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Systems and methods for repositioning selectable content. Content that includes selectable items is displayed on a display device through a user interface. When an item is selected, the item is repositioned and sometimes resized so that the selected item is more easily viewed. If the item includes text, the text is more legible because it has been enlarged. Other items included in the content that are not currently selected are not enlarged or modified. When a new item is selected, the new item is repositioned or resized and the previously selected item returns to a previous state.
1. A method for a computing system modifying content displayed to a user in response to user selection of some of the displayed content, the method comprising:
displaying content to a user on a display screen, the content having previously been resized such that some of the content is rendered less viewable to a user than content which has not been resized, the content including a selectable display item;
receiving user input selecting the item; and
in response to the user input, selecting the item and after the selected item having been enlarged without enlarging other portions of the resized content, repositioning the selected item on the display screen such that scrolling is not required.
2. A method as recited in
3. A method as recited in
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5. A method as recited in
6. A method as recited in
7. A method as recited in
8. A method as recited in
9. A method as recited in
10. A method as recited in
11. A method as defined in
12. A method as defined in
receiving new user input selecting a newly selected item and returning the previously selected item to an previous display format.
13. A method as recited in
14. A method as defined in
upon receiving the new user input, repositioning the newly selected item on the display screen.
15. A computer program product for use in a computing system and comprising one or more computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions encoded thereon for implementing a method in the computing system for modifying content displayed to a user in response to user selection of some of the displayed content, the method being the method recited in
16. A computer program product as recited in
17. A computer program product as recited in
18. A computer program product as defined in
19. A computer program product as defined in
receiving new user input selecting a newly selected item;
returning the previously selected item to an previous display format; and
repositioning the newly selected item on the display screen.
20. A computing system connectable to a display screen, comprising at least one computer processor and one or more computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions stored thereon for implementing a method for modifying content displayed to a user in response to user selection of some of the displayed content, the method being the method recited in
This application is a continuation of 10/091,220, filed Mar. 4, 2002, and entitled "IMPROVING THE LEGIBILITY OF SELECTED CONTENT" now U.S. Pat. No. 6,907,576, and which is incorporated here by reference.
1. The Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to improving the legibility of content in a user interface. More particularly, the present invention relates to systems, methods, and computer program products for improving the legibility of a user interface by selectively enlarging portions of the user interface or by enlarging selected content in the user interface.
2. Background and Relevant Art
When the Internet was initially created, it was only accessible from computers in a strict sense and relatively few people had the ability to access the Internet. The Internet, however, has changed drastically and today, the Internet is accessible from a myriad of other devices such as personal digital assistants, Internet appliances, and cellular telephones. The Internet is also accessible using a set top box connected with a television set instead of a computer monitor.
In spite of this growth, the Internet still presents some problems that need to be solved. One of the problems faced by users and web page or content designers is that the same content is ultimately displayed on many different display devices. Most web pages, for example, are intended for display on a computer monitor that has known resolutions (such as 640�480 or 600�800, for example). Many of the other display devices, unfortunately, have vastly different display capabilities. Because the resolutions and display capabilities of other devices are different from the resolution and display capabilities of a computer monitor, displaying the same web pages on other display devices is problematic and inconvenient.
For example, a particular web page, when displayed on a computer monitor, may only require the user to scroll in the vertical direction. Internet users are typically accustomed to scrolling in a vertical direction and are most likely not concerned or bothered by this requirement. The same web page, when displayed on a television that has less resolution than a computer monitor, will likely require the user to scroll in a horizontal direction in addition to the vertical direction.
This is often viewed as undesirable from the perspective of both the user and the content designer for several reasons. Requiring the user to scroll in both directions makes some web pages more difficult to read. The user may be required to repeatedly scroll back and forth horizontally in order to read lines of text. In contrast with a web page that only requires vertical scrolling, a user is able to read many lines of text before scrolling vertically. In addition, many users are not accustomed to scrolling in a horizontal direction and prefer to scroll in the vertical direction.
This problem has been partially solved by resizing or reformatting content such as a web page before it is displayed on a display device such as a television set. Resizing the content is often performed by a proxy server, but may also be performed by the set top box or by another device. Even though this may remove the problems associated with horizontal scrolling, resizing or reformatting content introduces another problem that is related to the legibility of the content or of the web page.
When the images, text, selectable text, and other content of a web page are resized such that they may be displayed, for example, on a television set without requiring the user to scroll horizontally, some of the content often becomes difficult to view or read because it is has been resized. In particular, content such as images that contain text as part of the image may be difficult to read because the text has been made smaller or has become irregularly shaped. This often occurs because text that is part of an image, for example, is not recognized as text during the resizing process. Textual characteristics are therefore not accounted for as the image is resized. While the image as a whole may be recognizable, the text portion of the image may have changed such that it is more difficult to view and/or read. Thus, the legibility of the content or of the web page or of the user interface suffers when the content is resized to accommodate a particular display device.
The present invention recognizes the limitations of the prior art and the need for systems, methods, and computer program products that are able to improve the legibility of a user interface or of selected content displayed in the user interface. Improved legibility and readability of the user interface is achieved by enlarging selectable portions or items of the content displayed in the user interface.
When a user interface is initially presented to the user or when a web page is initially loaded by a set top box, an item or a portion of the content displayed in the user interface is usually selected or identified by, for example, placing the cursor on the item such that the user can activate the selected item without having to move the cursor to that item. The item or content that is initially selected is enlarged, which provides the advantage of making the item or content more easily viewed by the user. The selected item is also more legible because it is larger. Alternatively, when a user interface is initially presented to the user, none of the content is enlarged until the user takes some action, such as selecting an item or moving the cursor. When an item is selected, the rest of the content in the user interface is unaffected and is not enlarged.
When the user decides to select a new item, the cursor or other visual indicator that identifies the selected content is moved by the user to a new selection. The newly selected item or content is enlarged and the old item that was previously selected returns to the size it had before it was enlarged. When an item is near the edge of the user interface and enlarging the item would otherwise require the user to scroll in order to view the selected and enlarged item, that item is repositioned such that scrolling is not required.
In some situations, the item is sufficiently large such that no enlargement is required. Thus, parameters or conditions can be set that determine when an item is to be enlarged. For example, items that are larger than a predetermined size may not require enlargement in order to be legibly viewed. Alternatively, the size of the selected item may determine the factor by which the selected item is enlarged.
Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by the practice of the invention. The features and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the instruments and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. These and other features of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, or may be learned by the practice of the invention as set forth hereinafter.
In order to describe the manner in which the above-recited and other advantages and features of the invention can be obtained, a more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:
Television, interactive television, web surfing, computer programs, and other activities usually have a user interface through which data or content is presented to a user. In fact, a user interface is an important aspect of these kinds of applications. As previously mentioned, one of the problems encountered by users is that content is not displayed equally on different devices. In particular, screen legibility on televisions is often difficult because some bitmaps or web pages are resized in order to accommodate the resolution of a television, which is usually lower than the resolution of a computer monitor, for example.
Resizing a bitmap or a web page decreases the ability of the user to view the content. For instance, the legibility of text is reduced in some instances. The present invention is directed to improving the legibility of the user interface. This is accomplished by enlarging the contextually relevant portion of the user interface. More particularly, the portion of the user interface that is currently selected is enlarged such that the current selection or text that is part of the current selection is enlarged and more easily viewed, which results in increased legibility.
The content received by the set top box 100 includes, but is not limited to, programming content including television programs, program guide data for use with the programming content, streaming video/audio, image data, text data, web pages, and the like and any combination thereof.
The set top box 100 is typically connected with a display device 104, which may be a separate display device such as a television set or a computer monitor or is integrated with the set top box 100. When the set top box 100 interacts with the Internet 114 directly, the web page 112 is retrieved by the set top box 100 and displayed on the display device 104. As previously stated, the design of the web page 112 may not be compatible with the display device 104 and as a result, the web page 112 may not display in a manner that is convenient for the user. For example, the user may be required to scroll the displayed web page in both horizontal and vertical directions in order to fully view the web page 112. Similarly, the web page 110 that is retrieved through a proxy server 106 may be treated in a similar manner and may not be displayed as desired.
In other words, many web pages are designed for display on a computer monitor, which has higher resolution than most television sets. As a result, web pages that only require the user to scroll in the vertical direction when viewed on a computer monitor may require the user to scroll the web page in both the horizontal and vertical directions when viewed on a television set.
To alleviate this problem, the proxy server 106 has a resizer 108 and/or the set top box 100 has a resizer 102. The resizers 108 and 102 scale or resize the web page on the display device 104 such that only vertical scrolling, if necessary, is required. In other words, the web pages 112 or 110 are effectively scaled in a horizontal direction in order to eliminate the need to horizontally scroll the web page. By scaling or resizing web pages in this manner, the user experience is similar regardless of whether the user is viewing web pages on a computer monitor or on a television set. In some instances, the web pages will also be scaled vertically.
In this example, the text link 212 is still viewable and legible to a user. The text 216, which is a portion of the image 214, is no longer clear to a user. As illustrated in FIG. 2Bk the text 216 is hard to view and/or read. The text link 218 is similarly affected. Because images and text links are often used to direct the user to other areas of a network or are used to convey information to a user, it is desirable to have images with text and text links that are readable and legible.
As previously stated, the text 305 may be difficult to read or view because it has been resized for display on the display device. In this example, a box 302 appears around the borders of the image 304 to indicate that the image 304 is currently selected or that the image 304 is the portion of the content that is currently selected. In some instances, a selectable item is usually selected when the web page is initially opened and displayed to the user. Alternatively, no item or no portion of the content on the web page is initially selected until some action is taken by the user. It is understood that other visual cues may be used to indicate which item or which content is selected. In this example, a box 302 is used as described.
Usually, only the selected item is enlarged. Other content included in the user interface or in the web page is not enlarged and is usually not displaced or affected by the enlarged item. Enlarging the image 304 may result in other content being temporarily obscured or covered. In this example, the image 308 and the image 306 are only partially viewable when the selected image 304 is enlarged, whereas the image 308 and the image 306 are completely viewable when the image 304 is not selected. However, the image 308 and the image 306 are not affected and will be viewable when another item is selected. The action required to change the current selection to another selection is typically the same regardless of whether the next item is obscured in any way, if at all, by the current selection.
The factor by which selected content is enlarged may depend on the size of the selected content. Thus, smaller items may be enlarged by a larger factor, while larger items are enlarged by a smaller factor. In some instances, the item may not be enlarged if the item is larger than a predetermined size.
In some situations, when an item or selected content is enlarged, part of the selected item may cause the web page to require horizontal scrolling because of the need to accommodate the enlarged item. This can be avoided by repositioning the enlarged item such that horizontal scrolling is not required. For an enlarged image on the right side of the screen shot 312, the enlarged image may be relocated to the left in addition to being enlarged. For an enlarged image on the left side of the screen shot 312, the enlarge image may be relocated to the right in addition to being enlarged. If an image is near the top or bottom of a screen shot, the image may be relocated either up or down such that the image is not scrolled in order to accommodate the enlarged image. Other content or items on the web page are not affected as the enlarged item is repositioned in this manner. However, some of the other content may be temporarily obscured while the selected item is enlarged. Alternatively, the other items may be repositioned to accommodate the enlarged item such that no item is obscured by the enlarged item.
The scaling factors used to enlarge selected items can vary according to the original size of the item. The scaling factors that are employed can be determined empirically. Alternatively, pre determined factors may be used to scale selected items or content. Because one advantage of the present invention is related to text legibility, one approach to enlargement can be related to text size. The following examples illustrate specific examples of how an image might be enlarged. It is understood than other scaling factors may be selected for use in enlarging items on a display device.
For example, text is often rendered in 12 point font. If the size of an image is less that 3 times the size of 12 point font, then that image should be enlarged by a factor of 4, for example. Even if the image does not contain text, the image will be more viewable. In another example, the style sheet of a particular web page can be consulted to determine the font size. Using this value, the scaling factor can be better determined. The requirement of actually enlarging the selected item is known to one of skill in the art. Repositioning an item on a display device is also known to one of skill in the art.
In another example, the scaling factor can be determined according to the size of the selected image relative to the display area of the screen. For example, all items that occupy less than ⅛ of the display area are enlarged by a factor of 4. All items that occupy between ⅛ and � of the display area are enlarged by a factor of 2. Items greater than 1/4 are not enlarged. In view of the multiple scaling schemes that can be employed, only a few are discussed for illustrative purposes. As previously stated, empirical data may determine the optimal scaling factors for any particular image or selected content.
The present invention extends to both methods and systems for improving the ability of a user to view selected content. The embodiments of the present invention may comprise a special purpose or general-purpose computer including various computer hardware, as discussed in greater detail below.
Embodiments within the scope of the present invention also include computer-readable media for carrying or having computer-executable instructions or data structures stored thereon. Such computer-readable media can be any available media that can be accessed by a general purpose or special purpose computer. By way of example, and not limitation, such computer-readable media can comprise RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be used to carry or store desired program code means in the form of computer-executable instructions or data structures and which can be accessed by a general purpose or special purpose computer. When information is transferred or provided over a network or another communications connection (either hardwired, wireless, or a combination of hardwired or wireless) to a computer, the computer properly views the connection as a computer-readable medium. Thus, any such connection is properly termed a computer-readable medium. Combinations of the above should also be included within the scope of computer-readable media. Computer-executable instructions comprise, for example, instructions and data which cause a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or special purpose processing device to perform a certain function or group of functions.
Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention may be practiced in network computing environments with many types of computer system configurations, including personal computers, hand-held devices, multi-processor systems, microprocessor-based or programmable consumer electronics, network PCs, minicomputers, mainframe computers, and the like. The invention may also be practiced in distributed computing environments where tasks are performed by local and remote processing devices that are linked (either by hardwired links, wireless links, or by a combination of hardwired or wireless links) through a communications network. In a distributed computing environment, program modules may be located in both local and remote memory storage devices.
With reference to
The computer 20 may also include a magnetic hard disk drive 27 for reading from and writing to a magnetic hard disk 39, a magnetic disk drive 28 for reading from or writing to a removable magnetic disk 29, and an optical disk drive 30 for reading from or writing to removable optical disk 31 such as a CD-ROM or other optical media. The magnetic hard disk drive 27, magnetic disk drive 28, and optical disk drive 30 are connected to the system bus 23 by a hard disk drive interface 32, a magnetic disk drive-interface 33, and an optical drive interface 34, respectively. The drives and their associated computer-readable media provide nonvolatile storage of computer-executable instructions, data structures, program modules and other data for the computer 20. Although the exemplary environment described herein employs a magnetic hard disk 39, a removable magnetic disk 29 and a removable optical disk 31, other types of computer readable media for storing data can be used, including magnetic cassettes, flash memory cards, digital versatile disks, Bernoulli cartridges, RAMs, ROMs, and the like.
Program code means comprising one or more program modules may be stored on the hard disk 39, magnetic disk 29, optical disk 31, ROM 24 or RAM 25, including an operating system 35, one or more application programs 36, other program modules 37, and program data 38. A user may enter commands and information into the computer 20 through keyboard 40, pointing device 42, or other input devices (not shown), such as a microphone, joy stick, game pad, satellite dish, scanner, personal digital assistant or other hand held device, infra red or radio frequency remote control, or the like. These and other input devices are often connected to the processing unit 21 through a serial port interface 46 coupled to system bus 23. Alternatively, the input devices may be connected by other interfaces, such as a parallel port, a game port or a universal serial bus (USB). A monitor 47 or another display device is also connected to system bus 23 via an interface, such as video adapter 48. In addition to the monitor, personal computers typically include other peripheral output devices (not shown), such as speakers and printers.
The computer 20 may operate in a networked environment using logical connections to one or more remote computers, such as remote computers 49 a and 49 b. Remote computers 49 a and 49 b may each be another personal computer, a server, a router, a network PC, a peer device or other common network node, and typically include many or all of the elements described above relative to the computer 20, although only memory storage devices 50 a and 50 b and their associated application programs 36 a and 36 b have been illustrated in
When used in a LAN networking environment, the computer 20 is connected to the local network 51 through a network interface or adapter 53. When used in a WAN networking environment, the computer 20 may include a modem 54, a wireless link, or other means for establishing communications over the wide area network 52, such as the Internet. The modem 54, which may be internal or external, is connected to the system bus 23 via the serial port interface 46. In a networked environment, program modules depicted relative to the computer 20, or portions thereof, may be stored in the remote memory storage device. It will be appreciated that the network connections shown are exemplary and other means of establishing communications over wide area network 52 may be used.
The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.
Patent Citations
Non-Patent Citations
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HOUSTON -- Houston-based Enterprise Products Partners L.P. (NYSE:EPD) wants to acquire a propylene fractionation business, and so has offered cash to D-K Diamond Koch, L.L.C., Diamond-Koch, L.P. and Diamond-Koch III, L.P., for theirs. As an industry, polymer grade propylene production is used to produce fibers for carpet and upholstery.
"We are very pleased to execute this agreement with Diamond-Koch to acquire their propylene fractionation business," said Enterprise president and CEO O.S. "Dub" Andras. "These are high-quality facilities that will complement our existing service businesses. Upon closing, this acquisition will be immediately accretive to our limited partner units in terms of cash flow."
This propylene fractionation business includes a 66.66 percent equity interest in a polymer grade propylene fractionation facility in Mont Belvieu, Texas, a 50 percent equity interest in a polymer grade propylene export terminal located on the Houston Ship Channel and equity interests in four pipelines which distribute product to customers and to the export terminal. The fractionation plant has the capacity to produce approximately 3 billion pounds per year, or 45,000 barrels per day, of polymer grade propylene.
D-K Diamond Koch, L.L.C., Diamond-Koch, L.P. and Diamond-Koch III, L.P are jointly owned by affiliates of Ultramar Diamond Shamrock Corporation (NYSE:UDS) and Koch Industries, Inc.
According to Andras, demand for chemical grade and polymer grade propylene has grown by approximately 7 percent per year since 1993. "Because it is a basic component of our daily lives, consumption of polymer grade propylene and demand for fractionation services has remained strong during 2001 despite a slower economy," he said. "Growth in polymer grade propylene demand is expected to average 4 percent per year from 2001 through 2005."
The transaction needs a final approval by the board of directors of the respective companies, and the receipt of regulatory approvals. However, the transaction is expected to be completed in about 90 days.
Enterprise Products Partners L.P. (www.epplp.com) is the second largest publicly traded energy partnership with an enterprise value of over $5 billion. It is a leading provider of midstream energy services to producers and consumers of natural gas and natural gas liquids ("NGLs").

