text:
Nintendo apologizes for lack of same-sex relationships in Tomodachi Life
2 years ago
What a surprise! According to this press release, Nintendo is officially apologizing for failing to include same-sex relationships in the upcoming Sims-esque 3DS game "Tomodachi Life". They say that technical limitations prevent them from making the change this late in the development cycle.
The surprising part? In order to advance their "longtime company values of fun and entertainment for everyone", Nintendo is pledging that if a sequel is ever made, the developers "will strive to design a game-play experience from the ground up that is more inclusive, and better represents all players"!
Clearly Nintendo sees the value in maintaining good consumer relations, but I think this goes above and beyond in terms of openness and dedication, and might even be a bit risky in terms of potentially alienating the more hardcore conservative consumers. I wonder if this ties in in any way to CEO Satoru Iwata's "quality of life" drive? It seems like promoting social justice would certainly be a way to improve quality of life...
What do you think, g1s? Is this a step forward for Nintendo, a simple attempt to save face, or a sign that society's going to hell in a handbasket?
Yes We Can! Beat Solar Man! (With water... Sort of...)
3 years ago
So it always seemed kind of silly how you could beat Solar Man in Mega Man 10 with the Water Shield. What, is the water somehow not only protecting you from the blazing heat but also extinguishing it, too? How is that supposed to work? It's a freaking MINIATURE SUN! How are you supposed to put THAT out with water! The water would just evaporate!
Well, then I read this XKCD what-if article.
Oh, right. Water contains hydrogen, which is (surprise surprise) FUEL FOR THE SUN. It's like throwing gasoline on a fire! So why does the Water Shield even work against Solar Man? Well, clearly it's overloading the reaction, causing him to go into emergency cooling mode to bring things back under control. But doing so causes so much stress that he takes major damage.
As for the actual sun, though, as the article states, while adding more fuel to the sun does make it hotter, it also makes it burn out quicker. So with enough water, yes, you could even destroy the actual sun! FOR SCIIIIIENCE!
Why I love Mega Man (and Rogue Legacy, and Zelda, and Metroid)
3 years agoThis morning I was playing the excellent indie platformer Rogue Legacy, and something occurred to me - there's one way in that Rogue Legacy is like one of my favorite series, Mega Man. It's that both have steep difficulty curves early on, which level off as you progress, with occasional spikes throughout the game.See, in Mega Man, you start off with pretty much nothing. All you have is your wimpy (except in Mega Man 5) mega buster, and maybe a few special moves like a slide or a Rush Coil. You have to claw your way to the top of the robot pack, defeating robot master after robot master, growing stronger all the while, until you're finally ready to take on Dr. Wily. It can be insanely difficult early on, especially for someone new to the series, and I'd have to say that the game actually gets easier as you progress - at least until the final stages when you confront Wily!In Rogue Legacy, you again start off with pretty much nothing. 100 HP, 100 mana, only a few classes to play as, and no special equipment. Throughout the game, you can find and buy upgrades, which you get to keep even after your character dies and you start a new one (hence the "Legacy" in the title). The game, like Mega Man, is brutally difficult at first, but once you get used to the controls, and upgrade your HP, mana, classes, and equipment, it becomes... well, only moderately difficult. (There's actually an item you can equip that depowers enemies at the cost of reduced gold drops!)So why do I enjoy these games so much? Is it because I'm a masochist? Well, no, I'm not a masochist. (At least, I don't think I am!) I think it's actually because there's a sense of accomplishment that comes from pressing on and finally defeating the initial challenge of the game, making my character powerful enough to tackle the rest of the game. Then when I get to the grand finale, and the difficulty ramps up again, I can really appreciate how much I've progressed.To take an example from one of Jirard "The Completionist" Khalil's favorite games (and one of mine as well), in Mega Man X (which he does an excellent review of in his first episode of his YouTube series), at the beginning you as X are pretty wimpy, and have no hope to defeat Vile (though to be fair, he was riding in a mech...); you're saved by Zero, who says that someday you may be as strong as him. Well, sure enough, at the end of the game, Zero gives you his weapon (which lets you charge up any weapon you have captured from a boss, which is totally awesome)... but then Zero gets into another fight with Vile, and blows himself up to destroy Vile's mech so you can take out Vile himself. And sure enough, the fight with Vile is challenging, but not impossible. It's awesome to be able to fight for Zero, just like he fought for X in the beginning of the game, using all the new powers you've acquired throughout the course of the game!Another series which has this sort of inverted difficulty curve is the Zelda series. In some of the games (such as the original Legend of Zelda, Ocarina of Time, and Wind Waker), you don't even start with a sword! Of course, there's not much actual danger at that point (except in the original Zelda), so that doesn't really count. But once you start exploring, you'll find yourself confronted with seemingly insurmountable obstacles, such as those annoying centaurs that shoot deadly sword beams at you and take way too many hits to kill in the original game. Eventually, though, you'll find some item that makes you start to wonder if you've somehow become God incarnate, because it makes dealing with the lesser challenges a complete cakewalk. Master sword that does 4x normal damage? Check. Blue ring that halves all damage taken? Check. Double hookshot that lets you zip around the sky level like Spider-Man? Check. Once you have these items in hand, you realize that maybe it's time to take on some of those obstacles that previously seemed impossible - and what do you know, they're not so hard after all!And then there's Metroid. You start with 99 max health, a wimpy blaster that (in the original at least) doesn't even shoot all the way across the screen, and no advanced weaponry like missiles or bombs. But when you get to the end of the game, you can have over 1000 health, a wave spazer plasma ice beam that freezes and/or obliterates multiple enemies at once, 100 missiles, bombs, a dozen or so each of super missiles and super bombs, and the screw attack. Yeah, the screw attack. Seriously the most overpowered item in all of gaming. (Except in Metroid Prime 3; there it kinda sucked.) It lets you literally jump through enemies to kill them, as if they were balloons waiting to be popped. And you still get health and missile pickups! Oh, and did I mention you can use it repeatedly in midair, allowing you to kill lots of enemies at once, or just air-climb up to high platforms? And yet still, all these weapons aren't quite enough to defeat Mother Brain (at least in Super Metroid) - you still need the hyper beam!Come to think of it, the inverted difficulty curve isn't all that uncommon. It's especially prevalent in roguelikes such as Angband, where progress is measured not just in terms of character stats and equipment, but also in terms of player skill, as characters are expected (as in Rogue Legacy, which draws inspiration from roguelikes) to die like Chicagoans vote - early and often! Permadeath games in general, such as The Binding of Isaac and FTL, don't necessarily qualify, though, as they usually get much harder as the player progresses to compensate for the lack of length. I included Rogue Legacy because your accomplishments carry over from one game to the next, making future playthroughs easier, and Angband because the difficulty curve, while sloping upward, does so gently, what with the game's ridiculously long length; the real difficulty comes from mastering the game's mechanics and strategies. Not that games with upward-sloping difficulty curves are less enjoyable than games with downward-sloping curves with the occasional spike; each style has its own unique charm!(Note: This post was copied from my other blog.)
My thoughts on the Super Mario Bros. 3 worlds
3 years ago
So apparently I remember the names of the worlds of Super Mario Bros. 3 a bit differently than other folks. Everyone else seems to remember names that sound like zones from Sonic the Hedgehog games, such as "Seaside Boulevard" or whatever the heck they come up with for world 3. Now I'll admit that later Mario games went with such descriptive names, but what I remember from my childhood is something much more generic:
Whatever Land.
That's right, every single world in my copy of Super Mario Bros. 3 was named Something Land, and while most of the names made sense, a few of them made me go "Huh?"
So here's a trip through memory lane... starting with World 1!
World 1 I remember as "Grass Land". Yeah, about the most generic name ever, even more than the infamous Green Hill Zone from Sonic 1. The funny thing is, it didn't even have all that much grass in it! Mostly just pavement or whatever those funny looking floors in 1-1 and 1-3 were, and then there were the aerial levels like 1-4, and the fort... about all the grass I can think of is in world 1-2!
World 2 was "Desert Land", though for some reason I always wanted to call it "Egypt Land". Probably because of the pyramids. And maybe also the music. And the rocks that always looked like people bowing down with their heads to the ground in worship. That's right, every time you use a hammer, Mario kills a Muslim!
World 3 was "Water Land". As an OCD kid, this always struck me as an oxymoron. (Which I used to think was pronounced "ock-ZIMMER-on", by the way.) Is it water or is it land? If Mario falls in, does he get wet? Or does the water get him in debt? Nobody knows! Particle Man!
World 4 was "Giant Land". This one made sense. A land where everything is giant. Not just the goombas and koopas and piranha plants, but even the land itself! This was my favorite world in Mario 3, just for the sheer novelty of it.
World 5 was "Sky Land". Here we go again with the oxymorons! Is it sky or is it land? Thankfully, the game answers this question, and says it's both, since it's actually a massive world with a part on land and a part in the sky. (So are the people of this kingdom called Skylanders?)
