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NZ cash market trading jumps 24% as stock turnover surges
Trading on the NZX's cash markets jumped by a quarter in December, led by a surge in turnover of stocks as the NZX 50 Index rounded out its best year since 2004.
Total trades rose 24.3 percent to 78,408 last month from a year earlier, while the value of trading soared 61 percent to $3.6 billion.
Equity transactions climbed 27 percent to 76,098 and the value of trade jumped 65 percent to $3.6 billion. That more than offset a 31 percent drop in debt security trades to 2310 and a decline of about 25 percent to $69 million.
The NZX 50 gained almost 25 percent in 2012, outpacing gains on Wall Street and in Australia. Yet the year was slimmer for new equity and debt capital raising through the NZX. Some $1.75 billion was raised in December for a total in the year of $4.6 billion, down from $11.9 billion in 2011.
Of that, equity raised where the issuer had a primary listing in New Zealand fell to $999 million in the year from $1.6 billion in 2011, while dual and secondary listed capital raisings fell to $3.3 billion from $9.2 billion.
There was $319 million raised through the issue of debt securities, down from about $1 billion in 2011.
Total equity securities fell 2.3 percent in December to 167, down from 171 at the end of 2011. Debt securities fell to 97 from 107.
Shares of NZX were unchanged at $1.23 and have gained 21 percent in the past 12 months.


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FASTAthlete necesitaba un nuevo diseño de página web y lanzó un concurso de diseño en 99designs.
Un ganador ha sido elegido entre 55 diseños de 9 diseñadores freelance.
Web site upgrade needed for a site promoting Complete Athletic Development and Sports Performance services.
In addition to advertising our services, need a design that would be condusive for 1) free articles and 2) members only section - to promote print and audio versions of our programs.
FAST Athlete (http://www.fastathlete.com)
FAST Athlete is a program for Complete Athletic Development and Sports Performance. Our audience is predominately 14+, however we do also work with the 6-9 and 10-13 age groups. We offer individual, small group and team training.
We are interested in taking the advertising of our services and products to the next level. We would like to upgrade our current website (http://www.fastathlete.com) - currently listing our services, etc - to include 1) a free section for reference articles, blog, etc. and 2) a members only section where we will offer full access to our programs in print and video.
We can direct you to others in the market who have done this, most of these guys are our friends: http://www.iyca.org; http://www.leetaft.com; http://www.carloalvarez.com; http://www.strengthcoach.com and http://www.sportsrehabexpert.com.
- Tag Line - Better, Stronger, FASTer
- Unique Selling Proposition - Building "The Complete Athlete"
- FAST is acronym for Funtional Accelerated Sports Training
- Sub-title to FAST Athlete is Complete Athletic Development and Sports Performance
- Logo Colors are Red, Black and White (see current website - http://www.fastathlete.com)
- Wide open for your artistic interpretation!
- Item 1...

subset: commoncrawl


text: Anonymous 4 January 28, 1999 Listeners and reviewers have described them as having the voices of angels. Intense and haunting, they are four women who sing with no musical accompaniment and have been performing medieval chant long before it became popular again. Join guest host Melinda Penkava for a live performance and chat with the vocal quartet Anonymous Four. Anonymous 4 Only Available in Archive Formats. Real Media


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Christmas Gifts to Vadodara
All the Christmas gifts to be delivered will reach with timely delivery anywhere in India. Buy Christmas gifts online and we take it to Ahmedabad, Gurgaon, Noida, Chennai, Mumbai, Bangalore, Pune and each corner in India with easy ordering with debit or credit cards. Christmas hampers with decorating accessories are new in the inventory. You can reach out to your relatives and friends across India with timely delivery of your wishes and love. Special Kids Christmas Cakes, chocolates and interesting items to go with. Packaging adds a special appeal to your gifts and if Christmas is in question the answer should be a gift with unusual appearance to decorate the Christmas tree. Buy Christmas presents online with all the guests and relatives to see the exceptional picks with nice presentation. A Christmas themed decor is now as easy to get with us and no extra waste of time searching for the combinations and attractive designer Cakes and other Flower gifts.


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LONDON — A Scottish zoo says a brief mating season has ended without success for two giant pandas that arrived in Britain in December.
Edinburgh Zoo had hoped the pair might mate after two earlier failures but found Thursday that the female's hormone levels had dropped, closing a brief reproductive window.
Zookeepers say the male Yang Guang and female Tian Tian showed signs of attraction to each other, but did not mate.
The 8-year-old animals met twice Wednesday out of public view, as keepers attempted to create a romantic atmosphere.
Video released by the zoo showed the pandas grappling playfully, but no more.
The animals are on loan from China, and the first pandas to live in Britain in nearly two decades. Their names mean Sunshine and Sweetie.


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I'm looking for a tool or a method to reliably determine which SDF version a given file is implementing.
So far I've been using Autodesk's SDF Loader with the /info flag, but it only supports SDFv2.
Unfortunately I have a large number of SDF files of various version where i need determine which ones need to be upgraded to SDFv3. As FDO Toolbox only supports SDFv3 and we are upgrading from MapGuide 6.5 which only supports SDFv2.
So in summary I'm looking for a reliable way to determine the major and minor version number of the SDF file hopefully in a single tool. (I'm aware of FME, leaving it as a last resort due to cost)


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Striped State of Texas Glitter Tumbler
Striped State of Texas Glitter Tumbler
(Available in ANY state design and any color glitter base coat! Please be sure to specify which state you would like!
Current turnaround time: Approximately 6 Weeks**Please note that turnaround times are estimates only, not guaranteed, and are subject to change as order flows change.**
Need it FAST?? Add on "RUSH MY ORDER" and have your order completed in 5 business days!
- Offered in high quality Brands, in a variety of sizes. All cups EXCEPT stemless wine glasses come with a standard lid.
- Our glitter tumblers are completely customizable, from glitter color to decal. Please be as specific as you can in your notes!
- Coated in real loose glitter and sealed smooth with FDA compliant clear epoxy. All decals and glitter are sealed UNDER the coating so they will NEVER come off!
- Add-On Products and Services, such as RUSH Processing, gift wrapping, gift cards and splash proof lids can be foundHERE:
- Have a great idea for your very own personalized tumbler? Use this link- "CREATE YOUR OWN GLITTER TUMBLER" -and design your very own!
- All Glitter Tumbler Designs can be turned in KIDS CUPS as well! For a variety of styles and options for Toddlers and Kids, see theKIDS CUP PAGE!
- Refunds are not issued after 24 hours of orders being placed, so please be mindful of dates when ordering. Changes to design are not permitted once you have check out. Please seePOLICIES page for further info regarding custom orders, refunds and returns.
- See our READY TO SHIP tumblersHERE! (Quantities are limited and change daily!)
Correct Spelling of Name *OR* monogram initials:
Font Selection:
Font color and if solid or glitter:
Any Additional Notes About the design of your order:
*If you choose personalization and no note is left at checkout regarding name, color or font, I will use professional liberty and use the most common selections to create the best look for your cup.
Thank you so much for considering a purchase from Kim Larsen Designs! Please message with any questions that were not answered clearly for you here!
We appreciate you giving us the opportunity to create something special for you! Your purchase helps to support a REAL, hard working family with a disabled young daughter, and allows me to stay home with her and work from home!


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ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) Shawn Marion had 20 points, and O.J. Mayo and Vince Carter scored 15 apiece as the Dallas Mavericks fought off a late Orlando surge and beat the Magic 111-105 on Sunday night.
The Mavericks led by 13 in the fourth quarter, before the Magic pulled within a basket in the final minute.
Dallas earned its seventh straight road victory in its series against Orlando. The Mavericks now have five days off before hosting division-leader San Antonio on Friday.
Glen Davis led Orlando with 24 points, followed by Jameer Nelson with 20 and J. J. Redick's 18.
The Magic have lost three of their last four games and also fell for the seventh straight time to an opponent with a sub-.500 record.


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Mizzou Swimming & Diving Sweeps Drury
COLUMBIA -- The Mizzou men's and women's swimming and diving teams completed a sweep of Drury on Senior Night at the Mizzou Aquatic Center on Friday. The No. 24 Tiger men posted a 166-68 victory over the Panthers, while the No. 24 Tiger women defeated the squad 150.5-83.5.
Missouri claimed 21 of 26 events on the night and had six different Tigers win two events. On the women's side, senior Ashley Paterson won both the 1,000 free (10:31.41) and the 500 free (5:05.96), while fellow senior Cassie Cunningham took home both the 50 (23.25) and 100 free (50.84). Freshman Anna Patterson was also a double winner as she finished first in the 200 free (1:53.00) and the 200 fly (2:05.61).
In the diving well, Loren Figueroa was victorious in both the 1-meter (296.48) and 3-meter (338.25) springboard titles. She remains undefeated in the 1-meter this season.
Double winners on the men's side included sophomores Eegan Groome and Andrew Phillips. Groome earned wins in the 500 (4:34.30) and the 1000 free (9:20.29), while Phillips claimed the 200 free (1:40.95) and the 200 fly (1:50.78).
The Tigers started the meet with wins in the men's and women's 400 medley relays. The Mizzou women's `A' team of senior Dominique Bouchard, freshman Lauren Stoeckle, sophomore Danielle Barbiea and sophomore Emily Doucette swam a 3:46.06 to take top honors, while the Mizzou men's `B' squad of sophomore Sam Tierney, junior Mark Conroy, junior Logan Mosley and freshman Max Grodecki clocked a time of 3:18.78.
In the men's 200 IM, sophomore Igor Kozlovskij just outtouched Tierney to win the event in 1:49.69 to Tierney's 1:49.70. Grodecki proved victorious in the 100 free in 46.00, just ahead of senior Joe Hladik, who finished in second in 46.65.
Bouchard easily took home the 200 back with a swim of 2:00.07, while freshman Allie Sullins claimed second in 2:05.87. On the men's side, sophomore Austin Fish posted a time of 1:48.61 to take top honors, ahead of senior John Higgins, who swam a 1:49.57.
The Tigers claimed the top for spots in the men's 200 breast, led by Tierney, who swam a 1:58.79.
In the diving well, junior David Bonuchi took top honors in the 3-meter with a score of 440.40, while freshman Clark Thomas placed first in the 1-meter with 311.25 points.
Mizzou returns to the pool for the Tiger Invite February 1-2 at the Mizzou Aquatic Center. Men's Scores 1. Mizzou - 166 2. Drury - 68 Women's Scores 1. Mizzou - 150.5 2. Drury - 83.5