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Data integration as a business opportunity
A significant fraction of IT professional services industry revenue comes from data integration. But as a software business, data integration has been more problematic. Informatica, the largest independent data integration software vendor, does $1 billion in revenue. INFA's enterprise value (market capitalization after adjusting for cash and debt) is $3 billion, which puts it way short of other category leaders such as VMware, and even sits behind Tableau.* When I talk with data integration startups, I ask questions such as "What fraction of Informatica's revenue are you shooting for?" and, as a follow-up, "Why would that be grounds for excitement?"
*If you believe that Splunk is a data integration company, that changes these observations only a little.
On the other hand, several successful software categories have, at particular points in their history, been focused on data integration. One of the major benefits of 1990s business intelligence was "Combines data from multiple sources on the same screen" and, in some cases, even "Joins data from multiple sources in a single view". The last few years before application servers were commoditized, data integration was one of their chief benefits. Data warehousing and Hadoop both of course have a "collect all your data in one place" part to their stories — which I call data mustering — and Hadoop is a data transformation tool as well.
Using multiple data stores
I'm commonly asked to assess vendor claims of the kind:
- "Our system lets you do multiple kinds of processing against one database."
- "Otherwise you'd need two or more data managers to get the job done, which would be a catastrophe of unthinkable proportion."
So I thought it might be useful to quickly review some of the many ways organizations put multiple data stores to work. As usual, my bottom line is:
- The most extreme vendor marketing claims are false.
- There are many different choices that make sense in at least some use cases each.
Horses for courses
It's now widely accepted that different data managers are better for different use cases, based on distinctions such as:
- Short-request vs. analytic.
- SQL vs. non-SQL (NoSQL or otherwise).
- Expensive/heavy-duty vs. cheap/easy-to-support.
Vendors are part of this consensus; already in 2005 I observed
For all practical purposes, there are no DBMS vendors left advocating single-server strategies.
Vendor agreement has become even stronger in the interim, as evidenced by Oracle/MySQL, IBM/Netezza, Oracle's NoSQL dabblings, and various companies' Hadoop offerings.
Multiple data stores for a single application
We commonly think of one data manager managing one or more databases, each in support of one or more applications. But the other way around works too; it's normal for a single application to invoke multiple data stores. Indeed, all but the strictest relational bigots would likely agree: Read more
DBMS2 revisited
The name of this blog comes from an August, 2005 column. 8 1/2 years later, that analysis holds up pretty well. Indeed, I'd keep the first two precepts exactly as I proposed back then:
- Task-appropriate data managers. Much of this blog is about task-appropriate data stores, so I won't say more about them in this post.
- Drastic limitations on relational schema complexity. I think I've been vindicated on that one by, for example:
- NoSQL and dynamic schemas.
- Schema-on-read, and its smarter younger brother schema-on-need.
- Limitations on the performance and/or allowed functionality of joins in scale-out short-request RDBMS, and the relative lack of complaints about same.
- Funky database design from major Software as a Service (SaaS) vendors such as Workday and Salesforce.com.
- A whole lot of logs.
I'd also keep the general sense of the third precept, namely appropriately-capable data integration, but for that one the specifics do need some serious rework.
For starters, let me say: Read more
|Categories: About this blog, Business intelligence, Database diversity, EAI, EII, ETL, ELT, ETLT, Investment research and trading, NoSQL, Schema on need
|2 Comments
Analytics for everybody!
For quite some time, one of the most frequent marketing pitches I've heard is "Analytics made easy for everybody!", where by "quite some time" I mean "over 30 years". "Uniquely easy analytics" is a claim that I meet with the greatest of skepticism.* Further confusing matters, these claims are usually about what amounts to business intelligence tools, but vendors increasingly say "Our stuff is better than the BI that came before, so we don't want you to call it 'BI' as well."
*That's even if your slide deck doesn't contain a picture of a pyramid of user kinds; if there actually is such a drawing, then the chance that I believe you is effectively nil.
All those caveats notwithstanding, there are indeed at least three forms of widespread analytics:
- Fairly standalone, eas(ier) to use business intelligence tools, sometimes marketed as focusing on "data exploration" or "data discovery".
- Charts and graphs integrated or at least well-embedded into production applications. This technology is on a long-term rise. But in some sense, integrated reporting has been around since the invention of accounting.
- Predictive analytics built into automated systems, for example ad selection. This is not what is usually meant by the "easy analytics" claim, and I'll say no more about it in this post.
It would be nice to say that the first two bullet points represent a fairly clean operational/investigative BI split, but that would be wrong; human real-time dashboards can at once be standalone and operational.
Distinctions in SQL/Hadoop integration
Ever more products try to integrate SQL with Hadoop, and discussions of them seem confused, in line with Monash's First Law of Commercial Semantics. So let's draw some distinctions, starting with (and these overlap):
- Are the SQL engine and Hadoop:
- Necessarily on the same cluster?
- Necessarily or at least most naturally on different clusters?
- How, if at all, is Hadoop invoked by the SQL engine? Specifically, what is the role of:
- HDFS (Hadoop Distributed File System)?
- Hadoop MapReduce?
- HCatalog?
- How, if at all, is the SQL engine invoked by Hadoop?
In particular:
- If something is called a "connector", then Hadoop and the SQL engine are most likely on separate clusters. Good features include (but these can partially contradict each other):
- A way of making data transfer maximally parallel.
- Query planning that is smart about when to process on the SQL engine and when to use Hadoop's native SQL (Hive or otherwise).
- If something is called "SQL-on-Hadoop", then Hadoop and the SQL engine are or should be on the same cluster, using the same nodes to store and process data. But while that's a necessary condition, I'd prefer that it not be sufficient.
Let's go to some examples. Read more
|Categories: Cloudera, Data integration and middleware, EAI, EII, ETL, ELT, ETLT, Hadapt, Hadoop, HBase, Hortonworks, MapReduce, Microsoft and SQL*Server, NewSQL, PostgreSQL, SQL/Hadoop integration, Teradata
|36 Comments
Some stuff I'm thinking about (early 2014)
From time to time I like to do "what I'm working on" posts. From my recent blogging, you probably already know that includes:
- Hadoop (always, and please see below).
- Analytic RDBMS (ditto).
- NoSQL and NewSQL.
- Specifically, SQL-on-Hadoop
- Schema-on-need.
- Spark and other memory-centric technology, including streaming.
- Public policy, mainly but not only in the area of surveillance/privacy.
- General strategic advice for all sizes of tech company.
Other stuff on my mind includes but is not limited to:
1. Certain categories of buying organizations are inherently leading-edge.
- Internet companies have adopted Hadoop, NoSQL, NewSQL and all that en masse. Often, they won't even look at things that are conventional or expensive.
- US telecom companies have been buying 1 each of every DBMS on the market since pre-relational days.
- Financial services firms — specifically algorithmic traders and broker-dealers — have been in their own technical world for decades …
- … as have national-security agencies …
- … as have pharmaceutical research departments.
Fine. But what really intrigues me is when more ordinary enterprises also put leading-edge technologies into production. I pester everybody for examples of that.
Spark and Databricks
I've heard a lot of buzz recently around Spark. So I caught up with Ion Stoica and Mike Franklin for a call. Let me start by acknowledging some sources of confusion.
- Spark is very new. All Spark adoption is recent.
- Databricks was founded to commercialize Spark. It is very much in stealth mode …
- … except insofar as Databricks folks are going out and trying to drum up Spark adoption.
- Ion Stoica is running Databricks, but you couldn't tell that from his UC Berkeley bio page. Edit: After I posted this, Ion's bio was quickly updated.
- Spark creator and Databricks CTO Matei Zaharia is an MIT professor, but actually went on leave there before he ever showed up.
- Cloudera is perhaps Spark's most visible supporter. But Cloudera's views of Spark's role in the world is different from the Spark team's.
The "What is Spark?" question may soon be just as difficult as the ever-popular "What is Hadoop?" That said — and referring back to my original technical post about Spark and also to a discussion of prominent Spark user ClearStory — my try at "What is Spark?" goes something like this:
- Spark is a distributed execution engine for analytic processes …
- … which works well with Hadoop.
- Spark is distinguished by a flexible in-memory data model …
- … and farms out persistence to HDFS (Hadoop Distributed File System) or other existing data stores.
- Intended analytic use cases for Spark include:
- SQL data manipulation.
- ETL-like data manipulation.
- Streaming-like data manipulation.
- Machine learning.
- Graph analytics.
Vertica 7
It took me a bit of time, and an extra call with Vertica's long-time R&D chief Shilpa Lawande, but I think I have a decent handle now on Vertica 7, code-named Crane. The two aspects of Vertica 7 I find most interesting are:
- Flex Zone, a schema-on-need technology very much like Hadapt's (but of course with access to Vertica performance).
- What sounds like an alternate query execution capability for short-request queries, the big point of which is that it saves them from being broadcast across the whole cluster, hence improving scalability. (Adding nodes of course doesn't buy you much for the portion of a workload that's broadcast.)
Other Vertica 7 enhancements include:
- A lot of Bottleneck Whack-A-Mole.
- "Significant" improvements to the Vertica management console.
- Security enhancements (Kerberos), Hadoop integration enhancements (HCatalog), and enhanced integration with Hadoop security (Kerberos again).
- Some availability hardening. ("Fault groups", which for example let you ensure that data is replicated not just to 2+ nodes, but also that the nodes aren't all on the same rack.)
- Java as an option to do in-database analytics. (Who knew that feature was still missing?)
- Some analytic functionality. (Approximate COUNT DISTINCT, but not yet Approximate MEDIAN.)
Overall, two recurring themes in our discussion were:
- Load and ETL (Extract/Transform/Load) performance, and/or obviating ETL.
- Short-request performance, in the form of more scalable short-request concurrency.
Glassbeam instantiates a lot of trends
Glassbeam checked in recently, and they turn out to exemplify quite a few of the themes I've been writing about. For starters:
- Glassbeam has an analytic technology stack focused on poly-structured machine-generated data.
- Glassbeam partially organizes that data into event series …
- … in a schema that is modified as needed.
Glassbeam basics include:
- Founded in 2009.
- Based in Santa Clara. Back-end engineering in Bangalore.
- $6 million in angel money; no other VC.
- High single-digit customer count, …
- … plus another high single-digit number of end customers for an OEM offering a limited version of their product.
All Glassbeam customers except one are SaaS/cloud (Software as a Service), and even that one was only offered a subscription (as oppose to perpetual license) price.
So what does Glassbeam's technology do? Glassbeam says it is focused on "machine data analytics," specifically for the "Internet of Things", which it distinguishes from IT logs.* Specifically, Glassbeam sells to manufacturers of complex devices — IT (most of its sales so far ), medical, automotive (aspirational to date), etc. — and helps them analyze "phone home" data, for both support/customer service and marketing kinds of use cases. As of a recent release, the Glassbeam stack can: Read more
Entity-centric event series analytics
Much of modern analytic technology deals with what might be called an entity-centric sequence of events. For example:
- You receive and open various emails.
- You click on and look at various web sites and pages.
- Specific elements are displayed on those pages.
- You study various products, and even buy some.
Analytic questions are asked along the lines "Which sequences of events are most productive in terms of leading to the events we really desire?", such as product sales. Another major area is sessionization, along with data preparation tasks that boil down to arranging data into meaningful event sequences in the first place.
A number of my clients are focused on such scenarios, including WibiData, Teradata Aster (e.g. via nPath), Platfora (in the imminent Platfora 3), and others. And so I get involved in naming exercises. The term entity-centric came along a while ago, because "user-centric" is too limiting. (E.g., the data may not be about a person, but rather specifically about the actions taken on her mobile device.) Now I'm adding the term event series to cover the whole scenario, rather than the "event sequence(s)" I might appear to have been hinting at above.
I decided on "event series" earlier this week, after noting that: Read more
|Categories: Aster Data, Business intelligence, Data warehousing, EAI, EII, ETL, ELT, ETLT, Platfora, Predictive modeling and advanced analytics, Teradata, Vertica Systems, Web analytics, WibiData
|15 Comments


