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Egyptian army chief warns of collapse of state
Jan 29, 2013, 2:58 PM EST
(AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)
PORT SAID, Egypt (AP) — Thousands of mourners chanting for the downfall of Egypt's president marched in funerals again Tuesday in the restive city of Port Said as the army chief warned the state could collapse if the latest political crisis drags on.
Army chief Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi's warning, his first comments after six days of rioting and violence across much of the country, appeared aimed at pressuring Islamist President Mohammed Morsi in particular but also his opponents to find some common ground and the worst political crisis to hit Egypt since the ouster of autocrat Hosni Mubarak nearly two years ago.
So far, the military — which for months seems to have had an understanding with Morsi — has allowed him to deal with the crisis and on his orders deployed troops and tanks over the weekend in Port Said and Suez, two riot-torn cities along the strategic Suez Canal.
But it has been willing to go only so far, clearly reluctant to clash with protesters. Troops stood by and watched Monday night as thousands took to the streets in direct defiance of a nighttime curfew and a 30-day state of emergency declared by Morsi in the cities. Residents of the two cities and Ismailiya, a third city also under the emergency, marched just as the curfew came into force at 9 p.m.
The last time el-Sissi delved into politics was late last year when he invited political leaders to an informal gathering to ease tensions during clashes and protests at the time. The invitation was swiftly withdrawn and leaders from Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood later suggested el-Sissi overstepped the boundaries by intervening.
"The continuation of the conflict between the different political forces and their differences over how the country should be run could lead to the collapse of the state and threaten future generations," el-Sissi said, speaking to military cadets in comments posted on the armed forces' Facebook page.
He defended Egyptians' right to protest, while acknowledging that the deployment in the Canal cities put the armed forces in a "grave predicament." He said the troops must balance "avoiding confrontations" with protesters with protecting "vital facilities."
El-Sissi, whom Morsi last year installed in his post and as defense minister, also spoke of a "realistic threat" facing the nation as a result of what he called the political, economic and social challenges.
Tuesday night, the presidential office said Morsi would consider cancelling the state of emergency and the curfew or cut them short if security improved by next week.
The statement appeared aimed at defusing the wave of fury against the president in the three cities. The anger has escalated to a virtual rebellion that many worry could spread to other parts of the country. Already, protesters across much of Egypt are battling police, cutting off roads and railway lines, and besieging government offices and police stations as part of a growing revolt against Morsi and his Islamist group, the Muslim Brotherhood group.
At least 60 people have been killed since Friday.
In Cairo, intense fighting for days around central Tahrir Square engulfed two landmark hotels and forced the U.S. Embassy to suspend public services on Tuesday. The lobby of the five-star Semiramis hotel along the Nile was trashed when armed, masked men attempted to loot it amid clashes outside early Tuesday morning.
In Port Said, scene of the worst violence the past six days, thousands marched in funerals for six of the more than 40 people killed in the city's clashes since Saturday, chanting against Morsi and his Muslim Brotherhood.
"As long as the president's hands are stained in blood, he must leave," said lawyer Mohammed el-Assfouri as he stood outside the city's Mariam mosque where mourners prayed for the dead. A sign carried by one mourner said: "The independent state of Port Said."
Some of the demonstrators in Port Said on Monday night waved white-and-green flags they said were the colors of a new and independent state. Such secession would be unthinkable, but the move underlined the depth of frustration in the city. Tanks were fanned out in the city of some 600,000, located 140 miles northeast of Cairo on the Mediterranean coast and at the tip of the Suez Canal.
Morsi's opponents accuse Islamists of monopolizing power and failing to live up to the ideals of the pro-democracy uprising that ousted authoritarian leader Hosni Mubarak two years ago. Critics say he has failed to tackle the country's massive problems, which range from an economy in free fall to surging crime, chaos on the streets and lack of political consensus.
El-Sissi's comments raised questions over the military's stance if the crisis continues to swell. The military formed the backbone of Mubarak's regime — and those of all presidents since a 1956 coup — and the generals stepped into rule directly after Mubarak's removal in February 2011. The military's nearly 17-month stint in power tainted its reputation in the eyes of many Egyptians who accused it of mismanaging the transition and carrying out human rights abuses.
The Brotherhood largely accepted military rule, seeing it as paving the way to the elections it would eventually win, bringing it to political power. But the relationship was contentious: Before officially handing power over to Morsi after his election, the generals tried to keep sweeping powers. Within two months, Morsi took back the powers, sidelined the top generals and handpicked el-Sissi as defense minister and head of the armed forces.
The wave of unrest has touched cities across much of Egypt since Thursday, including Cairo, the three Suez Canal cities, Alexandria on the Mediterranean in the north and a string of cities in the Nile Delta.
The violence accelerated Friday, the second anniversary of the uprising, with protests to mark the event turning to clashes that left 11 dead, most of them in Suez.
The next day, riots exploded in Port Said after a court convicted and sentenced to death 21 defendants — mostly locals — for a mass soccer riot in the city's main stadium a year ago. Rioters attacked police stations, clashed with security forces in the streets and shots and tear gas were fired at protester funerals.
The mayhem in Port Said was fueled in part by the anger and sense of betrayal that have been simmering in the city following last year's riot, the worst ever in Egyptian soccer.
Protesters and activists, meanwhile, are accusing the police of excessive use of force in dealing with demonstrators. Morsi, in their view, endorsed their tactics when he commended them in a short, televised speech on Sunday night when he declared the state of emergency and curfew.
In Cairo on Tuesday, the area around central Tahrir Square was relatively quiet for most of the day, but clashes between police and rock-throwing protesters intensified by late afternoon and continued into the night. On Monday, protesters and police battled each other in area all day and until late at night in scenes reminiscent of the early days of the 2011 uprising.
The Interior Ministry, which is in charge of the police, said more than a 100 policemen have been injured in the central Cairo clashes since they started on Thursday. The only fatality in the capital in the six days came on Monday when a young man died of gunshot wound.
Early Tuesday morning, police foiled an attempted robbery by 12 masked gunmen at the Semiramis Intercontinental. The luxury hotel is one of the two caught up in clashes around Tahrir Square.
Security officials say the attackers looted shops in the hotel's small mall and smashed glass. They suspect the culprits are criminals who used the rioting outside on the street as cover. AP television footage shows protesters trying to arrest some of the thieves. By Tuesday, the shattered glass facade of the lobby was boarded up and only a few guests remained.
The nearby U.S. Embassy said on its website that it was closing public services on Tuesday because of the security situation.
Hendawi reported from Cairo. AP reporter Amir Makar contributed to this report.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.


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SACRAMENTO — NBA executive Chris Granger is leaving the league offices to become the president of the Sacramento Kings.
Granger worked for the NBA the past 14 years. He has most recently led the league's team marketing and business operations, including assisting Sacramento's ticket and sponsorship efforts since the franchise was sold to Vivek Ranadive in May.
NBA Commissioner David Stern said in a statement Wednesday that "the Kings will benefit greatly from Chris' extensive experience in all facets of team business operations as well as his passion for our game — a passion he shares with the Sacramento business community and the great fans of the Kings."
Granger will oversee the Kings' business operations and direct the development of a proposed new arena in downtown Sacramento. He will start Aug. 1.
Amy Brooks, who has been a senior vice president of the NBA's team marketing and business operations, will succeed Granger in running the department.


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If you're anything like me and on the computer most of the day, email threads about the Packers will come up often (and are always welcome). While it can sometimes get heated, I found this personal thread that took place over the course of 20 emails yesterday to be extremely unfiltered and optimistic. So why not share it with other fans?*
Subject: PACK
TM: Their D has got to be better this year right? I mean it can't get any worse. Clinton-Dix is a HUGE get. Bigger than Peppers IMO. IF they can stay healthy—should be a solid unit. I do think Abbey is going to have a good year too with returning kickoffs and punts and seeing some WR action. Excited for season to start.
JJ: I think Peppers is going to be HUGE. A little worried about Clay and his injury.
TM: What injury? From last year? Rest him entire preseason.
FH: I bet Micah Hyde starts at safety.
TM: F—that I will bet you a 6 pack of Lakefront Riverwest Stein that he does NOT start. No effing way. Clinton-Dix will start week 1. Book it.
FH: I'll take that bet. (Purely on winning the job, not from injury.) McCarthy loves him some Hyde.
TM: Ummm—what does Capers think? I think he has final say on who starts on D. Shake hands…..we have witnesses.
FH: I know Capers does have final say, but I also know that McCarthy doesn't make statements lightly. {shakes hand} YES! First bet of the season. Feels good.
JJ: Great bet. MM wants Hyde on the field all 4 downs. Good problem to have if our D backfield is deep enough that he may not get to play. Outside Corners: Tramon, Shields. Slot: Hayward. Safeties: Burnett and HaHa. Hyde floats between slot and Safety. House backup on the outside. Wow.
TM: F-injuries this year. Also think Bulaga coming back is HUGE as well.
RG: Contract year players: Bulaga, Tramon, Jordy, Randall, Sherrod, J Bush, Raji, House, DuJuan, Boykin.
FH: I have very high expectations for this team, as they do themselves, I would venture to guess.
JJ: I would hope that Jordy, Cobb and Bulaga get deals before the season starts if healthy.
FH: I actually say you let Sherrod and Bulaga battle it out. Both have injury questions.
JJ: Bulaga, when healthy was best RT in the league. If Sherrod is that good, I would agree. Just haven't seen him play in an actual game in a meaningful role. Hope is still in 1st rd. OL material.
RG: Bakhtiari could be the best on the O-Line this year and for years to come. Love him.
FH: Bulaga hasn't played since November of 2012.
JJ: Good point re: Bulaga. That's right he had that weird hip injury before the knee. Really hope he gets back to pro bowl form. Would be huge.
FH: Having Bakhtiari saved the season an equal amount to having Lacy. IMO.
JJ: Can't wait to see what Lacy does in Sophomore campaign. Such a monster. When does Harris even get on the field?
RG: Also think Carl Bradford will be a stud, and the biggest steal of the Packers draft.
*Posted with emailers' permission


