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You are currently browsing the monthly archive for May 2008.
Returning from Kansas I was certainly tempted to tackle the Oz event instead of Romulo and Julianne but a promise is a promise and I told you all that I would take on the star crossed lovers next.
Based on Shakespeare's classic tragedy Romulo and Julianne is a three phase two boss couples fight, similair to the Scarlet Monastery Armory's, High Inquisitor Whitemane and Scarlet Commander Mograine.
For this fight you will kill one boss, then the other boss, and then both bosses together. To add to the complexity of the situation in the last phase you have to kill them within 10 seconds of each other otherwise they will respawn with full health and in all likelihood you will die.
Phase the first: Julianne
During this first phase you may want to have your off tank pick up Julianne and drag her to stage right. This is for the sake of repetition because in phase three the off tank will be on Julianne and he will, wait for it, have to pull her to the right. Read the rest of this entry »
I know it has been a very long time since I posted. I haven't raided in a while and it has dried up my pool of inspiration a bit, I don't think I'm the only one who is feeling under inspired right now.
Blizzard is still struggling with the best way to handle expanding their biggest game. While the flood of "leaked" shiny new abilities and items may create buzz for their product, it has the (I hope) unintended effect of robbing player motivation for the game in it's current state. Player burnout is on the rise again. The motivating effects of the Sunwell Content patch are no longer being felt by Mid-Level Raiding Guilds, the guilds working on the first in Mount Hyjal or Black Temple who are not likely to see the inside of Sunwell. These guilds whose players have experienced all of the Sunwell content they are likely to are facing serious problems with player motivation. Their Raiders have done their Dailies, earned their Exalted Reputation, and have farmed out Magister's Terrace for their Pheonix drop, and now all they have to look forward to when they sit down for an evening is hard work and an uphill grind and all for what?
Before the release of The Burning Crusade, and after the last content patch many guilds faced a similar situation. There were shining new items on the horizon, and the greens players would be picking up on solo quests at level 61 were going to be better than anything the average Mid-Level Raider (AQ20, ZG, Onyxia) would see without putting in serious effort. Guilds who could have made it through AQ40 before the expansion stopped raiding altogether. Vanilla WoW was a lame duck. During this time the Buzz for The Burning Crusade was great, people were truly excited for it and in anticipation they walked away from the game… Read the rest of this entry »
I've been out straight. This coming week I'm away for business, but I will be back Sunday Night. I hope to do some writing in the evenings while I'm away so you may see a post before then on Romulo and Julianne (as promised, for last week).
I switched from X-Perl Unit Frames to Pitbull. I highly recommend it and should be pulling together a post on why I think Pitbull is superior for late next week.
Do you have a favorite add-on that you could not live without? Tell us all about post a comment here.
I'm a bit fired up about this topic so please excuse me if the tone is a bit rant-ish, I tried to keep it informative, maybe even inspirational. Thanks to Phaelia (My Hero) for helping me to solidify my arguments.
Last night I was running ZA (my favorite instance, NOT) and I started noticing that although there were three healers I was the only one casting heals on anyone besides the tanks, funny that doesn't seem right. Druids aren't exactly efficient raid healers. So nonchalantly and surprisingly friendly(for me) I ask the Paladin which add-ons he uses. "None, I don't need them to heal." WHAT!?!
"Really?" I say "I find that they help me quite a bit." To which he replies "That's cause you're a N00b!" hmmm. At this point (third boss in ZA) in the raid I am doubling his healing done with 44% to his 22%, and doing it with less over-healing and less gear and I'm the noob. The Priest chimes in at this point to say that he doesn't use any add-ons besides the guild required, Omen, and DBM. I'm befuddled. I'm out healing the Priest by 12% (he's at 32% if you're not good at math). Curious I check the Priest's gear to see what he's wearing to try to determine if he's working to his potential or not and he's in a mix of T5 and T6 and being out-healed by a Druid in T4 and welfare epics. So healing to his potential? No!
It's sad to me that there are still people out there who WASTE their gear by not providing themselves with all the information that Blizzard has made available to them. They are at least as gimped as a raider who decides not to enchant, and sockets with green gems because they want to save money, Or who doesn't use consumables because they don't see a difference in their damage.


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Results 1 to 5 of 5
- 01-08-2010, 11:51 AM #1Member
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need advice regarding coding technique
Hi to all,
Hope you all will be fine.Actually i need advice from you people.I have a database class which execute a query.For this first i made database connection, then using connection executed query and got result.Fine. Now i have to execute 3 more queries so what i did that i put a method in which i again call the database connection method and execute the query so my code is now look like this.
Java Code:
public void startDatabase(){ emailAndMailbox = emailAndMailboxRows(); } public void navigatingRows(){ try{ //System.out.println("email\t\t\t\t\t" + "mailbox\t\t" + "fullname"); while(emailAndMailbox.next()){ Voicemail_conf voicemail = getEmailAndMailbox(emailAndMailbox); //voicemail_conf.showemailAndMailboxes(); } }catch(SQLException e){ System.out.println(e.getMessage()); } } public String actualMailbox(String mailfrom){ System.out.println("In database actualMalbox()"); Connection con2 = getConnection(); try{ Statement s = con2.createStatement(); String select = "SELECT mailbox FROM voicemail_conf WHERE email=" + '"' + mailfrom + '"'; System.out.println("The actual query is: " + select); System.out.println("just before declaring Resultset"); ResultSet row; System.out.println("Just before execute query and after declaring" + "Resiltset"); row = s.executeQuery(select); System.out.println("query executed"); while(row.next()){ System.out.println("Entering while loop"); String realMailbox = row.getString("mailbox"); System.out.println("mailbox for basit is: " + realMailbox); return realMailbox; } }catch(SQLException e){ System.out.println(e.getMessage()); } return null; } //Method that returns email and mailbox column from database private ResultSet emailAndMailboxRows(){ //Method that returns datebase connection Connection con = getConnection(); try{ Statement s = con.createStatement(); String select = "SELECT mailbox, email, fullname FROM voicemail_conf ORDER BY" + " mailbox, email, fullname"; System.out.println("The actual query for mailbox, email and fullname" + "is: " + select); ResultSet rows; rows = s.executeQuery(select); return rows; }catch(SQLException e){ System.out.println(e.getMessage()); } return null; } // end of getEmailAndMailbox private Voicemail_conf getEmailAndMailbox(ResultSet emailAndMailbox){ try{ String email = emailAndMailbox.getString("email"); //System.out.println("In database to check value of email: " + email ); setEmailFromDatabase(email); String mailbox = emailAndMailbox.getString("mailbox"); setMailboxFromDatabase(mailbox); String fullname = emailAndMailbox.getString("fullname"); setFullnameFromDatabase(fullname); voicemail_conf = new Voicemail_conf(email, mailbox, fullname); return voicemail_conf; }catch(SQLException e){ System.out.println(e.getMessage()); } return null; } //end of getEmailAndMailbox method
Java Code:
//Default Access i.e, only classes with in the same package can access to each //other String splitFullNmae(){ String[] temp; temp = voice.getFullname().split(" "); return temp[0].substring(0, 1).toUpperCase() + temp[0].substring(1).toLowerCase(); } String assignCallerID(){ if(callerIDRetAttach.getMailFrom().contains("@netkarachi.com")){ String callerIDmailbox = callerIDDatabase.actualMailbox(callerIDRetAttach.getMailFrom()); System.out.println("CallerID mailbox after executing actualMailbox()" + "method of database is: " + callerIDmailbox); return callerIDmailbox; }else{ System.out.println("email not exist in NetKarachi database "); }
So i want to ask how i organize my code so instead of cooking method every time, can it happen that all queries are executed only in one method and then whatever query result i need, i got it and return back it to its desired place.
Thank you.
- 01-08-2010, 12:10 PM #2Senior Member
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Google "DAO layer".
You take out the getConnection() method outside the emailAndMailboxRows and declare it outside during during initialization .No need to call every time...it will affect the performance.Ramya:cool:
- 01-08-2010, 02:24 PM #4Senior Member
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- 01-08-2010, 04:28 PM #5Moderator
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You're quite likely going to hit db resource problems with that lot. You're returning resultsets, and therefore not closing them...or the statements associated with them.
The normal flow is:
Java Code:
Connection con = null; Statement st = null; Resultset rs = null; try { ... do the querying in here, including turning the resultset that's returned into something other than a resultset. ... } catch (Whatever exceptions need catching) { } finally { close your resources (rs, then st, then con). } return your result(s) as some sort of business objects.
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subset: commoncrawl


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Sawyer York had a hat trick to lead Marshall County to a 6-0 win over Fort Campbell Monday night in the first round of the Boys State Soccer Tournament at Draffenville.
The loss ends Fort Campbell's season with a record of 12-5-1.
Marshall County improves to 17-4-1 and moves on to play Greenwood in the quarterfinals Wednesday. Greenwood beat Henderson County 3-0 to advance.


