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Adeneo Embedded
As you may know, in the past 3 years I've been working as a consultant and collaborating with Adeneo Embedded. Today (October 1st) I begun a new experience at Toradex (http://www.toradex.com/), in Horw, Switzerland.
Those 3 years have been wonderful, and working with Adeneo was a great opportunity to meet great people (and I'm not talking just about their technical skills) and work on many different projects for a very dynamic company. I would like to thank Yannick and all the other people for the support they provided me. I felt part of the company even if I was working from a different country and I wish them all the great results they deserve. I also had a chance to work as an independent consultant for many different Italian companies, and see how great products are developed in different industrial fields even if people may associate Italy with just good food and cool clothes. I hope to have a chance to collaborate with many of those people in my new role.
Toradex offered me a new and different challenge, and I decided to take it. It's my first time working for a company that develops hardware and software. I like the idea of being involved directly in a "product" (in many products for many years, I hope!) and to work for a company that, even if the end product is sold as hardware, has a very tight focus on software and to make the end-customer experience as simple as possible by providing a reliable OS, libraries, tools, documentation. Building a system and not just assemble some chips and try to make some code run on top of them.
I like the fact that when they described me the technical organization they made no distinction between the software developers and the hardware designers. So many times I hear people considering hardware and software as distinct things and not as complementary parts of a finished product. I'll have to learn lots of new things (maybe also a new language), improve my skills and understand how to work in a different environment, but challenges are better than boring routine!
Closing my consulting activity, trying to finish all the open projects, fix all the bugs (at least the know ones!) etc. lead to a totally crazy schedule in the last weeks, now I hope to come back to a just plain crazy schedule and have some time to update this blog with some interesting news about my new job (still related do Windows Embedded and low-level BSP and driver stuff) and my new company.
On July 8th and 9th I had a chance to attend and speak at the Better Embedded 2013 conference in Florence.
Visiting Florence is always a pleasure, but having a chance to attend to such an interesting conference and to meet Marco Dal Pino, Paolo Patierno, Mirco Vanini and many other embedded developers made those two days an experience to be remembered.
I did two sessions, one on Windows Embedded Standard and "PCs" usage in the embedded world and another one on Android for Embedded devices, you can find the slides on the better embedded website: www.betterembedded.it. You can also find slides for many other interesting session, ranging from the .NET microframework to Linux Embedded, from QT Quick to software licenses. Packing many different resources about embedded systems in a conference was not easy but the result is a very nice mix of contents ranging from firmware development to cloud-based systems. This is a great way to have an overview of what's new or interesting in embedded systems and to get great ideas about how to build your new device. Don't forget to follow @Better_Embedded on twitter to not miss next year conference!
Thanks to the better embedded team for having allowed me to use some of the official pictures in this blog post. You can find a good selection of those pictures (just to experience the atmosphere of the conference) on its Facebook page: http://dvlr.it/DHDB
Ecco il resoconto della splendida giornata trascorsa in quel di Napoli a parlare di sistemi embedded:
Un grazie a Paolo, Michele, Antonio e a tutti i ragazzi di .NET Campania che hanno saputo organizzare perfettamente l'evento e far ricordare a un "nordico" come il sottoscritto che al Sud l'ospite è sempre trattato come un re.
This is a good question when it comes from people with no experience on embedded devices and a very bad one when you hear it coming from people that work on embedded devices.
"I'm using a PC inside my embedded device, so I can use Windows as I use it on my PC" this is usually a statement made by people who actually design bad embedded devices. And those devices are not bad because they use a PC-based hardware (using a PC may be a good solution for some kind of devices where developing a custom board is too expensive and does not provide any real advantage in terms of cost), not because they use Windows.
It's because they use a Windows version designed for PCs, and so they behave like a PC and not like an embedded device!
A PC has always a user taking care of it (or calling for help when something goes wrong beyond his recovery capabilities!), an embedded device must run unattended. Users don't want or even can't interact with it. It must be able to solve its own issues and, at least, report errors by itself.
Usually airport are a good place to spot some PCs "hidden" inside embedded devices. And those PCs sometimes show their nature giving unnecessary information or asking for help to people that just want to receive some information from them (or that are the target for advertising campaigns running on those devices).
Let's see some samples.
Installing updates is a good idea if your device is connected to a network, maybe doing that overnight is smart, so no-one will see the device restarting. But telling to everyone that your "embedded" PC installed its updates overnight doesn't look like such a smart idea…
The message is in Italian, but I guess that any Windows 7 user can recognize it. "New updates have been installed". This message will stay on top of the content (information about the security controls) until someone finds a mouse and a way to connect it to a terminal that is suspended 2.5 meters from the ground.
Sorry for the bad quality of the images but the mix of phone camera and horribly early morning hour impacted my photographic capabilities quite hard
Here we have a nicely designed information totem that is supposed to show interesting contents or, maybe, just advertising.
Instead is showing a wizard from a set-up application (or something like that, my knowledge of German is close to zero…) that I suspect is not very interesting for most of the people passing in front of it and that can't interact with the device because no mouse or keyboard is available.
You can also notice that the display is mounted in portrait mode but is configured in landscape. I don't envy the developer that had to debug his application keeping is head turned 90° to the right to read the output
Many thanks to Giorgio and Frangino for this great sample.
Do you recognize those icons? It's a Windows 98 desktop! Running on a monochrome display with very low resolution. This picture has been taken a few days ago, not in year 2K!
The good news is that this Windows 9X powered PC is still up and running. At least 15 years after its OS release and 7 years after the end of MS support for Windows 98/ME. But let's see the bad news…
The application has crashed and the display is no longer showing useful information. Just letting some people know that Windows 9X is still alive and kicking. 13 years after the release of Windows ME! (but Windows ME "my computer" icon was different, so we are looking at Windows 98 or even at Windows 95 here).
How could this device be restored? Powering on and off the device isn't a very good way to restore its operations. Do you remember what could happen to a FAT filesystem after an unexpected power outage? Someone will have to shut it down. It may be possible to do this remotely, but the service was interrupted for some time. Consider also that this is a display that is used to show train timetables, so information must be updated in real time and I suppose that this device is connected to some form of corporate network. It hope it's a dedicated network because putting a Windows 9X machine with an OS that is no longer patched and supported on an open corporate network is like hiring a wolf to take care of your sheep!
Embedded devices don't need to follow technology trends and move to the last OS release a few week after it's available. Devices must be stable and reliable and any change must be tested carefully. But, on the other side, using a 15yrs old unsupported desktop OS to power a connected embedded device may be a bit too conservative.
My friend Marco Dal Pino sent me this image via Twitter, another airport, another useless display. The text is too small to read it, but it seems an error due to a broken or no longer bootable hard drive. In this case the OS can't do nothing to fix the issue, but hopefully a monitoring system should be in place, detecting that a device is no longer operating.
This came from a tweet by Kharim Yaghmour and it's one of the funniest samples I've ever seen. The device is still operating, you can put trash inside it… but the system (Linux in this case) has crashed. Maybe emptying the trash will free some disk space and allow it to run? The text is not readable, it seems to be a kernel panic at startup. This may be due to an hardware failure, but showing this on the screen doesn't help. Maybe showing a company logo during boot may have made it less noticeable.
Thank to my friend Paolo Patierno (see his blogs here and here) sent me this picture taken on the subway in Naples.
It's the well known "Unable to connect" error message from Firefox (can't see what OS, but it doesn't matter). Using a web browser to show advertising or other information in this context may be a good idea, you already have good browsers for many operating systems, you can realize good animations and graphics in HTML5+JS, and you can have a browser reloading the information from the server without the need of building an infrastructure to distribute that content. You can even change the contents on the server on the fly, and all the terminals will be updated immediately.
This solution worked great. On the developer's desk.
In the field (and more likely if you are running on a train moving underground…) you can lose network connectivity. Even if the serve is on the train. And, again, there is no way to see this device recovering automatically when the connection is restored. Browsers can be embedded inside applications on many different operating systems, allowing the "host" application to check network connectivity, show an error message when it's not available, try to use a backup connection etc. You may even handle this kind of failures inside your HTML/JS code.
Those samples proof that showing this kind of error messages to end-user will make device unusable, lead to a waste of resource and even a waste of money (if someone was expecting to have their advertising shown on those nice big screens…).
And those issues are deadly easy to fix. Use the right version of Windows! With Windows Embedded Standard you can easily remove any notification message, message box and other OS output that is not related to the main task performed by your device. It's easy to do that or to find someone that can configure the OS for you and avoid this kind of issues that could lead to unsatisfied customers (those that pay for the advertising) or to inconveniences to passengers that will not find the information they expect from those monitors or find it partly covered by error message that they already hate on their PCs.
During the next months I'll try to document other "supposedly-embedded" devices behaving like PCs just because someone thought that learning how to use the right version of the OS (we are not talking about a completely different OS here!) was not worth the effort.
Il 26 Gennaio a Napoli si svolgerà la prima conferenza italiana completamente dedicata alle tematiche Embedded.
Gli organizzatori di .NET Campania e in particolare il mitico Paolo Patierno stanno facendo un lavoro eccellente e hanno messo in cantiere una giornata interessantissima. Potete consultare l'agenda e iscrivervi sul sito: http://www.microsoftembeddedconference.it/
Come potete vedere dal programma, anche il sottoscritto terrà una sessione. Appuntamento a Napoli quindi!
Using Windows Embedded Standard 7 you can quickly build an Operating System configuration that support your hardware and include only the components required to run your application.
Being able to customize the set of packages that are included in your image has multiple advantages:
- reduced footprint (you'll save storage and memory giving more resources to your application)
- improved security (some services may have bugs that allows remote exploits and can become a security issue, removing them if they are not needed on your device will improve security)