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Citrus-squeezer "Citrus", in thermoplastic resin. For over half a century, and with great consistency, the finnish designer Aarnio has designed brightly coloured objects for the house with rounded, geometric shapes that allude to a kind of "children's code." His works, almost all made in plastic, are short, visual tales that combine features both humorous and playful with precise and explicit functional meanings.
The Finnish designer Eero Aarnio (b.1932) is one of the great innovators of modern furniture design. In the 1960s, Eero Aarnio began experimenting with plastics, vivid colors and organic forms, breaking away from traditional design conventions. His now iconic creations include the Ball (1963), the Pastil (1968), and the Bubble (1968) chairs which echo the pop culture and spirit of their time. Many of Aarnio's works are included in the world's most prestigious museums, including Victoria and Albert Museum in London, MoMA in New York and Vitra Design Museum in Weil am Rhein.


text: Korean Job Discussion Forums :: View topic - Back from Japan and depressed Speak Korean Now! Korean Job Discussion Forums"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Teachers from Around the World!" FAQ Search Memberlist Usergroups Register Profile Log in to check your private messages Log in Back from Japan and depressed Goto page 1, 2, 3 Next Korean Job Discussion Forums Forum Index -> General Discussion Forum View previous topic :: View next topic Author Message rickJoined: 20 Feb 2003 Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2003 6:37 am Post subject: japan is not that rosy Well whenever you visit a place it always looks better than when you live there. You've broken your daily routine and the change feels nice. I visited Korea when I was teaching in Japan and had a similar kind of euphoric rush although for different reasons. I've taught in both places. Some prefer one, others prefer the other. I thought Korea was way better. Yeah , Japan is cleaner but they are also a lot more anal and uptight. It is very hard to make friends there and get to know them and the cost of living was so expensive. I lived like a king in Korea compared to Japan. I also liked the food in Korea much better. Korean food rocks in my opinion, that's the thing I miss the most about living there. Don't assume that Japan is better until you've spent more time there and can then make a valid comparison. Back to top Tiger BeerJoined: 07 Feb 2003 Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2003 6:50 am Post subject: Re: Weekend in Japan - back in Korea and depressed! andrew wrote: As soon as I arrived back in Busan for my bus trip home, I encountered the same old things again - every one of them in the first hour. Your problem is you live in BUSAN! I lived there for a year.. and I experienced the exact same thing as you!! Exact same thing!! Now I live in Seoul, and the other 3 times I've went to Japan (from Seoul), I can't wait to get back to Seoul to buy affordable beer in bars, get drunk again without concerns of money, and have extremely tasty Korean galbi again).. plus in my opinion, the nightlife in Seoul is amazing for me.. because in Japan I feel I can't even get drunk much less even afford to get to the nightlife (transportation is outrageously expensive as well).. Plus all the things you are experiencing in Busan (staring, spitting, pushing, etc.), is almost nothing comparitively.. some in Seoul think its the same, but they've definetely definetely never ever lived in Busan.. as its pretty much exactly as you say.. but up here in Seoul.. wow, I usually can't wait to get back to Korea! (However, Japan is a pretty cool place too - and would be better - if it wasn't so expensive).. Seoul is good too.. Busan is not. Back to top gang ah jeeJoined: 14 Jan 2003Location: city of paper Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2003 8:35 am Post subject: ah, you have OMGISMFBINJ syndrome. common. it'll pass. Back to top Duncan McCocinueJoined: 17 May 2003 Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2003 8:52 am Post subject: Andrew. The only cure is to forget about any other country that you have either lived in or visited. Focus on Korea as being the the center of global envy and future world domination. All will eat gimchi!!! All will buy Samsung!!! All will scream "oooowwwaaaaahhhhh" every 6.7 seconds during game shows!!! Forget about other places and truely, fully, become Korean. Convince yourself to forget and never remember. It's the only way. Me, I'm already making plans to open Korean hogwans in numerous strategic locations all over North America. With the blessing of amasing insight I hope to capitalize on the massive demand for the world to learn Korean. The time is near. Come brothers! Come and usher in the world's new titan of power! Be a part of the next 1000 years......be a part of the Korennium!!! Back to top DerrekJoined: 15 Jan 2003 Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2003 7:18 pm Post subject: Duncan McCocinue wrote: Me, I'm already making plans to open Korean hogwans in numerous strategic locations all over North America. With the blessing of amasing insight I hope to capitalize on the massive demand for the world to learn Korean. The time is near. Come brothers! Come and usher in the world's new titan of power! Be a part of the next 1000 years......be a part of the Korennium!!! Don't forget! When the North and South join together -- Korea will be a world superpower to rival the USA!!!! Ask any liberal college student -- You may be on to something! Have you ever thought of teaching at Hongik? Back to top ButterflyJoined: 02 Mar 2003Location: Kuwait Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2003 12:01 am Post subject: Re: Weekend in Japan - back in Korea and depressed! andrew wrote: I just went to Fukuoka for the weekend - it was my first time out of Korea since arriving in January. Now I feel depressed and wish I were teaching in Japan or back home. Has anyone else experienced this feeling and how do you deal with it? I hope to visit Japan again next month if I can. Thanks! Sure, I love Japan, I take breaks in Osaka quite often. I think you just needed a holiday, genuinely, I don't think you'd be any happier if you actually lived in Japan. Take a longer break there next time, go to Tokyo or Osaka, cool places. Come back refreshed. Back to top rapierJoined: 16 Feb 2003 Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2003 1:23 am Post subject: I spent a weekend in Osaka recently and posted up a similar thread- its such a refreshing change!!! However I guess If I worked in Japan long enough I might find a few things wrong there too. However, after 3 brief stopovers in the land of the rising sun, I'm prepared to say its probably a much greater place to be than Korea....The only thing stopping me is the lack of saving potential there....too expensive!! Back to top andrewJoined: 30 Jan 2003 Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2003 2:41 am Post subject: *****Last edited by andrew on Fri Jul 21, 2006 7:55 pm; edited 1 time in total Back to top Duncan McCocinueJoined: 17 May 2003 Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2003 3:46 am Post subject: Oh God.....they've got to Derrick. I bet he's sitting at home right now in his "Be the Reds" shirt spanking to the notion of becoming the only white guy in the inner circle of Korean invaders as they take over the world. Kind of like the Irish lawyer in the Godfather who managed to hang with the "family." Korea has made very impressive progress over the past fifty years and has already established itself as an economic force. As for Korea becomming the future world power, I'd put my money on China in a second over this place. Stop eating so much gimchi, it's getting to ya. Back to top Duncan McCocinueJoined: 17 May 2003 Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2003 3:58 am Post subject: Sorry, I just noticed that it's "Derrek" not "Derrick." Anyways, lay off the gimchi. Back to top LupinIIIJoined: 27 May 2003Location: Corea Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2003 5:42 am Post subject: Let me second what was said above. I lived in Japan for three years, and I've been in Korea for three weeks. Spend more time in Japan, and you'll realise it's not the utopia you think it is, nor is *that* much 'better' than Korea (if at all). What I'm loving about Korea so far: the price of just about everything, a language that you can learn to read in half an hour, more relaxed people, kids who actually try to speak English, and pop stars with good teeth! What I loved about Japan: Japanese manners, less pollution (still a bit of a shock for someone from rural Australia), the general Japanese obsession with doing everything 'properly' (I'm a tad anal myself), and a language that's so bloody hard to read that if you can do it, it's better than magic! I also like Japanese tucker way better, but of course that's up to the individual! Comparisons aside, I think you should just relax. I love Japan, but I don't think it's all it's cracked up to be. Back to top chigtiymerdekhJoined: 02 Jun 2003Location: Johannesburg Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2003 4:22 pm Post subject: Duncan you are the best person on here since nasty dogette. That was funny funny FUNNY . Cheers mate. Who is Butterfly ? Is he being paid by the world famous Korean tourist Board? And does he have a beard, wear cordurouy trousers and a CD collection of Chris de Burgh albums ? Butterfly - go home , put on a Queens of the Stone Age CD, rip up your clothing and DANCE - samsh the windows while you are at it. It IS better in Japan - well that's according to the Gorean logic not mine. Envy, envy, envy ..hatred. Japan and Meegook and some old Europe places ARE nirvana , oh and the Hoju-Kaenada - New Jillaend hinterland axis of peacevil - places Goreans rush to in drovezzzzzzzz. Korea is a place people are happy to leave. Just some mistake the glittering gold (imitation) for real life and get trapped and keep getting sucked back into like bad heroin or just bad music. Tasteless but cheap enough for the undiscerning. Osaka is boring - but it doesnt make Seoul a cool, tolerant and hip place to live either. Fukuoka- nice ; Tokyo - happening. Pusan - uhhh. Nasty nasty nasty . Back to top The Great Wall of WhinerJoined: 24 Jan 2003Location: Middle Land Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2003 5:54 pm Post subject: I lived in Japan. I can tell you that the differences between Japan and Korea are far and few between. Koreans call you fat? Guess what? So do Japanese. But Koreans will say it right in front of you, while Japanese will wait until you have left the train/bus/restaurant. Japanese assume (for the most part) you have learned at least some Japanese. They are actually quite intelligent that way. They play it safe. They won't say "Meitae! Daebu gaijin!" (look! Fat white person!) if they think you can hear them. Koreans on the other hand assume that you do not know Korean and thus make fun of you in your presense with the sometimes false belief you do not understand what they are saying. "Boda! Tung-tung hindungi ya!" (Look! Fat white person!) So in some respects I get real angry to Japanese who, behind your back, say all sorts of nasty crap while the Koreans are more in your face about it. At least Koreans have balls. But on the other hand it is kind of ignorant to assume we foreigners don't have the brain power to learn another language. As for spitting, etc. Japanese do spit, they just make sure no one else sees them. Try going to Taiwan. You think spitting is bad in Korea?? Taiwan is by far worse... Back to top gang ah jeeJoined: 14 Jan 2003Location: city of paper Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2003 7:40 pm Post subject: i'm just back from fukuoka me and i've got a nasty japangover going on. Worst thing was all the people - gaijin and japanese - constantly asking why I would choose to live in Seoul when i could just get a job in japan. i started thinking 'yeah, why the hell not?' I know why not, but still. The fukuoka-seoul gap is tolerable. The fukuoka-busan gap is a bit too wide for my taste. Bit of soju, bit of soma and i'll be fine. Back to top William BeckersonGuest Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2003 9:11 pm Post subject: Whiner is right Oh, and you have better chances of getting laid in Japan. Or, if not, you have better chances of getting decent porno. Back to top Display posts from previous: All Posts1 Day7 Days2 Weeks1 Month3 Months6 Months1 Year Oldest FirstNewest First Korean Job Discussion Forums Forum Index -> General Discussion Forum All times are GMT - 8 HoursGoto page 1, 2, 3 Next Page 1 of 3 Jump to: Select a forum Forums:----------------FAQJob-related Discussion ForumGeneral Discussion ForumOff-Topic ForumTravel ForumCurrent Events ForumTechnology ForumBuy/Sell/Trade Forum You cannot post new topics in this forumYou cannot reply to topics in this forumYou cannot edit your posts in this forumYou cannot delete your posts in this forumYou cannot vote in polls in this forum This page is maintained by the one and only Dave Sperling. Contact Dave's ESL Cafe Copyright © 2018 Dave Sperling. All Rights Reserved. Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2002 phpBB Group TEFL International Supports Dave's ESL Cafe


