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Experts Discuss Finding Solutions on Drug Development for Diseases of Poverty
Last week, the Guardian's Global Development Professional Network hosted an interactive online discussion that focused on challenges and solutions for funding drug development for diseases of poverty.
The online forum featured an expert panel of global health leaders including Sabin Vaccine Institute president Dr. Peter Hotez and representatives from Oxfam, the Global Alliance for TB Drug Development, Medecins Sans Frontieres, DNDi, PATH, GSK, Medicines for Malaria Venture and more.
The panel discussed a wide-array of important topics, including the costs of drug development, diversification of funders for research and development (R&D), funding for neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), cost-efficient ways of delivering medicine to those that need it the most and partnerships with pharmaceutical companies.
The panelist's remarks shed light on one unfortunate truth: It takes a lot of allocated resources and money to develop new drugs and vaccines for diseases of poverty–such as malaria, tuberculosis and NTDs. According to an article in Forbes in 2013, developing a single drug or vaccine can cost over $350 million. The high costs of development are then reflected in the high prices on drugs and vaccines, meaning millions of people that need these essential drugs and vaccines can't afford them.
In order to fill the demand, many drugs and vaccines are financed by international agencies and supported by charitable donations from pharmaceutical companies. The Sabin Vaccine Institute Product Development Partnership (Sabin PDP), for instance, is working with partners in the U.S. European Union, Brazil, and Gabon to develop wide a range of vaccines, including vaccines for human hookworm, leishmaniasis, Chagas disease and schistosomiasis, among others.
However, the rising cost for drug and vaccine development for diseases of poverty is forcing global health organizations to search for new sources of funding and alternative ways to reduce the cost of R&D.
The panel offered some promising suggestions on how we can generate additional funding and also reduce the cost for drug development for diseases of poverty.
Dr. Hotez stressed the need for non-US and UK countries, including the G20, to play a larger role in supporting R&D for NTDs:
"90% of R&D funding is from US and UK governments and The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. But we found many of the NTDs are concentrated in places like India, Brazil, Indonesia and China, especially among the extreme poor living there," Peter stated.
Jon Pender, Vice President of Intellectual Property and Access at GSK, agreed with Dr. Hotez's call for increased R&D support from G20 countries as noted just how much support stems from US and UK partners: "The latest G-Finder report shows that the US National Institute of Health provided 40.4% of all funding and the pharmaceutical industry was second with 16.7%, followed by the Gates Foundation at 14%. The next highest funder was the Wellcome Trust at 4.7%,"
Dr. Mohga Kamal-Yanni of Oxfam proposed the idea of a global treaty for financing R&D whereby all countries contribute a percentage of their GDP and therefore have a stake in deciding priorities.
Rachel Cohen of DNDi voiced support for a global R&D treaty as well. But such funding, she notes, "would also need to adhere to certain principles to ensure that product prices are disconnected from the cost of R&D -- this would guarantee affordability for patients."
In addition, Walter Moos, President of SRI Biosciences proposed looking for new uses for existing drugs to reduce costs: "Drug repurposing is catching on in some companies, though not necessarily in this space,"
Commenting on this point, Alan Fairlamb from the University of Dundee noted that drug repurposing has proved to be most successful in human helminth infections.
Emphasizing the role of developing countries in drug development and manufacturing, Dr. Hotez stated, "our future is very much tied to the success of developing country vaccine manufacturers: Brazil, Mexico, Cuba in the West; India, China, Indonesia, Vietnam in Asia; Possibly Iran in the Middle East. We still have minimal to zero vaccine manufacturing capabilities in sub-Saharan Africa."
The two-hour discussion brought forth several different perspectives and solutions to funding drug development for diseases of poverty. Click here to read the full discussion in the comments section.


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AutomationMedia.com Looks at SAE as Solution for Traceability
Houston, TX -- (SBWIRE) -- 10/19/2012 -- Systems Application Engineering, Inc. (SAE), www.saesystems.com, a Motorola Premier Solutions Partner and a Zebra Premier Partner, headquartered in Houston, TX for more than forty years, has been a leader in Order Selection and Loading, Voice-Guided Picking, GS-1 Product Traceability, Proof-of-Delivery (POD), Direct Store Delivery (DSD), Operator Driven Reliability, Condition-Based Monitoring and Mobile Computer equipment sales.
Automation.com recently had manufacturing journalist, Thomas R. Cutler contribute a feature article titled, "Thin Margins Drive Warehouse Automation Solutions." Cutler noted that high volume electronics and industrial parts distributors are facing thinner margins. Globally these companies and other warehouse distribution center operations are seeking automation solutions to offset razor-thin profits.
Premier Farnell serves 1.2 million customers worldwide as a marketer and distributor of electronic, electrical and industrial component products for maintenance, repair and operations. When escalating costs of business threatened margins on UK sales to Europe, the company responded with a bold distribution strategy: opening a new, automated warehouse in Liege, Belgium. Success of the move required more than just lower shipping costs; it also demanded significantly higher levels of productivity and efficiency.
The company looked for automation applications which integrated the WMS (warehouse management system) with ordering and billing systems as well as controlling the state-of-the-art conveyor, and directing order selection. The processes had to maximize throughput and set new benchmarks for warehouse automation. According to solutions provider Systems Application Engineering (SAE), based in Houston, Texas, there are critical warehouse automation features to drive productivity and profitability. Jerry Sacks, President of SAE noted, "Optimizing and controlling movement of totes and orders along warehouse conveyors…verifying items and counts for all orders and replenishments is critical. It's also vital that warehouse managers are able to capture shorts and out-of-stocks and generate adjustments to customers' invoices."
Thousands of selectors pick millions of cases error-free every day. Sadly for many warehouses lacking automation solutions this is not the case. SAE developed a patented application (Selector Pro) that automates and directs picking activities throughout the warehouse. The hands-free voice guidance or wearable configuration is designed to meet the demands of various operating environments.
Warehouse Automation Solutions: Traceability Standards
Maximizing productivity and return-on-investment (ROI) is the goal of automation solutions. Combining text-based information with revolutionary voice guided instructions for seamless hybrid applications must also include laser bar code scanning for location verification and GS1 product traceability.
SAE supports GS1 because it ensures interoperability with trading partners and allows efficient recall or tracing of raw materials origin from upstream suppliers. This business process standard describes the traceability process and defines minimum requirements for companies of all sizes across industry sectors.
SAE delivers proven product platforms based on wireless computing, bar code scanning, voice guidance and software that are rugged, reliable, scalable and seamlessly integrated. These factors combine to produce a ROI (return-on-investments) that customers rely on.
SAE Systems
Greg Braun

subset: commoncrawl


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On-line news network: more news than you need
A rag-tag crew, we assembled around the long news conference table where top editors routinely decide how the news of the day will be played on newsprint.
The big metro, which is fading as a print publication, is trying to find an on-line journalism model that will ensure its survival into the rest of the 21st Century.
The newsblogger meeting was the newspaper's effort to pull together a one-year "pilot project" called "The Oregonian News Network."
I was at the meeting to see whether my on-line publication, The Hillsdale News, might fit into the plan.
The Oregonian is using a grant from the J-Lab Institute for Interactive Journalism at American University in D.C. to pay for seven $2,500 grants to local newsbloggers.
In exchange, the chosen few will participate in a hyperlocal newsgathering effort.
Tellingly, the money does not come from The Oregonian or on-line advertising revenues. The bankrolling comes from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, which has paid for similar experiments in a few other cities, including Seattle.
I quickly concluded The Hillsdale News is not a candidate for the program, which calls for posting as many as five "hyper-local" news stories a week. I publish three to five stories every two or three weeks.
The Oregonian's working assumption is that small communities like ours really want to know about breaking, "hyperlocal" news, 24-7.
Do folks in Hillsdale really care about every fender bender, shoplifting or brush fire here?
Call me crazy, but I don't think so.
And if they do, that's someone else's problem. I've got other stories to write that won't be hauled off by a wrecker, investigated by the police or drenched by the fire bureau.
By not applying for a grant, I'll be missing out on technical advice, which I could use in the warp-speed change of the internet world.
But feeding the insatiable maw of the internet is too high a price to pay.
Thoreau's comment about the newly invented telegraph applies equally to the web:
"We are in great haste to construct a magnetic telegraph from Maine to Texas, but Maine and Texas, it may be, have nothing important to communicate."
I'll venture that The Oregonian's effort will burn out after a year. No representative of the paper had a clue as to how the "News Network" could be made self-sufficient after the Knight money runs out.
"We're working on that," said one lamely.
The other problem is that The Oregonian still doesn't have control over its news web site, OregonLive. The on-line operation isn't even in The Oregonian's building. No one seemed quite sure where it is. OregonLive is some kind of organizational Frankenstein that only a corporate insider at Advance Publications back in New York could love — and apparently locate.
The Oregonian's management has simply thrown up its hands in defeat and unveiled frustration at trying to wrest on-line control from "corporate."
The meeting wasn't a complete loss for me. It crystalized what The Hillsdale News is: an on-line news and news analysis magazine for in a hyperlocal market of 7,000 neighbors in Southwest Portland.
Until today, I'd never seen The News as a magazine with relatively leisurely deadlines. I variously and mistakenly referred to it as an on-line newspaper or newsletter.
The Oregonian's presentation forced me to see my publication for what it isn't and what it is.
I consider that two-hours well spent.
As for the "newsbloggers" in the room, I suspect some will take the J-Lab money and chase fire engines and patrol cars for the next year.
I wish them well.
Labels: Advance Publications, American University, hyperlocal journalism, J-Lab Institute for Interactive Journalism, newsbloggers, Oregonian News Network, OregonLive, The Oregonian


