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Both sides in the abortion debate can welcome this news: The abortion rate among American women has hit its lowest level in more than 30 years.
Thats the finding of a new report on abortions between 2008 and 2011 from the Guttmacher Institute, a private organization that tracks abortion numbers.
The report shows a trend moving toward the goal that President Bill Clinton set in 1996: Abortion should not only be safe and legal , it should be rare.
Its hardly rare yet. There were 1.1 million abortions in 2011, a rate of 16.9 for every 1,000 women of childbearing age. But that rate is down from 19.4 per 1,000 women in 2008. And perhaps more significantly it represents a resumption of a decline after several years of the rate holding steady. The abortion rate is now nearly half of what it was when it peaked in 1981 at 29.3 per 1,000.
Exactly why the rate is declining has not been established. Anti-abortion groups say it reflects their message getting through to a new generation. Conservative legislators who have passed laws reducing access to abortion think that making it harder to get an abortion has moved more pregnant women not to choose the option.
Impact of protests and laws
But these claims are unlikely to explain the drop. No doubt anti-abortion protests and the teachings of the Catholic Church and others do influence how some women respond to an unexpected pregnancy, but those messages have been present since the Supreme Courts decision in Roe v. Wade made abortion legal in 1973. Theres no reason to think the right-to-life message is now having a dramatically new effect.
As for new laws restricting access to abortion, most didnt pass or take until 2011 or after. Their impact will have to be evaluated later.
What appears to be most heavily influencing the decline in abortions is a decline in the condition that precedes them unintended pregnancies. The Guttmacher Institute found that in 2008, 51 percent of pregnancies were unintended and 40 percent of those ended in abortion. Clearly reducing the rate of unintended pregnancies would have a great effect on the rate of abortion.
Birth control expands
The Guttmacher Institutes report notes that the percentage of women under 30 not using contraception dropped from 15 percent to 12 percent between 2007 and 2009. And more women are using long-acting contraceptive devices, such as intrauterine devices, or IUDs, with the percentage among contraceptive users increasing from 2 percent in 2002 to 9 percent in 2009. If the upward trend continued through the study period, it would explain much of the decline in the abortion rate.
If improved birth control is making abortion less frequent, laws cutting access to womens health clinics may actually slow or halt the abortion-rate decline. Such clinics can educate women about long-acting contraceptive options and help them with the costs. Buying and having an IUD inserted can cost up to $1,000.
The Guttmacher Institute estimates that the number of unintended pregnancies averted by federally funded family planning programs increased 15 percent between 2006 and 2010 (from 1.9 million to 2.2 million). But some state lawmakers, including those in North Carolina, have tried to cut funding for family planning.
That abortion is becoming more rare in the United States is encouraging, especially because it appears to reflect more women knowing their choices about contraception and having the freedom to make them.


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Steven Spielberg's "Lincoln" opened in wide release Friday. It lives up to the hype and reviews that have been circulating.
It is based on the book "Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln" by Doris Kearns Goodwin. While her book examines Lincoln's White House years, "Lincoln" focuses on the last four months of the 16th president's life, while the Civil War draws to an end, and he races to get the votes needed to propose the 13th Amendment to the United States Constitution to abolish slavery.
This film humanizes Lincoln like we've never seen before. Daniel Day-Lewis, who plays Lincoln, delivers an entirely believable portrayal of the curious, lanky, awkward, witty, and wise chief executive — even with that silly hat — without becoming a caricature of the larger-than-life historic figure we've always seen before.
At two and a-half hours, with what seems like constant dialogue, the film still flies by thanks to a screenplay by Tony Kushner.
At the same time the imagery makes you feel like you are in the 19th century. Part of the reason for that is based on what we've seen of that period on canvas. In a recent interview Spielberg said the look of the film was influenced by 19th century art where painters were taken with using available light, which consisted of gas lamps and candles indoors, besides whatever sunlight might be coming through a window. It creates a lot of contrast.
What a perfect look for that time, and for the subject — the Civil War, the debate over slavery, what's legal, what's not, right and wrong.
Sally Field's portrayal of Mary Todd Lincoln is just as perfect as Day-Lewis' work. She put on 25 pounds to play the plump first lady, who was a force no one could ignore, as was Radical Republican U.S. Rep. Thaddeus Stevens, of Pennsylvania, played in the film by Tommy Lee Jones.
I'll be surprised if we don't see at least five Academy Award nominations for this movie — for Spielberg, Day-Lewis, Field, Jones, and Kushner. James Spader's portrayal of political operative W.N. Bilbo deserves a Best Supporting Actor nod, too.
As fascinating as these real-life characters were, brought to life for us on the screen, the filthy political process — the way things get done — that's the real story here. A lot was different in 1865. So many things are still the same.
"Lincoln" is rated PG-13. Here's a couple of related details you won't get from the film:
1). Abraham Lincoln signed the 13th Amendment, proposed by the 38th Congress, but he wasn't suppose to do that. Presidents don't sign constitutional amendments. The Senate had to go back and make some notation that his signature wasn't necessary.
2). The Legislatures of 27 of the 36 states that existed in 1865 had to ratify the amendment before it could be adopted into the constitution. Only 21 states ratified it before Lincoln was assassinated on April 14, including four Confederate states — Virginia, Louisiana, Tennessee, and Arkansas. After his death the states of Connecticut, New Hampshire, and the Confederate states of South Carolina, Alabama, North Carolina, and Georgia made up the difference by Dec. 6, 1865. Eventually the other nine states that were around at the time ratified it, if only as a symbolic gesture: Oregon, California, and Florida later in December 1865; Iowa, and New Jersey in 1866; Texas in 1870; Delaware in 1901; Kentucky in 1976; and Mississippi in 1995.
Steve Gillespie is managing editor of
The Meridian Star. E-mail him at

subset: commoncrawl


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Emmy-winning journalist Soledad O'Brien will deliver remarks at Agnes Scott College's 124th Commencement on May 11 at 9:30 a.m. on the Presser Quadrangle. The Reverend Dorothy Collin (DC) Horne, minister of congregational life at Trinity Presbyterian Church in Charlotte and mother of Senior Class President Sally Horne '13, will be the speaker for Baccalaureate Vespers on May 10 at 4:30 p.m. in Gaines Chapel, Presser Hall.
A critically-acclaimed journalist, O'Brien has reported on breaking news from around the globe. In 2011, she won an Emmy for Crisis in Haiti in the category of Outstanding Live Coverage of a Current News Story Long Form. O'Brien was part of the coverage teams that earned CNN a George Foster Peabody award for its BP oil spill and Katrina coverage and an Alfred I. duPont Award for its coverage of the Southeast Asia tsunami. The National Association of Black Journalists named O'Brien the Journalist of the Year and Edward R. Murrow Awards lauded her with the RTDNA/UNITY award for Latino in America in 2010.
Commencement Practice (required)
Wednesday, May 8, 2013 at 4 p.m.
Dana, Winter Theatre
Alumnae Senior Dinner (for seniors only)
Wednesday, May 8, 2013, 5:30 p.m.
Alumnae Garden
Senior Party (for seniors only)
President's Home, Patio
Baccalaureate Vespers
Friday, May 10, 2013, 4:30 p.m.
Presser Hall, Gaines Chapel
Baccalaureate Vespers Reception
Friday, May 10, 2013, 5:30 p.m.
Front Lawn (Rain location: Letitia Pate Evans Hall)
Saturday, May 11, 2013, 9:30-11:30 a.m.
Presser Quadrangle
Commencement Reception
Saturday, May 11, 2013, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
Letitia Pate Evans Hall, Main Dining Room and Terrace
The commencement ceremony will be held in the college's traditional location on the Presser Quad, the area bounded by Presser, Buttrick and Campbell. A canopy will be placed over the platform—the brick courtyard between Presser and Buttrick. While we all hope and expect lovely weather, the outdoor ceremony will proceed in light rain or drizzle. We encourage graduates and guests to bring umbrellas in case of light rain. No tickets are needed for the outdoor ceremony.
In the event of severe weather conditions, the ceremony may be moved into Gaines Chapel. The decision to move to Gaines will be made by 6 a.m. on the day of the ceremony and announced by email. In the event that the ceremony is moved indoors, tickets will be required for entrance. Please note: Tickets are needed only in the event of severe weather.
Tickets will only be given to students who complete the Senior Survey.
Your Contacts
Commencement Coordinator
Demetrice Williams
Undergraduate Coordinator
Thomaysa B. Stinson-Caldeira
Local Hotels & Lodging
Campus Map
Local Attractions
City of Decatur
Dekalb County Visitor's Bureau
Atlanta Visitor's Bureau


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As costs to build, renovate and maintain buildings rise, energy efficiency is more important than ever. More owners want buildings that operate at peak performance and save energy. They also want assurance that new construction or renovations meet their performance and energy requirements. That's where the Building Commissioning Association (BCA) comes in. Building commissioning provides documented confirmation that building systems function in accordance with the owner's operational needs. Although the commissioning industry is still a young one, it is vital to increasing building performance standards and helping owners save energy.
In New York, commissioning providers are in demand. With funding support from NYSERDA, the BCA is providing the outreach, training and education necessary to meet that demand. The BCA provides training and certification as an Associate Commissioning Professional (ACP) and Certified Commissioning Professional (CCP), which provides credibility and a competitive edge in this growing field. Because the commissioning industry is not regulated, ACP and CCP certifications are a quality benchmark for those hiring commissioning providers. NYSERDA and the BCA also work together to build awareness of the commissioning industry among building owners, facility managers, architects and construction managers.
Visit www.bcxa.org or call 1-877-666-BCXA (2292).
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Tilda Swinton
Tilda Swinton
Johnny Weir
Even they have Svetlana Zhurova, speed skater, who was a gold medal winner in 2006, recently so she has a good shot. Or it could be a biathlon skier. Even Lyubov Egorova who dominated the 94 games in cross country. I think it might be a woman.
Edward Snowden


