text:
Astronauts Ryan Stone and Matt Kowalski are on a routine spacewalk when disaster strikes. Their shuttle is destroyed leaving them alone in space - tethered to nothing but each other.
© 2013 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Stephen Jones, Stephen Jones, Sandra Bullock, George Clooney, Ed Harris, Amy Warren
Nikki Penny, David Heyman, Alfonso Cuaron
common sense
Intense, astonishing sci-fi thriller has real soul.
what parents need to know
what families can talk about
movie reviews from Rotten Tomatoes®
reviews counted: 0see all Gravity reviews -
Audience Reviews
This is by far the best movie I have seen in 2013. Cuaron does an amazing job directing, Bullock puts on the performance of her career and the visuals are something to marvel at. This movie is one that needs to be experienced in 3D or IMAX, but what an experience it is! It is easy to get lost in the realism of the story and the incredible cinematography. This film is a must-see.
- fb1576983399, Saturday, December 28, 2013


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BRISTOL, Conn. (AP) — A Connecticut gunmaker has announced it intends to leave the state following the passage of gun control legislation it says tramples on the rights of citizens and does not show enough consideration for the industry.
Bristol-based PTR says in a statement posted on its website that it has not decided where it will move, but it has commitments from most employees to relocate. The company makes military-style rifles and employs more than 40 people.
PTR Vice President John McNamara said Wednesday that it expects to make a more formal announcement about a move within six weeks.
Several Connecticut gun manufacturers have indicated they are thinking about moving after Gov. Dannel P. Malloy last week signed the law imposing new restrictions on weapons and large-capacity magazines.
1 | |
2 | Number of Metro-North accidents has remained steady over last three years |
3 | |
4 | |
5 | Southeastern Connecticut Chinese group celebrate the Year of Goat |


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This Relative Strength Play Is Ready to Pop
DELAFIELD, Wis. (Stockpickr) -- U.S. stocks are struggling to gain any traction on Tuesday after the Commerce Department said the trade gap narrowed in March by 3.6% to $40.4 billion, which was basically in line with economists' expectations.
>>5 Hated Earnings Stocks You Should Love
All three major averages are trending lower midday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average off by around 75 points, the S&P 500 down by 7 points and the tech-heavy Nasdaq trending lower by around 20 points.
On down days like today, I like to scan the markets for stocks that aren't going down and that are showing some relative strength. Relative strength is a momentum investing strategy that compares the performance of a stock to that of the overall market. The strategy assumes that if a stock is rising while the market is falling, then that stock should see its price continue to rise.
One stock that's showing some relative strength today and that has some positive news flow is mid-cap biotechnology player InterMune (ITMN), which focuses on the research, development and commercialization of therapies for pulmonology and orphan fibrotic diseases in North America and Europe. This biotech stock has been incredibly strong so far in 2014, with shares up huge by 192%. >>4 Stocks Spiking on Big Volume InterMune recently reported earnings and said year-over-year sales during the first quarter for its lead drug, Esbriet, a treatment for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, were very strong. Those sales jumped by 188% during the quarter to $30.3 million, from $10.5 million in the year-ago period. Based on those strong results, InterMune raised its 2014 revenue guidance to a range of $130 million to $140 million. That jump in guidance now puts the potential revenue growth for Esbriet at 85% to 100% from its 2013 revenue of $70.3 million. That's some monster growth, and the market will be sure to reward InterMune if the company can hit those targets. InterMune plans to resubmit its application for Esbriet with the FDA in the U.S. sometime in the early part of the third quarter. If the company can achieve FDA approval, then the planned launch for the drug in the U.S. should hit sometime during the second quarter of 2015. The recent strong earnings news for InterMune is a nice backdrop for the stock, but the bullish news flow today comes from a number of analysts' comments. One report suggests the company could potentially be acquired in a few months, according to dealReporter.com. Another report from Oppenheimer says the stock should be bought ahead of the American Thoracic Society meeting that's slated for later this month. Oppenheimer also said it met with three leading experts who believe that Esbriet is significantly more tolerable than a competing drug.Check Out Our Best Services for Investors
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text: Unlike some of the "twist" movies that hit the theaters in the early '60s when the dance craze flourished, Twist around the Clock has something resembling a plot. Mitch Mason is an out-of-work promoter who sees people doing the "twist" in a regional backwater -- and immediately understands that the dance could be a real hit. His problem lies in getting anyone to believe him, and making money in the process. It turns out that the daughter of the head of a major agency could be his ticket to fame and fortune but he ignores her interest in him, at least for awhile. In the end, this teen-oriented tale is best remembered for two of Dion's hit songs, {&Runaround Sue} and {&The Wanderer}. Other vocals are supplied by Chubby Checker, The Marcels, and Vicki Spencer. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi


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The stars are taking center stage this month at The College of Idaho as the Whittenberger Planetarium hosts its April public show as well as the annual Astronomy Day event. The fun begins April 17 with a public show investigating asteroids, including the asteroid belt and near-Earth asteroids, which sometimes collide with our planet and other solar system residents. The show, which begins at 7 p.m. inside Boone Science Hall on the C of I campus in Caldwell, also will include a tour of the constellations and planets visible in the Idaho night sky this month.
Another successful season of competition has come and gone for The College of Idaho's Howlin' Yotes speech and debate team. Team members competed in three national tournaments this March, putting a wrap on another year's worth of hard work and success.
When the reinstated College of Idaho football team returns to the field next fall, there's a chance Cesar Montes will be the first Coyote to touch the football. Montes, a kicker and punter from McCall-Donnelly High School in north-central Idaho, is the latest member of Coach Mike Moroski's initial recruiting class, and he'll also play soccer at the College.
The College of Idaho's Model United Nations delegation enjoyed a successful week of competition during spring break, traveling to New York City to participate in the National Model United Nations Conference (NMUN). Twelve students joined political economy professor Dr. Robert Dayley as the C of I represented the Southeast Asia nation of Malaysia at the conference, an academic simulation that includes 1,500 students from 200 colleges and universities representing more than 50 countries.
The College of Idaho Theatre Department is pleased to present its spring 2013 main stage production The Gut Girls, a drama written by British playwright Sarah Daniels. The show plays at 7:30 p.m. nightly April 11-13 and April 17-20 inside the Langroise Studio Theatre on the C of I campus in Caldwell. There also is a 2 p.m. matinee closing performance April 21. Tickets cost $15 for adults or $10 for seniors and students. C of I students, faculty and staff receive one free ticket. For tickets and information, contact the Langroise Box Office at (208) 459-5426.
College of Idaho sophomore Makhosazana Nkambule is taking her proposal to help educate orphaned women and girls in her native Swaziland to the international stage.
April is National Poetry Month, and The College of Idaho is celebrating with a variety of events both on and off campus. April readings with ties to C of I students and faculty members – including English professor and recently-named Boise Poet Laureate Diane Raptosh – are as follows:
Students from The College of Idaho took home three awards for their outstanding research during the 55th annual symposium of the Idaho Academy of Science.
A dozen C of I undergraduate students presented research projects in botany, ecology, toxicology, astronomy and virology during the annual gathering, which took place March 21-23 in Pocatello.
Growing up in the small Haitian village Nan Misye, College of Idaho freshman Margarette Pierre-Louis would join most of the village's women and children in walking two hours each day to carry water needed for drinking and irrigating crops.
While the physical hardship is difficult enough, conflict over the limited water supply also too often grows deadly.
Idaho arts lovers have an opportunity to enjoy a unique musical experience this spring as The College of Idaho presents the "Music from the Fringe" concert, a cello choir performance created through a special compositional process using the practice of remote viewing. The show is set for 7:30 p.m. March 30 inside the Langroise Recital Hall on the C of I campus in Caldwell. Tickets cost $10 for adults or $5 for seniors and students. For more information, visit www.musiccollaborations.weebly.com.


