text:
|Publication number
|Publication type
|Application number
|Publication date
|Jun 21, 1988
|Filing date
|Jul 10, 1986
|Priority date
|Jul 8, 1986
|Fee status
|Also published as
|Publication number
|Dennis J. Colonello
|Original Assignee
|Colonello Dennis J
|Export Citation
|BiBTeX, EndNote, RefMan
|Patent Citations (4), Referenced by (55), Classifications (8), Legal Events (7)
|External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, Espacenet
This invention relates to an apparatus for use in exercising of the abdominal muscles.
A flat stomach is not only aesthetically pleasing but also indicates that an individual has the abdominal strength necessary to prevent some types of low back pain. A flat stomach is an objective of nearly all exercise programs. The sit-up, also known as the abdominal curl, is the most popular exercise one can do in effort to flatten the abdomen. Other exercises purporting to strengthen the abdominal muscles first rise in favour and then often fall into disuse because of their ineffectiveness or because they are difficult to perform.
A major problem facing designers of abdominal exercises is that the forward bending trunk movement necessary to strengthen the abdominal muscles (principally the rectus abdominis) can be done more powerfully by the psoas major and iliacus--two muscles that are under greater tension than the rectus. Although these two muscles are powerful hip and thigh flexors, they attach to the lumbar spine area and rear of the pelvis and to the hip bone. When they contract, not only does the rectus work with little effort, but these other two muscles rotate the pelvis forward; thus creating a situation that can increase low back pain, contribute to poor mechanical alignment, and produce an undesirable sway-backed, duck-footed posture. In the conventional sit-up, if the feet are locked under an object to obtain leverage, the strong leg muscles (quadriceps femoris) will also substitute for the abdominals.
It is the basic object of the present invention to provide improved apparatus for use in exercising the abdominal muscles, which apparatus may be used in the household as well as professionally. An important object of the invention is to improve the physiological effectiveness of the familiar sit-up exercise, as related to abdominal muscle strength and tonicity.
In the conventional sit-up exercise the subject lies supine, face-up, on the floor with the hips and knees flexed approximately 90 degrees and the hands located behind the head.
The present invention provides a specially shaped device upon which the subject lies to perform the exercise. In using this novel apparatus, the subject is positioned essentially as described for the conventional sit-up exercise with the exercising apparatus located between the subject and the floor. In accordance with the invention, provision is made for the pelvis to be cradled in a pelvic basin portion while the lumbar spine is supported by a longitudinal support portion in acceptable Lordosis (extension). The angulation of the area of interface between the two portions is arched convexly superiorly to support the anatomical transition between the sacrum and the lumbar spine.
Apparatus for use in exercising the abdominal muscles in accordance with the present invention includes a basin portion defining a longitudinal axis of symmetry for receiving the buttocks and supporting the pelvis. This portion is elliptical in shape with the perimeters smoothly sloping upwards except for the area of transition to the lumbar support portion. The sloping of this area is convexly arched superiorly to accommodate a support transition that ensures maintenance of an anatomically acceptable lumbo-sacral angle (the angle formed by the sacrum and the lumbar spine) in the recumbant posture. The lumbar spine supporting portion extends from the basin transition as mentioned above and is aligned with the axis of symmetry. This spine supporting portion is smoothly convexly curved or arched upwardly such that, in use, with the user's buttocks positioned in the basin portion and the lower back disposed on the lumbar spine supporting portion, the normal lordosis curvature of the lumbar spine is substantially maintained. As well, the lower portion of the spine support is angulated to meet the pelvic portion (the area of transition) in such a manner as to ensure maintainance of an anatomically acceptable lumbo-sacral angle that has been determined by numerous researchers and is well documented in literature.
As a further feature of the invention, a rocker portion extends below the basin portion, such rocker demanding the exercise apparatus to rock front to back as a whole about an axis transverse to the symmetry axis as the abdominal muscles are exercised.
The rocker mechanism is elliptical in cross-section, being deeper and more steeply sloped at the origin centrally, to become more shallow as it tails towards the perimeter of the pelvic portion. This factor ensures proper placement of the pivot point--a critical factor in the effectiveness of this invention. The centre of gravity of the human body lies on or about the second sacral tubercle, and the pivot point of the rocker mechanism is strategically placed below this body area, thereby ensuring smooth effortless forward and backward rocking.
The rocker portion is aligned with the symmetry axis and is also adapted to permit side to side rocking of the exercising apparatus, thereby to activate the oblique abdominal muscles during use.
On the inferior surface of both sides of the pelvic basin there are two inferior projections that serve to control the extent of lateral rocking, and also to prevent injury to the user's hands while grasping the pelvic basin handles in performing the exercise. These are termed lateral stabilizers.
The basin portion of the apparatus includes a pair of buttock receiving and supporting areas designed to accommodate the buttocks in both the supine recumbent and seated postures. They are located on opposite sides of the axis of symmetry, in a manner that gradually flares upwards and outwards in the configuration of a triangle resembling the triangular shape of the sacrum bone, and extending into the area of transition between the pelvic and lumbar portions. This triangular configuration effectively aligns the user's pelvis, lumbo-sacral transition and boney tailbone over the appropriate receiving area of the apparatus. The recess cradles the user's tailbone and suspends the boney structure, thereby effectively reducing the frictional and compression forces commonly encountered in the conventional sit-up exercise.
The rocker portion is preferably integrally formed in the basin portion as a contoured (concave on the superior surface and convex on the inferior surface) projection that is elliptical in shape, with placement of the pivot point backwards of the midpoint of the projection.
Preferably the above-noted basin portion, the lumbar spine supporting portion, and the transition between the two, comprise integral parts of a unitary body; with the transition area arching convexly superiorly to allow for acceptable support of the normal lumbo-sacral angulation in the recumbant posture.
The previously noted unitary body is typically formed from a relatively thin moulded shell of injection moulded plastics, exhibiting varying degrees of flexibility and rigidity at integral sites of the unitary body. The variances in flexibility are due to the physical properties of the injection moulded plastics in relation to the inherent design of the apparatus. The transition area between the pelvic portion and the lumbar spine support portion is more flexible than the adjacent portions, and the rocker mechanism and pelvic basin is more rigid than the adjacent portions. Of course, other plastics moulding or forming procedures may also be used.
The objectives of the invention are to:
maintain an anatomically acceptable lordosis of the lumbar spine.
maintain an anatomically acceptable lumbo-sacral angle in the recumbant position.
minimize compression forces on the spine during phases of initiation and completion of the exercise.
allow the spine to spring posteriorly into the flexible lumbar support portion of the apparatus.
offer an initial momentum to aid the lift of the upper torso into the exercise range of motion, by promoting pelvic tilt.
minimize localized segmental spinal stress.
distribute the compression forces of inertia over the entire length of the lumbar spine support portion.
protect the transitional segment L5-S1 (lumbo-sacral angle) from strain.
direct compressional forces on the lumbar discs in an anterior direction, away from the neural canal and spinal cord and nerves.
cause an arc of motion of the vertebral bodies to be directed backwards, allowing the facet joints to bear the forces of compression for which they are inherently designed.
cradle the pelvis as an unimodular segment, thereby reducing torsion between the pelvis and the spine.
cause pelvic rotation about the horizontal axis to occur at or about the S2 tubercle (the natural centre of gravity of the body).
reduce the incidence of muscle substitution by the iliopsoas and quadriceps muscles, thereby increasing the lift demand on the abdominal muscles proper.
obligate a central nervous system activation to control balancing on the apparatus by effective contraction of the entire abdominal girdle to include: Rectus Abdominus (bilaterally), Internal Obliques (bilaterally), and External Obliques (bilaterally).
demand effective work output of the entire abdominal girdle, as described above.
increase muscle lift demand in the effective midrange of motion.
minimize torsional strain to the spine and pelvis.
reduce frictional and compression forces to the tailbone.
provide for successful performance of the sit-up exercise utilizing partial assist from upper extremity strength.
Further features of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the appended claims; and from a review of the drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 illustrates use of the apparatus in a sit-up exercise;
FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the apparatus;
FIG. 3 is a front end elevation view thereof;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view thereof;
FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of FIG. 2;
FIG. 6 is a section view taken along line A--A of FIG. 2;
FIG. 7 is a section view taken along line B--B of FIG. 2;
FIG. 8 is a section view taken along line C--C of FIG. 2;
FIG. 9 is a somewhat diagrammatic side elevation, partially in section illustrating the relationship of the exercising device to the lower spine and to certain major muscle groups; and
FIG. 10 is a section view taken along line D--D of FIG. 2.
With reference now to the drawings, the exercising apparatus 10 is illustrated as comprising a unitary body formed from a relatively thin injection moulded shell of plastic, exhibiting varying degrees of flexibility and rigidity at integral sites of the unitary body. The variances in flexibility are due to the physical properties of the injection moulded plastic in relation to the inherent design of the apparatus. The transition area (shaded between lines B--B and C--C of FIG. 2) which is between the pelvic portion and the lumbar spine, supports the rocker mechanism and the pelvic basin, and is more rigid than the adjacent portions when the apparatus is injected moulded. If vacuum formed or otherwise produced, the apparatus can be ribbed or reinforced so as to have the same rigidity in the transition area.
The exercising device 10 essentially comprises a basin portion 12 which is elliptically shaped and sized to receive the user's buttocks and to support the pelvis, and a lumbar spine support portion 14 extending from the basin portion and aligned with the axis of symmetry. Interfacing the two portions between lines B--B and C--C (the shaded area in FIG. 2) is the transition area which is arched convexly superiorly to accommodate maintenance of the normal lumbo-sacral angle (defined as the anatomical transition between the sacrum bone of the pelvis and the L 5 vertebrae of the lumbar spine). [There is a general agreement that a normal lumbo-sacral angle is 35 degrees to 40 degrees, more or less.] This is a major safety feature of this device. The axis of symmetry is along the line A--A in FIG. 2.
The lumbar spine support portion 14 is best seen in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 as smoothly convexly curved superiorly or arched upwardly such that, when the device is in use, with the user's buttocks positioned in the basin 12 and the lower back disposed on the lumbar support portion 14, a desired degree of lordosis in the lumbar spine and an anatomically acceptable lumbo-sacral angle is maintained while in the supine neutral position. What is meant by "anatomically acceptable" is that, as noted above, it is generally accepted by experts on the anatomy that a normal lumbosacral angle is in the order of 35 degrees to 40 degrees; the exact amount of inclination will vary usually more or less within that range, from person to person. For any individual, therefore, the lumbar spine support portion 14 will maintain that person's normal lumbo-sacral angle which is presumed to be within the range of 35 degrees to 40 degrees in a comfortable and well supported position while the user's body is in the supine neutral position. In other words, an anatomically acceptable lumbo-sacral angle is that angle in the normal range of lumbo-sacral angles which the user's spine assumes when the body is first correctly positioned on the exercising device 10 of the present invention.
When the sit-up exercise is commenced, the flexible transition area (shaded between lines B--B and C--C on FIG. 2) springs backwards towards the floor as the lumbar spine flattens, thus creating a natural pelvic tilt and preventing exaggeration of the lumbo-sacral angle or excessive lordosis which may be harmful to the lower spine. Pelvic tilt is a manoeuver familar to the exercise enthusiast and the low back pain sufferer alike, and consists of flexing of the pelvis to flatten the lower back thereby to reduce strain on the sensitive discal structures.
It will also be seen, especially from the side and cross section views of FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 that the lumbar spine support portion 14 is also shallowly concavely curved along the symmetry axis A--A. The concavity becomes less pronounced at the perimeters, whereby to "cradle" the user's lower back therein during use.
A rocker portion 16 extends below the pelvic basin as a convex elliptical projection. This rocker portion has a deeper cavity as it tails towards the periphery of the pelvic basin. This convex elliptical projection permits the exercise apparatus 10 to rock front to back as a whole about an axis transverse to the symmetry axis as the abdominal muscles are exercised during the course of a series of sit-up exercises. As will be seen in FIG. 2, the rocker portion 16 is aligned with the symmetry axis A--A thereby to allow side to side rocking of the apparatus as a whole whereby to stimulate and activate the oblique abdominal muscles during use, as will be described in more detail hereafter. The ellipitcal shape of the rocker portion 16 is the factor that ensures proper placement of the pivot point of rocking motion, and is a critical factor in the effectiveness of this invention. The centre of gravity of the body lies on or about the second sacral tubercle, and the pivot point of the rocker portion is integrally formed in the basin portion 12 thereby to define a contoured projection. Accordingly, a recess 20 is defined in the superior (upwards facing) buttock receiving area of the basin portion 12 coinciding with the location of the rocker projection as best seen in FIG. 4 and FIG. 8. The recess 20 "cradles" the user's tailbone as the buttock receiving areas 22 suspend the boney tailbone over the recess, thereby effectively reducing frictional and compression forces commonly encountered in the conventional sit-up exercise.
