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Voting Privacy
"The first principle of republicanism is that the lex majoris partis is the fundamental law of every society of individuals of equal rights; to consider the will of the society enounced by the majority of a single vote as sacred as if unanimous is the first of all lessons in importance, yet the last which is thoroughly learnt." Thomas Jefferson to Alexander von Humboldt, 1817
Top News
- Federal Court Panel Blocks South Carolina Voter ID Requirement: A special panel of federal judges in Washington, DC has barred the state of South Carolina from enforcing new voter identification requirements in the upcoming November elections. The court was "unable to conclude" that South Carolina could implement its voter identification law in a way that would "suffice under the Voting Rights Act" before the upcoming elections. The court did grant preclearance to implement the law after the November elections citing the "extremely broad interpretation of the reasonable impediment provision," which allows South Carolina voters to still vote if they complete an affidavit affirming their identity and state the reason for not having obtained photo identification. EPIC has previously argued that voter ID requirements impermissibly burden the right to vote. For more information, see EPIC: Voter ID and Privacy and EPIC: Crawford v. Marion County. (Oct. 15, 2012)
- Federal Appellate Court Strikes Down Texas Voter ID Law: The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals has invalidated a Texas law that would require voters to present a photo identification in order to vote. Calling the law "the most stringent in the country," the court held that "record evidence suggests that [the law], if implemented, would in fact have a retrogressive effect on Hispanic and African American voters." Therefore, the court held, the law violates section 5 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Section 5 requires "covered jurisdictions" to show that new voting procedures, such as Voter ID requirements, are nondiscriminatory before those changes can be put into effect. The ruling came after the Department of Justice previously blocked the law through the Section 5 preclearance process. EPIC has argued that unreasonable voter ID requirements are an impermissible burden on the right to vote. For more information, see EPIC: Voter Photo ID and Privacy and EPIC: Crawford v. Marion County. (Aug. 30, 2012) More top news »
The 2000 election brought the systemic problems in our nation's electoral process that had existed for decades to the attention of the mainstream media, a majority of voters, policy makers, and international observers. A confluence of the perfect political storm occurred when the margin of electoral votes between the top two candidates was only five votes. There were only two other states with more electoral votes than Florida, California with 54 and Texas with 32. Because of the narrow margin separating the candidates in the Florida 2000 Presidential Election, the winner of that electoral rich state would be declared the next President of the United States. The post-election battle for the White House began in Florida and eventually was decided by the United States Supreme Court. The impact of this Supreme Court decision changed the resource allocation of candidates in post 2000 elections to include the retaining of attorneys.
In 2000, the focus was on Florida, but the problems in that state were repeated in many others. That presidential year was like any other except for one fact-the deciding margin of victory was only 537 votes. This number is dwarfed by the number of voters disenfranchised according to the CalTech MIT Study "Voting: What Is What Could Be," which records that between 4 and 6 million votes were lost in the 2000 election.6 The study attributed the loss to problems with voter registration or polling place practices and problems with ballots. As a consequence, voters received a rude introduction to the reality of elections in the United States-not every vote cast was counted.
In reply to the crisis of the Presidential Election of 2000, the federal government attempted to clarify and codify voting rights in the United States for the 2004 election through the enactment and implementation of the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) Law. However, this law was in many ways too little too late. HAVA, for the first time in the nation's history, established a role for the federal government in public elections held to fill federal elected offices. The establishment of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) in statute did not translate into expedited action on the part of policymakers to appoint the EAC leadership. The four Commissioners, two Democrats Gracia Hillman and Ray Martinez and two Republicans, DeForest B. Soaries and Paul DeGregorio who were selected to serve as the first EAC Commission were not sworn into office until December 12, 2003.
The EAC Commissioners received only $1.2 million in funding for Fiscal year 2004 and did not move into their own offices until April 1, 2004 seven months prior to the election. The new law included a directive to states to create statewide voter registration databases, identification, and new requirements for first time-registered voters. To accomplish these objectives the law provided over $3 billion in federal funds to be allocated to states under the guidance of the EAC. However, the EAC lacked the time and funding recourses necessary to ensure that the goals of election reform outlined in HAVA were accomplished. EAC's late start did not allow them the time that was necessary to develop federal standards that would guide the states in the use of the funds made available. In particular, the Technical Guidelines Development Committee (TGDC), a technical advisory body to the EAC charged with the development of voluntary standards for voting technology met for the first time on July 9, 2004
Under HAVA, states retain control of the election process, but they must meet minimum standards set forth in HAVA. HAVA was generally popular among members of Congress, yet received some criticism because it required more stringent voter identification procedures. HAVA passed 92 to 2 in the Senate and 357 to 48 in the House with bi-partisan support. Id. HAVA also required voters to provide either a state driver's license number or the last four digits of their Social Security Number (SSN) if they did not have driver's licenses.9 HAVA also required election officials to verify voters' identification with administrative agencies (i.e., comparing driver's licenses with local Departments of Motor Vehicles and SSNs with the Social Security Administration.) Dissenters feared that the new requirements would "raise hurdles to registration and voting by poor people and members of minority groups, especially Hispanics."
In particular, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton remarked that HAVA "would probably 'repress voter participation' by recently naturalized American citizens, homeless people and millions of New Yorkers who have no driver's license." Id. Supporters of the stricter identification requirements countered that the measures were important because "illegal votes dilute the value of legally cast votes." Id. According to Senator Bond of Missouri, "If your vote is canceled by the vote of a dog or a dead person, it's as if you did not have a right to vote." While attempting to strengthen the integrity of the electoral process by requiring stronger voter identification requirements, HAVA did little to address the potential problems of skewed election outcomes if the electronic voting machines are faulty or rigged.
The transactions associated with voting unlike other exchanges in society, require privacy for individual voters and transparency of the overall voting system.19 The conundrum presented by paperless DRE voting technology further complicates this transaction of voter choice and privacy in a populous self-governing matrix of nearly 200 million potential participants by not producing a physical audit instrument that is verified by each voter at his or her choice. It appears to be a daunting challenge, which will require strong Federal support for research and development as new generations of voting technology emerge.
Poll Workers and Voter Privacy
According to the CalTech MIT Study "Voting: What Is What Could Be," between 4 and 6 million votes were lost in the 2000 election.20 The study attributed the loss to problems with voter registration or polling place practices and problems with ballots.
Elections systems rely on voluntary participation of poll workers and voters. The major challenge of election systems is to create ease of use in a process that is done very infrequently. At most, the greatest voter participation is seen during presidential election years, which occur once every four years.
Problems with the DRE machines
- Lack of transparency. DRE makers such as Diebold, Sequoia and ES&S refuse to make their software code available to the public to assess, nor are they willing to publicize the kind of testing they do.
- Inadequate testing of software. Voting machines are currently certified by states through a Qualification Process overseen by the National Organization of State Election Directors and based on 2002 Federal Election Commission guidelines. The method of testing has not been released to the public, but it is known that the process allows for the inclusion of secret code and the use of commercial software products without certification, and has been criticized by computer scientists and engineers, including the California Touch Screen Task Force and Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility, as extremely inadequte.
- Prone to defects and errors. It is nearly impossible to write bug-free software, and studies conducted by Johns Hopkins researchers and Science Application International Corp. have indeed found that the DRE machines currently on the market are vulnerable to software bugs that could affect election results. Hardware defects also occur with alarming frequency. Lax testing standards fail to catch many of these system errors.
- Vulnerability to fraud. The Johns Hopkins study found that DRE machine security safeguards are "far below even the most minimal security standards applicable in other contexts." As a result, these systems are vulnerable to both insider and outsider attacks. One of the most glaring examples of a security vulnerability is the study's finding that voters can program their own "smartcards" - which are used to certify identity at the voting terminals - and then use them to cast multiple ballots. The study also found that voters can hack into voting records, view partial election results, and cause elections to terminate early. Insiders, including election officials and poll workers, were also found to be capable of manipulating the system. While improved use of cryptography and security measures could improve some of these flaws, even thorough testing cannot reveal some types of malicious code.
- Lack of audit ability. The threat of bugs and security failures are magnified by the fact that none of the DRE machines currently on the market create a hard copy of voters' results, also known as a "paper trail." The lack of a paper record of one's vote makes it impossible to verify if the computer has, indeed, recorded your vote in the system as it is shown on the screen. Furthermore, lack of a paper record makes meaningful recounts or audits impossible because any recount would simply corroborate the same count the computer made the first time and would not catch any errors. To make DRE voting systems accountable to voters and auditable in the event of a recount, Rep. Rush Holt (D-NJ) has proposed a bill entitled the Voter Confidence and Increased Accessibility Act of 2003 (HR 2239) that would require all electronic voting machines to produce a voter-verified permanent paper record.
Privacy Implications
The secrecy and the security of the vote are integral to America's voting system, and both are in jeopardy when DRE machines are used in elections. In addition to the discussion above, two related issues arise from DRE voting systems and the Help America Vote Act.
- Anonymity vs. Audit ablity. Anonymity is a fundamental aspect of voting rights in the U.S. DRE machines make it difficult to have both audit ability and anonymity in the voting process. In the current system, to make voting results anonymous, these machines randomize the voting sequence, which also makes it impossible to track their accuracy.
- Voter Database. HAVA requires states to have "a single, uniform, official, centralized, interactive computerized statewide voter registration list" which includes the name and registration information (including driver's license number or last 4 digits of social security number) of every voter, will be available to "all election officials in the State." It does not stipulate security standards to protect this information, only stating that "state or local official shall provide adequate technological security measures to prevent the unauthorized access to the computerized list." The law does state that the information "shall be considered strictly confidential and shall be used only for the purposes" of voting and that violating said confidentiality constitutes a felony.
Other Voting Systems
- Optical scan voting systems. An optical scan system use ballots similar to multiple-choice tests, where voters fill in bubbles (aka "scan targets") for corresponding candidates. It is by definition voter-verifiable. Problems arise, however, when voters do not correctly mark their choices. Ballots also become unwieldy in voting venues with large numbers of offices, candidates and propositions, and with multi-lingual requirements. However, one company, Vogue Election Systems, is working on a touch-screen voting machine that would mark an optical-scan sheet of the voters choices. This system appears to remedy the most pressing problems with both the DRE and optical scan systems, but it has not yet been tested or certified.
- Internet voting. The U.S. government is currently experimenting with the practice of internet voting, having established a system called SERVE (Secure Electronic Registration and Voting Experiment) to allow military and civilians citizens overseas to vote online. However, security experts say that Internet voting is vulnerable to disruption from viruses and server-based attacks.
Voting Issues in the News
- Smartcampaign: It's the Data, Stupid!, Karthika Muthukumaraswamy, Huffington Post, November 5, 2012
- Democrats sue over electronic voting machines, News 8 Austin, February 18, 2007
- Princeton Professor Finds No Hardware Security In E-Voting Machine , Info. Week, February 16, 2007
- City: No e-voting deal without software details Examiner, February 15, 2007
- Can mailbox become new ballot box?, Indianapolis Star, February 12, 2007
- Electronic Voting Machines to get Legal Challenge, Associate Press, 6 Action News, February 11, 2007
- Feds defend oversight of e-voting testing, CNet News.com, February 8, 2007
- Vote cards fail, delaying results, The Plain Dealer, February 8, 2007
- Elections chief in Ohio's largest county resigns, Coshocton Tribune, February 7, 2007
- Mail-only elections on considered, Mercury News, February 7, 2007
- Politicians call for e-voting paper trails by '08 election, CNet News.com, February 7, 2007
- Broken water pipe soaks voting screens, The Tribune-Democrat, February 6, 2007
- Congressman renews push for e-vote paper trails, Computerworld, February 6, 2007
- Cuyahoga County elections chief resigns, Toledo Blade, February 6, 2007
- Fla. governor looks to replace touch-screen voting in 17 counties, Computerworld, February 2, 2007
- Florida's New Governor Announces an End to Paperless Voting, New York Times, February 2, 2007
- Electronic voting firm acknowledges hacker break-in. USA Today, December 29, 2003.
- E-Voting Undermined by Sloppiness. Wired News, December 18, 2003.
- Considering Computer Voting. New York Times, December 15, 2003.
- Voting Process Too Important to Leave to Technology. USA Today, December 11, 2003.
- Voting-Machine Makers To Fight Security Criticism. Washington Post, December 9, 2003.
- States Scrutinize E-Voting as Primaries Near. CNet, December 8, 2003.
- Edwards Calls on Bush to Return Funds from Diebold Exec. USA Today, December 5, 2003.
- No Confidence Vote: Why the Current Touch Screen Voting Fiasco Was Pretty Much
Inevitable. PBS, December 4, 2003.
- Ohio Halts E-Voting Machines. Wired News, December 3, 2003.
- Diebold drops legal case against speech advocates. San Jose Mercury, December 2, 2003.
- Hack the Vote. New York Times, December 2, 2003.
- New Coalition Raises Concerns About E-Voting. IDG News Service, November 21, 2003.
- Council yanks voting machine funding. Los Alamos Monitor, November 21, 2003.
- Internet Voting Stirs Debate in Michigan. USA Today, November 20, 2003.
- Republicans Back E-Vote Bill. Wired News, November 20, 2003.
- Fairfax To Probe Voting Machines. Washington Post, November 18, 2003
- E-Vote Firm's Bill Comes Due. Wired News, November 11, 2003.
- Machine Politics in the Digital Age. New York Times, November 10, 2003.
- An Introduction to E-Voting. Washington Post, November 10, 2003.
- Fairfax Judge Orders Logs of Voting Machines Inspected. Washington Post, November 6, 2003.
- Glitches Prompt GOP Suit Over Fairfax Tabulations. Washington Post, November 5, 2003.
- Aussies Do It Right: E-Voting. Wired News, November 3, 2003.
- Students Buck DMCA Threat. CNET News.com, November 3, 2003.
- California Halts E-Vote Certification. Wired News, November 3, 2003.
- File Sharing Pits Copyright Against Free Speech. New York Times, November 3, 2003.
- Black Box Voting Blues. MSNBC, November 3, 2003.
- E-Vote Software Leaked Online. Wired News, October 29, 2003.
- Students Fight E-Vote Firm. Wired News, October 21, 2003
- Electronic Voting: What You Need to Know. Truthout.org, October 20, 2003.
- All the President's Votes? The Independent (UK), October 14, 2003.
- Did E-Vote Firm Patch Election? Wired News, October 13, 2003.
- Stealing Our Votes. Austin Chronicle, October 10, 2003.
- Recount Procedures Questioned in California Election. San Francisco Chronicle, October 3, 2003
- Ohio Replaces Voting Machine Reviewer. Cleveland Plain Dealer, September 30, 2003.
- A Vote Against the Computerized Ballot. Technology Review, September 24, 2003.
- Voting Machine Controversy. Cleveland Plain Dealer, August 28, 2003.
- No Consensus on Voting Issues. Wired News, August 27, 2003.
- Forsyth County Woman Issues a Challenge. AccessNorthGa.com, August 25, 2003
- More Calls to Vet Voting Machines. Wired News, August 4, 2003.
- Voting Machine Fails Inspection. CNET News.com, July 24, 2003.
- Voting Machines Need Paper Trails. San Jose Mercury News, July 20, 2003.
- Bald-Faced Lies About Black Box Voting Machines. Scoop.com, July 10, 2003.
- If You Want To Win An Election, Just Control The Voting Machines. Commondreams.org, January 31, 2003.
- Computerized Balloting is Taking Over Elections In Maryland--But Can We Trust the Results? Baltimore City Paper, December 11, 2002.
- How Florida's Voting Machine Failed (Again). Baseline Magazine, October 10, 2002.
- Pinellas Delays Voting Machine Decision. St. Petersburg Times, October 31, 2001.
- Updating voting machines could take a decade. USA Today, February 15, 2001.
- EPIC Audit of Takoma Park Municipal Election, November 3, 2009
- EPIC: Crawford v. Marion County Indiana
- Fair Elections: International Election Observation 2004. For the first time in U.S. History international election observers were present to record the conditions of democratic elections in this nation.
- VerifiedVoting.org. Web site maintained by Stanford computer science professor David Dill to provide information about the dangers of electronic voting systems and encourage activism to protect voter rights.
- Rebecca Mercuri's Electronic Voting page. Mercuri, an e-voting expert, has compiled a site full of academic research, writing, and references on electronic voting.
- Federal Elections Commission government web site.
- BlackBoxVoting.org. A research and activism web site coordinated by Bev Harris, author of Black Box Voting: Ballot Tampering in the 21st Century.
- The Center for Voting and Democracy web site. A non-profit organization dedicated to fair elections where every vote counts and all voters are represented.
- Electionline.org. A non-partisan, non-advocacy web site produced by the Election Reform Information Project providing up-to-the-minute news and analysis on election reform.
- Vote Watch web site. A nonprofit, non-partisan organization of that monitors public elections in the U.S.
- Talion.com. A web site authored by Bev Harris that includes information on the companies that make voting machines and potential conflicts of interest.
- Election Guardians web site. A non-partisan, non-profit organization whose mission is to restore and institutionalize a voting system that is free of fraud and manipulation.
- Campaign for Verifiable Voting in Maryland web site. The site for a Maryland organization of citizen volunteers dedicated to preserving the integrity of the state's elections.
- Voting Technology page of the California Voter Foundation.
- Voting Machines: Vote Tampering in the 21st Century. Web page at WhoseFlorida.com, a resource and clearinghouse of information dedicated to helping the people of Florida regain their voice in government.
- Miami-Dade Election Reform Coalition web site.
- ACLU of Florida report on disenfranchisement in Miami-Dade County. ACLU study shows voting errors in 2002 Florida election disproportionately affected minorities.
- Voting Rights Fact Sheet from the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights.
- USACM Policy Brief - E-Voting Technology and Standards. U.S. Public Policy Committee of the Association for Computing Machinery page on electronic voting issues.
- Report of the Ad Hoc Touch Screen Taskforce of California.
- Comments on the California Touch Screen Task Force Report by Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility.
- Voting and Technology article by Bruce Schneier, from the Crypto-Gram newsletter.
- Declaration of Peter Neumann before a U.S. District Court regarding electronic voting.
- Who Gets to Count Your Vote? Comments on electronic voting by Barbara Simons.
- The Diebold AccuVote TS Should be Decertified: And what this tells us about the certification process. Paper by Dr. Doug Jones, University of Iowa, Computer Science Department.
- List of voting machine errors compiled by Bev Harris.
- The History of the Voting Machine at About.com.
Previous Top News
- Privacy and Election Integrity: Voting and the November 6, 2012 Election
- EPIC Participates in an Election Manual Audit of the Takoma Park Maryland Municipal Elections. On November 3, 2009 residents of Takoma Park Maryland became the first voters in the United States to use the Scantagrity voting system to cast ballots in a public election. (Nov. 3)
- EPIC Comments on New Voting Technology Standards. EPIC recommends greater transparency on the standards development process to the Election Assistance Commission (EAC). The agency sought public comments on the latest draft of the agency's Voluntary Voting System Guidelines. In the comments, EPIC requests that the EAC follow President Obama's directive to all federal government agencies that they take affirmative steps to make their activities regarding standards development more transparent to the public, make ballot secrecy a critical component of federal voting technology standards, and maintain software independence in the next iteration of voting technology standards."(Sept. 28)
- E-Deceptive Campaign Practices Technology Report Released. EPIC's voting project releases the first report on the technology of deceptive campaign practices. Deceptive campaigns are attempts to misdirect voters regarding the voting process for public elections. Deceptive campaign activity can be false statements about polling times, date of the election, or voter identification rules. The EPIC report reviews the potential for abuse of Internet technology in an election context, and makes recommendations on steps that could be taken by Election Protection, Election Administrators, and voters to protect the integrity of the upcoming election. A legal and policy companion of the report was simultaneously released by Common Cause and the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. For more information, see EPIC's Voting Project . (Oct 20)
- EPIC Recommends Privacy Safeguards for Voting System Standards. EPIC submitted comments to the Election Assistance Commission on the proposed Voluntary Voting System Guidelines. EPIC proposed new guidance on privacy protection in the casting of ballots. EPIC alo recommended more transparency for the privacy protections provided by federally certified voting systems. For more information on EPIC's voting project visit the National Committee for Voting Integrity. (May 8)
- EPIC Testifies Before the Election Commission on New Voting Guidelines: EPIC Associate Director Lillie Coney testified before the Election Assistance Commission on the 2007 Voting System Guidelines. EPIC urged the Commission to "offer clear and effective guidance to states on issues of functional capability, hardware, software, telecommunication, security, quality assurance, and configuration of voting systems." The Commission is nearing the end of the second voting guidelines drafting process.
- Supreme Court Upholds Voter ID Law. The U.S. Supreme Court today struck down a challenge to a voter ID law in Indiana. In 6-3 opinion (pdf), the majority said the state interests "are both neutral and sufficiently strong to require us to reject petitioners' facial attack on the statute," and the burden imposed on voters was "minimal and justified." Justice Souter wrote in dissent, "this statute imposes a disproportionate burden upon those without" government-issued photo IDs. EPIC had submitted a brief (pdf) detailing problems with the law. "Not only has the state failed to establish the need for the voter identification law or to address the disparate impact of the law, the state's voter ID system is imperfect, and relies on a flawed federal identification system." See EPIC page on Crawford v. Marion County (Apr. 28)
- Bill to Reimburse Jurisdictions for Cost of Paper Ballots for November Fails: The House failed to pass H.R. 5036 with a sufficient margin to ensure that jurisdictions that decide to acquire paper ballot systems for the November 2008 election from being reimbursed by the federal government. The measure would have also provided funding to states for conducting post election audits. The vote was actually a procedural move to place the bill on the "Suspension Calendar," which would indicate a non-controversial measure. The Democrats and Republicans had worked out an agreement to support the bill being placed on the Suspension Calendar, but the White House issued a statement late on the day prior to the vote in opposition of the effort. This resulted in a nearly perfect party line vote-resulting in the outcome falling short of the 2/3rds majority needed. The vote was 239 for and 178 against placing the bill on House Calendar under suspensions. (April 15, 2008)
- EPIC, Experts Urge Supreme Court to Strike Down Indiana Voter Photo ID Law: In a "friend-of-the-court" brief (pdf) filed today, EPIC and 10 legal scholars and technical experts urged the U.S. Supreme Court to invalidate an Indiana law requiring individuals to show a government-issued photo ID card before allowing them to vote. "Not only has the state failed to establish the need for the voter identification law or to address the disparate impact of the law, the state's voter ID system is imperfect, and relies on a flawed federal identification system," called REAL ID, they said. For more information, see EPIC's page concerning the case and the National Committee for Voting Integrity. (November 13, 2007)