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The Sony SpectraLayers Pro Advanced Audio Spectrum Editor Software (Academic Version) is an advanced audio editing platform that features good sound shaping capabilities combined with an innovative workflow. This software allows you to explore audio data on a multidimensional spectral display and unmix audio files into discrete component layers using a variety of smart editing tools. It processes extracted layers individually in a number of ways. SpectraLayers Pro is an essential application for engineers, sound designers, audio-for-video editors, archivists, and professionals who demand deep audio analysis tools. SpectraLayers Pro brings today's advanced editing tools to an approachable platform available for both Mac and PCs.
- Smart Editing Tools
The 3 Extraction tools in SpectraLayers Pro predict or intuit what your desired selection should be. They seek and highlight target audio material for extraction. The act of selection can be accomplished by simply clicking the left mouse button and/or drawing in the spectral display.
- Extract Frequency – This tool allows you to extract audio into layers by selecting a frequency range.
- Extract Harmonics - This tool explores all directions in a user-defined area, highlighting targeted sounds along with their associated overtones; 1 click will transfer an entire selection to a new layer.
- Extract Area - This tool is poised to transfer a large portion of audio content cleanly into the highlighted layer. In addition, the tool can be programmed for a 5,000 Hz range and a 4-second time span with 100% hardness for a sharp edge.
- Layer-to-Layer Copy / Paste
- SpectraLayers Pro displays frequency on the vertical axis, allowing you to make bandwidth-limited selections for audition and extraction to new layers via copy and paste.
- Time and Pitch Manipulation - Sound can be freely transposed in SpectraLayers Pro by using the Select, Move, and Scale tools.
- View, Modify, and Draw Tools
- With the 3D Displace Tool, you can explore audio data on a multidimensional spectral display to reveal time and frequency events in astonishing detail.
- Modify Tools: Amplify, Clone, and Erase - The Amplify, Clone, and Erase tools in SpectraLayers Pro can be used to edit audio on any layer at any time. You can access these options at any stage in the editing process to assist with critical repair and restore operations, creative sound design work, and fun experimentation. Tool behaviors can be modified in useful and interesting ways. You can design your own tool tips using the controls located above the spectral display.
- Draw Tools: Frequency and Noise - Frequencies and noise can be drawn directly into the Spectral Display in SpectraLayers Pro.
- 3-Step Audio Extraction
- Removing precisely targeted audio from a sound file with the highlight, extract, and invert method, is easy in SpectraLayers Pro.
- Noise Reduction
- SpectraLayers Pro invites you to open an audio file, extract the elements you need, and leave the rest behind. In addition, noiseprint-based noise reduction using artistic noiseprints is also available.


text:
Line Game Team
Stick Moto Race
Moto Race, challenge your driving skills! Race on your moto across scenes( the physics based motorcycle racing game! Race your way motorbike across challenging levels. Battle against your ghost to try and beat your times. You need to have a balance of speed and skill. If your skill is high...


text:
The Shimano Moocher Plus GT Mooching Reel is a direct-drive reel that features a large capacity spool and a waterproof Dartanium drag for great stopping power and heat dissipation. The non-slip rubber handle grip, metal palming ring, and graphite frame and spool provides durability and a smooth palming surface for extra line control as needed. This reel is great for salmon, trout, and walleye anglers who enjoy the non-casting approach of drop-fishing (mooching).
Features of the Shimano Moocher Plus GT Mooching Reel include:
Enter each item individually, then click the "+" or press enter; or type multiple items with a "," between each one.


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"So informative......"
I'm a sucker for any book that rates as one of the best books of the year. So, I gave this one a shot. It's very interesting and so well written. I learned a lot.
"Great follow up"
This is a very fun short listen that brings Orange readers full circle. Have read Piper's book as well. This makes me want to reread it.....something I seldom do. Also really a great look into the differences between the books and the screen adaptation.
"A Very Fun Read............"
This is a wonderful audio book. If I could give it more than 5 stars, I would. No, it's not War and Peace but if you just need a good, mindless and funny read, try this book.
The story itself is a bit predictable but it also has twists and turns that kept me glued to it. I did more gardening listening to this book than many previous books!! My yard was thankful anyway.
Loved the narration. If I could give it more than 5 stars, I would, but then I already stated that I guess!!. Characters really came alive. Tanzie's voice was perfect!!
It just made me want to recommend it to all of my friends. My husband even asked what I was listening to as I had it all the time.
Thanks for this one!! Audible is the best.
"If you love animals, read this book!"
This reader is superb....he really captures this story so I think a listen to this book is the best.
I, of course liked the matriarch of the herd, Nana. She was amazing.
I have not but will definitely check him out
There are numerous times in the novel I was moved......primarily when the author relates to the animals and shares his insights into their actions and their emotions.
I did read online that if you are an animal lover, you can read this book without being an emotional wreck! That was good advice and was the main reason I bought this book. Yes it is touching in places but so is life. It's very beautifully written......for people as well as for animals!
"A Difficult Listen"
I have enjoyed other books by Lisa See and would try another but not narrated by Jodi Long. Perhaps her next novel I will read instead. I read Snowflower and loved it. So perhaps this author's voice speaks better to me through reading it.
No, I loved the idea of this novel taking place in San Francisco and the whole idea of Asian performers of the time. It was just the dialogue and the narrator that did me in.
I found the narrators efforts to make each voice different very confusing and put on. The dialogue in this book is not stellar but with a narrator embellishing it even more, I think it made it worse.
Not sure what scenes I would cut, although the novel moved so slowly most of the way through, it was an effort to finish it. But, who can stand to waste a credit!!
"Thank You!"
From the heart.
I turned to this audio production as it was on my IPod and I had neglected to download the second part of my book. I was bummed not to have a book but after one story, I was hooked. One moment? They were all thought provoking and beautiful.
I liked his great speaking voice.
It made me cry actually. Very moving indeed.
Thank you for this special Christmas present Audible!!
"So Well Written/Read"
Deborah Messing does a superb job of narrating this book. It's very well read.
I loved how this author really connected me with Anthony. I feel I understand this terrible disease a bit more now.
She read them all wonderfully.
I loved the ending. It was incredibly powerful
This is a very moving story and a great listen, especially if you work with kids in any way or have a chlld with special needs.
"Very well written."
This is a beautiful little book about love and life. A little gem.
I loved her voice as the main character.
"Very intriguing plot!"
I would recommend this audio book as the reader is great and the story line really keeps your attention. It's a very interesting discussion that centers around who a person can trust.
I enjoyed the pace of the story plus the reader. She did a great job.
Have not.
I would take Dr. Nash to dinner. This is a fascinating premise and based on a true condition I think. How would one cope I wonder?
"Loved this one."
A fascinating read.
Since I have read many of Conroy's books, this gave me insight into his writings.
He brings his own voice.....always a plus from any author.
No, I could easily put it down but wanted to go back to it.
If you have read and enjoyed Conroy's book, this book will interest you. It gives background to his characters, his life and the people who have influenced him. He also mentions many books that have influenced his writings. A great book club selection!
"Great Sequel"
A great sequel to Shanghai Girls. Took a while to really get into this one and had problems with the narrator at first. But the second half of the novel really took off and the narrator's voice seemed more appropriate. Ended up exercising more than I intended just to get back to it! I also learned a lot about the reform movement in China. Well done all around.


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"The harder you work, the luckier you get." by Gary Player
Below is the poem entitled Autumn Days which was written by poet Ruth Mae Sarigumba. Please feel free to comment on this poem. However, please remember, PoetrySoup is a place of encouragement and growth.
Read Poems by Ruth Mae Sarigumba
Best Ruth Mae Sarigumba Poems
Golden leaves falling During autumn days Let the cold breeze touch Your dark night hair. With the clear blue sky And the warm sun, I can feel the warmth in my heart. My soul set free, glittering in the wind Greeting the wonderful Autumn Days With happy songs in the wind


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Injury rules McClean out
Sunderland winger James McClean has been ruled out of the Republic of Ireland's World Cup qualifier with Germany.
McClean has undergone a scan that revealed a grade one hip flexor strain which may also keep him out of Tuesday's game with the Faroe Islands.
He will remain with his club for further treatment ahead of a final decision on his involvement in the second of the two games.
Meanwhile, Stoke midfielder Glenn Whelan and Leicester defender Sean St Ledger are almost certain to miss both games after they picked up injuries over the weekend.
Whelan injured his hamstring in Stoke's 0-0 draw with Liverpool at Anfield, while St Ledger incurred a similar problem in the Foxes' 2-0 win over Bristol City on Saturday.
Both players will undergo a further scan before Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni decides whether to take a chance on them.
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text: Photos: Home Builders Institute Workforce Training Class Photos: Home Builders Institute Workforce Training Class Advocate staff photo by TRAVIS SPRADLING -- Alarious Oliney, left, and Marquise Johnson, right, check out new tools during their Home Builders Institute Work Force Training class, newly offered through Baton Rouge's Family & Youth Service Center and taught by instructors from HBI, in partnership with the Capital Region Builders Foundation. Don Blair, one of the class instructors, is at center. The new class is aimed at helping 18-24 year olds from East Baton Rouge Parish who either dropped out of school, or did finish, but lack a skill to get a solid job in building or facilities maintenance. Students will get hands-on experience with painting, carpentry, electrical work, plumbing and other building maintenance skills, as well as classroom work in construction math and reading. Once they are done with the six-week course,students will be assisted by the Capital Region Builders Association with job placement. Advocate story Comments The free 12-week program is designed to give marketable skills to at-risk youth who either dropped out of school or finished high school, but lack a skill to fall back on for steady work, said Roxson Welch, executive director of the East Baton Rouge Family and Youth Service Center, the truancy center. The grant covers the cost of providing each student with tools and a tool belt they will keep after completing the class. The Capital Region Builders Association subcontracted with the Home Builders Institute, which employs the Blair brothers, to teach the class. Get The Advocate in your inbox Subscribe


