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The domestic thermal coal markets look like they are starting to bottom out, but the metallurgical coal side of the business is still hurting. That's likely to keep Alpha Natural Resources' (NYSE:ANR) results in the red in 2014, but could turn Walter Energy (NASDAQOTH:WLTGQ) into a life or death situation.
A mile high view
Alpha Natural Resources is a diversified coal miner, selling both met coal and thermal. It's also got a global sales footprint, though it mines domestically. So Alpha can provide a good bird's eye view of the coal industry. The company lost $0.50 a share in the first quarter, but it's seeing some positives mixed in with the negatives.
On the positive side, Alpha CEO Kevin Crutchfield noted that, "The Powder River Basin is currently showing strength in light of very tight utility inventories and strong burn over the last three months. And we believe there is strong potential for this to continue." In addition, "Utility inventories in Northern Appalachia are also at multi-year lows," and "Contracting in Central Appalachia is beginning to look more promising too, with a meaningful increase in RFPs."
This is good for Alpha because about half of its business is thermal coal. Around 40% of revenues are from the Eastern region, so the Powder River Basin (10% of revenues) uptick won't be enough to meaningfully help Alpha's results. Central and Northern Appalachia need to rebound, too. But, with nearly half of the top line coming from met coal, don't expect Alpha to turn a profit until this segment of the coal market turns higher.
That said, it isn't looking good on the metallurgical coal front. Alpha CEO Crutchfield puts the cards on the table: "we expect the oversupply in met to continue for most of 2014, but we do see the potential for a better supply demand balance and improved met pricing taking hold in 2015." So, 2014 will likely be another year of red ink for Alpha.
What's bad for Alpha is worse for Walter
Met coal makes up about 85% of Walter Energy's business. It's no wonder that the miner posted a loss of $1.47 a share in the first quarter. That's much worse than last year, when the company lost $0.79 a share in the first quarter. Walter's average met selling prices fell 17% year over year, a decline that was just too much to overcome with cost cuts.
Walter has been working hard to keep going through this rough patch. However, bulking up in met right before the peak may have turned this downturn into a life or death situation. That's why the company has been shutting operations, selling assets, and refinancing debt at less than advantageous interest rates.
Walter CEO Walter Scheller explained during the first quarter conference call: "The bottom line is this: Yes, the market continues to be plagued by low met coal prices, but consistent with our message over the past several quarters, Walter Energy continues to execute extremely well in the areas we control." And to be fair, he's correct, Walter is doing the right things.
However, the recent sale of a coal terminal for $25 million shows the enormity of the problem. At the end of the first quarter, Walter's long-term debt stood at $2.9 billion (about 80% of the capital structure). Add that $25 million to the $400 million of cash on the balance sheet and Walter is still too heavy on the debt side of things in a market that looks like it could have a year of pain ahead of it.
Nothing good to come
At the end of the day, neither Alpha Natural Resources nor Walter Energy are likely to see black ink this year. A still struggling met market will virtually assure that. For Alpha, which has a solid thermal core business to help it limp along, that's not the end of the world. However, Walter's heavy reliance on met could turn 2014 into a make or break year.
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Sally Field earned the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Palm Springs, Calif., International Film Festival, viewed as the last pre-awards season gala.
"I didn't back into becoming an actor -- I was born one," she said, recounting her experiences that span nearly five decades on the big and small screen.
"I did a scene in a suit of armor, and dressed as a bear. I've done love scenes with a pelican. Yes, it's true, I've done love scenes with a pelican. But I've also done love scenes with Paul Newman," the two-time Oscar winner said. "I've been fully clothed, semi-clothed and totally naked, and never once has it occurred to me to change my mind."
Bradley Cooper and Naomi Watts took home acting honors for "Silver Linings Playbook" and "The Impossible," respectively, and the cast of "Argo" received the Ensemble Performance Award.
Other honorees included "Life of Pi" composer Mychael Danna; Richard Gere, who received the Chairman's Award; and "Les Miserables" director Tom Hooper. British actress Helen Mirren received the International Star Award.
DISCUSS AND COMMENT ON THIS STORYReality TV World now offers Facebook Comments on our stories. To post a comment, log into Facebook and then 'Add' your comment. To report spam or abuse, click the 'X' in the upper right corner of the comment box.

subset: commoncrawl


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Sept. 11, 2011
DEKALB, Ill. - Sophomore Karim Darbaki led the No. 20 Northern Illinois men's soccer team offensive output against Portland, scoring two first half goals off set pieces to lead the the Huskies (5-0-0) over the Pilots (2-2-1), 4-0. Freshman Paul Hogan and sophomore Houston Hoffman also tallied goals in the contest.After scoring in the 85th minute two days before to defeat Valparaiso 1-0, NIU did not hesitate against UP as Jayson LeSeth took a free kick from the left edge of the 18 -yard box, that found its way to Darbaki's head to give the Huskies the early lead in the sixth minute. 22 minutes later, LeSeth took another free kick toward net. Senior Finn Jor flicked the ball with his head to Darbaki in the goal box, who put away his second goal and lifted NIU, 2-0.In the second half, the Huskies play improved drastically - shutting down Portland's offensive attacks and transitioning to offense at a quicker rate. Hogan connected on net in the 66th minute, receiving a laser cross from classmate Isaac Kannah and putting the chance away for a 3-0 Northern Illinois lead.In the waining minute of the match, NIU scored its fourth tally when senior Houston Hoffman scored with two minutes left on the clock, on a brilliantly played ball from senior Johnny Tyma.Though the Huskies led in nearly all statistical categories, they were still outshot by the Pilots in the first half, 7-5. Head Coach Eric Luzzi, though happy with the win, still thinks there's room to improve ."To be honest, even though we were ahead 2-0 in the first half, I was still disappointed with our performance. We were very opportunistic on set pieces, but outside of that, I don't think we were switched-on mentally. But credit to the guys though, it's hard to turn that switch on and they definitely did that, I thought the second half was an outstanding performance. We scored two more good goals and I thought that we weren't too far off from having one or two more."Luzzi was very aware of the accomplishment the team committed today and was proud of the players. "Scoring four goals against any Division I opponent, especially one like Portland, is good - it's something to be proud of." The Huskies last scored four or more goals Nov. 4, 2010, a 5-1 victory for NIU over Milwaukee.With the Huskies finishing 2-0 over the weekend, the team won the NIU adidas Invitational and had four players selected to the All-Tournament squad. Senior Francis Otira was the tournament MVP, while goalkeeper Jordan Godsey, Darbaki and Kannah were also on the list.Northern Illinois will return to action next weekend, staying in-state for the Northwestern LakeSide Classic Sept. 16 and 18, to take on Xavier and UC Davis, respectively.All Tournament team
NORTHERN ILLINOIS (2-0)Francis Otira (MVP)Jordan GodseyKarim DarbakiIsaac KannahVALPARAISO (1-1)*Stefan AntonjevicTodd VervyncktChadd SultPORTLAND (1-1)Ryan KawulokDerek BoggsNORTHWESTERN (0-2)Layth MasriNikko Boxall* - Had a higher goal differential


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Let A = $\{x \in \{a,b\}^{*} \mid |x|_{a} = |x|_{b} \}$. Is possible to find a regular expression $\alpha$ such that $L(\alpha)$ = A ? $L(\alpha)$ is the regular language defined by $\alpha$. It seems that A is not a regular language.
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You're quite right: $A$ is not regular. This is easily proved using the pumping lemma for regular languages; in fact, the argument given at Use of lemma to show that $\{a^nb^n:n\ge 0\}$ is not regular can be used virtually verbatim to show that $A$ is not regular.
You are right, the language $A$ is not regular. This can be proven using the pumping lemma.
Here is another nice proof: Assume that there is a deterministic finite state machine $M$ that recognizes $A$. If $M$ has $n$ states then, by the pidgeonhole principle, there are two words $a^i$ and $a^j$ ($i\neq j$) among $a,a^2,\ldots,a^{n+1}$ such that $M$ is in the same state after reading them. Then also the inputs $a^i b^i$ and $a^j b^i$ lead to the same state. This, however, is a contradiction since $M$ must accept $a^i b^i$ but reject $a^j b^i$.


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Franchise Index: Previous Season / Next Season
Record: 10-6-0, Finished 1st in AFC Central Division
NFL Season Summary
Scored 344 points (21.5/g), 11th of 30 in the NFL.
Allowed 257 points (16.1/g), 4th.
Differential of 87 points (5.4/g), 6th.
Expected W-L: 10.7-5.3.
Takeaway/Giveaway Differential +7 (0.4/g), 7th.
Simple Rating System: Total 5.2, Offense: 0.0, Defense: 5.1, SoS: -0.3, versus averages of 0.0.
Coached by
Bill Cowher
Offensive Coordinator: Chan Gailey
Training Camp: St. Vincent College (Latrobe, Pennsylvania)
Like this page? Sponsor it for $20. Your message will replace this ad.


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UT Arlington | find
people | maps | submit
an event
Newly revamped for 2012! Amazing changes are in story, so gather your friends and dance the night away at our Carnaval street jam featuring a live DJ! Join the masquerade with live stilt-walkers, dancers and carnaval queens. And don't miss the chance to stop by interactive booths, create crafts, and enjoy free giveaways. Admission is free and open to the UTA community. Hosted by the Multicultural Mavericks. For the complete Hispanic Heritage Month calendar, visit www.uta.edu/multicultural. More information...
Office of
University Communications(for inquiries on individual
please contact the event sponsor)


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Turning points are designed to test a person's resolve and a difficult situation can either strengthen or you tear down. Demetria Guillory had a defining moment six years ago after receiving some disheartening news. She turned that occasion into a positive experience which eventually led to a life's passion. As dgdafotographer, she uses an artistic eye to freeze time and produce dynamic photography.
What is it about photography that inspires you?
In 2008, an ophthalmologist examined my eyes and found I had a scratched cornea and would eventually go blind. I was afraid I wouldn't be able to see so I began to appreciate what I could see. I began to capture family moments and haven't stopped since. The scratch healed and my vision improved. I learned not to take anything for granted, which inspires me to this day.
How fun is it to chronicle Dallas events as well as local celebrities?
So much fun! When you love what you do you will never work a day in your life. I enjoy capturing people smiling and having fun. People get dressed to go to an event but will never remember without photo proof. I have provided memories to people that will last forever.
What services do you provide?
All types. I mainly provide portraits, head shots, fashion photography, sports, weddings and events. I also provide alter ego photography where a person is able to be photographed with two to three different looks in conflict with each other.
How do you choose an outside location for photo shoots?
It definitely depends on the particular look you may want which is discussed during a pre-consultation. I would suggest beautiful scenery such as a park or cityscape, waterfronts, lakes and ponds or downtown urban areas. The Dallas Arboretum is a good choice as well.
Any advice for budding photographers?
Be passionate about your craft. It will show in your work. Don't compare your work to anyone else; compete with yourself to be better each time you shoot.
For more information about the services offered or to schedule a consultation, please visit www.dgdafotographer.com.