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Thinking about Mathematics...I had the privilege of attending the Primary Maths Association day a few weeks ago and what a great day it was.
I enjoyed taking part in three workshops and a keynote.
- Where is Maths Going? (Keynote)
- Counting Counts
- Rich Tasks
- Computational Thinking in the Maths Classroom
Where is Maths Going?Presented by Dr Fiona Ell
|Photo of Treasure Map shared by Dr Fiona Ell during Keynote
She structured the keynote around a treasure map with destinations that we might visit and important signposts to consider on our journey.
|Photo of Slide shared by Dr Fiona Ell during Keynote
- In the past we've taught procedures and still do
- When and where are procedures important for students to learn?
- How much practice is needed with a procedure before it becomes part of a student's knowledge?
- Procedures aren't the only thing students should be learning in mathematics
Changing Thinking
Photo of Slide shared by Dr Fiona Ell during Keynote
- What makes changes to thinking?
- How do students see their world?
- How do we know a student is ready to move on with their mathematics thinking?
- If we're using a diagnostic test and it isn't clear where a student is, do we know how to change the question to give us enough information about that student?
- The wave of digital technology available to students and teachers has increased dramatically
- Is Khan Academy and other technologies that teach through video the best way for students to learn about mathematics concepts?
- If a video can teach a student do we as teachers need to be teaching the same concept?
- Where does the teacher fit if we use these resources?
- Students may have had access to digital tech at home, does this way of learning allow for logical thinking and engagement?
Computational Thinking
- What is it and how do we define it?
- The idea of an algorithm and how this differs and is the same as when we talk about algorithms in mathematics
- How this concept is rooted in mathematics and how it relates to problem solving
- Making connections between mathematics and the new technology curriculum
|Photo of Slide shared by Dr Fiona Ell during Keynote
Ability Grouping
- Mounting evidence of problems associated with this
- The issue of it becoming a self fulfilling prophecy - I'm in the lowest group so I'm not good at mathematics
- Expectations teachers have of students in each group
- Are multi level groups the best option? Is there a need for ability grouping in some situations?
|Photo of Slide shared by Dr Fiona Ell during Keynote
- What language are students getting about mathematics from the wider community - mainly at home?
- Do we need to do more to shift towards a positive culture about mathematics away from the 'I wasn't good at mathematics as a child so it's okay that you're not good at it either'
- What are the basics? Have the changed? How are they different to 'when I was at school'
- How do we move community away from 'I have no idea what they're doing to teach mathematics now'
|Photo of Slide shared by Dr Fiona Ell during Keynote
- Access - do all students have the same access to information, skills and knowledge?
- Social Justice
- Why do some remain as gatekeepers and prevent access to information, skills and knowledge? Have we not all moved away from the teacher as the fountain of all knowledge?
- The need for students to have numeracy skills that will help them in everyday life. How are we ensuring these skills are taught - do we need to change our focus? Some students won't go on to study mathematics will they have access to the skills they need to function in society - financial literacy?
|Photo of Slides shared by Dr Fiona Ell during Keynote
The Cities
- Where are we going?
- What changes have we had in our destinations?
- How are we responding to those changes with regards to mathematics?
Conceptual Understanding
- How do we ensure that all students reach their potential in mathematics?
- How do we open doors for students in mathematics - careers, life skills?
- What does our ultimate level of engagement and participating look like?
|Photo of Slides shared by Dr Fiona Ell during Keynote
The Signposts
- What are the big ideas in mathematics and are we missing them with our current focus?
- We need to make sure students have challenge and move from counting to additive to multiplicative stages
- The need to ensure students understand that mistakes are okay and are part of learning
- What does it meant to know something? What happens after we make a mistake or have a failure? How are we encouraging effort?
- The need to find heros and role models that our student groups can relate to
- How discussion around student responses in a mathematics lesson and sharing these with colleagues can lead to better understanding and growth for students
- Rather than putting all the focus on the learning intention and resources adding focus on how the students might respond and what we might do as teachers if they respond in a certain way
- The importance of students knowing how the learn and what they do to learn something new
- using self assessment
Our Compass
- What guides us through our journey?
- Facets of practice
- Valued outcomes - selection
- Connection - life
- Environment - supportive
- Evidence - formative assessment
- Inquiry - PLD
- Address inequities - speaking out, giving life chances removing the gatekeeper
The above are just some of the notes I took during the keynote that resonated with me. I really enjoyed listening to this, it got me thinking and challenged a few assumptions I'd made about mathematics teaching.


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Clean lines and soft edges give this double pedestal desk a contemporary feel that's perfect for hard-working professionals. Use it on its own, or pair it with a double pedestal credenza and stack-on hutch to create a sleek executive workstation.
Product Info
- Overview
- Specifications
- Images
- Warranty
- Documents
Mentor Series Double Pedestal Desk
Users appreciate the clean lines and rounded corners of the Mentor desk from HON. Stylish detailing and soft edges creates an attractive, contemporary desk that's very user-friendly. Performance and durability make Mentor ideal for use in intensive environments. Featuring central locking drawers and integrated wire management, Mentor works hard for hard-working professionals.
- Classic retro styling reflects Modernist office designs of the 1960's
- Includes two box drawers and a center drawer for supplies, and two file drawers for documents
- Best-in-class steel construction withstands heavy activity and frequent relocation
- Rugged construction for organizations that value excellent performance for the price
- Contract-grade, multi-ply laminate worksurface stands up to scratches, spills, stains and boiling liquids
- Double O-frame pedestal construction is exceptionally sturdy and durable
- Half-round legs and radius top corners are excellent for high-traffic areas
- Legs are available in Platinum metallic paint or Chrome plating
- Pedestals feature Tru-Fit mitered drawer fronts that align precisely when closed
- All drawers lock by securing the center drawer; lock core can be changed as security needs require
- Two worksurface grommets for easy cord management
- Internal cord management allows power and data to be routed from wall outlets through the desk body
- Arch drawer handles match HON Flagship laterals, pedestals and towers
Will it fit in my office? Will it even fit my needs? Before buying, you need to know all the measurements, features and details.
We aren't all interior designers with the ability to visualize a product in various environments. The following images will give you ideas on how to make the most of your HON products, as well as bring a variety of aesthetic options to life.
Warranties are not usually exciting reading material. But we think the HON Full Lifetime Warranty is something special in our industry. It's not that we've worked hard on the warranty itself. Instead, we've worked hard to make it easy to warranty our products. Here is how we can provide and stand by what we believe to be the best warranty in the office furniture industry:
We know what we're doing and do it better than anybody else.
At HON, we are committed to being good listeners and producers. Through our "Voice of the Customer" process, we spend time listening to the people who make businesses go, observing how they work, and learning what they need to be successful. The right products don't wear out, break or malfunction. They just work, and that makes them easy to stand behind.
We let practicality inspire us.
HON designers, engineers, and production people are inspired by practicality. Our office furniture solutions must be functional and effective. We test them in real offices. We have always and will always make tough, enduring products that look good too, because that's what makes sense for our customers.
We are empowered. We are ready.
Every HON member is empowered to serve our customers. Every one. We know that loyalty is a product of performance. It's a matter of making and keeping promises. That's how we keep customers for life. That's what makes us stand out in our markets.
Our warranty is our promise. So it has to be on-the-mark.
We're confident in the value, quality, and durability HON products deliver. If they fail, we give their owners the choice to replace any product that can't be repaired with something comparable, or we refund their purchase price—and we do not mean a prorated refund, we mean a full refund no matter how much the product was used.
Waiting for the fine print? Don't. There is none.
We don't feel our warranty should have fine print because we want it to be clear, concise and easy to understand—just like the products we make.


text:
So in each moment, you must choose. You have to #StayWoke enough to:
Say, 'I am now fully present'
Feel the peaceful joy of that
And stay there, as HER
#BeHerNow #NewEnergyNewLife #ThereIsNoOtherWay #Oprah #Peace
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text: The Lost Boyz included Freaky Tah, Mr. Cheeks, Pretty Lou, and Spigg Nice. The rap quartet's first single -- "Lifestyles of the Rich and Shameless" -- earned them a contract with Uptown Records, which released their second single, "Jeeps, Lex Coups, Bimaz & Benz," later in 1995. After the "Renee" single (recorded for the Don't Be a Menace to South Central While You're Drinking Your Juice in the Hood soundtrack), the Lost Boyz released their debut album, Legal Drug Money. The LP hit the charts and was certified gold. Love, Peace & Nappiness followed in 1997. Freaky Tah was murdered on March 28, 1999; LB IV Life appeared that autumn. ~ John Bush


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Any staff member can enroll a client in a class or course, and clients can enroll themselves in each class for which you've turned that option on. If the class or course starts within 30 minutes of enrolling a client, their attendance is also confirmed upon enrolling. If the class or course starts more than 30 minutes after enrolling a client, their attendance must also be confirmed by the instructor or another staff member or on a Pike13 kiosk.
Note Plans and passes can pay for classes and appointments but not for courses, which are paid with a course enrollment fee.
In this article
Enroll a client in a class or course
- At the top of any Pike13 page, click or tap Schedule, and find the class or course your client wants to sign up for.
- On the class page, click or tap Enroll clients, and then click or tap the names of each of the clients you want to check in.
On the Choose Clients page, regularly attending clients are listed separately from those already signed in and all other clients. To find any name quickly, enter the name in the search box.
- If the client is new to your business, click or tap New client, enter the client profile info, and then click or tap Create.
- When you're finished choosing all the client names you want, click or tap the Done button at the upper right.
- Under Please confirm, leave the Notify clients option checked if you want the clients to receive email confirmation or click or tap the checkbox to clear it so clients won't receive email confirmation, and then click or tap Finish.
- To check in more clients, click or tap the Enroll Clients button and repeat steps 2 and 3.
Enroll in a class or course as a client
- Click or tap Schedule, and then if the Pike13 business has more than one location under Choose a Location click or tap the location where you want to attend the class or course.
- If you don't see the date you want, click or tap the calendar button , and then click or tap the date you want.
- Find the class or course you want, and then click or tap + Enroll.
- Enter the requested payment information, and then click or tap Save.
- Click or tap Confirm.


