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In maths, the factorial of a non-negative integer, is the product of all positive integers less than or equal to this non-negative integer.
The symbol for the factorial function is an exclamation mark after a number.
For example: 5!
So if you see something like 5! , you know that you will have to multiply the series of descending possitive integers.
For example:
5! = 5 * 4 * 3 * 2 * 1 = 120
4! = 4 * 3 * 2 * 1 = 24
If you google around a bit you will notice that the definition of l" differs a bit from each other:
The use of , , and in thesedefinitionsmeans that all the numbers used in factorials should not be decimals, negative numbers(-10 for example) or fractions.
Natural numbers : The numbers that you use to count with: 1, 2, 3, 4…and on and on. Zero is not a natural number.
Whole numbers : All the numbers are 'whole' — there are no fractions, negative numbers or decimals. The only difference between whole and natural numbers is that 0 is a whole number.
Integers : Positive and negative whole numbers, for example -6, 0, -200,1660, 2 etc.******************************************************************
IS there a 0! Does it exists? Can we use it?It has been agreed that zero factorial can be used and that 0! = 1.
I agree that it seems weird that multiplying no numbers together can give you one. Salman Khan from the Khan Academy explains the reasoning very well in this video.
We can calculate a factorial from the previous one. Have a look at this:1! = 12! = 2 * 1 = 23! = 3 * 2 * 1= 64! = 4 * 3 * 2 * 1= 245! = 5 * 4 * 3 * 2 * 1= 120
Note that 3! (6) times 4 = 24, or the factorial of 4!We continue in the same way and find that, 4! times 5 = 120, or 5!
And 6! is equal to 5! * 6 (120 * 6) = 720
So we can conclude that: n! = n × (n−1)!
Now for some JavaScript action! As always in coding, there is often more than one way to write a function. So let's look at two options. The first one makes use of a recursion. A recursion means that .
If this looks for you like a loop inside a function, you are absolutely right. We can also calculate the factorial of a number with a for loop:
We start our loop at 2 because 1 is already taken care of with
I encourage you to copy the code in the console and play with it a bit.
Are factorials used in real life or are they just a mathematical exercise? Uh yes, factorials can be very useful. The number n! is the number of ways you can arrange n objects.
Let's say that you have three dogs (Alpha, Beta, Charlie) and you want to see in how many ways you can arrange them in a line. 3! will give us 6 different ways. And if we write it out, we will find that it is indeed so:
A deck of cards can be shuffled in 52! ways.
As you can see, the numbers can get large very quickly.
I hoped that you have enjoyed learning about factorials. Next up are palindromes!
Ecosystem services contribute to jobs, economic growth, health, and human well-being. Although we interact with ecosystems and ecosystem services every day, their linkage to climate change can be elusive because they are influenced by so many additional entangled factors. 187 Ecosystem perturbations driven by climate change have direct human impacts, including reduced water supply and quality, the loss of iconic species and landscapes, distorted rhythms of nature, and the potential for extreme events to overwhelm the regulating services of ecosystems. Even with these well-documented ecosystem impacts, it is often difficult to quantify human vulnerability that results from shifts in ecosystem processes and services. For example, although it is more straightforward to predict how precipitation will change water flow, it is much harder to pinpoint which farms, cities, and habitats will be at risk of running out of water, and even more difficult to say how people will be affected by the loss of a favorite fishing spot or a wildflower that no longer blooms in the region. A better understanding of how a range of ecosystem responses affects people – from altered water flows to the loss of wildflowers – will help to inform the management of ecosystems in a way that promotes resilience to climate change.
Climate change impacts on ecosystems reduce their ability to improve water quality and regulate water flows.
The key messages and supporting chapter text summarize extensive evidence documented in the Ecosystems Technical Input Report, . This foundational report evolved from a technical workshop held at the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation in Palo Alto, CA, in January 2012 and attended by approximately 65 scientists. Technical inputs (127) on a wide range of topics related to ecosystems were also received and reviewed as part of the Federal Register Notice solicitation for public input.
The author team digested the contents of more than 125 technical input reports on a wide array of topics to arrive at this key message. The foundational Technical Input Report was the primary source used.
Studies have shown that increasing precipitation is already resulting in declining water quality in many regions of the country, particularly by increasing nitrogen loading. This is because the increases in flow can pick up and carry greater loads of nutrients like nitrogen to rivers.
One model for the Mississippi River Basin, based on a doubling of CO, projects that increasing discharge and nitrogen loading will lead to larger algal blooms in the Gulf of Mexico and a larger dead zone. The Gulf of Mexico is the recipient system for the Mississippi Basin, receiving all of the nitrogen that is carried downriver but not removed by river processes, wetlands, or other ecosystems.
Several models project that declining streamflow, due to the combined effects of climate change and water withdrawals, will cause local extinctions of fish and other aquatic organisms, particularly trout in the interior western U.S. (composite of 10 models, A1B scenario). The trout study is one of the few studies of impacts on fish that uses an emissions scenario and a combination of climate models. The researchers studied four different trout species. Although there were variations among species, their overall conclusion was robust across species for the composite model.
Water quality can also be negatively affected by increasing temperatures. There is widespread evidence that warmer lakes can promote the growth of harmful algal blooms, which produce toxins.
Recent research has improved understanding of the relative importance of the effects of climate and human actions (for example, fertilization) on nitrogen losses from watersheds, and how the interactions between climate and human actions (for example, water withdrawals) will affect fish populations in the west. However, few studies have projected the impacts of future climate change on water quality. Given the tight link between river discharge and pollutants, only areas of the U.S. that are projected to see increases in precipitation will see increases in pollutant transport to rivers. It is also important to note that pollutant loading – for example, nitrogen fertilizer use – is often more important as a driver of water pollution than climate.
Given the evidence base and uncertainties, there is confidence that climate change impacts on ecosystems reduce their ability to improve water quality and regulate water flows.
It is well established that precipitation and associated river discharge are major drivers of water pollution in the form of excess nutrients, sediment, and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) transport into rivers. Increases in precipitation in many regions of the country are therefore contributing to declines in water quality in those areas. However, those areas of the country that will see reduced precipitation may experience water-quality improvement; thus, any lack of agreement on future water-quality impacts of climate change may be due to locational differences.
Strong evidence (established theory, multiple sources, consistent results, well documented and accepted methods, etc.), high consensus
Moderate evidence (several sources, some consistency, methods vary and/or documentation limited, etc.), medium consensus
Suggestive evidence (a few sources, limited consistency, models incomplete, methods emerging, etc.), competing schools of thought
Inconclusive evidence (limited sources, extrapolations, inconsistent findings, poor documentation and/or methods not tested, etc.), disagreement or lack of opinions among experts
Climate-driven factors that control water availability and quality are moderated by ecosystems. Land-based ecosystems regulate the water cycle and are the source of sediment and other materials that make their way to aquatic ecosystems (streams, rivers, lakes, estuaries, oceans, groundwater). Aquatic ecosystems provide the critically important services of storing water, regulating water quality, supporting fisheries, providing recreation, and carrying water and materials downstream (Ch. 25:
). Humans utilize, on average, the equivalent of more than 40% of renewable supplies of freshwater in more than 25% of all U.S. watersheds.
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Freshwater withdrawals are even higher in the arid Southwest, where the equivalent of 76% of all renewable freshwater is appropriated by people. 13 In that region, climate change has likely decreased and altered the timing of streamflow due to reduced snowpack and lower precipitation in spring, although the precipitation trends are weak due to large year-to-year variability, as well as geographic variation in the patterns (Ch. 3: Water ; Ch. 20: Southwest ). 14 Depriving ecosystems of water reduces their ability to provide water to people as well as for aquatic plant and animal habitat (see Figure 8.1) .
Additionally, when Twitter outgrew Ruby on Rails, the company shined a spotlight on scalable Scala as a more efficient and cost-effective alternative. Finally, when Apple moved away from Objective-C to Swift, developers had to switch too. With iOS development becoming more streamlined and increasingly accessible, it's clear many developers don't want to be left behind.
JavaScript may be the most in-demand language by employers, but Python wins the heart of developers across all ages, according to our Love-Hate index. Python is also the most popular language that developers want to learn overall, and a significant share already knows it.
Python is known for its simplicity, readability, and vast possibilities of scientific libraries. It's also growing as part of introductory computer science courses. There is an unusual generational trend among newer languages: Younger developers dislike newer languages (like Go, Kotlin, and Scala) more so than older developers. In fact, Go creates one of the greatest divides. Developers aged 18-24 don't care for it, but 45-54 year-olds consider it one of their most loved languages. The inverse is true about JavaScript.
This is interesting, since many of the newer languages, including Go, embody learnings from older languages. One of Go's primary designers created C decades ago. There's an innate thirst for knowledge among younger developers. They are more likely to learn languages across the board — even those that they dislike — than older developers. The latter would choose their pursuit more selectively, based on their experience and what they think will stand the test of time.
Node.js wins as most loved framework by the largest share of developers. As the only method for backend JavaScript, Node.js is favored across all ages. As for front-end frameworks, we all know that AngularJS and React are in vogue. But it turns out this love is most common among younger generations.
Developers between 45-54 years old ranked AngularJS and React much lower. On the other hand, the exact inverse is true about Vue.js. It's not immediately clear why this is true. We'd love to learn thoughts from Vue.js developers on the differences in age /r/programming .
According to 7,000+ employers, resumes are still by far the most common way developers are assessed today. Our survey found that 81% of hiring managers use resumes as the first step in the applicant screening process. When asked what the biggest hiring challenge is, the same hiring managers said assessing skill is their number one problem — as opposed to lack of talent. Meanwhile, only 55% of developers said resumes were a good reflection of their abilities.


