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Oakley Return Policy
Oakley.com offers four shipping options: Standard, Ground, Second Day, and Next Day.. Please note that shipments can occasionally be delayed due to unforeseen circumstances. All shipments are sent fully insured.
Currently, we can only ship to addresses within the 50 United States and US Territories (Puerto Rico and Guam). We cannot ship to Post Office Boxes, or Internationally.
All orders take 1 business day for warehouse processing to ensure order accuracy.
The build process for custom products typically takes 2-7 business days while Oakley Engineers custom fit and build your glasses to your exact specifications. Custom bag and backpack orders may take 4-5 weeks to build.
- Standard Shipping (DHL/US Postal Smartmail)
- Please allow 5-14 business days for transit*
- Ground Shipping
- Please allow 1-8 business days for transit*
- Second Day Shipping
- Please allow 2 business days for transit*
- Next Day Shipping
- Please allow 1 business days for transit*
* Shipments to P.O. boxes are not permitted. For cart orders exceeding $500, your order will ship Signature Required. For oversized products, a surcharge will be applied by the carrier chosen. . Custom bag and backpacks will only ship Standard (free). Once your order ships, you will receive a confirmation email specifying what carrier was used along with the corresponding tracking number. Please note that items in your order may ship from multiple locations and can occasionally be delayed due to unforeseen circumstances.
|Standard Shipping (DHL/US Postal Smartmail)
Please allow 5-14 business days for transit*
|Ground Shipping
Please allow 3-7 business days for transit*
|Second Day Shipping
Please allow 2 business days for transit*
|Next Day Shipping
Please allow 1 business days for transit*
|Ground Shipping Adult Signature Required
Please allow 3-7 business days for transit*
|FREE for orders over $500
|Second Day Shipping Adult Signature Required
Please allow 2 business days for transit
|Next Day Shipping Adult Signature Required
Please allow 1 business days for transit*
We work hard to keep our shipping charges as low as possible. Certain large or bulky items such as Board Bags, Golf Bags and Luggage are considered oversize and/or over weight by FedEx or UPS. Therefore a surcharge will be charged depending on the item's size and/or weight, in addition to our regular shipping charges. These surcharges are based solely on extra charges imposed by FedEx or UPS for transporting oversize and/or overweight items.
We offer Next Day, 2-Day, Ground and Standard service rates to Hawaii, Alaska and Puerto Rico with some limitations. There is no extra fee to Alaska and Hawaii for Ground and Standard shipments. Air shipments will reflect a $5.00 surcharge. We are not able ship custom backpacks to Puerto Rico or Guam at this time.
We offer Standard service to Puerto Rico and Guam. We currently do not ship to other international addresses. Please note that transit times for our Standard rate will range from 3-4 weeks in these regions.
All shipments to APO/FPO addresses are sent via our Standard service level. We estimate 5 to 14 business days for delivery once the order has been shipped; however, some destinations may take longer. We are not able ship custom backpacks to APO/FPO addresses at this time.
For all inquires please call 1.800.403.7449.
We stand behind our products and believe in customer satisfaction and service, so with all domestic web or telesales returns we offer free return shipping. If you are not 100% satisfied with your product, you can return or exchange your order within 90 days from the date of receipt. See specific product exclusions and disclaimers below.
For all online purchases you can return or exchange products through Oakley Retail locations or by calling our Customer Care Center.
- Return to a Store
- Visit any Oakley Retail Store with valid proof of purchase within 90 days for a full refund or exchange.
- Return by Mail
- If you purchased directly from us either online at oakley.com, oakleyvault.com or by phone from our Customer Care team, and you are within the 90 day return policy, then you may also opt to set-up a return by mail.
- Simply email firstname.lastname@example.com with your order number and request an Oakley Return Authorization Number which will be used to track your return.
- Alternatively, you can call Oakley Customer Care at (800) 403-7449 for your Oakley Return Authorization Number.
- We will email you complete instructions together with a pre-paid bar-coded Oakley Identification Return Label and ask that you attach it to the outside of your package.
- Securely package item(s) in original packaging, including documentation, manuals, warranty information, registration, etc. Returns that do not meet these conditions may be subject to a restocking fee.
- We are not responsible for lost or damage packages.
- Refunds are made to the original method of payment used for your original sales order usually within 10 business days of package receipt.
- We will email you again to confirm when the credit has been sent electronically to your gift card or credit card. Please allow 48-hours for funds to post to your card.
- Customized Products
- Personally customized product was created especially for you, so we cannot take returns on these items.
- Return Authorization (RA) Number Required
- All products being returned by mail must have a Return Authorization number in order for a prompt refund. Product must be returned within 30 days of issuance of Return Authorization number. Original freight charges are not refundable.
- 90-Day Return Period
- You must request a Return Authorization number for all other products within 90 days of the date of original purchase. Securely package items as we are not responsible for any items lost or damaged in transit.
- Restocking Fee
- Unless prohibited by law, a 10% restocking fee will be charged for all wearable electronics when the factory seal has been broken.
- Missing Item or Damaged Product Fee
- Additional fees will be charged for any product missing the original box, packaging material, contents, accessories, and/or manuals (i.e. any product not in "sellable" condition).
- Items not Directly Purchased from Oakley
- Items purchased from an Authorized Oakley retailer must be returned to the place of purchase.
- Please Note:
- Products or packages mailed directly to Oakley Headquarters without a bar-coded Oakley Identification Label clearly attached to the front of the package will be REFUSED DELIVERY and returned to the sender at their cost.
For more information visit Oakley
Submit your review


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Very simple, browser based on IE component. Slightly buggy and slightly slow, but it does the job for me and hope it might be useful for you. It works great for watching Netflix and YouTube, which covers about 100% of my use cases, but it also can be useful for having your online mailbox or favorite social network site open on top of other windows. It minimizes to windows tray, near the clock making it very easy to hide/show and you can open as many instances as you like.
And that's what it looks like. Probably the simplest browser you have seen in past 10 years. Oh wait it has something that all other's are missing!
What you need for this thing to run is .NET 4, Silverlight, Internet Explorer. The installer is supposed to download and install all that for you. The program has built in auto-updater which will download and install updates when you start it.
You can add feature requests and bug rage in comments.

subset: commoncrawl


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August 15, 2012 at 8:30am to August 24, 2012 at 5pm – Atlanta, GA Looking for a class where you'll really learn the building science, energy modeling, and pressure testing you need to be a great home energy rater? Energy Vanguard has the class you need! We know tha… Organized by | Type: training, class
August 6, 2012 to August 31, 2012 – EnergyLogic Academy EnergyLogic is proud to announce a major evolution in the training of BPI Building Analysts. While online training isn't new, EnergyLogic has approached the challenge of training students for succes… Organized by EnergyLogic Academy | Type: online, training
August 20, 2012 to August 24, 2012 – The Snell Group - Canada Training Facility Continuing Education Credits/Units Available for This CourseA 32 hour class covering the theory and applications of infrared thermography in the preventive maintenance, quality assurance, condition m… Organized by The Snell Group | Type: training, educational, course, certification
August 20, 2012 to August 24, 2012 – Holiday Inn and Suites Continuing Education Credits/Units Available for This Course. This 32 hour class is designed for energy auditors, weatherization contractors, home inspectors and facility maintenance personnel who… Organized by The Snell Group | Type: training, educational, course, certification
© 2019 Created by Home Performance Coalition (HPC) Powered by


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Rolling Stone icon Ben Fong-Torres says it's impossible to overstate the significance of Michael Jackson's passing.
"It's like the death of Elvis Presley and John Lennon," said Fong-Torres, a former writer who was one of the first to chronicle Jackson's career. "It's that enormous."
Fong-Torres, a native of Alameda, Calif. first met Jackson in 1971 when he profiled the 11-year-old pop star for a cover story. "Backstage before a show, [Michael and his brothers] were hanging out playing cards, flipping through comic books and fan magazines," says Fong-Torres. "They were already on a run, already had five top-10 hits by 1971 but they were very unassuming."
They met again in 1977, when Jackson was "18 years old and as shy as ever," Fong-Torres recalls. "He was very comfortable on stage but uncomfortable offstage. But even as shy as he continued to be throughout his life when you asked him a question he answered quite fully."
The turning point, says Fong-Torres, was the 1982 album Thriller. "Thriller was a moment in pop history that turned him from mere super star to pop icon. I don't know where 'King of Pop,' came from but it fit because he was ruling the world of music."
MTV helped Jackson cross over: "He became the first African-American star to be a regular feature. That helped the channel and the channel helped him, propelling him to even more sensational sales."
Despite the allegations and Jackson's questionable actions, his music remains his most important legacy, according to Fong-Torres. "No matter what else he is, he wrote great songs. He choreographed his own moves. He directed the Jackson Five."
Thriller sold more than 50 million units, and is still selling, notes Fong-Torres. But that posed an unsolvable problem for the pop star: "He was then driven to top the untoppable."


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Dirty Joke Emqil
Want to send a Dirty Joke Email? Not only do we have thousands of dirty jokes, but you can make any one of them a Dirty Joke Emqil for a friend. Just check out the links on the left to see what joke categories we have to choose from.
You'll find LOTS of options for your Dirty Joke Emqil. We're sure that all of your friends will have a lot of fun receiving a Dirty Joke Emqil from you. You can send one Dirty Joke Emqil to up to five email addresses at a time, so get busy and send out a Dirty Joke Emqil today!


