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VAIO and Computing
VAIO product name and serial number location on the product depends on when it was produced.
Note: Each VAIO also carries a black sticker on the bottom with a PCG reference, e.g. PCG-61M2. This reference describes a group of similar models, and is not used for support purposes.
1. Recent models
Sample model names: SVE14A1S1E, VPCZ23S9E
Sample serial numbers: 28123456-5001234, 27123456-5123456, 54123456-6012345
The product name and the serial number are shown on stickers on the bottom of the notebook.
Exceptions:SVF142 and SVF152 series: serial number and product name are located underneath the battery.
SVP112 and SVP132 series: Please open the battery door to find the serial number and product name.
SVT112 series: Lift up the adjustable stand to access model name and serial number.
SVF11N, SVF13N, SVF14N, SVF15N series: Set laptop in the viewer mode. The model name and serial number are located in the upper part of the display.
2. Older models
Sample model names: VGN-SR39VN/H, PCG-R600MP
Sample serial numbers: 28123456-5001234, 27123456-5123456, 54123456-6012345
The product name is on a sticker on the display frame or above the keyboard.
The serial number is on a sticker on the bottom of the notebook.
Note: For some models you need to remove the battery to see the serial number sticker.
Alternatively, you can find the information in the BIOS or in Sony Software on your computer.


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Chocolate for discerning Easter Bunnies
When you think of packing Easter Baskets with chocolate eggs and bunnies, you don't necessarily think Gearharts Fine Chocolates. More like those goodies you find at CVS and Walmart.
But this year gourmet chocolatier Tim Gearhart has responded, creating the cherished bunny eggs, but then melting them down to pure chocolate. Four thousand egg bunnies RIP!"You know how sculptors remove the excess marble to reveal the underlying art?" says Gearhart's partner Bill Hamilton. " We're just reversing the process."It's all tongue-in-cheek, of course, but as Hamilton says, " it does create a lot of perplexion in the shops."
As the package explains, Gearharts has melted its finest "Easter eggs" into a "no-fuss" milk chocolate bar with Spanish almonds and fine wafer flakes.
"We get a lot of seasonal requests for molded Easter eggs and bunnies, but it is just not our thing," explains Hamilton. "With this Easter Egg Bar, customers get all of the Eastery goodness without the cliché."
Gearhart's also packages some organic peanut butter truffles in an Egg-shaped box, but that little specialty has already sold out this Easter season.

subset: commoncrawl


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Allan Alter has been a specialist on information technology management, strategy and leadership for many years. Most recently, he was editor-in-chief and the director of new content development for the MIT Sloan Management Review. He has been a columnist and department editor at Computerworld, where he won three awards from the American Society of Business Press Editors. Previously he was a special projects editor, senior editor and senior writer for CIO magazine. Earlier, Alter was an associate editor for Mass High Tech. He has edited two books: The Squandered Computer: Evaluating the Business Alignment of Business Technologies and Redesigning the Firm.
Have the latest technology news and resources emailed to you everyday.
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High winds and apricot blossoms signal the arrival of spring in New Mexico. And soon, there'll be no better way to spend a summer day than at a barbecue with great friends, food and drink.
Part of the fun is the thrown-together nature of the event; the host provides flame and location, leaving guests responsible for the rest. So, what should you bring? Putting the gas vs. coals debate on hold (both have their place, in my opinion), here are a couple can't-miss suggestions that will make your next BBQ tasty and hassle-free.
The majority of BBQs I attend are BYOM (Bring Your Own Meat, as well as beer, side dishes and even plates and cutlery…I need new friends). I generally avoid anything that requires sauces or marinades, especially if I'm not working the grill. Good BBQ chicken is more art than science and requires a grill master who knows what to do. Good cuts of beef are expensive and quickly go from juicy to chewy if that game of horseshoes runs long. I usually go for sausage. It's cheap, comes portioned and, when placed over indirect heat, practically cooks itself. Give it a turn or three, and presto, flavor country.
Jim Whitaker of Red Mesa Meats recommends looking for sausages made from quality meat and a good amount of fat. Unlike his factory-farm competitors, Whitaker uses natural ingredients and quality trimmings from the ham and shoulders of grain-finished hogs (Red Mesa also offers other cuts of pork, as well as a full range of grass-fed and finished beef).
Red Mesa sausages are roughly 85 percent lean; the rest is fat. This may sound like a lot, but most of the fat renders out during the cooking process. In addition to its flavor, the fat ground into the sausage ensures that even the most neglected link retains some of its jus (Whitaker recommends links over patties for the grill, and says to use tongs to avoid puncturing the natural casing).
Sausages made from leaner meats like turkey or lamb usually contain less fat, so be careful not to overcook them. Whitaker suggests cooking his links medium-rare, since quality meats don't need to be cooked to death to be safe. A sausage cooked on a covered grill over indirect heat will be done in 12-15 minutes, depending on thickness and grill temp. Red Mesa has a number of different sausages to choose from, but Whitaker recommends the green chile and bratwurst for the grill. You can find him and his product every Saturday at the Farmers Market.
This suggestion is really a twofer. My go-to side dish for a cookout is coleslaw. The dressing is simple: mayo, acid (cider, rice wine vinegar or citrus), salt, pepper and a little sugar. Toss this with shredded carrots and cabbage, and you're done. It's the classic BBQ side, and a whole hell of a lot easier to make than potato salad. You'll get credit for cooking without having to cook. You can cheat even more by buying the veggies pre-shredded.
But the real beauty of coleslaw is that it's great on top of a grilled sausage (think more creamy, less sauerkrauty), and the basic recipe can be tweaked to match the flavor profile of any variety of sausage.
Thai-style pork sausage? Add Thai basil, Sriracha and coriander. Lamb sausage? Add mint, parsley and za'atar to the basic recipe, and substitute yogurt for mayo. The possibilities are endless, and the results will have your friends thinking you know what you're doing in the kitchen.
You can't go wrong with a michelada: beer mixed with lime, salt and spices, all served over ice. There are endless variations on the drink, but the version I'm most familiar with is beer mixed with what I would best describe as a tomato-less Bloody Mary mix. I start my mix by combining good amounts of lime juice and Worcestershire sauce. I then add a lot of the same things I would add to a bloody: salt, pepper, something spicy and even horseradish. Mix with beer to taste and serve in a salt-rimmed pint glass.
Bring a small pitcher of mix alongside that 18-pack of PBR tall boys, and you'll be invited back for sure. For purists who insist on drinking only 'cheladas made with Mexican beer, my favorite is Cerveza Victoria out of Mexico City.
Summer is just around the corner, and so are long days spent around the grill and cooler. Your next BBQ can be a tasty and hassle-free affair if you remember to keep it simple.
Got some local BBQ favorites of your own? Sound off:


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Cloud-Based Managed Services for
Telepresence, Mobile and Desktop
Global Conferencing Solutions is a cloud-based service provider that leverages the latest technology from Radvision, an Avaya Company, to provide video and collaboration solutions to organizations around the globe. As a true unified communications company, GCS supports a wide array of platforms including standards-based video endpoints, PC and Mac computers, 3G and 4G mobile devices, Microsoft® Lync™ clients, telephones and immersive telepresence systems.
GCS Brings Microsoft® Lync™ Video to the iPad™ and iPhone™
Through New Cloud-Based Service Offering
Expands Lync Connectivity and Enables New MultiPoint Video Functionality
Learn more about Lync Connectivity
Full Lync Connectivity Press Release


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Hi, i am using package, and i want to call a method in the other java file called triangle, but it can't. i tried to pass this
Triangle tri = new Triangle();
tri. create();
but it said "Accessing static method create()", both of the method is static.
After that, i use the suggestion from NetBeans, which is "Replace with class reference" and then it change to
but it still can't pass to the method create. can anyone please help?
Thank you


