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Ever notice when you hear someone speak another language how different not only the words sound, but how different the rhythm is? Music is great for learning our native language rhythms and also for exposing your child to another language. Singing songs slows down the words. Each sound is more emphasized. Music also triggers our memory. I find it funny I can't find my keys half the time, but I can still remember all the words to "Frère Jacques" at any given moment!
A great website to check out is www.storyblocks.org. On it you'll find videos of songs and rhymes in 3 languages to try with your little ones: English, Vietnamese and Spanish. The songs and rhymes are taught by local parents and librarians! I love the video with our very own librarian, Cecilia, singing in Spanish 'Dos Manitas, Diez Deditos' or 'Two little hands, Ten Little Fingers'. The words are also transcribed just below and to the right of the video. I recently sang this song during a guest baby time appearance at the Evergreen library. I was impressed by the mamas who learned it along with their babies!
An easy song to learn body parts is 'Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes'. I have written it out in Spanish:
Cabeza (Ka bay za) Head Hombros (Ohm bros) ShouldersRodillas (Row dee ahs) KneesPies (Peeyays) FeetRodillas Pies Cabeza, Hombros, Rodillas, Pies, Rodillas, Pies
Ojos (O hos) EyesOrejas (Or ay hahs) EarsBoca (Bo Ka) MouthY Nariz (EE Na Rees) Nose Y= 'and'Cabeza, Hombros, Rodillas, Pies, Rodillas, Pies
Not ready to sing a song in another language? Never fear! There are CD's and You Tube videos out there to do the singing for you! For example, when I was teaching, I really liked playing Hap Palmer songs. On 'Learning in two Languages/Aprendiendo en dos idiomas', he sings each song in English and Spanish. He sings very clearly and you can find his lyrics written out online.
Here is a link to a lovely YouTube video by Natasha Morgan. It is simply animated and shows her hand drawing animals while she sings and writes out greetings as well as counts numbers up to 12 in French and English.
Adiós, Au Revoir and Goodbye for now!
Image credit: flickr
LETTER KNOWLEDGE: Knowing that letters are different from each other, knowing letter names and sounds, and recognizing letters everywhere.
little a
What begins with A?
Oooh, oooh...I know, I know!!!
I can also tell you what begins with BIG B, little b, BIG C, and little c...
I have Dr. Seuss to thank for this pithy little saying sticking with me all these years, and that is how simple creating letter recognition is with your child. Repetition, rhyme and enjoyment go a very long way in developing your child's interest in letters.
According to The Colorado Libraries for Early Literacy (CLeL), that's why ECRR (Every Child Ready to Read) highlights LETTER KNOWLEDGE as one of their 6 early literacy skills designed to promote early literacy in young children.
Why Is It Important?
To read words, children have to understand that a word is made up of individual letters.
What Can You Do to Help Build This Skill?
Look at and talk about different shapes (letters are based on shapes).
Play "same and different" type games.
Look at "I Spy" type books.
Notice different types of letters ("a" or "A") on signs and in books.
Read ABC books.
Talk about and draw the letters of a child's own name.
Aunt Annie's alligator...A...a...A.
Oh, sweeter words have never been said!
Singing plays a vital role in a child's early reading skills. Our friends at Colorado Libraries for Early Literacy tell us that:
Pete the Cat is always a big hit with kids but why not try some other books that feature a sing-a-long song and picture book all wrapped up in one?
Give these books a try:
Let's Sing a Lullaby with the Brave Cowboy by Jan Thomas
Bubble Gum, Bubble Gum by Lisa Wheeler
The Croaky Pokey by Ethan Long
Photo credit: dok1 on Flickr
Last week I saw on the news that families were spending less time together over the holiday due to time spent shopping, among other things. This year, why not take some time out from the hustle and bustle to craft great gifts with your kids? The benefits are numerous. First, you're creating connections with your children. You are creating a special time when they can be the focus--who knows what kind of great conversations you might have! Second, you're making something to give to someone. What better way to tell someone you love them than with a gift you've made? Third, depending on the craft you pick, you might be saving yourself some money!
You're not crafty, you say? Never fear, help is here! There are many resources out there for you; you just have to be able to follow directions. And I know you can do that! Start at the library. There are a multitude of books about making crafts. Here are a few about making presents specifically:
You can always check out some library events too. You never know when we might have a program about a craft!
Pinterest is another excellent place to get ideas. Pins generally have links back to more detailed instructions. You'll be surprised at the variety and number of options there are when you search Pinterest for "christmas gift crafts for kids."
You can also go to one of the big craft stores and buy kits that are all ready to put together. Remember, the idea is for you to spend some quality time with your child(ren), not to stress out about how to make something.
These are some of my favorites:
Here's wishing you a holiday season full of joy, good cheer, time spent with loved ones, and maybe, a little crafting.
PRINT MOTIVATION: Being interested in and enjoying books.
I know, you're saying "Well duh, you're a librarian". But, even if I was a rocket scientist or a zoo vet I would still love books!
Even before my children were sleeping through the night (and believe me I don't miss those days) I would sit in my rocking chair and read to them. It would be just us, gently rocking, and listening to "a quiet old lady who was whispering 'hush'". You can inspire the same love of reading in your children, whether it's the wee hours of the morning or the middle of the afternoon, showing interest and enjoying reading with your children is where their love of reading begins.
According to The Colorado Libraries for Early Literacy (CLeL), that's why ECRR (Every Child Ready to Read) highlights PRINT MOTIVATION as one of their 6 early literacy skills designed to promote early literacy in young children.
Why Is It Important?
Kids who enjoy books and reading will be curious about reading and motivated to learn to read for themselves. Motivation is important because learning to read is HARD WORK!
It's important that we make sure our children start reading and listening to books from day one and that they have a good time with books.
Have fun!
Read books you both like
Stop (or shift gears) when it is no longer fun. Length of time is not important; enjoyment is!
If you're looking for a tried and true classic...you're never too old or too young to enjoy, Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise-Brown. I promise!
So, find a comfy spot, curl up with a fun book and your little one, and let the magic begin!
Have you ever read a goosebumps book? Not the Goosebumps series by R.L. Stine. I mean a book that no matter how many times you read or re-read it, it gives you goosebumps. WONDER by R.J. Palacio is one of those books!!
August Pullman was born with a facial deformity that, up until now, has prevented him from going to a mainstream school. Starting 5th grade at Beecher Prep, he wants nothing more than to be treated as an ordinary kid—but his new classmates can't get past Auggie's extraordinary face.
WONDER, begins from Auggie's point of view, but soon switches to include his classmates, his sister, her boyfriend, and others. These perspectives converge in a portrait of one community's struggle with empathy, compassion, and acceptance.
The magic of Wonder continues in these beautifully written companion books.
365 Days of Wonder by R.J. Palacio
This companion book features conversations between Mr. Browne and Auggie, Julian, Summer, Jack Will, and others, giving readers a special peek at their lives after Wonder ends. Mr. Browne's essays and correspondence are rounded out by a precept for each day of the year—drawn from popular songs to children's books to inscriptions on Egyptian tombstones to fortune cookies. His selections celebrate the goodness of human beings, the strength of people's hearts, and the power of people's wills. There's something for everyone here, with words of wisdom from such noteworthy people as Anne Frank, Martin Luther King Jr., Confucius, Goethe, Sappho—and over 100 readers of Wonder who sent R. J. Palacio their own precepts.
The Julian Chapter: A Wonder Story by R.J. Palacio
Now readers will have a chance to hear from the book's most controversial character—Julian.
From the very first day Auggie and Julian met in the pages of the Wonder, it was clear they were never going to be friends, with Julian treating Auggie like he had the plague. And while Wonder told Auggie's story through six different viewpoints, Julian's perspective was never shared. Readers could only guess what he was thinking. Until now. The Julian Chapter will finally reveal the bully's side of the story. Why is Julian so unkind to Auggie? And does he have a chance for redemption?
CHOOSE KIND! It'll give you goosebumps!
You daydream about catching your child reading Huck Finn or War and Peace but are rudely awakened to find them in front of the TV again. It seems like every conversation with your child ends with, "but books aren't as good as TV."
Why not capture your child's attention by introducing them to books based on their favorite TV shows or movies? The library owns several titles at many different reading levels based on popular TV shows and movies such as Scooby Doo and Star Wars. They may not be classic masterpieces but they just might get your child to read! Here are just a few of the popular TV shows or movies that you can find in books at your library:
Lego Ninjago
My Little Pony
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Start your kids off on the path to reading with their TV and movie pals. Once the door to reading has been opened the possibilities are endless!
Photo credit: Lubs Mary. on Flickr
Can we talk?
So far in Ready to Read Reminder, I have reminded you to WRITE, PLAY, READ, and SING and now we get to TALK. Just talk. What could be easier than talking?
I love to talk. Ask anyone who knows me and they'll tell you. I can turn a simple Yes or No answer into a 20 minute monologue on what I saw driving to work this morning. I actually blame Dr. Seuss', And to Think That I Saw it on Mulberry Street, for my keen powers of observation while driving to and from home. You never know when you'll spot a blue elephant pulling a sleigh, with a Rajah, with rubies, perched high on his throne on your daily commute. I live in Evergreen, you know.
I've had this love of talking since I was little. My report cards always came home with this curious addendum, "Barbara likes to visit with neighbors." They were right, I do! The gift of gab can be a wonderful thing!
That's why ECRR (Every Child Ready to Read) highlights TALK as one of their 5 practices designed to promote early literacy in young children.
How does talking with children help them get ready to read? According to The Colorado Libraries for Early Literacy (CLeL), talking with children helps them practice (and eventually master) the following skills:
The more words children hear in conversations during their early childhoods, the larger their vocabulary when they go to school. That big vocabulary helps them recognize words when they see them for the first time in print. They will understand more of what they read and be less frustrated as beginning readers.
Print Motivation
The more books children read, and the more adults talk to children about the story, characters, and ideas in books, the more children can make connections between the books they read and their own lives. Children enjoy recognizing themselves in print and that pleasure motivates them to read more and discover more connections.
Narrative Skills
When adults tell stories to children, either familiar folktales, or family stories, it helps children learn that stories have a specific structure: they have a beginning, middle, and end, they have characters who take action and encounter conflict before resolving a problem. When children understand how stories work, they can carry that framework to their reading, where it can support them as they try to determine the meaning of the text.
Comprehension is such a critical part of successful reading. If you don't understand what you read, you won't be motivated to read more. The more children know about the world before they start to read, the more this background knowledge can inform their attempt to decipher what's on the page. Parents who discuss new information about how and why and when things happen with their children are giving their children an excellent foundation they will build on every day as readers.
Phonological Awareness
We're used to thinking about Singing as the main practice that books phonological awareness, due to the ways songs stretch out syllables, slow down language, and provide lots of practice with rhyming sounds. But studies show that kids who are immersed in a lot of verbal conversations and a rich oral language environment show gains in their phonological awareness skills, as well. There's just so much to learn about the sounds of our language, that the more information the brain receives, the better it can start to sort, classify, and understand the way those sounds work.
Letter Knowledge
We know that children need to know three things about letters: the names of the letters, the shapes of the letters, and the sound or sounds that are associated with those letters. Although some children may seem like they absorb this information on their own, most children build what they know about the letters through conversations with their parents and caregivers. Naming letters on signs and billboards, pointing out letter shapes in sidewalk cracks or buildings, and voicing letter sounds while reading alphabet books or playing with blocks are all ways these conversations help make these connections.
Print Awareness
A recent study showed that early childhood teachers can make a measurable impact on their childrens' reading readiness just by adding a few simple activities to their shared reading every week. Teachers were trained to draw their children's attention to print by simple activities such as pointing to the words in the title of a book, or underlining the words with their fingers as they read, or noticing the difference between uppercase and lowercase letters on the page. Children who received this type of guided reading showed greater achievements than children who didn't in phonological awareness and letter knowledge skills up to two years later. Simple conversations can make a big difference!
The spoken word is a powerful thing...why just this morning I saw a flock of geese dancing across the road, while the foxes kicked a soccer ball around the field...it was amazing! But wait, wait, wait...there's more....
Photo credit: Ed Yourdon on Flickr
What do you think of when you hear the words Book Club? A group of moms, sitting around someone's coffee table, discussing the latest chick lit? Or maybe a group of teens, sipping Starbucks and waxing prophetically?
Well, here at JCPL , we have our own kind of book club, and KIDS may apply!
Not only do you get to read a great book and share your thoughts about it with other kids, you also get to do a fun activity that relates to the book. Zen gardens, creating your own cartoon, quiz shows, scavenger hunts, and making Rube Goldberg machines are just a few of the things we have done so far. And what kids meeting would be complete without a snack?
Check out what your local library will be doing this month:
Columbine Library
Tuesday, October 7th, 4:30-5:30pm
Ages 8 & up
This Month's Book: The Escape by Kathryn Lasky
Evergreen Library
Monday, October 20th, 4:00-5:00pm
Ages 8-11
This Month's Book: Wonder by R.J. Palacio
Golden Library
Monday, October 6th, 6:30-7:30pm
This Month's Book: Wait Till Helen Comes: a ghost story by Mary Downing Hahn
Lakewood Library
Tuesday, October 21st, 4:00-5:00pm
This Month's Book: A Dog Called Homeless by Sarah Lean
Can't make it to a meeting? No worries! Evergreen Library also offers Book Club in a Bag. Book Club in a Bag has 8 titles for a 6 week check out. Each bag is filled with 10 paperback copies, one for each of your friends, a Book Club Promise bookmark for everyone to keep, and a folder with discussion questions, a summary of the book, an author bio, and activities for your book group.
Available Titles:
Shipwrecked by Rhoda Blumberg
Please Write in This Book by Mary Amato
The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart
Peter & the Starcatchers by Dave Barry
Charlotte's Web by E.B. White
The Breadwinner Trilogy by Deborah Ellis
Love That Dog by Sharon Creech
Sounder by William H Armstrong
Book Club...it's not just for the BIG kids anymore!
Today is the Fall Equinox! To learn more about this fascinating time of year, try these fun activities out with your little ones:
Snuggle up and read about the Fall Equinox:
By The Light of the Harvest Moon by Harriet Ziefert
Thanking the Moon : celebrating the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival by Grace Lin
The autumn equinox : celebrating the harvest / Ellen Jackson ; illustrated by Jan Davey Ellis.
Finished reading? Make a leaf mask to celebrate!
Then, strap on your leaf masks and sing the following rhyme with your kids while you twist and twirl around!
(to the tune of Row, Row, Row your Boat)
Leaves, leaves falling down
Falling on the ground.
Red and orange and yellow and brown,
Leaves are falling down.
Happy Fall everyone! :)


