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DimplesAkaKaren noticed that Windows came with two versions of Internet Explorer. She asked the Answer Line forum which she should use.
The 64-bit versions of Windows 7 and Vista come with both 32- and 64-bit variations of Internet Explorer. But the operating systems default to using the 32-bit brower.
They do this for a good reason: backward compatibility. Plug-ins have to be rewritten to work with the x64 version, and a lot of plugins have yet to be rewritten. More 64-bit plugins are being released all the time, of course, so this problem isn't as severe as it used to be. For instance, you can now download and install 64-bit versions of Adobe Flash Player and Google Toolbar. But if Windows were to default to running the 64-bit browser tomorrow, it would still result in a lot of frustrated tech support calls.
Nevertheless, if the plugin limitations don't bother you, there are reasons to use Internet Explorer x64. For instance, the 64-bit browser can use 4GB or more of memory.
Yeah, I know. How often do you need that? But the 64-bit browser appears to be faster, as well. In my own, very casual benchmarks, I clocked it performing 7.1 percent faster than the 32-bit version. More extensive tests by FavBrowser.com showed a significantly higher speed gain of 34.7 percent.
Read the original forum discussion.
Contributing Editor Lincoln Spector writes about technology and cinema. Email your tech questions to him at firstname.lastname@example.com, or post them to a community of helpful folks on the PCW Answer Line forum. Follow Lincoln on Twitter, or subscribe to the Answer Line newsletter, e-mailed weekly.


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Estimated reading time: 3 minutes
A new line Cole family cousins have been found in Indiana. Before Lucy Cole of Woodford County, Kentucky married Jonathan Sebastian Cropper, the Cropper family's ancestry reached back to 1685 and the birth of Ebenezer Cropper in Snow Hill, Worcester County, Maryland. After Lucy Cole Cropper died, Sebastian Cropper married Provey Dorsey of New Castle, in Henry County, KY.
Sebastian & Lucy Cole Cropper's son, Joseph Yates Cropper born in Woodford County, married Rebecca Pollard of Shelby County. Their family lived briefly in Shelby County before moving northward to Augusta in Marion County, Indiana, John B. Cropper was born and married Candace Elizabeth Hollingsworth
The daughter of John B. and Elizabeth Hollingsworth Cropper is Goldie Edith Cropper. Goldie married William Owens of Bedford, Indiana. Their family moved to Indianapolis.
Their son, Willard Owens, served in World War II and returned home to work for General Motors until his retirement. His work for GM led him to become a painter in his retirement for the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Willard's son is Donald Robert Owens. Donald's wife, Kathy McHaffy, who has documented her husband's genealogy which links him to the Cole ancestry of Frank & Jesse James.
Donald Robert Owens & Kathy McHaffy
. Willard Owens & Virginia Elizabeth Hankins
.. William Owens & Goldie Edith Cropper
… William B. Cropper & Eliza Ward
…. John B. Cropper & Candace Hollingsworth
….. Joseph Yates Cropper & Rebecca Pollard
…… Jonathan Sebastian Cropper Jr. & Lucy Cole
……. Richard James Cole Sr. & Ann Hubbard
…… Richard James Cole Jr. & Ann Yates
….. James Cole & Sarah Lindsay
…. Zerelda Elizabeth Cole & Robert Sallee James
… Jesse Woodson James / Alexander Franklin James
Cole Descendant – Thomas Jesse Cole of Landers, Wyoming
Cole Descendant – Film Star Gloria Stuart
Cole Descendent Ermina Jett Darnell

subset: commoncrawl


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submitted by a reader
Corrupt Chinese Govt Officials Detained
Why are Hu Jin-tao and Wen Jia-bao still on the loose?
If you say that 'endemic corruption threatens the Communist Party's grip on power,' then the Chinese Big Brother lets you off the hook! Well, this is a trick that Hu Jintao and Wen Jiabao seem to use every time like a 'secret code.'
What happened to the ex-Party General Secretary and President Jiang Zemin and his son?
Who exactly is in charge in China, anyway? We know the media and judiciary, like our own, are NOT independent. Is it possible that the same cabal who run our country, the continent, Europe, Australia, as well as … also run China? Think about it it isn't as far fetched as you might think!
Back to the corruption news: Auditor General Liu Jiayi reported that 14 central government officials had been arrested and nearly 200 other people had been punished. It's not cleared what means of punishment were applied!
Apparently the offenses included using the Sichuan earthquake disaster relief funds to build government offices. Since building government offices is not an offense, it must be presumed that the earthquake funds were earmarked for other uses!
In his 2008 annual report, China's auditor-general also reported about 50 government departments had misused or embezzled about 4.5bn yuan ($660m) in 2007. In some cases public funds were used to speculate in the stock market.
This raises a few more questions: Were the offenders discovered because their luck ran out and they lost the founds? Will the stock market pay the public money back? Who owns, or profits from the Chinese stock market?
Additionally, "managerial irregularities" totaled to another 42bn yuan ($6bn) worth of of public money misuse, especially by China's education and commerce ministries, and the statistics and tax offices.
So, what about the cheating Chinese officials in the Beijing "Opium" Olympics? Was that category of cheating condoned because it served the glory of the capitalist communist fatherland?
If you thought a ruling party as powerful and ruthless as the Central Committee of the [capitalist] Communist Party of China could eradicate all official and non official corruption with the flick of a finger, you would be right.
What good is the power, if the Chinese people are swamped by official corruption, industrial pollution and systemic oppression? How could their future, unlike the past, bode well for them?
Why don't they? The only plausible explanation is no one would be willing to shoot the Peking Duck that lays the golden eggs!
Once again, China has disappointed the world—just when you thought it had a chance to make it through!
Related Links:
- China Quake: Why Was the Girl Removed from Family? [See also the links on the page]
Related New Links:
- Former CCP's Leader Son Involved in Major Bribery Case [Oct 28, 2007]
- Jiang Zemin's Son Involved in Major Corruption Scandal [Oct 31, 2007]
- Corruption 'threatens China rainforest' [21 Aug 08]
- China fights misuse of quake funds [07 Jul 08]
- Top China boss removed from party [26 Jul 07]
- Shanghai officials hit by scandal [02 Mar 07]
- China steps up corruption fight [14 Feb 07 ]
- China finds pension fund abuse [24 Nov 06 ]
- Shanghai scandal 'implicates 50' [23 Oct 06 ]
Other Links:
- Disgraced Chinese Vice-Admiral who knows all, tells all
- Shanghai's Wealthiest Man's Trial Involves Family of Former Chinese Leader


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The following is a re-post from December 2017.
"Are you ready?" friends kept asking. And it was starting to vex me. Ordinarily, I would be ready. But with a week left before Christmas, there were cards not yet written and cookies still to be baked. Moving in November had really messed with my holiday preparations this year.
When a dear friend invited me to her son's Christmas concert the final Sunday before Christmas, the left side of my brain flatly rejected the notion. I had too much to do to spend a whole afternoon at a concert. But the right side of my brain which, for southpaws like me, runs the show had me blurting out, "Sounds like fun – I'm all in."
Intuitively, I knew I needed some Christmas spirit. And an afternoon of Christmas carols sounded like just the thing. But as I traveled the long, convoluted train ride to Dorchester I wondered if my time might have been better spent preparing for the holiday. I was behind and still had so much to do before Christmas.
The concert was held in a beautiful old Catholic church with magnificent jewel-tone stained glass windows and majestic statuary. Even thought I had not been there before, I felt welcomed amidst all the familiar symbols of my faith.
Shards of late afternoon sunlight streamed through the stained-glass windows, and I settled into my seat in the crowded church pew. The young singers and musicians were middle- and high-school aged and they represented four different Boston choirs and musical ensembles. As they gathered on the steps of the altar, I couldn't help but notice that these youngsters were a diverse group – in age, in height, in ethnicity, each one beautiful and perfect in his or her own way. I knew by reputation that they were talented and the moment they began to sing, their pure, sweet voices touched my heart. This, I thought, is what angel voices must sound like. A peace I had not felt for some time came over me. Yes, I thought, I am ready. I am ready for Christmas.


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The African bush elephant is the larger of the two species of African elephant. Both it and the African forest elephant have usually been classified as a single species, known simply as the African elephant, but recent evidence has seen the forest elephant classified as a distinct species . Some authorities still consider the currently available evidence as insufficient for splitting African elephants into two species.
Similar species: Elephants
Uploaded Aug 23, 2020. Captured Dec 5, 2017 09:59 in Unnamed Road, South Africa.