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Saturday, September 02, 2006
Comfort food: Baked Semolina Pudding with Vanilla Custard and Blueberries
I know my blogging has been a wee bit slow during the last few weeks, and I apologise for that. This is because I've been travelling (will report about the wonderful wedding in Brussels last weekend as soon as I find the menu and reformat the pictures:) I have also been busy packing and shipping my stuff in Edinburgh. And as if travelling and packing weren't disrupting my blogging enough already, then our internet provider disconnected us by accident a fortnight ago and then refused to reconnect us because we were soon ending our contract anyway. Just like that. Sulk..
While I search my luggage for my notes from Brussels, I leave you with another simple pudding. Yet again it uses this exotic childhood ingredient, semolina/cream of wheat featured in my whipped semolina pudding about a month ago. This time a simple semolina porridge is baked in the oven and served with some delicious berries, giving it a beautiful lift. Humble it may be, but it was well received by my guests and I was still eager to eat some more on the following morning. As there was none left from the night before, I made a fresh batch of semolina porridge for breakfast and served it with my fake cloudberry jam. And I made semolina porridge for breakfast yet again when my friend Ruxandra came over for a visit.
Yes, that's how good it was - it made you want to eat semolina not once, not twice, but thrice.
Baked semolina pudding with vanilla custard and blueberries
(Mannapannkook vanillikreemi ja mustikatega)
Slightly adapted from the Swedish Arla site again
Serves 4
800 ml milk
150 ml semolina/cream of wheat
0.5 tsp salt
2 eggs, lightly whipped
2 Tbsp sugar
1 lemon, zested
To serve:
vanilla custard
fresh blueberries
Butter Ø 22 cm oven dish and sprinkle with semolina. Put aside.
Bring the milk to the boil, keeping your eye on the saucepan and stirring regularly to make sure it won't boil over.
When it's boiling, remove the saucepan from the heat. Stir in semolina and salt, stirring rigorously.
Put the saucepan on the hob again and heat for 4-5 minutes on a slow heat, stirring, until the porridge thickens. Remove from the heat again.
Stir in the eggs, sugar and lemon zest. Pour the porridge into the prepared oven dish and bake at the lower part of a 200C oven for about 35-40 minutes, until the porridge is golden.
Cool a little and serve with some vanilla custard and fresh blueberries.
7 comments:
- Orchidea said...
Interesting recipe... I have never tried semolina like that. I love blueberries.
- 5:06 pm, September 02, 2006
- Joycelyn said...
hi pille, really hope the packing and logistics and what-not are going well for you...do take care! this semolina pud, i must say, does look like the ultimate in comfort nursery-nostalgic food!
- 10:15 pm, September 04, 2006
- Clivia said...
oh say hi to Estonia from me! I tried to lure my mother into taking a cruise with me to Tallinn later this autumn but she is hesitant and would rather wait until spring...
Good luck with your big move!
- 5:29 pm, September 05, 2006
As usual, your recipe looks good. Are you home for good now? I look forward to reading more of your adventures, like in Brussels, one of my favorite places. ;-)
- 10:39 pm, September 06, 2006
- lobstersquad said...
I´m so annoyed I´ve only just found out about this blog! I went to Estonia this summer, and it was wonderful. I´d have loved a couple of food tips. Next time. I really loved it
- 9:50 pm, September 08, 2006
- Pille said...
Orchidea - give it a go - it's very simple and comforting, sure to warm you up once the autumn arrives in Sweden!
J - you're right - nursery-nostalgic is an accurate description of this dish! I'm back in Scotland now for the final 4 weeks, and only have few more boxes to ship back home, so things are looking slightly brighter now..
Clivia - are you sure she wouldn't fancy a snowy winter break in Estland?
Paz - I've misplaced the Brussels menu, but will try to blog about it asap!
Ximena - I'm so glad you liked Estonia, and my blog:) Sorry I wasn't able to give you any advice re: food. Next time!
- 6:56 pm, September 14, 2006
What a nice looking recipe.
Thanks for posting it. I love the recipes here too.
- 11:13 pm, March 09, 2008


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We have an awesome $300 giveaway with our longtime friends over at Petit Collage! They have such great nursery items and have really been bulking up their toy collection as well! Petit is also so kind to offer a huge 20% off for readers "smallfry14" all the way until the end of the month! Here are some of our favorites, find your own faves on their site!
Pop-out toy families, cities, animals and more! Mobiles, puzzles, blocks, and art! We'll pick a winner next week (just in time for Holiday shopping!) and don't forget to use that awesome 20% discount. Good luck!


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O2 Academy2 – 22nd November
The upcoming Indie/Alt Rockers from Essex filled out Academy2 last week after the release of their first single.
The gig opened with support band Echohead, a bunch of fresh, enthusiastic lads with an unexpected amount of stage presence for their age. The mostly played songs from their demo; with the exception of some enjoyable jamming moments, which was interesting but not memorable. The lyrics struggled to get through and were often suffocated by the powerful music.
Nonetheless, they prepared the crowd for what was coming. At this point I have to admit that I hadn't heard any of Morning Parade's music until that night, but I was pleasantly surprised. After the first few moments of their performance, the comparison was inevitably in my head: these two bands are like a before and after shot. The young newcomers and the professionals, with Morning Parade being the latter of course. It wasn't a matter of age, but a matter of musical 'maturity'; Echohead were like an unripened fruit, not quite ready to harvest yet.
With their passionate, energetic performance, and the frontman's standout vocals, it was hard not to parade with them; the connection with the audience was immediate. A combination of their 90s dance anthem influenced tunes combined with euphoric beats was enough to find myself dancing along. Swapping from electric/indie Muse-like sounds to more melodic and acoustic ones, like 'Half Litre Bottle', they owned the stage.
The gig only lasted for about an hour, which included singles such as the popular 'Under The Stars' and the recently released 'Us And Ourselves'. In songs like 'Headlights' and 'A&E' the synth parts with the distinct rhythms and layered grooves portrayed a togethered, in total control band.
'Speechless', 'Carousel', and 'Running Down The Aisle' were just some more of the songs performed that complete the impression of a polished, well rehearsed band. An honest and straight forward band whose music comes from the heart with clear influences from Elbow and Delphic. It's real and down to Earth like they are; of which their fan time after the show is proof. A band with a plan, firm believers in 'the more you do the more you get offered', they delivered a captivating show, with the crowd's dedicating hands waving almost all the way through.
Are they are doing something original? No. I don't believe there can be a virgin birth in the music industry anymore.
Have I heard people saying that they are yet another teenage rock band? Yes. But so what?
Their lyrics might be predictable at times but that also makes them memorable, and that's what makes their music contagious. I don't know if they will stand the test of time, all I know is that I came here ignorant and left humming their songs.
* As published inhttp://thecourieronline.co.uk/2011/11/live-review-morning-parade/ M.L.


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When building a custom notebook you first need to find out who is the original notebook maker. We all know that Dell and Alienware don't make their notebooks they buy the barebone systems and finish the build.
Here is a list of ODM's (ODM stands for Original Design Manufacturer)
* Acer - Corporate Site
* Arima - Corporate Site
* Chicony/Keydata Int'l - Corporate Site
* Clevo - Corporate Site
* Full Power Investment (Compal)- Corporate Site
* HyperData - Corporate Site
* Inventec - Corporate Site
* Jetta - Corporate Site
* Mitac - Corporate Site
* Quanta - Corporate Site
* Sotec - Corporate Site
* TwinHead - Corporate Site
This is a list of the ODM's that I am aware of. Please feel free to post any companies that I missed and I'll add them to the list.
Here are some of the more common ODM/OEM makers on the market.
Remember This -- Quanta, Compal and Asus make 60% of the notebooks on the market today! It would be in your best interest to start your seach with them!
ODM Whitebook/Laptop Companies - Who Makes Notebook Chassis!
A place to talk about all things mobile
Post Reply
3 posts • Page 1 of 1
- Legit Extremist
- Posts: 795
- Joined: Tue Aug 23, 2005 10:10 am
Quanta's site isn't in English.
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3 posts • Page 1 of 1


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Top 4 Lower Back Tattoo Designs Revealed
In your search for lower back tattoo designs, finding the one that suites you can be tough. Recent statistics show that 1 in 5 women who have a tattoo have it on their lower back which supports a rise in ink in this location. With a few places on a woman's body being considered sensual, it's not hard to see why their becoming more popular.
Of the two most attractive locations on a female's body to get a tat, the lower back and neck would be the top two. The main reason for this is the ease in which they can be hidden. When you're at work in the office they can be easily covered by a shirt. And on Friday night after work they can be put on full display with some low cut jeans and a tight fitting high riding shirt.
Listed below are some of the more popular lower back tattoo designs:
1) Dolphin Tattoos – Due to the cute nature of these designs, they are a favorite among women.
2) Flower Designs – These are a popular choice for women especially on the lower back.
3) Tribal Designs – These are the most common. There are a wide variety of Tribal designs ranging from Celtic to Sun.
4) Dragon Designs – You'll find these on more risque and adventurous women.
Deciding on a tattoo can be pretty tough. There is no shortage of designs out there so it's a good idea evaluate a few and don't rush into any decisions. It's easy to second guess yourself. For this reason it's a good idea to take a few days to make sure you make the right decision. You don't want to rush into something and then later regret it. The decision to remove an unwanted tattoo later in life can be painful and expensive.
Be sure to dress appropriately when heading out to get your tattoo. This would entail loose fitting clothing that will enable the tattoo artist to work easily. Upon getting your tattoo, there are a few things you should consider. During the healing process, be sure to wear clothes that are not tight fitting. Scarring can occur if clothing is too tight and rubs on the tattooed area over a period of time.


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it is the middle of the night and i am up because i cannot stop itching. my face. my arms. my shoulders. my belly button. i chase it around and just when i think i've gotten it, it jumps to a new or old spot and itches there.
annoying is one word to describe it. frustrating is another. stupid works too. the itching is a side effect of the pain medicine that i am taking, quite regularly, for my back. it used to be that for every pain pill i took, i added a benadryl too. that has worked nicely for several years. maybe it is just that i have taken so many pain pills so frequently over the past several weeks, that the benadryl has decided that it is no longer going to do its job. kindof like my back.
so, thank goodness for google at 3am when you are itching and for 24-hour walmarts. luckily, i did not have to venture out to walmart, or ask my step-son to venture out for me, as i found a medicine in my basket that can ALSO be used as an antihistamine, therefore quelling the itching sensation that was jumping all over my body. but it's nice to know walmart is there if i had needed it.
so i decided to give the medicine a chance to work before i climbed back in bed to nod off to dreamland, which has been very action-packed recently. last night the pilot stopped the plane at the bank so i could make a deposit, and then the pilot wandered off and we could not find him. i have no idea where we were flying too, just memories of looking and looking and looking for him so we could get on with our trip already. who knows what tonight's dreamland adventure holds...
i think it is time to go find out...
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Posted by calondra at Wednesday, July 21, 2010 1 comments
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Welcome to PEDro
PEDro is the Physiotherapy Evidence Database, a free database of over 47,000 randomised trials, systematic reviews and clinical practice guidelines in physiotherapy. For each trial, review or guideline, PEDro provides the citation details, the abstract and a link to the full text, where possible. All trials on PEDro are independently assessed for quality. These quality ratings are used to quickly guide users to trials that are more likely to be valid and to contain sufficient information to guide clinical practice. PEDro is produced by the Institute for Musculoskeletal Health, School of Public Health at the University of Sydney and is hosted by Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA).
Search the PEDro database
There are three search pages for the PEDro database. Two were designed for health professionals (simple search and advanced search). One was designed for consumers of physiotherapy.
PEDro supporters
PEDro needs your help! More funding is required to add new content and develop PEDro. Help PEDro grow by making a donation today or contact us to discuss a partnership.
The PEDro Partnership produces PEDro on a not for profit basis. Financial support is required to maintain and develop PEDro. Please contact us with offers of financial support.