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Nashville guitarist, Dave Baker, stopped by our booth at a recent trade show to dial in some tones with the Vise Grip, Pickup Booster, and Vapor Trail pedals. Dave is the guitar player for the Kellie Pickler Band, as well as an accomplished studio and solo artist.


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Bad Standing
Head on over and see Jim off of Manzano Road at the northern end of Alderney. You remember Ray Boccino, don't you? If you played through the main quest of Grand Theft Auto IV, then you'll recognize this character as part of the Pegorino crime family. He, just like many other familiar faces, has his hands in what the Lost MC are doing. He gets his "supplies" straight from the Lost, and he doesn't like that the gang has destabilized since Billy went to prison again. He insists that the gang gets their act together so they can continue to do business with each other as usual. Johnny decides that it's time to see Brian as a result of all of this, and bids adieu to his crew for the time being.
Billy's safehouse is located at the southern end of Alderney, still on the main island that makes up a majority of the borough. More specifically, you can find the safehouse on the western edge of Emery Street, which is the southernmost horizontal route before you cross either Mandrel Road or Latchkey Avenue to reach the industrial section of the borough. When you arrive, you'll see Brian speaking on the phone. We'll go in after him shortly, but first, read the text message Jim sends to you at this point, and follow its advice. Call your boys for backup.
Regardless of whether or not you choose to utilize your friends to help you is irrelevant to how the task at hand is ultimately executed. You won't be able to breach the front door of the safehouse. Rather, you'll need to work your way around to the tiny, fenced-in backyard of the house. The back door, of course, is wide open. Now, it's important to realize here that Brian isn't alone in the house. Though he is the only red dot on your HUD, the house has about eight enemies within that you'll need to take out before you get to Brian himself. Start by clearing the first floor of thugs, scouring their bodies for dropped ammunition.
Once the first floor is devoid of hostile movement, you're free to head on up to the second floor, where Brian has conveniently stowed himself away. The biggest hazard in the house happens to be the shotgun-toting foe guarding the stairs, however, so head up cautiously. Then, once upstairs, deal with the final residuals of Brian's personal guard before eliminating the traitor himself. Though he swears up and down that Billy put him up to this, which actually sounds likely, it doesn't matter. For the Lost to move on and conduct business as usual, Brian must be eliminated. Execute him as ruthlessly as you so desire to finish this mission successfully.
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RICHMOND, Va. – After having a pair of athletes qualify for the ECAC/IC4A Outdoor Championships on Friday, the VCU Track & Field progams had a slew of student-athletes reserve spots at the outdoor championships later this spring with solid performance on Saturday at the Fred Hardy Invitational on Saturday at University of Richmond.
"I am pleased with what I saw this weekend but we still need to improve in some areas," added VCU head coach Jon Riley. "We've been putting money into the bank and it is getting close to the time to make some withdraws."
The Rams had a pair of relay squads qualify, in the men's & women's 4x400 relay teams. The men's side of freshman Darius Vaughn, junior Dominic Costanzo, sophomore Andrew Shipp and freshman George Moore finished in second place in a time of 3:15.81. The time was nearly two seconds faster than the IC4A qualifying mark.
The women's relay side of sophomore Niaimani Aduma, sophomore Sherrie Timberlake, freshman Nicole Grasty and freshman Amethyst Polk turned in a third place finish in a time of 3:50.41. The time fell under the qualifier, giving these four Rams the chance to compete at ECACs.
Junior thrower Frank Afriyie qualified in the discus, after earning first place honors in the event. The Alexandria, Va., native's toss traveled a distance of 49.86 meters and past the 47.50 IC4A qualifying mark. Freshman Ryan Coles earned a fifth place finish in the same event, heaving the discus 47.32 meters, just shy of the qualifying mark.
"Frank has really begun to let his training come through in recent weeks," added VCU assistant coach Ethan Tussing. "His consistency has improved and he's returning to his old form by throwing far and winning meets. We look forward to seeing where he can take it from here the rest of the outdoor season."
For the VCU women, redshirt sophomore Jessica Williams grabbed a second place finish in the discus, heaving the object 45.46 meters. The toss was nearly three meters past the qualifying mark. Senior Julia Anyaugo claimed a fourth place finish, with a 41.95 meter toss.
Vaughn had quite a day on the individual side, claiming a fifth place finish in the 400 meters (49.03 seconds) and a sixth place finish in the 200 meter dash (21.97 seconds).
Sophomore sprinter Chase Turner earned himself a first place finish in the 110 meter hurdles, crossing the finish line in 15.23 seconds.
In the women's 200 meter dash, Grasty placed fourth overall, and second among collegiate competition with a time of 24.83 seconds.
Senior Rachel Montague garnered a fifth place finish in the 100 meter hurdles, crossing the finish line in 15.24 seconds.
Freshman Sarah Fulgham placed in the long jump, coming in fourth place after leaping 5.47 meters.
The Rams will travel to Gainesville, Florida this upcoming weekend (April 6-7) for the Florida Relays.


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An Orange County elementary school teacher who was arrested in January for hoarding more than 400 mostly dead snakes in his home pleaded guilty on Thursday to failing to care for the animals.
Police searched the home of William Fredrick Buchman, a sixth grade teacher at Mariners Elementary School in Newport Beach, after being notified of a dead animal smell coming from the house.
Authorities found 240 dead and 182 living ball pythons in the home, which smelled "God-awful," Santa Ana police said. Of the living snakes, 20 died after being found.
The house was also infested with rats and mice that had not been fed and were cannibalizing each other, officials said.
After pleading guilty, Buchman was ordered to do 100 hours of community service and attend a 16-session animal cruelty class. He also cannot own or live with pets for five years.
Buchman paid about $17,000 to Southern California Herpetology Association and Rescue, which disposed of the dead snakes and rescued the living ones.
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According to Buchman's attorney Paul Meyer, the neglect of the snakes stemmed from Buchman's grief over his mother, who died three years ago.
"The depression paralyzed him and he tragically neglected the reptiles which had been a family hobby," Meyer told City News Service, adding that Buchman, who is on leave from the elementary school, has donated his reptile cages to a rescue organization.