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For about a year, I've been saying the fix was in for Dr. Beach's "best beach" contest for 2013. Usually the runner-up from the previous year moves into the top position. And with the gorgeous Duke Kahanamoku Beach coming in second in 2012, it seemed a lock that the sand strand in front of the Hilton Hawaiian Village would be No. 1 in 2013.
Dr. Beach says he makes his picks based on more than 50 environmental and oceanographic criteria. But in all the years I've covered the contest, the greatest predictor of success was being the beach version of a bridesmaid the year before. So it was with Coronado Beach, the No. 2 in 2011 that moved into the top slot in 2012.
So it was with some certainty, at times perhaps a bit too smugly, I said the folks at Duke K. beach could begin cranking up the PR machine early.
Then the poll came out over Memorial Day weekend. Oops.
Duke Kahanamoku Beach was No. 2 – again. And the No. 3 beach – Main Beach in the Hamptons in New York – leapfrogged into the top spot.
In a rare move, Dr. Stephen Leatherman, the Florida oceanographer who goes by the nickname "Dr. Beach," had skipped over the front-runner in Hawaii to pick a beach on Long Island, an area ravaged by superstorm Sandy.
"The thing about the Hamptons is that people are so proud of their beaches out there," Leatherman told The Associated Press in an interview ahead of the release of his list. "People pick up their litter there, the bathrooms are clean; they provide good services."
Leatherman said he last visited Main Beach in early May. He said that unlike many beaches farther west on Long Island and in New Jersey, the beaches on eastern Long Island saw less erosion and flooding from the effects of Superstorm Sandy.
"Considering the magnitude of the storm, people will be very pleased to see that Main Beach is the way they remember it," he said.
I used to live in New York City and eastern Pennsylvania, so I've been to the Hamptons a few times, though not to Main Beach. The picture sent by the public relations folks looks like a Hallmark card. Cute, little, wooden fence running down to a beach with tufts of grass on margins.
People from California and other areas in the western coastal U.S. don't realize how lucky we have it when it comes to beach access. The new "best beach" is essentially private. Local residents can get on it for free. Anybody who doesn't live there has to pay $25 per day for parking – and only 40 nonlocal cars can be issued a permit.
There's talk in the Hamptons of making the restrictions even tighter. Residents there are less than thrilled with the attention their beaches are getting in the run-up to summer. The Sunday after Dr. Beach's announcement, The New York Times ran a front-page story that residents of the Hamptons are worried about an influx of people from New York City and New Jersey coming to their beaches because those closer to the cities were so heavily damaged by Sandy.
"As Boozy Invaders Hit Beach, Hamptons Sound a Snooki Alert" is how the headline put the pending crisis.
As always, I'll raise a red flag. Main Beach isn't the best beach in the country. It's not likely in the Top 20, even according to Leatherman.
This is the 23rd year for the survey. Leatherman uses criteria such as water and sand quality, as well as safety and environmental management, to compile his annual list. While the contest is heavily covered by news media as a kind of summer tourism beauty contest, Leatherman says its main function is to call attention to the impact of development and pollution on beaches.
The idea wouldn't work if the same beach won year after year. So win once, you are off the list. That means nearly two dozen beaches can't win.
Coronado Beach was the only California beach that made the top spot. In an interview in the Register several years ago, Leatherman said beaches in places like Santa Barbara, Ventura, Malibu, Orange County and San Diego County usually don't make the list because the water is too cold and pollution too high. It took more than 20 years for the home of the Beach Boys to get a beach on the list. Leatherman's criteria have resulted in the crown going to a lot of beaches in Hawaii and his local turf, Florida.
The other nine on Leatherman's 2013 list after Main Beach are: Duke Kahanamoku Beach, Waikiki, Hawaii; St. George Island State Park, Fla.; Hamoa Beach, Maui, Hawaii; Waimanalo Bay State Park, Oahu, Hawaii; Barefoot Beach Preserve County Park, Bonita Springs, Fla.; Cape Florida State Park, Key Biscayne, Fla.; Cape Hatteras, Outer Banks, N.C.; Coast Guard Beach, Cape Cod, Mass.; and Beachwalker Park, Kiawah Island, S.C.
It's his contest, so we'll give Dr. Beach the benefit of the doubt this year. But then it's Duke Kahanamoku Beach's turn. And we'd love it if the following year Hamoa Beach, on Maui near Hana, jumped past St. George Island State Park in Florida. That's the kind of surprise result I can get behind.
Contact the writer: firstname.lastname@example.com

subset: commoncrawl


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Croissant Help
I got a bit full of myself the other day and tried to make croisants. The fact that I can't spell croissant should be a clue that I have no business making them. Anyhow, I got a recipe off the food network, followed it to the t, and ended up with a beautiful multilayered piece of dough. I cut out the croissants, rolled em up and put them in the turned off oven with a pot of hot water as per the directions to proof. Then everything went bad. The butter seeped out of the dough and onto the oven, which smoked, and I nearly set off the fire alarm in my apartment at 2 am as a result. Does anyone know why this would happen? Is there a way to avoid this? Any similiar experiences etc? I was so happy with the dough I spent 10 hours making, it mad me so sad to see it die like the wicked witch of the west. Anyhow, thanks! Happy Baking ~Erithid


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November 23, 2011
Hostess Gifts | Unique Ways to Wrap Wine for a Hostess Gift
Custom Wrapped
Wine is always a great gift. When buying for a gift or a party, I like to buy bottles with pretty labels that coordinate with my event... I know, not the best way to buy wine! To avoid bringing a bad bottle, here is a way to easily jazz up your wine bottle to make it appropriate for whatever your occasion.
I cut out a piece of kraft wrapping paper that wrapped all the way around the bottle and attached it with double stick tape.
You can use any paper - wrapping paper, cardstock or just white paper.
I did the same with the satin ribbon, using double stick tape to secure it in the back.
For the label, I printed it out then rolled it through my Xyron sticker maker. These would also be great customized with a message from you or your family.
If you don't have a Xyron, you can just double stick tape or glue it on.
Labels: Entertaining, Holiday, hostess gifts, wine
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Have you noticed that your dog is not able to jump into the car or onto the couch? Does he have difficulty with stairs or does not want to finish a walk? Has your cat stopped grooming, especially her back end? Are her nails long and overgrown? All of these symptoms could mean that your pet is experiencing the discomfort of joint disorder. Joint disorder is the #1 chronic condition affecting up to 25% of dogs and 20% of cats. Yet research shows that less than 1 in 7 dogs with joint disease actually receive care. The good news is that there are easy and effective treatment options available, if you do your homework.
When the Healthy Joint Becomes Unhealthy
In healthy conditions, the natural joint building blocks, cartilage and synovial fluid, reduce friction and act as a shock absorber. The body makes these joint building blocks normally by producing glycosaminoglycans, or GAGs. These GAGs consist of glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate and hyaluronic acid. Injury, repeated stress, excess weight, poor diet, and genetic predisposition can contribute to unhealthy joints. In the unhealthy joint, production of these joint building blocks is impaired. The animal's body is unable to keep up with demand for building blocks, resulting in irritation, inflammation, pain, and decreased mobility.
"Injury, repeated stress, excess weight, poor diet, and genetic predisposition can contribute to unhealthy joints."
Treatment Options
Pet guardians have many options to treat unhealthy joints in their dogs and cats, but they fall primarily into two different categories. There are pharmaceutical or drug options and there are natural alternatives. Drug options include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which block the production of prostaglandins associated with pain and inflammation; COX-2 inhibitors, which target specific prostaglandins, and Aspirin/Ascriptin®, which reduces pain. These drugs are very good at blocking pain and decreasing inflammation. They do not, however, add to the body's joint lubricants or biochemical process. Work closely with your veterinarian when considering NSAIDs, cats do not metabolize aspirin like dogs and can be toxic, over the counter human products, such as Tylenol® cause destruction of red blood cells and should never be given to cats or dogs. Because of the often unacceptable side effects of NSAIDs, there has been a market shift toward natural alternatives.
Natural treatments, used alone or with a drug option, has benefits your pet will feel and you will see. The natural process supplies the body with the joint building blocks- glucosamine, chondroitin and hyaluronic acid. This is what the pet's body would provide in a healthy situation. Complete natural alternatives also provide select ingredients such as herbs to increase circulation, decrease inflammation and slow oxidative damage allowing the body to repair and rebuild the affected joint. You should notice your pet moving more easily, completing walks, jumping up on the bed or into the car and being more vibrant and happy overall.
Key Active Ingredients in Natural Treatment Alternatives
"If a dog or cat with unhealthy joints receives no treatment, recovery is not likely due to continuing pain, swelling and the body's inability to produce enough of the joint building blocks.."
Non-complete vs. Complete Formulas
If a dog or cat with unhealthy joints receives no treatment, recovery is not likely due to continuing pain, swelling and the body's inability to produce enough of the joint building blocks. This will lead to a less comfortable and less active life for the pet.
If a dog or cat with unhealthy joints receives an incomplete formula, containing only glucosamine and/or chondroitin sulfate or less than effective amounts of ingredients, repair of the joint may be enabled but many pets will see slow and only partial recovery.
If a dog or cat with unhealthy joints receives a complete formula that combines the joint building blocks with ingredients to decrease inflammation, increase circulation, remove free radicals and enhance absorption, optimal and accelerated recovery will result.
Author: Rebecca Rose, President of In Clover, Inc. Ms. Rose is a biochemist and the developer of animal health products. She is the author of three patents on the composition and method for treating joint disorder in vertebrates. In Clover is the maker of Connectin®, a clinically-tested joint supplement for dog and cats.
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We always offer you the lowest of the sale price, the price with a coupon code discount, or the Auto Delivery price. You can tell which one applies because it will say "Sale Savings:" if the item is on sale and that is the lowest price, "Coupon Savings:" if you have applied a coupon code discount and that is the lowest price, or "Auto Delivery Savings:" if you selected Auto Delivery and that is the lowest price.


