text:
Maria Kopileva has grown up in a suburb of Skopje and is a young ethnic Macedonian student at the Southeast European University in Tetovo. Career prospects and better conditions to study made her decide to pay for a private university degree and to travel several times a week from Skopje to Tetovo.
"Consultations, seminar papers, projects, everything is different; and the grading system is not just based on exams. There are better conditions to study at the Southeast European University than at the state university and the diploma is recognised worldwide."
For a young ethnic Macedonian like Maria, life on the university campus in Tetovo also ensures exposure to Macedonia's multi-ethnicity.
"It is interesting, there are students from all ethnicities, Serbs, Bosnians, Macedonians, Albanians. In my group I have Turkish students, two or three girls, Bosnians, and it is no problem."
Having decided to study at this university, set up after the conflict of 2001 primarily for ethnic Albanians, makes her belong to a new post-Ohrid Agreement generation. Maria dreams of a job in the public administration, preferable dealing with Europe and Macedonia's European integration. Twice a week she attends Albanian language classes, another novelty after the conflict and the Ohrid Agreement. In her parent's generation it is very hard to find any ethnic Macedonian who has learned Albanian.
"I am learning Albanian now and I am going to need it if I work here. Macedonian, Albanian and English."
For Maria and her generation, Europe is about reducing poverty, economic development, opportunities to do business with other countries and travelling.
"We are part of Europe and we want to be connected, not disconnected and isolated like right now."
May 2008


text: Youth Partner Spotlight | New Jersey Youth Soccer Tweet © The New York Red Bulls boast one of the strongest youth programs not just in MLS, but across the country. In addition to finding and developing local players that keep the academy teams near the top of the national rankings, the Red Bulls have demonstrated their commitment to the future of youth soccer in New York and New Jersey. The organization maintains partnerships with over 100 youth soccer programs, providing camps, clinics and in-house training from certified and professional Red Bull youth coaches. Each month, NewYorkRedBulls.com and RedBullsAcademy.com will feature one of these partners in our Red Bulls Youth Partner Program Spotlight. NJ Youth Soccer New Jersey Youth Soccer (NJYS) was founded in 1972 with the goal of providing local youth soccer players with the best coaching and training in the state. From its diminutive beginnings, the program quickly produced some of the game's most heralded players including Tab Ramos (Kearny), Tony Meola (Kearny), John Harkes (Kearny), Christie Rampone (Point Pleasant), Carli Lloyd (Delran), Heather O'Reilly (East Brunswick) and Tim Howard (East Brunswick). The New York Red Bulls and NJYS began their partnership in January 2014 and which has allowed for grassroots development outreach programs between NJYS and the Red Bulls Youth Training Programs. The two organizations work together in a number of key development areas such as coaching education, the Young Olympians Program, TOPSoccer and other community outreach initiatives. READ: New York Red Bulls and New Jersey Youth Soccer Expand Young Olympians Involvement "New Jersey Youth Soccer is thrilled to be working with a great organization like the Red Bulls," NJYS president Roy Squillario said. "This partnership has expanded our ability to develop our players and coaches at all levels. It also demonstrates the Red Bulls' unrivaled commitment to youth players in our state." The Red Bulls have also shown support for TOPSoccer (The Outreach Program for Soccer), a community-based training and team placement program for young athletes with disabilities. The program is designed to bring the opportunity of learning and playing soccer to any boy or girl with a mental or physical disability. In December 2014, NJYS and the Just One Soccer League in Newark hosted a TOPSoccer Jamboree that trained local volunteer coaches and engaged more than 30 players from Elizabeth and Newark with special needs. The Red Bulls Street Team worked alongside NJYS coaches to create an entertaining afternoon for the kids and parents. Last September, the Red Bulls held "NJYS Night" at Red Bull Arena which provided players, volunteers and coaches discount tickets to attend an exciting 3-0 victory against Toronto FC. A select group of NJYS players had the unique chance of being ball kids and experiencing the match at field level. Participants also received a behind-the-scenes look at Red Bull Arena. In the Spring and Fall of each year, NJYS hosts the annual U.S. Youth Soccer State Cup tournament where member clubs from Under-10s to Under-18s are invited to participate in a statewide competitions with the opportunity to advance to Regional and National stages of the National Championship Series. "Our partnership with New Jersey Youth Soccer allows our organization to connect with players, coaches and parents at all levels of the game," Red Bulls Director of Training Programs David Jervis said. "NJYS has a long history of developing players and providing an environment and programs for families to enjoy the game of soccer. As a grassroots community focused club, the Red Bulls are privileged to be partners with an organization that offers so many great opportunities to children throughout the state on NJ." New Jersey Youth Soccer, affiliated with U.S. Youth Soccer and the U.S. Soccer Federation, is comprised of more than 150,000 players from 5 to 19-years-old; as well as thousands of coaches and volunteers. Members collectively support the sport of soccer through training, practice, competition and the spirit of good sportsmanship. The New Jersey U.S. Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program (ODP) provides training and competitive programs for players of the highest caliber for the purpose of increasing the success of the U.S. National Teams. For more information on NJYS, call the office at 609-490-0725 or visit their website, njyouthsoccer.com. Back to news

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Browsing Working papers by Author "Tran, Yen Thi Thu"
Now showing items 1-2 of 2
Meyer, Klaus E.; Tran, Yen Thi Thu; Nguyen, Hung Vo (København, 2005)[More information][Less information]
Abstract: Over the last thirty years, Vietnam evolved from "war after war" to an emerging economy with an attractive foreign investment policy and commitment to a liberalized economy. Although the GDP per capita is still considerably lower than in the Asian Tiger economies, and the institutional framework still reflects inheritances from the central plan system, Vietnam today has a vibrant economy with small businesses springing up at every street corner. Foreign investors have been flogging to Vietnam since the early 1990s, with a new peak of FDI inflow in 2004. This paper reviews the Vietnamese economy, society, culture, and policies towards foreign investment to inform those considering to invest in Vietnam, and to provide some practical advice. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10398/7101
Files in this item: 1wp58 doing business in vietnam.pdf (221.8Kb)
Meyer, Klaus; Tran, Yen Thi Thu (København, 2004)[More information][Less information]
Abstract: Multinational enterprises (MNEs) are expanding their global reach, carrying their products and brands to ever more remote corners of the world. They encounter business environments that vary not only from their country of origin, but also vary greatly amongst each other. Thus foreign investors have to adapt their strategies, most notably their marketing and acquisition strategies, to the local context. In this paper, we outline why globalisation drives MNEs into emerging economies, and we provide conceptual frameworks that may aid investors to adapt their strategies to emerging economy contexts. MNEs have to develop a portfolio of local and/or global brands that matches their competences with local needs. If they aim for market leadership they may pursue a multi-tier strategy, but this needs to be supported by an appropriate foundation of global and local resources. This strategy in particular requires the acquisition of complementary local resources controlled by local firms. However, acquisitions in emerging economies are inhibited by institutional obstacles and weak local firms. Thus, foreign investors may pursue staged, multiple, indirect, or Brownfield acquisitions to build their projected operation. We illustrate our proposed strategies by analysing how one multination enterprise - Carlsberg Breweries - has developed its operations in three very different emerging economies: Poland, Lithuania and Vietnam. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10398/7071
Files in this item: 1working paper 2004-50.pdf (334.0Kb)
Now showing items 1-2 of 2


text:
From the game day campout live-blog at the Daily Bruin (and via Twitter), here's a picture of notoriously sorta grumpy UCLA basketball coach Ben Howland, looking extremely relaxed last night in advance of today's game against #11 ranked Arizona at Pauley Pavilion (9 p.m. EST, ESPN).
Even cooler than the tracksuit? Rad, disheveled Ben Howland admiring Shabazz Muhammad's shooting technique [click to enlarge]:
UCLA may not be a world-beater this season, but it's easily the most "hi, haters" team in the country.