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From the moment we arrived, Reg our host for the week, made us feel most welcome. The view from our bedroom, looking across Loch Long was unbelievable, the room was large and uncluttered, the bed was really comfortable. The breakfasts, we were spoilt for choice and the quality and service were excellent. We also met the rest of the family,... More
- Reservation Options:
- TripAdvisor is proud to partner with Booking.com, Priceline and Odigeo so you can book your Braemor B&B reservations with confidence. We help millions of travelers each month to find the perfect hotel for both vacation and business trips, always with the best discounts and special offers.
- Also Known As:
- Braemor B&B Arrochar, Scotland


text:
Close X
Feiss OL3403 Mission Lodge Half Outdoor Sconce
Product Description
Available while supplies last.
This half wall exterior wall sconce from the Mission Lodge Collection may appear rustic when finished in Corinthian Bronze and completed with amber ribbed glass, or contemporary in Brushed Aluminum finish and square patterned clear glass.
Materials: | Die cast aluminum and glass | |
Voltage: | 120 volt | |
Installation: | Wet Locations [Explain] | |
Listing: | , CUL Listed, Quick Ship |
Bulb sold separately
Dimensions & Weights
Wire Length: | 8 inches |
Backplate Height: | 10½ inches |
Projection: | 5¾ inches |
Width: | 7 inches |
Height from Center of Outlet: | 7¼ inches |
Backplate Width: | 5 inches |
Height: | 15 inches |
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By David G. from Santa Fe, NM on Nov 18, 2010
Casual Do-It-Yourselfer
It looks great and is easy to install. I particularly like the fact it is totally enclosed so it always looks clean.
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Excellent Quality
By Dennis R. from Palm Desert, CA on Dec 02, 2009
High-End Shopper
I ordered 6 of these fixtures for my home and after they were installed, I ordered 5 more for my vacation home. I was pleasantlly surprised at the high quality of the fixtures and they have a timeless appeal that all of my neighbors have commented on.
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Very Happy
By Rodney M. from Miramar, FL on Mar 04, 2009
Excellent product, photo does not do it justice. I am a big fan of the manufacturer since purchasing. Initial purchase was for the front entry and rear patio, the appearance during the day and illumination at night commands attention. During installaton the electrician complimented the appearance and construction and stated, "these are nice!" I recently ordered and installed them on each side of the garage door exterior; will be ordering again soon to complete the package on the rear exterior of the propery.
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Better then expected
By Charles R. from Claremont CA on Jun 17, 2009
Bargain Hunter, Practical, Casual Do-It-Yourselfer
I'm very pleased with my order. It came quick and was easy to install. What more could I ask?
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It's Perfect!
By Jerry F. from Pierrefonds, QC on Aug 15, 2007
We were extremely pleased with all aspects of our experience purchasing from Lighting Universe. The items arrived in perfect condition and were exactly as described and pictured. You can be sure that we'll be buying from Lighting Universe in the future.
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Wall sconces
By Joanne A. from Stoneham, MA on Dec 26, 2008
Excellant quality, prompt shipment
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Mfr Part # | |
Sku | |
Group # | 164893 |
Category | Outdoor Sconces - 115 |
Style | Craftsman - 2 |
Sales Rank | 364 |
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text:
A Brother PocketJet 3 Mobile Printer Kit is one of the smallest, lightest and most effective full-page printing solutions you can buy for your on-the-go monochrome printing needs. Whether you use a laptop or a handheld device, the PocketJet 3 will give you sharp text, crisp graphics, and high-quality documents in almost any environment, including extreme temperature and pressure variations.
At barely over 10" (25.4cm) long and weighing 1.12 lb (508 g) including the battery, the Brother PocketJet 3 fits easily into your briefcase, computer bag, or can be quickly mounted in any vehicle or small work area. Using advanced Direct Thermal Printing Technology, the Brother PocketJet 3 eliminates the need for messy and expensive ink, toner, or ribbons, and achieves a respectable 203 x 200dpi resolution.
If a USB cable is not connected to the PocketJet 3 when it is turned on, the IrDA (infrared) connection is automatically enabled for printing wirelessly. Make sure your computer is set properly to send data via its infrared port, make sure the two infrared ports are aligned toward each other, and proceed to print.
This kit includes: 100 sheets of 8 x 11" (letter) direct thermal paper, a rechargeable Ni-MH battery, a faux leather carrying case and a 6' (1.8m) USB cable.
Note: For Mac users: you must download the driver for your OS from the included CD. You can contact Brother tech support if you need further assistance at 1-800-543-6144 x 1601.
- Low Cost Operation
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- Ultra-lightweight - Only 1.12 lb (508 g) Including Battery
- No Ink Cartridges to Replace
- Long-life Ni-MH Battery (Get up to 100 prints per full charge)
- 1-Year Limited Warranty and Unlimited Tech Support


text:
I said that Rt=3 ohms
and Vt= Vab
and Ir = 1A
so Pr=1^2*3 = 3W
Is this correct?
Image text transcribed for accessibility: Determine the value of resistor R t absorbs the most power in this circuit. How much power is absorbed by t value of resistance? You can use the results of previous problems.