- EPIC's Voting Project Submits Statement on Election Audits to House Committee: EPIC's voting project the national Committee for Voting Integrity submits a statement to the House Committee on Administration for its hearing on the topic of "Election Reform: Auditing."the statement supported the establishment of public election auditing standards that are just as well accepted, and measurable as financial auditing standards to achieve greater transparency of the public election process. (March 20, 2007)
- EPIC Opposes Increasing ID Requirements for Voters in a statement to the House Committee on the Judiciary, cautioned against new proof of citizenship requirements for federal elections. Absent evidence of an actual problem, EPIC warned that the requirement could discourage legal voters. EPIC noted that Congress has already provided for provisional ballots for instances when there are doubts about the status of voters seeking to cast ballots in public elections. For more information, see EPIC's Voting and Privacy page and the National Committee for Voting Integrity Web site. (March 7, 2007)
- Report Says Some Voting Systems Fail Accessibility Requirements: Direct Recording Electronic voting machines, once considered essential to private voting booth access for voters with disabilities, often do not work as promised, according to a new report published by Demos. The Help America Vote Act mandated accessible voting system for the disabled and language minorities. For more information see, EPIC's Voting Page or the page for National Committee for Voting Integrity . (February 5, 2007)
- NCVI Announces Recommendations for E-voting Systems: The National Committee for Voting Integrity has prepared recommendations to assist voters and election administrators. The guidance was prepared with the assistance of the Brennan Center for Justice and addresses the use of electronic voting systems in the upcoming national elections. NCVI and the Brennan Center warn that the recent implementation of electronic voting systems will make ensuring that all votes are accurately counted a difficult and challenging task. It is estimated that 80% of all voters will use either Optical-Scan or direct recording electronic (DRE) voting systems during this years election. For more information, see EPIC's Page on Voting Privacy. (Oct.ober 30, 2006)
- Joint House Committees Hold Hearing on E-voting: In a statement to the House Committees on Administration and Science, the National Committee for Voting Integrity recommended greater security for e-voting systems. NCVI said that the current review process for ensuring that e-voting systems count votes as cast is not working. The Election Assistance Commission has delayed implementation of a new federal process intended to replace the current system. For more information, see EPIC's Voting and Privacy page and the National Committee for Voting Integrity Web site. (July 20, 2006)
- The Brennan Center Releases Voting Technology Report: The Brennan Center's report "The Machinery of Democracy Protecting Elections in an Electronic World," was a collaborative effort joined by EPIC's Project the National Committee for Voting Integrity that identified over 120 security threats; and evaluated countermeasures for repelling attacks. The study examined each of the three most commonly purchased electronic voting systems and makes recommendations on their use in public elections. For more information on voting systems, visit EPIC's Voting Privacy Page and National Committee for Voting Integrity (NCVI). (June 28, 2006)
- Election Report Recommends Voter ID, Paper Trails: The Commission on Federal Election Reform, co-chaired by former President Jimmy Carter and former Secretary of State James A. Baker III, released a new report on the conduct of domestic elections. The Carter-Baker Commission recommended photo IDs for all voters, verifiable paper trails for electronic voting machines, and removing partisan political activity from the administration of elections. Voting reform groups favor the paper trail. But the photo ID requirement conflicts with many civil rights and voting rights laws. EPIC earlier opposed (pdf) Georgia's effort to require all voters to present photo ID to participate in public elections. See EPIC's page on Voting and Privacy. (September 20, 2005)
- EPIC Testifies Before Election Assistance Commission: The U.S. Election Assistance Commission held its third and final public hearing in Denver, Colorado on its proposed Voluntary Voting System Guidelines. EPIC's statement (pdf) focused on the importance of election administration in creating reliable, secure, accessible, transparent, accurate, and auditable public elections. The Commission is nearing the end of a process begun last year, which is intended to replace how voting systems used in public elections are designed. (August 23, 2005)
- EPIC Opposes Georgia Voting ID Requirement: In comments (pdf) to the Department of Justice, EPIC has opposed Georgia's proposal that would require government-issued photo ID to vote in a state or federal election. EPIC said that the Georgia voting photo identification law encroaches on privacy, would discourage voter turnout, and is inconsistent with the federal Help America Vote Act. Under the 1965 Voting Rights Act, Georgia is required to receive Justice Department approval before making any changes to its voting laws. For more information, see EPIC's Voting and Privacy page and the National Committee for Voting Integrity Web site. (July 29, 2005)
- EPIC Produces a Comparison of the Two Voting Technology Standards Documents: The comparison of the two documents conducted by EPIC is now available. All public comment must be sent to the EAC by 5:00 PM on September 30, 2005. EPIC obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request the Voting Standards draft developed by the Technical Guidelines Development Committee (TGDC) and presented to the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC): Since that time the EAC has released its own draft Voting Technology Standards document for public comment.(July 22, 2005)
- Public Comment beings on Election Assistance Commission's Voting Standards Document: On June 29, the public comment period begins for the U.S. Election Assistance Commission's Draft Voting Standards, and will last for 90 days, ending at 5:00 PM on September 30, 2005. The Draft Standards were developed under the Help America Vote Act and are intended to replace current voting standards. (June 29, 2005)
- Senate Explores Voting Technology, EPIC Voting Project Recommends Enhanced Standards: The National Committee for Voting Integrity has submitted comments to the Senate Rules Committee, which held a hearing on Voter Verification in the Federal Elections Process. NCVI said that current voting technology does not meet a standard that can assure voters that votes are recorded and counted as cast. NCVI, a project of EPIC, made recommendations to the Senate on ways to improve transparency, privacy and security of ballots. For more information, see EPIC's page on Voting and Privacy. (June 21)
- EPIC Obtains the Voting Standards Draft From the Election Assistance Commission: EPIC has obtained under a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request for the final draft voting technology standards submitted to the Election Assistance Commission by the Technical Guidelines Development Committee (TGDC) on May 9, 2005. The EAC decided not to immediately make public the TGDC recommendations that are based on the 2002 Voting System Standards. The 2002 Standards were developed under the direction of the Federal Election Commission. The EAC chartered the TGDC, which relied on the National Institute for Standards and Technology for technical assistance for its work. (June 15, 2005)
- EPIC Voting Project Urges Privacy Safeguards for Voter Registration Databases. The National Committee for Voting Integrity has submitted comments to the Election Assistance Commission on the proposed creation of centralized statewide voter registration databases. NCVI said that the registration systems must assure voter privacy by adhering to fair information practices, and allow voters to verify information, correct inaccurate information, and be assured that the information provided will not be used for non-voting related purposes. For more information, see EPIC's pages on Voting and Voter Registration Databases. (May 25)
- EPIC Participates in Hearing on Voter Registration Databases. EPIC Associate Director Lillie Coney testified before the Election Assistance Commission on privacy safeguards for new voter registration databases. Ms. Coney, who also coordinates the National Committee for Voting Integrity, urged the Commission to examine the risks in the new centralized databases. The hearing was also web cast. For more information, see EPIC's page on Voter Registration Databases.(Apr. 28)
- EPIC Project the National Committee for Voting Integrity offers comments: NCVI offers comments to the Election Assistance Commission's Technical Guidelines Development Committee (TGDC) on its work to create electronic voting standards with the assistance of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). NCVI strongly encourages the TGDC to make greater use of the expertise and resources of NIST in developing any new voting technology standards. The TGDC will makes it recommendations to the EAC on voting technology standards soon. (March 9, 2005)
- EPIC Comments on Voter Registration Problems. EPIC has responded to the U.S. Election Assistance Commission's request for comments on a state survey of voter registration in 2004. The comments point out transparency and privacy problems associated with voter registration administration during last year's election. For more information, see EPIC's new page on Statewide Centralized Voter Registration Databases. (March 1, 2005)
- EAC 2004 Annual Report Released. The EAC's 2004 Annual report states the agency was established 10 months later than required under the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA) and was seriously under funded, had no offices, equipment nor staff. The total operating funds for fiscal year 2004 was only $1.2 million. (January 2005)
- EPIC Files Comments on Use of Voter SSNs. In comments to the Social Security Administration, EPIC has urged the agency not to create a new routine use of the Social Security Number for state voter registration purposes. EPIC asked the agency not to implement this routine use until state election administrations agree not to require voters to present their Social Security cards in order to vote in federal elections. For more information, see the EPIC Voting and SSN Pages. (September 3, 2004)
- Public Records Request Information from PA, NM, and TX Secretary of State. The information is provided by Pennsylvania, New Mexico and Texas in reply to public information request made by EPIC on the use of DRE voting technology. Legal research on the State of New Jersey election law.
- (June-October 2004)
- Election Day resources available to help voters. The efforts of technologist and Election Protection workers have produced a support network that will assist voters on and before Election Day. The National Committee for Voting Integrity is providing easy to follow instructions on voting on DRE and Optical Scan Voting Systems. Voters can also find help by calling 1-866-OUR-VOTE to seek the advice or assistance of Election Protection efforts supported by the Lawyers Committee on Civil Rights, and People for the American Way. (October 20, 2004)
- US Election Assistance Commission (EAC) to hold a hearing. The EAC will ask federal agencies to report on their Election Day procedures. The Commission will also review the state preparations for the November 2nd election; the status of State administration of provisional voting; and report on tools in place to monitor Election Day activities.
- (October 26, 2004)
- EPIC Testifies on Voting Privacy The Election Assistance Commission Technical Guidelines Development Committee asked EPIC to offer testimony (pdf) on the impact that new voting technology and polling place practices has on the privacy rights of voters. The hearing was an opportunity for the committee charged with making recommendations on voluntary standards for election systems and voting technology. The committee is expected to make its recommendations to the full Election Assistance Commission board sometime next summer for adoption and implementation in 2006. (September 22, 2004)
- Counties in the State of Florida Conduct Logic and Accuracy Test. Counties throughout the State of Florida have scheduled Logic and Accuracy Test of direct electronic recording (DRE) voting machines in preparation for the primary election scheduled for August 31, 2004. (August 10, 2004)
- The U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) Schedules Meeting on November Election. The U.S. Election Assistance Commission will review the Federal Voting Assistance Program Best Practices for Military and Overseas Voting, the EAC November Election Research Project, and the EAC National Poll Worker Initiative. The Commission will also review recommendations on the National Voter Registration Form and the HAVA College Program. The EAC will meet on August 10, 2004, from 10:00 AM until Noon at 1225 New York Avenue, NW, Suite 1100, Washington, DC 20005 (Metro Stop: Metro Center). (August 10, 2004)
- The Election Assistance Commission makes public Election Day Tool Kit The Election Assistance Commission released its recommendations under the heading of Best Practices Tool Kit. The Tool Kit is designed to assist local and state election officials in implementing the best methods for addressing potential problems with voting technology. There recommendation on direct recording electronic (DRE) voting machines seems to be less detailed than other forms of voting technology addressed, which include: lever voting machines, optical scan voting systems, and punchcard voting machines. August 9, 2004
- The House Committee on House Administration Holds Hearing on E-voting Security. The House Committee on Government Reform's Subcommittee on Technology, Information Policy, Intergovernmental Relations, and the Census held a hearing on "The Science of Electronic Voting Machine Technology: Accuracy, Reliability, and Security" was held in Room 2247 of the Rayburn House Office Building. The National Committee for Voting Integrity member Avi Rubin testified. Other testimony Randolph Hite Director of the GAO, Dr. Hratch Semerjian NIST, Terry Jarrett General Council Secretary of State Missouri, Michael Shamos Professor Carnegie Mellon, Jim Adler Founder and President of VoteHere, Sanford J. Morganstein President Populex Corporation. (July 20, 2004)
- The National Academy of Sciences Holds Electronic Voting Workshop. Members of the National Committee for Voting Integrity, which include Dr. David Chaum, Dr. Aviel Rubin, Dr. David Dill are panelist for the two day workshop on Electronic Voting. The workshop covers the entire range of issues related to electronic voting from beginning to end, that is, from the point of capturing the voter's intent to assuring an accurate final tabulation of votes.The gathering is open to the public, but participation will be limited to the invited panel participants. The discussion will take place at the National Academies of Science Keck Center, Room 109, 500 5th Street, NW, Washington, DC. (July 13-14, 2004)
- The U.S. Election Assistance Commission Chair's Statement On Terrorism and the November Election. EAC Chair DeForrest Soaries issued a statement rejecting any possible postponement or cancellation of the November 2, 2004 election due to a terrorist attack. (July 13, 2004)
- The U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) Technical Guidelines Development Committee Meets. The first meeting of the EAC's Technical Guidelines Development Committee took place on July 9, 2004. The members of the committee are Chair Dr. Arden Bement, Hon. Donetta Davidson, Alice Miller, Sharon Turner-Buie, Helen Purcell, James R. Harding, James Elekes, Anne Caldas, H. Stephen Berger, Dr. Brittain Williams, Paul Craft, Dr. Ronald Rivest, Dr. Daniel Schutzer (via phone), Patrick Gannon, and Whitney Quesenbery. (July 9, 2004)
- The National Committee for Voting Integrity (NCVI) joins the LCCR at a Press Conference . The NCVI endorses the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights and the Brennan Center's Recommendations to Election Administrators that would address some of the security concerns outlined by voting technology experts. (June 29, 2004)
- The Election Assistance Commission (EAC) EAC Advisory Board and Standards Board met in Houston, TX. The EAC held a 2 days of public hearings in Houston Texas this week to allow its Board of Advisors and Standards Board to discuss the National Institute of Standards and Technology's (NIST) role and their organizational plans for the new agency. (June 28-29, 2004)
- The House Committee on Science holds a hearing on Voting Technology Standards. The House Science Committee's Subcommittee on Environment, Technology, and Standards held a Hearing on Testing and Certification for Voting Equipment: How Can the Process Be Improved? Witnesses heard by the Committee included Congressman Rush Holt, Carolyn Coggins, Hratch G. Semerjian, Michael I. Shamos, and Thomas Wilkey .(June 24, 2004)
- The House Committee on Rules and Administration to Hold EAC Oversight Hearing. Oversight. The Hearing will look at the Election Assistance Commission (EAC) and Implementation of the Help America Vote Act and what is planned between now and November 2004. The Hearing will take place in room 1310 Longworth House Office Building at 11:00 AM. (June 17, 2004)
- League of Women Voters Delegates Vote to Change the Group's Position on Paperless DREs. The League of Women voters convention held in Washington DC voted overwhelmingly to rescinded its support of paperless voting machines of endorsing paperless DRE voting machines to a neutral stand on all electronic voting technology. (June 14, 2004)
- The U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) Plans Chicago Hearing. On June 3, 2004, at 9:00 AM the U.S. Election Assistance Commission will meet at the Water Tower Campus of Loyola University in Chicago, IL to "Conduct a Public Hearing to Identify Best Practices, Problems and Transition Issues Associated with Optical Scan, Punch Card, and Lever Machine Voting Systems and the Success and Problems Identified with the Use of Provisional Voting". The panels that will be presented: Punch card Panel, Lever Machine Panel, Optical Scan Panel, and Provisional Vote Panel.
- CANCELLEDThe House Committee on Government Reform's Subcommittee on Technology Hearing. On May 12, 2004, the hearing "The Science of Electronic Voting Machine Technology: Accuracy, Reliability, and Security" was held in Room 2247 of the Rayburn House Office Building.
- The U.S. Election Assistance Commission Held Its First Public Hearing. On May 5, 2004, the hearing reviewed the "Use, Security, and Reliability of Electronic Voting Systems." The National Committee for Voting Integrity (NCVI) submitted testimony to the Commission for the hearing.
- The State of California Announced that it is Decertifying Diebold TSx Voting Machine. California Secretary of State Kevin Shelley made public the decision by the State of California to ban the use in the November Election of any voting system that does not provided a paper ballot. (April 30, 2004)
- The U.S. Election Assistance Commission Held Its First Public Meeting. On March 23, 2004, DeForest Soaries, Jr., Chairman, Vice Chair Commissioner Gracia M. Hillman, Commissioner Paul S. DeGregorio and Commissioner Raymundo Martinez III, held their first official public meeting.
- CA Audit Finds Diebold Used Uncertified Software. An audit of Diebold Election Systems voting machines in California has revealed that the company installed uncertified software in all 17 counties that use its electronic voting equipment. Diebold admitted wrongdoing at a meeting of the state's Voting Systems Panel and said it was making changes to its procedures for upgrading its systems. The Voting Systems Panel is continuing to investigate whether or not Diebold will be sanctioned for violating state election code.
- Ohio Suspends Electronic Voting Machine Use. Ohio Secretary of State J. Kenneth Blackwell has halted the use of electronic voting machines in the state until security weaknesses revealed in two state-commissioned studies are resolved. A technical analysis of four different electronic voting systems used in the state and a report of findings from on-sight inspection of each vendor's security procedures revealed significant flaws. As a result, Blackwell has suspended use of the Diebold, ES&S, Hart, and Sequoia systems and will seek an extension of federally mandated Help America Vote Act (HAVA) deadlines in order to provide system manufacturers time to correct deficiencies. (December 4, 2003)
- California to Require Paper Printouts for Electronic Voting. California Secretary of State Kevin Shelley announced (pdf) that the state will require "Voter Verified Paper Audit Trails" for all touch screen voting machines by 2006. The proposal is strongly favored by technology experts, including members of the National Committee for Voting Integrity. (November 21, 2003)
- New Voting Group Launched. The National Committee for Voting Integrity held a press conference in Washington, DC to urge Presidential candidates to address the integrity of electronic voting systems. The new organization, which consists of a host of voting experts from the fields of technology, academia, politics, and media, has formed to promote voter-verified balloting and to preserve privacy protections for elections in the United States. (November 21, 2003)
- Library of Congress Releases Report on Electronic Voting Machines. The Congressional Research Service
of the Library of Congress has presented to Congress a report entitled, " Election Reform and Electronic Voting Sytems (DRE's): Analysis of Security Issues." The report analyzed the controversy surrounding DRE's but did not take a position on how to resolve it. The report did, however, state that "at least some current DRE's cleary exhibit security vulnerabilities."
- Diebold Faces Lawsuit in Battle with Students. The Electronic Frontier Foundation and Stanford Law School's Center for Internet and Society have announced they will file a lawsuit requesting a temporary restraining order against Diebold. The lawsuit is a response to Diebold's series of cease-and-desist orders, which the company has sent out to force websites to take down leaked company memos.
- Students Battle Diebold Over Memos. Members of the Swarthmore Coalition for the Digital Commons, a student organization at Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania are taking heat from Diebold Election Systems for hosting web pages linked to thousands of leaked Diebold memos that detail flaws in the company's voting machine software. The company claims posting such information is a violation of the Digital Millenium Copyright Act, and has sent out cease-and-desist letters to force websites and ISP's to take down the memos, which Swarthmore has complied with. However, the students have continued to protest, claiming the company is suppressing free speech. (November 2, 2003)
- Maryland Legislators Call for Audit of Study. Maryland state legislators Sen. Paula C. Hollinger (D-Baltimore County) and Del. Sheila Ellis Hixson (D-Montgomery) have sent a letter to the director of the Maryland Department of Legislative Services questioning the impartiality of Science Application International Corp.'s report on Diebold voting machines and requesting that the agency examine the process used to select the firm to conduct the review of the Diebold system. Meanwhile, a new citizen organization, the Campaign for Verifiable Voting in Maryland, has launched a campaign to combat the implementation of Diebold voting machines in the state. (October 21, 2003)
- SAIC Releases Study on Voting Machines. Science Application International Corp. has issued a report on Diebold voting machines that was commissioned by the state of Maryland. The report found multiple vulnerabilities in the system, but also stated that the security flaws could be remedied with proper safeguards . As a result, Maryland has gone ahead with its plans to purchase and implement the Diebold voting system statewide. (September 23, 2003)
- Diebold Memo Admits Knowledge of Vulnerabilities. Journalists have obtained copies of internal mail from Diebold principal engineer R&D Ken Clark - then working for Global Election Systems before Diebold took the company over - who confirms the existence of security flaws in the voting system's software. (September. 12, 2003)
- Maryland Gov. Commissions Review of Diebold Systems. Maryland Governor Robert L. Erlich Jr., whose state had agreed to purchase $55.6 million of Diebold voting machines, has arranged for an independent review of the voting system by Science Application International Corp. of San Diego. The review comes on the heels of a report by a Johns Hopkins computer scientist that the Diebold system has serious security flaws. (August 7, 2003)
- Report Criticizes Deibold Voting System. Computer Scientists from Johns Hopkins and Rice Universities released a study of the source code purported to be part of Diebold Election System's Accu-Vote TS voting software. They found "significant and wide reaching security vulnerabilities," including the ability of voters to illegally cast multiple ballots, view partial election results, and prematurely terminate elections, as well as lack of protection of voting info when traveling over network connections. (July, 2003)
- Congressman Promotes "Voter Confidence" Bill. Representative Rush Holt (D-NJ) has introduced the "Voter Confidence and Increased Accessibility Act of 2003" (HR 2239), which would require states to use election equipment that provides a voter-verified permanent paper record. The bill is currently being debated in the Committee on House Administration. (May 22, 2003)
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text: Just added to the gallery, Crawford Priory is an example of one of my collage-based works and was one of the final pieces to be included in my school project entitled 'A Year in Ruins'. It actually started life as a completely different piece, but came together quite casually in its eventual form. The house is cut from birch bark, emulating the golden colour of the Priory's sandstone exterior and demonstrating nature's reclamation of the structure as it returns to the earth. The rest of the piece is a medley of fabric scraps and other sewing sundries left over from the costume design unit I had been undertaking at the same time. Ink, tea and paint complete the 'runny' effect and sepia colour palette.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Jimmy Roebker and Mesa Mei are the 55th-ranked doubles team in the nation.
Jan. 7, 2013
CINCINNATI - Juniors Jimmy Roebker and Mesa Mei became the second Xavier men's tennis doubles partners to earn a nationally ranking in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Men's National Doubles Ranking released on Friday.
Roebker, native of Ft. Mitchell, Ky., and Mei, a Somerville, Mass. native, are ranked 55th in the first 2013 poll. Their ranking makes them the highest ranked doubles team in Xavier history.
The two players joined forces last year for the Musketeers and racked up an impressive 20-7 record when playing together. Included in last year's season were a 15-6 record at the number one doubles position and a season-best seven-match winning streak at the tail end of the season. The duo lost only one match in Atlantic 10 doubles competition.
So far this season the twosome has a 3-2 record and won three-straight matches to begin the season.
The previous doubles team to be ranked is current seniors Brandon MacDonald and Philip Diaz. The team was ranked 57th in the 2011 ITA preseason poll.
Xavier will face fourth-ranked Ohio State to begin the 2013 schedule on Jan. 16. The Musketeers open the 2013 home schedule on Jan. 18 against Cleveland State at Eastern Hills Indoor Tennis Club.


