text:
BEA Maven Requirements
Dan Fabulich
Senior Software Engineer
BEA Systems, Inc.
Business Interaction Division
This document is long and terse; I apologize for that.
I've divided it up into four sections: one section of Definitions, one section of Use Cases, and two "Requirement Chains".
The section on Definitions is very important, because it attempts to discuss SCM "version numbers" while being totally agnostic as to whether CVS, SVN or P4 is being used under the hood. I've made up a few terms in an effort to remain agnostic; I want to especially discourage anyone from using the term "Revision Number" while discussing this document, because each provider uses that term differently.
After that, I define four uses cases. Each of them is followed by a "Failure Use Case".
Finally, there are two "Requirement Chains". The Requirement Chains are so-called because they discuss multiple requirements that flow from one another. If earlier Requirements aren't satisfied, later Requirements are irrelevant. If only earlier Requirements are satisfied, later Requirements become more important; in some cases it would even be harmful to satisfy earlier Requirements without satisfying later Requirements.
Also, I've been very explicit about the logic that I used to come up with these requirements. That's because I want to make sure we can all see why we want these things. My claim is that if you accept the top-level Requirements and Assertions, you'll be forced to accept the Derived Requirements below, and you'll also know why they're necessary.
Finally, as a note, these are not the only requirements BEA needs from Maven. There's still other stuff not mentioned here ("who depends on me?" reports, VStudio integration, dependency conflict reports) that don't require an elaborate requirements document to explain/describe, and won't necessitate any changes to the Maven core or Continuum. (Some of them are already on the Maven roadmap.) Still, issues like these are very important to us; even if all of the issues in this doc were fixed today, we'd still have quite a bit of work ahead of us before we could actually use Maven for everything we do.
OK, on with the show!
SCM - Source Configuration Management. We have to do this so we can keep track of our source files.
SCM Provider - CVS, SVN, Perforce, ClearCase, etc. Each of these is a different provider of SCM. (You could call them vendors, but nobody really "vends" CVS.)
SCM System - One particular SCM machine (or a cluster of machines that behave as if they were one machine) running some SCM software.
Consumer - A Maven project that "consumes" some Producer as a dependency.
Producer - A Maven project that provides code for a Consumer to use.
Maven Version Number - The number that appears in the /project/version tag in some project's pom.xml file.
Checked-in Maven Version Number - The Maven Version Number that appears in the pom.xml file that appears in the SCM system.
Continuum Published Maven Version Number - The Maven Version Number that appears in the pom.xml file that Continuum publishes to the remote repository. (Normally this is the same as the Checked-in Maven Version Number, but these can be different if, say, Continuum changes the Maven Version Number as it is published.)
Suppose you have a directory layout like this:
|No Format
foo | +- bar | | | +- One.java +--baz | +- Two.java +- Three.java
Single File SCM Number - A version number that applies only to a particular file under source control. Each file has its own Single File SCM Number. In the example above, One.java has its own Single File SCM Number separate from Two.java's Single File SCM Number. Check-ins that only modify One.java do not change the Single File SCM number of Two.java, and vice-versa.
Global SCM Number - A version number that applies to the entire SCM system at once. There should be only one Global SCM Number at a time for any given SCM system. (In CVS, this version number can simply be the date of the last check-in.)
Directory Specific SCM Number - A version number that applies only to a particular directory in the SCM system. In SCM systems that have Global SCM Numbers, you can find a Branch Specific SCM Number by finding the largest Global SCM Number that affected files in that directory. (In CVS, this version number can simply be the date of the last check-in in the specified directory.)
"Revision" Number (deprecated term) - Means different things across various SCM systems, and should not be used in a technical discussion that intends to remain agnostic to SCM systems. In particular, CVS *only* has Single File SCM Numbers, called "Revision" numbers. Subversion does not have Single File SCM numbers, but only has the Global SCM Number, and calls it the "Revision" number. Perforce has Single File SCM Numbers (called "Revision" numbers, just like CVS,) and it also has Global SCM Number, called a "Changelist" number.
Example Using the Terms
Let's refer to Single File SCM Numbers by reference to a file name followed by a # and a number. So One.java#4 means One.java's fourth Single File SCM Number. Global SCM Numbers will just be called "G" followed by a number, e.g. G123.
Let's say this happens:
Alice checks in One.java#1: G1
Bob checks in Two.java#1 and Three.java#1: G2
Alice checks in One.java#2: G3
Bob checks in Two.java#2: G4
Alice checks in One.java#3 and Two.java#3: G5
Bob checks in Two.java#4: G6
At this point, "bar"'s Directory Specific SCM Number is 5, because One.java was updated in G1, G3 and G5, and not since then. "baz"'s Directory Specific SCM Number is 6, because Two.java was updated in G6. (Note that Three.java never changed.)
Use Cases
Use Case 1: Do You Have My Fixes?
Alice, a QA engineer, finds and files a bug in the "P" project, whose Maven Version Number is "2.2". The developer Bob attempts to fix the bug in Foo.java. He checks some changes into the SCM system, without modifying pom.xml. The SCM system gives Bob an SCM Number (of some kind) that represents the check-in... let's call it "123".
The continuous build system automatically creates a build containing Bob's changes; the build is a success. Bob marks the bug as "Coded - Please Verify." But Alice reports that the bug is "Not Fixed."
Bob is skeptical, and asks Alice whether she tested with a binary containing check-in "123". Without using a pom.xml file or the SCM system itself, Alice examines the binary's metadata and verifies whether it contains that check-in number.
Failure Use Case: The Maven Version Number of P contains only "2.2", so P's binary metadata doesn't contain any more information than that. Alice has no way to tell whether she has the correct copy of P version "2.2".
Use Case 2: No Need to Retest
Tuesday morning, the automated continuous build system generates a build for project "P". Alice tests this project on Tuesday afternoon.
A day passes, and no one checks-in any changes to P. On Wednesday, someone kicks-off an "on demand" build of P. P builds successfully as it did on Tuesday, and the P binaries are given to Alice to test. Alice examines the binary metadata and discovers that she does not need to retest P.
Failure Use Case: P's builds are identified by "build numbers", which go up even when the source does not change. Alice is unable to tell whether this binary needs to be retested or not.
Use Case 3: Reproducible Automatic Updates
Developer Carol works on the "C" project, which consumes Bob's "P" project. Carol wishes to continously integrate with P, to make sure that she's constantly using the latest version of P.
On Tuesday, the automated continuous build system creates a build of C, which runs a series of automated tests. The build+test process passes; Carol makes no further changes to C.
On Wednesday, Bob checks-in a change to project P, which builds successfully on the automated continuous build system, but it doesn't work correctly with C. The build system automatically updates Carol's C pom.xml file, pointing at the new version of P, and then builds C using the new P.
Even though no other code changes went into C, C automatically gets a new version number, because it is using a newer version of P. The continuous build system therefore automatically builds the new C. This new version of C fails to pass the automated tests. Carol remembers that she hasn't changed C herself, so she looks in the SCM history to see what has changed in C. She sees that the automated build system has modified C to point at a newer version of P.
Carol synchronizes her source code back to the configuration it was in on Tuesday. She runs that build on her machine and finds that it works, just like it did on Tuesday. She syncs to the latest Wednesday version of C and attempts to build that. She finds that the automated tests no longer pass. Realizing what has happened, she opens a bug against Bob. Bob fixes the bug in P and then kicks off a build of P. The automated build system automatically updates C to use the new version of P, and builds C. C now builds successfully.
Finally, later in the development cycle, Carol decides that she doesn't want C to be automatically upgraded to the latest version of P. She makes a change to her pom.xml file to indicate that automatic upgrades are not desired. Now, when a new version of P is released, C remains unaffected.
Failure Use Case 1: Carol is using a generic or "soft" version number in her C pom.xml, instead of a hard literal version number. Carol's code does not change when there's a newer version of P, so the automated build system does not build a new version. Later, when Carol changes C, she finds that the build is failing, but not due to any change of her own. Carol rolls back her changes and finds that the build still doesn't work. After investigation, she finds that P was to blame, so Bob releases a new version of P. Then, C's build magically starts working again.
Failure Use Case 2: On Wednesday, C is using a newer version of P than Tuesday, but C has not changed. Alice looks at C, observes that it hasn't changed, and decides not to retest it, not realizing that there are now bugs in that version of C that weren't there on Tuesday.
Use Case 4: Windows Library Support
Bob, a developer, owns a project P that builds a Windows library file called "Z.dll"; Z.dll is consumed by another library Y.dll owned by developer Carol, which is consumed by another library X.dll, which is consumed by an executable called "Foo.exe".
Carol declares in her Y pom.xml file that she depends on Z.dll version 1.0. Later, Bob releases Z.dll version 1.1. (In this scenario, Carol is not auto-updating as in the previous case.)
