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Rayman Raving Rabbids marks the return of the iconic video-game hero, Rayman, in his funniest and zaniest adventure ever. When the world of Rayman is threatened by a devastating invasion of crazed, out-of-control bunnies Rayman must rise up against his furry foes to foil their wicked plans. Utilizing an array of amazing new abilities, and with the help of magical creatures, Rayman must break out all the moves to save his world from these delirious bunnies and their hare-raising antics.
Also known as: Rayman 4: Raving Rabbids
Release Region: United States
Release Date: December 11, 2006
Publisher: Ubisoft
Release Region: United Kingdom
Release Date: December 8, 2006
Publisher: Ubisoft
Also available on: PlayStation 2, Wii, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS, Wireless, Macintosh
Rayman Raving Rabbids at IGN
Rayman Raving Rabbids at GameSpy
Rayman Raving Rabbids at GameStats


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News & Events
For the Media
Clarkson University Senior Jared Smith Receives Levinus Clarkson Award
Graduating senior Jared D. Smith of Bay Shore, N.Y., received the Levinus Clarkson Award during Clarkson University's 120th commencement ceremony today. He was selected for the $1,000 award by a vote of the full University faculty based on his scholarship and promise of outstanding achievement.
The Levinus Clarkson Award was established by University founders Elizabeth and Frederica Clarkson in memory of their brother, Levinus, and was first awarded in 1909. This award and the Frederica Clarkson Award are traditionally given to the two top students in the graduating class.
Smith received a bachelor of science degree in environmental engineering with a minor in environmental health science. He was a presidential scholar for all seven semesters at Clarkson, and graduated with a 4.0 GPA. He studied abroad at the University of Newcastle, Australia, in the fall of 2011 for the other semester.
In the summer of 2011, Smith was selected to be a fellow of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), a research fellowship granted for junior and senior years of study. As part of this fellowship, Smith conducted research on several topics. His first research experience was in the spring of 2012, when he performed an analysis of the indoor air quality in Clarkson University LEED- and non-LEED-certified buildings under Environmental Health Science / Environmental Science and Policy Professor Alan Rossner.
Also as part of the fellowship, Smith spent the summer of 2012 at the Western Ecology Division of the USEPA in Corvallis, Ore., as a research assistant under Bob McKane and Paul Rygiewicz. Here, he studied the human impact on forest ecosystem services and advanced the visual representation of the research forest through ArcGIS mapping. His largest contribution was a method for matching light detecting and ranging (LiDAR) 3-D images of the research forest to ground-mapped field studies of the forest.
In November of 2012, Smith and design team partner Jessica Hernandez presented class research on the fate and transport of triclocarban in the environment at the United States Naval Academy Science and Engineering Conference. Each received a Navy command medallion for their poster.
Smith's most recent research, which he began in the spring of 2012, studied the "Impact of Brazilian Amazon Deforestation on Global Carbon Dioxide Concentrations." The research group consisted of environmental engineering seniors Bradley Kelsey, Rebecca Prendergast, and Joleigh Doner, and mentor Professor Susan Powers, Spence Professor of Sustainability in the Clarkson Institute for a Sustainable Environment. Their research followed the primary cause and effect relationship of the NASA Science Strategic Plan for global climate change research, and will be published as a teaching module on the Clarkson University Climate Change Education Project-Based Learning database.
Smith's attraction to Clarkson began in his senior year at Islip High School when he received the Clarkson University Leadership Award for his contributions to his high school's organizations. Since arriving at Clarkson, Smith has been granted several additional awards, first receiving the Civil and Environmental Engineering Award for Writing in his sophomore year, and then the Keith M. Russ Award for outstanding performance and service to the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department in his junior year. In his senior year he received the Clarkson Marshal Award and the Commendable Leadership Award from Phalanx, Clarkson's Leadership Honor Society, for his contributions to multiple organizations at Clarkson. During this time he was also recognized by the engineering honor society of Tau Beta Pi as a Scribner Scholar.
Outside of the Clarkson curriculum, Smith co-founded a chapter of the environmental engineering honor society of Tau Chi Alpha at Clarkson with senior Jared Best and advisor Professor Stefan Grimberg. He was also the president of the Environmental Conservation Organization (ECO), the vice president of Clarkson's Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society, the secretary of the Clarkson Community Orchestra, and the group coordinator for an Adopt a Highway Group consisting of three environmental clubs on campus. Smith also served as a student representative for the Clarkson Sustainability Committee and the International Study Committee, and was a mentor for Clarkson's Freshman Connect Program.
Smith has been a teaching assistant for Groundwater Hydrology and Geochemistry for Professor Michelle Crimi, and Introduction to Environmental Engineering for Professor Andrea Ferro. He was also a tutor at the Clarkson Tutoring Center for one semester each in General Chemistry I and II, Differential Equations, Introduction to Environmental Engineering, and Groundwater Hydrology and Geochemistry.
Following commencement, Smith will be pursuing an M.S./Ph.D. in environmental and water resource systems engineering at Cornell University. He is interested in quantifying the risks and uncertainties of hydraulic fracturing for oil and natural gas on groundwater and surface water resources. He aspires to invoke environmentally safe and sustainable protocols, and develop environmentally conscious engineering solutions for hydrofracking into policy.
Clarkson University launches leaders into the global economy. One in five alumni already leads as a CEO, VP or equivalent senior executive of a company. Located just outside the Adirondack Park in Potsdam, N.Y., Clarkson is a nationally recognized research university for undergraduates with select graduate programs in signature areas of academic excellence directed toward the world's pressing issues. Through 50 rigorous programs of study in engineering, business, arts, sciences and health sciences, the entire learning-living community spans boundaries across disciplines, nations and cultures to build powers of observation, challenge the status quo, and connect discovery and engineering innovation with enterprise.
Photo caption: Clarkson University President Tony Collins (left) presents the Levinus Clarkson Award to Jared Smith.
[A photograph for media use is available at http://www.clarkson.edu/news/photos/levinus2013.jpg.]

subset: commoncrawl


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Ultra Street Fighter 4 Release Details Revealed
Capcom has revealed some details on the release of Ultra Street Fighter 4, the news of which will hopefully sate our thirst for battle, if only for a little while.
A post on Capcom Unity provided information on Ultra Street Fighter 4's release, along with the schedule for the Capcom Cup tournament.
According to the post, Capcom wants to ensure that players have enough time to play the game and get some practice in so that they can compete at Evolution 2014.
To help facilitate this, the digital upgrade will be available in early June for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, priced at $14.99.
The digital upgrade for PC will be released in August and will cost $14.99. The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 digital bundles and retail versions will be released around the same time and run for $39.99. These versions will include all of the previous-released costumes for the characters.
Because PC players have to wait so long, they'll also have the option of getting the full digital bundle, which includes all of the costumes, for $29.99.
These release windows are meant to ensure that competitive players will have the time necessary to get used to the new mechanics and bring their A-game to Evolution 2014.


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Demi Lovato Dishes Dirt on New Documentary
Demi Lovato is getting ready to open up about her struggles and battles with being a role model to young girls in a new special MTV documentary, appropriately titled, 'Stay Strong.'
In the heart-wrenching interview, the former Disney star and now mega hit pop star talks about her eating disorder, depression and admits to even cutting herself at times.
"I was most definitely nervous about opening up to the cameras," she tells MTV in an interview leading up to the airing of the special, set for next week. "I was very hesitant to say certain things, but once I was around them for a while, I felt more comfortable and really opened up towards them.
"I speak about a lot of serious issues, and I really hope to get awareness out there about the issues that I dealt with," Lovato continues. "But at the end of the day, I just want people to see what it's like to be in my shoes. I kind of talked about the journey that I've been on, and I just want people to take away a positive message. It gets better, you know?"
Lovato and the cameras also make the trip back to the Illinois treatment center where she received help, to talk to the existing patience about what is on the other side for them as well. Lovato made the visit back a few months ago, which she called an "inspiring day."
The singer/actress says she hopes the special will help those who need to seek their own treatment and allow them to know they are not alone in life with their battles. "It's to really inspire people," she says of the documentary. "That's all I hope to accomplish [with this special]. If there is a young girl at home dealing with the same issues that I'm dealing with, I want to be able to reach out to her and tell her that it's going to be OK."
'Demi Lovato: Stay Strong' will make its premiere on Tuesday, March 6 at 10:00PM ET on MTV.
Watch a Preview of 'Demi Lovato: Stay Strong' Documentary