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Ascend dual beam gas arm with width adjuster and clamp - white polished
Offering the perfect balance of gas assisted fingertip adjustment and contemporary styling, with a sleek streamlined design.
Offering a lockable quick release VESA function as well as being 75mm & 100mm VESA compliant.
A double monitor arm mount suitable for both c clamp and through desk applications; this mount allows for both side by side or back to back positioning of the screens. Bespoke fixings also available upon request.
Dual screen working is proven to increase productivity within the workplace.
Colour options available
CMS2638C Silver
CMS2639C White/Polished
Specification sheet: CMS2639C


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Then, all you need is some Contact Paper and tape. Peel the paper off the clear sheet and lay the sticky side up. Make sure to put masking tape pockets underneath so it doesn't curl up or move. Then start putting your natural items down! Cassie thought this was magic! I haven't done any Contact Paper collages with her since she was probably 2 1/2!!! Now I have a whole roll of it to do plenty of collages and sun catchers! Cassie loved how the contact paper stuck to her hands and made a handprint! (Like I said: "Time to explore this Contact Paper again!)
The items will fade, but you can watch the process of everything deteriorating if you want! Make sure to take a picture since it won't last forever! We are excited to create more of these! I just Love to look at these in our window! It brings a smile to my face every time!


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Re: Star wars ep. 7,8,9
I would like to see a much later starwars movie.....100+ABY or around the KotOR era
Yes. A KOTOR age movie would rule, and I've been wanting a movie about the Mandalorian wars forever. But 7, 8, 9 would be lame if it was about the same three main characters. The legacy of the Force books are pretty good, but I not impressed by the one I read, which was the Joiner King, Dark Nest 1. The story was ok, but the writing was bad. One of the few trilogies I never finished. He used the same analogy almost every chapter, I counted it 13 times. Now I only read books from the 90's, with the exception of the RC books.


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Bar owner speaks on Milwaukee man's disappearance
Family, friends use bar as base for their search
The owner of a Milwaukee bar where a man was last seen is speaking out.
The last time Nick Wilcox was spotted was in front of the Irish Rec Room bar early New Year's Day morning. His picture was captured on the bar's surveillance camera, and family and friends have been using the bar as a base for their search.
"We, as an establishment, are doing our best to help them facilitate (the search), not only by using our facility, but also by being part of the search," said Kelly Vecitis, owner of Irish Rec Room.
Andrea Wilcox is the sister of the missing man, and along with family, friends and bar staff, she spent a second full day looking for any signs of her brother.
"The bar has been very helpful. They've opened their doors to us, all the time, every day. They've been out walking around with us. They've been out looking with us. They've been here with us," Andrea Wilcox said.
Milwaukee police have also been working to come up with answers to Wilcox's disappearance. Police divers searched under the ice Thursday after someone reported the ice might have been disrupted.
"He's a good kid. He works hard, he goes to school, he works full time," said Wilcox's father, Nick Wilcox Sr.
The disappearance of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee student has captured the attention of the community.
"It's a very sad story. I don't know Nick personally, but you see the love, you see the warmth from all the family members. It rubs off on us, myself as an owner and our staff," Vecitis said.


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Report on Civil Rights Enforcement and Educational Equity0
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Nov. 28, 2012) — The U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights on Wednesday released a report describing OCR's progress and activity over the last four years on civil rights enforcement and educational equity.
The report, "Helping to Ensure Equal Access to Education," describes how OCR has transformed its enforcement approach to better promote and advance educational equity for all students, while maximizing the office's efficiency and impact, even as the number of complaints received by OCR has grown by almost a quarter over the last four years.
OCR both received and resolved over 28,500 complaints during this time period, a record figure compared to past four-year periods. The report also discusses OCR's work to:
• support the equal rights of students to a safe school environment and to resources and programs they need to be prepared for college and careers;
• revamp the Civil Rights Data Collection to provide educators and the public with a clearer picture of the "equity health" of schools; and
• align its efforts with President Obama's goal of restoring this nation's position as a global leader in the proportion of college graduates by 2020, by improving educational equity and excellence.
"OCR's work over the last four years has moved us closer to equal access and opportunity for all students, no matter what their race, sex or disability status," said Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. "The OCR team has accomplished a lot through its innovation and its passion for equity."
In addition to investigating resolving complaints, OCR has protected students' civil rights by launching over 100 proactive, systemic investigations at schools and colleges across the country. In both its complaints and its proactive investigations, OCR has placed a priority on developing robust remedies that attack discrimination at its roots.
OCR has also catalyzed improved compliance across the education community by issuing groundbreaking policy guidance on questions regarding the civil rights laws OCR enforces, such as the obligations of schools and colleges to prevent and address bullying, harassment and sexual violence; the equal rights of all students to a public education regardless of their race, national origin or citizenship status or that of their parents; and the obligation of schools and colleges to ensure that students with disabilities have equal access to the new technologies that are playing an increased role in classrooms.
The report also documents a range of systemic improvements OCR has made in how it operates, and highlights the impact of those improvements by describing numerous important cases OCR has resolved during the last four years.
"We have transformed our approach to enforcement to make it more targeted and efficient, while fielding more complaints than ever before. We've revamped our technical assistance, and expanded our outreach to new heights," said Assistant Secretary Russlynn Ali. "Removing barriers to equal educational opportunity will help ensure all students have a fair chance at a good education – a goal that is not just a moral imperative, but an economic necessity as well."
The report fulfills a requirement of Section 203(b) of the Department of Education Organization Act of 1979, Pub. L. No. 96-88, which provides that the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights shall make a report to the Secretary and the President "summarizing the compliance and enforcement activities of the Office for Civil Rights and identifying significant civil rights or compliance problems as to which such Office has made a recommendation for corrective action and as to which, in the judgment of the Assistant Secretary, adequate progress is not being made."
The mission of the Office for Civil Rights, which comprises nearly 600 staff located in a headquarters office in Washington, D.C., and 12 regional offices around the nation, is to ensure equal access to education and to promote educational excellence throughout the nation through the vigorous enforcement of civil rights.
Among the federal civil rights laws OCR is responsible for enforcing are Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; Title IX of the Education Amendment Act of 1972; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act.


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Visi-Therm Deluxe an advanced-compact design, double-sealed submersible aquarium heater.
Visi-therms water-calibrated thermostat is certified accurate to within one degree, ensuring precise temperature selection and superior performance.
The Visi-Therm Deluxe delivers the ultimate in direct-set control, with a simple "click" of the dial; you choose the ideal water temperature. The Visi-Therm Deluxe durable design is held to exacting standards for accuracy, extended submersion and operational safety.


