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Understanding the World Using Tables and Graphs
Understanding the World Using Tables and Graphs
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The content of this article was originally written by Marko Rodriguez and Matthias Broecheler over at the Aurelius blog.
Organizations make use of data to drive their decision making, enhance their product features, and to increase the efficiency of their everyday operations. Data by itself is not useful. However, with data analysis, patterns such as trends, clusters, predictions, etc. can be distilled. The way in which data is analyzed is predicated on the way in which data is structured. The table format popularized by spreadsheets and relational databases is useful for particular types of processing. However, the primary purpose of this post is to examine a relatively less exploited structure that can be leveraged when analyzing an organization's data — the graph/network.
The Table Perspective
Before discussing graphs, a short review of the table data structure is presented using a toy example containing a 12 person population. For each individual person, their name, age, and total spending for the year is gathered. The R Statistics code snippet below loads the population data into a table.
> people <- read.table(file='people.txt', sep='\t', header=TRUE) > people id name age spending 1 0 francis 57 100000 2 1 johan 37 150000 3 2 herbert 56 150000 4 3 mike 34 30000 5 4 richard 47 35000 6 5 alberto 31 70000 7 6 stephan 36 90000 8 7 dan 52 40000 9 8 jen 28 90000 10 9 john 53 120000 11 10 matt 34 90000 12 11 lisa 48 100000 13 12 ariana 34 110000
Each row represents the information of a particular individual. Each column represents the values of a property of all individuals. Finally, each entry represents a single value for a single property for a single individual. Given the person table above, various descriptive statistics can be calculated? Simple examples include:
- the average, median, and standard deviation of age (line 1),
- the average, median, and standard deviation of spending (line 3),
- the correlation between age and spending (i.e. do older people tend to spend more? — line 5),
- the distribution of spending (i.e. a histogram of spending — line 8).
> c(mean(people$age), median(people$age), sd(people$age)) [1] 42.07692 37.00000 10.29937 > c(mean(people$spending), median(people$spending), sd(people$spending)) [1] 90384.62 90000.00 38969.09 > cor.test(people$spending, people$age)$e cor 0.1753667 > hist(people$spending, xlab='spending', ylab='frequency', cex.axis=0.5, cex.lab=0.75, main=NA)
In general, a table representation is useful for aggregate statistics such as those used when analyzing data cubes. However, when the relationships between modeled entities is complex/recursive, then graph analysis techniques can be leveraged.
The Graph Perspective
A graph (or network) is a structure composed of vertices (i.e. nodes, dots) and edges (i.e. links, lines). Assume that along with the people data presented previously, there exists a dataset which includes the friendship patterns between the people. In this way, people are vertices and friendship relationships are edges. Moreover, the features of a person (e.g. their name, age, and spending) are properties on the vertices. This structure is commonly known as a property graph. Using iGraph in R, it is possible to represent and process this graph data.
- Load the friendship relationships as a two column numeric table (line 1-2).
- Generate an undirected graph from the two column table (line 3).
- Attach the person properties as metadata on the vertices (line 4-6).
> friendships <- read.table(file='friendships.txt',sep='\t') > friendships <- cbind(lapply(friendships, as.numeric)$V1, lapply(friendships, as.numeric)$V2) > g <- graph.edgelist(as.matrix(friendships), directed=FALSE) > V(g)$name <- as.character(people$name) > V(g)$spending <- people$spending > V(g)$age <- people$age > g Vertices: 13 Edges: 25 Directed: FALSE Edges: [0] 'francis' -- 'johan' [1] 'francis' -- 'jen' [2] 'johan' -- 'herbert' [3] 'johan' -- 'alberto' [4] 'johan' -- 'stephan' [5] 'johan' -- 'jen' [6] 'johan' -- 'lisa' [7] 'herbert' -- 'alberto' [8] 'herbert' -- 'stephan' [9] 'herbert' -- 'jen' [10] 'herbert' -- 'lisa' ...
One simple technique for analyzing graph data is to visualize it so as to take advantage of the human's visual processing system. Interestingly enough, the human eye is excellent at finding patterns. The code example below makes use of the Fruchterman-Reingold layout algorithm to display the graph on a 2D plane.
> layout <- layout.fruchterman.reingold(g) > plot(g, vertex.color='red',layout=layout, vertex.size=10, edge.arrow.size=0.5, edge.width=0.75, vertex.label.cex=0.75, vertex.label=V(g)$name, vertex.label.cex=0.5, vertex.label.dist=0.7, vertex.label.color='black')
For large graphs (those beyond the toy example presented), the human eye can become lost in the mass of edges between vertices. Fortunately, there exist numerous community detection algorithms. These algorithms leverage the connectivity patterns in a graph in order to identify structural subgroups. The edge betweenness community detection algorithm used below identifies two structural communities in the toy graph (one colored orange and one colored blue — lines 1-2). With this derived community information, it is possible to extract one of the communities and analyze it in isolation (line 19).
> V(g)$community = community.to.membership(g, edge.betweenness.community(g)$merges, steps=11)$membership+1 > data.frame(name=V(g)$name, community=V(g)$community) name community 1 francis 1 2 johan 1 3 herbert 1 4 mike 2 5 richard 2 6 alberto 1 7 stephan 1 8 dan 2 9 jen 1 10 john 2 11 matt 2 12 lisa 1 13 ariana 1 > color <- c(colors()[631], colors()[498]) > plot(g, vertex.color=color[V(g)$community],layout=layout, vertex.size=10, edge.arrow.size=0.5, edge.width=0.75, vertex.label.cex=0.75, vertex.label=V(g)$name, vertex.label.cex=0.5, vertex.label.dist=0.7, vertex.label.color='black') > h <- delete.vertices(g, V(g)[V(g)$community == 2]) > plot(h, vertex.color="red",layout=layout.fruchterman.reingold, vertex.size=10, edge.arrow.size=0.5, edge.width=0.75, vertex.label.cex=0.75, vertex.label=V(h)$name, vertex.label.cex=0.5, vertex.label.dist=0.7, vertex.label.color='black')
The isolated subgraph can be subjected to a centrality algorithm in order to determine the most central/important/influential people in the community. With centrality algorithms, importance is defined by a person's connectivity in the graph and in this example, the popular PageRank algorithm is used (line 1). The algorithm outputs a score for each vertex, where the higher the score, the more central the vertex. The vertices can then be sorted (lines 2-3). In practice, such techniques may be used for designing a marketing campaign. For example, as seen below, it is possible to ask questions such as "which person is both influential in their community and a high spender?" In general, the graphical perspective on data lends itself to novel statistical techniques that, when combined with table techniques, provides the analyst a rich toolkit for exploring and exploiting an organization's data.
> V(h)$page.rank <- page.rank(h)$vector > scores <- data.frame(name=V(h)$name, centrality=V(h)$page.rank, spending=V(h)$spending) > scores[order(-centrality, spending),] name centrality spending 6 jen 0.19269343 90000 2 johan 0.19241727 150000 3 herbert 0.16112886 150000 7 lisa 0.13220997 100000 4 alberto 0.10069925 70000 8 ariana 0.07414285 110000 5 stephan 0.07340102 90000 1 francis 0.07330735 100000
It is important to realize that for large-scale graph analysis there exists various technologies. Many of these technologies are found in the graph database space. Examples include transactional, persistence engines such as Neo4j and the Hadoop-based batch processing engines such as Giraph and Pegasus. Finally, exploratory analysis with the R language can be used for in-memory, single-machine graph analysis as well as in cluster-based environments using technologies such as RHadoop and RHIPE. All these technologies can be brought together (along with table-based technologies) to aid an organization in understanding the patterns that exist in their data.
Newman, M.E.J., "The Structure and Function of Complex Networks", SIAM Review, 45, 167–256, 2003.
Rodriguez, M.A., Pepe, A., "On the Relationship Between the Structural and Socioacademic Communities of a Coauthorship Network," Journal of Informetrics, 2(3), 195–201, July 2008.
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If you have a nice deck, chances are you've pretty much converted it into a second living area – a place where you and your family and friends can gather and have a good time. In the warm months, you've probably also found a great deck space is a nice place to go if you want to be alone and lounge around. Sometimes you may feel like you're on display when you're on your deck so we've put together a few deck privacy ideas to help you feel more comfortable and, if necessary, even block your neighbor's prying eyes.
Make Your Deck a More Comfortable & Private Space with Deck Privacy Screens
Add a Deck Privacy Screen
Deck privacy screens are available in a variety of different styles, colors , and even textures so it should be fairly simple for you to find one to fit your needs and match your decor. Some deck privacy screens are portable so you can set them up just when you need some privacy and then remove them when you're ready to go back into the house.
If you want a more permanent solution, some deck privacy screens can be installed right into the floor of your deck or attached to your deck railing. Most deck privacy screens are configurable panels so you can angle them in different positions depending on how you want to set up your deck. If you like the look of a greenery trellis, but you don't have a fence to attach it to, you can install privacy screen poles and weave the greenery through them. To give you privacy from above, you can install a shade sail to trees, poles or any other permanent structure.
Deck privacy screens options:
- Resin wicker or wood deck privacy screens
- Lattice trellises
- Faux leaves & faux ivy deck privacy screens
- Metal panel dividers
- Ivy folding dividers
- Pull down shade screens
Plant a Tree
To give yourself some deck privacy as well as some additional greenery, plant a tree close to the deck. Make sure you take into account the root size of the tree that you're planting so it won't interfere with the foundation of your home or the structure of the deck. You'll want to do a little research to find out what type of large tree will flourish in your area. Some of the trees that would give you the most privacy on your deck are:
- Evergreen trees. Specifically, evergreens that are very dense. Not only will they block the view from the neighbors, but they will also help filter out unwanted noises. You can find evergreens in a variety of shapes and sizes.
- Weeping willow trees. This type of tree looks like a canopy, with branches that droop down. Because it can spread up to 35 feet wide and will typically reach the ground, it is great for providing privacy.
Form A Lush Haven
If you live in an area where beautiful, thick plants can thrive all year long, plant them right in the ground all around the deck. Find plants that will grow quickly and have leaves that are large, giving you the deck privacy that you need. If your climate allows, Bougainvillea not only makes a great deck privacy bush but will also double as a privacy fence. They have bright, beautiful flowers and thick shrubbery to block your neighbor's view while giving your something pleasant to look at and their thorny leaves will keep unwanted guests from arriving.
If your plants will not do well during certain seasons or if your deck is high off of the ground, plant shrubbery and flowers in big pots all around the deck. If your deck railing is made of metal bars or has wooden slats with openings, you can weave some ivy (either faux or real) or other growing vines through the railings to give you more privacy.

