text:
Statesman Construction Update:
From that story, here is the latest site plan:
...and the latest aerial photo:
BTW, if any of you were planning to reserve a spot in line for a PSL, today is the last day to do so.
Federal docs show COTA raised ~$100M, FIA sets number of laps:
18 new photos I shot this morning near dawn:
Here's a sample:
I wonder if the COTA people are aware of the tragic history of that major gas pipeline which runs along Elroy road on the north edge of their property?
Rates for many hotels skyrocket on F1 weekend
By Gary Dinges
Updated: 6:08 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2012
Published: 10:45 p.m. Monday, Feb. 20, 2012
The downtown-area Super 8 still has rooms available for Austin's Formula One race weekend in November - if you're willing to shell out more than $500 a night.
The budget hotel at 1201 N. Interstate 35 is just one of many motels regionwide that have dramatically hiked prices on race day, Nov. 18.
Other examples: A Best Western in Lockhart would run you at least $450 a night. And the Hampton Inn in Buda has rooms available - starting at $407.
Rates are, for the most part, higher just before and after the event, as well.
Hotel operators' decision to dramatically increase room rates during the F1 race is not a violation of the state's price-gouging laws. Those laws go into effect only when a state of emergency or disaster is declared by the governor, according to the Texas attorney general's office.
The eye-popping prices don't surprise consumer advocate Chris Elliott, author of "Scammed," a book focusing on ways to save money and get better service.
"Hotels know it's a sellers' market for their rooms," Elliott said. "They know people are willing to pay more."
Many hotels are already booked solid for the race weekend. A search of Travelocity.com shows rooms are unavailable on Nov. 18 at 180 inns in Austin and across the region.
Figures from Smith Travel Research show Central Texas has about 30,000 hotel rooms - not nearly enough for the 120,000 attendees expected at the still-under-construction track.
F1 organizers have said as many as 4,500 of those rooms will be needed for people directly affiliated with the race, including drivers, sponsors and reporters from around the globe who will be covering the event.
Smith Travel reports that November occupancy in the Austin market is, on average, 63.4 percent.
On race day at the Super 8, $475 gets you a room with two queen beds, a fridge, a microwave, and free Wi-Fi and breakfast, according to Super8.com. Add in taxes, and the total jumps to $546.25.
That's five times the Austin area's average daily room rate for November, which is $99.01, according to Smith Travel. The average is higher at downtown hotels, coming in at $137.11.
One week later, on Nov. 25, the Super 8 website shows the rate falling to $77.05 with tax.
A manager at the Super 8 declined to speak with the American-Statesman.
The Super 8 isn't alone. Travelocity shows that a spot at the Staybridge Suites at 13087 U.S. 183 near Lakeline Mall can be had for $451 on Nov. 18.
Opt for the hotel's romance package, which includes sparkling wine, flowers and chocolates, and the cost could go as high as $835.
The next Sunday, the Staybridge Suites website indicates a similar room is $117 if paid for in advance.
Prices could change, though, as the race gets closer, according to the hotel's manager.
"Our rates haven't been set in stone yet," said Michelle Williams. "We're still trying to analyze the situation. What you see out there now may not be what we end up charging.
Rates, in part, are based on what rooms in Indianapolis went for when that city hosted F1, Williams said.
F1 attendees have already booked some rooms at the Staybridge Suites, according to Williams, and the hotel has had inquiries from several tour groups.
Posted F1 weekend rates at both the Staybridge Suites and Super 8 are about double what hotels, on average, charge during South by Southwest, according to Smith Travel.
During the 2011 festival, occupancy downtown, where the bulk of events takes place, hovered around 100 percent for nine straight days, with an average nightly rate of about $240.
Many larger hotels rely on computers to set rates based on complex algorithms, said Elliott, the consumer advocate, while prices at smaller motels are typically determined by the manager or owner. Either way, he cautioned hotel operators to be careful not to go too high.
"It's a little like playing a game of chicken," Elliott said. "You have a perishable commodity that expires on race day. If you have empty rooms, you lose."
Austin could use more hotel rooms, particularly downtown - not just for F1 but all year long, according to Denise Garcia, executive director of the Austin Hotel and Lodging Association.
"We certainly need another convention-style hotel," she said. "I definitely think Austin could support another large hotel with all the events we're seeing."
Several large hotels in the works in Austin will increase capacity, but they won't be completed for a year or more. A 1,000-room JW Marriott luxury hotel on Congress Avenue, for instance, isn't set to come online until early 2015.
Garcia said she expects most hotel rooms across the region to fill well before race weekend, but with this being the first race in Central Texas, there are a lot of unknowns.
"Folks are being proactive in getting their rooms early on," she said, "but it's hard to gauge right now what will happen."
The higher-than-normal rates extend well beyond the city limits.
Hotels.com indicates the Hampton Inn in Buda has rooms ranging in price from $407 to $529.
The Best Western in Lockhart is charging $450 and up for rooms on Nov. 18, according to BestWestern.com.
"It has been pretty steady in terms of inquiries, but not much yet in terms of bookings," said Robert Luna, a clerk at the Best Western. "People are comparison shopping right now. They're looking at prices throughout the area."
So will the hotel lower its rates to be more competitive?
"Nope," Luna said.
In New Braunfels, the Wingate Inn is offering a nonrefundable online rate of $323 for the night, or $380 for a cancelable reservation. Check in at the city's Econo Lodge if you're willing to pay $300 for the night.
The Hampton Inn, Econo Lodge and Wingate Inn didn't return telephone messages from the American-Statesman.
The prices in Buda, Lockhart, New Braunfels and other outlying communities are in many cases four to five times what travelers would normally pay, according to motel chain websites.
Tourism officials as far south as San Antonio and north to Waco are expecting an influx of F1 tourists, as well. Events in both cities, though, could eat into the number of available rooms.
Four conventions in San Antonio - all ending the day before the F1 race - will draw almost 7,000 attendees to downtown, potentially creating competition for rooms in the tourist-friendly Riverwalk area.
The Alamo City has 40,000 hotel rooms, according to the San Antonio Convention and Visitors Bureau.
"We are of course expecting it to be very beneficial, but it's too early to tell what the exact results will be," said Casandra Matej, executive director of the bureau.
"We are starting to see limited leisure demand from Europe, and we are facilitating meetings between the Circuit of the Americas staff and our hotel community to ramp up."
In San Antonio, on the low end, rates at the Red Roof Inn on Interstate 10 East start at $49 on Nov. 18. A Travelodge and Super 8 on the Riverwalk top Travelocity's list, coming in at $238.
Folks willing to make the nearly two-hour drive from Waco to the track site in southeastern Travis County can get prices as low as $38 at the Knights Inn on I-35. The priciest room on Travelocity is $254 at the Courtyard by Marriott near downtown.
Waco has about 4,000 rooms for rent, city figures show. A Baylor football game is scheduled for Nov. 17, drawing as many as 50,000 fans, many of them out-of-towners in need of lodging. That threatens to make space scarce for F1 fans.
There is still hope for the budget-conscious. Not all Austin-area hotels and motels have raised their prices - at least not yet.
At Motel6.com, seven of the region's 10 Motel 6 locations still show openings, starting at $38 for a bed in San Marcos and going all the way up to $66 for a spot near I-35 and Oltorf Street.
email@example.com; 912-5987
Well, looks like the PSL/Season Ticket Pricing surveys are going out. Just completed mine.
Also, here's the latest COTA time-lapse, posted today:
ETA: For some reason that youtube video "has been removed by the user". Weird. Still works at the COTA FB page though: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v...type=2&theater
Last edited by wood; 02-22-2012 at 10:49 AM.
I took a bunch of construction photos yesterday morning & posted them to the FB page:
I'm just now getting around to posting some samples here. Enjoy:
The Media center on the left, then the west and east ends of the Pit/Paddock building:
Connecting the ends of the Pit/Paddock complex:
The Media Center:
Work on the Medical Center is just beginning:
East end of the Pit/Paddock and the Medical Center:
Pit/Paddock viewed from out around Turn 11 hairpin:
The "Longhorn Straight":
Turn 10 (downhill 130R?):
Trucks coming down from Turn 10 to the hairpin, delivering their loads, then returning home along the Longhorn back straight:
You're doing it wrong. Rookie.
Last edited by wood; 02-24-2012 at 10:36 PM.
AustinRaceHotels.com (@AustinRaceHotel) posted 18 new photos last night from her COTA tour of Monday afternoon.
From the front of the Pit/Paddock looking toward Turn 1:
Standing at Turn 11 looking down the back straight toward the stadium section:
From Turn 1, looking at the Medical Center, Pit/Paddock, and prep for Main Grandstand construction:
From the parking lot area looking to Turn 1:
How the hell are they going to get that race ready by November?
Very bad news. Please keep this gentleman in your thoughts & prayers:
By Patrick George | Tuesday, February 28, 2012, 03:49 PM
A man has suffered critical injuries after a tractor rolled over onto him at the Formula One construction site in Travis County, officials said.
Austin-Travis County EMS spokesman Warren Hassinger said multiple units, including an ambulance and a StarFlight helicopter, are on the way to the site. The man, reported to be 30 years old, went into cardiac arrest, Hassinger said. His condition is unknown, as are the circumstances of the incident.
Check back for more details.
According to 10PM local TV news reports, he is still in critical condition. They showed video of the patient being wheeled from a StarFlight MedEvac helicopter into the ER at Brackenridge Hospital. No chest compressions were being perfomed and the Flight Nurse was supporting his respiratory efforts with a BVM. Hopefully these are good signs. Hope for the best.
Here's the latest update from the Statesman, 10:25PM:
BTW, I pushed these to the back burner yesterday due to the accident news, but I took a bunch of construction photos Monday morning. Any of you who follow my twitter feed (@austin_f1) may have already seen them, but for those of you who haven't, here they are:
For those of you not on Facebook, here are some highlights:
The east half of the Pit/Paddock Building, the media Center, and the beginnings of the Main Grandstand:
Grandstand construction going vertical on the west end near the Media Center:
Media Center and west end of Pit/Paddock Building:
East half of the Pit/Paddock Building:
East end of Pit/Paddock and the Medical Center:
Medical Center:
"The Wall"...LOL:
Scraper making the steep Turn 1 climb:
Turn 11 Hairpin ( R), Turn 10 (L), and the Longhorn Straight:
Hairpin & Longhorn Straight:
The Hairpin is pretty tight:
Longhorn Straight. Yesterday's accident likely happened somewhere in the area beyond & right of the straight in this photo:
Love the elevation:
Here's the latest accident news from KXAN, including a report of OSHA investigating today at the site:
Man, when this is all done, this is going to be a gorgeous circuit! Can't wait for all the racing that will be coming our way!
Here's an update on construction and Tuesday's critically injured worker:
...and here are 8 nice new COTA construction photos via @StatesmanF1's Facebook page:
Just landed at ABIA and flew by the site on final... It's looking good.
This $#@!'s gettin' real now:
Hellmund sues Circuit of The Americas investors, may seek to regain control:
Sounds like Tavo wanted a 25% stake in the COA and a 500k salary.... all without putting any of his own money in the project. That's pretty absurd.
As much as Tavo said he wanted an F1 race in his hometown, he seems to be doing everything possible to kill it.
and technically he's brought $0 to the table since the METF has rescinded it's previous offer to front the $25M ahead of time.
I just finished reading the Hellmund v. Accelerator Holdings legal petition. Some of you might be surprised by its contents. The latest COTA update from AutoWeek has a copy of it as well...
Here's the direct link to the petition:
BTW, for any of you who are interested in this case but don't have the time and/or the inclination to read all of it, I've made a sort of "Cliff's Notes" version of the Hellmund v. Accelerator petition. I've hit most of the high points and included some relevant quotes and paraphrased in other places. It's by no means comprehensive, but you should get a decent overview...
~ Hellmund had a 10-year agreement with FOM to hold the USGP in Austin.
~ A "Company Agreement", entered into in December 2010, "required Epstein/McCombs to provide the funding" for the COTA circuit Hellmund had designed. The agreement established Hellmund as the only Class C manager, with a 10-year contract for employment as the Chairman of the FIA Formula 1 United States Grand Prix, with a yearly salary of $500,000.
~ "The sole basis of Epstein/McCombs' approximately 75% stake in the Company was their promises to fund it, not borrow against Hellmund's assets."
~ "The Company Agreement requires that Hellmund use his best efforts to assign the
F1 Contracts to the Company only if Epstein/McCombs provide or raise $190 million of funding by March 31, 2011. However, Epstein/McCombs failed to commit the required funding by the deadline, thereby absolving Hellmund of any obligation to assign the Fl Contracts. Indeed, Epstein/McCombs missed the funding deadline by nearly six months, reporting they obtained the required funding on September 13, 2011. Even then, Epstein/McCombs refused to provide the documentation (e.g., commitments) of the funding necessary for Hellmund to assign the Fl Contracts."
~ "Epstein/McCombs finally notified Hellmund, albeit six months late, that they had secured the $190 million in funding. However, Epstein/McCombs still refused to
provide Hellmund with any verification of the allegedly binding commitments for funding, which meant that the F1 Contracts could not be assigned. Ecclestone, the F1 head, himself made this abundantly clear in a letter to Hellmund: "I made it clear that the proposed circuit where you want to conduct your event, needed to provide an executed construction contract, proof of financial strength and that I required this documentation . . . . " In that same letter, Ecclestone aptly acknowledged that these "repeated failures" were "perhaps not of [Hellmund's] doing." Hellmund relayed this message to Epstein/McCombs to no avail. Epstein/McCombs still did not provide the necessary verification of the funding despite promises they would do so, jeopardizing
Hellmund's ability to assign the F1 Contracts to the Company and/or its subsidiaries."
~ METF funding was negated by the COTA investors' refusal/inability to pay $4M to the METF to trigger the advance reimbursement payment, after COTA had excluded Hellmund from making the payment himself. They then plead ignorance. Company attorney Richard Suttle weighed in: "I am a little astounded that with all the work that has gone into
this issue, along with all the conversations and documentation that has occurred, that there can be any confusion about COTA's commitment to fund the $4mil." The investors ignored Suttle. The $4M was never paid. The guaranteed $250M ($25M x 10 years), arranged by Hellmund, was lost.
~ "the F1 Contracts could not be assigned until the Company:
(1) paid the $23 million sanctioning fee (which could no longer be paid from the METF),
(2) provided verification of binding commitments for construction funding (specifically $190 million which was now 4 months overdue), and
(3) provided a revised construction schedule.
Epstein/McCombs did not pay the sanctioning fee, never provided verification of the
funding (even after they claimed to have raised the $190 million six months after the deadline), and did not provide a revised construction schedule"
~ "Epstein/McCombs' refusal to pay the sanctioning fee under Hellmund's
F1 Contracts resulted in the termination of those contracts and new and more expensive contracts for the Company. The new F1 contracts required additional guarantees for future races, something not required in the original F1 Contracts. Additionally, due to Epstein/McCombs' substantial delay in paying the sanction fee, the Company owed late fees to Formula 1.
77. During Epstein/McCombs' well-publicized standoff with Ecclestone, it IS no
surprise Comptroller Combs announced that the State would not advance COT A any METF funds and would only consider releasing funds after a race occurred.
78. Again, Epstein/McCombs' gamesmanship (or lack of experience) destroyed
significant benefits for the Company- they lost the committed METF funding while having to ink a new, more expensive Formula 1 contract."
~ COTA construction was underfunded from the start, and suffered repeated delays due to lack of funding & mismanagement by COTA investors. The entire project has been delayed & endangered by this underfunding and mismanagement. The investors also concealed the lack of funding from Hellmund.
~ "With no construction funding in place, Epstein/McCombs repeatedly entered and amended limited contracts with the construction company to proceed in small phases based on short-term personal guarantees. Epstein/McCombs concealed from Hellmund these construction schedule changes and the lack of funding."
~ Attempting to secure construction loans, Epstein & McCombs attempted to leverage Hellmund's own asset (F1 race rights) for construction loans without using any of their own assets.
~ Epstein misled Hellmund regarding the nature and soil quality of the COTA land and the size and nature of natural gas pipelines running beneath it.
~ COTA investors agreed in writing on September 29, 2011 to an $18M buyout of Hellmund, relieving him of his position, his stake in the company, and of the F1 rights and rights to the MotoGP race at Circuit of the Americas. They have since refused on multiple occasions to honor the agreement at scheduled closings and have not paid Hellmund his salary.
~ "Hellmund has not quit, nor has he been terminated. In fact, he continues pursuing the Company's best interests as Chairman and has actively sought - but has been foreclosed from - more involvement."
~ Epstein & McCombs attempted 3 times in 2 months recently to illegally remove Hellmund from his position as Manager, but "No matter how many notices they sent or meetings they held to attempt the same unlawful removal, EpsteinlMcCombs failed every time for the same reason: the Company agreement requires Class C member approval and they never had it."
~ Epstein & McCombs have repeatedly refused Hellmund access to financial records, despite written requests.
~ Allegations, even an admission that at least one or more associates of Epstein's repeatedly & maliciously tampered with Hellmund's Wikipedia page in an attempt to discredit & marginalize him.
~ Hellmund turned down an offer to lead the New Jersey F1 Grand Prix of America effort
~ "Hellmund offered to buyout Epstein to salvage his dream. Although agreeing that a buy-out of one of the members might be necessary, Epstein responded: "There is no . . . way I'll let Tavo Hellmund buy me out."
~ Hellmund has invoked a buy/sell clause in the agreement, apparently desiring to buy McCombs' share of the company.
Damn, what a mess. I don't know what to think as far as all the ownership/mgt crap
I just hope they build a kickass track/ facility and pull this thing off. In the back of my head I have a feeling that race day is going to approach and this thing is going to be no where close to ready
Is that Tavo's side of the story?
Super cliffs notes: Epstien and McCombs are giant asses and wanted to build this without risking any personal capital.
Didn't someone earlier ask about the MotoGP rights? This SportRider article confirms what I thought. COTA has not secured the MotoGP race rights. I hope they do so soon!
Tavo Hellmund, the racing promoter credited with envisioning and then creating the framework for the Austin F1 race through his contacts within the racing industry—including F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone—has filed suit against his former financial partners in the Austin venture...
...his longstanding motorsports contacts that enabled him to land a contract for a Formula One race in the Austin area (in addition to MotoGP and Australian V8 Supercars races in 2013), was pulled out from under him via "an improper and unlawful takeover" by McCombs/Epstein "withholding…promised funding." The suit states that Hellmund offered McCombs and Epstein 75 percent of the venture in exchange for financial backing, but when they failed to pay Ecclestone the required $23 million fee for the original F1 race contract in September of last year, that contract Hellmund negotiated was cancelled (this theoretically put McCombs and Epstein in the driver's seat for a new contract that wouldn't include Hellmund…but it ended up resulting in a protracted stalemate with Ecclestone, who is a longtime friend of Hellmund's, that was only saved at the last second).
...the significance of this brouhaha in Texas is that Hellmund still holds the MotoGP contract that was announced with much fanfare back in April 2011. Thus with this latest move, unless he signs it over to COTA or someone else in much more favor with current COTA management, the chances of the 2013 debut of MotoGP in Austin are pretty darn slim.
Hellmund in P1 to be Allsport boss?
This could be great for COTA, assuming they make things right. It could never hurt to have someone on your side in a senior F1 position.
which implies that they have the motogp rights because they apparently have the f1 rights.COTA investors agreed in writing on September 29, 2011 to an $18M buyout of Hellmund, relieving him of his position, his stake in the company, and of the F1 rights and rights to the MotoGP race at Circuit of the Americas. They have since refused on multiple occasions to honor the agreement at scheduled closings and have not paid Hellmund his salary.
Home ..
Advertise ..
ShaggyShop ..
Football .. Basketball .. Baseball .. Other Sports .. RC Didn't Offer .. Gamboool
Varsity .. Hole in the Wall .. PCL .. Einstein's .. Nasty's .. GM Steakhouse .. NSAA
Bada Bing .. Can you help me with this? .. Shagslist .. Cloak Room .. Classics .. Bellmont