- improved reliability (less code, less bugs ).
In Windows Embedded Standard 7 you can generate a set-up DVD or thumbdrive that can be used to install the operating system and your application on a target machine. Doing a full setup on each device could be a suitable solution, but it has some drawbacks. Setup may take a long time and may require some user interaction, some components may need to be installed or configured after the main OS setup etc. For those scenarios cloning is a more suitable alternative.
But you can't clone a WES7 hard-drive and just use it to boot another machine. Every device has some local-ids that need to be unique and may prevent your cloned machines to operate when they are connected to a network. You need to remove those IDs from your machine before you clone its OS image. At the first boot the system will re-configure itself and generate new IDs.
To perform the "ID-cleanup" operation you can use the sysprep tool that is installed on every WES7 device inside the Windows\System32\Sysprep folder.
By launching:
sysprep /generalize /oobe /shutdown
This command will remove machine-specific IDs and prepare your system for cloning. It will also shutdown the device, preventing any further configuration operation that may change its "clean" state.
If you restart the device you'll discover that the system will ask for some of the same information (computer name, user account, time zone etc.) that you may have already configured using the Image Configuration Editor. This may be an issue if you want that all your devices have the same settings.
To prevent this you can take the answer file you used to create the Windows Embedded Standard 7 image currently running and open it inside a text editor. It's an XML text file that you can edit.
You'll have to remove the <servicing> node and all the settings nodes that are not involved in the syspref phase (leaving only <settings pass="oobeSystem"> and <settings pass="Specialize">). Then you can use this reduced version of your answer file to automate the post-sysprep phase.
sysprep /generalize /oobe /shutdown /unattend:<path to your XML file>
you'll have a clonable image that will re-configure the device at first startup automatically, with no need of user interaction.
On of the most interesting new features of Windows Embedded Compact 7 is support for the ARMv5, ARMv6 and ARMv7 instruction sets instead of the ARMv4 "generic" support provided by the previous releases. This means that code build for Windows Embedded Compact 7 can leverage features (like the FPU unit for ARMv6 and v7) and instructions of the recent ARM cores and improve their performances. Those improvements are noticeable in graphics, floating point calculation and data processing. The ARMv7 instruction set is supported by the latest Cortex-A8, A9 and A15 processor families. Those processor are currently used in tablets, smartphones, in-car navigation systems and provide a great amount of processing power and a low amount of electric power making them very interesting for portable device but also for any kind of device that requires a rich user interface, processing power, connectivity and has to keep its power consumption low.
The bad news is that the compiler provided with Visual Studio 2008 does not provide support for ARMv7, building native applications using just the ARMv4 instruction set.
Porting a Visual Studio "Smart Device" native C/C++ project to Platform Builder is not easy and you'll lack many of the features that the VS2008 application development environment provides. You'll also need access to the BSP and OSDesign configuration for your device to be able to build and debug your application inside Platform Builder and this may prevent independent software vendors from using the new compiler to improve their applications performances.
Adeneo Embedded now provides a whitepaper and a Visual Studio plug-in that allows usage of the new ARMv7 enabled compiler to build applications inside Visual Studio 2008. I worked on the whitepaper and the tools, with the help of my colleagues and now the results can be downloaded from Adeneo Embedded's website: http://www.adeneo-embedded.com/OS-Technologies/Windows-Embedded (Click on the "WEC7 ARMv7 Whitepaper tab to access the download links, free registration required)
A very basic benchmark showed a very good performance improvement in integer and floating-point operations. Obviously your mileage may vary and we can't promise the same amount of improvement on any application, but with a small effort on your side (even smaller if you use the plug-in) you can try on your own application.
ARMv7 support is provided using Platform Builder's compiler and VS2008 application debugger is not able to debut ARMv7 code, so you may need to put in place some workaround like keeping ARMv4 code for debugging etc.
Il 24 e 25 Settembre 2012 a Firenze si svolgerà la conferenza "Better Embedded 2012".
Lo scopo della conferenza è quello di parlare di sistemi embedded a 360°, abbracciando sia lo sviluppo firmware, che i sistemi operativi e i toolkit dedicati alla realizzazione di sistemi dedicati.
E' un'ottima occasione per confrontarsi e, in soli due giorni, avere una panoramica ampia dall'hardware a Linux, da Android a Windows CE, dal .NET microframework a QT, senza troppi messaggi commerciali e con un'ottima apertura sia alle tecnologie commerciali che a quelle free e open source. Io parteciperò come speaker, parlando di Windows CE, ma anche come spettatore interessato a molte delle track di un programma che si va popolando e diventa mano a mano più interessante.
Se volete cogliere l'occasione per visitare Firenze (che già sarebbe un motivo più che sufficiente!) e parlare di embedded, contattatemi perchè come speaker posso fornire un codice sconto che vi farà risparmiare un 20% sul prezzo della conferenza (che già è vantaggiosissimo, vista la quantità di contenuti dedicati all'embedded).
Arrivederci a Firenze!
Advice: read the title carefully, I'm talking about "feelings" and not about advanced technical points proved in a scientific and objective way I still haven't had a chance to play with a MS Surface tablet (I would love to, of course) and so my ideas just came from reading different articles on the net and MS official statements.
Remember also that the MVP motto begins with "Independent" ("Independent Experts. Real World Answers.") and this is just my humble opinion about a product and a technology. I know that, being an MS MVP you can be called an "MS-fanboy", I don't care, I hope that people can appreciate my opinion, even if it doesn't match theirs.
The "Surface" brand can be confusing for techies that knew the "original" surface concept but I think that will be a fresh new brand name for most of the people out there. But marketing department are here to confuse people… so I can understand this "recycle" of an existing name.
So Microsoft is entering the hardware arena… for me this is good news. Microsoft developed some nice hardware in the past: the xbox, zune (even if the commercial success was quite limited) and, last but not least, the two arc mices (old and new model) that I use and appreciate. In the past Microsoft worked with OEMs and that model lead to good and bad things. Good thing (for microsoft, at least) is market domination by windows-based PCs that only in the last years has been reduced by the return of the Mac and tablets. Google is also moving in the hardware business with its acquisition of Motorola, and Apple leveraged his control of both the hardware and software sides to develop innovative products. Microsoft can scare OEMs and make them fly away from windows (but where?) or just lead the pack, showing how devices should be designed to compete in the market and bring back some of the innovation that disappeared from recent PC products (look at the shelves of your favorite electronics store and try to distinguish a laptop between the huge mass of anonymous PCs on displays… only Macs shine out there…). Having to compete with MS "official" hardware will force OEMs to develop better product and bring back some real competition in a market that was ruled only by prices (the lower the better even when that means low quality) and no innovative features at all (when it was the last time that a new PC surprised you?). Moving into a new market is a big and risky move, but with Windows 8 Microsoft is playing a crucial move for its future, trying to be back in the innovation run against apple and google. MS can't afford to fail this time.
I saw the new devices (the WinRT and Pro) and the specifications are scarce, misleading and confusing. The first impression is that the device looks like an iPad with a nice keyboard cover… Using "HD" and "full HD" to define display resolution instead of using the real figures and reviving the "ClearType" brand (now dead on Win8 as reported here and missed by people who hate to read text on displays, like myself) without providing clear figures (couldn't you count those damned pixels?) seems to imply that MS was caught by surprise by apple recent "retina" displays that brought very high definition screens on tablets.Also there are no specifications about the processors used (even if some sources report NVidia Tegra for the ARM tablet and i5 for the x86 one) and expected battery life (a critical point for tablets and the point that killed Windows7 x86 based tablets). Also nothing about the price, and this will be another critical point because other platform out there already provide lots of applications and have a good user base, if MS want to enter this market tablets pricing must be competitive.
There are some expansion ports (SD and USB), so no fixed storage model (even if the specs talks about 32-64GB for RT and 128-256GB for pro). I like this and don't like the apple model where flash memory (that it's dirt cheap used in thumdrives or SD cards) is as expensive as gold (or cocaine to have a more accurate per gram measurement) when mounted inside a tablet/phone. For big files you'll be able to use external media and an SD card could be used to store files that don't require super-fast SSD-like access times, I hope.
To be honest I really don't like the marketplace model and the limitation of Windows RT APIs (no local database? from a company that based a good share of its success on VB6+Access!) and lack of desktop support on the ARM (even if the support is here and has been used to port office). It's a step toward the consumer market (where competitors are making big money), but may impact enterprise (and embedded) users that may not appreciate Windows 8 new UI or the limitations of the new app model (if you aren't connected you are dead ). Not having compatibility with the desktop will require brand new applications and honestly made all the CPU cycles spent to convert .NET IL into real machine code in the past like a huge waste of time… as soon as a new processor architecture is supported by Windows you still have to rewrite part of your application (and MS is pushing HTML5+JS and native code more than .NET in my perception). On the other side I believe that the development experience provided by Visual Studio is still miles (or kilometres) ahead of the competition and even the all-uppercase menu of VS2012 hasn't changed this situation.
The new metro UI got mixed reviews. On my side I should say that is very pleasant to use on a touch screen, I like the minimalist design (even if sometimes is too minimal and hides stuff that, in my opinion, should be visible) but I should also say that using it with mouse and keyboard is like trying to pick your nose with boxing gloves… Metro is also very interesting for embedded devices where touch screen usage is quite common and where having an application taking all the screen is the norm. For devices like kiosks, vending machines etc. this kind of UI can be a great selling point.
I don't need a new tablet (to be honest I'm pretty happy with my wife's iPad and with my PC), but I may change my opinion after having a chance to play a little bit with those new devices and understand what's hidden under all this mysterious and generic announcements and specifications!
If you are an application developer and you're tempted by "the dark side" (Embedded devices), don't miss this series of webcasts organized by Arrow and Adeneo Embedded:
In a series of four webcasts I'll try to explain why using an embedded OS (Windows Embedded Standard 7) can be a good way to improve the reliability of your system and reduce maintenance costs and issues.
If you currently develop applications that run on dedicated (or almost dedicated) PCs you are already developing embedded devices! But not using the right OS may generate configuration issues, security problems, maintenance nightmares. Windows Embedded Standard 7 allows you to leverage Windows 7 features you need and leave out the rest, making your system more secure, standardized and less resource hungry.