The pelvic basin portion 12 includes a pair of shallowly concavely curved buttock receiving and supporting areas 22 on opposing sides of the axis of symmetry A--A as seen best in FIG. 6 and FIG. 10. The transition between the recess 20 and the buttock receiving areas 22 on either side of the recess comprises a triangularly shaped mild recess transition that gradually flares outwards and upwards in the configuration of a triangle resembling the shape of the sacrum bone and extending into the area of transition between the pelvic 12 and lumbar spine 14 portions. This triangular configuration effectively aligns the user's pelvis, lumbo-sacral angle, and tailbone over the appropriate receiving area of the apparatus. This subtle triangular shaped recess is best seen in FIG. 2 as the contour shadings on either side of the symmetry axis A--A and disected by line B--B, and on FIGS. 4 and 8.
On either side of the apparatus 10 in the lower half of the pelvic portion 12 there are a pair of projecting handle portions 24, as shown in FIGS. 2, 4, 5, 6 and 10. The user grips these handles for assistance during exercising, as well as to adjust and maintain position of the apparatus relative to the user's anatomy and thereby to obtain greater comfort and efficiency. These handles 24 are designed to accommodate several arm lengths and to maintain the elbow in a wing configuration away from the sides of the user's body. This design effectively reduces the hazard of collision of the boney elbow with the floor or exercise surface, and allows the user to obtain a lift advantage with a partial assist from the upper torso extremity strength.
There are two projections 25 on either side of the inferior surface of the apparatus 10 (FIGS. 3-5 and 10) that serve to prevent excessive side to side rocking of the device. This effectively reduces the incidence of injury to the user's hands as they grasp through the handles 24. These "lateral stabilizers" are integrally formed in the pelvic basin portion 12.
It should be noted that either or both surfaces of the apparatus 10 FIG. 2 may or may not be textured to provide a reduction in slippage between the apparatus and the user's anatomy or between the apparatus and the exercising surface, during the course of an exercise program.
The following discussion refers particularly to FIGS. 1, 2, 9 and 10.
The user lies on his or her back (supine) with the hips and knees bent and feet flat on the floor. The exercising device 10 is then slid into place to position the basin 12 of same under the buttocks, with the lumbar spine supporting portion 14 located below the lower back. The appropriate handle length accommodating the user's arm length is grasped, with the fingers wrapping over and through the handle opening, thus allowing the user to fine tune the comfort and alignment of the apparatus 10 in relation to his or her anatomy.
The conventional sit-up exercise is commenced while still grasping the handles 24. Upper extremity arm strength may be used to partially assist the abdominals in lifting the upper torso into the sit-up exercise. It is not necessary to achieve a full sit-up position.
Due to the relative narrowness of the rocker portion 16 as shown in FIG. 2, the apparatus 10 will demonstrate lateral instability, rocking from side to side. The user is forced to balance upon the central rocker projection 16. This balancing is a reflex action mediated by the brain centres which activate the side muscles (internal and external oblique muscles) while performing a sit-up exercise on the apparatus. Without the apparatus 10, the conventional sit-up exercise would not effectively activate these muscles. With reference to FIGS. 1, 9 and 10, the side to side rocking of the apparatus 10 in the direction of arrow E serves to activate the oblique abdominal muscles without requiring a twisting of the lower spine. Since the boney architecture of the lower spine is not conducive to twisting movements, and since conventional sit-up exercises specifically to activate these oblique muscles require twisting of the lower spine, it is apparent that elimination of twisting activity reduces the potential for lower spine injury. An added virtue of this mechanism is a reduction in the time factor that the user must expand in the performance of sit-up exercises for the entire abdominal muscle girdle, effectively reducing the time factor by 66 percent. Conventionally, the sit-up exercise would require one sit-up straight forward and one sit-up with rotation to the left and then one sit-up with rotation to the right, to effectively exercise the abdominal muscle girdle. The apparatus of the present invention requires only one sit-up to be performed straight ahead, as opposed to three distinct sit-ups. A further added feature is the fact that since the entire abdominal muscle girdle is activated during the sit-up exercise, a greater lift potential is achieved by virtue of more muscles being involved in the exercise, and as such the exercise becomes easier to perform. This feature, combined with the greater comfort, offers the user who might otherwise not be able to perform an effective sit-up exercise positive reinforcement.
During the course of the sit-up exercise, the device 10 rocks forward, requiring more work force from the lower abdominal musculature. This forward rocking reduces the incidence of muscle substitution by the ilio-psoas muscle and the quadriceps muscle of the leg, and increases the effective range of motion through which the abdominal muscles are isolated in the exercise and are worked through a greater range of motion. FIG. 9 demonstrates the forwards and backwards rocking motions in the direction of arrow D. The pivot point of the rocker 16 is determined by the elliptical shape of the rocker portion, which is less pronounced as it tails towards the periphery of the pelvic basin portion 12 as best seen in FIGS. 4 to 8 and 10. This design effectively places the pivot point under the natural centre of gravity of the user's anatomy, thereby to provide a smooth forwards and backwards rocking motion, more effective muscle actions, and enhancing the timing of the pelvic tilt assistance as previously described. The pelvic tilt mechanism is best seen in FIG. 9 illustrated by the direction of arrow F.
With particular reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, the upwardly arched lumbar spine support portion 14 serves, as previously noted, to maintain the normal lordosis curvature. This lordosis is more commonly maintained in the standing weight bearing posture, and is inherently the strongest architecture of the lower spine. The conventional sit-up performed without the apparatus of the present invention is performed with the hips and knees bent to approximately 90 degrees, and with the lower spine flattened towards the floor by the pelvic tilt manoeuvre. This posture reduces the incidence of injury to the lower spine by virtue of a reduction in excessive lordosis or hyper-extension of the lower spine. However, with the lower spine flattened to the floor, the spine is not adequately protected. When performing a conventional sit-up without the apparatus 10, the user has a natural tendency to shorten the long "lever" defined by the upper torso. This is accomplished by arching the spine into lordosis and thereby effectively improving the leverage system and thereby the lift advantage. This may result in injury to the lower spine, especially at the lumbo-sacral transition. This factor is further complicated by the fact that in the conventional sit-up exercise the spine is moving into the direction of the pelvic structure which is relatively immobile due to the contact of the pelvis with the floor, thereby increasing the forces that potentiate injury to the lumbo-sacral transition.
When performing the sit-up exercise with the apparatus 10, referring particularly to FIG. 9 of the illustrations, it will be seen that as the subject initiates the sit-up the lumbar spine support portion flexes backwards towards the floor in the direction of arrow B thereby to reduce the incidence of exaggeration of the normal lordosis, and this helps to initiate the sit-up in the direction of arrow C. This is based on Newton's third law of physics that "for every action there is an equal reaction in opposite direction". This effectively enhances the safety of performing the sit-up exercise as the more damaging forces take place on initiation of the sit-up exercise.
As the lumbar spine support portion 14 springs backwards towards the floor in the direction of arrow B the pelvic basin portion 12 reacts by springing forwards in the direction of arrow F producing the pelvic tilt manoeuvre as previously referred to.
The flexible transition area shaded between lines B--B and C--C on FIG. 2 interfaces the lumbar spine support portion 14 and the pelvic portion 12, and ensures the maintenance of the normal lumbo-sacral angle thereby to reduce stress and prevent injury to the lumbo-sacral anatomy.
The timing of these actions is determined by the placement of the pivot point in the rocker portion 16 and thus the elliptical design of the rocker portion as previously referred to.
After initiation phase of the sit-up exercise with the apparatus 10 is completed, the user activates the entire abdominal muscle girdle as he or she balances and lifts into the resistance determined by the inclination of the rocker portion 16. As the resistance of the rocker portion is overcome at the pivot point, the apparatus 10 rocks forwards carrying the user's pelvis in the direction of arrow D. Due to this rocking mechanism, the abdominal musculature attachments to the rib-cage and to the pelvis are passively moving away from each other thereby creating a greater demand on the muscles through a longer range of motion. At the same time, the muscles that may normally substitute for the abdominal muscles, namely the ilio-psoas and the quadriceps femoris, exhibit their attachments to passively move into approximation, thus rendering these muscles ineffective in the aid of lifting to perform the sit-up exercise.
The apparatus 10 serves to support the user's anatomy in a position of comfort, while elevating the body to allow the exercise device to interface between the body and the floor or exercise surface.
Referring to FIGS. 2 and 10, the handles 24 are designed to accommodate several arm lengths. The user grips the handles from above by sliding the fingers through one of the openings to grasp the under surface, and rests the thumb in the depression formed on the upper surface by the lateral stabilizers 25. This design effectively reduces the incidence of injury to the user's hands while performing the exercise routine, and maintains the elbows in a wing configuration away from the sides of the body so as to avoid collision of the boney elbow with the floor. The handles 24 serve to act as partial assist in lifting the upper torso into the sit-up range of motion with the use of upper extremity strength, and to assist the user in maintaining position and comfort on the apparatus 10. A further feature of the partial assist with the upper extremity strength is that this allows the weaker individual to perform the exercise and thereby receive positive reinforcement, while it allows the stronger individual to perform the exercise repetitions beyond normal fatigue of the abdominal muscles, and thereby to maximize the progression of muscle strength and endurance.
The exercise program may initially be commenced on a soft surface, such as a bed or exercise mat, as this reduces the rocking motions and thereby the lift demands on the abdominal musculature. Progression of the level of difficulty may be undertaken by performing the exercise on an increasingly more firm surface.
The grasping of the handles in performing the exercise with the apparatus is not absolutely essential as relative hand position is not critical to the performance of the apparatus.
Though the apparatus does effectively reduce the incidence of stress to the user's anatomy, should the exercise be painful or physiologically harmful the exercise should be immediately discontinued and consultation with a physician undertaken.
While most of the above discussion has been directed to the performance of the usual or conventional sit-up exercise, it will be clear that the exercising device of the present invention may be used for a number of other exercises so as to protect or maintain the user's spine in a comfortable manner and so as to enhance the purpose of some exercises. Particularly, floor or mat exercises that involve the lower torso including the legs, such as leg raised or supine bicycling, may be effectively performed using the apparatus of the present invention.
A further or additional component may be included with or separately purchased for use with the exercise device of the present invention, as is particularly shown by the dashed lines in FIGS. 5 and 8. There, an add-on shoe or additional wedge structure 30 is shown, which fits generally beneath the rocker portion 16 and increases the inclination of the contacting surface of the rocker portions 16 with the supporting surface (floor or mat) on which the exercise is to be performed. The purpose is particularly to increase the inclination of the rocker portion 16, and thereby the resistance to rocking, and also to increase the extent of lateral tipping of the device. This increases the degree of difficulty of the sit-up exercise for an expert. Indeed, as the user becomes more expert, different add-on shoes 30 can be provided, possibly colour coded to indicate the degree of expertise required or to be attained. Alternatively, the lower surface of the add-on shoe 30 may be movable or tiltable--as by the operation of an hydraulic cylinder--particularly for installations of the exercise device in such circumstances where it may be constantly and continually in use as in a physical fitness gymnasium or the like.
It will be seen from the above that the exercising apparatus described herein is very simple to use in an effective manner, and that it has many built-in safeguards which assist in protecting the user against the potential hazards encountered in the conventional sit-up exercise. The inherent simplicity of the apparatus means that it can be produced in quantity at relatively low consumer cost.
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Owner name: ABDOMENIZER INC., P.O. BOX 673, ST. CATHARINES, ON
Free format text: NUNC PRO TUNC ASSIGNMENT;ASSIGNOR:COLONELLO, DENNIS J.;REEL/FRAME:004984/0321
Effective date: 19880822
Owner name: ABDOMENIZER INC., P.O., CANADA
Free format text: NUNC PRO TUNC ASSIGNMENT;ASSIGNOR:COLONELLO, DENNIS J.;REEL/FRAME:004984/0321
Effective date: 19880822
|Oct 15, 1991
|Fee payment
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text:
Believe it or not, Mike Fruitman says the 2013 football cards are ringing up sales even without a lot of hype over this year's rookie class.
NFL rookie class
What's Hot in the Shop: Football, Football, Football (No Kidding)August 8, 2013 By
NFL Rookie Avalanche Continues with 2012 Bowman Sterling FootballDecember 26, 2012 By
Like rookie cards? This year's amazing draft class takes center stage in the 2012 Bowman Sterling football product.

