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A lot of press, including this publication, has been dedicated to trying to figure out why gas prices, already high, are headed further upward due to an increase in state and local sales taxes, effective Sunday.
Some have called for Gov. Deal to cancel the increase (which he can't) or legislators to change the law (which they can). Georgia has a complicated manner of taxing motor fuel and it will require legislation to change things. Some "myths" need further explanation:
Myth 1: "Georgia Has One of the Lowest Gas Taxes in the Nation".
You hear this often from proponents of additional money for transportation. Such claims are based on Georgia's excise tax on gasoline, a flat 7.5 cents per gallon that is one of the lowest such taxes nationally.
But such claims do not take into account that Georgia is one of the few states that charge state and local taxes on motor fuel. This "hidden" gas tax goes to state, and local governments and together they add more than 20 cents per gallon to what you pay. In addition, because they are sales taxes based on selling price, they increase as fuel prices increase, a double whammy for drivers.
On May 1, the price you pay for gasoline will increase 2.8cents per gallon for the state tax and 2.1 cents per gallon for residents of Newton County (based on 3 percent local tax rate), adding nearly 5 cents per gallon to selling prices.
These taxes are pre-collected at wholesale and are included in the pump price. Because taxes are prepaid, the state adjusts the average selling price for which the tax is to be figured and collected.
The price adjustment is usually made twice a year, but there is a trigger clause that requires an additional adjustment when prices increase or decrease more than 25 percent since that last adjustment.
According to the American Petroleum Institute the total federal, state, and local taxes paid by Georgians was 39.2 cents per gallon, as of Jan. 1. This will increase to approximately 44.1 cents per gallon on May 1.
By comparison, the national average is 48 cents per gallon. Taxes in our neighboring states are as follows: South Carolina, 35.2 cents; Alabama, 39.3 cents; Tennessee, 39.8 cents; North Carolina, 51.2 cents; and Florida, 52.8 cents. As you can see, with both taxes Georgia's tax is rapidly approaching the national average and motorists will save 9 cents per gallon by stopping in South Carolina.
Myth 2: "We Used to Have Some of the Lowest Gas Prices - What Happened?"
Just as high prices push sales taxes on gas higher, low prices do the opposite. Remember when everyone used to say "fill up before you leave Georgia"? When gas prices were $2 or less, the lower sales tax reduced prices by at least 10 cents per gallon, compared with other states. Now that the Mideast remains in turmoil, these higher prices appear to be here for a while and Georgia's system of adding sales taxes based on selling price will add pain at the pump.
Myth 3: "Credit Card Points Are Free"
How many of us carry plastic that rewards us with miles/points, etc? What many of you may not realize is that retailers pay 2-3 percent of the selling price to the credit card companies when plastic is used. This adds about 8-10 cents per gallon to cost at today's retails.
Many merchants once charged one price for a cash purchase and another price for a credit purchase. Expect to see such two-tier pricing return as merchants seek to offer incentives to customers to pay with cash.
It's more unwieldy, but would it be worth a nickel a gallon?
For more on how Georgia stacks up against other states, gas tax wise, be sure to visit the API website at http://www.api.org/statistics/fueltaxes/upload/Gasoline-Tax-Map.pdf
Jim Tudor lives in Newborn. He can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Bravo to...
... everyone who took part enthusiastically in the Victorian Day!
... everyone who helped to raise money for the wildlife charity by taking part in the 'Walk for Wildlife'!
... everyone who took part in the Village Pageant!
... the whole school for taking part in a Hymnathon!
... members of Y2 and KS1 choir who sang in the Joyful Spirit concert!
... everyone who took part in the Fun Run!
...the children who represented the school in rounders, chess and golf!
... anyone who has represented the school in sports in the Spring term!
... all our Eisteddfod performers!
... all the children who took part in the fantastic 'Dance Your Socks Off'!
... the PTA who organised a fantastic Easter egg hunt!
... all the classes for their art trail contributions and their participation in the Easter service!
...everyone who helped to raise money for Red Nose Day!
... everyone who contributed to the Clevedon Pier art competition!
... all the pupils who took part in the Fair Trade trip and represented the school so well!
... Y5 for representing the school so well at the Big Bang Fair!
... everyone for their brilliant work in Arts Week!
... KS2 who took part in the cross country event!
... all the volunteers who came in to make 'Book at Bedtime' so special!
... everyone who dressed up for Book Week!
... the winners and runners-up of the 'Extreme Reading' competition!
... everyone who brought in a book for book swap!
...Year 1 who have successfully settled into their new classroom!
...all the children who contributed to the Harvest performances!
...all the Year 6 children for making some fabulous pizzas!
...our new Reception Class who have settled in very well for their first full week!
Welcome to a new school year! 2016-2017
... the PTA who kindly organised the Easter egg hunt!
...everyone who made a wonderful Easter bonnet!
...everyone who helped out with our Easter lunch!
... Y5 for a great class service!
... everyone who took part in the Easter Service!
...all the classes who produced some fabulous art work for the Easter Trail!
... the archers from Y6 who performed brilliantly at their competition!
...everyone who took part in the Development Team day during International Week!
...everyone in the whole school who completed the 'Walk-a-Mile' on the school field!
...everyone who took part in Word Maths Day and dressed up as a book character for World Book Day!
... everyone who helped to make our Well-being Week so successful!
...everyone who helped to install the polytunnel on the field!
... all the children who took part in the netball tournament!
...Year 2 and Year 4 for their lovely class services!
...all of Year 6 who completed their First Aid training!
...Eco Team who are taking part in the 'Seeds in Space' project!
...everyone involved in sprucing up the Conservation Area!
...all the children (and helpers!) in the school who participated enthusiastically in Arts Week, making 3d sculptures of different animals!
...the children who represented the school at the special tea party with MP, Liam Fox!
... Year 4 who raised £40 at their cake sale!
...Last year's School Council for the brilliant posters they made with the Dog Warden!
...Year 3 for a lovely Class Service!
...our special Royal Choir who sang for Princess Anne at the opening of the new airport building!
... the children who took part in the decathlon!
... our new Playground Buddies!
...everyone who took part and helped with the Christmas Fair!
... the Year 2 children who opened the Dickensian Fair with some lovely singing and sang at The Lodge!
...all the children who took part in our Christmas productions!
... the Youth Speaks teams who came first and second in the recent competition!
...Year 6 who have all passed their bikeability course!
...everyone who donated money to dress as their hero for Children in Need!
...everyone who proudly wore their uniforms for Remembrance!
...all the Year 6 helpers who stayed after school for the Book Fair and to sell some of the unclaimed lost property!
...every class who learnt a poem to share in our special Poetry Celebration Assembly!
...all of Year 6 who tried their best and faced new challenges on camp (and their brilliant assemby afterwards)!
...everyone who took part in the Summer Reading Challenge - 'Record-Breakers'!
...to everyone who took part in the Cross Country Trials!
...to everyone in Reception class who have settled in so well!
...everyone who took part in Sports Day!
... to Year 3 and 4 who took part in the Tennis Tournament!
... everyone in the swimming gala!
...all the children in the Tri Golf Tournament!
... everyone who donated shoes for the Kenyan appeal!
... all our Year 6 children who went to Wells!
...all the children in Year 3 for a fantastic service!
...all the children who took part in Cluster Sports!
...all the Year 2s who took part in the Singing Festival!
... all the smart members of the Scout and Guide Association who came to school in their uniforms to celebrate St George's Day!
... the children who ran a stall at the PTA plant sale!
... everyone who helped sell ice creams to fundraise for Year 6 camp!
... everyone who took part in the Easter Service!
... all of Reception Class who led our worship brilliantly with their Class Service!
... our Youth Speaks team who won their competition!
...the school orchestra who played brilliantly in the Junior Arts Festival!
... all the entrants in the Eisteddfod competition!
... the children who took part in the Tag Rugby festival!
...all the children who took part in the Education Sunday Service!
...Year 5 and the dance group who took part in the 'Dance Your Socks Off' festival!
...all the visitors who helped with our Well-being Week celebrations!
...all of Year 2 for leading a super Class Assembly on positivity!
...the children who took part in the Chess Competition!
...the brilliant athlete in Year 6 who threw the javelin the furthest in a recent competition!
...Year 3 who were fantastic on their school trip to the quarry!
...Year 4 who organised a cake sale to raise money for a storyteller to come to school!
...Reception and Y1 who had a fantastic time at Bristol Zoo!
... All of KS1 who were a fantastically enthusiastic audience for the Sleeping Beauty pantomime!
...All of Year 6 who are taking part in First Aid training!
...Everyone who took part in the swimming gala!
... everyone who took part in the Candlelit Carol Service!
... all of Year 2 who sang at the Dickensian Fair!
...the Year 2 children who sang at 'The Lodge'!
...all of KS2 for their excellent performance of 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory'!
...all of KS1 for their fabulous performance of 'Noisy Nativity'!
...the girls in Year 5 and 6 who represented the school at the recent football tournament!
...the cast of 'Tickled Pink' Productions' for the fantastic pantomime of 'The Wizard of Oz'!
...to all of Year 2 for their wonderful aquarium exhibition!
... all staff and children who donated money and dressed in their pjs and shared stories for Children in Need!
...the group of children and PAWS who organised a cake sale in aid of Children in Need!
...to the Year 6 childen who sold the poppies for Remembrance!
...the Year 3 and 4 classes who took part enthusiastically in the Raise the Roof singing workshop!
...all those who took part in the Cross Country!
...our Reception Class who have settled into school life so well!
... our Year 6 class who led a fantastic service about their school camp experiences!
...all who represented the school at the Bath Festival!
... all who participated in the recent football tournament!
...all our musicians who achieved certificates in Celebration Assembly!
...the new School Council members!
... everyone who took part in the Summer Reading Challenge!
... the children in Year 1 and Year 4 who helped to plant seeds for the Hampton Court Flower Show!
... the teams who participated in the Youth Speaks competition!
... the children in Year 6 who went to the cricket county finals at Somerset County Ground!
...the children in Year 5 who got through to the cricket county finals in Bath!
...children in Year 2 and KS2 who took part in the Cluster Sports Day!
...all the children in the whole school who took part in various events on Sports Day!
...everyone who went to the Quadkids event!
...all the performers who took part in the Evening of Music Concert!
...Esme, whose choir was entered into the Bournemouth Choir of the Year -beautiful singing!
...Year 6 for organising the'Breakfast Bangers' - delicious!
...everyone who participated in the Weston Junior Arts Festival!
...everyone who took part in the 'Puss in Boots' competition, especially our two winners!
...everyone who took part in the Village Fun Run!
... the team of Year 5 and 6 who took part in this year's Science and Engineering Challenge Day!
... everyone who participated in the Science Week competition especially the winners and runners- up!
...Benedict in Year 2 who was awarded second place in a National Coding competition. Children had to write the code to create their own App and design a background for it. Benedict's winning app can be viewed by visiting http://espressocoding.co.uk/espresso/coding/hourofcode.html
...all of the children in Year 2 who entered the National Coding competition.
...all of the participants in this year's Eisteddfod!
...all of Year 5 for their fantastic performance at Dance Your Socks Off!
... the children in Dixie Band who entertained us with a Christmas brass concert!
...Big Sing, Orchestra, KS1 choir, Reception class, readers and all who took part in the Candlelit Carol Service!
..the Year 4 children who sang to open the Wrington Dickensian Fayre!
...the 12 children who sang carols at The Lodge!
...the 4 children from Year 4, 5 and 6 who took part in the Ashton Court cross country!
...our team of boys who were finalists in the North Somerset Football Tournament!
...our two girls' teams who particpated in the North Somerset football finals!
... all the children in every class who performed magnificently in their Christmas productions!
...our 12 cross country runners who took part in the North Somerset Finals. Our boys' team won gold and one of our runners came third out of the 216 who took part!
... one of our Year 6 violinists who has achieved her Grade 7!
...The 4 children in Year 4 who took part in a spelling competition at Fairfield school - and won!
...the children in Key Stage 2 who took part in the swimming gala at Churchill!
... the 9 children from Year 5 and 6 who took part in the Somerset finals of the 'Tag to Twickenham' competition and have now made it through to the Regional finals in June!
... the 5 children whose 500 words stories have been selected for the '4 Schools Event'. They will be attending a celebration on Saturday 20th April where their stories will be attached to balloons and released! Di Toft, a children's author, will be attending and the children will have the opportunity to hear her speak.
... all the entrants in this year's Eisteddfod!
... all of Year 6 and the Year 5 musicians who took part in the Churchill Music Festival
...our school hockey teams who recently took part in the Quickstix Tournament at Churchill Academy. Our three teams came 1st, 4th and 7th.
...our two Youth Speaks teams who competed in the regional Rotary Youth Speaks Competition in November. India Capon was judged 'best speaker' and our other team, Millie, Esther and Aaron, who spoke about Cycle Paths won the 'best team' trophy!
...the children in Year 4 who took part in an inter-schools spelling competition at Fairfield School.
...the Cross Country team who participated in the Cluster competition. Our boys' team came first and our girls' team came second! Special mention to Archie who has now been selected to represent North Somerset!
...the children who took part in the 'Same Flame' concert at All Saint's Church in Weston-super-Mare.
...all the musicians who were awarded certificates in exams last term!
...our Blue Peter badge winner in Y2 who won a writing competition – well done!
...our fabulous chef who won a national cake competition! Yummy!

