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JCI Accreditation documents
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JCI Accreditation documents
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text: Sofas are the anchor point of any living room, and we can help you choose just the right style. As you explore, you can choose leather upholstery or microfiber fabrics among our modern and traditional selections. Classic seating with wing sides offers a strong profile, and you may prefer additional comforts with recliner and sofa chaise styles. Modular sofa sets can sit in the open or tuck into a corner while our Outdoor/Indoor section features fashionable all-weather wicker and aluminum framing.

subset: commoncrawl


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Sgt. Bergdahl Questioned by Investigators
HOUSTON (AP) — The U.S. Army and an attorney for Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl say military investigators have begun questioning the solider about his disappearance in Afghanistan that led to five years in captivity by the Taliban.
Eugene R. Fidell says his client is cooperating with the investigation at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio on Wednesday. Fidell declined to comment on what Bergdahl is being asked. An Army spokeswoman says Bergdahl was advised of his rights.
The investigation's findings will help determine whether the 28-year-old is prosecuted for desertion or faces any other disciplinary action.
Bergdahl had been receiving care at Fort Sam Houston since returning to the United States on June 13 after his release by the Taliban on May 31. Earlier this month, the Army announced Bergdahl was given a desk job.


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From Fungal Genomics
| About | Genomes | Publications | Contact |
Chief Investigators
The Genozymes project is directed by a team of experienced researchers from Canada, the United States and Europe. The project is led by Adrian Tsang of Concordia University and is organized into multiple technology and GE3LS platforms.
The co-investigators of the project are:
Concordia University: Gregory Butler, Justin Powlowski and David Secko
McGill University and Génome Québec Innovation Centre: Ken Dewar and Sylvie LaBoissiere
DSM Innovation: Manoj Kumar
Lethbridge Research Centre of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC): Tim McAllister
University of Calgary: Christoph Sensen
Institut Armand-Frappier of the Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS): Michel Sylvestre
Current collaborators of the project are:
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory of the U.S. Department of Energy: Scott Baker
University of Montreal: Béatrice Godard
Argonne National Laboratory of the U.S. Deapartment of Energy: Andrzej Joachimiak
Environment Canada: Terry McIntyre
FPInnovations: Michael Paice
DSM White Biotechnology: Cees Sagt
University of Toronto: Alexei Savchenko
Concordia University: René Witte


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NHL Network's Weekes a student of the gameby Michael Smith
Like so many other Canadian children, Kevin Weekes dreamed of playing in the National Hockey League.
Also like so many other Canadian children, he grew up watching Hockey Night in Canada each Saturday, a time-honored tradition going on 60 years now.
Years later, Weekes has experienced both. In a professional career spanning the better part of two decades, he played in net for seven NHL teams.
"That was my goal. That's what I wanted to accomplish," Weekes said. "To this day, I'm eternally grateful that I was able to make it happen."
Soon after, he became the first black hockey broadcaster in NHL history, appearing on the very program with which he grew up watching.
"It is very humbling. It's something I'm very honored to be a part of. In our own way, we're inspiring generations of people," he said. "Any time that red light goes on, it's a real special feeling for me. Just to think that the first games in hockey history on TV were broadcast with us. Where it's come from, where it is and where it's going, to be a part of that is very special."
Canada, By Way of Barbados
In 1973, Weekes' parents immigrated to Canada from Barbados. Two years later, Weekes was born, and five years after that, he was playing hockey.
Well, at least he was part of the local hockey scene. Hanging out with his teenage cousins and friends, Weekes was relegated to the role of ball chaser; if the ball rolled past the net and down the street or into the bushes, he was the one to get it.
When one of the full-time goalies moved back to Greece, however, Weekes got a promotion. He was the new goalie and organized ice hockey followed.
Perhaps the biggest advantage of his upbringing, Weekes said, was that his parents weren't very familiar with the game of hockey.
"We were learning as we went along," he said. "I do think there are advantages if your parents do know about a sport that you're playing. But the great thing about it for me, my parents didn't pretend to know more than they knew, and there was never any pressure. We were all learning it together, and they were extremely supportive. Ever since I started playing, my parents never had to force me to try harder or work harder or practice. That's just the way I was wired, and they were very supportive. In my own experience and comparatively speaking to some of my friends and what they experienced, I think it was a big advantage that way."
Early Days in Carolina
Weekes' first hockey experience in North Carolina predated his time with the Hurricanes.
Before the Hurricanes sought temporary shelter in the Greensboro Coliseum, the Greensboro Monarchs (ECHL, 1989-1995) and Carolina Monarchs (AHL, 1995-97) called the cavernous arena home. In the Greensboro Monarchs last two seasons, they averaged over 6,400 fans per game.
"They had a really good following," Weekes said. "There were a lot of people that loved them. I had friends that played in that old East Coast Hockey League, and they all raved about the arena in Greensboro."
In 1995, the Greensboro Monarchs became the Carolina Monarchs and entered the American Hockey League as an affiliate of the Florida Panthers. The fan support didn't dramatically diminish; the Monarchs averaged 4,724 in attendance in their first season and 4,166 in their second. On Jan. 17, 1997, they set the then-single-game AHL attendance record of 20,672 in a 5-4 victory over the Kentucky Thouroughblades.
Weekes was drafted by the Panthers 41st overall in the second round of the 1993 NHL Entry Draft. After spending three seasons in the Ontario Hockey League, Weekes became the Carolina Monarchs No. 1 goalie for their two seasons of existence.
"I loved playing in Greensboro," he said. "That was my first introduction to the folks in North Carolina, and I still have friends in Greensboro and Raleigh to this day. The people treated me great."
The Best of Times
On March 5, 2002, the Canes acquired Weekes from the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for forwards Shane Willis and Chris Dingman. Just over a week later on March 15, the Canes traded pending unrestricted free agent Tom Barrasso to Toronto for a fourth-round draft pick. The team was headed toward the postseason with the goaltending tandem of Arturs Irbe and Weekes.
While Weekes played in just two games down the stretch in the regular season, it was in the playoffs that he cemented his spot in team goaltending lore.
Weekes credits the team's run to the Stanley Cup Finals – in which he had an early, key hand – to their strong work ethic and commitment to physical fitness.
"When I got to Carolina, it was like clockwork. Everybody was stretching, on the bike, getting their protein shake. You name it," he said. "It was just natural. It's what you did. It's part of being a pro. I remember telling friends, family and former teammates that it was unbelievable, and we just started building from there.
"Once we got in (the playoffs), you could just feel there was something special because we had done the work," he said. "There was no smoke and mirrors. It was just part of the ethic of the organization, and more importantly, it was encouraged."
Up first in the team's path was New Jersey, a rematch of the quarterfinals just a year prior in which the Devils knocked out the Canes in six games. Even though the Hurricanes had won the Southeast Division, pundits didn't give them much of a chance to advance past the first round.