Dave, a customer, calls complaining of a critical problem in Foo.exe. Eventually, the problem is transferred to Carol. Carol reproduces the problem on a test machine, and suspects that the problem may be remedied by replacing Z.dll with version 1.1. Without using Maven, Carol copies Z.dll version 1.1 directly from the remote repository and copies it into her installation directory. She finds that this fixes the problem.
Carol checks-in an update to Y's pom.xml and kicks off builds and tests. Carol finds that no regressions are introduced, so she sends Z.dll version 1.1 to Dave as a critical update, without sending a new X.dll or Foo.exe, since these files were not changed. Dave copies only Z.dll into the installation directory, and finds that the problem is fixed.
*Failure Use Case 1: *The Windows library in the Maven repository is called "Z-1.1.dll", but Y.dll declares in its linking metadata that it depends on "Z-1.0.dll". Carol kicks off a new build of Y using the new Z. Y now has a new version number, so she has to kick off a build of X to consume the new Y. But now X has a new version number, so she has to rebuild Foo.exe as well to use the new X. When she's done, she finds that this does fix the problem, but now Dave must replace not only Z.dll but also Y.dll, X.dll and Foo.exe to benefit from the fix.
Failure Use Case 2: The Windows library in the Maven repository is called "Z-1.1.dll", even though it was built as "Z.dll". Carol copies this into her installation directory, but it doesn't work, and she doesn't know why.
Use Case 5: Single-Sourced "Jumpable" Builds
At BEA, we have a facility called "J2C" which we can use to convert (or "jump") Java code into C#, which we then compile into .NET assembly DLLs. Jumpable code will thus have two sets of dependencies: one set of "Java" dependencies, and another set of ".NET" dependencies.
Normally all of the sources files are Java, though there may be some source files that are "non-jumpable", in which case you'll have three sets of source: the jumpable Java, the non-jumpable Java, and the native C#.
Bob, a developer, maintains a jumpable project, Producer P. Carol is a developer on another jumpable project, Consumer C. When Bob runs builds of P, the build automatically runs J2C to convert his Java code into C#. It then builds the Java JAR output, as well as the C# DLL output. It also runs unit tests against both the Java and the C#.
Bob then checks in his code and publishes it. When published, the C# and the Java code appear in the repository as a single project with multiple artifacts. Both of these artifacts appear in the same directory in the remote repository. They necessarily have the exact same version numbers (because they both descend from the same source code in SCM).
Carol's Consumer C depends on P in both of its forms: the Java build of C depends on the Java part of P; the .NET build of C depends on the .NET build of P. Carol declares this in her pom.xml file; she only has to declare the version number of P once, because there is just one project and just one version number. Carol's build then generates Java and .NET artifacts.
Failure Use Case 1: Bob creates a build that has multiple artifacts, but only one of them is allowed to be "primary"; he must declare the packaging (filetype) of the primary artifact explicitly. He selects the Java artifact to be primary, so P's packaging is "jar". Carol then can't add the secondary .NET artifact to her .NET classpath, because her declaration of dependency on P means that she only gets the "primary" artifact, whose packaging is "jar".
Failure Use Case 2: Bob must maintain two projects, "p-java" and "p-dotnet". Bob arranges his artifacts like this:
|No Format
bobstuff | +- p-java | | | +- src/One.java | +- pom.xml +- p-dotnet | +- pom.xml
The "p-dotnet" pom.xml declares that its source directory is "../p-java/src".
Bob checks in a change to One.java. This automatically changes the Directory Specific SCM Number of "p-java", but it doesn't change the Directory Specific SCM Number of "p-dotnet". Therefore "p-dotnet"'s version number isn't kept up to date with "p-java"'s version number. The build system therefore knows to automatically kick off a build of p-java, but forgets to build p-dotnet, because p-dotnet apparently hasn't changed.
Failure Use Case 3: Exactly as above in Failure Use Case 2, but somehow, the build system is smart enough to know to rebuild p-dotnet. But p-dotnet's Directory Specific SCM Number hasn't changed, so its version number doesn't change. Therefore Alice, a QA Engineer, can't tell whether or not to retest p-dotnet.
Failure Use Case 4: As above in Failure Use Case 2. An automated system automatically updates p-dotnet after Bob checks in changes to p-java. Therefore p-dotnet is automatically rebuilt with a new version number, but this version number is different from the version number of p-java. Carol must declare her dependency on Bob's project twice, with two different version numbers, even though the source is the same, doubling the reporting workload, and introducing new opportunities for errors.
Requirement Chain 1: Version Numbers and Automated Check-ins
Here comes a bunch of logic. Simple "Requirements" are requirements that I think everyone already accepts. Simple "Assertions" are statements that I think everyone already knows.
"Derived Assertions" are Assertions that follow logically from other Assertions. "Derived Requirements" are Requirements that follow logically from other Requirements or Assertions.
Consider a Consumer build project called "C" and a Producer build project called "P".
1) Requirement: P's version number must always change if its source has changed, and should not change if its source has not changed.
1a) Assertion: "Build numbers" generated by the build engine (Continuum) increase even if the source has not changed.
1b) Assertion: "Global SCM Numbers" increase even if the source of P has not changed.
1c) Derived Requirement: On account of 1a and 1b, official (Continuum) builds should be identified by their Directory Specific SCM Number.
1d) Derived Requirement: On account of 1c, Continuum should publish P's built artifacts using P's Directory Specific SCM Number (appending it to P's Checked-in Maven Version Number) when it does official builds.
2) Requirement: C's official build must be reproducible using the source of C and the build repository.
2a) Clarification: In particular, if on Tuesday C's build succeeds but on Wednesday C's build fails, it must be because there was some change in C that caused the failure.
2b) Derived Requirement: On account of 2a, I should be able to synchronize the source of C back to Tuesday's source and rebuild that; that C build should build successfully if it built successfully on Tuesday.
2c) Derived Requirement: On account of 2a and 2b, C must always declare in C's source code that it depends on a *specific* "hard" version of P, and never use a generic or "soft" term like "LATEST" or "SNAPSHOT" in an official build.
3) Assertion: Updating C manually every time you want to use a slightly newer version of P is very tedious and error-prone.
3a) Derived Requirement: On account of 2c and 3, it should be possible (but not required) to automatically update and check-in C to make it use a newer version of P. (These automatic updates must change C's source code to ensure that C is reproducible.)
4) Assertion: If you change C's source code during the build of C, then its Directory Specific SCM Number changes during its own build.
4a) Assertion: Therefore, Directory Specific SCM Numbers are vague if check-ins happen during the build: you may need to consider the difference between the Directory Specific SCM Number when you began the build and the Directory Specific SCM Number when you finished the build.
4b) Assertion: Since all check-ins modify the latest code in the repository, if C's build checks-in to C, it is impossible to rebuild old versions of C without clobbering new versions of C.
4c) Derived Requirement: On account of 4a and 4b, C should never check-in to itself during its own build.
5) Assertion: A builder of C must poll the remote repository to see if there's a newer version of P; the remote repository can't/won't send a just-in-time message to clients informing them when there is new code available.
5a) Clarification: In other words, it can't be P's job to update all consumers of P. A consumer C must check on all of its dependency declarations to see if any of them need to be updated.
5b) Derived Requirement: On account of 4c and 5, C should (be able to) poll the remote repository for newer versions of its dependencies and check-in an updated version of its POM immediately before C builds (in a pre-build step).
6) Requirement: Single-sourced "jumpable" builds (and other builds with multiple artifacts of various filetypes) must assign the same version number to all of the derived filetypes.
6a) Assertion: If you try creating multiple POMs in multiple "sibling" directories pointing to the same source files (as in Use Case 4/Failure Use Case 2), not all the various POMs' Directory Specific SCM Numbers will be changed when code is checked-in.
6b) Derived Requirement: On account of 6 and 6a, a single POM needs to be able to generate multiple packaging types (perhaps via profiles).
Final Derived Requirement Chain 1
1d) Continuum should publish P's Directory Specific SCM Number (appending it to P's Checked-in Maven Version Number) when it does official builds.
5b) Consumer C should (be able to) poll the remote repository for newer versions of its dependencies and check-in an updated version of its POM immediately before C builds (in a pre-build step).
6b) A single POM needs to be able to generate multiple packaging types (perhaps via profiles).
Notice that these requirements depend on each other. There's little point in coding requirements 5b/6b without coding requirement 1d. Furthermore, it's actually worse to code requirement 1d without coding requirements 5b/6b... it would be better to leave off 1a entirely than to code it without requirements 5b/6b.
Furthermore, note that if requirement 3a (automatic updating) is coded as part of the build (against requirement 5b, which explicitly requires that updates happen pre-build), you'll actually violate reproducibility, again making the problem worse, not better.
Requirement Chain 2: Final Names and Windows Libraries
6) Assertion: Windows has no symlink feature and no automated LD-style re-linker.
6a) Assertion: Therefore, Windows libraries (DLL files) must have the same name at build-time and at run-time; they will not work if they are renamed after they are built (unless they are re-renamed back to their build-time names).