text:
Bradenton Beach, FL, USA < change city >
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The Westin Tampa Harbour...
725 South Harbour Island Blvd.
Tampa, FLorida 33602
Ceremony & Reception, Hotels/Accommodation...
3 ratings, 1 review, 19 weddings
At the Westin Tampa Harbour Island, your wedding day will be a graceful entrance into your future together. With spectacular su...
Grand Plaza Hotel And Be...
5250 Gulf Blvd
St Pete Beach, FL 33706-2408, US
Ceremony Sites, Reception S...
5 ratings, 5 reviews, 38 weddings
They have many great qualities as far as beach weddings go some of the things I w...
The Don Cesar
3500 Gulf Blvd
St Pete Beach, FL 33706
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3 ratings, 2 reviews, 10 weddings
As far as scenery, the Don is as good as it gets for me. The hotel is gorgeous, ...
Best Western Yacht Harbo...
150 Marina Plaza
Dunedin, FL, USA
3 ratings, 2 reviews, 5 weddings
Great rooms.... huge... wonderful place to stay for a wedding or wedding night
Sirata Beach Resort
5300 Gulf Blvd
St Pete Beach, FL, USA
Hotels/Accommodations, Cere...
2 ratings, 2 reviews, 32 weddings
Great hotel and location. Staff was very proficient and helpful for our wedding.
Courtyard By Marriott Br...
100 Riverfront Blvd.
Bradenton, FL, United States
3 ratings, 1 review, 18 weddings
Newly renovated. Very nice.
Palmetto Riverside Bed A...
1102 Riverside Dr
Palmetto, FL 34221
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2 ratings, 2 reviews, 8 weddings
Breath-taking view! Quaint and elegant bed and breakfast that was a hidden treasu...
Boca Grande Club Inc
5000 Gasparilla Rd
Lee, FL 33946
Hotels/Accommodations, Cere...
2 ratings, 2 reviews, 7 weddings
Boca Grande Club was where our reception and beach wedding ceremony took place. B...
St. Pete Beach
St Pete Beach, FL, US
Hotels/Accommodations, Attr...
2 ratings, 2 reviews, 7 weddings
St. Pete Beach is great, family and friends could walk from their hotels and the ...
Doubletree Guest Suites
3050 N Rocky Point Dr W
Tampa, FL 33607-5801, US
2 ratings, 2 reviews, 5 weddings
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Paula Deens Sweet Potato Balls
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This recipe was submitted by a reader and has not been tested in our kitchen.
A favorite Holiday Treat for young and old alike!
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Serves: 6 to 10 potato balls
Total Time: 25 min
Prep Time: 5 min
Cook Time: 20 min
U.S. | Metric | Conversion chart |
- 4 large sweet potatoes
- cup(s) packed brown sugar
- 2 tablespoon(s) orange juice
- 1 teaspoon(s) orange zest
- 1/2 teaspoon(s) freshly grated nutmeg
- 2 cup(s) shredded, sweetened coconut
- 1/2 cup(s) granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon(s) ground cinnamon
- 1 large marshmallow per potato ball
- Preheat oven to 350 F
- Bake potatoes until tender, then peel and mash them.
- Stir in the brown sugar, orange juice, zest and nutmeg.
- In a separate bowl, toss the coconut with the sugar and cinnamon.
- Press the mashed potoes around each marshmallow, creating a 2 to 3-inch diameter ball.
- Roll the balls in the coconut mixture.
- Bake for 15 to 20 minutes...Watch carefully for the last few minutes of cooking; the expanding marshmallows can cause the potato balls to burst open.
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Ever since my dad held me up to a Pole Position cabinet to steer as he worked the pedals, I've been absolutely hooked on games. It just took me 25 years to figure out that I loved writing about them too. I don't have any particular genre biases, I'll play just about anything that involves pressing buttons (that's probably why I shouldn't visit hospitals...). This blog is just the thoughts of a guy who loves games, but is occasionally frustrated when they squander their potential.
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It's Uncanny.
on 11.08.2012
A simple wooden door. I've lost count of how many times my gaming adventures have been halted by one of them. In my possession I hold an axe, a crowbar, and my trusty bazooka on my back. But none of these items that are
super useful
in real life at getting past a two inch locked door will get me past this one. Not unless I find some ancient artifact or keycard or secret password the game demands I must.
You shall not pass.
I feel like Dante knocking on the gates of hades without Virgil to guide me through. And so off I go! Maybe even two hours in the opposite direction to get what is required. Thats just playing the game, right? And playing is what we're all here to do. But sometimes, I just wish for the option to solve this problem more like someone would in real life.
Im not sure when it started, or when I first started noticing it. That feeling. You know the one, the unease that something is just not right. And no, I'm not talking about the uncanny valleyeven though it is related. For nearly a decade now, video games have rapidly approached the age of photo realismslowly hoisting ourselves out of that seemingly bottomless valleybut it seems as if we are steadily falling deeper into another canyon. Quite simply, the better graphics seem to get, the harder it is to actually tell ourselves that these things happening in front of us are nothing more than a facsimile of reality.
These glitches in the Matrix that snap our attention out of the game could manifest as a gameplay element, lackluster AI, or simply a technological limitation. And you know, things didnt used to be this way.
I never begrudged for mario being able to change directions in mid-air or Alucard for using a well-timed double jump to reach a platform. Was I blissfully ignorant, or did these things just not matter?
In 1985 everyone accepted that a plumber could jump five times his height.
I think the answer lies in the sometimes underestimated power of imagination. You see, sprite-based, or even some of the less sophisticated polygon based games of oldthe ones we grew up with and defined us as gamerswere simple looking games. Some of them had color palettes that struggled to reach double digits, and others had models you could count the polygons of on one hand. Because these visuals were so basic, so abstract, they encouraged the full use of the players imagination to make us believe we really were fighting guerrilla soldiers in a lush rainforest or saving the earth from yet another alien invasion in the heart of times square. In this way, a pixellated but charming world like Midgar seems real and aliveand Final Fantasy XIII's Gran Pulse feel like hollow window dressing.
Today, an imagination is hardly necessary for your gaming enjoyment. Thanks to multi-core processors and motion capture technology, games are filled with believable water effects, individually rendered strands of hair, and faces capable of a range of emotions wed expect from breathing actors. But in this mad-dash towards hyper-realistic visuals, our brains no longer have the job of filling in the blanks to enhance our playing experience, and it gets a bit bored. Since our minds don't particularly like sitting idle, it begins to take note of anything that seems out of the ordinary, finding the seams and faults in every little thing.
Every time your character jumps a little farther than he should, or you set off a bomb in an office and all the papers stay on a desk, or the fact that grabbing a health pack can heal multiple gunshot wounds in seconds, or my character dies instantly in WAIST HIGH WATER (sorry, huge pet peeve)there's bullshit alarms going off every which way in your head. The very part of your brain that used to enhance immersion is now actively sabotaging it.
Also died in chest high water...but I'll allow it.
Its kind of funny how so many games are now reducing their UIs and HUDs to an almost non-existent level, attempting to gain a movie-like level of immersion, but forgetting the fact that theres all these...for lack of a better word: videogamey elements that never allow us to forget that we are just sitting in front of a TV with a dualshock in our hands.
Simplistic, inconsistent, or just plain bad AI is also a big contributor to the dissonance that can pull a person out of a game. For example, in open world games with a police presence: cops dont even mind when you do 120 down a one-way blowing every light and having 10 hit and runs every ten seconds. Or when they finally do give chase, they give up in three blocks even though youve just robbed a bank. Even better, being able to walk into a police station with an assault rifle with nary a soul batting an eyelash.
That's a mighty fine park job, citizen.
Townspeople are seldom any better. It is extremely rare to get even the slightest reaction out of someone in a car youve just sideswiped and rammed into a light pole. How awesome would it be if instead when you cut someone off, they chased you around for ten minutes tailgating you and leaning out the window and flipping you off?(Trust me. In Chicago rush hours, it happens.)
In shooters, it drives me nuts when the AI either stands out in the open standing directly next to suitable cover, or even worse, running directly into the fusillade of bullets I'm throwing across the room, giving the game almost a shooting gallery effect. But games that require stealth seem to be the biggest AI offenders. Ever wonder why some guards have ZERO peripheral vision? You can practically reenact a full Broadway show a two feet from a guard by tap dancing just out of his cone of vision. On the flip side if theres a level with snipers, sticking out half a joint of your pinky from cover will result in it being blown off from 400 yards at night. If you happen to find a sniper rifle yourself(with a silencer of course), theres also a tendency for guards to ignore the exploding craniums of their co-workers right next to them, as you slowly pick off an entire facilitys guards.
For some reason these are standard issue for every guard in the history of ever
In driving games, how infuriating is it to be winning a race by several city blocks, only to have a minor collision 100 feet from the from the finish line and have half the field pass you. Gotta love slingshot AI. And then, you have escort/teammate AI. Need 10,000 examples? Go find a copy of
Dead Rising
Resident Evil 5.
No rush, Ill wait. Done? Or rather, put your foot through your TV yet?
Then sometimes, there are just flat out limitations on what you can and can't do in a game world because of hardware. Yeah, there are going to be invisible walls around the city limits, or doors to buildings that wont open. But it still makes me a little sad every time I cause millions of dollars in property damagetotaled police cars and charred bodies stretching clear into the horizonand if I walk around the corner and come back, it's as if I imagined the whole thing. Where there once was a flaming pile of victims to my flamethrower, now sits a lovestruck couple in a cafe. The place I shot that police helicopter with an RPG, now sits an elderly man, feeding pigeons. The overturned bus where I made my last stand is now filling up with commuters, eager to start their workdays. All my beautiful work, for naught!
Officer, if you just walk around the block and come back this mess will be gone. I swear!
How much difference can a little realism injected into games go? All you have to do is think back to the times when you expected something videogamey to happen, and it didnt. That time when you tried to flee Nemesis by running into an adjacent room but quickly finding out he knew how to use door knobs! Or when a seasoned RPG player who is used to breaking into houses and swiping everything that isn't nailed down tries the same thing in Skyrim and gets thrown in the slammer for weeks. Or the first shooter that you noticed finally allowed bullets to you know, behave like bullets and *gasp* go through walls. I've also always appreciated the game that prevented the hero from carrying several metric tons of weapons, ammunition, and supplies in their infinitely deep knapsacks.
Vidjagames have taught me that this is how every soldier looks in combat. PROVE ME WRONG.
Of course most of the time, the lack of realism in video games is preferable. It is a hobby of escapism, after all.
Ive mentioned before
that games far too oftentimes are obsessed with excessive violence and brutalityperhaps the entire problem is how unrealistically most games deal with death in the first place. How often have you to empty half to an entire magazine just to down a bad guy? Then, when you finish an someone off, you get these incredibly gory, exploding gibs that used to be heads, limbs and torsos. Its so cartoonish in fact, that theres automatically a disassociation with what's going on onscreen, and what would actually occur in real life. This allows us to shoot pretend people for hours on end without bordering on being a psychopath. Maybe if there was a bit more weight given to death, or guns as
RamWars blog
mentioned, wed think twice about the amount of digital genocide we were committing.
Just look at the COD level No Russian. The game gives you the option of either not participating or simply skipping over the entire scene, and many players have admitted they did just that. Regardless of how you felt about the it's execution, it's hard to deny that there was a weightiness that made a lot of players squeamish and hesitant to pull the trigger that they've pulled hundreds of times just minutes earlier.
It's for reasons like that, that we should be wary of just blindly pushing for a more realistic virtual reality. Theres also a delicious irony somewhere in thereyearning for more realistic games to make escaping from real life more enjoyable. But as we sit on the cusp of a new console generation, one cant help but wonder what new graphical heights games will reach, what fantastic new worlds we will have the privilege to visit. And In the back of my mind, if just for a second I'll ponder: when
Master Chief find the time to go to bathroom in that suit?
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text: TOP 10 Top 10 Entertainment Female Rappers Back to Top ▲ Female Rappers 6 Iggy Azalea Share on Facebook Share on Twitter 0 Shares Australia isn't exactly known for hip-hop, but perhaps the 21-year-old Aussie will be the one to usher in a new generation of rappers from the land Down Under. Like most young performers, she made an early name for herself posting freestyles on YouTube, and Azalea's aggressive electro beats and bottle-popping-centric lyrics should prove popular in any hemisphere. Besides, who doesn't like a foulmouthed blonde with a hair-pulling ponytail and a rhinestone-encrusted jacket forcefully declaring with intense eyes that she's the "illest bitch"? Next Page TOP 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Comments Show Comments More Like This Promoted Around the Web Special Features