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The Norman Transcript
The Oklahoma State Department of Education officially released A-F School Report Cards today, giving all schools in the state a grade of A, B, C, D or F – similar to grades given to students.
More than 90 percent of schools across the state received a grade of C or higher, with nearly 50 percent receiving a B.
Grades are immediately available to the public for online viewing or download on the State Department of Education's website.
"With today's release, Oklahoma is entering a new era of accountability and transparency for our schools. This landmark first for Oklahoma gives parents and community members clear-cut information about the performance level of their local schools," said State Superintendent of Public Instruction Janet Barresi. "These report cards are user-friendly, straightforward and fair. It is high time for parents to have access to this information as they seek to make the best educational choices for their children. Parents have a basic right to this information, and they should be able to find it easily."
The report cards released Thursday represented 1 percent of schools with a grade of an F, 8 percent a D, 34 percent C, 48 percent B, 9 percent A.
Check back with the Transcript for details on how Norman fared.


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The multisystem release of LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes offers more third-person platforming action for young (and young-at-heart) comics, building-block, and video game fans. Carrying on from the first adventure, Batman and Robin are joined by the likes of Superman, Wonder Woman, and Green Lantern, in virtual LEGO-constructed settings stocked with gadgets and special-use power suits. Players will also pilot the Batmobile and Batwing in some sequences.
LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes is an Action/3D Platform video game for PlayStation 3 developed by TT Games and published by Warner Bros. Interactive on June 19, 2012. It's rated Everyone-10 by the ESRB and 7 of our users have voted it 4.4 out of 5 stars.
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Rick Ungar, Contributor
I write from the left on politics and policy.
Early this morning, the U.S. Senate, by a vote of 89 to 9, passed a bill designed to back the nation away from the fiscal cliff—potentially averting a critical challenge to the nation's economic recovery and forestalling a feared negative reaction from the stock markets upon opening Wednesday morning.
While the last minute and intensive negotiations led to success in the upper chamber of Congress, the battle is far from over as it remains to be seen whether the House of Representatives will approve the bi-partisan agreement or, for that matter, whether the bill will be permitted to even come to the House floor for a vote.
The agreement means an increased tax bill for married couples earning more than $450,000—$400,000 for single filers—as the current top rate of 35 percent rises to 39.6 percent. Americans earning at this level will also experience a change in the taxes they pay on dividends and capital gains, with these rates increasing from 15 percent to 20 percent—an amount far less than the 40 percent originally sought by the Administration.
The tax measures have angered both liberals —who strongly believe the President should have held his ground on the promise to apply the increases to those earning in excess of $250,000—and conservatives who object to any tax increase whatsoever with equal fervor.
However, not all taxpayers earning less than $450,000 come away unscathed by the deal as the agreement returns to the Clinton era limits on personal exemptions and itemized deductions for couples earning more than
$250,000 $300,000 and single filers earning in excess of $200,000 $250,000,
As for estate taxes, the rates will rise from 35 percent to 40 percent for estates valued at over $5 million dollars, however the Republicans did succeed in building in a provision which allows the amount of the exemption (currently five million dollars) to be indexed to the rate of inflation.
But it isn't all just about taxes as the Senate bill addresses a number of additional and parallel issues that fed into the fiscal cliff fiasco—including passage of a nine month extension of the farm bill, temporarily removing the threat of a radical rise in the price of milk.
Here's a roundup—
Not included in the agreement is an extension of the payroll cut meaning that payroll taxes will rise by for 2 percent for all American wage earners.
Also not included is a rise in the debt ceiling. The nation actually reached its debt ceiling yesterday and, while the Treasury Department says that it can continue to pay outstanding debt obligations and other bills for another two months, there will need to be an all new debt ceiling battle in Congress beginning in February to allow the nation to continuing making payments on its debt obligations.
Which brings us to the sequester—the harsh cuts to the federal budget scheduled to go into effect today. Per the agreement, the cuts have been delayed for two months, with the obvious intent of taking up these cuts as a part of our next fiscal fiasco —the debt ceiling debates coming in February to a Congress near you.
If you're into picking the winners and the losers, you'll find that your choices will be guided by those elements of the deal that strike closest to home.
Conservatives, already unhappy with tax increases, are likely to be further displeased that the Senate agreement fails to actually deal with spending—something Minority Leader Mitch McConnell acknowledged yesterday when asking GOP Senators to vote for the bill despite its failure to address spending cuts, noting that the tax portion of the fiscal cliff was the most important component of the deal.
(Continued on next page)
I see they say you are writing from the left, I do not see that in this comment. The Bush cuts were set to expire 2 years ago and again today. This is Obama's one bargaining position. The other side wants low estate tax rate, as that is the biggest tax many will pay, as they pay cap gain on most of their other income. It is the only way to keep wealth from concentrating in a few families, which is what has been happening for a few reasons, one being the lowering of estate tax rate from 55 to 35 or 40%. It is not silly, this is what the left had to bargain with and he gave it away for very little.
It is not silly, its basic bargaining. The biggest bargaining chip is that the rates go back to 2001 when we had a strong economy. The wealthy (represented by republicans and many Dems) want lower rates for the wealthy and low estate taxes and high military budget. The Dems should have been tougher and if they gave up the estate tax rate, they should have gotten more, like debt ceiling etc.
The rate is 55%. Its not a silling thing just because its 55% today. Its 55% until any other number is agreed to. So if they lower it by 15% they should get some concessions from the Repubs, like lowering military spending, which is the main cause of the rising debt.
Good report. Any estimate of the total revenues from the tax cuts and elimination of deductions for the higher income brackets (and how this compares to Obama's original proposed increase in revenues)? Obama's executive order overriding the freeze on federal wages went well beyond the legislators – I assume this increase of 1/2 of 1% remains in effect.
Looks good to me. I think everyone should be happy.
Well, I've changed my mind now that I found out my social security taxes are going up. It's a BAD deal, ha.
A theme I see in too many of the comments on the different boards I read is there is some big gob of unemployeed people who are not really looking for work and that is compounded by the folks who don't pay any taxes even though they have income. I see the "take responsibility for yourself" themes also, and other things that seem to accuse the unfortunate unemployed of malingerling and just not being a real American.
I wish these folks that think they are carrying everyone else would tell me just how big their tax bill is. I'm feel most of them would fail any serious test of their use of government services and handouts and obviously there are many not fully and constructively employed. Simple mathematics says that out of the folks voting Republican, there's got to be some that are in the same boat as the people they're talking about.
All those unfortunate, ill-educated folks screaming for tax reductions to provide rich folks more to invest are badly wrong. One, at this time there are trillions looking for a good place to be, so cutting taxes to give rich folks more to invest are spitting in the wind, because all they will do is add it the wad they already have in savings looking for a good place to be. Two, the supply-siders claim that the Reagan cuts of the top tax rates stimulated millions and billions in investment over the following 15 years, through the 90s are flat wrong. The millions and billions of investment that fired off the Internet as a new economic component and produced a number of the nation's newest, largest businesses in the 90s did not come from the reductions of the top tax rates. Although the top rates were given sizable cuts, there were minimal tax savings in those brackets because the overall effect of the tax law was revenue neutral pretty much by tax bracket. Changes were made to deductions and exemptions the increased the tax bill. There was no outpouring of money from tax rate cuts into investment. As I recall my tax bill when calculated using the old system and the new system resulted in a $200 difference in my total tax bill for the year.
What provided all that money for all those venture capitalists to invest in those Internet startups that made us the envy of the world for a while came from changes in the tax law that outlawed or severely limited deductions for passive losses against income when calculating your tax bill. Most of those types of investments, and there was a lot of money involved, were in real estate tax shelter such as time-sharing condos and other things like that that cost a lot to own and operate, generating a string of losses that investors received a share of to deduct from their income.
When the law changed, the overvalued real estate in these arrangements headed south because everybody wanted their money out. As the money in those investments was pulled out there was a scramble of sorts to find some place to put it where it would either make more money or get a qualifying deduction against income. A look at the investment numbers for 1986 through about 1993 or 1994 show the movement of investment from the passive real estate to computers and software. There is no influx of new money as would be expected if it came from tax reductions.
This is very realistic assessment of the effects of the Reagan Tax Law Rewrite and there is evidence to support this claim.
Reasons to Vote: The Economy- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ysd2w5rnjy8
We're stuffed until we realize the purpose of Taxing is to reduce private income/spending power, not to allow federal govt to spend. (h/t Stephanie Kelton)