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Drag-On (Feat. KNS The Engineer, Mr. Limp & MyMy) - What The F*ck Is Up [Audio]
" Drag-On and his Hood Environment team get together to release the video for "What The F*ck Is Up". Featuring KNS The Engineer, Mr. Limp & MyMy."
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Share those kidneys!
The generosity of live organ donors like Tarpley Gillespie is remarkable. Most Americans won't even agree to donate their organs after they die. They bury their organs instead of sharing the gift of life. As a result, over 6,000 of their neighbors die every year waiting for organ transplants.
The solution to the organ shortage is simple: If you don't agree to donate your organs when you die, then you go to the back of the waiting list if you ever need an organ to live.
A grassroots group of organ donors called LifeSharers is making this idea a reality, one member at a time.
LifeSharers is a non-profit network of organ donors. Members agree to donate their organs when they die, but they give fellow members "first dibs" on their organs. This creates a pool of organs available first to members. The existence of this pool gives other people an incentive to sign donor cards and join the network, and this incentive grows stronger as the network expands.
Anyone who wants to donate their organs to others who have agreed to donate theirs can join LifeSharers at lifesharers.com. Membership is free.
David J. Undis
Executive Director
Nashville, Tennessee


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Another city of Sarasota election, another round of low voter turnout.
In the election that culminated March 12, with six candidates on the ballot for two citywide seats, only 17 percent of Sarasotans eligible to participate cast ballots.
That turnout rate was lower than the consistently low numbers in previous elections. For example:
•In March 2011, with all three City Commission district seats contested, the turnout was 18 percent.
•In March 2009, with nine candidates seeking two at-large seats and a controversial proposal on the ballot, 21 percent of registered voters participated.
•In March 2007, with all three district seats and a bond referendum on the ballot, city turnout was about 20 percent.
To put some of these numbers into perspective: In the most recent election, only 6,153 voters -- in a city with 35,480 people registered and 52,000 residents -- cast ballots in a contest between candidates seeking to represent the entire city in at-large seats. Three of those candidates will be on the ballot in a May runoff, when turnout will likely be lower than 17 percent.
In elections for district seats, where only the residents of each district can vote for a candidate, here is how low turnout translates: Each winner, who has one of five votes on the commission, is generally elected by between 1,000 and 2,000 voters.
The pattern is clear: In Sarasota, the minority -- a small minority -- has ruled.
It is time for a citywide discussion about whether the status quo is in the best interests of Sarasota and its people.
Stand-alone elections in March do not necessarily result in low turnout. For instance, turnout for the town of Longboat Key elections -- conducted the same day as Sarasota's voting -- was 41 percent.
For whatever reasons, however, Sarasota is stuck with low turnout in city elections.
We do not know how to boost voter participation in Sarasota, so long as the city continues to conduct elections in March of odd-numbered years.
But we do know how Sarasota could substantially increase voter participation -- by scheduling city elections to coincide with general elections, conducted in November, during even-numbered years.
During general elections in those years, when either the president's or governor's race is on the ballot, voter turnout surges.
In Sarasota, turnout was 70 percent for the 2012 general election, which included voting for the presidency. Turnout was 50 percent in 2010, when the governor's office and other state (and federal) races were contested. Those numbers have been consistent for years.
The presidency clearly drives the greatest turnout, leading to differences with other even-year November elections. But the value of turnout routinely exceeding 50 percent should not be ignored.
Sarasota is hardly the only city to conduct stand-alone elections. Tampa, Orlando, Fort Lauderdale and Jacksonville have spring elections. Mid-size and small cities, such as Vero Beach and Tarpon Springs, do as well.
In Polk County, many of its 17 cities moved their elections to April from November due to concerns about crowded ballots.
On March 12, a majority of Lake Worth residents voted to change their elections to March from November. In Sarasota, however, voters have not had a recent opportunity to decide when to conduct city elections.
When Sarasota's Charter Review Committee convened in 2011, it considered a proposal to change the timing of municipal elections. The discussion was generally thoughtful; the committee members, appointed by the City Commission, voted 8-2 against recommending that the change be placed on the ballot.
Among the concerns was the potential for city candidates and issues to be crowded out by high-profile races. Other worries involved long general-election ballots, media coverage, a possible shortage of campaign volunteers and voter fatigue.
Any time voters face a long ballot, there is a concern that races at the end of the list will be ignored. However, in Venice and Bradenton -- both of which moved in recent years to general elections -- the falloff has been minor. As a result, voter participation in city government soared.
Consideration of voting changes requires thoughtful decision-making.
For example, if Sarasota elections were moved to even-numbered years, would the first round be scheduled for November or August, when partisan primaries are conducted? (The primaries don't attract many more voters than the stand-alone elections; plus, they are partisan and Sarasota has long conducted nonpartisan elections.) If the first city election were held in November, when would runoffs be conducted, if necessary? (Could the frequency of runoffs be reduced by requiring candidates seeking at-large offices to run for a specific seat? The City Commission considered and rejected this recommended change in 2011, but it is worth another look.)
The most important question is: Would the value of higher voter turnout outweigh the benefits of elections focused on the city?
For at least four years, members of the Editorial Board have raised concerns about Sarasota's low turnout rates, but recognized the points made by opponents of changing the election schedule.
After the Charter Review Committee rejected a ballot proposal, we hoped that the debate marked the beginning, not the end, of an effort to improve Sarasota's voter turnout. Following the 18 percent rate in 2011, we noted that the silence of so many voices during elections drains the city of the direction and civic energy it needs.
So now, after another round of voting with abysmal participation, we think it's time to deliberately consider whether -- and how -- Sarasota could improve turnout by changing its election schedule.
Sarasota's silent majority
Another city of Sarasota election, another round of low voter turnout.


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CENTRAL FLORIDA – The one-of-its-kind lung-transplant program at Florida Hospital is closing it's doors, forcing patients to go on waiting lists in other cities.
Hospital officials claim they don't have enough surgeons to continue the program.
"With one of our lung transplant surgeons leaving, we are unable to provide the level of service that is needed. As a result, we are temporarily putting this program on hold," said Samantha O'Lenick in a statement to Local 6.
The program debuted in August 2012. Since then, surgeons have performed 24 lung transplants.
Shelby Harrison, 18, is one of seven patients on a waiting list for new lungs, and will now have to start all over again at a new center.
"Now we have to learn a whole new group of doctors, a whole new group of surgeons, and you know, specialists, that's kind of hard too," Harrison said. "You lose track of all the doctors you end up meeting after so long."
O'Lenick said the hospital is looking for a new surgeon, and they hope to reactivate the program soon. In the meantime, Harrison said she is hoping to get on the transplant list at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville. It's further from home, but closer to new lungs.
"I'm really hoping I get them in time to be able to go to college a lot sooner. I want to go to college," Harrison said. "I also don't want to have to be in and out of the hospital with college, so if I could get lungs and be able to go to college properly, that'd be nice."
Click here to support Harrison and her family with costs associated with her transplant.