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Incoming 1Ls / 1Ls @ W&M next year?« on: April 28, 2005, 06:27:35 AM »
It looks like there are only about 5 people listed as "attending" on LSN, so I thought I'd give this a try. W&M anyone?
This section allows you to view all posts made by this member. Note that you can only see posts made in areas you currently have access to.
Could you tell us a little about your visit and what you liked about it?
You put an offer down? Damn.
To elaborate on "super".
Event went very well, reception friday night was good, had the opportunity to speak with an '04 grad who is employed in ATL and loves his job. He said his best friends from school are all in DC and NY working and had no problems getting jobs. This was an issue for me, since I want to prob return to DC when I finish.
School and Library buildings were very nice...students seemed generally friendly, happy, etc. I spoke with roughly 10 students who were not affiliated with the open house - ie they were just around studying - and they all had nothing but good things to say. All had chosen Emory over other schools ranked in the mid-20s, and all seemed happy about their choice. Someone has posted elsewhere on this board that the school is full of students who are bitter about not getting into a T-14, but this is not the impression I got at all.
The big draw for me was the professors. Ahdieh or however you spell his name put on a mock class and he came across really well. He also had some interesting and very honest/frank things to say about the USNEWS 06 situation. There were a bunch of others hanging around, and all seemed very engaging, etc. All the students kept remarking about how good the teaching quality was.
Also very much liked the neighborhood, surrounding areas, city, campus, etc. Atlanta is awesome (if you can deal with interstate traffic), and I really liked the neighborhood around Emory (and the campus itself). Speaking with profs and students I realized how much of an asset the city actually is: it seems the school has tons of corporate, federal, and public interest"field placements" and "externships" for credit that sound really interesting.
Sorry for the rambling post, but the weekend went well and I've been too lazy to write since getting back. feel free to PM me for details or questions etc. Like FutureLawyerMiami I am also leaning towards attending right now, except for a few waitlists im considering.


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Twardzik Joins ODU Men's Basketball Broadcasting Team
By ODU Athletics
NORFOLK, VA—Old Dominion University Sports Properties Director of Broadcasting Ted Alexander announced today that ODU basketball great Dave Twardzik will join the Monarchs radio broadcasting team. Dave will be a contributor to the Monarch Courtside pre-game show at home games and provide the color commentary for all road games.
"I am excited about coming back to the Hampton Roads area where it all started for me some 45 years ago, and being involved with ODU again," said Twardzik. "I am looking forward to joining the Monarch broadcast team. I guess you could say things have come full circle."
Former Monarch standout Billy Mann will serve as color analyst for all home games and Rick Kiefner will host the Monarch Courtside program show at home games.
"We are so pleased to add ODU Hall of Famer, David Twardzik to our radio broadcast. Few schools in the country will be able to boast of such a talented and experienced basketball analyst such as Dave," said ODU Athletic Director Wood Selig. "He is one of a handful of ODU greats to have his jersey retired and hanging in the rafters of the TED, and enjoyed an illustrious NBA playing and administrative career. He has served as color analyst for the Portland Trailblazers so he will be able to bring tremendous credibility and insight for our listening audience. We are very fortunate to have a man of such talent and passion for our program return to ODU and Hampton Roads."
Twardzik became Old Dominion University's initial first team All-American basketball player after leading the Monarchs to the runner-up honors in the 1971 NCAA Division II national championships.
Twardzik led the Monarchs to 56 victories in three years before going on to spark the Portland Trailblazers to the 1976-77 National Basketball Association championship. The 6-1 guard enjoyed a successful professional basketball career with the American basketball Association's Virginia Squires, where he was an ABA All-Star in 1975, and his jersey No. 13 was retired by the NBA Portland Trail Blazers.
After his retirement from playing, Twardzik began an NBA coaching and front office career with Portland, Indiana, Detroit, Charlotte, the Los Angeles Clippers, Golden State, and Denver. In 2003, he became Director of Player Personnel for the Orlando Magic and was promoted to assistant General Manager in 2005, a position he held until 2012.
The former Monarch captain, whose number 14 was retired in 1972, passed out 880 career assists and scored 1,660 points while triggering the Monarchs fast break attack. He also established career records by making 548 free throws out of 686 attempted.
Dave is a member of the ODU Sports Hall of Fame, the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame and the Hampton Roads Sports Hall of Fame.


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Cisco Virtual Patient Observation Solution at ATA 2013
Cisco had a great show at the American Telemedicine Association (ATA) Meeting and Tradeshow in Austin Texas, May 5-7, demonstrating market leading solutions that overcome the barrier of distance while improving the patient experience.
The problem of monitoring patient rooms can be supported by Cisco platform solution with easy to use features and capabilities found in Cisco Virtual Patient Observation solution. The solution can accommodate needs ranging from basic, to enhanced, to advanced features such as work flow integration, to support a flexible range of needs for usage and policies of hospitals. The solution is easy to use and provides for patient privacy needs, while increasing efficiency. In these short youtube videos, Ray Cooke, Cisco Director Advanced Services, and Matt Tyler with Wachter, a Cisco partner demonstrate Cisco Virtual Patient Observation solution at the ATA 2013 conference, Austin, Texas. Demo Part 2, Part 3:
For more information please visit http://www.cisco.com/go/healthcaresecurity
Our executives David Plummer and Barbara Casey delivered two great presentations.
Selling Abroad: Companies Making an Impact in the International Market
David W. Plummer, General Manager, Cisco HealthPresence
Market Watch: Not All Telehealth Markets are Equal
Barbara Casey, Senior Executive Director, Cisco Healthcare Business Transformation
You can learn more about the Cisco Virtual Patient Observation solution for healthcare by clicking here, and Cisco Cisco Care-at-a-Distance solutions for telehealth by clicking here.
Matt Tyler, Cisco Partner from Wachter demonstrates Virtual Patient Observation Solution at ATA 2013. A few more photos from ATA 2013
In an effort to keep conversations fresh, Cisco Blogs closes comments after 60 days. Please visit the Cisco Blogs hub page for the latest content.