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- What is Business Aviation?
- Membership
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On August 21, 2013, the FAA issued a final notice in the Federal Register for the process of limiting the diplay of aircraft situation display to industry (ASDI) data. These procedures took effect on September 20, 2013. This was formerly known as the Blocked Aircraft Registration Request (BARR) program administered by NBAA.
Federal Register Notice: Final Notice of the Process for Limiting Aircraft Data Displayed Via ASDI.
The notice explains that aircraft owners and operators may request blocking of their flight tracking information allowing aircraft owners and operators to opt out from having their ASDI flight information broadcast over the Internet.
For more information on the process to block and unblock aircraft, review the resouces below.
- Determine the Appropriate Blocking Level
- Required Information for Blocking Requests
- How to Submit Blocking Requests
- Processing Time for Blocking Requests
The FAA manages this program and NBAA no longer has any policy or administrative control over the FAA ASDI Block program. However, if you have general questions or concerns about the FAA process, contact NBAA's Operations Service Group at email@example.com or (202) 783-9250.
Blocking Requests
Determine the Appropriate Blocking Level
There are two levels of ASDI blocking:
Operators should carefully review the information below to understand the differences between each option. It is important to specify the desired blocking level in any requests to FAA. Requests that do not include a preferred blocking level will be processed at the FAA Source level by default.
ASDI Subscriber Level Blocking
Under ASDI Subscriber Level Blocking an operators flight tracking data is still broadcast from FAA to the ASDI providers (i.e. flight tracking vendors). However, the providers are bound by a letter of agreement to not publically display information for aircraft on the blocked list. This option allows operators to track their own aircraft through the ASDI vendor of their choice.
To track their own aircraft, the operator must contact the ASDI provider and request that the tracking information be selectively unblocked. Note that some ASDI providers may charge for this service.
Review the FAA's list of current ASDI vendors.
FAA Source Blocking
Using FAA Source Blocking, an operators ADSI data is not broadcast from the FAA to the ASDI vendors at all. Aircraft operators considering the FAA-level block should remember that they will not be able to track their own aircraft via an ASDI vendor once the FAA block is in place.
Required Information for Blocking Requests
To assist the FAA in processing aircraft owner or operator requests promptly, all requests related to an aircrafts ASDI blocking or unblocking must include the following information:
- The name of the requestor
- the registration numbers or call signs of the aircraft to be blocked
- a statement in the certification request that the requestor is the owner or operator of the specified aircraft or is a legally authorized representative of the aircraft owner or operator
- a telephone number or email address to which the FAA can direct any questions about the request
- a statement indicating the requestors desired level of ASDI blocking: either "ASDI Subscriber Level Blocking" or "FAA Source Blocking."
How to Submit Blocking Requests
The FAAs primary electronic mailbox for all aircraft blocking and unblocking requests and for related inquiries directed to the ASDI blocking program is firstname.lastname@example.com.
The FAA also will accept hard-copy aircraft block requests submitted by regular mail at:
Blocking Request; ATO System
Operation Services, AJR0; Wilbur
Wright Building, Room 3E1500
600 Independence Avenue SW; Washington, DC 20597
FAA Contact:
William Blacker
Phone: (202) 267-0346
Email: email@example.com
Processing Time for Blocking Requests
The FAA implements the ASDI block list updates on the first Thursday of each month. As a result, requests that the FAA receives on or before the 15th of the preceding month are likely to be processed in time to take effect in the month after the FAA receives them. However, it is possible that the volume of requests in a given month, a requestors timeliness, or issues with the completeness and accuracy of the information that the FAA receives could preclude the FAA from processing some requests in time for them to take effect in the month following their submission. In that event, the FAA will process all requests in the order in which the FAA receives them, to the extent that it is possible.
There is no renewal requirement – once an aircraft has been processed for blocking it remains blocked indefinitely or until the operator submits an unblocking request to the FAA.
Unblocking Requests
Requests to remove ASDI blocking at the ASDI subscriber level or the FAA source must include the following information:
- aircraft owner or operator name
- a telephone number or email address to which the FAA can direct any questions about the request
- the registration numbers or call signs of the aircraft to be unblocked
The FAAs primary electronic mailbox for all aircraft unblocking requests and for related inquiries directed to the ASDI blocking program is email@example.com.
The FAA also will accept hard-copy aircraft unblock requests submitted by regular mail at:
Blocking Request; ATO System
Operation Services, AJR0; Wilbur
Wright Building, Room 3E1500
600 Independence Avenue SW; Washington, DC 20597
Please note that if your company sells an aircraft that is on the FAA ASDI block list you should inform the new owner of the ASDI block status of the aircraft, or request removal of the aircraft from the FAA ASDI block list after the sale.


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Farmingdale State Spring Invitational
Bethpage State Park - Red Course - Par 70 - 6,700 Yards
Saturday, April 5 & Sunday, April 6
Weather - 55, Sunny, 25-30 mph winds
Farmingdale, N.Y. - The Farmingdale State men's golf team shot an opening round of 308 and trails Dowling College by seven strokes after the first round of the FSC Spring Invitational at the Bethpage State Park - Red Course.
The Rams were led by sophomore Scott Sessions (Pleasantville, N.Y.) who is in third place individually after a first round 74. Junior Matt Pollock (Northport, N.Y.) fired a 77, while sophomore Chris Brosi (Stony Brook, N.Y.) carded a 78. Senior Adam Larkin (Bellmore, N.Y.) posted a day one 79 for Farmingdale State.
Dowling's Kurt Brey and Rob Bass of Cabrini are tied for the lead after shooting two over par 72's.
SUNY Delhi (310) is in third place and St. Joseph's (312) is currently in fourth.
Sunday's final round will begin at 9:00 a.m.
Farmingdale State Round Two Starting Times:
9:00 - Dillon Flynn
9:08 - Matt Adwar
9:16 - Sam Riva
9:24 - Rocco Costa
9:32 - Andrew Goldman
10:28 - Rich Kelly
10:36 - Adam Larkin
10:44 - Chris Brosi
10:52 - Matt Pollock
11:00 - Scott Sessions
For complete day one results, click HERE.


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ALBANY — Democrat Cecilia Tkaczyk has appealed 331 ballots deemed invalid by a Supreme Court justice.
She trails Republican George Amedore by just 37 votes in the 46th senate district race.
"Not one scintilla of evidence was proffered by the objector...of any fraud," wrote Tkaczyk lawyer James Long in a 28-page brief. "Rather the disenfranchisement of hundreds of voters was based upon inconsequential deviations from the letter of the law."
Amedore's response is due by 4 p.m. Friday. The Appellate Court will hear the case Jan. 7.
Some 271 of the appeals pertain to Ulster County ballots, where Tkaczyk won 61 percent of the election day vote. The district includes Kingston and eight Ulster County towns.
Some 216 of the appealed ballots were affidavits deemed incomplete or inaccurate, while another 54 appeals stemmed from Ulster poll workers who received special ballots too early from the county.
"The inspectors followed the express direction of the two Commissioners for the Ulster County Board of Elections," Long wrote. "There is no question of fraud or misconduct."
Amedore's team remains confident they'll prevail.
"Our opponent has publicly acknowledged that there were voting errors," said spokesman Kris Thompson. "The judge has in fact ruled those errors should not be counted."
Tkaczyk appeals 331 ballot rulings in 46th senate race
ALBANY — Democrat Cecilia Tkaczyk has appealed 331 ballots deemed invalid by a Supreme Court justice.


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LODI - Lodi Mayor Alan Nakanishi said he wants to educate the public on the inner workings of city operations and to clear misconceptions he's heard from residents.
LODI - Lodi Mayor Alan Nakanishi said he wants to educate the public on the inner workings of city operations and to clear misconceptions he's heard from residents.
Nakanishi, a former Assemblyman who was elected to the City Council in 2010 after he termed out of state office, has scheduled three town-hall meeting over his next year as mayor.
"I get a lot of questions and emails, and people come to the meetings and make statements that aren't true," Nakanishi said. "You hear people talk about Lodi's 'good ol' boy network.' There's no good ol' boys."
Nakanishi said he wants to address other concerns about utility bills - specifically that Lodi's rates are higher than other communities.
"I think I can clear the air for the people that want it," he said, adding that he also wants to encourage the attendees to become involved in city government and volunteer if they can.
The three town-hall meetings will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Carnegie Forum, 305 W. Pine St., Lodi:
� March 7 - Topic is "How the City Council, management and commissions work." Nakanishi will also provide information on utility rates, water, sewer and electricity.
� June 20 - Topic is "Crime and gang activity in Lodi."
� Sept. 19 - Topic is "Lodi Electric: The city-owned electric utility company."
Nakanishi said he would like the community to write him letters about the topics they want to have addressed at the meetings.
Letters can be mailed to Nakanishi at P.O. Box 3006, Lodi, CA, 95241 or by email to firstname.lastname@example.com.
Contact reporter Keith Reid at (209) 546-8257 or firstname.lastname@example.com. Visit his blog at recordnet.com/lodiblog.


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AMERICUS - The Lady Hurricanes couldn't ride the wave of momentum of a strong first half effort as North Georgia rallied back to earn an 83-73 decision on Senior Night at the Storm Dome.
GSW fought hard in the first half as the Lady 'Canes outrebounded the Saints 24-15, including snatching down 14 offensive boards, to take a 38-33 advantage into the locker room.
In the second half, North Georgia outscored the Lady Hurricanes 50-35 off blistering 67 percent shooting (18-of-27) to earn a 83-73 decision.
Kayla Dayton came off the bench to pace GSW with 18 points (6-of-14 shooting) while Ottishia Burden chipped in 14 points for the Blue and Gold.
Southwestern's lone senior Briana Walker added eight points and four rebounds in her final game as a Lady Hurricane.
Reigning PBC player-of-the-year Jaymee Carnes led North Georgia (12-14, 10-9 PBC) with 22 points on 10-of-16 shooting.
GSW (3-22, 1-18 PBC) ends the 2012-13 season by outrebounding the much taller Saints, 42-36, but North Georgia finished the game shooting 57 percent (32-of-56) compared to just 38 percent shooting from the Lady Hurricanes.


