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Back Pain Treatment London
Appointments call 0203 174 2455
Kelly Vickers/ Ernst & Young
"My upper back and shoulders had been really painful for years. Mike found the root of the problem and sorted it in just a few sessions."
Sean O'Neill/ AXA
"My hamstring problem had plagued me for years and no amount of rehab ever seemed to be able to fix it. Mike quickly and accurately diagnosed the problem and I've been playing rugby pain-free ever since."
Damon Neil/ BBC, London
"I saw Mike after an ACL reconstruction on my right knee. Mike's rehabilitation program was comprehensive. With his professional guidance I was back on the ski and football fields stronger and fitter than ever."
Kathryn ThomasAnalyst / Goldman Sachs
"I injured my knee badly skiing and I was worried I might never ski again. Mike knew just what to do to sort me out and had me back on the sloped in 3 weeks. Amazing!!"
Dave S
"After 10 years of back pain I have got my life back! Even walking, sitting and standing I was in terrible pain. Now I can and walk and run pain free. I've lost weight and improved my health all-round. My only regret is not seeking out Mike Squirrell earlier."
Simon Ross-Green/ Edelman PR
"A rugby injury to my neck left me with terrible neck and arm pain. Mike's treatments immediately helped to reduce the pain and get me back out on the field. He sorted out my posture with a Pilates program and my necks been strong and pain free ever since."
Sarah Tay/ Psychologist & Health Writer
"I met Mike by chance just when I needed him. I was in the middle of training for New York marathon and had injured my knee cartilage. Mike knew just what to do to sort me out physically and he also knew what to say to allay my concerns. He gave me exercises to strengthen my back and knee so that they would hold up in the future and also referred me to a podiatrist to help align my legs. I was quickly back on my feet – literally - and have been running without a hitch ever since!".
Greg WilliamsAuthor, Editor / Maxim Magazine
"The first time I hobbled in to see Mike, I didn't hold out much hope. Over the previous decade my back condition had been identified differently by a number of chiropractors and osteopaths. Although several of them had helped me feel better, none of them was able to make me feel that the condition was more than manageable. Mike immediately made me feel that he could help me and, contrary to everything else I'd heard, I could return quickly to participating in sport. Through a mixture of massage, physiotherapy and acupuncture Mike had me back on the road to wellness in a couple of weeks and – unlike every other expert I'd seen - saw me only as long as he considered I needed treatment. Mike's manner is professional and intelligent but, most importantly, he makes you confident that you can be well again."
Sarah IngwersenLegal Recruitment Consultant / Taylor Root
"Since I started running 20 years ago I have always suffered from acute shin splints. I have tried every type of treatment including prolonged periods of rest, only for the pain to return each time I started serious training or I increased my mileage. I have trained for & run three marathons through the crippling pain of shin splints but started seeing Mike when I was preparing to run the Berlin Marathon in September 2008 as I was aiming for a time of 3.30 and didn't want to be hampered by the pain. Mike administered a course of acupuncture - which I have tried previously - but with a more holistic approach in terms of looking at & treating where the problem originates, rather than just where the pain occurs. He also used deep tissue massage and alignment techniques to see how my body was responding to the treatment and to enable him to assess the cause of the pain. Six weeks out from the marathon I also incurred a strained hip flexor which Mike treated, with great success. For the first time in 20 years I have not had any pain in my shins which is incredibly liberating and I was able to increase the mileage on my long training runs. I achieved a time of 3.30 at Berlin and for the first time in two decades - thanks to Mike - am injury free and hopefully rid of shin splints permanently."
Liz PughMake-up Artist / Vogue & Marie Claire
"I was recommended to Mike after generally feeling unwell; I was physically and mentally exhausted. I was very sceptical as I had tried other therapies and didn't feel any better. My first treatment was amazing. Mike made me feel very relaxed with his calm and gentle manner. I left feeling more energized, calmer and more grounded. I started to see Mike regularly always with different problems, emotional and physical and he always made me feel 100% better. I trust Mike completely".
Do you have back or neck pain you are concerned about?
Do you have back or neck pain that is affecting your work or sporting performance?
Danger signs include…
• Sciatica
• Leg pain
• Arm pain
• Headaches and migraines
• Pins and Needles
• Hot or Cold sensations
• Weakness and loss of strength
Our assessment includes 2 separate visits:
1. Back Pain Initial Consultation
- Detailed health history
- Comprehensive Physiotherapy, orthopaedic and neurological exam
- X-ray / MRI analysis if required (not included in fee)
2. Report Consultation
(which you must attend)
Written report detailing:
- Diagnosis
- What you need to do to change your current symptoms
- What we can do to help
- How long it will take
- How much it may cost (you may have to pay part if you are insured)
- Treatment can begin immediately
Neck and Back Pain
Appointments call 0203 174 2455
Make an Appointment
or to arrange a free phone consultation with Dr Mike Squirrell click here
Mike Squirrell Physiotherapy is one of the UK's leading Back Pain specialists in the W1 area of London. With two physiotherapy clinics in London City EC2 (www.londonphysio.co.uk) and Wimpole Street W1.
About Back Pain Treatment Harley street
Back Pain is one of the most common problems in the UK and more than people suffer from back pain.
Mike Squirrell Physiotherapy Harley Street have the answers to all of your back pain problems. Don't take the pain, seek treatment at our Harley Street back pain clinic.
Types of Back Pain
Chronic Back Pain
Neuropathic Pain
Acute Pain
Mechanical Back Pain
Lower Back Pain
Upper Back Pain
Chronic Back Pain Harley Street
Chronic pain is defined as pain that persists longer than the temporal course of natural healing, associated with a particular type of injury or disease process.
The International Association for the Study of Pain defines pain as "an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage, or described in terms of such damage." Pain is subjective in nature and is defined by the person experiencing it, and the medical community's understanding of chronic pain now includes the impact that the mind has in processing and interpreting pain signals.
Pain may be a response to injury or any number of disease states that provoke nociception. Advances in imaging studies and electrophysiological studies allow us to gain a deeper insight into the characteristics and properties associated with the phenomenon of chronic pain
Chronic Back Pain Rehabilitation London
As alluded to earlier there are other modalities used in the treatment of chronic pain. These include: physical modalities such as thermal agents and electrotherapy. Complementary and alternative medicine, therapeutic exercise and behavioral therapy are also utilized autonomously or in tandem with interventional techniques and conventional pharmacotherapy. This is most often structured in a multidisciplinary or interdisciplinary program.
Neuropathic Pain Harley Street
According to the most widely accepted definition, neuropathic pain is "initiated or caused by a primary lesion or dysfunction in the nervous system." Neuropathic pain cannot be explained by a single disease process or a single specific location of damage.
Neuropathic pain may be associated abnormal sensations called dysesthesias which occur spontaneously and allodynias that occur in response to external stimuli. Neuropathic pain may have continuous and/or episodic (paroxysmal) components. The latter are likened to an electric shock. Common qualities of neuropathic pain includes burning or coldness, "pins and needles" sensations, numbness and itching. nociceptive pain is more commonly described as aching.
As much as 7% to 8% of the of the population is affected and in 5% it may be severe.Neuropathic pain may result from disorders of the peripheral nervous system or the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord). Thus, neuropathic pain may be divided into peripheral neuropathic pain, central neuropathic pain, or mixed (peripheral and central) neuropathic pain.
Central neuropathic pain is found in spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, and some strokes. Fibromyalgia, a disorder of chronic widespread pain, is potentially a central pain disorder and is responsive to medications that are effective for neuropathic pain.
Neuropathic pain is common in cancer as a direct result of cancer on peripheral nerves (e.g., compression by a tumor), or as a side effect of chemotherapy, radiation injury or surgery.
Appointments call 0203 174 2455
Treating Neuropathic Pain
Neuropathic pain can be very difficult to treat with only some 40-60% of patients achieving partial relief.
In addition to the work of Dworkin, O'Connor and Backonja et al., cited above, there have been several recent attempts to derive guidelines for pharmacological therapy. These have combined evidence from randomized controlled trials with expert opinion.
Determining the best treatment for individual patients remains challenging. Attempts to translate scientific studies into best practices are limited by factors such as differences in reference populations and a lack of head-to-head studies. Furthermore, multi-drug combinations and the needs of special populations, such as children, require more study.
It is common practice in medicine to designate classes of medication according to their most common or familiar use e.g. as "antidepressants" and "anti-epileptic drugs" (AED's). These drugs have alternate uses to treat pain because the human nervous system employs common mechanisms for different functions, for example ion channels for impulse generation and neurotransmitters for cell-to-cell signaling.
Acute Pain Harley Street
Acute Back Pain is the term to describe how long the painful symptoms last and not to describe the severity of the pain itself.
Acute pain usually lasts no longer than six weeks.
Mechanical Back Pain Harley Street
Mechanical Back Pain is also called by a number of other medical terms. These are:
- Non-specific back pain
- Osteoarthritis of spine (without neurological changes)
- Simple backache
- Lumbago
- Spondylosis
- Back strain or sprain
- Lumbar spondylosis or spondylitis
- Spasm of back
- Back pain
- Degenerative back problem or disease
- Chronic back pain
- Muscular back pain
Most people (60-80% of the world's population) will experience back pain at some point in their lifetime. 85-90% of all episodes of back pain are non-specific or mechanical in nature.
Mechanical means that the source of the pain may be in the spinal joints, vertebrae or soft tissues. However, in the vast majority of cases of mechanical back pain it is not possible to identify a pathologically definable problem. That is, no structural abnormality of the back can be found on examination or x-ray to account for the symptoms.
Multiple studies have shown that spinal abnormalities are as common in symptom free individuals as they are in those who have back pain. These incidental findings may include:
- Non-specific degenerative changes
- Bulging inter-vertebral discs
- Desiccated discs
- Soft tissue and/or bony abnormalities
Specialised investigations such as Computerised Tomography (CT) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scans have also failed to identify a cause for MBP.
Many alarming abnormalities in the lumbar spine and associated structures have been discovered in symptom free people with normal back function on MRI/CT imaging. Mechanical back pain is therefore best described as non-specific.
Once an individual has experienced their first episode of mechanical back pain, although the episode itself is usually self-limiting and resolves quickly, there is an increased risk of further back pain episodes.
Risk factors for recurrent back pain include:
- Smoking
- Previous pain syndromes (e.g. Fibromyalgia)
- Poor socio-economic status
- Psychological distress at presentation
- Dissatisfaction with employment
- Heavy manual work
Sciatica Harley Street
Sciatica is a set of symptoms including pain that may be caused by general compression and/or irritation of one of five nerve roots that give rise to the sciatic nerve, or by compression or irritation of the sciatic nerve itself. The pain is felt in the lower back, buttock, and/or various parts of the leg and foot. In addition to pain, which is sometimes severe, there may be numbness, muscular weakness, and difficulty in moving or controlling the leg. Typically, the symptoms are only felt on one side of the body.
Although sciatica is a relatively common form of low back pain and leg pain, the true meaning of the term is often misunderstood. Sciatica is a set of symptoms rather than a diagnosis for what is irritating the root of the nerve, causing the pain. This point is important, because treatment for sciatica or sciatic symptoms will often be different, depending upon the underlying cause of the symptoms.
Return to types of back pain
Lower Back Pain Harley Street
Low back pain (sometimes referred to generally as lumbago) is a common symptom of musculoskeletal disorders or of disorders involving the lumbar vertebrae. It can be either acute, subacute or chronic in its clinical presentation. Typically, the symptoms of low back pain show significant improvement within two to three months from its onset. In a significant number of individuals, low back pain tends to be recurrent in nature with a waxing and waning quality to it. In a small proportion of sufferers this condition can become chronic. Population studies show that back pain affects most adults at some stage in their life and accounts for more sick leave and disability than any other single medical condition.
An acute lower back injury may be caused by a traumatic event, like a car accident or a fall. It occurs suddenly and its victims will usually be able to pinpoint exactly when it happened. In acute cases, the structures damaged will more than likely be soft tissue like intervertebral discs, muscles, ligaments and tendons. With a serious accident, osteoporosis or other causes of weakened vertebral bones, vertebral fractures in the lumbar spine may also occur. At the lowest end of the spine, some patients may have tailbone pain (also called coccyx pain or coccydynia). Others may have pain from their sacroiliac joint at the bottom of the lumbar spine, called sacroiliac joint dysfunction (see sacroiliac joint for more information). Chronic lower back pain usually has a more insidious onset, occurring over a long period of time. Physical causes may include osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, degeneration of the discs between the vertebrae, or a spinal disc herniation, a vertebral fracture (such as from osteoporosis), or rarely, a tumor (including cancer) or infection.
Upper Back Pain Harley Street
Upper back pain, also called middle back pain or thoracic pain, is pain that is felt between the bottom of the neck and top of the lumbar spine. The upper spine is very strong and stable to support the weight of the upper body, as well as to anchor the rib cage which provides a cavity to allow the heart and lungs to function and protect them.
The word "thoracic" means pertaining to the chest, and the thoracic spine comprises the upper portion of the spine that corresponds to the chest area. The upper spine includes twelve vertebrae, and each of the upper nine vertebrae in this section attach to the a rib on either side of the spine. Each of the ribs then curves around the side of the body and attaches to the breastbone in front. This forms a sturdy structure (the throracic cage) that supports and protects the internal organs – the heart, lungs and liver.
The most common cause of upper back pain is believed to originate from muscular irritation or other soft tissue (e.g. ligament) problems. These can arise from lack of strength, poor posture, overuse injuries (such as repetitive motion), or a trauma (such as a car accident or sports injury). Muscular strain in the upper back is usually treated by one or a combination of the following:
- Exercise/Active and passive physical therapy
- Joint manipulation, as commonly performed by chirpractors or osteopathic physicians
- Deep massage or massage therapy
- Acupuncture
- Ice and/or heat therapy
- Analgesics such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
If there is a specific tender spot, then trigger point massage or injections can be helpful.
Another cause of upper back pain is problems with the joints that connect the vertebrae and the ribs. Treatment for joint problems such as this usually includes:
- Manual manipulation (with an osteopathic physician or chiropractor)
- Exercise and physical therapy
- Pain medications such as anti-inflammatory medications
A compression fracture of the vertebra can also cause acute and/or chronic pain in the upper back. Especially for women over age 50 with complaints of upper back pain, a vertebral compression fracture due to osteoporosis should always be considered a possibility. A painful vertebral compression fracture may be treated with pain medication and rest, or with vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty surgery.
Other, less common causes of upper back pain include a spinal disc herniation, degenerative disc disease, or some type of trauma (such as a fall) that may have fractured a vertebra in the thoracic spine.
If you would like to speak with Mike Squirrell regarding your back pain problems or are looking for back pain treatment in London/Harley Street then please contact our clinic today.
All health insurance including BUPA, AXA/PPP cover our treatments. X/Ray, MRI and GP/Specialist referral can be arranged immediately if required.
Call us now on 020 3174 2455
Our staff are available to answer any questions you may have.
Reviewed by Alistair Roland, Deutsche Bank on
King of Backs!
Mike's treatments are invaluable, and delivered real results. I noticed a significant improvement in my health and energy levels. He is truly the king of backs.
Rating: 5.0