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Updated 1:46 p.m. with more information from the scene.
Seven weeks after he went missing, officials say that is that of Boston College student .
According to Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel Conley, preliminary information shows that the body in the reservoir is Garcia. Conley said items found on the body as well as clothing helped officials identify Garcia.
Officials will be able to "absolutely" confirm the identification once a full autopsy is complete, Conley said. The autopsy will likely be done today or tomorrow, he said.
"I'd like to thank the community of Boston, the Boston College community, the city of Newton, the West Newton community...for banding together in common purpose with the hope that we would not be here today," Conley said during the press conference. "This is a sad day, undoubtedly, for the Garcia family and anyone here."
Conley also said foul play has not been ruled out, and could not comment on whether the body was in the reservoir as the result of an accident. More information on the cause of death will be available after the autopsy.
In the meantime, Conley said State Police detectives assigned to the Suffolk County DA's office will continue the investigation.
In the coming days and weeks, Conley said the DA's office will be able to offer more information about what might have happened and how Garcia may have passed away.
Justin Billard, a spokesman for the Garcia family, was on scene at the reservoir. Billard said the family is grieving privately at this time and did not wish to be at the official press conference.
"I want to thank the entire community on behalf of the Garcia family," Billard said. "As you can imagine, this is a very difficult time for the Garcia family."
Billard, who has been working pro-bono as a private investigator for the Garcia family, thanked all those who provided tips in the investigation.
"No stone was left unturned," Billard said. "Unfortunately, we ended up here today where we didn't want to be."
Boston College Spokesman Jack Dunn was also on scene to offer his condolences to the family.
"By any measure, Franco was an outstanding young man," Dunn said. "He was a gifted clarinetist, a popular senior on campus, an aspiring student and very close to his family."
Dunn said several members of the BC campus ministry and the campus chaplain met with the Garcia family following the news. Grief counselors will be on the Boston College campus to meet with students, Dunn said.
A memorial service at Boston College will be scheduled at the appropriate time, Dunn added.
Grief counselors will also be available in the Newton Public Schools today, according to Newton Police Lt. Bruce Apotheker, as Garcia has a younger brother and sister who attend school in Newton.
while out drinking with his friends at Mary Ann's Bar in Cleveland Circle. After he was reported missing, , including a four-day scan of the Chestnut Hill Reservoir.
State Police Spokesman David Procopio said this afternoon that although State Police divers spent four days in the water during the reservoir search, it is possible that Garcia was tangled up in thick grass and weeds and was not detected by sonar cameras or divers.
A man walking his dog discovered the body just before 8 a.m. today. The body was roughly 18 feet off shore and in water approximately seven feet deep, police said, but part of the body was above the water.
Throughout the last seven weeks, Garcia's family has held strong in the hopes that Garcia would return home. and in Garcia's name.
Family and friends, in particular Garcia's classmates, in hopes of getting the word out about Garcia's disappearance. A Facebook group for Garciahas more than 3,300 members and the Twitter account @FindFranco has nearly 500 followers.
Garcia's case gained some national attention when Bruce Springsteen Tweeted and posted on his Facebook wall information about Garcia's disappearance. Springsteen's son attends Boston College.
One of Garcia's friends and fellow bandmates, Rachel Reis, Tweeted this afternoon: "I'm so numb. I'll love and miss you forvever. #RIPFranco."
Patch has more information and coverage from the scene and will update shortly. For complete coverage of the Franco Garcia case, check out this Franco Garcia page.


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Insights and ideas for technology leaders.
Guest post written by Albert "Rocky" Pimentel
Albert Pimentel is chief sales and marketing officer at Seagate.
To many, the term "Big Data" refers to algorithms and software programs that help companies or researchers make discoveries and unearth trends by allowing them to visualize and analyze information better.
But it has another meaning too.
Big Data literally means big data, dizzying amounts of customer records, sound recordings, images, text messages, Facebook comments and technical information that has to be stored, retrieved and understood in its proper context to be any good to anyone.
You can't have the first Big Data without the second. Information retrieval has, in fact, become one of the biggest challenges – and consequently one of the largest opportunities – in high tech.
"The problems we're looking at aren't computationally driven per se, but more information management problems," Mark Dean, an IBM fellow and director of the Almaden Research Center, said back in 2008. "Computation is not the hard part anymore."
Although carbon copies probably seem as ancient as clay tablets and scribes to many of you, the dominance of digital data is a fairly recent phenomenon. In 1993, only 3 percent of the world's information was stored on digital devices like hard drives or optical disks, according to an article last year by Martin Hilbert and Priscila Lopez in Science. Audiocassettes and vinyl LPs actually played a larger role (6 percent) in archiving information 18 years ago.
In 2000, amid the first Internet boom, digital storage still only accounted for 25 percent of the world's total information storage capacity. 2002 marked the first year that the amount of data stored digitally surpassed the amount stored on paper, old-fashioned videotapes and other analog storage devices, Hilbert and Priscila noted.
But by 2007, DVDs, CDs, memory cards and other digital devices accounted for 94 percent of the information storage capacity around the globe. Hard drives alone accounted for 52 percent of the total, up from just five percent seven years earlier. In all, the world had 295 optimally compressed exabytes of storage space in 2007. Think of it: every e-mail or text message creates data files on multiple computers.
And that was five years ago. The total amount of digital information in the world will come to 2.7 zettabytes - that's 2.7 followed by 21 zeros – in 2012, according to IDC, a 48 percent increase from 2011. 90 percent of it will be unstructured data like digital video, sound files and images that is challenging to search and retrieve.
The fascinating part about Big Data is how patterns do emerge through large numbers. Artificial intelligence researchers didn't put much stock in that idea in the early 90s, but the results continually astounded people. Now we live in a world dominated by probability.
Just a point of interest, according to the last lectures published in 1980, John Von Neumann's professed interest in electronic computation was not so much as the computing architecture or even numerical processing but in the capacity to discover new concepts as a result of the capacity of processing large volumes of data for heuristic purposes. Although I don't disagree what the trend of the AI researchers were doing in the early 1990′s… Lisp seemed to lead to tangles, and the Japanese 5th generation image of approaching the top of Mt. Fuji through the clouds… well it got lost in the "Cloud"?
Correction on that last, the Last Lectures of Von Neumann were published by the University of Illinois in 1966 not 1980. The lectures were compiled and edited by Arthur W. Burks. I am rather sure it was contained in Lecture 3, "Statistical Theories of Information".
While the primary focus of the compilation was on Automata and specifically the "Theory and Self-Reproducing Automata".. there are several comments on the plausible methods of approach… in his observations on the limitations of the technology extant at the time of the lectures( University of Illinois lectures in 1949) and his vision of future large complex computing environments. VonNeumann envisioned an evolution of formal logic to merge or incorporate probability, or thermodynamic models in information beyond algorythmic computation.
Page 2 has an error "The hard drive industry delivers 160 to 170 million drives a quarter capable of storing 100 petabytes." This should be 100 exabytes.
With 85 percent of the American population owning a cell phone, mobile marketing is the best way for small and medium businesses to reach today's on-the-move customer.
Nice Article !! Quiet Informative .
Although I agree that there is a need and a lot to improve on the storage of large amounts of data. But, there are more components to consider when building real-time big data analytics solutions.
Of course, there are other infrastructure components. More CPU power is obvious, higher memory bandwith too.
But, the point I want to make are algorithms. What and how the data is structured, stored, fetched and processed has far grater impact on speed and efficiency than a larger or faster hard-drive.
For example compare the speed in analytics achieved by storing data in columns not in rows any more. Easily a factor of 10 times faster on the same infrastructure with the same energy consumption.
Besides the very popular virtualisation and cloud movement which moves the user farther away fromt he infrastructure, we should very much care what this poor "little" infrastructure has to do when we want to analyze our big data.
I once heard a great definition for big data… "you will know when you have big data when you have to think first about how to takle the analytical problem before starting your query"
Interested and all very well said.
However, there's one other opportunity for optimizing storage. That is, conservation. Few are those who don't have an excessive amount of (what comes down to) useless garbage on their harddrives, on hosted accounts (e.g., ShufferFly), etc. The fear of, "Oh what if there's something on there I might need some day" trumps the ability to comb through it today and apply such a filter intelligently. In other words, when in doubt, shite or not, save it. Why? Because believe it or not it's probably your best option.
That's progress? Really?
Interested and all very well said.
However, there's one other opportunity for optimizing storage. That is, conservation. Few are those who don't have an excessive amount of (what comes down to) useless garbage on their harddrives, on hosted accounts (e.g., ShutterFly), etc. The fear of, "Oh what if there's something on there I might need some day" trumps the ability to comb through it today and apply such a filter intelligently. In other words, when in doubt, shite or not, save it. Why? Because believe it or not it's probably your best option.
That's progress? Really?
Good points, but I don't think anyone thinks about Big Data the first way. Everybody I talk to (I am researching this stuff) immediately gravitates to the sheer quantity of data, not the algorithms or visualization.
Norvig's paper and the Gartner 3V's model are the most frequent organizing ideas people seem to bring up.
The important point about big data is not the ability to store the data, but the ability to process big amounts of data in an effective way. Looking at the cost for our big data application, for every dollar we spend on storage, we spend four on processing.
I'm not sure any of this is relevant. I am in the trenches of the big data movement working to help large service providers figure out how to capture revenues related to the technologies. Every storage company that I deal with is extremely focused on this problem right now and they all think about storage as fabrics already. Storage hasn't been thought about as simple disks since intelligent storage arrays made their way into the market. They all use flash, SSD, and other technologies to help. Every architecture I am aware of around big data is a large fabric of nodes, storage, network, etc. This article would have been on par in 2008. Not so much now.
The bigger the data set,the probability of more accuracy is higher.I really impressed with this article.
Let me register a few patents.
Big data analytics was always there. Sample size was >=1 and it was done manually to get the big picture. But, now with modern computational power, the sample size has reached actual population size making conclusions very personal. Real growth comes from more realistic future forecasting.