subset: commoncrawl


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Disaster and rebirtha story of change
SUMMARY: In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, JMU alumna Gladys Kemp Lisanby ('49) rallied women artists of the Gulf Coast to recover, remember and thrive.
JMU alumna Gladys Kemp Lisanby ('49) rallies women artists of the Gulf Coast in Hurricane Katrina's aftermath
The year 2005 got off to an auspicious start for the Lisanby family. Gladys Kemp Lisanby ('49) received the Mississippi Governor's Award for Excellence in the Arts in recognition of her work with the National Museum of Women in the Arts, and specifically for her yeoman's efforts during her eight-year presidency of the Mississippi NMWA committee, and the Lisanby clan was flourishing.
And then, on August 29, 2005, in the span of hours, their world virtually disappeared.
Katrina disaster
Like many hearty coastal dwellers, the Lisanbys weren't fazed when they evacuated their Pascagoula, Miss., home in anticipation of Hurricane Katrina — they had weathered previous storms with minor damage and brief power outages. But Katrina outdid all their expectations and then some. When they returned to the coast the day after the storm, debris-clogged streets were only a preview of the ultimate desolation they were to face at their address. The lower level of their 100-year-old home had been swept away, only a few powerful timbers remained as a precarious framework on which the upper floor of the home balanced.
Forget picking up the pieces — there were none left. Katrina, it seemed, had wiped their life away.
Family, friends, service
For Gladys, that life had always been about family, friends and service to others. A health and physical education major at Madison College, after graduation she started teaching at Virginia's Woodrow Wilson High School in Portsmouth, one of the state's largest high schools. She met Jim Lisanby in Norfolk. He was on his first ship, the USS Mississippi. "It seemed like it was just meant to be," says Lisanby, laughing at the coincidence of the ship's name and their future residence.
In addition to her teaching career, Lisanby was active in volunteer work wherever the couple was stationed -- garden and women's clubs, Girl Scouts, Goodwill Industries, and Navy Relief. Most notably, she has been a fierce champion of women in the arts. When she was asked to participate in the development of the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington, D.C., the only museum in the world dedicated to women in the performing and visual arts, she soon became a member of the museum's Women's Committee.
In 1998, she was asked to establish a state committee in Mississippi to further the interests of the fledgling museum. The museum's state committees are charged with working to bring women artists of the state to national attention and to promote art education in the schools.
She was so good at the job that the NMWA recognized her in 2004 with the National Advisory Board Award for Outstanding Service to the Arts — the first state leader honored at the national level.
The committee flourished and so did the artists it supported. When she began the endeavor, four Mississippi artists were represented in the archives at the national museum. Today 55 artists are represented, and 10 have their work in the permanent collection. "Before Katrina our membership had grown to more than 200," says Lisanby.
Making a positive out of the negative
When the membership suffered a direct hit from Katrina, Lisanby was determined to keep the committee going and "make a positive out of the negative." She soon rallied members and directed the committee's communications officer to contact as many members as she could. Communication was key to their recovery.
The book, Katrina: Mississippi Women Remember, is a compilation of personal stories about Hurricane Katrina survival written by MSC/NMWA members.
Within a year of the hurricane, Katrina: Mississippi Women Remember, a compilation of personal stories about Hurricane Katrina survival written by MSC/NMWA members was published. The book provides "a mesmerizing picture of this unforgettable chapter in Mississippi history" according to its editor, Sally Pfister. In addition to guiding the book through its development and writing the foreword, Lisanby contributed her personal story.
While the emotional and physical difficulties imposed by the cataclysmic event took a toll, the indomitable spirit of the women artists managed to put roots down through the rubble. Lisanby credits the artistic gift of vision for inspiring their rebirth. "There is nothing so strong and powerful that it cannot be made better through the eye of the artist," she says.
Today, true to her prediction, these artists have absorbed "the hardest blows of life and respond[ed] in beauty." Lisanby says, "We've built our committee membership back to about 150."
What does the future hold? Whatever is in store, one thing is certain. Gladys Lisanby will find a way to apply her vision and determination to adorn the face of change with beauty.
About the author
Jan Gillis ('07) is managing editor of the JMU Web.
Published: Monday, October 1, 2012
Last Updated: Thursday, October 20, 2016


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Is that guy just sitting there by himself at the 1 and 2 no limit
table? You will never beat that guy, he just hits every hand, no
matter what he plays.
I too played at 5 Dimes a few years ago...My opinion also agrees that it is 100% dishonest and rigged. You cannot possibly win..
If persons are so desperate to play online poker they will get what they deserve..."get cheated" and lose their hard earned cash.
Anybody that believes those that say it is legit is a fool.
If I had a financial interest in 5 Dimes I would absolutely join Covers and write in to say it is legit...DO NOT FALL FOR ANY OF THOSE LIES....It is a corrupt organization.
I donate about $20 a week when I'm out of town bored in the hotel. I agree you can play tight hands with the lock and someone goes all in and hits runner-runner with nothing everytime.
Only site I could ever win at was Pacific Poker.
Normally, I don't bother with post, I got on today to find out what happened to the bad beat jackpot at 5dimes. And read these post, and I gotta say I don't feel 5dimes is riged. I've lost to some big hands, ounce I messaged I was leaving at button and the next hand I go a boat and so did two others I lost 1,400 in that one hand all I had. But I've also won on this site with some bad odds, I've got runner runner. And I've cashed out by moneygram.
Also like to say that I play poker a lot at casinos in Biloxi and tunica twice a month. And the same stuff happends in live games. I do not believe 5-dimes is rigged, or whoever controls there poker room, am told its not even them.
Online Poker is the worst. I have yet to find a site where I don't feel it's rigged. Played on Pokerstars and that site is just a pure pile of shittttt. You win a hand on pokerstars, and get reeled in to play the next hand, when there is no possible way you can win back to back hands.
And they lure you in by letting you win the 1st big hand you have. Then the very next hand you get a great pre-flop hand, then you think you are about to win a monster hand and your getting dealt great hands, only to lose that back to back hand no matter what. Only way you won't lose a back to back hand is if everybody folds. Pokerstars is rigged to the fullest. And all online poker is rigged.
Online Poker is just a video game, controlled by AI. With pre-determined outcomes, so I have no idea why anybody tries to defend the B.S. People saying it's because you see more hands, blah, blah, blah! Wrong! I used to win playing online, because I would play it like it's rigged. I learned patterns of what I would see over and over again. But in the end, the rig will still get you no matter what. So just leave Online Poker alone..If you guys say 5dimes poker room is the worst, I definitely believe you.


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Welcome them to their New Home with this special handcut home card - it can be personalised with their names, even the number of the house (I usually put this on the front door if there's enough space or on a little 'for sale' type sign on the grass!).
Colour of the roof and/or door can also be changed if desired.
If you'd like it personalised, or a different sentiment on the front, please add this information in the 'note to seller' box when you order. If no notes, card will be made as shown.
Handcrafted using high quality recycled card blanks, recycled card, patterned paper, gems and a touch of sparkle!
All our cards are left blank inside for your own best handwritten message.
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I'll do my best to meet these shipping estimates, but can't guarantee them. Actual delivery time will depend on the shipping method you choose.
Buyers are responsible for any customs and import taxes that may apply. I'm not responsible for delays due to customs.
Just contact me within: 7 days of delivery
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But please contact me if you have any problems with your order.
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I cannot refund personalised orders unless there is an error by my part (i.e. name spelt wrongly from the inputted instruction by the buyer). In the event there is a mistake on any personalised orders, I'll send another card/product out as soon as possible or issue a refund.
The majority of my printed cards are 145mm-148mm square. My handmade cards are 144mm square. I like square cards.
Sometimes I post bigger cards on my listings, which are great for lots of people to write in. I will add the sizes to these listings.
I do send cards within a cello bag so they keep nice and clean. However if you order more than one card, I will try and group them together into fewer cello bags, to reduce my impact on the environment. If you don't need a cello bag, please pop a note in the 'notes to seller' box and I'll send it naked (that means without a cello bag, nothing naughty!)).
I can gladly offer any of my designs on a wholesale basis and would welcome any enquiries.
I can personalise a lot of my designs and will, where I can, add that to the listing. If there is something specific you'd like personalised, please drop me a conversation.
I will gladly write your personal message in a card and send direct to the recipient if you're short on time or just would like me to. I would just need you to let me know you'd like to do that, the name and address of the recipient and the lovely message you want inside. I have lovely neat writing and mainly write in black ink. I shall endeavour to send you a photo before I send it.