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Regents Medal will honor Omaha community leaders Gail and Mike Yanney
The University of Nebraska's highest award, the Regents Medal, will be presented tomorrow to Michael B. Yanney and Dr. Gail Walling Yanney, Omaha community leaders who have been tremendous supporters of not only the University of Nebraska, but also youth education, the arts, health initiatives and other civic causes across the city and state. The Yanneys will be honored at a dinner tomorrow in Omaha.
"The University of Nebraska – and in fact the state of Nebraska – would not be where they are today without the support, vision and leadership of Mike Yanney and Dr. Gail Walling Yanney," said Board of Regents Chairman Tim Clare. "From their commitment to youth mentoring to their leadership of the Campaign for Nebraska UNMC Committee, Mike and Gail have demonstrated a passion for improving our community that is almost unmatched. On behalf of the Board of Regents and the countless Nebraskans whose lives have been impacted by the Yanneys, I want to express our deep gratitude to this extraordinary couple."
The Yanneys are longtime supporters of the University of Nebraska Medical Center. In addition to their co-chairmanship of the campus' $500 million portion of the Campaign for Nebraska, Mike Yanney has tirelessly led efforts to raise private funds for the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, a project that will transform cancer care and research in Nebraska. The Yanneys also were among the principal donors for the new Harold M. and Beverly Maurer Center for Public Health at UNMC. UNMC last year presented the couple with the Margre and Chuck Durham Spirit of Nebraska Award and in 2002 with the Distinguished Service Award.
"I can think of few individuals who are more deserving of the University of Nebraska's highest honor than Gail and Mike Yanney," said NU President James B. Milliken. "Their support of the University of Nebraska, and our medical center in particular, has helped put us in a position to transform health care, research and education in Nebraska and beyond. And Gail and Mike's service to the state extends well beyond the university. Their commitment to young people has had an impact across Omaha and Nebraska that is difficult to measure."
For more than 20 years, the Yanneys have given their time, energy and resources to disadvantaged youth. In 1989, they founded what is known today as Partnership 4 Kids, a mentoring and scholarship program that helps at-risk youth in the Greater Omaha area prepare for college and career success. Today more than 5,000 Omaha Public Schools students participate in Partnership 4 Kids programs. Mike Yanney also serves as president and board member for Building Bright Futures, a non-profit organization created in 2006 by a coalition of business, civic and political leaders that works to improve educational outcomes for children in poverty in Douglas and Sarpy counties. Additionally, Mike Yanney serves on the Board of Directors of the Avenue Scholars Foundation, which helps prepare Omaha youth for college and career success.
Mike Yanney, a native of Kearney and graduate of Kearney State Teachers College (now the University of Nebraska at Kearney) is a successful investment banker who founded what is today The Burlington Capital Group LLC, where he continues to serve as chairman emeritus of the board. He has received honorary doctorate degrees from Kearney State Teachers College and Bellevue University; the University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Business Administration Distinguished Alumni Award; and the Horatio Alger Award.
Dr. Gail Walling Yanney was born in Chicago and grew up in Nebraska. A retired anesthesiologist, Walling Yanney graduated from the UNMC College of Medicine and later served as a clinical instructor there. She served as executive director of the Bishop Clarkson Memorial Foundation. She currently serves on the boards of The Nebraska Medical Center, the Eppley Cancer Institute, the College of Public Health and the Yanney Heritage Park Foundation in Kearney. Walling Yanney previously served as chair of the Nebraska Arts Council and The Nature Conservancy. She has been honored as a YWCA Woman of Distinction and as the Arthritis Foundation Woman of the Year.
The Regents Medal was established by the Board of Regents in 2006 to recognize individuals whose service to NU's four campuses has provided "exceptional benefits in furtherance of the goals and mission of the institution." Regents Medal winners are selected by the Board.
The first recipient was the late Charles W. Durham. In 2009, the medal was awarded to Omaha philanthropists Ruth and Bill Scott and in 2011, the medal was presented in honor of the late Robert B. Daugherty of Omaha.
Melissa Lee
Director of Communications,
University of Nebraska


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Rescue Profile: Frank
Case #: 14356
Frank Rawley is an avid sailor and said he always checks the weather prior to setting sail. Although conditions were listed as fair, he and his crew found themselves in bad weather on the second day of their journey from North Carolina to Pensacola. The forecast had been wrong in both directions and the wind grew extremely rapid, damaging the sails and rigging. It was then that Frank activated the S.O.S. on his SPOT Gen3, alerting GEOS International Emergency Response Coordination Center of his location.
"If the boat had been parallel with the waves, we would have capsized," said Frank. "We were 63 miles offshore in 30 foot breaking seas with wind gusts at 50 miles per hour. We deployed a drogue, but eventually the waves ripped it off."
Rescue Profile: Tom
Case #: 13665
Tom Madlem had been riding motorcycles for 50 years. Death Valley was one trip he had never taken before though. He and a friend had planned to take 2 weeks off and make the ride. However, the first part of the trip was going to force Madlem to commit the "cardinal sin" - biking alone.
This meant he would be riding alone through the desert for two days before meeting up with his friend. After his wife and son begged him not to go by himself, he was then convinced to purchase his SPOT GEN3™ for the trip so his family would have peace of mind. He made it the first day just fine alone. Tuesday morning, he had not ridden 10 miles when he took a hard fall on his bike.
On March 15, 2014 Jamie Waine trekked to Bull Creek Hill in Alberta's Kananaskis Country with her boyfriend, his dad and a group of avid geocacher and hikers. Having reached the top of the lookout, the trio were four kilometres from the bottom of Bull Creek Hill when Jamie slipped on some rocks and broke her ankle.The group's SPOT Gen3 Satellite GPS Messenger was used to send an S.O.S. to emergency services along with GPS location coordinates.
Read More
Rescue Profile: Dale and John
Case #: 12299
Dale, a retired community college administrator and instructor, is an avid hiker, backpacker and cyclist. At the age of 67, he now spends most of his free time hiking through the backcountry of Oregon and California alone and with fellow backpackers.
Like many hikers, Dale often worried about connectivity during his travels. This is why SPOT piqued his interest when reading one of his favorite magazines. Soon after, Dale visited REI to purchase his first SPOT device. In celebration of Memorial Day, Dale and 7 other hikers ranging from ages 51 to 74 decided to take a five day trip to Mattole Beach Campground near Petrolia, California. This time, he made sure to add his new SPOT Gen 3™ as a "must bring" item.
Rescue Profile: Bill and his comrade
Case #: 11936
Bill, current President of Ruby Valley Search and Rescue and a "retired" Army pilot, is an avid hunter and fisherman. Needless to say, Bill spends a lot of time outdoors; he jokingly states he knows most trees on a first name basis.
Several years ago, Bill developed a preparedness plan, which included having a SPOT device. He even developed a messaging system for friends and family on his contact list: (1) Check In message in the morning and evening to family and friends, (2) Check In messages back to back to let them know he got an elk, and (3) Check In messages back to back to let everyone know that he was headed out of the backcountry.