7) Requirement: It should be possible to test a Windows Consumer library Consumer.dll with a newer version of the Producer library Producer.dll without rebuilding Consumer.dll.
7a) Assertion: Under the current Maven naming standard, Windows libraries (like all other files) include version numbers in their names.
7b) Derived Assertion: On account of 6a and 7a, under the current Maven naming standard, requirement 7 is not fulfilled.
7c) Derived Requirement: On account of 7, Windows libraries should not include version numbers in their names, either at build-time or at run-time.
8) Assertion: In Maven, you can use the /project/build/finalname tag in pom.xml to make files use a specified name at build-time. If you use <finalname>, the file will be renamed to include the version number in the default repository layout.
8a) Derived Assertion: On account of 8 and 6a, Windows libraries will not work at run-time if users copy them directly from the Maven default repository layout without renaming them.
9) Assertion: As it currently stands, Maven plug-ins that use Windows libraries need to rename them back to their "finalname" before using them. Each Maven plug-in that can touch a Windows library must be coded to handle this special case.
10) Requirement: If a file has been built using Maven, it should be possible to tell what version it is without access to any other file.
10a) Derived requirement: On account of 10, if possible, Maven should add version numbers to built file names.
10b) Assertion: Windows libraries and Java JAR files can contain metadata containing version information. JARs contain metadata in a meta-inf/manifest.mf file zipped into the JAR; Windows libraries embed VersionInfo metadata that you can see by right-clicking on the file and viewing the file properties.
10c) Derived requirement: On account of 10, if possible, Maven should burn version numbers into files that it builds, in Windows file meta data or in Java "manifest.mf" files, or by some other appropriate standard mechanism.
10d) Derived requirement: On account of 10, if a file's name does not include its version number, its version number should at least be somehow burned into the file itself.
11) Assertion: End-users use the <finalname> tag to indicate that it is important that the file have a certain name at runtime; they assert that this requirement is more important than the requirement 10a.
11a) On account of 6a and 11, Windows libraries should have their "finalname" set to their build-time name.
12) Requirement: It should be easy to consume files built with Maven just by copying them out of the remote repository, even if the consumers aren't using Maven.
12a) Derived Requirement: Therefore, files built with Maven should not spend any time under a name that makes them unusable.
12b) Derived Requirement: On account of 11 and 12, files built with Maven that have a <finalname> tag should always have that name, even in the default repository layout, because this is more important than requirement 10a.
12c) Derived Requirement: On account of 6a, 11a and 12, Windows libraries built with Maven should always have the same name they had at build time, even in the default repository layout, because this is more important than requirement 10a.
13) Requirement: Maven plug-ins that handle files with special naming requirements must always use those files under a name that works
13a) Derived Requirement: Therefore, the Maven Core should always provide working filenames to plugins.
13b) Derived Requirement: On account of 11 and 13a, when Maven uses files that have the <finalname> tag, the Maven Core should provide files to plug-ins under the specified finalname.
13c) Derived Requirement: On account of 6a, 11a and 13a, when Maven uses Windows libraries, the Maven Core should provide those library files to plugins under the same name under which they were built.
Final Derived Requirement Chain 2
7c) Windows libraries should not include version numbers in their names, either at build-time or at run-time.
11a) Windows libraries should have their "finalname" set to their build-time name.
12b) Files built with Maven that have a <finalname> tag should always have that name, even in the default repository layout.
12c) Windows libraries built with Maven should always have the same name they had at build time, even in the default repository layout.
13b) When Maven uses files that have the <finalname> tag, the Maven Core should provide files to plug-ins under the specified finalname.
13c) When Maven uses Windows libraries, the Maven Core should provide those library files to plugins under the same name under which they were built.
The problems I associate with Windows Libraries apply both to native win32 Windows libraries, as well as Windows COM libraries, as well as Microsoft .NET assemblies. None of these files can be renamed after build time and be expected to work. (Note that all of these files, each of which are very different types of files, have the .DLL extension.)
I am aware that our proposed changes involve a change to the Maven Core. I believe that this change is for the better and that everyone would benefit from it.
I believe that there may be some temptation to avoid changing the Maven Core and push the work of auto-re-renaming finally-named files onto the plug-ins. I believe that it would be a mistake to force the plug-ins to deal with this, because it inappropriately distributes code that should be written once in the Maven Core.
I also suspect there must be some temptation to ignore the point about <finalname>, and just add this special case code to Windows library plug-ins as a special case. But Windows development is not and cannot be a "special case". Most developers are Windows developers. Windows libraries must stand as first-class citizens in the Maven universe.
It's especially important that the Maven repository not just be a "jar repository," in which you could also (sort-of) put Windows DLLs. It shouldn't even be a library repository. It should be an artifact repository, which includes shell scripts, settings files, installers, and the whole menagerie of stuff that everyone needs to use their software.
Finally, note that the problem of including version numbers in library names is bad now, but it would become much worse if Requirement Chain 1 were satisfied without satisfying the Requirements in Requirement Chain 2, because it would require changing linking metadata much more frequently.


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MADISON — Addiction and substance abuse are problems that are not just regulated to the unemployed. According to statistics, more often than not, the addicted person is employed and is costing his or her employer large amounts of money.
How does substance abuse affect the workplace?
"A company can expect to experience higher absenteeism and more job-related accidents because of employees' drug use," says Brian Mosley, MA, LPC, Substance Abuse Professional. "Business owners in the U.S. lose an estimated $100 billion per year because of substance abuse as reported by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration."
Today, on Wednesday, Oct. 23, at Riverview Country Club in Madison, Mosley will be presenting a training session on the topic: "Reasonable Suspicion, Drug Abuse in the Workplace."
"This training will teach supervisors and business owners to recognize the signs and symptoms of drug abuse, what you can do to protect your business, and tips on creating policies that will help you manage this growing problem," he said. "The training will satisfy the USDOT and mining legislation requirement that all supervisors who oversee employees in 'safety sensitive' positions obtain two hours of reasonable suspicion training every year."
Employees who use drugs are only two-thirds as productive as nonusers, according to recent statistics.
"Substance abuse contributes to increased thefts, damaged equipment, and other unnecessary costs in the workplace," Mosley added.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, one in five workers report that they have had to work harder, redo work, cover for a co-worker, have been put in danger or injured as a result of a fellow employee's substance abuse.
Small business owners are especially vulnerable because they often do not require new employees to submit to drug testing prior to employment; however, they also have smaller financial reserves to expend if an employee causes a job-related accident or injury while impaired.
Nearly 75 percent of all adult illicit drug users are employed, as are most binge and heavy alcohol users. Studies show that when compared with non-substance abusers, substances-abusing employees are most likely to:
Change jobs frequently
Be late or absent from work
Be less productive employees
Be involved in a workplace accident
File a workers' compensation claim.
"Each year, substance abuse costs the United States billions of dollars in expenditures," said Mosley. "Some business and occupations are required under state and or federal law to drug test their employees, offer substance abuse treatment, and train their supervisors in detecting substance abuse among employees."
Mosley said in his private practice he can easily say that 95 percent of the substance abusers that he treats are employed full-time.
"On several occasions I have had patients tell me that their first drug experience was in the workplace," he explained. "Business owners and supervisors tell me they feel powerless when placed in the situation where their employees may be abusing drugs. Many employers feel that they cannot fill position ns because they cannot find prospective employees who are drug free."
Mosley said they also fear investing money and time into training a new employee for fear of losing the employee to substance abuse.
"Implementing a drug-free workplace policy and educating supervisors with reasonable suspicion training can save organizations large amounts of money and actually alleviate these problems," he said.
Employers who have implemented drug-free workplace programs report positive experiences.
"They report improvements in morale and productivity, and decreases in absenteeism, accidents, downtime, turnover, and theft," according to Mosley. "Organizations with longstanding programs report better health status among employees and their family members, as well as decreased use of medical benefits by these same groups. Some organizations with drug-free workplace programs qualify for incentives, such as decreased costs for workers' compensation and health and accident insurance."
For information on the training seminar, call 304-369-3497.


text:
Goofy ASPCA adoptable Spike is sweet, playful and very affectionate. He'd love nothing more than a long game of fetch followed by a cuddle session with his special people, and he's available right now. Recently, our photographer snapped Spike at play at our Adoption Center in NYC, and we wanted to share the results with you. Check out his album on Facebook.
Can't adopt Spike? He still really needs your help. He's a great dog who deserves a family, and we'd love it if you'd spread the word about him. Here's why:
At the ASPCA, Spike is a staff favorite. Everyone's had a chance to fall in love with him because he's been with us for nearly two years—longer than any other dog currently in our care. Spike came to us through our Humane Law Enforcement department in 2011. Back then, Spike was emaciated and undersocialized, afraid of most new people and things.