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Computer Sciences Corporation provides information technology (IT) and business process outsourcing, and IT and professional services to the commercial and government markets. The company's outsourcing services include the operation of customer's technology infrastructure, including systems analysis, applications development, network operations, desktop computing, and data center management. It also offers various business process outsourcing services, such as procurement and supply chain, call centers and customer relationship management, credit services, claims processing, and logistics. In addition, it provides various IT and professional services, including systems integration that comprises designing, developing, implementing, and integrating complete information systems; and consulting and professional services, such as advising clients on the strategic acquisition and utilization of IT and business strategy, security, modeling, simulation, engineering, operations, change management, and business process re-engineering. Further, the company licenses software systems for the financial services and other industry-specific markets, as well as provides various end-to-end business solutions. Computer Sciences offers its services to various customers in the aerospace/defense, automotive, chemical and resources, consumer goods, financial services, healthcare, manufacturing, retail/distribution, telecommunications, and technology industries, as well as to foreign government clients, civil departments and branches of the military, and the department of homeland security. It has operations in North America, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific region. The company has a strategic agreement with Riviere Servicing. Computer Sciences was founded in 1959 and is headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia.
Company Description Computer Sciences Corporation was founded in 1959. It is in the information technology and professional services industry. Since it founding, the Company has helped clients use I/T more efficiently in order to improve their operations and profitability, achieve business results and focus on core competencies. CSC offers an array of services to clients in the Global Commercial and government markets and specializes in the application of complex I/T to achieve its customers strategic objectives. Its service offerings include information technology and business process outsourcing, and I/T and professional services. Outsourcing involves operating all or a portion of a customer's technology infrastructure, including systems analysis, applications development, network operations, desktop computing and data center management. CSC also provides business process outsourcing, managing key functions for clients, such as procurement and supply chain, call centers and customer relationship management, credit services, claims processing and logistics. I/T and professional services include systems integration, consulting and other professional services. Systems integration encompasses designing, developing, implementing and integrating complete information systems. Consulting and professional services includes advising clients on the strategic acquisition and utilization of I/T and on business strategy, security, modeling, simulation, engineering, operations, change management and business process reengineering. The Company also licenses software systems for the financial services markets and provides an array of end-to-end e-business solutions that meet the needs of large commercial and government clients. The Company focuses on delivering results by combining business innovation skills with seasoned delivery expertise to provide flexible and scalable solutions. CSC provides its services to clients in Global Commercial industries and to the U.S. federal government. In the Global Commercial market sector, CSC's service offerings are delivered to clients in an array of industries including aerospace/defense, automotive, chemical and energy, consumer goods, financial services, healthcare, manufacturing, retail/distribution, telecommunications, and utilities. The Company's Global Commercial market sector also includes U.S. state and local and foreign government clients. The Company has provided I/T services to the U.S. federal government since 1961, is a federal contractor and is one of its I/T service providers. CSC serves a federal customer base, including most civil departments and branches of the military, as well as the Department of Homeland Security. The Company provides a spectrum of services to the U.S. federal government, ranging from traditional systems integration and outsourcing to complex project management and technical services. Geographically, CSC has major operations throughout North America, Europe and the Asia-Pacific region, including India.
COMPANY VIEW A statement by Van B. Honeycutt, chairman and CEO of Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC), follows. This statement has been taken from the company's 2004 Annual Report:
In fiscal year 2004 CSC set new records for revenue, net income, business awards, operating cash flow and earnings per share. We gained significant share in the global information technology (IT) services market and extended our lead in the global aerospace and defense, insurance and U.S. federal sectors. We successfully integrated the largest acquisition in our history, established the industry's first global organization to develop business transformation solutions, and launched new offerings that are among the most innovative and advanced on the market today.
Revenues for the year were $14.8 billion, an increase of 30% over last year. Net income grew by $79.2 million to a record $519.4 million, and cash flow from operations increased 46% to $1.7 billion. CSC won a record $17.2 billion in business awards during fiscal 2004, more than double last year's amount and 51% higher than the previous record. Global commercial IT services and U.S. federal government awards accounted for this growth. Approximately 83% of CSC's revenues came from long-term agreements, up from 78% last year. CSC reduced its debt by $113 million during fiscal 2004 and ended the year with an all-time high cash balance of $610 million. CSC's debt-to-total-capitalization ratio now stands at 30%, an eight percentage point reduction from two years ago and the lowest in over three years.
Return on investment (ROI) improved slightly last year, a result of our continuing focus on controlling expenses and making more efficient use of capital, especially on outsourcing engagements. We improved the effectiveness and efficiency of our global operations and strengthened our ability to develop new business and drive future revenue. Our efforts are proving effective: fiscal 2004 was the single most successful year for business awards in CSC's history. Of these awards, five exceeded $1 billion in value each, and 29 had values of at least $100 million.
Among these are:
-A 10-year, $2.4 billion agreement to manage the IT operations of the Royal Mail Group, a government-owned public limited company in the United Kingdom.
-A 10-year, $1.7 billion agreement with the United Kingdom's National Health Service to help that agency provide improved healthcare services.
-A nine-year, $1.5 billion IT services agreement with SAS Group, one of Europe's leading airlines.
-A 20-year, $1.1 billion award to provide simulator-based flight training and related support to the U.S. Army Aviation Center at Fort Rucker, Alabama.
-A 10-year, $700 million business process outsourcing agreement with Swiss Re Life & Health, one of the world's largest life and health reinsurers.
-A seven-year, $470 million agreement to manage the IT infrastructure of National Grid Transco, a global energy company based in London.
-A 10-year, $450 million IT services agreement with ISS A/S, a European-based provider of facility services.
-A 10-year, $250 million agreement to provide IT services to Providian Financial Corporation, one of the leading financial services companies in the United States.
CSC has been a leader in the U.S. federal market for more than 40 years. During fiscal 2004 we significantly extended our lead with the integration of DynCorp, acquired in March 2003. Revenues from U.S. federal clients exceeded $6 billion, and our pipeline of federal opportunities through fiscal 2006 is approximately $32 billion; almost $20 billion of that is scheduled for award during fiscal 2005. CSC now ranks number three on Washington Technology's Top 100 providers of IT services to the government.
CSC continued to strengthen its position in the commercial sector, including the financial services, aerospace, telecommunications, transportation, energy, and healthcare industries. In addition to our UK National Health Service win, we were awarded a seven-year, $200 million IT services agreement with Ascension Health, the largest nonprofit health system in the United States.
CSC also strengthened its global presence.We won a number of large, long-term agreements in Europe 'in both the private and public sectors 'and increased our presence in Asia, most notably with a 10-year, $342 million agreement to manage the large, complex IT operations of Maybank, Malaysia's largest banking group. The economic recovery in North America is well underway and its impact on the information technology sector is apparent. Clients and prospects are expressing greater optimism; they are focusing on growth, and their demand for 'and expectations of 'information technology services are increasing. One aspect of this demand is especially significant: the drive by clients to contain IT costs and to demonstrate clear, quantified business benefit from technology investment 'a characteristic of the environment for the last two years 'is stronger than ever.
Thus, the new market imperative is: exploit new technology, but measure results; grow, but control costs; invest, but contain risk; innovate, but do so practically. CSC is ideally positioned in the market to serve this new demand and to thrive in this new environment.
In fiscal 2004, CSC launched some of the most advanced, innovative new service offerings in our industry. With CSC's XtendedOfficeSM, for example, workers can have the power of all their office systems delivered to them remotely 'wirelessly 'and securely anywhere in the world and for a fraction of the cost of conventional access. CSC's new Results-Driven ComputingSM provides clients with instant access to only those services they need 'and allows them to pay for only those they use. And with our new Global Security Solutions unit, CSC brings to both the commercial and government markets one of most innovative and advanced approaches to security available today. At least 10 times throughout the year, industry analysts rated CSC services as among our industry�s best.
Business transformation is a relatively new term, but it refers to work CSC has done for years: enabling clients to achieve significant business results by changing key aspects of their organization, processes, technology, skills and behavior. What is new is an emerging technology � called Business Process Management (BPM) � that greatly reduces the time and resources needed for this. Exploiting this new technology, CSC has developed an entirely new approach to business change that clients are using to achieve � and sustain � transformation benefits.
To bring the full power of CSC�s transformation capabilities to market, we formed Global Transformation Solutions (GTS), the industry�s very first global organization to develop and deliver business transformation solutions to clients worldwide. CSC is now more focused on the highest-value segments of our market � applications, business processes and business transformation.
GTS also is responsible for developing and executing our world sourcing strategy. That strategy is to provide the best global support to our global clients. That means accessing specialized skills � in BPO and infrastructure support as well as in applications management � and providing standardized service in every time zone, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
That requires we develop pools of talent around the world, not in any one locale. Today, CSC has world sourcing centers in Canada, Mexico, Ireland, Spain, Bulgaria, South Africa, India, Singapore, Malaysia and Australia.
Fiscal 2005 is off to a very strong start. We�ve announced $3.3 billion in business awards in just the first nine weeks of the year, including a 10-year, $1.6 billion agreement with Sears, Roebuck and Co. to provide state-of-the-art IT infrastructure support services. I would like to acknowledge two individuals for their contributions to CSC. Thomas A. McDonnell and William P. Rutledge, who have each served on the company�s board of directors since 1997, will not seek re-election to the board this year. On behalf of our shareholders, I am grateful for their wise counsel, leadership and valued service.
In May, CSC celebrated 45 years of delivering practical innovation to our clients. In that time, we�ve grown to 90,000 employees serving clients across 15 industries in 80 countries. Those employees are the finest in our industry, and our success � and that of our clients � is due to their skill and dedication.
CSC�s offerings today are broader, more integrated and more advanced. Our technical expertise is stronger and our industry knowledge is deeper. Our experience is greater, and our ability to use that experience to deliver results for clients is more valuable than ever.