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Geeky DIY Crafts
20 Fun and Geeky DIYs For Your Weekend
20 Fun and Geeky DIYs For Your Weekend
This long holiday weekend is the perfect time to relax and get our craft on. Check out some of our favorite DIYs that can make your days of rest more creative. If you haven't had a chance to complete these crafts, add 'em to the list of Summer activities!
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More info
Contact Us
Our Professional Team will be happy to help you with the 24/7 Emergency Plumbing Service.
0450 888 881
Finest Plumbing Group is a team of professional plumbers in the Sydney area.
For more than 20 years, Steve and his staff are general plumbers and experts in the 24 hour emergency service.
If you need help, don't wait until it's too late, call YOUR plumber at any time!
Please call 0450 888 881 (we are available 24/7) or write at firstname.lastname@example.com.
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Plan for Contingencies
Plant in Sweet Spots
Narrow Spacing to Boost Yields
Search for the Ideal Hybrids
Take Stock of Tillage
Protect Your Baby Seedlings
Keep Your Corn Happy
Beat Weeds to the Punch
Defend Against Disease
Eliminate Unwelcomed Surprises
Plant Refuges for Diversification
Cut Compaction, Boost Yields
Cut Losses with Calcium
Don't Forget Sulfur Applications
Take Stock of Phosphorous
Get to the Root of Problems
Plan Ahead for Next Year
Surprises are great for birthday parties, but not with corn disease. If you do your homework, you won't have many surprises when you scout your fields midseason, says Farm Journal Field Agronomist Ken Ferrie.
The way to avoid yield-slashing surprises is to manage the disease threat, Ferrie explains. That requires understanding the Disease Triangle. The three legs of the triangle are the host (your crop), the pathogen and the environment. "All three factors interact, and they must all come together at the right time to create a disease problem," Ferrie says.
"If one factor is missing, disease won't be an issue," he explains. "For example, in 2011 many areas had severe infestations of Goss's wilt because they had warm, wet weather, high humidity and hail or wind damage to the leaves, which opened avenues for infection. In 2012, everybody worried about that disease, but it turned out to be rare. The inoculant was there (in old crop residue), and the host crop was present, but the weather was hot and humidity was low. The environment made all the difference."
A critical factor. Environmental conditions affect whether diseases survive, how they are dispersed (blown in or carried in by insects) and if they are able to colonize on plants. While most fungi can infect plants, bacteria and viruses need a way inside—typically insects or damage such as hail injury.
Of the three factors in the Disease Triangle, environment might be the most critical, Ferrie notes. Besides determining whether a pathogen builds to damaging levels, it also affects your disease control planning process, which begins long before seed hits soil.
In 2013, failing to consider environmental conditions resulted in a few unpleasant surprises. "Some growers had gotten used to scouting for gray leaf spot, which had been a problem during several warm growing seasons with high humidity," Ferrie says. "As a result, they failed to identify eyespot and northern corn leaf blight, which resulted from cool, wet conditions in the spring."
To manage disease, you must understand the vulnerabilities of your hybrids. "Suppose a hybrid is a really good yielder but has low resistance to Goss's wilt," Ferrie says. "If you're in a continuous corn rotation, don't plant that hybrid in a field where you had Goss's wilt last year, even if you do tillage. If you're in a corn/soybean rotation and you strip-till or no-till, don't plant it where you had Goss's wilt two years ago. The disease inoculum will still be present in the old corn residue. Plant that hybrid somewhere else, where Goss's wilt has not been a problem."
Size up hybrids. Test plots don't always reveal a hybrid's weakness. "If a hybrid won five county plots, that tells you the environment was perfect for it that season," Ferrie says. "It does not tell you how it will perform under different growing conditions. In that situation, you need to search for the hybrid's weakness."
When evaluating hybrids for disease resistance, make sure you understand each company's disease rating scale. "They are not all the same," Ferrie says. "For one company, a rating of 1 may signify a high level of disease resistance, and a score of 9 may mean very little resistance. But another company's scale may be just the opposite."
Even if two companies use the same scale—1 being least resistant, 9 being most resistant, for example—hybrids with the same numerical rating may not have the same level of resistance.
"The ratings are based on how new hybrids compare to a check hybrid," Ferrie says. "If two companies use different check hybrids, a rating of 5 from both companies does not signify an identical level of resistance."
This showed up in one farmer's field in 2013, Ferrie says. The grower had made a special effort to plant hybrids with resistance to Goss's wilt and chose two hybrids from different companies. Both had a resistance rating of 7 on a scale of 8 being most resistant.
But in mid-August, one hybrid had Goss's wilt in some fields, while the other did not. "That doesn't mean the grower's disease management wasn't successful," Ferrie says. "Even with the disease present, he still had 200-bu. corn. If he hadn't planted disease-resistant hybrids, Goss's wilt might have devastated his fields. But it does show that, even though the companies used the same rating scale, their ratings were based on different standards, from comparisons to different hybrids."
The easiest step in managing disease is to understand your hybrids. "The more disease resistance built into the hybrid, the better," Ferrie says. "But that doesn't relieve you from scouting and applying fungicides if they are needed. There are instances where a susceptible hybrid sprayed with a fungicide outyields a resistant hybrid."
How to scout. Selecting next year's hybrids begins with scouting this year's crop. "Scout for disease in midsummer," Ferrie advises. "If you wait until harvest, you'll see the damage but you won't be able to identify the disease.
"Carry a scouting manual so you can confirm what you find. Record the predominant diseases in each field; you'll be dealing with them as long as crop residue remains in the field."
By scouting, you are searching for each hybrid's weakness. "If you understand the role of environmental conditions, you'll know what leaf diseases to expect before you enter the field, so there won't be surprises," Ferrie says.
"For example, expect to find gray leaf spot if you have had consistently high humidity. If spring weather was cool and wet, anticipate northern corn leaf blight and common rust."
Year-round prevention. The second step in season-long disease management occurs as you select hybrids for next year. Before you open a seed catalog, consider your tillage system and crop rotation. Having crop residue in your field increases disease risk.
With that risk in mind, consider yield potential and disease rating for various hybrids. "If you no-till continuous corn, you have a greater disease risk. So you'll want to pick a hybrid with more resistance," Ferrie says.
"Base fungicide application decisions on the weaknesses you identified in your hybrids and the weather during the growing season," Ferrie says. "Warm, wet weather increases the risk of diseases such as gray leaf spot."
Weather is the only thing you can't change as you evaluate disease risk. But if you understand the Disease Triangle, weather should be the only big surprise you'll encounter.


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Areas of Ministry
- Juvenile Correctional Facilities
- Church Services
- Summer Youth Camps
- Corporate Human Resources
- Learning Institutions
Our Goals
To go to as many opportunities for ministry as possible, to educate and encourage lay persons to become involved in juvenile assistance programs, and to raise financial support for juvenile programs.
Volunteers Needed
If you have a heart to reach troubled youth, please Contact Us for more information. If you're ready to jump in, just fill out the Long Application under Forms!


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Excessive heat — especially when it relates to motors — is a killer, but infrared thermography can identify this deadly condition.
All motors get hot when they operate, but sometimes it's difficult to know when or if temperatures are excessive. Identifying hot spots can be even more difficult if you lack the correct equipment for the job. Modern infrared inspection tools are invaluable for the prevention of overheated motors and the problems they can cause. These devices offer exceptionally accurate and revealing information for low-cost predictive maintenance.
You can use thermal overload detectors and electronic overload devices in motor controllers to mimic motor heat and to de-energize the motor before excessive heat damages it. Some large motors also contain embedded remote thermal units (RTUs) to measure local winding temperature. It can be easy, however, to develop a false sense of security and neglect the parts of the motor these devices don't measure, such as the bearings and the shaft. During a motor event, bearing lubricant can get so hot that it cokes and ceases to lubricate. The subsequent extreme heat can cause the bearings to fail. At this point, the bearing race typically becomes friction-welded to the shaft.
Several conditions can lead to destructive motor events. Shafts can be misaligned at the load coupling, causing the shaft to flex continuously during rotation. Minor cases of misalignment can cause the shaft to heat up. However, results are more severe in the case of bad misalignment, where work hardening and shaft breakage can occur. Dirt or other foreign objects can also cause bearings to fail prematurely. When a motor's air passages become clogged with debris, its windings can overheat and fail. It's no secret these situations present the potential for motor failure. The problem comes in knowing how to detect these conditions before serious damage sets in.
You can tell whether a motor — or part of a motor — is very hot by viewing it through a thermoscan camera. Most models of these cameras even provide temperature indicators to digitally note the surface temperature of an object within the viewfinder. When the readout temperature approaches the maximum operating temperature of the insulation or grease, this alerts the operator to shut down the motor for maintenance. But the most valuable information the camera can provide is an image of one part that is much hotter than its surrounding components. Remember, just because a part of the motor is hot doesn't mean it's approaching dangerous temperature levels. It's important to know what materials the parts are made of to determine safe heating levels. Keep in mind the heated internal motor parts are operating at a higher temperature than the digital temperature value indicated on the camera.
You can obtain accurate thermoscans quickly and conveniently with one of the many hand-held cameras on the market. Thermoscans have been used for many years for preventive maintenance of switchgear, but they are just as useful, if not more so, for examining motors. Just aim and shoot to instantly identify overheated bearings, misaligned motor shafts, plugged cooling air passages, or loose or corroded wire joints within the motor or motor junction box. You can use the cameras to identify improper wiring connections or splices, corona, arcing brushes, heating of brushes or slip rings and commutator, poor contacts, a shorted winding, or an overheated surge capacitor.
You can also use thermoscan testing as a nondestructive method for discovering motor overload and deep corrosion or rust in the stator housing. The camera will depict corrosion as lines of differing temperature outlining the corrosion depressions in the metal.
A thermoscan can determine the temperature rise of a motor to an accuracy of about 2°C. Let your electrical system relays continue to provide motor protection against overload, low voltage, and loss of phase, and use your thermoscan unit to complete the protection scheme for large motors.
Just after installation, allow each motor to warm up and scan it during operation to check for shaft misalignment. Afterward, you should scan them periodically. Keep a file of photos for each motor and compare them to new photos so you can check for differences in operating temperature over time. This procedure enhances the thermoscan's predictive analysis and improves your chances of saving money and reducing downtime over the long haul.
Thermoscan cameras exist for almost every need. Different cameras are available for different temperatures. One thermoscan camera operates from -20°C to +160°C, and another unit measures temperatures as high as +450°C. Simple cameras are available for taking snapshots, while more sophisticated units can also provide full, printed reports. Regardless of which thermoscan camera you select, this technology will take your motor's preventive maintenance program to a new level of ease, validity, and value.