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MediaFire launches beta Desktop sync client for OS X, Windows
updated 12:23 pm EST, Thu November 21, 2013
Tiers start at free 15GB level
Cloud file storage service MediaFire has launched a beta of Desktop, a new sync app and service for Windows and OS X. Much like Dropbox or Google Drive, MediaFire Desktop lets users automatically sync local files. Files can also quickly be shared through integrated OS options, which include URL generators and a screen capture tool.
One of the differences with MediaFire is the size of its subscription tiers. The free tier offers 15GB, and subsequent options scale up to 100GB ($4.99), 200GB ($9.99), and 500GB ($24.99). MediaFire also notes that it does automatic web-based audio and video transcoding, which makes it possible to load media files on mobile devices.
MediaFire hasn't said when Desktop will emerge from beta.

subset: commoncrawl


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- Filed Under
It's pretty obvious that when "expertise" was being handed out in a good many subjects, I was in the wrong line.
So I'm putting out a disclaimer right now: I am no movie expert - not a qualified "movie critic" in the least.
But (and it's a big one) I do love going to the movies. As a matter of fact, when I love a movie, my naturally cheap nature steps aside, and I'll go back over and over to catch all the nuances. Especially if it's about an underdog. ...


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theStaffordshire Bull TerrierBrave, Tenacious, Clever
meet theStaffordshire Bull Terrier
Did you know?
The old-fashioned Bulldog was a fierce, courageous animal used in the sports of bear- and bull-baiting as early as the mid-sixteenth century.
You vs.
the Staffordshire Bull Terrier
are you?
The Stafford Bull Terrier was officially recognized by the AKC.
Training &
Somewhat Active; Vigorous exercise and secure running room are musts; neglected Staffies are destructive.
Colors &
Learn More
at aGlance
theBreed Standard
Embed the breed standard on your site.
Download the complete breed standard or club flier PDFs.
Staffordshire Bull TerrierCare
& Feeding
Good nutrition for Staffordshire Bull Terriers is very important from puppyhood to their senior years.
Somewhat Active; Vigorous exercise and secure running room are a must; neglected Staffies are destructive.
theStaffordshire Bull Terrier Community
Upload your favorite Staffordshire Bull Terrier photos to Twitter or Instagram using the hashtag #akcStaffordshireBullTerrier.
get involved inClubs & Events
Explore meetups.com and see all of the local Staffordshire Bull Terriers in your area.


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When two people quarrel, a third rejoices. This old saying could well prove accurate on the final day of Group A and B fixtures at the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup 2010 on Tuesday. The situation in both groups is almost identical, with the top two sides from each going head to head, and respective third-placed teams Colombia and Brazil hoping results go their way to stand a chance of securing a quarter-final spot.
Though Germany (six points) have already booked their place in the last eight, the hosts have plenty of motivation to beat second-placed France (four) with first place at stake. A German victory would give Colombia (one) the chance to overtake Les Bleuettes, provided they beat Costa Rica (zero) by a significant enough margin.
In Group B, already-qualified Korea DPR (six) and closest chasers Sweden (four) meet in Augsburg. A Scandinavian defeat would leave the door open for third-placed Brazil (one) to snatch second spot by beating bottom side New Zealand (zero).
The big game
France - Germany, Augsburg, Tuesday 20 July, 11.30 (local time)
Propelled by a vibrant home crowd, Maren Meinert's charges have notched seven goals and six points from their opening two matches. The Germans will be hoping to take that momentum into their final group fixture against France, but will certainly need to show more stability at the back. Goalkeeper Almuth Schulth has already had to pick the ball out of the net on three occasions, and Tuesday's opponents demonstrated their goalscoring capabilities in a 2-0 victory against Costa Rica secured by Marina Makanza's brace. Les Bleuettes require at least a point to secure their place in the next round.
The other games
While the two European neighbours battle it out in Augsburg, Colombia will be doing their best to crown their excellent performances at the tournament so far with a victory against Costa Rica in Dresden. The Latin American showdown pits together two strong sides who boast a wealth of individual talent: Colombia's Lady Andrade is aiming to inspire her team to a crucial victory, while Costa Rica's Katherine Alvarado hopes to bid farewell to Germany 2010 on a positive note.
Russia 2006 champions Korea DPR will be aiming to maintain their 100 per cent record as they take on Sweden in Augsburg. The Asians are on course to top the Group B table, but their astute tactics and quick passing will be put to the test by a passionate and determined Scandinavian outfit. A point for Sweden would see them into the knockout stages in their first-ever appearance at the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup.
Meanwhile in Dresden, Marcos Gaspar's Brazil knows his side must pick up their first win of the competition against New Zealand to stand any chance of maintaining their title dreams. The Kiwis' group-stage exit has already been confirmed, but no doubt the All Whites will be keen to bow out of the tournament with a good result against As Canarinhas.
The stat
8 - The number of goals scored in the last meeting between Germany and France at a FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup. It was the match for third place at Chile 2008, in which Maren Meinert's side ran out 5-3 winners.
The words
"We'd be happy to play our quarter-final in Bochum, as we'd rather play in Bielefeld a little later in the competition!" Maren Meinert, Germany coach. If her side win the group, they will return to Bochum for their last-eight tie. If they finish second, they will play in Bielefeld, where the final will also be staged.


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- Filed Under
A local couple was arrested Sunday on allegations they forged a prescription and attempted to fill it at a local Walgreens Pharmacy.
State police was contacted by the pharmacy in reference to a man attempting to obtain a controlled dangerous substance through a fraudulent prescription.
Troopers questioned Shane Gorman, 40, of Bastrop, who said his ex-wife, Temple Gray, had called in the prescription. ...


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November 30, 2015
A substitute teacher from Bay High School, in Panama City is facing charges that he had sex with a 17-year-old student in his classroom.
Twenty-three-year-old Cornelius Campbell was arrested Wednesday and charged with first-degree sexual battery. That's a felony.
He's free on bond.
Campbell and the girl both told officials they engaged in consensual sex on April 22 during a lunch period.
Campbell is not being allowed to continue teaching until the situation is resolved.
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Feb 3, 2010 9:48 AM
Ok, ok, we don't need this Michael Aram Gold Lemon Pitcher ($275), and at that price, we're definitely not going to buy one (unlike other things we don't need but still buy), but what a fab design! Wouldn't it be great to fill with lemonade...or, better yet, lemon drops! Is it summer yet?
If you've got a product or service that you'd like to promote on Outblush, click here to find out about our advertising opportunities.
Outblush is a blog for girls who love to shop. Our staff digs up the best clothes, home stuff, beauty items, and more. New items are posted every day — bookmark us, sign up for email updates, grab our RSS feed, and check out:


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Although it creeps me out to even type about this, it's pretty interesting: an international scientific team has created microrobotic roaches (and poultrybots) to study collective intelligence and behavior. They've managed to trick real roaches into joining the roboroach group via artificial roach smells. The New York Times article mentions "controlling the behavior of animals" (such as the mass panic reactions of chickens), improving robotic and computer performance, and military applications of "swarm technology" as eventual goals of the research.
Meanwhile, as Ally #1 Bruce Sterling blogged last week, the Life 7.0 jury in Madrid chose four winners from a shortlist of 60 as the best in "artworks that utilise artificial life concepts and techniques." Tied for first:
Spore 1.1 by American Doug Easterly, a plant purchased at Home Depot and ingeniously connected to the Internet to check on Home Depot's stock price. The value of the stock determined whether or not the plant got automatically watered. "The underlined paradox is that Home Depot guarantees the well being of the plant for one year and, if the plant dies due to either falling or rising share values it has to be replaced by the multinational, a contract relating life and death."
Universal Whistling Machine, by Canadian collaborators Marc Böhlen and JT Rinker, "a tone-based based interpreter of whistles. Using advanced signal-processing computation -- similar to the chips in mobile phones -- their system can extract whistles from other sounds, and can exchange passages with humans, each other, and even animals...[W]hat looks at first like a simple process becomes ever more interesting, a technical mocking bird [like those automated 'customer service' systems that make you yell gibberish into the phone to find out your flight time or balance due--eg] thats either mimicking or earnestly trying to communicate. "
Check out the whole competition.
The jury also made a special mention of Critical Art Ensemble, the biotech-critiquing art collective which has been the target of federal harassment and indictment under "anti-terrorism" laws (as mentioned by Natalie Jeremijenko in her WorldChanging interview).


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Lindsay Lohan has finally checked into rehab.
However, on Friday's Live From E!, Jason Kennedy, Ken Baker and Melanie Bromley chat about how for most of yesterday and today, it quickly became anybody's guess where the troubled actress was or what she was doing.
But wait, there's more.
Also on the show, we talk (and hear!) Reese Witherspoon's drunken arrest video and discuss how Harry Connick Jr. exclusively confirmed to E! News that he's been approached about being a judge on American Idol.
Be sure to check us out every day at 12:30 p.m. ET/9:30 a.m. PT. And don't forget to follow us on Twitter @LiveFromE and hit us up with your questions using the #LiveFromE hastag.


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In addition to build-to-print services, we offer troubleshooting, repair, and re-certification of units that return from the field. Our facility is approved by several defense contractors and we can up screen devices to comply with all military specifications and requirements.
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SemiGen provides turnkey electrical and quality testing of RF / Microwave hybrids and components up through 40 GHz in our in-house test lab. We also provide full tuning to customer requirements, inspection, and final ATP with Certificate of Compliance. Typical tuning methods include stub-tuning, impedance matching, capacitive, and inductive.
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Other Markets
In addition to RF / Microwave assembly, SemiGen is also experienced in producing assemblies for industrial (transducers, encoders, and control boards), medical (sensors and instrumentation boards) and optoelectronic (LED assemblies, receivers, and drivers) applications.


