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Party fowl
When fourth year UVA student Teddy Nelson and his two roommates decided to host their second party of the semester, they only wanted to provide a good time for themselves and their friends, they say. Instead, they stumbled into a racial controversy that burned for a couple of weeks.
"For our first party, we played music that was good to listen to, so that people could just sit and talk," Nelson says. When he was planning the second party, he adds, many people told him they'd rather have dance music. So Nelson and his roommates elected to play "mainstream" hip-hop music, and taking it one step further, made hip-hop the theme.
"Callin' all playaz and chickenheadz," read the email sent to every undergraduate and graduate student in the architecture school inviting them to attend the March 1 party (which was not school-sponsored) in an apartment on Madison Avenue, and to dress as a hip-hopper.
"You don't think about your theme being wrong or right," Nelson explains. "If you had a rock 'n' roll party, it's not commentary on rock 'n' roll. Or a mobster party. It just gives people something to dress up for."
Though Nelson claims several of his black friends were not bothered by the invitation and did attend what has come to be called "The Medallion Party" in costume, a separate group of black students arrived with a camera. Nelson and his friends believed the group had just come to have a good time— they even posed with the group in a series of pictures— but the group had actually come to document what its members felt was just one more incident of subtle or not-so-subtle racism at UVA, perpetuated every time white students host parties with stereotypically black themes.
The controversy had begun.
Within a week of the party, the Cavalier Daily ran an editorial by Tim Lovelace, a black attendee offended by what he saw.
"Their overtly racist caricatures of black life were modern versions of the minstrel shows of the past," Lovelace wrote. "The violent, 40-oz.-guzzling African American with a huge medallion, 'do-rag,' and several tattoos is a stereotype no less hurtful than minstrel shows' depictions of the Mammy or Sambo."
Nearly two weeks later, on March 20, white Cavalier Daily associate editor Anthony Dick responded with an equally impassioned view. Lovelace's claims "fuel racial tension, create unfounded anger, and ultimately increase the self-segregation that die-hard diversity advocates are always so loudly lamenting," Dick wrote.
"The malt-liquor drinking and medallion wearing that took place at the Architecture School party," continued Dick, "are no more a part of black culture than trailer-park scenes of domestic violence, alcoholism, and repeated shirtless appearances on the TV show Cops are a part of white culture."
The very next day, a letter written to the paper criticized Dick for refusing to recognize racism as "a coiled snake rearing its ugly head at our very University…."
And so it went, until March 28 when the black fraternity Iota Phi Theta, whose mission is to promote community service and positive change, organized a powwow entitled "Partying While White." The forum brought black and white students together to begin a dialogue that Nelson hopes will be ongoing.
Nelson says that the chance to explain his side of the story to the packed Maury Hall auditorium, while hearing the feelings of the students who were offended by the party, was productive.
"We just want something positive to come out of it," he says, and he now believes that it will.
And he says he's learned an important lesson: "Even people like me who aren't racist can end up offending people accidentally."


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Friday, May 27, 2011
Judges and bloggers of one mind
A very interesting report appeared in The National yesterday including comments from several judges about the sentences they often hand down for people found guilty of indecency.
"Public decency laws need to be reformed so that punishments can more accurately reflect the severity of the offence, several judges have said."
I've questioned in various posts on the subject whether the courts had any discretion in the sentences they hand down, or whether they are mandatory. The judges quoted in the report have answered that.
"While sentencing guidelines for more serious crimes allow judges discretion in weighing the facts of a particular case, guidelines for minor crimes concerning public decency often force them into overly harsh sentences."
"An expatriate who has committed an offence such as raising his hand in a bad gesture should be punished, but not by destroying his chances of returning to this country to make a living," one lower court judge said. More serious crimes such as theft were not punished by deportation, he pointed out."
The courts have taken some stick, especially in the overseas press, over their draconian sentencing but it seems they have little room for discretion.
In fact judges, or at least some of them, seem to be of the same opinion as us.
It's a fascinating insight into the legal system here in The National.
5 comments:
- Dave said...
Do I sense that the UAE jurdiciary are finally catching up to the rest of the world?
- May 27, 2011 11:33 am
Any sort of change in the law is very slow.
- May 28, 2011 10:45 am
- Bali Travel said...
Sometimes the law really was "unfair" a very evil deeds are deeds mild punishment and vice versa.. Nice post ..
- May 29, 2011 9:13 am
You've missed the most important quote in this story....
"In one case, the judge said, he was compelled to deport a man who had been approached and seduced by a cross-dresser.
The man kissed the cross-dresser before discovering that his seducer was a man. After kicking the cross-dresser out, the man found he had been robbed and reported it to police. He was then charged with consensual sex and deported."
There's a whole story just waiting to be told here....
- June 09, 2011 10:07 pm
- UAE Fderal Laws said...
UAE Judiciary is very transparent although changes are very slow. I had been in UAE from 2004 To 2007 the rules are very good for locals as well as expatriots however i am not agree with Sharjah, Ajman, RAK and ABu Dhabi but i love dubai its transparency and rules. Other states they need to follow dubai.
- June 29, 2011 1:35 pm

subset: commoncrawl


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WASHINGTON - Breaking with several leaders in his party, Senator Scott Brown yesterday urged Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta to allow women to serve in combat, saying the nation has an obligation to provide greater opportunities for female troops who, like their male counterparts, have sacrificed in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Brown, a lieutenant colonel and 32-year veteran of the Massachusetts National Guard, told Panetta in a letter that a recent decision to permit women to serve in some units closer to the front did not go far enough.
"We have an obligation to expand the professional opportunities available to women, especially considering their sacrifices,'' said Brown, a Republican who sits on the Armed Services Committee, citing the 140 female service members who have been killed in battle zones since 2001.
Some Republicans, including presidential candidate Rick Santorum, have denounced efforts to integrate women closer to the front, saying it would undermine discipline and distract soldiers.
Brown took that argument head on yesterday: "Doing so, in my view, would improve military effectiveness, not detract from it,'' he said.
Brown, who is facing a tough Democratic challenge for reelection, faced fallout from some women's groups for cosponsoring a controversial bill that would allow employers, based on their religious or moral beliefs, to limit health care coverage, including for contraception and in vitro fertilization.
An adviser to one of Brown's opponents, former Harvard law professor Elizabeth Warren, labeled the timing of Brown's letter ironic and hinted it might have been timed to soften some of that criticism.
Warren believes women in the armed forces should be allowed to serve in all positions.
Many Democrats agree, but Republicans have been reluctant to expand women's roles.
Santorum recently set off a minor firestorm when he criticized Panetta's decision.
"I think that could be a very compromising situation, where people may naturally do things that may not be in the interest of the mission, because of other types of emotions that are involved,'' Santorum told CNN.
Presidential campaign advisers for Mitt Romney did not respond to a request for comment on the former Massachusetts governor's stance on the issue.
Other leading Republicans, including Vietnam veteran and Senate Armed Services Committee member John McCain, have expressed deep reservations about opening all combat positions to women. McCain, who is traveling overseas, was not available for comment, according to his spokesman, Brian Rogers.
Earlier this month, Panetta modified a 1994 policy to open nearly 14,000 positions to women, including mechanics and radar operators for combat units. In some cases, the ruling will also permit women to serve as intelligence officers and communications specialists in front-line units. However, women are still barred from serving as infantry soldiers, in tank crews, or as members of special forces teams.
Panetta pledged to study the issue further.
Brown has now joined a growing chorus of lawmakers, most of them Democrats, who want Panetta to expand the combat roles of women without delay.
"We should not waste time endlessly studying this issue and getting bogged down in bureaucratic red tape,'' Brown told Panetta yesterday.
He also argued that women might otherwise be held back from promotion.
"Closing these opportunities to women affect[s] their ability to develop a career path in the military and advance to higher ranks,'' Brown wrote.
Several specialists said the debate is increasingly irrelevant as the line between combat and support troops has steadily blurred in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, where terrorists and insurgents wielding roadside bombs, rocket-propelled grenades, and suicide vests operate within the civilian population. Women have been killed in combat in both wars and on numerous occasions exchanged fire with and killed insurgents.
The military has also relied on Female Engagement Teams serving with special forces to enlist the help of Afghan women to assist in identifying enemy forces. Brown highlighted those teams in his letter to Panetta as evidence that the Pentagon can "take a more aggressive approach to offering additional opportunities to our women in uniform.''
Brown's stance could help him in his bid for reelection, said Elisabeth Armstrong, assistant professor of the study of women and gender at Smith College in Northampton. "It is an issue for women voters,'' she said.Bryan Bender can be reached at email@example.com.