After winning the first two games of the series at home, the Canes had dropped both games in New Jersey, 4-0 and 3-1. Weekes had relieved Irbe in net in both games. In Game 5, Weekes was tapped as the starter, his first postseason start in the NHL.
"Honestly, the last playoff game I had started was probably midget hockey in Toronto," he said. "Paul (Maurice) came to me and said, 'Ok, you've played well in these two games. You're going. Game 5, you're going to be great, and you're going.' When a coach tells you that, and they're genuine, they empower you and it goes a long way."
The series and score were tied 2-2 as the clock ticked down in Game 5 at the then-Entertainment and Sports Arena in Raleigh, NC.
Just minutes into the overtime period, the Devils' Stephane Richer was found streaking into the slot. Exploding out from the post, Weekes made the initial save. The puck, however, was left free in the slot, and Weekes was sprawled out on the ice. John Madden pounced on the loose puck, the gaping net in front of him. Weekes extended his glove and made what seemed to be the improbable save.
"I remember that save," Weekes said. "There are times when you're down, and you're like, 'This guy's going to roof it. It's going to take the grace of God and everyone else for me to get a piece of this, even.' But, that wasn't the case. I just felt like I was down and everything was in sync.
"I didn't even feel like I was in a desperate prone situation, which I was. I didn't feel like I had to flail at the puck. It was all really just under control. Laying down and being prone on the ice in that position with a guy basically with a wide open net above you, it's not a very comforting feeling," he said. "After making the save and feeling it in my glove, just hearing the crowd – the noise, the magnitude of the game, the time of the game and the series – was awesome."
Minutes later, Josef Vasicek scored the game-winning goal to give the Hurricanes a 3-2 series lead heading back to New Jersey.
Even still, Weekes recalled, the talking heads thought the Devils would prevail in seven games.
"We just literally believed that we were going to win," Weekes said. "The whole hockey world was like, 'Oh, these guys have no shot. What? Carolina? No way.' Somehow, we didn't get that memo."
Coming off of "the save," Weekes again got the nod in net. He stopped all 32 shots he faced in a shutout bid as the Canes defeated the Devils 1-0, winning their first playoff series since 1986 and first best-of-7 series.
"We knew we had our work cut out," Weekes said. "We went out, and we played that game so well. It was just one of the best experiences I've had playing hockey."
In all, Weekes appeared in eight games (starting in six) during the 2002 postseason. He was 3-2 with a 1.62 goals-against average, .939 save percentage and two shutouts. Irbe regained the starting job following the Miracle at Molson in Game 4. But, that's playoff hockey: riding the hot goaltender.
"We knew we had depth at that position (goaltender), and that breeds a lot of confidence because your players don't play uptight," Weekes said. "The natural tendency is to become uptight because of the stake of the game. Realistically, it's still the same puck and the same ice. But, I always say in the playoffs the ice shrinks. There's less room to make plays, and everyone is more intense. It's funny the trick that plays on people's minds. But when your goalie is playing well, it breeds confidence in the team and is a huge game-changer."
Weekes became the Canes' No. 1 goalie in the next two seasons, unfortunate as the timing of that big break might have been; the team finished last in the league in 2002-03 and 22nd in 2003-04. Still, Weekes' 2.33 goals-against average in 2003-04 ranks second in franchise history.
In all, Weekes logged 119 games with Carolina, posting a 39-54-20 record. His 2.41 goals-against average ranks second in franchise history, and he posted a .912 save percentage and 11 shutouts.
"It was really the best experience I've had in hockey for all of the right reasons," he said. "It was an amazing time."
Though Weekes signed with the New York Rangers as a free agent in August 2004, the work stoppage would delay his blue-shirt debut for another year. The 2005-06 season also marked the Rangers debut of a certain goaltender named Henrik Lundqvist.
Unfortunate timing, it seemed, again.
"He came in and blew the doors off right away," Weekes said. "So I had one of two options: I could sulk, be angry and extremely miserable, even though it was frustrating. Or, I'm going to try to add value and be the best back-up I can be."
Since it was his first season in the NHL, Lundqvist only played in 53 games. This allowed Weekes to be a "back-up plus," as he appeared in 32 games.
The next season, Lundqvist played 70 games; Weekes saw action in just 14 games.
In the summer of 2007, Weekes was lured to New Jersey by management's pitch of a reduced workload for Martin Brodeur. Brodeur ended up played 77 games that season, tying a career high.
"I was a little disappointed in the fact that that didn't transpire," Weekes said. "That wasn't what was presented to me."
Perhaps more frustrating, Weekes said, was the following season, which was ultimately his last.
Brodeur missed 50 games with a torn biceps tendon between November 2008 and February 2009, playing in just 31 games.
"Now I'm thinking, 'Ok, this gives me the opportunity to play as many games as possible,'" Weekes said.
That's not what happened. After Weekes went 1-3 in his first four starts following Brodeur's injury, Scott Clemmensen ended up getting the bulk of the work. Weekes made the most of his limited appearances, playing in 14 games and posting a 2.42 goals-against average and a career-best .920 save percentage.
"What should have been a launching point for me in terms of games played, it wasn't. But in terms of the way I played, it was. I could have ended up playing 40-some games, but I didn't," he said. "At that point, it did become a little frustrating. But everything happens for a reason. It was almost a blessing in disguise because that's when the TV opportunities presented themselves.
"I just like doing my job. Whatever my job is, I love to be able to do it because it's something I'm passionate about. When you can't do it or you're denied the opportunity to do it as much as you want to, there comes a point in time where that becomes frustrating, especially when you know you've proven yourself over and over and over again."
Transitioning into Television
After retirement, players often find ways to stay involved in the game, at the NHL level or otherwise. Some coach. Others join the front office.
Weekes pursued a different but not completely foreign angle: broadcasting.
After the Hurricanes eliminated Brodeur and the Devils in the 2009 playoffs, Weekes dabbled as an analyst for the NHL Network. It was decision time in the offseason. Would he stay in the NHL? Would he play overseas? Or was this the right time to get in front of a camera?
"I knew I still had a lot left in the tank (to play), but the offers I was getting weren't really reflective of the market, and more importantly, my market value," he said. "Then, Hockey Night in Canada reached out, MSG reached out, the NHL Network reached out. Then it became a game of, 'Ok, am I going to play for the next two, three or four years and miss this window of opportunity, or am I going to jump into this right now?'"
He jumped head first into television.
"Right from the beginning, I approached it the way I did playing. I was always a student of the game, and I always worked extremely hard when I played ever since I was a little kid. I really just tried to use some of those characteristics in this side of the business. I'm eager, I always wanted to learn and I asked a lot of people a lot of questions," Weekes said. "They were all so incredibly encouraging, and I knew one of them was only a phone call or text away if I had any questions or needed anything in terms of direction."
In the transition, Weekes didn't forget his roots. While some talking heads feast on the failure of others or make a name for themselves opining outlandishly, Weekes, just a few years removed from the game, is still a "hockey guy."