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We apologize but we are unable to process online orders at this time as we are building a better PetSupermarket.com. To purchase any of our products, please visit one of our retail locations or visit our Amazon store here. You can find your nearest Pet Supermarket by using our Store Locator
Timothy Hay Mini Bale 24 oz. by Kaytee
- Our Price:
- $6.69
Available In-Store
Timothy Hay has essential high-fiber and lower in protein and calcium. A great natural treat and ideal source of fiber that compliments any fortified food.

subset: commoncrawl


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Sandra Bullock has certainly had an insane 2010, it's almost easy to forget that she won an Oscar before the sh*t hit the fan with husband Jesse James. Now that she's got the most coveted award in acting and a new baby that she likely wants to shield from public scrutiny, the rumors are flying that Sandra may be quitting acting altogether to get the hell away from Hollywood.
Bullock and James recently put their Orange County home on the market, and Bullock has already made plans to split her time between Austin, TX and New Orleans, where she has purchased a new home. A source explains how Bullock feels about Los Angeles, saying "Sandra hates the fakeness of Hollywood and doesn't want to raise her little boy in that environment. The whole place is so toxic for her that she just wants to get away and start over. Jesse's businesses are in LA and the thought of what went on inside that building makes Sandra sick." They also added that once she makes the move, she may also make a career change. "She might never make another film again. Now her life is about her son and finding happiness again."
Of course, this could be the same source that didn't even know Sandra had adopted a child until People announced it to the world (and a friend who didn't bother checking IMDb to see that she has four movies currently in development). Still, we wouldn't put this move past Sandra who has proven that she values privacy over everything else. And besides, we won't be that upset if the Hope Floats sequel never gets made.
[Photo: Getty Images]


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The Beekman Boys
BY Ari Karpel
September 17 2010 4:00 AM ET
A big lesson for them—and for viewers—was
the slaughter of their beloved pigs, Porky and Bess, raised in comfort,
wandering the perimeter of the farm, munching on whole vegetables,
intended to yield food that would sustain the boys through the winter.
was a painful process, which showed them researching how to handle it
humanely, and they stood by while a friend killed them with as little
pain as possible. It's an offal process, but someone had to do it.
hear a lot of stories about people who give up the city life and move
to the country to live the simple life, but most of those stories are a
one way street that leave the city behind," Kilmer-Purcell says. "What
we really want to do is try to help small farms in small towns in
America by making the introduction between that way of life and people
in the city."
And sometimes between
the city ways and country situations. "Google is our friend," he says.
"If we have a question like 'Why is the chicken losing its feathers,' we
type in 'Why is the chicken losing its feathers' into the Google search
bar. What do we do when the llama collapses? Go to Google."
- #TBT: They Died in the Closet
- Lesbian Couple Allegedly Beaten After Kissing Outside Six Flags New England
- He Said, She Said: Privilege Check On I Am Cait
- Straight Talk With Years & Years' Olly Alexander, the U.K.'s New Gay Pop Star
- UFC Women's Champ Refuses to Fight Trans Athlete Fallon Fox