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Who is gouging whom?
By David Holcberg
On February 28, 79 members of the House of Representatives introduced a bill instituting criminal and civil penalties on any corporation or individual found guilty of gasoline "price gouging." But the real gouger driving up gasoline prices is not the private sector, it is our government.
To "gouge" means to extort, to take by force--something that oil companies and gas stations have no power to do. Unlike a government, which can forcibly take away its citizens' money and dictate their behavior, an oil company can only make us an offer to buy its products, which we are free to reject.
Because sellers must gain the voluntary consent of buyers, and because the market allows freedom of competition, oil and gasoline prices are set, not by the whim of companies, but by economic factors such as supply and demand. If oil companies could set prices at will, surely they would have charged higher prices in the 1990s, when gasoline was under one dollar a gallon!
Because oil companies and gas stations cannot set their prices arbitrarily, they must make their profits by earning them--by efficiently producing something that we value and are eager to buy. In so doing, they assume great risks and expend enormous effort. Over the decades, oil companies have created a huge infrastructure to produce and distribute gasoline by investing hundreds of billions of dollars in prospecting, drilling, transporting, stocking and refining oil.
In the absence of political factors like the 1973 OPEC oil embargo or the Gulf Wars, the net effect of oil companies' pursuit of profit has been to drive the price of oil and gasoline, not up, but down. The price of a gallon of gasoline (in 2006 dollars) fell from $3 in the early 1920's to $2.50 in the 1940's to $2 in the 1960's to under $1.50 in the 1990's. This downward trend is all the more impressive because it required the discovery and exploration of previously inaccessible sources of oil and because it persisted despite massive taxation and increased government regulation of the oil industry.
When we see the price of gasoline today, we should not accuse oil companies of gouging, but rather thank them that prices are not much higher.
The true culprit that we should condemn for driving up prices is the government, which has engaged--with popular support--in the gouging of both the producers and consumers of gasoline.
Federal and state governments have long viewed gasoline taxes as a cash cow. In 2003, for instance, when the average retail price for a gallon of gasoline was $1.56, federal and state taxes averaged about $0.40 a gallon--which amounts to a far higher tax rate, 34 percent, than we pay for almost any other product. (Contrary to popular belief, gasoline taxes do not just pay for the roads we drive on; less than 60% of the gas-tax-funded "Highway Trust Fund" goes toward highways.)
Along with high taxes, environmental regulations--justified in the name of protecting nature from human activity--have dramatically increased the production costs, and thus the price, of oil and gasoline.
The government, for example, has closed huge areas to oil drilling, including the uninhabited wilderness of ANWR and the out-of-sight waters over the Atlantic and Pacific continental shelves. This of course significantly reduces the domestic supply of oil.
The government has also passed onerous environmental regulations that make it uneconomical for many old refineries to keep producing (50 out of 194 refineries were shut down from 1990 to 2004) and discourage new refineries from being built (no major refinery has been built in the last 30 years).
Regulations such as these push the surviving refineries to operate at almost full capacity, creating a situation where any significant reduction in the production of some refineries (e.g., from a hurricane) cannot be compensated by increased production in others. Exorbitant spikes in prices, which many attribute to oil companies' "gouging," are actually caused by government constraints.
If we want to stop the irrational forces that have been driving up the price of gasoline and our cost of living, we must demand that our elected officials eliminate the regulations and excessive taxes that restrict the producers of oil and gas. It's past time to stop gouging oil companies--and ourselves.
David Holcberg is a media research specialist at the Ayn Rand Institute in Irvine, Calif. The Institute promotes Objectivism, the philosophy of Ayn Rand--author of "Atlas Shrugged" and "The Fountainhead." Contact the writer at firstname.lastname@example.com. Copyright © 2007 Ayn Rand® Institute. All rights reserved.


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Is it a stir-frying oil or a face cream? Dr. Bronner's Virgin Coconut Oil is both!
This may sound like the old "Saturday Night Live" gag about the floor wax that doubled as a dessert topping, but this is no joke.
Personal-care products maker Dr. Bronner's has recently returned to the world of food (it briefly had a baked chip) with Dr. Bronner's Magic All-One! Fair Trade & Organic Fresh-Pressed Virgin Coconut Oil. Phew. Long title.
As longtime users of Dr. Bronner's castile soap and coconut oil lovers, we agreed to try a sample and have been ultra pleased with the results.
First of all, we love that the directions say: "can be used for stir-frying, baking and body care."
And second, we love the way it adds a nutty taste to toast, popcorn, homemade granola and roasted sweet potato cubes.
Recent studies of coconut oil have exonerated this saturated fat, which had gained a bad reputation mostly because it had been only in an unhealthy partially hydrogenated (trans fatty) form. But new research on the unrefined, virgin variety of coconut oil finds that it is full of lauric acid, which scientists consider neutral to beneficial to healthy.
The oil is picking up a burgeoning fan base for the lovely flavors it lends to baked goods and sautéed foods, but a growing number of people (like Dr. Mehmet Oz) are also touting its healing and moisturizing properties for body care.
I was a little hesitant to smear a baking product on my face and arms, but so far so good. Although the oil does take some time to absorb, it leaves a nice sheen, wonderful smell and soft feel. I admit I was worried it might cause breakouts on my face, but during the week I've tried it, I've not seen any problems.
With the vast majority of ingredients in personal-care products never undergoing premarket safety reviews, some have advised avoiding any personal-care product that aren't safe enough to eat. Sophia Loren, who often touted extra virgin olive oil as her skin care secret, certainly subscribed to this practice.
The company said that when it ventured into this area it had a hard time sourcing organic, fairly traded coconuts, so it started its own operation in Serendipol, Sri Lanka. There, the company says, it employs family farmers to grow organic coconuts for fair wages and using environmentally responsible methods that re-enrich the soil.
There are a few brands of virgin coconut oil now on store shelves (we mostly find them at Whole Foods) and they don't come cheap. You can often find deals online. Amazon, for instance, sells a jar of Nutiva Extra Virgin Coconut Oil for $27.25 for a 54-ounce jar and Nature's Way goes for $8.32 for a 16-ounce jar.
Dr. Bronner's sells both whole kernel and white kernel coconut oil for $10.99 per 14-ounce jar. So far, we like both -- on our skin and in our food.


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mediaworkz necesitaba un nuevo diseño de otro y lanzó un concurso de diseño en 99designs.
Un ganador ha sido elegido entre 24 diseños de 13 diseñadores freelance.
Truck Deals
Offering great deals on new trucks
Truck buyers.
- 3 static GIF or JPG banners (same basic creative, 3 different sizes)
- Banners must include 1px, #666666 border
- The 3 sizes required are: 728x200, 728x90, 160x600
- Preferred file sizes: 728x200 (<50k), 728x90 (<30k), 160x600 (<30k)
- Please include truck images, sticking to the following makes: Honda, Toyota, Ford, Chevrolet, Nissan (there should be more than one make in each banner)
- Include the following copy: "Dealers are cutting prices on new trucks"
- Also include the following copy: "Inventory Liquidation"
- Include button that says: "See Clearance Prices"
- Final delivery of files will include the GIF or JPG banners at the indicated file sizes, as well as all original Photoshop, Illustrator, and/or Fireworks files
If you're looking for more contests like this one, please visit http://99designs.com/people/mediaworkz. We've got a bunch of contests running or about to be launched.