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The 2010 Zinfandel Spring Tour is coming to Denver tomorrow night, April 15, 2010. Zinfandel Advocates & Producers (ZAP) is a non-profit, educational organization devoted to this evocative grape. For your tasting pleasure, the tour is bringing Zinfandel from more than 35 producers. Don't miss this treat for your palate.
Zinfandel, genetically the same grape as Italy's Primitivo, is generally a full-bodied, fruit forward, sometimes peppery, red wine. It pairs well with meaty and spicy fare, such as Middle Eastern foods, Italian such as lasagna, and many American favorites like BBQ, hamburgers, and steak.
ZAP is dedicated to advancing public knowledge of and appreciation for American Zinfandel and its unique place in our culture and history. Winegrowers, winemakers and wine enthusiasts combine to form the membership. The common focus is the preservation and recognition of Zinfandel as America's heritage wine.
The Event:
- Taste spectacular Zinfandel wines from over 35 premier ZAP member wineries
- Mingle with top winemakers and principals in an intimate setting
- Learn about the remarkable richness and versatility of Zinfandel
- Discover why Zinfandel is "America's Heritage Grape!"
- Sample hors d'oeuvres for food pairing samples prepared by noteworthy Denver area chefs including Chef Michael Long (Opus Restaurant, Littleton, Colorado) Chef Mario Clapes (Meritage Restaurant/Omni Interlocken Resort) and Chef David Oleveri (Farradday's Steakhouse, Isle Casino, Blackhawk)
Time: 6:00pm-8:30pm
Location: Mile High Station 2027 West Lower Colfax Avenue Denver CO 80204 The event location is right off I-25 with FREE parking.
Dress: Dressy casual or business attire.
Sponsors Include:
•Red Bird Chicken Farms
•Snow Creek Ranch Beef
•AspenPure Water
Price: $55 at door/$40 online in advance
Phone: 530/274-4900
Purchase tickets online. Learn more about this wonderful varietal.


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I can look up your ancestors, remember to include approximate year of the record you want. Reply by email only.
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PLEASE CLICK HERE TO SELECT A RESOURCEChurch records for Øyer (with Tretten)censuses from 1865, 1875 and 1900 (for Øyer and Tretten)
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How do you reach a large group of voters who want stuff given to them for free? That is the big question that keeps coming up after the election. They don't ask it that way but it is exactly what must happen if Republicans are ever to win the presidency again.
I once heard a quote long time ago that once people realize they can vote money into their pockets, the economy is doomed. One caller called up on the radio and suggested we divide America up into two parts. One part will be where the Republicans live and the other part will be for the Democrats.
I love that idea but if you think about it long enough, you realize it will never work. Where would the Democrats get all their money for all their social programs and free birth control? They wouldn't have enough hard-working Americans to tax. It sure would be fun to try, however. {I realize there are many hard-working Democrats out there but there are a lot who have an entitlement mentality also.}
If you think about it, we live in a very liberal society. The majority of the news programs are liberal. The majority of schools are liberal. Hollywood is very liberal. However, it is amazing that 57,000,0000 people voted for Governor Romney who believes in life for the unborn, the sanctity of marriage, small government, low taxes, and getting out of debt compared to 59,000,000 who voted for President Obama. At least there are a lot of us who are hurting together.
To think that we can ever turn this ship around, however, may be dreaming. We know who the Prince of the power of the air is and he sure doesn't want goodness to prevail. Our economy may crash and we can start all over... As Christians, however, we always have hope. God is in control and He promises us that He will always take care of us come what may.
Protect your children and raise them in the nurture and the admonition of the Lord. Be very careful if you want to send them to public schools that have thrown Christianity completely out and teach humanism instead. Pay close attention to what they are being taught. I have seen too many children walk completely away from the Truth after being in government run institutions all of their lives. It is too much time spent away from godly teaching.
In conclusion, I was very sad the day after the election. Yes, I grieved for this country and the future of it. I know my hope is in Jesus but America is a unique experiment that has worked pretty good. I hate to see it coming to an end and going the way of Greece. But our hope must always remain in the Lord, not in this world's system.
Rejoice in hope,
be patient in tribulation,
be constant in prayer.
Romans 12:12
Here are some other post-election thoughts from a very wise woman.
Here are some other post-election thoughts from a very wise woman.


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Edition: 7th
Author(s): Davis, Stephen F.; Palladino, Joseph J.; Christopherson, Kimberly
ISBN: 9780205846849 / Hardcover / 7/24/2012
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.


