text:
We're all eagerly awaiting the release of Dead Space 3 — but in the meantime, here's something to tide you over.
A brand new book gives you a look inside the designs of Dead Space, from the beautiful space vistas to the terrifying worlds of the Necromorphs. And we're lucky enough to bring you some exclusive images from The Art of Dead Space.
Here's the official description of the book:
A lavish full-color hardcover art book, THE ART OF DEAD SPACE is the ultimate gallery of the DEAD SPACE universe, with over 300 images including original concept art images and sketches, many never seen before, and detailed commentary from the acclaimed artists — from breathtaking spacescapes and terrifying Necromorphs to character designs and creating a religion. This book includes art from the Dead Space games: Dead Space, Dead Space: Extraction, Dead Space: Ignition, Dead Space 2 and Dead Space 3, and concept art from the graphic novels Dead Space: Salvage and Dead Space: Liberation.
And here are some more exclusive images, plus the book cover:


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With over 10 years experience working solely in the Data & Analytics sector our consultants are able to offer detailed insights into the industry.
Visit our Blogs & News portal or check out the related posts below.
With over 10 years experience working solely in the Data & Analytics sector our consultants are able to offer detailed insights into the industry.
Visit our Blogs & News portal or check out the related posts below.
It's that time of year again. Decorations are going up, the temperature is dropping daily, and the year's biggest shopping weekend is upon us. Black Friday and Cyber Monday may have started stateside, but they're now a global phenomenon. This year, in the UK alone, shoppers are expended to spend £8.57 billion over the four-day weekend. But, for retailers, this mega-event means more than a cash injection. In the world of Data, insights gained from shopping and spending habits during this period can dictate their product and pricing strategies for the next twelve months. So what is it, exactly, that we can stand to learn from the Black Friday weekend? THE GHOST OF BLACK FRIDAY PAST There are a few interesting takeaways from 2018's Black Friday weekend that will likely impact what we see this year. Firstly, and perhaps unsurprisingly given that it's a few years since the event has become omnipresent, spending only increased about half as much as initially predicted. There are a number of reasons for this, but cynicism plays a central role. More and more, consumers are viewing Black Friday deals with an element of suspicion and questioning whether the discounts are as good as they're promoted to be. This, combined with other major annual retail events, such as Amazon's Prime Day, means that this weekend no longer has the clout it once did. However, 2018 also saw marketers doing more to stand out against the competition. Many businesses have moved away from traditional in-your-face sales messaging and some are even limiting their Black Friday deals to subscribers and members. By taking this approach, their sales stand out from the mass market and can help maintain a level of exclusivity that could be jeopardised by excessive discounts. In addition to branding, marketers making the most of retargeting saw an even greater uplift in sale. Particularly when it came to the use of apps, those in the UK using retargeting saw a 50% larger revenue uplift than those who didn't. So, having reviewed last year's Data; what should businesses be doing this year in order to stand out? GETTING BLACK FRIDAY-READY WITH DATA Businesses preparing for Black Friday need to take into account a number of considerations involving both Marketing and Pricing. For the latter, Data and Predictive Analytics play a huge role in determining what items should go on sale, and what their price should be. Far from just being based on gut instinct or word-of-mouth, algorithms derived from Advanced Analytics inform Machine Learning models that determine what should be on sale, and for how much. These take into account not only how many of each discounted product need to be sold to produce the right ROI, but also what prices and sales should be for the rest of the year in order to make the sale financially viable. In terms of Marketing, Deep Learning techniques can be used to accurately predict Customer Behaviour and purchases. These predictions can then reveal which customers are likely to spend the most over the weekend, and which are likely to make minimal purchases. Marketers can then, in the lead up to Black Friday, target relevant messaging to each audience whether it be "get all you Christmas shopping in our sale" or "treat yourself to a one-off item". By carefully analysing the Data they have available and reviewing the successes and failures of their Black Friday events, businesses can generate greater customer loyalty and improve their sales year-round. If you're looking to build out your Marketing Analytics team or take the next step in your career, we can help. Take a look at our latest opportunities or get in touch with one of our expert consultants to find out more.
28. November 2019
As the holidays approach, Marketers are focusing more than ever on User Experience (UX). They're not only looking at what kind of product customers might want or need but how will it look and feel to them? If a product doesn't have what you need or doesn't function as appealingly as others, what good is it? Key elements such as aesthetics, usability, and 'feel' are integral to the user experience. Because these elements come from such seemingly disparate departments as Marketing and Developers, it's important to figure out how to come together for the ultimate UX. After all, if today's buyers buy experiences over tangible products, then ensuring the experience is important to bridging the gap between customers, marketers, and developers. This, when done right, helps to build and retain customer relationships; the foundations upon which business is built. Design User Experience with M&D By bringing marketers and developers (M&D) together, you create the opportunity for innovation. But there are some key elements to consider when designing UX and it follows four stages. Do your research. Identify needs, spending patterns, buying behaviours, and historical data to determine what it is customers desire. Find out what they want or need and give it to them. This is the role of the marketer backed by development.Gather the data. Using multiple touch points across multiple sources and channels, find what works. What product offers usability and determine how design choices can help to create a seamless experience for your customer.Design your idea and create a prototype. Brainstorm your design. What are its product features, user interface, and aesthetics? Does it look user friendly? Would you pick it up off the shelf? Why? What is it about the product that makes you want to have it? What problems can it solve for you?Time to Test it. Is your product user friendly? What are its useful functions? How does it look? Feel? Incorporate feedback to improve its performance, function, or aesthetic. What does your test market say? Would they buy it? Why or why not? Bridging the Gap with collaboration We can forget sometimes, lost in our jargon and our buzzwords, that it's the customer who we hope will benefit from our product or service. Yet, traditionally, marketers gathered customer preferences and drove sales, while developers designed products based on those preferences. However, the two departments were often siloed and creativity, usability, function, and aesthetics either got overshadowed or underrepresented to varying degrees. Enter customer feedback an integral point of reference for all parties involved. Customers are at the heart of user experience and it's their feedback which can inform the user experience. What better marketing insights than those straight from the customer? Working with Marketers and Developers, customers provide a crucial component to helping marketers understand market dynamics. On the flip side, customer feedback can help mitigate risk or issues down the road by providing solutions and helping to resolve problems. the impact on Product Development By conducting user experience testing, marketers and developers can determine if a product is a good fit for customer needs. At the same time, they may identify issues to be resolved which can be learned of in real-time for a better user experience once the product is launched. Each has their role to play in designing the user experience and contributing to market insights for more informed business decisions. These include: Marketers are part of the design experience from conception to inception. They are responsible for gathering the data to identify problem areas, working with Developers to create a product or service to solve a problem, and gathering data from the customer. Do they like this product? Why? What pain points does it serve? And how can it be made better or improved? Developers are the designers. They must take the information the marketers have collected and try to make the product into something functional and aesthetically-pleasing. Though they operate more at the back-end, they too much collaborate with customers to capture issues and solve problems. Developers test the products, making improvements as needed. Each stage a constant in UX design.Customers offer invaluable data and metrics through their feedback and reviews. The insights they contain as the end user about using the product, revealing its challenges, and suggesting room for improvement, make this three-part collaboration the final link in the chain between marketers, developers, and customers when it comes to designing the ultimate user experience. If you're interested in the relationship between insights and UX, we may have a role for you. Check out our current opportunities or get in touch with one of our expert consultants to learn more.
21. November 2019
£40000 - £50000 per annum
A well-known publisher in the health & well-being industry is seeking an Optimisation Developer to join their expanding UX & Product team
US$280 - US$400 per day
New York
A leading manufacturing business with a large customer base is looking for a Pardot specialist to join the team on an initial 6-month basis.
£50000 - £60000 per annum
City of London, London
REMOTE OPPORTUNITY: A top independent agency is looking for a Web Optimization guru to join their growing team!