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Flower seeds are a simple and affordable way to add beauty to the garden! Many flowers are easy to grow from seed, and virtually care-free! Whether you're looking for native flower seeds, or seeds for edible varieties, you'll find them here.
Towers of pink flowers grace the garden with delightful fragrance and beauty. Also known as scented penstemon. NATIVE.
Item #1303
Intense, blue-violet flower spikes filled with sweet nectar for hummingbirds and butterflies. NATIVE.
Item #1111
Adorable yellow flowers atop a carpet of foliage add cheery color to gardens & containers. Great for wildflower gardens.
Item #1291
Exquisite scarlet-orange flowers set your garden ablaze with color. Spectacular in mass plantings. NATIVE.
Item #1031
A drought tolerant confetti of bright color in double and semi-double blooms. NATIVE.
Item #1090
The state flower of California is a stunning, fiery display in mass plantings. NATIVE.
Item #1032
The state flower of California is a stunning, fiery display in mass plantings. NATIVE.
Item #7200
Experience the rich hues and warm colors of a native Midwest prairie as your garden comes alive with flowers.
Item #7023
Bright, cheery color, perfect for wildflower areas, attracts bees and butterflies! NATIVE.
Item #1003
Lovely spikes of violet-blue flowers cover this royalty of salvias. Great for containers, cut and dried flowers. NATIVE.
Item #1060
From the heart of Texas to the windswept plains of Oklahoma, native wildflowers paint a spectacle of color. NATIVE.
Item #7024
Easy to grow, care free, heat and drought tolerant! This tough but delicate beauty works almost anywhere. NATIVE.
Item #1282
The original Texas Bluebonnet. Bright blue flowers adorn dainty plants to herald the arrival of spring. NATIVE.
Item #1286
The royal blue, state flower of Texas is breathtaking when planted in mass; superb for wildflower gardens. NATIVE.
Item #1043
One of six official Texas Bluebonnets. Tall pillars of springtime blossoms reflect the beauty of a summer sky. NATIVE.
Item #1287


