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OWN Achieves Its Fourth Consecutive Quarter and 11th Consecutive Month of Year-over-year Ratings Growth
"Iyanla: Fix My Life," "Welcome to Sweetie Pie's" and "Six Little McGhees" Are Saturday Night's Top Three Original Series For the Year Among All Broadcast and Cable for African-American Women 25-54
Los Angeles - For the year of 2012, OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network has scored double-digit ratings growth in both primetime and total day across key demos versus 2011 (primetime up +32% W25-54 and +30% total viewers; total day up +36% W25-54 and +44% total viewers).
The network has achieved its fourth consecutive quarter and 11th consecutive month of year-over-year growth in primetime and total day across key demos, posting double-digit gains.
For the year, OWN's Saturday night original series "Iyanla: Fix My Life," "Welcome to Sweetie Pie's" and "Six Little McGhees" were the top three original series among all broadcast and ad-supported cable networks in African-American viewers in the Women 25-54 demo. Additionally, OWN was the year's #15 ad-supported cable network in primetime for African-American Women 25-54.
"Oprah's Next Chapter" (Sundays at 9 p.m.) ranked #1 for the night in W25-54 multiple times throughout the year with numerous episodes scoring over one million viewers:
· Houston Family Interview (March 11) -- 3,498,000 million viewers
· Rihanna (Aug. 19) -- 2,454,000 million viewers
· Pastor Joel Osteen (Jan. 8) -- 1,557,000 million viewers
· Usher (Sept. 16) -- 1,520,000 million viewers
· The Kardashians Part 2 (June 24) --1,209,000 million viewers
· The Kardashians Part 1 (June 17) -- 1,111,000 million viewers
· Steven Tyler (premiere Jan. 1) -- 1,082,000 million viewers
Oprah's inspirational Emmy Award-winning series "Super Soul Sunday" (Sunday at 11 a.m.) featuring conversations with spiritual thought leaders has seen ratings highs, posting triple-digit gains versus year ago numbers (+211% W25-54, +244% P2+). The last five airings of 2012 have been among the highest rated episodes to-date.
In its second season, the critically acclaimed documentary series "Our America with Lisa Ling" (Tuesdays at 10 p.m.) posted triple-digit gains across the key demos versus year ago numbers (+127% W25-54 and +117% total viewers). The third season premieres January 22.
· Prime growth versus year ago: +32% W25-54, +30% total viewers
· Total Day growth versus year ago: +36% W25-54, +44% total viewers
· Prime growth versus year ago: +53% W25-54, +60% total viewers
· Total Day growth versus year ago: +36% W25-54, +58% total viewers
OWN December 2012
· Prime growth versus year ago: +44% W25-54, +54% total viewers
· Total Day growth versus year ago: +25% W25-54, +42% total viewers
Source: The Nielsen Company
OWN ratings are coverage ratings.
About OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network
A joint venture between Harpo, Inc. and Discovery Communications, OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network is a multi-platform media company designed to entertain, inform and inspire people to live their best lives. OWN debuted on January 1, 2011 on what was the Discovery Health Channel and is in approximately 80 million homes. The venture also includes the award-winning digital platform, Oprah.com.
Follow on Twitter @OWNTV


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Divorce Lawyer in Forsyth County GA
If you are looking for a Divorce lawyer or attorney in Forsyth County, GA then contact Patterson Moore Butler today. Whether your case is uncontested or may involve complex legal issues, the team at Patterson Moore Butler has handled hundreds of divorce cases and helped clients achieve their desired results. They are dedicated to protecting their clients' interests, assets, and future by working closely with top accountants, business evaluators, actuaries, and appraisers to quickly and effectively work through the complexities of divorce and property division.
The dissolution of a marriage is a difficult time and divorce cases can range from an uncontested to process to high conflict situations. Some divorces are extremely complex, involve high-conflict, high assets or center on financial and business interests. Dealing with complex assets such as corporations, partnerships, retirement accounts, real estate, investment accounts, stocks, and stock options requires a highly skilled and knowledgeable legal team. If you are currently involved in or anticipating this type of divorce, you will need the best attorneys representing you.

subset: commoncrawl


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Published On : Jan 11, 2012
Image Copyright : Volkswagen
Volkswagen E-Bugster Concept 2012
An auto show is an event of unveiling new concept cars by car manufacturers to showcase and test the designs for future car models. Volkswagen unveiled the E-Bugster concept at the Detroit Auto Show and this concept seems to hint at the future design of the Volkswagen Beetle. However, the Volkswagen E-Bugster concept is a two-seat speedster powered by a lithium-ion battery with a driving range of 180km with zero emissions.


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School of Management web request form
When requesting updates
Keep it simple - If it's too big a task to write down in the form then arrange a meeting with us
Be specific about what you want us to do. We manage a lot of websites and content. Always include a URL so we know which page(s) you are referring to
Don't forward long threaded emails - we don't have time to read through/intepret them, so often the real task will be missed.
If it's really urgent phone us on ext 4776 (Beth) or 3674 (Joey) or 3396 (Rayner).
Urgency of requests
A rough guide to which priority to select:
- High - business critical and cannot wait e.g. there's some information that's wrong that could get us in legal trouble, there's an event happening tomorrow.
- Medium - should be done in the next two or five days e.g. an event that's due to run the following week, a news article, an error that it is important to correct, a new unit offered on a course
- Low - updates to information that need to be made but won't cause issues if it takes more than a week e.g. a broken link on a page that's not visited often, routine or cosmetic changes that don't really affect the operation of the site or our users' ability to complete tasks (replacing a photo, uploading minutes from a committee meeting)
Browser compatability
If you want to give feedback on the form/system email firstname.lastname@example.com or leave comments below.
Faculty profile requests
We do NOT manage Faculty profile pages
Read more about how to set up a faculty profile or request an update
Faculty profiles are managed through Pure. For help and advice contact the Research Office.


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One of Woodstock's best features for Groundhog Day movie enthusiasts is the Walking Tour that the Groundhog Days Committee has developed. You can download a pdf copy by clicking here, or look below for a list of the featured locations. Many sites have been recognized with an engraved metal plaque that refers to the appropriate scene form the movie. You can enjoy walking the paths and remembering the moments any time of the year.
If you're lucky enough to be in Woodstock during Groundhog Days weekend, you can take advantage of the Guided Walking tour. Hear the stories, told by people who were a part of the movie-making process.
Read this blog entry from the Kutils, visitors to Woodstock on 2/2/15 – for a personal view of the walking tour.


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Stay warm and support your team in style with this classic reversible jacket. Assembled in the USA with durable wool construction and rib knit collar, cuffs and hem, this jacket features a full snap front and two front welt pockets. When you need to change up your look, simply reverse this jacket and show off the sleek look of its nylon lining.
This product will be shipped directly from JH Designs and will leave their warehouse in 7-10 business days. Eligible for UPS ground shipping only.
- Wool construction
- Nylon lining
- Embroidered applique left chest patch
- Full snap front
- 2 welt pockets (when worn either side)
- Stretch ribbed knit collar, cuffs, and hem
- Reversible design
- Assembled in the USA
|Country of Origin
|Style Number
|Product SKU


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ASU Electronic Theses and Dissertations
This collection includes most of the ASU Theses and Dissertations from 2011 to present. ASU Theses and Dissertations are available in downloadable PDF format; however, a small percentage of items are under embargo. Information about the dissertations/theses includes degree information, committee members, an abstract, supporting data or media.
In addition to the electronic theses found in the ASU Digital Repository, ASU Theses and Dissertations can be found in the ASU Library Catalog.
Dissertations and Theses granted by Arizona State University are archived and made available through a joint effort of the ASU Graduate College and the ASU Libraries. For more information or questions about this collection contact or visit the Digital Repository ETD Library Guide or contact the ASU Graduate College at firstname.lastname@example.com.
- Rogers, Bradley
- 1 Arizona State University
- 1 Knisely, Brett
- 1 Macia, Narciso
- 1 Tamizhmani, Govindasamy
- 1 English
- Reflection Losses
- Module Quantum Efficiency
- 1 Alternative energy
- 1 Angle of Incidence
- 1 Photovoltaic
- Reverse Fountain Cytoplasmic Streaming in Rhizopus Oryzae
- Diné Research Practices and Protocols: An Intersectional Paradigm Incorporating Indigenous Feminism, Critical Indigenous Research Methodologies and Diné Knowledge Systems
- Developing an Augmented Reality Solution for Mapping Underground Infrastructure
- Characterization of 2D Human Ankle Stiffness during Postural Balance and Walking for Robot-aided Ankle Rehabilitation
- Using Molecular, Cellular and Bioengineering Approaches Towards Understanding Muscle Stem Cell Biology
This is a two-part thesis: Part 1 of this thesis tests and validates the methodology and mathematical models of the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) 61853-2 standard for the measurement of angle of incidence (AOI) effects on photovoltaic modules. Flat-plate photovoltaic modules in the field operate under a wide range of environmental conditions. The purpose of IEC 61853-2 is to characterize photovoltaic modules' performance under specific environmental conditions. Part 1 of this report focuses specifically on AOI. To accurately test and validate IEC 61853-2 standard for measuring AOI, meticulous experimental setup and test procedures were followed. Modules of five different photovoltaic …
- Contributors
- Knisely, Brett, Tamizhmani, Govindasamy, Rogers, Bradley, et al.
- Created Date
- 2013