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Information Prospective Student Athletes | Current ASU Student-Athletes
NCAA Rules Compliance
Compliance with NCAA and Pac-12 rules is of utmost importance to Arizona State University and its Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. Athletics compliance is the responsibility of everyone associated with ASU's athletics program, including coaches, student-athletes, athletics department personnel, faculty, staff, alumni, boosters and other supporters of Arizona State. The Compliance Services Office is charged with leading and coordinating ASU's compliance efforts and shall act as a resource for internal and external constituencies regarding NCAA and Pac-12 Conference compliance issues.
Please familiarize yourself with the NCAA rules and regulations. When you are faced with a situation and unsure as to how to respond, we strongly urge you to contact our Compliance Office before acting. Your continued interest and support of the Arizona State University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics is most appreciated
The primary functions of the Compliance Services Office:
- To educate coaches, student-athletes, staff and supporters regarding NCAA and Pac-12 Conference rules and the compliance expectations of the University.
- To serve coaches, student-athletes, staff and supporters by providing accurate and timely interpretations of the rules and assisting them in their compliance efforts.
- To monitor the activities of the athletics department and the University in a variety of critical areas (e.g., recruiting, eligibility certification, financial aid, amateurism, benefits, playing and practice season limitations) and verify compliance with all applicable rules.
- To investigate and report violations of NCAA and Pac-12 Conference rules.
The compliance office seeks to carry out these essential functions in a manner that promotes a positive compliance atmosphere and demonstrates an unwavering commitment to highest standards of ethical behavior.
Whom to Call with NCAA Questions:
If you have any questions regarding NCAA rules, please contact a member of the Arizona State Athletics Compliance Services staff or the NCAA in order to avoid jeopardizing a student-athlete's eligibility to participate in intercollegiate athletics.
|Steve Webb
|Executive Director of Athletics Compliance
|(480) 965-5138
|Susanna Tamol
|Compliance Assistant
|(480) 965-5722
|Justin Pullnow
|Associate Director, Athletics Compliance
|(480) 965-5755
|Peter Turney
|Coordinator, Athletics Compliance
|(480) 965-9748
|Kristen Hargis
|Coordinator, Athletics Compliance
|(480) 965-0116
|Gary Grossman
|Faculty Athletics Representative
|(480) 727-9533
|Lori Briese
|Coordinator Faculty Athletics Representative
|(480) 965-1334
What is the NCAA?
The NCAA, or National Collegiate Athletic Association, was established in 1906 and serves as the athletics governing body for more than 1,300 colleges, universities, conferences and organizations. The national office is in Indianapolis, but the member colleges and universities develop the rules and guidelines for athletics eligibility and athletics competition for each of the three NCAA divisions. The NCAA is committed to the student-athlete and to governing competition in a fair, safe, inclusive and sportsmanlike manner.
The NCAA's membership includes:
- 337 active Division I members;
- 290 active Division II members; and
- 435 active Division III members.
One of the differences among the three divisions is that colleges and universities in Division I and II may offer athletics scholarships while Division III colleges and universities may not.
Contacting the NCAA:
National Collegiate Athletic Association
PO Box 6222
Indianapolis, IN 46206-6222
(317) 917-6222 (Customer Service: Monday - Friday, noon - 4 p.m. Eastern Time)
(877) 262-1492 (NCAA Eligibility Center Customer Service Staff)
A student shall not be eligible for intercollegiate competition in a particular sport if the student-athlete (or parents/relatives):
- negotiates, signs or enters into any written or oral agreement with an agent;
- accepts or receives any extra benefits from an agent or anyone who wishes to represent the student-athlete;
- uses their athletic skill for pay, or for the promise of pay;
- competes with a professional sports team or receives any compensation from a professional sports team; or
- receives an extra benefit that is not available to the general student population.
Representatives of Athletics Interests (Booster):
Under NCAA rules a "representative of the institution's athletics interests (athletics representative/booster) is any individual who:
- Made any type of contribution to Arizona State University or its athletic program;
- Joined a Sun Devil donor or booster club or any sport specific support group;
- Provided benefits (e.g., summer jobs) to prospective or enrolled student-athletes or their families;
- Assisted, in any manner, in the recruitment of prospective student-athletes;
- Participated as a varsity athlete at the Arizona State University;
- Is the parent or legal guardian of an enrolled student-athlete;
- Promoted the athletics program in any way.
Once an individual is identified as a "Representative of the Institution's Athletics Interest," the person retains that identity indefinitely.
Any face-to-face encounter between a prospect or his/her parents/legal guardians and an institutional staff member or booster during which any conversation in excess of a greeting occurs. Any face-to-face meeting that is prearranged and takes place on the prospect's campus or at the prospect's competition site is considered a contact regardless of the conversation that occurs.
Extra Benefit:
An extra benefit is any special arrangement by an institutional employee or a booster to provide a student-athlete, or his/her friends or relatives, a benefit not authorized by the NCAA. The benefits a student-athlete may NOT receive include, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO:
- money, special discount, payment arrangement or credit on a purchase (airline ticket, clothes) or service (laundry, typing);
- free or reduced-cost professional services not available on the same basis to the general student body;
- use of a telephone, pager or credit card for personal reasons without charge or at a reduced rate;
- entertainment services (movie tickets, dinners, use of car) from commercial agencies (theaters, restaurants, car dealers) without charge or at reduced rates, or free or reduced-cost admission to professional athletics contests from professional sports organizations, unless such services are available to the student body in general;
- guarantee of bond;
- signing or cosigning a note with an outside agency to arrange a loan;
- preferential treatment, benefits or services based on his/her athletics reputation or skill or pay-back potential as a future professional;
- free or reduced-cost athletics equipment, supplies or clothing directly from a manufacturer or commercial enterprise;
- free or reduced cost room and/or board;
- payment or other compensation for work not performed or at unreasonable levels for the work performed;
- employment arrangements for a student-athlete or prospect's relatives or friends;
- payment of registration fees or other expenses to attend ASU sports camps or clinic;
- use of personal property (boats, summer homes, cars, computers, stereos);
- holiday or birthday presents;
- promise of employment after college graduation;
- purchase of items or services from a prospect/student-athlete or their relatives at inflated prices; and
- payment or arrangements for payment of transportation costs incurred by a student-athlete or prospect's relatives or friends; or
- any items given because an individual is a student-athlete.
An individual who has either started classes for the ninth grade OR who has received any benefit from ASU or a booster. Actions taken by athletic staff that cause an individual to become a prospective student-athlete include:
- providing a prospect an expense-paid visit to a collegiate institution;
- having an arranged in-person encounter with the individual;
- initiating or arranging telephone contact with the individual or a member of his/her family; or
- providing an individual (or his/her relatives or friends) any financial assistance or other benefits that the institution does not provide to prospective students generally (i.e. tickets to an athletic competition)
Any solicitation of a prospect (or the prospect's family members) by the ASU athletics staff or a booster to encourage him/her to enroll at ASU and participate in the ASU athletic program. ONLY Sun Devil coaches who have passed the NCAA Recruiting Examination may be involved in recruiting prospects.
Information for Fans, Friends, Boosters & Alumni
NCAA rules hold the institution responsible for all actions of its athletics representatives. Boosters involved in NCAA violations may lose benefits and privileges associated with the athletic program (e.g., ticket privileges or priority seating).
Rules for Representatives of Athletics Interests Relating to PROSPECTIVE Student-Athletes
As a Representative of Athletics Interests, you are permitted to:
- Notify coaches about prospects in your area that may be strong additions to the Sun Devil team;
- Attend high school or two-year college athletic contests or events where prospects may compete, but you may not contact the prospect or their relatives or guardians;
- Continue existing friendships with families of prospects, but you may not attempt to recruit the prospect.
- Engage in permissible pre-enrollment activities with a prospect, such as summer employment, provided the prospect has already signed a National Letter of Intent and the institution is aware and informed if these contacts are made.
- Have a phone conversation with a prospect only if the prospect initiates the call. Such a call may not be pre-arranged by any institutional staff member or another representative of athletics interests. All questions regarding the intercollegiate athletics program must be referred to the proper ASU Athletics staff member.
As a Representative of Athletics Interest, you are NOT permitted to:
- Contact a prospect or his/her parents in person, by telephone or in writing (letters, instant message, message boards or email) for the purpose of recruiting the prospect. Contact may not be made with a prospect or his/her parents on or off the Arizona State campus.
- Approach an Arizona State coach who is with a prospect. This places the coach in an uncomfortable situation because the coach is not able to introduce the booster to the prospect.
- Have contact with student-athletes at institutions other than Arizona State for the purpose of recruiting.
- Have face-to-face contact with a prospect or his/her family with the purpose of recruiting him/her to Arizona State.
- Mail any materials to a prospect. This includes newspapers, clippings, press releases, media guides, posters, game programs, schedule cards, emails, etc.
- Contact a prospect's counselor, principal or coach in order to evaluate a prospect. Additionally, a booster may not obtain videotapes or transcripts of the prospect at his/her high school or junior college.
- Provide a prospect or his/her family or friends with any extra benefits. A booster may not provide extra benefits to current student-athletes.
Rules for Representatives of Athletics Interests Relating to CURRENT Student-Athletes
As a Representative of Athletics Interests, you are permitted to:
- Provide an occasional family home meal to a student-athlete or an entire team. The meal must take place in the home, NOT a restaurant; however, the meal may be catered. Requests for these types of occasional meals must be PRIOR approved by the Compliance Services staff.
- Employ a student-athlete under certain circumstances with prior approval from the ASU Department of Athletics. Both the student-athlete and the employer must sign a written statement PRIOR to beginning any employment during the academic year. Student-athletes may be compensated only for work actually performed and at a rate commensurate with the going rate in the area for similar services.
As a Representative of Athletics Interest, you are NOT permitted to:
- Provide extra benefits to any student-athlete and his/her family.
- Use the name or picture of a student-athlete to directly or indirectly advertise, recommend or promote the sale or use of a commercial product or service.
- Provide an honorarium to a student-athlete who has been approved for a speaking engagement. Student-athletes may receive only necessary travel expenses for prior approved speaking engagements.
- Provide free or reduced rate housing for a student athlete or his/her family, even on weekend visits. Additionally, student-athletes are specifically not allowed to house-sit for boosters.
Student-Athlete Employment:
The University is permitted to arrange employment for enrolled student-athletes and prospective student-athletes during the summer prior to their enrollment as freshmen (provided they have signed a National Letter of Intent).
The Compliance Services staff must have a Student-Athlete Employment Approval form verifying employment of all student-athletes. The following rules are applicable to student- athlete employment:
- 1. A student-athlete's compensation may not include any payment for value or utility that the student-athlete may have for the employer because of the publicity, reputation, fame or personal following that he or she has obtained because of athletics;
- 2. The student-athlete is compensated only for work actually performed;
- 3. The student-athlete is compensated at a rate commensurate with the going rate in that locality for similar services.
- 4. A student-athlete can receive money from you or your family for teaching or giving lessons in their sport. To do this the following conditions must be met:
- a. Institutional facilities cannot be used;
- b. To simply "play" against the student-athlete is not permitted (e.g., playing lessons);
- c. Documentation of the lessons must be on file with the Compliance Services Office;
- d. Compensation for the lessons must be paid by the lesson recipient or family and not anyone else.
For questions about or to receive the Student-Athlete Employment Approval form, please contact Kristen Beasley at email@example.com.
Information for Sports Agents and Financial Advisors
ASU Athlete-Agent Football Supplement
2011-12 Student Athlete Employment Approval Form
Arizona State University student-athletes are educated each year on the proper procedures if contacted by an agent, financial advisor or representative. Any information that agents and financial advisors would like provided to a student-athlete may be mailed to the attention of the ASU Compliance Services office, which will be forwarded and reviewed with each student-athlete at the completion of their eligibility (or at the time of delivery for Baseball student-athletes). The department of athletics at Arizona State University educates our future professional athletes of the NCAA regulations and the applicable Arizona Statutes governing agents and financial advisors. The administration and coaches at ASU are well aware of the fact that the majority of those engaged in representing professional athletes provide valuable services to their clients. However, due to the increasing number of problems involving agents and their intermediaries that have taken place throughout our country over the past few years; we have decided to take a pro-active stance. Our policies have been developed to provide a means by which we can protect our student-athlete and our institution from those who would conduct themselves in a less than ethical manner.
The department of athletics has no intention of creating barriers between our student-athletes and those who can provide valuable services to them. But in order to allow our student-athletes to focus upon their academic and athletic pursuits as they complete their careers with our athletics program, we stipulate that both our student-athletes and those who desire to represent them adhere to the policies.
In addition, agent and financial advisor correspondence will not be distributed until we have received the ASU Athlete Agent Application Form or the ASU Financial Advisor Application Form and a copy of the Athlete Agent Registration packet submitted to the State of Arizona (as per Arizona Statute).State law requires all prospective agents register with the State of Arizona through the Secretary of State office. If you have not already registered with the State as an Athlete Agent, please contact:
Joann Cota
Director of Business Services
Secretary of State
1700 W. Washington, 7th Floor
Phoenix, AZ 85007
Phone: (602) 542-81-87
Fax: (602) 542-4366
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
If you have any questions regarding the ASU Athlete Agent Registration program, please contact Kristen Beasley, Athletics Compliance Services at firstname.lastname@example.com.
Information for Prospective Student-Athletes
Student-Athletes that are hoping to participate in intercollegiate athletics at ASU or any other NCAA Division I or Division II school must register with the NCAA Initial Eligibility Clearinghouse in order to be eligible for athletics competition in college.
What is the NCAA Initial Eligibility Clearinghouse?
The NCAA Initial Eligibility Clearinghouse is an organization that works with the NCAA to determine a student's eligibility for athletics participation in his or her first year of college enrollment. Students who want to participate in college sports during their first year of enrollment in college must register with the Clearinghouse. The Clearinghouse staff follows NCAA bylaws and regulations in analyzing and processing a student's high school academic records, ACT or SAT scores and key information about amateurism participation, in order to determine the student's initial eligibility.
Information concerning who needs to register with the Clearinghouse and what documents should be submitted can be found in The Guide for College-Bound Student-Athletes.
For information about NCAA initial-eligibility requirements and to become certified as a prospective student-athlete, go to www.ncaaclearinghouse.net.
NCAA Initial-Eligibility Clearinghouse
301 ACT Drive
PO Box 4043
Iowa City, IA 52243-4043
(877) 262-1492 (Customer Service: Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Central Time)
(319) 337-1492 (international callers)
(319) 337-1556 (fax)
Important Contacts at ASU:
For information about ASU's admission requirements, go to http://students.asu.edu/admission.
For information about Barrett, the Honors College at ASU, go to http://barretthonors.asu.edu/
For information about on-campus housing arrangements, go to www.asu.edu/housing/.
Important Financial Aid Information:
To apply for federal aid to assist in paying for educational expenses, go to www.fafsa.ed.gov.
If you have questions about Prospective Student-Athlete Initial Eligibility, please contact Susanna Tamol, Compliance Assistant at (480) 965-5722. Please note that, while prospects may call Athletics Staff members that are not countable coaches, NCAA rules prohibit staff members from returning calls relating to recruiting.
Current Arizona State University student-athletes may click on the following links to download appropriate compliance forms. Please remember that many of these forms will need appropriate signatures before being submitted to the Compliance Services office. If you have questions about a particular form or about a particular compliance area, please contact the appropriate contact in Compliance Services noted below.
NCAA Bylaw 10.3 states that all staff members of a member conference, staff members of the athletics department of a member institution and student-athletes shall not knowingly participate in sports wagering activities or provide information to individuals involved in or associated with any type of sports wagering activities concerning intercollegiate, amateur or professional athletics competition.
Sports wagering is defined in Bylaw 10.02.1 as placing, accepting or soliciting a wager (on a staff member's or student-athlete's own behalf or on the behalf of others) of any type with any individual or organization on any intercollegiate, amateur or professional team or contest. Examples of sports wagering include, but are not limited to, the use of a bookmaker or parlay card; Internet sports wagering; auctions in which bids are placed on teams, individuals or contests; and pools or fantasy leagues in which an entry fee is required and there is an opportunity to win a prize.
The following sanctions for violations of the above Bylaw are as follows: a student-athlete who participates in any sports wagering activity through the Internet, a bookmaker or a parlay card shall be ineligible for all regular-season and postseason competition for a minimum of a period of one year from the date of the institution's determination that a violation occurred and shall be charged with the loss of a minimum of one season of eligibility. If the student-athlete is determined to have been involved in a later violation of any portion of Bylaw 10.3, the student-athlete shall permanently lose all remaining regular-season and postseason eligibility in all sports.
Continuing Eligibility & Waivers: Lyla Clerry at firstname.lastname@example.com.
Student-Athlete Book Forms:
Student-Athlete Employment:
Tryouts and Initial-Eligibility: If you have questions or to receive a Tryout Form, contact Susanna Tamol at firstname.lastname@example.com.
Tryout Instructions
If you are interested in trying out for one of ASU's athletic programs, follow the instructions below.
Signatures are not available until on or after the first day of the semester.
Please note that "CSAC" stands for Carson Student-Athlete Center.
1. Ask the Head Coachfor your sport when he or she will be holding tryouts.
2. Take a purple Tryout Route Formfrom the lobby in the Office of Compliance (CSAC 208).
3. Fill out the top portion on the front and the bottom portion on the back of the form.
4. See your Head Coachfor signature on Line 1. You must obtain this signature FIRST.
5. See the Sport Administrator(on the sixth floor of the CSAC) for signature on Line 2.
6. See the University Registrar (on the first floor of the Student Services Building on campus) for signature on Line 3. The Registrar should also give you an official Enrollment Verificationletter.
7. See the Athletic Trainer(on Lower Level 1 of this CSAC) for signatures on Line 4 AND on the back of the form. You MUST show your Medical Insurance Card AND written proof of having a physical by a Medical Doctor licensed in the state of Arizona.
8. Return to the Office of Compliance (CSAC 208) for signature on Line 5. You must obtain this signature LAST. Bring your Tryout Route Form, your Enrollment Verification letter from the University Registrar, and proof that you passed your physical.
9. You are NOT eligible for any team activities without a completed Tryout Route Form.
10. Allow at least 3 business days (more than 3 days if you have not yet had a physical) for completion of the entire form.


