text:
Although most of us knew this was coming for some time now, I can not help but feel some sadness, both for the Speaker and for our great nation. My hope now is that at least some, if not most of what he was advocating for will be taken up by the presumptive nominee, Mitt Romney. It should not be entirely out of the question, as we never really got a sense of what Romney ever really stood for anyhow, other than that he believes himself to be the only Republican capable of defeating Dear Leader. Such is the state of American politics in today's world I'm afraid, it's more about perception, obfuscation, and the ability to successfully attack one's adversaries.
With that being said, I am officially throwing my support completely behind Mitt Romney. He is now may man, and will be until November 6, 2012. One day after the election, I will begin working on support for a third party in American political discourse that speaks with the voice of Conservatism. Until that date, this will be the last that I mention it. This election is too important to get bogged down with anything that would distract from the all important task at hand, which is the electoral defeat of Barack Obama.
As an open letter to Mitt Romney, here are some of the things that Speaker Gingrich was campaigning on, that I would like to see become your causes as well.
Repeal of Obamacare:
Legislative Proposal #1: Repeal Obamacare and pass a replacement that saves lives and money by empowering patients and doctors, not bureaucrats and politicians.
Obamacare is a disaster and the first task of my administration will be to repeal it.
The Obamacare law is unconstitutional, unaffordable, unworkable, and stunningly unfair. Its so-called "individual mandate" is blatantly unconstitutional and an unprecedented expansion of federal power.
In addition to the unconstitutional nature of individual and employer mandates, we are learning that they simply don't work. If the federal government can coerce individuals—by threat of fines—to buy health insurance, there is no stopping the federal government from forcing Americans to buy any good or service.
Their intractable problem is this: once you have a mandate, the government has to specify exactly what coverage must be included in insurance for it to qualify. This introduces political considerations into determining these minimum standards, guaranteeing that nothing desired by the special interests will be left out.
And once the government mandates such expensive insurance, the government becomes responsible for its costs. It has to adopt expensive subsidies to help people pay for the expensive plans that it is requiring. The resulting cost to the taxpayer and strain on the budget leads the government to try and control healthcare costs by limiting healthcare services. The inevitable result is rationing by a nameless, faceless, unaccountable board of government bureaucrats.
The Obamacare law also creates one thousand, nine hundred and sixty eight separate grants of power to bureaucrats, most of them to the Secretary of Health and Human Services and her bureaucracy. It creates 159 new boards, agencies and other government entities to administer health decisions that should be up to the individual in consultation with their doctor. This unprecedented grant of discretionary power to unelected bureaucrats guarantees the rise in arbitrary and corrupted decision-making by the federal government.
For these reasons and more, I will fight for the repeal of Obamacare until it is repealed in its entirety.
We must either limit government or we will have government limit us.
Restructure of our punitive and disastrous regulatory environment:
To empower job-creators, we must get rid of regulations that prevent them from growing and hiring. This means taking decision-making power away from bureaucrats who don't understand how job creation works.
My Jobs and Prosperity package would repeal the Dodd-Frank legislation, a 2,300-page law passed in 2010 that mandates 400 new regulations written by unelected bureaucrats. Dodd-Frank is paralyzing lending to entrepreneurs, killing small banks, crippling small businesses, driving down the value of housing, and creating corrupting Washington controls over the biggest banks.
Repeal the Sarbanes-Oxley law, which has crippled American start-ups with burdensome compliance costs, driven publicly-traded companies private, and forced American companies overseas.
Replace the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) which is harassing job creators. When businesses are targeted unfairly by government for creating jobs in different states, businesses simply won't create jobs in any states. We need to stop this unaccountable, activist bureaucratic agency from harassing job-creating companies. The NLRB is currently harassing Boeing, our country's biggest exporter, because it decided to build a new factory and create hundreds of new jobs in the right-to-work state of South Carolina instead of the forced-unionization state of Washington. We need a new common sense organization for labor-management relations to replace the NLRB.
Later in this Contract, I outline ideas for pro-market, pro-growth, pro-consumer reforms to the Food and Drug Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency.
Truly unleash our full energy potential, which coincidentally will rebuild our manufacturing sector:
Unleash America's full energy production potential in oil, natural gas, coal, biofuels, wind, nuclear oil shale and more, creating jobs, stimulating a sustainable manufacturing boom, lowering gasoline and other energy prices, increasing government revenues, strengthening the dollar, and bolstering national security.
The United States has more energy resources than any other country in the world – more than Russia, Saudi Arabia, Canada, or Brazil. Expanding the development of these resources could create up to 1.1 million new jobs and deliver $127 billion in new government revenues by 2020, according to a recent Wood Mackenzie study. With the right regulatory policies, the United States could be the largest oil producer in the world by 2017.
It is time to harness the immense natural energy resources our country has, get Americans back to work, and lower gas, diesel, and other energy prices for every American. Yet we pay nearly $4 per gallon for gasoline and continue to import nearly half of our oil from foreign countries, many of which have governments hostile to the United States. Meanwhile, millions of Americans in energy-rich regions of the country remain unemployed.
My administration will pursue an "all of the above" American Energy Policy that allows expanded development of oil, natural gas, coal, biofuels, wind, and nuclear sources of energy.
An effective pro-American energy bill will lead to a boom in American jobs, a dramatic increase in the value of the dollar as we spend less on energy from overseas, and more revenue for state and federal government from royalties and increased economic activity.
As President, I will immediately reset our energy policy by removing bureaucratic and legal obstacles to responsible oil and natural gas development in the United States.
This means development of offshore oil and natural gas resources in places currently blocked by the federal government, such as the Atlantic and Pacific Outer Continental Shelves and the eastern Gulf of Mexico.
It also means ending the restrictions on oil shale development in the western U.S., where we potentially have three times more oil than Saudi Arabia.
Under this plan, coastal states will receive a share of the royalty revenues the federal government takes in – a benefit that states that drill on land already enjoy — to give them an incentive to allow offshore development.
This plan will also ensure that federal agencies get out of the way in places where drilling is already allowed.
For example, even though companies have been cleared to drill in the western Gulf of Mexico for months, the Department of Interior has dragged its feet on reissuing permits – and Gulf Coast economies continue to languish.
Through citizen action, we can liberate America's energy resources. For example, in the spring of 2008, gas prices were surging towards four dollars a gallon, a citizen-led petition called Drill Here, Drill Now, Pay Less, called upon Congress to immediately address the energy crisis.
One and a half million signatures later, Congress voted to end its 25-year ban on offshore drilling. By the end of 2008, gas prices had plummeted to under $2 dollars a gallon.
A pro-American energy plan must also recognize the enormous natural gas potential in the United States, especially the development of vast shale gas resources across the country. America is a world leader in responsible shale gas production, and we must continue to promote this form of safe domestic energy production that is creating jobs and strengthening our economy, from Pennsylvania to Texas to Colorado.
This also means maintaining the strong and effective regulation of hydraulic fracturing at the state level and ending the federal government's attempts to clamp down on this vital technology that has been used safely for more than 60 years.
We must also replace the EPA, which pursues an anti-jobs agenda the economy simply cannot sustain. A pro-growth Environmental Solutions Agency in its place will operate on the premise that most environmental problems can and should be solved by states and local communities. Rather than emphasizing centralization and regulation, it would emphasize coordination with states and local communities, the sharing of best practices, and focus on incentives for new solutions, research and technologies.
The imperative to unleash American energy is not just economic. It is also a basic question of national security. The more energy we can produce here, the less dependent we are on foreign countries, many of whom have interests hostile to our own. At the same time, we must strengthen our relationships with close allies that have vast natural resources, such as Canada. For example, we must immediately authorize the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline, which will bring 700,000 barrels of oil a day from Western Canada, Montana, Oklahoma, and the Dakotas to Gulf Coast refineries in Texas, reducing our dependence on Latin America and the Middle East and creating tens of thousands of new jobs.
I look forward to learning more about your ideas and solutions for a bill that will end our man-made energy crisis, and pursuing solutions that will create jobs, bring in more revenue, and lower prices for all Americans.
We have done this before, and we can do it again.
Fiscal Responsibility by balancing our federal budget and reforming entitlement spending:
Balance the federal budget by freeing job-creators to grow the economy, reforming entitlements, and implementing productivity improvement systems, such as Lean Six Sigma, to eliminate waste and fraud. Pass a balanced budget amendment to keep it balanced.
If, however, there is a commitment to balancing the budget, then each agency has to find better ways to do things and more innovative ways to get things done. If you want innovation, better outcomes at lower costs, greater productivity, and a spirit of entrepreneurial public management, the balanced budget creates much more pressure for real innovation. Getting to a balanced budget is absolutely vital. When there is a permanent budget deficit there is no reason for any politician to say no to any interest group. That is, in fact, how we ended up with the current, absurdly bloated, undisciplined federal government. If deficits do not matter and spending is open-ended, the most rational strategy for every bureaucracy is simply to ask for more money.
Over time, the requirement to balance the budget leads to smaller government. Politicians who have to face the voters because they are raising taxes have a much harder sell to make than politicians who can bring home "free" goodies with only some distant deficit to explain.
Two months after I became Speaker in 1995, we came within one vote in the Senate of passing a constitutional amendment that would have required a balanced federal budget.
Even though we didn't win the vote, the House Republican leadership decided to act as though the Balanced Budget Amendment had become law.
We had pledged to balance the budget within seven years of getting elected, and experts laughed at us – but we ended up doing it in three. And we balanced it for four straight years for the first time since the 1920s.
The financial impact of achieving balanced budgets was startling. When I was sworn in as Speaker of the House in January 1995, the Congressional Budget Office projected that over the next decade the cumulative federal budget deficits would total $2.7 trillion.
Shortly after I left office in January 1999, CBO projected that over the next decade federal surpluses would total over $2.2 trillion– a four-year turnaround in the fiscal outlook of the United States of nearly $5 trillion. A comparable four-year improvement in the U.S fiscal outlook today would total over $8 trillion (as a percentage of GDP).
Today we find ourselves in a situation similar to 1994: Deficits projected as far as the eye can see and an urgent need to return to balanced budgets.
But Americans should not have to accept a defeatist attitude from Washington: There is every reason to believe a comprehensive program of economic growth, government modernization, returning power to the citizens and states and dramatically expanding American energy production can lead to a balanced budget far faster than experts now predict.
The biggest key to reducing the deficit is robust economic growth. Elsewhere in this contract, I outline principles that would empower job-creators to hire millions more Americans by dramatically reducing tax and regulatory burdens, and a program to unleash our bountiful untapped sources of American energy. By creating more wealth and more taxpayers, and by developing billions of dollars worth of new American energy resources, we will dramatically increase federal, state and local revenues and decrease budget deficits.
More revenue can also come through American energy development and through better development of federally owned land including the 69% of Alaska and 85% of Nevada that we the people own through our government.
We can have higher revenues without having higher taxes.
More revenue through economic growth may be the surest method of reducing the deficit, but the federal government must also commit to spend no more of Americans' money than is needed. That is why this legislation will strive above all to corral the reckless growth of federal spending.
Finally, the bureaucratic rules and procedures that are commonplace in the federal government have no place in the twenty-first century. This legislation must dramatically overhaul the entire structure of the federal civil service, and make it clear that Americans will only tolerate a government that aggressively targets and eliminates waste and fraud, and incorporates private-sector best practices.
Strong America Now, an organization dedicated to bringing modern management to government at every level, estimates that we can save $500 billion a year in spending through proven waste-cutting and value-enhancing techniques from the private sector, such as Lean Six Sigma. The Defense Department has already used Lean Six Sigma to save more than $22 billion, increasing productivity 1,000 percent in some facilities.
IBM's Business of Government consultancy makes a more conservative estimate, suggesting that the federal government could save $100 billion annually by implementing commercial best practices.
Using fraud detection techniques similar to those employed by credit card companies, we could save between $70 and $120 billion a year in Medicaid and Medicare fraud, according to the Center for Health Transformation.
The opportunities for improvement and waste reduction are endless, and I look forward to hearing Americans' ideas about other ways to make the federal government more efficient.
Rebuild the decimated military:
Revitalize our national security system to meet 21st century threats by restructuring and adequately funding our security agencies to function within a grand strategy for victory over those who seek to kill us or to limit American freedom.
The current leadership of the United States is severely out of touch with the escalating dangers that threaten our security.
As American presidents have traditionally found, our nation's peace and safety is best maintained through a robust military capacity, tireless vigilance, and a clear strategy for identifying and countering potential threats—a policy widely known as "peace through strength." Adherents of such a policy do not seek confrontation. To the contrary, America leads the world in spending on the military and on national security precisely to ensure that our wars are as rare and as swift as possible.If the people's security cannot be assured, the unalienable rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness are meaningless, which is why the first responsibility of government is to defend the nation. In the preamble to the Constitution, providing "for the common defense" is identified as a primary reason for forming the new government.
This world is in danger of becoming dramatically more dangerous in the not-too-distant future, and we need to overhaul our entire strategy now if we intend to continue being the safest, freest and most prosperous country in the world.
It is very dangerous for Washington to consider dismantling key parts of our national security structure during a time of war. When we convey weakness and confusion, we become most vulnerable to attack. As Ronald Reagan warned in 1980, "We know only too well that war comes not when the forces of freedom are strong; it is when they are weak that tyrants are tempted."
General John Abizaid, former Commander of the Central Command, points out that in America "there is a bigger strategic deficit than the fiscal deficit."
We need to be able to discuss the threats that face us in a clear and open manner. The courage to be free is only sustained by the moral capacity to distinguish between good and evil. If evil cannot be called by name, we will not be able to deter—or even recognize—threats to our nation. Likewise, if we cannot proclaim the righteousness of our values, then we won't be able to mobilize the spirit necessary to defend America.
The next Administration and Congress must decisively address the following realities:
There are very, very different challenges emerging simultaneously and each requires a fundamentally different strategic response.
The bureaucracies of national and homeland security, intelligence, diplomacy and space activities are all decaying in their effective implementation capability and are wrapped up in red tape and inefficiency.
Our military infrastructure has become dangerously outdated, with our arsenal and equipment in urgent need of new investment.
There are new emerging technologies endangering us – for example, electromagnetic pulse weapons, cyberwar, and lawfare, which we are not prepared to deal with.
American leaders are tired after seven decades of being the world's preeminent power, and are very resistant to putting in the time and energy it will take to understand the emerging threats and the necessary responses.
We need a new strategy that is as decisive and comprehensive as our bold and unprecedented response to the rise of the Soviet threat after World War II. It will streamline our security, intelligence and diplomatic departments, and recapitalize our military infrastructure.
This bill would be the beginning of that process, not the end.
These immediate executive orders:
Eliminate the 39 White House "Czar" Positions Created During the Current Administration: The president does not have the authority to appoint bureaucrats to power who are not accountable to the Congress.
"Mexico City Policy" of Respect for Life: Reauthorize President Ronald Reagan's policy – also known as the "Mexico City Policy"— to stop tax payer dollars from being used to fund or promote abortions in foreign countries.
Restore Conscience Clause Protections for Healthcare Workers: No American working in a medical environment should be forced to perform any procedure that he or she finds morally or ethically objectionable based on religious teaching. This protection should include, but not be limited to abortion. Existing conscience clause protections need to be strengthened.
Respect Each Sovereign Nation's Choice of its Capital: Each sovereign nation, under international law and custom, may designate its own Capital. Accordingly, the U.S. State Department should be instructed to respect the choice of each sovereign nation and place the American embassy in their Capital. (Israel is the only country the United States discriminates against in this regard. The people of Israel have designated Jerusalem as their capital. Yet the United States retains its embassy in Tel Aviv.)
End the Attorney General's Assault on the States: Instruct the Attorney General to withdraw all immigration-related lawsuits against states immediately, including those pending in Arizona and South Carolina. The Obama Administration refuses to enforce federal immigration laws, and instead sues states who are merely trying to enforce the laws that the federal government neglects. The Gingrich Administration will secure the border by Jan. 1, 2014 by any means necessary.
The Keystone Pipeline: Unleash American Energy by Approving the Keystone XL Pipeline. Instruct the State Department to approve a Presidential Permit immediately for the Keystone XL pipeline, a project that will send 700,000 barrels of oil a day from Great Plains and Southwestern states to Gulf Coast refineries lower staggering energy prices, and create up to 120,000 American jobs.