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Photo by wikipedia user Zerbey
Premature birth and, as a consequence, low birth weight are common problems for multiple births. Medically speaking any baby born before 37 weeks gestation is considered premature (40 weeks is considered full term) and a any baby weighing less than 5 pounds 8 ounces is considered low birth weight.
The lowest birth weight baby to be born in Tennessee and survive isn't a multiple though. Anyone want to guess how much she weighed when she was born 12 weeks early? Becca Hill weighed 13 ounces and was 9 inches long when she was born at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. It's worth stopping for a minute to ponder that. She weighed less than one pound. Less than an adult's hand. Around the same weight as your average paperback book (and probably half the weight of a Harry Potter book). According to the Tennessean article, Becca was a victim of 'placental insufficiency', which means just what it says. She wasn't getting what she needed in order to grow properly.
She had to spend 4 months in the Vanderbilt NICU, and it cost over $1 million in medical bills, but she made through and celebrated her first birthday back in the summer. She weighed about 13 pounds on her birthday, which is off the bottom of the chart for a 12 month old but some pretty phenomenal growth considering where she started. If the average newborn grew that much proportionally, he would be the size of a 15 year old boy by the end of his first year.
Developmental delays are pretty normal for premature birth babies. Doctors generally advise adjusting the normal milestones by the amount of time a baby was born early. So a baby born 12 weeks early would be expected to be three months behind her peers in development. Most premature babies do eventually catch up eventually.


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Malie Organics is made by using only indigenous Hawaiian flora to create an extraordinary line of all natural luxury spa products. The lush wet rainforests of Kauai offer the purest and most fragrant flowers in the world, delicate and water-rich, so they are distilled through a unique process into hydrosols, gentle floral waters that contain every element of the plant at the molecular level. Each hydrosol captures the true essence of the flower - its very soul - in every drop. The Malie hydrosols are legendary for their pure scent and therapeutic power; a gentle alternative to concentrated essential oils because they can be applied directly to the skin. The hydrosols are combined with only the purest ingredients, with no harsh chemicals, synthetics or additives. As a result, each Malie Organics product carries the exotic scent and subtle power of the Hawaiian flora to offer an aromatherapy experience unlike any other in the world.
Malie Organics ingredients range from cultivated organic harvests to the rare wild-crafted plants of the Hawaiian rainforests. All of the Malie Organics ingredients are sustainable grown, ensuring constant renewal. Malie Organics also draws on the talent and time-honored traditions of local artisans to create our products.


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Fresh "open letter" is addressed to people of the nation
In another "open letter," Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Friday vowed to follow the path of "inclusive development," ensuring justice for all.
Mr. Modi's fresh letter, now addressed to the people of India, comes on the eve of his three-day fast from Saturday, his birthday. The first "open letter" on Tuesday was addressed to the people of the State.
In the new letter, Mr Modi talks about the communal violence of 2002, which raged a year after a devastating earthquake that took a heavy toll of lives. He said the 21st century did not begin well for Gujarat, what with the earthquake occurring on the Republic Day and then the State becoming a "victim of communal violence," in which it lost "innocent lives, suffered devastation of property and endured a lot of pain."
Gujarat, like the rest of India, firmly believed that casteism and communalism had never done any good to society. Under his stewardship, he said, the State had embarked on an "inclusive development" benefitting and ensuring justice for, all citizens.
Mr. Modi admitted that he had committed "mistakes" during his 10-year rule and "thanked" those who pointed out his "genuine mistakes" and expressed the confidence that "with the blessings of all" his 'sadbhavana mission' would further strengthen "unity, social harmony and brotherhood among all." His government was committed to a "developed Gujarat for a developed India."
AIADMK sending team
In a show of solidarity, the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) is sending its leaders in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha M. Thambidurai and V. Maitreyan to Ahmedabad for Mr. Modi's fast, according to sources in the party.
Keywords: Modi fast, communal harmony


text:
midiotlv Dec 20, 2013 12:34 PM
Re: Terrible problem with image contagion! in response to midiotlvInterestingly enough, I just moved both monitors to the same card (the ATI Radeon 5770) and restarted....now Aperture works fine. So, for me anyway, it seems that having the 2 monitors on separate cards is the issue (I haven't tried running both on the GT 120). I guess I'll run like this until they have a patch (if they ever discover/fix this). I've left feedback with Apple.
crayboy Dec 20, 2013 2:25 PM
Re: Terrible problem with image contagion! in response to midiotlvThanks for the tip - worked for me too, although I cannot get 2560x1440 on either display when two monitors are on the 5770. Still great to have the 5770 working ( sort of ) again!
El Pezley Dec 20, 2013 2:50 PM
Re: Terrible problem with image contagion! in response to midiotlvHi Don, pulling the card was the only solution I could find. The GT 120 works OK on its own, but is underpowered enough to create other really inconvenient, but less serious problems.
I haven't gotten round to putting in a new card yet, but will do so soon, as the situation is unsustainable. I'm just not sure which card would best. Nvidia seems to have the upper hand when it comes to driver longevity though.
I put the Radeon in another machine where it seems to work fine, as long as I don't use Aperture.
At the moment I'm pulling in old DV tapes into iMovie without any problem. Not sure how much the card is called on for that though...
Will post a again if I have any luck.
PS: I saw a comment from Midiotlv where he mentions getting two monitors to work from the same card. I think I tried that unsuccessfully on the Radeon 6870, although I would probably have done it without taking the GT 120 out.
I'm not sure if the people who got the 5770's to work were using cards spec'd by Apple, but mine was a PC card that was flashed to work on the Mac Pro. I think this is possibly where my problems come from. Problem is, the Mac spec'd cards cost a small fortune, especially ones that work on the early 2008 - 3,1 machines... Even today, which is nuts!
midiotlv Dec 20, 2013 3:27 PM
Re: Terrible problem with image contagion! in response to El PezleyYeah...my Radeon was purchased from Apple directly. I am running 2 monitors (one 27" Dell at 2560X1440 and one Asus at 1920X1200) using mini-display port to display port cables. So far, I don't notice anything bad by running both off of the same card (Aperture works again) -- and maybe this is the better way to run (and pulling my GT120 out might save a wee bit of power). However, I guess I always liked the idea of each card driving a monitor (maybe that isn't a big deal). In any case, I've been using Aperture since version 1, and I've never had this problem until now. I'll definitely try again with both cards after the next Aperture/OSX update.
Good luck! I've left feedback for Apple -- be sure to do the same.
El Pezley Jan 14, 2014 1:53 PM
Re: Terrible problem with image contagion! in response to midiotlvI just wanted to let you know that after the release of 10.9.1, and before splashing out on a new card, i took a chance and re-installed the Radeon HD 6870, as I really couldn't work fast enough with the GT 120.
Not sure whether I did so before, but this time I took out the GT120 and installed the Radeon, this time on it's own (the cards had never conflicted prior to the issues I had with 10.9.)
Anyway, the long and the short of it is that the card now works like a treat!!
It's brought my workflow back to life. Not sure if the drivers were updated in 10.9.1, although I hear that Mac's now accept PC graphics cards without the need for flashing which sounds great!
So I'm pretty pleased my setup is back on track and I think your suggestion got me headed in the right direcetion, thanx!!