text:
You may be trying to access this site from a secured browser on the server. Please enable scripts and reload this page.
This page location is:
Chapters Site
Central Iowa
Sign In
Central Iowa
Currently selected
About Us
Training & Events
Chapters Site
Central Iowa
Upcoming Events
8/31/2015 - 9/1/2015
Prepaid Monthly Member Program
10/6/2015 - 10/9/2015
St. Louis IIA Courses
5/31/2016 - 6/1/2016
Presentation Schedule
Current News
Wednesday, April 01, 2015
March 2015 New Members
Wednesday, April 01, 2015
April 2015 Member Anniversaries
Sunday, March 01, 2015
February 2015 New Members
Sunday, March 01, 2015
March 2015 Member Anniversaries
Thursday, February 05, 2015
February 2015 Member Anniversaries
Page Image
Page Content
About This Chapter
Established in 1970, the mission of the Central Iowa Chapter is to "Service our membership by providing educational and networking opportunities and promoting the internal audit profession." In support of this mission, we currently offer monthly meetings from September through May and offer at least one fall and one spring seminar each chapter year. We also offer periodic networking opportunities, such as hosting outings to various sporting events, wine tastings and dinner events.
The Central Iowa Chapter's 300 members include new and seasoned professionals representing local, national and international businesses across 70 industries and 6 states. However, our Chapter's members are primarily employed in the banking, financial services and insurance industries within central Iowa, with a significant portion also employed by local, state, federal and Native American Tribal governments. Our chapter strongly encourages professional development within the internal audit profession, as can be evidenced by 40% of our members holding at least one IIA designation.
The IIA on Twitter
Tweets by @TheIIA
Join Our Community
Become a Member Today
Visit Our Facebook Page
Join Our LinkedIn Group
Follow Us On Twitter
Quick Links
President's Message
IIA Products & Services
Chapter Newsletters
IIA North America
Image Viewer
Content Editor [1]
IIA Home
Privacy Policy