text:
By Jessica Bruha
The Norman Transcript
NORMAN — "We're here tonight to celebrate one of the most dazzling events in our lifetime: The second election of the first African American president of the United States of America," said Suzette McDowell, Cleveland County Democratic Party chair.
The CCPD hosted their own ball, the Made in Oklahoma Inaugural Ball, on Monday night at Norman's Holiday Inn. Dresses and tuxedos filled the room and then the dance floor when DJ Bryan Jackson kicked off the party.
"The re-election of President Barack Obama is historical," said Wallace Collins, Oklahoma Democrat Party chair. "We're celebrating that victory."
Collins said he knew Obama wasn't going to win Oklahoma, but thought he would win the presidential election again, and he wasn't the only one.
"I'm happy he won again, which I knew he would," Norman Democrat Carol Sykes said. "I'm looking forward to the next few years."
Democrats young and old attended the ball, and as the event landed on a holiday, one man in history who made a major impact in America was not overlooked or forgotten.
"How wonderful that this occurred on this very special day when we honor Martin Luther King, a man whose incredible journey, incredible work, contributed so much that made it possible for this day," McDowell said.
Norman High School Young Democrats Amanda Wheelock and Emma Clinton spoke at the ball about what Martin Luther King Jr. means to their generation.
"To us, Martin Luther King is not just a man who lived and changed lives. He's a man and a legend that continues to have an impact on change in the world. He's a symbol of progress that can start with just one person," the students said. "Martin Luther King Jr. was one person who brought millions together and will continue to do so as long as there are kids like us who see a problem and have the courage to fix it."
Several activists also were recognized for their hard work and support to the Democratic party. Three long-serving individuals received the CCDP Activist Award, including Judy Calhoun, Adrienne Gautier and Luxim Bhakta. The CCDP also honored several people who devoted their time and effort to advancing causes the party supports.
"We Democrats have a vision of a more perfect America. We have a vision of Oklahoma where education, science, good health, open voting is there available for all of the good people of Oklahoma," McDowell said.
Jessica Bruha
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The rent at Meridian Mansions Apartments ranges from $585 for a one bedroom to a $900 two bedroom. Apartments in this building are about 16% more expensive than the Oklahoma City average.
This apartment is in Oklahoma City. Nearby parks include Jeffrey Park, Harlow Park and Corbin Park.
Meridian Mansions Apartments has a Walk Score of 45 out of 100. This location is a Car-Dependent neighborhood so most errands require a car.
Nearby schools include Hilldale Elementary School, Buchanan Elementary School and Mayfield Middle School.
The closest grocery stores are Latinos Supermarket, Super Mercados Morelos and Braum's Ice Cream & Dairy Store.
Nearby coffee shops include Go Ye Cafe and Red Dog Cafe. Nearby restaurants include Chelino's Mexican Restaurant, Church's Chicken and Chuck House Restaurant.
Meridian Mansions Apartments is near Jeffrey Park, Harlow Park and Corbin Park.
There are minimal bike lanes and the terrain is flat as a pancake. Meridian Mansions Apartments is somewhat bikeable, there is minimal bike infrastructure.
You'll love the excellent location at Meridian Mansions in Oklahoma City! North of I-40 on Meridian, you have easy access to I-40 and I-44, ample shopping and dining. FAA welcome, corporate / extended stay leases available. All bills paid!


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Laurel: A "shelter trailer" containing enough cots, blankets, pillows and other necessities to aid 100 people during an emergency has been donated to Windber by the American Red Cross. "It's just another part of disaster preparedness," said Wilbert Bailey, Windber Emergency Management Coordinator. Colleen Sherman, executive director of the Johnstown-based Red Cross Keystone Chapter, said the unit could be put into use quickly if an emergency occurred in northern Somerset or southern Cambria counties. An excellent proactive approach.
Laurel: The consolidation of physicians' offices at Windber Medical Center clears the way for a much-anticipated expansion of the emergency department on the center's Fifth Street end. The 9,000-square-foot Windber Professional Building, located on the Seventh Street end, will provide office space for 12 doctors and include an area for physicians who will see patients there on a rotating basis. Exciting times.
Barb: Water infiltration is never good, but it's especially annoying when it gets into 911 communications radio transmitters. That's what Cambria County officials found was causing its communications network to malfunction during heavy storms. A design flaw in the 5-year-old microwave radios was allowing moisture to seep into the devices. Tel-Aviv-based Celadon, which services the county's radios, will pick up the $120,000 tab to replace all 18 receivers in the system.
Laurel: It's a familiar sight on back roads this time of year: A hulking tractor hauling a piece of farm equipment from one field to another. The Pennsylvania Farm Bureau asks that you take that into consideration as it has designated this Rural Roads Safety Week. We urge you to keep in mind that farmers have a right to the road, too, and one could be around any bend, so slow down and be aware of your surroundings.
Laurel: The Orchard tavern and restaurant will note a milestone later this year. The Geistown Borough establishment will celebrate 100 years in business and has planned many special events designed to benefit the community. A food drive already has taken place that benefitted St. Vincent de Paul Society. This month, The Orchard will recognize Autism Awareness Month with more fundraisers. "Hopefully, the celebrations that we do will be aimed at giving back to the community that has enabled us to stay in business for this long," said David Donate, co-owner. Happy birthday.
Barb: It seems as if a Somerset County man just can't avoid trouble. William McTonic, 77, who once faced homicide charges in the 2009 death of his estranged wife, was charged earlier this week with assaulting a Conemaugh Township police officer. According to police, McTonic assaulted a female tenant who was trying to remove her belongings from an apartment he owns in Jerome. He also allegedly refused to allow EMS personnel on his property and threw water at the responding officer and kicked him in the shin. He was charged with aggravated assault, simple assault and harassment. He also was accused of bothering a woman in 2010.
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text:
- Study at Deakin
- Life at Deakin
- Research
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- Industry and community
- About Deakin
|Enrolment modes:
|Trimester 1: Waurn Ponds (Geelong), Cloud (online)
|Credit point(s):
|EFTSL value:
|Unit chair:
S Cavenett
SEE010, Only available to students enrolled in Bachelor of Engineering and associated combined degrees.
|Incompatible with:
|Contact hours:
2 x 1 hour classes, 1 x 1 hour seminar per week, Cloud (online) students must attend a mandatory one week professional practice program on campus during the trimester. Compulsory campus attendance requirement for all students either at scheduled sessions on multiple days during the trimester or on a single scheduled day during Week 9. Typically Waurn Ponds (Geelong) enrolled students will attend the compulsory activities for this unit at scheduled sessions on multiple days during the trimester and Cloud (online) enrolled students will attend the compulsory activities for this unit on a single scheduled day during Week 9.
|Note: You will need to access substantial learning resources and experiences in CloudDeakin (Deakin's online learning environment). Compliance with the Standards in computing, connectivity and student capability are a condition on your enrolment.
This unit provides the central foundation to the methodology of professional engineering upon which students will build and expand upon as they progress through the engineering course program. In this unit we actively implement a general engineering design process (Whole System Design) that incorporates sustainability objectives and is compatible will most major disciplines of professional engineering. Along the way we will not only examine the engineering design process but also the related topics of the relationship between engineering and society; effective communication skills; professional ethics; and sustainability (of the built and natural environments). After successful completion of this unit you should have a practical understanding, experience, and demonstrated ability in team-based engineering design and a demonstrated competency in interdisciplinary foundation engineering knowledge and skills.
Four assignments (2 x 10%, 2 x 20%) 60%, examination 40%. To be eligible to obtain a pass in this unit students must achieve a mark of at least 40% in the examination and compulsory attendance is required by all students to unit-specific activities at Waurn Ponds (Geelong). These unit-specific activities may be undertaken either at scheduled sessions on multiple days during the trimester or during a single day of unit-specific activities scheduled during Week 9.