World 6 was "Ice Land". What, should World 1 have been called "Green Land" instead? Unlike the actual country of Iceland, this land is indeed covered in ice. I remember Ice Land as a really hard level, but one that was also really fun, since you got to melt ice blocks containing coins with the fire flower. (I would of course melt ALL of them.) Then there was that one cave level where you had to fly with the "leafy" power while carrying a white block up to the top of the level to kill some otherwise invincible chomper plants so you could get to the pipe to exit the level... whew! Makes me want to play Mario 3 again! (And why did they take out the ability to carry shells and other items through pipes in the New Super Mario Bros. games? That was really cool to do in SMB3 and Super Mario World!)
World 7 was "Pipe Land". Wait, Mario's a plumber; shouldn't Pipe Land be, like, world 0 or something? Oh well... This was a fun level too, and it would be even more fun if it weren't for all the darned piranha plants everywhere!
And finally, world 8 was "Dark Land". Like Giant Land, this one made sense. It was dark - on some of the map screens you could only see a little bit away from Mario, and on the rest, there were bonfires everywhere. It was also hard, especially that one really fast autoscrolling level with the dozens of mini-airships and NO FREAKING FLOOR! If I had a P-wing, I usually used it there...
Well, there you have it, a quick retrospective on the worlds of Super Mario Bros. 3 as I remember them from my childhood! Hope you enjoyed this; if not, please deposit your flaming spam in the nearest trash receptacle!
"RPG Elements" and the removal of roleplaying from roleplaying games
3 years ago
Remember D&D? No, not the seemingly infinite number of PC adaptations. I mean D&D, the tabletop game. Yeah, that D&D.
Did you know that D&D didn't originally award the vast majority of XP for killing monsters, but instead for collecting treasure? And that DM's were encouraged to award bonus XP for exceptionally clever solutions to problems faced by the characters in-game?
A far cry from more recent roleplaying games, sadly. These days it's all about "kill monster, get loot, level up, become gods". No creativity at all.
Perhaps it's due to the computer adaptations. You can't very well program a sentient DM into the computer, so that led roleplaying games to be redefined according to the limited palette of the early computer games.
Then you have the games that try to piggyback on the RPG trend with "roleplaying elements". Really? What does grinding have to do with roleplaying again? At least "games" like Progress Quest and Statbuilder (remember those?) were up-front about being parodies. "You are slaying lots and lots of evil monsters! Keep Clicking!"
Thankfully, not all hope is lost for the Real Roleplayer. Thanks to advances in computing power, we can now simulate vastly more combinations of scenarios than the early CRPG's (heh, crappages) could. Thus we have games like Skyrim, Mass Effect, and The Sims. And of course there's the tried-and-true tabletop games like D&D!
So what does the future hold for roleplaying games? I really don't know, but I speculate that AR (augmented reality) games like Ingress will becomes more and more popular. (Go Resistance! For humanity!)
Male vs. Female Gamers: A Comparison of Attitudes
3 years ago
I was talking with my sister the other day, and she was playing some sort of "Virtual Families" game on my mom's iPad. Basically a "Sims" knockoff, but whatever. She mentioned that she liked games that resemble real life, and I thought that was kind of interesting, because that's the exact kind of game that I hate! I want my games to be nothing at all like real life, because who would want a game that's just like real life? That would be boring!
But apparently some people do like that sort of thing. Go figure. I guess my caveman male brain can't wrap my head around why you'd want to kill virtual mastodons when they don't provide you any actual meat. Or something like that.
So I got to thinking, maybe this is what really defines the "girl gamer"? Not that the only people who play Mario games are male or anything, just that males and females take different attitudes toward gaming. So here's my theory.
Male gamers prefer games that are not like real life, because we think: "Life is boring and mundane. All I do is eat, sleep, and work. Gaming should be an escape from reality, a safety valve to let off steam when I'm stressed out." So we play games like Halo, Sonic the Hedgehog, and Team Fortress 2 to escape to a fantasy world where all we care about is beating the bad guys and bringing justice to the world.
Female gamers, on the other hand, prefer games that emulate real life, because they think: "Life is great! I can talk with my friends, and read books, and go to parties, and do all sorts of other awesome things! Gaming should be an extension of my life where I can express myself and interact socially with other people." So they play games like The Sims, Words With Friends, and Draw Something to... well, just be themselves! (In a way, I actually sort of envy female gamers, if my theory holds true...)
Not that all male gamers play the one type of game exclusively or all female gamers play the other exclusively, of course. (I personally enjoy Draw Something, and I've only played a bit of Halo!) And there are games that transcend the gender barrier, appealing to both males and females on their own terms. Take World of Warcraft, for example. It's got the fantasy world with brave heroes for the guys, and the social interactions in clans (or whatever they're called, I've never played WoW) for the girls. No wonder it's so popular!
So, anyone out there care to back up or refute my theory?
Vigaga is SO much better!
4 years ago
I've been getting a lot of spam lately advertising something called "Vigara". It's pretty obvious what it's supposed to be, but part of me wonders... did they choose that particular misspelling for spamming me with because I'm a gamer? It sure as heck sounds an awful lot like some sort of spell Cloud would cast in Final Fantasy VII to increase his Vigor stat... perhaps by enlarging his sword? :)
"The Last Story"? That's SO derivative!
4 years ago
So the creator of Final Fantasy has made a new game... and he calls it "The Last Story"?
Gee... WHERE have I heard that title before? It sounds SO familiar...
Oh, that's right, it looks like he just got out a thesaurus, looked up the words "Final" and "Fantasy", and took whatever he found!
With that in mind, let's have some fun! See if you can identify these "spiritual successors" to some classic games:
- Lizard Adventure
- Awesome Maurice and His Sibling
- Griselda's Tale
- Sack-Guy
- Audio Porcupine
- Metric Prefix Dude
Sorry, there aren't any prizes or anything, except feeling awesome and clever...
Oh, and see if you can come up with more fractured game titles in the comments! I'd love to hear what g1's can think of!
Mario Kart Top 5 Courses Retrospective, Part 1: Mario Kart 7
4 years ago
Hey everyone, it's ekolis, spammer of stupid blogs and memes! I thought I'd start an actual series now on the Mario Kart games - my top 5 courses from each game!
I'll be going in order from most recent (that's Mario Kart 7 on the 3DS, of course) back to the original (that's Super Mario Kart on the SNES, but you probably knew that already if you're over 10 years old). I may or may not cover Mario Kart Advance, though - I've never actually played it! Though I did get it for free as a 3DS Ambassador... maybe I should give it a whirl sometime!
Oh, and just so you all know, I'll mostly be covering race courses, not battle courses. The battle courses in my opinion are usually really generic, with boring layouts that just vary in the scenery, and most of the games have the same music for all the battle courses! A few do stand out, though, so I will cover those...
Anyway, without further ado...
#5: Toad Circuit
Now I know you'll all hate me for starting off with a "starter" course, but let me set the record straight: Toad Circuit is no ordinary starter course! Unlike Mario starter courses such as Mario Kart 64's Luigi Raceway, this course actually has some depth to it. There's the flying part (which only opens up on the second lap), the jump right afterward where you need a mushroom (or off-road wheels) to use it, and the shortcut through the pipes (which you'll miss if you take the jump). And the music... first time I fired this thing up, I was like, "Whoa! Is this a Final Fantasy boss battle or something?" for the first few seconds, until it calmed down into a more normal Mario Kart theme!
#4: Music Park
OK, this course isn't all that out of the ordinary when it comes to layout or even music or anything, but it makes up for it in original style. A course made out of keyboards you ride on, blaring trumpets in the grandstands, and drums you bounce off of? Genius!
Not to mention that the course immediately following it is Rock Rock Mountain - after I played Music Park, my mind was on music, so I wondered if Rock Rock Mountain had, you know, ROCK music, and I wasn't disappointed!
#3: Bowser's Castle
Bowser usually has some pretty good race courses in his castle, and this one's no exception. (I guess he doesn't hide ALL his gold coins away in the question mark blocks where Mario can find them, and saves some for renovating his castle every time Mario destroys it!) This one, while not quite on par with the classic MK64 one, is still high on the list - it's got your classic Thwomps, lava, and Bowser statues, as well as some new elements, like an underwater segment with pillars of lava to dodge, and a flying segment at the end of each lap where you can go straight ahead to save time, or to the side to gather coins. The music is awesome as ever, too!
#2: Wuhu Loop / Maka Wuhu
These two courses are actually pretty similar, so I'll cheat and list them both here, but they're both awesome. One takes place during the day, while the other takes place at night. I dunno what "maka" means, but it's probably the Japanese word for "night", or it's some sort of double entendre about "making whoopee"! Or maybe both, who knows?