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Meet Piper! This top is super soft and has such a relaxed fit. Perfect when you need to be on the go while still serving some good fashion. Also available in other colors.
Short Sleeve
Relaxed Fit
65% Rayon / 35% Polyester
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If you do not love your purchase, just send it back to us within 14 days of the confirmed delivery date of the original purchase.
Items eligible for return must be in original, unused, unwashed, and unworn condition with all original tags attached. Please note: all jewelry and accessory purchases are FINAL SALE. All styles from our Semi-Annual Sale and/or Clearance Sale section are FINAL SALE. Due to deep discounts on these styles, returns will not be accepted on Clearance items. If you have any questions on clearance, please do not hesitate to reach out.
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SUNDAY ON ESPN: PBA League Quarterfinal Action Returns with Silver Lake Atom Splitters vs. Dallas Strikers Matchup at 3 p.m. ET
PBA League quarterfinal action returns to ESPN on Sunday at 3 p.m. ET when Chris Hardwick's Silver Lake Atom Splitters presented by Spiceworks takes on Terrell Owens' Dallas Strikers presented by the USBC from Thunderbowl Lanes in Allen Park, Mich.
The Atom Splitters and Strikers will be competing in the third quarterfinal match of the second PBA League season in hopes of moving on to the semifinals.
In each PBA League round, PBA League teams are competing for points in a head-to-head series of single-elimination team matches that include singles, alternate-ball doubles, Baker trio and Baker team contests. One point is awarded for a win in the singles, doubles and trios matches with three points awarded for a Baker team win. Should there be a tie at the conclusion of the four contests, a one-ball sudden-death roll-off will determine the winner.
In Sunday's opening singles match, PBA Hall of Famer Norm Duke, the Strikers' team manager and captain, will meet former Player of the Year Chris Barnes, the Atom Splitters' team captain.
In the alternate-ball doubles match, Barnes and 2003 USBC Masters Champion Bryon Smith will pair up against Duke and two-time Tour winner Michael Machuga.
In the trios match, the Atom Splitters lineup will include former Player of the Year Tommy Jones, three-time Tour winner Dom Barrett and another former Player of the Year, Wes Malott, against the Strikers' lineup of three-time Tour winner Rhino Page, Hall of Famer Amleto Monacelli and Tour winner Dave Wodka.
The Baker team match will include the Strikers lineup of Duke, Machuga, Monacelli, Wodka and Page bowling against the Atom Splitters lineup of Smith, Barnes, Barrett, Malott and Jones.
After Sunday's quarterfinal, the field will be down to five teams with the final quarterfinal round between LaMarr Woodley's Pittsburgh Jack Rabbits presented by HotelPlanner.com vs. actor/comedian Kevin Hart's Philadelphia Hitmen presented by High 5 Gear. The Pittsburgh-Philadelphia match will air on March 23 at 1 p.m. ET.
All times Eastern
Feb. 9 Quarterfinal Match One – L.A. X presented by GoBowling.com def. BROOKLYN STyLES presented by Concrete Software PBA Bowling Challenge, 4-2, to advance to semifinals.
Feb. 16 Quarterfinal Match Two – New York City WTT KingPins presented by GEICO def. Motown Muscle presented by Barbasol, 4-2, to advance to semifinals.
March 2, 3 p.m. – Quarterfinal Match Three, Silver Lake Atom Splitters presented by Spiceworks vs. Dallas Strikers presented by USBC.
March 23, 1 p.m. – Quarterfinal Match Four, Pittsburgh Jack Rabbits presented by HotelPlanner.com vs. Philadelphia Hitmen presented by High 5 Gear.
March 30, 4:30 p.m. – Semifinal Match One, L.A. X vs. KingPins (winner advances to Elias Cup Finals).
April 6, 1 p.m. – Semifinal Match Two, Atom Splitters-Strikers winner vs. Jack Rabbits-Hitmen winner (winner advances to Elias Cup Finals).
April 13, 2 p.m. – Elias Cup Finals.


text: CORINA BAKKE BIOGRAPHYCorina Bakke is a Northwest multi-faceted licensed, sports & celebrity artist, and Emmy & ABC Network Alpha Award winning designer. She is licensed by the Frank Sinatra Estate, with three of her portraits, titled The Frank Sinatra Tribute Series. She was also selected to be one of the featured artists for the Legacy Art Series at the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City to create a hero for the City.Corina is currently working on philanthropic projects and on licensing opportunities that feature edgy, unique, artistic designs and imagery with cultural appeal.


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Being a millennial, there's nothing that I miss from the 1980s, mainly because I wasn't born yet. However, ever since I discovered Buzzfeed, I developed a nostalgia for that decade. This has involved watching Cosby Show reruns and any John Hughes movie, as well as hoping that Eastern European geography would be simpler. But the decade of Reagan, Walkmans, and Eddie Murphy starring in watchable movies had its good moments when it comes to cars.
There was the F40, which made speculating on hearing aid futures necessary. The Audi Quattro, a car which would make its driver the next rally champion, as long as there were immense turbos on the engine. And the Buick Grand National, which was promptly snapped up by individuals who steadfastly believe their cars are collector items and refuse to sell them under $20,000 even if they have 100,000 miles. But most importantly, there were affordable sporty commuter cars.
Cars like the front-drive Nissan NX and Honda CRX, front-drive and zippy in town, but most importantly, there were mid-engine, rear-drive cars called the Toyota MR2 and Pontiac Fiero. And they were under $20,000 (though that's maybe around $30K adjusted for inflation), meaning any yuppie, or more likely, any middle-class IBMer/GM car enthusiast/Pan Am employee could have a fun car.
For this list, affordable meant under $30,000. So that took out the Acura NSX, Ferrari 355, and the Noble M400, all very good cars in their own right, but not inexpensive enough to be Miata alternatives, which will be to the chagrin of most Jalopnik readers.
Author's Note: Buick Grand National owners, I mean no harm to your cars' monetary values. I'm sure millennials will eventually pick them up. Of course, this will be after the prices have dropped to $15,000, which'll be $10K below what you paid for them (and a bad investment). What can I say? Generation Y doesn't have that kind of money to spend on a 1980s GM vehicle.
Toyota MR2
Personally, I've never found the MR2 all that fun. In fact, I forget the MR2 exists more than I'd like to admit. But keep in mind that this is a Toyota from the 1980s, so maintaining it isn't much of an issue, and a good one can be had for under $7K. And one with high mileage and a ridiculous amount of mods can definitely be under $5K. It can also be used as a basis for a Ferrari replica. (This will become a common theme with MR cars on this list.)
In the end, the MR2 is a fine choice. Be aware that it may be difficult to find a first or second generation one in pristine condition (many of them have had a turbocharger slapped on or a more powerful engine swapped in), but I personally wouldn't hold the modifications against them, mainly because more power does make these cars more fun. Just don't even think about entering one in LeMons.
Lotus Elise
There are many nice Elises for $30K. But I will discuss the downsides first. People will think it's a lot more expensive than it actually is. They may approach you at the gas station simply to talk about Colin Chapman for a long period of time. The interior has no storage space. Making a quick getaway will be impossible with the top on. Also, be aware, these cars do snap at the absolute limit with little warning.
On the bright side, there is a Toyota engine, meaning engine maintenance costs will be reasonable, unlike, say, an Esprit Turbo, with its lethal combination of a high-pressure turbocharger and Lucas electrics. There's thankfully no Ferrari replica conversion kit readily available. And if I haven't convinced you by now, allow Doug DeMuro to. Air your grievances to him if you disagree with this choice on the list.
Porsche Boxster/Cayman (987)
I'll be honest. I'm a 911 person through and through and will probably never consider buying a Boxster/Cayman. But they're both excellent sports cars and even better for the money when a good used one is under $30K. Most importantly, the engine isn't hanging out at the back, so instead of spinning out on a winding road, you'll knock over a few cones at the autocross course.
So why not the even more affordable (read: under $10K) 986 Boxster (the one with the exact front end of the late 1990s 911)? Google "IMS/RMS failure" and you'll promptly understand that those cars are a money pit. Especially when the cure is buying a brand-new engine at half the car's value. In that case, unless you wish to be part of a class-action lawsuit against Porsche Cars North America, stay away from those Boxsters.
Pontiac Fiero
Believe it or not, General Motors did listen to car guys in the 1980s. Justified to the public (or more likely, the bean counters) as a mid-engined "economy" car with added sportiness, the Fiero was meant to show that GM under Roger Smith had a soul. There's no other way to explain the stereo speakers in the headrests. The Fiero also ended up being a godsend for Ferrari replica makers of the 1990s.
Add to that the fact that finding part is never a problem because of the numerous 1980s GM vehicles in junkyards across America and you have a winner. And that Fiero forum guys (and gals) are among the most helpful people on Earth. They will talk you through the cooling system issues and how to properly maintain your mid-engined, GM parts bin MR sports car. Honestly, the Chinese should recreate these cars.
Ferrari Mondial
Admittedly, the owner of a Mondial won't have fun of the driving experience sort. This is because these cars can easily be beaten on any track by a new Honda Civic. Fast Ferraris like a 348 (it's fast relative to a Mondial) or 355 go for much more money. So all of you Ferrari fans can get ignore me from here, because the fun I'm about to propose will perhaps not be to your liking. (I suggest sending letters of encouragement to Stefano Domenicali.)
Instead, you'll have an in with the local Ferrari crowd who need to showcase their cars at every Ferrari owner event, every Concours d'Elegance, and every local upscale shopping center parking lot. It'll be fun parking next to that Enzo and insisting you're as much in favor with the factory as the Enzo owner. Bragging to the 355 owner about how you got a Ferrari for under $30K. And most importantly, telling the F40 owner that your Mondial is a better car because no passenger has ever requested a hearing aid afterwards, lowering your cost of ownership. Who needs Ferrari replicas?
Satish Kondapavulur runs Clunkerture, named because "Clunker.com" was $82 at auction and would've taken 30% out of the balance of his Eagle Vision for LeMons fund. In between contemplating cross-country runs, he spends much of his time attempting to convince others that his MkV Jetta 2.0T Wolfsburg is indeed a sports sedan.
All images courtesy respective manufacturers.