text:
Awful, Hannah and Elana
Walnut Creek, Crescent City, Portland, Willows, Yosemite and What Was Between
Elana Scherr
A roadtrip up the California coast to Portland Oregon, with roadside attractions and garden parties along the way. On the return trip, we adventure in small town Willows and big mountain Yosemite.
Comment posted.
Log in
or create an account to post a comment.
Blurb Sites

subset: commoncrawl


text:
The Philosophy and Liberal Studies Department offers students a choice of two majors: Philosophy and Liberal Studies.
The Philosophy major is designed to help students with their most important project—developing their own morally coherent identities and world views. It offers courses that take students through the beginnings of philosophy to contemporary applications of philosophy to present day problems.
The Liberal Studies major allows students to branch out over three disciplines or conceptual frameworks of the traditional liberal arts. Students then synthesize their knowledge experiences through several thematic courses offered by the department.
Besides giving all students a solid foundation in values and self-knowledge, both of these programs prepare students for graduate study in law, medicine and business. Cabrini College philosophy and liberal studies majors have gone on to successful careers in these fields as well as many others.
Most importantly, these majors prepare students for a rich and full life, one that takes pleasure in learning and never loses its sense of wonder. The department also offers courses in the Social Justice curriculum, promoting Cabrini's "education of the heart."
© 2012