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Substance Abuse across the Lifespan
The potential for individuals to abuse alcohol or drugs is not limited to a specific age group; teens, adults, and the elderly are at risk of over using, abusing, or misusing alcohol, illicit drugs, or medication to a point where it becomes unhealthy and possibly dangerous. Substance abuse can be a lifelong struggle for some individuals and can affect not just them, but families and the greater community. In addition, there are not only physical health risks from substance abuse, but also emotional and psychological problems that can arise from abuse. Lastly, what substance abuse looks like and its causes are complex and can vary across age, drug of choice, and other individual and environmental factors. Treatment for substance abuse requires multiple levels of interventions; from medication to individual and/or group treatment to family and community support. With effective treatment and interventions, individuals can have a successful recovery.
Alcohol and drug use remain a problem in our society and affects a significant number of individuals across the lifespan. According to the 2013 National Comorbidity Study on Adolescents, an estimated 21.6 million persons aged 12 or older (8.2 percent) were classified with substance abuse or dependence in the past year based on criteria specified in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition (DSM-IV). More specifically, 78.2% of U.S. teens had consumed alcohol, 47.1% reported drinking 12 drinks within a year, and 15.1% met criteria for lifetime abuse. Later in the lifespan, 11% of adults between 50 and 64 and 6.7% of adults 65 and older reported symptoms consistent with alcohol dependence or abuse (Wang & Andrande, 2013).
» Customize Substance Abuse and Addictions resource listings for your community
Resource Organizations » Substance Abuse and Addictions
In Massachusetts
Organizations with hotlines
Massachusetts Substance Abuse Information and Education Helpline
office: 617-279-2240
The Massachusetts Substance Abuse Information and Education Helpline is a Massachusetts resource providing free and confidential information and referral for alcohol and other drug abuse problems and related concerns. The Helpline is committed to linking consumers with comprehensive, accurate, and current information about treatment and prevention services throughout Massachusetts. Individuals may call the Helpline Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 10:00 pm and on Saturday and Sunday from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm to talk with a referral specialist. Language interpreters are always available.
Massachusetts Tobacco Cessation and Prevention Program
The Massachusetts Tobacco Cessation and Prevention Program is dedicated to reducing the health and economic burden of tobacco use by: preventing young people from starting to smoke, helping current smokers quit protecting children and adults from secondhand smoke, identifying and eliminating tobacco-related disparities.
Organizations without hotlines
Addiction Recovery Management Service (ARMS)
The Addiction Recovery Management Service, offered by the Massachusetts General Physicians Organization (MGPO), provides rapid access to information and support combined with outreach and care management for youth aged 15 - 25 and their families suffering from substance-related problems. ARMS supplements the traditional inpatient and outpatient continuum and bridges the gaps in disjointed systems of treatment with leading expertise and high quality care management. Building on the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) medical, clinical, and addiction research resources within the MGH Center for Addiction Medicine, ARMS facilitates comprehensive, research-informed, care maximizing the chances for youth recovery.
AIDS Action Committee
617-437-6200 (Boston office)
617-661-3040 (Cambridge Office)
AIDS Action Needle Exchange distributes and exchanges syringes to injection drug users (IDUs). Needle Exchange is one of four state-sanctioned and state-funded syringe exchange programs in Massachusetts. The program also operates a drop-in center where members can access risk reduction supplies such as crack kits, safer injection supplies, and condoms. Members can participate in periodic groups as well as receive individual risk reduction counseling, information and referrals to medical, substance use, and other social service providers. Needle Exchange is also one of the state's pilot sites for the distribution of Narcan, a nasal spray distributed to IDUs and their network of supportive family and friends to reverse potentially fatal overdoses.
Alanon and Alateen
508-366-0556 (MA office)
(413) 445-5852 (Berkshire County)
Alateen and Al-Anon are 12-step support programs that help families and friends of alcoholics recover from the effects of their loved one's addiction. Members meet regularly to learn a better way of life, to find happiness whether the alcoholic is still drinking or not. Alateen offers support to adolescents affected by someone else's alcoholism. The only requirement of membership in Al-Anon and Alateen is that there be a problem of alcoholism in a relative or friend. Visit the website for a list of meetings in your area.
Alcoholics Anonymous
Alcoholics Anonymous is 12-step support program for recovering alcoholics to share their experience, strength, and hope with each other so that together they may achieve sobriety. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking. There are no dues or fees for AA membership. Visit the AA website for a list of meetings in your area or www.aaboston.org.
Cambridge and Somerville Program for Alcoholism and Drug Abuses Rehabilitation (CASPAR)
CASPAR is a nonprofit organization founded in 1970 in response to the need for community-based services for those affected by substance use disorders. Since then CASPAR has built a comprehensive array of outreach, shelter, stabilization, residential, aftercare, education, and prevention services to meet the needs of diverse populations through programs that are safe, accessible, and supportive. CASPAR serves a diverse population of high risk men, women, children and adolescents, most of whom are uninsured and indigent.
Casa Esperanza
Casa Esperanza is a recognized leader in developing holistic approaches to substance abuse treatment, with a reputation for having caring, highly skilled substance abuse counselors and other service providers. We now operate a residential treatment facility for 29 men; a residential treatment facility for 20 women and their children; 23 units of Supportive Housing for individuals and families; and a Relapse Prevention and Outpatient Services program, which provides aftercare services for individuals and families in recovery.
Understanding that recovery is a lifelong process, Casa Esperanza has continued to evolve to meet the unique, long-term needs of people in recovery, providing integrated, bilingual/bicultural tailored services to each individual and each family, including: affordable sober housing; parent-child education and reunification; job training, placement, and advancement; trauma counseling; and health and wellness services, with an emphasis on HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention, tobacco cessation, nutrition and exercise. By focusing on whole people, not a single problem, Casa seeks to help families regain the lives they have lost and create a strong, supportive community for those who hope to follow in their footsteps.
Check Your Gambling
Check Your Gambling is a personalized feedback intervention for problem gamblers. The site presents a series of questions relating to your gambling activities and their consequences, and basic demographic details. Once you have completed the questions (which only takes a few minutes), you are presented with personalized feedback. This feedback includes a comparison of your gambling behavior with normative data; a summary of your overall rating along with a description of what it means (non-problem gambler, low-risk gambler, moderate-risk gambler, problem gambler); and a summary of cognitive distortions about gambling with a summary about the error of each belief. Also included are some suggested techniques that could be used to lower the risk associated with your gambling. The length of the feedback varies depending on your answers, but should take no more than 10 to 20 minutes to read.
Institute for Health and Recovery and Youth Central Intake and Care Coordination
Toll Free: 866-705-2807
The Institute for Health and Recovery is a statewide service, research, policy, and program development agency. IHR's mission is to develop a comprehensive continuum of care for individuals, youth, and families affected by alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use, mental health problems, and violence/trauma. They also operate the Youth Central Intake and Care Coodination service in which families can contact them to assist with referrals to youth residential services or to learn more about other youth substance abuse services.
Journey Recovery Project
The Journey Project is an interactive Web resource for pregnant and parenting women who have questions or concerns about opioid and other substance use. The Journey focuses on the stories of women with lived experience, offering information, hope, encouragement, and resources for every step of their perinatal journey. With videos, informational slideshows, resource links, and worksheets, the Journey Project seeks to empower and inform women about opioid and other substance use and pregnancy. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health Bureau of Substance Addiction Services (BSAS), in collaboration with the Institute for Health and Recovery and the Center for Social Innovation, created the Journey Project.
Learn To Cope
508-738-5148 (Main Office)
508-801-3247 (Peer Recovery Specialist)
Funded by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MADPH), LTC has grown to have a full-staff who collaborate with communities across the state to spread messages of prevention, education, awareness and advocacy. Learn to Cope has over 9,000 members on a private online forum, 25 chapters throughout Massachusetts and most recently 2 chapters in Florida and 1 in Boise, Idaho. LTC families receive unique support and education from professionals and their peers.
Massachusetts Council on Compulsive Gambling
Office: 617-426-4554
Helpline: 800-426-1234
The Massachusetts Council on Compulsive Gambling is a private, non-profit health agency dedicated to reducing the social, financial, and emotional costs of problem gambling. The Council has been instrumental in bringing the issue of problem gambling to the attention of the public and policymakers, offering resources to problem gamblers, their loved ones, and concerned members of the community. The Council offers a toll-free Helpline which provides live confidential caller responses (including treatment referrals) 24-hours a day, 7-days a week.
Middlesex Human Service Agency, Inc.
The mission of Middlesex Human Service Agency, Inc. is to improve the quality of life and independent functioning of a wide variety of clients through the delivery of an extensive system of community-based substance abuse and social service programs. Programs include substance abuse recovery homes, inpatient alcohol education & treatment for adults convicted of two or more OUI offenses, shelter, food, & housing search assistance for the homeless.
MOAR- Massachusetts Organization for Addiction Recovery
1-877-423-6627 (Toll-Free)
MOAR offers a wide array of resources for those coping with substance abuse. Of these include acccess to prevention and treatment support, recovery homes, housing resources, educational resources, peer recovery support, family and youth services, and criminal justice addiction recovery support.
New England Addiction Outreach
New England Addiction Outreach is a New England based non-profit organization bringing recovery support to those struggling with substance abuse. The organization provides Community Outreach including posting daily available BSAS funded detox and treatment bed listings. They will also assist those struggling with addictions to try to navigate the system to find treatment placement including detox, CSS/TSS, Dual Diagnosis, Residential Treatment Programs, or Intensive Outpatient Programs. NEAO also helps with Recovery Coaching by providing guidance during the early recovery process including peer support and referring clients and families to outside recovery supports (12 step fellowships, faith based fellowships, recovery support groups, counseling, etc.) NEAO is a presence on Facebook, and Facebook messages are the best way to get in contact.
New England Region of Narcotics Anonymous (N.E.R.N.A)
Narcotics Anonymous is a nonprofit 12-step support program for men and women recovering from their addiction to drugs. Members meet regularly to help each other stay clean. Membership is open to all drug addicts, regardless of the particular drug or combination of drugs used. There are no dues or fees for membership. Visit the NA website for a list of meetings in your area.
Suboxone (Buprenorphine) Hotline Office Based Opioid Treatment Program (OBOT) at Boston Medical Center
(617) 414-6926 (Program Coordinator)
This Hotline can make referrals and offer information on opiate and heroin treatment available in Doctors' offices statewide. Information regarding treatment options is available for both adolescents and adults.
The Gavin Foundation
857-496-7342 (Center Director: Roscoe Hurley)
857-496-0052 ext. 618 (Volunteer Coordinator: Rose Stone)
857-496-0052 ext. 618 (Community Resource Specialist: (Debbie Schezer)
The Gavin Foundation is a multi-service nonprofit agency providing comprehensive, community-based substance abuse treatment, education, and prevention programs. We serve more than 5,000 individuals each year through our adult, youth and community programs. The Gavin Foundation works from a deep commitment to the community, including the widespread community of individuals and families in recovery.
Outside Massachusetts
Organizations with hotlines
Gamblers Anonymous
Gamblers Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength, and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from a gambling problem. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop gambling. There are no dues or fees for Gamblers Anonymous membership. Gamblers Anonymous is not allied with any sect, denomination, politics, organization or institution. It neither endorses nor opposes any cause. Its primary purpose is to help compulsive gamblers end their addiction through its 12-step program.
Mental Health America
Office: 703-684-7722
Toll Free: 800-969-6642
Mental Health America (formerly known as the National Mental Health Association) is the nation's leading community-based nonprofit dedicated to addressing the needs of those living with mental illness and to promoting the overall mental health of all Americans. Their work is driven by the commitment to promote mental health as a critical part of overall wellness, including prevention services for all; early identification and intervention for those at risk; integrated care, services, and supports for those who need it; with recovery as the goal.
National Council on Problem Gambling
The mission of the National Council on Problem Gambling is to lead state and national stakeholders in the development of comprehensive policy and programs for all those affected by problem gambling. Their purpose is to serve as the national advocate for programs and services to assist problem gamblers and their families. And their vision is to improve health and wellness by reducing the personal, social and economic costs of problem gambling. The National Council is neither for nor against legalized gambling.
On-line Gamers Anonymous
On-Line Gamers Anonymous is a self-help fellowship. They share their experience, strengths and hope to assist in recovery from the problems caused by excessive game playing, whether it be computer, video, console, or on-line. The community includes recovering gamers, family members, loved ones, friends, and concerned others. They know how powerful, cunning, baffling and destructive excessive game playing can be. It can be devastating to the real-world lives of gamers and to those close to them. OLGA/OLG-Anon provides a resource for open discussion, support, education and referrals. They advocate and provide a 12-Step Program of recovery. The OLGA/OLG-Anon website includes a directory of 12-Step meetings (both on-line and face-to-face), a list of relevant reading materials, links to recent media articles, and referrals to professionals in your area who specialize in the treatment of gaming addiction.
SAMHSA's National Helpline or Treatment Referral Routing Service
SAMHSA's National Helpline is a free, confidential, 24/7, 365-day-a-year treatment referral and information service (in English and Spanish) for individuals and families facing mental and/or substance use disorders. Their website also includes a searchable directory of drug and alcohol treatment programs showing the location of facilities around the country that treat alcohol and drug use problems.
Organizations without hotlines
Ben's Friends
Ben's Friends is the food and beverage industry support group offering hope, fellowship, and a path forward to professionals who struggle with substance abuse and addiction. Ben's Friends exists to provide a safe haven and an anonymous, judgment-free forum for workers in an industry that has one of the highest rates of substance abuse in the country. Ben's Friends models acceptance and gratitude, and though unaffiliated with either AA or NA, shares an important commonality: the only thing you need to bring through the door is a desire to stop drinking or using. Ben's Friends offers a safe and constructive haven for those grappling with and maintaining sobriety. By coming together, by starting a dialogue, and by acknowledging that substance abuse cannot be overcome in isolation or by willpower alone, Ben's Friends hopes to write a new chapter in the lives of our country's talented and dedicated food and beverage professionals.
Chefs with firstname.lastname@example.com
There had never been a study that looked specifically at F&B, so the Heirloom Foundation partnered with Kat Kinsman and her Chefs with Issues project. Heirloom had a PhD epidemiologist and statistician review the findings in the Chefs with Issues survey and for the first time could point to specific problems. They found higher instances of mental health issues, especially depression, anxiety, eating disorders and substance use. They found that the culture in kitchens made most people feel that they couldn't speak openly when they needed help. Those factors combined with long hours, an inability to take sick or personal leave, and minimal health benefits, were creating a hotbed for crisis. This website, and related Facebook community, provides a forum for connection to others who are struggling as well as resources that have been particularly helpful for those in the food and beverage industry.
Families Anonymous, Inc.
Main Office: 800-736-9805
Local Contact: 617-825-8841
Families Anonymous is a 12-step support group of concerned relatives and friends whose lives have been adversely affected by a loved one's addiction to alcohol or drugs. See the website for a list of local meetings in your area; online meetings are also offered.
Gam-Anon is a 12-Step, self-help program for the family members, friends, and loved ones of compulsive gamblers. Gam-Anon's purposes are three-fold: To learn acceptance and understanding of the gambling illness; to use the program and its problem solving suggestions as aids in rebuilding their lives and, upon their own recovery, to give assistance to those who suffer.
Toll Free: 800-477-6291
Local: 310-534-8188
Nar-Anon members are relatives and friends who are concerned about the addiction or drug problem of another. Its program of recovery is adapted from Narcotics Anonymous and uses the twelve-step model. Nar-Anon members share their experiences, strength, and hope at weekly meetings. Joining is easy; just attend a meeting. There are no dues or fees. The only requirement for membership is that there is a problem of addiction in a relative or friend. Nar-Anon is not affiliated with any other organization or outside entity. Listings of local meetings as are available on the website.
Overeaters Anonymous
Overeaters Anonymous provides support to individuals struggles with issues surrounding food, whether it be compulsive overeating, under-eating, food addiction, anorexia, bulimia, binge eating, or overexercising. The website has a list of meetings and support groups thoughout the US. It provides information on how to start the healing and recovery process.
Sex Addicts Anonymous
Toll Free: 800-477-8191 (USA/Canada)
713-869-4902 (Outside USA & Canada)
As a fellowship of recovering addicts, Sex Addicts Anonymous offers a message of hope to anyone who suffers from sex addiction. Local meetings provide an environment of acceptance, safety, and encouragement for learning how to apply the Twelve Step Program. Although each group within SAA is autonomous, meetings typically consist of readings from recovery literature and sharing how the Twelve Steps have led to recovery for members. Meetings also offer opportunities for learning how to reach out and to serve other sex addicts.The only requirement for membership in SAA is the desire to stop addictive sexual behavior. There are no fees or dues. Local groups are self-supporting from voluntary contributions of their members.
The National Center On Addiction And Substance Abuse
(212) 841-5200
The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse is a national nonprofit research and policy organization focused on improving the understanding, prevention and treatment of substance use and addiction. Founded in 1992 by former U.S. Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare, Joseph A. Califano, Jr, their interdisciplinary experts collaborate with others to promote effective policies and practices. They conduct and synthesize research, inform and guide the public, evaluate and improve healthcare, and analyze and recommend policies on substance use and addiction.
YFIRES: Youth Firesetting Information Repository & Evaluation System
YFIRES is a data collection and national repository project developed by the International Association of Fire Fighters Charitable Foundation Burn Fund and funded through DHS/FEMA's Grant Program Directorate for Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program - Fire Prevention and Safety Grants. The goal of this project is to create a centralized data collection tool that will assist youth firesetting intervention services in a number of disciplines (fire, mental health, law enforcement) and assemble a body of information that will enhance the national understanding of youth firesetting behavior and help in developing evidence-based intervention strategies.