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Plus Blog
February 16, 2009
Monday, February 16, 2009
Post-Valentine's mathematical love
We're not sure if they've got Internet access on cloud 9, but for all the loved-up Valentines out there, as well as for those who are wondering what has gone wrong, here are some mathematical musings on love...
And to make sure that your special someone doesn't forget you, how about a mathematical serenade...
posted by Plus @ 10:45 AM
0 Comments:
February 10, 2009
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
The agony and ecstasy of risk statistics
Last week the chairman of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs caused outrage by claiming that ecstasy was no more dangerous than horse riding. But what does "dangerous" really mean, and how is our perception of risk influenced by morality? David Spiegelhalter, Professor of the Public Understanding of Risk at the University of Cambridge, investigates in his guest column in the Times.
David Spiegelhalter runs the Understanding Uncertainty website, which explores matters of risks and uncertainty, and also has his very own column in Plus.
Labels: Health and medicine
posted by Plus @ 5:19 PM
2 Comments:
February 5, 2009
Thursday, February 05, 2009
The mathematics behind the Complicite production
Mathematics takes to the stage with A disappearing number, a work by Complicite, inspired by the mathematical collaboration of Hardy and Ramanujan. Plus spoke to Victoria Gould and Marcus du Sautoy about the mathematical and creative process of developing this show.
This podcast accompanies the career podcast with Victoria and the article A disappearing number from issue 49 of Plus.
Labels: podcast
posted by Plus @ 3:07 PM
0 Comments:
February 3, 2009
Tuesday, February 03, 2009
What can we learn from the British successes at the 2008 Olympics? Over the last few years in the lead-up to the London 2012 Games, there has been a massive influx of money and enthusiasm in the UK into Olympic sports and infrastructure. Other countries have shown similar improvement ahead of hosting the game. So is Britain's triumph an early result of the home advantage? And how will Britain perform in 2012?
Labels: sports
posted by Plus @ 2:38 PM
0 Comments:
February 3, 2009
Tuesday, February 03, 2009
What would you like to know about your Universe?
This poll is now closed. The most popular question was "What happened before the Big Bang?". We will publish an article and a podcast with an answer in the middle of March. At the same time we will launch our next Universe poll, so watch this space.
Do you ever look at the night sky and wonder where it all comes from, where it is going and what we are doing right in the middle of it? Do you wonder if there's life out there, or why the sky isn't bright with all the stars that are in it?
If yes, then now's your chance to put your questions to world-leading astronomers and cosmologists, including Astronomer Royal Martin Rees and author and cosmologist John D Barrow. From now until the end of the year Plus will hold regular online polls to find out what your most burning questions are, and do our best to find an answer with the help of experts in the field. You'll be able to read and hear what they have to say in Plus articles and podcasts, and there'll be plenty of room for discussion on our blog.
Our first online poll — one of a total of seven — opens today. It will remain open for a month and we'll publish the answer to the question that proves most popular in the middle of March. This is your chance to get involved with the most fascinating science of them all (except for maths of course), and it's our contribution to the International Year of Astronomy 2009. So get voting now, and if your question isn't on the list above, send it to us in a comment on this blog, and we'll include it in the next poll. Happy voting!
Labels: IYA2009
posted by Plus @ 3:47 PM
23 Comments:
January 29, 2009
Thursday, January 29, 2009
You've got two more months to join our maths writing competition, the Plus new writers award 2009.
We are looking for the science writers of the future, who can make mathematical subjects lively and interesting for a general audience. Whatever your age or background, if you've got a favourite bit of maths you think the world should know about, then we want to read about it. If you're a teacher or lecturer, then pass this link on to your students — there are special categories for secondary school students and university students.
Winning entries will be read by an international audience of over a hundred thousand in the June 2009 issue of Plus, and the winners will receive an iPod, subscriptions to the journal Nature, and signed copies of popular maths books by some of the best science writers today.
The closing date is March 31st 2009.
If you think you can share your passion for maths with the general public, visit the competition page and get writing!!
The competition is kindly supported by the Maths, Stats and Operational Research Network, a Subject Centre of the Higher Education Academy.


text:
Flushing, NY (Sports Network) - Ike Davis hit a pair of homers, including the game-winning blast in the ninth, and the New York Mets edged the Houston Astros, 2-1, in the finale of a three-game set at Citi Field.
The Mets led 1-0 entering the ninth, but Houston was able to tie it up when Marwin Gonzalez doubled to left field to score Jose Altuve. Altuve got on base with a pinch-hit single then stole second before Gonzalez sent one down the left field line. Lucas Duda made a sliding attempt but couldn't hold on, allowing Altuve to score easily.
Ben Francisco followed with a single to left but Gonzalez was cut down at the plate after Duda delivered a strike and Kelly Shoppach blocked the plate.
"I mean I had to (block the plate), I had to do something," Shoppach said. "I had to stop him somehow with the game that tight."
Bobby Parnell (3-3) picked up the win after recording the final two outs in the ninth.
Jeremy Hefner started for the Mets and allowed one run on five hits and struck out seven over eight-plus innings.
"I felt good, pretty much everything was working," Hefner said. "I battled and made pitches when I had to. They were really aggressive and I tried to use that to my advantage."
New York took the final two games of this series after losing six straight.
Wilton Lopez (5-2) took the loss after giving up Davis' second homer.
Lucas Harrel tossed seven innings of one-run ball for the Astros, who have lost nine of their last 10 overall. He gave up just two hits, including Davis' first homer, and struck out seven.
"I felt like I was working quick and keeping the ball in the zone," Harrel said. "The defense played really well."
Davis cranked his first homer into the second deck in right field in the fourth.
The Mets won their first home series since taking two of three from the
Philadelphia Phillies July 3-5 ... Prior to the game the Mets recalled Duda
from Triple-A Buffalo and optioned Jordany Valdespin to Buffalo ... Houston is
1-7 since Tony DeFrancesco took over as manager after the firing of Brad


text:
Chad Abshire
Staff Writer
PIKEVILLE, Ky. — Country Star Justin Moore will bring his "Outlaws Like Me" tour to the Eastern Kentucky Expo Center in Pikeville on March 14, at 7:30 p.m.
Moore is coming off of the release of his latest album which bears the name of his tour, "Outlaws Like Me," which was certified gold. His single "Till My Last Day," hit number one on both Mediabase and Billboard country music charts.
The three-act show will feature two special guests, Dustin Lynch and Jon Pardi.
Lynch saw his debut single, "Cowboys and Angels," peak at number two and was one of the most played songs on 2012, according to a news release from the Expo Center. His current single, "She Cranks My Tractor," is at number 26 on the charts after being out for six-weeks.
Pardi has won critical acclaim in Nasvhille, Tenn., and had his debut single, "Missing You Crazy," hit the top 20 in November.
Tickets go on sale Friday, Feb. 8. and can be purchased at the Expo Center Box Office all Ticketmaster locations, online at www.ticketmaster.com, or by phone at 800-745-3000.


text:
Does Taylor Lautner Have a Girlfriend?
UPDATE: Sorry! It sounds like Tay may be off the market right now. He was spotted kissing a pretty brunette at a July 4 party, and Page Six said the woman looked like his Tracers co-star Marie Avgeropoulos. On July 29, Taylor and Marie were photographed holding hands in New York City. So it sounds like Tay may indeed be dating his new co-star.
Original story, from March 2013:
The shirtless wonder with the megawatt smile is still on the market!
Twilight alum Taylor Lautner, 21, recently had dinner with Pretty Little Liars star Ashley Benson (Hanna) but there's no need to read into that.
Taylor was at the launch of Ryan Seacrest Foundation's Seacrest Studios, an in-house multimedia center inside Children's Hospital of Orange County, and he answered some questions from fans at the hospital. (Because he wasn't enough of a sweet superhero!)
A young fan cut to the chase and asked if he had a girlfriend. Taylor laughed and said, "The answer is actually no. No, I'm actually single."
Should he go back to December Taylor Swift, or is that over over? Who should he date next, or should he stay away from the Hollywood dating scene?
Source: RyanSeacrest.com


text:
Now Playing
Loading streams...
Connect with Us
Podcasts & RSS Feeds
|All Content
|View all podcasts & RSS feeds
Rising Interest Rates Worry Banking Industry
Originally published on Wed July 17, 2013 5:08 am
By Jim Zarroli
Five years after the start of the financial crisis, the U.S. banking industry continues to earn strong profits. On Tuesday, Goldman Sachs became the latest big bank to report better than expected earnings. But rising interest rates mean a riskier environment for banks.