Maka Wuhu is well-known for its glitch, thankfully fixed (at least for multiplayer), in which you could fall in a pit at the end of the first segment (more on segments later) and come out at the end of the second, shaving a good 30 seconds off your time. But that's not what defines these courses - no, they are just plain awesome courses! Calming music, multiple paths, familiar scenery (if you've played any of the Resort games), a bit of challenging driving (but not too much), fun flying segments... oh, and these are the only two courses in the history of Mario Kart which have regular cars driving around that are NOT annoying! (Mostly due to the fact that there are only a handful of them, though...)
And finally, it's time for my #1 course from Mario Kart 7...
#1: Rainbow Road
Yup, it's Rainbow Road - the road you go on when you die to meet Mario and Toad! (Well, OK, maybe not THAT one!) Out of all the MK7 courses (as well as out of all the Rainbow Roads), this one takes the cake! (Which is a lie because it was incinerated with the companion cube after GLaDOS kidnapped Peach back in Super Portal 64, of course...)
Why does this one take the cake? Well, basically, it's got everything you can love in a Rainbow Road, and nothing you can hate! Space? (We're in space? Finally? YAAAAY! SPAAAAAAACE!) Check! Harrowing racing challenges? Check! Awesome music? Check! Interminable dullness (MK64)? Nope! Magic cannons that don't let you do anything for a few seconds while they display das blinkenlights (MKWii)? Nope! Electric Thwomps (SMK)? Nope!
But wait, there's more! (What, is it a floor wax too?) This Rainbow Road adds a low-gravity segment on the moon! (Which is kind of fridge-logicky since you're already in space... why is there more gravity in space than on the moon?) And a few flying bits including one reminiscent of Star Fox where you go through rings while dodging asteroids! (And again, we're in space... why do gliders work? Maybe they got upgraded to G-Diffusers? Better ask Slippy - erm, Toad - about that one!)
Well, this concludes the first of (hopefully) seven blogs in the Mario Kart Top 5 Courses Retrospective series! Leave your comments/flames/spam below, and I'll try and get back to you! (Well, unless it's spam; then I'll just delete it!)
Itsa me! A-Borya!
4 years ago
I just realized that the Super Mario Bros. 1up sound and the Dragon Quest spellcasting sound... sound pretty much the same.
Yeah. That is all.
About Me
The Ed draws near! What dost thou deaux?
You got the SCROOGE ATTACK! Now you can jump repeatedly! But only while in a pile of gold coins...
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Hail Roger: North Texas Scores XLV
Roger Staubach suited up for his old team one more time; amazingly, the tight pants still fit.
While the silence from our lame-duck, lame-ass Mayor's office is deafening, the rest of Arlington, North Texas and, yes, Dallas can rejoice. Super Bowl XLV will be played here in early February 2011.
While Laura Miller starts shoveling down crow and painfully tries to craft a hollow, congratulatory statement to Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and Arlington Mayor Robert Cluck, the rest of us can pop our buttons with civic pride. As expected, the NFL awarded the Super Bowl following the 2010 season to Dallas over Indianapolis and Phoenix -- despite, we hear, a hilarious Top 10 list by Indy native Dave Letterman. No word on whether Jones paired Roger Staubach with Dr. Phil.
So much for the anti-Cowboys bias.
The last two years Dallas has sneaked three players into the Hall of Fame, and now this. For the first time in its illustrious history, America's Team will host America's biggest game.
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No team has ever played a Super Bowl in its own stadium. Might that change come 2011? By then gas could be $9 a gallon, tickets will be $900 and George Jetson's flying car might finally be a reality. Oh, yeah, and no way in hell will Wade Phillips still be the Cowboys' coach.
While Dallas begins the embarrassing process of lurching toward Arlington's coattails, let's look at who Jones might be counting on to lead his team to the home bench in SB XLV. Signed through the 2010 season are offensive linemen Leonard Davis, Andre Gurode and Kyle Kosier, receiver Terry Glenn and tight end Jason Witten. On the defensive side linebackers Akin Ayodele, Bobby Carpenter, Bradie James and safety Roy Williams. You'd think Terrence Newman and DeMarcus Ware would be around and Tony Romo would still be the quarterback, but who knows. Terrell Owens? Not likely.
Brad Sham will still be the radio voice, George Dunham will still be the voice of the stadium (giggle at that thought), Robert and I will still be blogging, although by then through our thought-to-type machines.
The economic impact for our area should be $400 million, about the same number of stories written about Super Bowl XLV before the big day arrives. Dare I say a handful will be penned about Miller?
Jerry's congratulating Indy and Phoenix right now. Heh. And he thanked the Fort Worth mayor, but not Dallas'. Heh. Heh. --Richie Whitt
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Why Certifications Matter (to Me)
Career Help,
PM Think About It,
Talent Management
Categories: Career Help, PM Think About It, Talent Management
By Conrado Morlan
The number of credentials offered by professional associations, hardware and software vendors and other organizations has grown sharply in the last decade. So have the number of credential holders.
There's much to be said for certifications. Many companies require a certification to advance along their career path. In addition, salary surveys show that, overall, credential holders earn more.
On the other hand, some professionals and employers are not fans of certifications. They argue that many people have forged a career and reputation without them, that accelerated changes in science, technology and government regulations makes certifications hard to maintain, and that the cost and time of pursuing credentials are too high.
I see the value of certifications from two perspectives: the value given by the credential itself, and the value of my contributions to the credential.
The value given by the certification is the importance of the knowledge gained through earning it, the reputation of the institution or professional association that awards it, and the certification's years on the market.
The value of my contributions to the credential has to do with how it engages me to actively research trends within my profession. This process can help experienced practitioners turn into thought leaders who share their experiences leading and managing projects across the globe. In other words, the value of a certification can cascade beyond the credential holder. Knowledge is shared with other practitioners, helping them to advance in the profession.
Yes, it's true that some credential holders fall behind and don't keep up with the latest knowledge and/or renew their credential. Other credential holders don't follow the established code of ethics, which harms the reputation and value of the credential. But such misbehavior or lack of up-to-date knowledge isn't the fault of the credential or the credential-awarding organization.
PMI, for example, has a strict renewal process for the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification that requires certification holders to earn a specific number of credits per cycle to keep the credential current. And over the 30+ years since the PMP was created, those requirements have been updated to cover market and industry demands.
You may be wondering why I didn't mention the cost of certifications, and whether they're worth paying. To me, it's a no-brainer. I take my professional development personally and always recall former Harvard University President Derek Bok's quote, "If you think education is expensive, try ignorance."
If you're a certification holder, how do you measure its value?
Project Leaders as Ethical Role Models
Best Practices,
Career Help,
Generational PM,
Human Aspects of PM,
New to Project Management,
Nontraditional Project Management,
PM Think About It,
Portfolio Management,
Program Management,
Project Delivery,
Project Failure,
Project Planning,
Project Requirements,
Reflections on the PM Life,
Social Responsibility,
Talent Management,
Categories: Best Practices, Career Help, Communication, Communication, Complexity, Ethics, Facilitation, Generational PM, Human Aspects of PM, Leadership, Leadership, New to Project Management, Nontraditional Project Management, PM Think About It, PMI, PMOs, Portfolio Management, Program Management, Project Delivery, Project Failure, Project Planning, Project Requirements, Reflections on the PM Life, Roundtable, Social Responsibility, Stakeholder, Strategy, Talent Management, Teams, Tools
By Peter Tarhanidis
This month's theme at projectmanagement.com is ethics. Project leaders are in a great position to be role models of ethical behavior. They can apply a system of values to drive the whole team's ethical behavior.
First: What is ethics, exactly? It's a branch of knowledge exploring the tension between the values one holds and how one acts in terms of right or wrong. This tension creates a complex system of moral principles that a particular group follows, which defines its culture. The complexity stems from how much value each person places on his or her principles, which can lead to conflict with other individuals.
Professional ethics can come from three sources:
In project management, project leaders have a great opportunity to be seen as setting ethical leadership in an organization. Those project leaders who can align an organization's values and integrate PMI's ethics into each project will increase the team's ethical behavior.
PMI defines ethics as the moral principles that govern a person's or group's behavior. The values include honesty, responsibility, respect and fairness.
For example, a project leader who uses the PMI® Code of Ethics to increase a team's ethical behavior might:
Please share any other ideas for elevating the ethical standards of project leaders and teams, and/or your own experiences!
The Customer Is Always Digital—So Make the Experience Right
Change Management,
PM & the Economy,
PM Think About It,
Categories: Change Management, Complexity, Innovation, Innovation, IT, Leadership, PM & the Economy, PM Think About It, PMI, Strategy
By Peter Tarhanidis
New and proliferating digital technologies are giving rise to new competitive businesses while transforming legacy organizations. It's no longer just about the Internet, but increasingly tech-savvy users and inexpensive smartphones and tablets.
From an organizational perspective, it's not just a matter of grappling with new technical platforms: The relationship between organizations and their customers is being transformed.