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This book is a sort of photo journal and story of the cabin that I built on the summit of a mountain in Vermont. This project took over a year form conception to completetion. It sits at about 3160 ft in elevation and has a view that is arguably better than any house in Vermont. It cost almost nothing to build was built almost entirely of recycled materials.
To be honest I am not a big reader. But I love taking pictures and finding adventure. This is a good way for me to share my pictures and stories.
Comment posted.
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The Road Less Traveled Published December 02, 2007


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I want to analyse if certain type of requests do have an important impact on the server.
My backend service is behind nginx which logs all requests including the time needed to get the response.
Now the problem is how do I extract useful information from these logs which are ~150mg.
I am looking for something what would allow me to build a graph and correlate the requests with the backend CPU load.
The response time of a single request is not relevant because when then backend server is under high load even simple requests that would take 1 second, would return in 10-20 seconds.


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This item cannot be purchased online at this time, please call us or email us for further information.
Phone: (601) 362-7257
Fax: (888)623-5670
E-mail: email@example.com
Do you want your baby to have their very own blanket wherever they go? With the Saranoni Lush/Lush Blanket with Satin Border you are assured that baby is both warm and stylish. This particular blanket offers double the material of lush which is luxurious and comfortable for all skin types.
The material used to make this blanket is so soft that it won't irritate your baby's skin. In fact, this blanket is so comfortable and popular that it comes in adult sizes as well. From the moment you touch this blanket, you will begin to feel luxury, comfort, and warmth.
Because of the high quality in this material, you can only hang dry this blanket. This will keep the blanket soft for many years to come. When washing, be sure to only wash in cold water.
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Video Industry News Video Company News Technology Industry News Technology Company News Novelty Industry News Novelty Company News Gay Industry News Gay Company News Legal Industry News All Company News
Released: Jun 01st, 1984
Running Time: 102
Director: Anthony Spinelli
Company: Caballero
Cast: Cameron Mitchell, Kelly Nichols, Juliet Anderson, Veronica Hart, John Leslie, Lisa DeLeeuw, Samantha Fox
Critical Rating: AAA
Genre: Feature
Who would think that a film garnering a AAA rating could be disappointing. Yet, Anthony Spinelli's Dixie Ray, Hollywood Star falls short of being an unqualified success simply because the overlong sex scenes become tedious 30 minutes into the film, retarding the development of what's really the best screenplay I've encountered in an adult film this year.
Like a Hollywood musical that has lousy songs, Dixie Ray has every element you need in an adult film, with the exception of hot sex. Those elements include superb cinematography, moody lighting, themes related to the best American film noir suspense yarns of the 1050's, meticulously crafted sets that mimic the era depicted (1942), jazzy music that sets the proper tone and superstars such as John Leslie, Lisa DeLeeuw and Juliet Anderson. But that erotic flavor seems to fall short of expectations.
Originally released about two years ago as a softcore feature called It's Murder, Baby, the film depicts the exploits of private investigator Nick Popodopoulis (Leslie) as he tries to find out who is framing movie actress Dixie Ray (Lisa DeLeeuw) for some nude pictures she had taken. Plenty of neat twists and turns lead Leslie on a trail of murder and revenge.
So what we have in Dixie Ray, Hollywood Star is a reversal of sorts. The sex scenes (which include John Leslie every time except once) serve only to slow down a surprisingly complex and provocative script (written by Dean Rogers). Many films with great sex seem to suffer from lack of story. Shorter and more varied encounters would have spiced up the proceedings. I timed one scene at 20 minutes … 17 minutes too long. Even the one lesbian scene – with DeLeeuw and Juliet Anderson – goes o too long until Leslie intervenes.
Nonetheless, Spinelli and his crew have done a masterful job of creating 1942, with spectacular use of sepia-toned photography, some creative editing and the music score of the year by Daryll M. Keene. Despite good performances by Samantha Fox, Veronica Hart, the Cameron Mitchell and, especially, Lisa DeLeeuw, Dixie Ray, Hollywood Star proves to be ultimately unsatisfying.
John Leslie's the detective hired to find out who's blackmailing Hollywood star Dixie Ray with nude photos. Could it be her ex-husband? Her confidante (Juliet Anderson)? Her daughter (Kelly Nichols)?
Whoever it is, one thing's for sure: Leslie gets laid a lot - though the best is from his secretary, the uncredited Hillary Summers, who teases him with pussy rubs, gives a classic b.j. and spreads for a phenomenally hot mish and doggie.
Other top-notch scenes include John and Kelly, and a threeway with John, Veronica Hart and Samantha Fox, but in fact, it's all well worth watching - and there's even a real Hollywood star, Cameron Mitchell!


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Sept. 16, 2012
TUCSON - Each week, Arizona football head coach Rich Rodriguez and his staff will select Player of the Week honorees based on performance leading up to and including the game each week. The Wildcats, now ranked No. 22 by the Associated Press and No. 21 in the USA Today poll, shut out South Carolina State, 56-0, Saturday night at Arizona Stadium.
Offense: Matt Scott, Senior, Quarterback
Scott threw a career-high three touchdowns passes and equaled his career best with 30 pass completions. The senior signal caller finished the night 30-of-36 for 288 yards through the air, and he added 61 yards on nine carries and another touchdown on the ground. His 349 yards of total offense pushed him over the 3,000-yard plateau for his career.
Scott and the Wildcat offense rolled up 689 yards of total offense in the contest, two shy of the school record. In the process, Arizona marched to a school-record 43 first downs and ran 102 plays, another new top mark in the record books.
The Wildcats rank fourth in the nation in total offense (604.7), with Scott also checking in fourth individually (395.0). Scott leads all Pac-12 players in passing yards (995) and total yards (1185), while ranking eighth in rushing yardage per game (66.3). He has thrown seven touchdowns against just one interception on the season, and has a pair of rushing touchdowns to his credit.
Defense: Jonathan McKnight, Sophomore, Cornerback
McKnight intercepted his second pass in as many games to lead a stifling Arizona defense that registered its first shutout in 52 games. He also finished the game with two tackles.
McKnight and the Wildcats limited the Bulldogs to just eight first downs in the game, the fewest gained by an opponent in 32 games. In the process, S.C. State mustered just 154 total yards of offense (65 rushing, 89 passing) on 54 plays. The 2.9 yards per play gained were the fewest against the Wildcats in the last 26 games. McKnight and the UA secondary shut down the Bulldogs' passing game, yielding just 2.9 yards per attempt on 25 throws in the game, also the lowest total in the last 26 contests.
Special Teams: Brian Chacon, Junior, Long Snapper
Chacon, UA's starting snapper on special teams, was steady in his performance in what turned out to be a busy day for the PAT kicking unit. Chacon and the Wildcats were perfect in all eight of their PAT kicks en route to scoring 56 points - the eighth-largest margin of victory in school history. The trigger-man on the unit that must snap, block, hold and kick without error, Chacon's consistency helped John Bonano boot each of his career-best eight PATs.
From the scout team, sophomore quarterback Alex Cappellini and redshirt freshman tight end Ben Sullivan on offense, junior cornerback Justin Samuels on defense and freshman safety Clint Cochrane on special teams were also honored for their effort during the South Carolina State preparations.
The Wildcats will make their first road trip of the season and open Pac-12 play facing the Oregon Ducks on Sat., Sept. 22, at Autzen Stadium. The game will kick off at 7:30 p.m. PT and air on ESPN.