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The Road to a Healthier You
Kelcey Davis, Class of 2013
A lot of people groan when they hear words like exercise and healthy eating. If you're part of that group, perhaps it's time for an introduction to Kelcey Davis '13, who spent part of her senior year convincing, motivating and inspiring CofC employees to take health into their own hands.
As part of Davis' research for her Honors College bachelor's essay, the exercise science major presented a series of fitness and nutrition lectures to more than 30 employees of the College's physical plant this past winter, as well as supervised their workouts at a campus gym. With explainers on how to read food nutrition labels and the causes of heart disease and high blood pressure, Davis aimed to not only make participants feel healthier, but also to prevent significant medical problems. The response she received from physical plant employees was overwhelming: they couldn't get enough of Davis' enthusiasm, know-how and recipes for healthy dishes.
"There's a health focus and camaraderie that didn't exist before," says Debbie Shumate, physical plant's staffing and training manager. "Everybody just fell in love with her."
Davis worked with professor of exercise science Tim Scheett to develop the fitness program. Perhaps, most impressive, says Scheett, was Davis' foresight to conduct a focus group before starting the program, investigating what health concerns were most pressing for her audience.
"Instead of deciding what they needed," Scheett says, "she listened to the people and gave them what they wanted."
And what the people wanted was more information on diseases that threatened themselves and their families, including high cholesterol, heart problems and diabetes. Davis responded by teaching them how to be a better buyer and preparer of healthy foods, showing them the ins and outs of nutrition labels and suggesting healthier substitutes for many of their favorite foods, such as replacing the mayonnaise in chicken salad with avocado. Davis even made some of the foods herself and brought them to class to share, prompting her students to beg her for the recipes.
But eating better is only half the battle. Davis also encouraged her students to exercise, and taught many people for the first time how to use weights and fitness equipment. According to Davis' end-of-program survey, 57 percent of students who had never previously exercised regularly, now do, and 26 percent of people who had already exercised regularly now work out even more often. About 87 percent of her students, she proudly says, have more confidence exercising.
For Shumate, Davis helped give her a more complete understanding of what it means to be healthy. Shumate had already lost some weight in the last year, but Davis helped her realize that true health involves more than staying thin.
"I was setting my whole success by the scale," says Shumate, who credits Davis for offering tips that have boosted her energy, improved her sleeping and lowered her blood pressure.
Shumate is not alone. Scheett says Davis has made a big difference in the well-being of many physical plant employees, not to mention the health of their loved ones who are also affected by a family's eating and exercise habits. That's music to Davis' ears, and she hopes that her wellness lessons have permanently empowered her students.
"Nutrition, fitness and exercise are the keys to preventing all these diseases that are becoming epidemics," Davis observes. "They don't have to be a victim to diabetes or whatever condition. I hope it opened their eyes that they have control over their health."


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December 15, 1952 - November 27, 2012
New Paltz, NY
Claude A. Stone, a lifelong resident of New Paltz, died at home on November 27, 2012, surrounded by family and friends. Born on December 15, 1952, he was the son of Joan E. Stone, who resides in New Paltz. He was predeceased by his father, Claude J. Stone.
Claude graduated from New Paltz High School in 1971 and then enlisted in the United States Air Force during the Vietnam Era, where he spent 18 months overseas in Okinawa, Japan. On July 19, 1980, he married the love of his life, Dorothy "Dot" McGrath, who survives him at home.
He considered himself a lucky man. Claude was a family man with old time values who did whatever it took to support his family. He was a wonderful husband and father, brother and son, who loved more than anything spending time with his family and friends. He was a voracious reader and history buff, and was a founding member of the Mid-Hudson Area Wargaming Society (MAWS). These passions and his love of travel afforded him many opportunities to visit historic sites, among the numerous vacations he enjoyed with his family. Claude was a lover of the outdoors and a natural athlete. He played for many years in the New Paltz Men's Softball League.
Starting in high school, Claude worked in the family business, Claude J. Stone and Sons Excavating. He recently retired from NYSDOC, spending his career of 18 years at Eastern Correctional Facility in Napanoch.
In addition to his wife, Dorothy "Dot" Stone, Claude is survived by daughter and son-in-law, Kelly and David Stone, and son, Jason Stone, all of New Paltz. He is also survived by his sister and brother-in-law, Karen and Vincent Sickles, and his brother and sister-in-law, Joseph and Linda Stone, all of Highland, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and many brothers and sisters in-law.
Calling hours will be held on Sunday, December 2, 2012 from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at Copeland's Funeral Home, 162 South Putt Corners Road, New Paltz. The funeral service will be held on Monday, December 3, 2012 at 10 a.m., at the funeral home, followed by interment at New Paltz Rural Cemetery.
Memorial donations may be made to Hospice Foundation, Inc., Memorial Gift Program, 34 Broadway, Kingston, NY 12401. For driving directions or online condolences, please visit www.copelandfhnp.com


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Energy Code Compliance
Our certified Home Energy Rating System (HERS) raters provide building plan analysis; energy modeling; field inspections; and blower-door and duct-blast tests to help builders achieve compliance with municipal and state energy codes.
The US Environmental Protection's Agency ENERGY STAR program sets home standards that save money and protect the climate through superior energy efficiency. PSL Integrated Solutions can help builders and architects select the core energy efficiency measures, complete the necessary inspection checklists and field-testing, and ultimately issue the ENERGY STAR label and certificate.
LEED for Homes
PSL Integrated Solutions has the technical knowledge, experience, and credibility to help clients meet the US Green Building Council's certificate standards for residential construction projects that save energy, use fewer resources, reduce pollution, and contribute to healthier environments for their occupants and the community.


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Five local graduating high school student-athletes have been selected to receive annual scholarships from the Grand Strand Running Club.
Myrtle Beach's Nicholas Silvestri, North Myrtle Beach's Ashley Buck, St. James' Billy Krier and Socastee's Will Caswell and Christian Talbot will share in the $3,500 awarded by the GSRC.
"We are very proud to give back to our community, and as club members, we should all be proud that our race fees go to assisting these upstanding young men and women finance their collegiate studies," said Dr. Jim Troxell, who headed the scholarship selection committee and interviewed candidates along with other club members.
"This year's recipients equally excel in the classroom and on the track. They all truly fit the role of scholar athletes – well balanced in academics, athletics and community service."
The honorees will officially receive their scholarships at a ceremony following Saturday's Little River 5K. Recepients will be attending Clemson, South Carolina and the College of Charleston in the fall.
Panthers power up, push through for region crown
Long before Carolina Forest's volleyball team clinched another region championship, [more]
Infamous red Jeep back in national spotlight at CMS
Just when you thought it was safe to go back [more]
Coast FA holds free soccer ball giveaway
You've heard of taking a free kick in soccer, but [more]
Panthers take region title, four local teams advance
The Carolina Forest girls golf team captured the Region 6-5A [more]
NMB nips rival MB by one stroke to win region crown
Monday's Region 6-4A girls golf tournament came down to a [more]
Record crowd sees Chants fall short to Georgia State
Coastal Carolina football held the Georgia State Panthers scoreless in [more]
Region 6-5A: Tigers top Braves; Panthers rip SF
Conway appeared to find its identity last week, pummeling West [more]
Region 6-4A: Chiefs suffer first defeat; MB dominates
Zayshaun Rice faked a pop pass to a receiver streaking [more]
Thursday Wrapup: MB golf, CF volleyball edge rivals
The Carolina Forest volleyball team's quest to complete an undefeated [more]
Seahawks QB Doty finalist for elite title of Mr. Football
Luke Doty is already considered one of the best quarterbacks [more]
Tuesday Roundup: NMB, CF sweep on Senior Night
The North Myrtle Beach volleyball team celebrated its Senior Night [more]
Edwards making his mark in Gamecock record book
Before Bryan Edwards was breaking records at South Carolina. Before [more]
BUFC, Coast teams prevail at Great Carolina Shootout
The Beach United Football Club crowned a pair of champions [more]
Region 6-5A: Tigers light up Knights; Panthers roll
Conway returned to its roots Friday night and used a [more]
Region 6-4A: Seahawks, Chiefs dominate debuts
Many high school quarterbacks would consider what Luke Doty has [more]
Chiefs using top tourneys to prep for 4A title defense
The defending Class 4A state champion North Myrtle Beach volleyball [more]
Thursday Roundup: Region hot streak continues for CF
The Carolina Forest volleyball team, unbeaten in Region 6-5A play, [more]
Carolina Forest swim team sweeps region meet titles
Carolina Forest High School's boys and girls swim teams bested [more]
Monday Roundup: Gray, NMB see close seconds
For the second straight week the North Myrtle Beach volleyball [more]
Mountaineers manhandle Chants in Sun Belt opener
The Coastal Carolina football team suffered a 56-37 loss at [more]
Week 5: Braves end skid; MB wins ugly Victory Bell
How do you know when you have a pretty good [more]
Carolina Forest swimmers sweep in regional tuneup
With the SCHSL regional meets less than one week away, [more]
Thursday Roundup: CF, NMB volleyball stay hot
The Carolina Forest volleyball team capped a hectic week with [more]
Coastal soccer's Docking reaches 300-win milestone
In 1997, the Coastal Carolina men's soccer team was 4-2 [more]
Despite loss, Panthers run into top 10 of 5A rankings
Carolina Forest, welcome to the party. The Panthers' football team, for [more]
Panthers power up, push through for region crown
Long before Carolina Forest's volleyball team clinched another region championship, [more]
Infamous red Jeep back in national spotlight at CMS
Just when you thought it was safe to go back [more]


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Oct 5 (Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court agreed on Friday to review the ability of a federal agency to set its own jurisdiction, in a decision that could affect the ability to deploy wireless telephone services across the United States.
At issue in the case was the ability of the Federal Communications Commission to step in and help further the placement of wireless communications facilities when state and local governments failed to act on applications fast enough, even if it means superseding local zoning standards.
(Reporting By Terry Baynes and Jonathan Stempel in New York; editing by Christopher Wilson)
euters.com)(646)(223-8022)(Reuters Messaging: email@example.com))
Keywords: USA COURT/FCC ZONING


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Pinstripe Suit is a high-octane six-piece swing and vocal jazz ensemble run by London-based jazz singer/pianist Robin Phillips. The band includes both female and male vocals and a super tight two-piece brass sectio
Featuring original arrangements by Robin, this energetic ensemble specialises in classic swing music from across the 20th century as well as the high-energy swing revival music of the 1990s, as featured in films such as 'Swingers' and 'The Mask'.
+ LATE SET (as four-piece)
The Pinstripe Suit Quartet will also be playing a Late Set from 00.30 to take you on into the early hours. Cover will be charged at £4 for guests staying on and £5 on the door.