"I think that relationships in life are extremely critical," he said. "I don't speak out of my elbow and just talk. If I want to talk about something in Carolina, you have to know I've spoken to people at various levels of the organization. I'm pretty dialed in, and I'm speaking from a position of being informed, not just out of speculation.
"I always like to be honest, I like to be objective and I like to do it with a lot of respect. That's in-part relationships, that's in-part the way I was raised and that's in-part experience," he said. "I think you can make points and still be respectful, honest and credible at the same time. Far too often I think a lot of people are very pessimistic and sensationalistic. Maybe that's their way, but it's not mine. I prefer to promote the game and celebrate the story."
Weekes is now a staple on a number of networks, including CBC and the NHL Network. But would he ever consider getting involved in some capacity with a hockey team, perhaps in the front office?
"I'd be open to the possibility of front office work, but it'd really have to be a special situation. There's politics in everything you do, but unfortunately, even just in my playing career, politics has a heavy hand in things. I really just love doing my job," he said. "Sometimes (the politics) can taint that a little for you."
Right now, he's enjoying the broadcasting role, one he sees himself doing for many years into the future.
"Once I decided I was going to transition to broadcast, I was all in. I had no regrets then, and to this point, I have no regrets now," he said. "I look at this as something that I could do for the next 30-35 years if I choose to. I love it. It's been very natural and a lot of fun."
Beyond the Studio
Weekes made his small screen debut in 2000 when he, Scott Gomez, Jeremy Roenick, Sheldon Souray and Chris Therien guest starred on the soap opera "One Life to Live."
A goalie with the Tampa Bay Lightning at the time, Weekes' role was quite the stretch: he played a professional hockey player boarding a flight. Roenick and Gomez were airline employees.
"Don't get it twisted. We weren't permanent characters," Weekes said, laughing. "It was neat and a lot of fun."
The next year, Weekes found himself back on daytime television, this time on "All My Children" with Bill Guerin and Rob Niedermayer. Seven years after that, Weekes teamed up with Willie O'Ree for a guest spot on Chris Rock's "Everybody Hates Chris," set in the 1980s. In the March 2008 episode, O'Ree and an anachronistic Weekes give directions to a young Chris and his brother Drew on how to find Wayne Gretzky.
Could more scripted television be in Weekes' future? He said he's open to anything and recently had to turn down a role this summer due to scheduling conflicts.
If an Emmy isn't in the cards, there's also his venture into clothing and apparel. Launched this summer, the Canada-based "IHaveNo5Hole" brand is rapidly growing and now selling worldwide.
"I've always been into clothing and dressing well. It's really been a natural tie-in," Weekes said. "A big thing for us is grassroots."
So that's how you'll find Weekes and his brand – on Twitter or Facebook and at the local rink or ball field; locally, you can find custom "IHaveNo5Hole" shirts at Five Hole Sports. Ultimately, the clothing line is no different from how Weekes, still very much a student of the game, conducts himself in daily life.
"A lot of what we do is just about connecting people," he said. "We're still in our infancy, but we're learning as we go, we're having fun and we're loving it."
Author: Michael Smith - CarolinaHurricanes.com


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With BlackBerry's latest upheaval, the troubled company is again facing pressure to ditch its smartphones.
In a stunning turn of events, BlackBerry announced Monday that a tentative deal to sell itself to a Canadian financial services holding company for $4.7 billion had collapsed, that it was no longer for sale and that Chief Executive Thorsten Heins was being replaced.
Shares of BlackBerry plummeted, closing down $1.27, or 16.4%, to $6.50. Its stock has fallen 45% this year.
John S. Chen, former chairman and chief executive of business software company Sybase Inc., will serve as interim chief executive while BlackBerry searches for a new CEO.


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12:30 am
May to December "This Could Be The Start of Something Big" Alec and Zoe are back home after their honeymoon. Zoe is in the early stages of pregnancy and Alec is full of the joys of spring.G
1:00 am
As Time Goes By "The Dinner Party" Jean and Lionel face an evening with Jean's intimidating sister-in-law. Jean is surrounded by dilemmas she does not want to share with the nosy Penny.G
1:30 am
Ladies of Letters Irene Spence (Maureen Lipman) and Vera Small (Anne Reid) see each other at a daughter's wedding, and begin a dutiful correspondence that reveals a battle of wits and egos as they comment upon events in their lives.G
2:00 am
The Red Green Show "Sausage Envy" The boys do their wurst for the Possum Lake Sausage Carnival. Then, Red makes popcorn in a clothes dryer.G
2:30 am
Keeping Up Appearances - The Memoirs of Hyacinth Bucket "Problems with Relatives" Hyacinth is fearful that the tumultuous lives of her family members will cast a pall on the carefully polished image she tries so hard to maintain.G
3:00 am
Outdoor Idaho "A Palouse Paradise" It is easy to fall in love with the Palouse. Undulating hillsides, randomly arranged and brilliant in their diversity of colors, create a photographer's dreamscape. The special soil virtually guarantees abundant wheat and lentil yields. But there are hidden surprises awaiting those who venture off the beaten path.G
3:30 am
Dialogue "Jac Venza" Host Marcia Franklin talks with the founder of several long-running PBS arts series - including GREAT PERFORMANCES and LIVE FROM LINCOLN CENTER. He and Franklin talk about his long career in public broadcasting, the potential effects of cuts in national grants programs, and the trends he is following in the arts.G
4:00 am
Sesame Street "The All Our Senses Club" Telly, Elmo, and Rosita have formed the Excellent Eyes Club so they can use their eyes to help people on Sesame Street. First they find Leela who is having trouble finding one of her gardening gloves. The Excellent Eyes Club comes through for her and finds the glove. D
5:00 am
Sid The Science Kid "Save The Stump!" Sid is super excited because his Dad is clearing out space in the yard for a basketball court! While Sid and Dad are surveying the land, Sid notices a big stump teeming with little creatures! During a special field trip to The Science Center, Sid and his friends discover that there are animal habitats all around us, even in old stumps, and if one habitat is destroyed, all of the other habitats and animals are affected. (Educational objective - Habitats). D
5:30 am
Martha Speaks "Martha's Millions/Carolina's Gifted" Martha's Millions - When Carolina reads about a dog inheriting millions, she's appalled. What could a dog do with all that money? Martha discovers that it isn't who spends it, but how you spend it, that matters most. Vocabulary: (E) inherit(s)(ed)(ing)(ance), wealthy, greedy, generous, fortune (I) will, buy, spend, stingy, give(ing). D
6:00 am
Nature "Moment of Impact: Hunters & Herds" Wildebeest, built like marathon runners, are up against lions, born sprinters; the chance of being lunch lessens if the wildebeest maintain a 50-yard safety zone when lions are near. California ground squirrels increase heat profiles by flicking tails, which confuses rattlesnakes that hunt using heat-detecting organs. Part 1 of 2G