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The BSE Sensex and NSE Nifty fell 1% each after the foreign rating agency S&P said it has revised India outlook to negative, citing investment & economic growth slowed and CAD widened.
"High fiscal deficit, heavy debt burden remain most significant constraints on India rating," S&P said.
The BSE benchmark was down 163 points or 0.95% to 17,044.25 and the NSE benchmark dropped 54.85 points to 5,167.80 or 1.05%.
For more mid-market updates, listen to the accompanying audio..
All sectoral indices took beating today. Power, Capital Goods, Realty, Bank and Metal indices were down 1-1.7%.
India's largest private sector lender ICICI Bank tanked 2% while rivals State Bank of India and HDFC Bank fell 0.9% and 0.6%, respectively. Housing finance company HDFC too was down 0.7%.
Engineering and construction company Larsen & Toubro declined over 1.5% and state-owned capital goods company BHEL lost over 2%. NTPC, country's largest power generation company went down 2%.
Index heavyweights and oil & gas producers Reliance Industries and ONGC were down 0.5% each.
Technology stocks continued to fall after muted guidance for Q1FY13 by Wipro. Top IT services exporters TCS and Infosys declined 1.6% and 0.6%, respectively.
However, shares of top telecom operator Bharti Airtel outperformed, rising 1.5%. Hero Motocorp and Maruti Suzuki gained 0.6% each ahead of sales numbers for April.
The BSE Sensex continued to trade volatile ahead of April expiry session on Thursday. Shares of Wipro, Infosys, TCS and ICICI Bank weighed on the market while Bharti, Reliance Industries, L&T and State Bank of India were supporting the market.
The BSE Sensex and NSE Nifty stayed flat, even after positive Asian cues. Banking & financials, auto, metals and oil & gas stocks were helping the market.
The BSE Sensex and NSE Nifty started of trade lower on Wednesday due to fall in technology stocks, but immediately recovered somewhat led by gains in banks, metals, oil & gas and healthcare stocks. Overall the indices were moving around their previous closing values.
video of the day
Nifty to fall below 7500 if Q3 disappoints; GST key: Kumar


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Nike has just introduced their newest innovative footwear offering, the Nike SFB, the lightest tactical boot ever. Four years ago the Innovation Kitchen at Nike was given the task of creating a boot that needed to meet the needs of first-response teams and high-speed operators who are elite athletes in their own right who needed a product that would perform. Tobie Hatfield, Nike Innovation Manager says, "Throughout the evolution of this product, it also became very clear that America's elite military operators and first responders share similarities with the world's top tier athletes."
The SFB pays homage to it's co-founder, Bill Bowerman, who before becoming a track coach at the University of Oregon was a founding member of the 10th Mountain Division of the United States Army.
The SFB features some of the most innovative technologies used at Nike including a Natural Motion Cushioning, Sticky Rubber forefoot lugs, a Speed Lacing System made of 550 cord run through metal speed-lacing eyelets keep the foot securely locked down, in addition to a number of other features that makes this boot the lightest, fastest, natural motion boot ever produced.
More detalied photos after the jump…


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Great lengths: Summers shorts go long on style
Wear your shorts long.
The added length is perfect for this summer and it will carry you into fall.
Longer shorts are flattering and can be worn with confidence, says Michele Casper, senior director of public relations for Lands' End. They also are a great alternative for their versatility and can be styled to be appropriate for work and social occasions.
For the office, think of the long short as a skirt alternative, she says, and pair it with the appropriate accessories to make the look professional.
"Most women will be happy to see long shorts back in style," says Lindsay Huggins, senior fashion market editor for Self magazine. "We were seeing so many short shorts for such a long time that it is nice to see some knee-length options. Wearing a Bermuda short and matching jacket with heels is super chic."
The longer short was featured on runways, says Marissa Rubin, senior market editor for People Style Watch. "If you go with a longer short, it is best to pair it with a higher heel," she says. "The short suit is also a wonderful option for the office ... when worn with a blouse and appropriate work heels, and then you can take the jacket off and change up the shirt to an embellished top and fancy sandal for a perfect outfit for the weekend getaway."
These shorts come in various fabrics from silk with drawstring waists to leather-coated (or pleather) material, Rubin says. Some options can carry over into your fall wardrobe, she says.
"This season, there are so many flattering styles, and color is certainly everywhere," Casper says. "The trend in bright colors and bold prints in pants has transcended over into shorts. Ginghams, large-scale florals and bright, solid colors add a refreshing option from the standard khaki short. When wearing a printed short, select a shirt that is more classic in cut and color."
City shorts, as they can be referred to, are appropriate for some work environments when worn with a jacket or silk shirt and a mid-level heel," says Lisa Converse, senior vice president of design at White House Black Market. "However, not all work environments would consider a short appropriate for work. If there is any doubt, a good rule of thumb is to save city shorts for a polished casual day event or summer night out with a glamorous top and paired with a wedge or pump."
A great, dark denim short is a must-have for this summer, says Gregg Andrews, Nordstrom fashion director. Shorts are no longer being paired only with T-shirts; they also can be dressed up.
"Shorts today are a little dressier looking and have a 1950s feel to them. And you can often cuff your shorts, so that gives you two different looks. With so many colors, prints and patterns, shorts can add some intrigue to a wardrobe."
Go with a bright, poppy color in a short suit, Huggins says. When pairing it with heels, go for a wedge because a pump can look trashy, she says. The height will help elongate the legs versus wearing a flat.
Some of the silk options might look nice, but, she cautions, they might be tougher to wear in extreme heat, because they might cling to your body. And they might be see-through, so try them on in good light.
There is finally a trend in flattering, longer shorts, says Natasha Pace, Zappos.com style expert. She says the variety of shapes is what makes this short modern.
"There are straight legs, tapered looks, relaxed fit and even culottes," she says. "Since this style is universally flattering, we can definitely expect them to become a new wardrobe staple, much like capris are now.
"The really fun part will be how designers interpret them," she says. "Expect to see amazing denim washes, pretty floral prints to downright cool digital camo prints. And rest assured, in a few months everyone will be wanting one of the ultra-cool leather ones coming down the runways."
The most popular short inseam will vary by your personality and end use, says Josh Saterman, Macy's fashion director.
"The key is to have a rolled option," Saterman says. "Because then you can roll the hem. The rolled hem is both fresh and fun. Bright fun colors are the way to jump into this trend. This is the new way to wear a short."
JoAnne Klimovich Harrop is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. She can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com or 412-320-7889.
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text:
What do Microsoft, Apple, Mozilla, say about Dart?
CSS tutorial, now on its own page: Xah CSS Tutorial.
It's a pity. With HTML5 and all advances, it seems midi file is still not supported. Test here: HTML5 Audio Tag Midi File Test.
Steve Yegge's Google Platforms Rant
Yesterday, i removed all
type="text/javascript" on my site. That is:


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Barista Basics Cog-Style Rubber Tamper Seat
- Product description
The Espresso Parts Tamper Seat/Puck gives you a soft place to rest and store your tamp when not in use. The rubber puck cushions the tamper base and will keep your tamp from falling to the floor and helps prevent a soggy bottom tamp.
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In Praise of Clones
I'm all alone, so are we all
We're all clones
All are one and one are all
~ Alice Cooper
Two separate discussions, one at work and one around the virtual OakTable , have made me aware that maybe not as many Oracle professionals as I imagined are aware that Oracle provides a facility to clone Oracle Software homes, either to a new home on the same machine, or to a new home on a brand new machine with the same build. This process is far quicker than the graphical installation routine, or even than a straightforward silent install using OUI. It also lends itself very neatly to quickly provisioning identical builds of database servers. I thought therefore I'd jot down my notes on how I recently did just that for a data guard demo environment.
Servers Involved
I had 2 servers involved here, their setup is as follows:
|Physical IP Address
|Primary Server
|Standby Server
The servers are both running my favourite RHEL clone CentOS, in this case the Release 5.6.
Initial Setup
After installing the O/S, updating the kernel for security patches I installed the following products in /u01/app/oracle/product/11.2.0/dbhome_1 on node1.
- Oracle Database 126.96.36.199
- Oracle July PSU (12419331 )
The above process took approximately 2 hours including media download and basic server documentation.
Gold Image
At this point I could have simply repeated the process on node 2. However cloning is much easier and repeatable. First I made a Gold Image by running the following as root on node 1. /media/dsl/database/linux/11.2 is a mount point containing my gold images.
cd /u01/app/oracle/product/11.2.0/dbhome_1 tar -cpvzf /media/dsl/database/linux/11.2/db112023.tgz .
On the second machine I also mounted my DSL as above and then ran the following script
./installOracle.sh /media/dsl/database/linux/11.2/db112023.tgz /u01/app/oracle/product/11.1.0/dbhome_1 /u01/app/oracle OracleHome1
where installOracle.sh reads as follows
#!/usr/bin/ksh # # Install gold image of Oracle using clone home functionality of OUI. # # Expects parameters <name of image> <install_loc> <Oracle Home Name> # Assumes Pre-Reqs are met -- TODO add pre-req fixing # assumes unzip installed # if [[ $# -ne 4 ]]; then echo "Usage : installOracle.sh imageName instLoc oracle_base HomeName"; echo " : eg installOracle.sh /media/dbhome111.tgz /u01/app/oracle/product/11.1.0/db_1 /u01/app/oracle OracleHome11g" exit 1; fi IMAGE=$1 INSTLOC=$2 ORABASE=$3 HOMENAME=$4 echo "Making Oracle Home Directory" mkdir -p ${INSTLOC} chown -R oracle:oinstall ${ORABASE} cd ${INSTLOC} echo "Extracting Archive at $(date +%Y%M%d%m)" tar -xvzf ${IMAGE} cd clone/bin echo "Cloning Home........." sudo -u oracle perl clone.pl ORACLE_HOME="${INSTLOC}" ORACLE_HOME_NAME="${HOMENAME}" ORACLE_BASE="${ORABASE}" -ignoreSysPrereqs ${INSTLOC}/root.sh echo "Install Finished at $(date +%Y%M%d%m)" echo "Please run any non root.sh scripts as instructed above. root.sh has been run"
This code has to be run as root. It does the following
- creates the home directory
- extracts the gold image from the tarball
- runs a perl script as the oracle user
- runs root.sh
This script completed in less than 10 minutes on an identical virtual machine to the one that had taken 2 hours to perform the complete install and patching process.
Metalink Reference : How to clone an Oracle Database Home using OUI
Possibly Related Posts:
5 Responses to 'In Praise of Clones'
Excellent little trick there.
I'm wondering, what if I want to include the database structures with this cloned image? I noticed, or assumed, that the database files weren't included, is that true?
What I would like to do, eventually, is build a continuous integration environment where the production database is cloned (with or without data, a choice I suppose that could be configured), then built on the fly, upgrade scripts run, tests run and test results published. Then have the entire environment destroyed (because I love to break stuff).
Thank you sir. I'll have to check that out.
Hi Niall
It might also be worth mentioning for the benefit of those RAC users unfamiliar with cloning that it's possible to clone the clusterware too:
Hi Niall,
Interesting Rakesh brought cloning up the other day. The same clone script is available in OFM homes, although there it is required to run the prepare_clone.pl scripts which does collect the files and mainly makes a backup of the DCM as well. Infrastructure and ssl configured Oracle Homes can apparently not be cloned.