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PowerShell v3 is right around the corner, folks. If you haven't taken the time to get a solid foundation in PowerShell, you're probably going to struggle with it. Every day, I'm helping folks (at http://powershell.com/cs/forums/230.aspx) learn a bit more about PowerShell by helping them through tricky commands - but I kinda feel bad. I can't always reply to questions immediately, so I'm basically holding them up while they wait for an answer.
But a lot of those questions are ones you could avoid completely if you had a solid grounding in PowerShell's basics. That's what I deliver with Learn Windows PowerShell in a Month of Lunches, and this holiday season why not set yourself up to make 2012 the Year You Learned the Shell? Between Christmas and New Year's Eve, visit http://store.concentratedtech.com/2011.php for a great deal on my PowerShell book for beginners, the advanced "scripting and toolmaking" book, and the 99-video companion DVD. Quantities are limited, so rush right over Christmas morning!
Take a look at local classes in your area, too, if you're more of a classroom person. Or, if you don't have decent training in your local area, consider a conference like Windows Connections (http://winconnections.com), where I often deliver several PowerShell-related breakout sessions and full-day workshops. Check out a user group (there's a directory at http://powershellgroup.org), either locally or online, and exchange ideas and answers with your colleagues.
Whatever you do, don't think that you can safely ignore PowerShell. Windows "8" Server brings thousands of new commands, and without a proper course in the core principles of PowerShell you're going to have a rough time using them. Don't wait until PowerShell gets bigger and more complex to start learning! If you've put it off this long, you're perilously behind the curve… close enough that you might want to start practicing "would you like fries with that?" for your next job (grin).
Jump in!


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You are here
Help Massachusetts Voters Send a Message to Washington!
Contact the Budget for All Massachusetts Coalition!
The Afghanistan war grinds on, the Pentagon budget keeps growing, corporations and the 1%'ers are paying lower taxes than their secretaries, Social Security and other benefits are under attack, and next to nothing is being done to create jobs.
Instead of addressing these problems, the House of Representatives showed that it is still gripped by deficit fever when it passed the draconian Ryan budget, and gave only 78 votes to the alternative presented by the Congressional Progressive Caucus.
A coalition of community, labor, and peace groups have put the Budget for All referendum on the November 6, 2012 ballot in 91 cities and towns across Massachusetts. One million Massachusetts voters will have a chance to support this agenda.
The wording of the Budget for All public policy question will be:
Shall the state Representative (or Senator) from this district be instructed to vote in favor of a resolution calling upon the Congress and the President to:
1. Prevent cuts to Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and Veterans benefits, or to housing, food and unemployment assistance;
2. Create and protect jobs by investing in manufacturing, schools, housing, renewable energy, transportation and other public services;
3. Provide new revenues for these purposes and to reduce the long-term federal deficit by closing corporate tax loopholes, ending offshore tax havens, and raising taxes on incomes over $250,000; and
4. Redirect military spending to these domestic needs by reducing the military budget, ending the war in Afghanistan and bringing U.S. troops home safely now.
Sponsors (9/16/12): Action for Peace Working Group / Occupy Boston – AFGE/Local 3258/AFL-CIO – Allliance for Peace & Justice – American Friends Service Committee – ARISE for Social Justice – Arlington Fund Our Communities / Reduce Military Spending 25% – Arlington United for Justice with Peace – Boston Coalition to Fund Our Communities / Cut Miilitary Spending 25%– Boston Workers Alliance – Brookline PAX – Chelsea Collaborative – Chelsea Uniting Against the War – Chinese Progressive Association – Democratic Socialists of America - Boston – Dorchester People for Peace – Eastern Massachusetts 25% Campaign – Fund Our Communities Not War – Green-Rainbow Party of Massachusetts – Lexington Justice and Peace – Majority Agenda Project – Mary Ellen McCormack Tenant Task Force – Massachusetts Alliance of HUD Tenants – Massachusetts Global Action – Massachusetts Peace Action – MassOccupy/Brookline – Merrimack Valley People for Peace – Metrowest Peace Action – Neighbors United for a Better East Boston – New England United for Justice – Newton Dialogues on Peace & War – North Shore Coalition for Peace & Justice – Occupy Arlington – Occupy Fall River – Occupy Newton – Progressive Democrats of America – Quequechan Alliance – Right to the City Civic Action Alliance – Survivors Inc – United Food and Commercial Workers – United for Justice with Peace – United National Antiwar Coalition – Veterans for Peace, Smedley Butler Brigade – Walpole Peace & Justice Group – Watertown Citizens for Peace, Justice and the Environment – Women's International League for Peace & Freedom, Boston
To add your organization's name to the list of endorsers, fill in this form.
Can you help cover the polls on election day? Sign up here.


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UK uses Open Government Partnership summit to make transparency a reality for citizens
UK publishes ambitious plan for more open government as the world comes to London to drive forward the transparency agenda.
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Openness and transparency can save money, strengthen people's trust in government and encourage greater public participation in decision-making. Read more
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This website will help you quickly and securely find carpool partners anywhere in North Carolina! Using your home and work addresses, you will be matched to nearby commuters with similar schedules. Your home address will never appear on match lists.
When you receive your list of matches, you may choose who to contact. There are no obligations or requirements.


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Cloud computing and SOA are recognized game-changing technologies[1] for a cost-efficient and reliable service delivery. Software as a Service paradigm becomes more and more popular enabling flexible license payment schemas and moving the infrastructure management costs from consumers to service providers. However, building a SaaS system from scratch may require a huge investment in time and efforts. Moreover, the organizations legacy systems are difficult to reuse due to platform, documentation and architecture obsolescence.
OMG MDA (Model Driven Architecture) and related efforts around domain-specific languages have gained much popularity. These technologies put the model in the centre of the software engineering process (MDE). The software products are built with subsequent model refinements and transformations from business models (process, rules, motivation), down to component architectures (e.g. SOA), detailed platform specific design and finally implementation. Similarly, OMG ADM (Architecture Driven Modernization) proposes to start with knowledge discovery to recover models and to re-build the new system in a forward MDA process.
EU projects like MODELWARE and MOMOCS have proved the feasibility of MDE and ADM, respectively, and productivity gains. SHAPE has provided a large set of methods for aligning business models, SOA and implementations. RESERVOIR has developed a generic cloud computing platform. However these approaches have major weaknesses in the current state:
The OMG ADM task force proposed a holistic view on modernization[2] including the business models. OMG has now started a standardization process for PIM (Platform Impendent Model) for Cloud Computing (currently PIM4Cloud draft RFP).
REMICS proposes a leap progress in legacy systems migration to Service Clouds by providing a model driven methodology and tools, which significantly improve the baseline ADM concept. This will be achieved through driving the standardization work in OMG including PIM4Cloud specification, and support and increase impact further by providing project results under open source licences.
[1] Economic and Social Impact of Software & Software-Based Services, D2 – The European Software Industry, Pierre Audoin Consultants Report, July 30, 2009. ftp://ftp.cordis.europa.eu/pub/fp7/ict/docs/ssai/20090730-d2-eu-ssbs-industry.pdf
[2] ADMTF: Architecture-Driven Modernisation: Transforming the Enterprise, http://www.omg.org/cgi-bin/doc?admtf/07-12-01.pdf
REMICS is a FP7 project


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Information For
The Jefferson Department of Emergency Medicine is one of 18 clinical departments in the Jefferson College of Medicine. The medical College, one of the oldest in the nation, was founded in 1824 and is part of Thomas Jefferson University, a medical and health sciences educational institution. Today the Jefferson Department of Emergency Medicine is thriving as a highly recognized clinical and academic department in the Philadelphia area. The mission of the Department of Emergency Medicine is to provide quality, compassionate and expeditious care to our patients and our community. Our goals are achieved through shared values of integrity, respect, teamwork and communication.
The Department is based in Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, a 717 bed tertiary and quaternary care hospital in center city Philadelphia with approximately 60,000 Emergency Department Visits per year. The Methodist Division of Thomas Jefferson University Hospital is a 220 bed community hospital with approximately 43,000 Emergency Department visits per year. In addition to Emergency Services the Department of Emergency Medicine is home to The Travel Medicine Services of Thomas Jefferson University and the Myrna Brind Center for Integrative Medicine at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital.
Department administration is supported by a Chair, Vice Chair for Academic Affairs, Medical Director, and Vice Chair for Methodist Hospital. The clinical practice is organized around 2 hospitals, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital and the Methodist Division of Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals. In addition, there is direct involvement in the administration of ancillary services such as information technology, quality and safety and strategic planning.
Other professional staff within the department include 37 Emergency Medicine Residents, 5 physician assistants, 7 nurse practitioners, 4 basic science research faculty, and basic and clinical research coordinators.