text:
McCoggins needs help fixing the chime time clock, and the Tickety twins want to lend a hand, but not before they spring into action to help Hopparoo and Madame Au-Lait!
The clock ticks for Tickety Toc only on Nick Jr.
It's almost Chime Time so Tommy and Tallulah have to hurry to the clock house! Oh no, the clock is broken! McCoggins can fix it, but he needs help finding cogs and tools. Will your child help him? Let�s go! On your way to the clock house, help Tommy and Tallulah find yellow, green, and blue springs for Hopparoo, ingredients for Madam Au-Lait's oaty cake, and McCoggins' lost tools! Use the left and right arrow keys on the keyboard to run and press the space bar to jump. Run over items to collect them. Be sure to jump over the spring chicks and catch a ride in bubbles. Each level is easy peasy, so play to the end!
Parent Tip: Play again to help your child collect more cogs. Don't forget to click the blue button at the end to print a Tickety-tastic coloring printable.
Give Blaze and AJ the speed they need to win the race against Crusher!
Dive into the deep with Dora to retrieve the stolen treasure.
The race is on to stop Crusher from taking Gaby's tools
The race is on! Help Nick Jr. pals collect party favors in time for the fiesta
Meet Dora's new friends and discover the secrets of her new city!
Kids can learn how to be super sorters by helping the pups save the crops!
Gather up your cowboys & cowgirls & let them saddle up for Dora's big horse race
Dora's on a musical mission to get to the rockin' party at Benny's barn!
Help the pups save their friends around Adventure Bay!
Kids can play six games in one with Todee, Muno, and the rest of the Gabba gang
Join the team on their flag-collecting Grand Prix mission!
Collect the ingredients and create a ginormous pizza!
How many nuts can Peter and his pals catch? Play now to find out!
This high-flying adventure is out of this world!
Count with Dora and Perrito on their search for the puppies!
Up, up, and away--to save the baby dinosaurs!
Speed down the beach to the ferry with Team Umizoomi's supercharged friend
Island hop across the seven seas collecting treasure!
Ahoy, matey! Join Molly & Gil on their hunt for buried treasure
Kids cruise through the zoo and help find a friend for Monty the rhino
Collect super power shapes, avoid obstacles & speed past Dump Truck to win!
Race through the streets of Glendragon with Mike and his trusty steed!
Dan hops on a dino's back & races down a track to see which dino is the fastest
Find the missing books from Story Castle and rescue the famous Don Quixote!
Take off with the team! Speed by obstacles & robots in a race to the finish line
Go on a tour of Dora's house and find surprises through every door!
Kids help Dora save the Crystal Kingdom from the greedy king!
Help Dora vacuum the garbage on the beach so she can turn into a mermaid!
Help Dora explore the sea and get Maribel the mermaid back home!
The Wonder Pets need help saving baby animals!


text:
A staff ombudsman is an impartial dispute resolution practitioner whose major function is to provide confidential and informal assistance to staff members of the university. A visitor can discuss issues and concerns with the ombudsman without committing to further disclosure or any formal resolution.
The primary responsibility of the staff ombudsman is to provide classified and unclassified staff at all eight campuses with an informal and confidential means for discussing and addressing an issue of concern without fear of reprisal. As a neutral party, the ombudsman is neither an advocate for an individual or the university, but rather one who acts as a source of information and referral; aids in answering individual's questions; and assists in the resolution of concerns and critical situations. Faculty who have workplace concerns should contact Sue Averill, Associate Provost at 330-672-2220.
What Does a Staff Ombudsman Do?
At Kent State the Staff Ombudsman's duties include:
- Assists in identifying and evaluating options for resolution with all parties involved;
- Acts as a trained mediator who can facilitate in problem-solving and conflict resolution;
- Being familiar with university resources to assist employees, including policies and procedures and the employee assistance program; and
- Providing referrals to other resources.
How Do I Contact the Staff Ombudsman?
Karen Watson is the Staff Ombudsman at Kent State University. Her office is located in Heer Hall. You can reach Karen at 330-672-4636 or email@example.com. All information discussed with the Staff Ombudsman will be kept confidential.


text:
- Contact Sales
+1 877 263 8277
|Document / Article
|Document Type
|Jul 24, 2015
|DG Khan Cement Co. Ltd. Supports Business Growth with NetApp Hybrid Storage ...
|Customer Story
|The Pakistani company accelerated database performance, saved 40% of disk capacity, and simplified data management within an environment featuring more than 20 modules of Oracle E-Business Suite and Oracle BI applications.
|Jul 20, 2015
|The Cordant Group choses NetApp's Cloud Clustered Data ONTAP operating system...
|Customer Story
|Cordant Group moved to an Amazon Web Services virtual private cloud environment running NetApp clustered Data ONTAP.
|Jul 09, 2015
|EOH Cloud Services Selects NetApp Clustered Data ONTAP to Provide Customers ...
|Customer Story
|Bring an award-winning cloud business to the next level with NetApp clustered Data ONTAP and benefit from massive gains in efficiency, performance, and availability.
|Jun 22, 2015
|Goodwill: Smart IT Decisions Aid People in Need
|Customer Story
|Goodwill SE Wisconsin was able to support retail and business operations and develop new inventory control system with FlexPod Datacenter and FlexPod Express solutions.
|Jun 15, 2015
|Atmosera Offers Clients Faster Performance and Increases Services Revenue ...
|Customer Story
|Atmosera provides high performance and reduced latency for clients with high I/O requirements by migrating their databases and virtual desktops to NetApp EF-Series flash arrays, which integrate into the existing NetApp SAN architecture.
|Jun 15, 2015
|NetApp Automates Infrastructure as a Service for Readily Available ...
|Customer Story
|At NetApp, the Information Technology team has standardized, virtualized, and automated the delivery of its on-premises infrastructure-as-a-service offering to the buisness. A key enabler is NetApp clustered Data ONTAP, which accelerates storage provisioning and enables automation.
|Jun 10, 2015
|Large Retailer Improves Pharmacy Service and Enhances Data Security
|Customer Story
|A large grocery retailer wanted to improve pharmacy customer service. A NetApp E-series storage solution enhances the security of customer data and provides the capacity needed for video surveillance data.
|Jun 07, 2015
|Global Retailer Supports Growth and Profitability While Improving Efficiency
|Customer Story
|A large retailer wanted to provide virtual desktops to 12,000 software development contractors 24/7/365, so the company migrated its virtual desktop environment and file shares to NetApp clustered Data ONTAP.
|Jun 04, 2015
|Sauber F1 Team Increases Efficiency and Productivity With NetApp as the ...
|Customer Story
|From engineering to the racing circuit: Sauber F1 team deploys NetApp storage infrastructure with MetroCluster and FlexPod.
|Jun 04, 2015
|Mantra Group: Power to Roam and Grow
|Customer Story
|Mantra Group delivers high-performance to its online reservation system by accelerating its Microsoft SQL Server database with a NetApp all-flash system with integrated data protection.


text:
Thursday, February 21, 2013
Charleston Southern University has named Doug Hunter Executive Director of the Christian Leadership Center. Hunter will take over the position on June 1.
Hunter is currently on the vice president's team for Leader-Led Movements with Cru (Campus Crusade for Christ International). He has been responsible for creating networks across the globe that equip and mobilize leaders in major cities to help leaders live out their Christian calling in their vocations.
Previously he was president and chief executive officer for Fellowship of Companies for Christ International which seeks to transform the world through Christ one company leader at a time.
FCCI also utilizes the brands Christ@Work (in the U.S.) and Crown Companies (in other countries).
He is an issue group leader for the second Global Think Tank on Business as Mission. The Think Tank will issue a report at the Global Congress on Business as Mission in Chiang Mai, Thailand in April 2013.
Hunter has also served with Business Partners International, Ravi Zacharias International Ministries, Media Asia and has led an independent elevator and escalator installation and maintenance firm and has owned a company specializing in accessibility equipment for the physically challenged.
"We are delighted to have Doug Hunter joining the Charleston Southern University family," said CSU president Dr. Jairy C. Hunter. "Doug is nationally known as an effective business Christian leader whose mission is to share God's love around the world. Doug's connections with other Christian leaders will be invaluable as we launch new programs in our Christian Leadership Center."
The Christian Leadership Center will be located in Charleston Southern University's new Christian Leadership Building, which is scheduled to open this spring. The new 26,500 square-foot facility signifies the University's commitment to faith integration and will include faculty offices, lecture halls and conference/seminar facilities space designed to enhance Christian worldview development on campus and in the greater community.
"God calls you into business and he uses that for his Kingdom purpose," said Hunter. "Charleston Southern University is committed to creating and sending out some of the best leaders in the world, operating from a biblical, Christian Worldview."
The Gazette is pleased to offer readers the enhanced ability to comment on stories. We expect our readers to engage in lively, yet civil discourse. We do not edit user submitted statements and we cannot promise that readers will not occasionally find offensive or inaccurate comments posted in the comments area. Responsibility for the statements posted lies with the person submitting the comment, not The Gazette.
If you find a comment that is objectionable, please click "report abuse" and we will review it for possible removal. Please be reminded, however, that in accordance with our Terms of Use and federal law, we are under no obligation to remove any third party comments posted on our website. Read our full terms and conditions.
© 2015 The Gazette an Evening Post Industries company. All Rights Reserved.
Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service, Privacy Policy and Parental Consent Form.


text:
Thank you. If a matching email exists we will send you an email in a few minutes with instructions on how to reset your password.
Don't forget to check your spam folder if you cannot find the email. For further assistance please contact us at firstname.lastname@example.com .Okay
Antique Prints, Inc.
Since 1970 Antique Prints, Inc. has been specializing in original engravings, lithographs and maps from the 17th to 19th century. Its nationally recognized print gallery in Delaware hosts a beautiful collection of fine prints and maps, vast in subject matter, which includes city views, Audubon Birds and Curtis Botanicals. Kerry & Brandon Case have worked hard with clients to provide magnificent decor and to maintain a strong collection of prints and maps in this unique art gallery.


text:
At the Center for Innovative Learning at Pinecrest school Friday, teacher Lisa Raiford talked with her middle school kids with special needs about World War II, dictatorships and how Hitler manipulated citizens into believing other citizens needed to be imprisoned and even killed in terribly large numbers.
The students were drawn into the discussion – how Japan and Italy also fought America and its allies during the war.
"I love what I do," said Raiford, who served as the 2012-13 Aiken County School District's Teacher of the Year.
One of five finalists for the 2013-14 S.C. Teacher of the Year, she was recognized at the State Department of Education banquet in Columbia Wednesday. Darleen Sutton, a Pickens County teacher, was announced as the state winner.
The event was wonderful, Raiford said. The finalists and nearly 80 other district teachers were welcomed so graciously and with appreciation for their work as educators, she said.
Earlier in the school year, Raiford attended a forum for all the district representatives. They readily discussed strategies and stories about their profession, which always evolves.
"I want our district teachers to enjoy what they do," she said, "and if they don't, they won't do their best and become stagnant. Teachers have to share and learn with the teachers around them."
Raiford enjoys that aspect of her career as much as she loves the classroom. In mid-April, more than 20 Aiken County teachers participated in sessions to become mentors for first-year educators. Their instructors were Jason Fulmer, a former Aiken County teacher who became the State Teacher of the Year 10 years ago, and Margo Gore, also a former Aiken district teacher of the year.
Fulmer works for the Center for Educator Recruitment, Retention and Advancement. Raiford plans to collaborate with him on some training opportunities across the state. Her ultimate goal is to augment her classroom experience by working with teachers who are struggling.
"I want to impact those teachers in a positive way," said Raiford. "If I can turn around a struggling teacher, that goes back to the students."
In her classroom, Raiford spends each day with children who have severe behavior issues. It takes a lot of hard work and has rewards, too.
"My enthusiasm has only grown over time," she said.
Notice about comments:
Aiken Standard is pleased to offer readers the enhanced ability to comment on stories. Some of the comments may be reprinted elsewhere in the site or in the newspaper. We ask that you refrain from profanity, hate speech, personal comments and remarks that are off point.
We do not edit user submitted statements and we cannot promise that readers will not occasionally find offensive or inaccurate comments posted in the comments area. If you find a comment that is objectionable, please click the X that appears in the upper right corner when you hover over a comment. This will send the comment to Facebook for review. Please be reminded, however, that in accordance with our Terms of Use and federal law, we are under no obligation to remove any third party comments posted on our website. Read our full terms and conditions.