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California Department of Transportation
Date: October 27, 2011
District: 04 - Oakland
Contact: Bob Haus
Phone: (510) 286-5576
$784 Million in New Transportation Funding to Help Create Jobs and Bolster the Economy
Oakland – Following last week's announcement of the general obligation bond sales, the California Transportation Commission (CTC) today allocated $784 million in new funding for 61 projects that will help create thousands of jobs bolstering the state's economic recovery - and reduce traffic congestion, repair highways and bridges, and make driving safer for everyone.
Last week's bond sale allowed projects that were delayed or at risk of delay due to lack of funding to move forward to construction. In addition, the bond proceeds will also fund more than 300 ongoing projects through June 2012. The ongoing and newly allocated projects leverage around $11 billion in non-state funds, giving our economy an added boost.
"These projects will allow billions of dollars to flow into construction and produce enormous economic benefits for California," said Acting Caltrans Director Malcolm Dougherty.
Highlights of the funding allocations include:
- $11.2 million to install traffic operating systems along State Highway 82 in San Mateo County between Whipple Avenue and Interstate 380. The systems will include closed-circuit video cameras, vehicle detection devices, and improved traffic signals.
- $7.6 million to develop software, servers, network hub hardware and other Intelligent Transportation Systems that are part of the Interstate 80 Integrated Corridor Mobility Project in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties.
- $3.8 million to build new northbound and southbound auxiliary lanes on U.S. Route 101, between Embarcadero Road and University Avenue in San Mateo County.
- $1.7 million to rehabilitate 19 bridges on Highways 4, 24, 242, 80, and 680 in Contra Costa County.
The CTC funding today includes $695 million from Proposition 1B, the 2006 voter-approved transportation bond. To date, the state has allocated more than $9 billion in Proposition 1B funds.
Please see the attached file for more information about all projects that received allocations today.
# # # #


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The role credit default probabilities play
What role did credit default swaps play in the credit crisis of 2007-09? New research by finance professor Jennifer Conrad indicates you might be wrong to point fingers at the derivatives market.
Conrad has proposed a new way to estimate default probabilities. By comparing default probabilities in the credit default swap (CDS) market and equity option market, Conrad and her colleagues generated a new estimate of how asset values in firms changed through the credit crisis.
To examine if credit default swap contracts drive changes in the equity market, Conrad collaborated with Robert F. Dittmar of the University of Michigan and Allaudeen Hameed of the National University of Singapore. They report their findings in "Cross-Market and Cross-FirmEffects in Implied Default Probabilities and Recovery Values."
"With these estimates, we can measure the extent to which problems in financial firms had an impact on nonfinancial firms in this period – how Wall Street affected Main Street," Conrad said.
A credit default swap is an insurance contract on a bond. If the company issuing the bond starts to struggle, the value of the insurance contract, or CDS, increases – reflecting a higher probability of default. If many people buy such insurance contracts, the price of the insurance
might also increase, and market participants might infer that the firm is struggling – causing price changes in the underlying market for the firm's securities.
In the early days of the credit crisis, worries arose that speculators in the CDS market were causing such price swings. Conrad uses the analogy of an investor buying auto insurance on someone else's car, putting the investor in the position of hoping the driver has an accident
so that the investor can make money. "People felt that some investors were doing that with the CDS market," she said. "They were buying the insurance contract and hoping for – or, perhaps through their trading, contributing to – the company's troubles."
To measure links between CDS and equity markets, the researchers looked at each market's best estimate of the likelihood of a firm defaulting. They estimated default probabilities for 35 financial and 123 nonfinancial firms before and during the credit crisis. They found that the two markets' estimates of the chances of default tracked fairly closely, even more closely once the crisis began. But before the credit crisis, the CDS market appeared more optimistic than the equity options market, both about the chances that a firm might default and the estimate of its assets' worth if it did. By looking at default probabilities across markets, the researchers estimated the market participants' view of asset values over this period.
"One thing that surprised me was that in many cases people assume asset values in the event of default, or recovery rates, are the same across firms and across time," she said. Returning to the car insurance analogy, Conrad explains that if the risk – the probability of a crash – is the same for two drivers, their insurance prices should depend on the damage estimate in an accident. A car driven at 65 mph will suffer extensive damage and have a low recovery rate, compared to a car going 15 mph, where there will be less damage and a higher recovery rate. Someone assuming that the two drivers would suffer the same damage might look at the difference in their insurance prices and infer (incorrectly) that the probability of their being in an accident was quite different. The researchers use an independent estimate of default from the equity option market that allowed them to back out the CDS' market estimate of recovery rates and see if the rates differed across firms and changed across time.
Conrad found very strong evidence that recovery rates were different across both time and firms. "The direction of the effect wasn't surprising," she said, "the magnitude was." Recovery rates declined precipitously early in the crisis, edged up in late 2008, and dropped in spring 2009. Recovery rates also differed significantly between financial and nonfinancial firms, with a much steeper decline in rates for financial firms.
Once the researchers had estimates of default probability and recovery rates, they could examine if elevated default probabilities in one firm caused changes in the default probabilities or recovery rates of other firms. For example, if one bank goes under and sells its assets under
fire-sale conditions, does that affect the value of similar assets of another bank?
"If there was transmission of bad news from one bank to another," she said, "we might be able to measure it."
Similarly, these estimates can measure cross-effects between companies in the financial sector and nonfinancial industries. Conrad showed that changes in the probability of survival of one financial firm affect other firms in that sector. And an increase in the implied default probability of financial firms leads to a decrease in the asset values of other financial firms, consistent with fire-sale effects.
Conrad and her co-authors are looking at smaller subsets of firms within the financial industry to identify how risks are propagated within the sector and if some types of financial firms have larger effects on other nonfinancial firms.
"If I measure effects across all of the big financial players," she said, "will I find one firm, or a type of firm, that's particularly important in how its changes in probability of survival affect the other firms in that sector?"
Jennifer Conrad is the Dalton McMichael Distinguished Professor of Finance at UNC Kenan-Flagler.


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Re: RPG - Supernatural: Vampire vs Werewolf
Audrey left her first victim and attacked the one who hit her. A shred of her human thoughts came through, she'd had enough blood, she should leave. Her instinct wanted her to kill the human she'd fed upon but she fought it.
With a scream Audrey ran, she heard the humans charge after her. A shotgun boomed and Audrey screeched as she felt hot fragments hit her back. She stumbled to the ground, then clawed her way back to her feet.


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Jay Patterson avait besoin d'un nouveau design de Autre et a lancé un concours sur 99designs.
Un gagnant a été sélectionné de 19 designs proposés par 9 designers freelance.
We are a digital signage company that sells storefront digital signage solutions. Our storefront solutions consist of a 90% transparent film application, with a projected image thrown onto it from a projector, connected to a PC. The windows are all interactive touch windows, so I would like this incorporated into the ad design. Imagine a storefront window where people can walk up and interact with it...
We are based in Las Vegas - so it's glitzy and glamorous here. We want sleek, professional, eye-catching, and to incorporate our through-glass touch technology into the ad.
The Adam & Eve charity auction will host CEOs, CMOs, executives, and high-profile celebrities and managers from all over Vegas. Our target market is the high-end executives that make decisions to use technology like ours in their casinos and places of business.
They are high-class, professional, and C-level execs.
Size: Height: 4.75 inches X width: 7.5 inches
- Sleek
- Professional
- Must incorporate our through-glass touch window technology into the ad... a finger, hand, something gesturing to a window advertisement. It doesnt have to be exactly like this, but this is to give you some ideas.
- Be creative!
- Our company colors are Silver, Black, and Orange. The event colors are Black, Silver, and Hot Pink. Incorporating these colors would be great.
- I can send our logo if you'd like (goto http://www.site2street.com to see our logo).
A bit of what we offer, and it would be nice to have this as well:
- Innovative Digital Signage
- Interactive Windows
- Advertising Windows
- Intelligent Switchable Glass
- Increase Revenue
- Increase Traffic
- Increase POS Revenue
- Remote Management Capability
- We Will Beat ANY Competitor's Price!