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If you just can't wait to see a journalist locked up in a psychopath's subterranean torture chamber, you should know that the Swedish version of "The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo" is currently out on DVD. But if you want to see all that occur IN ENGLISH, well then you've got precisely seventeen months from today to go. That's when Sony will release the English-language version of Steig Larsson's international bestseller. Mike Fleming Deadline says Sony has nailed down 12/21/11 for the thriller, despite not having its leads cast:
The studio continues talking with Daniel Craig to play publisher Mikael Blomkvist, but sources tell me there's a scheduling problem for him involving the long delayed next Bond pic and Cowboys & Aliens…
The studio is also signing test deals with a group of young actresses dying to play the complex role of Lisbeth Salander. While Carey Mulligan, Ellen Page, and Mia Wasikowska (Alice in Wonderland) have been mentioned as possible Lisbeth candidates, I'm told others include Emily Browning (Sucker Punch), Sara Snook (Sleeping Beauty), Rooney Mara (The Social Network) and Sophie Lowe (Blame). Some have submitted their own tapes to director David Fincher already, while others will test shortly for the role. It's a process similar to the one Sony orchestrated before choosing Andrew Garfield to play Spider-Man.
Obviously, a lot of people are looking forward to this movie because they loved the book so much (and because they have a fear of subtitles). But I think Fincher is the real draw here. This is the man who made "Seven" and "Zodiac." I thought the latter film was the best of the previous decade. No one does menace quite like Fincher does these days, and "Dragon Tattoo" has that quality in spades. It's twisted and gory and downright sadistic. So much so that it's hard to understand how it became so popular to begin with. People are twisted.
Heck, Fincher even made a movie about freaking Facebook look ominous. So I'm very excited to see what he does with material this dark. Ellen Page or no Ellen Page, we'll find out in seventeen months.


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Charmed, We're Sure
Speech and theater educator Mort Klayman '46 has led a lucky life.
Talking to Mort Klayman '46 is like spending time with a favorite uncle—he's funny, warm, and full of interesting stories. The more he talks, the more one realizes that serendipity and good humor inform every aspect of his extraordinary life.
Mort grew up near
Then in December 1941
Five students from IC entered the Air Corps together—the four from the drama department and "one fella from music," Mort says. The five stayed together through basic training and cadet school, and then went on to further training at the
Aptitude testing led to Mort's navigation training, from which he emerged with the rank of second lieutenant navigator. As part of a 10-man crew, he was shipped to Europe with the 449th Bomb Group of the 15th Air Force, with which he was stationed in southern
Mort arrived stateside in April 1945 to pick up the threads of civilian life. In
Ernest B. Finch was then chair of the drama department, and he set Mort on an unplanned and, initially, unwanted career path. "Dr. Finch knew me well," says Mort, "and he introduced me to the superintendent of schools in
"And then once again I heard from IC, about a job at Amherst Central High, in a suburb of
Mort describes his working life at
Mort further served as president of the New York State Speech Association. And during a sabbatical he did the research for a doctoral thesis on Dame Sybil Thorndike, the hatchet-faced grande dame of British stage who rose to fame playing the lead in George Bernard Shaw's Saint Joan. "I interviewed her twice, in
Mort taught at
Mort's connections to IC remain precious to him. "I love that place," he says. "They were responsible for the three jobs I've had." Mort has been a tireless alumni volunteer, serving as reunion chair and phonathon volunteer, among many other roles, and he has long kept in touch with the other drama students who entered the Army Air Force with him: Wayne Retzlaff '43, Bruce Nary '47 (who became the chair of drama at Susquehanna University), and actor Page Johnson '47.
It is typical of Mort's remarkably cheerful disposition that he is grateful for the role his wartime service played in getting him the
We'll save him a front-row seat.


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Capture I – Zinnia Naqvi: Yours to Discover
September 6, 2019 @ 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
|Recurring Event (See all)
An event every day that begins at 10:00 am, repeating until October 20, 2019
Large-scale exterior photography-based showcase which explores the immigrant experience with that of Canadian-built and natural landmarks.
May 19: reception and artist talk, 2-4pm. Admission by donation.


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New York's Chelsea neighborhood better prepare itself for a bunch of screaming tweens because Nick Jonas of the Jonas Brothers is moving into the downtown 'hood. According to The Wall Street Journal, the youngest of the three-brother boy band leased a $23,000-per-month (not bad for a nineteen-year-old) apartment that's owned by NHL player Scott Gomez and was once occupied by fashion designer Marc Jacobs. And, the celeb residents of this Chelsea spread doesn't stop there--Stephen Levinson, executive producer of Boardwalk Empire and Entourage, also rented the home, reports Curbed.
What does a nineteen-year-old pop star with $23,000 to burn every month get? Well, for starters the home is fully furnished and comes with three bedrooms and three bathrooms. The pad is equipped with six televisions and a lighting and entertainment system controlled by an iPad, as well as a 120-inch high-def movie screen that drops down from the ceiling in the living room. Judging by all the high-tech gadgets throughout the swanky pad, we're thinking this penthouse is pretty much any guy's dream home, especially that of a nineteen-year-old.
Renting the downtown bachelor pad is fortuitous for Nick who reportedly ended his relationship with Aussie Delta Goodrem recently. We think this sweet crib will temper the blow of a broken heart (well, the six televisions sure can't hurt).


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Acclaimed Mexican director Guillermo del Toro has joined the rest of the world in being fed up with the delays that have plagued his two-part "Lord of the Rings" prequel, and his exit could clear the way for Peter Jackson to retake the helm.
In a joint announcement with executive producer Jackson released on The One Ring, del Toro bowed out as graciously as possible from a project that has been troubled for some time now.
"In light of ongoing delays in the setting of a start date for filming "The Hobbit," I am faced with the hardest decision of my life", says del Toro. "After nearly two years of living, breathing and designing a world as rich as Tolkien's Middle Earth, I must, with great regret, take leave from helming these wonderful pictures. I remain grateful to Peter, Fran and Philippa Boyens, New Line and Warner Brothers and to all my crew in New Zealand. I've been privileged to work in one of the greatest countries on earth with some of the best people ever in our craft and my life will be forever changed. The blessings have been plenty, but the mounting pressures of conflicting schedules have overwhelmed the time slot originally allocated for the project. Both as a co-writer and as a director, I wish the production nothing but the very best of luck and I will be first in line to see the finished product. I remain an ally to it and its makers, present and future, and fully support a smooth transition to a new director".
U.S. & World
Jackson, for his part, was equally gracious in bidding del Toro adieu.
"We feel very sad to see Guillermo leave the Hobbit, but he has kept us fully in the loop and we understand how the protracted development time on these two films, due to reasons beyond anyone's control – has compromised his commitment to other long term projects", says Executive Producer Peter Jackson. "The bottom line is that Guillermo just didn't feel he could commit six years to living in New Zealand, exclusively making these films, when his original commitment was for three years. Guillermo is one of the most remarkable creative spirits I've ever encountered and it has been a complete joy working with him. Guillermo's strong vision is engrained into the scripts and designs of these two films, which are extremely fortunate to be blessed with his creative DNA".
The day after news of del Toro's departure, Jackson acknowledged that he would step into the director's chair, should it come to that.
"If that's what I have to do to protect Warner Bros' investment, then obviously that's one angle which I'll explore," he told Stuff.
Which is all well and good, except he's up to his ears in his "Tintin" adaptations, as The Playlist Notes.
We'll put the over/under on the first "Hobbit" hitting the big screen in 2015.


text: Removing Security from Downloaded PowerShell Scripts with Alternative Data Streams April 25, '07 Comments [7] Posted in PowerShell Sponsored By I was trying to run a PowerShell script that I downloaded from the Internet today and got this security warning:Security WarningRun only scripts that you trust. While scripts from the Internet can be useful, this script can potentially harm yourcomputer. Do you want to run foo.ps1?[D] Do not run [R] Run once [S] Suspend [?] Help (default is "D"): I've written about Signing PowerShell Scripts before, but not about totally unsigned, totally un-trusted scripts. When a script is downloaded via Internet Explorer from the Internet or an Intranet, an NTFS Alternative Data Stream is added to the file with a Zone Identifier, indicating the file's origin. You can use the free streams.exe from SysInternals to see the Alternate Data Stream for each file/script.C:\>streams foo.ps1 Streams v1.5 - Enumerate alternate NTFS data streamsCopyright (C) 1999-2003 Mark RussinovichSysinternals - www.sysinternals.com C:\foo.ps1::Zone.Identifier:$DATA 26 You can see clearly that there's a Zone.Identifier stream attached alongside this foo.ps1 script. It can be easily opened in notepad like this:notepad foo.ps1:Zone.Identifier And see the hidden ini file with a Zone Identifier. There's six possible valuespublic enum SecurityZone{ NoZone = -1, MyComputer = 0, Intranet = 1, Trusted = 2, Internet = 3, Untrusted = 4,} Notepad is kind of a coarse, but effective, way to access these streams. The PowerShell Guy has created an extension method for System.IO.FileInfo called GetStreams that lets you get at these streams from PowerShell. In Vista, you can use the new /R switch to DIR as in DIR /R. Personally, I like to just use the built-in (have you see this?) support in Explorer's General Property Pages for the file. You can just select Properties and under Security click "Unblock." Clicking Unblock completely removes the Zone.Identifier Alternative Data Stream and makes scripts (and other things) executable again. To summarize, there's lots of ways to manipulate Alternative Data Streams: Use Notepad.exe filename:streamname Use extensions to PowerShell's FileInfo object Use Streams from SysInternals. In Vista use DIR /R On any OS, use more < foo.ps1:Zone.Identifier SECURITY NOTE: Firefox doesn't appear to know about zones at all, so PowerShell scripts that are downloaded from the Internet with Firefox are not marked with this Alternative Data Stream, and are therefore immediately executable, so take care. Firefox on Windows could fix this by calling IAttachmentExecute (MSDN). « Leaving Comcast for Verizon Fios - Upgra... | Blog Home | Silverlight is Argentum in a Flash » About Scott Scott Hanselman is a former professor, former Chief Architect in finance, now speaker, consultant, father, diabetic, and Microsoft employee. He is a failed stand-up comic, a cornrower, and a book author. About Newsletter Sponsored By Hosting By Comments [7] Share on: Twitter, Facebook, Google+ or use the Permalink


text:
- Duration of movie : 0
- Societies of production : Ubisoft
- Tagline :
- Movie Genre : Action,
- Film Note : -movie_rating-
- Original title : Assassin's Creed
- Release Date of film : 2015-05-22
- Status : In Production
- Youtube Id : -youtube_id-
- Average rate : 0
- Languages spoken :
- Vote Count : 0
- Michael Fassbender Character (Altar Ibn La-Ahad)
Assassin's Creed Synopsis:
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Yes, now you can Watch Assassin's Creed Full Movie Streaming Online and get the link to Assassin's Creed Full Movie Online Streaming In HD Ici