7:00 am
Rick Steves' Europe "Portugal's Heartland" Rick eats barnacles in an old fishing town, marches with pilgrims, and views riches of the country's Golden Age.G
7:30 am
Smart Travels - Europe with Rudy Maxa "Medieval Europe" The medieval world is one of the big draws of European Travel. Moody ruins, "tippy" towers, cobbled streets, sparkling mosaics, monasteries, castles, and cathedrals form the core of many a tourist'sdreams. In this episode we revisit some favorite spots and toss in a few new sights as we make a little sense out of a fascinating 1000 years-from the fall of Rome to the dawn of the Renaissance. D
8:00 am
The Desert Speaks "Dying Traditions in a Mexican Pueblo" Host David Yetman takes a trip to the pueblos of the Sierra Madre, where traditions are slowly dying out as the big cities become more accessible to the population. After stopping to see a donkey-powered Pinole grinder made of stone, he heads to agrarian community of Sahuaripa to visit its talabarteria (a leather goods shop) and call upon the last remaining weaver of palm hats and baskets. D
8:30 am
Hey Kids, Let's Cook "Pepperoni Pizza Soup" And today we're going to take another spin on one of the most popular kid foods, we're going to show you how to make Pepperoni Pizza Soup. Yes, I did say soup. All the yummy, irresistible flavors of pizza you can also drop in a stock pot and stir together for the same taste. D
9:00 am
Growing a Greener World "Green Roofs and Rooftop Gardens - The Sky's The Limit" Chicago, IL and Charlotte, NC. One of the biggest global opportunities we have to positively impact our carbon footprint is to plant "green roofs". Rooftops across America and the planet offer nearly untapped, limitless space to plants perennials, shrubs, even trees that can cool the air in and above our homes and offices, absorb carbon dioxide, return oxygen, reduce runoff, filter pollutants and provide habitats for birds and other wildlife. D
9:30 am
This American Land "Rescuing Amphibians, Yellowstone Snowmobiles, Saltwater Fishing" Teens from big cities join a new program to recruit them for careers in the National Park Service. Researchers rescue endangered frogs, toads and salamanders from a deadly fungal disease. The amount of wintertime snowmobile traffic has become an ongoing issue in Yellowstone National Park.G
10:00 am
Cook's Country from America's Test Kitchen "Roast Beef Dinner" Chris visits the local butcher to learn about top sirloin. Then, Bridget shows Chris how to make affordable Roast Beef and Whipped Potatoes. Next, Chris shares the test kitchen's tips and techniques for cooking with salt. D
10:30 am
Tracks Ahead "Adobe Mountain Railroad Park" Visit one of the largest model railroad clubs in the country where you'll find a gauge for everyone; visit a mountain top in the Peach State where a husband and wife have built a dream layout; ride an Idaho rail line up the scenic gorge of the Payette River; and look in at a huge 7 and a half inch gauge railroad operation. D
11:00 am
Live from the Artists Den "Iron and Wine" On a chilly fall night, Atlanta's historic Buckhead Theatre hosted an unforgettable, marathon performance by Iron and Wine. The show was a sort of homecoming for frontman Sam Beam, who grew up a few hours from Atlanta, and he delivered a two-hour, 24-song set for the invitation-only audience of 500. The 11-piece band played virtually all of Iron and Wine's most recent album, "Kiss Each Other Clean," plus favorites like "Naked as We Came" and "Boy With a Coin," before Beam closed the remarkable night with a luminous solo version of the brand-new "Flightless Bird, American Mouth," from the "Twilight: Breaking Dawn" soundtrack. D
12:00 pm
Sesame Street "Elmo Wants to Have A Ball" Elmo's daddy has given him a dollar and he is not sure what to buy. He sees lots of things that are interesting, but decides that he wants a Stupendous Ball. The only problem is that it costs five dollars. D
1:00 pm
Dinosaur Train "King Cryolophosaurus/Buddy The Tracker" King Cryolophosaurus - Buddy, Tiny, Don and Mom meet a reclusive, singing dinosaur named King who has a big swooping crest on his head and a voice that sounds an awful lot like Elvis Presley. Buddy the Tracker - Buddy and Don are "footprint detectives" as they track and find creatures they know at the Big Pond. The plot thickens when they discover fossilized tracks that are millions of years old!. D
1:30 pm
Super Why! "The Story of the Tooth Fairy" Whyatt has lost his very first tooth! When his mom tells Whyatt that the Tooth Fairy will come and take his tooth, Whyatt wants to know what happens if he wants to KEEP it? Super Why and his friends decide the best person to ask is the Tooth Fairy herself, so they set off to meet her in person. With a little bit of magic (and a little bit of floss) the reading heroes are able to get all their questions answered.G
2:00 pm
Cat in the Hat Knows A Lot About That! "Flutter By Butterfly/Pretty In Pink" Flutter By Butterfly - Sally and Nick are pretending to be butterflies, but they're not very good at it. The Cat takes them to meet Bernadette the Monarch butterfly, who can teach them all about fluttering. Following Bernadette from Milky Weed Meadow to Prickly Pines forest they learn that butterfly wings are used for so much more than just fluttering! Pretty in Pink - Sally and Nick are having fun trying out different moves when the Cat arrives to show them some cool moves of his own. D
2:30 pm
Wild Kratts "Falcon City" The Kratt brothers are itching to fly with the world's fastest animal, the Peregrine falcon, which can hit top speeds of 240 mph. But their efforts are side-tracked when the rest of the Wild Kratts team challenges them to find the falcon in the city instead of in the wild, and Chris' Creature Power Suit is accidentally activated with Pigeon Powers ! But then they discover that Zach is sending his Zachbots to clean off a building that has a peregrine falcon nests with chicks! Martin and Chris must activate their Peregrine falcons powers and harness the force of gravity to pull off a high flying creature rescue!. D
3:00 pm
Wyland's Art Studio "Moorish Idols" Paint the vibrant Moorish Idols of the sea moving through the weightless ocean.G
3:30 pm
Piano Guy Host Scott Houston and guests show viewers how to play the Les Brown big band hit "Sentimental Journey" and the signature lick to Elton John's "Crocodile Rock." Featured guests include David Tolley, Dave Powers and Lori Mechem. D
4:00 pm
Wild! "Elephant Rescue" Orphans, survivors of overcrowded reserves or former captives and performers are part of a unique wilderness family. Guided by wildlife biologist Randall Jay Moore and a dedicated group of people, these elephants are learning to be citizens of the wild in one of Africa's last great strongholds of unspoiled nature.G
5:00 pm
PBS NewsHour NULL
6:00 pm
Nature "Moment of Impact: Hunters & Herds" Wildebeest, built like marathon runners, are up against lions, born sprinters; the chance of being lunch lessens if the wildebeest maintain a 50-yard safety zone when lions are near. California ground squirrels increase heat profiles by flicking tails, which confuses rattlesnakes that hunt using heat-detecting organs. Part 1 of 2G
7:00 pm
Wild! "Elephant Rescue" Orphans, survivors of overcrowded reserves or former captives and performers are part of a unique wilderness family. Guided by wildlife biologist Randall Jay Moore and a dedicated group of people, these elephants are learning to be citizens of the wild in one of Africa's last great strongholds of unspoiled nature.G