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Turnaround from 0-2 improbable, but not impossible for Steelers
Pittsburgh went to AFC playoffs after 0-2 start in 2002
The Pittsburgh Steelers are off to their first 0-2 start since Mike Tomlin was hired as the head coach.
The last time this happened was 2002, when Bill Cowher still coached the team. The Steelers were crushed by New England 38-14 in a Monday night road game in Week 1, and they lost 30-17 to Oakland at home in Week 2.
Pittsburgh's third game of 2002 started about as well as the first two. The Steelers seemed headed for 0-3 before a last-minute comeback saved their season.
With Cleveland leading 13-6 in the fourth quarter at Heinz Field, Cowher benched quarterback Kordell Stewart and put in Tommy Maddox, who drove the Steelers downfield and tied the game with a 10-yard touchdown pass to Plaxico Burress. Pittsburgh won 16-13 on Todd Peterson's field goal in overtime.
Those 2002 Steelers finished with a 10-5-1 record and qualified for the postseason. They even won their first playoff game, beating the Browns at home again. So a turnaround from 0-2 may be improbable, but it is not impossible.
In 2002, Pittsburgh's sputtering offense forced Cowher to change quarterbacks. And while Ben Roethlisberger's job is in no danger, this year's team is having similar trouble getting on the scoreboard.
"Obviously we are 0-2, and there are several reasons for that. The most significant reason is we're not scoring enough points," Tomlin said at his weekly news conference Tuesday. "Nineteen points in two football games is not going to win a lot of football in this league."
Tomlin said each player shares the responsibility of turning things around, and he indicated that he's open to the idea of tinkering with the lineup to get results.
And help is on the way. Two injured players -- tight end Heath Miller and rookie running back Le'Veon Bell -- are expected to practice this week. Both could make their season debuts Sunday night against Chicago (2-0) at Heinz Field.
So the question is: Can the Steelers repeat history and duplicate the turnaround made by the 2002 team? Tell us what you think by voting in our web poll below.
(Mobile users: Click here to vote.)


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Group files class action lawsuit against Lindsey Properties
Plaintiffs claim apartments unlivable
40/29 has learned a suit has been filed against Fayetteville-based Lindsey Properties, saying some of its apartments were unlivable. The plaintiffs filed suit under the unconscionable trade practices statute.
Some residents said they were kicked out for complaining about conditions that they described as disgusting.
Reporter Ben Wagner said a court document lays out the allegations made by four people who used to live at a Lindsey property. They allege that there was no plumbing, filthy furniture and bug infestations.
The attorney for one of the plaintiffs who lived at Vantage Point Apartments said all of the people in the case were deceived. Pictures taken in one of the plaintiff's apartments show cracked countertops and rotting walls. The plaintiff's attorney said it's just one of several examples of deceptive advertising that sparked the lawsuit.
"I'm thinking hundreds to maybe even a thousand plaintiffs," said lawyer Mickey Stevens. "We can go back five years, and Lindsey has a lot of properties in Arkansas."
There are currently only four who allege they were sold on nice apartments and then given damaged units. Kitty Smith is one of the people who lived at Vantage Point Apartments in Springdale and claims her place had a broken water heater. The court document said she complained to Lindsey Properties, but it was not fixed.
"She felt like she'd been pretty happy there, but was not happy with the new management," Stevens said.
Court documents also cite more than 80 complaints made against the property group to the Better Business Bureau.
Lindsey Properties said none of the claims are true. In a statement, Lindsey's attorney wrote, "Plaintiff's lawsuit and his recently issued press release have no merit. We will continue to defend the suit vigorously."
Lindsey Properties recently tried to push the case into federal court. The plaintiff's attorney hopes to keep the case in state court.


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Sometimes you think life is about one thing, but it's really about something else.
For example, The Fighter is a movie about fighting. But it's not really about boxing.
Sure, there's boxing in it. But the main point of the boxing seems to be to give the movie a place to end – it's over when the main character starts winning fights instead of losing them. But the fact is that the average person can't really relate to boxing. I know I can't. To me, boxing is two people standing around in their underwear and punching each other. My little boys do that sometimes, and it's my job, as a parent, to break it up before someone wins.
It's all about life, really.
The Fighter is about fighting, but it's about a type of fighting that more people can relate to. The movie is about family, and like most families, the family in this movie spends the entire time yelling at each other. The mother yells at the kids, the kids yell at each other, the father gets things thrown at him, and no one really likes the girl that the son brings home. It's all about life, really.
The movie follows Micky Ward, a real-life boxer from Massachusetts, and this is what his family is like, except with Boston accents.
It's a hahd life. Wicked hahd.
Micky (Mark Wahlberg) is a low-level boxer who moonlights as a street paver, and at the beginning of the movie, he's being trained by his half-brother, an ex-boxer named Dicky (Christian Bale), who moonlights as Batman. (Dicky is the trainer Micky needs, but not the trainer Micky wants. Well, actually, he might not be the trainer Micky needs either.) Dicky spends most of his time at a crack house, and between his boxing history and his drug habit, not one tooth in his mouth is his. Dicky's one of those guys who cannot talk to you without putting his arm over your shoulders. He's so messed up that when HBO comes by to shoot a movie about celebrities addicted to drugs, he thinks it's a movie about his boxing comeback. He walks around throughout the taping, giving high-fives to everyone in town, and they all know who he is and are all into boxing, because apparently there's not much else to do in small-town Massachusetts after 4 PM.
Dicky is an unreliable trainer -- sometimes he doesn't show up to the gym at all. The boys' mother, Alice, who is also Micky's manager, does show up, and she gets upset that Micky's training with someone else instead of waiting for his brother to get off his tuchus and remember where he's supposed to be. To Dicky and Alice, the training, the movie, and Micky's career are all about Dicky. It's not about Micky needing help. It's about Dicky helping him. And if Dicky isn't helping him, then no one should.
Dicky and his mother aren't the only family in Micky's life. There's also Micky's father, as well as a gaggle of seven sisters whose major form of entertainment is collectively standing in on arguments that don't concern them and not quite knowing what's going on but taking sides anyway.
But as far as Alice is concerned, she has only two kids who can bring her any kind of nachas, by which she means money. So Dicky and Alice get Micky into whatever fights they can – even fights that Micky can't possibly win – and they don't care, so long as everyone gets paid, and Dicky can buy who-knows-what and Alice can continue housing her seven grown-up daughters, whose combined monthly hairspray bill alone has to be at least three digits.
Micky goes along with it and rolls with the punches, even though they're actual physical punches, and even though he has better options. Because what is he going to do? They're family! On some level he realizes they're doing it for themselves, but they're not willing to admit it, and he's not willing to say anything.
So at the beginning of the movie, Micky is losing every fight. He's what boxers call a "Stepping Stone" – he's like the evil mushroom at the beginning of every Mario game. He gets out there thinking he can defeat Mario, but really he's there so Mario can practice jumping. And the mushroom's family doesn't care, because he has life insurance.
But then Micky meets a girl who loves him but doesn't love his family quite as much as he does, and she encourages him, for his own good, to cut them off. She and Micky's father get him a different trainer and a manager named "Sal" (every boxer, at some point in his career, is legally required to have a manager named "Sal"), and Micky starts actually winning some fights, but Dicky and his mother are, of course, offended.
Then at some point, Dicky gives Micky some advice that helps him win a fight that he otherwise would have lost, and Micky eventually brings Dicky back, only to have everyone else walk off. In the end, it's up to Dicky to wake up, realize that not everything's about him, and bring everyone back together.
In general, our families can be our greatest causes of emotional duress, but they can also be our greatest instruments of success. Most of us, at some point, find ourselves in Micky's shoes. When we first get married, for example, our parents give us lots of loving advice, and we know it all comes from a good place. But then our in-laws also give us a lot of meddling advice, and most of it conflicts with our parents' advice. So we sit down with our spouses in each given situation and figure out what we're going to do, and whenever we pick one option or the other – What do you know? – someone gets offended.
But are they giving advice for you, or for them? People keep making Micky choose between one relative and the other, but all he really wants is everyone. No one person will get him to the top. Everyone has strengths to bring to the table. But really it's about the rest of the family understanding that, right?
But what about you? Right before each of my kids learns to crawl, I have this slight hesitation about encouraging him. Perhaps you feel the same way with your kids. You know that once he starts crawling, he's going to get into everything, and you're going to have to spend the whole day pulling him out of under the furniture and rooting around in his mouth to find out what he's chewing. There's a part of you that would prefer he stay still until he's old enough to understand the word "no".
But you teach him to crawl anyway. And yes, he's going to put things in his mouth, and yes, you're going to have to chase him around the house, yelling "No!" But sometimes you have to put yourself to the side and realize that your child learning to crawl is not about you. It's about him.
At the beginning of the movie, Dicky thinks that HBO is making a movie about his comeback. The Fighter is about Dicky realizing that he's not making a comeback, at least not at the moment. Sometimes, your comeback is more about what you give others. Many parents have a deep-seated fear that their child will outgrow them, but it's all about passing the torch. Sometimes you have to put yourself to the side to let other people get through. And in the end, when Micky wins, Dicky is happier than he's ever been, even in his own victories.
The Fighter is not about Micky. It's about Dicky realizing that it's about Micky.