text:
Christopher Lipari, MD
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Dr. Lipari received board certification in Obstetrics and Gynecology in 2005, and Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility in 2009. He serves as Assistant Professor in the Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility in the Obstetrics and Gynecology Residency Program at the University of Florida Health Science Center Jacksonville.
Dr. Lipari's clinical interests include primary and secondary infertility, Assisted Reproductive Technologies (including In Vitro Fertilization and intracytoplasmic sperm injection), optimal stimulation protocols for women suffering from decreased ovarian reserve, recurrent pregnancy loss, polycystic ovarian syndrome, fibroids and minimally invasive surgery.
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Danzan Ravjaa (1803-1856),
officially known as the Fifth Noyon Incarnate Lama of the Gobi Desert, is
perhaps Mongolia's most beloved saint. The Fourth had caused so many
scandals that the Manchu Emperor banned his reincarnation. Consequently,
when the young child was enthroned as the Fifth, the Emperor issued an
edict of execution on the boy and all associated with the event. The child
was only saved by the personal intervention of the Panchen Lama and a
letter of appeal from the young Ninth Dalai Lama.
Their efforts proved well worthwhile, for the boy went
on to become one of the greatest mystics and creative geniuses of
19th-century Mongolia.
Lama of the Gobi
is an investigative account of the life and times of this extraordinary
man. It takes the reader on a journey through Mongolian history, Tibetan Buddhism and the
traditions of nomadic culture, to generate an appreciation of the
man and the legends that surround him. This revealing story winds
its way from Danzan Ravjaa's mythic past until the present day – as the
people of the Gobi Desert still faithfully maintain his cult-like
Look inside this book
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From the Gobi Desert,
long-buried treasures come to light –
South China Morning Post
"An evocative and attractively-written
account of an important Mongolian historical figure. Michael Kohn's
Lama of the Gobi will confound many accepted ideas about Mongolian
religion and society." – Caroline Humphrey,
Professor of Asian Anthropology, University of
"Lama of the Gobi is the first full
account of Danzan Ravjaa in the English
language. It carries the reader through Mongolian history, Buddhism and
the traditions of the nomadic culture to generate an appreciation of both
the man and the many legends that surround him." – Glenn H.
Mullin, author and Buddhologist
"This book, by Michael
Kohn –
author of the fourth Lonely
Planet guide to Mongolia –
is a vivid and exciting description and investigative account of the life
and times of this extraordinary man. It's a well told and fast-paced
account that will live in your memory for a long time after completion."
Mongolia Expat
"A readable and intriguing introduction to
the fascinating life and times of Danzan Ravjaa, Mongolia's wildly
unconventional poet-mystic, packed with legends and anecdotes… Should find
a place on the bookshelf of world spirituality between Milarepa and Rumi."
– Christopher Atwood, Assistant Professor of
Mongolian Studies, Indiana University
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text: Prev | Next Roslyn Kriegh shows off Pigeon as the Kodiak 4H small animals group prepares to take its place in the Kodiak, Alaska Fourth of July parade Thursday morning, July 4, 2013. (AP Photo/Kodiak Daily Mirror, James Brooks) Gallery: More Fourth of July across U.S. Jul. 05, 2013 @ 09:41 AM New York and other major cities featured huge fireworks displays, while many Americans enjoyed their Fourth of July with small-town celebrations or at the beach. (u'nobuy',)