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Day By Day November 19, 2012 – The ManPosted on
Chris, the RIGHT does NOT need to be supportive of anything but the American people and the Constitution.
If the LEFT wants to be divisive and win elections in this manner, then let them.
Democratic National Committee Chair Debbie Wasserman-Schultz said the Republican Party "got whiter and more male" while the Democratic caucus is "majority minority and female."
"Take a good look when the House convenes after this next Congress is sworn in at what our side of the aisle looks like versus what the Republican side looks like. I mean they got whiter and more male, and we now have a majority minority and female Democratic caucus – first time in history," Debbie Wasserman-Schultz said Wednesday at a discussion hosted by the Emily's List, a group known for supporting pro-abortion female candidates.
She said when women run for office, "Democrats win."
So, let's see. Man versus woman and whites versus people of color.
I thought politics was about issues and public policy?
Pretty pathetic….


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Meglet necesitaba un nuevo diseño de logotipo y lanzó un concurso de diseño en 99designs.
Un ganador ha sido elegido entre 113 diseños de 34 diseñadores freelance.
Ever read "Groundswell" or "Wikinomics" or "Blur?" If so, you know the vision of Web 2.0 - marketers learning to engage with target audiences in new ways. Instead of unilaterally dictating campaign messages based purely on traditional market research, marketers are learning to collaborate with customers in creative, interactive, enjoyable ways. Please help us design a logo for a visionary company facilitating B2B commerce through Web 2.0 collaboration among channel owners, marketers and service providers.
swith.us is a B2B commerce clearinghouse facilitating Web 2.0 collaboration among marketers, channel owners and service providers.
The company name is pronounced "SWITH-us."
We are looking for a clean logo that elegantly combines and reflects the key aspects of the name:
- "swith" means instant, immediate, direct
- "with us" suggests collaboration, working together, achieving win-win successes
- .us was chosen as the extension because it has a web 2.0 feel, like del.icio.us, so we're looking for a modern, forward-looking, "the future is now" sort of thingIn addition, the color choices should suggest a palette for the user interface.
- swith.us should be all lowercase
- make sure the dot is visible so that people understand swith.us is our web url
- we prefer sans serif in general, could be open to something slightly serif-y as long as it looks modern, clean; cursive or italics could be interesting because it suggests forward motion - but you could also make a case that a commerce platform needs to convey "strong and steady," ergo no tilt to it ... feel free to play!
- no need to be overly conservative on color choice - we're speaking to creative marketing professionals, not banks or lawyers per se
- should be "elegant" in its mathematical sense - the simplest, clearest way of expressing a complex idea
- capital letters
- anything that seems fragile or delicate
- anything that seems overly complex - unless it suggests that we are unifying and aligning diverse participants to work together (which we are!)
Descubre cómo funciona un concurso de diseño u obtén más información sobre nuestros servicios de diseño de logo.