text:
Sorry, we gotta catch 'em all again.
The Pokémon series is a mysterious being. Not only does it scarcely change between instalments, Nintendo has gotten away with releasing the same game twice and then tweaking it a third time for well over a decade. That all changes today. Black and White "Version 2" is the first direct sequel in the Pokémon RPG series.
If you played Pokémon Red, Blue or Yellow in 1997 -- perhaps you were a rich 7-year-old who owned all three and deserved to be punched in the buck-toothed face -- or any game since, you know exactly how the 2012 DS game plays. Yes, this is a DS game, not a 3DS game, but I'd wager my house on it being the best-selling handheld game of the year.
Unlike the Yellow, Crystal, Emerald and Platinum emulations, Black and White 2 is a direct sequel. It focuses on the same Generation 5 Pokémon, with the addition of some old favourites, and you'll be selecting from the same three starters, but it's an entirely new adventure. Let's face it: you either really loved Pokémon or were a fool to have bought both Diamond/Pearl and Platinum. It's all the same game. Black and White 2 is actually a new adventure and therefore a vast improvement on Pokémon Grey -- Nintendo's other option to make bucketloads of money in the lead-up to Christmas.
Black and White 2 opens up a whole new world of things to do and see that feel just as importing as obtaining those prestigious gym badges.
It's surprising how much the Unova Region has changed, with the inclusion of new areas and some alterations to recognisable routes and towns. It's noticeably the same world, but you never feel as if you're rehashing old territory in terms of the landscape. Meanwhile, anyone who beat Black and White can link their save file to bridge the continuity.
Pokémon's improvements have always been incremental at best. In terms of core gameplay, I have little to add on my Black and White review from early last year; except in hindsight I probably shouldn't have labelled it a "great swansong for the DS". It still boasts the same great gameplay that makes rehashing the same old formula horrifyingly addictive.
Expect to run around the world completing your Pokedex, training your Pokémon, swindling money from incompetent trainers and collecting the eight Gym badges -- of which there are now a total of 48, if you've played every game.
After 18 months of the 3DS, the 3D environments have aged, but remain the best of any Pokémon game (although it's best played on a DS, not the 3DS XL I used for a bulk of my adventure). However, poor 2D Pokémon and character visuals are a real eyesore on the beautiful landscapes. Pokémon models in the fight animations remain reminiscent of something from the GameBoy Advance.
Once again we're inundated with ridiculous Pokémon, such as the Ice-Cream-Cone(émon) and the Electric Sheep. This has happened before, and won't come as a surprise, but some of them are horrendous. I hate to think what the next generation is going to be like, but hey, I'm a biased fan from the days when 151 was a respected number.
All of that is old news. What's new?
The gym leaders are more impressive -- but puzzles play a lesser role -- and remain unique. For a stubborn series that refuses to change, the one aspect that has never been rehashed is the diversity of the gym leaders.
The all new Pokémon World Tournament is the biggest addition outside of the Hollywood-esque formula, which pits you against most of the gym leaders and champions from the first four generations. Pokémon games have always pushed you to keep playing after obtaining the eight badges -- which is your initial goal -- but none have ever been this compelling. Black and White 2 opens up a whole new world of things to do and see that feel just as importing as obtaining those prestigious gym badges.
Unfortunately, the difficulty curve is out of sync for the first time in the series. You won't come across any Pokémon worth training for a few hours and will easily blast through to the second gym without so much as looking at a second Pokémon to retain in your team. Even Red and Blue didn't allow that; in the past, we always had to begin training other Pokémon almost immediately. It soon levels out and plays like any other Pokémon game, but during the opening few hours, it just doesn't feel right.
Outside of the battling everyone in sight formula, Nintendo has looked to expand the side activities. PokéStar Studio sees you making mini-movies with your favourite Pokémon and have them evaluated by the audience, which is surprisingly entertaining.
Likewise, the new medals rewards system will hook dedicated players. It's a compelling substitution for Achievements or Trophies, which Nintendo famously hasn't conformed to. There are over 200 medals to collect by competing in tournaments, trading with friends, catching Pokémon and buying new items.
Whilst most of its improvements are positive, I can't help but feel that Game Freak has squandered a massive opportunity to revitalise the series. Black and White 2 introduces a new adventure with additional areas to explore and some new side attractions, but the core gameplay hasn't evolved since its inception in the mid-90s. If Nintendo was intent on releasing the first direct sequel, it would have been nice to see some variation. Something different, even if fans adore the tried and tested gameplay after all these years; perhaps they would appreciate a unique experience even more.
I like what Game Freak has done with Pokémon Black and White 2, and it's unequivocally a new adventure that improves on its predecessor. However, it's not that much of a stretch from the "enhanced" version of each of the previous instalments and arguably missed an opportunity to revitalise the series. Nevertheless, fans know what they're signing up for with a new Pokémon game and Black and White 2 will not disappointment. Catch 'Em All for a second time.
By Ben Salter
Once again we're inundated with ridiculous Pokémon, such as the Electric Sheep
Blob said: Once again we're inundated with ridiculous Pokémon, such as the Electric Sheep
You don't like Mareep? What the hell is wrong with you?
Good review anyway.
Blob said:
Ben said: Blob said: Once again we're inundated with ridiculous Pokémon, such as the Electric Sheep
You don't like Mareep? What the hell is wrong with you?
Good review anyway.
It's a well known fact that I hate all new Pokemon. I've been bitching about them for at least 4 years
Ben said:
Blob said: Ben said: Blob said: Once again we're inundated with ridiculous Pokémon, such as the Electric Sheep
You don't like Mareep? What the hell is wrong with you?
Good review anyway.
It's a well known fact that I hate all new Pokemon. I've been bitching about them for at least 4 years
Mareep is gen 2 though...
Ben said:
Gen 1 or bust.
abujaffer said: Personally I never played any Pokemon game after Silver, so I went straight to Generation V with Black and White (and just started 2). So I personally find 1/2/4 really good, 5 is a bit meh (I can only find around 15-20 Pokemon I can see myself using in future generations), but I don't understand why people like Generation 3. I dislike almost all of the Pokemon from that gen, besides a very select few. Maybe it's because I missed the games themselves (no nostalgia), but I find Gen 3 the worst out of all the Generations. Yes, Trubbish.
aiieunn111 is now Level 9!
dsfsdtgret is now Level 7!
dsfsdtgret is now Level 6!
dsfsdtgret is now Level 5!
dsfsdtgret is now Level 4!
aiieunn111 is now Level 8!
dsfsdtgret is now Level 3!
dsfsdtgret is now Level 2!
Godheart25 is now Level 10!
lilminions is now Level 16!


text:
Senior Melanie Delsart improves to 7-4 on the season.
March 21, 2013
By Tim McCaughan
CARBONDALE, Ill. --The Southern Illinois women's tennis team extended its winning streak to 10 matches today after sweeping UT Martin, 7-0.
The Salukis (10-1) had no problem with the visiting Skyhawks (2-9), taking the doubles point after winning all three matches.
Melanie Delsart and Anastacia Simons won their tenth straight doubles match after besting Ivon Simic and Anna Marie Herbold, 8-2. Juniors Korey Love and Anita Lee won their match, 8-1 while twins Ariadna and Gisela Cairo Baza won in flight No. 3, 8-2.
"Our doubles play was really solid today," said head coach Audra Nothwehr. "I like the pressure we are applying to our opponents."
Southern had little trouble in singles play, winning at all six positions.
At the No. 1 spot, Delsart defeated Simic (7-6(5), 6-3) while Natasha Tomishima continues her hot streak, winning her ninth match straight after besting Herbold (6-3, 6-4).
Senior Jennifer Dien extended her singles streak to twelve matches with a (6-2, 6-0) win over Anna Winklemann. Anita Lee won (6-4, 6-1) at No. 3 and Simons won (6-2, 6-3) in flight No. 5. Meanwhile, Korey Love picked up her third dual win of the year with a (6-0, 6-1) win over Katie McCall.