text:
REDWOOD CITY, Calif., Sept. 18, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- AcelRx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: ACRX), a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of innovative therapies for the treatment of acute and breakthrough pain, today announced that Mike A. Royal, M.D., J.D., MBA, has joined the company as Chief, Clinical Affairs. Mike Royal has board certifications in internal medicine, pain medicine, and anesthesiology with sub-specializations in pain management and addiction medicine, along with extensive research, clinical and corporate work experience. For the past six years, Dr. Royal has worked at Cadence Pharmaceuticals, Inc. most recently as VP, Clinical Development and Medical Affairs, where he was responsible for activities such as the design, oversight, and completion of the OFIRMEV® (acetaminophen) injection clinical development program and new drug application, and medical support for pre-launch and launch activities, which resulted in the rapid acceptance of OFIRMEV onto hospital formularies.
"I am thrilled to welcome Mike to our executive leadership team," said Richard King, AcelRx's president and CEO. "I believe Mike's broad experience and proven track record will be exceptionally helpful to AcelRx as we approach late-stage clinical development and commercialization of our lead product, the Sufentanil NanoTab PCA System."
"I am particularly excited at the prospect of being involved in the development and commercialization of the novel sufentanil NanoTab PCA System, which has the potential to significantly improve pain management for post-operative patients," said Dr. Royal.
Dr. Royal will be responsible for managing the late-stage and post-approval clinical direction of AcelRx, as well as healthcare professional focused Medical Affairs on behalf of the company. This will include late-stage clinical trial design and management, data analysis, clinical publications and medical writing, product safety review and monitoring, and regulatory interactions. Prior to Cadence Pharmaceuticals, Dr. Royal's previous experience includes Solstice Neurosciences, where he served as Chief Medical Officer, Alpharma, where he served as VP, Strategic Brand Development and as VP, Global Medical Affairs, and Elan Pharmaceuticals, where he was Senior Medical Director. He currently serves on the clinical adjunct faculty at University of California San Diego, and was previously on faculty at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and as an attending anesthesiologist and pain physician, and director of the acute pain service. Dr. Royal earned a B.S. in chemistry from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, M.D. from the University of Massachusetts Medical School, J.D. from the University of Maryland School of Law, and Global EMBA joint degree awarded from TRIUM (New York University Stern School, London School of Economics, and Haute Ecole Commerciale).
About AcelRx Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
AcelRx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of innovative therapies for the treatment of acute and breakthrough pain. AcelRx's lead product candidate, the ARX-01 Sufentanil NanoTab PCA System, which is currently in Phase 3 clinical development, is designed to solve the problems associated with post-operative intravenous patient-controlled analgesia which has been shown to cause harm to patients following surgery because of the side effects of morphine, the invasive IV route of delivery and the inherent potential for programming and delivery errors associated with the complexity of infusion pumps. AcelRx has two additional product candidates which have completed Phase 2 clinical development: ARX-02 for the treatment of cancer breakthrough pain, and ARX-03 for mild sedation, anxiety reduction and pain relief for patients undergoing painful procedures in a physician's office. AcelRx plans to initiate a Phase 2 study, pending protocol approval, for a fourth product candidate, ARX-04, a sufentanil formulation for the treatment of moderate-to-severe acute pain, funded through a grant from USAMRMC. For additional information about AcelRx's clinical programs please visit www.acelrx.com.
Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, statements related to the planned or anticipated future clinical development of AcelRx Pharmaceuticals' product candidates, including the anticipated timing for the ARX-01 clinical trials, progress towards initiation of the Phase 2 study for ARX-04, and the therapeutic and commercial potential of AcelRx Pharmaceuticals' product candidates. These forward-looking statements are based on AcelRx Pharmaceuticals' current expectations and inherently involve significant risks and uncertainties. AcelRx Pharmaceuticals' actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements as a result of these risks and uncertainties, which include, without limitation, risks related to: the success, cost and timing of AcelRx Pharmaceuticals' product development activities and clinical trials; the uncertain clinical development process, including the risk that planned clinical trials may not begin on time, have an effective design, enroll a sufficient number of patients, or be initiated or completed on schedule, if at all; any delays or inability to obtain, regulatory approval of its product candidates; its ability to obtain adequate clinical supplies of the drug and device components of its product candidates; its ability to attract funding partners or collaborators with development, regulatory and commercialization expertise; its ability to obtain sufficient financing to complete development and registration of its product candidates in the United States and Europe; its ability to obtain and maintain regulatory approvals of its product candidates; the market potential for its product candidates; the accuracy of AcelRx Pharmaceuticals' estimates regarding expenses, capital requirements and needs for financing; AcelRx Pharmaceuticals' ability to repay a portion of the principal under the loan and security agreement with Hercules with common stock; and other risks detailed in the "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in AcelRx Pharmaceuticals' U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filings and reports, including its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended June 30, 2012. AcelRx Pharmaceuticals undertakes no duty or obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this release as a result of new information, future events or changes in its expectations.
|SOURCE AcelRx Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Copyright©2012 PR Newswire.
All rights reserved


