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After dealing with spending cuts, rising costs and tax increases, local governments are moving into the start of another fiscal year as the economy continues to recover at a sluggish pace and real estate assessments decline.
City and county budgets for fiscal year 2013 went into effect Sunday, with some localities faring better than others. New funding requirements for the Virginia Retirement System were among the major drivers shaping local budgets. The VRS changes raised employer contributions from localities and implemented a new 5 percent contribution from local government and school division employees, but the General Assembly mandated that be offset with a 5 percent raise paid for by the localities and school divisions. Localities and school districts had the option of giving employees the mandated VRS raise all at once, or incrementally over five years.
Declining property assessments and flat or shrinking tax revenues were also major issues for local governments.
A tug of war over the use of tax payer dollars also played out between many local governments and school divisions in the wake of state and federal funding cuts in education. Those struggles led to tax increases to cover the funding gaps or job cuts for teachers and other school personnel.
Despite facing a loss of about $3 million in tax revenue due to the closing of two large businesses and a 4 percent drop in property assessments, York County's 2013 operating budget rose $4.2 million, from the 2012 budget of $123 million to $127.2 million.
The Board of Supervisors cut $2.7 million from the county administrator's proposed budget of $129.9 million to avoid a steep increase in the real estate tax rate, originally proposed to rise 11.75 cents. The Supervisors cut 10 county jobs, the bulk of which were in the county's General Services department. Another 22 jobs were slated to remain vacant for a savings of $1 million.
The Supervisors approved a tax rate increase of 8.4 cents, raising the real estate tax rate from 65.75 cents per $100 of assessed value to 74.15 cents. In an attempt to cut $800,000 from the general fund, the Supervisors voted to shift the cost of the county's curbside recycling program out of the operating budget to the county's enterprise funds and proposed paying for it with a new recycling fee. After citizens protested the new fee, the Supervisors killed it before it went into effect. The county will instead cover the cost of the recycling program with money from the county's undesignated fund balance.
York increased its contribution to the school division by $3.86 million, for a total contribution of $48.8 million. The York County School Division's budget went up $1.7 million, from $118 million to $119.7 million. The Schools budget cut around 30 jobs, including nine teachers, six teacher's aides and six custodians. The school division opted not to continue another nine teachers and one teacher's aide position funded by federal money that will not carry over into 2013.
York County gave its employees the 5 percent VRS mandated raise, while the school division gave its employees a 1.1 percent raise.
"It was the worst time trying to figure out a budget that I've ever seen in my nine years on the board," said York Supervisor Don Wiggins. "It was really rough."
Wiggins said the Supervisors faced balancing declining revenues, increased costs, and the citizens demands not to raise taxes while not cutting services like education, police and fire and EMS.
"I was amazed at the amount of money we had to increase the tax rate," he said. "But there was nothing else we could do to provide the services the people of York County demanded. The thing people don't realize is we had been cutting (the budget) for the past four years until it got to the point that now we weren't able to cut anything else without really decreasing the services we have."
The City of Williamsburg had a small increase in its 2013 budget of $700,000 from $31.6 million to $32.3 million. The city's contribution to the Williamsburg-James City County Public Schools went up $415,000 to $7.74 million.
Williamsburg's 2013 budget included hikes in the real estate and cigarette tax rates. The real estate tax went up 3 cents from 54 cents per $100 of assessed value to 57 cents. The cigarette tax went up 5 cents to 30 cents per pack. The city also raised the EMS fees which is estimated to net an additional $100,000 in revenue.
City Council gave employees a 5.7 percent raise which included the 5 percent 5 VRS mandated raise and an additional .7 to cover the taxes on the raise which ensures employee take home pay is not reduced after the VRS contribution is deducted from their pay checks. The raise cost the city $175,000. The increased in employer contributions cost the city another $430,000.
Like York, Williamsburg Mayor Clyde Haulman said that City Councils priorities were to balance city services with the costs associated with them. Haulman said the need to raise taxes was a convergence of two major factors that the meals tax revenues in the city were relatively flat while assessments went down. The city had not raised its real estate tax rate since 1991.
Adding to the flat revenues, Haulman said were the increased VRS costs and contribution to the school system. Under its contract with WJCC schools, the city's contribution is based in part on enrollment and for the first time in several years the number of students from the city enrolled in school went up 10 percent.
"The major driving force (in balancing the budget) is continually looking at the range and quality of services being provided and can we keep doing the same or better on less and less," he said.
James City
James City County avoided raising taxes in its budget. The county's operating budget increased $1.8 million to $165.6 million and included a $2.43 million increase in county funding for Willlamsburg-James City County Schools. James City's total contribution to the schools was $76.68 million.
Overall the WJCC Schools budget got a $2.8 million increase in local funding. The school system's 2013 operating budget went up $2 million, from around $110 million to $112.5 million. The school system cut 33.9 full-time equivalent positions, including 18 teaching assistants and 10 teachers. The budget notes the school system hopes to cut the teaching positions through attrition.
WJCC opted to give its employees the 1 percent VRS mandated raise, while James City implemented the full 5 percent VRS raise and employee contribution. James City also gave its employees an additional .7 percent pay increase so take home pay did not go down after taxes and the VRS contribution deduction.
James City had no major job cuts in its budget. The county shifted some positions, eliminating three full-time positions, including a planner, engineer and recreation operations coordinator. It also shifted the cost of two cooperative extension employees whose salaries are now being paid for by Virginia Tech, which operates the program.
The county added a new senior facilities specialist position, a geographic systems analyst position and two grounds workers.
Newport News
Newport News' 2013 budget of $414 million is about equal to the city's 2012 budget, while the city's public schools budget rose $2 million, to $281 million. The city's contribution to the school system increased $1.2 million, to $113.4 million.
The driving factor behind the city's flat budget was a decision by City Council not to raise the real estate tax rate of $1.10 per $100 of assessed value to make up for a drop in real estate tax revenue due to a 4.2 percent decline in property assessments. The City increased its personal property tax rate from $4.25 to $4.50. The cigarette tax increased from 75 cents to 85 cents per pack of 20 and the meals tax went up from 6.5 percent to 7.5 percent. The city also increased water, stormwater and wastewater fees.
Newport News schools gave staff a 1.5 percent raise, which included the 1 percent mandated raise for the VRS contribution, at a cost of $1.8 million.
City Council opted to give a 5.75 percent raise to city employees to cover the VRS raise and contribution. Kim Lee, coordinator of media relations for the city, said the .75 percent raise above the 5 percent "is to make the employees whole by covering additional FICA and Medicare taxes" so their take home pay does not go down.
Of the city's approximately 3,100 full-time employees, only about 550 are on VRS. The city had its own retirement plan until 2010 when it was closed to new participants. The 5.75 percent raise for the city's VRS employees will cost $281,000.
The School Board's budget also includes $539,696 to hire eight K-3 teachers to reduce class sizes. The city's general fund budget eliminated 21 positions, but added 12. Six of the positions eliminated were in Juvenile Services and another four were in Engineering. The rest were scattered among nine other departments. Half of the new jobs are in the city's Customer Service Center and the rest were spread among four other departments.
Hampton's 2013 operating budget went down about $3.8 million, from approximately $244 million in 2012 to $240 million. Much of the decrease in the budget was due to a 3.2 percent decline in property assessments, in particular residential properties, which experienced a 6 percent drop in assessed values. The decline in assessments equaled a loss of $500 million in the value of taxable properties. Hampton City Council opted not to raise the real estate tax rate to offset the lost dollars.
City Council approved several other tax and fee increases. The city's meals tax went up from 6.5 percent to 7.5 percent and the cigarette tax increased from 75 cents per pack of 20 to 85 cents. The motor vehicle license fees went up by $5, to $35 and $40; the stormwater user fee increased $1.81, to $6.41 per month and the wastewater surcharge increased 22 cents, to 66 cents. The city also created new fire inspection fees and a fee for technology enhancements.
Hampton's contribution to Hampton City Schools was $64.9 million, down from last year's contribution of $66.3 million. The school district's 2013 budget rose $7 million, to $191.85 million. The Schools budget added three teaching positions and two custodian positions.
The Hampton School Board implemented the 1 percent VRS raise and employee contribution. The school district will owe $355,228 more in payroll taxes next year based on employees' increased salaries. Hampton City Council approved a 6 percent raise for city employees, which covers the 5 percent VRS raise and contribution and makes up employees 'take home pay with the extra 1 percent. Without the extra boost in pay, employees would actually have less in take home pay due to increased FICA taxes.
The City of Hampton also shifted and eliminated jobs as part of its budget. A total of 8 jobs were eliminated, several of which were either vacant or due to retirements. Another seven jobs were added, including new civil engineer and engineer tech positions and a grant writer position.
Isle of Wight
Like Hampton and Newport News, the Isle of Wight County Board of Supervisors voted not to raise the real estate tax rate despite a proposed 2-cent increase in the county administrator's budget to pay for fire and rescue operations. The real estate tax rate remains unchanged at 65 cents per $100 of assessed value. The personal property tax also remained the same at $4.50.
The county felt the full effect of $5.7 million in lost revenues related to International Paper's closure. But the county's 2013 budget of $94.4 million went up $3.3 million over the 2012 budget. The county's contribution to Isle of Wight County Schools rose $1.9 million, from $25.7 million to $27.7 million.
The county schools budget increased $2.5 million, to $54.4 million. The Supervisors and school administrators clashed over how much more the county should provide to the school system. The superintendent's proposed budget initially requested an increase of $5 million in local funding, but the School Board ended up with less than its request.
Isle of Wight Public School employees got 5 percent raises to offset the 5 percent increase into the VRS employee contribution, said School Superintendent Katrise Perera. That initiative will cost the division $1.8 million next year. The Isle of Wight Board of Supervisors, who had just given employees a 5 percent raise effect Jan. 1, opted to phase in their VRS employee contribution at 1 percent and a cost of $100,000.
The county hasn't added any new jobs and all vacancies must be open for three months before department heads can ask for funding to fill them, according to county policy. The schools budget cut three library clerks, froze nine teaching positions through attrition and includes a hiring freeze on noninstructional positions for a savings of more than $900,000.
Al Casteen, chairman of the Isle of Wight Board of Supervisors, said he still questions the school division's decision to fully funding the VRS mandate this year.
"We had to meet our operating costs … and we didn't want to raise taxes," said Casteen. He said the earlier round of pay raises played a role in the supervisors' decision not to immediately approve another 5 percent raise to cover VRS funding.
Mathews 2013 budget went up $1.4 million, from $21 million to $22.47 million. The county's contribution to the school system rose $181,763, to $5.96 million. The school division's 2013 budget of $12.39 million increased $44,676 over the 2012 budget of $12.35 million.
The schools budget cut 25 teachers, teacher's assistants and custodians to make up $500,000 in VRS payments and a loss of around $200,000 in one-time federal funding.
The Mathews Board of Supervisors did not raise the real estate tax rate, keeping it at 47 cents per $100 of assessed value. The Supervisors approved a 5-cent decrease in the personal property tax rate, from $3.70 to $3.65.
Mathews County implemented a 5.75 percent raise to meet the VRS mandate as well as an additional 3 percent raise and a one-time $800 bonus to constitutional officers' employees.
Poquoson's 2013 budget of $24.3 million is about level with the city's 2012 budget. The city's contribution to Poquoson City Public Schools went up $160,000, to around $9 million. The schools' 2013 budget of $19.9 million is up about $100,000.
City Council did not raise the real estate tax rate, which stayed at 92 cents per $100 of assessed value. Council did increase the meals tax from 5.5 percent to 6 percent and the cigarette tax from 10 cents to 20 cents per pack. The boat tax was reduced 50 percent, to 75 cents.
The city gave its employees a 5.7 percent pay increase to meet the VRS mandated raise and make up the loss in tax deductions. The school district gave its employees a 2.4 percent raise to offset a 2 percent employee VRS contribution.
The schools budget cut nine teachers and around two support positions through attrition. The city's budget did not include any major personnel cuts.
Like York, Gloucester County had a substantial increase in its 2013 budget, which rose $4.6 million, to $55.9 million. Gloucester County Public Schools' 2013 operating fund budget is $52.5 million, up $464,928. The county's contribution of $22.3 million to Gloucester schools went up $1.78 million over its 2012 contribution.
Both the county and Gloucester school system opted to implement the 5 percent VRS raise and employee contribution with an additional .7 raise, as Hampton and Newport News did, to keep employees' take home pay level after taxes. The Supervisors and School Board also approved an additional 2 percent general salary increase.
Eight full-time positions and one part-time position are frozen and unfunded in the county's operating budget. The school system's budget includes a reduction of 46.68 full-time equivalent jobs.
The Supervisors approved both real estate and personal property tax rate increases. The real estate tax rate went up 7 cents, from 58 cents per $100 of assessed value to 65 cents. The increase is expected to generate around $2.8 million in additional revenue. The personal property tax jumped 35 cents, from $2.60 to $2.95. The increase in the personal property tax rate will generate another $1.12 million in new revenue, the bulk of which will be used for capital projects.
The driving factors for the tax hikes were $3.7 million in Utilities Department projects, the increase in employer contributions to VRS and the pay increases.
"There were problems on both the revenue and the expenditure sides of the budget," said Nickie Champion, director of financial services for Gloucester. "General fund revenues were generally flat. On the expenditures side there were items over which the county had little control such as the VRS rate increase, a projected increase in juvenile detention costs and additional maintenance for a new emergency communications system. These were in addition to decreasing state and federal funding streams for the school budgets."
Champion said two major priorities for Gloucester County were dedicating funds for capital projects and providing employees a general salary raise.
Champion said Gloucester, like York, was at a critical point, where expenses could not be cut enough to meet the Supervisors' priorities of education, public safety and capital improvements.
"Increasing fees and charges for service were investigated, but only a tax rate increase would generate the funding needed to meet the necessary needs of our community," she said.
Eric Gillard, Jennifer L. Williams, Robert Brauchle, Samieh Shalash, Matt Sabo and Allison T. Williams contributed to this report.