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Fujitsu Siemens Lifebook P7010
The Fujitsu-Siemens P7010(D) is a neat little laptop with a 10" widescreen. It weighs little more than a kilo, has a relatively long battery life and sports many things that low-weight laptops normally lack.
System Specifications
Fujitsu Siemens LifeBook P7010 - Pentium M 753 1.2 GHz - 10.6" TFT
- 26.1 cm x 19.9 cm x 3.5 cm
- 1.3 kg
- Pentium M 753 1.2 GHz ULV, 2MB L2-cache
- 512MB DDR SDRAM 333MHz PC2700 (maximum: 1024MB)
- SD-card reader (ricoh)
- CF reader
- 80GB 5400 rpm Harddrive
- 10.6" TFT active matrix WXGA (1280 x 768)
- Intel 855GME
- Ethernet
- Intel PRO/Wireless 2200BG
- Modem
- 2 USB ports, 1 firewire
- Battery time: 7.5 hours
- Port for external screen
- TV-out
- 1 modular bay (I have filled it out with a DVD-burner(MATSHITADVD-RAM UJ-822S)
Output of lshwd
00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corp.: Unknown device 3580 (intel-agp) 00:00.1 System peripheral: Intel Corp.: Unknown device 3584 (unknown) 00:00.3 System peripheral: Intel Corp.: Unknown device 3585 (unknown) 00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corp.: Unknown device 3582 (vesa) 00:02.1 Display controller: Intel Corp.: Unknown device 3582 (vesa) 00:1d.0 USB Controller: Intel Corp. 82801DB USB (Hub #1) (uhci_hcd) 00:1d.1 USB Controller: Intel Corp. 82801DB USB (Hub #2) (uhci_hcd) 00:1d.7 USB Controller: Intel Corp. 82801DB USB EHCI Controller (ehci-hcd) 00:1e.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corp. 82801BAM/CAM PCI Bridge (hw_random) 00:1f.0 ISA bridge: Intel Corp.: Unknown device 24cc (unknown) 00:1f.1 IDE interface: Intel Corp.: Unknown device 24ca (piix) 00:1f.3 SMBus: Intel Corp. 82801DB SMBus (i2c-i801) 00:1f.5 Multimedia audio controller: Intel Corp. 82801DB AC'97 Audio (snd-intel8x0) 00:1f.6 Modem: Intel Corp. 82801DB AC'97 Modem (slamr) 01:0a.0 CardBus bridge: Ricoh Co Ltd RL5c476 II (yenta_socket) 01:0a.1 CardBus bridge: Ricoh Co Ltd RL5c476 II (yenta_socket) 01:0a.2 FireWire (IEEE 1394): Ricoh Co Ltd R5C552 IEEE 1394 Controller (ohci1394) 01:0a.3 System peripheral: Ricoh Co Ltd: Unknown device 0576 (unknown) 01:0a.4 System peripheral: Ricoh Co Ltd: Unknown device 0592 (unknown) 01:0c.0 Ethernet controller: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL-8139/8139C/8139C+ (8139too) 01:0d.0 Network controller: Intel Corp.: Unknown device 4220 (ipw2200) 003:003 USB Mass Storage: FireWire/USB2.0 Combo (usb-storage) 003:001 USB Hub: (hub) 002:001 USB Hub: (hub) 001:002 USB Wireless: USAWireless Bluetooth Device (hci_usb) 001:001 USB Hub: (hub) ---:--- Mouse: Generic PS/2 Wheel Mouse [/dev/psaux] (msintellips/2)
What works/What does not
Pretty much everything works on this laptop except the TV-out and the SD-card reader. The screen needs a little tweaking to get working. The preferred resolution (1280x768) is not part of the VBIOS, and consequently the VBIOS needs to be patched with Alain Poirier's software 855resolution (to be found in the AUR).
In order to get the video working fine at 1280x768 you need to patch the VBIOS with Alain Poirier's 855resolution for which there is a PKGBUILD in the AUR. This application allows you to replace any of the modes in the VBIOS with something else. After you have compiled the package and installed it, run the following command.
855resolution 5c 1280 768
This will replace mode 5c with 1280 768. You can list the modes with
855resolution -l
which should return something like this:
855resolution version 0.4, by Alain Poirier Chipset: 855GM (id=0x35808086) VBIOS type: 2 VBIOS Version: 3181 Mode 30 : 640x480, 8 bits/pixel Mode 32 : 800x600, 8 bits/pixel Mode 34 : 1024x768, 8 bits/pixel Mode 38 : 1280x1024, 8 bits/pixel Mode 3a : 1600x1200, 8 bits/pixel Mode 3c : 1280x768, 8 bits/pixel Mode 41 : 640x480, 16 bits/pixel Mode 43 : 800x600, 16 bits/pixel Mode 45 : 1024x768, 16 bits/pixel Mode 49 : 1280x1024, 16 bits/pixel Mode 4b : 1600x1200, 16 bits/pixel Mode 4d : 1280x768, 16 bits/pixel Mode 50 : 640x480, 32 bits/pixel Mode 52 : 800x600, 32 bits/pixel Mode 54 : 1024x768, 32 bits/pixel Mode 58 : 1280x1024, 32 bits/pixel Mode 5a : 1600x1200, 32 bits/pixel Mode 5c : 1280x768, 32 bits/pixel
Before everything is set, you will also need to add the proper modelines in xorg.conf. This is done in the monitor section
Section "Monitor" Identifier "InternalMonitor" Option "DPMS" HorizSync 28.0 - 96.0 VertRefresh 50.0 - 75.0 Modeline "1280x768" 80.14 1280 1344 1480 1680 768 769 772 795 Modeline "1024x768" 65.00 1024 1047 1183 1343 768 770 776 805 EndSection
Template:Sn The audio is really not a big deal, at least not if you use ALSA (which is the only sound system I have ever used under Linux). The only weirdness is that the Master channel has no effect on the sound, you have to play around with the Headphone and PCM channels in order to set the sound.
Wireless Network
Template:Sn Wireless network is an Intel Pro Wireless 2200BG and has very good Linux drivers nowadays. If you are using the stock arch kernel, all you need to do is
pacman -S ipw2200
and add the proper modules to your rc.conf (see the rc.conf section of this page) if you are not using hotplug or hwd.
Card Readers
Template:Sn As far as I have understood from other reports, the pcmcia card works as expected. I do not have one at this time, so I cannot confirm it.
Compact Flash
The same goes for the Compact Flash. It is supposed to work as it uses the same interfaces as the PCMCIA does, but I cannot confirm anything since I do not have a CF-card.
Secure Digital
There is now a driver in alpha test stage on Sourceforge http://sourceforge.net/projects/sdricohcs/ it supports only the SD Card driver so far and must be compiled from source. Arch packages found here https://aur.archlinux.org/packages.php?do_Details=1&ID=9884.
Important Config files
Xorg 6.8.2 has loses direct rendering after resume from either suspend-to-disk or suspend-to-ram. I am therefore using a snapshot of the upcoming xorg release, which has this issue solved. If you decide the to use the snapshot remember that you will not need to load the glcore module, so you can comment that in the xorg.conf.
I have been playing around a lot to get the TV-out working, but alas! (I am actually keeping a Win-partition in order to be able to use the TV-out - it feels like a complete waste of gigabytes of my precious harddrive!). The setup you see here is for an internal monitor. If you alter the ServerLayout section so that you have InternalScreen commented instead of ExternalScreen, X should work with an external screen. There was some issue with xorg 6.8.2 that prevented it from showing image on internal and external screens simultaneously, but that is allegedly solved now. I have not updated my xorg.conf, however, to reflect those changes.
Section "ServerLayout" Identifier "Work in Progress" # Screen 0 "ExternalScreen" 0 0 Screen 0 "InternalScreen" 0 0 # Screen 1 "ExternalScreen" RightOf "InternalScreen" InputDevice "Keyboard" "CoreKeyboard" InputDevice "Synaptics TouchPad" "AlwaysCore" InputDevice "USB Mouse" "CorePointer" EndSection Section "ServerFlags" Option "AllowMouseOpenFail" "true" # Option "BlankTime" "7" # Blank the screen after 10 minutes (Fake) # Option "StandbyTime" "10" # Turn off screen after 15 minutes (DPMS) # Option "SuspendTime" "15" # Full suspend after 20 minutes Option "OffTime" "20" # Turn off after half an hour EndSection Section "Files" RgbPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/rgb" ModulePath "/usr/X11R6/lib/modules" FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/misc:unscaled" FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/75dpi:unscaled" FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/100dpi:unscaled" FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/cyrillic" FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/Type1" FontPath "/usr/local/share/fonts" EndSection Section "Module" Load "ddc" # ddc probing of monitor Load "GLcore" Load "dbe" Load "dri" Load "extmod" Load "glx" Load "bitmap" # bitmap-fonts Load "type1" Load "freetype" Load "record" EndSection Section "InputDevice" Identifier "Keyboard" Driver "kbd" Option "CoreKeyboard" Option "XkbRules" "xfree86" Option "XkbModel" "pc105" Option "XkbLayout" "se" EndSection Section "InputDevice" Identifier "USB Mouse" Driver "mouse" Option "Device" "/dev/input/mice" Option "SendCoreEvents" "true" Option "Protocol" "IMPS/2" Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5" Option "Buttons" "5" EndSection Section "InputDevice" Identifier "Synaptics TouchPad" Driver "synaptics" Option "Device" "/dev/psaux" Option "Protocol" "auto-dev" Option "LeftEdge" "1700" Option "RightEdge" "5300" Option "TopEdge" "1700" Option "BottomEdge" "4200" Option "FingerLow" "25" Option "FingerHigh" "30" Option "MaxTapTime" "180" Option "MaxTapMove" "220" Option "VertScrollDelta" "100" Option "MinSpeed" "0.06" Option "MaxSpeed" "0.12" Option "AccelFactor" "0.0010" Option "SHMConfig" "on" Option "Repeater" "/dev/ps2mouse" EndSection Section "Monitor" Identifier "InternalMonitor" Option "DPMS" HorizSync 28.0 - 96.0 VertRefresh 50.0 - 75.0 Modeline "1280x768" 80.14 1280 1344 1480 1680 768 769 772 795 Modeline "1024x768" 65.00 1024 1047 1183 1343 768 770 776 805 EndSection Section "Monitor" Identifier "ExternalMonitor" Option "DPMS" "true" HorizSync 30.0-83.0 VertRefresh 56.0-76.0 Modeline "1280x1024" 138.54 1280 1368 1504 1728 1024 1025 1028 1069 EndSection Section "Monitor" Identifier "Television" HorizSync 30-68 VertRefresh 50-120 # fbset -fb /dev/fb1 -x Mode "720x576" # D: 42.600 MHz, H: 45.127 kHz, V: 74.963 Hz DotClock 42.601 HTimings 720 760 832 944 VTimings 576 577 580 602 Flags "-HSync" "-VSync" EndMode EndSection Section "Device" Identifier "Intel" Driver "i810" # BusID "PCI:0:2:0" # Option "MonitorLayout" "TV,LFP" # BusID "PCI:1:0:0" # VideoRam 65536 EndSection Section "Screen" Identifier "InternalScreen" Device "Intel" Monitor "InternalMonitor" DefaultColorDepth 24 SubSection "Display" Depth 16 Modes "1280x768" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480" EndSubSection SubSection "Display" Depth 24 Modes "1280x768" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480" ViewPort 0 0 EndSubSection SubSection "Display" Depth 32 Modes "1280x768" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480" EndSubSection EndSection Section "Screen" Identifier "ExternalScreen" Device "Intel" Monitor "ExternalMonitor" DefaultColorDepth 24 SubSection "Display" Depth 24 Modes "1280x1024" ViewPort 0 0 EndSubsection EndSection Section "Screen" Identifier "TVScreen" Device "Intel" Monitor "Television" DefaultDepth 24 Subsection "Display" Depth 24 Modes "768x576" ViewPort 0 0 EndSubsection EndSection Section "DRI" Mode 0666 EndSection Section "Extensions" Option "Composite" "Enable" Option "RENDER" "Enable" EndSection
I have had quite a hard time deciding what the best cpufreqd setup would be for me. Right now I am using this:
# this is a comment # # you need: 1 [General] section, # 1 or more [Profile] sections # 1 or more [Rule] sections # # a section ends at the first blank line # # [Rule] sample: # [Rule] # name=sample_rule # ac=on # (on/off) # battery_interval=0-10 # cpu_interval=30-60 # programs=xine,mplayer # profile=sample_profile # # [Profile] sample: # [Profile] # name=sample_profile # minfreq=10% # maxfreq=100% # policy=performance # # see CPUFREQD.CONF(5) manpage for a complete reference [General] pidfile=/var/run/cpufreqd.pid poll_interval=2 pm_type=acpi #(acpi, apm or pmu) # Uncomment the following line to enable ACPI workaround (see cpufreqd.conf(5)) # acpi_workaround=1 verbosity=5 #(if you want a minimal logging set to 5) [Profile] name=hi_boost minfreq=1000000 maxfreq=1200000 policy=performance [Profile] name=medium_boost minfreq=800000 maxfreq=1000000 policy=conservative [Profile] name=lo_boost minfreq=600000 maxfreq=800000 policy=performance [Profile] name=lo_power minfreq=0 maxfreq=600000 policy=powersave # conservative mode when not AC [Rule] name=low_bat_conservative ac=off battery_interval=0-100 cpu_interval=0-35 profile=lo_power #[Rule] name=conservative ac=off # (on/off) battery_interval=0-100 cpu_interval=35-60 profile=lo_boost # need some power [Rule] name=lo_cpu_boost ac=off # (on/off) battery_interval=0-100 cpu_interval=60-80 profile=medium_boost # need big power (not if battery very low) [Rule] name=hi_cpu_boost ac=off # (on/off) battery_interval=50-100 cpu_interval=80-100 profile=hi_boost full power when AC [Rule] name=AC_on ac=on # (on/off) profile=hi_boost
rc.conf (modules array)
This is just a starting point, you might want to load other modules or you might have some of these compiled into the kernel.
MODULES=(evdev \ snd-intel8x0 snd-pcm-oss snd-mixer-oss snd-seq-oss \ uhci-hcd ehci-hcd ohci1394 \ ieee80211_crypt ieee80211 ipw2200 \ i2c-i801 agp-intel i915)
Other Tweaks
I have a repository with some tweaked packages. Most noticably, there is an archck8-kernel, compiled for the lifebook p7010, as well as other packages compiled for the pentium-m processor (which could be used for other laptops too), such as a few of the KDE 3.4.3 packages, e17, and a few other things. Information on how to use my repository can be found here
External Links
- This report is listed at the TuxMobil: Linux Laptop and Notebook Installation Guides Survey: Fujitsu-Siemens - FSC.


