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PNB School Show: Ballet from the ground up
The season is over at Pacific Northwest Ballet. It's been a fine one. Fans won't be seeing the company again until late September. So why are they smiling? Because the best is yet to come. The season celebrates a roster of ballets. But on Saturday ballet lovers will be gathering at McCaw Hall for two presentations that celebrate the art of ballet itself: the company's 32nd annual School Performance.
Does the idea of a dance-school recital call up images of tiny tots in tutus and teary-eyed parents? The PNB School show has plenty of that: When the curtain first goes up on a stageful of poppets arrayed like a bed of new-planted posies, there are plenty of blissful sighs in the darkened house, not to mention tears furtively brushed away.
But then the music starts and the poppets begin to dance: The posies become sea anemones, their arms floating gently and harmoniously in configurations codified half a millennium ago. One of the glories of PNB's professional company is its mastery of the subtlest of balletic arts, the use of arms to create a harmonious volume of space around each dancer's body.
At PNB, teaching that art begins on the first day. Even on the professional stage, you sometimes see a dancer who doesn't quite yet know what to do with arms and elbows. Not on the PNB stage; not in the PNB School.
So what, you say, that 20-odd little girls (and the occasional boy) know how to wave their arms to music. Oh, but that's just the start. The Level II students follow the Level Is to the stage. These more advanced dancers are starting to explore space, not just occupy it. And their pleasure in doing so is enough to squeeze tears from a stone. The wonders continue through performances by Levels III, IV, V, VI and VII. In the course of an hour or so you experience the birth of a dancer, see the art of ballet evolve from literal baby-steps to virtual flight.
The grandest moments come at the end, of course; the stageful of boys of all ages radiating pride and esthetic testosterone, followed by the men and women of the graduating, pre-professional class (accompanied by fellow virtuosi from the Seattle Youth Symphony) performing real ballet, some of it created on their bodies, some drawn from the professional repertory they'll soon be dancing for as a living.
In past School shows we've seen these kids in Balanchine masterpieces like Chaconne and Cortège hongroise. This year they'll be dancing a movement of Balanchine's Brahms-Schoenberg Quartet, as well as kicking off Twyla Tharp's year-long PNB residency with her 1996 work Sweet Fields. The piece, inspired by early American hymns and Shaker tunes, ie performed to live accompaniment by the Tudor Choir.
But don't get the idea that you sit through a lot of kid-stuff to get to the pay-off. The PNB School presentation is all pay-off, and enough inspired dancing to keep you energized until September rolls round again.
If you go: The 32nd Annual School Performance, Saturday, June 15, 1:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Tickets $30 to $70. More information and reservations at the PNB box office.
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Posted Fri, Jun 14, 5:40 p.m.
The Paris Opera Ballet has a lovely annual tradition, the Grand Defile, where everyone in the organization, from the youngest student to the veteran character dancers, crosses the stage in procession. Other ballet companies have used the defile for various occasions (Pacific Northwest Ballet staged one at the retirement celebration of their former directors Kent Stowell and Francia Russell). PNB's school show has a similar feeling to it -- I'm always thrilled to be able to go and witness that kind of passage.
Posted Fri, Jun 14, 8:55 p.m.
Sure is nice to read Roger Downey on the arts again. He's the best in the city!
Posted Sat, Jun 15, 11:58 a.m.
Just a quick correction: The evening show of the School Performance is at 7:00, not 7:30.
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USPS to Drop Saturday Mail Delivery in August
February 8, 2013The operational plan for the new delivery schedule anticipates a combination of employee reassignment and attrition and is expected to achieve cost savings of approximately $2 billion annually when fully implemented.
The Postal Service is currently implementing major restructuring throughout its retail, delivery and mail processing operations. Since 2006, the Postal Service has reduced its annual cost base by approximately $15 billion, reduced the size of its career workforce by 193,000 or 28 percent, and has consolidated more than 200 mail processing locations. During these unprecedented initiatives, the Postal Service says it continued to deliver record high levels of service to its customers.
The Postal Service continues to seek legislation to provide it with greater flexibility to control costs and generate new revenue and encourages the 113th Congress to make postal reform legislation an urgent priority.
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In the state of Minnesota, radon levels are not regulated. According to the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), there is no safe level of radon. The risk for lung cancer increases based on the duration of exposure as well as the level of radon in the air. The MDH recommends taking steps to lower annual radon amounts of 4.0 PicoCuries per liter (pCi/L) or higher. It should be noted that even if the levels are relatively low, there is some risk for sensitive occupants, including children, of contracting lung cancer, according to the MDH.
Winona Area Public Schools (WAPS) Building and Grounds Director Bill OLaughlin explained that a couple of readings at Jefferson Elementary were high and warranted a short term follow up test. The unoccupied basement, which he said is not accessible to others did have a radon level of 11.2. The first floor was tested a second time to ensure there was no health hazard to the above occupants; the highest level was 2.2. OLaughlin also noted that plans are in place to ventilate the basement to remove any health risk posed to Jefferson occupants.
At the Thursday, July 11, WAPS board meeting, the School Board will discuss its state-mandated health and safety review. All health and safety plans for the district are 100 percent complete, aside from integrated pest management, which is currently at 83 percent completion.
Based on the results of the WAPS radon testing throughout 2012-2013, further testing, both short- and long-term, is recommended in some areas of the schools.
For more information on radon visit www.health.mn.gov/radonkit.


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Summer Reading Inspiration
Despite the scary forecast in Miami — temporary home base of el diario — this editor is leaving for a few days on the beach. In preparation, she picked up a paperback copy of Telex from Cuba, the story of the island's American residents and employees of United Fruit Company. It is told from the perspective of the children, and the author, Rachel Kushner, mined her own mother's memories and stories for the book. The era is mid- to late-1950s, just before the Revolution.
So, we have a summer beach reading edition here today.
Check out a bunch of links on examiner.com to Latino books and author interviews, a favorite and well-connected spot, Literanista, a new friend, Bronze Word, and for the kids, have you seen the Latin Baby Book Club?
What are you reading?


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The NAMI Convention is packed with information, chances to network, leadership development opportunities, and lots more. To help ensure that you get what you want from the convention, we offer this highly abbreviated version of the program indicating what areas of interest different sessions and events address.
Becoming more familiar with NAMI's leadership
Obtaining tools to enhance my leadership skills
Learning about programs and resources for me and/or my family member (CE credits available)
Finding out about new services, research, and treatment (CE credits available)
Looking for an entertaining change of pace and/or a chance to connect with other attendees
Please use the colored shapes that correspond to the different categories as a quick guide to help you pick the days that are most beneficial to you.
View schedule for: Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday
Time | Program | Category |
8:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. |
8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. | Registration Open | |
10:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. | Special Programming in Spanish | |
10:15 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. |
Annual Business Meeting |
12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. |
Arts at Lunchtime Its time for you to be in the spotlight! Come and enjoy this performance of a collection of skits on mental health awareness. Youll be able to see how drama can be a form of recovery. |
1:45 p.m. - 3:15 p.m. |
Group One Ask-the-Doctor Sessions
3:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. |
Group Two Ask-the-Doctor Sessions
7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. | Talent Showcase: A long and much-loved tradition at the NAMI convention. Bring your talents--music, poetry, dance, drama--to share or come just to enjoy the show! |
Inspire others with your message of hope. Show others they are not alone.
Share your storyBecome an advocate. Register on NAMI.org to keep up with NAMI news and events.
Join NAMI Today


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To find your Geo Tracker Pickup Cab (Shell) from a RECYCLER NEAR YOU, just enter the YEAR of your vehicle and your ZIP code in the above form and press the "FIND" button. (What you see below is a previous search for a Geo Tracker Pickup Cab (Shell) and does not include all the Pickup Cab (Shell)s in YOUR area.) |
All Makes | Geo | Tracker | Pickup Cab (Shell)
Geo Tracker : Pickup Cab (Shell)
Used Geo Tracker Parts
10 Great Reasons to Buy your Geo Tracker Pickup Cab (Shell) from PartsHotlinesWe've been in the auto salvage industry for over 30 years. We know parts. The PartHotlines employees come from all walks in the industry. Our team members have been Salesmen, Computer Specialists, Car Enthusiasts, and Shipping Specialists within the industry. We can help you find your part. PartsHotlines enables you to enter your information, then we look it up REAL TIME in the inventories of top recyclers near you. This saves you valuable time and money. Did you know that pickup cab (shell)s from many different years and makes are exactly the same as your Geo Tracker pickup cab (shell)? These parts will all interchange with each other. When dealing with the auto salvage yards on PartsHotlines, you should expect to get a good working, clean and tested used part for your car or truck. The owners of PartsHotlines have been in the auto recycling industry for over 30 years! We've been providing parts locating services longer than any other company on the Internet. It doesn't get any better than PartsHotlines. We have hand picked all the good auto salvage yards with the best quality discount auto parts. Our salvage yards discount auto parts are a great option for your car. They are quality inspected and road tested! You can trust our salvage yards with your used Geo Tracker pickup cab (shell) search. Our recyclers are small business owners in YOUR community, many of whom have been in business for decades. To participate as a PartsHotlines supplier, our recyclers are first investigated and then voted on by their peers. Not every salvage yard can be a member of PartsHotlines.
Pickup Cab (Shell) is also known as: Pickup Cab; Shell.