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Putin and the Children
The Kremlin's adoption ban reveals its true nature and methods.
President Vladimir Putin on Friday signed into law a ban on adoptions of Russian children by U.S. citizens, with immediate and heart-wrenching impact.
As of Tuesday, none of the 120,000 or so abandoned and orphaned Russians currently eligible for adoption will be able to find a home in the U.S. In the past two decades, over 60,000 have done so, including disabled children who can't get the care they need in Russia.

subset: commoncrawl


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Book Description
The #1 New York Times bestselling prequel to Sex and the City is now a hit CW TV series! Get a sneak peek at the first two chapters of the novels that inspired the show:
The Carrie Diaries is the coming-of-age story of Carrie Bradshaw, one of the most iconic characters of New York City and our generation. Before Sex and the City, Carrie was a small-town girl who knew she wanted more. She's ready for real life to start, but first she must navigate her senior year of high school.
Summer in the City, the sequel to The Carrie Diaries, brings surprising revelations as Carrie learns to navigate her way around the Big Apple, going from being a country "sparrow"—as Samantha Jones dubs her— to the person she always wanted to be.
With her signature wit and sparkling humor, Candace Bushnell reveals the irresistible story of how Carrie met Samantha and Miranda, and what turned a small-town girl into one of New York City's most unforgettable icons, Carrie Bradshaw.


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Samsung Galaxy J1 Ace Neo SM-J111F
Mobile : Galaxy J1 Ace Neo
Model : SM-J111F
System Version : Lollipop 5.1.1
Baseband : XSG J111FXXU0APJ1
How to Install Flash Samsung Stock Rom Official Firmware using Odin Complete Guide
Hello guys Welcome To website rom all android
Today m going to tell you
how to flash your Any samsung android phone
using odin
You can use anyother samsung model for upgrading or downgrading
the phone Like Samsung Galaxy A7/A5/A3/J7/J5/J3/E7/E5/Grand/S3/S4/Note Series/.......
1. Odin
3. Stock Rom accordind to your mobile model number
Links for downloading required files:
Notes :
- Don't disconnect the cable or turn off your device while flashing FW
- I have no responsibility if you use this tutorial
- Install Samsung Mobile Driver or Samsung Kies if you don't see a sign in Odin
- This process takes maximum 10 minutes
- Flashing official firmware won't void the warranty of your device nor delete your data
- If your device stuck in boot loop after downgrading, factory reset your device from recovery mode
Step 1: Open the Odin
Step 2 : Now Connect The phone in downloading mode
Press and hold Power + Volume Down key or Power + Volume Up key on your device. Now, you should get a warning message if you want to continue the process then press "Volume Up" button on your device.
Step 3: Connect USB to your phone
Step 4: Now select the extracted stock rom file using PDA Button
Step 5: Click Start Button
This process takes maximum 10 minutes
Explanation video
Leave a comment to us


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NZXT Tempest 210 Case Review
Your case is often the piece that really says something about you. Wild with colors or subtle and plain - the case says something about your style. In the end it all comes down to getting all your hardware inside; this is where size starts to count. Suddenly having the biggest video card on the market to support your e-ego soon becomes an issue when trying to cram it in a small case, no innuendo intended. However, just because you have all the parts in the world doesn't mean you don't want a small sleek case to conceal it all.
Today we take a look at NZXT's new release, the Tempest 210. Designed for those on a small budget or even just someone looking for a cost effective case, the Tempest 210 stands in as the affordable mid-tower. As NZXT's latest addition to their series of "Airflow Kings," the case is intended to "aggressively dissipate heat with advanced mesh design." With the potential of housing up to eight fans this case is ready to blow you away. I have always found NZXT to be a powerful supplier in the fan world, so I am quite excited to see what they have to offer for containing and cooling my components. Let's take closer look at the NZXT Tempest 210.
Closer Look:
The packaging for the NZXT Tempest 210 is your average plain uni-color printed cardboard box. Designed to hold up to long delivery trips and the fun and games of your local delivery crew the box still has some pep left in it when it shows up on your door step. The quick sketch preview of the case gives a small idea of what is going to be inside but leaves you wondering and ready to tear it open.
The side of the box lists the usual specifications of case dimensions, weight, materials and such. The best category on this side is the "Cooling" section where it lists all the possible fan setups you can run; with placement for as many as eight fans, 120mm or larger, this case seems ready to move some air. Rotating the box around to the back we are given a few quick glances of notable features: massive mesh for flow, inclusion of two fans in the box, screw-less drive bays, a 3.0 USB slot on the front of the case, and cable management slots to route cables. For such a small stature in its box I am becoming a little nervous about getting all my components squeezed inside, yet yearning to find out how much air this bad boy can move.
Cutting open the top of the box I'm not surprised to find the usual plastic wrapped case and end caps of foam. The majority of all cases are shipped this way and has worked pretty well over the last several years – no need to really change. The usual "bag-o-parts" seem to be secured with in the case, so pulling it out of the box, you've got a case in some plastic with some foam; nothing to exciting, but what did you expect? Clowns?
Now that we've got it out of the box it's time to see how well the box diagram represents what is inside, hopefully they hype is all worth it! Move on to the next page to see what's under that plastic.