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Walnuts, Halves & Pieces - Raw, Natural - 16/16 oz. Packages - Treasured Harvest Brand Also available in 5 lb., 25 lb. cartons, 1 lb. Packages, 12/8 oz. Packages Walnuts are high in polyunsaturated fat & low in "unhealthy" saturated fat. They contain significant amounts of omega-3 fats which can help reduce inflammation. Thought of as brain food, eating Walnuts is like wearing a seat belt for your heart! *Note: Packed in a facility that handles tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soy and milk products. Ingredients: Walnuts
Additional Information
|Featured Product


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The 2014 Emmy nominations were announced Thursday, and the competition is going to be fierce.
The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences has made some changes to its categories, splitting the outstanding movie or miniseries category into two and increasing the number of nominees allowed in the outstanding comedy and outstanding drama categories to seven, among other tweaks.
But for this year's show, both the drama and comedy categories are boasting a total of six nominees, including some welcome competitors like "Game of Thrones" and "True Detective."
Here's a rundown of some of the major contests:
Outstanding drama: "Breaking Bad"; "Downton Abbey"; "Game of Thrones"; "House of Cards"; "Mad Men";
"True Detective"
Outstanding comedy: "The Big Bang Theory"; "Louie"; "Modern Family"; "Orange is the New Black"; "Silicon Valley"; "Veep"
Outstanding lead actor in a drama: Bryan Cranston, "Breaking Bad"; Jeff Daniels, "The Newsroom"; Jon Hamm, "Mad Men"; Woody Harrelson, "True Detective"; Matthew McConaughey, "True Detective"; Kevin Spacey, "House of Cards"
Outstanding lead actress in a drama: Lizzy Caplan, "Masters of Sex"; Claire Danes, "Homeland"; Michelle Dockery, "Downton Abbey"; Julianna Margulies, "The Good Wife"; Kerry Washington, "Scandal"; Robin Wright, "House of Cards"
Outstanding lead actor in a comedy: Louis C.K., "Louie"; Don Cheadle, "House of Lies"; Ricky Gervais, "Derek"; Matt LeBlanc, "Episodes"; William H. Macy, "Shameless"; Jim Parsons, "The Big Bang Theory"
Outstanding lead actress in a comedy: Lena Dunham, "Girls"; Edie Falco, "Nurse Jackie"; Julia Louis-Dreyfus, "Veep"; Melissa McCarthy, "Mike & Molly"; Amy Poehler, "Parks & Recreation"; Taylor Schilling, "Orange is the New Black"
Outstanding miniseries: "American Horror Story: Coven"; "Bonnie & Clyde"; "Fargo"; "Luther"; "Treme"; "The White Queen"
Outstanding TV movie: "Killing Kennedy"; "Muhammad Ali's Greatest Fight"; "The Normal Heart"; "Sherlock: His Last Vow"; "The Trip To Bountiful"
The 2014 Emmy Awards will be hosted by "Late Night's" Seth Meyers, and will air live on NBC August 25 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.
TM & © 2014 Cable News Network, Inc., a Time Warner Company. All rights reserved.
For the full list of Emmy nominees, click here: FULL LIST - 2014 Emmy Nominations


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Date: August 5, 2005
Byline: Christy Karras
What's a six-letter word for crossword guru?
With his encyclopedic brain, creativity and subtle sense of humor, Will Shortz might be the ultimate super nerd. But his many fans consider the world's foremost puzzle man, or "enigmatist," well, sexy.
"It's actually an easy field to get into. You just start making puzzles and send them in to publications," said Shortz in a telephone interview. The Indiana native first published a puzzle at age 14. Now, he has achieved the puzzle-writer's dream as editor of The New York Times crossword puzzle page and creator of hundreds of word and number puzzles of many kinds. He is also a contributor to National Public Radio (he gives puzzles over the air for people to solve on the fly).
Lest anyone think puzzle-making itself is easy, Shortz points out that not just anyone can do it: "It takes an enormous amount of skill and knowledge and work to make a puzzle," said Shortz, who designed his own degree in "enigmatology" at Indiana University and went to law school but pursued his puzzle career rather than try the bar. He now oversees publication of crossword puzzles by about 110 people in his duties at the Times, but works mostly at home in Pleasantville, N.Y.
Language or math puzzle makers are few, partly because of the difficulty, partly because of low pay and partly because not too many people are temperamentally suited to such an endeavor.
Shortz, who will speak this weekend at the Salt Lake City Main Library, is the quintessential example of that kind of genius.
"He's the best. I love that guy," said Salt Lake City puzzle aficionado Debra Sandack, who appreciates the cleverness and humor of a Shortz puzzle.
Other puzzling minds agree. Shortz's dozens of puzzle compilations are best-sellers in the genre. A recent Web site poll named the still single Shortz the top "hottie" at the Times in the "Love Him for His Brain" category.
Relaxing with a copy of the Sunday Times and a cup of coffee helps keep Sandack sane and provides a respite from full-time motherhood. She compares completing a puzzle to doing laundry in a world where nothing really ever gets done: "You start out with a big mess and end up with a little pile," she said. "It's a sense of a tidy little accomplishment when the rest of your day is chaos.
"This is really what makes people happy, these little joyous moments during the day," Sandack said. "It isn't huge accomplishments like getting your Ph.D. that make you happy. It's little things like getting the crossword puzzle done."
Zealous puzzle solvers meet every March in Stamford, Conn., to compete in the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament, founded and organized by Shortz. "They come to test themselves . . . and they just like to be with other crossword people. Crossword people are well-read, funny, they travel a lot and have flexible minds," Shortz said. Puzzlers can also do the competition puzzles online to see how they stack up against the competitors in timed contests.
Shortz is best known for word puzzles, but he also dabbles in other types, including Sodoku, the Japanese number-puzzle sensation that has swept Europe and is now gaining popularity in America.
Most of the time, he tries to walk a sometimes-fine balance between being funny and clever and offending people. He doesn't include politically charged items in his puzzles, for example. But "I'm not prudish. If there's something colorful or lively, sometimes I'll let it slip in."
A puzzle generally starts out with the grid and the clues come last, Shortz said. Every puzzle goes through a rigorous editing and testing process, but mistakes do sometimes get through – and he hears about them.
Recently, for example, a puzzle mixed up "Acheson," as in the former U.S. secretary of State, and "Atchison," as in the town in Kansas and the train line named after it.
"There are not many and they tend to be small, but every once in a while there's a whopper that somehow got missed," he said. On another occasion, the answer was "Rupp Arena" and the clue was "Louisville Landmark."
"I thought I had checked this, and I did check it," he said, by looking briefly at the Google search engine results. "What I didn't look at close enough is that the University of Kentucky's arena is in Knoxville, not Louisville."
Even though he's fairly obsessive about getting things right, mistakes are bound to happen. "I'm a taskmaster at puzzles. That's how people envision me. They also envision me as a super genius who knows everything." He insists he's not quite up to that level, though he admits he would rather leave a puzzle unsolved than look up the answers.
* Will Shortz will speak Saturday at 7:30 p.m., at the Salt Lake City Library's Main Branch, 210 E. 400 South. A few free tickets, as well as $50 tickets for a reception before the event, are available at the library. Overflow seating and a few wait-list seats will be available on Saturday. Call 524-8200 for information.