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The market is filled with ant-aging products and even though we have many too choose from, some rarely work. Like I have mentioned in past reviews, no oversight like in the supplement world, so most products just have to not hurt you and they are really overlooked and still being sold. I spent the last few weeks testing out serums to devices that help with aging skin. It's so hard knowing I invested a few weeks and a product just did not deliver what was stated.
Thankfully, Oz Naturals was not one of them!
I love retinol and especially one that did not cost an office visit. Yes, the prescriptions are not as costly as one would think but the office visits cost money and refills require another office visit. It gets up there and I honestly do not feel I am need of the prescription strength, yet. I prefer to not over medicate my face because if I up the potency, I also up the side effects and with Summer around, I also up my chances of getting a red and peely face. I'm all for anti-aging but shedding skin like a lizard is not sexy no matter the bikini you wear!
Oz Naturals has a 2.5% retinol serum, which contains Astaxanthin and Vitamin E. The formula is a strong orange hue in color that always makes me think the retinol oxidized, as yellow is the first tinge you see when it does, followed by the orange color that comes after. Thankfully, this is just a coloring from the ingredients versus a serum going wonky and I prefer getting pass the color versus a dye being added to just calm my fears. That is what Oz Naturals does, it offers a natural approach to your skincare's needs.
Ingredients (as listed on website): Organic Herbal Infusion, Organic Aloe Barbadensis Leaf (Aloe), Cassia Angustifolia Seed Polysaccharide (botanical hyaluronic acid), HamamelisVirginiana (Witch Hazel), Pentylene Glycol, Phospholipids, Retinol, Polysorbate 20, Potassium Phosphate, Hydroxyethyl Cellulose, Carrageenan Gum, Organic SimmondsiaChinensis (Jojoba Oil), TriticumVulgare (Wheat Germ Oil), Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Organic Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea), WildcraftedResinaPropoli (Propolis), Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Ethyl Hexyl Glycerin.
Astaxanthin: This was an ingredient that I had heard of but was not familiar with, as not any of my beauty products contain it. It's a carotenoid and an antioxidant. It's what they feed salmon when people for some reason want to see a pinker/orange hue in their fish. It does not convert to retionol (Vitamin A), however research which is still limited, has reflected it may aid with inflammation, oxidation and even UV damage. I like that it's simple and as long as it's derived naturally and not in it's synthetic form, it has the potential to help and protect against oxidative (free-radical) aging skin.
Price Point: $24.99 for a 1 ounce bottle with a pump top, versus a dropper. This bottle helps keep the air out and because it's tinted, the glass keeps the light out too.
I love serums because my skin loves them. They absorb quickly and that means less residue and you don't feel that heaviness that some creams tend to leave behind. Most serums play well with cosmetics and because I have increased my retinol use to both day and night use, just making sure I use sunscreen in the day to avoid redness or hyper-pigmentation issues. The latter part would kind of go against what I am trying to do (save my skin), so please don't skip on your SPF. I used the serum for a total of 3 weeks and like always, I am going from one 2.5% retinol brand to another. I will notice if a product works if it does or does not maintain the progress I have previously achieved, and I can then measure if the new serum brings anything new to the party. Even though Oz Naturals is orange in color, it did not leave a orange colored goop that was hard to hide. My skin absorbed the serum with no problems! I did notice that my skin at week two had a nicer and more pleasant texture. My skin had a glow that the previous retinol serum did not add. It was not an oily glow but just a healthy one and because I suffer from horrible seasonal allergies, this is something that unfortunately always reflects on my face and sadly my skin. The glow I got sort of helped make me look healthier and less tired, so it took attention away from the signs of having bad allergies gives you. I'll take it! Any serum that can do more than just deliver retinol is what I seek. I'm always looking to simplify my routine and I literally went from Oz Naturals 2.5% retinol serum to then moisturizer at night, and done! Just switch to an SPF moisturizer in the day and it's the easiest and most effective duo I have found, so no excuses that you have no time for your skin. With Oz Naturals, you will only need 3 minutes to get what I consider a good anti-aging beauty regimen, so you can even do it while brushing your teeth 🙂
Oz Naturals offers a large assortment of Beauty products at:
I received the above product(s) free of charge from Oz Naturals. I am not obligated to provide a positive or favorable review, just my honest opinion. My review is based on my experience with the product and/or brand, which may differ from yours.


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The second annual Carpe Diem took place this past Saturday. This year was about twice as big and about twice as dope. 19 artists working together in one space for one very long day. Inspiring, totally fun and exhausting. The work produced was simply incredible. It's amazing what can happen in just one day. A total transformation. It's my favorite event to curate and my favorite event to participate in.
Line-up: Brett Amory, Zoltron, Skinner, Jessica Hess, John Casey, Marcos LaFarga, Jet Martinez, Cannon Dill, Lauren YS, Max Kauffman, John Wentz, Eddie Colla, Ian Ross, Hueman, Nite Owl, Lisa Pisa, Chris Granillo, Reggie Warlock, Daryll Peirce and Cameron Thompson.
loakal presents Carpe Diem from Eddie Colla on Vimeo.
This Friday, April 4, 6-10 pm, there will be an opening reception for the exhibition at Loakal with many of the artists in attendance. The artwork will be on view at Loakal through April 29.


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The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) today voted to conduct full five-year ("sunset") reviews concerning the countervailing duty and antidumping duty orders on imports of sulfanilic acid from China and India (Inv. Nos. 701-TA-318 and 731-TA-538 and 561 (Second Review)).
As a result of today's votes, the Commission will conduct full reviews to determine whether revocation of these orders would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of material injury within a reasonably foreseeable time.
The Uruguay Round Agreements Act requires the Department of Commerce to revoke an antidumping or countervailing duty order, or terminate a suspension agreement, after five years unless the Department of Commerce and the ITC determine that revoking the order or terminating the suspension agreement would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of dumping or subsidies (Commerce) and of material injury (ITC) within a reasonably foreseeable time.
The Commission's notice of institution in five-year reviews requests that interested parties file with the Commission responses that discuss the likely effects of revoking the order under review and provide other pertinent information. Generally within 95 days from institution, the Commission will determine whether the responses it has received reflect an adequate or inadequate level of interest in a full review. If responses to the ITC's notice of institution are adequate, or if other circumstances warrant a full review, the Commission conducts a full review, which includes a public hearing and issuance of questionnaires.
With respect to India, Chairman Stephen Koplan, Vice Chairman Deanna Tanner Okun, and Commissioners Jennifer A. Hillman, Charlotte R. Lane, and Daniel R. Pearson concluded that both the domestic group response and the respondent group response were adequate and voted for full reviews. With respect to China, Chairman Koplan, Vice Chairman Okun, and Commissioners Hillman, Lane, and Pearson concluded that the domestic group response was adequate and the respondent group response was inadequate, but that circumstances warranted a full review. Commissioner Marcia E. Miller did not participate in these reviews.
A record of the Commission's votes on these matters is available from the Office of the Secretary, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20436. Requests may be made by telephone by calling 202-205-1802.
The record of the Commission's votes is also posted on the ITC's Internet server at http://info.usitc.gov/oinv/sunset.NSF (under "Sulfanilic Acid - China (2nd Review)," "Sulfanilic Acid - India (AD) (2nd Review)," and "Sulfanilic Acid - India (CVD) (2nd Review).)
The Federal Register notice will indicate whether any further information or statements will be available. The Commission will issue a report after it completes its reviews.


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Predicting the future is almost impossible especially with such a fast evolving topic like cybersecurity. Nevertheless I'll give it a try and share some of my thoughts with you.
I had a lot of chats with CIOs, CEOs and COOs as well as journalists talking about what we all see what our biggest fears are and what they and I expect to see in the near future.
Here are my thoughts about theTop 5 challenges our world will face in 2015. Just in case you would like to add something feel free to drop me a line and I will add your thoughts / comments promptly.
Top 1: Rent-A-Botnet
As we all saw in the past that botnets seem easy to rent (1.000 for some 100 USD down to 10 USD for an hour accesstime) the service quality is dramatically increasing while prices are decreasing. The service quality is key to the evolution of this market. When selling services to the "normal" world credentials are important. Selling services on the dark side means that delivering cybercrime services is only possible when having top credentials and a hard proof of delivery and 100% reliability. These requirements drive service quality enhancements that even lead to service desk support with your rented bot net, customization support and other services most people can hardly imagine when talking about a crime scene. We even see that targeted attacks lead to new customer creation efforts. An example is that DDoS targets sometimes receive blackmail eMails with 3 key messages:
1. Pay the fee to avoid DDoS attacks leading to unavailability of your services
2. Do not contact any cybersecurity specialist to defend your services because this will lead to a dramatical increase in bots attacking you
3. Order your own botnet attack against attackers and you will receive a discount of 20-40%
Top 2: Industry 4.0
Industry 4.0 discussions very often end up in security concerns. On one hand companies fear that SCADA systems, PLCs and Industry devices could come under fire. This is a serious concern and it is very realistic when considering that a lot of industry devices are not hardened but connected to office networks having no virus scanners and very often being protected by firewalls having more communication exceptions than limitations.
Imagine that in combination with IP V6 internet structures become more stable and reliable and your refrigerator, lightbulb or industry roboter is infected and becomes part of a botnet or is in other ways involved in cybercriminal activities.
Top 3: Data Destruction
2014 ended up with a huge security incident at Sony pictures. We saw problems at Sony companies before like the PSN hack. Nevertheless the hack shows a new quality in cyberattacks. It became very common to hack companies and to leak information as a "proof of hack" to make the cybercriminal business plan work. During this hack we saw that users couldn't use their workstations any more and data destruction seemed to be part of the game. Also in other security incidents we became aware of the fact that data loss is common but data manipulation and data destruction become even more serious and are on the rise.
Top 4: Supply Chain Security
In the past we already recognized the supply chain security seems to be important but the headlines have not been filled with stories about companies being attacked using supply chain connections. One of the most remarkable stories has been the virus problem on Predator and Reaper drones in 2011. Other hacks we saw in 2014 demonstrated that very often companies rely on their security measures like firewalls, awareness trainings, encryption and so forth. But as we all know is the strength of a chain determined by the weakest link which is very often a supplier. A "good" example is the "Target" breach where Fazio Mechanical, an air condition and heating maintenance company, was compromised. As we all know for various investigation reports on Targets incident the attack on their supplier seemed to be high sophisticated.
With research on this topic we see this threat on the rise and being more and more successful.
Top 5: Mobile Device Exploit Kits
Years ago mobile devices have been pretty safe. But with the trend showing that mobile devices may replace notebooks and "thick clients" in general Exploit kit developers seem to start focussing on mobile device exploit kits. The mobile world seems to know several Operating Systems but in the end these are only 3 (IOS, Windows and Android). At least IOS shows only few variants – users keep their IOS up to date so that creating one exploit kit has a huge impact in the user community. Also with spyware for smartphones increasingly being thrown on the market a baseline software repository to duplicate calls, copy WhatsApp conversations as well as SMS messages is available. The step from "legal spyware" (in Germany it is not legal but in other jurisdictions its use is pretty common) to an exploit kit is pretty small.
Right now effective antivirus and other prevention software is hard to find and only few users even care about this problem leads to millions of vulnerable devices being in the focus of cybercriminals.