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Latest News
Canadian snowbirds found murdered in Hallandale Beach condo
A Canadian couple who spent their winters in South Florida were found dead inside their Hallandale Beach condominium Thursday night.
Their deaths are being investigated as a double homicide — not a murder-suicide — said Captain Sonia Quinones with the Hallandale Beach Police Department.
The couple were identified as David Pichosky, 71 and Rochelle Wise, 66.
Neighbors described the Toronto couple as "very warm" and friendly.
"They were very happy together," said Amparo Rabin, who knew them well. "It was a pleasure to say hello to them every morning."
Pichosky and Wise, who married about four years ago, were very religious and could be seen walking to temple every Friday night, neighbors said.
Wise was the founding director of the Crestwood Valley Day Camp near Toronto. She remained in that position until her retirement in 2005. She was also a teacher at the Bialik Hebrew Day School.
"Rochelle was a selfless individual who took a genuine interest in the lives of everyone she came across,''camp directors Eric Shendelman and Bobby Freeman wrote in a statement. "With limitless energy, unwavering courage and a passion for children she was an inspiration to a generation kids."
Pichosky was a retired accountant, according to the Canadian media.
On Friday morning, the Venetian Park neighborhood where they lived was blocked off by yellow crime tape. The area, on the 900 block of Northeast 25th Avenue just off Three Island Boulevard, rarely has any police presence except for a false alarm going off, residents say.
"I've never been concerned here," said Bernie Pollack, a snowbird from Quebec. He said about half of the community is filled with people who only live there half of the time. "It's always quiet."
Last year, Hallandale Beach reported four murders, said Quinones.
Just 11 days into the new year, and the city is already investigating two.
"It's the first and hopefully the last," she said.
The cause of death and motive are under investigation, Quinones said. The Broward Sheriff's Office and Hallandale Beach police are both involved.
The couple were discovered inside their unit about 6:20 p.m. by a concerned neighbor.
Pichosky and Wise were supposed to have lunch with the neighbor on Wednesday, but never showed up, Quinones said. And repeated phone calls to the couple went unanswered.
On Thursday, the neighbor, who had a key to their unit, went to check on them and found the their bodies.
Neighbor Gloria Gross said she often saw the couple, with Wise in a big floppy hat, walking in the morning. The couple had a lot of visitors during the holidays, Gross said.
Elyse Arena, who lives there year round, said she has known Pichosky for many years. She said Pichosky, then a widow, married Wise about four years ago.
"They were trim and fit, and looked young and happy," she said. "They were lovely, lovely people."
Miami Herald staff writer Luisa Yanez contributed to this report.


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Foil packet meals are one of camping's greatest allies—it's simple cooking at its best. You take delicious ingredients (think meat, veggies and seasonings), wrap them up in foil pouch, and place the pouch on a campfire's coals to cook.
The beauty of foil packet meals is, you can prepare them before you head on your trip, and they require no pots and pans, no plates, and no clean up when you cook. All you need is a fork and some fire. Here are some tips.
- Use heavy duty foil. You don't want the foil to rip and get ashes in your food. If you plan to eat directly from the pack, it's a good idea to double up, even with heavy duty sheets.
- Spray the side of the foil you'll place your food on to keep it from sticking.
- Always put the meat on the bottom as it takes the longest to cook.
- Cook your foil packet on the fire's coals, not in the fire itself. Ideally, you want to place the packet on a bed of coals about 2 inches thick.
- Hard, raw vegetables like carrots and potatoes take a long time to cook. If you don't want to wait, use the canned variety.
- When cooking meat, throw in some high-moisture veggies like tomatoes and onions. This will keep the meat from drying out.
- Flip the packets over a few times during cooking check to see how your meal is progressing.
Ready to start a fire? Here are some great campsite suggestions:
- Slow-roasted veggies. Cut veggies into uniform pieces, toss with olive oil and seasonings and wrap in foil. Nestle the foil packet in the hot coals and cook for about 30 minutes, turning occasionally with metal tongs.
- Sausage calzone on a stick. Spear a fully cooked chicken or turkey sausage link with the end of a stick. Then wrap with a piece of crescent roll dough and sprinkle with an Italian seasoning blend. Use a toothpick to hold it, if necessary. Hold (and rotate occasionally) over the fire until dough is golden brown and cooked through.
- Easy cherry pie. Fill half of a pita pocket with cherry pie filling, then wrap in aluminum foil and place it in the coals until the pie is heated through.
- Campfire pizza. Top a flatbread with your favorite pizza sauce, cheese and toppings. Then place on a metal grill grate positioned over the fire and cook until cheese is melted and pizza is heated through.
What are your favorite foods to cook over a fire?


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The Alameda Flea Market was back yesterday, and I think we all felt like the shopper pictured here: on high from all the fabulous treasures we discovered!
These vintage fruit crates would be great at a rustic fall wedding -- for holding programs, a photo booth backdrop, to serve cold drinks, or just stacked for ambiance!
We noticed some gorgeous vintage jewelry this time, and even spotted some people shopping for wedding rings -- so sweet!
Fancy bling was everywhere...
These vintage collectible cars rev'ed us up!
And we're nuts about this squirrel rocking his fluffy ears. (The Flea is always a great source of vintage illustration inspiration!)
Adorable hummingbirds with 40s flair.
Some lovely boho quilts made with recycled Indian fabrics
Bye, Flea! We'll see you next month!


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Mississippi will have to wait.
Two weeks ago I wrote, "More to come…" regarding the Mississippi Freedom Summer of 1964 when I was correspondent for several newspapers. Little did I know what would happen. Mississippi will have to wait.
Michael Brown is dead, gunned down by police officer Darren Wilson on Aug. 9 in Ferguson, Missouri. News channels cover Ferguson 24/7. It's wearing people out, watching this slow-motion train wreck.
It took a week for police to release Wilson's identity. Ignoring the Department of Justice, they released a video showing Brown allegedly committing a strong-arm robbery minutes before being killed, inflaming demonstrators. The police shredded their credibility.
Eric Holder, who personally came to Ferguson, promises that the truth will be uncovered by the Department of Justice. Will that lead to justice?
Fifty years ago, three civil rights workers were murdered by police and Klan members. James Chaney, the African-American, was tortured, every bone broken. White "lawmen" were proud, self-righteous, gleefully committing acts of terror. The white power structure protected them.
It's different today, yet regarding the treatment of many black men, there's still no justice.
Recently, unarmed black men have been killed by white policemen in Ferguson, Staten Island and Los Angeles. Many others, driven to depression and rage, opt for "suicide by cop." In Beaver Creek, Ohio, a man waving a BB gun was killed. This week a St. Louis man, wielding a knife, was killed. In Rockford two years ago, 18-year-old Logan Bell, having threatened suicide, was shot 16 times by three cops. He had aimed a pellet pistol at a police sergeant. These shootings are "deemed justified." Justified?
Remember Mark Anthony Barmore — unarmed — tragically gunned down in 2009 in a Rockford church basement in front of the pastor's wife, her daughter and several small children by two white policemen? How could you forget?
The policemen were not charged. The system convicted the pastor's daughter, Marissa, traumatized by witnessing this tragedy, with felonies, undermining faith in Rockford's criminal justice system.
The Department of Justice did not investigate Mr. Barmore's death. They organized "Rockford Mediation." After two years, it failed. A pastor friend called it a "public relations ploy." Rockford Police Chief Chet Epperson has implemented many reforms, but the "Police Benevolent and Protective Association," infamous for demanding "hazard pay" to patrol in black neighborhoods, is trying to get rid of him.
It amazes me that standard operating procedure for police departments is to "stop the threat" by aiming at the "center of mass" (chest) with a lethal weapon — and then the head.
Why a lethal weapon? Non-lethal ways to instantly subdue people who threaten violence are not standard protocol. This needs to change! I am calling for research to discover even better non-lethal ways to instantly subdue a person threatening violence.
Also, our entire society needs to replace racial conditioning with cultural competency. We all need to acknowledge that racial conditioning exists. For example, people fear African-American men they don't know. That's racial conditioning. When people from one cultural background speak to those of another, something is "lost in translation." We need to change that.
"Talk, talk, talk. That's all we do. I want action."
I hear that a lot, yet if we learn to talk and LISTEN to each other and to translate for full understanding, we'll be onto something wonderful. Holder said we're a nation of cowards. No. We're a nation of people afraid of conflict, not knowing how to let conflict be a lens through which we all gain wisdom, compassion and connection. Talking and listening IS action. By getting together across the barriers of race and class and truly encountering ourselves and each other, we'll usher in a new era of transformation.
Harlan Johnson, LMFT, a community therapist, enjoys helping the community heal and grow, and makes his income providing individual, couple and family therapy along with communication training. Go to tinyurl.com/peaceworkshop and register for a free communication workshop — part of Rockford's Peace Month celebration.