text:
I am honored to be included amongst a rather large list of impressive developers as an Embarcadero MVP for Delphi. The program is still young, and so I'm not entirely sure what it means to be part of it, but whatever it is, I'm honored and pleased to be included, and I'll do my best to be worthy of that honor.
There is already a nice perk to the position – the team at DevJet – about whom I can't say enough nice things – have given us free versions of all their products forever. That's a long time! This is very cool, as I am a big fan of Document Insight, including the new Enterprise version.
I'm looking forward to seeing where this all goes. So my thanks to all of you and to Embarcadero.
Code Coverage is an interesting topic – Wikipedia defines it as "the degree to which the source code of a program has been tested." The idea is that you want to measure what percentage of the lines of code in your application are executed when you run your test suite. The "perfect" test suite would execute every single line of code in your codebase. Being able to definitively measure that goes a long way towards validating your testing suite and giving you confidence that your tests are thorough and testing everything that needs to be tested.
So I was really happy to run across the Delphi Code Coverage tool. I was intrigued and interested, so I downloaded it and gave it a look. And I really liked it. I decided to run it through its paces by checking the code coverage of the unit tests for my THTMLWriter project. It didn't take me long to figure out how to use it. It's written by Christer Fahlgren. He blogged about it back in 2010. It has a couple of other committers, and it's been an active project throughout out 2012.
The project includes this note: "The 1.0 release was made possible through the generous support of DevFactory." I thought that was cool, and so I encourage you to go to their website and check out their services.
The project includes this note: "The 1.0 release was made possible through the generous support of DevFactory." I thought that was cool, and so I encourage you to go to their website and check out their services.
Some things to note off the bat:
So what did I do? Well, first I pulled the source to make sure I had it. Then, I went ahead and downloaded the RC7 build, which has one file in it: codecoverage.exe. I took that file and put it in a folder along my path so I can call it wherever I need it.
Then, I read the nice simple documentation. I was just testing it out, so I ran everything manually via the IDE just to see how it all worked. Eventually, you'd want to integrate this into your continuous integration. So here is a quick rundown of what I did and what I found.
First, I opened up the project options for my THTMLWriter unit test application and told the Linker to create a MAP file for the project when I build it. The tools uses the MAP file to trace all the code paths that the application under test uses.
Next, I looked for the appropriate command line switches.
The resulting command line was as follows:
codecoverage -e HTMLWriterTestAppTests.exe -m HTMLWriterTestAppTests.map -u uHTMLWriter -html
Note that the above command line assumes that the current directory of your command prompt is the directory where the files in question are located. I actually put the command line in a small batch file in the same directory.
Note that the above command line assumes that the current directory of your command prompt is the directory where the files in question are located. I actually put the command line in a small batch file in the same directory.
So then I executed the command. The tool popped up the GUI Runner for DUnit, I pressed the Run button, the tests ran, and when they were done, the tool finished up and produced some output in the form of an HTML file. (It also provided a FastMM dialog at the end of its run, which took a few seconds to appear).
As noted, the result was two HTML files -- one summary file:
and a file that shows me the coverage for the uHTMLWriter unit. That has a header in it that tells me that I have 98% code coverage. Not bad!
But the real fun part is that the file contains a complete listing of the unit, color-coded to indicate which lines were executed (in green) and which weren't (in purple). So 2% of my code isn't covered? So I scanned the file and came across this:
Looks like I never wrote a unit test for the OpenLabel method that takes a string parameter. (I have one for the parameter-less OpenLabel). Okay, so I went back, wrote a unit test for that one, and re-ran the code coverage tool, and now I have code coverage for that method:
Nice! The tool also pointed out that I don't test that a number of exceptions get properly raised, so I'll get working on those, too. I'd like to be able to run the report and have it return 100% for my coverage.
Overall, this is a nice and powerful tool to help you make sure that your unit tests really are running every line of code in whatever you are unit testing. It's another great contribution to the Delphi community. Thanks, Christer.
Okay, let's start off with a question. What do you think this little code snippet does?
Well, I'll bet your first guess is that it processes customer input. Good guess! But what the heck does that False there mean? It's a parameter, and presumably it means something is, well, false, or that you don't want the ProcessCustomerInput to do something, but how can you know? You can't.
Using Boolean parameters means that lose information for the reader of your code. A Boolean parameter communicate nothing about the purpose or meaning of the parameter being passed. Is False good or bad? Safe or not safe? Who knows? Just as above, you can't figure out at all what the parameter is supposed to mean or do if all you see is True or False.
So if you see that in code, the first thing you'll probably do is to go to the method declaration, and if the parameter is well named, you might figure out what the parameter does:
procedure ProcessCustomerInput(aKeepDuplicates: Boolean);
So there you go, now you know what the Boolean parameter does – apparently it tells you whether to keep the duplicates or not. That's great, but the original coder may not always be so kind and clear. So if you must use a Boolean parameter, at least make the parameter name descriptive.
Okay, I take it back – don't actually ever use a Boolean parameter. Instead, here's what I suggest would make for much clearer code:
TKeepDuplicates = (DoKeepTheDuplicates, DoNotKeepTheDuplicates);
procedure ProcessCustomerInput(aKeepDuplicates: TKeepDuplicates);
and that way you can call
And then your code is eminently readable and clear without having to look up the method declaration.
In addition, this way of doing things is expandable. If your business rules change, and a third way of processing customer input appears, your code is ready. With a Boolean parameter, you are stuck with the two options of True and False.
Easy to read, clear, and ready for the future. Just like code should be.
The views I express here are entirely my own and not necessarily those of any other rational person or organization. However, I strongly recommend that you agree with pretty much everything I say because, well, I'm right. Most of the time. Except when I'm not, in which case, you shouldn't agree with me.
Powered by BlogEngine.NET 126.96.36.199
Theme by Mooglegiant and modified by Nick Hodges


text:
Ask the ANA: Partners Over the Long Run
December 1, 2006
This article explores agency-client relationship longevity.
Members Only Content
This content is available to ANA Members only. Please login below or create an account.
You may already be a member. Find out if your company is already an ANA member.


text:
|No. 66 Spartans top Vandals
LEWISTON, Idaho --- The #66-ranked San Jose State women's tennis team defeated the University of Idaho, 4-0.
The Spartans (16-5, 8-1 WAC) clinched the win against the Vandals (10-11, 3-4 WAC) without going into doubles match play, after they won four of the six singles matches.
San Jose State vs. University of Idaho
Singles Results:
Doubles Results:


text:
Those who wish to speak at Prescott City Council meetings will first have to fill out a yellow card to let the council know what they will be talking about. The speakers will have three minutes to speak their piece. These cards must be filled out prior to the start of the meeting and either given to Prescott Mayor Terry Oliver or Prescott Police Chief Brian Russell.
Location, ST | website.com


text:
Men's Basketball Falls To Bradley In Season Opener, 67-61
Nov. 14, 2008
Peoria, Ill.- A career-high offensive output for Robo Kreps and Scott VanderMeer's double-double were not enough as the UIC men's basketball team suffered a 67-61 road defeat at the hands of Bradley in the season opener for both teams at Carver Arena on Friday night.
Kreps led all scorers with 24 points, hitting five of his nine three-point attempts for the Flames (0-1).
VanderMeer scored 15 and pulled down 11 rebounds for his ninth career double-dip effort.
Theron Wilson had a double-double of 12 points and 13 rebounds for Bradley (1-0), while Dodie Dunson led the Braves with 21 points.
Both teams had difficulty finding the cup in the first half. UIC shot 30 percent (9-for-30) from the floor in the opening stanza, while Bradley connected on just three of its 17 field goal attempts in the first 20 minutes for an abysmal 17.6 percent clip.
The Flames would go up by as many as 12 in the first half, using an 18-6 run spurred by nine points off the hot hand of Kreps. That allowed UIC to take an eight-point lead into intermission.
Bradley would respond in the second session, outscoring UIC 19-8 in the first nine minutes of the final half to take a three-point lead. Following Kreps' game-tying trey shortly after the Braves' run, Bradley utilized an 8-1 run to take a double-digit lead with just six and a half minutes left.
UIC would not go away quietly, as a pair of Josh Mayo buckets sandwiched scores by Kreps and Tori Boyd during a quick 8-0 burst that took only 1:28 off the game clock and cut the Flames' deficit down to two. But the Braves scored nine unanswered points right after that UIC charge to build their lead to 11 with a minute left in regulation.
Kreps, who was back at the site of his Maroa-Forsyth High School squad's memorable 2007 IHSA Class A title run for the first time, was determined to not go down without a fight. The sophomore guard scored eight points in the final 60 seconds to go along with a Zavion Neely three-pointer and bring UIC within four, but that's as close as the Flames would get.
UIC was plagued by foul trouble early, as starters Boyd and Spencer Stewart picked up two quick calls apiece and eventually fouled out. Newcomer Rob Eppinger's Division I debut was also hindered by two quick fouls.
Jeremy Buttell came off the bench to play 22 solid minutes, pulling down eight rebounds.
Mayo played all 40 minutes of Friday's game.
UIC hosts UNI in the Flames' 2008-09 home opener at the revamped UIC Pavilion on Wednesday, Nov. 19 at 7 p.m.