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Francis Marion University
President's Board Room, Stokes Administration Building
Friday, February 1, 2008 – 11:35 am –12:16pm
Mr. George C. McIntyre, Chairman
Mrs. Teresa C. Anderson
Mr. T. Hal Campbell
Mr. William W. Coleman, Jr.
Dr. H. Randall Dozier
Mrs. Patricia C. Hartung
Mr. Kenneth W. Jackson
Senator Hugh K. Leatherman, Sr., Member Emeritus
Mr. Robert E. Lee
Mrs. Gail Ness Richardson
Mrs. Carolyn Beasley Shortt
Mr. W. C. Stanton
Others Present:
Dr. Kenneth M. Autrey, Chair of the Faculty
Mrs. Shireese Bell, Morning News
Mr. Darryl L. Bridges, Vice President for Student Affairs
Dr. L. Fred Carter, President
Dr. Richard Chapman, Provost
Mrs. Elizabeth I. Cooper, Vice President for Public and Community Affairs
Ms. Angela R. Crosland, Public Information Coordinator
Mrs. Kimberly G. Davis, Assistant Director of Institutional Research & Human Resources Assistant
Mr. Jay Dowd, Vice President for Development/Executive Director of FMU Foundation
Mrs. Rachel R. Hamaie, Executive Assistant to the President
Mr. Murray G. Hartzler, Director of Athletics
Mr. Jay Kispert, Vice President for Business Affairs
Dr. Kenneth D. Kitts, Associate Provost for Academic Affairs and Enrolment Management
Mr. Robert E. Merritt, University Attorney
Mrs. Teresa J. Ramey, Dean of Students
Mr. Everett Robinson, SGA President
Mr. James L. Schlimmer, Director of Admissions
Mrs. Kim O. Turbeville, Director of Alumni Affairs
Dr. Charlene Wages, Vice President for Administration
Mr. Julian M. Young, Community Relations and Special Events Coordinator
Mr. George McIntyre called the meeting to order at 11:35 am. He then asked Mrs. Rachel Hamaie to call the roll. Mr. McIntyre then noted for the record that media notification had been made in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act, and a quorum was present.
Mr. McIntyre presented the minutes of the November 9, 2007 Board Meeting to the Board for approval. Mrs. Gail Richardson made a motion for the minutes to be approved. The motion was seconded by Mr. Robert Lee. The minutes received unanimous approval by the Board.
Academic Affairs and Accreditation Committee:
Dr. Randy Dozier began by welcoming Mr. James Schlimmer, the new Director of Admissions.
Preliminary enrollment figures for the Spring 2008 semester show a headcount of 3547 with an FTE of 2987. This is an increase over the enrollment for last Spring. Also, for 2007-2008 the office of Financial Aid awarded 34 million dollars in aid to 3200 students. In light of concern about the state's budget situation, there will be fewer new and replacement faculty hired this year than during the past two years.
Dr. Dozier then thanked Dr. Ken Autrey for his years of service as the Faculty Chairperson. This will be his last year in this position. Mr. Keith Best has agreed to run for this office. Dr. Fred Carter then added that the Commencement Committee has unanimously endorsed Dr. Autrey as one of the Honorary Degree Recipients at this Spring's Commencement.
Because this year is an election year, there have been several campaign events recently held on campus involving appearances by Ms. Chelsea Clinton, Mr. Chris Tucker, Mr. Mitt Romney, and others. There are several cultural and academic events planned for this month such as the Physics Scholars Institute from February 21, 2008 through February 23, 2008 and the Statewide Drama Festival from February 22, 2008 through February 24, 2008. In addition, plans are already being made for next fall's Pee Dee Fiction and Poetry Festival.
Lastly, Dr. Dozier thanked Dr. Wages for her hard work and preparation for the SACS reaccreditation review. SACS representatives will visit the University from March 17, 2008 through March 19, 2008.
Development and Alumni Committee:
Mr. W. Coleman began by summarizing a report given by Mr. Jay Dowd during the committee meeting. Mr. Dowd updated the committee concerning the new Education Foundation Building. This building continues to house student health services in addition to housing many non-profit organizations.
The Foundation Board held their bi-annual retreat from January 24, 2008 through January 26, 2008, which was very informative and interactive. The Rural Assistance Leadership Institute and the Non-Profit Leadership Institute continue to do well. NPLI currently has 30 members with 60% coming from outside of the Florence Area. An NPLI alumni event is planned for March 7, 2008 followed by a reception at the President's House. There will also be an opportunity for them to learn about the current issues facing the General Assembly with a panel of legislators that afternoon. RALI is making great strides with the 3 pilot counties of Marlboro, Williamsburg, and Marion. Classes are engaged and are developing projects to most benefit their communities.
The annual Foundation Golf Tournament is scheduled for March 14, 2008. This tournament is sponsored by BB&T with additional sponsorship by Sodexho, The Yahnis Corporation, Victor's Bistro, King Cadillac, Crown Beverage, Capstone, Pepsi, & Carolinas Hospital. To date there are 6 hole sponsors and 18 teams with 17 players. The goal for this year's tournament is 120 players to contribute $18,000 each into the Tom Davidson Scholarship and into the Pete Peterson Scholarship for a total of $36,000.
A series of informational Alumni luncheons are to be held across the state. The first luncheon was held in Hartsville with approximately 12 in attendance. The concept of these luncheons is to get alumni more involved with the University and to increase gift-giving opportunities.
Mr. Coleman then summarized a report presented to the committee by Mrs. Libby Cooper. On January 31, 2008, the Alumni Membership Dinner was held. Mr. Ted Mannes, class of 1980, was honored as the Outstanding Alumnus of 2008. Rachel Turner, class of 2000, received the Young Alumnus Award. Brent Tiller, class of 2000, was named the Alumni Volunteer of 2008. Homecoming this year will be held on Saturday, March 1, 2008 with the theme of Join the Revolution. Prior to homecoming, the School of Education will host a wine and cheese reception on February 28, 2008. The School of business will host a breakfast on February 29, 2008. In addition an event will be held on Friday night at Red Bone Alley and at The Grill after the game on Saturday.
Last November, the Department of Biology held an event for biology alumni. Two graduates, Ms. Karen Leatherman and Ms. Melissa Timmons, were honored for their career achievements. Saturday, January 12, 2008 the Alumni Advisory Board spent the day at Francis Marion University for a planning retreat.
Executive Affairs Committee:
Mr. McIntyre presented resolution 01-08, Resolution for the Naming of the Henry Booker and Nellie Cooke Sparrow Baseball Stadium, with the full recommendation of the Executive Committee. Mr. Jackson seconded this motion. The resolution received unanimous approval by the Board.
Financial Affairs and Facilities Committee:
Mr. Hal Campbell presented resolution 02-08, Resolution for the Adjustment of Housing Fees. This resolution calls for a 5% increase in housing rates. Mr. Coleman made a motion to approve the resolution. Mr. Kenneth Jackson seconded the motion. The resolution received unanimous approval by the Board.
Mr. Campbell then presented resolution 03-08, Resolution for the Adjustment of the Student Activity Fee. This resolution will increase the fees by $25 to bring the total cost to $122.50. Mr. Robert Lee made a motion to approve the resolution. Mr. Jackson seconded the motion. The resolution received unanimous approval by the Board.
Additionally, during the committee meeting a facilities update was presented to the Board. The Construction for the Center for the Child has begun. The pool renovations are complete. Lastly, Mr. Campbell asked the Board to review the Budget Summary under Tab 5 in the board notebooks.
Student Affairs and Athletics Committee:
Mrs. Gail Richardson began by informing the Board that the current average GPA for student athletes is 2.859. This figure has steadily increased over the past few years. It has also been a good year for fundraising. $163,000 has been raised from 822 donors.
It has been an excellent year for women's basketball. They are currently 14 and 2. They are reported 1st in the NCAA and have approximately 1000 fans at each game.
Mrs. Richardson then reported that Mr. Bridges informed the Board that as of July 1, 2008 FMU will be a smoke-free campus. FMU will be the 2nd institution in South Carolina to do this after Lander. Lastly, Mrs. Richardson introduced Mr. Robby Robinson, the current SGA president, to the Board.
President's Report:
Dr. Carter began by asking Sen. Leatherman to inform the Board of the current state of the budget of South Carolina, since it is likely to be a difficult financial year.
Sen. Leatherman confirmed that it is going to be a difficult financial year. At the start of the budget, the State is currently 160 million dollars short. Because of this shortage there will be some necessary cuts. The economy is clearly in a decline. Though the current shortage is based on the situation as it stands to date, more economic decline could worsen this situation.
Dr. Carter thanked Sen. Leatherman and then asked the Board if they would permit him to present some information on the Performing Arts Center. The architects are currently working on bid-quality plans. This process should begin within 60 days. There may be some changes to the façade of the building. The onyx columns may be replaced by a glazed glass front. The exterior will be built of white marble and Winnsboro grey granite. The cost of the building should be between 30-32 million dollars. Dr. Carter then informed the Board that the Bruce & Lee Foundation voted to give the University an additional $5 million for the project. The current monies raised for this building are $12 million from the State of South Carolina, $15 million from the Bruce & Lee Foundation and $3 million from the City of Florence. This will be a substantial contribution to the City of Florence and to the Pee Dee Region. Assuming an 18 month construction plan and that the schedule is kept with regards to the bidding process, this facility should be finished at the end of 2009 or the beginning of 2010.
Dr. Carter then presented information on the proposal development of the West Campus. Initially the University will build a 2500 seat baseball stadium with the capability to add to and extend this seating over time. The back of the baseball stadium will face 76 / 301 which will give the opportunity for a façade similar to that of Pelican Stadium at Myrtle Beach. The University will also build a 500 seat softball field. The core wetlands will remain with boardwalks built across to leave the park-like nature that is enjoyed on the FMU central campus. There will also be an access road which runs parallel to US 76 which will open up to an additional 80 spaces with access to the soccer fields and the track areas. On the back side of this land approximately 25% has been left undeveloped so that future administrations and boards will have additional lands with which to work. A new observatory may be constructed on the back of these lands away from the light pollution that is a problem for the current location.
One structure not funded in the current plan is the athletic field house. This will be a 15,000 ft² facility, hopefully constructed with private funds. As we have been able to do with many facilities on campus such as the Nursing Building and The Grill, we are trying to secure additional growth opportunities for the University. These facilities will move us in that direction.
Unfinished Business:
New Business:
Mr. McIntyre reminded the Board of the next Board Meeting date, June 6, 2008. This date may be changed as the budget changes and develops. Also, the Retreat will be held on Friday, August 8, 2008 and Saturday, August 9, 2008.
Mr. Jackson made a motion to adjourn. Mr. Lee seconded the motion. The Board adjourned the meeting at 12:16 pm.
Respectfully Submitted,
Carolyn Beasley Shortt


text:
Past Event
Weather Forecasting Accuracy for FAA Air Traffic ControlBoard on Atmospheric Sciences and Climate
National Academy of Sciences Building
2101 Constitution Ave NW Washington DC 20418
FAA has established desired and minimal weather forecasting accuracies for the future air traffic control system. The workshop would explore the present and future potential in meeting these stated accuracies. It would also explore the various methods of conveying the forecasts to the air traffic controller, airline dispatcher, and the pilot. If the FAA sponsors determine, based upon their interpretation of the workshop, an additional study is needed, there will be a separate GBEC item generated for approval.
Workshop Summaries Resulting from this Event
Accurate prediction of convective storms 2- to 6-hours in advance is critical to selecting air traffic routes with minimal weather delays or diversions. This report summarizes the discussions of a workshop to explore present convective weather forecasting skill, strategies for improving that skill, ways to verify forecasts are accurate, and how to make forecasts useful to air traffic controllers, airline dispatchers, and pilots. More >>


text:
19 Apr How much reception coverage do you need?
When you stop for a moment to think about it, your wedding reception represents close to 70% of your entire wedding day festivities.
- What happens at a wedding reception?
- What couples report after their wedding?
- Is reception coverage needed at all?
It's a personal decision that's different for every couple. But I will leave you with this thought…. So much planning, so much time, so much effort and money goes into a wedding. Friends and family come from near and far to celebrate your union. You have hair and makeup, and put more effort into looking gorgeous than any other day in your life. You buy dresses and hire suits and cars. You provide a feast for your entire guest list and even have an exotic cake too. WHY do all of that, and not have a decent memory of your complete day? And I mean complete, including your entire reception. I hope that one day you will thank me for this advice.
Christal Cartago is part of the Senior Management team at MMG Photo Cinema. Christal heads up the Bride Support team and has a wealth of experience supporting and educating clients through the photography planning process.


text:
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text:
The Call of Duty series has traditionally been about shooting your enemies apart online, but with the strong social features of Call of Duty Elite and Facebook integrated with Modern Warfare 3 the latest game in the series is more about bringing gamers together. And then killing them.
I'm not a big multiplayer shooter person. That doesn't mean I don't enjoy playing against people online; I just never seem to find a group of people willing to screw around as much as I like to when I'm shooting people. I've met the odd compatriot, but there's always another six or eight people yelling at us to stop shooting each other and concentrate on the game.
After watching this trailer covering the social features of Modern Warfare 3 I'm hopeful. If there are other people out there that want to play shotgun tag or just comb a multiplayer level looking for fun places to die, maybe this is where I will find them.
You can contact Michael Fahey, the author of this post, at email@example.com. You can also find him on Twitter, Facebook, and lurking around our #tips page.


text: Arze nominated for Rookie of the Year October 2, 200812:00AM PDT Previous Next The United Soccer Leagues have announced that Vancouver Whitecaps FC midfielder Vicente Arze has been nominated as a finalist for the 2008 United Soccer Leagues First Division (USL-1) Rookie of the Year award. The winger signed with the Whitecaps on January 31 after playing four years of NCAA Division I soccer with Mercer University in Macon, Georgia. The native of Santa Cruz, Bolivia, played in 26 regular season matches, including eight starts for 1,087 minutes. The 22-year-old scored his only goal this season on May 24 at PGE Park in Portland, Oregon, as the Whitecaps claimed an important 1-0 win over their Pacific Northwest rivals in the Timbers. Arze also earned two assists during his rookie campaign. Arze will look to become the first Whitecaps player to win the USL-1 Rookie of the Year award since Giuliano Oliviero won it in 1995. In 2005, Joey Gjertsen was a finalist for the award. Charleston Battery's Osvaldo Alonso and Carolina RailHawks' Martin Nunez join Arze as the three finalists for the Rookie of the Year award. The Whitecaps will battle Canadian rivals Montreal Impact in the USL-1 semifinals this weekend. The series will kick off in Montreal, Quebec, at Saputo Stadium on Friday, October 3, at 5 p.m. PT. The second leg will be played in Burnaby, BC, at Swangard Stadium on Sunday, October 5, at 3:30 p.m. PT. Tickets for the Whitecaps USL-1 semifinal home playoff match are now available at all Ticketmaster outlets, online at ticketmaster.ca, and by phone at 604.280.4400. For information on group tickets, call the Whitecaps office at 604.669.WAVE (9283). Previous Next


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Prices shown on this page are estimated lowest prices only. Found in the last 45 days.
You will find below information about airports in Mexico. Use the links below to read detailed information about airports in Mexico: locations, routes, live departures and arrivals etc.
Skyscanner allows you to find the cheapest flights from Mexico (from hundreds of airlines including Aeromexico, American Airlines, Delta) without having to enter specific dates or even destinations, making it the best place to find cheap flights for your trip.
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Prices shown on this page are estimated lowest prices only. Found in the last 45 days.