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Scientific Anglers Mastery Streamer Express Long
Rapid Sinking Tip - 50-Foot Head Kelly Galloup's style of streamer fishing involves a lot of repetitive casting and fast retrieves to land the biggest fish in the river. This unique line helps anglers reach the water that is home to the biggest predators with pinpoint casts to shaded banks, pockets, ledges, and dark troughs. Unique streamer specific line designed with Kelly Galloup Long head (50') carries flies with ease Specially designed to get deliver flies deep in the water column Quick loading and easy shooting Super slick intermediate running line aides in long shooting casts Novel low memory core for fishing in the coldest conditions
Weight N/A Ship Days in 3-5 days Base Image /s/c/scientific-anglers-mastery-streamer-express-long-line-1_3.jpg Line Weight Length Head Weight Head Length Sink Rate Color Price 200gr 0 Yellow/Dk Gray $79.95 250gr 0 Surf/Dk Gray $79.95 300Gr 0 Green/Dk Gray $79.95


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Honoring the Reverend James Lawson with the 2nd Annual George F. Regas Courageous Peacemaker Award
The Strategy and Organizing Behind the Successful DREAM Act Movement
Celebrating the Art of Resistance: Sunday, 6 November
War, Violence & Religion: A Dialogue and Call to Action
War, Violence & Religion: A Dialogue and Call to Action with the Rev. Dr. James Lawson and Dr. John B. Cobb, Jr. Monday, July 20 – 7 to 9:30 p.m. Immanuel Presbyterian Church, 3300 Wilshire Blvd. Is war or violence ever justified by our religious or spiritual traditions? In the service of combating oppression, tyranny, […]


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1 Kings 6:11-13, 9:1-9
Joshua J. Van Ee, Resident Faculty | November 1, 2007 | Scripture: 1 Kings, Old Testament | Type: Morning Devotions Series, 1 & 2 Kings
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DOWNLOADAudio File
SIMILARMeet Joshua Van Ee 1 Kings 3:16-28 1 Kings 5:1-6, 2 Kings 17:6-23 1 Kings 10:1-13 1 Kings 17:17-24 1 Kings 18:17-19
King Solomon was a 2nd Adam figure given the task to build God's house and the possibility of merited prosperity and blessing.
© Westminster Seminary California All rights reserved
Permissions: You are permitted to reproduce and distribute this material in any format provided that you do NOT alter the wording in any way and you do not charge a fee beyond the cost of reproduction. For web posting, a link to this document on our website is preferred.
TAGS: Solomon, Covenant of Works, Davidic Covenant, Israel


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Tags beach, summer, animal collective, beat connection, neon indian
Artists Animal Collective, Beat Connection, White Arrows
May 04, 2012
In the car on the way to the beach.
Recently updated.
*spliff optional, but recommended
Let's go to Ziggy's by kmac1240
Some of the songs I can't hear without thinking about London and our derpy adventures through Europe.
london 2013, adventures at ziggy's
Rainy Day by kmac1240
Put on Rainymood, not pants.
rain, rainy day, james vincent mcmorrow, quiet, james blake
High for This by kmac1240
r&b, hip-hop/r&b, post-dubstep
Are You Even Human? by kmac1240
Some artists I'm convinced are not human.
indie electronic, ellie goulding, active child, james blake, sbtrkt


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As many of you know, we've been busy cooking up our first feature film – DIY in 3d – an action adventure epic for kids about makers, hackers, farmers, builders, and doers – set in Pennsylvania in 2023.
We're going to LA next week to take our development to the next stage. We now have the entire film represented in 26 concept shots that look more or less like the finished film should look.
This is a shot I recently painted that sums up how we've been working to achieve this.


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Corpus Christi police to auction off more than 60 impounded cars Saturday
CORPUS CHRISTI - An auction Saturday will feature 62 cars and two motorcycles, nearly a third of which police impounded because the driver didn't have insurance, Corpus Christi police said.
This year, 867 vehicles have been impounded for lack of insurance, with 81 impounded in August.
The public will be allowed to view the vehicles beginning Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the police impound lot, 2600 Holly Road.
Sport bikes, sedans and SUVs are for sale.
Vehicles will be auctioned off beginning 10 a.m. Saturday. Interested buyers can continue to register before the auction beginning at 8 a.m.
Corpus Christi police say random driver's license and insurance checkpoints, which began this year, will continue.
Since March, vehicle owners face a $153.30 towing fee and a $21.65 daily storage fee if their car is impounded, police said.
The vehicles can also be found online at www.siskauction.com.
Subscribe to the Caller-Times
Need Help? Call us at 1-800-566-8098.
Monday-Friday: 6am-3pm / Saturday: 7am-11am / Sunday: 7am-11am


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This post is a continuation of my research of TokuDB's storage engine to understand if it is suitable for timeseries workloads. While inserting LOAD DATA INFILE into an empty table shows great results for TokuDB, what's more interesting is seeing some realistic workloads. So this time let's take a look at the INSERT benchmark.
Search Results for: tmp_table_size my.cnf
Aligning IO on a hard disk RAID – the Benchmarks
In the first part of this article I have showed how I align IO, now I want to share results of the benchmark that I have been running to see how much benefit can we get from a proper IO alignment on a 4-disk RAID1+0 with 64k stripe element. I haven't been running any benchmarks […]
XtraDB/InnoDB CPU bound benchmarks on 24cores server
One of our customers gave me a chance to run some benchmarks on 24-core (intel cpu based) server, and I could not miss it and ran few CPU-bound tasks there. The goal of benchmarks was investigation of InnoDB-plugin and XtraDB scalability in CPU-bound load.
How Percona does a MySQL Performance Audit
Our customers or prospective customers often ask us how we do a performance audit (it's our most popular service). I thought I should write a blog post that will both answer their question, so I can just reply "read all about it at this URL" and share our methodology with readers a little bit. This […]
New SpecJAppServer results at MySQL and Sun.
As you likely have seen Sun has posted the new SpecJAppServer Results More information from Tom Daly can be found here These results are quite interesting for me as I worked on some of the previous SpecJAppServer Benchmarks several years ago while being employed by MySQL. These are great results, plus they can be relevant […]


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cover image: detail from Bere'shit, from the Schocken Bible, Southern German, circa 1300
"…one of a handful of great plays written in the last five years…it's an astonishingly beautiful piece of
Steve Wiecking, Seattle Weekly
"On an inauspicious morning at a Dutch library, a librarian makes an unexpected find in the overnight return box. ...a much mistreated Baedeker's guidebook 123 years overdue. Even without compound interest, this tardiness merits a tidy fine, and in UNDERNEATH THE LINTEL, playwright Glen Berger's latest, our librarian hero determines to track down the miscreant.
Berger's monologue, subtitled The Mystery of the Abandoned Trousers, hardly slacks. Mailing a fine to the long-lived scofflaw in question proves difficult, as the borrower listed his name only as `A'. In an effort to run him to earth, the librarian, who has never left his native town of Hoofddorp, zips to China, Australia, Germany, and America. He eats sweets, greases palms, sees Les Miserables in three languages, and fritters away all his accumulated vacation days. He has the time of his life, or perhaps for the first time actually has a life."
Alexis Soloski, The Village Voice
"Berger has shown a penchant for men obsessively investigating truths that blind them to more ordinary pursuits of happiness. This one-man show is no exception. It's a satisfying mix of intelligent writing and quirky humor in a package that isn't neatly wrapped up with pat
Jana J Monji, Los Angeles Times
"Glen Berger's work feels like what an entire generation of playwrights have been struggling to
Bret Fetzer, The Stranger (Seattle)
originally produced professionally Off-Broadway at the Soho Playhouse
book order form
read the first 12 pages of the play on line
full play .pdf order form
return to home page


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world of work
about us
World of Work
Randstad's exploration of real workplace issues and trends.
Dedicated to helping employers understand and navigate the challenges of a constantly changing workplace and business environments, Randstad's World of Work provides:
- Highlights on the shortage of high quality, skilled employees and managers.
- A review of future managers and role models and how to survive the economy.
- How employers and employees develop coping strategies for job uncertainty.
- What drives employee satisfaction and why you must close the generation gap.
Read the following World of Work reports:
- 2009 Topic Report - PDF, 318 kb
- 2009 - PDF, 863 kb
- 2008 - PDF, 1.1 mb
- 2007 - PDF, 1.3 mb


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Want to reach more relevant candidates with a single job posting?
Our network of job sites, partner sites and distribution channels can help you to reach more target candidates than any single job board. Every job listing you post will automatically be syndicated on every relevant channel within our network.
Simply click on the images above to find out more about each of our specialist networks.