subset: commoncrawl


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A man has been cut into pieces by his enemies. His severed head now perches on a tree branch. Beside it hangs his headless, armless body and, further along the branch, the missing arms. Two other naked, mutilated bodies also slump around the tree.
This is not a video from Syria such as the one currently causing worldwide shock. Horrific images in this video reveal a rebel commander called Khaled al-Hamad appearing to eat the heart of one of his enemies. He cuts it out of the body on camera while uttering insults to the Alawite religious minority to which President Assad belongs: the rebel has confirmed it is him and this is what he did. He says he also has a video of himself dismembering an enemy with a saw. Time magazine says he ate a lung, rather than the man's heart.
The picture I started with, however, was drawn by Francisco de Goya in the early 19th century and it depicts the horrors of the Spanish peninsular war of 1808-1814. It is called Great Deeds Against the Dead. Khaled al-Hamad's acts on video might easily be given the same title. Do we really believe that soldiers or rebels or even civilians who come across a slain enemy always treat the fallen with respect? Or that the living fare much better at the heart of war?
Images such as this gruesome, vengeful feasting on an enemy's flesh make news today because, in spite of the immediacy of modern media, we generally see a far more sanitised picture of war than people did in the age of Goya, or earlier. Strangely enough, the depiction of war in today's newspapers and television is far more sentimental than it was in the past. In his lost masterpiece The Battle of Anghiari, Leonardo da Vinci reduces war to a savagery very like what this video shows. A copy of a central part of the painting by Rubens shows one soldier about to hack off another's hand, their horses biting each other, and the mens' faces as masks of hate. Da Vinci wrote that a depiction of a battle should include desperate characters who "take revenge with nails and teeth".
Many paintings of battles, although they show the pageantry of war, also reveal the barbarism it unleashes. The dead are crushed under horses, the wounded struggle in mud and blood. Extreme violence is recorded in paintings when today it would be left veiled by the news media. A 17th-century painting that hangs in Amsterdam's Rijksmuseum shows the mutilated bodies of the De Witt brothers hanging upside down after they were accused of treason.
Such works of art come from an age when it was taken for granted that wars, riots and political murders were deliberately cruel releases of the worst human beings are capable of. A war atrocity is shown, non-judgmentally, in the Bayeux tapestry. A crushed enemy lies under a chariot in one of the oldest images of war, the so-called Standard of Ur.
Why, then, is the video from Syria considered so troubling? It is vile of course, but that is because war is vile. Good soldiers know that. "You cannot qualify war in harsher terms than I will," the American civil war general William Tecumseh Sherman told the people of Atlanta before burning their city to hasten the defeat of the slaveholding south. "War is cruelty and you cannot refine it."
It is a mystery why we are more hypocritical about war's true nature than Sherman or Goya were. Is it because the modern west has not seen major conflict on its own soil since 1945 and so can afford to tell itself pretty lies? Or is it because democratic nation states need to soften the images of conflict in order to win popular support for it? It is only the bad guys who are brutal, we like to think.
Whatever the reasons, there is no excuse for taking this video of a brutal wartime act as some kind of reason for refusing to support Syria's rebels. The truth is, every war and every army is capable of great deeds against the dead and monstrous ones against the living. In Crete in 1941, fleeing Germans were deliberately run over by British tanks. That was not a war crime. It was war.
This video is not a reason to change our minds about Syria's rebels. It is a reason to stop kidding ourselves about what war is.


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The plant Golgi apparatus is composed of numerous stacks of cisterna, designated as cis, medial, and trans Golgi cisternae; these stacks move within the cytoplasm along the actin cytoskeleton. Cis cisternae receive secretory products from endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and they subsequently progress through the stack to the trans cisternae, where they are sorted to other destinations, including cell wall, plasma membrane (PM), vacuoles, and chloroplasts. In addition, the plant Golgi apparatus plays a role of glycosylating proteins as well as synthesizing cell wall polysaccharides, such as hemicelluloses and pectins. This protocol describes procedures for imaging fluorescently-tagged proteins localized to the plant Golgi apparatus of Arabidopsis seedlings using confocal laser microscopy (CLSM), total internal reflection fluorescence microscope (TIRF), and immunogold labeling of high-pressure frozen/freeze substituted samples by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). We particularly focus on long-term time lapse imaging and protein localization in subdomains within the Golgi. This protocol can be also used for other organelles, tissues, and plant species.
Materials and Reagents
This work was supported by Grant for Basic Science Research Projects from The Sumitomo Foundation to SN; the Japanese Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS; 30612022 to S.N.); the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology in Japan [NC-CARP project (to S.N.)] and U. S. National Science Foundation grant MCB1157824 (to MSO).
Please login to post your questions/comments. Your questions will be directed to the authors of the protocol. The authors will be requested to answer your questions at their earliest convenience. Once your questions are answered, you will be informed using the email address that you register with bio-protocol.
You are highly recommended to post your data including images for the troubleshooting.
You are highly recommended to post your data including images for the troubleshooting.


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Junior Suite For 4 Persons
Tirol Lodge Junior Suite For those looking for something more spacious
Looking for more comfort, perhaps for three of you, or do you just want a little more room? You'll enjoy pure comfort in our 32 m² Junior Suites.
Apart from a super comfortable king size double bed there is a pull-out sofa bed, just perfect for an afternoon nap or for a holiday with two pals.
As you would expect from a Suite, there's loads of cupboard space, bathroom with shower, separate WC, flat-screen TV, free high-speed wireless internet and for the romantics, dimmable lights.