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Dj ill Will Presents Mick Stillz "Its Goin Down" [Label Submitted]
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"It's Goin Down" Freestyle from Mick Stillz "Neighborhood Nerd 2" Mixtape hosted by DJ ill Will.
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text:
Galaxy Panther Hand & Bath Towel
Galaxy Panther Hand & Bath Towel
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About Society6 Bath Towels
When was the last time you thought about your hand/bath towel needs? (Okay, we went a bit paper salesman on ya there.) The question remains, however. Give your bathroom the kick of style it needs with our super soft, absorbent hand and bath towels. Available as a single towel or in a set of four.
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What's wrong?
Some of you might have noticed that the forum is partially broken:
- it's not possible to register as a new user
- it's not possible to submit posts and replies
Sometimes this works, sometimes it doesn't.
What's being done about it?
I'm about how to fix this, and several things have already been tried without success.
I'm still pursuing this, of course, so hopefully there will soon be a permanent fix in place.
Can I use some kind of workaround?
Sometimes, it helps if you clear your cookies and your browser session information, perhaps even close and reopen your browser, or use a different browser or even a different computer.
Sometimes you just have to click that Submit button many times fast.
Sometimes none of this works, and sometimes it works correctly a few days later (all by itself?).
Update: This has now been fixed.


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Flight delay
MARION, Ohio — An unwanted modern addition has flown into the arms of a Lady Justice statue that sits atop a county courthouse in north-central Ohio.
A 9-inch, remote-control helicopter flew into Lady Justice on the Marion County Courthouse on April 27 and has been there since — resting on the hilt of her sword more than 100 feet high.
Video producer Terry Cline tells the Marion Star that he was using the $1,500 camera-equipped helicopter to shoot a promotional video for the city when it was caught by an unexpected breeze. Since then, Cline has been trying figure out how to get the helicopter back. County officials say they won't pay to remove it or risk anyone's life for it.
For now, Lady Justice gets to keep her new toy.
— The Associated Press
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Season 10 Episode 1002 | 25m 2s
We'll stroll Lisbon's waterfront and back lanes, and hear some soulful fado music. Then we'll head over to Sintra to explore its fanciful castles and ramparts with grand views.
Aired: 10/22/18
Expires: 10/05/23Video has closed captioning.
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Distributed nationally by American Public Television


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Woohoo! Very cool. I enjoyed this chapter.Phruby, I also thought that creature was a Gungan! I can't wait to see what it really is. Any idea when #15 will be up, CHEWIE?
to me the creature head looks like a rats tyrell figure.And also Chewie i think the rotting clone is a bit much, it take days for him to start rotting, and the nose to be gone at least a week. Unless the water is acidic,l but still excellant plot, and story cant wait for the next one. sp1635
So why the change in dialogue style? Didn't want to cut in on the photos?
Page created in 0.048 seconds with 18 queries.


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Leaders 101
Leaders 101, the Freshman Orientation Program:
The Citadel requires that all incoming freshmen take a one-credit-hour college orientation course designed to help them make the transition from high school to college. Known officially as LDRS 101, but more informally as "Leaders 101," this course teaches our freshmen proven techniques for successful studying and learning!
Students want…
· Practical instruction on the steps to academic success.
· Information that they can understand, that they can use quickly, and that works
· Help when they discover that the strategies they used for studying in high school don't seem to work as well in college
The Leaders 101 class consists of four major parts:
1. Permanent Skills: Setting Goals, Controlling Your Time, Staying Focused, and Managing Stress
2. Enrichment Skills: Improving Your Reading and Thinking.
3. Note-Taking Skills: Taking/ Mastering Effective Notes.
4. Test-Taking Skills: Managing Test Anxiety & Answering Objective/Essay Tests
Freshmen also…
Attend Fine Arts Performances,
- Learn how to use the Library, about Career Services, about the Honor Court, and in short, about all the resources available at The Citadel!
- Understand policies and procedures: cadet officers and professors explain rules/regulations of the College to the freshmen as well as answer questions in a discussion format.
In short, this class helps all freshmen adjust to the academic, emotional, and personal challenges of college life at The Citadel.
First-Year Student Transitions Questionnaire Version 1, http://www.citadel.edu/root/transition-questionnaire
First-Year Student Transitions Questionnaire Version 2, http://www.citadel.edu/root/transition-questionnaire2
To view additional information concerning the details of the class, please visit the following links:
Career Services: http://www.citadel.edu/career
Computer Login Instructor Instructions
Computer Login Student Instructions
General Education Student Learning Outcomes
General Education Student Learning Outcomes Powerpoint Presentation
Last Lecture: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ji5_MqicxSo;
Leadership and Motivational Video Clips for LDRS 101: video_clips_for_citadel_101.pdf
On-Line Tutoring for Math, Science, Humanities, Test Preparation (GMAT and Others)
Presentations Suggestions for LDRS 101
Syllabus: TBD
Summer Reading Program: A Few Good Men by Aaron Sorkin
Task Stream Instructions: Task Stream Login
Attachments for Checklist: Weekly Study Plan, Freshman Rules of Survival,
Partner Interview Form, Student Information Form
Tips for Sending Emails to Class
All freshman cadets will attend two (2) fine arts performances in their freshman year.


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WW, have you put a stove jack into a Shangri-La 5 for a Kifaru, or similar, stove? I have an SL-5 and am thinking about getting one of the new oval stoves, a Medium High wall version. I wanted to get your thoughts on that and any suggestions on how and where to put the stove jack on the SL-5...Larry Schwartz
The stove is a Ti goat rollup stove made from Ti foil. I guess someone could make one but it could be a but tricky. A small SS container is very easy to make into a packable stove even if this takes up more pack room. The stove pipe is Kifaru roll up SS. For the pipe Stainless is just fine.
Hey Woods, I've always with alot of interest all your posts and I found a thread you have over on zombie squad about making a cheap packable stove. I'm in the process of doing this exact thing and I was wondering where you get your Ti stovepipe?
Is it from Tigoat?
Do you think you could use the Ti foil they sell and make your own?
What about using the Tif foil to make a stove with? or is to thin and fragile?
Anyways, thanks alot, Dennis
Senior Member
diente de sierra
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I finally finished the tut for kyo, hope you enjoy it. Short tempered and obsessed with violence, kyo is not one to turn to. Despite his attitude, kyo can actually be really nice. As Shigure says 'kyo is a white belt in social skills.' kyo HATES Yuki, the two get on like chalk and cheese. Yuki and kyo get into fights regularly, Yuki wins of course. Despite not being able to defeat Yuki, he still packs a punch. Kyo lives with Shigure, Yuki and Tohru in a outside sohma house. Kyo is possesed by the cat spirt. Kyo is my second fave character.
DragoArt members upload artwork and drawing tutorials! They are also allowed to leave comments on tutorials, profiles, etc. Many more features, as well; it's way better than just being a boring guest! Register Now!