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Digital Futures Lab
This event is now in the past.
Please note: The Digital Futures Lab is open daily 10am-5pm from now until 21 Jan 2018, closed only for install on the 23 Nov, 2017. The full Summer Festival program will run from 18 Dec 2017 to 21 Jan 2018.
Discover the Digital Futures Lab in the SLQ Gallery, a free interactive experience which is part studio, part game space, part exhibition. This immersive space is designed to make you think and maybe even look twice.
Explore smart cities and digital bodies, real life robots and risky algorithms. Immerse yourself in virtual worlds, learn mindfulness from a machine, and share your dreams and predictions for the future. As the central hub for our Digital Futures program the lab is a great place to start your discovery.
Part of SLQ's 2017 theme Digital Futures. Check out our Digital Futures Lab learning resources.
- Starts:
- 11th Feb 2017 10:00am-5:00pm
- Runs:
- Every day, until 21st Jan 2018
- Venue:
- SLQ Gallery, level 2, State Library, Stanley Place, South Bank
- Cost:
- Free
- More information:
Signature Program
Mon to Fri 9:00am–5:00pm (07) 3840 7768


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Shadow Chaser
K. J. Dahlen
Excerpt Heat Level: 1
Book Heat Level: 1
Buy at: www.roguephoenixpress.com
When serial killer, Aaron Chrispen comes back to Angel City, it's to claim the only victim in eleven years to get away, Hannah Masters, and for revenge on the police officers, Jesse Wyatt and Sam Dylan, that almost ended his life. When Jesse tells Hannah that the killer is back Hannah is plunged into a nightmare she thought was over.
FBI agent Eli Stone has been after this killer for eleven years and joins Jesse in the hunt. In the final showdown between Aaron, Jesse and Eli only one will die, but which one will it be?
He had learned to be patient, very patient. Over the years he had discovered that anything worth having was indeed worth waiting for, and he really wanted this. He had wanted this for five very long years. He had come back to this small Wisconsin town for a purpose and soon he would get back what he lost but he had to wait a little longer. He had to wait until he had all the players playing his game.
He sat back against the wall of the shop and waited. The ground he sat on was hard and dry, but he didn't seem to notice. He had long ago trained his mind to overcome certain situations. Everyone had been fooled by his resolve. They claimed his debt to society had long been paid, and he was a free man but he'd fooled them all. Oh, his debt was paid; he spent the better part of his youth in a hospital for the criminally insane, but he learned to play the game they wanted him to, and he fooled everyone when he made his escape.
For the past eleven years, he had lived the life he wanted. Traveling from place to place, outwitting everyone. He was doing what he wanted to do. That what he did was against the laws of God and man was beside the point. He had long ago stopped caring to please anyone but himself.
He had been sitting here since early morning; hidden by the bushes in front of him, he could see the daily life of the ordinary people all around him. It was late afternoon. Soon the same people he'd seen this morning rushing off to start their day would be hurrying home from work and school to have supper and go about their lives. He could see it all playing out in front of him. Kids would be outside playing and laughing while their parents were taking care of business inside. Then one by one each family would retreat inside for their tedious evening ritual.
Daylight would fade into darkness and the laughter and other everyday sounds would settle into quiet. The empty streets would fall into shadows and finally the quiet would be swallowed by the night. His mind's ramblings could have been a scene from a bad movie, something so old it was shown in black and white. He chuckled silently and wondered why people really lived this way. Didn't they have any fun any more? Where was the excitement?
He sat unnoticed as daylight faded. He had been in town for fourteen days, and no one knew he was here, and that fact suited him fine. The streetlights began casting shadows all around him and he welcomed them. The shadows comforted him like a blanket comforts a child. He felt safe.
This was his time of night. He loved it. He could be either a saint or a sinner and while he preferred to be a sinner, he could become whoever and whatever he wanted. He could move anywhere and no one would see him among the shadows. He felt himself come alive. His primary senses sharpened and his lackadaisical attitude disappeared. He walked freely during the day but preferred to conserve his energy because at night he came alive, at night like the mighty lions of Africa, he hunted and his quarry didn't escape death.


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New Canaan football rolls over Norwalk
NEW CANAAN -- Grady Lynch is soft-spoken and unassuming. His personality is much like his play for the New Canaan football team, and Lynch's contributions, in turn, have been a microcosm of what has made the Rams successful through the first half of the season.
Lynch did nothing spectacular but a little bit of everything quite well Friday night, helping New Canaan reach the midway point at 4-1 following a methodical 39-7 home win over Norwalk.
"A little here and there goes a long way," said Lynch, words that New Canaan coach Lou Marinelli can borrow to describe his senior wide receiver and defensive back in two months at the team's postseason banquet.
Actually, Marinelli was more effusive in his praise of Lynch after the Rams positioned themselves nicely for a critical meeting next Saturday at St. Joseph.
"He's not a real rah-rah kind of guy," Marinelli said. "He's a quiet leader but he's really focused and determined. I think he's one of the better receivers in the league, if not the state."
Lynch's dual nature was displayed on the Rams' first drive. On their fifth play of the night, quarterback Nick Cascione broke free for an 18-yard gain, but fumbled. Lynch was there for the recovery.
Lynch as a playmaker emerged moments later, when he had an 18-yard catch on a bubble screen, gained 14 yards on a sweep and then completed a 10-play, 67-yard drive with a 6-yard touchdown reception.
"We wanted to come out hard and we wanted to come out fast," said Lynch, who later ended Norwalk's first drive of the second half with an interception. "We knew this was a definitive game at the midpoint of the season."
New Canaan broke the game open when it added a second touchdown five seconds later. Following the ensuing kickoff, Casey Ouellette returned an interception 39 yards to make the score 14-0.
"We are really starting to become a team," Marinelli said. "Guys are stepping up and guys are helping out."
Cascione and Teddy Bossidy again split turns at quarterback and flashed their versatility. Cascione was 14 of 21 for 109 yards and threw a pair of touchdown passes, and had 6 carries for 46 yards. Bossidy was 5 of 10 for 68 yards and a score, and carried the ball 5 times for 65 yards.
The Rams have operated underneath the radar since losing to Trinity Catholic in the second week, but a win at St. Joseph would be their fifth in a row and return them to the spotlight.
"It's kind of nice this way, I kind of like it," Lynch said. "The focus is elsewhere. Hopefully we pop up later."
Norwalk, which was swept by the three Stamford schools following an opening-game win against Danbury, has struggled offensively. It has been outscored in the losses by a combined 127-22 margin.
The Bears were held to just 28 yards in the first half by New Canaan and were shut down until Tomar Joseph's 47-yard run set up his 1-yard touchdown with 10:38 remaining.
"The kids play their butts off each week," Norwalk coach Sean Ireland said. "Today they just ran into one of the most disciplined teams you will ever see. New Canaan is always in the right spots and do their assignments. That was the difference in the ballgame."
Neal Koller, an underrated part of the New Canaan offense, kicked field goals of 31 and 32 yards, respectively, in the first half to give New Canaan a 20-0 lead.
NOTES: Friday night's game was dedicated to the Norwalk-based Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation. The disease is the second-most common form of blood cancer and is currently incurable.
email@example.com; Twitter: @DaveRuden
NC--Lynch, 6 pass from Nick Cascione (Neal Koller kick)
NC--Casey Ouellette, 39 interception return (Koller kick)
NC--Koller, 31 field goal
NC--Koller, 32 field goal
NC--Frank Cognetta, 1 run (Koller kick)
NC--Andrew Read, 27 pass from Teddy Bossidy (kick failed)
N--Tomar Joseph, 1 run (Andy Lovo kick)
NC--Cole Turpin, 4 pass from Cascione (kick failed)
Records: NC 4-1, NWK 1-4


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Aberdeen Teenager Pleads Not Guilty in School Crash
The American News reports (http://bit.ly/RlvBHx ) that Andrew Randall is charged with vehicular battery, being involved in an injury hit-and-run accident, drunken driving and underage consumption of alcohol. He was 17 at the time of the crash and has since turned 18. He is being tried in adult court.
Authorities allege Randall was driving a vehicle that crashed into an elementary school the night of Jan. 17, seriously injuring himself and a passenger and causing about $30,000 in damage to the school's library.
Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved. Material may not be redistributed.


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Mangled: 17yr Old Latina Gets Jumped By 2 Sisters & Their Mom! (Scratches Up Her Face)
WSHH viewer shot this footage from their cell phone. Its not clear why they jumped the girl. Well update you when get more details
Please click the "Report" button below if the video on this page is not working properly.
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WASHINGTON — Cyber-attacks and cyber-espionage pose a greater potential danger to U.S. national security than Al Qaeda and other militants that have dominated America's global focus since Sept. 11, 2001, the nation's top intelligence officials said Tuesday.
For the first time, the growing risk of computer-launched foreign assaults on U.S. infrastructure, including the power grid, transportation hubs and financial networks, was ranked higher in the U.S. intelligence community's annual review of worldwide threats than worries about terrorism, transnational organized crime and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
The startling reappraisal came a day after President Obama's national security advisor, Thomas Donilon, complained of "cyber-intrusions emanating from China on an unprecedented scale" and said China-based digital attacks on U.S. businesses and institutions had become "a key point of concern" for the White House.
"The international community cannot afford to tolerate such activity from any country," he said in a speech at the Asia Society in New York. He urged Beijing to "take serious steps to investigate and put a stop to these activities."


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http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/blog/eye-o ... -by-titans
m0ng0 wrote:After this blew over I stopped paying attention, yeah I am shocked he is back in the league, I hope a player falling out of bounds clips his knee.
SeAhAwKeR4life wrote:Bellichick proved that the NFL is soft on cheating.
Scottemojo wrote:That Titans team is primed for a complete collapse.
Coach on hot seat? Check.
Struggling quarterback? Check.
New OC for struggling QB? Check.
Impatient meddling owner? Check.
Defensive coordinator who rolled over on NFL players to get Roger Goodell's get out of jail free card? Check.
Gregg Williams pointed fingers at not just players, but did so in the face of the NFLPA. The Titans are effed.