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BURLINGTON, N.C. -- No saggy pants, no short skirts, and no tight-fitting clothes are just a few of the rules listed in the new dress code policy at Walter Williams High School.
A group of football players at Williams aren't particularly happy about the new dress code that will implemented at the start of the school year.
"Part of it sucks because you can't wear hats," said Williams High student, Rahiem Robinson. "People do better when they express themselves."
Williams High Principal, Joe Ferrell said the new dress code is just a small part of a big plan to lower the dropout rate, increase students' attention span, and improve their academic performance.
"And obviously dress code can be quite distracting -- sagging pants, certain types of hats and head-gear, low-cut tops, short shorts and skirts can be distracting," said Ferrell.
From now on, shorts, skirts and dresses can be no higher than six inches above the knee. No tight-fitting or see through tops, no tops exposing cleavage, no bedroom slippers, leggings, hats and no blankets used as coats.
If students break the rules, they wont go to class. Instead, they'll get suspended for the day.


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Headlines about the future of transatlantic relations, and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in particular, in late 2016 and early 2017 mostly warned of doom and gloom. Part of this sentiment could have been attributed to a sense of disorientation—even declinism—following the success of Donald J. Trump's U.S. presidential bid.
Whither NATO Under Trump
During his presidential campaign, Trump did his fair share to sow doubts about U.S. commitment to the transatlantic alliance. In particular, Trump's idea of allied reciprocity—that the United States would only defend allies if they increased their military spending—and other conditions under which the United States would act in defense of a NATO ally sent shivers down spines not just in countries within the alliance's eastern flank, but also in Western Europe. Trump bashed the NATO member countries that failed to meet the defense expenditure target of 2 percent of GDP, which was set during NATO's 2014 summit in Wales. To add insult to injury, he disparaged the alliance as "obsolete" in light of today's security challenges, and thus too costly for U.S. taxpayers to support. The fact that Trump's transactional approach to alliance politics was rebuked in both U.S. conservative and progressive circles did not pacify the anxiety that had already set in.
From the vantage point of U.S. foreign policy guiding principles, Trump's ascent to power heralded an end to the long-running dispute between the Hamiltonian and Wilsonian traditions, which share the belief that the United States should be at the center of a liberal international order, even if the rationale behind it varies. Wilsonians promote the virtues of a global liberal order in terms of values rather than economics, which lies at the heart of Hamiltonians' convictions. Out of this shared belief arose the post–World War II consensus, which, among other things, resulted in the birth of NATO in the late 1940s.
Trump, in contrast, ran as a champion of the Jacksonian tradition: he was less concerned with upholding the U.S. global role and more focused on safeguarding U.S. values and traditions, with the inclination to assign the U.S. government responsibility to advance narrowly defined security and economic interests. In his inaugural address, President Trump declared that "from this day forward, it is going to be only 'America First.' Every decision … will be made to benefit American workers and American families." The crux of this shift was then summarized by the president in his address to Congress: "My job is not to represent the world. My job is to represent the United States of America." Therefore, concerns about the future of U.S. commitment to the transatlantic community were not unfounded.
The Trump administration seemed to acknowledge this uncertainty during the annual Munich Security Conference in February. Trump administration officials went out of their way to underline the enduring importance of NATO as the United States' principal alliance: Vice President Mike Pence assured allies of the United States' "unwavering" commitment to NATO, while Defense Secretary Jim Mattis underscored the alliance's importance for global security.
Old Wine in a New Bottle?
What went largely unnoticed was that, while verbally reassuring European allies, the Trump administration stayed the course with respect to pushing to eliminate the sizable varianceamong NATO members' financial commitments to common security. This issue is guaranteed to dominate the agenda of the NATO summit in Brussels in late May. Secretary Mattis stated that unless European NATO members start taking their commitments seriously, the United States would be forced to "moderate" its commitment to the alliance.
However, it would be a mistake to associate the United States' growing unease toward the European failure to meet the 2 percent spending target solely with Trump's agenda. Former officials from President Barack Obama's cabinet famously warned NATO allies about the danger of neglecting to make adequate financial contributions to common defense and, by extension, to joint military operations. Nor are U.S. calls for continued adaptation of the alliance to better respond to security challenges something novel. Notably, the selection of Mattis, former head of NATO's transformation command in Virginia, as secretary of defense could be an indication of the importance that this administration assigns to keeping the alliance an influential security policy actor.
What is new, however, is the sense of urgency that the Trump administration has introduced to the transatlantic discourse. Under President Trump, the United States is not a "reluctant leader"—it is an "impatient leader" that does not shy away from disciplining its partners. At times this impatience generates unnecessary tension, and can unintentionally undercut the overarching goals of U.S. policy. German Chancellor Angela Merkel's visit to Washington in March is a case in point. The U.S. president used this opportunity to apply extra pressure on Merkel to shore up Germany's defense expenditure, overlooking the fact that Berlin is already taking steps—however measured these steps may appear to be from the U.S. perspective—toward meeting the 2 percent target.
Merkel's steady leadership is indispensable if Germany is to stay this course, especially in the very volatile period of a parliamentary election. Defense spending was already an election issue, with one of the leading figures of Germany's Social Democratic Party, Sigmar Gabriel, warning against a new "arms race" with Russia. That he uttered these words in Moscow was no doubt an eyebrow-raising moment. Against this backdrop, Trump's demands vis-à-vis Germany tocompensate the U.S. for extending a security umbrella were anything but helpful, complicating efforts to further boost Germany's security and defense posture. An increase in expenditures on, say, new equipment, could be criticized as a bow toward Trump's United States, thus feeding into easily mobilized German anti-Americanism.
One may ask: why is all this important for the future of NATO? U.S.-German relations will be setting the tone of the transatlantic relationship and to a much larger degree than was previously the case. This had already become apparent in the dying days of the Obama administration. For all the controversy that haunted U.S.-German relations—for example, wiretapping of the German chancellor by U.S. intelligence services—Merkel and Obama finished on a very high note, touting the importance of U.S.-German relations for the future of the West and the liberal international order. It was not just a knee-jerk reaction to the election of Donald Trump, who—as the Jacksonian tradition would suggest—is ambivalent at best toward the community of values that binds both sides of the Atlantic Ocean.
Think Brexit: it may not be about hard security issues that are central to NATO per se. The United Kingdom's divorce from the European Union—but not from Europe, as the Britons are quick to underscore—will take time, and its ultimate shape is yet to be decided. Still, Brexit might unleash initiatives such as a new independence referendum in Scotland that, if it results in Scotland parting ways with the UK, would open a debate about the future of London's nuclear deterrent—all of the UK's nuclear-capable submarines use Her Majesty's Naval Base in Clyde, Scotland—and more generally about the UK's contribution to European security. A distracted and embattled UK, engaged in protracted negotiations with Brussels over the details of its future relationship with the rest of Europe, would have a hard time protecting its position as the United States' principal European security partner. Germany, with its economic prowess and steadily rising military expenditure, is already the United States' most important European partner.
Superpower Distraction
Another factor that will likely shape the dynamics of transatlantic relations in the coming months, and possibly years, is the United States' growing entanglement in East Asia. In other words, mounting challenges and crises in the Far East are likely to drain the attention and resources of an administration that came into office with little appetite to increase U.S. foreign commitments. These include Chinese maritime claims and disputes with neighboring countries, some of which are bound with the United States by defense treaties, the continued intransigence of the regime in Pyongyang, and tensions resulting from internal developments in countries that have traditionally described themselves as U.S. allies.
North Korea in particular is consuming an increasingly large share of the Trump administration's bandwidth. For now, Washington is responding to the threat posed by Pyongyang with the deployment of a new missile defense system and the positioning of additional naval assets in the region. However, North Korea's missile potential is steadily expanding. It is estimated that Pyongyang already possesses, but has not yet tested, missiles with a range of more than ten thousand kilometers (six thousand miles), capable of reaching the United States. Once these assets are proven effective, North Korea would be in a position to attack the territory of a NATO member, possibly with an unconventional warhead.
While this threat is still fairly remote from a military point of view, its political consequences are more immediate: growing tension in East Asia might serve as a reinforcing argument for those in the United States who urge European NATO members to do more for common defense. The United States will be too preoccupied with threats emanating from the Korean Peninsula—on top of other, more strategic and long-term challenges—to maintain the backbone of NATO's conventional deterrence and defense posture in Europe. Europeans will thus be expected to step up their commitments, not because of Trump's insistence that NATO is costing the United States "a fortune," but out of strategic necessity.
NATO: Obsolete or Obligatory?
In April, President Trump famously declared NATO was "no longer obsolete" during a meeting with the alliance's secretary-general, Jens Stoltenberg. It was a welcome change of heart, but it is not a change of policy. The United States will continue to insist that the status quo, in which it vastly outspends allies, is untenable. Thus the period immediately before the NATO leaders' meeting in Brussels in late May is likely to feature both further calls for increased spending by European members (although some, like Poland, are already meeting their 2 percent obligation), and new spending pledges that would move the alliance toward a semblance of balanced burden sharing between Europe and the United States. Another topic that is likely to reverberate in Brussels is the fight against the so-called Islamic State and terrorism in general. NATO's role in the campaign against the Islamic State is still fairly limited. However, virtually all member states are contributing to the global coalition to counter the militant group.
Over time, just as president Trump came to appreciate the significance of NATO for the United States, and as the administration shifts to a higher gear once all senior officials have been appointed, the United States can reasonably be expected to follow an alliance policy that puts a premium on greater predictability, especially with respect to rhetoric. Given Trump's participation, the meeting in Brussels will be the best opportunity for this administration so far to revisit some basics truths about the value of alliances [PDF], and NATO in particular. First, alliances are necessary for enhancing U.S. capabilities, which are vast, but not infinite. Second, despite occasional frustrations and obvious, if unavoidable, political friction, working with allies offers a boost in terms of the legitimacy of U.S. actions. Finally, alliances are a tool for exercising and solidifying leadership, both politically and militarily. As President Trump pursues his goal of "making America great again," nothing stands in the way of ensuring NATO remains the greatest alliance the United States can fall back upon.
Source: cfr.org