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Just in time to make my cat happy - awesome festool catbox eq
Well, I finally got my festool TS back from the recall. The people at festool were kind enough to include a free baseball hat and this amazing new festool catbox eq. I've used several other catboxes before, but this particular one shines. Our kitty, Peter (aka spiderman), is presently getting over an injured paw, so this catbox really perked up his spirit. The box comes with a standard brown cardboard finish, is about 1/8" corrugated material, has privacy flaps that open on ...
handy little guy
Well, i've had this handy little guy lying around for a couple months now and I think I've put it through its paces for wood. I bought it because sometimes my circular saw is a little overkilll. Also, I have a few jobs I need to do that would require me to hold a circular saw over my head (eg. trimming some lengths of already installed fence boards), something that i'm not totally comfortable with. For those that don't know, this is a mini-circular saw, set up for p...


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This weeks 'Left-Hook Lounge' digs deep to the core of a few very key questions around the world of boxing. Everything from Mayweather jr.'s next move if he does defeat Marquez but doesn't get Pacquiao, to Hatton's future, to a hypothetical Miranda/Lacy showdown comes into the fold. Before I end the segment we'll also take a look at rumors surrounding a potential Campbell/Judah showdown, as well as Andre Ward's emergence in the sport. With no further ado, we jump right into the mix by selecting a question from the west coast from a fight fan who wanted to know the following:
Marcus S. (Reseda, CA): If Cotto gets past Clottey and gets the fight against Pacquiao next, what do you think Mayweather will do in the mean time?
Vivek W. (ESB): Knowing how Mayweather and his camp operate, there's only one scenario I could see unfolding if in fact he does have to take another fight before a potential showdown with Pacquiao. He's not gonna face Mosley and run the possibility of losing a shot at Pacquiao or having it somehow diminished due to a not-so-stellar performance. Cotto won't be an option because he may be the Pacquiao option. He won't face Clottey for the same reason I don't see him facing Mosley before a Pacquiao fight. That could only leave one option, and that option also gives him a shot at securing something he may need when it's time to sit at the negotiating table with Pacquiao. A strap. As a matter of fact, the same one he vacated. Yep, you guessed it...Of all the paths he could follow, I see him setting his aim on Andre Berto, who won't be a walk in the park by any stretch of the imagination, but it gives Floyd a certain comfort zone in the sense that it's an opponent who isn't a huge welter (like a Margo, Williams, or Cotto), and once again it would be for a major bargaining chip under his arm is he wins. I don't see anything else unfolding knowing the way Mayweather and his camp think. If Berto does in fact get beyond Urango, I think this would be a welcomed fight, and to be honest, not a bad one. I could be wrong, but this is how I see it unfolding if he can't get Pacquiao next.
Rob W. (Miami, FL): Both Jermain Taylor and Edison Miranda have struggled against top level fighters recently. How do you think they would fare in a fight against one another?
Vivek W. (ESB): In the end, despite Taylor's fatigue issue, I think he still manages to find a way to win on points based on speed and a few other factors. That being said, it would be interesting to see him attempt to handle Miranda's power and body work. That wouldn't be a bad fight to watch, but personally, I'd love to see Miranda and Lacy square off. Two fighters with decent potential that have both taken humbling losses and never quite been the same. Ricky Hatton stated (paraphrased) that he would rather had taken a loss like he did to Manny Pacquiao rather than be beaten like a drum for nearly 12 rounds like he did against Mayweather. Lacy took the same kind of loss to Calzaghe and neither have been the same after being tortured that way. With Miranda being humbled quite a bit lately as well, I think those two would set up a more intriguing matchup than Taylor against Miranda, because a showdown between two fighters with limited fundamental skills and nothing to lose could only mean one thing.......fireworks, as neither have ever really used (or had) a plan "B" when all else fails. Just my opinion.
Richard E. (Sacramento, CA): How would you rate Andre Ward's performance against Miranda, and what do you think he needs to do to enter the top level in the 168lb division?
Vivek W. (ESB): I thought Ward showed the boxing world that despite the 'hype' era of the sport that we live in, he is in fact as good as advertised. Some may consider this a stretch, but to be perfectly honest, I found his performance to be probably the single best performance of any fighter (from a fundamental standpoint) that I've seen in quite some time. Since the retirement of Mayweather, I can't say I can remember one fighter (and there are some great ones out there) who showed a more complete arsenal on both sides of the punch. On offense he was fast, he punched with power and precision, he grouped his shots well, and his footwork was amazing. On defense, he used brilliant lateral movement, he kept his off-hand up when slipping shots, and unlike many fighters who stay on their bike (running), he used the complete ring to create space until he found an opening to use his speed and narrow the distance. To take it a step further he not only fought well going backwards, but he was amazing when it turned into a phone booth fight, even initiating it at points. I thought it was a very complete performance and I can't see anyone who he couldn't deal with over a 12 round fight in the division. I know Miranda is no speedy fighter, but it was a solid test and Ward aced it. It'll be interesting to see where he goes next, but not even the highly criticized Canadian referee Marlon B. 'Wrong' could save Bute and a few others from this talent! Definitely one to keep an eye on.
Shay S. (Miami Lakes, FL): Is recent rumors true about Nate Campbell and Zab Judah on the undercard of the Mayweather/Marquez fight?
Vivek W. (ESB): I think this rumor is exactly what you called it....a rumor. I haven't gotten a chance to touch basis with Nate Campbell or anyone in his camp, neither have I had a chance to get with Zab or anyone from his camp, but if a fight of this magnitude was in the making, I think we would have heard more already. Particularly considering the fact that it would be on such a huge promotion. I have heard that Judah could be on the undercard and I have heard that he and Campbell had a few words through a few media sources, but the two men squaring off on this particular card, I can't say that I truly heard of the possibility before this question was mailed in. I will reach out to the fighters and their camps to see what's the deal though! Personally, I think it would be a helluva fight and would solidify this card as a must see, maybe even validating the request that hardcore fight fans pay $49.95 to tune in!
Reynaldo I. (Orlando, FL): If you were Ricky Hatton's advisor, what would you advise him to do next?
Vivek W. (ESB): Styles make fights, and don't think for a second that everyone will do to Hatton what Pacquiao did to him. I think Hatton has great potential but it's no secret that many fighters train for months, yet when the bell rings and those hot Vegas lights get to glaring, they forget everything they ever learned and opportunity flies out the window that fast. With Hatton, I think that's his main issue. There was a lot of finger pointing in the Hatton/Mayweather camp, but in reality, Hatton has no one to blame but himself for the loss. Seconds before the fight started you could see Bernard Hopkins giving Hatton specific instructions, quietly telling him and visibly saying "move your head, move your head". Seconds after that, Shane Mosley could be seen in the ring telling him the same thing. Mayweather Sr. could be heard telling him after the first round, "move ya damn head, you should've been doing that from day one"! With some of the best minds in the game surrounding him trying to enforce the same fundamental thing, it still never sank in until the same head Hatton apparently couldn't move was drilled, placing him back first on the deck. Despite never shooting a weapon prior, as a former U.S. Marine I learned that as complex as the M-16 rifle was, a slight windage adjustment could make the difference between me hitting dirt and making my target squirt! Similarly for Hatton, boxing is a complex game, but a few minor tweaks would give him all the tools he'll ever need to win. If he's prepared to make those adjustments and enforce them, go for it! If he can't, it's time to follow Roger Mayweather's advice and hand over his gloves, pour the gasoline, and light 'em up....because there's no reason to continue in the sport! It's that simple.
(Got Questions or feedback?: Contact ESB's Vivek Wallace at email@example.com and 954-292-7346, follow more of his work at 8CountNews and Examiner.com, or show some love at Facebook and Myspace).
previous article: Jersey Fight Journal #1: Sweet revenge for Jorge Teron
A heavyweight statement from Kevin Johnson
Lots of love for local fighters
next article: The Boxing Don's Ward Miranda Post Fight commentary and opinion
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Connor Rogers grades the Jets linebackers for week six.
Articles tagged with: Defense
I never thought I'd get the chance to say associate the 2013 Jets with a "trap game," but here we are in Week Six with the 0-4 Steelers a clearly inferior opponent. With the Patriots' match-up on the horizon, the Jets could be caught in a trap game this week.
TOJ Buying and selling all things New York Jets as they get ready to face the Pittsburgh Steelers
Coming into the 2013 season, a popular narrative around the football world was that Rex Ryan was on the hot seat and would be gone in 2014. Hell, many people thought he would be the first coach fired during the season. Some incredibly even called for him to be fired during the PRE-season! According to …
It's Friday and we've all had almost a full week to soak in and analyze that disaster of a game last week in Tennessee. This week our boys in green are traveling down to Atlanta for a primetime game against the Falcons in a game in which they're double digit underdogs. Yikes. Let's get to …
Buying and Selling all things New York Jets as they head into Week 4 against the Tennessee Titans
A moment of appreciation for the New York Jets defense early in the season
Mike Donnelly with a Turn On The Jets Stock Watch – Buying and Selling New York Jets, heading into Week 3
Mike Donnelly with post-game reaction to last night's Jets vs. Giants game
The Turn On The Jets 12 Pack is all New York Jets defense today…Rex would be proud


