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Pedro de la Rosa led the way for McLaren as testing drew to a close at Jerez on Friday. In intense heat - track temperature exceeded 50 degrees Celsius - de la Rosa lapped the Spanish circuit in a best time of 1m 16.919s, just over two tenths quicker than the Williams of Nick Heidfeld.
"A productive day of testing for me today despite the delay earlier this afternoon, said de la Rosa after his MP4-20 required a gearbox change at lunchtime. I was concentrating on set up work in the morning moving onto the Michelin tyre programme in the afternoon. I completed several long stints this afternoon and we will now sit down with the engineers to evaluate all the information and select the tyres for the forthcoming grands prix."
In the second McLaren, Alexander Wurz, in action for the third consecutive day, continued with assessing the prime and option Michelin tyre for the German Grand Prix next weekend. In addition, a new front wing package was tested on his chassis throughout the day. Wurz switched cars to the one that Juan Pablo Montoya had been driving all week, as in Hockenheim the spare McLaren will be set up for the Colombian and with Wurz taking on third driver duties at this event he had the opportunity to acclimatise to Montoyas set-up.
Heidfelds second place gave Williams a much-needed boost. According to the team, the test provided a number of positive developments, including resolutions to some of the technical issues which have compromised their technical performance at the last two Grands Prix. They also validated some new aero components due for introduction at Hockenheim.
We have made some good progress, which is evident in the lap times, confirmed technical director Sam Michael. The test team has done a great job over the course of the test, despite the demanding conditions where temperatures have soared to over 40°C. Were looking forward to Hockenheim now where we will have some more aerodynamic parts to improve the FW27.
Ricardo Zonta was third fastest as he completed Toyotas programme, alongside Ralf Schumacher, 12th, and Olivier Panis, 14th in the V8-powered car (see separate story). We had a number of different brake ducts to test, explained Zonta. I also had a tyre programme to work through which was mainly concerned with evaluating the rubber available for the German Grand Prix.
"I was mainly concentrating on longer runs and race tyre assessment while Ralf did most of the performance work. I am confident that we have learned some information that will be useful at Hockenheim.
Schumacher added: "I just wanted to run through some different options with my race engineer because due to the accident I had at Indianapolis I have not really been able to test for the last month or so. That's why I have taken full advantage of the last opportunity before the summer break and done a full three-day test."
Summing up Toyotas three-day session, chief test engineer Gerd Pfeiffer commented: It has been very interesting with the drivers all running very different test agendas. Ralf has been doing a tyre programme as well as working on his own individual set-up with his race engineer. Ricardo's schedule has included some comparison tests for brake cooling and we had Olivier doing the new V8 engine programme. Wednesday was the first time that we put the V8 engine on the track and so we did not do so many laps, but it was a good first run. On Thursday we had some technical issues with the engine and the hydraulics, but nothing more than you would expect at an engine shakedown. On Friday we did quite a lot of laps in the morning and Olivier was very impressed with the general performance level.
Takuma Sato, Anthony Davidson and Enrique Bernoldi were charged with BARs final days work. Sato was the quickest, in fifth, despite a mid-morning engine failure costing him time. Davidson was seventh as he continued the evaluation of new aero components started by Jenson Button earlier in the week, while Bernoldi, running a hybrid development chassis for 2006 systems, was 13th. The Brazilian alternated his running with the other two BAR cars.
"This week has been incredibly hot, which has been the perfect preparation for the next three races in Hockenheim, Budapest and Istanbul, said Mark Ellis, BARs chief test engineer. Once again we have been able to test many new components, thanks to the hard work at the factory, in our efforts to get back on terms with the championship leaders."
At Sauber, Jacques Villeneuve took over the C24 from team mate Felipe Massa and covered 95 laps on his to eighth in the timesheets. "We had a good morning session and could achieve a reasonably quick lap time, explained test engineer Paul Russell. The car was fast immediately, which enabled us to start with the scheduled programme straightaway.
In the afternoon we worked with Michelin and finished the tyre selection process for the forthcoming races in Hockenheim and Budapest. In addition, we did some long-runs and conducted further aerodynamic tests. Overall, considering the happenings the last days we nevertheless got quite a lot done. For us this was the final high-downforce test this season and after all it was a productive week."
Renaults Franck Montagny finished the day in sixth place. The Frenchman was joined by Finnish youngster Heikki Kovalainen, who went ninth to end the day just ahead of the Red Bull pairing of David Coulthard and Vitantonio Liuzzi.
Elsewhere on Friday, Michael Schumacher was in the cockpit of the F2005 for Ferraris fourth and final day of the week at Paul Ricard in France. The world champion, taking over from official test driver Marc Gene, used two different track layouts as he continued Bridgestone tyre development, completing a total of 137 laps.
The teams now go into their six-week summer test ban, with the next major session due to take place at Monza in Italy commencing August 24.
Unofficial Friday times from Jerez:
1. Pedro de la Rosa, McLaren (Michelin), 1:16.919
2. Nick Heidfeld, Williams (Michelin), 1:17.204
3. Ricardo Zonta, Toyota (Michelin), 1:17.259
4. Alexander Wurz, McLaren (Michelin), 1:17.341
5. Takuma Sato, BAR (Michelin), 1:17.350
6. Franck Montagny, Renault (Michelin), 1:17.369
7. Anthony Davidson, BAR (Michelin), 1:17.534
8. Jacques Villeneuve, Sauber (Michelin), 1:17.593
9. Heikki Kovalainen, Renault (Michelin), 1:17.656
10. David Coulthard, Red Bull (Michelin), 1:17.850
11. Vitantonio Liuzzi, Red Bull (Michelin), 1:18.184
12. Ralf Schumacher, Toyota (Michelin), 1:18.933
13. Enrique Bernoldi, BAR (Michelin), 1:21.182
14. Olivier Panis, Toyota (Michelin), 1:21.314


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The Illinois Burn Prevention Association was created to raise money for children who have experienced a significant burn injury that required hospitalization. Money is raised from an annual golf event and the generous support of sponsors.
Formerly called the Illinois Burn Camp, the one-week camp is now called "Camp I Am Me." The camp is in honor of the children who attend, where they build self-esteem while learning to deal with their injuries. To expand the event's outreach, proceeds will also benefit Loyola University Chicago – Stritch School of Medicine, the Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors, and FromTragedy to Triumph Foundation, which awards college students who have gone through Camp I Am Me with scholarships.
The Illinois Burn Prevention Association (IBPA) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. To download our 501(c)(3) tax exempt letter – click here.

subset: commoncrawl


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First Lady Honors Governor's Mansion DocentsFirst Lady Marsha Barbour hosted a luncheon for the Governor's Mansion docents on December 7, 2009. Retiring MDAH trustee and Mansion Committee chair Lynn Gammill was recognized for her 22 years of service. Three retiring docents were recognized for their service: Frances Kees (22 years), Sue McRoberts (10 years), and Barbara Magoun (3 years). Eight docents were recognized for giving the most service this year: Pauline Akers, Ruth Byars, Janis Roberts, Clytice Gardner, Judy Lacy, Freda Spell, Janet McLaurin, and Andi McDaniel. Pictured above are (front row seated) Lynn Stuart, Andi McDaniel, Barbara Magoun, Frances Kees, First Lady Marsha Barbour, Shirlee Lawson, Sarah Flanagan, and Sylvia Walker; (middle row seated) Mary Louise Nosser, Bernie Lieb, Jean Clarkson, Melanie McKinley, Alice Carol Mozingo, Janis Roberts, Judy Lacy, Earline Raines, and Doris Brickell; (back row standing) Janet McLaurin, Pat Pierce, Ruby McLemore, Sister Simmons, Joan Dattel, Mackie Jernigan, Sally Carmichael, MDAH director Hank Holmes, Shirley Abney, Tom Bowen, Ruth Byars, MDAH trustee and Mansion Committee member Jack Garner, Jean Hallman, Pauline Akers, Charlotte Turner, Babs Sevier, Ruth Tant, MDAH Museum Division director Lucy Allen, Clytice Gardner, Morella Henegan, Freda Spell, Mansion curator Mary Lohrenz, and Billie Henry. Not pictured are Lynn Gammill, Mansion Committee member Henri Burnham, Mansion administrator Cora Gee, and docents Jane Baird, Peggy Dawson, Buena Lee Huff, Jane Jones, and Sue McRoberts. |
Site Map | Contact Us |


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Getting Started with Motion
This Week on MacBreak Studio
By Mark Spencer | March 25, 2014
Is it time to learn Motion?
Motion is one of the companion applications to Final Cut Pro X (the other is Compressor). You use it to create motion graphics and visual effects, like animated title sequences, green screen composites, tracking shots, particle effects, and much more. It is also essentially a development tool, because all the effects, titles, transitions, and generators that are built into Final Cut Pro X were created with Motion - and can be modified in Motion to tailor them to your needs. And you can create your own effects for FCP X. In fact, perusing these Browsers in FCP X is a great way to get a feel for what you can make with Motion.
In this episode of MacBreak Studio, we go back to the basics for those who may be new to learning Motion. Instead of focussing on publishing effects for Final Cut Pro X, we concentrate on how to use Motion itself. After all, it is a standalone application that is an incredible deal at $50 for all the power it has.
For this example, I show Steve Martin from Ripple Training how to use Motion to build a label based on a reference image. And while you could certainly create this label in an image editing application like Photoshop®, building it in Motion opens up many more creative opportunities for animation. By using native shapes, text, and replicators, you can animate these objects with keyframes or behaviors.
We only scratch the surface of Motion's capabilities in this episode, but if it piques your interest, search for some of our back episodes of MacBreak Studio or check out some of our training. Motion is my favorite tool for quickly and easily creating all kinds of motion graphic elements for my videos.
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Max: | March, 25, 2014
Very cool.
I'm curious: is it possible to replicate the original gradation on the points? Can you have a gradient fill that extends over all the replicated triangles?
Mark Spencer: | March, 29, 2014
Max, yes, you can do that by using an Image Mask to mask the entire layer with a large gradient.