8:00 pm
Orangutan Diary After months of planning, a handful of rescued orangutans are flying to freedom. On board are Mama Abut and her baby, found starving in an oil palm plantation but nursed back to health at the Centre, which is home to 600 rescued orangutans babies in the nursery needing 24-hour care, orphans in Forest School learning the skills they will need in the wild, and older ones almost ready for release. After a terrifying fall at the Centre, Sumanto fights for his life, while deep in the jungle the rescue team has to think fast when a powerful male decides he would rather not be rescued. D
9:00 pm
Land of Beauty and Bounty This program provides an in-depth look at the history of the Pacific Northwest and the exploration of the West as seen through the Seattle Art Museum's 2011 exhibit on American Landscapes. The documentary explores how landscape paintings and photographs of the late 19th Century fueled the world's fascination with the Western Frontier, shaped America's concept of the Northwest Territories, and provided fodder for debates about stewardship of our "magnificent, untamed wilderness."G
9:30 pm
Ribbon of Sand This film from John Grabowska looks at one of the world's last natural barrier island systems among the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Although the area is protected from commercial development, it is also doomed to change, perhaps disappear.G
10:00 pm
Treasuring Our Natural Heritage "Appreciating Nature's Services" Human benefits derived from healthy natural systems include photosynthesis, plant pollination, maintenance of soil fertility, water purification, erosion and flood control, genetic diversity and more. Part 2 of 3G
11:00 pm
Nature "Moment of Impact: Hunters & Herds" Wildebeest, built like marathon runners, are up against lions, born sprinters; the chance of being lunch lessens if the wildebeest maintain a 50-yard safety zone when lions are near. California ground squirrels increase heat profiles by flicking tails, which confuses rattlesnakes that hunt using heat-detecting organs. Part 1 of 2G


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No rigid rules, labels or dogmas.... just REAL food, for your body, mind & soul!
1352 members110 Comments 42 Likes
Come take the RFR Mansion Tour!
Click here for each room's index!
Welcome to
our "Special Central Secret Place in Cyber Space"!
We are rolling out the red carpet for you!
Make Yourself at HOME!! : )
I assist Penni in running this site. If you need any assistance here at RFR, feel free to call on me! I count it a JOY and a priviledge to walk beside you on your raw journey to health and wellness!
Keep in touch!
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Hi Laurence!
I'm so happy to welcome you to Raw Food Rehab! I have an orientation letter waiting for you HERE. This information will help you in navigating our virtual holistic retreat.
It is also very important that new members read our House Rules before posting anything to our site. I hope that you will make yourself at home, and please let me know if you have any questions!
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05242018_188663_Editing_Thai_ 7 hours - Upwork
|501-1000 Eur
|Important: DO not BID if you will not use 100% Human Translation...
Hello there,
We are a translation company operating for 10 years already, with clients that include Microsoft and Nokia.
We need a contractor who will edit approx. 7 hours worth of of Thai files.
The non-negotiable budget for this project is US$6/hour. The project is ready to start asap.
In order to qualify, you must be:
1) a native Gujarati speaker--OR, have your own native Gujarati editor(s) whom you will pay yourself using the payment you will receive from this project.
2) You must also be ONLINE on Skype Messenger as often as possible--and AT LEAST DURING THE JOB. This is so we can check on your status.
3) Sign our contract of collaboration which will protect all parties.
4) Be willing to provide post-delivery quality assurance support to the client pertaining to the output you will deliver.
We are looking for dedicated, experienced and honest providers as this could be the start of a long term collaboration.
ADDITIONAL IMPORTANT Notes BEFORE BIDDING:
5) 100% HUMAN TRANSLATION ONLY. All translations must be done by humans. Contractors are forbidden from using Machine Translation (such as Google Translate, Systran or Babel) in any way and for any purpose. We know how to detect work done by automated translations and will NEVER PAY for any such jobs.
6) NO "BAIT and SWITCH" PRICING TACTICS. Once we select you among other bidders, you must not change your bid price. As a goodwill step, we transparently show snippets of the actual source file, so that you will have a clear understanding of the work. We never change files, so you shouldn't also change your bid. If you do this we will not hesitate to refer you to UpWork for investigation.
7) NO UPFRONT. Sorry we don't pay upfront or deposit, simply because our own clients never pay us any upfront. Just check our stellar track record to see the positive feedbacks our providers have left for us.
8) UPWORK PAYMENT ONLY - Sorry, no payment outside UpWork. We pay through UpWork, and only through UpWork. We pay after our client confirms that no quality issues remain with the job. Payment will be posted in 3 to 5 working days for jobs amounting to less than US$100; for jobs worth US$100 to less than US$200, payment will be posted in 15 calendar days; please allow payment to be posted in at least 30 calendar days for payments worth US$200 and above.
9) No "personal emergency" excuses. Please be professional and complete the work. If we award you the UpWork job and you accept it...then you bail out due to some flimsy reason, we will refer you to UpWork for investigation and possible suspension.
10) NO PAYMENT for MISSED DEADLINE. - 1 hour delay means you will no longer be paid for the job. Don't accept a job if you can't meet the deadline. All our deadlines are fixed.
Bottomline - Let's be professional and do an honest job.
~~~~~BY BIDDING on this job you hereby CONFIRM that you READ the above stipulations and AGREE to obey them fully.~~~~~
Thank you
Proscript Consulting
Budget: $42
Posted On: May 28, 2018 04:00 UTC
Category: Writing > Other - Writing
Country: Philippines
click to apply
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Kids Wish Network provides trip to Disneyland
Every child deserves a chance at happiness … and granting a wish is a way of bringing them that joy.
International children's charity Kids Wish Network recently sent a Mexico girl, Ava Wilson, who is suffering from cystic fibrosis, on an all-expense-paid trip to fulfill her fondest wish. Ava is the daughter of Nicole and James Wilson of Mexico.
Kids Wish Network is a charitable organization dedicated to infusing hope, creating happy memories and improving the quality of life for children experiencing life-altering situations.
"Granting a child's wish provides them with more than just joy," said Kids Wish Network Executive Director Anna Lanzatella. "It also gives them hope for a happier, healthier future."
Eight-year-old Ava was born with cystic fibrosis. She and her 10-year-old sister, Madeline, suffer with the same illness. Madeline was granted a wish to Disney World in Florida a few years back through the local Dream Factory Chapter.
Cystic fibrosis causes mucus to build up on the lungs and can lead to many different life-threatening lung infections. Ava was also born with a medical problem requiring emergency surgery at only a day old.