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Returning Students
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RU Ready to Return?
The re-enrollment process is intended for students previously admitted and matriculated, and to aid in transition back to Rowan University. Students that have not been admitted and never matriculated should visit the Applications Page for the appropriate application. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to email or call Sean Hendricks at the Office of Academic Transition Programs, 856-256-5655 or firstname.lastname@example.com
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Rowan University is eager to help you reestablish your academic goals. Start the process now!


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Sarasota Surf and Racquet Club is right around the corner from the famous Siesta Key Village, where you will find a collage of restaurants, shops, and parlors for your convenience and dining pleasure. Siesta Key Beach is a vacation paradise for travelers, active seniors, families, and honeymooners alike.
& get great deals in your inbox.
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On behalf of the Egyptian Group of Pediatric Eye Surgery (EGPES), it is a pleasure to invite you to attend the 7th International Symposium of Pediatric Ophthalmology, from 27th to 29th of March 2014, Ain Soukna, Egypt.
This is the 7th of Six previously successful meetings. The first took place in April 2004 in Taba and the second in December 2005 in Luxor. The third was in Makadi Bay, Hurghada in November 2007, The fourth was at the luxurious Four Seasons Hotel San Stefano, Alexandria in November 2009,
with 300 attendees from different countries of the world sharing interesting presentations and discussions in all aspects of pediatric ophthalmology, the 5th and 6th were at Wadi El Dome Marina Swiss Resort. This year the conference will be hosted at Wadi El Dome Marina SWISS INN Resort - Ain Soukna, Egypt.
We would be honored to have you with us, contributing to and sharing in scientific and social events and adding to each others' knowledge in the field of pediatric ophthalmology during our next meeting in Ain Soukna.
Looking forward for your valuable participation,
Designed By: Nile Creations
Egyptian Group Of Pediatric Of Eye Surgery © 2008


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New Revised Standard (NRS) | New International Version (NIV) |
7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. | 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. |
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. (New Revised Standard Bible Version Online) | Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide. (New International Version Bible Online) |