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Sep 7, 2013
ASHLAND, VA - Johns Hopkins head football coach Jim Margraff had seen this script before; on the road at Randolph-Macon in the season opener and facing a quick early deficit. In both 2006 and 2008 his Blue Jays had fallen behind by 14, only to storm back and win 21-14 in '06 and 39-31 in triple overtime two years later.
This time, the Blue Jays altered the script sooner and didn't need any late-game heroics as they rolled up 523 yards of total offense in a 38-14 victory at Day Field Saturday afternoon. The win is the 11th in the last 15 season-openers for the Blue Jays, who are ranked in top 20 in three preseason polls, including 17th by D3football.com.
The Yellow Jackets got a great return on the opening kickoff of the game and started with possession at the Blue Jay 44-yard line. Six plays and just 2:34 later Randolph-Macon had an early 7-0 lead as junior quarterback Zac Naccarato found senior tight end Matt Williamson in the back of the end zone to cap the game-opening scoring drive.
After a moving from their own 25 to the RMC 28 on their ensuing possession, the Blue Jays failed to convert on a fourth down play, but quickly forced a Yellow Jacket punt that was downed at the JHU 11.
The Blue Jays quickly went to work, keeping the drive alive early with a pair of third-down conversions, and senior quarterback Robbie Matey connected with senior receiver Bob D'Orazio for a 29-yard gain that set the Blue Jays up inside the Randolph-Macon 10-yard line. One play later, Hopkins executed a perfect wide receiver screen that sophomore Ryan Finkelcarried into the end zone to tie the game at 7-7 late in the first quarter.
The tie didn't last long as JHU forced a quick three-and-out and then went 72 yards in 15 plays with Matey firing his second touchdown pass - a 16-yard strike to senior tight end Brendan Hartman- to give the Blue Jays the lead for good at 14-7 with just over nine minutes remaining before the half.
A stand by the Randolph-Macon defense inside its own 10-yard line on JHU's final possession of the first half kept the Blue Jay lead at seven, but it didn't take long in the second half for the Blue Jays to double that margin.
Starting at their own 37, the Blue Jays mixed the run and pass effectively and needed just over two minutes to push their lead to 21-7 with senior JD Abbottgoing over from two yards out to cap the drive. A 19-yard pass from Matey to Abbott on fourth-and-three at the RMC-28 kept the drive alive.
A 26-yard field goal by freshman Nick Campbellon JHU's next possession gave Hopkins a 24-7 lead, but the `Jackets weren't finished and only a goal line stand by the Blue Jays kept Macon from getting closer than 10.
The `Jackets had a first-and-goal form the Blue Jay five-yard line on the drive after Campbell's field goal, but senior Mike Zikoskitackled Will McGhee for a three-yard loss on third-and-goal from the one and a Naccarato's pass fell incomplete in the end zone on fourth down and JHU held it's 17-point lead into the final period.
Naccarato and McGhee hooked up midway through the fourth quarter on a perfectly executed screen pass and McGhee raced 45 yards for a touchdown to pull RMC within 10 at 24-14 with 7:19 remaining.
The final seven minutes were vintage Hopkins offense as the Blue Jays used nine plays to go 74 yards in 3:02 with Abbott sweeping left for a six-yard touchdown that answered McGhee's scamper and freshman Dionisio Romanadded the first touchdown of his career on a 12-yard run of his own with just over two minutes remaining to close the scoring.
Matey enjoyed one of the finest games of his career as he was 31-of-42 for 318 yards with the two early touchdown passes. The 318 yards are the second-most ever by a Johns Hopkins quarterback in a season-opener. Finkel had a career-high eight receptions for 63 yards and the one score to lead a balanced effort that saw Matey find 11 different receivers on the day.
Defensively, the Blue Jays held the Yellow Jackets to 280 yards of total offense, including just 29 yards on 28 rushing attempts. Chris Ibrahim led the Blue Jay defense with five tackles in his first start at safety, John Arena, Michael Longoand Charles Strippoli all picked up sacks and the Blue Jays held the `Jackets to just 4-of-12 on third down and snuffed out all four fourth-down attempts by Randolph-Macon.
Naccarato threw for 243 yards and the two scores, but McGhee, who rushed for more than 1,200 yards last season, was held to 15 yards on 13 carries. Christian Cook was Naccarato's favorite target as he had eight catches for 118 yards.
Johns Hopkins will return to action next Saturday when the Blue Jays welcome Susquehanna to Homewood Field.
- 30 -


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Sunday, late afternoon, and Mountain View Mausoleum in Altadena stands regal against the backdrop of crystal clear mountains. This was the incredible location of the second fundraiser for LitFest Pasadena, the city's upcoming entrance into the world of book festivals to be held on Saturday, March 17th, in Central Park.
Pasadena Mayor Bill Bogaard joined the festivities, as well as Elizabeth Pomeroy, member of the Pasadena Board of Education.
The event started in a cozy gallery with art on the walls, tables of delicious finger foods, and Richard Sears playing on the piano. Sears is an alumni of USC Thornton School of Music and specializes in jazz, while Laura Davey, who also played and is an alumni, is classically trained. After a period of snacking, gentle imbibing, a welcome by LitFest co-founder Larry Wilson, public editor of the Pasadena Star News, and a brief history of Mountain View by Michele Zack, attendees were led to an inner courtyard for a taste of Shakespeare.
The scene was stark. The audience stood behind a low stone wall and columns, looking into the courtyard, which was the day's stage. Kathleen Deems of the Westridge School donned a calf-length black coat with steel-toed boots to inhabit the body of Hamlet, delivering a mournful, heart-felt soliloquy. Mona Lutfi of Alverno High School performed a scene from Twelfth Night with animated exuberance. Rosie Carroll and Kelly Laco of Mayfield Senior School finished off with a dramatically and well-timed comedic rendition from Romeo and Juliet.
After the applause, the crowd was ushered around the courtyard, through a hallway, and spread out along the balcony overlooking the main hall. Looking down onto the sweeping split stairway, members of Marshall Fundamental High School's Chorale stood spaced on the steps. Conductor David Pitts led them in two pieces, a Gitanjaili chant and "Homeward Bound." The excellent acoustics (a result of the marble walls and floors, and the height of the ceiling) amplified the magnificence of the group's talent. Observers pined for more, ready to settle in for a full concert.
The evening ended back in the small gallery for another round of edibles, a refilling of libations, and a continuation of varied conversation. Walking out to the parking lot revealed the aftermath of a tranquil sunset. A Sunday afternoon well-spent.
LitFest Pasadena is an EMERGE Project of the Pasadena Arts Council. Forty bookstores, publishers and institutions will be exhibiting at the festival on March 17th, ranging from Vroman's to our own Prospect Park Media. Other exhibitors include Angel City, Distant Lands, Once Upon a Time, the Pasadena Museum of History, and Rare Bird Lit.
Two stages will host over a dozen panels, interviews, and poetry readings. Panels will include topics such as 21st Century Noir, the Rise of the Graphic Novel, the Southern California Canvas, and Young Adult Fiction. Larry Wilson will be interviewing Mona Simpson, while David Kipen will converse with Pulitzer Prize-winner Jonathan Gold.
Anyone interested in learning more, or about donating to support Pasadena's first annual literary festival, or to inquire about volunteering possibilites can visit litfestpasadena.org.


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We don't ask much of referees in our sports: They should be fair, they should try to avoid taking away from the action on the field, they should, in a pinch, be able to prance around a bit. And, not to be a stickler, it would be nice if they had two working eyes.
Michigan coach Lloyd Carr agrees with us, apparently, getting a Big Ten referee fired after reporting to the league that he has only one eye. The referee, James Filson, lost his right eye in an accident in 2000, and he didn't tell his bosses about it. According to him, the reviews of his performance were actually better than they were before he lost his eye, which seems curious.
Filson is suing the Big Ten for his job back and pay lost, saying it's an unwarranted firing because he was doing just fine as a ref. In response, the league is standing just to the right of him.
One-Eyed Big Ten Ref Loses Job [Futon Report]


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Shohar Ki Mohabbat Hasil Karne Ke Liye Wazifa
Shohar Ki Mohabbat Hasil Karna Those spouses who wish to get back his or her better half's adoration inside their life again and wish to spare their life perpetually can utilize Shohar ki mohabbat approach. This will create their significant other agreeable hearted. Shohar Ko Kabu Mein Karne Ka Tarika In the event that your
Read More


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Mark99 needed a new logo design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 80 designs submitted by 36 freelance designers.
MyVoucherCodes Characters Needed
Money saving website looking for character design, people come to our website to save money by finding discount coupons, coupon codes, offers, sales and deals as well as printable vouchers for high street stores. We are looking for a designer who can create us a collection of characters for our money saving community website.
We have a wide demographic of users from all ages to more or less equal gender mix, we are looking for a designer who can create us a set of characters for our website that will go with our money saving theme.
Some character ideas that have been thrown around already are piggy bank (money saving pigs), birds, people, ants like letsbuyit.com etc, but we are fully open to ideas.
Find out how a design contest works or learn more about our logo design services.