text:
Duke sports rock NCAA academic scoreboard
Duke's men's lacrosse team not only dominated on the field by winning its second NCAA championship last spring, its athletes continued taking care of their academic business as well.
Men's lacrosse was one of 14 Duke athletic teams honored by the NCAA on Wednesday with Public Recognition Awards.
The NCAA presents the awards annually to teams that finish in the top 10 percent of their respective sport based on the most recent multi-year Academic Performance Rate (APR).
With 14 teams, Duke tied with Stanford for second nationally. Only Notre Dame, with 15 teams honored, had more.
That continues an impressive trend for the Blue Devils. Every year since 2007, when the Public Recognition Awards were created, Duke has finished among the nation's top four among Football Bowl Subdivision schools for most teams honored.
Beginning with 2008, Duke has finished either first or second every year. Duke and Notre Dame have finished first or second each year beginning in 2009. They tied in 2013.
Duke has had the most teams honored three times — tying with Navy in 2008 and Notre Dame in 2013 while winning outright in 2010.
Along with lacrosse, the other men's teams at Duke honored this year include baseball, basketball, football, soccer, indoor track and field, swimming and diving, golf and wrestling.
Women's teams honored from Duke are volleyball, lacrosse, golf, rowing and fencing.
Five Duke teams have received Public Recognition Awards every year they've been presented. Those teams are football, men's golf, men's soccer, men's indoor track and field and women's fencing.
Nationally, only 146 teams have received Public Recognition Awards every year.
All 15 ACC schools had at least one athletic team receive a Public Recognition Award this year. As a conference, the ACC led the FBS leagues with 77 teams honored. Among all conferences, only the Ivy League (117) and the Patriot League (94) had more.
Among ACC schools, after Notre Dame and Duke, Boston College (12) was next, followed by North Carolina (6), Miami (5), Virginia (5), Georgia Tech (4), Florida State (3), Wake Forest (3), Maryland (2), N.C. State (2), Syracuse (2), Virginia Tech (2), Clemson (1) and Pittsburgh (1).
UNC teams honored, all women's sports, include fencing, golf, gymnastics, rowing, tennis and volleyball.
UNC's women's fencing and women's golf teams are among the teams having received a Public Recognition Award every year.
The APR provides a real-time look at a team's academic success each semester or quarter by tracking the academic progress of each student-athlete. The APR includes eligibility, retention and graduation in the calculation and provides a clear picture of the academic culture in each sport.
Teams receiving Public Recognition Awards had scores between 980 and 1,000.
APRs for every Division I team will be announced on May 14.