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What role might banks play in supporting a low carbon economy in India? The Climate Group's Rajeev Palakshappa and Damandeep Singh write in the The Times of India....
Money is in tight supply these days. Despite bail-out packages running into hundreds of billions of dollars banks are still reluctant to lend. What does business as usual look like in this brave new world and are we bold enough to look at innovative solutions to chart a path to a low carbon future?
CleanTech group, a research and data firm, estimates that in the last quarter of 2008 clean technology firms in India received in the vicinity of $6.3 million from venture capitalists investing across India, China, America and Europe. With growing government focus on climate change it is logical that this number will grow - as will the opportunities for banks to act as enablers of low carbon solutions. Indian companies have been actively pursuing energy efficiency and clean energy projects particularly where they generate additional revenue streams through earning carbon credits.
Carbon markets too have not been able to escape the turmoil seen in the international finance markets. The price of a carbon credit generated under the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) now being worth somewhere in the vicinity of 8 Euros from previous highs of around 20 Euros. This fall in price is also played out against the backdrop of some uncertainty as to what a successor international agreement might look like beyond 2012, when the first commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol comes to an end. While the carbon markets will continue to be an important part of action on climate change, banks in the near term need to ensure that business cases for innovative low carbon solutions requiring financial support are not solely judged on the ability to generate revenue through a price on carbon.
Building engagement
It is clear that finance institutions have an important role to play in supporting and enabling innovative approaches and technologies that combat climate change. The Climate Group, an international not-for-profit group that aims to build leadership amongst companies to accelerate low carbon solutions, recently launched 'The Climate Principles' with a group of leading financial institutions that recognize their role and are committed to addressing the challenge.
Two of the banks that have adopted the principles, HSBC and Standard Chartered, have significant operations in India. To find out more about the role banks could play in supporting a low carbon economy in India, The Climate Group organized a meeting with leading finance institutions including HSBC India; IDBI Bank, ILFS Ecosmart, Punjab National Bank and ABN-AMRO Bank. They met in January to explore the opportunity for low carbon development and to identify the barriers that need to be overcome.
All banks present at the initial meeting had in some way been involved in the nascent market for carbon credits, either through funding projects, developing projects themselves or using carbon credits for the purposes of carbon neutrality.
The banks identified a number of barriers and challenges for effectively invigorating investment in clean energy and energy efficiency beyond its current levels. Awareness and understanding will need to happen both at the banking level for staff as well as increasing understanding amongst companies to whom the banks lend that there are viable cleaner technologies that are able to be invested in when making capital investment decisions. Participants reiterated the need for both private and public banks to be able to work together to develop products and solutions that enable investment in lower carbon technologies as well as fostering greater understanding of the opportunities across sectors. Strong guidance and regulation from the RBI is also required.
There are a large number of innovative projects and programmes in the clean energy and energy efficiency space in India and a great opportunity for the financial community to play a more central role as markets for clean technologies develop. An attempt in this direction has been made by the India Banks Association who convened a working group to look at India specific issues relating to carbon credits. For a cohesive approach to develop and be successful there is a need for ongoing engagement at the highest levels from banks to understand and capitalize on the opportunities of moving towards a lower carbon economy.
The Climate Group's policy initiative 'Breaking the Climate Deadlock' provides a platform for Indian financial institutions to factor in concerns during the discussions on a new international policy framework in the upcoming Conference of Parties in Copenhagen in December this year.
We are in a tumultuous time and leadership is required to invigorate and deliver on growth opportunities across various sectors. Finance institutions play a unique stewardship role in our economy and will need to be fully engaged to make a low carbon economy a reality. It is not only a sound business proposition to do so, but the need of the hour.


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WikiClone wiki
timebook / Home
Timebook is a small utility which aims to be a low-overhead way of tracking what you spend time on. It can be used to prepare annotated time logs of work for presentation to a client, or simply track how you spend your free time. Timebook is implemented as a python script which maintains its state in a sqlite3 database.
Timebook maintains a list of timesheets -- distinct lists of timed periods. Each period has a start and end time, with the exception of the most recent period, which may have no end time set. This indicates that this period is still running. Timesheets containing such periods are considered active. It is possible to have multiple timesheets active simultaneously, though a single time sheet may only have one period running at once.
Interactions with timebook are performed through the t command on the command line. t is followed by one of timebook's subcommands. Often used subcommands include in, out, switch, now, list and display. Commands may be abbreviated as long as they are unambiguous: thus t switch foo and t s foo are identical. With the default command set, no two commands share the first same letter, thus it is only necessary to type the first letter of a command. Likewise, commands which display timesheets accept abbreviated timesheet names. t display f is thus equivalent to t display foo if foo is the only timesheet which begins with "f". Note that this does not apply to t switch, since this command also creates timesheets. (Using the earlier example, if t switch f is entered, it would thus be ambiguous whether a new timesheet f or switching to the existing timesheet foo was desired).
The basic usage is as follows:
$ t switch writing $ t in document timebook $ t out
The first command, t switch writing, switches to the timesheet "writing" (or creates it if it does not exist). t in document timebook creates a new period in the current timesheet, and annotates it with the description "document timebook". Note that this command would be in error if the writing timesheet was already active. Finally, t out records the current time as the end time for the most recent period in the writing timesheet.
To display the current timesheet, invoke the t display command:
$ t display Timesheet writing: Day Start End Duration Notes Mar 14, 2009 19:53:30 - 20:06:15 0:12:45 document timebook 20:07:02 - 0:00:01 write home about timebook 0:12:46 Total 0:12:46
Each period in the timesheet is listed on a row. If the timesheet is active, the final period in the timesheet will have no end time. After each day, the total time tracked in the timesheet for that day is listed. Note that this is computed by summing the durations of the periods beginning in the day. In the last row, the total time tracked in the timesheet is shown.
- alter
Inserts a note associated with the currently active period in the timesheet.
usage: t alter NOTES...
aliases: write
- backend
Run an interactive database session on the timebook database. Requires the sqlite3 command.
usage: t backend
aliases: shell
- display
Display a given timesheet. If no timesheet is specified, show the current timesheet.
usage: t display [TIMESHEET]
aliases: show
- format
Export the current sheet as a comma-separated value format spreadsheet. If the final entry is active, it is ignored.
If a specific timesheet is given, display the same information for that timesheet instead.
usage: t format [--start DATE] [--end DATE] [TIMESHEET]
aliases: csv, export
- in
Start the timer for the current timesheet. Must be called before out. Notes may be specified for this period. This is exactly equivalent to t in; t alter NOTES
usage: t in [--switch TIMESHEET] [NOTES...]
aliases: start
- kill
Delete a timesheet. If no timesheet is specified, delete the current timesheet and switch to the default timesheet.
usage: t kill [TIMESHEET]
aliases: delete
- list
List the available timesheets.
usage: t list
aliases: ls
- now
Print the current sheet, whether it's active, and if so, how long it has been active and what notes are associated with the current period.
If a specific timesheet is given, display the same information for that timesheet instead.
usage: t now [--simple] [TIMESHEET]
aliases: info
- out
Stop the timer for the current timesheet. Must be called after in.
usage: t out [--verbose] [TIMESHEET]
aliases: stop
- running
Print all active sheets and any messages associated with them.
usage: t running
aliases: active
- switch
Switch to a new timesheet. this causes all future operation (except switch) to operate on that timesheet. The default timesheet is called "default".
usage: t switch TIMESHEET