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In the three-and-a-half years since Apple opened the App Store's virtual doors, App-mania shows no signs of abating. The concept of an Apple-managed software store has become so widely embraced, that the company even created a Mac version of the App Store this past January.
But the original iOS store isn't ready to cede the spotlight, not even to its Mac counterpart. And that's readily apparent as we unveil the 2011 edition of our App Gems Awards. A quick glance at the 32 winners of this year's honors reveals that developers continue to roll out stellar software that pushes the limits of just what your iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad can do. And with half-a-million apps to choose from in the App Store, we expect plenty of good things still to come on the iOS front.
The App Gems Awards recognize apps released or updated between November 1, 2010 and November 1, 2011. Here are our favorite iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad apps from the past year.


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Archive for the 'Matthew Rohr' Category
- In: Haley Brown | Matthew Rohr | MiFiWriters | Steven Vallarsa | Tim Rohr
- 2 Comments
Division by Zero #3: Then Again, an anthology of the MiFiWriters group
published Nov 6 2014
Where I got it: borrowed
I knew there were a bunch of speculative fiction writers groups here in Michigan, but I didn't know one of them published annual anthologies! How cool is that? MiFiWriters is based in Michigan, and exists to promote the writing of science fiction by Michiganders. They recently published Then Again, the third anthology in their annual Division by Zero series. They choose a different theme each year, and the theme of Then Again was time travel. Imagine all the things you could do if you could travel through time: save lives, stop horrible things from happening, solve crimes before they happened. But what about the dangers of time travel? What if you only made the situation worse? What it time travel tore holes in spacetime? Ah, the beauty of what if!
Here are a few of my thoughts on some of my favorite stories from Then Again.
Time Enough, by Matthew Rohr – This was my favorite story in the collection. When Wilson Andrews successfully crosses a Campbell Bridge to go back in time, he doesn't exactly come out when he expected. He knows his mission to kill a certain person, but first he's got to find her. The scientists knew the journey through time would scramble his brain a little, so they've imprinted him with briefings and recordings to help him along the way. The story involves a lot of flashbacks and partial memories, so it feels like it is not told chronologically, giving it a feeling of wonderfully off kilter weirdness. Remember the movie Memento? This story feels like that a little, with Wilson coming across faces and voices that jog his memory. As his memory slowly returns, Wilson is able to put the puzzle pieces together. Once he realizes what is going on, will he be able to carry out the murder? Even though there is closure at the end, I liked that this story feels like a prologue or middle chapter of a longer book.


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All About Glass
All About Glass
This is your resource for exploring various topics in glass: delve deeper with this collection of articles, multimedia, and virtual books all about glass. Content is frequently added to the area, so check back for new items. If you have a topic you'd like to see covered, send us your suggestion. If you have a specific question, Ask a Glass Question at our Rakow Research Library.
Karen LaMonte's monumental sculptures in cast glass, and her smaller cast glass reliefs and mirrors, have received international attention. This lecture, part of the Museum's popular Meet the Artist series, focused on LaMonte's creation of the Museum's major sculpture, Evening


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You have this really wonderful idea but:
A.) It's a little bit out of the ordinary, so the traditional way you go about getting approvals is not going to work.
B.) Your boss has previously shown signs of being "risk adverse."
How do you get the go-ahead?
The first answer is don't ask — at least not at first.
Are we advocating the old adage that it is always easier to ask for forgiveness than for permission? Sort of. What we're saying is that your first series of actions should not create a situation where you have anything to apologize for — even if you're not acting with the boss's permission.
The way to make that happen?
1. Your initial steps should have you acting like an entrepreneur. You want to act quickly with the means at hand. (That's right — before you ask for approval.) What's right around you that you can employ?
You have to be the judge of the size of those steps. Executing it must carry no negative consequences for anyone, especially you and your boss. Then, keep taking those tiny steps for as long as you can. You are building evidence! And as Scott Cook, the founder of Intuit, says, evidence is better than anyone's intuition. Even your boss's.
As you are taking your small steps, under the radar screen, get other respected people's help and fingerprints all over it. That will do a few things for you, all of them good. You will: gain additional perspectives ("Hey, did you ever think about this?"); have access to additional resources ("Sure, we have a lot of X that we aren't using); and be introduced to other like-minded people that, quite frankly, might give you a bit of protection should you be discovered at this early stage. Again, only you know how far you can go with this. The politics of every organization are different, and you don't want to do anything that could be taken to mean you are trying an end-run around your boss.
2. At some point (again, you have to be the judge) you'll want to let your boss know what you're doing. Even then, avoid asking for approval if you can. The conversation might go something like this:
"Hey, boss. I have this idea that fits in with what the company is trying to accomplish and could make some money. I haven't a clue if it is going to work, so I'm just spending a little time during off-hours or during downtime on it. I just wanted to give you a heads-up."
This conversation:
- Keeps your boss from being surprised. (That's always a good thing.)
- Buys you time to see if the idea is actually doable. If it's not, you don't have anything to ask your boss for later.
- Gives you information. You might learn the idea is doable, but you don't want to do it. And that is a good thing to know, before you offer up the idea for formal approval. (You can suggest people who would be perfect to spearhead the initiative.)
The smart boss will appreciate your enthusiasm and initiative and maybe even try to help, or offer a suggestion or two. At the very least, she won't stop you at this point.
The dumb boss will say something like "if you have any time to spare, work on what I already assigned you to do." If this happens more than once, you probably want to transfer to another boss or job. Research has shown that a prime determinant of workplace satisfaction and performance is a supportive boss who respects you and your ideas. For a detailed look at other ways to handle your supervisor, read the classic HBR article Managing Your Boss by John J. Gabarro and John P. Kotter. It's one of our favorites.
Okay, you've taken some more steps. The idea is a good one and you want to be involved in it going forward and it's going to require your boss to not only sign off, but also provide some resources. What do you do?
3. Make your best prediction of what the acceptable loss is for other key players, especially your boss. You already know the first couple of steps to take. You position the idea in the context of her hot buttons, whatever they may be.
"Hey boss, you know how you are always talking about how our department has to be more innovative. Well, the thing I have been working on seems to fit with that perfectly."
From there, you want to make sure you keep your requests (at least at first) within her realm of acceptable loss. How much is she likely to be willing to risk and write off if the idea fails? How can you do everything humanly possible to keep the number at risk below that?
Implicit in this is that the next step is going to be relatively small. That's a good thing. When you are facing the unknown — and starting something new certainly qualifies — you always want to begin by taking small steps. In fact, when you have been acting on your own, and even when you are acting with the approval of your boss, you are preceding just as successful serial entrepreneurs do:
- They take a small step toward their goal.
- They pause to see what they learned from taking that step. ("Yes, it looks like it is worth continuing for now.")
- They build off of what they learned.
- The process repeats until they (and you) achieve their goal — the project is a success — or they realize it cannot be done, or they find something more appealing.
Who knows? Telling your boss that she's acting like one of the most successful entrepreneurs in history might get things to go in your favor.
Leonard A. Schlesinger, Charles F. Kiefer, and Paul B. Brown
Leonard A. Schlesinger is the president of Babson College. Charles F. Kiefer is president of Innovation Associates. Paul B. Brown is a long-time contributor to the New York Times. They are the coauthors of Just Start: Take Action, Embrace Uncertainty, Create the Future (HBR Press 2012). Learn more at juststartthebook.com.