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To Join Timberlake's Fan Club and get an early shot at tickets: www.justintimberlake.com/tennesseekids
He has become a staple on Saturday Night Live and in major motion pictures, but it all started with singing and dancing and that is what Justin Timberlake is bringing back to Omaha as part of The 20/20 Experience World Tour.
No firm date has been set for when tickets will be available for the February 10, 2014 concert.
If you want first crack at the tickets there it might be a good idea to join the "Tennessee Kids" fan club available on the singer's website. MasterCard customers have early access to tickets for early dates.
Timberlake and Pink played to a sold out crowd at CenturyLink Center Omaha in 2007.

subset: commoncrawl


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SCO Group Suffers Another Defeat
The years long legal battle by the SCO Group over UNIX copyrights, which indirectly affect Linux, has resulted in another verdict in Utah court. The jury has ruled in favor of Novell.
In a short announcement, Novell is pleased with the court ruling and considers it "good news for Novell, for Linux, and for the open source community."
Novell was already granted the UNIX copyrights in court in 2008 and SCO Group went on the defensive. As usual, the Groklaw website specializing in open source rights wrote up a summary of the recent outcome
SCO Group went into bankruptcy last year after its protracted litigation against also IBM, among others. The claim against Big Blue in 2003 marked the beginning of the wave of lawsuits.
Whether the verdict truly puts to rest the protracted claims by SCO of being the rightly owner of UNIX and other software is still questionable. The Salt Lake Tribune reports that SCO is still seeking claims against IBM, despite the Novell ruling.
Issue 166/2014
Tag Cloud
Password Management Services Vulnerable to Attack
Should you trust an online service to store your online passwords?
New Raspberry Pi Adds Two USB Ports
New B+ board lets you build cool things without the complication of a powered USB hub.
Microsoft Grabs No-IP.com Domains
Redmond rushes in to root out alleged malware haven.
Firefox Steps into 3D
New initiative will bring futuristic virtual reality effects to the web surfing experience.
New Trojan Targets Online Banking
Dyreza malware launches a man-in-the-middle attack that compromises SSL.
HP Rolls Out Massive Cloud Network
New cloud combines worldwide access with local attention to data security.
New Attack Targets Wireless Logins
A first cousin of the recent Heartbleed attack affects EAP-based wireless and peer-to-peer authentication.
Geeks Petition for Free Lenovo BIOS
FOSS community acts to protect freedom of choice for laptop devices.
Firefox Says Yes to DRM
Quintessential open source browser shores up its market share with a step toward the proprietary dark side.
Webcam Hijackers Busted
Authorities in 16 countries take action against users of the imfamous BlackShades malware tool.


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Golden Corral is hosting a military appreciation "Thank You" dinner on November 12th from 4pm to 9pm. Past and present heroes will recieve a free buffet and drink. It's just a small way to show our gratitude.
Last year Golden Corral honored over 350,000 military heroes and raised over 1 million dollars. This is the second year Golden Corral restaurants and guests have raised more than 1 milllion dollars for Disable American Veterans.
Thanks, The Frugal Girls!
{Related Posts}
Military Discounts at Lowe's, Home Depot and Old Navy
Operation Uplink: Free Calls For Active Military


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A little more than a month ago, I spoke with Ted Zoller, director of the University of North Carolina Center for Entrepreneurship, about a column I was writing about whether entrepreneurism could be taught. He followed up with an interesting proposal.
"Help me teach the Entrepreneurs Lab," he said.
So on Feb. 4, I was faced with the daunting prospect of lecturing a room full of students.
Thankfully, it wasn't anything like that. The class wasn't even on campus, instead it was across the street at the Launch Chapel Hill accelerator, a sign that Chapel Hill's startup strategy is moving outside the university's walls and into the streets where it belongs.
"Partnering with the University on the Entrepreneurs Lab helps create a hub of entrepreneurial activity that brings together UNC faculty, start-up entrepreneurs, successful entrepreneurs and students," said Dina Mills, program manager of Launch Chapel Hill.
This first regular session of the Lab included question-and-answer sessions with two successful entrepreneurs who have ties to the Triangle: Jed Simmons, co-founder of Next New Networks (now part of YouTube), and Amit Singh, co-founder and CEO of Spectraforce, a global IT services provider.
And some of the students at Launch Chapel Hill, including Jeff Henriod, are already founders.
In November, Henriod's startup Let's Chip In, a website and app that allow parents to raise funds for expensive baby items such as cribs, won Triangle Startup Weekend Chapel Hill and the first phase of the Carolina Challenge, which starts its elevator pitch round Tuesday night.
The program runs through the end of the semester.
Even Zoller thinks of himself less as an instructor and more of a catalyst, constantly keeping the students' ideas flowing as they discuss markets, disruption, challenges and key factors for entrepreneurial success.
"I'm attempting to build a network of entrepreneurs who not only feel ownership over the class but also a commitment to one another," Zoller said.
By the end of the session, I had taken seven pages of notes that included what I could build on, what I would change, where I could help and a few ideas I jotted down to come back to later.
But beyond taking notes and holding informal discussions, it felt like I didn't do much at all.
Turns out that part of the program for educating these future entrepreneurs is to have them interact as much as possible with current entrepreneurs.
"I want our students to be embedded in street-level entrepreneurship," Zoller said. "By interacting with founders who are actively engaged in start-ups, our students will not only be in a real-world environment, they will begin to see their own actions as real-world as opposed to just another class."
Joe Procopio is a serial entrepreneur, writer and speaker. Follow him on Twitter @jproco.


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At a recent meeting of Monmouth County Park trail enthusiasts, Park Manager Ken Thoman showed slides of the damage Sandy wrought on the popular Henry Hudson Trail Oct. 29 and lamented, "What are we going to do?"
The breathtakingly scenic route, alongside the sailboat-studded Sandy Hook Bay, is lost. This almost-secret oasis between the Atlantic Highlands Marina and the Highlands border at Popamora Point, established in 2009, where strolling couples, joggers, cyclists, dog walkers and deep thinkers could escape from suburbia, will remain closed indefinitely due to storm damage.
Lovely wooden bridges that took nature lovers through the trees and along the shoreline have been violently smashed. Trails are in littered with fallen trees and mudslides. The broad, level walking paths have been washed out.
"Our dear, dear Henry Hudson Trail. One very popular trail," said Thoman, at the well-attended Monmouth County's Greentable event on Jan. 24 at Thompson Park.
Many have been asking the parks manager when it will be fixed, he said.
Recently, some out-of-state national trail organizations reached out to the Monmouth County Parks system to ask how they can help restore this special trail. A strategic plan will be developed, and the Parks System will gratefully accept help from trained volunteers to clear the way again, said Thoman.
"It is going to be extremely challenging, though," he said.


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Number of animals being transported: One female basset hound mix
Breeds, weight, age: Basset hound mix, 6 yrs old. I will know her weight shortly.
Health Condition: Good- she recently had a dental procedure in the shelter- but is fine for travel.
Heart worm Status: Negative
Vaccinations: Current
Health Certificate: Will have for travel
Spay/Neutered: Spayed
Special needs: None known
Name of Sending Rescue/Parties: Orange County Animal Control, Chapel Hill NC
Name of Receiving Rescue/Parties: ABC Basset Hound Rescue of New York
Contact information (publicly viewable on forum): Leslie Eyster, firstname.lastname@example.com, 910-297-7446
Are you a 501c3: ABC Basset Hound Rescue is
Additional Info/situation: This little girl was saved from a kill shelter due to a very dedicated group of volunteers. Now she has a chance at a new life, thanks to this incredible rescue group. We're trying to get her to this group as soon as possible. We're aiming for 4/28/13.
Thank you for any help you can offer! Take care, Leslie