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Tulips might only bloom in the spring, but their growing season actually begins in late summer or early fall, depending on your location. Knowing what's happening with your tulips all year long will help ensure a plentiful spring garden.
Tulips need to be planted in the fall to allow them to begin their life cycle. Ideally, they should be planted early enough so that they can begin to form a good root system before the ground freezes, but late enough so warm weather doesn't cause them to try to bloom. Generally speaking, the best time to plant tulip bulbs is about two weeks before the average first frost date in your area. Check with your local Cooperative Extension Office for first and last frost dates where you live.
Tulips need several weeks of cold weather to gear up for bloom time in the spring. On average, the soil temperature needs to be below 50 degrees Fahrenheit for about eight weeks. If you live south of USDA Hardiness Zone eight, you will probably have to "force" your bulbs, or fool them into thinking the weather is colder than it is.
Depending on the variety you've planted, tulips will begin to bloom from late winter into late spring. If you are growing hybrid tulips, once the bloom begins to fade you should remove it. This will allow the plant to put all its energy back into the bulb so that it can produce another flower next season. If you are growing wild or botanical tulips, however, you should allow the flower to go to seed, so that your tulips will spread.
In both cases, you will want to allow the leaves to yellow and die off naturally, keeping the plants well watered during this time. If you plan to replace your tulip bulbs every year, you can skip this step, but if you are trying to naturalize or perennialize your tulips, this time is important, as this is when the tulip stores its energy for next spring. Avoid cutting the greenery, or braiding or tying the leaves. Allow them to wither and die off, then gently pull them away from the bulb.
Once the leaves have yellowed and been removed, you should stop watering your bulbs. Tulips need a dry warm period in the summer months. For hybrid varieties you might choose to lift, or dig up, your bulbs and store them elsewhere. This isn't strictly necessary, however, and most people find it to be a hassle. As long as your summers are dry, your bulbs should be fine if left in the ground.
Wild, botanical, or species tulip varieties are particularly adept at spreading and returning year after year. Some hybrid varieties, such as the Darwin Hybrids and Emperor Tulips are bred to return for several years, needing replacement only when they stop producing flowers. Most hybrid tulips, however, should be treated as annuals and replanted each fall.
By knowing a bit about the life cycle of tulips and what tulip varieties you plan to grow, you can be sure to get the most out of your tulip beds this year, and for many years to come.
Photo by Delphine Devos


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Financial Awareness and Consumer Training for Students (FACTS)
Did You Know
- 75% of students are not ready to deal with the financial challenges ahead of them?
- 62% of final year students have 4 credit cards or more?
- Many students are accumulating debt at a record pace—final year students carry an average of $4,100 in credit card debt alone?
Students need a good financial education in order to make informed personal finance decisions and use credit wisely. That's why HESC has created the Financial Awareness and Consumer Training for Students (FACTS) program, an online, instructor-led program.
FACTS will help Financial Aid Administrators and High School Counselors with their efforts to increase student awareness of the dangers of accumulating too much debt and the benefits of saving. FACTS will give students a basic understanding of finance and credit. It may even help to reduce a college's loan default rate.
The FACTS Program
FACTS is a customizable financial literacy curriculum for students. It is presented as modules, each targeted toward a different age level or concentration. The presentations are rich in content yet easy to understand. Created using straightforward language, they cover practical topics such as:
- How to Manage Credit
- The Use of Credit Cards vs. Debit Cards
- Spending Plans
- Personal Financial Management Skills
- Identity Protection
Customized To Your Students Needs
FACTS modules are downloadable at any time.
FACTS Modules | |
Module Title | Target Audience |
Module 1: Smart Start | Younger, perhaps first time college students |
Module 2: Understanding Credit and Credit Cards | Older or graduate students |
Module 3: Identity Protection | All students |
Module 4: Money Wise ... Your Financial 411 | High school students |
Once downloaded, the modules can be delivered at your convenience. You decide on the best venue for your students, i.e., at workshops, assemblies, orientations, entrance or exit counseling sessions, and/or as part of a residential life program. Schools can present modules using the detailed speaker notes and useful handouts, or a HESC professional can present for you.
We're Here to Support You


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Mixed signals from the Obama Administration about talking to the Taliban do a disservice to Afghans, and betray earlier promises.More >>
Poetic justice for the latest alleged jihadists captured in Canada?More >>
In a little reported attack in June, the terrorist group Lashkar-e-Jhangvi claimed responsibility for murdering 14 school girls and 11 others in two bombings that sent a clear message on where these particular extremists stand on the matter of girls' right to education.More >>
What could possibly have motivated the terrorists in Victoria, Canada?More >>
The Taliban are sticking bombs in their bums. Super creative, except for one small problem: the 'bumbs' don't really work.More >>
We can't prevent all terror attacks from happening. But can the moral illiterates at least stop covering for these monsters?More >>
We must be careful to distinguish between understanding the depravity of terrorism and justifying it.More >>
Since the 2008 recession, "never let a crisis go to waste" has become the mantra of the left.More >>
One bombing suspect is dead. The other is still on the loose, but probably not for long.More >>
What root causes could possibly cause a popular contender for Prime Minister of Canada to stick his foot so firmly into his mouth?More >>
BUY @ the eSTORE


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Ad, Advertisment - Printed notice of something for sale paid for by the advertiser.
AP - Abbreviation for Associated Press, a wire service.
Art - Any photo, map, graph or illustration.
Assignment - A story a reporter is sent to cover.
Associated Press Stylebook - The standard reference source for reporters and editors on word usage, libel, numbers, titles, capitalization and commonly used words and phrases.
Balloon - A drawing, usually in a comic strip, which makes the words of a person in the picture appear to be coming directly from his mouth.
Banner - A headline in large letters running across the entire width of the first page.
Beat - A reporter's regular routine for covering news sources.
Body Copy - The main part of a story.
Bold Face - A heavy or dark type.
Box - Border around a story or photo.
Break - Initial news coverage of an event.
Broadsheet - A "standard" or large-sized newspaper. The measurements of broadsheet newspapers vary.
Budget - The lineup of news stories scheduled for the next day's newspaper.
Bullet - A large black dot used at the left edge of a column to mark each item in a series.
Byline - The name of the writer printed at the top of a story.
Caps - abbreviation for capital letters.
Caption - A title or explanatory phrase accompanying a picture. The larger type over a cutline.
Carrier - A person who delivers the newspaper to subscribers.
Circulation - The total number of copies of the newspaper distributed in one day.
City Desk - The area of the newsroom where local news events are covered.
Clip Art - A variety of art provided to newspapers on a subscription basis, for use in ads.
Clips - articles that have been cut out of the newspaper, short for clippings.
Classified Advertising - Advertising space usually purchased in small amounts by the public and published, by categories, in its own section of the newspaper.
Cold Type - Type that is produced photographically
Color - To add color to an ad to command attention and influences buying decisions.
Color Key - The negatives for the full color photo are made positive and put together to check to see if the colors match the original photo.
Column - The arrangement of horizontal lines of type in a news story; also, an article appearing regularly written by a particular writer or "columnist."
Column Inch - Space measurement - one column wide by one inch deep.
Columnist - A person who writes a regular column giving a personal opinion.
Compose - To set type or design pages.
Copy - All material for publication, whether written stories or pictures.
Copy Desk - Area of the newsroom where editing is done.
Copy Editor - The person who corrects or edits copy written by a reporter and writes headlines.
Copyright - An author's exclusive right of property for his works.
Correspondent - an out of town reporter.
Cover - To gather information and get facts for a story.
Credit Line - A line giving the source of a picture or art.
Crop - To eliminate portions of copy or photos by reducing the size.
Cut - To shorten newspaper copy; also means a newspaper photograph.
Cutline - The information below a picture or art, which describes it; also called a caption.
Dateline - The line at the beginning of a story giving the place and date of the reported incident.
Deadline - A time at which all copy for an edition must be submitted.
Dingbat - Any typographical devise used for ornamentation.
Display Advertising - Large, frequently illustrated advertisements usually purchased by retail stores, manufacturers, service companies; advertising other than classified ads.
Dummy - A diagram or layout of a newspaper page, showing the placement of stories, headlines, pictures and advertisements.
Ear - Either corner at the top of the front page (sometimes used for weather news or to call attention to a special feature).
Edition - The issue for one press run: home edition, state edition, final home edition, extra.
Editor - A person who directs the editorial policies; or a person who decides what news will go in the paper and where it will appear
Editorial - An article expressing the opinion of the newspaper regarding a certain subject.
Extra - A special edition of the newspaper, printed between regular editions, containing news too important to hold for the next regular edition.
Feature - A story in which the interest lies in some factor other than the news value, usually to entertain.
Filler - Short news or information items used to fill small spaces in the news columns.
Five W's - Who, what, when, where, why (sometimes "H" for how); the major questions answered in the lead of a well-written news story.
Flag - The newspaper's name on page one.
Folio - The number (s) of the page.
Follow-up - A story that adds more information to a story already printed.
Font - A complete assortment of type of one size and face.
Four-color - When a color photo is needed a slide is separated into the basic colors of red, yellow, blue and black.
Fourth Estate - A traditional name for the press, referring to it as the �fourth branch� of government; the term indicates the role and the importance of the free press in a democratic society.
Gutter - The margin between facing pages where the fold lies.
Hard News - Factual news stories without opinion.
Headline - An explanatory title over a newspaper article summarizing the main point for the reader.
Hot Type - old-style type made from molten lead.
Inserts - An advertisement that is printed apart from the regular press run, usually an independent printer, then "inserted" among the regular newspaper sections.
Inverted pyramid - A method of writing by placing parts of the story in descending order of importance.
Jump - To continue a story from one page to another.
Justify - To space out a line of type so that each line fits flush to the margin.
Kill - To strike out copy or take out type not to be printed.
Layout (also known as Makeup) - To position editorial, pictorial and advertising elements on a page to prepare it for the camera and printing.
Lead - The first few sentences or the first paragraph of a news story, containing the summary or the introduction to the story
Leading - The amount of space between lines.
Libel - Publication of material unjustly injurious to someone's reputation.
Logotype (logo) - A design bearing the name or trademark of a company or business.
Linotype - old style machine used to produce hot type, one line at a time (no longer in use).
Make-up - To position editorial, pictorial and advertising elements on a page to prepare it for the camera and printing.
Managing Editor - The editor who directs the daily gathering, writing and editing of news and the placement of news in the paper; working for him or her are the city editor, the copy editor, etc.
Market - people the newspaper wants to attract with its news and advertising.
Masthead - The matter printed in every issue of a newspaper or journal, stating the title, ownership, management, subscription and other non-news features.
Morgue - An area in the building where back issues of the newspaper are kept.
National Advertising - Ads placed by agencies for clients that feature national or regional information.
Negative - A photographic image in which the values of the original copy are reversed, so that the dark areas appear light and vice versa.
Newsprint - The uncoated, machine-finished paper on which newspapers are printed.
Newsstand - A single copy account that sells the papers over the counter.
NIE, Newspapers in Education - Program that provides newspapers, curriculum and other services for the classroom.
Obituary (Obit) - A biography of a deceased person printed in the newspaper shortly after the death is announced.
Offset - A printing method in which the plate transfers the image to be printed onto an intermediate surface called a "Blanket", which then comes in direct contact with the paper.
Op-ed - A page opposite the editorial page, where opinions by guest writers are presented.
Pagination - The computerized process by which a newspaper is laid out, or paged.
Plagiarism - Passing off as one's own the ideas and words of another.
Plate - An aluminum sheet that the negative is transferred to so that it can be run on the press.
Play - Emphasis given a story or page.
Press - Machine that prints the newspaper.
Press Run - Total number of copies printed.
Process Colors - Process of red, yellow and blue inks used separately or mixed.
Proof - A page on which newly set copy is reproduced to make possible the correction of errors.
Proofreader - One who reads proof pages and marks errors for corrections.
Publisher - The chief executive and often the owner of a newspaper.
Put the Paper to Bed - When the paper heads to press and newsroom has signed off all pages.
Quarterfold - Taking the standard size of the newspaper and folding into quarters, usually stitched and trimmed. Example: TV Guide
Rack - A metal stand that we sell papers from. These are placed in front of businesses, on street corners, etc.
Reels - Where the rolls of paper are mounted while running on the press.
Register - Marks Cross-hairs generally used to register one negative to the other for color registering.
Release - Advance information about a story given to the newspaper by the source of the news.
Reporter - A person who finds out facts about a story and then writes the story for the newspaper.
Review - An account of an artistic event, which offers a critical evaluation, the opinion of the writer.
Rewrite - (1) write a story again to improve it; (2) alter a story that appeared somewhere else; (3) or write a story from facts called in by a reporter.
Roll-end - What is left of a roll of paper when the press has completed its run. These are available for free to the public.
R.O.P. Run-of-Paper - Denotes advertising that appears within the newspaper itself.
Scoop - A story obtained before other newspapers or other media receive the information.
Single Copy - Sales of newspapers from a newsstand or rack; Papers sold one at a time.
Source - The supplier of information, such as a person, book, survey, etc.
Stringer - A part-time reporter or correspondent.
Syndicate - Association which buys and sells stories, features, columns, editorials, and other materials for newspaper use.
Syndicated Features - Material such as comics, advice columns, etc., supplied nationally to newspapers by news syndicates.
Tabloid - Taking the standard size of the newspaper and folding into half, usually stitched or stapled and trimmed.
Tube - A plastic receptacle with an open end for a carrier to deliver the paper.
Typo - Short for "typographical error," a mistake made during the production of a story.
UPI - Abbreviation for United Press International, a wire service.
VDT - Abbreviation for video display terminal.
Web Press - Machine used to print the newspaper. Paper is woven through the press to facilitate printing.
Wire Services - Newsgathering agencies such as AP and UPI that gather and distribute news to subscribing newspapers.