subset: commoncrawl


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"The mission of the church is missions"
Oswald J. Smith
"You wonder why people choose fields away from the States when young people at home are drifting because no one wants to take time to listen to their problems. Ill tell you why I left. Because those Stateside young people have every opportunity to study, hear, and understand the Word of God in their own language, and these Indians have no opportunity whatsoever. I have had to make a cross of two logs, and lie down on it, to show the Indians what it means to crucify a man. When there is that much ignorance over here and so much knowledge and opportunity over there, I have no question in my mind why God sent me here. Those whimpering Stateside young people will wake up on the Day of Judgment condemned to worse fates than these demon-fearing Indians, because, having a Bible, they were bored with it---while these never heard of such a thing as writing."
Jim Elliot
"And people who do not know the Lord ask why in the world we waste our lives as missionaries. They forget that they too are expending their lives... and when the bubble has burst they will have nothing of eternal significance to show for the years they have wasted."
Nate Saint
"I have but one passion - it is He, it is He alone. The world is the field and the field is the world; and henceforth that country shall be my home where I can be most used in winning souls for Christ."
Count Zinzendorf
"I feel now, that Arabia could easily be evangelized within the next thirty years if it were not for the wicked selfishness of Christians."
Samuel M. Zwemer
"Today Christians spend more money on dog food then missions"
Leonard Ravenhill
"It will not do to say that you have no special call to go to China. With these facts before you and with the command of the Lord Jesus to go and preach the gospel to every creature, you need rather to ascertain whether you have a special call to stay at home."
Hudson Taylor
"Answering a student's question, 'Will the heathen who have not heard the Gospel be saved?' thus, 'It is more a question with me whether we, who have the Gospel and fail to give it to those who have not, can be saved."
Charles Spurgeon
"'Not called!' did you say? 'Not heard the call,' I think you should say. Put your ear down to the Bible, and hear him bid you go and pull sinners out of the fire of sin. Put your ear down to the burdened, agonized heart of humanity, and listen to its pitiful wail for help. Go stand by the gates of hell, and hear the damned entreat you to go to their father's house and bid their brothers and sisters, and servants and masters not to come there. And then look Christ in the face, whose mercy you have professed to obey, and tell him whether you will join heart and soul and body and circumstances in the march to publish his mercy to the world."
William Booth
"If God has fit you to be a missionary, I would not have you shrivel down to be a king."
Charles Spurgeon
"While sailing to the New Hebrides John Patton lead the Captain of the ship to Christ. At the close of the voyage John made it clear to the Captain the Island he wished to be let off on. The Captain knowing the Island was filled with head hunting cannibals refused saying they would be dead in minutes of arriving on the Island. John Patton boldly stated to the Captain. "Sir, we died before we came!"
John Patton
"As long as I see any thing to be done for God, life is worth having; but O how vain and unworthy it is to live for any lower end!"
David Brainerd
"God isn't looking for people of great faith, but for individuals ready to follow Him"
Hudson Taylor
"The Great Commission is not an option to be considered; it is a command to be obeyed"
Hudson Taylor
"The spirit of Christ is the spirit of missions. The nearer we get to Him, the more intensely missionary we become."
Henry Martyn
"He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose"
Jim Elliott
"Sympathy is no substitute for action."
David Livingstone
"The Bible is not the basis of missions; missions is the basis of the Bible"
Ralph Winter
"No one has the right to hear the gospel twice, while there remains someone who has not heard it once."
Oswald J. Smith
"Any church that is not seriously involved in helping fulfill the Great Commission has forfeited its biblical right to exist."
Oswald J. Smith
"We talk of the Second Coming; half the world has never heard of the first." Oswald J. Smith
"This generation of Christians is responsible for this generation of souls on the earth!"
Keith Green
"There is nothing in the world or the Church -- except the church's disobedience -- to render the evangelization of the world in this generation an impossibility."
Robert Speer
"If you found a cure for cancer, wouldn't it be inconceivable to hide it from the rest of mankind? How much more inconceivable to keep silent the cure from the eternal wages of death."
Dave Davidson
"In our lifetime, wouldn't it be sad if we spent more time washing dishes or swatting flies or mowing the yard or watching television than praying for world missions?"
Dave Davidson
"The reason some folks don't believe in missions is that the brand of religion they have isn't worth propagating."
"The gospel is only good news if it gets there in time"
Carl F. H. Henry
"As long as there are millions destitute of the Word of God and knowledge of Jesus Christ, it will be impossible for me to devote time and energy to those who have both."
J. L. Ewen
"The command has been to 'go,' but we have stayed -- in body, gifts, prayer and influence. He has asked us to be witnesses unto the uttermost parts of the earth ... but 99% of Christians have kept puttering around in the homeland."
Robert Savage
"Believers who have the gospel keep mumbling it over and over to themselves. Meanwhile, millions who have never heard it once fall into the flames of eternal hell without ever hearing the salvation story."
K.P. Yohannan
"We Christians are debtors to all men at all times in all places, but we are so smug to the lostness of men. We've been "living in Laodicea ", lax, loose, lustful, and lazy. Why is there this criminal indifference to the lostness of men? Our condemnation is that we know how to live better than we are living." Leonard Ravenhill
"He is not seeking a powerful people to represent HIM. Rather, He looks for all those who are weak, foolish, despised, and written off: and He inhabits them with His own strength."
Graham Cooke
"If you want the Kingdom speeded, go out and speed it yourselves. Only obedience rationalizes prayer. Only Missions can redeem your intercessions from insincerity."
William Carey
" Whenever, in any century, whether in a single heart or in a company of believers, there has been a fresh effusion of the Spirit, there has followed inevitably a fresh endeavor in the work of evangelizing the world."
A. J. Gordon
"If missions languish, it is because the whole life of godliness is feeble. The command to go everywhere and preach to everybody is not obeyed, until the will is lost by self-surrender in the will of God. There is little right giving because there is little right living, and because of the lack of sympathetic contact with God in holiness of heart, there is a lack of effectual contact with him at the Throne of Grace. Living, praying, giving and going will always be found together, and a low standard in one means a general debility in the whole spiritual being."
Arthur T. Pierson
"It is possible to evangelize the world in this generation, if the Church will but do her duty. The trouble is not with the heathen. A dead Church will prevent it, if it is prevented. Why should it not be accomplished? God will have all men to be saved and come unto the knowledge of the truth. The resources of the Church are boundless. Let the will of the Church be brought into line with the will of God, and nothing will be found to be impossible. May God grant it!"
Griffith John
"While vast continents are shrouded in darkness... the burden of proof lies upon you to show that the circumstances in which God has placed you were meant by God to keep you out of the foreign mission field."
John Keith-Falconer
"Here am I. Send me."
"Young man, sit down: when God pleases to convert the heathen, He will do it without your aid or mine."
said to a young William Carey
"Oh, that I had a thousand lives, and a thousand bodies! All of them should be devoted to no other employment but to preach Christ to these degraded, despised, yet beloved mortals."
Robert Moffat
"I pray that no missionary will ever be as lonely as I have been."
Lottie Moon
"Expect great things from God. Attempt great things for God."
William Carey
"Obedience to the call of Christ nearly always costs everything to two people- the one who is called, and the one who loves that one."
Oswald Chambers
"When he landed in 1848 there were no Christians here; when he left in 1872 there were no heathen."
said of John Geddie
"Tell the students to give up their small ambitions and come eastward to preach the gospel of Christ."
Francis Xavier
"The mark of a great church is not its seating capacity, but its sending capacity."
Mike Stachura
"There is something wonderfully misleading, full of hallucination and delusion in this business of missionary calls. With many of us it is not a missionary call at all that we are looking for; it is a shove. There are a great many of us who would never hear a call if it came."
Robert Speer
"I have found that there are three stages in every great work of God; first, it is impossible, then it is difficult, then it is done."
J. Hudson Taylor
"I love to live on the brink of eternity."
David Brainerd
"Why doesn't your God speak my language?"
Guatemalan Indian to Cam Townsend, founder Wycliffe Bible Translators
"None but women can reach Muslim Women... So we have a solemn duty in this matter that we cannot shift. The blood of souls is on our skirts, and God will demand them at our hands."
Missionary wife from the Middle East
"I have but one candle of life to burn, and I would rather burn it out in a land filled with darkness than in a land flooded with light"
John Keith Falconer
"The primary qualification for a missionary is not love for souls, as we so often hear, but love for Christ."
Vance Havner
"If you want the Kingdom speeded, go out and speed it yourselves. Only obedience rationalizes prayer. Only Missions can redeem your intercessions from insincerity."
William Carey
"There is need of a great revival of spiritual life, of truly fervent devotion to our Lord Jesus, of entire consecration to His service. It is only in a church in which this spirit of revival has at least begun, that there is any hope of radical change in the relation of the majority of our Christian people to mission work."
Andrew Murray
"If missions languish, it is because the whole life of godliness is feeble. The command to go everywhere and preach to everybody is not obeyed, until the will is lost by self-surrender in the will of God. There is little right giving because there is little right living, and because of the lack of sympathetic contact with God in holiness of heart, there is a lack of effectual contact with him at the Throne of Grace. Living, praying, giving and going will always be found together, and a low standard in one means a general debility in the whole spiritual being."
Arthur T. Pierson
"In every revival there is a reemphasis of the Church's missionary character. Men return to Calvary, and the world is seen afresh through the eyes of Christ. The infinite compassion of Christ fills the heart, and the passion evoked by Calvary demands the whole wide world as the fruit of His sacrifice."
John Shearer


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The artists
|Item type
|Current location
|Call number
|Date due
|Visual Materials
|台中美國資料中心 American Corner Taichung
|Not for loan
Not rated Producer/writer/director, Karen Thomas ; music, Peter Rogers Melnick. Dennis Hopper, narrator. Special feature: Weblinks.
"No living artist has changed our perception of art as much as American painter Robert Rauschenberg. Beginning in the 1950s, Rauschenberg turned away from convential paint on canvas and started to create multimedia "combines" that both revolutionized and inspired the art community. In the years that have followed, his work has continued to bring a sense of challenge and excitement to the medium"--Container. " ... This compelling film offers a rich mixture of visual images and engaging commentary that eloquently reveal the man behind the ingenuity"--Container.


text:
Toontown Online Cheats :
Secret - How to do cool things to your Toontown Online Chat Bubbles!
I have a good friend on toontown named Mister Blubber Bouncyfeather! He really wanted to know about the speech bubbles and how to make long messages and make it a cloud. Well, I know! So, I knew that alot of people don't know how to do it. Wheather you a newb, or an advanced player of Toontown Online!
Cloud Speech Bubble
All you have to do is type a "." before you type your message in chat. (MUST HAVE SPEEDCHAT PLUS)
(This secret also works for Pirates Online!)
Now a little bit more hard one is the long message speech bubble, but it's not hard at all. Just tougher than the cloud.
Full O' Words Speech Bubble
Okay, go on a toon that DOESN'T have true friends chat if you already have it on an acc.
Type f f f f f f (Or any random letter) until you fill the entire chat bubble. Like this f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f.
Then when it enters it should appear as.
squeak squeak squeak squeak squeak squeak squeak squeak squeak ( but way longer)
or meow meow meow meow (etc)
ruff ruff ruff (etc.
You get the point.
Toontown Online Cheats:


text:
LOS ANGELES — Daytime talk show "Katie" is ending, according to Walt Disney Co.'s ABC, following host Katie Couric's decision to begin producing news reports for Yahoo Inc.
"Katie" will conclude in June after completing its second season, Couric and Disney-ABC Domestic Television, the program's distributor, said Thursday in an e-mailed statement.
Couric, 56, who once earned as much as $15 million a year anchoring the "CBS Evening News," said last month she's joining Yahoo as the Web portal's global anchor. To permit the move, she was released from an agreement to produce segments exclusively for ABC's network news unit, people said last month.
"Incredibly proud of what we've accomplished with @KatieShow," Couric posted on her Twitter account. "Many thanks to my talented, hard-working staff & still so much to look fwd to!"
Disney, the world's largest entertainment company, said in November that a decision on whether to renew "Katie" for a third season would be made this month. Couric had wanted to continue, people said at the time.
Disney is based in Burbank, Calif. The stock has climbed 47 percent this year, compared with a 27 percent increase for the Standard & Poor's 500 Index.
When "Katie" began in September 2012, the program drew the largest audience of a new daytime talk show since "Dr. Phil" in 2002, according to Nielsen data supplied at the time by Disney-ABC Domestic Television. Couric and Jeff Zucker, the former chief executive officer of NBCUniversal, were executive producers. Zucker became president of Time Warner Inc.'s CNN in January.
While "Katie" regularly ranked among the most-watched daytime syndicated talk shows, the program never became a replacement for "The Oprah Winfrey Show," which was also distributed by Disney-ABC and ended its 25-year run in May 2011.
"Katie" drew an average of 2.27 million viewers in the week ended Dec. 8, according to data supplied by Nielsen, fewer than the top-rated "Dr. Phil" at 4.17 million.
Couric, whose show was taped at ABC's studio in New York, reached an agreement with Disney in June 2011 to distribute the show, which became available in more than 94 percent of U.S. television markets.