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28.05.07 - Philadelphia, PA (May, 28 2007)-After an eighteen hour flight and as soon as he received his luggage at Philadelphia International Airport, brand new IBF Cruiserweight champion, Steve USS Cunningham was whisked away to the NBC-10 studios on Philadelphias main line to make his first appearance as a world champion on the 6 oclock news with sports anchor John Clark.
Sporting five stitches in his left eyelid due to a butt that Cunningham endured in the first round of his title winning fight against Krzysztof Wlodarczyk on Saturday in Poland, Cunningham told Clark Its cool on all types of levels because I am a Philadelphian like Bernard Hopkins, Meldrick Taylor, Joe Frazier and I am in that group now in a sense. I just want to defend my title like those guys have
After enjoying his Memorial Day, a holiday that hits home to the former member of the U.S. Navy , The USS Cunningham will set sail on Miami, Florida and attend the IBF Convention.
previous article: Ibragimov-Briggs: The script
next article: Briggs-Ibragimov: The scale will tell the tale!
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Page 168
lacks face validity for summarizing performance because three to five specific measures will never satisfactorily represent care at a high level of aggregation (for example, care for chronic conditions). By contrast, a comprehensive system can represent the quality of care delivery on different dimensions by including a large number of measures applied to a population of interest and aggregated to produce index scores. A comprehensive system works well when there is evidence of variability within and between the diagnosis and management of different conditions and when the question being asked is framed at a high level (for example, how well the health system is helping the population to stay healthy; how much of a problem underuse is). Because the leading indicators approach is familiar, this appendix focuses on how a comprehensive approach to quality assessment for the National Health Care Quality Report might be implemented.
How good is the quality of care in America? That is the question many people would like to have answered if only the measures, the data, and the appropriate analytic framework were available. We begin by describing a new method for evaluating effectiveness that is under development at RAND because it offers a useful approach to assessing quality nationally.
Under funding from public and private sponsors,1 RAND has developed a comprehensive system for assessing the quality of care for children, adults, and the vulnerable elderly. We call this system QA Tools. We briefly discuss how the clinical areas were selected, how the indicators were chosen, what is included in the system, and how the system is being implemented.
We reviewed national data sources to identify the leading causes of morbidity and mortality and the most common reasons for physician visits in the United States for different age and gender groups in the population.2Table B.1 shows the list of 58 clinical areas included in the QA Tools system by population group: 20 include indicators for children, 36 for adults, and 23 for the vulnerable elderly. The clinical areas, broadly defined, represent about 55 percent
1 Health Care Financing Administration, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, California HealthCare Foundation, Pfizer, and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
2 Age or gender groups: 0–1, 1–5, 6–11, 12–17, 18–50 (men separate from women), 50–64, 65–75, over 75.


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Bed & Breakfasts Seabrook, Texas - Romance your partner or bring your family for a refreshing getaway. Business meetings & luncheons welcome. Choose the lakefront B&B or complete privacy in a bay house across from the popular Kemah Boardwalk/Galveston Bay. Long term rates avail.
Bed & Breakfasts Fredericksburg, Texas - The Schandua Suite is an elegant two-room accommodation located in a historic two-story limestone building in the heart of Fredericksburg, a 19th century German town in the Texas Hill Country. Wineries, state&national parks,dining,and shopping.
Bed & Breakfasts Austin, Texas - Located in the heart of central Austin, Brava House provides a truly memorable stay in Austin. One of the first Austin Victorian homes built in the late 1880's, it is minutes to the Capitol, University of Texas, LBJ Library & other attractions!
Bed & Breakfasts Amarillo, Texas - Amarillo's Parkview House B & B, a charming historical inn offering warm Texas hospitality, cosy rooms, antiques,Victorian decor and delightful gardens. A great getaway . Make it your place to escape from lifes' hectic pace.
Bed & Breakfasts Corsicana, Texas - An 1890's mansion located only 50 miles South of Dallas. The mansion has 6 bedrooms from $75 - $150 per night. We have combined the warm hospitality of a Celtic inn with the comfort and convenience Americians expect in a Bed and Breakfast Inn.
Bed & Breakfasts Decatur, Texas - Elegant Suites in Historic Downtown Decatur, Texas (part of the Dallas/Ft.Worth Metroplex) where complete wedding packages, massage therapy, great shopping, romantic Jacuzzi for two, murder mysteries, and much more is available.
Bed & Breakfasts , United States - Thrilling zipline adventure including 6 different ziplines with panoramic views of the east Texas countryside. Sky-High Thrills.....TEXAS Style!
Bed & Breakfasts New Braunfels, Texas - Great place to stay in the heart of downtown Gruene. Antiques, history and beautiful rooms, good food and conversation will make your stay memorable."Had a great time & felt right at home! We would reccomend you to anyone and can't wait to come back
Bed & Breakfasts San Antonio, Texas - Elegant, romantic Antebellum Mansion privately located on 1 1/2 landscapted acres along the Famous San Antonio "Riverwalk" The Perfect location, for business or pleasure. Grand Verandas, European and American Antiques...
Bed & Breakfasts Canton, Texas - Country comfort close to Canton First Monday Trade Days. Accomodations for 2 to 28, full breakfast cooked before your eyes, handicapped accessible, pool room, heated swimming pool, & hot tub under the stars.
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Find a bed and breakfast in Texas for your romantic weekend getaway. Intimate b & bs are cozy, romantic accommodations that are perfect for a mini-vacation, honeymoon, or wedding anniversary celebration. You will love the unique charm of our inns in Texas. Many guesthouses include complimentary breakfasts and unbeatable hospitality. Browse our bed & breakfasts and plan your Texas romantic getaway today!
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Marcellus Shale Battle Lines Series
Battle Lines Series: Part 1
Crews worked for months, cutting a trench through hilly fields, woods and past farms for a new natural gas line. But there was trouble and no one to call.
Battle Lines Series: Part 2
When the owners of the Tennessee natural gas pipeline decided to expand the pipe in the Marcellus Shale region of Pennsylvania's northern tier, the federal safety rules they had to follow filled a book.
Battle Lines Series: Part 3
Dallas Township - an affluent suburb outside Wilkes-Barre - is just one battlefield in a war that has flared in more and more Pa. towns, over the proliferation of the new, high-pressure pipelines that carry Marcellus Shale gas to market.
Battle Lines Series: Part 4
Last in a four-part series.
There are thousands of miles of 100-year-old, leak-prone, cast-iron pipelines running under Pennsylvania streets. Last in a series.
The Marcellus shale drilling boom has tapped a bounty of natural gas worth billions, but Inquirer reporters Joseph Tanfani and Craig R. McCoy found that thousands of miles of high-pressure pipelines carrying the gas to market are being installed with no government safety checks – no construction standards, no inspections, and no monitoring. In fact, state and federal regulators don't even know where many lines are located.