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Retirement and Investment Solutions Newsletter
September 2009 Issue
Thank you for allowing us to continue to share our insights. This issue includes:
To print a copy of the newsletter, please press the "Print" button above.
Letter From the Editor
Welcome to the September issue of Insights!
We are excited to be celebrating 401(k) Day on Friday, September 11th. 401(k) Day is an annual celebration spotlighting the importance of employer-sponsored profit sharing and 401(k) plans.
With this day in mind, we are sharing with you some new enhancements to Dream Machine, insights into participant behavior with our survey completed in the Spring of 2009, a new video created for participants in The Way Forward and other relevant topics.
If you would like to share Insights with your colleagues or clients please forward this newsletter. They can subscribe by emailing us at email@example.com.
If there is anything that we can do for you at J.P. Morgan, or you would like us to address a topic in future issues of Insights, please let us know.
David Embry
Managing Director and Head of Institutional Sales and Sponsor Services
J.P. Morgan Retirement Plan Services
Investment Policy Statements
An important tool for any plan sponsor should be their Investment Policy Statement or IPS. The IPS is a document that spells out exactly what the retirement plan is invested in and how those investments will be selected, monitored, measured and if necessary, even replaced.
The IPS will describe what funds specifically are in the plan, along with what benchmarks and peer groups will be used in monitoring and measuring performance. Language for placing funds on watch or for potential termination might also be included, as well as any other "trigger" events, such as a fund manager departure, or dramatic change in fund style.
While not a requirement under ERISA or 404(c), ERISA has indirectly imposed an IPS requirement by mandating that investment fiduciaries prudently select plan investments and monitor their performance.
DOL Interpretive Bulletin 94-2 states that "…compliance with the duty to monitor necessitates proper documentation of the activities that are subject to monitoring." The existence therefore of an IPS can provide evidence of a prudent decision-making process and serve as a defense against potential fiduciary liability.
In the process of a plan audit, the DOL will routinely ask for a copy of the plan's IPS (even though it is not specifically required). Investment committees that have not described the procedures required by ERISA in a written IPS and have not maintained documentation of their investment related decisions may render themselves vulnerable to legal action from either disgruntled plan participants or the DOL.
Given the benefits, as of September 1, 2009, approximately 66% of J.P. Morgan Retirement Plan Services clients currently have an IPS in place.
So why wouldn't you have an IPS in place? Some reasons we typically see are corporate inertia, thinking that a monitoring process is a substitute for a formal IPS, lack of an investment committee and even fear that by documenting specific criteria within an IPS and not following it, you would create more fiduciary liability than by not having one.
To learn more about creating or reviewing your IPS or for a complimentary copy of a sample Investment Policy Statement, please email firstname.lastname@example.com.
Disclosures Comment on this article
Retirement Dream Machine 2.0 – Coming Mid-September 2009!
Many retirement calculators today provide an estimate of what individuals may need to retire; however, not many can tell them if it will last through retirement. Retirement Dream Machine is our powerful proprietary web-based tool that provides participants an idea of how much money may be available to them at retirement, but more importantly, if they will have enough money to live comfortably through retirement.
Dream Machine 2.0, launching in mid-September, will provide guidance to participants by showing how much money may be available at retirement, which sources they may draw upon and the expected duration of payments. Participants will be able to see an estimate of how long their retirement money may last in three sources:
Social Security,
retirement savings 401(k) and
retirement income (i.e., defined benefit, annuities, etc.).
If there appears to be a spending shortfall based upon estimated expenses, the tool will point out the age at which the shortfall may occur. This can help participants make the important decision of whether, based on what-if scenarios that the participant completes, he or she has a good chance of living comfortably throughout retirement or if they may need to make some critical decisions in advance of retirement.
Key benefits of Dream Machine 2.0 include:
- Simplicity – Dream Machine has always been popular due to its ease of use and this feature remains in this version. Key information is available on a participant's homepage without having to pre-populate any information.
- Wage replacement information – an estimate of how long a participant's money may last in retirement is provided, taking into consideration expenses and outside accounts.
- Customization – this tool is relevant to each individual because of the level of available customization. Participants can use the Take Action menu to change variables to fit their individual situations. Averages are derived from the Department of Labor.
Other features of Dream Machine include:
- Calculations powered by Financial Engines®
- Additional graphics illustrating savings and spending calculations
- Outside account data is accommodated and stored for the participant's future use
If you'd like to learn more about Dream Machine or see a demonstration, contact your J.P. Morgan representative or check it out on the Product Lab at Plan Sponsor Portal.
Disclosures Comment on this article
Helping participants find The Way Forward
Want to help your participants discover how to be more proactive in planning for their retirement? We've heard a lot of great feedback from you on our new, interactive Way Forward face to face education meetings. We've also heard a need to get this information out to participants who can't attend the meetings. That's why we have created a unique new video that reflects the spirit and the content of the face to face meetings.
We understand that even though each of your employees has different factors to consider as they plan for retirement, they all have one thing in common – a need to be involved. Studies show that people that take a proactive approach tend to save five times* more than people who don't. This video will help participants be better prepared for tomorrow by encouraging them to take a look at their current retirement planning decisions and see if they match their long-term goals.
Topics discussed in the video include:
keeping perspective in today's market
time-tested investment principles
making choices based on retirement age
where to get additional help
We suggest posting this video on your company's intranet or possibly hosting a brown bag lunch session to talk about retirement with your participants. If you would like to incorporate these ideas or create your own, please contact your J.P. Morgan Communications Strategist.
If you would like more information on The Way Forward communication program please visit The Way Forward site.
*American Savings Education Council
Disclosures Comment on this article
New report to better understand how participants contributing to 401(k) plans have reacted to recent market conditions
J.P. Morgan Retirement Plan Services invites you to view a newly released research report based on a survey that was completed this past spring. The study was designed to better understand how individuals that are contributing to 401(k) plans have reacted to recent market conditions. The research was conducted online within the United States among 1,000 respondents.
The findings are organized into three sections. Section one provides an up-to-date picture of the current retirement savings landscape as seen through the eyes of those doing the saving. Section two examines the impact of a poor economy on participants' financial priorities and how current conditions may impact their ability to meet retirement financial goals. The last section takes a closer look at how 401(k) participants chose to handle the recent decline in stock prices and where they stand with regard to long-term investing as they look ahead into their financial future.
Highlights from the study include:
Participants embrace the responsibility of being in control of their retirement, without the confidence to succeed.
Few participants believe they are on track to retire comfortably.
With all of the scrutiny and urgency on disclosure and providing information, most participants admit they don't read what they're given.
The majority of participants have a higher level of confidence in their own decision-making over those who trust their employer and the government.
The majority of participants indicated the discontinuation of the match would not affect their own contributions.
To obtain a copy of the report, please email firstname.lastname@example.com.
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Form 5500 Schedule C changes for 2009
The time has arrived for significant reporting changes to Schedule C (Service Provider Information) of Form 5500. Schedule C must be filed by retirement or welfare benefit plans and certain other arrangements that generally have 100 or more participants. Even though these changes were published over a year and a half ago, some questions still remain on the details. Due to the complexities involved, this article only attempts to provide a high level overview of the requirements.
Fiduciaries have a duty to ensure that fees paid to service providers are reasonable in relation to the value of the services rendered to the plan. Additionally, fiduciaries need to determine if any service provider arrangements could result in conflicts of interest that potentially influence recommendations made by the provider. The new Schedule C is designed to highlight such fees and arrangements to help fiduciaries with their monitoring duties.
Schedule C reports fees (the form uses the term "compensation") paid to service providers who receive compensation of $5,000 or more during a year in connection with services rendered to the plan or due to the person's position with the plan. Prior to 2009, Schedule C generally reported only direct fees paid by the plan. But in today's world, service providers may be getting paid in a variety of ways and from a variety of sources. These arrangements may be difficult for a fiduciary to sort out. The 2009 Schedule C is designed to capture not only direct compensation paid by the plan to service providers, but also indirect compensation that service providers receive from other parties.
Schedule C reflects both direct and indirect compensation received by service providers. Here is a brief overview of what these terms mean:
Compensation – cash or anything else of value (e.g. gifts, entertainment, etc.).
Direct compensation – amounts paid directly out of the plan (e.g. from the forfeiture account, charged directly to participants' accounts, paid from the trust or from fee recapture accounts, etc.) [NOTE: Payments received by a service provider from the plan sponsor are not reported unless the plan sponsor is reimbursed by the plan.]
Indirect compensation – amounts received from sources other than directly from the plan or plan sponsor.
Eligible indirect compensation – fees or expense reimbursement payments charged to investment funds and reflected in the value of the investment or return on investment (e.g. finders' fees, soft dollar revenue, float revenue, and/or brokerage commissions or other transaction-based fees that were not paid directly by the plan or plan sponsor). As noted below, there is an alternative reporting option for this form of compensation.
The new reporting regime