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You won't be able to dismiss this by usual means (escape or click button), but you can close it programatically based on user choices or actions.
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"I love our save-the-dates. FYI, the purple is darker than what it appears on your computer screen, which worked out well for us because it was more of the purple that I wanted! These cards are beautiful and I am so happy with how they turned out."
"I got a little nervous not seeing the actual copy in person before ordering these save the dates, but the quality turned out perfect! It's a really think paper and the photos turned out so crisp and clear, I was extremely happy with the way they turned out. This led me to order the rest of all of my wedding stationary with wedding paper divas!"
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Your iPhone or iPod touch as a
remote control
Operate your Pioneer receiver and Blu-ray player with your iPhone or iPod touch in a wireless LAN environment.
Operate your Pioneer receiver and Blu-ray player with your iPhone or iPod touch in a wireless LAN environment.
Adjust the receiver volume by simply touching the screen and turning it with your fingertip. Depending on the model, you can turn the power on and off, mute the audio and switch zones. You can also select the input and listening mode, as well as display audio/video status information.
Use the touch screen to activate PQLS, which achieves jitter-free signal transmission via HDMI, and Phase Control, an advanced sound quality technology which permits precise phase control of multi-channel speakers.
You can use the acceleration sensor on your iPhone/iPod touch to adjust dialogue and bass levels on your receiver. By inclining your iPhone/iPod touch, you can control the output levels of the center speaker and subwoofer for optimum clarity. The display shows a graphic of the status of each speaker.
You can also use the acceleration sensor to adjust the multi-channel 'sweet spot' through your receiver. By inclining your iPhone/iPod touch to move the balance cursor (blue circle) displayed on the screen, you can adjust the output balance of the speakers to match your present listening position.


text:
Plan in Colombia
Plan has been working in Colombia since 1962, helping poor children to access their rights to health, education, livelihoods and protection. We do not have any political, governmental or religious affiliations.
We work closely with communities so that they can organise and participate actively in solving their own problems.
As promotors of child rights, Plan believes firmly that children and young people have the capacity to improve their quality of life. That's why we strive to ensure that their voices are heard on issues that affect their lives.
Programme units
- Cauca, Valle
- Cartagena, Bolívar
- Quibdo, Chocó
- Sincelejo, Sucre
- Pasto, Nariño
- Tumaco, Nariño


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What are the technical definitions of the Applications Areas (NASA ASP specific) and the Focus Areas (NASA-wide)? What are the practical differences and relationships between these two areas in terms of categorizing projects and measuring project progress and success in ASP?
How does ASP document adoption, incorporation, implementation, and/or use of benchmark reports (through general public literature (peer reviewed or other), ISI citations, patents, conferences, web site citations, etc.)? Is ASP required to record such evidence?
What are the best resources for assessing the benefits of ASP for the broader community, especially the private sector and local governments? Is there information about the most active nonfederal users of NASA/ASP products? Was there an assessment of NASA services to these categories of users before NASA was directed not to undertake direct decision support?
Does ASP record website hits for the Earth Science Gateway and AIWG? If so, can we be provided with these hits, sorted by whatever user identifications are possible (preferably by e-mail extension [e.g., .org, .gov, .com, .edu])?
Can we be provided with a case study or studies of research-to-operations transition for selected users in agriculture and/or water resources?
How have the "Decadal Outcomes of Agencies Use of NASA Data and Information" been measured (found on pp. 38-39 of Earth Science Applications Plan, far right column)?
Could you provide us with a list of all funded and non-funded proposals to the ASP over its history (since the inception of the 2001-02 systems engineering structure), with either the proposing organization stated explicitly or a categorization according to federal agency, nonfederal government agency, tribal agency, academic organization, private company, and any other category (if confidentiality must be maintained for the non-funded proposals). The AIWG site does a great job listing the active proposals, but the non-funded proposals and those dating back to the early years (funded/non) are not available as far as we've seen.


text:
Information Without The Bun
Not your stereotypical librarian
By Roger Green | About this blog
Yearly Archive for 2012
My life: the plan, and the reality
You know those tests that ask you where you expect to be in five years? Worthless to me. [Read More]
School referendum vote on November 6 (along with a bunch of OTHER stuff)
"The district is asking for permission to buy the vacant New Covenant Charter School building and to reduce the sale price of the former Livingston Magnet School. The New Covenant purchase would be contingent on the district selling Livingston or the former Schuyler Elementary School/Albany High School building on Western Avenue. [Read More]
Obviously, we WERE a Christian nation. Ask a Native American.
"The justices used the discredited Christian Doctrine of Discovery – the 15th century European Christian claim that the first nation to 'discover' land that was not populated by Christians could enslave or kill the non-Christian inhabitants and take their land and resources." [Read More]
OKC drinking the convention center Kool-Aid
I just hope they'll come up with a more plausible justification for building the convention center: the elevation of civic pride, the desire for shiny new stuff… — anything but actual return on investment. [Read More]
Scanning whole books is fair use?
As the BoingBoing piece notes, the decision was based on the difficult-to-understand, and intentionally vague, attributes of the Fair Use provision of the Copyright Law [Read More]
What if the technology went away?
Three rather disparate posts, yet I saw a real commonality among them: technology we take for granted, perhaps too comfortably. First up, Arthur @AmeriNZ notes in Lost Memories: "With so much of the evidence of our lives existing only in digital form, what would happen if our access to all this digital memory was suddenly […] [Read More]
Too nice to be online
"If it's out there it must have come from somewhere" That's the stupidest reason I've ever heard to believe something. [Read More]
What TV do you watch live?
I haven't watched The Debate; I recorded it, but I realized it was taking up too much room on the DVR. [Read More]
Show More