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English Learners
Students whose primary language is not English.
This graph shows the percentage of students in Illinois schools who are eligible for bilingual education. By selecting "Show 5-year trend," you can see changes in the student population over time.
According to Illinois' current regulations, English learners (ELs) are students whose English proficiency is not yet sufficient to provide the students with the ability to successfully participate and achieve in classroom settings where the language of instruction is English. ELs are eligible for Transitional Bilingual Education (TBE) or Transitional Program of Instruction (TPI) services and any other appropriate language supports.
Districts must provide additional services for ELs, to ensure that they meet the State's proficient level of achievement on State assessments, successfully achieve in classrooms where the language of instruction is English, and participate fully in the school setting. The implementation of appropriate EL programs (as those described in Illinois' legislation) and any other language support services help English learners to succeed academically.
Improving Achievement for English Learners: Conclusions from 2 Research Reviews (Colorin Colorado)
English Language Learners (National Council of Teachers of English)


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BOSTON, June 8 (UPI) -- Bryce Harper ignored a sore back to produce three of Washington's 12 hits Friday and also drove in three runs to lift the Nationals over Boston 7-3.
The 19-year-old rookie complained of soreness after diving for a fly ball against the New York Mets Thursday, but he was in the lineup against the Red Sox and played a key role.
Harper hit a two-run homer in the fourth and added an RBI single in the sixth to give the Nationals a 7-2 lead.
Ian Desmond doubled home two runs while the Nationals were scoring three times in the third.
Stephen Strasburg (7-1) allowed a two-run double by Mike Aviles that gave the Red Sox a lead in the second, but gave up just three other hits through six innings and struck out 13. He fanned five in a row beginning with the leadoff batter in the fifth.
Felix Doubront (6-3) surrendered six runs on eight hits in four innings to suffer the loss.


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In the market for art? Open house planned in So. Norwalk
Dana Goodfellow worked quickly as she brushed out the strip of paint that would become the horizon. Below, blue waters reflected the big puffs and little wisps of clouds from above.
Standing before her easel on a recent afternoon, with sunlight pouring through her large studio windows, she was asked whether she knew when a painting was finished.
She smiled.
"Sometimes you get tired of it or start to overwork it," the Darien artist said, as she deftly juggled a trio of brushes between her two hands. "You don't want to overdo it."
Goodfellow is one of 16 artists who work at the Wilson Avenue Loft Artists Studios in South Norwalk. It is so named because of the address of the mixed-use building, 225 Wilson Ave. The space opened in 2007, the same year the Stamford Loft Artists Association lost its home at the Yale and Towne lock factory. That association has since relocated to a new Canal Street location in Stamford and the factory now houses residential lofts.
Britt Bair and Lori Glavin, both of Darien, were two of those Loft artists who found themselves searching for new studio space that year. In fact, many of the Wilson Avenue artists once had studios in Stamford, too.
"It did not take long," said Bair, about filling the new space.
The group is a supportive and social one, said the two artists, who serve as co-presidents of the group. Artists, many of whom have been there from the start, come from Darien, Ridgefield, Wilton, Westport, New Canaan and the Rowayton section of Norwalk.
Next weekend, the work of these artists, as well as the way they work, will be on display when the group hosts its annual Spring Sale and Exhibition, "Fresh." It kicks off with an opening reception 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday, April 30, which will feature live music and works on display at in the gallery. From noon to 4 p.m, Sunday, May 1, the artists are expected to be in their studios, working and waiting to meet returning and new guests to their space.
"It's really exciting to interact with the people and to get their feedback as you are sharing your work," Glavin said.
As she looked around her studio space on a recent afternoon, Glavin pointed out some of her works that were in various stages of completions. Her inspirations are varied, leading to a mixed inventory of pieces, from paintings to collages to sculptural wall hangings.
During next week's sale and exhibition, Glavin said visitors also will see the diversity of the work from her fellow artists.
"I don't think there is a WALA artist," she said, when asked whether a common vision linked the group and its works. "We have some artists who are representational, while others work in a very abstract way."
Visitors will see examples of collage, illustration, mixed media, jewelry, painting, photography and other art forms.
Styles may vary, but many of those interviewed were in agreement when it came to the benefit of having a space devoted solely to their art and a place where artists could seek and share the expertise of others.
"If you have someone who works in a similar medium to yours, you can really learn from them," said Diane Weeks, who creates works of fine lines and watercolor.
Weeks said the studio also helps her to focus on the art and not get distracted by everyday chores, which can happen when she is working at home.
"I can't wait to come," she said. "And, I hate to leave."
A few doors down, Hanneke Goedkoop of Rowayton, sat on a stool with examples of her recent abstract work before her and hanging on the wall around her. Amorphous shapes and vibrant colors slowly took shape as one looked deeper, revealing a kind of underwater scene in one, blooms in another.
A Rowayton resident, Goedkoop said she has been an artist since her childhood in the Netherlands many years ago. Since coming to the United States, she said she has occupied many different studio spaces across Fairfield County, often losing the space when the buildings become fated for other uses.
She said this latest stop has been a good one, especially at a time when she is finding great freedom in her work.
"I've never had it better," she said.
On the other end of the spectrum was Pam Lindberg, a painter, printmaker and photographer from Darien, who was enjoying the experience of her first studio. She said it was easy to become inspired, surrounded by so many artists.
That is the kind of community that Bair and Glavin had hoped to create.
"It's been fun to see the growth," Bair said, noting that the group is coming up on five years in the space. "The artists seem to enjoy being here and they stay here."
The Wilson Avenue Loft Artists Studios are at 225 Wilson Ave., South Norwalk. The Spring Sale and Exhibition will run 4 to 8 p.m., Saturday, April 30, and continue with open studios from noon to 4 p.m., May 1. Enter the second-floor studios via the outdoor staircase, found in the parking lot off Ely Avenue. For more information, email firstname.lastname@example.com or visit www.wilsonavenueloftartists.com.


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You may have noticed that "Harry Potter" star Emma Watson has taken un-Hermione Granger-like roles as of late.
That's after the 23-year-old stopped acting altogether for a bit and briefly enrolled at Brown University in 2009, then dropped out before completing a degree. Post-"Potter," the child star, who skyrocketed to fame in the big screen-adaptations of J.K. Rowling's series about a boy wizard, took on a small role in "My Week With Marilyn" in 2011, fully returned to acting in "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" and made serious fun of herself in the self-deprecating raunch-com "This Is the End."
But Watson said that she, and even her agent, were "surprised" by her return to acting after the juggernaut that was "Harry Potter" and the eight feature films.
"I was really unsure, but then I read the script for 'The Perks of Being a Wallflower,' and falling in love with that and then having such a great experience on that movie kind of sealed the deal for me," Watson told Entertainment Weekly.
"I stopped intellectualizing it, and it became much more instinctual. I just got the bug and got very driven all of a sudden, which I really wasn't before. But I'm so happy. It's all felt very new to me, really."
So she's saying she really wasn't all that driven during "Harry Potter's" decade-long run? Muggle hearts are breaking everywhere.
Part of the struggle stemmed from being pushed into Hermione-esque roles and the media wondering if she was capable of acting outside that type.
"For a while I kind of bought into the hype of, 'Will they ever be able to play anything else?' It gave me a sense of paralysis and stage fright for a while," she said. "And then a professor told me that they didn't think I should act, either. So I was really grappling with it and wasn't feeling good about it. And then, I don't know … it got so bad and people had put me in a box so much that it started pissing me off. I suddenly wanted to prove them wrong. It gave me fuel, in a way. I'm not sure why that shift happened."
That could explain why she took the role of Nicki in Sofia Coppola's teen heist film, "The Bling Ring."
"Really, I was open-minded about doing anything, but the one thing I didn't want to do was get myself into a corset because I was worried I'd never get out again," she said in the May 2013 issue of GQ. "I knew it would be a really comfortable thing to do, but I felt … I had to dive into something really different. This has been a really big departure for me; it's a really big character. That's so exciting for me because it meant I was really acting."
It seems that was around the time the former Burberry model made an "adult decision" about her career, instead of resigning herself to having it be made for her.
"I wanted to make a conscious adult decision that this was what I wanted to pursue, because that decision was made for me as a 9-year-old," she added. "I had no idea what I wanted. I had no idea who I was, really. So I wanted to step away and make sure this is what I wanted to pour my life and my energy and my blood, sweat and tears into."
And that's precisely what she seems to be doing in her upcoming project, "Noah." She plays Noah's adopted daughter Ila in the biblically inspired Darren Aronfsky film, which also stars her "Perks" costar Logan Lerman, plus Anthony Hopkins and Jennifer Connelly. Russell Crowe plays the titular prophet.
Shocking, right?
Entertainment Weekly's New Hollywood issue hits stands Aug. 9.
Follow Ministry of Gossip @LATcelebs.