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MILAN, Tenn. -- While precision farming is an evolving and often enigmatic technology, basic economic principles can still be used to determine if it can be a profitable enterprise on your farm, according to Jim Larson, associate professor, University of Tennessee Agricultural Economics, Knoxville, speaking at the Milan No-Till Field Day.
"There are three steps to precision farming," said Larson, who defines the technology as managing fields spatially rather than on a whole field basis. "Gather information through yield monitoring, grid soil sampling, remote sensing, etc. Take the rough data, analyze it and generate a prescription map to apply an input. The third step is implementation — deciding whether an action such as variable-rate application is necessary."
Variable-rate technology (VRT) can use GIS/GPS map-based systems in which a database is established over time and used to help make decisions. Yield maps and other data-gathering technologies can also be used to identify problems in a field, for example, where there may be drainage problems.
In real-time VRT systems, a sensor on the application vehicle identifies a weed or some other characteristic of a plant and sends a signal to the spray nozzle to activate a nozzle or other function on an implement. The information gathering, analysis and implementation cycles are basically simultaneous.
If you want to figure out if precision agriculture can be profitable on your farm, there are some basic economic principles, plus a Internet-based product that can help. Here are some tips offered by Larson:
• Treat information gathering as a crop input. This allows you to use basic budgeting principles to evaluate what the additional information gathered is worth in dollars. Remember that information only has value if you use it.
• In a typical budget, you take the revenue that you generate, subtract the costs involved and compute a profit. In a budget for VRT, "we look at any change in revenue or costs from the additional investment you make in precision farming and the impact it makes on the bottom line," Larson said.
• Potential sources of revenue changes include increased yields, higher prices from better quality or better marketing achieved as a result of investing in precision farming techniques. "For example, if you collect remote sensing information, you might get an early indication of what yields are, and you can act on that in hedging or other activities.
• "You can also have access to markets requiring documentation of input use, which I think is going to become more important in agriculture over time."
• Sources of cost changes include higher data analysis costs with an investment in precision farming, such as yield monitors, higher custom, variable-rate application costs, grid soil sampling, remote sensing maps, etc. There are also more human resource costs, including the learning curve necessary for adopting precision farming technology. "You have to specifically account for that in figuring out whether or not you should invest in precision farming," Larson said.
• Input costs can be higher or lower, depending on how VRT changes input usage in the field.
Often the most difficult aspect of determining value for precision farming is the difficulty of creating side-by-side comparisons, noted Larson.
"You may not see actual yield differences or input difference changes. Even in side-by-side trials, there may be enough difference in soils and other characteristics that do not make it a fair comparison."
If you set up trials, you will likely need the help of a consultant to identify differences, and that is another cost. "On the positive side, the use of GPS and yield monitoring make on-farm trials a lot more feasible, because you have a way to collect very specific information."
Larson advises growers to avoid making decisions on only one year of data.
There is additional economic information available through state Extension Services and experiment stations, such as budget templates and programs to help you understand the cost/benefits of precision farming, according to Larson.
Larson noted that the University of Tennessee has a program called Cotton Yield Monitor Investment Decision Aid. The program can be found at the Cotton Incorporated Web site, which provided some of the funding for the project. You can also type in CYMDA on Google, which will take you a site where the program can be downloaded.
The program will tell you what yield gains you have to have under various "what if" situations, to make precision farming profitable.
Larson added that there are situations where precision farming pays very well, "but in other situations, you may not get a very good return on your investment.
"Where we've seen rapid payoffs have to do with drainage and with variety choices. There are also other uses for precision farming, including as-applied maps for environmental compliance. Yield maps could be useful for crop insurance documentation and negotiations."
e-mail: email@example.com


text:
by Lou Mancinelli
If developers from Blue Bell-based Hansen Properties want to move forward with their proposal to develop a mix of single-family homes and townhouses on the historic Laverock Hill Mansion site on Willow Grove Avenue, the proposed 156-unit count must come down, according to Drew Sharkey, Cheltenham Township Ward 1 Commissioner.
In mid-July, township managers from both Cheltenham and Springfield townships shared an informal conceptual plan created by a collaboration between the townships and developers, and a separate meeting with the attorney for Save Laverock Hill, the neighbors' group dedicated to preserving the historic mansion and gardens, that suggested between 90 and 100 units in the form of three-unit carriage homes. The plans would also preserve the mansion and gardens.
"I think what I would focus on is both municipalities are working together to make something that's best for the 40-acres and surrounding community," said Sharkey.
In the process of doing that, according to Sharkey, commissioners are forgetting about township lines in order to concentrate on what is best for the land.
According to Bob Gillies, Springfield Township Ward 1 Commissioner, in whose area the development would take place, Springfield commissioners support Cheltenham, and are waiting for an official statement from Cheltenham before stating their own formal position.
Commissioners in both townships agree that the current proposed density of 156-units is too high. The developers' original 2009 proposal for 216 age-restricted units in the form of six four-story buildings is still very much on the table, according to Sharkey.
That proposal presents a controversy. Developers and commissioners have a different legal opinion as to whether or not developers can move ahead with that plan as-of-right, according to Sharkey. Legality aside, before developers could move ahead with that plan, they would first need to appear before the Cheltenham zoning board for a request for a land-use ordinance. A zoning change is required in both townships before developers can move ahead with any plan.
"The township has serious concerns with that [original] plan," Sharkey said.
Developers first offered a first set of alternative plans to the age-restricted units in 2009 because of concerns about the strength of the potential buyer's market.
Most recently, Cheltenham township commissioners canceled a public meeting that was scheduled for May 16. That meeting was called when last fall developers sought to have the decision about the proposed zoning ordinance changed to a community decision instead of a vote by township officials. The change precipitated the need for public meetings. At that time, developers also introduced a proposal that for the first time since planning started included the construction of single-family homes.
When Cheltenham commissioners shelved the meeting before it occurred, the move indicated early signs that developers 156-unit plans lacked support.
The 42-plus-acre former Sims Estate at 1777 Willow Grove Ave., designed by renowned architect Charles A. Platt during World War I, was included on the Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia's 2010 Endangered Properties list.
The portion situated in Springfield Township is zoned AA, which allows for construction of detached single-family homes. In Cheltenham, the site exists in an age-overlay district that allows for development of 55-plus housing. Since 2009, alternative and quite different plans have been proposed, including the already mentioned mix of 156-units announced this fall. In a July 2012 proposal, developers offered plans that called only for the construction of townhouses. One plan called for the construction of 44 townhouses in Cheltenham and 112 in Springfield; the other, for 35 homes in Cheltenham and 121 townhouses in Springfield.
According to Scott Laughlin, chair of Save Laverock Hill, estimates produced by the group found the property is only big enough to support 35 homes in Springfield and 15 in Cheltenham.
Throughout the dialogue between developers, commissioners and neighbors, various issues like steep slope, density and parking have been raised. According to Sharkey, those issues are different ways to reduce the allowed number of units. He said they are ancillary to the current discussion until there is a more concrete plan to comment on.
Neither township agreed that because they are having this sort of discussion it means a mix of single-family homes and townhouses is likely to be developed here.
"They are some time away before they can put a shovel in the ground," Sharkey said.


text:
'Once Upon a Time' 2×13 'Tiny' synopsis
Lost star Jorge Garcia will be back as the giant on Once Upon a Time!
Cora brings the giant to Storybrooke, where he unleashes vengeance on the town. Greg asks Belle what she saw on the night of his accident. Emma and Henry go with Mr. Gold to search for his son while Anton the Giant befriends humans.
Following this Sundays episode, "In The Name Of The Brother", OUAT will be going on a 2 week break. The show will return for the all important "February Sweeps" period on the 3rd February.