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Portals and Rails, a blog sponsored by the Retail Payments Risk Forum of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, is intended to foster dialogue on emerging risks in retail payment systems and enhance collaborative efforts to improve risk detection and mitigation. We encourage your active participation in Portals and Rails and look forward to collaborating with you.
What's New
Federal Reserve Web Sites
Other Bank Regulatory Sites
October 14, 2014
Mobile Biometrics: Ready or Not, Here They Come
Apple's recent announcement about the release of its mobile wallet app—called Apple Pay—energized the mobile payments community. One reason for the spike of interest is Apple Pay's use of fingerprint biometrics as an additional layer of security in validating customers and their transactions. What may have gotten a little a little lost in the chatter that followed this announcement was another, related announcement. As reported in a September 19 FinExtra story, MasterCard (MC) announced it had completed a pilot project that used a combination of facial and voice recognition on a smartphone. MC said that the trial program—which involved MC employees around the globe conducting 14,000 transactions—had a successful validation rate of 98 percent.
The Apple and MC announcements together certainly show that the future of the additional security options on smartphones looks promising. As a recent post noted, consumer research has consistently found that consumers' largest concern about using mobile phones for financial transactions is security. But are biometric technologies ready for prime time? Will their application in the payments ecosystem really give payment providers more confidence that the person they are dealing with is not an imposter?
The latest generations of Apple and Android smartphones are equipped with fingerprint scanners, cameras, and microphones, which allow for the use of fingerprint, voice, and facial recognition. But limitations exist for each of the techniques. The Apple and Android fingerprint readers, for example, were compromised within days of their initial release. And facial and voice recognition applications work best in controlled conditions of lighting and with limited background noise—an unlikely environment for a smartphone user on the go.
But security experts agree that additional customer authentication methodologies—beyond the common user ID and password entry fields—increase the overall authenticity of transactions. Numerous companies are continuing to focus their research and development efforts on improving the reliability and use of their authentication products. So while there is no "one size fits all" authentication solution over the weak and easily compromised ID-and-password method, these biometric methods represent a step forward, and are likely to improve over time.
The Retail Payments Risk Forum is taking a close look at biometrics technology and its impact on the payments system. We are working on a paper assessing biometrics and authentication methodologies that will probably be released by the end of the year. We're planning a forum to be held this upcoming spring on mobile authentication technologies. And we're continuing to write posts on the topic in Portals and Rails.
Please feel free to contact us with your suggestions on biometric issues you would like to see us address in our continuing efforts.
By David Lott, a payments risk expert in the Retail Payments Risk Forum at the Atlanta Fed
October 14, 2014 in authentication, biometrics, innovation, mobile banking | Permalink
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September 08, 2014
Seeking a Successful Biometric Solution
As an earlier post noted, advances in technology have spurred the implementation of various biometric authentication methodologies in the consumer market. But as people are discovering, not all methodologies are equally suited for all applications. Those who are implementing such applications have to consider risk level, cost, operating environment, and targeted population. They also have to evaluate a number of other factors to determine if a particular biometric is better suited than another for an intended application. These factors include but are not limited to:
- Uniqueness. While the biometric doesn't always have to be unique to every individual on the planet, the probability that two people share a particular characteristic should be unlikely enough to prevent an unacceptable number of false acceptances (when one person is wrongly authenticated as another). For example, fingerprints are considered to be unique to every individual, but current smartphone fingerprint readers have such low-resolution scanners that the possibility of a false acceptance is one in 44,000. This rate is most likely sufficient for many applications, but a high-dollar transaction may require supplemental authentication.
- Universality. The targeted characteristic must be present in the overall population, with only a few exceptions. Only a couple of biometric elements, such as DNA and facial recognition, can provide complete population coverage. Hand geometry and vein recognition, for example, won't work on people who are missing fingers or other body parts.
- Permanence. The characteristic should not change over time. Even though people can alter almost any physical characteristic through medical procedures, the possibility of such alteration to the characteristic being considered for biometric authentication should be infrequent among the population—and the alteration procedure should be relatively expensive.
- Collection ease. The more invasive the collection of the biometric sample, the more resistance people will have to it. People tend to view facial and voice recognition and fingerprinting as noninvasive but retinal scans as highly invasive—a light beam scans the back of the person's eye, which can be very uncomfortable.
- Performance. The biometric element must support the creation of a template that is accurate and quickly obtained while also providing minimal database storage requirements. A system that takes a long time to authenticate someone during peak usage periods will encounter user dissatisfaction and possibly decreased productivity.
- Accuracy. Individuals should not be able to fool the system. Fingerprint readers should verify that the right fingerprints belong to the right person, that a spoken phrase is live and not recorded, and so on.
- User-embraced. Even when people have to use certain biometric authentication systems as a condition of their employment, the technology should be one that has a high level of acceptance, with minimal cultural, religious, collective bargaining, or regulatory implications.
- Cost-effectiveness. As with all risk management practices, the cost of implementing and operating the system must be commensurate with the risk exposure for using a less secure authentication system.
As you consider the possibility of implementing a biometric authentication methodology for your customers, I hope you will find these evaluation elements helpful.
By David Lott, a payments risk expert in the Retail Payments Risk Forum at the Atlanta Fed
September 8, 2014 in authentication, biometrics, innovation | Permalink
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August 11, 2014
Improving Mobile Security with Biometrics
During the last year, the release of two smartphones with fingerprint readers by two different manufacturers was met with a lot of excitement. People in the payments industry were keen on the ability of the new phones to better authenticate mobile payments. Fingerprints are one of several biometric methods used today to supplement passwords.
Biometrics refers to techniques that use measurable physical characteristics that lend themselves to automated checking techniques. In addition to fingerprints and vein recognition, biometrics can include voice, facial, and iris recognition, and even DNA matching, among others.
As the Federal Reserve's report Consumers and Mobile Financial Services 2014 noted, consumers' security concerns are a big barrier to the adoption of mobile banking. Mobile proponents believe this barrier can be reduced with the additional security features that mobile phones can provide, along with consumer education. There is no question that the mobile phone offers a number of ways to authenticate the user more positively, using both overt and covert methods. One well-known covert option is the smartphone's geolocation function, which allows verification that the phone is in the location it's supposed to be. Another covert method is "device fingerprinting," whereby a number of digital characteristics about the consumer's phone can be captured and used to verify that the phone being used is the one originally registered.
The most common overt biometric methods being tested today are fingerprint and facial recognition. While only a small number of mobile phones in use today in the United States have fingerprint readers, the vast majority have a camera that could support a facial recognition application. Both of these biometric methods are minimally invasive.
The key difference between biometric verification and user ID and password verification creates the greatest challenge for implementing biometrics authentication: with passwords, unless there is a 100 percent match between the data on file and the data the user enters in trying to gain access, the request is automatically rejected. It may be the legitimate user trying to gain access but maybe he or she forgot the password. Nevertheless, the system rules block access until the user's identity can be authenticated through some other means. On the other hand, the nature of biometrics is such that a 100 percent match between the stored template value and the live template value is rare—possibly because of differences in lighting conditions or angles when biometric measurements are made, or differences between readers, or some other reason. To deal with this gap, the manager of each application has to determine an acceptable accuracy level for both false-positives (whereby a party incorrectly matched is authorized) and false-negatives (whereby the authentic party is denied access). Naturally, false-positives pose the greater threat. False-negatives generally just involve some level of inconvenience until the individual can be authenticated and provided access.
No matter what biometric authentication methodology a system uses, the most important step is validating each customer's biometrics upon enrollment in the program. We will discuss this issue and other challenges for biometric programs in future issues of Portals and Rails.
By Dave Lott, payments risk expert in the Retail Payments Risk Forum at the Atlanta Fed
August 11, 2014 in authentication, biometrics, innovation, mobile payments | Permalink
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PKI based digital certificates can also be used to secure mobile devices and provide a far more reliable means of device ID than geolocation or device fingerprinting
Posted by:
Doug Parr |
August 19, 2014 at 08:48 AM
When considering usability of biometric authentication on a mobile phone, there is no more "minimally invasive" method than voice biometrics. These devices are first and foremost voice-enabled.
Posted by:
Brian Moore |
August 12, 2014 at 01:00 PM
September 09, 2013
Improving Customer Authentication
The Retail Payments Risk Forum recently hosted payment industry participants at the Improving Customer Authentication forum. On July 31, banks, nonbank payment service providers, industry associations, law enforcement officials, and regulators listened as keynote speakers and panelists explored methods and technologies for improving customer authentication so that financial institutions and other payments stakeholders can better mitigate payments fraud. Forum goals were to help participants understand the challenges of current methods of authentication and the legal implications, as well as to explore emerging solutions, along with pros and cons, that can improve authentication in both the face-to-face and remote channels.
Some of the key learnings from the forum include:
- Customer authentication is critical to proving identity, authority, and consent throughout the entire payment process.
- Customer authentication can be achieved by any combination of factors within three categories. For best practice, different categories should be used:
- Something you know (user ID, password)
- Something you have (card, phone)
- Something you are (biometrics, activity pattern)
- Currently, no single, simple, legally approved method for authorizing a payment or ensuring that a particular payment is authorized exists.
- New payment types are stretching the boundaries of the current payments infrastructure and have created weak points that are being probed and exploited by cybercriminals.
- While overall payment card fraud levels, as expressed as a percentage of sales, are at an all-time low, certain categories of card fraud such as card-not-present (CNP) are significantly increasing.
- Financial institutions are encouraged to build relationships with local and federal law enforcement officials and to report fraud—it is possible that a crime at your institution is part of a larger network of criminal activity.
For a more complete summary of the forum and to see video interviews with two of the forum speakers, go to the conference website.
By David Lott, a retail payments risk expert in the Retail Payments Risk Forum at the Atlanta Fed
September 9, 2013 in authentication, biometrics, emerging payments | Permalink
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September 04, 2012
Pointing to the Future: Biometrics Crucial for Data Protection
Experts are escalating their call for aggressive measures to improve customer authentication as phishers, malware authors, and other criminals develop increasingly complex schemes to gain access to personal credentials. As we discussed in a previous post, the use of biometrics is gaining more attention as technological advances are bringing low-cost, high-quality solutions. In a recent paper ("The Case for Replacing Passwords with Biometrics"), authors Markus Jakobsson and Sebastien Taveau assert that biometric methods such as fingerprinting methods could address a large part of the looming cyber fraud problem.
Matching fingerprints to protection
Fingerprints as a means of identification have actually been used for more than 150 years. However, Jakobsson and Taveau note that lower technology costs may allow fingerprint authentication to become a mainstream risk mitigation solution, in concert with other backup authentication methods. (The Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council's 2011 Supplement to Authentication in an Internet Banking Environment reports that layered security controls go a long way to protecting consumer credentials and high-risk transactions from cyber threats.) According to Jakobsson and Taveau, the convergence of methods used by cybercriminals is driving fraud into the mobile arena, with an increased incidence of dual platform attacks targeting both PCs and mobile handsets. The authors describe how fingerprint authentication can improve authentication effectiveness and enable better risk management.
As more and more data are stored in personal clouds—remote data servers that store digital content for consumers—the security paradigm becomes more critical. Jakobsson and Taveau describe cases whereby fingerprints could effectively serve as a "key" to consumer information. Just authenticating users by asking who they are and what they know—in other words, prompting for name and password—is inadequate in such "remote" data storage environments. Essentially, "the cloud is a storage area with a door, the handset or other device is the lock and the fingerprint is the key."
The authors also describe the challenge of "BYOD"—that is, "bring your own device" to work. Many companies today permit employees to use their own devices. The use of multiple passwords and other protocols can create confusion that can tempt employees to circumvent authentication protocols designed for their protection. As we noted in a June post, one out of every 11 wallets contains easily discovered PINs. The use of the biometric tool of fingerprinting permits a simple authentication method that can be used across applications and devices, with greater assurance that the account or device owner and the device are in the same physical space.
I can't put my finger on it
Despite the promise of fingerprinting as an effective biometric risk management system, a number of concerns remain, according to the authors. Device sharing can be a problem when the device is secured with a biometric unique to a single user. An issue of a more violent nature is the potential of a criminal stealing someone's finger to facilitate a transaction. Jakobsson and Taveau aptly remark, "It is much better to have one's password stolen!"
In the final analysis, the authors note that the benefits of biometric authentication methods outweigh their deployment challenges. Furthermore, their authentication architecture using a "biometrically unlocked password manager" could provide significant protection against phishing and malware attacks—the primary tools of cybercrime. As the incidence of data breaches and account takeovers continues to rise, the argument for more secure authentication methods will continue as well.
By Cynthia Merritt, assistant director of the Retail Payments Risk Forum
September 4, 2012 in biometrics, data security, identity theft | Permalink
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July 14, 2011
Where will biometric ID technologies fit in fight against fraud?
Biometric systems are designed to recognize individuals based on their unique biological and behavioral traits. Traits such as hand geometry; fingerprints; voice and vein recognition; and retina, iris, and facial scans are all personal characteristics that can authenticate someone's identity. Using biometrics to combat fraud is not novel. In addition, a California-based company introduced in 2008 a risk management solution that identifies fraudsters through the use of voice printing, which allows the company to compare a caller's voice against a database of known criminals before the company authorizes a credit card payment.
In a previous post, we discussed the concept of using biometric technology to combat ATM fraud. Since then, we learned of ATMs abroad that are equipped with voice-based biometric technology that determine user honesty and help prevent consumer credit fraud. In this post, we revisit the issue of biometrics, touching briefly on new developments in the payments industry as well as on issues reported on by companies and researchers.
Biometrics gain trust
Summarizing a poll it took of credit card users, Unisys reported in 2010 that consumers are becoming comfortable with the use of biometrics. In fact, according to the report, about two-thirds of the respondents indicated a preference for fingerprint biometrics over the use of photo verification, PINs, and signatures. A 2009 Gallup survey revealed that 58 percent of survey respondents would use biometrics to verify their identities, and a staggering 93 percent preferred fingerprints as their biometric of choice.
Searching for a secure biometric storage process
The life of biometric data on portable devices such as cards can exist anywhere from six to 12 years. Technology such as Precise Biometrics' Match-on-Card allows cards to be activated with a fingerprint or iris scan instead of a PIN. All biometric information is stored on the card, so the matching of the biometric data takes place on the card.
This type of technology sends a biometric template to the card processor, which is matched to a reference biometric template stored on the card itself. The card protects personal identity information as it is transmitted across a contactless interface using radio frequency technology. Other companies have introduced similar products retaining all the biometric data on the portable device, which can lessen user anxiety since their biometric data is stored in a device the users control. However, user control over biometric data does not necessarily lessen the potential risk for lost, stolen, or damaged credentials.
Recommended considerations for biometric recognition technologies
According to a report by the National Research Council, "no single trait has been identified as stable and distinctive across all groups," so we cannot rely solely on voice printing, for example, or on fingerprints to guarantee security. The report also points out that biometric systems contain numerous "sources of uncertainty" that "need to be considered in system design and operation." For example, biometric characteristics often vary over an individual's lifetime due to a number of factors, including age or disease, and the systems may not capture or account for this variability. Other, more technical, issues may also create variability in these systems, including sensor calibration and data degradation. Even security breaches themselves add variability. As another "source of uncertainty," the report points to the fact that biometric systems may not be "designed and evaluated relative to their specific intended purposes," so they fail to account for factors such as the competence of the systems' users.
A final note
While there is no such thing as an impregnable security system, using multiple forms of credentials and identification components can strengthen most security systems. If biometrics is one of those layers, careful consideration should be given to measuring the merits and risks relative to other authentication technologies, such as PINs and signatures, as well as ensuring that the biometric that is selected functions as intended. Like any other authentication form factor, any biometric identification technology used should undergo a thorough threat assessment to determine its vulnerabilities and its potential for mitigating attacks. Biometrics may or may not become the panacea to authentication, but ensuring that users trust the entire biometric system is integral to its successful implementation and adoption in the fight against payments fraud.
By Ana Cavazos-Wright, senior payments risk analyst in the Retail Payments Risk Forum at the Atlanta Fed
July 14, 2011 in biometrics, consumer fraud, consumer protection | Permalink
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September 27, 2010
Could the fight against ATM fraud use the help of biometrics?
Biometrics is defined as "the measurement and analysis of unique physical or behavioral characteristics especially as a means of verifying personal identity." There are several different identifiers that may be used in biometrics, including fingerprint and hand geometry, voice and vein recognition, as well as retina, iris, and facial scans. The concept of biometric technology as a customer authentication tool to protect the identity and accounts of individuals from fraud or theft is promising. However, relinquishing something as personal as a unique trait may leave some skeptical and others simply unnerved.
But can privacy concerns or consumer apprehension over the use of biometrics overcome the need to address the growing instances of ATM fraud?
Physical attacks on ATMs increase
According to Javelin Strategy & Research, in 2009, 10 percent of fraud victims in the United States experienced fraudulent ATM cash withdrawals. These schemes typically involve the use of a skimming device that may sit above the actual card reader and capture PIN entries. Other methods are more brazen and involve the physical act of pulling an ATM from the wall or floor and disassembling it elsewhere. Additional types of ATM attacks may involve data breaches, social engineering, and software vulnerabilities.
Successful adoption of biometric technology
Although the thought of biometric technology may conjure up images of George Orwell's 1984, for years now, several major Japanese banks have been using some form of biometric technology to combat ATM fraud. One example is the Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi, which uses palm vein-pattern biometrics for account and identity authentication. After inserting the card and entering a PIN, the user holds his or her hand over a sensor on the ATM for verification purposes. Because palm vein patterns are unique to each individual, others are not able to withdraw money using stolen cards. The palm vein information is stored in the card itself, which also keeps the biometric information hidden from bank employees.
In 2006, a new Japanese law made banks liable for fraudulent ATM withdrawals. Prior to the law's passage, banks did not impose withdrawal limits and did not protect against losses due to theft. As a result of the new law, today more than 90 percent of Japan's banks use some form of vein-pattern recognition.
Biometrics obstacles
A lack of standardization and the costs of implementation ring in at the top of the list when we consider why the financial services industry is apprehensive about integrating this technology. Also topping the list are privacy concerns and general consumer apprehension. But surprisingly, consumers have offered positive feedback when asked about the use of biometrics to combat fraud. In fact, when asked what they would choose, more consumers preferred using biometrics as an additional authentication tool over a one-time password device.
Enlarge |
Will banks be willing to invest the time and money into technology that may or may not become an industry standard? Or are some banks waiting for other banks to serve as pioneers in the United States before they invest in biometric ATM machines?
Creating a chain of trust
U.S. consumers have historically shown reluctance to embrace new technologies until their reliability and trustworthiness have been vetted in the marketplace for a number of years. Part of building this trust will require building a track record of robustness with respect to both security and reliability. While concerns about biometrics may abound, these concerns can be addressed by educating the user and industry.
The concept of biometrics shows great potential for combating ATM fraud, but is it the panacea? Or is the key simply using technology more advanced than that employed by the bad guys, staying one step ahead of them rather than one step behind?
By Ana Cavazos-Wright, senior payments risk analyst in the Retail Payments Risk Forum at the Atlanta Fed
September 27, 2010 in ATM fraud, biometrics, fraud | Permalink
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Oddly enough this article came out recently:
This isn't to say that combining a biometric with a card and PIN could make it less 'inherently fallible'...
The biometric needs to be reliable enough to replace one of the authentication factors with a more effective method. Otherwise you are creating more work/effort/barrier for the consumer to transact with the payment method.
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Mike Urban |
September 29, 2010 at 06:01 PM
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Changes Coming For Some North Texas HOV Lanes
To help ease congestion, TXDOT will soon allow people driving by themselves to use the HOV lanes along LBJ – east of Central Expressway – south to I-30.
Governor Considers Special Session On Highway Funding
Governor Perry and state lawmakers are considering using a special session to deal with the issue of funding new road construction in Texas.
Mom Trying To Save Christmas By Finding Person Who Caused Wreck
This won't be an easy Christmas for a Dallas mother. She was involved in a horrific accident along the LBJ in Garland last week.
Grandmother Rescued From Dallas Flooding
When Dallas firefighters arrived, the water was up to Dorothy Hoenig's neck and the 71-year-old's SUV was nearly submerged.