Before, the cornerstone of customer service was the golden rule: treat your customers the way you want to be treated. Customer relationships were facilitated and managed within just a few departments.
Disruptive technologies have enabled a shift to a new paradigm: customer empowerment. This ushered in the new platinum rule: treat your customers the way they want to be treated. Disruptive technologies integrate organizations to their digital customer experience and are simultaneously influenced by social, consumer and professional media portals like Facebook, Yelp, NetPromoter Scores, and LinkedIn.
Now, much of the work and measurement of this activity is shared across the entire supply chain of the customer journey, which requires more cross-team collaboration to report on the customer experience.
So the importation question has become: How can we make the digital customer experience flawless? This is the new competitive differentiator for companies. Those that stand apart in this respect build market leverage.
Project managers are one asset organizations have at their disposal to ensure success with this new digital customer experience dynamic. Here's a four-stop roadmap for optimizing your organization for the brave new digital world we all live in.
How is your organization adapting to the new realities of our digital customer age? Please take a moment and share your thoughts.
Don't Fall in Love With Your Plan
Best Practices,
PM Think About It,
project management,
Project Planning
Categories: Best Practices, execution, PM Think About It, project management, Project Planning
Witnessing so many unsuccessful projects these days, I keep asking myself why execution continues to fall through the cracks while organizations apparently grow in project management maturity.
If organizations are more mature in project planning, why aren't we reaping better results? It's easy to see we have an execution gap.
I think this is because some project managers are so immersed in the minutia of best practices that they don't understand the big picture.
They don't understand that project management processes, tools and techniques are only a means to an end. The final goal of every project is to jointly create value by engaging stakeholders to build a unique result under constraints (scope, time, cost and more). In other words, a successful project delivers benefits and satisfies stakeholders.
Execution demands proactivity. Project managers should embrace change, keeping their eyes wide open to take their project plans out of the paper. Making things happen is easier when you have a good plan, but it still demands a lot of energy and motivation.
Practitioners sometimes put their well-crafted, detailed plans on a pedestal as trophies of great project management. In fact, planning is only half, or less, of the way to the finish line.
To paraphrase the boxer Mike Tyson, "everybody has a plan until they get punched in the face." The real world is volatile and complex; missing and incomplete information is the norm. Will your plan survive the challenge? It depends on how well you execute. As many in the military learn, strategic, tactical and operational plans need to be executed with maximum agility. Adjustments, adaptations and unexpected decisions must be made along the road to project completion.
To execute well, you need clear goals, resilience, flexibility and a high degree of "alertness." The OODA loop, created by John Boyd, revolutionizes goal-centered execution by adding flexibility and velocity in the decision-making process. Here are the four steps.
Figure 1- OODA loop (Source: Defense and the National Interest)
Next time you start execution on your project, put the OODA loop to work for you. It will guide you through the project plan as a series of linked decisions to help you make sense of the environment, update the plan and observe results.
If you have any comments—or perhaps a negative or positive story about execution—please share below. Thanks!
Seattle's Troubled Tunnel: 3 Communications Tips for Regaining the Public's Trust
Best Practices,
Change Management,
Generational PM,
Human Aspects of PM,
Lessons Learned,
PM & the Economy,
PM Think About It,
Program Management,
Project Delivery,
Project Failure,
Project Planning,
Social Responsibility,
Categories: Best Practices, Change Management, Communication, Complexity, Ethics, Generational PM, Government, Human Aspects of PM, Leadership, Lessons Learned, PM & the Economy, PM Think About It, Program Management, Project Delivery, Project Failure, Project Planning, Social Responsibility, Stakeholder, Strategy, Teams
One of the biggest public works projects in the United States right now has some major problems. It's a more than $3 billion effort in Seattle, Washington to replace the Alaskan Way Viaduct, an aging elevated highway on the city's waterfront, with a 2-mile-long tunnel. If you've been keeping an eye on the project, you know that the tunnel-boring machine (dubbed "Bertha") broke down more than a year ago, creating various challenges and overruns. Public outcry is mounting.
Now, if you're like me and believe in the power of communication to ensure that projects run more smoothly, the tunnel project has highlighted the need for more openness, better stakeholder management and speaking to your audience in understandable ways, instead of falling into buzzwords or corporate speak.
If I were working on the project right now, here are three things I would look at to regain the public's trust and help everyone in Seattle and the state of Washington understand exactly where the project is.
1. Be willing to convey incomplete information. The project's big challenge is that the machine built specifically for drilling the tunnel encountered a setback when it struck a metal pipe during the excavation process. Unfortunately, it took project leaders over a week to convey the extent of Bertha's problem, the course of action and any sort of timeline to get things back on track. Since Bertha stopped working in December 2013, information has trickled out to stakeholders.
The project's leaders could have set a much different tone early on by stating what they know and what it means to the project—along with an acknowledgement that they really aren't 100 percent sure what the solution is, and a clear statement that they will work to provide status updates to all stakeholders as often as possible.
Instead, it's been "hard to get straight answers," as the Seattle radio station KUOW put it.
2. Be honest. This really goes hand in hand with the first point about having the confidence to convey information that is accurate, even if it is incomplete. The public has begun to doubt that project leaders are being honest about the tunnel's current status and future. This is partly because when the city's department of transportation (DOT) or the state government has updated the community about the project, they have given information that seems farfetched and is tough to believe in light of Bertha's lack of progress.
Case in point: A DOT official recently toldSeattle's City Council that the project was "70-percent complete." That claim was met with a great deal of skepticism by journalists and members of the community.
The lesson for project managers is: Don't fudge information to avoid blowback. In the long run, you are putting your project at a strategic disadvantage because you may lose funding or you may come under heavier oversight…or worse. So just explain things in an honest and forthcoming manner.
3. Be consistent in the delivery of information. A lack of consistent communications has been one of the big failings for the Seattle project team. And when there's an information void, it will usually be filled by something you aren't going to like. In this instance, the lack of communications has led to a real breakdown of trust.
That's why you need to make a plan for communicating consistently with stakeholders. It should include the best ways to communicate with specific stakeholder groups, and a plan for gathering accurate, up-to-date information from the project team. To ensure timely gathering, build the consistent delivery of information into day-to-day project activities. Set a schedule of when you want your team members to communicate information to you, and hold them accountable.
In turn, you need to inform key stakeholders of when and how you'll communicate information to them, and then stick to that plan.
In most cases, communications comes down to recognizing the importance of clarity in effective project leadership. In Seattle, you can see what a lack of a clear process can do to the trust between stakeholders and the project team. I'm confident that most unsuccessful projects began to unravel when communications stopped being clear and consistent.
What do you think?


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GLOBAL: Sugar prices rise on potential Brazil shortfall
The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) sugar price index rose by 14% from May to June as the market reacted to a predicted shortage in Brazil.
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Congressional warning on Huawei too late
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A warning from the United States Congress intelligence committee against doing business with China's Huawei has failed to move New Zealand's Crown Fibre Holdings and 2degrees, both already signed up.
Committee chairman Mike Rogers, a Republican, said in a CBS television interview that US companies should "find another vendor" if they cared about their intellectual property, "consumers' privacy" or the national security of the US.
The comments were among the most direct in a long-running campaign by US politicians aimed at reducing the reach of the telecommunications equipment giant, which has an annual turnover of US$34 billion and now does 70 per cent of its business outside China.
Huawei supplied the technology for 2degrees' mobile network under a financing arrangement. It also won contracts worth tens of millions of dollars to supply equipment for the ultrafast and rural broadband initiatives, after ministerial visits from Tim Groser, Steven Joyce and Bill English.
Crown Fibre and 2degrees both declined to comment on the reported comments.
Dutch Ruppersberger, a Democrat on the intelligence committee, said the "overriding concern" was that the Chinese Government could "exploit Huawei's presence on US networks" to intercept communications, disrupt critical services and wage a cyber war. Fairfax NZ
- BusinessDay.co.nz
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Video game industry in Canada generates $2.3 billion in GDP: study
Study for Entertainment Software Association of Canada says video game development provides 16,500 full-time jobs across Canada
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The video game industry across Canada generates more than $2.3 billion annually in GDP and generates 16,500 full-time jobs, says a study commissioned by the Entertainment Software Association of Canada.
"A lot of media and analysts have been quick to say that the (video game) industry is struggling. But our research shows the contrary. We've grown 5 per cent in job numbers over the last two years and that's outpacing Canadian job growth," said association president and CEO Jason Hilchie.
"We are healthy. We're continuing to grow in a relatively uncertain economic situation globally. There is a very good reason for optimism going forward," Hilchie added.
The study by consulting and research firm Nordicity, commissioned by the association, found there are 329 video game studios across the country.
Hilchie said 96 of those are located in Ontario, second only to Quebec, with 97.
The study found the industry employs about 16,500 people nationally on a full-time basis, with an average salary of $72,000. The average age of employees is just over 30.