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Setting up a wireless LAN in post-earthquake Haiti
- 24 March, 2010 05:06
On March 5, I stepped off a plane at Port-au-Prince airport and was confronted by two things: oppressive heat and chaos. Down the stairs and onto the tarmac we went. It looked like a war zone. But it was actually the aftermath of the tremendous earthquake in Haiti.
Just two weeks earlier, Mads Lillelund, the CEO of my employer, Bluesocket, had asked for a volunteer for an important project -- deploying donated Bluesocket wireless LAN equipment at a Haitian hospital. A Boston-area philanthropist had assembled a team of doctors and nurses, medical supplies, clothing and technology that was going to help the St. Marc-based Pierre Payen hospital. Dow Chemical lent a plane, and Exxon donated the fuel to get us to Haiti and back. I jumped at the chance to go.
Immediately after our arrival at the airport, 12 medical personnel and I began unloading our airplane full of relief supplies. Other volunteers joined in, and soon there were a hundred or so people running to and fro, partitioning goods into piles based on their destination: clothes for the local mission, medical supplies and Bluesocket Wi-Fi technology for the hospital at Pierre Payen.
Departing from the airport, we were immediately confronted with devastated buildings and armed military guards walking amongst them. We drove two hours in a ramshackle bus from the airport to the mission in St. Marc. The mission and Pierre Payen hospital were separated by a dusty dirt highway, Route 1, where traffic regularly flew by at 60 mph. Our team would stay at the mission, and I was responsible for setting up WLAN access for both the mission and hospital.
For years, Internet access for the mission and hospital had relied on a satellite connection. The connection was available in a single room of a single building in this sprawling eight-building campus. 2G mobile-phone access was available, but not reliable as the Haitian providers sustained major infrastructure damage during the quake.
At the hospital, power was sporadic. A diesel generator ran during the day, and a battery-powered system took over at night. There were frequent power dips and surges, and we could see where neighbors had spliced into the system, desperate for power. There was no water at the hospital, and much of the equipment in the mission and hospital was broken and/or dated to the early 1980s.
Steve Mossburg, head of the mission, explained that Internet access was crucial for the doctors and other clinicians volunteering at the hospital. Reliable Internet access would allow doctors to research procedures, collaborate with colleagues stateside and request supplies, which would all improve patient care.On my first full day, I set up a Bluesocket network controller at the main mission building, connected to the satellite modem, and began mounting access points throughout the mission property. Live wires ran everywhere, making for a heart-thumping deployment. In the end, I made it out mostly unscathed. But when it came time to deploy points across the street at the hospital, I ran into a problem -- the highway.
Wirelessly bridging the 1,000-foot gap across the highway would not be a problem -- but getting myself back and forth across the highway without getting killed might be. In this seemingly lawless area, no speed limits were enforced. We had witnessed multiple car accidents and even saw a local girl being hit by a speeding car. In order to hang all the access points and test connectivity, I would need to cross the road at least a dozen times. I decided to call in reinforcements.
Steve paired me with a local man named Cenofa who aspired to be a computer scientist. In recent years he had shadowed other technical volunteers at the mission. I trained Cenofa in the basics of WLAN infrastructure. Together we installed the remaining access points and tested the connections -- me on one side of the highway, Cenofa on the other. Cenofa was sharp, and he learned how to use Bluesocket's WLAN equipment so quickly that the mission hired him as a network administrator at the end of my week there.
This was far from a typical implementation -- I, for one, had never before needed to hang an access point in a tree, or work three feet away from a doctor performing an amputation. However, once set up the effect of the Internet was obvious to everyone.
It was gratifying to see the impact the Internet had on the location, and witness doctors enabled with life-saving information. They frequently reminded us of the power of this project and how grateful they were. One morning, while I was eating breakfast, an American plastic surgeon working at the hospital grabbed my laptop to study up on how to perform a hysterectomy he was performing in 20 minutes.
Though I accomplished the mission I set out to do, I left with an unsettled feeling -- for the Haitians there is so much left to do. This is an experience I will remember for the rest of my life. Those that have devoted their lives to helping Haiti, like Steve, put my contributions to shame. But Steve also reminds us of the large and lasting impact we have made on the mission, the hospital and its patients.
Duane Compton is a senior engineer at Bluesocket in Burlington, Mass. For more information on how you can help, visit http://www.bluesocket.com/haiti_relief.htm.
Read more about anti-malware in Network World's Anti-Malware section.


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Small People, Big Places.
Small People, Big Places.
Archival Matte Paper, our house stock fine art paper, also known as Moab Lasal Photo Matte, is an economical favorite for fine art reproductions and photo prints. It features a smooth surface, heavy weight (230 g, 9.5-mil), neutral white, matte paper engineered for accurate color reproduction that provides high contrast and high-resolution output. This paper is acid-free making it the perfect choice for both photography & fine art reproductions.
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This immersive experience takes the viewer to the heart of the Philharmonia as it performs this much-loved work, using cameras placed in a multitude of positions and angles to create an extraordinary glimpse of the orchestra at work from within.
As well as The Planets, the filmed performances also includes a specially commissioned piece by UK composer Joby Talbot, Worlds, Stars, Systems, Infinity.
Additional features include a 'Making of' documentary feature, listening guide films for each planet, audio commentaries from conductor Esa-Pekka Salonen and principal players of the Philharmonia.
Also available on Blu-ray, with a picture-in-picture option that allows a simultaneous view of the conductor and orchestra in action.


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Whitewater Kayaks
The best whitewater kayaks, reviewed and curated by the Trailspace community. Stores' prices and availability are updated daily.
Recent Whitewater Kayak Reviews
Jackson Kayaks Karma RG
Responsive and adaptable kayak that is good at many things, great at fewer. This kayak was purchased to for use on whitewater trips, flatwater exploration, and ocean surf. That already says a lot about the boat. The Karma RG is fast in a current and tracks well in flat water even while allowing much greater maneuverability than non-WW kayaks of similar length. Although the Karma RG could be called a crossover, it lives with the LL Stinger XP in separate tier. Not only does the Karma outpace models… Full review
Dagger Katana 10.4
The plastic device on the front cockpit coaming is useful to bungie your paddle to the kayak for brief periods of time. Lay your paddle down 90 degrees to the longitudinal axis of the boat and then hook the bow bungie chord into the plastic device to lock in your paddle. The Katana is easy to outfit and the fitting can be dialed-in pretty tight because of all the pads and shims Dagger provides. I have a longer rec/touring 13 footer to use when I want to go fast in the lake or on swift moving water. Full review
LiquidLogic Remix 69
This board is my first whitewater kayak and I've really honed my skills in on this one. It is a little longer than most creekers, but makes for a fast ride. Has some cool color options, and maneuvers well. Stable. Bought a Remix 69 used at NOC for their GAF sale. Great boat for my first kayak. Taken it down plenty of high class 3s and some 4s. Actually a good flat water paddling kayak considering the length and build. This makes it nice to use for casual paddling. The badass outfitting is great,… Full review
Dagger Katana 10.4
I purchased this boat for flexibility on small creeks, rivers, and some surf play as an alternate to my touring sea kayaks. I am very pleased with this boat. This boat is not a rec boat, yet is for an experienced kayaker. I live on a river where the flow varies day to day due to dams/flood control. Some days it is a grinder, others it is swift and dangerous. I purchased the Katana 10.4 as an alternative to the expedition touring kayaks that I have. Spoiled by the speed and tracking of a sea kayak,… Full review
Dagger Mamba 7.6
Super maneuverable and quick around rapids. Took it on the Gauley River and it handled like a pro. I loveeeeee this kayak. <3 Full review
Jackson Kayaks 2 Fun
This boat is a happy marriage of a playboat and a river runner. I have the Jackson 2Fun made of the heavier plastic, which from what I am told is the way to go. The lighter plastic is harder to repair. I recently got this boat on sale brand-new and I have been happy with it. It is a well-liked boat and although I have only gone on one river with it, I was pleased. It was actually easier to get on ways to surf than my other shorter park and play boat. However it is not as easy to throw down, I am… Full review
LiquidLogic Remix 79
The Remix 79 is a great all around boat for the beginner to the more advanced paddler. If there is anything negative to say it would have to be, in low water the 79 does seem to scrape a little often(but what boat doesn't ) when you consider the Remix is designed for a larger paddler the scrapping is normal. I'm 5'9" 225 lbs and I love this boat. Easy to control, roll, eddy just a great all around boat. River running, creeking, guiding, instructing no problem, this is a boat I will keep on the water. Full review
Jackson Kayaks Rogue 10
From white water to flat water this boat is very adaptable for any use. Good stability and great tracking with the drop down skeg makes it perfect for the beginner to the more advanced user. This boat was just what I was looking for in a crossover between white water to flat water capabilities. It's stable and maneuvers easily through tight spots and with the drop down skeg that is utilized by a handle on the right side of cockpit you can track great through long sections of flatwater. The padded… Full review
Dagger Mamba 7.6
If you are short heighted, not very muscular, and haven't found the right kayak for you. Your search is over and you can pick this blindfolded. Special recommendation for girls. I am very excited with my Dagger Mamba 7.6. This new boat looks like the perfect choice for someone who needs one kayak that can do it all. I am a beginner I am 5'2" and 50 kgs and since last 2 years I could not find the perfect fit for me and it wasn't very encouraging. I am even more excited and encouraged to kayak… Full review
In order to show you the most useful information, we have omitted some unreviewed products. View the complete product list »