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|Czech Republic
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Conventional long form: Czech Republic
Local long form: Ceska Republika
Abbreviation: CZ
Capitol City
Prague (population 1.2 million)
Location and Climate
Central Europe, southeast of Germany. Temperate; cool summers; cold, cloudy, humid winters.
10,249,216 (July 2003 est.)
Roman Catholic 39.2%, Protestant 4.6%, Orthodox 3%, other 13.4%, atheist 39.8%
Czech. German spoken in the border towns.
Czech koruna (CZK)
CZK per US dollar: approx. 25.5 | CZK per Euro: approx. 31.5 (June 2004)
The CZ will switch to the Euro starting in 2009, but many establishments already accept it. Ask if you're not sure.
Internet Country Code
Other Information for the Traveler
Citizens of all Western European countries, Japan, and New Zealand can visit the CZ for up to 90 days, and UK citizens for up to 180 days, without a visa. US passport holders can stay for 90 days without a visa. Citizens of Australia, Canada, South Africa, and other countries must get a visa valid for stays of between 30 and 90 days, depending on nationality.
Violent crime is rare by US standards, but theft is common. Always lock your car and keep any valuables in the hotel. Pickpockets thrive in crowded places, expecially on trams and in Metro trains and stations. Take proper precautions. Never carry your wallet in your back pocket.
If you get hurt or sick. Expect Western-style treatment in Prague hospitals/clinics. Most doctors/dentists speak English. Most staff members don't. Expect to pay cash for treatment, although you might be allowed to use your credit card. Ambulance response can be slow, depending on the severity of your condition, and many ambulance companies expect you to pay them when you arrive at the hospital.
In case of emergency (fire, medical, police), dial 112. Operators speak German and English.
HIV/AIDS (2001 est.):
Adult prevalence rate: less than 0.1% | People living with HIV/AIDS: 500 | Deaths: less than 10
Prague's Metro is efficient. Trains run frequently between 5:00 AM and midnight. However, there are only three lines, so the Metro won't take you everywhere in Prague. Web Site
If you're staying in or near the Metro areas, you may occasionally have to depend on taxis. Never hail a cab from the street while in Prague, as independent cab drivers there tend to be dishonest. Better to call one from an operator. We recommend AAA Taxi. They are inexpensive and the operators speak English. Dial 14014.
If you're driving a rental car from Germany or Austria: Find an agency (try Sixt) that will allow you to take your car into the CZ. As the CZ is a former Eastern Bloc country, vandalism and theft are more common there. Expect to pay a higher insurance premium.
Telephone Information
Dialling Code: 420
Emergency Numbers (24 hours/day):
Police: 158 | Ambulance: 155 | Fire: 150
The CZ is on the European 220VC system, and uses different plugs and outlets. As such, your electric devices (razors, hairdryers, etc.) won�t work without a special adapter. Fortunately, this is inexpensive and is readily available at most travel stores.
Czech food is hearty and filling Leave your diet at home. Start with soup, like goulash or liver dumpling. Main courses can include chicken schniztels, beef and pork roasts or steaks, or stews. Dumplings, made either or potatoes or bread, are a popular side dish. For dessert, have strudel, ice cream, or pastry pockets filled with sweetened cottage cheese. And don't forget the beer. The CZ, home of Pilsner, Tuborg, Carlsberg, and the original Budwiser, arguably makes the best beer in the world.
Legal Status
Prostitution is legal, but pimping and traffickingare not. Local governments don't allow soliciting and communication for the purpose of prostitutionin public, but law enforcement rarely gets involved.
Legalized prostitution takes many forms here. These include:
This term refers to women who work out of their own homes or apartments. They are typically students looking to earn extra money or bored housewives/single women looking for more sexual fulfillment. They normally advertise over the Internet or in the Personals section of newspapers. You call the woman directly over the phone to make the appointment. Note that a working knowledge of the Czech language may be necessary in order to communicate with her over the phone and in person once you arrive at her place.
These women work either independently or for an agency operating our of the larger cities. They typically visit upscale hotels to service well-heeled business travelers. They tend to be very attractive and charge fees at the higher end of the scale. They normally advertise over the Internet or via pamphlets available in certain hotel lobbies. Click here for more information.
Traditional Brothels.
These range from smaller, non-descript establishments in the border towns, to large, ornate, more expensive establishments in the larger cities. These are almost alyways attached to a bar, where you are expected to order drinks for yourself and the lady you've selected before retiring to a private room to conduct business. Prices quoted are usually for half-hour and one-hour sessions in the smaller brothels, one-hour to all-night sessions in the larger brothels.
K5 in Prague is probably the best-known of the Prague establishments. Lotos Club of Prague is also popular.
These women patrol the 2-lane highways outside of the smaller towns to pick up motorists for action either in the motorist's car or in roadside shelters, such as bus stops. When they see you coming, they�ll step closer to the edge of the road so you can get a better look. Some may extend a hand, palm downward, and wave it up and down. This is equivalent to the hitchhiker�s thumb. Prices will normally be one-half to one-third of those charged in the border town brothels (see above). You get what you pay for.
In the downtown areas of larger cities, such as the vicinity of Perlova St. in downtown Prague, streetwalkers (typically of Gypsy descent) will come out after dark. Although prices are cheap, the service will be substandard and often dangerous, as you can expect that these women do not get checked or treated for STDs. Another thing to beware of: pickpockets. These women often pose as sex workers in order to prey on unsuspecting tourists. Your best bet: stay away.
FKK Club.
FKK Prague is the first CZ FKK club styled after the German model.
Other related topics:
In 2003 Czech authorities made sustained raids on some 400 brothels along German-Austrian border for the purpose of combating human trafficking and pimping. Czech government officials these raids because they were concerned about their country's image prior to its entry into the EU.
Some government officials have argued for the outright legalization of prostitution, claiming that it would help them combat human trafficking, pimping, and child prostitution and require legitimate sex workers to get licences and regular health checks.
Prague TV
What's happening in Prague.
US State Department
Travel information for the Czech Republic.
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Defenders of the New York Times, the L.A. Times and the leakers who outed the Terrorist Financing Tracking Program say that the newspaper stories didn't tell the terrorists anything new. But there is a big difference between knowing that we're trying to follow money trails, and knowing how we do it. In that context, this interview with the commander of Israel's Air Force, Maj.-Gen. Eliezer Shkedy, which appeared in today's Jerusalem Post, is interesting. It's a long interview that covers current events in Gaza along with other topics. But these comments are especially relevant to the controversy over our newspapers' unwillingness to keep a secret:
Every three months we try to develop an additional capability. The [terrorists] are behaving in a certain way? How do we need to grapple with that? But I can't go into details. This war is so complex. They are always trying to figure out what we're doing; they adapt to it. I would love to be able to tell the people of Israel what we are doing new to protect them. They'd be proud to hear it. But the moment I make something public, the other side will adapt. So telling the public actually harms my efforts to protect the public.
Liberals stubbornly refuse to acknowledge what is really a very obvious point.
Thanks to reader Joel Goldberg.


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Big strides in crash protection have been made for people riding in passenger vehicles, but the same can't be said for pedestrians. People, after all, don't come with airbags. Now engineers are trying to make vehicles safer for people outside them, too, by adding technology to help drivers avoid hitting pedestrians and design features to soften impacts.
Technology has the potential to avert many of these crashes altogether. Automakers are developing systems to spot pedestrians entering a vehicle's path and to automatically brake if the driver fails to react. One such system already is on the U.S. market (see sidebar), and more are in the works. A new Institute study on pedestrian crashes shows what kind of situations such technology should be equipped to handle. Researchers found the most common scenario involves a person crossing a roadway and a vehicle traveling straight. In most cases, nothing blocks the driver's view of the pedestrian, and no braking is reported. Such crashes usually happen during the day, although most of the fatal ones occur at night.
"The best way to protect pedestrians is to separate them as much as possible from vehicle traffic," says David Zuby, the Institute's chief research officer. "But the paths of walkers and drivers inevitably are going to intersect at some point, and new warning systems, as well as vehicle design changes required in Europe, have the potential to make those meetings less deadly."
Overall highway deaths have fallen to their lowest levels since 1950, and much of the decline in recent years is due to safer vehicles. Pedestrian fatalities have fallen, too, but that may simply be a result of people walking less. Still the death toll remains high: In 2009, 4,092 pedestrians were killed, accounting for 12 percent of all crash fatalities in the United States.
Tried and true methods for reducing pedestrian crashes generally involve roadway design changes. Pedestrians and vehicles can be separated with sidewalks, overpasses, and refuge islands in the middle of busy two-way streets. Better lighting and pedestrian countdown signals can help, as can reducing vehicle speeds and banning right turns on red. But such solutions haven't always been implemented consistently and can't address every risky scenario, which is why technology could play a key role.
Systems aimed at preventing or lessening the severity of pedestrian crashes are an offshoot of a more common type of crash avoidance feature known as forward collision warning. Such systems alert the driver if the vehicle is about to crash with a vehicle ahead of it and, in some cases, apply the brakes automatically if the driver fails to respond. A pedestrian detection system is a forward collision warning system that has been enhanced to recognize not just vehicles, but people too.
Forward collision warning is offered on 19 vehicle makes in 2011 and is one of several crash avoidance features that have been gaining ground. (Others are lane departure warning, side view assist, and adaptive headlights.) The Institute has estimated that as many as 1.2 million crashes, including 879 fatal crashes, could be prevented or mitigated each year if all vehicles were equipped with forward collision warning (see "New estimates of benefits of crash avoidance features on passenger vehicles," May 20, 2010). Pedestrian detection systems could prevent an additional 39,000 crashes, including 2,932 fatal ones, researchers estimate.
As automakers continue to work on this technology, the Institute conducted its latest study to help guide their designs. Looking at federal crash data from 2005-09, researchers found the vast majority of pedestrian crashes involved a single passenger vehicle, and most of those were frontal crashes. Ninety-five percent of people struck by the front of a vehicle and more than three-quarters of those who died were crossing traffic as opposed to walking along the road.
Eight of 10 pedestrians who were killed while crossing traffic, as well as a majority of those who were struck but didn't die, were hit by drivers who were going straight with no visual obstruction. That scenario accounted for a majority of all frontal collisions between passenger vehicles and pedestrians and 61 percent of the fatalities.
Other kinds of crashes were far less common. The second most common one, involving a turning vehicle with no visual obstruction and a person crossing the road, accounted for about a quarter of pedestrians struck by the front of a vehicle and 4 percent of those who died. The second most common type of fatal crash, involving a vehicle going straight with no view obstruction and hitting a person walking in line with traffic, was responsible for 12 percent of pedestrian deaths.
So-called dart-outs, in which a person appears suddenly in the roadway from behind a parked vehicle or other obstruction, were even less common.
Of the cases involving vehicles going straight without view obstruction, drivers hit the brakes in only 13 percent of both fatal and nonfatal impacts. In other words, most drivers who hit pedestrians crossing the roadway apparently never react to what's in front of them. That means pedestrian detection systems have a lot of potential to avert crashes by acting as an extra set of eyes and an extra foot above the brake pedal.
Frontal crashes with single passenger vehicles, 2005-09
Of course, a system that recognizes an impending collision only after the pedestrian is directly in front of the vehicle would hold limited value. The trick is developing technology that can accurately predict when someone is going to step into the path of a vehicle.
"Pedestrians can change course quickly, so just as it can be hard for a driver to know what a person at the curb is going to do, it also can be tricky for a computer," Zuby says. "It's important to get that right because too many false alarms could turn a warning system into an annoyance and make drivers reluctant to accept the new technology."
Another finding relevant to developers of pedestrian detection systems is that three-quarters of people struck were on roads with speed limits of less than 40 mph. Fatalities, however, were more evenly distributed. Roads with speed limits of 30-39 mph, 40-49 mph, and over 49 mph each accounted for more than a quarter of them.
The biggest hurdle for the new technology is how to prevent crashes that occur at night. The systems on the market now rely on light-dependent cameras. Most frontal collisions with pedestrians occur during the day, so these systems could be expected to take a bite out of the overall pedestrian crash problem. But with more than two-thirds of fatalities occurring after dark, significantly cutting pedestrian deaths will require technology that can perform reliably with limited or no light.
Crash avoidance technology is just one aspect of the effort to improve passenger vehicles to protect pedestrians. Another strategy is to modify the fronts of vehicles to lessen the harm they can cause to a person who is struck. New regulations in the European Union are taking this route.
As of September 2010, all passenger vehicles must pass crash tests that assess the risk of injury to an adult's head, a child's head, and adult's knee and lower leg. By September 2015, automakers must comply with a second phase that has stricter standards for the head and leg and also tests the impact that the hood's edge would have on a person's hip.
To meet the new requirements, automakers are putting more room between the hood and engine, designing hoods that automatically raise up a few inches from the engine upon impact, installing hood airbags, hiding hard elements like windshield wipers, and designing softer bumpers for their vehicles sold in Europe. It's too soon to tell whether these changes are reducing pedestrian injuries.
In the United States, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration conducted research from the 1970s through the early 1990s that could have led to similar requirements, but that effort was scuttled (see Status Report special issue: pedestrian injuries, March 13, 1999). The agency never made clear its reasons for abandoning the idea, but the motivation for it likely faded as pedestrian fatalities continued to drop on their own.
Nevertheless, some version of the European tests may come to the U.S. in the future as part of an effort to standardize such regulations across the globe.
The most common crash scenario involves a person crossing a road and a vehicle going straight.In most cases, nothing blocks the driver's view of the pedestrian, and no braking is reported.
Fatal frontal crashes involving passengervehicles and pedestrians, 2 most common scenarios
All frontal crashes involving passenger vehicles and pedestrians, 2 most common scenarios
Predicting when a pedestrian will cross a vehicle's path is a crucial design issue for any new system.
Russ Rader Senior Vice President, Communications
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©1996-2018, Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Highway Loss Data Institute | www.iihs.org
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You are career focused.
We offer personal attention, community partnerships and hands-on learning. Our experienced faculty members work in the fields they teach, so they can impart current knowledge that students can immediately use in their careers.
You are success driven.
At Central Penn, your success is our mission and our numbers prove it. Based on our most recent One-Year Graduate Survey, 84.7% of Central Penn graduates were employed in their chosen field or continuing their education within one year of graduation.
You are concerned about college costs.
We can help. At Central Penn, financial aid is available to those who qualify, including grants, scholarships, loans, and work-study programs. Our financial planning coordinators will guide you every step of the way.
You are goal oriented.
We offer associate, bachelor's and master's degree programs that can put you on the fast track to career success in a wide variety of fields. With classes held year round, you can finish your degree in just three years, plus an internship.
You want to be part of a community.
Central Penn has more than 1,400 diverse students, unique apartment living arrangements instead of dorms, and a true spirit of community. So you will make friends for a lifetime, gain social skills for the real-world career of your choice, and enjoy a quality of life on campus unlike any other. 85% of Central Penn College's faculty and staff donate a portion of their pay to student scholarships.
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Central Penn College is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, 3624 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104 (Ph: 267-284-5000). The Middle States Commission (www.MSCHE.org) on Higher Education is an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.
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From the first time you talk to us, to the day you graduate and beyond, we provide you with the tools you need to excel in your chosen field.