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Welcome to the weekly roundup of the best new Android applications, games, and live wallpapers that went live in the Market or were spotted by us in the previous 2 weeks or so.
This edition focuses only on new tablet apps or ones that added tablet support. Regular apps and games are coming soon.
Unfortunately, I could only find 4 tablet apps in almost a month, which makes me really sad. Sure, a lot of apps are automatically compatible with tablets, but we always appreciate the extra effort that goes into making a dedicated tablet UI.
For Tablets
LilyPad HD
Android Police coverage: Like Floating Apps? Then You'll Love LilyPad HD, A Floating Messaging Client For Tablets
When we first covered LilyPad, only Google Talk was supported, and further network support was going to be available as in-app purchases. Having received a lot of negative feedback about this model, the LilyPad team decided to drop in-app purchases altogether and offer new networks for free:
We've decided to drop the in-app purchase model for LilyPad HD. All additional clients added will be available for FREE.
LilyPad HD is the first floating instant messaging app for your Android tablet. With LilyPad HD, you can now have powerful multitasking capabilities just like on your desktop computer. LilyPad HD was designed to 'float' over all of your running applications. That means you can now watch a YouTube video, surf the internet, or use any of your other apps while simultaneously chatting with your Google Talk and Facebook friends.
- Adjustable/resizable chat windows
- Quick Hide Mode: double tap action bar to enable quick hide mode
- Minimize chat windows completely
- Tabbed chatting for multiple conversations
Client Supported:
- Google Talk
- Facebook Messenger
Upcoming client support
- Skype
- Yahoo
Android Police coverage: [New App] CloudOn Gives You Access To Microsoft Office On Android Tablets, Stores Files In Your Preferred Cloud Storage
CloudOn lets you use your tablet to create, view, and edit files directly in Microsoft Word, Excel & PowerPoint. These applications will work the way you expect them to, and your files will look the way you want them to. That's pretty cool. But, we know you want more. CloudOn also integrates with Box, Dropbox and Google Drive. Use CloudOn to connect with these services and open, edit and store your files in one place. Wait we're not done. CloudOn is equipped with an Adobe Reader and a File Viewer that lets you open and view virtually any file type, including PDF, JPG, PNG, GIF, etc. With the ability to create, edit, share and save your information, CloudOn is the essential tool for mobile productivity.
The CloudOn Workspace allows you to:
- Use Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint on your Android tablet to create or edit documents.
- Rename, delete and manage documents with your Box, Dropbox or Google Drive accounts
- View virtually any type of file, including: PDF, JPG, PNG, GIF, etc.
- Send files via email directly from the workspace
- Display, edit or create charts, change formatting, spell check, insert comments, etc into any Word, Excel or PowerPoint files
- Track changes while reviewing Word documents
- Use pivot tables and insert formulas in Excel workbooks
- Display and edit transitions in PowerPoint slides and present in full PowerPoint mode (not in PDF)
- Automatically save documents to avoid losing changes
Write is a word processor for handwriting, available for Windows tablet PCs and Android 3.0 and later. Write provides a unique new way to work with handwriting: ruled mode. This mode groups strokes into lines, allowing them to be edited nearly as easily as lines of typed text in a word processor. When ruled mode is off, Write behaves like a typical vector drawing application. Watch the demo video to get started!
* tools: draw, erase, select, insert space, and add bookmark
* move strokes and insert space in multiples of the page's ruling
* reflow handwritten text with the insert space tool
* insert bookmarks and label them with handwriting
* cut, copy, paste selection
* unlimited undo/redo (volume keys can be used for undo/redo)
* pan/zoom with two fingers
* user defined page size and ruling
* pages can grow automatically as you write
* split screen with web browser to take notes from web pages or videos
* html/svg document format viewable in Chrome and Firefox
* view thumbnails as a grid or list
* when viewed as list, arrange thumbnails by drag and drop
GameQ by Gamefly
Enjoy the very best interactive video game publication on your Android device in GameQ. Beautiful art, screens, and videos bring in-depth stories and interviews to life for an unrivaled reading experience. Download it to your Android tablet today completely free from the gamers at GameFly.
Know A Worthy New App? Let Us Know!
If you have an application in mind for the next issue of the roundup, feel free to send us an email and let us know.
Important: there are 2 requirements in order for the app to be considered, listed below.
- the app's launch date has to be no longer than 2 weeks ago
- it has to be original, ground-breaking, well-reviewed, interesting, fun, etc - the cream of the crop
Now, if and only if the above requirements have been satisfied, fire up an email to this address: [email protected].
1 sponsored placement per week is available (your app would be featured at the top and marked as sponsored) - please contact us for details.


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Thirty one years ago, during the global energy crisis of 1975, David Hamel was watching The Waltons on his home television in Maple Ridge, British Columbia, when two grey static pixels emerged from the screen and enlarged into alien beings on either side of him. They appeared to him as a humanoid male-female couple, although he admits that's an arbitrary visualization his brain concocted when engaged telepathically by beings from another dimension.
They introduced themselves as "A" and Arkan from the planet Kladen. They brought Hamel aboard their flying saucer -- "They sent me through the roof!" is how he describes the paranormal out-of-body experience -- where their androgynous android companion, On, illustrated how they traveled from their distant galaxy to Earth: their ship floated in an antigravity bubble powered by electrically charged vortical airflow between magnetic rings. It was, the aliens said, the same method they had used when they visited the ancient Egyptians prior to the construction of the great pyramids at Giza, when they turned up as three wise men in Bethlehem for the birth of Jesus and when they appeared to Third Reich scientists before World War II in an attempt to avert global military conquest.
On explained that the ship's motor needed no fuel except the inherent magnetic forces that attracted and repelled its components. By varying the relative position of the magnetic rings, a vortex of charged air could be created intense enough to suck the ship through a surrounding electromagnetic disturbance, escaping gravity, radar and common sense. Hamel received a breathtaking fifteen-minute demo ride at hypersonic speed over the Canadian landscape, pausing only to hover over a man carrying a yoke laden with two buckets, who collapsed when he saw the ship overhead. Hamel was then instructed to do two things: develop the aliens' technology on earth in order to save the human race from "the Grid" (the world's asphalt-electrical network) and use it to build a survival ship like Noah's Ark. At last, "A," Arkan and On dropped Hamel back home into his body, and he emerged in the immersive flicker of his TV's cathode static.
Though he says, "They're in my body, my mind, I can't get away from them," Hamel's next and final direct encounter with the aliens came just three months later, when they returned in a black car with red diplomatic license plates. He admits to feeling a little hurt by that visit, because they ignored him and instead communicated for three hours with his wife Nora, whom they had in fact visited once before, six years earlier.
Back then, in 1969, David Hamel was training baton twirling girls at the local Legion hall in Maple Ridge. Nora, who is unable to walk and has limited motor skills due to the cerebral palsy with which she was born in 1944, would sit in her wheelchair, enjoying the maneuvers. The two struck up an understanding, with David's horrific World War II trauma balanced by the pain Nora had suffered because of fourteen botched operations to mend her misshapen legs.
It was after one such surgery that the aliens came to Nora, comforting her during her recovery and, curiously, leaving angelica leaves on her hospital bed, in her hair and on the floor of her room.
Moved by her situation, David asked for Nora's hand in marriage after several years of twirling courtship -- to the disbelief of Nora's family. "I thought for four days about it," says Hamel, who still has three children from an ill-fated first marriage he embarked upon while on leave in Scotland after the war. "They were going to send Nora for more operations. She showed me what they'd done to her, those goddamn doctors. I said, No rotten bastards are going to cut her up again. So I decided to marry her."
Still very much in love, David and Nora now live together in rural Gilmour, Ontario, a God-fearing, Twin Peaksesque hamlet in the Precambrian Shield forests south of Algonquin Park. Their modest two-story home at the end of a dirt road is close enough to town that Hamel can drive in daily to get food, but far enough away that he can build and test flying saucers on his sprawling lightning-prone property without causing too much of a ruckus. NASA once came to visit him here after hearing of the six foty-five-gallon oil drums Hamel rocket-launched using motor prototypes developed immediately after his abduction, and of the power outages he continues to cause in the vicinity of his ongoing testing.
"I would work for NASA if they would listen to me, but they don't!" he rants. Hamel is outspoken, independent, egomaniacal. He's also a practical, hands-on guy, having received only an elementary-school education during his schoolboy days in 1930s Montreal. During the Cold War, he operated radios along the DEW (Distant Early Warning) Line in the Arctic and worked as a roc-cutter for a marble company that designed bank lobbies. "I'll put the lights out for miles, then they'd listen, they'd know what I've got. The scientists come here, but they can't accept the magnetic. They'd rather play around with nuclear rods, but they're poison. There's too much lying, too much greed. Everyone wants the truth, but they won't find it, they won't plant the seed, people are dying, the end is coming!"
Not all of Hamel's neighbors approve of his ufological eschatology, but he doesn't bother them at the local parish -- televangelical Sunday service suits him just fine. Many know him as "the UFO guy," who earlier this year escaped from a head-on collision with an oncoming truck while attempting to turn his car off the highway into the parking lot of a local restaurant. "I don't know how he survived that," says the restaurant owner incredulously. "He sure is stubborn."
But wouldn't you be stubborn if the signs were everywhere? After David and Nora moved here from British Columbia in 1980, they found -- left behind in the attic by the previous occupant -- a yoke matching the one carried by the man Hamel saw from the saucer. And patterns of angelica leaves identical to those left behind for Nora were discovered beneath their wallpaper during renovations.
Nowadays the Hamel home is a treasure trove of occult ephemera. Lining the living room wall (opposite the wood carvings of scenes from the Book of the Dead depicting what some believe are ancient Egyptians receiving radiation therapy from primitive electrode effigies) are blueprints for Hamel's Ark of the Covenant - the Noah-inspired spaceship he hopes will carry survivors of the coming apocalypse. Hamel plans to launch the craft from a giant slab of granite rock near James Bay. Also hanging on the wall is a framed black-and-white airbrush illustration of a domed saucer hovering with a glowing aura, taken from a 1970s pulp sci-fi illustration. Hamel claims the illustration, in the form of undeveloped microfilm, was subcutaneously embedded in his palm following his original abduction. A stigma remains on his hand from the emergency surgery required to remove it.
David Hamel is an inventor. Not only of stories that just might be true, but also of machines that just might work. He is as much an artist as an engineer, weaving alternate realities from historical and scientific anomalies, sculpting metal according to intuited designs. He works alone or with friends in the backyard shed he built himself. He supports his wife on a meager military disability pension, which he began receiving in the 1960s as compenation for crippling bullet wounds suffered during the Second World War.
As if the bureaucratic ineptitude of a twenty-year pension delay doesn't irk him enough, Hamel knows he would now be rich if his magnet-related patent applications hadn't been misfiled years ago. He can't remember when, but he is sure he attempted to patent the process of magnetically aligning individual atoms within a lattice (an idea that is now a profitable emerging procedure in nanotechnology). So upset was he upon arriving in the Canadian Patent Office in Gatineau, Quebec, to find that his entire file had gone "missing" that he slammed cross-shaped vibration magnets on the counter and had to be removed by police for causing a scene.
Continued tomorrow