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Our Members Say
- tsahakyan
- Reviews: 5
Ruzanna's bed & breakfast: Stepanavan's Most Hospitable Bed & Breakfast
if you are tired of hotels, restaurants and want to experience real rural hospitality in Armenia, this is the right place to visit. At Ruzanna's B&B, you will offered yummy armenian homemade dishes, bakery, dairy products and tasty desserts. The family can organize tours for you, help you with organizing your stay not just in stepanavan but also anywhere in Armenia.
Great hospitality and rural experience.
- tsahakyan
- Reviews: 5
Laura's Bed and Breakfast: Lori's Best Bed & Breakfast
Stepanavan is located in the middle of Yerevan—Tbilisi main road. It is a very comfortable stop for those planning to travel to Georgia from Armenia.
Prices: Bed and breakfast is 7000 AMD, if you also want to order homemade dinner it is 10000 AMD per person.
Bed (in woolen softest beds), breakfast and dinner (homemade/organic food and dairy products)Laura Kartashyan extends a warm welcome to all guests and invites you to share in the comfort and relaxed friendly atmosphere of her family home. Come and discover the unique Bed and Breakfast experience combining excellent personal service with facilities to match. Laura's Bed and Breakfast is set in a quiet Ruminakan neighborhood, a 7 minute walk from the compact and bustling town center of Stepanavan, Armenia making this the ideal choice for all visitors, especially backpackers. It has a beautiful view to the town and mountains and is in the perfect location to visit Lori Fortress.
Directions: The property is located in Ruminakan (Romanian) neighborhood. When getting off in the bus station, look straight and you will see the Dzoraget Bridge. While crossing it you will notice 5 similiar buildings (see on the right) on the other side of the bridge. That is Ruminakan neighborhood and Laura's B&B is located on the third floor of the 5th horizontal building.
Phone: (093) 23-03-20, (093) 66-12-83,
E-mail: email@example.com
Website: www.stepanavan.net
Family members can meet you at the bus station if informed beforehand.
Wonderful location, wonderful family, great view and beautiful appartment
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guitar tabs, guitar chords and lyrics
Public books
My songbook
uke learner
you rated this:
Currently 0/5 Stars.
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Just started to learn ukulele these are the songs helping me on my way mixed bag all fairly easy
Mad World (Tears For Fears)
About You Now (Sugababes)
Angel Of The Morning (Pretenders)
Baby One More Time (Britney Spears)
Baby Can I Hold You (ByĀTracyĀChapman)
Baker Street (Gerry Rafferty)
Behind Blue Eyes (The Who)
Blue Monday (New Order)
Cannonball (Damien Rice)
Coat Of Many Colors-crd (Dolly Parton)
Coffee And Tv (Blur)
Creep (Radiohead)
Daniel (Elton John)
Dream Catch Me (Newton Faulkner)
Everybodys Talkin-crd (Neil Fred)
Everyday Is Like Sunday (Morrissey)
First We Take Manhattan (Leonard Cohen)
Gavins Song (Marc Broussard)
Hallelujah (Leonard Cohen)
Hey Ya Acoustic (Obadiah Parker)
Hotel California (Felder, Henley & Frey)
House Of The Rising Sun (Animals)
I Don't Want To Talk About It (Rod Stewart)
If I Could Fly (Boy George)
If you could read my mind (Gordon Lightfoot)
In The Arms Of The Angel (Sarah McLachlan)
Its A Heartache (Bonnie Tyler)
Jolene (Dolly Parton)
Karma Chameleon (Culture Club)
Knocking On Heavens Door (Eric Clapton)
Knowing Me Knowing You (Abba)
Leavin on a jet plane (John Denver)
Let it Be (John Lennon)
Lola (Kinks)
Losing My Religion (R.E.M)
Love Is Like A Butterfly (Dolly Parton)
Love song (Cure)
Lyin' Eyes (Eagles)
Mack The Knife (Bobby Darin)
Maggie May (Rod Stewart)
My Love (Justin Timberlake)
Nights in White Satin (Moody Blues)
Pride (In The Name Of Love) (U2)
Purple Rain Acoustic (Prince)
Say It Aint So Joe (Murray Head)
Sex on fire (Kings Of Leon)
Somewhere Over The Rainbow What A Wonderful World (Israel Kamakawiwoole)
Streets Of London (Ralph McTell)
Sweet Child O Mine Acoustic (Guns N'Roses)
Sylvias Mother (Dr. Hook)
Taught By Experts (Paul Kelly)
Teardrop (Massive Attack)
The Gambler (Kenny Rogers)
The Remedy (Jason Mraz)
The Time Is Now (Moloko)
The Weakness In Me (Joan Armatrading)
They Dont Know (Tracey Ullman)
They Dont Know (Kirsty Maccoll)
To Make You Feel My Love (Adele)
Tougher Than The Rest (Emmylou Harris)
Under the Boardwalk ( The Drifters)
Whats A Woman (Vaya Con Dios)
Whats Love Got To Do With It (Tina Turner)
Will You (Hazel O'Connor)
Wish You Were Here (by Pink Floyd)
Yes (McAlmont and Butler)
Your Love Is My Love (Whitney Houston)
Note: If you log in, you can add this book to
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play their songs - buy their music - support the artists
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guitar chords
5 popular songs
Night Moves
Bob Seger
Country Roads
John Denver
Man On The Moon
Mr Tambourine Man
Lay Lady Lay
Bob Dylan
New songbooks
Favorite songs that sound great on a uke and are easy to sing. Use the chord transposer to get them in the right key for your voic
Uke&Bones Beach
Good easy songs that remind me of the summertime. Use the chord transposer to find the best key for your voice, if you're not sure
Angle Park SBK1
Mostly rock, 60's, 70's, 80's, and 90's. Cool for weekend jams and Crusin' Grand.
Eva Moon Jam Book
Just some good old songs for jamming
all public songbooks


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Decatur County, Indiana
From Ballotpedia
Decatur County is one of 92 counties in Indiana.
Website evaluation
- Main article: Evaluation of Indiana county websites
The good
- Budget is published.[1]
- Meetings dates are posted.[2]
- County council members[3] and county commissioners are listed with contact info.[4]
- Building permits are available.[5]
The bad
- Budget is not published.
- Commissioner meeting minutes[6] and Council minutes are posted, but not up to date.[7]
- Information on zoning and local taxes is not provided.
- County audits and contracts are not online.
- Does not disclose if belongs to government sector lobbying associations.
- Information on how to make a public records request is not provided on the site.
External links
- Decatur County official website
- Decatur County Stats
- Decatur County on Epodunk
- Decatur County on IN.gov (dead link)


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But Verleger also believes that new EPA requirements imposed on refiners to reduce the amount of sulfur in diesel fuel has had the unintended consequence of causing more refinery outages. Removing the sulfur appears to require running the refining units harder and at higher temperatures and higher pressure, possibly leading to some refining problems.
In its April report, The International Energy Agency wrote, "Anecdotal evidence suggests refinery reliability is deteriorating due to existing sulphur removal requirements, lowering average utilization rates … the need to run these units harder to meet the tighter specifications is leading to a higher incidence of unit failures, posing additional problems for refiners."
Translation: Requirements to reduce sulfur level could be reducing overall refining capacity.
Consumer Groups Weigh In
Groups such as the Consumer Federation of American blame oil company mergers during the past several decades for reducing the number of refiners to the point that a there is now a "domestic oil oligopoly."
The CFA's Mark Cooper argues refiners have underinvested in refining capacity and reduced gasoline inventories to the point that they cannot perform any maintenance without gasoline prices increasing, along with profits.
"If you give them [the refiners] the benefit of doubt, then they have horribly mismanaged this industry. They can't switch from winter to summer fuels without driving up the price a buck and they get away with it," Cooper said. "In a competitive industry they wouldn't get away with it."
Cooper will testify before Congress on May 16, and in his prepared testimony wrote, "The profitability of refining operations in the U.S. has grown far faster than the profitability of their overseas refiners."
Refiners React
"There are no bottlenecks in refineries," said Charles Drevna, executive vice president of the National Petrochemicals Association, the refiners' trade group. "Earlier on this spring, there were more outages than we would normally see, but they are pretty much coming back on line now."
Drevna said delayed maintenance of refineries was an issue currently because refinery workers had shifted from scheduled repairs to service gulf refineries damaged by hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Now, those workers are catching up with delayed maintenance projects.
But even with the planned and unplanned outages, Drevna stressed, "We are doing our utmost best to crank out as much product — gasoline and diesel — as we can. We are continuing to provide that product and the marketplace dictates what has happened at the pump."
He said the industry had been supplying refined product in the face of higher consumer demand.
Finally, as prices for gasoline have risen to record highs, "It makes no sense for refiner not to be running."
Why Not Build a New Refinery?
Financing, permits, environmental concerns and the securing of oil supplies are all substantial hurdles for any company to construct a new refinery.
"Clean" refineries are expensive, and despite recent profits the refinery business has traditionally been low profit margin business. The last refinery was built in 1976 in Garyville, La.
Arizona Clean Fuels hopes to construct a new refinery near Yuma, Ariz., at a cost of $3.5 billion. According to press reports, the company hopes to be up and running in 2011. Nearly two years ago, the company's CEO told ABC News' Betsy Stark he hoped to be up and running in 2010.
But even a new refinery won't solve the current situation.
"We can't build more refineries to get out of this," said Verleger.