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I guess to keep this list short, I'm just going to focus on the players I was critical of that actually turned into quality NFL players. There are of course plenty of players I loved who didn't pan out like I hoped they might, but that's something you expect a certain percentage of. Even elite GMs might bat .300 in this regard. A few players that have really surprised me in the NFL, in a good way:
Corey Liuget
Liuget was a lesson in sample size. 3-tech DT is a position that is notoriously inconsistent game to game. I only saw two games of Liuget and in both he looked the part physically but simply didn't generate pressure. I remember Snohomie being really high on Liuget, I should have watched more games than I did. I thought Liuget would be terrible and I was praying we'd avoid him. He got off to a rough start in 2011, but in 2012 he emerged as one of the better 3-tech / 5-tech hybrids in the game.
Andy Dalton
I was half right, half wrong about Dalton. I hated how Dalton was a pure 1 read QB who benefited from a weak schedule. But I liked his cocksure personality and his deceptive mobility. Early on I thought Dalton was a day 3 pick, though near the end I began to understand why some where giving him 1st round hype. Dalton is not an "intangibles" QB, but something about him made me think he'd over-achieve. I still thought he was a terrible pick in the early 2nd round though.
Yet so far, that's actually looked like a solid investment. Dalton had a better rookie year than I thought he would (meaning, he was non-horrible), and he showed real signs of progress at times during his 2nd season. He's finally got a decent RB that's worth handing off to in Bernard, and I really like his new addition at TE, Eifert. If Sanu and Hamilton can click, they might actually have a WR corps beyond AJ Green. You are starting to hear the beginnings of Super Bowl whispers for Cincy now, and that was unthinkable for an Andy Dalton team a couple years ago.
Vontaze Burfict
Quite possibly the worst prospect I have ever studied that carried top 10 hype at any point. Super slow, played out of control, a penalty machine, and dumb as a pile of rocks. Lacked character too. And Cincy got 100+ tackles out of him last year. Wut?
Nate Solder
Solder was a more extreme Breno Giacomini in college. He was a face melter in the run game, but could be Ashworth-helpless against competent edge rushers. I didn't think he had the lateral ability to play tackle in the NFL, and he was perhaps too tall to play inside. Ironically, Solder turned into a top shelf pass protector immediately in the NFL, and is now among the games better tackles.
KJ Wright
People talk about Wrights long arms, but what they don't talk about as much are his long legs, which made him look like a stiff mover in his college game tape. I thought Wright was a near certain whiff during the 2011 draft, similar to how I felt when they took Chris Harper a couple years later. His problems were glaring, his positives took digging. Well, Wright has looked more fluid as a runner in the NFL and while he's still a very average linebacker in most situations, he can actually be very nice at the LOS in run defense. He hasn't been amazing for us, but he's a lot better than I was expecting him to be, and I think we still haven't seen the best out of him yet, though I doubt he'll give us a peak performance at WILL which plays away from his strengths.
I had a hunch RG3 would succeed, but I thought he was insanely over-rated before the 2012 draft. I compared his mechanics to a spear chucking cave man, I noted that he played in an up tempo offense that erased defenses, and that he rarely had to look beyond his first read. He also couldn't stay healthy for very long, and had an alarmingly skinny frame with knees that buckled as he ran. I thought that with time, RG3 would become another Randall Cunningham, but I figured it would take roughly as long as it did for Michael Vick. Instead, he reached a higher level than I thought possible and did it immediately. He also tidied up his mechanics and showed real progress at checking reads. If he can protect his body, he's going to (continue to) be a superstar.
Nick Foles
At Arizona, Foles was the definition of being a product of the system. He put up very strong numbers against mediocre Pac-12 defenses despite being lead footed, exclusively pre-snap read oriented (with a ton of Jimmy Clausen / Charlie Weis type bubble screens), possessing a mediocre arm, and showing close to zero improvisation skills. He was the definition of mechanical, like Andy Dalton minus the sneaky mobility.
It's still early, but I think Foles is going to be alright in the NFL. He's put up some very strong preseason performances in the last two seasons. I watched his 52.6 passer rating game against Carolina and came away impressed despite his low rating. He was checking reads with ease and at times looked unstoppable, but killed his numbers by Favre'ing a bad pass in the red zone after a botched snap.
Brad Sorenson
Sorenson had the worst game I've ever scouted, when I watched him earlier this year. Anything a QB can do horribly wrong, he was doing it. He was Inaccurate, overthrowing, zero poise, WTF interceptions, low YPA, low completion numbers, not flashing QB skills, etc. It was so bad that I did something I've never done before or since: I made up my mind on him after just one game and passed on the chance to watch some of his other offerings. I figured that if a guy was even capable of looking worse than Mark Sanchez on a bad day, there's no way he'd be worth a second look, especially for a guy playing for what amounted to a community college.
It's still early, but Sorenson has nearly a 120 passer rating in two preseason games against very tough defenses (SEA, CHI), at least one of which has terrific depth (ours). Against us he was checking reads, making perfect throws and moving to extend plays for completions. He looked like a pro-bowl QB, and that was in his very first preseason game. It reminded me of watching a then anonymous Tony Romo cut our team to pieces in the preseason way back in the mid-00s. I came away from that game convinced that Romo was the real deal, and I lean that way after watching the skills and results that Sorenson flashed, too.


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29-year old blind patient, victim of a fall from a height of 5 m over a stand barrier in a stadium during a soccer match.The initial clinical examination revealed significant lumbar pain. The motricity examination was 5/5 on all the muscle groups. Normal sensitivity and all osteotendinous reflexes present. Perineal sensitivity and anal tonicity normal. Urinary catheterization performed for comfort in the emergency room. Sensitivity of left iliac fossa, with no abdominal guarding.
Here is the body scan:
My report:
- No traumatic lesions in the cervicoencephalic spaces.
- Pulmonary parenchymatous contusions limited to the left inferior lobe and to the right costovertebral groove with hematocele and pneumatoceles.
- Left hemoretroperitoneum with no active bleeding, caused by a dislocation fracture of L5 in flexion-distraction. The latter comprises grade II anterolisthesis of L5 on S1, bilateral biarticular fracture-dislocation of L5: unstable fracture++ with probable extensive posterior disk-ligament damage. Fracture of spinous and left transverse processes of L2 to L5. Possible posterior epidural hematoma in CT (corresponding to traumatic disk herniation in the MRI).
- No traumatic lesions of the intra-abdominal organs (benign biliary hepatic cysts).
Thoracic Injuries, Spinal Injuries L5, Traumatic disc herniation
The spinal fracture was reduced in the operating theatre and fixated via posterior arthrodesis. The hepatic contusion was simply monitored and progressive regression was observed on subsequent check-up CTs.
The pulmonary contusions and lacerations were also simply monitored.
Important points:
- The various acquisition phases must be carefully examined to determine the nature of a focal hyperdensity (especially blood versus bone).
- In all cases of hemoretroperitoneum, a potential spinal origin should be sought.
- The content of the vertebral canal (in "soft tissue" windows) should be examined in cases of dislocation fracture to detect epidural hematoma or a posttraumatic herniated disk (therapeutic value++).