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Oakland, Berkeley, And East Bay News, Events, Restaurants, Music, & Arts
Serving classic Italian fare in the same comfortable, earth-toned, softly glowing space since 1961, Giovanni is one of the last still-standing Berkeley restaurants enlivening the childhood memories of local folks aged fifty-plus. The ravioli is still made in the exact same way by the exact same hands: sous chef Juan Sanchez has been doing it for forty years. Original owner Giovanni Schipani sold the place in 1987, then bought it back in 2010; now it's a family outfit again. Pasta, pizza, sandwiches, and other favorites — the Italian standbys that are programmed into the sensory hard drive of most anyone who grew up in Europe or North America — are served here in generous portions, with fabulous soft-centered, steaming-hot, herb-specked, house-made foccacia on the side. If you know what's good for you, order the tiramisu.
Hours: Daily 11 a.m.-10 p.m.
Tags: Italian
Price: $$
Payment Type: Cash, all major credit cards
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" It was great! He was very helpful, answered every question I had and taught to my needs! "
Private Online Adobe Edge Class
Edge level 1 class
( Earlier versions available )
Customised Private Class - 12 Hours
Cost: $895
Class Description:
Pre-Class Requirements:
You should have attended the Introduction to HTML class at Media Training or have an equivalent working knowledge.
Class Outline:
- What is Adobe Edge?
- Animation on the web: the role of JavaScript and CSS
- Understanding animation basics
The Adobe Edge interface
- Selection tools and techniques
- Drawing tools
- Working with text
- The Stage
- Using the Elements panel
- Using the Properties panel
- Using the Timeline panel
- Workspaces
Creating animations
- Frame based animation
- Using Auto-generation
Working with the Timeline
- Timeline controls
- Adding movement
- Reversing movement
- Creating transitions and fades
- Working with keyframes
- Playing your animation
- Using the Marker
- Using and understanding Triggers
Animation techniques
- Applying Easing to your animations
- Creating Smooth transitions
- Animating content on an existing web page
- Controlling the timing of your animations
- Preview the animation
- Preview in a browser
Importing graphics
- Different graphics formats
- Importing SVG, GIFs and JPGs
- The Adobe creation workflow
Projects and interactivity
- Editing content: skew, rotate, size
- Creating an image gallery
- Adding animations to a web page
- Creating web adverts
- Creating hotspots
- Creating hyperlinks/web links
- Adding Events for mouse interactions
- Adding Triggers
- Creating mask effects
- Creating pop-ups
- Saving and publishing your project
Questions and answers
Our outlines are a guide to the content covered on a typical class. We may change or alter the class topics to meet the objectives of a particular class.
- You have a certified instructor all to yourself for 12 hours
- We go at your pace as it is a private class
- The course is customized to your specific objectives and needs
- The dates and even times are flexible to suit your schedule
- Work with your own content or projects
- There is no travel time or associated costs
- The price is the same or less than attending a public class with other students who may have different agenda's and skill levels to your own
We also offer Adobe Edge training in the following cities:
We also offer Adobe Edge training in the following cities:


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♦ BIOGRAPHY TEMPLATE Dec 6, 2016 3:47:13 GMT
If you're returning for your belongings to port over, or want get some links to post, go right ahead! Registering new accounts is disabled in this neck of the woods, and by Jan 1st, 2018, all activity will be ceased here.
Think of it as an archive of an era! Either way, we can't wait to see you over on the new site!


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Rest room And Kitchen Backsplash Options And Ideas
A 3D digital CAD design software is a unique design instrument that offers you the opportunity to simply design any room in a home. In researching the sort of mirror further, noting the professionals and cons and taking particular note of buyer critiques I concluded that Acrylic mirrors could be just ideal for my project; it was just a case of discovering the most suitable measurement accessible.
Not only is it made to measure to maximises on space for storing nevertheless it additionally meets our different requirements for a brand new toilet cabinet together with fitting in with our décor for the bathe room makeover, giant mirrors on the cabinet doorways and adjustable cabinets inside the cupboard for storage versatility.
What I found about Acrylic mirrors in my research is that they are gentle weight, usually effectively-priced and in contrast to conventional mirrors are versatile so there isn't any rick of them cracking if for example the picket door they're fastened to happens to warp; as wooden does.
Pinnacle to the design was the requirement for two massive mirrors to suit on the on the toilet cupboard doors. Next is reducing the bottom open (tiled) shelf and the top and bottom items for the toilet cabinet. Because the varnishing didn't take lengthy, I was soon prepared to suit the 2 mirrors to the cabinet doors and fit the toilet cupboard in place on the bathe room wall just above our new self-importance sink and unit.
Making my own bathroom cupboard was a lot cheaper than shopping for one, extra particularly as it is made mostly from scrap wooden laying around in my workshop; the shed down on the finish of the backyard. Including form to the design; primarily the toilet cabinet is a square field excepting the decrease open tiled shelf which is an inch less in depth.…


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We're sorry, this page isn't currently available. Please use the menu above to browse our site or contact us if you would like any assistance.
Since 2004 we have been producing custom canvas prints. Our product range has expanded to meet customers requirements. Backed by our desire to deliver exceptional customer service we promise to exceed all your expectations.
© 2020 Transform Your Images
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A bit of an experiment for me this one ha ha! I really fancied having a play with the new steampunk pendant released by Tando Creative and I just about threw everything at this!!
I couldn't get a look I liked...I'm still not sure now...so I've used, amongst a whole host of other things, Viva Decor Croco, Ferro, precious metal paints and Distress Accents.
CHNC challenge 492
16 hours ago


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JUNEAU, Alaska — An Alaska lawmaker is resigning after being accused of hitting a woman during a night of drinking last month, the second rural Alaska representative to leave office under a cloud in recent months.
The resignation of first-term Democratic state Rep. Zach Fansler of Bethel was announced on the House floor Friday and will be effective Feb. 12.
Fansler had faced pressure to resign from House leaders for nearly a week, since the Juneau Empire reported last Saturday that a woman had accused him of hitting her shortly before the legislative session began last month.
House leaders had already reassigned Fansler's staff and asked that he turn in his office keys.
House Speaker Bryce Edgmon told reporters he had spoken with Fansler "at least a couple of times" this week and made it clear that the caucus continued to seek his resignation.
Edgmon said Fansler did good work as a legislator and it's been a difficult issue for Fansler, the caucus and Fansler's district.
Fansler's attorney, Wally Tetlow of Anchorage, on Saturday said his client denied the allegations against him. Tetlow has not returned messages since then.
Fansler's departure will mean there will be another vacancy in the House. He is the second member in two months to resign from the House majority coalition, which is comprised largely of Democrats.
Related: Here's a list of political figures accused of sexual misconduct
In December, another first-term representative, Democrat Dean Westlake of Kotzebue, resigned after being accused by female aides of unwanted touching and inappropriate comments. Westlake has said he's sorry if he made anyone uncomfortable.
Westlake's replacement took office on Wednesday.