text:
Oakland school cop comes forward as a whistleblower
Two years after his involvement in a police shooting that took the life of a 20-year-old African American man, an Oakland School Police Department officer has come forward as a "whistleblower" in sworn testimony, making allegations of unethical behavior within a department that is already under the scrutiny of federal investigators.
In a deposition delivered earlier this month as part of a civil suit, police Sergeant Jonathan Bellusa gave a detailed account of what transpired just before his patrol partner, Sgt. Barhin Bhatt, fired several rounds and killed Raheim Brown as the youth was positioned in the passenger's seat of a car outside a high school dance in January of 2011.
Bellusa gave testimony that in the months that followed, he came under retaliatory pressure from within the department and was "uncomfortable" with various aspects of how the investigation unfolded.
An unedited, uncertified transcript of Bellusa's deposition, which contains some grammatical and punctuation errors because it was transcribed by an automated system, was made public Feb. 28 by a group of activists organized under a project called "Against Hired Guns." The group sent a detailed summary and analysis of the deposition, as well as the unedited transcript, to reporters. The activists also posted the contents on a website, againsthiredguns.wordpress.com.
Asked who is behind Against Hired Guns, spokesperson Cat Brooks said they are Oakland activists "who have been doing this work either together on campaigns, or separately inside of our own groups, that see strength in numbers rather than apart. We in general are tired of having flashpoint reactions to police corruption or violence, and are interested in bringing as many people or groups together as possible to have a sustained campaign that is focused on eradicating police violence."
Bellusa is currently on leave from employment at the Oakland school police department, and the Guardian was unable to reach him by phone on the number listed on the OUSD website. "He's been gone for quite awhile," OUSD spokesperson Troy Flint told the Guardian when reached by phone. Asked to comment on the myriad allegations raised in Bellusa's testimony, Flint said, "We're going to refrain from comment until we've seen the actual suit."
The deposition was conducted by Attorney Adante Pointer of the Law Offices of John Burris, in connection with a civil rights suit that is being filed against OUSD by Brown's mother, Lori Davis. Reached by phone, Pointer confirmed that he had taken Bellusa's deposition several weeks ago, and was surprised that its contents had been made public, since it "is not complete yet." He added, "I'm thinking to myself, who put that out there?" As of press time, Pointer had not returned a follow up phone call.
Brooks declined to answer questions about how the activists obtained a copy of the uncertified transcript.
Allegations of retaliation for whistleblowing
Roughly a month after the shooting incident, Bellusa said in his deposition, former OUSD Police Chief Pete Sarna let out "a boisterous yell with his [fist] up in the air" and seemed "excited" that "we as a department don't have to worry about anything." According to Bellusa's testimony, Sarna had just received word that his "friend" Pete Peterson had "agreed to do the investigation" of the fatal shooting of Brown.
Asked if he felt pressured by supervisors to make statements consistent with Bhatt's account of the shooting incident, Bellusa stated, "I have felt that if I gave statements that went against the district that I would be thrown in jail for perjury."
In the months after the shooting, Bellusa testified that he filed a formal complaint alleging that Sarna drunkenly made racist remarks to an African American sergeant in July of 2011. Sarna resigned the following month.
Bellusa also testified that on an August morning in 2011, after he'd filed the complaint against Sarna for allegedly making racial slurs, he overheard a conversation between OUSD General Counsel Jacqueline Minor and Superintendent Tony Smith. "I over heard Jackie Minor… say they were not going to let John get away with this," he stated.
In another incident, Bellusa testified that a different OUSD officer informed him that "Chief Sarna's assistant, Jenny Wong, told a bunch of officers something like: 'Don't worry, Sarna is going to beat this case. He's going to fire John [Bellusa].'"
After Sarna stepped down, Bhatt was briefly appointed interim police chief, unleashing an outcry from OUSD parents outraged that an officer would be promoted to the top post after shooting and killing Brown just months before. Alameda County prosecutors had since cleared Bhatt of any wrongdoing in the shooting that resulted in Brown's death.
In response to the backlash, Bhatt was removed and replaced with Police Chief James Williams in September of 2011. The shooting of Brown, coupled with Sarna's alleged use of racial slurs, prompted a federal grand jury investigation into the OUSD police force last year. Bellusa noted in his testimony that he had described his experience to federal investigators.
Taken as a whole, Bellusa's testimony renders a disturbing internal portrait of the Oakland School Police Department, which consists of about a dozen officers and operates independently of the Oakland Police Department as a division of the school district.
The alarming account raises serious questions about internal operations of the department, particularly since it is an independent force operated by the school district at a time when funding cuts have placed the public school system under tremendous budgetary pressure, resulting in recent school closures.
Allegations of corruption
A detailed summary of the transcript provided by Against Hired Guns highlights more disturbing allegations made by Bellusa in the course of his testimony. Among them:
- Bellusa asserted that he witnessed Bhatt pour Wild Turkey into a glass while he was on duty. He also said he felt concerned about Bhatt after observing him "clean his firearm for a long period of time."
- Bellusa testified that he "found out" that Sarna and Lou Silva, a former OUSD officer and current district-wide Campus Security and Safety Manager, were "sending their personal cars down to a shop on 16th Avenue… [and] were overcharging the police cars," apparently in order to have their personal cars repaired for free or at a deep discount.
- Bellusa testified, "I found out that he [Sarna] called another officer [and] told him [not to report] what had happened in front of the African American who is a witness to the … racial slurs."
Officer-involved shooting
Brown was shot and killed outside a dance at Oakland's Skyline High School on Jan. 22, 2011. He was sitting in the passenger's seat of a Honda with a friend, Tamisha Stewart, who was in the driver's seat. Bellusa and Bhatt pulled up behind them in an unmarked patrol car after noticing the lights of the Honda were flashing. Bhatt made his way to the driver's window, Bellusa testified, while he flanked the rear passenger's side of the car.
As Bhatt began a verbal exchange with Stewart, Bellusa testified that he noticed Brown was "fidgety" rather than cooperative, which he interpreted as a "red flag." He opened the passenger door, crouched into what he described as a "catcher's stance," and initiated a verbal exchange with Brown. Shortly after opening the door, Bellusa said he made observations that led him to conclude that the car had been stolen.
When Pointer asked him where his hands were at that point, Bellusa stated, "They were on his lap," according to the transcript. "Were they holding anything?" Pointer asked. "No," Bellusa responded. "And so did you ask him to step out of the car when you're having this conversation with him?" Pointer asked. "Not at that time," Bellusa answered.
Bellusa said Brown then grabbed a screwdriver and stuck into the ignition of the vehicle, directing Stewart to drive. This prompted a struggle between Brown and Bellusa. According to a summary of the transcript written by the group of activists:
"Bellusa lunged into the car, grabbing [Brown] from behind as Brown was leaned over toward the ignition. …Bellusa tried to hold Brown, and then grabbed him, pulling Brown's shirt and ripping it. Bhatt, leaning in through the driver's window, hit Brown with his flashlight. … Brown had not yet made any aggressive move toward anyone, according to Bellusa's description of events."
A struggle ensued, and Bellusa testified that at one point Brown bit Bellusa's wrist, prompting Bellusa to pull his hand away and use his "hammer fist" to strike him. Brown then grabbed the screwdriver from the car's ignition, and "I believe that the backside of the screwdriver [was what] he used at that point to strike me in the chest," Bellusa testified.
"As the struggle ensued and neither fighter gave in," activists wrote, "[Brown] turned the screwdriver around and tried to make contact with Bellusa."
According to Bellusa's sworn testimony, "I was afraid that I was going to get stabbed in the throat clear as day." He told his partner to shoot Brown: "I just screamed shoot him, shoot him," he testified.
The Against Hired Guns summary describes what happened next. "As Bellusa pulled himself out of the car, two shots were quickly fired through the driver's open window ... by Bhatt before his gun jammed. Raheim Brown, Jr. had two bullets lodged in his body. It took Sergeant Bhatt five to ten seconds to clear the chamber of his gun, during which time he said loudly: 'Fuck! Fuck!' By this time, Bellusa was out of the car and at a safe distance, he said in his deposition. When asked whether he thought Brown was still a risk after the first two shots, Bellusa replied plainly: 'No,' and said that by this point, he had his own gun out. When asked why he didn't pull his trigger, he replied: 'Just like I said my statement with OPD, I didn't see a threat.'
'Tell me … about the gun'
Bellusa explained in his deposition that he'd noticed a gun sitting in the side pocket of the vehicle during the incident, but did not alert Bhatt that the gun was there until after the shooting had occurred. When Pointer asked, "And prior to you screaming 'shoot him, shoot him' you hadn't said anything related to the gun?" Bellusa responded: "No."
Shortly after the shooting, Bellusa testified he had an interaction with Sarna, then-OUSD chief, and Smith, the OUSD superintendent. According to details included in the deposition, this conversation took place at Oakland Police Department (OPD) headquarters, after Bhatt and Bellusa had been separated, prior to any formal interview with OPD regarding the shooting.
According to Bellusa's testimony, Smith questioned him directly. "He said specifically 'John, tell me where the gun was. Tell me everything you can remember about the gun and what it looked like.'"
Penetrating the Thin Blue Line
An introductory statement from Against Hired Guns notes that Bellusa "will likely be considered a 'good' cop" for publicly airing these allegations and making an unusual break from the code of silence that typically binds police departments.
Yet the activists aren't willing to let the sergeant off the hook so easily. Asked why they took steps to preempt release of this information, Brooks, the spokesperson for Against Hired Guns, told the Guardian, "We thought that it was important so that the debate could be framed as part of the larger context of police and violence in Oakland, as opposed to this cop has now done something good, which makes him a good cop. … He was still present the night Raheim was murdered."
Against Hired Guns wrote in an analysis included in press materials, "It has now been over two years since Raheim's family lost him to the violence of policing. They have relentlessly searched for justice and still do not know exactly what happened to him. At the very least, Bellusa or any of the people or agencies he spoke with, could have explained the context of Raheim's killing to his family members, who continue to grieve and struggle with the loss of their son, father and lover."
The activists' summary frames the issue in this way: "Sergeant Bellusa has now penetrated the 'thin blue line' that shields corrupt, abusive, violent police officers and departments. We are releasing this information as part of … a series that places the statements of Bellusa's testimony in the larger overall context of policing in our society [and] the 'thin blue line' that protects officers from any consequences."
Cops put their lives in danger to protect life, liberty and property every day but you never report that.
But a gangbanger thug gets shot by cops and you are all over it.
You're a dick. You think police violence should be kept secret then? Someone died. If you cared about civilians this would sadden you; and if you cared about the police force this would sicken you. Fact is MAJOR reform is needed to the nation's police force. It's more than just a few bad apples out there. There needs to be real civilian oversight and real consequences for criminal behavior for cops. They should not be a privileged or protected class. But I'm sure you think these people had it coming because they broke the law and therefore maybe deserved to die. You're stupid to think you'll never be on the receiving side of unforgiving police "justice". Wake up we live in a police state. How many AR-15's do you think the police own?
You're a dick. You think police violence should be kept secret then? Someone died. If you cared about civilians this would sadden you; and if you cared about the police force this would sicken you. Fact is MAJOR reform is needed to the nation's police force. It's more than just a few bad apples out there. There needs to be real civilian oversight and real consequences for criminal behavior for cops. They should not be a privileged or protected class. But I'm sure you think these people had it coming because they broke the law and therefore maybe deserved to die. You're stupid to think you'll never be on the receiving side of unforgiving police "justice". Wake up we live in a police state. How many AR-15's do you think the police own?
This is what they do all day. There's a cadre of trolls here who can be counted on to parrot the usual right wing tripe that markets rule and cops are always right. This is just the beginning. Prepare for the onslaught.
From the continual mocking of Asians to your repeated foul language you really seem to be heading downhill and quickly. This all seems like a desperate cry for attention. It's so sad to witness. I must say Greg - it's all going to end very badly if you keep on in this manner.
Racist, misogynistic troll. You are exactly the kind of troll I'm talking about.
Deeply. Please seek some type of help - this downward spiral is just terrible to watch.
Only Greg like "progressives" can bring up general race type things.
You do know that you have to be a "progressive" to mention race in any way.
Take for example Tim's ramblings white Catholics and gay rights, when everyone knows that minority Catholics are so open minded to gays.
Pleb, buzz one of the nursing assistants there in the ward and ask them to kindly please turn down your glucose drip. It's set on "High" apparently by mistake. It's bringing out one of your other people inside you, pleb, and I think most on here are already quite accustomed to your usual bitch/hateful/vile self.
International Troll Society Member #12360969212
I suspect that if you scratch the surface, we would fine that he has engaged in some fairly bad stuff himself. Anyone who can hate as much as Greg hates on Asians and cops is going to act very defencsive.
If he ever meets an Asian cop, he will go ballistic.
A case of one excrement encouraging the other. Pleb, I suspect if you scratch the surface---not that we would have to go that far down---we would find that you most assuredly belong in the same ward with all the other imposter troll nuts on here, if you're not already there on that group rate.
International Troll Society Member #12360969212
That doesn't begin to cover it, but it's a good start! I wrote a gentle suggestion to that excrement, but Greg, it's best not to respond to attention-seeking, amateur, imposter, pleb trolls and especially that excrement. They don't merit your attention. That particular excrement acts like a 2 year old in dire need of attention. Although some 2 year old's act more mature than that sample. I occasionally respond to the excrement only so that the parasite will pass on my information to those in their hospital ward for further treatment (they have a group rate, you know). It's best to ignore all of these parasitic, amateurish, pleb trolls who are---I might add---completely unworthy of International Troll Society membership.
International Troll Society Member #12360969212
The good deeds of some cops don't make up for the bad deeds of others.
Here is why. The odd time a cop shoots a guy when he should not have done, it's always a bad guy. So even tho it should not have happened, it's not a nun or choirboy that got iced - it's a gangbanger thug who might have mugged you the next day.
People get that which is why guys like Grant don't get that much sympathy, and the juries do easy on the cop.
The average good person feels a lot more compassion for cops than thugs.
The heavy handed police force in Oakland reminds me of the numerous police activity in the Mission and lower Haight over 10 years ago. If the police rouse the obvious poorer people, especially people of color, there wil be enough arrests, disruption to the local community, and the occasional killing by the police to force the lower income people out of the area, paving the way for the upscale artists, queers, and higher income migrants who can profit from the increasing property values.
The same strategy happened along the S. Van Ness, 24th Street east of Mission, Webster south of Fell, Divis, and is increasingly occurring in pockets of Oakland. Land values have skyrocketed in the areas where police are used to cleanse the neighborhood of poorer families, often non-white families. Drugs and petty property crimes are often the pretense the police and politicians use to force out large segments of the exisiting community. Hundreds of millions of land wealth are created for the owners of the property, with banks and real estate companies receiving a nice slice from the financial upgrade.
then doesn't it make sense to subtley encourage relocation of such groups to somewhere like Oakland, that appears willing to tolerate a greater crime rate than would be acceptable to the voters of SF?
the problem is that you believe police have the right to shoot to kill someone for suspicion of a minor crime ... and a non-violent crime at that.
hope i'm there as witness when they come for you (for nothing, as they often do), and you piss your pants in fear ... because you cannot pretend you don't know the truth : police in oakland are the violent thugs.
or a criminal. the cops don't just shoot random people - they shoot villains who resist arrest, threaten another person or who seek to otherwise evade arrest or detention.
mother and daughter whose truck the LAPD shot about 70 times in Torrance.
Gee, I had no idea.
It doesn't matter. The same kinds of people who are attracted to police work in Torrance, are attracted to police work in Oakland. The same lack of oversight that exists in Torrance exists in Oakland. This tendency to nitpick examples because they happened in another town is off-base. It's essentially the same system.
They should report both, simple as that. If police start to act like thugs, they won't be any different
Are they trained to apprehend or kill? Miserable is a person feeling that police killings are justified. How come black officers dont accidently shoot people, black or white?
Who knows why he's coming forward publicly. Maybe it's to protect himself. Maybe he saw his career being ruined for blowing the whistle in the same way they did to Dorner in LA, and he wanted to head that off. Maybe not all of it is true.
But it's good that it's all coming out into the light of day. One thing that's clear is that this is a department with some serious issues, and more public accountability is never a bad thing. I hope the SFBG follows up on this story... because we sure as hell can't count on the comical to do it.
Nice effort, very informative, this will help me to complete my task. Thanks for share it keep it up.
Stop Snitchin'!
Oh wait - that doesn't apply to cops?
My bad.
The only violence problem Oakland has is police violence!
the SFBG didn't report it or say anything about it.
Their anti-cop bias is clear. Cops are the only part of the public sector that SFBG hates.
Police Don't Deserve To Be Part Of The "City Family", That Tim Loves So Much!
But Oakland has cheap rent and that's where u keep saying us po folk should relocate to, never mind the crime rate, right dyttp?
part of what drives housing costs is safety, particularly for those who, unlike you, have a lot to lose.
What's up? You don't want to move to Oakland? Too many blacks there? Not enough sushi joints?
Then get a better job and stay in SF.
I can't live in Oakland. My sister practically runs that burg & she hates me. I'm doing just fine in SF anyway, thank very much, I'm a native and I have roots and connections and resources miles deep.
10 minutes from SF. You're making excuses. Why should I subsidize people who want to live in SF but cannot afford it? Especially when they could just move to Oakland or Daly City?
You sound like a parasite with a sense of entitlement and ambitions beyond your means and fiscal power.
I had half brother who was a ski bum. Lived his whole life in places like Vail, Aspen, even Switzerland. Never made more then 25K in year. Didn't matter, if there were steep mountains and deep powder he found a way live nearby. I've known surfers didn't have a p,ot to piss in but lived in Malibu, Huntington Beach, even La Jolla cause that's where their favorite break was.
People are going to live where they want to live and some of them just don't care about money. Get over it.
I'm not currently receiving any subsidies that I know, not even bus pass, let alone ebt card or rent control or mort interest deduction or anything else, but I don't mind being called a parasite even inaccurately.
Parasites are often amazingly evolved and provide vital services for their hosts.
no more surprising that you support policies that interfere with what would otherwise interfere with a meritocratic free market.
Nobody can live for 25K pa in expensive places unless they are getting a break from somone, whether that is a sugar daddy, welfare handouts or a skewed set of laws.
the use of the word "meritocratic" in the above comment, which almost always indicates a stupid statement, especially when modifying the term "free market." Just as two wrongs don't make a right, two fictitious terms don't make a reality.
Down with stupidity!!!
Power to the thoughtful!!!
taken into consideration. Losers never do.
Pleb, there are words in your title that are expressly forbidden by the International Troll Society. A legitimate troll (International Troll Society member) will be banned when attempting to put others down to make oneself feel better about oneself, which is what you've done. Are you really that insecure, uncomfortable with yourself and consider yourself so unworthy as a pleb that you feel you must put down other human beings you don't even know in order to make yourself feel better and to appear up on a elitist pedestal? From frequenting this site on occasion, you live on this site from the moment you wake up until they turn off the lights in your ward. I would suggest that the "l" word in your title (it begins with a "l" and ends with a "s") most assuredly applies to you, pleb.
International Troll Society Member #12360969212
letting us know that he hangs out with losers would somehow magically make him more credible here.
Just my PSA for the day.
Nah. Not buying it, pleb. You're really not very bright as demonstrated by all of your ignorant hate on this site. Your life must be terribly miserable there in that ward.
Your PSA = Pleb's Scum Ass.
All you have is abuse, stalking and trolling.
the National Security Agency to combat stupidity. Analysis of the content and the IP addresses of the comments from "Guest" at 3:46 pm and "anon" at 6:03 pm conclusively prove that these two contributors are the same person.
The SFASC and the NSA agree with anon/Guest about the importance of the police state to insure the rights of the innocent, although thoughtful readers might find irony in the uncovering of anon/Guest's ruse by that police state.
Down with stupidity!!!
Power to the thoughtful!!!
With mobile computing, IP's are meaningless.
You knew that, right?
Oh wait, you didn't. Who is stupid now?
the NSA insures its ability to accurately determine the authorship of comments.
Down with stupidity!!!
Power to the thoughtfull!!!
Here's a clue. It ends in 2.
I don't even qualify for EIC on my 1040. I may be the most subsidy free person in SF so show some respect 'guest'
If you rent, you have rent control, as well as a "renter's credit" on your CA income taxes.
If you own, you deduct the interest on your mortgage and your property tax.
The only way you are neither is if you are a "kept man" or "trophy husband" or "toy boy" or "giggolo". In which case, there is a woman (or gay man, I suppose) subsidizing you.
especially stupid ones like anon, that pete moss neither rents nor owns, as he described in an earlier comment. He falls into a different, yet growing category, called homeless.
Down with stupidity!!!
Power to the thoughtful!!!
You're getting stupider and stupider.
And of course the homeless get lots of subsidies
I got the impression pete moss might be living in a one of a growing number of resident-controlled housing units held by a non-profit. This is one of the better housing models since the residents meet the monthly untility and upkeep costs, but the housing unit itself stays in a non-profit form that prevents future speculation and displacement.
If homeless, a hat tip to pete for making one of the wisest choices to stay in SF: moving back to the streets where humans roamed for the first 50,000 years or more. If the city leaders won't prevent landlords from increasing rents to unaffordable levels to most current residents, then after displacement by high rent increases, OMI, or Ellis eviction, moving directly to the street (a park is my preference) is one of the smartest political strategies possible to let the rulers know that their current housing policies are hurting SF residents. After landing on the street, making immediate demands for a clean bed, sanitary bathroom and shower facilities, a work room, a quiet room, and a library should be the minimum stardard the city, state and feds should be providing to mitigate their housing policies that favor the wealthy and powerful over the bottom 2/3 of the local community.
If indeed homeless, I hope pete is using some of his internet time to reach out to the growing homeless populations in Japan, China, Greece, and other countries where similar real estate policies are creating the same issues: increasingly unaffordale housing costs for the majority of residents; increasing numbers of homeless; and a concentration of wealth by the relatively small numbers of landlords and financiers that sit at the top of a very steep pyramid.
spending 24/7 on his iphone advocating for the under-housed everywhere.
But, as a point of interest, SF rents cannot be "unaffordable" because the vacancy rate is 1%. So SF housing can be afforded by enough people to sustain it.
By "unaffordable", you presumably mean that you personally cannot afford the average rent here. Hey, I know how you feel, I can't afford Aspen and so have to slum it in SF.
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text: Funeral Services for Joseph Lamar Palmer, 81, of Papillion, NE died will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, February 7, 2013 at the Jamerson-Braswell Funeral Home Chapel. Rev. Nathan Fowler will officiate services with interment to follow at the Mizpah Primitive Church Cemetery. Mr. Palmer was born on October 2, 1931 in Mitchell County to the late Charles Cuy and Ruby Godwin Pollock. He was of the Baptist Faith and served in the United States Air Force until his retirement. Mr. Palmer was married to Mrs. Emily Palmer who survives and a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He departed this life on Thursday, January 31, 2013. Survivors to cherish his memory include his wife Emily Palmer of Papillion, NE; daughter Teresa Palmer Fritz (Edward) of La Vista, NE; grandson Jason Mollner (Mayami) of Chicago, IL; great-grandsons Lucas Mollner of Chicago, IL; brother-in-law Peter Bartolo. He was preceded by his parents Charles Cuy and Ruby Godwin Pollock. To share your deepest sympathies and fondest memories, sign the online register book at www.jamerson-braswell.com — Jamerson-Braswell Funeral Home