subset: commoncrawl


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The Henry County Wildcats track team participated in the Oldham County All-Comers meet April 12 and showed improvement from their previous meets.
Henry County High School football player Jacob Watson, a running back and linebacker, signed with the Union College Tigers Friday afternoon in a ceremony in the Henry County High School Library.
Watson also played as a guard on the Wildcats basketball team.
"I've been talking to them for about three months and I needed to get my ACT score up," Watson said. "I was able to do that last week and I texted their coach and he said that they wanted to sign me."
Just within the last couple of weeks I have had two friends and one family member take a tumble from a ladder. Two were not injured seriously but one received both a broken shoulder and two broken bones in one leg and also suffered a heart attack while in the hospital.
According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, over 180,000 ladder-related injuries get treated in hospital emergency departments each year.
Here are some important procedures to follow to prevent injuries when using ladders:
The Eminence Warriors traveled to Bedford Thursday night to take on the Trimble County Raiders in the first round of the Eighth Region All A Classic tournament.
The Warriors fell victim to errors and walks as they lost 12-1 in five innings.
The Warriors had only one hit in the game, but managed several base runners through walks and hit batters. But Mitchell Metten scored the Warriors' only run on a wild pitch in the second inning.
By Ky. Governor Matt Bevin
A new day is dawning in Kentucky.
For the first time in many years, the winds of financial responsibility have begun to blow briskly through the marble halls of Frankfort. These welcome breezes are ushering in the promise of a fresh start for the Commonwealth.
For more than a decade now, the most pressing long-term problem in Kentucky has been the growing liabilities of our public retirement systems for teachers and state employees.
Both systems had far more than they needed a dozen or so years ago, but two recessions since then have swept most of those gains away.
By Cathy Toole
Henry County Extension Service
The Eminence Warriors softball team played five games last week and got their first win Friday night when they outslugged Burgin 16-15.
The Warriors got off to good start when they scored three runs in the bottom of the first.
Amiya Hunt and Jadyn Browning drew one-out walks before Emilie Ethington singled to drive Hunt home. Clarice Wilkerson drew a two-out walk to load the bases before Serena Dockter doubled to score Browning and Ethington.
Burgin scored five runs in the top of the third to take a 5-3 lead.
After taking two big losses against district rivals to start the week, the Emience Warriors dropped a heartbreaker to Burgin before finishing a busy week with a win over Whitefield Academy Saturday.
EHS 10 Whitefield 5
The Warriors hit the ball well against the Wildcats and jumped out to a 3-0 lead after two innings.
Copyright © 2016
The Henry County Local is your source for local news, sports, events, and information in Eminence, KY and the surrounding area.