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Do you or someone you know own a business that would like to sponsor or exhibit at EATC 2017? If so, complete the sponsorship form to get the process started. A variety of sponsorship opportunities are available.
Sponsor or Exhibit at EATC 2017posted Nov 2, 2016, 11:27 AM by Amy Conway [ updated Jan 11, 2017, 8:08 AM ]


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A Progressive Agenda to Transform America
Add My Name:
More people are joining our movement to transform America. This is the progressive agenda we're fighting for.
Let's show Trump and his special interest friends that we are more powerful than the corporate executives and lobbyists in his Cabinet. Add your name to endorse our progressive agenda.
Address Income and Wealth Inequality
- Demand that the wealthy and large corporations pay their fair share in taxes.
- Reverse trade policies that have driven down wages and caused the loss of millions of jobs.
- Break up huge financial institutions so that they are no longer too big to fail. Invest in job programs by investing in infrastructure and disadvantaged youth.
- Make tuition free at public colleges and universities throughout America.
- Fight for pay equity by signing the Paycheck Fairness Act into law. Enact a universal child care and pre-kindergarten program.
- Provide at least 12 weeks of paid family leave to America's workers.
- Make it easier for workers to join unions by fighting for the Employee Free Choice Act.
- Create a federally administered single-payer health care program, providing comprehensive health care coverage for all Americans.
Government for the People, Not Lobbyists
- Fight for a publicly financed, transparent system of campaign financing.
- Pass a constitutional amendment giving Congress the power to regulate money in elections.
- Appoint Supreme Court justices who will make it a priority to overturn Citizens United.
- Restore our democracy by reinstating the full protections of the Voting Rights Act, ending racist voter suppression laws, expanding voting opportunities, implementing automatic voter registration, ending gerrymandering and making Election Day a national holiday.
Equality for All
- Acknowledge that racism and prejudice are real, and that systemic racism and hateful acts of violence are an everyday occurrence for too many Americans in this country.
- Expand voter registration opportunities and end racist voter suppression laws.
- Address racial-bias in our legal system and end the private for-prison racket that has created a schools-to-prison pipeline in disadvantaged communities.
- Stop the pollution and environmental inequality devastating communities across the world, particularly communities of color.
- Require police departments to adopt policies to ensure fairer interactions with people of color and transgender people, who are often targeted by police unfairly, and institute training programs to promote compliance with fair policies.
- End the Trump Administration's campaign to institutionalize government discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community.
- End LGBTQ+ discrimination at the workplace, in adoptions, in health care, in banking institutions -- everywhere.
- Expand and protect the reproductive rights of women.
- Fight for pay equity by signing the Paycheck Fairness Act into law.
- Provide at least 12 weeks of paid family leave to America's workers -- for families of all types.


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Live Like You at Our Extended Stay Hallettsville, TX Hotel
Check in: 3:00 PMEmbrace warm Texas hospitality at a home-style hotel designed for your lifestyle. Kick back and relax in spacious rooms and suites, appointed with microwaves, refrigerators and 32-inch flat screen TVs with cable. Escape the Texas heat in our outdoor pool or soothe sore muscles in our hot tub.
Check out: 11:00 AM
40 Rooms
Check out: 11:00 AM
40 Rooms
- Free Wi-Fi
- Free Breakfast
- Swimming Pool
- Business Center
- Pet Friendly