text:
"RE-CESS!"I shall forever feel the thrill of those two syllables. The bell would ring, and a class nicely lined up two-by-two would race their way out of the building. At Lee Street School, even in the coldest weather, coats and sweaters piled up under the Ginko tree (whose fan-shaped leaves appeared in window-decorating collages every fall) that somehow grew in the concrete. I think I remember a boys yard and a girls yard, but sex segregation, based on the idea that boys were too rough, I assume, didn't really hamper the ramped up energy of every kid out there.
This is not politically correct to say, but I've observed that, boys and girls don't really play together that much except when so instructed after about first grade. When my own children were little, the boys and girls played similar games–I mean girls played football too, and boys played "store," but at a certain point the kids divided into boy groups and girl groups. My son's friends had a continual game of touch football that lasted at least through middle school. I'm not sure if either team actually ever scored. In about fourth grade small side groups began to form, whose members were busy perfecting the art of being mean.
So recess has its downside too, one that people concerned with bullying spend much time studying. As they should. Because even if kids don't physically hurt each other, bullying can leave scars. (I have written about bullying for McCalls Magazine, Child Magazine, Weekly Reader Current Health, and other magazines. I think it's an important issue.)
Still, an enormous amount of learning goes on in the schoolyard, and not all of it happens in the large and small muscles which learn to do things like jump and skip. During recess games, kids get their first practice in the fine art of negotiation. They learn spatial relations. Math skills (1 Mississippi, 2 Mississippi). They figure out how to fill time and begin to develop body clocks. Then we have the social skills (fine art of negotiation, part 2): if you're nice, you'll have lots of friends. Similarly, if you're mean in a certain way you'll have lots of friends too. Imaginations get stretched along with hamstrings. And, miraculously, the skills kids need to do well in academically (and on tests) get practiced too. Kids who pay heed to following rules, or just a conversation, are also learning to track words the way they will do when reading. Recess games hone a child's memory and help deepen the synapses in their developing brains.
The value of play became a hot topic again this past week first with an article in the New York Times, "The Effort to Restore Children's Play Gains Momentum" (http://tinyurl.com/4ntupwh) followed by a blog post by Lisa Belkin, "The Mess of Children's Play," (http://tinyurl.com/6k372yp). Ms. Belkin quotes the famous words of Captain Kangaroo (Bob Kesham): Play is the work of children. She could have added in Dr. T. Berry Brazelton, Dr. Spock, Tufts University's Child and Family Web Guide, Ellen Galinsky, and, no small potatoes here, The Nation Association for the Development of young children (http://www.naeyc.org) which has been fighting for recess for as long as I can remember.
With the spotlight again on the benefits of play for children of all ages, we can hope that more schools will take time to consider the equipment offered on their playgrounds. I hardly see see-saws anymore–and for good reason: child wanders under upper half and gets bopped in the head when that part comes down; child jumps on one end, sending child on other end catpulting into the air. Oh, I've seen a lot that isn't pretty. Also, for good reason all-wood play grounds have fallen out of favor. They rot, provide great nests for rats and other non-classroom animals, and give off big splinters.
With school budgets being cut all over, PTAs in many communities are rising to the challenge and purchasing as much outdoor equipment as they can for as much as they make through bake sales and other fundraising efforts.
So for you playgroung dreamers, here are some great, essential and well-priced pieces I've come across lately:
I used to think interlocking rubber mats made a great surface. In fact, I used to think pea gravel was terrific too. Interlocking rubber mats have a few advantages in that they come in colors and can be laid in a pattern formation that not only looks pretty, but can direct play in sometimes necessary ways. The blue room, for instance, can gather on the blue mats. I've come to believe pea gravel is dangerous and a last choice since if a kid falls hard and gets an open wound, gravel can be imbedded in the skin and need to be (ouch!) removed with a needed or tweezers
This rubber mulch is non-toxic, environmentally friendly, requires almost no maintenance. You can find it online at http://www.detailedplaypro.com/playground-surfacing.htm.
Even when they're outside, kids like to pretend they're inside. Yes, one would think, a strange play pattern. But it's developmentally right on target for preschoolers through elementary school.
I love this one.
OK. Totally impractical. But here's the URL for this cape cod at Playhouses.com: http://tinyurl.com/68fyg3f
Try this one instead:
This basic piece comes in four different designs. I've seen children use it to play store, fort, and post office (the I'm buying stamps kind, not the kissing version). I've also seen it used as a clubhouse–no boys allowed. You can find it at www.gametime.com.
Slides are necessary.
I've seen this set in a school yard outside of Boston as well as in New York City. This particular configuration is geared to 2-5 year old set. Especially cool are the numbers that children can spin and play with while waiting their turn. The company that makes this one, BYOplayground.com, has other configurations that work for older children–steeper slides, etc.
As are things to crawl through.
This one is from sitecreationsplayground.com. It's quite colorful and looks fun. However, I prefer when the sides of the tunnels are clear plastic so teachers and parents can keep an eye on what's going on inside. In your search, you'll probably come across some of those.
Finally, don't forget the jump ropes, balls and parachutes!
MySimon has good prices: http://tinyurl.com/5vnfxbb
Online you'll find companies in your area that will build you a nice-looking playground with terrific components. Always speak to the company on the phone before ordering anything beyond a jump rope. Ideally, the company will have local representatives who can look at your site and suggest the best use of space.
One final thought: play equipment is terrific. But if your budget doesn't allow anything fancy, believe me, a plot of grass will do just fine. The kids might go home with green knees, but that's just proof of all the work they've accomplished that day.


text:
Improve your mograph skills one day at a time with this 5-day motion graphics challenge—where you'll create an animated GIF each day!
Learn how to use BodyPaint, a subset of UV mapping and 3D painting tools in CINEMA 4D, to texture your 3D models.
Mograph veteran EJ Hassenfratz shows how to create playful bouncing logo animations using CINEMA 4D and After Effects.
Learn to create useful and unique camera movements (including moves from Hollywood classics) for any type of project with CINEMA 4D.
Learn how to create Hollywood-style movie trailer title sequences with CINEMA 4D and After Effects.
Learn how to create realistic product renderings for print and video advertising with CINEMA 4D.
Learn how to composite a 3D animated flag into a live-action shot using After Effects and CINEMA 4D.
Learn how to composite a 3D-animated flag into a live-action shot using Nuke and CINEMA 4D.
Learn how to create a dynamic ESPN-style animated graphic using CINEMA 4D and After Effects.
Learn how to create walk, run, and skip animations that give your character style and subtly move the story along.
Learn how to use CINEMA 4D dynamics to create physically accurate object animations, using real-world physics like gravity, collisions, and bounces.
Learn how to add a custom, motion-tracked logo to your show openers with After Effects and CINEMA 4D.
Learn how to add a custom, motion-tracked logo to your show openers with Nuke X and CINEMA 4D.
Learn how to create animated 2D elements in 3 dimensions, using CINEMA 4D and After Effects.
The founders of Tiny Inventions explain how their (tiny) two-person animation studio evolved and share the process behind their film Between Times.
Use CINEMA 4D's Dynamic module to animate falling coins that bounce and collide realistically, in this project-based course.
Take a reference photograph and create a model from its shapes and pieces with the primitive and spline modeling tools in CINEMA 4D and C4D Lite.
Create 3D objects in CINEMA 4D and seamlessly composite them inside a 2D project in After Effects, using the CINEWARE plugin.
Learn to rig and animate a 3D robotic arm in CINEMA 4D.
Use CINEMA 4D's sculpting tools to sculpt the head of an old man and paint a great-looking texture map with BodyPaint.
Create animated 3D type with a cracked and smoking look, using CINEMA 4D and After Effects.
Create exciting and complex camera movements with the combined power of After Effects, CINEMA 4D, and C4D Lite.
Learn how to model realistic 3D characters with the powerful and flexible modeling toolset in CINEMA 4D.
Model and animate a stylized 3D flower that grows and blooms over time, using the combined power of CINEMA 4D and Adobe After Effects.
Learn to create rope, cable, hair, and string-like effects that lead to realistic motion and elasticity with C4D's Dynamics module.
Reviews the most exciting new features in C4D R15, including rendering improvements, kerning controls, beveling, and changes to the sculpting engine.
Chris Korn, character designer at FUSE Animation, explains how he brings his creatures to life with CINEMA 4D and Zbrush.
Learn to light diffuse, reflective, and transparent objects in CINEMA 4D.
Learn how to use the CINEMA 4D MoGraph module to control and morph particles.
Create a product endpage for a commercial that combines live-action footage and 3D animation in After Effects and CINEMA 4D, in our latest motion graphics course.
Add realism and character to your 3D models with materials in CINEMA 4D.
Shows how to create a bumper graphic and an identity spot that are animated to music, and transition the tools and techniques to your own projects.
Harness the power of the CINEMA 4D MoGraph module to create complex animations with only a couple of keyframes.
Introduces advanced features of the CINEMA 4D rendering and lighting toolsets.
A series of creative techniques featuring short projects using After Effects and CINEMA 4D.
Spotlights the R13 update for CINEMA 4D, which includes some key improvements in the rendering, shader, and character tools.
Demonstrates how to render an animation in CINEMA 4D and apply two different visual styles in After Effects.
Shows how to create a 15-second promotional video that looks and feels like a professional advertisement.
Paced comfortably for beginners, this course also reveals numerous advanced tricks and techniques.
"Words cannot express how much you people at lynda.com have changed my life. I have learned more than I could have from reading books." —Joseph A.
more from our members »


text:
A quality baby bedding set is essential in making your nursery warm and inviting. All N. Selby patterns are made using the finest quality materials and are uniquely designed to create an elegant and sophisticated nursery. Lollipops & Roses is a graceful collection of pinks, cream, and tan. The 3 pc set includes fitted crib sheet, dust ruffle and coverlet. The dust ruffle is of pink shimmer and is accented with organza ribbon roses. Pink angel toile, cream minky, pink shimmer, and tan velvet come together in this stylish coverlet adorned with organza ribbon roses. Complete the bedding set with a natural floral print fitted sheet. Wash gentle cycle, separate, cold water. Tumble dry low or hang dry. This collection is perfect for your little girl. This set is combinations of cottons and polyester. NO BUMPER INCLUDED IN THIS SET.
3 Piece Set includes a coverlet, fitted sheet, dust ruffle - No BumperShipping Note: This item ships directly from the manufacturer within contiguous United States only. Cannot be shipped to AK/HI, PO boxes, US territories, or APO/FPO addresses.