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On October 1st, 2014, we published revised versions of our Terms and Conditions. Your continued use of GrabOne means you agree to this revised document, so please take a few minutes to read and understand it. Ok, got it
Lovett Acupuncture
€19 for 1-Hour Acupuncture Session at Lovett Acupuncture, Galway (value €50)
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Liberty University recently received notice from its accrediting agency, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, that its Fifth-Year Interim Report was fully accepted with "no additional reporting" requested.
Dr. Ron Godwin, Liberty's senior vice president for Academic Affairs and provost, said requesting no additional reporting is rare for an institution. He said only one or two schools a year receive a fully accepted report. For example, in years past Liberty University itself has been asked for as many as 80 additional reports.
"Often recommendations are made; so to receive the response with no further reports requested is exceptional and a blessing," Godwin said. "We are immensely proud of the work that our deans, department heads, assessment coordinators, and their faculty contributed to achieving this great result. It was literally a university-wide effort extending over at least a year and a half, with thousands of man hours invested, and all of that resulted in the best SACS letter Liberty has ever received."
While SACS requires an even more rigorous self-study report every 10 years, schools must also complete a report every five years, proving they have met 17 of the most demanding Principles of Accreditation, which include every aspect of the university's operation, from academic programs to financial aid, administrative leadership, and student services — for its residential and online programs.
The response from SACS not only means Liberty is meeting the most challenging standards, but puts the school in a favorable position as it heads toward completion of its full compliance report — composed of responses to 96 standards — that must be submitted in September 2015.
Liberty University was first accredited by SACS in 1980. In 2009, Liberty received Level VI accreditation, the highest classification from SACS reserved for colleges and universities that offer four or more doctoral degrees. (Read the full story.)
Retired Air Force Brig. Gen. Dave Young, dean of the Liberty University School of Aeronautics, was recently appointed by Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell to serve on the Virginia Aviation Board.
Young will represent Region 5, which covers the City of Lynchburg, as well as Campbell, Appomattox, Pittsylvania, Nottoway, Prince Edward, and Halifax counties. Board members serve four-year terms.
Young served as Liberty's executive vice president and chief operating officer before joining the aviation program in 2002. He previously served on the Lynchburg Regional Airport Commission and was named Virginia Aviation Person of the Year in 2008. (Read the full story.)
The Liberty Channel, Liberty University's in-house television network, is now available to an even wider audience.
The station is available in local cable packages with Comcast (Channel 10) and Shentel (Channel 12), as well as digitally on Channel 43.1 and 43.2. It can also be viewed nationally through Sky Angel IPTV (Channel 132), as well as anytime on a live web stream at www.libertychannel.com and on the new Liberty Today mobile app, a free download on iPhone, Android, and Blackberry devices as well as iPad, Kindle and other leading tablet brands.
The station is available in high definition (HD) on Channel 43.1, and Liberty is working with the local cable providers to switch to its HD signal.
The Liberty Channel has something for everyone, from family-friendly movies every Saturday night, to live and pre-recorded Liberty athletics events, church services, concerts, children's programming and special Liberty events, including Convocation.
The station plans to air more original Liberty content produced by School of Communication students, giving those students unique and rare opportunities to gain real-world experience. (Read the full story.)
Three students of Liberty University's Department of Biology and Chemistry earned first-place awards at the Virginia Academy of Science annual meeting at Norfolk State University, May 23-25.
Liberty's participants, all undergraduates, beat out other undergraduate and graduate students from across the state, including The College of William & Mary, Virginia Tech, Virginia Commonwealth University, and Hampden-Sydney College. Students presented their research through either presentations or poster formats.
Recent graduate Courtney McKenzie won Best Student Presentation for microbiology/ molecular biology, and recent graduate Rebecca Garrett won Best Student Poster in the same category. Their research was titled, "Global Characterization of DNA Methylation Patterns in an Alzheimer 's Disease Model."
Mike Canfarotta, who was a sophomore at the time of competition, won Best Student Poster for biology. His project was titled "Mouse Colonization by Citrobacter rodentium."
"We are extremely proud of these students," said Dr. David DeWitt, professor and chair of Liberty's Department of Biology and Chemistry. "The research awards they won attest to the quality of our science programs at Liberty University and the hard work of our students and faculty. Awards like this go a long way to dispel the mistaken notion that Bible-believing Christians can't do quality science." (Read the full story.)
Liberty University students from the Helms School of Government traveled to Washington, D.C., this summer for a unique pilot course, Surveillance and Surveillance Detection, the first of its kind offered at any university.
The students spent 12 days (May 28-June 8) in the D.C. area learning the art of surveillance and surveillance detection from retired and former intelligence community personnel.
The teaching environment was unconventional, as the students learned from intelligence officers by walking, mapping, and understanding the streets of D.C. to conduct the assignments correctly. Several exercises were performed throughout the day, many independently. The students had two textbooks to read prior to beginning the class, a final exam, a term paper, and professional evaluation of their field activities.
The class was taught from such an applicable and practical way that another intelligence agency actually picked up on what the students were doing and started following them around to see their work.
Dr. Charles Murphy, who developed the course, said he plans to follow the necessary steps to move the course from a pilot course to become a permanent course, and to offer it again next summer. (Read the full story.)
Advertising and public relations students in Liberty University's Department of Communication Studies continued to shine in competitions this year, earning the top two spots at the Collegiate Effie Awards in New York, N.Y.
The team of Curran Adelman and Janique Byrd won first place in the Collegiate Effie Awards' MINI USA Brand Challenge for their campaign, "Innovation: Worth a Double Take."
The team of Kim Soward and Paula Tan were runners-up in the competition, giving Liberty the top two finishes.
A few days after graduation Liberty's students were flown to New York where they, along with the other finalists, had the opportunity to present their campaigns to industry leaders and executives.
The competition is hosted by Effie Worldwide ("Effie" is short for effectiveness), and was founded by the American Marketing Association to educate and encourage effectiveness in the marketing communication industry.
Liberty also took third place in its district in the National Student Advertising Competition. (Read the full story.)
Earlier this year, alumna Keri Cook ('12) was named Student of the Year by PRWeek, a weekly trade magazine for the public relations industry. Liberty had two teams win first and second place at the 2012 John Caples International Awards in March.
Staying on the cutting edge of education, Liberty University's Center for the Advancement of Faculty Excellence (CAFE) has created more than 150 Liberty University Online courses for iTunes U.
"Liberty University is delivering academic excellence with biblical integration from some of the best professors in the discipline to multiple audiences," said Dr. David Brown, associate director of CAFE. "This is just another form of getting the message of Christ and His creation to the world by every possible means."
With iTunes U, students can access course content for Liberty Online's over 100 degree programs free of charge, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, on the iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch. A new iTunes app, announced in January, allows students to watch or listen to lectures, read books, view presentations, and check off a list of assignments as they are completed.
Through iTunes U, prospective students and parents have the opportunity to view a course's layout and workload ahead of time, listen to lectures, plan ahead for a class, or simply see what makes Liberty different from other institutions.
For example, people can compare world literature classes at Liberty and Yale University, Brown said, finding that "Liberty integrates biblical teaching in its course."
Brown said iTunes U allows any student who already enrolled to take their course content on the go.
A student is able to use his or her iOS (Apple's mobile operating system) device and tap a link via their Blackboard course that would subscribe them to the iTunes U course. From there they could download videos or audio files to their portable device and listen at any time.
"The military student that may have limited access to a computer can download his or her lectures and can listen from any place in the world at any time," Brown said.
Brown said Liberty's iTunes U courses are collectively receiving about 105,000 hits and 33,000 user downloads a week on average. Liberty has offered videos and podcasts through iTunes U since 2006. (Read the full story.)
A recent study shows Liberty University is among the nation's financially sound colleges and universities.