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What Works Wales?
Beth sy'n gweithio, Gymru?
In 2016 Theatre Bristol were commissioned by the Arts Council of Wales to carry out research into the need, potential and process for establishing producing hubs in Wales. We carried out six months of in depth research and analysis with theatremakers across the country and beyond.
This was the invitation we sent to engage people in the process:
- How do you make brilliant quality live performance for audiences?
Sut mae creu perfformiadau byw o safon wych i gynulleidfaoedd?
- What processes work well for you and the sector?
Pa brosesau sy'n gweithio'n dda i chi a'r sector?
- What would you like to see change in the next 10 years to make it better?
Beth yr hoffech ei weld yn newid yn y 10 mlynedd nesaf i wneud pethau'n well?
We talked to producers and makers of all kinds to discover, dream about and design brilliant ways of working. We held conversations across the country and topped it all off with a big 'What Works Wales' Creative Gathering in November 2016.
We are delighted to announce that the report has now been published. It shares loads of Theatre Bristol's thinking and learning about producing, grounded in the many years we've spent working with artists and organisations.
We'd love for you to see it. Take a look here: http://www.arts.wales/137698


text:
Proposal for Extending LRC Hours
We are looking to propose an extension of LRC hours until 9PM on the days before P1/P2 exams. During the extended hours, faculty approved students on the LRC Committee will supervise the area. What are your comments? Do you think this will be great appreciated by the students?
Texas Higher Education Budget Cut
Texas has a $23 billion budget shortfall and the public universities like UH, UT, and A&M are going to get huge budget cuts. University of Houston's state budget will be cut 19%. UH's student body president is asking the entire student body to sign a petition at http://www.gopetition.com/petition/43058.html to protest this proposed cut. The university's Student Government Association is also meeting with SGA from various universities around the state to plan a march on The Capitol in Austin to protest this cut. Tentative date is March 15-16th. This is an important issue that could vary well affect our education. Please take a few minutes to learn more about the issue and see what you can do. If you have any questions/comments/concern feel free to contact Pharmacy Council (insert our email here) or our Student Government Association represetative Phong Dang at (insert his email in here).
Since we have a dress code now, Austin thought it would be a good idea to have days when we do not have to follow it. If we can get this approved, what kind of "dress-up" days would YOU like to have? For example, these can be pajama day, sandals and T-shirts day, shorts day...etc. Just post your comment and we will definitely take it into consideration!
Required Item Sales
The following organizations may sell educational items during orientation as follows:
APhA-ASP & SSHP: White Coats & Patches
PDC: FGA Books
KY: Drug Cards
KE: Name badge
CPFI: Blood Pressure Kits
NCPA: Calculations and Compounding Books
VAPSS: Red Polo shirts
Rho Chi: Law Book
Required items that new students have to buy from the organization: White coats & patches, name badge
Recommended but not required to buy item: Red polo shirts
Every other items on the above list are required to buy, but not required from the respective organizations that are selling them.
So what do you guys think about this amendment? And how should profit be regulated as certain organizations will have an advantage over others. Should the profit be split among the participating organizations? Should Pharmacy Council do a drawing at the end of the year to see which organization get to sell what? Or should things stay the way they are regarding the profit?
UH Pharmacy Council
Welcome to the UH Pharmacy Council website! Our purpose is to connect all UH students together by having easy access to getting the information they need. You can contact us at firstname.lastname@example.com. Thank you for visiting and we hope you find this site helpful!
November 2012


text: I have a Sony VAIO laptop, model number VGN-FZ260E. I was trying to boot the FreeBSD 7.0 amd64 bootonly install disk in it today and I kept getting a "fatal trap 19" error. Part of the output on the screen says: "RAM parity error, likely hardware failure" ...but I can't find any problems with it using memtest86, and other OSes run fine. It looks like this issue has come up on this list before (see URL below), but it doesn't look like it was ever resolved. The output I get is almost exactly the same as this: http://www.freebsd.org/cgi/getmsg.cgi?fetch=2567598+2571045+/usr/local/www/db/text/2008/freebsd-questions/20080323.freebsd-questions I also found a few similar reports from other users on the web: http://www.fug.com.br/historico/html/freebsd/2008-05/msg00208.html http://lists.freebsd.org/pipermail/freebsd-stable/2007-December/039355.html I realize the OS is telling me it's a hardware failure, and maybe the errors from the above links were caused by hardware failure as well. But what bugs me is that nothing else seems to have any problem with my hardware. Is there a better tool (other than memtest86) that I can use to diagnose hardware problems? Please make sure to copy me on your responses, I am not subscribed to -questions.


text:
Not many things went right for the Yankees in 2016. It was to be expected though. There were no big offseason signings, the prospects they had were not ready for prime time, and their core was built on over-age veterans nearing the end of their contracts.
They did move a number of older players during the season, plus Teixeira retired, A-Rod was released, and more recently they traded Brian McCann freeing up the catcher position for Gary Sanchez. All of these moves, though, revolved around the offense. They have done very little to shore up their pitching staff, but that's because there is no need.
Despite what we saw in 2016, the Yankees have a terrific core of young arms that is anchored by staff ace Masahiro Tanaka. Luis Severino and Michael Pineda are each on the verge of a breakout, and their numbers should have been much better than what we got last year. Plus they have a number of top arms in their system headlined by Justus Sheffield and Domingo Acevedo. You may want to target all of these pitchers in dynasty leagues while they are still affordable.
Masahiro Tanaka
The lone bright spot of the staff. Tanaka defied the odds, thumbed his nose at the critics, and finished one-third of an inning shy of 200. His walk rate was elite (1.54 career BB/9) and has ranked in the top-five since his 2014 debut. Part of that is thanks to a high F-Strike% which was up to 64.5% (top-20). The ground ball rate continues to rise, up to 48.2% last year. While the FB% is average at 31%, some of the damage has been negated with an IFFB% over 10.0. Yet somehow his HR/FB% is still high, but at least it was much lower (12%) in 2016.
Last year's WHIP ranked 11th among qualified starters, and his three-year average ranked 6th behind only Kershaw, Arrieta, Scherzer, Sale and Bumgarner. His ERA also ranked in the top-12 last year among qualifiers, as it did in 2014. He has also reached double-digit win each year despite the missed time in 2014 and 2015. The strikeouts are the only real negative part of his game, but last year's 7.44 K/9 was still better than average.
Tanaka doesn't get the fantasy respect he deserves. Other than an average strikeout rate the rest of his game is money. He makes an excellent trade target in dynasty leagues. Some are still skeptical of his non-surgically repaired arm; others don't like his home park and division. I wouldn't worry about any of these things. Tanaka is a top-20 arm, but since many don't value him as such you should be able to get him at a discount. One more year like 2016, though, and you'll have no chance at buying low.
Michael Pineda
When Pineda returned in 2014 he looked primed for a breakout. Unfortunately all we got the past two years was replacement level fantasy numbers. However, if you look beyond the standard fantasy numbers there are some encouraging signs. In 2016 he ranked in the top-five among qualified starters in K/9 (10.61), SwStr% (14.1), and F-Strike% (67.3%). The velocity was back up across the board – his fastball averaged 94 MPH. His contact rate was elite at 70.7, ranked behind only Max Scherzer and Felix Hernandez. Finally he has a two-year average of 47% on ground balls.
So why didn't those results show up in his ERA? Well, there was a lot of bad luck involved. He had the second highest BABIP (.331) among qualified starters. His strand rate (70.7%) ranked in the bottom 20. On top of that, only two starting pitchers with a higher FB rate (17%) had a higher HR/FB ratio. Now it wasn't all bad luck. Pineda's BB/9 went up to a high (but acceptable) 2.72. Also his hard hit rate continues to rise (32.7%).
Pineda posted a 4.82 ERA, but his FIP was a full-point lower, and his xFIP (3.30) and SIERA (3.40) support the unlucky theory. Home runs will continue to be an issue until he either lowers his hard hit rate or increases his infield fly ball percentage. Still, the walks should come down to minimize the damage. I know we've said it before, but Pineda is a tweak away from turning into a top pitching option.
His value in dynasty leagues will depend on the owner. Some in our early rankings have him as a #5 pitcher, but others didn't even rank him as a top-75 option. If his current owner is down on him you could get him for cheap, possibly for another back-end starter, spare outfielder or bench hitter. I can't say I'm 100% sold, but those underlying metrics intrigue me enough to want to find out.
Luis Severino
Fantasy owners were expecting a lot from Severino after posting top-tier minor league numbers and an impressive debut in 2015. Just like Pineda, Severino fell short of expectations. Over 22 games (11 starts) he ended the year with a 5.83 ERA and 1.45 WHIP. But just like Pineda, Severino had some positive signs underneath those totals. Both his soft (20.6%) and hard (29.4%) contact levels were in elite territory compared to qualified starters. His FB% was somewhat high (31.2%), but an 11.9 IFFB% should help minimize the damage in the future. Also, his fastball velocity was up a full-point from 2015 (96.1 MPH) which should help raise his 8.37 K/9.
Another thing Severino has in common with Pineda is luck – bad luck that is. Among qualified starters his .324 BABIP ranked in the bottom-10. His strand rate was even worse (64%), ranking dead last. And despite a low fly ball rate (for balls that actually made it out of the infield), his HR/FB% (16.4) was much too high. There was one other non-luck related issue. After posting a 2.49 BB/9 in the minors he was up to 3.17 in 2016. That should come down some as he gains more experience and exposure to the majors.
Maybe our expectations for Severino were too high in 2016. That doesn't mean he can't turn things around, though. Weak contact, high grounders, and lower than average fly balls combined with high heat and improvements in both walks and strikeouts could vault him back into fantasy relevance. Maybe even the top-25 in a year or so. This is still the same pitcher many tagged as a sleeper. Unfortunately he was an afterthought for some here when it came to our top-75 SP rankings. If many experts aren't ranking him high, how do you think your league-mates will value him?
Last year Severino experienced your typical 22-year-old growing pains. He may even experience some more in 2017, but don't let that get you down if you do trade for him. There is talent here waiting to bust out. This is a perfect target for a rebuilding team a year or two away from competing.
Justus Sheffield/Domingo Acevedo
It will be a race to see which one of these fireballers gets to the majors first. Both have elite strikeout ability: Sheffield with a 9.72 K/9 over 274 minor league innings and Acevedo with a 9.95 over 195 innings. Sheffield has slight control issues (3.28 BB/9), but Acevedo has improved in this area (2.49 BB/9). Acevedo has an advantage over Sheffield when it comes to the long ball with a 0.27 HR/9 compared to a 0.46, but both are great in this department. Finally Sheffield is a little more hittable with an 8.74 H/9 compared to Acevedo's 8.14.
Neither pitcher has pitched above High-A (I don't count Sheffield's four-inning taste last year). Normally that would mean they are each a few years away, but given how quickly teams have pushed players through the minors I would not be surprised to see one or both of them in New York in 2017.
I see Acevedo getting the first crack. His fastball sits in the high-90s and has been clocked at over 100 MPH. He also possesses a terrific changeup and has been working on his slider. Even without a third plus pitch, the fastball/changeup would be enough for now. Sheffield also throws in the high 90s, but he's more comfortable and exhibits more control when his fastball is in the mid to low 90s. His curveball is coming along, but it may need a little more work before his debut. The changeup also needs work, but it has shown improvements already so just a little tinkering next year.
The Yankees released one of my favorite sleepers, Nathan Eovaldi, which opens up one rotation spot. CC Sabathia is in the final year of his contract which will clear another spot. For 2017 (provided they don't sign anyone or make a trade), the Yankees will go with some combination of Chad Green and Luis Cessa as their fifth starter. If 2016 was an indicator for the future I don't see either lasting which will force them to look to the minors by mid-season.
Dynasty owners should target Acevedo now as he is under the radar and doesn't have the Sheffield name recognition. You could easily get him for a prospect ranked outside the top-100 in my opinion. Sheffield may cost you a slightly better prospect, but depending on the name I might be willing to pay up.
In a year or two the Yankees could have one of the top rotations in the American League. Granted Severino and Pineda could flop and Acevedo and Sheffield could fall apart in Double-A just as easily, but I'm trying to be positive – for once.
Be sure to visit Fantasy Rundown for the best fantasy links from the top sites on the web.