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Bill O'Brien has decided not to bolt for the NFL and will stay at Penn State for more than one season. And according to David Jones of PennLive.com, O'Brien will remain with the school thanks in part to a $1.3 million donation from one wealthy booster.
Sources at Penn State told Jones that the donation from donor Terry Pegula will be added to O'Brien's salary, raising his total compensation 56.5% to $3.6 million in 2013. Pegula was an active member in the recruitment of O'Brien to Penn State following the dismissal of Joe Paterno.
O'Brien said as recently as late November that his "plan" was to stay at Penn State. However, O'Brien confirmed to Jones that he "entertained overtures from multiple NFL clubs." When asked, O'Brien did not deny that he used those discussions as leverage for unspecified "structural and personnel changes" in the school's athletic department.


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The number of complaints against doctors in the UK is on the rise, according to widespread media coverage. The Daily Telegraph has reported that complaints have reached a "record high", while the Daily Mail says that GPs are "rude, dishonest and hard to understand".
The headlines are based on a new report by the General Medical Council (GMC), the organisation that oversees, registers, and licenses doctors practicing medicine in the UK.
The three most commonly reported types of complaint were related to:
- concerns with investigations and treatment, such as failure to diagnose or prescribing inappropriate medications
- problems with communication – such as not providing appropriate information or not responding to people's concerns
- perceived lack of respect for the patient – such as being rude or dishonest
In total, the GMC received 8,781 complaints in 2011, of which 2,330 resulted in a full investigation (due to the severity of the allegation or the strength of the evidence).
However, the most serious sanction available to the GMC, removing a doctor's licence to practice medicine (being 'struck off'), was only used 65 times.
It is important to put these figures into context. It is estimated that there are over 100 million patient-doctor interactions each year in the NHS. So a 'complaint-rate' of less than 0.001% per interaction is something that most industries would kill for.
Also, as the GMC points out, the rise in complaints may not be due to worsening services, but could be the result of rising patient expectations and an increased willingness to complain.
Still, we can never afford to be complacent about patient safety and this report offers some useful suggestions about how it can be improved.
Who produced the report?
The report was produced by the General Medical Council (GMC) which registers and licenses doctors to practice medicine in the UK and has four main functions:
- keeping an up-to-date register of qualified doctors in the UK – you are not legally entitled to practice medicine as a doctor in the UK if you are not registered with the GMC
- fostering good medical practice
- promoting high standards of medical education and training
- dealing firmly, yet fairly, with doctors whose fitness to practice is in doubt
The report, called 'The state of medical education and practice in the UK' presents a profile of the medical profession in the UK, and is the second if its kind produced by the GMC .
Where possible the report compared data from this 2011 report with the 2010 report to highlight changes or trends. Four main areas were included in the report:
- changes in the medical profession in the last year, such as the number of doctors working part-time, or the number of registered doctors who received their training in another country
- medical practice at different stages of a doctor's career, including how types of complaints vary over a doctor's professional life, and the importance of tailoring support for them
- whether medical practices differed in different environments (for example, the difference between a busy inner-city hospital and a hospital that served a rural community) and whether these factors impacted on both the level and types of complaints received
- possible methods that could be used to overcome barriers to good medical practice, including changes that may be required to ensure the profession can meet existing and future challenges and healthcare needs
What data is the report based on and how reliable is it?
The report used data that the GMC routinely collects on registering doctors, quality assuring medical education and assessing doctors' fitness to practice.
Registration data was obtained from three registers, although the report notes that this data has some limitations, including that the specialty recorded for a doctor is the specialty they qualified in, and may not reflect the doctor's current area of practice. Some doctors often move from one related field into another as their training and experience progresses throughout their career.
For comparing differences in patterns of complaints at different points in doctors' careers, fitness to practice data was used and this included complaints reported to the GMC between January 1 2007 and December 31 2011. It also included complaints that were considered concluded during this time. The report notes that characteristics of doctors such as age group and time since primary qualification were considered in isolation, with no adjustments made to account for the influences of other factors, which means that the results present broad observations, but do not draw conclusions about causality (for example, whether age or experience itself is an important cause of more complaints).
Various pieces of external evidence were also included in the report, including data on patient experience surveys and data from NHS written complaints, as well as data from international and European regulators and other UK health professional regulators.
What were the key findings of the report?
The key findings from this report were:
- the number of doctors on the register has grown, and for the first time women doctors on the register exceed 100,000
- the number of complaints made to the GMC increased by 23% from 7,153 in 2010 to 8,781 in 2011 which the report notes appears to be part of a wider trend experienced internationally and in other health professions across the UK
- the likelihood that the GMC will investigate a doctor has increased from 1 in 68 in 2010 to 1 in 64 in 2011
- the GMC received more complaints about men, older doctors and GPs, which is consistent with the pattern of complaints in 2010
- among the complaints, concerns about how doctors interacted with patients have increased most, with allegations tending to involve issues about doctors' communication skills and how they interact with patients (allegations about communication increased by 69% and lack of respect rose by 45%)
- there is evidence that patient outcomes are worse during the evenings and weekends, which are times when fewer senior doctors work
- a small, but worryingly significant, minority of doctors developed health problems related to alcohol and /or substance abuse
It is worth noting that according to the report, the number of doctors falling seriously below the standards expected of them remains very small and that a rise in the number of complaints does not mean that medical standards are falling. As the report points out, 'Several factors may have contributed to this increase (such as)… rising patient expectations and better informed patients who have access to a greater range of information (particularly online). Other factors such as greater equality in modern society have also influenced people's relationships with professionals, including the patient-doctor relationship and what patients expect from it.'
In 2011, 65 doctors were permanently removed from the register (struck off), removing their right to practise medicine in the UK, this compares to 73 in 2010.
The GMC is introducing a series of measures to deal with the rise in complaints, including:
- a helpline for doctors to raise issues they may have with the GMC in confidence
- major reforms of the fitness to practice procedures
- launching a new version of 'Good Medical Practice' guidance later this year
Who complained, and what did they complain about?
Out of the 8,781 complaints received by the GMC:
- 5,665 (64.5%) came from the general public
- 1,481 (16.85%) came from people working for public bodies, such as the police or the coroners' service
- 1,635 (18.6%) came from what was described as the 'other' category – this included other doctors and healthcare professionals
Almost 3 out of 4 complaints involved male doctors, although it is important to note that 57% of all registered doctors were men.
The three most complained about issues were:
- complaints relating to treatment and /or investigation (2,643 or 30.1%)
- complaints about a lack of effective communication between doctor and patient (789 or 9%)
- complaints about a lack of respect for patients (679 or 7.75%)
What action did the GMC take?
Out of the 8,781 complaints, the GMC:
- closed down 4,914 complaints after an initial assessment as it was felt that they did not raise an issue about the doctor involved being fit to practice
- carried out a preliminary enquiry into 1,537 complaints to check for wider concerns
- carried out a full investigation in 2,330 complaints
- temporarily suspended 93 doctors from the register
- permanently removed 65 doctors from the register
How did the media report the story?
While the actual statistics provided in the report were reported accurately, there was some degree of 'editorialising' where various papers put forth their own theories to explain the rise in complaints.
For example, the Daily Mail implied that that foreign-trained doctors were more likely to be the subject of complaints, when this was not actually the case, as stated by the report (though in cases when foreign-trained doctors were the subject of complaints, there was a trend of the complaints being more serious).
What recommendations did the report make?
The report identified four areas where there is a need for 'further debate' and action to address the identified barriers to good medical practice:
- the size and shape of the medical workforce – including an ongoing discussion about what is expected of doctors and what support is required for them
- the rising tide of complaints – understanding what might lead to a complaint, what the complaint is about, and the environments from which complaints are made
- tailored support for doctors across their career including supporting doctors who may have unhealthy levels of stress
- gaining a better understanding of how organisational factors can affect medical practice
In discussing the report's findings, GMC chief executive Niall Dickson said 'we are committed to enhancing patient safety and improving the quality of medical care across the UK. Critical to this is the new system of regular checks for all doctors – known as revalidation – which we plan to introduce from the end of this year. We also need to respond to the rising number of complaints about doctors – a pattern seen across healthcare. We are investing more in this area and we are rolling out a package of measures both to protect patients and provide greater support for doctors during the course of their careers.'
Analysis by Bazian
Edited by NHS Website
Links to the headlines
Complaints about doctors up 23% in year
BBC News, 18 September 2012
GPs? Rude, dishonest and hard to understand: Patients' verdict as complaints rise by 24%
Daily Mail, 18 September 2012
'Back to basics' call after record complaints about doctors
The Daily Telegraph, 18 September 2012
Further reading
General Medical Council.
The state of medical education and practice in the UK report: 2012
Published September 2012