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Saturday, March 7, 2009
Or you can obtain a disk from a Linux disk service. These online Linux disk stores will do all the heavy lifting for you. And for just a couple of bucks, you can have the Linux operating system of your choice delivered to your mailbox!
These Online Linux disk stores ae great! Especially if you want to share Linux with family and friends. You'll get a professional looking disk for a very reasonable price. So, you can purchase multiple disks to give away and spend no more than, say 20 bucks for about 10-20 disks.
One of the best online Linux disk stores I've found is OSDisc.com. I visited their site and contacted them for additional information after coming across them via a Google search. These guys are GREAT! They sent me two Linux disks and it only took a couple of days from date of order to my mailbox!
Many other customers love OSDisc.com, as well. One customer review raves, "Third time ordering from OSDisc.com. No hassle, super fast delivery, great feedback in my email about my order, and no problems so far. It doesn't get better than this. With my slow net connection I get the products faster than I could actually download them plus I don't waste my bandwidth doing it! Oh yeah, another plus for people with OCD. You get bubble wrap envelope too! Give you something to pop while your OS installs. :)"
OSDisc.com! When my order arrived, I popped the Open Suse Linux disk into my laptop and in a few moments I was running this Linux operating system with the new KDE 4 desktop environment.
OSDisc.com has just about every Linux operating system available. The disks are impressive! They are very professional looking and work on first boot-up. You can select a Linux distribution on CD-ROM or a larger, more feature rich offering on DVD.
So, if you don't have a fast internet connection or don't have the time to download and burn to disk, visit OSDisc.com! They'll help you get Linux!
9 comments:
A very bad experience. Poor customer service. Bad quality disc.
- July 6, 2009 at 4:59 PM
I agree terrible service.
I then came across http://www.osdiscs.co.uk who are actually professional.
- April 26, 2010 at 10:44 AM
I agree with the two other reviewers...poor customer service! Shop for Linux discs somewhere else.
- May 6, 2010 at 4:14 PM
- Richard said...
Shocking service and very poor quality.
I'd go to www.CodeSages.co.uk
- August 20, 2010 at 7:11 PM
- MSzorady said...
Guys, I'll give these others a try.:)
Also, OCL is in a holding pattern. I'm blogging about Linux and cartoons at my new blog:
In fact, I may try out a couple of the disc services recommended here and blog about 'em.:)
- August 20, 2010 at 8:10 PM
I would recommend Code Sages, 10/10 product and 10/10 service.
- September 8, 2010 at 7:31 AM
- MSzorady said...
@Toni - I'll give them a look.:) I may even review them at my new blog www.georgetoon.com/blog
- September 8, 2010 at 9:54 AM
I would be insterested in following your blog and reading up about good suppliers.
I think OSDisc are pretty crap to be honest they just use silver CD's that still say Compact Disc on them, they are so cheap and tacky.
I'd like views on other suppliers and their services offered, e.g. CodeSages.co.uk
- September 10, 2010 at 11:38 AM
I have purchased several discs from OSDisc.com but all the discs they sent (since April) have been defective. I have been sending emails inquiring why, over and over but I have not received any response. Please someone help me.
- July 22, 2012 at 11:24 PM


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National Association of Wheat Growers Domestic and Trade Policy Committee Chairman and Montana Grain Growers Association President Ryan McCormick traveled to Washington, D.C. to testify on wheat growers' priorities for ongoing trade negotiations with the European Union, known formally as the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership.
McCormick was a guest of the Senate Finance Committee, chaired by one of his local legislators, Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.). In his statement, he focused on goals for wheat growers during the negotiations, including the elimination of all U.S. wheat import duties; the implementation of science-based, least-trade restrictive regulations related to sanitary and phytosanitary measures; and development of a more predictable European approval process for crops enhanced with biotechnology.
He emphasized that a recently completed EU-Canada trade agreement will put U.S. exports at a disadvantage if similar preferences aren't secured in the current negotiations. He also carried the wheat industry's support for trade promotion authority, which allows for an up-or-down vote on negotiated trade deals and which Baucus and others have reportedly been working to secure.
In marketing year 2012/2013, the EU was the sixth largest customer for U.S. wheat, importing soft red winter, hard red spring and durum.
McCormick's testimony is available in full at www.wheatworld.org/wp-content/uploads/trade-mccormick-testimony-EU-trade-deal-20131030.pdf.


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August 20, 1952 - March 4, 2013
South Fallsburg, NY
Our beloved Joscelyn Janet Fyffe, nee Brivitt, of South Fallsburg, NY, born in St. Catherine, Jamaica, passed away too soon on March 4, 2013.
She was affectionately called Joyce, Aunty, and Mama. She was born on August 20, 1952 to Dudley and Dorris Bryan Brivitt.
Joscelyn will always be remembered for her kindness and compassion. To know her was to love her. She loved her family and always held them close to her heart. She will be missed by all who knew and loved her.
She leaves behind, to honor her memory: her husband, Courtney; her daughter, Simone and her husband, Lamin; her grandson, Aleck; her sisters: Adassa, Vilma, and Annette in Jamaica; nephews: Patrick and his wife, Renae of Connecticut, Barrington, and Audley, and other relatives and friends.
Friends and family are invited to attend her wake at the First Baptist Church of Monticello, 29 Liberty Street, Monticello, NY on March 16th, from 9 to 11 a.m., respectively. A funeral service will begin at 11:00 a.m. at the church. Rev. James Matthews will officiate. Interment will be in Rock Ridge Cemetery in Monticello.
Arrangements were under the direction of Colonial-Bryant Funeral Homes and Cremation Services; for further information please call 845-434-7363 or visit www.colonialbryantfuneralhome.com


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Prince preparing for gigs in UK
Prince has confirmed he will play a number of UK shows beginning next month.
The musician revitalised his career with a series of concerts staged at the O2 Arena in London, after a few years in which his career was thought to be on the wane.
Rumours circulated earlier this month that the When Doves Cry and Purple Rain singer was to play a set of gigs. His last UK appearance was a one-off show at the Hop Farm Festival in Kent in 2011.
Although no details of his forthcoming concerts have been announced, they will take place at "iconic venues in and around London" from February 3, according to a statement issued on his behalf.
He has planned the shows "t o celebrate the release of Plectrumelectrum, the highly anticipated debut album from 3rdeyegirl, his all-female rock trio".
The statement concluded: "For now, know this: Prince is coming."


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Tweets by @fathermag
The Secret Alimony Hidden in Child Support Scientific proof exists that many child support awards are too high. By Roger F. Gay.
Fathers' Rights Are Fathers' Duties Why political action is the best thing you can do for yourself, your case -- and above all your children. By Stephen Baskerville.
Domestic Armageddon Who profits from the maternal child-snatching epidemic? Two book reviews by Stephen Baskerville.
Just Let Me Be a Dad A review of Michelle D. Lovato's book of practical advice for divorcing fathers.
Men Are Beasts Whereas false accusations by women are in fact rare, occurring no more often than do other false reports of crimes, such as bank robbery -- Joint Congressional Resolution 182.
Class Dismissed Has America created a new class of citizens who are excluded from constitutional provisions regarding due process and debtors prison?
Father from Afar Fathers from afar must learn how to hear what is not said, feel what is not seen, and say what should be said.
Let No Man Put Asunder Is our traditional faith in justice being eroded by courts that operate as a child kidnapping and extortion racket?
Angels and Divorce Dean Hughson tells how a couple of angels helped save him in those critical hours following his divorce.
Gender Bias in Family Court A paralegal gives her insider's view of women who make use of the child kidnapping and extortion racketeers in our justice system.
In the Best Interest of the Child Today's fathers are more likely to seek custody. Many of them will need to prepare for a child custody evaluation.
Mother Accuses Father of Child Abuse What to do? Win! Advice from The Fathering Advisor with links to resources.
What Fathers Do Jack Kammer's story shows us how fathers affect the lives of teenage boys.
Deserted Her mother said "Your father left you because he doesn't love you." Now she has learned the truth--her loving father was forced out of her life.
Matriarchy Marked by Tribalism and Violence Feminism reigns when men don't claim their children.
Deceptions of a Gender Equal Society All present and past human societies are patriarchal, in spite of the many feminist lies and half-truths invented to obscure this.


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Alexis Rockman Uses New York City Soil to Depict 360 Million Years of Its Wildlife
Artsy Editorial
New York artist Alexis Rockman is best known for his panoramic paintings that imagine the environmental demise of urban landmarks. Childhood trips to The Natural History Museum in New York as well as consultations with biologists and climatologists lay the foundation for Rockman's futuristic dystopias, such as his twenty-four-foot-long mural Manifest Destiny (2004), which envisions the borough of Brooklyn 3,000 years into the future fully submerged under water. For his series "Field Drawings" (2014-16), Rockman dug into the geological past of New York City, using local soil to create seventy five drawings that map the city's surprisingly rich history of flaura and fauna. Rockman considers himself to be both an artist and activist, leveraging humor, fantasy, and a hyperrealistic painting technique to convey the dangers of genetic engineering and climate change.
American, b. 1962, New York, New York, based in New York, New York


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I don't — my departure from religion was painless and occurred at a young age. But I know that many people experience great stress at leaving the faith.
Breaking out of a restrictive, mind-controlling religion is understandably a liberating experience. People report huge relief and some excitement about their new possibilities. Certain problems are over, such as trying to twist one's thinking to believe irrational religious doctrines, handling enormous cognitive dissonance in order to get by in the 'real world' as well, and conforming to repressive codes of behavior. Finally leaving a restrictive religion can be a major personal accomplishment after trying to make it work and going through many cycles of guilt and confusion.
However, the challenges of leaving are daunting. For most people, the religious environment was a one-stop-shop for meeting all their major needs – social support, a coherent worldview, meaning and direction in life, structured activities, and emotional/spiritual satisfaction. Leaving the fold means multiple losses, including the loss of friends and family support at a crucial time of personal transition. Consequently, it is a very lonely 'stressful life event' – more so than others described on Axis IV in the DSM. For some people, depending on their personality and the details of their religious past, it may be possible to simply stop participating in religious services and activities and move on with life. But for many, leaving their religion means debilitating anxiety, depression, grief, and anger.
Next step: the day will come when religion itself will be recognized as a mental disorder, not just the effects of breaking away from it. You can find more about dealing with the trauma of escape at Marlene Winell's site.