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(Note: This is the sixth and final article in a series on advanced analytics.)
Model-making is at the heart of advanced analytics. Thankfully, few of us need to create analytical models or learn the statistical techniques upon which they're based. However, any self-respecting business intelligence (BI) professional needs to understand the modeling process so he can better support the data requirements of analytical modelers.
Analytical Models
An analytical model is simply a mathematical equation that describes relationships among variables in a historical data set. The equation either estimates or classifies data values. In essence, a model draws a "line" through a set of data points that can be used to predict outcomes. For example, a linear regression draws a straight line through data points on a scatterplot that shows the impact of advertising spend on sales for various ad campaigns. The model's formula--in this case, "Sales=17.813 + (.0897* advertising spend)"-- enables executives to accurately estimate sales if they spend a specific amount on advertising. (See figure 1.)
Figure 1. Estimation Model (Linear Regression)
Algorithms that create analytical models (or equations) come in all shapes and sizes. Classification algorithms, such as neural networks, decision trees, clustering, and logistic regression, use a variety of techniques to create formulas that segregate data values into groups. Online retailers often use these algorithms to create target market segments or determine which products to recommend to buyers based on their past and current purchases. (See figure 2.)
Figure 2. Classification Algorithms
Classification models separate data values into logical groups.
Trusting Models. Unfortunately, some models are more opaque than others; that is, it's hard to understand the logic the model used to identify relevant patterns and relationships in the data. The problem with these "black box" models is that business people often have a hard time trusting them until they see quantitative results, such as reduced costs or higher revenues. Getting business users to understand and trust the output of analytical models is perhaps the biggest challenge in data mining.
To earn trust, analytical models have to validate a business person's intuitive understanding of how the business operates. In reality, most models don't uncover brand new insights; rather they unearth relationships that people understand as true but aren't looking at or acting upon. The models simply refocus people's attention on what is important and true and dispel assumptions (whether conscious or unconscious) that aren't valid.
Modeling Process
Given the power of analytical models, it's important that analytical modelers take a disciplined approach. Analytical modelers need to adhere to a methodology to work productively and generate accurate models. The modeling process consists of six distinct tasks:
- Define the project
- Explore the data
- Prepare the data
- Create the model
- Deploy the model
- Manage the model
Interestingly, preparing the data is the most time-consuming part of the process, and if not done right, can torpedo the analytical model and project. "[Data preparation] can easily be the difference between success and failure, between usable insights and incomprehensible murk, between worthwhile predictions and useless guesses," writes Dorian Pyle in his book, "Data Preparation for Data Mining."
Figure 3 shows a breakdown of the time required for each of these six steps. Data preparation consumes one-quarter (25%) of an analytical modeler's time, followed by model creation (23%), data exploration (18%), project definition (13%), scoring and deployment (12%), and model management (9%). Thus, almost half of an analytical modelers' time (43%) is spent exploring and preparing data, although this varies based on the condition and availability of data. Analytical modelers are like house painters who must spend lots of time preparing a paint surface to ensure a long-lasting paint finish.
Figure 3. Analytical Modeling Tasks
From Wayne Eckerson, "Predictive Analytics: Extending the Value of Your Data Warehousing Investment," 2007. Based on 166 respondents who have a predictive modeling practice.
Project Definition. Although defining an analytical project doesn't take as long as some of the other steps, it's the most critical task in the process. Modelers that don't know explicitly what they're trying to accomplish won't be able to create useful analytical models. Thus, before they start, good analytical modelers spend a lot of time defining objectives, impact, and scope.
Project objectives consist of the assumptions or hypotheses that a model will evaluate. Often, it helps to brainstorm hypotheses and then prioritize them based on business requirements. Project impact defines the model output (e.g., a report, a chart, or scoring program), how the business will use that output (e.g., embedded in a daily sales report or operational application or used in strategic planning), and the projected return on investment. Project scope defines who, what, where, when, why, and how of the project, including timelines and staff assignments.
For example, a project objective might be: "Reduce the amount of false positives when scanning credit card transactions for fraud." While the output might be: "A computer model capable of running on a server and measuring 7,000 transaction per minute, scoring each with probability and confidence, and routing transactions above a certain threshold to an operator for manual intervention."
Data Exploration. Data exploration or data discovery involves sifting through various sources of data to find the data sets that best fit the project. During this phase, the analytical modeler will document each potential data set with the following items:
- Access methods: Source systems, data interfaces, machine formats (e.g. ASCII or EBCDIC), access rights, and data availability.
- Data characteristics: Field names, field lengths, content, format, granularity and statistics (e.g. counts, mean, mode, median, and min/max values)
- Business rules: Referential integrity rules, defaults, other business rules
- Data pollution: Data entry errors, misused fields, bogus data
- Data completeness: Empty or missing values, sparsity
- Data consistency: Labels and definitions
Typically, an analytical modeler will compile all this information into a document and use it to help prioritize which data sets to use for which variables. (See figure 4.) A data warehouse with well documented metadata can greatly accelerate the data exploration phase because it also maintains much of this information. However, analytical modelers often want to explore external data and other data sets that don't exist in the data warehouse and must compile this information manually.
Figure 4. Data Profile Document
A data profile document describes the properties of a potential data set.
Data Preparation. Once analytical modelers document and select their data sets, they then must standardize and enrich the data. First, this means correcting any data errors that exist in the data and standardizing the machine format (e.g. ASCII vs EBCDIC). Then, it involves merging and flattening the data into a single wide table which may consist of hundreds of variables (i.e., columns). Finally, it means enriching the data with third party data, such as demographic, psychographic, or behavioral data that can enhance the models.
From there, analytical modelers transform the data so it's in an optimal form to address project objectives and meet processing requirements for specific machine learning techniques. Common transformations include summarizing data using reverse pivoting(See figure 5), transforming categorical values into numerical values, normalizing numeric values so they range from 0 to 1, consolidating continuous data into a finite set of bins or categories, removing redundant variables, and filling in missing values.
Modelers try to eliminate variables and values that aren't relevant as well as fill in empty fields with estimated or default values. In some cases, modelers may want to increase the bias or skew in a data set by duplicating outliers, giving them more weight in the model output. These are just some of the many data preparation techniques that analytical modelers use.
Figure 5. Reverse Pivoting
To model a banking "customer" not bank transactions, analytical modelers use a technique called reverse pivoting to summarize banking transactions to show customer activity by period.
Analytical Modeling. Analytical modeling is as much art as science. Much of the craft involves knowing what data sets and variables to select and how to format and transform the data for specific data models. Often, a modeler will start with 100+ variables and then, through data transformation and experimentation, winnow them down to 12 to 20 variables that are most predictive of the desired outcome.
In addition, an analytical modeler needs to select historical data that has enough of the "answers" built in it with a minimal amount of noise. Noise consists of patterns and relationships that have no business value, such as a person's birth date and age, which gives a 100 percent correlation. A data modeler will eliminate one of those variable to reduce noise. In addition, they will validate their models by testing them against random subsets of the data which they set aside in advance. If the scores remain compatible across training, testing, and validation data sets then they know they have a fairly accurate and relevant model.
Finally, the modeler must choose the right analytical techniques and algorithms or combinations of techniques to apply to a given hypothesis. This is where modelers' knowledge of business processes, project objectives, corporate data, and analytical techniques come into play. They may need to try many combinations of variables and techniques before they generate a model with sufficient predictive value.
Every analytical technique and algorithm has its strengths and weaknesses, as summarized in the tables below. The goal is to pick the right modeling technique so you have to do as little preparation and transformation as possible, according to Michael Berry and Gordon Linhoff in their book, "Data Mining Techniques: For Marketing, Sales, and Customer Support."
Table 1. Analytical Models
Table 2. Analytical Techniques
Deploy the Model. Model deployment takes many forms, as mentioned above. Executives can simply look at the model, absorb its insights, and use it to guide their strategic or operational planning. But models can also be operationalized. The most basic way to do operationalize a model is to embed it in an operational report. For example, a daily sales report for a telecommunications company might list each sales representative's customers by their propensity to churn. Or a model might be applied at the point of customer interaction, whether at a branch office or at an online checkout counter.
To apply models, you first have to score all the relevant records in your database. This involves converting the model into SQL or some other program that can run inside the database that holds the records that you want to score. Scoring involves running the model against each record and generating a numeric value, usually between 0 and 1, which is then appended to the record as an additional column. A higher score generally means a higher propensity to portray the desired or predicted behavior. Scoring is usually a batch process that happens at night or on the weekend depending on the volume of records that need to be scored. However, scoring can also happen in real-time, which is essentially what online retailers do when they make real-time recommendations based on purchases a customer just made.
Model Management. Once the model is built and deployed, it must be maintained. Models become obsolete over time, as the market or environment in which they operate changes. This is particularly true for volatile environments, such as customer marketing or risk management. Also, complex models that deliver high business value usually require a team of people to create, modify, update, and certify the models.
In such an environment, it's critical to have a model repository that can track versions, audit usage, and manage a model through its lifecycle. Once an organization has more than one operational model, it's imperative it implements model management utilities, which most data mining vendors now support.
Analytical models can be powerful. They can help organizations use information proactively instead of reactively. They can make predictions that streamline business processes, reduce costs, increase revenues, and improve customer satisfaction.
To create analytical models is as much art as science. A well-trained modeler needs to step through a variety of data-oriented tasks to create accurate models. Much of the heavy lifting involved in creating analytical models involves exploring and preparing the data. A well designed data warehouse or data mart can accelerate the modeling process by collecting and documenting a large portion of the data that modelers require and transforming that data into wide, flat tables conducive to the modeling process.
Posted November 29, 2011 1:42 PM
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text: More details have emerged of the crash that caused traffic chaos on the York Outer Ring Road at Rawcliffe and put a 21-year-old woman in hospital.Firefighters had to rescue the woman from West Yorkshire from her Vauxhall Corsa after it crashed into an HGV at the A19/A1237 roundabout.The collision shortly after 2pm closed the A1237 and traffic was diverted through the nearby Park&Ride site as hundreds of motorists were caught up in the delays. Police declined to comment on a report that the car had failed to stop, saying only that the circumstances of the crash were under investigation..The Yorkshire Air Ambulance was called to the crash, but were not needed, as the woman was taken to hospital by road ambulance after treatment from paramedics at the scene.The two vehicles collided at the roundabout where Shipton Road, the main route north out of the city meets the A1237 ring road , Westbound traffic was diverted down Shipton Road, through the Rawcliffe Park&Ride and back onto the roundabout while emergency services dealt with the crash and cleared the road.A police tweet by SNA York West had suggested a chase could have been involved, with a picture of the vehicle and a message reading, "This vehicle 'Failed To Stop', and crashed a short time later on the A1237 at the A19. Harsh lesson for the driver."However, a North Yorkshire Police spokeswoman was unable to confirm there had been a chase, saying that the "circumstances around the collision were being investigated." Leave a comment