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…Defying Gravity Adult Women's Costume. Sport the most coveted look in all of the Emerald City in this emerald and black top with lace and satin details, floor-length ruffled skirt with sparkling insets and snake print witch hat. Complete this look with green face and hand makeup (sold separately).
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Tiptoe to the Trellis Flat
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Details & Measurements
You hop from one stone to another on your garden path in these cobalt-blue flats. The strappy silhouette of this cutout-adorned pair mirrors the intricate design of the latticed archway above you, while the metallic accents on these buckled shoes complement the night sky's twinkling stars.
- Man-made materials.
- Adjustable strap with buckle closure.
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Mellie has a plan but Trevor has a problem!
The first night was a dare. The second night was trouble...
The toughest rodeo rider in Hell, Texas, discovers his tender side with a feisty cowgirl
First in small-town Tennessee series explores first and second chances at love.
Sometimes old flames are the hottest of all . . .
Passions ignite in thirteen dangerously HOT romances.
Mellie has a plan but Trevor has a problem!
The first night was a dare. The second night was trouble...
The toughest rodeo rider in Hell, Texas, discovers his tender side with a feisty cowgirl
First in small-town Tennessee series explores first and second chances at love.
Sometimes old flames are the hottest of all . . .
Passions ignite in thirteen dangerously HOT romances.
A Midsummer Night's Romp, May 2015
The Importance of Being Alice, January 2015
The Truth About Leo, August 2014
Mass Market Paperback
The Trouble With Harry, July 2014
Paperback (reprint)
Noble Destiny, June 2014
Paperback (reprint)
Noble Intentions, May 2014
Paperback (reprint)
The Art of Stealing Time, September 2013
Mass Market Paperback
Time Thief, May 2013
The Undead In My Bed, October 2012
A Tale Of Two Vampires, September 2012
Sparks Fly, May 2012
It's All Greek To Me, December 2011
Much Ado About Vampires, October 2011
Sex, Lies, And Vampires, September 2011
Mass Market Paperback (reprint)
The Unbearable Lightness Of Dragons, May 2011
Mass Market Paperback
Sex And The Single Vampire, April 2011
Paperback (reprint)
A Girl's Guide To Vampires, January 2011
Paperback (reprint)
Confessions of a Vampire's Girlfriend, November 2010
Trade Size
In The Company Of Vampires, November 2010
Death's Excellent Vacation, August 2010
Cupid Cats, July 2010
Love in the Time of Dragons, May 2010
Steamed, February 2010
My Zombie Valentine, January 2010
Mass Market Paperback
Me and My Shadow, November 2009
Mass Market Paperback
Crouching Vampire, Hidden Fang, May 2009
Mass Market Paperback
Zen And The Art Of Vampires, December 2008
Up In Smoke, October 2008
Playing with Fire (Silver Dragons, Book 1), May 2008
My Big Fat Supernatural Honeymoon, January 2008
Trade Size
Holy Smokes, November 2007
Ain't Myth-behaving, October 2007
Mass Market Paperback
The Last of the Red-Hot Vampires, April 2007
Mass Market Paperback
Light My Fire, November 2006
Just One Sip, October 2006
Even Vampires Get the Blues, May 2006
Blow Me Down, November 2005
Fire Me Up, May 2005
Noble Intentions, March 2005
Paperback (reprint)
Sex, Lies and Vampires, February 2005
Hard Day's Knight, January 2005
You Slay Me, September 2004
The Trouble with Harry, July 2004
The Corset Diaries, May 2004
Sex and the Single Vampire, March 2004
Men In Kilts, October 2003
A Girl's Guide to Vampires, September 2003
Noble Destiny, May 2003
Improper English, March 2003
The USA Today bestselling author of Men in Kilts and The Corset Diaries goes medieval. At a modern-day Renaissance faire, one woman is about to meet her knight in tarnished armor.
January 2005
Featuring: Walker McPhail; Pepper Marsh
368 pages ISBN: 0451213866Paperback$6.99
Add to Wish List
Contemporary | Romance
Men in tights never looked so good. At least that's Pepper
Marsh's first impression when she attends a jousting
competition at the Rennaissance Faire in Ontario. An
unemployed and unattached software engineer, Pepper has had
enough of the computer geeks in her dating pool. She years
for a man of yore. A man not afraid to stare death in the
face and laugh at it. A man with a big lance... Pepper's
cousin has promised to find her a knight in shining armor,
on the condition that Pepper walk around in wench garb. With
her mind on her embarrassingly revealing bodice, Pepper
promptly steps into the path of an oncoming steed...and is
rescued by sexy Englishman Walker McPhail. Once the wild man
of jousting, Walker has let a brush with death keep him out
of the ring. Though his emotions are clad in almost
impenetrable armor, Pepper finds Walker infuriatingly
sexy--and she's about to go medieval on his heart...
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Your guide to dining out in New York City, including restaurant reviews, new restaurants, online reservations and the best restaurants in New York
The best burgers in NYC
In honor of National Hamburger Day, eat your way though the city's most beloved patties
The best ice cream in NYC
Here's the scoop—sorry, we couldn't resist—on New York's best new ice cream shops and old frozen favorites
The best Indian restaurants in NYC
Go well beyond curry at New York's best Indian restaurants, doling out regional specialties from Punjabi buttered chicken to South Indian dosas
Restaurants for outdoor dining in NYC
Blooming gardens, gorgeous patios and other outdoor dining spots where you can eat in the breeze
Most booked NYC restaurants
Agave has taken only a couple of years to make a sophisticated name for itself. The dining room's hombre theme is refreshingly understated, and the menu...
ABC Kitchen
While plenty of New York restaurants have lately made the environment a priority—sourcing their ingredients locally and crafting dining rooms from salvaged...
La Birreria
This massive rooftop beer garden, located 14 stories above the Italian megastore Eataly, offers a direct line to one of the world's most exciting new beer...
Jack's Wife Freda
Keith McNally protégé Dean Jankelowitz (Schiller's, Pastis, Balthazar) is behind this morning-to-evening café. The 40-seat restaurant—sporting dark-green...
Latest restaurant reviews
The best restaurants in New York
100 best restaurants
Where are you eating tonight?
Best brunch places in NYC
A weekend in New York just isn't complete without brunch
Best cheap eats in NYC
It's never been a better time for budget dining
The best pizza in NYC
Whether your ideal pizza is a thin-crust slice or a puffy Neapolitan-inspired round, find the best pizza in NYC with our guide
100 best dishes and drinks
Here's our annual guide to New York City's 100 best dishes and drinks
Food & Drink Awards 2014
The year's best restaurants and bars in New York City—you voted for your favorites, we picked ours too!
Best restaurants by cuisine
Best BBQ restaurants
Satisfy your craving for smoked meats and homespun comfort food at the best BBQ restaurants in NYC
Best Mexican restaurants
We've braved the spiciest salsas to compile this roundup of the best Mexican grub in New York
Best Italian restaurants
Italian food is engrained in the food fabric of New York City
Best sushi restaurants
We've got Japan on the mind, namely its most delicious export: sushi
Best diners and luncheonettes
New York City is flush with fine-dining restaurants, but even we highbrow Gothamites like to trade white-linen tables for weathered Formica from time to time
Best healthy restaurants
Forget limp lettuce—these menus cut the calories but keep the yum
Best restaurants by neighborhood
East Village
Hell's Kitchen
Long Island City
Latest food and drink news
New York is about to get its first Sonic Drive-In
Sure, public transportation and bikes are environmentally conscious, quick, inexpensive and convenient, but some hot days we all just want to sit in an air...
Pick up a free ice-cream sandwich from the Full Moon ice-cream truck today
A photo posted by Ilana (@bardejar) on May 26, 2015 at 6:58pm PDT To celebrate the fifth anniversary of Governor's Island summer-music...
Feast your eyes on the menu for next month's Big Apple Barbecue Block Party
We teased you with ticket links and pitmaster lineups, but now you get the real goods—the full meaty menu for this year's Big Apple Barbecue Block Party,...
New York restaurants fare well so far on the World's 50 Best Restaurants list
The back half of the World's 50 Best Restaurants list was revealed today—technically #51–100, which kind of defeats the point of a 50 Best list, but hey, we...
10 spots to eat and drink at this Memorial Day Weekend
Couldn't find a couch in the Hamptons to crash on this Memorial Day weekend? No worries. We've got you covered with a roundup of the best food-and-drink...
Latest restaurant stories
The best 24-hour restaurants in NYC
From classic diner food to booze-soaking Latin snacks, these are the top 24-hour restaurants
The best vegan and vegetarian restaurants in NYC
Vegetarian food isn't hard to come by in New York, if you know where to look
The best macarons in NYC
From fruity to fudgey, these are the top-notch Parisian cookies to take home from NYC's patisseries


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Awesomely Random fluffing HUMDINGERS!
Posted 09/30/2012
Posted 09/30/2012
LOFL Kase!!!! I just spit up my water looking at that
The more I get to know people, The more I love my dog - Mark Twain
The more I get to know people, The more I love my dog - Mark Twain
Posted 09/30/2012
Posted 09/30/2012
I about died when I heard he was gay! He's so beautiful.
and she loved a little boy very, very much - even more than she loved herself. <3
Posted 09/30/2012
Posted 09/30/2012
There we go Gixxersmom, love me some Matt Bromer!!! Did you see him Magic Mike!?! and I love White Collar...but he's totally gay in real life!
Posted 09/30/2012
Straight or gay, he is so effin fine. I haven't seen Magic Mike but I do like White Collar :)
Sarah Jane. FTM to Jake 3.29.12.
Deep inside, every woman is a princess. And every princess has a dragon.
Posted 09/30/2012
I also love LOVE Channing Tatum!
What's on your mind?Create a new post
Your growing child
Your 3-year-old: Friendships
Your ever-more-independent child is probably starting to develop some friendships. Read More
Your 3-year-old: Counting
Ask most 3-year-olds how old they are and they'll proudly raise the correct number of fingers. Read More
Your 3-year-old: Playing ball
Some call it the perfect toy. What is it? Read More
Your 3-year-old: Pearly whites
Your child probably has a full set of primary teeth by now. Read More
Your 3-year-old: Power of play
Preschoolers often work out complicated emotions in their play with animals. Read More


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If it's the German Bundesliga, the Scottish Premier League, the J-League, the Dutch Eredivisie or even the Russian Premier League or Portuguese Liga you are after, then look no further than Setanta Sports Australia.
This week Setants will be showing matches from all around the world with a bit of something for everyone.
So if you love football, Setanta Sports is the place for you.
Saturday 21st August
4:40am Bundesliga – Bayern Munich vs Wolfsburg LIVE
9pm SPL – Hamilton vs Hearts LIVE
Sunday 22nd August
12am J-League Kyoto Sanga vs Yokohama F Marinos
2:30am Bundesliga – Hamburg vs Schalke LIVE
4:30am Russian Premier League – Spartak Moscow vs Tom Tomsk
6:10am Portuguese Liga – Nacional vs Benfica LIVE
10am Eredivisie – Ajax vs Roda JC
9:10pm SPL – Hibernian vs Rangers LIVE
Monday 23rd August
10:15am SPL – Celtic vs St Mirren
4:15pm – Bundesliga – B. Dortmund vs Bayer Leverkusen
Tuesday 24th August
1:15am Russian Premier League – Rubin Kazan vs Saturn
3am Bundesliga – Mainz vs Stuttgart
Friday 27th August
3:30am Europa League Qualifier – Trabzonspor vs Liverpool LIVE
10:10am Copa Sudamericana – Independiente vs Argentinos Juniors LIVE