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...or at least in my backyard! Yea, it snowed today....and sleeted, and rained last night so it didn't stick to the ground, which is a good thing because we had school. I know it seems a little cruel, but I'm not a big fan of the snow day because we have to make it up later with one of our spring holidays (usually Good Friday!).....but I am a fan of the late morning starts....just in case Jack Frost wants to create a slippery slide just long enough to delay school starting tomorrow, the 'snow' moved in about 9 o'clock this morning, and because I remember the torture of sitting in a classroom and getting a rare glimpse of snow out the window before it melted by 3 when you finally got to go out to view it up close...I took a mini field trip outside to touch snow with the kiddos. It just so happens it fell on a day when I was doing a unit on Holidays around the world and today was Christmas and I had planned hot chocolate....talk about a thematic person's dream come true. How fun is it to say it's snowing on November 30th in Texas?! I remember how magical it was to wake up as a child in the middle of the night after it had started snowing, and to look out and the world was so bright with all that snow on the ground. It's such a bizarre season, as I drove home today and looked at all the fall leaves still daggling from the trees, and the snow covering the ground.....I figured this would be an interesting weekend....shoveling snow, then raking up leaves :O)...by the end of the weekend I'll probably be sun bathing! If you have any request for me to eat a snowflake for you, let me know quickly before Ole Man Winter heads out for a bit!
Thursday, November 30, 2006
In The Meadow We Can Build a Snowman....
Posted by Christy Robbins at 10:35 PM 0 comments
Monday, November 27, 2006
I definitely struggle with being 'patient' with just about everything from Christmas, to summer vacation to pay day and major life changes.....I have to be 'patient', because I don't want to settle for anything less than what God has promised us if we wait for His timing, His plans, His way...but I guess I would call it more 'tolerating' the time lapse on my part....Yesterday I stumbled across this little perspective on patience by Jim Smoke "Patience is enjoying the distance between promises." How true that is...I'm definitely going to work on that 'enjoying' part to turn the foot tapping wait into patience! For my fellow patiently challenged friends.....it gave me a little 'ah ha' moment.
Posted by Christy Robbins at 9:05 PM 0 comments
Sunday, November 26, 2006
Weekend Review
I was going to create separate post, but the time has gotten away from me, so I'll do a summary of the last few days.
Friday morning I woke up, not feeling so hot...I went shopping, but not at the crack of dawn.....it was a few hours later, and thus, I didn't spend as much as usual, which can be a good thing.
Friday night Kelly and I went to dinner and met up with Ann and Lizette from High School, then we went down to McKinney Ave afterwards. It was nice to catch up, but by the end of the evening I was feeling really sick. I woke up at about 4 am and got s-i-c-k! Yuck. I stayed in bed until two, when I rolled out of bed and met up with family for Brian's Birthday festivities. It is his 17th birthday, AND Roslynn's 28th! We went to Main Event and went bowling, played Arcade games, then went and had dinner followed by cake....I came home and went back to bed, woke up long enough to chat with Roslynn and then called it a night. This morning I got up and went to church, Kelly came with me, and then I came home and mowed my lawn and got out my Christmas decorations....my Mom and I were laughing over that contradiction earlier :O). It's almost time to rake again, the leaves have really piled up, but there are so many left to fall, I want to make it worth my while before I get out the rake for the first time, usually they are all bagged up by this time, but the seasons have been really odd here in Texas. Anyway, it'll be a fun holiday season b/c we have a full month between Thanksgiving and Christmas, which gives me plenty of time to enjoy the anticipation. It also means four more weeks of work until the holiday break....I think I can, I think I can.....
Posted by Christy Robbins at 2:06 PM 0 comments
Thursday, November 23, 2006
Gobble, Gobble
Holly came over yesterday and we did a little pre-Thanksgiving baking, including the pumpkin shaped pumpkin breads (this year's table decoration). We also baked some cookies, just for fun, that I saw in the Sunday paper, I already had most of the supplies and thought they looked fun (and delicious), they are little turkeys, some people didn't seem to recognize their shape. Everything turned out well, the food was good, Jason and the family came over along with the Mariams(Jason hung the Christmas lights on my house while I 'supervised'). After a game of basketball 'Turkey' we headed out to see the new movie-Santa Clause 3-The Escape Clause, it was a cute, especially for a THIRD sequel. Now it's time for me to skim the ads for a reason to get up at 4 am tomorrow....I'm sure I can find one :O) I hope your Thanksgiving was full of reasons to be thankful.....and that you have a little wobble in your step tomorrow because you had so much fabulous food!
Posted by Christy Robbins at 8:44 PM 3 comments
Star's Game
This past Wednesday night I headed out to a Star's game, they beat Nashville, yea, and we were on the jumbo vision b/c the boy in the seat directly in front of me was completely covered with body paint (compliments of the rowdy guys that brought him along)....it was a good experience, a win is always fun.....and I never get tired of looking at Mike M (number nine in the picture, for those of you who haven't spent more than 5 minutes with me)! I haven't been to a Star's game since the strike! I definitely hope to get back before they strike again, or M M retires :O).
Posted by Christy Robbins at 8:38 PM 0 comments
Labels: Dallas Area Activities
Sunday, November 19, 2006
Sandye's Shower Part Two
Today I attended Sandye's shower, hosted by some ladies her mom is friends with. I got to meet her future Mother-In-Law, who seems so kind, and her adorable, future cousin, who will be a junior bridesmaid in her wedding. The ladies had a dessert buffet with these cute little custom mint tins for favors (as seen on the cake). It's been a week of wedding showers, I went to a shower for Mary Anne last week, though I didn't bring my camera.....the festivities just keep going :O)...with many more to come in the near future!
Posted by Christy Robbins at 9:06 PM 0 comments
Sunday, November 12, 2006
Driving School....
Jason finally took his drive around the speedway. This was his 30th birthday gift from Mom and I, and according to him "the best experience of his life." I know he loved the driving part (ten laps around), but the riding part was the thing that really threw him for a loop, he said the g forces were so strong, and they were so close to the other cars they were racing, it was an incredible experience for him. The first picture is him sliding into the car he drove, and another of my Mom and him before 'class' began, the last is of him actually 'driving' by...I guess all he has to do now is wait for Nascar to call him for recruitment ;o).
Posted by Christy Robbins at 5:11 PM 3 comments
Labels: Dallas Area Activities, Family
Saturday, November 11, 2006
Introducing Sandy Carrie M
No, she's not mine, but she sure is cute. This is my cousins' new dog, Carrie (name pending)? I don't think her last Mommy taught her how to chew with her mouth closed...she looks like she's laughing about the whole situation.....? Santa came early this year (she looks just like the puppy Brian had on his Christmas list)....Brian, we will talk later about how you pulled that one off, he has YET to bring me a puppy....
Posted by Christy Robbins at 6:05 PM 0 comments
Labels: Pets
Friday, November 10, 2006
The project I'm working on....
This is a part of the quilt I'm currently working on...and the dog I'm currently looking for a home for b/c he stood on the quilt I was working on.....big jerk. I'm making this quilt for myself this time......I'm debating on whether or not to add a border (my quilting 'expert' friend says yes, but another gal who quilts says I don't have too), I still have to sew the border, and backing, then take it to be 'quilted' then sew on the binding....so it's quite a ways from being done....but it is actually starting to look like a quilt.....I've only had it since last March ;o)....I'm sure it won't be the last time you see it, but I thought I'd send a little picture of what I've been doing in the evenings lately :O).
Posted by Christy Robbins at 9:47 PM 2 comments
Labels: Crafting
Monday, November 06, 2006
Nascar Race
Yesterday we headed out to the race. We left home about 6 am (which was actually leaving 'late' compared to when Jason went last year) and swung by to get Jason and Tonya. We arrived a little after 8 at the Texas Motor Speedway, met up with some friends of my Mom's who were staying out there the whole weekend and then walked around 'shopping'. The race was delayed b/c of the rain (see the cloudy sky for the picture of the day), but after drying the track (with JET ENGINES) they were finally able to start. It was a true miracle that it did not rain anymore b/c it would have been a huge delay if it had. In addition to what turned out to be a nice day, Jason's driver, Tony Stewart, won for the first time in Texas! It was a lot of fun, lot's of wrecks (though nobody was hurt).....he stayed ahead for some unseemly number of laps and the end ended up being really exciting. I snapped WAY too many pictures, but here is one of Jason listening in on the driver's radio frequencies, it's 'the thing' to do at the races. You can hear them talking with their pit crew and vice versa. Afterwards we ended up eating dinner while a storm blew in, but we wanted the traffic to die down. It literally is at a stand still for HOURS afterwards. Even after waiting almost 3 hours to leave we got stuck waiting. I guess releasing 200,000 people at once can be a bit of a problem, but the parking was FREE, how about that? It can be b/c the tickets were so outrageous. It's something you should do at least once. I think my ears still hurt though, even with ear phones and ear plugs it was rough on the hearing. We finally managed to get home about ll. I didn't get anything done, INCLUDING a call to Marie, who's birthday it was yesterday, I'M SORRY!!! Carla got a call a day late too (Saturday).....in fact, I don't know that I've actually hit anyone ON their birthday, the last week and a half there have been 5 and if I didn't call the day before, I called the day after.....BUT it's a VERY important day, Marie is a very important person....and next year I'll call at least 28 times and she'll be BEGGING me not to call her on her birthday anymore! Happy Birthday, Marie! This last picture is a shot of Tony Stewart drivin behind the pace care during a caution, my favorite line of the day is "This is about the only car that's been in front of Tony Stewart all day." So what did he do? He started tapping it with his bumper, and they had to call down and tell him to cut it out.....which I think pretty much covers his personality, you love him or hate him, Jason loves him. ALMOST as much as I like Marie, did I mention I'm sorry I didn't call on your b-day?
Posted by Christy Robbins at 5:49 PM 0 comments
Labels: Dallas Area Activities, Family
Saturday, November 04, 2006
Boot Scootin....
I know, I know, it's been awhile, I'm going to try to be a little more faithful about blogging (though I know it's more than some, it's not meeting my usual standards for updating ;O)). I'll have more to post tomorrow, but I thought I'd fill in a few little tidbits of the week.
Halloween-Went well, tmy students were relatively behaved, though the sugar definitely hit in as the week progressed and there was a big stir on Friday, but hopefully we will live through it, you never know the parent's reactions when you send home paperwork regarding misbehavior. It's getting to the point in the year where I'm a little tired and we all just need a break and hopefully they will forget some of their bad behavior habits over the break ;o)...or at least I'll be refreshed for what they throw my way. I've had a lot of classroom visitors this last week as well, but I think that's another blog for another time, and there are more stop in's planned over the next few weeks.
Friday-I met up with some old pals that formerly worked with me before the big turnover last year, including the ex principal who is happily leading a new and amazing (distant) school. We all headed out to Trail Dust and had a fabulous meal, some participated in a little line dancing to a fabulous band, and then we ended the evening at Obzeet's for dessert and coffee. It was a really tame night considering some of the attendees, and what they have done in the past. I know they are planning a future outing that is slightly less tame, but more so then spring time outings. Some of these gals have hit a little something known as a midlife crisis. They are trying something new out every month (or at least that was the goal). Which in itself isn't bad, but the things on the list are a little silly at times. It's been interesting to hear about (and experience) a few of their adventures.
Tomorrow is the Nascar race, we are praying for no rain until the race is over, and then I hope the heaven's open.....I can't wait to share more pictures because it may be a one time thing....it's a little pricey and I can think of quite a FEW things I'd enjoy more...but it's good to try things once.....
Posted by Christy Robbins at 8:20 PM 2 comments


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From the London label's debut sneaker collection, Mulberry's 'Blurry Bloom' high-tops are the coolest way to get your kicks this season. Emblazoned with an exploded floral print, this canvas and suede pair are a fashion pack must-have. Turn up the hip factor by styling yours with bubblegum-pink jeans.
Shown here with: Stella McCartney jacket, Kain top, Yves Saint Laurent ring, rag & bone jeans, Alexander McQueen bag.
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The Sports Xchange
By Jon Gold, The Sports Xchange
LOS ANGELES -- J.J. Redick nailed a 3-pointer to give the Orlando Magic their first lead with 42 seconds left, lifting the Magic to a 104-101 win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday afternoon at Staples Center.
Redick had 21 points, including four 3-pointers, but he perhaps made a bigger impact defensively, at least on one play.
After Lamar Odom blocked Jameer Nelson's attempt with 17.8 seconds left and the Magic up 102-101, the Clippers turned it back in a hurry. Too much of a hurry, however, as Jamal Crawford plowed into Redick for a charge with 12.9 seconds remaining.
Los Angeles missed an opportunity to foul Josh McRoberts, who found Nikola Vucevic for the dunk, and Crawford missed a 26-foot 3-point attempt as the clock dwindled.
Orlando trailed by 13 less than six minutes into the game, but the plucky Magic -- who entered the contest with a 10-game losing streak -- fought back behind Redick and Arron Afflalo.
Redick hit 8 of 14 shots in 33 minutes off the bench and Afflalo continued his strong play in his hometown. The UCLA product tied a season high with 30 points, matching his output in a Dec. 2 win at Staples Center over the Los Angeles Lakers.
Afflalo had seven assists and seven rebounds in 40 minutes, and Vucevic added 18 points and 15 rebounds for the Magic.
Blake Griffin also tied a season high with 30 points, including 16 in the third quarter, and added eight rebounds and seven assists for the Clippers. Jamal Crawford added 13 points on 4-of-12 shooting off the bench. Four others scored 10 for Los Angeles, including Chris Paul, who added 16 assists.
The Clippers finished with 32 assists but fell to 9-1 with 30-plus assists during the Paul era.
NOTES: Clippers veteran forward Grant Hill made his season debut but played just six minutes. Hill missed the first 34 games with a bruised right knee. ... Chauncey Billups (left foot peroneal tendinitis) remains out for Los Angeles. Billups suffered an Achilles injury against Orlando in the teams' lone matchup last season and the veteran guard missed 14 games to start this season because of it. The Clippers beat the Magic in overtime on Feb. 6, 2012, their first win in Orlando since 2006. ... Guston Ayon (thigh), Glen Davis (shoulder), Al Harrington (knee) and E'Twaun Moore (elbow) all missed the game for the Magic. ... Both teams feature prolific passers. The Clippers rank second in the NBA with 23.7 assists per game while Orlando ranks seventh with 22.8.