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Building a lightbox
One of my new experiments for this year is to work on some macro shots. I did thousands of floral macro shots 2 years ago and the whole process was a great learning experience. Last year was mainly track racing, which again was a great learning experience and I have some spectacular racing photos. I want to do some more "studio" related shots so I have decided to built a lightbox in my basement so I can work on photos whenever I want.
The main source of my quest is from this site:
The design is very simple and straightforward so I have decided to follow the steps and create my own.
I started off with a trip to Lowe's to buy the PVC piping and connectors. Getting the pipe itself is no big deal, that comes in 5ft lengths, its finding and matching up all the connectors that will have pulling all the pieces out and building an elaborate replica of your creation right there in the aisle.
When you're buying all the pieces make sure you get the right pieces to connect the legs and elbow joints with the top frame. Depending on what connectors are available the pieces may slip together, or they may need to be threaded together or you may even need a couple of extra pieces to make the connection. I have to admit I had to make two trips since my elbow joints were the same size as the T-connector and nothing fit together. It's not tricky by any means, but it's easy to get the wrong pieces unless you actually put them all together in the store.
You will need to cut the lengths of pipe to your specific length, but with a cheap hacksaw it should only take a few minutes.
The assembly of the box takes mere moments. It literally is building a rectangle and slipping on some legs; once you get all the right connectors that is.
I decided to make mine a little bigger than the original specs from the website above and honestly I think it might be too big. I set the length to be 3ft and the width to be 2ft and another 2ft for the height. It seemed reasonable laying on the table, but when all put together it seems far too long and several inches too high. I think I'll need to shorten it all the way around. A standard wine bottle is only 13 inches high so it's got plenty of room for something taller like a vase with the flowers in it, but it all seems a little overpowering. I still have to put a cover over it, put in the background piece and take some photos with it. I haven't glued anything together so it comes right apart. I need to get stronger bulbs for my lamps, they don't seem quite bright enough and I think I need some more light for my basement. It's pretty dark overall which isn't helping.
I've completed stage one, I've made the skeleton. The whole structure cost less than $20. Now, I just need to get a backdrop and a cover. I already have some ideas of test photos to see how it works. I might try to fit that in this weekend, if not before.
I also need to decide which lens to use. I have the 105mm macro lens and the 18-200mm, both of which should work quite well. The 105mm is f/2.8 which might be better considering the lighting conditions I might be working with. I want as fast a shutter speed as possible so the background fades out as much as possible.
The first part is done, now to put on the final touches and get some test shots.


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Pols mum on 'baby killer' comment
Republicans and Democrats who heard a lawmaker yell "baby killer" during a floor speech late Sunday night aren't revealing who uttered the phrase — but several Republicans have denied it was them.
Many lawmakers and onlookers agree on one thing: It was a member of Congress from the Republican side who screamed the phrase during Rep. Bart Stupak's (D-Mich.) speech railing against a GOP motion to insert the Michigander's high-profile amendment back into the health care legislation.
California Republican Reps. John Campbell and George Radanovich — both fingered by members of the gallery watching the floor proceedings — have vehemently denied being the screamer.
Radanovich Monday morning took to Twitter to offer his denial.
"I would like to set the record straight and be clear that I did not make the statement calling Rep. Stupak a 'Baby Killer,'" he said on his feed.
Rep. Louie Gohmert, an outspoken Republican from Texas, also denied the scream in a local paper.
Not only did Campbell not say it, but he said it was totally inappropriate for anyone to say it.
"I don't think it's appropriate at all," Campbell told POLITICO.
Campbell said the voice came from the floor — someone seated behind him and to his left.
"Some people know who it is but won't say," he added.
Texas Republican Rep. Joe Barton said he heard the shout but wouldn't say who was responsible.
"I can make a guess," Barton told reporters.
House Appropriations Committee Chairman Dave Obey (D-Wis.), who was in the chair at the time, said he saw a Republican lawmaker shout out "baby killer" — but he wouldn't say who it was, either.
"I think members have a right to make an idiot of themselves once without being exposed," he said.
House Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank (D-Mass.), who was subjected to an anti-gay epithet from a protester Saturday, said the "baby killer" shout showed the close alignment between the GOP and some of its most extreme allies in the health care fight.
"The difference between some of the Republicans and some of their raucous followers appears to be, unfortunately, diminishing," Frank said. "Obviously, that's not the whole party, but there's a disturbing tendency to forget about civility."
Republican Reps. Michele Bachmann and Tom Price said they believed the voice came from the gallery and not from a lawmaker. Price declined to say whether the comment was inappropriate.
But Iowa Republican Rep. Steve King — not known to mince words in attacking the Democrats — said he didn't approve of the "baby killer" shout. "There are a lot of other words I would've used — not that," he said.
Kasie Hunt contributed to this report.


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Dr. Nathan R. Templeton has served as Assistant Professor in the Department of Educational Leadership since 2012. Dr. Templeton teaches graduate-level principal leadership and doctoral educational administration courses. In addition to supervising research and serving on dissertation committees, his course specialties are Educational Research for Effective Teaching, Program Evaluation and School Law. He serves as course lead for the master's level research course and the doctoral program evaluation courses. As faculty facilitator his goal is to help student's think more deeply, to enrich their knowledge base, and to prepare them for the noble journey of becoming an intentional administrator who can impact K-12 education by connecting theory to practice. Prior to his appointment at Texas A&M University Commerce, Dr. Templeton taught in Texas public schools for 12 years as a band director, fine arts administrator and campus principal.
Dr. Templeton's professional interests include eliminating educational inequality, systemic sustainability, and using research based best practice to improve student achievement and ensure effective practices. Moreover, he has profound beliefs regarding the lack of achievement and continued disparity amongst students of color in our public school systems. Thus, his quantitative research agenda includes: leading for social justice, culturally relevant pedagogy, PK-12 school reform, program preparation and higher education, educational leadership preparation, and closing the achievement gaps between African American students and White students.


text: Hump Day Camel Men's T-Shirt. Uh No guess what day it is? Its Hump Daaay! Hump Day Camel T-Shirts are available at Goneblue.com. All Camels love hump day, and so do most American workers. Chances are you've seen the insurance commercial starring a camel ... Well now get over the hump with your hump day t-shirt.


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Longmont teen pleads guilty to abuse in geese killing
Under the terms of his probation, he must complete a restorative justice program and individual counseling. "I am very sorry for my part in this," he said. His father declined the opportunity to speak to the judge, but the boy's mother said she ...
See all stories on this topic »
Restorative Justice