text:
Hunter present the men's 'Original Short Wellies' in navy. Handcrafted from waterproof vulcanised rubber, the short boots offer a comfortable, orthopaedic fit, hardwearing, quick-dry knitted nylon lining and cushioned sponge insoles. Practical and stylish, the wellies are reinforced with traditional calendered sole and tonal buckle detail to the shaft. Moulded lines, matte finish and Hunter logo finish the design with signature qualities. Ideal for general wear.
Upper and Sole: Rubber. Lining: Textile
Featured Products


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Along the Tajo River around 90km east of Madrid, the ArchaeoSpain High School Field School is excavating the Medieval Castle of Zorita. The castle, said to have never been conquered by force, was built in the beginning of the 9th century as a Moorish fortress for Mohammed I of the Omayyad Dynasty of Córdoba. According to the Persian physician and writer Al-Razi, the Moors used the stones from the nearby abandoned Visigothic city of Recópolis to construct the walls. In 1174, the castle was given to the Order of Calatrava, one of Spain's most famous group of knights. Zorita became the Order's headquarters from the end of the 12th to the beginning of the 13th centuries. Our students, hailing from the United States, the United Kingdom, Spain, and Canada, update us on their progress in units next to a Romanesque chapel inside the castle walls.
Medieval Castle of Zorita, Spain
Samantha Odrowaz-Sekely, 16, Toronto, Canada:
For the past two weeks I have participated in the ArchaeoSpain program excavating at Castillo de Zorita de los Canes, in Guadalajara, Spain. This castle has a magnificent history: it was built by Arabs in the 9th century, then taken over by Christians, and it fell into the possession of the Calatrava Order. The most remarkable and thrilling find so far was a nearly complete skeleton. We found a skull, with a roof tile embedded in the head, in the first stratigraphic layer. As we continued digging around the skull, we uncovered a nearly complete skeleton! The skeleton, dubbed Rodrigo, was identified as male based on his hip structure. Rodrigo was missing both of his patellas, but was otherwise almost complete. We used small, delicate brushes to remove as much soil as possible while still providing the necessary amount of support for the skeleton. When it was time to remove Rodrigo, each set of bones was removed, starting with the left foot bones, and continued until the skull. Each set of bones was put in a separate bag, with a label to identify the bones. Overall, it is a truly exciting project!
Juan Merino, 17, Valencia, Spain:
We are a group of seven students and two professors who are digging in Zorita castle, in Guadalajara, Spain. The day starts at 6:30, with a quick breakfast and we immediately go up to the castle to start digging at 7:00. Today we were very excited because we were going to take "Rodrigo," the skeleton we found a few days ago, out of his tomb. It was easier than expected, because Rodrigo's tomb was only a hole in the ground, and a professional anthropologist helped us. Step by step, all the bones were put in boxes, one for the head, another for the left arm, etc. After a few minutes, the skeleton disappeared in front of my eyes, much faster than it had appeared. This experience was very exiting for me. In fact, it's completely different from high school and I can't stop feeling happy and very interested about all that is happening these days at the site. It's really an adventure.
Madison Taylor, 16, Knoxville, Tennessee:
Today is the tenth day of our three-week-long excavation of the Castillo de Zorita de los Canes in Guadalajara, Spain. I worked with Kate to clean and to excavate Layer 104, and to attempt to puzzle together what the small room could have been used for.
Layer 104 is in the northeastern corner of area 2 and approximately two and a half meters by three and a half meters. Layer 104 is surrounded by walls (units 105 and 106) that consist of stone and Roman-style plaster and was the first thing we cleaned with brushes and small picks. The dirt throughout the unit was a dark beige color and was very dry, sandy, and dusty and contained many rocks and river stones ranging in size from a half a centimeter radius to 15 cm in length; the rocks made scraping the surface of Layer 104 difficult at times. Also, there are many pieces of charcoal and gypsum ranging in size from grainy dust to 3 centimeters in length. Roof tiles exist throughout the sandy layers and into the layers underneath. Toward the center of the unit is a piece of iron about 12 centimeters long and three jawbones and other bones of goats and sheep. We removed the animal bones but left the iron, waiting to remove it with the earth around it intact tomorrow. We scraped away approximately 3-5 centimeters off of the surface of unit 104 using picks and trowels and brushes. Many more bones were found; all of the bones found are likely animal because we have only found animal skulls and each intact, recognizable bone is animal. Sometimes, there were pieces of charcoal beneath the bones.
Also found were many pieces of ceramic. Smooth, plain, clay-colored shards to large chunks of green and manganese pottery were found. Some pieces had ripples on one facet. The green and manganese plate pieces that were found had a white background with black and white striped patterns in the shape of an eye and spots and shapes of a bluish-green. These pieces are thought to be Arab because of the color and pattern. Also found were pieces of glass about a centimeter in length and very thin and unclear, and iron nails. Overall, ceramic outweighed any find in numbers; about fifty or more pieces were uncovered. Layer 104 contains many different types of objects from animal bones to shards of ceramic to glass to iron. This leads one to believe that this area may have been a rubbish pit. The unit is between the wall of a church and a room, and it is isolated and comparably small, and yields no whole skeletons or whole ceramic vessels. We will continue to excavate to find out if this was a rubbish pit and what was thrown away. The objects inside this unit may tell us who used this pit, what the people of the castle ate, what they used as vessels, and what they burned to cook or fuel a flame with (charcoal). The structure next to the rubbish pit is thought to be a room for a castle prior or priest; this might also help us understand what this corner was used for.
Kate Hodge, 17, Henderson, Kentucky:
Today we began by excavating around a house-shaped structure. I was digging in the stratigraphic layer 104, which is outside the walls of the house in the northeastern corner of Area 2.
My goal was to dig down through 104 to see if the two flanking walls had an end point. This question has not yet been answered, as the trench is not deep enough to tell. Layer 104 has gray-white colored soil that is very light, sandy, and extremely dry. The soil frequently yields white, flaky gypsum and chunks of charcoal that are 0.5 to 3 centimeters in diameter. We have found many bone and pottery fragments along with some iron and glass in this layer as well. All of the bone fragments are presumably animal because the most recognizable ones belonged to a sheep or goat. The pottery ranges in color from white, to green-blue, to black. Many of the pieces lack decoration, but some have geometric patters painted or stamped on. This layer is thought to be a trash area because of the volume of random pottery shards, charcoal lumps, iron pieces, and bone fragments.
Sydney Comstock, 16, Kensington, Maryland:
Today was just like any other day on the site, exciting and fascinating. As always, the walk up to Zorita Castle was filled with beautiful views, but the site was where the real finds were waiting.
The team continued digging in Trench Two, which turned into a room from a few large rocks that begged for us to investigate them. The doorway is facing west with a fireplace in the eastern end of the structure. After brushing and excavating the walls, the team started in on the floor. Working on the southern end of the room was tough going, the soil was quite compact with a sandy brown coloring. Using a little pick, I slowly began to level out stratigraphic Layer 102, which contained pieces of rocks, white gypsum, and some pottery fragments. As I was troweling out the pieces of ground I had just excavated, something didn't fit in with the light brown coloring of the surroundings. A white, smooth stone had revealed itself and shone differently than all the usual finds. I picked it up and approached the director of the site. Immediately his face lit up and as he showed it to the other director she let out a squeal. As they explained to me that I had stumbled upon an ax head from the Neolithic age! I couldn't believe it. I had held something thousands of years old and it had survived those many years to tell its story. The room, located directly next to the church, was presumed by our director to be a home of a priest who probably owned the stone. These smooth pieces that were made into ax heads were revered by the many people in the medieval age and were considered to have magical powers. The stone itself was about seven centimeters with a dull but cut edge. On the opposite end of the rock a chip was made so it could be attached to a stick by tying it with leather. This could not have been a greater start to the day.
The rest of the time was spent working on Layer 111 at the western end of the room by the doorway. Although finding the ax head was by far the highlight of my workday, excavating in this new layer was exciting as well. Here, the soil had contained many medieval roof tiles that had fallen when the ceiling collapsed. Those were photographed, drawn, and removed. This layer was also filled with charcoal and white gypsum, giving it an Oreo-like effect. The soil surrounding it was much darker and although it had a sandy feel, a small pick was needed for the firm parts. Altogether the day had been a great one, filled with interesting finds and new information. I wonder what will be discovered tomorrow.