text:
Ag Fashion Alert: ScoMo goes the cap for outback lap
YOU can tell a lot about a man by the hat he wears, or doesn't wear for that matter.
Or can you? Does it even matter what he plonks on his head?
When a politician is scheduled to visit the outback or a rural community, it must send his or her PR consultants and communication managers into a panic.
For many of these pollies, the only dust that gets collected upon their RM Williams boots is the bulldust blowing within the halls of Canberra.
So when it is time to step out into a real paddock, into the elements and heat and flies and onto the scorched earth, it's no wonder they often seem out of place.
And they know that every camera is watching.
For his visit to the western Queensland drought-enduring area of Quilpie this week, new Prime Minster, Scott Morrison, had a critical decision to make.
Not so much about whether to bring up climate change or drought policies, but about what to wear on the old noggin.
ScoMo went the cap.
Was it a spit in the face of broad-brimmed Australia, a sign you can take the boy out of the city but you can't take the city out of the boy?
Or was it a slick image move, suggesting that by foregoing the "out-of-the-box Akubra" he wasn't trying to be something he's not, and lifting his "genuineness ranking" in the process?
Arguments could be made for both.
Either way, the country was watching closely.
Many will be interested to see what he dons upon his next excursion to overtly shake rustic hands, Russell Coight style.
At some points, the brim wasn't exactly square with his face, delivering that awkward "just trying to be one of the cool kids" look.
It could have been worse; he could have worn the cap backwards.
For a stint there, Barnaby Joyce had habit of dragging out a beaten-up cap that seemed like it had been wedged underneath a Landcruiser seat for the past year or so.
Within this article you'll note a selection of poorly doctored images of what the new PM may have looked like on the tour with alternative hat choices.
Curiously, those flanking the PM, Federal Agriculture Minister David Littleproud and Major General Stephen Day both slipped on broad-brimmed hats.
However, photos seem to indicate Minister for Rural Health and Regional Communications, Bridget McKenzie and Nationals leader Michael McCormack went with no hat at all.
As any Aussie primary schooler will tell you: No hat, no play.
McKenzie and McCormack shouldn't been allowed out of the car without a hat.
It's certainly not reinforcing the "slip, slop, slap and slide" motto that's been around for so long.
The point is, at least the PM wore a hat.
It makes a statement that the drought is hot and savage and will affect all of us, regardless of political alliance.
- After more fashion in agriculture? Well here you go.


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How to herd cats: getting 8 indie designers to work together on one book
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Topic: How to herd cats: getting 8 indie designers to work together on one book (Read 3626 times)
Rich Stokes
Posts: 78
How to herd cats: getting 8 indie designers to work together on one book
November 27, 2008, 07:11:37 AM »
This is a quick rundown of how the CE Journal came into existence. Hopefully it'll be interesting to a couple of people and might even serve someone as a how-to for a similar project. If someone else can learn from my experiences here, then it's got to be worth writing this down and making it publicly available.
1) Genesis.
This whole thing owes it's existence to Neil "Vodkashok" Gow
, who suggested the project in an email sent on the 12th of August:
"How much support do people support for their games, post publication? Is there scope for a CE 'house pdf' which we could put together and distribute free, or at a small charge, with bonus material for our games? Almost like a house magazine, but less complex? Even if 6 of us put together 4 pages each, thats a 24 page pdf publication."
This idea was tossed about a bit, everyone seemed to like it. Nobody's much looking at publishing a bunch of suppliments for their games, but there's certainly merit in a couple of pages of extra stuff for some of the games.
Once enough people were commited to providing articles for the book, I took charge as, I suppose, project manager. Although it'd be called editor in chief if this was a magazine maybe? Anyway, it was my job to make this thing actually happen and co-ordinate everyone else.
2) Getting Started.
We decided that we wanted to have the book for sale at Dragonmeet, which was at the end of November. This seemed like an aggressive, but achievable goal. If we were to meet that, we'd need to stick to deadlines and make sure everything worked out because there would be very little room to spare.
I started a mailing list for the project and everyone started kicking ideas around. Very quickly the "rules" of the project took shape:
Only articles for existing games (or games which would be for sale by the time of Dragonmeet) were to be included. This was very much not the place to put tidied-up versions of people's gamechef entries.
The Designer of each game was 100% responsible for their article and material for their own game. That is to say that if any Hot War material was going to go in the book, it had to be submitted by Malcolm Craig. He needn't have written it himself, but he has to submit it to me for it to be included. This would be his tacit approval that he was happy for the article to be associated with his game.
Designers were to be responsible for providing artwork for their articles. In the end, David, Gregor and I created our own art work, Andrew got some fantastic photos from Malcolm for the Dead Of Night stuff, and Malcolm and Iain got some great stuff from Paul for the Hot War and Mob Justice bits. That meant most of the articles had artwork, and the running order was created so that the art would be spread out as evenly as possible.
The book would be sold at Dragonmeet and on our stall at subsequent Cons. It would be done PoD via Lulu, because we we're talking low numbers. It would then be available for purchase from Lulu after Dragonmeet, and also as a free-of-charge PDF downloadable from the usual places.
I'd personally bankroll the first print run. Once I'd made my money back on that, any further actual print runs would be paid for with the proceeds from the first run. If the book ever started making actual money (profit!) that would pay for later editions if we decided to do it all again, or maybe split among the contributors.
We'd try to make the printed book cheap. We were not looking to make money on this, just to break even promoting existing games.
At this point, everyone decided what they'd be writing and started working on it.
3) Setting a Schedule.
With such an agressive project date, setting deadlines correctly, (and getting people to hit them) was going to be vital:
We'd be printing via Lulu for the Dragonmeet stock, meaning we'd need to allow 2 weeks for the books to arrive. Allowing another 2 weeks for a proof copy meant that the book had to be basically ready to go to press by the end of October.
Paul Bourne, who's art has graced Contested Ground's books for years (and did the cover for 3:16) volunteered to do the layout. We agreed that he'd get 2 weeks to do the layout and collate the art, which seemed fair. That means that all the articles had to be ready for layout by mid October. This became the deadline for artwork.
(We also agreed that Paul would do a no-frills print friendly version of the book for bundling as a PDF. He'd do the layout for that after the print layout PDF had been sent to Lulu.)
Everything would need editing. I asked people to try and do some self editing before submitting articles (rather than send me rough reading draughts) but realised that proper editing was also needed. I set aside just over two weeks for editing and elisted the help of Scott Dorward to help out. I'd do the first pass on everything, then Scott would do a pass, then it'd go back to the author to approve. Finally, everything went for peer review, with every article getting looked at by at least two other authors. In the end, we did this in two weeks, but if I had a do over this is the only part I'd change and I'd give us a bit longer. I ended up taking two days off work to get it done, and Andrew ended up doing a bit more editing than was planned, but we got there! Those two weeks took us to the start of October as the deadline for articles.
I posted this schedule to everyone on the 26th of August. That gave them 5 weeks to get the articles written (although they'd been working of them for a week by then already). Like I say, a pretty aggressive schedule!
4) Pulling it all together
To be honest, things went pretty much according to plan. I took charge with a velvet gloved fist of steel, which is to say that rather than debating how things would be done (which frankly we didn't have time for), I decided how they'd work and asked if anyone had any objections. My attitude was "Here's my idea, If you think you have a better one you quite probably do..." There were a couple of times when other people's ideas were indeed better than mine, which was great.
To be honest, these are not a hard bunch of guys to work with. I set some rules, which everyone agreed were reasonable, I set a schedule, which again everyone thought was reasonable. We hit the schedule, (more or less, and certainly within the margins I'd built in) and managed to produce a great piece of work in a very short time.
So that's what happened, how we managed to get it to go from nothing to done is a relatively short time. Intense peer review is probably the catchphrase for the project. I hope this is interesting or useful to someone.
1 - Should I start calling him Neil "Duty & Honour" Gow now, I wonder?
The poster previously known as RichKS
Gregor Hutton
Posts: 366
Re: How to herd cats: getting 8 indie designers to work together on one book
Reply #1 on:
November 27, 2008, 10:56:37 AM »
Thanks for posting this up Rich. The Collective Endeavour journal looks pretty good and I think it's a really sweet sampler, and supplement, to a nice group of games. I'm really glad with all the work that you put into making this happen, and for all the stuff behind the scenes by Scott and Paul too.
3:16 Carnage Amongst The Stars
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Rose::Planter::Soil -- default base object class for classes created by Rose::Planter.
This provides a few extra handy functions and defaults for manipulating Rose classes.
Like Rose::DB::Object::Helper::as_tree but with a few differences :
- parent keys in a child table are excluded.
- datetimes are returned in ISO 8601 format.
- the parameter skip_re can be given to skip columns matching a regex.
- only one-to-one and one-to-many relationships are traversed
Get or set a list of "nested table" associated with this class. These are tables which are always retrieved alongside this one.