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Compare hundreds of teachers based on the criteria that matter to you, including background checks, age and experience.
When you've found the perfect match, schedule your lessons online using the teacher's real-time availability.
Your teacher will welcome you with a personalized curriculum to meet your specific goals and you'll be able to manage your entire schedule through our free online account.
Zero travel time is great for a busy schedule.
Typically priced lower than local lessons.
Online students stick with lessons as long as local students.
I've been playing guitar since I was 9 years old and teaching guitar since I was 14. I grew up playing in bands with friends. My parents would drive us (and a ton of equipment!) to wherever we were playing, which was sometimes 50 to 200 miles from home! I later did studio work and played as a solo entertainer. I also studied acting while in college, so being on stage and performing is very comfortable for me. I have extensive experience in teaching both individuals and groups with regard to several different venues, including guitar, bass guitar, acting, public speaking, songwriting and studio recording. I also provide a unique service that my students tell me is very helpful. I record instructions, or demonstrations, and email them to you - on the spot! This way you don't get home ...
I excel at mending breaks, achieving tonal accuracy from 'sloppy' or 'off-pitch' singers, strengthening the voice where it is weak and sweetening it where it is harsh, expanding range toward its physical possibilities, focusing the voice, bringing ease and confidence where there was strain and worry. In short, I teach students how to remove the obstacles that block us from joyfully expressing our hearts in song. Vocal studies include many years with vocal Masters - people who know how to free and enhance each individual voice at a rapid pace - and an M.A. in Voice. (See Musical Training below.) I have taken this training onto the stage and into my own teaching studio and used my experiences of what does and does not work - and what is most effective in the least amount of time - to
I've been playing piano and singing for more years than I care to count. I started accompanying in church in the sixth grade and have played piano, organ and/or directed church choirs for about 30 years. I also enjoy directing music for local theater. I strive to use the best of curricula and teaching techniques to help each student achieve their musical goals. Like most worthwhile skills, it takes regular practice. I will help you go at your own "best pace" so you're always making progress.
*** Travel Equipment *** Books. Students must have their own instrument (keyboards are acceptable for taking piano lessons). I always council students on brand, quality of instrument they are purchasing before they buy it. *** Specialties *** I have been a public school music educator for over 20 years, and have taught band, orchestra, and choir which enables me to teach many instruments and voice. I also have been a language and reading tutor for over 6 years and have worked with students with special needs for over 10 years. I studied classical guitar with master guitarist, Christopher Parkening, at Montana State University where I graduated with a B.M.E. I also did graduate work at MSU in composition. I teach Suzuki piano and violin. I am an accomplished composer/songwriter
I began as a musician in my high school drum line, where I discovered my true passion for percussion and music performance. Since graduating, I have toured the country with drum and bugle corps, performed Japanese taiko drums with Alice Cooper, traveled to South Korea to perform in a drum festival, and played countless gigs all over Arizona! In addition to keeping a busy performance schedule, I love to teach out of my home studio in Scottsdale. I have a fully equipped teaching studio with 2 drum sets, plenty of practice pads, as well as guitars, electric pianos, and a white board for music theory and visual aid. I strive to keep a laid back atmosphere while teaching, so that students are comfortable and encouraged to express themselves through music. I am able to tailor my style to ...
Take your voice to the next level. Download free video tutorials to start singing like the star you are!
Getting Started with Music Lessons guides you through selecting a teacher & preparing for your first lesson.
Kickstart your guitar playing. Download free video tutorials to learn about chord progressions, strumming, and more!
Our online tools make booking, managing your schedule and paying for lessons easy and hassle-free.
Easily search and compare teachers in your area, including past student reviews and background checks.
If you're not completely satisfied, we'll help you find a new teacher or refund any unused lesson credits.
Featured on


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I wouldn't call this the weirdest, but I think one of the most unappreciated albums I have is Chicago Transit Authority, Chicago's first album from when that was the full name (until the real CTA forced them to change it).
While it has the brass that they and Blood Sweat & Tears made popular, it has some of the best guitar work and is just a good Rock N Roll album. It is a far cry from the pop albums the band made afterwards (although there's hardly a guy my age who didn't slow dance to Color My World from the second album). Anyway, I'd recommend it to folks.


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Was thinking of heading down to Downtown Disney this weekend to pick up the Disneyland 50th CD box set for my brother for Christmas before they all disappear now that the party's almost over.
And while there I thought it'd be nice to grab him a set of the gold ears with his name on them. But since I am not an AP and really don't have the time to spend the day at the park, I was wondering if one can get the ears at the Disney Store @ Disneyland and get them embroidered.
Mark "Stingray2019" Santora


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The Simpsons Game
Extras menu codes
Enter the code while in the "Extras" menu screen. If done correctly you will hear Bart laugh
(Note, Left/Right refers to the control pad and L/R refers to the shoulder buttons
Effect Code Unlimited life for all characters left,right,triangle,L,R,right Unlimited power for all characters. Triangle, Left, Right, Triangle, Square, L Unlock all Movies Square, Left, Square, Right, Triangle, R Unlocks all Clichés Left, square, right, Triangle, Right, L
Know Something We Don't?
You can submit new cheat codes for this game using our Cheat Submission Form.
Have We Been Fooled?
If you see a non-working or fake code in the list above, let us know by using our Problem Submission Form.


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Peacock escapes from High Park Zoo, on the loose in Toronto's west end
Falcons waive LB Prince Shembo after animal cruelty charge in death of...
With the first torchbearer to be announced as the relay kicks off, a look...
Nicki Minaj demands orgasms and admits she is very particular when it come...
There are two sides to every story and Ashley MacIsaac is ready to share...
DURHAM -- A local student says it was her mother's volunteer work that...
Despite that growth, only 22 per cent of Ontario residents were registered as donors at the end of 2012, and 95 people on the transplant list died waiting for organs last year.
In Durham Region registration rates range from a high of 31 per cent in Whitby and Uxbridge to a low of 16 per cent in Ajax and Pickering, which are ranked near the bottom of the pack across the 179 communities listed at www.beadonor.ca.
Health card holders - 12,310
Registered donors - 3,802 (31 per cent)
Ranking - 55
Health card holders - 12,696
Registered donors - 3,930 (31 per cent)
Ranking - 56
Health card holders - 62,268
Registered donors - 17,329 (28 per cent)
Ranking: 76
Health card holders - 208,578
Registered donors - 54,911 (26 per cent)
Ranking: 104
Port Perry:
Health card holders - 12,263
Registered donors - 3,081 (25 per cent)
Ranking - 118
East Durham Region (includes Orono, Hampton, Nestleton Station, Ashburn, Blackstock, Caesarea, Janetville):
Health Card holders: 14,596
Registered donors: 3,287 (23 per cent)
Ranking - 142
Health card holders - 89,632
Registered donors - 14,152 (16 per cent)
Ranking - 166
Health card holders - 77,108
Registered donors - 12,460 (16 per cent)
Ranking - 168
PICKERING -- Tethered to an oxygen tube at his kitchen table, Brandon Gibson visibly brightens when he recalls the years after his first lung transplant.
Then 14, the Pickering resident, who suffers from cystic fibrosis, felt what it was like to take a deep, easy breath for the first time. After recovering, he enjoyed playing sports including hockey and lacrosse and generally living life like any other teenager.
"I don't like to sit around and do nothing, it kills me," Mr. Gibson said. "I definitely want to get back to where I was, if not better. I want to be able to play hockey again."
Now 20, Mr. Gibson is once again awaiting a life-saving organ donation after his body started rejecting his transplant in 2011. He is currently hovering around 25-per cent lung function and has been on the transplant list since January 2012.
"It's pretty intense," he said of the waiting.
"During the day I try to stay active to keep my mind off it but at night it can weigh pretty heavily on you. I think about it a lot, waiting for the pager to go off."
Rouge Valley Health System, where Mr. Gibson does physiotherapy twice a week, is reaching out to the community in an attempt to add at least 200 names to the donor registry in partnership with the Trillium Gift of Life Network. Beginning Tuesday, April 2 the Ajax and Pickering hospital will be flying 'Be a Donor' flags to raise awareness.
"While the decision to become an organ donor is a personal one, each day our staff, physicians and volunteers meet patients whose lives are forever changed by organ and tissue donation," said Rik Ganderton, president and CEO of Rouge Valley. "This campaign is just one way Rouge Valley can help to raise awareness."
It is estimated that one organ donor can save eight lives and enhance up to 75 lives through tissue donation.
Mr. Gibson's mother, Muriel Gibson, can speak personally to the impact a donation can have.
"They say you can save eight lives, but in my family alone you automatically affect five, because all our lives are changed," she explained, noting not a day goes by that she doesn't think of the donor family from Mr. Gibson's first transplant.
For Mr. Gibson, who has had to weigh his own life at a very early age, informing his family that if he does not receive a transplant he does not want to be kept alive by machines, the benefits of donation are clear.
"The bottom line is it saves lives, it can be so helpful to so many people," he said.
"It's not easy to lose a loved one, but to be able to think of that person saving eight lives is amazing. Knowing the success organ donation does have, and what it's done for my life, I couldn't have asked for more."â?¨ For more information or to register as an organ donor, visit www.beadonor.ca/rougevalleyajaxandpickering.
At Oxford Learning , your child's success comes first. That's why each child that enrolls in an...
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