text:
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To establish the extent to which the developmental changes in sleep timing experienced by Australian adolescents meet the International Classification of Sleep Disorders (ICSD-2) diagnostic criteria for delayed sleep phase disorder (DSPD), and whether adolescents with DSPD engage in poorer lifestyle choices, and are more impaired compared to good sleeping adolescents.
Three-hundred seventy-four Australian adolescents (mean age 15.6 years, SD 1.0) participants completed a 7-day sleep diary, wore wrist actigraphy, and completed a battery of questionnaires to assess DSPD criteria.
The ICSD-2 criteria for DSPD were met by 1.1% (N = 4) of the adolescents sampled. The majority of adolescents (51.9%, N = 194) met one criterion, 14% (N = 52) of the adolescents met 2 criteria, while 33.2% (N = 124) did not fulfill any DSPD criteria. Despite having significantly delayed sleep timing, adolescents who met all criteria for DSPD reported similar lifestyle habits and daytime functioning. However, there were trends for greater alcohol and caffeine consumption, less sport participation, yet more time spent on extracurricular activities (i.e., learning to play a musical instruments for adolescents with DSPD.
Despite the majority of adolescents reporting DSPD symptoms, only a small minority met full diagnostic criteria. Adolescents with DSPD reported similar lifestyle habits and daytime functioning to those with some or no symptoms. Future investigations of non-school-attending DSPD adolescents are needed to confirm the trends for lifestyle behaviors found in the present study.
Lovato N; Gradisar M; Short M; Dohnt H; Micic G. Delayed sleep phase disorder in an australian school-based sample of adolescents. J Clin Sleep Med 2013;9(9):939-944.
Delayed sleep phase disorder (DSPD) is an abnormal delay of the major sleep period in relation to the desired clock time.1,2 Individuals with DSPD report a chronic inability to fall asleep and awaken at socially acceptable times, which causes distress and/or significant impairment.1,2 The prevalence of DSPD is reported to be 7% to 16%.1,2 However, the prevalence is higher in adolescents, possibly due to the normative delay in sleep timing observed in this population.3–6 However, rates as low as 0.17% and 0.4% have been reported.7–9 Although not a formal assessment of DSPD, Saxvig and colleagues assessed the prevalence of delayed sleep timing (operationalized as difficulties falling asleep before 02:00 ≥ 3 nights/week, together with problems awakening at the desired time) in 1,285 Norwegian high school students to be 8.4%.6
A number of factors are likely to contribute to this disparity in prevalence rates. Firstly, higher prevalence rates are likely to result from less stringent classifications of DSPD; for example, classifying DSPD based only on the presence of delayed sleep timing without consideration of other diagnostic criteria. The use of such criteria results in prevalence estimates of "symptoms" rather than the "disorder" per se. Secondly, school-based samples are likely to result in more conservative estimates, given many adolescents with DSPD may not attend school on a regular basis.5 Finally, the rate of DSPD is likely reduced when studies consider differential diagnosis, such as an insomnia disorder or depression.
Current Knowledge/Study Rationale: Despite the ubiquitous nature of delayed sleep timing during adolescence, there are few data estimating the extent of Delayed Sleep Phase Disorder in adolescent populations. The present study adds to the few investigations into this area that have reported statistics ranging from < 1% to 16%.
Study Impact: Despite the majority of adolescents reporting DSPD symptoms, only a small minority met full diagnostic criteria. Adolescents with DSPD reported similar lifestyle habits and daytime functioning to those with some or no symptoms.
Prevalence estimates of DSPD in adolescents have typically been derived using self-report questionnaires to assess sleep misalignment.6–10 To the authors' knowledge, no study has used sleep diaries or objective measures (i.e., actigraphy) to confirm the delay in sleep timing as per contemporary diagnostic criteria (ICSD-2). Therefore, it remains largely disputable whether the delay in the sleep period typically experienced during adolescence represents a common clinically significant problem within this population. Chronically late sleep onset times coupled with the need to rise at a socially conventional time to meet school commitments experienced by DSPD sufferers ultimately truncates the sleep period, thereby increasing daytime sleepiness and associated impairments.11,12 To date, one study has directly investigated the lifestyle habits and daytime functioning of adolescents with delayed sleep compared to good sleepers. Saxvig et al.6 reported delayed sleep timing was associated with lower average school grades, smoking, alcohol use, and elevated anxiety and depression scores. More independent studies are needed to confirm the influence of such lifestyle habits.
The primary aim of the current study was to establish the extent to which the developmental changes in sleep timing experienced by Australian adolescents meet the diagnostic criteria for DSPD as outlined in the ICSD-2. A second aim of the current study was to investigate whether adolescents with DSPD engage in significantly poorer lifestyle choices (e.g., excessive alcohol consumption) and are more impaired (e.g., school performance) compared to adolescents without DSPD. Such findings will help to identify potential risk factors pushing adolescents from a typical sleep delay to disordered sleep.
The initial sample included 385 adolescents aged 13-18 years (M = 15.6, SD 0.95, 59% male) who were recruited from 8 schools in Adelaide, South Australia. The schools were selected from a stratified sample based on socioeconomic status and included 7 coeducational and one single-sex boy's school. The study was promoted as a "health survey." Adolescents completed questionnaires during school class time and maintained a record of their sleep habits using a 7-day sleep diary and wrist actigraphy (see Measures). During the 7 days of diary completion, adolescents telephoned the Flinders University Sleep Laboratory morning and night to record their bedtimes and wake times. These calls served as a validity check, to ensure diaries were completed twice daily and not retrospectively. Of the initial 385 students, 11 did not complete questionnaires or maintain an adequate record of their sleep habits. The final sample therefore comprised 374 adolescents, with a mean age of 15.6 (SD 1.0) years (59% male). Data collection occurred from April 2008 to April 2010, during school terms, at least 2 weeks either side of school holidays13 and not during daylight savings.14 All adolescents provided informed consent. This study was approved by the Flinders University Social and Behavioral Research Ethics Committee and the Department of Education and Children's Services Ethics Committee.
The ICSD-2 defined 4 diagnostic criteria for DSPD, including: (a) A delay in the phase of the major sleep period in relation to the desired sleep time and wake-up time, as evidenced by a chronic complaint of inability to fall asleep at a desired conventional clock time together with the inability of awaken at a desired and socially acceptable time; (b) When allowed to choose their preferred schedule, patients will exhibit normal sleep quality and duration for age and maintain a delayed, but stable, phase of entrainment to the 24-h sleep-wake pattern; (c) Sleep log or actigraphy monitoring for at least 7 days demonstrates a stable delay in the timing of the habitual sleep period; (d) The sleep disturbance is not better explained by another current sleep disorder, medical or neurological disorder, mental disorder, medication use, or substance disorder. The measures used to assess each ICSD-2 criterion for delayed sleep phase disorder (DSPD) are outlined in Table 1.
Measures used to diagnose ICSD-2 delayed sleep phase disorder (DSPD)
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A 7-day sleep diary was used to obtain a self-report measure of adolescents' sleeping patterns, in particular bedtime, total sleep time, time in bed, and sleep efficiency. The discrepancy between average bedtime on weekend nights versus school nights was used to address the delay in the phase of the major sleep period in relation to the desired sleep/wake time. Total sleep time for each adolescent was compared to age normative data15 to address whether the adolescent experienced normal sleep duration for age. Sleep efficiency > 85% on weekend nights was used to assess whether the adolescent exhibited normal sleep quality. Adolescents meeting criteria for ICSD General Insomnia16 (see Table 1 for explicit criteria) were excluded from the DSPD classification. Wrist actigraphy (Ambulatory Monitoring Inc., Ardsley, NY) was used in conjunction with the sleep diaries to provide an objective measure of the adolescents' sleep timing.
The ISI (Insomnia Severity Index17) is a 7-item self-report measure, which assessed complaints of difficulty initiating (DIS) or maintaining sleep (DMS), or unrefreshing sleep. Each item was rated from 0 "not at al" to 4 "very severe." The item "Do you have difficulty falling asleep" from the ISI was used to address a chronic complaint of inability to fall asleep at a desired conventional clock time.
The Pediatric Daytime Sleepiness Scale (PDSS18) was used to address the inability to awaken at a desired and socially acceptable time outlined in Criterion A (i.e., item #5 "How often do you have trouble getting out of bed in the morning?").
The School Sleep Habits Survey (SHSS19) comprises questions about sleep/wake behaviors, sleep hygiene practices (e.g., caffeine/alcohol consumption, drug use), sleep and medical conditions, and non-school activities (e.g., sport and part-time work). The SHSS was used to exclude excessive caffeine and alcohol consumption, tobacco and drug use, or other respiratory problems during sleep as alternate explanations for adolescents' sleep disturbance. The SHSS was also used to compare the lifestyle habits and daytime functioning of adolescents with and without DSPD.
The Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D20) is a 20-item self-report measure that was used to identify clinical levels of depression and hence exclude this as an alternate explanation for sleeping difficulties. Adolescents rated statements, such as "I felt depressed," using a 4-point Likert scale (1 "rarely or none of the time [less than 1 day]" to 4 "most or all of the time [5 to 7 days])."
Of the 374 adolescents with complete data, 1.1% (N = 4) met the full ICSD-2 criteria for DSPD, while 33.2% (N = 124) did not fulfill any of the criteria. The majority of adolescents (51.9%, N = 194) met one criterion, and 14% (N = 52) met 2 criteria. Table 1 summarizes the proportion of adolescents who fulfilled each of the criteria separately.
A series of between group nonparametric comparisons were conducted to assess potential demographic, subjective sleep, and daytime functioning differences between adolescents with and without DSPD. Between-group comparisons involving adolescents who met all criteria are statistically underpowered (N = 4). Therefore, effect sizes are also reported for marginally nonsignificant (p = 0.05 to 0.10) comparisons involving this group to provide an index of the relative strength of any differences between groups (See Table 3). Table 2 display demographic information, subjective sleep, and daytime functioning variables between these groups. Information on lifestyle practices such as sleep hygiene practices and sleeping aid use were also analyzed.
Demographic, subjective sleep, daytime functioning, sleep hygiene practices, and use of sleeping aids (presented as median values or proportions) for good sleepers, those without DSPD, and those who met either 1 or 2 criteria
Age and gender did not differ significantly between groups (p > 0.05). Despite reporting similar total sleep time of about 8.5 h on both weekends and school nights, the 4 groups differed significantly in bedtime (p = 0.001), sleep onset time (p = 0.001), and wake up time (p = 0.001), but only on weekends. Adolescents who met all criteria for DSPD reported going to bed at 00:45, 1 h 29 min later than those who did not meet any criteria (p = 0.037), 1 h 38 min later than those adolescents who met 1 criterion (p = 0.023), and 25 min later than those adolescents who met 2 criteria (p = 0.31). The sleep onset time of adolescents who met all criteria was 01:28, which was about 2 h later than the sleep onset time reported by adolescents who did not meet any criteria (p = 0.04) or met only 1 criterion (p = 0.009). Adolescents who met all criteria reported waking at 08:34, which was moderately later than the wake up time reported by adolescents who met either 1 criterion or no criteria, but earlier than those who met 2 criteria (p values = 0.31-0.37 ds = 0.27- 0.45). Although sleep onset latency on weekends did not differ significantly among the 4 groups (p > 0.05), there was a small trend for DSPD adolescents to fall asleep faster than adolescents who met either 1 or 2 criteria (d = 0.15 to 0.35).
Adolescents reported similar sleep hygiene practices (all p values > 0.05); however, there was a moderate trend towards more alcohol and caffeine consumption (from tea/coffee) among DSPD adolescents compared to adolescents classified into the other 3 groups. Despite the reported use of sleeping aids being very low among all adolescents sampled (all p values > 0.05), there was a moderately strong tendency for DSPD adolescents to report being more satisfied with the amount of sleep they get relative to adolescents in the other groups (d = 0.68-0.99).
The daytime functioning of the adolescents in the current sample did not differ statistically among the 4 groups on any measure (grades obtained, levels of daytime sleepiness; all p values > 0.05). Adolescents who met all criteria did, however, tend to report spending less time participating in sporting activities (d = 0.17 to 0.36) and more time engaging in extracurricular activities relative to adolescents in the other 3 groups.
The current study aimed to establish the extent to which the delay in sleep timing experienced by many Australian adolescents meet the ICSD-2 criteria for DSPD, as well as to examine whether these adolescents with DSPD engage in poorer lifestyle habits and experience impaired daytime functioning. Of the adolescents sampled, 1.1% met the ICSD-2 criteria for DSPD. This proportion is lower than those reported in previous studies (range 7% to 16%).1,2,6 These earlier studies diagnosed DSPD based on a delay of sleep timing independent of other diagnostic characteristics (e.g., daytime impairments), and did not screen for alternate explanations for the delay in sleep timing (e.g., insomnia disorders), which would have lowered their rate. Acknowledging this limitation, Saxvig and colleagues6 incorporated the presence of daytime impairment (e.g., over-sleeping in the morning or sleepiness at school) in addition to delayed sleep timing in their sample of Norwegian adolescents. In doing so, they concluded a prevalence of 8.4%. A similar proportion of 6.4% was found among our sample when using only self-report measures of delayed sleep timing and difficulty waking in the morning (see Criterion A, Table 1). Including differential diagnosis and the significant distress the sleep problem has on functioning are likely to reduce estimates. Many more studies of the prevalence rate for DSPD in adolescents are needed to confirm our data.
All adolescents in our Australian sample reported similar lifestyle habits and daytime functioning. The use of sleeping aids and sleep hygiene practices, such as daytime napping, were comparable between adolescents with and without DSPD. However, adolescents with more DSPD symptoms (i.e., met 2 or 3 criteria) consumed significantly more caffeine from coffee and/or tea, as well as alcohol, when compared to those who only met 1 criterion. DSPD adolescents may use caffeine in the morning to increase daytime alertness21 yet use alcohol to assist with sleep onset.6 Daytime functioning did not differ between groups, although there was a trend for adolescents who met DSPD criteria to participate in fewer sporting activities but more extracurricular activities (e.g., learning to play a musical instrument; see small effect sizes in Table 3) when compared to those who met fewer criteria. Approximately 60% of Australian adolescents participate in sporting activities,22 and sports are often played on weekend mornings, which may prevent adolescents from sleeping in on weekends, further delaying their circadian timing.23
Effect sizes for comparisons of sleep hygiene practices and daytime behaviors for adolescents without DSPD, those who met 1 criterion, and those who met 2 or more criteria
The lack of differences in the lifestyle habits and daytime functioning of adolescents with and without DSPD observed in the current sample is inconsistent with previous research. Although research directly comparing the lifestyle habits and daytime functioning of adolescents with and without DSPD is limited, Saxvig et al.6 reported delayed sleep timing was associated with lower average school grades, smoking, alcohol use, and elevated anxiety and depression. Their delayed Norwegian adolescents were only receiving 6 hours 53 minutes of sleep; 1 hour less than those without (7 h 53 min). Our Australian adolescents received ∼8 hours 30 minutes sleep, which did not differ among the four groups. Therefore, poorer daytime functioning and lifestyle choices of delayed adolescents may be a function of restricted nocturnal sleep rather than circadian influences per se.
Our current sample size was somewhat limited due to the use of sleep diaries, and especially, wrist actigraphy. Therefore, it is difficult to draw a precise prevalence of DSPD among Australian adolescents. We recommend that future research endeavors use sleep diaries in the assessment of adolescent DSPD but avoid the time and expense of actigraphy for the benefit of a larger and more representative sample. Using semi-structured interviews alongside sleep diaries would also be recommended, as interviews provide more rich data than using cutoff scores on single items from questionnaires. Ideally future research should sample a broader cross-section of Australian adolescents, including those living in remote and rural regions, to provide an accurate estimate of DSPD. Finally, our sampling was conducted solely within schools. This may explain minimal differences in school week sleep patterns, as these DSPD adolescents are able to attend school. Sampling both attenders and non-attenders will not only provide more accurate results but likely produce a higher estimate. For example, in a previous study, 16% of Australian adolescents seeking treatment for their DSPD did not currently attend school.24 If we apply this weighted factor of 16% to the current sample, the prevalence rate would produce a modest rise from 1.1% to 1.3%.
The current study is one of the first to assess the extent to which developmental changes in adolescent sleep timing meet ICSD-2 diagnostic criteria for DSPD. The proportion of adolescents experiencing DSPD in our Australian sample was 1 in 100. DSPD arises due to a conflict between an individual's biology and society's expectations. Notwithstanding different methods of measurement, and assuming the biological etiology of DSPD is consistent across adolescent samples, variable prevalence rates are likely due to varying societal factors between countries.5 More studies assessing rates of DSPD are needed to provide a contemporary picture of the impact of this sleep disorder on the ∼1 billion adolescents in the developing world.25,26
This was not an industry supported study. Dr. Gradisar has performed paid speaking engagements for the Australian Psychological Society. The other authors have indicated no financial conflicts of interest.
This research was supported through grants from the Australian Research Council and the Faculty of Social and Behavioral Sciences at Flinders University. The authors thank Jason Gill, Anna Johnston, Emma Currie, and Lisa-Marie Colton who assisted with data collection, the school principals, and the 385 adolescents and their parents for their participation in this project. This study was funded by an Australian Research Council Discovery Project grant (#DP0881261).
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Drake C, Nickel C, Burduvali E, Roth T, Jefferson C, Pietro B, authors. The pediatric daytime sleepiness scale (PDSS): sleep habits and school outcomes in middle-school children. Sleep. 2003;26:455–8. [PubMed]
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Crowley SJ, Carskadon, authors. Modifications to weekend recovery sleep delay circadian phase in older adolescents. Chronobiol Int. 2010;27:1469–92. [PubMed Central][PubMed]
Gradisar M, Dohnt H, Gardner G, et al., authors. A randomized controlled trial of cognitive-behavior therapy plus bright light therapy for adolescent delayed sleep phase disorder. Sleep. 2011;34:1671–80. [PubMed Central][PubMed]
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The span of ARM GPUs now licensed will provide HiSilicon with outstanding performance ranging from current best-in-class graphics found in today's leading mobile and consumer products to solutions supporting the next-generation of iconic and innovative devices. As the mobile and consumer markets continue to diversify, it is the graphics solutions that provide many of the key differentiations, as well as defining the user experience. One size of GPU performance will no longer be able to address the high number of applications that demand breathtaking graphics performance, such as 3D graphics, photo enhancement, console level gaming as well as more intuitive interfaces including voice and gesture recognition.
The inherent GPU compute capabilities of the Mali architecture will enable HiSilicon to efficiently open up a range of new use-cases outside traditional graphics processing, including computational photography, image-processing and augmented reality. The ability to connect the CPU and GPU processors coherently will enhance the capabilities of next-generation energy-efficient devices to deliver a user experience above and beyond what has been seen to date in the market.
"The Mali GPU architecture enables HiSilicon to optimize our range of graphics solutions to address next-generation mobile and home device requirements," said George Yiu, Head of Processor BU, HiSilicon. "Mass deployment of heterogeneous computing platforms is becoming more of a reality and I see ARM technology providing a unique advantage to address the needs of smart terminals through to the cloud."
"In the past 12 months we have seen tremendous uptake and growth in the unit shipments of Mali-enabled SoCs across multiple device categories including market leading smartphones, tablets and DTV solutions" said Simon Segars, EVP and General Manager, Processor and Physical IP Divisions, ARM. "By being able to harness and optimize the performance that will be possible through ARM's energy-efficient Cortex processors and Mali GPUs, HiSilicon will be able to provide consumers with richer user experiences in the most energy-efficient way."
About HiSilicon
HiSilicon Technologies Co., Ltd. is a leading chipset solution provider for telecom network, wireless terminal and digital media. HiSilicon has the advantage to provide end-to-end chipsets and solutions from telecom network to consumer electronics. It has been serving more than 200 global operators in over 100 countries and will continue to bring maximum value to global operators and consumers. For more information, please visit www.hisilicon.com
About ARM
ARM designs the technology that is at the heart of advanced digital products, from wireless, networking and consumer entertainment solutions to imaging, automotive, security and storage devices. ARM's comprehensive product offering includes 32-bit RISC microprocessors, graphics processors, video engines, enabling software, cell libraries, embedded memories, high-speed connectivity products, peripherals and development tools. Combined with comprehensive design services, training, support and maintenance, and the company's broad Partner community, they provide a total system solution that offers a fast, reliable path to market for leading electronics companies. Find out more about ARM by following these links:
ARM, AMBA and ARM Powered are registered trademarks of ARM Limited. Cortex, MPCore and Mali are trademarks of ARM Limited. All other brands or product names are the property of their respective holders. "ARM" is used to represent ARM Holdings plc; its operating company ARM Limited; and the regional subsidiaries ARM Inc.; ARM KK; ARM Korea Limited.; ARM Taiwan Limited; ARM France SAS; ARM Consulting (Shanghai) Co. Ltd.; ARM Germany GmbH; ARM Embedded Technologies Pvt. Ltd.; ARM Norway, AS and ARM Sweden AB.
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hokiewill brauchte ein neues Logo Design und hat einen Wettbewerb auf 99designs gestartet.
Aus 112 Designs von 21 Designern wurde eine Gewinner gewählt.
Vertical Applications
After 13 years in the online media space, I recently launched an IT consulting and product development company called Vertical Applications Inc. My partners and I have both breadth and depth of experience (eg. program/project management, product management, web and mobile application development, offshoring, and business process) and are going to initially focus on web consulting, project management, and application development.
We incorporated as "Vertical Applications" so that we could develop product for various verticals (eg. Health Care, Media), but are focusing on a services model to start. We also selected the word Vertical as it is a play on words and also could mean moving up and getting ahead.
We would like our future clients to describe us in the following ways: Practical, a Trusted Advisor, Straightforward, Nimble, Solution-driven, Accountable, Responsive, and someone who's obsessed with Usability, Consumer Experience, and Post-Launch Results.
We plan to partner with US government agencies (~80%) as well as Fortune 2000 companies (~20%). Since our initial foray will be in the federal sector, our logo should not look too fancy or too "artsy". We want the logo to stand out but not take away from our message of being trustworthy and serious about delivering on our commitments - ideally it will be a classic look.
Our potential competitors/business partners have logos on the following sites so hopefully ours can stand out and look more polished/professional:
We are looking for a logo to represent our company - Vertical Applications.
I would like a combination of both an icon and a company name. For example, I like the simplicity of the icon and company name at: http://www.infinitive.com/
I would like a burgundy and light blue icon and/or company name similar to the basketball jersey in the following link (burgundy with light blue edges but would like to see various treatments):
The reason we chose burgundy and light blue is that we feel it'll stand out from our competitors.
Feel free to experiment with the icon in the logo. One idea we had was to use the first word in our company name ("Vertical") signifying that we're moving up or the sky's the limit.
We do not want the logo to look cartoonish. It should be simple, clean, and bold enough to stand out.
This logo (icon and company name) will go on our business cards, marketing collateral, web site, letterhead, apparel, etc so will need to be designed to fit accordingly.
The files we will require are:
Print file format - .ai (CMYK)
Web file format - .jpg and layered .psd (RGB)
Please do not use any stock images or clip art in the logo
Thank you!!
Finden Sie heraus, wie ein Designwettbewerb funktioniert, oder lernen Sie mehr über unsere Logo-Design-Angebote.