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Updated: February 13, 2018 (for package 5.6.1)
You can configure a one-way, ongoing sync from Salesforce to Zendesk. You can sync Contacts/Leads to users, and Accounts and to organizations. You can also filter the Contacts/Leads and Accounts that are synced into Zendesk.
Related articles:
For links to all of our Salesforce documentation, see Salesforce integration resources.
Understanding limitations of sync
- Neither the organization sync or the user sync will move Person Accounts. The organization sync treats Parent Accounts as normal organizations in Zendesk. It does not give any special consideration to the Parent relationship.
- The user sync does not support Converted Leads.
- Currently, ongoing sync will not run if triggered by more than one record (such as a bulk upload of records through Salesforce data loader, or bulk update of records using Salesforce batch job). We do not support bulk sync triggers, as we cannot control the record processing rate, and multiple sync requests can excessively consume system resources in both Salesforce and Zendesk, which can impact performance. If you need to sync a large number of records, we recommend using our bulk sync feature, which can sync up to 250,000 records.
- If an account has previously synced from SFDC to Zendesk, the related organization ID is stored in a hidden Account field called Zendesk Support Organization ID. If organizations are failing to sync, please add this field to a layout to see whether this value is set, and to which organization it corresponds.
Warning: A value present within this field will take precedence over other sync matching logic. If you have previously synced with a different instance of Zendesk, the difference in organization ids may cause issues when syncing with the new instance. Removing this value and re-syncing would force a sync based on matching logic which should resolve the issue.
Preparing for the sync process (Professional edition only)
If you are using the Professional edition, you need to complete this procedure before you can start the synchronization process.
- Add all of the following Zendesk package fields to the page layouts for admins on Account:
- createdUpdatedFlag
- Domain_Mapping
- Last Sync Date
- Last Sync Status
- Notes
- Tags
- Zendesk_oldTags
- Zendesk_OutofSync
- Zendesk_Organization
- Zendesk_Organization_Id
- Zendesk_Result
- Add all of the following Zendesk package fields to the page layouts for admins on Contact:
- isCreatedUpdatedFlag
- Notes
- Tags
- Zendesk_oldTags
- Zendesk_OutofSync
- Zendesk_Result
- Zendesk_User_Id
- Add all of the following Zendesk package fields to the page layouts for admins on Lead:
- isCreatedUpdatedFlag
- Notes
- Organization
- Tags
- Zendesk_oldTags
- Zendesk_OutofSync
- Zendesk_Result
- Zendesk_User_Id
If you do not add these fields to the layout before you set up the sync, you'll see a section called Objects and field permissions in the settings page listing all the missing field permissions. You'll need to add the fields to your layout to resolve the missing permissions.
(Optional) Setting a logging level
You can determine if and when you'd like to collect a log. Logs are saved in a custom object included in the package called Integration Logs.
- In Salesforce, click the Zendesk tab in the Zendesk for Salesforce app.
- Locate the Logging level section.
- Select a Logging level from the drop-down:
- None does not create a log
- Error creates a log when errors occur only
- Debug always creates a log
- Select an option for Weeks to retain logs.
- Click Save Logging Level.
Configuring ongoing syncing to Zendesk organizations and users
You can configure an ongoing sync that automatically creates and updates Zendesk organizations immediately after accounts are created or updated in Salesforce. Likewise, you can configure an ongoing sync that automatically creates and updates Zendesk users immediately after contacts or leads are created or updated in Salesforce.
This is a one-way sync of data; changes applied in Zendesk are not reflected in Salesforce. The sync is triggered when a mapped
field is updated (in an existing record), or created (in a new record). Updates to unmapped fields do not trigger the ongoing sync.
If you set up the ongoing sync, we suggest performing an initial bulk sync (see Using the Zendesk Support bulk sync feature). The bulk sync option is also an advanced feature.
Enabling and configuring the sync requires updating a number of settings on the User and Organization Sync Settings page.
Begin by opening the User and Organization Sync Settings page and verifying the general settings.
When a record in Salesforce is created or changed, part of the syncing process is an attempt to establish whether a new record in Support should be created, or if an existing record should be updated. This is done by comparing field values based on user-configurable criteria.
If more than one matching result is found, the sync is unable to determine which record in needs to updated; and, since this is a background process, there is no way to ask the user to clarify which record is the correct match (which is what bulk sync does). In this case ongoing sync won't update any of the records, and instead will log an unsuccessful sync event.
The automatic matching criteria are shared with bulk sync and are explained here.
As in a bulk sync, once a successful match of existing records has been made, or a new record has been created in Support, the Salesforce record and the Support record are linked by placing an external ID on each one.
This means that subsequent updates to the record in Salesforce won't need to use matching criteria but rather update the linked record on the Support side.
This also allows Support users to configure the Salesforce sidebar app to look up Salesforce data based on the external ID stored in Support.
Zendesk Searchable Fields
Not all fields in Zendesk are available for searching (standard fields like domain_names, details, etc are not available to be used in a matching criteria).
Available Zendesk fields that can be used are listed below:
Organization Searchable Fields
- name
- custom fields
User Searchable Fields
- name
- custom fields
- In Salesforce, click the Zendesk tab in the Zendesk for Salesforce app.
- In the User and Organization Sync Settings section, click Go to Mappings. The Sync Settings page opens.
- Use the Sync Pairing drop-down menu to select Accounts - Organizations, if it is not already selected.
- In the General Options section, use the Enable Updates drop-down menu to select Yes, if it is not already selected.
To complete the sync setup, you need to configure the following:
Updating the sync filters
First, you should consider setting the sync filters to choose what information is synced to Zendesk. You can tightly control the elements used in the sync by building conditional statements to filter the results.
To update the sync filters
- On the Sync Settings page, locate the Filters section:
- To create a sync filter condition, specify the Field, the Operator, and the Value (value field is left empty for "is blank" and "is not blank" operators) in the condition builder sections:
- Meet ALL of these conditions: All of the Conditions added to this section must be satisfied to include the Salesforce record in the sync.
Meet ANY of these conditions: One or more of the conditions in this section must be satisfied to include the Salesforce record in the sync.
For more detailed instructions on building filtering conditions, see Creating a sync filter condition.
- (Optional) Click the Test Query button to see if the record count, sample records queried, and SOQL query match your expected outcome. The information is displayed in the Test your filters section:
Important: Testing your filters does not mean the filters are already taking effect as your sync filter settings. Until you click the save button, the last saved filter configuration will still be the one used on currently running syncs. That also means, it is safe to tweak and test every filter combination on this page until you get your desired filtering as long as you don't save it.
If no filters were set up, all the supported records are in scope for syncing.
- Click Save.
Mapping Zendesk and Salesforce fields
Now you need to map the Zendesk fields to the Salesforce fields you want to populate them.
To setup which account field to map to organization:
- Navigate to Zendesk > User and Organization Sync Settings > Go to Mappings and set Sync Pairing dropdown to Accounts - Organizations.
- In the Field Mappings section, configure the following:
- Zendesk Support Organization Name: By default, this option is set to Account Name (Name). This controls which field in the Salesforce account record is synced as its related organization's name.
- Zendesk Domain Names (Optional): Use the drop-down menu to select the Salesforce fields you want to map to the Domain Names field, then use the Notes drop-down menu to select the Notes field on a Zendesk organization profile. If the domain value in Salesforce includes a protocol prefix (i.e. https://www.abc.com -> abc.com) it will be stripped when syncing to Zendesk.
Zendesk Tags: Use the picklist to select the available Salesforce fields to use as tags in your Zendesk, by clicking the field(s) in the left pane and using the arrows to move it to the right pane.The selected Salesforce field values are added as tags in your Zendesk.
Mapping a field to domain names enables user mapping for organizations in Zendesk. User mapping automatically adds users to an organization based on their email domain when they are created in your Zendesk. If you want to enable user mapping, you must first set up a field on Account with the organization email domain(s) (separated by a space).
- Click Save
Configuring custom mappings and assigning picklist values
Finally, configure any custom field mappings and assign picklist values, if needed.
To configure custom mappings and assign picklist values
- On the Sync Settings page, locate the Field Mapping section:
- Use the Salesforce Field drop-down menu to select a Salesforce field, and to display a new drop-down list of available Zendesk fields.
- Use the Zendesk Fields drop-down to select a Zendesk custom organization field, then click Add.
Mapping these fields means that they update during the ongoing sync and the bulk sync. The options in the Zendesk Field drop-down vary according to the type of field you select in the Salesforce Field drop-down; only fields of the same type will be available (see Allowed field types for Zendesk field mapping).
- If you mapped a Salesforce picklist field to a Zendesk drop-down field, click Map beside each one, then select a drop-down value for each picklist value and click Add.
Configuring syncs for Contacts to users, or for Leads to users
You can also configure an ongoing sync for Contacts to users, and for Leads to users.
To configure a sync for Contacts to users, or for Leads to users
- At the top of the User and Organization Sync Settings page, use the Sync Pairing drop-down menu to select Contacts - Users, or Leads - Users.
- In the General Options section, use the Enable Updates drop-down menu to select Yes, if it is not already selected.
- Update the Filters, Tag Mapping, and Field Mapping sections as described above.
Allowed field types for Zendesk field mapping
The following table shows the supported Salesforce field types and the corresponding allowed Zendesk field types.
|Supported Salesforce field type
|Multi-line text
|Auto Number
|X (if no decimal is present)
|Text Area
|Text Area (Long)
|Text Area (Rich)
|Text Area (Encrypted)
Creating a sync filter condition
To create a sync filter condition, specify the field, the operator, and the value (value field is left empty for 'is blank' and 'is not blank' operators).
If you wish to remove a condition from the table, click the Clear link on its row.
Related-record field filtering
Related-record fields have a double angle bracket (>>) at the right side of the label:
If you click the bracket, the fields for that related record are displayed. Click Back to return to the main field list.
Operators for each field type
Operator options will vary depending on the type of field you have selected.
Date field operators:
- = (exactly the same date)
- != (not the same date)
- > (later than)
- >= (later than or same)
- < (earlier than)
- <= (earlier than or same)
- is blank
- is not blank
Datetime field operators:
- = (exactly the same datetime)
- != (not the same datetime)
- > (later than)
- >= (later than or same)
- < (earlier than)
- <= (earlier than or same)
- is blank
- is not blank
Id field operators:
- =
- !=
Text field operators:
- =
- !=
- contains
- does not contain
- is blank
- is not blank
Picklist field operators:
- in
- not in
- is blank
- is not blank
Number field operators:
- =
- !=
- >
- >=
- <
- <=
- is blank
- is not blank
Checkbox field operators:
- =
Formula field operators:
Operators will depend on the output type of this formula. Except for the Picklist operators, it could be any of those field type mentioned above.