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Press Release
April 29, 2014
Contact: Robbin Davis
Pioneer Woman Museum
Office: 405-522-3602
Pioneer Woman Museum to Host Dutch Oven Cooking Workshop
PONCA CITY, Okla. -- Learn how versatile and fun cooking in Dutch ovens can be! The Pioneer Woman Museum in Ponca City will host an introduction to Dutch oven cooking on Saturday, May 31, 2014. Participants will learn how to select and care for an oven, as well as learn of the many resources and recipes available. Participants will also cook in the ovens, sample the results in a buffet style meal and learn cleaning and storage tips.
Dutch ovens, typically cast iron pots with legs, have been in use for hundreds of years. While these pots offer a historic way to prepare food when outdoors, they also are great for backyard entertaining, modern camping and picnicking.
Instructor Luann Sewell Waters is the state coordinator for the Oklahoma Leopold Education Project, a conservation and history educator and a Dutch oven cooking instructor. She is an engaging presenter and inclusive teacher who wants all of the class participants to enjoy what they are learning. This will be Waters's third class to present at the Pioneer Woman Museum since its reopening last August. She is a popular teacher and students look forward to her return.
The Dutch oven cooking class will be held on the grounds of the Pioneer Woman Museum Saturday, May 31, from 12 – 4 p.m. and is $15 per participant. Preregistration is required and all class members must be at least 13 years or older.
Contact the Pioneer Woman Museum for more information and to register for the class at 580-765-6108 or firstname.lastname@example.com.


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GTA 5 isn't next-gen as 'now is the best timing of all', says Houser
Grand Theft Auto 5 is launching Spring 2013, and that's awfully late in the current console life cycle, but Rockstar's Dan Houser has argued in the pages of Famitsu that all of the best games come out at the end of each generation, stating that the time has been spent getting the most out of current tech.
Polygon reports on Famitsu's interview with Houser, in which he responded to the interviewer's surprise that GTA 5 isn't a next-gen release.
"Rockstar is a content company, not a hardware company. We use the technology we have to create content, and we try not to let ourselves get beholden to the hardware. The fact that hardware's so mature right now is exactly why we're able to go on to the next level.
"GTA 4 was our first attempt at a new platform and HD visuals, so the first part of development was seriously difficult. Now we know what the hardware's capable of, so it's become a lot easier to move things along and a lot more fun, too.
"GTA: San Andreas came out at the peak of the PlayStation 2's cycle, and we put out a really good game thanks to that. All the best games for a console come out at the end of the lifecycle, right? So now's the best timing of all."
Thanks GI.biz.
What do you think? Do the current GTA 5 screens suggest that current tech is being pushed to the limit? Let us know below, and check back at 4pm GMT today for the second GTA 5 trailer:


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The Otoe County Sheriff's Office expects to issue no more than 10 handgun permits a month, but issued 20 on a single day Jan. 14 and says the surge for permits since the Dec. 14 Sandy Hook shooting continues.
The sheriff's office issued 69 permits in the first 15 days of January.
Otoe County citizens continue to apply for handgun permits at record pace.
The Otoe County Sheriff's Office reports that 69 permits have been issued so far in January and there were 20 permits issued on a single day Jan. 14.
The sheriff's office says permit applications increased after the Dec. 14 shooting of 20 children at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newton, Conn.
In a typical month, the sheriff's office issues 10 to 20 permits to purchase a handgun. In the three weeks after the shooting, the sheriff's office issued over 60 permits.
Otoe County Sheriff Jim Gress said there always seems to be a surge of interest for gun permits whenever the federal government discusses changes to the nation's gun laws.
The Federal Bureau of Investigations reports that background checks for firearm purchases were at an all-time high in December. The FBI reports that 2.8 million background checks were completed for those seeking to buy firearms in December, compared to 1.9 million in December of 2011.
The sheriff's office reports that usually all of the permit applications come from people who already own guns, but most of the applications in December came from people who had not had permits before.


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Patrick Haumesser
|Financial Operations Coordinator
|5th Year at MIT
Patrick Haumesser serves as the primary administrative contact for all financial matters involving the intercollegiate athletic programs at MIT and the Department of Athletics, Physical Education, and Recreation staff. Combined with his duties assisting in the preparation and management of the DAPER budget he works alongside the Department of Administration of Finance and the Department of Student Life.
Prior to joining the DAPER team he was Director of Intramurals at Georgetown Preparatory School in Bethesda, Maryland. Under his counseling and development he facilitated multiple groups of faculty and students as well as handled budgets totaling over $35,000. In 2005 Haumesser worked for the West Side Rowing Club in Buffalo, New York for two years coordinating schedules for regattas and functions in conjunction with supervising the racing equipment and club facilities.
Patrick is a graduate of Canisius College, in Buffalo, N.Y., with a Bachelor of Science in business administration and a Master of Science in athletic administration.


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The Ohio State University
Creating the Extraordinary Student Experience
Time: Monday, December 4, 2017 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM
Location: Lincoln Tower, 10th Floor
Faciliated by Sadi Fox
Strong Able Females Expressing are groups for undergraduate women who are primarily interested in working on their interpersonal skills.These women will discuss issues of self-esteem, assertiveness, and empowerment while gaining support from one another and the group leaders. Members may also discuss their issues w/ mild symptoms of anxiety or mild depressive symptoms. Expressive Arts techniques will be utilized to facilitate the process, but potential members need not intimidate if they have no artistic experience. If you are interested in participating in this group, call 614-292-5766, please speak with your counselor, or email Sadi Fox for more information.
Sadi Fox
Add to your calendar
© 2018 The Ohio State University – Multicultural Center
Ohio Union, Suite 1000, 1739 North High Street, Columbus, OH 43210
Phone: 614-688-8449 | Fax: 614-292-4462 | email@example.com
If you have trouble accessing this page, request an alternate format.


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If your request will likely involve employee correspondence, we ask that you provide parameters to help us define the search for pertinent records.
Please have the officer of your corporation with signatory authority complete the attached "Certification of Commercial Purpose" form, if the records provided are to be utilized for a commercial purpose, as set forthe in KRS61.870(4)(a) as: "...the direct or indirect use of any part of a public record or records, in any form, for sale, resale, solicitation, rent, or lease of a service, or any use by which the user expects a profit either through commission, salary or fee." Once the execited and notarized certification has been received as hard copy to allow verification of notary, we can process your request and advise you on the availability of responsive records and costs associated with obtaining those records.
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Canada and the ENVISAT Program
Launch: March 1, 2002
Status: Inactive
Maintaining Canada's Niche in Remote Sensing from Space
Much like Canada, the European Space Agency (ESA) has been using satellites to "keep an eye" on the Earth's environment for almost a decade.
Through the Co-operation Agreement between the Government of Canada and the ESA, Canada chose to participate in the ENVISAT environmental satellite program. Canada's co-operation with ESA provides an ideal platform for the sharing of knowledge and expertise and the promotion of the use of advanced specialized technologies developed by Canadian space companies. It also offers unique opportunities to participate directly in select ESA programs, activities and decision-making, like the ENVISAT program.
ENVISAT complemented RADARSAT-1 and assured data continuity between RADARSAT-1 and RADARSAT-2. The satellite has played an important role in the preparation for RADARSAT-2 but also for future Canadian missions, such as a hyperspectral sensor mission. ENVISAT data helped develop Canadian knowledge and expertise, keeping Canada at the forefront of remote sensing from space.
ENVISAT was a multidisciplinary mission continuing and extending the science and application objectives of the ERS-1 and 2 missions. The number and quality of instruments included with the Polar Platform allowed for an unprecedented wealth of data brought to European and Canadian users. As such ENVISAT was part of coherent European and Canadian Earth Observation (EO) programs ensuring the long-term provision of continuous data sets, essential for addressing environmental and climatological issues, as well as aiming at the growth of applications and commercial use of EO data.
Overview of ENVISAT's mission
The earth's ocean, the land with its plant and animal life, the ice covered regions (cryosphere) and all levels of the atmosphere (troposphere, stratosphere and mesosphere) are all parts of an interconnected system – the Earth system. A change in any one part affects what happens elsewhere in the system.
ENVISAT carried instruments to collect information that helped scientists to understand each part of the Earth system and to predict how changes in one part affected others.
Many of ENVISAT's instruments were a development of those that flew on the ESA's Earth-observing missions of the 1990s (ERS-1 and -2). This means that scientists have observations stretching back over 10 years. It is possible, therefore, to make comparisons between conditions observed during ENVISAT's lifetime and those recorded during the past 10 years.
Why ENVISAT mattered?
- How fast are the ice caps melting?
- What is the state of the rain forests?
- What is the state of the El Niño current?
- What concentrations of "Greenhouse" gases are to be found in the atmosphere?
- Is the ozone hole growing?
ENVISAT helped to answer questions important for the future of all humanity. Scientists and policy makers needed the kind of data that ENVISAT and other Earth-observing satellites collected so that they can make informed decisions about how to protect earth's environment.
State-of-the-Art Research
As part of ESA's data policy to maximize the beneficial use of data from ENVISAT and to stimulate a balanced development of scientific, public and commercial use of data, ESA launched an Announcement of Opportunity (AO) for the use of ENVISAT data. Canada was well represented in the group of chosen projects within the ESA AO. Canadian universities, government departments and industries submitted a wide range of project subjects that were accepted. Projects ranged from coastal zones and oceans, ice monitoring, geology, disaster management and calibration and validation.
Through Canada's participation in the design, construction and deployment of ESA's ENVISAT, the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) built Canadian knowledge and expertise, rewarding Canadian innovation with opportunity and strengthening Canada's economy by leading the world in Earth Observation.
- Date modified:


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'Fiscal cliff' moves to House, timing and outcome uncertainBy Thomas Ferraro
January 01. 2013 2:39PM
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Washington's last-minute scramble to step back from a recession-inducing "fiscal cliff" shifted to the Republican-controlled House of Representatives on Tuesday after the Senate approved a bipartisan deal to avoid steep tax hikes and spending cuts.
In a rare late-night show of unity, the Senate voted 89 to 8 to raise some taxes on the wealthy while keeping income taxes low on more moderate income voters.
► Latest live coverage from Reuters on the 'fiscal cliff'
The bill's prospects were less certain in the House, where a vote had not yet been scheduled. Many conservative Republicans have rejected tax increases on any Americans, no matter how wealthy. Some liberal Democrats were also upset with a complex deal that they thought gave away too much.
Lingering uncertainty over U.S. tax and spending policy has unnerved investors and depressed business activity for months, and lawmakers had hoped to reach a deal before Tuesday, when a broad range of automatic tax increases and spending cuts would begin to punch a $600 billion hole in the economy.
Financial markets have avoided a steep plunge on the assumption that Washington would ultimately avoid pushing the country off the fiscal cliff into a recession.
With financial markets closed for the New Year's Day holiday, lawmakers have one more day to close the deal.
"My district cannot afford to wait a few days and have the stock market go down 300 points tomorrow if we don't get together and do something," Representative Steve Cohen, a Democrat from Tennessee, said on the House floor.
The bill passed by the Senate at around 2 a.m. would raise income taxes on families earning more than $450,000 per year. Low temporary rates that have been in place for less affluent taxpayers for the past decade would be made permanent, along with a range of targeted tax breaks put in place by President Barack Obama in the depths of the 2009 recession.
However, workers would see up to $2,000 more taken out of their paychecks as a temporary payroll tax cut was set to expire.
The bill would also delay an across-the-board 8 percent spending cut to domestic and military programs for two months, and extend jobless benefits for 2 million people who otherwise would see them run out.
Obama in a statement on Monday urged the House to vote. "There's more work to do to reduce our deficits, and I'm willing to do it," he said.
Republicans had hoped to include significant spending cuts in the deal to narrow trillion-dollar budget deficits. Conservatives were already looking forward to the next battle over the debt ceiling, in late February, to extract deficit reduction measures from the Democratic president.
Vice President Joe Biden, who was instrumental in pushing through the Senate measure, was scheduled to address a closed-door meeting of House Democrats. Their support likely will be needed to pass the bill.
Republican members were to meet to discuss "a path forward," a senior aide said.
The meeting could help Republicans leaders decide when to begin consideration of the White House-backed measure. A vote could come later in the day, but was not yet scheduled.
The conservative Club for Growth urged a "no" vote on the Senate measure, saying it would be on its "congressional scorecard" used to challenge members of Congress.
Liberal groups also have urged Democrats to reject the deal.
Richard Trumka, head of the AFL-CIO labor union, wrote on Twitter that the deal does not raise taxes enough on the wealthy and "sets the stage for more hostage taking" by Republicans in future budget confrontations.
Republican Representative Tom Cole said his House colleagues should pass the Senate bill rather than try to change it.
"We ought to take this deal right now, and we'll live to fight another day," Cole said on MSNBC. "Putting to bed this thing before the markets (open on Wednesday) is really a pretty important thing to do."
Writing by Andy Sullivan; Editing by Fred Barbash and Vicki Allen
Full text of earlier article continues below.
Senate approves 'fiscal cliff' deal easing crisis but House hurdles remain
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate moved the U.S. economy back from the edge of a "fiscal cliff" on Tuesday, voting to avoid imminent tax hikes and spending cuts in a bipartisan deal that could still face stiff challenges in the House of Representatives.
In a rare New Year's session at around 2 a.m. EST (0700 GMT), senators voted 89-8 to raise some taxes on the wealthy while making permanent low tax rates on the middle class that have been in place for a decade.
But the measure did little to rein in huge annual budget deficits that have helped push the U.S. debt to $16.4 trillion.
The agreement came too late for Congress to meet its own deadline of New Year's Eve for passing laws to halt $600 billion in tax hikes and spending cuts which strictly speaking came into force on Tuesday.
But with the New Year's Day holiday, there was no real world impact and Congress still had time to draw up legislation, approve it and backdate it to avoid the harsh fiscal measures.
That will need the backing of the House where many of the Republicans who control the chamber complain that President Barack Obama has shown little interest in cutting government spending and is too concerned with raising taxes.
All eyes are now on the House which is to hold a session on Tuesday starting at noon (1700 GMT).
Obama called for the House to act quickly and follow the Senate's lead.
"While neither Democrats nor Republicans got everything they wanted, this agreement is the right thing to do for our country and the House should pass it without delay," he said in a statement.
"There's more work to do to reduce our deficits, and I'm willing to do it. But tonight's agreement ensures that, going forward, we will continue to reduce the deficit through a combination of new spending cuts and new revenues from the wealthiest Americans," Obama said.
Members were thankful that financial markets were closed, giving them a second chance to return to try to head off the fiscal cliff.
But if lawmakers cannot pass legislation in the coming days, markets are likely to turn sour. The U.S. economy, still recovering from the 2008/2009 downturn, could stall again if Congress fails to fix the budget mess.
"If we do nothing, the threat of a recession is very real. Passing this agreement does not mean negotiations halt, far from it. We can all agree there is more work to be done," Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Democrat, told the Senate floor.
A new, informal deadline for Congress to legislate is now Wednesday when the current body expires and it is replaced by a new Congress chosen at last November's election.
The Senate bill, worked out after long negotiations on New Year's Eve between Vice President Joe Biden and Senate Republican Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, also postpones for two months a $109 billion "sequester" of sweeping spending cuts on military and domestic programs.
It extends unemployment insurance to 2 million people for a year and makes permanent the alternative minimum tax "patch" that was set to expire, protecting middle-income Americans from being taxed as if they were rich.
The tax hikes do not sit easy with Republicans but conservative senators held their noses and voted to raise rates for the rich because not to do so would have meant increases for almost all working Americans.
"It took an imperfect solution to prevent our constituents from a very real financial pain, but in my view, it was worth the effort," McConnell said.
House Speaker John Boehner - the top Republican in Congress - said the House would consider the Senate deal. But he left open the possibility of the House amending the Senate bill, which would spark another round of legislating.
"The House will honor its commitment to consider the Senate agreement if it is passed. Decisions about whether the House will seek to accept or promptly amend the measure will not be made until House members ... have been able to review the legislation," Boehner and other House Republican leaders said in a statement.
Boehner has struggled for two years to get control over a group of several dozen Tea Party fiscal conservatives in his caucus who strongly oppose tax increases and demand that he force Obama to make savings in the Medicare and Social Security healthcare and retirement programs.
A campaign-style event held by Obama in the White House as negotiations with Senate leaders were taking place on Monday may have made it more difficult for Republicans to back the deal. In remarks to a group of supporters that resembled a victory lap, the president noted that his rivals were coming around to his way of seeing things.
"Keep in mind that just last month Republicans in Congress said they would never agree to raise tax rates on the wealthiest Americans. Obviously, the agreement that's currently being discussed would raise those rates and raise them permanently," he said to applause before the Senate deal was sealed.
Obama's words and tone annoyed Republican lawmakers who seemed to feel that the Democrat was gloating.
"That's not the way presidents should lead," said Republican Senator John McCain, Obama's rival in the 2008 election.
A deal with the House on Tuesday, while uncertain, would not mark the end of congressional budget fights. The "sequester" spending cuts will come up again in February as will the contentious "debt ceiling," which caps how much debt the federal government can hold.
Republicans may see those two issues as their best chance to try to rein in government spending and clip Obama's wings at the start of his second term.
By David Lawder and Richard Cowan. Additional reporting by Mark Felsenthal, Rachelle Younglai, Kim Dixon and Jeff Mason; Writing by Alistair Bell; Editing by Eric Walsh