Ava has suffered through many complications and was in and out of the hospital during her early childhood. She follows various daily treatment regimens, including enzymes and other medications, as well as percussion vest treatments to try and break up the mucus in her lungs. She and Madeline take 10 pills daily and do breathing treatments – twice a day if they are well, and more if when necessary.
Ava said she relies on Madeline "a lot" for support and advice when she has to undergo treatments.
"Whenever I complain about a medicine or treatment that I have to take, she lets me know if it's going to hurt."
Ava was given the chance to have a wish granted through Kids Wish Network after her grandfather, Dennis Chapman of Mexico, submitted her name. She asked to visit Disneyland in California. Her mother, sister and father accompanied her on the trip – which was taken shortly before Christmas, Dec. 12-16.
During the all-expense paid vacation, Ava enjoyed visiting Disneyland, Disney's California Adventure Park and LEGOland. She was also treated to dinners every evening and topnotch accommodations.
"My favorite ride was the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. It is the best ride I've ever ridden. I screamed the whole time," Ava recalled.
She also enjoyed the LEGO sculptures and the aquarium at LEGOland.
"Whoever created Kids Wish Network is awesome. I think it's a really good way to help sick kids have dreams and get to go places and have fun."
Nicole Wilson said "For Ava, the trip was a wish come true."
Aside from the "great rides," Ava also had the opportunity to meet Mickey, Minnie and Sleeping Beauty characters, Monster Inc. cartoonists, and "Jack" from the "Nightmare Before Christmas" movie. The family also enjoyed the fireworks and lighted water displays.
"Ava had a great time; we all did," Nicole Wilson said. "Everyone was so welcoming everywhere we went and they really made us feel special, and treated Ava like a princess. Thank you so much. This was definitely needed."
When Ava is not undergoing medical treatments, she enjoys playing sports. She likes playing softball, tennis, and dance. The third-grader recently signed up for the YMCA basketball program and looks forward to signing up for cheerleading in the future. The Wilson family has two dogs and one hamster that Ava really enjoys playing with as well.
Sponsors of Ava's trip included Disneyland, Disneyland's California Adventure, LEGOland, Anaheim Marriott, Tony Roma's, Outback Steakhouse, T.G.I. Friday's and Enterprise.
"The whole thing was great. I'm glad I had the chance to experience it. It's something I will never forget," Ava said.
The third-grader is a student at Eugene Field Elementary. Her favorite teachers are Mr. Green and Mrs. Wagner. Ava loves school, learning new things, and she's quite a conversationalist.
For more information on Kids Wish Network, visit the website www.kidswishnetwork.org. To sponsor a child's wish or if you know a child who is suffering from a life-threatening illness and may be in need of Kids Wish Network's wish granting services, call (727) 937-3600 or toll free 1-888-918-9004.
Editor's Note: Kids Wish Network Senior Editor Alicia True contributed to this article.


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by Sue Ann Rybak
The Sisters of Saint Joseph Earth Center at Chestnut Hill College will present an Eco Film Festival during its second annual Sustainability Conference from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Thursday, March 14, in the East Parlor, St. Joseph Hall. The festival is free and open to the public.
Sponsored by Lutron Electronics Company Inc., the festival includes screenings of five eco-related films, each followed by a brief discussion with a presenter.
"Taking Root," directed by Lisa Merton and Alan Dater, will run from 8:30 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. It tells the story of Kenyan Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Wangari Maathai, whose simple act of planting trees grew into a nationwide crusade to preserve the environment, protect human rights and defend democracy.
Sister Mary Elizabeth Clark, director the Earth Center, said part of the mission of the Sisters of Saint Joseph is union and reconciliation.
"For me that includes reconciling with the planet," said Clark, who has been involved in social justice ministries for over 30 years."I see the planet Earth as a living organism."
Clark, who worked as lobbyist in Washington, D.C., before accepting the position at Chestnut Hill College, said her main focus was on global and local economic justice.
"I believe in looking at the big picture," Clark said. "I saw the impact of what we're doing to the planet as an umbrella to addressing a variety of issues."
Clark added that everyone has a responsibility "to treasure and care for the Earth." She said part of the center's mission is to educate and expose students, faulty, staff and the public to sustainability.
"A lot of what we have in the sustainability community is 'head information'," Clark said. "It's important, but I love to reach people through the arts, so this is an attempt to get the message across through the arts and through knowledgeable people who can answer people's questions."
Other screenings include "I AM" at 10 a.m., directed by Tom Shadyac, whose life-threatening head injury sent him on a personal journey to answer two questions: "What's wrong with our world?" and "What can we do about it?"
"Kilowatt Ours" at 12:30 p.m. follows director Jeff Barrie as he travels through America's cities, towns and countryside, searching for solutions for today's energy problems while teaching viewers how to dramatically decrease their energy bills and improve the environment.
"Journey of the Universe" at 2 p.m., written by Brian Swimme and Mary Evelyn Tucker, depicts the epic story of cosmic, earth and human transformation. The film was created in collaboration with a team of expert scientists, scholars and filmmakers.
"They Killed Sister Dorothy" at 3:45 p.m., directed by Daniel Junge, tells the shocking story of Sister Dorothy Stang, a 73-year-old Catholic nun from Dayton, Ohio, who was killed in the Amazon rainforest. The 2005 murder exposed a brutal battle in the Brazilian rainforest, and the answers to the complex issues that contributed to her death and what can be done about it may hold the key to the future of the rainforest.
For more information about the event call Sr. Mary Elizabeth Clark, SSJ, at 215-248-7289 or email email@example.com.


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Audio Specifications and Standards
From UA Libraries Digital Services Planning and Documentation
The following provides a brief overview of our standard audio specifications.
Technical Information:
Default File/Output Settings
- masters: .wav/WAVE at 24-bit/44.1khz
- note: IASA TC-04 calls for a minimum sampling rate of 48kHz (preferably 96kHz) [1]. We will discontinue use of 44.1kHz sampling rates pending confirmation of appropriate storage space as 24/48 vs 24/44.1 should yield only an 8% increase in space requirements.- arora, 051309
- typically, 2s of silence is left or created at the beginning of each .wav, with 1s at the end.
- RMS levels are typically set fairly low, to -25db
- deliverables: .rm/RealAudio v. 8 at 16-bit/44.1kHz, 105 kbps (stereo)
- in the near future, our workflow will allow for some enhancement of the Real Audio files (dynamic range compression, higher RMS levels) in order for delivery of pragmatic derivatives; with the preservation .wav file unaffected by such enhancements.
Update 082809: Real Audio will not be the preferred delivery format as we began use of alternate delivery methods. MP3s will be created with the Lame Encoder using the following setting:
% lame sample.wav sample.mp3 -V4 --noreplaygain --nohist -S
These setting were decided upon after consulting the Hydrogen Audio site.