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- Willamette
- Athletics
- News Archive
- 2007
- September
- Bearcat Sports Weekly #2
Bearcat Sports Weekly #2
Last Week's Result:
Gustavus Adolphus Passes Bearcats in Fourth Quarter, 34-25
Gustavus Adophus College scored 21 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to rally from a 17-13 deficit and defeat visiting Willamette University, 34-25, on Saturday, Sept. 8 at Hollingsworth Field. The win allowed the Gusties to open the season at 1-0, while Willamette fell to 0-2.
Willamette led 7-6 at halftime and held a four-point lead as the final period began,but Gustavus Adolphus moved in front on a 32-yard pass from quarterback Jordon Stolp to wide receiver Chad Arlt on the second play of the fourth quarter. Stolp kicked the extra point to give the Gusties a 20-17 lead.
Gustavus Adolphus increased the lead to 27-17 on a 17-yard pass from Stolp to John Retka with 2:19 remaining in the game. Willamette gave the ball back to the Gusties with a fumble on the next play from scrimmage. Peter Keegan recovered the ball for Gustavus and Mitch Anderson rushed 12 yards for GAC's final touchdown on the ensuing play. Stolp converted the extra point with 1:59 left for a 34-17 lead.
The Bearcats drove 68 yards in nine plays to score the game's final touchdown on a 10-yard run by Grant Leslie (Jr., QB, Bainbridge Island, WA/Bainbridge HS). WU picked up two 3rd-and-17 situations during the drive -- once on a 24-yard pass from Leslie to Merben Woo (Jr., FL, Salinas, CA/Hartnell JC) and once on a pass interference penalty against GAC. The pass interference set up Leslie's touchdown on the next play with 10 seconds left. Woo reached the end zone on a double reverse for a two-point conversion to complete the scoring.
Up Next for the Bearcats:
Bearcats to Play California Lutheran in Home Opener
The Bearcats will play their home opener on Saturday, Sept. 15 against California Lutheran University. Game time at McCulloch Stadium is set for 1:30 p.m. (PDT). Last year, the Kingsmen rallied from a 16-6 halftime deficit to defeat the Bearcats, 26-16, in Thousand Oaks, Calif.
Bearcat Notes:
• The Bearcats amassed 181 rushing yards on 39 carries against Gustavus Adolphus. WU also gained 172 yards through the air for 353 yards of total offense.
• Grant Leslie (Jr., QB, Bainbridge Island, WA/Bainbridge HS) completed 14 of 27 passes for 161 yards and two scores against the Gusties. He also ran with the ball five times for 12 yards and one touchdown.
• James Yamashita (Jr., WR, Walnut Creek, CA/Diablo Valley College) caught six passes for 112 yards and one touchdown versus GAC.
• Merben Woo (Jr., FL, Salinas, CA/Hartnell JC) anchored the rushing attack with nine carries for 78 yards against Gustavus Adolphus, while C.J. Washington (Sr., RB, Spokane, WA/Shadle Park HS) ran seven times for 42 yards.
• Matt Bicocca (Sr., PK, San Andreas, CA/Calaveras HS) was perfect on two extra points and a field goal over the weekend. He has converted 15 of 19 field goals since the start of the 2005 season.
• Taylor Hermes (Keizer, OR/Southern Oregon University) registered 11 total tackles in the loss to the Gusties. He earned 1.5 tackles for losses. Ben Fennimore (Sr., FS, Salem, OR/McKay HS) provided eight tackles and broke up two passes.
Last Week's Results:
Bearcats Lose to Lewis-Clark State in Championship Match at Whitworth Invitational
Willamette University defeated Whitworth University, 3-1, in the final match of round robin play, before losing to Lewis-Clark State College, 0-3, in the championship match, at the Whitworth Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 8. The Bearcats finished the tournament in second place with a 2-2 record.
Against Whitworth, the Bearcats earned a 28-30, 30-27, 30-27, 30-26 vicotory. Lewis-Clark State won the championship match, 30-21, 30-19, 30-19.
Willamette is now 2-6 on the season. Whitworth dropped to 4-3 after losing to the Bearcats, but defeated the University of Montana-Western, 3-1, in the third place match. Lewis-Clark State won the tournament at 4-0, while improving to 6-2 overall.
Earlier in the tournament, Willamette University split a pair of matches on the first day of the Whitworth Invitational on Friday, Sept. 7, as Lewis-Clark State College defeated the Bearcats, 3-0, before WU downed the University of Montana-Western, 3-1. Lewis-Clark won the first match 30-16, 30-14, 30-16, by hitting .304 on offense. The Bearcats outlasted Montana-Western, 24-30, 30-28, 30-26, 31-29, as Kelley Lindstrom (Jr., OH, Banks, OR/Banks HS) recorded 13 kills and Julie Stutzman (So., MB, Olympia, WA/Olympia HS) contributed 10 kills to go with a .350 hitting percentage.
In the championship match against Lewis-Clark, Jessica Durham (Jr., OH, Medford, OR/North Medford HS) recorded five kills and Lindstrom added four kills. Clare Chedester (Jr., LIB/DS, Encinitas, CA/San Dieguito Academy) topped all players
for either team with 25 digs. Brittany Ashby (Jr., S, Federal Way, WA/Decator HS)
added 12 digs and 15 assists, while Edyth Lee-Barrnes (So., OH/RS, Corvallis, OR/
Corvallis HS) contributed 11 digs.
Up Next for the Bearcats:
WU to Open Northwest Conference Slate at Linfield College The Bearcats will return to action on Wednesday, Sept. 12 at Linfield College in McMinnville, Ore. The match, which will be the Northwest Conference opener for both teams, is set for 7 p.m. (PDT). Willamette also plays on the road on Friday, Sept. 14, when the Bearcats will take on Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Wash. Match time is scheduled for 7 p.m. (PDT).
Bearcat Notes:
• Willamette's victory against Whitworth ended a 15-match losing streak. The 'Cats last win prior to Friday was a 3-0 rout of Cascade College, 30-18, 30-20, 30-12, on Oct. 3, 2006.
• Junior outside hitter Kelly Lindstrom (Banks, OR/Banks, HS) was named to the All-Tournament Team at the Whitworth Invitational, played Sept. 7-8 at Whitworth University. Cintia Alessi (Jr., OH) from Lewis-Clark State was selected MVP of the tournament. Joining Alessi and Lindstrom on the All-Tournament Team were Sarah Rusch (Jr., MB) and Cassie Moore (Sr., LIB) of Whitworth, Stephanie Couture (So., S) from the University of Montana-Western and Brittney Kubik (Sr., MB) from Lewis-Clark State.
Men's Soccer
Last Week's Results:
Bearcats Defeat both Whittier and Colorado College to Improve to 2-1-1 on the Season
Casey Dineen (So., MF, Portland, OR/Jesuit HS) scored two goals and Greg Beasley (Fr., F, Camas, WA/Camas HS) hit the net once, as Willamette University built a 3-0 first-half lead on its way to a 3-2 win over Whittier College, Sept. 7 in Colorado Springs, Colo.
Dineen opened the scoring at 15:52, after receiving a cross from the right side by Michael Rodrigues (Sr., MF, Beaverton, OR/Southridge HS). Beasley connected for the next goal at 30:57, as he took a rebound off the crossbar and sent it into the Whittier net. Dineen gave WU a 3-0 margin when he headed in a corner kick by Sam Hodder (Jr., F/MF, Albuquerque, NM/Sandia Prep).
The Bearcats achieved an 11-6 edge in shots during the first 45 minutes, but the Poets outshot Willamette 7-1 in the second half for a 13-12 advantage overall. Whittier gained a 7-4 edge in shots on goal. Willamette was credited with the game's two corner kicks, as the 'Cats achieved one corner in each half.
The action heated up again on Saturday, Sept. 8 when Beasley scored with 1:22 left in the second overtime period to send Willamette University to a 3-2 victory over Colorado College. Willamette improved to 2-1-1 on the season.
The Bearcats forced overtime when Luke Lagattuta scored at 82:14 to forge a 2-2 tie. The score remained tied until Beasley's goal in the second sudden-death extra period. Rodrigues and Conor Costigan (Fr., MF, Hillsboro, OR/Glencoe HS) assisted on the winning goal. Rodrigues also scored at 23:45 to tie the game at 1-1 in the first half. Colorado College improved to 2-2 with a 9-1 win over Whittier on Sunday, Sept. 9. Whittier fell to 0-3 on the season.
Up Next for the Bearcats:
Willamette to Play at George Fox and Puget Sound
Willamette plays at George Fox University on Wednesday, Sept. 12 to open Northwest Conference play. Game time in Newberg, Ore., is scheduled for 4 p.m. (PDT). The Bearcats are slated to play at the University of Puget Sound on Sunday, Sept. 16. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. (PDT).
Bearcat Notes:
• WU goalie Scott Klein (Fr., Coeur D'alene, ID/Lake City HS) faced 34 shots (10 on goal) and recorded eight saves in the win over Colorado College. He improved to 2-1-1 on the season.
• The Bearcats took just 11 shots against Colorado College, but placed 10 of the shots on goal.
Women's Soccer
Last Week's Result:
Willamette Pulls Away from La Verne in Second Half, 4-0
Willamette University received goals from four different players, as the Bearcats defeated the University of La Verne, 4-0, at Sparks Field on Sunday, Sept. 9. Emily Gross (Jr., MF, Medford, OR/North Medford HS) scored the only goal of the first half at 21:25. WU's goals in the second half were scored by Meghan Anderson (So., F, Eugene, OR/South Eugene HS), Lauren Miller (Jr., F, Portland, OR/Northwestern State, La.) and Beth Tatlock (So., MF, Denver, CO/St. Mary's Academy). The Bearcats improved to 1-1 on the season, while the Leopards dropped to 0-3.
Gross opened the scoring with a shot from 7-yards to complete a well-executed attack. Samantha Post (Jr., D, Philomath, OR/Philomath HS) started the play with a pass from the right side to the left side near the penalty area. Haley Rosenthal (So., MF, Cheyenne, WY/Cheyenne East HS) took control, dribbled several yards toward the end line, then sent a pass toward the right post. Gross directed her first-time shot into the left corner of the goal.
Neither team scored during the remainder of the first half, but the Bearcats recorded two goals in just over three-and-a-half minutes about one-third of the way through the second half. Anderson's goal was recorded at 56:27 on a tap-in from two yards out, after a shot by Miller was saved by La Verne goalie Caitlin Kams. Miller increased the lead to 3-0 with a goal on a six-yard header at 59:59. Gross set up the goal with a crossing pass following a short corner kick.
The game's final goal was scored by Tatlock on a break-away at 87:47. Elena Crecelius (Fr., MF, Orofino, ID/Orofino HS) sent a through pass to Tatlock about 40 yards from goal, leacing Tatlock with only the goalie to beat. She placed her shot low and near the left post, as Kams rushed out near the right post. The Bearcats outshot the Leopards 15-3 during the game. Willamette held an 8-3 edge in shots on goal and also earned a 10-0 margin in corner kicks.
Up Next for the Bearcats:
WU Set to Face George Fox and Puget Sound in NWC Action
Willamette will play its next game on Thursday, Sept. 13 at George Fox University. Kickoff is scheduled for 5 p.m. (PDT) in Newberg, Ore. It will be the Northwest Conference opener for both teams. The Bearcats also play an NWC road game at
the University of Puget Sound on Sunday, Sept. 16 in Tacoma, Wash. Game time is set for 12 p.m. (PDT). Last year, UPS won the NWC title with 41 points (13-1-2 record), barely in front of Willamette, which took second place with 40 points (13-2-1 record). UPS and Willamette both received berths into the NCAA Division III Tournament.
Bearcat Notes:
• Lo Holahan (Jr., GK, Anacortes, WA/Anacortes HS) and Kelli Gano (Fr., GK, Portland, OR/Cleveland HS) shared the shutout against La Verne. Holahan recorded the win and made one save in the first half. Gano played the final 45 minutes and registered two saves.
Men's & Women's Cross Country
Last Week's Result:
Bearcat Cross Country Teams are Ranked 14th in NCAA Division III
Willamette University has a history of success in men's and women's cross country and the Bearcats appear headed for continued success in 2007, as both of WU's teams are ranked in the top 15 in the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Preseason Polls.
The Willamette women's team, led by returning national champion Sarah Zerzan (Sr., San Carlos, CA/Notre Dame HS), is ranked 14th and is the highest ranked Northwest Conference team in the NCAA Division III Poll. Zerzan has been named First Team ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America as part of the 2006-07 College Division Women's Track and Field and Cross Country Team. As a runner, Zerzan won the NCAA Division III women's cross country individual national championship this past fall and took second place in the women's 5,000-meter run at the NCAA Track and Field National Championships this spring. At the end of the cross country season,
WU's men's squad, led by returning NWC champion Ian Batch (Sr., Eagle, ID/Capital HS), is tied for 14th with Carnegie Mellon in the NCAA Division III Poll. No other NWC men's program is ranked in the Preseason Poll. Like Zerzan, Batch has recorded three Top 5 finishes at the NWC Championships. This year's individual championship performance was preceded by a fifth place finish from Batch in 2004 and a fourth place finish in 2005. Batch was the fifth consecutive NWC individual champion to come from the Bearcats' roster.
Up Next for the Bearcats:
Bearcats Set to Host Willamette Grass Course Meet
Willamette is set to open the 2007 season by hosting the Willamette Grass Course meet on Saturday, Sept. 15 at Bush's Pasture Park in Salem, Ore. Last year, both of Willamette's teams won NWC and West Region titles. The women's team took 20th place at the NCAA Division III National Championships, while the men's team placed 27th at nationals. This year's NCAA Championships will be hosted by St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minn., on Nov. 17.