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If every story had perfect communication between characters, Romeo and Juliet would have lived happily ever after.
Alas, the messenger never reached Romeo and he famously misinterprets the situation when he sees Juliet lying in the church.
Today let's look at a scene in Harry Potter & The Sorcerer's Stone and The Hunger Games where the hero also misinterprets a situation. However, instead of a failed messenger, this scene begins with some good ol' fashioned eavesdropping.
Harry Potter eavesdrops on Professor Snape, while Katniss Everdeen eavesdrops on Peeta Mellark. Both heroes misinterpret the situation by assuming that Snape and Peeta are "bad guys." Here are the four elements of this building-block scene.
1. The hero has a secret vantage point.
The hero's eavesdropping begins innocently enough– he just happens to be in a spot that he is not expected to be in. Notice the use of the word "horror" here, which emphasizes the hero's surprise at what he sees.
- When no one answers Harry Potter's knock on the door of the staff room, he decides to enter anyway and try to find his book. "He pushed the door ajar and peered inside — and a horrible scene met his eyes." (HP Ch.11).
- When Katniss is hiding in a tree to sleep for the night, she hears voices approaching her tree on the ground below. "…to my horror, I hear the pack heading toward me. They do not know I'm here. How could they? And I'm well concealed in the clump of trees." (HG Ch.11).
2. The hero sees a group of adversaries.
While the hero is in his hiding spot, he sees not one, but a whole group of "bad guys" who are working together.
- Harry Potter observes Filch helping Snape with his injuries in the staffroom. "Snape was holding his robes above his knees. One of his legs was bloody and mangled. Filch was handing Snape bandages." (HP Ch.11).
- Katniss observes a group of tributes who have formed up as allies to take out weaker tributes. "Someone cries out, 'Twelve down and eleven to go!' which gets a round of appreciate hoots.' So they're fighting in a pack." (HG Ch.11).
3. The hero overhears an incriminating conversation.
Next the hero hears something that could be interpreted in more than one way.
- Harry Potter learns that Snape has had an encounter with the dog guarding the sorcerer's stone. "'Blasted thing,' Snape was saying. 'How are you supposed to keep your eyes on all three heads at once?' Harry tried to shut the door quietly . . . " (HP Ch.11).
- Katniss learns that Peeta is working with the Career tributes. "'We're wasting time! I'll go finish her and let's move on!' I almost fall out of the tree. The voice belongs to Peeta." (HG Ch.11).
4. The hero draws incorrect conclusions.
Naturally, the hero interprets what he hears the wrong way! This sets him off on a series of actions, all based on this incorrect assumption.
- Harry Potter assumes that Snape is after the sorcerer's stone, and guesses that he let the troll in too. "You know what this means?" he finished breathlessly. "He tried to get past that three-headed dog at Halloween! . . . — he's after whatever it's guarding!" (HP Ch.11).
- Katniss assumes that because Peeta is with the Career pack that he must be working against her. She tries to guess why Peeta has not told the Careers about her bow and arrow skills yet. "Obviously, the noble boy on the rooftop was playing just one more game with me. . . Not only is Peeta with the Careers, he's helping them find me." (HG Ch.12).
Why it Works
We've talked before about the importance of bungling up communications– like when the hero makes the difficult choice to withhold information.
This misunderstanding is just another way to stir up some conflict. There's nothing worse than trying to root for a hero who is making irrationally dumb decisions. Here, the hero can head off into danger based on his rational (albeit incorrect) assumption on who his enemy is.
This misunderstanding is a step in the series or question arc of our heroes, and will be reinforced in other scenes. Before this misunderstanding, the hero was already predisposed to believing that the adversary was against him– remember when we documented the hero's first clue in the pre-middle of the story?
Let's put this index card in Chapter 11 of our master outline (since it coincidentally appears in Chapter 11 in each of these novels).
To continue this series / question arc, I'd like to compare the Hunger Games scene where Katniss is up the tree while Peeta and the Careers surround her with the Harry Potter scene where Harry is up in the air playing quidditch and Snape and Quirrell are on the ground below.
Maybe we can even throw Twilight back in. So stay tuned for that. 🙂 Update: here's the next post in the series.


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Co-ops are businesses and in some ways, starting a co-op is like starting any business. Where a cooperative differs is that co-ops are shaped through collective effort and group decision-making as well as a set of cooperative principles that help to guide the business. This makes the business planning more complex, but it also means the resulting corporation is stronger and more likely to succeed.
Why start a co-op?
Historically, people have created co-ops for a variety of reasons:
Getting Started . . .
There are number of critical steps to follow if you are interested in forming a cooperative. You may already have a core group of people with whom you are working. You may already be a business but would like to convert to a cooperative structure. Perhaps you are not sure what kind of business structure you want.
The first thing you'll want to do is contact a co-op developer to help you with the process. A co-op developer can provide information about what a co-op is and help you determine whether the cooperative model is the best fit for your group. There are a number of co-op developers who can help you depending on what type of assistance you need. Click here for a list of co-op developers from CoopZone Developers' Network Cooperative.
A series of modules have been created by the Province of Manitoba as learning tools for groups and individuals who are interested in cooperative development. From concept to final operations, these tools are designed to guide and support skills development and learning. These modules can be easily found in our resource centre by simply entering keywords Co-op Curriculum.


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In this video I discuss the process which led me from traditional amps to a digital platform like the Kemper Profiling Amp
A Blog For Worship Leaders Who Lead Normal People In Normal Churches ||| RealWorldWorship.Org
In this video I discuss the process which led me from traditional amps to a digital platform like the Kemper Profiling Amp
I love compressors! I love the Pulp N Peel!
It's a compressor, a DI, an EQ, a gain pedal and so much more!
This is a great pedal for not only electric players but acoustic guitar and bass as well!
Check out my thoughts here:
My review of the Titan Guitars KR-1. It's a fantastic guitar, handmade here in the USA by bearded wizards. With its swimming pool body route, the KR-1 can be anything you need it to be by switching out loaded Pickguards.
Check out Titan Guitars and see what I'm so excited about!
I firmly believe that higher gain pedals aren't used nearly enough by church players. We have a tendency to to gravitate towards "clean" tones for very understandable reasons, but then in the moment when we need that crunch or searing lead line, we try to make our gear work in a way it was not designed to work. If you throw multiple stacked overdrives in front of a clean amp is that the best way to achieve your goal? Wouldn't it be better to use one pedal that was designed for that purpose instead of using two or three that were not?
Well, that's some of what I talk about in this video:
a few quick thoughts on the Klon KTR overdrive for church guitarists and worship settings.
This has become a conversation over the past few years in worship ministry. Possibly, it's even become a battle in some chruches. Should we allow music stands on the stage?
For some, this will seem like a ridiculous idea; how can we know what songs to play without the music? What's the big deal? Why is this even a question?
While others might say: "yes, and if you don't get rid of the stands, you're doing it wrong!" or some other hyperbolic rhetoric.
For this post, I'd like to address the reasons someone would want to ban Music Stands, the pros and cons of those reasons and some practical considerations for you to take into account. Maybe you've been wresting with this idea. Maybe this has been an issue in your ministry. Maybe you've never heard of such a thing and you can't understand why someone would do it; but you are going to keep reading to find out.
I see this question a lot. Mostly on forums and gear groups but sometimes I'll get an email or something about it. With the cost of musical gear and accessories such as PA or computer equipment being so high, doesn't it make sense to use a credit card to make purchases on high cost items? Won't it be too late to use it by the time I save up for it?
Sadly, the answers people give are often over-simplified or limited in their scope. People living in one context might not see that the person asking the question might exist in a different situation then they do. In this post I hope to address the central question and give some perspective that might be helpful, not only in deciding when or if to use credit, but how we buy our equipment in general.
Continue reading "Thoughts About Credit Cards and Purchasing Equipment"


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"I am the oldest of four sisters, and one of my early nicknames was "Bossy Jocey." I had always been assertive, confident and, well – bossy – but I also had a tendency to shame and judge myself for imperfection, failure, and what I perceived as my unlovable body. The persona of the leader and overachiever allowed me to hide many of my insecurities".
"About three years ago, a switch went off for me, and since then I've been working to take better care of myself and others. I have learned how to achieve in ways that are meaningful to me rather than to the outside world. I have learned self-acceptance and the power and beauty of my body through mindfulness meditation and exploring what my body is capable of accomplishing. I have become more courageous, learning how to swim in pool and ocean, joining Toastmasters to become a public speaker, and now, diving into comedy improv classes. And I have become a better partner to my husband as I've developed greater empathy and dropped the words "you should" from my vocabulary".
"Professionally, my mission is to facilitate transformational learning experiences for adult learners and for learning organizations. I currently work as the Teaching and Learning Librarian at Capilano University, and I am also an Instructional Skills Workshop facilitator. I love my jobs! Until recently, I was the librarian at BGC Engineering, an amazing company that allowed me full freedom to struggle, to build, and to grow". ~ Jocelyn Hallman