Associated Hardware
Resources and Links:
- Digitization and Preservation Standards
- TAPE (Training for Audiovisual Preservation in Europe). European Commission on Preservation and Access.
- Capturing Analog Sound for Digital Preservation: Report of a Roundtable Discussion of Best Practices for Tranferring Analog Discs and Tapes. (2006) Council on Library and Information Resources and Library of Congress.
- Sound Directions - project website, maintained by Indiana University Digital Library Program.
- Sound Directions: Best Practices for Audio Preservation. (2007) Casey, Mike & Bruce Gordon.
- Grammy foundation® Basic Methodology for Preservation, Conversion and Archiving Recorded Media. (revised 2008) Grammy Foundation, Santa Monica, CA.
- File Formats - from LOC Digital Preservation/Digital Formats site
- Wave
- see also Waveform Audio Reference - from Microsoft website
- Broadcast Wave
- FLAC (Free Losless Audio Codec)
- MP3 Audio Encoding
- RealAudio v. 10
- Wave
- Audio Decision List (ADL)/AES31-3
- The AES31 Standard (2001) De Lancie, Philip.
- AES31--Eliminating the File Exchange Conundrum (2001) Lambert, Mel.
- see also: Open Media Framework Interchange format (OMFI)
- see also: Advanced Authoring Format (AAF)


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NFL Pick 'Em Pool is back. Last year I made it a $5 fee to play, money goes into a pot for weekly and overall winners. It turned out to be awesome and I'd like to get even more people to play this year. If you're a football fan or just really lucky and think you can pick a winner, you should play. Only $5 to play, easy to play, and fun!
How does it work? NFL Pick Em is simple game and fun to play. Its like playing a parlay card at a casino (minus the point spread). The goal is to pick (guess) the winner for every NFL game every week. The players with the highest score (highest number of correct picks) at the end of the 17 week season will split the pot (final amounts TBD based on number of people that play).
You dont really have to know anything about football to play. Its more of a guessing game. But it will give you reason to root for every a winner in every game which makes football more fun. The only catch is you have to guess your pick before that game starts and theres games every week starting this Thursday until the end of the calendar year. Its only $5 to play. Its easy to play, and fun!
First game is this Thursday night, and go from there. To join, click the link below, use the password: Reno4x4 and you can bring me the league dues. Please forward to anyone that you know that may be interested. This game is open to any that want to play. The more the merrier.
Please PM me if you join the league so I can give payment details.


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Join our live RV chat - click HERE
I'm afraid you lost me on that one Wireman. Are you saying that a 300 watt solar setup that meets the power requirements of one RV/RVer is acceptable, but larger systems for larger RVs aren't, or are you saying that RVers should do without some amenities while boondocking?Kev
good timing, I just happened to have recently read an interesting and well written (I think) blog post on the subject...https://www.thefitrv.com/rv-tips/how-much-solar-do-i-need-on-my-rv/
Quote from: blw2 on May 11, 2017, 03:43:49 PMgood timing, I just happened to have recently read an interesting and well written (I think) blog post on the subject...https://www.thefitrv.com/rv-tips/how-much-solar-do-i-need-on-my-rv/Informative article. Wonder if there are businesses specializing in rv solar setups. Would sure like to pull into one on the West Coast and have a pro make recommendations. Will have to do a google search. Thanks for the responses.
No don't you do without. Spend $5,000-$10,000 on your solar. Then still run your generator to power what it won't. If you insist on solar only you will have to do without or maybe clad the Class A in PV with 2000 ahr battery bank then have at it with all those sunny days down there. Solar is a supplement in a RV platform. To the OP for your usage I'd say 600watt of panels paired with 6- 6 volt GC batteries (300 ahr usable) into a 2000w inverter and hope you have 5 hours of solar noon every other day or so.
I've always had the same opinion as Wireman - that solar is more of a supplimental power source for RVing, but the fact is, in our last five boondocking trips, which were each several days long, we've put less than one hour on our generator (total, for all five trips).
Yes, it cost some dough to achieve that capability, but we boondock quite a bit, and we don't like listening to our generator droning away, so it made sense to us. Res fridges do cause some power challenges when boondocking, but they can be overcome with some $$ and creativity.
If you want to talk about dough, think about what we paid for our solar panels in 2005! For several years, our solar panels were the only appreciating asset we owned.I know people love their residential refrigerators, but I kind of resent them.
Hello, I haven't been on here in quite a while. We just purchased a new 2017 Sundance 22 ft travel trailer. We are exploring the solar options. Has anyone sucessfully ran their A/C unit on an inverter with solar panels and batteries? My friend is building his own teardrop trailer and he put a small residential a/c unit in it. He runs it off of a 5,000 watt inverter and a single deep cycle battery. He keeps telling me that I should be able to run my whole trailer including the a/c on about a 5 - 7000 watt inverter with some solar panels to recharge the batteries. I currently have 2ea 12 volt deep cycle batteries on my new trailer and no solar. The last time we went boondocking we ran a generator 3200 watt with 4000 peak and it ran the ac just fine. However, I am not the guy who wants to run it all the time. In fact when I finally turned it off I could hear someone cheering from another campsite along the river that we had finally shut it off. I would really like to know more about the solar option. I would be willing to spend up to 800 or 1000 bucks if I thought it would actually work but I don't know enough about it to make the jump just yet. I would really want it to be able to run the A/C as well as my dish network and 32" tv. Can anyone tell me if this is even possible? I know that my friends little trailer gets cool but it is only a few square feet since it is a teardrop trailer. It is easy for him to tell me I can do it but he can't even stand up or go to the bathroom in his trailer. I just want help to know if it is actually possible. Thanks, Mike (lions6)
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Late commercial illustrator Miriam Wosk left her mark when she remodeled her personal residence in Santa Monica. The gated Spanish-style compound includes splashes of vibrant colors inside and out, an art studio, a solarium, a guesthouse, gardens and a swimming pool.
Location: 436 Adelaide Drive, Santa Monica 90402
Asking price: $12.5 million
Year built: 1926
House size: Five bedrooms, six bathrooms, 7,801 square feet
Lot size: 21,075 square feet
Features: Entry, living room, den, family room, four fireplaces, breakfast bar, service entrance, canyon views, detached garage.
About the area: In the third quarter last year, 34 single-family homes sold in the 90402 ZIP Code at a median price of $3.25 million, according to DataQuick. That was a 28.7% price increase from the same quarter in 2011.


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Student or Learner
There is nthing better for a relationship than a NEAR MISS.
would somebody tell me the meaning of a near miss, please??
That means something that comes very close, but misses. For example, if you shoot a gun at a target and come only one centimeter from hitting it, you have a "near miss." You missed it, but you were very near it.