text: The Volcom Cleaner T-Shirt is durable and dense. Simple circle Volcom graphic at front and center. A 100% cotton t-shirt. Available in colorways as seen below. Men's sizes: SM (34-36), MD (38-40), LG (42-44), XL (46-48) unless otherwise noted. Skate Warehouse shows all colors of the tees that we have in stock. In rare cases the logo or the color pictured may be slightly different than what is shipped. Model wears a medium.


text:
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text:
What's your favorite bread?
I go through phases...rye, multigrain (with flaxseed), or just a plain whole wheat roll. What's yours?
Talk is closed, but that doesn't mean the conversations have to stop!
Check out this post for a more thorough explanation, and jump onto our Facebook page or our Twitter feed to keep the conversations going!


text:
Disability Support Services
In compliance with the American Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, which prohibit discrimination based on disability, The College of Wooster is committed to providing equal access to academic programs and college-administered activities.
Under ADA, effective January 1, 2009, a student with a disability is defined as a person with a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits a major life activity, such as walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning, working, or caring for one's self. Physical or mental impairments may include, but are not limited to mobility/orthopedic impairments, visual impairments, hearing impairments, speech impairments, specific learning disabilities, attention deficit disorder/attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, psychological disabilities, neurological impairments, traumatic brain injury, or chronic medical conditions such as cancer, diabetes, or AIDS.
Reasonable accommodations for students are determined on a case-by-case basis when appropriate documentation has been submitted to the Learning Center. Once determined, particular accommodations apply only for a single academic semester. Questions regarding the College's policy for students with disabilities and documentation of the disability and requests for accommodations should be directed to the Learning Center (330-263-2595).