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Workflow Technologies: Top 10 Must-Have Features
Posted by Nick Peris on September 2, 2013
Over the last few years, the number of Globalization Management Systems (GMS), Translation Management Systems (TMS) and similar Workflow technologies dedicated to Localisation has increased steadily. It is not quite comparable to the explosion in the number of Content Management Systems (CMS) but the choice certainly has increased. As a result it has become more complicated to thoroughly evaluate all options available, and the rise of more specialised subcategories such as Localization Management Systems, Proxy and Cloud-based solutions, Crowdsourcing Portals etc. only adds to this information overload.
This evolution indicates that this technology sector is vibrant and not yet as saturated as the traditional CAT tools market. It remains innovative and in my opinion contradicts analysts who argue that GMS's will be absorbed by CMS's and the booming eCommerce platforms.
In fact, there are so many CMS's and eCommerce solutions around, from the big players such as EpiServer or Adobe Experience Manager (formerly Adobe CQ) to open-source solutions like Drupal and proprietary systems provided by website integrators, that there is no way these can be relied upon to provide workflow features which can respond to the specific requirements of the translation supply chain.
The GMS sector has also become more of a replacement market, where Enterprises are often looking to replace an existing GMS with their second or third technology. A certain lack of innovation, excessive licensing costs and mergers among some of the traditional big players have created an appetite for diversity and an opportunity for innovators.
There are certainly some interesting new technologies. Some focus on the User Interface and the easy-of-use, others on community with in-tool forums for users to share tips and experiences and real-time Support to keep production streaming. Others yet allow segment-level task completion and embedded MT to enable real-time progress. Most, if not all of these efforts seem to concentrate on improving ownership satisfaction which has long been a shortcoming of GMS's.
Unfortunately, fundamental GMS features can sometimes be lacking when these tools are released at an early stage in their Development, or when their design is not aware of the requirements of the entire supply chain. Prospective GMS-buyers should not get distracted by the bells and whistles, and miss possible issues with the more essential features.
The 10 fundamentals below should be your starting point and the rest should only come as extras. The order of priority between these will depend on your own business process.
Automated Quote Process
Workflow systems are used by Enterprises which have a regular stream of translation requirements. Vendor rates are usually pre-agreed rather than negociated on a project by project basis. The Workflow technology should be able to hold these rates and automatically generate a quote when a translation request is submitted. It should be able to handle minimum charge, PM fees, volume discounts and provide a workflow step where the requestor or authorised user can accept or reject the quote.
CAT Tools compatibility
Ideally there should be an online translation interface as well as the option to download translation requests and work offline.
The online interface should include enough features to ensure it can be used by professional translators: Spell-Checker, Tag Checker, Terminology Checker, Concordance Search are the minimum required.
The offline option should be vendor-agnostic and offer XLIFF as well as the bilingual formats for the main CAT tools such as WordFast, memoQ and Trados. The ability for these tools to connect to the online TM and Glossaries and update them in real-time is also expected more and more commonly.
Connector library
A library of CMS and eCommerce adaptors should be available. GMS's such as GlobalLink provide a library of connectors for the most common systems as well as an API to create connectors for new CMS and eCommerce platforms or proprietary systems.
There should also be the possibility to monitor FTP locations and file systems.
Dedicated Review Portal
Client review or independent linguistic review is common in translation chains where volumes a big. This is mainly due to the fact that big volumes mean multiple translators must work simultaneously, and the Review step is needed to enforce consistency and monitor quality trends. A dedicated Online Review environment can make this process immensely more efficient if it's kept clear and free of the more specialised features required in the Translation Interface. Client-side reviewers are rarely linguists and more likely employees whose primary task is brand and marketing related. Live in-context preview is more relevant to them than a side-by-side segment layout.
The Review environment should have its own reporting tool to monitor quality if error categories and scores are used. Reports on individual projects (online scorecards) and Organization-level reports are equally as important. The system should keep an audit trail of changes, and offer some workflow functionality towards Implementation whether it is done by the reviewers or by the translators.
Changes implemented in the review tool must be automatically added to both the final deliverable and the translation memories.
File Filters designer
Most file types will be supported out-of-the-box but it is also crucial to have the ability to easily add future or unusual file types without having to resort to Professional Services. The file filter interface must be flexible and allow Administrators to import filters from CAT tools but also create filters online in the GMS. I have yet to see a tool, let alone a GMS, which does that as well as a Alchemy Catalyst and its EZparser but hopefully that day will come. In the meantime do not settle for a system that wouldn't let you parse all tags in a JSON or other custom XML and ensure post-filters are supported (e.g. for HTML code nested within XML or XLS).
Linguistic asset management
A good GMS will let users with appropriate permissions perform all TM and Terminology set-up and maintenance tasks natively. This includes manual editing of both asset types, TM sequencing (with leverage priority, penalties, update TM selection), workflow-driven automatic updates, terminology extraction and approval. All users need the ability to search TM's and Glossaries, while only experts will get the permissions to perform Maintenance.
Project creation templates
The key to workflow management is automation. Clicks are a GMS's worst enemy and should be a primary focus during User Acceptance Testing.
Any repeatable task should be recorded and automated. The requestor should not have to type anything other than the project name. Everything else should be available through menus and selectable options, each with the most commonly used choices pre-populated. Ideally, the software should interactively learn and remember the behavior of each user, but pre-programmed defaults are the current standard.
Reporting Tool
There should be a choice of download formats, and a way to create custom reports based on queries to the underlying database. Client-side users don't always need visibility into the linguistic side of the system. What they do need is flexible on-demand reporting. Whether there is a live dashboard or a facility to run reports, the system has to be customisable so the reports respond to their Organization's needs both from the point of view of Program Management and Financial tracking.
Unlimited number of users
The pricing should not be directly linked to the number of users. I have often come across Enterprises with state-of-the-art workflow systems where the vendor side PMs had to download and upload translation kits on behalf of their freelancers. The hidden cost of such a limitation is monumental and the amount of negative sentiment generated towards a system which is supposed to automate repetitive tasks cannot be recuperated.
Role-based permissions should allow Administrators to control what everyone is doing at a granular level, and all routine user assignment should be automated. Once you own a GMS, every single transactions must be seamlessly supported, and no one should ever have to be delayed by timezones.
Workflow designer
Localization workflows vary. The technology you choose should offer enough flexibility to support your business process without too much adjustment. The Workflow Designer should offer a customisable library of human and automated steps and the possibility to have more than one outcome to each workflow step (e.g. Pass/Fail, DTP/no DTP etc.). The best Designers have a graphic interface and allow the easy cloning of existing workflows.


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Konso Motors
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Are you looking for auto repair services in Inglewood? Konso Motors is your local auto repair company. We have been serving the Inglewood, CA area since 2015. Our friendly, client-oriented business has been built by our knowledgeable staff. At Konso Motors, we offer car & truck care, collision repair, towing, engine & transmission, heating & cooling, electronic, electrical, general, and miscellaneous services. We only employ certified technicians to ensure quality service on vehicles of all makes and models. Our team will provide exceptional customer service and outstanding auto repair at affordable prices. Contact us today at +13109100420.
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5 THE CROSSING North Caldwell Boro, New Jersey 07006
Listing ID3602194
Sold For$2,500,000
Sold Date12/15/2020
Total Baths7.1
Acres 2.920
Year Built2002
Property TypeSingle Family Listing
For additional information about this 7 Bedroom 7.1 Bath property located in North Caldwell Boro, New Jersey, please fill out the Request More Information form.
Approximate Lot Size 2.92 AC
County Number 16
Town Number 1615
Listing Courtesy of BHHS - NEW JERSEY PROPERTIES
©2023 Garden State Multiple Listing Service. All rights reserved. The data relating to real estate for sale on this website comes in part from the IDX Program of Garden State Multiple Listing Service, L.L.C. Real estate listings held by other brokerage firms are marked as IDX Listing. Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Notice: The dissemination of listings on this website does not constitute the consent required by N.J.A.C. 11:5.6.1 (n) for the advertisement of listings exclusively for sale by another broker. Any such consent must be obtained in writing from the listing broker. The listing broker's offer of compensation is made only to participants of the MLS where the listing is filed. This information is being provided for Consumers personal, non-commercial use and may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties Consumers may be interested in purchasing. Data last updated: Thursday, June 8th, 2023 06:28:06 PM.
Contact - Listing ID 3602194
Rampinelli Team
32 Valley Road
Montclair, NJ 07042
Phone: 973-228-5525
973-783-6900 x220
Data services provided by IDX Broker


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Want to get your finicky game lover a really unique Valentine's gift? For 7 days only, all 6 soundtracks from the BIT.TRIP games will be on sale for only $1 in the exclusive "Lover's Bundle"!
Gaijin Game's BIT.TRIP game series features a slew of different game archtypes with colorful displays and catchy chiptune beats that drive you forward, such as the side-scrolling "Runner" and the pong-like rhythmic "Beat". Simple yet engaging games with simple yet fantastic soundtracks. How could you go wrong with parting with $1 for all that goodness?
There's also further tiers for those willing to part with a few more of their precious dollars and really give themselves or their sweetheart a treat, such as access to the soundtrack to the upcoming "Runner 2" and even the full game itself! Top donators get pooled into the running for even more goodies! Donate, get great stuff and feel good for helping contribute to great games with fun music!
Go to http://www.gamemusicbundle.com starting February 14th and get in on the the love before it runs out!