text:
As part of "due diligence" for some mailing lists I am involved with (for Slony, see slony-backups ), I discovered the need to dump out Mailman mailing list subscribers.
There is a script to do this, written in Python, mentioned on the Mailman wiki, accessible as mailman-subscribers.py
I'd kind of rather have something a bit more version-tracked, so I poked around at GitHub, and found larsks / mailman-subscribers
That was a little out of date; the last code was from a couple of years ago, so I forked, updated to the latest, and suggested that "larsks" pull it, which he did, quite quickly.
The "kudos" bit is that I noticed a bit of a blemish, in that the mailing list password was required to be on the command line, thereby making it visible to anyone with access to /usr/bin/ps on one's system. I submitted a feature request, and Lars was so kind as to have this feature added so quickly that by the time I had the prototype of my Slony "subscriber backup" script working, I immediately needed to change it to make use of the lovely new password-in-file feature. Nice!


text: To demonstrate how an ultrasound works, imagine this tennis ball as an internal organ in the body. Like many organs, the tennis ball is solid on the outside and hollow on the inside. Solid structures, such as bones and muscles, reflect sound waves from the ultrasound transducer and show up as white in an ultrasound image. Soft or hollow areas, like chambers of the heart, do not reflect sound waves and appear as black. The white ring is the outer edge of the tennis ball being reflected back as an image while the center hollow area remains as black.


text:
Has Trump gone too far? The shocking statement you wont see on the news...
A slip of the tongue or his most brilliant political move yet?
What's even stranger is that none of the other Presidential hopefuls have dared to attack him this time.,,
And once you see this shocking video you will understand exactly why.
The fact that he chose to make this public now is no coincidence...
Political experts argue that Trump is preparing to "cash in" on one of the biggest events of 2016.
And if he's right, America will never be the same again.
Click here to see what this is all about.
|Click here for more information.