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The recent Allentoft et al. paper on the ancient genomics of Eurasia featured an Early Bronze Age Corded Ware/proto-Unetice individual belonging to Y-haplogroup R1a. His remains came from a kurgan burial in present-day Greater Poland, or Wielkopolska, known as one of the four Pyramids of Wielkopolska.
Of course, R1a is by far the most common Y-haplogroup in Poland today, and Greater Poland is generally accepted to be the cradle of the Polish nation.
It's tempting to think that all of this isn't just a happy coincidence, and that this kurgan man and/or his close relatives are the ancestors of modern-day Poles. Considering that we have some of his genome, can we actually test this hypothesis?
Unfortunately, the sequence by itself is too limited to allow such a high resolution analysis. However, the Allentoft et al. dataset includes six other Bronze Age samples from Poland; one other Corded Ware individual from Greater Poland, and five Unetice individuals from Silesia. Thus, it's possible to combine these samples and at least run a preliminary analysis comparing them to present-day Europeans, including Poles, to test their affinities.
The only reliable way to do this is to use formal statistics, and specifically D-statistics. That's because, unlike model-based analyses, D-stats ignore recent genetic drift and, unlike f3-stats, they're able to discriminate correctly at a very fine scale between samples with somewhat different numbers of markers. Below are two sets of results of the form D(Outgroup, PopulationTest) (Population1, Population2).
D(Ju_hoan_North, Poland_Bronze_Age) (BedouinB, European)Basically, what the results show is that western Poland was inhabited by a very northern people during the Bronze Age. They were similar to present-day Balts, Scandinavians, Irish, and Poles.
D(Ju_hoan_North, Poland_Bronze_Age) (Polish, European)
Indeed, in these sorts of tests small Northern European countries tend to get the best scores with most prehistoric Europeans. I believe that this isn't just because of shared ancestry, but also relative isolation and homogeneity. So the fact that Poland is the only really big country at the top of the list above might be very important.
That's pretty much it for now. As far as I can see, there's nothing to suggest that present-day Poles can't be the direct descendants of these ancients. But as I say, this was a preliminary analysis and a work in progress. I'll revisit this issue when more samples come in. By the way, I also ran a bunch of other D-stats that might be of interest.
D(Ju_hoan_North, Bell_Beaker) (BedouinB, European)
D(Ju_hoan_North, Corded_Ware) (BedouinB, European)
D(Ju_hoan_North, EHG) (BedouinB, European)
D(Ju_hoan_North, Hungary_BA) (BedouinB, European)
D(Ju_hoan_North, Loschbour) (BedouinB, European)
D(Ju_hoan_North, Motala_HG) (BedouinB, European)
D(Ju_hoan_North, Stuttgart) (BedouinB, European)
D(Ju_hoan_North, Unetice_EBA) (BedouinB, European)
D(Ju_hoan_North, Yamnaya) (BedouinB, European)
It's useful to plot D-stats against each other when looking for patterns in the data. For instance, in the graphs below Basques and southern French often look like obvious outliers. What this means is that there's something peculiar about their genetic history. What might that be I wonder? Any suggestions?
The present-day Polish samples, eleven in all, came from here. Most of the other samples are from the Allentoft et al. (Rise Project), Haak et al. and Lazaridis et al. datasets, all of which are publicly available.
See also...
R1a-Z280 from Early Bronze Age Northern Poland
R1a1a from an Early Bronze Age warrior grave in Poland


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The culprit is likely not age, as is commonly believed, but the change in hormone balance that occurs during the menopause transition, according to researchers at Rush University Medical Center.
"Of all the factors we analyzed that could possibly account for the increase in visceral fat during this period in a woman's lifetime, levels of active testosterone proved to be the one most closely linked with abdominal fat," said Imke Janssen, PhD, assistant professor of preventive medicine and the study's lead investigator.
The study, which has been published early online in the medical journal Obesity, included 359 women in menopausal transition, ages 42 to 60, about half black and half white. Fat in the abdominal cavity was measured with CT scans, a more precise measurement than waist size. Blood tests were used to assess levels of testosterone and estradiol (the main form of estrogen). Medical histories covered other health factors possibly linked with an increase in visceral fat.
Statistical analyses showed that the level of "bioavailable" testosterone, or testosterone that is active in the body, was the strongest predictor of visceral fat.
A woman's age did not correlate significantly with the amount of visceral fat. Nor did race or other cardiovascular risk factors.
The level of estradiol also bore little relationship to the amount of visceral fat.
Visceral fat, surrounding internal organs around the waistline, is metabolically different from subcutaneous fat, which is fat located beneath the skin. Research has shown that visceral fat is a source of inflammation that contributes to premature atherosclerosis and risk of acute coronary syndrome.
The study's findings extend earlier research conducted by Janssen on testosterone's link with what is called the metabolic syndrome during the menopausal transition, published in the Archives of Internal Medicine in 2008. That study, examining women six years before and six years after their final menstrual period, found that the rise in metabolic syndrome – a collection of risk factors for heart disease – corresponded with the rise in testosterone activity.
"For many years, it was thought that estrogen protected premenopausal women against cardiovascular disease and that the increased cardiovascular risk after menopause was related only to the loss of estrogen's protective effect," said Janssen. "But our studies suggest that in women, it is the change in the hormonal balance – specifically, the increase in active testosterone – that is predominantly responsible for visceral fat, and for the increased risk of cardiovascular disease."
Other researchers at Rush involved in the study were Lynda Powell, PhD, Dr. Rasa Kazlauskaite and Dr. Sheila Dugan.
The study was funded by the National Institutes of Health and the Charles J. and Margaret Roberts Trust.


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Swimming Pool Blog
Slip & Fall Hazards around the Pool
by Sean Griffin, October 13, 2009
Accidents occur wherever we go. We are human and mistakes happen but to limit dangers and hazards we need to pay attention to detail and do our part to prevent injuries. A swimming pool in the backyard is a place of relaxation and recreation but also has the ingredients to become a safety hazard.
Unforgiving concrete decks combined with water can create a danger. Address any low spots in surrounding deck to avoid water from pooling. Certain algae can bloom on the surface of the decking and become a make shift "slip-n-slide".
In addition to slipping on wet surfaces there are also dangers involved with tripping. Make sure there are no trip hazards around the pool, the only thing worse than tripping is stubbing a toe…OUCH! Customers who own a safety cover secured by anchors that have been drilled into the deck should make sure that when removing cover to recess anchors into the deck completely making them flush. When the ground shifts it can also make the decking unlevel and account for a trip hazard. Decking can be removed and re-leveled and anchors can be replaced. Extra caution is needed when your pool is emptied or under construction. Always make sure self-latching gates are functioning to avoid unwanted visitors.
Preventing Slip-and-Fall Injuries:
Common methods for preventing backyard pool injuries include:
-Ensuring walkways and pedestrian areas are free from obstacles and tripping-hazards
-Making sure that pool-side walkways have adequate traction and non-slip surface covering
-Place handrails in dangerous areas
-Consider fencing or other protective barriers to prevent accidental falls into the pool
-Place warning signs reminding pedestrians of potential hazards
-Do not allow people to run or play on slippery surfaces
Here are some stats concerning pool related slip and falls:
A "slip and fall" or "trip and fall" is the generic term for an injury which occurs when someone slips, trips or falls as a result of a dangerous or hazardous condition on someone else's property. It includes falls as a result of water, ice or snow, as well as abrupt changes in flooring, poor lighting, or a hidden hazard, such as a gap or hard to see hole in the ground. The National Center for Injury Prevention and Control estimates that in 2004, more than 8 million people were injured in falls.
Fall related injuries are of large concern, mostly to older individuals. According to the Center for Disease Control, in 2005, 15,800 people age 65 and older died from fall-related injuries, 1.8 million age 65 and older were treated in emergency rooms for fall-related injuries, and over 433,000 of these people were hospitalized.
If you are on someone else's property and injure yourself as a result of a dangerous condition on the property, the landowner or business proprietor may be liable for your injuries. If you are a property owner and someone injures himself on your land, you may find yourself legally responsible for his or her injuries. So, take a "Slip & Fall" assessment of your entire facility or property, and work to remove trip and slip hazards.


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LD Business Management Executive Program
Tarrytown, New York, USA the week of October 1.
Day 1: Marketing and Products
- Overview of the Principles of Healthineers™
- Siemens Healthineers Division
- Meet the Global Vice President LD MSC
- LD Global Marketing strategy
Atellica® family
Automation and IT
Assays/Disease States
- Communications strategy
- Optional dinner
Day 4: CRM and Finance
- CRM continued
- Finance excellence
- Instrument forecasting process
- Business Partner Management
- Executive Program Management Team Dinner
Day 2: Research & Development (R&D), Site Tours, and Product Lifecycle Management
- Product Development and Assay R&D
- Research and Development Tarrytown laboratory tour
- Product Lifecycle Management
- Quality process
- Flanders facility tour
- Group activity
- Dinner
Day 5: Tailored One-on-one Meetings
We are happy to offer one-on-one meetings to colleagues who wish to have more in-depth discussions or training on specific topics. The meeting will be arranged with the relevant Tarrytown colleague on Friday morning to maximize the week.
Day 3: Services and CRM
- Healthcare Consulting Solutions organization
- COF2 Value and the proof point library
- Value Adding Services
- Customer Care Service overview
- Group activity
- Business Management and Consulting Relationship Management (CRM)
- Free evening
Please contact Hilda Crockett at firstname.lastname@example.com
The Agenda is subject to change prior to the start of the Program