Service providers who receive total aggregate direct and indirect compensation of $5,000 or more must be reported on Schedule C. Direct and indirect compensation must be reported separately, with service codes to identify what the compensation relates to. Indirect compensation can be reported as a dollar amount (or estimated amount), or if the service provider has disclosed a formula to the plan sponsor to enable the amount to be calculated, that fact can be indicated on Schedule C without disclosing the exact amount of indirect compensation.
If the only form of compensation received by the service provider is "eligible indirect compensation," the only reporting required on Schedule C is the existence of such compensation and the identity of the person who provided the required written disclosures of such compensation to the plan sponsor. These disclosures include the services provided for the compensation or the purpose of the payment, the amount (or estimate) of the compensation or a description of the formula used to calculate or determine the compensation (e.g. 5 basis points of the value of the assets), and the identity of the parties paying and receiving the compensation.
If certain fiduciaries or service providers cross the $5,000 threshold and receive indirect compensation (other than eligible indirect compensation) of $1,000 or more from a given source, the source of such compensation must be disclosed. This applies to service providers who are fiduciaries, or who provide consulting, custodial, contract administration, investment advisory or investment management, broker or recordkeeping services. This gets to the heart of any conflict of interest concerns.
What plan sponsors should do
For the 2009 plan year, it is important to identify all plan service providers, and collect required data for those who receive $5,000 or more in total direct and indirect compensation. Many will likely provide the required information automatically, but you should be ready to contact those who do not. If a service provider refuses to provide the information required to complete Schedule C, they are to be reported on the schedule as failing to provide such information. You must give them final warning that they will be listed on the form if they do not respond.
The Department of Labor recognizes that service providers may need to modify information management systems in order to comply with these reporting requirements, and may not have sufficient time to do so for the 2009 plan year. If the service provider makes a good-faith effort, but despite such efforts is unable to gather the information from its systems, a statement can be provided to the plan administrator to that effect, and doing so will avoid being reported as failing to provide the necessary information.
Since this is all new for the 2009 plan year, there will likely be some confusion when completing Schedule C. Plan sponsors, plan auditors, and service providers will need to work together to make a good-faith effort to comply with Schedule C reporting requirements, especially for the 2009 plan year.
Disclosures Comment on this article
Managing assets through retirement – options to address retirement income needs for participants
"The fear of dying too soon made life insurance the largest financial services industry of the 19th century. But providing financial protection against the new risk of not dying soon enough may well become the 21st century's leading financial industry." - Peter Drucker
Over the last 20 years 401(k) plans have been a predominant planning tool for retirement savings. Historically the 401(k) focus has been on savings or accumulation. More recently, there is focus beyond accumulation and on retirement income. Options for retirement income are becoming increasingly interesting for plan sponsors and their participants.
The chart below illustrates the accumulation to distribution cycle. In the accumulation phase participants are saving and investing with the expectation that their investments will accumulate for retirement. As participants near retirement age, they contemplate reliable retirement income. The retirement industry has responded by moving towards risk sharing products which include investments like principal protected funds and variable annuities.
There are three types of retirement income market solutions available: plan design features, out-of-plan distribution options and in-plan investments.
Plan design features generally need to be incorporated in the written plan document. Options include guaranteed monthly annuity, partial distributions, in-plan installments and for plan sponsors with a defined benefit plan, the ability to rollover the defined contribution to the defined benefit plan.
Out-of-plan distributions include rollover annuity platforms, longevity insurance and monthly payout option investments.
In-plan investments include fixed annuity, guaranteed minimum income benefit, guaranteed minimum withdrawal benefit and non-insurer based investment products.
Whatever your level of expertise, retirement income is a topic of growing interest. J.P. Morgan Retirement Plan Services believes that any solution will have to meet the following criteria to be impactful to the marketplace:
Simplicity – the solution is easily understood, effective, easy to benchmark and administer
- Public policy – Congress and other governmental agencies encourage the solution
- Reasonable cost – reasonable and transparent fees
- Participant control – participants still control investment for a portion of their account
Contact your J.P. Morgan representative for additional information on retirement income options and solutions.
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Participant Snapshots for June - August 2008 vs. 2009 periods
You'll notice the top five call drivers remained the same for the June through August 2008 and 2009 periods. In fact, the sixth and seventh drivers were the same too (contributions and in-service, respectively).
Most notable is the increase in total calls. Two points to note: In 2008 up until late August and early September, our volume was lower than expected but that changed with the September and October market volatility. We would expect our volume to be up compared to last year, but it's even more than expected.
Top 5 Call Drivers Summer 2009 (June - August) |
Total Calls Received 410,883 |
Percent of Total |
Distribution |
94,836 |
23.08% |
Loans |
72,023 |
17.53% |
Password |
49,973 |
12.16% |
Hardship |
40,780 |
9.92% |
Personal Info |
21,899 |
5.33% |
Top 5 Call Drivers Summer 2008 (June - August) |
Total Calls Received 391,496 |
Percent of Total |
Distribution |
28,955 |
7.40% |
Loans |
19,557 |
5.00% |
Hardship |
11,730 |
3.00% |
Password |
10,718 |
2.74% |
Personal Info |
6,170 |
1.58% |
Disclosures Comment on this article
The following article is one in a series of case studies that will appear in Insights, which features our most successful communications programs developed for Plan Sponsors.
For a company that offers a 401(k) plan savings option as well as a profit sharing contribution for employees, there can be a struggle to educate employees on why it is important to take part of both savings opportunities.
The recent transition of one of the country's largest check-production company's plans to J.P. Morgan Retirement Plan Services offered an opportunity to educate and "nudge" a group of employees in just this type of situation.
The company offers two plans to their employees – a Defined Contribution Pension Plan and a combined 401(k) and Profit Sharing Plan. Because the company was making contributions on behalf of the employee into both plans, the employee participation rate was only 65%. This was a cause for concern for the plan sponsors because they also offered a generous match on all employee contributions and many employees weren't even participating in the plans.
To capitalize on a recent plan sponsor brand redesign and establish continuity with the corporate look and feel, the conversion communication pieces were designed to closely compliment the new brand used for all other Human Resource communications.
The conversion communication pieces were straight-forward. They laid out exactly what was changing, and what was staying the same. At conversion, the sponsor introduced several automatic plan design features including auto-increase. Although employees were notified that they would be auto-increased after six months, they were also given instruction on how to increase their deferral rate immediately or opt-out of this plan feature.
The communication also stressed the potential benefits and convenience of the auto-increase feature. The benefits of the company match were also reinforced throughout the newsletter. The plan sponsor also introduced at conversion electronic statements, online beneficiary, new loan default provisions and monthly installment payments.
But there was more! They also merged a new group of employees into the plan during conversion. Those employees saw a new investment lineup including Target Date Retirement Funds, revised company match, immediate vesting, auto-enrollment, auto-increase, catch-up contributions as part or their regular payroll deduction elections, availability of loans, elimination of the hardship withdrawal option and introduction of in-service withdrawals and the availability of rollover funds for withdrawals.
The plans converted mid-December 2008. Afterwards, the participation rate for the plan increased 14.95% within the first 30 days on the J.P. Morgan platform. Average contribution rates also increased significantly, to 7.07% although the automatic-enrollment rate is just 5%. In addition, 60% of the target audience made a choice to auto-increase their contribution rate immediately, rather than wait for the plan to increase it for them in July 2009.
Disclosures Comment on this article
Save the Date
- Please join us for a retirement plan forum. Our client, Cadence Design Systems, Inc. is hosting a retirement plan forum featuring J.P. Morgan Retirement Plan Services Executives.
- CEO, Pam Popp will share her perspectives on the new reality for plan sponsors and participants.
- Head of Sales and Sponsor Services, David Embry will articulate how J.P. Morgan is responding to the new reality.
- Head of Legislative Affairs, Bob Holcomb will provide his insight on recent activity on Capitol Hill.
Date: Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Time: 9:30a.m. - 12p.m. Pacific time
Location: Cadence Design Systems, Inc., Building 10 Auditorium, 2655 Seely Ave., San Jose, CA 95134
RSVP by September 15th. Call Debbie Lampkin at 816-673-4909 or send an email to email@example.com.
- Legislative update webcast.
As we head into the final months of the year, a number of bills have been introduced in Congress that may shape the future of pension reform. Please join Bob Holcomb, Head of Legislative Affairs for J.P. Morgan Retirement Plan Services on Thursday, October 29th at 1p.m. Central time for an update. More details to come!
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Legislative & Regulatory Updates
As reported in the March edition of Insights, final regulations on automatic enrollment arrangements were issued earlier this year. Automatic enrollment has gained momentum in 401(k) and similar plans over the last few years, especially since passage of the Pension Protection Act of 2006 (PPA) encouraged its use by adding special features to certain auto-enrollment programs:
Eligible automatic contribution arrangement (EACA) – provides for permissible withdrawals of automatic contributions within the first 90 days and allows refunds for failed nondiscrimination tests up to six months after the end of the plan year before the employer incurs an excise tax.
Qualified automatic contribution arrangement (QACA) – provides a nondiscrimination testing safe harbor provided minimum levels of default contribution rates are satisfied during the first four years of participation.
To help decipher the differences between the various arrangements, you can reference the following chart below to compare the primary features. The chart includes the two PPA arrangements described above and non-PPA automatic contribution arrangements (ACAs).
Plan Provisions |