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Alright, who watched the Olympic marathon this morning? Was anyone else on their feet cheering at their top of the lungs at the end? Just me?
As I stated last week, the marathon is my favorite Olympic event and, once again, I was reminded how much I love the marathon (I guess you really have to love it to sit through the entire race and – even better – you really have to love your fiance to sit through the entire race while she provides commentary regarding the each runner's racing strategy – love you babe! ).
Anyways, I was instantly inspired as soon as the race was over (AWESOME ending – especially Meb coming in 4th!) and wanted to give my takeaway from this morning's race.
Stu Forster/ Getty Images
1. Age is just a number
Back in January – at the ripe old age of 37- Meb took first at the Olympic trials, making him the oldest male ever to win the trials. Today he held his own, not only as the only American left standing at the finish line, but placing 4th as one of the oldest competitors in the field. Watching him run was inspiring – 37 (young by most standards, but not by elite marathoner standards) and still at the top of his game, competing against runners who were 10-15 years younger than him.
On the flip side, Stephen Kiprotich of Uganda, won the race at the young age of 23. Further proof, that age is just a number in the marathon. A lot of critics thought he was too young and inexperienced to be a threat, but he pulled through and took home gold.
Stu Forster/ Getty Images
2. Listen to your body, if something isn't right – stop
This is a critical lesson for all athletes, but especially marathoners – if something doesn't feel right, it probably isn't. Ryan Hall had his first DNF this morning when he pulled out of the marathon in the first half of the race. He was almost speechless in the interview he gave as soon as he dropped. He was still in shock, not believing he pulled out of the Olympic marathon, but he knew something was wrong with his hamstring and trying to push any further would have been bad. He swallowed his pride, listened to his body, and made a smart decision.
Elite marathoners dropping races because they know something isn't right, is not a new concept. Just this morning 20 marathoners dropping, including Hall's teammate, Abdihakem. They know it's better to avoid further injury – and potentially ruining their running career – than to push it for one race (even if that race is the Olympics).
3. There really is a strategy to marathons
If there wasn't, then a Kenyan might have won the race today. The announcers had pretty much given up on the Ugandan runner at mile 20. The two Kenyans were holding strong to the lead, and the Ugandan was beginning to fall behind. Then, on the turn of an uphill, the Ugandan saw his moment and took it. As the two leaders took the uphill at a steady pace, Kiprotich pushed it hard and continued the slightly faster pace on the downhill to the finish.
Kiprotich ran a smart, strategic race. He stayed with the lead pack, but didn't push past them until the end. He conserved just enough energy to push it when it counted and now gold has to show for it.
4. Don't give up, you might surprise yourself in the end
This one goes out to all of the marathoners this morning, who proved once again why I love the marathon. It's 26.2 miles where you're giving it all you have, and just when you think you have nothing left to give, you find a second wind, you remember that goal you had set for yourself, and you soak in some of that energy of the crowds cheering around you. In the end, you always surprise yourself, whether it be an unexpected gold, taking fourth, or even a new personal best – that feeling can be matched by no other.
Alright, who's ready to run the London Marathon now? I know it's a totally different course, but I still want to run it. 🙂
Derek and I had french toast and coffee while we watched the marathon.
I topped mine with black cherry Chobani, fresh cherries, and granola.
Maddie had some energy to burn off, so we took her to the dog park after the race.
She made a couple of new friends
But mainly kept to herself (typical)
We brought turkey Publix subs to munch on for lunch.
Then, Maddie went back home and we headed to the mall to purchase all the suits for our wedding. We ended up scoring a GREAT deal, which I can't wait to share it on the Wedding Page this week. 🙂
Dinner was enjoyed at home.
Triscuit chicken nuggets <– recipe HERE
Mixed veggies
Sweet potato fries
No-bake chocolate peanut butter cake for dessert
There was also an equal sized piece of cake enjoyed earlier in the afternoon, as well as some peanut butter filled pretzels at the store. 😉
Alright, time to turn on the closing ceremonies and say good-bye to the Olympics. I already miss them. *sniff*
Good night!


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The Los Angeles Auto Show has historically been a popular venue for automakers to unveil their newest green concepts. This year was no different: BMW brought its i3 coupe concept, while Mercedes-Benz re-imagined the iconic G-class with the rough Ener-G-Force.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, Bentley showed off its glorious, gas-guzzling Continental GT3 racing prototype. This is the first time the track-prepped concept has been shown in North America.
Get a preview of some of the concepts on display in this gallery, and be sure to visit our special Los Angeles Auto Show section for a full breakdown of all the concept and production vehicles on display.
The 2012 Los Angeles Auto Show takes place Nov. 28 through Dec. 9. In keeping with the Southern California lifestyle, the LA auto show is usually a showcase for green cars, hybrid vehicles and electric transportation. But sports cars – especially convertibles – also command the spotlight. Check out Autoweek's complete coverage of the Los Angeles Auto Show here.