text:
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Characteristics That Identify Exacerbation Risk Following Colds in COPD Patients
The recruitment status of this study is unknown because the information has not been verified recently.
Verified June 2011 by Imperial College London.
Recruitment status was Not yet recruiting
Recruitment status was Not yet recruiting
Imperial College London
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First received: June 17, 2011
Last updated: June 22, 2011
Last verified: June 2011
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|June 2013 (Final data collection date for primary outcome measure)


text:
Analyst Profile
Andrew Frank
VP Distinguished Analyst
9 years at Gartner
33 years industry experience
New York USA
Roles and Responsibilities
Andrew Frank covers marketing and media. As VP Distinguished Analyst with Gartner for Marketing Leaders, Mr. Frank specializes in best practices for data-driven marketing, including how organizations can use data to drive sales, loyalty, innovation, brand value and other business goals. He also specializes in advertising technology and business trends with Gartner's Media Research team. His research focuses on new opportunities in digital advertising and media intelligence leveraging mobile, social, video, and advanced TV platforms and channels, and utilizing advanced targeting, metrics, interactive design, and real-time ad operations.
Areas of Coverage
- Digital Marketing
Andrew Frank's Recent Gartner Activity
Latest Research
Introducing the Gartner Hype Cycle for Digital Marketing, 2015
29 July 2015
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Previous Experience
Mr. Frank has spent more than 28 years focusing on technology-driven innovation for major media companies, ad agencies, and startups, and the last 15 focused on interactive marketing and Internet development, providing him with knowledge not just of the technologies, but also of the business goals and practices of media and advertising companies.
Professional Background
Ogilvy & Mather Interactive, Vice President, Partner, Head of Technical Design, 4 years
Organic (an Omnicom Company), Group Director of Engineering, 2 years
Viant, Vice President and CTO, Media & Entertainment, 6 years
Industry Awards/Accolades
2007 Gartner Industry Research Einstein Award: "Best in Thought Leadership"
2007 Gartner Research Thought Leadership Award
2009 Gartner Quantitative Research Excellence Award
2013 Gartner Research Thought Leadership Award
DMA Silver Echo Award: ExpressNet on America Online (1995)
New Media Invision Award: "Best Streaming Media Website" (Sputnik7) (1999)
Webby Award: "Best Music Site on the Internet" (2001)
B.A., with high honors, Wesleyan University