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Your donation can turn the tide of deforestation and plant the roots for tomorrow. You'll do more than put a seed in the ground—you'll make sure these forests can survive for future generations. This year, help us raise $123 million for the Plant A Billion Trees campaign.
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Cujo (US - BD)
Gabe revisits a rabid dog in HD, and explores the intricacies of foamy drool
Donna Trenton (Dee Wallace Stone), a frustrated suburban housewife, is caught cheating with a local tennis player. Donna's husband Vic (Daniel Hugh Kelly) takes a business trip, and uses the time to think about his marital troubles. While Vic is away Donna takes her five-year-old son Tad (Danny Pintauro) to a local mechanic to fix their broken Pinto. When they get to the mechanic's farm it appears that his dog, Cujo, has come down with a mean case of rabies.
Part of reviewing DVDs and Blu-rays instead of first run theatrical releases is reviewing entirely irrelevant movies, because they have been reissued in a special anniversary edition. This isn't to say that all, or even most re-released films are irrelevant, and I also don't mean to imply that irrelevant films are necessarily bad, but it's really hard to find something intelligent to say about a movie as unimportant as Cujo. Cujo isn't an unintelligent film, or even a flat film—on the contrary, it's actually a layered, tight knit monster movie, with rather deep emotional allegories. Unfortunately, most of the allegories speak specifically to the 1980s. Before and since Cujo other monster movie allegories have spoken for their eras, and these films cast long shadows over Cujo's minor accomplishments, not to mention the fact that many other non-horror films said the same thing with more conviction ( E.T. being a particularly potent instance). We're left with an entertaining little movie that looks great, and has more than scares on its mind, but little staying power, plus or minus a few good scares.
Contextually speaking Cujo is one of the better Stephen King adaptations. The '80s in general were a good time for Stephen King adaptations, from The Shining to The Dead Zone, all the way to Pet Cemetery. The '90s were pretty awful, at least for straight horror work, and the '00s are spotty at best, featuring The Mist atop a pretty dire little stack (though I do have a slightly stupid soft spot for Dreamcatcher). Perhaps King's storytelling style was simply made for the '80s. Unfortunately, going this route just puts me back where I started, remembering how irrelevant the film is, because calling anything 'one of the better Stephen King adaptations' ends up being the nicest thing I can say about it concerning the greater movie lexicon.
Ok, let me try again. I hadn't seen Cujo in (wait for it) a dog's age. I hadn't remembered how much an eyeball appetizer it was, due in no small part to the presence of cinematographer extraordinaire Jon De Bont. De Bont's work here is occasionally flat-out brilliant, though much credit must also go to director Lewis Teague, who thought up most of the film's bravura camera moves. The energy isn't quite cranked up to Sam Raimi levels, and the overuse of soft focus is a little annoying (and cheap looking), but the visuals cover the lack of overall plot rather well, and keep what could have been a stagnant narrative moving. There are only so many ways to shoot a Pinto, and this director/DP team juices the possibilities to the rind.
Lewis Teague was the guy behind the camera on Alligator, which thanks to the efforts of John Sayles and a smashing cast, was more tongue-in-cheek funny than horrifying, but there were plenty of genuinely frightening images to go around. Legend states that Stephen King himself suggested Teague for Cujo when the time came, based on the director's work on Alligator. Alligator is the better film (mostly because of its script alone), but Cujo is the more frightening. As an adult the film didn't wrack my nerves like it did when I was a kid (I was coincidentally afraid of dogs for most of my childhood), but I can still recognize a good scare when I see one. For seat jumping alone Cujo may be the scariest King film on record, except for, of course, those shots you can see the dog's tail wagging in. Those kind of spoil the terror. And hey, let's give a hand to Dee Wallace. I know the woman is notorious for her destructively emotional method acting, but this performance makes the film. Without her melodramatic every-mom this would just be a good looking thriller. With her it's an occasionally brilliant pity piece.
The DVD version of this 25th Anniversary release already looked pretty good considering the film's vintage and modest price tag. This high definition version is a solid upgrade, but not altogether perfect. Jon De Bont's innovative and acrobatic camera work benefits from the increase in clarity, though his use of soft and shallow focus means the film a lightly less ideal Blu-ray subject. The print looks best when sunlight is concerned, but on the whole the grain and occasional artefacts like dust and grain. The bigger issue is the occasional digital noise during the busiest shots, like the opening of the film, where Cujo chases a rabbit. Notice that the green grass is a bit blocky. The colours aren't particularly vibrant, but they never were when it came to the film. The green hues are lusher, and the reds poke out a bit, but overall Cujo is a brownish yellow film, and it uses this look to its advantage during the hotter scenes. Still, the Lionsgate people avoid the temptation of DNR, and thank goodness for small favours.
Unlike most of the recent Lionsgate catalogue Blu-rays, Cujo has been updated rather heftily in the sound department—at least in theory. The DVD release was presented in an ordinary, original release 2.0, but this Blu-ray features a 5.1 remix, and the usual DTS-HD Master Audio upgrade. The stereo channels see quite a bit of incidental sound, and even a few directional effects, usually those of a revving motor or a barking dog. The 5.1 does allow for a wider field during the musical score's more lively moments, but for the most part this is still a pretty centric and relatively flat affair. In fact, the more spacious music acts as a bit of a counter point to the rest of the audio. The dialogue and incidental set noise is mostly clean, but does feature a little snap and crackle. Still missing from the mix is a ballsy LFE track, though between the two releases this Blu-ray is definitely stronger.
The Blu-ray features the same two extras that were featured on the DVD release. Things start with director Lewis Teague's solo commentary track, which is still a solid effort. Teague is well prepared, and knows specifically what he wants to talk about. Unlike many commentators, Teague assumes (rightfully) that we've already seen the film, so when he's nearing a shot he wants to talk about he sets himself up several minutes before the shot arrives. Too many commentary tracks involve commentators pointing out a sequence or shot as it appears, rather than preparing us for what to look for. Teague rarely lets up, and is consistently engaging.
This anniversary release is filled out with a three-part featurette entitled 'Dog Days: The Making of Cujo' (43:00, SD). It's no fluff piece, and covers most of the creative process, from Stephen King's original book, to the various stages of film production (I did not know that the original book was a semi-sequel to The Dead Zone), all set to behind the scenes photos, film footage, and interviews with the guilty parties. Teague reiterates everything he already said on the commentary track, but repetition aside I can't think of anything more I'd like to know about the film's production, and the bulk of the interviews are thoughtful and engaging.
So if you're looking for a great monster movie with more on its mind than just scares, watch Jaws, or maybe even director Lewis Teague's own Alligator. If you're looking for a great Stephen King adaptation watch Carrie or The Dead Zone. If you're looking for a great Dee Wallace film I'd suggest E.T or The Howling. If you want to watch Cujo, just watch Cujo. I've got no better reason for you. Not a super-duper, ultra-great, must-see feature, but an entertaining horror/drama. This Blu-ray version of the special edition release features a fine audio commentary with Teague and a solid making-of featurette, a slight video upgrade, and a major audio upgrade.
* Note: The images on this page are not representative of the Blu-ray release.
Review by Gabriel Powers
Existing Posts
Gabe Powers wrote: That would be my editors fault. I know I spelled it right.
I blame Microsoft Word.
I blame Microsoft Word.
how can you say so many good things about this movie (not least " a layered, tight knit monster movie, with rather deep emotional allegories" then insist on repeatedly calling it "irrelevant"?
and what the hell is an "irrelevant movie" anyway?
and what the hell is an "irrelevant movie" anyway?
Hehe, that's so funny Gabe. Can't stop giggling now.
Love this film btw.
Love this film btw.
That would be my editors fault. I know I spelled it right.
you mispelled a word in your mention of Pet Sematary. of course you spelled the word the proper way but they spell it how i did in the book and even movie. its a plot point even.
anyway i apologize for being all "comic book guy" on ya but i just had to.
anyway i apologize for being all "comic book guy" on ya but i just had to.
Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian
Disc Details
Release Date: 24th November 2009
Discs: 1
Disc Type: Blu-ray Disc
RCE: No
Video: 1080p
Aspect: 1.78:1
Anamorphic: No
Colour: No
Audio: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
Subtitles: English SDH, French, Spansih
Extras: Director Commentary, Behind the Scenes, Trailers
Easter Egg: No
Feature Details
Director: Lewis Teague
Cast: Dee Walace Stone, Robert Behling, Danny Pintauro, Terence Donovan
Genre: Drama and Horror
Length: 95 minutes
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About the Arena
What's in a Name?
John Paul Jones Arena... where did that name come from? Is it named after the Revolutionary War Hero? Did the Led Zeppelin Bassist have ties to Charlottesville?
Actually, the state of the art John Paul Jones Arena is a recognition, as well as a thank you from a son to his father.
Paul Tudor Jones II, a 1976 U. Va. graduate, made an extraordinary $35 million commitment to the University of Virginias newest arena and was granted his naming request to honor his father, John Paul Jones. Mr. Jones has described his father's life as being dedicated to four things: his faith, his family, the University of Virginia and basketball. Jones senior is a 1948 graduate of the University's School of Law and currently lives in Memphis. His love of the University has never faded. He continues to participate in alumni functions, including serving three years as president of his alumni chapter and helping prospective U. Va. students through the admissions process.
Basketball is a passion he shares with his son Paul. The younger Jones was the first alumnus to voice concern that the University needed to replace the aging University Hall. In November 2001, he made a 10-year $20 million pledge that put the Arena project on the fast track. The ground breaking was May 30, 2003. John Paul Jones Arena is the first facility in the country built by a public university almost entirely from private funds. It holds the title of the largest arena in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Construction was completed during the summer of 2006. The arena is home to The University Men's and Women's Basketball teams and host to a myriad of attractions including concerts, family shows, exhibits, trade shows, and community events. John Paul Jones Arena has hosted many of the biggest acts in live entertainment, including Dave Matthews Band, The Police, Eric Clapton, The Eagles, Lady Gaga, Kenny Chesney, Jimmy Buffett, Justin Timberlake, Jay-Z, Elton John, Bruce Springsteen, Keith Urban, George Strait, The Dead, Phish, Jason Aldean, and The Red Hot Chili Peppers.
For additional information about John Paul Jones Arena, please visit The University of Virginia Cavaliers Athletic Site at VirginiaSports.com.
Guest Services A to Z
ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) Seating:
John Paul Jones Arena offers ADA compliant seating in the following sections:
For some of the events at John Paul Jones Arena, some seating sections may be closed due to show production requirements. To inquire about a specific show, please contact John Paul Jones Arena's Box Office at 434-243-4960.
Animals are not permitted in the arena, unless they are service animals assisting a disabled guest.
All guests entering John Paul Jones Arena must be appropriately dressed, including shirt and shoes at all times. Any guest wearing obscene or indecent clothing will not be permitted to enter.
Arena Seating
John Paul Jones Arena has three main seating levels: The Event Level, Lower Level (Suite Access), and Upper Level. In addition, depending on the type of event, Floor Seating may be utilized.
Assistive Listening Devices
For those guests who are deaf or hard of hearing, the Arena provides Assistive Listening Devices at no charge. Please visit the Guest Services Booth (sponsored by RMC Events) at section 308, on the main concourse, for assistance with obtaining a device. A driver's license will be required to sign out a listening device.
Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs)
ATM's are available at the following locations:
- Lower Level: Sec. 109 (Bank of America)
- Upper Level: Sec. 314 (Bank of America)
- Upper Level: Sec. 302 (Union Bank & Trust) Note: most concessions and merchandise locations also accept credit cards.
Baby Changing Stations
All Mens, Womens and Family restrooms are equipped with baby changing stations.
Backpacks, duffel bags, and other large bags are not allowed in John Paul Jones Arena. If you arrive with such an item, you will be requested to return the item to your vehicle.
Please check for specific bag policies on the event page of the show you will be attending - http://johnpauljonesarena.com
Banners & Signs
Banners and signs may not be displayed during play of games or performances due to sightline restrictions. Signs may not be placed on railings or walls. Poles or sticks that are used to display banners, flags or signs are not permitted. Additionally, banners and signs that are offensive, vulgar, or commercial in nature will not be permitted into the Arena. Certain events may not permit banners or signs of any type or at any time.
Backstage Passes
John Paul Jones Arena does not issue or have access to backstage passes.
Cameras are permitted for UVA athletic events; however, in no instance may photography interfere with access ways, seat aisles, or other guests' enjoyment of the event. The camera policy for non-UVA athletic events will vary. Please check the listing for each event for that shows camera policy, which is subject to change without notice.
Children's Admission
Children over the age of 12 months must have a ticket for admission for UVA events. Guidelines for non-UVA athletic events vary by show. Please check the listing for each event.
John Paul Jones Arena offers a wide variety of delicious dining options at more than sixty points of sale. Credit cards are accepted at most points of sale.
Specialty stands include:
- Virginia Burger Gourmet Burgers and Fries
- Two Kings Concessions Taco Salads, Funnel Cakes, and Fun
- Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream Featuring hot, off the griddle Waffle Cones
Other available favorites include:
- Fresh Grab-N-Go Wraps, Sandwiches and Salads
- Chick-fil-A Original Chicken Sandwiches
- Hamburgers & Cheeseburgers
- Hotdogs- Smithfield All-beef franks
- Freshly Popped Pop Corn
- Grilled Chicken Sandwiches
- Philly Cheese Steaks
- Nachos
- Dip-N-Dots
- Cotton Candy
All complemented by:
- Pepsi Products (Fountain and Bottle)
- Aquafina Bottled Water
- Freshly Squeezed Lemonade
No coolers of any kind are permitted in John Paul Jones Arena. If accommodations need to be made for medical reasons, please contact us at 434-243-4960 at least 48 hours prior to the event you plan to attend.
Public elevators are located on the concourse adjacent to sections 101, 109, 301, and 309.
John Paul Jones Arena provides multiple entrances on the West side of the Arena, adjacent to the John Paul Jones Arena surface lot. For those with student tickets for UVA athletics, the entrance is located on the East side of the Arena adjacent to Massie Rd. For those guests that park in the parking deck, access to the Arena can be accommodated through the 2nd level entry doors.
No firearms or weapons of any kind are permitted in John Paul Jones Arena.
First Aid
First Aid stations are located across from sections 309 and 109. In addition, if first aid is needed, please notify the nearest staff member.
Guest Concerns
John Paul Jones Arena is committed to providing proactive immediate response to issues affecting guests. Should a concern arise during an event, please visit the Guest Services Booth (sponsored by RMC Events) at Section 308, on the main concourse, to have your concern addressed or make a nearby staff member aware of the concern.
Guest Conduct
In order to maintain a safe and enjoyable atmosphere, John Paul Jones Arena asks that guests be courteous to those around them and abide by Arena policies. Guests who use offensive or abusive language, behave in an unruly manner, or appear to be intoxicated are subject to removal.
Group Sales
For information regarding group sales to any non-UVA Athletic event, please contact John Paul Jones Arena's Group Sales office at 434-924-3537. For group sales to UVA Athletic events, contact the UVA Athletics Ticket Office at 1-800-542-8821.
The distribution of promotional items, handbills, flyers, pamphlets, printed materials, as well as the solicitation of signatures is not permitted on John Paul Jones Arena property without the express written consent of the University of Virginia.
The physical location of John Paul Jones Arena is:
John Paul Jones Arena
295 Massie Rd.
Charlottesville, VA 22903
Lost & Found
For any situation regarding lost and found items during an event, please go to the Guest Services Booth (sponsored by RMC Events) located at section 308 on the main concourse. During non-event times, please contact the Arena Security Office at 434-924-3993.
Lost Parents/Children
Lost parents and children are taken to the John Paul Jones Arena Guest Services Booth located (sponsored by RMC Events) at section 308 on the main concourse.
The UVA Team Store is only open during Men's and Women's home basketball games.
John Paul Jones Arena offers 1,300 parking spaces onsite located at the intersection of Massie Rd. & Copeley Rd.. In addition, 1,200 parking spaces are across the street from the Arena.
Parking passes may be pre-purchased at www.johnpauljonesarena.com by clicking the Buy Tickets link, by calling 1-888-JPJ-TIXS, in person at the John Paul Jones Arena Box Office, or online at www.ticketmaster.com
Public Transportation
John Paul Jones Arena is conveniently located on the University Transit Service Blue Route. Charlottesville Transit Services has pick up and drop off points along Routes 2, 5, and 7 adjacent to the Arena.
Exiting and reentering with the same ticket is not permitted.
John Paul Jones Arena has multiple restrooms located throughout the arena. All restrooms are accessible for physically disabled guests. For the closest restroom, please see a guest services representative.
John Paul Jones Arena is a smoke free facility. Outdoor smoking sections are provided at Sections 301 & 315
Strollers are strictly prohibited, unless specifically permitted on the event page under Additional Information. When permitted, only umbrella type strollers that can be safely stored beneath the guests seats will be permitted. All other types of strollers are prohibited and will not be secured or stored.
Note. For UVA basketball games, umbrella type strollers are permitted. For UVA Athletics Policies please visit http://www.virginiasports.com/facilities/policies.html
Ticketmaster is the official ticketing company for John Paul Jones Arena.
To purchase tickets by online: visit the Arenas website at www.johnpauljonesarena.com and click the "Buy Tickets" link. Tickets can also be purchased at www.ticketmaster.com
To purchase tickets by phone: please call 1-888-JPJ-TIXS (575-8497)
To purchase tickets in person: guests may visit John Paul Jones Arena Box Office during normal operating hours.
To purchase tickets on UVa grounds: guests may visit the Observatory Hill Dining Hall Remote Box Office (8:00am - 5:00pm). Cavalier Advantage is accepted at this location.
Will Call: Tickets may be picked up at the Will Call window of John Paul Jones Arena located at the Main Entrance (West Gate). Photo identification is required.
Umbrellas are strictly prohibited, unless specifically permitted on the event page under Additional Information. When permitted, umbrellas must be safely stored beneath the guests seats.
Note. For UVA basketball games, umbrellas are permitted. For UVA Athletics Policies please visit http://www.virginiasports.com/facilities/policies.html
Water Fountains
Water fountains are located throughout the Arena on the Event, Lower, and Upper Levels.