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Combining the remediation and earnings quality analyses, the results imply that investors should be most concerned about MWs in information technology, segregation of duties, account reconciliations, taxation, revenues, and inventory. These types occur frequently and are slow to remediate; thus, their effects on financial reporting linger longer than others. Their link to near-term earnings quality is evident, as their remediation reduces abnormal accruals, and/or their lack of remediation in the following year further increases accruals. In general, these results suggest that financial statement users should adopt a more granular view of remediation, as successful remediation of some specific MWs can signal improvement in the quality of disclosed financial information even if other MWs remain unremediated.
Bedard, J. C., R. Hoitash, U. Hoitash, and K. Westermann. 2012. Material Weakness Remediation and Earnings Quality: A Detailed Examination by Type of Control Deficiency. Auditing: A Journal of Practice & Theory 31 (1): 57-78.
The findings offer three important contributions to the existing literature. First, they indicate that MW reported in multiple consecutive years have a progressively larger and statistically significant negative impact on CE when firms that partially remediate are excluded from the sample. That is, the market notices that some firms are slow to remediate MW, whereas other firms take timely remediation steps to address MW. Second, the study shows that the number and specific types of MW are significant factors in understanding the relation between MW and CE. In fact, even if a firm does not remediate all MW in a given year, the market views favorably a reduction in the number of MW (i.e., partial remediation). Third, given the richness of the dataset, the current study helps to reconcile conflicting results in the prior literature on the effects of MW.
Gordon, L. A., and A. L. Wilford. 2012. An Analysis of Multiple Consecutive Years of Material Weaknesses in Internal Control. Accounting Review 87 (6): 2027-2060.
Results indicate that the education level of IAF staff and the extent to which the IAF incorporates quality assurance techniques into fieldwork, audits activities related to financial reporting, and monitors the remediation of previously identified control problems are negatively associated with MW disclosures.
The timing of Section 404 work and the nature of follow-up monitoring suggest that these aspects of IAF quality help prevent the existence of MWs. The IAF practices of grading audit engagements and coordinating with external auditors are both positively associated with MW disclosures. The positive relations suggest that these activities increase the effectiveness of Section 404 compliance processes and thereby increase the likelihood that extant MWs will be detected and disclosed. Together, this study's results have important implications for managers responsible for determining IAF staffing and the structure of IAF activities, external auditors who perform Section 404 work, and standard-setters who provide Section 404 guidance. Moreover, the evidence that the IAF affects the financial reporting process lends support to the requirement that NYSE-listed companies maintain an internal audit function
For more information on this study, please contact Shu Lin.
Lin, S., M. Pizzini, M. Vargus, and I. R. Bardhan. 2011. The Role of the Internal Audit Function in the Disclosure of Material Weaknesses. The Accounting Review 86 (1): 287-323.
Overall, this study suggests that remediation of detected ICFR problems prior to the balance sheet date is one benefit of Section 404 activity to stakeholders. This study's finding of lower remediation of auditor-discovered ICDs implies that client personnel missed the control flaw in their own Section 404(a) process, so may lack the expertise to remediate the problem. This calls into question the current policy of relying on Section 404(a) alone for non-accelerated filer (most public companies). Further, this study's results on client processes imply that the most important factors affecting remediation are not who directly manages the process, but rather the client's organization of the process in making an early start and coordinating the effort with IT personnel.
For more information on this study, please contact Jean C. Bedard.
Graham, L., and J.C. Bedard. 2013. The Influence of Auditor and Client Section 404 Processes on Remediation of Internal Control Deficiencies at All Levels of Severity. Auditing: A Journal of Practice & Theory 32(4): 45-69
Effective corporate governance of both the IT and non-IT domains is pivotal in establishing and maintaining strong internal controls over financial reporting. While credit agencies examine entity-level deficiencies as a possible indicator for downgrading a firm's rating, account-level deficiencies are associated with long-term effects on internal control as well.
Consideration of the types of MWs and the specific underlying deficiencies should be important to interested stakeholders: auditors, as they assess and evaluate risk and controls; rating agencies, as they evaluate credit worthiness; investors and analysts, as they evaluate the value of the firm; and management and audit committees, as they consider investments in controls.
For more information on this study, please contact Marcia Weidenmier Watson.
Klamm, B. K., K. W. Kobelsky, and M. W. Watson. Determinants of the Persistence of Internal Control Weaknesses. Accounting Horizons 26 (2): 307-333.
The results of this study support the value of auditor involvement at two stages of the ICFR assessment process (detection and classification), and contribute to understanding of factors associated with client and auditor performance in both stages. The study also provides direct evidence on the "yield" of detection methods used by auditors. This issue is at the heart of the debate on the value of auditor involvement in assessing and testing internal controls. Lastly, the findings of this study imply that the recent exemption of Section 404(b) for smaller U.S. public companies could result in failure to fully realize potential improvements in financial reporting quality in that sector of the market.
For more information on this study, please contact Jean Bedard.
Bedard, J. C. and L. Graham. 2011. Detection and Severity Classifications of Sarbanes-Oxley Section 404 Internal Control Deficiencies. The Accounting Review 86 (3): 825-855.
The results of this study support the audit committee regulations under SOX and the board independence regulations of the listing exchanges. These results are important to regulators as they show that improvements in audit committee influence, competence, and incentives are each positively associated with ICMW remediation. In addition, the results reveal that improvements in these audit committee characteristics are most strongly associated with the remediation of ICMWs relating to control activities and monitoring, but not to ICMWs across the other COSO categories. Lastly, the results are important to management as they highlight the importance of hands-on day-to-day leadership by management in addressing situations involving the revelation and remediation of material negative events.
For more information on this study, please contact Karla Johnstone.
Johnstone, K., C. Li, and K. H. Rupley. 2011. Changes in Corporate Governance Associated with the Revelation of Internal Control Material Weaknesses and Their Subsequent Remediation. Contemporary Accounting Research 28 (1): 331-383.
The results of this study are important for companies and regulators that are trying to understand the true costs for firms with an adverse report on internal control. It further informs the continuing debate regarding Section 404 of SOX and provides some evidence that these premiums can be as high as 30 (20) percent in the first(second) year after remediation when compared to firms that only have clean Section 404 reports. Lastly, this provides opportunities for future research investigating how long it takes audit fees to return the level of companies that only receive clean opinions and whether or not this premium relates to additional audit work or a risk premium.
Munsif, V., K. Raghunandan, D. V. Rama, and M. Singhvi. 2011. Audit Fees after Remediation of Internal Control Weaknesses. Accounting Horizons 25 (1): 87-105.
These findings are particularly important for CPA firms doing consulting. By better understanding the cost associated with failure to remediate, firms can better negotiate fees and demonstrate the value they add in helping firms to remediate material weaknesses.
Hammersley, J.S., L.A. Myers and J. Zhou. 2012. The Failure to Remediate Previously Disclosed Material Weaknesses in Internal Controls. Auditing: A Journal of Practice and Theory. (31) 2: 73–111.


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Peer-Reviewed Publications
Found 10 resultsTitle
Filters: Author is Zonfrillo, Mark R [Clear All Filters]
Examining a Statewide Educational Consulting Program for Pediatric Brain Injury." Clin Pediatr (Phila). 2018;57(6):645-655."
Variations in Mechanisms of Injury for Children with Concussion." J. Pediatr.. 2018."
Emergency Department Visits for Head Trauma in the United States." BMC Emerg Med. 2016;16(1):5."
Point of Health Care Entry for Youth With Concussion Within a Large Pediatric Care Network." JAMA Pediatr. 2016:e160294."
Sports-Related Head Injuries in Adolescents: A Comprehensive Update." Adolesc Med State Art Rev. 2015;26(3):491-506."
Vestibular Deficits following Youth Concussion." J. Pediatr.. 2015."
Characteristics of prolonged concussion recovery in a pediatric subspecialty referral population." J. Pediatr.. 2014;165(6):1207-15."
Child passenger safety practices and injury risk in crashes with father versus mother drivers." Inj. Prev.. 2013."
Prevalence of and risk factors for poor functioning after isolated mild traumatic brain injury in children." J. Neurotrauma. 2013."