text:
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, July 10, 1997 Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic will bring significant military forces to the NATO alliance if they are accepted into full membership in 1999.
All figures come from the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies publication "The Military Balance." They cover 1996-1997.
Poland spends $3.1 billion per year on its military. Hungary spends $520 million, and the Czech Republic spends $1.3 billion.
The Czech military has around 70,000 active duty and reserve service members. The active duty army has 28,000 members, of which 15,400 are conscripts. The Czech air force has 16,000 members. The Czech army and air force are equipped mostly with Soviet-style equipment, with much built in the republic. The land-locked nation has no navy. A Czech mechanized infantry battalion serves with NATO forces in Bosnia.
The Hungarian armed forces have 64,300 in the active component and 173,000 in the reserves. A total of 48,000 serve in the land forces -- 30,000 conscripts. The air force has 16,300 members including 11,200 conscripts. Hungary also uses Soviet-based weapon systems and maintains a small riverine force. Hungary provided NATO with bases to support operations in Bosnia and has an engineer battalion supporting NATO in Bosnia.
Poland has an active duty force of 248,500 including 147,100 conscripts. There are 466,000 reservists: 382,000 army, 18,000 navy and 66,000 air force. The Polish army has 178,700 members; the navy, 17,800; and the air force, 52,000. The services uses Polish-built Soviet-style equipment. Poland deployed an airborne infantry battalion to help NATO in Bosnia.


text:
By Staff Sgt. Lee Roberts, USAFAmerican Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Dec. 18, 1996 Defense officials have instructed the Pentagon's National Military Command Center to stand up the Santa Reporting System on Christmas Eve to confirm when Kris Kringle and his team of terrestrial navigators enter the nation's airspace.
Working with North American Aerospace Defense Command and Strategic Command officials, National Military Command Control Team No. 5 will use an advanced missile tracking satellite system, dynamic radar and galactic binoculars to monitor the skies for Saint Nick's arrival, officials said.
Led by Rear Adm. Gene Kendall, deputy director for current operations, the team has been instructed to call Marine Lt. Gen. Pete Pace, the Joint Staff J-3 Operations Directorate director, when Santa and his reindeer cross over the North Pole headed for America. Pace will in turn notify National Command Authorities and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Air Force Maj. J. C. Crownover, a space-systems-support surveillance officer, said the team tracks Santa Claus each year to ensure his sleigh travels safely through inclement weather and to warn commercial and military aircraft to keep out of the jolly man's path.
Crownover noted tracking systems can and do differentiate between Santa and a missile or aircraft -- friend or foe. "Santa is easy to track because he's not burning as bright as missiles and aircraft do," he said. "We really use the ability of the satellites to track something going fast as opposed to something burning. However, if we have bad weather, we can detect Rudolph's red nose with our infrared satellite."
Officials shouldn't have to depend on Rudolph's nose too often this year because Air Force weather officials predict few obstacles for Santa Claus and his reindeer on Christmas Eve. Capt. Kristen Schmitt, Air Force staff weather officer, forecasts windy and cold conditions on Christmas Eve, but no precipitation. She said an extended outlook shows mild conditions are expected in the western and southern regions, while freezing rain is a possibility in some Midwestern states. It should snow in upper elevations of the Midwest, and in Minnesota and North Dakota.
Schmitt added a possibility exists Santa Claus may be slightly delayed with heavy snow in New England and around the Great Lakes. But Santa has lots of experience traveling in these conditions, and kids shouldn't worry.
Kendall, Army Lt. Col. George L. Adamakos, Air Force Lt. Col. William R. Hanson, Air Force Lt. Col. Greg Smith, Navy Lt. Cmdr. Matthew L. Klunder, Navy Lt. Cmdr. William T. Cooney, Air Force Maj. David L. Peck, Navy Lt. Don Means, Air Force Capt. Bob J. Weber, Air Force Capt. Dion R. Wall, Army Sgt. 1st Class Jerry L. Feuchtwanger, Air Force Tech. Sgt. Aubrey B. Smith, Air Force Tech. Sgt. Chris Richards, Air Force Senior Airman Benjamin Smith, Army Master Sgt. Beverly A. Mcclinton, Air Force Master Sgt. Michael S. Kidd Jr., And Air Force Tech. Sgt. Cynthia Dorman will be on watch in the National Military Command Center from 9 p.m. Christmas Eve to 5 a.m. Christmas Day.
They are ready to keep a watchful eye and willing to report when every child's dream comes true - when Santa is on his way!]
(Roberts is editor of J-Scope, newspaper ofd the Joint Staff)


text:
Indian children light fireworks in New Delhi for Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights. The festival marks the victory of good over evil and commemorates the time when Hindu God Lord Rama achieved victory over Ravana and returned to his kingdom Ayodhya after 14 years in exile.
Today Hindus across the world are celebrating Diwali, or the festival of lights. There's plenty of coverage about the celebrations, and the Hindustan Times has a good overview.
But we were just struck by a picture of Indian children lighting some fireworks. There's nothing more we can add, you just have to see it:
View the discussion thread.


text:
Fashion your most stylish self
Culture, tips & hacks for every man.
Modern motherhood. Redefined.
Discover something delicious.
Shape a mindful, balanced life.
This truly is the season of glitter, glitz and shine. We've covered sequins, metallics and ornate embellishments, and now we want to add another glistening piece into our wardrobe with a pair of...