text: Environment Transportation Do You Have to Modify a Diesel Engine to Run It on Vegetable Oil? By Vanessa Vadim Vanessa Vadim Writer Brown University New York University Vadim co-founded MayDay Media, a non-profit documentary production company. She has since written, directed and edited several short films and documentaries. Learn about our editorial process Updated June 5, 2017 Share Twitter Pinterest Email Environment Active Automotive Aviation Public Transportation Dear Vanessa, Do you have to modify a diesel engine in order to run it on vegetable oil, and is that the same thing as biodiesel? — Randy Berinhout Dear Randy, Greetings from the base of Tungurahua volcano, nestled between the Andes and the Amazon. Great question! You're certainly not alone in asking for clarification. I've spent many hours in parking lots explaining the vanity plate on my '84 diesel ("BIODSEL"), and the differences in the various fuels that can be used to power a diesel engine. When Rudolph Diesel introduced his engine in 1900, at the World's Fair in Paris, it was running on peanut oil. Shortly after, the petroleum industry began cashing in on Diesel's design by using a byproduct of petroleum distillation to power the engine. They called it diesel fuel. My car can run on diesel (the fossil fuel variety), straight vegetable oil (SVO), and biodiesel (SVO that has been modified), or any combination of the three. That isn't unusual: anything with a diesel engine -- plane, boat, motorcycle -- can run on diesel, SVO or biodiesel. SVO is a broad term, and covers a range of materials beyond vegetable oil including animal fats (chicken, tallow, lard and byproducts of omega-3 fatty acid from fish oil) and algae. SVO can be from virgin feedstock, meaning crops grown specifically as a fuel source, or recycled from other uses, such as used cooking oils (WVO for waste vegetable oil). Here's the catch: SVO will burn in a diesel engine but only if its viscosity (the thickness of a liquid) is brought down to a level similar to petro-diesel. Think about the leftovers in your fridge: the grease coagulates fairly quickly and doesn't liquefy again unless it is heated. Running on SVO without making some modification can lead to some very sticky problems, literally. There are two basic choices for dealing with the viscosity of SVOs: add a heating mechanism to the fuel line or tank, or process the oils. I do both. I use SVO -- always in the form of local WVOs – in a second fuel tank in the trunk of the car where the SVO is heated by a coil running from the radiator. The second option, modifying the oil, means using biodiesel. Biodiesel is made through a process called transesterification, a fairly simple process that uses lye to remove the coagulating properties of the oils. The byproduct of biodiesel processing is simple glycerine, used in soaps and other products. The biodiesel I use is produced from WVOs recycled from local restaurants and university cafeterias. Of course, biodiesel can also be made from virgin oil feedstock. Soybean crops account for about 90 percent of U.S. fuel stocks. That's the basics: diesel engine originally designed to run on vegetable oil; no modification needed to run a diesel engine on biodiesel; heating mechanism needs to be added to run engine on SVO. Now for the not-so basics. SVO and biodiesel have many advantages over petrodiesel: • They are, theoretically carbon-neutral (they do not emit more carbon than they've absorbed). • Their emissions are cleaner (including less asthma causing particulates) • In the case of WVO, they can be locally recycled and produced and keep potential waste out of sewers and landfills. • They are derived from renewable sources. Thing is, renewable energy isn't always sustainable. I have subjected you previously, Dear Reader, to my mini-diatribes on biofuels, but here is a quick rundown on the negative impacts of biofuels. Too often, rain forests are burned to plant crops for fuel. Factoring in the carbon usage of agriculture, production and transportation, biofuels can no longer be considered carbon-neutral. The destructive and often poisonous environmental impacts of agriculture are overwhelming the planet. And growing crops for fuel has already led to rising food prices, and will only continue to create dangerous competition between fuel and food. Hope that clarifies more than it confuses! Vanessa


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Hey, friends!
It's that time of year –– time for some jolly holiday fun!
Join me and several other awesome authors, in the Heartwarming Holiday Blog Hop! It's your opportunity to meet new authors and a chance to win a Kindle Fire 7 with Alexa!
Here's how it works:
Speaking of heartwarming, it's one of the words that always comes to mind when I describe my novel Unexpected Legacy.
You might fall in love with hero Matt Dalton who's just found out he has a 16-year-old son. You might relate to the leading lady, an up-and-coming high school principal who champions her students. And you'll definitely cheer on Brady, the teenager who's dealing with the traumatic effects of an accident and the loss of his best friend.
It's a heartwarming story of bravery, resilience, and, of course, love! One that will leave you with a satisfied smile! Perfect for cozy holiday reading!
Wishing you the happiest of holidays and best of luck!


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I got a tweet request from Miss Lane…she is heading off to a November wedding and needs some suggestions!!
Here ya go babe!! Have fun!
p.s. thanks to all of you for all sweet words of encouragment and advice. i am working hard to drop those frustrating baby pounds…and feel less alone!!!


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Vic CorrellJanuary 20, 2011
What Is the Meaning of the 1978 Atlanta Braves? (card 19 of 25)
(continued from Pat Rockett)
Lately my mind is dry and brittle, like a Christmas tree kept around much too long into a new year. The last few days, a perfect pop song called "Let Her Dance" by the Bobby Fuller Four has been looping in and around the dead branches like a long strand of blinking colored lights. Around and around it goes, pulsing with light, as I work at my job where I check documents for errors, or go to and from work on bus and train, or slouch on the couch and eat too much with the TV on, or sit at my desk to try to write with fingers of cement. Life seems thin sometimes, most of all when I'm between the writing of books. All my halting adult life I've worked on books, the majority of them never making it out of my notebooks in one piece but at least pulling me along through the days for a while. It's my way of loving life.
"Well, I'll find me a new love," the narrator in "Let Her Dance" vows, but within the context of the song, within the freezing of a specific moment forever that's the trademark of a perfect pop song, the singer is forever between loves. The love he thought he had is dancing with someone else "like she don't even care . . . to our favorite song." What can you do in these moments? What's the solution? You were connected, and now you're back on your own.
(Love versus Hate update: Vic Correll's back-of-the-card "Play Ball" result has been added to the ongoing contest. The "Play Ball" game on the back of the 1978 Topps baseball cards was designed to be "played by two." Every 1978 card reiterates this necessity. I ignored it in 1978 and have ignored it during the prolonged experiment with the game on this site. A long time ago I learned to diminish the gnawing passage of time by myself. I find solitary ways to connect until I can't find these connections.)
What's the solution? No solution. Let her dance.


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Market Trend and Demand - The price of chloroform continues to rise will affact the price of Shape meNews 64Days Ago (03-24)The price of chloroform continues to rise It is reported that chloroform is a kind of organic synthetic raw material, mainly used to produce freon (F-21, F-22, F-23), dyes and drugs. In medicine, it is often used as an anesthetic. It can be used as a sol...
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Today I wrap up teaching one of my favorite subjects in Property (ok I like them all) — Adverse Possession. One of the topics we cover is adverse possession claims against the state. Traditionally, Adverse Possession claims against the state did not stand. This tradition in the common law stretches to the concept of the King's duality, the King as Corporation as F.W. Maitland would refer to it, or simply The King's Two Bodies as eloquently stated by Ernst Kantorowicz. As Justices Southcoate and Harper in the case Willion v. Berkley said (as reported in Blackstone):
The king has two capacities, for he has two bodies, the one whereof is a Body natural, consisting of natural members as every other man has, and in this he is subject to Passions and Death as other Men are; the other is a body politic , and the members thereof are his subjects, and he and his subjects together compose the corporation as Southcoate said, and he is incorporated with them, and they with him, and he is the head and they are the members, and he has the sole government of them; and this body is not subject to Passions as the other is, nor to death, for as to this Body, the King never dies, and his natural death is not called in our law, the Death of the King, but the demise of the King, not signifying by the word demise that the body politic of the King is dead, but that there is a separation of the two bodies, and that the Body politic is transferred and conveyed over from the Body Natural now dead, or now removed from Dignity royal, to another Body natural. So that is signifies a removal of the Body politic of the King of this realm from one Body natural to another.
But perhaps the most famous iteration of the King's two bodies comes from a case involving Edward VI's lease of certain lands in the Duchy of Lancaster. The land in question was considered to be the private lands of the Lancastrian Kings, not the property of the crown. So when the lease that Edward the VI executed during his Regal term was called into question during the reign of Elizabeth I, the Crown lawyers all agreed upon the following:
that by the common law, no act which the King does as King, shall be defeated by his Nonage. For the King has in him two bodies, viz a Body natural and a Body Politic. His Body natural (if it be considered in itself) is a body mortal, subject to all Infirmities that come by nature or Accident to the Imbecility of Infancy or old Age, and to the like Defects that happen to the natural Bodies of other people. But his Body Politic is a body that cannot be seen or handled, consisting of Policy and Government, and constitutes for the Direction of the People and the Management of the public weal. And this body is utterly void of infancy, and old age, and other natural Defects and imbecilities, which the Body Natural is subject to, and for this Cause what the King does in his Body Politic cannot be invalidated or frustrated by any disability in his natural body.
This notion of the King's two bodies is not merely an aberration of the law — rather it was a well known complication of living with a king. As a matter of fact, the notion of the king's two bodies figures quite prominently in Shakespeare's Richard II and are referenced in others. For example in Henry V, King Henry V says:
Twin-born with greatness subject to the breath, Of every fool, whose sense no more can feel But his own wringing. What infinite heart's ease Must kings neglect that private men enjoy! What kind of god are thou, that suffer'st more of Mortal griefs than do they worshippers?
In Richard II, the King's dilemma is the mortality of the body against the feuding and disquiet of his subjects. And after seeing a long procession of "tortured kings" Richard proclaims:
For God's sake let us sit upon the ground, And tell sad stories of the death of Kings – How some have been deposed, some slain in war, Some haunted by ghosts they have deposed, some poisoned by their wives, some sleeping killed; All murdered! for within the hollow crown that rounds the mortal temples of a king, Keeps death his Court, and there the antic sits scoffing his state and grinning at his pomp, Allowing him a breath, a little scene, to monarchize, be feared, and kill with looks, Infusing him with self and vain conceit, As if the flesh which walls our life, Were brass impregnable; and humored thus, Comes at last , and with a little pin Bores through his castle wall, and farewell King!
As noted before, this fictionalized view of the King (the persona gemini) had far reaching impacts, including the law of adverse possession. The next post will consider the King's two bodies impact on Adverse Possession more directly.
Update: Read part II: Nullem Tempus Currit Contra Regem and the King's Two Bodies: Time and Temporal Reflections Here