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What Women's Track Families Have to Say About NCSA
Plenty of student-athletes have found success in track at the college level thanks to some guidance from NCSA. But don't just take our word for it. Read what these track success stories have to say about working with the recruiting experts at NCSA. The recruiting process is difficult but we're here to make it a little bit easier.
If you want to see real-time commitments and NCSA reviews, check out the conversations student-athletes and their families are having on Facebook, on Instagram and on Twitter.
Parent of 2012 Michigan Commit to Western Michigan University
"Thanks NCSA for helping make this day possible for our daughter! She started high school looking forward to a college career in swimming, but budget cuts shut down our high school team at the end of her sophomore year. We told her she either needed to move (which we offered to make happen) or needed to adjust her perspective and see herself as an athlete - not strictly a swimmer. After making state finals on a relay team for track in her sophomore year, she walked off the track that day saying it was just the beginning. Less than 2 short years later - she signed with Western Michigan University today receiving an awesome scholarship to a D1 track team. She definitely received the skills she needed along with the courage to make the change with the help of so many on the NCSA team!"
Crystal Hunt, 2013 Track & Field Athlete From Virginia
"Having the opportunity to have colleges recruit them for the sport that they would love play in college is something I feel that every athlete should have. With the help of NCSA, I feel as though their chances of being recuited will increase and at the very lease they will gain knowledge that will help them get to where they want to be."
2012 Indiana Commit to Carleton College
"I am excited and feel I have found a great fit for me. I am extremely grateful for the tools it provided. I especially appreciated the message board where I could organize which coaches I'd heard from so I could keep track of the various exchanges. Earlier in this process, the college search map was amazingly helpful. Perhaps the best part of NCSA is how well it educates the student-athletes and their parents. I always knew I wanted to keep running in college, but I wasn't sure where I could fit in. Although I knew academics would always be my first priority, NCSA helped me understand how to contact coaches. Even though academics came first, I wanted to be sure I found a coaching staff and team I would fit with. NCSA is a fantastic tool - I felt a lot more confident throughout this process thanks to NCSA, and I know that I have found what I'm looking for in a college. Thank you so much for all your help, and I cannot say enough how wonderful NCSA has been for me."
Parent of 2012 Texas Commit to the University of Texas - San Antonio
"The day finally arrived! After many offers to run for Division I, II, III, and NAIA schools, [Our daughter] chose the team that would be the best fit for her. UTSA is a Division I school and has an exciting future with a new football team and a new conference in which to compete. You have done so much for us with your emails and helpful information on her NCSA personal site. Your "team" of professionals conveyed "just in time" information to help all of us understand the recruiting process better and we have highly recommended your company to our friends with talented athletes hoping to compete in college. Ring the bell because we certainly are ringing one here at the Kohler house!"
Rachel Baker, 2013 Track & Field Athlete From Massachusetts
"It opens up so many opportunities and reveals so many different college programs from all around the country, which I never would have been exposed to before. It really helps me stay proactive in my recruiting process."
Build your free profile
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It's up to you whether you say anything at work about your caring responsibilities - you don't have to tell your employer or your colleagues. However, they're unlikely to be able to give you the support and understanding you need if they don't know what's happening.
There are times when it can help if your employer or colleagues know a little about what is happening. For example, if you want to make a flexible working request, your employer will need more details.
You're likely to need to plan some of your time around the needs of the person you're caring for, which can be difficult and unpredictable. It can be helpful to talk to your employer about your commitments and concerns.
It may be a good idea to find out more about your employer's policy for supporting carers before you talk to them about your situation. You can do this by checking your contract, reading your employee handbook or looking at your company's intranet. You may then wish to talk to your line manager, human resources department, or staff or union representative about what your statutory entitlements are and what other support is available to you from the organisation.