text: The Baker Bake And Destroy Premium T-Shirt is a premium pick. Thin and lightweight with Bake and Destroy across chest and Baker Skateboards at base of neck. Fabrics vary according to style. Call Skate Warehouse for the specifics, at 1-800-467-5283. Seamless graphic tag at neck. 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:
Bring back infoAnarchy, the first site to report on the coming age of abundance. Revive infoanarchy.org blog & wiki - donate BTC to 1J66guL99svkrDzEerVhammM938niMUC5G
From iA wiki
See also: Information and Activism Websites | Wikis
Home Page: http://recyclopedia.info (currently down, any mirrors?)
The goal of this project is to create a free and open content encyclopedia of social change, social justice, ecological health and sustainable trades information. For example, how to make composting toilets, how to start an anarchist group, how to make press releases, civil disobedience tactics, photos of vivisection, consensus decision making, the buy local vegan food shops and cheap Slow Food in your area, places to squat, local radical groups, lists of patches, list of billboard liberations, etc.
Just imagine what we can do! Start by editing, editing, editing!
The creator of this project, bobo at enzyme.org.nz, whilst having started this project has been busy with other activities and it seems to have taken a life of its own, particularly due to several individuals in particular who are driving it in their own direction.


text:
Below is the poem entitled Our Father's which was written by poet
Guzzi. Please feel free to comment on this poem. However, please remember, PoetrySoup is a place of encouragement and growth.
Read Poems by
Debbie Guzzi
White cloaked among the shine of brass and glass, Father waits,
cries of past and present mingle, among the cairns of dead.
He paces penitently within the maze
of the stucco glazed cemetery.
"Shall I pray for your dead? He seems to say..
Have you paid the fee?"
The dead rule here and he is their voice.
"How many Our Father's shall I say?"
Money, as always the key….
"My child why do you cry?"
Father inquires with Priestly aplomb.
"Only God now knows where your mother has gone."
Half dead flowers fall from the child's hand.


text:
Dr John Morrissey
BA (Dubl.) PhD (Exon.) PCHE, PDAP, MA (NUI)
Visiting Fellow
Quatercentenary Visiting Fellow
John is a visiting fellow from National University of Ireland, Galway, where he is a political and cultural geographer with research interests in geopolitics, imperialism and international development. His research is broadly concerned with the geopolitical and biopolitical dimensions of imperialism and securitization defining our contemporary world. At Emmanuel, John is writing a book on the geopolitical history of United States Central Command, the key US military command responsible for the securitization of the Middle East since 1983. The book, entitled The Long War: CENTCOM, Grand Strategy and Global Security, will be published by University of Georgia Press. John is author of Negotiating Colonialism (RGS Historical Geography Series, 2003), co-author of Key Concepts in Historical Geography (Sage, 2014) and co-editor of the forthcoming Spatial Justice and the Irish Crisis (Royal Irish Academy, 2014). He holds a BA from Trinity College Dublin, an MA from National University of Ireland and a PhD from the University of Exeter. He has previously held visiting research fellowships at University College Cork, City University of New York and Virginia Tech. At National University of Ireland, Galway, he is cluster leader of the Geopolitics and Justice Research Group and programme director of the MA in Environment, Society and Development.


text:
Insomnium Eye
Project name:
Aieslum: The Cairo Roses, the game will have sequels, so a long term crew would be of most convenience.
Brief description:
Aieslum is a Linear-style platformer in which the player can choose how he or she advances from one point to the other, whether it be in a 2-d Shooter fashion (Think Megaman), or in a "beat em up" fashion. The game's mechanics can be further discussed through PM or an IM service.
i feel it necessary to point out that I've worked on this game's concept for the past 12 years.
Target aim:
Start off small, make it freeware. When we move on to the sequels, as our skills improve, we can start charging for those through Steam or retail.
Fame. And if necessary, payment. The amount of payment can be discussed through PM or an IM service.
I need more C++ Programmers to assist me with my other programmer. A few other artists that can do work like this: http://hecterian.deviantart.com/gallery/#/d4j1j77 would help.
Talent needed:
Sprite artists and Programmers. Programmers must know c++.
Team structure:
Thus far there is only three of us, one being a payed conceptual artist. Myself being a writer/designer. I feel the need to point out that I have little knowledge when it comes to programming (Bio major), though, hence whey I need a crew.
http://hecterian.dev...allery/29132187 Is the gallery full of concept art for the Units in the game.
Email: email@example.com
Skype: ZogJhones
Previous Work by Team:
We've made allot of artistic "collabs". However none of them have been video game related, other than their concept.
Additional Info:
As stated previously I've been working on the game's concept for over a decade. I know how to build the game, but I dont have the building blocks to built said game. Considering That my soon to be Major is in Biology. I want to start something that will leave our audience breathless. I want to give the players a fun, challenging experience with an interesting story line. However I cannot do this by myself.
I have many pieces of concept art, and text documents explaining the game mechanics.
I have the game envisioned within me, however putting it on the screen is the difficult part.
Lend me your help, and it will be well worth it.


text:
Spokane, Portland and Seattle Railway
EMD F3 #801 departing Union Station in Portland, Oregon, 1970
|Reporting mark
|Dates of operation
|Burlington Northern Railroad
|Track gauge
|4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
|922 miles (1,484 kilometres)
|Portland, Oregon
The Spokane, Portland & Seattle Railway (SP&S) (reporting mark SPS) was a United States-based railroad incorporated in 1905. It was a joint venture by the Great Northern Railway and the Northern Pacific Railway to build a railroad along the north bank of the Columbia River. Remnants of the line are currently operated by BNSF Railway.
The wheat farmers, lumbermen and others who wanted better transportation in the area had long pleaded for a railroad but were ignored by E. H. Harriman.[1] James J. Hill stepped into the breach and announced in 1905 that he intended to build a railroad along the north bank of the Columbia River, partly to block the Milwaukee Road from doing the same and partly to invade Oregon, territory that belonged almost exclusively to E.H. Harriman's Union Pacific and Southern Pacific railroads.[2][3]
The Portland & Seattle Railway was incorporated in 1905, and in 1908 Spokane was added to its name. 1906 saw construction between Vancouver and Portland, including work on three major new bridges, crossing the Columbia River, the Oregon Slough and the Willamette River.[4] The northernmost of these was the first bridge of any kind to be built across the lower Columbia.[5] The railroad was completed during 1908 from Pasco, Washington to Portland, Oregon, along the north bank of the Columbia River, and in 1909 the line was opened from Spokane to Pasco.[4] Jointly financing the construction of the Spokane, Portland & Seattle Railway (SP&S) were Great Northern (GN) and Northern Pacific (NP), both under Hill's control.[6][3]
Hill had already acquired a line along the south bank of the lower part of the Columbia River west of Portland; that plus NP's line from Portland to Goble, Oregon formed a route to Portland to Astoria, where a connection was made with Hill's steamships Great Northern and Northern Pacific to San Francisco.[7]
SP&S also had three subsidiaries:
- Oregon Electric Railway
- Oregon Trunk Railway
- United Railways[7]
Oregon Electric Railway[edit]
SP&S acquired Oregon Electric (OE) in 1910, two years after it had been opened between Portland and Salem, Oregon. The main line was extended south to Eugene in 1912; among the several branches was a freight-only line to a logging area on the western slope of the Cascades. The last passenger service was discontinued in 1933, and the railroad was dieselized in 1945.[8] Like many other parts of Hill's railroad empire, the OE was characterized by head-on competition with Harriman, in this case with SP's electric lines in the Willamette Valley.[7]
Oregon Trunk Railway[edit]
The Oregon Trunk was incorporated in 1909 and opened in 1911 between Wishram, Washington, on the Columbia River, and Bend, practically the center of Oregon, 152 miles (245 kilometres). Both Oregon Trunk and the Oregon & Washington Railway & Navigation Company built south up the canyon of the Deschutes River. The two railroads, backed by Hill and Harriman, respectively, fought over occupancy of the canyon and eventually came to terms — trackage rights over portions of each other's line and abandonment of duplicate track. Oregon Trunk's bridge over the Crooked River north of Bend is tied with SP's Pecos River bridge for the honor of highest common-carrier railroad bridge in the U.S.[7]
United Railways[edit]
In 1906 the United Railways Company was incorporated and purchased the properties of the Oregon Traction Company, which had a line from Linnton to Keasey, Oregon, a length of 54 miles (87 kilometres). The line was operated primarily as a steam railroad and was notable for a 4,100 feet (1,200 m) tunnel west of Portland.[8] SP&S absorbed the company in 1943.[7]
Later years[edit]
During World War II the SP&S carried war materials to the Pacific Theatre; new industries located along the Columbia River, taking advantage of cheap electricity from hydroelectric dams on the river. New industries served by SP&S included aluminum plants, sawmills, chemical factories and grain elevators.[9]
In 1954 an SP&S train derailed after hitting a rockslide on the route to Bend. Part of the train landed in the Deschutes River, including a boxcar, which landed in a rapid that was later named Boxcar Rapids; all crew members perished in the wreck.[10]
For most of its life the SP&S functioned as an obscure extension of its two parents. Its steam locomotives for the most part were acquired secondhand from GN and NP. The railroad acquired a distinct identity during the diesel era with its heavy reliance on Alco power and a new slogan, "The Northwest's Own Railway."[7]
SP&S was merged into the Burlington Northern Railroad (BN), along with its parents, Northern Pacific and Great Northern, and Chicago, Burlington & Quincy on March 2, 1970.[7] Because of outstanding bonds, the merger was not completed until November 1, 1979.[11] BN continued to operate it until 1987, when it abandoned the Snake River Junction (near Ice Harbor Dam)-Cheney section. The Washington State Parks system acquired the former roadbed in 1991 and established the Columbia Plateau Trail State Park.[12]
The surviving Portland-Pasco section is used by BN successor BNSF Railway and enjoys heavy traffic because of its low-grade and slight curvature crossing of the Cascades.
Passenger trains[edit]
The SP&S's passenger operations mostly involved hosting connections with parents' trains, such as the Empire Builder and North Coast Limited, which were combined to form the Streamliner (#1/#2). Oriental Limited, Mainstreeter, and Western Star connected with (#3/#4).[citation needed] However, some of these SP&S trains were named. The Inland Empire Express (daytime) and North Bank Limited (overnight) provided daily, through service between Portland (Union Station) and Spokane.[13] The Columbia River Express (#5/#6) operated between Portland and Pasco, connecting at Pasco with Northern Pacific #5/#6 for service to/from Spokane.[citation needed]
See also[edit]
- North Bank Depot Buildings – Portland terminal for SP&S service, 1908–1920s
- Spokane, Portland and Seattle 700
- Spokane, Portland and Seattle Locomotive Roster
- Spokane, Portland and Seattle Railroad Warehouse
- ^ Wood, Charles and Wood, Dorothy, "Spokane, Portland and Seattle Ry.: The Northwest's Own Railway," 1974, Superior Publishing.
- ^ "The Spokane, Portland and Seattle Railway, The Northwest's Own Railway". American-Rails.com. Retrieved 25 April 2010.
- ^ a b Gillman, L. C. (1923). "The Spokane, Portland and Seattle Railroad Company". The Washington Historical Quarterly (University Station, Seattle: The Washington State University State Historical Society) 14 (January): 14—20. Retrieved 2 January 2015.
- ^ a b "Greatest Year for Railroad Construction: Building in Territory Tributary to Portland During 1906 Breaks All Records—City Now Strategic Point in Struggle of Giants". (January 1, 1907). The Morning Oregonian (Portland), section 2, p. 20.
- ^ "Finish Bridge Over Columbia; Steel Structure of the Spokane, Portland & Seattle Railroad [sic] Completed—Last Bolt In Yesterday". (June 26, 1908). The Morning Oregonian, p. 11. Retrieved 2014-06-21.
- ^ The History of BNSF: A legacy for the 21st century. Railway: The Employee Magazine of Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corporation, 27. Retrieved from http://www.bnsf.com/about-bnsf/our-railroad/company-history/pdf/hist_overview.pdf
- ^ a b c d e f g Drury, George H. (1994). The Historical Guide to North American Railroads: Histories, Figures, and Features of more than 160 Railroads Abandoned or Merged since 1930. Waukesha, Wisconsin: Kalmbach Publishing. pp. 310–312. ISBN 0-89024-072-8.
- ^ a b Schafer, Mike (2003). Classic American Railroads, Volume III. Saint Paul, MN: MBI. ISBN 076031649X. OCLC 768623553.
- ^ "HISTORY". SP&S Railway Historical Society Railroad. 2004. Retrieved 27 April 2010.
- ^ "S.P.&S. Engine wrecked near Maupin". Wasco County History Site. Retrieved 27 April 2010.
- ^ Gaertner, John T. (1990). North Bank Road. Washington State University Press. p. 204. ISBN 978-0-87422-070-4.
- ^ Columbia Plateau Trail State Park
- ^ "Mountain, River and Canyon Scenery to Spokane" (SP&S advertisement). (February 28, 1922). The Morning Oregonian (Portland), p. 7.
Further reading[edit]
Gaertner, John T. (1990). North Bank Road. Washington State University Press. ISBN 978-0-87422-070-4. Grande, Walt (1997). The Northwest's Own Railway, Spokane Portland & Seattle Railway and its Subsidiaries.
External links[edit]
|Wikimedia Commons has media related to Spokane, Portland and Seattle Railway.