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Available lot for sale in Mactan Island Cebu.
It is located in Mactan Island, Cebu Philippines. The island has an airport, -(Mactan Cebu International Airport. The island has finest beaches and resorts in the Philippines, schools, churches, restaurants, a mall, hospitals, spa massage centers, clinics, and a lot more.
Price: Php 5,600 /sq m
Area: 1,250/ sq. m.
Location: Canjulao Lapu-Lapu Mactan
Location is near:
- access roads
- apartments, and
- other residentials
- Schools: Marie Ernestine School, Looc National High School, Gun-ob High School
- gasoline stations
- International airport
- 45 minute drive to SM shopping mall,
- 1 hour drive to Ayala Mall
For Inquiries, contact us for more info, +63 – 9065120934.
You can also fill-up the form below.


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Nurse Educator Opinions - page 3
Well, here I sit after having given two lectures on: Nursing Process and Cardiac plus one two hour review...I have given the test to the foundations class and the spread looks good. However, I can... Read More
0Nov 7, '04 by carolyndI do not consider myself hard but I am not easy either. I believe in taking the beginning student and helping them, using warmth and understanding, to learn the concepts of nursing. I have very firm expectations (parameters) but allow human flexability within the parameters. Keeping a student at a constant level of severe anxiety is not the way to teach. It is the way to cripple. I believe there are excellent students who will be terrific nurses and can withstand constant pressures but there are many more who will be excellent nurses but during nursing school are juggling an almost unbearable load. I want a student in the long run to be a caring and confident nurse. I want one who understands pressures and understands grace. I want one who treats myself or my family with an attitude of compassion and I cannot teach compassion if I am only a stern judge - one to be feared. I do not tolerate unprofessional behaviors, sloppy work, lateness, etc. I do allow students to fail if that is their choice but if they want to learn I will do my best to help them. That is why I am a teacher and not working for the dollars I could receive and the shorter working hours I could work if I were simply a nurse.
Quote from TinyNursenot an educator, but an ER nurse, single mom of a toddler.
If I didn't complete an assignment 2 years ago in nursing school, it was an automatic failure. I do not think you are hard on your students, you are rather easy. My nursing class was basically "threatened daily/weekly" with assingments, things that needed to be done. "do or fail"!!!
Nursing school is hard. ............ why??? because nursing is hard. nothing is given to you, you need to take ownership and be responsible. a decision is made every second and it is all on you.
if you can't make a decision and take ownership in nursing school, how are you gonna do it in the real RN world???
I've been a nurse for 1 1/2 years and now i know that the hardest instructors were the best instructors. Today i thank them for that.
Best of luck to you hopefully you teach the future well!!!!
\xoxo Jen -
0Dec 2, '04 by ProfRN4Quote from TinyNurseYou said it perfectly, tiny. Not everyonr is going to get through nursing school. If it were that easy, there'd be no nursing shortage.Nursing school is hard. ............ why??? because nursing is hard. nothing is given to you, you need to take ownership and be responsible. a decision is made every second and it is all on you.
if you can't make a decision and take ownership in nursing school, how are you gonna do it in the real RN world???
\xoxo Jen
In grad school, there is a concept that can not be understated: the teacher is the facilitator. We often talk about the "sage on the stage, vs. the guide on the side". I know this can't be possible in 101 or in the sciences, but I think this all ties into the critical thinking thing. And how can teachers 'facilitate' rather than 'teach' if students are not prepared?
I'm suddenly not looking forward to my future as an educator... -
0Dec 22, '04 by xmaxiexJust a quick note from a new grad . I worked full time raising three kids and hustled to make the whole thing work . I graduated with honors and learned a lot . I sat next to a nurse who barely passed , did the bare minumum and skated by , barely. I now work with this nurse and she scares me ! We have been out of school 6 months and she asked me yesterday where she could find a big enough syringe to mix humalog insulin and calcitrol !?! When I explained that first off calcitrol was to be IM and insulin sub Q she looked mystified and went on to say a few other things she said oh and walked away . Scary ! Make em work for it and if they dont let em go we need GOOD nurses!