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In the coming decade, the U.S. Coast Guard must confront growing transnational threats and challenges in the Western Hemisphere. Several threats to the region are either persistent or emerging, including adaptive transnational organized crime (TOC) networks, globalization, an increasing reliance on the maritime transportation system (MTS), advances in technology that include cyber threats to critical infrastructure, as well as climate change and population growth, which increases demand on ocean resources. These threats are converging as they strengthen. If left unchecked, they could fuel a cycle of compounding loss that stifles economic growth and regional stability. The Coast Guard must adapt and confront these challenges with a new and broad strategic focus, ensuring our nation, our markets, and our oceans remain secure and prosperous for the long term.
An effective approach over the next ten years should emphasize three basic strategic priorities: combating networks; securing borders, and safeguarding commerce. It could be helpful to consider these priorities in a more colloquial construct—namely, the "offensive," "defensive," and "special-teams" elements of a larger game plan involving many of our partners. Each strategic priority will have key supporting objectives. Moreover, the approach must also emphasize several cross-cutting factors that will ensure long-term success across strategic priorities and thus, the strategy as a whole.
A High-Stakes Region
Globalization continues to drive greater interdependence among nations and regions. Our advanced economy will face increasingly competitive global markets in the coming years. Of the 20 partner nations to our Free Trade Agreement, 12 are in the Western Hemisphere. Those account for 50 percent of total U.S. exports. By 2020, the U.S. Maritime Administration estimates that foreign trade will represent 35 percent of U.S. Gross Domestic Product (i.e., output of the domestic economy) and 60 percent by 2030. While a safe and efficient MTS is vital for America's future, the growing threat of illicit networks and shadow economies could threaten sovereignty, security, and prosperity in the hemisphere.
In the next decade, some countries will prosper and grow while others will struggle amid increasing transnational threats. Initiatives to strengthen and fortify effective governance and cooperation in the Caribbean Basin, and Central and South America must address the destabilizing impacts of violence, corruption, terrorism, natural disasters, and trafficking in drugs, humans, and arms. The success and profit of illicit networks represents a cycle of compounding loss to free nations and markets. By some estimates, global yearly economic loss to TOC in illegal drugs, human trafficking, and illegal fishing (combined) exceeds $750 billion.1 Networks that evolve and mature for one illicit purpose have become increasingly used for a variety of other emerging nefarious purposes. The lines between networks initially formed for illicit activities will continue to blur.
The Offense: Combating TOC Networks
Combating TOC is of paramount importance to the national security of the United States. In the recent Strategy to Combat Transnational Organized Crime, President Obama's guidance directed our national effort to employ "all elements of national power to protect the citizens and U.S. national security interest from the convergence of 21st century transnational criminal threats."2
In recent years, new developments in technology and communications equipment have enabled TOC networks to plan, coordinate, and perpetrate their schemes with increased mobility and anonymity.3 TOCs have now evolved to form a crime/terror/insurgency nexus, with illicit activities that span drug trafficking, terrorism, human smuggling, trafficking in persons and weapons, piracy, environmental crime, intellectual property theft, and cyber crime.4
The expansion and diffusion of TOC networks and their activities has led to a dramatic rise in the impact they have on free nations and economies. Moreover, they represent a significant threat to institutions, governance, U.S. economic competitiveness, and strategic markets.5
Deploying a broad array of authorities and capabilities across diverse maritime missions, the Coast Guard is a versatile and critical resource for our nation's larger battle against TOC. As a premier federal law-enforcement agency that is a member of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the armed forces, and the intelligence community, the Coast Guard also maintains the capability to project offshore presence where illicit networks are increasingly active.
TOC activities in the maritime domain represent significant threats across many traditional Coast Guard law-enforcement missions. But the focus of Coast Guard efforts against the networks should evolve beyond traditional service notions that have tended to view mission success through the narrow lens of specific enforcement areas (e.g., counter-drug smuggling success as a function of seizures). Indeed, illicit networks are converging previously discrete "lines of business" between terrorist activities, human, weapons, and drug smuggling, and even environmental crime. The Coast Guard must recognize its true value to the American public will be determined more by the impact it has on TOC networks than the specific laws it enforces. This effort will necessitate a broader understanding of illicit networks and their activities, a greater focus on identifying them, and increased efforts to help target and prosecute these organizations.
Understanding Networks and Fostering Network Culture
It takes a highly capable network to defeat another one. This universally accepted concept will guide the Coast Guard's overarching effort to combat TOCs. There are many avenues to effective network strategies, operations, and tactics. They begin with a broad understanding of the nature of networks, and the ability of an organization to mirror the behavior of its adversaries. Additional critical concepts include: decentralized authority, highly adaptable members and practices, valuing competency above rank, perpetual self-analysis, shared "consciousness," developing non-traditional partnerships, and achieving a national unity of effort.6
The Coast Guard has a history and culture that promotes many positive network concepts, but the nature of the task ahead requires a continual review of best practices, along with a commitment to adapt our culture and behavior. The service should not only review network practices and culture internally, but also seek to better understand our larger team and actively promote the value the Coast Guard can bring to this collective fight.
Identifying Networks. TOC networks in the Western Hemisphere are expansive and diverse, and constitute a growing threat throughout the region's maritime domain. To combat them, the Coast Guard should continually strive to identify the networks and activities as they evolve and adapt. This task will require extensive national, private, and international partnerships and capabilities, as well as creating new ones. It will also include enhanced Coast Guard capabilities in intelligence gathering, analysis, sharing, and dissemination.
Targeting and Prosecuting Networks. As both a military and law-enforcement service with assets, capabilities, authorities, and partnerships throughout the Western Hemisphere, the Coast Guard should aggressively pursue the interdiction of TOC networks and help lead our national effort in their prosecution. The service must maintain an effective interdiction presence, support ongoing and critical interagency operations, and engage in important international capability- and capacity-building programs to strengthen our partner-nation network.
The Defense: Securing Borders
The mandate to secure our maritime borders represents one of the Coast Guard's greatest challenges over the next decade. The marine areas under U.S. jurisdiction are vast, consisting of some 4.7 million square miles of ocean area and more than 95,000 miles of coastline. The oceans contain vital national resources and are the essential conduit for the maritime commerce that is critical to the prosperity of our nation.
In the next decade, threats to our maritime borders will increase, along with globalization and population growth, which will expand maritime activity. Immigration policy reform and success in strengthening America's land borders could also increase the attractiveness—and use—of our maritime domain by TOC smuggling networks and other illicit activity. Daunting as these challenges may seem, the Coast Guard must adapt and persevere.
To effectively lead the national effort to secure our maritime borders, the service should employ a defensive approach based on improving awareness, prioritizing threats, and maintaining an adaptive, defense in-depth posture.
Improving Awareness
Meeting the challenges of early detection, information gathering, the recognition of anomalies, and the prioritization of threats, are vital to securing our coastal borders. Maritime domain awareness (MDA) is a principal objective of the National Strategy for Maritime Security.7 Effective MDA relies on the collection, fusion, analysis, prioritization, and dissemination of information to the proper decision makers who must then apply the full response to thwart maritime threats.8
Prioritizing Threats. The Coast Guard uses risk-based analysis to focus efforts and resources for managing critical maritime threats to our borders, no matter where they manifest themselves. Mastery of the art of probability—the ability to focus efforts on the most likely target—is imperative, as is the understanding of the true impacts associated with various threat vectors. The goal of this capability is to better understand the likelihood of unacceptable loss, and based on that understanding, our response options. All threats are not created equal, and the Coast Guard must use its resources wisely. A full review of risk-based decision guidance regarding border threats will allow the Coast Guard to channel critical and scarce resources toward the risks that will dominate the maritime landscape in the next ten years.
Layering Defenses and Effective Interdiction. The National Security Strategy calls for extending security to prevent, detect, and defeat threats as far from our shores as possible. To that end, the Coast Guard employs a combination of operating forces to identify and defeat maritime threats in the inland, coastal, and offshore arenas. The initial layers of defense begin with programs such as International Port Security, which assesses the effectiveness of foreign port security and anti-terrorism measures.
On the sea and in the approaches to the nation, the Coast Guard relies on layered operating elements to conduct effective interdiction of threats. Coast Guard operating elements in each layer are essential to our success, beginning with a robust offshore cutter capability. Our operational forces make up a maritime trident of forces: (1) maritime patrol forces, (2) shore-based forces, and (3) deployable specialized forces. These are organized, trained, equipped, and stand ready to deploy. This trident, along with our other governmental, law enforcement, and civilian partners, are crucial to our success.
Special Teams: 'Safeguarding Commerce'
Safeguarding commerce encompasses a broad set of missions that achieve several ends. Primarily, it ensures the safety of those who use the maritime domain for commercial and recreational endeavors, and helps preserve the economic security of our nation. In doing this, the Coast Guard also ensures effective and responsible stewardship of our oceans' resources.
In supporting the broad objectives of the prevent-respond continuum, the service will safeguard commerce in the Western Hemisphere, efficiently channeling limited resources toward a more targeted and effective response posture. Our oceans, coasts, navigable waterways, inland rivers, and Great Lakes contain vital natural resources, serve as an integral part of the global highway for the maritime transportation system, and support extensive commercial and recreational maritime activities.
Protecting Lives. The Coast Guard will apply our unique authorities, capabilities, and competencies in efforts to identify, deter, mitigate, and counter threats to maritime commerce. That cannot be effectively safeguarded without protecting the lives of those who operate within the maritime environment, as unsafe conditions will discourage economic activity and impede commerce. Search and rescue, a traditional mission of the Coast Guard, must continue to be a mainstay and core competency.
Promoting a Safe, Secure, and Resilient MTS. The modern world relies heavily on the sea for commerce, and that reliance grows stronger with time. Approximately 90 percent of world trade in goods is shipped by sea.8 America's maritime interests reach across the oceans where cargoes destined for our ports are loaded. As the MTS continues to expand and become more complex, to include exploration of—and extraction of resources from—the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), we must increase awareness of OCS development, ship-design technologies, and industry innovation.
To meet the challenges presented by this complex and constantly evolving environment, the Coast Guard executes a core operational strategy of prevent–respond. Through this strategy, the service seeks to deter and interdict potentially dangerous or illicit maritime activities, as well as respond rapidly and effectively to protect the nation and minimize impacts when incidents do occur.
Preserving the Marine Environment. Despite significant challenges, we must pursue a responsible approach to the marine environment to maintain and enhance the commercial ventures relying on healthy and productive oceans. Restoration and conservation of our ocean, coastal and inland rivers, and Great Lakes ecosystems are crucial to sustaining products and services on which our nation's maritime commerce and other marine-related activities depend.
Crisis Management. Proficient and expert incident management is critical to the effective application of the prevent-respond continuum in the effort to safeguard commerce. The Coast Guard must maintain the ability to quickly and effectively respond to maritime incidents of national significance, for prolonged periods of time. The service must also share this core competency with other organizations, states, and stakeholders to expand our nation's ability to minimize the impacts of incidents that negatively impact maritime commerce.
Ensuring Long-Term Success
There are several cross-cutting initiatives that will be crucial for the Coast Guard's success in meeting its strategic objectives in the next ten years. Some of these may necessitate separate planning efforts to ensure optimal success, while others might benefit by a full review of best practices. Examples of these include the following:
A 'One DHS' Approach. The Coast Guard must continue to leverage established partnerships with other DHS components including U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security investigations, the Transportation Security Administration, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency to bring a unified effort to the front lines of the Western Hemisphere. Ultimately, unity of effort, situational awareness, integration, and synchronization of planning will be essential at every level of coordination across the DHS enterprise.
Leveraging Critical Partnerships. The Departments of State, Defense, and Justice in particular bring distinct authorities and capabilities in support of the Coast Guard in the Western Hemisphere. The service should continue to collaborate and team with DOD to increase awareness of threats, build competencies of partner nations by maintaining and expanding international training and exercise programs, and synergize strategies and operations for identifying and interdicting threats through established task forces. The Coast Guard must also expand partnerships with the Justice Department, recognizing the significant impact of prosecutorial efforts in the battle against TOC networks, as realized through past successes in interdiction and extradition efforts. In addition, the service must build on and leverage State Department coordination with important regional security initiatives, and look to expand international agreements and the resultant authorities to better enable Coast Guard forces to identify and interdict threats in high-risk areas.
Offshore Presence. The Coast Guard must maintain an effective, adaptable, and networked offshore presence to support its strategic objectives. An offshore capability that maintains operational and prolonged presence across the high-risk areas of the Western Hemisphere is essential, as is networked access to the most sensitive and actionable intelligence.
A Broad Array of Capabilities, Featuring Cyber
The Coast Guard must develop the capability to detect and counter adversarial cyber activity. As the sector-specific agency for maritime critical infrastructure, the Coast Guard must work with our DHS and other partners to ensure the security of public and privately operated cyber systems that are critical to our national interest. Moreover, the service must optimize its internal cyber defenses to ensure operational readiness and take advantage of emerging capabilities and authorities to combat illicit threats to the homeland.
As conditions change, so must the Coast Guard. Our service has a rich and successful history of adapting to diverse risks that threaten our national-security interests. It protects those on the sea, the nation from threats delivered by sea, and the sea itself. As new global challenges continue to test the nation's increasingly strained security resources, the Coast Guard must refocus its strategic efforts in our primary operating theater—the Western Hemisphere. By combating networks, securing borders, and safeguarding commerce, the Coast Guard will ensure that our nation, our markets, and our oceans remain secure and prosperous.
1. Justin Picard, "Can We Estimate the Global Scale and Impact of Illicit Trade?" Convergence (Washington, DC: NDU Press, April 2013), 57.
2. Strategy to Combat Transnational Organized Crime, White House, 19 July 2011, 1.
3. Ibid., 24.
4. Ibid., 6–7.
5. Ibid., 5.
6. GEN Stanley McChrystal, "It Takes a Network: The New Front Line of Modern Warfare," Foreign Policy, March/April 2011, www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2011/02/22/it_takes_a_network
7. The National Strategy for Maritime Security, White House (2005), http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/homeland/maritime-security.html
8. International Maritime Organization (2011), International Shipping Facts and Figures-Information Resources on Trade, Safety, Security, Environment. http://www.imo.org/KnowledgeCentre/ShipsAndShippingFactsAndFigures/TheRoleandImportanceofInternationalShipping/Pages/TheRoleAndImportanceOfInternationalShipping.aspx.