text:
Forrest Gump once said, "You know it's funny what a young man recollects? 'Cause I don't remember bein' born. I don't recall what I got for my first Christmas and I don't know when I went on my first outdoor picnic. But I do remember the first time I heard the sweetest voice in the wide world."
I understand what Mr. Gump means, though his life has clearly been a tad different than my own and I won't be referring to Jen-nay, shoes, pang-pong or peas and carrots today. But keeping up with the format of his fond memories and random musings in life, I give you this: I don't remember what I had for breakfast yesterday, who my last phone conversation was with, or where I put the tenth pair of sunglasses I have purchased this year. However, I will never forget hearing the first band to get me into rock and metal music when I was fourteen years old, P.O.D.
To make a long story short, P.O.D.'s music has served as a tremendous source of peace and inspiration for me during countless pivotal moments in my life, influencing me in a number of excellent ways. I am certain that I would be a different person today had I not discovered that band back then. The musical aspect of it is just the tip of the iceberg: through P.O.D., I discovered Blindside, and through the tour the two aforementioned bands did together (my first rock concert ever, in May 2004), I discovered Lacuna Coil, which led me to an entirely new world of music I highly doubt I would have discovered otherwise. It was a chain reaction, and not only in a musical sense. P.O.D. was always my "go-to" band to make me feel. Their positivity has somehow proven contagious to me. I consider myself fortunate and blessed, and I have always generally been a content individual, but whether it was stress over a Pre-Cal test in eleventh grade or aggravation because I'd went to the orthodontist and the pain was agonizing when they tightened my braces -- anything ranging from trivial nonsense to authentic discord in my life -- it was always this band's music I would turn to. For that, I'm grateful. Those memories are endless and it's truly incredible to reflect upon.
I had the chance to meet P.O.D.'s frontman, Sonny Sandoval, in Dallas, Texas, for the first time on August 2, 2013, and speak to him about a variety of topics. P.O.D. returned last year with a strong album, Murdered Love, one of the most diverse in the band's 20+ year career. Sandoval's unique insight on a number of things really resonated with me. It was simply an honor to interview him, and if there's a more humble, approachable musician than Sandoval around, I would be extremely surprised. Read on.
Sheila Esmaili-Doki: P.O.D.'s latest album Murdered Love is your best in many years. You took a five-year hiatus. What new perspectives did you gain upon your return, and how did that influence your writing?
Sonny Sandoval: It had a lot to do with it. We had been a band for fifteen years, you know… been on our own, signed to a major, sold millions of records, been all around the world, got a whole different perspective on the world in general, and I think for me, just…so caught up in this industry, and the institution of the church, Christianity, rock and roll -- everything -- it takes its toll on you. So I had just laid down P.O.D. in my heart. I went home to be with my wife and kids. For me, it was really over. In that time, I got to do a lot of charity stuff, and work with ministries, and church organizations, and just do awesome things that I felt were Godly -- and at least warmed my heart. And God just kind of reminded me of the platform He has given me. Sure enough, I came back to P.O.D. and this industry on my own terms and made a record that was from my heart.
SE: P.O.D. has always had such a wide range of influences: rock, metal, reggae, hip-hop. Which album to date do you feel most accurately represents how versatile P.O.D. is?
SS: I would have to say this record, Murdered Love, just because it's twenty-one years later and our experiences have gotten…so big, you know. And you're always making records for that time, however you feel. That is one of the reasons, like I said, that we walked away from it -- there are always so many people trying to tell you what your band should be, "Hey, do you want to sell a million records again?" -- everybody's got their opinions. It's kind of like, when we went away for five years, it's almost like we dropped everything. And some people referred to it as "rock'n'roll suicide", leaving that long. But for us, it was more like just emptying ourselves of everything and coming back, saying, "Dude, I don't care if I play a sports arena; I don't care if I play a sold-out, 8,000-seater room. I'll play a 200-seater club and if whoever's going to be there is going to be genuine"...you know what I mean - and honest, and love the music, and have stuck with us all that time…that's just kind of the way we want it.
SE: In the past 20+ years of P.O.D.'s career, what are some of the most significant changes you have seen in the music industry, especially going from cassettes and CDs to the world of downloading and social media?
SS: It's good and bad, you know. I mean, it's great if you're a new band starting off. There are so many outlets to get your music out there. You don't need the major labels; you can do things on your own, with technology. People are writing and recording in their bathrooms. That's a good thing, in a sense, but at the same time, I think it waters down a lot of the passionate and creative artists out there, because now, anybody can be in a band or make a record, whereas before it was a struggle. It was a life commitment, you know what I mean? Now it's more like, "let me do something as a hobby. Let me do something for fun before I go off to college". These people, these bands, you hear their stories -- they dedicated everything, just going for it. That's kind of something that P.O.D. did. But now it's tough, with us, an established band, we have to tour and hustle more than we ever have before. Because nobody sells records anymore. So, there's a downside to it, you know?
SE: What do you feel are some of the biggest challenges for Christian youth today? You have never been ashamed to talk about your faith. What do you think are some of the major issues Christian musicians in particular might face in today's world?
SS: It depends. We never came out and said, "We're a Christian band", for the sole purpose of marketing to Christians. If anything we were just so open about our faith, and there was that Christian world that I had no idea existed, and they said "Wait a minute - these guys are Christians, and they're playing in clubs, and playing in the real world"…and it's almost like they were trying to bring us over to that side…for me, I never tried to market my faith as a selling point. And the hard part is that there are believers that are in bands and they're doing their job, you know; they're living their life, they're believing in Jesus. Whereas, on the flip side, there is a Christian industry where a lot of it is just a front, it's just "let me say 'Jesus' let me wear 'Jesus'", but it's still an industry. It makes billions of dollars a year. I'm not saying that there's not genuine worshippers out there that are putting out music. If I like a guy and think it's genuine, I buy his music, and I listen to it, and I praise the Lord with it. But a lot of it is industry. And they're out there, doing what they love, and I guess they sleep better at night if they call it Christian. Because, again -- the big bad wolf of going out and just being excellent at what you do, in the real world, and you can still be Christian and be in the real world, and be excellent at it, you know. When I meet guys who are like "Hey, I'm a believer; I'm in a band", I'm just like "Just be excellent. Love God. Don't get caught up. Don't get tripped out. Don't fall for the facade. If you're in love with Jesus, and your faith, and that's #1 to you, that doesn't matter. You're going to go, do whatever you want to do, be who you are gonna be, whether you're a doctor, or a school teacher, a construction worker, or if you're in a band. Just love Jesus and stay intimate with Him. It doesn't have to be classified as, "I'm a Christian this; I'm a Christian that." To me, that's industry. Now I could understand if it was an industry that didn't make any money, and they gave all their money to charities and built orphanages all around the world, but that's not the case. There are just as many millionaire "Christian artists"…so that's where…my thing is like, I don't want to get caught up in that. And I think sometimes, especially I meet these guys, "Yeah, I recently gave my life to the Lord! Yeah, we're a Christian band now!" I think sometimes they live their life and they were lost for so long that there's that zeal, there's that excitement, like "I want to give God the glory, I want to do everything", but there's a lack of maturity. I think we did the same thing, too, when I got saved. I almost…I just vomited at the mouth, everything…you know what I mean? I was just so excited about it, without really having the maturity 21 years later, like "Okay, God…now that I have shut my mouth and I am actually at your feet, and I can go and just love, and know when to speak and know when to shut my mouth and know when to say this and know when not to say that, and live it more than just talk it." It's maturity. So again, my thing is, if you're going to do music, and do it with passion and heart and give God the glory…it doesn't have to be this showboat, Christian activity, because 99.9%, that's all pharisee, so beware…I had some kid tweet me the other day who said, "Why haven't you ever said Jesus in your lyrics?" and I said, "First of all..that's not true. Second of all, does that make you think that I'm 100% sold out for Jesus, because I could write a song that can fool you, just like that? It's like…look at my life, let me live my life, check out my resume, you know what I mean? (laughs) If I'm a faithful, loving husband, and I love being a daddy, and I love being a friend and a brother to people around me, isn't that what it's supposed to be like? Isn't that what it's supposed to be about? So there's a fine line there. I always encourage people. I can pray with somebody, and somebody genuinely gives their life to the Lord, I can tell them: Go and LIVE what you feel now. Go believe in Jesus. You shouldn't have to tell people that you're a Christian. Everybody wants to put the name Christian on something. You shouldn't have to tell them you're a Christian. They should see you and say "That's love of Christ." It was the disciples, it was the Greeks that watched them and -- this is the only time Christian is mentioned in the scriptures -- they said, Aren't you guys Christians or something? "Little Christ"… you know what? Yes, we are, yes we are! And then those guys went on -- after Judas killed himself -- the last ten disciples…nine would die and be a martyr for the cause of Christ, and one would live to tell us how the world is going to end. To me, that's Christian. If someday I can wear that title, by the grace of God, if He wants to give it to me, so be it. But I don't flippantly go off saying "I'm in a Christian band, I'm Christian this, I'm Christian that; this is Christian, check out my Christian product, buy it, Christians." I don't do that. I fear that. And it's a very fine line. So if God wants to call me a Christian, I'll take it (laughs).
SE: It's leading by example. Actions speak louder than words.
SS: And not only that, it's the stereotype, the stigma -- that the institution, and I always say the institution of Christianity -- has. Because it's different. You can ask me my opinion of it, but you can ask somebody, a couple different people about it, somebody who wants nothing to do with God, and you can ask somebody who was raised in the church and who now wants nothing to do with God. Everybody's different stories, they will trip you out. And my experience is all these stories: I just say, okay, God, I could easily get jaded so quick. Even the Christian family I was supposed to have, they haven't had our backs since we started. So that's been the tough part. Now I just say, okay, I have to make sure I'm aligned up with God and the spirit and not count on all that.
SE: Very well said. The song "Hollywood", from The Fundamental Elements of Southtown -- I always thought the lyrics were so powerful. You have probably seen so musicians over the years who have kind of taken that route, to where they lose who they are. How does that make you feel to witness that, and how do you stay grounded?
SS: You know what, I have to confess, even since that song, I've fallen into that trap myself. It's just…I think for us, even as believers in this industry, saying "I'm going to go on with the full armor of God, and I know what I believe in and I know what I stand for"… you don't know until you're out there. THEN you know how strong your armor is, you know what I mean? Is it true faith, and is it genuine and real faith, or is it "I'm a Christian by routine and because I said a prayer and I'm saved"? I see guys coming in there, they're holy rollers, Pentacostal, they're just flailing in the spirit, and the next time you see them, it's like "Eh." Because we get jaded. And me too. For the longest time, you just get sick of so much stuff… I never lost faith in Jesus, I lost faith in the institution of church, and people. To this day…you get just as many people who hate you, that are believers in God, and that's what wild (laughs). We're human. It hurts, you know what I mean? We're not robots. We're out here, and we've been hustling and working so hard for years, and we see so much good fruit of it, and then you see someone who comes in who really doesn't know what they're talking about, and they just want to sound religious, and they just want to sound like they've got it all figured out, and come and just attack everything you're about…it hurts. But at the same time, you look at the life of Jesus and that's exactly what happened. So it's…again, I always say, for me, the Bible says that I have to work out my own salvation with fear and trembling, and I do that. I don't walk in any of these clubs thinking that I'm untouchable. I mean, I know God's got my back, but I know that I'm human, and I know that if I'm not grounded in His word and I'm not in constant communication, and in God's presence… that doesn't mean that I'm perfect, and I'm not trying to sound like I am holier than anybody else. But I'm also…my experience is big and I'm not foolish to know…to see… everybody who comes in and they walk out; sometimes people walk out and, again, they come out here and get destroyed.
SE: What is your take on the issue of "Why do bad things happen to good people?" Often, people lose faith because of that, saying "Why does God let this happen to me?"
SS: First of all, you've got to understand that we live in a sinful world, we live in a fleshly world; God gave us choice. Without choice, without freedom, then we would be robots and we wouldn't experience the relationship that we have with God, and things happen. God's got His boundaries, and He says, don't leave my boundaries; these are my arms around you, holding you in tight to my soul and to my heart. But as people, we find ways to get outside of God's boundaries. That's the crazy part. We allow ourselves…we remove ourselves from God's boundaries, and when things happen, we want to blame God for it, and I don't think that's fair. I mean, obviously, things happen and they're unexplainable…you know, I think that's where true faith does come in. Even in the Old Testament scripture, Habakkuk is praying, "God, I watch all these people doing bad things, and I'm trying to live my life for You and live by Your scripture and do good, and I see all these wicked people prosper". It gets frustrating. I see that too. I see people like, "Why does that guy…he doesn't have financial worries, and these guys are wicked, you know" … But that's the physical. That's not the eternal. Our riches are in our salvation and in Heaven. If you think of the eternal, you have paradise to look forward to. A lot of these people are just living it up in their life, unless…if they realize one day that they need a Savior, and they have the eternal to look forward to. I believe God works all bad things out for the good, and unless we stay faithful and kind of hang in there, we might not see it. And sometimes it's not for us to see. Again, I can't explain things. I pray every day for the safety of my friends, my family, myself…because I always pray to God -- God, I know you won't give me more than I can handle…please don't…because I want to say that I'm strong, you know? But I have to go through things in my life that I think about all the time, like, how strong is my faith? Would I just accept everything and say 'God's rule, God's glory, God's plan', or would I sit there and challenge it? I have in the past, through my own weakness. I guess that's just where our faith comes in. You either believe in God and trust Him, or you don't.


