the interior leather trim to create a special heirloom, free of charge.
Gucci may be under new leadership and moving in a new direction, but I like where it's going. Gucci Dionysus proves Michel's understanding of the brand and its customers, melding a touch of the past with a present day sense of allure and beauty. The bags are all available via Gucci.com and range in price from $2,100 to $3,400.
Tags: bags Gucci DIONYSUS Hottest


text: Home- Academics- Departments and Programs- Chemistry- Research Opportunities Undergraduate Research Opportunities One of the things that sets us apart from departments at other institutions is the collaborative research we do with students like you. Get graduate-level research experience as an undergraduate, and explore the world of chemistry! Menu Menu Academic-Year Research As a chemistry or biochemistry major, you will be required to participate in a full year of original research during your senior year, in collaboration with one or more faculty members. Typically, students join an ongoing research project in the department. Please visit our faculty members' profile pages to learn more about their interests and projects. Summer Research Each year, 10–20 chemistry students remain on campus for the summer to conduct research in chemistry and biochemistry. Appointments are normally for 10 full weeks, beginning in the first week of June. There is flexibility in this schedule that can be negotiated on an individual basis. Our student researchers are paid a standard research stipend, and are eligible for subsidized on-campus housing. There are usually several different research opportunities available in several different specialties. To get involved in this great opportunity to build your resume, learn lab techniques and processes, and do research on the cutting edge of the chemistry field, find a faculty member doing research that interests you. Learn more about research at Colgate. Divisional Summer Research Fellowships Colgate students only This program annually awards approximately 20–30 summer research fellowships in the Division of Natural Sciences and Mathematics. Awards are made on the basis of a research proposal which is written under the supervision of one or more sponsoring faculty members. Applicants should contact faculty members in whose research they are interested as early as possible. You can find more information about this program at the Center for Learning, Teaching, and Research. Departmental Summer Research Fellowships This program annually awards approximately five summer research fellowships from department funds, or from individual faculty research grants. Priority is given to Colgate students, but occasionally fellowships may be awarded to off-campus students. All applicants to this program are strongly encouraged to contact individual faculty members in whose research they are interested regarding availability of funding and laboratory space. Academics Majors and Minors Departments and Programs Africana and Latin American Studies Art and Art History Asian Studies Biology Chemistry Academic Program Department Courses Faculty and Staff Research Opportunities Off-Campus Study Facilities and Resources Online Chemistry Tools Chemistry Major Graduates The Classics Computer Science East Asian Languages and Literatures Economics Educational Studies English Environmental Studies Film and Media Studies Geography Geology German History International Relations Jewish Studies LGBTQ Studies Linguistics Mathematics Medieval & Renaissance Studies Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies Music Native American Studies Neuroscience Peace and Conflict Studies Philosophy Physics & Astronomy Political Science Psychological and Brain Sciences Religion Romance Languages and Literatures Russian and Eurasian Studies Sociology and Anthropology Theater Women's Studies Writing and Rhetoric Off-Campus Study Core Curriculum Research Fellowships & Scholarships Scholars Programs Pre-Professional Planning Academic Calendar University Catalogue Course Offerings Libraries RELATED LINKS


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As you are probably aware, Harry Reid released the Senate's version of the merged health care bill yesterday. I don't think I can add much to what has been said elsewhere, so I'll spare you the painful rehashing of the details. You're welcome.
As usual, Igor Volsky at the Wonk Room has the essential details.
There's a lot of comments that could be made about this bill. It's nice to see that it's fiscally responsible. It's not only deficit-neutral, but it actually pays down the deficit by $127 billion. Not too shabby. Of course it does that by deferring the best benefits of the bill to 2014. That's not too great, especially because there is going to be an election between here and then. If the health reform has been on the books for five years and has not done much to improve access to health care (which it will not have until the exchanges open in 2014) there's a very strong chance that the voters will punish the Democrats for broken promises. I understand that this compromise was necessary to make the bill affordable and get it passed, but it may have been a very bad decision strategically for the Democrats.
The thing that I think is striking was that in the face of an explicit filibuster threat from Lieberman, and open waffling from the ConservaDems, Reid kept the opt-out Public Option in the bill. I was quite expecting it to be thrown on the sacrificial altar, and it's so watered down and minimized that I was more or less resigned to it. Moreover, Reid had a private chat with Nelson, Lincoln, and Landrieu in which he discussed, among other things, moving the bill to the floor using the non-filibusterable reconciliation process. It wasn't couched as a threat, but the message was clear: block this and we will bypass you and make you irrelevant. Does he have a secret plan to get health care through reconciliation intact? I haven't got a lot of faith in Reid, and I won't be surprised if he buckles, but I like his positioning at this point.