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I had a feeling I wouldn't do so well on my week 2 weigh in on Nutrisystem, I gained 1lb. I was disappointed when I stepped off the scale but this wasn't unexpected. I do fine when I'm at work. I take my breakfast, lunch and add-ons to work with me and behave myself but after work is when things get more difficult for me. I went out to dinner a few times and the choices I made definitely caught up with me. I also did not focus on how much water I was drinking and didn't write down what I was eating, which both things are super important to do. I always do better when I write everything down.
With that said, I still feel good about what I've accomplished so far. I've lost 12.2lbs in one month. While it's not the 20lbs. a month I aimed for, there have been other small victories that are just as important as what the number on the scale is. I'm on the verge of crossing into a weight range that I have not been at in a very long time and I'm feeling really hopeful and excited about that. Plus, I can always aim for that figure next month. If I do reach that goal, there's a bottle of Tom Ford Champaca Absolut perfume at Nordstrom with my name on it… I just visited it yesterday. 😉
As for the other small victories, I've felt better physically than I have in a long time. For awhile, the not so healthy things I would normally indulge in just left me feeling like I was hit by a train or something, I would have awful indigestion or heartburn that would keep me up at night sometimes. I have not had that problem in all of my time on Nutrisystem, I just feel good, normal, fine. I also have type 2 diabetes and have never really taken care of myself like I should for my condition. For the first time in years, my blood sugar levels are within normal range thanks to diet and medication. Often the medication wasn't enough and I never ate to stay within range… that's not a problem now!
I have to rave about the food again because it really does surprise me every time I try something new. My moment of awe last week was when I put the Asian Style Beef entrée in the microwave. When I took it out and tasted it, I was totally shocked. The beef tasted fresh! You know how sometimes meat in microwave entrees just has an odd taste or texture like its been put through the ringer? Not with this entrée, the beef was tender and tasted fresh as if I cooked it myself and tossed it in. Color me impressed… all I need is for them to introduce Chicken Piccata and I will be one happy gal.
My 3rd weigh in later this afternoon. I feel better about it than last weeks weigh-in. I'll keep you posted, planning to do my week 3 post much sooner than this one because I'm already going to start week 4… I'm just perpetually late with everything.
Would you like to lose weight and get healthy on Nutrisystem too? Visit Nutrisystem today or call 1-888-853-4689. Nutrisystem is providing their program and support services free of charge for my participation in the Nutrisystem Nation Blogging Program.


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In a recent blog post, I briefly mentioned that the ebook library market is currently devoid of any key players as far as indies are concerned.
I've known this for a while, and came up with a business plan to fill this void. But it hasn't been easy.
Well, technically, for me it has been pretty easy. I brainstorm ideas, occasionally do some promo, and fun stuff. For my business partner, August Wainwright, it's been one challenge after another. For over a decade, the ebook library market has been the wild wild west. Each library or library system has been forced to reinvent the wheel in order to offer their patrons ebooks. They've been given one-sided deals by big publishers and distributors, have no universal way of buying, cataloging, hosting, or lending ebooks, and have been hamstrung by a myriad technological, business, and monetary roadblocks.
And that's just the library end of things. The indie author has also been unable to quickly and easily get titles into libraries. Many authors want to reach library patrons so much they're willing to give away their ebooks for free (even though the company that does so charges libraries for those same books--is that insane or what?).
To help authors understand more about the current dilemmas facing libraries, August and I did a long post on www.ebooksareforever.com. Here's an excerpt, along with some Q & A.
As EAF gets closer to an official launch later this year, we wanted to take an opportunity to weigh-in on a few of the more important aspects of the relationship between indie authors and libraries.
Something we've continuously attempted to convey during our beta period is that the consumer marketplace and library marketplace are two entirely different entities, and as such, need to be approached from different strategic angles.
This article discusses a few of those details, and is meant to be a first step towards building a knowledge base that both indie authors/publishers and libraries can reference in pursuit of a long-term, sustainable relationship.
Librarians have told us that they are slightly overwhelmed with the idea of having to discuss ebook acquisition with indie authors. We've heard stories about how libraries will set up booths at conferences and trade shows, and a vast majority of the people who seek them out are indie authors wanting to get their books into the library.
A few even admitted their response eventually defaulted to "Add your books to Smashwords, and we can look for them through Overdrive", when in reality, the likelihood of that process ever playing out is very small.
This is eye-opening for many different reasons.
First, because it demonstrates the true amount of work required for librarians to interact with indie authors at scale.
Think about it like this:
If a librarian is asked about a popular title by a few patrons, he/she may attempt to source the book. Let's assume the book was published by a small independent press. Within a few back-and-forth conversations, the librarian will not only be able to inquire about the desired book, but will also gain insight and easy access to all of the other books available from that small publisher.
This effect is amplified the larger the publisher is. If they target a publisher with thousands of titles, a relatively small amount of effort could result in many new books for their patrons.
However, when looked at in reference to indie authors - all of which act as individual publishers - each of these interactions is completely separate of all others.
This presents a HUGE hurdle for libraries.
Second, multiple librarians have said they are more than a bit dismayed that they are approached so many times with the same common pitch by indie authors. This pitch, from what we've been told, amounts to "You should add my books to your library." or "Patrons would love my books.", and nothing much else.
No marketing materials. No thought-out plan. Not even a summary or description of their titles or series.
This obviously doesn't represent libraries' interactions with ALL indie authors, but indie authors need to have a tight presentation to be taken seriously by libraries, as well as an easy route into those libraries, just as libraries need an easy way to attain wanted titles for their catalogs. Reducing friction as much as possible should be a priority.
Right now, we're working closely with acquisition librarians to create this framework, and we're working to make the process simple for both parties.
Discoverability is a common buzzword right now. Every conversation pertaining to indies and their success (or lack thereof) will contain discoverability as a major point of interest.
Many of the authors we've spoken with rightly look at libraries and their patrons as an opportunity to extend readership into new areas. Additionally, some have noted that they'd be willing to forego royalties because what they're most concerned with is discoverability.
However, foregoing royalties in an attempt to gain traction with libraries misses a large portion of what the goal of librarians truly is.
Part of the job of librarians is to assess their specific patrons' needs. What works at a large metro library, may not work at a smaller rural library. What's popular and read often at a suburban public library will often be very different from that of a local community college or large university.
These individual needs are what drive librarians to speak of the need for multiple solutions.
But in all the time we've spent talking with librarians, not one has ever implied that libraries wish they could offer their patrons great content without having to pay for it; or that being able to do so would solve any of the acquisition problems they face. Every single librarian we've talked to about licensing, pricing, and discoverability has shared the same mindset: "Authors deserve fair pay for the work they've produced". In our interactions, this sentiment appears universal.
Furthermore, the librarians we've worked with are not only HUGE fans of indie authors, but massive advocates for sustainable writing careers.
The long-term answer to the indie author's discoverability problem is not FREE; not in the consumer marketplace2, and not in the library marketplace. If the ebook is produced professionally, has compelling cover art, is well edited, and patrons choose to read it, then the author deserves to be compensated. Librarians certainly agree with this.
Discoverability and royalties are not, and should not be, tied directly to each other.
There's a lot more to read over on the EAF Blog. Click here to read more.
Q: What's taking so long with EAF?
EAF: We're still in a beta testing period, due almost entirely to the fact that an overwhelming majority of libraries in this country don't have access to the infrastructure needed to host their own ebook collection.
Vendors have controlled this aspect of the digital library since ebooks started to become popular.