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This well-written article in The Atlantic remarks on a familiar tactic. It's about the Femen, the topless jihad, and Amina, and the complaints an annoying number of stodgy critics have made. You know the ones: the people who demand that all arguments be respectful, and insist that there are proper channels for debate, and protests that actually rile the establishment are inappropriate.
With its topless jihad and Femen leader Inna Shevchenko's subsequent incendiary blog post on the event, Femen was both defending one of its own and upholding a right to freedom of expression (to say nothing of life and liberty) flagrantly violated by Amina's own family and by an angry, largely Muslim, community from which threats against Amina and Shevchenko continue to emanate. It's worth pointing out that Femen's critics, several of whom professed concern for Amina's well-being, did not speak out in Amina's defense before the jihad, but only post-factum and in passing, all the while pummeling the group standing up for her with stale, politically correct shibboleths and demands to stay out of what they perceived to be their own business.
We saw this in all the battles over accommodationism: there's always someone on your side who offended that you have chosen to battle antagonistically or unconventionally against oppression and foolishness. I think their favorite word must be "hush" — don't upset the status quo, even if it's the status quo you're trying to upset. And most importantly, they insist that you have to follow their tactics, and they get to tell everyone how to engage, even if their history is one of largely sitting on their thumbs and getting chummy with the enemy.
Guess what is often at the root of that reluctance to actually confront? Yeah, it's the same old boogeyman everytime, conservative traditionalism in the guise of religion.
There is a problem, however. The media has long fostered the view that religion should be de facto exempt from the logical scrutiny applied to other subjects. I am not disputing the right to practice the religion of one's choice, but rather the prevailing cultural rectitude that puts faith beyond the pale of commonsense review, and (in Amina's case), characterizes as "Islamophobic" criticism of the criminal mistreatment of a young woman for daring to buck her society's norms, or of Femen for attacking the forced wearing of the hijab.
We're seeing a lot of that lately, but it's been going on for a long, long time. Point out that transubstantiation is ridiculous, and that Catholics don't get to tell you to honor a cracker, and Bill Donohue raves that you're an anti-Catholic bigot; stand aghast at ultra-orthodox Jews spitting on little girls for "immodesty" and you're an anti-semite; critize the deeply rooted misogyny in Islam, a misogyny that harms men and women in the faith, and you're declared an Islamophobe.
Just because it's cloaked in the self-declared mystery of religion doesn't mean it's exampt from scrutiny and rejection.


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Hi! I've been looking around for a waist harness and can't decide which one to buy. The choices are between the following as of now:
Dakine Siren
Dakine Wahine
Maui Magic Hana Harness
Pro Limit Pure Girl
I know I want a waist harness made specifically for a woman and was hoping for some pros and cons on the ones I've mentioned above. If you have one of these and don't mind taking the time to share your thoughts about it, I would be sincerely appreciative.
In addition if you have a different brand/style women's waist harness I would love to hear about it.
Thank you,


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Michael Gregory
- BS Metallurgical Engineering 1969
Michael J. Gregory, a native of Petoskey, Michigan, earned a degree in Metallurgical Engineering from Michigan Tech in 1969. While at Tech, he was active in Student Government, Business Manager for The Lode, and a member of Delta Sigma Phi Fraternity. Upon graduation, he joined American Cyanamid Company and spent five years as a sales engineer in the mineral processing industry. During an 18 month leave of absence, he served in the office of the Commander in Chief for the U.S. Army USAREUR in Heidelberg, Germany.
Mr. Gregory received an MBA at Ohio State University in 1979 and completed the Management Development Program at the University of Chicago in 1987. He joined The North American Coal Corporation in 1974 and has over forty years experience in engineering and management positions in the chemical, energy and mining industry.
During his tenure with North American Coal, he has held various management positions throughout the company. In July of 2006 he took over responsibility of NA Coal's Southern Operations as Vice President and in May of 2008 was promoted to Vice President of Engineering, Human Resources and International Operations.
In addition to his active professional career, Mr. Gregory is a current member of AIME, Rocky Mountain Coal Mining Institute and a registered Professional Engineer in Texas. He also serves on the Board of Regents at Athol Murray College of Notre Dame in Saskatchewan, Canada. Mr. Gregory is a licensed soccer coach in Texas and has refereed soccer since 1984. Mike and his wife Karen currently resides in Dallas, Texas.
From 2010 Induction to the Department of Chemical Engineering Academy


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internship Placement application
MURUHUKYE JACOB made this Access to Information request to Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB)
Response to this request is long overdue. By law, under all circumstances, Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) should have responded by now (details). You can complain by requesting an internal review.
From: MURUHUKYE JACOB
Dear Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB),
I am MURUHUKYE JACOB pursing a bachelors degree in statistics at kyambogo university. with great respect, I kindly request you to grant me a place for internship training recess in your organization for a period between 21st may 2018 and 29th July 2018.
I am hardworking, self motivated, willing to learn and ready to work. I can work under many working conditions and I am ready to relocate to any department of your choice so long as I am given the chance to work with you.
I will be grateful if my request is put under your consideration.
thank you.
Yours faithfully,
Things to do with this request
- Add an annotation (to help the requester or others)
- Download a zip file of all correspondence


text:
Back to Blog
[caption id="attachment_5969" align="alignnone" width="747"] Credit: Getty Images[/caption]
It turns out that happiness and retirement do go together.
Well, based on the research and books I've read and interviews I've done since becoming editor of the Money & Security and Work & Purpose channels at Next Avenue in 2011, they can go together if you play your cards right.
And it's not just about having saved enough money or having a great pension, though both of those help. I've come to the conclusion that there are nine keys to a happy retirement, one of them pertaining specifically to couples. I'll lay them out shortly and suggest a few books that can help you retire happy.
Of course, the definition of retirement isn't what it was even 10 years ago. For many people, retirement in 2016 is not about quitting your full-time job full-stop at 65 and then living a life of leisure.
For one thing, 65 was the retirement date set in 1935 when FDR signed Social Security into law. It made more sense when people didn't live as long as they do today and at a time when most employers provided guaranteed pensions once their employees retired. A March 2016 Ameriprise study said 71 percent of current retirees rely on guaranteed pensions from their former employers while 75 percent of pre-retirees plan to rely on anything-but-guaranteed 401(k)s when they retire.
Catherine Collinson, president of the Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies, recently told me that many workers now envision retirement as a transition, something that happens over time. The current catchphrase is "flexible retirement," which means either going from full-time to part-time work or working in a different capacity or working as long as you're able.
That said, here are the nine ways to increase your chances of being happy in retirement:
Stan Hinden, the author of How to Retire Happy, recommends starting to think seriously about retirement when you're around 50 or 55.
One key decision is where you will retire and how much traveling you'll want to do.
One thing you'll want to figure out is how much time the two of you will want to spend together, since this may be the first time you're both available all the time.
Hinden told Next Avenue that he and his wife came up with a system that worked for them: Early in the week, they each would spend time alone or with their own friends. Then, toward the end of the week, they'd do things together, like go to museums, theaters or restaurants.
Devising a retirement income plan before you retire will relieve stress once you are retired. But only 52 percent of pre-retirees have done so, according to Ameriprise.
By the way, don't be surprised if your retirement income or expenses don't turn out the way you expected. When Ameriprise surveyed retirees, it found three types of expenses were higher than the retirees expected: health care, food and taxes.
I realize many people aren't lucky enough to be able to decide when they'll retire because they lose their job or their health forces them to stop working. But if you can pick your date, you should.
He also says they "eat well, sleep soundly, play often, exercise at least three times a week and maintain strong social connections." In fact, a survey by Age Wave and Merrill Lynch of 3,300 pre-retirees and retirees said "good health" as the No. 1 key to happiness in retirement.
The trouble is, not enough employers are helping their older workers work out a flexible transition to keep a job there part-time in retirement. A recent Transamerica study found that although 61 percent of American workers envision a flexible transition to retirement, only 25 percent said their employers offer the opportunity to shift from full-time to part-time work as they phase into retirement.
So, it'll probably be up to you to figure out how to work part-time in retirement. Maybe you can take the initiative to come up with a plan through your current employer. If not, try securing a part-time job somewhere else, perhaps by setting up shop as a consultant or a project-based contractor.
Check out local colleges for adult education and continuing education classes, too. These courses could teach you new skills or just provide knowledge for the pure joy of it.
The authors didn't recommend blocking out every minute of every day, but instead advised setting goals and priorities for your free time and then evaluating whether they were appropriate and achievable. Then, they said, organize your activities on a daily or weekly basis — just not hourly. Having some kind of schedule prevents you from getting bored, depressed or lonely.
Incidentally, just retiring itself is likely to make you happier. A study by Utah State and George Mason University professors found that retirement immediately tends to improve both happiness and health, and that the effects of this life satisfaction are long-lasting.
And here's one last piece of good news: Most retirees say they are happy because of all the things retirement has given them the opportunity to do. In fact, a MassMutual Financial Group survey found that retirement just might pay you a happiness "bonus." In its poll, 82 percent of retirees said retirement gave them an opportunity to enjoy themselves and about two-thirds said they now had a chance to have new experiences and feel fulfilled.
Finally, my reading list — here are some books that could boost your chances of a satisfying retirement:
Happy Retirement: The Psychology of Reinvention by Professor Kenneth S. Shultz
How to Retire With Enough Money by Teresa Ghilarducci
The 5 Years Before You Retire by Emily Guy Birken
The Retirement Maze by Rob Pascale
The Couples' Retirement Puzzle by Roberta K. Taylor and Dorian Mintzer
The Encore Career Handbook by Marci Alboher
Second-Act Careers by Nancy Collamer
Getting the Job You Want After 50 for Dummies by Kerry Hannon
© Twin Cities Public Television - 2017. All rights reserved.