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This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
London • The CEO of mining giant Rio Tinto PLC, parent of Kennecott Utah Copper, and another senior executive are stepping down immediately after the company announced a $14 billion write-down from its aluminum business and an acquisition of a coal company in Mozambique.
CEO Tom Albanese and Doug Ritchie, who led the Mozambique acquisition, were stepping down "by mutual consent" but would stay on until July 16 to assist with the transition, the company said Thursday.
Albanese, appointed CEO in 2007, and Ritchie will receive no lump sum payments, no performance bonus for 2012 or 2013 and will forfeit their deferred bonus share entitlements, the company said. However, they will continue to receive their salaries during the transition period.
Sam Walsh, head of the iron ore division, becomes CEO of Rio Tinto, the world's third-largest diversified mining company.
Rio Tinto shares opened 4.1 percent lower in London and but finished the day off less than 1 percent.
"We had expected there to be further write-downs but the number is certainly more significant than the market would have anticipated, particularly given last year's impairments of around $9 billion," analysts at Investec Securities said in a research note.
Jonathan Jackson at Killik & Co. said the news presented an opportunity to buy shares.
"Given the mixed track record the group has on capital allocation, we expect the write-downs and management change to herald a welcome period of greater discipline, both in terms of M&A and capital expenditure," Jackson said.
The company disclosed that it will take an impairment charge of $14 billion in its 2012 results to be published on Feb. 14, including about $3 billion on the acquisition of Rio Tinto Coal Mozambique, and $10 billion or more on the value of the company's aluminum assets.
Rio Tinto acquired the Mozambique operation in 2011.
The company said that developing infrastructure in Mozambique was more challenging than expected, and it had also downgraded its estimates of recoverable coal volumes.
"The Rio Tinto board fully acknowledges that a write-down of this scale in relation to the relatively recent Mozambique acquisition is unacceptable," said chairman Jan du Plessis.
"We are also deeply disappointed to have to take a further substantial write-down in our aluminum businesses, albeit in an industry that continues to experience significant adverse changes globally."


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Jason Bonham & 'Led Zeppelin Experience' comes to Houston with Heart
In the most apparent case of following in your father's footsteps, Jason Bonham is taking Jason Bonham's Led Zeppelin Experience on the road again. The son of drumming icon John Bonham, known for his work in Led Zeppelin, created the experience as a tribute to the legacy his father left behind.
The Jason Bonham Led Zeppelin Experience is teaming up with Heart for a summer tour they are calling The Heartbreaker Tour. The 32-city run will kick off on June 17 West Palm Beach, FL and run throughout July and August before wrapping on Aug. 30 in Portland, OR. The tour will play the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion on Aug. 14. Tickets are $100.50-$15 and can be purchased at Ticketmaster outlets.
The show will feature the Jason Bonham Led Zeppelin Experience kicking off the night, followed by a set from legendary rockers Heart that will culminate with Jason and company coming together for an all out jam of Led Zeppelin classics. The idea for the tour stemmed from the still-talked-about performance that Jason and Heart did in tribute to Led Zeppelin at the 2012 Kennedy Center Honors.
"What a great night it was for us at the Kennedy Center awards, and now to be able to do it again on the road with Ann and Nancy is such an honor for me. I am really looking forward to taking my Led Zep Experience show out this summer with Heart and to join them in a Zep-a-thon closing the show as well. Just fantastic!" exclaims Bonham.
Jason Bonham's love of playing drums didn't develop until late in his teen years. His original love was in motocross, but after his father passed away in 1980, that attention shifted and he returned to drumming. By 18 years old, he had signed a record deal with Atlantic Records and was playing tours opening for the likes of Queen, AC/DC and Meat Loaf to name a few. In 1988, he stepped behind the kit to fill in for Led Zeppelin when they performed at the Atlantic Record's 40 toured with his father's band mate, Jimmy Page. In 1989, he received a platinum record with his band Bonham for their debut album The Disregard Of Timekeeping.
Jason appeared on the VH1 reality show Supergroup and formed a band with Sebastian Bach (Skid Row), Ted Nugent, Scott Ian (Anthrax) and Evan Seinfeld (Biohazard). Recently, aside from the Jason Bonham Led Zeppelin Experience, Jason was playing in the critically acclaimed Black Country Communion alongside Glenn Hughes, Joe Bonamassa and Derek Sherinian. Last year, Jason played drums on the newly released Celebration Day by Led Zeppelin, which was the live one-off performance the band played in 2007 at London's legendary O2 Arena.