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you are viewing a single comment's thread.
rhed Im especially happy for you I know this has been a tough ride but it gets a little smoother from here.
Thanks man, you think when you get a chance you can drop me an email rhedayi at yahoo is my email....liek to bounce some ideas off you
rhed ...many people ask me to email them...I try to keep my privacy.Id be happy to answer any questions you have on the board...Im sorry.


text:
4 bedroom detached house for sale Nottingham Road, Trowell, Nottingham, NG9Four Double Bedrooms and Self Contained One Bed Annex. Extensive Living Accommodation 4 pce Bathroom & 4 pce En Suite. Two Receptions & Fully Fitted Breakfast Kitchen with Appliances. Parking for Several Cars/Caravan standing. Stunning Garden to Rear. Kitchen, Two Rec & Conservatory. Four pce Bat... More details ›
Reduced on 05/01/2016 by Nottingham Property Services, Stapleford. Call: 0115 798 0200 Local call rate
£350,000 Offers in Excess of
Offers in Excess of £350,000
3 bedroom detached bungalow for sale Cossall Road, Nottingham, NG9 3PGAn elevated, single storey bungalow with South facing garden having open aspects to fields and countryside. Ideally placed midway between Nottingham and Derby and with easy access to the M1. The property comprises three double bedrooms, bathroom, fitted kitchen, spacious lounge, dining room, sun ... More details ›
Added on 12/07/2015 by Purplebricks.com, Central. Call: 0121 396 0865 Local call rate
£300,000 Offers Over
Offers Over £300,000
2 bedroom detached house for sale Nottingham Road, Trowell, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire**A REAL COTTAGE** A very well maintained 1700's two double bedroom extended detached cottage having maintained many features. (contd...) More details ›
3 bedroom detached bungalow for sale Devonshire Drive, StaplefordChalet bungalow on the Stapleford/Trowell border offering two reception rooms, country style kitchen, three double bedrooms and additional office/study, en-suite to master, family bathroom and ground floor wc. Outside is a low maintenance rear garden and block paved driveway and garage. More details ›
£250,000 Offers Over
Offers Over £250,000
4 bedroom detached house for sale Barleydale Drive, Trowell, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire***A MUST VIEW PROPERTY*** Bairstow Eves are very please to bring to the market this beautiful FOUR bedroomed detached property that is located in a sought after location close to good transport links including the M1 & A52. (contd...) More details ›
£250,000 Guide Price
Guide Price £250,000
4 bedroom detached house for sale Roehampton Drive, Trowell, Nottingham, NottinghamshireA well maintained and spacious four bedroom detached house which is set on a generous corner plot. (contd...) More details ›
£250,000 Guide Price
Guide Price £250,000
5 bedroom detached house for sale Iona Drive, Trowell, Nottingham, NottinghamshireA generously extended five bedroom family detached property which is extremely well maintained set on a corner plot. (contd...) More details ›
4 bedroom detached house for sale Trowell Park Drive, TrowellAn immaculately presented 4 bedroom detached family home situated within this highly sought after development and offered to the market at a realistic price to attract buyers in strong purchasing positions. The property briefly comprises, entrance hall, lounge and separate dining room, re-fitted ... More details ›
3 bedroom detached bungalow for sale Nottingham Road, Trowell, Nottingham, NG9** RECENTLY REFURBISHED 3 BED DETACHED BUNGALOW SITUATED IN POPULAR TROWELL LOCATION SET BACK FROM THE ROAD * DRIVE AND GARAGE * VIEWS OVERLOOKING OPEN COUNTRYSIDE * NO UPWARD CHAIN ** This spacious accommodation briefly offers: entrance hall, lounge, good sized breakfast kitchen, master ... More details ›
3 bedroom detached house for sale Nottingham Road, Trowell, Nottingham, NottinghamshireThree bedrooms, one bathroom and features two reception rooms. To the front of the property is a gravelled area providing off road parking for more than one vehicle. Lawn garden. Side access to the rear. At the rear is a paved patio area with lawn garden. Garden shed. . More details ›
Thank you.
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There are no Upcoming Shows listed for this comedian.
Sergio Chicon
Sergio Chicon was born and raised in New York City's Lower East Side. His energy and stage presence brings out the natural performer that he is. Always the entertainer amongst friends and family, its no wonder that in the short time he has been doing stand up, he has moved along very quickly, performing in clubs all over the city. Sergio's comedy style cannot easily be labeled, though it can fall in the categories of urban, physical and self deprecating humor. His uninhibited animated style and high energy capture the audiences' immediate attention. His mannerisms and facial expressions allow him to dip in and out of characters such as his favored "construction worker". With few limitations on and off stage, Sergio is the producer of his own new talent show, Serg's Fresh Faces, at New York City's Laugh Lounge, featuring some of the freshest and hottest new talent in New York City. Sergio was featured Comedy Central's "Funaticos" & Comedy Central's "Los LOL", MTV TR3S, Miami Comedy Festival, SITV, Comedy Net, BET on Blast, and performed at the Comedy Café in Amsterdam. Sergio is currently on tour with "The Gangsta of Comedy" Capone and the 5 M.I.C.s.
Sergio Chicon's Upcoming Shows
Sergio Chicon is Known For
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Tweet Feed
- RT @ComedyJuiceNY: NYC! HUGE SHOW TONIGHT! 9:30pm at @GothamComedy GET TICKETS NOW! laughstub.com/events/435236 pic.twitter.com/TGK3bBHp6r May 03
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text:
Welcome, Ohio State Alumni!
Stay connected, engaged and enriched no matter how many miles separate you from Ohio State. Here you can reconnect with former classmates; explore career, travel and volunteer opportunities; share your latest news; and register for events that will enhance your life.
The Ohio State University Alumni Association is made up of more than half a million alumni living worldwide. The association also has a global presence through more than 50 societies and 200 local and international clubs that show how firm alumni friendship is for Ohio State.
We're glad you're here.
Events View all events
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Find a club
Alumni clubs and societies offer opportunities for continued friendship and service to Ohio State. Share your Buckeye experience.
Share your pride
Buckeye pride extends throughout the world.
Submit O-H-I-O photos that make you proud to be a BuckeyeUpload images
Use #BuckeyeforLife on social media.
Latest image:
"O-H-I-O at JGI" submitted by: Morgan Volker
Autumn 2015 New Student Profile
|Applications received
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|Freshmen ranking in top 10%
|Freshmen ranking in top 25%
|First-generation freshmen
|1,498 (21.5%)
|Ohio counties represented
|States represented
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|Columbus new transfers*
|Regional campus new freshmen*
|Columbus campus new first year students
*Other new students
Share your @OhioState story! Post a picture of your decorated grad cap using #OSUgrad. https://t.co/jEorLDhTW2
5 hours, 26 minutes ago
Welcome to the #OSUgrad family! Learn how to stay connected at GradFest, Thursday, May 5 in the @ohiounion. https://t.co/lISUCaZPzB
7 hours, 26 minutes ago
Join @Brutus_Buckeye this Friday, May 6 at @cedarpoint! Find tickets for @OhioState Day at https://t.co/U286TmbMkz https://t.co/4q247klDZx
8 hours, 46 minutes ago
#BuckeyesGive Buckeye pride! The Palm Beach County Alumni Club pays forward, gleaning crops at a local farm. O-H https://t.co/Lz2A6XEqad
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Women's basketball
May 05, 2016
Seattle mayor decries sexist attacks to sports arena vote
Seattle's mayor and an investor have condemned sports fans' sexist attacks against the mostly female City Council after its ...
May 04, 2016
APNewsBreak: WNBA, union amend CBA for overseas play fines
The WNBA and its players union have agreed to amend the collective bargaining agreement on fines for overseas play.
April 28, 2016
A playoff twist: Ruff coaching Stars vs. Hitchcock's Blues
The irony is not lost on Lindy Ruff as his Dallas Stars prepare for their second-round playoff series against Ken Hitchcock ...
April 27, 2016
Auriemma says he's feeling better after hospital stay
Geno Auriemma is feeling a lot better. The UConn women's basketball coach spent a few days in the hospital last week after ...
April 26, 2016
Candace Parker disappointed, will not be on US hoops roster
Candace Parker was shocked when the two-time Olympic gold medalist learned that she will not be on the U.S.
April 25, 2016
AP Sources: Candace Parker left off Rio roster
Candace Parker was left off the U.S. women's basketball Olympic roster, according to people familiar with the decision.
April 25, 2016
NCAA adds charge, removes another from UNC academic case
After waiting eight months to find out how the NCAA would revise its list of charges tied to the North Carolina's ...
April 21, 2016
The Latest: Tributes to Prince spring up across the US
The Latest on the death of pop superstar Prince (all times local): 1 a.m. Tributes to Prince are springing up across the ...
April 20, 2016
Three elite athletes talk Olympics and motherhood
Training for the Olympics is hard work, but doing it while getting into shape after giving birth, then juggling little kids, ...
April 20, 2016
APR scores show money remains big factor in college sports
The wealthiest schools in college sports are cashing in with high academic performances. Others are paying a stiff price for ...
April 19, 2016
UConn coach Geno Auriemma released from the hospital
UConn women's basketball coach Geno Auriemma has been released from the hospital, where he was admitted Saturday with an ...
April 16, 2016
UConn coach Auriemma hospitalized with undisclosed illness
UConn women's basketball coach Geno Auriemma has been hospitalized with an undisclosed illness. The school released a ...
April 16, 2016
Loyola probes allegations against team coached by Swoopes
Loyola University plans to investigate its women's basketball program after allegations of player mistreatment surfaced ...
April 14, 2016
Breanna Stewart top pick in WNBA, leading 1-2-3 UConn sweep
Breanna Stewart, Moriah Jefferson and Morgan Tuck had historic careers at UConn. The trio made more history Thursday night ...
April 12, 2016
Sweet 16: Gordon sparks key rally, Marlins edge Mets 2-1
As soon as Dee Gordon rounded first base with his hard-fought hit, the Miami Marlins started feeling pretty confident.
April 12, 2016
Illinois settles with former athletes, ex coach Tim Beckman
The University of Illinois said Tuesday that it will pay $375,000 to settle a federal lawsuit filed by seven former female ...
April 10, 2016
UConn celebrate NCAA women's title with victory parade
The University of Connecticut women's basketball team was feted Sunday with a victory parade and rally in downtown Hartford ...
April 07, 2016
Tyler Summitt admits inappropriate relationship, resigns
Tyler Summitt resigned from his job as Louisiana Tech women's basketball coach on Thursday and acknowledged having an ...
April 06, 2016
Returning UConn players say they're ready to take baton
The confetti had barely fallen to the floor at Bankers Life Fieldhouse when UConn's returning players began fielding ...
April 06, 2016
UConn skips campus parade due to weather, will rally indoors
UConn will skip its parade around campus because of unseasonably cold weather and rally indoors to celebrate its national ...