Naturally, as soon as he was medically ready, our behavior counselors set to work socializing this special guy. They took him to new places, like the park and on busy streets. They introduced him to many volunteers so he could learn how great people can be. Before long, Spike blossomed into a dog who couldn't wait to shower his favorite staffers with kisses.
Behavior counselors also taught Spike basic manners, and he eagerly showed us how smart he is, learning Sit and Drop It very quickly. Due to chronic lung disease, Spike needed an inhaler for a time, and he shocked behavior counselors with how fast he learned to use it. (Today, Spike no longer requires an inhaler.) Late last year, Spike became eligible for adoption. He's been waiting for his family ever since.
So what gives? Why hasn't Spike found a home? (We ask ourselves these questions all the time.) He's shy with new people, and sometimes when Spike sees adopters through the glass of his habitat, he barks his unique, hoarse-sounding bark at them. Understandably, that can make some people feel unwelcome and move along to other dogs.
It's a shame those folks miss out on Spike, though. He'd so like to get to know them better—just slowly. That's why we're asking you to share Spike with all your social networks. Together we have the power to write Spike's happy ending. What are you waiting for?
Spike would love a teens-and-up home. He loves to play with other dogs, but can play a bit rough, so a resident dog would need to be up for that. To learn more about adopting Spike, check out his page.
I would love to adopt spike, but live in va.I would be willing to come there to pick him up.Just love him!!!!!!
I live in Indiana and already have a rescue kitty who needs to be the only pet. But Spike is sure a winsome pup! Love that brindle color and that pitt smile. Hope someone gives him a cuddle for me.
I have a dog just like Spike that I rescued from a kill shelter the day before Thanksgiving! He looks and sounds like Buster Barnabus Brown III (I needed a name of substance). Buster was a foster but I loved him so much I could not part with him so I adopted him. He is very loving and fun and very smart. He plays rough too and my rescued blue tick coon hound loves it. I just have to watch when they are tearing past me playing that I don't get in the ruckus. Then after rough play they curl up next to each other and sleep. Spike would make a wonderful pet. It is almost like they know they were saved and are very loyal. Good luck Spike I hope you get a home very quickly so you can begin spreading more love.
Lovable Spike I hope he soons gets a loving home that he deserves.
He is a great looking dog! : - )
I hope that Spike finds a loving new home soon. Thank you for posting these great photos of a wonderful dog! Kudos to the ASPCA for bringing Spike back to happiness and good health. I hope whoever hurt and starved him is in jail!
what a sweetheart. Unfortunately I live in Canada which makes adoption from the U.S. alittle more difficult. But I have rescued dogs that are happy and healthy and enjoying being pampered by this big softy.
someone please give him a home. He deserves it! Bless his heart.
If I didn't already have 2 dogs and 4 cats and 2 horses, I would consider Spike, but I did put on my social media. Hopefully, somebody will see him and want to adopt. His special family or person is out there and I truly believe he will get his forever hoe soon.
Way to go, you wonderful people at the ASPCA
How is he with male and female dogs and cats?


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How can getting involved with student media provide advantages for students?Posted Sep. 19, 2010
By Britney Beaman
Getting involved in Kent State University's student media can help students gain experience that gets them ahead and build friendships that last.
"My class work isn't what made me know what to do at my internship. TV2 did," said Sierra Guterba, a senior broadcast journalism major and the executive producer for TV2. TV2 is the student run news station on campus and in Portage County.
"There are different situations that arrive only with experience. I am happy that it happened as a student, so that as a professional I can handle it," said Kelly Petryszyn, a senior magazine journalism major and editor of The Burr at Kent State. The Burr is a student run general interest magazine. She also has experience with the Daily Kent Stater, the campus's newspaper, and UHURU, the student minority magazine.
Both Guterba and Petryszyn landed internships because of their out-of-class involvement.
Petryszyn walked into Lake Erie Living magazine and asked for a job. Her experience from the Daily Kent Stater and UHURU was listed on her resume and she brought her articles with her.
"Without the student media, I wouldn't have had the clips to show them and they wouldn't have known what I was capable of," she said. She landed the internship and stressed how the publisher at the magazine showed much interest in her experience.
Guterba interned with WKYC in Cleveland. She said that interns from other schools didn't have the student media opportunities that she did and were not as prepared for the job.
The networks created in student media could increase a student's chance of success.
"I gained a step forward in networking, and got a head start with my profession," said Amanda Vasil, a public relations graduate from Kent State and past Public Relations Student Society of America president. She said a friend she made in PRSSA helped her get an internship at AKHIA, a public relations and marketing agency. This internship led to he full-time job that she still has there.
Students benefit from friendships they build in student media, too.
You're always with the same people ... you have people to count on and understand because they're going through the same thing," Guterba said.
Vasil even met one of her bridesmaids in PRSSA.
According to Michelle Ewing, the PRSSA advisor, students who don't get involved are "cheating themselves by missing opportunities outside the classroom like meeting friends ... and gaining edge in their chosen fields."


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Plus Size Original Sporty Zip Pants 41 43
Great fitting pants. Comfortable, but stylish. I love, love these pants. They are comfortable, but stylish and fit great. I bought the jacket to go with them, and love the purple color, as it gives the illusion of darker, but not black, brown, navy. A classic look that has some pizzaz to it! Great purchase and look forward to wearing it for a long time to come. August 26, 2013
Worked Out Great on My Trip I bought this when the olive green color was available. It worked out perfectly on a recent trip, along with the matchiing jacket. The material is thin and not warm at all, but it definitely doesn't wrinkle, is made well, and washes easily in the hotel room. June 6, 2013
Nice Pants I bought these pants for a trip to Guatemala. They are lightweight and came out of the suitcase wrinkle free. I am 5'7" and the pants fit perfectly. It was such a treat to have pants that were long enough. Even though they are lightweight, they do not breath well and had a tendency to stick my legs in warmer weather. There was no issue in cooler temperatures. Overall, I am pleased with the purchase. November 27, 2012
Great for upcoming trip Really like the wrinkle free material except for the swishing sound it makes when I walk. They're not a jet black color so if that's what you need . . . They look really good and feel light and cool. Great for summer travel. May 29, 2012
Love This Set. Great for Travel. I purchased the Sporty Zip Pants and matching jacket in olive, and I absolutely love this set. I am a 16 petite and the petite XL fits perfectly in the pants. However, in the jacket I needed to exchange for a petite L and I'm busty. One can definitely dress this up or down. Perfect for travel. Love that it can be easily laundered while traveling. On a negative note, the zipper does stick on the jacket, but I can fix it with some carefully placed lube. This fabric does not breath well, so keep that in mind. In addition, the fabric does make the swishing sound of a nylon warm-up suit just not as bad. I'd love to order the orchid color but I know it would be just too warm here in the Midwest in spring and I'd hate for it to hang in the closet waiting for a trip to cooler climes. Have to rate 4s for quality and value because of the well-known zipper issue, the noise issue and the fact that it's about $150 for the set. Fix the zipper so I don't have to and I'll buy the orchid set! May 24, 2012
LOVE THIS OUTFIT! i just received this outfit (pants and jacket) and I absolutely love it! The olive color is beautiful and goes with everything! Fabric is very light and came out of the package ready to wear! I am usually a size 12' am 5'7" and the medium fit perfectly! Will definitely be ordering this in another color I also ordered a couple of reversible tops so am all set for a trip to Italy in Sept! February 1, 2012
Best pants ever It's hard to find good looking, easy care pants in plus sizes, but these pants do it all. Three weeks in Germany with three pair of pants -- I wish they'd all been these pants. They wash and dry overnight, they fit well, and they still look brand new. November 6, 2011
Love the pants; need snaller size Great style, fabric, and color. Would love to get these pants in extra-small. I am size 10 so seldom wear an extra-small, but the small in these pants is just too big all round. November 20, 2011
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Joel Gelernter MD
Foundations Fund Professor of Psychiatry and Professor of Genetics and of Neurobiology; Director, Division of Human Genetics (Psychiatry)
Departments & Organizations
Yale Combined Program in the Biological and Biomedical Sciences (BBS): Molecular Cell Biology, Genetics and Development: Genetics and Genomics
Office of International Medical Student Education
Office of Student ResearchSocial & Behavioral HealthNeurobiologyGenetics | Psychiatry: Human Genetics, Division of; Molecular Psychiatry, Division of; Center for the Translational Neuroscience of Alcoholism; VA-Yale Clinical Neurosciences PTSD Research Program; Psychotherapy Development Center; Stress & Addiction Clinical Research Program; VA Alcohol Research Center; Yale Global Mental Health Program
Research Interests
Complex trait genetics; Psychiatric genetics; Population genetics; Substance dependence; Gene mapping more...