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While auto industry watchers anticipate a slowdown in vehicle sales from the torrid pace of the first half of 2012, economists say sales will be good for years.
The reason: pent-up demand.
The average passenger car on U.S. roads is more than 11 years old and -- in a self-fulfilling prophecy -- as the economy improves, housing gradually recovers and consumer confidence grows, people will become more willing to invest hard-earned dollars in new, state-of-the-art, fuel-efficient vehicles to replace their thirsty old clunkers, analysts say.
"That is a gift that will start giving to the U.S. economy as we get into the '13, '14, '15 time frame, said Ford Motor Co. chief economist Ellen Hughes-Cromick at the Center for Automotive Research Management Briefing Seminars.
The National Automobile Dealers Association forecasts more than 14 million vehicles will be sold in the United States this year, while R.L. Polk, a respected auto data and marketing firm, predicts sales of 14.3 million jumping to 16 million by 2014, The Detroit News said.
Automakers sold 12.8 million cars and light trucks in the United States in 2011, a far cry from the record 17.4 million vehicles sold in pre-recession 2000.
"We're anticipating 12 percent growth between 2012 and 2014," Anthony Pratt, director of forecasting for the Americas for Polk, said. "We anticipate we'll actually realize the 16 million unit range as soon as 2014."
Responding to changing market conditions, Jim Lentz, head of Toyota Motor Sales USA, last week said the Japanese automaker would shift more production to North America because of the strong yen.
Toyota has recovered from the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami, and floods in Thailand, that curtailed production in Asia last year. Toyota sales are up 28.3 percent through July, but with the yen trading at slightly more than 78 to the dollar, currency fluctuations make it more expensive to build cars in Japan and ship them to North America than to make them in North America.
Lentz, in a speech, said Toyota would consider moving production of a vehicle with annual sales of at least 100,000 units a year out of Japan. Toyota already makes 70 percent of the vehicles it sells in North America in the region and this fall launches a new full-size Avalon, including a hybrid model, made for the North American market.
"With where the yen is today, I think it's only a matter of time," he said at a seminar at the Grand Traverse Resort in Acme, Mich. "The hedge against currency is to build cars where you sell them, so if you have the right amount of volume in a given series, it makes sense to consider that."
Toyota is on pace to sell nearly 2 million vehicles in the United States by year's end.
"We'll have additional announcements down the road as more of our cars are designed, built, sold and serviced right here in North America," Lentz said.
Lentz remains optimistic because there are fewer 1- to 5-year-old used cars around after the industry's dismal sales in 2009 and 2010, the Detroit Free Press said.
"That's what competes with new vehicle sales," he said. "I think that's why you're seeing such an escalation in used car prices. So it bodes very, very well for the future of new vehicle sales."
Toyota last week debuted a battery-powered crossover utility RAV4 EV in four California markets: San Francisco, Sacramento, San Diego and Los Angeles/Orange County. The plug-in electric was jointly developed with Tesla, which provides the electric motors, lithium-ion batteries, electronics and software, and will have a 103-mile range on a single charge.
The 4,032-pound RAV4 EV will have sticker price of $50,610 when it goes on sale in September. Volume will be kept low unless demand soars. Only about 2,600 RAV4 EVs will be available in the next three years.
Toyota warranties the battery for eight years or 100,000 miles.
Justin Ward, an engineer in charge of the advanced power train program at the Toyota Technical Center in Ann Arbor, Mich., predicts Toyota will have a fuel cell-powered sedan in the United States in three years.
The fuel cell vehicle most likely would be first sold in California, a state that hopes to have an infrastructure of 68 hydrogen fueling stations up and running by the end of 2015.
A fuel cell -- considered the holy grail by clean car advocates -- converts hydrogen and oxygen to electricity with only water, heat and nitrogen dioxide as byproducts.
U.S. to field test vehicle-to-vehicle communication
Later this month, the Transportation Department begins a year-long study to see whether electronic vehicle-to-vehicle communication can avoid crashes on 75 miles of roads around Ann Arbor, Mich.
GM, Ford, Toyota, Honda, Hyundai-Kia, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan and Volkswagen are participating in the pilot program for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, providing nearly 2,900 connected cars, trucks and buses.
The vehicles will test a number of safety systems including forward-crash alert, blind-spot detection, lane-change warning, do not pass warning and emergency brake light, The Detroit News said. The system allows the vehicles to communicate with one another, technology, NHTSA says, that potentially could reduce vehicle crashes by 80 percent among unimpaired drivers.
The federal safety agency is considering whether vehicle-to-vehicle communication should be required in new vehicles.
"We have a whole team at the Volpe National Transportation System Center doing an independent evaluation of the data that comes out of [the] safety pilot to generate what are some initial benefits, estimates of this technology and that will set up the agency's regulatory decision point in 2013," said Tim Johnson, NHTSA's director of crash avoidance and electronic controls research.
Daimler AG, the parent of Mercedes-Benz, smart and Maybach, is participating in a similar field study with 120 network enabled vehicles on public roads in and around Frankfurt, Germany, through the end of the year, The New York Times said.
Honda Accord redesign respects heritage
Honda showed the first pictures of its 2013 Accord last week and the ninth generation of the venerable Accord looks a lot like the old Accord.
The Japanese automaker didn't intend to shock family-sedan buyers who have kept the Accord a top-seller for decades but calls the 2013 model "the most sculpted Accord ever." The first Accord hit U.S. shores in 1976.
The 2013 model will offer new engines and a continuously variable transmission.
As usual, Honda engineers focused on finding more interior space for drivers, passengers and cargo while doing nothing radical to the exterior styling -- a formula that has worked well for mid-size rivals Camry and Altima.
The new Accord reaches showrooms this fall.
Another Saab story
As Saab is reborn as a maker of clean electric vehicles, Spyker NV, the Dutch automaker that bought it from General Motors in 2010, is suing GM, accusing the American auto giant of forcing the Swedish auto company into bankruptcy last year.
Spyker's lawsuit filed in Detroit seeks $3 billion in damages, The Wall Street Journal said. The Netherlands firm paid $74 million cash and $326 million in preferred shares for Saab, but GM retained rights to technology and patents used in Saab vehicles.
GM refused to give up that technology when Chinese investors offered to buy Saab after cash-flow problems forced a halt in production in March 2011.
"GM deliberately pushed Saab over the cliff," Spyker Chief Executive Officer Victor Muller said.
GM called the suit "completely without merit."
The majority of Saab's assets were later purchased by start-up National Electric Vehicle Sweden AB, jointly owned by National Modern Energy Holdings Ltd. of Hong Kong and Sun Investment LLC of Japan, in April.
The Chinese-Japanese partnership hopes to develop Saab electric vehicles for sale in China.


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The Un-American Anti-Koch Campaign
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has high standards for American-ness. That's why it carried such weight when Reid described the Koch brothers in a speech on the Senate floor as "about as un-American as anyone that I can imagine." Coming from a typical Democratic politician lacking Reid's powers of patriotic discernment, this would have been shameful hyperbole. From Reid, it was a peerless act of taxonomy.
What immediately had him so exercised was anti-Obamacare ads funded by the Koch brothers, but surely other potentially un-American activities lurked in the back of his mind. David Koch gave $100 million to a theater in New York City so people can perform ballet and opera there. Has David Koch never thought to invest in cowboy poetry? No wonder Reid harbors the darkest suspicions about his true loyalties.
Story Continued Below
Actually, of course, Harry Reid long ago established his comfort making any half-witted partisan attack. In his cracked version of forensic accounting, he said in 2012 that Mitt Romney hadn't paid taxes in 10 years — because he had heard it from some guy.
If you want to score a contest between the Koch brothers and Harry Reid over who has contributed more to America, it doesn't seem close. The Koch brothers got wealthy creating productive industries that employ tens of thousands of people. Harry Reid got (obviously much less) wealthy as a career politician.
Any one of the Koch brothers' many major philanthropic ventures — say, the $100 million to New York Presbyterian Hospital, or just the $35 million to the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History — will do more good than Harry Reid's constant maneuvers to try to protect his vulnerable incumbents.
Reid's maligning of the Koch brothers is part of a deliberate, party-wide effort to attack the politically engaged libertarian duo. Groups that the Kochs have donated to or are affiliated with have spent some $30 million on the midterm elections so far, with more on the way. For Democrats, that is a mortal sin.
There is no consistent standard here. In 2004, Reid didn't complain about a globe-trotting billionaire who made a mint through currency speculation spending more than $25 million trying to defeat President George W. Bush. By Reid's standard, George Soros was as robustly American as John Wayne in the "Sands of Iwo Jima."
You can litigate the accuracy of the ads by Koch-supported groups, but as a genre, attack ads play fast and loose (although there's no reason for anti-Obamacare ads to be anything but strictly accurate, since there's so much material to work with). You can disagree with their politics, but they broadly represent about half of America. You can lament their spending, but welcome to our world.
It used to be that political parties mattered much more. In their wisdom, campaign-finance reformers passed restrictions hamstringing them. This predictably elevated the importance of outside players. The Koch brothers are hugely influential, but the left doesn't lack for people trying, in Reid's stilted terms, "to buy America." Green billionaire Tom Steyer has pledged to spend $100 million supporting Democrats this year.


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legame wrote:Fishman and both drummers from The Dead on there goes to show how profitable non-stop touring can be if you have a rabid fanbase. Neither bands has made crap from records. That's almost purely ticket sales.
I saw Bill and Mickey from the Dead Inc. But I didn't notice the dude from Phish there. But yeah crap records sales or not.