text:
Tony Pulis has admitted he is eager to return to Premier League management after being strongly linked with Crystal Palace, but will only take on the "right" job.
The former Stoke boss is among the favourites to take over at Selhurst Park following Ian Holloway's departure at the start of last week.
Palace co-chairman Steve Parish admitted during the press conference to confirm Holloway's exit by mutual consent that Pulis would be the calibre of candidate they were interested in, and later confirmed he was planning to speak with the 55-year-old.
Pulis, who left the Britannia Stadium after seven years at the helm in the summer, would not be drawn on if any discussions had taken place with the Eagles and insisted that any return to management would have to suit all the parties involved.
He told Sky Sports News: "I've had a good break and I've enjoyed it. It has been lovely to be home with the family but I'm starting to get itchy feet.
"I think it has just got to be right, and it has got to be right for everybody.
"You talk about taking over at a football club if a club wants you, but it has also got to be right for the manager going in there.
"Whether it is clubs that people have talked about or not, it is just finding the right fit, and hopefully one of those will come along pretty quickly."
New Sky Bet customers: Claim free £5 bet every week


text:
Upload Photo
Back-to-school books for kids
Help your kids ease back into the school year with these fun, back-to-school books.
Newsday.com now uses Facebook for our comment boards. Please read our guidelines and connect your Facebook account to comment.
Get a $12 lobster picnic and more NYC food events One-tank beach getaways Peek into Long Island's most lavish homes 'Hunger Games' exhibit and more NYC weekend picks Hangin' in the Hamptons: July Puppy of the day: Adoptable dogs on LI 5 must-see spots along Oregon Coast Highway 101 Your pet photos: Adorable dogs, cats and more Puppies from Forgotten Friends of Long Island Puppies from Kent Animal Shelter in Calverton Victoria's Secret, Gap and more sales this weekend Best new outdoor dining spots in NYC


text:
Hello All
Whats the best way to aline and weld a UZI receiver ? I am building a SA mini from a full size kit. Would MIG welding be OK ? I want to make sure I get everything welded perfectly straight, like the feed ramp. ect. I have read all the tutorials, but none seem to cover alinement.
Thanks guys


text:
USB drives. Umbrellas. Keys. Textbooks. Photo IDs. So small, and so significant.
If you find something in the John C. Hitt Library that was left behind by someone else, you can do a favor for a fellow human being and turn it in at the Circulation Desk.
Conversely, you can check there if you have lost something. Hopefully, you will be the beneficiary of someone's good deed: a fellow Knight found your missing item and turned it in!


text:
Tennis Beaten by No. 49 VCU
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The West Virginia University women's tennis team was defeated by No. 49 VCU, 6-1, on Sunday afternoon at the Thalhimer Tennis Center.
"Despite what the score looked like, today was the first time during my time at WVU that we had our top four of lineup competing hard," Samara said. "Our top four girls fought for each and every point during their matches. They fed off of each other's in-match energy, especially the energy that Emily Mathis provided."
In doubles play, the Mountaineers earned a victory at the No. 2 spot, as Audrey Wooland and Mathis defeated Salome Kvitashvili and Olga Terteac, 8-5. Following WVU's win at No. 2 doubles, the Rams were able to lock up the doubles points with victories at No. 1 and No. 3 doubles.
"Emily and Audrey did a good job of getting a win at No. 2 doubles," Samara said. "We had a chance to get the doubles point, but we didn't play as well as we did yesterday in doubles. We were consistent, but we weren't able to execute during the crucial points in the match."
With VCU (8-3) carrying a 1-0 lead into singles play, the Mountaineers looked to regain momentum following doubles play.
With each of its top four players on the court simultaneously, WVU's Mathis gave the team a boost, as she scored a 6-2, 6-2 victory over the Rams' Olga Barscheuskaya.
"Emily played and battled just like she always does," Samara said. "She showed everyone what college tennis is supposed to look like. Each of the other three players fed off of the energy she provided on the court."
In the remaining matches, VCU got wins at No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3 singles, while the Mountaineers retired at the No. 5 and No. 6 singles positions.
"Today may be a turning point for our top four players," Samara said. "Each one of them looked like they genuinely wanted to make a change in the way that we conduct ourselves on the court. They competed hard. Despite what the scores may show, they played with pride and determination.
"We were not pleased with what we saw at No. 5 and No. 6 singles, and with the match clinched at this point, we decided to pull our players off the court."
WVU (1-5) returns to action next Saturday, as it travels to State College, Pa., for a matchup against No. 48 Penn State.
No. 1: Cindy Chala (VCU) def. Audrey Wooland (WVU), 6-0, 6-1
No. 2: Josefin Hjertquist (VCU) def. Hailey Barrett (WVU), 6-4, 6-0
No. 3: Salome Kvitashvili (VCU) def. Ikttesh Chahal (WVU), 6-1, 6-0
No. 4: Emily Mathis (WVU) def. Olga Barscheuskaya (VCU), 6-2, 6-2
No. 5: Yukako Noi (VCU) def. Vivian Tsui (WVU), 6-3, 1-0, ret.
No. 6: Karina Alesha (VCU) def. Irinka Toidze (WVU), 4-1, ret.
No. 1: Hjertquist/Chala (VCU) def. Barrett/Chahal (WVU) 8-3
No. 2: Mathis/Wooland (WVU) def. Kvitashvili/Terteac, 8-5
No. 3: Barscheuskaya/Alesha (VCU) def. Toidze/Tsui (WVU), 8-3
WVU Women's Tennis, Big 12 Women's Tennis, NCAA Women's Tennis
Men's Basketball: Bahamas Preview
Womens Soccer: Kadeisha Buchanan Press Conference
Big 12 Media Days: Dana Holgorsen
Women's Soccer: Amanda Hill and Mocha
Big 12 Media Days: Nick Kwiatkoski
Football: Dana Holgorsen on ESPN


text:
It's no surprise to those of us who watch fisheries issues closely here in Washington that fisheries have gotten pulled into the political fisticuffs over a hurricane Sandy aid package. The uninitiated casual observer might easily wonder what's fisheries got to do with Washington, and what's Washington got to do with fisheries? As Sera has pointed out in the past, the ties are intricate and long-standing.
It's unfortunate that funding fisheries disasters is being used to make a political point deriding Washington's love of "pork"; a claim that, as Matt has pointed out, is grossly inaccurate. Those who are claiming that providing federal funding for fisheries as part of an aid package directly meant to help victims of Hurricane Sandy (that's Sandy, not Isaac, or wildfires, or droughts or…) are frankly missing the forest for the trees.
There's no question that Hurricane Sandy was the biggest disaster of 2012. It was literally a freak of nature, and it caused widespread damage the like of which we've rarely, if ever, seen. As such, the demand for aid was met with little questioning; with such a wide range of impact, politicians from up and down the east coast were met with little resistance when they asked for help. Nor should they have been.
But just because Sandy was the biggest disaster, and the most riveting to watch unfold on TV, doesn't mean that other communities across the country suffered any less when disaster struck them. Unnoted by the national media, communities in Alaska suffered from disappearing salmon runs. In the Yukon River, a fishery generally valued at $1.5 million produced revenue of $0. This is a fishery that supports not only commercial and sports fishermen, whose businesses suffered from the disappearing fish, but subsistence fishermen, who suffer from the lack of food. As Alaska Senator Mark Begich tweeted in response to criticisms against "pork", "This is about food & survival, and it's serious."
Equally serious is the condition of the New England groundfish fishery, where disappearing cod is leading to deep quota cuts. The exact reason for the fishery's decline is unclear, but fishermen had been fishing according to science based catch limits, and pretty much all signs point to environmental causes, including changes in the ocean that are linked to climate change. Again, not a disaster noted by the national media, but that doesn't mean the suffering of those affected by it isn't all too real. In the words of Massachusetts Representative Ed Markey in the Martha's Vineyard Times, "this economic disaster is New England's underwater equivalent of a drought, where the drops in stocks of fish are causing serious economic harm to fishing businesses, their families, and their communities. These people need help."
A third disaster was declared in the Mississippi oyster and blue crab fisheries thanks to extreme droughts the year before. And when Hurricane Sandy hit, the Department of Commerce quickly granted fisheries disaster status to New York and New Jersey. It was the fourth, and certainly the biggest disaster. But do the people who suffered from it deserve aid any more than those who were already suffering?
The arguments of those who are insisting that this aid package is about Sandy and Sandy only have offered no good arguments as to why aid should be granted to the sufferers of one disaster, but not another. If the standard news cycle is any indication, Americans have short attention spans that are held by flashy things just until the next showy story comes around, be it a worthy topic like a natural disaster or gun control, or a lesser one, like the Bieb just being the Bieb.
In an editorial this week USA Today declared that states asking for funding that had nothing to do with Sandy should put their outstretched hands back in their pockets. And while beating the drum for federal spending cuts damn the consequences is certainly in-line with the mood in Washington, it ignores the fact that nature on steroids is in many ways a result of another area in which we're pretty out of control—fossil fuel consumption. As long as the government is subsidizing the activities that are leading to the unhinging of nature for the benefit of one part of the American public, spending a meager $150 million to help some of the American's whose lives are in upheaval as a result of these policies is the least they can do, whether that upheaval came in the showiest storm of the season or not.
In the joined voices of the Senators from New York and New Jersey, who are facing the challenges of rebuilding from a disaster first hand, "All disaster victims have a right to expect their government to help them rebuild, whether they live in Florida, Louisiana, North Dakota, New York or New Jersey."
Or Alaska. Or Mississippi. Or Massachusetts. Just sayin'.