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2012 Previews: A.L. East
AMID all the curiosity and nostalgia about the sudden unretirement of Andy Pettitte, there rested one question that is absolutely fundamental to understanding the 2012 American League Eastern Division race.
I heard people ask Pettitte about how it happened, when it happened, why he wanted it to happen, how his arm was, how his legs were, how his head was. I heard questions about when Brian Cashman called him and how often and how much he was offered and how much he eventually signed for and why it took him so long and when he'll be ready.
What I did not hear was a question about why – in the wake of trading the best hitting prospect they've produced since Robinson Cano for a starting pitcher, and in the wake of signing a free agent starting pitcher, and with a training camp full of young starting pitcher prospects – why did the Yankees feel they needed Pettitte?
Even at the point when Cashman traded Jesus Montero to Seattle for Michael Pineda (and then incongruously compared Montero to Miguel Cabrera), the Yankees had a surfeit of starting pitchers. CC Sabathia, Ivan Nova, Freddy Garcia, and Phil Hughes were all back (and Bartolo Colon could've been). Manuel Banuelos, Dellin Betances, and Hector Noesi were awaiting opportunities. And then Pineda was added. And then Kuroda. And then Pettitte.
I understand no team divides its 162 starts evenly among five men and if you go through a year with only two rotational changes it's been a blessing from above. But to add so much is to suggest not that you're worried about injury or attrition, but about the quality of what you already have. I don't think the Yankees trust Nova, I think they feel Hughes' moment is passed, I presume they have no faith that the moment will arrive for Banuelos and Betances. And after his flaccid spring, I'm sure they're wondering if the Pineda thing was a disaster too.
It was.
Jesus Montero probably can't catch a lick and the Yankees didn't have first base open for him to move to. But a player like him, with that kind of high ball opposite field power, is far more scarce than a Michael Pineda at his best, let alone a Michael Pineda who didn't gain velocity in the off-season, only weight. The Yankees seem deliberately intent on ignoring the reality that they are aging dangerously on offense. I realize that part of the solution to that is to free up the DH spot that Montero would've filled, by a rotation of the wheezing Alex Rodriguez, the unpredictable Nick Swisher, the aging Derek Jeter, and the calcified Andruw Jones and Raul Ibanez. But it would seem those guys, and the offense, would've benefited a lot more from taking days off and letting the kid get 600 plate appearances and 30 homers.
And while my theory of Cashman getting as much pitching protection as he can speaks well to his preparedness for the ever-growing chance of injury or unreliability among his hurlers, there is no similar cushion being built for the line-up. This is a dreadful bench, from Francisco Cervelli (no power), to Eduardo Nunez (no glove), to Jones (no future). And there's nobody in the farm system to fill the deficiencies before Gary Sanchez and Mason Williams arise during the early stages of the 2016 presidential campaign. There was a guy but they traded him for a starting pitcher so good that they had to talk a 39-year old out of retirement to replace him. Lord help the Yankees if Curtis Granderson hits like he did last September, or if Rodriguez ("he's in great shape; oh yeah, he was in great shape last year before he broke") or Teixeira or Russell Martin get hurt. Or Cano. No Cano and they might not be even a factor in the pennant race.
That's why I'm picking TAMPA BAY in this division, and handily. This is still a popgun offense, although I giggle every time I read somebody rip them for bringing back Carlos Pena to replace folk hero Casey Kotchman. Casey Kotchman had 560 plate appearances last year in Tampa and drove in 48 runs. A first baseman almost has to try to achieve a statistic that pathetic. In any event, Andrew Friedman has upgraded the offense from anemic to serene, improving by small measure at first, at DH, and at short (where Jeff Keppinger is bound to supplant the .193/.223 boys, Sean Rodriguez and Reid Brignac). Desmond Jennings is clearly blossoming into a star, and if B.J. Upton can hit merely .275, he will finally become one as well.
And the Rays have the best pitching staff in baseball. Even if Matt Moore is hyped and James Shields returns to earth and David Price keeps underachieving, they can pull Wade Davis back from the bullpen, and bring up Alex Cobb, Chris Archer, and half a dozen other guys from Durham. If the magic spell that made Kyle Farnsworth a top closer suddenly snaps, they have Fernando Rodney and Joel Peralta and Jake McGee and J.P. Howell to give it a try. The Rays probably have not just the best staff, 1-through-14 in baseball; they may have the best staff, 1-through-28. Who knows: if everything doesn't go wrong maybe they dangle some of those prospects at mid-season and get some hitting?
The problem in BOSTON last year was pitchers drinking before the games were over. The problem in Boston this year could be fans drinking before they begin. Outside of Adrian Gonzalez and Jacoby Ellsbury there isn't a player on that 25-man roster about whom there is not one huge question. How soon will Kevin Youkilis' crazy grip finally irreparably damage his hand? Can Carl Crawford actually face a pennant race? Is Buchholz healthy? Or Lester? Or Beckett?
Most importantly, to paraphrase long-ago skipper Joe M. Morgan, "who is running this nine?" New manager Bobby Valentine, showing my earlier criticisms of him may have been extreme and unfair, wanted Jose Iglesias at shortstop and hard-hitting, rapidly-improving Ryan Lavarnway behind the plate (Lavarnway being the only Red Sox player who didn't panic down the stretch last year). He was overruled – and he certainly wasn't overruled by newbie GM Ben Cherington. Years ago Terry Francona, John Farrell, and Theo Epstein came to the realization that Daniel Bard didn't have the emotional chops to be a starting pitcher, and was best served firing gas out of the pen. They're all gone, Bard was shoved into the rotation, is flailing just as the former bosses knew he would, and now presumably staggers back to the bullpen as broken goods behind the physically sketchy Andrew Bailey (Mark Melancon might close for them yet).
It's a mess. It's a mess that could almost accidentally come together in triumph and bolt into the pennant race, but – and heaven help me I'm agreeing with Curt Schilling – it looks like it is going bad quicker than he and I expected it to. Ah well, maybe they can hire Francona back at some point and he can sift through the ashes and rebuild The Olde Towne Team with an eye towards 2014.
The question in TORONTO is: could it be going good quicker than anybody expects it to? Seven spots in the Jays' lineup don't particularly startle you, until you reach the conclusion that the guys occupying them could all, realistically, hit 20 homers apiece this year. This does not include Jose Bautista, or the first full year of The Brett Lawrie, who might become Canada's first true homegrown baseball hero since The Larry Walker. The Blue Jays might be good for 250 home runs – Adam Lind could easily jump from one of the "other seven" to All-Star status – and the only defensive liability of the bunch, catcher J.P. Arencibia, could soon be supplanted by uber-prospect Travis D'Arnaud.
The Jays will hit and field. Their bullpen – fresh-armed Sergio Santos, protected by the underappreciated Coco Cordero, joining the incumbent Casey Janssen – with Darren Oliver actually finding a team he hasn't previously played for – is newly solid. The questions are all among the starters. Only Ricky Romero has a resume, but during Toronto's remarkable spring in dreary Dunedin (I know, I know, spring training stats, but they are 22-4 as I write this), Henderson Alvarez, Brett Cecil, Brandon Morrow, and even Deck McGuire and Kyle Drabek have looked sharp. Dustin McGowan is, in a tradition as old as time itself, hurt again – but perhaps only for a few weeks. If there's one thing John Farrell knows it's how to translate pitching potential into success. Just slight success out of the rotation and the Jays could vault into contention.
As to BALTIMORE they seem to be planning to use Wilson Betemit and Nick Johnson as part-time Designated Hitters. End Communication.
Faint heart never won fair predicting contests. I'm convinced about the winner, and taking a flier on the runners-up. It's possible one of the Wild Cards comes out of this division but I'm not convinced any more. The Yankees and the Red Sox are not locks, and they are so not locks that I will assume New York will finally suffer the kind of position-player calamity that accelerates its decrepitude. TAMPA BAY is your champion, TORONTO second, NEW YORK third (close), BOSTON fourth, and BALTIMORE should've been relegated already.
NEXT TIME…I don't know, I haven't written it yet.
41 Comments
What's the big question about Dustin Pedroia?
Keith, I think a lot of your AL east analysis is right on but must disagree with your view on Daniel Bard of the Red Sox. I don't go along with what Curt Schilling said about Bard or players not liking Bobby Valentine. I think Josh Beckett had it right when he asked if Schilling was pitching for the team because he hadn't seen him around the club this year. Boston won't be fourth in this division.
Wow, nice to see somebody besides me thinks that both the Yanks and Sox are in decline. Tampa, most definitely. Toronto finishing second may be going out on a limb a bit, but I don't think it's as much of a stretch as some people might think, especially if they can get some decent pitching from the starters (paging Mr. Oswalt?)
I regard Keith's views on the Yankees the same way I regard Fox New's views on reality, though obviously not as evil. I have Boston winning the division but the Yankees will win the wild card and advance.
Make that "Fox News's" though "Fox New" might be more accurate– the truth is so old.
I'd love it if sometime you would write a blog post explaining your love-hate relationship with the Yankees. It's clearly not a "dem bums" kind of thing. No, you seem to genuinely dislike the franchise (and disapprove of the decisions they make) that you spend so much time and money following, if not supporting.
In related news, this is the third year in a row that you're predicting (on this blog) that the Yankees will not even make the playoffs.
Bravo, JDS.
I like Keith (and was dismayed over today's events) but he's always picking against the Yankees and he's always wrong about said pick. And I am IN NO WAY a fan of the Yankees.
Seriously Keith, look into a part time gig with MLB Network.
You were fired by MSNBC and replaced with that racist pig Al Sharpton.
Now Current is replacing you with that whoremonger Eliot Spitzer?
I guess that ag school education didn't get you much.
Why the hate conclown? Do facts and the fact that the people you support are assholes have anything to do with it?
Al Gore is an A$$#@!+! Let's all now focus on his global warming scam that has made him tens of millions of dollars. He should be in jail. And…
… we all know he let you go because you overshadowed him.
Please consider doing a podcast and/or a YouTube channel covering both sports and politics. Nobody can f**k with you, if you're the only boss.
Hang tough! Whatever your next on-air endeavour is, you will have a following (just don't wind up on Fox Sports). Loved your inside story on Mr. Sugarman and how it was your first real job in the world.
Keith Olbermann,
Was the real reason I even watched MSNBC way back—then. I felt his "honesty" and "fact-finding stated" truths were refreshing. Then…MSNBC—dumped him…for being TOO Honest and truthful. NOW—Current has done the "SAME" thing! Tell the people the real truth—and the WHITE COLLAR CORPORATE AMERICA jerks—-pull them—OUT! Every time!
THEY—-can't handle the "real" truth,and I've felt Al Gore to be a major "joke" in politics, with his lack of "back-bone" in ALL of his doings. A BONELESS WONDER, and GUTLESS…too!
I hope Keith— "burns" them back!!! Just like what they've done to him,once again!
GOOD-LUCK Keith!
Joseph, you have said absolutely everything I would want to say. Keith, though you are sorely missed, take your time, recuperate, and find the right place that will appreciate you and allow your talent to work unfettered.
You need to be fired.
Keith, you cannot be replaced.
You are a person of great intelligence and integrity. Both are qualities which are rare, especially in these times.
I hope you can find a public forum to continue your efforts.
You are a hero.
Hang in there buddy.. There is a forum for your message.. and I know you'll find it.. Current definitely was NOT IT. Take some time for yourself.. and I look forward to your next adventure !
You're the best !
Dear Keith, you are the star of Daily Kos' Saturday comic strip today, Animal News:
You rock! I would like to send you a signed print of this comic by artist Eric Lewis, so if you have a mailing address where you receive "fan mail," please email me.
Sincere best wishes!
They love ya, KO! For sure!
Guess you came down off your high horse, huh, Keith?
You didn't know I worked for Al Gore in 92 and 96, led my state volunteers, was a CD chair and was asked to run for congress by a sitting senior member of the House, worked rope lines, drove in motorcades during camaign and official visits, didja?
Are you sorry you were a rude dickhead to me last night on Twitter?
Keep your chin up, Keith, And for God's sake keep your flucking head down! Haven't you learned?
>^..^< — skeet, skeet, You One Percenter beeyotch.
/walks 2 or 3 circles
/finds comfy spot
/dreams of fat mowsies
Keith, Terrific analysis of the AL East. As A Jays fan, I'm pleased to see some respect for the 2012 Blue Jays squad. As someone living in Canada, I'm selfishly pleased to see you're leaving Current TV ..we don't get that channel in Canada, and we've missed you since you left MSNBC. I hope you land somewhere where we can once again enjoy your frank and thoughtful analysis of the political landscape. You're a hero of mine.
Okay, I'm dipping my toe in the fantasy baseball waters, even though I still think that fantasy sports are like fantasy sex…harmless but nothing compared to the real thing. I'm only going with an auto pick league to start out with — any tips for how to handle the season?
Red Sox have a lot of injury problems and questions but they still have a great lineup and a solid bullpen, you can't count them out despite whatever may have happened at the end of last year. The Yankees' rotation is a bit overhyped but you can never count out a team that's spending that much money on their payroll. The Rays need a lot to go right with their young guys and they need guys like B.J. Upton and James Shields to be at their best to win the division outright.- Manwall.com
What a douchebag this princess is. The world is better without you. Twitter doesn't count – that's for pussies.
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If scientists had to pick one area of science that's most frequently misunderstood, evolution would probably win the vote. It's not simply the sea of misinformation available on the Internet (although that clearly doesn't help); it also seems that a lot of people who accept the scientific evidence don't fully appreciate some aspects of evolutionary theory. It's one thing to remember a few examples of the compelling evidence we have for evolution; it's another thing entirely to appreciate the features of the process that make it so incredibly powerful but, at the same time, hide many of its actions from our common experience.
So, in a slight change of pace, we're going to skip focusing on the latest results or a comprehensive review of the evidence (we've done quite a bit of that in the past), and focus instead on some of the general aspects of the theory, many of which are commonly overlooked. So, without further ado, we present five things you may not know about evolution.
A really inefficient solution can be a lot better than the alternative
This is especially true when the alternative is "dead." People tend to evaluate evolution according to what, for the time being, at least, are its finished products: highly efficient enzymes, mind-numbingly complex structures, and other biological wonders. But it's important to remember that the structures we see around us today are the products of millions of years—in some cases, billions of years—of fine tuning. The original solutions were probably anything but elegant.
A great example is the protein that eliminates reactive oxygen within our cells. For a billion years or more, organisms didn't really have to deal with oxygen, which only became prevalent after the origin of photosynthesis. But when oxygen arrived, it was presumably a shock to the system, as it was toxic to some organisms, and reactive oxygen could damage a variety of cellular components. Organisms had to evolve the ability to cope with it or, quite possibly, die.
It turns out that a single change is sufficient to convert an enzyme that normally operates on hydrocarbons to one that can eliminate oxygen radicals. It does this really, really poorly in comparison with its current-day descendants, which have been improved by billions of years of refinement. But really, really poorly is pretty good when you're dealing with something that might otherwise kill you. And survival is all that's needed for evolutionary refinements to take place.
Evolution solves problems in parallel
Humans have a tendency to think from a linear, one-thing-at-a-time perspective. So, when we think of all the different things that happen during an evolutionary transition, we tend to compile them into a long, linear list. So, for the case of, say, the divergence of humans from our common ancestor with chimps, we'd compile something that included behavioral differences, upright walking, altered shoulder structure, bigger brains, etc. When you look down that list, six million years suddenly seems like a very short span of time.
But it's not like the entire rest of the genome sat still while our ancestors were evolving the ability to digest lactose as adults. For the most part, evolution of a given useful trait can (and does) occur in parallel with anything else that's happening. There are some dependencies—rearranging the foot doesn't make much sense unless you're already walking upright—but it can certainly occur at the same time as all the behavioral changes, dietary changes, etc.
An additional consequence of this is that related problems can be solved in a coordinated manner. A lot of human evolutionary history involved a balancing act between the hip structure that allows us to walk upright efficiently and a brain size that doesn't fit through said hips very well. The net result is that neither of these changed radically, even between ancestors that we consider different species.
Evolution doesn't happen overnight
So, with all that working in its favor, shouldn't we be seeing evolution changing the world around us as we watch? It's easy to forget that a favorable novelty starts out as just one change in one individual. To get beyond that individual, their offspring have to be lucky enough to inherit it, reproduce, etc. before it can even spread within a small, localized population.
For animals that we pay attention to, generation times are a year or more. Even if most evolutionary change wasn't gradual, the flow of genes from individual to a population would necessarily take time for precisely this reason.
Another thing that most people also don't realize is that if a genetic change truly is favorable, its ability to spread to within populations is a mathematical necessity. There's an entire field (population genetics) devoted precisely to this issue that, unfortunately, rarely receives any attention, even in college-level genetics classes. A lot of the work dates from the 1930s and involves lots of math, so this is somewhat understandable now that the focus of biology has shifted to the genome. But population genetics essentially showed how Mendelian genetics enabled evolution, a reconciliation so significant that it's still referred to as the "Modern Synthesis."
A million years is a lot longer than we think it is
Evolution may take time, but there has been a lot more time available than most of us fully appreciate. The major evolutionary transitions, which took place over millions of years or more, still account for a tiny fraction of the history of life on earth. Most of us kind of know that, but it's difficult to really comprehensively understand what millions of years mean. All of recorded human history? That's less than a tenth of the time since modern humans left Africa. Which is only about a tenth of a million years. Which is less than a quarter of the time since our ancestors last canoodled with those of the chimps a bit over four million years ago.
All of recorded human experience is just a blink of an eye, and yet we've seen hundreds of extinctions, dozens of speciations, observed speciation happen in the lab, watched entire ecosystems change, and driven quite a lot of these changes ourselves. If you really have a grasp of evolutionary time, then the question isn't one of "did evolution result in the origin of species"—it's too easily obvious that it did. Instead, the relevant question becomes one of why it produced the species we now see.
We wouldn't recognize a key transition while it was happening
So, if all this evolving is constantly going on, why don't we see species that seem to be in the midst of a major transition? Simple: we wouldn't know it if we were. Feathers on dinosaurs were around for many millions of years before any of them were able to glide, much less take flight using them. Pakicetus, although it lived on land, had skull features that indicate it was closely related to all whales and porpoises. It hung around Asia for millions of years, looking a bit like an odd relative of the wolf. The bones that now form our wrists first appeared inside the fins of fish, where variants of them appeared in a variety of species.
All these species, despite the novel features they contained, looked just like a normal part of the ecosystem at the time. Evolutionary changes occur gradually enough that there's really nothing distinctive about them at the time. It's only in retrospect, with our lands filled with tetrapods and skies filled with birds, that we're able to tell that the odd-looking fins and the dinosaurs with plumage were the start of something big. At the time, they'd look like nothing special; in fact, given that relatively few species wind up fossilized, some of them might have looked decidedly average, one of a large number of similar species.
These aren't even close to being the only misconceptions about evolution, but they're some of the most common—and the ones that most frequently leave the public expecting evidence for the theory that doesn't match its predictions.