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Shedding light on photovoltaic projects
The use of photovoltaic (PV) technology as a renewable energy source grew in 2010. Will this trend continue? PV projects can be challenging unless you know the ropes. Here a group of experts shed light on PV trends and how to approach these engineering projects.
Meet Our PV Roundtable Participants
- Shaun Landman, PE, LEED AP, principal, Arup, San Francisco, Calif.
- Donald J. Krompak, vice president, project management, Matrix Technologies, Inc., Maumee, Ohio
- Peter C. D'Antonio, PE, CEM, LEED AP, president, PCD Engineering Services, Longmont, Colo.
- Mike Hess, PE, LEED AP, principal, X-nth, Maitland, Fla.
Q: What is the ratio of ground-mounted (or pedestal) versus building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) systems that you have installed?
Landman: The majority of the PV systems we have designed to date have been integrated into the building in some form. It really depends on what the client's needs are. Usually our building clients are trying to maximize the footprint of the building on a compact site, which doesn't leave much opportunity for ground-mounted systems. However, we are starting to experience increased participation in larger-scale ground-mounted PV projects. I estimate the ratio of systems is 80% building-integrated to 20% ground-mounted.
Krompak: At Matrix Technologies, all of our solar array projects are roof-mounted. Our power source and our inverters are located inside on the top floor of the building.
D'Antonio: Our ratio is 90% BIPV to 10% ground.
Hess: Almost all of our projects are not ground-mounted, but we also do not consider them BIPV. They are normally mounted on racks on the roof instead of having PV that is truly integrated into a product (such as a window).
Q: Describe a recent project in which you've used BIPV. Describe the engineering behind this project.
Landman: The California Academy of Sciences project in San Francisco has a BIPV component comprising crystalline modules integrated in to the perimeter of the roof structure. The BIPV elements are very prominent and provide an educational benefit to the many visitors. The perimeter of the roof is lined with high-efficiency panels, providing more than 213,000 kWh of clean energy annually—approximately 5% of the building's total energy requirement.
Krompak: Matrix Technologies is currently in the design phase of a PV system for the Sherriff's Crime Lab located in San Diego, California. The project is a 47 kW STC solar PV system. (STC means that ratings are derived under Standard Test Conditions.) The system will use Johns Manville BIPV CoolPly modules—a premanufactured, membrane integrated, tilted curb system. The curb system is heat-welded directly to the roof surface, allowing for easy attachment and a clean look, and does not require a ballasted system to hold the PV system to the roof. The system will consist of 195 solar modules as well an inverter and combiner that will be located in the existing facility. The estimated first-year energy output is 76,017 kWh.
D'Antonio: We installed three 100 kW building-mounted systems for a municipal client. The project involved tying into the existing building electrical system.
Q: Describe a recent project in which you've used ground-mounted or pedestal PV. Describe the engineering behind this project.
Landman: We are currently working on a ground-mounted application project for a university client. This particular client has a fair amount of open space that they are not planning to build on for quite some time and are looking at financially beneficial ways to use it. The PV system will feed into a number of different existing buildings on the campus. There were several factors that played significant roles in determining system sizes and interconnection configurations. The project has significant LEED aspirations, which indicated that a large array size would be preferred; however, challenges with utility interconnection and existing building electrical equipment required significant review to determine optimal system sizes.
Q: What are the geographic locations of the PV projects in which you have been involved?
Landman: Our PV projects are quite far-reaching in terms of geographic coverage of the U.S.—from Hawaii to New Jersey. But I would say a higher proportion of them are located in the western and northeastern states where electric utility rates tend to be on the higher side and where renewable energy incentive and rebate programs are more prevalent.
Krompak: Maumee (Toledo area), Ohio, is the location of our PV system. Matrix Technologies is currently working on the design of a PV system in San Diego, California.
D'Antonio: Our projects are in Colorado.
Hess: We've done projects mostly in Florida and California in the past, but state PV incentives have been unsteady and have made them difficult to implement in the U.S. We are now trying to push for renewable energy systems in the Caribbean where energy costs are usually three times as high as they are in the U.S.
Q: What are the typical PV project sizes and capacities with which you have been involved?
Landman: It varies quite a bit and definitely depends on the specific project needs. But the majority of the commercial building applied PV systems we have engineered are probably in the 50 kW to 300 kW range.
Krompak: The average size of our projects to date is approximately 15 kWh to 20 kWh, 100-200 panels, two strings, and two arrays.
D'Antonio: The typical size of our projects is 400-500 panels, 30-40 strings, and 100 kW.
Hess: Most of our projects have been smaller PV systems, in the range of 5 kW to 50 kW. There are several reasons for this. One limitation is the amount of roof area required since our PV technology is still not very efficient. Another limitation is first cost, so owners interested in PV can only afford a small token system. Some state incentives also have maximum amounts for one company, which limits the size. Finally, many owners just want to achieve one or two LEED points for renewable energy, which requires only a small-sized system.
Q: What's the primary building type for which you've engineered PV systems? Do you see other building types using more PV in the future?
Landman: Historically, the most prevalent building types have been educational and public service buildings. We have successfully integrated PV systems into a number of university buildings of varying uses, and a handful of library and other civic projects. As the installation costs for PV systems continue to trend downward, we should see more buildings using PV in the future, regardless of type. Significantly, organizations with extensive property portfolios are starting to become more aware of the large-scale cost benefits that can be realized by energy-efficiency upgrades, and the inclusion of on-site energy generation across their entire portfolio.
Krompak: The PV projects Matrix Technologies has designed/implemented to date include our office building and a laboratory.
D'Antonio: The building types we've worked with are commercial, including retail, office, and government.
Hess: Buildings for energy utility companies and federal buildings seem to be using the most PV. Until PV becomes more cost-effective and efficient, we're instead pushing for solar thermal technology and other energy-efficiency features that have better bang for the buck.
Q: What's the main reason clients and building owners request PV systems?
Landman: Clients are showing interest in PV systems for several reasons. Foremost, as the installed cost of PV systems comes down, property owners are starting to realize actual energy cost savings from the installation of PV systems. Combined with varying ways of procurement, design-bid-build, PPA, and leasing, there are now more ways than ever for clients to justify and afford such systems. The second factor is that sustainability is on the forefront of most of our clients' minds. There are very few projects we undertake in which a PV system is not at least studied during the initial stages.
Krompak: It seems most organizations want to reduce their energy costs. Some express a desire to be more green. In our case, both were true. We were aware of grant money available from the state of Ohio. That, coupled with the federal tax credit, meant the project was feasible from a cost/ROI standpoint.
D'Antonio: We have seen an interest in solar arise from public image and marketing perspectives. Also, in Colorado, large subsidies from utility companies along with tax benefits are making these systems attractive from a financial perspective. Clients can hedge against future rising electricity costs by entering into power purchase agreements, where a third party owns and operates the system and sells generated power to the owner at a fixed price for the term of the contract, typically 15-20 years.
Hess: LEED points.
Q: Based on your experience, what's the traditional return on investment (ROI) for a PV system in a commercial building?
Landman: The typical ROI for a rooftop system is approximately 15 years. The most significant factors for determining ROI are initial cost and value of incentives. Both of these can have a wide range based on installation location and client type. For these reasons we've had projects with ROIs between 3 and 50 years.
Krompak: The ROI—measured only by direct energy savings—can be rather lengthy. In our experience, it's 20-25 years. That's after applying grants and tax credits.
D'Antonio: It depends; there really is no typical ROI. It depends greatly on location, utility costs, installation costs, the type of entity that owns the building (profit or nonprofit), and available utility rebates.
Hess: Usually ROI has been in the range of 15-25 years, depending on availability of state incentives.
Q: What growth (or reduction) in solar PV do you see in 2011? By 2015? 2020?
Landman: The price-per-Watt for PV continues to trend downward. I would expect this trend to continue in line with technology advancements, and as mass production techniques improve. However, this may be offset by other factors such as reductions in subsidies for renewable energy systems and fluctuating currency exchange rates. Overall, my prediction is that there will be increased demand globally for PV and that will help drive growth over the next 10 years.
Krompak: Growth may depend on the continued availability of government grants and tax credits. As government and private funding of research and development increase, however, the cost of ownership has been going steadily downward, and the output has increased from the same square footage. Our feeling is that these factors will contribute to an increase in the number of solar installations.
D'Antonio: Growth in the U.S. market has been consistent over recent years, driven by consumer interest in green technologies, concern about energy prices, and available financial incentives. In a 2009 report, the Interstate Renewable Energy Council predicted a 50%-100% growth in the number of grid-connected solar photovoltaic installs in 2010. Most growth is in the residential market. Future growth depends highly on local markets, state and federal legislation, and utility incentive offerings.
Hess: We don't anticipate a lot of growth in 2011 because many of our clients have a large portfolio of buildings. Instead of placing some PV panels on one project, they can achieve a much higher return on their investment and much greater energy savings by retrocommissioning their older facilities (usually less than a 1-year payback) instead of using PV.
Q: What is the ratio of PV systems installed in existing buildings versus new construction?
Landman: In the commercial market, I would say that the majority of the systems are installed on new buildings primarily because PV systems are easier to integrate into the overall design of new build projects. I suspect the ratio is probably quite different in the rooftop application of smaller-scale systems on existing houses in the residential market.
Krompak: Our experience has all been with existing facilities.
Hess: 50/50.
Q: What are the specific methods for ensuring/tracking/monitoring PV array performance?
Landman: We haven't had a customer say to us they don't want to know how their system performs. They want to be able to verify whether actual output is in line with their expectations and what we as the engineers have told them. Some incentive programs offered by utility companies are tied to system performance and kWh production. These days, it is relatively easy and cost-effective to monitor your PV systems on a real-time basis via a web-enabled connection. In fact, monitoring of basic parameters is available as a standard feature on most inverters on the market today.
Krompak: Our experience has shown there are still myriad ways used today to collect data and report on system performance. Most inverters are connected via Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Ethernet, or serial networks. There is a wide array of systems that collect the data including simple PC-based systems, "black boxes," and Internet-connected devices. The true value of the collection systems will be more obvious as one or two solutions begin to dominate the market. There appears to be no clear leader at the moment.
D'Antonio: There are numerous third-party systems for monitoring performance. Monitoring and control of photovoltaic systems is essential for reliable functioning and maximum yield of any solar electric system. The most simple inverter check and monitoring can be performed by reading values on the inverter display. Remote control and monitoring is more real-time and is typically performed by USB for local monitoring, and RS-485 and power line for inverter interconnection. For wireless connection, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi are most commonly used. Additional options like satellite-based monitoring are also available.
Q: What are the PV design factors that should be considered?
Landman: The amount of solar insolation [or irradiance—a measurement that quantifies the incident flux of radiant energy per unit area] is an important factor to understand and consider in the design of any PV system. We use simulation and modeling software to maximize system output and efficiency, in a cost-effective manner, optimizing the PV array orientation and layout. Another import design aspect to consider, in conjunction with the architect and building owner, is the aesthetic look and feel of the PV system when integrated into the building.
D'Antonio: Three factors significantly affect solar array performance and should be considered:
- Operating temperature. A solar cell's efficiency is related to operating temperature. Consider reflective roofs and roof cooling systems to positively impact array performance.
- Solar intensity. Solar intensity depends upon the site location—its prevalent weather, pollution, latitude, and percent of shade. Try to eliminate array shading.
- Sun angle. PV cell output varies with respect to the sun's angle of incidence. For a stationary array, maximum production will occur at a specific array tilt and azimuth.
Hess: Solar insolation, latitude, the direction of solar south (and magnetic declination), and shading by local terrain are some of the design factors that must be considered for every PV site. In desert climates, dust should also be considered because it could accumulate on the panels and impact the efficiency. In colder climates, snow may need to be considered. In hurricane-prone areas, there can be structural issues such as whether the PV panels will act like a sail and create wind loads on the structure, or if a flying object hits a panel.
Q: Describe the integration of PV systems into the building's electrical system. Provide one-line diagrams if applicable. What are the specific electrical system modifications/alterations necessary for accepting power from a PV system?
Landman: The designer must determine carefully where to tie the PV system into the building electrical system. The Code allows some latitude for the point of connection. But there are different implications to the overall system design depending on where in the system it occurs. There will always be some reconfiguration of the electrical system for existing buildings to facilitate the integration of PV regardless of whether the system is grid-connected or not.
Krompak: For the Matrix Technologies headquarters, the only modifications to the existing electrical system were the addition of a circuit breaker in our motor control center, wiring to the inverters, the addition of a net meter, and new wiring and junction boxes added to accommodate the solar arrays.
Q: What safety precautions do electrical engineers need to take when specifying PV systems into existing buildings?
Landman: The NEC (Article 690) covers the electrical requirements for solar photovoltaic systems with the goal of ensuring that PV systems are designed and installed safely. Often, local jurisdictions, fire agencies, and utility companies have their own requirements that designers and contractors need to be aware of and apply correctly.
Q: Besides the PV panels, what other electrical systems do you need to include in a building to adequately use PV systems? Describe the products or technologies.
Landman: In addition to the actual PV panels that produce the electricity, there are other components such as inverters, wiring systems, and mountings systems—often referred to as balance of system components—that make up a complete PV system. It is important to select and configure these components correctly to ensure the entire system operates properly and safely. For example, specifying the right size inverter is crucial to ensuring efficient system operation. Sometimes, it's better and more efficient to use multiple single-phase inverters rather than a three-phase inverter, even though technically either would work.
Q: What building or facility infrastructure modifications are required to accommodate a PV system?
Krompak: Building infrastructure changes depend on many factors because each building is unique. In the case of the Matrix Technologies headquarters, we were able to make use of a portion of an existing shroud that surrounds our roof-mounted air-handling units. Being built on an adequate structural frame and covered with standing seam sheet metal, we were able to mount our solar panels directly to the shroud, which were fortunately at an optimum angle for our latitude.
Q: How does the size/electrical capacity of a PV array affect the number of inverters that must be used?
Krompak: The inverters have a rated capacity and should be matched to the power output of the arrays they are connected to.
Q: What are the electrical components that must be specified that are unique to PV systems?
Krompak: Our inverters are specifically designed for use in a PV system.
Codes and Standards
Q: What codes and standards do you need to consider when specifying a PV system in a commercial building? What standards are driving changes in the PV market?
Landman: First and foremost, one needs to be thoroughly familiar with Article 690 of the NEC, which covers solar PV systems. Additionally, there are several other articles in the NEC that are applicable. The IEEE 929 standard provides guidance for grid-tied systems—systems that operate in parallel with the utility. UL-1741 covers safety standards for many of the components that make up a complete PV system. It's also imperative that designers review local codes that pertain to PV systems.
Hess: The LEED standard seems to be driving the size of PV systems. Designers should create their LEED energy models very early in project design to better predict the size of a PV system needed to earn LEED points.
Q: What are the labeling, marking, or signage requirements for PV installations?
D'Antonio: Marking requirements are covered under NEC 2008, Article 690. These relate generally to the PV modules, interactive system point of interconnection, the dc power source, and identification of the power sources present in the facility (i.e., grid-connected systems or stand-alone systems).
Module marking requirements are typically covered by the manufacturer. The dc power source shall be labeled by the installer at the disconnecting means, including items such as rated maximum voltage and current, maximum system voltage, short circuit current, and maximum-rated output current of the charge controller (if installed). Also, a permanent plaque must exist providing the location of the PV system disconnecting means if not located in the same location as the utility service disconnect.
Q: What specific certifications are required for PV designers/engineers? Installers?
D'Antonio: For installers, The North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) PV installer certification is a voluntary certification that provides a set of national standards by which PV installers with skills and experience can distinguish themselves from their competition. It is the crown jewel for installers. For engineers, the design must be developed under the guidance of a professional electrical engineer, who ultimately will stamp the design for review by the authorities having jurisdiction.