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By Adil Waseem
HRM has been defined as a branch of science which deals with employment relationship of issues, actions, and decisions (Gerald, Sherman & Darold, 1995). The strategic Human Resources management is concerned with the organization strategic resources to achieve the competitive gains (Armstrong, 2008). Armstrong says it is activities and actions by human resource manager to solve people related problems. According to Kalyani & Sahoo (2011) that the purpose of the strategic human resources management to ensure that organizations have the requisite skilled and motivated employees for getting sustained competitive advantages in the world. Kalyani & Sahoo say that HR strategy means accepting the HR function as a strategic process in the implementation of those strategies through HR activities such as recruiting, retaining, motivating, rotating and rewarding employees. Authors further state that whatever is the organization strategy; in the end everything on organization does depend on people.
Gerald, Sherman & Darold (1995) narrate that HRM development in different stages and according to them, first stage of the HRM started in preindustrial era from 1400 lasted till the industrialized revolution. Second stage, the industrialization till modern era, generated the unprecedented demand for the HRM for producing the good in cheapest ways and to gain competitive advantages. In the final stage, the emergence of corporation and big influx of international trade volume led to the development of modern HRM practices. The modern era was ushered the demand the HRM practices to apply strategic tool in accordance with the empirical studies to achieve more accuracy and predictable results.
Armstrong (2008) provided the list of the studies conducted by various researchers to establish the link between strategic human resource management and performance. The most of prominent studies in strategic HRM were conducted by Arthurs (1992), Huselid (1995), and Guest (2002). Armstrong mentions that Rogg (2001) study established that there is weak relation between strategic HRM practices and performance but the study found that strategic HRM practices produce favorable climate. In addition to these studies, there are various researchers propounded various theories to establish link between HRM and performance such as Expectancy theory, Contingency theory, etc. These theories provided the grounds for the researcher to conduct the empirical studies. The impact of strategic HRM on the organization performance can be best explained in following Diagram of Armstrong.
HRM practice and empirical study
The pro supporters of strategic HRM practices reason that the strategic practices result in increase of the organization performance while relying on different studies. According to Neal, David & David (1998) state that Huselid (1995) conducted the study on impact the HRM practice on the organization productivity and profitability by collecting data of 293 firms' performance and HRM practices used by these firms. The study concluded that HRM practices correlate with outcome of the organization performance. The study also concluded that the HRM practices contribute the organization effectiveness but the practices must first fit the organization goals and strategies. Zhang & Li (2009) states that the bundle of HRM work practices consisting of training, participation, job analysis, performance appraisal, promotion from within, and compensation has a positive association with firms' market performance. Another study conducted by Huang which also shows a significant relationship between performance and the effectiveness of their HR functions (Alan, 2007).
The cons relying on researchers finding such as Patrick, Timothy, Lisa & Mathew (2004) who concluded that HRM empirical study does not provide the organizations a foundation for drawing valid causal inferences and such causal inferences should drawn with extreme caution. According to authors the models of the process through which HR practices impact performance have progressed but they have not been properly empirically tested. Question is which side of story is correct? It is true that causal interference should not be drawn from the empirical studies on strategic HRM but the way subject focuses on human relations as a science and conduct all experiments in scientific manners. It is hard to refute the facts that many of empirical studies on conducted on HRM do not depicted 100% accurate and reliability but strategic HRM practices hold great importance for the employer to use as the tools for enhancing the organization performance.
Strategic HRM Selection and organization performance
According to Robert, Hubert & Murray (2010) that there is a correlation between the predictor scores of job test and job performance. The rationale is that the predictors designed in the selection process for testing the KSAs are key factors identifying the performance of the applicants and a good selection process can predict the future performance of the applicants. Paul (2009) concludes that a set of predictors can be used to forecast the employees' performance to get exact ideas about the expected performance of the employee. The researchers agree that the use of effective selection process in different organization can produce different results because difference in size, culture, goals, structure of the organizations (Neal, David & David (1998). Authors state that Terpstera and Rozell (1993) conducted the study among the relationship of various selection SHRM practices and employee performance and the study found that the employers who use the various selection practices have more growth rate and overall performance. Terpstera and Rozell examined the cognitive ability test, structured interview, BIB/WIB were the most valid predictors of the employee performance.
The cons of selection of recruitment and selection caution that current and future performance of employee based on empirical studies have red flags (Patrick, Timothy, Lisa & Mathew (2004). In conclusion, based on these observations, the predictive studies about employee performance that simply explore the relationship with future performance may be misleading. Furthermore, the cons of selection process as a tool to enhance the organization performance have substantial reasoning flaws because of the rationale given these studies are general and broad that it make it difficult to fit them into the employer specific needs. I disagree with cons supporters because I found cons arguments superficial and devoid of valid rationale.
It shall be interesting to study how the court interprets the different selection process which aimed at enhancing the organization performance. In re Ricci v. DeStefano, 57 U.S. 557; 129 S. Ct. 2658; 174 L. Ed. 2d 490; in which the petitioners, white and Hispanic firefighters, brought actions against respondent city which to certify promotion examination because there was fear that it will result in disparate racial impact against black applicants. The white and Hispanic firefighters contended that they were subjected to disparate treatment in the denial of promotions on the basis of their races in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. The U.S. Supreme Court held that the city improperly discarded the examination to achieve a more desirable racial distribution of promotion-eligible candidates, since there was no strong basis in evidence that the examination was deficient and that discarding the examination was necessary to avoid disparate impact. Issue is whether any selection processes which enhance the organization performance should be discarded that creates fear that it may cause disparate impact against the covered employees. The court opinion provided clear guidance that the selection process is valid and legal if results in enhancement of the organization performance because of business necessity doctrine.
Training for increasing organization performance
The empirical study shows that there is relationship between the training and firm performance in SMEs (Pratyush, In & Abhijit (2010). Lex (2010) argues that the training and organization performance has strong correlation when training is wide spread and if training is not job specific and it does not produce that desired results. Lex states that the training has to be updated and should target areas which hamper the employee performance. The effectiveness of training programs depends in part on the organizational conditions that facilitate or inhibit learning process (Daniel, Jerome, Harold & National Research Council (U.S)., 1997).
On the cons side of story tell that the training where the difference in performance (DP) exceed the cost of training. According to Jean (2006) that Cost-benefit analysis of employee training is important to get ideas what extend the employee benefit shall be profitable for the organization. The cost-benefit can be conducted by the dividing the numbers of employee going to send on training program and the multiple by cost of training divided by how much employee performance shall be increased if any such training shall be conducted. Therefore, the conclusion is that the employee training can increase performance of the organization but a proper analysis should be conducted to evaluate the cost of that training on the employee performance.
In re United Steelworkers v. Weber, 443 U.S. 193; 99 S. Ct. 2721; 61 L. Ed. 2d 480; in which petitioners challenged the judgment of the court on ground that that employer action for affirmative action did not violated the Civil Right Act of 1964.
The employer and the union collectively bargained for an affirmative action plan that reserved for black employees 50 percent of the openings in a training program until the percentage of black craft workers in the plant was commensurate with the percentage of blacks in the local labor force. The complaint/respondent, a white employee, challenged the legality of the plan under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII).The district court held that the plan violated Title VII, and the court of appeals affirmed and in appeal, the United States Supreme Court reversed, holding that Title VII's prohibition against racial discrimination did not condemn all private, voluntary, race-conscious affirmative action plans. The court also noted that the plan did not unnecessarily infringe the interests of the white employees and such affirmative by action are justifiable to correct the imbalance in his workforce performance in the organization.
Performance management enhance organization performance
Kandula (2006) states that two researchers, namely, Litwin and Stinger conducted the study and found that there is positive correlation between the achievement motivation and performance. According to Bruce and Benjamin (2011) researched the estimated coefficients are positive in all equations, indicating that firms paying higher annual earnings also provide more HRM services, other things being equal. The cons side of that, Litwin and Stringer analysis clearly presents the dangers of blind use of instruments without adequate reliability and validity analysis (Sims, Henry & William, 1975). The most likely outcomes of these systems are that it further commodification of services and deprofessionalisation of employees (Adcroft, Andy & Willis, Robert (2005). In short, the performance management tool is effective if it used with careful while analyzing and there are danger associated with administrating the HRM practice.
Compensation motivate the employees
The study by Kahn and Sherer (1990) explores that impact of managerial bonus on the managerial performance on next year. The bonus was tied to the salaries and behavioral factors. Managers were given bonus at different rates. Kahn and Sherer found that higher potential bonus rate correlate with the higher performance effects (George, Alexandra & U.S. Committee on Performance Appraisal for Merit Pay, 1991). Similar, study by Gerhart and Milkovich (1990), analyzed that the five years of the performance of professional and mid managerial of 200 large corporations. The managerial and professional that have higher bonus rate showed higher performance in the year following the bonus. Similar finding was observed by Chingos (2002) who states that compensation is the most effective method for improving the organization performance. Robert (2002), states that the research literature on the compensation and organization performance has clearly established the link between the compensation and individual employee performance. Brounstein (2011), states that incentive pay for teams can be a strong human resources tool that drives teamwork and performance because it strikes the key behavior required for the productivity. The expectancy theory of motivation supports the view that the compensation lead to reward when employee perceives that his performance shall result in reward, he perceives put more effort in work (Nelson & Quick, 2010).
The cons of the compensation link with performance state that the compensation creates little impact on the organization performance unless it combined with other factors as a training, performance management, etc. (Grote & Grote, 1992). The labor costs of US workers are getting higher and higher with increase in compensation incremental offer by the organization which is making the US exporting goods less competitive in the world (John, 2060). Issue is whether which side of story is correct? Here, the organizations have to conduct the marginal utility analysis of compensation to determine what extend increase in compensation results in the performance and where the organization competitiveness starting falling due to the labor cost.
If we look into the legal aspect of this matter, in court decision re County of Wash. v. Gunther, 452 U.S. 161; 101 S. Ct. 2242; 68 L. Ed. 2d 751; petitioner alleged she was offered less salary work substantially equal to that performed by male guards under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The lowered court denied the claim of petitioner on the ground that work performed by her is not equal to male guard. On appeal, the court found that the female guards' claims of discriminatory compensation were not barred by Title VII merely because they did not perform work equal to that of the male guards. Issue is whether what considerations the employers have to take into consideration while providing the compensation and bonus as incentive to promote higher productivity. In this case, the male guard might be giving higher performance but there are chances that if any change in incentive given to employee may not result for the action for discrimination because male are more physical strong to perform more work than female. Therefore, the employer should allocate the incentive in such ways that it may not result in discriminatory results on the basis of age, sex, color, creed, or national origin.
The strategic HRM provides the critical analysis of the issues in which the human resources problems can be solved. The practice have many effective management tools for enhancing the organization performance which is empirically test and proven. The employers have the options to use the either one or combination either of selection, recruitment, compensation, etc., to increase the performance of the organization. There are also certain limitations of the strategic HRM practices. The practitioners are required to properly analyze the implications of practice in accordance with nature of the organizations and its goals. The analysis should take in consideration all possible contingent factors which could derail the impact of SHRM practices. There are numbers of Federal and State laws are in place and the detail study is required to remain in full compliance with these laws. Any improper use of The SHRM practices can enhance the organization performance but it can result in civil liability against the organization which could off-set the net benefits drive from these practices.
Armstrong (2008). Strategic Human Resource Management: A Guide to Action. Kogan Page Publishers, 33,34, 81.
Gerald R. F., Sherman D. R., Darold T. B.(1995) Handbook of human resource management. Wiley-Blackwell, 18-20.
Patrick M. W., Timothy M. G., Lisa M. M., & Mathew R. A. (2004). The Relationship Between HR Practices and Firm Performance: Examining Causal Order. Center for advance human resources studies. Working paper series. Abstract, 26, 27.
Alan P. (2007). Human Resource Management in a Business Context. Cengage Learning EMEA., 602.
Robert G., Hubert S. F., Murray B. (2010). Human Resource Selection. Cengage Learning, 332-333.
Barry A. G., Sara R. (2003). Compensation: theory, evidence, and strategic implications. SAGE, 72.
Neal S., David C., David C. (1998) .Personnel selection: a theoretical approach. SAGE, 226-227
Pratyush B., In L., Abhijit C. (2010).Global Perspectives on Small and Medium Enterprises and Strategic Information Systems: International Approaches., Idea Group Inc (IGI), 246
Paul L. (2009). Industrial/Organizational Psychology. Macmillan, 161.
Lex D. (2010).The Meta-Analytic Organization: Introducing Statistico-Organizational Theory. M.E. Sharpe., 141-142.
Daniel D., Jerome E. Singer, Van C., National Research Council (U.S.) committee on Techniques for the Enhancement of Human Performance (1997), Enhancing organizational performance, National Academies Press, 105.
Kalyani, M., Sahoo, M (2011). Human Resources Strategy: A tool of managing change for
organizational excellence. International Journal of Business and Management,
Richard C. G., Dick G. (1992). How to Be Good at Performance Appraisals: Simple, Effective. Done Right. Harvard Business Press, 179-180
Robert L. H. (2002). Strategic reward management: design, implementation, and evaluation. IAP., 20-21.
Peter T. C.(2002 ). Paying for performance: a guide to compensation management. John Wiley and Sons, 20.
Sources: Debra L. N., James C. Q. (2010). Organizational Behavior: Science, the Real World, and You. Cengage Learning, 170.
George T. M., Alexandra K. W., National R. C. (U.S.). Committee on Performance Appraisal for Merit Pay (1991). Pay for performance: evaluating performance appraisal and merit pay. National Academies Press., 88-89.
Kandula (2006).Performance Management. PHI Learning Pvt. Ltd. (Page No. illegible).
Jean B. (2006).Training needs assessment: methods, tools, and techniques. John Wiley & Sons, 63,64,56.
Sims Jr., Henry P. L., William (1975). An assessment of the Litwin and Stringer organization climate questionnaire. Personnel Psychology, 19-38.
John B. T. (2006). Principles of Microeconomics. Cengage Learning, 464-465.
Bruce e. Kaufman and benjamin i. Miller (2011). The Firm's Choice Of Hrm Practices: Economics Meets Strategic Human Resource Management. Industrial & Labor Relations Review (Vol. 64), 532, 538.
Zhang, Y., & Li, S. (2009). High performance work practices and firm performance: evidence from the pharmaceutical industry in China. The International Journal of Human Resources Management. 20(11), 2343.
David A. D., Stephen P. R. (2007) .Fundamentals of human resource. Wiley, 43.
Adcroft, A.. Willis, R. (2005). The (un) intended outcome of public sector performance measurement. International Journal of Public Sector Management (Vol. 18). 386-400.
Gerald E. C., Richard V. C., E. J. C. (2009).Recent united states supreme court Decisions and human resource management Decision making: the 2007/2008 term (Vol. 12). Journal of Legal, Ethical & Regulatory Issues, 32.
Federal Express v. Holowecki (2008), No. 06-1322; 128 S. Ct. 1147; 170 L. Ed. 2d 10; 2008.
County of Wash. v. Gunther, 452 U.S. 161; 101 S. Ct. 2242; 68 L. Ed. 2d 751.
Federal Express v. Holowecki (2008), No. 06-1322; 128 S. Ct. 1147; 170 L. Ed. 2d 10; 2008.
United Steelworkers v. Weber. 443 U.S. 193; 99 S. Ct. 2721; 61 L. Ed. 2d 480.