text:
I honestly don't remember why I picked up the 5-pack of 1884's. I think it was the newly purchased, but empty humidor. Or maybe it was the enticing write up on TodaysCigar. But I'm glad I did. I feel like I learned a thing or two from smoking it, and it rewarded me with at least one extremely pleasurable smoking experience.
Cigar Stats
Size: 6 3/4 x 44 (Lonsdale)
Wrapper: Connecticut Shade
Binder: Dominican Republic
Filler: Dominican Republic
The Pre-Smoke
These cigars have an inconsistent feel when given the squeeze test. The first one I tried seemed to be the worst offender, and consequently the one with the most burn issues. (More on that later.) The second and third cigars seemed a bit more solid, with less uneven give. They also happened to look less and less ugly with each passing cigar (and no, I didn't smoke all three of them back to back). The second and third cigars had fewer noticeable bumps, and while they all had pretty prominent veins, they actually seemed to be placed very specifically to create a cool pattern. Especially on the third one.
The cigar also had a pleasant sweet, almost caramel smell before lighting.
The Burn
This cigar is another good example of never judging a box by a single cigar. The first one I smoked had nothing but trouble. It went out at least 3 times and plugged up twice. Fortunately, it gave me the opportunity to try out my new, super-premium Brian's Draw Poker. The following two cigars burned much more nicely, requiring at most a single slight touch up. Each of these cigars produced a good solid inch to inch and a half of ash before dropping.
The Flavor
This is a cigar that really rewards you for taking your time. Draw issues with the first cigar made me smoke it too fast and resulted in a harsher charred flavor than those that followed. The second was my favorite, it was a rich nutty flavor from the foot to the nub, beginning with a creaminess in the first third and ending with a bit of cinnamon and hints of sweet almond just at the beginning of the final third. The third cigar was very similar, though less creamy. However, it had an amazingly tasty initial 2 or 3 puffs. If the entire cigar tasted like the first 3 puffs of that third cigar, I'd buy a bunch of boxes, quit my job, run into the hills, start talking to myself and never smoke another type of cigar. Fortunately for other manufacturers (and my wife, and myself), it doesn't smoke that way. It was that tasty.
Another thing I noticed in the third smoke was that the burning cigar smelled delicious. I'm not talking about the smoke, the actual cigar. It was like toasted hazelnuts. I probably looked pretty silly smelling the unlit end of the cigar between puffs, but I didn't care. And it helped that nobody was around to laugh at me either. This was just too good a cigar to waste putting on on somebody's forehead. 🙂
The Price
With shipping, I picked a five pack of these guys up from the troubled (and possibly finished) TodaysCigar for $4.33 a cigar. I don't think that's a terrible price for a cigar of this size, a bit high maybe, but I think in the future I might pick up the #47 (robusto) and hope for a price in the low $3 range. This cigar was a perfect companion for the 2 hour season finale of 24, but it'd be nice to be able to invest slightly less time in it and save a buck or two at the same time.
The Verdict
The first one I smoked, I really didn't enjoy, but the second I loved just as much as I hated the first. The third secured this cigar in the buy-more-column. I wouldn't say this was my favorite cigar, but I can see picking one up from time to time. Well, let's put it this way, there's a good chance I'll have at least one of these my humidor. If I had to give it a letter rating, I'd give it either a B- or a B. (It gets the B if I don't encounter any more burn issues with the ones I have left.)
What Other People Are Saying
- The Cigar Week review – It looks like I paid the right amount for this cigar, this 1999 review prices it at $4.35!
- 2 Reviews by random people on Epinions – 4 stars in the 2000 review, 5 stars in 2005.
- Wurm's review on CigarPass – Great pictures on this one!
- Pat Wolski's Cuesta Rey Review – No frills, right to the point. (He paid $6 for this cigar?!)
- Cuesta Rey #47 podcast review on StogieFresh – It's not the same cigar (it's the robusto size I mentioned earlier), but it should be similar. And the podcast is a lot of fun to listen to. 🙂
My Other Reviews
- CAO Gold Natural
- Diamond Crown Maximus Toro #4
- CAO Sopranos Associate
- Extra Ordinary Larry (Drew Estate Acid)
- Ashton VSG vs. Diamond Crown Maximus Toro
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text:
The "Getting Smarter at Solving Problems" book is written at a 6th grade reading level and intended mainly for junior high and middle school students. Click here to access the book.
Click here for PDF file of the book.
Click here for Microsoft Word file of this book. Note that this may download the document to your desktop so that you need to open it from there. The file name is Getting_Smarter.doc.
Click here for Table of Contents.
Click here for Preface to the 2004 Reprint
Click here for Preface for Students.
Click here for Preface for Teachers.
Preface to 2004 Reprint 4
Preface for Teachers 6
Preface for Students 10
Chapter 1: Introduction to This Book 13
Chapter 2: You Are A Smart Person 25
Chapter 3: What Is A Problem? 34
Chapter 4: A Four-Step Plan for Solving a Problem 47
Chapter 5: Problem-Solving Strategies 58
Chapter 6: Getting Better At Thinking 69
Chapter 7: Transfer of Learning 82
Chapter 8: Modeling 94
Chapter 9: General Purpose Computer Tools 107
Chapter 10: Computer Systems 119
Glossary 131
Go back to Top of Page
Interestingly, I found only three areas in which the content of the old book was significantly different from the ideas I taught this fall. They are:
As I read the old book, I thought about how educators are faced by the problem of educating children for their future life in a very rapidly changing world. In many fields of science and technology we are seeing a doubling of knowledge in as little as 5 to 10 years. In ICT, we have been seeing a doubling of cost effectiveness in under two years.
However, most of the ideas from the old book are still quite goodindeed, quite up to date. A student who learned these ideas a dozen years ago would still be well served by the knowledge. That is because the focus is on general ideas, rather than on specific details.
For example, consider the idea of learning lower-order knowledge and skills versus learning high-order knowledge and skills. Both are important to a persons education. However, the book has a focus on higher-orderbecause it is a book about dealing with novel, challenging problems. Students at the middle school and junior high school levels are quite capable of understanding lower-order versus higher-order. This empowers them as they gradually assume more responsibility for their own education.
The idea of a strategy that might problem helpful in solving a problem is fundamental to problem solving. By and large, students are not taught very many strategies that will have long-term value. The book teaches various problem-solving strategies that are apt to last a lifetime.
Problem posing and converting ill-defined problems into clearly defined problems are taught in the book. Again, knowledge and skills gained in this area are apt to last a lifetime.
The book is about problem solving and the increasing roles of ICT in problem solving. The ideas of developing a mental model or a written model of a problem are stressed. But then, these ideas are expanded into a discussion of computer modeling. What does one gain by having an electronic (a word processed) version of a written document versus a hard copy of the document. What are the advantages and disadvantages of each as an aid to representing and solving problems?
This discussion then moves into the issue of what aspects of problem solving can be automated through appropriate use of a computer. One of the advantages of computer modeling is that it fits in well with computer-based automation of a wide variety of problem-solving activities. Todays spelling checker in a word processor is better than what was available in the early 1990s. However, the underlying concept that a word processor can incorporate a spell checker that can help to detect and correct spelling errors has not changed between then and now.
In summary, the old book demonstrates that in the early 1990s we knew enough about computers and problem solving to develop and teach a course of enduring value for middle school and junior high school students. By and large, however, few schools have implemented such a course.
David Moursund
December 2004
There is a box like this at the beginning of each chapter. It contains some of the highlights of the chapter. Spend a minute or two reading and thinking about these highlights. Research says that this time will be well spent. It will help you to learn the chapter material much better.
The Preface is about:
This is a book about how computers can help you to solve problems. However, a computer is merely a tool to help your mind. Your mind still has to do most of the thinking!
Thus, this book talks a lot about how your mind works. It talks about how to help your mind get better at solving problems. If you practice the ideas in this book, you will get a lot better at solving problems in school and outside of school.
There are many aids to the human mind. Reading, writing, and arithmetic are all very important mind aids. They help you to solve problems that you could not solve just using your mind all by itself.
Reading is especially important. If you can read this book, you can read well enough so that you can learn new things by reading. Being able to read opens up a whole new world. It allows you to solve problems by reading about how others have solved the problems.
Another important mind aid is learning to learn. There are lots of ways to learn new things. As you know, different people learn in different ways. Some people learn best by "seeing"by receiving information through their eyes. Others learn best by "hearing"by receiving information through their ears. Still others learn best by "physically doing"by being physically engaged in carrying out the processes to be learned.
These differences in how people learn make it difficult for a teacher to teach only in the way that seems best for you. This means that it is important for you to learn how you best learn. You must become responsible for your own learning.
Also, the way you learn best may vary with different things that you want to learn. Think about sports, and how you get better at sports. Think about how you learned to make friends and how you get better at making friends. Think about how you learned how to read, and how you get better at reading. Think about math classes, and how you get better at solving math problems.
Now be aware of what you just did. You were thinking about how you learn. You are a unique person. You are different from every other person. You are the only person who can really know yourself. You are the only person who can really learn how you learn best.
One of the most important learning things that you can learn is how to learn. How does your mind work as it learns new things? What helps it to learn rapidly and well? What helps it to remember important new ideas? What helps it to get better at solving problems?
You learn many new things everyday. This means that you get a lot of practice in learning. Some of this learning occurs without much effort on your part. For example, you see and hear a television ad, and you learn a little about the product being advertised. You hear a friend using a new word, and you automatically start using that new word.
But other learning takes more effort. Over the centuries, humans have accumulated a great deal of knowledge and wisdom. Many brilliant thinkers, such as Marie Curie and Albert Einstein, have contributed. There is lots to learn.
One reason we have schools is to make it easier for people to learn. One goal of this book is to help you get better at learning. There is a simple way to get better at learning. As you learn, think about learning. Examine your own personal learning processes. Figure out what works best for you. Experiment. Try different approaches. Gradually you will get better at learning.
Early explorers kept journals or diaries in which they wrote about their travels. As you read this book, think of yourself as an explorer. You are exploring the content of this book. You are exploring your mind and how it reacts to the book. You are exploring computers and how they can help you solve problems.
Many of the activities in this book ask you to write in a journal. You will need a bound book, such as a spiral bound notebook, to use as a journal. Please get yourself a journal book before starting to read the first chapter. Keep it with this book, so that you will have it when you need it.
Educational researchers have thought a lot about how to help students learn better. They have decided that writing in a journal helps most students learn better. This seems to be true in every school subject. And it works well for both young people and adults. Don't be surprised if you see your teacher doing journaling!
This is a book about human problem solving. It places a major emphasis on roles of computers as an aid in problem solving. Computers are a very powerful aid. Computers are especially useful in solving the types of problems that you study in school. You can get much better at solving many types of problems by learning to use computers as an aid to problem solving.
This book will help you get better at problem solving. However, don't expect any magic. It has taken your entire life to get as good at problem solving as you are now. This book will help you get better. But getting better at problem solving takes time and effort.
There is a box like this at the end of each chapter. It contains a summary of a few of the key ideas in the chapter.
The purpose of the Preface is to get you started in thinking about what this book is about. Some key ideas include:
Getting Smarter at Solving Problems is specifically designed to be used as a supplemental text in a secondary school Computer Literacy course. When used in that format, the book contains sufficient materials to be used two days a week or part of each day in a semester-length course.
However, Getting Smarter at Solving Problems can also be used in a wide variety of other settings. It can be used in a "Modern Problems" class in the social studies; it can be used in a course on problem solving; it can be used in a math course. In all cases the emphasis is on problem solving in general, and roles of computers as an aid to problem solving.
This book is based on the following two premises. The premises are strongly supported by the research literature.
There are many different versions of Computer Literacy courses. A typical Computer Literacy course may focus on just one of the following themes, or it may draw from several of them.
There are many definitions of computer literacy. Generally speaking, computer literacy is a blend of computer science (including computer programming), computer applications, and computers in society (including reading, writing, and talking about computers and their impact on our society). However, there should be one unifying theme: computers are a new and powerful aid to problem solving; they extend the capability of the human mind. Computers can be used to help solve problems in every area of human intellectual endeavor. The capabilities of computers are having a major impact on our world.
Getting Smarter at Solving Problems is designed to provide a unifying and underlying theme of problem solving in a computer literacy course. There is a lengthy Teacher's Manual that accompanies this book. It contains detailed lesson plans and specific suggestions on how to integrate problem solving into each of the general types of computer literacy courses listed above.
Getting Smarter at Solving Problems contains an underlying philosophy of discovery-based learning. One reason for this is the general nature of the computer field. The computer field is changing very rapidly. The computers your students will have available in their homes and on their jobs 20 years from now will be a hundred or a thousand times as powerful as the computers they now have available in school. This means that there must be a strong focus on learning to learn and on transfer of learning. A guided discovery-based learning environment contributes greatly to learning to learn, and it facilitates transfer of learning.
Most books on problem solving are full of "puzzle problems." Here is an example.
In this puzzle, each letter stands for one of the digits 0, 1, 2,..., 9. The letter F stands for a digit that is larger than 0. The goal is to find one or more solutions. (Typically, a puzzle problem always has at least one solution. Of course, in the real world there are lots of problems that have no solution.)
For many students, puzzle problems are challenging and fun. Unfortunately, there are two distinct drawbacks to making extensive use of them in instruction.
Getting Smarter at Solving Problems is quite different from the puzzle problem books. It focuses on the underlying theory and practice of the discipline of problem solving. It focuses on methodologies such as journaling, learning to learn, metacognition, and modeling that cut across all disciplines. It lays foundations that will serve students throughout their lives.
There are two major categories of problem-solving software that are not discussed in this book. The first type is software specifically designed to help teach problem solving. A number of the educational software publishers make available a wide range of such software. The second type is software specifically designed to help solve certain types of problems, such as math problems. This type of software is of growing importance in each academic discipline. The inclusion of either of both types of software in a course on computers and problem solving is quite appropriate. However, the author of this book decided to write the book to be independent of any specific piece of software or hardware.
The computer is but one of many different powerful aids to problem solving. Reading, writing, arithmetic, speaking, and listening are certainly powerful aids to problem solving.
Most students in your class will have had little or no previous formal instruction in problem solving. Thus, you will be faced by two interrelated tasks.
It should be clear that the first task is more general. It does relatively little good to teach the specifics of problem solving in a computer environment if students have no knowledge of general ideas of problem solving. However, it does make sense to use a computer environment as a motivation to study problem solving in general, and then to focus specifically on how computers affect this discipline. That is the design philosophy of this book.
The student text, Getting Smarter at Solving Problems , contains only a modest amount of specific focus on computers. However, each topic has been carefully selected to fill a dual role. First, it has been selected because it is foundational within the discipline of problem solving in general. Second, it has been selected because it easily ties in with studying the roles of computers in problem solving.
To a great extent, the Teacher's Manual, rather than the student text, provides the bridge between these two areas. This is because the student text is designed to be used in a wide variety of instructional settings. Thus, it is important that you, the course instructor, focus on bridging between problem solving in general, and problem solving within the context of the specific course that you are teaching. The Teacher's Manual provides a number of quite specific suggestions in how to do this in a variety of instructional situations.
Every student in your class is a smart, problem-solving person. Your students have been developing their problem-solving skills throughout their lives. Your course, and the specific instruction on problem solving based on this book, will be a very modest-sized intervention in the lives of your students. It can make a significant contribution. However, it is a small intervention relative to the total amount of time each student has already spent on learning to solve problems. Getting smarter at solving problems is a life-long task.