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Contact: Meredith Dickenson or Ellen Sterner
SMU News & Media Relations
(214) 768-7654
April 29, 2003
A Final Exam: Redesigning Lives
Engineering Students Create Devices to Help the Disabled
(Click here to see photographs)
DALLAS (SMU) -- What's so complicated about an umbrella that a group of SMU students would spend the entire year designing one? An umbrella that a disabled person can deploy with the flip of a switch.
Each year, for the past seven years, the final examination for mechanical engineering students at SMU has been to design devices for the disabled as their senior design projects. Students begin with customer need, interviewing the disabled for a design idea that could be practical to their lives. Eventually, the design process produces a working prototype to be used by the disabled in the real world. Students will present and demonstrate their designs at a media briefing.
The United Service Association For Health Care Foundation has been hand-in-hand with the Kent Waldrep Paralysis Foundation in granting funds to develop mechanical designs for the disabled since the inception of this concept at SMU.
"It's been really rewarding to see these kids respond -- the creativity they've shown and the sensitivity they've given to the disabled community," said Kent Waldrep, founder of the Kent Waldrep National Paralysis Foundation.
"We are very proud to be linked with a project of this caliber that promotes engineering skills, empathy, research and vision in designing products for the disabled," says Lana Montgomery Couch, Foundation President of United Service Association For Health Care.
While doing their research, students interact with the disabled, inserting a human side to their design projects. All projects include need analyses, design specifications, budgets and recommendations giving students firsthand knowledge of the design process.
"The purpose of the course is to teach product realization. But what we discovered is we get an added bonus. Students get very sensitized to how engineering can affect the well being of people," said Dr. Paul Packman, professor of mechanical engineering and director of the projects program.
For more information, contact Meredith Dickenson at 214/768-7654.