Hilchie noted that digital media tax credits — like those offered by the Ontario Media Development Corp. — and access to federal research and development tax credits provide essential support to the industry.
The Ontario Digital Tax Credit program spent $75 million in 2012/13 in support of the burgeoning digital media industry, of which the video game industry is a significant part, funding 1,015 projects with budgets totalling $339 million.
"These tax credits are essential for our continued growth. They are a big part of the success of the industry in turning Canada into a global powerhouse," Hilchie said.
"I don't think a lot of people are aware of how prolific our video game industry is in the global context. We have more video game developers per capita than anywhere else in the world and we're producing some of the world's best titles," he added.
Among the titles produced in Canada that are top international sellers are Assassin's Creed, Batman: Arkham, NHL and FIFA.
The study found:
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Sexy T-Girl Bitch Fucks Hunk Mowing Lawn
She finds this hot hunk mowing the lawn and strides on over to tease him with her sexy body. Witness this alluring t-girl bitch as she devours this man's hard tool, then, watch her enjoy getting her nipples licked, her wad sucked and her ass rimmed before this dude sticks his raging rod up that nasty crap hole, humping it until he shoots his load.
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Electrical Engineering
Archiv für Elektrotechnik
Published in agreement with Verband Deutscher Elektrotechniker (VDE), Electrical Engineering-Archiv für Elektrotechnik features original research papers across the broad spectrum of topics in electrical and electronic engineering, including its intersection with physics. Exploring both theoretical and experimental work, the journal focuses on contributions that are fundamental to the development of electrical engineering and its applications. In addition to research articles, readers will find insightful reviews and letters to the editors.
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Setting-less transformer protection for ensuring security and dependability
Sungyun Choi, A. P. Sakis Meliopoulos (April 2016)
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A novel protection strategy for distribution systems with distributed generation
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Design and analysis of a single-phase low-frequency active power factor correction circuit: a symmetric trapezoidal current waveform approach
Ming-Kai Hou, Cheng-Hu Chen, Ming-Yang Cheng (April 2016)
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Levels of disability among U.S. adults with arthritis
The following citation is from the ICPSR Bibliography of Data-related Literature:
Verbrugge, Lois M., Lepkowski, James M., Konkol, Lisa L. Mar 1991. Levels of disability among U.S. adults with arthritis. Journal of Gerontology. 46, (2), S71-S83.
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The Originals
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May. 6 at 9pm New
'Where Nothing Stays Buried' HD
In the wake of a ruthless plan that has left their family shattered, Klaus, Elijah and Freya desperately search for a way to take down Lucien (guest star Andrew Lees) once and for all. However, their efforts are put on hold following an urgent plea for help from Kol (guest star Nathaniel Buzolic) and Marcel. At Klaus' insistence, Freya and Elijah reluctantly stay behind to offer their help, while Klaus and Hayley head to the bayou after uncovering Lucien's latest plan. Once there, an unexpected showdown between Klaus and Lucien forces Freya to take matters into her own hands, setting off a chain of events that will change all of their lives forever.
About the Show
The Original vampire-werewolf hybrid Klaus Mikaelson and his brother Elijah have spent one thousand years fighting to protect their dysfunctional family, but now that Klaus and the hybrid Hayley share an infant daughter, Hope, the stakes are higher than ever. Klaus and Elijah are estranged from each other, even as they adjust to life with their long-lost sister, Freya. Hayley suffers mightily from Klaus's petty vengeance, while Marcel and Davina rule New Orleans under a new status quo. Meanwhile, Cami and Vincent find themselves caught up in a surprising mystery involving the first vampire ever sired by the Mikaelsons.Full Episode List


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The health and economic effects of HPV DNA screening in The Netherlands†
Article first published online: 28 JAN 2010
DOI: 10.1002/ijc.25211
Copyright © 2010 UICC
International Journal of Cancer
Volume 127, Issue 9, pages 2147–2158, 1 November 2010
Additional Information
How to Cite
Berkhof, J., Coupé, V. M., Bogaards, J. A., van Kemenade, F. J., Helmerhorst, T. J., Snijders, P. J. and Meijer, C. J. (2010), The health and economic effects of HPV DNA screening in The Netherlands. Int. J. Cancer, 127: 2147–2158. doi: 10.1002/ijc.25211
- †
Conflict of interest: C.J.M. is a member of the advisory board of Qiagen. P.J.S. has provided occasional consultation to Roche and Gen-Probe.
Publication History
- Issue published online: 26 AUG 2010
- Article first published online: 28 JAN 2010
- Manuscript Accepted: 7 JAN 2010
- Manuscript Received: 22 JUN 2009
Funded by
- The Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development. Grant Number: ZONMW grant 50-50110-96-474
- Abstract
- Article
- References
- Cited By
- human papillomavirus;
- cervical cancer;
- screening;
- mathematical model;
- cost-effectiveness
We studied the health and economic effects of human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA testing in cervical screening using a simulation model. The key data source was a Dutch longitudinal screening trial. We compared cytological testing with repeat cytology (for borderline/mildly abnormal smears) to HPV testing with cytology triage (for HPV-positive smears), combination testing (combined HPV and cytology) and cytological testing with HPV triage (for borderline/mildly abnormal smears). We varied the screening interval from 5 to 10 years. The main outcome measures were the number of cervical cancer cases, the number of quality-adjusted life years (QALYs), and the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER). The base-case estimates were accompanied with ranges across 118 calibrated parameter settings (calibration criteria: cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 2/3, cancer and mortality rates). In comparison to 5-yearly cytology, 5-yearly HPV testing with cytology triage gave a reduction in the number of cancer cases of 23% (range, 9–27%). The reduction was 26% (range, 10–29%) for combination testing and 3% (range, −1 to 8%) for cytology with HPV triage. For strategies with primary HPV testing, the model also estimated a reduction in cancer cases when the screening interval was extended to 7.5 years. Five-yearly cytology with HPV triage and 5 to 7.5-yearly HPV testing with cytology triage were cost effective for the base-case settings and the majority of calibrated parameter settings (ICER below Dutch willingness-to-pay threshold of €20,000/QALY). Our model indicates that HPV testing with cytology triage is likely to be cost effective. An extension of the screening interval may be considered to control costs.


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Has anyone visited Venice in February (after Carnival)? Helpful suggestions?
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Yes, I have. Bring warm clothes.
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check the timetables (on the city web site) if high, bring wellies
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Timetables? Tide...
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Yes, I've been in Feb a few times and right after Carnival. I prefer Venice in winter. It's a great time to visit because of the lack of big crowds. Be prepared- the weather can be unpredictible, so be sure to bring good footwear, outerwear, layers,scarf, hat, gloves, and an umbrella. If you don't mind bundling up, you will enjoy it.
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kappa, sorry yes, tide timetable.
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Jennifer Probst's Reviews > A Royal Pain
A Royal Pain (Unruly Royals, #1)
by Megan Mulry (Goodreads Author)
by Megan Mulry (Goodreads Author)
Jennifer Probst's review
Jul 01, 12
I'm so lucky. I received an ARC of this book and cannot tell you how I adored this story. Witty, funny, beautifully written, I have found a brand new author to stalk. The romance between Bronte and Max was delightful, full of humor and class. I laughed, sighed, and teared up. Mulry is an author to watch.
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Schuette: Flint Residents Should Be Aware Of Potential Water Crisis Scams
Schuette's Consumer Protection Division released a consumer alert to help Flint residents protect themselves, their families and neighbors by being aware of common scams attempted during crisis situations. The consumer alert offers tips on avoiding scam artists and criminals who may attempt to exploit emergency situations like the one in Flint.
"The outpouring of support and volunteerism in Flint is a reassuring sign of the warmth and compassion Michiganders have for one another, especially during a crisis, and I strongly encourage those in need to seek help," said Schuette. "But, even in these times of generosity and need, we must be aware of the common scams that could further hurt Flint families and those attempting to assist them. That can be done with a few simple steps before taking action."
- Schuette Files Ceases and Desist against Utah Fundraiser for 23 Violations of the Public Safety Solicitation Act
May 5, 2016
LANSING - Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette today announced a Notice of Intended Action and Cease and Desist Order against professional fundraiser Corporations for Character, located in Murray, Utah for violating the Public Safety Solicitation Act. Violations included sending pledge forms to those who had not pledged and taking advantage of vulnerable call recipients.
"Deceptive fundraising will not be tolerated," Schuette said. "My office works daily to protect Michigan residents. You also can help by protecting yourself—research the charity before you give—and reporting suspected violations to my office. Trust your gut."
Following a consumer complaint, the Attorney General required Corporations for Character—a licensed professional fundraiser under the Public Safety Solicitation Act—to produce call recordings and pledge forms to review for violations. The recordings revealed that Corporations for Character used sophisticated, pre-recorded messages controlled by a human operator that led call recipients to believe they were talking to a live person.