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This is a book chronicling my life for the duration of 80 Days and 80 nights. I include personal writings, supporting credentials, and external context within a narrative describing before, during, and after a school-sponsored educational learning trip to Nicaragua in the Spring of 2011.
Comentario publicado.
mjoydnaples dice Great job Em... we enjoyed this very much! looking forward to the show!
publicado a las 23 de abr. a las 12:25 PST
Inicia sesión o crea una cuenta para publicar un comentario.


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Pollinators impact us every day. One third of the food we eat is derived from insect-pollinated plants. The most significant of these pollinators are the bees. Many of the fruits, vegetables, and nuts that we eat result from bee pollination. Indirectly, pollination by bees also affects many other foods.
Bee-pollinated alfalfa and clover plants fuel the range-fed livestock industry that provides us with meat and dairy products. In addition to our food supply, bees pollinate flowering plants that beautify our landscape and provide food and shelter for wildlife.
Since 1999, Bumble Boosters has partnered with public and private organizations to encourage the conservation of bees and other invertebrate pollinators. The primary mission of Bumble Boosters is promoting the benefits of pollinators and public science literacy through engagement in authentic research with native pollinators. A unique aspect of Bumble Boosters programming is the use of innovative, research-based teaching methods and cutting-edge technologies.
Recently, Bumble Boosters expanded its reach to promote pollinator conservation and education internationally, partnering with citizen scientists across the Northern Hemisphere. Bumble Boosters seeks to put the University of Nebraska-Lincoln at the forefront of innovative approaches to engaging international partners in pollinator education and conservation efforts.
Bumble Booster's mission is to improve public engagement in pollinator conservation and PK-adult science understanding through engagement in innovative and diverse pollinator education programs.
Bumble Boosters goals include:
There are many ways to get involved in Bumble Boosters programming. Search this site to learn more about current programs.
Support Bumble Boosters!
Absolutely NO queens nor bees entered the domicile last summer 2014. I had it on top of a stone slab on the ground against a stone wall. Plenty of weeds grew around - especially the seeds planted from the kit. No Bumble Bees - not even an ant!!!
This season I moved it onto branches in a Rose of Sharon tree - hoping to see some action there as every summer that Rose of Sharon is a Bee resort!
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Newbie looking for a certain mod
Hey everyone! I finally got around to reinstalling the game today (after having reformatted my hard drive and reinstalled Windows XP), and had forgotten just how much fun it was. While I'm normally not a fan of RTS titles, this one's definitely an exception!
But I digress. I used to play EaW with a mod that rebalanced the game's units somewhat, as well as adding the Super Star Destroyer to the Empire's order of battle. My problem is, I can't remember what the mod was called, and I'd really like to be able to download & install it again, as it vastly improved the (already enjoyable) vanilla game. If anyone has any idea as to which mod it was -- and/or if they know of a different mod that makes similar changes -- I'd be greatly appreciative!
It sounds similar, the best I can do is provide this link
There are a lot of mods here, so the one you are looking for should be there... only problem is the site has heaps of mods so It might take a minute to find it, hope this helps.
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There are many ways to evaluate players...statistically, WAR (Wins Above Replacement) is one of the better; it encompasses all parts of the game. WAR is calculated a few different ways, depending on where you look; Fangraphs has a pretty good explanation and typically their version of the calculation is the most commonly used.
Normally, people look at something like WAR on a year to year basis, but what about for longer periods of time? Would it change your view of a player to know they were more impactful over the long haul? It brings up some interesting questions.
Here are the top 10 Cardinals according to their WAR since 2010 (a 5 season period including this year)
Suggested Links
- Cardinal lineup and notes: Run differential, Chris Carpenter, Aledmys Diaz
- Cardinal lineup and notes: Oscar Taveras, Matt Carpenter, Rick Ankiel
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- Albert Pujols' postseason for the ages helping contract situation
- Chris Carpenter, Jaime Garcia get St. Louis Cardinals back on track


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Supergirl TV Series Statue
It's a bird, it's a plane, it's Superman? No, it's Supergirl! This Supergirl TV Series Statue features the likeness of actress Melissa Benoist and stands about 12 1/2-inches tall. Sculpted by Adam Ross, this is one statue no Supergirl fan will want to miss out on!
Superman Lois Lane Rescue Fleischer Statue
Inspired by Fleischer Studio's animated shorts of the 1940s, this Superman Lois Lane Rescue Fleischer Statue captures a tender moment between Superman and Lois Lane.
The Big Blue Report is the Superman Homepage Newsletter sent out twice a month. It contains exclusive content not seen on the website. Subscribe now!
Cover date: December 2000
2000 Shield No. 50
Writer: Joe Kelly
Penciller: Kano
Inker: Marlo Alquiza
"Kith & Kin"
Reviewed by: Neal Bailey (firstname.lastname@example.com)
She's hired several mercenaries, one named Bim to help her investigate some leads that ended in a boat bound for Africa in the name of Triton shipping. They are connected to people who tried recently to kill Superman.
Meanwhile, Superman takes a falling, flying skyscraper and rights it again. It's surrounded in Encantadora's trademark mist.
From the sky, someone watches.
Encantadora's form reveals itself, and she's apparently in agony.
Lois is on the run from the people she's tracking. The people in the car behind her turn out to be The League of Assassins.
Superman confronts Encantadora in her room, where she's huddled up, fetal. She says some things, unintelligible if you don't speak Spanish, and Superman makes an oblong comment. He attempts to take her into custody, and she disappears.
Superman commands Talia, previously unseen, out of the closet.
In Africa, at the lair of the Assassins, a young boy named Victor plays video games as Superman with a few ruffians. Victor is Encantadora's brother.
In STAR Labs, a blond woman examines the chunk molecular krypto-fodder that attacked Superman recently, despite her lack of clearance. She's used and is using her femininity to dupe the guy with clearance into letting her. A mysterious hack watches from a nearby grate and takes notes.
Superman admires Talia's large collection of guns. She dresses down into a skimpy bathing suit, and they plan on going to where her father, Ra's, is hiding out. It has to be grounded, she notes, because the Lazarus Pit only works on the ground.
Ra's is asking something vague of Encantadora, then he turns and reveals his goal... he wants his heart... it is missing. Whether this is a symbolic meaning, referring to Talia, who as some may know was recently estranged from Ra's, or whether someone actually took his heart, which I do not know as I have not read Batman recently, is not remarked upon.
The Assassins and Lois are fighting each other. Lois shoots one assassin, but Jimmy and Bim see that they are fighting a losing battle. Jimmy offers to use the signal watch, but Lois won't let him.
Instead, she stands, and screams that reinforcements are coming and that a reporter, namely her, had managed to infiltrate and expose their national headquarters.
Everyone stops shooting.
Scarlet Scythe, a clown faced, fur coat wearing bald guy with a scythe, aptly enough, asks her what she means.
Talia, in a flying machine, and Superman, flying, approach Ra's Al Ghul's headquarters... it is a flying ship...? Talia wonders what her father has done. Story - 2: Again, as with an issue of Supes from a few weeks back, we are treated to a set up for a final issue. This is the problem with separating the arcs. Still, this one had potential, and it did cover some ground, but a lot of it was wasted ground, because it impinged upon the central characters. Some things of note:
Lois shoots (possibly killing) people without a second thought. I know her father toughened her, but this is a characteristically un-Lois action. She will also not let Superman help her. It's a plus to character, but it's undermined by the fact that if she'd called in Supes, the assassins that she'd shot would be alive and facing court, and she wouldn't have to deal with the ugly and seemingly pointless threat of the Scarlett Scythe. Ohh! A clown with a knife. Spare me.
Superman would not just jump into cahoots with Talia. Especially after the Tower of Babel mess from a few months back (in the JLA books). He doesn't try to apprehend her, he just follows her. Out of character. Further, Supes stands in front of a veritable army of guns, bombs, knives, and other killing machinations that he knows is in the hands of a family with aspirations of world domination, and he lets Talia keep them. Not Superman-y.
Also, Ra's Al Ghul, in order to keep a ship flying, would not use a human medium such as Encantadora. He'd use some form of hover-device. The only excuse remaining is if he needs to cloak the ship. And if we're in a universe where skyscrapers can fly, we're certainly in a universe where a cloaking device can be obtained that can keep you off of everyone, even Superman's, respective radars.
Art - 3: I think that everything was drawn very well, and eye pleasing, but also, there were several aspects of character that seemed forgotten here, as well. First off, Lois is not Lois in this issue. She's Lara Croft. Far be it for me to criticize cheap and easy T & A, but still, even her face looks oddly sex pot.
Talia also is over sexualized, wearing skimpy outfits in Metropolis Harbor for seemingly no apparent reason other than to change in front of Supes. Again, T & A, usually no complaints, but not when it's unnecessary. For instance, Encantadora's cleavage, I understand and love. Talia's too darn smart to be trying to seduce Superman when she loves Bats.
Also, a few unnecessary splashes, and an overwhelmingly vertical focus on the panels that throws the eye off.
Cover Art - 4: Nice looking, definitely. Only problem here is that the cover is the exact opposite of what the issue is about, seemingly. Talia wasn't attacking Superman, she was working with him. She never had a sword. Encantadora and Lois, looking on, never really even knew about Talia, much less looked on in horror as she attacked Supes' sigil.
January 2000
Check out the Comic Index Lists for the complete list of Superman-related comics published in 2000.