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Q&A | Scotti Sitz
If in sports they tell you "it's all in the wrists", shelter shops would tell you "it's all in the edit", which is why people are going mad for Scotti Sitz's edit at the Los Angeles homegoods store, GARDE on Beverly Blvd.
It opened in April and I promptly wrote about it for the L.A. Times, but couldn't stay away. It's not a huge store, but I always find a new discovery: a book or a chic badminton set or piece of pottery; I don't think I've ever left empty handed. I'm honestly trying not to sell this place so strongly, but if you're looking for a last minute gift for a hard-to-buy-for person (who has everything), get into the shop or check them out online.
OK, phew, now that that's over with I can now just gush about Scotti. Good taste puts it lightly, she's spent years in New York working in fashion for Calvin Klein and Giorgio Armani and just frankly has an incredible eye. Of course she's also got that tomboy edge as well, i.e., she drives a Porsche 911 and knows how to re-grout tile, which is why her Q&A is here. Wammo.
If not in Los Angeles, I would live...possibly on a farm near water with greenery, that's quiet, with lots of Whippets, sheep and chickens.
My dream holiday would be to...right now my wish list includes Puglia, Mexico City, and the hamlet of Inverness, California.
My current obsessions are...
Food: I make the best grilled cheese sandwich and unfortunately I was told to cool it on gluten so I am rethinking my obsession with macaroons.
Music: I stream KCRW Eclectic all day at the shop because I'm lazy and it's a nice mix of new and some old. I love old 60's rock and I'm a sucker for soulful women singers like Adele, Sade, and new discovery Melody Gardot. I try to limit my husband's playing of 1980's New Wave music!
Fashion: Who wouldn't want anything by Celine right now?! My style is pretty tailored with a twist, no bells or whistles for me, and like my shop, I rarely wear any bright colors.
Retail Stores: Other than my own? Graanmaarkt 13 in Antwerp is my new current favorite (designed by Vincent Van Duysen). Merci in Paris is fun and inspiring, and I love Miller et Bertaux in the Marais for timeless fashion by two very chic French men. Locally, for the home I really love the style and taste of NK Shop on Beverly.
I channel my childhood self when I...sing out loud and dream big!
The fictional characters I most relate to are...perhaps Elizabeth Bennet from Pride and Prejudice—a little stubborn, independent, opinionated, self-assured and she ultimately got the right guy! Or sassy comic strip character and "ace" reporter Brenda Starr, that fab red hair!
If I had to be outdoors all day I would...love to be anywhere sunny, beautiful, animal-friendly and a place with good food.
My favorite quality in a man is...confidence.
My favorite quality in a woman is...loyalty.
I'm terrified of...being irrelevant.
My dream car is a...restored 1978 Porsche 911 SC with original Fuchs wheels, but I am quite content with my 2000 Porsche 911. They just fit like a glove, and I only drive stick-shifts. Oh, I wouldn't mind the 1964 Aston Martin DB5 that James Bond drove in Goldfinger. Yes, I'm a bit of car geek.
My cocktail of choice is...a Martini with Hendricks Gin, Blanc Vermouth, splash of tonic water and a lemon twist.
My celebrity crush is...Daniel Craig, Walton Goggins, Ryan Reynolds, Ryan Gosling...I guess that's more than one.
The beauty product of choice is... Tom Ford's Blush Nude lipstick. I've always worn pale lips and played up my eyes. If I did the reverse I would look like Betty Boop.
My friends and I like to...explore ways to make our homes and lives more interesting...and make interesting cocktails.
If I could go back in time for one decade it would be...a toss up between the roaring 20's and the 1950's. The 1920's, especially in Paris, would be so fascinating. A period in time between two World Wars that bred creativity and experimentation along with an attitude of freedom. The 1950's was also a period of newness, technologically, and design in architecture, with optimism about the future.
As a teenager I was totally into...being a beatnik, being adventurous, wearing anything vintage, boys, The Rolling Stones and Aretha Franklin.
I tend to splurge on...art, for some reason to me art is in another category, so I always seem to justify the investment. And of course, the occasional pair of shoes.
A strong cocktail, fast cars (not at the same time), and a dash of creative wardrobing...is what makes me have Tomboy Style.
8 comments:
- That's Not My Age said...
This is my kind of shop - I like Scotti's style.
- December 14, 2012 at 1:10 AM
Those white jeans, that interior decor.
She. So. Cool.
- December 14, 2012 at 6:51 AM
Love...and the shoes…what are those shoes?!
- December 14, 2012 at 7:02 AM
Second: want the shoes. What brand are they?
- December 14, 2012 at 9:36 AM
- Lizzie said...
From Scotti regarding the shoes:
Gravati - Silvia Fiorentina
- December 14, 2012 at 10:01 AM
- Lexie said...
I love all of her celebrity crushes! :)
- December 14, 2012 at 3:14 PM
- megan kathleen mcisaac said...
lovely lovely lovely! i want to photograph her just from reading her interview...
- December 15, 2012 at 3:35 PM
- Unknown said...
I love your blog! And I always look forward to the Q&A interviews!
- December 15, 2012 at 11:04 PM
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text:
Man who killed Tech dean denied appeal
HOUSTON - A federal appeals court has refused an appeal from a Missouri man condemned for the slayings of a Texas Tech dean and an 18-year-old Lubbock woman 12 years ago.
The ruling late Tuesday from the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals moves 41-year-old Vaughn Ross a step closer to execution for the fatal shootings of 53-year-old Douglas Birdsall and Viola McVade. Birdsall was associate dean of libraries at the Lubbock school. Ross, a former Tech student from St. Louis, had been dating McVade's sister.
The victims were found shot in the head Jan. 31, 2001, inside Birdsall's car. DNA evidence tied their deaths to Ross.
Ross' unsuccessful appeal contended deficient legal help early in his appeals prevented him from pursing appeals and that his trial attorneys also were deficient.


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I'm stuck with this problem I'm trying to solve from about an hour. Here's the question.
What is the remainder when (3^202)+137 is divided by 101?
There are 4 options -> 36, 45, 56, 11
I want to know the answer of the question with proper and possibly easiest method to solve the problem.
Thanks in advance, waiting for reply. :)


text:
Pneugear Cocoon 4
Pneugear is no longer in business, and the Cocoon 4 has been discontinued. If you're looking for something new, check out the best cold weather down sleeping bags for 2020.
Reviewers Paid: $900.00-$1,800.00
The bag is basically a substitute for a tent. The top of the bag inflates separately from the bottom. So the bottom is essentially a down filled air mattress. Unlike an air mattress there is some sort of special batting that prevents the down from shifting around.
The top of the bag is also inflatable - and this is what you use to regulate the comfort range of the bag. When it is fully compressed, the bag is fairly comfortable up to warm temperatures (of course if it is that warm - you can just sleep on top...)
There are dual zippers that seal the bag very well from the wind. The bag uses Boston Valves and has a small nylon bag at the end of each valve that is used for inflating the sleeping bag.
The bag is oversized so you can change clothes while you are in the bag. This is a real advantage when it is ice cold out and you don't want to get out of the bag until you are well protected. Because these bags don't breathe, you can't duck you head inside when it is cold. Instead, Pneugear supplied a separate hood that you wear to keep your head warm.
I got my bag with all the bells and whistles and it includes a liner that can be used in extreme cold plus there is a small tent feature that you put on the top of the bag in rain along with a mosquito net that fits over the length of the bag if you are in an infested area and want to sleep on top.
The bag is VERY comfortable.
The only problems with the bag are: It is bulky. I backpack with it, but you have to use an external frame pack because you can't stuff the bag inside the pack itself. It has to be rolled and stowed externally. It is heavy - about 12 lbs for the bag and another pound if you bring the tent and mosquito net attachment. Also, you have to be careful when you are inflating in the rain so no moisture gets into the down.
It takes about 10 minutes to inflate with the hand inflation bags and another 3-4 minutes for the tent attachment. Figure about 10 minutes to break it down and roll it up in the morning.
The biggest problem: Pneugear went out of business back in 2002 - so the only place you're likely to see one of these is on E-bay.
Design: Oversize mummy
Fill: 650
Temperature Rating: -45F
Weight: 12
Price Paid: $1800
These bags take a quantum shift in thinking of sleep systems, but once you get used to it you will never want to part with it.
- Very comfortable
- Impervious to weather conditions
- Easy to clean and maintain
- The Bomb
- Adjusting the inflation to match the weather conditions takes a bit of getting used to
- Expensive
- Not avalable any more
I actually have two of these bags and have used them in some of the most god awful weather and will never go back to an ordinary sleeping bag again.
First I think it is important for people to understand this sleeping bag was originally developed for NASA for a cost of $10 million dollars to resolve the cold and sleep problems encountered in space flight. Since they had the money and talent to think out of the box this bag is light years ahead of anthing out there, but to gain full advantage of the bag you have to learn how to use it.
The first thing people notice is that this bag is more comfortable than your bed at home. With a down filled mattress below you by adjusting the air pressure you can make the lower section as hard or as soft as you want. The top section controls your sleeping temperature but as the pressure builds up it domes over you not even touching your chest. The neck collar gets a little getting used to, but once you get used to it but once you do you're fine.
The next sensation you get is of the bag feeling like a steamy room, but that actually part of the design to minimize moisture loss to the human body. How you handle the issue is simply go to bed in thin long johns to remove the clammy feel and you're fine.
Where this bag really shows its stuff is if you ever do a long winter trip. If you have ever done one you will find out that the biggest problem you have is moisture from your sweat building up in your sleeping bag insulation and freezing. With this bag it's impossible to get the insulation wet thus you stay warm irregardless and with the insulated mattress below you sleeping on frozen or wet ground.
Some of my greatest memories with these bags though invove back country skiing in the Sierras where my girlfriend and I on a crystal clear January night cut out a pad to sleep on and just climbed into them for the night. Right there at 10,000 feet. Mid winter, In the snow. We were toastie warm in sub zero cold on a starry night.
Source: bought it new
Price Paid: $900
This bag requires an entire shift in your way of thinking. It is waterproof and does not breathe. You stay dry because you start sleeping with the top at its thinnest setting and increase it if you become cold. I have stayed warm to 10 degrees with the top but an inch thick. It adjusts to three inches or more.
Your head will get cold (this mummy has no hood) so you MUST take a thick fleece or quilted hat with you.
On the other hand, I have slept at 102 humid degrees in Baja by using the bottom only, bug screen in place, and slept in a silk bag liner. Wierd Huh?
I did fall off a ledge in this bag, dropping 6 feet onto some EXTREMELY sharp rocks. Down flew everywhere. It is really good down, I would say 700 fill or better. I stuffed all I could back inside...used the on-board patch kit to repair the two tears...shifetd the down around a bit to insure there was no insulation "void" in the bottom and presto...I have been using it for another 8 months no problem.
I have no doubt that had the rocks been any less sharp, it would not have required patching.
I believe I could use this unit as a raft in case of a flash flood during slot canyon hiking.
Write if you want!
Design: oversize mummy
Fill: down
Temperature Rating: really cold to really warm
Weight: 8 pounds
Price Paid: gosh...expensive
I own a Cocoon 4 Extreme, made by Pneugear (www.pneugear.com). The company's ads claim it is comfortable from 45 degrees below zero to 70 above, that it is TOTALLY WATERPROOF, and that it is comfortable on bumpy ground. So far I can vouch for two out of three of those claims.
It sure is waterproof - I got inside during a driving rain with my clothes really wet. I took off my jacket inside, and pushed it down into the toe area, and did the same with my pants. My shirt and long johns were also wet, but I kept them on anyway. A few minutes later, I couldn't feel the wet clothing, and in 20 minutes I was asleep. I woke up next morning warm and dry, and my jacket and pants were only damp. Pneugear claims that moisture is absorbed by the skin, and since it can't get into the down insulation, the sleeping bag stays completely warm. It rained most of the night, but I was warm and dry, even though my head was only covered by the tent (they call it a canopy) they supply.
I've used the Cocoon 4 on pretty rough ground, and I've never felt any of it. The down filled mattress is over 4" thick, so it can absorb a pretty big rock without it sticking into you. I don't put anything under it, since you can clean it with a hose or a washcloth.
The Cocoon sleeping bag is inflatable - it comes with a really simple inflator sack which blows it up in about 5 minutes. This inflation controls the thickness of the down insulation. When it is warm out, you leave the blanket deflated, so it stays cool. If it gets cold out, you pump more air into the blanket, which makes the down thicker and warmer. I've slept out at temperatures as high as 65 degrees and as low as about zero. At that lower temperature, I only had to half inflate the blanket to keep really warm, and so my guess is that it probably could go to 45 below. You definitely need the neat hood that comes with it, though.
The cocoon is roomy inside. I am 6' and weigh 260, and I can change my clothes inside. When the Cocoon is rolled up, it is only 11" in diameter by 17" long, so it fits in the sleeping bag pocket of my Lowe pack. It weighs only 10 pounds, so that it is smaller and lighter than my regular sleeping bag, ground pad and tent.
The Cocoon 4 is definitely the most comfortable sleep I've ever had outdoors. In fact maybe even indoors. The company claims it is the world's best sleeping bag, and I can't argue with that.
Design: mummy
Fill: 650 fill down
Temperature Rating: -45F to 70F
Weight: 10lbs
Price Paid: $1395
This bag is really part of a sleeping system which includes an inflated matress, a canopy/tent, and a mesh cover for warm temps. I've spent several nights in the bag and I can't beleive how comfortable it is. The matress and blanket are both inflatable and water tight down compartments. Keeping the down lofted and dry makes a tremendous difference! I've never slept in any bag/pad/tent combo that even comes close in terms of warmth and comfort. Except for the fact that there's no room for my wife to join me in it, I'd say it is even more comfortable than my own bed. (see pneugear.com)
Fill: 650 fill down
Temperature Rating: -45 to +70F
Weight: 9.5 lbs
Price Paid: $995
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Laser Spine Surgery Reviews Nashville, TNLaser Spinal Surgery Nashville, TN for those who suffer chronic back pain, sciatica, herniated discs, spinal stenosis, bulging discs, lower back pain, sciatic nerve pain, compression fractures and who are currently searching for a solution that may include Minimally Invasive Spinal Surgery from a board certified physician. Laser Spinal Surgery is considerably different from Spinal fusion surgery and in most cases is a quick outpatient surgery to help chronic back pain and other painful conditions related to the spine, sciatica, vertebrae or spinal column.
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Many people may think the cost of laser spine surgery in the Nashville, Tennessee area is expensive, but when put into perspective against lifelong back, muscle and spine pain, the costs associated with this minimally invasive spinal surgery is very reasonable. The outpatient procedure performed by board certified physicians leaves minimal scaring and most spinal surgery patients are able to walk out of the facility under their own power and are back to normal activities soon after the laser back surgery.
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Renew Spinal Care
1718 Charlotte Avenue Suite A
Nashville, TN. 37203