While many of the recordings included unsavory and aggressive solicitation tactics, the Notice of Intended Action only addresses clear violations of the Act, of which the Attorney General's review found twenty-three.
The Notice of Intended Action orders Corporations for Character to cease and desist these violations and gives Corporations for Character twenty-one days to resolve the matter or face a civil action in court.
Schuette also reminded the public that some telemarketers keep 85% or more of each donation, encouraging donors to research their own charities and to give directly to the charity they have selected. For more information, see the Attorney General's 2015 Professional Fundraising Charitable Solicitation Report.
In September 2015, the Attorney General's office received a complaint from a Michigan resident regarding a Corporations for Character solicitation on behalf of the Michigan Fraternal Order of Police (FOP). The complainant alleged that she had not agreed to pledge to the Michigan FOP, yet received a pledge form in the mail requesting that she fulfill her "promised pledge" of $15 by a "due date." The Attorney General's office forwarded the complaint to Michigan FOP, which forwarded it to its professional fundraiser, Corporations for Character. Corporations for Character responded by producing the recording of the call conducted by its solicitor. The recording confirmed that the complainant never agreed to a pledge. Concerned that Corporations for Character's misconduct may have extended beyond the complainant, the Attorney General's office requested additional call recordings.
Corporations for Character produced 850 call recordings. The office's review of these recordings confirmed twenty-three violations. The violations fell in four categories: (1) the call recipient received a pledge form from Corporations for Character falsely stating that the call recipient had pledged, i.e., violations of the same sort made to the Attorney General's complainant; (2) the call recipient did not pledge but was sent an informational pledge form with a form showing a pledge amount and a due date; (3) the call recipient's spouse agreed to pledge, but the form was addressed to the non-pledging spouse stating falsely that that person had pledged; and (4) the call recipient was elderly or otherwise unable to understand and was taken advantage of by the professional fundraiser.
Michigan's Public Safety Solicitation Act governs solicitations on behalf of public safety organizations and requires professional fundraisers to be licensed by the Attorney General. It prohibits misleading and deceptive acts and taking advantage of the vulnerable, and also requires licensed fundraisers to record their calls.
The Attorney General also regulates charitable solicitations under the Charitable Organizations and Solicitations Act, likewise requiring registration for soliciting organizations and their professional fundraisers. Corporations for Character is also registered with the Attorney General under this Act and has contracts to solicit for five charitable organizations: VietNow National HQ, American Childrens Society, Breast Cancer Outreach Foundation, Soldier's Angels, and Disabled Police and Sheriffs Foundation. The Attorney General is reviewing Corporations for Character's solicitations on behalf of these charitable organizations.
Listen to example phone calls: Phone call 1. Phone call 2. In each call, the call recipient did not agree to a pledge; nevertheless, Corporations for Character followed the call by sending the call recipient a pledge form informing of his or her "promised pledge" and requesting payment by a "due date."
- Schuette Issues 22 Felony Fraud Charges Against Urgent Care Doctor
May 3, 2016
LANSING – Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette today announced that his Health Care Fraud Division has charged Dr. Bassel Altantawi, 45, of Farmington Hills, with nine counts of Medicaid Fraud, 12 counts of Health Care Fraud, and one count of Continuing Criminal Enterprise.
Altantawi is the only practicing physician at Canton Urgent Care, located at 43033 Ford Rd. in Canton.
Canton Township Police contacted the Health Care Fraud Division after receiving a complaint that Dr. Altantawi was allegedly billing for services not rendered. The subsequent investigation by the Health Care Fraud Division revealed evidence that Dr. Altantawi repeatedly billed Medicaid and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan for services he allegedly did not provide to patients.
"We will continue to identify and prosecute unscrupulous health care providers who waste limited health care dollars by fraudulently seeking payment for services they never provided," said Schuette. "Michigan residents should feel confident that when they see a physician, they receive honest, quality care and accurate billing based on the services provided to them by a physician."
Schuette filed the following charges against Dr. Bassel Altantawi on May 3, 2016 in the City of East Lansing's 54-B District Court:
- Nine counts of Medicaid Fraud, punishable by up to 4 years in prison, and/or a fine of $50,000; and,
- 12 counts of Health Care Fraud, punishable by up to 4 years in prison, and/or a fine of $50,000; and,
- One count of Continuing Criminal Enterprise, punishable by up to 20 years in prison, and/or a fine of not more than $100,000.
Dr. Altantawi was arraigned before Judge Richard Ball and released on $25,000 personal recognizance bond. He is next due in court on Monday, May 9, 2016 for a preliminary conference.
Schuette noted the contribution of Blue Cross Blue Shield fraud investigators in assisting the Department of Attorney General with the investigation.
Any patient who was seen by Dr. Altantawi who believes that he billed for services never provided is encouraged to call the Attorney General's Health Care Fraud Division hotline at 1-800-24-ABUSE.
A criminal charge is merely an accusation and the defendant in this case is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
- Schuette Secures Restitution Order for Over $600,000 in 2014 Ponzi Scheme
April 29, 2016
LANSING – Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette today announced that a judge has ordered Shawn Dicken, of Bay City, to pay $663, 531.48 in restitution for her role in an extensive multi-county Ponzi scheme. Dicken was convicted in 2014 after an Attorney General investigation and sentenced to 140 months to 20 years in prison.
"This woman broke the trust she was given and in the process broke the law. She is serving jail time and now this order forces her to take responsibility for the life savings she stole from Michigan seniors," said Schuette.
Due to her prison sentence, it is unknown if or when restitution payments will be made.
Case Background
Beginning in 2011, Dicken was employed as the lead salesperson for The Diversified Group Advisory Firm LLC, an investment company. During her tenure with Diversified, misrepresented the investments she marketed to investors, saying investments offered by Diversified were without risk, completely liquid, featuring a guaranteed rate of return of between 9.5% and 10.44%.
Dicken failed to disclose the risks associated with the actual investment in question - a highly leveraged real estate investment that could result in the loss of all of the investors' money. Many investors, including senior citizens, risked their life savings. Dicken swindled investors out of more than two million dollars and investigation revealed she took an eight percent commission, pocketing approximately $160,000 for herself.
The Attorney General investigation revealed Dicken funneled investors' money into a Ponzi scheme operated by a Saginaw man, Joel Wilson. Wilson was sentenced in both Bay and Saginaw Counties for his role in the Ponzi scheme.
- Schuette Encourages Participation in National Drug Take Back Day
LANSING – In a continued effort to fight opioid abuse in the state of Michigan, Attorney General Bill Schuette is encouraging participation in National Drug Take Back Day on April 30, 2016. This initiative is designed to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding homes of potentially dangerous, expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs, with previous events collecting more than 4 million pounds of drugs.
"The sad fact is that kids who abuse prescription drugs often obtain them straight from the medicine cabinet," said Schuette. "The take back initiative is a simple way to get rid of unused medications and help protect our children against the dangers of prescription drug abuse."
Prescription drug and opioid abuse has tripled since 1990, creating a public health epidemic. Michigan has taken steps to address the growing issue by creating the Michigan Prescription Drug and Opioid Abuse Task Force. Schuette, chair of the task force subcommittee on Regulation, Enforcement, and Policy, helped release recommendations for curbing the drug and opioid problem in the state in October of 2015.
To discard medication residents should visit one of nearly 200 statewide safe disposal sites. The service is free and anonymous – no questions asked. Participating locations are listed on the U.S. Justice Department's website.
In addition, all Michigan State Police posts now serve as safe disposal sites for these unused medications Monday – Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Disposal sites can only collect pills and/or patches, no liquids, needles or sharps will be accepted. Since previous methods for disposing of unused medicines—flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash—are now known to pose public safety and health hazards, Drug Take Back Day is the safest way to dispose of medications.
- Schuette: Former Priest Sentenced to Up to 40 Years on Sex Abuse Charges
April 29, 2016
LANSING – Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette today announced that former priest James Rapp, 75, will serve 20-40 years in state prison following his conviction on 3 counts of First Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct and 10-15 years for his conviction on 3 counts of Second Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct. The charges stem from his time as a priest, teacher and coach at Jackson Lumen Christi High School in the 1980s.
"Today the victims of James Rapp received some closure after over 30 years of waiting," said Schuette. "These victims were robbed of their childhood and that can never be undone. Today's sentencing hopefully offers some solace knowing this man will never be able to hurt a child again."
Over 30 years after the abuse occurred, more than a dozen victims of James Rapp were able to give victim impact statements at the sentencing hearing detailing their abuse by Rapp. Rapp was previously convicted and served time on similar offenses in Oklahoma.
"I am grateful for the efforts of the Detectives from my office and the staff of Attorney General Bill Schuette in bringing a successful resolution to the victims of these horrible crimes perpetrated against children," said Jackson County Sheriff Steve Rand.