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2019 ProMaster 2500 High Roof FWD, Empty Cargo Van (Stock #19PM0542)
More PhotosPhotos may be library images.
Vehicle Notes
Nav System, POWER FOLDING/HEATED MIRRORS, Brake Actuated Limited Slip Differential, ENGINE: 3.6L V6 24V VVT, DRIVER/PASSENGER 6-WAY ADJUSTABLE LUM... … Bright White Clearcoat exterior and Black interior, ProMaster Cargo Van trim. AND MORE!======KEY FEATURES INCLUDE: Back-Up Camera, iPod/MP3 Input, Brake Actuated Limited Slip Differential MP3 Player, Third Passenger Door, Keyless Entry, Steering Wheel Controls, Electronic Stability Control. ======OPTION PACKAGES: RADIO: UCONNECT 3 NAV W/5 DISPLAY GPS Antenna Input, GPS Navigation, SPEED CONTROL, PARKSENSE REAR PARK ASSIST SYSTEM, DRIVER/PASSENGER 6-WAY ADJUSTABLE LUMBAR SEATS, POWER FOLDING/HEATED MIRRORS, TRANSMISSION: 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC 62TE (STD), ENGINE: 3.6L V6 24V VVT (STD). Ram ProMaster Cargo Van with Bright White Clearcoat exterior and Black interior features a V6 Cylinder Engine with 280 HP at 6400 RPM*. ======ABOUT US: At Huffines we believe you should be as hassle free during the vehicle buying process as possible. We are willing to answer every question you might have during your search for the perfect vehicle. We are conveniently located near Dallas, McKinney, and Lewisville. The Huffines Auto Dealerships have been satisfying customers and forming lifetime friendships in the Greater Dallas area since 1924. Horsepower calculations based on trim engine configuration. Please confirm the accuracy of the included equipment by calling us prior to purchase.
Chassis Details
Stock Number
Stock Type
ProMaster 2500
Drive Train
Vehicle Trim
2500 High Roof 159 WB
Vehicle Body
Full-size Cargo Van
Interior Color
Exterior Color Description
Bright White Clearcoat
Engine Cylinder Count
3.6L V6 Cylinder Engine
Transmission Type
Roof Height
Fuel Type
Vehicle Options
- 4-Wheel ABS
- 4-Wheel Disc Brakes
- 6-Speed A/T
- Adjustable Steering Wheel
- AM/FM Stereo
- Auto Transmission w/Manual Mode
- Back-Up Camera
- Bluetooth
- Brake Actuated Limited Slip Differential
- Brake Assist
- Bucket Seats
- Cloth Seats
- Cruise Control
- Driver Air Bag
- Driver Lumbar
- Electronic Stability Control
- Front Wheel Drive
- Full Size Spare Tire
- Gasoline Fuel
- Heated Mirrors
- Integrated Turn Signal Mirrors
- Intermittent Wipers
- iPod/MP3 Input
- Keyless Entry
- MP3 Player
- Navigation
- Passenger Air Bag
- Passenger Lumbar
- Power Door Locks
- Power Driver Mirror
- Power Steering
- Power Windows
- Side Head Air Bag
- Steel Wheels
- Steering Wheel Controls
- Third Passenger Door
- Tire Pressure Monitoring System
- Tires - Front All-Season
- Tires - Rear All-Season
- Trip Computer
- V6 Cylinder Engine
- Variable Speed Intermittent Wipers
- Vehicle Anti-Theft System
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Contact Huffines Dodge for more info.(888) 927-7199
Vehicle available NOW in Plano, TX
Disclaimer: Dealer is not responsible for online pricing errors. Please verify with our Commercial / Fleet sales division for verification of pricing. Prices include current month's business and upfit incentives. Some customers may qualify for additional discounts. All posted pricing excludes title, taxes, tags, and a $150 dealer doc fee.
We are very transparent on our pricing to the customer. We look to get you the lowest price that each customer qualifies for. Please call Mike Stubbs for details 888-850-7133.
We are very transparent on our pricing to the customer. We look to get you the lowest price that each customer qualifies for. Please call Mike Stubbs for details 888-850-7133.