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California has filed suit against Wall Street's biggest credit rating agency, Standard & Poor's, charging the firm with violating the state's False Claims Act by using "magic numbers" and "guesses" to inflate ratings that ultimately cost California public pension funds an estimated $1 billion.
The action was filed Tuesday in San Francisco Superior Court and came a day after federal prosecutors filed suit against the bond-rating agency, alleging that S&P gave top marks to troubled mortgage-backed securities that later failed, helping to trigger the financial crisis.
California will seek $4 billion in damages after S&P's ratings cost state pension funds what it estimates are about $1 billion in losses. The state can seek triple damages, along with penalties, under the False Claims Act.
"Those who lost homes in California were first-grade teachers, firefighters … we talk about the impact of S&P's conduct, it's profound," Atty. Gen. Kamala Harris told the Times in Washington after a news conference there announcing the federal and state suits. "They pretended to be an independent agency and we believe the evidence is clear it was quite the contrary."
The barrage of state and federal actions signal an aggressive new push against one of the mortgage crisis' key actors. The California action is the first use of its False Claims Act by Harris to pursue a major player in the mortgage meltdown. Harris in 2011 created a mortgage fraud strike force to pursue investigations related to the housing crisis and said she would use her powers under the act to pursue securities cases.
Under the state law, which makes it a crime to defraud the state, damages of up to three times the amount of the claim can be awarded if the victim was an institutional investor, such as one of the state's pension funds. In particular, the California Public Employees' Retirement System and the California State Teachers' Retirement System invested heavily in mortgage-backed securities and other financial instruments rated by S&P during the boom years.
S&P, which is a unit of publisher McGraw Hill, on Tuesday denounced the state and federal actions.
"The `U.S. Department of Justice~ and some states have filed meritless civil lawsuits against S&P," the company said in a statement. "We will vigorously defend S&P against these unwarranted claims. S&P has always been committed to serving the interests of investors and all market participants by providing independent opinions on creditworthiness based on available information."
The California suit alleges that investors relied on S&P to rate securities because these big investors had access to only general descriptions of the mortgages and other investments backing these securities. Institutional investors relied on S&P because they were required to purchase investments that got a "AAA" rating, meaning they were highly sound and bore little risk.
While S&P has tried in other cases to argue that it was protected under the 1st Amendment to state an opinion about certain financial products, that argument may not hold up if federal or state investigators are able to prove that the ratings agency knowingly gave improper evaluations, said Kurt Eggert, a Chapman University law professor.
"I am not sure that defense will hold if California or the feds can prove that they knowingly did not provide effective ratings," Eggert said. "If the feds and the states can show that the ratings agencies knowingly diverged from their system in order to make money, the 1st Amendment defense might crumble."
The California suit alleges that, from 2004 to 2007, S&P misrepresented to the state pension funds that its ratings were not influenced by economic interests and were based solely on objective analysis. Instead, the company lowered its standards to make money, the suit alleges, and suppressed efforts to develop more accurate models.