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August 2, 2014
September 10, 2012
If you're having trouble sleeping or notice a change in your blood pressure, you could be suffering from anxiety. In this week's What's Going Around we're focusing on anxiety disorders.
Dr. Gabriel Spring of Palmyra Medical Associates is providing our medical information.
Symptoms of anxiety include racing heartbeat, fear of the unknown, trouble falling asleep, high blood pressure, restlessness, and not feeling like yourself. Depending on the type of anxiety disorder, it can last a few months to a life time.
Dr. Spring says the best way to treat anxiety is with counseling, psychotherapy, breathing and mindfulness techniques like meditation and yoga.
Dr. Spring says the best way to prevent anxiety is by finding healthy ways to relax.
It's also important to point out that other medical problems may be disguised as anxiety. Those may include thyroid problems or heart disease.
Dr. Spring is reminding folks to get a shingles vaccine if they are over the age of 50.


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CHALI 2NA feat Ming Xia - "Against the Current": SXSW 2013 Showcasing Artist
Chali 2na MC. Musician. Actor. Painter. Renaissance Man. Chali 2na has done it all. From his days growing up on the hardscrabble streets of Chicago's south side, to his subsequent explosion onto Los Angeles' burgeoning hip-hop scene, to his tenure as MC for seminal hip-hop group Jurassic 5, Chali epitomizes the portrait of a 21st century artist. To be sure, with his unmistakable, beloved baritone, Chali has firmly established himself as one of the most distinctive, charismatic personalities not just in hip-hop, but music in general.


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As the Boy Scouts of America celebrate their 103rd birthday Friday, Feb. 8, a heated dispute is likely putting a damper on any celebrations.
The national organization was expected to take up the issue of removing a ban on gay participants recently. It, however, delayed taking action until May "due to the complexity of this issue," according to the Chicago Tribune. Even if the national council votes in favor of lifting the ban, local chapters would retain their right to keep it in place.
Some members and supporters of the private organization designed to teach boys life, citizenship and leadership skills say it's time to end the ban on gay participants. Others are staunchly opposed to the notion.
Should the organization lift its national ban on gay participants and end a fight that's been going on for well over a decade?
President Barack Obama and the group Scouts for Equality think so. Texas Gov. Rick Perry has publicly supported the ban. A Quinnipiac University poll released this week found that a majority of registered voters, 55 percent to 33 percent, want the ban to end, according to the Chicago Tribune.
The Scouts, however, have the law on their side. The U.S. Supreme Court upheld the private organization's rights to ban gay participants during a case in 2000.
What do you think, Tampa Bay? Is it time for the Boy Scouts to open the doors to all participants, regardless of sexual orientation. Or, should Scouting hold to its traditions? Share your thoughts in the comments section.