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Bellator 50's official fighters weigh-ins are in the books, and all eight middleweight-tournament competitors made weight without issue.
Today's weigh-ins took place at Paradise Live at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Fla.
Bellator 50 takes place Saturday at the same venue with Bryan Baker, Jared Hess, Zelg Galesic, Alexander Shlemenko, Sam Alvey, Vitor Vianna, Victor O'Donnell and Brian Rogers in tourney matchups.
The night's main card airs on MTV2 (7 p.m. ET/PT), and the prelims stream for free on Spike.com at 5 p.m. ET (2 p.m. PT).
Galesic was the most enthusiastic as he weighed in.
"The last few days, my knuckles have been itching," the Croatian striker said. "That must be a good sign."
The tourney winner earns $100,000 in total pay and a title shot against reigning champion Hector Lombard.
The full Bellator 50 weigh-in results included:
- Bryan Baker (184.25) vs. Jared Hess (185.5)
- Zelg Galesic (184.5) vs. Alexander Shlemenko (185.5)
- Sam Alvey (185.5) vs. Vitor Vianna (184.75)
- Victor O'Donnell (185.5) vs. Brian Rogers (185.5)
- John Kelly (170) vs. Cristiano Souza (170.5)
- Shah Bobonis (139.25) vs. Marcos da Matta (140.25)*
- Marcelo Goncalves (156.5) vs. Dietter Navarro (156.25)+
- Rad Martinez (155.5) vs. Brian Van Hoven (155.75)
- Valdir Araujo (185.25) vs. Brett Cooper (185)
- Ailton Barbosa (170.5) vs. Ryan Keenan (170.5)
- Martin Brown (155) vs. James "J.P." Reese (155.75)
* – Previously scheduled 140-pound catchweight fight
+ – Fight to be contested at a catchweight
For more on Bellator 50, stay tuned to the MMA Rumors section of MMAjunkie.com.
(Pictured: Jared Hess)