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Ratan Tata hopes to restart Nano sales after fiery start [w/video]
When India's Tata introduced the Nano in 2009 at about $2,500, it was a hot-seller. It was expected to set the world on fire with demand for cheap wheels. In fact, a year after its rollout, the Nano almost did set the world on fire after at least three units burned to a crisp. Sales plummeted to a record low of 509 in November, 2010.
Ratan Tata has run the company for 20 years and plans to retire at the end of this year. But before he leaves the company, he hopes to revive sales of the little car he helped develop.
"The Nano is something I would love to make successful because I don't think it's exploited its full potential right now," Tata said in an interview with Bloomberg TV India. "There has to be another push to make Nano what it can be."
Extended warranties for current Nano owners, as well as promises that the fires were only isolated incidents, were the first step at restoring confidence in the Nano. A new version of the Nano came out in November with a larger engine, and July sales totaled 5,485. In all of last year it sold 74,527. By comparison, Suzuki sold 491,389 examples of its competing Maruti brand.
In the this video, Ratan Tata talks a bit about the company's purchase of Jaguar and Land Rover and of his upcoming retirement.
Related GalleryTata Nano - Jay Leno
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This is a syndicated post from The Daily Register. [Read the original article...]
By BRIAN O'NEEL |
On Feb. 25, 1990, Terri Schiavo collapsed in her Florida apartment. Two years later, her husband Michael sued her doctors for malpractice, and a jury awarded him $1.5 million for the rehabilitation therapy he testified she… (218)


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Legislators in Georgia Actually Believe That Obama's Hawaiian Birth Certificate Might Be a Forgery
• Eleven states have proposed legislation questioning whether President Obama was born in the United States, citing the digital version of his birth certificate supplied by the state of Hawaii as inadequate. [MSNBC]
• Always working against his own credibility, Julian Assange has been cited in Private Eye magazine for suggesting that a Jewish conspiracy led by (not Jewish) Guardian editor Alan Rusbridger has launched a smear campaign against WikiLeaks. [The New York Times]
• The United Nations has suspended Libya from its post on the Human Rights Council, further calling for Col. Qaddafi's ouster. [The Wall Street Journal]
• Pop singer Nelly Furtado has announced that she will donate the $1 million she earned in 2007 by playing a private concert for Col. Qaddafi's family to charity. [BBC News]
• An anti-abortion group in Ohio plans to call "testimony" from a nine-week old fetus in a hearing for proposed anti-abortion legislation. The group plans to project an ultrasound of the fetus' heartbeat on a screen in the courtroom in what will be the first testimony of its kind. [The Huffington Post]


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Reviewed Pat's Famous Hot Wings
Mar 8, 2013 in Food Network Community Toolbox on FoodNetwork.com
"These wings are THE BEST EVER!!!! My husband and children love them. I will never look for another recipe because this recipe is that good. I fry my wings a little longer....we like really crispy wings. Also, I just use ranch dressing for the dip. Pete's hot sauce is great with this and I love the seasoning. This will be my go to recipe for ""


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Ronald McDonald House Charities® (RMHC®) of The Central Valley is all about providing stability and vital resources to families so they can get and keep their child healthy and happy. They rely on the members of the community to create a "home-away-from-home" for families that have to travel long distances looking for the best medical care for their seriously ill child.
Thanks to Mr. Appliance® of The Central Valley, RMHC of The Central Valley can continue to provide families the comfort of a home.
Dylan Conner, owner of Mr. Appliance of The Central Valley in Fresno, Calif. donated parts, labor and most importantly, his time to replace a broken dishwasher and repair a leaky refrigerator.
Conner says that Mr. Appliance of The Central Valley's commitment to RMHC comes from Mr. Appliance's code of values, where respect, integrity and customer satisfaction are the priorities.
"The first code of value is to treat others as we would like to be treated, and that value is the foundation of our Mr. Appliance relationship with RMHC," said Conner. "Mr. Appliance of The Central Valley considers it a privilege to join forces with an organization like RMHC that gives so much to families in need."
Mr. Appliance of The Central Valley hopes to encourage other companies and organizations to give back to the community as well.
"The Ronald McDonald House® program provides a 'home-away-from-home' for families so they can stay close by their hospitalized child at little or no cost to families," said Jennifer Smith, senior director of Communications and Special Programs, RMHC. "Our Houses are built on the simple idea that nothing else should matter when a family is focused on healing their child- not where they can afford to stay or where they will get their next meal."
Mr. Appliance of Central Valley serves Fresno, Kings and Tulare counties.
Follow us on Twitter @MRACValley and Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MrApplianceCentralValley.