Rapp was originally charged with 7 counts of First Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct and 12 counts of Second Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct. Under the condition of a plea agreement Rapp's sentences will be served concurrently.
Case Background
In spring of 2013, more than 30 years after the alleged crimes occurred, two of Rapp's victims reported the sexual abuse to the Jackson County Sheriff's Department, who then launched an extensive investigation that revealed several more victims. Charges were filed against Rapp in January and June 2015.
Jackson County was not the first place Rapp held a teaching position. He was ordained in 1959 and over the next 40 years held multiple teaching assignments across the country. In addition to teaching at Jackson Lumen Christi High School (1980-1986), Rapp taught in Philadelphia (1959–1961), Salt Lake City (1968–1973), and in Lockport, New York (1979–1980). Following Rapp's resignation at Jackson Lumen Christi, Rapp served as a priest and teacher in Naperville, Illinois (1987–1990) and Duncan, Oklahoma (1990–1998).
In 1999, Rapp plead guilty to charges involving sexual abuse of minors during his time as a priest in Duncan, Oklahoma. He was sentenced to two twenty year terms but with good time credit, Rapp was scheduled to be released from his Oklahoma prison sentence in the summer of 2016.
The case was prosecuted by the Attorney General Cold Case Sexual Assault Project. The project is funded by a United States Department of Justice grant awarded by the Office of Violence Against Women, to combat intimate relationship violence. The grant is administered by the Michigan Domestic and Sexual Violence Prevention and Treatment Board.


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Where are the cops when you need them in Ocean Beach?
Residents complain of emergency calls being considered otherwise
Delinda Lombardo 2:30 p.m., April 30
I say "I'm too junkie for that." It means that you are too cool for something or too hip. It's not a drug reference, though. I think I made it up about two months ago. People have to think about it for a minute. Like, if someone wanted you to go somewhere and you didn't want to, you could say, "No, I'm too junkie for that." The other phrase I say a lot is "so Kid Fresh." It's a reference to myself and it means something is cool; it's a big compliment if something is "so Kid Fresh."
Kid Fresh | Age: 25 | Occupation: Hair Colorist/MC | Lives in: Hillcrest


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Forest Hotel, Den Helder
- Free continental breakfast and WiFi
Main amenities
- 25 smoke-free guestrooms
- Near the beach
- Restaurant and bar/lounge
- Daily housekeeping
- Front desk safe
- Laundry service
- Meeting room
- Multilingual staff
- Luggage storage
- Lobby TV
What's around
- Heart of Den Helder
- Dutch Navy Museum (0.7 mi / 1.1 km)
- Callantsoog Beach (9.8 mi / 15.8 km)
- Ecomare (11.4 mi / 18.4 km)
- De Koog Beach (13.1 mi / 21.1 km)
Forest Hotel, Den Helder
Hotel Info: 866-539-8117from $80
- Basic Single Room
- Basic Twin Room
Also popular with travelers from the USA
At a glance
Key facts
Hotel size
- This hotel has 25 rooms
- This hotel is arranged over 4 floors
- Check-in time 2 PM-midnight
- Check-out time is 11 AM
Required at check in
- Credit card or cash deposit required
- Government-issued photo ID required
- Minimum check-in age is 18
Travelling with others
- No pets or service animals allowed
- Free WiFi in public areas
- Free WiFi in rooms
Other information
- Smoke-free property
Nearby Three Star Den Helder hotels
In the hotel
- Free continental breakfast daily
- Restaurant
- Bar/lounge
- Number of meeting rooms - 1
- One meeting room
- Dry cleaning/laundry service
- Laundry facilities
- Luggage storage
- Number of buildings/towers - 1
- Year Built 1970
- Safe-deposit box at front desk
- Television in common areas
In the room
- Iron/ironing board (on request)
- Private bathroom
- Bathtub or shower
- Rainfall showerhead
- Hair dryer
- Desk
- Free WiFi
- Phone
- Daily housekeeping
Top Den Helder hotels
Recently reviewed hotels in Den Helder
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"A comfortable friendly place in a super little Dutch town close to the beach and Allmaar"Aug 2, 2015
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"excellent"May 11, 2015
Special features
DiningBar Bistro Forest Hotel - This bistro serves dinner only. Guests can enjoy drinks at the bar. A children's menu is available. Open select days.
Forest Hotel, Den Helder's small print
Special cancellation policies or charges may apply for group reservations (more than 8 rooms for the same hotel / stay dates).
Mandatory fees
You'll be asked to pay the following charges at check in or check out:
- A tax is imposed by the city: EUR 1.22 per person, per night
Optional extras
Parking is available nearby and costs EUR 2.50 per 24 hours
Rollaway beds are available for EUR 20 per night
We have included all charges provided to us by this hotel. However, charges can vary, for example, based on length of stay or the room you book.
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- Compatible with all Dino-Lite Digital Microscopes
- Provide for steady image
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Top Customer Reviews
Between the scope slipping out of the stand and the gooseneck springing back, I was almost never able to position the scope where I wanted it to be with this product. Other than that, it's a great little device! (Sarcasm)
Aside from that, it's versatile and useful.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
too wobbly for my purposes, might be a great stand for a web camPublished 20 months ago by John Murdock
I received what I paid for within the timeframe I was promised. The stand and Dino Lite worked right out of the box. I am very happy with this experience.Published 23 months ago by Robert A. Sipes
I purchased this knowing I had to monkey with the flexible neck to adjust it. It works great if you are using it at a fixed height like looking at papers on a desktop or other... Read morePublished on July 20, 2013 by Maestro
Worth every penny I paid, it fits my Dino Lite nice and snug after 3 months of heavy use. The only downside is that the flex arm on this does have some bounce, if you have it on an... Read morePublished on June 5, 2013 by Dummy
I have had the Dino-lite MS-21 for a couple of months and while I have been able to use it I thought the stand would be a very useful accessory. Read morePublished on April 25, 2013 by wcviolets
Good product and a "must have" for the Dino-Lite. Decent quality and reasonable price.
Would buy again. Comes from China
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We expose slave masters and people smugglers in suburban Britain.
A journalist pays the ultimate price in Syria
09 Dec 2012 05:42 GMT | Politics, Middle East, Egypt
Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi has annulled a decree he issued last month expanding his powers, an official told a Cairo news conference.
A referendum on a draft constitution would, however, still go ahead as planned on December 15, said Selim al-Awa, an official acting as spokesman of a meeting Morsi held earlier on Saturday with other political leaders.
"The constitutional decree is annulled from this moment," al-Awa said.
Harvard associate professor Tareq Masoud tells Al Jazeera that the opposition's refusal of dialogue was an 'error'
The decree and the referendum were at the heart of anti-Morsi protests that have rocked Egypt in the past two weeks.
At least seven people have been killed in the unrest, as demonstrators opposing and supporting Morsi clashed near the presidential palace.
He said that constitutionally, Morsi was unable to change the date for the referendum.
But he added that, if the draft constitution were rejected, a new one would be drawn up by officials elected by the people, rather than ones chosen by parliament as for the current text.
Al Jazeera's Sherine Tadros, reporting from Cairo, said the withdrawal of the November 22 decree was a "huge development", but "for the opposition, this may only go half way in terms of their demands being met."
"The big question now is how the opposition will respond."
'Meaningless' move
Khaled Dawood, the spokesman for the National Salvation Front, one of largest opposition parties in Egypt, said annulling the decree was "relatively meaningless".
"The key issue of securing the process of adapting of the constitution is done," he told Al Jazeera.
"Unfortunately I don't think the president is leaving us any other option than to escalate our opposition.
Live Box 2011111713397233347
Asked whether the opposition's goal was to unseat Morsi, Dawood said: "This is definitely not in our agenda at all. Our agenda is basically limited to having a new draft constitution that everybody is satisfied about before going to a referendum.
"We respect he was elected with 51.7 per cent of the vote, but 48 per cent did not vote for him. That means that he has to compromise, he has to build consensus."
One of the groups involved in the struggle to topple former President Hosni Mubarak, the April 6 Youth Movement, swiftly dismissed the announcements as "a political manoeuvre aimed at duping the people".
It called for the protests to continue to stop "the referendum on the constitution of the Muslim Brotherhood", a reference to the party backing Morsi.
Military warning
The country's main opposition parties say the draft constitution is biased and have rejected Morsi's call for dialogue.
The draft constitution has been criticised for its potential to weaken human rights and the rights of women, and out of fear it would usher in Islamic interpretation of laws.
Earlier on Saturday, Egypt's military gave warning on "disastrous consequences" if the political crisis gripping the country was not resolved through dialogue.
"The path of dialogue is the best and only way to reach agreement and achieve the interests of the nation and its citizens," the military said in a statement.
"The opposite of that will take us into a dark tunnel with disastrous results."
Source: Al Jazeera and agencies
The new Egyptian president's media strategy may be echoing that of his predecessor, but Egypt's media is fighting back.