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When you use a product in the manner it was intended, you expect to do so without injury. This expectation applies to your car. Yet each day consumers are injured by defective automotive parts. Perhaps the most famous such case in recent times was the unintended acceleration of Toyota vehicles resulting in several serious crashes.
If you have the misfortune to be injured by a defect in your car, the manufacturer of your vehicle can be held liable for all injuries and damage caused. Automotive products liability is the area of law that covers these types of injuries.
So far, many vehicle safety issue complaints have been filed involving:
When a defect causes injury, the victim can sue the manufacturer. Where the car has a design flaw that is shown to have injured many other people, the victims may be able to bring an automotive product liability class action lawsuit.
Injuries in a car defect case are often serious or deadly and damages can be substantial. These types of cases are complex and require detailed preparation, analysis and testimony by experts in the field including engineers and consultants who can help prove the existence of the defect as well as value the fair compensation for your particular set of facts. To recover compensation you deserve, consult an experienced automotive defects attorney to file a product liability lawsuit.
Posted in Products Liability
Tagged automotive products liability, car defects, personal injury attorney, product liability
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DISCLAIMER: Because of the generality of this update, the information provided herein may not be applicable in all situations and should not be acted upon without specific legal advice based on particular situations.
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Ashton Heritage Puro Sol Churchill
6 3/4 x 48 - Natural - Box of 25
Special Offer
Special Offer
The Ashton Heritage Puro Sol Churchill's 100% goodness comes from a 100% all-sungrown leaf blend, including a flawless, geniune African Cameroon wrapper leaf. These cigars offer you a lavish, deliciously sweet smoke that's rich and complex with an outstanding depth of flavor. A must-smoke!
Excellent. Maybe the best I ever had
Just had a Ashton Puro on my walk, for me it was a good cigar with a lite smooth after taste a bit of woody/soil taste that did not linger on the palate, the burn and ash was very good, smoked it a third of the way down before the ash fell off, the construction was good until the last 1/3 where it started to unravel. Overall it was okay for the price.
That's a Cameroon wrapper? For the amount of money paid, and for the flavor received, maybe the Cameroon was from Siberia...
I smoked one of these for the first time tonight, a Churchill. The flavor and aroma were excellent, my wife even commented on the bouquet. However, after I had smoked about 1/4 of it, there was a popping sound and the the wrapper snapped. It started coming undone and I spent the better part of an hour trying to keep it together. I would expect a better performance considering the general price of these. I will try them again to see if this was a fluke.


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The Daily Slash: October 18th 2010
Hopefully you survived your weekend unscathed, and your week started off well. Welcome to the Monday edition of The Daily Slash. Tonight, in our story from around the Web, we look at the fact that Apple's managed to sell quite a few Apple TVs. And then, as we wrap up the night, we'll take a look at what's been going on around the R3 Media Network. So let's get right into it.


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The Thailand to Turkey Convoy (TTT), led by Rene Tiemessen, rejected for escort by the combined navies, has safely transited the pirate zone around Somalia, which has now spread so wide that vast stretches of the Indian Ocean have been deemed too dangerous for cruising sailors.
Alondra, Rene and Edith Tiemessen's yacht which led the TTT Convoy to safety
When the convoy left Thailand in January this year, transiting yachts had found a largely-kept-secret route to navigate the former danger zone through the Gulf of Aden between Salalah and the Red Sea. However, during their voyage from Thailand, the scope of piracy activities increased dramatically, both in violence and in geographic reach, so that all the areas between latitudes 15 and 20 N and longitudes 060 and 064 E are now high risk areas.
By the time the TTT Rally and the Blue Water Rally, which had negotiated the zone several times before, reached the eastern edge of the north Indian Ocean, the waters were judged too dangerous to complete their planned routes. Most of the yachts in the Blue Water Rally chose to send their yachts by cargo ship to Europe and it is believed some yachts chose to return to Asia against the wind.
The TTT Convoy, after being repeatedly rejected for help from the various forces situated in the area to protect commercial shipping, decided to go it alone, and following the plan and the route which remained secret for their own safety, have successfully arrived into comparatively safe waters.
Rene Tiemessen, leader of the convoy, sailing with his wife Edith and two-year-old daughter Devi on their 60ft yacht Alondra, reports that accompanying him in the final stage of their voyage to the Red Sea are yachts Baringo, Lizza Forte, Skylark II, Puerto Seguro, Vagabond, Apsara, Oukiok, Lyra and Second Life.
Rene told Sail-World this week:
'All yachts have been on a voyage to remember, from the Maldives over to India, or in a few cases directly over to Muscat in Oman. Mostly far north, in favorable but sometimes wet conditions in the end we all made it to Salalah, Alondra joining a group of five just at the entrance of the Strait of Hormuz.
'In Salalah twelve yachts of the Blue Water Rally are waiting for transport. After what happened to Quest their insurance was revoked. Their choice for Dockwise Transport seems a problematic one. The shipping company that is to pick up the yachts (Beluga) went Bankrupt and maybe this is going to have further consequences.
'Anyway, our convoy went well. No major problems, apart from some fishing nets and engine hiccups, no encounters with any other but fishing boats and friendly people. Mukallah proved a useful stopover to sleep and rest although the internal turmoil in Yemen was felt dearly.
'A demonstration went on, streets were not very busy and we had a Police escort going for dinner in the evening. Nevertheless a nice stop.
Then on towards Aden. Here's an excerpt from the blog:
En route to salalah, Oman we passed a stretch of coastline famous for pirate attacks. It was as calm as the sea of tranquility on the moon. 2,000 meters deep and smooth as a lake. The coastal landscape was and is positively lunar. Sharp rugged cliffs on a ragged tectonic plate give birth to a very calm and deep sea with no wind.
Like a dreamstate with mixed messages, the irony of the fearfulfulness and tranquility on such a stretch of harsh yet calm coastline was a surprise to us all. Right at the cliffs edge the sea bed drops 2,000 feet below; the coastline so rough there is no access to the sea, yet the ocean is calm enough and deep enough to anchor a supertanker. A place where the ocean life thrives deep below, the surface is flat as a lake in Minnesota. There are no fishing boats, no sea birds, no flying fishs. It is where a wild desert land meets a very calm sea and they co-exist like two lovers each the opposite of the other.
On record there were a few pirate attacks here. More recently the Omani gunships have kept them at bay. They have been chased out of the coastal zones but intensify farther off shore outside Coast Guarded control.....
'The last part to Aden was a quiet one. Yes, a lot of conversations on the VHF about Piracy and coalition forces but nothing disturbing.
However, Rene's impression of the joint navy operations that are patrolling the Gulf of Aden and nearby areas is less than complimentary. He says that cooperation between the navies is non-existent, and they force vessels to indicate their lat. and long. position repeatedly via VHF radio, thus opening them up to attack by pirates.
Although they are glad to be through the danger area, Rene says they are constantly thinking of their four fellow cruisers who were killed by pirates last month, and the Danish sailors now held hostage.
'Our thoughts are with the souls of the crew of four of Quest, and of course with our seven Danish fellow sailors from yacht ING held captive in Somalia...we feel with them and their three children and hope for a safe and fast release.'
Congratulations, TTT on a safe transit.
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Hurricane Katrina
Woman Sentenced In Minn. For Hurricane Katrina Scam
A woman has been sentenced for taking $8,600 in FEMA relief after Hurricane Katrina, despite the fact that she was living in subsidized housing in Minnesota at the time.
Woman Sentenced For Stealing More Than $30K From FEMA After Katrina
A 30-year-old woman was sentenced in federal court Tuesday in St. Paul for stealing money from FEMA in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
Opinion: Another Hurricane Reminds Us Of The Need For An Effective Administration
The 2012 presidential campaign between President Obama and Mitt Romney will be book-ended by hurricanes.
Opinion: Obama's 2007 Speech is Disturbingly Racist
While there's nothing wrong with an African-American president speaking in a black dialect, there is something terribly wrong with him speaking in a black accent and cadence when undoubtedly inciting racism to a predominantly African-American audience.
Opinion: As Hurricane Isaac Threatens The GOP Continues To Party
As Hurricane Isaac threatens the Gulf again, we will see if Katrina and Isaac serve as bookends of GOP hostility to federal disaster relief. An odd stance for a party that claims to "choose life" while watching people die in natural disasters rather than provide an adequate response.
Ex-Cop Begins Prison Term In MN For Katrina Cover-Up
A former police detective who pleaded guilty to helping cover up deadly shootings on a New Orleans bridge after Hurricane Katrina has started serving a three-year prison sentence.
Inside The Box: President Bush's Memoir
Former President George W. Bush's memoir is released today. "Decision Points" outlines major decisions during his 8 years in office.