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I had just solved "The Case of the Missing Link" (http://www.windowsitpro.com/SQLServer/Article/ArticleID/47439/SQLServer_47439.html). Next was supposed to come my favorite time of day-the time when the adoring client and I retire to the local watering hole to celebrate-the time when someone else was buying the drinks. But it was not to be. Just as the thankful client was about to extend an invitation, my cell went off. And my cell was more insistent.
The voice on the other end belonged to one Conrad Spiracy Theory. An unusual name, but not nearly as unusual as the man it identified. Theory was the Chief Information Officer for a local manufacturing concern (and with Theory as the CIO, there was cause for concern). It seemed some of Theory's data had gone missing and I was his only hope for finding it. I've always been a sucker for cases in which some poor, innocent data has been taken from where it's supposed to be. I told Theory I'd be right over.
I was met in the lobby by Mr. Theory's administrative assistant, Ms. Wattsnectz. "I'm so glad you came, Mr. Powers," she led off. "Mr. Theory has just been beside himself since he discovered that the data was gone."
"I only hope I'm not too late, Ms. Wattsnectz," I replied. "How long has the data been gone?"
"Please, call me Wanda," she instructed. "The absence was discovered this morning, but the Integration Services package that imported the data ran last week."
"Last week, eh? That makes for a pretty cold trail," I noted. "SQL Server Integration Services was responsible for the data load? SSIS doesn't usually lose data unless there's a good reason. One good reason is that it's just plain bad data. Was it bad data, Ms. Wattsnectz?"
She hesitated for a moment, as if there was something she wanted to say, but couldn't. "You'll have to discuss that with Mr. Theory," was all she volunteered.
Ms. Wattsnectz opened a door and ushered me into a dimly lit office. There, behind the desk, was Mr. Theory. "I'm Conrad Spiracy Theory," he said as he rose to greet me, "but you can call me Con-everyone does. You've been briefed about the missing data, I presume."
"Yes, Ms. Wattsnectz filled me in on the way to your office."
"So what's your opinion about the reason for the disappearance?" he asked.
"I thought perhaps it was just bad data," I said. "I started to ask Ms. Wattsnectz about that, but she said I should take it up with you."
Con laughed. "That's just how they want it to look, I suppose. No, Mr. Powers, it's not bad data. My personnel in the regional offices-Boston, Los Angeles, Georgia-have all assured me that the data they're sending is completely valid."
"Georgia?" I queried. "Is that office in Atlanta?"
"No, Mr. Powers," he corrected, "we have a regional office in the former Soviet Socialist Republic, now the country of Georgia. We've been doing business with them for several months now. At first, we were hand-entering their invoice data. Now, we're importing that data into our system in the same text-file format that out state-side regional offices use. Anyway, I believe that the Russian mafia is behind this."
"The Russian mafia?" I asked in disbelief.
"They're the most likely culprits, considering our Georgian connections," he continued. "Of course, it could be the men in the black helicopters behind the whole thing. Then again, with any mysterious disappearance, alien abduction can't be ruled out."
"Perhaps it was Big Foot?" I offered.
"No, he's on Linux. We're strictly a Microsoft shop."
It was then that the pieces fell into place: the reluctant administrative assistant, the Georgian connection. I needed one piece of evidence to wrap up this case like a present for the holidays. I asked Con if I might take a look at the SSIS package in question. While I did, I requested that he ask Ms. Wattsnectz to join us.
The package was a simple one. There was a Flat File Data Source item that extracted data from a text file containing comma-separated values. The Flat File Data Source item fed its data flow to an OLE DB Destination item that dumped data into a SQL Server 2000 database table.
I examined the Error Output tab of the Flat File Data Source item and found that all of the error handling was set to Ignore errors. Someone had expected trouble, but didn't know how to deal with it! If the error handling had been at the default setting of Fail component, someone would have been alerted when the package failed. Instead, the package was ignoring any bad data it encountered, which only masked the problem and made things worse. By ignoring errors, the package would let bad data disappear without so much as a whimper, simply tossed away like yesterday's news.
I decided to use some SSIS features to lay a trap for what I suspected were bad data records lurking in the CSV source file. I changed all the error-handling settings to Redirect row. Then, I added a Flat File Destination item and linked the error flow from the Flat File Data Source item to the Flat File Destination item. (Figure 1) Now, if any bad data departed from the data flow, it would leave footprints for us to follow.
I executed my revised package just as Ms. Wattsnectz entered the office looking rather flustered. As the package ran, my trap was sprung, and I caught my quarry. Most of the data flowed to the OLE DB Destination and into the waiting SQL Server table, but as I suspected, some data went into the error flow to my newly created flat file. When the package completed, I opened the ErrorOut.txt file. (Figure 2) The file showed the raw data from each row that had caused an error. Underneath the raw data was a set of error codes. We could have looked up the error codes, but what was going on was obvious. I highlighted one of the fields and turned to the now quaking administrative assistant.
"Ms. Wattsnectz, would you like to explain to Mr. Theory what we have here?" I asked.
"I don't know," she protested feebly.
"But I think you do," I contradicted. "I think you knew exactly what we were going to find in this file even before I opened it. And I think you know why it's there."
"All right, I do know," she confessed. "What you highlighted is a date that uses Georgian date formatting. I was the one who hand-entered the invoices from Georgia. I knew they formatted their dates with periods instead of slashes. I knew that they reversed the month and day."
"To the Georgians, these dates are good data," I added, "but to the SSIS package, they appear invalid."
Con turned on his administrative assistant. "But why didn't you say something when the data was missing?"
Ms. Wattsnectz shook her head. "I didn't want you to think I was part of a conspiracy to undermine the Georgian regional office," she sobbed.
"There's a conspiracy to undermine the Georgian regional office?" asked Con with alarm.
"No," I assured him.
"That's a relief," he said with a sigh. "But we still have a problem. We're going to have to get the Georgians to change the way they enter dates into the CSV file. They'll have to relearn…"
I cut him off. "Con, if there's one thing I've learned in my time as a consulting detective, it's that it is easier to modify a computer program than it is to change the way human beings operate. I think I have a better solution to the disappearing data problem."
To prove my point, I took some action. I modified the column definitions in the Invoice CSV File connection manager, making the InvoiceDate column a string data type rather than a date. (Figure 3) This change let the Integration Services package read both the U.S. dates and the Georgian dates from the file without causing an error. Then, I opened the Flat File Data Source item, which automatically refreshed the metadata it derives from the connection manager.
Next, I added a Derived Column item. The new column created by the Derived Column item in the data flow used an expression to convert any date string containing a period to the U.S. date format. (Figure 4) Finally, I mapped my derived column to the InvoiceDate field in the database table, in place of the date that the table had previously read directly from the text file. (Figure 5) When the package ran, the missing data reappeared right where it was supposed to be.
No Russian mafia, no black helicopters, no space aliens; just the mystery of some good data gone bad. And solving mysteries is part of the job. But in my next case, the job was part of the mystery.


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UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN River Falls
Falcon Scholars is an opportunity for alumni and friends of UW-River Falls to provide scholarship support to deserving UW-River Falls students. Upon admission to UW-River Falls, selected students will be awarded a four year, $1,000 per year Falcon Scholars scholarship. Selection of Falcon Scholars will be based on a variety of factors including financial need and academic potential as determined by the Admissions Office.
Each Falcon Scholar will also receive a $2,000 stipend, funded through student differential tuition, to be used for either a study abroad experience or participation in undergraduate research activities.
Your participation in the Falcon Scholars Challenge will significantly enhance students' educational experience, increase retention rates, and enhance opportunities for success after college.
UW-River Falls alumni Arlin ('58) and Marilyn ('56) Albrecht have issued a challenge to fellow alumni and friends to provide more scholarships for students at UW-River Falls.
Through the Albrecht Challenge, gifts of $1,000 or more to the newly established Falcon Scholars program will be matched by the Albrechts.
Like many current UWRF students, Mr. and Mrs. Albrecht came to River Falls as first generation college students.
While a journalism and economics double major, Mr. Albrecht was named editor of the student-run newspaper, the Student Voice, during his sophomore year. Upon graduation he went to work for the River Falls Journal, then the St. Paul Pioneer Press and eventually the Red Wing Republican Eagle. In time, he became chairman and CEO of Red Wing Publishing, which under his and his wife's leadership grew to include 21 community newspapers in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Mr. Albrecht was named UW-River Falls Distinguished Alumnus in 2010.
Mrs. Albrecht, a speech/theatre major, was active in theatre activities in Red Wing, including the restoration of the municipal Sheldon Theatre. When she entered in 1954, she received the university's first-ever scholarship.


text:
Some beautiful frags you got headed your way.
Myself, I would do without the Guerlain sampler.
You have some that would work for summer, but I wouldn't classify them as such. Italian cypress and git are both pretty versatile.
I would recommend hermes for summer: un jardin en mediterranee or voyage him(if you like aquatics.)
- - - Updated - - -
Smw and gph2 can work for summer, as well.