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From artists pushing the boundaries of their materials to industry professionals examining the current state of photography, our Present Tense lecture series offers insight into the heart of what makes unique and passionate images. Join Medium this fall at the Lafayette Hotel as we bring you a diverse line up of engaging lectures and events for photographers, collectors, and fans of the medium itself!
Our 2014 lecture series kicks off with a Keynote Lecture by Duane Michals, followed by two days of presentations by some of the most influential figures in photography. All lectures take place at the historic Lafayette Hotel in the North Park neighborhood of San Diego. Stay tuned, registration opens in spring 2014!


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by WAGmob (Simple 'n Easy)
Developer Notes
* * * * * WAGmob: An eBook and app platform for learning, teaching and training !!! * * * * *
WAGmob brings you Simple 'n Easy, on-the-go learning app for "Engineering Math".
The app provides:
1.Snack sized chapters for easy learning.
2.Bite sized flashcards to memorize key concepts....


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Looking for a gift with a super-personal touch? These delicate stackable rings certainly fit the bill.
10 Perfect Bridesmaid Gifts Under $100
Great and gimmicky as tank tops that scream "I'M A BRIDESMAID!" and sweatpants with "Mr. & Mrs. So-and-So" splashed across the butt may be, they're no replacement for a truly beautiful bridesmaid gift. The best ones come with some aspect of personalization—but there are also tons of ready-to-order presents out there that'll make the hardworking girls in your bridal party smile. Click through for 10 awesome examples, all of which ring in at under $100!
For more wedding ideas, check out our June/July issue!
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Spotlight Recipes: 25 Vegetarian Favorites
by Karen Ostergren in Healthy Recipes, April 21, 2010Whether you're a committed vegetarian or vegan or just want to try something new, meatless meals provide great variety to your dinner table meal line-up. They can be both delicious and healthy (foregoing meat isn't an excuse to eat cheese pizza every day!) We chose 25 tasty recipes covering all of the major food groups vegetarians should be eating (these are healthy picks for meat-eaters, too): fruits and veggies, whole grains, beans/legumes, nuts, and seeds.
All of these recipes are vegetarian-friendly, although some call for eggs or dairy products. Those marked with a (v) are vegan, meaning they use no animal products — no butter, eggs, cheese, honey, etc. And like all our recipes, each has fewer than 450 calories and 15 grams of fat.
1. Vegetarian Summer Rolls (v)
2. Cool Cucumber Soup (v)
3. Eggplant and Onion Soup with Fresh Thyme (v)
4. Vegetarian Chili
5. Chickpea and Spinach Salad with Cumin Dressing and Yogurt Sauce
6. Maple Granola (v)
7. Couscous with Pistachios and Scallions (v)
8. Cucumber Bell Pepper Quinoa (v)
9. Spelt Wheat, Pear and Watercress Salad
10. Cottage Cheese Biscuits
11. Edamame (v)
12. 2-Alarm Tofu Dip (v)
13. Barefood Contessa's Hummus (v)
14. Split Pea Burgers (v)
15. Tempeh Pepper Steak (v)
16. Greek Caponata (v)
17. Grilled Onions and Mushrooms with Limed Sour Cream
18. Grilled Zucchini Rolls with Herbs and Cheese
19. Eggplant Dip with Pomegranate and Tahini (v)
20. Pineapple with Spicy Sugar Dip
21. Cornmeal-Crusted Roasted Ratatouille Tart
22. Blueberry-Almond French Toast Bake
23. Spaghetti Frittata
24. Mexican Tortilla Pizza (v)
25. Fettuccini Alfredo
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Preview 'Minnesota's National Park Legacy' film
Not to be out-shined by Ken Burns, the Voyageurs National Park Association, along with National Park Service sites in Minnesota and Twin Cities Public Television, have produce an educational film highlighting the importance of conserving the state's National Park sites.
The 30-minute film, titled "Minnesota's National Park Legacy," will air Oct. 4 on TPT following the six-part series "The National Parks: America's Best Idea" by documentary filmmaker Burns.
Those who can't wait until Oct. 4 can see a special premiere screening tonight at 7 at the University of Minnesota's Bell Museum of National History or tomorrow at the Backus Community Center Auditorium in International Falls, Minn.
Note: The audio in this clip is not properly synched to the video, but that problem doesn't distract from the beautiful cinematography.
More like this
- National parks, including Minnesota's Voyageurs, to get their own U.S. coins
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WASHINGTON, June 15, 2012 — Receiving a diagnosis of any illness can knock the wind out of us. It takes a while to breath normally again. We may experience symptoms of depression while we adjust to the chronic diagnosis and learn to manage it. After a period of adjustment, the depressive symptoms usually diminish, but sometimes not.
Some illnesses, such as Crohn's disease, have symptoms that overlap with those of depression. For example, feelings of helplessness and a diminished sense of worth are common signs of depression, but also typical reactions to living with a chronic illness.
Crohn's is a cyclical disease of the digestive tract and intestines, causing the tissue to inflame and swell. It hurts to think about it. Other symptoms are chronic diarrhea and abdominal cramps, rectal bleeding, fever, weight loss, and the development of ulcers. This illness requires regular monitoring by a physician and continuous monitoring by the patients.
Most chronic illnesses are not thought to cause depression, including Crohn's, though it can negatively alter people's perception of themselves. Managing the illness can wear sufferers down as well.
Adjustment or depression?
It is easy to imagine that adjusting to an illness, with chronic diarrhea as a common symptom, is difficult. There is a period of adjustment that may include a depressed mood, and after adjustment there might be periodic periods of sadness or anxiety. How do Crohn's patients know whether their bad moods are part of an adjustment period, or are a serious mental health issue?
A physician or mental health professional will look at how long the depressive symptoms have lasted and factor in the symptom crossover between depression and Crohn's disease. Many people with Crohn's benefit from seeing a psychotherapist and some choose to take antidepressants.
Crohn's and Depression Share Symptoms of:
irritability, anxiety
feelings of helplessness or diminished worth
chronic fatigue or lethargy
loss of appetite, unintended weight loss
Crohn's self care
Sadness is a very understandable feeling to experience when you do not have control over your bowels. Though understandable, sadness should be a stepping stone for moving forward. A temporary heartfelt mope, or a good cry, helps us grieve what is lost and accept the undesirable new. It might take a while to generate a more positive perspective about having Crohn's, but doing so is one of the best ways to manage the disease.
Maybe the most important step for a Crohn's patient is finding some "crohnies," a support community of other Crohn's sufferers. Being with those who understand intense intestinal issues is supportive and encouraging, also a great way to pick up effective coping tips from those who have been around the Crohn's block.
It is recommended that Crohn's patients get plenty of rest but maintain outside-the-home activities as much as possible. Isolation causes depressive symptoms in most people. Spending time outdoors, socializing with friends, and pursuing interests are human necessities, with or without Crohn's.
Supporting people with Crohn's Disease
Knowing your body can betray you at any time, anywhere, is a lot to handle; what an emotional potpourri for people with this illness. It would be a rare person who never felt deep in the dumps about it.
If you know a Crohn's patient that also has chronic disorganization-itis, remind them to set up their pill box or, if necessary, help them do it.
Drive Crohn's patients to doctor's appointments or support group meetings; go with them to their appointments to get in on what the doc has to say.
People with this illness always need to know where the nearest bathroom is. Going out of the house may involve bathroom location planning that you can, or may need to be, part of.
Keep a "first aid" kit in the car, to take care of any sudden flare ups your friend or loved one may have.
Listen to them without offering anything other than your attention.
What do you mean it isn't funny?
The one thing we all can fall back on is humor. Even Crohn's has a funny side according to Ben Morrison, the Crohn's comic. He points out that it is the perfect legitimate reason for getting out of jury duty, that sufferers get to occasionally take state of the art painkillers, and if you do not want to visit your second cousin's aunt Petunia, you can always "pull out the old "wicked flare" card."
Where can you find an colossal amount of good information about Crohn's disease? You will find answers to questions you never even thought to ask at Healthline.
This article is the copyrighted property of the writer and Communities @ WashingtonTimes.com. Written permission must be obtained before reprint in online or print media. REPRINTING TWTC CONTENT WITHOUT PERMISSION AND/OR PAYMENT IS THEFT AND PUNISHABLE BY LAW.