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by Tom Utescher
Germantown Friends School graduated seven members of its 2011 field hockey team, and most of them were three-year varsity players. The success of the 2012 campaign will depend largely on how well the Tigers can blend the newer varsity players in with their returning veterans.
In Friends Schools League competition, every challenger for the title will be trying to get past defending champ Shipley School, which has won the league six of the last seven years. The Tigers, who last claimed the FSL crown in 2003, reached the league semifinals in 2011 and fell to Shipley, which went on to thump Moorestown Friends, 4-0, in the title bout. GFS finished with an overall record of 10-7.
The defensive unit should be the first to gel for Germantown, owing to the number of experienced athletes at that end of the pitch. The team tri-captains are senior backs Cary Anne Kane and Allison O'Connor, and junior Maddie Andrews, the returning starter in goal. The other three seniors on the varsity roster, Lindsay Freed, Lydia Wood, and Rebecca Blaich, are also defenders, as is new varsity addition Emma Newman, a junior.
The rest of the 11th grade contingent play farther up the field. Back from last season are forwards Isabel Ballester and Alex MacBeth and midfielders Katharine Cusick and Dana Schulman. Two other juniors will be joining in this fall; forward Sydney Weigert and mid Veena Advani.
Sophomore defender Sarah Kane was the only freshman last year to become a member of the regular varsity roster. Fellow 10th-grader Ellie Chalphin could add depth to the forward line, but at present she's still recuperating from a pre-season ankle injury.
Coming up from the middle school program, defender Abigail Gard is a freshman who has caught the attention of the coaches.
Back at the helm for GFS is Maribeth Wicoff, who is entering her fourth season with the Tigers. Longtime assistant Dana Griffin will be joined by a new member of the staff, Phoebe Jones, who is originally from the Washington, D.C. area.


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The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) received a complaint about a TV ad for the perfume Coco Mademoiselle, which was shown before the 20th Century Fox film 'Ice Age 2'.
The ad, which was made by Chanel's in-house team, showed the actress being photographed on a bed. The photographer then unzipped her clothes before she undressed herself, exposing her back.
Wrapped in a bed sheet, she crawled towards the photographer and then leant back, after which he leaned in to kiss her. She then put a finger to her lips and said: "Lock the door".
Although the ASA acknowledged that the undressing in the ad took place in the context of a photo shoot, it ruled that the scenes involved "sexually suggestive" content.
As the photographer was directly involved in unzipping the actress's garments and it was suggested she was naked aside from a bed sheet, the ASA found there was "clear sexual tension" between the pair.
The ASA ruled the ad was suitable for older children but that the sexually suggestive material was unsuitable for young children, and so the ad was "inappropriately scheduled" alongside a film with particular appeal to children.
The watchdog ruled that the ad should have an "ex-kids" restriction in future and not be broadcast in its current form in or around programmes with a particular appeal to children.
Follow @MaisieMcCabe


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Islanders website announced 5/15 the club will be hosting a draft party at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum.
John Tavares, Matt Moulson, Matt Martin, Nino Niederreiter, Kevin Poulin, Ryan Strome, Casey Cizikas, Calvin de Haan will be in attendance.
Fans will also have the opportunity to interact with select Islanders alumni.
New York Schedules 2012 Coliseum Draft Party
New York Islander Fan Central | 5/15/2012 03:07:00 PM |
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|Jepson Flora Project: Jepson Interchange
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Jepson Interchange (more information)
©Copyright 1993 by the Regents of the University of California
Annual to tree
Leaves simple to pinnately to palmately compound, generally alternate; stipules free to fused, persistent to deciduous
Inflorescence: cyme, raceme, panicle, or flowers solitary
Flower generally bisexual, radial; hypanthium free or fused to ovary, saucer- to funnel-shaped, often with bractlets alternate with sepals; sepals generally 5; petals generally 5, free; stamens (0)5many, pistils (0)1many, simple or compound; ovary superior to inferior, styles 15
Fruit: achene, follicle, drupe, pome, or blackberry- to raspberry-like
Seeds generally 15
Genera in family: 110 genera, ± 3000 species: worldwide, especially temp. Many cultivated for ornamental and fruit, especially Cotoneaster , Fragaria , Malus , Prunus , Pyracantha, Rosa , and Rubus
Reference: [Robertson 1974 J Arnold Arbor 55:303332,344401,611662]
Family description, key to genera by Barbara Ertter and Dieter H. Wilken.
Annual to shrub; odor resinous or 0
Leaves generally basal, odd-1-pinnate to 1-palmate or 1-ternate; leaflets ± toothed or lobed, terminal generally ± = lateral
Inflorescence: cyme, generally ± open; pedicels generally ± straight
Flower: hypanthium ± shallow; bractlets 5; sepals generally 5, ± triangular; petals generally 5, generally = or > sepals, generally ± widely obcordate, generally yellow; stamens generally 20; pistils generally many, styles generally jointed near tip
Fruit: achene
Species in genus: 200500 species: n temp
Etymology: (Latin: diminutive of powerful, for reputed medicinal value)
Reference: [Clausen, Keck, & Hiesey 1940 Carn Inst Wash Pub 520:26195]
P. anglica Laicharding is a waif from cultivated: stem trailing; pedicels 28 cm, slender; sepals and petals generally 4; leaflets 35.
Plant tufted from short, thick rhizome; glands generally 0 or hidden
Stem ± ascending, generally 20100 cm, strigose to spreading-hairy
Leaves palmate; basal generally 630 cm, leaflets generally 57, central leaflet ± oblanceolate, toothed or lobed ± throughout, hairy especially below
Inflorescence fewmany-flowered
Flower: hypanthium generally 35 mm wide; petals generally 410 mm; filaments 1.52.5 mm, anthers 0.61.6 mm; styles 1.52 mm, slender
Fruit 11.5 mm, smooth, light brown
Chromosomes: 2n=52109
Ecology: Common. Meadows, open forests
Elevation: 1203500 m.
Bioregional distribution: Northwestern California (except sw), Cascade Range, High Sierra Nevada, Tehachapi Mountain Area, Transverse Ranges, Peninsular Ranges, Great Basin Floristic Province
Distribution outside California: w N.America
Variation complex; many but not all plants are assignable to the following extremes.