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LAKELAND, Fla. – Barry University's baseball team lost an extra-innings thriller Friday night in the first game of a three-game series against Sunshine State Conference foe Florida Southern, 6-5 in 12 innings.
Barry (17-8, 4-3 SSC) scored the game's first run in the top of the first when Tyler Kellmann delivered a clutch two-out RBI single to plate Sheehan Planas-Arteaga.
Calvin Rayburn held the Moccasins' bats in-check throughout the first five innings but ran into a little bit of trouble in the sixth.
Florida Southern (9-11, 4-0 SSC) added two runs in the sixth and one in each the seventh and eighth innings to extend their lead to 4-1.
This wasn't the first time this group of Buccaneers had been down but tonight Barry was down to its final strike of the game.
Tim Blackmon delivered a two-out bases-clearing triple to tie the game at four in the top of the ninth inning, breathing life into a team that can never be counted down until the final out.
Tyler Petsch pitched three scoreless innings in relief and was able to escape a jam in the bottom of the tenth that saw the game-winning run advance to third with less than two outs.
Petsch would strike out the following batter and induce a ground ball out to strand the runner at third. In 3.1 innings Petsch allowed just one run (unearned) and finished with 3 K's.
In the top of the twelfth inning Jay Bellot delivered a pinch hit single through the left side to start the rally. Michael Diaz followed with a sacrifice bunt to advance Bellot to second. After a balk advance Bellot to third, Planas put Barry ahead, 5-4 with a sacrifice fly to plate Bellot.
It seemed like the Bucs were headed towards their ninth consecutive win but the Mocs capitalized on a Bucs' defensive miscue to score a pair of runs in the bottom of the frame en route to the win.
Rayburn tossed 7.2 innings, allowed four runs, three earned and struck out three.
Steve Burnham picked up the win for Mocs after throwing three innings in relief.
Michael Slabach added a pair of hits including a double in a 2-for-5 night.
The two teams will finish the series with a doubleheader Saturday beginning at 1 p.m. Live-stats and audio broadcast will be available through the Barry University athletics website, GOBARRYBUCS.COM.


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Jake Hodesh spearheaded The Creative Coast's transition from a neglected arm of the Savannah Economic Development Authority to an independent and proactive advocate for the local creative community in a span of two years.
On Wednesday, Hodesh announced he is moving on to a new challenge.
Hodesh resigned his position with The Creative Coast to accept an executive role with a similar entrepreneurial organization in his hometown of Cincinnati. Hodesh will start with Cintrifuse in February and serve as the group's director of mentorship.
Cintrifuse is a corporate-led group aiming to grow the innovation economy in Cincinnati. With funding from Cincinnati-based corporations Proctor & Gamble and Kroger as well as the University of Cincinnati, Cintrifuse plans "to boost options in the region and establish a more vibrant networking environment for local entrepreneurs."
"I've enjoyed every moment in Savannah, and I'm thrilled with how much progress we've made in such a short time attracting entrepreneurs to the area," said Hodesh, who noted he and his wife are excited about the opportunity to live close to their families in Ohio.
Under Hodesh, The Creative Coast implemented several entrepreneurial and mentorship events aimed at start-up and early-stage business, including the FastPitch Competition, StartUp Lounge Savannah and TEDxCreativeCoast.
Hodesh also reached out to existing businesses in the community to assist them in working with local government and identifying financing options as well as other forms of support. He also was instrumental in instituting The Creative Coast's "Free Advice Friday" sessions, a monthly open house where successful local entrepreneurs shared time and knowledge with the public.
The Creative Coast is credited with consulting with more than 400 local companies and individuals and helped fill 140 local jobs through its website during Hodesh's tenure.
While his departure is a loss for the local community, it is a compliment as well, according to Susan Isaacs, chair of The Creative Coast's board of directors.
"The fact that Jake was recruited underscores the fact that The Creative Coast is doing strong, impressive work and capturing national attention," Isaacs said. "We're on the right path and must continue the good work."
The Creative Coast board immediately will launch a search for Hodesh's successor. The group's staff, including program director Charisse Bennett, will remain with the organization.
Hodesh has become a fixture in the local business community since Hurricane Katrina prompted him and his wife, Miriam, to leave New Orleans for Savannah in 2007. The Hodeshes launched New Moon of Savannah, a company dedicated to developing community-centered programs and events, shortly after moving to town.
The Savannah Market Bazaar was one of their early projects, and they teamed with another local entrepreneur, Brad Baugh, to start Refuel Savannah. The business recycled cooking grease from River Street restaurants into biodiesel fuel for vehicles.
The Hodeshes also teamed with Sloane Kelley to co-found Geekend, an annual interactive technology conference, in 2009. The Hodeshes left the Geekend organization earlier this year because of time issues.
Miriam Hodesh is a community relations specialist with Gulfstream.


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Venezuela gives US foreign policy makers a headache
June 9, 2014
John Paul Rathbone, Financial Times
Perhaps it is because of years of mutual disregard that Latin America is rarely a US foreign policy priority. There always seem to be more urgent problems elsewhere. Now, however, there is the headache of Venezuela and how to deal with it.
More than 40 people have died in street protests this year. Peace talks have bogged down between the opposition and a government charged with human rights abuses. Meanwhile Venezuelans suffer raging inflation, shortages of goods and crime levels that make Caracas one of the deadliest cities on earth.
For the US, Venezuela presents the existential problem of how to respond to any crisis that comes with high stakes – it is the fourth largest supplier of US oil imports – but no easy fixes. In that sense, Venezuela is a replica of US foreign policy problems elsewhere, only with an extra domestic twist: it has become "Cubanised".
Two bills, making their way through the US Congress, seek asset freezes and visa bans on Venezuelan officials guilty of human rights abuses. Both are also sponsored by senior Cuban-American legislators, who believe "Venezuela is the new Cuba" and are staunch supporters of Washington's longstanding trade embargo against Havana.
There is a logic to this twinning. Every year, Venezuela sends Cuba thousands of barrels of subsidised oil. In return, communist Havana sends doctors and highly trained intelligence advisers to socialist Caracas. Punish Venezuela and you therefore squeeze Cuba, its closest ally.
But the bills serve another purpose too. Raising awareness of Cuba's controversial involvement in Venezuela's chaos counters a growing domestic lobby that wants to open up US policy towards Cuba – a country of which, as Cyrus Vance, a former secretary of state, remarked: "We seem unable to maintain a sense of perspective."
In the latest example, more than 40 high-ranking policy heavyweights, including John Negroponte, former national intelligence director under George W. Bush, wrote to President Barack Obama urging him to expand US contact with Cuban society to try and foster change on the island.
Even the leading candidate to be Florida's next governor, Charlie Crist, has said he wants the embargo lifted – a political no-no only 10 years ago. But then Florida politics have changed as Cuban-Americans now make almost 500,000 family trips a year to the island and have a stake in closer, or at least easier, ties.
This lifting of the taboo on questioning the Cuban embargo has prompted a rearguard action by its supporters: hence, in part, the Venezuela sanctions bill. Although the embargo is unlikely to change while USAID contractor Alan Gross remains in a Havana jail – its full removal anyway requires an act of Congress – the burden of proof about the policy is shifting.
In that sense, the Cuba debate is akin to the legalisation of drugs, another major regional concern. This argument is no longer cast as for or against; black versus white. Instead there are many shades in between: maintain bans on some drugs, while regulating or decriminalising others.
Similarly nuanced arguments are playing out about what the US should now do about Venezuela. Yes, publicise Venezuela's extraordinary levels of corruption. Yes, also encourage Latin American allies to abandon their silence about abuses they would not tolerate in their own country.
But sanctions? No one argues seriously for a Cuban-style trade embargo. Even targeted sanctions could provide Caracas with an anti-imperialist rallying cry, while barely inconveniencing officials. That is why most, but not all, of the Venezuelan opposition are at best lukewarm.
Furthermore, such unilateralism would further isolate the US in the region. Either way, the Obama administration opposes the bills – and it in any case has the discretionary powers to slap on sanctions should it ever want to, as it has shown with Russia.
Some Venezuelans and Cuban-Americans will disagree. That may help assuage their frustrations but also ignores a central lesson of the Cuban exile story. This has produced 50 years of debate about isolation or detente, but failed to produce change in Havana. So argue for punishment and US sanctions by all means, but then also consider the prospect of being forever exiled, Cuban style.