text:
Liberal junior forward Eduardo Moreno is the Mead Lumber Athlete of the Week. In two games, Moreno scored eight goals including five in the 6-0 win Monday over Wichita East. Moreno was a first team all state player last year for the 17-4 Redskins. Liberal faces Wichita Southeast Thursday at 6 p.m. in the semifinals of the Wichita South Titan Classic. Moreno's interview aired Thursday morning during the Sportsguys.
©2016 Seward County Broadcasting Company, Inc.
1410 N. Western Ave. Liberal, KS 67901


text:
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
by James Thurber
Analysis: Three Act Plot Analysis
For a three-act plot analysis, put on your screenwriter's hat. Moviemakers know the formula well: at the end of Act One, the main character is drawn in completely to a conflict. During Act Two, she is farthest away from her goals. At the end of Act Three, the story is resolved.
"Walter Mitty" does not fit the three-act plot breakdown. Act I ends when the hero is fully committed to his journey, yet Walter Mitty never fully commits to any journey. You could argue that his "journey" is his imaginings, but the story begins and ends with a man already committed to fantasy instead of reality. There is no discernible "journey" to be found here, as this is not a grail-quest-type story.


text:
Our most recent story in the Preschool Book Club was Eric Carle's The Mixed Up Chameleon. Because one of our favorite tools for extending play and learning is our felt board, I decided to create a felt set to go with the story! (This post contains affiliate links.)
Are you following our Children's Books & Activities Pinterest board?
Recently we read the story, The Mixed Up Chameleon by Eric Carle. We even made a simple fine motor and counting game to go with it! Because the kids enjoyed the story so much, I decided to create a Mixed Up Chameleon felt set for the kids to use on our felt board. (If you don't have a felt board, be sure to check out my simple tutorial for making your own!)
How to Make The Mixed Up Chameleon Felt Set
Use your printer to print out the pattern pieces onto paper. Cut them out.
Pin the pattern pieces onto your felt. Cut around them using good scissors.
Remove the pins to reveal your finished piece. You can even use a Sharpie marker to add some details to your felt piece.
Playing with the Felt Set
Often the kids start out by using the felt set to retell the story. They'll usually have the book nearby as a reference as they're playing.
As play progresses, the pieces usually become involved in a new story the kids make up all on their own!


text:
More New and Used
from Private Sellers
Note: Supplemental materials are not guaranteed with Rental or Used book purchases.
Precalculus: Enhanced With Graphing Utilities
ISBN13:by Sullivan, Michael
Pearson College Div
Questions About This Book?
Why should I rent this book?
Renting is easy, fast, and cheap! Renting from eCampus.com can save you hundreds of dollars compared to the cost of new or used books each semester. At the end of the semester, simply ship the book back to us with a free UPS shipping label! No need to worry about selling it back.
How do rental returns work?
Returning books is as easy as possible. As your rental due date approaches, we will email you several courtesy reminders. When you are ready to return, you can print a free UPS shipping label from our website at any time. Then, just return the book to your UPS driver or any staffed UPS location. You can even use the same box we shipped it in!
What version or edition is this?
This is the 2nd edition with a publication date of 12/1/1999.
What is included with this book?
- The Used copy of this book is not guaranteed to include any supplemental materials. Typically, only the book itself is included.
- The Rental copy of this book is not guaranteed to include any supplemental materials. You may receive a brand new copy, but typically, only the book itself.
Related Products
For courses in College Algebra, Algebra & Trigonometry, Precalculus, and Trigonometry which requires student use of a graphing calculator. Using the graphing utility to enhance mathematics, not replace it, this text approaches technology as a tool to solve problems, motivate concepts, and explore ideas. Many problems are solved using both algebra and a graphing utility, with the benefits of each illustrated. Throughout, applications and examples using real data enable students to make connections between the mathematics learned and familiar situations. The authors' user-friendly approach helps students develop the skills needed to succeed in subsequent mathematics courses.
Table of Contents
(NOTE: Each chapter concludes with Chapter Review.)
1. Graphs.
Rectangular Coordinates; Graphing Utilities; Scatter Diagrams. Graphs of Equations. Solving Equations. Setting Up Equations; Applications. Solving Inequalities. Lines. Circles.
2. Function and Models.
Functions. Linear Functions and Models. Characteristics of Functions; Library of Functions. Graphing Techniques: Transformations. Operations on Functions; Composite Functions. Mathematical Models; Constructing Functions.
3. Polynomial and Rational Functions.
Quadratic Functions and Models. Power Functions and Models. Polynomial Functions and Models. The Real Zeros of a Polynomial Function. Complex Numbers; Quadratic Equations with a Negative Discriminant. Complex Zeros; Fundamental Theorem of Algebra. Rational Functions. Polynomial and Rational Inequalities.
4. Exponential and Logarithmic Functions.
One-to-One Functions; Inverse Functions. Exponential Functions. Logarithmic Functions. Properties of Logarithms. Logarithmic and Exponential Equations. Compound Interest. Growth and Decay. Exponential, Logarithmic, and Logistic Curve Fitting.
5. Trigonometric Functions.
Angles and Their Measure. Trigonometric Functions: Unit Circle Approach. Properties of the Trigonometric Functions. Right Triangle Trigonometry. Graphs of Trigonometric Functions. Sinusoidal Graphs; Sinusoidal Curve Fitting.
6. Analytic Trigonometry.
Trigonometric Identities. Sum and Difference Formulas. Double-Angle and Half -Angle Formulas. Product-to-Sum and Sum-to-Product Formulas. The Inverse Trigonometric Functions. Trigonometric Equations (I). Trigonometric Equations (II).
7. Applications of Trigonometric Functions.
Solving Right Triangles. The Law of Sines. The Law of Cosines. The Area of a Triangle. Simple Harmonic Motion; Damped Motion.
8. Polar Coordinates; Vectors.
Polar Coordinates. Polar Equations and Graphs. The Complex Plane; Demoivre's Theorem. Vectors. The Dot Product. Vectors in Space.
9. Analytic Geometry.
Conics. The Parabola. The Ellipse. The Hyperbola. Rotation of Axes; General Form of a Conic. Polar Equations of Conics. Plane Curves and Parametric Equations.
10. Systems of Equations and Inequalities.
Systems of Linear Equations: Two Equations Containing Two Variables. Systems of Linear Equations: Three Equations Containing Three Variables. Systems of Linear Equations: Matrices. Systems of Linear Equations: Determinants. Matrix Algebra. Partial Fraction Decomposition. Systems of Nonlinear Equations. Systems of Linear Inequalities; Linear Programming.
11. Sequences; Induction; The Binomial Theorem.
Sequences. Arithmetic Sequences. Geometric Sequences; Geometric Series. Mathematical Induction. The Binomial Theorem.
12. Counting and Probability.
Sets and Counting. Permutations and Combinations. Probability of Equally Liked Outcomes. Analyzing Univariate Data; Obtaining Probabilities from Data.
13. A Preview of Calculus: The Limit and the Derivative of a Function.
Finding Limits Using Tables and Graphs. Algebra Techniques for Finding Limits. One-Sided Limits; Continuous Functions. The Tangent Problem; The Derivative.
Appendix Review.
Topics from Algebra and Geometry. Completing the Square; The Quadratic Formula. Polynomials. Polynomial Division. Rational Expressions. Radicals; Rational Exponents.