- BS, Yale University, 1979
- M.D., SUNY Downstate Medical Center, 1983
Selected Publications
- Gelernter J, Sherva R, Koesterer R, Almasy L, Zhao H, Kranzler HR, Farrer LA. Genomewide association study of cocaine dependence and related traits: FAM53B identified as a risk gene. (2013) Mol Psychiatry. Aug 20. doi: 10.1038/mp.2013.99. [Epub ahead of print] PMID:23958962 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
- Xie P, Kranzler HR, Krystal JH, Farrer LA, Zhao H, and Gelernter J: Deep resequencing of 17 glutamate system genes identifies rare variants in DISC1 and GRIN2B affecting risk of opioid dependence. (2013) Addict Biol. Jul 16. doi: 10.1111/adb.12072. [Epub ahead of print]PMID:23855403 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
- Han S, Yang BZ, Kranzler HR, Oslin D, Anton R, Farrer LA, Gelernter J. Linkage Analysis Followed by Association Show NRG1 Associated with Cannabis Dependence in African Americans. Biol Psychiatry. 2012 Apr 18. [Epub ahead of print]


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Pension Dumping: The Reasons, the Wreckage, the Stakes for Wall Street
288 pages
March 2008
Pension plans in America no longer represent commitments that financially troubled companies will honor. Neither bankruptcy courts, nor Washington, nor unions have the clout to make them do so. The disposition of these plans is instead left to serve the needs of big investors. Often these investors are a failing company's best hope of restructuring after bankruptcy. Investors want a lean investment unburdened with financial promises to employees no longer on the payroll. Despite laws passed to discourage the termination of plans, the courts allow it, caving in to the forces garnered to reinvigorate a failing company. Unions are often compelled to choose between the financial welfare of retirees and jobs for active workers.
Pension Dumping explains in shocking detail how terminating the pension plan became a knee-jerk strategy for bankrupt companies that hope to attract big investors to help them reorganize.
Hawthorne traces the dynamics and the players involved as a pension is targeted for termination:
- thebankruptcy court and the hierarchy of power that dictates whose interests will prevail
- the choices forced on unions
- the burden placed on the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation
- the risks investors take and the returns they look for
- the companies' efforts to salvage what they can as they restructure, as well as the backlash they risk by breaking pension promises
In 2008, Pension Dumping was cited in testimony before a Congressional committee investigating bankruptcies in relation to pensions.
Table of Contents
Part 1: The Reasons.
Chapter 1: The Dispensable Pension Plan.
Chapter 2: Last in Line: The Retiree.
Chapter 3: Pension-Free and Ready to Compete—Or Not?
Part 2: The Laws.
Chapter 4: Writing the Rules.
Chapter 5: Failure's Fallout: LTV and Other Precedents.
Chapter 6: The Bankruptcy Court Minuet.
Part 3: The Investors.
Chapter 7: How Investors Play the Game.
Chapter 8: The Signs of Failure.
Chapter 9: Pensionless Restructuring.
Chapter 10: The Emergence of US Airways.
Chapter 11: The Reemergence of US Airways.
Part 4: The Future.
Chapter 12: The Problem Continues.
Chapter 13: The Next to Fail.
Chapter 14: The Politics.
Author Information
Hawthorne is the author of Inside the FDA: The Business and Politics Behind the Drugs We Take and the Food We Eat (Wiley, 2005) and The Merck Druggernaut: The Inside Story of a Pharmaceutical Giant (Wiley, 2003). Her articles on a range of financial and other topics appear regularly in The New York Times, Worth, Self, Newsday, Crain's New York Business, and other publications.
Visit Fran Hawthorne's Pension Dumping blog.
—Barbara Rudolph
Author, Disconnected
International Editor, The Deal
"Having lived through the S&L crisis, I can't help but wonder what policy makers might have done had they been presented with a concise, cogent description of the gathering of the perfect storm before events unfolded. Fran Hawthorne has written such a book for pension policy makers. Let's hope they take heed."
—Olena Berg Lacy
Assistant Secretary of Labor for the Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration, 1993–1998
"With clarity and even humor at times, Hawthorne examines a complicated, multifaceted, and often troubling phenomenon with broad current and future implications for companies, workers, retirees, taxpayers, and society as a whole. It is a cautionary tale well worth reading."
—Phyllis C. Borzi
Counsel for Employee Benefits, U.S. House of Representatives, Committee on Education and Labor, 1979–1995
"Fran Hawthorne provides a thought-provoking and lively analysis of bankruptcy laws, specialized investment and capital market strategies, and where pensions fit into the strategies to move troubled companies forward. She discusses how the bankruptcy laws focus on the business in the future and how these laws ignore the rights of employees. She also suggests areas for policy change."
—Anna M. Rappaport, F.S.A., M.A.A.A.
Anna Rappaport Consulting
Past President of the Society of Actuaries
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15 Tips for Better Sound from Your Home System
The Crutchfield writing team is a group of full-time, in-house copywriters who share a passion for consumer electronics. In addition to creating the articles and videos you find in the Research area of the Crutchfield website, these hard-working and talented people write the informational copy for the products on our website and in the Crutchfield catalog. Our writers constantly research the latest products, technologies, and industry trends, so that we can bring you the most helpful information possible.
More from Crutchfield Writing Team
Lots of recent trends in electronics have to do with either looks or convenience: We have 1080p HDTVs that deliver stunning visual detail, and remarkably small, stylish MP3 players that hold tons of tunes. But what about audio quality? Does your TV's sound really do its picture justice? Do your favorite songs seem muddy or flat on your MP3 player?
Sound quality is a major part of the home A/V experience, but it sometimes gets overlooked. We've come up with 15 ways to help you get better sound, many of which are free.
Think of your audio system as a chain. The recording, the audio component, the connecting cables, the amplifier, the speakers — they all affect the sound you hear. But as you'll see from our list below, just making small, simple improvements to individual parts of that audio chain can make a big difference.
Get better sound with these completely free tweaks
Tip #1: Seek out good recordings — the first link in the audio chain.
A well-engineered recording — whether it's music or a movie soundtrack — can make any system sound like a star. Most music- and movie-review websites tend to focus on the artistic aspects of recordings, but a few of our favorites also rate sound quality. Both the print and web versions of Stereophile magazine feature an annual list of "Records to Die For" penned by the magazine's knowledgeable reviewers. And The Absolute Sound offers guides in a similar vein. Whether you like rock, jazz, classical, or all of the above, you'll find intriguing suggestions.
Tip #2: Select a lower level of compression — or better quality — for your music files.
Compressing music into small digital files can negatively impact sound quality. Your music ripping software probably comes set by default to remove up to 90% or more of the digital information found on the original CD. This makes storage convenient, but compromises sonic detail and clarity.
If you've got enough storage space on your iPod or computer, try selecting a higher "bitrate" setting in your music software, such as 256 Kbps (kilobits per second), when "ripping" tracks from your CDs. If you're downloading music tracks from an online store, check out the technical specs of the files — more and more, you can find songs encoded at higher bitrates for little or no additional cost.
Higher-bitrate files are larger, but they also sound better. Programs like iTunes and Windows Media Player can also create "lossless" audio files, which maintain CD-quality sound while cutting the required storage space roughly in half. See our article about the MP3 format for more info.
Tip #3: Place your speakers carefully.
Your speakers are the "voice" of your system, and setting them up carefully can help you get the most out of your investment. Our article on positioning your speakers properly offers detailed placement instructions. But even after you've followed those suggestions, you may still be able to improve your setup with small adjustments. Have the member of your household with the most discerning ears sit in the main listening position, and check whether —
- the front speakers sound best facing directly into the room, or angled slightly inward toward the listener
- the center channel sounds better above or below the TV (assuming you have both options)
- your surround speakers are most effective when facing straight, or angled toward the main listening position.
|Take a little extra time to set up your speakers properly, and your ears will thank you.
Tip #4: Dial in your subwoofer's settings.
Powered subwoofers give you deep bass for your music and dramatic low-frequency effects for home theater. To get the best possible sound from your sub, make certain that its crossover and level settings are correctly adjusted. Dial in too much bass volume, and your low-frequency sounds become intrusive and overpowering. Set your crossover too high, and bass notes can sound boomy and unclear. Spending a little time to get it just right lets you enjoy bass that's deep, well-defined, and nicely blended with the sound of your main speakers. Learn more about adjusting your powered sub.
Tip #5: Take advantage of your receiver's auto setup features.
Most newer home theater receivers come with sound calibration features — from simple test tones that will help you balance channel volume, to sophisticated calibration systems that can measure speaker distances and sizes, then automatically adjust delay settings and frequency response to fit your room. Many receivers also provide additional manual adjustments that let you tweak the sound even further to match your own personal taste. Automatic calibration makes it much, much easier to tailor your receiver's settings precisely to your particular speakers and listening room. Watch our video about automatic speaker calibration.
Tip #6: Use your receiver or disc player's "Pure" mode for better sound.