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Mike ScullyBy Scott DeVaney© Daily Radar, Direct Hit, November 2000. Mike Scully is the man in charge of the funniest sitcom of all time -- and this is his story The Beatles did it. The Godfather did it. And The Simpsons continue to do it. Each of the above pulled off the hardest trick in show business: appealing to the masses while retaining the highest level of artistic merit, hailed by the world's harshest critics. Perhaps filmmaker John Waters summed up the Simpsons' allure best when he said "The Simpsons is a great, radical show. That there could be a show for the whole family, at that hour, about that... This never could have happened when I was in grade school. It's a subversive show in the best sense, because parents don't realize what their kids are watching. It's like a sneak attack." Those "sneak attacks" have been guided the last few years by Mike Scully, the show's executive producer. As the show runner of The Simpsons, Scully is basically responsible for everything. He leads the writers' room on a daily basis and has final say on what storylines and jokes get the green light. He oversees the voice recording sessions and manages the animation as well. Scully first joined the writing staff in 1993, so he knows a little bit about the show's history. Thursday night, Mike was nice enough to give us a call on his car phone as he made his way to a seminar about the The Simpsons on the UCLA campus. Not only can the guy manage the greatest show of all time, but he can give a fantastic interview while negotiating perilous LA traffic. Just before I started the questioning, Scully warned: "If you hear the sound of a car wreck, the interview is over." Direct Hit: What's the toughest part of your job as show runner of The Simpsons? Mike Scully: Hmm, probably just trying to get all the writers to decide on where to order lunch. DH: Can you see yourself ever producing another sitcom after so many years working on arguably the best sitcom of all time? MS: Well, I hope so, because I have a live-action series currently in development. It's a project starring a great comedian named Robert Schimmel. We actually started developing the show last year, but Robert was suddenly diagnosed with cancer and underwent many grueling months of chemotherapy. Fortunately, Robert's cancer is in remission and hopefully he's beaten it for good. But, you know, there are certainly different creative challenges when writing for a live-action show versus animation. In The Simpsons we can say, "wouldn't it be funny to do this scene in China," and bam, you just draw it and you're in China. With live action, you don't have that sort of freedom. As a writer, you really get spoiled on The Simpsons. I tell all of our younger guys to enjoy this while it lasts, because you'll never have it this good again, from a creative perspective. I mean, we don't even need to get network approval before we develop stories. They pretty much leave us alone. A lot of shows can really get suffocated by network meddling. DH: Actually, you bring up a point that I was planning on asking you about. Has there ever been an instance where you guys really wanted to do an edgy story, but the network stepped in and simply said "no way"? MS: Not really. But there was one time they looked at an early draft of a script and voiced some concern. It was a couple of years ago -- the episode where Homer and Marge struggle to rekindle some excitement for each other in the bedroom ["Natural Born Kissers"]. After we [writers] established their marital problems, we needed to find a way to resurrect their passion, and we came up with the idea that they get excited by the prospect of getting caught by having sex in dangerous, public places. The network was worried about the overtly sexual theme of the story and I had to promise them that we would handle it tastefully. I think we pulled it off. At the end, Homer and Marge sprint away from a miniature golf course where they were having sex, but no one really catches them in a compromising position. DH: After all these years, your core audience is pretty much locked into place and extremely faithful. If your ratings remain fairly consistent, how much longer could The Simpsons conceivably stay on the air? What's the biggest obstacle in keeping the show on the air? MS: You know what's weird? We're actually gaining new, young fans that weren't even born when the show first aired. Regarding when the end will come, you know, I've been wrong so many times before that I've stopped guessing. When I first came on staff, I thought I'd be lucky to experience it for a couple of years before they pulled the plug. Then I thought we were close to the end a few years ago. So, I'm no expert. The biggest challenge for us is consistently coming up with good stories. We've done so many storylines over the years. It's becoming increasingly difficult to find fresh areas to explore. I go into every season now with a certain philosophy and I share it with the staff: We can't make 22 great episodes. It's just not going to happen. Of course, we try to write 22 great scripts, but there'll inevitably be a few that just don't work as well as we'd like them to. DH: Well, I can tell you right now that last week's episode where Homer was Burns' personal Prank Monkey will be remembered as one of this season's truly great episodes. MS: Thank you. DH: I think one of the reasons the show has been as successful as it has over the years is because it evolves. The Simpsons of today is certainly not The Simpsons of 1989. If the show is to, say, survive another three or four seasons, do you forecast any major thematic changes in the show? MS: Not really. Like I was saying before, it's all about the stories. If we get to the point where we're not coming up with good stories, it's over. But it's hard to know when you've gotten to that point until you're already past it. It's kind of like being an athlete competing beyond your prime. You don't know you're beyond your prime until you start to get kicked around. (Laughing) The American audience does a pretty good job of letting their entertainers know when it's time to get off the stage. DH: On some level in the back of your mind, you've certainly thought about the prospect of the show's final episode, and if you'll still be running the show when that sad day comes (Scully laughs). What do you feel are some issues that need to be addressed in such a historic episode? MS: Oh man, I don't know. Honestly, we really don't talk about it that much, because who knows when that's going to happen? (Long pause) But, you know, I think the most important thing is that it should just be funny. I'm not really a big fan of final episodes that try to force some nice and neat little resolution to an entire series where, you know, someone gets married, or gives birth, or a character decides to move out of the house and go to Hollywood. I don't know, I suppose that certainly does work in some cases. Everyone wanted to finally see the war end in M.A.S.H. DH: We all know that Matt Groening created the lead characters and James L. Brooks and Sam Simon were behind the early development of the show, but who are some of the lesser-known names that you feel really played a major role in creatively shaping the show? MS: Oh wow. There are so many. From a writing point of view, I'd have to say people like Al Jean and Mike Reiss, Jon Vitti, George Meyer and John Swartzwelder have really contributed a lot over the years. On the animation side, David Silverman is really an unsung hero. He was a director for us early on and then ended up producing. He's largely responsible for the consistent look of the show and how it developed a better pace than it had during the first couple of seasons. DH: You know, I've always been curious about that -- how the show retains such aesthetic consistency despite changing directors. MS: Yeah, you can credit David with a lot of that. DH: Other than the principal characters, who are your favorite and least favorite supporting characters on the show? MS: I consider a lot of the "secondary" characters to be pretty vital to the show. I think you need characters like Mr. Burns, Moe and Flanders to make the show complete. If I had to pick a favorite bit character though, I'd have to go with either The Comic Book Guy or Professor Frink -- he always makes me laugh. When Hank Azaria steps up to the mic to record Frink, he doesn't even know what he's going to say half the time. I think his mouth moves a split-second after his brain and he'll surprise himself with some of the things he says. We have lost many great Frink takes because either Hank or myself will just lose it and start cracking up in the booth. I really don't have a least favorite character. We don't use Hans Moleman much anymore. And Barney's kind of fallen by the wayside DH: Barney's great! Why's that? MS: Well, he's sort of the same joke over and over again. And ultimately, he's kind of a sad character. Even in a comedy, when somebody is struggling with alcoholism... well, it's a tough issue. We've actually considered sobering him up for good before. DH: Interesting. But then you've got the old comedy theory that behind all good humor, there must be a certain underlying level of tragedy. One of my all-time favorite Barney moments was when his film about his struggles with alcoholism wins the Springfield Film Fest and upon winning the award, Barney exclaims that he doesn't even remember making the film. MS: Yeah, true. That was funny. DH: Do you have a favorite episode of all time? MS: Oh, man. I don't know if I could choose just one. DH: Well, let's say you could only watch one Simpsons episode again for the rest of your life, and you had to pick just one, which one would it be? MS: Well, I should probably pick one that I wrote so I can keep getting residual checks. No, actually, if I had to pick just one, I might go with "Homie The Clown," where Homer goes to Krusty's clown college. I love that one. DH: At Direct Hit this week, we've been counting down the "50 Greatest Moments in Simpsons History." Do you have a favorite moment or specific joke from any particular show that never fails to send you into hysterics? MS: (After some thought) Yeah. I'd have to say it's the scene where Homer attempts to jump the Springfield Gorge on a skateboard to teach Bart a lesson. When he falls down the Gorge a second time after the ambulance wrecks -- that gets me every time.
CAPTION: Everything about this man is funny... Including the mullet. |
Last updated on September 22, 2002 by Jouni Paakkinen (email@example.com) |