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Police, community and calendar briefs for April 8, 2013 are featured.
Police beat
Semi-trailer driver killed on I-75
The driver of a tractor-trailer that was parked along Interstate 75 was struck and killed by another tractor-trailer Sunday morning when he stepped into the highway, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
Manuel Antonio Mendieta, 52, of Orlando had parked his rig on the west shoulder of the southbound lane at mile marker 372 in Marion County at around 10:45 a.m., the FHP reported.
Another tractor-trailer, driven by Harvest Morgan, 53, of Birmingham, Ala., was southbound in the center lane when the victim stepped into his lane and was knocked onto the shoulder of the interstate, the report states.
Mendieta was pronounced dead at the scene, the FHP reported.
Ground breaking for natural gas facility
The Marion County Board of County Commissioners and Marion County Fleet Management, in cooperation with Reliance Alternative Fuels Division LLC, will host a ground breaking ceremony for the construction of the first public-private compressed natural gas facility in Marion County.
The event begins at 11:45 a.m. Tuesday at 3230 SE Maricamp Road, Ocala.
In September, the Board of County Commissioners ratified an agreement with Reliance for creation of a CNG fuel station to support the county's fleet and private commercial fleets and also be open to the public. The station is expected to open in August.
Free driver's safety course for teens
The Marion County Sheriff's Office, in partnership with the Florida Sheriff's Association, offers the Teen Driver Challenge, a free driver's safety course for ages 15 to 19.
The course consists of two training days totaling 12 hours.
The first day includes a four-hour lesson in a classroom setting.
The second day is spent on a driving range, giving teens an eight-hour, hands-on driver safety lesson.
The next course will be held April 19-20. Friday lessons are 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday lessons are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Visit www.marionso.com/division-corrections-juvenile-tdc.php for more information and other dates. Call 368-3530 to register.
Senior menu items planned for the week
The following meals will be provided by Marion Senior Services, 1101 SW 20th Court, Ocala. Lunches will be delivered by Meals on Wheels; dinners will be provided at Marion Senior Services. For more information, call 620-3501.
Lunch and dinner
Monday: Italian meatball hoagie, cheesy mashed potatoes, Italian beans, raisins, low-fat milk.
Tuesday: Baked chicken thigh, yellow rice with tomato and peppers, black beans, white bread, low-fat milk.
Wednesday: Grilled chicken patty in marinara sauce, penne noodles, Tuscan vegetables, rye bread, peaches, low-fat milk.
Thursday: Beef patty with bun, potatoes O'brien, yellow corn with diced tomato, orange, low-fat milk.
Friday: Tuna salad, pea cheese salad, broccoli salad, whole grain bread, graham crackers, low-fat milk.
Red Cross training classes offered
The American Red Cross is holding following training classes at 923 N. Magnolia Ave., Ocala:
Disaster Services Orientation, 9 a.m. April 17. Learn more about the American Red Cross and opportunities to volunteer in disaster relief operations locally and nationally.
Shelter Fundamentals, 10 a.m. April 24. A basic level course that introduces the guidelines and procedures for setting up, running and closing an American Red Cross shelter during a disaster.
To register, call 620-0500 ext. 5751.
Free amplified telephones available
Florida residents with hearing loss can receive free amplified telephones through the nonprofit Florida Telecommunications Relay, Inc., program.
Representatives will be available by appointment on Wednesday at Beneficial Hearing Aid Center, 1847 SW First Ave., Ocala.
For more information, call 629-4418.
T.O.P.S.: Taking Off Pounds Sensibly, 5:15 p.m., Fort King Presbyterian Church, 13 NE 36th Ave., Ocala. (625-6795)
OCALA TEA PARTY: 7 p.m., Berean Baptist Church, 4800 SW 20th St., Ocala. (teapartysolutions.com)
TRI-COUNTY TEA PARTY: 6:30 p.m., American Legion Hall, 699 W. Lady Lake Blvd., Lady Lake. (350-6046)
BARBERSHOP: Big Sun Barbershop Chorus, 6:30 p.m., Ocala West Methodist Church, 9330 SW 105th St., Ocala. (804-7464)
COUNTRY MUSIC: Live country music and jam with John Thomas & Ramblin' Fever Band, 6 p.m., Oxford Community Center, 4027 Main St. Oxford. $5. (560- 7946)
CHAMBER: Belleview/South Marion Chamber of Commerce, 8 a.m., Cal's Place, 11077 SE 66th Terrace, Belleview. (245-2178)
LIONS: Silver Springs Shores Lions Club, 7 p.m., Silver Springs Shores Community Center, 590 Silver Road, Ocala. (208-8061)
TOASTMASTERS: Dunnellon Toastmasters Club 1176, 6:30 p.m., Dunnellon Chamber of Commerce, 20500 E. Pennsylvania Ave. (489-0959 or visit http://1176.toastmastersclubs.org/)
GOP: Shores GOP, 6:30 p.m., Silver Spring Shores Presbyterian Church, 574 Silver Road, Ocala. (687-4188)
MAC USERS: Ocala Macintosh User Group, 7 p.m., St. George Anglican Cathedral Parish Hall, 5646 SE 28th St., Ocala. (www.ocalamug.org)
MOVIE: For adults and teens, 1 p.m., Belleview Public Library, 13145 SE County Road 484, Belleview. (438-2500)
GARDENING: Drought tolerant plants, 10 a.m., UF/IFAS Extension Service, 2232 NE Jacksonville Road, Ocala. (671-8400)
WOMEN'S CLUBS: The GFWC Woman's Club of Ocala Day Group 11:45 a.m. and Evening Group 6:15 p.m., Elks Club, 702 NE 25th Ave., Ocala. $10 (Day 347-3975, evening 351-2708)
ELVIS: Barbecue and Blue Suede Shoes dinner and concert with Billy Lindsey, 5 p.m., Gruff's Tap & Grille, 12084 S. Williams St., Dunnellon. $25. (465-2881)
SHOPPING: 2:30 p.m., The Bridge, 2800 SW 41st St., Ocala. Avon, Scentsy, Selpoda, Thirty One and Tupperware. (873-2036)
STRETCHING: 10 a.m., Forest Community Center, 777 S. County Road 314A, Ocklawaha. (438-2840)
STITCHING: Therapeutic Stitching Group, 10 a.m. to noon, Stitch Niche, 20782 Walnut St., Dunnellon. (465-8000)


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The iPhone 4S is nearly upon us, bringing with it the joys of iOS 5 on a dual-core processor, an updated camera and, in Siri, a voice command system that appears to be as intelligent as HAL from 2001.
And Pocket-lint has managed to get its hands on one to have a jolly good play prior to its launch this Friday (14 October) and therefore a chance to tell you what we think before we deliver you our full review.
First impressions count and, as is the case with the previous iPhone (partly because they look nearly identical), the iPhone 4S is just as exciting the first time you pick it up. It has that same meat to it that the last handset did, not overly heavy, but with just enough weight to make it feel like one solid chunk of technology.
The glass front and back is as sweet as ever and the improved antenna band keeps the handset looking like just about the slickest mobile on the market. Sure, some may prefer the looks of the Galaxy S II or any of the other flagship competition, but there is no denying that Apple knows how to do it right in the design department. And with the iPhone 4S, it most definitely has.
The iPhone 4S is just 9.3mm deep by 115.2mm high and 58.6mm wide and it still feels as thin as it did when the iPhone 4 launched last year when compared to more modern rivals. It is a device that is just the right side of a size zero waistline, being compact but not so slim that it feels like something you will lose easily. The 140g weight also reminds you that it is still there and gives the handset that meaty feel we talked about earlier.
The only real design change externally is with the antenna. We personally didn't experience any major death grip issues with our iPhone 4, but the decision to move the black line of the outer rim balances the handset out a bit more looks-wise, and also serves to eliminate reception issues as much as possible.
Apple has done quite a bit to up its game in the iPhone camera department with the 4S. The new handset features an f/2.4 8-megapixel camera capable of shooting 1080p video. From the pictures we took, albeit not that many and in bad light, we definitely noticed an improvement. The first thing is how much quicker it boots up, thanks to the new dual-core processor, but second is how much sharper and more balanced pictures look.
Few phones can rival the quality that a compact can produce, no matter how entry-level the compact may be. Handsets like the Xperia Arc have come close but not much else has managed it... bar the iPhone 4S. The improved colour and sharpness means it looks like you could now use the handset as a totally viable and printable alternative to an entry level compact camera.
Siri is the real bread and butter of the iPhone 4S; it is the thing that makes the upgrade so much more exciting than just a faster processor. As much as we hoped Siri to have a Furby-like understanding of what we were asking it, instead it managed to cope with just about every conversational question we threw its way, including "what is the answer to life, the universe and everything?" It replied 42. Really.
Even obscure questions like city populations were answered quickly. We can't quite see it becoming an everyday occurrence that you ask your phone questions, and feels slightly odd, to be honest, but there is no doubt it speeds up the iOS 5 experience no end.
So, just as the 3GS did before, from our initial quick fiddle, the iPhone 4S transforms its immediate predecessor into a handset that can rival its competition in the specs department, while adding new features, to boot. Maybe the lack of an iPhone 5 is not as disappointing as some have made out.
We'll be spending some quality time with the handset over the next few days, and will be bringing you our extensive and in-depth iPhone 4S review soon.
Like the look of the iPhone 4S? Let us know in the comments below...