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Eight new students applied to Palmer during the Admissions Department's recent travels to Puerto Rico during Hurricane Irene. The storm began battering the island soon after Senior Director of Admissions Karen Eden arrived, leaving many areas without power and making travel dangerous for several days. Despite the storm, however, San Juan Nights—the large recruitment event slated Wednesday and Thursday, Aug. 24 and 25—went on. Thousands of enthusiastic students turned out for the event, which was held at the El San Juan Hotel in Carolina. On Friday, Aug. 26, several students attended a prospective student dinner at Chili's Restaurant, where they learned more about Palmer and the admissions process from Ms. Eden. "This event is always fulfilling," said Ms. Eden. "Being able to bring Palmer and chiropractic to so many students is amazing. Even though there was a category one hurricane the week of our visit, we still had a successful endeavor."
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Downtown Scottsdale's greatest challenge may be to develop a unified vision for diverse interests in a city that is known for having its share of squabbles.
The city's historic core, a nearly two-square-mile area, contains nationally recognized galleries, trendy bars, popular eateries and some of the best shopping in the Southwest. Downtown also is where the city originated its motto "The West's Most Western Town," thanks to the fabricated Old Town district that sells that image to tourists in the form of souvenirs and sometimes entertainment.
With the eclectic mix of businesses downtown, achieving a common vision has not been easy. Scottsdale's downtown may be thriving compared with those of other East Valley municipalities, but that has not kept interested parties from debating what is best for the area's future.
One thing is certain. Downtown may be struggling by some accounts, but it remains one of Arizona's premiere destinations. And plenty of dollars are being spent to keep it that way.
"I think we have a pretty solid downtown, and I think we're on the cusp of becoming vibrant," said Ed Gawf, Scottsdale's deputy city manager, who directs downtown planning.
Scottsdale's downtown is the largest in the East Valley. It is bounded by Chaparral Road to the north, Miller Road to the east, Earll Drive to the south and 68th Street to the west. It contains 925 businesses employing 21,550 people, said Harry Higgins, city senior planner and city records.
Downtown is Scottsdale's second-largest em- ployment center — behind only Scottsdale Airpark, located just south of Frank Lloyd Wright Boulevard and east of Scottsdale Road.
Among other things, downtown features Scottsdale Fashion Square mall, with department stores such as Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Dillard's, Robinsons-May and Macy's.
At downtown's southern end, there is the expanding Scottsdale Healthcare Osborn hospital and Scottsdale Stadium — the spring training home of the San Francisco Giants. Also downtown are the city's main offices, Civic Center Mall, kitschy tourist shops, art galleries, dozens of restaurants and numerous glitzy clubs. The mix makes it a draw throughout the Valley and helps Scottsdale maintain its reputation as one of the best tourism cities in the country, merchants say.
Relying on tourism, though, has made downtown Scottsdale susceptible to outside forces. The terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, and a two-year downturn in the nation's economy hurt downtown.
City figures show Scottsdale Fashion Square generated $7.5 million in sales tax revenue in 2002. That's about a 4 percent drop from $7.8 million in 2001, said Phil Montalvo, the city's tax auditor manager.
Overall, sales taxes for downtown's four specialty districts — Old Town, Marshall Way, Main Street and Fifth Avenue — dipped about 6.5 percent, from $4.9 million in 2001 to $4.6 million in 2002.
A similar decrease occurred in the city overall, officials said.
"It's almost paralleling what's happened in the last year or so with revenues as whole for the city," Montalvo said.
Scottsdale has invested heavily in downtown in the past decade.
The city has spent $47.7 million since 1993 on street improvements, landscaping, incentives for developers, promotions and details such as holiday decorations and electrical upgrades.
The city also has budgeted $35 million between now and 2008 to keep downtown vital, city records show. Future projects include:
• Arizona Canal bank improvements, including at least one bridge over the Arizona Canal, an amphitheater, public art, landscaping and a public plaza with a water feature on Stetson Drive.
• Main Street Plaza Scottsdale, formerly known as the Loloma Arts District, a seven-acre project bounded by Main Street, Marshall Way and Goldwater Boulevard. A museum, loft homes, condominiums and more than 13,000 square feet of shops are planned. The city will fund the museum and provide some money for public parking.
• New parking, including two garages and a surface lot, and new signs also are planned.
Despite this investment, some merchants and residents said downtown is losing its edge because officials have allowed businesses to migrate to north Scottsdale.
An independent study of the downtown market released in February 2002 by Economics Research Associates, The Smith Group and Behavior Research Center, found that "residents of north Scottsdale are substantially less likely to visit downtown."
The study suggests Scottsdale should create a marketable "sense of place" downtown through more cultural facilities and programs, while still paying homage to its Western roots.
The city is to blame for businesses and shoppers going north, said Agnese Udinotti of the Udinotti Gallery on North Marshall Way.
"Along with that growth, they allowed the commercial activity to go," she said. That includes such places as Phoenix's popular Kierland Commons at Greenway Parkway west of Scottsdale Road; Desert Ridge Marketplace, just north of Loop 101 and Tatum Boulevard in northeast Phoenix; and the Promenade at Frank Lloyd Wr ight Boulevard and Scottsdale Road.
Udinotti, an artist and Paradise Valley resident, has worked in downtown Scottsdale for 40 years. She said downtown has grown, but not necessarily for the betterment of the galleries. After all, the majority of her business comes from out of state.
"Everybody's kind of struggling down here," agreed Wendy Cashaback, owner of The Love Bug, which opened downtown last year. Cashaback said hip shops are needed downtown, as opposed to "touristy stuff."
The Love Bug, a racy lingerie shop, may resemble a newer face emerging downtown. It's risque. It's young. And its synergy works well off nearby clubs and bars, such as Noyz on North Craftsman Court, and trendy restaurants.
"The evenings are busy, but during the day it's very, very quiet," Cashaback said of her business.
Others assert that downtown Scottsdale is pointed in the right direction.
"I hate to see this area go, because it's so classic," said Jaylene Detrick of Scottsdale. "When you think Scottsdale, Arizona, you think (downtown)."
Detrick has worked in downtown for 20 years. She now works at Salon Spectrum, and she said she's excited about the city's planned canal bank improvements just outside her workplace.
"We're in rejuvenation here," Detrick said.
Some merchants say the city's core is recovering from years of political neglect. They think downtown Scottsdale has been in need of attention and is finally getting it with the canal bank improvements and new parking.
"It will be great," said Dwayne Richard, executive director of the Downtown Scottsdale Partnership, which represents hundreds of businesses and property owners. "It's a sign of support and prosperity for the area."
Taxpayer investment in downtown have been matched by millions of dollars in private investments, city figures show.
Scottsdale Healthcare Osborn hospital has built a $15 million outpatient surgery center and two new parking garages totaling $6.5 million. The hospital also recently began constructing a $28 million trauma center to be completed in June 2004, said Mike Brinkley, president of Scottsdale Healthcare Realty Corp., the group that manages construction.
"This is a terrific downtown," Brinkley said. "I think people are fooled because central and downtown Scottsdale grows at, let's say, 1 percent, as opposed to north Scottsdale. But quality should not be synonymous with the growth rate. To me, downtown Scottsdale is a very exciting place to be."
Another project, Third Avenue Lofts, is set to bring more residents downtown.
The $31 million project at Third Avenue and Buckboard Trail will offer lofts for up to $1.4 million, said Ken Losch of Phoenix-based Magellan Real Estate Investments. Construction is set to finish in March 2004.
"By getting more residential in, you'll be getting more locals," Losch said. "When you get residential you start to create a different tenant mix, and you create nice pedestrian areas."
The James hotel, a $6 million renovation project for the former Old Town Hotel on the Civic Center Mall at Indian School Road, also is set to reopen in November.
And restoration of the 1950s Hotel Valley Ho, just a few blocks west on Indian School Road, also is under way. The hotel received historic status this year and is undergoing a $30 million refurbishment.
After 15 years of partners changing hands, the Waterfront Project also has a glimmer of hope.
Two 13-story condominium towers are planned for the 11 acres of dirt along the Arizona Canal at Scottsdale and Camelback roads that will feature residential units and retail space. The project is scheduled to begin in 2005. The price: $165 million.
One of the largest private projects to date has been made by New York-based JEMB Realty Corp., which spent $65 million to upgrade the Galleria Corporate Centre, a 600,000-square-foot building at Scottsdale Road and Fifth Avenue. Its center also has served as the new "in" place over the past year to host large galas.
Getting everyone's input may sound good, but it sometimes it leads to acrimony in downtown Scottsdale.
"Having a vision that every (downtown) district can buy into is not easy," said Jose Catalan, a longtime property owner and president of the recently reformed merchant group, Scottsdale Focus.
Comparing Old Town to Fifth Avenue or Main Street is difficult, for example, because each area has its own identity, Catalan said.
Some people have criticized Scottsdale officials for commissioning downtown studies that have not translated into results.
The Tribune examined City Council agendas and city documents and found Scottsdale has spent about $375,000 on third-party studies related to downtown during the past decade.
Bill Exham, general manager for Scottsdale community services, said reaching a consensus is difficult with studies because downtown does not have a united front. And as elected leaders change on the dais, so do ideas and funding capabilities, which means that studies sometimes are not implemented.
"There's a different perception of what should be done," he said. "When a report comes out, trying to come up with some sort of consensus is difficult."
One relatively new face in Scottsdale is trying to create a new outlook for downtown.
Gawf, a former planner for Boulder, Colo., and Palo Alto, Calif., joined Scottsdale's city administration less than two years ago and brought with him a wider perspective on downtown development.
"It feels like a lot of studies were done . . . and very little time doing things in the last 10 years because there was emphasis on what I call the 'Big Bang theory,' " in which large projects were touted to save downtown, Gawf said.
That view has been replaced with a new philosophy, spearheaded by Gawf, that focuses on getting businesses to improve one at a time.
Gawf also created a "downtown action team" and a plan with members of several city departments who meet weekly to create a strategy. Scottsdale now has two new positions: Downtown concierge and downtown liaison who work with merchants to streamline the tasks of the city's permit processes and other issues.
"Great downtowns are made up of the small properties that redevelop," Gawf said.
Lorraine White, widow of Scottsdale's first mayor, Malcolm White, said downtown has stayed basically the same. White was born and raised in Scottsdale, and she and her family have owned several properties in Old Town for more than 50 years.
"It's really important we keep our identity. If we don't, we're going to be Anytown," she said.