Sending music signals through unnecessary circuitry can add unwanted noise and distortion to your favorite recordings. That's why some receivers and disc players offer a "Pure" or "Direct" mode for playing music. These modes give you the option of switching off unused or unneeded portions of your component's circuitry to provide the cleanest possible signal path, and minimize potential electronic interference. If any of your components provide these types of options, give them a try. You might find that the resulting sound is clearer and more detailed.
These upgrades give you great bang for your buck
Tip #7: Don't settle for your TV's built-in speakers.
TV cabinets have gotten thinner and thinner, leaving less and less room for built-in speakers. The result? Flat, muddy sound that just doesn't do justice to today's high-def displays. You've got a lot of options for improving your TV's sound — from popular single-speaker sound bars to full surround sound systems, and everything in between. Many of these options are compact and simple to set up. See our article on four ways to improve your TV's sound for more info.
Tip #8: Take advantage of the latest surround sound formats from your Blu-ray player.
Many Blu-ray discs boast high-resolution surround sound from two new formats, Dolby® TrueHD and DTS-HD™ Master Audio. These formats provide ultra-detailed audio that rivals the original studio sound. If you've got a full surround sound system, you'll be impressed by how immersive these state-of-the-art soundtracks can be, and how much they pull you into the on-screen action. To take advantage of these formats, pay close attention to how you connect your system:
- If you have a Blu-ray player with built-in decoding for Dolby TrueHD or DTS-HD Master Audio, you can connect it to your home theater receiver via HDMI or multichannel analog audio cables.
- If your Blu-ray player doesn't have the necessary built-in decoding, you can pass the signal via HDMI to a receiver that can decode those formats.
For more info, see our article on choosing a Blu-ray player.
Tip #9: Try better speaker wire — a logical first step in upgrading your audio connections.
Most speakers don't come with any wire, so you'll need to get some kind of speaker wire to connect them to your receiver or amplifier. We've heard enough demos over the years to know that speaker wire can have a noticeable impact on the sound of your system. The higher the quality of your speakers, the more they'll benefit from high-quality cables. Things to consider when shopping for speaker cables include gauge (thickness), length, construction, and connector type. For an expert recommendation, check with one of our Advisors — you can call them at 1-888-955-6000. Learn more about choosing speaker wire.
Tip #10: Biamp your speakers.
If you've purchased a home theater receiver in the last couple of years, it may have extra channels of amplifier power that you can put to use for better sound. That's because most newer receivers have seven amplifier channels, while many people only use five speakers in their home theater setup.
If your receiver's "surround back" channels are going unused, check if you can redirect the power to biamp your front left and right speakers. This neat trick gives you four dedicated amplifier channels to drive your front two speakers, essentially doubling the available power for more dynamic, higher-quality sound. Check out Dave's post on biamping your speakers for more info.
Note: Your receiver must be able to redirect unused amp channels, and your front speakers must each have two pairs of input terminals (also known as "biamp inputs") as shown below.
|Dual sets of binding posts permit biamping or biwiring. These speakers come with jumpers that connect the two sets of binding posts for regular use (left photo). For biamping or biwiring, simply remove the jumpers (right photo).
Tip #11: Bypass your iPod's built-in digital-to-analog converter.
A digital-to-analog converter, or DAC, has the job of converting digital information — 0's and 1's — into analog music signals. The iPod's built-in DAC usually does a good enough job for casual listening with earbud headphones, but it doesn't deliver the same level of performance you can get from the more advanced DACs found in many of today's audio/video receivers (or an even higher-end outboard DAC — see Tip #14). Fortunately, there is a special dock available that lets you bypass your iPod's DAC — the Wadia 170iTransport. It lets you pass signals directly to your receiver or outboard DAC in the digital realm, for cleaner, fuller sound.
Tip #12: Use a power conditioner — protect your gear and improve its performance.
Many people think nothing of plugging high-performance audio and video components into a $5 power strip. Well, we don't think much of it either. These general-purpose power strips don't offer adequate protection against damaging power spikes, and they seldom filter out the everyday electronic interference from your home's electrical appliances, phone lines, computers, and cable connections that can affect your system's performance. Check out our power protection and conditioning units, or check out this article to learn more. Replacing your components' stock power cables with high-grade cables can make a big difference, too.
Higher-end options for really great sound
Tip #13: Use high-quality source components.
No matter how good your amp and speakers are, if they're not receiving a richly detailed, high-quality signal then you're not going to get all the performance they're capable of. The only way to ensure that you're enjoying all the sound quality you paid for is to use playback equipment that can extract every last bit of information from your source, be it analog or digital.
High-quality source components typically offer sturdier construction, costlier precision-built parts, and larger power supplies to help bring out subtle nuances in your music that you may not have heard before. Most listeners experience deeper, better-defined bass, smoother highs with more detail, and a greater sense of space and realism.
Tip #14: Try an outboard DAC — get better sound from your CDs and digital music files.
For nearly as long as CD players have been around, audiophiles have been enjoying richer CD sound by connecting an outboard DAC (digital-to-analog converter). A DAC's only job is to convert digital bits, such as those from a CD or DVD player, into a stereo analog signal to feed to your receiver or preamp. You connect your player to a DAC using either an optical or coaxial digital cable, and then use a high-quality audio patch cable between the DAC and your receiver. We've been very impressed by the PS Audio Digital Link III. This versatile unit not only breathes new life into your CDs, it also includes a USB port, which allows you to connect your PC and enjoy better sound from your MP3s, too.
Tip #15: Upgrade to high-performance loudspeakers.
Your speakers are the part of your system you actually listen to, and upgrading your speakers is one of the most reliable ways to enhance the experience. Most of today's speakers sound at least okay, but you have to do some digging to find the real gems.
If you're looking for extremely detailed, low-distortion music reproduction, consider THIEL or PSB speakers.
Learn more about choosing speakers.
Read a review of the THIEL SCS4 bookshelf speaker.
Read a review of the THIEL CS3.7 floorstanding speaker.
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Contribute to our Micro-finance Program and invest in the future of an Egyptian family.
By supporting our Training for Employment Program, you can increase their chances of finding the right job.
Volunteer in our Education and Awareness Program and help kids fulfill their dreams of a better future.
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Zaytoona Workshop aims to train and employ ten disadvantaged women. After attending multiple training and workshops, the women are currently working on hand-made Egyptian products such as Kheyammeyya, Croche and Etameen. The products will be displayed for sale at Accor Hotels around Egypt, where the revenue of such products will guarantee a stable income for the women, thus empowering them to rise
"I have a goal to be better and keep improving as the society needs more than a diploma holder" -Raghda Ahmed Mohamed, AYB trainee. Raghda Ahmed Mohamed is one of many girls born and raised in Ein El-Sera district (one of the poorest slums around Cairo, Egypt) She is the eldest sister to three siblings a girl (Shaimaa) and two younger boys (Ahmed and Omar). Since she was very young, Raghda
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All Blacks World Cup-winning coach Graham Henry will join the Blues management for next year's Super Rugby season.
The former New Zealand boss joins head coach John Kirwan's management team, and will take over the defensive duties. This is the same role he had the last time he worked with the Blues in 2003 – the season when the Auckland franchise won the Super 12 title.
All Blacks skills coach Mick Byrne is a major coup too, and he'll take charge of the forwards and mentor the kicking. Former Australian rugby league player Grant Doorey, who assisted Kirwan during his time with the Japanese national team, is also signed on as the backline coach.
'I'm thrilled with this coaching team. The experience and individual expertise these three men offer is exciting for me as head coach, for the Blues and our supporters,' said Kirwan. 'We've got a lot of work ahead of us but I believe the combination of this coaching group puts the Blues in good hands for 2013.'


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Protects the interests of consumers while providing fair, efficient oversight and a level field of competition for industries and professionals doing business in Tennessee. Divisions of Consumer Affairs, Fire Prevention, Insurance, Securities, TennCare Oversight, Regulatory Boards.more like this »
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Verify the license status of people in dozens of professions, including home improvement contractors, real estate agents, security guards and cosmetologists.more like this »
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Alcoholism tends to run in families, and genetic factors partially explain this pattern. It is impossible to reduce your genetic risk. However, risk is not destiny. Certain factors, like strong social support systems, can help protect even high-risk people from becoming alcohol dependent. Other suggestions include:
- Socialize without alcohol.
- Avoid going to bars.
- Do not keep alcohol in your home.
- Avoid situations and people that encourage drinking.
- Make new nondrinking friends.
- Do fun things that do not involve alcohol.
- Avoid reaching for a drink when stressed or upset.
- Drink slowly.
- Replace a drink with something else you really enjoy
Limit your alcohol intake to a moderate level.
- Moderate is two or fewer drinks per day for men and one or fewer drinks per day for women and older adults.
- A 12-ounce bottle of beer, a five-ounce glass of wine, or 1.5 ounces of liquor is considered one drink.