text:
By all accounts, Quakes' forward sensation Chris Wondolowski has arrived late to the scene.
The soon-to-be 30-year-old has endured trials and tribulations to embrace his past three seasons. Drafted in Round 4 of the 2005 Supplemental Draft by the Quakes, Wondo managed a meager five minutes in his first campaign.
With the team's relocation to Houston, he played in 37 total MLS regular season games and netted four goals. Fast-forward to the three-year span from 2010 to 2012 and a national-team caliber striker has emerged.
Wondolowski's past three seasons have seen him score a record 61 goals in 90 MLS games for the Quakes. The awards have followed: three MLS Best XI's, two Golden Boot awards, and one Volkswagen MLS MVP award (2012).
Such a prolific scoring record has yet to translate into international success. Wondolowski is currently with the U.S. Men's National Team for their January camp and, under the watchful eye of head coach Jurgen Klinsmann, is eager to add his scoring prowess. With only eight caps to his name, Wondo is looking for another come the Jan. 29 friendly against Canada at Houston's BBVA Compass Stadium.
Both Klinsmann and Wondolowski discuss the current state of the January camp as well as Wondolowski's future ambitions with the team. Read the full story here.
Wondo joins Soccer Matters Podcast:
Chris Wondolowski's past three years have been nothing short of sensational. The Quakes' forward led his 2010 and 2012 teams to the MLS Cup playoffs as well as the 2012 Supporters' Shield.
On an individual level, Wondolowski's predatory instincts have been lethal. The Danville, CA native has registered 61 league goals in 90 MLS regular season matches in the past three years, an MLS record. The 2012 campaign, in particular, saw Wondo net a league-tying record of 27 goals. Such firepower earned Wondo a spot on the 2012 AT&T MLS All-Star squad, the 2012 Budweiser Golden Boot, and the 2012 Volkswagen MLS MVP award.
Wondo is now training with the U.S. Men's National Team ahead of the team's friendly against Canada on Jan. 29 at Houston's BBVA Compass Stadium.
Wondo joined the Soccer Matters podcast to discuss his success and his expectations for the seasons ahead. To listen to the podcast, click here.
Wondolowski and Omar Gonzalez discuss U.S. Men's National Team Camp:
The Quakes predatory finisher, along with the LA Galaxy's central defender Omar Gonzalez, took a break from training to discuss the progress of the U.S. Men's National Team January camp.
See the full video here.
Quakes' right back Steven Beitashour has returned to San Jose after picking up an injury at the U.S. Men's National Team Camp in Carson, CA.
Beitashour, entering his fourth year with the Quakes, had his best year to date in 2012. The wing back started 33 matches, registered 2955 total minutes, and netted six assists to help the Quakes' hoist their second Supporters' Shield trophy.
Beitashour's injury will require him to return to San Jose for further evaluation. The San Jose-native played through a sports hernia for the latter half of the 2012 season that ultimately required surgery.
Quakes' forward and 2012 Volkswagen MLS MVP Chris Wondolowski and 2012 All-Star defender Justin Morrow are still with the U.S. Men's National Team ahead of their Jan. 29 friendly against Canada at Houston's BBVA Compass Stadium.
For the full report on Beitashour's injury, click here.
Morrow and Beitashour at USMNT Camp
The U.S. Men's National Team's January camp is in full stride. A majority of MLS stars supplemented with young players plying their trade abroad compose the roster. Two Quakes in particular, Steven Beitashour and Justin Morrow, are proving to be inseperable around the Carson, CA training grounds.
San Jose's two offensive-minded wing backs are seeking their first full international cap ahead of the U.S. Men's National team match against Canada on Tuesday, Jan. 29 at Houston's BBVA Compass Stadium. Coming off of stellar MLS campaigns, the two 25-year-olds were instrumental in leading the Quakes to a franchise-best record of 19-6-9 and the club's second Supporters' Shield. Both participated against Chelsea FC in the 2012 AT&T MLS All-Star game.
With the Quakes' 2013 preseason officially beginning on Monday, Jan. 21, Beitashour and Morrow look to pick up where they left off in 2012. Now under the national team spotlight, Morrow's and Beitashour's stock continue to rise for a San Jose team that is eager to hoist the MLS Cup.
For the full story on Morrow and Beitashour, read here.
The 2013 MLS SuperDraft has come and gone and may have left MLS fans wanting more. Yet, the Quakes accomplished what they set out to. The 2012 Supporters' Shield winners entered the SuperDraft with two picks and utlized them both; picking standout Georgetown defender Tommy Muller and crafty left-footed University of San Diego midfielder Dan Delgado. While neither of these players were in Indianapolis, the two rookies enter the Goonies family with high hopes and aspirations.
Muller, a 5-foot-11 central defender, captained a Georgetown squad to unchartered territory - the program's first appearance in the NCAA College Cup final. The Altamonte Springs, Fla native was a three-year starter for the Hoyas, scoring four goals and recording four assists in 64 career appearances. His senior year efforts earned him a place on the All-Big East Third Team.
Similarly, Delgado arrives to the Bay Area with accolades abound from his efforts at the University of San Diego. Guided under the tutelage of the tenured USD head coach Seamus McFadden, Delgado took the West Coast Conference by storm, netting 15 goals and bagged 23 assists in 72 total appearances. His senior year was even more memorable; notching nine goals and 10 assists while being named to the NSCAA All-Far West Region First Team and leading his squad 2012 NCAA College Cup Quarterfinals.
Reflections on the SuperDraft have been widespread and altogether incongruent. While Muller and Delgado may not have earned the national recognition that some of the other draftees have, these two might parallel the 2010 SuperDraft "steals" that became 2012 MLS AT&T All-Stars Justin Morrow and Steven Beitashour. The Quakes added depth, intelligence, work rate, and skill with these two picks ahead of an elongated season that will include CONCACAF Champions League matches.
TopDrawerSoccer.com ranked the Earthquakes' draft day with the overall grade of a "B". Yet, the grade is one of the highest in the Western Conference. To see the complete list, click here.
WVHooligan.com also gave the Quakes a "B" ranking, in most part due to the strength of the returning nucleus of players. WVHooligan.com's full rankings are listed here.
Indianapolis will play host to the 2013 MLS SuperDraft, beginning at 8:54 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 17. The Quakes hold three picks in the draft: number 15, number 33, and number 34. Speculation has started to swirl around teams' upcoming decsions, especially Toronto F.C. who sits with the first pick.
While the Earthquakes are coming off their best regular season in franchise history, culminating with the club's second Supporters' Shield, the Quakes have traditionally used their picks to cultivate talent.
Media outlets have embarked on the typical practice of mock drafts. With six Generation Adidas prospects participating in this year's MLS Combine and all expected to be drafted in the first round, the majority of college seniors will fall late.
SoccerByIves Mock Draft:
Soccerbyives.net's latest mock draft has the Quakes utilizing all three picks; selecting West Virginia centerback Eric Schoenle, Creighton's attacking midfielder Jose Gomez, and New Mexico's forward Devon Sandoval. To find the entire mock draft, click HERE.
TheDailyWiz analyzes some of the sleepers that fell to the 31st pick and beyond in past drafts. As the Quakes hold number 33 and number 34, teams have found success drafting players late. These players have included Omar Cummings, Sinisa Ubiparipovic, and Nick LaBrocca. Read the full story HERE.
Wondolowski's Rise to Stardom:
What a year it has been for the Quakes' lethal finisher Chris Wondolowski? The striker netted a MLS record-tying and league-best 27 goals. A wealth of individual accolades followed. "Wondo" claimed the Budweiser Golden Boot award, was named an MLS All-Star, and garnered the 2012 Volkswagen MLS MVP award. The Danville, CA native couldn't have asked for much more.
When looking at Wondo's past, his journey to donning the number 8 has been a rollercoaster ride that would have directed many to seek other options. The 41st overall pick in the 2005 draft, Wondo netted only seven goals in his first six years in the MLS before transforming into the scoring-machine that the Quakes' faithful have become so accustomed to.
Soccer America's Mike Woitalla chronicles the early years of Chris and his family and Chris' ascendancy to become the league's most feared goal-scorer. To read the full story, click here.
Former Quake, Ryan Cochrane, joins Santa Clara's coaching staff:
Former Quakes defender, Ryan Cochrane, was named an assistant coach for his alma mater, Santa Clara University. Cochrane was selected by San Jose with the fifth overall draft pick in 2004 and would go on to have a nine year professional soccer career. The 29-year-old was previously an assistant with Wheaton College in 2011 and Trinity University in 2012.
Elliott Almond of the San Jose Mercury News wrote the full story which can be found here.
Bay Area's Top 10 stories from 2012
2012 has proven to be a memorable year for Bay Area sports fans. The Giants miraculously won their second World Series in three years. The A's were in first place in their division for only one day but it was the one day that mattered. The 49ers channeled the glory from the past years under Bill Walsh and nearly made the Super Bowl.
The Earthquakes, though, were no strangers to drama. Posting a league-best record of 19-6-9, the Quakes demanded that their fans stay at the game until the very end. The berth of the "Goonies" arose to the delight of the organization and the Quakes' faithful. A three-pronged attack from Chris Wondolowski, Steven Lenhart, and Alan Gordon led San Jose into the playoffs at times to the bewilderment of their Bay Area fans.
Daniel Brown of the San Jose Mercury News details the top 10 moments from 2012. Find the full article here.
One week ago, our country was shocked and overcome with grief as details of a tragedy in Newtown, Conn. came to light.
As Washington Post soccer writer Steve Goff reported today, the news was especially significant to Earthquakes forward Marcus Tracy. The former Wake Forest product grew up in Newtown and his mother used to teach at the elementary school where 26 people were shot and killed on Friday, Dec. 14.
Tracy, his brother and a group of friends decided they wanted to do something to represent their community and pay tribute to those who lost their lives. They produced an original song and tribute that you can see above. Tracy also emailed sjearthquakes.com the following statement:
"When CNN first stated how many people lost their lives, it was complete shock and disbelief. It was unfathomable to think that this happened in the same town I lived in for 18 years, two miles away, at the school my Mom once taught at. It's still hard to believe. It's a very real reminder whenever I leave the house and see all of the media, police from out of town and out of state, the volume of traffic; it's amazing, though, to see how the town has come together to uplift those most affected by the tragedy. It hurts you as a resident of Newtown that something like this could happen, so just try and imagine how parents, brothers, sisters and spouses are feeling right now. You can't; it's impossible. After days of grieving and trying to comprehend what the hell happened, me and a few friends got together to think about what we could do to help uplift this town and its people. So I turned to one of the only things (besides soccer) that I know and love: music.
I produce music as a hobby and have a production team with my brother and my friend, Anthony Santella. My brother is in Boston, so me and Anthony led the way. We produced the entire song together, but brought in a few of our other friends and created this video/picture montage tribute.
It was therapeutic for us, but also a means, we felt, to represent our town. Right now the whole world knows the town Newtown, CT for one reason only. But Newtown means something much more to each one of us. This is the only way we knew how to speak back to the community and the world that, yes, we were hit hard and suffered great loss, but we will bounce back. And also our way of recognizing and lifting up the 26 people who needlessly lost their lives that day."
The club's collective thoughts are with Marcus and Newtown during this holiday season.
Does it get any better than a seven-goal, multi-comeback California Clasico?
According to MLSsoccer.com, it doesn't. San Jose's 4-3 win against the LA Galaxy on June 30 at Stanford Stadium was the pick for Best Game of 2012. The match featured a pair of rallies - LA from 1-0 down to take a 3-1 lead and San Jose from 3-1 down to win 4-3 - as well as goals from some of the most recognizable faces in the league: Landon Donovan, David Beckham and, of course, Chris Wondolowski.
In a year filled with memorable games (aka Goonie moments), the stunner at Stanford Stadium tops the charts. However, let the debate begin for which game was second best.
Was it Steven Lenhart's 'Blond-Haired Bedlam at Buck Shaw' against the Chicago Fire on July 28, Alan Gordon's header to knock off LA at The Home Depot Center on May 23 or maybe the stoppage-time thriller against Seattle Sounders FC on Aug. 11? Vote now!