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ASRock Launches FM2A85X-ITX Mini-ITX Motherboard
Subject: Motherboards | February 3, 2013 - 05:09 AM | Tim Verry
Tagged: trinity, mini-itx, htpc, asrock, APU, amd, A85X
Taiwanese motherboard manufacturer ASRock has shown off a new mini-ITX motherboard aimed at home theater PC (HTPC) users called the FM2A85X-ITX. The new motherboard uses AMD's A85X chipset and supports the company's latest Trinity accelerated processing units (APUs).
The FM2A85X-ITX motherboard features an AMD FM2 socket surrounded by two DDR3 DIMM slots (max of 32GB 1866MHz RAM), a PCI-E 2.0 x16 slot, and seven SATA 6Gbps ports. A six phase VRM, two USB 3.0 headers, 8 channel audio chip, and RAID 0/1/10 support round out the package.
External IO on the mini-ITX motherboard includes:
- 1 x PS/2
- 4 x USB 2.0
- 2 x USB 3.0
- 1 x eSATA 6Gbps
- 1 x Gigabit Ethernet
- 1 x Optical S/PDIF
- 5 x Analog audio jacks
- 1 x DVI
- 1 x HDMI
- 1 x VGA
According to Tech Power Up, the new motherboard will cost around $110 USD. Thanks to the form factor, APU support, and multitude of storage connectivity options, the board would make for an excellent addition to a HTPC build!
Read about other mini-ITX motherboard options at PC Perspective!
Introduction and Technical Specifications
Courtesy of EVGA
Sometimes, good things do come in small packages. The latest board on our test bench from EVGA proves that fact, the EVGA Z77 Stinger. The Z77 Stinger is a micro-ITX form factor board based on the Intel Z77 chipset, but don't let its size fool you. This board is packed with features and delivers the performance that we've come to expect out of its full-size brethren. At a mere $199.99 base price, the EVGA Z77 Stinger would be at home in any enthusiast's full tower case or HTPC build.
Courtesy of EVGA
Even with its small stature, the EVGA Z77 Stinger promises to pack some power. It features support for the following: SATA 2, SATA 3, eSATA, USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 type devices; two different network types featuring an Intel GigE NIC and an Atheros Bluetooth adapter; PCI-Express x16 3.0 and m-PCIe ports; and HDMI 1.4 and DisplayPort 1.1a style video ports. With the addition of an m-PCIe adapter, the board can support onboard Wi-Fi as well.
Continue reading our review of the EVGA Z77 Stinger mini-ITX Motherboard!!
Gigabyte Launches Two Mini ITX Motherboards
Subject: Motherboards | December 3, 2012 - 04:51 AM | Tim Verry
Tagged: mini-itx, Intel, gigabyte, ga-c847n, ga-c807n, celeron 807
Gigabyte recently announced two mini-ITX form factor motherboards. In an interesting twist, instead of an AMD platform like many of the mini-ITX boards released this year, the Gigabyte GA-C807N and GA-C847N motherboards are based on the Intel NM70 chipset and come with integrated Intel Celeron 800-series processors.
Both motherboards come with Gigabyte's Ultra Durable 4 Classic design and feature set. Two DDR3 (1333 MHz) DIMM slots, a single legacy PCI expansion slot, 5.1 channel audio controller, and a UEFI DualBIOS are all included features on the motherboards.
The GA-C807N has three SATA II 3Gbps ports and one SATA III 6Gbps port. It further includes an Intel Celeron 807 processor that features a single physical core clocked at 1.5GHz.
External IO on the GA-C807N includes:
- 2 x PS/2 ports
- 1 x Parallel printer port
- 1 x COM port
- 1 x VGA port
- 4 x USB 2.0 ports
- 1 x Gigabit Ethernet jack
- 3 x analog audio outputs
On the other hand, the Gigabyte GA-847N motherboard has two SATA II 3Gbps ports and one SATA III 6Gbps port. It also bumps up the processor to a dual core Celeron 847 clocked at 1.1Ghz.
External IO on the GA-847N includes:
- 2 x PS/2 ports
- 1 x Serial port
- 1 x VGA
- 1 x eSATA
- 1 x HDMI
- 4 x USB 2.0 ports
- 2 x Gigabit Ethernet ports
- 3 x Analog audio jacks
Unfortunately, there is no word yet on pricing or availability of the two Mini-ITX motherboards. With that said, the GA-C847N in particular looks like a neat motherboard. The dual GbE ports would make it a good DIY router+firewall or server box. As far as the Gigabyte GA-C807N, the parallel printer port is an odd included feature, but otherwise it looks like a decent entry level Mini-ITX board+cpu combination.
Low profile and a low price, check out Fractal Design's Node 304
Subject: Cases and Cooling | November 22, 2012 - 01:37 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
Tagged: fractal design, Node 304, mini-itx, dtx, SFF
Fractal Design's Node 304 SFF case is 250 x 210 x 374 mm (9.8" x 8.2" x 14.7") and thanks to the removable HDDs you can actually fit larger sized GPUs in the case, though the biggest will be blocked by the PSU. Cooling comes from a pair of front mounted 92mm fans and a 140mm in the rear, all attached to a fan controller to help you manage the noise levels. HiTech Legion puts the MSRP of this case at $89 which is very impressive for a SFF case with this many features, especially the six HDD bays, but wish that the case was properly compatible with Micro-ITX PSUs to give even more space for a high end GPU.
"The Fractal Design Node 304 computer case brings style and functionality to the small computing market. The Node 304 features a modular design that allows easy configurability. Motherboard support includes mini-ITX and DTX compatibility. There are two expansion slots available. A total of six drives, either 2.5" or 3.5" can be installed. There is room for a full ATX PSU, up to 160mm in length. CPU coolers can be installed up to 165mm in height and GPUs up to 310mm in length (with adaptation). Fractal has included a cooling system with two front mounted 92mm Silent Series R2 hydraulic bearing fans and one rear 140mm Silent Series R2 hydraulic bearing fan. There is also a fan controller included with low, medium, and high settings. The front interface includes two USB 3.0 ports, a 3.5mm mic, and 3.5mm headphone connection."
Here are some more Cases & Cooling reviews from around the web:
- Fractal Design Node 304 Case Review @ Hardware Secrets
- Corsair Carbide 200R @ Guru of 3D
- Corsair Carbide 300R Mid-Tower @ eTeckniz
- Cooler Master Storm Stryker Review @ Hardware Canucks
- Antec Take-4 Rackmount Chassis @ Tweaktown
- Thermaltake Armor Revo Snow Edition Chassis @ Bjorn3D
- Enermax Hoplite ST Mid-Tower @ Tweaktown
- Nanoxia Deep Silence 1 Midi Tower Review @ NikKTech
- BitFenix Recon and BitFenix Hydra Pro Fan Controller Roundup @ OCC
- NZXT Hue LED Controller @ Rbmods
- Spire TME III (TherMax Eclipse III) @ eTeknix
- Noctua NH-L12 L-Type Low Profile CPU Cooler @ eTeknix
A small, custom chassis
Right before the holiday weekend we got an email from Digital Storm detailing some changes to the Bolt system based on ours, and other reviewers, feedback. Design changes include:
- "Quieter operation" after moving from a Bronze level 500 watt 1U power supply to a Gold level unit. I have put that part in quotes because I am hesitant to believe that much has changes on the sound levels of the system; we are still talking about a 1U unit here with two tiny fans. Until DS publishes some sound level metrics, we'll consider this a modest change.
- Digital Storm has also given the Bolt "a less glossy and improved external finish" to help prevent fingerprints and dust from reflecting in light.
In addition, there have been some hardware changes in the Level 3 unit that we were sent that are fairly significant:
- Upgrade from a 60GB cache SSD to a 120GB SSD dedicated to the OS installation.
- Storage drive lowered from a 1TB to a 500GB
- Upgrade from a Core i5-3570K to a Core i7-3770K CPU
That is a pretty hefty change in hardware specs, in particular the move from the Core i5-3570K to the i7-3770K. That increases the CPU performance of the Bolt pretty handily and they were able to do that without raising the price.
This definitely gives us a better opinion overall for the entire Digital Storm Bolt configuration as tested and makes it a much better option when compared to the other recent systems we have reviewed.
A couple of months ago Digital Storm contacted us about a new design they were working on that they claimed would easily become the highest performance, smallest custom PC on the market. The result of that talk was the new Digital Storm Bolt, a system designed in-house by DS to target PC gamers that want a powerful PC without the bulk of traditional desktop designs.
Digital Storm claims that the Bolt is the "thinnest, most powerful gaming PC ever designed" and we tend to agree. This is not chassis that you can buy off the shelf but instead was custom designed for this system and actually requires some very specific hardware for it to function completely. Items like a 1U power supply, 90 degree PCI Express riser extensions and slim-line optical drives aren't found in your standard gaming PCs.
Available in several starting "levels" of configuration, the Digital Storm Bolt can include processors from the Core i3-2100 all the way up to the Core i7-3770K and graphics cards starting at the GTX 650 Ti 2GB and increasing to the GTX 680 2GB. Our system came with the following hardware:
- Intel Core i5-3570K @ 4.2 GHz
- Low Profile CPU Heatsink
- 8GB DDR3 1600 MHz memory
- GeForce GTX 660 Ti 2GB
- 60GB cache SSD + 1TB 7200 RPM HDD
- Gigabyte GA-Z77N-WiFi motherboard
- 1U 500 watt power supply
- Windows 7 Home Premium x64
- Custom DS Bolt Chassis
Starting cost for this configuration is $1,599.
Check out our quick video review!
The box the Bolt ships in is pretty timid compared to some of the crates that have hit our office recently but that's just fine by me. Due to the small size of the case though I have actually had some laptop boxes (the Alienware M18x comes to mind) that were bigger!
There she is, the Digital Storm Bolt, a combination of custom steel case design and fingerprint-loving piano black paint. Measuring just 14-in tall and 3.6-in wide the case is going to be able to fit and blend in places other desktops simply could not.
Continue reading our review of the Digital Storm Bolt system!!
ECS HDC-12/E-350D2 Is Mini ITX Motherboard with AMD APU
Subject: Motherboards | October 31, 2012 - 11:21 AM | Tim Verry
Tagged: motherboard, mini-itx, hdc-12/e-350d2, ECS, e-350d, amd
Elitegroup Computer Systems (ECS) has launched a new motherboard and processor combination that pairs a mini-itx form factor board with an AMD E-350D Accelerated Processing Unit (APU). Measuring 17cm x 17cm, the HDC-12/E-350D2 is similar to the Biostar product covered previously, except for feature set. The ECS model uses the cheaper A45 FCH chipset and does away with modern expansion ports such as PCI-E 3.0 and USB 3.0. While it is less capable, it is also less expensive that the other boards.
The board has a bundled AMD E-350D APU with dual CPU cores and integrated HD 6130 graphics. The memory controller supports a maximum of 16GB of DDR3 RAM running at 1066MHz via two DIMM slots on the motherboard. The A45 chipset supports two SATA II 3 Gbps ports, and that is one area where the low cost nature (and associated compromises) of the A45 chipset hits home as the higher end boards have more ports and support for SATA III 6 Gbps. Aside from some fan headers and headers for USB ports, the only other expansion option is a single legacy PCI slot at the bottom of the board.
External IO options include:
- 8 x USB 2.0
- 1 x VGA
- 1 x DVI
- 1 x Gigabit Ethernet
- 3 x analog audio jacks
The lack of an optical audio output is disappointing as well, but the board can be powered by a single 24 pix ATX cable – no 4 or 8 pin CPU power required. In the end it is a cheap base for a low power system. It would make a great router / firewall device with the addition of a PCI Ethernet NIC, for example. The only real downside would be wireless as you would need to use USB NICs to add that capability. This could also make for an entry level HTPC build as the APU is capable of hardware accelerating 1080p video.
Along with the HTPC vein, ECS is bundling coupons for free copies of Cyberlink's MediaEspresso 6.5 LE and MediaShow 5.1 LE transcoding and playback software with the motherboard.
The ECS HDC-12/E-350D2 will retail for a sub-$100 price, and should be available for purchase soon.
Read more about Mini ITX motherboards at PC Perspective.
A look outside and in
We handle a fair amount of system reviews here at PC Perspective and use them mainly as a way to feature unique and interesting designs and configurations. We know how the hardware will perform for the most part; doing extensive CPU and GPU testing on nearly a daily basis. Sometimes we'll get systems in that are extremely budget friendly, other times vendors pass us machines that have MSRPs similar to a Kia automobile. Then there are times, like today, we get a unique design that is a great mix of both.
AVADirect has had a Mini Gaming PC design for a while now but recently has gone through a refresh that adds in support for the latest Ivy Bridge processors, NVIDIA Kepler GPUs all using a new case from BitFenix that combines it in a smaller, mini-ITX form factor.
The quick specifications look like this:
- BitFenix Prodigy chassis
- Intel Core i7-3770K CPU, Overclocked at 4.4 GHz
- ASUS P8Z77-I Deluxe Z77 Motherboard
- EVGA GeForce GTX 680 2GB GPU
- OCZ 240GB Vertex 3 SSD
- Seagate 2TB SATA 6G HDD
- 8GB Crucual DDR3-1866 Memory
- Cooler Master 850 watt Silent Pro PSU
You'll also see a large, efficient Prolimatech cooler inside along with a Blu-ray burner and Windows 7 for a surprisingly reasonable $2100 price tag.
The BitFenix Prodigy chassis is a unique design that starts with sets of FiberFlex legs and handles surrounding the mini-ITX case. The minor flexibility of the legs absorbs sound and impact on the table while the handles work great for picking up the system for LAN events and the like. While at first I was worried about using them to support the weight of the rig, I had no problems and was assured by both BitFenix and by AVADirect it would withstand the torture.
Check out our video review before continuing on to the full article with benchmarks and pricing!
Continue reading our review of the AVADirect Mini Gaming PC!!
Via Debuts EPIA-M920 Mini-ITX Motherboard
Subject: Motherboards | September 23, 2012 - 09:21 PM | Tim Verry
Tagged: VIA EPIA-M920, VIA, mini-itx
VIA recently announced a new motherboard and processor combination meant for embedded systems like Point of Sale (POS) machines and digital signage. The EPIA-M920 is the company's first mini-ITX form factor board to feature its VXIIH chipset. VIA has packed a lot into this 17cm x 17cm motherboard, and the specs suggest that it is a capable machine. It can't match the NUC, but it should cost less -- and one SKU can even be run fanless. The EPIA-M920 comes in two iterations depending on the processor you select: the 12Q and the 10E. The EPIA-M920-12Q packs a 1.2GHz VIA QuadCore E processor, and requires a CPU HSF with fan. On the other hand, the EPIA-M920-10E is powered by a VIA Eden X2 dual core processor at 1.0GHz. The 10E version can run without any heatsink fans, and is passively cooled by two small aluminum heatsinks over the VXIIH chipset and processor.
The VXIIH chipset includes the Chromotion 5.0 video processor that hardware accelerates a number of video codecs includinig MPEG-2, MPEG-4, VC-1, and H.264. VIA claims that the graphics processor can handle videos with those codecs at resolutions up to 1080p (they did not specify bit rates, however) without affecting the CPU. Further, the GPU supports DirectX 11 graphics and stereoscopic 3D content.
The VIA motherboard can support up to 16GB of DDR3 RAM running at 1333MHz (via two SO-DIMM slots). Internal headers include:
- 2 x LVDS (Low Voltage Differential Signaling)
- 1 x USB 3.0
- 4 x USB 2.0
- 2 x SATA
- 3 x RS232 (congifurable: 5V/12V)
- SDHC card slot
- PCI-E x4 slot
In addition, the mini ITX motherboard will happily accept power connections from either an AC or CD power supply and is compatible with the slim, low wattage, DC PSUs though no specific recommended wattage was stated.
Rear IO on the motherboard is also fairly impressive considering the size. Via has packed in the following connectors.
- Dual Gigabit LAN ports powered by two VIA VT6130 controllers.
- 2 x USB 3.0
- 2 x USB 2.0
- 2 x HDMI
- 1 x VGA
- 1 x COM
- 3 x audio jacks (VIA VT2021 HD codec)
- 2 x PS/2 ports
The VIA EPIA-M920 motherboard supports Windows 7, but it is primarily aimed at embedded markets, and as such is compatible with the Windows Embedded Standard 7, Windows XP Embedded, and POSReady 7 operating systems. VIA intends for this system to be used to power digital signage, point of sale machines, ATMs, kiosks, embedded gaming platforms, and other digital media applications where low power flourishes. VIA Technologies Embedded Platform Division Head Epan Wu stated that "the VIA EPIA-M920 Mini-ITX packs in all of the latest technologies from VIA providing embedded system designers an ideal platform to create groundbreaking new devices."
Unfortunately, no pricing or availability information was stated in the press release. It should be available to system integrators soon, however. You can find more photos of the EPIA-M920 mini ITX motherboard in VIA's photo gallery.
Biostar Launches Mini-ITX A68I-350 Deluxe Motherboard
Subject: Motherboards | September 10, 2012 - 09:29 AM | Tim Verry
Tagged: mini-itx, htpc, fusion, biostar, APU, amd, a68i-350 deluxe, a68
While Intel has gotten a lot of Mini-ITX love lately, AMD is not out of the game yet. Motherboard manufacturer Biostar recently launched an AMD Fusion APU powered Mini-ITX motherboard that would make for a nice little HTPC. The A68I-350 Deluxe is based around some of the latest technologies including support for DDR3, PCI-E 3.0, and USB 3.0 standards.
The A68I-350 Deluxe motherboard measures 17 cm x 17 cm and comes with a bundled dual core AMD Fusion 350D APU. A heatsink and passive cooling for the south bridge are also provided in the package. The graphics card, memory, storage and other accessories are up to you, however. The Mini-ITX board features two DDR3 DIMM slots that support a maximum of 16 GB. Located in the lower right-hand corner are three SATA 3 6Gbps ports. Below that is a single PCI-E 3.0 x16 slot for a graphics card or other peripheral. Additional internal IO includes:
- 1 x printer header
- 2 x USB 2.0 header
- 1 X front panel audio
- 1 X front panel header (hdd, power, reset, ect)
- 1 x S/PDIF-OUT header
- 1 x CPU fan header
- 1 x system fan header
- 1 x serial header
According to Biostar, the motherboard also uses all solid capacitors to improve longevity.
Rear IO on the board is not quite as extensive as some of the other offerings available, but is still fairly good for the price. It features two PS/2 ports for keyboard and mouse, one HDMI out, one VGA output, two USB 3.0 ports, two USB 2.0 ports, one Ethernet port (Realtek RTL8111F Gigabit controller), and three audio output jacks (Realtek ALC662 6-channel HD audio).
The AMD APU that comes with the A68I-350 Deluxe features Radeon 6310 graphics, which are not the fastest but will still provide plenty of oomph for watching videos on the big screen. While it has not yet shown up at online retailers like Amazon and Newegg yet, it is reportedly already shipping and will have an MSRP of € 66 (euros) or approximately $84 USD. Considering the Intel options that have recently surfaced are going for $100+ easily, this Biostar motherboard should provide a nice budget option for your next HTPC or small form factor PC build!
You can find more information on the A68I-350 Deluxe over at the Biostar website.
Read more about Mini-ITX motherboards at PC Perspective.
EVGA Mini ITX Z77 Motherboard In the Works
Subject: Motherboards | August 29, 2012 - 02:45 PM | Tim Verry
Tagged: Z77, mini-itx, htpc, evga
There is something alluring about packing high-end motherboard hardware into a mini-ITX form factor, and it looks as though EVGA will be joining the small form factor game with its first Z77 mini-ITX board. German enthusiast site OCaholic managed to get its hands on the board for a short preivew, and with dimensions of 17 cm x 17 cm, the motherboard packs a ton of overclockable hardware into an attractive design.
The Z77 motherboard features an Intel LGA 1155 socket that can accept either Sandy Bridge or Ivy Bridge processors in the i3, i5, and i7 flavors. To the left of the CPU socket is an 8-phase power phase with International Rectifier IR3550M MOSFETS. There is also an additional power phase dedicated to getting clean power to the memory. To the right of the CPU socket are two DDR3 memory slots capable of supporting a maximum of 32GB of RAM.
The top right corner of the mini-ITX motherboard features red power and reset buttons as well as an LED display capable of displaying error codes should you push the board too far and it fails to post. The EVGA motherboard features a UEFI BIOS from which you can overclock or reset the board to defaults that should be similar to the company's current offering.
Along the bottom of the Z77 motherboard is a PCI-E 3.0 X16 slot for adding a graphics card. Directly above the PCI-E 3.0 slot (from left to right) is a USB 3.0 header, mSATA connector, southbridge, and four SATA ports. Two are SATA 6.0 Gb/s ports (Intel RAID 0, 1, 4, 0+1), and the other two are SATA 3.0 Gb/s ports that support Intel RAID 0, 1, 5, 0+1, and JBOD. While it should not be a problem for most users, the SATA ports and RAM slot are packed in really close to the PCI-E slot, so if you are using a graphics card that utilizes a large heatsink, you will probably want to avoid this board. Unfortunately, that's just one of the compromises necessary to get a motherboard this small though. At least the SATA ports are above the PCI-E 3.0 slot and not to the right of it (like some boards are set up).
Rear IO on the EVGA Z77 mini-ITX motherboard is pretty impressive for a board of this size. You get two USB 2.0 ports, Bluetooth, a small clear CMOS button to reset the BIOS to defaults, four USB 3.0 ports, 1 mini DisplayPort (or possibly Thunderbolt) port, two eSATA 6.0 Gb/s ports, 1 HDMI port, 1 Gigabit LAN port, five audio output jacks courtesy of a Realtek ALC898 8-channel controller, and one optical audio output (S/PDIF).
Unfortunately, there is no word yet on price or availability. Talk around the internet seems to suggest a release date sometime in September and price above $150, but as always you should take those numbers with at least a few grains of salt. Even so, this is an interesting motherboard, and I'm always glad to see more competition in the small form factor and mini-ITX hardware space.
The EVGA board has now joined the Gigabyte GA-H77N WIFI and the ASUS P8Z77-I Deluxe in the Z77 Mini ITX game. Here's hoping the increased competition can bring prices down so I can get to building a nice Mini-ITX powered HTPC like the one Ryan built with an AMD APU (and desktop Trinity's launch date seems to be getting further away rather than closer).
You can find more photos of the EVGA Mini-ITX motherboard over at OCaholic, and as always PC Perspective has you covered on mini-ITX motherboard news. Stay tuned for more details on this EVGA board as we get them!
Read more about mini-ITX motherboards.
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Library building admired now, but no one tried to halt demolition in 1955 By Jeff Suess email@example.com Cincinnati's public library has been popping up online in BuzzFeed lists such as "The 30 Best Places to Be If You Love Books." It isn't the modernist brick-and-glass main branch of the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton […]
Findlay Market is Ohio's oldest continuously operated public market.
The Market, named after Cincinnati's third mayor, is located just blocks from downtown in Over-the-Rhine, a dense historic neighborhood rich in 19th century architecture. Open Tuesday through Sunday, Findlay Market is home year-around to about two dozen indoor merchants selling meat, fish, poultry, produce, flowers, cheese, deli, and ethnic foods. On Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays from April to November the Market also hosts a thriving farmers market, dozens of outdoor vendors, numerous street performers, and lots of special events.
Findlay Market is a gathering place for people from all over the city. It routinely attracts perhaps the most socially, economically, racially, and ethnically diverse crowds found anywhere in Cincinnati. They come for the sights and sounds and smells of an old-fashioned public market, for the great variety of fabulous fresh foods, for bargains, for people watching, and for a quintessentially urban shopping experience.
-Findlay Market