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Newburyport Daily News
---- — SALEM — Congressman John Tierney, D-Salem, joined with seven of the eight members of the Bay State's Congressional delegation Wednesday in a failed bid to halt the National Security Agency's program to collect phone records on millions of Americans.
"We have to get a better system," Tierney said in an interview, indicating that it should be one that does not make such a broad sweep of records as the present surveillance program does.
Democrat Seth Moulton of Salem, who has already launched a campaign to challenge Tierney in the primary for the 6th District seat next year, said through a spokeswoman that he would have voted against the measure to halt the surveillance program.
"I have seen our enemies and understand the danger they present," Moulton, a former Marine, said in an email. "There needs to be limits on the NSA, but I believe we can preserve and protect our nation, its citizens and our freedom without blanket restrictions on those charged with our nation's safety."
Moulton served four tours of duty in Iraq, part of that time as a special assistant to then-Lt. Gen. David Petraeus and as a counterinsurgency adviser south of Baghdad.
The effort to stop the surveillance program came as an amendment to the 2014 defense spending bill. The House defeated the amendment, which would have killed the program, by a vote of 217-205.
The vote did not fall along the usual party lines; 94 Republicans and 111 Democrats voted to halt the surveillance program, while 134 Republicans and 83 Democrats voted to keep it. Congressman Joseph Kennedy III, D-Brookline, was the only member of the Massachusetts delegation who voted to save the program.
The effort to save the program got backing from House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, and Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., as well as from President Obama.
The amendment would have canceled the authority of the NSA under the USA Patriot Act to collect phone records and digital metadata unless an individual was being targeted. The debate pitted those who saw the program as a threat to Americans' privacy against those who saw canceling the program as a threat to the nation's security.
"My position has been consistent since Day One," said Tierney, the ranking member of the National Security, Homeland Defense and Foreign Operations Subcommittee of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. "The section 215 of the Patriot Act was overly broad."
This controversial section expanded the scope of business records the government can obtain in an intelligence investigation with approval from a secret court.
Tierney, an attorney, said he favors a system in which the government has to specify whether someone's records are relevant to an investigation. He said it is not appropriate to grab millions of Americans' records just to have them.
While there is a feeling among House members that the present NSA program is not the best, Tierney said some of his colleagues felt it would be better to give the intelligence community more time to improve the system.
"The evidence has been there has been no big rush to improve it," Tierney said.
Wednesday's debate followed revelations in recent weeks about the broad scope of the program uncovered by former NSA systems analyst Edward Snowden, who leaked secret documents and details to a British newspaper and later fled to Hong Kong and then to Russia, where he has been holed up at the airport while seeking asylum.
Congressman John Conyers, D-Mich., speaking in support of the amendment, argued that, "All this amendment is intended to do is to curtail the ongoing dragnet collection and storage of the personal records of innocent Americans. It does not de-fund the NSA, and it would allow them to continue to conduct full-fledged surveillance as long as it relates to an actual investigation."
Speaking against the amendment, Congresswoman Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., referred to the intelligence leaks, saying "the only result is that those who are engaged in Islamic jihad will have been benefited, and those we seek to protect have not."
Tierney said the defeat of the amendment Wednesday does not mean an end to the debate on the NSA program; rather, he said, it sent a message that the surveillance program needs reform.
Material from the Associated Press was used in this report.


text:
Anti-Bed-Bug Sheets
Sleep Tight and Don't Let the Bed Bugs Bite with These Anti-Bed-Bug Sheets
Anti-Bed-Bug Sheets
Sleep Tight and Don't Let the Bed Bugs Bite with These Anti-Bed-Bug Sheets
Designed to protect you from bed bugs, these anti-bed-bug sheets contain a breathable urethane barrier that bed bugs and dust mites can't bite through. Unlike other allergy bedding, these sheets have a cool, crisp feel and a silky lining that will make you feel as though you're sleeping in the lap of luxury. Fitted sheet features elastic edging to ensure a proper fit. Pillow cases have zippered closures to keep bed bugs and dust mites securely contained. Twin and Full fit mattresses up to 12" deep. Queen and King fit up to 15" deep. Each set includes one flat sheet, one fitted sheet, and two standard pillowcases. Twin contains one standard pillowcase. King comes with two king pillowcases. Machine wash and dry. Cotton/polyester with a polyurethane barrier. Imported.
- Helps prevent bites and allergies from bed bugs and dust mites
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- Crisp feel with a smooth lining
- Zippered pillowcases eliminate shifting
- Elasticized fitted sheet for proper fit
Combine with the Bed Bug Barricade (#59617) for the ultimate in bed bug and allergy protection.


text:
Floyd Mayweather cruised to a win over Robert Guerrero last night, but Guerrero's father/trainer Ruben is trying to hold on to some pride, saying that Mayweather ran.
Angel Garcia says that even though he's known as a trash talker, he wouldn't have gone where Ruben Guerrero went earlier this week.
Ruben Guerrero says that despite claims by Floyd Mayweather Sr, he never fought as a pro, and that the Mayweather camp is focusing its energy on the wrong guy.
Floyd Mayweather Sr and Ruben Guerrero got into a war of words that nearly turned physical at yesterday's press conference.
Floyd Mayweather and Robert Guerrero meet up today in Las Vegas for their final press conference before Saturday's fight, and you can watch the event right here on BLH.
Maxim's Aja Dang works out with Robert Guerrero, and speaks with Robert's father and trainer, Ruben Guerrero, about Saturday's fight against Floyd Mayweather.
Marcos Maidana and Robert Guerrero talk about training for their August 27 fight. Bad Left Hook has their thoughts.
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Body found
WISE COUNTY — Wise County authorities are investigating after a body was found at the scene of a house fire.
The fire broke out at a home along County Road 4594 west of Boyd early Sunday morning.
Investigators said after the fire was under control, they searched the house and found the body.
A neighbor told the Wise County Messenger he was awakened by what he thought were gunshots, and that's when he found the fire.
There's no word on the person's identity or cause of death.


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Game 156: Division hopes and dreamsBy
This is easy: If the Yankees are going to have a shot at winning the AL East, they have to win today.
If they win today, they'll be one game out with six to play. To win the division, they would simply have to outplay Boston by one game. A tie goes to the Yanks. But if they lose, overcoming a two-game deficit in six games, while not impossible, is rather unlikely. But no matter; the playoff ticket wheel is already turning.
Meanwhile, in the Struggling Yankees Department, we have Melky Cabrera (6 for his last 48) and Hideki Matsui (.179/.325/.358 in September). Getting these two players started would do wonders for the Yankees' upcoming October appearance.
Furthermore, if the Yanks make one more pitching change this season, they'll break the AL record for pitching changes in a season. Take that piece of information for what you will, but it speaks volumes about both the quality of the Yankee bullpen and Joe Torre's bullpen tendencies.
So as we ponder questionable stories about A-Rod and the Cubs, let's sit back and enjoy the last day of regular season baseball at Yankee Stadium for the 2007 season. It's a beautiful day in New York. Good day for a win, some might say. Let's bring this one home.
Here is the lineup.
Damon DH
Jeter SS
Abreu RF
Rodriguez 3B
Matsui LF – Why is he hitting fifth? Why? I'd rather see Giambi hitting than Hideki right now.
Posada C
Cano 2B
Mientkiewicz 1B
Cabrera CF
Pettitte P
Update 11:58 a.m. A.J. Burnett was a late scratch from the game today. Jesse Litsch (6-9, 4.16) takes his place. Litsch shut down Boston last week, giving up 1 run on 2 hits in 6.2 innings. He faced the Yanks in August, and the Bombers hit him for 3 runs on 6 hits in 5 innings. So who knows what to expect? Any time A.J. Burnett misses a start against the Yanks, I'm happy.
40 Comments»
anybody know how the postseason schedule works? i see that one alds starts next wednesday and the other starts on thursday. when or how is that determined?
i have to believe the blue jays are more tired than us. after boston and coming at us equally hard, they have to be thinking, "let's just get out of new york…."
and as scary as halladay and burnett can be, now that pettitte's lined up, no roger injury questions…time to smoke em.
wait, it's litsch! eee heeee heee. i guess burnett really wanted out of ny
today's a good fit for a win buster claims.
that's not entirely true. it's a good day for mark cuban to make the news somehow, will leitch retorts.
You might want to put an asterisk next to that "Melky is struggling" line. If there's ever an example of batting average not telling the whole story, this is it. He has downright saved our butts time and time again, both in the field, and by making those hits count.
The saddest part is that in a matter of weeks, there'll be no more major league baseball. Championship or not (and I'm hoping for one!), the thought of no baseball is really depressing.
And the NCAA changed it's rules too, so all the college teams start on a uniform date in late February. Before, teams on the west coast & in other warm weather areas started their seasons in late January.
Don't even have that to look forward to anymore.
arizona fall league. Yowzaaaaah! when he makes his debut with the yanks next season, we'll remember how he kept us warm through the winter months.
whoa, i got too excited. i was talking about brett gardner. i really can't believe i should have been that excited.
The combination of a week day afternoon start and it being a rain makeup makes for an odd feeling in the park. It's so empty you'd think it was the early 90′s. We may never see a ball game with fewer fans in this park ever again.
I went up there to get tickets to for today and they told me it was totally sold out with no seats next to each other for under $50. WTF? Do they release tickets the day of on makeup games?
Pity I didn't know. I had an extra that I wasted.
Anyone get the feeling that Mussina is on management's shit list lately? With the comment of 'Who are they going to replace me with" to Cashman's reaction to Moose's comments about Joba (hat tip to http://www.waswatching.com/arc.....in_ya.html) it seems like they are a bit frustrated with him shooting his mouth off even more than usual.
Anyone listen to Sterling blabber about how new ballparks have made people want to go because there's less seats? Huh? And this will be better for Yankee fans who fill the current stadium while thousands won't be able to attend in the new stadium how?
IPK is most likely done for the season for any of those interested… Sweeny mentioned it before the game, so if clemens cant go tomorrow itll eb either desalvo or igawa. yippie.
Mark Buerhle is out of the White Sox's rotation because he won a bet with Ozzie. That's absolutely ridiculous.
Then again it allows a rookie a shot at starting. Can someone make a bet with Farnsworth for the postseason?
Amazing, a 1-2-3 from Farnsworth. Someone check the temperature in Hell.
Is it me or has Matsui been a rally killer lately?
Time to start resting the regulars. The division is gone and we gotta be fresh for Act.. I mean October.