text:
- Condition:
- New
- Item No.
- 659534
- Mfg Part No.
Hubbell Inc. Valencia Reversible Reception Return, 44w x 23-5/8d x 41-1/2h, Medium Cherry
$ 162.17 Original Price$ 305.00
Free Shipping | In Stock
Alera SedinaAG Series Reversible Return/Bridge, 47 1/4w x 23 5/8d x 29 1/2h, Walnut
$ 173.54
Free Shipping | In Stock
Hubbell Inc. SedinaAG Series Reversible Return/Bridge, 42w x 23-5/8d x 29-1/2h, Espresso
$ 149.54 Original Price$ 285.00
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Hubbell Inc. Valencia Series Reversible Return/Bridge Shell, 47-1/4w x 23-5/8d, Mahogany
$ 109.35 Original Price$ 215.00
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Hubbell Inc. Valencia Series Reversible Return/Bridge Shell, 47-1/4w x 23-5/8d, Medium Cherry
$ 109.68 Original Price$ 215.00
Free Shipping | In Stock
Product Information for HON Metro Classic P3235RZP Return
Highlights for HON Metro Classic P3235RZP Return
Marketing Information
Metro Classic Desking Series offers crisp, rectangular styling in contemporary colors and monochromatic pulls. Design features 3/4 height modesty panels, painted legs, "Tru-fit" mitered drawer fronts for better visual alignment, full extension triple-tied cradles on all drawers for full access and 3/4 extension box drawers with one divider. Spring-loaded follower blocks are standard. All interior drawer bodies are made of painted steel. High-sided file drawers accept hanging files without hangrails. Color of pulls and grommets matches paint selection. Wire management minimizes cable clutter. Reinforced, double "O" frame inner structure keeps desk solid and sturdy for years of use. Locking center drawer has a HON "One Key" interchangeable lock core. Keyed alike cores must be ordered separately. Furniture meets or exceeds applicable ANSI/BIFMA standards.
General Information
Certifications & Standards
Recycled Content0%
Assembly RequiredNo
Physical Characteristics
Product Information


text:
Activity Feed
Register or sign in to start receiving activity updates from around Kongregate!
Complete Initialization for 10 kreds
Congratulations! You've completed your Kongregate account!
Keep exploring Kongregate with more badges and games!
Hide the progress bar forever?
Bullet Heaven
May. 16, 2015
Rating: 1
I like how the Ten Desires badge and the Imperishable Player badge are references to Touhou.
Swarm Simulator
Feb. 20, 2015
Rating: 3
That Touhou reference in the "Patchy Knowledge" achievement though.
Idling to Rule the Gods
Oct. 28, 2014
Rating: 2
Exponential growth simulator.
Jul. 18, 2014
Rating: 11
To those who didn't know yet, Matt is working on a 2nd Bullet Heaven: http://kupogames.com/category/bullet-heaven-2-mobile-games/
Elona Shooter
Apr. 30, 2014
Rating: 8
So much whining about this game being too hard.
You kids have been softened up by games that are too easy.
Ninja Warz
Apr. 25, 2014
Both devs haven't been online since somewhere in 2013. Don't expect any updates, people.
Apr. 16, 2014
Rating: 57
They sure are putting a lot of effort into stopping this one slave.
Rating: -2
They sure are putting a lot of effort into putting this one slave.
Feb. 21, 2014
Rating: -5
Oh shit it's a new game from jmtb02!
Frantic Sky
Feb. 19, 2014
Basically frantic frigates but not nearly as good.
Flappy Cat
Feb. 12, 2014
Rating: 0
So I've noticed that Kongregate is getting invaded by Flappy Bird clones. This one is maybe even worse than others because it's using in-game advertisements to leech money off an overrated app.
Flappy Bird 2
Oh great, another flappy bird clone.
As if we don't have enough of those yet.
Jan. 18, 2014
Rating: 5
Just reached the 25000 points for the hard badge. Now I quit, because this game is 2spooky4me.
Death vs Monstars 2
Jan. 16, 2014
Rating: 6
Probably one of the easier (but still absolutely nerve wrecking) impossible badges on Kongregate.
Idle Mine
Dec. 16, 2013
@CrestDenOnyktre I find it hard to believe you didn't use an autoclicker, seeing how high your active power is compared to your idle power.
Mar. 06, 2013
Rating: -1
Darn this game is scary. I was too much of a wuss to play level 2. Great job on this, it's not often you see get good horror like this.
Frantic 3
Feb. 12, 2013
Rating: -7
Quite possibly the easiest impossible badge on Kongregate. Also, awesome game. 5/5
Bloons TD 5
Aug. 24, 2012
*Look at new games*
Endless War 5
Jul. 21, 2012
Rating: 62
Your team is worthless: The game
Strike Force Heroes
Jul. 14, 2012
Rating: 4
Haha, I love the Super Smash Bros reference. When you select the medic on the soldiers screen he sometimes says 'Show me your wounds!'.
Get more out of your Kongregate experience. Take advantage of ad-free gaming, cool profile skins, automatic beta access, and private chat with Kong Plus.
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text:
How to Ask Siri to Play the Rest of the Album
By Jim Karpen
There are likely occasions when you're listening to a playlist or to shuffled music, or listening to Apple Music, and you hear an artist you like — and you want more. At that very moment you want to listen to more from the album or to hear more from that particular artist. Siri is here to help.


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An award winning brewery in Alexandria, VA, where we make an exciting line of great quality, locally produced craft beer for DC and the Mid Atlantic.
Face Tags
.@edgardc Grand Opening tonight in The Mayflower Hotel. Kind of a big deal! #searchlights
We are quite proud of the fact that our entire Tasting Room staff are Cicerone Certified Beer Servers!
We have a 4 foot #pickle in our Tasting Room today. That is all.
.@Number1Sons are here this afternoon! Come enjoy your fermented drinks with fermented food!
Tartan Ale is comin atcha! Look fer it! Cheers!
Maniacal IPA is in the tank! #DCBrews
Flying Saucer in Raleigh's got it!
The wearin' o' The Tartan for the bottling o' The Tartan! #DCBrews #malty
Festive crowd at this #MardiGras celebration!
We're celebrating Mardi Gras all weekend in our Tasting Room! Beads, brews, swampy music & a few surprises! #DCBrews
Our beers are now 100% unfiltered. We are selling our filter, we haven't used it since last June.
TWO is on tap in our Tasting Room tonight and this weekend. We have a few commemorative glasses left as well #DCBrews
Live from PCBC! CBS This Morning!
Thanks to all who came out to celebrate TWO last night! A great night at PCBC & at DC bars pouring TWO! #DCbrews
Who's ready for FRIDAY? #TWO
All set up outside of Section 120. We've got free Brewery Tour passes for the first 500 to say Hello! #rockthered #caps
Brewers Ball March 2nd at the National Building Museum. Save the Date!
Monumental moment at FedEx! #HTTR
©2016 Twitpic Inc, All Rights Reserved


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Possible volunteering opportunities
Kinabatangan River T: (12) 828 1473
This research station along the Kinabatangan River is an interesting alternative to the touristy jungle lodges.
Guests stay in four-bedded rooms in a lodge shared by grad students and visiting documentary makers. There aren't tourist activities like river cruises, but you can trek the surrounding trails and, if the scientists like you, tag along on their field work – it may be anything from observing slow loris behaviour to putting radio collars on elephants. The minimum stay is two nights and long-term volunteering opportunities can be arranged. Guests pay 110 ringgit per night for room and board plus 50 ringgit for boat transfers from the Batu Puteh Jetty and 100 ringgit as a conservation fee. The Field Centre has WiFi when the electricity is on and posts regular updates on Facebook about their research. (Please note that we did visit this place in person.)
By Tanya Procyshyn
Last updated on 25th February, 2013.