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Mo. driver's license offices assure security of documents
Critic complained gun registration data was being shared
Officials who oversee Missouri's driver's licenses are assuring that none of the personal documents supplied by applicants are shared with a private contractor.
Revenue Department officials told a House committee Monday they began requiring documents such as birth certificates and concealed weapons endorsements to be scanned into a state computer system as part of an effort to deter fraud.
Lawmakers raised questions about the process after a southeast Missouri man filed a lawsuit last week challenging the new procedures.
Revenue officials said the digital copies of documents are kept by the department, and only basic information about the applicant is forwarded to a contractor that makes the licenses.
Several dozen lawmakers are backing a bill that would bar Missouri from keeping copies of the documents.


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Blog Archive
- ► 2018 (17)
- ▼ 2016 (19)
- ► 2015 (26)
- ► 2014 (64)
- ► 2013 (124)
- ► 2012 (123)
- ► 2011 (119)
- ► 2010 (95)
- ► 2009 (167)
Informative Blog Posts
Sauce-Sational: An Experiment in Applesacue
- Akane
- Arlet (Swiss Gourmet)
- Baker's Mix - August
- Baker's Mix - October
- Bella
- Bonnie's Best
- Braeburn
- Cameo
- Chenango Strawberry
- Cortland
- Cox Orange Pippin
- Crimson Crisp
- Crimson Gold
- Dandee Red
- Duchess
- Empire
- Fireside
- Frostbite
- Fuji
- Gala
- Ginger Gold
- Golden Delicious
- Golden Supreme
- Granny Smith
- Haralson
- Hazen
- Honey Gold
- Honeycrisp
- Idared
- Jonagold
- Jonamac
- Jonathan
- Jumbo
- Keepsake
- MacIntosh
- Macoun
- Melrose
- Northern Spy
- NW Greening
- Overall Summary
- Paulared
- Red Gravenstein
- Regent
- Sansa
- Scarlet
- Shizuka
- Silken
- Smokehouse
- Smoothee
- Sno (Famuese)
- Snow Sweet
- Spartan
- Sweet 16
- Tolman Sweet
- Valstar
- Wealthy
- William's Pride
- Wolf River
- Zestar!
Popular Posts
The 2018 apple season started out with not the best weather – it rained and rained and rained some more. One afternoon on a whim, my mother...
The Northern Spy is a variety we're just finally starting to get a decent crop off. Northern Spy is an heirloom apple that characteristical...
Since the orchard now has ground cherries, I wanted to share this easy jam recipe. Ground cherries are delicious as a raw fruit, but they ma...
For all current information on Lapacek's Orchard please visit our new website www.LapaceksOrchard.com Thank you all so much!
The Crimson Crisp is another new variety in our shop this year. It seems to me that the majority of the people that sample them end up buyi...
Many people have asked for the story of how our orchard came to be. In the late 60's Frank was in the Navy, and was stationed at the Bremer...
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Lapacek's Orchard In the News!
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Sunday Recipe's
- Amish Apple Grunt
- Apple Butter Madness
- Apple Cheddar Bread
- Apple Chicken Salad/Sandwiches
- Apple Cider Donuts
- Apple Crisp Parfait
- Apple Danish Pastry Bars
- Apple French Toast
- Apple Fritter Rings
- Apple Harvest Blondies
- Apple Nut Bread
- Apple Pecan Quick Bread
- Apple Pie Cake
- Apple Pie in a Jar
- Apple Raisin Loaves
- Apple Salad with Blue Cheese Dressing
- Apple Strudel Puff Pastry
- Apple Toss
- Apple Upside-Down Cake
- Apple-Jalepeno Preserves
- Apple-Pecan Cheesecake
- Baked Oatmeal
- Bavarian Apple Torte
- Blueberry French Toast
- Blueberry-Raspberry Streusel Muffins
- Brandied Apple 'N Cream Cheese Pie
- Caramel Apple Bars
- Coconut Apple Cake
- Cranberry Apple Bread
- Cranberry Apple Salad
- Creamy Apple Squares
- Crispy Festive Apple Salad
- Cucumber Tomatillo Salsa
- Dill Dip
- Dinner in a Pumpkin
- Easy Waffles
- Egg-cellent Apple Salad
- French Apple Pie
- Fresh Apple Salsa
- Great Apple Dessert
- Great Apple Dessert
- Hot Cinnamon Cider
- Hot Pirate Cider
- Kelly's Favorite Apple Pie
- Maple Roasted Acorn Squash
- Marinated Zucchini Salad
- Microwave Apple Muffins
- Pumpkin Cheese Ball
- Pumpkin Gingerbread
- Pumpkin Pie Cake
- Quick Apple Dumplings
- Scalloped Apples
- Sour Cream Apple Coffee Cake
- Spiced Apple Bagel
- Spicy Apple Pancake with Cider Sauce
- Strawberry Chocolate Mint Lemonade Cooler
- Tangy Ham in Cider
- Tomatillo Salsa Verde
- Warm Apple Pudding
- Wilted Swiss Chard with Fresh Basil
- Zucchini Bread
Where Can you Find Us?
(608) 635-4780
Hedmark's Maple Ridge Maple Syrup
Each apple season for quite a few years now I've been proud to stock our shop with Wisconsin made maple syrup from Hedmark's Maple Ridge located in Fence, WI. This year is no different.
With my syrup order the Hedmark's always send the Judging Results from the current years contest. In 2016 4 entries out of 45 received a 100% score – and Hedmark's Maple Ridge was one of them!
Entries are judged in the categories of density, clarity, flavor, color, and color. It's great to see that the maple syrup we offer at our store scored a 100% in all categories! If maple syrup is your thing be sure to give Hedmark's Maple Ridge a try!
Back To School–Teacher Gift
My girls are heading back to school on September 1st! I can't believe it! Some of you have seen that they've been helping us out in the shop this year and you can expect to see that on most weekends throughout the fall (except when they have gymnastic meets). Of course – I now understand why back in the day farmer's didn't send there kids to school until winter! Now that they're getting bigger they're actually quite helpful around the orchard!
Anyway – they're heading back to school and I completely appreciate what teachers go through to teach kids all day long! I know I could never do that. I like to start the year with a little gift of appreciation and did you know that the orchard is great place to find just that!? We have a fun little gift shop along with the apples, caramel apples, canned goods, and apple cider donuts (weekends only for the donuts).
One of my favorite finds for the store this year are these fabulous owl jars in the colors of the rainbow! We're loading these jars with treats for the teacher to put a smile on there face the first day!
So … when you're trying to think of something for the teacher … remember you might just be able to find it right down the road at your local orchard!


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Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran
On Tuesday January 26, from about 5pm prison guards stormed the cells in juvenile hall number 12. These forces made a human tunnel and forced prisoners to pass through while beating them in the face and head with batons from both sides. Sixteen prisoners who sustained injuries in their faces and heads were taken to the prison medical clinic. Some of the young men who were injured were Mojtaba Asadi, Reza Mehraban, Behzad Cheraghi, Manouchehr Baba Khani, Mohammad-Reza Garshasi and Mehdi Mohammad Javanmardi. The beatings lasted for 2 hours.
The young men in hall 12 in ward 4 of Gohardasht Prison went on a hunger strike from last night in protest to the attacks and beatings and refuse to take the prison food. They have announced that they will continue their hunger strike until the attacks are stopped.
In the past two weeks, prison guards have attacked juvenile cells 9 times. These attacks are usually between 12 to 1 am. Prison guards take the prisoners in the severe cold and sometime under the rain to the prison yard and order them to take their clothes off. They then violently beat them for prolonged periods.
These guards have also confiscated the television set that these young men bought with their own money from the prison store and also some of their other personal belongings. These attacks are carried out under the supervision of Kermani and Faraji the deputy heads of intelligence under the orders of intelligence agency interrogators and Ali Haj Kazem, the head of Gohardasht Prison
Prisoners in Gohardasht juvenile hall go on hunger strike in protest to systematic attacks by prison guards
Posted by Daughters Of the SUN at 5:48 PM
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Elon Men's Basketball Rolls to 87-70 Victory Over VMI
ELON, N.C. – Tanner Samson and Lucas Troutman provided the one-two punch the Elon University men's basketball team needed on Tuesday night, Dec. 3, inside Alumni Gym, as the duo led the Phoenix to an 87-70 victory over the visiting VMI Keydets.
Samson poured in a career-high 23 points and grabbed a career best nine boards in the victory, while Troutman ended the evening with 21 points on 8-of-9 shooting from the field.
"It feels really good to get a win going into exams," said Elon head coach Matt Matheny. "We defended very well tonight against a good VMI team. We've had a tough stretch with a lot of games and I think we're continuing to get better as the season progresses."
Elon (5-4) stifled VMI (4-4) defensively for most of the game, holding the Keydets well below their 88 points per-game season average and to 39 percent shooting from the field. QJ Peterson, who came into tonight averaging 22.4 points per game, scored 14 points.
As a team, the Phoenix shot 57 percent from the field after knocking down 30-of-53 from the field. Elon has shot 50 percent or better in five games this season. The Phoenix knocked down 6-of-18 from long range, five of which came off the hot hand of Samson.
Elon outrebounded VMI, 37-35, to improve to 3-1 this season when it wins the battle on the glass.
Back-to-back fast-break layups by the Phoenix forced a VMI timeout with 3:42 remaining in the first half following a Sebastian Koch tap in off a Luke Eddy miss that gave Elon a 35-21 lead.
Elon led by as many as 16 points in the opening frame, carrying a 42-31 into the locker room at intermission. Despite shooting an uncharacteristic 22 percent (2-of-9) from long distance in the first half, overall, the Phoenix shot 55 percent in the first 20 minutes.
The Keydets managed to narrow the gap to six points early in the second period, but Elon jumped out to a 13-point lead with 14:54 to play after a Samson triple in the corner to make it a 52-39 game.
Elon's lead escalated quickly from that point forward, as a VMI technical foul on head coach Duggar Baucom led to two Samson free throws and make from long distance on the free possession, giving the Phoenix a 57-39 advantage.
The maroon and gold increased its lead to as many as 21 points in the second session, as the Keydets could pull no closer than 15 down the stretch.
Following a 10-day break for final exams, the Phoenix returns to action on Friday, Dec. 13, in Boulder, Colo., versus the University of Colorado. Tip is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. (ET) at the Coors Events Center and the game will be televised on the Pac-12 Network.