Egypt, India, Iran
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Child inmates are left to languish in prison with no visitors or legal assistance as many wait years for a trial.
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War & Conflict, Middle East, Syria's Civil War
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Politics, US Election 2016, Donald Trump, Ted Cruz
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Brexit, United Kingdom, European Union
What is driving the story in Brazil, corruption or the media? Plus, how messaging apps are reshaping how news is shared.
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text:
Aussie-style yogurt in Colorado? Sure, why not? Pick up a tub of creamy-fresh Noosa Yoghurt, made in Boulder with Colorado ingredients. An excellent breakfast or snack.
Article Comments
(Rob Foldy, Getty Images)
SportsPaxton Lynch "was the one we wanted" says Broncos GM John Elway
Broncos trade with Seattle to acquire 26th pick and Memphis product Lynch
Broncos general manager John Elway and his front office began preparation for Thursday night nine months ago.
Speed the 150-year-old tortoise dies at San Diego Zoo
SAN DIEGO (AP) — One of San Diego's oldest residents has died. The Los Angeles Times reports (http://lat.
Park workers in Spain discover huge Roman coin trove
MADRID (AP) — Workers laying pipes in a southern Spanish park have unearthed a 600-kilogram (1,300-pound) trove of Roman coins in what culture officials say is a unique historic discovery. Full Story


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On Food Network
Original Aired On 10/01/2007
Episode: Totally Fried
Late nighters with a hunger for well-considered but laid back new American cuisine can order up untill 1am.
Brunching here offers the best blueberry pancakes and heartiest Bloody Marys south of Bee's other nearby haunt-- N3rd.
Silk City offers generous specials Monday through Friday. Gorge yourself on Meat Loaf Mondays or Turkey Tuesdays, and you'll pay half price.
Join DJ DEEJAY, Brian Cassidy and Paul Thorson every Saturday Night playing Top 40 and all of your favorite throwbacks from 10pm - 2am! Cover charge applies.
This typical looking diner serves up anything but standard brunch fare on the inside. Order the smothered chicken and waffles and a Pimms Cup: Pimms, fresh lime, ginger beer, cucumber and mint.
Silk City is not only a great spot to grab some night-time munchies, it also has a great dance floor just feet away from the diner. Thursday and Saturday nights are the wildest.
Every Saturday is a super fun & more fun dance party! Leave your pretentious nature at the door and DANCE!!!
Mac & Cheese FTW
Awesome Outdoor Dining. Order a fresh limeade margarita, kick back, and marvel that you?re on a tropical island on an otherwise grim stretch of Spring Garden.
It's a little cautrophobic on occasions but can be very fun!
Thursday nite is the party nite, good time every Thursday!
Good food, good drinks, and a great party on Thursday nights.
Mac n cheese is grosssssss!!!!


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About tekkoem : Awesome-o
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WUWM's Summer Nights Live
June 29 – July 3, 2009 • 7 – 11 pm
The Pabst Theater
144 E. Wells St., Milwaukee, WI 53202
Five nights–twenty-five different artists performing for free.
Join us as each artist plays a half-hour, live acoustic set and chats with WUWM hosts as we broadcast live.
Willy Porter, honeyhoney, Guster, Carrie Rodriguez and more! Find the complete line-up at www.wuwm.com/live.
Follow this event on Facebook at www.facebook.com/wuwmradio.
More from User Submitted Stories
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- Go Green, Gold and Pink for Breast Cancer Awareness
- Becky's Blissful Bakery Enters Partnerships to Create Cutting-Edge Caramel Pairings; First of its Kind in the Caramel Industry
- Spring Estate and Rummage Sale at St. Ann Center


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Under cover as a slave. Unrecognizable with her hair chopped short. Dejah Thoris goes deeper on a dangerous mission with her secret, brutal force of six Tharks. They make a magnificent seven, but will they all make it out alive? And should they all?
"Tomb Raider" Finds Its Lara Croft in "Ex Machina's" Alicia Vikander
Video Games, Film


text:
Sources: Apple readying 4th-generation iPodApple Computer is preparing to unveil the 4th-generation of its flagship iPod music player, reliable sources told AppleInsider last week.
Excluding the introduction of the iPod-mini in January, over half a year has passed since the company last update the iPod product-line on September 8th.
While sources could not pin-point a specific day or month of introduction, they said the soon to be released player would boast a 50GB hard disk capable of holding 12,500 songs and carry an approximate cost of $499.
Unlike the recent capacity-centric revisions to the iPod line, the 4th-generation iPod will host a number of architectural advancements and new features. Most apparent, sources say, is the presence of a 2-inch color screen for displaying photos stored on the pod, from the palm of your hand.
The player will reportedly also adopt a video output jack that will allow users to connect their iPods to television sets, sources said. Meanwhile, no mention was made in regards to an output jack capable of relaying audio to a home entertainment center.
Sticking true to its form and identity, sources said the 4th-generation player reflects very few external changes, but will sport a revised set of navigation controls most similar to those found on the iPod-mini.
In order to accommodate the new color screen, a revised version of the iPod's embedded OS will most likely be required, sources said. The company is also rapidly developing a major update to its iTunes jukebox software, also due this year.
Apple will celebrate the 1 year anniversary of the iTunes Music Store next month, with April 28 acting as a potential candidate for music related announcements.
NewOrder contributed to this report.
On Topic: General
- Hulu confirms plans to launch live TV streaming in 2017
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- Tim Cook talks Apple ethos, government issues, role models and more
- Jony Ive explains Apple's interest in wearables, design philosophy at Met Gala 2016
- Apple hires Google X lab cofounder, former Nest head of technology to work on health projects


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A Fort Carson soldier is behind bars, accused of sexually assaulting a child. Erik Jeske, 40, was arrested last week when he returned from a deployment to Afghanistan.
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2001 JD 7410, MFWD It has 2169 HOURS. This John Deere was purchased Brand new and only owner operated. This 2001 premium cab looks all new.
May 2 -
Gainesville :
This is a nice Tractor.
This is a 4 Cylinder Turbo Diesel.
Manual Transmission.
Enclosed Cab With A/C And Wire Guard.
New Clutch. Shuttle Shift.
Front tires 12.4-24. Rear tires 18.4-30
Delivery Available.
Apr 23 -
Daytona :
New Smyrna Beach
Set of excellent front steering tractor tires with industrial tread.
On rims, 6 bolts. Rires Hold air well, all excellent and usable.
Apr 11 -
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2009 John Deere 8330 For Sale in Boston, Georgia 31626
This 2009 John Deere 8330 is field ready! Powered by a 9.0L diesel engine. Has duals and is 4WD.
Call for more information
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Elaine (Johnson) Lamken
Elaine (Johnson) Lamken, age 83, Wittenberg, passed away on July 24, 2014, at the Howard Young Medical Center in Minocqua. Elaine was born to the late William and Carlyn (Erickson) Johnson on November 19, 1930 in Wittenberg. She graduated from Wittenberg High School in 1948 and attended cosmetology school in Milwaukee.
On October 3, 1953, she married the love of her life, the late Robert Lamken of Rosholt. Together they bought a house in Rib Mountain where they began raising their two children, eventually moving to Weston. Elaine enjoyed taking vacations with her family, spending time with friends, and 'soaking up the sunshine.' In 1961, Elaine and Robert purchased land near Lake Tomahawk, built a cabin, and eventually moved to their 'River Retreat' in 1992 where Elaine spent time gardening, feeding wildlife, and cheering on the Packers. She cherished the memories she had created over the years, and loved sharing stories with her friends and family.
Elaine is preceded in death by her husband of 58 years, Robert Lamken and her brother, Bill Johnson. She is survived by children: Sheila (Ted, Jr.) Burger, Wausau and Scott Lamken, Tomah; grandchildren: Nick Burger, Brianna Wright, Brooke Gutowski, Keesha Campbell, Katie Schoessow, Adam Seefeldt, and Amber Seefeldt; and great grandchildren: William, Elaine, Nora, Oliver, Jude, Zaiden, and Levi.
The Funeral Service will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, July 28, 2014, at Redeemer Lutheran Church, Wittenberg. Rev. Amy Meyer will officiate. Interment will be in the parish cemetery. Visitation will be on Sunday from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. at Schmidt & Schulta Funeral Home, Wittenberg and on Monday from 10 a.m. until the time of the service at the church. The family guestbook and condolences are available at schmidtschulta.com.
Although in recent years her memory was beginning to fade, the stories Elaine passed on to her children and grandchildren will remain forever in their hearts. She will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.


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Jones Lang LaSalle Incorporated
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Barcode Dynamics Pty Ltd
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Forgestone Capital Management LP
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eBaum's World Inc
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Princess Cruises Ltd


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It's not just the law that can keep you caged: in Mexico, kidnappings are on the rise. One man told Oregon Public Broadcasting's Jordana Gustafson his harrowing experience.
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