Automatic Contribution Arrangement(ACA) |
Eligible Automatic Contribution Arrangement (EACA) |
Qualified Automatic Contribution Arrangement (QACA) |
When are the final regulations for automatic enrollment arrangements effective? |
The final regulations issued in February, 2009, do not apply to plans that are not an EACA or a QACA - See Revenue Ruling 2000-8 for limited guidance on ACAs |
Plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2010; proposed regulations may be applied for 2008 and 2009 plan years |
Plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2008 |
When can the arrangement begin? |
Any time during the plan year |
Must start at the beginning of the plan year |
Must start at the beginning of the plan year |
Which employees must be automatically enrolled? |
Plan may elect to apply to new hires only or retroactively to all employees without a previous affirmative deferral election |
Plan may elect to apply to new hires only or retroactively to all employees without a previous affirmative deferral election [Note: must be applied to all eligible employees to take advantage of six-month testing deadline] |
Plan must apply to those employees without a previous affirmative deferral election |
What rate is required initially for employee deferrals, and to whom must it apply? |
No required rate |
No required rate [Note: EACA plans may have multiple EACAs within one plan, so long as the different groups may be disaggregated under IRC 410(b) coverage testing; e.g., collective bargaining units] |
Mandatory provision 3% minimum deferral rate [Note: any participants previously auto enrolled at less than 3% must be increased to 3% if an affirmative deferral election has not been made] |
How is automatic increase applied? |
Optional provision |
Optional provision |
Mandatory provision –rate must increase for those auto enrolled by at least one percentage point each year, to at least 6%, but not to exceed 10% [Note: following a hardship suspension, participant must contribute at the rate in effect had the hardship suspension not occurred]1 |
How does the arrangement affect ADP/ACP Testing? |
Testing required - refunds for a failed test not made within two and a half months after the end of the plan year are subject to a 10% employer excise tax |
Testing required - refunds for a failed test not made within six months after the end of the plan year are subject to a 10% employer excise tax [Note: if all eligible employees are not covered, the two and a half month rule applies] |
Safe Harbor – testing not required unless there are after-tax contributions2 |
Is a Qualified Default Investment Alternative (QDIA) required? |
Optional [Note: if used, notice requirements apply and may be combined with other required notices] |
Optional [Note: if used, notice requirements apply and may be combined with other required notices] |
Optional [Note: if used, notice requirements apply and may be combined with other required notices] |
What are the initial notice timing requirements? Generally, employees must have a "reasonable" period between the receipt of the notice and the first deferral to "opt-out" or elect another rate |
Notice must be supplied at least 30 days before employee is eligible |
Notice must be supplied within a "reasonable" period prior to eligibility; at least 30, but no more than 90, days and generally no later than the date the employee becomes eligible. If immediately eligible, notice may be provided by the first pay date for the payroll period that includes the initial eligibility date. |
Notice must be supplied within a "reasonable" period prior to eligibility; at least 30, but no more than 90, days and generally no later than the date the employee becomes eligible. If immediately eligible, notice may be provided by the first pay date for the payroll period that includes the eligibility date. |
What are the annual notice timing requirements? |
Within a reasonable period of at least 30 days prior to the beginning of each plan year |
At least 30, but no more than 90, days prior to the beginning of each plan year |
At least 30, but no more than 90, days prior to the beginning of each plan year |
Is the 90-day permissible withdrawal available? |
Not allowed |
Optional provision – if the plan allows, participants may request a withdrawal of default contributions made in the first 90 days (or as little as 30 days) after the first default contribution would have been included in pay [Note: refunds are taxable to participants in the year distributed; 10% penalty does not apply] |
Not allowed, unless also an EACA |
Are employer contributions required? |
Optional |
Optional |
Mandatory Safe Harbor [Note: Safe Harbor notice rules apply] |
What are the minimum Safe Harbor Employer Contribution requirements?[Note: enhanced formulas available if match rates do not increase as the deferral rates increase, and matched deferrals must be capped at 6%] |
Safe Harbor is optional.Match of 100% on the first 3% plus 50% on the next 2% deferred; or a 3% nonelective contribution (QNEC) [Note: plan cannot require 1,000 hours of service in the plan year or last day of employment; catch-up contributions must be matched] |
Safe Harbor is optional.Match of 100% on the first 3% plus 50% on the next 2% deferred; or a 3% nonelective contribution (QNEC) [Note: plan cannot require 1,000 hours of service in the plan year or last day of employment; catch-up contributions must be matched] |
Safe Harbor is required.Match of 100% on the first 1% plus 50% on the next 5% deferred; or a 3% nonelective contribution [Note: plan cannot require 1,000 hours of service in the plan year or last day of employment; catch-up contributions must be matched] |
What are the Safe Harbor vesting requirements? |
100% immediate |
100% immediate |
100% after two years (may be more generous) |
Are there in-service withdrawal restrictions on the employer safe harbor contributions? |
May only be withdrawn at age 59½ (Cannot be withdrawn for hardships) |
May only be withdrawn at age 59½ (Cannot be withdrawn for hardships) |
May only be withdrawn at age 59½(Cannot be withdrawn for hardships) |
Disclosures Comment on this article
Market Pulse by Stu Schweitzer
Weekly Market Update, a weekly outlook on the markets and the global economy.
MacroMinute Weekly, a short two- to three-minute audio commentary summarizing insights and outlook on the global economy, financial markets and asset allocation. MacroMinute Weekly can be delivered to your voice mail box on Monday mornings before the start of the business day. To subscribe, e-mail firstname.lastname@example.com with "Subscribe to MacroMinute" in the message subject line, and include your name, firm name and phone number.
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In the News
Information about JPMorgan Chase & Co. in the news is available at www.jpmorganchase.com.
Plan Sponsor Alert: 2010 Benefit Limits
Each year, various retirement plan limits set out in the Internal Revenue Code are indexed for inflation. Some of these limits include:
Elective deferrals ($16,500 for 2009)
Catch-up contributions ($5,500 for 2009)
Maximum compensation ($245,000 for 2009)
Definition of highly compensated employee ($110,000 for 2009, to be applied in 2010 testing)
Defined contribution maximum additions ($49,000 for 2009)
Defined benefit maximum benefit ($195,000 for 2009)
The indexation process is designed to help ensure that limits which were previously set by law keep pace with inflation. But what if deflation occurs? Can the benefit limits be reduced? That is a concern as we near the time for determination of the 2010 limits.
The annual adjustment to the limits is based on the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) for the third quarter of the year, compared to a 2001 base period. Although the applicable CPI-U will not be known until after September 30, 2009, there is the possibility of a decrease from the 2008 third quarter CPI-U. If such a result occurs, it is not clear whether the Treasury Department would actually decrease the limits. As of this writing, the Treasury has not stated its position.
While the statute speaks about adjustments in terms of "annual increases," the mathematical formula set out under the regulations only protects the base limit (as opposed to the prior year limit). The indexation of retirement benefit limits is designed to be similar to procedures used to adjust benefit amounts under the Social Security Act. However, Social Security benefits are not allowed to decrease from one year to the next.
Any decrease in limits would be a detriment to those trying to make up for investment losses incurred over the last year, by maximizing contributions. Defined benefit plans in certain industries that allow generous early retirement benefits also face the potential of a decrease in accrued benefits for participants in pay status or near retirement. Under the anti-cutback rule, no amendment may decrease a participant's accrued benefit. It is not clear if a decrease in the defined benefit limit would be considered an amendment, or if an exception to the anti-cutback rule would be applied if the benefit limit is decreased.
As these concerns are being raised with the Treasury Department, we wanted to make you aware of this potential issue, especially as enrollment materials for 2010 may be in development. As further information becomes available, we will keep you apprised.
Disclosures Comment on this article
For questions regarding your personal 401(k) plan, contact your 401(k) plan provider.
Availability of products and services featured in Insights vary by plan. For details, contact your J.P. Morgan representative.
1Assumes initial auto-enrollment rate is 3%.
2Note that the "early participation rule" may not be utilized in the ACP test; although, it is permissible to use the "otherwise excludable rule." Under early participation, non-highly compensated employees who do not meet the statutory eligibility requirements of age 21 and one year of service may be excluded from the testing, with all highly compensated employees included in the test. With the otherwise excludable rule, all employees who have not met the statutory requirements are excluded from the test, but if the excluded group has any highly compensated employees, a separate test must be performed for the excluded group.
This comparison chart is intended to assist plan sponsors in determining which, if any, arrangement is appropriate for their plan and workforce. Once a decision is made, there may be other plan design and/or administrative details to be considered.
This information is intended for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide, and should not be relied upon for investment, accounting, legal or tax advice. For specific impact on your plan or particular circumstances, you should consult with your legal counsel and benefit advisers.
Financial Engines® is a registered trademark of Financial Engines, Inc. All advisory services are provided by Financial Engines Advisors L.L.C. ("FEA"), a federally registered investment advisor and wholly owned subsidiary of Financial Engines, Inc. Financial Engines is an independent company that is not affiliated with J.P. Morgan Retirement Plan Services LLC. FEA does not guarantee future results.
All case studies are shown for illustrative purposes only and should not be relied upon as advice or interpreted as a recommendation. They are based on market conditions at time of the analysis and are subject to change. Results shown are not meant to be representative of actual investment results. Past performance is not a guarantee of and may not be indicative of future results.
IRS Circular 230 Disclosure: JPMorgan Chase & Co. and its affiliates do not provide tax advice. Accordingly, any discussion of U.S. tax matters contained herein (including any attachments) is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, in connection with the promotion, marketing or recommendation by anyone unaffiliated with JPMorgan Chase & Co. of any of the matters addressed herein or for the purpose of avoiding U.S. tax-related penalties.


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