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Opinion: How Canada found an antidote to Lynton Crosby's venom
By Lisa Chang
Lynton Crosby's wedge strategies and dog whistle politics helped unpopular conservative prime ministers in Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom to retain power. But the 'Lizard of Oz' failed so miserably in Canada, that his partner Mark Textor had to launch a social media offensive to revise history and create a narrative where their firm Crosby|Textor never played a part in Stephen Harper's campaign. Why were Canadian voters able to break this legendary spin wizard's dark spells when their commonwealth cousins couldn't?
Before Crosby came into the picture, the Tory message was simple: "Things aren't perfect, but they could be much worse under an untried and untested leader. ISIS is taking over the world, but we can protect you from Jihadist terrorism. The global economy is crumbling, but the Canadian economy is doing well except for a 'discrete sectoral downturn'."
Harper's team soon realized that this message was as ineffective as the attack ads reminding us of Justin Trudeau's nice hair played ad nauseam on TV.
Canadians voters were desiring change, and they were looking for a leader who could usher in that change. They were not looking for someone to "stay the course."
Then there was the small matter of the Duffy trial, where the dirty laundry of the Prime Minister's Office was being aired for the Canadian electorate to see.
Just what do you do when your campaign is at best uninspiring and at worst being undone by $90,000 cheque?
Orchestrated by the master of dark arts, Harper and his henchmen began ratcheting up the race rhetoric and hate hysteria. The new message coming out of the blue camp was not subtle: "We are the old stock Canadians who speak perfect unaccented English. They're niqab-clad Muslim #peoplelikenenshi who engage in barbaric cultural practices. We're already under siege and Liberals and NDP will let 125 million more of them into Canada and establish Sharia courts in Saskatchewan. But we'll set up a snitchline for you to report your hummus eating neighbours."
The dirty tricks seemed to be working. Conservatives, who were languishing in third place, suddenly surged to take the lead. Then, all of a sudden, Lynton Crosby mysteriously aborted the mission and abandoned the Conservatives just days before the election.
Why did Crosby decide to cut the losses and retreat to try and protect his brand?
The language of fear and hate resonated with Harper's base. But it also scared the living daylights of everyone else. Historians started seeing parallels between Tories' Barbaric Practices Act and the Nazi's Malicious Practices Act in terms of the culture of denunciation the acts were intended to create. Twitter exploded with messages of support for #peoplelikenenshi. A growing chorus of intellectual voices warned of the dangers of the Conservatives' race baiting.
Advanced polling days rolled by, and a record number of voters flocked to the polling booths overwhelming Elections Canada staff in many parts of other country.
Election night handed the Liberals a stunning victory, and the Conservatives a stinging defeat. But the number popular votes received by Conservatives only fell fractionally from 5.8 million in 2011 to 5.6 million in 2015. But the anti-Harper vote increased dramatically, from 8.9 million in 2011 to 11.9 million in 2015.
The antidote to Lynton Crosby brand venom that Harper's Tories were banking on to poison the political climate and win the election turned out to be the higher voter turnout. The long lines at polling places laid waste to the best laid plans of Crosby and the Tories.
"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing," Edmund Burke famously said.
On October 19, the good people of Canada did something to prevent evil from triumphing. They voted.
9 Responses to Opinion: How Canada found an antidote to Lynton Crosby's venom
Congratulations, Canada, for defeating this spawn of the devil. You have shown the rest of the commonwealth how to counter his campaigns based around fear and hate.
Thank you.
Trust me when I tell you it was our pleasure. Harper's/Conservative's base (30%) was and is rock solid. (There are none so blind as those who refuse to see.) It was therefore vital to diminish voter apathy amongst the rest. I thank the powers that be, as well as the movement by several groups, that helped inspire the electorate to get out there and make their voices count for something good. There are still many evils in the world to deal with but for the first time in ten years I believe Canada has been taken off that list (for me, at least) and a darkness has been lifted from my heart. May Harper slither back under the rock he came from.
Early in the election, I noticed and I am sure many noticed that Harper's politics had a similarity to fascism. So of course, many of us, made this unusual similarity open to Canadian's interpretation. Then came Lynton…well his hate- mongering means; proved the point that Harper's politics did in deed have a close tie to fascism. We are not talking Nazism but the politics of fascism(extreme right wing).
Unlike some other countries, my fellow Canadians did not buy into this hate.
To give you an idea of how much it meant for people to change the government … one woman I know (in her 40s and seriously agoraphobic) made it out, late in the day, to vote. Getting Harper out of power was more important than her own comfort zone. She said, "I couldn't bear the thought of Harper getting in — especially if I hadn't voted."
Time wounds all heels. The power of social media woke people up and soundly defeated the Lynton Crosby nonsense.
Everyone is making this much too complicated. The fear of the Majority Reform Part/Conservative brand resonated throughout Canada during the first two Harper terms. People were afraid of what an unfettered Reform/Conservative party would do with a Majority.
The Liberals also did poorly because their choice of leaders reflected the choices of back room manipulators. Importing a Canadian with only blood ties from the US didn't help. "Only visiting" was definitely correct given where Ignatief is living now.
Harper was finally given a majority in the last election because he used the fear tactics of a Liberal, NDP, BLOC coalition. No one in English speaking Canada wanted to give the BLOC that much power.
So 4 years later Canadians had evidence of what the right wing Reform/Conservative could do when given absolute control. The 2011 election almost destroyed the BLOC and gave the NDP the mistaken idea that the country had moved far to the left. (not true).
So with the evidence of what happens with a majority far right government and Harper at the helm, Canadians moved the NDP and Conservatives (and BLOC) back to their core supporters and put the Liberals in.
What's notable is the centre and left parties still reflect the majority of the popular vote. No amount of propaganda by Conservatives that Canadians just didn't understand their 'brand' well enough will turn Canada into either a US version of Republicans or Democrats.
I give some credit to whoever first let the cat out of the bag about Crosby's involvement and his background and tactics. As the article here says, that jolted a lot of people who otherwise might not have voted into going to the polls. I think that snitch line was the final straw, although Canadians did a GREAT job of mocking it.
I think they played the niqab card too early, this should have been the final card in the play, and not the Ford Brothers.
By the time of election day, people were already tired of the niqab ads and the niqab was no longer appealing to many voters. So, they voted on other issues.
I for one am glad to see that the Canada I live in is NOT Harper's idea of what Canada should be.
I also think the 3rd party ad where the European fellow spit on the Canadian flag proudly displayed by the Canadian tourist, saying "You used to be one of the good ones", had an impact on the Canadian psyche. Canadians are generally proud to be the type of Canadians Harper apparently despises.
Harper should be lynched for what he did to this country's reputation and standing on the world stage. It is treasonous.


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So far, Samsung's launch events for Galaxy S smartphones have occurred in March, February, May, and most recently, March again for the Galaxy S 4. While the GS2 pushed things up into winter, we've largely come to expect each iteration of Galaxy S Android to debut in the spring. Now a new rumor out of South Korea claims that we won't be sitting around until March again before we get an official look at the Galaxy S 5, and suggests that Samsung could be planning to introduce the phone as soon as January.
The rumor points to Galaxy S 4 sales that – while clearly having been successful – are already seeing a bit of a slump, and suggests that Samsung may not want to wait any longer than it has to before coming out with a new Galaxy S 5 model to get business up to speed again.
That reasoning's more than a bit hard to believe, and we can't help but wonder if it's just playing into this Samsung-cares-about-money-not-users motif that's found its way into the controversies surrounding some undesired Galaxy Note 3 functionality.
That said, while we may not buy the idea that Samsung is fretting over insufficient GS4 sales, a January launch on its own isn't wholly preposterous. Like we mentioned, the GS2 premiered in February, so January isn't a ridiculous stretch.
Beyond a January announcement, this rumor also claims that the phone would hit retail as early as February.


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Anthony Bourdain dies at 61 in apparent suicide
Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images(KAYSERSBERG, France) — Award-winning chef, writer and television personality Anthony Bourdain has died in an apparent suicide. He was 61.
Bourdain was found dead on Friday morning in his room at a luxury hotel in the tiny village of Kaysersberg in the Alsace region of northeast France. He appeared to have hanged himself, according to Christian de Rocquigny du Fayel, the prosecutor of Colmar in Alsace region, southeast of Kaysersberg.
The exact cause of death is under investigation.
The hotel where Bourdain was staying declined to comment Friday.
Bourdain was the host of "Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown," which has aired on CNN since its premiere in 2013. The travel and food series, which features cuisines and stories from around the world, has won several Emmy Awards as well as a 2013 Peabody Award, according to CNN.
He leaves behind an 11-year-old daughter, Ariane Bourdain.
CNN confirmed Bourdain's death in a statement Friday.
"It is with extraordinary sadness we can confirm the death of our friend and colleague, Anthony Bourdain," the network said. "His love of great adventure, new friends, fine food and drink and the remarkable stories of the world made him a unique storyteller. His talents never ceased to amaze us and we will miss him very much. Our thoughts and prayers are with his daughter and family at this incredibly difficult time."
CNN reported that Bourdain was in France working on an upcoming episode for his hit series when close friend and French chef Eric Ripert found him unresponsive in his hotel room Friday morning.
"Anthony was a dear friend," Ripert told ABC News in a statement Friday. "He was an exceptional human being, so inspiring and generous. One of the great storytellers of our time who connected with so many. I wish him peace. My love and prayers are with his family, friends and loved ones."
An employee of the Wistub de la Petite Venise restaurant in Colmar told ABC News that Bourdain was there having lunch with Ripert on Monday.
"He seemed happy, cheerful, he was joking and enjoying himself," the employee, who declined to give her name, said of Bourdain. "He had a choucroute for lunch."
Bourdain posted a photo of the Alsatian dish on his official Instagram account — his final post before his death.
Born in New York City and raised in Leonia, New Jersey, Bourdain went on to graduate from the Culinary Institute of America in 1978 and pursue a career in cooking.
In an interview with ABC News' Rebecca Jarvis last year, Bourdain said when he was younger he had a kind of "live hard, die young" attitude.
"It came as sort of a rude surprise to me when I turned 30 and I was still alive," he said. "I didn't really have a plan after that."
Bourdain ran a number of restaurant kitchens in New York City. But he gained fame with his acclaimed nonfiction book in 2000, "Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly."
"Mine was not a particularly distinguished cooking career," Bourdain told ABC News in the interview last year. "When 'Kitchen Confidential' was published, [it] was to my great surprise a success … I was determined not to screw this up."
Bourdain authored several other nonfiction books on the culinary industry as well as accounts of his world-travel and food adventures. In 2011, he founded his own publishing line, Anthony Bourdain Books, at Ecco Press, a New York-based publishing imprint of HarperCollins.
"I've known Tony as an author and friend for many years," Ecco president and publisher Daniel Halpern said in a statement Friday. "He not only revolutionized the memoir genre with his groundbreaking and iconic work, 'Kitchen Confidential,' he supported emerging voices and chefs with his imprint, Anthony Bourdain Books. His death is a great personal tragedy. Our thoughts are with his daughter and family at this difficult time."
On CNN's "Parts Unknown," Bourdain delved into different cultures across the globe by talking and sharing meals with locals. U.S. President Barack Obama famously appeared on an episode in Vietnam in 2016, during his final months in office. Obama and Bourdain discussed Vietnamese-American relations, among other things, while dining on grilled pork, noodles and beer at a small family-run restaurant in Hanoi.
Previously, Bourdain had hosted a TV show called "A Cook's Tour" on the Food Network and then "Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations" and "The Layover" on the Travel Channel.
'Anthony gave all of himself in everything that he did'
In recent months, Bourdain garnered attention as an outspoken advocate of the #MeToo movement, with his vocal support of dozens of women — including his own girlfriend, Italian actress and director Asia Argento — who accused disgraced movie mogul Harvey Weinstein of sexual misconduct.
"I've been seeing up close — due to a personal relationship — the difficulty of speaking out about these things, and the kind of vilification and humiliation and risk and pain and terror that come with speaking out about this kind of thing," Bourdain told Slate magazine last October. "That certainly brought it home in a personal way that, to my discredit, it might not have before."
Argento posted a statement on her official Twitter account, saying she's "beyond devastated" to lose her "love," "rock" and "protector."
"Anthony gave all of himself in everything that he did. His brilliant, fearless spirit touched and inspired so many, and his generosity knew no bounds," she said in the statement Friday. "He was my love, my rock, my protector. I am beyond devastated. My thoughts are with his family. I would ask that you respect their privacy and mine."
During a 2015 interview with Wine Spectator, Bourdain was asked how he would like to be remembered.
"Maybe that I grew up a little," he told the magazine. "That I'm a dad, that I'm not a half-bad cook, that I can make a good coq au vin. That would be nice. And not such a bad bastard after all."
In a now-eerie interview with People magazine that was published last month, Bourdain said he'd rather "die in the saddle" than retire.
"I gave up on that. I've tried. I just think I'm just too nervous, neurotic, driven," he told the magazine. "I would have had a different answer a few years ago. I might have deluded myself into thinking that I'd be happy in a hammock or gardening. But no, I'm quite sure I can't. I'm going to pretty much die in the saddle."
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How to Hire a Reliable Restoration Company
At some point in your life, a homeowner or property owner will need to hire a restoration company. It's hard to find a reliable company who can be trusted. General research may not be enough to accurately make a decision. By fully applying the knowledge about restoration companies, you can accurately make an informed decision. Below are just a few ways to ensure that you hire a reliable restoration company near you.
Finding a Reliable Restoration Company
– First thing to research is a company's certifications. You can check this at the Better Business Bureau as well as the affiliations on the company's website. Make sure you research that the employees and technicians are certified, trained professionals. You need to ensure any job that is done in your home is done correctly and professionally.
– Testimonials and reviews are always a great way to read about a company. What people write is generally more heartfelt and honest than reviews on the company's website. MyCleaningReviews.com is a great way to read and write reviews on any type of cleaning and restoration company. Ratings and testimonials can definitely help you hire a reliable restoration company.
– Don't hesitate to call the company and ask questions! Ask about:
Free Estimates
Labor Costs
Before you sign any contract or hand over a check, you need to ask the right questions to ensure the restoration company you hire is the best.
– Word of mouth is also a great way to find a reliable restoration company. Friends and family will tell you the truth about a company and their services. This is a great way to find a suitable company.
– If you experience a large flood, fire or mold problem, your insurance company will most likely hire a company to do the cleaning. Often times you can talk to your insurance company before hand to see which cleaning companies they use. You then can research that certain company.
Once you find that reliable restoration company, see what kind of perks they offer. Coupons and promotions are a great way to save a couple bucks on any service you need. You can still receive professional services at a bargain.
If you do find yourself in a cleaning problem, find a local restoration company near you!