text:
The Cold Filtered Ramblings of Gene Mueller
Mark Cuban calls BS on ESPN's two biggest blowhards
...and it was delicious.
As the self-proclaimed World Wide Leader in Sports was in the throes of its post-NBA-championship Labronathon, it made the mistake of inviting Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban to the party, a guest who literally peed in the network punch bowl.
"First Take" stars Skip Bayless and Stephen A. Smith who I think regular ESPN fans will agree are the two most polarizing talking heads in Bristol, Connecticut. Why people even bother to watch is beyond me, but some do and what they saw Friday morning was Cuban at his finest: refusing to play nice, calling the two out for dealing in generalities instead of facts. He's at his best when he takes them to task for wallowing in hyperbole about James' performance in last season's NBA Finals loss to Cuban's Mavericks. Where Bayless deals in blow-hard adjectives, Cuban deconstructs the game and describes how Dallas rendered King James so ineffective.
ESPN isn't in the sports business--it's mission is to show most sports fans what they want to see (Tebow, Lebron, Kobe, the Yankees, the Red Sox and anything else that's trending on Twitter) or the sports it has under contract (wonder why you're seeing so much soccer all of a sudden?).
I give them credit for posting this verbal disemboweling on their own website.
This site uses Facebook comments to make it easier for you to contribute. If you see a comment you would like to flag for spam or abuse, click the "x" in the upper right of it. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use.


text:
R56 JCW Kit Stage 1 Update
Sections: JCW, R56 (Hatch) Jul 31st, 2007 48 Comments
As anticipation builds for the release of the new (dealer installed) JCW kit for the R56, more details are starting to trickle out. And thanks to one of our trusty sources, we now have the full parts list of the kit to share with you.
- JCW air filter system
- Stainless steel exhaust (with less restrictions as compared to the stock unit)
- Exhaust manifold (for operation at higher temperatures)
- Turbocharger air filter air guide (to allow better cooling)
- Modified engine electronics system
- Activation code for engine control unit (specific to VIN)
- JCW emblems for front grille and tailgate
- JCW engine badge with serial kit number
- JCW certificate of authenticity continued →


text:
Cancer Health Center
Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Treatment (PDQ®): Treatment - Patient Information [NCI] - General Information About Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
- General Information About Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
- Risk Groups for Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
- Recurrent Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
- Treatment Option Overview
- Treatment Options for Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
- To Learn More About Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
- Changes to This Summary (08 / 07 / 2013)
- About This PDQ Summary
- Get More Information From NCI
Family history and being exposed to radiation may affect the risk of developing childhood ALL.
Anything that increases your risk of getting a disease is called a risk factor. Having a risk factor does not mean that you will get cancer; not having risk factors doesn't mean that you will not get cancer. Talk with your child's doctor if you think your child may be at risk. Possible risk factors for ALL include the following:
- Being exposed to x-rays before birth.
- Being exposed to radiation.
- Past treatment with chemotherapy.
- Having certain changes in the genes.
- Having certain genetic conditions that include the following:
- Down syndrome.
- Ataxia-telangiectasia.
- Bloom syndrome.
- Neurofibromatosis.
- Shwachman syndrome.
Possible signs of childhood ALL include fever and bruising.
These and other symptoms may be caused by childhood ALL. Other conditions may cause the same symptoms. Check with your child's doctor if your child has any of the following problems:
- Fever.
- Easy bruising or bleeding.
- Petechiae (flat, pinpoint, dark-red spots under the skin caused by bleeding).
- Bone or joint pain.
- Painless lumps in the neck, underarm, stomach, or groin.
- Pain or feeling of fullness below the ribs.
- Weakness, feeling tired, or looking pale.
- Loss of appetite.
Tests that examine the blood and bone marrow are used to detect (find) and diagnose childhood ALL.
The following tests and procedures may be used:
- Physical exam and history: An exam of the body to check general signs of health, including checking for signs of disease, such as lumps or anything else that seems unusual. A history of the patient's health habits and past illnesses and treatments will also be taken.
- Complete blood count (CBC) with differential: A procedure in which a sample of blood is drawn and checked for the following:
- The number of red blood cells and platelets.
- The number and type of white blood cells.
- The amount of hemoglobin (the protein that carries oxygen) in the red blood cells.
- The portion of the sample made up of red blood cells.
Complete blood count (CBC). Blood is collected by inserting a needle into a vein and allowing the blood to flow into a tube. The blood sample is sent to the laboratory and the red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets are counted. The CBC is used to test for, diagnose, and monitor many different conditions.
- Bone marrow aspiration and biopsy: The removal of bone marrow, blood, and a small piece of bone by inserting a hollow needle into the hipbone or breastbone. A pathologist views the bone marrow, blood, and bone under a microscope to look for signs of cancer.
Bone marrow aspiration and biopsy. After a small area of skin is numbed, a Jamshidi needle (a long, hollow needle) is inserted into the patient's hip bone. Samples of blood, bone, and bone marrow are removed for examination under a microscope.
- Cytogenetic analysis: A laboratory test in which the cells in a sample of blood or bone marrow are viewed under a microscope to look for certain changes in the chromosomes in the lymphocytes. For example, in Philadelphia chromosome-positive ALL, part of one chromosome is moved to another chromosome. This is called the "Philadelphia chromosome." Other tests, such as fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), may also be done to look for certain changes in the chromosomes.
Philadelphia chromosome. A piece of chromosome 9 and a piece of chromosome 22 break off and trade places. The bcr-abl gene is formed on chromosome 22 where the piece of chromosome 9 attaches. The changed chromosome 22 is called the Philadelphia chromosome.
- Immunophenotyping: A test in which the cells in a sample of blood or bone marrow are looked at under a microscope to find out if malignant lymphocytes (cancer) began from the B lymphocytes or the T lymphocytes.
- Blood chemistry studies: A procedure in which a blood sample is checked to measure the amounts of certain substances released into the blood by organs and tissues in the body. An unusual (higher or lower than normal) amount of a substance can be a sign of disease in the organ or tissue that makes it.
- Chest x-ray: An x-ray of the organs and bones inside the chest. An x-ray is a type of energy beam that can go through the body and onto film, making a picture of areas inside the body.
Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Treatment (PDQ®): Treatment - Patient Information [NCI] Topics
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