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Find Our Latest Video Reviews on YouTube!
If you want to stay on top of all of our video reviews of the latest tech, be sure to check out and subscribe to the Gear Live YouTube channel, hosted by Andru Edwards! It's free!
More Vaja Leather Cases for Portable Gear
Posted by Edwin Soto Categories: Accessories, Portable Audio / Video,
You probably know how much we rave about Vaja leather cases. We've covered their Rio cases as well as their well as their Treo 650 cases. We even interviewed them about their high end products. As portable gear becomes part of the daily lives of more and more people, Vaja is staying ahead of the game with a high-quality iPod shuffle case. If that isn't enough (these things never are), they have also developed a case to hold your SD/MMC cards. Looking for the ultimate cash-in, they plan to release leather PSP cases, as well as a model for the newer Blackberry.
Read More | Vaja
Saitek's Latest PC Game Controllers
Posted by Andru Edwards - Categories: Accessories, Video Games,
Saitek brought a slew of new PC video game controllers with them to E3, and Playfeed has a rundown of all three. Basically, they give you the standard, the rumble, and the wireless models - all are very high quality from their appearances. Saitek has decided to focus all of their controllers on first person shooters, which becomes apparent when you see that all three controllers have an FPS button.
Read More | Saitek P2900 Wireless
Read More | Saitek P2600 Rumble
Read More | Saitek P990 Dual Analog
E3 2005: Saitek P2900 Wireless Controller
Posted by Andru Edwards - Categories: Accessories,
Rounding out the Saitek PC game controller front is the P2900 Wireless controller. What I like about this one is that it uses only one AA battery, and chugs along on that for 50 hours. That is how it should be done. Similar to the others, it has the FPS instant set-up button, four shoulder triggers, and soft handles. This one uses 2.4 GHz wireless RF to communicate with the PC. It's good and all, but I have had problems using 2.4 GHz technology with my wireless G network. In fact, I had to upgrade my phones to 5.8 GHz because the interference would cause latency in the Internet connection.
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E3 2005: Saitek P2600 Rumble Controller
Posted by Andru Edwards - Categories: Accessories,
Saitek was also showing off a couple of other controllers at their booth during E3. This one is dedicated to having a more responsive rumble. Basically, the P2600 uses the latest technology to deliver strong, varied responses depending on what is going on in the game to provide for maximum realism. That is, if you consider your controller rumbling to be realistic. It also has backlit button, a First Person Shooter button to transform the controllers capabilities, four shoulder buttons, and soft handles. No hands on impressions though - these babies were behind glass.
U.S. House of Representatives Vote Against Spyware
Posted by Edwin Soto Categories: Internet, Software,
We all hate it. We know how damaging it can be. Spyware causes the average computer user to despise getting on the internet. In some cases, it gets as severe as being the cause of identity theft. The House is trying to eliminate these malicious programs and the people that distribute them. Violators of the House's new bill are looking at 2 years minimum for breaking these laws and more if identity theft is involved.
Read More | CNN.com
Making Money As An Affiliate
Posted by Andru Edwards - Categories: Marketing,
On the Internet, you have the opportunity to make money by selling your own products and/or services, but that does require you to develop concepts and hang on to inventory. Luckily, there are other avenues available on the Internet in which you can make money if you are willing to put effort into it. One such way is to promote products as an affiliate.
An affiliate is basically a website or person who acts as a salesman for a larger website providing goods or services. Basically, the site will provide you with banner ads, links, and other materials for you to use to generate sales or leads for their product. Each time someone purchases, views, or clicks through to the web site of the advertiser, the affiliate (you) gets a commission. One of the most popular affiliate programs on the Internet happens to come from Amazon. You can sign up as an Amazon Associate, and gain access to images and a link generator which allows you to sell Amazon products directly on your website. If someone purchases an item on Amazon by using your link or image, you will receive a cut. Here is a brief rundown:
- Associates drive Internet traffic to Amazon.com through specially formatted links that allow Amazon to track sales and other activity.
- Associates earn up to 10% in referral fees on all qualifying revenue made through their links.
- Amazon sends quarterly payment to Associates.
Another great affiliate program is the one run by the iTunes Music Store. The iTunes Affiliate Program. It pays 5% of all revenue generated from your links. These are just two examples of ways you can make money using the lure of products from other, more well known resources. If you have had success with affiliate programs, let us know about it in the comments.
E3 Interview: Mark Rosewater - Head Designer of Magic: The Gathering
Posted by Charles Leake Categories: Features, Internet,
Last week at E3 we had the opportunity to sit down and chat with Magic: The Gathering designers Mark Rosewater, Randy Buehler and Magic pro player Sam Gomersa. Magic the Gathering is the first collectible card game and is set in a fantasy setting. It has been going strong now for 12 years with no end in sight. Magic: The Gathering can also be played via Magic: The Gathering: Online. The latest version of Magic Online version 3.0 should be out in stores shortly.
Most of our readers may not have heard of Mark Rosewater or Randy Buehler, who are the designers of Magic. These men are two of the greatest game designers on this earth. Their work is enjoyed by millions of gamers across the globe and their design has kept one of the most successful and longest running games going strong today. Join as they both give us a rare chance to see the secrets to the successful design of Magic: The Gathering, including video games, here today with Mark Rosewater, Wednesday with Randy Buehler and Friday with Magic Pro Player Sam Gomersa:
In a short explanation what is Magic the Gathering?
Magic the Gathering is a collectible card game. The best analogy is it's like playing Monopoly without all the pieces.
And what is Magic the Gathering Online?
A transliteration of the game. The idea for it came about from the main reason players quit, they did not have enough people to play with and had a hard time finding a game. Magic Online solved this problem, players can now find a game 24 hours, 7 days a week.
Click to continue reading E3 Interview: Mark Rosewater - Head Designer of Magic: The Gathering
The Scooba: Roomba's Mopping Sibling
Posted by Jesse Easley Categories: Misc. Tech,
Everyone we know has been thoroughly impressed with the way that iRobot's Roomba vacuum cleaners work. Now, the company forays even deeper into robotic home cleaning with their new mop. The Scooba functions in a similar fashion as the Roomba, with a few key differences. The way it works is the Scooba will vacuum up the floor, spray foam scrub onto the tile or other surface, scrub it up, then dry the floor. There is no price set yet and it's looking like it might only be a limited time deal around the holidays.
Read More | News.com via engadget
All You Need To Know About Lightsabers
Posted by Edwin Soto Categories: Misc. Tech, Movies,
Even with the great success of Episode III, we know that one of the biggest reasons we go to see a Star Wars movie, play a Star Wars game, or buy one of the DVD's is to be part of a great lightsaber battle. We all want one (just listen to your inner geek), and one day - who knows - it may be possible. Wikipedia gives us some background on several aspects of the lightsaber that you may not have known.
Read More | Wikipedia
Caring For Your Virtual Baby: BabyGrow for Mobile Phones
Posted by Edwin Soto Categories: Cell Phones, Video Games,
With all the advantages of not actually having a physical baby in tow, BabyGrow is designed to be a Tamagochi (remember those?) for your cell phone. You get it all as far as responsibility goes - feeding, entertaining, medicating, and even cleaning. What happens when you don't comply with these needs? Anges, the Social Worker comes to claim the baby. It's like a low budget version of Nintendogs! Trust me when I say this: cleaning a virtual diaper is much better than the real thing.
Read More | Evening Telegraph
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D&G Sunglasses Model
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5 things Murphy must do to win debate
1. Introduce yourself and leave a positive impression with voters.
Outside of the 5th District, residents have gotten to know the congressman mostly through Linda McMahon's advertisements, which portray him as a shifty politician who has failed to do the job while enjoying the perks of power.
"He's been getting a lot of negative publicity, and I'm sure he's looking forward to an opportunity to set the record straight and define himself by himself and not have someone else do it for him," said Adam Wood, who managed Diane Farrell's 4th District congressional bid and now serves as chief of staff to Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch.
2. Don't shy away from your career in public service.
McMahon during both of her campaigns has run as an outsider against opponents -- first longtime Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, now Murphy -- who spent years serving the public in elected positions.
Ben Davol of Stonington, who has worked for Democratic and Republican candidates and was an early consultant on McMahon's 2012 campaign, said Murphy can turn his experience to his advantage.
More InformationWhat: Chris Murphy and Linda McMahon will participate in an hour-long debate When and Where: 11 a.m. Sunday at the Rocky Hill studios of WFSB Channel 3 Moderator: "Face the State" host Dennis House How you can watch: The "Face the State" program on WFSB
"He needs to concentrate on the value somebody who's been in elected office brings," Davol said. "Don't try to be something you're not. You're not an outsider."
3. Get specific, even wonky about policy differences.
Murphy's supporters believe the candidate's biggest advantage over McMahon in the debate is his mastery of policy. U.S. Rep. James Maloney, who represented the 5th District until his 2002 defeat by Murphy's predecessor, Republican Nancy Johnson, said if the debate is about the issues, Murphy wins.
"On all of those issues -- tax policy, entitlements, protection of Medicare and Medicaid and Social Security, environmental protection and, first and foremost, the economy -- the Democratic position is far more popular in Connecticut than Mrs. McMahon's position," Maloney said.
4. Don't get bogged down in personal attacks.
Maloney said while Murphy can easily defend himself against his opponent's attacks on his character, he should mainly do so in advertisements.
And Margaret Flynn, an instructor in media literacy and criticism with the University of Connecticut, said that if Murphy spends too much time attacking McMahon personally, it could work against him.
"McMahon does a good job portraying herself as the nice grandma figure," Flynn said. "In the debate format you don't want to come out as the guy who's attacking grandma."
5. Avoid a disastrous error.
David D'Alessio, an assistant professor of communication sciences at the University of Connecticut's Stamford campus, said: "When people think about debates, they think about people screwing up big time. He needs to avoid doing something that will come out as a sound bite the next day making him look like a complete idiot."


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Whether you're a stock market trader or just an investment enthusiast, the computer is something that you'll always need for your work. On Windows, there are already a plenty of different software for managing your finances. Linux on the other hand, is yet to catch on in this department, but there are still quite a few good free and open-source finance/accounting software for Linux.
Don't be disappointed though, as the scenario is slowly changing with the London Stock Exchange recently switching to Linux. Also, Linux boasts of developers who come from all walks of life, thus, there are a few applications that will come in handy for those who are into stock market and investing who prefer to use this platform.
In this article, we'll highlight 3 of the best stock market software for Linux.
JStock is probably the best stock market software for Linux out there. It comes with a bunch of great features that will make stock management a lot easier. Here's a look at some of the features JStock has to offer:
The free and open source application comes with support for 26 world stock markets. Countries include U.S, U.K, China, Canada, Brazil, Hong Kong, Germany, France, India and many others. JStock makes it easy for you to monitor the stock market with its slick indicator that grabs public data from Yahoo! Finance.
Besides keeping you updated with the latest stock figures, JStock also allows you to monitor stock price movement in second's precision. The stock price is captured every 10 seconds on a daily basis. If you're interested in only a select number of stock markets, you can create separate watchlists for your convenience. JStock allows you to create unlimited number of such watchlists.
JStock also lets you manage your stock portfolio by calculating your net stock worth, recording your buy and sell record. To remind yourself about a particular stock you've your eye on, you can put a sticky note next to it. Not just that, JStock also allows you to create and manage an unlimited number of portfolios.
The best feature of JStock, which puts it a notch above its competitors, is the alerts system. Suppose if you're monitoring a particular stock, and let's say you want to sell it when it reaches a particular buying/selling point. Either you can sit at your computer all day monitoring the numbers, or you could sit back, relax and let JStock do that for you. Once you set the particular stock you want to monitor, JStock will automatically send you an SMS, Email and a System tray notification informing you that your stock has reached its buying/selling value.
For folks who are crazy about stats, JStock also offers summary charts of your investment history, dividend payout and much more.
Finally, to make sure your data is always backed up and safe, JStock offers you cloud storage with which you can easily sync all your stock data across different computers. Cool huh? Despite being laden with so many awesome features, JStock is free and open source that makes it the no 1 stock application for Linux. Also, the software is cross-platform, which makes it easy to run on any computer be it Windows, Mac, Solaris or Linux. If you're having trouble installing JStock on your desktop, take a look at this step by step guide which teaches you how to get the application up and running on a Linux box.
Eclipse Trader
Eclipse Trader is a stock market trading application based on the Eclipse Rich Client Platform. This free and open source application offers some great features like shares pricing watch, intraday and history charts with technical analysis indicators, level II/market depth view, news watching, and integrated trading. Licensed under GPL, Eclipse trader also allows third-party vendors to extend the functionality of the applications by developing their own indicators and subscription feeds. Localized in English and Italian, Eclipse Trader is completely free and works across Windows, Mac OS X and Linux.
Grism is an open source stock market observation tool that lets you monitor stock market changes using watchlists, portfolios and charts. Like the aforementioned JStock, Grism also uses Yahoo! Finance for its quote data. With the application, you get to create an unlimited number of watchlists and portfolios.
The Charts feature lets you create detailed dynamic charts of your stock activity and even export them to a .PNG file. Though not as feature-laden as Jstock, Grism is a handy stock application for folks who are looking for something simple and easy to use. Grism is open source and runs across all desktop platforms.
The Charts feature lets you create detailed dynamic charts of your stock activity and even export them to a .PNG file. Though not as feature-laden as Jstock, Grism is a handy stock application for folks who are looking for something simple and easy to use. Grism is open source and runs across all desktop platforms.


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DailyDirt: Fresh Water On Demand
from the urls-we-dig-up dept
The Earth is literally covered in water, but 97% of that water is in salty oceans and not useful for drinking. In fact, only about 1% of the world's water is really usable by humans (because a lot of fresh water is frozen in glaciers or otherwise inconveniently located). Here are just a few links on the lengths people could go to in order to get drinkable water.
- The United Nations held a design competition to create ads that help raise awareness of water conservation efforts. The winners will be picked in June. [url]
- A team of software engineers created a simulation that concludes it's possible to tow an iceberg from the waters around Newfoundland to the Canary Islands off the coast of Africa. The expense of actually doing this, however, has not been shown to be worthwhile by anyone yet. [url]
- IBM's Almaden Research Center is developing new water filtration membranes for purification processes -- which could be useful for desalination and other water reclamation. The trick is getting water purified without using a lot of energy to do so.... [url]
- A guy from Chile was arrested for stealing a 5-ton piece of a glacier -- that he was going to sell on the black market for making designer ice cubes. Glacier ice just tastes way better than the ice that comes out of a plastic tray because it's been aged for millions of years. [url]
- To discover more food-related links, check out what's floating around in StumbleUpon. [url]