text:
Super Bowl septic tank caper
The age of super everything, from the Super Bowl to Super Tuesday, and super models to super stars, occasionally comes with super problems, mostly because of the super stupid and the extraordinarily dumb.
For instance, last year, city dweller and avid partyologist, Norbert Dweezle, accepted an invitation to a Super Bowl party in the dreaded 'burbs, an area he knew little about. You know the 'burbs, those neighborhoods an hour's drive from the city where houses are built large enough to accommodate parties of 200, but provide parking for four.
These are the incubator communities where babies are manufactured on assembly lines. They are then programmed to grow up enjoying programs like "Desperate Housewives" and "Terminal Dancing," or whatever the current trend in mindless TV programming is offering in the next two decades.
Dweezle entered the cookie cutter community and found the house where the alleged party was taking place. If there wasn't a number on the mailbox, he'd still be driving through the circular streets wondering which party was his to attend.
Unfortunately, he arrived fashionably late, a practice not followed in the 'burbs. Partygoers in the 'burbs arrive early, lest they find themselves parking in the next state and paying for a helicopter ride back to the neighborhood where the party is actually taking place.
Like other people hosting parties in the neighborhood, guests parked on the lawns, and anywhere they could leave their vehicles without getting ticketed or towed. Dweezle could clearly see that the situation was hopeless. Cars were crammed in to the last inch of driveway and at the edge of the lawn on all sides . . . except for one area.
About halfway up the lawn, an area about two car widths wide and an SUV or truck length long was cordoned off by stakes with red flags evenly spaced and connected together with string. Hmmm . . . just the spot, Dweezle thought. It's probably reserved parking for some VIP. Well, whoever that spot is for will have to park before he can come in and complain. So firstcome, first-served, he mused.
Dweezle, being the aggressive city dweller and parking place pilferer that he was, immediately drove through a neighbor's yard, over their flowerbeds and parked his mammoth SUV in the ropedoff area.
I didn't hurt anything, Dweezle reasoned. Flowers don't grow in the winter anyway. They'll get over it, he thought.
Nonetheless, while Dweezle was inside partying to the max, his SUV was sinking. By the time he came out to retrieve his car, all that could be seen was the upper portion of the windows and the roof. Dweezle had parked over the septic tank.
The tank was big and adequate for the mini-mansion that it served. It was, however, the cheap model of the biggest tank, and was not designed to support over 6,500- pounds of SUV loaded with a full tank of gas, tools and other heavy objects in the back.
As the mammoth vehicle sank, it displaced the odoriferous effluence in the tank which oozed downhill contaminating the tires of all the cars in its path, the entire front yard, the street, and neighboring properties.
The following morning, insurance companies were notified. Petitions were written and signed. Lawsuits were filed against the DEM (Department for Extra Management) for not writing legislation to cover incidents of this nature. They in turn blamed the EPA (Evasive Personnel Agency), who shifted the responsibility to the CRMC (Commission for Reinforcing Management Corruption).
All parties put attorneys with support staff on retainer. Eventually the case was on the docket of local, state, and federal courts. It became such a revenue generating entity that it was declared a new business sector. Over the course of a year, the case grew to mammoth proportion and became the basis for a political platform for business reform. The Super Bowl septic tank caper was used as an example of economic development in the Super Tuesday primaries.
To this day, nobody has been declared responsible for the Super Bowl Sunday septic tank disaster. The case will be forever suspended in legal limbo, with the victims, as usual, footing the bill.
The world was stunned by the consequences of designing a home with inadequate parking, or was it for throwing a party and inviting city dwellers? Maybe it was stunned that our legal system would even accommodate such a frivolous case initiated by the super stupid on Super Sunday.
Whatever the case may be, the Super Bowl septic tank caper is definitely part of a system that none of us will ever understand.


text:
Did you know?
Rochester is home of the world famous Mayo Clinic. It is known world wide for its doctor's expertise and the newest methods of treatments. — www.50states.com
Maps and Transportation
Click here to view various maps of the Twin Cities
Click here for a map of the University of Minnesota
Click here for a map of buildings that will be utilized on campus
East Bank Campus:
Campus Connectors
Campus Connector (Route 121) provides direct bus service to all campuses. Shuttles will run continuously, but service will vary depending on the time of year.
Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport (MSP) is the 14th busiest airport in the United States and the third largest hub for Delta airlines. Southwest Airlines is a recent arrival to MSP, offering more flight options from all around the country.
Airline Discount
AAPT and Delta Air Lines have partnered to offer you discounted airfare rates for the 2014 AAPT Summer Meeting. You will need to reference Meeting Event Code NMJB7 to purchase your ticket and the negotiated discount will be applied.
Reservations and ticketing is available via www.delta.com or by calling Delta Meeting Network Reservations at 800-328-1111. Please note, a Direct Ticketing Charge will apply for booking by telephone. When booking online, select Meeting Event Code NMJB7 on the Search Flight page.
A taxi to the conference hotels will cost approximately $35 to $40 and will take about 30 minutes.
Super Shuttle
Choose SuperShuttle and book online to receive discounted rates to the conference hotels and dormitories.
Light Rail
Riding public transportation is a convenient and inexpensive way to get around the Minneapolis/St. Paul area. Click here for information on Metro Transit.
AVIS Rental Car
Avis car rental is offering a discount to all AAPT Summer Meeting attendees. Please call Avis directly at 800-331-1600 and use the Avis Worldwide Discount (AWD) number J945158 or go directly to the AVIS Website. The discount is effective 7 days before and 7 days after the conference.
Find out more and become a part of SM2014 on: Facebook| Twitter
Some photos courtesy of minneapolis.org


text:
Trams: a car of Preston's dyeworks: a widow in her weeds.
He saw his trunk and limbs riprippled over and sustained, buoyed lightly upward, lemonyellow: his navel, bud of flesh: and saw the dark, tangled curls of his bush floating, floating hair of the stream around the limp father of thousands, a languid, floating flower.
Starting united both at normal walking pace from Beresford place they followed in the order named Lower and Middle Gardiner streets and Mountjoy square, west: then, at reduced pace, each bearing left, Gardiner's place by an inadvertence as far as the farther corner of Temple street: then, at reduced pace with interruptions of halt, bearing right, Temple street, north, as far as Hardwicke place.
The river glideth at his own sweet will:
Dear God! the very houses seem asleep;
And all that mighty heart is lying still!
At last in Latium he did arrive,
Where he with cruell warre was entertaind
Of th'inland folke, which sought him backe to drive,
Till he with old Latinus was constraind,
To contract wedlock: (so the fates ordaind.)
Wedlock contract in bloud, and eke in blood
Accomplishéd, that many deare complaind:
The rivall slaine, the victour through the flood
Escapéd hardly, hardly praisd his wedlock good.


text:
Monday, 12 November 2012 04:12 PM
Flights by within the European Union will still have to pay for their carbon emissions. The year-long exemption will apply to flights linking EU airports to countries outside of the bloc.
Climate Commissioner Connie Hedegaard said she had agreed "to stop the clock" to create a positive atmosphere for international talks on an alternative global plan to tackle airline emissions.
"But let me be very clear: if this exercise does not deliver - and I hope it does - then needless to say we are back to where we are today with the EU ETS. Automatically."
The United States, China and India have put intense pressure on the European Union. Debate in the U.S. Congress is set to resume this week on legislation to counter the EU rules.
U.S. politicians welcomed Monday's news, but wanted more.
"While I am pleased the EU has temporarily suspended its efforts to unilaterally impose a tax on our airlines flying over U.S. and international airspace, the EU's announcement does not rule out future efforts to tax foreign carriers," said Senator John Thune, who has led the push for the blocking law in the U.S. Senate.
EU member states still have to formally endorse the Commission's proposed freeze. Hedegaard said she had informed representatives of all 27 member states of the Commission's plan but could not specify how long the EU approval process might take.
Representing Europe's biggest economy, German Environment Minister Peter Altmaier said the Commission decision was justified.
"It made clear that the EU is holding on to its view, but at the same time it is also in the position to stick to its international commitments and actions," he said.
Some airline associations welcomed Monday's announcement, but said the moratorium meant EU carriers operating flights within the bloc could be at a competitive disadvantage.
Environment campaigners said the European Union was giving up too much, too soon.
But they said opponents could no longer blame the European Union for any lack of progress at the U.N.'s International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), which is seeking an alternative global deal.
"The Commission, with today's decision, has moved further than necessary given the little progress made so far at ICAO level," Bill Hemmings, programme manager at campaign group T&E, said. "There is no excuse for inaction left."
The European Union agreed on its law after more than a decade of talks at the ICAO failed to find a way to curb aviation emissions. It always said it would modify its legislation if the ICAO could deliver an alternative.
Hedegaard said the ICAO had made good progress at a meeting in Montreal on Friday.
Efforts have intensified since the start of this year, when the EU's requirement for all airlines to buy carbon emissions began to take effect.
The law is being phased in slowly, which means the first bills would only be sent out in April next year after the calculation of this year's emissions. Any airline that does not submit carbon allowances by then would face stiff fines.
The proposed year-long waiver - meaning no carbon payments before April 2014 for international flights - gives the ICAO until its general assembly late next year to reach a global deal.
The Association of European Airlines (AEA) said the ICAO was the right body and that now the onus was on it.
"In their opposition to EU ETS, countries such as the USA, Russia, China and India have repeatedly stated that the issue should be dealt with in ICAO. Now they have the chance to show that they mean it," Athar Husain Khan, acting secretary general of the AEA, said.
The cost of the EU's aviation law is minimal, at 1-2 euros per passenger per flight, given the weakness of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme, on which the carbon price has sunk under a glut of surplus permits following the region's economic slowdown.
The cost to aviation is expected to rise, though, and on Monday, the Commission also published draft legislation to temporarily withdraw some of the surplus allowances.
International opponents of including aviation in the EU scheme say it is a question of principle. They argue the European Union is imposing an extraterritorial tax, although the Commission says its market-based mechanism is not a tax.
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15 Jessica Sturgill
|Ellicott City, Md.
|High School:
2009: Second on team with 23 goals and third on team with 23-5-28 points... Appeared in all sixteen games and started five... Scored career best four goals in season opening win against Fairfield and matched the total in win at Columbia... Tallied multiple points six of the first eight games... Won six draw controls and collected five ground balls. 2008: Only sophomore to start all sixteen games... Fifth on team with 15 goals and 15-4-19 points... Scored two goals against Fairfield, Dartmouth, and Brown... Career best two assists with 1-2-3 points against UConn... Collected eight ground balls. 2007: Has appeared in 15 games, starting five ... has 10 goals and three assists, leading Yale's freshmen in goals and points ... scored two goals in her varsity debut, season-opening 14-7 win at Fairfield ... also scored a pair of goals in 13-5 win at Brown. Before Yale: Sturgill was an honorable mention US Lacrosse high school All-American and a two-time all-county and honorable mention All-Met selection at Centennial, where she received the Coaches Award and was voted the most athletic female. She captained the lacrosse and basketball teams. Sturgill was an Academic All-American, was on the principal's honor roll for four years, and is a member of the National Honor Society. She played against her Yale teammates Jenna Block and Natalie Reid in the 2005 Vail Lacrosse Shootout U-19 Girls finals. Sturgill's Maryland & District of Columbia team topped Block and Reid's Rome team 10-9 in overtime. FAVORITES
Sports Hero: Cal Ripken, Jr.
Sports Hero: Cal Ripken, Jr.
Non-Sports Hero: Parents
Word: Zamboni
Color: Baby Blue
Movie: Wedding Crashers
Boardgame: Sorry
CD: Tim McGraw - Live Like You Were Dying
Food: Brownies
Book: Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown
Quote: "Pain is temporary, pride is forever."
If I were a cartoon character I'd be... Reggie from Rocket Power
If I were an animal I'd be... Penguin
If I were an Olympian I would compete in... Diving
Accomplishment most proud of: Getting into Yale.