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Leyden Township, ILHome Menu
Voter Registration
If you are a new resident or have a new address within the community, in order to vote in any future election you must register no less than 30 days prior to the election. In order to register, you must be a United States citizen and at least 18 years old. If you are 17 but will be 18 years old by the March 18th election, you may still register to vote. Two forms of identification are required, at least one of which must have your current address. You can register to vote in the Leyden Town Hall from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., every week day.


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Now offering full service nail salon! Let our team of coloring experts and pro-stylists create a versatile look that's as unique & individual as you are. For more information, check out their website and Facebook page.
Facials, massages, bridal make-up and more! Ask about our bridal shower spa package. Blue Spa also offers Princess Parties, where parents and children can pamper themselves by getting nails, hair and makeup done! For more information, check out their website and Facebook page.
Gourmet cheeses from around the globe, high-end micro brewed craft beers and more! Free tastings and samplings! Check out their Facebook for more info.
Beer and Cheese Tastings everyday!
Casual women's clothing in all-natural cottons, rayons and silks – with timeless style and washable comfort.
Learn about Wardrobe Parties at Chico's!
Chocolate, truffles, pretzels, "wall of candy" and custom-molded chocolates and gift baskets. Birthday parties, anniversary parties, corporate, and Ladies Night Out Events (Call for details).
Visit their website for more info!
Don't miss the special events & workshops!
One of Long Island's largest baby selection. A children's specialty store that offers a unique layette; distinctive, free-spirited clothing for boys and girls to size 7; children's shoes, and an expanded line of educational toys and books. Free gift-wrapping.
Featuring hundreds of items that include books, educational games, toys, kits, crafts, foods, and accessories. Located in the Ward Melville Heritage Organization Educational & Cultural Center.


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One of my favorite things about the seasons is taking part in traditions — and creating new ones! So to celebrate the beginning of autumn, I put together a little list of fun things to do during the fall season:
• Pick apples.
• Carve a pumpkin.
• Sip apple cider.
• Stroll a farmers market.
• Visit a Chicago museum.
• Try a new recipe at home.
• Volunteer in the community.
• Dress in costume for Halloween.
• Attend a football game (or two!)


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The Foundation for Neonatal Research and Education raises and distributes funds to encourage nursing research and education for nurses who wish to enhance their practice for the benefit of infants and their families.
All interested individuals and companies are invited to contribute to this worthwhile endeavor.
For more details, or to contribute, click on the link below to download a donation form.
Download FNRE Donation Form (PDF)


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Quality standard
This quality standard covers the management of atopic eczema in children from birth up to the age of 12 years. For more information see the scope.
Why this quality standard is needed
Atopic eczema (atopic dermatitis) is a chronic, inflammatory, itchy skin condition that usually develops in early childhood. It is typically an episodic disease of exacerbation consisting of flares, which may occur 2 or 3 times per month, and remissions, but in some children it is continuous. Atopic eczema often has a genetic component that leads to the breakdown of the skin barrier. This makes the skin susceptible to trigger factors, including irritants and allergens, which can make the eczema worse.
In many children atopic eczema clears or improves during childhood, whereas in others it persists into adulthood. Some children who have atopic eczema will go on to develop asthma and/or allergic rhinitis; this sequence of events is sometimes referred to as the 'atopic march'. Although atopic eczema is not always recognised as a serious medical condition by healthcare professionals, it can have a significant negative impact on quality of life for children and their parents or carers.
How this quality standard supports delivery of outcome frameworks
NICE quality standards are a concise set of prioritised statements designed to drive measureable quality improvements within a particular area of health or care. They are derived from high-quality guidance, such as that from NICE or other sources accredited by NICE. This quality standard, in conjunction with the guidance on which it is based, should contribute to the improvements outlined in the following outcomes framework published by the Department of Health:
NHS Outcomes Framework 2013/14 (Department of Health, November 2012)
Improving outcomes and supporting transparency: a public health outcomes framework for England 2013–2016, Part 1 and Part 1A.
Tables 1 and 2 shows the outcomes, overarching indicators and improvement areas from the frameworks that the quality standard could contribute to achieving:
Table 1 NHS Outcomes Framework 2013/14
Overarching indicators and improvement areas
1 Preventing people from dying prematurely
Overarching indicator
1a Potential years of life lost (PYLL) from causes considered amenable to healthcare
ii Children and young people
Improvement areas
Reducing deaths in babies and young children
1.6 i Infant mortality*
4 Ensuring that people have a positive experience of care
Overarching indicator
4a Patient experience of primary care
i GP services
ii GP Out of hours services
4b Patient experience of hospital care
Improvement areas
Improving children and young people's experience of healthcare
4.8 An indicator is under development
Alignment across the health and social care system
* Indicator shared with Public Health Outcomes Framework.
Table 2 Public health outcomes framework for England, 2013-2016
Objectives and indicators
4 Healthcare public health and preventing premature mortality
Reduced numbers of people living with preventable ill health and people dying prematurely, while reducing the gap between communities
4.1 Infant mortality*
Alignment across the health and social care system
* Indicator shared with NHS Outcomes Framework.
Coordinated services
The quality standard for atopic eczema in children specifies that services should be commissioned from and coordinated across all relevant agencies encompassing the whole atopic eczema in children care pathway. A person-centred, integrated approach to providing services is fundamental to delivering high-quality care to children with atopic eczema.
The Health and Social Care Act 2012 sets out a clear expectation that the care system should consider NICE quality standards in planning and delivering services, as part of a general duty to secure continuous improvement in quality. Commissioners and providers of health and social care should refer to the library of NICE quality standards when designing high-quality services. Other quality standards that should also be considered when choosing, commissioning or providing a high-quality service for children with atopic eczema are listed in Related quality standards.
Training and competencies
The quality standard should be read in the context of national and local guidelines on training and competencies. All healthcare practitioners involved in assessing, caring for and treating atopic eczema in children should have sufficient and appropriate training and competencies to deliver the actions and interventions described in the quality standard.