text:
(0) items
Author(s): Marzano, Robert J.; Waters, Timothy; Mcnulty, Brian A.
ISBN: 9781416602279 / Paperback / 9/30/2005
Marketplace Disclaimer:
Edition, Cover Design, etc may vary from the eCampus.com description. Please refer to the seller's comments before ordering. Marketplace sellers are required to ship by the end of the 5th business day. Items are not returnable to eCampus.com. Orders cannot be cancelled by eCampus.com.


text:
From Karliee Redd's efforts to get her man back to Bambi having an "alleged" miscarriage, "Love and Hip Hop Atlanta" was full of ups and downs. This episode left audiences with more questions than answers so we leave it to the audience to inform us on what they think is really going on!
Question: Was Bambi really pregnant? Many people are taking to social media with claims that Bambi faked her pregnancy at a weak attempt to make Lil' Scrappy fall in love like an overgrown puppy. She definitely evoked sympathy from Scrappy as he ran through the door to her rescue after and urgent message from the Bam. But what is she was truly pregnant? Many miscarriages occur in the first trimester. Momma Dee, who is usually able to spot a flaw a mile away in everyone but herself, came over and cooked for her. She even shared a heartfelt mini-story about her own abortion. If Momma Dee believe her why are fans having
a hard time?
"The only person I get around with is your man."
Question: Has Karliee Redd lost her mind? What do fans think? Obviously Yung Joc got bent out of shape after seeing Karliee and Jeremih flirting at the studio. Even after fighting most people would call the other to reconcile unless it was too hurtful. Was he hurt or did he have other options? Karliee seems to think everything was her fault, bribes him with some TLC to return, only to get into an argument with the realtor/superwoman who is close to Joc towards the end of the episode. Is this love? Or does Karliee seek drama until it blows up in her face?
Question: Are Waka and Tammy cute or boring or both? DJ Steele and her son's father Drew were politely "let go" because they were not dramatic enough. Will this happen to them as well? Is Tammy the only person who believes her fiancé
has "changed"?
"You dead in Joseline's eyes"
Joseline and Stevie J., are both maintaining a storyline through their ex-assistant. After finding out word of mouth that she was fired, Dawn has a sit down with Mimi just to air dirty laundry concerning the Jordan's. She has proof the marriage is a poorly orchestrated publicity stunt, the house they are in is a rental, the ring Joseline rocks was purchased by an ex and every single one of Stevie's car not owned by Stevie. Well! What do you think?
Kirk hires a young nanny, with no babysitting experience. Rasheeda is still tolerating him, but why? Granted they have been together for over ten years, have a family and business together but more assertiveness on her part would help. By the way, the "nanny" has been in the tabloids lately as she has posted pictures of Kirk (a married man) on her page. Now that she is no longer "under the impression" they are only co-parenting, is this cool? Let us know below!


text:
Follow ARA on:
Government Affairs
News & Articles
Find a Member
Member Directory
ARA Partner Benefit Programs
Prospective Member Kit
Advertising Opportunities
New Member Application
Federal Issues
State Issues
Defense Fund
ARA Political Action Committee
Scholarship Foundation
Educational Foundation
CAR & Gold Seal
Green Recycled Parts
Industry Events
Automotive Recycling Magazine
September-October 2011
July-August 2011
May-June 2011
March-April 2011
January-February 2011
July - August 2010
November-December 2011
January-February 2012
March-April 2012
May-June 2012
July-August 2012
September-October 2012
November-December 2012
January-February 2013
March-April 2013
May-June 2013
July-August 2013
September-October 2013
November-December 2013
January-February 2014
March-April 2014
May-June 2014
July-August 2014
September-October 2014
Nov-Dec 2014
January-February 2015
March-April 2015
May-June 2015
July-August 2015
September-October 2015
November-December 2015
January-February 2016
ARA Home
Automotive Recycling Magazine
November-December 2013
>Can Fairy Tales Come True?
Can Fairy Tales Come True?
A story about how state associations work for you.
By Cheryll Lambright
November 1, 2013
It all started with a simple complaint from one of our story's heroes, a Texas Automotive Recycler Association (TARA) member.
Our hero sent a complaint to TARA to file with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) that pointed out that a bad dude was in the neighborhood. This bad dude (BD) was running a business that strongly resembled a Used Automotive Parts Recycler (UAPR), but low and behold, he did not have a license to operate this business. (Heard this one before?)
BD had a sign on the street and ads on the Internet and in the yellow pages, but no TDLR license. How could it be, then, that BD advertised and sold used automotive parts?
Our TARA hero was determined that this should not be. The complaint was sent to TARA and filed with the TDLR, and we twiddled our thumbs for a while waiting for the BD to get a kick in the pants. The TARA hero kept asking, "Why are they not doing something?" And, just when it seemed that all was lost – as it does in most fairy tales – the superhero, Mike Shirk (MS) from the TDLR enforcement department, swooped in to save the day.
Superhero MS contacted TARA and said, "I am going to take BD down." He immediately leapt into action and gave the BD notice that he would be shut down by a certain date if he did not have a license. Of course, that date came and went, and BD still did not have the license. Then, superhero MS issued a cease and desist order and, after many battles, BD said he would shut his gates and would obtain the required license.
Could it be our happy ending? Not so. Our TARA hero did not believe all was well and check-
ed to see if BD was really closed. Not surprised, he found that BD was still selling used parts behind the closed gates. When customers would call BD for a part, he would tell them to come to the gate, honk, and the part would be brought out to them. TARA even called BD to request a part to verify this was happening.
So superhero MS came to the rescue again, adding more fines on BD. After bringing in the big guns, fining him a lot of money per day until he got the license, BD's gates were shut and all was well. In the end, BD paid hefty fines, now has a license, and everyone is happy. TDLR did their job.
TARA hero did his job. It felt really great to be part of the story and see what can happen when people take action working together.
This is just one story of many on how your state associations fight for you. Become a part of one and make a difference in your state!
Cheryll Lambright is the Executive Director of the Texas Automotive Recyclers Association.
Click to download the full November/December issue in PDF format
Government Affairs
Join ARA
ARA University
ARA Scholarship
Car & Gold Seal
News & Articles
Automotive Recycling Magazine
About ARA
Join ARA
Member Login
Contact Us
Follow ARA on:
©2010 Automotive Recyclers Association
Web site design and maintenance by
Guruz Media
Membership Software By:


text:
Next to plain white dishes, our richly colored dinnerware brings warmth and appetizing ambiance to every meal. The glazed stoneware with visible natural undertones and rubbed edges is handcrafted in Portugal with an artisan-made look and feel. Choose a single color or make it fun by layering mixed colors according to the mood and menu.
This is a general shipping item.
Shipping Information
Return Policy
At Pottery Barn, we take great pride in the quality and craftsmanship of our products. Attention to design, materials, safety and construction is our priority. We carefully inspect your order prior to shipment. Upon receipt, please inspect your purchase and notify us of any damage; we will arrange for a prompt replacement. If, within 7 days for Quick Ship upholstery and 30 days for all other products, you are dissatisfied for any reason, you may return your purchase for a refund of the merchandise value.
We cannot accept returns on monogrammed, personalized, made to order items, or on items damaged through normal wear and tear. We also cannot accept returns of final-sale items which are identified by a price which ends in .99.
For returns of items purchased from your Pottery Barn registry, we will gladly provide a refund or exchange for the merchandise within 90 days of your event or within 90 days of purchase, whichever date is later.
You may return merchandise through the mail for a refund or replacement. For detailed procedures for returning items through the mail, please contact Customer Service at 1.888.779.5176, 7 days a week, 5:00am - 9:00pm (PT).
|Cambria Dinnerware, 16-Piece Soup Bowl Set, Mushroom
|No Longer Available
|Cambria Dinnerware, 16-Piece Cereal Bowl Set, Mushroom
|No Longer Available
|Cambria Dinner Plate, Set of 4, Mushroom
|No Longer Available
|Cambria Salad Plate, Set of 4, Mushroom
|No Longer Available
|Cambria Soup Bowl, Set of 4, Mushroom
|No Longer Available
|Cambria Cereal Bowl, Set of 4, Mushroom
|No Longer Available
|Cambria Mug, Set of 4, Mushroom
|No Longer Available


text:
League Posters Come to Boston
October 5, 1994 by Bill
Filed under Catalyst Online, Features
The Catholic League's latest anti-condom ad that worked so effectively in New York was scheduled to be posted in Boston for one month, beginning September 23. When we went to press the ad had not yet been placed, but it is expected that the same result will follow in Boston as it did in New York: it will ignite a much needed discussion over the propriety of distributing condoms to kids. Operations Director C. J. Doyle will address the issue in the Boston area. The ad, a slightly revised version of the New York one, was made possible through the generosity of Catholic League members.