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Our Favorite Beach Reads
This year's favorite take-'em-to-the-shore picks.
Other Press, by Alix Kates Shulman
A real estate mogul and his wife take in an exiled writer who trades his foreign charm to take advantage of the wealthy couple, who are doing their best to take advantage of him in return. The triangle that ensues makes for a ménage that's deliciously funny—right up to its tit-for-tat conclusion.
Every Day, Every Hour
Viking, by Natasa Dragnic
In this debut novel, a childhood love in Croatia is split apart by a family move but rediscovered in Paris, when Dora and Luke run into each other, grown up as an actress and a painter. It's the perfect escape with a lyrical voice.
Long Time, No See
Viking, by Dermot Healy
From an author well-known and loved in Ireland, this story of misfits is narrated by Mister Psyche, who lives in a town by the sea in Northern Ireland with his aging uncle and his neighbor-ordinary people with amazingly rich lives.
Little, Brown, by Elin Hilderbrand
This Nantucket-based best-selling author paints the tragedy of four Nantucket high schoolers in a car crash—and the healing that happens halfway around the world.
Wife 22
Ballantine Books, by Melanie Gideon
Main character Alice is in her 40s, with kids, a San Francisco job, a husband—and an email relationship that started with an invitation to participate in a marriage survey. Already in development as a movie, it's pure fun on the sand.
Beach House Memories
Gallery Books, by Mary Alice Monroe
In this sequel to The New York Times best-selling novel The Beach House, a married woman looks for a live with meaning in Charleston in 1974. Spending the summer on a nearby barrier island, she tends to nesting sea turtles at risk from a new resort development and falls in love with a visiting, married biologist.
In One Person
Simon & Schuster, by John Irving
The master storyteller and author of The World According to Garp and The Cider House Rules returns with a page-turning tragi-comic tale of friends and lovers and the quest for identity.
The Age of Miracles
Random House, by Karen Thompson Walker
The rotation of the Earth has suddenly begun to slow, and gravity—and the world itself—changes. With movie rights already secured, this is an apocalyptic story told by a middle-school age girl—and it keeps you in suspense.
Lizz Free or Die
Riverhead, by Lizz Winstead
Get ready to laugh out loud (and cry a little, too) under your umbrella. The political satiriest, stand-up comedian, and former head writer and a co-creator of "The Daily Show" candidly covers the messy, transformative moments that helped her figure out what she wanted in life..


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A lot of kids would rather go hungry than eat something they don't like. Or something they think they don't like.
Nowhere has that been more apparent than the lunchrooms of Lake County schools, which put a new rule into place last fall that required kids to take at least one serving of fruit or vegetables.
As a result, Lake County officials estimate they will dump about $75,000 worth of untouched cups of broccoli and apples in the garbage this year.
Just another example of wasting public dollars because government wants to act like Big Mother, right? Not only is government trying to control us, but it's now nagging first-graders to eat their carrots.
Not so fast. Before you condemn this as the latest example of misguided government intrusion, ask yourself if you would say the same about government mandated health warnings on alcohol and tobacco.
Are those out of line, too?
It's true that the food police have cracked down in recent years. You can hardly dip a tortilla chip in queso without hearing about the perils of sodium and fat.
Heck, a group of bacon lovers in Iowa who simply wanted to celebrate their love of the salty, fatty strips couldn't even hold the annual Blue Ribbon Bacon Festival without a group of nosy doctors wagging their stethoscopes. The doctors bought billboards warning of bacon's hazards, reported The Wall Street Journal.
Bacon-hating doctors. City councils trying to regulate Happy Meals. Schools that request we nix the cupcakes for fruit kebabs on our child's birthday. When it comes to what we eat, that kind of know-it-all attitude makes a lot of us bristle.
We like our independence as much as we like our food in this country and most of us think we know when to say when on the sugar, salt and fat.
But the truth is that most of us don't. That's why we're battling epidemics of heart disease, diabetes and obesity. And our children are often the victims.
And that's why there's no better place to begin that fight than in the schools with the youngest students who are still impressionable enough to form good habits.
It's not a surprise Lake County schools need time to adjust to the new rule — a federal change all schools must comply with at the beginning of next school year.
I am highly experienced in the forms of passive resistance and outright revolt kids are capable of when it comes to eating. I deal with it nightly at my own dinner table. But as parents and school officials, we learn to stick to our guns and, eventually, the baked chicken and green beans disappear from the plates.
You also learn to make adjustments and compromise a little. That's why in my house green beans get dipped in ketchup and eating chicken is sometimes rewarded with a chocolate dessert. (Hey, I'm a parent, not a miracle worker.)
Gary Dodds, Lake County's food-service supervisor, told me the students adjusted after a few months. Sure, there is still some waste, but it's decreased. The schools have done a better job of finding fruits and vegetables kids like and ... gasp ... the kids are actually starting to eat the stuff.
You might say that we still don't need government to meddle in our diets because habits should start at home. And I agree.
That's why state Sen. Ronda Storms is on to something with her attempt to ban the purchase of junk food with food stamps. If people want to use their own money to buy Little Debbie snack cakes and soda, go right ahead.
Call me Debbie Downer, but I don't want to foot the bill for what causes many of the illnesses we pay for again when Medicaid patients show up in the hospital with complications from diabetes.
People can complain when it comes to being told how their own money should be spent on food. But when it comes to taxpayer money, rules to encourage better health are the sensible thing to do.
firstname.lastname@example.com or 407-420-5448
A lot of kids would rather go hungry than eat something they don't like. Or something they think they don't like.


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SolidWorks World 2013 will be held January 20-23, 2013 at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin in Orlando, Florida.
DraftSight™ is a free* 2D CAD product that lets professional CAD users, students and educators create, edit and view DWG files. DraftSight runs on Windows®, Mac®, and Linux®.
DraftSight Team would like to invite you to participate in a DraftSight Workshop at SolidWorks World 2013. The Workshop is designed to help you and your company get the most out of DraftSight and will include an in-depth hands-on session and more. Receive a DraftSight Certificate of Completion by attending all sessions and passing an on-line multiple choice exam!
Why should DraftSight Users Attend SolidWorks World 2013?
At SolidWorks World you can:
- Learn how to get more from DraftSight – Participate in the NEW DraftSight Workshop that will include an in-depth, hands-on session and more – designed to help you and your company get the most out of DraftSight. Learn more about the workshop and register to participate now.
- Receive a DraftSight Certificate of Completion by passing an on-line multiple choice exam after the workshop. If you participate in all the DraftSight sessions, you'll increase your chance to pass the exam.
- Meet with a DraftSight representative and tell us how your company uses DraftSight. We're eager to hear about your experience with DraftSight and would like to share it on our website, blog and newsletter, which is a great way for you to promote your business. Schedule 15 minutes with a DraftSight representative now.
- Boost design productivity and gain a competitive edge. Select from the more than 200 SolidWorks technical sessions that are available for you to participate in – led by industry experts and SolidWorks users.
- Discover the latest innovative technologies and services designed to improve development processes, increase manufacturing throughput, solve data management issues, and streamline production. Attend the Partner Pavilion that features more than 100 software, hardware and service solution providers.
- Now in its 15th year, SolidWorks World will have more than 4,000 participants and provide an opportunity for intensive training and networking and now offers a NEW DraftSight Workshop
*Standalone license. Activation required.
Join thousands of users from around the world to:
- Learn: Choose from over 200 technical breakout sessions led by SolidWorks users and industry experts.
- Network: Meet other SolidWorks users, Solution Partners, resellers, and SolidWorks employees.
- Explore: Discover products and services from SolidWorks Partners that can help you tackle just about any design, engineering, and manufacturing challenge.
If you are first timer to SWW check this as "Why you should attend". The new SWW 2013 website will give you all the required details like Agenda, Location details (for checking near by hotels and the surrounding areas), registration, etc.
Need help convincing the boss to let you go?: Boss' Justification Letter
Another reason to be there: Get SolidWorks Certified at no charge!
When you register to attend SolidWorks World 2013 you get the opportunity to take a Certified SolidWorks Professional exam alongside other SolidWorks users—at no charge!
Get three registrations when you pay for two. On top of it if you are a CSWP/CSWE then add another $100 as discount to your conference pass. That's a nice chunk of discounts. Get all fees details here
Visit www.solidworks.com/sww for the latest information about this exciting event.
I enjoyed and had a great time at SolidWorks World 2012 and I hope to meet you at the SolidWorks World 2013 in Orlando, Florida.
PS–be sure to follow SolidWorks World on Twitter for regular news and updates.
Please note: All individuals will be required to show proof of identification prior to collecting their badge and registration materials. Attendees must be 21 years or older to attend SolidWorks World 2013. Also residents of some countries may require a visa to enter the United States.


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Hawaii: Pug Breeders
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I am a small, in home pug breeder. I am most enthusiastic to breed pugs of color. I have several colors, along with the traditional fawn and black.