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Here you'll find relevant information about common pests we deal with everyday.
Abell's approach at Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is all about controlling pests in the safest, most efficient manner possible. That starts with properly identifying the pest you are dealing with. Here you will find descriptions on the most common pests people call us about. If you're uncertain about a pest you've found in or around your home or business, you can find more information here. If you can't identify the pest you have, Abell has entomologists on staff that can identify pests from around the world.
Carpenter ants can cause extensive damage to your home, burrowing through wood, window frames and even structural supports.
Learn More »
House Flies are not just a nuisance, but they can also transport disease-causing organisms. Excessive fly populations are not only an irritant but when there are nearby human habitations, a public health problem could occur.
Bed bugs are gray to reddish-brown in colour, are oval and flat, and are approximately 1 to 5 mm (1/16" to 3/16") in size.
Rats attack the food of man in the farm fields, orchards, and livestock facilities, during its processing, storage and transport.
All cockroaches increase the risk of cross-contamination yet they are still a very common pest.
The house mouse is dusty grey in colour and measures from 110 to 150 mm in length with large ears and small eyes.
Ticks are one of the most well-known pests related to illness - Lyme disease. Tiny, small, black and blood-sucking pests, these ticks can really take a toll on one's health.
Ants feed on practically every kind of food but those entering homes are often looking for sweets and/or protein-containing substances.
More than a dozen pathogenic bacteria have been found on pharaoh ants and they can spread these into your food.
The slim, winged body measures 10 to 19 mm (l/2" to 3/4"). All wasp species have chewing mouth parts and the females possess a stinger.
Some kinds of fleas transmit diseases such as bubonic plague, endemic typhus and tularemia to humans.
The deer mouse is the most abundant and widely distributed mouse in North America.
Centipedes are yellowish to dark brown. They range in size from 1/8" to 6 inches in length
Millipedes are brown or black but can also be orange or red. They range in size from 5/8" to 4 inches in length.
The larvae of carpet beetles may cause serious damage to materials of animal origin such as wool, fur, hair and feathers.
They are large and resemble bumblebees, but their abdomen is smooth and shiny black.
Clothes moths have world wide distribution and are found throughout Canada and the United States.
The name "blow fly" comes from an older English term for meat that had eggs laid on it, which was said to be fly blown.
Adult cluster flies can often be seen sunning themselves on stumps of trees and sides of houses in autumn before they hibernate.
Wild fruit flies have brick red eyes, are yellow-brown in colour, and have transverse black rings across their abdomen.
If present in large numbers, the earwig may damage flowers, fruits, and vegetables.
They like moist locations and are found under objects on damp ground, as well as under vegetable debris of all kinds.
They may be brought into homes in cardboard cartons, books or papers, that have come from infested areas.
Spiders are found commonly throughout North America. About twelve different species are commonly found in homes. Spiders have two body regions, connected by a restricted waist.
Raccoons may weigh between 4.5 and 13.5 kg (10 and 30 lb.), or more, and can grow between 61 and 91 cm (24 and 36 in.)
They are represented by four species in North America. and are primarily known for emitting a foul smelling odor during times of distress.
Stored product pests are found living in dried products such as dried fruits, spices, flour, bran, peas, dried vegetables, dried flowers, grain, cereal products, dog food, nuts, candy, macaroni and other similar products.
The general public's affection towards birds translates into a serious underestimation of the health risks associated with pest birds.
Most people are familiar with seeing pigeons around farm yards, parks, city buildings, bridges and other structures.
The bottle fly appears larger than the common house fly and typically prefers shade, which compels the pest to enter homes occasionally.
Phorid flies can often be identified by their escape habit of running rapidly across a surface rather than taking to the air.
Mosquitoes are common insects throughout most of the world. Their requirement for a blood meal for egg development makes them potential vectors of disease.
Say goodbye to ants, spiders, mice or any other pest in your home or business. Guaranteed!
Copyright © 2013 Abell Group of Companies


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HOUGHTON, Mich. (AP) — Lottery officials say a Mega Millions ticket that's worth $19 million has been sold at a store in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.
The Michigan Lottery says the sole winning ticket for Tuesday evening's drawing was sold at Festival Foods in Houghton.
The winning numbers drawn were two, five, 10, 26 and 44. The Mega Ball number was 46.
There's no immediate word from the Michigan Lottery about the identity of the ticket buyer. The jackpot for Friday's drawing now drops to $12 million.


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Phil's Fonts has over 100,000 fonts from 75 foundries worldwide. Not every font we have is displayed on this website. If you can't find what you're looking for here, there is still a chance we have the font. You can fax or email samples to our top notch font ID team to help you find the font or fonts that you need. Fax number is 301-879-9227, or email us here: firstname.lastname@example.com
Available Format(s): OpenType (OTF) | OpenType (TTF)
Foundry: Three Islands Press | SKU: TP000018X1 | View License | D = Immediate Download
With its eight type styles and chockablock character set, Pumpkinseed ranks among the few truly casual typefaces with an industrial-strength, multi-purpose feel. Its name, by the way, comes from the distinctively oblong shapes of certain counters and the dots of the period, ellipsis, and other glyphs (heavier styles), although we're happy also to honor the little sunfish by that name. Pumpkinseed has four weights -- Light, Medium, Heavy, and Black -- with oblique styles of each. All versions come with a full character set; the OpenType release adds true small caps, old-style and lining figures, numerous ligatures, and support for Central and Eastern European languages.