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Thanks Kal Rubinson for that nice albeit short review of the NuForce AVP-18. For those of us who use surround as an addition to their only system, are on a budget, already have the speakers and amplifiers and are looking to upgrade an older processor it's IMO exactly what the doctor ordered. It's been placed at the top of my very short list of things to buy.
You are here
Glad to see an audio comment here - I thought it was a sign that the spam attacks were being addressed - but no, they are dominating this forum section again. Stereophile, when might this be fixed?
Glad to see an audio comment here - I thought it was a sign that the spam attacks were being addressed - but no, they are dominating this forum section again. Stereophile, when might this be fixed?
We have had discussions with Mollom, who handles our spam strategy. The problem is manyfold:
1) The spam is posted in the form of forum topics, The spammers are real people who can solve the Captcha puzzle in order to register as a user. The spam is then posted, not by a bot, but still by a human being, presumably working in a spam farm. Implementing a Captcha on new postings would therefore not work.
2) Mollom has not yet found any pattern to the spam postings that would allow it to implement an automatic defense. We are therefore reduced to deleting the spam manually, which Ariel and I do every hour or so all day. The problem is that when we sleep, it is daytime in the USSR and China where the spam farms are, which is why every morning there is a new crop of spam.
3) When we delete a forum posting as spam, Molloms deletes that user account. However, there are literally hundreds of new user accounts registered every day by spammers. I tried deleting all new user accounts that were obviously spammers before they posted any spam. That worked -- for 1 day :-(
4) We have discussed blocking any posting that includes a URL. That would block all spam but also it would block legitimate postings.
5) We have discussed aggressive moderation, where every new posting from a newly registered user has to be first approved to a moderator. This is still under consideration while we wait for Mollom to come up with a solution.
Our apologies to Stereophile readers for this problem.
John Atkinson
Editor, Stereophile
Thanks for the feedback John , but couldn't you at least erase the rubbish after it appears ?
Thanks for the feedback John , but couldn't you at least erase the rubbish after it appears ?
I've been wondering why it takes more than a couple of hours to remove the stuff.
Thanks for the feedback John , but couldn't you at least erase the rubbish after it appears ?
I've been wondering why it takes more than a couple of hours to remove the stuff.
We do erase the spam and block the posting account as soon as we see it. Other than first thing in the morning (EST), as explained above, that may be after an hour or so, as it is not possible, given our other magazine responsibilities, to constantly monitor the site.
Once the spam is deleted, it should not appear. If it does, try refreshing the page as your browser might still be displaying the version in its cache.
John Atkinson
Editor, Stereophile
PS: There is currently zero spam posted in the forums, as best as I can tell. There may still be spam in some of the comments sections of older articles that was posted when our previlous spam defense broke, at the end of 2011. We delete that historical spam when we come across it or are alerted to it, but that is inevitably a hit-or-miss solution.
This time in German.
This time in German.
Not for long :-)
John (spam killer) Atkinson
Editor, Stereophile
I read the Nuforce AVP-18 review in Stereophile but thought it came up short.
I really enjoy this AV preamp but it isn't for everyone but might be for some people who just want an amazingly powerful DAC preamp for their stereo systems. Recently, I was looking for a DAC preamp and came across the NuForce AVP-18. What I liked about it was its simplicity - 4 HDMI in along with Toslink and SPDIF inputs. I play stereo music 95% of the time and use it as an AV Processor about 5% of the time.
As an AV processor, there are some issues. The auto equalization is a little cumbersome to get it to work properly. Sometimes you have to run it once, then clear memory by resetting the AVP, then run it again.
I am currently set up as a 2.1 system, not surround but will be adding an additional amplifier for a 4.1 system (without center channel) soon. The music quality of this AV preamp is why I would give it a 5 stars rating. I recently sold the very highly rated Wyred 4 Sound DAC2 which sells for $1,500 and replaced it with the NuForce. The DAC2 is a highly rated stereo only DAC that excels in its price range. The amazing thing is that I enjoy the much richer sound of the NuForce over the Wyred 4 Sound unit which sounds a little lean to me.
My speakers are Magnepan 1.7s, amplifiers are the amazing Odyssey Khartago/Kismet mono blocks, subwoofer is a Rythmik F12 and all wiring is by Wireworld. The sound that I am getting is nothing short of spectacular. The clarity is amazing, voices are startlingly real and the naturalness and tonal colors are fantastic. You get a nice sense of depth when the recording is done in natural space, such as a church or live concert, and works well with all forms of music.
I have not heard the hardness in the midrange as mentioned by the reviewer but did find the unit very dependent on a good power cable. I found the Wireworld Electra 7 to transform the AVP-18 from a good sounding DAC to an amazingly good sounding DAC.
If you are an AV geek and are used to the thousands of settings the new AV Receivers from Denon, Marantz, Pioneer and others, you will probably be perplexed if you switch to the NuForce. It simply doesn't have all the bells and whistles but it does have the ability to manage the frequency response in 10 settings for all 5 channels (it is a 7.1 AV preamp but only 5 channels can use the parametric equalizer) and the subwoofer frequency response with 3 settings. So, you can completely minimize most room related problems of peaks and troughs in the frequency response.
The Magnepan 1.7s are one of the worlds better speakers but they can sound lean. Using the AVP-18, I have been able to tailor the sound by adjusting the frequency response in the mid-woofer range 80 hz to 400 hz. By making some slight adjustments, the Magnepans take on a much warmer sound which I believe is much more realistic than the "out of the box" sound of the Magnepans.
I listen to all types of music - classical, jazz, rock, country, etc. but spend most of my time listing to classical and acoustic jazz along with what Sirius calls "Coffee House" music which is mostly acoustic ballads. The AVP-18 allows all of the necessary nuances of the music to flow providing a you-are-there type experience. You are transported to the site of the recording and sense the room acoustic where the recording took place.
This is an AV preamp for those who music reproduction and accuracy is of paramount importance. If you are a bells and whistles type person, you will likely be disappointed in what the AVP doesn't do compared to the Japanese AV Receivers can do. Also, if you are a stereo guy like myself, the AVP-18 will provide a DAC preamp that also has an amazing parametric equalizer to balance out room issues and enhancing your speaker's performance.
I think of the AVP-18 as the most flexible reasonably priced DAC preamp available for audiophiles who may also like to listen to TV or blu ray movies using their main system. It is stunning on any type of movie providing a level of clarity you just can't get in an AV receiver anywhere near its price.