text:
YouTube started to display videos from partners at the top of the search results and in the right sidebar. For some reason, YouTube likes to call these videos "featured videos". According to the help center, "featured videos will be primarily populated with videos from YouTube's thousands of partners, but might also include select user videos that are currently popular or that we have previously showcased in Spotlight Videos. (...) Featured videos are not advertisements or paid placements, but do feature content from partners with whom we have a commercial relationship."
I think the terminology is misleading and it should've been replaced with something more explanatory like "videos from YouTube partners". And just because the videos are from YouTube partners, it doesn't mean they're more relevant than the "organic" results. YouTube's parent company doesn't have a special section in the search results for websites from Google's content network.
Besides earning revenue from advertising and being promoted on every YouTube page, partners have many other privileges: they can upload custom thumbnails, create branded channels and offer downloadable videos.
Workin' In A Cocktail Bar
4 hours ago


text:
August 4, 2015
BASTROP, Texas - Volunteers wanting to help restore trees to a wildfire-ravaged state park in Central Texas will get the chance this weekend.
Tree experts have spent the past year nurturing thousands of seedlings for Bastrop State Park, about 30 miles east of Austin. Historic wildfires claimed about 95 percent of the area's trees, including most of the 6,600-acre park's signature "Lost Pines."
The Texas A&M Forest Service says drought-hardy loblolly pine seedlings plus other associated varieties are being delivered this week to the park.
The first volunteer planting workday is Saturday. Forestry officials say a total of 550,000 seedlings will be planted in Bastrop State Park over the next few months.
The nonprofit Arbor Day Foundation will help fund the planting process in support of the Lost Pines Forest Recovery Campaign.
To comment, the following rules must be followed:
Comments may be monitored for inappropriate content, but the station is under no legal obligation to do so.
If you believe a comment violates the above rules, please use the Flagging Tool to alert a Moderator.
Flagging does not guarantee removal.
Multiple violations may result in account suspension.
Decisions to suspend or unsuspend accounts are made by Station Moderators.
Questions may be sent to email@example.com. Please provide detailed information.
Click Here to access the online Public Inspection File
Viewers with disabilities can get assistance accessing this station's FCC Public Inspection File by contacting the station with the information listed below. Questions or concerns relating to the accessibility of the FCC's online public file system should be directed to the FCC at 888-225-5322, 888-835-5322 (TTY), or firstname.lastname@example.com.


text:
i wish i could say he is going to be missed by the mainstream ufc fans but he will only be Forgotten.
i wish i could say he is going to be missed by the mainstream ufc fans but he will only be Forgotten.
wow, this is shocking. the man was coming off two good wins over alan belcher and hector lombard before getting ktfo by jacare. hell okami is still ranked #6 on ufc's own rankings. how the hell do you cut a top ten fighter who's only coming off one loss?
my guess is his last fight w/ jacare was the last fight on his contract and ufc just opted not to resign him as i just can't fathom them releasing yushin and letting a guy like john albert (no offense to albert) stick around until he lost four in a row.
my guess is we see thunder in one fc before too long.
Yushin Okami Released From the UFC
Middleweight contender Yushin Okami, a staple of Zuffa's top-10 rankings for years, received his release from the UFC on Friday.
Promotion officials confirmed the news to MMAFighting.com.
Okami (29-8), the UFC's No. 6 ranked middleweight at the time of his release, departs on the heels of a brutal first-round TKO loss to former Strikeforce champion Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza in early September. The loss snapped a three-fight win streak, which included momentum killing victories over Alan Belcher and Hector Lombard.
Dubbed "the best fighter to ever come out of Japan" by UFC President Dana White, Okami competed inside the Octagon for seven years, compiling a 13-5 record within the Zuffa fold.
After winning 10 of his first 12 UFC contests, Okami's career peaked in 2011 with a opportunity to challenge then UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva. Headlining the UFC's first event held in Brazil since 1998, Okami lost to Silva via second-round TKO.
Still just 32 years old, Okami exits the UFC having only stumbled against Silva, Souza, Chael Sonnen, Rich Franklin and Tim Boetsch. He holds notable victories over Mark Munoz, Nate Marquardt, Mike Swick, Evan Tanner, Belcher (x2) and Lombard.
Had to make room for the absolute animals like CB Dolloway and Uriah Hall......
You say shark I say hey man, Jaws was never my scene and I don't like Star Wars
I was being humorous.
There are at least 15 MW's who are horribly out of their league yet Okami gets let go to "make room."
You say shark I say hey man, Jaws was never my scene and I don't like Star Wars
All manner of men came to work for the News: everything from wild young Turks who wanted to rip the world in half and start all over again -- to tired, beer-bellied old hacks who wanted nothing more than to live out their days in peace before a bunch of lunatics ripped the world in half.
Dr. Hunter S. Thompson
The Rum Diary
Yeah, Bye.
Looks like I am on the next plane to Vegas.
Dude, Im a wrestler. Im the best wrestler in MMA. Wrestling IS, was and always has been the most dominate form of mix martial art on the planet. Thats all there is to it. We all know it, some people want to fight it, some people want doubt it but wresters rule the MMA world. -
Ben Askren
See Fitch, Jon.
Okami will be KO'd in his next fight.
There are many paths to freedom, not all are peaceful
Decision Winning fighters are on their way out.
Favorite Fighter: JIM MILLER.
Scariest Dude on the Planet: TYRONE SPONG.
Other Favorites: Anderson Silva, Gegard Mousasi, Joe Lauzon, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Conor McGregor, Paul Daley, Ross Pearson, Donald Cerrone, Renan Barao, Glover Texiera, & Alistair Overeem.
"He doesn't write his own material. Some homo in Queens living in his mother's basement in his underwear is writing Chael's material for him." - DON FRYE.
There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)


text:
wow who did the barrel work? I imagine work on the gas system to?
Daddy daddy look what followed me home.
Can we keep it!!!
What finish, going on barrel?
We built the gun & did the bbl work, no work was necessary to the gas system. I have a 14" bbl that runs with no mods to the gas system.
Forum Rules


text:
- 4-(3-Methoxyphenoxy)butyric acid (2009)
- In the title compound, C11H14O4, an intermediate for the synthesis of a new kind of estrogen receptor modulator, all non-H atoms lie on a common plane (r.m.s. deviation = 0.0472 Å). All C-C bonds in the side chain are in a trans conformation, and the hydroxyl group is also trans to the methylene chain. In the crystal structure, molecules form centrosymmetric dimers showing a head-to-head arrangement which is stabilized by O-H...O hydrogen bonds. A weak C-H...O contact is also present. Key indicators: single-crystal X-ray study; T = 173 K; mean σ(C–C) = 0.001 A°; R factor = 0.043; wR factor = 0.120; data-to-parameter ratio = 20.7.


text:
Quality CareFind out why Mayo Clinic is the right place for your health care. Make an appointment.
Meet the StaffFind a directory of doctors and departments at all Mayo Clinic campuses. Visit now.
Research and Clinical TrialsSee how Mayo Clinic research and clinical trials advance the science of medicine and improve patient care. Explore now.
Visit Our SchoolsEducators at Mayo Clinic train tomorrow's leaders to deliver compassionate, high-value, safe patient care. Choose a degree.
Professional ServicesExplore Mayo Clinic's many resources and see jobs available for medical professionals. Get updates.
Give to Mayo ClinicHelp set a new world standard in care for people everywhere. Give now.
Mayo Clinic offers appointments in Arizona, Florida and Minnesota and at Mayo Clinic Health System locations.
Subscribe to Housecall
Our general interest e-newsletter keeps you up to date on a wide variety of health topics.
The main sign of male infertility is the inability to conceive a child. There may be no other obvious signs or symptoms. In some cases, however, an underlying problem such as an inherited disorder, hormonal imbalance, dilated veins around the testicle, or a condition that blocks the passage of sperm may cause signs and symptoms. Male infertility signs and symptoms may include:
See a doctor if you:
Mayo Clinic is a not-for-profit organization. Proceeds from website advertising help support our mission. Mayo Clinic does not endorse non-Mayo products and services.
Check out these best-sellers and special offers on books and newsletters from Mayo Clinic.
Any use of this site constitutes your agreement to the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy linked below.
A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. "Mayo," "Mayo Clinic," "MayoClinic.org," "Mayo Clinic Healthy Living," and the triple-shield Mayo Clinic logo are trademarks of Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.
We comply with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here.


text:
What should I look for in diaper bags for girls?
At Petunia Pickle Bottom, we believe that in order to celebrate your beautiful baby girl, you shouldn't have to sacrifice your personal sense of style. In other words, you don't need to resort to the pink pastel prints of yesteryear. Rather, diaper bags for girls should reflect a parent's passion for style and celebrate baby girl in a fun and fashionable way.
Petunia Pickle Bottom's collection of richly colored diaper bags features hand-designed prints on high-quality fabrics—and each bag is constructed from only the best materials. We believe that the elements of style and functionality should work in harmony when creating a signature diaper bag for girls. With fun, fashionable and whimsical prints named for delightful spots that dot the globe—like Classically Crete, Breakfast in Berkshire and Flowering Firenze, to name a few—Petunia Pickle Bottom's diaper bags inspire charming outings with baby girl no matter where your day takes you.
Bored with plain pinks, Petunia Pickle Bottom reinvents the palette of a diaper bag for girls by turning out dazzling colors that celebrate femininity in a modern way. And in place of old-fashioned baby imagery, our hand-designed prints feature stylish patterns inspired by both nature and modern graphic design.
While your baby girl is undoubtedly your best, most treasured accessory, your Petunia Pickle Bottom diaper bag will be a close second. Strolling around town with your beautiful daughter and your Petunia Pickle Bottom Sashay Satchel, Boxy Backpack or one of the other stylish silhouettes from our collection, you'll be soaking up compliments like sun rays.
Shop our selection of diaper bags for girls at www.petunia.com/bags.