Revision Information
- Reviewer: Peter J. Lucas, MD
- Review Date: 02/2014 -
- Update Date: 03/01/2013 -


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Shuford and Badillo Come Up Big as Baseball Salvages Final Game of Barton Series with 5-2 Win
February 15, 2010
MISENHEIMER, NC - A three-run double in the seventh inning by senior outfielder Carlos Badillo Monday afternoon helped host Pfeiffer University break a 2-2 tie and claim a 5-2 Conference Carolinas baseball victory over Barton. Pfeiffer, which had lost both games to Barton on Sunday, improved to 3-5 overall and 1-2 in league play. The Falcons are home with Catawba at 2 p.m. Tuesday. Barton is 2-1 both overall and in the conference and entertains UNC Pembroke at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Nixon Field.
Sophomore Pfeiffer right-hander Eric Shuford shut down the Bulldogs for six innings as his team built a 2-0 lead. He yielded just one hit over six innings. Pfeiffer plated lone runs in the second and fourth innings. Shortstop Preston Lyon led off the second with a double, went to third on a groundout and scored on a wild pitch by Barton junior left-hander Patrick Sherrill. In the Pfeiffer fourth, second baseman Josh Strickland singled, stole second, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on a single by Lyon (3-for-4).
The Bulldogs tied the score at 2-2 in the top of the seventh on a single by third baseman Braxton Lewis, a double by left fielder Ryan Daughtry, an RBI groundout by shortstop Chris Rawlings and a dropped fly ball off the bat of Matt Willis, who was later thrown out at the plate while trying to score the go-ahead run off a Wes Francis single.
Sherrill, who allowed but four hits over the first six innings, gave up a leadoff double to Lyon in the seventh. With two outs, he walked two batters, and then Badillo rapped the game-winning double into left-center field.
Senior right-hander Andrew Oliver slammed the door on the Bulldogs in relief, striking out three while retiring all six batters he faced in the final two innings.
Pfeiffer finished with six runs on five hits. Badillo was 2-for-3 with 3RBI. Barton notched four hits, with Francis leading the way at 2-for-4.
Shuford scattered four hits, allowed two runs (one earned) over seven innings. He fanned four and walked one. Sherrill went 6 2/3 innings, giving up five runs on six hits. He struck out four and walked three. Barton senior John Anderson retired all four batters he faced in relief of Sherrill.


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GREENVILLE - The Greenville Police Department along with the Darke County Sheriff's Office responded to Papa John's Pizza, located at 1111 E. Main Street in Greenville, at approximately 8:45 p.m. Tuesday evening on a reported armed robbery.
Officers and deputies searched the area for a male suspect wearing a black ski mask who displayed a knife to an employee before fleeing on foot with an undisclosed amount of cash. The suspect was not located and remains at large at this time. No injuries were reported.
The robbery is currently under investigation by the Greenville Police Department. More information regarding the incident including a suspect description will be available soon.
If you have any information about the robbery or the suspect, contact the Greenville Police Department at 937-548-1103, the Darke County Sheriff's Office at 937-548-2020 or the Darke County Crime Stoppers Tipline at 937-547-1661. You can also submit a tip online at darkecountycrimestoppers.com/tips from a computer or any mobile device.


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If the dog is a well socialized and well trained dog and if your dog is as well, then they should get along just fine. But I would have separate area's set up so that your dog can have her own space and his dog can have his own space to begin with. Allow the dogs to meet each other on a loose leash outside of the home first, like at a park and then go for a walk together. Then once the dogs are relaxed and tired, go back to the house and supervise their off leash interactions. If the Cocker seems nervous and anxious, then allow her to go to her own space where the Bulldog can not bother her. It takes time for dogs that are not used to having another dog around to be comfortable.4/17/2015 4:18:51 PM
The English and French Bulldog is known and beloved for it's short/squishy face. But sadly, those faces can make life difficult for the dog when it comes to getting enough air and for regulating his/her temperature. However, if the proper cautions are taken care of, either breed should be able to live in a tropical area. The dog must have access to fresh/cool water at all times, shade if the dog is outside, but also be able to be inside with air conditioning. If those needs are met, the dog should do just fine.1/9/2015 2:57:33 PM
If your dog's eating habits have changed, it is time for a vet visit. Please consider the time of year, as hot summer months can make a dog not want to eat.7/9/2014 10:19:38 PM
Depending on the genetics, diet, and general health, Bulldogs can live between 8-12 years but longer lifes are not unheard of3/19/2014 3:01:13 AM
3 Comments
To answer the question will require a bit more information: How oldis your bulldog? What kind of dog food? Brand and dry or wet. When does this happen? Day or night, how soon after eating? How much is thrown up? Is it still in the original form or is it mushy dissolved?4/22/2013 2:16:15 PM
Bulldogs are not a breed that chews the food. Mostly EBD's gulp and just swallow the food. This add a lot of air to the stomach because of inhaling. Sometimes the trapped air comes up like a burb and the food above the air comes out as well. This usually happens in a short amount of time after the dog eats. The other condition that causes this is because of drinking a lot of water right after eating. Again, because the food is not chewed, when the water is added, the food swells up. Again, causing possibly a too full tummy and again the water and the food is expelled. There are dog food bowls that can slow down how fast the dog can eat. Check pet food stores or online. Many different designs that slow down how fast they can inhale the food. Good Day~4/22/2013 2:42:08 PM
Sounds like an elongated soft palate issue!12/26/2014 1:09:26 PM
A full grown EBD can range from 40-55 pounds for a female and 55-90 for a male. To know how big your bulldog will be, be sure a look at both the mom and the dad. The European purebred English Bulldog is about 20% bigger than the United Sates bred EBD. While the Bulldog Club of America list the "standard" weight, the current breeders of EBD are creating a slightly bigger Bulldog. Good Day~4/22/2013 2:26:28 PM
A lot will depend. Just because the coat color "looks" a certain way, does not mean what the puppies will look like. There are color DNA tests that are available to find our exactly what color DNA each dogs has. This will tell exactly what will NOT appear in the puppies and then give you a % of what the puppies will look like. Some color are more prominent than others. The red & white is the most common. You could get some that are only red/white and others that are brindle. Good Day~4/22/2013 2:32:23 PM
ABSOLUTELY with out a doubt~! I have been raising EBD for many years. I have other dogs at my house and have never had any problems. My puppies have gone to homes with dogs and kids and there has NEVER been a problem reported. It all depends on how the puppies are raised. Are they around kids and other dogs to be socialized when young will make the difference. Good Day~4/22/2013 2:35:41 PM
Bulldogs are not listed by the American Kennel Club among the hypoallergenic breeds. This means that the dog doesn't produce a lesser amount of the protein causing the allergy symptoms. However, not all people who have allergic reactions to dogs are allergic to all dog breeds, so some people may be allergic to German shepherds but not to bulldogs. Certain bulldogs may also shed less dander, depending on their diet, grooming and health condition. Consequently, the only way to say if you are allergic to bulldogs is to live a few days in the dog's presence and check if you have any symptoms.
Read more: Are Bulldogs Hypoallergenic? | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/info_8766976_bulldogs-hypoallergenic.html#ixzz2IW3ZY8uS1/20/2013 6:56:12 AM
American Kennel Club (AKC) is a registry of purebred dog pedigrees in the United States. Founded in 1884, the AKC is the largest purebred dog registry in the world. Along with its nearly 5,000 licensed and member clubs and affiliated organizations, the AKC advocates for the purebred dog as a family companion, advances canine health and well-being, works to protect the rights of all dog owners and promotes responsible dog ownership. Their website is www.AKC.org. As Bulldog breeders, we here at www.BayouBulldogs.net encourage all people looking to adopt or purchase a dog, to read about it on the AKC website to educate yourself on the breed and how to find responsible breeders. Do your homework before !!!1/20/2013 7:02:43 AM
Unfortunately both breeds are related and both are termed as gassy breeds. However you can help REDUCE the gas with proper diet. You will never eliminate it however. My suggestion is, from 16 years experience with English bulldogs, eliminate the corn in the diet!! Research your foods ingredients if your serious about this. Over half the dog foods on the market have some type of corn in its food. Corn cannot be digested, and is an unhealthy filler that you find in "cheap, cheaper and cheapest" foods. A few brands to look into: natures recipe (its about the cheapest premium corn free diet out there at about $39 a big bag).. Nutro's Natural choice, Nutro Ultra, Blue Buffalo, simply nourish, castor Pollux, wellness are just a few to try. I feed Natures recipe lamb and rice. Thanks! "Green Akers Bulldogs" in Oologah.11/2/2012 8:48:47 PM
4 Comments
No! Yours is too young. He could have a lot of problems as he grows 10/30/2012 7:26:18 PM
Absolutely NOT!! First off, as stated before, it can cause health problems for your male later on in life. Also by registration standards, your male must be a certain age or the pups can't be registered.. And if your breeding just for kicks, then that's irresponsible. Please reconsider waiting til he's AT LEAST 14 months old or more. 11/2/2012 8:52:03 PM
Listen to the two answers above me....Way too young to mate.