Because of this, if we want to give libraries the ability to host their own content and allow patrons to quickly and easily interact with the ebooks they purchase, then we have to invent the technology they need from the ground up. And that's exactly what we're doing.
For eBooksAreForever to be judged as a success for both authors and libraries, we feel it's important to not only deliver the necessary technology, but to create a community around that tech that benefits everyone involved. So we want to make sure that when we launch nationwide later this year, that authors and librarians will be blown away by the features, ease-of-use and simplicity of eBooksAreForever.com.
But that's only ⅔ of the whole equation. Many libraries don't have any existing infrastructure to offer ebooks to their patrons. So EAF is working to create one, and make this available to libraries and patrons for free.
Joe sez: Compare ebooks and libraries to other media markets. Let's equate writers with videogame developers. Creating the game isn't enough. There needs to be a way to get that game to consumers. There also needs to be a way for consumers to play the game.
In the retail market, you can reach consumers via Amazon, Google, etc. But in the library market, which is global but decentralized, every library and library system has a different way of acquiring and cataloging titles (and cataloging is a big one--a library can't offer any materials to patrons unless it has a method of sorting, shelving, and keeping track; with digital media this means integrating with a myriad of different cataloging and hosting software, and in some cases being the host.)
Then, once the library has a way to buy and lend ebooks, how are patrons supposed to read them? Amazon and other retailers have invented their own ereading devices for this purpose. While some libraries may have the funds to purchase and lend out dedicated devices, most don't. Which means EAF has to not only integrate with libraries, but with the devices that patrons already have, such as computers, tablets, and smart phones.
This isn't something that happens overnight.
Q: Who do you see as competition for EAF? What are they doing right or wrong?
EAF: The only real competition to EAF at this time is Overdrive via their connection with Smashwords. Although, comparing the sustainable indie platform we're building to a vendor that serves big traditional publishers, and which was just purchased by Kobo's parent company for half a billion dollars, doesn't seem like an apples-to-apples comparison.
Overdrive/Smashwords is the only other avenue that indie authors and publishers can utilize to get their ebooks into libraries AND get paid for doing so. In that respect, they're doing the right thing by paying indies royalties when libraries purchase their books.
However, we've spent a lot of time discussing this with librarians and, while a few admitted their response to indies eventually defaulted to "Add your books to Smashwords, and we can look for them through Overdrive", in reality, the likelihood of that process ever playing out is very small.
You can read a more in-depth reason for why that is here (in the "Library Interest and Marketing" section), but it boils down to 2 main factors:
- Most of the popular indie content isn't available via Smashwords
- It's far too daunting of a process for them to take on the Overdrive/Smashwords process for each and every indie author who approaches them
More importantly, indie content just doesn't seem important to Overdrive. And why should it when they have ebooks from the Big5 (as well as many other traditional publishers) priced at huge markups above the retail price.
We feel the goal for indies and libraries should be to build upon the already harmonious relationship that exists between the two groups. Finding ways to create a sustainable community is something that nobody else is even attempting right now.
Joe sez: The problem of discoverability for authors is much more difficult on a virtual library shelf than it is on Amazon. First, libraries must be aware of titles; they aren't going to buy something they don't know exists. Second, patrons need to be aware of titles; they aren't going to borrow something they can't find.
My biggest goal as a writer mirrors the goal of many of my peers; we all want to be read. Simply getting your ebook into a library is no guarantee anyone will read you, or even find you.
One of the ways we're working to make EAF valuable to libraries is to make it valuable to library patrons. That means a way for readers to find, read, and discuss titles.
Q: What are the greatest ebook challenges facing libraries?
EAF: Among the hurdles that libraries must overcome are:
- Shrinking budgets; They simply don't have the budgets to purchase everything they would like to add.
- Licensing models that strain that budget; High prices for ebooks, combined with unfavorable licensing, create a very unfavorable environment for libraries. For example, a library must pay for extension of time-limited licenses of old ebooks AND purchases of licenses for new ones. All kinds of sustainability and predictability issues arise.
- Cost of technology, which again strains their budget; An overwhelming majority (I'd guess more than 97%) of libraries don't have the ability to host digital content on their own. This limits what they can offer their patrons to those vendors who are providing third party services. Most of these vendors charge high platform setup fees.
There are plenty of other concerns regarding ebooks, such as patron confidentiality and security (like when Adobe was caught collecting data on library ebook users), censorship and filter requirements, and changing demographics, but the shrinking budget sticks out as a major problem because of how enormously expensive ebooks are from major publishers.
Joe sez: I'll add another hurdle: the time and money involved in curation. Which brings us to the next question.
Q: Is EAF ever going to invite all authors into its catalog? Why the exclusivity?
We're working on ways to allow ALL authors access to eBooksAreForever and, with input from librarians, are considering different solutions for different challenges at various types of libraries.
In a perfect world, curation wouldn't be necessary. In general, I'd say curation is completely unnecessary in the consumer space. Putting up walls (as many indies are familiar with) and falsifying "best-seller" lists to limit consumer access to certain titles is simply wrong.
But the important thing that we need to know to initially build and grow EAF is that the consumer marketplace and library marketplace are two different entities. There are many things that would be expected when it comes to Amazon/B&N/Kobo/Apple/etc that just don't work the same way for libraries. Mostly, this is due to the fact that the consumer reader market is growing (depending upon who you ask of course), where as library budgets are shrinking – and they're shrinking while ebook prices are continuing to climb for them. We're dealing with far more limitations and completely different needs.
Additionally, librarians have asked for this curation, as it's something that makes the acquisition process far easier for them. We want to deliver upon that request.
To finish all necessary testing before our official launch later this year, we need to control both quality and quantity of titles, as well as the number of titles per genre. We can't go to launch with 80% of our titles being mystery titles, or romance titles; which may lead to someone who passes all of the internal criteria we've set being temporarily denied at this point.
Being denied access now doesn't mean you'll be denied in 2 weeks, or 2 months. Overall, there are various factors that go into the curation process, of which number of reviews, quality of reviews, number of titles, whether your books are in a series, estimated sales figures, cover art, book description, current genre saturation, library interest, and overall availability are just a few.
We've come across books that are obviously of high quality that have few sales, and fewer reviews. And we've accepted some of those titles. We won't automatically turn authors away because of lack of reviews. Likewise, we also can't automatically accept books based entirely on hitting certain thresholds.
Joe sez: In a nutshell, curation is necessary to make EAF's catalogue valuable to libraries.
With the sheer number of indie titles already available, and tens of thousands more released every year, only the largest library systems can afford to pay a fulltime employee to sort through them all.
The work-around is simple: EAF does the sorting for libraries. Our business plan focuses on making it simple for libraries to buy our entire catalog all at once, rather than parsing through each individual title.
This means the titles we offer have to be vetted. EAF's collection is only valuable if the titles in it have already proven popular with readers.
Think about an all-you-can-eat buffet. It costs $9.99, and has a hundred different foods to munch on. How long would that buffet stay in business if eighty out of a hundred foods weren't ever eaten? Or if a handful were really low quality?
Our launch model is focused on working with libraries to get them desired indie content without wasting their time or money. We're also working to incorporate both erotica and non-fiction in our launch.
For the future, we're developing different ideas to allow more writers to reach libraries, while also fairly compensating them, even if they haven't had big sales yet.
I didn't start this business because I wanted to get rich quick. I started it to help writers get their self-pubbed work into libraries. This means all writers. But that's going to take some time, and there will be some smaller steps EAF needs to take before that happens.
We appreciate your patience. It'll be worth the wait.