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Brownlow Medal race shaping as a classic with Ablett, Franklin and Heppell in the frame
It's been 43 years since football last boasted a triple Brownlow medallist, and when Gary Ablett's season ended seven weeks ago you would have taken very short odds on that number becoming 44.
That, however, was before this year's prize for the AFL's best-and-fairest player threatened to become known as the "Bradbury Brownlow", such is the toll being taken on the competition's prize assets.
And the result appears that Ablett's quest for a big slice of football history is back on. In some betting markets, Ablett's price actually shortened over the weekend after a couple of other fancies bit the dust.
Collingwood skipper Scott Pendlebury didn't even make it to the starting line on Saturday night because of a corkie. And earlier on, Sydney midfield workhorse Josh Kennedy was subbed out in the second quarter with hamstring trouble.
We've already seen much discussion about the possibility of a third ineligible player topping the vote count on Brownlow night after Nat Fyfe's unfortunate two-game suspension in round two for an accidental head clash with Gold Coast's Michael Rischitelli.
You could look at the casualty list and on a superficial level wonder whether the 2014 medal might end up looking a little less-lustrous than its predecessors. The reality, however, is that this year's Brownlow win might indeed be one for the ages.
If Ablett gets over the line with enough votes racked up from 15 games, no winner will have taken out the medal having played fewer games since that last triple medallist, Ian Stewart, played just 14 to win his first in 1965. And Stewart's rivals, remember, in a shorter season could play no more than 18.
But if Ablett doesn't get there, it doesn't mean we're not going to see someone remarkable stepping up on the Brownlow stage. Particularly if it happens to be a certain big-name key forward from Sydney.
The "midfielders' medal" knock on the Brownlow has been pretty hard to argue with given the last player to win one without having spent the vast bulk of their game time around the centre square was Essendon back-pocket Gavin Wanganeen in 1993.
But Lance Franklin's nine-goal haul against St Kilda on Saturday cut his price to $15, behind only Joel Selwood, Ablett, Pendlebury, Kennedy, Dyson Heppell and Matt Priddis.
"Buddy" would be the first key forward to win the medal since Tony Lockett in 1987. It's not encouraging history, but then Franklin is hardly your orthodox key forward.
Not only has he kicked five goals or more in a game five times this season, four times he's managed multiple goals plus swags of 20-plus disposals. With Franklin, the umpires are seeing a lot more than just mark and kick.
Franklin finished four votes behind the winner in 2008 (although ineligible) when he won the Coleman Medal with 102 goals. But he's won more of the ball this season than then, laid a lot more tackles and, if anything, is an even more conspicuous presence given his gifts and lofty status have been uppermost in the umpires' minds for 10 years now.
And another big mover in the Brownlow market over the weekend would provide another great story as well.
Essendon's Dyson Heppell now sits behind only Selwood, Ablett, Pendlebury and Kennedy in the betting. Of that quartet, Kennedy is the least experienced, in his seventh season of AFL football and with 131 games under his belt.
Heppell, only 22, is in his fourth season and his best-on-ground performance against West Coast on Saturday was only his 82nd game.
To put it in context, Chris Judd, who won his first medal with West Coast in 2004 after only 68 games, is the only Brownlow winner since 1996, when the still-young pair of Michael Voss and James Hird won the award, to have played less than at least 90 games.
Heppell was the AFL's Rising Star in 2011, finished top three in the Bombers' best and fairest in both 2012 and last year, but in 2014 has clearly gone to another level.
When skipper Jobe Watson went over against Greater Western Sydney in round 12, the call went out for his support midfielders to go up a cog. Heppell has, now averaging 28.4 disposals a game and only once in those 10 games has had fewer than 22.
No game in that period underlined Heppell's continued growth better than Saturday's, when he was effectively curtailed by West Coast's Mark Hutchings in the first half, held to just 10 possessions, but cut loose in the second to pick up another 29 and drag his team over the line.
A triple Brownlow medallist who missed a third of the season? A key forward whose high-profile transfer to a second club was being questioned only a few months ago? A young man who won't reach the 100-game milestone until late next year?
All would be unusual and terrific Brownlow Medal tales in a season in which, even when it comes to individual honours, there's been more than odd departure from the accepted script.
You won't find this column claiming that umpiring decisions determine the outcome of games. But while I think the umpiring is generally tracking well enough in 2014, the flaws still need to be identified.
And perhaps there may be one creeping into officiating not only on the ground, but up in the box as well. Certainly if you took at least three instances on the weekend of officials, let's say, exceeding their brief.
The first, and most controversial, was Brendan Hosking's decision as non-controlling umpire to award a free kick to Geelong's Allen Christensen in the dying stages of the Cats' nail-biter over Carlton.
While allowing the umpire not in control of play to call a free kick has helped pick up plenty of previously undetected infringements, the convention has been that they need to be pretty blatant breaches.
Umpires' coach Hayden Kennedy has already conceded Carlton's Sam Docherty's contact with Christensen didn't warrant a free kick. But you'd hope he'll also be telling his men that if they're going to blow the whistle from outside your zone, it needs to be for something far more obvious.
Just as puzzling were a couple of score review decisions, namely those to overturn a goal from Essendon's Brendon Goddard, and one from Adelaide's Rory Sloane.
In the first case, the vision didn't appear to indicate the ball had crossed the goal line before Goddard pulled it back. And in the second, a dozen-odd replays of Sloane's snap didn't reveal any conclusive evidence it had brushed the goalpost.
Conclusive is the key word here. And none of these examples were anything like the sort. Let's not get too trigger happy on the line-ball calls, guys.
There's been many times over his 12-year AFL career that Essendon veteran Jason Winderlich might have contemplated pulling the pin.
But it still came as a comparative surprise when he announced he was doing just that the other week. And it's also a decision the Bombers must be thinking long and hard about attempting to reverse. Winderlich has run the gamut of injuries, a serious back problem, a knee reconstruction, a long catalogue of soft tissue complaints.
But he's still only 29, and his performance as the ''go-to'' man in a rejigged Bomber forward set-up on Saturday underlined just how important are not only his natural ability, but football smarts.
If the Dons manage to make the eight and win a final, Winderlich could finish the season with his equal second-highest game tally of those dozen seasons. And while Essendon has decent talent on its list, it has few if any players with a better football brain, something increasingly at a premium in the AFL.
Rohan Connolly, a senior football writer for The Age and radio broadcaster with sports radio station 1116 SEN, has been covering the game since 1983. A multi-AFL Media Association award-winner known for his passion and love of the game, he analyses the AFL for the newspaper and contributes a blog and weekly video, "Footy Fix", for The Age's football website, Real Footy.


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The value of the collateral securing the loan is a significant risk factor in real estate lending, so it is essential for banks to have adequate appraisal and evaluation programs in place. Appraisals are professional judgments of the market value of real property based on a variety of market factors. You will find the standards for real estate lending and associated activities by national banks in Real Estate Lending and Appraisals (12 CFR 34)
Learn More
Interagency Appraisal and Evaluation Guidelines: OCC 2010-42 (December 10, 2010)
Real Estate Lending: Interagency Advisory on the Use of Evaluations in Real Estate-Related Financial Transactions (OCC 2016-8, March 2016), Interagency Advisory (PDF)
Appraisal Regulations and the Interagency Statement on Independent Appraisal and Evaluation Functions (OCC 2005-6, March 2005), FAQ
Appraisals: Affordable Housing Loans and Market Value (OCC 1995-16, March 1995), Interagency Statement
Part 34: Real Estate Lending, Appraisals (OCC 1996-22, April 1996), Final Rule (Federal Register 1996)
Real Estate Appraisals (OCC 1994-37, June 1994), Final Rule (Federal Register June 7, 1994)
Residential Tract Development Lending (OCC 2005-32, September 2005), FAQ


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SOURCE: South Beach Smoke
December 22, 2012 08:00 ET
MIAMI, FL--(Marketwire - December 22, 2012) - Madonna was caught on video in complete shock while fans smoked in the crowd during a sound check for her Santiago, Chile concert on December 20, 2012.
"There are people smoking right now. No smoking!" she said. "If you're going to smoke cigarettes, I'm not doing a show. You don't care about me? I don't care about you. All right? Are we going to play that game? I'm not kidding. I can't sing if you smoke."
Her rants seemed to go in one ear, and out the other, while smokers continued to puff.
"You're looking right at me and smoking cigarettes, like I'm a stupid idiot," she continued.
According to TMZ, Madonna's final plea was enough to get the smokers to put out their cigs and let her continue with her performance.
Maybe next time her fans should try bringing a South Beach Smoke electronic cigarette to the show. A South Beach Smoke e-Cig contains no tobacco, smoke, tar or carcinogens -- the most detrimental components of standard cigarettes. This means, not only can smokers enjoy the experience they crave but, they can do so without the life threatening side effects and secondhand smoke intruding on others.
"We admire Madonna for her bold statements! Sometimes fans need their nicotine fix, so at least with an e-Cig the fans get their fix but the people around them don't have to be bothered with an awful smell or secondhand smoke," said a representative from South Beach Smoke.
The South Beach Smoke Electronic Cigarette Deluxe Starter Kit comes equipped with an electronic cigarette standard ion battery and an extra capacity battery, five nicotine cartridges, and a portable wall charger. The kit is built with superior 2-part technology of battery and atomizer and cartridges and filter. The battery and atomizer ensure a satisfying smoking experience that produces 250 puffs per charge. The nicotine cartridges produce maximum vapor after each and every puff. The nicotine cartridges come in 10 delicious flavors such as, Classic Tobacco, Tobacco Blue, Tobacco Golden, Menthol, Peppermint, Vanilla, Chocolate, Cherry, Peach and Piña Colada. Each set of cartridges are also available in four nicotine strengths: Full Flavored (18mg), Light (12mg), Ultra-Light (6mg) and No Nicotine.
As a leading provider of electronic cigarettes, and consistently ranked #1 on numerous review sites, South Beach Smoke's products are high quality, affordable and customer service is a top priority. For more information about purchasing a starter kit, visit
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simatec is a Swiss family-owned company that operates internationally. Since 1983, our motivated employees have been developing and creating innovative products for maintaining roller bearings under the brand names simalube, simatherm and simatool.
We at simatec focus on delivering direct customer benefits: novel technologies allow us to simplify complex operations and reduce the level of maintenance required on thousands of machines the world over.
Cookies are required for an unrestricted use of the simatec website. Some of these cookies require your express consent. Please expressly agree to the use of cookies in order to be able to use the full functionality of this website. Learn more in our data protection declaration


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A slightly different take on a tradition wedding band. This 14k yellow gold band features 6 natural round diamonds that are individually set in pave setting. Lots of brilliance and shine thanks to 0.30 ctw SI2-I2 clarity and HI color diamonds!
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Election Day 2012 – Readers Poll
Country singers are becoming more and more vocal about who they'll choose on Election Day. Sara Evans likes Mitt Romney. Trace Adkins agrees. Natalie Maines of the Dixie Chicks is voting for Barack Obama, while Ronnie Dunn seems to be on the fence. Who will you vote for today, Election Day 2012?
This race promises to be the closest in America's history, with many predicting voters won't know who won until weeks after the polls close. We could be wrong, but if there is a tie, the Constitution states that Taste of Country readers will decide who will hold the office come January 2013. Maybe we read that wrong...
Feel free to share your expanded opinions in the comments section below, but please, be respectful of others.


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Chicken Drumstick Recipes
View All | View Summaries
Honey Garlic Chicken Drumsticks (Barbecue Chicken Drummettes)
07.28.10 by Jackie
Chicken drumsticks are great party food. They are easy to make and everyone, including my little munchkin, loves to nibble on them while having a conversation.
This time around, I seasoned the chicken with a dry rub, then grilled the drumsticks on the barbecue and glazed the chicken until fully cooked. I also used both dried and fresh thyme to flavor the chicken. Our garden is over-flowing with lemon thyme, so I used a food dehydrator my father-in-law gave to me as a birthday present and dried several trays. When dried, herbs have a much stronger flavor, and I'll be able to use the thyme well into November.
The chicken drumsticks were tender and sweet with a crunchy skin. Get grilling, and enjoy some yourself!
Full Recipe...


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Blue Ridge School is a college preparatory school for boys in grades nine through twelve. The School caters to young men who respond well to small classes, a structured academic routine, and faculty support. The student who has requested your assistance has applied for admission to Blue Ridge School. Your candid observations will help the Admissions Committee evaluate the appropriateness of Blue Ridge School for the applicant. This review will remain confidential and will not become part of the student's permanent record. Thank you for your help in this important process.