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Steamed fish is a healthful and quick-cooking dinner option. Adding a few aromatics to the steaming liquid enhances the taste of the fish without using any butter or oil. Haddock, halibut, or other firm-fleshed white fish can be used in place of the cod.–Editors of Everyday Food
LC Goofy for Ginger Note
When a recipe calls for peeled ginger, rather than struggle over the knobby surface with a paring knife or a vegetable peeler, try what the editors of Everyday Cooking suggest, which is to reach for a spoon. Holding the ginger steady with one hand, they suggest, scrape the spoon toward you in short strokes. When you reach an especially tight crevice, you may just need to slice off the knobby portion of ginger to make for smooth scraping.
Steamed Cod with Ginger and Scallions
- Quick Glance
- Serves 4
- 3 tablespoons rice vinegar (optional)
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons finely grated peeled ginger
- 4 (1 1/2 pounds) skinless Pacific cod fillets
- 6 scallions
- 1. In a large skillet with a tight-fitting lid, combine the vinegar, soy sauce, and ginger. Season both sides of the cod fillets with salt and pepper and place them in the skillet. Bring the liquid to a boil. Reduce the heat to a gentle simmer, cover, and cook until the fish is almost but not quite opaque throughout, 6 to 8 minutes.
- 2. Meanwhile, cut the green parts of the scallions into 3-inch lengths and then thinly slice each piece lengthwise into strips (reserve the white parts for another use). Carefully turn the fish, scatter the scallions over the top, cover, and cook until the fish is completely opaque throughout and the scallions are just wilted, about 2 minutes more. Gently shimmy a slotted metal spatula beneath the fillets and transfer to individual plates, leaving the aromatic cooking liquid in the skillet. Serve immediately.
If you make this recipe, snap a photo and hashtag it #LeitesCulinaria. We'd love to see your creations on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.


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The Chicago Fire announced today that the broadcast for the Chicago Fire – San Jose Earthquakes match on Wednesday, Sept. 29 at 10:00 PM CT at Buck Shaw Stadium in Santa Clara, CA will be broadcast regionally on Chicagoland Television (CLTV) and Comcast SportsNet Chicago Plus, nationally on ESPN Deportes and online at ESPN3.com. The match will no longer be available on ESPN2.
CLTV is currently available on Comcast Cable in the Chicagoland area. Please check local listings or click here for a full list of CLTV Channels specific to location within the Chicagoland area. Comcast SportsNet Plus is available on Channel 666+1 on DirecTV. CLTV is also available on RCN Cable Channel 31 in the Chicago area, Comcast Cable Channel 10 in Rockford and Comcast Cable Channel 53 in South Bend, IN.
The Fire and Quakes will split the broadcast duties, with Fire color analyst Chris Doran and Quakes play-by-play announcer Jim Kozimor bringing the action to life in homes throughout the Chicagoland area.
The Fire host Seattle Sounders FC at TOYOTA PARK this Saturday, Sept. 25 at 7:00 PM CT (My50). For tickets, please call 1-888-MLS-FIRE (657-3473) or head to the club's official website at www.Chicago-Fire.com.


text:
The trial is currently in the recruitment phase. (Recruitment began on 20 November 2012, Expected to finish on November 2015).
Sung-Ji Park, Jin Joo Park contributed equally to this work.
Coronary CT angiography
Clinical Events Adjudication Committee
3'5'-Guanosine monophosphate
Cardiac magnetic resonance image
Data and Safety Monitoring Board
Magnetic resonance image
Microvascular angina
Nitric oxide
Transthoracic echocardiography
Serious adverse events
Saturation-recovery steady-state free precession
Unanticipated device effects
Quality of life.
The authors would like to acknowledge research nurse Eun-Young Oh and Min-Hwa Kim who contribute to the project implantation and data collection.
The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
SJ: conception and design of the trial, data acquisition, critical establishment and management of the whole database, manuscript writing and final approval of the manuscript. JJ: conception and design and of the trial, data acquisition, critical establishment/management of the whole database, manuscript writing and final approval of the manuscript. SY: design of the study, performed the statistical analysis, critical revision and final approval of the manuscript. SA: design of the study, performed the statistical analysis, critical revision and final approval of the manuscript. SM: design the MRI protocols, data acquisition, critical revision and final approval of the manuscript. EJ: data acquisition, design the MRI protocol, critical revision and final approval of the manuscript. SI: design the MRI protocols, critically revised the manuscript for important intellectual content and final approval of the manuscript. YH: design the MRI protocols, critically revised the manuscript for important intellectual content and final approval of the manuscript. DJ: conception, design of the trials, critically revised the manuscript for important intellectual content and final approval of the manuscript. All authors read manuscript and have given final approval of the version of the manuscript to be published.
This article is published under license to BioMed Central Ltd. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (
), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly credited. The Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication waiver (
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Excerpta Medica database
Post-trial follow-up
Randomised controlled trial
Thank you to all corresponding trialists.
RLB has received funding from the Royal College of Surgeons of England Research Fellowship.
The datasets used and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
RLB designed, carried out the systematic review including screening, data capture, data analysis, interpretation of results and wrote the paper. DE screened the papers from the search strategy and identified relevant papers including checking 10% of data from the extraction stage. NR assisted in the design of the search strategy and completed the search strategy. RB, LB assisted in the search strategy and in decisions relevant to the review. LB and RB assisted in drafting the review. AH assisted in the discussions of the review and drafting. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
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As Sheila Heen and Douglas Stone lay out in their book
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, feedback is hard to process because it forces us to grapple with two, sometimes conflicting, core human needs: The drive to learn and grow, which is inherently satisfying, and the drive to be accepted, respected, and loved the way we are now.
Individual sensitivity to feedback varies tremendously, and can be measured by your baseline happiness, how far you swing up or down in response to positive or negative feedback, and how long it takes you to return to your baseline. Whenever you begin working with someone new—a direct report, a client, a mentee—make an effort to learn about their feedback tendencies and preferences off the bat. This can be done via a quick and friendly chat, using hypothetical situations before real issues arise. For example: "If I notice you offended a colleague in a meeting, would you prefer I let you know mid-meeting, directly after the meeting, or later via an email so you have time to process?"
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Venture capitalist Ben Horowitz of Andreessen Horowitz views a CEO's ability to give " high-frequency feedback " as a differentiating skill. "You should have an opinion on every forecast, every product plan, every presentation and even every comment," he has opined. This continuous process will have the added benefit of depersonalizing feedback and creating an environment in which people will feel comfortable discussing bad news.
Horowitz warns against delivering the "shit sandwich" (that is, sandwiching negative feedback between two "slices" of praise) and has a simple rule about where not to give feedback: "Don't clown people in front of their peers."
It's important to remember that talking at people doesn't bring out their best qualities. Feedback should be welcoming, two-way conversations. Mark Murphy, a leadership coach and author of Truth at Work: The Science of Delivering Tough Messages , recommends keeping a 50-50 split between questions and statements in a feedback session to avoid the appearance of lecturing.
The tension between giving transparent feedback and caring for your direct reports is what makes giving good feedback so difficult. Kim Scott, a former executive at Google and Apple and author of Radical Candor: Be a Kickass Boss without Losing your Humanity , created a simple 2×2 matrix to navigate this complexity.
Valve, which owns the largest online PC gaming store in the world, recently expanded its Link service from streaming a game from a high-end PC to a low-end one in a person's house, to include the ability to stream games to a smartphone.
"There are quite a few people that are working on streaming, like Nvidia," Guillemot said. "So, we think it's a trend and that it will continue to evolve. Eventually, the technology will improve dramatically, which will allow us to have a very smooth experience in the big cities of the world."
is one of the largest third-party game developers in the world, they're not a company directly linked to any of the big three platform creators: Nintendo,
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"Nintendo Switch is the only platform delivering console-quality games that can be taken anytime, anywhere," Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime said. The Nintendo Switch "just celebrated its first year on the market, and it has much more to offer in terms of unique experiences."
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declined to comment, but earlier this year PlayStation chief John Kodera noted that the current PlayStation 4 , which launched in 2013, is in the final phase of its life, indicating that a next generation of game consoles might be just around the corner . While he also talked about a continued Valentino LaceUp Rockstud Pumps clearance finishline in China online LtzO7FQud
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Microsoft, which stopped releasing its One sales figures in 2016, seems to be evolving the way it looks at gaming.
"Microsoft has a long history as a leader in the world of gaming," Phil Spencer, e
xecutive vice president of gaming for Microsoft, told
That history starts back in the early days of Windows with titles like "Minesweeper" and "Solitaire," and then advanced with the company's push into consoles with the original and then its support of online console gaming, streaming and game services. In 2013, Microsoft launched its latest console, the
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