Your sentence is saying, "There is nothing better for a relationship than something that almost ends it, but that it is strong enough to survive." Relationships, like swords, can only be forged in fire. Another confusing proverb for you. :)


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Since then, IT has been instrumental in helping the industry respond to new regulatory controls and reporting requirements. However, the continuous accumulation of IT systems over the last generation has created technology estates that are vast in scale and complexity. In current market conditions, where returns increasingly depend on lower cost-income ratios, the cost burden of maintaining these estates is proving unsustainable. The underlying "legacy architecture"–including specific technology choices, platforms and standards–is also inhibiting innovation and responsiveness to new digital competition.DOWNLOAD FULL CHALLENGE [PDF, 266 KB]
The rise of investment banking has been driven, to a great extent, by the industry's ability to introduce new asset classes and trading strategies, price trades more accurately, execute more efficiently, and measure risk with greater speed and sophistication. Capabilities in these areas have developed partly through advances in financial mathematics and partly through technological innovation. Given the competitive advantages demonstrated by IT, investment in technology has always been strong. Banks have been quick to innovate and adopt new programming languages, databases, messaging platforms, operating systems and hardware technologies. IT has also played a central role in less fortunate times. Since the global financial crisis of 2007–2008, compliance with new regulatory reforms has largely depended on the introduction of new trade and risk reporting systems.
A generation of technology accumulation has resulted in costly and complex system architectures that are unsustainable for most investment banks. Unfortunately, legacy IT systems are also proving to be a lot harder to switch off than switch on. Figure 1 shows that as spending on new IT systems keeps rising, support costs will too. Trying to decommission legacy systems while responding to new regulatory requirements and a new digital era has proven to be one challenge too many. IT accumulation has ratcheted up cost and complexity to weigh heavily on cost-income ratios.
This situation is also inhibiting the ability of banks to respond quickly to value chain disruption and new digital opportunities. With the bulk of IT spending being consumed by high support costs and regulatory implementation, the level of discretionary funding and key staff available for innovation and new application development is suboptimal. Legacy architecture also increases the cost and time to market for new technology applications, with testing having to stretch over a complex network of application interdependencies. These factors inflate the risk posed by digital disruption and new market entrants. Results from a recent Accenture study suggest that banks feel "somewhat equipped" at best to address the issues associated with next-generation digital technologies.
*Accenture estimates
Source: Accenture Research
Recent IT simplification initiatives have attempted to tackle legacy application and data architectures head on, creating target states and roadmaps to evolve or even reinvent the enterprise. While this approach can be valuable in terms of establishing centralized standards and control over IT spending, many organizations struggle to gain traction. In particular, banks' institutional dependencies on legacy systems often make it impossible for them to be changed while in use. Simultaneously, the cost burdens they impose make it difficult to fund full replacements. Essentially, strategic investment is often deprioritized in favor of operational necessity.
Accenture advocates a new approach to the problem that has the potential to lower the cost base of legacy systems, create breathing space for greenfield replacement systems to be developed and ultimately enable legacy systems to be decommissioned. New cloud technologies and a more mature cloud computing sector are making it possible to virtualize legacy applications on an industrial scale using low-cost agile infrastructure. Systems and data can be migrated into portable "containers" using automated tools and industrialized migration factories. These cloud containers can be securely and fluidly deployed across a hybrid cloud of internal and external best-in-class infrastructure providers. This solution not only provides a low-cost basis for phasing out legacy systems, it also removes physical IT assets from the balance sheet and radically simplifies IT infrastructure operations, potentially in partnership with lower-cost service providers.
Source: IDC, Cloud Computing: The Essential Foundation of Industry Digital Transformation — Worldwide and U.S. Cloud Forecast by Vertical, 2015–2019, Jul 2015, Doc #256944
Jettisoning legacy systems requires a cohesive and well-coordinated program of activities, and an institutional culture that values strategic investment and embraces lean principles. IT leadership that communicates a clear technology vision, interacts well with the business and establishes good global governance is key. It is also important to build a broad coalition of executive support: business leaders who recognize the impact of legacy technology on their digital capabilities and the bottom line, chief operating officers who can reduce operational dependencies on legacy solutions, and chief financial officers who can structure the IT cost base to create financial incentives for transformation.
Banks will need to industrialize their decommissioning activities. A "factory" model can help organizations centralize services in a cost-effective and controlled way. Factory functions typically include a technical analysis of applications (application discovery), cloud migration, deactivation of production services and retention of business records. A factory can also serve as a central point for cataloguing systems and tracking decommissioning progress.
Banks may also find it valuable to establish a different operating model for legacy applications. A "run-to-kill" approach involves managing legacy applications so that they are resilient and fit for business, while emphasizing cost-effectiveness and constraining system changes. Run-to-kill operations can also be outsourced to lower-cost application maintenance and support vendors, freeing up skilled and experienced staff for work on greenfield replacements.
This content has been prepared by Accenture and is for information purposes. No part of this content may be reproduced in any manner without the written permission of Accenture. While we take precautions to ensure that the source and the information we base our judgments on is reliable, we do not represent that this information is accurate or complete and it should not be relied upon as such. It is provided with the understanding that Accenture is not acting in a fiduciary capacity. Opinions expressed herein are subject to change without notice.


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Did you read today's front page stories & breaking news?
Today's Top SOA Links
From the Wires
The Makers of Hydroxycut Focus on Important Data on Nutrition Labels
The Makers of Hydroxycut Home In on the Important Details That Nutrition Labels Provide to Dieters
By: Marketwired .
Jan. 29, 2013 06:01 AM
NEW YORK, NY -- (Marketwire) -- 01/29/13 -- The nutrition labels on foods are important for dieters who are planning their meals and making healthy choices. For this reason, the makers of Hydroxycut have shared some tips regarding which details provided on nutrition labels should be of particular interest to dieters. These tips are in response to an article, which breaks down what a registered dietitian looks for when choosing her meals.
The article reveals that paying special attention to serving size, grams of saturated and trans fats, and the ingredients are crucial. Serving size is important because portion control is one key to weight loss and many foods measure their nutritional content based on a serving size that is much smaller or even larger than the average person would consume. Saturated and trans fats are substances that should be limited, so instead of looking at how many grams of total fat a food has, people should choose foods that have low saturated and trans fats (as other fats in moderation can be important to a balanced diet). Additionally, by looking at the ingredients, people are able to emphasize whole ingredients in their diet. As such, they can cut down on other unwanted substances. The article explains that people should not always put special emphasis on grams of fat, as discussed, or on daily percentage value.
The makers of Hydroxycut encourage dieters to take the advice set forth in the article, because it provides a great deal of insight into choosing the right foods. In a recent press statement, the makers of Hydroxycut announce: "We are always looking for new ways to help individuals achieve their weight loss goals. In this article, we discover great information regarding how to read a nutrition label so that it can benefit one's dietary efforts. By looking at the right details, people can create a well-rounded, healthy meal plan that fits their individual needs."
Hydroxycut is available in several formats, including Pro Clinical Hydroxycut Caffeine Free, Hydroxycut Herbal, and more.
For more information, visit www.Hydroxycut.com.
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