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Jerry Bowyer, Contributor
I explore the problems leaders face.
In 2009 I was invited to speak to the annual meeting of a mid-sized accounting firm in Florida. Of course, the big topic of conversation was the housing bubble and the financial crisis which resulted. The audience, with the exception of one liberal academic, was generally sympathetic to the message that government, not the market, was the principle malefactor. And since the audience was made up of working accountants who had to live under the whims of federal regulators, they were more than sympathetic to the view, which had not yet been widely accepted, that the mark-to-market accounting regulations were a major factor in the disaster.
My wife, Susan, signaled from the back of the room that it was time to go lest we miss our flight. As I thanked my host and worked my way towards the back of the room to exit, questions kept coming from the audience, and I answered on the fly as well as I could. Just before I walked through the door there was one more question: "Okay, I get what happened with the housing bubble, but what's the next bubble?" Silence, people leaning in with ears perked to hear the answer, and me not sure…autos, commercial real estate, commodities had been the leading candidates for next bubble in the financial press. None of that seemed quite right, though. They really wanted to know, and I wasn't sure of the answer, so I said a quick prayer for an answer and out of my mouth popped "Higher Ed. There's a College Bubble." Shocked looks, murmurs, concerned looks. I didn't know it at the time but the firm had an unusual number of higher education clients.
Since then, the College Bubble hypothesis has slowly gained acceptance. I wrote a number of pieces on the topic here starting in 2010 and most recently focusing particularly on seminaries. The Center for College Affordability is a think tank which has been largely dedicated to this topic long before I took it up. Mark Perry of the Carpe Diem blog and the American Enterprise Institute often writes on this theme. My friend Glenn Reynolds of Instapundit fame, who is also a law school professor, writes on it regularly and is about to publish a book on the subject.
And the College Bubble is not just for conservatives anymore. CNBC did one of their mini-documentaries on the subject, though like most liberal media it couldn't decide whether the target was the higher-ed bubble or just for-profit schools. The New York Times did a piece recently along similar lines, and then there was the 60 Minutes piece, hosted by Morley Safer which focused on PayPal founder Peter Thiel's attack on the college bubble. The piece was, of course, strongly biased. It was a venerable old dinosaur hosting a venerable old dinosaur in order to defend a venerable old dinosaur. But the mere existence of a 60 Minutes segment examining the hypothesis that higher education has become a bubble was a devastating blow (or better yet, a sharp prick) to the overinflated wind bag full of nostrums about the essential value of a college education at any cost.
60 Minutes' arguments were predictably weak. An ad hominem attack on Thiel's philanthropic activities fell flat. So what if his foundation supports projects which Morley Safer finds odd? Thiel supports the Seasteading Institute in its dream to create floating libertarian city states. Yeah, it's an odd idea. So were skyscrapers. So was PayPal. Some odd ideas work out and some don't. At least seasteaders are using their own money.
Since Safer was just not up to the task of debating Thiel himself, he turned to an academic to make the case for college, Vivek Wadhwa. Wadhwa is one of those academics able to amass educational credentials and still mix in business circles. 60 Minutes neglected to inform their audience, however, that he is a fellow at Singularity University. For those unfamiliar with Singularity, it is the idea that man and machine will shortly merge together creating super-intelligent cyborgs who (or is it 'which'?) will solve the problem of death, probably in the lifetime of many living today. It's kind of like in Terminator, only with Skynet as a good guy. So much for Thiel's crazy ideas about people living on floating platforms.
Wadhwa argued that Thiel's plan to invest directly in promising young people who start businesses directly out of high school is a bad idea for several reasons. First, many of the kids will fail. But so what? Many students fail. About a third never graduate. About half take 5 or 6 years. And of those who make it through and get their degree, many fail in their careers anyway. Which kind of failure do you learn more from: Failing at school, or failing at business? Probably the latter since in that case you are forced to think about the things which really matter in the real world. And the students who fail to finish schools or to make careers out of their degrees still have all that debt, whereas the entrepreneurs who fail take only Thiel's money down with them. And what's so bad about failing anyway? Most of my lessons are imbedded in scar tissue, literal and figurative. Failure teaches.
Wadhwa argues that U.S. colleges and universities are the best in the world. Maybe that's true, but so what? U.S. homes were probably the best in the world too, but that doesn't mean that we had no bubble. U.S. tech firms in the late 90s were the best in the world, but that didn't mean they were reasonably valued. Bubble-ness is a factor of quality AND PRICE. The point is that there is no asset of such great quality that it is a good buy no matter how high the price goes. A college diploma is no exception to that rule.
Furthermore, there has been a severe contraction in the quality of higher education in America. Did we really think we could open the floodgates and not affect the quality of graduates? Can you turn college into the new high school, and not get high school-like results? Grade inflation will only keep the problem concealed for so long before the general public becomes aware that outside of a few highly challenging programs and majors, the quality of American higher education is plummeting. Graduates are mastering fewer facts, can't think critically about the facts they have mastered, and can't express whatever ideas they have mastered in clear, cogent, grammatically correct sentences. Employers already know this.
The final straw Wadhwa grasps at is the idea of socialization. He argues (I am not joking) that partying is a valuable part of the college experience because it teaches students interpersonal skills. Whah? Look, it's fun to party, I'll give you that. But it is a consumption good, not an investment, and anybody who says otherwise has perhaps partied just a little too much.
I certainly agree. This feeling of entitlement is very destructive. Call me a traditionalist, but I like to think about the statement "right to life, liberty, and the PURSUIT of happiness." We're not owed anything, but that. Still, I bet those college grads you speak of enjoy their freedom of ingratitude.
I find it interesting that you have managed to sum up every single college, every degree program, and every professor in just a few words. No way that could be an irrational generalization, right? I don't know what colleges you have been exposed to but as a CURRENT undergrad, I have never seen nor heard of anything like what you are describing. I wonder what it is about educated people that scares you so much because your post is filled with fear.
Seasteading is a stupid idea on so many levels I wouldn't even know where to start.
The technological and medical singularities will happen within our lifetimes there is no question.
Helping high school graduates start businesses is a horrible idea.
There is no college bubble. The value of a carefully chosen higher education is still and always will be net positive, even as tuitions rise.
Good point, Loki. I notice that you explicitly wrote "a carefully chosen higher education". Bowyer makes a sweeping generalization when costs and returns vary tremendously. A degree in English from a private institution shouldn't be lumped in with an accounting degree or engineering degree from a state university after two years at a community college. Bowyer is ignorant to consider these as equal investments. And then he used a P/E ratio to evaluate an investment in college. Geez.
You realize of course… well, you obviously don't realize that some evaluation techniques are appropriate for some investments while not appropriate for others. A P/E ratio is totally inappropriate to evaluate an investment in education. Also using only one stat to evaluate an investment is equally ignorant.
And most people learned by third grade that the "Johnny-Was-Throwing-Stones-Tooooooo" excuse doesn't get you out of trouble. The fact that some liberal news [sic] program on a struggling network makes the same mistake doesn't help your argument.
I never said that it was inappropriate to consider the price and the earnings. The P/E ratio that you used only compared the cost to the expected increase in earnings for only the first year. A long term investment would be evaluated by estimating the increase in earnings over the life of the investment.


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Knitting on the Edge, hard cover
by Nicky Epstein
hard cover, 160 pages
As a knitwear designer, Nicky Epstein was always fascinated with edgings and borders and the beautiful enhancement they lend each knitted piece. The first book of its kind, Knitting On the Edge is a comprehensive and indispensable reference guide to 350 types of decorative borders. The book also features instructions and various techniques showing how to create and incorporate these embellishments into your knitted pieces most effectively. You'll find everything from ribs to ruffles, fringes to lace, flora to fauna, points to picot, along with an original garment design in every chapter. No matter what your skill level, this book is sure to encourage you to take your knitting to creative new heights.
Shipping: 1 book: $7; 2 or more books: $4 each
Item shipped within the Continental U.S. only.


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Banonis was one of only a handful of players who made
the transition from the NAIA level to the NCAA Division I ranks when
Bulldog Hockey went "big time" in 1978. The rugged winger holds
FSU single-season records for most hat tricks with four in 1977-78 and
most game-winning goals with seven in 1980-81. He also shares the school
record for most career game-winning goals with 10.
Banonis ranks third in career goals at Ferris with 83
and is10th in overall scoring with 150 points. In 1979, he set
a Ferris record with seven goals in a two-game series versus
Illinois-Chicago and his 23 goals during the 1979-80 season ranks ninth on
FSU's all-time single-season list. A former team captain, Banonis was a
key player for the 1979-80 Bulldogs who advanced to the Central Collegiate
Hockey Association finals by winning school-record 26 games and defeating
Ohio State in the CCHA semi-finals.
Banonis scored four goals in a single period against
Illinois-Chicago in 1978 to set a school record that may never be broken.
In fact, those four goals are still good for a share of the school record
for goals in one game. Originally from Southfield, Michigan, he is the son
of former Detroit Lion and College Football Hall of Famer Vince Banonis.
Steve died tragically in a 1994 car accident. Ferris State's "Most
Improved Player" award is named in his honor.