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Historical Context
Map 2
Table of
The northern part of the state was unorganized at this time.
Questions for Map 1
1. What natural feature determined Indiana's southern boundary? What might have been some reasons frontier families settled near this feature?
2. Locate the Lincoln farm. How would you describe its location within the state of Indiana?
3. In what part of the state were most of the towns located at this time? Can you think of any reasons why that might have been?
Click for a larger version of Map 1


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Israel News - Stay Informed, Pray Informed
Israel Today has written several times before about how Israel has an abortion problem. Since the founding of the State of Israel in 1948, more than one-and-a-half million babies have been aborted - more than the number of Jewish children killed in the Holocaust. Going by current birth rates, had those children been allowed a chance at life, there could be 5-10 million more Israelis today.
But the good news is that abortion rates have been steadily dropping in Israel over the past decade. And figures released by Israel's Ministry of Health on Monday confirmed that the trend is continuing.
According to the ministry report, in 2010 Israel performed 11.1 abortions per 1,000 women of fertile age. That marks about a 10 percent decline from 2000. In Israel today, less than 11 percent of pregnancies end in abortion. In 2000, 12.5 percent ended in abortion, and in 1990 nearly 15 percent ended in abortion.
Israel requires women to gain approval from a medical committee in order to have an authorized abortion, but the criteria are lax and the committee rubber-stamps 98 percent of all abortion requests, resulting in nearly 20,000 authorized abortions per year. It is estimated that another 20,000 unauthorized abortions are performed every year by private clinics.
So, the fact that the numbers are dropping is not due to new legal restrictions. Indeed, it is easier to get an abortion in Israel today than it has ever been.
Some in the Israeli media speculated that the drop may be due to the aging of Russian immigrants, who in their fertile years used abortion as a form of birth control. What was not considered is the work of a handful of pro-life organizations that are tirelessly laboring to educate Israeli women regarding both the dangers and adverse psychological effects of abortion, and to aid women in "crisis pregnancies" that may feel they have no choice but to abort.
One of those organizations is the Messianic-run Be'ad Chaim (Hebrew for "Pro Life"). With centers around the country, Be'ad Chaim is able to provide assistance and teaching to hundreds of women who may otherwise have aborted their children every year.
While the work of Be'ad Chaim and other such organizations may only be scratching the surface of Israel's abortion problem, it is making a difference. The latest Ministry of Health report revealed that women with a higher education or from better socioeconomic conditions are already far less likely to have an abortion today. Most abortions today are performed on mothers with low socioeconomic status, or, in other words, crisis pregnancies, the very ones being targeted by Be'ad Chaim and others.
Israel Today recently partnered with Be'ad Chaim to help promote its important work. You can purchase the beautifully-illustrated Be'ad Chaim "Calendar of Life" through our Jerusalem Depot online store - click here to buy
Click here to learn more about Be'ad Chaim
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New Car Review
2013 Chevrolet Malibu: New Car Review
Pros: Quiet at speed; attractive interior; good technology options with available MyLink; solid fuel economy in Eco trim
Cons: Cramped backseat; average-minus fuel economy in non-Eco trims; Eco's trunk is small and irregularly shaped due to the battery pack
What's New: The Malibu has been fully redesigned for 2013.
The Chevrolet Malibu, as some may recall, debuted in the 1960s as an unabashedly American car, named after a pristine beach town north of Los Angeles and decked out with rear-wheel drive and available V8 power in all sorts of body styles. By 1981, however, it had devolved into a generic looking 4-door. A decade-and-a-half hiatus came next, during which West Coast rappers embraced the original Malibu convertible as an A-list video car, ideally with bouncy pneumatic shocks. And then, in 1997, the Malibu was improbably reincarnated as a front-drive family hauler similar to the popular Toyota Camry and Honda Accord.
Which more or less brings us to the current, 2013 Chevrolet Malibu.
Now in its fourth generation as a family sedan, the Malibu continues to provide plenty of conversation fodder. From its swoopy beltline to its Camaro-inspired taillights, the 2013 Malibu certainly makes an impression, and its cabin is no less memorable. Unlike past Malibu models, this one's got plenty of technology, including available MyLink touchscreen integration. Also unlike previous models, the new Malibu is global in scope. As we speak, it's on sale everywhere from Shanghai to Sao Paulo. And the range of its three engines promises something for everyone, even if it doesn't always exceed expectations.
Warts and all, the current Malibu looks and feels intentionally American. In the crowded midsize-sedan segment, we think that's enough to set this Chevy apart.
Comfort & Utility
The front-drive, 4-door Malibu is offered in three trim levels: LS, Eco and LT.
The LS comes standard with 16-inch alloy wheels, air-conditioning, a tilt-telescopic steering column, a height-adjustable driver's seat, Bluetooth for phone calls (but not for streaming music), cruise control, a monochromatic trip computer, six months of OnStar telematics assistance and a basic 6-speaker stereo that offers satellite radio but lacks USB/iPod connectivity.
The Eco features a unique 4-cylinder engine with battery assistance and steps up to 17-in alloy wheels, heated mirrors, a color trip computer, exclusive Eco gauges, blue interior lighting, dual-zone automatic climate control, a 7-in touchscreen with the MyLink interface (see "Technology," below), a USB port and Bluetooth for both phone calls and streaming music. It also boasts options such as an 8-way power driver seat, leather upholstery, heated front seats and a 9-speaker Pioneer audio system.
The ostensibly top-of-the-line LT trim is confusing because there are three sub-trims. The first sub-trim, 1LT, is more like a fancy LS; it actually lacks some of the Eco's standard features. But the 2LT and 3LT sub-trims get the 8-way power driver seat as standard along with most of the Eco's other niceties, while adding 18-in alloys and mirror-mounted turn signals. Otherwise, though, they're broadly similar to the well-equipped Eco in terms of features and options.
In our interior evaluation, we were impressed by the new Malibu's sense of style. In keeping with Chevrolet's recent trend, the dashboard flows smoothly into the door panels, accentuating its curves. But that's not all: With the available MyLink color touchscreen aboard, the Malibu's cabin looks thoroughly modern, which is something we couldn't say of its predecessor.
In terms of substance, we weren't blown away by the quality of the interior materials, but they're satisfactory for this segment. Likewise, ergonomics are middle-of-the-road. The controls aren't as large and foolproof as in a Camry or Altima, say, but most owners should have no trouble figuring things out within a week or two.
The Malibu's front seats are nothing to write home about, but we don't mean that as a criticism. They're just kind of there, providing decent support and comfort without drawing attention to themselves. We do think it's a bit tacky that the passenger seat is strictly a 4-way manually adjusted affair, so that even if you get a 3LT with heated leather seats and 8-way power adjustments for the driver, the manual passenger seat is still fundamentally the same as in the base LS.
As for the backseat, well, it's unfortunately one of the Malibu's principal weaknesses. Although the 2013 Malibu has been redesigned, it's technically not "all-new." One clear indication of this is the lack of rear legroom, a problem that plagued the previous model as well. Indeed, the new Malibu substantively shares its structure with the outgoing generation, and that means the cramped rear quarters are still present and accounted for. Think of it this way: If the folks in front have short legs, you're fine, but if they've got longer legs, the rear passengers might not be happy. Usually, we're talking about small cars when we say this sort of thing, not midsize family sedans.
Trunk space in non-Eco models measures 16.3 cu ft -- an undeniably robust figure. We recommend sticking with one of these models if cargo capacity matters to you, because the Eco's trunk space dwindles to an economy-grade 13.2 cu ft. It's a lumpy space, too, thanks to a battery pack that is not exactly well-integrated. Chevrolet could use Toyota's wise counsel on this count.
The entry-level Malibu LS is disappointingly basic for a new-for-2013 model. For example, we think that standard iPod/USB connectivity is expected in this day and age. However, the news rapidly improves for higher trim levels, which come standard with not only plenty of connectivity features but also the MyLink interface with its 7-in touchscreen.
MyLink is basically Chevrolet's answer to Toyota's Entune, integrating mobile apps like Pandora Internet radio into the driving experience via Bluetooth-enabled smartphones. It's pretty cool. What's more, MyLink gives you touchscreen control over stereo functions and the like. We still prefer Chrysler's uConnect 8.4 touchscreen for its crisp graphics and ease of use, but MyLink is a competitive offering, no doubt. If you're a technophile, the new Malibu's got the kind of stuff you're looking for.
Performance & Fuel Economy
All Malibus are front-wheel drive and feature an adequate 6-speed automatic transmission.
In both LS and LT trims, the Malibu starts with a 2.5-liter inline-4 rated at a healthy 197 horsepower and 191 lb-ft of torque. That's strong output for a base engine, and the 2.5 doesn't disappoint in the real world, delivering capable acceleration with laudable refinement. Fun fact: Cadillac uses the same motor in the ATS sport sedan, so it ain't chopped liver.
The Malibu Eco, on the other hand, makes do with an older 2.4-liter inline-4 paired with a 15-kilowatt electric motor backed by a lithium-ion battery pack. GM rates this powerplant at 182 hp and 171 lb-ft of torque. Truthfully, though, the Malibu Eco feels weaker than that, and the 2.4-liter motor is less refined than the 2.5.
The third engine option is a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-4 rated at 259 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. We genuinely like this one for its smooth, spirited performance, but it's only available on the fancy 3LT, so not many folks will get to experience it. Too bad; it's good fun.
On the fuel-economy front, the Eco predictably leads the way, though not by a lot. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates it at 25 miles per gallon city/37 mpg highway versus the 2.5-liter engine's 22/34 mpg. Granted, 25/37 mpg is a respectable achievement, but, for context, the 4-cylinder Honda Accord gets 26/37 mpg without the aid of a battery pack.
The 2.0-liter turbo brings up the rear at 21/30 mpg. The Accord V6, however, gets 21/34 mpg and makes more power besides.
The 2013 Chevrolet Malibu features 4-wheel anti-lock disc brakes, stability control and a whopping 10 airbags.
In government crash tests, the 2013 Malibu was close to perfect, garnering the top 5-star rating in the frontal, side and overall categories (like almost every passenger car, it received four stars out of five in the rollover category). The independent Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), meanwhile, gave the 2013 Malibu its top rating of Good in every category except Small Front Overlap -- a new test in which the Malibu was deemed just Marginal.
Driving Impressions
The Malibu is narrower than typical American-style family sedans, so it feels tighter and more nimble from behind the wheel. That's not to say that the Malibu likes twisty roads -- on the contrary, it's more of a highway cruiser -- but for day-to-day traffic maneuvers, it's a trusty companion. No matter what kind of cruising you're doing, the Malibu's cabin remains impressively quiet, a welcome luxury at this price. The ride, too, borders on luxurious, filtering out rough pavement without ever feeling floaty.
Other Cars to Consider
Honda Accord: The new 2013 Accord is a real return to form, boasting excellent fuel economy, a high-quality interior and the sporty driving dynamics for which older Accords were renowned.
Kia Optima: The Optima looks great, and its engines are fully competitive with the Malibu's offerings. We like its sleek interior, too.
Volkswagen Passat: The American-built Passat is big and soft enough to woo Malibu shoppers looking for more space and cushion.
AutoTrader Recommends
We'd avoid the Eco's underwhelming powerplant. Since the 2.0-liter turbo isn't widely available, that leaves the satisfying base 2.5-liter inline-4. Make ours a 1LT, please, because that would get us the 7-in touchscreen -- a must-have in our opinion.