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Jack Osbourne has gone under the knife – to remove his appendix.
The 25-year-old recently engaged new father announced the news on Twitter on Sunday.
VIEW THE PHOTOS: The 'Fierce' Miss Kelly Osbourne
U.S. & World
News from around the country and around the globe
"This is what you look like when you have has your appendix removed," he wrote, posting a photo of himself in a hospital bed with fiancee Lisa Stelly by his side.
On Monday, the star was still in the hospital recuperating and looking forward to his release.
VIEW THE PHOTOS: Hollywood's Biggest Broods
"Man, high powered pain killers + radiohead = dangerous territory for me," he wrote.
Adding," I gotta get outta this hospital. This is getting to[o] good."
Copyright 2012 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
VIEW THE PHOTOS: Celebrity Offspring
Related Content from AccessHollywood.com:
VIEW THE PHOTOS: Wild & Wicked: Hot Shots Of The Fiery Sharon Osbourne
PLAY IT NOW: Access Hollywood Live: Kelly Osbourne On Her Brother Jack's Engagement - 'He's All Grown Up'
PLAY IT NOW: 'Bully' Director Lee Hirsch: Why Should Every Kid See This Movie?
More from Access: [ Radiohead Jack Osbourne News ]


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Following some good snooping by a Team Fortress 2 fan, word of new, Pyro-based achievements for Team Fortress 2 slipped early and have since been confirmed by Valve. In addition to achievements, Valve has revealed that some "significant changes" to the Pyro class will be included in the upcoming update.
After paying close attention to the reception of the Medic release, Valve has worked hard to make some changes to the Pyro class for players across the board. Unlockable items will also help to mix things up: one such item, which can be unlocked by gaining the new Pyro achievements, is the "Axtinguisher." The new melee weapon guarantees a critical hit on any opponent who is on fire.
While there's no exact date on the update launch, Valve notes that the development team has "almost completely wrapped" it up. Now the only question left is which class is next for the update treatment.


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Resisting Reasonable Atrocity
"We were at war. We believed that if the Blacks were organized they would rise up. They were trying to get weapons, and they would have used them on us. I had to do what I did to keep the country from descending into chaos. If we didn't get them, they'd be shooting at us a few years later. So we found suspects and took care of them. I did what I had to do to keep our country together and protect us."
This is madness. He is talking about assassinating kids, a systematic program to find and kill kids: fourteen, fifteen year olds who had committed no crime.
But did you hear the reasons? Did you hear that the killings weren't an act of madness or passion or blind hatred. He had reasons to do what he did, hard-headed, straightforward, pragmatic reasons.
When I first realized it, a crawling horror seized me, because though the assassinations sicken me, the thought that they could be reasonable terrified me. I can imagine those same words coming from politicians and pundits and editorials here, today. And more: coming from my co-workers, my friends. From my own mouth.
That is the horror of what this commander had to say: that reasonable, well-meaning people could support reasonable, pragmatic assassination, or genocide, or ethnic cleansing. These acts are not the product of demagoguery, political trickery, or force—they are the product of bright, reasonable people making bright, reasonable arguments about how to best protect themselves.
This, more than anything else, convinces me of the need for a critical education that teaches how to recognize and resist the pernicious "commonsense" truths that lead us into calamity.
To resist, we need both to develop critical awareness and to trust our own voice. We need to develop the tools to recognize "commonsense" evil, and we need to find a voice to speak out against it.
But despite these imperatives, many forces stifle critical awareness. I saw it particularly in my work as a High School history teacher this year:
In the last period of the school day on a Tuesday afternoon in November, I was grading quizzes when a parent of one of my students dropped in unexpectedly.
"Your son's a bright kid," I said, "and you can see it when he participates in the conversations. He's sharp, has good questions, good comments. But he's not doing his work and you can see it in the grades."
"Yeah, well," said his father, a heavyset man in his 40s, "he thinks he's smart. Like when he watches the news with me, he's always asking me these questions, and I just want to say: 'shut up! They'll tell you in a minute.' But he thinks he's smarter then them."
The father's retort to his son was the direct opposite of what I try to teach in class. I tell my students: "ask questions, investigate, challenge sources, talk with your peers if you don't agree with something." But the message he got at home was "sit down and shut up." That view assumes power and knowledge are the exclusive domain of authorities—politicians and pundits have it, but not us. It presupposes that the world is fixed and unchanging, out of our hands, and that things are fine the way they are now.
But we in our churches and communities must ask each other exactly the opposite questions. We must ask: In what ways is our world not as it ought to be? Do you think a situation is just? Why do you believe what you believe? Why don't you think something sounds right? What do we need to know to understand each other more fully?
It is these habits of mind we seek to teach in our Sunday School and Adult Education classes, providing a supportive space for the development of the critical reason needed to unmask the "logical" arguments for oppression.
But a trained mind alone will not make a difference. It also takes the courage to speak. Speaking out is hard to do—I don't even mean speeches before thousands, I mean it can be downright difficult in a group of three people to speak out and stand firm. It's a skill that takes practice, and takes trust in one's own power and agency—the belief that you do have something to offer and you can make a difference.
This faith in one's voice is slowly built in a thousand tiny ways and continually eroded in a thousand ways. I'm thinking of a student I had in one of my ninth grade world history classes. The kids were all doing a mapping exercise—getting around the Roman Empire. ("If you walked from Rome to Carthage, how long would it take? What if you sailed?") The room had a low buzz as they flipped through atlases and talked quietly with each other.
Two students were having some trouble with it, and a third student, a young woman, was moving back and forth between the other two, showing them where to find maps in the textbook, helping them find Carthage, Alexandria, Rome.
I watched them work together, and there was a moment of pause, where I almost came over to her just to say: "this is great! you're doing a great job of helping these other folks, I'm impressed." But I hesitated an instant too long, and she turned to me, and said, frustrated: "will you please be the teacher?"
That shook me: was I being a teacher?
But on reflection I realized that the student was socializing me to be a teacher just as much as I was socializing her to be a student. She was an active participant in setting up a classroom where I, as teacher, had the power and knowledge, and she, as a student, was an empty vessel waiting for me to drop the information in. Her idea of what teaching is kept her in a subservient, passive role, it kept her from developing her own agency and trusting her own power.
But in this situation I, too, did not speak—did not in that moment applaud her leadership and teaching skills. And I wonder: what was it that made me hesitate? Her plea that I "be the teacher" made me doubt myself for a moment, and I second-guessed what I was doing.
Intellectual understanding and critical thinking will make no concrete difference to the world without the moral courage and skills to speak out and stand up. We develop them over time, and the courage comes in part from practice. Our church community is such a community of practice. It is an environment where we can speak our minds and be taken seriously. In dialogue we can learn that we do indeed have something of great value to add to the conversation, and in our democratic process we can practice leadership.
But this is hard work, we shouldn't forget, and the strength to pursue it across all the years of our lives must spring from firm spiritual and ethical commitments.
I only remember one lecture from the "Introduction to Ethics" course I took in college. It was one of the very first classes of the semester, and the professor began with an overview of the day's argument.
"There are certain facts," she said, "that place an obligation on us as moral people—we can't just walk by, these facts demand action."
The classic example, of course, is the man on roller skates about to be hit by a train. (Oncoming trains seem to figure prominently in introductory ethics courses.) The fact that he's about to be pulverized by the oncoming locomotive places a demand on you: give the guy a shove so he rolls out of the way.
The fact of the world carries with it certain obligations for us as Unitarian Universalists. The religious worldview of Unitarian Universalism says that facts are not valueless. The common vocabulary of principles and purposes make this philosophical orientation clear. The interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part is not a mere fact—it places an ethical requirement on us. It makes concrete demands: recycle, carpool, vote for sustainable energy policies.
Nor is the inherent worth and dignity of every person an abstract fact: it too makes concrete demands on us as individuals: that we live our lives in a certain way, that our world be structured not to trample on that worth and dignity. Our religious conviction must flow through our politics, our social interactions, and our economic decisions
Our spiritual life is the ever-deepening root that bears fruit in our ever-expanding work for justice. The two depend on each other: spirituality without work for justice is hypocrisy; and without a spiritual root, our work for justice may burn brightly but all too briefly.
We've traveled far from that sunshine-filled dining room in South Africa, and the calm, rational argument for assassination. But the crawling horror of reasonable atrocities is never left far behind. Perhaps you've heard debate recently on the merits of torture (the merits of torture?). Perhaps you've heard those good, reasonable, common-sense arguments. We must keep ever vigilant against good people, with good, rational reasons trying to convince us of terrible things.
It takes work, and that means:
Develop your critical thinking skills: over dinner and after the Sunday service, in class and in conversation. Don't tune out if you disagree, understand why you disagree, and why the other people believe what they say. Cultivate a trust in your own voice: talk with others, debate, dialogue, listen and then listen again.
Our task is neither intellectual exercise, nor mere activism. It requires that we root ourselves firmly in our deepest moral and spiritual convictions.
Therefore, above all, attend diligently to your relationship with the Divine—the root which will give you strength for the journey and courage to speak. Pray, meditate, and sing. Walk in the sun, and rest.