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Man…January has turned out to be a pretty cruel month for influential authors of a certain age. Last week we lost "Love Story" scribe Eric Segal and hard-boiled "Spenser" creator Robert B. Parker, and today, the biggest name of them all…the crazy-reclusive, Garbo of literature, J.D. Salinger passed away at his home in Cornish, New Hampshire at the age of 91.
I'm not comparing their talents or anything — yes, amigos, the slowest reader on earth has actually read books by all three of the late greats listed above, so, suck it! — because, really, there is no comparison…Salinger's "The Catcher In The Rye" is one of my favorite books of all time.
Now, I know everybody says that about "The Catcher In The Rye", but, it's true. That book rocked my world when I first read it and though my knowledge of Salinger's other works comes mostly second-hand from my brother, Ryan — the true Salinger fanatic in our family! — I gotta tell ya, Salinger played a huge role in my development as a writer.
His use of slang and swinging, mid-century prose rattled my brain. I mean, whoa…that book was this shit, man. You weren't just reading a book for your high school English class, you were cracking open Holden Caulfield's head and peeking inside the man's freaky soul, it was insane. Hell, it's still insane!
"Catcher In The Rye" is one of like, three novels ("East of Eden" and "On The Road" being the other two) that is so good that it actually makes me shake all over when I read it. I wanna highlight every passage, memorize every line and read it aloud to Greta…all at the same time!
All I'm hoping is that the rumors are true and that Salinger left scads of books and short stories behind for us to read in the years to come. His daughter and several of his ex-lovers have mentioned the fact that Salinger wrote like a madman every day of his life…so, I'm guessing at least some of those wild ramblings must be worth reading.
In her 2001 memoir, "Dream Catcher", Salinger's daughter, Margaret said that her father actually color-coded his dozens of unpublished manuscripts: "A red mark meant, if I die before I finish my work, publish this 'as is,' blue meant publish, but edit first, and so on."
So, if there is any solace to be found in losing Salinger today, it's in hoping that some (if not all!) of those cryptic, red-marked manuscripts start bubbling to the surface very soon! Rest in peace, J.D., and here's hoping you find some much-deserved privacy in the hereafter…


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Young Rancher Needs
Published on Tue, 07/13/2010 - 11:46am
Traci Bruckner has a lot of experience with beginning cattle operations. As assistant director of the rural policy program at the Center for Rural Affairs, the Wayne, Neb. native helped lobby for the beginning farmer and rancher provisions in the 2008 Farm Bill; she's also served on USDA's Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Advisory Committee 2007-09, and at one time she and her husband had their own cow/calf operation.
And so, too, she hopes, will her ten-year-old son. "His dream is to become a farmer," says Bruckner, "and he really likes livestock. He has a couple of breeding heifers now, and we're just trying to add to that each year. Then, hopefully, by the time he's an adult, he might have some assets to start with."
That good starting point could be crucial; Bruckner says access to land and to capital are among the biggest challenges facing a beginning rancher. "You don't find a whole lot of traditional ag lenders willing to stick their necks out for a beginner," she says, "unless that beginner is walking into a well-heeled operation. If they don't have a lot of equity behind them, they're typically not going to be able to get a loan."
One of the improvements in the Farm Bill is called the Down Payment Loan Program; qualified applicants can put 5% down and receive 45% of their loan from USDA's Farm Service Agency and the rest from a traditional lender, with 90% of that backed by a government guarantee. "Those are the types of loans and programs that make a difference for a beginner when they want to work with a traditional bank," Bruckner says.
Even if credit is available, the beginning rancher has a lot of decisions to make. "Some of the folks we work with have not had any experience on a farm," Bruckner says, "or they are a couple generations removed from the farm." Before starting, they need to review the different production systems that can be employed, as well as basic business practices like bookkeeping and money management. And "sometimes," she says, "part of the challenge is building relationships with people, so they can be successful out there."
That means knowing your market, and USDA programs can also provide benefits here. USDA Rural Development offers a Value Added Producer Grant; qualified operators can receive money to assess the potential of the type of marketing they plan to pursue. For those who plan to stick with traditional commercial production and marketing avenues, it's important to know which outlets will be available, such as auction yards, private treaty and more sophisticated marketing alliances.
USDA continues to work toward improving opportunities for beginning farmers and ranchers. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack recently said he'd like to see the next Farm Bill, to be written in 2012, set as a goal bringing 100,000 new producers into the business. The '08 Bill actually has a Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program in the Research title; Bruckner says that supports organizations that provide mentoring, training and education opportunities. Conservation programs also have funds earmarked for newcomers; the Environmental Quality Incentives Program will cost-share 90% with new ranchers who install rotational grazing systems. They can get the grass seed paid for, the fencing paid for, the water lines paid for," Bruckner says. "That's a big deal, and I actually talked with a rancher out in western Nebraska whose son did do that." The U.S. farm population has been aging much faster than the general working population; in the 2007 Ag Census, the average farmer was listed as 57 years old—an increase of two years since 2002. Many states have initiated "land-link" programs that seek to bring retiring producers together with young people who would like to take over their operations. Bruckner says the programs work, but have not been as successful as they'd like. "You can't just take a retiring farmer and a beginning farmer, introduce them to each other and send them on their way," she says. "It takes a lot of joint goal setting. It's really almost like finding your life partner; it takes a lot of that kind of match-up in compatibility, where you have similar goals, you have similar values, and similar outlooks on how to run a farm or a ranch."
In Iowa, the program is called AgLink. Dave Baker, farm transition specialist for Iowa State University Extension, says the biggest problem is an imbalance of supply and demand. "On my database here in Iowa," he says, "I've got 355 young people that would like to start farming or ranching, and I've got maybe 18-20 retiring farmers. So the odds are stacked against us getting something done quickly for young people." It's also increasingly difficult to find rangeland or grassland for a new cattle operation; in Iowa, a lot of that land is either locked up in the Conservation Reserve or is being converted to cropland by farmers with an eye toward the recently attractive corn and soybean prices.
But Baker anticipates a rash of retirements; Iowa State estimates 15,000-20,000 of the state's farmers will be hanging 'em up in the next 5-10 years. In many cases, those producers do not have succession plans; their sons or daughters, if they have them, may not want to continue to operate the family farm.
At the same time, young people who want to get into farming or ranching may not have the capital needed to buy the farm. The solution Baker is pursuing—lease, instead of buy. "Over time," he says, "the young person might be able to buy the actual land. But for starters, let's just have them buy the machinery from the older generation and then purchase the stock cows or the breeding stock, get started in that way—purchasing assets that are going to turn over, as far as their return, on assets much quicker than farmland would."
Because start-up operations tend to be small, many first-time producers will have to keep their day jobs to generate off-farm income. But many will also turn to specialty ranching, raising livestock for local consumption. "We've got quite an increase in individuals interested in locally grown foods and meat products here in Iowa," Baker says.
These producers can sell direct to consumers or explore other marketing avenues, such as the Internet. Although such operations are more labor intensive, they also produce higher returns. "What the younger generation has ample supply of is labor," says Baker. "They're short on the capital, so we can try and exchange some of the older person's capital for the younger person's labor, and they really do fold together quite nicely."
Tom Jones, at 51, may no longer be considered a "young" rancher, but the Pottsville, Ark. producer has been following in his father's footsteps both as a cattle raiser and a farm leader; he's current Vice Chairman of the Cattlemen's Beef Board Operating Committee, and Secretary-Treasurer of the Arkansas Farm Bureau. "There are so many things that are happening so differently than we've ever had to deal with before," says Jones. "With animal care issues, with food safety issues, all those things. But I'll tell you, what I have is a lot of faith in our young people, especially those who choose any aspect of agriculture. Someone who wants to get into livestock agriculture, it is a profession that in some way you could even have if you had another vocation in town, an off-farm job. But I think with the Extension Service, and—quite proudly—organizations like the Farm Bureau to help you and assist you in those kinds of things, I think young people can get information on how to start."
While Jones says there's no question the financial commitment is a challenge and financial backing is a requirement, he sees some young people getting into ranching in his area. "In Arkansas, given that a lot of producers, especially cow/calf producers, are not large producers. The average size of the herd in Arkansas is still less than 30 head per farm. If somebody wants to get in, all I can wish is that they have that desire and that backing and get that done, because we know the age of the American farmer is still getting older…we've got to have some young people producing." Traci Bruckner hopes the opportunities are still there when her son is ready to get into ranching as an occupation. "I think one of the biggest challenges for beginners" she says, "is the fact that we see consolidation in agriculture…I think if we really want to make a future for beginning farmers and ranchers, we need to make sure that the policies in place don't create unintended consequences and erect barriers that they cannot seem to get around." Her own experiences as a rancher, she says, are "why I'm working with beginning farmers and working on federal policy, to really try and make a difference in that and find creative, unique markets for beginning farmers to get started so they can get started successfully."