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Life of JoyThis is Eric Schwartzman's collection of Glenda Schwartzman's artwork. It is available to her friends and family, so please take a moment to review each gallery.Please contact Eric to make arrangements to pick-up or have shipped those pieces you're interested in. All pieces have been properly packed for shipping. Please contact Fine Art Shipping directly at 310-677-0011 and give them the size of the piece and the ship to location for a quote. All pieces are currently being stored in Santa Monica. We hope you can find a piece that reminds you of Glenda and brightens your home.
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Thank you for your interest in Ko Olina Resort News! The public relations team at Ko Olina strives to support the media in every way and are committed to providing materials in the most accurate and timely manner possible. For more information contact our public relations team at: email@example.com.
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KO OLINA, Oahu, Hawaii -- JW Marriott Ihilani Ko Olina Resort & Spa might be the best golf resort on Oahu.
It has played host to many NFL Pro Bowl players during the January all-star game over the years. Built in 1993, the AAA Four Diamond Award-winning resort overlooks a protected, secluded oceanfront cove perfect for families with young children.
The hotel's unique design showcases a collection saltwater ponds filled with reef sharks and stingrays. Children can feed the sea creatures during an interactive program called the Reef and Ray Adventure.
All 387 guest rooms and suites were refreshed in 2011 with sea blue and sand colors to reflect its oceanfront setting. The Ihilani Spa, refurbished in 2010, offers traditional Hawaiian lomi lomi massages and an authentic Thalasso treatment in a jetted tub filled with seawater piped in from the ocean. A separate pool and rooftop tennis courts complete this relaxing 35,000-square-foot retreat.
Across the street, Ko Olina Golf Club has been regularly holding LPGA Tour events since the 1990s. Man-made waterfalls and landscaping have created a pretty palette for golf in paradise. The resort course designed by Ted Robinson plays fair with a few dramatic shots thrown in for fun.
Splurge on dinner at Roy's Ko Olina Restaurant next to the clubhouse. Or stroll down to Paradise Cove for a Hawaiian luau. These are just a few of the reasons Ko Olina translates in Hawaiian to "place of joy."
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The shake-up in Chicago continues. On the same day that long-time general manager Jerry Angelo was fired, offensive coordinator Mike Martz has resigned. With quarterbacks coach Shane Day also reportedly on the way out, the Bears will be left in an awkward situation with voids in the front office and the coaching staff but the head coach still in place.
It's not apparent at this point if Martz was gently forced out the door, but the development is a little bit odd. If you're going to clean house, clean the whole freakin' house. Why is it that Lovie Smith continues to survive while everyone surrounding him takes bullets?
It's not clear what Smith has on the McCaskey family and/or team president Ted Phillips, but he's staying on despite the fact he's made the playoffs just once in five years with a more-than-capable roster.
The way I see it, only under extremely rare circumstances should a general manager be fired and a head coach kept in place. Now you can expect Smith will want to have a say in who gets hired to essentially be his boss while also having to find a new offensive coordinator and new quarterbacks coach. In addition to that being quite a lot on one man's plate when he's trying to prepare for the draft and free agency, that also jeopardizes the health of the hierarchy in Chicago.
If Martz did indeed make his own decision to escape, it's a bold one. With Jay Cutler and Matt Forte healthy again in 2012, the Bears could do some serious damage on offense. He may be thinking about potential openings in Cincinnati, Green Bay, Atlanta, Carolina and Denver, but his style and approach doesn't suit everyone.
With so many tasks at hand, look for the Bears to take the cheap and easy route by sliding offensive line coach Mike Tice into the offensive coordinator role. And with his big name and reputation, look for Martz to find work elsewhere, either at the pro or college level. He has a superb offensive mind, and could be quite beneficial in the right place.


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found a new home!
Plenty of my friends are looking
for one too. Find a pet to adopt.
Find a pet to adopt |
My name is Sammy!
Facts about Sammy
- Breed: Labrador Retriever/American Pit Bull Terrier Mix
- Color: White
- Age: Young
- Size: Med. 26-60 lbs (12-27 kg)
- Sex: Male
Sammy's Info...
I am already neutered, housetrained, in need of an experienced adopter, up to date with shots, good with kids, good with dogs, and good with cats.
Sammy is a male neutered Labrador Retriever/Pit mix who weighs aprx 55-60 lbs & is around 2yrs.He's up to date with vaccines & heartworm negative. He came to Stray Haven (a home-based rescue where animals live in the family home) as an owner surrender after spending time alone on a busy road under a car during an extremely hot day. Sammy is very affectionate with his human companions & loves to play. He gets along great with other dogs & loves being with them. His canine playmates at Stray Haven consist of: Dachshund; Pomeranian; Beagles; Pit's; Walker Hounds and young puppies. He's gentle while playing with younger, smaller dogs & throws his weight engaging with those basically his size. Sammy also likes cats. While he's never hurt any, he does like to chase them. Supervision is recommended during Sammy's interaction with cats. He enjoys toys & treats. Loves walks, but does need lease training. Sammy goes in/out of the doggie door for play & potty breaks, but stills needs house training. He's content sleeping in the bed with his human companion, in a crate alone or lounging on doggie beds with other canines. Stray Haven is located on a dead-end dirt road in a rural part of VA surrounded by woods. Animals moving on up to the big city life will need time to adjust to the noise of traffic, trains, planes, sirens, door-to-door housing, shopping centers, etc. Thanks for caring about Sammy.
Other Pets at Stray Haven
Why Adoption is a Great Option
Sammy, a Dundas Labrador Retriever/American Pit Bull Terrier dog was adopted! Here's how you can benefit by looking at adoption as an option to buying a Labrador Retriever/American Pit Bull Terrier for sale in Dundas, or seeking a Labrador Retriever/American Pit Bull Terrier dog from a breeder in Dundas.
- Rescues and shelter volunteers in Dundas already know the personality and tendencies of their pets. This means they can match you with the right pet. That will makes it much easier transition to owning a pet for yourself and your new pet.
- On average adoption fees are much less than you'd pay a Dundas breeder, or pet store. Plus most often rescue pets have already been to the veterinarian for a check-up, had a round of vaccinations, and are spayed or neutered. That is a lot of savings!
- You will become a hero, and give a needy dog or cat a loving home. In fact, there are even Labrador Retriever/American Pit Bull Terrier breeders who help with Labrador Retriever/American Pit Bull Terrier rescue. One puppy or kitten adopted in Dundas paves the way for another one to be saved.


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Educators & TrainersSummitSkills strives to have a two way communication process with educators and trainers. In the development and delivery of a product such as a qualification or framework, we liaise with providers to look at innovative ways to deliver education and skills. From initial consultation through support in delivery, to reviewing the product, this evolving process requires input from all areas of the industry. Our aim is to develop and maintain our strong links with delivery providers to ensure a high level of quality throughout the sector. Visit the sections below for more information on: |


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Wilmington man carrying loaded handgun arrested A convicted felon is arrested, after carrying a firearm. Wilmington Police say an officer observed Steffone Ross-Miller engaging in suspicious activity on Saturday morning in the 300 block of North Rodney Street. Police say Ross-Miller fled on foot, when police attempted to make contact with him. He was tackled by an officer in the 300 block of Delamore Place, before he tried to get rid of a loaded .380 caliber handgun. Ross-Miller was committed to Howard Young in lieu of $21,000 cash bail. |
Copyright © Jan 27, 2015, WDEL/Delmarva Broadcasting Company. All Rights Reserved. Advanced permission from Delmarva Broadcasting Company required for publication or rebroadcast. |


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I assume you're familiar with Abraham Maslow's hierarchy of needs. If not, you can check out the Wikipedia entry on it here. Simply put, it's a psychological theory that details the things people need to live happy, healthy, productive lives. It's often portrayed as a pyramid, with our most primal needs (food, water, health) towards the bottom and our more complex needs (self-esteem, creativity, respect) towards the top.
I've been using Maslow's pyramid in my creative writing classes the last few semesters to talk about conflict. If your character is fighting for something on this pyramid, I tell my students, you have a conflict that matters, a conflict based on universal human needs. If not, I tell them, most people probably won't care about your character's plight.
This idea is pretty tidy, and it provides me, a teacher, with a neat little entry point into thinking about conflict, but as the semester progresses, I'll let my students know that conflict in fiction is really much more complex.
I try to develop my students' understanding of conflict by pairing Maslow's pyramid with something a little weightier, like the speech William Faulkner gave when he accepted his Nobel Prize. In that speech (which you can read here), Faulkner tells young writers that there's just one thing worth writing about: "the problems of the human heart in conflict with itself."
Deep human conflict, Faulkner knew, isn't just about finding food or morality or safety or love. It's about finding food or morality or safety or love at the expense of something else.
If you have a character who's fighting for intimacy, that's fine. But most readers won't find that fight very interesting unless at some point the character is presented with a terrible choice.
Take Huck Finn.
Will he choose friendship by continuing to hide Jim as they float down the Mississippi (this need would fit under the love/belonging section of Maslow's pyramid)? Or will Huck do what his society expects him to do and turn Jim in (and this need would fit under esteem)?
Huck doesn't need just one thing. He needs two things, or three things, or twenty things. His story really takes off when he's forced to choose which of his needs he will fulfill and which of his needs he will abandon.
Huck, we sense, can't get everything he needs. And that's the key. Powerful conflicts in fiction often place one of Maslow's needs in direct opposition with another.
Interesting conflicts, then, aren't necessarily about the battle between good and evil. They're about the battle between our own human needs. Will we pursue safety or self-actualization? Will we choose belonging or esteem?
If your character wants one thing off of Maslow's pyramid, that's good. If your character wants two things of off that pyramid and will have to choose one over the other, that's better.