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Unreal Tournament 3 News
Unreal Tournament III PS3 patch now available
CVG has got word that the mammoth DLC pack for the PlayStation 3 version of Unreal Tournament III is now available for download. Originally scheduled for release on March 5, the patch was pushed back a fortnight due to the certification process – however, things have apparently gone smoothe...
- Posted Mar 11th 2009
- Read more
Relive Super Mario in new Unreal Tournament 3 mod
Relive 2D side scrolling shoot em ups in the latest Unreal Tournament 3 mod, pitting players against each other in a familiar Super Mario Bros environment. Epic Games forum member FrontAXL has posted a list of details about this latest mod which you can find below; Comments: I tried to keep th...
- Posted Jun 9th 2008
- Read more
Solid Snake to make his way to Unreal Tournament 3
When PlayStation 3 owners were made aware that Epic Games planned to allow modders the freedom of creating their own content for the console version of the game, the community was ecstatic. This made it possible to prolong the online experience to an unlimited degree with the induction of user...
- Posted Apr 11th 2008
- Read more
UT3 Patch to fix VOIP, arrives next week
A patch for Unreal Tournament III will finally get VOIP working according to a post on the Official Epic Forums. The patch features fixes for a plethora of bugs and glitches such as the previously stated broken VOIP, better mod verification, and random game crashes. The full list for both the US and...
- Posted Mar 19th 2008
- Read more
Lego UT3 mod created
One of the greatest things given to the Unreal Tournament fanbase was the ability for user-created content to bring the game to new levels of experience. It didn't take very long for unique levels to be made such as flatwars, and things a like. Apparently a modder has created an entire ...
- Posted Feb 23rd 2008
- Read more
Unreal Tournament 3 dated for Europe
Midway announced today that the PlayStation 3 version of Unreal Tournament 3 would be released across Europe on February 22, 2008. Originally released in North America last November, the PS3 version already has more than 50 mods available for players to download as part of an expansive user-drive...
- Posted Feb 4th 2008
- Read more
Unreal Tournament 3 hits over 50 mods already
With a lot of games losing their appeal after a period of time, it was great to hear that Unreal Tournament III would allow its users to create mods for the PlayStation 3 version of the game. This was obviously a smart decision by Epic Games and delighted fans of the series immensely. On...
- Posted Feb 1st 2008
- Read more
Halo map comes to UT3
Now that maps and mods are starting to come out for Unreal Tournament 3, a created map isn't normally that big of a deal, except for this one. What makes this map different from all the others is that it is a remake of another map from an Xbox 360 exclusive game. DM-Wizard is a remake of the Hal...
- Posted Jan 14th 2008
- Read more
Action Cam for UT3 available on PS3
Tons of people are favoring the 'over the shoulder' view over a first person perspective nowadays. Others hate third person shooters and are strictly first person. Ever just wish you could choose between the two? Enter the wonderful world of mods. The first player-created and released mod for Un...
- Posted Jan 7th 2008
- Read more
Unreal Tournament III gets modded up
Unreal Tournament III may conceivably go down as best multiplayer game for the PlayStation 3 to date. With bustling graphics and superior gameplay from the team that brought 2006 hit, Gears of War, perhaps the most celebrated aspect of the title is the mod community support that the PS3 version sust...
- Posted Jan 4th 2008
- Read more


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On hand expertise
Our managed clients benefit from having the expertise of our whole team just a call, chat or hangout away for all manner of enquiries.
Pro-actively supporting your goals
We agree medium and long term goals at the outset and actively look for ways to bring those goals closer.
Stopping problems before they grow
From security patches to performance improvements and changes in search engine rules, we'll deal with issues before they cause you problems, extending the life of your website.
Guidance, training and strategy
We're not limited to simply "getting things done". We're here to support you with the less tangible things too.
We support Portsmouth Historic Dockyard with the many and varied digital needs that a world-class visitor attraction has.
The OKO team have provided digital expertise to Black-Eagle since their Martial Arts store was launched in 2005.


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The deadly pipeline explosion in San Bruno in 2010 may have been prevented if a "culture of complacency" at the California Public Utilities Commission did not exist, Assemblyman Jerry Hill (D-San Mateo) said Thursday.
Today Hill promoted three bills he has authored that would force a culture change at the PUC. Prior to at , Hill forcefully called for the passage of the bills into law:
AB1456 - Incentivizing Safety Performance in Utility Ratemaking
What Jerry Hill said: "Until recently, PG&E leadership was solely focused on profits. Safety took a back seat to the bottom line. Regulators at the PUC did not have a mechanism to hold utilities accountable for poor safety performance."
What the law would do: "This bill requires the CPUC to consider safety in authorizing an appropriate level of shareholder profit for a natural gas utility. In this way the CPUC will be able to use the flexibility it has in setting ROEs to incentivize utility management to prioritize safety."
AB1197 - Whistleblower Protection for Public Utility Employees
What Jerry Hill said: "Existing law offers limited protections for employer retaliation on utility workers who blow the whistle. It's critically important that utility workers feel safe in bringing information forward when they think their employer is jeopardizing public safety."
What the law would do: "AB1197 requires the CPUC to create a comprehensive whistleblower protection program to protect employees, former employees, and third party contractors and subcontractor that step forward with information that will protect public safety and public interest."
AB578 - Gas Pipelines Safety Recommendations
What Jerry Hill said: "NTSB recommendations have been routinely ignored by the PUC. After a 1994 pipeline explosion in New Jersey, the NTSB recommended that utilities install remote control or auto-shutoff valves. Had such valves been in place in San Bruno, the gas-fueled fire that raged for 90 minutes after that explosion would have been extinguished much sooner."
What the law would do: "This bill requires the CPUC adopt NTSB recommendations, unless the recommendation is not appropriate or a more effective or an equally effective, less costly, alternative exists. Recommendations need to be implemented as soon as practicable. If the CPUC deems that a recommendation is not applicable to California's situation, or if a more effective or an equally effective alternative solution exists, the CPUC must detail the reason or reasons in writing as a part of the Commission's record of proceedings.


text:
BY ANNE STANTON email@example.com
Traverse City Record-Eagle
---- — TRAVERSE CITY — As a change of pace, Munson Medical Center wasn't included in the nation's "100 Top Hospitals" this year, but it continues to be one of the country's top performing hospitals.
"It's just a fabulous organization that provides value to your community year after year. It really is remarkable." said Jean Chenoweth, senior vice president of Truven Health Analytics, which publishes the ranking. "It's a very high performing organization, and the community is very lucky to have this caliber of hospital."
Munson has been ranked a top 100 hospital every year since 2004 and 14 times in 20 years. Only two other hospitals in the country have been named as a "Top 100" hospital as many times, said Al Pilong, Munson Medical Center president.
"It's absolutely phenomenal that an organization would be recognized so highly," he said.
In this latest ranking, Truven examined the publicly available data — from Medicare patient billing, for example — of 2,922 hospitals. The study includes measures of 10 criteria, including patient mortality, medical complications, and patient safety. Three categories measured cost efficiency.
Truven picked winners from five different hospital categories based on how well they balance quality patient care with operational and financial performance. Munson has a better shot at getting into the top 100, because it's a teaching hospital. In this past report, 25 out of 424 teaching hospitals were selected (5.9 percent). That's in contrast to the category of medium community hospitals in which 20 out of 1,000 were chosen (2 percent) and small community hospitals with 20 winners out of 923 hospitals (2.2 percent).
This last analysis, using 2011 data, points to the need for Munson to take a closer look at length of patient stays, Pilong said.
"Given that we are a rural hospital, it becomes a challenge for us at times to manage patients who come from great distances — the transition from hospital to home or to a nursing home or rehab or wherever," Pilong said.
"We've taken a conservative approach, erring on the side that patients are well taken care of and have a good transition plan, all the necessary pieces in place — discharge instructions, home care instructions, follow-up, transportation."
As a result, Munson tends to keep patients longer, but doesn't necessarily get paid for the time, which impacts the bottom line. The hospital will focus on greater efficiency without compromising patients' well-being, he said.
"Patients often want to get home as well," Pilong said. "They want don't want to be in the hospital any longer than they need to be."
Truven Health Analytics provides a range of services to most of the country's hospitals. Munson Medical Center, for example, pays the company $123,000 a year for a subscription to their data service. This service is completely unrelated to the "100 Top Hospitals" ranking.
Still, Chenowith said she is often asked whether Truven can objectively assess hospitals that are also clients. She said the study design and transparency ensure complete objectivity.
"Number one, this study is done in the research division. Number two, we use only public data sources, " she said.
Truven's reports from the study are intended for use by hospitals, not consumers, she said.
"We publish the names of the winners primarily so non-winners can call them and say, "What are you doing?'"


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Cumberland Times-News
Since there are multitudes of Christians in the Cumberland area, I will answer on their behalf to Jeremy Gosnell's claim ("Ideas of religion include many misconceptions," March 14 Times-News) that my commentary on March 7 ("Here are the true convictions of Christians") contained angry, audacious claims.
Not so. In fact, I feel sorry for the dear fellow who has been so misled, and pray for his soul that he might trust Christ for salvation. He has asked me to research the the Council of Nicea (325 AD).
His request is a little late, for I researched that long before he was born. He accused my viewpoint as being very narrow. Right! My viewpoint is so narrow that it points to only one person that can save us — Jesus!
His commentary reports people that believed Jesus taught reincarnation, and that He was a vegetarian. The Bible states that Jesus ate fish, and also the Passover Lamb.
False ideas concerning the Lord Jesus came from people who were false Christians. However, all through the ages, up to today, there has always been a godly remnant who have not denied the faith once for all delivered to the saints, and who earnestly contend for it (Jude 3).
Christians have a book that is unique — the Holy Bible. It proves itself to be divinely inspired by its prophecies. Daniel prophesied in BC 538 the exact day that Jesus would present Himself as Messiah to the nation, which took place on April 6 AD 32.
One thousand years before Christ came, God wrote that Jesus would have His hands and feet pierced (Psalms 22:16). John 19 mentions various Old Testament Scriptures that were fulfilled in the crucifixion of Christ.
Roman soldiers, totally ignorant of God's writings, fulfilled the prophesies in parting Jesus' raiment among them and casting lots for His vesture, Psalm 22:18; They also gave Him vinegar to drink, fulfilling Psalm 69:21.
Over three hundred prophecies about the first coming of Christ were literally fulfilled; the mathematical possibility of their being fulfilled in one person by sheer chance or accident is 1 in 84 with 97 zeros after it!
What human could accurately describe events taking place over 1,000 years later? None but God who wrote the Bible!
What cult leader has ever given sight to one born blind; or raised a person dead for four days; or multiplied five loaves of bread and two fishes so that at least 10,000 were fed, or who died for our sins and rose again, witnessed by over 500? None! But Jesus has!
In our legal world, there are certain standards that must be met in order for a jury to decide a case. The precise prophecies in the Bible that have been fulfilled to the letter prove beyond any reasonable doubt that the Bible is the inerrant word of the Creator of the universe.
Mr. Gosnell's statements in his last article "Some people believed," would never be allowed to be introduced in any court and would be classified as "speculative evidence." The Bible would win the case over Mr. Gosnell's arguments.
Robert E Surgenor
Fairview Park, Ohio