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Oeufs en Meurette
And in just under the wire… a post for March. Is the entire month gone already? I just can't keep track anymore. But if it is, and that is precisely what my calendar is telling me, then winter is gone too, and that is welcome news. Am I the only one who has been itching to see the backside of this winter? I can't remember the last time I had so few good things to say about an entire season. They usually have their ups and downs, but this one seems to have had more than its fair share of downs. The weather, actually, wasn't that bad; apart from that freak two feet of snow that brought the Pacific Northwest to its knees in December it's been pretty mild – sunnier, even, than I was expecting. Nevertheless, between the never-ending depressing news on all channels, the havoc the economic crisis is wreaking on our careers, and – as if to show us that when things seem bad, they can always get worse – a sudden family health crisis that has left us all struggling to cope, these have been three or four months I would like to lock into a box and never have to think about again.
There was one ray of sunshine that pierced the gloom, though, and saved this winter from being a total write-off. In January I finally got to meet one of my blogging heroes and longtime friends, the incredible Matt Armendariz, when he came to Seattle for a weekend visit. I find it hard to believe that there's anyone left out there who doesn't know Matt (he's been on Martha Stewart, for crying out loud!), but in case you've been living under a rock just scoot yourself over to his blog for a minute and marvel – this guy oozes talent out of every pore. He's wickedly funny too, and every bit as smart and well-spoken in person as he is online. He (somewhat unfairly) even has more friends in Seattle than we do, but thankfully he was happy to share, and brought a couple of them* along to meet us for a lazy brunch at Café Campagne in the Pike Place Market on a gorgeously sunny Sunday morning.
We had a great time that morning, talking about food and blogging and hashing out the Seattle vs. L.A. debate. We may have talked about other things too, but unfortunately I can't remember; you see, there's this big gap in my memory – let's say about half an hour's worth, or maybe more – during which time I can't recall anything but a plate of eggs. It was kind of like in a movie when the dialogue subsides, some cheesy music starts playing, and all you can see is the object of interest moving suggestively in slow motion – in this case egg yolk oozing slowly across a glistening puddle of red. Actually, I wouldn't be surprised if that effect was invented for the first time at Café Campagne, when some cinematographer ordered a plate of oeufs en meurette. Really, I think it's pretty likely.
The funny thing is, I wasn't even hungry going into the restaurant. In fact, I was still digesting the previous night's dinner, an epic meat extravaganza that in its own right will no doubt also rank as one of the top meals of the year (thank you again M&D!), and consequently all I was planning on ordering was a croissant, or maybe a piece of dry toast to soak up some of the excess wine still sloshing around in my belly. But then the menu came, I saw a description of a dish that included poached eggs, garlic croutons and a foie-gras-laced red wine sauce, and all of a sudden, I couldn't think straight I was so hungry. And that's where my memory of everything but the eggs ends.
As I learned later, I inadvertently stumbled onto a dish that enjoys quite a cult following in Seattle. In fact, it seems those oeufs have appeared on just about every list of the city's best brunch dishes for years. I didn't know this then, though – all I knew was that that dish of poached eggs in red wine sauce was not only the best restaurant brunch I'd ever eaten, but among the best restaurant dishes period, and that it was taking considerable self-control to not plant my face in the middle of my plate and start licking. Yes, it was that good.
When I got home, of course, the first thing I did was start researching those eggs. It didn't surprise me much to find out that oeufs en meurette is a Burgundian dish (it's also sometimes called oeufs à la bourguignonne), where just about everything is simmered, braised or poached in wine, but I was taken aback by how many different variations on it there are. The recipes range from the cheap and easy (boil red wine and canned stock, poach eggs, serve) to the considerably involved and expensive (make your own beef stock and demi glace, don't even think of using anything but a genuine burgundy). Then, of course, there was the matter of the foie gras in Cafe Campagne's version; I don't know about you, but that's one ingredient I just about never have lying around the house. At any rate, after reading through about a dozen different recipes, I decided to cobble one together based on what I had, using the technique advocated by Julia Child, which coincidentally happened to be one of the simplest I found.
Thankfully, Julia didn't let me down. This isn't quite as good as Cafe Campagne's version, of course, but it does come admirably close, even without the demi-glace and foie gras. And actually, the fact that the dish is so good even without them makes me love it even more, since it delivers so much from so little. Taste-wise, it's a riot of flavors and textures – the soft, oozing yolks, the crunchy croutons, the silky, winey sauce, the salty bacon; time-wise, I doubt I spend more than thirty minutes from start to finish, and so long as you don't insist on cracking open a Côte de Nuits for the sauce, it's even budget-friendly. Add to that the fact that it can be had without a ferry ride and an hour wait at one of Seattle's busiest restaurants, and I can't think of a single thing to criticize about this dish… or a single reason not to eat it all the time.
Now that's some good news for a change, isn't it?
Oeufs en Meurette
Although we had these eggs for brunch in the restaurant, at home we eat them for dinner (how often is it you can justify having eggs and bacon for dinner?) alongside a green salad. Usually I like to use a hearty, mildly sour country bread for the croutons; for a brunch dish, though, brioche or a similarly soft, light bread might be a better option – just make sure it has enough structure to hold up when saturated with sauce. And a word about the stock: of course homemade beef stock is the ideal here, so if you have some on hand by all means use it. Otherwise, use a good brand of commercial beef stock, or even chicken stock, so long as it has a good, meaty flavor. As for wine, go with something drinkable but not expensive – a cheap pinot noir or syrah will do nicely. And should you have any demi-glace or foie gras lying around, I'm sure the dish wouldn't suffer from a bit of either.
Source: Adapted from Mastering the Art of French Cooking: Vol I, by Julia Child
Serves: 4 as a main course
For the sauce:
2 cups (500ml) rich beef stock (or chicken stock, in a pinch)
2 cups (500ml) red wine
1 bay leaf
1 sprig fresh thyme
1 small shallot, minced
1 medium carrot, peeled and diced
pinch cayenne pepper
pinch black pepper
4 tablespoons (60g) unsalted butter, at room temperature, divided
2 tablespoons flour
For the garnish:
4 ounces (120g) smoked bacon, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
8 ounces (240g) small button mushrooms, halved
For the eggs:
8 very fresh eggs
1 teaspoon vinegar
To serve:
8 slices pain de campagne, or any hearty country-style bread
1 large clove garlic, halved
fresh thyme, for garnish
For the sauce, combine the stock, wine, herbs, shallots, carrot and seasonings in a heavy-bottomed pot and bring to a boil over medium high heat. Boil rapidly until the liquid has reduced to two cups (500ml). Strain out the shallots and herbs. Blend 2 tablespoons of the butter with the flour, working them together into a smooth paste. Off the heat, whisk the butter-flour mixture into the wine. Return it to the heat and boil for about 30 seconds, until thickened. Cover and set aside.
While the wine mixture is boiling, heat a frying pan over medium-high heat and cook the bacon pieces until crisp. Remove to a paper towel with a slotted spoon. Add the mushrooms to the bacon fat in the pan and fry until golden-brown, about 5 minutes. Season lightly with salt and set aside.
To poach the eggs, bring a saucepan with water to a depth of 2 inches to a gentle simmer. Add the vinegar. Break the eggs one at a time into a small bowl or ramekin and gently tip them into the water. Poach each egg for 3-4 minutes, until the white is cooked but the yolk is still runny. Remove with a slotted spoon to a bowl of warm lightly-salted water (or, if you're going to be serving them immediately, just to a plate).
Just before serving, toast the slices of bread and rub each one with the cut side of a garlic clove. Rewarm the sauce and whisk in the remaining 2 tablespoons butter. Taste and correct the seasoning if needed.
To serve, place place two slices of bread on each plate. Top each one with a poached egg. Divide the sauce between the plates, and top with the fried mushrooms and bacon. Garnish with some fresh thyme and serve immediately.
*Including this super guy, who it turns out lives literally a block away from us. How's that for a small world? Oh, and he ordered the oeufs too, so you know he's got taste.