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Crystal's New Yearby Judy Cuervo | 01.02.12
In 2012, Crystal Cruises embraces the all-inclusive model found aboard many of its competitors.
In 2012, Crystal Cruises will go "all-inclusive," folding the cost of gratuities (including Penthouse butler service and service in all specialty restaurants), fine wines and spirits into its cruise fares. The format becomes effective with the March 19, 2012 sailing of Crystal Symphony and the May 8, 2012 sailing of Crystal Serenity.
Since its 1988 launch, Crystal Cruises had shunned the "all-inclusive" format embraced by nearly all luxury lines, and in another nod to traditional cruising, remained one of the few lines (luxury or mass market) to offer fixed main or late sitting dining times rather than the open seating arrangement that allows guests greater flexibility. And yet, even in a world ruled by personal preference, Crystal continues to earn "Best Large Ship" and "Best Cruise Ship" honors from readers of leading publications like Condé Nast Traveler and Travel & Leisure.
In 2009, Crystal began to test the all-inclusive waters with the launch of its "As You Wish" program. A revolutionary promotion, "As You Wish" extended a generous $2,000 per couple ($1,000 single) on board credit that could be applied to bar tabs, shore excursions, spa treatments, gift shop purchases, gratuities—in fact, any charge except on board casino gambling. The ideal scheme—particularly for the teetotaler—it appears the "As You Wish" concept was never fully grasped by the consumer who had become more accustomed to seeking the "all-inclusive" tag when researching a luxury cruise experience.
Another change came in 2010 when Crystal, fairly quietly, announced the addition of "Perfect Choice Dining by Reservation," a supplement to the fixed main and late sitting options available in the Crystal Dining Room. Now, guests could select their own meal times or adhere to the more traditional main and late sittings. Crystal will continue to offer all three dining options as it moves into 2012 and the launch of the "all-inclusive" format.
On board Crystal Symphony, the ship's extraordinary staff seemed to willingly embrace the upcoming change. The salary increase that's being granted to each probably has a lot to do with that. Hotel Manager Herbert Jager, however, believes service staff compensation will remain largely unchanged. "Right now, service staff earnings vary week to week—some weeks more; some weeks less. With the change to all-inclusive and gratuities included in passage, our staff will receive a set wage each week. Further, we're not prohibiting our staff from accepting any tips that may be offered for extraordinary service."
With a happy staff—and exceptional staff and service is, perhaps, the greatest lure of a Crystal cruise—the next group to consider is The Crystal Society, the line's most devoted followers. In the past, the presentation of fine wines and spirits was a suitable way to recognize this important group. In 2012, with alcoholic beverages included in fares, Crystal is working on a soon-to-be announced program through which they might express their appreciation to those who return to Crystal again and again.


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Has this happened to anyone?
I have had no problems with Michael 5 up until last night. I went to open up a file with the Michael 5 character in it. When it loaded it up I got an error informing me of the dreaded dupicate formulas were found notice. Michael 5 would not load, instead Genesis loaded with everything that Michael 5 came with. Can anybody explain what happened because I am completely lost as to what occured, I have not made any changes at all to the scene. I cannot load Michael 5 or the Heroic M5 variety, it simply loads up Genesis with Michael 5 morphs and textures, ordinarily not an issue but I would really like to know what is happening. I've spent all morning going through everything that I could think of that would have caused this. The last items that I downloaded and installed were Aiden for Michael 5, A4andH4 For Genesis, Mr. Hyde For Genesis, the Supersuit and related items, and ActualFaceHairForGenesis. So, at is stage I am removing DAZ Studio and all the related files which is a very long and tedious process. Infact, removing and reinstalling files on DAZ Studio can take pretty much all day, no bull. Poser does not seem to have problems with duplicate files. I hope that you folks who create content will include a clear line of sight for your products. I hope this duplicate formula crap leaves me alone... its what is bringing my daz experience down. :(...
Art_Junkie Posts: 0
Did you try re-installing the Michael 5 basic package itself? I would try that 1st, before I go ripping out everything else.Post edited by Art_Junkie on
Fixmypcmike Posts: 17,301
Are you using DS 126.96.36.199, or the DS 4.5 Release Candidate?
I've been reinstalling everything... wiped everything out including all my scenes just to be sure. So far, I have had no hiccups... no annoying error alerts yet. I have not installed all the files I have and I don't think I will need most of them anyway. Genesis is the running mesh for Michael 5?!. I guess I had it in my head that Michael 5 was its own object mesh.
fixmypcmike said:Are you using DS 188.8.131.52, or the DS 4.5 Release Candidate?
Am using the 184.108.40.206... I won't be installing 4.5 until the plugins catch up!
Art_Junkie said:Did you try re-installing the Michael 5 basic package itself? I would try that 1st, before I go ripping out everything else.
That was the first thing I did... then worked my way all the way back until I decided to jettison everything and restart all over. I cringe because I have to reinstall all the plugins too. :(...
Richard Haseltine Posts: 55,282
Help>Troubleshooting>View long just after loading M5, jump to the end and scroll back to find the full text of the error - that should tell you which morphs are causing it. Also check that you don't have the files for the morphs installed in two different places - the installers shouldn't let you, but it's worth checking.


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mjkagan necesitaba un nuevo diseño de página web y lanzó un concurso de diseño en 99designs.
Un ganador ha sido elegido entre 40 diseños de 13 diseñadores freelance.
Userterms.com provides a website owner with a custom "terms of service" and "privacy policy". By asking a few simple questions of the site owner, Userterms.com is able to automatically compile appropriate legal documents to fit the site owner's specific business. This solution is more reliable than stealing and re-purposing a similar site's documents, and faster and more cost-effective than hiring a lawyer to write custom documents.
The Userterms.com target audience is the owners of small ecommerce websites, including publishers, social networks, retailers, subscription services, and adult sites.
Many of these sites earn in the hundreds or low thousands of dollars per month. They are side-businesses, hobbies, etc. However, by running them, the owners are taking on real legal liability, whether they have considered it or not.
Userterms.com customers will tend to be older (25+) and somewhat- to very educated. They will be entrepreneurial. They will be familiar with the concept of user agreements and privacy policies. They may have a nagging worry that that part of their business is not "buttoned up". They will be looking to get straight to the point of determining whether this service is for them.
UPDATE: My mockup is meant to be a guide; not meant to tell you EXACTLY what to do. Feel free to experiment!
Pls see moseskagan.com to download the following assets: mockup, logo, site copy (for left side of page)
Please create a homepage guided by my mockup (the .pdf file).
We would prefer that the design conform with the following prefences:
* Clean design
* White background
* Blue accents - match the blue in the logo
* Black or gray text
* Need to create a small "100% satisfaction guaranteed" emblem or logo
We want the bullet pts on the left of the page and the price ($99) to stand out.
Pls use the text in the .doc file for the "site copy" on the bottom left side of the page.
We need the file to be a .psd so that a developer can code it.
We will also want the header and footer designed so that we can use them for other pages.
Depending upon the quality of the work and the pricing offered, we may hire the winner to actually code the site.
We will provide feedback on all serious designs.


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This work is available for countries where copyright is Life+70.
Told through the eyes of a watchmaker, Dr Thorndyke is once again faced with a nettly mystery involving a mysterious fire in a Soho house filled with supposedly inflammable objects. What transpires is an entertaining and amazing twist thanks to the eagle eyes of the Doctor and his friend the watchmaker, Mr Polton.
Language: English
Published in: 1940
Word count: 80,224 words (≈ about 5 hours)
Source: http://gutenberg.net.au
Copyright: This work is available for countries where copyright is Life+70.
Dr (John) Thorndyke is a fictional detective in a long series of novels and short stories by R Austin Freeman. Thorndyke was described by his author...


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As I browse through websites looking for stuff to write about I can't help but see some little gadgets and apps that appear to be purely for the sake of creating a gadget. Don't get me wrong, any little gadget is fun for the nerdy side of me, but some devices are a little more practical than others.
MedGadget.com, which is full of all kinds of gadgets and devices big and small, has a short article about a device that attaches to your iPhone and can be used to measure temperatures of all kinds. The ThermoDock is a small device that plugs into the bottom of your iPhone. You then point the device at what you want measured, push a button, an infrared sensor detects the temperature, and it is logged for future reference.
Obviously there is some value in such a device, like when your kid suddenly comes down with a fever. What I don't see though is how you would have this little attachment, but not a regular thermometer? A lot would depend on the accuracy of the device too.
Like I said before, I love little gadgets that do just about anything. At my old job at the airport, we measured the temperature of the ground just for fun, and to justify our whining (the sensor read 125 degrees). So I do see some fun in this product.
However, I don't really see this as a ground breaking technology, but maybe I am wrong. Please leave me a comment and let me know how wrong I am, and how wonderful and useful this device could be.


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intelligentvibes necesitaba un nuevo diseño de logotipo y lanzó un concurso de diseño en 99designs.
Un ganador ha sido elegido entre 276 diseños de 64 diseñadores freelance.
Intelligent Vibes
Intelligent Vibes is a remote SQL Server DBA service that is hoping to move into other facets of DBA services (Oracle, Sybase, DB2, and MySQL). The culture of the company is reserved and conservative, yet not stuffy. The nature of the business requires us to be compliant with government regulations and our clients require us to provide secure services.
Our target audience will be small to medium size business with a need for enterprise-wide database administration. The people within that group that we want to target are IT managers as well as company decision makers.
We'd like to portray that we are up to date on new technologies, yet respect the security of our clients' data. We want our clients to understand that we know how to troubleshoot their database issues and will do it in a timely fashion. We also want to portray that we will provide the service at a fraction of the cost of having a full-time DBA staff on-site, but do not provide inferior service. We will be a 24-7 shop and we want our clients to feel that we are their dedicated DBAs even though we are not on-site.
We'd like the design to use blue tones and have a very professional feel to it. We want to portray professionalism and yet still have a techy feel. Other than that, we encourage a creative mind to have fun with this design.
Descubre cómo funciona un concurso de diseño u obtén más información sobre nuestros servicios de diseño de logo.