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I cannot believe that the whole whirlwind that was my wedding actually happened. It was the crazy, most exciting, fun and memorable day of my life. Everything was simply flawless. Watching the episode last night was so emotional and amazing to see how it all came together and I'm more than excited to finally be able to share our wedding pictures! I was planning this entire week to just post them all and share the experience with everyone. I also wanted to do a Q&A on Friday about the whole experience and I will answer any questions you have. You can leave them in a comment or email me at email@example.com and I will try to answer all questions on Friday. I know it will be a lot of my wedding in a week, but alas, I haven't gotten to share anything about it yet, and I'm super excited and then it will be over. :) So sit tight.
Here are a few personal pictures from my phone that are not professional but I took throughout the experience. :)
Right after meeting David at our house for the first time. I showed him my table and the bridesmaid dresses and shockingly enough, he liked them! :)
After the amazing experience at the Sonya Dakar skin studio and the little Bridal Shower they planned for me. It was the cutest thing I've ever seen in my life, a gorgeous day and my favorite women in my life!
After Go-Karting… which I must admit, was pretty scary!
The most amazing designer ever, Inez Di Santos. She seriously is the sweetest and most amazing person in the world! I can't believe I actually got to meet her. Since Dress 3 was my absolute favorite, I took a picture with her and the dress :)
On our dress shopping day! So surprised to see everyone there.
Working with everyone was amazing, and truly so memorable. Everything on the show is so true, you literally know NOTHING. We didn't know where we were getting married until the Thursday before, and we got married on a Saturday. I didn't know what dress I was wearing until that morning. We didn't know our shoes, jewelry, until that day. And yes, I truly enjoyed the whole experience. When you are with David, he's so kind and genuine, and you know you are in the best hands. I still cannot believe it happened! It was a blast, and to see all the love and emotion of all those who are so close to us was so amazing to feel that the entire day. Here's the deets on our entire wedding.
We were married at First Christian Church North Hollywood (yes the same church that 7th Heaven was filmed at and most recently it was featured on How I Met Your Mother) and our reception was at Universal Studios. The set up was incredible and the food was amazing.
Here is a list of all the vendors that were at our wedding, which you can also find on We Tv website as well.
BAND – they played during dinner and were SO good. Great vibe and I have gotten a lot of compliments on the great music during dinner: Rocky Neck Bluegrass Band www.rockyneckbluegrass.com
BRIDAL GOWN – the dress, which I am still obsessed with, was from Lovella Bridal, great experience there and AMAZING DRESSES. 818.245.INES www.lovellabridal.com
BRIDAL PARTY SHOES & ACCESSORIES, another surprise for us were the amazing and cute Nina Bridal shoes and accessories. They were comfortable and I love wearing them! www.ninashoes.com
CATERING, great, great food and totally what we both wanted! Gourmet Celebrations www.gourmetcelebrations.com/
CATERING AND DANCE FLOOR RENTALS, again, can't say it enough but everything looked amazing so I truly am thankful to all those behind the scenes that I never even met. Dolphin Event Services www.dolphinevents.biz
CHALKBOARDS AND LANTERNS, Once you see the professional pictures later this week, you will die over how everything came together! :) These are SO cute and they did amazing with them. Darice www.darice.com
CHOCOLATE CANDY APPLES. I wish I could share these with everyone. They were the best candied apple I've ever had. Carmel covered in red chocolate? DELICIOUS. Enjou Chocolat www.enjouchacolat.com
CUSTOM NECKLACE. I wear this necklace a lot still and love it! I love how it's interchangeable and love the beautiful red flower and little blue accents with the beads. Beautiful and she is SO sweet! Kata Banko Couture www.katabankobrides.com
LIGHTING Lighting makes all the difference and the street our wedding was held on was beautiful! Amber Event Production www.ambereventproduction.com
LINENS I loved the gingham… obviously! :) Cloth Connection www.clothconnection.com
PRINTED MATERIALS There were so many details that made it all come to life and she did an amazing job with our escort cards, program and all printed materials! Sandi Spells Design www.sandispells.com
RECEPTION DRESS This dress was HOT and I loved it! So much fun and changing made dancing so much easier. Sherri Hill www.sherrihill.com
VINTAGE FURNITURE/PROP RENTALS I think these were the bikes, fencing and pews? Possibly? Anyways, I love the vintageness of them and they came out looking amazing! Found Rentals www.foundrentals.com
EVENT RENTALS, I'm sure they supplied so many things! Town & County Event Rentals www.tacer.biz
FLORAL DESIGNER These flowers were AMAZING. I loved how everything looked and loved the combonations and how vivid and colorful everything was. The floral arrangements were simply gorgeous and beyond my wildest dreams! Studio Fiore www.studiofioredesigns.com
HAIR AND MAKEUP These girls know their stuff, they were amazing to work with, patient and totally made everyone look AWESOME! I would love to have them by my side every morning! :) Noriko Kerns-Podue from The REX Agency www.therexagency.com
WEDDING CAKE This cake was SO cute and fun! I love all her work. NancyKay's Confections www.nkconfections.com
WEDDING VENUE I love this church. It was so pretty. So simple, clean, everything was perfect! First Christian Church North Hollywood Fccnh.org
So any ways, after all that! I will post our pictures of pre-wedding, getting married the the reception throughout the rest of the week. :) And then friday, I will try to answer any questions that I get in the comments on emailed to me at email@example.com.


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Call for Papers and Presentations: Cherry Blossom Symposium on Intellectual Property and Federal Policy: Universal Access in the Digital Environment
April 5, 2013 - American University Washington College of Law Washington, DC
On April 5, 2013, American University Washington College of Law will host the Inaugural Cherry Blossom Symposium, exploring intersections between intellectual property and Federal policy. This year's inaugural symposium will focus on intellectual property and disability rights policy. The symposium will take as a starting point the tensions between Federal intellectual property laws, which promote exclusion as a means of fostering creation and innovation, and disability rights law and policy, which promote universal access and social inclusion. The intersection of intellectual property laws and disability rights legislation and policy is occurring increasingly – including in policy discussions and litigation over access to e-readers for people with visual impairments, over access to closed captioning for media content for people who are deaf or hard of hearing, over access to web content for people with cognitive disabilities and over strategies for promoting innovation in technologies and services that promote access more generally for people with disabilities.
We invite paper or presentation proposals for the conference by January 31, 2013. To submit an abstract, visit http://www.jotformpro.com/pijip/cb2013 or email email@example.com. Paper or presentation topics may address any issue at the intersection of the two fields, including discussions of how intellectual property doctrine may enable or hinder disability rights policy, and how the two fields can and should help shape each other.
Panels at the symposium may include:
· Access and Control: the Federal Legal Framework
· Technology as a Tool for and Barrier to Universal Access
· Looking Ahead: Prospects for a Unified Policy
The 2013 Cherry Blossom Symposium is being sponsored by WCL's Program on Information Justice and Intellectual Property, Disability Rights Law Clinic, and Center for Human Rights and Humanitarian Law.