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Check out contributor gracie111 on the news sporting her Zazzle shirt! She is wearing her shirt to support pit bull awareness and fight these lovable but sometimes misunderstood dogs. Check out the full article and link to the video, also here is the link to The Pit Bull Awareness project that helps these guys out.
Hug a Pit Bull
20 Responses to "Hug a Pit Bull"
Peter Says:
October 11, 2007 at 2:33 pm |
i'm a peta-type, but that's one dog the world could do without. i'm not saying we need to go the extermination route, but if some fool buys a pit-bull to walk around because they're insecure, make fun of them – after you're safely in your car, with the windows up, and in motion.
seriously, if you need to take care of a pit-bull or rottweiller or whatever because they have no place else to go – fine, but damn, breeding them and keeping them around to look cool? all while trying to convince people that these dogs are not dangerous?
Sarah Says:
October 12, 2007 at 9:05 am |
Wow, Peter your comment seems so naive and I sense you have never been around pit bull dogs. These dogs are beautiful creatures and just as loving as any other breed of canine. It is up to the dog owners to train their dogs properly and address any behavioral issues. Pit-Bulls do seem to have more of an instinct to protect their masters and they can be territorial. However, once a Pit Bull feels comfortable they can be a most lovable companion.
margaret cassidy. Says:
October 13, 2007 at 7:12 am |
i really think your t-shirt is quit amazing. i am a big fan of the pitbull,i think they are getting a bad rap just because people can't raise them properly.i join every cause there is on saving the pitbull in ontario.maybe it should be the owner's of the visious dog's should be destroyed not the animal.it is not the fault of the dog's the owner's are so stupid and don't learn.let's be kind enough to put the owner's down as humane as possible and let their dog's live the lives they should have.sincerely margaret cassidy.
draconyz Says:
October 13, 2007 at 6:30 pm |
I agree with Sarah. One of my friends has a pit bull. She is the best little gal I could ever want as a friend. Bangle had sense to watch out for my 2 year old toddler, wouldn't let her go up the stairs, wouldn't let her go far out of our site. She kept just letting my little toddler yank on her ears and pull at her skin.
This was one bangle pit bull that changed my mind for life. The love she had for her "partner" master and friend of mine was great. He taught her to get down on her haunches and crawl over to kids to say hi. She doesn't even jump on people like some big friendly dogs do when they first see a new human (like goldens).
Seriously – go find someone who has a pit bull that isn't interested in just looks or protection – those people tend to be stupid and I would bet any dog trained by them would be territorial and mean – not all, but most would be at least. Just like any animal, weapon or item that can be used wrongly – it's the person, not the creature/thing that's ultimately responsible. Look past the idiots for a change. (Peta is included in the idiocity)
crazytees Says:
October 17, 2007 at 12:33 pm |
I got a pit bull as a puppy. We found him in the woods. It seems the owner had deserted the whole littler. At the time we didn't know what breed my dog was, but now that he's older, you can tell he's definitely Pit. He is the most loving, caring dog I've ever met. He loves people. He takes wonderful care of my infant and plays great with my cat. Couldn't ask for a better dog!
I agree that they are territorial dogs and they need to be trained and treated properly to maintain good behavior. That doesn't mean they are bad dogs though. Heck, Poodles are territorial too and no one wants to exterminate the poodles! Leave the Pits alone. Prosecute the owners who don't take care of them properly.
Dog Care Tips Says:
October 30, 2007 at 9:29 am |
Dog Care Tips
I couldn't understand some parts of this article, but it sounds interesting
Cory Says:
December 12, 2007 at 6:15 am |
I completely agree with Sarah and draconyz. Before you start bashing a breed due to rumors, you need to research yourself. And let me tell you, the information needs minimal effort to find. As a "peta-type", educating yourself should be a first prioirty. Peta promotes awareness, not ignorance based on rumors. Not only have I been raised with Rottweilers my whole life (they were around when I was a toddler), but I work at major animal shelter and the majority of dogs are pit bulls or pit mixes. Let me tell you, these shelter pits, coming from neglected and abusive backgrounds are by FAR the best in temperment when comparing breeds. My rotties were patient and wonderful. TLC, consistency and postivie but firm reinforcement make these "dangerous breeds" some of the safest and best companions. I too am a "peta-type", and I would hate to live in a world where these gentle giants do not grace our presence. People are dangerous, not animals.
Kyle Says:
April 4, 2008 at 9:57 am |
I couldn't agree more with Cory. I own a pitbull, and she is my first one. The loyalty these dogs have towards humans is amazing; we have such a connection. Another rumor is that these dogs are dumb, but my dog's tricks and temperament would show otherwise.
It makes me sad that people can hate a breed so much; especially without doing research. The majority of these dogs they show aren't even pure pitbull. Most of them are mix of different breeds like Presa Canario, making them super large pitbulls. Anyways, because they absolutely CANNOT narrow it down and say that pure-pitbulls are the ones causing this, they should enforce on the owners.
Lilly Says:
April 12, 2008 at 1:24 pm |
Pits r the best know dog out there and they r so adoribal. My grandma has a puppy blue pit bull that is 4 mounths old and she is the cutest think i've ever seen. i com over to help take care of her and she is just a big baby and is very a lovable dog. If someone were to ask me ,"whats kind of dog should i get?" My respance would be "a pitbull!"
Cheri Says:
April 18, 2008 at 4:23 pm |
Any animal can be dangerous. The thing that can make them dangerous is brain damage or if they are trained to fight. I have a Pit Bull named Emily. She is the sweetest animal I have ever seen. She sees everyone as a friend, even our cat who is always attacking her. She thinks the cat is playing and gets all excited over having the cats attention. She is also very smart. Its as if Pits have a way of grabbing your heart. Before Emily came along, I was worried about Pits. Not anymore.
We also have a lab. He is more likely to attack a stranger coming in the yard than Emily is. She is loyal, but to be honest not good protection. Anyone who THINKS pit owners like the breed for protection has never met a Pit. In fact, we got a squeeky toy for Emily and when she bit into it she acted as if she hurt it. She looked so sad and sorry for making it squeek She never bit into the toy again, but would gently nudge it around the room. Its clear she hates the idea of harming any living thing or toy….lol. I wish more animals had the spirit of a Pit.
lkghg kjgfd Says:
May 5, 2008 at 4:26 pm |
I love pit bulls and they are really sweet!!!! Hug a Pit Bull, today! The only bad ones are the ones that are treated badly by their owners! There are no bad dogs only bad owners!!!!
MRDONKEY2U Says:
May 27, 2008 at 11:59 am |
I have several pitbulls, I was against the breed also because of the media crap…until I owned one ,the dog's are wonderful companions ,loveable and protective of family. In peters comment (the first one) he says people own them to look "bad" or to make them selves look good….some probably do , but not all,I can handle myself,Ive studied various marshal arts in the past 20yrs and have no problem in that forum, I say look at the dog,it's body structure screams power , but its all in what you want in a dog,I love the sheer muscular look of the dog…if you want a lab…get a lab, a poodle …get one. same as a car……not everyone has the same taste I want a real dog…and thats a pit,I own 10 now and do pitbull only rescue when I can…….they are VERY protective over my kids and as with any dog of good size common sense plays a role when leaving children with them. Its more the fault of parents who leave their children with larger dogs who can do damge, I have never been bitten/attacked by a pit , but have been by a retriever, mixed breed and the taco ball dog…lol
Aaron Says:
May 30, 2008 at 12:50 pm |
Funny how the uneducated white trash pit bull owner stereotype holds up online too.
Letting a two year old child pull the ears of a friendly pit? Not having a pit to look tough, and then proceeding to brag about your "marshal arts" skills? Saying "Pits r the best know dog out there and they r so adoribal" just because your grandma has a puppy?
People you're not helping your cause. Just sayin…
Morgan Says:
July 17, 2008 at 3:06 pm |
I think the main problem here is with the owners and bad breeding. Just like the Rotties, Shepherds and Dobes, they all suffered from bad breeding and poor ownership. But we can't really blame a breed ? I swear, people are more ignorant with pits than Rotties, Shepherds and Dobes. I would be completely biased and ignorant to blame an entire breed just because alittle bad press.
But I think another problem is pit bull owners not realizing the damage these dogs can do if left unchecked. Unlike Rotties, Shepherds and Dobermans, the pit has the capability to hold on and not let go. While the other three have to be trained to do that, otherwise, they give up or get tired and go lay down somewhere. They just don't have stamina and drive to keep going. And I think we really can't compare pits to other breeds either. They're either stronger or they're not. Now, I can name a few breeds that have much more poetential to serious damage than a pit. But that's not the point. The point is, when you have a pit bull, you really have to be experienced and know what your doing or you'll just end up with an aggressive dog or a dog aggressive dog and that's what's really causing the problem.
Alot of people who do own pit bulls are the exact ones that shouldn't own any dog. I feel bad for pit bulls, I really do. I probably wont own one anytime soon but I would like to own one someday. Right now, my focus is own Rotties, Shepherds and Dobes because they're reputation isnt shot to hell like the pits rep is.
I love pits, but I will wait until there reputation dies down instead of getting one right now. Too much publicity and too much bad rep which isnt deserved. Right now owning a pit, you have to have alot of tough skin..
Rebecca Says:
July 20, 2008 at 9:28 am |
I am so glad to see people sticking up for pit bulls. The owners are the problem. It's like saying rooster s are vicious and scary after seeing a documentary on people betting on illegal rooster fights in which they've put razor blade bands on these creatures' toothpick legs.
Yes, some breeds of dogs are stronger. Some are tiny. Some have short hair and some have long. However, I have seen plenty of nasty tempered cocker spaniels. There are many Dalmations that are not good around children, but the fantasy of the sweet, spotted "101" guys from Disney lives on. I have also seen more unfriendly Dachshunds than pit bills, but since "Doxies" are tiny, everyone generally laughs at the ferocious weener dog.
I think the Humane Society's postage stamp "I'm a Lover, Not a Fighter" sums it up the best for Pit Bulls.
Sweet Soul Says:
August 22, 2008 at 6:52 pm |
I saved a female pit bull from an irresponsble owner when she was 4 weeks old. She is the sweetest, loyal dog I've ever owned. However, some neighbors are very nasty toward us. When a small dog growls at them, they say how cute she/he is, but when my dog approches them, they either walk over to the other side of the street or give a nasty look without even saying ' Hi." One old lady actually yelled at me to control my dog when my dog didn't even go closer to her. I will continue to love my dog and train her to be the best behaved dog. Ignorant people should realize that any dog can be dangerous in the hands of abusitive owners. Pit bull can be the nicest pet you ever have if you spend time and raise them properly.
b Says:
November 12, 2008 at 5:57 am |
It's just unfortunate that the majority of these dogs are owned by not so educated not so well behaved misfits, usually young men who have never owned a dog, nor understands the needs of a dog, so these poor dogs get chained up, not socialised and end up becoming frustrated and lash out, the reason why the poodle for example is never seen in the news for attacking someone is because the majority of people who own those dogs are respectful people who treat and raise their dogs right, any dog regardless of it's breed can potentially cause harm to a human, one they don't have fists to defend themselves nor a voice to warn people(besides to growl, but some choose to ignore that), their only means of defence is through biting, unfortunately breeds like pitbull terriers and rottweilers (larger dogs) can inflict more serious injuries if it were to bite someone compared to a smaller dog, people need to be aware that larger, more powerful dogs should be owned by those who have experience, i understand the intentions of these bans (Pitbulls are the most abused breed in the world) regardless of whether these bans or restrictions are in place these assholes will still be out their backyard breeding these animals and selling them to more little street bastards and these dogs will get an even worse rap. illegal trade wont stop, they go against the law. where as the respectful owners and breeders are those who will abide by the laws and these people will be denied the opportunity of showing this breed for the true nature it is, pit bulls are a beautiful sweet playful and goofy breed, i love these dogs. Usually those who make poor judgements on this breed have never owned one, nor possibly met one. these people are oblivous and easily influenced by what the media portrays, these people are narrow minded, however it s good to see their are people out there who understand the true nature of these dogs, this is not a lost cause, we will save the pit bull! :)
Alicia Says:
January 28, 2009 at 11:38 am |
I am very happy to see people sticking up for the pitbulls, I love them, I have had 5 of them through out my life, and have grown up with them since childhood, they are friendly, caring, sweet, protective, loving, and patient, just please if you are thinking about getting one train it and be responsible.
Paulo Souza Says:
February 1, 2010 at 8:02 am |
Hi every 1 I have to say 1 thing only,people who own pitt they have to trained the dog correctly so all this incident wouldn't happend,see if you teach a kid that a gun that you own in your house is not a toy then you are doing your job as a parent,if you dont teach the proper training then expect to have seriusly injures.
Basicly if a pitt attach some 1 dont blame the dog blame the owner,dog is not educate and there for the owner is responsible for getting a dog an not giving the proper training,please before getting a dog please learn and have patience other wise get another pet,thank you.
P.S. Don't be ignorant by accusing the dog that really shows how ignorant people can be lol
Melton Says:
March 15, 2010 at 11:18 am |
I do the job with these dogs and as far as animal behavior goes, I'm a strong believer in nurture and education. I have met Jack Russell Terriers that I would not go near once again, but have by no means had a poor experience with an American Staffordshire Terrier. If you are speaking about their owners- nicely, which is a several story. People are creatures as nicely, and we often every have our own strategies about "moral concepts".