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I am joining in a little late here - but I thought I'd add my 2 cents
worth. You guys seem to be having too much fun.
First of all, in a reasonably well designed enclosure your shield had
better be as close to a "spice node 0" as you can get or you won't pass
radiated emissions. At the open field site cables or wires(exiting the box)
which have a voltage differential relative to chassis will radiate. It only
takes something on the order of 1 mv to put you at the FCC A limit.
Knowing this, your friendly EMC engineer has referenced various logic
ground points near I/O to the chassis (like near the wire I mentioned
above). Knowing where to short chassis and ground is key here. Now chassis
and ground are now very close to the same potential( at that point), but
power is very noisy relative to them. If that power comes too close to a
trace leading to the wire exiting the box it couples and radiates. I have
had this happen with 100BaseT differential pairs. We fixed the radiated
emissions failure by doing nothing other than cutting back the power plane
in that area.
Another way of saying this is that the EMC engineer who has shorted chassis
to ground a various points has made ground preferential. In your example of
a laptop they may have done a good enough pcb layout that they don't have a
full chassis, but they do have a metal I/O panel for their cables and they
have bolted it to the ground plane.
In a different product the edge of the power plane was very closely coupled
to a card guide that was not well grounded to the card. Even though the
power plane was cut back 20h we were having emissions problems related to
the power plane. The emissions went away when we completely sealed the
power within the ground planes by connecting the top ground plane to the
bottom ground plane along that edge of the card with copper tape. The
original board had the ground planes stitched together every 0.2" along
that edge. That was not good enough.
John Lockwood
Juniper Networks
At 02:10 PM 5/26/99 -0700, you wrote:
>Michael - You are correct that there will be fringing fields between
>power planes at the edges of a PCB. My major point is that neither the
>Vdd plane nor the Gnd plane is preferential. They are both power
>planes that have a differential voltage between them. If they are in a
>laptop computer, one plane could easily have 1000V and the other plane
>1003.3V WRT earth ground, especially if I walk around on a carpeted
>floor while holding it.
>There is no "spice node 0" even in systems that are tied to earth
>ground with a copper telephone pole driven into the earth and connected
>to the frame with a 2 inch bus bar. The impedance of the earth ground
>connection is still much higher than the impedance between power
>Every voltage measured in a digital system is measured differentially
>WRT some other point in the digital system. Single ended oscilloscope
>probes measure the difference in the voltage between the measurement
>point and the point where you attach the probe ground. (We have to be
>a little careful of ground loop currents but they are usually much
>lower frequency than the frequencies we care about.)
>Even in well grounded systems, I don't think there is any preference
>between the Vdd and Gnd plane at high frequencies, so I am not sure
>which plane to make 20-H larger than the other plane.
>But let's take a closer look at the fields at the plane edges. At
>every xy location of the power planes, a differential voltage could be
>measured. At low frequency, you get the same measurement at every
>location. At higher frequencies where the board size is significant
>compared to the wavelength, you begin to get different voltages
>depending on the xy location of the measurement.
>One particularly interesting frequency is the one where 1/2 wavelength
>fits into the length of the board (250 MHz for a 12 inch FR4 board...
>hmmm, pretty close to where I live...). This is a cavity resonance,
>boundary value problem. We know that the current in the copper planes
>is zero at the edge of the board (open circuit), therefor the voltage
>fields are at a maximum. Going back to a transmission line analogy for
>a 1/2 wavelength resonator, we know that the differential current
>(difference between the current in the Vdd plane and Gnd plane) in the
>middle of the board is at a maximum and the differential voltage is 0.
>This explains why power planes have resonant peaks at frequencies
>associated with 1/2, 1, 3/2, 2... wavelengths. The differential
>voltage at the power plane edges will be maximum at those frequencies
>and the differential current will be 0 (edge of the board). Istvan
>Novak has done some interesting work in terminating the edges of these
>power planes in order to stop the resonances.
>If the edges are not terminated or damped by some other means, we
>have potential EMI issues from voltages and currents on the power
>planes. Suppose we make one plane larger than the other. The current
>stops at the edge of the smaller plane. The larger plane sees a major
>impedance discontinuity at the edge of the smaller plane, but some
>current keeps going to the edge of the larger plane. It is _not_
>differential current. It is a one way current whose return path is
>displacement current in the FR4 or air.
>A voltage is developed at the edge of the larger plane that is not
>balanced by a voltage on a nearby plane. In fact, the nearest
>reference is 20H away instead of 1H. We have just changed nice
>differential currents and voltages on a set of well behaved power
>planes into common mode voltages and currents. Not a good thing to do
>if we are trying to prevent EMI.
>Larry Smith
>Sun Microsystems
>> From: Michael E Vrbanac <[email protected]>
>> Subject: Re: [SI-LIST] : 20-H Rule for Power Planes
>> To: [email protected]
>> Date: Tue, 25 May 1999 18:50:40 -0700 (PDT)
>> Cc: [email protected] (Michael E Vrbanac)
>> MIME-Version: 1.0
>> Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
>> Larry,
>> Interesting proposition....
>> The fields do exist and have been shown to be troublesome whether you
>> believe in the rule or not.
>> Judging from the assumptions that you have presented, you certainly
>> could have a bigger problem than fringing field radiation/coupling. You
>> probably won't need to worry about the 20H rule. That indeed won't be
>> the bigger issue in that case.
>> Which brings me back to the point I mentioned earlier... it depends
>> on "the design criteria"... "how much", how you implement your system
>> design, etc.
>> BTW, the plane that is larger in the 20H rule is the one connected to
>> system reference. For folks who do not reference planes to the system
>> reference, then the rule is not usable. The fringing field will
>> remain uncontrolled (the 20H rule applied in the PCB would be pointless
>> as the whole board assembly now becomes the energized element in the
>> "planar structure" generating the fringing field) and other
>> methods/intervention must be used to alleviate any problems arising
>> from the situation.
>> re: differential circuits, common mode current, et al
>> I think one would be hard pressed to define the typical digital signal
>> as purely differential unless the driver/receiver and transmission line
>> constructs are specifically built that way. The last time I looked,
>> most of that is "single ended or unbalanced" and not "differential
>> or balanced".
>> re: common mode radiation
>> The basic model for common mode radiation is an "energized element"
>> against a ground reference which typically happens when cable shields
>> aren't grounded to chassis and signal grounds do not have low
>> impedance attachments to the system reference (i.e. chassis)... hence
>> my comment above that the situation for a system like this does not
>> need to worry about the 20H rule in a PCB as a primary problem... it will
>> likely have more serious electromagnetically related issues elsewhere.
>> I will concede that controlling those issues in such a case is
>> possible but certainly more difficult and oftentimes more expensive.
>> Regards,
>> Michael E. Vrbanac
>> >
>> > I don't believe in the "20-H Rule". Suppose the power plane was at
>> > 3.3V and the ground plane was at 0V. It would be easy to reconfigure
>> > the system so that the "power" plane is at 0 volts and the"ground"
>> > plane is at -3.3V. Does this mean that the power plane should now be
>> > bigger than the ground plane?
>> >
>> > The only difference between the power and ground plane is that one is a
>> > 0V and the other 3.3V WRT (...thats with respect to, lest I start
>> > another discussion...) earth ground. But even this is not true in a
>> > battery operated system. In any modern digital system, the impedance
>> > between the power and ground plane is much less than 1 ohm well into
>> > the EMI frequencies.
>> >
>> > The ground plane probably has a path out to frame ground and eventually
>> > earth ground somewhere. But if that path is more than an inch long, it
>> > is going to be well over 10 nH. Ten nH is 1 Ohm at 15 MHz (Z=jwL) and
>> > higher impedance at higher frequencies. So, above 15 MHz, the voltage
>> > between the power and ground planes is insignificant compared to the
>> > voltage across the earth ground connection.
>> >
>> > The power and ground planes should be exactly the same size. To make
>> > one larger than the other will simply have the effect of turning nice
>> > diffential currents into common mode current and common mode
>> > radiation.
>> >
>> > regards,
>> > Larry Smith
>> > Sun Microsystems
>> >
>> >
>> > > From: Mark Freeman <[email protected]>
>> > > To: "'[email protected]'" <[email protected]>
>> > > Subject: [SI-LIST] : 20-H Rule for Power Planes
>> > > Date: Tue, 25 May 1999 10:09:37 -0700
>> > > MIME-Version: 1.0
>> > > Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
>> > >
>> > > Now and again I come across references to the "20-H Rule" for reducing
>> > power planes. This rule states that the power plane should be smaller
>> > plane; The power plane edges should be back from the power plane a
>> > the plane spacing. This reduces fringing fields from the power plane
>> > coupling to adjacent planes and free space.
>> > >
>> > > Best I can tell, this rule originated with Mike King. The earliest
>reference I
>> > is Mark Montrose's "Printed Circuit Board Design Techniques for EMC
>> > 26. I have not found any numbers - analytical, simulation or
measurement -
>> > indicate the effectiveness of this technique over frequency.
Intuition (a
>> > thing for this digital designer to rely upon) tells me that the
>of the
>> > fringing fields are small, thus only affecting GHz-range signals. Is
>> > currently only of interest to cell 'phone designers, or do we need to
>> > this technique to digital PBW design?
>> > >
>> > >
>> > > Mark Freeman
>> > > [email protected]
>> > > Stratos Product Development, LLC
>> > >
>> > >
>> > >
>> > > **** To unsubscribe from si-list: send e-mail to
>[email protected]sun.com. In
>> > BODY of message put: UNSUBSCRIBE si-list, for more help, put HELP.
>> > are accessible at http://www.qsl.net/wb6tpu/si-list ****
>> > >
>> >
>> >
>> > **** To unsubscribe from si-list: send e-mail to
>[email protected] In
>the BODY of message put: UNSUBSCRIBE si-list, for more help, put HELP.
>archives are accessible at http://www.qsl.net/wb6tpu/si-list ****
>> >
>> >
>> **** To unsubscribe from si-list: send e-mail to
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AirAsia to offer new energy drink on-board
Sepang, April 30, 2013
AirAsia, a leading global low-cost carrier, has announced the launch of EQ8, a brand-new energy drink, on-board all its flights, starting May 1.
The delicious lightly sparkling orange and passion fruit flavoured drink revitalises and gives an energy lift as it contains fruit juices and natural energising ingredients which includes guarana, green tea and herbal extracts, a statement from the airline company said.
This drink which originates from the UK will serve as the perfect 'pick-me-up' for guests in the flight. It is available for purchase on-board all Malaysia AirAsia flights (airline code AK) at RM6 ($1.9) per 250ml can.
Ishsal Ishak, group head of ancillary income, AirAsia, said: "AirAsia will be the first airline in the region to distribute EQ8 and we are glad to be able to offer all our guests a new choice in our in-flight drinks menu selection." – TradeArabia News Service