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newborns | photo of the day :: Tulsa Newborn Photographer
Finishing up little Finn's gallery and fell in love with his gorgeous eyes. He was actually in a deep slumber, making the cutest faces and giving big huge grins and here come the open eyes and shut again in a split second. Such a gorgeous baby!
Happy weekend!!
xoxo ~ Kristen


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Oakland Circuit's Spousal Computer Privacy Case Rejected by Supreme Court
|Leon Walker with his former
spouse in happier times
Last Friday, the Michigan Supreme Court denied Leon Walker's application for leave to further appeal from a Michigan Court of Appeals order that similarly rejected his effort to quash the criminal information filed in his case.
On appeal, Walker's lawyers have asserted that the legislature did not intend to criminalize the domestic relations nature of his conduct. Also, although Walker did not challenge the constitutionality of the statute, he simply asserted that the evidence adduced by the prosecutor at the preliminary examination did not comport with the proscribed conduct set forth in the statute.
The case now goes back down to Oakland Circuit Judge Martha Anderson for further proceedings and trial.
Back in 2009, Walker suspected his wife was having an affair. Employed as a computer technician for Oakland County, he had expertise on how to access computers. Allegedly, he hacked into a computer that the prosecutor alleges had been gifted to his wife, discovering evidence of the affair.
This blog covered the case in an earlier post when the matter seemed to be heading for trial.
In speaking with Mr. Walker yesterday [he contacted our law firm], he said he is looking forward to his trial when all the facts will come out before a jury. Among those facts, he says the laptop computer at issue in the case was premarital and that he never gifted it to his former wife.
Walker also claims that the Oakland County Sheriff, or their computer expert, may be responsible for evidence spoilation; they claim to have lost or misplaced his laptop.
Although the Supreme Court declined to decide the case at this time, some of the Justices hinted at their concern that the language in the statute is very broad and could be used to criminalize otherwise legal conduct.
Justice Marilyn Kelly, who voted to hear the appeal, stated her concern in the High Court's order:
Justice Kelly goes on to note that the Michigan legislature submitted a bill to the House Judiciary Committee last year seeking to amend the unauthorized computer access statute. This bill would carve-out an express exception in the statute for spouses, provided that certain conditions were satisfied.The factual basis for one of the charges against defendant is that he allegedly accessed his wife's e-mail account without her permission. This may be the first time in the 33 years since MCL 752.795 became law and the 16 years since it was amended to its present form that the statute has been used as the basis for criminal charges for the behavior in question.
We will be keeping an eye on this hot case.
Labels: computer hacking, Justice Marilyn Kelly, Leon Walker, Michigan Court of Appeals, Michigan Supreme Court, Oakland Circuit Judge Martha Anderson, Oakland County Prosecutor, privacy law


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(Updates market activity.)
With President Obama's victory Tuesday night, thoughts turn to what the election means for the economy. Stocks fell the most since June as investors returned their focus to old worries: the struggling U.S. economy and the debt crisis in Europe.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average plunged 312.95 to close at 12,932.73, a decline of more than 2 percent. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index fell 2.4 percent to 1,394.53. Treasuries rose the most in five months.
Obama's election in 2008 prompted the biggest post-election plunge in history for the Dow. Since then, though, the gains under Obama's presidency have marked the biggest advance for stocks and bonds in more than a decade. Now, those gains may fade as the economic reality of what still needs to be done begins to sink in with investors.
In his acceptance speech, Obama outlined a sizable to-do list that included the deficit, tax reform, reducing oil imports and immigration reform. The most immediate issue, though, is what the president and Congress can do to avert the fiscal cliff, the $600 billion in mandated tax increases and spending cuts set to take effect at year's end. The president's re-election ought to give him more authority over a lame-duck Congress. Then again, it's congressional intransigence that created the fiscal cliff in the first place.
To avoid plunging the country into another, even deeper, recession, Congress will likely have to extend at least some of the Bush-era tax cuts that are set to expire. The president has said he wants to extend them for middle- and lower-income households and allow them to expire for the wealthy, which Republicans have opposed. It's not clear who will blink first.
The president said he intends to meet with Republican challenger Mitt Romney to discuss issues where they might have common ground. Tax reform may be one of those areas. Romney's proposal to reform the tax code by broadening the base and reducing loopholes and deductions, while short on specifics during the campaign, is a road map from which the president can work. Having won a second term, the president also might decide to dust off the Simpson-Bowles commission report, which calls for a similar tax overhaul.
Other big questions loom. With a second term comes a changing of the guard in the president's Cabinet, and he's expected to be looking for a new secretaries of treasury and energy. While Erksine Bowles has been mentioned as a Treasury secretary candidate — and he'd be a good one — the energy job is more wide open. The president's first-term choice of Stephen Chu, a green energy supporter, proved divisive in the energy industry. One common complaint among oil companies is that there's never been an energy secretary who's come from the industry. That probably isn't going to change this time around.
Meanwhile, the energy industry can expect an extension of existing policies on everything from environmental regulation to drilling on federal lands, none of which have been popular with oil companies. The re-election, though, may offer a break for wind energy companies that have been cutting jobs in the face of tax subsidies that are set to expire at year's end.
Energy stocks posted some of the biggest declines today, led by the St. Louis-based coal company Peabody Energy, which fell $2.80, or 9.6 percent, to $26.24, and Devon Energy, an Oklahoma City oil and gas company, that slid $4.21, or 7 percent, to $55.41.
The president's re-election also has big implications for the health-care industry. Romney had vowed to repeal the president's healthcare reform law. Instead, the biggest changes under that law will begin to kick in during the next two years. Of course, the changes have already been priced into the market.
Some healthcare stocks also were battered today, with hospital company Humana posting one of the biggest decline on the S&P. Its shares fell $6, or 8 percent, $70.16.
Another big loser in today's market: financial services companies. Wall Street put its money behind Romney in protest of Obama's reforms, and it isn't likely to fare much better now that Elizabeth Warren is in the Senate.
A big winner in Tuesday's election was Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke. His monetary stimulus efforts have been panned by Republicans and Romney said he would replace Bernanke when his term expired in January 2014. Obama's re-election buys time for the Fed's latest round of quantitative easing, known as QE3, although it hasn't been having much effect in stimulating the economy. The Fed has done all it can do. It can keep money cheap for the next few years, but the deciding factor comes back to Congress and what it decides to do.
We should get a sense of that in the coming weeks. Was Obama's win big enough to break congressional gridlock, or are we likely to continue lurching from crisis to crisis as lawmakers and the administration bicker?


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A Zoho presentation
Category Archives: Computer Technology and Multimedia
Class Flow
I just completed an intense training in developing #ClassFlow presentations, and sharing them with students and colleagues. It took a bit to learn how to manipulate the resources, tools, and slides; but, once I manage those–I began to get the "flow".
It is nice to have classes added to the presentation resource. Students can access the presentation at anytime, respond to questions, and even take an embedded assessment. Parents can also have access, as well. This is a good school-to-home connection, as students can access Class Flow while on vacation or for home learning. There is so much more, that can be done; as I have just touched the surface.
- incorporate images and photos from your files or the web
- edit for color, borders, size, and more
- embed files/docs, video, music, and other sound
- employ creative, but research-based creative design techniques
I will update soon, with some examples of uses and a copy of my presentation.
In the meantime… Class Flow: Create and Deliver
Flow with #ClassFlow!
#ClassFlowParty #Sponsored
Discussion Boards: The New Phase in Secondary Education
I have enjoyed employing the use of discussion boards in my 12th-grade AP English Literature and Composition class. The discussion boards make learning 3-D, and take the class discussion to the next level. It empowers the student to take over his or her learning goals.
Tools ‹ Stephania's Spin "Educational Technology" — WordPress
Biddings S Storyboard Wiki.Wk9.03.04
Vodpod videos no longer available.
Bridging the Learning Gap
[authorSTREAM id= 112062_633630660933232500 pl= player by= mzspb1]
Week 10 "LMS and LCMS"
Brandon Hall Research provides an indepth, but clear discussion of the differences between the Learning Management Systems (LMS) and the Learning Content Management Systems (LCMS). Often, the systems are confused–used interchangeably. They are not the same and have distinctly different functions and uses. While the LCMS may have a function of LMS built within; the LCMS is not found within the LMS, although it is linked directly to the LMS.
One can simply say that the LMS manages learners, within a group, system, or organization; whereas the LCMS manages content created for learners, within a group, system, or organization. Of course it is so much more than that. Brandon Hall Research "demystifies" the LMS and the LCMS.
What does this mean for secondary education, vocational institutions, and institutions of higher learning? It means students and users will have more direct, content-based learning. Content will be specifically designed to target the need of the individual learner or small group. With more focus, targeted instruction and training; it is understandable that more effective and efficient teaching and learning will take place.
Aside from the clear and indepth explanation of the LMS and LCMS models, the Brandon Hall Research site also offers free research downloads. Now, I am definitely a proponent of "free" resources when they can be useful, or saved for later. The free research downloads can serve multiple purposes. They are work the email sign-up. Visit the link provided below, for further insight an discussion on the LMS and LCMS, and for free resources. It will be "illuminated" for you.
Brandon Hall Research: http://www.brandon-hall.com/free_resources/lms_and_lcms.shtml


text: Dow Sinks Further on Credit Jitters GDP report, earnings, can't stave off 208.10 point slide By Greg Atwan, Newser User Posted Jul 27, 2007 4:10 PM CDT Copied A board on the floor of New York Stock Exchange, Thursday, July 26, 2007, shows the closing numbers. Wall Street suffered one of its worst losses of 2007 Thursday, leading a global stock market plunge... (Associated Press) View 2 more images (Newser) – Stocks tumbled more than 200 points for the second day in a row, on fears that small-cap securities might be especially hard hit by a possible collapse in certain financial services. The Dow was down 208.10 to 13265.47, despite a report that the GDP grew faster this quarter than it has in a year—but the Russell 2000, which measures small stocks, dipped 1.7% into negative territory for the year. The Nasdaq was off 37.10 to 2562.24, and the S&P retreated 23.71 to close at 1458.95, the day after a 311-point plunge on Wall Street set off tremors throughout markets in Europe and Asia. British pharma giant GlaxoSmithKline was down more than 3% after the FDA announced it was looking into a link between popular diabetes drug Avandia and heart attacks. (Read more stocks stories.) View 2 more images


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