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WASHINGTON, Oct. 7, 2012— -- There's a new injury going around in political circles these days: it's called political whiplash.
It's caused by the ever changing -- sometimes violently so -- perceptions of the presidential contest.
This week started with dour predictions about Mitt Romney's chances. "He can't win Ohio and Wisconsin!" "His messaging is a mess!" "Donors are going to abandon him!"
But by Wednesday night -- WHACK -- the views of the punditocracy shifted drastically. "Romney crushed the debate!" "President Obama was missing in action!" "This is a brand new race!!!"
Then came Friday morning's job report. WHAM! "The October surprise!" "Romney's bump goes bust!" "Obama back up, Romney down."
And what about next week's vice presidential debate. Will the race get rear-ended by Paul Ryan? Bumped by Joe Biden?
Fortunately, there is a cure for this. It involves focusing less on the minute by minute movements and more on the fundamentals.
And, at this point, the fundamentals favor Obama.
1) Voters are feeling (somewhat) better about the economy and direction of the country.
BLS Conspiracy theorists take note: Americans were feeling better about the state of the economy and Obama's handling of it before the jobs report came out.
This is not to say that Americans think the economy is rockin'. Or that the president is doing a tremendous job of putting it back on solid footing.But, they don't think the economy is as bad today as it was a year ago. And, a small -- but growing number -- think it's getting better.
On Friday, the Bloomberg Consumer Comfort Index reported that consumer confidence had climbed for a sixth straight week, the "longest such stretch since early 2006."
The latest NBC/Wall Street Journal poll found that 44 percent of Americans thought the economy will get better over the next year – the highest percentage since the fall of 2009, and six points better than the fall of 2008.
A year ago, a whopping 77 percent of Americans polled by ABC News/Washington Post said that the country was headed in the wrong direction.
Today, that number has dropped 18 points to 60 percent. So, while a majority of Americans still aren't happy with the way things are going in the country, it is a smaller majority than it was last fall.
Furthermore, the pollster.com trend line shows that since early August there has been a steady increase in the percentage of Americans who think things are headed in the right direction and a steady decrease in the number who see it as off track.
2) Despite frustration with Obama, Romney is not seen as better able to handle the economy.
A majority of voters continue to disapprove of the job Obama is doing on the economy. But, they are less disappointed in him than they used to be. And, they don't see Romney as able to do any better.
The latest ABC News/Washington Post poll showed 47 percent approved and 52 percent disapproved of the job the president was doing on the economy. That is the strongest the president has been on this question since the summer of 2010 and a 10 point improvement since last fall.
Meanwhile, voters' confidence that Romney will do a better job on the economy has dropped significantly between August and September. Back in August, Romney had a seven point lead on the question of who'd do a better job on the economy.
Today, Romney and Obama are tied. Gallup showed a similar trend between August and September.
3) Electoral map is shrinking, not expanding.
Despite earlier predictions by the Romney campaign that they would be competitive in traditionally blue states like Michigan, Minnesota and Pennsylvania, they are putting no serious effort into any of them. Moreover, the Paul Ryan pick gave Romney only a short-lived bounce in Wisconsin. The latest polls in the Badger State show Obama with a healthy advantage in the state.
This has left Romney has a very narrow path to 270, and no room for error. If Romney loses Ohio and Wisconsin, he would have no choice but to win almost every single other battleground state to win.
4) Romney's image problem.
Thanks to the efforts of millions of dollars of negative advertising over the summer by Obama and his allies, and little to no effort by Romney to rebut them, Romney entered the fall campaign with more people feeling unfavorably toward him than favorably. Voters see Obama as better able to understand the economic problems of regular people and more in tune with the concerns of the middle class.
5) The Money Gap
Obama's $181 million haul last month is impressive. More important, however, is the fact that his campaign has been smart in how they spend it. As the New York Times reported last week, the Obama team has been able to stretch their dollars further thanks to a sophisticated ad buying strategy. This has meant that even as Republicans (Romney plus the outside independent groups supporting him) have outspent the Democrats (Obama plus his independent group allies) by more than $40 million on TV ads since April, Obama and his allies have run 35,000 more ads. Outside groups have to pay a higher rate for ads than the campaigns do. This means that these groups have to spend a lot more money to get the same number of ads on the air.
Despite Obama's structural advantages, this race is far from over. Economic enthusiasm/anxiety is impacted by more than unemployment statistics or the value of the stock market. Partisanship matters too. Over the course of September, the Gallup consumer confidence found that while both independents and Democrats felt more optimistic about the economy, Republicans felt less so. The Bloomberg Survey found the uptick in confidence this month to be bi-partisan, but they also found that independents felt the "most bleak" about the state of the economy.
Moreover, confidence in Obama's ability to handle the economy can be undermined by politics too. Approval of his handling of the economy ticked up right after the Democratic convention. A poor performance on, say, the debate stage could drive it back down.
Romney can't control the trajectory of the economy. But, he can move perceptions about himself and his abilities to steward this economy.
When looking at polling that will come out over the next week, it's important not to obsess as much about the head to head numbers and to look "under the hood" instead. Has Romney moved ahead of Obama on the issue of who voters trust to do a better job handling the economy? Look also to see if he has improved his favorable ratings and moved the needle on perceptions of him as someone who is looking out for the middle class. After all, it's very hard for Romney to convince Americans to fire the President if they don't think the alternative will be any better.
The battleground state polling is just as important to watch. Even before the debate there were signs that Obama's convention bounce was starting to fade in places like Virginia and Florida. But, in Ohio and Wisconsin, Romney needs to do more get undecided voters -- voters who are already open to the idea of voting against Obama -- to support him. He has to convince those who are currently supporting Obama to switch allegiances. For the next month it's probably best to keep that ibuprofen handy for any pangs of whiplash. But, if you keep your focus on the fundamentals, it'll probably go away on its own.


text:
Story by
Paul Sawers
Paul Sawers was a reporter with The Next Web in various roles from May 2011 to November 2014. Follow Paul on Twitter: @psawers or check h Paul Sawers was a reporter with The Next Web in various roles from May 2011 to November 2014. Follow Paul on Twitter: @psawers or check him out on Google+.
Rumours of email's death have been greatly exaggerated.
Despite claims from tech titans such as Mark Zuckerberg (who admittedly has a vested interested in declaring the demise of email prematurely), email is still very much alive and kicking. Just ask Mailbox, the innovative mobile email client that was recently acquired by Dropbox before announcing one million reservations before it has even opened to the public.
Unlike Facebook, Twitter and other proprietary messaging systems, email enables cross-platform communications that doesn't tie a user to a single service-provider. There's a lot of life left in the old dog yet.
It's against this backdrop that this next startup caught our attention. Email marketing isn't typically something that pushes our saliva glands into overdrive, but London-based Kickdynamic is doing some pretty interesting stuff in the space.
Kickdynamic kicks email marketing into life
Kickdynamic recently launched a service that enables 'live', dynamic content to be placed in email. So, once an email has already been sent, the content within it is tailored to suit the device it's opened on. It's very similar to Movable Ink as it happens, a New York-based startup that launched 'under the radar' back in 2011, before demoing at a NY Tech Meetup event in September with eight other startups.
The use-cases are numerous, but Kickdynamic essentially makes it much easier for e-marketers to automate the personalization of mass-sent emails.
A countdown clock counts down in real-time to the end of, say, a special offer or promotion. It gives a sense of urgency to would-be consumers.
The email will tailor content specifically based on location, date/time, device and even the environment. One use case could be an electronics retailer displaying relevant accessories depending on whether an email is viewed on a Mac, Windows laptop or Android smartphone.
Also, developers could drive app signups by promoting device-specific apps and landing pages in an email. As things stand, it doesn't seem to be optimized for iPad, however, as the screenshot below was taken from an iPad yet it indicates it was opened on an iPhone. A minor issue though, and one that can no doubt be circumvented with future iterations of the product.
Importantly, it lets marketers target localized content by country, depending on where an email is opened.
Retailers could also show the nearest bricks-and-mortar stores based on the user's current location, plotted on a map. It's even possible to show the exact number of products that are left in stock at the time a user opens their email, similar to what's already available on the Web.
Another neat feature is the ability to automatically display multiple versions of an image to split-test and optimise content in real-time. If one image seems to be garnering more click-throughs, this can be rolled out and made default across the board.
A company can even stream the social network updates from Twitter and Facebook, so that real-time messages from the company and even the public can show up within the email.
Kickdynamic is the handiwork of Matt Hayes, who returned to London from Silicon Valley to found the company. "Email is here to say, so let's make it work better," he says. "Having worked in email marketing for ten years, Kickdynamic is a service I have always wanted."
Six months after launch, Hayes says Kickdynamic's tech has been included in "hundreds of millions of emails", adding that it's the only UK company offering such a service.
Kickdynamic's technology is compatible with pretty much any Email Service Provider (ESP) and works with all mobiles devices and across all email clients, including Gmail and Yahoo. In terms of pricing, it starts at around £3 per 1,000 impressions for small businesses though they offer "high-volume pricing" on request.
Feature Image Credit- Thinkstock
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text:
ALERT: This week's FREE Friday Noon Musicale at the First Unitarian Society of Madison, 900 University Bay Drive, features bassoonist Juliana Mesa-Jaramillo, clarinetist Jose Garcia-Taborda and pianist Satoko Hayami in music by Mikhail Glinka, Max Bruch and Carlos Guastavino. The concert takes place from 12:15 to 1 p.m.
By Jacob Stockinger
If you were in the audience two years ago when violinist Ilya Kaler (below) made his Madison debut with the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra, it is unlikely that you have forgotten it.
Kaler proved himself a complete virtuoso when he performed the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto in D Major. The audience went wild and so did the critics, including The Ear.
Backed up with a first-rate accompaniment by music director and conductor Andrew Sewell and the WCO, Kaler showed a perfect mix of dramatic virtuosity, songful lyricism, lush tone and sonic clarity that you rarely hear.
This Friday night at 7:30 p.m. in the Capitol Theater of the Overture Center Kaler returns to perform with the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra (below), again under the baton of music director Andrew Sewell.
The vehicle this time is the Violin Concerto No. 2 in B minor, Op. 7, by perhaps the most famous violin virtuoso of all time, Niccolo Paganini (below, playing for astonished listeners).
The concerto is famous for the "La Campanella" (The Bell) theme of the last movement that inspired the show-off etude of the same name by the great pianist Franz Liszt, who sought to emulate and transfer Paganini's fiendish violin virtuosity on the piano. (You can hear that last movement in YouTube video at the bottom.)
Also on the program are: The Mozart-like and operatic String Sonata No. 2 by a 12-year-old Goiachino Rossini; and the Symphony No. 81 in G Major by Franz Joseph Haydn, a composer who is one of the interpretative strengths of Sewell (below).
Tickets are $15-$80. For ticket information and purchases, got to: http://www.overture.org/events/ilya-kaler
Born in Russia and trained at the famed Moscow Conservatory, Kaler now teaches at DePaul University in Chicago. He also won major gold medals in the 1980s at three major international competitions: the Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow; the Paganini Competition in Genoa; and the Sibelius Competition in Helsinki.
He also records frequently for Naxos Records. To find out more about the impressive Kaler, go to: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ilya_Kaler