First of all, you are not taking into consideration that the PUPPY will have some real future issues going through any kind of pregnancy, and consequential caesarean at 6-7 months of age. Why would you subject the bitch to that kind of abuse? Has your male ever bred before? Obviously, you know nothing about the breed. As the puppy's owner, what in the world are you thinking? DON'T DO IT!!!! Unless, of course, you ARE doing this for kicks and do not care if you destroy the medical and mental health of both dogs.1/3/2015 6:13:23 PM
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2 Comments
you might consider encouraging her nicely with either toys or food, whichever it is best motivated by. that method works with many dogs. 5/3/2012 10:07:51 PM
Overcoming resistance for anything takes times and patience. You might have to just sit down on the slats and wait. Encourage your dog to come to you with treats and praise. Keep doing this over and over and for as long as it takes the first time. Also try putting a towel over the entire wood so as not to see. If your dog will walk over, leave in place for many days. Then try folding back just a very small corner to start and keep folding back more of the covering. A heavy towel is good to not be able to feel the wood either. Good Day~4/22/2013 4:41:59 PM
they don't really have one; they are a man-made breed bred to fight bulls at first, not in a particular region.5/11/2012 2:07:55 PM
The breed doesn't matter. A dog is a dog to the bulldog. Bulldogs have very low energy though. So a jittery and hyper dog won't be the best fit. Look at the dog's personality and activeness vs the breed compatibility.4/24/2012 1:11:25 AM
bulldogs shed and some are easy to train4/19/2012 8:18:41 AM
Bulldogs generally do not shed too much. If you mean common obedience training. Maybe, if you are lucky you can teach them to sit. Don't expect too beyond that.4/24/2012 12:58:22 AM
Our bulldog is extremely smart and does many tricks. They really have to be trained with positive reinforcement, like clicker training. It is a matter of motivating them to want to do what you want them to do.6/3/2012 12:41:29 AM
Probably sitting too much on one side in a rough patch outside. Try to change the dogs environment to let the hair grow back.4/24/2012 12:59:13 AM
English and French Bulldogs are nearly impossible to train. I have had Frenchies for over a decade. If you want a dog that will respond when you snap your fingers, do not get a bulldog, it will save both of you a lot of trouble. The charm of bulldogs is that they are absolutely devoted to their owners and very affectionate. If you are away from home for long hours every day, bulldogs are not a good breed for you, either, as they will exhibit separation anxiety and can tear up the house if they get too wrought up.4/2/2012 11:54:58 AM
Pomeranian's are hard to train. I have one, he only knows 2 tricks working on 3.10/30/2012 7:28:27 PM
Any dog will bite, but English and French Bulldogs are much less likely to bite than many other breeds. 4/2/2012 11:55:44 AM
Bulldogs are generally very gentle, but they are still dogs and you must look at certain situations from a dog standpoint with canine logic which is different than a human and human reasoning. Most agressive episodes can be avoided but will be rare. I am sure your 3yr old will poop out the Bulldog in 5 minutes. They do not last very long and won't stand a chance against a 3yr old.4/24/2012 1:01:40 AM
PITBULLS like any dogs start around 9 months. then about every 6 months my pitbull does every 4 months though but my bulldog only obce year7/4/2012 9:05:35 PM
all bulldogs sit like that and it is just the cutest thing ever and yes when i had a bulldog it did the same thing to clean it is normal
Talk to your vet as the vet that specializes in Bulldogs to get her examined first to ensure she is ready.4/24/2012 1:02:51 AM
It is very common to have a Bulldog with muli colored eyes.2/7/2012 8:31:23 PM
As long as your Cocker is friendly toward other dogs you should be just fine :) I breed Australian Bulldogs which are like English but have slightly longer necks and legs which helps them to breathe bette and be a bit more active. They would do just fine in Connecticut. With any dog on the warmest and coldest days keep them inside :) Mine play outside during the day but are inside with the fam in the early morning and evening/night.11/17/2011 12:10:12 PM
The Bulldog won't care too much about Cocker Spaniel. That would be an interesting pair since the Cocker has a lot more energy than a Bulldog. 4/24/2012 1:04:30 AM
Well, my "mini-english" is 1/8 boston terrier, so I think the difference is how they're bred.8/8/2012 11:17:21 AM
Bulldogs can live about 10 years.. sometimes a year or 2 more and sometimes less. I love them too and they are gone too quick.10/17/2011 11:57:10 PM
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Man gets 12 1/2 years for violent mugging of man, 91
Mark Mulligan / The Herald
Patrick Hartness (right) is sentenced to 12 1/2 years in prison for the violent mugging of 91-year-old Harold Caywood in Snohomish County Superior Court on Monday in Everett.
Harold Caywood
Mark Mulligan / The Herald
Judge Michael Downes listens during the sentencing of Patrick Hartness in Snohomish County Superior Court Monday in Everett.
Mark Mulligan / The Herald
Virginia Woodhouse (right) wipes away tears after talking about her grandfather, Harold Caywood, at the sentencing for Patrick Hartness, who violently mugged Caywood last August.
Mark Mulligan / The Herald
Family of Harold Caywood fills the courtroom Monday at the sentencing for Patrick Hartness.
On Monday, Patrick Hartness was sentenced to 12 1/2 years in prison. That's about two years less than the low-end sentence for a second-degree murder conviction. It's about three times longer than a standard range sentence for first-degree robbery.
Hartness, 26, mugged Caywood outside a south Everett gas station as the World War II veteran was walking toward the store to pay for his gas. Caywood, who was punched in the face and knocked to the ground, died several weeks later.
Prosecutors declined to file a murder charge against Hartness after the Snohomish County medical examiner was unable to determine if the Aug. 24 attack was responsible for the elderly man's death. Without a conclusive cause of death, prosecutors didn't think they could prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Hartness was guilty of murder.
Snohomish County deputy prosecutor Laura Twitchell charged the case in a way that allowed for a lengthier prison sentence because Caywood was a particularly vulnerable victim due to his age.
Caywood lived on his own, still drove and enjoyed eating an early dinner at his favorite table at Applebee's. Yet at 5-foot 3-inches tall and 125 pounds, he was obviously frail. He never would have been able to fight back, his family said.
"Grandpa Hal" was a generous man who likely would have given the stranger $20 if he'd only asked, his granddaughter Virginia Woodhouse said.
"He didn't have to hit my grandfather," Woodhouse said. "The offender made a choice that day and he deserves to pay for his crime."
Caywood's treasured independence was stolen from him, his son said. After the attack, he never returned home or drove again. His family believes the mugging eventually cost him his life.
Hartness grabbed Caywood's wrist and punched him in the face. The defendant grabbed the money out of Caywood's hand and left him bleeding on the ground. Witnesses reported that Hartness ran to a nearby fast food restaurant, where he holed up in a restroom stall. That's where he stripped out of his shirt and donned his girlfriend's tank top in an attempt to disguise his appearance, police said.
His attorney Will Steffener said his client was high on heroin at the time of the robbery.
Hartness also was wanted on warrants for a domestic violence assault and driving with a suspended license. Everett police also uncovered evidence linking the convicted felon to a series of burglaries and other crimes targeting older victims. Hartness has agreed to pay restitution to his theft victims.
When Hartness pleaded guilty earlier this month, he also agreed that he deserves more time behind bars than the standard sentencing range, which is 3 1/2 to 4 1/2 years in prison. He faced up to life in prison -- an unlikely sentence for a robbery conviction.
Hartness apologized Monday, saying that for too long he's allowed drug addiction to dictate his actions. He told the judge that he hadn't intended to hurt Caywood.
He also said that "in the back of my mind I will always believe that I'm at fault," for the victim's death.
Hartness vowed to make something of his life and use his time in prison to "reshape myself into a man that's worthy of being a productive member of society."
Snohomish County Superior Court Judge Michael Downes wasn't convinced that Hartness hadn't intended to hurt Caywood. The defendant simply could have taken the man's money and walked away.
"The guy out there that day didn't much care what happened to Hal Caywood. All you cared about was the money," Downes said.
The judge told Caywood's family that he understands how they could feel that Hartness was responsible for the victim's death. The law, however, only allows him to punish the defendant for his robbery conviction, not murder or manslaughter, he said.
Downes called what Hartness did "abysmal" and worthy of a lengthy prison sentence.
The lawyers had recommended a 10-year sentence. Downes said Hartness deserved more.
He told Hartness that if he's truly sorry for his actions, he should remember the pain he's caused and find a better way to live his life.
The judge also offered some advice to Caywood's family and friends.
"Try not to let the awful circumstances define him or your memories of him," Downes said.
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It's the people that make a college special, so we invite you to come and meet with your personal admissions representative, a professor within your major and a student ambassador. Then, receive a tour of campus and get a feel for life at U-Mary.
We are confident that once you come to campus, you will know that U-Mary is the place for you.
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