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The result of eight years of research, Lancome's 24-hour wear foundation blends easily for a velvety, matte finish. Suitable for all skin types and tones thanks to an impressive range of shades, it's also transfer-free which means no smudges on your clothes. It makes flaws, pores, and redness visibly disappear. - For tan skin with cool undertones - Moderate to full coverage - SPF 15 - Free from oil and fragrance -Instructions for use: - Apply with |2 Foundation Brush or sponge - Blend for flawless coverage - 30ml/ 1oz. Ingredients: Aqua / Water / Eau, Cyclopentasiloxane, Polypropylsilsesquioxane, Isododecane, Dimethicone, C30-45 Alkyldimethylsilyl Polypropylsilsesquioxane Silica, Glycerin, Peg-10 Dimethicone, Dimethicone/Polyglycerin-3 Crosspolymer, Sodium Chloride, Nylon-12, Paraffin, Cyclomethicone, Aluminum Hydroxide, Disodium Edta, Disodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Dipropylene Glycol, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Acrylates Copolymer, Phenoxyethanol Chlorphenesin, Ethylparaben, +/- May Contain / Peut Contenir, Ci 77007 / Ultramarines, Ci 77491, Ci 77492, Ci 77499 / Iron Oxides, Ci 77891 / Titanium Dioxide