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Moss' 2nd HR lifts A's over Halos in 19 innings
Oakland, CA – Brandon Moss' two-run homer in the bottom of the 19th inning lifted the Oakland Athletics to a 10-8 win over the LA Angels of Anaheim in the opener of a three-game set.
Seth Smith worked a leadoff walk against Barry Enright (0-1) and Moss smacked a no-doubt shot over the wall in right-center two batters later for Oakland's third walk-off victory of the year in its longest game in franchise history.
"That was exhausting," said Moss, who also homered in the sixth inning and finished 3-for-8 in the 6 1/2 hour marathon.
Jerry Blevins (2-0) worked 1 2/3 innings of shutout ball to earn the win.
The Angels' J.B. Shuck worked a bases-loaded walk in the top of the 15th, but Adam Rosales' RBI single in the home half knotted the game at 8-8.
Josh Donaldson drove in two for the Athletics, who won their second straight in extra innings. Oakland went just 10 innings to beat Baltimore on Sunday.
Albert Pujols had two home runs, three RBI and three runs scored, while Mark Trumbo hit a solo home run and drove in three for the Angels, who have lost six of eight.
Pujols drove a 1-0 pitch over the wall in left with two outs in the first, and Trumbo led off the second with his fourth homer of the year as the Angels grabbed a 2-0 lead.
Oakland got a run back in the fourth on John Jaso's single that plated Donaldson, but the Angels padded their lead with a big fifth inning.
With one out, Luis Jimenez beat out an infield single, Peter Bourjos was hit by a pitch and Mike Trout singled to load the bags. Pujols then brought in one with a single, Josh Hamilton followed with a sac fly and Trumbo made it a 6-1 game with a two-run double.
Moss hit a solo home run in the sixth, but Pujols smacked his second of the game in the seventh for a 7-2 advantage.
The A's got back into the game with a four-run eighth. The first three batters of the inning singled, with Jed Lowrie's base hit scoring one and bringing Dane De La Rossa to the mound. After loading the bases, Moss hit into a 3-2 forceout, but Donaldson followed with a two-run single to center.
Derek Norris then struck out and Scott Downs took the mound to face Chris Young, who made it a 7-6 game with a single up the middle.
Closer Ernesto Frieri then took the mound and got Rosales to fly out and end the frame.
He couldn't close the game out, though, as Coco Crisp drew a leadoff walk in the ninth, moved to second on a fly out by Smith, stole third and scored on a two-out single by Yoenis Cespedes high off the left-center wall.
Game Notes
Oakland swept a three-game set in Anaheim earlier in April ... A's starter Dan Straily was touched for six runs on seven hits with a walk and six strikeouts over 4 2/3 frames ... Angels starter Tommy Hanson gave up two runs on five hits with a walk and six strikeouts over six innings of work ... Bourjos exited the contest in the 11th inning after pulling up lame with an apparent left hamstring injury at first base following a bunt attempt.


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Tile Parallel Processing
A large surface can be subdivided into tiles, each of which can be rendered by a separate instance of the PDF Print Engine, running on a dedicated CPU. When complete, the rasterized tiles are seamlessly reassembled. Tests show significant performance gains for a range of job types.
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Long gradient blends, both axial and radial, can sometimes show banding and artifacts when they include abrupt color changes. These unwanted effects have been eliminated. Continuous shading effects are consistently smooth, and more fluid than ever!
Extended spot color handling
Up to 127 color channels can be specified and used in any given region.
Cache management
Repeating elements in VDP jobs, and step-and-repeat labels/packaging jobs, can be cached after rendering to minimize processing times. Opaque and transparent elements can be cached and retrieved. PDF Print Engine supports caching of both rasters and device primitives (Display List elements).
16-bit processing
PDF Print Engine can be configured for end-to-end processing of images and graphics defined with 16-bit colors, ensuring smooth gradients at any length (no banding), and precise colors on any substrate.
JDF-based automation
The PDF Print Engine integrates into workflows managed by Job Definition Format (JDF), the industry standard. This capability can be leveraged for in-RIP processing of impositions, text placement, etc.
PDF Helper
PDF Print Engine includes the "PDF Helper" utility for dynamic job configuration based on run-time inspection of incoming files (read-only).
Tight integration with PDF Library
For systems which include the Adobe PDF Library, PDF Print Engine can invoke it at run-time, enabling real-time modification of job content, immediately prior to rendering.
Non-binary halftones
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Inline image processing
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PDF Print Engine can apply transforms to all elements in a job, or to elements of the same type (e.g. images). In additional, individual objects can be discretely targeted for transformation.
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PDF Print Engine can accept printstreams submitted directly from desktop applications (Windows and Mac OS X), via the Adobe PDF Driver.
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PDF Print Engine is available as 32-bit and 64-bit binaries. Where the hardware/OS platform can support 64-bit applications, 64-bit processing delivers a large addressable memory space, and a performance gain of up to 15%.
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PDF Print Engine uses the Adobe Color Engine (ACE) or proprietary CMMs (Color Management Modules) to efficiently and consistently render job elements, defined in any combination of color spaces, to a reference printing condition (e.g. SWOP), using ICC profiles.
VDP support
PDF Print Engine supports Variable Data Print (VDP) workflows where job content is expressed as Optimized PDF or PDF/VT, or where a PDF file is used as a page element in any other VDP architecture. Direct mail and Transpromo jobs can take advantage of the full richness of the PDF imaging model with high impact personalized content.


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DescriptionCreate Rainbows by grouping Rainies together. Fill all the colours in the rainbow, but don't forget to pick up the sky coins on the way! Make special combos with the mini-rainbows to fill an entire colour quickly!
- Fill the Rainbow by clicking groups of same-coloured Rainies. Bigger groups fill the rainbow more quickly.
- When a colour in the rainbow has been filled, groups of that colour will give you almost no points for the rest of the level.
- Mini- Rainbows can be used to connect groups of Rainies, and can be used together for special combos.


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I know, I know: "An online poll?!" C'mon, humor me. It's Friday evening and the news pickins are slim. Besides, I feel a regrettable twinge of vindication in this result. Bloomberg is indeed a loathsome nanny-state tool and I'd never support a ban on big portions, but as I said once before, I do think limiting portion size will probably lead to marginal weight loss in the aggregate. That end doesn't justify the means of taking another step down the slippery slope of controlling people's diets, but just because we oppose a certain policy doesn't guarantee that it won't achieve part of what it's meant to do.
Anyway. You trust online poll respondents, don't you?
Nearly two-thirds of respondents to the Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Friday said they would oppose the introduction of a similar [soda ban] measure where they live, saying it gave government too much control over people's dietary choices.
More than 70 percent of the nearly 1,000 U.S. adults polled online also said they did not think the proposed rule would affect obesity rates. About 30 percent disagreed, saying it could help curb obesity and lower healthcare costs…
At the same time, the majority of those polled said that if faced with a similar ban, they would significantly change their own drinking habits by switching to water, low-calorie drinks or diet beverages, or simply consuming fewer full-calorie drinks.
Fewer than one-third of respondents said they would buy additional servings to compensate for a such a ban, according to the online survey.
It's gratifying to know that so much of the public is on guard about dietary nannyism, but the Bloombergs of the world will find tremendous encouragement in those boldfaced results. Remember, their standard rap when confronted about the unpopularity of the ban is that smoking bans were unpopular too before the public got used to them. The health police don't care if you like what they're doing; they trust that you'll come to like it in time, and if you don't, hey — they're doing it for your own good, not to make friends. If the ban goes into effect and they find some metric showing that the public collectively lost a little weight because of it, that'll be all the encouragement they need. Here's the accompanying graph from Reuters:
I'm kind of shocked by that result, just because it comes in the context of people roundly rejecting paternalistic intrusions into what they eat and drink. The state is claiming that it will succeed in making you healthier if given the regulatory power to compel you, and here's an irritated set of respondents angrily declaring … yeah, it probably will. Then again, how much we can trust the respondents to answer a question like this honestly? The subtext here, and the subtext of the ban itself, is that only the gluttonous and obese (or soon-to-be obese) gorge themselves on giant sodas. Go figure that when a pollster asks someone whether they'd continue to gorge themselves on soda if giant cups were banned, they feel a pang of shame and falsely declare that they'd switch to something healthier instead. (On the other hand, since this is an online poll and not something told to another person over the phone, might respondents actually answer that question truthfully?)
Ah well. Look on the bright side, guys: If the soda ban does come to your city, you'll get to enjoy the libertarian pleasures of … er, smaller portions. TNR:
Indeed, the 16-ounce limit might actually enhance individual liberty by compelling restaurants and bottlers to sell soda in the smaller quantities that people often want but can't get. It might become possible once again to order a Coke at a movie theater in something less than a Jacuzzi-sized tub. After all, the government isn't the only actor imposing its will on Americans today; corporations boss them around quite a bit, and, unlike the government, they seldom have to answer to anyone but their shareholders for it. When their bullying gets rough, it sure can help to have a tough nanny in your corner.
If the market won't meet the public's clamoring demand for less food, then darn it, the government will. Via Mark Serrano, here's a very New Yorkish little satire of the city's latest lurch towards utopia. Exit quotation from NYC Health Commissioner Thomas Farley: "It's not saying 'no' to people. It's saying, 'Are you sure? Do you really want that?'"


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Budding journalists get tips on reporting and college admissions
Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Jimmy Breslin looked out at the roomful of aspiring reporters gathered in Wilcox Hall at Princeton University this summer and told them there was only one way to be a good reporter: Use your feet.
"There's no such thing as a good story on the first floor. It's always on the fourth or fifth floor," he said. "If you're going to use the phone, get a job at Verizon. Don't use the phone. Go and see them."
Breslin was addressing the high school seniors participating in The Daily Princetonian Class of 2001 Summer Journalism Program . Run by Princeton alumni who worked as journalists in college, the program is for students from urban, disadvantaged school districts who are traditionally underrepresented in the worlds of collegiate and professional journalism. They are invited to live at the University for 10 days and attend classes to learn about journalism and the college admissions process.
This year, 21 students who will be seniors this fall at public high schools in the Northeast and Chicago are participating. The free program, which is in its second year, is funded by a grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation; the University provides housing and meals.
Read the full story .
Contact: Evelyn Tu/Jennifer Greenstein Altmann (609) 258-3601


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With David Reeves retiring, Sony exec Andrew House will assume the role of President, CEO and Co-Chief Operating officer of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe as of May 1.
"I'm very happy to welcome Andrew back to the PlayStation business and to work closely with him again" said Kazuo Hirai, President and Group CEO, Sony Computer Entertainment. "I'm confident that the skills and expertise Andy has gained over the years working as Sony's CMO will contribute enormously in leading the PlayStation business in Europe/PAL countries and regions and to bring new initiatives in managing the business in the coming networked era."
House has been with Sony since 1990, staring in corporate communications in Sony Corporation (Japan), where he toiled for five years. By 1995, he was working on the marketing for the original PlayStation and game titles. House went on to work in marketing at Sony Computer Entertainment America, helping to establish the PS brand and later devise launch strategies for the PS2 and the PSP.
Since 2005, he has worked at Sony Corporation as Chief Marketing Officer handling corporate marketing across all of Sony's business.
"I'm delighted to return to the PlayStation fold and excited to take on this new challenge," House said, "I have strong ties to the interactive entertainment industry and I believe there is huge potential for further growth of our business in the Europe/PAL countries and regions, particularly in the area of networked entertainment. I'm looking forward to working with everyone at SCEE and with other groups in Sony to help achieve this potential."