The report, "The financially sustainable university," conducted by Bain & Company and Sterling Partners and written by Jeff Denneen and Tom Dretler, broke institutions into three categories: financially unsustainable, at risk, and financially sound.
Those deemed unsustainable had "more liabilities, higher debt service, and increasing expense without the revenue or the cash reserves to back them up," according to the report. Schools that are considered top-ranked institutions and have large endowments are less at risk, it reads.
The study showed that while Liberty was determined to be financially sound, approximately one-third of all colleges and universities have financial statements that are significantly weaker than they were several years ago.
"The Christian Post" dove further into the study and found Liberty was one of seven Christian institutions to make the list of financially sound schools (read the full article at www.christianpost.com).
Liberty's financial outlook continues to show promise. The university marked its initial public bond in December 2010 when it issued $120 million worth of tax-exempt education facilities bonds. In January, Liberty announced its second IPO, this time in the corporate bond market selling $100 million of taxable bonds. Standard & Poor's rated Liberty's bonds 'AA,' as they did the tax-exempt bonds in 2010; Moody's Investors Service rated Liberty for the first time this year, assigning the taxable bonds an 'A1' rating. The ratings place Liberty among the nation's university elites for financial strength.
This year Liberty will become the youngest American university to reach $1 billion in net assets, guaranteeing that it will be able to fulfill its mission of Training Champions for Christ for generations to come.
A group of 18 students from Liberty University School of Law took a special trip to Washington, D.C., on June 4, where they were granted reserved seating for a session of the U.S. Supreme Court and a private audience with Justice Antonin Scalia.
The students are members of the Liberty Counsel externship program and constitutional litigation clinic.
Following the court session, the courtroom was cleared out and Liberty's party was invited back for a private meeting with Scalia. According to Dean Mat Staver, Scalia spoke about the importance of our government not being our Bill of Rights, but the division of power, because our Constitution diffuses power so that one branch cannot become all-powerful. Scalia held a Q-and-A session for the students.
The group was then taken on a private tour of the Supreme Court, after which they met with retired U.S. Army Maj. Gen. William "Bill" Suter, who serves as clerk of the Supreme Court, managing all the administration and docket cases. Suter spoke on the importance of leadership and extolled the virtues of Liberty's law school. He also held a Q-and-A session for the students before they continued on to a guided tour of the Capitol. (Read the full story.)
The Liberty University School of Aeronautics recently acquired its first new aircraft that is 100 percent owned by the university.
The Cessna 172SP G1000 Skyhawk was purchased directly from Cessna Aircraft Company. With the tail number N701LU, it is the first of the "700 series" that will be used to identify all planes from the School of Aeronautics.
John Marselus, associate dean for flight operations, said the Cessna purchase is another sign that the aeronautics program is exceeding expectations. When he arrived in the summer of 2010, there were 90 students on the flight line; in January 2012, there were more than 180.
The honor of the plane's first official training flight went to Lindsey Gray (instructor and graduate of the aircraft mechanic program) and Megan Grupp, a sophomore from Kodiak, Alaska, studying missionary aviation.
Shortly after its purchase, the plane was put into action when senior Jacob Hilt from Charlton, Mass., and instructor Nathan Edwards assisted with a search and rescue for an aircraft that went down over Amherst County, Va., while they were on a routine training mission. (Read the full story.)
When Liberty University en Español was launched in the fall of 2011, the bilingual program was hoping to make inroads with the Hispanic community. Now it is celebrating its first graduate and has tripled enrollment in one year.
Javier Pimentel, a lay minister at Woodlands Church in The Woodlands, Texas, received his Associate of Arts Degree in Religion in May.
He is the first graduate of Liberty University en Español. He attended Liberty's Commencement in May.
Pimentel has led the way for more than 300 students who are enrolled in the program for the fall, a 200 percent increase from 99 students enrolled in 2011.
"Our Liberty University en Español faculty and staff are very proud of seeing students like Mr. Pimentel achieve their academic dreams," said Orlando Lobaina, executive director of Liberty en Español.
"We know every student in our bilingual program has other responsibilities, and achieving a degree in an online format gives them the flexibility to accomplish their goals. We look forward to a larger group of Latino students graduating from our online bilingual programs next year."
Pimentel is one of five graduates who received their degrees through Liberty en Español this past academic year; he was the first to apply for graduation.
Liberty en Español offers accredited bilingual programs from the associate to master's level, all within a Christian worldview taught by fully bilingual professors and staff. With 12 unique programs of study, students can explore degrees in the fields of business, religion, ministry, psychology, counseling, criminal justice, education, and paralegal studies. It recently debuted a new certificate program in biblical studies entirely in Spanish.
Pimentel currently works for Kerry Shook Ministries, a worldwide television ministry with his church, and is certainly not finished with his education through Liberty. He immediately began work on his bachelor's degree in psychology and life coaching with a minor in church ministries, which he will complete this fall. He hopes to begin his Master of Divinity through Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary next spring and earn his Ph.D. in counseling soon after.
Liberty University will present its 16th annual Civil War Seminar, "1862—The Rise of Lee and Grant," Friday, Sept. 28-Sunday, Sept. 30, at Liberty University School of Law.
The event will spotlight several lectures from nationally renowned authors, presentations of papers by scholars from around the country, and an online simulation of the Battle of Antietam by teams of high school and college students. Special tours are planned of the National Civil War Chaplains Museum on Liberty's campus in the afternoons.
Numerous exhibits of Civil War artifacts and memorabilia will be displayed for the public and vendors will have various Civil War items for sale.
The seminar concludes with a special period church service at Liberty's prayer chapel, led by the Rev. Alan Farley of Re-enactor's Missions for Jesus Christ.
The event is free to all middle, high school, college, and home-schooled students. For more information, including times, go to www.liberty.edu/civilwar.
On Monday, June 11, Liberty University Online enrollment reached 80,000 students. Thanks to this stride in its thriving online education program, Liberty has strengthened its standing as the nation's seventh largest four-year university, largest private, nonprofit, four-year college and the largest college in Virginia.
A special reception was held the following day to celebrate the landmark and the people who made it happen.
"When we reach milestones like this we never forget the dedication, the perseverance of every single person involved," said Chancellor Jerry Falwell, Jr. to the employees. "Every phone call you make is important. Every time you interact with somebody you potentially are changing their lives forever."
Falwell said Liberty Online is exceeding its goals for this year as it continues to grow at a rapid rate.
Liberty is poised to hit 100,000 students enrolled this year. (Read the full story.)
Liberty University's new Maternal-Child Critical Care Certificate Program through the Department of Nursing gives students with a passion for critical care of mothers and babies increased knowledge that will strengthen their skill set as they enter the field.
The department ran a pilot course in the Spring 2012 semester with eight students. Three of those students were offered jobs from their clinical work at the University of Virginia Health System. The program officially opened this fall. The spring 2013 class already is filled to its 12-student capacity and has a waiting list.
Mary Highton, assistant professor of nursing and the maternal-child coordinator, said the course should give students hoping to work in critical care an advantage because they will already have certificates in certain programs they will eventually need when they become nurses.
"It kind of puts them ahead of the game," she said. "Most of these students are very assertive, they are critical-thinking nurses. (The course) just meets their appetite for more education and information."
The course features many speakers who work or have worked in the field and certifies the students in Pediatric Advanced Life Support with the option for additional certification in the Advanced Cardiac Life Support and Neonatal Resuscitation Program.
Though the academic rigor of Liberty's nursing department alone is challenging enough, students of the new certificate program log an extra 144 clinical hours on top of their required clinicals.
The program is modeled after the university's Critical Care Certificate Program that started about five years ago to accommodate students interested in any form of critical or emergency care. The program was initially offered to 12 students and now welcomes up to 18 each semester, and is usually filled to capacity.
Both certificate programs are unique in that few, if any, of this kind exist at other institutions, according to Critical Care Certificate Program Manager Shanna Akers, assistant professor of nursing and director of the RN-BSN online program.