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Mah Goodness: Girl Gets Dragged Out Of Jack In The Box By The Hair While Screaming For Help! (Catches Combo's To The Face)
This took place in Sacramento California. Teens just watching while she runs Submitted by JW
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Understanding The Basic Elements of Forex Trading
The foreign exchange market is finally beginning to garner mainstream attention. The Bank of International Settlements estimates that the average daily volume in the fx market is around $4 trillion, which makes it by far the largest financial marketplace in the world. Surprisingly, however, many novice investors and traders have never even heard of this market.
Until the late 1990's, the only players allowed to execute trades in the foreign exchange market were investment banks, hedge funds, and very wealthy private investors. Since the minimum contract size was generally $1,000,000, smaller traders were effectively denied entrance into the market.
In the late 90's, however, this all changed. The advance of the internet and technology led several online forex brokers to open shop and begin catering to smaller investors and traders. This led to the birth of the retail foreign exchange market. In this article, we are going to discuss three key elements to forex trading: Leverage, Margin, and Equity.
The idea of leverage in the fx market has been under intense debate over the last several years. Since the market is decentralized and worldwide, regulation was largely absent from the fx market until recently. In 2010, the National Futures Association instituted some major changes, one of them being a cap on leverage at 50:1. This means that an fx trader in the United States can trade on leverage at a ratio of 50:1. Thus, if a trader has $1,000 in his account, then he is able to leverage that $1,000 into $50,000 and trade much larger positions in EUR USD. Until the National Futures Association passed this regulation, some brokers were offering traders up to 400:1 leverage, which means that with a $1,000 account, traders were able to control a $400,000 position in the market. Note that leverage is a two-edged sword. It will increase both losses and profits.
Margin is the life of a trader. If a trader does not have enough margin, then he cannot open a trade. Furthermore, if a trader has an open position moving against him, he may eventually not have enough money to act as margin, which means his account would suffer a "margin call."
Margin is the amount of money required to open a leveraged position. For example, if Broker ABC offers 50:1 leverage, and Bob the Forex Trader wants to open a position of $100,000, then Bob has to put up $2,000 of margin. If Bob's trade begins to move against him to the point where his account equity becomes less than $2,000, Bob will suffer a "margin call," which basically means that his broker will call for more margin if Bob wants to keep the position open.
Everyone knows that one of the leading causes of business failure is a lack of initial capital, and trading is no different. If a trader opens an account with a few thousand bucks and trades heavily leveraged positions, his chances of success are nominal.
Equity is essential to trading success. The question many new traders have is, how much money do I need to open an account? Well, the answer to that question is different for everyone, and it largely depends on what your goals are. If you simply want to get some trading experience, but still have a full-time job, then a person can open an account with a few thousand bucks. However, if you are trying to generate enough capital gains to sustain a living, then the initial account balance should be much, much higher.
Leverage, Margin, and Account Equity are three essential aspects of fx trading that every trader must be familiar with.
©2011 Leverage Academy Forum. All Rights Reserved.


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Pasta Salad with Veggies
I originally found this recipe on Pinterest from Better Homes & Gardens. I made some subtle changes (including adding peas for my fiance…per his request) and loved how it turned out. It's a nice Spring/Summer dish with colorful and healthy veggies. This easily serves 2-4 people, but you could always double the recipe and serve for a larger group. I think it's great to serve on a warm day, outside, with friends.
9 ounce package cheese-filled tortellini
1 1/2 cups broccoli flowerets
Carrots thinly sliced (I peeled and cut 3 large carrots)
1/4 cup white wine vinegar
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
I large red or yellow pepper cut into thin strips
Frozen peas, thawed (about a cup)
Parmesan cheese
1. Cook pasta according to directions, except don't add any salt or oil. Add broccoli and carrots the last 3 minutes of cooking; drain.
2. Rinse with cold water; drain again.
3. Meanwhile, for dressing in a screw-top jar (I use a mason jar) combine the vinegar, oil, Italian seasoning, mustard, black pepper and garlic powder.
4. Cover and shake well. Set aside.
5. In a large bowl, combine the pasta mixture and sweet pepper. Shake dressing and pour over pasta, toss gently to coat. Add fresh parmesan.
NOTE: I also like to add in a little bit of Newman's Own balsamic vinaigrette salad dressing before serving (I just drizzle to taste for an extra little kick…)
*Can refrigerate a few hours before serving or can be made a day in advance.
Share this post:April 17 2013
Tags: best lifestyle experts, Better Homes & Gardens, Better Homes & Gardens recipes, cold pasta salad, cold pasta salad with vegetables, cold pasta salad with veggies, Easy cold pasta salad, How to make cold pasta salad, jamie krell, Jamie Krell blog, lifestyle expert, pasta salad, pasta salad with vegetables, Pinterest


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The country-specific updates for AX have been released for the UK and Austria. Updates for AX 2009 RTM and SP1 are available for download. Updates for 4.0 SP2 are expected to be available on PartnerSource this week. Links will be provided as soon as they are live. · Link to AX 2009 RTM & SP1…
Year: 2009
Microsoft Dynamics AX – Upgrade Training
Please note 2 Upgrade classes have been scheduled, with the main focus being AX 3.0 to AX 2009 upgrades. Summary: This two-day instructor-led Hands-on-Lab course provides students with the knowledge and skills to perform an upgrade from Microsoft® Business Solutions–Axapta® 3.0 to Microsoft Dynamics® AX 2009. This includes planning and performing data and code upgrades…
Network Equipment Technologies – High Tech Manufacturing webinar
Use the following link to the Dynamics Edge blog, containing further details via a Webinar as to NET Saves $1.3M with Microsoft Dynamics ERP Instead of Oracle. Most definitely a watch for those dealing with customers in high tech manufacturing, Posted By Fee Nolan
Microsoft Dynamics Sure Step 2010 now available!
We are pleased to announce the availability of Sure Step 2010 to our Microsoft Dynamics partner community today! In the spirit of providing continual enhancements in collaboration capabilities, increased partner productivity and improved customer satisfaction, this major upgrade includes the following features that align with Microsoft Dynamics product strategies and roadmap: · Industry and…
Network Equipment Technologies Case Study video
Hi All, definitely worth a watch – where NET talk about choosing Microsoft Dynamics AX over an Oracle upgrade. View the video here Posted By Fee Nolan
Competing with VMware using Microsoft Server Virtualization and Management Webinar
For those of you attending the AX Reading Roadshow a week or so back ,virtualisation was one of the topics on the agenda. See below for details of a VMware 1 hour webinar. Thursday, January 14, 2010, 8:00-9:00am Pacific Time Click here to calculate your local time This is a joint Microsoft internal AND…
CRM and ERP Market Intelligence Partner Decks
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Microsoft Dynamics Sure Step 2010 Web Seminars
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Microsoft Dynamics AX Intro December – slides now available
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Microsoft Dynamics AX Roadshow – slides now available
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Technical Notes
Territory size is proportional to the apples harvested there in 2016.
Data sources
This map uses data by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) (last accessed March 2018). We aim to map as complete data as possible and therefore estimate data for missing values. In some cases, missing data for very small territories is not used in the cartogram and that area is therefore omitted in the map.
All modification to the original data source are noted in our data sheets.Download data file


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Commentary on Philippians, Colossians, and Thessalonians
by John Calvin
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Commentary on Philippians, Colossians, and
Thessalonians is another impressive commentary by Calvin
on several Pauline epistles. Calvin is regarded as one of
the Reformation's best interpreters of scripture. He
frequently offers his own translations of a passage,
explaining the subtleties and nuances of his translation.
He has a penchant for incorporating keen pastoral insight
into the text as well. He always interacts with other
theologians, commentators, and portions of the Bible when
interpreting a particular passage. Further, this volume
also contains informative notes from the editor. Calvin's
Commentary on Philippians, Colossians, and Thessalonians
should not be ignored by anyone interested in those books
or Calvin himself.
Tim Perrine
CCEL Staff Writer