text:
Man Accidentally Live Tweets Osama's Death
The future is now.
Even covert ops are covered by the hive mind that is the Internet.
This post was created by a user and has not been vetted or endorsed by BuzzFeed's editorial staff. BuzzFeed Community is a place where anyone can post awesome lists and creations. Learn more or post your buzz!
In The News Today
- Donald Trump is the last Republican standing. Ohio Gov. John Kasich has ended his presidential run 🇺🇸
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New York Colleges
Print without images
Thursday, March 7, 2013
Iona's Jones named MAAC Player of the Year
By Kieran Darcy
Iona guard Lamont "Momo" Jones has been named the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Player of the Year, the conference announced on Thursday.
Jones, a 6-foot senior from Harlem, is currently the third-leading scorer in all of Division I, averaging 23.2 points per game.
Also, Manhattan junior forward
Rhamel Brown
was named the MAAC's Defensive Player of the Year.
Iona (17-13, 11-7) is the No. 4 seed in this year's MAAC tournament. The Gaels will play No. 5 seed Canisius in the quarterfinals, on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. in Springfield, Mass.
Manhattan (12-17, 9-9) is the No. 6 seed, and will play No. 3 seed Loyola (MD) on Saturday at 9:30 p.m.


text:
Verpura Timetracking Application
Verpura Timetracking Application is an Windows 8 App for recording your time bookings. It is an enhancement for Verpura cloud based all in one solution for small companies. Verpura contains ERP, CRM, Office365, online filespace and much more - complete integrated and for the needings of small companies. Verpura Timetracking Application loads the projects and services of Verpura ERP and you can generate your timebookings online and offline on your Windows 8 device.More
- Recording timebookings, sync timebookings, record timebooking offline, record timebooking online, load projects from Verpura, load services from Verpura


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you are viewing a single comment's thread.
<This has got to one of the most over valued stocks ever.>You born after 2000?
Good point...unfortunately, her point is also pretty good. I feel like I'm having a flashback to 2000. I was bitten by the stock bug then. This is why I feel so strongly about this stock price. It is very demoralizing for the RSH sales associates to go to work everyday and see this stock price go up. Meanwhile, the number of in -store products that are commissionable, seems to drop everyday. I was canned today for expressing my opinion about the company. This didn't go over well in Fort Worth. I don't see how they can maintain a good public reputation when they are #$%$ off employees. This cannot be good for "long-term" stock prices. I'm no Warren Buffett...but I call things the way I see them.


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I'm using hpple to parse content from a html page. I want to find the string 'Course Content' and select the paragraph after it. How is this possible?
At present i have this code which return the paragraph at index 0 however its not good enough.
Thanks for any help ..


text:
Party, Craft & School Supplies
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12 Piece(s)


text:
Windows XP ICS Internet GatewayWhen using Windows XP Internet Connection Sharing (ICS, an ICS client computer can be used to remotely monitor and control the ICS server computer's Internet connection. This Internet Gateway feature is available on computers running Windows 98, Windows 98 Second Edition, Windows Millennium Edition or Windows XP that have been configured as an ICS client using XP's Network Setup Wizard. It isn't available if you've configured the clients manually.
If you're sharing an always-on DSL or cable modem connection, a client computer can enable or disable it. If you're sharing a dial-up connection, a client computer can connect or disconnect it, causing the ICS server computer to dial in or hang up. This can be a great convenience, since you don't have to go to the server computer to take these actions. But it can cause trouble if someone disables or disconnects the server's connection while other people are using the Internet.
See also "XP ICS - Internet Gateway" on PracticallyNetworked.com.
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Webopedia's student apps roundup will help you to better organize your class schedule and stay on top of assignments and homework. Read More »20 Ways to Shorten a URL
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Learn about each of the five generations of computers and major technology developments that have led to the current devices that we use today. Read More »


text:
New Dawn Memory Care and Assisted Living | Sun City West, AZ
Reviews of New Dawn Memory Care and Assisted Living
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I am a friend or relative of resident
New Dawn Memory Care in Sun City West has caring staff and was able to provide my family with a sense of relief when we had to move our dad from another Assisted Living. The food is great and the nursing team is always available to answer questions we may have.
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From New Dawn Memory Care and Assisted Living
- Nurse on site 24 hours a day
- Medical Director on staff
- Home Health
- Occupational Therapy, Speech and Physical Therapy
- Diabetic Management
- The highest staffing ratio in the area — 1:4
- Hospice Care
- Our residents readmit to hospitals is 0%
- Admissions 24/7
- IN2L-webcam, video chat and email accessible to residents, families and healthcare professionals
- Resident is accompanied by New Dawn staff when going out to the hospital to ensure their safety and their health issues are communicated properly
- Continuing coordination of care while in the hospital or in rehab
- Deficiency free surveys by the Department of Health and Pharmacy Consultant
- Special Diets—Dietician Consultant
- EMR (electronic medical records)
- Rounding Psychiatrist
- CATT-Specialized Activity Programming with a 1:16 ratio
- Fall Detection System
- Secured building using state of the art equipment and monitoring
- Real Time Location System (GPS)
Features of New Dawn Memory Care and Assisted Living
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- Medication Management
- Psychiatric care
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- Skilled nursing
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- 24 hour nurses: We have 24 hour nurses.
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- Guests can attend meals
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- Meals delivered to residents' rooms
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- We charge monthly rent plus additional fees for specific care needs, as needed
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- Monthly rent is all inclusive
- Minimum rate: $6,374/month
- Pets: Small pets allowed
- Staff patient ratio: 4:1
- We offer respite care (short term stays)
- Minimum age: 50
- State License(s): AL8590
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text:
So, i have a school project and it is to create a game. I've created the game, but we need to have a main menu also. I'm fairly new to PyGame and don't have a clue on how to do it. I'm also fairly new to some aspects of programming, such as classes. In my program i have my main file name "Computer Science Game.py" and i want my main menu in another file. I then want my main menu, when i click play to load the "Computer Science Game.py" file. I have no idea how to do this. Also PyGame isn't really good for making Main Menus i've spent hours researching, but to no avail, could some one just give me a start, that i could expand please? Thanks P.S. This is my first time using StackOverflow so please excuse any mistakes :)
closed as off-topic by Mark Hildreth, Michael0x2a, Sai Kalyan Kumar Akshinthala, Soner Gönül, Shankar Damodaran Jan 7 '14 at 7:57
This question appears to be off-topic. The users who voted to close gave this specific reason:
I'm not going to completely code out how to write a menu for you, because that would defeat the purpose of the class exercize, but I can point you in the right direction.
How I would go about writing the main menu would be the following assuming that you have a two option menu: quit and start game (pseudo code):
Please let me know if this answers your question. The basic idea behind it is that you add another while loop that shows a basic menu and displays it before it moves onto the game. This might not be the most efficient way, but to me it seems like the simplest way to do things.
By the way, you may wish to stay away from things like complex animations and using mouse events for right now, until you have the basic menu figured out. Stick with good old fashioned boxes and
Here is some handy functions I use for things such as menus:


text:
Biofuels Well Below US Targets, Government Says
Cellulosic biofuels will likely remain well below targets set by the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, according to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA).
That law set a target level of 500 million gallons of cellulosic biofuels for 2012 and 1 billion gallons for 2013, growing to 16 billion gallons by 2022. The US only produced .004 percent of the 2012 target amount last year.
In 2012, companies produced about 20,000 gallons of cellulosic biofuel using wood waste, sugarcane bagasse and other biomass. EIA estimates this output could grow to more than 5 million gallons in 2013; it says several commercial-scale facilities are ramping up operations. Even more plants, with proposed capacity of about 250 million gallons, could begin production by 2015.
But the path to commercial biofuels has been rocky with several projects — including one from BP Biofuels in Highlands County, Fla. — getting cancelled before starting construction, EIA says.
Roadblocks include difficulties obtaining financing and scaling up technology. Additionally, some companies have moved away from biofuels because of the increased availability of low-cost natural gas. Biofuel project production costs remain higher than those of petroleum-based fuels on both a volumetric and energy-content basis.
In January, a US federal court struck down the 2012 Renewable Fuel Standard target for refiner use of cellulosic biofuels. Refiners and importers would have been required to pay $8 million for credits to fulfill the 2012 mandate. But a week later the EPA said it still planned to raise, year-on-year, the amount of cellulosic biofuels that refiners must blend into their gasoline and diesel.
EIA forecasts that liquid fuels and electricity will be the primary products of this industry in the near term, but says many companies are developing technologies that use cellulosic biomass to produce intermediate chemicals, including butanediol, polymers, succinic acid, paraxylene, and others. The agency says that over the medium- to long-term, these technologies have the potential to improve business cases for producers by increasing margins and diversifying revenue sources.
A report published earlier this month by Lux Research says biofuel mandates and growth in the biochemicals industry are expected to triple demand for biomass by 2030, placing pressure on available feedstocks.
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text:
Where does the story begin, is the question. Does it begin a hundred million years ago, when molten lava spewed up from the center of the earth and, as it cooled, left behind veins of gold criss-crossing the landscape?
Or in 1782, when a bowlegged fellow with bad teeth named Thomas Jefferson found a gold nugget on the banks of the Rappahannock River near Fredricksburg? Or was it in 1861 when four Union soldiers camped near Great Falls noticed a tell-tale glint in their newly-dug firepit? Or how about a Sunday just last month, when four unemployed layabouts stood in line at the 7-11 on Rhode Island Avenue, hungover and bleary-eyed at 2 in afternoon, clutching a sheaf of grainy black-and-white photos depicting some sort of stone obelisk, and a hand-drawn map of Rock Creek Park that upon closer scrutiny does in fact bear an 'X' marking the spot.
Yes, I like this last one. The line is a dozen people long and unfortunately we're at the end of it. We intended to start out earlier but none of us has held down a job for years, and getting up before noon proved to be harder than we remembered.
"Can you hurry it up," shouts Kyle. "We've got golden treasure to dig up!"
The people in front of us turn around and we must look desperate because they all step back and gesture for us to go ahead. Even in this cynical era, the mention of buried treasure still strikes a chord.
We file past these kind people and dump our purchases on the counter. Trail mix, bottles of water, two-liters of soda, family-size packages of cookies, boxes of cereal, sandwiches—it doesn't matter, it's all expensed. We haven't worked for years, so this 7-11 shopping spree is like Christmas for us. Joe, laid off from his job as a picture-framer, and Haley, laid off from her job as a librarian, have each been on unemployment for over a year, on their second and third extensions, but what with the squabbling among our elected representatives, the gravy train might be grinding to a halt. Kyle hasn't worked or been on unemployment for almost a year, and my own unemployment ran out just the previous week. It's been three years since I last worked, and 104 weekly checks later (your tax money at work, folks!), the prospect of plunging back into cubicle anomie quite frankly makes me soil my jeans. So when City Paper asked if I'd be interested in investigating a tip they'd received about buried gold treasure, I jumped at the opportunity, as did my fellow good-for-nothing welfare leeches. And it goes without saying that while yes, I'm here to get the story, I'm also here to get the gold: a thousand dollars an ounce and rising, thanks to Goldman Sachs, the Greek Finance Ministry and Glenn Beck.
Office job, here I don't come!
How, you might ask, did we find out about this buried treasure in Rock Creek Park?
Josh Bowers is an employment lawyer based in Silver Spring. When he moved to a new house in Chevy Chase four years ago, he set to work on a massive flowerbed. Working with a pick and shovel, Bowers dug a trench in his backyard and to his surprise, unearthed large quantities of gem-like crystals. It was quartz, a mineral common in Chevy Chase. When the area was still dirt roads and wooden shacks, townspeople used chunks of the crystal to mark property lines, and large crystals are still visible on streetcorners and front yards all over the area. An avid rockhound, Bowers knew that the same geological processes that created quartz often meant gold in the same area. He went over his yard quartz with a magnifying glass but, alas, didn't find any gold.
His curiosity was piqued, though. He asked around and a neighbor, a former attorney in the White House General Counsel's office, told him that her great-great-grandfather had owned a gold mine in Chevy Chase. While researching historical records for mention of the mine (he found nothing), he learned that the D.C. area had been the site of a serious gold rush, with dozens of mines within an hour of the District, some of them maintained through the 1950s. A metamorphic geographical feature called the Piedmont Plateau runs down the East Coast, roughly from NewJersey to Alabama. When the Piedmont was being formed, or soon after, molten lava swelled up under solid bedrock and as superheated masses of steam vented through the rock and cooled, it left behind various mineral precipitates. Quartz is one of the most common ones; a less common one is gold. All the states in the Piedmont Plateau have deposits of valuable ore and gemstones, but today most of the mines have either been exhausted or outvalued by real estate prices. Great Falls, for example, was a center of gold production, but nowadays even a low-end McMansion is worth more than all but the richest veins of gold, especially after you take production costs into account. Abandoned mines, some capped, some not, dot the suburban landscape. In fact, MacArthur Boulevard was paved with tailings from an old gold mine.
Bowers was in Rock Creek Park one day with his son when he noticed quartz in the creekbed. Remembering the quartz-gold connection, he did some research and found a real-estate map from 1891 that showed that one of the farms purchased by the government to form Rock Creek Park was owned by a family named "Shoemaker." A light bulb went on. In his book Maryland Gold Fever, local prospector Walter Goetz mentions that the government had to quadruple its bid on a Shoemaker farm at the last minute, after gold was found on the land. Eureka!
Superimposing a map of the old Shoemaker farm over a map of modern-day Rock Creek Park, Bowers determined that the old Shoemaker farm was probably located near the present-day park maintenance yard. He walked the area, looking for anything conspicuous, and stumbled upon a mysterious stone obelisk planted in an especially quartz-rich area of the creekbed, looking for all the world as if it had been placed there deliberately. He took some pictures, compiled his findings, and sent them to City Paper, which forwarded them to me, who happened to have just exhausted my last week of unemployment. I called up a few of my fellow jobless wastes-of-space. We'd dig for a few hours (and break a few park rules—after all, prospecting is banned in national parks, and if we found gold, it would be illegal to remove it from the park) on the slim chance we might strike it rich.
We park near the stables in Rock Creek Park and disembark into the woods, groaning and clutching our junk-food-filled stomachs. We walk past the corral and into the woods. I stand holding map and downloaded cell phone compass application side by side, trying to resolve the two.
"Which way should we go?" Haley asks. I attempt to chart our course: Let's see, if the needle points north, the gold should be east of here. Which way is east, left or right? Hmm, I know the sun rises in the east. All we have to do is wait here until dawn tomorrow! I look up and everyone is waiting expectantly. Right then a woman on a horse trots past and without breaking stride, the horse shits at our feet.
We move off in a general easterly direction, and soon we're in the middle of the woods.
"Let's make a pact," suggests Kyle. "When we find the treasure, let's agree that we won't immediately start killing each other in a frenzy of greed."
Joe snickers. "I sure hope we find this treasure. I've realized over the past several months that I would be very happy never working again. I wish I could stay on unemployment forever."
"Me too," sighs Haley.
We emerge onto a grassy promontory that, according to the map, overlooks the site of the treasure. I gather them all around and pull out the photos.
"Here's what we're looking for," I say. "According to the map, it's just down this hill, right at one of the bends of the creek." Everyone nods and we fan out through the woods. "What are you going to buy with your share?" I yell to the others as we comb our respective sections.
"An ergonomic gel-padded mouse pad!"
"I'm going to take my dog to the vet!"
"I'm going to eat at Wendy's every night for a month!"
"Get this lump in my leg checked out!"
"Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 for Xbox 360!"
"Imported Japanese pre-moistened toilet paper!"
"I'm going to arrange for a stretch limo to take 25 of my closest friends to a secret location and when everyone's comfortable on leather banquettes and a little tipsy on Cristal and just dying to know what the surprise is, Clay Aiken is going to come onstage and they'll have no choice but to sit there for an entire concert!"
"Some new pants!"
After a few minutes of searching, Haley yells out and we all run in her direction and there it is! The stone marker from the photo!
"Well, what are we going to do," Joe asks.
I think back to the conversation I had with Josh Bowers. "If there is gold in the creek, I do not want the park to be damaged as a result," he'd told me. I relay this information to everyone. Haley just looks at me contemptuously and Joe snickers and Kyle unshoulders his backpack, opens it, and brings out a small shovel.
Two hours later we're all covered in mud and there's a four-foot-deep hole where the stone marker used to be. Every handful, every shovelful of mud we bring up sparkles in the sun, but when we sift it down in the creek we find nothing. Finally we collapse on the banks of the creek and tear into our expensed snack hoard.
"There's only about an hour of daylight left," says Kyle, his mouth dusted with flourescent Cheeto particulate. "How much deeper are we going to have to dig? Check the book."
I bring out my copy of Maryland Gold Fever, and flip through it until I find a passage describing local gold mines.
"Let's see here … the first mine he describes had a shaft fifty feet deep. The second one … wow, this one was a hundred feet deep."
Everyone has stopped chewing.
"So yeah, at most, like, ninety-six more feet," I say.
In the still forest, their howls of frustration seem extra loud. We refill the hole with dirt and put the stone back in place.
I'd promised my fellow shameless noncontributors to society that we'd find gold, and in the following days my failure to deliver weighed on me. I called Walter Goetz, local prospector and author of several books on area gold, but he refused to talk to the media. (Sitting on his own mother lode, no doubt.) I then called Bowers and told him that our hunt hadn't turned up anything conclusive. Bowers suggested I contact Jim Maxwell, a leading local prospector.
I called Maxwell and told him about our search for gold in Rock Creek Park. Should we go back and dig deeper?
"There ain't no gold down there," chuckles Maxwell, amused.
Well, then where is the gold?
"I can take you to a place," he says. "I guarantee you'll find gold there, if you're willing to work for it."
I call up my crew. On Easter morning, we meet Maxwell at his ultra-secret panning site in Great Falls, downstream from an abandoned gold mine. We park on the side of the road and pull on our hip waders and safety goggles. It's just before the morning Mass and several women of indeterminate age emerge from a nearby McMansion in expensive floral print dresses and totter on heels to a waiting Mercedes. A white Porsche cruises by us and the driver regards us as one might an unexpected growth on one's genitals.
Maxwell is a softspoken chainsmoker in faded bluejeans. By day he makes cabinetry out of his workshop in Daisy, Maryland, but in his off-hours he prospects for gold in area creeks, along with fellow prospectors Richard Nearman, 57, and Phil Goldman, 60.
I ask them if they've found a lot of gold here, and Nearman brings out several glass vials. "This is just some of it," he says. He indicates some of the larger globules, about the size of an ant. "We call these pickers, because you can just pick them right out of the pan with your fingers." He shakes a vial of tiny flakes, a saltshaker of gold. "These are more common. You have to suck them up with an eyedropper. They add up though."
He unscrews a vial and lets us examine a few of the larger nuggets. We pass them around and yes, this is definitely the real thing. It's almost incandescent and even the smallest nuggets have a disproportionate heft to them. At a thousand dollars an ounce, this collection must be worth a few thousand at least.
"I just hope this trip pans out," says Kyle when we reach the bank of the creek.
He looks at each of us but we just look back blankfaced..
"That was a joke," he says. "Get it? 'Pan' out?"
"I don't get it," says Haley.
The key to successful panning, Maxwell tells us, is to harvest our material from the very bottom of the creek. Gold, being heavier than the surrounding material, naturally works its way down until it settles on bedrock. (This is the same reason that even the tiniest speck of gold will settle to the bottom of an agitated pan of rocks and sand.) Once you've dredged up a few buckets of material, you use a wire rack to strain out the larger rocks, and then pan down the remaining grit. Among that grit is where you'll find the gold. If you've been lucky.
It's a warm spring morning but the water is still frigid. Jim and I set to work shoveling sediment up out of the bottom of the creek, as Phil and Kyle and Haley pick the larger rocks out of the buckets. I find the deepest spot and dig there, shivering collarbone-deep in water. This is done blind, as I can't see even an inch down into the murky water. Sometimes I'll bring up a shovelful of grit, sometimes a single huge rock which they unceremoniously throw back with no acknowledgement of the effort it took to bring said rock to the surface, and sometimes, because of the murkiness and the drag of the water as I bring the shovel upwards, the shovel will break the surface of the water and it will be completely empty, and everyone will laugh, some of them literally pointing and laughing as I consider swinging the shovel and burying it right in the center of each person's forehead.
But I resist this impulse because I'm working toward something bigger than myself here. And isn't that what it's all about, folks? Not having to listen to inferior people talk about Brangelina around the water cooler ever again. This is what I think about as I shovel, my extremities growing number by the second, my core temperature dropping, my teeth chattering and breath growing short. I refuse to ever work again! After three years of freedom, I can't go back to that world. Orangefaced bimbos in Marketing shrieking about tapas and appletinis in AdMo after work, proudly lanyarded Crisco-haired fuckfaces on the train in the morning reading the Express like it's actually a newspaper, coworkers ambushing me in the break room with pictures of li'l Jordan at soccer camp. The customer is always right? Fuck the customer! Nor do I give a shit about "Quality." I'm not working hard, I'm not hardly working either; I'm just slouching here at my desk looking at snatches of German scat porn in a desperate attempt to defibrillate my soul out of this living death. And yes, ironic that it's Easter Sunday because just like that holy motherfucking zombie Himself, Jesus Christ, I too have been dead, entombed not literally but figuratively, in a cubicle limbo of powder-blue button-ups and white mochas (extra whip!) from Starbucks, and just like Him I somehow made it back against all odds. And I'm never going back! And if that means standing sternum-deep in untreated sewage shoveling rocks until I collapse from hypothermia, so be it.
But eventually my legs have become almost completely numb and I have to stop. As I recline on the bank of the creek I have a moment of clarity and it hits me that we have almost zero chance of finding any gold. I'm cold and wet and just when I open my mouth to suggest that we call it a day, what's the point anyway, Maxwell asks if we want to go up and see the abandoned mine.
Why not? We walk upstream and through the trees I see a rectangular something seemingly hovering across the landscape with two men wearing sunglasses and caps hanging out the sides. It's … a golf cart?
"Is that a golf course over there?" I ask Maxwell.
"Yeah," he says, shrugging.
The mine entrance has collapsed and is covered over with a drift of sodden leaves. We kneel down and sweep the detritus away until an opening just large enough for one's shoulders has been cleared.
"Go ahead, look inside," says Maxwell.
I do so and after my eyes adjust, I can see the mine, a rough-hewn tunnel sloping back and terminating in darkness. It doesn't look like much but what's striking is how cold it is inside, not just a standing chill but a palpable emanation, an ominous wind from the depths of the earth or from the past or perhaps from a future where I fail to find gold, the chill perhaps of the breakroom refrigerator at my future job whooshing open as I survey an endless shelf of my coworkers' initialed yogurts, and at that moment I can almost hear them behind me, extolling over lattes the virtues of the latest Michael Bay extravaganza.
A shudder goes through me and suddenly I'm motivated again to sift through our buckets of sand. A tiny chance is better than no chance at all.
We wander back to the creek as Maxwell lights a cigarette and Kyle and Haley go to work on several thousand calories worth of expensed junk food.
"We went on a panning trip to North Carolina a couple years ago," says Maxwell. "We didn't find any gold, but it was a great time."
Have they ever discussed other panning trips, I ask.
"We'd love to go to California," says Goldman. "They still strike it rich out there. Or Alaska. Most of that land's never even been set foot on."
"There's this river in Arkansas," says Nearman. "You can find diamonds down there, just lying in the riverbed."
There's a sort of frontier romance to panning for gold, the idea of the individual extracting wealth directly from the earth, with no intermediates or compromises. After all, for the first prospectors setting off into unmapped wilderness with just mule and pan, it was as much about the solitude as it was about the gold. Maxwell and his friends aren't unemployment milkers like myself and my friends—they all have day jobs—but it's apparent that everyone here is trying to get away from something. Of course, there's no escape. Even in this little slice of pseudo-frontier, the illusion is pierced by golf carts full of sunburnt middle managers puttering across the horizon, and we all know deep down that the idea of never working again is no more plausible than a river of diamonds in Arkansas.
If I do have to work again, I could see prospecting as maybe an okay sort of job. If you could make a living at it.
"Could someone make a living doing this?" I ask Maxwell.
He smiles. "Maybe," he says, but it's obvious that he really means no.
But still! The prospector is driven on by that tiny inextinguishable spark of hope, that maybe. Maybe we'll find gold! Maybe they'll pass another unemployment extension! We grab pans and squat in the sun staring downwards as we swish our pans side to side with utmost delicacy and patience, sloughing off the pebbles and sand little by little to reveal there at the bottom of the pan … nothing. After an hour we've gone through a five gallon bucket of creekbed grit with no luck.
I'm ready for a break, but right then I look over into Kyle's pan and as we both watch the sand winnowing down the side of his pan, what is that we spy—tiny, yes, but unmistakable—at the very same moment? Maker and destroyer of empires, muse of poet and philistine alike, emblem of marriage and commerce and other unsavory enterprises, the closest thing on earth to an absolute value … gold! We did it! Gold! Riches! Gold! Success! Gold! No office jobs! Gold! Doctor appointments for everyone! Gold!
Or, at least, a speck of it. Hey, it's a start.