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Putting All Your BlackBerrys In One Basket: Branding Brilliance Or Backfire?
When RIM officially changed its name to BlackBerry, it may have been a backward-looking move.
Should Justin Bieber change his name to "Baby"? Should Robert Downey Jr. ask to be addressed in real life as "Iron Man"? In both cases, their new names would reflect their most famous work—"Baby" being Bieber's biggest music single and Iron Man being Downey's most popular film role.
Still, it seems silly, doesn't it? These two gentlemen obviously have a lot more professional success ahead of them and don't need to be strictly defined by something they've done in the past, no matter how popular it was.
And yet, one company is doing something very similar with its own name. Recently, Canadian corporation Research in Motion Limited (RIM, for short) took the unusual step of rebranding itself with the new corporate name of BlackBerry, its most famous product. I was asked to comment on the name change by The Canadian Press and other media outlets a week or so ago, and my opinion can be best summed up in one word: "Risky."
As I mentioned in that article, some luxury car brands already do this kind of corporate branding under one name; BMW, for example, doesn't bother with model names when it comes to their BMW Series vehicles, because consumers are attracted to the brand, rather than a specific model.
They can get away with that, however, because people still actively want a BMW; it's still a desirable brand. The problem with BlackBerry is that it has almost become a one-word punch line for bypassed technology, due to its failure to respond to new competition offered by iPhones and Android smartphones. In 2006, BlackBerry devices had 44% of the domestic smartphone market tied up; by September of last year, that percentage had plummeted to 8.4%. Shares of the company have followed a similar downward trajectory, from a high of $70 per to their current price of roughly $15 a share.
And the bloodletting is not over. One week after RIM announced its name change, the giant retail chain Home Depot announced it was dumping BlackBerry devices for employee usage in favor of iPhones. Not only that, but the BlackBerry Super Bowl commercial, designed to create a big splash for its new Z10 device, underwhelmed in the extreme—showing, in fact, what the device can't do, rather than what it can.
Still, RIM's name swap—and imminent release of a new generation of BlackBerry products—has stimulated some good news: The company's stock price gained 15% after the rebranding—and early signs show the new device might sell well.
The question remains, however, did RIM make a huge mistake pinning its whole company to what still appears for all intents and purposes to a dying brand? Yes, it's for certain that BlackBerry is a much more recognized name than RIM ever was—but, again, one has to recognize that it's more of a negative association these days.
Generally companies change their names to avoid those kinds of negative associations. For example, the private security firm Blackwater changed its name to Xe after a series of scandals involved with its work on behalf of the U.S. in the Iraq War. Philip Morris, likewise, changed its name to Altria so it would no longer be pegged solely as a cigarette maker.
And sometimes companies don't change their names when it would seem logical, so they can continue to benefit from a positive association. U.S. cable news channel MSNBC should have lost two-fifths of its name once the NBC network and Microsoft finally dissolved their 16 year-old news partnership last year. The website, after all, was immediately transformed from MSNBC.com to NBCnews.com, yet the cable channel remained branded as MSNBC. Why? Because it has created a strong and valuable identity under that brand name; why lose a positive brand association, even though the "MS" in MSNBC has taken its leave?
If the two above situations are two sides of a branding coin, then the new BlackBerry situation represents that same coin spinning on the ground—in other words, we don't know which side it's going to end up landing on. "Heads" might entail the new BlackBerry models selling at a fast clip and enabling the company to regain traction in the marketplace; should that be the case, the name change will be seen as a genius move. "Tails," however, could mean the Z10 doesn't catch on with consumers—and that the company ends up "Black-Buried" by its new direction.
It could be that this was a branding gamble that the company formerly known as RIM had to take. Let's hope that the odds are on their side—and that their rebranding brings in a lot of coin in the future.
Did BlackBerry blow it with their name change? Tell us what you think in the comments.
[Image: Flickr user Daniel Kulinski]
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4 Comments
People outside North America or even Canada didnt know what "RIM" was. I think they mad a bold move in rebranding itself. But time timing of this is questionable. They should have done it when BlackBerry was the top smartphone or should have waited if BB10 sold well.
John, good closing question. I think the answer may be in your observation a couple paragraphs up. If the new Z10 does well, it aligns them around their strength. If it fails, well, how much is really left anyways, regardless of the name?
My reaction to the name change is that it is a distraction, it divides their focus and the last thing they need to be spending time and money on right now is the rebranding exercise. They ARE well known, this rebrand doesn't create separation from the historical RIM, to me it just seems to be an internal distraction which they cannot afford right now. Right now they need to solve the product, which includes the associated app marketplace, before they worry about things like their name.
Thanks for your great comments Eric!...and you're right the money spent on the rebranding exercise could've been better spent elsewhere...but RIM carries alot of baggage and although it may have seem like a wasted exercise, time will tell whether it works or the company folds. Either way it has added some additional chatter beyond the intro of the new phones.
I think that only the "experts" have a problem with the rebranding, regular people never knew what RIM was.