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The 60th DuPage County Fair kicked off Wednesday with better than average crowds and perfect weather.
"The sun is shining and God is smiling down on DuPage County," County Board Chairman Dan Cronin said while presiding over the opening ceremonies. "Sixty years is a significant accomplishment."
Chuck Ingram, in his first year as president of the DuPage County Fair Association, said that the large late morning crowd was a good sign.
The crowd grew as the day wore on, and by 3 p.m. the grandstands were full for the Monster Truck rally, an event so popular with fair-goers that the commission decided to bring it back after a two-year absence.
"We usually come for the music and the carnival," Megan Blum, babysitter for Colin Drake, said, "but this little guy's obsessed with the monster trucks."
New attractions this year include Oscar the Robot, Woody's Big Cats — featuring an adult white tiger and a lion/tiger hybrid — a professional rodeo and the Axe Women Loggers of Maine.
Even excluding the agriculture and livestock exhibits and carnival Ag-Ventureland, there are 150 different activities at this year's fair.
Ingram said the growth of the fair since he became a member of the Fair Board in 1999 is hard to miss.
"The Ag-Ventureland used to be in a 10 by 20 tent," he said. "Now it's almost two acres."
Judging from the crowds, the most popular attraction in Ag-Ventureland was the petting zoo, with goats, lambs and turtles available to be fed and petted.
Chris Bredholt, from Orlando, Fla., brought her four grandchildren to the fair and they couldn't be pried away from the petting zoo.
"I think they love this," she said, when asked what part of the fair they most enjoyed.
The 4H Club of DuPage County was well represented, with about 70 local participants eligible.
"It seems like we have more projects than last year," Project Coordinator Christine Mantini, said. "I think it's a really good year."
The 4H participation included a building full of projects ranging from jet models to cake decorating. Club members entered contests for prizes in raising fowl, goats, and rabbits.
St. Francis High School sophomore Jessica McCall became interested in raising animals when she began boarding her horse at a friend's home, who was also a 4H participant.
That, and the fact that she wanted to own a goat when she was 9 years old, got her in the 4H Club.
"I like the experience of raising them," she said, stressing that she learned responsibility through the effort.
She won first place in the large hen category last year and said showing animals in the various competitions was a plus because, "It shows you your progress."
Tags: DuPage County, DuPage County FairThe DuPage County Fair is open 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. through Saturday and 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday at the DuPage County Fairgrounds at 2015 Manchester Road in Wheaton.
Admission for adults is $10, $4 for children 4 to 12 years old. Children 2 and younger get in free. Military personnel with ID also get in free. Seniors 62 years old and older get in free until 3 p.m. Friday.