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Are your eyes bleeding? You can always change your theme.
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Are you selling any of the remaining PCBs?
I'm working on it! I have an Alphasmart 3000 ordered for end of week. Now I need switches... and the PCB!
Great work!Have you considered putting one of those PCBs in a Neo? The matrix is the same, and I pretty sure the keyboard's physical size is as well.
thanks for clearing that up haru i thought your mouth really looked like the omegalul emote in real life
@linuxfanatic The Alphasmart was designed to dump its contents into whatever device it was connected to. It has USB built in (and infrared!) https://www2.cliu.org/documents/assistiveTech/alphsmart%20directions.pdf
To be clear, it doesn't have the capability to write directly to a flash drive without an intervening computer. What it has is the ability to connect via USB-B to any computer and be seen as a keyboard. If you want to transfer one of the 8 files from the onboard flash memory, you hit send, and it ghost-types the text into whatever application you have open. You can print directly to a printer from a DIN-8 serial port, but this connector has proven to be significantly less future-proof.
I see. It would be cool to see a Raspberry Pi Zero or something inside of it that would automatically upload the text to Google Docs or something.
Quote from: linuxfanatic on Wed, 13 September 2017, 08:30:26I see. It would be cool to see a Raspberry Pi Zero or something inside of it that would automatically upload the text to Google Docs or something.The beauty of the Alphasmart is that it's a minimal, single-task tool. When you add a RPi to it, it's turned into a computer -- and a mediocre one at that. It wouldn't be a hard leap to add communication to the Pi, including messaging and email, which is the death of all things productivity.That said, it might be interesting to see if the display could be replaced with ePaper to provide better visibility. That'd require at least a Teensy to drive it, which would replace whatever is built in to the Alphasmart -- and now we've gone back to reinventing a tiny, not-great laptop.
Yeah, that's going to be a problem. Maybe there's another SBC of some sort that isn't powerful enough to communicate and such but acn still upload the document to G Docs?
Build log for mine: https://imgur.com/a/iEXqT
Because Q, W, E, and R are all connected to the 5th pin (counting from the left if you're looking at the top of the board) of the 10-pin connector, the first place to check would be the solder joint there, and after that the connection through the cable. Are those all the switches that aren't working?
Could you please post some high-res pics of your PCB?
Also, I had to re-seat the ribbon cable twice. It looked like it was all the way in, but it wasn't.
U, I, O, and P (as well as Home, if that is not working) are also on pin 5, so yeah, that would be my first guess. I couldn't say for sure why V and File 6 aren't working, but again my first guess would be the soldering of the individual switches. A multimeter wpuld come in very handy here to see where the break in the path is.
Quote from: vrf on Mon, 11 September 2017, 11:22:33Great work!Have you considered putting one of those PCBs in a Neo? The matrix is the same, and I pretty sure the keyboard's physical size is as well.Interesting idea! I didn't know the matrices were the same (is there a repository for that info? I'm looking at the Neo layout and it seems to have replaced the right Option key with a Delete key), but I don't know if the dimensions are the same. If you look at the 3000's keyboard, you'll notice that there's space between the first and second rows that allows the top row of the mechanical mod to be a full unit in height. The Neo doesn't seem to have this extra space.
That looks fantastic! One of my favorite things about the AlphaSmart 3000 is the translucent plastic case, and I think those keys complement it perfectly. I will point out that the intended layout has a 1.5U tab key and a 1.25U caps lock, leaving a 0.5U gap between caps lock and the A key (I know it's strange, but it allows compatibility with keysets that only have 1 1.75U key, which I believe is most of them).
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Deborah Kerr, the sophisticated, Scottish-born actress who was nominated for six Oscars, died Tuesday in Suffolk, England, after many years of failing health. She was 86.
In films such as "Black Narcissus," "An Affair to Remember" and "Tea and Sympathy," Kerr embodied the image of the lovely, well-spoken English rose, a woman whose breeding and cool exterior belie the passion, fire and frustration simmering just below the surface.
Kerr fought for roles that showed her range as a thesp, from the unhappy Army officer's wife in "From Here to Eternity" — which included her iconic, torrid beach love scene with Burt Lancaster — to the determined nun in "Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison" and the wife of an itinerant Australian sheep drover in "The Sundowners."
Kerr earned first Oscar nom starting for 1949's "Edward, My Son," co-starring Spencer Tracy. She followed with noms for 1953's "From Here to Eternity," 1956's "The King and I," 1957's "Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison," 1958's "Separate Tables" and 1960's "The Sundowners." (She and Thelma Ritter are tied as the two actresses with the most noms without a win.)
Kerr was awarded a lifetime achievement Oscar in 1994. In her acceptance speech, Kerr, who suffered from Parkinson's disease, acknowledged other recipients of the award who had also been passed over despite careers of brilliance, including her sometimes co-star Cary Grant.
"She was not only a fine actress, she was a fine lady," Kirk Douglas said Thursday of Kerr's passing. The two co-starred in 1969 Elia Kazan pic "The Arrangement."
In an acting career that spanned from pre-war Britain to 1980s television miniseries, Kerr became a legend for a handful of indelible performances, including the lovestruck ex-nightclub singer in 1957 romantic drama "An Affair to Remember," a pic that emerged for a new generation through its incorporation into the storyline of the 1993 Tom Hanks-Meg Ryan hit "Sleepless in Seattle."
During the '40s and early '50s, Kerr was the heir to Greer Garson for ladylike, upper-crust roles as the kind of woman men marry rather than lust after. In fact she was kept under contract by MGM to prevent a rival studio from putting her in competition with Garson, one of the Lion's major stars.
It was only when Kerr renegotiated her deal with MGM to allow her to take outside assignments that she was able to break that mold via "From Here to Eternity," playing a promiscuous Army wife. Kerr was an unlikely choice for the role that Joan Crawford had accepted but then backed out of after a dispute over her costumes. Kerr walked off with the notices, reaping praise and grabbing a moment of film history with her love scene on the sands of Waikiki as a symbolic wave surrounded her and Lancaster.
Deborah Kerr-Tremmer, born in Helensburgh, Scotland, had originally set her sights on being a dancer. She made her stage debut as part of the corps de ballet of Sadler's Wells in "Prometheus," at the age of 17.
But soon thereafter she turned to acting, studying and performing in the Shakespearean repertory. After being cut out of her first film, she auditioned for, and got the supporting part of, Jenny Hill in Gabriel Pascal's 1941 film version of George Bernard Shaw's "Major Barbara," starring Wendy Hiller and Rex Harrison. Pleased with her work, Pascal signed her to a long-term contract.
During the war years she starred in a number of low-profile films until helmer Michael Powell cast her in three different roles in his epic "The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp," a feat that showed off Kerr's talents and made her a star.
While appearing onstage in Shaw's "Heartbreak House," she was spotted by MGM British head Alexander Korda, who cast her opposite Robert Donat in the 1945 comedy "Perfect Strangers." The film's success encouraged MGM to buy out her contract from Pascal for $250,000. For seven years, at a salary of $3,000 a week, MGM kept Kerr on a tight leash. Since Garson was still a major star, Kerr's talents were underexploited.
The exceptions were two loan-outs, one for the 1946 thriller "I See a Dark Stranger," in which she played an Irish woman who intends to spy for the Germans but falls for an English officer instead; and the other to Powell to play a stern but young mother superior trying to establish a religious community in 1947's "Black Narcissus."
The raves she received for her work in "Narcissus" convinced MGM to give her a go in major A pictures, such as "The Hucksters," as Clark Gable's romantic interest, and "Edward, My Son." But the studio never quite knew what to do with her and next threw Kerr into action-adventures like "King Solomon's Mines" and "The Prisoner of Zenda."
In 1952, she asked that her contract be altered to allow her to take outside roles, and MGM didn't balk. "From Here to Eternity" ignited her marquee value, and soon Kerr was landing leads in top studio pictures, including 1956's "Tea and Sympathy," a role she had done as her Broadway debut in 1953. She also scored in 1956 opposite Yul Brynner in tuner "The King and I," in which her singing voice was dubbed by thrush Marni Nixon.
The following year, director Leo McCarey decided to remake his 1939 romantic comedy/drama "Love Affair," redubbing it "An Affair to Remember," with Kerr and Grant in the roles originally played by Irene Dunne and Charles Boyer. The remake was a hit in its initial release and has endured with a cult following, as demonstrated by its use as an example of Hollywood romance at its most alluring and overblown in Nora Ephron's "Sleepless in Seattle." It was remade yet again in 1994 with Warren Beatty and Annette Bening.
Kerr closed out the 1950s with her fifth Oscar bid, for playing a spinster in 1958's "Separate Tables" opposite David Niven, who claimed the actor trophy for that year.
Her final nomination and loss for 1960's "Sundowners" were the hardest to take, she recalled in later years. She was the odds-on favorite to win that year, but the trophy went to but Elizabeth Taylor, who had recently recovered from a life-threatening illness, for "Butterfield 8."
Despite her near misses with Oscar, Kerr had several memorable screen turns in the early 1960s, including the 1962 adaptation of Henry James' "Turn of the Screw," called "The Innocents"; "The Chalk Garden," in which she played a mysterious governess; Tennessee Williams' "The Night of the Iguana," in which she played a spinster. The latter two were both 1964 releases.
By the end of the decade and after enduring a number of bombs, like her broad-comedy turn in "Casino Royale" and as a wronged-wife in "The Arrangement," Kerr was ready to turn her back on Hollywood, uncomfortable with what she viewed as the gratuitous use of nudity in contempo pics.
She continued to work in theater, starring in Edward Albee's "Seascape" on Broadway and in revivals of "Candida" and "The Last of Mrs. Cheyney," and in the 1980s appeared in a handful of British productions, including 1985 pic "The Assam Garden" and TV minis "A Woman of Substance" and "Hold the Dream."
But she largely spent her remaining years in retirement in Switzerland and at a villa in Spain with her second husband, novelist and screenwriter Peter Viertel, whom she married in 1960. Kerr had two daughters with her first husband, British war hero Anthony Charles Bartley, whom she married in 1945 and divorced in 1959.
Kerr is survived by Viertel, her two daughters and three grandchildren.


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GeeXLab 0.38.x for Windows, Linux, Raspberry Pi and macOS
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The latest Catalyst Hot-Fix; (11.1a) offers increased performance brings a slew of new features and should be the driver used for any performance testing. Below are a few of the highlights from this driver: Performance improvements for the AMD Radeon HD 6800 & HD 6900 series include but not limited to: AMD Radeon HD 6900 and AMD Radeon HD 6800 Series: * 3DMark Vantage improves ~7% * 3DMark06 improves ~3% * Call of Duty Black Ops improves ~20% at 4xMSAA and up to 35% at 8xMSAA * Riddick Assault on Dark Athena SSAO performance improves ~20% * Unigine Heaven OpenGL performance improves ~10% at moderate, 30% at normal and 100% at extreme tessellation levels AMD Radeon HD 6800 Series: * Aliens vs. Predators improves ~9% at 2xMSAA and up to 20% at 4xMSAA * Batman Arkham Asylum improves ~4% * Crysis Warhead improves ~2-4% * Metro 2033 improves ~28% at 4xMSAA AMD Radeon HD 6900 Series: * Battleforge DirectX 11 performance improves as much as 6% New Tessellation Controls: * The Catalyst Control Center includes an early prototype of some new tessellation controls. Our goal is to give users full control over the tessellation levels used in applications. The default selection "AMD Optimized" setting allows AMD, on a per application basis, to set the best level of tessellation. The intention is to help users get the maximum visual benefit of Tessellation, while minimizing the impact on performance. Currently no applications have been profiled, so the "AMD Optimized" setting will be non-operational until further notice. * The "Use Application Settings" option gives applications full control over the Tessellation level. Users can also manually set the maximum tessellation level used by applications with the slider control * The long term goal for the "AMD Optimized" setting is to use the Catalyst Application Profile mechanism to control the AMD recommended level of tessellation on a per application basis. AMD's intention is to set the tessellation level such that we will not be reducing image quality in any way that would negatively impact the gaming experience.