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Review: iFrogz Audiowrapz Treadz
A case, speakers and a party in a small silicone case for iPod nano 3G (June 10th, 2008)
MacNN Rating:
Product Manufacturer: ifrogz
Price: $24.99 US
The Good
- Thick silicone case. Built-in speakers. Use speakers or earphone. Accessible earphone port.
The Bad
- Sound quality isn't very good. Attracts dust.
The Audiowrapz from iFrogz has received many awards and accolades. This over-sized iPod nano case (4.25" x 2.25" x .5") with built-in speakers is unique in the iPod marketplace. You won't find a more convenient solution for sharing your iPod music with friends.
What makes the Audiowrapz stand out from the crowd is its thick (2mm) silicone case that contains a hard plastic liner with a built-in speaker system. The three integrated silver speakers use passive speaker technology and do not use any more power from your iPod than your standard headset or earphones.
The Audiowrapz Treadz looks essentially the same as their iFrogz Treadz, but iFrogz also makes a plain case, dubbed the Thumpz, in eight different colors. Another version ships as the Tadpole, with sure grip handles in white, purple (Purple Parade), or green (Lymon), which is great for kids.
Dressing Up Your iPodYour iPod slips into the 2-piece case through the video opening and the earphone port slides onto an audio jack mounted on the plastic liner, while a thin plastic piece slips partially into the Dock port, both deep inside the case. The hard plastic backing extends the length of the silicone case. You should make sure your Hold switch is off before you install your iPod in the case, because only the earphone port is always accessible.
Although I haven't heard of any mishaps while installing the iPod, you should be careful, because the jack could scratch the iPod if slid around or jammed too quickly into the case. The screen and Click Wheel are open, but the Audiowrapz ships with an adhesive protective clear plastic video cover. You can also order a Click Wheel cover when you buy the case; this bundle saves you $3.00 over the case and cover sold individually.
Sound QualityNot to be a wet blanket, but while the case is innovative, the sound leaves a lot to be desired. There's just this hollowness to it that detracts from the music experience. The sound is muddy and the mid-range suffers. Audio books and podcasts sound just fine though.
On the other hand, sometimes access to music is more important than the quality of the sound. For example, when I was in middle school my family traveled to a vacation home at least once a month. I remember huge arguments with my parents over my insistence on dragging along my huge boom box. You could not separate me from my music. If that is how you feel about your music, and you don't always want to plug up or cover your ears than the Audiowrapz iPod speaker is the perfect solution. Alternatively, if the sound starts to grate on your nerves, just plug in your earphones and the speakers switch off.
The Audiowrapz is particularly convenient when you lose, break, or mangle your earphones or want to share your music with other people. The sound won't fill a room, but for tabletop listening, it is almost loud enough. Due to the innovative design, convenience, coolness factor, and price, I'm reluctantly giving the Audiowrapz a 4-star rating, although the sound quality rates about 2.5-stars.
When you consider the price of many of the iPod cases available, the Audiowrapz with built-in speakers is a real bargain, especially at retail stores. The iFrogz site lists the Audiowrapz Treadz for $24.99, but Target sells the Thumpz for $19.99. This makes it a perfect gift for almost everyone with an iPod nano 3rd Gen.
Related Reviews:
iFrogz Treadz


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A freight train derailed just after 9 a.m. Friday in the area of Long's Park, sending three cars off the track.
Harrisburg Pike temporarily was closed after the derailment in Lancaster County. Long's Park also closed.
Three Norfolk Southern train cars derailed, apparently shortly after the westbound train left the railway's yard behind the U.S. Post Office on Harrisburg Pike.
See photo, read more from the Lancaster Intelligencer Journal/New Era.


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Dear Mr. Anderson, Ever since I started liking monster
trucks, you and Grave Digger have been my favorite. I wanted to congratulate
you for your big 30th anniversary. You will always be my favorite monster truck
driver and your truck will always be the coolest of them all! Hopefully I will
get to meet you someday! After all, it is my life dream to be able to meet you.
-Carla from Zelienople, PA


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Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Health Center
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Safe Posture and Movements - Topic Overview
Repeated hand and wrist movements, especially if they are done in awkward positions such as with the wrist bent forward or back, can cause swelling or thickening of tissues within the carpal tunnel. The swelling makes the carpal tunnel smaller and puts pressure on the median nerve, which can cause tingling or pain in the wrist and hand.
These kinds of hand and wrist movements are done in every part of our lives, during:
Recommended Related to Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
The term "pinched nerve" describes one type of damage or injury to a nerve or set of nerves. The injury may result from compression, constriction, or stretching. Symptoms include numbness, "pins and needles" or burning sensations, and pain radiating outward from the injured area. One of the most common examples of a single compressed nerve is the feeling of having a foot or hand "fall asleep." Pinched nerves can sometimes lead to other conditions such as peripheral neuropathy, carpal tunnel syndrome,...
Read the Pinched Nerve article > >
- Work (such as cutting meat; repairing cars; construction, especially when using vibrating tools; prolonged bar-code scanning; using a computer).
- Daily activities (such as cooking, cleaning, gardening).
- Hobbies (such as needlework, knitting, painting, holding a book while reading).
- Sports (such as tennis, golf, bicycling).
Here are some things you can do to put less strain on your body:
- For activities such as typing and knitting, keep your forearms parallel to the floor or slightly lowered.
- Keep your shoulders relaxed and not raised.
- Your wrists and hands should be in line with your arms. Your wrists should not be twisted or bent for long periods of time.
- Position your work at waist height or slightly lower if you have to exert force.
- Organize your work so that you can change your position now and then while you stay in a comfortable posture.
In this article
WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise


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TLA Releasing acquires North American rights to The Trip
TLA Releasing has acquired North American distribution rights toMiles Swain's award-winning gay romantic comedy The Trip, it was announced today (Feb 6). Thetwo-year-old distribution label, a division of TLA Entertainment Group, willrelease the film initially in New York ...
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Adamas Nickel Cryogenic Bass Guitar Strings - Medium, 1 setItem #: MC.EXN45
List Price: $34.99
Unrated ( Be the first to review this item )
by Adamas
Bass Guitar Strings. Made by Adamas. (MC.EXN45)
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Found in: 4-string Bass Guitar Strings
Cryogenically treated nickel bass strings. Gauges: .045-.105


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Food for Face: Eating for Healthier Skin
Eating right for your skin and face.
Healthy skin can be hard to come by. Unattractive blemishes and pimples are annoyances that often interfere with our personal confidence, relationships, and in certain cases even our general health and professional productivity. Taking care of your skin and treating pimples with proper techniques and products, in conjunction with eating right, is a winning combination for beautiful skin. Below are just three different food options to help you achieve the healthy skin you strive for.
- Fish
Certain types of fish contain high levels of essential Omega-3 fatty acids, which aid in skin inflammation reduction, skin nourishment, and decreased pore blockage. Salmon is a prime example of a fish that is high in these helpful fatty acids, and can do wonders for skin complexion.
Snapper is another facially beneficial friend from the sea, as it is rich in Selenium (a mineral which helps reduce sunburn risk and aids in evening skin tone), and other essential fatty acids.
- Vitamin C (Fruits and Veggies)
Vitamin C is an integral part of the human diet for a number of reasons. As it relates to healthy skin though, foods high in Vitamin C help maintain healthy collagen levels and other skin strengthening fibers. Guava, kiwi, oranges, strawberries, and papayas are among the highest Vitamin C-containing fruits, while chili peppers, bell peppers, leafy greens, and broccoli, have the highest content in vegetables.
- Turkey
For the meat lovers out there, turkey is a wonderful option to choose for getting your protein fix, while also ushering in high amounts of Zinc, another mineral that maintains skin elasticity, firmness, and general health. While eating other types of meat in moderation can also be beneficial for your skin, always try to avoid eating processed foods and refined carbohydrates, as these tend to promote skin aging.
Perhaps the most pertinent advice to be given for maintaining a healthy, skin-friendly diet is to aim for variety. While foods such as tomatoes and broccoli are great for your skin, you shouldn't overload on either. Keeping a well-varied diet ensures that your body and skin get a solid dose of all the valued nutrients and minerals we need to become and stay healthy.
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