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A passerby took this amazing photo of the interior of the SoHo (NYC) Apple retail store in the midst of its complete reconstruction and expansion. This view from the front of the building on Prince Street shows the original five front steps in the foreground (covered with metal), support scaffolding and tons of new structural steel. The final store will be larger by incorporating about 5,000 square-feet that was vacated last year by the U.S. Postal Service at the rear of this space. Otherwise, this view seems to indicate that the store will re-open with a nearly identical interior configuration and design, including the glass staircase and skylight. It's possible the store could open by the end of 2012. Click on the photo for a larger view. (photo by Michael)
E-mail this storySneek Peek: SoHo Store In Mid-Remodel
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
- January 18, 2012 at 1758
I wonder if they will be reinstalling the theatre on the upper level? There are not too many of those left…
- January 18, 2012 at 1831
If you look at the rear of the space, you can see a horizontal steel beam that seems to be where the top of any staircase would be anchored. The position of that beam is not far from the rear wall, seeming to indicate that there's not enough room upstairs/rear. Perhaps it will be located on the ground floor?
- January 22, 2012 at 0901
I wonder how many materials will be reused. Did the SoHo store have a stone flooring previously? How much aluminum skinning did it use? Any glass bridge on the second floor? Any other unique features that may or may not be preserved?
- February 15, 2012 at 0648
I'm going to be really sad to see the theatre go, if indeed that's the case. That was a great way to be able to informally walk in and out of some great presentations. I think that's a bad move for Apple – don't know why they don't like the theatre concept. I know they like the one-on-one training, but they serve different purposes.
It's also really strange to me that they stripped the store to its core and are rebuilding it from scratch. All they really had to do was take down the back wall and expand into the new area.
- July 11, 2012 at 2033
Theater is going to stay on the second level, it got a bit smaller. Lower level has been expanded at the back wall. Genius Bar is the largest in US.
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"Preachers of LA" is a highly debated show because, people feel that it glorifies mega churches. One of the pastors Clarence McClendon divorced his wife in 2000. She has decided to clear the air.
The ex-wife of pastor Clarence McClendon says she wants to help women who have struggled after turbulent marriages
After a stressful divorce, Tammera McClendon–ex-wife of Los Angeles pastor Clarence McClendon–is picking up the pieces of her life and using her experience to restore women who have been traumatized by marriage problems.
After 16 years of marriage to McClendon, Tammera says God has given her the strength to go on with her life. "He has birthed a ministry in me as a result of my personal problems," said Tammera, who is 36. She and McClendon now share joint custody of their three children.
McClendon was at one time viewed as one of the most talented young preachers in the Foursquare Gospel denomination. But he pulled his 10,000-member Church of the Harvest International out of the denomination in May and abruptly married Priscilla Delgado, 30, of Los Angeles. The private ceremony, performed on July 22 by Atlanta pastor Earl Paulk, took place in Malibu, Calif., seven days after McClendon's divorce to Tammera was finalized.
According to his ex-wife, McClendon, 35, had wanted out of the marriage for the last five years. "I didn't want a divorce," Tammera told Charisma. "When I finally said yes to Clarence, he asked me to file because it would look bad if he divorced me–which could hurt his ministry."
Clarence McClendon told Charisma in August that he divorced Tammera because she wanted out of the marriage. He also denied allegations of infidelity and claimed that he left his denomination because he felt Foursquare officials practiced a form of racial segregation.
Tammera McClendon, however, denies that racism was a concern. "Clarence shared everything with me before we had marital problems, and he never once said that Foursquare… was racist toward him," she said.
Tammera also claims that her ex-husband told her that God had shown him who he was supposed to marry. She said she then asked him: "How could God show you another woman when you already have a wife?"
In a statement to Clarence McClendon replied: "There were no other relationships." He added that he was under the spiritual counsel of Paulk, Bishop Paul Morton, Mark Hanby, Darrell Hines and Bishop Dennis Leonard, who with the exception of Morton attended the wedding.
Tammera, who lives in Hawaii and receives child support, said she will receive what she calls "fair" alimony payments for the next 10 years. "The alimony that I receive is fair for the seeds I've sown…for 16 years," she said.
The Illinois native is the founder of Esther's Way, a nonprofit corporation designed to minister to troubled women from all backgrounds. During her October No One to Touch My Heart conference in Maui, Hawaii, she plans to offer women spiritual instruction on how to overcome life's challenges as they pursue ministry in the 21st century.
Evie Nelson, a former worship leader for Church of the Harvest for seven years, admires the integrity her friend has demonstrated. "Tammy is a living, breathing example of the Proverbs 31 and Titus woman. She is a godly woman, full of integrity," Nelson told Charisma.
In spite of the recent turn of events, Tammera says she is not bitter about her failed marriage, and she says she has been forced to address the issue publicly because the Lord wants her to talk about her experience and what is happening in the church today. She believes there is a "spirit of deception" that is permeating the body of Christ. (Source: CHARISMA MAGAZINE)
1 Comments
alenajoyOctober 30, 2013 10:04 pm
May God continue to bless and empower this woman in her life and ministry, and use her mightily. He will recompense her DOUBLE for all of the trouble she has experienced through this very difficult experience.
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Cheap Nanny Camera
Child abuse, nanny mishandling children, thefts, kidnappings!' are regular news headlines seen on television and news papers today. Everyone has become concerned about protecting their family, their workplaces or their valuable assets. We humans with the help of science have discovered a solution for such concerns by way of spy cameras. Using a security hidden camera can help you supervise over anybody or anything without being present at that particular spot. With child mishandling crimes taking prominent position in news more and more parents are worried about leaving young children with their nannies when they go for work. Small nanny cams are very easy to install and easily fit into your budget. Parents can bargain for a cheap nanny camera to supervise their homes from their office.
Nanny cameras are the best way to keep a complete watch over a babysitter or nanny who you may not trust completely. A cheap nanny camera installed can help you catch on a nanny mishandling your child or taking undue advantage of your personal belongings. Many nannies have been caught red handed dating their boyfriends in the house while the toddler is sleeping away. The most important aspect of catching someone is to prove them guilty, which you can do by installing a cheap nanny camera with a built in recording device to provide evidence and implicating material.
Once your mind is set to purchase a cheap nanny camera you can call on us to find out which spy cam is suitable as per your security requirement. There are various kinds of cheap nanny cameras you could choose from. We have good deals on wired and wireless nanny cams. You could choose a cheap nanny camera which is disguised into the shape of some object which will sink in with the décor of your home. For example spy cameras in the shape of lamps, clocks, bags, sharpeners or basic toys such as helicopters or teddy bears which will not arise any kind of suspicion when kept in your kid's room.
One of the most popular buys of a cheap nanny camera is the clock radio camera, which is disguised to perfection to avoid any doubts. The clock radio cam has three functions: one is that it can be used as a radio, secondly as a clock and last as the camera. The camera works even if the radio is turned off so there is no question of disruptions. One can place this cheap nanny cameras in shape of a clock radio at any place in the home, like a study table or the kitchen work area with minimum effort. There are many other such varieties our clients can choose from. One can even by a cheap nanny camera with remote control option, so as to be able to switch on the camera when desired. Security cameras have become a part of every household especially homes with children. Make sure you to protect your home from nanny abuse or intrusion right away.