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The CIO position usually comes with a fair amount of authority, a high profile and a decent salary. But the job also can be a pressure cooker, and sometimes it's a political minefield. In the final installment of Government Technology's CIO interview series, we ask IT leaders from Arkansas, North Carolina, Michigan, New Hampshire, West Virginia, Utah and Nebraska to share their advice for CIO success.
- Applications
- Computing Platforms
- Data
- Gear
- Network
- Security
- Social
- Web
- Budget and Finance
- Health and Human Services
- Justice and Public Safety
- Transportation
- Education


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This one is worth all of your time and effort this weekend. The semi-annual Boutique Bargains Warehouse Sale is taking over the old Container Store space at the corner of Peachtree and Piedmont. The sale brings together 20 stores around Atlanta for the deepest discounts of the season. Think of it as shopping the sale racks of all the shops at once. You'll find goodies from K-la, Fab'rik, Sandpiper, Tulipano, Meringue, Poppy's, Emily Benham and more at discounts around 50% to 70% off. You'll find shoes, handbags, and a variety of accessories as well as clothing for men and women. Don't forget to check out the $10, $20, and $30 racks! Keep in mind, the sale is cash or check only. Get there early for first dibs--this sale gets crazy fast.
Boutique Bargains Warehouse Sale
January 18th and 19th
3255 Peachtree Rd NE
10am to 6pm
Ample parking in front and rear


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In response to a spate of thefts from checked baggage at Los Angeles International Airport, a joint task force launched a probe into the matter and on Wednesday night detained 14 people, ultimately arresting six in connection with the crimes.
According to the LA Times, the task force was comprised of both LAX and LAPD detectives. Authorities served a total 25 search warrants at multiple locations to those suspected in the plot to pilfer travelers' personal items directly from their luggage.
"Basically everything of value -- be it electronics, jewelry and items -- that could be stolen in seconds would be removed from bags," Gannon said. "They'd just open up the suitcases and rifle through them and pocket valuables."
Those arrested did not work directly for LAX, but were rather current or former employees of companies under contract with the airport to handle luggage.
"The actions of these few do not represent the nearly 45,000 individuals who work for the nearly 350 employers at LAX," Gannon added in a statement.
Authorities reportedly noticed that reports of theft were coming primarily from the airport's Tom Bradley International Terminal and Terminal 4 but do not believe them to be the work of a major organized ring. LAPD Capt. Ray Maltez instead calls the surge in thefts "a culture of being able to take property that wasn't theirs, and that's what we want to be able to put a stop to."
Police will continue to investigate the matter.


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Emma Sulkowicz carries a mattress as protest as she walks the campus of Columbia University. The college student is protesting the university's response to her report that a fellow student raped her. Sulkowicz wants the alleged rapist expelled; Columbia University did nothing.
Sulkowicz, an art student at Columbia, considers carrying the mattress as protest to be an "art piece" as well as a demonstration. According to her, another student raped her in her bed at her Columbia University dorm room on Aug. 27, 2012. It was the first day of her sophomore year at the Ivy League school.
According to a Sept. 3, 2014 report by NBC, Sulkowicz will stop carrying the mattress as protest as soon as Columbia University expels her alleged attacker. "I will carry a mattress for every day I go to school with him this next semester, everywhere I go on campus," she said. "The administration can end my art piece at any moment by just expelling my rapist."
She reported the incident to the school the year after it happened, in April 2013. A "slow and insensitive" investigation and hearing ensued. Seven months later, school officials deemed her alleged attacker "not responsible" for the incident. In May 2014, Sulkowicz finally went to the police. She filed a rape report, but the New York Police Department (NYPD) did not make an arrest in the case.
"It was so late in the game that the police had no evidence to go off of," Sulkowicz said.
Columbia University Director of Communications Victoria Benitez released a statement regarding Emma Sulkowicz's post-modern art project-cum-protest.
"The University respects the choice of any member of our community to peacefully express personal or political views on this and other issues. At the same time, the University is committed to protecting the privacy of students participating in gender-based misconduct proceedings. These matters are extremely sensitive, and we do not want to deter survivors from reporting them."
Heavy reported that Sulkowicz's performance art piece is entitled "Carry That Weight." It will be included in her thesis with Columbia's visual arts department.
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- UZI 'too much' for her: 9-year-old girl explains why she lost control of weapon
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- Duxbury Beach shark sighting forces swimmers out of the ocean


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Pics, specs of new Tag Heuer Meridiist
For those who think that the currently available high-end phones (Nokia N95 8GB, Apple iPhone, etc.) aren't expensive enough, this new cellphone from Tag Heuer might prove interesting.
Aside from its incredulously expensive pricing (from about $5,300 to $6,000+), the upcoming Tag Heuer luxury phone is complete with features that would put other mobile phones to shame… in 2001! You've got to admire them for their efforts, though. And besides, Vertu shouldn't be the only luxury phone manufacturer anyway.
To be fair with Tag Heuer, not too many mobile phone manufacturers are currently rolling out phones with reliable and built-to-last materials in the first place, like Sapphire Crystal displays, all-metal bodies, and OLED screens. So I guess this will be where its new luxury phone, called the Meridiist, would be able to take the cake.
Among its list of features are a 1.9-inch QVGA screen, Bluetooth connectivity, multimedia playback, and a manufacturer-rated 28 day standby time.
While I'm sure this won't be replacing most of our high-end handsets any time soon, I think it would be interesting to see how phones of the future would look like. A feature packed Nokia that's as sexy as this? It's possible, but I wouldn't count on it happening in the near future.
Via: Journal du Geek


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Katy Perry will kick off her 2014 Prismatic World Tour this week when she takes the stage in Belfast on Wednesday. In the meantime, however, the singer has been gearing up for the international excursion by giving fans an idea of the lavish costumes she will be sporting on tour, some of which have been dreamed up by top designers.
Perry, 29, began giving fans a peek at some of the snazzy outfits by starting a 10-day countdown last week on Instagram and posting photos of the sketches that will come to life on stage. Monday's post features her in a smiley-face bikini top on top of a gigantic yin-yang skirt that brings those Barbie dress birthday cakes to mind. Perry also joked that the bottom-heavy design, done by Johnny Wujek and Marco Marco, was the reason she couldn't make it to tonight's Met Gala in New York (she's right, that would be tricky to get through a doorway).
That's just the beginning of a parade of glitzy costumes set to be included on the tour and the big names behind them. Roberto Cavalli is responsible for two short and sparkly outfits, one of which is complete with-what else-prism crystals designed to produce an ultra-reflective kaleidoscope effect.
Another costume is quite literally a birthday suit, a Di$count Universe-designed flesh-tone getup embellished with birthday-themed designs that she will presumably wear to perform "Birthday," a single off of Prism released late last month.
Other sketches posted by Perry include the dramatic Todd Thomas number seen above, an Egyptian-themed dress perfect for "Dark Horse" by Fausto Puglisi, a hot pink leopard catsuit (to bring out Perry's inner "cat lady") by The Blonds, and a butterfly-inspired couture gown by Valentino, plus additional designs by Nicolas Jebran and Moschino.
Perry recently did some designing herself in a collaboration with popular teen shop Claire's. Unveiled today, the exclusive Prism Collection will be available in stores starting Thursday and includes jewelry, cell phone cases, and other accessories bearing the Prism logo or a more feline "KatyCat" theme a la her Blonds-designed costume. Naturally, there are plenty of tiger-themed references to her smash single "Roar" as well. Prices for the items range from $10-$22.
The Prismatic World Tour begins this week and will start off with multiple dates throughout Ireland and the United Kingdom. Capital Cities, Kacey Musgraves, and Tegan and Sara will perform as opening acts on various dates over the course of the tour. The U.S. leg then kicks off June 22 in Raleigh and will conclude Oct. 10 in Houston. Prism was released in October of last year and debuted at the top of the Billboard 200 chart. "Roar" became the album's most successful single and received Grammy nominations for Song of the Year and Best Pop Solo Performance earlier this year.


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The independent containership owner and manager purchased the vessels for $195.6 million.
The U.S. Commerce Department's International Trade Administration released a report Wednesday, showing that 92 percent of more than $1.3 trillion worth of U.S. goods exported in 2015 were likely affected by foreign technical regulations.
The Arab ocean carrier's shareholders would own 28 percent of the combined company, while the existing shareholders of Hapag-Lloyd would own 72 percent of the new company.
Registration takes less than 1 minute.
Annual costs at container lines have increased a combined $500 million due to new sulfur emissions rules requiring vessels to use more expensive fuel, according to a report released last week by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
The majority of sanctions applicable to U.S. companies remain in effect, and violators could be subject to fines and other penalties, according to Brent Helms, special counsel for the energy, environment and natural resources team at Jones Walker LLP.
Most imports that must be cleared by the Food and Drug Administration will have to be filed next month in the new Automated Commercial Environment.


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The first look at Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman in "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice" has been revealed at San Diego Comic-Con 2014, and it's going to thrill some and upset some. Digital Spy revealed the image shown by Zack Snyder on Saturday, July 26, 2014, and it's a big change from the normally bright-colored Wonder Woman we've all known in the past.
The actress from "Fast & Furious 6" was the first addition to the film after Henry Cavill (Superman) and Ben Affleck (Batman), but more have joined. Now, there are confirmations and rumors of Cyborg, Aquaman, and others.
Gadot's Wonder Woman is one that is very different from the version that has been seen in DC Comics and that of Lynda Carter who starred in the '70s television series.
MTV reported that the panel in Hall H treated fans to the first preview footage of "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice," and that was were the first look at Gal Gadot in costume came to be. That footage will likely be online within a couple of days.
Snyder then tweeted the photo out to the world with the caption of:
"Great time at #SDCC this year! #WonderWoman #DCTrinity"
The teaser for "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice" is said to show Affleck's Batman on a rooftop on a stormy evening with his eyes glowing blue. The Batsignal lights up the sky and he heads toward it, but finds Cavill's Superman glaring down at him with eyes glowing red.
The big-time superhero film is set to hit theaters on May 6, 2015, but that is if there are no delays.