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Your logic is incomplete. You failed to take into account or do not understand all the behavioral aspects of the snakes that employ the discussed defense strategy.Startle displays are, now I hope you can follow my logic because it's apparently difficult for you, are meant to startle. Birds can be highly neophobic, and thus a startle display can give them enough pause for a snake to escape. This is likely a target for birds as they are sensitive to long wavelengths (reds, oranges, yellows), which you'll note, is what the ventral colors of ringnecks are.
Snakes that use the tail flashing defense use it any situation where they feel threatened. They do not always simply flash their bright colors to buy time and then try to run. They display these colors often times with tail wagging or little movement and patiently maintain the pose until the perceived threat is determined to be gone. The predator is not distracted or startled while the snake escapes. The snake holds it ground. The predator questions the safety of latching on to its potential meal and abandons it. Its a behavior that would be more useful against a predator that stalks its prey as opposed to visual quick strike from above predator in which case the snakes cryptic dark top coloration would be of more value. This behavior also cast serious doubt on the "Disruptive coloration. It's possible, for sure" theory as it was categorized.
"Grizzly Bears eat fish, but I'm not about to use them as a model of coral reef fish predation. "
That is smart of you because Grizzly Bears don't inhabit coral reefs. But again the analogy falls flat because the members of the mammalian taxon I listed are voracious snake predators to be sure, coexist in the same habitats and have life styles that would allow them to have frequent interaction's with "Tri color snakes". The use of these mammal's as a model for mammalian tri color snake predation encounters makes perfect sense. Grizzly Bears eating reef fish not so much.
Ernie Eison


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Apple's MacBook Pro and MacBook lines may finally get the physical design changes that some antsy buyers have been waiting for, according to a new report at AppleInsider. "People familiar with the matter" have told the rumor site that the 13-inch MacBook (my old fave, before the MacBook Air was launched) will be ditching the old and busted plastic look for a lighter, more eco-friendly shell "such as aircraft-grade aluminum and stainless steel."
If true, this is pretty exciting news for MacBook users—a lighter enclosure is almost always more welcome, although I'm sure that some of you who used to own PowerBooks and MacBook Pros aren't necessarily looking forward to the typical decrease in WiFi range.
The MacBook Pro will also be taking some cues from the MacBook Air and the new aluminum iMac, says AppleInsider. Not many (okay, any) details are provided, although AppleInsider speculates that there may be portions of matte black on some parts of the casings, enlarged trackpads, and the MacBook Air's full-size keyboard on the MacBook.
These are pretty safe guesses overall, although we're not entirely sure we feel the whole "matte black" thing on the MacBook Pro. The machines aren't expected to get a significant reduction in footprint either—something that will surely anger those who just hate all that extra space around the edges of the screen.
Still, these machines (particularly the MacBook Pro) haven't seen any cosmetic changes to speak of in some time, although they have been rumored for pretty much... forever. AppleInsider says that the changes are allegedly coming during the next refresh, and I know more than a few people who have been dying for an update in the casings before making a purchase. Is there a design feature you're waiting for?


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Editorial photo of Hamilius project construction site with cranes above office buildings in the center of Luxembourg city at sunset.
✓Royalty Free: pay once, use many times.
✓Exclusive: you can find these photos only here, on this website.
✓No Watermark: all purchased images come unwatermarked.
✓Safe Payment: pay safely on Paypal's website, with a PayPal account or a debit/credit card.
✓Information on commercial/editorial licenses, regular and extended rights: Licenses
✓Probably the most complete online collection of Luxembourg photos


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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.
- 1 English
- 1 Public
- Habits
- Pilot
- 1 Aviation
- 1 Behaviors
- 1 Health sciences
- 1 Nicotine
- 1 Withdrawal
- 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
Nicotine and tobacco use, whether it be through cigarette smoking or other devices, creates negative health conditions in pilots. The literature that was reviewed pertained to nicotine withdrawal symptoms and their negative impact on pilot performance. There have been studies conducted in order to explore how these symptoms impact pilot performance using cigarettes as the only nicotine device and does not specify the nicotine levels or the frequency of use. This thesis extends this work to examine the relationship between the nicotine withdrawal symptoms and the nicotine behaviors of pilots. It was hypothesized that the extent of withdrawal symptoms may …
- Contributors
- Bartlowe, Halie Marie, Cooke, Nancy, Nullmeyer, Robert, et al.
- Created Date
- 2019


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ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) They are 16-point favorites against a team tied for the worst record in the league. With each and every victory over the span of a 10-game winning streak, their once-narrow path to the Super Bowl has grown as wide as an eight-lane highway.
But think you'll catch the Denver Broncos looking past the Kansas City Chiefs this week? Don't bet on it.
If the Broncos have taken even a moment to think ``big picture'' this season - or think about anything beyond their next opponent - they've done a great job hiding it.
``As soon as you start thinking about the Super Bowl, you get beat so fast and you're going to be back at home before you know it,'' free safety Rahim Moore said.
From the free safety to the head coach to Peyton Manning to the 53rd man on the roster, this has been the theme all year - think about next Sunday, think about getting better every week, and let the future take care of itself.
Boring? Yes.
Predictable? Absolutely.
Effective? You bet.
And nobody has stuck to the script better in 2012 than the Denver Broncos.
``We're focused on trying to get better,'' Manning said. ``I think we've done a good job with that all season, just taking it one week at a time. I know it's a boring cliche, but I think coach (John) Fox has preached it. I think our team has bought into it, and I feel like we'll do the same this week.''
Whether they acknowledge it or not, the playoff picture has been looking prettier every week for the Broncos (12-3). By topping Kansas City and extending their winning streak to 11, which would be the second longest in franchise history, they would wrap up a first-round bye. If they win and the Houston Texans lose to Indianapolis, the Broncos would be the top-seeded team in the AFC.
The experts in Las Vegas aren't even waiting for Sunday's game to express their feelings.
The Broncos, at 4-1, are now the favorite to win the Super Bowl, followed by New England at 5-1 and Green Bay at 6-1.
They have come by that status honestly, winning their last 10 games by an average score of 31-17 and making most of those wins as predictable as the well-worn quotes about taking things one game at a time that they serve up on a daily basis.
``I grew up around San Diego and went to the horse track a lot,'' Fox said. ``There were a lot of favorites and it didn't work out that way a lot of times. You've got to earn this between the lines and it won't affect our attitude or mindset moving forward.''
Now, just because they don't get ahead of themselves this isn't to say the Broncos are completely devoid of personality.
Manning has a wry sense of humor and, when he's up to it, can be introspective; last Sunday he spoke in depth about his comeback road this season, insisting that despite the year he's having, he is not the same as he was in his prime.
Von Miller likes to dance after his sacks - all 17 1/2 of them.
Champ Bailey is almost always as thoughtful during an interview as he is good in one-on-one coverage.
Maybe it's because of well-respected, focused leaders such as Manning and Bailey that there are no troublemakers in the locker room, nobody serving up bulletin-board material and, for the most part, no complainers, save cornerback Tracy Porter, whose tweets about lack of playing time earlier this month were quickly and quietly tamped down by the team.
All of which keeps the focus on football, and the Broncos are perfecting the art of the easy win.
Home or road, tough opponent or not, Denver's wins have looked very similar week after week: They take a two- or three-touchdown lead and coast to a relatively easy win, yet still sprinkle in enough mistakes to keep the day-after film session interesting.
Bugaboos from last week's 34-12 win over Cleveland: Penalties. The Broncos committed 11 of them, a season high. Ball security. Broncos punt returners Trindon Holliday and Jim Leonhard bobbled one ball apiece but didn't lose either. Interceptions. Bad communication between Manning and Knowshon Moreno caused a second-quarter turnover against Cleveland - Denver's first inside the opponent's 10-yard line this season.
``You get concerned with everything,'' Fox said. ``The bottom line, as I mentioned yesterday, it's all about winning. You strive for perfection but they're never perfect.''
Even while he's having what will, statistically, wind up as one of his top three seasons as a pro - 103.7 passer rating, 34 touchdown passes and 4,355 yards - Manning never walks off the field satisfied. That sets the tone for the entire team.
``I think we've made some strides each week,'' he said. ``I still have to admit that it's not going to be an offense that's been together for five years. It's not going to look like that because we haven't. We've only been together for however many weeks, so we've tried to improve each week, but a lot of things just take time. We're trying to do the best we can in this limited amount of time.''
So far, that's been very good.
Lest the Broncos get complacent, especially with what looks like an overmatched opponent coming into Denver on Sunday, Fox can always pull out a number of well-worn bromides to keep his players' attention.
-''On any given Sunday.'' (Yes, he really says that.)
-''The other team gets paid, too.'' (A ready-made answer for any of Denver's shortcomings, which were more pronounced when the Broncos were 2-3 earlier this season.)
-''We don't look at the record, we look at the tape.'' (An easy one this week, because Kansas City's 2-13 record looks much less impressive than its toughly fought 17-9 loss to Denver did last month.)
``Does that translate to wins?'' Fox said of his way of keeping the players focused on the task at hand. ``Well, it has for us lately, and we'll see next week.''
NOTES: KR Holliday (ankle), CB Porter and OL Chris Kuper (ankle, headaches) all missed practice Wednesday. ... Fox is going for his 100th win as a head coach in what will be his 500th overall game as a college and NFL coach. ... RB Knowshon Moreno is averaging 3.9 yards a carry on 124 carries this season and the Broncos are ranked 25th in the league in average yards per rushing attempt.