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Female Kicker's NFL Tryout Lasts All Of 2 Kicks [VIDEO]
Lauren Silberman's NFL tryout has lasted all of two kicks, neither of which traveled 20 yards.
Silberman is the first woman to compete at an NFL regional scouting combine. She is 28 years old and played club soccer at Wisconsin.
She left the Jets' practice field after injuring her quadriceps. She tried two kickoffs, the first going 19 yards and the second about 13 yards. She then asked to see a trainer.
As more than two dozen media, including E! Entertainment network, watched her every move, Silberman was examined by a trainer. About 30 minutes later, while 36 other kickers continued their workouts, she called the scene "surreal."
Silberman left the complex soon after that.
(Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved)


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I think translating all this gender issues is hard, of course its a mistake but some Berserk fans are overreacting about this.
Knowing all this, don't you think that the Sovereign of the Flower Storm name should belong to a Queen instead of a King?
The other interesting reveal was the weight elemental, I guess it's some kind of Gravity particle that affect more in the outside world. There might be interesting mechanics between the Od and this elemental but we don't know until we learn more about it.
Hmmm, I'm probably reaching here, but I think we have a new candidate for the woman on Skull Knight's horse's armor.
the fucking comedy with Puck's brothers and him as "the King" was fantastic, especially since we'd already been jokingly speculating about the possibility (Miura played us like fiddles =).
Also, really digging the "Elf Queen" design, and it begs the question... is Griffith a ripoff and created as a sort of evil analog or equivalent to her?
Anyway, in this moment I have a special thought for Dark Horse's translator and his exceptionally stupid decision to create the mistranslated monstrosity that is "Hanabufuku King". Have fun explaining to the readers that it's really "Queen of the Flower Storm".
Hehe, yeah reaching quite a bit here I think. Or then not a very faithful representation.
Yeah I'm really glad he went all the way with that actually. It definitely feels like a gentle poke in the ribs to the inevitable theories that sprouted up during all those years about Puck secretly being the Elf King.
You know what, I actually had the same thought, specifically because of her flower garments. They're reminiscent of the feather pattern somehow, and with the hair and the rest... I don't know, I wonder if there isn't an intentional kind of symmetry to it.
I wonder what are those tall, sinister looking creatures in background ( they remind me of gilians from bleach ) with white elongated noses/face. There's also some kind of goblin-esque type of small humanoinds and what seems like dryads to me.
Edit: I think these might be our dwarves, they have different tools and long hats
We also clearly see the dwarves talking with Azan on Page 7.
Furthermore, Rochine's design is similar. She wanted to be the Queen of the Elves even though she'd never seen such a being, but her design isn't far from the real thing.
So after much brow-furrowing (just like the Puck family), it is hereby decreed that the most accurate title for the Elf Queen is: Sovereign of the Flower Storm.It's a mouthful, I know, but it's what best conveys the proper meaning of it.
Btw, this is probably talked about a long time ago (I'm pretty sure), but does Puck from the comedy count as inspiration for our little elf in Berserk as well?
Anyone else think that the gender of the Sovereign of the Flower Storm will help in Casca's recovery? For example, in terms of the rape and Casca's feelings etc.
Schierke's guess about the boy was based on very general information though, so it wasn't a specific indication of what kind of avatar the Elf ...Leader... can take. Especially since her assumption about the boy is mistaken.
Thanks for the summary! I read through it a tad and one thing that has my interest is "the element of weight". Just for clarification, would I be correct in assuming it is related with gravity?
I'm reminded of Miura's take on the Garden of Earthly Delights on episode 306, this time presenting what feels like a much more lighthearted and friendly march here.
even though Isma may not be a proper astral creature or elf
I find it really crafty from Miura's part how he's able to keep firmly rooted to a lot of the source inspiration while not feeling necessarily limited by it. A lot of the fantasy content feels very close to a lot of folk-tale sources, yet in some ways it also feels like its own thing. My impression of course.
Relating to that, it's interesting to see Miura keeping the tradition of centaurs being male gendered (at least all the ones we have seen in this episode). Makes for an interesting counterpart to the, at least so far, all female merrows.


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A Curious Home needed a new logo design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 165 designs submitted by 28 freelance designers.
A Curious Home
We are experienced internet entrepreneurs who are creating a place on the web where you can ask and find answers to all of the hundreds of things you need to do at home, in the kitchen, and in the garden. Think Martha Stewart meets Yahoo Answers or stackoverflow.com. We are passionate about maintaining a warm home, spend a lot of time in the kitchen, and love gardening. We think there are many others like this, and even more that need pin-point answers to specific problems.
Our target audience are women and men from 30-45, married, with kids, who are smart, sophisticated, internet savvy, and well-read. They watch Mad Men, love Alice Waters, watch Oprah (guiltily), and care about their home and the lifestyle they are creating for their family. They have nice furniture, like mixing old and new pieces, grow their own tomatoes, and watch the Food Network.
We need a logo for the website. The website will be based on the Stack Overflow platform, like: stackoverflow.com, superuser.com, and serverfault.com. A following project will be to create CSS for the site that matches the logo.
The logo should be smart and sophisticated. It should make the site look bigger and better than it is. It should be current.
I hesitate to give too much direction as this space has lots of good examples that are all very different, e.g.:
the seed packets on this page: http://www.botanicalinterests.com/s…lect=20002
The files we will require are:
Web file format - .jpg and layered .psd (RGB) and B&W
Print file format - .ai (CMYK)
Please do not use any stock images or clip art in the logo
Find out how a design contest works or learn more about our logo design services.


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ADDISON COUNTY — The sponsors of the annual Legislative Breakfast series have announced two changes to this year's schedule of weekly gatherings of Addison County lawmakers and residents.
The Feb. 11 breakfast scheduled for 7 a.m. in Bristol at the American Legion has been changed to a noon luncheon that will feature an appearance by Gov. Peter Shumlin. Also, the previously announced March 11 Governor's Luncheon scheduled for the Bridport Grange Hall has been changed to a 7 a.m. breakfast to be held at the Whiting Town Hall.
The Bridport Grange No. 303 and Addison County Farm Bureau will kick of the 2013 legislative breakfast series next Monday, Feb. 4, at the Grange Hall in Bridport. The legislative breakfast series has enjoyed a long tradition in Addison County, offering residents a weekly opportunity to personally meet and talk with their state representatives and senators on legislation being debated in Montpelier.
All of the breakfasts start at 7 a.m., with the program beginning at 7:30 a.m. and ending at 8:45 a.m.
In addition to the Feb. 11 Governor's Luncheon in Bristol, the series will include one other noontime gathering — the Ag Lunch on April 1 at the Community Hall in Bridport. Both luncheons begin at noon and end at 1:45 p.m.
Purchase of breakfast or lunch is not required to attend but helps the hosts to defray the cost of opening their hall.


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Guy Ritchie films commercials to play with new toys
The director has made TV advertisements for products by sports brand Nike, car manufacturers BMW and Corvette, and Christian Dior fragrance Dior Homme, which featured his Sherlock Holmes star Jude Law.
And he admits he jumps at the chance to work with brand executives who are eager to throw big money at him, because he gets to test out the most technologically-advanced gadgets and processes.
In a new interview with his Snatch star Brad Pitt for Interview magazine, Ritchie reveals, "That's where the real technical talent lies. There aren't many movies where you can spend $3 million on one minute, so when I do a commercial, I can go balls-out and play around with toys and try out new stuff.
"I do use it as a bit of a tester... But the commercial guys are actually more open to the idea of f**king around with stuff and they don't mind if you hit a post because it's so cutting-edge. Commercials will always be technically more advanced than movies. It's a funny thing, but they're also so much more efficient. So I try to do one commercial a year just for that reason."