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As we've always heard-everything in moderation" is the way to live and it looks like that pertains to exercise, as well! I've always thought marathons or any other extreme forms of athletic events can't be good for us. Now, there's research that suggests it's true-too much exercise is not good! That's not to say we can be couch potatos but moderation is a good idea. Read more about this story here
Return to: Bill & Tracy Blog


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RECIPE #4903/BETH SACHAN/STANDARD CANDY COMPANY: Beth made Ooey Gooey Goo Goo Bars. You can find this recipe on our website, www.newschannel5.com, by clicking on "Recipes by Date" and selecting Recipe #4903. Goo Goo Cluster, The Original Southern Confection, invented and still produced in Nashville, celebrates its 100th birthday this month with the Goo Goo Cluster Jog 'n Hog, The Great Goo Goo Scavenger Hunt, and Goo Goo Cluster desserts in restaurants around Nashville. For more details, check out www.googoo.com. You can find more of Beth's recipes at www.eat-drink-smile.com
MONEYSAVING IDEAS/MARY HANCE/MS. CHEAP: Ms. Cheap gave us an inside look at the discount shoe store, Red Door Shoe Outlet. They are located on Green Hills Court, 4004 Hillsboro Pike, suite 145. For more info call 615-292-2945. For more moneysaving ideas, visit www.tennessean.com/mscheap or follow Ms. Cheap on Facebook!
FINANCIAL PLANNING/PAUL WINKLER/THE INVESTOR COACH: Paul gave us tips on making investments. You can learn more on "The Investor Coaching Show" on Newschannel 5+ at 8 pm on Saturdays and 12:30 pm on Mondays. The "Investor Coaching Radio Show" air Saturdays from 3 pm to 5 pm on Supertalk 99.7 WTN. You can also get a free subscription to Paul Winkler TV on his website for financial tips, retirement advice and investing wisely. Just go to the TV & Radio tab at www.paulwinkler.net for more information.
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News & Public Affairs
Wood storks may not be so endangered anymore listen12/18/12 Janelle Irwin
WMNF Drive-Time News Tuesday Listen to this entire show:
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing that the wood stork be upgraded from its status as an endangered species to just threatened. Dan Ashe, director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, announced plans to reclassify the species during a conference call this morning.
âWood storks in the Southeastern U.S. no longer face imminent danger of extinction and thatâs thanks to decades of conservation work across the region.â
Wood storks have been protected under the Endanger...Be the first to comment
Scientists warn Florida grasshopper sparrows on the brink of extinction listen07/26/12 Olivia Kabat
WMNF Drive-Time News Thursday Listen to this entire show:
Scientists are warning that a type of sparrow native to Florida is on the brink of extinction. There is an emergency effort to save Florida grasshopper sparrows before itâs too late.
Florida grasshopper sparrows have been on the endangered species for 26 years. Dr. Reed Bowman, Director of the Avian Ecology Program at Archbold Biological Station says this subspecies has been endangered for such a long time because the vast majority of land on which it depends has disappeared.
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Why a bird advocacy group opposes a wind farm in the Everglades Agricultural Area03/28/12 Seán Kinane
Last Call Wednesday Listen to this entire show:
The Palm Beach County Commission recently approved the Sugarland Wind construction plan. But despite the benefits of a renewable energy project, itâs being opposed by some environmentalists. They say Florida doesnât have enough wind and itâs in the Atlantic Flyway for migratory birds. In a letter, the Clearwater Audubon Society says âSiting a wind farm in the [Everglades Agricultural Area] is flat out irresponsible.â
Joining us...Be the first to comment
Audubon receives grant to protect beach nesting birds listen11/10/08 Seán Kinane
WMNF Drive-Time News Monday Listen to this entire show:
The St. Petersburg Audubon Society has received a $9,000 TogetherGreen national innovation grant to assist volunteers in protecting beach-nesting birds along the Gulf Coast this summer.
This morning, WMNF spoke with Dave Kandz, the conservation chair of the St. Petersburg Audubon Society.
The grant will enable volunteers to protect beach-nesting bird colonies along Gulf Coast beaches beginning in April.Be the first to comment


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Sailing Thailand - Koh Phi Phi to Phuket (ATSH)
The perfect add-on to any Thailand adventure, this four-day sailing trip allows you to escape the crowds, tucking into hidden bays and pristine beaches on Thailand's western coast. Snorkel in crystal-clear waters and dine on freshly prepared local delicacies. Beginning in Koh Phi Phi Leh – made famous by the movie "The Beach" – our G Adventures exclusive 14-passenger catamaran is the perfect home for relaxing and enjoying these stunning islands.
Highlights: Relax on the deck of your yacht in the stunning southern Thai islands, eat delicious Thai cuisine, lounge out on beautiful beaches, swim and snorkel in quiet bays
Beaches & Backwaters (AHBB)
Watch the sunset through the fishing nets of Kochi, stretch out on white-sand beaches, drift through the tranquil backwaters and rise at dawn to see the sunrise. This 7-day tour offers a quick introduction to the diversity of South India. Inhale the exotic perfume of cardamom as you stroll through spice gardens and unwind with some yoga in your free time. Meet the locals and spend the night with a local family on a tour that's all about authentic cultural experience.
Highlights: Relax in the calm backwaters, experience a local homestay, chill out on quiet beaches, sample South Indian cuisine.
Sailing Thailand - Phuket to Koh Phi Phi (ATSK)
Snorkel in hidden bays, laze on pristine beaches, and feast on tantalizing Thai cuisine prepared by a local chef. Get away from it all aboard a small private catamaran on a four-day voyage through some of Thailand's most alluring islands. This is a perfect add-on to our other Thailand trips or a serene escape from the crowds of Phuket.
Highlights: Snorkel in crystal-clear water, sail through stunning southern Thai islands, feast on tantalizing Thai cuisine, relax on secluded beaches
Sailing Thailand - Koh Phi Phi to Phuket (ATSH)
Beaches & Backwaters (AHBB)
Sailing Thailand - Phuket to Koh Phi Phi (ATSK)
|Service Level
|Starting Price
|Sailing Thailand - Koh Phi Phi to Phuket (ATSH)
|4 days
From $849
|Beaches & Backwaters (AHBB)
|7 days
From $649
|Sailing Thailand - Phuket to Koh Phi Phi (ATSK)
|4 days
From $849


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Westlake logging major court time
Anyone attending Westlake High girls volleyball matches this season should bring some extra food and water. You may be staying awhile.
The Warriors have a propensity to go the distance. They have been stretched to five sets four times in the last month.
During a recent team meeting, Westlake head coach Ernest Rittenhouse jokingly posted three reasons why his players enjoy the marathon matches.
1) They are padding their stats to have a better chance at school records.
2) They are trying to stress their coach out to get back at him for making them run laps.
3) They are trying to give fans their money's worth for the price they pay for admission.
"I would be perfectly happy if they won in three," Rittenhouse said. "It would cause me far less stress and worry."
But Rittenhouse's anxiety level would be far higher if the Warriors weren't so clutch in crunch time.
Westlake has won 17 of its last 20 deciding 15-point sets dating back to 2010.
Before this season, the Warriors prepared to play more close matches because they knew how much parity there would be in the Marmonte League. Three of their four five-set matches have come in league play.
"We trained for it and practiced for those situations," Rittenhouse said. "I will get the scoreboard out and call it 20-20 to see how they do or put 12-12 in Game 5 and play out a drill."
Rittenhouse was hoping to build the resolve required to be successful in a pressure-packed final set.
"It takes mental toughness to grind it out, but it also takes physical fitness. You have to be capable of playing at your best in Game 5," he said. "But I have also tried as a coach to instill confidence in them that they are a team that can perform in those situations. Confidence is a hard thing. I wish I could get a little vile or a pill and hand it to a player to take."
Although the Warriors aren't playing five-set matches to pad their stats, it's a natural byproduct.
Junior outside hitter Julia Mannisto is on pace to break the single-season kills record she set last season and to eventually become the program's career kills leader.
As much as he'd rather take the easier route to a victory, Rittenhouse can appreciate the competitive value of a longer match.
"I would prefer us having more consistency so we would not have to go five, but I have to give credit to the other teams," he said. "They are playing really good and they will spark up and make these matches battles. I am just glad we've been able to fight back."
Speaking of five-set matches, it's no surprise Buena-Ventura went five sets last week with Buena winning 20-25, 25-13, 25-20, 23-25, 15-11.
The rivals have gone five sets in four out of their last five meetings, including both matches last season.
The final meeting this season will be Oct. 11 at Ventura.
There are several great matches on tap for this week.
Pacific View League rivals Oxnard and Camarillo meet at 6:15 p.m. Tuesday at Oxnard.
Thousand Oaks and Westlake play in a Marmonte League showdown on Thursday night at Westlake at 6.
In the Tri-Valley League, Oaks Christian plays at La Reina at 6 p.m. Thursday.
• • •
1. Thousand Oaks (8-5, 5-0 Marmonte): Jane Lamp providing strong defensive play.
2. Westlake (14-2, 5-0 Marmonte): Warriors get their shot at Thousand Oaks on Thursday.
3. Buena (15-9, 1-2 Channel): Bulldogs dug deep to outlast rival Ventura.
4. Ventura (11-6, 2-1 Channel): Cougars on upward trend since setter Haley Litten returned.
5. Oaks Christian (12-2, 4-0 Tri-Valley): Lions ranked No. 1 in Division 2-AA.
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text: Curb Records, founded in 1963 by Mike Curb (while he was a student at California State University), is celebrating 50 years in the music business. Born with American ingenuity, Curb Records' independent spirit lives on. In celebration, Curb Records is announcing its 50 albums over 50 years feature on iTunes today. To see it click [...] Read More


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On View: Palm Wine Cup (Mbwoongntey)
For centuries among the Kuba, personal status has been indicated through finely designed objects. Even ordinary utilitarian objects such as ...
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