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I believe I have a blown RTi10 Tweeter. While I wait to resolve this with Customer Service I'd like to swap it with the Tweeter from an RTi4 I don't use much, they look the same. My question is are they the same tweeter or am I risking blowing the RTi4 tweeter? Also could the cause of the blown tweeter be the cross-over? What a time to blow a speaker, I was just ramping up for a holiday weekend. Just curious, I have a Yamaha 2600 receiver and have never turned it up past mid scale, normally about -30 to -20 tops. I hope this is not going to be an on going problem?
2 hours later....Go figure, I just swapped the tweeter with the RTi4, they have the same part number, and they both now work. I swapped them back and they both still work. Yikes! I spent an hour in panic trying to retrieve the high end. I think I've got gremlins.
Polk, please accept my apology for the negative post. The RTi10s really do rock and are worth every cent I paid.


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Select a name at the left to view that person's information.
Robert F. Fox is a New York City architect and a partner at the firm Cook + Fox Architects. He has designed more than 30 skyscrapers, including his firm's most recent, the Bank of America Tower at One Bryant Park, which is the first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum commercial high-rise. He was a founding partner of Fox & Fowle Architects (1978). Fox & Fowle designed the influential and award-winning Condé Nast Building/4 Times Square, which is widely regarded as America's first green skyscraper. Fox led the team responsible for creating the original Battery Park City Residential Environmental Guidelines in 2000, which guided the development of the Solaire, the first green residential tower in the United States. In 2003 Bob Fox joined with Richard Cook to form Cook + Fox Architects, a firm devoted to creating beautiful, environmentally responsible, high-performance buildings. The firm has won awards for the Henry Miller's Theatre; a neighborhood development in the South Street Seaport; a visitors' center at the Angkor Hospital for Children in Cambodia; and 401 West 14th Street in the Gansevoort Market Historic District. In 2006, Cook and Fox partnered with green development expert Bill Browning to form Terrapin Bright Green, LLC, an environmental consulting and strategic planning firm. Fox is adviser to Mayor Michael Bloomberg's PlaNYC 2030 sustainability initiative; founding chair of the United States Green Building Council, New York Chapter; member of the MTA Blue Ribbon Commission on Sustainability; member of the President's Council for Scenic Hudsonas; member of the Cooper Union President's Council; and advisory board member of the Center for Health and the Global Environment at Harvard University. Fox holds an M.Arch. from Harvard University and a B.Arch. from Cornell University.
Bob Sheppard is a New England–based sustainability consultant working to advise companies as diverse as General Motors, Verizon Communications, and Oakhurst Dairy on a range of projects. As vice president of the Corporate Program at Clean Air–Cool Planet, Sheppard was responsible for carbon management and reduction relationships with more than three dozen corporations from Maine to Pennsylvania, including Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Shaw's Supermarkets, and Timberland. During a decade-long tenure at CA-CP he oversaw the publication of Cool Solutions to Global Warming, a compendium of case studies highlighting best practices across the Northeast, as well as the Consumer's Guide to Retail Carbon Offset Providers. Sheppard is frequently called upon to present at a variety of climate- and energy-related conferences, business meetings, and before college audiences. He was also a contributing writer for the publication "Getting to Zero: Defining Corporate Carbon Neutrality." Prior to joining CA-CP, Sheppard spent three years as senior social research analyst at Citizens Funds, where he was involved in several shareholder resolutions filed by the socially responsible mutual fund. Sheppard's background includes a decade in the field of broadcast journalism with radio stations across New England, where he focused on waterfront development, municipal planning, and the environment. A father of two college students and a charter member of the Portsmouth Men's Chorus, Sheppard is a graduate of the University of Southern Maine with a B.S. in business administration.


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For more information on the Peachtree Corners real estate market click on the tab at the top marked "Real Estate" or click here.
Location: 3971 Centre Court
Listed Price: $239,900 (reduced)
Description: 4 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1,935 square teet, built 1984, Country style home, big covered porch, fenced backyard, renovated kitchen, all new appliances, new sink, many new fixtures, new paint and new vinyl and carpet.
Days on Market: 97
School District: Peachtree Elementary
Location: 405 Peachtree Forest Terrace
Listed Price: $59,900
Description: 3 bedroom, 2 baths, 1,511 square feet, built 1985, condo
Days on Market: 427
School District: Peachtree Elementary
Location: 302 Glenleaf Drive
Listed Price: $52,220
Description: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, built 1984 condo, large family room with fireplace.
Days on Market: 11
School District: Peachtree Elementary
Location: 3395 September Morn
Listed Price: $39,440
Description: 2 bedrooms, 3 baths, built 1982, condo
Days on Market: 41
School District: Peachtree Elementary
Source: Aol Real Estate
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