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willpate necesitaba un nuevo diseño de camiseta y lanzó un concurso de diseño en 99designs.
Un ganador ha sido elegido entre 26 diseños de 7 diseñadores freelance.
VenCorps is a community for discovering, funding and growing startup companies. We connect founders, funders and facilitators together in a community of interest: startup success.
We count on the wisdom of the crowds to nominate, rate and choose startups to win a 50k investment. We count on the participation of crowds to assist grow those startups and help entrepreneurs reach success.
Over a hundred years ago Mr. Spencer Trask helped change the world by funding Thomas Edison's lightbulb. The investment firm he inspired has continued to change the world by funding the first human genome company, the first stem cell company, the first optical integrated circuit company, and the first AIDS vaccine research. In the last 15 years Spencer Trask & Co. has launched start-ups attracting more than $4 billion. Soon we will launch VenCorps to fix how companies get funded and grow.
We want a non-convential tshirt design for the members of our community. Too many shirts that companies give away are tossed to the bottom of the drawer. We want a shirt that people are proud to wear, no matter where they may be.
Our company is based on the principles of crowdsourcing, it's in our very DNA. That's why we came to 99designs to engage you awesome designers to design our shirt.
- VenCorps
- "Join the Corps"
- vencorps.com
- Shirt is faded olive color, inks should be limited to black and white
- Symbols of collaboration to succeed, helping startup entrepreneurs, or launching companies, innovation,
- Look to threadless for inspiration
- Any reference to military, war or fighting (We're like the Peace Corps, not a fighting force)


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Expert Reviews
2012 Fiat 500
The 2012 Fiat 500 is like the Mini or Volkswagen New Beetle, a modern recreation of a classic. It was introduced in Italy four years ago, on the 50th anniversary of the 1957 0.5-liter original. Half a million Fiat 500s have been sold in Europe already, spurred by 60 international awards, including European Car of the Year in 2008. Now, as a Chrysler product, the Fiat 500 is being made in Mexico for the North American market.
The 500 is affectionately known by insiders who can pronounce it as the Cinquecento, or "chin-kway-chento." Out of the box, it's a contender for fun-to-drive champ, as a four-seat A-class commuter car. We found it to be more fun than its competition, including Mini, Fit, Fiesta, Yaris, and Mazda2.
The Fiat 500 is about 6 inches shorter than a Mini, costs about $4000 less while including Bluetooth, and offers safety with a 5-star crash rating, sporty performance, fuel economy, technology, cool style and good looks. It features seven airbags, a new 1.4-liter engine with something called MultiAir cylinder head technology, state-of-the-art BLUE&ME hands-free technology and a Bose sound system standard in two of the three models, and a great 5-speed gearbox or optional 6-speed manual automatic transmission that's also fun.
There are three models, although versions would be a better word than models, because they're so different, in a slight but meaningful way.
The Sport really means it. If you want a totally cool sports car that gets 34 mpg and can move four young people around, the Fiat 500 Sport is for you. The ride is firm, brakes are amazing, steering is quick and gearbox terrific, so use it all or live with it. The seats are terrific and the special Sport interior is attractive.
The Pop is that rare if not unique model, both the lowest cost and most all-around practical. For $2000 less than the Sport, the Fiat 500 Pop is less aggressive with a better ride. But the extra equipment in the Sport is a great $2000 value, so you're a winner either way, as long as you know what you want. You can also get the automatic transmission in the Pop, for $1000. You lose some Italian flavor with the automatic, but not having to constantly work your left leg in the city, or freeway traffic jams, is a relief.
The Lounge is for those who want their Cinquecento to feel more like a real car, with the automatic transmission, softened ride and steering, added chrome, more amenities, and optional leather.
With the Sport, you get a lot for the $2000 higher price versus the Pop. With the Lounge, at $3000 more than the automatic Pop, you don't get so much. You get to feel like your Fiat 500 is the luxury version. All three models are named well. It would be best to take a test ride of all three before you buy, to feel the differences. Which might not be possible for a while, as Chrysler dealerships have to ramp up to sell the Fiat 500. Production began in March 2011.
Model LineupFiat 500 Pop ($15,500); Sport ($17,500); Lounge ($19,500)
Walk Around
If ever a picture of a car were worth a thousand words, the Fiat 500 is it. Take a good look, and you'll have a feeling of your own and won't need our words. But you have to look closer to see the distinctions in the models, which are worth pointing out.
The Fiat 500 is the epitome of tidy. Granted, it's easier to be tidy when there's less to deal with, and the Fiat is so small there isn't much. But the Sport, especially, is perfect. There's a chrome strip on the nose like a pencil-thin moustache, that the Cinquecento's designer added just because without it, he said, the car's styling was too perfect. Rarely does any manufacturer understand what clean really means, but Italians do. For that reason alone we need them back in North America, to be a good influence.
The face of the Fiat 500, with round halogen projector headlamps and parking lights, combines the family resemblance of other Fiat models sold in Italy, with a modern interpretation of the original Cinquecento, imported to the U.S. as a 600cc model back in the 1960s. No one in North America remembers, of course; but no matter. It's a winning European design that's been brought to the U.S. after four years.
Simplicity and strength are conveyed, especially on the Sport with its unique fascia, thanks to very short overhangs and muscular fenders, with the front fascia tapering outward to large wheel arches. On the Sport, the best looking model, there's a horizontal cooling duct of black mesh that adds racy character, while the lower mesh grille integrates foglamps. The liftgate spoiler is a must.
The distinctiveness of the Fiat 500's shape appears from the profile view, more than front or rear. The black window outline on the Sport enhances the good looks of the all-business roofline, while the chrome on the Lounge, especially those chrome mirrors and door handles, detracts from it. The Sport also has rocker-panel cladding that isn't bad, as rocker-panel cladding goes.
The rear view is stylized by a chrome license-plate brow, common in cars today, but true to the original Cinquecento that was inspired by a bicycle seat, believe it or not. The healthy rear taillamps are located between the edges of the liftgate and follow the door's vertical cutline. For a contemporary look, the rear glass spans the width of the liftgate and meets cleanly at the pillar. The Lounge has a chrome rear bumper that adds a touch from the '50s.
Also, we might add that the coefficient of drag is 0.35, which is darn good for a little box of a car.
The original 500 had a canvas roof that's legendary, and today's 500 features an optional dark glass roof that copies the style. The optional sunroof is available as fixed or powered.
There are five separate wheel designs of 15 or 16 inches, with at least three of them good-looking and eye-catching, and 14 vivid colors to choose from. Try Nero (black), Rosso (red), Bianco (white), Azzurro (blue), Grigio (gray), Argento (silver), Giallo (yellow), Verde Chiaro (light green), Rame (copper), Verde Oliva (olive green), Rosso Brillante (tri-coat pearl red), Bianco Perla (pearl white), and Mocha Latte and Espresso, which apparently need no translation from Italian.
If the exterior is the epitome of tidy, the interior is the epitome of neat. As Roberto Giolito, the head of Fiat Style says, it delivers absolutely everything that is required and nothing more. Unlike, say, the too-cute Mini and too-boring Yaris.
The Fiat 500 instrument panel gives the Fiat the visual feel of a sports car, except for its one flaw: the tachometer is combined with the speedometer, and this takes some fun out of driving and shifting through the gears, in particular with the Sport, because it ought to have a tach of its own. The tachometer ring is inside the speedo ring, and almost all of the space inside the ring is taken up by LCD information. So all that's left is the tip of a tach needle moving around a chrome ring against small white numbers that are hard to read, especially past 6000 where the numbers are red. And the stub of the speedometer needle, with all its numbers to 140 mph, moves around outside that. It's almost as confusing to the eye as it is to the brain to read about here.
Also, if the Fiat were as simple as they say it is, the radio would have a dial to tune stations, and not a button that you have to hold your finger on and take your eye off the road to watch the digital number tick along.
Everything else is real good, especially the metal instrument panel painted the same color as the car. And the seats, all four upholsteries, are really great. Standard cloth, premium cloth, sport cloth. It may be referred to as cloth, but it doesn't look like cloth. They're all different fabrics, all satisfying, as much like leather as cloth can feel. There's also optional premium leather, but the other seats are so sharp that leather isn't missed. And the fit is just right, although other reviews have complained that there's not enough bolstering in the Sport seats.
The top of the dash is vinyl and its design as simple as it gets: it's just there, and doesn't try to be anything, like for example the new Focus that tries to be a cockpit surrounding the driver. There are good armrests for both of the driver's elbows when holding the perfectly sized leather-wrapped steering wheel at 9 and 3 o'clock. The Sport shift knob is about as big and round and chrome as you can get away with. Doors cleverly lock with an inward push of the handles. And it's a little car with big long deep door pockets, how about that.
The steering wheel tilts to adjust, and there's all the legroom in front that you need, although the driver's right knee nestles against the console. Still, one 6-foot, 6-inch driver said he fit okay in the 500. The climate and audio systems and vents are in the center over the console, but it's not exactly a center stack, it's less than that, while still being complete. The shift lever, whether manual stick or autostick, rises from the bottom of the dash, a forward place where it's a more natural reach.
Legroom in the rear is 31.7 inches, obviously not much; we barely squeezed our briefcase behind the driver's seat. However, with the front seats slid forward, the rear legroom is not half-bad; but that's because the rear seat is a bench, so passengers sit upright. Fiat says it's roomy for two adults, and we wonder what species they mean, certainly not two adult humans. Young people running around town might not mind the squeeze, nor the climb into or out of the rear seat. With the rear seats up, you might be able to get two carry-on bags in the back. Drop the seats and it's a little hatchback with lots of room to throw small stuff in, through the liftgate.
The glass roof in the Lounge not only makes the interior feel more airy, it raises the ceiling, over the headliner or optional sunroof. There are three cupholders in front and two in back, and the glovebox is ample. Navigation is optional by TomTom, and handsfree communication, standard on Sport and Lounge, is by Blue&Me.
Driving Impressions
The three Fiat 500 models, Sport, Pop, Lounge, are quite different in the way they drive. Same power, but different brakes, handling and transmissions.
Let's start with the Sport, which is truly sporty, with a firm ride, thanks to stiffer springs and shock tuning, firmer brakes, and quicker steering. It all adds up to a wonderfully responsive car, although the ride isn't as relaxing as the Pop or Lounge, especially over bumpy roads or in the city. But if play is what you like, you'll have a blast in the Sport.
The 5-speed gearbox is a joy to shift, with a throw that's short, quick and secure. Its linkage is by a cable, a method that generally is less sharp, but in the Sport's case, we felt no loss. We banged shifts left and right, even hard downshifts into first, and the gearbox loved it as much as we did. The forward lever location is ergonomically natural, and that adds to the neatness of it all. The clutch is light. We never missed, never fumbled, and always got the heel-and-toe, as well. It doesn't often happen that nicely, out of the box. It's that Italian touch.
The Sport's red brake calipers can be seen through the 16-inch wheels in a color called Carbide and make a statement that's backed up by braking performance. Stopping in the Sport is significantly more responsive than in the Pop and Lounge, which is good when you're driving in a sporty manner, but it requires a soft touch around town. The Pop and Lounge do that soft touch for you. With 10.1-inch front and 9.4-inch rear rotors, and so little weight to bring down, getting stopped in time is never a worry.
The 6-speed manual automatic transmission is available even on the Sport, and it too is a transmission you can play with (although we think if you're going for a Sport in the first place, go all the way). The lever location is the same in the automatic as it is in the manual (although the knob isn't), so it feels like a stick shift. The Lounge comes standard with the automatic, and the Pop works well with it, as a compromise. There's a sport mode for the automatic transmission that sharpens and delays the shifts nicely, without too much override, so you'll still have a sporty little car, with the manual automatic Chrysler the Autostick. As they have the right to do, having invented sequential manual shifting of the automatic transmission in 1995, with the Dodge Stratus.
In the Lounge, the first thing you notice is how much looser and easier the steering is, then the same with the ride, and the brakes. In the city, this is good. The more relaxed steering makes the whole car feel a bit bigger, but the fixed glass roof in the Lounge has something to do with that, too.
The 1.4-liter engine is the same on all models. It features a reinvention of the cylinder head that's called MultiAir technology, to get 101 horsepower and 98 foot-pounds of torque. MultiAir is a complex system that drives the intake valves by oil pressure actuators, triggered by electronic control: it's truly continuously variable valve timing. One big downside is that premium fuel is recommended, although not required, but we still wonder: how much power is lost with regular fuel, and how much will engine longevity be affected? So we'd use the premium.
Chrysler estimates 30 City/38 Highway miles per gallon, but it might be better than that; we got 34.2 mpg, revving it high and running it hard.
Our day-long test took place over winding and uncrowded roads east of San Diego (in the Sport), and around the city in the Pop and Lounge.
Passing on two-lanes, in sport mode, there was enough acceleration to work with. Shifting gears to stay in the powerband makes it fun. It's a momentum machine. It comes on at 4000 rpm and redlines at 6800, a point that's unfortunately hard to judge because of the difficulty of reading the tachometer, especially the red numbers and lines over 6000 rpm. At least the rev limiter cuts fuel gently; the engine just flattens at 6800, it doesn't nose-dive.
One treat is that the engine feels like it's ready to shift at 5000 rpm, and it certainly can be shifted there and still maintain momentum, but it just keeps putting out for another 2000 rpm, pleasantly surprising you. Another pleasing aspect is that 80 mph in 5th gear is only 3300 rpm, and on level ground it glides fairly effortlessly at that speed. Quietly too, thanks to hydraulic engine mounts and extra sound deadening material.
Ninety miles per hour in 4th gear is still only 5000 rpm. Do the math and that's a theoretical top speed of 153 mph in 4th gear; fat chance, but the sweet engine fools you into thinking it might just be capable.
The new Fiat 500 creates a niche of its own: a tiny, high-mileage, low-cost, four-seat car that has the style and performance of an Italian sports car, with a 5-star crash rating. It's 6 inches shorter than a Mini and about $4000 cheaper, while bringing a fun-factor that similar Asian cars can't match.
Sam Moses filed this NewCarTestDrive.com report after his test drive of the Cinquecento models near San Diego, California.