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UTSA Baseball have continued their good start to the season, as they managed a 6-3 win, sweeping Louisiana Tech on Sunday at Roadrunner Field.
John Welborn was the star for UTSA as he managed to go 3-for-5 for the night managing three runs, while RJ Perucki went 2-for-5, managing three RBIs in the process.
Perucki got two of his runs in the first and third innings, helping UTSA get out to a 2-0 lead in the early stages of the game.
It was a productive out from Perucki that opened the scoring in the first , sending Welborn home, before his single to left allowed Welborn to score again.
In the fifth an RBI single from Bre'Shon Kimbell put Louisiana Tech on the board, before a Sacrifice Fly saw the Bulldogs level the scores.
But the seventh was all UTSA, with Welborn opening up with a solo shot over the left-field wall before Perucki got his third RBI of the night. The Bulldogs threw an intentional walk to load the bases, but couldn't get the job done as John Bormann managed a two-run double, to make it 6-2.
At the top of the eighth Steven Blanchard's double gave Louisiana Tech some hope as they narrowed the gap to 6-3, but that was as good as it got for the Bulldogs as the UTSA defense closed the match down.
UTSA now sit at 19-9, their second best ever 28 game start, behind the 1994 team which went 21-7 on the way to the NCAA tournament.
The thrills will continue for UTSA, as they will have their next game, an I-35 derby against Texas State, aired live on ESPN 3 on Tuesday night.
For all the latest UTSA Roadrunners news please subscribe and follow the writer on twitter.


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College Hockey:Alabama-Huntsville Doubles Up Bemidji State
Matt Sweazey Tallies Twice in Victory
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — Three power-play goals from the team's top scoring line pushed the Alabama-Huntsville Chargers past longtime rival Bemidji State, 4-2, in front of a crowd of 3,474 at the Von Braun Center for UAH's Division I home opener.
The teams skated evenly through the first period, each team killing off two penalties while generally testing the other's style of play for weaknesses. The penalty boxes were consistently full, when three penalties in the first four minutes led to a power-play tally for each side.
Matt Sweazey banged home a rebound from teammate Cody Campbell's stick to put the home team up by one just two minutes into the stanza. After the ceremonial tossing of a catfish on the home ice was cleaned up, the Chargers played charitable hosts, with Neil Ruffini going to the box five seconds after the faceoff followed by Joe Federoff just a minute later. Cody Bostock fired home a shot from the right circle on the ensuing 5-on-3 Beaver power play to knot the score at one.
After the early scoring flurry, the teams both seemed to lose direction, as the game lost all flow in either direction.
"We both just seemed to hit a lull in there, not able to get much of anything done, Sweazey remarked after the game.
The third period proved more exciting, with the Beavers coming out of the second intermission with a lot of energy. Graham McManamin joined his fellow blueliner in tallying a goal by twisting a wrister from just inside the blue line that went past Blacke MacNicol's stick side.
But the Chargers didn't get down on themselves.
"We felt that we were still in it and could hang with them," noted Sweazey.
The junior made that statement true by knotting the game at two off a stellar feed from Andrew Coburn, who found his teammate posted on the weak side of the Beaver PK.
"Coby's been working on that in practice, and I knew he'd either throw it back to Campbell or hit me on the post, said Sweazey. When I saw him flick it my way, I knew we had it."
Coburn got into the goal column on the Chargers' next man advantage after defenseman Tom Durnie flung the puck in deep past Beaver netminder Matt Dalton, who went out to handle the puck only to see it ricochet off of a seam in the end boards and right to Coburn's stick blade.
"That was a gift right there," Charger coach Danton Cole said. "After we got it tied up at two, Bemidji was just coming at us fast and hard and really bringing it to us, and then we get this crazy bounce."
Neil Ruffini added the insurance goal with 88 seconds left when a turnover in the Beavers' end found Dalton a bit out of position in trying to help his teammates, giving Ruffini a large swatch of net to aim at.
"That was just another lucky one," Cole said, "but against a solid, grind-it-out team like Bemidji, we'll take those bounces when they come to us. Give them a lot of credit for playing hard and really staying in it."
The two teams reprise the rivalry at 7:05 p.m. CST at the Von Braun Center on Saturday night.
The following is a self-policing forum for discussing views on this story. Comments that are derogatory, make personal attacks, are abusive, or contain profanity or racism will be removed at our discretion. USCHO.com is not responsible for comments posted by users. Please report any inappropriate or offensive comments by clicking the "Flag" link next to that comment in order to alert the moderator.
Please also keep "woofing," taunting, and otherwise unsportsmanlike behavior to a minimum. Your posts will more than likely be deleted, and worse yet, you reflect badly on yourself, your favorite team and your conference.


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Academic excellence only begins to describe Oscar Diaz. Recognized by the State Senate, Oscar has worked four years as a library assistant serving in the Stanislaus County Volunteer Program. He has delivered speeches for the ground breaking and ribbon cutting ceremonies for his local neighborhood park. Oscar is also a dedicated musician and recently had the honor of representing Modesto and the State of California with his high school band in Washington DC by marching in the 2012 4th of July Parade. His passion and commitment to music led him to earn first chair in his instrument in the Stanislaus County Honor Band.
Oscar has worked for the City of Modesto as a lifeguard and for the City's Adaptive Bowling Program. As a sophomore, Oscar was also selected by Kaiser Permanente as a Clinical Technician, a highly sought after position. His perseverance and discipline have also helped him to earn his black belt in mixed martial arts. Oscar participated in the 32nd Annual Stanislaus Academic Decathlon and was honored to receive the bronze award for Mathematics. He attended Lead America's National Leadership Summit at Stanford University during the summer of 2011, enhancing his college and career preparation.
Another great accomplishment of Oscar's includes the AP Scholar Award presented to him by the College Board. He has maintained a high grade point average throughout his career as student, earning him recognition as a member of the California Scholastic Federation. Great ambition and a dedicated spirit show that Oscar is sure to succeed in all of his aspirations.
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The Syracuse Orangemen retained their right to the top spot in the current NCAA Men's Basketball rankings with a 55-61 victory over fellow Atlantic Coast Conference side Notre Dame the evening of Monday Feb. 3, 2014.
With a major performance for his team, Syracuse guard Trevor Cooney scored 33 points to lead the way for their 22nd victory of the year and their ninth straight in conference play.
Although the Fighting Irish made a massive effort in the second half and pulled the game to a much closer one than it was in the first half, they failed to do enough in the opening twenty minutes to give them a true fighting chance.
Garrick Sherman's 16 points and eight rebounds led the way for the Irish and forward Pat Cunningham also put in a shift but it was not enough to challenge the best side in the country at the moment.
With their loss the Irish drop to 12-11 overall and just 3-7 in conference play leaving them adrift in 12th place as they fell below Georgia Tech.
Syracuse now have a six day break until they head to Clemson South Carolina and the the Carrier Dome to face the fifth placed 14-6 Tigers.
Thomas is the Managing Editor of SWOL.co, follow him @socceratz and on Facebook.


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News Contact:
New Textbook Rental Program Has Arrived At COM
Students Can Save Up To 50% By Renting
Kentfield, CAAugust 9, 2010—College of Marin students can save money this fall by choosing to rent instead of purchase textbooks. Currently over 50 titles are available for rent and that number is expected to increase over time as demand increases.
Barnes & Noble began piloting their rental program earlier this year at 25 campus bookstores across the country. Response from students where the program was piloted was tremendous. In particular, students like having the option of getting their books immediately - as opposed to waiting for a shipment to arrive –and they appreciated knowing that the books they were renting were guaranteed to be the right books for the classes. More than 90% of the students surveyed said they would rent from their campus bookstore again.


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LOS ANGELES (LALATE) – Liverpool vs. Norwich City 2013 (live score below) will battle in a Saturday showdown in the Premier League. Prior to Saturday's match, Liverpool has struggled to break into the top five of the league and hold that ranking. The team is now in eighth place. But with only six points separating it from fifth place Everton, does Liverpool have a chance to make a rankings jump today?
Saturday's Liverpool vs. Norwich City 2013 game (start time 7 am PST) will give Liverpool a chance to improve on its thirty one point record. Liverpool this season has delivered only eight wins while producing seven draws and seven losses. For Norwich City, the situation hasn't been much better. Currently ranked twelfth in the league, Norwich has produced six wins, eight draws and eight losses.
In a news statement moments ago, Liverpool confirmed its lineup for Saturday. The team tells news that "Daniel Sturridge starts for Liverpool against Norwich City at Anfield this afternoon. Brad Jones and Jamie Carragher also return to the starting XI." Liverpool added "the Reds team in full [today will be …] Jones, Wisdom, Carragher, Agger, Johnson, Lucas, Gerrard, Henderson, Downing, Suarez, [and] Sturridge."
Meantime, on Friday, Luis Suarez told his team's news site that Liverpool, in his prediction, will qualify for the Champions League. "It's going to be difficult but in English football with all its ups and downs, you can never be sure of anything." He added "We're not ideally placed at the moment, but I think that the club is on the right track and the team is playing in the right way and so we should still be hopeful that we can make this happen." For live score updates today, click HERE.