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Candidates hear the voices of discontent
The race in the 2nd Congressional District pits a political veteran seeking a fourth term against a local first selectman with nearly three decades of experience running a small business.
U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney, a Democrat, is running for another two-year term representing the state's largest geographic district.
His challenger, Republican Paul Formica, is the three-term East Lyme first selectman who has owned and operated the Flanders Fish Market & Restaurant for 28 years.
The ballot for the Nov. 6 election also will include Green Party candidate Colin Bennett and Dan Reale, Libertarian. But past history suggests the race will come down to the major party candidates.
Courtney has raised more than $1.4 million in campaign contributions - more than 13 times what Formica has raised, $104,421 - according to most recent filings. Since defeating then-U.S. Rep. Rob Simmons by 83 votes on his second try at the seat in 2006, Courtney, a former lawyer, has won his re-election bids handily.
He said in an interview earlier this month that his hope is to return to Washington and to see the House and Senate move past the stalemate that has defined the most recent Congress.
"This is still a very independent-minded district, and you have to go out and hustle," Courtney, 59, said. "The message I'm hearing at home is that people are ready for us to work together and get things done."
Formica, also 59, announced his candidacy in May after Republican Chris Coutu dropped out of the race to run for the 19th state Senate District seat being vacated by Edith Prague.
Formica had less than a week to decide whether he would pursue the state Republican Party nomination. When he won the nod, he faced the challenge of getting his name and message out in towns where he is an unknown.
Formica said a campaign team of 40 interns has used social media, such as Facebook and Internet videos, to get his message out. He visited businesses and traveled the district to towns such as Suffield, Enfield and Somers. In his stops, he said, there was a similar message.
"There's this wave of discontent that's running throughout the country," Formica said last week in a phone interview as he drove back from speaking with a history class at the Morgan School in Clinton.
"People are concerned about a lot of things, and (that concern) doesn't know any political affiliation. They're looking for government to respond and act in a different manner," he said.
Differences on issues
Courtney favors the national health care law while Formica favors some aspects of the law but prefers a more "free market" approach without individual mandates.
Courtney supports a plan that would let tax breaks for the highest-income earners expire - saving more than $800 billion, he said - while finding additional savings in other areas. Formica favors extending the Bush-era tax cuts for all, including the highest-income earners.
A leading player in securing the annual production of two Virginia-class submarines per year to bolster the fortunes of Electric Boat in Groton, Courtney also has been a fierce advocate of legislation that postponed the doubling of interest rates on federally-subsidized student loans.
Formica also has touted the economic impact of continued submarine production in the region, as well as his success in transferring prudent business practices to municipal government. He said East Lyme's budget increases have averaged 1.2 percent over the last five years.
While he is going up against a popular candidate who defeated his last challenger by 21 percentage points, Formica said that precedent has not deterred his campaign.
"It's forced us to do something different," he said. "In all my life in business and customer service, I learned that you have to get up every day and get yourself in front of as many people as you can and make the case for them to do business with you. That's what we're doing."
Bennett, 33, ran unsuccessfully for a state Senate seat and has never held elected office. In debates and other public forums, he has criticized the nation's defense spending and has said more effort should be made to find alternative energy sources, such as wind and solar.
Reale, 30, is a self-described writer and talk show host and also has never held elected office. He has criticized government spending and has been an advocate for health care reform.
Monday's debate
Democrat Rep. Joe Courtney and his Republican challenger, East Lyme First Selectman Paul Formica, are scheduled to take part in a one-hour debate Monday.
The 2nd Congressional District debate will be held at 7 p.m. in Palmer Auditorium on the campus of Connecticut College in New London and will be open to the public. The debate is a cooperative effort of The Day, Conn College and Connecticut Public Television. The debate will be covered live on CPTV stations and streamed live at www.theday.com.
A decision will be made today as to whether the debate will be held as scheduled or rescheduled because of Hurricane Sandy. Check theday.com tonight for the latest.
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