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WASHINGTON, D.C. - Michael Richard Molus III (a.k.a. Rick Molus) and Jason C. McCann pleaded guilty today, in United States District Court in San Diego, California, to the criminal offense of willfully of failing to provide information to the Internal Revenue Service regarding their individual federal income taxes.
This brings to seven the total number of defendants who have pleaded guilty under related plea agreements tendered on November 29, December 4, and December 6, 2001. United States Magistrate Judge Cynthia G. Aaron heard the pleas from co-defendants Michael R. Molus, Carol A. Molus, Mark S. Molus, Michael Richard Molus III (a.k.a. Rick Molus), Matthew K. Molus, Jason C. McCann and Dwayne L. Ellison. United States District Judge Napoleon A. Jones, Jr., scheduled hearings for all seven defendants on February 28, 2002. It is expected that Judge Jones will formally accept the pleas and impose sentences on that date.
Michael R. Molus and Carol A. Molus pleaded guilty on November 29, 2001, to one count each of conspiracy to file false federal individual income tax returns for the years 1991 through 1994. Michael and Carol Molus admitted that the scheme resulted in a loss of $871,000 in federal income tax revenue, according to their plea agreements.
"Once again, IRS criminal investigators and attorneys from the Tax Division of the Department of Justice have vindicated the interests of the people of the United States," said Eileen J. O'Connor, Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department's Tax Division. "These defendants cheated America's taxpayers out of nearly one million dollars. This case demonstrates that the Department of Justice is committed to taking appropriate action to enforce America's tax laws."
The defendants were indicted on August 15, 2000. An eighth co-defendant, Enrique Gomez Avila, is a Mexican citizen who remains a fugitive. According to the indictment, Michael and Carol Molus owned and operated Mexmil, a company formed in approximately 1978 and based in Santa Ana, California. Mexmil manufactured aircraft fuselage insulation blankets at a facility in Mexicali, Mexico. It then sold the blankets to Boeing, an aircraft manufacturer. Michael Molus is the father of Mark Molus, Rick Molus and Matthew Molus. McCann, Ellison and the three Molus sons were employed by Mexmil at various times between 1991 and 1995, according to the plea agreements.
Mark Molus, Matthew Molus and Dwayne Ellison pleaded guilty on December 4, 2001, to one count of willfully failing to provide information to the Internal Revenue Service regarding their individual federal income taxes.
According to the indictment, the tax fraud was accomplished principally through the fraudulent overstatement of Mexmil's business expenses by approximately $1.8 million. Instead of paying for Mexmil operations, Michael and Carol Molus used the money in other ways. Diverted proceeds were used to make up part of the down payment for a vacation home in Florida and to decorate the home and make purchases at Neiman Marcus. The indictment also charged that Mexmil funds were distributed to Mark Molus, Mark Molus, Rick Molus, Jason McCann and Dwayne Ellison, and that the men failed to report the income to the Internal Revenue Service.
People convicted of conspiracy to file false income tax returns can be sentenced to serve up to five years in federal prison and to pay a fine of up to $250,000. Those convicted of failure to provide material information to the Internal Revenue Service can spend up to one year in prison and be fined up to $100,000.
The Internal Revenue Service's Criminal Investigation Division conducted the investigation that resulted in the seven guilty pleas in this case. The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorneys Lori A. Hendrickson and Danny N. Roetzel, with the Department of Justice, Tax Division, Western Criminal Enforcement Section.


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Tezabi Totay are some funny political and social dubbed clips in Punjabi language by Geo TV..
Pakistan Film Magazine presents online Pakistani movies with details and other relevant info..
Tezabi Totay are some funny political and social dubbed clips in Punjabi language by Geo TV..
Siyasi Theatre is a political and social satire on Express TV.
Mazzaq Raat is an entertainment TV show by Dunya TV with host Noman Ejaz and top comedians like Amman Ullah Khan, Sakhawat Naz, Iftikhar Thakar etc..
Hasb-e-Haal is a political and social satire, which was launched by Aftab Iqbal on Dunya TV in January 2009. Famous stage actor Sohail Ahmed appears as the legendry character - Azizi. The host Junaid Saleem took over since April 2010. TV actress Najia Baig is co-host and the "Laughing Girl". Writer of this very popular TV show is Talha Ahmad Farooqui.
Ham sab Umeed say hayn is a political and social satire on Geo TV. It is written by Dr. Younis Butt and actress Noor is the host..
Khabarnaak is a political and social satire, which was launched by its host Aftab Iqbal on Geo TV on September 11, 2010. Aftab Ahmad Khan is the host with top comedians like Honny Albela, Saleem Albela, Mir Mohammad Khan etc..
Samaa Chaar is a political and social satire on Samma TV
» Click here for more Online Movies
Naila(Double version Punjabi/Urdu - 1992-01-31)Director: Hasnain Music: Wajahat Attray Actors: Madiha Shah, Shaan, Abid Ali, Tariq Shah, Bahar, Saiqa, Humayun Qureshi, Sabiha Khanum |
Lashkar(Punjabi - 1991-11-22)Director: Waheed Dar Music: Wajahat Attray Actors: Neeli, Sultan Rahi, Javed Sheikh, Ghulam Mohayuddin, Humayun Qureshi, Bahar |
Chhakka(Punjabi - 1992-02-07)Director: Imtiaz Quresh Music: Wajahat Attray Actors: Gori, Sultan Rahi, Saima, Shaan, Naghma, Bahar, Adeeb, Shafqat Cheema, Humayun Qureshi |
Latest film news, views, issues and videos on Pakistani movies, music and personalities..


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Katherine Stone was known as the "flag lady of Mount Dora."
That's the name people gave her when she lived in Florida, after many years of adorning her yard with thousands of American flags and her front porch with red, white and blue for Independence Day and any other patriotic holiday.
Now, they've brought their tradition to their new home on Calhoun Street in downtown Galax.
Guy Russell gave his first pint of blood 52 years ago, when his uncle suffered injuries from a car accident.
Soon after, the Galax resident made a wonderful habit and legacy of donating blood.
When Russell worked at a local factory, he recalls that his boss would come to each person and ask them to give blood for the American Red Cross — all on the company's time.
It made perfect sense that this year's pet show at the Galax Public Library was dedicated to the late Dr. Don Fincher, a beloved Galax veterinarian who passed away last month.
Fincher, as you'd expect, loved animals and caring for their well-being. He also loved books, making the site of the pet show the ideal venue.
The critter competition was once an annual feature of the library's summer reading program, but it hadn't been held for a few years. Children's librarian Carlene Poole brought it back to coincide with the last summer program under her direction.
Nursing home staff praised
I would like to take this opportunity to let everyone know what good people are employed at Waddell Nursing Home and Rehab in Galax.
Our mother and dad were both at Waddell for almost three years. While there, both received above-average care.
All the nurses, CNAs and everyone involved went out of their way to provide the special care our parents required while they were at the nursing home.
Cooperation between law enforcement led to 742 fugitives being taken off the streets in the Western District of Virginia, making the area safer for us all.
That cooperation obviously paid off, so why don't local, state and federal authorities work together more often?
Three of our local police departments joined forces with various other agencies under the direction of the U.S. Marshal Service for a month-long fugitive apprehension effort last month.
INDEPENDENCE — The Confederate statue that guarded the south lawn of the Historic 1908 Courthouse in Independence for nearly a century has been taken down — but only temporarily.
Erected in 1911, the statue has never before been removed.
Just before noon on July 7, a crane removed the statue from its perch for the first time.
For the past three years, the Historic 1908 Courthouse Foundation has been raising money to restore the statue.
Ask Derrick Davis anything about tea, and he can tell you all about it — the flavors, the health benefits, the quality, the history and the traditions.
Davis, co-owner of the family-owned and -operated Stringbean Coffee Shop and Shamrock Tea Room in downtown Galax, will host a series of tea cupping/tasting classes this summer to share his knowledge of the thousands of tea varieties.
"Tea is fun and enjoyable, and cupping is a way for people to get to know what they like to make the best purchase," said Davis.
It takes a lot of practice and a lot of prayer to make sure slow-cooked barbecue comes out just perfect for competition, said a nervous Cody Cline, whose team, Nervous Wreck, will compete in this weekend's Smoke On The Mountain state barbecue competition in downtown Galax.
Barbecue teams will battle this Friday and Saturday for the handmade banjo trophy and a chance to enter the 2010 "Memphis In May" World Championship in Tennessee.
With a fitting team name, Cline said he's as worried as always, even after years of competing.
INDEPENDENCE — Work continues to progress on a new regional water system that will serve the towns of Independence and Sparta, N.C.
Bobby Lane, of Lane Engineering, updated Independence town council during its regular meeting July 14 on the project, noting that it was about 50 percent complete.
Lane said the Virginia/North Carolina Regional Water Authority hopes to advertise for the water plant and intake within the next month, and that the water lines between Sparta and Independence are currently under construction.
HILLSVILLE — The state of the farmers' market and county fair and the future of agriculture in Carroll County is strong, officials said at the July 13 county board meeting.
County Administrator Gary Larrowe and Southwest Virginia Farmers' Market Manager Kevin Semones gave the Carroll supervisors updates on two linchpins of county farming — the produce cooling program and the upcoming county fair.