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Sometimes the darkest of chords shine brighter than the sun ... It happens whenever you combine the right musicians with the right influences, thus you have Runaway Sun. This Houston based band led by Andrew Karnavas has rich tones that display the love for their musical forefathers and a stage presence that matches.
The group has a balanced mix of rock, blues and country that produces a distinct Texas sound, yet very unique with chords that can be melancholy at times and funky at other. And with a LP like 'The Bridge' on the streets it would be easy to imagine these guys on the road with some heavy hitters … Chris Cornell comes to mind. But don't think for a minute that this band will stay contained to the Lone Star state, Runaway Sun has shows currently booked in Alabama, Florida and New York.
They played to a packed room Saturday night at Houston's legendary Continental Club with Ben Mallott of Austin opening the show … A great combination. Mallott played a combo set of various sounds from his own to Cash to Talking Heads before Runaway Sun took the stage. Sporting one of two Gibson SGs Karnavas set the tone early on letting the crowd know he meant business, his lead guitarist Daniel de Luna proved he knows his way around a Telecaster as well with heavy influences drifting through the air of Santana and Hendrix.
Collectively the sound of their new LP is refreshing and will remind you that there is a lot of talent to be heard & seen around Texas. When asked about remaining in Houston vs. defecting to Austin Karnavas assured me his home is in H'town. Mark one on the board for us please. But you can bet that with a great band like Runaway Sun, Austin based groups will likely appear beside them on the bill … Even better for Houston, make that two points.
You can follow these guys on Twitter via @AndrewKarnavas @RunawaySun and @BenMallott
Rock On!
Henry von Wolffe


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I can't stop laughing at this. I bought some workout tops with them in. Every time I wore them they'd get all folded up inside the lining. I spent ages trying to unwrinkle them from the outside but eventually I found out how to get inside without opening a seam (these tops are ingeniously made!) But then, instead of throwing them away, I put them in a drawer! For what? A time when I thought I might need them again? Jeez. I ruminated over what to do with them and in the end I donated.
Day 132: Bra Pads
Previous post: Day 131: Boys Trunks


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Organizational leaders be they public service managers or business executives, view innovation as a source of organizational change, growth, and effectiveness.[1] Innovation in the Military, specifically the US Army is generally associated with weapon systems or a new strategic paradigm. Instead, innovation is much broader in scope and is defined as a complicated process of applying new ideas for gainful purpose.[2]
Bureaucratic organizations, such as those in the Department of Defense often lose track of the idea that tiny improvements in a thousand places can lead to innovation in almost any service.[3] This article suggests that these "tiny improvements" occur and have been occurring throughout the Army's history due in no small part to the efforts of the Warrant Officer Corps. Yet this was not always the case; many internal and external factors have played a part in the evolution of how the Army uses its cadre of Warrant Officers. Technology and globalization have certainly been a significant part of this evolution, however, more than this the professional growth and cultural idiosyncrasies of the Corps itself and the dominant design that has been established in the Army are also noteworthy factors.
Evolution of an Innovative Force
What makes the Warrant Officer such a powerful instrument of innovation and change? While there are many answers to the query, I argue that there are three primary areas that allow the Warrant Officer to be a positive agent for innovation; dominant design, empowerment, and a unique approach to leadership. Each of these will be addressed in more detail, however, it should be noted that, the emergence of a dominant design in an organization is potentially restrictive in many contexts, especially in the private sector. Interestingly, certain structural restrictions in the military sector are required if innovation is to occur. In other words, any attempt to innovate in the military sector first requires, perhaps paradoxically, a stable organizational design.
Dominant Design – The Bureaucracy
The process of moving from a dynamic organization to a static one, from a period of rapid organizational learning to a period of slow or no progress appears to be irreversible.[4] It is well documented that the dominant design the military sector formulated is the bureaucracy. Stability, efficiency, and policies are established so that a sense of consistency can permeate the typically large organization. Such was the case in the early days of the Warrant Officer Corps, first established in 1918 when Congress established the Army Mine Planter Service as part of the coast Artillery. This action assured that exclusively Army personnel manned their vessels.[5]
This design served the institution well for many decades; through World Wars I and II, the Vietnam period, and even the first gulf war. However, technological advancements, demographic shifts, and the onset of globalization conspired against the stability seeking organization. The organization could no longer operate under the traditional assumptions that the environment was rational. Therefore, the main goal of standardizing and controlling subunits[6] had ceased in providing efficient services. The military sector discovered that the rational pursuit of efficiency denies the very existence of innovation,[7] thus change was necessary and occurring although not necessarily in a way that the system was originally designed to handle.
Innovation through Empowerment
By the mid-1990s it was clear the mechanistic approach of the Army bureaucracy was beginning to take a toll on the individuals within its walls; stagnation of purpose and performance were rampant. At the same time the Warrant Officer Corps evolved into more than a cadre of specialists and in 1996 the Army developed a clear and concise formal definition of the Warrant Officer. Thus, whether by design or a happenstance of decades of cultural adaptation, Warrant Officers were now formally empowered to use their combined expertise to innovate across the entire Army enterprise. The definition states that the:
"Warrant Officer is a highly specialized expert and trainer
who, by gaining progressive levels of expertise and
leadership, operates, maintains, administers, and
manages the Army's equipment, support activities,
or technical systems for an entire career."
While, this definition was not designed with any specific intention regarding innovation it served as a catalyst for the Warrant Officer to pursue improvements in products or services within the confines of the system. This empowerment served as the catalyst for "bottom-up" and mid-level innovations to permeate the organization. Innovations in Soldier career development processes, organizational design, and technology adoption occurred through an informal network of professionals seeking improvement in the provision of services to internal stakeholders. The realization that internal stakeholders were vital to the success of the organization was perhaps the most significant innovation for the Army during that period; and it was the Warrant Officer who provided this realization.
Adaptive Leadership
By 2005, the external landscape changed drastically, the Army was in a state of persistent conflict coupled with an ambiguous global environment. Seeking efficiency and control as a method of dealing with complex and "sticky" problem was no longer even a consideration. Warrant Officers having been fully integrated into the organizational culture of the Army by this date created an informal or sometimes alternative leadership structure[8] that sought after innovative practices. This leadership approach might best be termed adaptive leadership. Adaptive leadership is in essence the flexible switching between innovation requirements, leadership behaviors, and follower behaviors.[9] This may seem like an impossible requirement however, most Warrant Officers are not only capable of serving in this capacity, the organization itself is designed and has an expectation for this to occur. Interestingly, the Army has evolved from tolerating "positive deviants," to expecting positive deviants, in the form of Warrant Officers, to propel change and innovation.
I am not suggesting that the only innovation occurring in the Army comes from Warrant Officers; however, their adaptive ability and sanctioned flexibility allow them to pursue innovative efforts that often lead to unique solutions to complex problems. Moreover, with every successful endeavor and sometimes unsuccessful one, the credibility of the Warrant Officer role increases and thus ensures others within the organization will either seek to fill this role themselves or be compelled to support those who are. Thus creating a cycle of not only innovation acceptance but a process for ensuring creative and innovative ideas and behaviors permeated the entire enterprise.
The Way Ahead
The Warrant Officer position was originally created to ensure efficiency and predictability and has evolved from a technical expert into an adaptive leader and positive force for change and innovation. The challenges ahead; downsizing, continued conflict, and unforeseeable problems will require even more from the Warrant Officer role. An attempt to predict what the next innovation may be is beyond the scope of this article yet it is safe to suggest it is most likely already upon us. To deal with this ambiguity requires innovation itself and leaders who are supportive rather than directive,[10] enabling creative ideas early on and then providing the resources necessary to ensure implementation of these ideas. Innovation requires both critical and creative thinkers; fortunately the Army has plenty in the form of the Warrant officer.
[1] Damanpour, F., & Schneider, M. (2009). Characteristics of innovation and innovation adoption in public organizations: Assessing the role of managers. Journal of public administration research and theory, 19(3), 495-522.
[2] Tang, H. K. (1998). An integrative model of innovation in organizations. Technovation, 18(5), 297-309.
[3] Michalko, M. (2010). Thinkertoys: A handbook of creative-thinking techniques. Random House Digital, Inc.
[4] Utterback, J. M. (1996). Mastering the dynamics of innovation. Boston: Harvard Business Press.
[5] Warrant Officer Heritage Foundation. Fort Rucker, AL: 2013. s.v. "Army Warrant Officer definitions over the years." www.usawoa.org/woheritage/Armywodedfined.htm (accessed October 14, 2013).
[6] Meyer, J., & Rowan, B. (1965). Institutionalized Organizations: Formal Structure and Myth and Ceremony. American Journal of Sociology, 83(2), 340-363.
[7] Potts, J. (2009). The innovation deficit in public services: The curious problem of too much efficiency and not enough waste and failure. Innovation: management, policy & practice, 11(1), 34-43.
[8] Borins, S. (2002). Leadership and innovation in the public sector. Leadership & Organization Development Journal, 23(8), 467-476.
[9] Rosing, K., Frese, M., & Bausch, A. (2011). Explaining the heterogeneity of the leadership-innovation relationship: Ambidextrous leadership. The Leadership Quarterly, 22(5), 956-974.
[10] Rickards, T., & Moger, S. (2006). Creative leaders: a decade of contributions from Creativity and Innovation Management Journal. Creativity and Innovation Management, 15(1), 4-18.


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My favorite shot in June: Summer Landscape
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Photo Challenge
Last May, a friend, Erin, and I decided to embark on a journey to become better photographers, or at least know what all of the buttons on our camera do. I think we are making progress. While I don't take pictures everyday like I should I am learning more about my camera and under what conditions I use what settings. I play a lot with it -- but in that I also learn what I like and what I don't. We each took a month out of the year and made random, or seemingly random prompts for each month. November is pretty uninspiring... I can say that since I made that list. The snow a few weeks ago was beautiful, but now there is just brown and not enough sunlight to take pictures outside, or at least for very long and it is cold -- I don't do well in the cold and my camera probably doesn't either.
My favorite shot in June: Summer Landscape
My favorite shot in June: Summer Landscape
2 comments:
- Dogert said...
If you want to get better at photography you should participate in Flickr! I wouldn't be half the photographer I am now without the inspiration and feedback from there.
These are nice!
- November 16, 2012 at 2:31 AM
- New Kid on the Block said...
I LOVE THE GRAVEYARD ONE! I know that it makes you sad but I really, the Overshadowed photo and your honest expression is provoking. And that's really what I think photography is about!
- November 17, 2012 at 5:13 AM
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