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Well, this is embarrassing. When introducing the band 5 Seconds of Summer at the Billboard Music Awards, Kendall Jenner started to call them One Direction. She tried to recover, clearly felt awkward, then said "Guys, I'm the worst reader." In her defense, maybe the teleprompter just said "5SoS" and she wasn't sure what that stood for. (It's hard to keep up, if you will.) Anyway, her side-boob looked great so whatever.
UPDATE: Kendall's poor vision, not her poor reading skills, may have been to blame for her flub. Hang in there, Kendall.
See All the Looks From the 2014 Billboard Music Awards
See Ariana Grande Kill It at the Billboard Music Awards
Photo Credit: Getty Images


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Testifying before the Senate Judiciary Committee's antitrust subcommittee, both Verizon and AT&T denied that either company has colluded to jack up the price of text messages over the last few years. According to testimony, pricing for text messages has actually fallen for "most" customers.
The whole kerfuffle started last fall, when the head of the antitrust subcommitee, Senator Herb Kohl (D-WI), sent a letter to the CEOs of Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile asking why text prices for all four companies had doubled from 10� to 20� shortly after mergers reduced the number of major mobile carriers from six to four. At that price, SMS messages effectively cost over $1,300 per megabyte to send—far more expensive than charges for mobile data.
While the pricing seems outrageous compared to regular data pricing, ferreting out the costs of sending SMS messages isn't so simple. Text messages piggyback on the control channels that are used to maintain voice and data connections with cell towers. It can get pretty expensive for mobile carriers to outfit towers to handle the amount of text messages that get sent even in a relatively small town, as texting has exploded here in the US.
As AT&T noted in its testimony, though, most users pay for a plan that drives the per-message cost much lower. "The faulty notion that prices for text messaging have risen derives from an unduly narrow interest in the trend of a single pricing option for text messaging services, the pay-per-use option, when the vast majority of AT&T's customers do not choose that option," said Wayne Watts, general counsel of AT&T.
For instance, customers can send and receive 1,500 messages a month for just $15, making the per message cost as little as one penny each. That's still $65 per megabyte to transmit or receive the data, but that's moving a lot of messages—about two texts every hour for a whole month. Unlimited texts will cost $20 per month, so if you send or receive one text every minute for an entire month, you can get the price down to about $3 per megabyte—but I bet your thumbs will be sore.
We think the real rub comes in that no carrier offers texting "rollover" as they do with monthly allotment of prime time voice minutes. If a customer pays for minutes and gets to keep unused minutes to use next month, why shouldn't a customer get to keep unused text messages to use the next month? AT&T would still get my $5 per month, for instance, but I'd likely never run into paying 20� a message on the off chance I went over 200 for the month.
Both AT&T and Verizon stated quite plainly in their testimony that neither company colluded to raise prices. More likely, they took note that Sprint had raised its per-message price (it was the first major carrier to do so), and decided independently that raising the price was a good way to encourage customers to sign up for additional monthly charges. Shrewd perhaps, but it doesn't seem to cross the line into anticompetitive behavior.
Now, the exclusivity agreements between mobile carriers and handset makers may be another matter entirely.
Listing image by CC Kamyar Adl


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July 2008
Recommendations for Programs Considering a Comparison Study
Seek to determine if a comparison study is appropriate, and, if it is, whether there is a viable way to compare program participants with others. Consider the online program's goals, the student population being served, and the program's structure. For example, online programs dedicated to credit recovery would not want to compare their student outcomes with those of the general student population.
Clearly articulate the purpose of the comparison. Is the evaluation seeking to find out if the online program is just as effective as the traditional one or more effective? For example, "just as effective" findings are desirable and appropriate when online programs are being used to expand education access.
If considering a quasi-experimental design (see Glossary of Common Evaluation Terms, p. 65), plan carefully for what classes will be used as control groups, and thoroughly assess the ways they are similar to and different from the treatment classes. What kinds of students does each class serve? Did the students (or teachers) choose to participate in the class or were they assigned to it randomly? Are students taking the treatment and control classes for similar reasons (e.g., credit recovery, advanced learning)? Are the students at a similar achievement level? Where feasible, use individual student record data to match treatment and comparison students or to hold constant differences in prior learning characteristics across the two groups.
If considering a randomized controlled trial (see Glossary of Common Evaluation Terms, p. 65), determine how feasible it is for the particular program. Is it possible to assign students randomly either to receive the treatment or be in the control group? Other practical considerations: Can the control group students receive the treatment at a future date? What other incentives can be offered to encourage them to participate? Will control and treatment students be in the same classroom or school? If so, might this cause "contamination" between treatment and control groups?
In the event a randomized controlled trial or quasi-experimental study is planned, plan to offer meaningful incentives to participating individuals and schools. When deciding on appropriate incentives, consider the total time commitment that will be asked of study participants.
Study sites with no vested financial interest are more likely to withdraw or to fail to carry through with study requirements that differ from typical school practices. If compliance appears unlikely, do not attempt an experimental or quasi-experimental study, unless it is an explicit requirement of a mandated evaluation.
When designing data management systems, keep in mind the possibility of comparisons with traditional settings. Collect and organize data in a way that makes such comparisons possible.