text:
|Everything's better with puppies!
|Everything's better with puppies!
What have I gotten myself into - FNAF Ch 1Disclaimer: I do not own nor did I create FnaF or any of it's character, that credit goes to the great Scott Cawthon. This is purely my own fictional imaginings based on game play so please don't take anything too seriously.What have I gotten myself into - FNAF Ch 1 by transfanatic
First night of a new job, I look to the clock with a smile after days of anticipation and waiting after the interview. It had been a breeze with very few complications or requirements. I didn't even need a commission license for security work at the closing site that was once the family friendly pizza parlor that is Freddy Fazbears Pizzaria.
This European time difference makes staying up this late easier for me because they are like six hours ahead of my American time zone, so for my body, it is only six PM to midnight. And to think, all I really needed for this job was to be able to travel across.
My records clear and so travelling was no sweat. My ex-employer did give me that much and while I'd miss working with the animals, watching over animatronics migh
|It's so reasonable. I don't know, because points really are better then llama's? Well I'll give you llama's if you give me points ^^
Sandy and Mandy or is it? LOVE YOU!!
Current Residence: currently or usually in transit
Favourite genre of music: mix


text:
STARmeterSEE RANK
Up 192,906 this week
Bill M. Ryusaki
Bill Ryusaki was born in Kamuela on the big island of Hawaii. He has total of ten siblings, many of whom, as well as his father are martial arts masters. Bill started training in two types of karate at the tender age of 8, and later added Kenpo Karate to his arsenal. His teachers would later include William Chow, Bill Chun Sr., and Marino Tiwanak. ... See full bio »
2 videos »


text:
Avira Free Antivirus 2013 for Windows 8 Free Download
Avira Free Antivirus 2013
Avira Free Antivirus 2013 for Windows 8 Free Download is the latest offering from avast! and offers a chance to see how far this excellent anti-virus has come.
Avira Free Antivirus 2013 Install and New Version Video
Free Download Antivirus Avira 2013
Traditionally here at Softonic we have a lot of time for Avira Free Antivirus 2013, so we were really excited to get a look at the newest version. For starters, it looks really slick, with a slim-lined installation process (which looked good, but still took a while), and a very user-friendly and clear interface. While the interface is similar to Avira Free Antivirus 2013, it's got many more options, something you'll see as soon as you open it.
Virus Program 2013 for Windows 8
Another nice addition that you'll notice when setting up is the option to install as the second line of defense on your computer. There are also plenty of installation options, which allow you to get the most from your anti-virus before it's even installed. Of course, there's also a default installation if the nitty-gritty's not for you.
Security Improvements
What else does version 2013 add to Avira Free Antivirus 2013? Well, in the first place the developer assures us that there have been considerable updates on a security front, which is obviously what you want from an anti-virus. It also offers a nice Statistics module, as well as a comprehensive Support function that allows you to general a support package to send to the avast! personnel who are trying to troubleshoot your problem.
Free Antivirus Programs 2013
Two especially useful new functions are the AutoSandbox feature and the Remote Assistance. AutoSandbox allows Avira Free Antivirus 2013 to automatically place any program it deems suspicious inside a sandbox, so it cannot do damage to your computer. You can edit the programs that are excluded from this behavior in the general settings.
Free Antivirus 2013 Reviews
Remote Assistance is much as it sounds, but it's a great feature to have. This allows you to either connect to or be connected to by another user, so that you can help them with computer problems or so that they can help you (especially when tech support personnel are involved). Obviously, both of you will have to have Avira Free Antivirus 2013 installed, but it's a feature we can see coming in really useful.
What's New Avira Free Antivirus 2013
Changes in the autosandbox module
Improvements in Remote Assistance (support for UAC prompts etc.)
Improvements in SafeZone (protection against kernel-mode keyloggers; Updated SafeZone Browser; clipboard sharing, etc.)
Outlook plugin redesign
Opera support in WebRep
SiteCorrect module for the detection of unwanted websites
Windows 8 compatibility updates
Emergency Updater
Avira Free Antivirus 2013 for Windows 8 Free Download
Avira Free Antivirus 2013 Install and New Version Video , Free Antivirus 2013 Reviews , Free Antivirus Programs 2013 , Free Download Antivirus Avira 2013 , Security Improvements , Virus Program 2013 for Windows 8 , Whats New Avira Free Antivirus 2013


text:
13 November, 2008@5:59 am
0 comments
DJ Babu's Duck Season 3 is bittersweet. If you haven't been paying attention to what is happening in the world of subterranean hip-hop as of late, Duck Season 3 offers the perfect snapshot of what's currently hot in backpack land, and also, exactly what is currently wrong with the scene. More than just a mixtape, Duck Season 3 is a thinly veiled way for the Dilated Junkie to present his own LP to the world, spotlighting his production. Babs produces most of the album himself, allowing him to showoff his vastly underrated beat skills, and as an added bonus, is mixed together by him as well.
Needless to say, Babs shows his natural knack as a DJ and paces this album perfectly. It opens with a freestyle from his Dilated brethren, as Rakaa and Evidence introduce the album over a set of raucous horns, leading perfectly into his next selection, "Dearly Departed" by M.O.P. As a longtime fan of the crew, Babs lends another banging horn driven track to Brownsville's finest, who kill it with ease. The HOJ crew steps up for "Fan Mail", as Little Brother are joined by D-Brock and Joe Scudda, as Babs sews it together with "Dearly Departed" by cutting up a classic M.O.P. sample over chopped up funk and blues samples. The album kicks into high gear on easily its best track, "The Unexpected", where MF Doom and Sean Price deliver numerous body blows over an original beat (thankfully no recycled Special Herbs or Donuts for the umpteenth time).
Speaking of Donuts, Guilty Simpson holds Detroit on his back on "Frozen", proving he doesn't need a Dilla beat to do so. A.G. also shows he hasn't missed a beat on "East West Connection", as he effortlessly slides into character, Showbiz beat or not. Newcomer Bishop Lamont justifies his Aftermath record deal on "My Opinion", while Kardinal Offishall shows that despite his newfound pop status he can still hang with the best of them, as he and Rakka-Iriscience freestyle over minimalist drums.
But, as mentioned before, the album is bittersweet, and is paced perfectly. Reason being is that Babu grabs your attention with album's first set of high-powered selections and top tier talent. Like a good DJ, once he has you hooked in, he takes a few liberties and slides in some B and C list tracks. At this point, the album declines in quality track by track, as it begins to become overrun by favors, homies, and local Cali artists – which are inevitable on any mixtape by any high-profile DJ.
Many Stones Throw alum / dropouts deliver their selections, as Duck Season 3′s latter half becomes a place where half-baked rappers go to die. Thankfully, the Cali Agents (Rasco and Planet Asia) sound reinvigorated on Babu's "Graveyardshiftin'" track, but M.E.D. ("It's A New Day") and the pair of Oh No & Roc C ("Meant To Be") prove why their albums didn't sell on their respective selections. The derivative "SBX2LAX2OX" (featuring Wildchild & Percee P) begs the question as to why collaborating rappers from different cities always title their songs with this formula, then answers the query with it's bland, unoriginal content. Meanwhile, the "always-show-up-to-the-party" crews Strong Arm Steady ("O.G."), Psycho Realm, and Self Scientific ("Black & Brown Army") overstay their welcome, as usual. Sadly, the album ends with a selection by kid-rapper Niko on "Ahead of My Time", which only confuses the audience.
Harsh criticisms aside, there are several can't miss selections on Duck Season 3. Again, the album provides a play-by-play analysis of what is great about the underground scene and what is wrong with it. The pros of Duck Season 3 include the fact that this is a true mixtape, mixed to perfection by a true DJ, spotlighting a handful of some of the scenes brightest stars doing what they do best over Babu's strong production. The cons of the album show the scene's problem with nepotism and politics, as lackluster artists that have friendships with Babs force their way on to the record. Regardless, in today's day and age of digital music, after listening through it once, many fans will keep the songs they like, delete the ones they don't. If only Babu could have done the same. – D.T. Swinga
- Raekwon Sets A Release Date For "F.I.L.A." Album
- BUSH: A Snoop Odyssey Produced By Pharrell Williams [Preview]
- Drake – "If You're Reading This It's Too Late" Surprise Album on iTunes Now
- Action Bronson "Mr. Wonderful" Cover Art and Tracklist
- Juicy J "Blue Dream & Lean 2″ Mixtape Cover Art & Release Date Revealed
- MF Grimm "MF Love Songs" Cover Art + Tracklist
- Lord Hakim – "Brass Knucklez" (feat. Vast Aire & Phizz Ed)
- IAMSU! – "Hella Good" (feat. Tyga)
- DJ Kay Slay – "I Declare War" (feat. Styles P, Sheek Louch, Vado, Raekwon, & Rell)
- Maverick Sabre – "We Don't Wanna Be" (feat. Joey Bada$$)
- Cannibal Ox – "Blade: Art of Ox" (feat. Artifacts & U-God; prod. Black Milk)
- Asher Roth – "Blow Your Head" (prod. Nottz)
- It's Time To Say Goodbye...
Commented on by Yungplex
- It's Time To Say Goodbye...
Commented on by geedubbleyoo
- Fat Trel - "In My Bag" (feat. Wale)
Commented on by Katae
- Kanye West's "Runaway": What Does It All Mean?
Commented on by fidgar
- Sole Vs. El-P: Part One - Sole
Commented on by Reno Yakavetta
- It's Time To Say Goodbye...
Commented on by Atom


text:
Preserve24 Closes After a Year
Will new new owners keep the oyster bar made from an old boat?
"New Ownership Under Remodel Thank You" reads a sign that's now taped to the front door at Preserve24, the year-old, bi-level combined art installation and restaurant space on East Houston Street that featured both a farm-to-table menu and a giant wood-burning oven that looked like a rusty submersible salvaged from the pages of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. It's unclear if the new owners will keep the jumbo wood saw decor, the oyster bar built atop a dinghy, or the back-bar made of baby grand pianos. [Bowery Boogie, Related]