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Innovative sensors make wearables truly unique
Defining and exploiting value proposition is an essential part of wearable technology's journey from early adopters into mass markets, and sensor platforms enable the key value proposition in most wearable devices today. This is whymade-for-wearable sensors are being developed around the world, and this is why IDTechEx Research finds that made-for-wearable sensors will represent 42% of all sensors in wearable devices in 2026, up from a measly 7% in 2015 – seewww.IDTechEx.com/wtsensors.
Fig 1. First and second wave wearable sensors. Source: IDTechEx Research report "Wearable Sensors 2015-2025: Market Forecasts, Technologies, Players" (www.IDTechEx.com/wtsensors)
There will be a $5.5bn market for sensors used in wearable technology applications by 2025, according to IDTechEx's best-selling research report on the topic. With detailed coverage of the 15 most prominent sensor types in wearables today, this report gives a thorough overview of the technology, challenges and opportunities behind one of the key components behind the success of wearable technology.
Overcoming the barriers to adoptions
However, key hurdles must be surpassed in order for these sensor technologies to realize their full potential and penetrate key vertical markets. Healthcare is perhaps the best example, where regulatory processes and liability issues remain extremely prominent. Leading doctors admit that those who fail to adopt of technology in the form of digital health or otherwise will "fall by the way side"[1] as advances occur. However, until all of the parties (device manufacturers, physicians, insurance companies, patients, and the lawyers of all the above) understand a clear system of liability, this remains a significant barrier to adoption.
New sensor technologies unlock new markets
Wearable sensor systems have already begun to unlock new markets. The textile and electronics industry has started to merge together around e-textiles. In the earliest products reaching the market, advances in low-energy communication can be paired with new made-for-wearable sensor types based on textiles and inks that are increasingly washable, comfortable and reliable. The current commercial focus here is on high value sport and fitness applications in the short term, but this will spread to wider industries including healthcare, home textiles, and industrial spaces in the next 2-5 years.
The IDTechEx report concludes that these sensor types will climb to huge volumes in the coming decade. As the number of wearable devices and the number of sensors per device both increase rapidly, sensors used to detect motion (stretching, deformation, etc.), force and pressure will be one of the largest winners, growing at 40% CAGR. The technology landscape here is in a period of divergence. Introduction of stretchable and washable inks, electroactive polymers, textile electrodes and printed piezoelectric sensors add to traditional techniques like inductive sensors using conductive elastomers or otherwise.
This broad technology landscape is a challenge for product designers. With many different materials come different requirements for connector types, electrical specifications, data algorithms and more. It will take some time for clear winners to emerge, and many large companies are still hedging their bets.
Fig 2. Technology landscape. Source: IDTechEx Research report "Wearable Sensors 2015-2025: Market Forecasts, Technologies, Players" (www.IDTechEx.com/wtsensors)
Sensor fusion
In 2015, half of all wearable sensors are based on MEMS technologies. Inertial measurement units (IMUs) are found in every smartwatch and fitness tracker, making the most of mature MEMS components that are reliable, familiar and cheap.
However, the challenge here is in turning raw data into useful, or 'actionable' data. Sensor fusion is the process of combining sensor outputs from multiple sensors to gain greater total insight. The most common example is using individual xyz acceleration and rotation data (e.g. from a 6-axis IMU) into motion data. This in turn can be used to count steps, differentiate between activity types, and so on. It is here that MEMS IMUs see more use cases. For example, they are used alongside optical sensors to manage motion artefacts experienced in optical heart rate monitoring. This was a far more traditional use of such components in physiological analytics, and now the wearable technology industry is beginning to come full circle.
To learn more about the trends with IMUs, stretch and pressure sensors, and all of the other prominent and emerging sensor types used in wearable technology today and in the future, see IDTechEx's comprehensive report: Wearable Sensors 2015-2025: Market Forecasts, Technologies, Players. With extensive primary research, including detailed profiles and interviews with key players conducted by the authors, the report gives a thorough overview of the industry today, as well as a granular forecast showing the market will reach $5.5bn by 2025. For more information, on IDTechEx or the report, contact email@example.com.
About IDTechEx
IDTechEx guides your strategic business decisions through its Research and Events services, helping you profit from emerging technologies. We provide independent research, business intelligence and advice to companies across the value chain based on our core research activities and methodologies providing data sought by business leaders, strategists and emerging technology scouts to aid their business decisions.
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Product information
The next level – this ultra-light sport climbing harness boasts the latest technology and a progressive design. The Zephir uses a combination of split webbing design and Mammut® Frame technology (a lamination process that applies TPU reinforcement to the mesh material in order to increase the lateral stability of the belt). This allows even distribution of pressure across the entire belt surface and unprecedented suspension and comfort. This is further improved by the anatomical cut and extreme breathability of the hip belt.
- 2 overmolded gear loops combined with two extremely light gear loops
- Innovative Split Webbing technology
- Aluminum Slide Bloc buckle
- Extremely light protector to help prevent abrasion of the tie-in loops
Product features
- Harness type: Sitzgurt
- Carabiner closure type: Slide-Bloc-buckle
- Adjustable leg loop: false
- Weight [g]: 295
Product Code: F1212246


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July 25, 2016Bangladesh
The recent rise in Islamist violence in Bangladesh is caught up in a polarizing political debate over the country's identity.
June 29, 2016United Kingdom
The United Kingdom's vote to leave the EU demonstrates that rising populism in Europe and the United States are both driven by voters who feel alienated from the benefits of globalization, says CFR's…
June 3, 2016Israel
Domestic pressures facing Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Abbas mean France's bid to reboot Israeli-Palestinian negotiations will likely be a nonstarter, says CFR's Robert Danin.
April 20, 2016Global
As countries prepare to sign the landmark Paris climate accord, the work to reduce global carbon emissions is only beginning, says CFR's Michael Levi.
April 1, 2016Syria
The U.S. declaration that the Islamic State has committed genocide must be followed by prosecutions to deter future abuses, says expert Naomi Kikoler.
October 9, 2015Afghanistan
The battle for Kunduz highlights the military and political challenges facing Afghanistan and the narrowly defined U.S. mission there, says CFR's Stephen Biddle.
July 21, 2015China
The odds of an economic hard landing for China remain low, but continuing stock volatility could set back critical market reforms, says expert Stephen Roach.
July 14, 2015Middle East and North Africa
The new agreement between Iran does not resolve the problem and complicates U.S. relations with regional allies, says CFR President Richard N. Haass.
June 18, 2015Vatican City
The pope's encyclical on the environment carries a profoundly religious message about care for the earth, wedded to a new call for activism, say religious scholars Mary Evelyn Tucker and John Grim.
June 4, 2015Turkey
The Justice and Development Party is not expected to lose its majority in Turkey's June 7 elections, but a boost for the opposition could rein in the incumbents on matters of democracy, the economy, …


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The Mid-South Fair Youth Talent Contest has served as a launching pad for the careers of many noteworthy performers. Elvis Presley is probably one of the most famous participants. Before achieving international stardom, young Elvis competed in the Mid-South Fair Youth Talent Contest.
This year, it was a very tough competition, there were many bright and talented young performers.
Sheridan's unique rendition of the popular song, "Time To SayGoodbye" received standing ovations, during his two performances.
Below is the video from the Finals of the Mid-South Talent Contest.


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Back in 2014, Go Negosyo had its first Agri-Negosyo Summit in World Trade Center with more than 10,000 participants who attended. It was one of the biggest gatherings of agri-entrepreneurs, farmers, poultry farmers and other agriculture sector stakeholders.
Participants were inspired by the success stories of the agri-preneurs. We pursued the summit because I personally believe that the sector has a tremendous potential that is waiting to be maximized. Agriculture is the game changer! If we can focus on developing the sector, it can further strengthen the economy.
The whole day session was a group mentorship with our "agri-preneurs" who have years of experience and expertise. This was our idea of mentoring three years ago.
Fast forward to 2016, we launched the Kapatid Mentor ME (KMME) program in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry to provide micro and small entrepreneurs with a closer mentoring session with the help of entrepreneur-mentors who can answer their questions on business and give them techniques and strategies on how to handle and improve their enterprises.
After months of successful roll-outs since August last year, we decided to bring the Kapatid Mentor ME program to the agriculture sector. We collaborated with the Department of Agriculture, led by Sec. Manny Piñol, and the Agriculture Training Institute to generate another program called the Kapatid Agri Mentor ME Program (KAMMP). Go Negosyo adviser for agriculture Ginggay Hontiveros-Malvar leads the implementation of the program.
KAMMP aims to equip agri-preneurs with the proper production technique and to align the agri-preneurs' mindset and values to successfully run an agri enterprise. KAMMP also teaches agri-preneurs with practical knowledge and strategies to expand their business. Agri-preneurs will also be given the chance to consult mentors about their current business status. And lastly, KAMMP aims to nurture a community of dynamic, competitive, and sustainable agri-preneurs.
KAMMP is similar to the program of KMME, with modules on different functional areas of entrepreneurship. But instead of the 10-week program, KAMMP will be a three-day session covering the eight modules namely: Entrepreneurial mind setting, marketing, basic accounting, farm operation management, agri supply and value chain, finance, obligations and contracts, and business plan development. The modules are designed to strengthen our farmers' business acumen.
Our first KAMMP roll out will be next week in Region 8. From July to November, we will visit different regions for the launch of the agri mentoring program.
As of today, more than 50 agri mentors have pledged their commitment to help mentees improve their agri-enterprises including Toto Barcelona (Harbest), Dr. William Dar (InangLupa Movement), Pablito Villegas (Villegas Eco-Organic Farmville), Josephine Costales (Costales Nature Farms), Flor Tarriela (Flor's Garden), Babie Atanacio (Terra Verde Eco Farm), Andry Lim (Natural Farmers Institute of the Philippines), Mat Maderazo (Anawin Lay Missions Fdn.), Eddie Canuto (Ephrathah Farms Corp.), Bobby Amores, Troy Bumagat (Trophy Farms Supplies), Eddie Guillen, Pamela Henares (Buro-buro Springs Vermi Farm), Pamela Chan, Mary Ann Sayoc, Michael Caballes (Allied Botanical Corp.), Cherrie Atilano (AGREA), Majella Villaroman (AccelSPROUT), and Willy Arcilla. We would like to invite more qualified agri experts, academe, practitioners to be part of the KAMMP. As mentors, you will have the chance to share your experiences, knowledge and success to our agri mentees.
Why are we bringing mentorship to our farmers? As we all know, not all farmers were able to finish their studies. Instead, they would rather plant crops or till the land in a long run for a small amount in exchange. According to a study in 2014, we have old farmers with an average age of 57. In line with this, we want the younger generation to see that there is money and success in agriculture. If we are to empower the youth to pursue agriculture, we are securing the country's future. There will be a new batch of agri-preneurs and farmers who will provide us with the food we need every day.
We hope to contribute to the growth of the agri sector. For the first three months of 2017, the agriculture sector grew 5.28 percent. With the KAMMP, Go Negosyo, DA and ATI will bring more developments to our farmers through mentoring.
This is part of Go Negosyo's mission of bringing inclusive growth to all sectors. We want all micro and small entrepreneurs, including agri-preneurs to receive the necessary knowledge they need to manage and sustain their businesses.
For interested farmers and agri-preneurs, you may register in your respective Department of Agriculture Regional Offices. You can also get updates on KAMMP through the Go Negosyo website, www.gonegosyo.net.
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Tomorrow will be the ASEAN MSME Development Summit of the Department of Trade and Industry supported by the ASEAN Business Advisory Council. The ASEAN MSME Summit will "place the MSMEs in the foreground of the regional agenda." The summit will gather entrepreneurs, public sector representatives, and ASEAN counterparts to showcase the opportunities for MSMEs. With the theme, "7Ms Towards Prosperous ASEAN MSMEs", the summit focuses on the 7Ms: Mindset, Mastery, Mentoring, Markets, Money, Machine, and Models which will better equip MSMEs as they reach for success.
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Philippine Franchise Association will have its Franchise Asia Philippines 2017 Conference and Expo on July 19 to 23 at the SMX Convention Center, Pasay City. They will be showcasing successful franchise models in the country.
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