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A couple of weeks ago, Google announced that Andy Rubin, the inventor of Google's Android smartphone operating system, was stepping down.
In a blog post, Google CEO Larry Page said that an executive named Sundar Pichai would take Rubin's place.
It was a shock.
Rubin created Android as a startup, sold it to Google, and then managed a team that got the OS installed on hundreds of millions of smartphones worldwide.
It was his baby.
Why was he getting pushed aside?
Was it because of his infamous, Steve Jobs-like temper?
The week after the news came out, we spent a few days in the Bay Area, talking with ex-Googlers and other plugged-in sources.
We asked each of them about Rubin's sudden demotion.
Here's one explanation from one ex-Googler that we found particularly compelling.
Rubin didn't get the boot because he's a tyrant with Google employees.
Don't be confused.
All of the sources we gossiped with say Rubin does have a reputation for being ornery, nitpicky, and unhappy in a sometimes poisonous way.
But Rubin has always been difficult to work with, and it never cost him his job before.
Likewise, Google's very successful revenue boss, Nikesh Arora, has a reputation with former colleagues as being someone who will "stab you in the face" — and he doesn't seem to be going anywhere.
What we heard is that Larry Page doesn't mind employing gruff types ... so long as they serve his purpose.
Page must have decided that the way Rubin was running Android no longer served his purpose, and that an Android run by Sundar Pichai would.
So the question becomes: What does Pichai bring to Android that Rubin does not?
Android is just a means to an end
Earlier this year, the Wall Street Journal reported that Andy Rubin viewed Android's most successful partner, Samsung, as a potential threat.
Why?: Samsung could grow so popular with consumers, that it could eventually re-write Android's code in an entirely customized way, and stop calling it Android altogether.
The report said Rubin told a room full of Google executives that Google-owned phone-maker Motorola was a hedge against Samsung growing too powerful.
Rubin's comments indicated a view of Android as something to preserve and protect.
Our source believes that Larry Page isn't nearly so worried about Android itself. This source says that Page views it as a means to an end.
He says Page views Google as "a cloud services company," built on cornerstone products like Search, Maps, Mail, and YouTube.
He says Page views Android as a way for Google to partner with hardware-makers to make these services more available to consumers.
As a side benefit, Android has made it so that the world of smartphones is not dominated by a single player: Apple.
In this context, the promotion of Pichai makes more sense.
Pichai established himself at Google running the team that convinced computer-makers to pre-install the Google Toolbar.
Our source says that at the highest levels of Google, it is believed that Pichai's success establishing those partnerships played a crucial role in exposing Google search to consumers, and making it a part of their daily routine.
Now, according to this speculation, Page is asking Pichai to pull off the same trick again: Make new Google services a part of consumers' daily lives by having hardware-makers install software access points to those services.
If those "software access points" are called Android, fine.
If they are called Samsung OS; that's fine too.
But what about Motorola?
Some people say that Google bought Motorola in order to copy Apple's business model.
If that were true, that would contradict the theory that Android is just a means to an end for Page.
But our speculating ex-Googler has a good answer for this. He notes that Page didn't put an executive with product-building experience in charge of Motorola; he gave the gig to Dennis Woodside, a former McKinsey consultant from Google's sales organization.
Our source believes Google bought Motorola for the reason it's stated over and over: patents.
He believes that Page put Woodside in charge because he wants to optimize Motorola's core competency: hardware technology development.
Our source believes Page wants Motorola to focus on better, longer-lasting batteries and faster chips, with the goal of pushing the entire phone-making industry forward.
So that Google's cloud-based services run better and can do more things on all kinds of mobile devices.
Get the latest Google stock price here.


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Maria Guinand and La Pasion segun San Marcos: ''You Need to Live It in Your Skin''
Maria Guinand is the director of Schola Cantorum de Venezuela and the dedicatee of Osvaldo Golijov's La Pasión según San Marcos, a piece she has been involved with from its inception. The Schola Cantorum de Venezuela has performed La Pasión según San Marcos more than forty times throughout the world, and she has been instrumental in guiding Carnegie Hall's creative learning project for high school musicians in the 2012–2013 season. The performance of La Pasión según San Marcos in Stern Auditorium on March 10, 2013 will mark the first time that a choir other than the Schola Cantorum de Venezuela has sung the complete oratorio.
While she was in New York recently for a rehearsal of the upcoming performance, Maestra Guinand sat down with Carnegie Hall staff to discuss her history with La Pasión según San Marcos.
What would you like to share with us about La Pasión según San Marcos?
La Pasión según San Marcos is a piece of our days. I think it's a piece that really speaks to the mind and the ears of people today. In that respect, Osvaldo Golijov captured the emotion that comes from the popular traditions that are absolutely alive in Latin America today; this is why the piece is so appealing, so moving, and so intense. It's a piece that was composed out of emotions and out of experiences of artists who are alive, who are sharing ideas and incorporating new elements into their work all the time. This is why, in a way, it's also so hard to put together! You need the know-how. It's not only a matter of reading notes and reading a score. It's a matter of knowing how to do it and how to live it in your skin. This is something the Schola Cantorum de Venezuela has enjoyed very much every time we do this piece since its premiere in 2000. We are a family of singers and I don't know how many singers have sung this piece throughout the years. Some singers have sung all 45 or 48 concerts around the world! It's very vivid for us each time we have the opportunity to recreate the music, to recreate the atmosphere. We identify with the piece because it really represents the soul of the Caribbean people. All these traditions from Cuba, Venezuela, and Brazil are very much a part of our daily life.
What I really want to share is the joy of being able to do this piece over and over again and to see the way the audiences receive the music and react to it. Because in the end, we are artists, we are on the stage to bring a message to the people who are listening, to create emotions, to create beauty. I think all these elements are really are in that composition, and we feel very grateful to Osvaldo Golijov that he dedicated La Pasión según San Marcos to the Schola Cantorum de Venezuela.
What does it mean to be adding these high school singers to that family of singers?
I think it's a wonderful opportunity to add high school singers to the family that has sung this piece. In Venezuela, the Schola Cantorum works to develop choral programs for children of deprived backgrounds in the community through the Youth Schola. When I saw your young singers yesterday, I immediately thought I was working with our Youth Schola. I felt the same reaction and the same interest.
I love to see the openness and the interest of all these young people in rehearsals. They were very engaged and very moved. When I met them individually they were telling me how much they are enjoying the piece, what it means to them, and how hard they want to work. Yesterday, we were working for six hours, and they were doing everything I asked for. They were very patient with me! I love that and even some of them who were a little distracted at the beginning, once I looked at them directly and said "sit up and hold your score up," they came up to me afterwards, hugged me, and said "Thank you. I want to be part of this and I want to be the best." It's great because we are giving all these kids the sense of doing something very important and of being protagonists in a performance where they can try to be at their best. When you have this self-esteem really working inside of you and you understand that you are earning this possibility because of your own efforts, that's a great educational tool.
Anything else you want to add?
I love every minute of every
rehearsal. If I didn't rehearse, my life wouldn't make
Related content:
Richard and Barbara Debs Composer's Chair: Osvaldo Golijov
Voices from Latin America festival
La Pasión según San Marcos: March 10, 2013


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The book "All God's Children" is available in many languages.
Around the world, the rocks cry out that the earth is young. Pam Elder knows this truth well.
No results found in Creation Evangelism.
Answers in Genesis is an apologetics ministry, dedicated to helping Christians defend their faith and proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ.


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OAKLAND — Police confirmed at least one person was fatally shot and another shot and injured late Friday in the middle of the city's monthly Art Murmur scene.
An Oakland police officer said the first report of a shooting came at 10:51 p.m. in the Uptown neighborhood near the intersection of 23rd Street and Telegraph Avenue. One person was taken to a local hospital and no word was immediately available on that victim's condition, an Oakland police officer said late Friday.
Investigators were expected to remain on scene into the early morning hours, the officer said. Officers had been assigned to work Friday's event, as is usual during similar planned events, the officer said. No one has been identified or taken into custody yet in connection with the fatal shooting, the officer said.
We will continue to update this story as information becomes available.
Contact George Kelly at 925-323-8318. Follow him on Twitter at http://twitter.com/allaboutgeorge
[View the story "Reaction: Oakland #FirstFriday @ArtMurmur shooting" on Storify]