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The Global Intelligence Files,
files released so far...
Index pages
by Date of Document
Our Partners
Al Akhbar - Lebanon
Al Masry Al Youm - Egypt
Asia Sentinel - Hong Kong
Bivol - Bulgaria
Carta Capital - Brazil
CIPER - Chile
Dawn Media - Pakistan
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La Repubblica - Italy
La Jornada - Mexico
La Nacion - Costa Rica
Malaysia Today - Malaysia
McClatchy - United States
Nawaat - Tunisia
NDR/ARD - Germany
Owni - France
Pagina 12 - Argentina
Philip Dorling - Fairfax media contributor - Australia
Plaza Publica - Guatemala
Publica - Brazil
Publico.es - Spain
Rolling Stone - United States
Russian Reporter - Russia
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Taraf - Turkey
The Hindu - India
The Yes Men - Bhopal Activists
Sunday Star-Times - New Zealand
Community resources
courage is contagious
The Global Intelligence Files
On Monday February 27th, 2012, WikiLeaks began publishing The Global Intelligence Files, over five million e-mails from the Texas headquartered "global intelligence" company Stratfor. The e-mails date between July 2004 and late December 2011. They reveal the inner workings of a company that fronts as an intelligence publisher, but provides confidential intelligence services to large corporations, such as Bhopal's Dow Chemical Co., Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon and government agencies, including the US Department of Homeland Security, the US Marines and the US Defence Intelligence Agency. The emails show Stratfor's web of informers, pay-off structure, payment laundering techniques and psychological methods.
G3 - US/SYRIA-U.S. says no cohesive opposition in Syria
Released on 2012-10-17 17:00 GMT
Email-ID | 2991463 |
Date | 2011-06-14 23:46:18 |
From | firstname.lastname@example.com |
To | email@example.com |
List-Name | email@example.com |
WASHINGTON, June 14 (Xinhua) -- There has not been a cohesive opposition
in Syria despite the escalating violence in the Middle East country, the
U.S. State Department said on Tuesday.
State Department spokesman Mark Toner told reporters that there is still a
lot the United States does not know about the opposition in Syria.
He said U.S. Ambassador to Syria Robert Ford remains in contact with
members of the Syrian opposition and with civil society leaders "within
Damascus and outside and beyond Damascus."
He said other U.S. embassy personnel in Damascus are also trying to
determine the demand and nature of various opposition groups.
Situation in Syria has become more violent three months after
anti-government protests erupted in mid-March in the flashpoint city of
Daraa and spread into most of the Syrian cities.
The Obama administration has been stepping up criticism on the Syrian
government, but has been avoiding to say whether it will resort to
military actions as it did against Libya.
Reginald Thompson
Cell: (011) 504 8990-7741


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May 31, 2010 | Add a Comment
Hooters server Cassie Smith is 5 foot 8 inches, 132 pounds and beautiful. During a generally glowing two-year review, however, management told Smith she was on "weight probation" and had 30 days to lose the pounds or be fired.
In an age when pink slips are more common than pay slips, Smith's story isn't all that unusual. Other employees, however, really have to think outside the box to get the boot.
Here are 10 stories about people who, ultimately, fired themselves.
1. How to Lose Your Job as an Administrative Assistant
Marie Lupe Cooley of Jacksonville, Fla., deleted $2.5 million worth of her employer's computer files after finding a help-wanted ad placed by her boss. Cooley thought the described position sounded remarkably similar to her own, so she snuck in at 11 p.m. one Sunday and quietly deleted seven years' worth of architectural drawings.
As it turned out, the help-wanted ad listed a position available in the office of her employer's wife. Cooley's job was never under threat, though it was after her midnight escapade.
2. How to Lose Your Job as a TV Interviewer
A Dutch talk-show host can't stop giggling while trying to interview a man whose testicles were mistakenly removed during surgery.
3. How to Lose Your Job as a Guard Dog
Not everyone is an Elvis fan, including a Doberman Pinscher hired to work as a guard dog for an English teddy-bear exhibition. The dog went berserk and inflicted fatal injuries on some 100 of the prize exhibits, but it was the destruction of a £40,000 teddy bear once ownedby Elvis that got him canned.
Is it possible Barney's unexpected rampage was the reaction of a jealous, working-class underdog against the teddy bear's inherited wealth and privilege? Whatever his motives, the guard dog is surely in the doghouse.
4. How to Lose Your Job as a Nurse
Intensive care nurses George and Tracy Miller earned a combined $96,000 per year, but found they could rake in an additional $52,000 by hosting and appearing on a porn site. The couple's free website -- which solicits paid subscriptions -- featured a picture of a topless Tracy with the bold headline, "X-Rated Porno Nurse Fired!"
In termination papers, the Scottsdale (Ariz.) Healthcare Osborn hospital said the duo "sexually harassed fellow employees and created a hostile work environment by trying to recruit employees to appear on the site." Naturally, the nursing nudies went on Comedy Central to protest their innocence.
5. How to Lose Your Job as Donald Trump's Firing-Squad Aide
Stories vary as to why Carolyn Kepcher was fired in 2006 as the comb-over king's second-banana on "The Apprentice." Some say the photogenic golf-club executive was dumped from after two seasons for being a bad golfer. Others say it was the former Avon saleswoman's "excessive self promotion" and willingness to argue on-air with The Donald.
The reality behind the reality star's job loss, however, may have been the results of a Marketing Evaluations survey. More than 80 percent of respondents recognized Trump, but the majority found Kepcher far more likable.
(Please note not one "You're fired!" joke was included in this piece.)
6. How to Lose Your Job at Walmart
Walmart greeter Ed Bauman, a 69-year-old Floridian, sprang into action when a departing customer set off an alarm. Bauman was writing down the car license when the suspected klepto took a swing at him. Bauman returned in kind, an action that got him sacked for "gross misconduct." Here's the best part: Police refused to charge Bauman, saying he was defending himself and well within his rights.
7. How to Lose Your Job as a Member of Parliament
Scottish Labour Party candidate Stuart MacLennan didn't get the boot for impregnating an aide or sending sex texts. Instead, the MP hopeful committed Twitter suicide.
In various Twitters, MacLennan referred to old people as "coffin dodgers" and called other politicians twats, bastards and odious little shits. The ex-candidate also used the F-word and the C-word, and made a joke about slavery.
8. How to Lose Your Job as a Firefighter
If Denis Leary's "Rescue Me" on the FX channel is true, porn is a staple of firehouses. Columbus, Ga., city officials, however, felt Joshua Alford went to far when he used a city computer to check out X-rated websites.
Alford filed a suit claiming city leaders weren't exactly blameless, as they received emails "with adult materials included in jokes and photographs" at their work addresses. The emails included such topics as "fellatio, suppositories, crude language … as well as pictures which rise to the level of 'adult material.'"
Alford also noted the city allowed fire stations to have premium TV channels featuring such shows as "Bikini Chain Gang" and "Busty Cops 2." No word as to weather the firehouse gang watched "Busty Cops 1."
9. How to Lose Your Job as an Art Teacher
High-school art teacher Stephen Murmer was tossed out on his bum when the Chesterfield (Virg.) County School Board objected to his unique form of artistic expression. Much of Murmer's abstract art included smearing his buttocks and genitals with paint and pressing them against a canvas. The school board took the action after a YouTube video showed Murmer wearing a swim thong and Groucho Marx fake nose while creating his "ass-inine' art. Murmer got the last laugh, however. The school district forked over $65,000 to settle Murmer's civil suit and his artwork now sells for up to $2,100. The latest reports say Murmer is still sitting on his bum.
10. How to Lose Your Job as a Cashier
Apparently being an arch-enemy will ensure you never even get hired. One of the most frequently viewed pages on FailBlog.org features a cashier-wanted sign from a store window. Applicants must be 21 or older, able to work weekends, and not "look anything like 'Skeletor' from 'He-Man.'"
One has to wonder about previous cashiers employed by this store.
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October 30, 2014
Upcoming Event: Baird Tap Takeover + Takoyaki Party @ The Trappist
We are beyond excited to announce yet another collaboration event with our neighbor The Trappist. Baird Beer, a brewery from Numazu, Japan will be visiting for one night only, taking over 10 taps at the Trappist!
Read More →


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The Burton family lived in the flight path of the Burbank airport, and "one of the games we used to play was counting down when the exhaust left the plane to when it reached us on the ground," the director says.
"That didn't make it into the movie," he says of Frankenweenie, which borrows a lot from his childhood. "That's sort of another movie."
The animated film (a remake of his 1984 live-action short for Disney) was inspired by one of Burton's unusual early friendships — with a fluffy white mutt named Pepe (pictured above, along with their counter-intuitively named gray dog Frosty.)
Pepe was not a healthy pet. "He was a dog that was meant to sort of not live for long and had distemper," Burton says. But long before being immortalized on film, the ailing pet seemed to hang on forever in real life — inspiring the story of a beloved dog who defies the grave.
"He ended up living quite long," Burton says. "It just had a good spirit, that dog. The Frankenweenie character wasn't meant to look like him. It was more just the memory and the spirit of him."
Eventually, he did lose Pepe. Everyone who has loved and outlived a pet knows what it's like to lose such a friend.
The trouble was, Burton didn't feel like he had a lot of friends, so every one counted. ""I don't think I was unique to this feeling," he says. "It sort of got worse as I got slightly older. At the time I was a teenager I felt completely alone. Whether it was self-imposed or …" He trails off.
"I always felt like I was a fairly normal person, but at a certain age, I thought, 'Maybe I'm not because everyone's saying I'm not.'"
He spent a lot of time receding into his own imagination, and venting what he found there on the pages of his notebooks. "You get into junior high and by high school I felt more strange and isolated," he says. "But some ages you go through are hard for any kid. You're 12, and you get to 15 or 16. It's sort of hard for everybody."
But it was around this time that Burton made another friend, a much older woman who taught a high school art class, who would forever change his life.


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For more information on the 21-and-over show, visit www.page27.org/laptop/. -- Jared Jacang Maher
Star Power
Moving Images debuts outside.
Pray for good weather. Do the sun dance. Whatever it takes to keep Denver's temperatures soaring tonight.
Artist Jared Anderson is debuting a film series called Moving Images in the new outdoor sculpture garden behind his Assembly art gallery, 766 Santa Fe Drive, after getting approval from the city last week to keep a monumental installation that protects the garden from the trashy alley (see Off Limits, page 15). Screening of seven short films culled from the International Experimental Cinema Exposition begins at 7:30 p.m., with a Q&A session following the last flick.
"Some will be eye candy, some will be silent," Anderson says of the movies. "But overall, it's a lot of visually driven shorts."
And even if the shows suck, admission is only $5. Another $3 buys a bottomless beer cup. You can't even hit the Pavilions for that.
If the weather turns foul, Anderson will move the party inside -- but he's hoping to make the series a bi-weekly affair come spring and summer. "I hope that this is the first of many movie nights in the ghetto garden," he says.
For more information, call 303-573-5501. -- Amy Haimerl


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WALLANDER Wallander - Episode 13: The Secret ($4.99)
A boy's body is discovered in an abandoned barn. Inconsistencies between the crime and the suspects plunge the investigation team into the world of child abuse. The case forces Stefan, Kurt and Linda to deal with personal grief, their demons and a dark secret from the past.