text:
Lenexa, KSUSA
June 17, 2013
I'm here to meet interesting people.
1000 characters really isn't enough for this block.
Socializing mostly. I'd be interested in some educational programs as well though.
Born and raised in Florida. I spent the last 6 years on board a fast attack submarine based out of Pearl Harbor.
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Just Folks
Who did what concerning Linux 1.0, and who's who in open systems, are intriguing queries. Not merely because I think "open" goes back 45 years, but also because I'm not at all certain that any of today's contemporaries (other than Linus, Guido, Larry and Eric) will be considered important in a decade. While Dennis Ritchie and Ken Thompson are remembered, other influential people have faded into the mists of time.
This isn't meant to dismiss the activities of, say, Jon "maddog" Hall. But who remembers the "gang of five" who started USENIX? Who recalls that Lou Katz, then at Columbia University, was the first President? Or that Katz and Reidar Bornholdt organized the very first UNIX Users Group meeting (May 15, 1974, in the Merritt Conference Room at Columbia's College of Physicians and Surgeons)?
Nor do I want to devalue Tim Berners-Lee's contribution. But Peter Deutsch's archie has vanished, as have gopher, veronica, jughead and Mosaic.
We talk about "Internet time", but our memory of individuals is even worse than our memory of things. So I thought I'd put together a different sort of merit-based who's who—or perhaps a hall of fame for people whose work has had a truly lasting impact. (Note, I intentionally omitted the obvious: Torvalds, Ritchie, Stallman, etc.)
Eric Allman for Sendmail (1978)
John Backus for creating FORTRAN (1957)
Gordon Bell for the PDP-4 through PDP-8 and the VAX
Fernando Corbato for writing CTSS, the Compatible Time-Sharing System (1963)
Edson de Castro for collaborating with Bell
Steve Crocker for inventing the form and writing RFC 1 (1969)
Ralph Griswold for SNOBOL4 (1971) and ICON (1983)
Brian Kernighan for being the "K" in K&R and in AWK
Don Knuth for TeX and The Art of Computer Programming
Mike Lesk for uucp, grep, lex, tbl and refer
J.C.R. Licklider for making the ARPANET possible
John McCarthy for LISP 1.5 (1962)
Doug McIlroy for the idea of pipes
Bob Metcalfe for Ethernet
John Ousterhout for Tcl/Tk
Jon Postel for running IANA
Bjarne Stroustrup for C++
Andy Tanenbaum for MINIX
Larry Wall for rn, patch and Perl
I guess I could easily make this list twice as long. But with very few exceptions, the names would be even less familiar than the ones above.
However, if Backus and his team hadn't developed FORTRAN, we wouldn't have COBOL or Algol or most other languages we use (such as C and PASCAL, both 1971). Without MINIX, we'd have no Linux; without the ARPANET, no Internet.
My real point isn't that everyone ought to memorize who did what to whom. I'm not sure if it matters at all. Alexander Graham Bell, Rudolf Diesel, Tesla and Marconi have their places in technological history, but hardly anyone except historians of science remembers Wankel or even Stephenson. Thus, who's-who volumes are highly ephemeral: some of those once thought important will fade away in a few years. My guess is that we are like those "trunkless legs of stone" in "Ozymandias".
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